Everything beneath us was dead.
The grass, the trees, even the earth itself—consumed by the black rot creeping outward like a living wound. The mist slithered along the horizon, spreading in tendrils that devoured the light.
The dead had taken this land.
And gods, I had a terrible feeling they wouldn't stop there.
My wings ached. I couldn't stay airborne any longer, so Muir shifted fully, his sapphire form vast and gleaming, letting Revik and me climb onto his back. Raiden transformed beside us, lightning flickering along his scales as we took off again—silent, fast, fleeing the ruin behind us.
The cold bit at my skin, sharp and merciless. But I barely felt it.
My mind was still replaying the way the dead had moved—their twisted limbs, the way the ground died under their feet.
What in the hells were they?
"We need to land," Revik's voice rumbled through the wind.
Muir grunted in agreement, wings faltering slightly. None of us argued. We flew until we found a jagged ridge along the mountainside, far from the spreading corruption.
One by one, we landed. Raiden shifted back first, and I stumbled off Muir's back, legs shaking from exhaustion. My body ached—part fear, part fatigue. Revik followed, his usual easy grin nowhere to be found.
"That wasn't normal," I said quietly, wrapping my arms around myself.
Revik raked a hand through his hair, his face set in grim lines. "No shit. That was—what even was that?"
Muir dropped onto a boulder, rubbing a hand over his face. "The darkness… I didn't think that's what it looked like up close."
Raiden didn't speak. His jaw was locked, his gaze distant, fixed on the horizon as though he could still see the black fog spreading.
"Raiden?" I stepped closer. "What was that?"
His eyes met mine—haunted, cold. Then he exhaled, running a hand down his face. "After Muir told me about the plague, I asked Zaius to look into it. He found something. Old legends."
My stomach tightened. "What kind of legends?"
He hesitated, voice low. "Of something that comes when the balance of the world is beyond repair."
Silence fell like ash.
"And you think that's what this is?" I asked.
"I don't know." His tone was quiet, heavy. "But whatever that was—it wasn't random. It was a warning."
A shiver ran through me that had nothing to do with the cold. Something was happening. Something bigger than any of us.
We didn't waste more time. If the world itself was rotting, we couldn't afford to stand still. The relics were our only chance.
Muir shifted again, his sapphire wings slicing the night as he crouched for us to climb on. This was his territory now—the Water Kingdom—and we'd need his protection.
I took my place behind Raiden, fingers curling around his waist as Revik climbed on behind me. The wind howled as we rose, the Water Kingdom sprawling below like a mosaic of frost and flowing rivers.
Hours passed before we finally descended into a quiet clearing a few miles outside the merchant town—our next target.
I slid off Muir's back and fell into step beside Revik. His expression was carved from stone, his usual spark replaced with something sharp and simmering.
Muir shifted back, rolling his shoulders with a groan. "We walk from here."
"Something's off," I muttered. "Raiden and Muir… they already knew about that darkness. Muir was the first to call it by name."
Revik's body tensed. "Yeah," he said flatly.
There was something dark in his voice—something that almost sounded like betrayal.
"Did you know?" I asked.
His jaw ticked. "No."
The word hit the air like a strike. His hands curled into fists, his steps heavy. I'd never seen him like this—no grin, no banter, just coiled anger.
His eyes flicked toward Raiden's back, and I could almost feel the heat of his stare.
I wanted to say something, to ease the tension clawing at the edges of our group—but something told me now wasn't the time.
So I stayed quiet.
The walk to town was long and cold, the wind biting through my cloak. Even wrapped in Raiden's, I couldn't stop shivering.
"You weren't kidding about the cold," I muttered.
Muir smirked without turning. "Welcome to the Water Kingdom, Primal."
I rolled my eyes, but my mind wasn't on him.
It was on Raiden.
On the way his gaze lingered on me when he thought I wouldn't notice. On the way he'd kissed me—and the way he'd pulled away.
When I finally dared to glance back, his eyes met mine.
For a heartbeat, I saw it there—the hunger, the wanting, the storm.
Then it was gone.
And I hated the way my chest ached for it.
"So," I said, forcing levity, "what's the plan?"
Muir shrugged. "We find the merchant. Wait. Watch. When he shows, we corner him, get what we need, and vanish before his guards know what hit them."
"And if we can't do it quietly?" I asked.
Raiden's voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it. "Then we do it the loud way."
I smirked. "My favorite way."
Muir chuckled. Revik didn't. His silence was heavy, edged with tension.
When we reached town, the sudden burst of life was jarring—vendors shouting, children laughing, the smell of roasted meat in the air. It was so alive that it made the memory of that dead land even worse.
Muir clapped his hands. "Alright. Raiden and I will scout. You two hit the tavern, see what gossip you can dig up."
Raiden looked at me, eyes unreadable. "Be careful."
My stomach flipped despite myself. "You too, Sparky."
His lips twitched—almost a smile—but Muir dragged him off before he could say more.
Revik and I stood in the square, watching them go. His expression hadn't softened.
"Come on," I said, nudging him. "Let's get a drink."
The tavern was warm and dim, firelight flickering across rough wood and half-drunk patrons. For a moment, I let myself enjoy it—the smell of stew, the sound of laughter, the illusion of peace.
But across from me, Revik sat hunched over his mug, jaw locked, eyes burning.
"You're pissed," I said.
He let out a humorless laugh. "Of course I am."
"Revik—"
"No, Lyra." He slammed the mug down, frustration spilling over. "I'm his second. His best friend. And he knew about this darkness—and said nothing."
There was real hurt beneath his anger.
Something brittle and human.
I sighed, swirling my drink. "You have every right to be mad."
"Damn right." He rubbed the back of his neck. "After everything we've been through… why the hell wouldn't he come to me?"
"Because that's what he does," I said quietly. "He keeps everything locked inside."
That earned me a wry smirk. "No argument there."
I hesitated. "It's not just you, you know."
His eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
I met his gaze, steady. "He kissed me."
"Yeah," he said dryly, taking a long swallow. "I saw."
My silence told him everything else.
His brows rose. "Again?"
I nodded.
"And by again, you mean…"
My cheeks flared. "And then some."
Revik groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Lyra, for fuck's sake."
"Oh, don't start." I scowled. "I know it's stupid. I know it's dangerous. But gods help me, I don't know why I can't stay away."
He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Because he's Raiden. And because he'll keep pushing you away—because he thinks he doesn't deserve you."
That one landed harder than I expected.
I swallowed. "Maybe."
Revik's gaze softened, but his voice was firm. "Just promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Don't let him break you."
Something in my chest twisted.
I forced a smile. "I won't."
He didn't look convinced, but he didn't press. Instead, he raised his mug. "To terrible decisions and even worse timing."
I huffed a laugh and lifted mine. "To drinking our problems away."
The mugs clinked, and for a little while—just a little while—I let myself laugh.
Because it felt good.
Because it felt human.
And because in that fleeting moment, I could almost pretend we weren't running from the end of the world.