One year later
She felt the warm and gentle hand against her shoulder as she shrunk further back in on herself, her legs pulled tightly to her chest with her arms wrapped tightly around them, her head squashed downward and her eyes squeezed shut. She let herself slip away from sentiment, let the feeling of fire and screams comfort her even as the whispers filled her every thought once more. The hand moved from her shoulder to her hair, the gentle touch sending shivers down her spine. Somehow this was another one of their tricks to tease her, to lure her in and destroy her completely yet the sounds of torment faded away and a deafening wind stirred up out of nowhere and she lifted her head despite herself and locked eyes with a familiar face.
"Kalais?" She whispered, her voice quaking and distant as if believing she were still caught in a dream.
"Come my dear, we do not have much time." Kalais said simply, offering her hand and pulling the woman to her feet.
"Where are we going? What is happening?" She murmured, her eyes darting about her in fear and confusion at the strangely clouded path they walked, fog hiding the surroundings on either side of them. Kalais did not reply only grasped onto her hand tighter and led her further through the mist, her pace swift and determined, her footsteps as sure of the path as if she had travelled them for many years. She slowed when an Elder dressed in similar garb to Kalais met them on the path and he inclined his head slightly, a gesture of respect between those both in high power.
"Hunn, what have you learnt?" Kalais asked immediately, as of one in a great hurry.
"Two others are prepared to help with your cause. They are on the road as we speak." Hunn explained, his voice calm and fluid. He gestured with his hand further up the path where two other Elders, a man and a woman appeared from the thick mist and joined their group, nodding stiffly as they approached.
"Laina, Inal. We must begin immediately." Kalais went on, her words respectful yet still tinged with an undertone of impatience. The two gave curt nods before Inal spoke, saying, "We may only have the power to return her in mind and body, no more." Kalais sighed as if having already explained this before then turned to the woman standing a few stepped removed from them, her face haunted and her hands trembling.
"Then we must hope that she has the strength to overcome whatever she should face." Kalais said, her voice low as if she were reprimanding herself for something that was clearly out of her control. They could only do so much and even what they did was likely to call attention to themselves and risk their power. But this great injustice had to be undone.
"Then we are ready." Laina replied, her voice airy yet strong and she motioned for the woman to stand within their circle and when she stood at its centre they raised palm to palm and closed their eyes, the howling wind turning into a deathly silence, no breeze stirred and the mist grew thicker about them. The four Elders were surrounded in blue and white light, a sound much like that of soft rain on fresh dirt coming to her ears as she stood timidly within the circle of light and felt a strange sensation wash over her. Like walking from a warm room into the icy chill of winter, the feeling hit her hard in the face as frigid air filled her nose and her throat and her lungs burned with its cool quality. She felt sparks of power striking her all at once as an unbearable ringing filled her ears before her mind was swallowed by darkness and sound ceased.