re, and Astra's sudden absence had taken more than just his presence, only leaving behind an air of solitude. The ghost

sword. His eyes felt like they were on fire, but not from tears, only the incredible pressure of loss e

im?" Aric's voice was

able. "I didn't take him. He was already on

ten Alpha flowed like water, supple and unrestrained, slipping around every strike with maddening ease. His count

lecting the next desperate strike. "That's your

roke, simply motivated by the primal desire to make the Alpha suffer. But his at

to the stone floor, its metallic ring echoing in the cavern. The next mome

to stay down. Grimacing, he awkwardly righted himself to

done," he

t with sympathy, but with what could be i

around Aric like chains and lifted him from the ground. The

himself in a comple

ge of his childhood home, on fire. The sky overhead was mark

center of the deva

The headlights of this Astra flared with evil 

hushed voice A

at all you've got? A whisper? We d

controlling his breath

widened. "Real e

s hand. Aric barely avoided it in time, tumbling across the cindered ground, gr

owerful, and appeared to know Aric's every thought. With each bl

hadow hissed. "Living in my shadow. Neve

s. Every mistake, every failure he'd ever hidden, came bubbling up. The gui

th

ry fli

r ringing against the gold of the sun. Astra's voice, airy and carefree: "It d

s sword hilt. Hi

standing tall. "You're not m

ut not with magic, with the light of his dogged perseverance. Every swing contained more t

the barrage, fissures ope

e!" it shrieked, its voic

the chest of the shadow, and with a fla

avern returned, the stifling dark absent. The Forgo

the Alpha murmured. "

ead, nostrils flared, chest still r

that was cloaked in darkness. "Through

is sword and strode into the shado

ad, he wasn't going anyw

t

ev