Chapter 41 - Gate of Revelation

788 I.C, March 19, Dracwyn: Castle Gates, Morning

"Hey, Avery... You in there?" A voice whispered in the distance.

I opened my eyes and saw little more than dimming stars in the morning sky, and a few flakes of snow drifting by. A moment later two fuzzy faces invaded my vision, and stared down.

Clyde... Talwin...

I felt hands squeeze my own and I smiled in relief, "You're alive."

Talwin merely smiled back, while Clyde smirked and chuckled, "Says the guy that's been chased around like a game of cat and mouse."

I tried to move my body, and to my surprise all limbs still worked. In fact, I was feeling pretty good, almost as if my body had regenerated itself once more. The entity within me reinforced that idea as it seemed to squirm with pride. I let go of their hands, and tried to ease myself up.

Clyde was quick to push me down once more, "You shouldn't move, you look like shit, Avery."

I focused on him, pushed harder, and forcefully sat up to their surprise, "I'm fine, really."

Talwin blinked, looked down, and brushed aside some fur on my arm, "You shouldn't be, you have... had wounds."

I looked down at my arm and saw crusted remains of blood, but as it was brushed aside the skin underneath looked as healthy as ever.

"It's the Star, Talwin. Now focus, because we don't have much time. How long was I out?"

Clyde glanced around for a moment, and then focused on me once more, "Minutes. But what do you mean we don't have much time? Every undead in the entire city has dropped dead."

I looked around and noticed that the others of the guild had gathered in the background.

A small victory... but the war isn't over...

The words felt heavy as I spoke, "Clyde, it's not over yet, this is just temporary."

I could see the others expressions change, some even turned around as if to shield themselves from what I said.

Talwin was the first to break the sudden silence that had gripped everyone, "OK, what's next, Avery?"

The aether is calmer, but still too fragmented for me to transport safely...

I turned my head, looked beyond the castle walls, and saw the still intact roofs of the hangars, "I need to get to the blimp, and-"

As I spoke there was a growing murmur emanating from the castle. I looked toward the source, and found my gaze drawn to August's tower.

"It's been doing that for a while. First the shields went down, and then every streetlight. There's not a single shred of magic running through the entire city," Talwin said.

Arcs of aetheric energy began to discharge from August's tower while a glow formed along the top. In moments the light grew so strong I had to squint in order to see.

I turned my attention toward the likely target, and noticed that the obelisk now stood silent outside the city walls. The obelisk itself seemed intact, the runes along its black surface had a dim glow, and the small vortex in the center was no more.

A sudden beam of light shot out from the castle tower. It warped the surrounding air, twisted the night sky as if viewed through a lens, and it sounded like water poured into a furnace. It slammed into a shield projected by the obelisk, and there was enough light to once more make it seem like the sun had risen.

The shield projected by the obelisk began to waver and fluctuate, the runes along its black surface dimmed further, and a sudden thump signaled its collapse. The beam burst past, slammed into the side of the obelisk, and a thunderous boom could be heard.

Large pieces of obsidian hurtled through the air as the beam suddenly cut out and another bang tore through the sky. All of us looked back, and watched the top of August's tower exploded in a vibrant blast of energy. Moments later the tower began to collapse.

That's that... August played his role, and now the obelisk is wide open...

I pushed myself up, stretched my legs for a moment, and looked to Talwin, "My backpack, where is it?"

Talwin rose and looked to me, "I left it with Raymond, he's guarding it... We had to help you."

"It's okay, Talwin. You did well... You all did well, thanks for coming to my rescue."

Talwin smiled for a moment, but it quickly faded once more, "I'm not letting you leave on your own."

You'll die in the presence of the Master... I'm not letting you come close...

I turned away, and looked toward the walls of the castle-

• You haven't won - This means nothing! -

Everyone shot to attention as the voice boomed across our minds once more. I turned around in search of the source, and found myself staring at the giant heap of the now decomposing creature.

• Relish it! - The master will be back soon! - PARASITES! -

To my surprise there was already someone standing near the creature. It was Amari, and she stared at one of the twisted faces jutting out of the creature.

I walked closer, stepped up on a big piece of debris, and raised my voice, "Who are you?"

Amari turned her head and looked at me, "You don't recognize his voice, wulfkin? That's Doros."

Doros... Yes, I remember it now...

Laughter filled the air as the aetheric voice returned.

• Hahaha! - Forgotten me already? - Avery -

I felt my expression twist with disgust, "Doros, why am I not surprised? It's only fitting that a monstrosity like you became the Master's personal champion."

• I should have killed you when I first lay eyes on you! -

• My guts told me so! - But I couldn't help myself! -

• I wanted to see the smug smile wiped from your father's face! -

• To see you knocked off your pedestal! - The despair on your face! -

• You should have seen the others as they turned on you! -

• It was a - DELIGHT! -

I gritted my teeth, but it was Amari that spoke first, "Do you remember me, Doros?"

The giant form of the creature twitched a little, and one of the many eyes shifted to focus on Amari.

• Beastkin? - A little bitch like you? - Why would I? -

A single chuckle escaped from Amari as she turned to look at me, "I take it you have no need for this 'thing'?"

I remember my promise, Doros... That one day... One day... You'd burn for what you did to me...

"No, but may I suggest fire?" I said.

Amari made an understanding nod, "A cleansing fire... Fitting."

• You do not scare me! -

Amari stepped closer, and lifted her hand toward the bloated flesh of the creature. Runes formed around her hand, and began to interact with the flesh itself. It didn't take long to understand what she was doing. Without the Master's control the creature was more similar to an arcane construct than a living thing. Without its defenses, there was nothing to stop it from being repurposed.

While the runic language she used was foreign, the behavior of the spell that was simple enough. It would spread throughout the creature, turning energy into heat and combustible gas. It would burn it from one end to the other, turning it into little more than ash.

The spell locked in place, triggered, and a flash of heat hit the fur on my face. Amari calmly stepped back as the spell began to spread and left a trail of flames in its wake.

Doros voice couldn't be heard at first, but as the seconds passed there was a growing whine within the aether. It picked up strength, and within moments it became a scream littered with curses.

Amari lifted her hand high, and with a flare there was a sudden shield around the creature that blocked the screams from being heard.

"You should go, Avery. End this nightmare... I will stay here, and listen," Amari whispered with her back turned to me.

I made a silent nod, turned toward the gates, and started walking.

788 I.C, March 19, Dracwyn: Castle Hangars, Morning

Raymond sat on a crate within the hangar. Resting in his lap was the box that Talwin had given him. The box had hummed with energy at first. But as the loud booms raged across the skies, as blasts of energy made the world shake, and finally as everything went silent, so did the contents of the box.

He hadn't opened it, he hadn't shaken it. In the hour since he was given the box he had barely moved. His back ached, the nub where tail should have been burned as if a mangled remnant remained.

Yet he couldn't help but wonder if he would be blamed for the change within the box.

Raymond's ear perked as the area outside the hangar grew noisy. It made him stand up, hands firmly gripping the box, and waited for a sign whether to hand it over or flee if things turned dangerous.

Within moments he could make out the voices. They sounded like Avery, Talwin, and Clyde, but the people that stepped into the hangar looked as if they had been dipped in flour.

"What was that grenade you threw?" Avery asked and idly brushed his body so that a cloud of dust lingered in his wake.

Talwin answered, "The academy mages ground up one of the magic bullets and wanted to see what would happen if a creature inhaled it. I 'borrowed' some dust and asked Fletcher for help so that we could put it into a grenade."

"Ah, I see," Avery mused.

Talwin moved in front of Avery, "You keep shifting the subject, Avery. You're not leaving here without us, period."

Avery had time to audibly groan before they all suddenly stopped, and turned to focus on Raymond.

The stares made it feel as if his gut was being squeezed from all sides, and the urge to run was strong in his legs. He forced himself to stay in place, and held up the box as he stared at Avery. Raymond could feel the tension growing as they approached, and Avery looked down at the box in confusion.

Talwin peered over Avery's shoulder, stared at the box for a moment, and then gulped, "What did you do, Raymond?"

Raymond couldn't breathe.

Avery reached out, grabbed the box, and tugged at it. Raymond had to force himself to unclamp his hands before Avery pulled it into his arms, and then eased the lid open.

Talwin's ears folded back, and he stared at Raymond, "What happened, Raymond?"

Avery shut the lid and looked over at Talwin, "Nothing, Talwin. It's not his fault."

You were always like this, Avery... Trying to protect me... Part of me hated you for it...

Raymond clenched his teeth until it began to hurt. He then noticed Clyde staring at him. Avery was forgiving, Talwin was upset, but Clyde was the one who stared with murder in his eyes, and he could almost hear the thoughts of the wulfkin.

Why are you here Raymond? Why couldn't you just die?

Raymond couldn't stand it any longer. He turned around, and marched away. The others continued talking, and arguing. The emotions were strong in the air, but Avery was mostly silent.

Raymond reached up with his hands and plugged his ears shut, he didn't want to hear it.

The light from the hangar entrance grew dimmer as Raymond walked through the metal struts that held the blimp in place. He only stopped when he had circled the blimp, and found himself in the other end of the hangar.

Peace and quiet. He'd wait here until things calmed down. It would be better like that, staying out-of-the-way, not bothering anyone. Raymond looked around for a place to sit when there was a sudden racket against the metal walls of the hangar. He backed off in an instant, unsure how to react, and heard voices from outside.

"This blimp is about to launch, everything ready?" One voice asked.

"The ceiling actuators are out, there's no energy running throughout the entire city, and-"

"I told them we should kept the engines, but no, we had to rely on 'magic'."

"... So, uh, what do we do?"

"What do you think!? We do it manually! Or do you want to explain to that wolf-thing why he can't leave?"

There was a moment's pause, "... No. No I do not, but I need help if we're going to do this."

"Lead the way," The second voice said and stepped closer.

A chill ran down Raymond's spine as he realized that the hangar wall in front of him was actually a door. Part of him wanted to curl into a darker corner and hide, but even the risk of him causing more trouble made him want to scream.

Instead he turned around in an instant, frantically searched the area, and found the solution right in front of him.

The blimp's cargo bay...

Raymond scrambled forward, climbed the struts in panic, sucked hold of the cargo bay's metal shutter, turned the lock to open it, and tore it open. In seconds flat he was inside the dark, odd-smelling, space of the cargo bay, and slammed the shutter closed.

Within a few moments he could hear the hangar door open, and several people marched inside.

Raymond sighed in relief, closed his eyes, and wrapped his arms around his legs. Peace, at last.

"Come on, what are you waiting for?" One of the voices said.

Without warning there was a grinding noise, followed by a loud clunk.

"Coming, someone just forgot to lock this cargo bay."

788 I.C, March 19, Dracwyn: Castle Hangars, Morning

I dropped Cyrus' box inside the blimp's main cabin, and then turned around to face the exit. Clyde and Talwin waited outside, and stared at me.

"Listen," I said and stepped closer.

Talwin frowned, still displeased, "Yes?"

A loud churning noise began to fill the hangar as the bay doors above us began to open.

I glanced up for a moment, and then focused on Talwin once more, "It's like I've already told both of you. The vortex needs to be closed in order to banish the Master, and the only way to do that is by destroying Everwinter's main tower."

"We know that, you've told us," Clyde said.

"Then listen to me when I say this. The Master would kill both of you in the blink of an eye, and we are talking about energies so powerful that light itself simply stops working as it should."

"What if we bring the magic bullets?" Clyde asked.

"Do you have any left?" I asked.

Clyde went silent, and pondered for a moment, "No, but-"

"But what?" I asked.

"The mages could have a few left?" Talwin whispered.

I nodded, "Uh huh, I'm sure the Star and the engines of this blimp is going to love that."

"No need to be mean, Avery," Talwin said.

I patted my chest, "The Star's power is its ability to transmute energy. Fighting the creatures in the city is difficult because the Star's range is limited, and energy is sparse. I'm not willing to sacrifice people just to feed my spells, so that option is out as well. Everwinter is different, the Tower is different. It istheMaster's supply of energy, and if I have access to that, then the Master won't be able to touch me, because he'd be effectively fighting his own power."

Talwin watched me cautiously and tipped his head a little, "If that was the whole truth, then we wouldn't be standing here arguing. What did you figure out that you're not telling us? And what role does that box play in all of this?"

Nothing... The box plays no role any longer...

I stepped closer, reached out with my hand, and watched as Talwin leaned back.

"Don't even try, Avery. I want the truth, not another comforting lie," Talwin said.

I averted my gaze and sighed, "I have reason to believe that my life will end once the vortex closes."

Silence...

"... Why?" Talwin whispered after a moment of tense silence.

I bit my lip and motioned to my chest once more, "My life... The spark in my chest is something that depends on the vortex to function. I'm not sure about the details, but I'm hoping there's a way around that, or that Aeternus simply lied for some reason I can't understand."

"Aeternus told you this?" Talwin asked.

I nodded, "Yes."

Clyde protested, "Then find another way. You said the Master is powerless against you, doesn't that-"

"Clyde. What do you think is going to happen when I'm in Everwinter, busy having tea with the Master?" I asked.

"Well..." Clyde whispered.

"The obelisk and all the undead will wake up once more. The rest of the city will be slaughtered, and then it keeps spreading across the continent. I'll be the only one who survives, and absurdly enough the only safe spot for me will be the Master's tower. Does that sound like an agreeable outcome?"

"No," Clyde answered and averted his gaze with ears clamping to his head.

Talwin was next, "Then buy some time, destroy the obelisk, and then we can-"

I interrupted him, "Talwin, stop. This is the only way. Don't you think I've thought this through more times than I can count?"

"I refuse to accept this," Talwin answered and shook his head with the same stubbornness as ever.

I nodded, "Yes, I expected as much, but it's not going change anything."

"I'll tear the engines out myself if you try to leave," Talwin hissed.

I glanced over at Clyde, and whispered, "Clyde."

Clyde looked to me with a pleading expression, as if asking: 'Do I have to do this?'

I kept staring at Clyde, and spoke, " Please."

Talwin stared in confusion, "I don't understand, what's going-"

Clyde reached out, forcefully grabbed Talwin's arm, and then twisted it around his back.

"AGH! What are you doing!?" Talwin screamed as he was held in place.

I stepped closer, crouched a little, and cupped Talwin's muzzle in my hand, "I love you Talwin, and I'll do my best. But there are no guarantees this time, and I can't take the selfish path this time."

Talwin screamed as Clyde pulled him back, "Avery, listen to yourself, this is insane!"

"Let go of me!" Talwin snapped, and kicked with his legs as sparks of magic began to appear.

Clyde seized Talwin's throat in an instant, and growled, "Don't! Please..."

Talwin twisted his head, and stared at me, "Don't do this, Avery... Please?"

I stepped back, reached out with my hand, and touched the massive crystal within the blimp, "Seek shelter within the castle, it should last long enough for me to do what needs to be done."

Clyde forcefully dragged Talwin the last of the way, and stepped onto the hangar's boarding platform.

The crystal flared to life, the blimp lurched, and lifted from the platform.

788 I.C, March 19, Agron Plains, Morning

The spindles of wire on the blimp had extended as far as they could reach and now whipped along the tree lines far below. At times it would tug on the blimp, but so far hadn't gotten caught in anything serious. Just like it enabled Dracwyn's shield to work, it also enabled the aetheric fueled engines to work.

The Master's giant obelisk waited in the distance. Its path could easily be traced by the burned trail behind it. Fortunately it was now stationary on the ground, and it was even leaning a bit. Sparks of aetheric energy still trailed its surface, and runes spontaneously formed here and there. The crystal weapon had put a serious dent in it, but three pillars along the middle were still intact. In the very center of it all was a large gap where the miniature vortex had been.

As I watched through the window it seemed like its attempts to recover grew stronger. Flares of light arced into the center, a crackle of lightning could be heard, and for a brief glimpse the vortex flared once more.

Faster!

I poured more energy into the engines, felt the vibrations pick up, and adjusted the blimp's altitude and pitch. The exact workings of it were a mystery to me, but the controls and magic helped make sure I didn't dive into the ground.

Another flare erupted from the obelisk, and the vortex spontaneously formed once more. It sent a ripple through the aether, cold and harsh as the Master's presence once more spilled into the world.

My heart had nearly left my throat out of worry when the vortex collapsed once more, and the Master's presence faded as quickly as it had formed. Moments later the obelisk started charging once more.

There's no way I'll have time to properly dock and figure out how that thing works...

Only one thing to do then... Head straight into it, and hope for the best...

I could feel the entity in my chest squirming in amusement.

This is what it revels in... Destruction, creation, chaos, all intermingling with a gleeful touch of insanity...

The engines pushed harder, the aetheric wiring throughout the blimp began to glow and melt. I could feel the obelisk pulsing as it gathered once more. The blimp gave it all as I flooded the engines with energy, and watched the obelisk grow larger.

A surge rushed through the pillars of the obelisk, energy arced into the center, and the aether twisted once more. The center of the obelisk began to warp, darkness spilled out, and a tear began to form.

Everything happened awfully quickly in the next few seconds. One second the obelisk grew so large it filled every window, a moment later I was surging past the supporting pillars. The tear appeared in front of the ship, and with a blast of energy it ripped open to form a massive vortex.

A blink of an eye changed everything, and darkness swallowed the ship.

Unknown

Again?

My mind stirred and I found myself surrounded by a red glow and what looked like a lot of rubble.

Oh, right... The blimp entered the vortex and... It crashed... Into something...

I tried to move and there was a disturbing crunch from somewhere. It made me look down, and I noticed that my arm was hidden underneath what looked like a big piece of piping.

Yeah... My arm is definitely not meant to bend like that...

I looked around and realized that the red glow was a bauble of energy that seemed to protect me. It provided enough light for me to recognize parts of the blimp's main compartment.

The aether was similar to my previous experience in the Master's tower, cold, and draining. But this time I could sense more layers of the aether which had once been hidden to me.

The cold and draining emptiness resided in the shallow layers where mages normally operated. But hidden in the lower layers were tremendous of energy that actively surged through the area. Though, it did seem odd as most of the energy was directed at me.

Oh... Well, that's awkward...

It came as something of a surprise when I realized that the energy was actually the Master's attempt at attacking me. For every bit of energy thrown at me, the entity and Star repurposed it, and effectively made the Master fight himself.

I looked to my arm, focused on the piping that was in the way, and wished for it to be gone. To my surprise the debris disintegrated in seconds, and revealed my arm.

It was mangled, blood soaked the floor, and a piece of bone jutted out. It made me cringe in disgust, but as I watched the flesh was being restructured, and the bone moved to resettle once more. Seconds later it was whole once more, and I flexed my hand in amazement.

Is this the true power of the aether? What the necromancers and Aeternus sought for?

I flexed my reformed arm, pushed against the floor, and eased myself up on two legs. My back popped disturbingly, and so did my neck as I looked around.

Much of the blimp had been crushed. The blimp's massive crystal was in shattered pieces all over the floor, and so was Cyrus' box. The windows were long gone, the metal structure was warped, and the front of the balloon were in tatters.

I took a step forward, and heard glass being crunched underneath the boot of my paw, "Not to sound weird, but is there anyone here capable of... speech?"

I walked over to what had once been the exit to the outside, and found myself staring at a mangled piece of metal that no longer fit the frame. With a wave of my hand I urged the aether to react, and watched as it crumbled before being torn loose with a loud pop.

The crumbled door fell to the floor, and I stepped up to the edge as I looked around. It looked like the blimp had landed in a sea of black, but as I looked toward the blimp's other end there was a subtle outline. It looked as if you had taken a black piece of paper and jabbed something through it.

My thoughts peeled at the outline, and the aether reached out to physical reality. The outline grew as the fabric crumbled, and a beam of light invaded the room. I could hear the loosened pieces tumble along the broken blimp until they landed on the floor and came to a stop near me. I looked down at the pieces, picked one up, and felt a familiar tingle. It was obsidian with tightly woven spells within it.

I'm inside the tower... The blimp crashed or merged into it... Possibly a combination of both...

More pieces loosened from the outline, and I managed to peer outside the tower. There was a horizon with snowy peaks, and a gray sky filled with clouds, just like Everwinter in the mornings. A click was heard in the darkness, and it made me tense up. It was the click, and clack of a gun being cocked.

"Don't move," A raspy voice wheezed from within the darkness.

My gaze searched the area from which the sound had come, and I caught sight of a faint outline in the distance, "Who are you?"

As I waited for an answer, the darkness itself seemed to whisper. It was subtle, but there were several voices chanting words over and over again.

Shoot him... Kill him... Do it now... Before it's too late... Shoot... Pull the trigger...

I listened to the voices, and caught the hint of something valuable.

He killed your son... Destroyed Everwinter... Shoot... Do it... Amarok...

Amarok, commander of the wulfkin forces, and one of the few that spoke with the Master's authority...

"Amarok?" I said out loud and inched closer.

"Don't move!" Amarok snapped.

I gently moved my head and it became possible to see an outstretched arm which held what was likely a gun, "I want to talk, Amarok."

The whispers in the darkness grew louder: KILL HIM! SHOOT!_ NOW! _ DO IT! PULL THE T-

The gun trembled in Amarok's hand, and without warning it moved. One moment it was pointed at me, and in the next it was held against Amarok's head, aiming straight at the temple.

"Shut up, or I pull the trigger," Amarok ordered.

The whispers in the darkness grew silent in an instant.

There was a subtle creak from behind, and it was followed by the sound of crumbling rock. More light spilled into the tower, and it became easier to see Amarok's form.

Frost coated him from top to bottom. The fur around his muzzle and hands had grown sparse and gray. Even his eyes seemed clouded, as if suffering from cataracts.

The gun moved, and aimed at me once more while Amarok spoke, "I should have shot you already."

I spoke with caution, and raised my hands, "But you haven't."

Amarok took a step closer, adjusted his aim toward my chest, and stared me in the eyes, "I want answers, and if there's a shred of dignity left within you, then you'll give them to me."

"Go on then, commander," I said.

"You're mocking me? Even now? This gun has a bullet that can pierce magic, and not even that damned Star can protect you from it!" Amarok hissed with bared teeth.

"I wasn't mocking you, Amarok, it was simply a sign of respect," I said.

Amarok's lips twitched, "Respect," A moment later his eyes came to rest on the gun, and the way it shook in his hands, "I see now."

"Hmm?" I asked.

Amarok raised his other arm, and steadied his aim with both hands, "You're as devious as the rumors that surround you... Trying to make me angry, loosen my aim, thus increasing your chances for survival."

That would have been smart... Shame I didn't think of it...

"How about we take turns asking questions?" I asked.

"You're not in a position to make demands," Amarok countered.

"Sure I am, besides, aren't you curious what the great betrayer might ask?" I asked.

Amarok's eyes narrowed and a low growl invaded his voice, "You killed my only son, and my bloodline with it. He was supposed to be your packmate... You were friends."

I raised my brow, "Clyde's doing quite well, Amarok. No thanks to you and the black armor you put on him."

Amarok's aim began to waver once more, and the voices returned to the darkness:He's lying... Shoot him... Shoot him before his words poison your mind! Amarok!

"I don't believe you!" Amarok hissed.

I tipped my head, "Then smell my fur, Clyde's scent is all over it."

Amarok stared in silence.

The chanting of the voices grew louder: Lies! Corrupted magic! Do not approach! The cycle must end! Kill him!_ KILL HIM NOW! _

I held out my arm toward Amarok, "Clyde's strong, and loyal. He hasn't forgotten about Everwinter, and compared to me he still sees the good in this place, as well as the potential our race holds."

"You're lying!" Amarok snapped with enough force to make a dusting of frost fall from his body.

"Am I? Then pull the trigger, and doom your son to be eaten by the abominations you've turned our kind into. Except for Clyde, of course, since you bargained with the Master and ordered Clyde to hide the enchanted plates."

The voices turned into a fervor: KILL HIM! NOW! OBEY! DO IT! AMAROK!_ OBEY! _

The gun's aim drifted from my body as Amarok stumbled back, "How... How did you know that?"

The voices kept going: He invaded the camp! Took your flesh and blood hostage! Tortured him! Made him talk! Coated his fur with the scent! __Do not believe the_ -_

Amarok looked toward the surrounding darkness and screamed, "Quiet, or I will throw this gun aside!"

• We had a deal - Amarok -

The Master's voice boomed across the room as it spoke through the aether.

Amarok stared into the darkness, "Yes, we did, on the contingent that you were telling the truth. Something I'm no longer sure about."

I spoke out loud, "The Master must have done something to you, otherwise you wouldn't be able to touch a weapon like that."

Amarok nodded and looked at me, "He withdrew the blessing, and made me a living creature once more. I'm free from the Master's control."

I drew a deep breath and felt a tinge of anger welling up inside, "You... knew what the blessing was?"

Amarok snapped, "Of course I knew! Of course I knew what the blessing did! But what choice did I have!? As long as our young lived, our race survived!"

The anger I felt faded within moments. I remembered the pain others had caused me, the cruel fates of the other mages, humans, and demi-wulfkins in Everwinter, but it no longer triggered the hatred I had once felt. Instead I found myself sympathizing with Amarok, and the choices he had faced. Instead of anger there was now pity at being handed such a fate.

"I can't blame you, Amarok. Not any longer," I said.

Amarok blinked, and chuckled without warning, "I... I can't believe this... I'm face to face with the one that has single-handedly brought Everwinter and this continent to ruin, and I find... Understanding? Compassion? Pity? For me?"

Compassion? I wouldn't know about that...

I held out my arms, "Clyde lives, and the Master's reign of terror is at an end. Make your choice, Amarok. Help me end all of this, or plunge everything that remains into darkness."

Amarok's muzzle wavered in silence and the gun was starting to point at the floor, "If you had just escaped Everwinter, then none of this would have happened. Why did you and Rastlin take the Star? How even?"

My arms moved to my sides once more, "It's a complicated story, Amarok. But I had no idea what Rastlin had given me, nor do I think he truly realized who he served either."

Amarok blinked, "Rastlin served... Someone else?"

• Aeternus -

The Master spoke, though I did not know why, "See, the Master knew as well."

"You could have handed the Star over to us, we would have let you live," Amarok whispered.

I stepped closer, "You may have, but the Master has plans that you can't possibly be aware. If you did then you wouldn't say such a thing. Why do you think he's been siphoning energy in this place for hundreds of years? Why his presence now spreads across the continent? Leaving nothing but undead and mutated creatures in its wake? This is not my fault, Amarok, if anything I just hastened what was already being planned."

Amarok lowered the gun, stared at the floor, and remained silent for a while, "I can't put the gun away, if I do then I'm dead in an instant."

"Do you believe me, Amarok?" I asked.

Amarok looked up, his muzzle hanged open, and his face grimaced as if struck by pain, "I... I never wanted this kind of life, to make these decisions. I've always done my best, but I couldn't disobey, for everyone's sake... for Clyde... But the Master never stopped, he took more and more people..."

"Don't make any sudden moves, Amarok... I'll step closer to you," I said, and approached.

Once I was within reaching distance, I raised my arm and held out my palm. Amarok closed his eyes and muzzle, and huffed the air through his nose.

"Clyde lives," Amarok whispered as his shoulders slouched and his tail dropped.

"The Star is powerful, Amarok. If you throw away the gun, then I'll enfold you in this shield. The Master won't be able to do a thing."

"Are you sure? Even if-" Amarok asked and looked up.

"Do it," I ordered.

Amarok looked to the side, held out the gun, slowly moved his arm, and then flung it loose. The entity was waiting, and it obeyed my will as the shield expanded with a blip that enclosed us both.

Amarok looked to me and spoke, "Something's wrong, Avery. The Master would never make things this easy, whatever you hoped to accomplish by coming here, you'd better do it quickly."

I nodded, "I am aware."

Amarok's ears clamped to his head as he looked toward the floor. The clothes on his body were loose, and I hadn't realized it until now, but the old wulfkin looked starved half to death.

"What now?" Amarok asked.

I can't transport him... I can't possibly protect him as the tower collapses...

But... There is one thing...

I reached into my jacket, searched for a moment and wondered if I had dropped it. Then I felt the shifting presence of the stone August had given me. Amarok's eyes widened as I brought out the colorful stone that kept shifting ever so subtly.

"This is a stone of fate, like the one I used to initially escape Everwinter. If you hold in your hand and focus, then it'll bring you to safety," I said.

Amarok blinked in wonder but held out his hands as I eased it into his palms, "I don't understand, but I will do as you ask if you are certain."

I smiled back, "Please, at the moment you're just in my way."

Amarok made a wheezing chuckle and grew a wide smile, "You're as impudent as always, runt."

I kept smiling and eyed him to make my point. Amarok nodded in understanding, closed his eyes, and squeezed the stone tight in his hands. For a moment nothing happened, and then he was gone in less time than it took for an eye to blink. The shield grew smaller once more, and formed a small bubble around me as I looked up toward the tower's ceiling.

"It's just you and me now... Isn't it about time that you give up? You've chased me across the continent, and probably wasted many lifetimes of energy. Doros is dead, and Amarok has abandoned you."

• You are ignorant -

The voice of the Master had changed, it sounded softer and more like an actual living being.

"Would it be too much to ask that you enlighten me before I kill you and probably myself in the process?" I asked.

Something moved within the darkness. A shape that contrasted the rest, as if there was a hole within space itself. For a moment it merely hovered, but then it began to grow.

It became, like black tar that pushed through a hole and flowed toward the ground. The substance undulated like a writhing maggot and began to pile up on the floor. I stepped back while the blob kept growing and growing until it stood like a large mound in the center of the room.

Its surface rippled like a disturbed body of water, and as I watched there was something budding at various places. The bulges expanded, grew ridges, and began to take on the shape of body-parts. An arm there, a leg sticking out somewhere else, and most disturbingly there were several heads being formed.

One bulge along the top of the mound grew higher than the others and began to loom over me. Its oily surface glistened in the light and one could see every detail forming. A human nose, flat mouth, and flowing hair. The eyes were pure black like the rest, but its eyelids moved as if the creature was blinking.

The eyes of the human like creature focused on me, and its mouth moved, "Tell me, do you think this is the first time this scenario has played out in this world?"

I found myself staring as I listened to the warm, feminine, and almost kind voice of the creature, "What do you mean?"

The tar like creature proceeded to speak in a language I had never heard before.

Moments later, as I watched in confusion, the creature smiled, "The language you just heard was known across much of this planet several millennia ago, long before any 'necromancers' and kingdoms of this age existed."

"And who are you, exactly?" I asked.

A feminine arm reached out of the tar and proceeded to point at her face, "I am one of many, but at the moment I am the speaker of the entity you call the 'Master'."

"I don't understand," I said.

The creature's arm sank into the tar once more, and a sigh was heard, "Once I was known as Teemir, and I served the archivists of Dejour. Those names mean nothing to you, but what happened to me might help you understand. You see, the archivists found records buried deep beneath the earth. The records described arcane rituals which promised great power, and described how to open a portal into the deeper layers of the aether. I was the first sacrifice and the energy of my life and that of many others were used to create a bridge between this reality, and that of the aether."

I gulped, "Is this what they call the 'cycle'? History repeating itself?"

Teemir nodded, "Yes, the cycle. Societies rise, questions are pondered, and one way or another they look toward the aether to satiate themselves."

"And then they open a vortex, which leads to... you? The Master?" I asked.

"In a manner of speaking, though you're missing a critical part of the puzzle," Teemir said.

"And that is?" I asked.

"Rastlin should have taught you the basics of how plants work, yes?" Teemir asked.

"... He did, how is that relevant?" I asked.

An arm extended from the tar, and pointed toward the light that leaked into the tower, "The sun is ever present, and its energy flows across the lands. Plant life arose and it used the sun as a power source to drive its growth. But that is not all, because life itself created more life. Insects, fish, mammals. None of whom directly use the power of the sun to grow."

"Is this a parallel regarding the aether?" I asked.

Teemir nodded once more, "Somewhere along the way, a new kind of life took shape. Life that could harness the energies present within the aether. Just like life created more life, life that used the aether created more life that made use of the aether."

"I've been told of intelligent creatures that could live in the presence of flux, life that didn't depend on the aether."

Teemir's shape glanced back toward the gun on the floor, "Yes... They are like poison to those of us that depend on the aether. An abnormality."

"And what is your point with all this?" I asked.

Teemir looked back at me, "Life that uses the aether passively feeds on energy that leaks into physical reality. The aether itself is as conscious as the sun is, it is not a living or thinking thing."

"So I've heard, but that raises the question of what you are?" I asked.

A glinting smile marked Teemir's expression, "What do you think happens when someone is sacrificed to the aether? When your flesh is stripped from your body and gets caught within the aether itself?"

I looked down and felt the weight of the conclusions that were forming in my mind, "Please don't tell me that..."

"What?" Teemir mused, "That sentient minds get trapped within the aether? Forever locked in their own personal hell? Surrounded only by their own thoughts and other minds that have since long been driven insane?"

As I watched her muse back and forth, the rest of the giant blob began to grow more features. The hands started reaching toward me, and the heads focused on me as they struggled to speak.

"Kill them all!" "Where am I!?" "They lied to us!" "What is this place!?" "The voices!" "Help me!"

As more and more voices joined the chorus it started to sound more akin to the old presence of the Master. A cacophony of screams that blended together to create a piercing shriek.

I stepped back and the blob grew calmer as Teemir leaned closer, "Do you believe me now?"

"Yes," I answered.

Teemir's tar-like form frowned, "Now, can you figure out the rest, or will I be forced to explain that as well?"

I glared back, "This does not change what you've done to me or others. By your own admittance you've slaughtered millions over the cycles, just to-"

Teemir waited for a moment, and then smiled, "Yes?"

I gulped, "What are you trying to achieve?"

Teemir's form stretched as she lowered herself to my height, and stared into my eyes, "Release. An end to the suffering of all those who have been sacrificed through the ages. You've been fighting the wrong enemy, Avery."

I shook my head, "Bullshit... How could your actions possibly lead to your release?"

Teemir chuckled and leaned back a little, "If you set fire to a forest, does it die?"

"No, there are roots, seeds, it'll take some time but the forest will regrow," I answered.

"But what if you purge the entire forest? What if every shred of living matter, every seed and root is destroyed?"

"Then the forest dies. What are you getting at?" I asked.

Anger spread on Teemir's face and her voice grew ragged, "The aether and creatures that depend on it exist in symbiosis. Their use of the aether feeds back into this place, and sustains our forms, and we won't be released from this hell unless all creatures that use the aether are destroyed. We will purge this planet, kill everyone, and everything. If you cared about others, about us, and all those who will be sacrificed in the future, then you'd help us."

I found no words.

Teemir's anger faded, and she withdrew further, "Do you understand now? We have no allies, and we find no understanding for our plight, yet we suffer eternally. Can you blame us, now that you know the truth?"

"There has to be another way," I said.

"We have tried, others have tried, so far we have found no solution," Teemir answered.

"What or who is Aeternus?" I asked.

"In the cycle before this, like all other cycles, we failed to purge this planet. Aeternus discovered the means to open a new vortex, we helped him do it, and our ability to influence physical reality grew once more. We promised him power and gave him blueprints for a massive machine. In reality the machine would wipe out all life on this continent, and allow us to spread. But he discovered the truth and tried to sabotage the machine. The unfinished machine tore a tear between our worlds, and we've been at an impasse ever since."

"Aeternus was trapped between worlds, and you lacked the power to take control of the continent," I said.

Teemir nodded, "You're finally starting to get the hang of things."

"What about me? Who am I?" I asked.

Teemir's eyes drifted and her voice softened, "You are one of the chess pieces in a game far beyond your control, and you have been given a fate that is as horrid as our own. Aeternus manipulated Rastlin, who in turn manipulated you."

"And the Star?" I said and pointed at my chest.

"There is always a vortex, and there is always a Star. If one exists, the other does as well. I have no better answer for you regarding that."

"And the entity?" I asked.

Teemir frowned and glanced toward the surrounding darkness for a moment, "Many of the sacrificed are common folk with no understanding of the magical arts. They're quickly driven insane within the aether, and change. They lose parts of themselves, and given enough time they start to merge with the aether's background noise. The entity within your chest is an example of such a fate. Hollow, crippled, with only base instincts. It has degraded to a point where it would rather serve you, than fight for its release."

"Why are you telling me all this?" I asked.

Teemir smiled and clasped her hands so that they melted together, "We know what you carry. Poison devised by Aeternus himself. It will collapse this tower and in turn seal the vortex. That is, until someone opens a new one, and the cycle begins anew."

"That's not much of an answer," I said.

Teemir's smile grew into a grin, "We are preparing you, Avery. Those that know what awaits them, always handle the transition in a better way."

"I... I don't understand," I stuttered.

Teemir tipped her head, "Did Aeternus tell you that you would die here? That's true in a sense, but you'll actually spend the rest of eternity with us, and believe me... after a few centuries like this you'll be more than eager to see this world end."

I shook my head, "I'd rather decapitate myself than to face a fate like that."

Teemir's expression grew into a twisted grin while she snickered to herself, "The entity fills you top to bottom, Avery. It won't let you kill yourself, and once the vortex closes, it will feed on you and bring you to our side."

"You're lying," I hissed.

"Am I? Surely you've noticed by now, how simple everything became? How your body restores itself?"

I stood there, muzzle hanging open, and I felt as if I was back in Everwinter. Facing a nightmare all over again.

"Like I said, Avery... Your fate is a cruel one, but not that different from what many of us have experienced," Teemir mused with a soft voice.

My gaze dropped to the floor, as I struggled to think, and felt as if I had been drained of all willpower.

Teemir whispered, "How about a compromise? You will stay your hand and the survivors of castle Dracwyn will be spared. We will leave you be, and you will not interfere as we deal with the rest of the planet."

"You mean, until you are done and return for our lives?" I asked.

Teemir nodded, "It will take years, decades perhaps. But all suffering will end, and you will have the chance to live out a happy life. That doesn't sound so bad, does it?"

I reached into my jacket, dug deep inside a reinforced pocket, and fished out Aeternus trinket. The small blue gem twinkled in the air, as if it was reacting to the situation at hand.

"I'm not sure who is telling the truth, maybe none of you are. But if you are defeated here, in this cycle, then there is some hope, no matter how small, that things can be fixed. Others have taught me that, and I choose to believe it. That's why I can't make the selfish choice here, even if it is tempting, because the ones I seek to save wouldn't approve."

Teemir didn't seem angry as she leaned back and gently stroked her cheek, "Aeternus chose well, it would seem. But the world never learns, because the truth is so horrifying that it is either hidden or mingled with myth. After all, who would have imagined that 'hell' is quite real, and all it takes to get there is a mage seeking power?"

"You don't seem very angry about it," I said.

"My anger faded a long time ago, but it doesn't matter. Our eventual victory is assured, simply because we are immortal. We just have to wait a bit further, until the next cycle, and that time you'll be with us."

Here goes...

It felt like flipping a switch. With one thought the gem's glow increased and the spell hidden within activated. To my surprise the gem seemed to fade away, and within a few seconds I found myself staring at my empty palm.

It scared me, and for a moment I expected Aeternus to pop out of some corner, revealing one final and cruel trick. But as my heart thumped and I waited, there was a tingle in the air, and my chest started feeling tight.

I began to understand on an instinctual level of what had happened. Something had been unleashed in the deeper layers of the aether, and I began to wonder if the gem had been little more than a beacon of some kind.

My hunch seemed to be right as Teemir suddenly clasped her head, and groaned, "That bastard."

The faces of the black ooze writhed, and their expressions contorted. The light within the room seemed to grow brighter, and cracks were forming in the thick vapor that made up the darkness. Without warning there was a sudden crunch from the floor, and as I looked down there was now a crack in the obsidian.

The crack spread outward, divided, and within moments it was like a spider's web spreading throughout the tower. Teemir shrank as more of her essence was pulled into the hole from which she had emerged.

A strange sensation hit me, and it began to feel as if my balance was shifting. It made me lean to my side in wonder, until a sudden roar ripped through the tower. The floor jumped, the walls split in several directions, and shards flew from the floor as more cracks appeared.

The tower... It's falling! I could stay... Let myself be crushed... Maybe that would-

A thunderous boom was heard as the ceiling split above me. Sunlight spilled into the room, and the light bathed Teemir's writhing form. It seemed to burn as smoke wafted from her form. A split second later the now cracked roof began to crumble. Large pieces of obsidian fell, and one piece landed near me with a loud boom.

Seeing the floor splinter and the sensation of the world tipping to the side, was enough to push any doubt out-of-the-way. My nerves screamed, gut tightened, and fur bristled. I leaped to the right, and ran toward the blimp, if only to live a few moments longer.

The remains of the blimp groaned as the surrounding walls started coming loose. Much of the balloon had already been popped, but the sections along the back were still intact and visibly bobbed back and forth as it struggled to break free.

I had almost reached the blimp when I realized that I could no longer see the horizon through the gaps in the tower. Instead I saw clear sky, and the sun looming amongst thick clouds. The reason came shortly after, as my paws started to their grip on the ground, and I was at the edge of entering free fall.

I scrambled in panic, my claws raked the floor which was now upright, and I felt a scream in my throat. My paws left the now falling wall, and my hands flailed in search of something to grab hold of. Without warning, I caught something and instinct struck deep. I clung to whatever I had caught with all my strength and felt it dig into the pads of my hands. It burned like fire, yet it worked as the floor and walls of the tower began to hurtle past me.

Shards of obsidian pelted me as I held tight, shut my eyes, and held on with gritted teeth. A rumble followed, everything shook, and the lifeline shook with enough force that I was rocked back and forth.

Without warning the air seemed to grow still, and I opened my eyes once more. My legs were shaking, my heart pounded, and I looked up in wonder. The blimp was aiming downward but still floated in the air, and in my hands were one of the mooring wires.

I climbed the last of the way, and grabbed hold of a warped piece of railing. As I pulled myself onto the remains of the blimp, I felt my energy waning. It tingled in my paws, and while I could still breathe it didn't feel like it was doing anything.

My gaze drifted toward the ground, and I was met a view of Everwinter that I had never seen before. The once mighty towers seemed oddly flat, the mountains looked like mere hills, and in the very center of it all was a crumbling tower of black obsidian.

For a short moment it almost felt serene, as if I was in the process of falling asleep. The thought was enough to stir my mind as I realized that the ground was in fact coming closer.

The blimp is falling... Just slower than the rest...

The chance of surviving was slim according to what I had been told, but if I were to have any chance, then I couldn't be in blimp's front, ready to slam straight into the ground.

I was about to start climbing into the ship when I caught sight of something odd on the ground. It made me focus and I saw that as the tower collapsed, it also disappeared into the depths of the mountain. As more of it disappeared it was replaced with an eerie red glow that moved as if it was... molten magma.

Great... Not only am I going to be eaten by the aether... But I'm also going to be dipped into a lake of lava...

I grabbed the railing, looked up, and tried to move. Despite pulling with all the strength I had, I didn't manage to budge from my spot. After a few more moments, my vision started to tingle and darken. Something sank in my heart as I leaned back and rested against the twisted railing of the blimp.

I can't see a way out of this... Maybe the stone of fate was meant for me? Did I... screw up?

I gave up. My gaze drifted to the skies as the air rushed against my fur, and I found myself relaxing.

At least there's a good view...

My thoughts started to drift, and suddenly the sky was no more. Instead I saw buildings and towers soaring past me.

Can't be long now... Moments until I hit the ground...

I shut my eyes, folded my ears back until I couldn't hear the rushing wind, and curled up to seek comfort in my own embrace.

Talwin is going to be so angry at me...