Rise of the Warrior of Everfen

Chapter 107: The Magic is Undone

Erinne looked around at the misfit band of warriors that surrounded her. Her mother ran to her father, kissing him, Duran was patting his son's back, beaming at him with all the pride of a father. He was no longer faded. Tekoe was offering a hand to Cold Hammer, pulling him to his feet while the woman that had arrived for Khash ran back to him and hugged him. She'd called him brother.

Her hand was still clutched around Wren's soul and she looked back and her heart sank. Erinne rose to her feet. Wren and the orc's soul were seemingly stuck, partway through the veil of blackness, but something was holding them. Tears were on his eyes as Wren's father brushed a hand through Wren's soul, but there was blackness on him.

"My Lord?" Khash shot to his feet and started towards the blackness but the woman grabbed him, "You cannot go back in. It's too late."

The old king smiled as the blackness began to fill him, "It is alright. This was my choice, for him. I am happy with this fate." Another tear fell, "I love you, my son, live a happier life." He brushed his hand through Wren's soul one more time as if he were stroking his son's hair softly and motioned to Erinne. She tugged and Wren and the orc's soul tumbled out as the blackness took the rest of the old king, turning him black and distorted. Nothing more than a wraith loomed before her, trapped in the dark sea. Water filled her eyes as she stared, heart aching. She didn't understand what he meant by his choice, they'd all made it out...

The witch was still waiting on them and she stared sadly at the darkness and Erinne asked, "What is it like for them?"

The witch's eyes misted, "The Forgotten Souls are just that. They forget who or what they are, stuck in an endless pit of wandering, never whole."

"What about the ones we destroyed when they attacked us? Some of them disappeared."

"They are gone. They become nothing. I suppose that's more peaceful than wandering in misery."

Erinne sighed sadly. "I'm sorry," she whispered, and shoved her sword through the veil. It shattered the corporeal form and she thought she felt happiness waft through the air. She didn't know what happened when the wraiths were destroyed, but it had to be better than this forgotten existence.

"Erinne," Cold Hammer set his hand on her and she turned and buried her face against his chest. "I'm sorry."

She pressed her cheek to his chest and looked at the two souls she'd saved. They were no longer distorted wisps. They looked like faded versions of their former selves. "What now?"

The witch approached, "You take his hand when you leave, he'll go with you." She glanced towards the orc, "You leave him here when you go, his soul will stay. It's free of the curse now. The twisted, beast's body in your realm will become mortal. It is already full of arrows, it's death will be swift."

She nodded and looked up at Cold Hammer, "Where are you?"

"In the field a few miles from the castle."

"You're at Thunderfall?" She looked up at him.

"I'm coming for you, my love, and Anyse," he set his hand against her stomach. "And this one, too." He brushed his hand through her hair before his eyes widened. "You're cold."

"She's almost out of time." The witch told her. "You must return."

She glanced around and she could almost see Everfen, it's beauty leaking through the fog. She felt herself inhale sharply. It was beautiful.

"Don't look at it, it's harder to go if you do." Duran grabbed her, tilting her chin up and staring down into her eyes. "You have to go." He said it like a father and the way he held her chin was gentle and loving. "All of you."