The fire cracked gently in Fin's private study, its warm glow brushing the stone walls and gleaming off the weapons laid across the large table. The atmosphere was quiet.
No one asked Nova about last night. She didn't remember any of it so it's not like she could have given them information.
Jax was trying to remember, like it was within reach but couldn't quite get it.
Aeron, Elle, and Fin thought they had an idea but didn't want to address that yet. Cael didn't want to know.
Fin sat beside Nova, one hand resting gently against her back in comfort. Across from them, Jax leaned back in his chair, arms crossed tightly. Elle stood by the hearth, refusing to sit, her eyes locked on Cael as if bracing herself.
Aeron practically bounced in his chair like a child who had somehow snuck into the war council. His whole face lit up as he stared at the swords and daggers on the table. His eyebrows wiggled. "This is the best day of my life," he muttered to himself, rubbing his hands together like he was about to unwrap something illegal and holy all at once.
"Aeron," Jax said dryly, "if you start giggling again, I'm leaving."
Aeron snapped his head toward him. "You don't understand. These are ancient relics. Gifts from the devine. They're alive, Jax. The weapons are alive."
Elle rolled her eyes. "We noticed."
Cael let out a breath and stood, finally ready. Nova glanced up at him, a pang in her chest. He didn't hesitate. He reached for the hilt of his sword.
The moment the blade was unsheathed, the room dropped into silence. The lights flickered. A shimmer in the air stretched before them like ripples in water.
The first vision began. Silent.
He stood before three ancient doors, the same ones from the ruins on the hill—twisted and towering, carved with runes, their presence heavy and ominous. He tried kicking the door and throwing himself against it. He looked like he was screaming Elle's name. Then… the door blurred and in a whirlwind, Elle was on the other side of the door. It looked like she had switched places with him. She was covered in quicksand head to foot. She shook her head and shoved her body on the door, but nothing happened. She tried kicking it, but again nothing. Fin and Jax ran into view like they finally caught up. Fin immediately tried kicking the door in. Jax shoved his body at it. Jax's eyes glowed sapphire but nothing happened. Fin looks panicked and shifts. His wolf claws at the door, Jax tries blasting it. It wouldn't budge. Nothing. A minute more goes by, then it fades.
The vision faded.
Fin jaw ticked as that scene unfolded. He knew Nova would have been on the other side of that door too and watching his wolf desperately try to break inside only confirmed it more. She would have died too.
The second vision began without warning.
They were at the river with the ruins and cave ahead. Cael was hiding behind the tree line, clearly having followed Elle and Nova despite orders not to. Nova was on all fours in the shallow creek, coughing violently—blood staining the water. Elle rushed to help her up, both of them soaked and exhausted as they approached the cave's threshold, unaware it was rigged. Just as they neared the entrance, a barrage of arrows laced with dark magic exploded from hidden slits in the stone.
Nova threw up a shield, silver cracking gold at the edges, trying to protect them both. But her body trembled, and she dropped to her knees, the weight of the magic fracturing her defenses with every hit. They tried to retreat, inching backward toward the river, but the assault intensified. Cael's wolf couldn't wait any longer. He lunged from the trees, tearing across the field to leap in front of Elle just as more arrows fired. They pierced his side, his back, his legs—one after another—and with a final push, he threw Elle back into the river's edge. His body convulsed violently from the hits, dark veins spreading across his skin.
Jax's wolf appeared out of nowhere, as if he had been running for miles, his massive form stepping in front of Nova just in time to catch the next volley with a flickering sapphire shield. Elle screamed, crawling toward Cael, her hands clawing into the mud—but another volley of arrows rained down on her, pinning her where she lay, blood bursting from her mouth. Fin's wolf charged into the clearing seconds later, his golden eyes wide with panic—he must've been running the entire way with Jax, but was a minute behind. Suddenly, at least 50 black-laced daggers shot towards them. One cracked Jax's shield and drove straight into his stomach. His shield flickered then fell. His body was jolting as blood spilled from his lips. Another wave of daggers came at them and Fin dove over Nova, trying to shield her, but he too was hit—three, four, five times.
The dark magic seeped into his wolf and his body convulsed. Arrows followed again, faster this time, darker, and more precise. The last thing seen was Nova's body crumpling beside Fin's, both of them convulsing in blood-soaked silence, their hands reaching for each other as the light faded.
The vision faded, leaving the room stunned.
Nova blinked, her voice dry and flat, "Are you kidding me? Five out of five. All of us?"
Fin rubbed his temples. "Five for five. Gods, we're idiots."
Jax let out a low whistle.
And just like that, Elle, Nova, Jax, and Fin burst out laughing—tired, borderline-unhinged laughter that came from watching one too many visions of their own tragic deaths.
Cael looked absolutely horrified. "Wait, why are you laughing? I died! I got obliterated! That arrow went through my—"
"Cael," Nova wheezed between gasps of laughter, "we all died."
"Like a team building retreat." " Elle added, doubled over and now crying from laughter. "We all were retards!"
"What is wrong with you both?!" Fin choked but also couldn't stop laughing, his eyes watering.
"I am in a room full of idiots!" Jax said, also crying at this point he was laughing so hard.
Meanwhile, Aeron stood there blinking, holding a notebook and looking deeply betrayed. "But the artifacts were supposed to help! They were enchanted! I had notes!"
Nova wiped a tear from her eye, still grinning. "Footnote: 'Does not prevent mass stupidity.'"
Aeron shook his head. "You four are disgusting."
They all laughed harder, Cael joining this time.