by Shakyra Dunn
“Are you willing to risk your sworn duty to your prince for a duty to your princess if it means your demise is inevitable?” Helesa continued, observing the sight.
Kinaju traded his sword for a bow, lining up an arrow to fire when Solus began inching closer to both Helesa and Leilana, rapier in hand. His lips were turning blue, and he was barely holding on to consciousness, but he pushed ahead nonetheless until he was face to face with his love. He grabbed the princess by her dress collar and forcefully pressed his lips against hers before plunging the rapier into her chest, causing her to shakily gasp. As her silhouette dissipated, Solus was left gasping for air, no emotions swirling through his racing heart.
Solus wrapped a hand around his throat again, shakily proclaiming, “I’m not going to fall for such meander tricks if it means saving them both.”
Helesa gestured to him in a challenging manner, her wavy locks shifting over her right shoulder. Solus was drawn to her fragile appearance, but he knew well that all Warlords posed a challenge no matter the caliber of their potential. He’d have to be on his guard.
He closed the distance to Helesa, about to strike her down when she conjured up a barrier, the tip of the rapier ensnared in her trap centimeters from her forehead. Solus snarled, attempting to break past her considerable hold, or at the very least free his blade. If her barriers were on a scale like Rem’s, then she was marginally better due to her higher status. Kinaju shot an arrow at the barrier, striking Solus’s rapier to knock it out of the barrier. Solus stumbled back as Helesa temporarily lowered her defensive shield, and he took the opportunity to strike at her. The woman extended a hand forward, a stream of light particles flying in his direction, which Solus parried swiftly, knocking them into a wall.
Kinaju continued firing at Helesa, and the Warlord swept her hands about vigorously, barriers reflecting the arrows back in his direction, which Kinaju quickly caught with between his fingers as they returned to him and set them up to fire again. Solus was impressed by his younger brother’s masterful skills but couldn’t allow himself to be passed over so easily. His eyes scanned Helesa briefly for anything that could be used against the woman. Everyone had a weakness. Where did hers lie?
“Cover me!” Solus shouted to Kinaju.
“Just try to keep up with my pace!” Kinaju replied.
Solus grasped the hilt of the rapier with both hands as he propelled towards Helesa, who worked at conjuring another barrier in front of her. Solus didn’t attempt to land a strike, instead sweeping behind the woman to counterstrike. She held up both hands to cast a shield above her, and Kinaju fired an arrow, which lodged into her shoulder. Helesa grunted in pain, the pendant around her neck emanating a teal glow that engulfed her body. Solus smirked to himself; there was one item she used to her advantage. A trinket that housed her healing skills, a common-fold tactic for a prolific Warlord. Without it, she wouldn’t be able to use them.
Solus gave Kinaju a knowing glance before going in for another attack now that Helesa was preoccupied with moving to the defensive edge, and Kinaju seemed to resonate with it, for he dipped his finger into his back pocket and brushed it along the arrowhead a few times, slowly lining up his next shot, squinting. Solus attempted to pierce Helesa’s neck with the rapier, aiming for the pendant, but she managed to evade him by taking a step back, trying to keep her focus on both opponents.
Before she could turn to Kinaju, he had already freed the arrow from his bow, the tip of the arrowhead brushing across her shoulder and tearing through her flesh. Solus reached out his hand, snagging her pendant from around her neck. She practically screeched at him but was unable to pursue him, for she ended up dropping to her knees, her endurance rapidly depleted, her body internally burning.
Kinaju stepped up next to Solus after picking up his arrow from across the room, clicking his tongue once. “Fast-acting poison arrows. Neat trick, huh? Brewed it myself.”
“My pendant,” Helesa coughed, reaching out for Solus in a feeble attempt to reclaim it.
“Oh, you mean this?” Solus replied sheepishly, holding the trinket by its chain, raising it higher as she came closer to regaining momentum. “I rather like it. It could serve me well, and I’m sure that Sien could find ways to break the spell to utilize for practice. Say, Kinaju, how long do you think it would take for the poison to kill?”
“I’d say about five minutes, give or take,” Kinaju said simply. “Could knock out even the fiercest of Warlords; spirits don’t seem to be an exception based on how it’s taken its toll so far on our lovely lady friend here.”
“Princess Leilana,” Solus demanded of Helesa. “You will lead me to her without the use of your dirty tricks, and then you will have your pendant around your pretty neck again.”
“You pathetic-” Helesa growled, pushing herself to a sit.
Solus tossed the trinket up and down in his right hand as if to taunt the ailing woman. “I would act quickly if I were you. Five minutes can truly feel like an eternity in your time.”
Helesa groaned, swinging her hand out in the direction of the locked door further to the right, which promptly flew upward. “Walk… all the way down the hall… you should come outside. The girl should be safe in the forest. But I can’t tell you… how to awaken her.”
“What does that mean?” Solus hissed.
“The crystal prison was not my creation. It belongs to another. She wishes to sleep because another is guarding her heart.” She held out her hand. “I heeded your demands and have returned what is yours. Now return what is mine.”
Solus sighed, tossing the pendant back to her. Helesa promptly clutched the jewel, her healing magic once again taking effect, eliminating the status effect on her body. Carefully, she rose, never taking her gaze off the two young men, tossing back her long hair.
“I must admit, I’m surprised that you were able to overcome me so easily. “
“Never underestimate those that keep their head and steady their hand,” Solus warned. “It will come back to haunt you.” Kinaju nodded in agreement, a big grin plastered on his face.
“Moreover, I should learn not to pick fights with Necromancers, let alone its Crown Prince. I shall remember this fight, Solus Brenner.” She looked to his younger brother. “And of course, his royal retainer, Kinaju Leerus.”
“Royal retainer, eh? I like that. I’ll commit it to memory,” Kinaju joked, glad that the tension was finally sliced through. Helesa turned on her back heel, taking a few steps away from the two before her spirit distanced itself from her shrine.
Solus laid a hand on his chest, sighing of relief. “I’ve never had to be so composed in my life.” Kinaju playfully slapped him on the back.
“You did a great job though, brother. Not many people can say that they took down the famed Warlord Helesa and lived to tell the tale.” Solus chuckled lightly.
“I only made it out alive because you were there to support me.”
“Of course. It’s a personal duty of mine to make sure that you walk out of your problems fine. I don’t need a father around to give me that order. So, are you going to meet with Leilana?”
“Of course,” he responded. “Are you going to stick around and meet her?”
“Nah, not the right time. Gonna take the door to the right and exit. I’ll make a log of what I accomplished today and get back on track to my wandering and overseeing.” Kinaju extended a hand towards Solus. “We’ll meet up again soon when you’re closer to Linmus.”
Solus gripped Kinaju’s hand, giving him a firm shake. “Hopefully we’ll still be on the same side.”
The brothers went their separate ways, and Solus trekked down the narrow hallway that would, at long last, lead him to Leilana, fixated on what Helesa’s words meant. If she hadn’t trapped Leilana under the guise of protection, then who was keeping her safe all this time?
As his vision adjusted anew to the blinding sunlight, tiny wisps drifted through his line of sight, flitting about the forest grounds. Solus reached out
to touch them, but they slipped past him and instead returned to their resting place among the girl in crystalline confinement. Much like he’d expected, she appeared to be sleeping, but there was no peace to be had. The world had been waiting for her return—he had been waiting for her return.
“Leilana?” he called, though he knew that any attempts would be futile. She wouldn’t be able to hear him, let alone acknowledge him.
Solus laid his hands on the icy shards, too dense for him to punch through with his own might. His princess was here, shielded from war and wonder for five years, progressively aging within her captive state, her mind lost to time. He marveled at her beauty, concealed behind this prison that shut him out. How he longed to hold her in his arms and continue to protect her from whatever cataclysm was set to befall them in the broken world.
She would awaken in good time now that he was here, left with wistful thoughts on how to achieve such a feat. Slowly, he moved his hands away from the crystal, planting himself firmly on the grass in front of her. He was exhausted, and his deeds were far from finished.
“This is unbelievable,” he mumbled, laying back on the grass, shutting his eyes. He’d come so far, only to be cut short with no answers. Was he going to be left waiting while Hinju brought a storm down on Adrylis? Would Rem be left on his own in the end?
He couldn’t bear the thought.
“You’ve been waiting here for a long time, haven’t you?”His voice. It was there, calling her. How long had it been since she last heard him speak?
“Are you ready to wake up yet?”
‘Wake up?’ Had she been sleeping? How much time had gone by since she fell asleep?
The unspoken words found their way to the surface. “Where are you, Rem?”
Footsteps echoed across shadowy floors, but no figure crossed her sight. “With you, Leilana.” Soft hands rested on her cheeks. “You just need to open your eyes and see that.”
Were her eyes closed? Maybe that was why there was nothing but darkness. It made sense, especially if she was still sleeping as he said.
“I don’t remember anything beyond a white light, Rem,” she told him. “What’s happened to us? What happened in the mines? Where are the others?”
“You don’t have to worry. Sien and Solus are all right.” She kept her ears trained on his voice when she found that she couldn’t force her eyes open. “And Amiria is at peace now. I made sure of that. She doesn’t have to suffer anymore.”
That’s right… Amiria was killed. She made a sacrifice to keep them alive. Her skills were powerful enough to bring people to their knees but leaving the Academy and the Order of Helix was bound to diminish her strengths. Acting of her own accord was a death sentence.
“What about you?”
“So much has happened since Amiria died. I lost my way, and it’s cost me dearly. It’s too late for me to correct my mistakes. I’ve lost… everything. And I can’t do anything but go away.”
She was in disbelief. This boy, who carried such hope, shifted and broken by the weight of his actions. It was like she was speaking to a different person. “I-I don’t understand.”
He cupped her face in his hand, sighing. “I can’t be saved. The Orb of Concord has no use for vengeance, and there’s nothing more that can be done. I’ve accepted that already.”
The Orb of Concord deemed him unworthy of his vengeful emotions getting in the way of his pure-hearted valor, and his want to secure Linmus’s throne. And one instance of broken concentration, of wavered thoughts, killed him.
“But you can still save Adrylis,” he continued. “When we first met, I saw your potential, but I was too stubborn to accept help. I thought that restoring the kingdom was my responsibility, but now I see that it was never just mine. It’s a duty that we have all shared from the beginning.”
“But I can’t…” Leilana swallowed. “We can’t do this without you. This was your goal.”
“The Warlords told me something—you’re a solid replacement because you act with conviction. You can stop this war in my place and avenge those that you’ve lost. Kindall, Ennis, Amiria… all of the people taken away because of him, you can give them purpose again.”
Her eyes peered open, and her gaze immediately locked onto the Orb of Concord resting in his hands. The sphere was shining, cutting through the darkness that they were drifting about aimlessly. Rem was smiling at her, but she could easily detect the pain behind it. His scraggly hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and he was clothed in a fine coat and tie, no grim aura resonating in his soul. He truly was lost, but his regal stature remained.
This was how he wanted to be remembered. As the king that he was set to become. He laid the Orb in her hands when she reached for it.
Your virtue of understanding has reached its conclusion.
May your heart continue to open to the forlorn and broken.
“I can’t manage this the way that you have, but I’ll do my best,” she assured him.
“You won’t be alone,” he told her. “There will be others standing at your side. I have something to ask.” She raised an eyebrow. “When you wake up, take Solus to Erican to put him back on the right track. There is something I’ve left for him.”
“I’ll do that.”
Rem nodded. When he found the courage to face her, he asked, “Can you apologize to Solus and Sien for me? I’ve been so cruel, and I had no reason to be. I should have been stronger. Maybe I would have become an unblemished king if I had listened instead of barking commands and being stubborn.”
Leilana could only smile, ruffling his hair. “None of us would have changed a thing about you. We all love you, and we always will.” He lowered his head, laying it on her shoulder, and she reached up a hand to stroke the back of his hair.
“Thank you,” he choked out. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I failed. I couldn’t save my kingdom. I couldn’t save Amiria. I couldn’t even save myself…”
“You don’t need to be sorry, Remiel,” she said softly. “You did your best, and that was more than enough. There was so much that you accomplished. You can rest now. I’m sure that we can finish things from here. I won’t let you down, I promise.”
He wrapped his arms around her, and she buried her face in his chest. “You’ve changed so much. I can’t wait for you to see yourself.” He kissed the top of her head before releasing her, stepping back. “Now you’ve gotta go. I don’t have a lot of time left.”
That was sudden. “Where are you going?”
“There’s a place I need to return to. I guess you could say I’m your spiritual guide. I wanted to talk one more time. I couldn’t bear to leave you in the dark.” He laid a hand on his chest to give her a proper bow. “A pleasure to have known you, Princess Leilana. The future awaits. Solus is lucky to have you. So was I.”
Leilana lowered herself into a curtsey, forcing back tears and mustering up a smile. “The feeling is entirely mutual, King Remiel. A shame that we are to part ways like this. Someday, we shall reunite, and I can tell you stories that transcend time.”
“I’ll await it. Farewell, until then.”
Solus jumped to a stand when there was a sudden bump against the crystal housing his love. Her eyes weren’t open, but she was attempting to fight her way out, slamming her hands against the shards from the inside. Solus dashed over to her as the crystal split in half, causing her to tumble into his arms.
She woke from her crystalline slumber to drown in a vibrant emerald-colored sea. She didn’t mind it so long as she was back in the waves of his strong arms. She reached up both hands to cup his cheeks, almost considering that looking at him was a blissful dream. Feeling his smooth skin and seeing the sincerity in his eyes was a clear confirmation that he was here.
“Solus,” she whispered, burying her face in his chest as he carried her far from her shattered ‘tomb.’ He was so different now, much older and more dignified than the diligent servant boy that she met and fallen for several years ago. And yet, he nev
er changed.
“Good morning, Leilana,” he responded softly, unable to wipe the smile from his face.
“What has happened?” she addressed him. “Where am I?”
“We’re in a forest. You were hidden away beyond Helesa’s tomb.” He palmed her cheek. “Everyone is waiting for you. You were resting for quite a while. I’m sure that you’re bound to be lethargic and hungry. I know that I was when I came to. It would be wise of you to get a bit more sleep once we’re back in the open air.” She kissed his neck once, an extended exhale slipping past him.
“No, I can’t afford to rest anymore,” she proclaimed. “There’s so much that needs to be done, so much that I have to tell everyone…” He slowed his footsteps and leaned forward to gently kiss her forehead, pressing his nose against hers.
“I could say the same. There is much that I’m going to need to explain what’s happened since we were forced into our own personal purgatories. But, now that we’re together again, we’ll need to recuperate and be in top form before we can initiate any plans. That includes you.”
They made their escape from the mystic grounds of Orisha, and Solus continued to carry his princess several miles down the lengthy roads, where he was certain that Lancett and Sien would be waiting for them.
“How did you manage to find me?” Leilana asked.
“A lot of gossip and a little effort,” Solus said simply. “It is still my duty to keep you safe, after all. And now we just need to find Remiel, and all will be well again.”
Leilana’s smile wiped away instantly. He didn’t know about Rem’s fate; the explanation of his demise was left to her, and there was no way to avoid it. Rather than utter another word, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in the comfort of his hair.
“Can we visit Erican?”
“Missing Gale?” Solus joked.