(2 Months Later)
Night fell over Valdar, but darkness had no place that evening. Torches and makeshift braziers burned in every alley and square, and the firelight kept bouncing off faces slick with drink and celebration. Winter's End had dragged the whole city into the streets.
The six were guided by a short, stocky man. Orzik led the way, and the group followed with guarded smiles.
He jabbed a finger toward a temporary wooden platform wedged into a cramped square and raised his voice over the din.
"They call that the Heresy Stage. Same routine every year, and people still eat it up."
Yulia leaned lightly on Vida's arm. The light kept catching in her green eyes, but her cheeks looked a touch sharper than before, and her lips barely managed a faint smile.
Cheers erupted as the show began. A man and a woman stepped out in plain white robes.
The man stopped by a wooden table, then reached down into a chameleon's belly with his bare hand. His fingers disappeared into gore; when he pulled back, his knuckles were slick with blood and slime—and a ring sat between them.
He turned to the woman and, with a ridiculous, grand theatrical voice, slid the filthy ring onto her finger.
"Morgana!… I love you!"
Moriana's breath hitched. Her eyes flared, and she whispered,
"Did he say… Morgana?!"
Hyran heard her and snorted, eyes still on the stage.
"Relax, witch. You're not that famous yet."
The woman clasped the man's slime-slicked hand and declared,
"We live and die together."
They hugged hard, smearing their white robes with sticky blood, then collapsed as if dead. The crowd roared and clapped like they'd just witnessed a masterpiece.
Hyran's mouth twisted.
"Is that really it? …What kind of bullshit was that?"
Yulia shot him a sidelong look, teasing.
"When it comes to art… less talking makes it hit harder."
Watching her friends smile despite it all, Vida spoke quietly, like she didn't want the moment to break.
"Even if it's nonsense, sharing it with you means a lot to me."
Gord patted her back, grinning.
"Since when did you get this good at sucking up?"
Moriana let out a long sigh.
"don't forget—she follows Zarius, king of ass-kissers."
Zarius cut in before it escalated, waving them onward.
"Alright, alright—next stop. Plenty more crap to do."
They pushed through firelit, crowded alleys. Laughter and shouting rolled over them in waves. As they walked, Moriana glanced up.
Through torch smoke and drifting ash, something far above moved—slow, wrong, distant. For a second, it looked like a pale veil turning in the air.
She looked forward again and pressed a hand to her left eye.
The world shimmered at the edges. Lights stretched into thin streaks, then snapped back.
Shooting stars?
Damn it—the Glerias backlash is still messing with my vision.
She forced her hand down and kept pace until they reached another square. At its center, a burly man stood behind a cart stacked with oversized wooden mugs and large pottery jugs of a dark drink.
Orzik pointed at him like he was introducing a local landmark.
"That's the Oathkeeper. He serves a shared brew—one cup for the whole group—to vow you'll all return together next year."
Hyran eyed the huge mug, unimpressed.
"Tsk... Boring. I'll drink last—and swear never to come back to Valdar."
Vida watched the barkeep pour and nodded, expression tight.
"After what we've been through here, I'm never coming back."
As soon as the pouring stopped, Vida hefted the mug and took a heavy swig. A trickle ran from the corner of her mouth and down her neck. She exhaled like she'd been holding something in her chest for days.
"Ahhhh."
She smiled and passed it to Zarius, then to Moriana, Gord, and Yulia. Hyran steadied the cup for her; when it reached him, he downed the rest in one go.
Moriana eyed Yulia, half-amused, as Yulia took a bold gulp.
"Hey—easy there, Yuli."
"Let her be, witch," Zarius cut in, winking at Yulia.
"For the record, it's her first drink—and it won't be the last."
Yulia covered her mouth, eyes watering a little."Not sure about that… I almost threw up."
She gagged —"urk"— and bent forward, leaning toward Hyran.
Hyran recoiled like she'd aimed a weapon at him."Hey—get off me, you little zombie!"
Gord replied in his usual flat tone, not even looking at him.
"You're a pile of shit already. What's a little puke to you?"
Hyran blinked, mock-offended.
"Look who finally learned to talk."
They shared small smiles after the oath drink and settled again, chatting amid the noise and foot traffic.
But Moriana's gaze drifted skyward again.
Through the smoke and rising lights, the same thing moved above—clearer now. Not a veil.
It looked like a torn sheet of human skin, floating. It rolled slowly as it drifted, as if the air itself was carrying it with careful hands.
Moriana rose without thinking, eyes narrowing. A cold spike of danger ran up her spine and sank into her gut.
At the same moment, Hyran's instincts flared. His sharp gaze snapped to where Moriana stared.
The fur along his neck bristled. Something in him screamed that death was already close. He tried to steady his breathing—tried to think—told himself to—
Before he finished the thought, his body shuddered.
There was no time left to analyze.
He bellowed, the cry rolling across Valdar.
"Take cover! It's coming!"
Zarius stared at him, alarmed.
"What's wrong, Hyran?!"
Hyran snapped his gaze to Moriana. Her clenched teeth, her stance, the way her arms were already rising—ready—confirmed everything he didn't want to be true.
Moriana said nothing, lifting her hands on instinct, eyes cold wide and locked on the sky.
Yulia noticed Moriana's face, her voice spiked with fear as she looked at the others around.
"Everyone, stand close to Mo—"
Before she could finish, two waves crashed from the sky—the first bright violet; the second, broader and crimson—
and together they wrapped Valdar whole.