Alright, I think it's about time I finally wrap this up. If things go well, the remaining chapters should be published soon.

But, as we all know, things never go well with the Gone Rogue series.

QUICK RECAP: After retrieving the artefact Herskagul wanted, Skotur tells Jack and Brigul that it's used to bring back Karthuul, a powerful (and hostile) fire spirit. She intends to do this in order to keep the Blight (a kind of sickness) in check using Karthuul's powers. But can she contain the spirit well enough to prevent him from posing a threat to the Aether at large? Brigul decides no and kills Skotur; with a reluctant Jack's help, she takes the artefact with her to prevent Herskagul's plans from coming to fruition.

That's about it.

Chapter twenty-seven: I choose differently

Herskagul looked up at the device before her. The rock-and-wood structure covered almost half of the room, its gears and wheels at the side turning and twisting busily. A few Valkyries were flying and climbing all over, adding components and fixing damage. A few finishing touches before the artefact came into their possession.

She watched them work. Then she glanced up at the intricate golden swirls on top of it. Elegant, as well as functional—the spot where the artefact would do its work and bring back the tyrant. Now, only to hope that Jack had found it. If he hadn't, she might have to hire or convince someone else, and given how much infamy her name had garnered throughout the Aether, that wouldn't be easy to do.

The door slammed. She didn't react until the newcomer stood next to her.

"My Queen," the Valkyrie whispered. "There's a problem."

"Explain."

"It's Skotur," the Valkyrie said. "She just got resurrected."

"So she died in the Labyrinth, then?" Were Jack and Brigul alive, at least? She wanted to ask, but the messenger spoke again.

"No, my Queen. She died after they left the Labyrinth."

Herskagul glanced at her.

"They found the artefact," the messenger said. "And they found out what it was used for…"

Oh, no.

Pity. She'd intentionally kept the real purpose of the device hidden from most of the Valkyries—something that hadn't been easy to do, given how vocal the Sun Sect had been on the matter. Only her Royal Guard and some Knights—like Skotur herself—knew about it.

Brigul was loyal, but also idealistic. She would have to make a choice between those two. The same went for Jack; as desperate as he was to return to the Overworld, he had challenged warriors and gods and somehow lived to tell the tale. What was to say he wouldn't do it again, if only to ensure that Karthuul wouldn't someday become a threat to him and his friends?

"Have Skotur lead a squad to where she died," Herskagul ordered. "We might still be able to track them."

"What of the human? Since he knows, should we…?"

"No," she commanded. "I want the human alive."

Jack and Brigul barely spoke as they made their way from island to island. They had taken a turn and gone into a direction away from the Sanctuary. Brigul led the way from above, guided by the map. Jack was half afraid she'd lead him into a trap, but what choice did he have besides following her?

They kept moving without pause. Jack clutched the artefact and the axe. He couldn't afford to drop either, though he did feel tempted to drop the sphere into the abyss below. Why didn't Brigul just have him do that? Wouldn't the artefact be lost then? It certainly would make using the Aerclouds a little less risky for him.

Before he knew it, the sunlight was starting to dim, and the sky began to color red. Dusk. They had been moving all day besides the occasional stop for food and water. Brigul—who had apparently also noticed the descending sun—landed next to him and led him to a cave nearby.

Once in the cave, Jack sat down against the wall with a sigh. He was more tired than he had realized. Gravitite made things easier even when damaged, but he himself was still just a human.

Brigul sat down near the opposite wall, placing her lantern next to her. She still held onto her greatsword.

Jack glanced at her through his visor. They remained silent for the longest time.

"She won't stop, will she?" Jack finally said. "You wanted to take this thing to the Overworld to hide it from her, but she'll turn the place upside-down if she has to."

Brigul shook her head. "She won't start a war if she can avoid it. I can't safely say the same for Karthuul."

Jack looked at her. "Why'd you do it?" he asked. "I thought you'd follow Herskagul to the death."

"To the death, yes. But not to what she's doing right now. I choose differently from her. Like you once did."

"I thought you valued honor and loyalty above all else, and you hated everything any human had ever done."

"I took an oath to follow the High Queen. I also took an oath to protect the Aether."

"From what? Karthuul? Or the Blight?"

"Both."

Jack shook his head. "It's one or the other."

"No, it's not."

He scoffed. "I used to think I could somehow side with humans and mobs, but you can't have your cake and eat it."

She frowned. "Don't patronize me. I'm older than you."

"You don't act like it."

"You're just cynical."

"Says the one who openly hates everything to do with humans."

"You're not exactly helping that image!"

"You haven't given me any reason to give a shit."

"You shouldn't need a reason."

"Now who's being patronizing?"

She glared at him, but didn't push the point. Another silence fell. Jack glanced to the cave's entrance, where the light of the descending sun bathed the rock in an orange glow.

"One of us should keep guard tonight," Jack mumbled.

"I'll do it," Brigul muttered. "You should rest. And don't even think about using that." She gestured to the artefact.

Jack looked at the sphere beside him. "Why does it kill Valkyries, anyway?" he asked.

"Isn't it obvious? Its creator never expected us to do anything other than destroy it." She sighed. "I guess everyone was wrong in that regard."

"How did you not know about Herskagul's plans until now?"

She shook her head. "Most of us never bother to ask questions. Only Valkyrie Queens really know the Will of Arkenzus, and if the Will says it, then we must follow it."

The Will of Arkenzus…? "Tristan mentioned the Will. But he said every Queen—"

"Interprets it differently," Brigul said. "It's about maintaining order over chaos, but only a Queen is born with the ability to know the details. Even then, no two Queens rule the same way."

"I guess controlling the Blight is one way of establishing order," Jack said.

"Resurrecting Karthuul isn't."

"Yeah, killing evil spirits sounds like a good way too."

"Exactly."

"Uh-huh. So where were you when Áhýdan had his little jailbreak?"

She turned to face him, frowning. "Defending against Áhýdan would've been the Overseers' duty, not ours."

He scoffed. "Oh, yeah, sure. You knew about Áhýdan, but you didn't do shit to help me. Now you expect me to help you fight Karthuul?"

"Now who's acting too young for their age? Herobrine would never have allowed us into Áhýdan's prison anyway."

He slammed his fist against the wall. "How many of these demons am I going to fight after this huh?! And what am I going to get out of it?! When is it going to stop?! I'm just…" He sighed. "I'm just some guy. I'm not even in my twenties yet."

Brigul didn't respond to that. A glance told him her glare had softened a tad.

Jack shook his head, looking away. Another silence fell, and this time it stayed that way. Jack shifted and closed his eyes. He didn't feel like taking the armor off—it'd be too risky if they were attacked—but maybe he could get some sleep with it on. He'd done it before.

He hoped he wouldn't have to do it again after today.