28. Friends Like Family
"Zael?"
Therius sounded unsure, and Zael wasn't sure if he'd ever heard Therius sound so shaken before. "What has he…?'
"I don't know," Zael answered. He couldn't remember a time when he saw Dagran turn into…that demonic form.
Was it the effects of the Outsider's power working on him? Was it corrupting him? Was he corrupting it and using it for such a purpose?
Would the same thing happen to Zael himself if he hadn't controlled it better?
"Zael! Focus!" It was Syrenne yelling, and Zael turned to see Syrenne blocking one of Dagran's attacks. She strained against the blow, even though she blocked it with both swords of hers, but she managed to push back enough so that Dagran retreated a bit. "Whatever Dagran is right now, he's too far gone!"
"R-right." Zael looked towards the hulking, demonic beast that was once his friend, and he gritted his teeth.
He had to kill him. Whether he wanted to or not.
He remembered that there were others he couldn't save; Jirall the first time around, who screamed out that he wanted to be happy, pleading for his mummy in throes of madness. Asthar, who died (by Dagran's hand, Zael knew now) bleeding out with no way to save him before he was gone. Arganan, disappearing in light as he screamed out in both madness and pain as the Outsider destroyed him.
The parade of deaths continued their procession through his head, and he did his best not to think too hard on them as he defended himself from Dagran's attacks. Gryphons controlled by the Gurak, dropping explosives from above and killing knights trying to protect Lazulis. Therius, injured after saving Zael from a sneak attack, pleading with him to go and protected the civilians and insisting that he would be fine. Zepha, stabbed in the chest by Yurick after initially blocking the fire spell surrounding the hidden blade. Lowell, taking the arrow to the chest for Syrenne, trying to flirt with her and stay lighthearted until his last breath.
And then there were the deaths that Zael didn't remember, but now came to mind; Yurick, falling first to Dagran's blade after being stabbed in the chest. Mirania, sobbing and pleading with Dagran to stop until he slashed her throat. Syrenne, beating at him with all the power she had, only to be disarmed last-minute before getting stabbed in the chest.
Was this how they died? He wondered. Or was it just him imagining it all at this point?
He glanced towards the Outsider's half, trying to imagine: How did Calista even fuse herself with it in the first place? Was there a spell he hadn't heard of that she only knew? Was it something she figured out herself?
Either way, if Dagran found a way to reach Calista within the Outsider, or just simply take control over the whole half itself with her in it, then…
Zael shuddered, avoided another one of Dagran's attacks. He didn't want to know what would happen.
He slashed at Dagran, and even as the other pushed back, Zael knew he had to win.
He had to beat him.
"Dagran," Zael called, and Dagran hissed back at him, but he kept talking, "I know you're in there. And I know you know better than this! Stop this already!"
A low growl left the beast that was his friend, before Dagran slashed at him across the chest.
Zael staggered back, groaning. The wound wasn't deep, or so he hoped, but it certainly tore through his armor, causing a cut across his chest. He tried to pay little attention to the stinging sensation, even as Mirania and Arganan both worked to use their healing magic on Zael.
"Dagran!" Zael gritted his teeth, and he felt his right hand warm up. He glanced towards it, seeing it glow a brighter blue than ever, and Zael ran at Dagran.
Their blades clashed, echoing through the area. They were locked in a stalemate for a long time, endless swordplay and screaming around them.
And then Zael got the upper hand, catching Dagran off-guard, off-balance. Dagran tried steadying himself, but Zael already had the sword through his heart.
The beast fell to its knees. Its entire form shifted, and faded, revealing the human Dagran once was. He choked, dropping his sword, before falling forwards.
"Dagran!"
Zael ran to his side, caught him in his arms, turning him so he faced upwards. He already saw the bleeding wound, too fatal to treat, and the orange Outsider's mark was fading away. "D-Dagran…"
"Don't…waste your energy on me." A cough left Dagran as he looked up at Zael. His eyes seemed weary, but the faintest smile rested on his face. "You've…become stronger."
"Dagran," Zael breathed, "I wish – I wish things were different–!"
"It's fine, it's just…" He coughed, and this time there was blood, "I'm sorry. I messed up your lives. I'm sorry for everything I did…" His eyes traveled over the others, before he looked towards Zael. "I'm sorry for dragging you into this. We should've been…happy, with what we had. It's just…"
"Don't talk!" Zael pleaded, before he looked towards Arganan and Mirania. "You have to help him, please-!"
Dagran firmly shook his head. "Don't." He rasped. "You know…" Dagran coughed again, but Zael saw the light fading in his eyes. "We really did…have friends like family."
"Dagran!"
Dagran was gone. His eyes didn't fully close, staying half-lidded as his last breath left him. He kept bleeding out, but he looked oddly peaceful despite his deathly state. Zael held him tight until his body went cold.
"Zael?"
Zael let go of Dagran and laid him down, closing his eyes. It was the least he could do for him, before he looked up at Asthar. The General offered him an apologetic glance, quiet, before speaking again.
"I'm…sorry. About Dagran." Asthar managed quietly.
"Not your fault." Zael muttered back. Before any of the others could say a thing, the Outsider's half glowed; a dim glow, at first, but then it grew brighter.
"What's happening!?" It was Yurick yelping, but Mirania was heard calling out.
"I-I don't know!"
Zael tried to peer into the light of the Outsider. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Arganan backing away, fear overtaking his good eye and the rest of his face along with it. Syrenne and Lowell braced themselves.
But the Outsider's glow faded and did no harm. An arm, glowing, extended itself from the Outsider. Zael heard her voice.
Zael…Zael…
Zael took a step towards the hand reaching out for him. Then another.
"What are you doing!?" It was Therius calling out, partly cautious, partly worried.
Zael ignored him and grabbed the hand extended to him…before pulling. Hard. His right hand glowed blue and bright as he did so, and he gritted his teeth at the shock radiating up his arm and through his chest.
Calista entirely emerged from the Outsider's rock itself, heaving a heavy gasp, and nearly collapsed into Zael's arms. Zael grabbed onto her, holding her close. He noticed her glowing red, before the glow faded, and a few gasps left her.
"Calista!?" Zael felt his heart skip a beat as he did his best to examine her. She looked worn, tired, bruised even.
But she was alive and breathing right here, and right now.
"C-Calista…" He heard Arganan whisper. The others were silent, stunned. Calista looked up at Zael, and her blue eyes met his.
"Zael," She breathed, before she broke into tears. Zael wrapping his arms around her tight, letting her bury her head into his chest, and he heard her sobs – relieved and pained all at once. "I-I'm…sorry…I…"
"You have nothing to apologize for." He breathed. "I'm here, and I'm sorry. I let everyone down."
Zael could only do his best to breathe as Calista cried. It lasted a long, long time.
