58. Dan’thiel

fifty-eight

Dan'thiel

I furiously pace the floors of my cell, straining to hear any noises in the hallway beyond. I hold on to hope that Rynlin finds a way to release me. Let me know join the fight against the Underworld creatures. To fight alongside the Guardians. Somehow.

My fingers twitch at the idea, a yearning pulling at my stomach. I've never wanted anything more than to be out there. Fighting. Protecting. Not just rotting here in this godsforsaken cell.

My steps falter and I am brought to a sudden halt, my feet seemingly rooted in place, as if held by an invisible force. A tingling sensation spreads through my entire being. It's as if my very soul is being enveloped in a mysterious energy.

I stare at my hands in awe, slowly lifting them up before me. They glisten with a translucent light, almost ethereal in appearance. Delicate wisps of smoke floating away on a gentle breeze.

My eyes widen to the point of pain. This is it. The Vessel and the Shards, our last hope, have failed. My heart plummets into a bottomless pit, knowing that Yurghen has emerged victorious. Eyveriel, Mira, Cor'than - all doomed to an eternal slumber.

In my last moments of consciousness, a haunting thought lingers in my mind - The fate of the entire world is lost in the hands of our enemy.

I take a deep breath.

Breath. Life.

Musky dirt and distant smoke tangles with the metallic scent of blood heavy in the air. The sound of chaos ring distantly in my ear. My eyes open on instinct in a dimly lit room.

Mira stands hand in hand with Cor'than, their fingers intertwined tightly as if drawing strength from one another. Their backs are against an empty stone hearth in a humble peasant home. Mira's cheeks are streaked with tears and dirt, her expression twisted in a combination of grief and anger. My confusion gives way to horror as I notice the four lifeless bodies lying on the ground around them, their eyes glazed with peaceful acceptance.

The Shards lie around what looks like a hastily drawn ritual summoning circle where I now stand in the center. Two of the Shards, Sunder and Bobble, are still holding hands with glazed eyes, staring but not seeing.

"They did it."

I let out a gasp of disbelief as my mind tries to comprehend the situation. Despite the awe and excitement bubbling inside me, Cor'than's presence beside me brings a sense of unease as he steps forward. As Mira weeps into her own embrace, her gut-wrenching sobs drown out any thoughts of celebration or hope that I may have had. Part of me wants to rejoice in victory, but another part is filled with guilt and sorrow for what it has cost her.

"So, it is you." As Cor'than's hand reaches my shoulder, I feel the weight of all the years of anger. But now I see the toll that ruling has taken on him. His face is lined with worry and his burden seems almost unbearable. Despite all the criticism I had thrown at his rule from afar, seeing him in person brings them to a faltering stop.

"You were right to unseat me, Cor'than. I was never half the king you are. I should have given you the crown from the beginning."

My words don't catch him off guard. He responds with confidence and composure, like a natural leader who has heard these words before and believes them to be true. "Thank you, but I made many mistakes."

I glance back at Mira, and Cor'than moves towards the far corners of the room, giving us a semblance of privacy. But in reality, it is not necessary.

"When I channeled through you at Yurghen's tower, I built a connection with him. I started getting glimpses of his mind, just snippets of his thoughts. His life. And I learned something in those moments," I tell her. "It's his wife's soul he's looking for. He's willing to break the known world, the afterlife itself, to bring her back."

She stands there, arms crossed tightly over her chest, a clear barrier between us. Anger emanates from her, the resentment twisting her features into something unfamiliar. She remains unresponsive and doesn't ask any questions. Standing by her fallen loves, she maintains a silent vigil.

The lack of the mate bond snapping between us is enough to finalize the decision that's been building in the back of my mind since our Dreamshare together. I take a breath, savoring the wholeness deep inside me for just a moment longer.

"I never deserved you, Mira. Not for a single day. Take care of them for me," I say, nodding to the Shards on the ground. She blinks, stepping forward with a rush of confusion as I mutter words of a lost language beneath my breath.

A sudden, intense pressure builds in my chest until it feels like it's about to burst. Suddenly, my entire being ruptures and a brilliant display of light, colors, and energy pours out of me like a raging river. It cascades onto the ground, each drop bursting with magic and secrets waiting to be discovered. The four Shards, previously lifeless objects, now hover above the ground as though lifted by an invisible force. As I sink lower, the intensity of the Chroma continues to pour out of me, creating a mesmerizing display that is both beautiful and terrifying.

The gentle glow of pure white Chroma fills the room, casting a serene light on the figures lying as if only in slumber. As their consciousness slowly returns to them, they stir and blink in confusion, letting out soft groans as they piece together their surroundings.

My soul shatters once more, the familiar feeling of brokenness settling deep within me. But this time, it's not a temporary fracture caused by an outside force. It's a permanent breaking, one that I have chosen for myself. No longer under the manipulation of a vengeful lover corrupted by a dark mage, this is my own decision to break myself apart.

The pieces scatter and fall, leaving me raw and empty, but also free from the confines of someone else's control. My heart feels like shattered glass, sharp and jagged, and I watch the flow of Chroma slowly knit together the souls of each of the Shards. The pieces of me, each becoming whole.

This is my choice, my agency reclaimed.

For her.

For them.

To give this world a chance.