They tied the horses to one of the trees, not too tightly. After all, they weren't sure they'd ever come back…"
The sun was blazing down as they glimpsed the outlines of ruins looming on the horizon. Huge blocks of rock that had once formed part of magnificent structures now lay scattered in disarray as if they were the toys of giants. Soon they reached the famed line of the ancient walls, now a strip of yellowed grass, and they crossed it without a second thought, plunging into the realm of darkness. With a quick but steady pace, they passed through ancient streets paved with granite, tufts of grass growing between them. Former houses were usually just piles of rubble, though occasionally ash-burned walls or only half-crumbled chimneys still protruded here and there. Prickly bushes now sprouted from among the former fountains, and temples and palaces resembled burial grounds rather than places of glory. They slipped through the open spaces with increasing caution, careful not to be noticed. For now, however, everything was proceeding according to plan. Thanks to their amulets, they remained invisible to the demons' minds, and although they must have been aware of the arrival of the newcomers who posed a mortal challenge to them, they clearly underestimated their capabilities and failed to consider the possibility of concealment from their minds. This was an advantage they had to exploit.
Alfirithorn, as it turned out, was much larger than they had originally expected. Even though it had been burned and completely destroyed, it created a difficult thicket, so they were constantly forced to stop and search for the right path, weaving between the embers and mounds of rubble. It was almost dark when they reached the place where Vo'than's tower had once stood. This was where the portal was located, and nearby, according to Eliana's predictions, his guardian's residence should be. Milindor had the feeling that the darkness had fallen too quickly, but that could only be an illusion. The healer paused for a moment. A few steps ahead of her stood a black monolith, gleaming with a red glow. Bloody lines like veins laced the black rock, fading now and then, becoming vividly distinct, as if the boulder had a life of its own. And so it was. Eliana pulled some stones from her travel bag and placed them around the portal. When she placed the last one and whispered a few words, they all glowed with a greenish light. Deep in thought, she knelt beside the monolith with a meteorite fragment, tracing elven runes on it, which shimmered golden. Milindor watched in astonishment but didn't ask any questions; Eliana knew what she was doing. When she finished, she pulled out a yellowed scroll and quietly intoned a melodic song. By the time she sang the last fragments, it was completely dark; night had fallen. The previously placed stones emanated an increasingly intense green glow, illuminating the monolith and the area around it. The healer reached into her bag once more, pulling out a black, velvet-lined box.
"Now it's your turn, friend," she said to her companion in a clearly tired voice. "I still have a lot of work ahead of me, but your task won't be easy either. We have to finish before dawn.
" "Well, that's still a lot of time," the half-elf replied. "At least half the night.
" "Unfortunately not, time seems to pass faster here than elsewhere, or that's just our impression, but know that in three hours a new day will dawn. That's how much time we have.
" "Very well, then I will set out immediately to find Ashgort.
" "Be careful, don't underestimate him, even when you think the battle is over. Before you go, give me your sword."
Milindor handed her his weapon. She examined it carefully, then pulled out a small vial and dripped a few drops of blue liquid onto the rune-engraved blade. She uttered a short incantation, and the weapon glowed with an inner light. She handed it back to him, then placed her hands on his head, whispering words of blessing. The half-elf felt his strength rising and his fatigue leaving him.
"Now you have the power to face those more powerful than Ashgort, I believe in you," she said, looking into his eyes. "May the gods watch over you."
"You too, be vigilant; when I fight, they'll know we're here. See you before sunrise.
" "I hope so."
With those words, Milindor left without looking back. He didn't know where the portal guardian might be hiding, but he was certain he would find him.
The half-elf wandered in the darkness for a long time before he spotted the outline of a small building, likely the remains of a larger structure. He turned toward it, quickening his pace. When, just before the entrance, a coffin-like chill hit him, he knew he'd finally found him. He slipped through a narrow crack in the wall and cautiously stepped inside, drawing his sword. A blue glow filled the small room, and his eyes caught the tall silhouette of a demon, sitting motionless on a dais. He was lost in a kind of lethargy, but apparently sensing the newcomer, he awoke from his sleep. He sent a mocking glance at Milindor, rising from his throne. He was slightly taller than the humans, shrouded from head to toe in a black cloak, or perhaps it was the darkness enveloping its ruler. Only his face remained exposed; it gave the impression that it had once belonged to a human. But a very long time ago, now it was twisted, cobbled together from various fragments that seemed utterly incongruous. The demon took a few steps forward, and a thick, hoarse voice emerged from his throat.
"What do you seek here, fool? Death? You will find something a hundred times worse.
" "I seek you," Milindor retorted haughtily. "Guardian of the portal, your end has come. Fight."
A hollow laugh answered him. The demon rushed at him like the wind, but he was just as fast. Ashgort wielded a sword in one hand, a fiery whip in the other, striking alternately. The half-elf parried, dodged, and counterattacked. His blade hurled lightning bolts that blinded the demon, twirling in a dance of life and death, teetering on the edge. Several times now, he had pierced the shroud of darkness enveloping the demon; its screams brought joy, filling him with new strength. Just as his weakness had strengthened the Emissary not long ago. Now it was the other way around. But the fight dragged on, time slipping away. Milindor remembered Eliana's words and never lost focus. Finally, a favorable opportunity presented itself. The demon swung his whip, putting all his strength into the blow. The half-elf nimbly dodged and slashed with a roundhouse right where the human's temple would be. The sword pierced his face, but surprisingly, it didn't cut him. The demon roared in pain and fell to the ground, writhing in convulsions. For a moment, it sputtered and hissed, before vanishing into thin air. All that remained was a fire-scorched mark on the floor and a golden star-shaped stone. Milindor grabbed it and ran toward the monolith. Eliana should have been waiting.
The healer, hunched over the stone, continued her magical ritual, but she wasn't alone. Demons were running toward her; they were already a few steps away when Milindor charged into them in a seemingly blind charge. He slashed his sword in all directions, but his blows were perfectly precise. More and more shadow creatures fell under the luminous blade. For a moment, he glanced at Eliana, who, at that moment, also glared at him. Their gazes locked for a second, filling both their hearts with inexpressible joy. No matter how it ended, they did what they had to do. He tossed her the portal guardian key and sped on, spreading terror through the demon ranks. He didn't recognize himself; he was faster, stronger, more accurate. Fear, the demons' greatest weapon, didn't harm him. Enemy blows didn't affect him, and each of his blows ended with the terrifying scream of the stricken foe.
Eliana was finishing her task. Just a few moments more and she should complete her task. Time was ticking. Dawn was approaching. The half-elf had just dealt a blow to a powerful enemy when the monolith burst into flames. Eliana stood nearby, whispering as usual, her face filled with triumph and peace. The monolith burned, the earth shaking beneath their feet. Milindor glanced at his companion once more, and she smiled at him. A smile of joy, yet nostalgia. In the expression on her lips, in her eyes, he read the truth, which she had only now allowed him to discern. It was thanks, but also… farewell. That smile said, “Thank you and farewell, friend.” The monolith exploded, sending shards of rock and earth into the air… creating a mound for Eliana. Milindor's vision darkened, but he continued to fight. The demons seemed to weaken at first, sensing defeat, but then they lashed out at him with redoubled force. Now he was on the defensive. Fatigue was making itself felt. Suddenly, he felt it much more intensely. He couldn't concentrate on the fight. Eliana had given her life for what she believed in; she'd known from the very beginning that she had to make this sacrifice. He hadn't, but he was ready now. If things had gone differently, he would have had a chance to escape. The chances of him leaving these cursed ruins on his own were diminishing with each passing moment. Another demon fell under his blow, but there were more and more of them, surrounding him on all sides. Suddenly, his gaze wandered upwards, he saw the horizon glowing faintly. He knew it was sunrise, his last…
Arillea stretched lazily on his bed. The dissipating darkness heralded the arrival of another day. To his surprise, the joyful song of skylarks echoed all around. "When was the last time I heard them?" he thought, a smile spreading across his kind face. It was getting brighter and warmer, birds were singing cheerfully, and his mount was grazing nearby. The alchemist had already gathered all the herbs he needed; he could return to Taur Caras. He rose from his bed and stretched once more, enjoying the crisp air. This morning was different from the previous ones. "It's a pity Milindor isn't behind me," he thought. "It feels just like when we wandered the nearby forests together ten years ago." The alchemist lit a fire and sat down beside it, lost in thought and basking in its warmth. The sun laboriously climbed across the firmament.
The blow came from completely the wrong direction. He felt pain shoot through his entire body. He somehow managed to maintain his balance and parry the next blow, but his bleeding leg slowed his movements. A blow to the knee threw him to the ground like a rag doll, his sword falling from his hand. Pierced by the black spear, he breathed his last. The pale red rays of the rising sun fell on his cooling face
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