I walked back over to the others and asked, "So, are you all attached to staying here, or...?"

  "After three months, I'd do anything to be away from here." Sophia flattened her dress with her hands. "I'd also do anything for a bath and a change of clothes. I'm confident that I have never been so filthy."

  Her words nagged at me again. Something was wrong with their story. I tapped my jaw and thought. Something fell on my neck. I swatted at it, but whatever it was, it disappeared before I could get it. "What did you just say?"

  "I've never been so filthy."

  "Before that."

  "After three months, I'd like to leave."

  That was it. The times didn't add up. "What do you mean, three months?"

  "It has been three months since Thadrian returned with supplies."

  "I know you lot aren't the brightest lights in the sky, but don't be dumb. We just left the merchants this morning." Vral shot back at her friend.

  "That... doesn't make sense." Thadrian rubbed his gauntlet-covered hands on bald forehead. "It was three months. I'm sure of it." As one, the eyes of the three ghouls and the duchess drifted to the corner of the room. There, arranged in rows were three crates. Each was open, and all but one was empty. Behind them were markings on the wall. They'd been counting the days.

  "That doesn't make sense. Alex, what do you think is going on?" The goblin looked up at me.

  "Vral, I think we need to get back to Tristan." I turned and rushed toward the shattered doors. Without thinking, I veered to the side and snatched up my sword. Thrusting it into my sheath, I watched as the leather warped until it fit the single-edged sword perfectly.

  Looking back at the others, I saw that the room subtly shifted. It was still hot and dank, but the proportions were off. The black energy covering the walls was gone, revealing the ancient, weathered stone, and the decay was worse than it appeared mere moments before. The walls were crumbling away, and small chips of plaster were raining from the ceiling.

  I could feel something in the air. A faint shimmering in the air told me that something was happening. A hissing, popping noise filled the air. Turning to the source of the sound, I couldn't help but gasp. The Black Flame was sputtering and choking as if it were being smothered by an invisible blanket. Small motes of light were floating around it, and every time the light and the flame touched, the flame guttered out. I could only assume that effect was courtesy of Tristan.

  Whatever it was, it must have interfered with the Black Flame's magic. Or something. I didn't know what, but I knew one thing. We had to leave.

  You must go. This place has come to an end.

  There was panic in the sword's voice. I felt the same panic rising within me.

  "Alex, wait. What's wrong?" Vral shouted behind me.

  "We need to get out of here! I don't know how to explain it, but this castle's about to go through some shit, and I don't want to be in here when it does."

  "What do you mean?" Vral ran after me and grabbed my arm, but I didn't stop. Instead, I scooped her up and threw her over my shoulders.

  "Thadrian, grab your lady and move out. And stay glued to me. This place fucks with your head." I had no idea what their undead eyes could see, but I didn't really care. I just knew we had to get out. I heard the noblewoman squawk behind me as I hustled away from them. A moment later heavy footsteps fell in line behind me as we rushed out of the room and down the hallway.

  "What's the rush?" Thadrian asked behind me.

  "Can't you feel it?" I replied. "The ground, the air, everything. It feels like it's vibrating. Something's about to happen."

  "I don't feel anything." Lucan's voice.

  "Just trust me and move!" I shouted over my shoulder.

  As we ran down the hallway, I realized everything looked different now. The hallway was more ruined than before, and the statue we hid behind was half-crumbled away. Instead of a maze of rooms, a large set of double doors stood open at the end of the hall. Rushing through them, I turned to make sure the others were following. Luckily, the ghouls hadn't fallen behind. Thadrian carried his mistress princess-style, while his companions followed.

  Save yourself.

  My sword urged me forward.

  Through the double doors was a large hall. I went to take the stairs, but I saw that they were rotten. Casting my gaze around the room, I saw that everything in it had long ago decayed. Everything save for a single painting.

  The painting hung in a rotten frame on the far wall. It depicted a tall man dressed in exotic robes holding an ornate golden staff or rod of some kind. His long black hair framed a grey-skinned face. He was smiling in that way that people smile when they hear a joke that only they understand. It struck me that he would be handsome if not for his cruel deep red eyes and pointed teeth.

  Below him were a large set of iron-studded double doors. I took a deep breath and leaped over the railing. An instant later, I landed on the ground with a loud thud. Three more thuds followed. Thanking my Reial-enhanced knees, I rushed to the double doors. A thick wooden beam held them shut. Positioning myself under it, I heaved with all my strength, but it barely shifted.

  "A little help here!" I cast a glance at the others, but their faces told me they couldn't see it. It was all on me.

  With a deep breath, I squatted, braced my arms against the beam, and gave it everything I had. With a loud groan, the wooden beam broke loose and rattled to the ground. I threw the doors open and took the final step into the light. The instant I passed through the entryway, the castle shuddered, and a horrible cracking sound filled the air. And in the distance, I heard something else. A voice, crying out in pain.

  It was Tristan.

  I took several steps but was hit with a blinding flash of light. The ground rumbled. I nearly fell, but Vral leaned back, allowing me to catch myself. Once I got my footing, I spun around. My heart nearly fell out of my ass. Standing inches outside the doorway to the keep was the trio of knights and their mistress, but in the doorway behind them was a vast, empty nothing. The ground seemed to end at the entrance, and behind them, there was a swirling black void.

  In the center of that void floated the flame. It writhed and groaned against Tristan's spell. As I watched, it seemed to swell until doubled in size, but the motes of light grew more and more dense until the void shimmered around the flame.

  "What the fuck?" Vral screamed.

  Tendrils of black mist floated off of everything and streamed toward the flame. The three knights shuddered as the darkness bled from their bodies into the air and flowed toward the fire, which greedily lapped it up and grew. The ruins around us crumbled as the energy that infused everything bled away, returning to its source.

  "We have to go!" I shouted to the ghouls, but I realized the black mist was pouring off of them too. Lucan tried to take a step, but when his foot struck the ground, his leg crumbled into dust.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  Thadrian's eyes met mine, and a grim look crossed his face. He set the woman in his arms down and gave her a soft push forward. As he did, his hand crumbled away. "Sir Alex. I entrust the safety of our lady to you. Take care of her." He smiled at the noblewoman. "Be well, Sophia."

  "Don't you dare," Sophia croaked, reaching out her slender hand to touch Thadrian. He reached toward her, but her fingers passed through his as if they were nothing more than smoke and ash.

  The three men bowed to their mistress. Dainar spoke up, his voice thick with emotion. "We leave you here, milady. May the Goddess bless you with good fortune."

  Lucan smirked and pointed at Vral. "Take care of her, you dumb bitch. And I'll see you on the other side for our rematch." His black eyes softened as he looked back at Sophia. With a soft, loving voice, he said, "Live your life. Have no regrets. And remember us fondly."

  The black mist poured from their frames until, at last, it was spent. No longer fueled by it, the men's bodies disintegrated into dust.

  Sophia grabbed me and began to sob. Picking her up into my arms, I rushed out of the inner courtyard as the ground crumbled beneath my feet.

  "Move it, you big buffoon!" Vral's voice shouted in my ear.

  "I'm trying!" I pushed my legs as hard as they'd allow and beyond, but I wasn't fast enough. The ground buckled under my feet, and for an instant, I thought we were done for. That's when I heard my sword's voice.

  I refuse to return to nothing.

  A red flash emitted from the pommel.

  In an instant, it was as if every single nerve in my body was on fire. My muscles burned. My lungs strained. My sight tunneled. All around me, the color drained from the world. Time slowed to a crawl. With a single heave, I burst forward. Like a bolt, I rocketed past the crumbled buildings in the outer courtyard and through a gap in the wall. The instant my feet hit the withered grass beyond, the earth shuddered, and a deafening roar filled the air. A massive plume of dust followed.

  I looked either way, trying to get my bearings, and there, far to my left, was a prone figure writhing on the ground, light emanating from its skin like wisps of flame. Its cries pierced the air.

  Tristan.

  Using the final dregs of that incredible power, I charged to her. When I got close, my skin prickled and burned. The light pouring off her felt worse than the intense sunlight in the height of summer. Setting Vral and Sophia down, I called out to the priestess. "Tristan! We're here!"

  A pitiful groan was her only response.

  "I need this." Snatching Vral's cloak from her shoulders, I wrapped it around my face and head and stepped into the globe of light surrounding Tristan. Immediately, my skin felt like it was on fire, but I powered through. There was some form of pressure around her, almost like a strong wind was blowing me backward. Step by agonizing step, I marched to the quarter-elf until, at last, I dropped to my knees and pulled her into my arms.

  "Ughhh..." Her tear-streaked face was twisted in pain. Snot dribbled from her nose, and her robes were soaked with sweat. Her aura was visible to the naked eye and thrashed outward from her skin. It scorched me everywhere it touched, but I paid it no mind. Placing a gloved hand on her cheek, I waited.

  At first, she squirmed in my arms. But, slowly, her eyes opened. They swam as if she couldn't focus and glowed with an inner light. Instead of her normal sapphire blue, they were that shimmered golden white color of the sun. I shielded my eyes with my free hand and waited.

  "You're okay." Tears streamed down her face. She reached up and touched my cheek. Her fingers were fire. "I'm glad"

  "I'm here. I've got you."

  "You always do." She smiled weakly. "Did it work?"

  "It did. You did it. You're incredible."

  A look of pure relief filled her face. Taking her hand in mine, I watched as the light surrounding her grew brighter. I gritted my teeth as my skin burned and the smell of scorched leather rose from my armor. Then, with a flash, the bright light pulsed off her. In the distance where the keep had been, a final, pitiful shriek sounded, the ground shook, and then all that was left was the thick dust in the air.

  The instant the spell released, Tristan's eyes lolled in her head, and she fell unconscious.

  Fishing in my belt pouch, I pulled out the two remaining red potions Farvad gave me. Uncorking both with my teeth, I drank half of one, then pressed each to her lips and poured. When she didn't swallow, I massaged her throat. There was nothing at first. The red liquid merely poured into her mouth and sat. But, with a little coaxing, she moaned, choked, then swallowed the bitter liquid down.

  "Fucking fuck on a fuck," she choked out, the red liquid dribbling from her lips.

  "I taught her that." Vral giggled. Walking up behind me, she snatched the cloak off my head. Throwing it over her shoulders, her eyes met mine, and she burst out laughing.

  "What?" I grumbled and swatted at the goblin, who skittered away from my strikes.

  "Oh, you'll see when we get you to a mirror." She sauntered back up and patted my shoulder. "It's alright though. Gives you character." Then, with another giggle, she turned away and walked to Sophia.

  The noblewoman was standing, hands clasped, a few yards away facing the cloud of dust where the old keep had been. Tears streamed down her face. Vral walked up to her and wrapped an arm around her waist. With a squeeze, the goblin whispered something to her. The noblewoman nodded. Together, they stood and watched as the dust settled.

  "You didn't do anything too stupid, did you?" Tristan was smiling at me. Her lips were cracked, and her skin was about ten shades darker than it had been hours before.

  "Oh, you know, nothing too crazy." I decided we'd talk about the beautiful talking sword another time. Also, in my defense, I was totally tricked into going back for it. Also in my defense, I was fairly certain we only survived because I did.

  My strength is yours.

  "You're not telling me something."

  My heart skipped a beat. Could the sword read my mind too? "I, um..."

  "It's okay. When you're ready." Tristan sat up in my lap. "Mind helping me up?"

  Rather than offering a hand, I scooped my arms under her neck and knees and stood up.

  She blushed as I took a few steps toward the others and sat her down. "I... I always wanted to know what that felt like. And now you've gone and carried me again." She smiled at me and squeezed my hand.

  "It won't be the last time."

  "So, who's she?" She nodded at Sophia.

  "Sophia, a Duchess, I think. She and Vral are friends. I think."

  "Complicated?"

  "Yeah. It was just... kind of wild, really. We'll talk about it a little later. But, I think we did good."

  As the words left my lips, words appeared in my mind.

  You have completed the quest [Ghouls Just Want to Have Funds].

  You reach [Guardian] level 4

  Hell yeah. "Did you get that?"

  Tristan nodded. "Yeah. Another quest down. That makes two! I'm level five now." She beamed. "We're actually doing it, partner."

  "Wait, when did you level past me?"

  "I told you I've been training hard. Guess you need to work harder." She stuck out her tongue and wobbled toward Vral and Sophia.

  I followed. As I did, I noticed Tristan looked off. Besides the hobbling and obvious pain she was in, her build seemed off. Her face was gaunt, and her arms were thin, her muscles clearly visible underneath.

  Turning, her eyes met mine. "The spell ate into my animus and corpus. I won't be able to use any magic for a while." She looked uncertain. "Will that be okay?"

  She looked bashful. Stepping forward, I put my hand on her hip. "Of course. And if the walk's too hard, you can ride on my shoulders this time. It's your turn anyway after all the times I spoiled Vral."

  "Ew, no, dummy. Do you realize how filthy you are?" Her face blanched as she looked me up and down. "And you stink. I'll walk, thanks."

  Looking down at myself, I shuddered. I was absolutely coated in streaks of dry black blood. Dust was caked onto every inch of my exposed skin, and every exposed bit of metal was filthy. Plus, I could smell myself now, and it wasn't good. I smelled horrible when I first woke up in this world, but now?

  Somehow I smelled worse.

  "No more touching until we get you bathed." With her thumb and forefinger, she pried my hand off her hip and took more than a few steps away.

  I chuckled. "Fair enough." Turning to Sophia, I said, "Take as much time as you need."

  The woman reached down and squeezed Vral's shoulder, wiped her face, and then turned to us. "I'm ready. Thank you."

  "Are you sure? It's okay if you need time."

  She put on a smile. "I'm quite sure, thank you. It would be a dishonor to their memory to fall apart now. Over the past months, we'd talked many times. It was always likely that they would not be able to continue on with me. I accepted that. Now, I must continue on with their faces engraved in my heart."

  "If you're sure."

  She nodded. "I am. Also, I owe you three my life. I am sure I would have died in there, one way or another, had you not come to rescue me. I shall never forget your efforts, as I will never forget my brave, noble knights. Thank you, Vral. Thank you, Priestess. And thank you, Sir Alex." She bowed.

  Tristan and I both nodded to the woman. "Just Alex. And that's Tristan. We're happy to help."

  "Don't thank me. I said we should wait for the ghouls to eat you. Wish we had." Vral side-eyed Sophia and smirked.

  "Well, thank you for not doing that. If you had, I wouldn't have the pleasure of seeing you again." Sophia placed a hand on Vral's head. "I missed you."

  'The feeling's not mutual," Vral hissed and wiggled away. "But either way, what now, Soph?" Vral asked.

  "I don't know." The woman whispered. "Nowhere feels safe."

  "If you're in need of sanctuary, why don't you go to Light's Hope?" Tristan asked.

  "I fear that my presence there will endanger the temple and its inhabitants."

  "Nonsense. Some of the strongest people in Istaera live there, and it's a place of peace. Who would dare attack a temple of the Goddess?"

  Sophia looked like she wasn't convinced. "My uncle, the current Duke of Arante, is not known for his wisdom or faith. I fear he would stop at nothing to recover me if he learned I was there."

  Tristan stroked her chin, a habit she'd picked up during our time together. "I have an idea if you're willing to take a risk."

  "Anything, priestess."

  She drew a knife from her boot. "Kneel down, and pull your hair back."