Onwards!

Ari grunted as she paced, glancing up every once in a while as the stray groan or clicking of bones alerted her to hostility. Vreagon frowned, shifting uneasily.

"Are you sure Mnem doesn't mind you down here?"

"Yeah, yeah," Ari spoke distractedly, waving her hand as she attempted to make out the scrawl on the page. "I can't read this… can you move the torch a little closer?"

Vreagon nodded, moving toward her with his eyes on the entrance to the cave. How no creatures had made their way here was beyond his understanding – he quickly decided that it was also beyond his capacity to care.

He snapped back to attention as the girl read aloud. "'And the creature lifted its arms as it sailed through the air, breathing a flame so hot and so large that it very nearly destroyed us all…' What…?"

Vreagon shrugged, looking up again. "…I think we should go. It's getting closer."

"No, I'm still-"

"Ari, damn it – Why don't you just take some with you? You can read them at home."

She frowned but did as he suggested, grabbing a total of six journals, jogging up the stairs after the blond male.

As soon as she reached the house she sat on the bed, listening to Mnem's soft breathing as he slept. He hadn't moved much in the past day or two – but with his leg still healing she supposed it was best that he didn't.

She looked at the sky and closed her eyes, the book in her hands still making little to no sense. Without the proper training, she hadn't the slightest on how to even attempt to translate the illegible scrawl. Each journal was written by a different person – some were easier to read than others, but it was this one that interested her the most.

" ' We were lost, the reddened walls and sky twisting our reality into one of darkness and pain, our souls writhing against the ground in violent, elongated shadows. We were able to secure what we called 'Glowstone', and we plan to trade it around the continent. I certainly hope that the average man or woman never finds – or assembles – the portal.'…"

"nngh…"

Ari jumped, looking behind her as Mnem's eyes opened. "… Glad to see you're awake." She spoke softly, uneasily, watching the man as his attention flicked to the notebooks and back to her face, releasing a low groan and raising his hand to his forehead.

"Ari…"

"I was curious." She looked back down at the paper, at the drawn image of glowstone. She pulled out her own cut of the material, chuckling. "So that's where Papa had gotten it."

"Yeah?" Mnem's speech was slurred with sleep, his eyes drooping even more now than they had before he'd been allowed to rest.

"Mm. Papa would never tell me where he got it, just told me it was called 'Glowstone' and gave me a few pieces. I've been using and reusing them since."

"So I've noticed."

"…Mnem… we need to talk about…"

"No, we don't. We've talked enough. It doesn't matter, now. Just… let's just leave it alone for now."

Ari furrowed her brow and set down the journals, facing the man. "You're never going to be forgiven until you tell me why."

"I'm surprised you'd forgive me at all."

"Keep it up and I won't."

Mnem sighed and sat up with the help of his lover, the girl keeping his leg straight and still as he moved.

"…I…My father had written in his notes that the portal to The End had to have been located inside your village."

"Clearly he was full of it."

"Well obviously, but I was young… I didn't… I guess even though he was a raving lunatic I still wanted to believe that I could end it. The portal, I mean. I thought he knew what he was talking about, and that your village, for some reason, worshipped that Dragon."

"Yes. Of course."

"So when the opportunity presented itself I guess I just… panicked. I followed in father's footsteps for a brief time. Yes, I feel awful about it, no need to chastise me. I just got caught up in the thoughts that maybe I could save the rest of the world even if it meant the destruction of a few lives."

Ari refused to look behind her, closing her eyes. "And?"

"And what? Obviously I discovered that father had been wrong and I attempted to salvage what was left but I'd already managed to miss the chance to save a few lives. I really tried, Ari."

Ari remained silent, sighing and looking away. "...I just… Why did you wait until now to…?"

Mnem averted his eyes, closing them after a few moments and grinding his teeth. "How am I supposed to bring that up? 'Hey honey, I love you – by the way, I was what ruined your life'!"

Ari paused before letting out a short laugh, setting the books on the bedside table and scooting back, brushing long brown hair behind her ears and laying back, slipping her legs onto the bed as well. She faced Mnem, who winced, prepared for the girl to strike.

Instead she broke into tears, holding one of his hands. "You aren't forgiven," she started after a few moments, wiping away one of her tears, "but I'm sorry for you getting hurt. I should've just waited until we were somewhere safe before…"

Mnem shook his head, grunting. "Just forget it. Don't worry about it, I deserved it."

Ari pouted and snuggled into the soft pillow beneath her head, listening to Alistair play with String in his room. Rio purred softly by their bed, and Duck clucked loudly by the window of the main room, flapping his wings loudly in what sounded like panic.

Ari lifted her head slowly, frowning. String went silent and Rio popped up her head, green eyes directed toward the chicken. Ari gave her a warning glare, but the cat was up before she could stop her, launching herself up onto the edge of the window. String joined both her and Duck there, barking and growling. Saliva dripped from his jowls as he held his tail straight up, turning to the door and scratching at it violently. He resorted to hitting his head on it twice before looking at Ari, the girl standing quickly and looking at the window.

A shadow stood in the distance, baggy black clothing fluttering in the wind. Its face was obscured by a hood, and every inch of skin was covered – her heart leapt in her throat and she grabbed her diamond sword from her personal trunk, throwing open the door. Mnem had attempted to stand but Alistair stopped him, two-toned eyes staring in the direction of where Ari had disappeared.

String at her side and Vreagon catching up to her with his bow and arrows, Ari held up the sword as the figure remained still. She shushed String and the dog begrudgingly silenced, lowering his head dangerously and preparing himself to launch.

"Who are you?" Ari shouted, and the figure failed to move. Vreagon frowned and raised the bow, preparing to strike.

Alistair frowned. "…Are you sure mom won't get mad again?" he murmured, and Mnem shrugged.

"Probably will. But I have to go out there and see what's going on, I can't just lay here. Help me up."

They spent several moments hauling Mnem to his feet and Alistair wrapped an arm around his father's waist, looking up with a worried frown. The pain etched on Mnem's face was a dead giveaway. He was in no shape to walk – and certainly not to fight, if there was a fight to be had.

And indeed, it seemed there was. At least, to Alistair it had. The boy stood in shocked silence as Vreagon released the arrow, String following its lead angrily.

Mnem jerked suddenly out of Alistair's grip and limped forward, "Stop!" he shouted, and the two friends turned in shock, Ari's eyes flicking between her son and her lover, huffing in annoyance.

"Alistair-"

"Dad told me to!"

"What the hell-"

"Guys!" Mnem snapped, looking up at the figure. The arrow had missed and String was cowering before the shadow. The hooded figure hadn't budged, and Mnem, with Alistair's nervous help, made his way to them.

He reached up with shaking hands, gray eyes wide and brimming in surprised and relieved tears as he pushed the hood back.

An older woman stood, her dark hair done up into a bun. She stared at the younger man before her apathetically before her slightly wrinkled face wrinkled even more, her smile brightening up her face. Her bright eyes twinkled as she pulled the man into her arms, holding him tightly. Mnem held his hands around her back in shock, unable to formulate a complete sentence.

"How… how did you find- I mean… where have you-… When…- Where…"

"English, child." Her voice was smooth and even, putting all around at ease. Vreagon lowered his weapon, as did Ari, though the woman was already standing directly behind her lover.

"And… who is this?" Ari grunted. Mnem closed his eyes, pulling away from the woman and leaning against both his son and Ari, keeping his aching leg off of the ground.

"…It's nice to see you again, Mother."