The abandoned house smelled of mold and rotting wood.
Steve was sitting in a corner, his back against the wall, staring at his own hands. They were still trembling. Not much. But enough to notice.
Twelve. I killed twelve.
He closed his eyes. He saw the faces. Or tried to. But they were already dissolving in his memory, turning into blurred shapes without identity.
I don't know their names. I don't know if they had families. I don't know anything.
Except that they're dead. Because of me.
— Steve.
Keara was crouching in front of him. When had she approached? He hadn't even noticed.
— You need to rest — she said gently. — At least a few hours.
— I can't.
— Then at least drink some water.
She held out a canteen.
Steve took it and drank. The water was warm, but it helped wash away the metallic taste that had lingered in his mouth since…
Since that.
On the other side of the room, Dagon and Any were studying an improvised map spread across a broken table. Jelím floated near the window, watching the street through a crack between the boards.
Any pointed to two spots on the map.
— My parents are here. In the palace dungeons. Guarded by at least ten elite soldiers.
Dagon frowned.
— And Matthias?
— Here. Office on the third floor. He always works until midnight.
She hesitated, touching a third point.
— And there is… a secret passage. Adrian showed me once. Used by the royal family in emergencies. It leads straight to the dungeons.
Dagon straightened, studying the route.
— How many official entrances?
— Three. But the passage avoids all of them.
— Then we split. — Dagon traced a line with his finger. — Group A goes through the dungeons. Group B confronts Matthias directly.
Keara stood, leaving Steve, and approached the table.
— Who goes where?
— Any knows the passage. — Dagon looked at her. — She needs to go to the dungeons.
— I agree.
— And she needs someone with her. — Dagon turned. — Steve.
The boy lifted his head abruptly.
— What? No. I can't—
— You can and you will.
— And what if I lose control again?! — his voice came out louder than he intended. — What if I hurt her parents?!
Silence fell heavily.
Any crossed the room. She stopped in front of him.
— Then don't.
Steve shook his head.
— It's not that simple!
— I know. — She crouched, meeting his eyes. — But I need you. And I believe you can do it.
— Why? — the question came out broken. — After everything you saw? After…
— Because you came back. — Any touched the silver bracelet on his wrist. — When you could have kept going. When it would have been easier to let her take control. You fought. And you won.
Pause.
— So you'll win again. Please.
Steve looked at Dagon, searching for… what? Permission? Absolution?
The man only gave a slight nod.
— Go, kid. But if you feel her coming back…
He didn't finish. He didn't need to.
Steve took a deep breath.
— Okay. I'll go.
---
The entrance to the secret passage was hidden behind an ornamental fountain in the palace garden.
Any removed a specific stone at its base. An ancient mechanism creaked. An opening appeared, revealing descending stairs that disappeared into darkness.
— How do you know about this? — Steve whispered.
— Adrian. — Her voice came out soft. — He wanted me to have an escape route. Always.
Pause as they began descending.
— He was always kind to me. Even when they forced our engagement.
The staircase was narrow, damp. The smell of mold intensified with every step. Torches that should have lit the way decades ago were now just rusted iron brackets fixed to the walls.
Steve raised his hand. A small white flame appeared in his palm — a basic ability he had copied from Fog weeks ago.
It lit the path.
They walked in silence for minutes. Only the sound of their footsteps echoing.
Then Any spoke:
— About the kiss…
Steve stumbled. He quickly regained his balance, his face burning even in the darkness.
— …I'm sorry. — She continued without looking back. — I used you. It was cruel.
She kept descending.
— But I don't regret it. Because it worked. Adrian understood. Uncle was furious. And my parents… my parents will live because of it.
Steve didn't answer immediately. Then:
— You still wear the bracelet.
Any stopped. Looked at her own wrist. The silver glinted faintly under the magical light.
— I do.
— Why?
She remained silent long enough that Steve thought she wouldn't answer.
Then:
— Because it reminds me that not everything was a lie.
And she kept walking.
---
The passage ended at a rotting wooden door.
Any pushed it gently. It creaked but opened, revealing a dimly lit corridor.
At the end, six guards stood watch in front of a reinforced door.
— How do we get past? — Steve whispered.
Any removed her veil completely. She tucked her hair under a dark hood.
— You stay here. I'll go.
— What?! No!
— They know me. They'll hesitate. That gives me an advantage.
Steve grabbed her arm.
— Any, wait—
She looked at him. For the first time, completely serious. No social masks. No games.
— They're my parents, Steve. Not your mission. Not Dagon's obligation. My family.
Pause.
— So I'm going.
And she did.
Steve watched her walk directly toward the guards. His heart accelerated. His hand instinctively went to his sword.
If it goes wrong… if they hurt her…
Something moved inside him. Not Nessira. Something different. Deeper.
Protection.
---
Any stopped three meters from the guards.
The first one turned, hand going to his sword—
Then recognized her face.
— Lady Any?! — The surprise was genuine. — What are you doing here?
— I came to see my parents.
— Orders from the Lord Counselor. — The guard looked genuinely regretful. — No one enters. Not even you, milady.
Any sighed.
— I know.
What happened next was so fast Steve almost didn't see it.
The dagger appeared from Any's sleeve. It cut the tendon of the first guard's leg before he could react. He fell screaming.
She spun. Her foot struck the second guard's knee with the sound of something breaking.
It wasn't brutal like Dagon. It wasn't efficient like Jelím.
But it was precise. Trained. Real.
Three guards fell before the other three reacted.
The remaining ones advanced together, coordinated.
Any retreated. Blocked one strike. Dodged another. But there were three. Too much for one person—
Steve emerged from the shadows.
His sword cut one man's leg. A punch to another's stomach with enough force to knock the air from his lungs.
The third hesitated — fatal mistake.
Any's dagger finished the job.
Silence fell.
Six guards on the ground. Wounded but alive. Groaning.
— You… fought well. — Steve said, genuinely surprised.
Any wiped the blade.
— Adrian taught me. Before everything became complicated.
She ran to the specific cell. She had the key — stolen from one of the fallen guards.
She opened it.
Inside: two adults. Thin. Bruised. Clothes dirty from days without changing.
But alive.
Alive.
— Mom… Dad…
Any's voice broke completely.
She fell to her knees. Hugged them both at once.
And cried.
Without control. Without masks. Without pretense.
Just a daughter who thought she would never see her parents again.
Steve stepped back, giving space. Looked away, feeling like an intruder in that moment.
But also feeling something warm in his chest.
She did it. We did it.
---
[MATTHIAS'S OFFICE — SIMULTANEOUSLY]
Dagon didn't knock.
He simply kicked the door down.
CRASH.
The solid wood exploded inward, fragments flying.
Matthias jumped up from his desk, eyes wide.
— How did you… the guards…
— Are occupied. — Dagon advanced calmly. — With us.
Matthias stepped back, his hand reaching for the emergency bell on the wall—
Jelím raised a finger.
The bell froze in midair. Literally. Stopped halfway through its movement as if time had paused only for it.
— You won't call anyone. — Her voice came out cold as ice.
Matthias looked from one to the other. Keara blocking the door. Jelím floating. Dagon advancing.
He finally understood.
He was alone.
And they were dangerous.
— You don't understand! — His voice came out shrill, desperate. — This isn't about power! It's about order!
Dagon simply listened, expression neutral.
— Thornvale needs structure! Hierarchy! — Matthias gestured frantically. — If anyone can challenge authority… everything collapses!
— So your "order" — Dagon said calmly — included killing innocent parents? Forcing a marriage? Imprisoning a seventeen-year-old girl?
Matthias didn't answer.
Dagon took another step.
— I'll give you the choice you didn't give them.
Pause.
— Option A: You resign. Today. Publicly. Admit your crimes. Accept a fair trial.
Another step.
— Option B…
He didn't finish. Let the implication hang in the air like a sword over a neck.
Matthias laughed.
A hysterical, broken sound.
— You think I have a choice?! My reputation is already ruined! Any humiliated me publicly! That damned boy killed my guards!
He grabbed a dagger hidden inside the desk drawer.
— If I'm going down…
He lunged.
Dagon didn't move.
Jelím raised her finger.
Matthias froze. Completely. Not even breathing. A living statue with crystallized hatred in his eyes.
— Pathetic. — Jelím whispered.
Dagon sighed, turning toward the door.
— Keara. Call the loyal guards. The ones who aren't corrupt. They decide what to do with him.
They began to leave.
But Matthias (still frozen yet apparently able to speak) murmured:
— You… will pay… all of you… you'll pay…
His bloodshot eyes. Pure distilled hatred.
Dagon stopped at the doorway. Looked back.
— Maybe. But you first.
And left.
---
[PALACE GARDEN — DAWN]
Any's parents were sitting on a stone bench. Keara was healing them, her hands glowing softly, closing wounds, restoring energy.
Steve kept a respectful distance, simply watching.
That was when he heard footsteps.
He turned.
Adrian emerged from the shadows of the garden. Stopped when he saw Any.
— Any.
She turned. For a second, they just looked at each other.
Then she ran.
She hugged him tightly.
— Thank you. — Her voice came out muffled against his shoulder. — For everything. For the passage. For the time you gave me.
Adrian gently held her shoulders. Pulled back just enough to look into her eyes.
— Are you leaving?
— Yes.
— When will you return?
Any didn't answer immediately.
Then, honestly:
— …I don't know if I will.
Adrian swallowed hard. Nodded.
— I understand.
Pause.
— Will you be okay here?
— I will. — Adrian forced a small smile. — Matthias is neutralized. And I still have allies. More than he imagines.
He removed a medallion from his neck. Placed it on hers.
— So you remember. That not everything was bad.
Any touched the medallion. Then the silver bracelet.
Two memories. Two connections. Two people who mattered.
She turned to Steve. Her parents approached as well.
— Mom, Dad… this is Steve. He helped me. A lot.
Any's mother — a middle-aged woman with dark hair and kind eyes — hugged Steve without warning.
He froze completely, unsure what to do with his arms.
— Thank you. — Her voice broke. — Thank you for bringing our daughter back to us.
Her father — a tall man with graying beard — extended his hand. Shook with strength that surprised Steve.
— I owe you my family's life.
Steve, deeply uncomfortable with the attention:
— I… didn't do much…
— You did. — Any corrected, touching his shoulder. — You did more than you realize.
Dagon approached, breaking the moment.
— We need to go. The sun is rising. And Thornvale won't forget what happened here.
Any looked at her parents. Then at Adrian. Then at the group.
She took a deep breath.
— I'm staying.
Steve blinked, surprised.
She smiled — small but real.
— They need me. And I… need them. I spent too long with masks. Too long pretending.
She looked directly at Steve.
— But you… you need to go. You need to find answers. About her. About what's happening to you.
Pause.
— So go. And don't let her win.
Steve nodded slowly.
— And you? Will you miss… the adventure?
Any laughed softly.
— I've had enough for a lifetime.
Then, more serious:
— But if you ever need… help… a place to return to…
She touched the medallion. Then the bracelet.
— …remember me.
Steve smiled. Small. Genuine.
— How could I forget?
She hugged him. Brief but tight.
Whispered in his ear:
— Take care, shy boy.
— You too, girl of masks.
And they parted.
---
The road left Thornvale heading north.
Steve walked in silence, Dagon at his side, Keara and Jelím just behind.
After a few minutes, he turned.
Thornvale was already distant. But he could see a silhouette on the walls. White veil. Hand waving.
Any.
He waved back.
Then faced forward.
— So. — His voice broke the silence. — Where are we going?
Dagon stopped. Looked north.
The mountains were visible in the distance — snow-covered peaks shining under the rising sun.
— Kingdom of Caelith. The Frozen Mountains. Three weeks of travel. Maybe four.
— Why there?
— Because it's one of Nessira's three sanctuaries. — Dagon resumed walking. — If she came from there… someone there must know something.
Keara added:
— And there is someone. A scholar. Specialist in ancient entities, possession, soul fragmentation.
Pause.
— If anyone can help… it's her.
Steve touched the silver bracelet. Thought of Any. Of Adrian. Of Thornvale.
Of everything he had left behind.
— And if we can't stop it? — he asked quietly. — If she… takes full control?
Dagon looked at him. Not with pity. With honesty.
— Then at least we tried.
They resumed walking.
North. Always north.
Toward the mountains.
Toward answers.
Toward the heart of the mystery.
Or toward the end of everything.
Steve looked at the sky one last time.
And saw something.
Far away. Very far.
A strange light pulsing. Purple-green. Impossible to be natural.
— Did you see that? — he pointed.
Dagon frowned.
— I did. And I didn't like it.
Because that light was coming from exactly where they were heading.
From the Sanctuary of Caelith.
And it pulsed in the same rhythm as something inside Steve.
[DAYS REMAINING: 172]
[CONNECTION: 10%]
[DESTINATION: FROZEN MOUNTAINS]