Vestiges of a Lost World, Part 1

MILLA STUMBLED as she took her first steps in the other side, having to skip over a magical crack on the ground as soon as she crossed over.

“Whoa! What the heck?” she asked, staring at the fissure as she tripped next to it.

As a villager who lived in a forest, Milla was no stranger to difficult terrain. However, the thing in the ground couldn’t be further from a mundane hole — it was a dark void, surrounded by streaks of mana seeping in through its edges.

“Careful with those,” said Galardos as he crossed after Gromni. “If you step into one of them, they’ll cost you a limb if you’re lucky.”

Milla gulped, then shook in horror as she looked at the space around her.

The landscape was desolate and devastated, dotted with ruins and dimensional cracks. What little remained of the place hinted to the marvelous beauty it boasted in its heyday... but now in its current form, it was a few steps away from being a hellhole.

“By the Gods. What happened here?” uttered Gromni, his eyes wide open with shock.

“This is the Irilithan, in all its glory,” Galardos replied wearily, walking around the void that Milla almost stepped into.

Back at the pub, he’d mentioned the Astral Sanctuary wasn’t in usable shape… and now that the entire group was there, they painfully realized how much he meant it.

However, despite their questioning looks, he refused to elaborate about its condition.

Instead, he turned to the dwarf and asked him the golden question:

“How’s the Seraph? Is she alive?”

Gromni blinked for a moment, then turned to look at the young woman in his arms.

She wasn’t conscious, but… against all odds, she was breathing.

“I think so,” said the dwarf, prompting Galardos to exhale in relief.

His botching of the resurrection ritual was one for the ages, and he didn’t even want to imagine what kind of damage he left behind in the forest. Yet, by some miracle, the Seraph herself had lived.

“Thank Zarielle,” said the demigod, pressing his hand to his face.

“And thank Lady Milla while you’re at it,” Alaiel chimed in. “If not for her rescue, all of us would be dead.”

“You’re right,” Galardos conceded. “You did well, Milla. We’re in your debt.”

“Oh? N- No, it’s nothing! You came to save me first, so it’s partly my fault too.”

“Hah! No need to be humble, Missy!” said Gromni, a grin on his face. “I couldn’t do anythin’ but stand there, slack-jawed. Next to ya, I felt tiny!”

“Well, um… Thank you. I’m just glad you’re alright,” she replied, unused to receiving such praise. Up until now her magic had been a closely guarded secret, so being acknowledged for it was a first.

“Oh, don’t sweat it. We’re a sturdy bunch,” said Gromni, before turning to look at the angel in his arms. “That said, what’re we doin’ about this one? She’s alive, but I’ve no clue when she’ll wake.”

“Lay her down; I’ll take a look at her,” replied Galardos.

However, as he began to gather mana into his eyes, he suddenly winced and stopped channeling energy.

“Careful, Master. Your aether pathways could be damaged,” said Alaiel.

“I’m fine. I just need to rest a while,” Galardos waved off her concerns, but his familiar wasn’t convinced. Neither was Milla, as she shot a worried look at him.

The demigod was still standing, but barely. Even an amateur like Milla could tell he was at his limits, his complexion looking drained and pale.

“Lord Gromni, could you accompany him to the city? We need supplies and fresh clothes for our guest. I think she’ll be displeased if she wakes up nude.”

“Ah, yer right. This cloth won’t cut it,” replied Gromni, carefully laying the angel on the ground. “Can ya look after her?”

“Certainly. So off with you, Master. We’re getting hungry.”

Galardos sighed in resignation, too exhausted to fight back.

In truth, he knew Alaiel wanted to make some distance between him and the Seraph, in case the latter turned hostile after waking up. Galardos was too beaten to make a difference, so Alaiel meant to handle the situation with Milla if it came down to it.

“Hoh. So it’s Madame Alaiel holding the whip here, ain’t she?” Gromni shot his friend a sheepish smile.

“Shut up,” replied the demigod, before turning to Milla. “Stay close to Alaiel. It isn’t safe here, so if anything happens, call me. I’ll come right away.”

Milla nodded, despite the conflicting feelings in her heart.

She couldn’t help but feel guilty about dragging everyone into her mess, even though most of it was out of her hands. Yet she couldn’t help but wonder... if only she’d stayed quiet about her powers, would things have played out any better?

Alas, it appeared she’d never know.

So, she settled for second best.

“Lord Galardos,” she called out before the demigod could turn and leave.

Then, she said the words she felt the most strongly in her heart:

“Thank you. Truly, for everything.”

Galardos remained silent, giving her only a stern nod.

Then he turned to Gromni, and the two of them made off toward the ruins of the Irilithan.