Alvis led them into a small room, where the chill was otherworldly. The same kind of chill that Agniratha had had in the aftermath of everything that had happened, Vanea noted. And then, her eyes fell on her brother. His shoulders tense as he looked around.

"So then." Egil walked across the floor, his boots thudding against it as he placed a hand on the empty pedestal in the middle of the room. "What was kept here, hm?"

"The Monado used by Zanza." The name Zanza sent a shiver down Vanea's spine as Alvis spoke and moved to stand across from Egil. "It was locked away within these walls, until recently."

"Recently?" She spoke up, sharing a look with Linada. "What happened, then?"

"A Homs was led here, unknowing of what awaited him." Alvis sighed. "The poor thing took it, and thus Zanza awoke."

Vanea moved to Egil's side, watching him tense and break under the words. "Alvis, please, no more!"

Linada also stepped forward. "You're worsening his condition so-"

"No." Egil spoke again, standing straight. "I want to know more. How do you know of this Homs taking the Monado?"

Alvis tilted his head to the side. "I suppose you could say I had… a vision."

"A vision, so you can see the future, can you?" Egil leaned over the pedestal, studying him. "And how is that possible?"

"I once touched the Monado, as a young boy." Alvis spoke as if this was the most casual of actions. "I come from a long line of seers, though only few of my family gain the gift of foresight."

"How convenient." Egil drawled out the words and Vanea felt fear in her chest. He didn't talk like this unless angry. "You just so happen to get this blessing and so happen to see this Homs take the Monado?"

"Indeed. I have been blessed with luck." Alvis nodded, not even blinking at Egil's accusation of this being planned. "And I suppose that luck continued when I ran into you."

"You really intend to call it luck?" Egil grimaced, turning away. "You are something else entirely, Alvis."

"I will take that as a compliment." Alvis chuckled. "As I could say the same about you."

"I have no need for compliments from one who touched the Monado!"

"Now, now…" Linada spoke up. "It sounds as if Alvis has had limited contact with it, Egil. There's no reason to believe he is as much of a threat as Zanza was."

"Anyone who touched the Monado is a threat, as far as I'm concerned." His voice was cold as he spoke and Vanea wanted to scream. "We should-"

"Brother!" Vanea spoke up again. "Please, don't speak like this! You don't have to trust Alvis, but there is no reason to jump to conclusions!"

"Vanea…" His eyes widened and he seemed to come out of his thoughts for a moment. "I…"

"It's quite alright. I understand the hesitation." Alvis spoke again, moving to stand in front of Egil and Vanea. "If you would like, we can separate from each other as soon as we leave the mountain. I'm sure you can find your way on your own after that."

Egil stared at him and Vanea was afraid she had no idea what he was going to say. She could feel the tension in the room and took a step back, her shoulders shaking. Linada was quick to move to her side, rubbing her shoulders, but it didn't help.

All she could do was stare at Egil's back, eyes wide and filled with terror.

"We…" Egil looked away with a grimace. "We'll have to see what happens when we make it there. You may still have some useful directions to share."

"I see." Alvis smiled, but Vanea swore he was shooting it to her more than her brother at that moment. "Then we should rest for now, it's getting late and it will just get colder from here on out."

"Ah." Egil nodded and turned, holding Vanea's hand and leading her to a wall. "Let's bunker down for the night."

She curled up next to him, reminded of the many nights they'd done this when he came home crying. A reminder of how she had always protected him, from words and from people. A reminder of how she had failed to protect him from the tragedy of their people and the scars that it left.

She closed her eyes, holding back tears, and began to drift into sleep.


"Linada, you're still awake?" Egil was shocked when the doctor moved from next to Vanea to in front of him. "I thought you of all people would be asleep right now."

"Well…" She glanced at Vanea and Alvis, both asleep on either of Egil's shoulders, before speaking again. "I wanted to talk to you. You've been on edge since we stepped in here."

"Yes, well…" He looked away, burying his face in Vanea's hair for a moment. "It just-"

"Egil." Her voice was firm, the same voice she used when he was avoiding the question during his appointments. "How have your hallucinations been?"

He pulled his face from his sister's hair with a sigh. "Is that really something you want to talk about, Linada? We have bigger things to focus on."

"You're still my patient, Egil." Linada glared at him. "Don't think I won't worry about your mental condition when we're doing something so stressful."

"They…" He looked at his feet. "They've been worse, since we've gotten here. I can hear them screaming out, begging me to take the revenge they deserve."

"I see…" Linada frowned, thinking deeply. "Are they as disturbing as usual? Worse?"

"About the same, I think…" He closed his eyes, letting out a shaky sigh. "I think I've gotten used to this."

"We'll still have to work on that, but… Alright." Linada nodded. "As long as they aren't distressing you, the last thing you need is more stress right after you almost died."

"You're telling me…" He snorted, but the snort soon turned into a sigh. "...I'm tired, Linada."

"I know, Egil." She frowned. "When this is over, we'll work on your insomnia, alright? For now, just try and rest your eyes, even a bit."

He nodded as she moved next to the sleeping Vanea. "Thank you, Linada."

"I'm a doctor, it's what I'm here for."