Stathis felt bone-tired and weary, her sword-arm exhausted. She had to twist her whole body to bring her shield around in time to block an attack, claws scratching at the fragmented wood. She’d lost all sense of time, of everything other than the immediate pressures of combat. Something struck her from the side, one of the solders knocking against her, and she staggered, just about able to stay standing herself. Several other soldiers attacked a zombie, skewering it and then slicing it apart with repeated stabs, making sure it wouldn’t get up again.

Something whistled through the air, an arrow embedding itself into a skull, another skewering into the head of a zombie, with enough force to knock it to the ground, piercing through bone and pinning it in place.

More ranged attacks shot out of the darkness, before Stathis heard Pajaran’s prayer, a wash of holy energy rippling out. Where it touched a zombie, the thing disintegrated into piles of decaying mulch and cracked bones.

Stathis let herself relax with a sigh, her whole body protesting. ‘Pajaran! We need you on triage! Everyone else, clear them up!’

Eldritch bolts and blasts smashed through the zombies out of range of Pajaran’s cleansing, punching holes through their bodies as Janaxia floated into sight, still on her throne, the thing so dark it merged into the surrounding darkness. Arrows rained downwards, Parth somewhere close by to lend covering fire, and Hakara’s shards of ice puncturing more bodies.

With the immediate pressure gone, Stathis tried to see what was going on – there had been unending waves of attackers, their sheer numbers a threat, more and more appearing, without giving the defenders and chance for a rest. An ice storm spiralled into existence, hailstones slamming down and destroying a thick clump, Hakara unleashing more of her magic. Her own powers were almost totally gone – her wings had flickered out long ago, and she’d been keeping the dregs of her healing powers for the most grievously injured, just enough to get them up and away from combat. Even with that, she was dreading the casualty count – she’d stepped over bodies, fresh, of Iristari soldiers, townsfolk and Sethans. But they needed to survive first!

Pajaran ran closer, swinging her mace and obliterating the ribcage of a zombie. ‘Anywhere to start?’ her face was grim as she looked over the damage.

‘Anyone alive. Most wounded first, get them up and out of danger. We might get attacked again. And check on Semari – she’d been hurt pretty bad, I don’t know where Brina took her.’

Pajaran nodded, running past Stathis and shouting. ‘Wounded! Sound off for help!’

Groans came from several places, Pajaran pausing for a second before moving towards one. It was going to be a crapshoot of who got treated first – all that could be hoped for was that Pajaran could heal as many as possible. Although she’d need some curatives herself – she could feel her injuries, something inside of her wrenched and broken.

It is a relief to see that you are still alive. We made haste as much as possible.

‘Thanks! Just finish these off, and then we can rest and plan.’

It was hard willing her body to move, but she kept going, stumbling between combats, trying to finish it as quickly as possible. With the others helping, the destruction of the remaining undead was a lot faster though, arrows and arcane darts making swift work of the undead.

She stumbled against a wall, taking a deep breathe, wincing at the stab of pain through her lungs. A whimper came from inside the building. ‘Don’t worry. You’re safe now.’

Stathis looked around, trying to orientate herself – the main building was ahead of her. As she walked, she passed by ragged and weary groups of defenders, encouraging and supporting each other. A steely light flared as Pajaran cured someone, their moans becoming sounds of thanks. Stathis had to support herself on the wall, the adrenaline fading, all her wounds starting to throb, but she couldn’t hear the sounds of combat any more. Had they won? Somehow?

It was a relief to step into the meeting room and sag onto a chair, her exhaustion overwhelming, a strain to light a candle. How long had the battle been going on for? And there had been no sign of the vampires, so they were still out there somewhere. Well, that could wait for another time.

The shadows rippled and inverted, Janaxia stepping through, her fake-armour somehow gleaming despite the low light. She seemed as cool and unphased as normal, although there was a slight sheen of sweat on her brow.

‘It is a relief that you endured. We hurried as fast as we could, and it was only thanks to Parthenelle’s magic that we were able to make such good time. This dense terrain is not easy to move through, but fortunately we made it. Although it appears that you have taken quite some damage yourself. Is that another suit of armour destroyed?’

‘It can be repaired. Although taking it off is going to be a bitch, parts of it are sticking into me. Any word on Semari?’

‘Was she injured? Hmmm. Well, I imagine she will survive well enough. She’s a hardy soul, after all. Although I am impressed she survived the lightning, that seemed… unpleasant as a method of transportation.’ She slowly approached, placing a hand onto Stathis’s shoulder, her nails plinking against the metal. ‘I am glad we made it in time. Although it seems there is no sign of my brother? A shame, it would be useful to ensure he is dead or otherwise incapacitated.’

‘I just hope he doesn’t attack until we’ve rested. We can probably take him between us, but I’m exhausted. Shame you don’t know any healing magic!’

‘Hmph. That would require allegiance to a god. I rather prefer being a free agent.’

The door slammed open, Hakara walking in, her body limned with a pale blue glow. ‘I think that is the bulk of them dealt with. Firepits are being arranged.’

‘Bloody undead! Any sign of the vampires or other enemies on the way here?’ As soon as Hakara had entered, Janaxia had withdrawn, the shadows seeming to pull themselves around her.

Hakara shook her head. ‘The way seemed clear – a few elemental creatures that we steered clear of, but nothing much to deter us. Miss Parth’s magic certainly helped there, making it a lot quicker to travel.’

‘Did it look as though he’d gotten into whatever was there?’

‘There wasn’t much time to look. There were several passages that cut deep into the rock – so it is possible.’

‘Shit. He might just have grabbed some stuff and gotten out of here. Dammit! But there’s nothing we can do about it now. Whatever’s happened, has happened, guess we’ll just have to deal with it.’

An eerie hissing echoed around, coming from somewhere out of sight, Stathis tensing up. Was it some curse, or another monster? Instead, Ophalissia entered, her hood up, although Stathis could see the fabric shifting and writhing as the snakes beneath twisted and wriggled. She looked around, her lower face hidden behind a cloth mask, before gesturing at Janaxia. The two of them stared at each other, Janaxia probably broadcasting to her. She nodded suddenly, then swept away, making swift, decisive steps, heels clicking against the floor.

I have some matters to discuss. Rest, Stathis – you clearly need it, and have done more than your part! Let the rest of us do something. And make sure to get healed! It would be embarrassing if you were to win the battle and then die of some irritating infection or suchlike.

‘Yes, I know!’ A pale and wan glow shone, just for a second, as Stathis spent the last of her energy to try and take the edge off her wounds. She felt a little better afterwards, but was still battered and bruised. She fell into a fitful slumber, despite the lingering pain and the uncomfortable position…

Sunlight, strong and proud, stabbed through her closed eyes. It was warm and soothing, although she couldn’t feel the chair beneath herself anymore – she felt like she was suspended in warmth, her body supported somehow. Despite the bright light, she opened her eyes a crack, immediately shutting them again as bright light rushed in, hurting and blinding her.

‘What is it this time? I just defeated someone that I’m pretty damn sure was an agent of the darkness or whatever you want to call them – can’t you let me have some rest?’ Although floating in the light was soothing, like being in ethereal warm water, buoying her up and energising her.

The voice was majestic and powerful, but also managed to sound slightly peeved. The light rippled in time with the words, dappling like sunlight on a stream. The end grows nigh! The world grows frayed and thin, devoured into nothingness.

‘Yeah, I know. A hole got punched through existence and it’s sucking everything in, and all sorts of weird shit is falling through into the world. Don’t suppose you know of any way of closing it? Hakara thinks she might be able to figure something out, but you’d probably be in a better position to know about it. I guess this is what you wanted to avoid in the last world? Although having everyone run away to somewhere else and leaving the demons to just wither doesn’t seem practical.’

The three evils seek to unmake the world.

‘Are you sure? The Blade seems to be being used for components, I don’t think the Book really wants to destroy the world, and I’ve not even seen the Bell. So it might just have been Poratia fucking things up.’

The light pulsed and wavered, slight tinges of red amongst the golden glow. They wish for nothing but destruction! They are the greatest of foes!

‘Sure, a lot of demons are assholes and need killing, but so are undead. Anyway, do you know what can be done about the spell or whatever that’s trying to destroy everything? That seems a rather more pressing concern. Some ritual that can block it, or something to throw in to plug it up?’

It is not something that can be blocked up so simply! It would take great arcane skill and power.

‘Well, any pointers would be nice – this isn’t something I know anything at all about! What sort of power are you talking? Hundreds of people? The elven empire at it’s height? Or not quite that much?’

A great rite, performed with the utmost care.

‘Hmmm… that might be possible. If we could get everyone on side – given that this will destroy everything, then that seems a pretty good incentive to work together. But without communications, it’s going to be hard to get everyone together. And those shapeshifters are going to be fouling everything up. Hey, do you know anything about them? I know that the Blade was used to make them somehow, but not much else. It takes either me or Janaxia to permanently kill them, and I’d rather she not do it. Anything else that can destroy them? I guess enough physical damage?’

At the mention of Janaxia’s name, the light had darkened, like a cloud passing in front of the sun. She is impure!

‘I know she’s got whatever’s going on with her book, but she’s not going to want to destroy the world. She just wants to relax and be pampered, not destroy things. Well, except her family, but they deserve it. Anyway, do you have any actual advice? It feels nice to relax here, but there’s a lot going on in the real world, and you’re not really giving me much to work with. Could we at least make use of the other world to move people around? From what Hakara says, teleportation can end badly, but if we go through there, it’s not really teleportation, is it? Just jumping worlds, walking through and out the other end.’

Such movements risk destabilising the wards that hold the demons here!

‘Right, right. Fine. So no shortcuts through there without risking even more bloody demons? Well, maybe for emergencies then. So anything you can say about closing the portal-thing down? Lots of wizards and stuff, that might be possible. But I’ll need to deal with those shapeshifters first. And there’s the Blade itself, I guess – that’s probably going to show up at some point.’

The voice was sounding less sure of itself now, although still vaguely whiny. They are broken and twisted inside. They fear the cleansing light. Those blessed by the heavens may seek them.

‘I’ll ask Pajaran, then. See if there’s anything she can do. Any more specific advice? We’re quite some way past the point of vague generalities now – I need something actionable. Or at least something specific!’

My sight only penetrates lightly through the realms, especially with recent disruptions. Much is hidden from my sight.

‘Well, can you at least get Agon out or something? He’s a skilled warrior, and we need everyone we can get. Can you make a portal for him to come through, without aging him or killing him or something? Someone else that can do the same sort of things as I can do would be helpful. At least as long as I can keep him from killing Janaxia.’

You ask much!

‘So do you! Dumping this whole “saving the world” thing on me. You could’ve left some more specific guidance, rather than a load of vague prophecies. Can you at least tell me what’s going to happen next, in some way that’s useful?’

The darkness clouds much…

Stathis sighed.

The serpent shall strike, blades shining. Light shall spark, but the darkness will rise. Many streams shall flow and unite.

‘I can think of at least 3 “serpents” – there’s Zarazonnia, the Sethans more generally, and a medusa. So that’s very broad! And the darkness has pretty much already risen. I don’t know about any streams – do you actually see anything specific, or is it a communication thing? When you say “serpent”, is it serpent-hair, a person with a snake’s body, or something else?’

All is as I say. The future is complex, twisting and winding, and such visions cannot be comprehended in a mundane fashion.

‘Fine! I’ll keep an eye out for any more snakey things. I just hope that Janaxia doesn’t grow snakes herself! Actually, while I’m here – do you know anything about this hidden vault?’

Ancient power lies sealed. Enough to aid you in your travels.

‘Great. That’s some actual good news, first I’ve heard in a while. Anything else you want to tell me while I’m here? As specific as possible, please?’

The voice sounded decidedly disgruntled now. There is great evil afoot!

‘Yeah, I know! It keeps trying to kill me, and the sun is blocked out. Is that worldwide?’

It grows. It will, with time, encompass your world, but not yet.

‘Well, that’s something. At least we don’t have to worry about starving to death. Maybe we can do something to stop it’s growth?’ There was no response, the light no longer rippling, just warm sunlight, devoid of presence. ‘Thanks for the information, I guess!’

Stathis floated in the light, feeling it energise and sooth her, slowly drifting into sleep.