The air tasted stale. Every step stirred up dust. The tiny mage lights Surra had summoned barely illuminated the path for their party. Bertalan resisted the urge to draw a deep breath. He could taste the centuries on his tongue. His arms prickled with unease with each step forward.

They hadn't encountered anything in these ruins so far. For more than an hour, they'd followed corridor after corridor, leading them further and further down into the stillness of the earth. Yet there were no monsters who'd made the ruins their home. No animals sheltering from the world. No other adventurers exploring the depths. It was just the four of them, their breaths and steps echoing, the only proof life still existed.

Turning yet another corner, Bertalan held up a hand to signal his companions to stop. There, at the far end of the next corridor, maybe thirty paces away, was a door. That wasn't what unsettled him. The door was made from wood with silver mountings. Neither showed any sign of age. The wood looked fresh. The silver gleamed in the mage light. Bertalan suppressed a shudder. Instead, he shifted his balance, readying himself for a fight.

"Surra?" he murmured, everything inside him refusing to be too loud, to draw too much attention to himself. Something was waiting for them behind the door. He could tell. More than ten years as an adventurer warned him of the danger ahead. "Magic?"

He heard her draw a deep breath behind him. Heard her fight a cough. The silence stretched into a small eternity. "No," she concluded. "None."

"Strange," Aleyne noted. "That wood looks like it'd been hewn yesterday. Like they hadn't even let it dry first."

Bertalan was about to say something to that. Wanted to say something. Meant to agree, meant to comment on the weirdness of this place. But a sharp hiss and a thud took his words away. He whirled around to stare at their rogue, mouth agape.

"'s just a door." Sen shrugged. "Wood, too." He sauntered past to retrieve his thrown dagger. It took him some effort to pull it back out. "Not even a hard wood," he concluded. The mark his dagger left on the door looked like a gaping wound. "Let's go in?"

Bertalan let out a huff. He glanced at their other two companions, waiting for their nods before he approached the door as well. "Behind me." Sen, for once, complied, allowing Bertalan to cover them all as he slowly opened the door.

The room beyond was small. Square, maybe twenty paces along each wall, inbetween nothing but empty space. No signs of occupation. No monster. Nothing but the writing on the walls left and right. Slowly, Bertalan stepped inside, still covering his party as they followed him.

The moment Aleyne brought up their rear, Bertalan heard them gasp. Years of training made him resist the urge to turn around. Instead he raise his sword and shield, ready to face whatever monster lay in wait for them.

None ever showed.

It took agonizing moments as they all waited with bated breaths. No monster manifested. No undead rose from the floor. No dragon swooped in through the ceiling despite them being fathoms deep underground.

Glacially slow, Bertalan relaxed his body, in what felt like one muscle at a time. He finally dared to turn to look at Aleyne. Aleyne who had turned to the now closed door. "What...?"

"It just reappeared. Closed," Aleyne said softly. "Right behind me. It didn't close. It vanished. I was still touching it. And then it was behind me, closed again."

Bertalan forced the frown off his face. He didn’t like that at all. It smacked of magic, the old, strange one.

"Lock refuses to... do anything. Can't even feel pins or tumblers," Sen reported from closer to the floor. He had two wires stuffed into the keyhole and was wiggling them around. Usually, he could get most locks open in mere moments. To hear him this stumped by one lock was unsettling.

"Shite." Aleyne kicked the door. It groaned but refused to budge.

"Guys..."

All eyes turned to Surra. She'd wandered off to look at the walls. Her mage light was flickering like a candle. Bertalan had never seen it unstable like that.

"Guys, I think this was a room where they sacrificed people to the gods."


"What do you think of this final test?" It had been the third and last day of the entrance examination their guild held every year. Bertalan had met Sen on the very first day and despite his best efforts, he and the street urchin had become something like friends. Enough like friends for Bertalan to posit such a question.

Sen turned his head from where he half lay on the table. The kid really had no manners, something Bertalan was sure should concern him more. Instead, he felt himself smile when Sen blinked one bleary eye up at him.

"What do you think ab-"

"Heard ya." Sen's voice was muffled in his arm. "Think they wanna see if we can complete basic jobs. Huntin' monsters for points instead of coin..." He paused. "Hm, hey, Berti?"

Bertalan wrinkled his nose at the nickname. "What?"

"Might be easier if we formed a party." Sen turned his head again, eyes drifting over the room. "Twenty points each on our own'd be hard. Finding and slaying twenty slimes is a lot. But twenty points each in a small group'll be less so. Could take on bigger monsters for more points. Wolves are five each, which would mean four wolves for each."

"Mh." Bertalan had thought along the same lines. He wasn't sure he could take on more than some slimes and weak goblins on his own. Together with Sen, they could definitely pick fights with larger creatures, too. "The two of us?"

"An' a mage an'... see that ranger there? Watched them durin' yesterday's exam. Think we could make a good team. As for the mage..."

Bertalan and Sen looked from one person to the next, until they landed on the same at almost the exact same time. "Her," they both said. Sen even pointed at her. She noticed, blew up her cheeks and came stomping over almost immediately.

"What do you want, pipsqueak?" she demanded to know, slamming her hands down on the table. Bertalan had to bite his lips lest he'd laugh. Sen was at least a head taller than her, despite his scrawniness. The slam jostled Sen into sitting up straight with a low grumble.

"Thinkin' 'bout forming a party for today. You'd be a good mage for us."

The girl drew herself up even more. "Me? With you two? Obviously, you'd need me much more than I need you."

"Wouldn't count on that," somebody cut in from behind. The ranger Sen had pointed out had come over as well. They exchanged a nod with Sen. "I saw them both fight yesterday. Pretty sure they could pass on their own. If they can find any monsters, that is. I'm Aleyne. Looking for a ranger, too?"

"Yes." Sen shot them a winning smile, the same one that had made Bertalan forgive him for stealing his breakfast two days prior. "'m Sen. This is Bertalan. Best warrior in this year's examination." Bertalan preened at the praise. "We'd be honored to have you."

"Would we?" Bertalan muttered under his breath only for Sen to elbow him between the ribs. Aleyne laughed.

"Hey! I'm still here, too." The mage girl stomped her foot. "I'm Antasurra the great flame witch! But to my party, Surra will be fine."

Sen beamed at her. Then at Bertalan and Aleyne too. "An actual party," he said, awe in his voice. "Between the four of us, the final test will be a piece of cake. Tomorrow, we'll be guild accredited adventurers!"


"Sacrifice? What do you mean sacrifice?" Everyone was staring at her. Sen had paused in his fiddling. Aleyne stopped their assault on the door. Bertalan had just asked the question he assumed everyone was thinking.

"Some of the old gods." Surra took a deep breath. "Some of the old gods demanded sacrifices every couple of years. Consumed their mana, I think. And this room's slowly draining our mana. All our mana. Even Sen's."

"I don't have magic," Sen muttered. He flexed his fingers. "But my skin tingles."

"Everyone, everything, has mana. Just because you can't use it doesn't mean you don't have any." Surra threw her hands up. "I'll. I'll keep looking. These runes are old. Before the end of the eternal wars old. I don't. I can't read all of it. I'll try though."

"What, what happens if one's mana's drained completely?" Sen's voice was barely a whisper, yet in the silence, the question sounded like distant thunder.

"You die." Surra had her back turned to them. Yet, Bertalan could still see her shake, could see her clenched fist by her side. Dread washed over them all. "You'll all die. One by one. And I'll be all alone before I'll die, too." She sobbed. "So. I have to. I have to. Translate this. Find a way out. A loophole. Something. Anything. I simply have to."


On paper, it had been a simple gathering mission. Go into a dark forest, avoid or defeat any monsters, pick a bunch of herbs and go home. Aleyne had been in charge of the planning and gathering, since they knew the plants. The rest of them would provide assistance. That had been the plan. It had worked like a charm, too.

Within only a couple of months, they'd already become a pretty efficient team. The guild trusted them enough to sent them out on contracts above beginner level now. They'd even gone and defeated lower level boss monsters, like slime mothers. Bertalan was proud to be with his party.

The current contract really had been a breeze. Up until the moment when, while they were gathering the herbs, a wyvern roared.

All eyes snapped up to the sky. The wyvern was approaching the clearing, fast. Somebody screamed for them to get away. And then, the monster, tall as two men and long as five, hit the ground, hard.

None of them had ever faced a monster that large. None of them had ever faced a monster with that much magic. Nor a monster that smart. And fast.

Bertalan grasped his sword tighter. It was too late to flee. He couldn't force himself to turn his back to a wyvern. He'd die. He'd die for sure if he did that. So they'd have to fight. They could do it. He had faith in their group. They could win without any casualty.

And yet, his palms were sweaty. His body was trembling. He was afraid. He'd never been this afraid in his life.

"Protect Surra!" Aleyne's cry snapped Bertalan back to reality. "Draw its attention! Focus on defense!"

Bertalan glanced briefly at Surra. She'd closed her eyes, slowly turning her staff in her hands as she muttered to herself. A big spell was in the works. And a big spell like that took its time. Time she wouldn't have if the wyvern attacked her. He didn't waste time looking for Aleyne and Sen. Those two could handle themselves. But it was on him to protect Surra. Only he could do that.

Normally, a warrior was trained to charge a great monster. Yet in a party like his, Bertalan wasn't the one to deal the heavy blows. Sen and Aleyne both could strike with much greater precision, yet just as hard if need be. So he'd gotten used to paying closer attention to defense.

When the wyvern reared its head at Surra, Bertalan stepped between them, shield raised. When an arrow struck the monster's side, he slashed at it with his sword, maintaining its attention on him. He saw Sen dancing around the beast, dodging its claws by a hair half the time, slicing at its side, looking for a soft spot. He didn't see Aleyne, only saw their arrows striking true one after the other. Some pierced the wyvern's wings, leaving them more and more tattered. One hit the monster square in the eye, causing another horrible roar and a burst of fire. Most, however, nicked the wyvern's scale, sticking into the flesh only to fall off the next time the monster moved.

Finally, Surra had finished her spell. Someone, Aleyne, screamed for everyone to get down. Without a second thought, Bertalan dropped flat to the ground. He felt the spray of the giant jet of water the back of his neck. Heard the wyvern gargle and sputter. Heard it inhale and then the sizzle of steam. No fire ever came, though.

"You doused its fire!" Aleyne screamed. "Sen! Now's our chance!"

A beat of silence that made Bertalan's heart clench. But then Sen answered from behind the monster: "There's no scales where the legs meet the body! I'll try getting you a clean shot!"

Bertalan was getting back to his feet just in time to block a swipe from a giant claw. He didn't have time to recover, though, blocking the backswing two heartbeats later. The wyvern was furious. Yet, it also completely focused on him. No matter what Sen tried it didn't pay him much mind.

That was until the wyvern howled once again. Its head whipped around, its one remaining eye glaring at Sen. It raised its claw...

"Water weapon!" Surra shouted.

Aleyne's bowstring twanged.

The water imbued arrow hit the wyvern in the pit of its arm, piercing the flesh until only the very tip of its feathered end stuck out. The wyvern didn't make a sound. It just fell over. The impact was so hard it shook the ground.

For the first time since the wyvern had arrived, Bertalan dared to seek out his party. They were all fine. Dirty, hassled looking, but fine. Alive. They'd made it.

He dropped back to his knees, wiping furiously at his eyes. They'd all made it through a battle with a wyvern alive.


Gloom had settled over their group. Bertalan was fighting down the dread welling up in his chest. Aleyne was leaning against the wall, eyes downcast. Sen was back at fiddling with his picks again. And Surra was still trying to translate the writing on the wall.

"Is there anything we can do? Anything at all?" Aleyne asked.

Surra didn't even turn around. "Conserve your energy."

Bertalan closed his eyes, only to open them again when he heard Aleyne hiss. As if Surra hadn't said anything, Sen had gotten to his feet and walked over to the other wall covered in writing.

"Don't bother," Surra huffed. "That's old, old Demon. I can't read a word of that."

"I can, though," Sen said. He ran his finger over the first line, muttering to himself, before speaking up again: "Let's check they're both the same. Mine says: This room was built in honor of his Divine Grace, God of the Springs and Brooks, in the thousand... thousand seven hundred and eightieth year of his reign."

Surra and Aleyne were staring at him in utter shock. Bertalan, on the other hand, was only slightly shocked. Sen had always shown weird talents at the oddest times. Or just plain strange knowledge, although Bertalan figured that came with reading at the library any time they weren't out on a contract. Considering that Sen was part demon, even though he hid it very well, being able to translate Old Demon texts was one of his milder hidden talents. Aleyne and Surra should know as much, too. Surra kept swearing up and down Sen knew how to speak with corvids. Aleyne kept despairing because Sen knew all the uncommon plants and minerals used in poisons, but none of the common healing herbs. And they all had walked in on Sen sitting in the corner of a tavern, reading fortunes for anyone fool enough to pay him. He was popular when he did, too.

Setting his musings aside, Bertalan cleared his throat. "Does it say anything about how we're getting out of here alive?"


It had been less than two years ago. Their party had been camping in the woods. As usual, Sen and Bertalan had taken the middle shifts for keeping watch. Surra always took the first, since she could get cranky when woken up in the middle of the night. Aleyne took the morning watch, sometimes catching them breakfast as they did. It simply made sense.

Bertalan had woken early for his watch that night. As usual, he hadn't gotten up from his bedroll, but had watched Sen for a while. Occasions where he could look at Sen as long as he wanted were rare and far between. The second Sen noticed, he'd turn his face to obscure at least part of it.

At the moment, he was looking out into the woods. He wasn't moving much. The fire between them added a healthy glow to his skin as it burned down. Bertalan bit back a sigh as his eyes followed the lines of Sen's profile. He knew he was staring. Knew his thoughts were less than pure. He even knew it was stupid to think that way considering Sen was his friend and ally. But he couldn't help himself. At some point in the past eight years, as he had turned from a scrawny kid into a man who ate three healthy meals a day, Sen had become beautiful in Bertalan's eyes.

The fire was burning down, yet Sen paid it no mind. He was still looking off into the darkness. Bertalan wondered what it was he was watching, if there was anything to watch. He also knew the fire would go out if anyone didn't do something about it soon. It was still cold during the nights. They'd all feel it if the fire burned down too low or went out entirely.

Without moving his gaze away from the darkness, Sen reached for a new log to add to the fire. It had burned down so far the log wouldn't catch fire. Sen frowned, then added two more logs and flicked his wrist at the campfire. Flames sprang up. Bertalan gasped. He hadn't felt any magic. He wasn't any good at magic himself, but he could tell when people cast spells. Whatever Sen had done looked like magic, but it hadn't felt like it at all.

When Sen turned his head to look at him, Bertalan noticed something else. There were markings under his eyes, like burning feathers. His eyes were glowing from within, their normally gentle brown red. Bertalan swallowed hard. "Sen?"

"Did I wake you?" Sen asked, his eyes turning back to normal as he blinked. "Didn't mean to."

"Are you... you're..." Bertalan pushed himself up. His hand had found the hilt of his sword. He didn't want to draw it against his friend. But... "Demon," he whispered.

Sen shrugged. "In a way. By blood, at the very least. I'm not gonna hurt you just because you now know. I..." He hesitated. "I was meaning to tell you for a while now. Anytime you looked at me like that. I wanted you to know. Sorry I didn't manage to tell you before you found out." His gaze shifted back to the woods. "Something's watching us."

"What?" Bertalan didn't know what to process first. Sen was a demon. His upbringing had told him that demons were the ones who fought all the gods during the eternal wars. That they were foresaken because of it, because they'd never chosen a side. The few surviving gods still hated them for it. And Sen, his sweet, funny, clever Sen, was one of them. It wasn't fair.

"There's something in the darkness, watching. I can feel it."

The unease in Sen's voice made Bertalan focus again. "Something?"

"Not a monster. Not a person. Something." Sen shrugged. "Dunno, probably an echo of magic."

"Is it dangerous?"

"That's what I was wondering, too." Sen sighed. He patted the ground next to him. "Share your watch with me?"

Bertalan grabbed his blanket before he moved around the fire. He sat down next to Sen, wrapping them both up in the blanket. "Anytime."

It earned him a smile, small, yet genuine. "So, we're still good?"

"Don't think you were ever good," Bertalan joked. "But yeah, we're good. So my boyfriend is a demon. Who cares?"

The smile turned into a sly smirk. "Boyfriend, yeah?" Sen teased. He pressed a kiss to Bertalan's cheek. "I like that."


"I think there's a way to survive this." Sen was picking his words carefully, speaking slowly. "Once this room is satisfied, the door will open again."

Bertalan frowned. Something was wrong with how Sen acted. It set off the alarm bells inside him. "How?" Even to his own ears, he sounded terse. Aleyne and Surra were shooting him concerned looks.

"A sacrifice," Sen said. "One. Not four."

"And you're volunteering, I take it?" Bertalan growled the words. He clenched his fists.

Sen turned back to the text on the wall. "You heard Surra. I'm going to die first either way."

"Bullshit!" Bertalan lunged at him, grabbing him by the front of his shirt. "That's bullshit and you know it!"

"Boys!" Surra cried.

Aleyne had pushed off the wall, ready to pull them apart. For the time being, they opted to touch Bertalan's shoulder. "Bertalan..."

Bertalan shrugged them off. "No. Tell them, Sen. It's not like we have anything to lose anymore now! Tell them what you estimate will happen to us!"

Sen raised his hands in surrender. "Fine," he sighed. "But you'll have to listen to me." He slipped out of Bertalan's grip, smoothly putting Aleyne between them. Bertalan gaped at him like a fish. "I figure we have about six hours to come to a decision. Because that's when you'll run out of magic. Two hours later, Aleyne will run out, too. Surra will last longer, much longer, but even she only has roughly forty hours left in her."

"And you?" Bertalan had outwardly deflated. "What about you?"

Sen shrugged. "I don't know. Right now, my inherent recovery outpaces the drain."

"But... you don't have much magic," Surra interjected. She didn't sound all that sure about it anymore, though.

Bertalan huffed. "He has. He's just hiding it. I've known for two years now."

"How much?" Aleyne asked softly. They were still acting as a buffer between Sen and Bertalan, wary they'd go for each other's throats soon.

Sen drew a deep breath and let it all out through his nose. He repeated it. The hairs on Bertalan's arms rose. He could feel a prickling all over his body. Within moments, it became harder to breathe, the entire atmosphere of the room turning oppressive. Then, Sen waved his hand and the feeling was gone.

"A lot," Sen summed it up.

"A lot?! Sen!" This time, it was Surra who pounced on him. "That's... That was... Oh!" She got on her tiptoes to look into his eyes. Then, she hugged him, burying her face in his chest. Bertalan thought he could see tears in the corners of her eyes. "You've always been sensible in the worst moments."

"Why'd you hide it?" Aleyne asked over their shoulder. They didn't want to take their eyes off Bertalan, it seemed.

"Cause it's so much the gods would hunt him for it," Surra answered in Sen's stead. "They wouldn't even think twice about it."


So late in fall that it was also early winter, just before the roads became impassable with storms and snow, the town held a festival. It was the Return of the Merchants. The merchants who wintered in town arrived all within a week of each other. At the end of that week, a big festival took place with a busy market, food and drink, and entertainment. Since it was also a religious festival, there were also ceremonies, but those mostly involved the merchants themselves. Bertalan had never been too interested in them.

However, this year, their forth year as adventurer guild members, Aleyne and Sen had insisted the four of them went to pray for good business as well. Surra had been easily swayed, with promises of sweets and a visit to the different stages around town. It had left Bertalan with no choice but to come as well.

The ceremony they attended was at one of the smaller temples. The priests greeted Sen by name, which was briefly concerning. Bertalan had never taken Sen for the religious type. But just as they'd taken their seats, Sen had whispered a brief explanation. They'd picked this temple because it was close to the orphanage he grew up in. He'd visited there that morning, checking in on younger kids and some of the kinder priests and employees there.

Both Aleyne and Sen had muttered along with the prayers, leaving Bertalan feeling out of place. Not that Surra was any better than him, but the other two seemed to have at the very least some faith. By the end of the ceremony, Aleyne and Sen were silently guiding Surra and Bertalan to the priest in the front, carefully showing off the correct behavior to receive a proper blessing.

The entire thing left Bertalan's head spinning.

They spent the rest of the day at the market. In silent agreement, Bertalan and Aleyne had taken one of Sen's hand each, keeping a firm hold. There were too many wares and full purses around to let their rogue loose.

"You're acting as if I'm a compulsive criminal," Sen muttered. He was walking closer to Bertalan than Aleyne. Not that it mattered. But it warmed Bertalan's chest with feelings nonetheless. "I can behave."

"You stole a guy's entire purse and two expensive potions just last night," Aleyne hissed back. "He made a big fuss about it. Not that anyone saw you, but still."

"That guy was being gross to Surra all night. I saved him from a fireball," Sen muttered.

"That he did," Surra agreed. "But I am pleased with the compensation for my suffering." She matched Sen's grin. "So, what are we getting first? Potion ingredients? Sweets? Weapons?"

Bertalan looked around. There were so many stalls, myriads of wares. Every merchant was doing their best to sell everything they could so they could comfortably get through the winter. Most of the wares on sale at the market would go bad before spring or were unwieldy to take on the road. Bertalan had no idea where to start.

"Sen and I made a list last night," Aleyne said. They waved some scrap paper. "Things we need, things we could turn a profit on with only little effort, things that one or more of us would enjoy. We'll look around for the things we need and the ones we could profit on first."

Surra pouted. "And the sweets? I was promised sweets."

Sen extracted his hand from Bertalan's to reach into a pocket. His own pocket, Bertalan was relieved to see. From it, Sen pulled out a small bag of wax cloth which he handed to Surra. "Picked them up this morning. And I paid for them," he added, rolling his eyes at Aleyne. "The orphanage sells cookies and candied fruit for the festival."

Within the first hour of their shopping trip, Bertalan quickly became aware of why he'd been asked to come along. Aleyne and Sen both used him to intimidate merchants while negotiating prices and when they didn't they made him carry the heavier bags and boxes. There were so many items on the list of things they needed. They weren't even halfway done when Surra demanded a break.

"I know you two are actually into all this." She waved her hand at the market. "But I want to see at least some of the entertainers! What's the point if we can't enjoy ourselves a little?"

As Aleyne started to grumble, Bertalan spoke up: "I'd like a break, too. Treat you all to some greasy food?"

They ate in view of a stage. At the beginning, jugglers were doing slapstick comedy. Then, a small band came on with a dancer clad in colorful, flowing clothes, waving around cloths to the music. Surra stared at her as if she was a princess, a goddess even, not a nameless dancer from a travelling troupe. Bertalan watched just as fascinated. It was also the safer option, as Sen and Aleyne had started to dissect their purchases and were whispering over their still worryingly long list.

"We'll get going again," Aleyne declared as the band took a break. "You can wait here. It'll be easier to get around with all that stuff."

Bertalan shot Sen a look and got a shrug in return. So Sen wouldn't argue Aleyne. Surra was huffing and puffing, clearly getting ready to protest getting left out. For the sake of peace, Bertalan ruffled her hair. "Don't you wanna see what else that dancer will do?"

Surra turned to him with shining eyes. "Her movements look like high magic without the mana behind it." She glowered at Aleyne and Sen. "I guess you could leave us behind, for the time being. But don't take too long. Don't get lost."

It got her fond smiles from the both in return. "We'll hurry," Aleyne promised.

In the end, they didn't return until it was almost time for the fireworks that marked the last moments of the day. Both Sen and Aleyne returned not only with full backpacks, but also several smaller satchels clutched in their arms. Bertalan and Surra boggled at them. As it turned out, they'd picked up some favorite treats for everyone, some fruits and spices for their meals together, a new knife Sen gifted Aleyne because it had felt good in his hand, a book on higher mathematics Aleyne wordlessly handed to Sen and a scroll of spells they gifted to Surra. Bertalan got a new pair of bracers from Aleyne. It was nice, but he'd wished Sen would get him something as well.

The fireworks had already started when Sen touched his shoulder as he leaned in closer. A thunderclap sounded above. "Got you something, too," Sen whispered right into Bertalan's ear. "Hold out your hand."

Bertalan did as he was told, shivering despite his thick coat. It had nothing to do with the cold. Sen grasped his wrist in one hand, fingers brushing his pulse point. Something small yet warm landed in his palm. Their fingertips touched as Sen withdrew his hand.

In his hand was a small locket. Or maybe it was an amulet. Bertalan could see some etchings on it. He held it up to his face to take a closer look. None of the tiny symbols rang a bell for him. "Thank you," he still said, closing his hand around the locket. Sen had given him a piece of jewelry. That had to mean something. Maybe not what his hammering heart was hoping for, but something nonetheless.

"It's a protection amulet," Sen whispered. "Blessed by the God of the Desperate and Damned themself according to the guy who sold it. It's supposed to grow warm when you help people."

"You believe in them?" Bertalan whispered back. He'd thought Sen followed the Merchant God like most people in their town.

All he got in response was a shrug. "Dunno. Maybe. I mostly thought the story was sweet. Wear it for me?"

In the light of the fireworks, Bertalan could have sworn something akin to hope shone in Sen's eyes. He swallowed heavily. Licked his lips. He wanted to kiss his friend so badly. "Thank you," he said instead again. "I will."


Aleyne turned around to face Sen. Their eyes were wide in, their body tense. Bertalan could see them clench their shaking hands into fists. "But why didn't you tell us?" they asked, betrayal in their voice. "Don't you trust us? Any of us?"

Sen shuffled his feet. It was clear he was uncomfortable. "I do, but..." He closed his eyes. "I trust you with my life. I just never." He swallowed. "Never found a good way to tell you. In a way that was safe. For me and for you."

With a noise of frustration, Aleyne threw up their hands. "Fine. But all this magic isn't going to help us now, is it? Can't we use it?"

Surra and Sen exchanged a look. "The magic is imbued into the stones around us," Surra said slowly. Sen added: "I could make it visible, if that'd help." He waved his hands in a complicated motion. Surra gasped, clearly delighted. "You'll have to teach me how you control your magic like that later."

All around them, circles appeared, overlapping, twisting and turning, glowing with magic. The floor, the ceiling, all walls were covered with lines in the end. Only a handsized spot directly opposite to the door was left uncovered, with multiple magical circles around it. Like the heart of the room.

For a long while, nobody said a word as Surra went around the room to study the magical circles more closely.

"Well?" Sen asked eventually.

"Why's it so blurry in the corners?"

He shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine."

"The spell continues outside the barrier around this room, but since the barrier is part of it, we are under the influence of the entire spell without being able to tell what's outside." Surra groaned. "So, Aleyne, to answer your question: All that magic isn't going to help us. Neither mine nor his. ...unless you can force your way through the barrier, Sen?"

He shook his head. "Tried, actually. Only reinforced the barrier. Can't overwrite it with one of my own either."

Aleyne cursed.

"Look, I don't want to do this either," Sen sighed. "But at this point, we're getting closer and closer to being out of options. I have a chance at survival. I'm willing to take that chance." His expression crumbled. His shoulders slouched. He looked much smaller than he was. "I can't lose any one of you. You're all I have. Let me... let me do this. For your sake, but mostly my own."

Surra moved back to his side so she could snuggle up against him like she'd done a million times before. This time, though, she also took his hand. "If we put it to a vote, I agree with you." She swallowed. Bertalan hadn't noticed the tears running down her cheeks before he heard them in her voice. "I agree. I don't like it. I don't want you to. But... It's a chance. And a chance is better than noting."

"We're not voting on Sen's life!" Bertalan roared. How could Surra be so cold. How could she just feed into the callousness with which Sen always treated his own life. He looked to Aleyne for support. Aleyne was always the first to scold Sen for being recless. But this time, Bertalan got only a curt shake of their head. "I abstain," was all Aleyne said. "It should be Sen's choice. Even though I think it's a stupid one. I'll yell at you later, alright, Sen? So don't die."

"Berti?" Sen's voice was small. "Please..."


For most of the day, Surra had been unusually quiet. It took until the night, while they were all sitting around their campfire with a bowl of stew each in their hands, that she burst out: "So, what're everyone's plans once you stop being adventurers?"

Aleyne shot her a sidelong glance. "Where'd that come from?" They shrugged. "Same as most, I guess. Have my own specialty store, a house, a family."

"What kind of store?" Sen asked, barely looking up from his food.

"Medicine," Aleyne immediately replied. "An apothecary's store."

Sen nodded, satisfied. "Study," he told Surra. Any more words were less important than his dinner.

"What about you, Bertalan?" Surra asked. She was still only poking around her bowl with her spoon. "What would you do?"

Bertalan looked at Sen. What they had still felt new. He was sure, though. "Marry Sen," he said. It earned him a snort from Sen. "What?"

"Adventurers can marry."

"Yeah, but I'd like to not be in mortal danger. So I could enjoy it."

"House?"

"And garden. Adoptive children." Bertalan could feel his face heat up and it had nothing to do with the fire. "If you'd like that."

Sen shrugged. "If we save up enough to live."

Taking pity on Bertalan, Aleyne turned to Surra: "What about you?"

With a sigh, she let herself fall backward. Sen caught her bowl out of the air so she wouldn't spill her stew all over herself. "I don't think I'd ever retire. What else is there to do? But... You know my friend, Martha? She quit. To marry, like Bertalan said. Her new husband has a store in town. It's just... It just sounds so boring, you know?"

"On the other hand, you won't get almost eaten by a monster every other month," Bertalan grinned. "You're a mage, though, people will trust you more the older you get. An old swordsman, though? There'll be a point where I'll get weaker and slower. And experience won't be enough to make up for it."

"Could still go for guild official, you know?" Sen muttered. "That's my realistic retirement plan. Do training and bureaucracy until I die or become old and feeble. In twenty to thirty years."

Everyone looked at Sen. Bertalan couldn't help but frown. Surra looked thoughtful, as if she hadn't considered the option. Aleyne was the one to speak again first: "You don't really believe in retirement, do you?" There was something like pity in their voice.

"I don't believe in saving up enough money for it without taking risks that could kill me." Sen sighed. "I'm not so stupid or optimistic to think that my chances of living to forty five are more than fifty percent. All in all..." He put his empty bowl down and let himself fall backward like Surra had. "Outside of this, aside from you three, I got nothing and no one. If I get sick or injured? My savings get used up. If I run out, I'll starve. It's that simple. So, sorry to bring down the mood. But a future? It's hard to imagine one that feels like more than a pipe dream."

Bertalan opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water. "I'd take care of you. If you get sick. Or injured. Or even if something permanent happened. I'd take care of you." His heart had moved to his throat and was blocking the airflow. His heart hurt and he couldn't breathe. He'd never wanted to hear Sen sound that pessimistic. "I love you."

Sen looked at him with one eye. He parted his lips as if to speak, but only sighed instead. His hand reached for Bertalan's hand. "Love you, too," he whispered.


The roar of blood filled Bertalan's ears. He couldn't... His chest squeezed. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't move.

Sen had asked him to agree. Agree that Sen sacrificing himself for them was a good idea. As if Bertalan could ever do that.

Tears burned in his eyes. His blood was running hot one moment and cold the next. Sen had decided to die. Nothing Bertalan could say or do would change that. Even if Sen backtracked he had offered. He had decided to die. The truth made anger boil up inside his chest. It got to his head. His hands. He clenched his fists.

Before he knew what he was doing, he was once again grabbing Sen by the front of his shirt.

Sen didn't fight him this time. Didn't slip away. He went limp for a moment, insecurity flickering in his eyes. Then, he put his hands on Bertalan's shoulders, pulling him in closer for an embrace.

"I'm so sorry." Tears choked Sen's voice. "I'm so so sorry. I tried to find another way. I tried. Nothing I do works against the spells in this room. I'm all out of ideas. I can't... can't. I just can't. Can't lose you. Berti, please. I love you."

"Then live!" Bertalan snapped back. "Live for me, gods damn it!"

"I'll try. Promise." Sen turned his face to kiss Bertalan's jaw. "I promise." His hand slipped to Bertalan's chest, resting the palm above his heart. "You're still wearing the amulet."

"You gave it to me."

"I always believed in the God of the Desperate and Damned, you know? Always. Prayed to him the morning before we met. Prayed every time you were in danger. He's never let me down so far. ...would you pray for me, Berti? While I'm gone?"

"Yeah. Alright. Yeah. I promise. But you gotta promise me something in return." Bertalan wrapped his arms around Sen and held him close. "Promise me you'll find a way out. A way back to me. Promise. Please."

"I will. I'll do anything to return to you. I promise."

Sen's hold tightened. For a heartbeat, Bertalan dared to hope he'd never let go, would stay like this until they expired. It didn't last. Sen slipped away, elusive as mist. Before Bertalan had even realized what was happening, Sen was across the room. Right in front of the heart of the room. His hand hovered over the empty space within circle after circle of magic.

"I'm truly sorry."

As soon as Sen's hand touched the wall, the room flared to life. The magic surrounding them grew overwhelming, pressing on Bertalan's chest inside and out. His vision swam, even as he desperately tried to focus on Sen. He reached out with a shaking hand. But there wasn't anything anyone could do. Sen was pulled somewhere, a myriad grasping strands wrapping around him as the air shimmered, obscuring what was happening.

Just as suddenly as it had started, it was all over. Sen was gone. Bertalan sunk to his knees, grasping his head with both hands. He wanted to scream. He wanted to wail. Yet no sound came out of his mouth. None of the tears burning in his eyes spilled over.

He wasn't sure how long his friends gave him to recover. He was numb to their voices and touches. It barely registered with him that he was led back to outside. The sun was shining above. Life was happening all around.

Finally, Bertalan wrapped his arms around himself and screamed until his voice gave out.