Chapter 35 - Reckoning

Elaron, Floor Forty, The Great Labyrinth.

Light flared and then faded. The party stumbled onto a raised platform beneath the canopy of a massive tree.

Gromul gawked. “That’s huge.”

“The World Tree,” Celia said. “Where the Great Spirit resides.”

Alina sagged to her knees, her staff clattering against the stone. “Rovan…” The name tore from her throat, raw with grief.

Renji crouched beside her, steadying her shoulder. His jaw was tight, eyes shadowed. He had seen the vines pierce Rovan’s chest—seen the moment the man chose death over silence.

Neria exhaled, sliding her weapons back into their sheaths. “We’re safe. For now.”

In the distance, Rikka spotted a group approaching. “Elith. She sensed us coming, didn’t she?”

“Mother is always tuned to Elaron’s magical currents,” Neria murmured.

The party stepped down to meet them. Elith’s gaze swept across the battered group. “You all seem worse for wear.”

“Nice to see you again, Elith.” Celia smiled, too coy for the moment.

Elith’s eyes narrowed. “Everyone except you, it seems.” Celia’s garb remained immaculate, unlike the rest.

“I wonder why that is…” Celia tapped her chin playfully.

“No one seriously wounded. That’s a blessing,” Rikka said.

Neria stepped forward. “Thorval and Vaerina saw us, Mother. They know we’re helping them.”

Elith nodded, then turned to Alina. Her hand was gentle but her voice firm. “Alina. Rest. But first, I need to know, where is your teleportation stone?”

Tears streaked Alina’s cheeks. “I-I think… Vaerina has it…”

Elith’s eyes hardened. She gestured sharply, and the wardens at her side moved toward the World Tree.

“Can you walk?” she asked.

“I-I should be able to—”

Renji scooped her into his arms. “You don’t have to force yourself.”

Elith turned. “Come. A guest house has been prepared.” She walked, and they followed.

“What are the mages doing?” Renji asked, glancing back.

“They are setting up a barrier to prevent teleportation.” She continued, “She has Alina’s stone. We don’t want Vaerina and Thorval teleporting into the heart of Elaron.”

***

Two days later — Elaron, Floor Forty.

Great trees formed a canopy that filtered beams of light into the elven city, painting it in golden hues. Birdsong drifted from above, but it did little to ease the weight in Alina’s chest.

She sat on a bench outside the guest house, a mug of tea warming her hands. Steam curled upward into the cool morning air. Her hands were steady now. The drain from Vaerina’s magic was fading, her strength nearly restored—but her eyes still carried the shadows of that night.

Renji approached quietly. He stopped beside her. “Did you rest well?”

“Yes.” Her voice was soft, brittle. “I’ve done nothing but rest.” She drew in a shaky breath. “I keep seeing his face… Rovan.”

Renji stood for a moment, then sat beside her. Just close enough that she could feel his presence. “He made his choice. You can’t blame yourself for that.”

“I understand… but still…” she choked back her tears.

His hand closed gently over hers. “I’m here. We’ll get through this. Together.”

She turned to him, searching his eyes—and for the first time in days, her lips trembled into the faintest smile. She leaned on his shoulder.

“I never thanked you… for coming to get me.”

“You would have done the same. Besides, I would have failed spectacularly if Rovan hadn’t found me and struck a deal.” The name slipped out before he could stop himself. Damn it, Renji.

“And Rikka and the others too,” he added quickly. “They saved our hides.”

“Still… thank you, Renji,” she murmured.

“You’re welcome.”

She hesitated, voice dropping to a whisper. “She’ll come for us, won’t she? Vaerina.”

He nodded. “The elves are bracing for an assault.”

“If we win, and we get the Verdant Orb from her… what then?”

“I don’t know. They say she used it to bring me here. Maybe it can send me back.”

Alina’s breath caught. “Then you’ll return to your world?”

“If it’s possible… yes.”

“I see…” Her voice was quiet, but her grip on his hand tightened all the same.

They stayed like that for a while, letting silence say what words could not. Just the comfort of each other’s presence, warm against the morning chill.

Then the ground trembled. The tea in Alina’s cup rippled. Birds scattered from the canopy above as a deep rumble echoed through the roots of the World Tree.

***

In Elith’s home, Celia and Elith rose from their seats at the dining table. The mugs of tea before them rattled faintly, ripples dancing across the surface.

“Vaerina…” Elith muttered, her face solemn.

Celia chuckled under her breath. “She’s come knocking. And she knocks hard.”

A female elven aide entered the room and bowed.

“The wardens are ready?” Elith asked.

“Yes, Elith.”

“Inform them to lift the teleportation wards — but redirect the entry point to the designated battleground.”

“Understood.” The aide slipped from the room in silence.

Celia smirked, rising with a flick of her cloak. “Shall we go welcome our guest?”

***

Renji and Alina reached the clearing, where Elith, Celia, and Gromul stood waiting at the edge. The battleground stretched the size of a soccer field, flanked by towering trees, with a sheer cliff overlooking from the far side. Well away from any settlement, it was the perfect place for a clash.

With them were about twenty elven warriors, in intricate elven armour. All with hardened looks on their faces.

“Elith, that tremor was…” Renji asked as he came up beside the group.

Elith gave a single nod. “Vaerina forcing her way through the teleportation wards.”

“You’re late, Princess,” Rikka called from a perch in the branches. She oversaw a dozen squads of elven archers, positioned along both sides of the clearing.

Alina puffed out her cheeks. “Rikka, stop calling me that!”

“Hey, it’s a compliment.”

“It doesn’t feel that way,” Alina countered, cheeks still puffed.

Rikka chuckled. “It is. Wait till you hear someone else’s handle.”

Celia shot her a glare sharp enough to cut steel. Rikka turned away, whistling an off-key tune.

“Miss Celia?” Alina tilted her head.

Celia’s bright smile snapped back in place, warm and disarming as ever. “My dear, do you remember how to tap into your Undine power?”

“I-I think so. So far it only comes when I need it desperately.” Alina stared at her hand. “Like when I feel I have no choice.”

Celia placed a gentle hand on her cheek. “That power isn’t just something you call on. It’s part of you—who you are. Let it come naturally. Like breathing.”

“Don’t be afraid of it. You’ll need it in this fight.” Elith added.

Sorien and Neria joined the group. “The wardens are in position, Elith,” he reported.

“Thank you, Sorien.” She nodded.

He turned to Renji and they clasped forearms. “Let’s end this, here, today,” The elf said, lips pursed thin.

“Let’s.” Renji nodded.

“Thorval’s rebellious phase ends today.” Celia giggled.

A brilliant flash of light erupted in the centre of the clearing. The party shielded their eyes until it faded as suddenly as it had come.

When the glare cleared, two hundred corrupted soldiers stood arrayed in formation. At their centre loomed two massive golems, each bearing a rider — Vaerina and Duke Thorval.

“Two golems this time…” Renji muttered under his breath.

Thorval’s voice thundered across the field. “Elith! Today the World Tree falls—and with it, your false dominion over the Labyrinth!”

“We never sought to rule,” Elith answered calmly. “We guard. We endure.”

Vaerina’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “How touching. Then allow me to unburden you of the responsibility.”

“Whatever gave you that idea, you stupid boy?” Celia cut in, smirk sharp as steel.

Heat rippled outward before anyone saw the flames. Celia stepped forward, fire coiling at her fingertips. The glow wasn’t just magic — it was her. Her skin flushed like heated bronze, ember-light flickering beneath the surface. Her eyes blazed molten orange, flames dancing in their depths.

Alina froze, staff clutched tight. “Miss Celia… your eyes…”

Celia’s grin widened. “What, did you think you were the only one with secrets, Princess?” Flames spiralled around her in a cyclone, sparks biting at the earth. “Sorry to disappoint. Ignis runs in my blood… just as Undine runs in yours.”