He drank it.
Bathed in it.
The gold dragon's blood tasted like sweet wine. Dark, ancient, alive. He could've drowned in it and still wanted more.
"Gah!" He choked, coughed, and breathing ragged.
Urithax lowered his head, smoldering eyes dimming as he squinted. "You are the first," the dragon said. "The first to bond with me."
Rhenvar wiped his mouth with the back of his gauntlet. The blood only made him thirstier, yet he ignored it.
"So, what happens now? Do the Gods forgive me or something?" Rhenvar let out a dry chuckle.
Urithax laughed, deep, dry, and bone-shaking.
"You will never be forgiven, eater of souls. But I have taken notice. And I offer you a chance."
Rhenvar narrowed his eyes. "What are you, really?"
A pause.
Then Urithax answered:
"I am a fallen God of this world. My white flames once parted the sky when I descended from the heavens. The Gods came to claim my soul for my crime. I killed them all."
"…Of course you did."
"It was I who allowed you to be summoned here."
"Pfft. Two god-killers just hanging out in a cave. Sounds about right." Rhenvar smirked.
Urithax's tail slowly coiled.
"My sister and I contacted your Goddess, the one who dwells in shadow. Together, we shaped the trials."
"For what?" Rhenvar asked. "What's the point of all this?"
"To give you gifts. To each of you: something."
Urithax's voice rumbled the cave like a storm.
"For you: death. For another: life. For the others, a companion."
Rhenvar's brows furrowed. "Why?"
"To help you build hope," Urithax answered. "So, when the time comes, you will not falter. So, we, those forgotten, will not sit idle while others wage war on the Worldeaters."
"You wanted to kill me before," Rhenvar said. "Why did you change your mind?"
Urithax's massive body shifted.
"I heard of you long before your crusade began. Crimson wings dripping with blood. Black fire that swallowed a world. You are a weapon forged by whose mind is Chaos… yet you refused to use her gifts willingly. You chose life. Laughter. Even refused death. Even the Worldheart inside you lies dormant."
"Pfft, yeah so?"
He lowered his head to the ground.
"You are at war with your soul. It was sealed once. But your emotions are free. The memories are coming back and with it, Chaos. So, the gift of death made sense. You can only hold on for so long, until you are consumed."
Rhenvar went quiet.
I've never thought of ending my life before the black flames take me… I don't know if I can go through with that.
Rhenvar's head ached.
"If my gift isn't death," Rhenvar said finally, "then what did you give me?"
Urithax's eyes glinted. "A chance."
Rhenvar jerked his head back.
"Could you just tell me instead of being cryptic every two seconds?"
Urithax snorted.
"Your physical strength is greater now; you no longer need to rely on magical enhancements alone. Your endurance too; even without your blood magic, your body will survive. But most important… your mind."
Urithax tapped his head with his claw.
"Your chaos magic will still threaten your sanity but now, you can resist it longer. Maybe even master it."
"…I'll take it," Rhenvar said, standing.
Rhenvar walked over and picked Viir up from the stone floor.
Urithax's massive body shifted again. "Now you may leave."
The cave opened, moonlight bleeding through the exit.
"In times of need," Urithax said, "you may call on me. Although I may not answer."
Rhenvar glanced back.
"Pfft. Just like every other god."
He stepped into the moonlight, exhausted, bloodied, but stronger.
He looked out at the vast field.
For a spirit world this place looks norm-
Violet fire hit him. Catching him by surprise.
A voice waited at the edge of the path.
"I've been waiting for you, my King Crow."
He was met with hungering turquoise eyes. A wide open smile and a face that held fixation that would chill anyone to the bone.
His heartbeat raced. Blood pulled toward her. Something about the woman felt familiar.
Holy shit, I can feel her soul. And it's beautiful.