28. Kazrith

My hands are still shaking from the adrenaline rush of fighting Zathex. It is a strange feeling of exhaustion that slowly takes over as I come down from the thrill. I gave him everything I had, and now there's almost nothing left.

But I must go on. Another cry rings out through the hallways downstairs, recognizable as Hanna's.

I descend to the lower floor, looking around in desperation for any signs of her.

"What the?"

I spot an open doorway which seems to have been hidden behind a bookshelf. From the threshold comes a lingering chill, layered with the stench of mold and mildew.

As I draw closer in caution, my skin feels the prick of the bitter, cold temperature. The lit sconces illuminate a narrow stairwell, its width too small for my liking.

"She must have gone down here. I better get a move on."

In the blink of an eye, I descend the stairwell without wasting time trying to squeeze through it, thanks to my shadow powers.

"What on Aerasak…"

I peer around in shock and awe, finding myself in a basement far bigger than the house itself.

There's nothing but junk all around me, littered with too many directions to take. The more I search, the more routes I find.

"What kind of labyrinth is this? Shit… Where could Hanna have gone?"

I don't know where to start with this damned maze. Her voice rings out again, luckily pointing me in the right direction.

But then there comes another exclaim, one belonging to a man. It's too quick for me to analyze, there's no way of determining who it was.

I hope that's her father… If it's a guard, it might already be too late.

"I'm coming, Hanna! Just hold on!"

As I run, the worst scenarios force their way to the front of my mind. Visions of guards standing over a bruised and beaten Hanna haunt me. Then I see her as a lifeless corpse.

Could this all have been for nothing? Taking her to safety, plotting her father's rescue, and scheming Zathex's murder?

No, stop thinking like that, I think to myself, my heart pounding in my chest as I traverse the basement.

A cold sweat breaks out, and I feel sick to my stomach. It doesn't help that the stench in the air is borderline unbearable.

My fears bubble in my throat. It hurts to swallow the possibility that I may just stumble upon my worst nightmare.

The sight of rotting skeletons in their forgotten cells and blood stains on the walls only amplifies my anxiety.

"Kazrith!" she calls out again.

"I'm almost there!" I yell, following the close proximity of her voice.

It certainly doesn't sound like she's in danger, but I have to be sure. I turn a corner and meet with a dead end at the rear and cells on each side of the wall leading to it.

The final cell is where I spot Hanna, hunched over as if in pain.

"Hanna!"

She looks over her shoulder at me, then moves, revealing a frail figure resting in her arms.

Upon first glance, I think it is a stray enemy she has bested, but as I draw closer, I see the stranger is a human.

Then it clicks. It must be her father.

He looks up at me with a strained face of agony. I glance between him and Hanna, tears streaming down both their faces.

He smiles, though it's clear it hurts him to do so. She smiles at him, hands protectively coiled around his shoulders.

They share a look of love with each other, perhaps now realizing everything will be alright now that I'm here.

A rush of emotions hits me all at once. I'm elated to see her father alive, to see them have the grand reunion Hanna had been anticipating for the last while.

But a tinge of sadness layers itself into the depths of my heart. I know this reunion means the complete success of our mission, spelling the end of my journey with Hanna.

Remember the mission.

I clear my throat, stepping forward as I offer a hand to her father.

"You were a hard man to find it seems," I say. "Hanna never went a day without speaking about you. I'm glad to see you alive and in one piece."

"You must be Kazrith," he says.

Hanna must have told him all about me.

"My name is Thomas. I owe you a massive debt for looking after my daughter in my absence."

"Look after her? No, she's a strong woman. She can handle herself, I only lent assistance."

"Indeed, she's more than capable of being independent," he says, smiling at Hanna who returns the gesture. "I knew she'd be okay, but as a father, I couldn't help but worry. Still, you have my gratitude for your help."

I bow my head to show my respect.

"I needed her as much as she needed me. You raised a gifted fighter, Thomas, and a wonderful human being."

"Kazrith, are you alright?" Hanna asks, running her hands over my wounds.

"Just a few bumps and bruises, it's nothing I can't deal with."

"And Zathex? Is he…"

"Yes," I say, taking her hand. "None of us will have to worry about him anymore. However, I'm afraid we must be leaving. Dawn will soon break, and the xaphans will discover the mess we've left behind."

"Best news I've heard all day," she says. "But before we go, there's something I want I need to tell you."

I know what it is, that we've reached the end of the road together. The moment of our separation has finally caught up to us, I couldn't be any less ready to face it.

As I look into her eyes, my mind repeats everything we went through together. I think of how I first found her in my cart, how we sold our wares together in Merax, holding each other in bed, and dining across from one another at the table.

All of them are memories that I'll hold near and dear to me for the rest of my life. Memories that'll bring me a smile, and a fresh puncture to the heart.

She'll never know how I truly feel about her… But it's not like it matters anyway. She's back where she wanted to be.

I swallow my pride and reach out my hand, resting it on her shoulder. She tilts her head in confusion, her studious eyes reading me.

"There's no need to talk anymore, Hanna," I say, my throat closing up. "I know what it is you wish to tell me. I don't think I have the strength to hear it."

I lean forward and kiss her on the cheek. As I pull back, my eyes linger on hers.

I can only manage it for a moment before I rip my line of sight away. If I look at her any longer, I'll go insane.

"You must get back to the safety of your home."

"What? Kazrith, what's up with you? And why are you saying that? Don't you mean ‘we'?"

"I'm not coming with you, Hanna," I say, glaring up at the ceiling with my back turned to her. "Don't worry, I'll make sure the path is safe before I make myself scarce."

"But… I don't understand."

"I must depart for Ikoth immediately. If I remain here any longer, I fear there'll be more trouble than I'm already dealing with. You can't afford to be seen with me anymore."

I take a step forward when she calls out again.

"Hanna, please don't make this any harder than this needs to be."

I look to the end of the hallway, knowing that once I turn the corner, I'll never have the privilege of laying my eyes upon such a beautiful creature again.

Only then will the pain of her absence begin its abysmal wrath on my soul, but it is one I will accept. Knowing she'll be happy with her father is more than enough consolation.

If I linger in this wretched city any longer, I am only prolonging the inevitable.

I best get this heartbreak over with, though it may never end.

Closing my eyes, I hold back the last assault of tears.

"Goodbye, Hanna. You were the greatest person I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. You'll remain in my thoughts."

I force myself to walk, each step resisted with the heavy weight of heartbreak. I know I'm ripping myself away from true happiness, but what choice do I have?

I saw the mission through. It shouldn't be this hard to walk away. But I have to, even if I never intended on catching feelings for the human stowaway I found in my cart.

"Kazrith!" she yells more passionately than ever before.

I don't know how, but the force of her tone stops me dead in my tracks, unable to take another step.

"You're not going anywhere, at least not until you've heard what I have to say!"

I muster every ounce of strength within me to turn around, doing so slowly as I notice her approaching.

In her eyes, I do not expect to find a glimmer of hope but that is exactly what I see. What else could she possibly be hoping for right now?

My heart feels as though it's about to burst from my chest.