††† Siegfried †††

When Siegfried came back, he waved off the quizzical glances.

"I'll have to take care of a minor issue before we leave," he explained vacuously. "Ryden, maybe you could check on our Nivetian friend in the meantime. We need to know where we stand, especially as he knows of your ability." He left the rest unsaid, but the healer assured him that he would take care of it.

Sieg and Haylee found Kesh still lying in the pit with a pink-skinned humanoid creature tending to him.

Haylee pulled Sieg aside, looking into his eyes. "He's still unconscious. Let me take care of that — you've never killed someone outside of battle, and I don't think you should."

"We're not going to kill him," he said with finality. "I'm going to talk to him."

Sieg noticed the concerned frown that flitted across Haylee's features, but at least she didn't try to argue the point. That would be a discussion for a later time.

While they approached, Sieg studied the person kneeling next to Kesh. They were dressed in simple brown tunics and trousers, but the back of their pink-skinned head captivated his gaze. The scalp was smooth and hairless, except for six slim ear-like appanages that sprouted from it. At least Sieg assumed the thick strands growing from those ears were hairs. As the person finally recognized them and turned around, he was struck by the alien sight.

It was a feminine but very exotic face that turned to him. A wide slit of a mouth with two holes as nostrils above and over proportionally big eyes. Those sky-blue eyes on pink skin nearly made him falter in his step.

"Why did you come back?" a strangely gurgling, nasal but definitely female voice emitted from the woman. "He cannot fight anymore — this is cowardice!"

Sieg stopped in his tracks. The small woman placed herself between him and Kesh, her body shivering as much as her voice. Despite her evident fear, she stood her ground.

"We mean no harm," Sieg assured her. "I just want to talk to him once he wakes up. Is he a friend of yours?" he asked, hoping to get some information on the formidable warrior.

"No, I am just a physician tasked with looking after the contenders. Not that you left me much to work with," she glanced in the direction of the defenders' bodies, littering the ground. "My name is Ahneth."

Sieg was impressed by the lithe, delicate woman. She was neither a warrior nor a friend of Kesh. And still, she stood between them, shaking like a leaf in the wind.

"You have nothing to fear, Ahneth," Sieg intoned. "Is he okay? Can you heal him or at least wake him up?"

"I'd rather wait for him to wake on his own," Ahneth responded. "I can't say if he has a serious concussion before that."

A metallic hiss came from behind her, and Ahneth jumped as Kesh stared at her with open eyes. "Gods! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" she accused the Black Devil.

When she calmed down and wanted to tend to Kesh, he waved her off. "I'll be fine. Leave us." His words were gruff but without malice.

Ahneth bowed and left the pit without looking back.

Kesh rose with a slight wince, propping his tail casually over his shoulder. "You left me alive. Even after I saw your transformation."

"You've been waiting for me to heal up before we fought. I'd say we're even."

Kesh nodded and scratched his chin with a pointed finger while meeting Siegfried's gaze. "That's a good look in your eyes. It will serve you well. Mercy on the other side will not." He raised a hand in a placating gesture before Haylee could complain. "I won't tell anyone. I don’t see much merit in it. Making a friend with your potential would promise higher gains. But that won't count for most people down here in the lower levels."

"I wouldn't risk it if I haven't fought you. I know enough about you to give it a try," Sieg said and held out his arm.

"I see," the corner of Kesh's mouth strained into what could have been a smile. He accepted the gesture, grabbing Sieg's forearm in turn. "Come find me once you make it past the next trial, and my people will welcome you."

Kesh bid his farewell, leaving Siegfried and Haylee alone in the pit.

"See? No killing necessary," Sieg joked with a teasing edge.

"Heh… yes, it seems you didn't need me at all."

A queasy feeling crept up Siegfried's stomach at the sombre tone that was so unlike Haylee. Her countenance was the same, but the barely suppressed quivering of her lower lip didn't escape his notice. Still, if she tried so hard to keep it together, he wouldn't call her out until they were really alone.

After reuniting with everyone, the group finally went past the single tunnel that led into the new area.

The view at the entrance to the new area was something else. Other than before, this was a vast open space, the end far enough that Sieg had to squint his eyes to make anything out.

They came out at approximately the middle of the cave, having a perfect view of the city below. Contrary to the previous area, it seemed like everything was planned here. The houses were also carved out of pure stone but in a controlled manner. Numerous furrows stretched out before them, separating skillfully carved burrows — each with a door and one window. A few odd buildings strutted high into the air, but nothing impeded the natural roads.

A number of extraordinary buildings were carved into the sides of the cave — each at least ten times the size of an average house. But the real highlight was the bone-white spire that curled from the bottom of the cave into the ceiling — like a snails house that went up into a too-thin top. The rest of the buildings seemed to be built around it.

"Home at last," Kaz whispered. "You guys stay here while we secure a safe base of operations."

"Haylee and I will check the layout of the cave from a better vantage point," Sieg decided. "We'll meet up here again in two hours."

Kaz nodded, and Sieg pulled Haylee with him, walking sideways around the cave until they were truly alone. They stood at a lengthened peak, overviewing the labyrinth of streets and houses that were lighted up by strange, blue-glowing lanterns. The view was breathtaking, but Haylee seemed to hardly notice it.

Now that they were alone, her resolve slowly cracked, and her body shivered visibly.

Without warning, Sieg pulled her into his arms.

Haylee let out a startled cry at the sudden motion. She barely got her arms between their bodies and tried to push away from him, but Siegfried didn't let up.

He held her in his embrace, her whole body starting to tremble as she tried to keep it in. Until she couldn't anymore.

Haylee started to cry bitterly — all pretence dropped as hot tears streamed down her cheeks. "I'm sorry." The shaky words were followed by more sobs. "I nearly got you killed because I was so weak," Haylee wailed. "Because you had to protect me!"

Siegfried's eyes stung as his heart ached for Haylee, and he struggled for words to comfort her.

"Even when I should be the one to protect you, I'm just hindering you," she continued, letting it all out.

"Haylee," Sieg said softly as he cradled her head in his chest with one hand. "Don't measure your worth by comparing yourself with me like that. Fighting someone head-on is the one thing I can do. You protected me often enough since we left the city, did you not?"

"But—" a hiccup caught Haylee's tongue before she went on, "— but only then and now I just can't keep up with you all anymore, and you could have won even easier today if I weren't here at all!" she rambled.

"Hey, none of that," Sieg admonished her. He took her face in both hands, forcing her to look at him through tear-stained eyes. "What do you think would've happened if I went out after we stormed the fortress if you hadn't slipped away to take care of the remaining Shadowclaws?"

A hint of surprise glinted in Haylee's eyes.

"Yes, I knew that you went hunting alone. And I knew I could trust you to handle it while I couldn't. A single ambush in the dark and my strength would be worthless."

"But still, that's something lots of people here could—"

"Where do you think I would be now without you?" Sieg interjected, not letting her object further. "If you hadn't saved me from my own fear and guilt. My nightmares and breakdowns. How far do you think I could go without you being there for me?" He leaned down and laid his forehead against Haylee's. "I need you, Haylee. I need you in a role more important than any other and that no one else can fill."

Fresh tears poured across Haylee's cheeks, and her breath got stuck in her throat as Siegfried's lips touched hers. She still trembled as she slung her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. But her tears were not one of grief anymore.