The Black Void
Kael floated in endless darkness. Where am I? Did I die? A sound made him turn – a little boy sat curled in the void, crying softly.
"Hey," Kael approached cautiously. "Who are you?"
Kael touched the boy's shoulder. The boy slowly lifted his head – his face was blank, featureless skin. His voice was a deep, unnatural growl: "Can you… do me a favor?"
Kael froze. "Y-Yes? What?"
The faceless boy's mouth split into a horrifying grin. I WANT… Suddenly, he SCREAMED, lunging at Kael: YOUR BODY!
Kael stumbled back in terror as the void swallowed him again.
The Dark Forest – Reality
Kael gasped awake. He lay in a moonlit forest, leaves rustling. Where…? Memories crashed back: Sorcerer Silas's punch, the arena, William's betrayal. Rage ignited. That Sorcerer tried to kill me! William pretended to be my friend!
He stood, fists clenched. Teleportation! he snarled, ready to reappear in the King's throne room and burn it all.
But a deep, echoing voice whispered in his ear: SAVE THE GIRL.
What?! Kael hesitated – then vanished in a POOF! of blue-black smoke.
The Forest – Silas's Path
Silas ran like the wind, trees shattering into splinters around him as he moved faster than sight. What did the entity mean? 'Save the girl'? Which girl? Panic clawed at him. Kael's darkness is spreading faster than I feared…
Miller's Rest – Under Siege
Miller sneered as armored Knights kicked down his restaurant door. "Take them! These brats have been nothing but trouble!"
Inside, Emma shielded Maria, tears streaming. "It's okay, sweetie, we'll–"
A Knight grabbed Emma's hair, yanking her up. "By order of the King! You harbored the monster Kael! You die with–"
BOOOOOOM!
The entire front wall of Miller's Rest exploded! Wood, plaster, and screaming Knights flew through the air like broken toys.
Silas to the Rescue
Through the dust, Silas stood, holding a wide-eyed Maria safely in one arm. Emma coughed at his feet, unharmed.
"W-Who are you?" Emma stammered.
Maria giggled, touching Silas's silver-streaked hair. "Pretty!"
One Knight groaned, crawling from the rubble. Silas glanced at him – the man's eyes bulged, and he dropped dead, heart stopped by sheer terror. "Lady Emma," Silas said urgently, "you must come with me. Now."
William's Interruption
LET THEM GO! William roared, bursting from the smoke, fist wreathed in fire! CRACK! He punched Silas square in the jaw!
Silas barely flinched. Maria shrieked as Emma snatched her back. Varric and Erec appeared beside William, healed but pale.
Silas's eyes crackled with lightning. "Leave now," he hissed, a terrifying smile forming, "and I spare your lives. Or stay… and make this your grave."
William pointed at Silas. "You know where Kael is! Hand him over to the King, and maybe your treason is forgiven!"
Emma gasped. "Kael? What's happened to Kael?"
Silas's voice dropped to absolute zero: Surrender? You think I make MISTAKES?
Sorcerer's Wrath
Silas vanished.
William whirled around – too late. Silas materialized behind him.
LIGHTNING FIST! Silas snarled. His fist, wrapped in crackling blue-white energy, slammed into William's back.
KRA-KOOM!
William shot through the air like a cannonball, obliterating twenty stone walls in a row, lightning scorching his armor.
Varric screamed, GLACIAL PRISON! Ice shot toward Silas.
Silas vanished again. Reappeared inside Varric's guard. "Too slow." A blade of pure lightning erupted from Silas's hand and stabbed deep into Varric's stomach.
"G-Guh…!" Varric choked, blood bubbling from his lips as electricity coursed through him. Silas kicked him toward Erec.
Erec caught Varric, horror-struck. "NO!"
Silas was already gone. So were Emma and Maria.
Aftermath
Erec cradled the bleeding Varric, staring at the empty space where Silas stood moments before. "No… nooo…!" He'd been powerless. Utterly outmatched. He grabbed Varric and the unconscious William, sprinting toward the palace healers. We need help. More than we ever have.
(Chapter 25 Fin)