Thael gazed down upon Dres Lanieth. Little more than a dozen wrynn littered the open farmland surrounding the city walls, the ballistae having served their purpose. A scattering of bodies lay around them.

The foe’s wrynn was gaining upon them with every moment.

“Where are the other wrynn?!” Thael exclaimed.

“Dead!” Oslo answered.

“Perform maneuver Axiom! On my order!”

Thael unbuckled his harness and gripped the wooden handle fixed to the seat.

“Now!” he shouted.

He would have to fall before the wrynn could complete the maneuver. The great bird rose, spinning to hover upside down for an instant. Thael let go, the whipping past his face as he drew his shortswords to plunge his blades into the opposing wrynn’s flank, grunting upon impact.

The creature let out an ear piercing screech. Thael used his swords to stab into the bird’s side as he climbed, grey cloak billowing with the wrynn’s flight. He grunted as a blade of air cut through this armor on his rear. Still, he stabbed his way up to the wrynn’s neck. The Wraith mage cast his craft upon Thael, whipping his arms out. He felt his back numb, warmth seeping out from his body.

“Just die, you fool!” he heard Ambrose yell, muted from his own ragged breaths drowning out everything else.

Still he clambered up, reaching the wrynn’s head, its orange eyes darting wildly about in terror.

Thael plunged a sword hilt-deep into its eye. He felt the world falling and spiraling. The shadow on the sun finally dimmed and faded. As Thael plummeted down his lips curled into the hint of a smile. For he knew what he had done, and there was a certain peace in its acceptance.

The world crashed as dark talons snatched him from the air, cradling him in their clutches. Thael smiled in the drifting darkness.