We trek up the snowy mountain, each one of us numb in our fingers and toes. My breath swirls out in front of me and I feel as though it's freezing to my nose. We may have bypassed the actual mountain trek by charging straight though, but it's still cold up here. And high. And scary.
I can see the green light twisting down, reaching where the Conclave was held before it was destroyed. Green comets are more frequent here and the four of us keep a look out so none crash into us.
Soldiers run with us, carrying swords and shields, ready to fight.
We get to an abandoned fortress, with bricks scattered in the snow, wooden supports broken and soldiers lying dead. I avert my gaze from the bodies.
Taking the stone steps two at a time, the gates up ahead are open, one soldier standing guard. He turns to face us and waves his sword, "The demons are—"
A comet smashes into him, exploding in a flash of green. Cassandra pulls me back and I hear Varric curse. I cover my mouth in shock, but the image of the soldier keeps floating into my mind. The gates stand empty, the soldier's body simply gone.
"We must help them," says Cassandra. We don't waste time as we run towards the gates. I notice various body bags lying in the frozen dirt, while the wounded stay on the other side, being tended to by Chantry clerics.
We rush towards the top of the stairs where a large clearing spreads out in front of us. A demon slaps at a soldier with its long arms.
I leap down from the small drop and run towards the struggling soldier. Slashing across the demon's back, I manage to distract it long enough to allow the soldier to land a fatal blow. The demon shrinks into goo and the soldier thanks me.
"Another Rift," yells Cassandra.
I see it, glowing in the mist. Demons and Shades spawn from the Rift, driving us back. But Cassandra and I work together, hacking and slashing as one, while Solas and Varric pick off the others with ranged weapons.
That's when I notice another soldier fighting. His blonde hair shines in the green glow, while he dances around demons. His blade is a blur and his shield part of his arm as he attacks a demon. I try not to stare too much, but he's really distracting.
Cassandra notices me starting to slack off, "Stay strong," she yells through clenched teeth. She drives her blade into the demon and glares at me, "Close it."
I hold my hand up and the Rift contracts, the crystal's shifting constantly. Pulling my arm back, I feel the Rift give and it explodes into dust.
I turn to see Solas watching me, "Sealed. As before. You are becoming quite proficient at this."
Varric nods, "Let's hope it works on the big one."
"Me too," I mumble.
"Lady Cassandra," comes a voice. "You managed to close the Rift. Well done."
It's the blonde-haired man I saw fighting before. His armour has a big lion-like mane covering the neck of the armour. It really must keep him warm. Underneath, I can tell he's built like a warrior. And very handsome. His clear shaven face is chiseled in all the right ways, jaw lines almost as impressive as Cassandra's. A cut sits on his top lip, white and deep.
"Do not congratulate me, Commander. This is the prisoner's doing."
I sigh inwardly at the word prisoner and my eyes drift to the snow at my feet.
"Is it?" comes the man's voice. I look up and I'm startled by his chocolate brown eyes. "I hope they're right about you. We've lost a lot of people getting you here."
"I… can't promise anything, but I'll try my best."
"That's all we can ask," says the man with a smile. He glances at Cassandra, "The way to the temple should be clear. Leliana will try to meet you there."
"Then we best move quickly. Give us time Commander."
The soldiers around us begin to retreat and the Commander nods, "Maker watch over you—for all our sakes."
His eyes flick to me and he nods, before heading back with his soldiers.
I watch as he helps a wounded soldier back to the others.
The temple is a nightmare. Bleak, dark and scary. Bodies, still alight with flames, are scattered around the clearing, positioned in all sorts of dying poses. The ground is charred, bricks burnt, grass turned to cinders. And worst of all, I can see the Breach's green light reaching down just behind spires of brick—where we've got to go.
"The Temple of Sacred Ashes," says Solas.
"What's left of it," cuts Varric.
Cassandra turns to me, face solemn. She points to a spot in the middle of the destroyed temple, "That is where you walked out of the Fade and our soldiers found you. They say a woman was in the Rift behind you. No one knows who she was." Her voice is soft, pained even. She would have lost many friends in the explosion.
I swallow, but keep walking, not wanting to dwell on the facts. We make our way towards what once was a building, but is little more than a smoking pile of brick. Some of it is buried in rubble, while a small hallway still stands, fires burning. The thick haze is from the smoke of hundreds of tiny fires around us.
The bodies are blackened beyond recognition and I send a small prayer to the Maker.
As we stand on the edge of a balcony, I look up.
In front of us is the biggest Rift yet. Its crystal's shift and change, the green light twirling right up into the Breach. The Rift itself floats high in the air, rocks hovering around it.
"The Breach is a long way up," comments Varric.
I try not to vomit in fear.
"You're here," comes a voice. I turn to see Leliana coming towards us, soldiers behind her. "Thank the Maker."
"Leliana, have your men take up position around the temple," orders Cassandra. Already at it before we can even make ourselves comfortable. Leliana nods and orders her soldiers.
I can't stop looking at the Rift. Its massive crystals are always changing, unpredictable. Cassandra steps in front of me, snapping me from my daze, "This is your chance to end this. Are you ready?"
I nod, "I'll do the best I can."
"This Rift is the first, and it is the key," says Solas. "Seal it and perhaps we seal the Breach."
"Well, no pressure then," I mutter.
"Let's find a way down. And be careful," Cassandra's eyes flick to me.
The four of us slowly find our way along the broken balcony, making sure not to trip over loose stone.
Not even halfway across the balcony, the Breach rumbles and a voice fills the air, "Now is the hour of victory."
I jerk in surprise. The voice didn't come from anyone here—it was all around us, deep and terrifying.
"Bring forth the sacrifice," the voice says—obviously male.
I search the sky, but can't see anyone.
Cassandra's hand goes to her sword, "What are we hearing?"
"At a guess: the person who created the Breach," says Solas.
A shiver runs down my spine. This person, whoever he is, made the Breach? Is that even possible?
The mist is thick as we make our way around the balcony, which leads onto a rocky path. Spires of rock jut out from the walls, all covered in green veins that travel along the rock.
My muscles are tense, my eyes desperately searching through the mist for enemies. But Leliana's soldiers stand guard, watching the clearing.
The mist clears and my eyes are drawn to something red in the rock wall.
"Don't touch that," yells Varric.
I leap away, almost pushing Cassandra over. She grabs my arm and pulls me away from the cluster of red rock.
"That stuff is red Lyrium, Seeker."
Cassandra nods, "I see it Varric."
"But what's it doing here, of all places?"
Solas glances at the Lyrium, "Magic could have drawn on Lyrium beneath the temple, corrupted it."
Varric shakes his head, "It's evil. Don't touch it." He glances at me again, but I've learnt my lesson. I stay close to Cassandra. Surely her jaw line will protect me.
After successfully staying away from the red Lyrium, we make it to a small drop.
"Come, it's the only way we'll get down," orders Cassandra.
I jump down, the rest following me. Seeing the Rift up close and personal really gets the heart pumping. I can feel the blood rushing through my veins and my heart's about to burst from my chest.
Green sparks fly from the shifting crystal, tinging the red Lyrium is a dark glow.
My hand flares in pain and grunt, holding it up. Green light twirls around the scar on my palm.
Solas watches the dancing green light, "Every time your mark reacts you're in pain, correct?"
I nod.
"The mark is killing you—faster each time you use it."
I swallow, "Closing this Rift might kill me?"
Solas doesn't answer.
"Someone help me!" comes a female's voice. I spin, searching for the source of the voice.
"What's going on here?" comes my voice. My hand flies to my mouth, even though I didn't speak.
"That was your voice," says Cassandra. "Most Holy called out to you. But…"
The Rift expands, green light spreading across the air. A shadowy figure appears in the green mist, one with glowing red eyes. Its hands are big, long fingers flexing. In front of the shadow figure: I'm guessing the Most Holy—Divine Justinia. Her arms are spread wide, red magic wrapped around them to bind her. The Most Holy's Chantry robes are dirty and ripped.
Then a figure comes running in and with jarring surprise, I realise it's me.
The me-in-the-mist glances at the Divine, "What's going on here?"
"Run while you can! Warn them!" yells the Divine.
"We have an intruder," comes the same deep voice we heard before. The shadowy figure must have been talking to us. "Kill her. Now."
I watch in horror as me-in-the-mist takes a step back, but the image brightens and I have to shield my eyes.
When I look back, the image is gone.
"You were there!" says Cassandra, her voice shaky. Then her voice becomes hard, "Who attacked? And the Divine, is she…? Was the vision true? What are we seeing?"
I glare at her, "I don't remember, alright? If I did, I would tell you."
Cassandra looks away.
"Echoes of what happened here. The Fade bleeds into this place," voices Solas' voice. Poetic as usual.
We follow Solas towards the Rift, though Varric and I stay back a little.
Solas looks at us, "The Rift is not sealed, but it is not closed… albeit temporarily. I believe that with the mark, the Rift can be opened and sealed properly and safely. However, opening the Rift will likely attract attention from the other side."
"That means demons," yells Cassandra. "Stand ready."
The soldiers around us take up arms, while the archers standing along the balcony nock their arrows.
I glance at Cassandra and she nods, giving me the all clear. She unsheathes her weapon, Solas and Varric doing the same.
I hold my hand up and the Rift begins the move, my hand glowing green. Sure enough, the Rift expands and my hand is pulled away from it as something shoots from the open Rift. Something big.
I stare in horror as a demon quickly materializes in front of us. Its purple hide is thick, like plates of armour. Its skin points out into sword-like sticks at its elbow joint, big enough to impale someone. Seven eyes flick around on top of its large head, watching us all. Four horns curl out from the top of its skull, black as night.
But that's not the worse thing about this creature. Its claws are as long as my arm, sharp and pointed—ready to slash my throat out. It growls at us, a deep rumble in its throat.
A Pride Demon.
"Now!" yells Cassandra.
Arrows fly, hitting the beast from behind. Small impale themselves in the demon's fingers, while the rest just fly off its thick skin.
It roars and rushes forward while we all scramble away from it.
Varric positions himself on a raised rock, away from the monster, while Solas does the same on the other side, shooting icicles at the beast.
Cassandra runs with her shield up, dodging the beast's massive arm, "We must wear it down, strip its defenses."
Well, that's easier said than done.
Leliana pulls back her draw string and the arrow flies into the demon's mouth, but with the amount of teeth, the arrow just ricochets uselessly to the ground.
Solas stomps his staff on the ground and a blast of cold air wraps around the demon, freezing it for a few vital seconds as I swing my blades into the demon's back, trying to wear down its armour.
"Disrupt the Rift to slow the demon down," yells Solas.
I glance at the Rift and throw my hand in the air, feeling the pain coursing through me again. The Rift lets out a pulse of green light, throwing the creature to its knees.
Cassandra pounces, slashing her sword across the demon's arms and legs. I whirl away from its flailing arm and thrust my daggers into its butt, making it roar in pain.
"We're wearing it down, keep going," yells Cassandra.
Slashing and hacking at the demon is the only thing I can do as the others around me do the same.
Every few minutes, I disrupt the shifting Rift, making the demon fall to its knees again. This time, the demon struggles to get back up again.
As Cassandra drives her blade into the demon's leg, I rush past the others, following her attack. I spring towards demon, vaulting over its arms and grabbing hold of one of its horns. And I ram a blade into its eyes. It bucks around, screaming in pain. Purple fire begins to run along its skin and Cassandra pulls me back as the demon crumples to the ground, turning to goo.
"Now!" yells Cassandra. "Do it!"
I sheath my weapons and run straight for the Rift. If this is my last moment, I'm glad it was for the greater good.
I never got to say goodbye to my family, but I'm sure they'll hear of the good deed I did. Right? Cassandra would tell them… I'm not the prisoner anymore am I?
It's too late to think about it as I throw my hand in the air, a tear running down my cheek.
What would happen to my little brother? Would they protect him?
The Rift contracts, the crystals struggling to shift under the power of my mark.
At least I got to kill a huge demon.
I can feel the Rift pushing against me, the pain searing through my arm. I pool all my energy into closing the Rift. Nothing else matters now. I'm dead anyway.
And in the moment, the Rift explodes.