This memory brings me great sorrow. This was the first serious fight we’ve had. You had told me something that was intimate to your past traumas, and I had tried my hardest to keep it close, but unfortunately my failing memory has always made things like this that much more difficult. I sat outside of your apartment for hours trying to console you, even after it began pouring. The thunderclap had nothing on the sound of you whimpering—knowing that I was the cause of that pain. It hurt you and that guilt was stabbing me from all angles.

  If I could, I would go back and do it all over.

  Hauthe 19th, 758

  "Ezra?" I call out, my voice trembling. "What are you doing here?"

  Ezra leans over, her hands braced on her knees as she tries to steady her breath. "I have a bit to explain," she says between gulps of air, "but first, give me a moment. It’s been a while since I’ve had to run that fast," she admits with a sheepish smile, her cheeks flushed a deep rose from exertion. Her hair tied up in a ponytail flits over her shoulder.

  "Of course, take your time," I reply, trying to hide my concern behind a calm tone. "But how did you know to come here?"

  Ezra takes a few more measured breaths, her hands smoothing her wind-tossed hair as she straightens up. "He stopped by my father’s place earlier this morning," she says, her voice laced with concern. "I wasn't around when he came—otherwise, I would’ve warned you sooner. I was out testing more shots on my flash stick by the waterfalls on the southern edge. I’ve been fine-tuning the aperture to handle different light levels. But when I returned, my father casually mentioned the visit. The moment he brought it up, I had a sinking feeling. I left immediately and went to your place, but you are already gone. I had to guess where you might be, and I’m glad I was right."

  "Well, thank you," I say, my voice earnest and tinged with relief. "I don’t think I would’ve made it out of this one without your help."

  Ezra’s expression softens, her lips curving into a small, wry smile. "Your reaction was to try and cut the bullet?" she asks.

  I scratch the back of my neck, feeling heat creep up to my face. "It’s like the last time. My brain didn't send the command—I just…moved. It feels like it came from somewhere deep inside, like an instinct taking over." I let out a shaky breath, glancing down at the sword still strapped to my side. "But yeah, pretty sure I’d be full of holes otherwise."

  "I don't think he expected anyone else to be out here. The shot probably heightened the anxiety holding the gun gave him. It's one thing to beat someone up, it's another to shoot them in cold blood.”

  I take a deep breath, trying to calm the racing of my heart, and decide it's time to share my intentions. "Well, I'm glad I caught up with you because there's something I wanted to tell you…" My words tumble out like burning coals, my face flushed.

  Ezra's eyes light up as she responds, "Oh, me too! Yes, I'd love to accompany you on your globe-trotting suicide mission. I'm glad that’s solved easily. I was prepared for a fight about it."

  My surprise is evident as I stammer, "W-what? That's not what I expected."

  Ezra's expression shifts as she realizes her mistake. "Oh...are you...not asking me to come with you? I'm sorry. I spoke out of turn. Well, I guess I should prepare my arguments in favor then."

  I quickly backtrack, not wanting to create further confusion. "Woah now," I say, raising my hands. "Aren't you rushing to something super serious? I mean..."

  Ezra, now with arms crossed and head cocked, replies, "Any argument you would give to me is equally valid to be used against you." Ezra tilts her head, “Besides, Instinct or not, it’s reckless." She pauses, her fingers absently grazing the surface of her flashstick. "Maybe I can help with that."

  I raise an eyebrow. "Help with what? My reckless survival tactics?"

  "Sort of," she replies with a grin, holding up the flashstick. "This thing isn’t just for landscapes and moments frozen in time. I’ve been experimenting with capturing motion. If I can refine it enough, maybe I can use it to analyze the way you move. If we can figure out what’s triggering that reaction of yours, you might be able to control it better."

  The suggestion takes me by surprise, and for a moment, I don’t know what to say. Her ingenuity never ceases to amaze me. "You think that could work?"

  Ezra shrugs, her grin widening. "It’s worth a shot. It’s clear you’ve become a magnet for trouble,” she grins. “Might as well turn that into a skill you can control, right?"

  I chuckle despite myself. "I guess when you put it that way, I can’t argue." The tension in my chest loosens slightly, the weight of the day lifting a fraction. I pause to reflect on her words, considering the practicality behind them before conceding, "You make a good point." My gaze shifts toward her, curiosity bubbling up as I switch tactics. "Why would you want to go?"

  Ezra tilts her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. "Many of my reasons are mine and mine alone," she begins, her voice steady but laced with an undertone of resolve. "But the one you need to concern yourself with is that I can’t in good conscience send you off into the wilderness out there—not when I’m able and willing to help. I told you I get bored easily, didn't I?"

  “You did,” I reply, recalling the moments she’d shared about her restless nature. “Though I think there are many different ways to alleviate boredom than…this.”

  "Well," she continues, her lips curving into a small, playful smile, "I see this as a valuable learning opportunity. I haven’t been to the Empire—or anywhere outside of Khadein—since we rooted ourselves here." She emphasizes the word "rooted" with a little chuckle.

  “I guess I can see that. But I want you to understand this isn’t going to be some walk in the park, right? The wilderness isn’t exactly forgiving.”

  Ezra meets my gaze, her eyes steady and resolute. "I know," she replies.

  I take a deep breath, letting the enormity of my situation settle over me like a cloak. "You’re right," I admit. "There’s a voice deep within me that wants to say I’ll be fine, that I’ve got this, but the truth is…I’m going out into the world with nothing more than blind hope moving me forward."

  Ezra’s expression softens as she watches the conflict play out on my face. Her usual teasing demeanor is absent now, replaced by an earnest concern that’s almost disarming. She steps closer, her brow furrowing as she probes deeper. "You don’t want to go, do you?"

  The question strikes a chord, and for a moment, I can’t bring myself to answer. My gaze drifts toward the horizon, where the trees swayed gently in the breeze. "It’s not that simple," I finally say. "It’s not about wanting to go. It’s about having to. If I are given the choice I’d slink away from it, content with my job. That would be that. Unfortunately, this choice involves more than just me."

  "Your father?"

  I nod slowly, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly as I speak. "Yeah. He isn’t always a smith, you know. Before Khadein, he was a soldier—a general, in fact. He is good, too. At least, that’s what he says. But he left that life behind after meeting my mother. Then they came here, and she passed. He doesn't want me growing up around that kind of danger."

  Ezra listens intently, her eyes never leaving mine.

  "But they came back for him. Not for his old reputation, but for a favor. It’s why they traveled so far out of their domain to this little corner of the world." I shake my head, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

  “That sword you’re carrying at your side?” She asks.

  I nod. "He’s not as nimble as he used to be, Ezra. Not after all these years at the forge. I’m not even sure he’d make it down the spiral without—" My voice falters, and I swallow hard to push back the thought.

  Ezra’s expression shifts, her brow furrowing as she processes my words. "So, they’re dragging him back in for something he can’t refuse," she says quietly, her gaze dropping to the ground before meeting mine again. "And you’re stepping in to shield him from it, to take on the burden instead."

  "That’s the gist of it," I admit, the weariness in my voice palpable. "I don’t know what they’re expecting of me, but if it means he gets to stay here, where he’s safe, then I’ll do it."

  Ezra ponders the situation for a moment, her lips pressing into a thin line as her fingers absentmindedly trace the edge of her flashstick. The device is out of place here in the wilderness. "I think I understand why you’re going now. But that doesn’t dissuade me from coming along. If anything, it convinces me more."

  Her words catch me off guard, and for a moment, I can only stare at her. The depth of her conviction, her willingness to step into the unknown alongside me—it’s both humbling and reassuring. A small, tentative smile tugs at the corner of my lips. "You’re something, you know that?"

  Ezra grins, a flash of her usual playfulness returning. "Well, someone’s got to keep you out of trouble, right?"

  I observe the gun holstered at Ezra's hip, and the sunlight gleams off the polished metal. It looks cold and foreboding to the touch, a stark contrast to the warmth of her smile. "Is that one of your father's?"

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Ezra's sigh is accompanied by the gentle sway of the tall grass in the nearby clearing. "I fixed it up myself, thank you."

  Realizing my mistake, I raise my eyes to meet hers, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Oh, I should have figured it out given the flashstick."

  She offers a wry smile, knowing the burden she carries. "I know the default assumption, I promise you that. I can't be a Joshua without being stacked up to the family history."

  “Huh?”

  "My family is patriarchal. My grandfather passed down the business from his father, so on and so forth. It's been a family tradition to pass on legacy to your son."

  "You're not a son, though..." I remark, and my words trail off as I realize the significance of her situation. "Ah...I see."

  Ezra nods, "I'm searching for my own thing. I'm good at what I do here, but it's clear I'll always be judged because I’m a woman."

  I look at her with empathy, imagining how tough it must be to eternally be the second option simply because of something so uncontrollable. "I understand," I say. "If you understand the risk involved, I would love the company."

  Her face lights up with a genuine smile. "I'm glad to hear you say that."

  The breeze picks up, carrying with it the distant hum of the forest. As we start walking, the soft crunch of leaves and twigs beneath our boots punctuates our conversation.

  "Well partner,” she says, her voice carrying through the woods. "Shall you lead the way, or are you going to have me protecting you at every angle?” Her playful smile lightens the tone of the statement, but I nod my head and pull up beside her.

  "I’m not aching to be the anchor here,” I say. "I'm sure I'd be cast out by Velos' wrath if I did that.”

  Ezra matches her pace to mine as we continue along the forest path. "I’m sure she’d appreciate being called on for more than just a woman’s wrath,” she says. "So many things Velos provides, and that’s typically what she's reduced to.”

  "I’m sensing a common thread of your frustrations,” I say, realizing that my words may have come across as insensitive. I quickly add, "I'm sorry, I don't mean it that way. I see what you mean. I don’t typically see the gods in any way other than what’s typically presented on the can. I mean...I'm not someone who puts more of myself into the gods than many people do," I continue, "So to me, Levios tends to be the one I ask for guidance because it’s the first that comes to mind. They'd probably strike me down for saying that, but it isn't out of any disrespect to Velos.”

  "I think...the way you think is the way a lot of people think, but I don’t think it’s necessarily respectful to her to default to the male.”

  "I…” I stop as the realization clicks. "I...guess it is because I’m male, yeah. That’s a good way to describe it.”

  She maintains a calm demeanor, her eyes reflecting a sense of understanding, but a shadow of seriousness touches her features, and she slows her pace. "You identify with it, it doesn’t need to be something so malicious...although some people do tend to be.” She says, continuing forward. I pick up my pace to catch up with her. In the distance, the spiral of Traveler’s Arch looms into view, a majestic sight against the backdrop of the forest. The monumental structure spirals downward, revealing its intricate design and the mystical aura that surrounds it.

  "Is it tough...having to not be the default?”

  "For many people, women are the exception—and it’s not something that makes a lot of things easy. Individually, the situation doesn’t matter and I can shrug it off easily. It’s best to hold your tongue in those situations, right? Well, taking those pieces little by little and stacking them up…” she looks surprised and then shifts her gaze downward—she slows to a walk. "Sorry, I totally didn't intend this to become a lecture.”

  "No, no. If anything, I apologize. You clearly have a situation that is sensitive and I...well, I kinda reaffirmed those same kinds of things.”

  "I shouldn’t have made it a thing with your beliefs, though,” Ezra says, and sighs heavily. "You are valid to believe in whoever you want for whatever reason you want. The last thing I want to do is to wind back around and end up being a hypocrite.”

  "Well...for what it’s worth, I feel like I’ve learned something from this conversation—something about myself I probably wouldn’t have even begun to think of if I was traveling down there alone.”

  She offers a smile. "Well, it’s not like we’ll be wanting for support of Velos while I’m around anyway. Besides—think we’re going to be needing some luck from the lady of the hour real soon,” she nods her head toward Traveler’s Arch.

  We approach the large structure and stand on the side of the opening that leads to the ground below—the spiral is a mythical waterfall that spills out like a staircase.

  "Legend says Velos herself sculpted this pathway to fill Khadein’s rivers with fish from the surface below.”

  "I can't imagine how many fish make the trek up,” I comment, envisioning schools of fish darting through the spiral.

  Ezra leans forward slightly, her gaze fixed on the mystical structure. "I don’t think any do nowadays. It’s much too dangerous with all the predators in the air that can pluck them out of the spiral. But once upon a time, it is said these waters down here are ripe to be fished from.”

  "That sounds like it would have made for an intense competition—see what kinds of fish you can grab up,” I say, my mind’s eye displaying the scene in all its detail.

  "Must have been incredibly boring, though. At least, for the remaining ninety-five percent of it until you hooked the fish,” Ezra adds with a wry grin. "Well, I hope you’re ready to start this journey proper—because everything begins with the first step,” Ezra says, looking out and then back to me. "Want me to go first?”

  I peek my head out over the ledge, the world stretching beneath me like a dizzying labyrinth of depths that descends into eternity. The spiral encircles thousands of feet of open air before reaching the cold water's depths below. At the center I can see the blackness that is the abyss—the endless depths that no soul dare travel within. It’s the only thing to give me pause, but only for a moment.

  As scary as the stories are, I must admit it has a mesmerizing chasm of untold secrets and stories, an enigma waiting to be unraveled. The wind on my face is a thrilling caress.

  Levios, Velos, in both of you I place my trust. He who carries the wind upon his back and she who nestles the water abreast, carry me to safety, I ask for your favor.

  Summoning all my courage, I take a step out into the void, the swirling abyss of the spiral awaiting my descent. My heart jumps up to my throat. The water around me begins to swirl. Powerful gusts from above and below slow my descent, their invisible hands cradling me. The world outside transforms into an indigo dreamscape, the cobalt blue filter painting everything in its hue.

  Through the lens of the water, I can see the crimson castle of Aureleth far off on the distant horizon, a solitary fortress that has captured the imaginations of countless travelers throughout history. I've gazed at the monolith from Khadein's edge before, but there's something profoundly different about seeing it from this unique vantage point as I float gently to the surface.

  The vastness of the open air and the depths of the watery abyss create a kaleidoscope of emotions within me, mingling awe, reverence, and a profound sense of smallness.

  Amid the silence of this subaquatic world, a sudden, unanticipated scream pierces the tranquil waters from above. The serenity of the moment shatters in an instant. Ezra's body slams into me as we both collide, and we start spinning wildly against the relentless current of the spiral. The deafening rush of water roars in my ears, drowning out all other sounds, and I can feel the icy grip of the abyss tightening around us. Panic surges within me as the world spins in disorienting chaos, and I feel her hand clutching my side with a vice-like grip. Our sudden, involuntary shrieks resonate.

  She wraps her other arm around me, and I close my eyes, bracing for impact. The collision sends shockwaves of pain through my body as we burst through the surface of the water, shooting us underneath.

  The frigid temperature of the water steals the breath from my lungs immediately. I open my eyes, the immediate feeling of pain registering, but I see Ezra floating down—her limbs aren't moving.

  No! I ascend to the surface and catch my breath before diving back down. The freezing cold of the water threatens to paralyze my arms, but I push through it. The darkness of the abyss surrounds us, and it feels like an endless void ready to consume us. Opening my eyes again, I can see past Ezra is the runoff that empties out into the abyss. We've missed the other current. This is not good. I have to think fast.

  I move my left arm down to feel the scabbard at my side, and I sigh a sound of relief. I'm thankful it isn't weighing me down as much as I thought. I propel myself forward, reaching out my arm to grab her outstretched arm. The water is so dense, it feels like trying to move through a thick, gelatinous substance. Each stroke is a battle, and every inch of progress feels like a hard-won victory.

  Velos, I probably owe you a lot of apologies. I'm not asking for any more favors, not for me. But for her, at least help her. Levios...anyone.

  I'm kicking as hard as I can and using my free arm to pull us away from the abyss, but it's a struggle. The abyss has a will of its own, relentlessly pulling us back. My lungs are burning with the same fire in my eyes, and I have to close them. A vicious cough takes over my body, expelling the last of my air up toward the surface.

  I turn my head and open my eyes again—the stinging sensation returns. I get a closer glance of the edge of the abyss—we're over it. I'm pulled in closer to the edge, a powerful updraft lifting Ezra off my back. My eyes go wide, and I grasp her hand as tight as I can, pulling her closer to me. Her body spins in the motion, and my consciousness starts to fade—darkness encroaching on the edge of my vision.

  From behind me, the whispers grow louder. The symbols etched in the black abyss scar themselves across my vision in the darkness, pulsating with an otherworldly energy.

  Εγκαταλε?πω.

  En…kantaleipo? What did that mean?

  As the abyss relentlessly pulls at us, I find myself wrestling with the insistent and persistent forces of nature. My feeble grip on Ezra's hand feels like it’s slipping through my fingers. I struggle against the relentless pull of the spiral's current. The water courses around me, wrapping its cold fingers around every inch of my body. I can feel it seeping into my bones, sapping my strength as I hold on for dear life.

  The echoes of despair intensify in the depths of my mind. What does it all mean? The voices that once whispered doubt now shout with a fervor that's deafening. They tempt me to relinquish this ill-fated quest, to surrender to the dark abyss and embrace the fate of a pitiful man. Their relentless onslaught threatens to unravel my resolve, and I feel a suffocating sense of hopelessness settling over me.

  Why did I ever agree to go on this treacherous journey? Why did I delude myself into believing I could navigate the vast and perilous world beyond Khadein's borders when I can't even escape this deadly maw? I am out of my depth, utterly and hopelessly adrift.

  In the midst of these agonizing thoughts, a sudden, explosive crack reverberates through the water. The force of the disturbance lifts us both upward, jolting me out of my turbulent internal monologue. Instinctively, my fingers tighten around Ezra's hand, and I'm relieved to feel her grip responding in kind. In this dizzying chaos, she awakens from her unconscious state, her emergence like a beacon of hope.

  The world whirls around us, the spinning motion disorienting and surreal. The cold water rushes up to meet us and we're thrust back into the mercy of the spiraling currents. My body is drawn into the impending plunge, headfirst. My grasp on Ezra's hand weakens until it slips free.

  In the blink of an eye, I see her descending, about to collide with me. I reach out, striving to catch hold of her again. Our worlds collide once more, the impact a burst of confusion and chaos, and my vision is consumed by the engulfing darkness. The weight of the water presses against my body, a relentless force that pulls me deeper into the abyss.

  Bubbles of air escape from my lips as I fight against the current, desperately searching for Ezra. I strain my eyes to catch a glimpse of her. Panic sets in as seconds tick by, each one feeling like an eternity in the silent depths.

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