Page 175 of The Last Guardian

“How do we get there?” Dorian asked, still standing next to me, as Bennett, Sam, and Jekya arrived. “I don’t see any islands nearby.”

“We must maintain a safe distance from the coast,” Zaid explained, putting his black sword on his back. “Eirlys will create a passageway for us to enter. Once inside, we will separate.”

Nefeli joined us, buckling a sword at her hips, and she handed a bow and a quiver to Lyra.

Lyra smiled at her broadly.

Dax and Seth took thin blades, curved at the edges.

Lyra watched them, frowning. “Tulwar? You use Tulwar swords?” Lyra asked incredulously. “I thought it was just a legend…”

I glanced up, surprised, wondering how she knew such a thing, but she simply shrugged.

Seth smiled, displaying his blade. “It’s easier with a curved blade to cast our sunfire.”

“And why is yours a thicker, black sword?” Lyra asked Zaid, pointing at his sword. “You have Surani lineage, too.”

Zaid smiled, opening his palm and letting a black flame dance across his skin. “Yes, but it’s not sunfire. My power helped forge the black sword, so I could project the flame into it. Most weapons would simply be destroyed by my power if I used it through them.”

“Cocky bastard with your black flames,” Dax grumbled, grabbing a war hammer. Zaid chuckled at his friend’s comment.

“Nef has one too,” Zaid added to Lyra, pointing to the white blade on his sister’s hip, “forged from her silvershade. She can project her power into it like us.”

Nefeli’s eyes turned off as she mumbled something incomprehensible while giving her brother a dark look.

Bennett chose a sickle, the round curve carved with old script reminding me of old Kalorian—a dead tongue from Kalor—as Sam took a spear and Jekya daggers.

The hem of a dress rustled on the wooden floor as Eirlys finally stepped on the deck.

She stopped right in front of Zaid, placing something in his palm. “Amulets,” she declared, moving to give one to Nefeli, Dax, and Seth. “My portal will let you step inside a temple—the only place my power is capable of reaching in the drained lands.” Then she stopped. “Do not use the amulets inside. Chaos already takes root there, and whatever is wandering in there will follow you. You must all exit the temple and carry on your way.” Everyone nodded, and Eirlys added, “When you find a Guardian, tap three times on the carving inside the amulet—they will pass the portal and join the ship. Do not pass through to join the ship until you are ready to return—once you cross, you leave the island for good,” she warned. “If you need to escape a place, tap twice. The amulet will bring you to another area.”

At last, she turned to me as everyone resumed gathering their belongings before leaving.

Eirlys said in a murmur, “Since you haven’t passed the last Threshold, try to feel the power lurking inside the relic as best as you can.”

“Oh.” I reached for the relic in my pocket. “I actually succeeded last night.”

I hadn’t taken a look at the relic at all. I was so in a rush to see Zaid that it didn’t occur to me to look at it, even for one second.

The relic warmed against my skin as the little gemstone lit up in a soft crystalline hue. Eirlys’ lips curled in a soft, satisfied smile, and she let out a breath of relief as she glanced at Zaid for a moment. My eyes darted to him; his shoulders tensed.

“Excellent,” Eirlys said at last, my focus returning to her. “Concentrate on it while you’re there,” she instructed, her voice firm. “And above all, don’t lose sight of the commander. There are things creeping on this island… dark things that could take you—just for the relic.” Eirlys gave me a warning look.

Chills ran down my spine at her gaze. “Understood,” I replied, glancing at Zaid as he made his way to my side.

“Since you know your team, gather,” Dax commanded, his authoritative tone resonating throughout the room.

Lyra went to Dax and Arthur, her quiver and bow in hand. Sam and Bennett joined Seth and Dorian, and Jekya near Nefeli.

Eirlys stepped forward, and we all gathered around her. With a wave of her hand, a dark vortex spun in shades of black and purple. The last time I had gone through this, I felt like the Hells were swallowing me whole.

Then, Eirlys turned towards us, welcoming us to enter the dark hole. We all stepped through the portal, passing through the swirling vortex on our way to Myrh.

On our way to find the Last Guardian.

DARKNESS ENVELOPED US in light, belching fire and smoke as we stepped through the portal.

Time and, surely, a dark, evil soul had left their mark on this place.