We sat buried with scrolls and pages in the library as we have been for months, no, years now? I have no clue anymore. As soon as Zarri was declared responsible for solving the Rebirth – we've been nesting in the library.

  Besides the once a month gathering in the woods nearby the cabin for her private lessons for the troops – there hasn’t been much action. I am happy that she is not running around hunting people anymore, but something tells me that this calm and quiet will not last much longer...

  “I’m about to snap!” Crile throws some pages in the air. “We’ve been at it literally forever and nothing. Face it, Breeze – we’re done.”

  “As much as I agree with you – I have to point out that this;” Zarri points to the mess on the table; “is horrendous organizing. If this was properly cataloged – we could have done more by now.”

  “That’s probably made by design.” I pitch in. “Primerians are not that sloppy. If you take any other record for anything – it overflows with detail. This;” I lift a corner of a scroll; “is a jumble of nothing. So much ink skinned...” I mumble.

  “Ink skinned?” Crile leans in with a look. I sigh.

  “It’s an old Cornutese expression meaning wasted paper and ink. In old times our people would even use blood drained from their prey as ink to write with.”

  “Why?” Crile asks and even Zarri stares at me.

  “As the banished and cursed race – we had to use everything and anything we could to survive – this way every part of the beast would be used, saving us money and trouble.”

  “And the ink “skinned” part comes in?” Crile persists.

  “It’s like skinning and carving the animal before draining the blood properly – meaning the leather and the fur would be soiled with blood and sometimes completely unusable. The only time that was allowed when in a hurry to save your life, other than that – it was not permitted to skin a beast without draining it and sometimes would even be punished severely.” I end my little lesson.

  “And because ink and blood became synonymous – hence the expression, I take it?” Zarri smiles at me. I nod and quickly hide my face into the pages again.

  “So, ahem, where were we?” I ask.

  “We only know that Rebirth happens every 50 years and activates at night. Done.” Crile begins. “Even the registry of survivors has no race, age or even gender marked anywhere. Let alone – place of residence. If we knew a Noxian that’s been there and lived...”

  “Yes, well, the deeper we dig the more I understand that everything is set up to avoid direct confrontation.” Zarri stretches out in her chair. “Sadly, even our appeals to the public to provide any piece of information has come up dry and empty.”

  “That or notes full of jokes.” Crile mutters staring into the ceiling.

  “And bad ones at that.” I add and Crile clicks his fingers at me.

  “I understand that it is difficult to take notes while fighting to survive, but to be this vague... The only other certain thing we’ve got is that – the Rebirth is classified as War. For the first half of its existence people were actively trying out different methods to deal with it. There were preparations of supplies, weapons, potions...” Zarri quiets down again.

  I rustle through some pages. “There were strategies discussed.” I shake a few leaves. “But none of that bore any fruit.”

  “Or it did but nobody noticed.” Crile adds on.

  “Or that. But. Somewhere along the line they stopped treating it as a standard, let’s call it that, “War” and began treating it as a sacrificial ritual without calling it that.”

  “Yeah, about that.” Crile sways back in his chair. “It’s probably less scary and depressing to live for War rather than Ceremony. Even if in reality – there is no difference between the two.”

  “Exactly. They still do the same thing – drain the people to pay the Troops so they would fulfill their so-called duty of fighting the Rebirth in hopes of perhaps "one day" emerging from the Castle victorious.” Zarri says.

  “Or perhaps not. It’s as you said once before – it's a convenient way of staying rich and in power.” I cut in.

  “For the Geezer Council only.” Crile thuds back in place properly. “That’s why only Araneum and the surrounding areas are prosperous. The rest of the land is in shambles. Well, besides the Mines.”

  “Not really.” Zarri takes over. “Even the Mines suffer and only because people pack up and leave, but because they rush the entire last decade or so, it causes multiple casualties each time. Hence the never-ending demand for manpower.”

  “The only reason it’s so popular because most of the work done is Mana-less...” Crile says.

  “Right and thanks to the 200 Years of Darkness we know that leaving Rebirth alone is also impossible.” I add.

  “Precisely why the Mines are constantly buzzing. They are simply too precious to abandon. Plus, there seems to be no end to exhausting them either, which makes me wonder...” Zarri dies down.

  “Wonder what?” I ask.

  “That perhaps Mines run on Magic too.” Crile answers me instead. “Maybe it’s one of Primerian Experiments gone wrong, or not.”

  “That never even crossed my mind.” I admit.

  “It wouldn’t normally, but when you look at the records and how far back they go – you gotta question it.” Crile says.

  “Anyways. Back to the Rebirth.” Zarri takes her head out of a scroll. “Here’s what I want to know – if the Troops don’t get paid anymore – will they still fight?”

  “Nope. Got no reason for it.” Crile shakes his head.

  “But what if the people stop their support – then what?”

  “Possible riots? Of the Military, that is.” I try and guess.

  “Exactly. In other words – everyone in Existara is held hostage. My only question is – why the Military isn’t used to expand the layout and the land? They could be easily used to aid farming or any crafts for that matter – while still earning and providing for their families and bettering the Economy of Existara overall while preparing to fight the Rebirth in the end still. I think this way they would be more motivated to actually protect their land...” Zarri tells us.

  “Getting paid to do nothing is better.” Crile says.

  “Except where they have to fend off Rebellion’s attempts.” I add.

  “Except that, but because the Troops are poorly trained and do nothing so comfortably most of the time – they often die simply because they cannot deal with the rule-less Rebellion.” Zarri says.

  “The dumbass complex training system here is made so on purpose to keep the Troops at bay.” Crile adds on. “Which in turn hinders their fighting abilities. The whole system is broken.”

  “Yet each generation has a couple of moronoids that strongly believe they will be Champions of Rebirth.” I mutter.

  “That’s why to this day Rebirth is treated as “War” and not a Ceremony.” Crile finishes our collective train of thought. “Especially since any survivors are handsomely rewarded. But somehow even that feels like hush-money to me...”

  “What makes you say that?” I ask. Crile shrugs his shoulders.

  “Just a hunch...”

  “Either way it begs another question – where the hell do the coins come from?” Zarri stares at the papers again. “With most of the Continent this under-developed – there shouldn’t be enough...”

  “What are Existara’s trades with the Old Continent?” Crile asks.

  “Not that impressive... The Old Continent is fully capable of providing for themselves.” I answer off the top of my head.

  “Well, currently, according to Max, the biggest attraction here are the Dragons. A lot of folk travel here to ride one as entertainment. The Handlers are quite happy with it. They are in control of everything themselves. They provide lessons and tours together with the Dragons, so – that has a bit of income flowing Existara’s way.” Crile explains.

  “But they pay a portion of their earnings to the Council so they can continue to be in control.” Zarri adds.

  Crile shrugs his shoulders again. “Can’t be helped.”

  “Perhaps Existara’s into some shady business that we haven’t seen yet?” I ask.

  “With whom? Rebellion is constantly flat broke. And the laws of the Old Continent are waaaay to strict for any Slave Trading or anything of the kind.” Crile answer.

  “Doesn’t mean someone hasn’t found or made a back door for it still.” I mock him a bit. Though I really don’t want that to be true...

  “I’m gonna say something that I never wanted to say.” Crile looks back down at us after a long minute. “Unless we see the Castle of Despair ourselves – we will never understand anything.”

  “Provided we live long enough.” I add again. “Whatever the Rebirth is or is not – I do not see it. Perhaps it is impossible to solve it.”

  “I refuse to believe that. There has to be something, we’re just not seeing it.” Zarri shakes her head...

  “It’s not about you. Whether you refuse or not – the fact remains.” Crile tells her. I bite my tongue. I’d like to say that was uncalled for, but...

  Crile feels the tension and sighs. “Maybe we are not the ones that are supposed to see it.” He says in an attempt to lessen the instant foul mood he, himself created...

  “There’s a novel idea.” I look up.

  “I’m beginning to think that way as well...” Zarri sighs.

  “There is one thing though.” I raise my hand up carefully and Crile gestures to me with an open palm. “If the Rebirth is “War” on paper only, but in reality, it is more like a Ceremony – then why not gather the old and the sick to sacrifice for the greater good? They do seem rather fond of that concept?” I ask and continue. “They could easily develop the land in the meantime and once time for the Rebirth comes...” Somehow that idea sounded better inside my head...

  “Probably because there isn’t enough of that kind. Gathering the young and the able with gold is easier and more effective as they come to you and don’t make a fuss about it since they perfectly understand that they won’t live long enough anyways. Hence why the Population is barely holding out.” Crile explains.

  “Everyone is abusing the broken system to the best of their abilities.” Zarri says. “In a perfect world the elderly should want to protect the young and the helpless and I agree with you, Star, that would make more sense. Unfortunately, people are nasty creatures. The older they get the more selfish they become and instead we have promising young lives thrown into a pit to feed the beast because the elderly are too scared to die, yet.”

  “That’s why it bothers you so much.” Crile takes Zarri by the hand. “It reminds you of the Bloody Times your Father fought in to protect the future...”

  OOOOHHHH! RIIIIIIGHT! In the Noxian culture the Children are the Future, and they must be protected... In our Culture Children are Tools to be used to help you... Now I understand why she’s so fixated on Rebirth. Existara does not nurture the young. It exploits them. But without the young – there can be no future... No hope... No world...

  “There you are!” A shout behind us echoes through the Library, startling me. We got so used to whispering or talking through the Stones that even Crile jumped out of his seat with his hands on his daggers.

  “Viroma.” Zarri says, shifting back. “What do you want?” I turn around. The Cornutese Mage. Or as I like to call her – The Council’s Bitch. One of their personal errand girls...

  “The Council has summoned you three!”

  “What for?” Crile asks.

  “You’ll know once you go there!”

  “Quit your yapping! This is the Library.” I hiss at her.

  “Quickly!” She pressures us. I look around. Zarri stands up and we follow.

  “Very well.” All of us leave.

  “What do you think this is about?” Crile asks through the Stone.

  “Probably something I will not like.” Zarri answers. I feel her mood harden with each step. We arrive at the Main Hall to be greeted by the Geezer Court and no King?

  “Where’s the Old Man?” I ask.

  “Well, this can’t be a good sign.” Crile says, doing a quick scan around.

  “You summoned us?” Zarri puts her hands behind her back.

  “Yes. You are to leave here at once!”

  “I demand more context.” Zarri does not even blink.

  “Rebellion forces have been spotted rapidly approaching the Rebirth Border. You three have direct access to personal Dragons – that should get you there faster than we can dispatch soldiers on foot. Since this is Rebirth’s territory and Rebirth is your jurisdiction – You are ordered to go and deal with the approaching trouble. Seeing as how you are so good at it.” Dicata actually takes the effort to explain aaand mock us at the end too, of course.

  “I fail to understand where the emergency is. There is nothing of value there.” Zarri tells them.

  “That is beyond the point!”

  “It is a matter of principle!”

  “We cannot allow for that filth to cross over into our land!” Someone protests.

  “Besides! Once one gets in – the rest follow! That’s how they cause us trouble each Rebirth!” Others add. I roll my eyes.

  “You are ordered to go to the border near the Rebirth and handle anyone who tries to cross it. We already have our hands full with containing the Water Front!” Oh please.

  “It’s a little early for them to make a fuss.” Zarri says.

  “That’s how they operate. They think they can attack us early on, raid through whatever they get their hands on and ride off into their wretched sunset.” Wow, it's like someone lit a match under their Robes...

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “So be it. I shall make the proper arrangements and will leave as soon as we are able. Any objections?” Zarri says.

  “Not at all.” Dicata grins.

  “Then, if you would – excuse us.” Zarri nods and walks out. We follow.

  “Find the Old Man.” Zarri tells Crile and he vanishes with the first shadow.

  “Something you wish to share?” I ask carefully.

  “No, just want to make sure he’s alright. Technically the Council shouldn’t be allowed to make any decisions regarding the Rebirth without the King present.”

  We go to see Max and the Handlers to discuss possible Dragon Aid. Council’s directions were too vague. They made it sound like we need to camp out there... Perhaps that’s one way to make sure the thugs are dealt with, but then why not have a post stationed there? Oh right. Since it’s a once every 50 years kind of an event – it be pointless.

  The Scouts are the only ones that go there and even they travel in intervals. Once every 25 years and camping out constantly around the 45th year mark... But the Scout Groups switch every six months or so...

  I have a feeling Zarri will ask Urdock for help too. There aren’t many here that we can trust amongst the Troops, despite Zarri’s free lessons...

  Unfortunately, Dragons can only carry so many supplies at once. The Handlers have yet to figure out a better way to transport the goods in large quantities, other than have a flock of Dragons dispatched at the same time... And traveling to Rebirth on foot takes about a month...

  We could get there faster with our Dragons and Emerald, but that would just be us three... Well, seven. But I don’t want to go through that again...

  Luckily, Max and the Handlers are still welcoming of us so the backup is arranged without hesitation, except they need time. We do too, but our preparations are quicker – most of what we need we have packed in the Stables ready-to-go any second. Besides the food, of course.

  Crile returns before dusk to tells us that the Old Man has been out since last night and will stay so till his hangover subsides. Talking to him in that condition – is pointless. Makes sense why the Council skipped over him.

  Max promised to be a day late, or so, tops, so we get a head start and leave as soon as Crile returns. The three of us take off into the night sky and Emerald dashes through the ground beneath us. It is impossible for me to believe that she is running on the ground. The way she moves – you could say she’s almost soaring...

  We arrive at the border.

  “Where are the Scouts?” Crile asks jumping off Meteor. We’ve only been here once before, but staring at a pit in the ground didn’t help.

  “Where is anything?” I ask. Looking around. Last time there were some signs of life here...

  “Could they have killed the scouts already?” I ask again.

  “Where are the bodies then?” Zarri says. Right. Stupid Question.

  “I don’t like this.” Crile says taking our luggage off our Dragons.

  “Scatter.” Zarri waves a hand and the Dragons take off. She told us once before that Emerald can talk to the Dragons. Not as much as talk as describe to Zarri what the Dragons have seen. I guess being an Intelligent Beast herself, Emerald was able to understand the Dragons in her own animal-like way. The only problem is – the Dragons need to return to us before they can converse with Emerald to relay it to Zarri.

  “Perhaps the Scouts left before we arrived because we were dispatched?” I try again.

  “I doubt they use Lector Stones. The possibility of Rebellion getting their hands on a "direct line" – scares them too much. That’s why they only use foot messengers.” Crile answers.

  “They could be on a hunt or something?” I really don’t like the lack of life here...

  “Could be.” Zarri shifts back. “Let’s make camp and wait.”

  Two days go by and nothing happens.

  “Is it just me or does this feel like a waste of time?” Crile says poking the breakfast fire.

  “Max is late too.” Zarri says, looking up. We have the Dragons patrol the area every couple of hours or so. Yet somehow the Dragons have not informed us of any “fast approaching Rebellion filth” so far. Which makes Zarri more pissed by the hour... it could be that they are crossing the bordering mountains and Dragons can’t spot them? Honestly, I’m just making excuses because all of this simply feels too weird...

  “We wait one more day and head back.” Zarri says standing up.

  “Works for me.” Crile waves his burnt stick. Suddenly Zarri switches into Battle Mode, with her fur standing up on its end. Emerald approaches me in the same arched back manner and Crile takes out his daggers. I quickly stand up and pop my pouch open too and ready myself.

  I look up. A dust cloud follows down the mountains. I was kind of hoping this was a false alarm... A distant rumble closes in on us quick and loud with each second. The cluster of whatever the heck they are stops a few steps away from the invisible border that we are guarding...

  An older Cornutese Male hops down his horse...

  An older Cornutese Male hops down his horse and so do some of the others.

  “What’s this?” He calls out.

  “You’re about to trespass into Concord’s territory. You – are not welcomed here. Turn around.” I tell him and a gurgling laughter rolls over them. Of course. Because the four of us do look rather pathetic compared to the thirty of them. The closets ones take a few steps forward.

  “Lemme guess, this is the part where you lecture us to give up our evil ways and submit to the side of good!” One of them says and the rest roar again.

  “Wrong. This is the part where I give you your one and only warning. Turn around and nobody will get hurt.” They laugh again. Why wouldn’t they.

  Don’t. Go back. I pray inside my head. A couple of rough and disgusting exchanges happen between the thugs.

  Do not, make me, do this... I beg them inside my mind... The same older Cornutese steps over the line. Damn it.

  He spreads his arms and turns around to face the others. Everyone laughs some more, leaving me no choice... I give Crile the signal and he ports me over with the shadows. I emerge behind the man and swipe my claws across his back. He screams out and falls down. I didn’t kill him, but he will die eventually. That or they will retreat. Sadly, my prayers are not answered. The nearest ones charge in on me and we clash.

  Crile and Starlight act fast right behind me. Emerald dashes up front and backs me up. Only a handful of them have weapons that I’d call decent... A couple of double-edged axes and a few glaives, but the rest are simply children armed with kitchen knives, in my eyes...

  I keep my distance as much as I can, but even I can tell that these thieves are untrained and uncoordinated. Their numbers and their chaotic movements make it somewhat difficult to predict them, but it shouldn’t pose a threat to us...

  Damn it! I’m getting pushed further back away from Zarri! I need to slice my way back... Oh how I wish the Dragons would come back already! I realize how dependable I have become, constantly being the one that is always protected... I quickly pull myself together again and try to get closer. I throw my water around, cutting my way over to Zarri.

  This isn’t so bad! I can do this! I take another step and get hit to the side and almost throw my breakfast and dinner up. I gasp once and fall to my knees, clenching my gut. I try to look over my shoulder and witness the wide metal blade be thrust right at me...

  Idiot. What was I thinking going forward... Should have waited for them to come to me... Stay back. Always further back... Was the only order I had to follow... Idiot... I close my eyes and brace myself for impact... A splash of something warm covers half of my face, stinging my eye. I pry it open and a shriek escapes me...

  “NOOOOOOOOO!”

  Oh to hell with this kindergarten! They are just sloppy and messy. Nothing more. We shouldn’t have this much trouble against them. How annoying. I’ve gotten too far away from Starlight. I need to stop playing around. I kick one off me and jump up, shifting my wings.

  “NOOOOOOOOO!” A shriek from behind me freezes my blood. I turn around and everything around me disappears... Crile... Glaive... Blood... I drop to the ground and a crack echoes inside my body... I shake uncontrollably from head to toes, tilt my head back and roar. The beast inside me takes over my body and I simply follow...

  My body grabs the first throat next to me and rips it out. It grabs the bleeding body, spins it around and tosses it into the thugs. I watch up close how my body goes on a rampage. It tears Meat Sack after Meat Sack apart. Another roar. I feel the warmth of my drool and blood mix together and drip down my jaws. I hear the bones crunch underneath my grip. My claw rams through another Meat Sack...

  “CRILE!” I finally snap back and crouch over him.

  “No no no no no no no no no! STOP! Stop flowing! Get back inside of him!” I tell the blood, but it won’t listen! Something kicks me over again. I scramble back to my feet and pour out all of the water that I have.

  “DON’T GET IN MY WAY!” I scream and a water sphere engulfs me and Crile, tossing aside whatever it was that tried to interfere.

  “Look at me, you big idiot! Look at me!” I press down on the hole in Crile’s back. “Stay awake!” I can’t stop the blood! It just seeps out of him. I tear a piece of the Water around me and fuse it with whatever blood has not touched the ground yet.

  “GET BACK IN THERE!” I tell the blood again. “WHY DID YOU DO THAT!” I scream at Crile next and all I get is a fading smile.

  “I REFUSE TO HAVE YOUR DEATH ON MY HANDS!” I tear up more of the healing water from the sides and force it into his body. I chant a few more spells and burn my hand off cleansing it with the heals. I stick it into the cavity.

  The spine’s intact! The lung is torn! But only one! What about the heart... Beating! It didn’t reach it!

  “Your chainmail did a good job lessening the impact... But that’s about it!” I scream again.

  I dig around inside Crile’s body with my fingers to feel anything else... I stick my other hand under him. No hole! It didn’t pierce through!

  “Thank the stars later. I can still patch you up!” I take my hand out of his back and clean my hands off right into my shirt. Gotta save the lung NOW! I chant a ball of water in front of me and pour two vials into it. I push it into the hole and spread it around the torn lung.

  I check Crile’s pulse... I check it again... I... Can’t find it... I engulf my hand with more water and cut him open on the side, slicing through the chainmail too and stick my hand in. I find the heart again and squeeze it.

  “BREATHE YOU BASTARD!”

  I watch up close as my claws and jaws stomp over the Meat Sacks beneath my feet. I freeze for a moment and look around... A couple of them are left standing only... One of them snaps out first and takes a running start. One more follows his lead... And another one... and another one...

  “Here. You forgot this.” I toss a severed head over.

  “THE HELL WITH YOU!” They yell to me and crawl away. I don’t even try to chase them. It takes a moment longer for me to get back the feeling of my limbs.

  I finally exhale and shift back. A Dragon shriek reaches me. I walk over to the Sphere where Star is putting Crile back together.

  Meteor trashes down, batting his wings in desperation. He charges me and the Sphere, I grab his head to try and calm him down, but I’m no match for a raging Dragon. He flips me off and sends me flying a few feet. Meteor charges into the Sphere, breaking it in places. The water curls back up, but not fast enough. Star won’t be able to keep it up much longer... Storm and Sky finally arrive too.

  “HOLD HIM!” I call out to the Dragons and Storm charges Meteor from above, smashing his head into the ground. Sky quickly positions himself between them and the Sphere, with his wings spread, hissing at Meteor. Meteor fights to get out, but Storm roars down on him again with her wings fully spread and chokes his neck just a bit more to restrain him. I walk over to Meteor and crouch down.

  “She’ll bring him back. Wait here.” I tell him softly. He squirms around still, but lowers his wings slowly back to the ground. I get up and take my bag from Emerald. I toss it over me and walk around the Sphere to face Star. I kneel and try to call out. No response.

  I stick my hand into the water. It’s hard like a rock. I force it through with a bit of Mana added behind it. It takes too much out of me, and I barely manage to scrape Star’s forehead with my fingertip. She looks up. Sees me and drops the chant. The water splashes down.

  “I can’t...do it... I’m not...enough...” She tells me through her tears...

  “Yes you can, Amana. You’re the only one who can. Now tell me what to do. I have these.” I take the potions out of the bag. Not nearly enough, but we just need to stabilize him to help Star make more.

  “I...”

  “AMMI! FOCUS! NOWS NOT THE TIME FOR TEARS!” I scream out hysterically though my own tears. “Please...”

  “Just feed them to him! I need to keep pumping!” She says and I pop a vial open. I open Crile’s jaw, tilt his head a bit and stick it in. The potion flows out too much. I pull it away.

  “New plan – pour them here!” Star nods to the hole in his back. I do as told.

  “Now breathe life into him!”

  I crouch over Crile, put my mouth over his and blow air into him, slowly.

  “NO TIME TO BE CAREFUL!” Star yells and I take another lungful of air and just force it into Crile. Star keeps chanting with one hand over his back and the other through his side, pumping his heart.

  “Please.” I breath in again. “Please.” I breath again. “COME BACK!” I breath in again and blow. A croak!

  “Turn him on the side and hold him! He can’t breathe!” Star barks, taking her hand out and closing up the side gash quickly. I move. I roll him over toward Star. She keeps pouring heals into his back. I watch Crile’s chest move faintly...

  “Give me a chant! I can do more!”

  “Are there more potions?”

  “Yes!” I take out a few more.

  “Give him those and count beats!” Star barks. I don’t argue and do as told.

  We exhausted our supplies in less than an hour. Zarri had to fly away to bring more water and do the mixing of the potions herself following my instructions, because I had to keep chanting over Crile to restore his blood flow.

  Blood does not mix with Blood. That is why Water Shamans are essential. Our enchanted water is able to replace blood, but only until the flow is restored. The body cannot run on water alone.

  We managed to close Crile up with my heals, as a barrier, but the flesh itself will take time to close up fully. Meaning, I have to sustain the chants every so often to keep them from breaking. I’d love to have him flipped over so I could see what’s going on better, but he’s too weak to breathe yet, so we have him laid down on his back instead, which hinders my visual, forcing me to chant in shorter intervals to make sure the wound stays shut.

  Since we can’t move him, Zarri moved the tent over him instead. Neither I, nor Zarri have slept in three days. Just doze off. Taking turns, now and again. It helps that Emerald can wake us too and the Dragons bring food to us...

  Crile’s heartbeat has been successfully stable by a miracle so far... Guess he’s not ready to leave her just yet...

  But he has to wake up, or else...

  My ringing headache wakes me up from my nap.

  “Damn it... It hurts too much...” I mutter and notice Zarri passed out next to Crile, with her hand on his chest. “DAMN IT!” I crawl over and freeze.

  “Cri –”

  “Sh. Hi.” Crile smiles at me. I stare at his eyes and...

  “YOU GIANT JERK!” I hiss, grabbing the air by his collar. We had to strip his bloody shirt off... “I could just strangle you right now!” I hiss more and feel my face get wet...

  “Sorry... to have... worried... you... Star-dear...” He wheezes. “Thank... you...”

  “Don’t thank me! You have no idea what we went through!” I yell at him through the Stone and see him flinch with a smile.

  “I’ll be sure to repay you properly. Tell me what you want.” He answers me.

  “The hell with you! You have no idea what you’ve turned her into!” I point to Zarri. “There were heads rolling around and limbs torn apart! Bodies in shambles! Torn in half! She did that! Not Emerald! Not the Dragons! SHE!” I keep pointing to Zarri.

  “YOU TURNED HER INTO A MONSTER! She did that all because you got injured! It’s your fault the outside looked like the feeding grounds for Demons! You have no idea how terrifying it is to see that...” I curl up.

  “Did you see her rip them apart?”

  “No. She told me when I asked, after I finally was able to pick my eyes off you for a moment.” I glare at him. “The aftermath painted a vivid picture enough.”

  “Are the bodies still out there?” He asks again.

  “No. She buried them. Well, kind of. Threw them together in a mass grave and set them on fire. The Dragons helped.”

  A faint snicker. I furrow my brow.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You. Star. You’re still afraid of her...”

  “Of course I am! Aren’t you! She tore live people to pieces with her bare hands! How is that not supposed to scare me! I thought The Dragon Poacher Ordeal was her limit but you! Just! What if she stays that way! What if this will change her! What if she’ll turn into a monster for real!”

  “She won’t. She never will.”

  “How can you be so sure! You didn’t see it! Or her! Bloody from head to toe and covered with bits and pieces of skin and flesh...” I shudder and cover my mouth.

  “Because. She buried them, Star.” Crile tells me softly. Even through the Lector Stone I feel his gentle tone...

  “Burned!” I hiss again.

  “A burning is a burial still. She could have let them rest in pieces, but she took the time and effort to give them a sendoff anyways. Even though she was not obligated to do so whatsoever. She’s human, Star. No matter what she does or looks like. She will remain a person to the end and to her core. It is simply your own fear that paints her a monster...”

  “Says you!”

  “Then. Tell me. What do you think she would have turned into if it were you with a hole in you, instead of me?” Crile tilts his head toward me. I clench my knees tighter. I don’t answer him...

  “At least with you alive – we have a shot at coming back... Without you...”

  “I know! Don’t remind me!” I bark back.

  “Well, I hope now you believe me...” He smiles at me.

  “About what?”

  “That I care about you.” He tells me and I freeze.

  “I didn’t ask you to die for me!”

  “No. But I did promise to protect you with my life to your parents before we left. I meant it then and I mean it still.”

  “Yeah, well congrats! You’ve fulfilled your promise! Pull something like that again and I’ll end you myself!” I tell him and dig my face into my knees again.

  He twitches lightly again.

  “What?” I ask.

  “As if this is a one-time deal.” Crile tells me.

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning I’d do it again in a heartbeat if I had to.” He says and Zarri squirms next to him, mumbling.

  “What is that she’s muttering? I can feel her whisper...”

  “A pain numbing spell. It was the easiest one I could give her. She’s been casting non-stop to keep you out of pain...”

  Crile tries to put his hand on Zarri’s head and it flops back. I sigh, crouch down, reach over and place it down for him.

  “Thank you...” He says.

  “Sure...” I crawl back and get stopped by Crile’s other hand at my fingertips. I look at him.

  “Thank you for the trouble... I’m sorry I put you through it...”