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Caves.
Relics.
People I loved … dying because of me.
No.
Gritting my teeth, I pushed back the fear. Not now.
Jaiel needed me.
Shifting his coat, I pressed my ear to his chest.
His heartbeat was weak, but he was alive!
"What should I do? How do I help you?" I whispered.
He didn't respond.
The shadowy wisps of his magic glowed in the darkness, licking at his closed eyes and mouth.
Was the monster winning the war inside him?
Gods be damned.
Sitting back on my heels, I reached out for him in the Korra Realm.
I'd hoped the monster and charisma would have calmed, but they had done anything but! His korra was rapidly alternating between the pulsing bright white of his charisma and the deep smoky black of his monster. As the two sides thrashed and tore at each other, his mind, body, and soul suffered. It was as if it were two beasts fighting for survival in a cage that was far too small for both.
Had he known this would happen? Had I been wrong about his reasons for not letting me help him?
In the distance, groans, and shrieks told me more wraiths were on their way, likely drawn by our fight.
We couldn't just stay here like defenseless targets.
Jaiel would have to keep himself alive while I got us to safety.
Slipping my ring back on, I hooked my arms under Jaiel's and began dragging him back to the fleirals.
Gods. Those muscles of his certainly didn't make him light!
My own muscles screamed as I dragged him, but fear strengthens you … and I was practically vibrating with it.
Mission accomplished, I leaned against the blue fleiral for a moment, Jaiel secured on my mount. My heart was racing, I could barely breathe, and my skin felt wet — but at least we had a chance now.
Tugging Jaiel's fleiral close, I did a quick knot to connect her lead to Jax's saddle, then climbed up behind Jaiel's limp body.
Now. Which way did we go? Back to the village or up to the ruins?
Pursing my lips, I looked back the way we'd come. Dusk had passed, and the road was only lit with moonlight — dark silhouettes shuffled toward us.
A gods forsaken sea of them.
To the ruins it was.
Chapter 35
Kaiya
