The brothers travel through a familiar path, the path they walked while heading home for the first time, while the avatar of death follows.

"Traveling through here feels nostalgic," Stabby says.

"Oh? How's that?" Grisha asks.

"Animals prance through the forest, the bone decorations still have the same charm, and there's even a threatening force tailing us."

"Be cautious not to compare the death god with the demons, they're nothing against him. We may have mother's charm but it's best not to tempt him."

"I know, but it feels like déjà vu."

"I guess you have a point there," Grisha says with an odd cheer.

Stabby's head twists to the side, "you've been energetic today, can I be sure you're the same Slicer."

He chuckles. "Don't worry, it's me. Let's just say there's something special at home that boosts my energy."

"Oh, do mirrors help you too?"

"You're a bit off the mark."

"What is it then?"

"Anyway," Grisha diverts. "What did you learn from Kazimir?"

"He taught me techniques for improving stealth. In the most exhausting way possible."

"That's good. You were lacking in that area."

Stabby flinches, but responds with a smile, "my lacking abilities saved you multiple times."

"That's only because I need to create energy for our entire race," Grisha shoots back.

"Blaming it on everyone else now, huh?"

"Shut up," he smirks.

Stabby returns to the question, "he taught me diversion and hiding tricks I can implement with my ability."

"Kazimir is gifted at spotting strengths in a power. He'd be a perfect fit in tactical advising and strategy alongside Kir, it's a shame he refuses to join anything that has to do with initiating combat."

Stabby does find that strange… "Why does he dislike violence so much?"

"The monks influenced him. He thinks there's still a chance to end the war. Mother sent him to Tengu Temple to create an ally, which he seems close to accomplishing, but... it's turned him soft to the light."

The Existence of one side brings pain to the other. The words of the fear shard ring in the young shade's mind. Why does everyone believe the war is inevitable? There must be an option that keeps both sides unharmed. "Is there no way to stop the war peacefully?"

The cheeriness present in Grisha fades, the weariness of an immortal sage returning to his eyes. "No." The sound around them dies, the lighter atmosphere of the past moment dying with it. Grisha hands Stabby the books from Kir. "We've messed around enough. We should prepare ourselves for Snake Path. Search these for anything useful, I'll look out for movements from death's avatar or the demons."

Stabby takes the books, a regretful ache in his chest, and crawls into the room in Stomper's stomach.

. . . . . . . . . .

Time passes as Stabby reads in the chamber that's somehow both endless and claustrophobic. His eyes feel as if they're bleeding, he's unsure how Kir can read for this long. He enjoys reading, but he'll have to side with Grisha on this. Long periods of it are dangerous.

He sets the book down. "Time for a break. Maybe Slicer's up for talking." Stabby peaks his head out of the door, checking for a sign of eased mood. Grisha's body is tense, appearing as if he's trying to tear Stomper's straps apart, and his eyes glare ahead with a stare that could pierce steel. Stabby zips his head back into the safety of the chamber. "I'll check again later."

He falls onto his back with a sigh. He shouldn't have brought that up. Why does Grisha have such a strong hatred for the light? Stabby finds them unlikable himself, but... Grisha seems to see them as demons… Like they see us.

"Ugh, why do I keep thinking such depressing thoughts? I really need a friend."

His shadow points to itself, looking annoyed.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about you."

The shadow rolls its eyes and reaches his hand out to Stabby, who looks at it blankly. The shadow emphasizes its hand, throwing it out again.

"Would you like something?"

The shadow shifts into the blue demon's form.

After a second's thought, the realization comes. "Oh, that's right, I promised you a treat."

It nods.

"Well," Stabby looks around the room. "What do you like?"

It points to his crystalline hair.

"Crystals?"

Another nod.

Stabby glances at the bags that hold their inventory. "I'd prefer not to give you my hair, so I'll check to see if we have anything in there." There's nothing in the newer bag, which is reasonable considering neither brother knows how to use crystal-based magic. The only type of crystal that they might have would be the illuminating crystals, which he told his brother they didn't need more of. A choice he can now tell wasn't the best with his spectacular gift of foresight. He should check to see if there was any he didn't use last time.

Only one survived from his previous ransacking. He looks to his shadow, "we only have this one, but I think we should probably save it for when we need it."

The shadow gives a mute growl, signing that he'll refuse to help until he gets a crystal.

"But this is for emergencies."

The shadow points to the illuminating crystal and then to Stabby's hair, trapping the prince with two options.

Stabby finds the act of pulling out one of his crystals both a painful possibility and one that could ruin one of the few things he holds unwavering pride in, his appearance. Though a risky option, giving the illuminating crystal to the shadow holds much less danger than the other, more ominous, choice.

The shadow opens its jaw expectantly, sharp teeth coming from the otherwise pure black of the shade. With a reluctant sigh, Stabby drops the crystal, the shadow's jaws rising from the ground to catch its treat. As it chomps into the meal, the shadow moves, no... grows. It stretches out, slightly though visibly, and its smile grows with it. It points to Stabby, motioning to give it form.

"I still haven't found a way to release you without some sort of threat, but I guess I can try." The shadow separates past Stabby's right shoulder, getting stuck on his left. "See, it's still not working." The shadow's hand burst from his body, pushing itself out and jumping to its owner's side.

"Wow. That was easy. Do crystals strengthen you?"

The clone nods.

Stabby's about to further test the clone's new strengths, but he notice's Stomper's tread has paused. An empty silence fills the area around them and Stabby feels his stomach ache at the sudden change.

"Something's up." He calls for the shade to return and crawls out of the room. Grisha's gone from the top, and Stomper's arms move restlessly. "Hey, Gri..." A hand wraps around his mouth, pulling him to the ground. His core shard beats at a rapid pace, preparing himself to fight back, but a shush he knows to be Grisha's ceases his built-up stress.

"Centaurs," Grisha mouths, pointing to a large campsite filled with dozens of tent-like covers.

Stabby leaves his hold and crouches beside him. "Why are the Centaurs here? Are we in light territory?"

"We just left. These must be the mercenaries Zmey said attacked her and Kazimir. No wonder she hasn't made a report. They've completely surrounded the forest."

"They're mercenaries? But there's so many of them."

"The centaurs have been leaving their kingdom for a mercenary group that hunts shade royalty, and since they serve a purpose the light finds useful, the centaur king turns a blind eye to it."

"And now they've trapped Zmey... What should we do?"

"We can't let them see us. We're no match for their numbers." His head shifts to Stabby. "Time to put those stealth skills of yours to use."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

They travel through the thick bushes that fill the forest, leaving Stomper on the outskirts. Grisha said that despite the help she could provide in combat, she'd get them killed through her innate boisterous nature. While Stabby understands, he misses the comforting consistency of her stomps.

"What did you learn about the forest?" Grisha asks. "We're about to enter and it would be best to be prepared, more so with enemies nearby."

"Most of the wildlife seems to be fairly peaceful. The two things to worry about are the traps the gorgons cover the forest with and creatures called 'traveler's bane,' that drop from trees and melt their victims with their acidic bodies. But we shouldn't have to worry about encountering them, they're very rare, only three are recorded to exist. So as long as we watch out for traps we should be good."

"So just avoid traps, the creatures there's only three of, and the overwhelmingly enormous group of centaurs that want to kill us."

"I think we got this." Stabby grins, tripping on a wire right after. Grisha grabs him, jumping out of the way of the dozen spears piercing from the floor.

"Maybe be a bit more careful." Grisha chuckles.

"Might be a good idea," Stabby says, eyes wide.

After some time to gather himself, a question comes to Stabby. "Why don't you know about things like the traps and animals here? You're the eldest so shouldn't you be knowledgeable about these things."

"I may be the eldest, but that's just not my strong point. I excel at weapon combat, I leave the rest to our siblings and mother. They tell me who my opponent is and I figure it out from there." The way Grisha speaks shows he regained some of his cheeriness from when they left the castle. Not wanting to ruin that, and seeing the conversation could easily return to the topic that originally killed his brother's mood, Stabby changes course.

"I fed my shadow a crystal."

"Oh, yeah?" Grisha says, more amused than impressed.

"Yeah, and when I did, it grew, and I could separate from it."

"Without the need for danger?"

"Mhm."

"It seems I won't have to worry about you as much." Stabby can't help widening his grin at the sentiment. "Which crystal did you use, by the way?" Grisha asks.

"Uh..." Stabby diverts his gaze. "One I found in the castle inventory, it didn't seem important, so I thought it would be fine."

Grisha narrows his eyes. "All crystals serve some important function. Check with mother before taking one next time."

"Alright."

"You can't jus..." Grisha cuts his lecture short by setting off an axe that flings past him.

"Who goes there?" A voice shouts from behind them. The shades drop to the ground, seeing a trio of centaurs scanning the area.

"Damn, scouts," Grisha mutters.

"There's only three. Do you think we can take them out?" Stabby asks.

"No. Too risky. Even if we could take out two, we couldn't catch the third before he reported the main group. We need to divert them."

"I have just the thing." Stabby thrusts his hand into the ground, shaking a branch behind the scouts. The centaurs turn to the noise, and one with a spear points towards the tree, the two others firing arrows into it at the command. Seeing only leaves falling from the tree, the two with bows relax, glancing around once before returning to their patrol. The third stays longer looking back to the place where the original sound came from.

"Kill him?" Stabby mouths.

Grisha shakes his head no. They stay silent as the scout moves towards them, hand clasped on his spear.

"What should we do?"

"Any other tricks?"

Stabby thinks. "Maybe one."

The scout moves closer, narrowing his eyes towards the mysterious bush. Right before he reaches it, a form jumps from the bushes and dashes away. The centaur scoffs at the attempt, chasing the runaway down.

In the bush, Stabby grins with pride. It's so much easier to use an ability when you don't need a blade to skim your face. Grisha gives a supportive gesture, then waves to keep moving.

Once the scout was far away from sight, Stabby summons back his shadow, only for cold steel to touch the back of his neck.

"Seems we have found ourselves some renegade shades." the voice is formal but threatening. "Ones of high rank from the look of it." A trio of centaurs found their way behind them, and two more groups to their sides. The side groups have two archers and a spearman, while the main has two spears and a glave. The way the speaker talks reveals his position as the group's leader.

"What are you doing here?" He asks.

Grisha ignores his question, turning to Stabby with a nod. Stabby nods in return.

"Answer the question." The centaur says, becoming aggressive.

The brothers move to attack, Stabby melting his legs into the ground, but before they can, a blur of green zips through the group on their right, cutting the centaurs ankles. As soon as they reach the ground, their necks are slit. Another, much larger blur, thrusts a spear into the trio on the left, impaling the three of them.

"The gorgons, they're here. Retreat!" The leader shouts, retreating full speed. The less perceptive two are downed by arrows before they can respond, turning to stone at the arrow's touch. A gorgon slides into view, a third arrow already aimed. She shoots, but the leader jumps to the side of it. "Don't let him escape!" She shouts.

Grisha moves to summon a weapon to finish the last, but a form drops onto the torso of the leader, limbs wrapping around it like a snake. Bones crack as the newest emergence squeezes the life out of the remaining centaur and hops to the ground.

"It warmsss my heart to sssee my bothersss travel thisss far to visssit me."