Chapter 1:
Debris. All he could feel was debris. A faint voice was shouting at his name over and over. Can't they just leave me alone. Can't they see I am sleeping. Something moved and shifted around him, and suddenly he could breathe again. The deep inhalation made him cough and splutter, but also woke him slightly. "Lorlen!" It shouted again, this time louder and clearer.
"Leave me alone." He mumbled back at the voice.
"Lorlen, you must wake up!" It told him urgently. "You are bleeding!"
"I'm not bleeding." He told the voice incoherently. Suddenly the pile next to him shifted and light streamed through onto him. A hand appeared, followed by a person. Lorlen's vision blurred as he wavered in and out of consciousness. A tentative mind reached him and he found Osen standing outside his semi constructed house that was his mind. "Osen!"
"Lorlen! You must stay awake!" He shouted urgently. Lorlen looked at him oddly, but was then met by emptiness as Osen left his mind. His body was then pulled out from the wreckage and he could feel himself slipping away. Can't... Wake... He slurred, falling into the depths of unconsciousness.
As time slipped by, Lorlen understood more and more of what happened. The Ichani. Osen had shielded whilst he blasted the weak Ichani. Then the leader came. Blasted the house. The house had crumbled and the wall had fallen on them. Then Osen had tried to free him. Then nothing. He slowly opened his eyes, wincing when moving. He was lying in a long room and he was hurt. Looking at the damage to his body he could see that he was mostly unscathed. He was tired, bruised and aching, luckily nothing was broken. As he stirred, Osen approached and sat down beside him. "Are you awake?" He said softly.
"Just about." Lorlen replied coughing.
"I wouldn't move too much, a beam fell on your head." Lorlen went to reply but was stopped by a mental projection of the Guild. He could feel Balkan's presence behind it and from his position he must have been standing on the University roof. Below him stood Akkarin and Sonea standing in defiance and the Ichani were walking towards them. They came back! They've come to save us! Lorlen reached into his pocket for the ring, but hesitated. He didn't want to distract Akkarin. Flashes brought his attention back to the scene and at first they seemed equally matched. However the Ichani had the advantage as there were three of them. But Akkarin and Sonea were standing strong. Then time seemed to stand still as the projection flooded with worry and he saw Akkarin collapse. No! Akkarin! Lorlen did not hesitate now, and grabbed the ring out of his pocket. Balkan and others were now attacking the Ichani from the roof, and Sonea... Sonea was leaning over Akkarin. Lorlen called out through the ring.
-Akkarin! Are you alive?
-Lorlen? No! Take off the ring Lorlen!
-No! I am not leaving you.
-You sound just like Sonea. Lorlen smiled, and could feel slight amusement coming from Akkarin. But you must take off the ring Lorlen, I don't want you to feel me die.
-No! You aren't going to die! Just hold on. Akkarin showed him his wounds and Lorlen gasped. No! Don't die on us, we need you! I need you!
-Take care of Sonea for me Lorlen. She will need you. Lorlen could feel his love for her emanated from his thoughts and was surprised. He thought of her as his thoughts faded away into nothingness.
-Akkarin?
-Akkarin?
-AKKARIN! Lorlen cried out, but there was no answer.