The dying sunlight filtering through the water overhead cast a sharp shadow across the metal plate as Varian reemerged from the Celestial's chamber. He stared down at it, his dull gaze hazy with immeasurable emotion and an almost overwhelming degree of fatigue. His fingers were splayed loose at his sides, his head hung low as his troubled thoughts swirled in a muddle of half-understood phrases and images in his head. Rudiger shivered at his ankles, his ring tail tucked low and his ears pressed flat to his small skull. Varian numbly picked him up and placed him shakily onto his shoulder.

A voice cut through the pallor of Varian's dim world, like a clarion call through a cathedral, and he managed to look up as Shay rushed towards him. She looked bedraggled, as if she'd rung every fiber of her clothing in fear, and her eyes were wide and watery with relief. She balked when she saw the look on his face, her arms faltering in the air and cringing back into her chest before she could embrace him. "Are you alright?" she asked worriedly. "You've been gone for nearly four hours!"

Four hours? Varian would have expressed shock, but he was already too stunned to show the proper reaction. He saw Xavier approach from the corner of his eye, the blacksmith's dark gaze filled with a mix of wonder and apprehension. "What happened, boy?" he asked, his voice soft and low.

The question hung in the still air like a feather, drifting liltingly to Varian's ears. "I…" He tried to find the words, tried to explain. When he couldn't, he realized that, for all his efforts and all the information he'd been given, there was still so little he didn't know. It felt like he had been asked to scale a mountain with nothing but his bare hands, searching for something at the summit he didn't even know how to recognize. The impossibility of it threatened to overwhelm him, to break his spirit into a million pieces. How was he to even begin such a task when he could barely move his feet, let alone describe it?

Xavier must have understood, because he rested a guiding hand on his shoulder, urging him off the plate. "Perhaps it would be best to discuss things elsewhere," he suggested quietly. "The magic of this place is too strong."

Varian said nothing; he allowed himself to be steered back onto the underwater path, towards the underground tunnel. He felt himself stop when Xavier paused, looking back towards the plate. Varian turned with him and saw Shay standing over the metal plate, staring hard down at the engravings. Her brow was furrowed into an almost apoplectic look, and she lifted her foot as if to step forward onto it.

Varian suddenly snapped out of his stupor, abrupt and jarring, like he'd just been slapped awake. "Shay!" he barked, his voice hoarse and sharp.

Shay stopped, and her snapped her face towards him. Something alien rested in her gaze, something cold and depthless.

Varian slowly shook his head, his blue eyes burning. At first, he wasn't sure she would obey. But slowly, Shay's foot came away, and she started walking back to them. She said nothing, but lingering notes of anger still colored her cheeks.

"Come, child," Xavier spoke quietly, ushering her forward with a look of concern on his bearded face. "This place has given us all it can offer."

The journey back through the tunnel was unsettlingly quiet, but Varian's thoughts started to coalesce with each step he took. In the darkness, his brain began to run stratagems, almost by habit, projections of possibility replacing the chaos the Celestial had wreaked there. They emerged back out into the dim alleyway by the forgotten aqueducts, and the fresh, crisp air of Coronan autumn filled his mind with even more clarity.

Enough clarity for him to recognize Caius on the other side of the city street.

The witch hunter's good eye was searching, a peering slit scanning the people as a scout lieutenant sneered grumpily at his side. It looked like a few more soldiers were with him, their faces weary with exhaustion. The scar on Caius' face stood out like a white crevasse, wicked and pale as bone.

Dread and fear gushed through his veins with the rush of a broken dam – the sight of Shay's uncle accompanying a returning scout patrol was enough to make him gasp out loud as he abruptly halted on the spot. "Get back," he hissed, shoving Xavier's hand away from him. "Get down, back the other way, now!"

Shay looked ahead and saw; she froze as well, struck by terror as if by a lightning bolt. When she didn't move, Varian practically threw her backward, catching her by the waist when she almost fell. Xavier didn't ask questions as he followed them quickly down the back of the alley and around a shadowy corner, their feet striking hard against the cold cobblestone.

"How did he find us?" Shay gasped. "How did he find us?!"

"Xavier," Varian shot a glance over his shoulder at the blacksmith. "What's the quickest way?"

"Follow me," Xavier answered, quickly overtaking them in the lead. For a large man, he was surprisingly quick; Varian almost had to sprint to keep up. His heartbeat rushed through him as he tugged Shay into pace and followed their guide down an adjacent alley and down a steep curb towards Corona's city square.

"Wait!" Shay stumbled to a stop, forcing Varian to lurch back. She pointed to Xavier. "Take his hand," she instructed.

"What?!"

"Just do it!"

Varian gave Xavier a bewildered look as the blacksmith snatched his hand up in his. Shay's fingers tangled around Varian's other hand, and she recited a spell almost too hastily under her breath. Varian knew the spell by now, and he watched as his feet disappeared underneath him. Invisible, Xavier continued leading them out into the public square. The crowds were just thin enough for them to navigate without bowling anyone over, although Varian came close to losing Rudiger from off his shoulder. The creature was not terribly fond of being suspended over five feet in the air without being able to see what was beneath him. They rushed by the center fountain, cool spray misting across Varian's hot cheek as they passed.

"Here," Xavier whispered as they crossed under the jeweler's eave and into the vacant smithy. He let go of Varian's hand, and he became visible as he ushered them quickly inside. He closed the door behind them and turned to face the two teens as Shay released the spell. Killy woke up with a start as they came in, sniffing excitedly as he leapt off the chair. "I know," Xavier interrupted before either of them could speak. "I remember Caius, before he disappeared after his brother's death. I'd believed him to be dead."

"I'm so sorry," Shay confessed, wringing her sweaty hands. "It's my fault he's here. He wants my father's sword so that he can break the seal on Haderon's tomb."

Xavier's eyebrows rose up his dark brow. "You said your mother was trapped there, yes? Then he still intends to kill her, after all these years. It appears some things refuse to die."

"We need a way out of Corona," Varian insisted. They looked at him, saw the determination on his face. "If Caius finds us here, I guarantee he'll kill us."

Xavier nodded solemnly. "What did you have in mind, boy?"

Varian pursed his lips. He crossed over to the table, where Spellbane rested on the mahogany surface. "We can't leave the sword here," he explained. He picked it up and sheathed it, then sucked in a deep breath. "We're going to have to split up."

"No," Shay exclaimed. "No, we can't do that, he'll find you!"

"If we don't split up, there's a higher percentage he'll find us both," Varian countered. "This way, statistically, at least one of us can make it out without being caught."

"Yes, and it has to be you. I've told you before, Caius is my responsibility, not yours!" She reached to take the sword from him, but Varian jerked it out of her reach. The girl froze, and her hands clenched. "Give me my father's sword, Varian."

"No."

Shay blinked in surprise. "Varian, I should be the one to take it."

Varian strapped the blade tightly over his shoulder. It settled on his back like a wall, heavier than he remembered. It felt good there, as if his purpose had solidified. "I can't let you do that," he affirmed.

Shay looked desperately to Xavier. "Tell him, he can't do this!"

Xavier raised his hands up in a gesture of surrender, an unspoken reply that he was staying out of it. "The only thing I can secure for the both of you is a safe departure from my home," he told them. "Where you go from there and how you succeed is not for me to dictate. You must decide on your own."

"Shay," Varian grasped her shoulder and nudged it once. "You know this is the best way. You know where south is. Follow the flow of the people, they'll help you find the gates."

"But then where am I to go?" Shay asked. "Where will I find you?"

Varian set his jaw. "Mount Saison." It wasn't far, and being a mountain, it was easy to find. "There's an old quarry on the east side, bled dry years ago. Find me there, and I'll tell you what we have to do next."

"Varian…" Shay bit her lip, her fisted hands shaking at her sides. "Alright. I'll try."

"Xavier," Varian looked to the man. "I won't speak for myself, but she was never here."

Xavier nodded. He raised a finger, a request for them to wait as he turned and made his way up the stairs. He returned with a vellum book in his hands, thick with yellowed pages and embossed with the Coronan emblem on the cover. "Take this," he held it out to Shay. "Of all the books your mother sought in the castle's library, this was the one she read the most."

Shay stared widely at the tome. "How did you…?"

He made an almost witty smile. "I am a man of many talents."

Shay took the book gingerly and magicked it away. Then she reached to hug the blacksmith; her arms barely managed to circle around him. "Thank you," they heard her whimper.

Xavier placed a hand on her head. "I shall pray for you both." He fixed Varian with a genuine look of concern. "Pray that this ends peacefully."

Varian said nothing, but he gave a single nod. "Rudiger," he placed the racoon on the floor, then pointed to Shay. "Go with her. She'll keep you safe."

Rudiger whined, pawing at Varian's leg; the leather of his boot caught on the creature's black claws.

"Come on, don't be like that." Varian reached down and stroked his soft head. "You don't need me, anyway. I'll be fine."

Rudiger continued to whine, but he slowly set himself down and made his way over to Shay, padding hesitantly around her ankles. Killy joined him, sitting patiently on the floor. Shay reached down to pick them up, tucking the hare under her arm and setting the racoon on her shoulder. He wobbled there, unused to the narrow ledge Shay offered. "It's alright," she steadied him. She looked to Varian, fixing him with a desperate stare, the same one she'd given twice before.

Varian spoke first. "If I'm not there within the next two days –"

"Varian –"

"Listen to me! If I'm not there within two days, you go back to your mother's house and find out everything you can about the Moonstone."

"Moonstone? I-I don't –"

"Please!" Varian almost shrieked between his teeth. He sighed shakily. "Please," he said more quietly, "promise you won't come looking for me. What matters is that you stay as far away from Caius as possible. Promise me, Shay, you won't come for me."

"I…" Shay gritted her teeth and glared at the opposite wall, forcing herself to keep from crying. Then she forced herself to meet his eyes. "I promise," she whispered. She took her free hand and made the now-familiar gesture, speaking the spell and disappearing from sight. A few moments later, they saw Xavier's door open and close, a waft of cold air filling the space where she passed.

Varian couldn't help but shiver, and something heavy and empty plummeted into the pit of his churning stomach. A girl who had barely left her home, who had lived all alone for over seven years, and he had just sent her out into the largest city on the continent with no guide and hardly a farewell while her murderous uncle prowled the streets with a seasoned scout patrol. He knew she had never been to Mount Saison; what if she couldn't find the quarry? What if she got hurt? If he wasn't there, he wouldn't be able to stop her magic from shutting her down, like before. What if they didn't even let her through the gates? If Rudiger broke out of the spell and was spotted, they'd take Shay in an instant. He raised a palm to his forehead, shoving his hair out of his face as a cold drop of sweat slid down his jaw, his breathing shallow and tight in his chest. He knew it was the best way, but the emotional weight of his decision was almost maddening because he knew – this time for certain – if something went wrong, he would be the only one at fault for it. And now that he was champion to some otherworldly being, chosen to usher an end to an age-old conflict with a demon from an old wives' tale, the consequences would be too steep for him to recover.

"Varian," Xavier beckoned softly. Varian tore his tortured attention away long enough to see the blacksmith extending a folded piece of parchment out to him. "Under any other circumstance, I would not give this to you. However, since I have technically already aided and abetted you, I doubt I will be digging myself any deeper, for turn of phrase."

Varian pinched the parchment into his shaking hand. "What is it?"

"Something you'll need if you wish to avoid the patrol." Xavier took a step forward, and he suddenly towered over Varian like a bear. "Do not make me regret what I have done for you this day."

Varian tucked the parchment into his pocket and extended an open palm. "I won't," he vowed. Somewhere at the tail-end of it all was his father breathing the free air again. He had to succeed.

Xavier shook his hand, a firm grip that left Varian's arm tingling. "Be cautious, Quirinson. It seems there is far more at play here than soldiers pursuing a traitor."

As they parted and Varian stepped away, he couldn't help but wonder if this was the last friendly face he would see for a long time. As he folded his hood over his head and reached for the door, he stopped to look back at Xavier once more.

"When the time comes," he murmured, "I just want to know…will you stand for me or against me?"

Xavier gave his answer, words only for Varian's ears. Then he watched as the boy ducked swiftly through the doorway and out into the streets. As the door closed and he was left alone, Xavier listened to the quiet of his home and wondered aloud into the air:

"So, it is true, Lyra. I should have believed you the first time. I had hoped too much that you were wrong."

Caius didn't see Varian or Shay leave the blacksmith's shop, but he could smell traces of magic in the air, like blood mixing in water. The scent of it was almost acrid in his nose, and it seemed to set his skin on fire. His hand flinched before he remembered the absence of his brother's sword on his back; for the first time since Haderon Forest, he felt empty without it. His blind eye widened, and he stood still in the city street, ignoring Lieutenant Yaeger's cough of protest.

"Is there a reason why you've stopped?" the lieutenant frowned coldly, glancing irritably at his subordinates. His scouts were too well trained to show any emotion, but he could see unease in their eyes.

"The boy is here," Caius answered in a low, growling voice. He sniffed once, his mouth set in a thin line. His calloused hand reached out and latched onto the arm of a nearby patrol guard. The guard froze, stiff as a board as the witch hunter stared him down with his steely gaze. "Tell your superior to lock all the gates and ground all ships preparing to leave harbor."

"Belay that order, soldier!" Yaeger snapped, flashing his insignia in the guard's direction. He grabbed Caius' arm and tried to force the man to let go. Caius slowly released his grip, training his piercing look on the lieutenant's glaring expression. "It's two days in the stocks for assaulting a guardsman of the crown," Yaeger warned in a seething tone. "If you would care to explain why you suspect the boy being here, I might be willing to turn a blind eye."

"Your target has employed a witch," Caius tersely explained.

Yaeger's face stalled, then cracked as he chuckled under his breath. "You honestly expect me to believe that? There's no such thing as witches –"

"There are," Caius cut him off, his words slicing Yaeger's sentence in half. He loomed over the lieutenant, the scar on his face burning in a white line. "More deadly and dangerous than you can imagine. They feed off of the naivete that has permeated this world, festering like leeches in the dark. Soon, you will know it as plainly as the sun rising in the sky at noonday. There was magic here, which means the alchemist is nearby."

Yaeger did his best not to look shaken. To his credit, the edge in his voice remained. "You have no proof, and if I have no proof, I have no grounds on which to call a city-wide lockdown. The captain would never agree to it."

Caius took one step back and turned to face the castle spires to the north. For a moment, something flickered across his stony face. It might have been regret, or even sadness, but it came and went too quickly for Yaeger to be certain.

"Then take me to your captain," Caius said.

Yaeger sighed. "You know I was planning to anyway, don't you?"

Caius allowed the smallest smirk to tilt his weathered cheeks. "You show promise, lieutenant. We're wasting time. Let's go."