People often ask me how I know what the Maker’s will for me is. Well, the truth is that I don’t. Most of the time, anyway. The Maker moves in mysterious ways. Sometimes I get a feeling, an impression that I need to be somewhere. At other times, I “coincidentally” happen to be at the right place at the right time. I’ve learned to simply trust in the Maker. I find that when I don’t, bad things follow…

  -Arvad Malachi

  Galen awoke screaming in agony, his chest on fire.

  Literally.

  His back arched as he felt the strongest Fire Affinity Healing Art he’d ever experienced searing and mending his chest wound shut.

  Once it was done, he was left writhing in pain from the aftereffects and gasping on the ground.

  His vision faded in and out, and he saw two men standing over him. One clad in armor as black as knight, and the other in regular armor of far less quality.

  Both, however, were Shadows of Athanasius.

  “That was too close,” sighed the one in regular armor.

  “You fool!” hissed the one in dark armor. “You nearly killed our Champion! I ought to kill you myself for that blunder. You better hope Morpheus, or Ether forbid Lord Athanasius, doesn’t hear about this.”

  “They won’t know if you don’t say anything,” said the first.

  “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t,” demanded the second.

  “Because you’ll get punished too.”

  “Not nearly as much as you will.”

  “Still, a blunder this bad? Why risk it?”

  “...Fine.”

  He blacked out after that.

  ***

  When he next awoke, he found himself being carried over the shoulder of the Shadow in dark armor. He made sure to remain still and not give any indication he’d awoken. It was pointless, however, as the Shadow suddenly said, “Your breathing changed, Champion. I take it you’ve awoken?”

  Galen didn’t respond. How the hell could he tell?!

  He moved quickly.

  It was reckless, he knew, but considering these were Shadows he was facing, he couldn’t afford to not use Ether. He didn’t know for how long he’d been out, but even if he’d gone past limit on his half dosage of Ether Intolerance medication, he’d rather die than be taken back to the Dominion.

  With a burst of Ether enhancement, he struck with his elbow at the helm of the Shadow.

  He immediately regretted it when his arm shook from pain of the recoil. “OW!!!”

  Maybe physically striking near indestructible metal armor wasn’t such a good idea…

  The Shadow carrying him had the gall to laugh. “I dare say, Champion. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone try to strike at me with their bare hands before. At least, not while I’m armored. That was rather amusing.”

  Galen began to struggle, and the Shadow chuckled some more as he set him down, as though he were a squirming puppy trying to assert its independence.

  He faced both this man and his compatriot, the one who’d nearly killed Aria and shoved a sword into his chest. He made sure to give that one an extra intense glare. The second Shadow, the undercover one, was no longer wearing the armor he had before. Now, he simply wore a brown tunic and dark gray trousers.

  Galen noted with some discomfort and panic that he didn’t have Redian with him.

  The dark armored Shadow turned and smacked the man on the arm. Rather hard at that.

  The man grunted, rubbing his arm as he stepped forward before, surprisingly, bowing at the waist. “Forgive me, Champion. My own blunder nearly cost you your life.”

  Galen frowned down at the bowed form of the man. He was full of openings and just asking for it. Plus, he wasn’t suffering an allergic reaction to using the power earlier, so his Ether Intolerance medication must still be in his system.

  Having noted that, he shrugged, burned some Ether, then brought his leg up and slammed it down in an axe kick.

  The heel of his foot collided into the man’s shoulder blade, right between his neck and shoulder.

  The man didn’t even budge an inch.

  Instead, much like what happened when he’d tried to elbow strike the other Shadow’s helm, the recoil of the hit reverberated throughout his leg. Galen was once more left hissing with pain and clutching at his leg, hopping on one leg. It had felt as though he were striking at a statue without Ether!

  “Damn! What are you MADE of?!” he hissed through gritted teeth.

  The man simply stood back upright, and stood at parade rest, hands behind his back. “You’d be amazed how far Ether enhancement can go, Champion. You wouldn’t be able to harm us no matter how hard you tried.”

  Galen glared at him. “Tufani and I seemed to do just fine earlier. I distinctly remember running Redian, my sword, through the sides of your chest.”

  The man tensed at that, jaw clenching before he relaxed and responded, “Yes… I do commend you for that. You and that elf spawn were only able to do that because I let my guard down and underestimated you two. Still, you nearly had me back there. It was by Athanasius’s grace that your sword missed my heart. Nearly killing a Shadow, especially at your level, is commendable.

  However, I do not plan on making the same mistake again. So I reiterate. You wouldn’t be able to harm us no matter how hard you tried. So please, do not needlessly struggle, Champion. We’d hate to have to knock you out.”

  “I’m sure you’d like that,” he spat back.

  “I’m no barbarian, Champion,” the unarmored Shadow sighed. “I do not relish the thought of bringing you harm. On the contrary… the thought makes me rather uncomfortable. So please, do not force our hand.”

  “Like I’m supposed to believe you,” Galen hissed.

  The other Shadow sighed through his helm, “I do not know what lies the Rebellion has whispered to you, Champion, but we truly do not wish to do you harm. What would it take to convince you?”

  “You could call off the elf genocide for one,” he suggested.

  “I’m afraid we can’t do that,” the unarmored one responded.

  “To hell with you then!” Galen sent a fast and quick jab, enhanced with Ether, at the Shadow’s face.

  The man simply ate the blow. He didn’t budge even a millimeter when his fist collided with his cheek. Once again, Galen was the only one to feel anything from the attack. “Motherfu-” he swore as he shook his hand to relieve the pain.

  Damn it! Feels like I’m some nameless fodder striking at an overpowered Dragon Ball character! he thought, before admitting that that was basically what he was.

  “I’m afraid we do not have the authority to call off the elf purge,” the man he’d just struck continued as though nothing had happened. “It was Lord Athanasius himself who’d ordered it, and even if his lordship hadn’t, we’d still refuse. Champion, you know what those tree hugging abominations did to Ignis. I’m afraid we simply cannot let the complete destruction of our capital in this Realm, and the deaths of so many lives, go unpunished. Surely you understand that.”

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Galen clicked his tongue in annoyance. He was annoyed because, yes, he could understand from their perspective. You just couldn’t let something like that happen and not retaliate in some way. Still…

  “Don’t act like the Dominion is completely innocent in all this,” he reminded them. “It was you people who pressured the elf who did it into doing what they did. Not to mention that all the centuries of you people enslaving the elves.”

  The man simply sighed. “You will see things our way soon enough.”

  “I doubt it. Particularly not after you scumbags tried to baby trap me into giving up on my goal of returning home. Oh, and let’s not forget you bastards lacing my Ether Intolerance medication with highly addictive drugs!”

  “You act as though we were all in agreement with the actions taken against you, Champion,” the unarmored Shadow pointed out.

  That made him pause.

  The other, armored Shadow, stepped forward then. “Some of us were against those proposals you know. We’re not all as bad as you seem to think Champion. It was Arawn who convinced the others to go forward with those plans. He has always been one of the most merciless and extreme members among the Shadows. Please, return to us. Many in the Dominion recognize the errors they made in treating you as they did. They will not make the same mistake again.”

  Galen frowned. What they said sounded nice.

  Only if he forgot how he’d been lied to and deceived in the first place.

  He recalled the brutality he’d seen at the last town he, Tufani, and Aleksi had gone to. The sight of the burnt elf corpses and severed heads impaled on spears, and more hanging by their necks at the entrance… That was a sight he couldn’t forget.

  No. Actions spoke far louder than words, and the actions of these and those they worked with told Galen of their true nature.

  He took a step away from the two Shadows, glaring at them as he did.

  The unarmored one sighed. “Well, can’t say that wasn’t expected. Come, Champion, we are nearly there.”

  “Where?” he asked. “And what makes you think I will listen to you?”

  “The answer to your second question is obvious. You will listen because, quite frankly, what else will you do? You know we won’t let you go, and you also know you can’t escape us. Plus, if you insist on struggling, I’ve already warned you that we will knock you out,” answered the unarmored Shadow.

  Fair point… he mentally admitted. I still hate it though…

  “As for your first question,” the Shadow continued. “We are heading to Seameet. A town roughly northwest of where we found you. There we will find an airship and get you back to a proper city.”

  Seameet? Northwest they said? Isn’t that the direction Aleksi, Tufani, and I were heading?

  It clicked in his mind.

  He suppressed the urge to smile. These Shadows were taking him right where he’d been heading anyway. If luck was on his side, a big gamble he knew, then Aleksi and Tufani just might be able to find him here.

  He pretended to weigh his options. He glared at the two Shadows, and even threw a look or two off into the distant plains, as if contemplating just running. Finally, he let out a weary sigh, and did his best to put as much resignation into his voice as he could. “...Fine! But I’m still not happy about any of this…”

  The unarmored Shadow smiled. “I thank you for bearing with it, Champion.”

  The two Shadows began walking northwest, and Galen, after a moment of hesitation, followed.

  He prayed that Tufani, Aleksi, and Redian weren’t too far behind.

  He put his hands to his lower back and gave a quick stretch, popping his back as he did so. It was then he realized something. With his hands to his lower back, he felt where he’d concealed his pistol. Apparently the Shadows hadn’t bothered to check him for any more weapons.

  He hid a smile, knowing now that he at least had a weapon.

  Whether it would do him any good against monsters like these was another matter.

  ***

  Aria kept her eyes shut tight as she rode piggy back on Zareb.

  The Rebellion’s general sprinted with blinding speed through the plains. She was a bit concerned the man was pushing himself too hard. He’d merely given her a reassuring smile and kept up his pace.

  After a day or so of travel, she began to note changes in the topography. The terrain gradually began to undulate more, and the climate began to approach more moderate temperatures. The air began to become more humid as well, which offset the cooler temperature. Now, instead of running through hot, dry air, it felt like wading through uncomfortably warm, damp, soup like air.

  The changes in scenery meant that they were getting close. Zareb had mentioned to her and Galen that the town they were heading to, Seameet, was a coastal one. Apparently, after the airship being sent there was done with its maintenance, they would test it by both flying in the air and sailing it on the seas.

  Aria’s heart pounded as they neared their destination. Out of anticipation that the end of her mission was drawing near, of getting to Vindanna and saving Galen, and out of anxiety for what might await them.

  “It’ll be fine, Tufani,” the Sentient Weapon, Redian, spoke into her mind, making her jump a bit.

  Winds… I’m STILL not used to hearing you in my head, she thought back to it with a scowl.

  “I’m not surprised. It took Galen quite a while for him to stop jumping whenever he heard my magnificent voice.”

  That’s not how I would describe it, she mentally grumbled.

  “Hey, now! That’s just rude,” the sword complained.

  Bite me, she responded.

  “You are so SERIOUS, Tufani! You need to lighten up! All that stress isn’t good for you. Why, I can tell from my readings of you that you’ve experienced prolonged levels of it for quite a while. That’s not very healthy. In fact, it’s extremely unhealthy.”

  Apologies. It’s a bit hard to relax when I know that the Dominion is slaughtering my people, that Galen is captured by the Shadows, and that the end of my mission is drawing near!

  “See, this is what I’m talking about!” the sword cried out. “Tufani, you need to RELAX. R. E. L. A. X. Relax! Constantly being on edge is just going to wear you out.”

  She mentally scoffed. And just what do you expect me to do about it?! I can’t exactly forget about all that’s troubling me.

  “Probably not. But you CAN stop letting it stress you out. Here, why don’t we talk about something else?”

  Like what? she asked, already regretting biting onto the Sentient Weapon’s bait.

  “How about Galen?” the sword asked.

  She frowned. I thought we were going to be talking about something else?

  “We are! We’re not going to be talking about his current captive status or anything like that. Rather, there was something about him I wanted to ask you.”

  What is it? she asked.

  “You elves are real particular when it comes to names, right?” Redian asked. “Because I remember when I called you by your first name shortly after we set out, and boy oh boy did you snap at me! Gave me a whole lecture and everything. Yeesh.”

  The entire lecture in question had occurred while traveling on Zareb’s back.

  …Where are you going with this? she demanded.

  “I’m getting to it! Now, one thing I don’t get is, if you’re so particular with names, then why are you now calling Galen by his first name?”

  She scowled. What? No, I’m not.

  “Yes, you are! I mean, ever since that last fight, you’ve been calling and referring to him by his first name. Even in your head! So what? People can’t call YOU by your first name, but you can? Very unfair if you ask me!”

  Aria went completely quiet.

  “Hello? You still there?” the Sentient Weapon prodded. “Don’t tell me… you didn’t even realize you were doing it?!”

  Aria’s entire face, all the way to her pointy ears, went completely red.

  “Wait, you seriously hadn’t even realized?! HAHAHAHAHA-”

  She slammed shut the mental connection between her and the sword. This was a skill she’d immediately pressed for the other day when she’d found its yapping too grating and wanted some mental quiet.

  It was difficult to remember, unfortunately, when she had the connection open or not.

  Aria buried her face into the back of Zareb’s shoulder, her face still flushed. She’d never realized she’d started referring to Galen by his first name.

  Why?

  She remembered that it began when she’d seen him get knocked out by the Shadow. She’d been concerned for his safety, which was why she’d slipped up and called him by his first name. However… why had she continued to do so?

  It seems she’d grown closer to him than she’d realized, and admitting that made her blush harder.

  “Lass, you alright?” Zareb shouted into the wind as he kept up his sprint.

  “I’m-I’m fine!” she shouted. “It’s just the stupid sword is all.”

  Thankfully, the general nodded and didn’t pry. She mentally thanked Galen for that, as there had no doubt been plenty such scenarios where he’d acted strange because of the Sentient Weapon.

  And I’m still referring to him by his first name… she thought, biting her lip.

  It just felt… right to do so. She didn’t know why.

  She sighed, and decided to push the matter aside. She felt the sword gently prodding at their connection, trying to get her to open it. With a scowl, she did.

  What?!

  “So, you feel a bit more at ease now?” the sword asked.

  She blinked, and realized that she did.

  “Ha! Am I awesome or wha-”

  She shut the mental connection again.

  She opened her eyes, just a bit so that the winds rushing by wouldn’t blind her, and gave a quick glance to Axis Mundi’s sky covered in swirling orange and yellow lights.

  Mom… I think you would have liked Galen… she thought forlornly.

  Of that, she was certain.

  Next chapter will be released Thursday, January 29th, 2026 at 3:00 PM PST.

  A huge thank you and special shoutout to my Page Tuner tier Patron, LOOKOUT, and my Lore Master tier Patrons, Mountain Knight, Conman2731, ThoMiCroN, MCE 2 Munchen 2, and Voltrus. Your support is sincerely and greatly appreciated.