Miles wiped his tears and steadied himself, determination flickering in his eyes. "Where are the people I arrived with?" he demanded, his voice breaking slightly.
"They're probably in the cave by now," Vondak replied, his tone unusually calm. "After all, we all seem to be back to our senses." He folded his arms, narrowing his eyes at Miles. "But tell me, Miles, how did you handle my father? I can't help but be intrigued."
I'm sorry about what happened to your dad, I really am—but I need to find my friends. Now," Miles said sharply, guilt creeping into his voice.
Vondak's lips curved into a faint, unreadable smile. "Fair enough. I'll take you to them. Come on, take my hand."
Miles hesitated, his gaze narrowing as suspicion flickered across his face. Can I really trust this guy? he thought. Something about him doesn't sit right. He just lost his dad, and he's acting like it's nothing. Despite his misgivings, Miles clenched his fists and made a decision. I'll trust my instincts, for now.
He reached out and clasped Vondak's hand. The moment their hands connected, a cold, creeping sensation surged through Miles. His vision blurred as shadows consumed his surroundings, and both their bodies turned pitch black.
"What the hell is this?!" Miles exclaimed, panic seeping into his voice.
Vondak smirked. "Hold on tight," he said as they plunged into the library's shadows.
---
In the dimly lit cave, tensions flared.
"You bastard!" Gale roared as his fist collided with Crimson's jaw. Crimson, pinned beneath him, could only groan as Gale's right hand delivered blow after blow, while his left gripped Crimson's neck like a vice.
"Gale, stop it!" Lilith's voice cut through the air, but Gale ignored her, his rage unrelenting.
"I thought you said you'd let it go—that it was in the past!" Lilith shouted, desperation rising in her tone.
"Oh, hell no," Gale spat, his voice dripping with venom. "Not for him." He raised his fist again, but Crimson coughed out hoarsely, blood streaking his lips.
"Gale... Nox is alive."
The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Gale froze his fist inches from Crimson's face. Slowly, he rose to his feet, his breathing ragged, and turned to Lilith.
"Is this true?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Lilith hesitated, guilt flickering in her eyes, but she nodded.
Gale's jaw clenched as his mind raced. Crimson, now struggling to his feet, began to speak. "We can go and find—"
He didn't finish.
From the shadows of the cave, two figures emerged. The cave seemed to darken as the shadows coalesced into the forms of Miles and Vondak.
All eyes turned toward them, the air thick with tension. Miles staggered slightly, his face pale, as he took in the scene before him. Gale's bruised knuckles still clenched, she locked eyes with him.
"Who is this Vondak?" Gale asked, his brow furrowed as he stared at Miles.
Vondak smirked, his voice low and mocking. "I thought you'd know him."
"No, he's with us," Crimson interrupted, rising to his feet and wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "This is Miles, Gale. I'll explain his situation later. Right now, we need to focus on finding Nox."
Gale crossed his arms, his gaze shifting to Crimson. "I hate to admit it, but I'll follow your lead to look for her."
Miles, frustration bubbling over, stepped forward. "Wait—what? Are you already changing the plan again? What if Laurel doesn't have enough time?"
Gale shot him a sideways glance. "Who is this kid again?"
"We'll fill you in later," Lilith said sharply, silencing any further questions.
Crimson turned to Miles, his tone sharp yet weary. "I have to make sure an old friend is safe. For now, you're on your own."
Miles' eyes widened in disbelief. "What do you mean, on my own? You and Lilith promised me!"
"Just shut up, Miles!" Crimson snapped, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Listen, Lilith, Gale, and Nox, still being alive—means everything to me. They're the only reason I'm even helping you in the first place!"
Gale clenched his fists. "If we mean so much to you, then why didn't you—"
Lilith shot Crimson a warning glare, and he fell silent.
Miles turned to Gale, desperation lacing his voice. "I need a spell to find someone. Can you do it?"
Gale shook his head. "Those spells take time—time we don't have."
"What about you, Vondak?" Miles asked eagerly, eyes darting to the Mage.
Vondak chuckled darkly. "No, I can't. And frankly, I don't belong here." He stepped into the shadows of the cave, his figure fading. "Good luck."
And with that, he was gone.
Lilith placed a hand on Miles's shoulder. "We're sorry. You can come with us to find Nox if you want to—"
"Hell no!" Miles barked, shrugging off her hand. "I don't want to tag along to find your stupid friend!"
Gale's temper flared. In an instant, he grabbed Miles by his cloak, lifting him off the ground. "What did you just say, you little—"
"Stop it!" Lilith cried, forcing herself between them. She turned to Crimson, exasperated. "Are you going to help me here or not?"
Crimson sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alpha Dawn is nearby. Maybe they can help you find Laurel. I promise I'll meet you there."
Gale let out a scoff, releasing Miles. "You can't trust Crimson's promises," he muttered, digging into his pack. "Take this scroll. You can use it to find a friend of mine."
Miles stared at Crimson incredulously. "And how the hell am I supposed to get to Alpha Dawn in the first place?"
Lilith frowned. "Wait—doesn't Alpha Dawn have strict entry rules? They don't just let anyone in."
Crimson and Gale spoke in unison, their tones laced with irritation: "They let everyone in now—to show off their technology."
Miles groaned. "Fine, but how am I supposed to find Alpha Dawn and wait for you?"
"Here." Crimson reached into his pocket and produced an old, weathered compass. Its brass casing was scratched, and the glass over its face was slightly cracked, but it hummed faintly with an inner glow. He handed it to Miles, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "Tell it where you want to go, and it'll guide you with light."
Miles hesitated before taking it, his fingers brushing against the cool metal.
"And Miles," Crimson said, his voice low but firm as he caught Miles' gaze, "be careful."
For a moment, Miles stared at him, the tension between them palpable. Then, a scowl crept across his face. He clenched the compass in his hand and took a step back. "You know what, Crimson? I think I'd have been better off on my own from the start." His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. "And by the way, I'm taking the ship."
Without waiting for a response, Miles turned on his heel and strode out of the cave, his boots crunching against the loose stones.