The Last Summit

The wind howled, icy, carrying the last echoes of the battle.

On the summit of Mount Azel, the ground was blackened by magic, gouged by blades and claws, still smoking from their fight against Lord Kaelor.

Silence… at last.

Lyana still held her sword raised, her gaze fixed on the glowing horizon.

Beside her, Akaru crouched, breathing heavily, his arm bleeding. Mira was helping Theo to stand.

— We did it… Theo whispered, incredulous.

— Not completely, replied Akaru, looking up at the sky.

A deep, strange rumble vibrated in the air.

Above them, the clouds slowly spun… then parted like a split sea.

A flaming circle appeared, suspended between dimensions. Unknown runes inscribed themselves one by one.

And before they could react, a beam of light shot out from the circle, enveloping them completely.

They screamed.

The world faded away.

When Akaru opened his eyes, he felt something hard under his head. Concrete?

Shrill sounds pierced his ears: honking, people speaking quickly in an unknown language… shoes pounding on a smooth floor.

— Lyana? Theo? Mira?!

He sat up abruptly. Passersby stared at him.

— But… what is… what is this place?!

Around him, gigantic buildings rose into the sky. Signs were flashing. Cars sped by at full speed.

He was lying on the sidewalk, in the middle of an unfamiliar city.

Tokyo.

And the world he had known… was nothing but a memory hanging in the muggy summer air.