A deep, resonant voice whispered, reverberating within his mind rather than his ears. "Until next time"

For a moment, he could do nothing but stare at the space where the gate had stood. His heart thundered in his chest, and he realized with startling clarity that, for the span of a few breaths, he had been certain of his own death. It was as though he had peered into the eyes of something vast and ancient, a force capable of snuffing him out like a candle flame. Then, just as fast, the presence vanished, leaving only the lingering hush.

His knees buckled, robbed of strength, and he collapsed to the stone floor. Tremors still rattled his fingers. The color drained from his face; a chill sweat dampened his forehead.

"Jamie, are you alright?" Maria's concerned tone cut through the silence. She hastened to his side, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder. He was so pale that she feared he might faint.

Jamie swallowed hard, nodding more out of reflex. "Yes… Yes," he managed, fighting to keep his voice from trembling. "I'm… exhausted. I used too much mana."

Even as he spoke, he could sense the other presence within him stirring. His "passenger" seemed to be trying to take back control. As his role had been completed, it was time to retreat into the recesses of Jamie's being.

"Fuck you. This is too boring. I'm going to sleep." Jamie complained as his manic grin ebbed away. Gradually, it settled back into the more familiar, charming smirk he so often wore.

As soon as the gate vanished, a few of the soldiers began to regain consciousness. Some groaning as they propped themselves up on shaky arms. Those who somehow resisted the power of the gate were staggering as they watched the outcome of the battle.

Serana still knelt, no longer leaning on her staff but instead cradling Andrik's body. She had drawn his body close, her fingers threading gently through his dark, sweat-matted hair. With trembling care, she rested her hand near the brutal wound that pierced his body.

Her gaze flicked over the precise slash that Jamie had inflicted. A final blow meant to end her brother's suffering. Yet there was no judgment in her eyes.

A faint sigh escaped her lips. "I always thought how I would inherit the title of Frosthell's lady," she murmured, so softly that only those closest could hear. Jamie noticed tears gathering in the corners of Serana's eyes, threatening to spill over. "I never wanted it to be like this."

Jamie and the soldiers looked on, unsure how to respond to her words.

Maria, grim-faced yet poised, broke the silence. "We should leave. Night must have fallen by now. Let's make camp near the entrance. Anywhere is safer than remaining in here. At first light, we'll return to the city."

Serana nodded, brushing the back of her wrist across her damp cheek. She rose to her feet, pausing only long enough to lay Andrik's head gently upon the cold stone.

There had been more than thirty soldiers when they set out. Now barely fifteen remained. Ten lost to the cavern's traps, more to the encounter with Theren.

"Gather the bodies of anyone you can identify," Maria commanded, her voice firm. "We owe them at least that much."

One soldier glanced at the place where Theren had reduced his comrades to unrecognizable masses. It was clear from the shock in his eyes that there would be little left to bury. "Some…there's nothing to carry," he choked out, shaking his head.

Maria's expression hardened. "Then burn what remains."

It was still night by the time the group reached the cave's entrance. No sign of orcs or goblins lingered in the forest, which allowed them some sense of safety as they set up a makeshift camp at the cavern's entrance.

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In the camp, five bodies were laid out beneath oiled canvas tarps. Four of the bodies were from their comrades, one of them Andrik's. But there was one more: Theren. At the end, he was the lord's son, but also as proof of what had happened.

Two soldiers stood nearby, speaking in hushed tones.

"Feels wrong, sleeping with dead men beside us," one of them murmured, arms folded across his chest.

"Like they could stand up at any moment," the other replied.

Jamie overheard their conversation, but fatigue made it impossible for him to muster any response. He sat off to one side of the cave, shoulders slumped against a cold rock. His weary eyes threatened to close, though they never fully did.

Maria approached after dispatching the final orders for the night's watch. She eased herself down beside Jamie. "Thank you," she said simply, keeping her gaze campfire.

Jamie blinked in confusion, glancing sidelong at her. "For what?"

A tired smile flickered across Maria's face. "You've saved me at least three times by now," she replied. Her expression momentarily darkened, but she exhaled and forced a calmer air.

Jamie opened his mouth to argue that she wouldn't have been in peril if not for him and Jessica, yet the words tangled on his tongue. Instead, he accepted her gratitude with a simple "It's nothing," his voice hoarse from strain.

A short distance away, Jessica slept beneath a blanket. Freed from her chains, she looked thin and frail. Whatever dark magic Theren had employed had drained much of her strength.

Maria reached up and nudged Jamie's head until it rested softly against her shoulder. He stared at her with mild surprise, uncertain how to react.

"Go on," she prompted, as though reading his thoughts. "Sleep. Or will my future husband claim he's too prideful to rest on my shoulder?" she teased, eyes shining with faint amusement.

"You know it's only for show," he mumbled. Even so, her warmth and the steady sound of her breathing offered a rare comfort.

Maria chuckled softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead. "Yes, I know. Consider this a thank-you, and hush before you overthink it." With a gentle push, she guided his head more securely against her shoulder.

In another moment, Jamie might have resisted. Their strange alliance, their feigned engagement, battled with unspoken tensions. But exhaustion eroded any protest. Slowly, his eyelids grew heavy and embraced the soft darkness of sleep.

---

Even with dawn breaking outside, morning light took its time to penetrate the cavern. The group stirred groggily. Jessica, newly roused, stretched her stiff limbs before glancing around to survey the scene. Her gaze fell at once upon her brother Jamie. Still waking up on the shoulder of the dark-haired woman who had helped lead them out of the cavern.

The moment Jamie noticed Jessica looking at him, he blinked blearily. As he realized his head was still resting against Maria, he jerked upright, his cheeks coloring faintly as he cleared his throat.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked in a rush, standing and brushing sleep away from his eyes.

"Yes," Jessica answered, her eyes still locked on her brother's. She had that piercing, discerning look. The one that always made Jamie feel like she saw more than he wanted her to.

"Good," he muttered, not offering any room for further questions. "We should be heading back to the city."

The camp quickly dissolved into motion, soldiers snuffing out torches and packing up bedrolls. Though fewer in number than when they had ventured into the cave, those left were determined to return home as soon as possible.

Jessica, unsteady but resolute, refused to stray from Jamie's side. She peppered him with questions, her curiosity unbound. "I heard from the others that you're getting married? To that woman over there? Tell me who she is! I want details."

Jamie grimaced, half-thinking of a retort, but his stomach released a telltale growl before he could muster one. "Later," he managed. "Let me eat first; it's freezing, and we have a long walk ahead."

The minutes dragged by without a final signal to depart. Confused murmurs rose among the soldiers, and Jamie noticed a small group gathered near the mouth of the cave, voices low but urgent. Intrigued, he made his way over.

"Maybe we can come back with explosives," one soldier proposed.

"But that would mean telling more people about this place," another pointed out.

Maria stood amidst them, arms folded, her expression set. "No. We've already drawn enough attention. We can't risk word spreading."

Jamie joined them. "What's going on?"

"We need to seal this cave," Maria explained. "At least the corridor leading to that chamber where… everything happened. But we don't have any explosives or a fire mage to do it for us."

The group fell silent, each person weighing possible solutions. Jessica, overhearing from behind Jamie, edged closer with heightened interest. Slowly, a knowing gleam lit her eyes.

"I can help with that!"

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