So...yeah. It's been a long while. 9 months to be exact. I'm so very sorry. It was never supposed to take that long. This chapter was supposed to have been finished by NaNo in November. That totally didn't happen. I also failed NaNo. School got majorly in my way.

Anyway, the reason this took so long can be summed up in a few words. No long explanations this time, because there's really nothing huge that happened. For the past 9 months, this is what I was doing:
Work (full time, 64 hours every two weeks)
School (online, full time. I graduated in February!)
Harry Potter (saw the sixth movie, went and read the books. Stopped at book 5).
Doctor Who (BBC remake/continuation)
Torchwood
Merlin
And for the past 7 months, it's been Merlin. I'm obsessed with the series. I've been reading fanfiction, and that's basically what's been consuming all my free time (albeit I didn't have much until recently, due to school, but still...). I love that series. The character relationships are beautiful, and I'm a sucker for that. I'm also a fan of slash, and there's just so much of it already built into the series that it's nearly cannon. Even so, just the friendship between Merlin and Arthur is absolutely beautiful and the two of them are just so adorable. Love it! Words cannot describe how much so. It's one of my longest running obsessions, and I don't see myself tiring from it anytime soon.

And that's basically where I'm at. I graduated from college with a degree in business administration, and now I'm working on figuring out what to do with my life. I'm also relaxing in the process and enjoying my free time. For a while, I should have quite a bit of it, and so it shouldn't take excessively long to write another chapter, or at least that's what I'm hoping. I've got most of this story planned out. After the next chapter, I intend to start throwing in all my huge events one right after another. Everything is going to pick up drastically. This chapter helped to set in stone a few things and is rather important, even if it may not seem like it. Twas hard to write though, and despite being written in pieces with so much time in between writing them, I think it still flows the same. I was worried my style had changed too much, but I don't think it's noticeable, at least not drastically so.

Anyway, that's about it. I'm sorry for the disappearance, and I should have enough time to where it won't happen again.

With no further adieu, enjoy the chapter and please drop a review. I'd love to know who's out there :)

CHAPTER 75
Holding On

So far, everything was still silent. Nothing shifted and no noise was made, and Kayal was deeply thankful for that. She wasn't used to being alone like this and found that everything suddenly seemed so very different. The shadows were darker, the sounds louder, and even the silence that had finally fallen across the clearing felt heavy and thick. She tried not to think about it and focused only on maintaining her barrier, but it was hard to keep from jumping at even the slightest perception of movement.

However, she technically wasn't alone, but her companion wasn't really in a position to be of much help. She glanced back at the sorcerer lying a few yards away across the clearing. He had been awake for a while, although certainly not aware, but not long after everyone else had left, he had fallen asleep. It was probably for the best. As long as he remained asleep, he couldn't cause any trouble. Hopefully he would just stay there. She couldn't have him wandering off.

Turning her attention back to the forest, Kayal began to wish that her friends would just return already. She wasn't sure how long they had been gone, but it felt like forever. Unfortunately, their shapes didn't materialize amongst the darkness that had settled over the forest. Nothing did, but something else reached her. It was gentle at first, just a slight shake, but before long it felt as if the ground would split beneath her. Something was moving underground, and she prayed that whatever it was would just pass her by or that the shield would somehow keep it out.

Even as a goddess, she wasn't quite that lucky.

The ground at the middle of their clearing began to crack, rising up into a small mound before breaking apart completely. From the hole came one of the last things she had wanted to see. The snake-like body of the gazarak wormed its way out, eyes blazing and mouth opened wide. She froze where she was when its gaze fell on her, but those eyes quickly shifted to a much closer target. She followed its line of vision and her blood ran cold. Only a few feet away lay the unconscious sorcerer. He was completely defenseless. All it had to do was reach out and it could grab him.

Kayal did the only thing she could think of. She forced her body to move and ran to his location as the gazarak was raising its arm, preparing to bring a clawed hand crashing down on Matt. She quickly fell to her knees next to him and set up a barrier, praying that this particular demon wasn't magic resistant.

This time luck was on her side and the hand was repelled. That didn't deter it though. It used both hands, slamming its fists down onto the shield over and over relentlessly. If it kept that up, eventually her barrier would break. However, she couldn't let that happen. If it managed to get through, it would kill them, and under no circumstances could she allow Matt to die.

Kayal tried to think of something. She went through all the spells she knew, but most involved dropping the barrier to perform them, which wasn't an option. If she even lessened her concentration for a moment, the gazarak would likely break through. Even while giving it all she had, each hit felt as if the creature was slamming its large hands into her. Eventually she was forced to fall to her hands and knees, and she felt the next hit reverberate through her back. However, she wasn't going to drop the barrier. It would either have to break through or she would have to be unconscious before she'd ever consider dropping it.

Turning her attention towards Matt, she began to pray that the sorcerer would wake up. Surely he'd be able to do something, even in an altered state of mind. However, he simply continued to lie there, completely unaware of the danger that lurked so close.

"Come on, Matt," she pleaded. "Please wake up. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up."

Unfortunately, her pleas went unanswered, and the next hit shattered her barrier. She collapsed to the forest floor next to the unconscious man, only managing to lift herself up on her elbows before that hand was coming down again. There was nothing she could do. They'd both be crushed! Where were her companions? Where was Davin?

Just as the gazarak was about to slam them both into the ground, a dark blur shot out from the forest. There was the sharp sound of a blade slicing through the air and then flesh, followed by the splattering of blood and a pained shriek. Kayal could barely register what had happened. One moment that hand had been coming down and the next the gazarak's whole arm was falling, landing just off to her side. It had all happened so fast and far too close for comfort. The massive demon was shrieking in a deafening pitch, its still intact hand coming up to cover the stump at it's shoulder, blood flowing freely from between its clawed fingers.

The beast suddenly turned its attention away from her, its fierce gaze fixed upon a point not too far off. She pushed herself up into a sitting position and turned, and just like that all the anxiety and fear was washed away. Standing there with his sword drawn was Davin, the deadly blade pointing right at the gazarak. His eyes were narrowed in focus as he kept his complete attention on the threat.

"Kayal!"

The goddess quickly turned towards the forest and saw Sarah running towards her, blade drawn and a concerned look on her face. She dropped to her knees next to Kayal and Matt, sparing a glance at the unconscious sorcerer before turning fully to her friend.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"I am now."

Anything more that they were going to say was abruptly cut off as the clearing was filled with terrible screeching again. Both girls turned to the demon, watching as its other arm fell to the forest floor. Davin quickly used his wings to propel himself forward, and in one clean strike, he severed the monster's head from its body, its pained yells falling abruptly to a dead silence.

The half-breed quickly sheathed his blade and ran over to his companions. His eyes met Kayal's, and the goddess just smiled up at him, trying to ease the worried look on his face. Both Davin and Sarah were breathing pretty hard, as if they had sprinted the whole way back. She couldn't help but wonder if they had somehow known that a demon was heading for the clearing.

"Kayal," began Davin after having caught his breath. "You're not hurt, are you?"

"I'm fine," she said. "Just a little tired."

"And Matt?"

The three of them looked to the unconscious sorcerer who was still just lying there, unaware of the danger he had been in only moments before. His breathing was deep and even, as if he were merely asleep. However, that was far from the truth. They were all painfully aware of what was wrong with the young man.

"I guess we should be thankful he's just sleeping," said Davin as he sat down next to his friend. "He could do a lot of damage if he were to start hallucinating."

"Did you find the antidote?" asked Kayal.

"Yeah," said Sarah, motioning towards the small branch she held in her left hand. The flowers had all managed to make it through her and Davin's trip through the forest. They had both been running as if their lives depended on it. Perhaps in some ways that wasn't far from the truth.

"What do we do with them?"

"Salel said to boil them with the berries, and that the liquid left behind would act as an antidote."

Sarah got to her feet and walked over to where they had left their cooking supplies. The fire was still burning but just barely, and everything else had remained untouched. She set about her task quickly, adding more wood to the fire and locating the berries that Matt had brought back with him. Hopefully it wouldn't take long to make the antidote. The sorcerer was completely defenseless the way he was, as well as potentially dangerous.

As she got to work on the antidote, Kayal glanced around the clearing, as if expecting something or someone to come out of the forest. Eventually she turned to Davin, who was crouching down beside Matt, checking to make sure that their friend was still physically fine.

"Where's Salel and Lith?" she asked, watching as the half-breed tensed for a moment. When she had first noticed their absence, she had felt a hint of concern, but with that kind of reaction it quickly turned into full-blown worry. Davin's lack of response certainly wasn't helping any. "What happened? Are they alright?"

"I think so," he said, although neither the tone of his voice nor the words themselves seemed certain.

"Well what happened?" she asked again, finally drawing his attention. She found that she couldn't quite place the expression he wore—somewhere between grave and determined—and his eyes weren't helping any.

"We were attacked just after finding the flowers," he told her. "Salel insisted that we go on ahead while she took care of the demons, and Lith decided to stay with her."

"How many were there?"

"I'm guessing fifty. Probably more."

"And you just left them there?" She couldn't believe it. The slayer was still recovering, and they had allowed her to stay and fight demons. Instead she should have been the one to return to their clearing with the flowers. Why hadn't they fought her on this? Why hadn't they forced her to run? She was just about to ask that very question when the expression on Davin's face changed.

There was still something there that she couldn't understand, something that just didn't add up. It was like a contradiction of sorts. It almost seemed as if he were completely content with their decision while at the same time fighting the urge to rush back and help. His gaze was steady and unwavering, but his eyes were anything but.

"There wasn't much of a choice," he told her simply, looking away again. "Salel's too proud and too stubborn. She never would've forgiven us if we made her run away, even when injured. I'm sure that after what happened, she just wants to prove herself. And Lith…I've never seen him like that before. For as long as I've known him, he's tried to avoid fighting when possible, but…this time he was practically pleading for us to leave, and for the first time I wasn't worried that he was just trying to get himself killed. This is what they wanted, and they rarely ask for anything. How could we deny them?"

Kayal said nothing at first. Instead she lowered her gaze to the grassy floor beneath her. In some ways she understood, but the logic behind it didn't add up. There really wasn't much logic at all. Was it really alright to let someone have their way even when it was dangerous? Was allowing them to stay behind really for the best? Wasn't one's life more important than their pride or confidence or even trust?

Wasn't life the most important thing of all, because as long as you were alive, you could still change things? She wanted to ask, but at the same time she knew what kind of answer she'd get. She most likely wouldn't understand it either, as it wasn't really a question that could be answered through words alone. Some things could only be found through observation and experience, and there was still a lot for her to learn about Daiya. Instead she found herself asking once again if their two companions would be alright, and once again Davin's demeanor changed.

"I'm sure they will be," he said. The words were certain this time, although his tone was anything but, and once again that conflicted expression settled upon his face, an expression of someone who had resigned himself to waiting but wished desperately not to.

----------

In hindsight, they should have run. That would have been the best option, and maybe they would have if they had known it would turn out like this. There had been more than just fifty demons. Even though they were able to make short work of some, killing five to ten with just a few simple moves, more would soon come to take their place. The battle was being dragged on when it should have ended long before. It was as if every demon in the area had decided to attack them, and although that wasn't entirely out of the ordinary, the sheer number in a way was.

Despite popular belief, demons weren't mindless creatures. They had reason, and yet they just kept coming and allowing themselves to be slaughtered. It was almost as if they didn't care. There had been a time where such creatures would have stopped to think twice before attacking someone, especially someone who could clearly defend against them, but not one of these demons seemed capable of doing so.

It was further proof of how far their world had fallen and how little time was still left.

After taking out another five demons, Lith dropped to the ground to catch his breath for a moment, all the while staying alert. He couldn't let his guard drop, both for his own sake and Salel's. The slayer wasn't as quick as she usually was, and even though she'd likely rather die than admit to it, she was tiring. They had been at this for far too long, and the proof of that was the burning he could start to feel in his arms. He had already gone beyond his transformation limit, and now it was becoming painful. Soon his chest would seize and he'd start coughing, but changing back wasn't an option. Without his claws, he was defenseless, and he couldn't leave Salel to protect him as well as herself. It just wasn't an option.

When another few demons charged him, he disposed of them easily with just a few swipes, and after two more batches he found himself tired again with the pain becoming almost unbearable. His body would start rejecting his transformation soon, and as much as he would have liked it to be true, he wasn't the only one who had noticed.

As she brought both blades around, taking care of two demons at once, Salel stole a glance at her companion. They weren't too far apart but there was enough distance between them so that they could both fight at their best without worrying about accidentally striking each other while still watching the other's back. She knew by now what to look for when it came to the dragon and his rather unstable state of being. He wasn't going to be able to fight like that for much longer.

When he landed again, his knees buckled, and that was it. She saw as he fell to one knee, coughing into an already blood-splattered hand, and just like that the situation changed. The slayer ran her sword through a few more demons before bolting in Lith's direction. The dragon was a bit too busy to notice his predicament, but when he did finally look up with tired eyes, they widened. A rather large dog demon was running towards him, claws and fangs bared, and he couldn't even muster up the energy to move, his whole body freezing in place.

A moment later the demon met its end at Salel's blade as she came at it from the side, running it completely through. Lith just watched with wide eyes as the slayer positioned herself in front of him, brandishing both blades, and thankfully the demons froze where they were, watching warily. Perhaps not all reason had left them after all.

"Change back," she said without looking at him, her voice brooking no argument.

"What?"

"I said change back. You're at your limit."

"But I can't…" The rest was cut off by a rather violent bout of coughing, which did earn him a glance from the slayer.

"Change back!"

"But I…"

"Change back, damn it!"

"No!"

That easily earned him a glare, and before she could say it one more time, he continued.

"If I do, I won't be able to fight, and I don't want you to have to protect me!" he shouted, staring back defiantly if not a bit frantic. "I'm supposed to be protecting you!"

That last statement caused Salel to stiffen, her expression twisting into something rather furious. Her grip on both blades tightened to the point where her knuckles turned white.

"Why are you supposed to protect me?" she asked, her voice deceptively soft. She turned away, giving the demons her full attention and missing the rather shocked look on her companion's face. "Is it because you think you owe me?"

"I do owe you," he insisted, "and earlier, I couldn't…I didn't get there in time. I couldn't stop it. I couldn't…" Save you. He had to make up for that. He couldn't let anything happen this time. Salel had proven that despite her prejudices, she was willing to try and save him. She was a slayer and yet she cared whether he lived or died. He was dangerous and the world would likely be better off without him, but she didn't believe that, despite all she knew about him and what he had done. How many times had she berated him for being a pessimist, for hating himself?

How could he not pay her back for all of that?

"…You're an idiot," she whispered, but it was just loud enough for him to hear. He wanted to say something to that, but he was prevented by a sharp pain in his chest and another cough ripping its way from his throat. "Just change back."

"But I won't be able to fight," he forced out between coughs.

"Don't give me that! I know for a fact you're not helpless. Just use your fire, like you did before against Vila and Iluia!"

"H-how…?" How could she have known about that? She had been incapacitated at the time.

"Sarah told me everything about the battle," she said, and in a much softer voice she added "and you did save me, no matter what you think. I'm only alive because of you."

She gripped her blades tighter, falling into a defensive stance. The demons were only going to remain still for so long. They'd likely all charge at once, and there were at least twenty left. Thankfully no more seemed to be coming. She was more than ready to take them all on. Not a single one would get through. The dragon behind her had become a permanent fixture in her life, and he was going to stay that way.

"Salel," he began, practically begging her to listen, "you don't have to protect me. You don't…you don't owe me anything. I'm the one who…"

She hung her head and grit her teeth as a very wet sounding cough cut through his words, and she knew for a fact that it was no longer just demon blood covering his hands.

And at that moment she realized that something would have to give, because he wasn't going to listen to her and she couldn't force him to transform back. Dragons were loyal to a fault, indebted until everything equaled out, until they felt that the debt was repaid in full, if not more so. He wasn't going to let it go, not unless something changed, and not unless she were to change it.

Ever since she had been run-through and found him keeping guard outside her door, she had been trying to define the role he played in her life and the role she played in his, and maybe she had started even before that. Somewhere along the way something had changed, because she could no longer picture a life without him in it. She couldn't let him die, and it had nothing to do with all the times he had saved her. It had nothing to do with owing him her life and everything to do with the pain in her chest at the thought of losing his presence. She had to protect him, not because he had saved her but because she honestly wanted to.

It had nothing to do with repaying the debt she owed.

When she had asked Sarah about what had happened during the battle and why Lith had been sitting outside her door, her friend had left out not one detail. She had made it all perfectly clear, including the reasons behind his reaction, and so something had to change, or his stubborn loyalty was going to get him killed. One of them would have to give, and she didn't need to be told which of them it would have to be.

Besides, she had never been that fond of lying anyway.

"I'm done with this," she said, without any anger or harshness in her voice. It was a simple statement, and it drew his complete attention.

"What?"

"I said that I'm done with this, this whole owing each other thing. I'm tired of favors and debts and thinking I need to repay you. I'm sick of it all. This has nothing to do with the fact that you saved my life, and whether you believe it or not, you did. I'm protecting you because I want to, because for some stupid reason, I don't like the idea of you not being here."

She glanced back, and for the first time her expression was completely open, hiding nothing from him. He just met her gaze, letting the words sink in. She was admitting something that he had been wrestling with for a while, which was the fact that somewhere along the way, they had stopped being just companions. Somehow they had both wormed their way into each other's life, and it stopped being about duty and honor and debts. It was about want and attachment and a sense of loss.

It was about wanting the other to continue living, despite the cost, both selfishly and selflessly.

"…So change back," she said, and it wasn't a command or a request but an honest want, and so he hung his head in defeat and allowed the fire to cover his arms. He drew his wings back in as well, leaving him with no defense except for the slayer standing between him and the demons.

"I don't know if I can use my fire," he told her, still refusing to look up. "I wasn't…entirely there at the time, and it isn't something a dragon should be able to do."

It really was a testament to how much time she had spent in his presence that she understood what he was saying. His actions had been a result of anger, something he wasn't sure he could duplicate in a normal state of mind. A technique born from rage, however useful, was dangerous and unstable.

She really was going to have to protect him this time.

The demons, obviously having sensed the change, chose that moment to attack. There was only one threat now. Salel was quick to take action, wielding both blades as if she had been born to do nothing else. Not a single movement was wasted as she dodged every swipe and countered each strike. All her attacks hit home, her blades cutting through the demons just as easily as they did air. It was fluid and perfect, and this was how a slayer was meant to be when fighting.

In the thrall of battle she was deadly, but she was also beautiful.

Lith wanted to move. He wanted to do something to make this easier so that she wouldn't have to stand in front of him. If he could just get up, then he'd be able to at least stay out of the way, but his body wouldn't let him. Trying to stand only resulted in him lying face down on the ground, his insides twisting and rebelling at the attempt to move. He really had overdone it again, the taste of iron heavy in his mouth. It took everything just to get to his hands and knees, his eyes trained on the slayer. There weren't many demons left now, maybe ten at the most.

However, the demons weren't quite so mindless anymore, and Salel had been tired to start with. She had already pushed herself beyond her exhaustion. All it took was one moment, a single strike that didn't come fast enough, and a snake-like demon managed to avoid having its head severed. In the same moment, it brought its tail around, connecting hard with the slayer's stomach.

"Salel!"

He had to do something, had to get up. She was still recovering. She couldn't die, not after all this. He couldn't lose her.

Salel was thrown to the side, landing hard and losing her grip on both blades. She rolled a few feet before coming to a stop, her whole body hurting. She had been so close. There were only a few demons left. She just needed one blade and she could finish them off. They'd both die if she couldn't, but there wasn't time. The snake demon was upon her in a heartbeat, twelve feet tall and fangs bared, with the rest not far behind. She was the threat, and so she'd be taken out first.

The snake lunged and she braced herself, shutting her eyes in reflex, but it never reached her. The hissing was cut off abruptly, followed by a loud thud. She opened her eyes and saw that the demon had been cut into four pieces, the ends all smoldering, and really, there was only one explanation for that.

She sat up and turned towards Lith, and what she saw had her frozen in place, eyes wide. This was what she had glimpsed after being run-through, just before passing out. Those blue eyes, big and expressive, were a cold cerulean, dark and narrow in what could only be described as anger. It was different though from when he was a berserker, because there was no overbearing confidence or cruelty like she had seen in his picture at Kyris. This wasn't rage born from loss but for the sake of preventing it. It was fierce and calculating. He knew exactly what he was doing.

Somehow he had managed to get to his feet, despite how much his body had to be protesting the action. His right hand was covered in fire, gathering around his fingers. His attention was completely on the remaining demons, who had all stopped their attack and were instead watching him. Their hesitation didn't last though. Three of them broke off and dashed towards Salel, but they didn't get far. With one sharp throw, all three were torn apart by blades made from fire, and the remaining demons all quickly charged the dragon, trying to reach him before he could strike again.

He simply used his left hand, performing the same technique, and that was the end of it. The last few demons fell, and once it was truly over and the threat was gone, Salel regained her footing just as Lith lost his. He collapsed in a fit of wet coughs, bright red blood seeping past his fingers.

And even though there was nothing she could really do for him, she gathered her blades and ran to his side anyway. It took awhile for him to stop coughing, and when he finally did, he rolled onto his back, allowing him to breath more freely. Eventually his eyes sought out Salel's and she released a breath she hadn't even realized she was holding. He looked exhausted and there was blood everywhere, some of it his own, but his eyes were clear and there was a small smile on his lips.

He was okay.

They would both be okay.

"I guess I should've listened to you earlier," he said. "I might've overdone it a bit."

"Just a bit?"

He only shrugged in response, his breathing slowing down to a more controlled pace. She just watched him for a moment, because the man lying there, looking up at her, was so very different from what she had just seen. Even though she knew what he had once been and what he could become someday again, it had actually been difficult to believe, because Lith wasn't cruel or ruthless or evil. He was a self-deprecating idiot who was reckless and kind and a bit overprotective. There was a fine line there somewhere though, where that desire to protect could give way to anger, and just the slightest push could make it an all-consuming rage. In that brief moment, he had walked that line, and for the first time she could reconcile everything she knew to be true about him.

She had nothing to fear from him though. He had made her a promise, after all.

"Why have you never used it before?" she asked, and it didn't really surprise her that he immediately understood what she was asking.

"It isn't natural," he said. "It's something I learned to do as a berserker, something I shouldn't be able to. It's difficult and it hurts quite a bit. Dragons can create fire naturally, but I…I'm a bit different. I break a lot of natural laws, more so than most white dragons, and this is what happens because of it. I was already past my limit, and it seems now I've made it worse."

She didn't say anything and instead just watched for a moment as his body relaxed, going through the process of repairing itself. Dragons were actually rather interesting as far as wounds went. Lith always healed quickly and he healed well, which was something to be thankful for considering how often he managed to get himself injured. She couldn't help wondering if all dragons were like that. Perhaps it was just a few, like the white and gold dragons. Perhaps it was just him. Maybe it was just one more trait brought on by his time as a berserker.

It was both amazing and terrifying how someone could gain so much by losing everything. She got the feeling that nothing would be worth what he had gone through though. If he had been given a choice, she was certain that even after a hundred times, he never would have taken the path that was handed to him. He never would have consciously made that sort of decision. The strength he had obtained wasn't worth everything he had lost. There was always a price to pay for power. All of them were painfully aware of that.

She couldn't help but wonder though just what he had managed to gain. What was someone capable of when they had nothing holding them back—no concerns, no qualms, no inhibitions. When you stopped caring about anything and everything except for the thrill of battle and living long enough for the next…what could you become capable of?

"Someday…" she began, pausing for a moment to make sure she had his attention. "Someday you'll tell me everything."

It wasn't a demand or even a question. It was simply a matter of fact, something she was certain of. Someday she'd know the whole story. Someday she'd know exactly how strong he was, without the hesitation and the shame that went with that power. She didn't even need to elaborate, to say anything more than that, because they were beyond the point where things had to be explained. They knew each other well enough and could read between the lines to see what wasn't being said.

Lith simply watched her with a tired but calculating stare, and after a moment he nodded, not in agreement or consent but in affirmation and acknowledgement. It was an understanding. He had already given up so much of himself, told the slayer things he had never told anyone else, even the dragon king. She was the only one who knew the truth, and that was fine. That was just how the two of them were, how their odd relationship was defined, and in some strange way it worked for them.

"We should probably head back," said Salel, getting to her feet. She crossed her arms and stared down at him, waiting. When he simply continued to lie there, blinking up at her in confusion, her expression became an irritated scowl. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"Aren't you going to get up?"

"I'm not entirely sure I can."

"If you think I'm going to drag you back to camp…"

"You know, most people would have asked 'are you okay' or 'can you walk' or would at least be offering to help…"

"I know for a fact that you've been through worse than this and still managed to walk away, and what kind of help could I possibly offer? You're a lot taller than me and you're heavy."

That earned her an indignant glare. She simply smirked, because this—this type of banter and interaction—was familiar ground. Nothing had changed even though everything had.

With a sigh, Lith begrudgingly hauled himself to his feet, wincing only slightly. He swayed a bit and had to take a few deep breaths, but in the end he managed to stay standing and didn't look any worse for wear because of it. They exchanged a brief glance before leaving the clearing, falling into step with each other. Not another word was said, and that was fine, because the silence between them was no longer awkward. It likely wouldn't be again. They weren't just companions who were merely tolerating each other and protecting only what was familiar.

Familiarity, at least, was no longer the only reason. They likely would never admit it aloud, but that was how they were. It didn't need to be said, that it wasn't just companionship. They were friends…a dragon and a slayer.

----------

Matt wasn't sure how long he had been walking. There was no way to judge the passage of time when everything around him was dark. Just like when he had first entered into the fourth plane, his surroundings were covered in shadows. There was no flickering of light, no changes in the scenery, and so he had no idea if he was even moving at all. Perhaps he was simply walking in place. Maybe he had made no progress at all even after walking for what felt like days, and to top it all off, he was once again completely alone. Xiphias was nowhere to be seen, and every time he called out for him, he was met with nothing but silence.

Shadows and silence were the only things inhabiting the fourth plane it seemed. What he wouldn't give for something more. There had to be something that could lead him in the right direction, something that could help him escape. He couldn't stay here like this. There were people who needed him. He couldn't help but wonder what would happen if he couldn't find a way out. Would he be doomed to wander around in the fourth plane forever?

As he kept walking, having nothing better to occupy his time with, he looked back on what he had recently seen. So many images had bombarded him, and he couldn't make sense of any of it. Who were all those people? Xiphias had told him that the fourth plane encompassed everything, so were all of them just random people on Daiya, or were they people that he would one day meet? Was it a mix of both? Out of all of them, there were only two he had recognized. One he had seen in that painting back at Kyris—another demi-god. The other had been Vila.

He hadn't realized it at first, what with so many images being forced into his mind, but looking back on it, all the features added up. It had been Vila with her hair down, dressed in white with bandages adorning almost every inch of exposed skin. She had looked so different from how she had been a few days ago, but it was her eyes that had shown the greatest change. Those usually animated yellow eyes, filled with a confident fire, had been dull and resigned, as if she had been defeated. Demi-gods were powerful and proud creatures. What could possibly make one look like that?

Matt quickly shook his head, trying to rid himself of the images. He had no reason to even think about a demi-god in that context, much less feel sorry for one. Vila had helped them out a few times, but that didn't change the fact that she was an enemy. He should be thanking whatever it was that put her in that state or that would eventually put her in that state. It was hard to tell if what he had seen was the past or the future, but either way, he should be feeling grateful. Why worry about an enemy?

He heaved a sigh, wishing not for the first time that Xiphias was still with him. What he wouldn't give to have someone to talk to, even the devil. He was really starting to hate being alone. Xiphias certainly wouldn't be his first choice of company in most situations, but he found himself missing his counterpart. He was so used to having him there, somewhere in the back of his mind, that with him gone, something felt like it was missing. It had dawned on him at one point that throughout his whole life, he had always had someone with him. Even when traveling alone for those five years, the devil had been there, even if he hadn't been aware of it.

This really was the first time he had been completely on his own, with no one by his side.

…Atticus…

The sorcerer stopped dead in his tracks, whirling around in the darkness. He was certain he had heard his name, that someone had called him. However, his surroundings didn't change. The shadows didn't even waver.

He waited for a moment, remaining completely silent, but nothing happened. The voice didn't call again, and so with one final glance at his surroundings, he turned back around and kept walking.

…Not that way, Atticus.

"Who's there?" he asked, spinning around to try and catch sight of whoever had called out. Again he was met only with the darkness. He couldn't see anything within it.

…You shouldn't be here, Atticus.

The voice was unlike any he had heard before. It was soft and controlled, almost regal in a sense. It was definitely male, though it was light, but the accent was one he didn't recognize. What language left an accent like that?

"Who are you?" he asked, looking up, as if the speaker were hovering above him.

You need not concern yourself with me. You should focus your attention on leaving here.

"What do you think I've been doing?"

You've been thinking…about the things you saw, about where you are. You've been allowing yourself to get caught up in it.

"Yeah, well, it's kind of hard not to."

The fourth plane is dangerous, Atticus. It can be overwhelming. Many have lost themselves here.

"…What do you mean?" He really didn't like the sound of that.

The fourth plane can show you the past, present, and future, as well as what could have been. Many who find their way here get caught up in all they see and become obsessed with it. They lose themselves. If you allow yourself to be drawn in, to get too caught up in what you see, the fourth plane will devour you. Never again would you be able to return to Daiya.

It is a fate worse than death, Atticus, one I would not wish upon anyone.

He didn't say anything at first, simply taking it all in. Suddenly the darkness around him seemed suffocating, as if it were closing in. He had been wandering through it aimlessly while all the while it was just waiting for him to slip up, waiting to consume him. With the direction his thoughts had taken, he had almost made it all too easy.

"Then what am I supposed to do?" he asked with a sigh, letting his guard down at last. He had nothing to go on, so his best bet for escaping was to listen to the voice. It seemed to echo all around him, surrounding him with something other than silence and shadows.

You need to stop thinking. Stop focusing on where you are and focus instead on Daiya. In order to escape the fourth plane, you have to let go. Detach yourself from it.

"That's a lot easier said than done…"

Indeed, but it's the only way without interference.

"Interference?"

Magic. Holy magic, demonic magic…both are capable of being used to forcibly leave the fourth plane.

"What about Daiyan magic?"

I'm afraid there is no spell in Daiyan magic to help you.

"That figures," he grumbled, because naturally it couldn't be that easy. Nothing could ever be that easy for him.

Just try, Atticus. You need to leave here quickly, before…

"Before what?" he asked, but he didn't receive a reply. His surroundings had begun to shift. The shadows began churning, and once again a sharp pain shot through his head, bringing him to his knees. He shut his eyes, trying to fight it back, but if anything that just made the pain worse.

Don't give into it, Atticus.

He wanted to tell the voice that he was trying but that it was pretty damn hard to ignore something that felt like it was splitting your head in two. How was he supposed to remain detached when it seemed intent on making him suffer? There had to be another way, because once the images came back, as he was sure they would, he wouldn't be able to pull out so easily.

Sure enough, just as the pain reached its climax, flashes began to fill his mind, and this time he couldn't pick out much of anything. He could see glimpses of his companions, of the people he had met. He saw places and events, some that had already occurred and others that he didn't recognize. Were they all places related to him or were they meant for others? Was he seeing something that had anything to do with him at all?

Focus. Don't think about it.

He just wanted to go back. He wanted this all to end. He wanted to leave the fourth plane and go back to his companions, to his friends…to Sarah. He hated the idea of possibly being stuck here, of never getting the chance to see any of them again.

"Sarah," he whispered, her name coming out a whimper due to the pain that threatened to collapse him. Suddenly the images changed and the pain disappeared.

No! You have to stop thinking! It'll draw you in!

Matt paid the voice no mind as what he saw filled his vision. They were just flashes, but he could see a battle. Someone was fighting, and a rush of emotions forced their way into him—fear, guilt, helplessness, anger—and then there was pain so intense that he could barely stay standing, although it was in no way physical. It was the type of pain that could destroy a person, the mind-shattering kind that crushes the heart and stops the breath. It was pain so great a person could drown in it—the pain of losing a loved one.

That's when he saw it, and that's when all thoughts of leaving fled his mind, much to the distress of his invisible helper. Behind closed eyes, he could see the splattering of blood. Red clouded his vision, and his eyes flew open to try and rid himself of it, but what he saw in the darkness froze him to the spot. His eyes widened and it felt like someone had taken hold of his heart and was slowly squeezing. He was so distracted that he didn't even realize that his whole body had gone numb.

She was lying only a few paces away, surrounded by red. It stood out vividly amongst the shadows, spreading with each passing moment.

"Sarah," he called, his voice coming out soft and broken. She didn't shift or move at all; she only lay there, unmoving. He didn't know what to do, but he had to reach her. He took a step forward, his legs feeling as if they were made of lead.

Don't! You can't go over there!

He didn't listen and took another step.

It's not real, Atticus! You have to listen to me! Don't go over there!

With another few steps, the voice grew more insistent and somewhat frantic.

Please Attiucs! Don't let yourself get drawn in! Ignore it! None of it is real!

His words fell on deaf ears as Matt continued forward, now only a few steps away. He seemed completely unaware that the closer he got, the more he began to fade. It was gradual at first, but each step he took his body became a bit more transparent. He would disappear if something didn't change, if something wasn't done…

STOP!!

Just as Matt was about to fade completely, the surrounding shadows shifted. It took only a moment more before a firm hand wrapped around his transparent arm and jerked him back. Startled he looked over his shoulder and found himself staring into a pair of green eyes for the second time that day. The devil was standing behind him, holding onto his arm with an iron grip.

"You need to stop," he said simply, his voice lacking its usual frustration and anger, his words coming out soft and concerned. "I'll get you out of here, but you need to calm down. I can't block you out in here like I can in reality."

Matt didn't say anything. He just kept watching Xiphias with eyes that seemed on the brink of tears. The devil tightened his grip, knowing that if he let go, his advocate could very well vanish. There was so little of him left, his body as translucent as water. It was a miracle that he was still solid enough to be held.

It seemed to take forever for the sorcerer to finally calm down a bit. His emotions had been chaotic, and Xiphias had been forced to feel every single one. They were connected, even in the fourth plane, and it was really only thanks to that that he had been able to locate him. Even now he could feel it radiating from Matt, leaking into him. The pain was so great, so distressing, that he couldn't bring himself to yell at the sorcerer for getting separated from him in the first place. He couldn't find it in him to be angry. It was a pain he knew all too well, and it was one that his advocate had had to suffer through too many times already. Just this once, he would be comforting.

"None of what you saw is real, so just let go," he told Matt gently, still holding him in place. "We'll go back, but you need to relax. If I pull you out now, your soul won't survive the trip. A lot of people need you, Atticus, so let's go back."

There was a shift in the shadows, and soon Matt's body began to fill back in. Before long he was completely solid once again, and as soon as it happened, his eyes closed and his body went limp. Xiphias easily caught him by his shoulders before he could fall and then gently lowered him until they were both near the ground. He kept one arm around his advocate to keep him upright, and after he was certain that the man wasn't in any danger, he turned his attention to the surrounding darkness.

"I know you're still there," he said, his voice gaining back a good deal of its animosity.

…Indeed…

"I should just find and kill you now, but unfortunately I have more important things to take care of at the moment."

As you probably recall, I'm quite difficult to kill, even more so thanks to you.

"Someday I'll finish what I started, even if it has to be through him."

Well, then I look forward to the day that I'll be able to meet with your advocate face to face, but I get the feeling that it won't work out according to your plan.

"…We'll see."

He glanced down at Matt, who was still lying there unconscious, before preparing himself for what he had to do. It had been a long time since he had used magic. He muttered the words under his breath, and they felt foreign on his tongue. He would likely pay for this at some point, but for now all that mattered was getting back to Daiya. He could worry about the repercussions later.

When the spell was finished, the two of them began to vanish until soon there was nothing left and light was all that surrounded them, leaving the shadows behind.

----------

"Done," said Sarah as she finished pouring the contents of the pot into a small bowl. At the same time, Matt began to finally stir from his poison induced sleep.

The five of them had all been sitting around for a while, waiting while Sarah brewed the antidote. It had taken a bit longer than originally thought, but the sorcerer had remained unconscious, thankfully. The last thing they had needed was for him to start seeing things, especially if said things would have invoked a violent reaction. His magic was not something any of them wanted to deal with.

All eyes turned to Matt as he shifted and tried to sit up, his eyes half-lidded and tired. Davin helped him up, keeping an arm behind his back incase he couldn't quite manage on his own. Salel came over and kneeled down in front of him, taking a look at the one thing that would give his state away. Unfortunately his pupils were still blown wide, the green of his eyes almost nonexistent.

"It's still in effect," she said, turning to Sarah, who just nodded and walked over. She got down next to the sorcerer and placed the bowl against his lips. That earned her his attention, but it was hard to tell if he was really seeing her or not. His eyes were still half closed and his expression was completely blank.

"You need to drink this," she said, tipping it a bit to try and get him to open his mouth. He simply stared back at her for a moment before complying. His lips parted and she poured the antidote in, slowly so that he wouldn't choke. Once he was done, they all just sat there and waited. It wasn't supposed to take long to work through his system.

The sorcerer shuddered and closed his eyes for a long while. When he opened them again, his pupils were no longer dilated. His eyes were once more the color of jade, bright and aware if not a little confused. He glanced around at all of them as if he didn't quite know where he was or what was going on.

"What happened?" he asked, sitting up a bit more fully, no longer needing Davin's support.

"You happened," said Salel, who was still rather frustrated about the whole ordeal. "It was just you being your typical, stubborn self. I told you not to eat anything! You're lucky those berries weren't deadly! Do you have any idea how much trouble we went through because of you?"

"Sorry?" he offered, still not entirely caught up yet. He did remember eating those berries though, but everything after that was rather fuzzy…until the fourth plane.

He remembered that with vivid clarity.

He glanced around once more, taking in his surroundings, and once he was certain that he was indeed back in the clearing, back on Daiya, he heaved a sigh of relief.

"I'm back," he said softly, more for self-assurance than for his companions. They all seemed relieved nonetheless, even if they didn't fully know the meaning behind those words. He had already decided to keep what really happened to himself. There was no reason to worry them further and no point in trying to explain something that he didn't fully understand to begin with.

After assuring them once more that he really was fine, they all fixed up the clearing and found places to sleep. It was late, well into the night, and they'd be up early again the next day. All of them were exhausted, and tomorrow, once his mind wasn't spinning quite so much, he'd ask for details about what had happened while he had been out. Everyone, especially Lith and Salel, seemed beaten and exhausted.

Matt propped himself up against a tree, not quite ready to sleep yet. His mind was still buzzing with everything he had witnessed. Now that he was no longer in danger of being drawn into the fourth plane, he could revisit everything he had seen and try to make sense of it. He couldn't take even one thing lightly, because the things he saw could very well be things that were yet to come. Every single bit could be important.

He heard more than saw Sarah approach and kneel down in front of him. He didn't look up though, keeping his eyes trained on the ground, because out of all the things he had seen, the last was haunting him the most. He had to keep reminding himself that she was alive, that she wasn't lying on the hard ground, soaked in blood and unmoving. If he looked up at her, he wouldn't be able to hold it all back, and then he'd have a whole new set of questions that he couldn't properly answer.

He couldn't tell her what he had seen. He couldn't tell anyone. This was his burden. He got the feeling though that he wasn't going to be able to completely avoid it, not with her sitting so close. He could feel his eyes burning, and if she tried anything, resolved himself not to fight it, not to hide, but he wouldn't explain it either.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Sarah asked. When he didn't answer, she reached out and gently turned his head so that he was facing her, and what she saw there left her speechless. She had never seen such a broken expression on his face before, his eyes soft with unshed tears. It was almost as if he wasn't really seeing her but at the same time seeing nothing but her.

Before she could ask once more if he was alright, he reached up and gathered her in his arms, pulling her tight against him. He placed his head against her shoulder, burying his face against her neck and just holding on. She was still alive, gloriously alive, and she was going to stay that way, he swore it.

"Matt…?"

"Please don't ask," he begged, almost in a whisper. "Please don't ask me. I can't…"

"…Alright."

She wouldn't ask him. Instead she wrapped her arms around him, one hand buried in his hair, stroking softly. She could feel him trembling, as if he were crying, and yet no tears fell. He simply held on tighter, making no move to change their position, and that was fine. She'd stay like this all night if she had to, offering whatever comfort she could, even if she had no idea what it was for.

"I love you," he whispered brokenly, his lips brushing the words against her neck, and she knew with absolute certainty that he wasn't just saying them as a whim or a response or even a statement. He wasn't trying to reassure her or himself or anyone, and it wasn't a promise or a declaration. It was a resounding fact that he was pressing into her with every fiber of his being, something certain and permanent that just was.

She pressed the same three words against blonde locks with the same open conviction and said nothing else. She just closed her eyes and held on.