The clearing was silent. Heavy, suffog silenveloped them all, punctuated only by the soft, unevehing of three battered souls. Kaelis k amidst the blood and ruin, his gaze hollow, haunted by the horrors he'd seen himself it; Espen stood stiffly, battered and bloodied, her pride wounded far deeper than her physical scars. Slightly embarrassed because she lost the fight against Orenn. Handling the defeat in her mind basically tormented her.

  ‘Making me look like some damsel in distress, waiting to be saved. What a joke..’

  Ness—still t protectively in his muscur feline form—looked between them anxiously, ears ftteail flig nervously.

  Slowly, the hulking feline shrunk bato his familiar small cat form, shaking his dark fur as if to brush off the tension. He leaped gracefully between Espen and Kaelis, gng from one grim face to another, whiskers twitg nervously.

  "Well," Ness began awkwardly, voice overly cheerful and forced, "at least we won't have to deal with Orenn's annoying ass anymore, right? I mean, seriously, you imagine having to hear her pretentious lectures again?"

  He paused, grinning hopefully. Silence greeted him.

  "Ah, e on you two," Ness persisted stubbornly, his tail swishing in exaggerated excitement. "Look at the bright side—no more White Brigade Guild chasing us endlessly through the woods! No more Hunters stantly spoiling ood moods. Ha, right? Kaelis did us a favht?"

  Still, only silence. Kaelis’ hands were shaking, and he didn’t blink. His mind lost within the events that just fucked him up.

  Ness cleared his throat loudly, puffing up his fur dramatically. "Fine, you gloomy bastards—at least now we don’t have to listen to Orenn drone on and on about Apostles and asding to godhood. You’ve got to admit, listening to her was worse than being tortured."

  Kaelis snorted softly, a faint smirk twitg relutly at his lips. Espen quickly turned her head away, but Ness caught the briefest flicker of amusement in her crimson eyes.

  "HAHA! I saw that!" Ness crowed triumphantly, boung on his paws. "I knew you'd ugh eventually, Espen. Even you 't resist my charm."

  Espen shot him a murderous gre, quickly regaining her posure. "Don't ftter yourself, rat. I wasn’t ughing.”

  Kaelis slowly rose to his feet, brushing off the blood and dirt as best he could, f himself to appear calm and collected. Inside, his heart still raced chaotically, ay and horror swirlih his carefully structed facade. But he refused to show weakness—not in front of these two, especially not Espen. He didn’t want to be pitied, or felt bad for. So he hid his true emotions within him. This was always the case, even ba earth, something his ex-wife always scoffed at him for. He straightened his posture, adopting a fident demeanor, his voice steady aermined despite the turmoil inside.

  ‘Put it away…’

  "Alright, enough jokes," Kaelis said sharply, crimson eyes narrowing slightly. "Espen, what the hell is going on? Tell me everything. I want to know about this world—Kalhal, right? Expin your weird magic… Kenda, witches, Hunters, Gods, Demons. Everything."

  Espeated, crimson eyes guarded as she studied him closely. She sighed softly, tension visibly easing from her shoulders. "You're demanding expnations from me? Look at us, Kaelis—we’re barely standing. Before I tell you anything, we o tend to our wounds first."

  Espen turned away slightly, staring thoughtfully into the distahroughout Kalhal, there are hundreds of Well Springs—rare pools formed from the blood of a fallen healing goddess, sin in the a war between Gods and Demons many years ago. That war shaped Kalhal itself; their bodies, blood, and bones f the very foundations and ndscapes we walk upon. Most springs are hidden, almost impossible to find. Explorers and adventurers spend their entire lives searg for even one.”

  She paused, a faint sadness flickering behind her eyes. "But Mae showed me a map. She kly where each spring was. We'll heal there, and then… when I feel ready… I'll expihing."

  Espen fell into silence, her thoughts turbulent. She gowards Kaelis, her gaze softening slightly despite herself. ‘He did save me… possessed or not. I've never owed a human anything before. Do I thank him? No—I 't. He's human. Humans only betray. Yet, that crest… the Dark Star Crest he bore…’ Her mind fshed to Mae's rituals, the same crest embzoned upon altars, dles, runes—her mentor desperately uning with the darkest powers of Hell itself. ‘Kaelis, who are you?’

  Suddenly, a massive shadow obscured the suns above, a rush of wind heralding the arrival of Espen’s personal transport—Hael, the giant shadow-covered crow. Hael nded gracefully nearby, folding enormous wings elegantly around her sleek, obsidian-bck body. Her emerald eyes glittered mischievously, immediately log onto Kaelis.

  "Oh my," Hael purred seductively, stepping closer aly brushing her feathered wing against Kaelis's torso, her voice dripping with barely cealed hunger. "Espen, dear, you've brought me such a perfect morsel. I've never seen a human quite so… delectable."

  Kaelis recoiled, disgust and fusion twisting his features. "Whoa, hold on! Did your bird seriously just flirt with me? I'm not bird food!"

  Hael chuckled softly, cirg him hungrily. "Oh, darling, I'd savor every bite."

  “Buzz off, crow.” Kaelis folded his arms.

  Espen rolled her eyes dramatically, irritation fshing in her dark gaze. She strode forward swiftly, grabbing Kaelis firmly by the ear and pulling him away from Hael's eager advances. "Back off, Hael. This human is mine."

  Hael cocked her head teasingly, emerald eyes glittering. "Yours, Espen? How possessive you've bee. Finally found yourself a mate?"

  Espen's eyes widened in shod embarrassment. "No. Don't be absurd. He's… he's my property, nothing more."

  Hael chuckled knowingly, stepping clain. "Well, property be shared—"

  Before Hael finished, Ness leaped between them dramatically, fur standing on end, tail shing aggressively. "Absolutely not! Kaelis is off-limits if Espen said so. Damn vulture.”

  Hael eyed Ness disdainfully, feigning pity. "Aw, poor kitten. Did those mean Hunters rough you up again? You look absolutely dreadful—covered in blood, fur all matted. Must've been humiliating losi anht."

  Ness bristled furiously. "I did NOT lose a fight, you oversized poultry! I heroically saved everyone here!"

  “Definitely find that hard to believe.”

  Kaelis said, “Ness did save me…so without him, we probably wouldn’t be alive.”

  Hael grinned, “Well if that’s the case, then I guess Ness DID save you.”

  Hael ughed musically, batting Ness pyfully with her wing, sparking a edic wrestling match between them. Espen sighed deeply, pressing fio her temples, exasperation evident.

  Kaelis stood awkwardly beside Espen, silently watg the edic chaos unfold. He turned slowly, suddenly realizing how close Espen was standing. Their eyes met directly, for a brief, charged moment. Espen's breath caught sharply, panic surged, and she quickly shoved him away roughly.

  "How dare you look me in the eyes, human!" Espen snapped defensively, stepping back swiftly. "Know your pce.”

  Kaelis scowled slightly, irritation flickerih his carefully trolled mask. "Huh?! YOU LOOKED AT ME FIRST, fool! What’s your deal?!”

  "My problem," Espeed icily, "is you. Your arrogance, your disrespect—"

  "My disrespect?" Kaelis interrupted incredulously, voice rising slightly. "I’M THE MOST RESPECTFUL ONE HERE!”

  “No. I am. Get that through your head.”

  They sto fiercely at one aension crag visibly between them. Yet beh the anger, beh their stubborn pride, something deeper lingered—an uain, unspoken boher could admit nor fully uand.

  Nearby, Ness and Hael paused mid-fight, exging amused gnces. Ness chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Those two are hopeless."

  Hael smiled knowingly, eyes gleaming mischievously. "Ihis journey just got far more iing."

  Above, the three suns bzed brilliantly, illuminating a chaotic yet strangely f se—a witch, a human, a cat, and a crow bound together by fate, secrets, and powers beyond prehension.

  Kaelis g tightly to Hael's sleek obsidiahers, the wind r around him as they soared high above the vast and mystical ti of Yarfan. The giant crow's wings beat rhythmically, each powerful stroke sending ripples of shadow and mist trailing behind her like smoke, painting straterns in the sky. Beside him, Espen sat poised and dignified, her gaze fixed forward, expression guarded as ever. Hael herself appeared utterly tent, her emerald eyes gleaming mischievously as she carried Ness by the tail, the small cat thrashing and snarling indignantly in her beak.

  "Release me at once!!" Ness spat angrily, paws filing uselessly in midair. "When we nd, you and I will settle this ond for all!"

  Hael chuckled softly, voice musical yet dripping with mockery. "Oh, kitten, don't threateh a good time."

  Ness growled furiously, ears fttened against his head as he twisted uselessly. "Kaelis! Espen! A little help, please?"

  Kaelis gnced over, raising an eyebrow at Ness’s indignation. Before he could offer assistance, Hael's silky feathers brushed gently against his cheek, her soothing, seductive voice eg softly, "Are you fortable, my dear Kaelis? Perhaps I carry you somewhere… cozier?"

  Espen’s eyes fshed dangerously, and she swiftly smacked Hael's wing aside, gring fiercely at the mischievous crow. "Keep your feathers to yourself, Hael. Stop harassing my property."

  Hael let out an exaggerated sigh, ughter twinkling in her emerald eyes. "So possessive, Espen. Are you sure you're not developing feelings for our dear human?"

  Espen slightly scoffed, "Ridiculous."

  ‘I would never catch feelings for some human.’

  Kaelis chuckled quietly, turning his gaze downward as the breathtaking kingdom of Varnhalin unfolded beh them. The nd stretched endlessly, a tapestry of rich emerald forests shimmering with strange violet and turquoise leaves, crystalline rivers pulsily with silver currents, and sprawling golden pins dotted with t, luminous flowers that seemed to glow softly iernoon sunlight. Mountains rose majestically in the distaheir snoed peaks glittering, veins of deep amethyst running along their stone faces.

  ‘I ’t talk much right now. Everything that happe’s still messing with me. I would’ve hoped this was a dream. And it got to the point where I want to find out about why I’m in this world, and go back to earth. I ’t stand this feeling, this feeling like I’m not in trol. And no, it’s not because of Espen, but this power…that man ohrone who ched me with his big ass shadowy hands. What else am I capable of? I hate the fact that I feel like a puppet to him, like I pet to all of my problems oh. I wanna trol this power, survive, and maybe find a way back. I really don’t wanna lose myself like I did before..fuck that.’

  His breath caught slightly; this world was unlike anything he'd ever imagined. Strange, winged beasts glided gracefully through the sky, their bodies long and serpentine, rainbow-colored scales catg the sun's rays like living prisms. Below, enormous deer-like creatures, ed with sprawling ahat burned softly with ghostly blue fmes, grazed peacefully on fields of luminous grass.

  "Espen," Kaelis began, tearing his gaze relutly from the surreal beauty, "I heard this ti, Yarfan, has three kingdoms, right? Vjosgard, Ih, and Varnhalin—what's their story?"

  Espeated briefly, as if carefully seleg her words. "Vjosgard, Ih, and Varnhalin have warred and schemed against one another for turies, each kingdom vastly differe equally dangerous. Vjosgard, the Blooded Throne in the north, thrives on endless flid war. They choose their High King through brutal bat ale disputes only by bloodshed. Strength is their only w."

  Kaelis's eyes widened slightly, intrigued. "Sounds ruthless."

  Espen nodded grimly. "It is. Then there's Io the west—the Kingdom of Silver and Shadows. They're ruled by intrigue, gold, and daggers in the dark. Their king hides in a pairrors, rarely seen, protected by assassins and spies. Power there is bought, not earned."

  "And Varnhalin?" Kaelis asked, gng down again at the lush kingdom beh him.

  Espen's gaze softened slightly, tinged with relut respect. "Varnhalin is the Stagborn Kingdom, nd of honor and knights. They uphold chivalry, loyalty, and martial prowess above all else. Their warriors swear blood oaths to their king, silent guardians who never speak ohey've pledged their lives."

  Kaelis leaned in closer, curiosity burning fiercely in his eyes. "Then why did these three pletely different kingdoms band together against Mae?"

  Espen's jaw tightened slightly, bitterness flickering behind her eyes. "Because Mae threatened something far bigger than kingdoms—she targeted the Apostles themselves. Mae and I call them False Angels. The kingdoms were already fearful of her, sihey khe Apostles were weary of her and her abilities.”

  "Apostles?" Kaelis echoed thoughtfully. "I heard some of those Hualking about them. They cimed the Apostles could make them asd to godhood. Doesn’t that sound super crazy?”

  Espen nodded grimly, her eyes darkening. "It's true, in a way. The Apostles manipute soul Kenda—an incredibly rare and powerful form of magic. They promise mortals godhood, immortality, assion. But it's not that simple. They use these promises to trol kingdoms, manipute wars, and shape Kalhal itself."

  Kaelis frowned deeply, sidering her words carefully. "So… Mae made them her target? Why exactly? What did she do that pissed everyone off so much?"

  Espeated, her expression guarded, flicted. "First off, she’s a witch. Sed, Mae believed the Apostles were false gods, frauds exploiting humanity. She spent her life exposing and fighting them, disrupting their pns, breaking their hold over rulers and kingdoms. She became their most wanted enemy, hunted by every kingdom's champions and guilds. When Mae vahey came after me—her apprentice."

  Kaelis studied her closely, sensing the pain and bitterness beh her cold exterior. "There's more to this, isn't there? Something deeper you're not telling me."

  ‘She’s withholding a lot from me…every piece of information I get about this world is crucial at this point.’ His mind wondered.

  Espen turned away slightly, voice quiet yet firm. "When I feel ready, Kaelis. Patience."

  Kaelis grinned faintly, leaning back casually. "Fiake your time."

  Espen scowled, but secretly felt grateful he didn’t press further.

  Behind them, Hael released Ness briefly, the ding indignantly beside Espen, hissing furiously. Hael gnced back, voice suddenly serious. "Ness, tell me—did any of the White Brigade Guild survive?"

  Ness shook himself, fur bristling. "No. Kaelis… took care of them all. But you're worried uilds will e, aren't you?"

  Hael nodded slowly, emerald eyes flickering uneasily. "Of course they will. Nowhere is safe within this ti. And there’s no doubt word about Espen has reached other tis as well. Espen's bounty keeps rising daily. Muilds will e eventually. I say…we build our own kingdom! A Kaelis be king, and I’m the queen!”

  Espen squealed, “No! Not happening!”

  Ness sighed, gng toward Kaelis thoughtfully.

  ‘This kid..it sucks to see him deal with this alone. But I won’t pry into his business unless he wants to talk. Man, the way I thought all of that was so heroic! I’m being a badass.’

  Hael chuckled softly, eyes gleaming mischievously once more. "I sense a dark, delicious power from him—it only makes me want him more."

  Ness rolled his eyes dramatically. "Of course. You have no shame."

  Kaelis felt Espen's gaze upon him again, turning to meet her crimson eyes curiously. "Espen, you mentioned earlier that remnants of gods and demons remain here from their a war. Like Well Springs. What exactly are they?"

  Espen's expression softened faintly, as if appreciating his genuine curiosity. "They're pools of divine blood infused with powerful healing Kenda. After the great war between gods and demons, their bodies formed the very earth we walk on; their blood pooled into these rare springs. Mae taught me their locations, hidden across Kalhal."

  Kaelis smiled faintly, leaning closer.

  ‘I should ease our minds a little. Mostly for my sake, to keep me distracted.’

  "You know, Espen—it's nice just talking like this. Normal versations, no threats or insults—it's refreshing."

  Espen's cheeks flushed faintly, eyes narrowing defensively. "Do you think you just have a normal versation with me a away with it?!”

  Kaelis snorted softly, smirking pyfully. "IT INVOLVES THE MISSION! IT’S IMPORTANT TO IT!”

  Hael and Ness agreed at the same time, “I mean, it does.”

  Kaelis poi them with a grin, “HAHA! See?! They get it!”

  Hael brushed against Kaelis, saying, “Since you said I get it, maybe you get it—?”

  Kaelis backed away, squealing like a girl.

  Espen huffed quietly, but her eyes softened despite herself, warmth flickering briefly behind the walls she'd built around her heart.

  The sky around them deepened into vibrant shades of violet, red, and gold as the three suns desded gracefully toward the horizon. Strange glowing is, like tiny floating stars, rose from the forests below, drifting serenely upward in a luminous dahe air grew cool, fragrant with blossoms and the promise of mystery, as Hael carried them forward, bound by fate as deeper than any imagined.

  The sun had set fully by the time Hael's massive wings beat downward, sending a swirl of dust and dead leaves scattering around the clearing. Kaelis's eyes widened slightly as he took in their destination—a grim, desote pce utterly devoid of the beauty he'd glimpsed earlier.

  “The hell..? I thought it would be super pretty here or some mystical stuff going on. Pce is a dump.”

  The Well Spring y led within a deep, rocky holled by twisted, skeletal trees whose branches cwed desperately toward the darkening sky like skeletal fingers begging for mercy. The air was heavy with the st of decay, a faiallig lingering ominously beh it.

  At the heart of the clearing stood the grotesque remains of what had once been a divine being—a massive heart, easily twice Kaelis's height, encased in jagged stone and tangled veins of rot. The an pulsed weakly, each sluggish beat sending rivulets of luminous red fluid trig into a shallow pool below. Just beyond it y the shattered shaft of a spear—once pristine silver, now tarnished and bed by years of . Espen stepped forward, her crimson eyes unreadable as she studied the fallen goddess’s relics silently.

  "This is it," Espen murmured quietly, leaping gracefully from Hael's bad nding lightly on the cracked earth. "I cim this Well Spring. Kaelis, Hael, Ness—go find somewhere to camp nearby. Once I'm done, Kaelis take a turn."

  Kaelis hesitated slightly, gng down at himself. "My wounds… healed when I was in that… horrid state," he admitted quietly, voice tinged with lingering dread and shame.

  ‘Clear your head, Kaelis.’

  Espen turned back sharply, eyes narrowing slightly. "That doesn't matter. You're still taihe goddess's blood isn’t just about physical healing—it calms the soul Ah know you desperately hat." Her voice softened slightly, almost relutly. "I know you're hiding whatever dark shit is swirling around in your head right now, ughing it off, pretending you're fine. I know, because… I'm guilty of it too. I despise being pitied, loathe aelling me what's wrong with me—"

  Espen stopped abruptly, eyes widening slightly as she realized how much she'd iently revealed. Her jaw tightened, shame burning fiercely in her chest, and she silently berated herself: ‘Stupid. Why did you tell him that? You betrayed yourself, Espen. You 't.’

  Before Kaelis could respond, Ness quickly leaped up, grabbing his leg and dragging him ically away. "Don't worry, Espen! We'll find the perfect camping spot! No need for awkward versations!" Ness chirped loudly, pulling Kaelis forcefully behind him.

  Hael added, “Yep! And I’m gonna have my way with him!”

  Espen scoffed at Hael, “YOU BETTER NOT! I’LL COOK YOU!”

  Espen watched them disappear into the gloom, shoulders sagging slightly as she sighed deeply. Turning back to the Well Spring, she raised one delicate hand, shadows swirlily at her fiips. "Wall formation..” she whispered softly, her voice resonating with quiet power.

  Darkness surged forth, f an opaque wall of shadows around the spring. But the barrier flickered unsteadily, strings of darkness wavering and faltering. Espen scowled slightly, frustration flickering across her face as she ched her fist tighter. "I don't have time for this," she muttered sharply, her eyes bzing fiercely. Gathering her willpower, she steadied herself, breathing deeply until finally, the shadows solidified into an imperable curtain around her.

  ‘Please just work..’

  Now alone, Espen's rigid posture softened gradually. Her fingers brushed gently against the fastenings of her dark gown, slowly ung each delicate silver hook. The fabric slipped smoothly from her shoulders, pooling gracefully around her bare feet. Her pale skin gleamed softly in the faint crimson glow of the Well Spring, her slender form sculpted with elegant, feminine curves.

  Upon her back sprawled an intricate, striking tattoo—a bck dragon, its sinuous body twisting and coiling sensually across her skin. The dragon's scales shimmered vividly with shades of deep emerald green and blood-red, its eyes bzing fiercely with captured fury. Yet beh its beauty lingered imperfes—scars and jagged lines marred the design, evidence of struggle long past, the evidence of when Espen tried to break free from getting the tattoo, and the scars ing from them stantly messing up on it.

  Espen's fingers brushed hesitantly along the old wounds, memories surging painfully within her mind—her younger self screaming, sobbing desperately as the tattoo was forced upon her, marking her as something she never asked to bee.

  ‘Marked before by humans, and marked now to a human..what are the odds?’

  Espen slowly stepped forward, desding gracefully into the Well Spring. The blood of the fallen goddess enveloped her gently, warm and viscous, its healing essence seeping gradually into her ag flesh. A soft, sensual sigh escaped her lips, tensioing slowly from her muscles as she leaned back, allowing the divine fluid to wash away her pain.

  Her thoughts drifted unavoidably toward Kaelis—why had she revealed so mu? Espen frowned slightly, sinking deeper into the spring. She hadn't opened up to anyone since Mae disappeared. Had loneliness pushed her to fide in him so foolishly? Was desperation for panionship, for someone who uood her, all it took to break down her carefully structed walls? Espen's jaw tightened bitterly, frustrated and fused by her own vulnerability.

  She didn't have romantic feelings for Kaelis—such trivial ses had no p her brutal, chaotic life—but something deeper, something uling, liubbornly in her heart. Perhaps it was simply the Mark of Bohat cursed symbol binding them inexplicably together. She still didn't uand why she'd been chosen as Kaelis's wife, why fate had cruelly entwiheir destinies. Espen's fingers absently traced the faint mark upon her hand, fusion and frustration ing within her.

  Shaking off her troubling thoughts, Espen focused on the sensation of the goddess's blood caressing her body, her skin tingling pleasurably as the fluid soaked into every wound, every bruise, every scar. She tilted her head back slowly, allowing the healing magic to cascade sensuously through her long, dark hair, blood droplets trig gently down her colrborag paths along her curves.

  Her hands moved gracefully across her bare body, washing away dirt and dried blood, fiips gently massaging ag muscles. She sighed softly, eyelids fluttering closed as sensations of warmth, fort, and luxurious rexation enveloped her. The Well Spring's divine magic pulsed rhythmically around her, soothing both body and mind.

  Espen allowed herself to linger within the warm embrace of the Well Spring, sav the rare moment of pead indulgence. Her slender form moved sensually through the crimson fluid, the goddess's blood swirlily around her curves, ing her in an intimate, soothing embrace. Her breathing grew slow and even, tension gradually melting until only warmth, pleasure, and quiet tranquility remained.