Void, the time just before a mission is always the most nerve wracking. I can’t help but worry over every little thing before everything kicks off.

  -Neldor Uritoris

  Zareb Aleksi Barus felt a sense of dread as he lay next to his wife in their room.

  After finishing the preparations, he and Lusha had been eager to spend some alone time together. Whenever a confrontation with the Shadows was involved, anything could happen. One or even several of them could end up losing their lives in the upcoming battle.

  Lusha snuggled up to him in their shared cot. Though her expression was stoic, he could see the worry in her eyes. He pulled her in closer, and whispered into her ear, “Everything will be fine, my love.”

  She looked up at him, making eye contact as she flicked him on the forehead. “You don’t know that. So don’t lie to me.”

  He chuckled in spite of himself. “True enough. Anything can happen tomorrow.”

  “Yeah…” she swallowed hard. “Anything…”

  He kissed her on the forehead. “No matter what happens, I know you will be fine.”

  She glared at him. “Don’t speak as though you’re going to die tomorrow.”

  He didn’t respond, because just as she’d said, he had no way to know what would happen.

  They had two major goals to accomplish.

  One was to rescue Galen Daxton from the Shadows.

  The other was to get Aria Tufani on that airship and fly her to the Boundary of the Realm.

  In the worst case scenario, they had to make sure Galen went with her.

  Losing the Champion would throw a wrench into the Dominion’s plans. For how long, he didn’t know. But he knew from his time infiltrating them that many of their schemes for this world hinged on having Galen on their side, one way or another.

  However, that wasn’t the only reason he was willing to put his life on the line for the lad. He’d come to personally know the young man known as Galen Daxton. He was a good kid. One with a surprisingly good head on his shoulders given his circumstances. Zareb didn’t want to see him get broken and corrupted by Athanasius and the Dominion.

  He’d never had a son before, but if asked what he thought it’d be like to have one, Galen came to mind.

  They’d taken his sister from him.

  He would make sure they didn’t take anyone else.

  He looked down at Lusha, who was holding onto him with nearly frightful vigor. As if she was afraid he would disappear the moment she let go.

  Void, he hated that they had to work separately., but it was the best course of action given what options they had.

  He sincerely hoped Lusha survived the coming battle. He didn’t think he could live without her. Though she would deny it, he knew she COULD survive without him.

  That wasn’t to say he was looking to die. Of course not. But he had to be ready for anything. Particularly in regards to what caused him the most dread.

  The possibility of facing his nephew.

  It was a worry shared by Lusha, for she said, “If you wind up having to face Morpheus… run. Please…”

  “I may not have that choice, my love,” he whispered to her. “We both know that.”

  She bit her lip, eyes looking moist. “Then… then do you think you’ll be able to steel your resolve? Do you think you can do what needs to be done? Even if that means cutting him down?”

  Zareb couldn’t lie to her. She always had an uncanny ability to know when he was lying. So he told her the truth.

  “I don’t know…”

  Lusha didn’t respond for a long while. Just when he thought she’d fallen asleep, she whispered, “I pray that you don’t wind up facing him. Void, I hope that he’s one of the Shadows who investigates the distraction we have planned.”

  He nodded, but didn’t respond.

  The two of them held one another on what could possibly be their final night together.

  “I love you, Zareb…” Lusha whispered.

  “I love you too, Lusha…” he whispered back.

  The two locked eyes and kissed.

  ***

  “You know, I’m just now realizing I’ve NEVER seen an airship up close before,” Galen frowned as he glared accusingly at Morpheus. “What the heck, man?”

  Morpheus and Callista glanced at one another. The duo had come to inform him that they would be escorting him to the airship that had been docked the other day. They were to await the repairs there so that they could board the moment the maintenance was done.

  “Really?” Morpheus dared ask. “I could’ve sworn you already have.”

  The infuriating part was that he sounded genuine.

  “Well, I haven’t!” Galen fumed. “I’ve wanted to see one the moment I set my eyes on one back in my first trip into Ignis!”

  “I see… and did you voice that desire, Champion?” Callista asked.

  “Yes, I did!” he frowned. “I think?”

  Damn, did I? Actually, I don’t think I did… he realized.

  He let out an aggravated groan as he slapped himself on the forehead.

  “You completely forgot about it, didn’t you?” Morpheus asked him.

  Galen simply glared at the Shadow.

  His face was a neutral mask, but he could have sworn the man was trying to not crack a smile.

  He rolled his eyes. “Whatever. So, is it just going to be you two or will Agnar and Eshu be joining us too?”

  “They went ahead of us into town to scout. Can never be too careful,” Callista informed him.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  “Oh riiiiiight. I’ve got four members of an elite, shadowy, secret police guarding me. Each one an efficient killing machine that can slaughter dozens if not hundreds on their own. Despite that, I’m sure that someone will just try to mess with us.” Galen couldn’t put more sarcasm into his voice if he tried. “You know, because that isn’t a suicidal move.”

  Callista gave him a flat look. “Mock if you will, Champion, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re stuck with us.”

  “Don’t remind me,” he grumbled his reply.

  Outwardly, he tried to act normal, but on the inside he felt extremely tense. If ever there was a time for Aleksi to make his move, then it will have to be soon. If only he could somehow alert them that Agnar and Eshu were away…

  There was also another problem. That being that he had zero clue as to what the plan to rescue him was, as he hadn’t received another visit from Arvad. Though, given the Shadows had been extra diligent in guarding him as the time drew near, the bard had likely been unable to find an opening to catch him alone.

  “So, how are we going to go about this? Are we just gonna stroll through town or…”

  Morpheus went towards a nearby bookshelf in the hallway.

  “No…” Galen felt a drop of sweat roll down his neck. “Don’t tell me…”

  The Shadow pulled a specific book out part of the way. An audible click was heard. The shelf then spun in place, moving inward to reveal a hidden passage with stairs leading downward.

  Galen opened his mouth, closed it, then shook his head. “Do you have ANY idea how cliché that is?”

  Morpheus frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “Oh, you know, secret agent having a hidden passageway in his home. I bet you have more than one, maybe several.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “So damned cliché…” Galen sighed. “Really, why am I surprised? It makes sense that you’d have something like this…”

  “You seem strangely aggravated about this,” Callista noted.

  “Yeah, that’s because I should have realized something this freaking obvious!”

  That and this will probably complicate my rescue. I highly doubt Aleksi and the others know that Morpheus would have a secret passage like this. And even if they guessed he did, they wouldn’t know where it led.

  “You’re acting as though it’s normal for people to have secret passages in their homes,” Callista noted.

  “Normal for the average person? No! For you people? Heck yes!”

  “You certainly are stranger than my first impression of you led me to believe,” Callista commented.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “Sure, let’s go with that,” Callista responded.

  She and Morpheus nodded firmly to one another before ushering Galen towards the secret passage.

  “Wait, we’re going NOW? You guys aren’t even wearing that fancy armor,” he noted.

  The two Shadows, rather than being clad in their iconic, black armor, instead wore more normal, pedestrian clothing.

  “Don’t remind me…” Morpheus grumbled, clearly unhappy.

  “The armor attracts attention. At least, during the daytime it does. We’d cause a commotion walking through town with it on,” Callista explained.

  “It is rather intimidating,” Galen admitted.

  “Right?” Morpheus smiled. “I love wearing it. It’s surprisingly comfy.”

  “Is it heavy?” Galen asked, unable to stop his curiosity.

  “Yes, very much so. Far more than it appears to actually. Without Ether, a person likely wouldn’t be able to move much if at all in it,” the Shadow explained.

  “You men and your toys,” Callista scoffed. “You two can have this talk WHILE we walk. Let’s go. And put these on.”

  She handed them cloaks with hoods to wear, and they put them on as she did with her own.

  And so, Galen was ushered into the secret passageway with Morpheus in front and Callista in the back.

  Aleksi… Tufani… I sure hope you and the others are prepared for anything unexpected. This damned secret passage better not throw a wrench into my rescue… he thought with worry.

  ***

  Aria paced back and forth in the basement of Ironheart’s shop. She felt too anxious to sit still. How could she? Today, one way or another, her mission would end…

  Void, her hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

  “You know,” Redian spoke in her mind. “I’m not really designed to feel anxiety… but dang! You’re starting to make me develop the capacity to!”

  Shut it, she thought back to the sword.

  An even more aggravating voice spoke out to her. “You know, as experienced as I am in these sorts of things, watching you is making even ME feel nervous.”

  She glared at Malachi. “Remind me… why am I stuck here with YOU of all people?”

  The bard raised a brow. “I don’t know why you dislike me so much. I don’t recall doing anything to you to inspire such ire.”

  “Well, for one, you badmouthed my mother,” she reminded him.

  “I’ve already apologized for that.”

  “Yes, you did. But that’s not the main reason. Not anymore,” Aria admitted. “The main reason is that you’re too mysterious.”

  “I’d say that’s one of my virtues,” he smiled.

  “I don’t like mysteries.”

  “Well, you must be fun at parties…”

  “What’s a ‘parties?’”

  He stared at her incredulously. “Are you serious?”

  She merely stared.

  “Oh my… you’re not only a buzzkill and a source of anxiety, you’re also depressing!”

  “Tell me about it!” Redian chimed in her mind.

  “You didn’t answer my question,” she pressed, ignoring the sword. “Why am I stuck with you here?”

  “Because it’s my job to make sure you don’t run off, silly,” the bard smiled. “Last thing we need is for you to act with haste.”

  Void, I want to punch that face, she thought.

  “Hitting me won’t solve anything. Not that any blow from you would land, mind you. Even if, by some miracle or massive blunder on my part, it did, I highly doubt it would hurt.”

  Aria jumped. “How did you know what I was thinking?!”

  “I can’t read minds if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  “Then how? I’m certain I kept my expression neutral.”

  “You did. Remarkably so.”

  “Then-”

  “Your eyes betrayed your hostility,” he answered. “Void, I can practically see it reflecting in those intense orbs of yours. Don’t worry. Most wouldn’t have noticed.”

  “If so, how did you manage?”

  “I’m talented like that.”

  “You’re quite humble, aren’t you?”

  “I try to be. Though facts are facts, and I know I’m quite talented.”

  She huffed. “Then put those talents to good use in this mission.”

  A moment of silence passed.

  “It’ll be okay, you know,” the bard suddenly spoke.

  She paused, frowning. “What?”

  “It’s going to be okay,” he repeated, his expression serious and sympathetic. “This won’t be like the last time you were in a major conflict. Back then, there was mostly just the two of you. Now, you have far more help than you did before.”

  Aria’s breath hitched.

  That was why, she realized, her nerves felt so frayed. She closed her eyes. Images of her mother with a sword run through her chest played in her mind. The image of her overlapped now with that of Galen, who’d taken a blow meant for her.

  Her breathing began to quicken, rapidly escalating to hyperventilation. “I can’t… I can’t fail…. Not again…”

  “You won’t,” Malachi interrupted with a soothing tone. “We’re here to make sure of that. You’re not alone anymore, child.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut tighter. She felt a hot tear rolling down her cheek.

  A thumb brushed it away.

  She flinched, opening her eyes as she took an involuntary step back.

  Malachi stood before her, smiling. Only this time, rather than a condensing one, this one was oddly comforting. “You’ll be with him soon. Make sure you don’t let go.”

  She tilted her head in confusion and nodded.

  The bard looked towards the stairs for a long, silent moment before saying, “Come. Let’s get a move on.”

  Aria frowned. “I thought you were here to make sure I didn’t… what did you say? Act with haste?”

  The bard nodded. “I am, but we also need to start moving. I have a feeling things will start soon.”

  Aria sighed, but listened. She followed the mysterious man towards the stairs. She hoped to the Maker that Galen was alright.

  Stay strong, she thought. We’ll save you soon.

  Next chapter will be released Thursday, March 5th, 2026 at 3:00 PM PST.

  A huge thank you and special shoutout to my Page Tuner tier Patron, LOOKOUT, and my Lore Master tier Patrons, Mountain Knight, Conman2731, ThoMiCroN, MCE 2 Munchen 2, Voltrus, biburussus, and Daniel Krol. Your support is sincerely and greatly appreciated.