Sweat dripped down my forehead, burning as it made contact with the last vestiges of seared skin. Id told Kymar to stop, for now, and asked Ralakos to not inform of the ti until we reached the hour-before deadline.
I needed to remove any possible distractions if I wanted to succeed.
For the third ti, I pressed my hand against the control crystal, forcing the spark through it. Veldanis voice guided , keeping grounded.
Rember, this is not a race. Be calm and keep your mind steady. You cannot see the obstacles within, and you cannot afford to learn them through trial and error.
I tried to listen. But I was growing frustrated with the cryptic nature of her advice.
Once again, the spark winked out. If I cant brute force it or remove the panel to direct it carefully, and I cant learn through repetition, what, exactly, is left for to do?
Your impatience is your greatest weakness, my student. As is your proclivity for control. Reject them. It is the only way.
I glanced over to ensure Veldani wasnt drifting off again. She was still leaning heavily against the left leg of the gate, but her eyes were sharp and attentive.
How?
Picture the result you desire. Then loosen your grip. Allow your subconscious to take over.
I tried again, forcing another spark through the control crystal. Progress was far slower when I wasnt actively managing it, and it snuffed out when my focus lapsed.
Its not working.
Veldani was quiet. She did this often, when she gave a difficult task. Withdrew guidance after she felt shed given enough to muddle through on my own. It was a different tactic than any of my previous teachers had taken. At tis, I appreciated the thod.
But this wasnt training. The stakes were too high. And this was a rare situation that wouldnt necessarily be fixed with a reset.
If it set far back enough, maybe. However, that was uncommon. The Black Beast had an unspoken tendency to place either directly before a catalyzing event, or at a transitional point. The situation with my father had been resolved bloodlessly for the mont, an ideal outco whenever the man was involved. The most likely place Id be sent back to would be either my return to the Sanctum after the reunion, or at so point during our efforts to repair the gate.
I could use so of my foreknowledge to save us a marginal amount of ti, but there was no silver arrow, nothing drastic I could manage to sway the tide. And if Veldani didnt co to her senses at the sa ti, there was a not insignificant chance the potion would kill , forcing repeated resets to return to this point.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ralakos pull his watch from his pocket, then replace it.
Enough.
I took a deep breath and let my anxiety, my worries over Maya, and the hideous weight of the deadline forced on in the back of my head, slowly fade away.
The spark ca to life, I pushed it through. Following Veldanis counsel, I willed the spark upward, keeping my direction vague and unspecific.
The increase in power from the potion was significant enough that I had to marvel at the difference. Before, the third stage spark was fragile. Now, it took concentrated effort to stop it from expanding.
The spark stopped, but did not extinguish. I bit down on a whoop of triumph. Its there.
Titus pumped a fist. Well done, lad. Straight line, through about three inches of tal, and well have a primitive pathway. Just dont let it spread, and take care to keep it from flying off once youre finally through.
While it sounded simple in theory, it required thinking about the fla in an entirely different manner and overriding years of conditioning.
I focused on the temperature and felt it grow hotter. Still, the progress was painstakingly slow. I imagined the tal growing red, a hole forming as the tiny spark carved through.
The world fell away, as it had so long ago in the Everwood. There was only the spark.
And the spark carved through.
I released the magic, before the fire could damage any of the internal components.
Its done.
My heart raced, as Titus reached towards the ignition switch.
There was an audible click, and sothing happened.
No.
We were so close.
Ralakos replaced his watch in his pocket, rubbing his forehead wearily. There was a deep sadness in his face. Theres still ti. But I suspect using it here would be folly. You did your best, my friend.
Had I? Was this really the best I could manage?
There will be other opportunities.
I couldnt bring myself to look at Veldani. The teacher I failed.
Cursed ancestors. Titus gave the dinsion gate a woeful glare. Then he reached down, and flicked the ignition switch repeatedly.
My mind drifted as Titus fiddled with the panel, and Ralakos directed Kymar to attend to my remaining wounds.
With all the potential points of failure, resetting could easily put in a worse position than I started in. But letting this pass by didnt feel right, either.
A noble effort. Most mages I know would have crumbled long before the finish line. Kymar frowned. He was trying to console , but he couldnt quite mask his disappointnt.
None of them could.
There was a clang as Titus banged his forehead against the gate. Master engineers, my ass. He growled, mocking his ancestors in a singsong voice, No, no, Our designs are perfect. Aesthetic trumps practical design, since theyll never break down. Whats that? Obsolescence? Can we eat it? Lazy feckin gobshites!
Titus slamd a aty fist into the ignition switch. And promptly fell on his ass as the dinsion gate filled the room with a high-pitched whine.
A violet mbrane extended down from the top of the gate to the bottom, filling in the empty space.
For a mont, no one said anything.
Then the room exploded in cheers.
I broke from Ralakos and grabbed Titus beneath his arms, lifting him clear off the ground. You magnificent bastard!
Titus turned bright red and let out a guffaw. Credit where credits due. You put in the work and cleared the pathway. I just got primitive with the igniter.
Tears stread down Ralakoss cheeks. I never thought Id live to see this day.
Elphion take . I stared at the gate, still not quite believing what I was seeing. Is that it? Itll keep running?
Like a dream. Titus confird, grinning wildly. These ancient builds are all the sa. A bear to get running, but once ye grease the gears itll putter on until the sun burns out. So long as soone tops off the supply every few decades.
You were right, Veldani. It was simple once I The words died in my throat. My teachers expression was vacant. She gazed down at the stone floor with unblinking eyes, a peaceful smile on her pale lips.
The room grew quiet once more.
Veldani? I crouched down in front of her and waved a hand in front of her face. When I pressed my fingers to her neck, she slumped over, and I caught her and carefully lowered her to the ground.
Shes been gone for a while. Ralakos said quietly.
Did she my voice caught in my throat. Did she see the gate open?
Perhaps. Ralakos looked away. In the end, Veldani spent her last monts teaching. She wouldnt have wanted it any other way.
I reached down and brushed a stray hair from Veldanis forehead. It ca off in my hands. I grimaced at the indignity of it. This is all thanks to you. Your dedication. Your faith. I never had a chance to repay you
There was a sudden surge in the dinsion gates whine. A red infernal stepped through the gate. He looked vaguely nomadic from the stitched together clothes, and wore the expression of a man who had wandered into a dream. Where am I?
Ralakos took the man by the arm and pulled him into an embrace. Ho.
They filed in, one after another, making their way through the gate, staring at their surroundings.
There were so many of them.
Eventually, the room beca crowded, and Ralakos began directing them outside, where the waiting crowd chattered in anticipation.
Every single emotion imaginable was on display. Grief at the ti long-lost. Excitent, as fathers and mothers returned to their now-grown children. Exhaustion, at a wound decades old, finally began to heal.
The newcors glanced at from ti to ti, curious, but not hostile.
Ralakos leaned into , giving a gentle bump. You did exactly what you promised.
I shook my head. It hasnt really hit yet.
With a few detours along the way. Stopping a demonic uprising, fighting an arch-mage
Dying and coming back to life.
Capping it all off by uniting countless families. Ralakos smiled. Id say youve earned a vacation.
I snorted. Im going ho, next. This was the vacation.
Ralakos laughed heartily, pulling into a half-hug.
Youll want to get so of the more archaic restrictions removed when you get back to Whitefall. Before your coronation, preferably. I imagine therell be no small infernal attendance. Youve earned our unwavering support. His eyes twinkled. I should commission a statue.
Please dont. I snorted. I look terrible as a statue.
Ralakos laughed again. When I didnt join him, he sighed. I know what its like to lose a teacher. He glanced at the pocket watch. There is sothing you can do for her. Sothing that hasnt been done in quite so ti. Ralakos leaned close and whispered in my ear.
***
Titus and Kymar brought Veldani out on the stretcher that was ant for , should the worst co to pass.
I stood at the peak of the council steps, my throat tight. Slowly, one after another, the returning infernals and the people welcoming them back fell silent.
I breathed in deeply and spoke. I didnt intend to make a speech. It would be a cri to politicize a mont this pure. And while I contributed, I could not have done so without the help of Ralakos and countless others. It is a ti for healing, and rekindled bonds. A ti to rebuild.
I choked, waiting for the surge of emotion to dissipate. Which is why, while it is difficult, I must ask for a favor.
I extended a hand towards my teacher. Many of you knew Veldani. Her students were many. She grew tired long before the dinsion gate was sundered. Still, she waited. For a bearer of the fla, to return that which was stolen. In the anti, she cared for the Elders of the Sanctum, who were too sick to care for themselves. And though I was anything but the student she expected
I chuckled and wiped my eyes. She taught regardless. Exactly what I needed to help bring all of you back to your families today. And when I needed her most, she left the Sanctum to bring you ho.
A murmur of understanding rippled through the crowd.
I wish to honor Veldani, before my role here cos to an end. Will you lend your aid?
For a mont, no one moved. Then four none in traditional garb, three in the stitched together wear that marked nomadic newcorsascended the stairs, each taking one arm of the stretcher from Titus and Kymar.
Directed by Ralakos, the crowd moved as one towards the entrance portal, Veldani held in their midst.
***
The preparations ca together quickly. Both the returning infernals and residents, earth mages, and water mages working in tandem to construct a pyre.
Thousands gathered around the finished pyre as Veldani was placed atop it.
Cremation was uncommon amongst the infernals. And more still for demon-fire to be used. According to Ralakos, it was a rare accolade even before the gate was broken, and the mages with demon-fire eradicated. An honor bestowed upon heroes.
I called the spark and lit the torch in my hand. Ralakos caught my eye and held his watch up, its glass face glimring in the sun.
That was the signal. Half an hour, and my ti was up. I searched through the people surrounding the pyre frantically, looking for soone I knew to bear the torch.
Excuse , your grace? A womans voice. I had to look down, as she only ca up to my chest. Her hair was a mix of blue and gray, the beginning of crows feet around her reddened eyes. Now that she had my attention, she curtsied low, and I bowed in return.
Yes?
The infernal looked at the torch in my hand. Her lip trembled. But her voice was strong. May I light the fire? For my Grandmother?
Youre Anglisse. I realized.
Anglisses eyebrows shot up. She talked about ?
All the ti. Veldani never stopped thinking about you. I smiled sadly. Im truly sorry for your loss. I extended the butt of the torch toward her.
And yours. Anglisse took the torch with both hands, curtsied once more, and returned to the pyre.
My lips tightened as I spotted various familiar faces in the crowd. Ralakos was speaking with Anglisse. Guemon stood towards the back, his eyes glued to my fathers army. I spotted Agarin briefly, elevated above the crowd on Kilviuss shoulders.
No one noticed as I secured my saddlebags and mounted a horse.
I wished to stay for the ceremony. To be honest, I wished to stay far longer. This placeboth the Enclave, the Sanctumwas ho in a way nowhere else ever had been.
If there was a world where Thoth never existed and my father was a reasonable ruler, and no cataclysm lood in the distant future, I might have done just that. Abdicated and carved out a peaceful life in the Enclave as an apothecary, far away from petty political backstabbing and violence.
But, as is so often true, wistful desires do not beco reality.
My father was a tyrant. Thoth, an existential threat. Ragnark was inevitable.
And a peaceful life was never my purpose.
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