25. Lowell and Zesha
"What do you mean, Dagran killed us?"
Zael swallowed as Yurick, Asthar, Mirania and Therius all exchanged awkward glances. It hadn't been Zael that asked the question either, but Arganan, whose good eye widened.
"He betrayed us." Yurick looked Arganan in the eye. The younger man frowned, before he shook his head. "He was working with the Gurak this whole time. He framed Jirall for murdering Asthar, and…"
"And then he killed us after we defeated Zangurak. He took his power."
Zael tried ignoring the urge to vomit. His guts felt like they twisted even more than before. "Is he…still here?"
"Dagran? Probably." Yurick sighed. "Of course, Mirania and I were stuck here the whole one-hundred years, so we don't know what's happened since."
"Maybe it's best that you didn't know." Arganan sighed, shaking his head. "We should keep going. Sooner we reach Zangurak and Dagran, the sooner we can stop whatever they're doing and get Lazulis back to normal."
"Agreed." Asthar frowned, and the party figured that it was best to keep moving forwards.
Despite continuing the journey, Zael wasn't sure how to feel. Confused? Angry? Both? Something else? These new truths, along with the new memories, made everything feel jumbled up inside, like some puzzle that he didn't have all the pieces to. And he didn't have any edge pieces to guide him well, either.
"I'm sorry." He heard Therius murmur, and he noticed Yurick look towards the white knight.
Yurick raised a brow as he asked, "What for?"
"That you were betrayed by someone you so trusted." Therius stated, as the group kept moving. "It's not something I wish on anyone. Though in a world so politically-fueled as this, I should've expected this. I knew Jirall was framed, but not by…"
Zael bit his lower lip, remembering a conversation he once had with Dagran. How Dagran hadn't denied framing Jirall to begin with.
"I should have known better," Zael admitted, and he noticed Therius and Yurick looking towards him as he explained. "Dagran…I knew he framed Jirall, but I never questioned that Dagran himself might have done the deed. All I knew was that he wanted to save me from rotting in prison."
"At least we know better now." Mirania tried to reassure Zael. He glanced towards her, hesitating, but he nodded.
"I suppose we do."
It didn't make the pain and confusion feel any better.
As they entered another large room, Zael heard a voice call out.
"Zael!? Is that you!?"
The voice brought back more memories; a blond man flirting with countless people, teasing and joking with Syrenne, always ready to bring out ice magic whenever needed in battle.
"Lowell!?" Zael heard Mirania gasp, and a soft chuckle left the newfound voice.
"Yep, that's me. Mirania, Yurick…all of you. You're looking lively. I guess most of you died like I did, huh?"
"All of us except for Zael." Yurick frowned, crossing his arms.
"Well, at least Zael's not dead. Good on you for staying alive." A sigh left Lowell, before he continued speaking. "I can't believe I died like this, sometimes. I thought I'd bought everyone time when I took the hit…for her." Lowell's voice trembled, albeit briefly. Zael vaguely recalled seeing Lowell in his mind's eye, taking an arrow to the heart for Syrenne. Syrenne crying over him, begging him to open his eyes. "But I guess I guessed wrong. I know what happened to them afterwards."
Zael swallowed. He had a feeling he knew, but he had to ask. "None of the others made it, did they?"
"No. I didn't see them, but…" A low sigh left Lowell before he continued. "I heard their final screams. And I wished I could've done something to stop it."
Red light suddenly appeared in the middle of the room. Zael noticed Yurick flinch as a Gurak figure stepped out from the light, before taking out two twin swords. He looked much like Zepha, except his hair was thinner, and a malevolent red aura glowed around his entire being.
"Oh, him!" Lowell was heard exclaiming. "That's Zesha, Zepha's twin brother. They were two peas in a pod, honestly. Syrenne and the others managed to keep him distracted while you ran ahead to face Zangurak and save Calista, but…well, he's had a hundred years to recover. You get the idea."
Zael winced at how distorted Zesha looked. For some reason, he had a feeling that wasn't how he looked a hundred years ago. Some parts were familiar, but there was a certain malice in Zesha's eyes that felt uncomfortable. "I don't think it was a good recovery."
"But don't worry!" Lowell suddenly chuckled. "I know you've got it in you. Take this guy down for me, yeah?"
Zael heard Arganan audibly groan. "Easy for you to say!"
Zesha wasted no time flinging golden arrows at the entire group. Zael knew that he'd be shish-kebabed if he didn't dodge them, but the others, being ghosts and very much dead already, would be fine. He rolled out of the way, before rushing at Zesha, swinging at him with his sword.
Zesha vanished, only for Zael stumble as a blow him in the side. He stumbled, turning, and barely blocked a sword swinging at him from Zesha.
Fire blasted at Zesha, and Zesha growled at Yurick, who stood a few paces from him. A few gold arrows came flying towards Yurick, and Asthar got in the way, blocking them with his shield.
"Focus on taking Zesha down!" Zael heard Mirania call. "We can take care of ourselves!"
Zael nodded, using the chance for Zesha's distraction to swipe at his lower leg. Zesha teleported away, and Zael dove downwards. The whizz of golden arrows flew above where he once stood.
Green light, nature magic, shot itself at Zesha this time, but Zesha teleported out of the way. He reappeared above Zael, swinging his swords downwards, but Zael rolled out of the way. He got up fast, swinging his sword at him, and the two began to clash swords with each other.
Zael took one look in Zesha's eyes as they clashed blades, and Zael saw anger, thirsting for vengeance. He vaguely remembered Dagran having that same, seething look in his eyes.
Why was that?
Because Zael and the others fought Dagran a hundred years ago, after he betrayed them? Because he hadn't expected them to catch up with him, just as he took the power of the Outsider?
Wait.
Something didn't make sense. Zael frowned. How did Dagran get the Outsider's power? Wasn't it supposed to be just him and Zangurak?
He had to focus. He'd ask about it later, maybe. He slashed at Zesha, before knocking one sword out of his hand.
"I'm sorry about your brother," Zael whispered, just before he dodged one of Zesha's attacks.
Zesha didn't respond, though he looked like he had a lot to say.
A lot that he'd never get to say, as Zael slashed open the other's throat. Zesha choked, dropping his other sword, falling to his knees. Zael closed his eyes as he felt blood droplets splatter across his face and chin briefly, before he opened his eyes to see Zesha clutching at his throat, desperately trying to breathe.
Zael knew that he could watch Zesha bleed out. It would be worthy revenge for what he did to kill Lowell.
He decided otherwise, kneeling down. He pushed Zesha's chin up to face him and to get access to his neck. Before Zesha could do a thing, Zael broke his neck.
The light instantly faded in Zesha's eyes as he fell forwards, and Zael caught him in his arms, before lowering him down to the ground.
"Is he…?" He heard Therius breathe, and Zael looked up to see Therius and the others approaching, nodding.
"He's gone." Zael confirmed. "He's dead. Permanently."
"I see." Therius looked a bit grim, biting the inside of his cheek briefly as he eyed Zesha's corpse. His gaze then drifted towards Zael. "Are you alright?"
"I'm okay. Could use some healing."
Mirania quickly rushed to Zael's side, kneeling beside him. "Here." She held a hand over him, and white healing magic restored Zael once more. "Do you feel better?"
"Yeah." Zael offered her a small grin. 'Thanks, Mirania."
As he got up, he noticed Mirania lean over Zesha's corpse, before closing the Gurak's eyes with a hand. Zael felt that it was fitting. Even if the Gurak was their enemy, he deserved that small respect, he supposed. And at least both brothers would be united in death, now.
"We should get going." Zael decided to ask later about Dagran. Right now, they had to get to Calista. And…
"Hey!"
Zael looked up to see Lowell approaching. He looked the same way Zael remembered him; that signature scarf around his neck, all the trappings befitting of a merc, but…he looked worried.
"Have you seen Syrenne?" He asked.
Zael swallowed, shook his head. "No, I haven't…"
"We haven't seen her either." Mirania confirmed.
Zael heard Asthar clear his throat uncomfortably, before he spoke up. "I hate to worry you further, Lowell, but…it's possible Syrenne could be further up ahead."
"And Calista, too." Arganan muttered, shaking his head. "We need to keep going."
"Right." Zael started to move ahead, just before he heard Lowell speak.
"Oh, and Zael?" He looked towards Lowell, and he saw the other grin a little. "Thanks for saving me."
