Divided

I'll Be Able To Finish You

A/N: I was out of the country for two weeks... but I'm back!

Third POV

Alistair gently lowers Ajia's lifeless body to the cold, unforgiving snow. His fingers tremble as they release her, the warmth of her once-vibrant form now slipping away into the frozen earth beneath her. The pale light of the moon casts long shadows, adding to the eerie stillness of the scene. He stands slowly, his legs heavy, his heart even heavier.

His breath comes in shallow gasps as he turns toward Cadenza. Her grin is sharp, cruel, as she watches him, her eyes glinting with malicious satisfaction. There's a twisted pleasure in the way she studies him, her lips curling upward at the edges. The sight of his pain seems to feed her.

"W-why?" Alistair whispers, his voice barely audible in the cold, his chest tightening as the question hangs in the air. His throat is dry, like the words are being choked from him.

Cadenza tilts her head, a mock thoughtful expression crossing her face. She taps her finger to her chin as if contemplating her answer, her eyes narrowing with amusement.

"Mmm... I'm just clearing my path," she says softly, her voice like honey, dripping with insincerity.

She takes a step closer, the snow crunching underfoot, her presence filling the space between them. Her hands, delicate and poised, begin to shift, the air around them crackling with dark energy. Alistair watches in horror as the tendrils of black magic begin to form, swirling like a storm ready to consume everything in its path.

"But don't worry," she continues, her voice almost a purr now. "You'll see Ajia soon."

Her fingers weave through the air, and the shadows seem to grow darker, more menacing, as her magic takes shape.

-Back in the castle

Tzan bolts down the grand staircase, his footsteps echoing through the empty halls of the castle. His heart races, and his mind is a storm of frantic thoughts.

"Celeste!" he calls out, his voice laced with urgency and fear.

Caterina's bedroom door creaks open, and she steps out, her brow furrowed with confusion. She pauses when she sees Tzan, his usual calm demeanor shattered. His face is pale, his eyes wide with panic.

"Tzan? What's wrong?" she asks, her voice soft but filled with concern as she takes in his disheveled appearance.

Instead of responding, Tzan turns on his heel, dashing down the corridor. His shoes pound the floor as he races forward, and Caterina follows closely behind, her confusion growing with every step.

Without hesitation, Tzan makes his way toward the castle's library, pushing open the heavy door with a crash that echoes in the vast room. The scent of old parchment fills the air as his eyes scan the dimly lit space, landing on Celeste. She's seated at her desk, her quill gliding across a stack of documents. She looks up at the sudden disturbance, her brow knitting in confusion at the sight of Tzan's frantic state.

"Tzan?" she asks, surprised by the rare sight of him unsettled.

His chest heaves with the weight of his words, but he doesn't waste a second.

"Ajia was teleported somewhere!" he exclaims, his voice breaking as the memory floods back—of his sister's sudden disappearance, her form pulled away by an unseen force right before his eyes. His hands tremble as he recalls the helplessness he felt.

"I looked for Alistair, but he's missing too!" The words spill from him in a rush, his panic now palpable.

Before he can catch his breath, Celeste is suddenly beside him, her expression a mix of shock and worry. She reaches out, her hand hovering near his arm as if unsure how to comfort him in this moment of chaos.