Pantheon Online

310  Shadow and Storm (Part 2)

Webs hung thick between twisted trees like the remnants of long-forgotten curses. Ania drifted over the blackened ground, her feet barely brushing it. She felt weightless, yet every movement was draining, as though each step through the murky surroundings pulled her deeper into its grasp. The darkness clung to her, whispering her own doubts and secrets she'd tried to ignore for the longest time.

Ania was almost sure she had been here before. Though she couldn't remember when. The landscape was cold and barren. Every sound echoed in a way that gave her chills. The endless cobwebs stretched out as they formed intricate patterns across her path. As if mocking her with how easily they could trap her.

"Where am I?" Her voice barely drifted beyond her lips before the silence swallowed it whole.

A flicker of movement drew her eye. It was faint, almost invisible, but she saw it. A figure moved among the webs, slipping between the trees with an unnatural ease. A few moments passed before Ania could make out its features. To her, the figure was unmistakable, even in this strange place. WintersEmbrace, the Goddess of Dreams and Nightmares.

'Ah, so that's what's going on.'

Winter's face was hidden beneath a hood woven from a strange material, shimmering as if covered in frost. Her eyes glowed faintly beneath the hood's edge, fixed upon Ania with a gaze as cold as the surrounding nightmare.

"Lost are we?" Winter's voice cut through the overwhelming silence. "Always so quick to stumble into dark places, huh?"

"I'm not lost," she replied, her voice wavered despite her best efforts. "I don't know where I am. But I'm not lost. Once I wake up, everything will be fine."

A faint, amused smile flickered at the edge of Winter's mouth. "Not lost, you say? Then, by all means, continue."

The webs around her seemed to draw closer. Limiting the paths Ania could take. 'This is just a dream.' Yet, everything here felt as real as the wounds on her body. "Why are you here?" Ania's voice held more force this time. "What are you trying to show me?"

"What am I trying to show you?" Winter's head tilted slightly, her eyes narrowing in intrigue. "Oh, child, this is your dream. A nightmare of your own making. Though, I suppose being as close to death as you are has helped things along a bit."

"What are you talking about?"

Suddenly, Winter's features warped to those of a male dark elf with white hair. The elf stared at her with her smirk while shaking his head. "It's time to remember. Time... is running out. The Gods you follow can't protect you. Return to the Old Ways. Only we can save you from what is to come."

"What..."

Ania's question was cut off as the nightmare shifted. She suddenly found herself in the middle of a battlefield. Ancient Skardians were holding the lines against the invading Fallen. However, Ania's eyes went wide as she took in the sight of a bloodied woman wielding a spear and shield.

---

Vehicles rushed by outside the window as Allevia drank her coffee. Her expression conveyed her grim thoughts as the bar's other patrons avoided meeting her gaze. Suddenly, the door banged open as a familiar figure strode in.

"You're finally here, Jor," Allevia grunted as a second figure followed behind him. "Amari? I'm sure I didn't invite you to this."

"Where's the fun in that?" Amari chuckled as he flashed a cheeky grin at her. "You look as amazing as ever."

"Cut the crap." Jor barked as he punched Amari's arm, causing the latter to flinch.

"What was that for?"

"We're here to discuss serious issues," Jor grimaced as he sat beside Allevia. "Now, sit down already."

Amari shrugged as he took a seat. "So, what's this all about?"

"The barriers are coming down," Allevia looked disgusted as the grey sky outside began to weep. "The Fallen will be free to continue their assault soon."

"Hm? There should be more time? That's why we did what we did, right?"

"Sure," Jor snorted. "We should've bought longer than this. But the Fallen haven't remained idle. They've been chipping away at the prison we built."

"The new guards can't possibly be ready yet," Allevia sighed. "I bet they're still playing the 'game' right about now."

"That's the issue," Jor replied. "If the Fallen overrun the core before we can return, this war is as good as lost."

"Don't be so dramatic," Amari scowled, though he was deeply troubled by the news. "We can always shelter the promising ones if we need to, right?"

"There's no way for us to know their personalities right now," Allevia said as she shook her head. "Besides, the consequences of the barriers coming down should already be appearing by now."

"Hmm, maybe I should stop being so idle," Amari looked horrified at his own words. "How's the western gate holding up, Jor?"

The trio became silent as they tried to sort out their own thoughts. After all, there was too much riding on this. 'If I could reclaim the First Flame Fragments...' Allevia thought as a small flame manifested in the palm of her hand.

A cold wind suddenly blew it out as Jor fixed her with a stern gaze. "Don't. You know the law, Allevia. We can't use these powers in civilian areas."

Allevia nodded meekly before taking a sip from her mug. 'It's only a matter of time before the Fallen breakthrough here as well.' She sighed as she thought about all they had done. 'It just wasn't enough.' n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Is there any way for us to get the truth to the newbies?" Amari suddenly said as he stared out the window.

"Yeah, right," Jor chuckled. "You think the government would allow that? They'll happily take refugees to shore up our own numbers or move to seize their world for our own. But they won't do charity work. Besides, I hear that world is still behind our own. They wouldn't believe us anyway."

"It was bad enough when we chose to retreat from that nexus world," Allevia said. "They weren't pleased with us for using the core fragments to protect it from the Fallen."

"That's putting it mildly." Amari chuckled. "So, what now? We just hope our echoes give them enough guidance to hold on?"

"That's the gist of it." Jor nodded.

"It's a shame the government won't help these naive worlds. It'd be so much easier if we all just worked together." Allevia let out a long sigh as the rain continued to hammer against the window.

The silence that followed was thick, each of them contemplating how they could possibly turn the situation around. None of them were willing to voice the fear lingering in their thoughts. Amari broke it with a grin that reached his eyes.

"Well, we should at least give them a fighting chance. Shouldn't we? It's no fun if they don't make it."

"Fun? This isn't a game, Amari," Allevia gave him a sharp look. "Even if they survive, we'll just be forced to take them down. The core fragments are just that important!"

"Wasn't that your point?" he shot back, though his voice held more bite than usual. "Without the right motivation, they'll falter. They need something to believe in. And I think I know how we can achieve that."

Jor leaned back, his eyes narrowed as he looked at Amari. "And what do you suggest we give them? This isn't a fairy story, and they're unaware of what's at stake."

"Heh? Looks like you've caught on," Amari chuckled gently. "Come on, Allevia. Do you want to play at being a mentor?"

21:35

Allevia's fingers traced the edge of her mug, her gaze distant. "They don't have to know everything. But maybe we can give them a reason to fight that isn't for survival."

"Heh? Looks like you've caught on," Amari chuckled gently. "Come on, Allevia. Do you want to play at being a mentor?"

She gave him a withering look. "I doubt I'd be any good at it. But do we have another choice? If the Fallen breakthrough, their world won't be the only one destroyed. Ours will be next."

Jor glanced at them, his face impassive but his eyes calculating as he caught on. "Suppose we manage it. Reach out without too much disruption to their world. What then? Do you think a handful of them can hold back an army of Fallen? If we couldn't do it..."

"No," she said, her voice soft but showing her firm resolve. "But they could buy us time. God knows we need it."

A quiet fell over them again as each weighed the price of that 'time.' However, they knew all too well that time was the last luxury anyone had.

"If we get caught, we could be arrested for treason." Jor grimaced.

"Aren't you sick of it all?" Allevia asked as she shot him a dirty look. "If we want things to change, we must take that risk."

Amari grinned while Jor groaned at her statement. She made it sound like a simple matter, but it was far from it. Each of them knew there would be hell to pay if their little plan went sideways. The real question was whether they'd be helping future allies or arming a world that may take the same path as their own.

"So, is there anyone else we should rope into this little scheme of ours?" Amari suddenly asked while grinning like a shark.

"I think Jarxos would be up for it. But beyond that, I'm not sure. Anyone could potentially report us once they know our intentions. There's something else. How are we going to contact them?"

"Oh, leave that to me," Amari laughed. "I didn't mention it before, but a few of my more distinguished friends have already regained access to the Nexus. I'll have Clara pass on a message. If I remember correctly, she's quite friendly with some guy on the other side."