"No! Noooo! Damnnit!" I screamed even as new wounds opened up.

Firm hands held onto my shoulders, keeping me up while the water cloak started to form a shell around my sides. I didn't care about the protection, and I didn't care about whatever Nathan was trying to communicate to me.

I looked at the empty space.

"I had him! He was right there!"

"Cyrus, it's okay. Calm down, before you bleed out," Nathan whispered.

I shrugged him off and clawed at the ground, finding nothing but wet dirt and blood-soaked stones. When I failed to find anything, I slammed my fist down. The satisfying crack of my knuckles impacting the dirt along with the distribution of kinetic energy that rippled through the blood scales sickened me.

Again and again I punched the ground until Isaac stumbled into view. His eyes were wide saucers, the fire in them burning like the remnants of a long-dead campfire. The transformation skill he used had already faded, leaving behind splotches of grey skin and He reached forward and cut into space with a dagger, tearing open reality and opening the void. But when his hand tried exploring the shadowrealm, tears welled up in his eyes as he pulled back empty handed.

I-I…

My perk!

I closed my eyes and stilled my soul long enough to focus on the blood pact. I had a connection to every member of Broken Tower. It was vague, not much a tracking tool, but if I could just–

My fist hit the dirt and I fought myself from collapsing. The mental feelers touched upon the unfinished rune embedded into the island in my soulrealm, but the feedback was nearly nonexistent. I had the vague sense of a connection stretching across multiple directions. One to the west, another to the south, and a third that just felt distant.

Worse, the distance between us felt so impossibly vast, like the only thing keeping us tethered was that they were alive. A comfort that did nothing to ease my emotions.

"Boys, I know how you feel but we have to move now. We don't know if the danger is over. Okay? Worry about the others later. They're all tough enough to survive anything, you know this," Nathan soothed.

A pained wheeze drew my attention toward Teddy's mother. She kneeled over Teddy and Arturous, rubbing there heads as her hands glowed softly.

Arturous was barely breathing and Teddy's eyes were dim as he reached up and touched Anastasia's cheek.

"You make me so proud. My darling boys," Anastasia said with a choked sob. She held onto Teddy's hand and clutched it tight as she leaned into his touch. "I love you so much. My heroes, always."

No…

I glanced to Nathan finding his body tense as tears fell from his cheek. He kept his arms around Isaac and me, holding us up but I could see every muscle in his body fighting from rushing toward his son.

Teddy took a shuddering breath and rolled his head so that he could look at us. The runes in his eyes flashed but the light dimmed even further.

He whispered something, but I couldn't hear.

Pressing against Nathan I moved past Isaac and crawled toward Teddy. He mouthed something again but I still couldn't hear it.

Slowly, Nathan brought Isaac over and a firm hand helped steady my back. When I neared, Anastasia wiped away her tears and gave me a gentle smile.

"Lean in close, dear. It's a little hard for him to speak right now," she said as Nathan wrapped one arm around her side.

Teddy mouthed something and I pressed my ear against his mouth.

"Cy… Not your fault."

I blinked rapidly and shook my head. "That's not true."

Teddy tried to shake his head but he only managed to move his eyes back and forth. "No. You saved them. Be proud…"

"I didn't save anyone."

"The… city. Alive thanks… to y-you." Teddy almost coughed but his throat muscles seemed to give out halfway through the motion. Squeezing my leg, he wet his lips and whispered. "You'll… save them… I believe… you. Always."

I clenched my fist and brushed against Arturous's fur. The golden luster was just as dim as Teddy's eyes. Some parts were even grey, and lifeless.

Teddy patted my neck once before his hand dropped and his eyes fluttered shut. His mana signature was nearly extinguished, the warmth and safety I felt from Teddy's aura was absent. His parents sobbed and Anastasia even pulled out a health potion along with other vials from her storage device. Each one splashed onto Teddy and his wounds, but he didn't stir.

Damnit. Damnit!

I had to do something. I had to–

Information swirled in my head, and knowledge drifted in as my chest tightened. It was vague, incomplete, but the bones were there. An idea filtered with the press of lips against my forehead.

"I refuse," I whispered.

Isaac continued to stare, tears flowing with his mouth agape.

Anger, no, fury settled in. Fire burned in my chest, and my mana thrummed to life.

"I refuse. He won't take this from me." I said while leaning away from Teddy.

I wiped my tears but a desperate hand grabbed my wrist. Even through the agony, Anastasia shook her head and put on a stern expression.

"Don't you dare do what he did. Your life matters too, Cyrus."

I took in a deep breath, and settled all the rage and misery into a thin blade. Mordred said that I was a toddler screaming at the world. He was right. Screaming and raging right now wouldn't do anything.

With a thought, I released Spirit Lord's Invocation. Ending the transformation allowed me to pull out of Anastasia's grip and I turned to Zagreus. The hydra whimpered and licked the air toward Teddy and Arturous.

I rubbed his head and pressed mine against one of his. "Zagreus. It's okay. You did good."

"I failed… Sorry," he whined.

"No. You did not. But I need your help okay? This is important and I know this isn't natural for you, but it's crucial. Can I rely on you, buddy?"

His heads perked up, and he started to vibrate in excitement. With a smile I shared my intentions and stood up, moving past Teddy's parents to stand above where Teddy and Arturous were connected, laying atop each other.

Aine sent one last burst of healing into my legs before taking flight. She left a golden leaf attached to me, so her skill never stopped, but it was less directed. With a nod, she landed atop Teddy's hand and pressed hers down. One against the back of Teddy's palm, and another into Arturous's fur.

I blinked through wet eyes and steadied myself.

My mana channels were raw, and overused. I felt a tiredness in my core that invaded deeper than just my muscles. None of that mattered, as I dismissed Galarion and used the anger from his injured form to fuel the next step.

Resplendant Inferno threaded with mana and Zharia formed in front of my chest. I nearly dropped as a wave of exhaustion hit me, but kept myself standing.

Her wings lit aflame and she nodded once before I braced and activated Spirit Lord's Invocation once more.

Zharia's form broke done and feathers sprouted across my body as flames licked across my fingers.

"Wha-at are you doing?"

I glanced at Isaac. "Saying no."

"Don't you dare hurt him!"

Flames swelled over my arms and shoulder, reaching my eyes. It took a few seconds to calm down, and quell the urge to blast Isaac away. Seconds I didn't have.

I looked to the sky, taking in the moon hanging overhead. "Eraztis. Can you save him?"

"I can't."

Eraztis hovered a few meters away. He was neither gigantic nor was his aura something strong enough to crush mortals. Unlike the Aurellion, his power was contained, restricted.

"Even if I use the favor you owe Cal?" I said.

Neon-yellow tentacles squirmed in agitation. 'No."

Anastasia broke from her husband's hug and took a step forward. "Lord Eraztis. Even if I give my life in return?"

Eraztis's eyes never left mine. "No. I am the caretaker, not a lich. I would not violate the Weave by exchanging your souls."

"What about the both of us?" Nathan said while bowing. "We'll become your servants, devoted. You can have both of our lives."

"Your love for your children is great. But it is not enough to break the natural order. Theodore has given his soul to the Grand Weave. The consequences must be paid."

Teddy's parents shook, but I met Erazti's eyes. I wasn't sure if he could see past my mask, but it didn't matter.

"Then I'll take matters into my own hands," I said simply.

"Cyrus." I paused and Eraztis was near me, tentacles snapping at the air. "What you desire requires a power from realms far above your own. Doing this will kill you."

"Then help me."

He shook his head and when he replied his voice was strained. "I cannot step in. The Weave prevents it."

I shrugged and knelt down, rubbing against Arturous's fur. Closing my eyes. Calling flames to the center of my hand, I slowly closed off my senses. One by one, sights, sound, smell, they all slipped away as I reached for a limb I have never used before.

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Zharia was one of my first familiars, and I always knew her flames were special. But outside of their golden hue that burned stronger than most, I never reached for an aspect I knew existed in her. It wasn't from the skillstone, but rather the spirit herself.

An aspect specific to phoenixes, especially royal ones.

In the back of my head, Zharia guided my thoughts into a feeling–a vague thing that she only barely knew of–and allowed my mental grip to settle. The hidden limb was an aspect of power belonging to Zharia's bloodline.

Her flames touched upon the soul. A purification that anchored her being as a phoenix.

Carefully, and slowly I channeled my wrung out emotions. Hurt, misery, pain, sadness, rage, and hope. Those parts and more honed into that blade, allowing a single, precise incision.

Move.

At first nothing happened, but slowly a spectral flame made of a golden radiance that bordered on silver for being so bright pulsed in my palm. I opened my eyes and stroked the flame, fueling it with more of my emotions and memories.

GROW!

The flame flickered weakly.

BURN!

A tendril snapped at the void.

I SAID BURN!

Fwooosh!

A ghostly flame radiated from my palm. The power was like summoning Erebus and then multiplying it by five. I collapsed to my knees and forced myself up. The golden light burned bright, becoming a miniature sun as Teddy's skin around my hand started to crisp. Where the tendrils touched, they flickered through the meat like it was air, but left behind a trail of blackened char.

No. That was too much. I had to reign it in, pull it back.

Taking another deep breath, I dragged new memories into the forefront and willed the passive to activate.

Slowly, a film of grey started to stretch. The prickles of charred flesh started to recede as the flame pulsed steadily in the cloud.

I cracked a smile. Now all I needed to do was–

The muscles in my arm twisted and my chest thumped. Inside my soul realm, the skillwisp belonging to Zharia vibrated, releasing a wail as the little phoenix screeched through our connection.

Returning to the physical, the flames had spread upward burning rampant. My arms were charring and Aine pushed mana into the golden leaf, healing only a small patch of damage.

Zagreus who had his paws atop both bodies whimpered but a stern look kept him focused. I needed him to keep their blood flowing. Their heart had to beat.

"Cyrus, you have to stop," Eraztis pleaded.

"Can't," I ground out. "Focusing right now."

"You'll burn yourself out before you manage to revive them. Your soul can't handle this. That spirit's contract is that skillwisp in your soul. If you continue, it'll break and she'll die."

"I…"

I froze upon hearing that. Zharia was mine, and I promised to be her Master. I had to protect her above many things, but then Teddy and Arturous…

Zharia screeched, and she sent over an image of her slapping me with her wing. I blinked through the confusion and digested the bundle of impressions along with the imagery.

Lowering my head I forced the tears away and gritted my teeth. "That won't happen. I'm going to do this Eraztis. So leave me alone, I need to concentrate damnit."

"Foolish child! You–" he snapped his beak in irritation and a portion of his aura slipped out, flooring Teddy's parents along with Isaac. I could only glare but even that threatened to destabilize the flame in my palm. "How are you doing this? How do you know of this? This is not something you can learn on your own, not without decades of practice. Not even your role as a Keeper should have provided this information at your level. Answer me boy."

"I told you. I'm concentrating!"

Another wail eerupted something in my eyes as pinking blood started to seep across my front. Damn gods and their over-inflated egos!

"Just answer me!"

I growled and closed my eyes, focusing on stroking the flames some more while reaching for the dwindling bundle of blood and curse mana that remained inside Teddy and Arturous's chest.

"You wouldn't believe me!"

"Cyrus!"

"Fine! A fragment of… a woman in my head. She gave me knowledge before sealing my memory."

"A woman?" Eraztis asked, dazed. "What mortal would know of this?"

"Not a woman, asshole. I have the feeling she'd eat you for breakfast. All of you."

Eraztis grew quiet and I took the silence to probe further. In truth the mana wasn't hard to find, but I knew a part of it stretched deeper than just the body. Mana existed in a state that went beyond mortal flesh. It was partially tied to one's soul.

Ignoring the disturbing cold emptiness inside their bodies, I forced myself to reach for a connection using my blood contract.

It was tied, linking us, even if he was dead there had been a fragment that meant something more than just physical connection.

Come on, where are you…. Come on!

"Cyrus," Eraztis spoke solemnly.

"Leave me alone!"

"Cyrus!"

My eyes shot open but Eraztis held up a hand. Inside his palms were two swirling fragments of bright blue with touches of pink along the edges.

"That's–"

"I require a price."

I swallowed. "Anything."

The flame in my hand almost gave out, but a wave from Eraztis steadied the flame. My aura stretched and I brushed along something hidden only moments before. Without second guessing, I grabbed one and felt a part of my mind split as I got the impression of two realms.

One was a forest, filled with trees that were partially visible. In one grand clearing a bear-shaped bramble of leaves rested. Pieces of the leaves were decaying, and the spectral trees were now ghostly grey remnants.

In the other, the ashes of a great flame coated white marble. Dredges of mana settled like old oil along the recesses of the floor, but that was it.

In both realms, I could see the scars of the curse having taken hold, leaving behind warped destruction along its path.

Eraztis snapped his fingers and raised his voice. He started to grow in size, and Teddy's parents lowered their heads to the ground along with Isaac.

"You will become mine, like Calstrax. That is part of the price I demand."

I didn't hesitate. "Deal, but he won't like it."

"He'll understand." Eraztis raised his arm and the flame in my hand started to divide into two. Stretching slowly, the flames entered Teddy and Arturous, igniting sparks in their chests. "My next requirement is that you'll listen to me, and hear my words. You'll also train under me, learn under my tutelage. If you fail to perform, I'll remove my mark and cut all ties. Friend or not, I will sever myself fully from Calstrax even if he requires aid."

"Deal."

"And lastly… This will be one of my favors owed. Do not expect such kindness again."

I lowered my head. "I understand."

"Good." Eraztis reached a hand and touched my chest. The bound cocoon containing the fragment of Arz'odral's essence unspooled. The flowing marble blipped out of my soulrealm and appeared in front of the soul god.

I coughed as more blood leaked out, but I dared not blink as Eraztis met my eyes.

"This will allow them to live. But it will not restore them. Their powers will be diminished, perhaps permanently. I do not promise recovery, just their lives. Do you understand?"

I nodded tersely as I felt Zharia's skilwisp wail a third time. It was getting harder and harder to stay conscious as the edges of my vision started to blacken.

"By the Weave, I accept," I coughed.

Eraztis's tentacles stilled for a moment before he disappeared. My vision was worsening by the second but a guiding hand commanded my mana to move. In my mind, I could see Teddy's and Arturous's inner realms.

Two motes of blue with edges of pink slipped inside and approached the golden flames. When they touched, energy left my body and Zharia screamed as my mana became undone. With a pop Spirit Lord's Invocation ended and Zharia landed on my chest.

No! I was so close, I only needed to…

"Calm yourself child. It is done," Eraztis's voice filtered through the haze.

I blinked and swayed. Teddy's skin slowly regained color. From deathly pale to a barely visible pinkish tint, Teddy's skin regained a semblance of life.

Looking over, Arturous's chest rose in a slow, even rhythm.

Oh. I did it.

I looked around but Zagreus was gone, as was Áine. My familiars were weirdly absent, even Zharia.

Panic started surged through me, but a soothing wave of energy hit my head.

"They are safe and returned. And your companions are alive. Rest now, before you die from the exhaustion."

Oh… Okay.

Resting sounded good. My head hit something hard but the vibration was nothing more than an afterthought. My eyelids grew heavy, but I watched Teddy take his first breath and smiled.

I did it. I saved them… I...

The world went black as I fell unconscious for the first time in a good while.

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