Return

The group lingered in the quiet aftermath of Aetterus's departure, the tension in the air almost tangible. Thorne adjusted his sword strap, glancing uneasily down the path their guild master had taken.

"Well," he said, his usual jovial tone muted, "looks like it's time to head back. The boss isn't exactly the patient type."

Aria crossed her arms, her brow furrowing. "He always knows more than he lets on. It's frustrating."

Kaelor, the Ironpact Hunter who had joined them earlier that day, leaned casually against a tree, his sharp gaze scanning their surroundings. "A man like Aetterus thrives on control," he said evenly. "Keeping everyone in the dark is part of the game."

Thorne snorted. "Yeah, well, sometimes I think he just likes seeing us squirm. Keeps life exciting for him."

Kaelor arched a brow. "Exciting, huh? You've got an interesting perspective."

Jane stood apart from the others, her eyes fixed on the ground. She spoke softly, her voice carrying a note of unease. "Do you think he knows what's happening out there? With everything falling apart?"

Thorne hesitated, then shrugged. "He probably knows more than we do. But that doesn't mean he'll share it."

Aria nodded, her expression grim. "Aetterus always has his plans. The question is whether they'll benefit anyone but him."

Kaelor straightened, his posture alert but relaxed. "Whatever his goals are, they seem to align with keeping us alive. For now."

The conversation trailed off into an uneasy silence. After a moment, Thorne cleared his throat, forcing a grin. "Anyway, it's been… nice catching up. Even if things are as messy as ever."

Aria gave a slight nod, her gaze shifting toward Jane. "Take care, Jane. Don't let him pull you into something you can't get out of."

Jane met her eyes, her lips pressing into a thin line. "I'll be careful. You two should watch your backs, too."

Kaelor adjusted the strap of his pack, giving Jane a polite nod. "It was good meeting you. Stay safe."

Thorne offered a small wave, his grin faltering slightly as he turned toward the path leading back to Ariants. "See ya, Aria. Come find me if you get bored of the boss's riddles."

Aria smirked faintly, but her expression quickly sobered as she watched him go. "Take care of yourself, Thorne."

As the two began their journey back to their guild, Kaelor lingered a moment longer, his sharp eyes lingering on Jane. "You'll be all right?"

Jane glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "I'll manage."

Kaelor nodded, his mouth opening as if to say more, but he thought better of it. With a final look, he turned and followed the others down the path, leaving Jane alone.

The night grew still around her, the only sound the faint rustle of leaves in the wind. Jane exhaled slowly, her hands clenching into fists at her sides as she stared into the darkness ahead.

"Manage," she whispered to herself, the word feeling hollow in her mouth. With a shake of her head, she turned toward the path leading back to Eclipsevane.

Jane's footsteps faltered as a faint glow appeared ahead of her. At first, she thought it was a trick of the moonlight, but as the soft, golden orb of light drew closer, she recognized the figure emerging from the shadows.

Aetterus.

His patchwork coat swayed with his movements, the trinkets on his belt jingling faintly in the still night. His hazel eyes gleamed with their characteristic blend of mischief and something deeper, more unsettling.

"Well, if it isn't the radiant Jane," Aetterus said, his voice smooth and mocking. "I hope I'm not interrupting some grand midnight epiphany."

Jane stiffened, her hand instinctively reaching for her dagger. "Aetterus. What do you want?"

He tilted his head, his smirk widening. "Straight to the point, as always. Charming."

"I'm not in the mood for your games," she snapped, her eyes narrowing. "Why are you here? You already saw us earlier."

"Ah, yes," he mused, stepping closer, his boots crunching softly against the dirt path. "But our little rendezvous earlier was far too… crowded for the conversation I wanted to have."

Jane's grip on her weapon tightened, but she didn't draw it. "What conversation?"

Aetterus chuckled softly, the sound sending an uncomfortable shiver down her spine. "You're so guarded, Jane. So determined to hide what's burning inside you. It's admirable, really."

She scowled. "If you're just here to waste my time—"

"I'm here," he interrupted smoothly, "because I see potential in you, Jane. A fire, a hunger that you don't fully understand yet. But you will."

She froze, her heart skipping a beat at his words. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, but you do," Aetterus said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You're a puzzle, Jane. So driven, so focused. And yet… there's something eating at you, isn't there? Something you can't quite control."

Jane clenched her jaw, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. "Get to the point."

Aetterus smiled, a sharp and knowing curve of his lips. "What would you say if I told you that the fire inside you is not yours alone? That it might be… something more?"

Her chest tightened, but she forced herself to stay calm. "I'd say you're talking nonsense."

"Am I?" He stepped closer, his presence unnervingly magnetic. "Do you think it's mere coincidence that you've grown stronger? That your emotions have begun to guide your power in ways you never imagined?"

Jane's throat felt dry. "What are you trying to say?"

Aetterus stopped a few feet from her, his hazel eyes gleaming in the dim light. "I'm saying that perhaps the world isn't as random as it seems. That you might have a… role to play in what's to come."

Her grip on her dagger tightened, her mind racing. "What role?"

Aetterus smirked, but this time there was no amusement in it—only a dangerous, unsettling certainty. "That, dear Jane, is for you to discover. But let's just say… you're not as alone as you think."

She stared at him, a storm of confusion and unease swirling inside her. "What do you mean?"

"Ah, questions, questions," he said, turning slightly, as though preparing to leave. "I'd love to answer them all, but some truths are best uncovered on your own."

"Wait," she said sharply, taking a step forward. "What are you not telling me?"

Aetterus glanced back over his shoulder, his smirk widening. "Oh, Jane. The world is a stage, and we're all just players. But don't worry—your spotlight is coming."

Aetterus paused mid-step, glancing back at Jane with a curious tilt of his head. The faint glow of his orb illuminated his face, casting sharp shadows that only deepened the unsettling smirk playing on his lips.

"I suppose I should mention something before I leave you to your thoughts," he said, his voice carrying an air of mock consideration. "It's about our dear boy, Kael—or should I say, Changra?"

Jane stiffened, her hand gripping her dagger tighter. "What about him?"

Aetterus chuckled softly, a sound that danced dangerously between amusement and menace. "You've been wondering, haven't you? What's going on with him. Why he's in such a state."

Her jaw tightened, but she didn't answer.

"Well," Aetterus continued, stepping closer once more, his gaze locked onto hers. "I've been doing a bit of thinking, piecing together the fragments of what we know. And I believe I have a theory."

Jane's eyes narrowed. "What kind of theory?"

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I believe Changra isn't just unconscious. He's trapped—lost within his own mind. And if I'm right, it means there's still a chance to bring him back."

Her heart raced at his words, a mix of hope and suspicion rising within her. "How do you know that?"

Aetterus straightened, his smirk widening. "Oh, Jane, you wound me. Must you question my every word? Let's just say I have a knack for recognizing these sorts of things. And I've seen the signs."

She hesitated, her thoughts swirling. "If he's trapped in his mind, how do we bring him back?"

"Ah," Aetterus said, raising a finger as though scolding her. "That's where my plan comes into play. You see, entering a mind as fractured and chaotic as Changra's will not be an easy task. But it's not impossible."

Her breath caught in her throat. "You mean... someone would have to go inside?"

"Precisely," he said, his eyes gleaming with delight. "And who better for the task than someone who knows him well? Someone who has a connection, however tenuous it might seem."

Jane's stomach churned. "You're suggesting I go inside his mind?"

"Among others," Aetterus said with a casual wave of his hand. "A journey like this isn't something one person should undertake alone. But yes, Jane, I believe you could be the key to finding him—and perhaps even saving him."

She stared at him, her grip tightening on her dagger. "Why are you telling me this? What do you gain from it?"

He let out a soft laugh, his tone dripping with mock offense. "Must I always have an ulterior motive? Perhaps I simply want to see the boy fulfill his potential. Or perhaps I enjoy a good challenge. The truth, dear Jane, is irrelevant. What matters is whether or not you're willing to help."

Jane's mind raced, her thoughts tangling with fear, anger, and the faintest flicker of hope. "And what if you're wrong? What if he's not trapped in his mind?"

Aetterus shrugged, his smirk never faltering. "Then you've lost nothing by trying. But if I'm right, well... the rewards could be immeasurable."

His words hung heavy in the air, the weight of his suggestion pressing down on her. She didn't trust him—not fully—but the possibility of saving Changra was too important to ignore.

"I'll think about it," she said finally, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

Aetterus nodded, his expression one of exaggerated approval. "Good. Take your time, dear Jane. But remember—time is a luxury we may not have."

With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving her standing alone on the path, her mind spinning with the enormity of what he had just proposed.

Jane walked the rest of the way to Eclipsevane in silence, her thoughts swirling like a storm. Aetterus's words clung to her mind, weaving together possibilities and doubts. Trapped in his mind? Could that even be true? The notion filled her with equal parts hope and dread.

As she reached the towering gates of the guild, the night seemed to close in around her. The once-vibrant halls were eerily quiet, the weight of recent losses casting a somber pall over the place. Jane made her way to her quarters, her footsteps echoing faintly in the empty corridors.

The door to her room creaked open, and she stepped inside, shutting it softly behind her. The familiar surroundings offered little comfort tonight. She sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers brushing against the worn blanket as her thoughts raced.

Aetterus's smug voice echoed in her mind. "You could be the key to finding him—and perhaps even saving him."

She clenched her fists, a mixture of determination and unease tightening in her chest. She didn't trust Aetterus, not entirely, but if there was even the slightest chance he was right, she couldn't ignore it. Not when Changra's life—or whatever semblance of it remained—was at stake.

Letting out a long, shaky breath, Jane slipped off her boots and laid down, staring at the ceiling. Sleep felt impossibly far away, yet her body ached for rest. The weight of the day bore down on her as she closed her eyes, hoping for even a moment of reprieve.

But as the darkness of sleep began to claim her, Aetterus's chilling smirk and Changra's broken cries from before haunted the edges of her dreams, ensuring that her rest would be anything but peaceful.