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Chapter IV

Tel'bestra

Only mere minutes ago was the city of Tel'bestra viciously pulled into a state of utter chaos and destruction. Its citizens clamored and fled for their lives, searching for any means of safety and escape. The Ruby, Emerald, and Topaz Spires had been demolished and felled, along with their unfortunate victims, and laid as massive piles of marble and gemstones upon the city. The gates had been shut, and their locking mechanisms broken as to prevent escape. More screams joined the chorus of terror as the Sapphire Spire joined its brethren and began its inevitable fall inwards.

“Beautiful…. Just as the Mistress desired," a cloaked figure thought to himself, watching the chaos and panic ensue from the highest window of the Diamond Spire. He danced a sharp dagger around his dexterous fingers with ease, holding it centimeters away from a rope that extended out of the window and strung tight. Glancing out the window and below, the cloaked figure could see that his victim was still sound asleep. He hoped that the effects of the chloroform would wear off soon for he wanted to hear the human scream to his death and usher in the total annihilation of Tel'bestra.

Meanwhile, Zarr and Alec were sprinting their way towards the Diamond Spire. What should have been a simple five minutes turned into a worrisome ten as rubble from buildings and the fallen spires blocked any easy way of reaching their destination. Eventually, working their way through the maze, they arrived at the footsteps of the massive spire. They took no time to catch their breath, adrenaline fueling them, as they entered through the main doors. The Amethyst Spire exploded and alerted them to just how much time they had left before Silnis would meet the same fate as the previous five kidnapped victims. Zarr and Alec, however, were met with a small problem upon entering the interior of the Diamond Spire. Before them ascended a continuous path of spiraling stairs that rimmed the perimeter of the spire. Alec knew that it would take too long to climb the stairs and be too late to rescue Silnis in time. Zarr, knowing this as well, shrugged off his sack and vest, keeping only his trousers and sword.

“We can't waste any more time. I'm going on ahead!" Zarr said before dropping on all fours and not wasting a second to dash up the stairs with amazing speed. He was already up three flights before Alec could blink twice. Zarr's heart was pounding fiercely against his chest, but in a good way. He hadn't ran in this way for quite a long time and it was really pumping his blood. Pushing himself a bit more, Zarr increased his speed and decreased the distance between him and the highest floor. The sound of another explosion alerted him that the Aquamarine Spire was beginning to fall and it would only be at least a minute before the same happened to the Diamond Spire. Zarr picked up his speed even more and was only seven more flights from the top. He needed to make it!

At the top, the cloaked figure grinned maliciously as he inched his knife ever so closer to the ropes holding Silnis. As soon as the Aquamarine Spire hit the ground he would cut the rope and bring about the dawn of a new beginning for Omnis! He watched the last spire fall with intense eyes, waiting for the right moment to cut the ropes loose. Too distracted he was that he didn't hear Zarr's paws tapping the floor furiously before bursting through the door and into the room.

“What?!" the cloaked figure exclaimed, turning to see who had entered. Zarr didn't wait to make introductions and tackled himself into the mysterious man. He sent both of them flying into the wall and the man dropped his knife several feet away. “Get off of me!"

“I don't think so!" Zarr retaliated, holding the equally strong man down with his body. The man growled menacingly before swiping at Zarr's face with his razer claws. Zarr lost his hold on the man, crying out in pain and feeling blood run down his face from where he had been clawed, and was thrown to the side. The man quickly rushed towards the rope, forgetting the dagger and baring his claws to finish the job. Despite his blinding pain, Zarr got back to his feet and tackled the man to the ground once more. The blood was blurring his vision, but he didn't need to see to know where to strike. Zarr pulled his sword from its sheathe and used the butt to knock the man's head. It dazed him long enough for Zarr to pull his sword upward and impale it through the man's abdomen. With a spurt of blood, and an audible gargle, the man instantly went still and Zarr breathed a sigh of relief. He heard footsteps approaching them, but he knew it was Alec.

“Agh! S-Someone help! Anyone!" he heard Silnis cry out in shock. Zarr wearily made his way towards the window, reaching for the rope and pulling with what strength he had left. His adrenaline rush was starting to decline and now exhaustion from his run up the stairs and pain from his fresh wound was starting to affect him.

“I…I got you Silnis!" he reassured him. With a few pulls of the rope, Silnis felt himself being pulled up and through the window onto solid ground. Zarr cut him loose of his bindings with his claws and took a moment to relax after he saw that Silnis was safe.

“Silnis!" Alec cried, racing up to his brother and checking for any injuries, “Are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere?" Silnis reassured his older brother that he was perfectly fine, though a bit shaken from waking up hanging by a rope over the Diamond Spire.

“What's happening?! The city! I-It's all destroyed!" Silnis asked him.

“We'll talk later! Right now, we need to evacuate!"

“Zarr!" Silnis exclaimed, noticing that the wolf had some nasty gashes across his face. Despite the urgency of the situation, Silnis rushed over to the wolf and inspected the wounds. Zarr tried to dissuade Silnis saying that it wasn't that serious, but with amount of blood still oozing out it was evident that it was no minor wound. “Your eyes are fine, thank god…. Though the majority of your face will be scarred."

“At least it'll make me more intimidating once they heal up…," Zarr joked, trying to lighten the mood. Silnis cracked a reluctant smile, if only out of pity.

“Let's go!" Alec urged, taking Silnis' hand and moving them out of the room and down the long flight of stairs. Zarr followed closely, though at a slower pace. The three were about two-thirds of the way down when the doors below them burst open and two peacekeepers came running in.

“Captain, the city is under attack!" The peacekeeper didn't get to say much more before a large axe flew into the room and impaled itself into their back. A group of five burly figures stepped inside, their bodies cloaked in black and their faces covered in masks. The remaining peacekeeper drew their sword, warily watching the group of enemies as they slowly approached them. One of the cloaked figures stepped over to the dead peacekeeper and pulled out their axe with a spray of blood that stained the white marble floors. Outside, though distant, Zarr could hear the ringing of blades and cries for mercy. The scent of blood was slowly starting to permeate the air and it sickened him.

“Kill them all, especially the last sacrifice!" The axe-wielding man ordered, pointing his weapon directly at Silnis.

“Sacrifice?!" Silnis said, not sure what the brute meant. He didn't have the time to ask, however, as an arrow had almost shot through his head had Zarr not pushed him out of the way.

“Captain, you must es—AGH!" The lone peacekeeper met the same fate as his comrade as his body was brutally cut into by the axe-wielding man. Alec quickly dodged another arrow aimed for him and pushed Silnis down onto the stairs, reducing the chances of him being shot.

“Damn, we're cut off!" Alec cursed, seeing no other alternative of escape. He looked down at his cowering brother and at Zarr who was doing his best to shield the young human. A difficult decision came to Alec's mind and it was one he didn't like, but was necessary. Zarr was faster and stronger. He could protect Silnis better than Alec could. His younger brother would object to this plan, but Alec knew that this was the best possible solution to ensuring survival even at a cost. “Zarr, take Silnis and make a run for it! I'll cover your escape and make sure that they won't follow you two!"

“What?! Are you insane?" Zarr questioned.

“Alec, no!" Silnis objected almost immediately as expected.

“We have no other choice! It's either we all die here or you two escape!" Alec argued at Silnis more than Zarr.

“I'm not going to leave you to die!" Silnis retaliated. At this, Alec slapped his brother hard across the face.

“Listen to me Silnis! Those people are out to get you! I don't give a damn if I have to die to protect you! So long as you live then I can die knowing that I fulfilled my duty as your big brother!" Tears were starting to well up in his eyes and he blinked them away as to not show weakness.

“Alec…," Silnis was wide-eyed and in shock at his words, never seeing his brother like this before.

“I don't want to die Silnis…but I know that I can't protect you. I'm not strong enough. That's why you have to go with Zarr…," Alec looked at the wolf as he said this, “Promise me that you will take care of him. Swear on your honor as a Frosen!"

In any situation, excluding the one they were in now, Zarr would have refused if he wasn't being offered payment for his time and energy, but it was hardly appropriate to demand for coin when death was imminent.

“You have my word, on my honor as a Frosen," Zarr swore, bowing his head in a symbolic show of sealing the promise. Alec took one last moment to gently rub at his brother's head like he used to do when they were younger. Silnis could only hold back tears as he reached out to embrace Alec, silently pleading with his older brother to forget this foolish plan, but also to stay alive and come back after all of this.

“Go," Alec whispered to Silnis, offering a soft smile that had been long unseen by the two. Silnis felt himself being hoisted onto Zarr's back as the wolf returned to his position on all fours, wrapping his arms tightly around Zarr's chest and burying his face into his fur. Alec and Zarr both nodded at one another before the former leaped down from the stairs and onto the ground floor. Grabbing a piece of rubble, Alec threw it at the cloaked figures and succeeded in knocking one unconscious. Swiftly dodging an arrow, Alec spotted a pair of throwing knives on the body of the previously slain peacekeeper. He quickly grabbed for them and wasted no time in taking out the archer with deadly accuracy to the head. The three remaining figures charged at Alec with weapons drawn: an axe, spear, and sword. The axe-wielding man looked to be the most dangerous of them all, but he dared not let his guard down for the other two. While this was happening, Zarr was sprinting at full speed down the stairs with Silnis on his back. He could have jumped down as well, but the axe-wielding brute was a big obstacle in their escape and he would rather play it safe than get cleaved in two. Once the exit was clear, Alec having distracted the three remaining threats, Zarr dashed out and never stopped to look back.

“Be safe little brother…," Alec whispered his farewell, watching them fade into the distance.

The streets of Tel'bestra were littered with the bloodied bodies of its citizens, and the ruins of its once beautiful buildings. Silnis was horrified to see the corpses of innocent men, women, and children killed in multiple fashions. He couldn't almost contain his tears when he saw the body of a young girl nailed against the wall of a building with a large spear through her throat. Blood still dripped from her open mouth where she most likely screamed for mercy before being slaughtered. Zarr was equally shocked and horrified at the massacre he was seeing around him. Never in his travels had he seen killings so gruesome and unprovoked. These people weren't warriors, but simple citizens living their lives. Whoever had done this was a complete monster with no regard to honor and the basic code of war.

“We need to leave the city, Silnis. Your brother spoke of underground passageways. Do you know of any nearby?" Zarr asked, wanting to distract their minds from the blood and death around them. Silnis glanced around to see in what part of the city they were in, though it was much more difficult since it was all ruins now. However, he could spot his home not too far from where they were.

“We're near my home. My family has their own underground passageway beneath the house!" Silnis explained, Zarr wasting no time and weaved his way through the bodies and rubble towards the Hearthglen estate. As they entered the courtyard and gardens, Silnis had to close his eyes and look away for he saw the many servants he had grown up knowing brutally murdered along the now blood-stained bushes and flowers. Zarr felt Silnis bury his face into his fur and fight back more tears, knowing just how horrible seeing all of this was to the human. They entered the mansion through the battered entrance doors and the sight inside was just as gruesome as the rest of the city. Silnis stepped down from Zarr's back, wiping away a stray tear, and taking a moment to regain his composure.

“We need to go to the library, the secret passageway is there." Silnis led the way with Zarr following close by. The wolf wished he hadn't forgotten his sword back at the Diamond Spire. The scent of blood was heavy in the air and he couldn't easily detect any threats with his nose alone. His ears would perk in every direction to carefully pick out any slight disturbances in case of a possible surprise attack. If they were ambushed, Zarr would have to protect them both with only teeth and claws. Silnis came to a stop by his room, and requested that Zarr wait a moment while he collected some items to bring along. The wolf stood guard outside while Silnis rummaged through his belongings, surprised that his room was untouched from the rest of the house. With his book bag filled with personal belongings and some alchemical items, he was about to leave when a noise from his bathroom caught his attention. He didn't even have to investigate himself as Zarr swiftly dashed to the bathroom door, flung it open with a growl, and poised himself in a manner to lunge. Silnis peeked into the bathroom and saw a terrified servant hiding in the tub with the shower curtains drawn to further conceal them.

“Are you all right?!" Silnis asked them, stepping into the bathroom.

“M-Master Silnis! You're alive!" the servant gasped with surprise. Silnis didn't blame the servant for thinking him dead, not after the countless bodies he witnessed on their way here. He noticed that the servant was holding a bloodied knife in his hands, though it was most likely for their own self-defense.

“We're about to take the secret passageway and leave the city. Come with us," Silnis encouraged the servant, offering a hand out. The servant simply nodded before shakily stepping out from the tub and taking Silnis' hand. He smiled at the servant, receiving a small grin in return, before turning to Zarr to signal that he meant no harm. The wolf dropped his aggressive stance, but kept a watchful eye on the two humans. Silnis continued to lead the way to the library, though he asked the servant for the whereabouts of his parents.

“Y-Your parents…. I was tending to them when the intruders came and started killing everyone. Your father tried to protect your mother, but he was stabbed in the back by another servant. Your mother…met the same fate. I ran and hid in your room like a coward…," the servant told him in a solemn tone. Silnis' heart stopped when he heard that his parents had been killed, pausing for a moment in his walking and just staring at the floor with empty eyes.

“N-No…." First he had lost Alec, and now his parents?! He wanted this all to be a terrible nightmare! He needed to wake up! “This can't be…."

“Silnis," Zarr said, going over and embracing the human in his arms. He felt his fur become wet with tears as Silnis openly wept into his chest. It was the least he could do to comfort the human after all he had been through. The two stayed that way for a moment, Zarr letting Silnis vent out all his grief, before pulling away and seeing Silnis regain his composure.

“Let's go…," Silnis said, giving one last sniffle, before continuing on. The three eventually arrived at the library to see that it was equally a disaster and murder zone like the rest of the house. Silnis went over to a particular shelf and scanned the books until he found the one he was looking for and pulled it back with an audible click. The shelf began to rumble before sliding aside to reveal a set of stairs that traveled down into a dark passageway. An unused torch sat on its stand on the wall and Silnis grabbed it before dousing it with a small vial of dragon gel that blazed a brilliant orange in three seconds.

“Master Silnis…," the servant began to say, stepping towards him with a smile.

“Yes?"

“I can't let you leave."

“What?" Silnis questioned, sensing that something was amiss and taking a step back from the approaching servant.

“You need to die if Tel'bestra is to truly fall. The Diamond Spire still stands and with it the hope of rebuilding the city and its people…," the servant slowly withdrew the knife from behind their back and it was then that Silnis realized it.

“You…you killed my parents!" The servant laugh maniacally, their grin growing wider.

“They were good people, but no one is to survive. Now…I will extinguish the hope of Tel'bestra! Die!"

The servant suddenly lunged at Silnis with the knife at his heart, but Zarr had seen this coming and was already lunging himself at him. He landed onto the servant and sent them into an overturned desk, the human taking the brunt of the damage. Zarr knew the servant was dead when they crashed into the desk and there was an audible crack from the servant's body. Removing himself from the rubble of the desk, Zarr saw the servant's mouth open in a silent scream, unable to utter a sound from having their spine snapped in an instant.

“Are you okay?!" Silnis ran over to Zarr, checking over his body.

“I'm fine. And you?" Zarr brushed off some splinters from his fur, but otherwise he was perfectly well. He scanned over Silnis' body just to make sure the servant hadn't actually inflicted any harm on him.

“I-I could have been killed…had you not saved me again…. Thank you."

“I promised your brother," Zarr reminded, “and I intend to keep it. Come, let us leave this place." Silnis didn't need any further encouragement and stepped into the passageway with the torch in hand, making sure they were both inside before sealing the entrance shut. He didn't want anyone else chasing after him hungry for his blood. The two descended the stairs until the way opened up to a tunnel that traveled straight into darkness. The floor and walls of the tunnel was a crude arrangement of cobblestone, but at least they didn't look ancient enough to suspect that it would all collapse without warning. Silnis and Zarr walked in silence as they traveled down the tunnel, the only sound being their footsteps and the crackling of the torch. Every once in a while, Silnis would catch Zarr poking at his face wound and wincing at the pain. He worried that if left untreated any longer the wound would become infected and quite possibly cause blindness considering how close in proximity they were to his eyes. As much as he wanted to stop and treat Zarr's wound he knew they had to leave the city completely and seek shelter. The events of today were starting to take a mental toll on Silnis, more physical for Zarr, and two desired nothing more than a moment's rest.

Eventually, the tunnel came to an end with a ladder that led up to a trap door. Through the small cracks in the door, Silnis could see small beams of light shine through. He also heard the splashing of waves and instantly knew where they were. Pushing the door open, it hardly budged until Zarr lended his strength, and the two were greeted to the welcome sight of Lake Tel'bestra below them. The exit of the tunnel had been hidden on a hill that was so densely covered with shrubs and grass that no one would ever see it. Glancing behind him, Silnis could see Tel'bestra not too far off in the distance, the Diamond Spire the only intact one out of the others. He was reminded of the servant's words from before, “You need to die if Tel'bestra is to truly fall. The Diamond Spire still stands and with it the hope of rebuilding the city and its people."

“Let us find shelter before night falls. We're too open out here," Zarr commented, shaking Silnis from his thoughts.

“Right," he agreed, surveying his surroundings and noticing that the tunnel had deposited them closer to the Sacred Peaks than the Deepwoods. However, they were still a few good miles from the foothills of the mountains and it was well past noon already. They only had a few hours of sunlight left before night covered the sky.

“There!" Zarr pointed to an outcrop with a crevice that looked like it opened up to a small cave within. The wolf returned to his running stance, gesturing Silnis to climb on.

“A-Are you sure you can run again?" Silnis asked, concerned that Zarr was tiring himself out by constantly carrying him and running at the same time.

“I'm a Frosen! Running is in our blood. Besides, it will only be a mile or two." Unable to argue with his points, Silnis climbed onto Zarr's back and held on firmly as the wolf took on a sprint towards the outcrop. Silnis would have enjoyed the feeling of the wind in his hair if his mind wasn't preoccupied on other thoughts. They arrived at the base of the outcrop within minutes and Zarr wasted no time in climbing the rocks and investigating their choice of shelter for any potential threats. Once he determined that it was safe, he helped Silnis up and into the cave.

“It's kind of a tight fit," Silnis commented, having only about three feet of personal space from the large wolf when they both were in the cave.

“Yeah, I figured it would be, but it's better than sleeping out in the open," Zarr said. The two sat in silence as night steadily approached, the temperature dropping considerably in the early-spring air. Zarr noticed Silnis was shivering a bit, though the human didn't seem to notice it. He should have asked for the human's permission, but he knew it would be better this way. Zarr scooted closer to Silnis until their bodies were touching and he wrapped him in his body. Silnis gasped in surprise, his body instantly warming up at the touch of Zarr's fur. He had been too busy with his thoughts to notice that his body had been calling out for warmth.

“I'm sorry…,' Silnis apologized.

“There's no need to apologize. I understand that you have a lot to think through. Take your time, though I hope you don't mind me acting as your blanket for tonight."

“No," Silnis chuckled, “but thank you." Zarr left Silnis to dwell on his thoughts as he pondered his future now that he had Silnis to protect. How long would he keep his promise to Alec? Would Silnis ever be safe? He wished he could know the answer, but a small part of him was content not to know. Glancing down at Silnis, he noticed the human had fallen asleep against his chest. Chuckling to himself, Zarr decided he should rest as well and closed his eyes to welcome sleep from everything that had happened today.

Population of Tel'bestra

*Approximate*

845,000 >> 305,000

420,000 dead

120,000 unaccounted, missing