Dyea's POV
I stumbled through a broken archway, breath catching in my throat.
Whatever that thing was... it was gone.
But its voice still echoed in me.
"The Fifth stirs..."
What did that mean? Why me?
And why did it sound like it knew Narren?
"Dyea!"
Katleyn's voice, relief and panic twisted together.
I turned, and arms wrapped around me.
"Dyea, stars, you're okay," she muttered. "I thought you got eaten by some evil tower ghost or something."
"I'm fine," I whispered. "I just-"
Then I saw them.
The others, standing just behind her, Arthur, Harold, Henry, Ismuel...
And Narren.
He stood apart from the others.
His face pale. His hands clenched at his sides.
Eyes on me, but not quite meeting mine.
"Are you alright?" Henry asked me, stepping closer. "You vanished through the floor."
"I saw something," I said. "In a mirror. I think... I think it was me. But not me."
Arthur exchanged a look with Ismuel. "Yeah, well... you missed demon Narren."
Katleyn swatted Arthur's shoulder. "Not helping."
"What?" Arthur huffed. "Green fire, glowing runes, creepy possession voice? That's demon stuff!"
Narren looked away.
"I didn't mean to," he muttered. "I didn't even know it was in me."
His voice shook.
No one spoke for a second.
Then I stepped toward him.
He flinched, but didn't move away.
"I saw something too," I said gently. "A shadow. With eyes like yours... when you, when that happened."
Narren looked up, surprised.
"It said something about me... about the Fifth. Do you know what that means?"
"I..." He paused. Then whispered, "No."
But he was lying.
I felt it.
Katleyn cleared her throat. "So. Tower of cursed death. Haunted battlefield. Shady pasts. And Dyea being maybe-sorta-magic royalty."
"I'm not royalty," I snapped.
"Yet," she grinned. "Give it time."
Ismuel crossed his arms. "We need to move. This place is poisoned. The longer we stay, the worse it gets."
Harold nodded grimly. "Agreed. Whatever's buried here, it's not done with us."
We turned away from the tower.
And as we walked back into the ash-covered path beyond it, I felt the pull again.
The same quiet hum under my skin.
But now... it wasn't just coming from inside me.
It was coming from him too.
Narren.
Whatever's inside him, it's tied to me.
And it's waking up.
Later that night
The fire had burned down to glowing coals.
Katleyn was already snoring softly beside the boys, who lay in a tangled pile of capes and weapons, pretending not to steal warmth from each other.
But I couldn't sleep.
I stood at the edge of camp, looking out over the Wastes, where stars blinked dimly behind drifting ash clouds.
Then I heard the soft crunch of footsteps behind me.
"I knew I'd find you here," Narren said.
I didn't turn. "You always do."
He stepped beside me. Silent. Still.
For a moment, we just watched the horizon, two silhouettes under a haunted sky.
"I didn't lie earlier," he said quietly.
"But I didn't tell the truth either."
I looked at him.
His face was different in the firelight. Softer. Sadder.
"There's something inside me, Dyea. Has been since the Siege. Since Trixie-"
He stopped. Jaw clenched.
"I thought I buried it. But that tower, your voice, brought it back."
"Do you know what it is?" I asked.
He hesitated. Then nodded.
"I think I was meant to destroy something. Or... someone."
My breath caught. "Me?"
"No." He met my eyes then. "But it's tied to you. To what you are."
"And what am I?"
"...I think you already know."
For a long time, we just stood there.
The wind brushed my cloak. My fingers curled tighter around my sleeves.
Then he said, quieter:
"I was scared when I saw you again."
"Not because I didn't want to."
"Because I still did."
My heart jumped.
I didn't speak.
But I leaned into him, just enough for his shoulder to brush mine.
He didn't pull away.
Not this time.
Meanwhile - Around the Campfire
Arthur was poking at the embers with a stick.
"Okay, so real talk: did we almost just die?"
"Yes," Harold said. "Definitely."
"Agreed," Ismuel added flatly. "We should all be dead. But no. Dyea glows, Narren explodes, and somehow we all just walk out."
Henry sighed. "That wasn't Narren. Not completely."
Katleyn sat up suddenly. "So we agree, right? Something's up with both of them."
"They're hiding something," Arthur nodded.
"And they're definitely in love," Harold muttered.
"Which is going to get us all killed," Ismuel finished, deadpan.
"Okay," Katleyn said, smirking. "But hear me out, if Dyea ends up being like, a goddess or something... do I still have a shot?"
"Absolutely not," Henry snapped.
"Wasn't asking you, jealous knight-boy."
Katleyn poked at the fire dramatically.
"You know... I've been thinking."
"Oh no," Arthur groaned. "Here we go."
"Shut up, drama boy," she shot back. "Anyway, what if Narren's secretly cursed? Like, kiss-him-and-you-die cursed?"
Harold gasped. "Dyea's DOOMED."
"Guys," Henry growled. "Stop. This isn't funny."
"Isn't it, though?" Katleyn grinned. "Look, Dyea's got this glowing magic destiny arc thing going on. Narren's got 'tragic anti-hero with ancient power' written all over him. I'm just saying, if this were a story? They'd end up kissing mid-battle before one of them explodes."
"...Honestly," Arthur mumbled, "kinda hot."
Ismuel squinted at him. "Bro."
Henry stood up suddenly. "Alright. Time for night patrol."
"You already had the first shift," Katleyn said.
"I'll take another one."
"You mean, 'I want to make sure Narren doesn't crawl into Dyea's tent,'" Arthur muttered under his breath.
Henry froze.
Katleyn burst into laughter. "OH. MY. DYNI-he so does."
"I do not!" Henry snapped, turning red.
"Oh come on," Harold smirked. "You've been staring daggers at Narren since the tower."
"I've been watching for threats."
"He is the threat," Arthur pointed out. "He turned into fire-glowing rage demon earlier."
"Exactly!" Henry snapped. "And Dyea still trusts him! What if he snaps again?!"
"...You mean what if she chooses him?" Katleyn asked casually.
Silence.
Henry looked away.
Ismuel leaned back on his elbows, staring at the stars. "Honestly, I don't even know who I'm more jealous of."
Everyone looked at him.
"...Dyea," he added quickly. "Jealous of Dyea. Obviously."
"Too late," Arthur snorted. "We heard it."
Harold dramatically clutched his chest. "First Narren takes Dyea's heart. Now he's stealing Ismuel too."
"I'm going to bed," Henry growled, stomping off to his blanket.
Katleyn grinned. "Someone's heart is glowing green with envy."
They all settled in slowly.
But none of them really slept.
Not with that tower behind them.
Not with those two still whispering at the edge of the camp.
And not with that little, nagging fear deep in their chests...
That maybe this story wouldn't end with all of them still together.
Meanwhile... Behind the Bushes
Arthur's Secret Mission
Arthur crouched behind a suspiciously twiggy shrub, eyes squinting, breathing slowly like a trained assassin.
"Operation: Spy on Dyea and the Fireboy is go."
He peeked out.
They were standing close. Too close.
The romantic tension was practically visible. He swore he could hear a dramatic string quartet playing in the background.
Behind him, Harold whispered way too loudly, "What's happening? Are they, are they touching?"
"SHHH!" Arthur elbowed him.
Then:
"I think you already know," Narren's voice drifted from the dark.
Harold sucked in a gasp. "HE'S CONFESSING HIS LOVE-"
"Will you shut up?!" Arthur hissed, tackling him into the dirt.
Meanwhile, a few feet away...
Ismuel stood casually behind a tree, arms crossed, listening like a seasoned gossip connoisseur.
Henry, in full armor, tried to sneak up beside him and immediately stepped on a loud stick.
CRACK.
Narren looked up.
Arthur's head shot up from the bushes. "Abort mission! They heard us!"
Harold ran into a tree.
Henry dove behind a rock like a dramatic soldier mid-war.
Ismuel didn't move. He just waved awkwardly. "Nice night. Good stars. Carry on."
Back at the conversation spot...
Dyea stared at them, slack-jawed.
"Are you guys..were you spying on us?!"
"Technically it was Arthur's plan," Ismuel offered, completely betraying his comrade.
Arthur scrambled up, covered in twigs. "I HAD TO KNOW IF HE WAS GOING TO STEAL YOUR HEART, OKAY?!"
Dyea blinked.
Narren just raised an eyebrow. "And how's that working out for you?"
Arthur pointed a shaky finger. "TOO WELL."
Katleyn, from her bedroll without even lifting her head, called out sleepily:
"If you're gonna cry over her, at least do it quietly. Some of us are trying to look this pretty naturally."
The boys sulked back to camp, muttering.
Henry tripped over his own sword.
Arthur swore they were this close to overhearing a love confession.
Harold had a leaf in his mouth.
And Ismuel just sighed.
"We're never gonna win her heart, are we?"
"Nope," Arthur said, "but we'll die trying".
One Morning Later
Dyea's POV
The sun barely peeked over the edge of the ash dunes, and already the air was thick with tension.
Not battle tension.
Embarrassed boy-band tension.
I stretched, walked over to the fire pit, and found Katleyn sipping tea with the kind of smug smile that meant someone definitely did something stupid while I wasn't looking.
"Oh hey, Lovergirl," she purred.
I groaned. "Don't."
"Oh, I will."
Then Narren emerged from behind the tents.
Hair tousled. Calm. That usual unreadable look on his face.
"Morning," he said simply.
Henry's eye twitched.
Arthur dropped his canteen.
Ismuel muttered something about "stupid jawlines."
Katleyn almost choked on her tea.
I bit back a smile.
Later - Packing Up
As we prepped to move, Katleyn leaned over and whispered:
"You know what would be hilarious?"
"If you randomly said 'thank you for last night' in front of all of them. Loudly."
I blinked. "You're evil."
"I know. Do it."
So I did.
"Hey Narren!" I called. "Thanks for last night!"
Silence.
Everyone. Froze.
Arthur dropped his sword.
Henry made a strangled noise.
Harold's mouth fell open.
Ismuel walked directly into a tree.
Narren blinked once.
Smiled slightly.
And said, "Anytime."
Katleyn screamed.
"WHAT!?"
They all yelled in perfect unison, as if I had just told them I got married and didn't invite them.
Henry straight-up choked on air.
Arthur spun around so fast he tripped over Harold.
Harold gasped so hard he inhaled his hood.
Ismuel? He walked five feet away, stared at the horizon, and screamed internally.
Katleyn?
She was on the ground wheezing.
Tears in her eyes. Zero sympathy. Max chaos achieved.
"OH MY DYNI-YOU DID NOT JUST..DYEA YOU MENACE-"
Narren tilted his head ever so slightly. Smirked.
"Anytime," he said, voice like it was dipped in smug.
That smug little-
Henry pointed a trembling sword at him. "WHAT... HAPPENED LAST NIGHT?!"
I folded my arms, totally calm. "We just talked."
"ABOUT WHAT?!" Arthur yelped, picking grass out of his hair.
"Feelings," I said simply.
Katleyn screamed again.
Ismuel's POV
He was still staring at the horizon, jaw tight.
"Be cool," he whispered to himself.
"She's her own person. This is fine. This is FINE.."
Behind him, Arthur threw a rock at a tree and shouted, "STUPID FIREWOLF LOOKING MAIN CHARACTER!"
Henry's POV
He was pacing now.
Waving his arms. Mumbling to himself.
"She said thanks... what if he gave her a magical orb or..A CURSE?! Maybe she's cursed now! Or pregnant with a fire demon or-"
"Henry," Katleyn wheezed from the grass, "you need holy water. And sleep."
Back to Dyea
I brushed my cloak off, totally composed.
Katleyn gave me a thumbs up like I'd just set the world on fire.
I walked past Narren without looking directly at him.
And whispered, "That was for the spying, by the way."
He chuckled low under his breath.
"Your evil", he jokingly chuckled.
"Thank you".