For the good of Elyria. So two others may rise.
We reached the mess hall, and Sasori pushed the doors open with a loud clang, only to be met with emptiness.
“Fuck,” I swore. He was supposed to be here—I’d planned it so his Vessel wasn’t strong enough for his power. An incapacity that would render him nearly useless and extremely vulnerable in battle. Of course, I should have known that my friend would stay noble and true to the very end—he would rather die protecting what he loved than save his own skin.
How alike we are in that regard. Rohak was always more steadfast and vocal in his beliefs, even if he never knew we were ultimately working toward the same goal.
“I’m sorry, my liege,” Sasori placated, head whipping around as if Rohak were hiding in one of the corners of the room. “I am sorry for Lex’s impertinence. If he had followed orders, we could have located the General with the communication orb.”
“Bring me outside,” I commanded, ignoring her tirade. She was nearly as insufferable as her father. The only reason I’d allowed her to Bond one of my Mages in the first place was because of her father’s position as Lord of Kiluo. Without access to the plentiful Vessels that lived in his territory, Rohak would not have found the right Vessel at the right time.
It was the right, strategic move, but now I had to endure her insufferableness.
The Vessel nodded curtly before striding purposefully toward the doors.
How did Lex endure her presence for so long? And to have sex with her on multiple occasions?I shuddered at the thought.
The Academy doors were already thrown open, bright flashing lights of magic coursing through the air were accompanied by the sounds of swords clashing, magic booming, and screams of the dying.
My heart rate never increased, despite the utter carnage that awaited outside the Academy. I was bred for battle—for this exact moment.
My death was sealed, as was the outcome of this fight. There was no reason to fear.
I quickly scanned the darkened space, searching for the telltale sign of my best friend. He’d be in the middle of the fray, undoubtedly protecting some innocent or other.
The sky lit with the flash of lightning—a storm conjured by a Water and Earth Mage, no doubt—and I instantly found him in the brief illumination, like my soul would always be drawn to his.
As I predicted, Rohak was in the direct middle of battle, a sword clutched in his right hand, his Vessel’s palm clasped in his other. A mass of five challengers closed in on him, snarling and poking as they went. It was clear that Gisei had never experienced conflict before; the whites of her eyes were so large they were practically visible from here, and Rohak continually had to yank her behind his body. And there, beneath his feet, was an unconscious female.
She’s going to get him killed.
“There! There he is, my liege!” Sasori exclaimed, her finger pointing to Rohak, and I rolled my eyes.
“Yes, I see that, thank you,” I snarked. “Stay here, Sasori. Do not move from this spot until the battle is over.” The Vessel blanched at the order, but froze nonetheless.
“As you command, King d’Refan.” She bowed stiffly, retreating to the shadows of the Academy’s entrance.
Good. Stay there.
Jarius had given me a few alternate endings—ones where Sasori ultimately killed Rohak, and I couldnothave that happen. He needed to survive—to live and bring Elyria out of the dark mess I created.
He’ll be good at that.
“ROHAK!” I shouted and watched in strange fascination as the battle directly beneath the Academy steps halted, all eyes turned to me. Elsewhere, the fighting raged on, and I watched as a particularly large spear fashioned from one of the trees in the manor’s courtyard flew through the air to skewer one of our Mages through the belly, her body pinned to the ground as blood leaked from the wound.
“Alois,” Rohak growled, and I felt his anger in the depths of my soul.
“Your fight is with me, I brought them here, after all!” I gestured to the gods’ army, easy to spot due to the untrained tactics they used against both our army and the rebels.
Rohak yanked his Vessel behind him, releasing her hand to grip his sword with both.
I held my arms wide, exposing my torso as I slowly descended the steps of the Academy, my bare feet slapping against the wet stone staircase as the deluge of rain instantly soaked my clothes and hair. I paid no mind to the battle raging on either side of my outstretched arms, I would survive until I met Rohak, after all.
Blood and water soaked the bottoms of my pants and painted my feet a light red.
Rohak met me in the middle of the path, his chest nearly bumping my own.
“What. Did. You. Say?” he gritted through his teeth, his breath fanning across my face.
