Cipher blinked hard, adjusting to the dim light around her. Her body ached, but the burning pain in her shoulder was the worst of all.
"Cipher!" Nova's voice was gentle but firm, her expression lighting up with relief. "You alright?"
Cipher inhaled sharply, trying to sit up—but the wound immediately protested with searing pain. She winced.
"Where are we?"
Nova pressed a reassuring hand to her arm, coaxing her back down. "Relax. Your wound is still fresh—you need to rest."
Cipher sighed, closing her eyes briefly before whispering, "How long was I out?" Nova glanced toward the small barred window, gauging the time. "Not sure exactly, but I'd say four… maybe five hours."
"Five hours?" Cipher frowned slightly, processing the lost time. "What did I miss?"
Nova leaned back, taking a breath before answering. "A lot. We found Asher Kade—he removed the spear from your shoulder and patched you up."
Cipher's mind sharpened at the mention of Asher. But then, like a sudden jolt, something else struck her. "Zane."
Cipher's breathing stilled as she focused inward. She reached out with her thoughts. 'Zane! Can you hear me?'
Silence greeted her. She called again. 'Zane!'
Nova watched Cipher closely, concerned flickering across her face. She guessed Cipher's thoughts. "How is Zane?" she asked hesitantly. "Is he okay?"
Cipher met her gaze, frustration edging into her voice. "I don't know. He's not responding."
Just as anxiety threatened to take hold, a soft, weak voice finally surfaced in her mind.
'I' my fine… just so weak. Hunger drains me. But if you're alright, I guess I'll be too.'
Relief flooded Cipher's chest. 'That's going to take a while,' she told him. 'My left shoulder is a mess.'
Zane's voice carried gentle caution. 'Be careful. Take care of yourself. When you're weak… I get weak too.'
Cipher noted, absorbing the weight of his words. Their bond—it ran deeper than just companionship. 'I'll do my best.' Her voice softened. 'For a minute, I thought I lost you.'
A weak chuckle echoed in her mind. 'I don't die easily, Cipher. You know that. I'm immortal.'
Cipher closed her eyes, exhaling slowly. 'Yeah… even though I used to think those were just myths.'
Nova caught Cipher's gaze and tilted her head. "Were you talking to Zane?"
Cipher blinked at her, then nodded. "Yeah. He's fine—but weak. Hungry. And since my body's struggling, it affects him too."
Nova let out a breath, her grin warm. "I'm just glad he's still with us."
Cipher gave a tired but grateful smile. "Me too." The quiet settled around them, but the weight of their situation remained.
Nova held out the sapphire gemstone, its brilliant blue surface catching the dim light of the cell. She placed it gently before Cipher's face.
"Give this to him," Nova said softly. "It might help."
Cipher studied the gem, recognizing its rarity and worth. She hesitated. "Are you sure? This is too valuable for you."
Nova waved off the concern, her tone easy but resolute. "Think of it as an exchange—I keep the Kartana blade, and Zane gets a gift."
Cipher let out a breath, her fingers slowly reaching for the gemstone. "Thank you. I'll replace it once I complete my mission."
She knew the significance of this gift. The precious stone she has to give to Zane she could not compare to what Nova has to receive.
Nova leaned back. "I mean what I say. I resonate deeply with the Kartana blade. If I spend enough time with it, I will become one of the greatest Kartana wielders."
Cipher could see the truth in her words, though Nova had conveniently left out that the weapon had been confiscated. Still, there was honesty in her conviction.
"Alright," Cipher murmured. "But I owe you one."
Nova shrugged. "Whatever."
She didn't care about favors—she just wanted Zane to have strength, even if Cipher was still recovering. It was a risk, but one worth taking. Cipher turned inward, calling out to her phoenix.
'Zane, I have a gemstone—a sapphire blue type.' There was a pause before an explosion of joy echoed through her mind.
'Really?!'
Cipher smiled. 'Hell yes. Hurry and eat.'
'Alright, thanks!' Zane replied.
Cipher smirked. 'Don't thank me. Thank Nova.'
A brief silence. Then—'What? She did that for me?' Zane sounded genuinely surprised. Perhaps because of the cold indifference Nova had shown Cipher in the beginning.
'Yes.' Another pause, and then—'Tell her—thank you. She has a beautiful soul, even if she hides it beneath indifference.'
Cipher chuckled at his choice of words but decided to relay the message without its harsher implications.
In an instant, Zane manifested into the physical world, emerging from Cipher's mind. His form flickered before settling. He extended his beak, taking the gemstone from Nova's outstretched hand. Then, just as quickly, he vanished back into Cipher's subconscious. Inside Cipher's mind, Zane shattered the gemstone into tiny fragments, savoring them one by one.
'This is delicious, he murmured happily. I haven't had something this good in a long, long time.'
Cipher let out a relieved breath. 'I'm glad you're enjoying it.'
Her gaze drifted back to Nova. "He says the meal is incredible—he's really grateful," Cipher conveyed. "He hasn't had something like this in ages."
Nova beamed, a genuine warmth flickering across her face. "That's good to hear," she said simply.
Cipher remembered his other companion, her voice came urgent, sharp with uncertainty. "Where is Ren and Asher? You said we found him right?"
Nova let out a deep, weary sigh, her gaze flickering with something unreadable. "We're locked away… and I'm sure it's the same for them."
Cipher frowned. "By whom? The Winzors?"
Nova shook her head, the memories slipping in pieces. "No. Zane burned all the Winzors to death. They're gone. But there's someone worse—Vutagon Mondanza."
Cipher's breath hitched at the name, foreign yet heavy with threat.
"He rules the underworld," Nova continued. "And he has a grudge—an old one—with Ren and Asher. Whatever it is, it's deep. When he appeared… they froze. Not in fear, but something worse. That tells me everything I need to know."
Cipher's voice was quiet, weighed down by uncertainty. "What does he plan to do with us?"
Nova exhaled, shaking her head. "I don't know about the others… but me? He said I'm useful. Too valuable to waste. As for you, well—he still has plans. Just not the kind that requires much… care."
Cipher fell into contemplation, guilt creeping in like an unwelcome shadow. Had she led them all straight into their demise? For a fleeting moment, she wondered if she was their curse. She wanted to act—do something—but the sharp pain in her shoulder made her weak. In Cipher's mind, Zane had drifted into sleep in his space, content after finishing his unusual feast: the shimmering blue sapphire gemstone.
In the underground pit, the air was electric—charged with excitement from the hundreds of spectators. They roared in anticipation of the event soon to unfold. At the center of the chaos stood two grand, throne-like seats, occupied by figures whose presence commanded fear and respect—Lord Vutagon Mondanza's and Lucius Vance.
"Did you capture all four of them… Or did one slip away from your fingers again?" Lucius asked, though the answer was already obvious.