Page 54

Clenching my claws, I summon what remains of my gargoyle strength, forcing my battered wings to spread.

The wound on my thigh stings, half-healed from that synergy session, but I can manage short flights.

I must be cautious. The cold mountain wind buffets me, reminding me how precarious flight can be.

Yet a flicker of determination courses through me.

I have to at least try, to cover ground faster.

Stepping to the edge of the ledge, I let out a measured breath, scanning for updrafts that might aid me.

The glow of sunset outlines the ridges in deep purple.

My runes flicker in synergy with my internal magic, granting me a measure of lift.

I leap from the edge, wings catching the wind with a jolt of pain that radiates from my thigh.

Gritting my teeth, I press onward, gliding in a shallow arc down the slope. Better than being stuck in illusions.

As I soar, albeit painfully, over the crags, my mind returns to Nerezza’s final expression—shock that I defied her illusions a second time.

Part of me wonders if she feels heartbreak, or if chaos consumed all traces of genuine emotion.

No matter. She’s the enemy. The illusions she conjured awakened me to the reality that I have someone far better waiting for me—Sariah, with her unwavering heart and raw power she’s determined to use for good. That is the future I choose.

Wind tears at my hair, the cold biting through my battered leathers.

My wings protest each shift, but I force them to comply, scanning the terrain below for any sign of a campsite or footprints.

The day’s light wanes, casting the land in deep shadow.

Flying at night is risky, especially wounded.

But the tether tugs faintly in my chest, urging me to keep going. I can’t rest until I find her.

Minutes or hours pass—I lose track, half-delirious with fatigue and guilt.

At last, the ache in my muscles becomes too severe.

My vision blurs. I spot a wide ledge near a rocky outcrop and angle my wings to land.

The impact jars my injured leg, nearly toppling me.

I suck in a hiss of pain, wings folding awkwardly as I slump against a boulder.

Panting, I press a clawed hand to my chest, feeling the faint echo of our bond.

It’s diminished, but not severed. She’s alive.

The relief surges through me, a lifeline in the gloom.

My runes glimmer in the twilight, reminding me I still have some fight left.

But I need to rest if I’m to be of any use.

Night unfurls across the mountains, stars winking into existence. My mind whirs with the last remnants of illusions, the memory of Nerezza’s voice, the final vow I made. I will fight for Sariah. No matter how dire the path. I can’t let my guilt overshadow that promise again.

I rummage for minimal provisions, discovering half of them were lost in the illusions or my frantic flight.

My mouth twists with frustration, but I make do with a handful of dried meat.

The slight nourishment steadies me, giving me enough energy to conjure a tiny flicker of gargoyle flame— a trick using magnetic friction in the stone.

The meager heat soothes the chill in my bones.

As the night deepens, I stay awake, leaning against the boulder, letting my wings rest. The moon rises, casting pale silver over the rugged slopes.

Despite my exhaustion, I can’t fully relax.

My mind replays Sariah’s tearful face, the heartbreak that shadowed her eyes when I turned away.

She likely thinks I betrayed her. A fresh wave of agony spears me. I must show her otherwise.

In the silence, I recall the tender moments we shared: her defiant grin in the face of Drayveth’s demands, her warm body pressed against mine when we fused our magic to heal, the fierce declaration of love that spilled from her lips.

A lump forms in my throat, tears pricking my eyes. She gave me everything, and I left.

But no more. My heart tightens, forging a vow stronger than stone. “I’m coming back to you, Sariah,” I whisper to the night, voice trembling. “I won’t let illusions or fear dictate my choices again. Nerezza cannot hold me.”

The wind rustles, carrying the faint scent of pine.

In that moment, the brand of synergy in my chest flutters, as if responding to my conviction.

My runes flicker, brightening briefly. I sense a faint echo—Sariah is out there, forging on alone.

I hope she feels a glimmer of my determination, hope she hasn’t drowned in despair.

A part of me wishes I had the strength to fly all night, scouring the valleys until I find her. But I’m too battered, illusions drained me, and I risk crashing. Better to rest a few hours, regain my power, then resume the search at first light.

So I settle, wings curved protectively around me as I slip into a shallow, watchful doze.

My mind stirs with half-formed nightmares—images of Nerezza’s sneer, of Sariah lying in anguish.

Yet each time I startle awake, I remind myself: I broke free.

The illusions can’t reclaim me unless I let them. I choose Sariah.

When dawn finally streaks the horizon with pale gold, I rise on unsteady legs, wincing at the dull ache in my thigh. My runes glimmer in the early light. The brand in my chest hums softly with longing, urging me onward. Yes, I’ll push forward. Sariah, wait for me.

I spread my wings again, ignoring the pain.

Each flap churns the crisp air, stinging my battered muscles.

But the memory of Sariah’s tearful goodbye, the heartbreak I sensed in her, drives me.

I ascend into the skies, scanning the land below.

I vow to keep searching until I find some hint of her presence—footprints, a camp, anything.

My tail lashes, resolving that if Nerezza tries illusions again, I’ll fight them off with the knowledge that Sariah’s fierce spirit matters more than any guilt from my past.

Yes, Nerezza is not my love anymore. She’s a reflection twisted by chaos, and I won’t let her illusions chain me any longer. My epiphany stands firm: the future I want is with Sariah. I can’t change the centuries of mistakes behind me, but I can shape the battles ahead.

And so I fly, battered but unbroken, carrying the memory of Sariah’s unwavering devotion like a flame in the darkness.

I refuse to believe all is lost. The illusions are shattered, replaced by a single, burning mission: to reunite with Sariah, pledge my loyalty to her once again, and stand against Nerezza’s tyranny with a heart unclouded by doubt.

No illusions can change that choice now.

I gather my power, each wingbeat a testament to my renewed conviction.

Sariah, I’m coming back for you. My vow echoes in my mind, lighting a path through the swirling storms that still loom over these mountains.

If Nerezza dares to stand in our way again, she’ll face a gargoyle who’s no longer crippled by guilt, but fueled by a love that defies the darkest illusions.

The sun crests the ridge, washing the peaks in gold. My runes blaze in the light, carrying me onward. Freedom’s choice has been made—I choose hope, I choose Sariah, and I choose to shatter Nerezza’s hold once and for all.