Consequences

The others dragged Kyr up the stairs and back into the spire as the ear-splitting rumble echoed above them like the beating of a thunderous drum. 

The land shook every time it hit.

They freed Vysa, but the former mercenary was as keen to leave as they were. Now wasn’t the time to settle their differences. Now was the time for escape.

As they ran, Kyr felt a foreboding sense that they wouldn’t see this place again. That they haven’t gathered enough information about the apocalypse or Aven’s death.

He hesitated when they reached the room of statues, but that's when Leatrix grabbed him by the arm. “Leave the truth to me,” the inquisitor promised. She didn’t say what she knew but her eyes told him she possessed the truth. A truth. 

Kyr realized that he didn’t simply believe the woman, he trusted her. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever feel that way again after his imprisonment, but he did.

Even if the truth she held… turned out to be inconvenient.

By the time they reached the entrance of the spire and made it outside, they saw what Kyr had seen with his third eye.

Above them, past the shattered sky, was a bright storm of mana, chaotic and powerful. Like a mighty hammer, it struck repeatedly at the sky and its cracks widened with every single blow.

The hero’s parade was in turmoil as dozens of torches flared and people screamed for the end of the world.

“What are we going to do!?” Roy yelled in panic. “Where can we even run!?”

“We angered them,” Cinza shouted. “We showed them exactly what our ancestors did to their kind!”

If that was really the case… then did the winged giants shatter the sky from the very beginning?

Were they the great evil that caused the apocalypse all along?

“Are we going to die?” Nowe cried with tears in her eyes. “I can’t, I—I have so much to live for!”

“Dammit, Kyr!” Vysa screamed as she grabbed the front of Kyr's cloak. “Was this your plan!?”

Kyr looked at Leatrix. The symbol of the sacred order on her lapel flapped violently with the wind, as if the foundation of their religion was being tested to its limit.

Maybe the reason the sacred order denounced the legend of the winged giants was because it was genuinely false. Maybe their version of the story—in which the world had magic all along—was the correct one.

Maybe what Kyr did in trying to uncover the truth was anger the great evil and hasten the apocalypse.

“It’s your fault we’re in this mess,” the warden said to Kyr many times in the past six years. “It’s your fault we’re all going to die.”

Traitor.

Hero Killer.

World Destroyer.

Suddenly, the tempest made enough damage that the cracks above them actually opened. 

A giant face peeked down, its eyes massive and crimson until they burned white like two fiery suns. It looked at them in hatred and anger, then backed away... only to reach out with its gigantic hand between the cracks. Mana gathered in its palm and—

“Ruuuun!” Kyr screamed at the top of his lungs. “Away from the tower!”

He didn’t know if they’d make it, but the group ran like the world was on fire.

Followed by blinding whiteness.

Kyr braced for impact as he instinctively absorbed mana in the air and shielded everyone with magic.

At least let me save them, he prayed.

I did this.

This was my mistake.

Kyr saw as a beam of white light hit the Spire of Knowledge and completely obliterated it out of existence.

*

“Sun above…” Jacent whispered as he saw a beam of light cut the sky in half.

He just arrived at the city of Serami after three of the Great Houses convinced the crown prince to have peace talks with the unified republics down at Tristen. He meant to chase after Kyr Solian, but the republics were an equally serious threat he couldn’t pass up.

And now, on the night of their arrival, a storm of mana gathered in the sky… and blasted down on Vastille.

What could’ve summoned such a thing? A winged giant? They still had fifty-four days left!

Unless…

That direction was northwest. Towards the Spire of Knowledge.

“Rictus!” he shouted. “Rictus, to me!”

The spirit hiding in the shadows swept across the cobbled streets of the sapphire city like billowing smoke. It joined him up in the balcony of his inn room, forming the shape of a masked falcon. 

“Go to the Spire of Knowledge!" he commanded. "See if you can find any of your brethren! See what transpired in that accursed place!”

*

When Kyr opened his eyes, it was Vysa who offered her hand. The two of them sat on the ground as pain danced across their features.

His ears rang loudly, but he saw that everyone was alive and accounted for.

The tower on the other hand was reduced to rubble and ash.

But regardless of that... the world remained.

The sky was still shattered but the storm and the giant were gone.

Even mana beneath the earth remained somewhat stable. It was possible the beasts of the apocalypse would eventually find their way here again, but for now things were back to how it was.

But that wasn’t true, was it?

Kyr touched the horn on his forehead, wondering what it really was.

“Where did you get that?” Vysa asked, her one remaining eye bearing down at his soul. The woman had no time to retrieve her armor, but she still recovered her swords as they sat next to her. “What happened to you, Kyr?”

“I don’t know,” Kyr said. “This thing grew on my head about two years ago. Maybe more. I didn’t even care what it was until now.”

“And what is it? The eye of a giant? Is that why you don't need spectacles to see far away things anymore?”

“Maybe...” Kyr whispered. “Listen, Vysa. I want to know the truth about who killed Aven... even if it turns out to be me. But more than that, I want to save this world. Humanity can’t end here.”

Vysa didn't say anything for a while, but a soft laugh eventually escaped her lips. “You really are the Kyr I remember. I believe you. And... I’m sorry.”

Kyr looked up at his old friend.

“For not trying,” Vysa clarified. “Well, that’s not completely true. I did try. Me, Jessa… Radon too. Morick was busy being the leader of his house, so he didn’t join us, but he provided us with funds.”

“What?”

“We tried. It was probably close to a year after your trial.” Vysa looked up at the sky. “At first, we really thought it was you. You attacked us, after all. Radon really hated you, but… well, I’ll let him explain what happened. After time passed and heads cooled… we wanted to know why you did it.”

Vysa shoved her index finger on Kyr's chest. “Point is, you attacking us was weird. The king and the inquisitors really wanted you to be the killer, so we couldn’t do anything. We couldn’t see you no matter how much we asked. So, we investigated in our own way.”

Kyr had no words.

Vysa shrugged. “It didn’t matter,” she said, taking her hand back and lowering her head. “We came up with nothing. And in time, we became more focused in finding a new hero. Time is ticking, after all.”

“I thought one of you killed Aven,” Kyr said quietly.

Vysa sniffed. “Maybe. It’s not like I stayed with the others the entire time. But at least I can tell you I’m not the killer. I’m fond of you and Aven.”

“You say that after you tried to kill me back at the spire.”

“Hah!” Vysa laughed. “Kyr sun-damned Solian wouldn’t die from that! Besides… I was trying to see if you were possessed. That was my theory.”

Vysa reached out and grabbed his horn.

“Maybe you are!”

“Oww! Stop—don’t pull it!”

The others came running towards them when they thought Vysa had attacked him.

“Peace,” Vysa said with hands raised. “I was just trying to see if I can take it off him.”

“So… what now?” Cinza asked. “Where do we go?”

“First we return to the hero’s parade and rest,” Leatrix said. “We need to tell them that monsters might start lurking around here again.”

“There are tons of ex-knights and mercenaries in that band,” Vysa said, waving her hand. “They’ll be fine.”

“Perhaps, but you need to convince them to head down to Serami just in case," the inquisitor insisted. "They’ll listen to one of the guardians. Currently employed or otherwise.”

Vysa made an unpleasant sound that screamed ‘she’d do it, but she really didn’t want to’.

“After that,” Leatrix continued, “I need you to make haste back to Ilara’s side. I need you to convince her… that Kyr Solian wants to help.”