Shards of Felwyn

A Losing Battle

"No! That can't be right." Was the first thing to spring from Cosmo's mouth, concern painted on his face. If the Divine Prism was missing, then he had already failed Tatiova's request. I knew the fact that I hadn't ran into any of Galdernad's men until now was a bad sign. He thought, a terrible feeling setting into his stomach. The entire time I had been struggling in the Trials, foolishly relaxing during my travels, and struggling to learn all that I could, Galdernad had already secured one, if not both of the other Prisms.

"I can't think of any other explanation." Elarra responded, grimly. "Listen, Cosmo." She spoke his name unfamiliarly and he locked eyes with her. "An environment thrives with the help of its Prism. The overabundance of mana can cultivate jungles of trees larger than you can imagine, foliage in even the most infertile locations, and even create entire genomes from its sheer power. It would make sense that, in the absence of such a force, the opposite would be bound to occur."

"Does that mean that the beautiful homeland of my people is..." Elias paused, looking at the satchel with wide eyes, emotion flooding his voice. "dying?"

"From what I understand, the Decay is delayed heavily. But by how much time, I am uncertain. I believe that if they are returned, effects even as strong as those that plague the Hinterland Wastes can be reversed. Regardless, what has happened here is indisputable: the Prism was taken right out from my people's collective noses."

"You don't understand, Elarra!" Lysander, this time, raised his voice, his eyebrows tilted upwards in concern. Elarra looked at him with her deep, intelligent eyes.

"I understand more than you know." She stated, causing him to hesitate, the hairs on Lysander's neck standing on edge. "It's not every day you see four people from vastly different areas of this region with the power to collapse a sun in their satchel." A heavy silence set over the room. "You want them all, don't you?"

"As Tatiova wills it." Elias nodded, and Elarra grimaced.

"Wait." Lileth interjected. Cosmo had almost forgotten she had been in the same room the entire time, his focus on the fear that Varren had already acquired the second Divine Prism. What Galdernad could do with that much power was unthinkable. "This is the reason Varren is hunting you, isn't he?" Lysander and Cosmo nodded, their expressions grim. Elarra's head snapped in their direction.

"Varren is hunting you?" She asked, incredulously. The magic-user cursed under her breath. "So the rumors I have heard are true. Galdernad plans to do the same. It is noble of you four to serve the gods and try to prevent it."

"We require no thanks. We, like most in Felwyn, do not think highly of the bastard anyways." Elias responded. "How did you know? About his despicable plan, that is."

"When a king begins aggressively searching the cities that are encompassed in his nation, one begins to gather information." She responded, cryptically. "Regardless, I understand that this information must be difficult to accept."

"I don't think I do." Cosmo blurted, looking up at Elarra as though he wasn't sure what he just said. Lysander turned to him with a concerned look, but he didn't care. He couldn't. Since Galdernad had destroyed his home, his entire life had been consumed by his journey: all for the sole purpose of thwarting the Lord of Felwyn's plans.

"Cosmo, I do not know much about you." Elarra responded, choosing her words carefully. "But you do not seem insane to me. I have researched the Decay for longer and in more depth than you can imagine. I understand why you question me, but know that it is futile."

"It will be alright, Cosmo." Molniya reassured him. "We still have time to acquire a third one. Perhaps that will be enough."

"It won't." He produced the large pouch from his satchel once again, looking at the bag and feeling the intense power shoot through the fibres of its container. "Even one of these, if he is capable of wielding them somehow, is powerful enough to level a mountain. That pig... he's sure to get the rest of them one way or another. We cannot let him have a single one."