When they stepped out of the passage, Saho was already in the camp. Dakran towered in front of him, looking ready to rip his head off while the others huddled around Edýia.
" Out of my way, you pesky pile of meat!" Saho barked, and Dakran took a step forward, unsheathing his sword.
Dakran had no clue as to why this man wanted Edýia, but he would go to the underworld and back before letting him get his hands on his sister. Blood or not, he had gone through much trouble raising the girl. She was family. The blood bond didn't matter to him. He loved her as if the same woman birthed her.
Dakran shoved his sword under Saho's chin and pushed it up enough for the man to look him in the eyes.
" If you want her. I'll have to kill me first!" Dakran warned, flipped his blade sideways, and nicked Saho's chin.
As Ian and Iris approached, Dakran threw them a glance. " Glade to see you're in one piece! I guess this cunt didn't want anything with you after all!" he hissed through gritted teeth, and Saho smirked at him.
" I can't die; you twat!" Saho spat and took a step closer. The gash in his chin deepened, and the blade tip punctured the skin on his throat.
Dakran hummed. " I can always maim you!" he smirked back and took his sword from under Saho's chin and ran it across his legs right above the knee.
Saho fell body backwards. Dakran picked up his legs and threw them a few paces away from him, " Go fetch!" he quipped. There was darkness in his tone. It was terrifying seeing Dakran show cruelty, lack of any emotion.
A sardonic laughter echoed in the darkness, and footsteps sounded not far away from where they were and before they could even begin to understand what was happening. Saho's Iegs appeared and fell next to him. Saho grabbed one leg at a time, placed them back where they were, and stood up swiftly.
" We can do this for as long as you want. I told you I couldn't die. I wish I could, though!" Saho sounded candid, closing the distance between him and Dakran.
Saho waved his hand, and Dakran disappeared in front of their eyes as if he were never there. Everyone froze for a moment and looked around to see where he had tucked Dakran. The man was the size of a small mountain.
Saho closed the distance between him and the others, and Edýia stepped forward. She slid her hand into the sleeve of her dress and pulled out the pendant, throwing it on the ground.
She gave him a look of defiance and brought her hands forward, " You want to die!" she paused for a moment; a slight smile curled on her lips." Come and get me!" she challenged, and Saho didn't wait to be told twice and closed the distance and reached to grab her hand, but his arm fell down and began rapidly decomposing.
" So it is true!" he mumbled in disbelief." You have indeed returned, all mighty goddess!" he continued staring at his arm that now was nothing but bones
Edýia eyes turned white. " You said you wished to die! I'm merciful and I will grant you your wish!" Edýia voice thundered in the darkness, and the dark clouds above cleared, making room for the sun rays to pass through. It was day. They all looked at the sky and wondered how long they they been in this place.
Saho bowed, " Forgive me all mighty goddess. I wished for the liberty to die. I don't wish to die right now!" he mumbled with his head down, and Edýia took another step forward.
" You can't have both child of the shadows! I can not give back what has been willingly given and no longer exists! Your soul has been offered to the Valley, and the Valley gave you in turn eternal life. Whether you wished upon it or not!" Edýia gave her verdict, stepping closer to Saho, and he began wither away chuncks of flesh fell off his bones, but he didn't move; he stared at her until there was nothing left of him
His cloack and bones fell down on the ground with a clatter, and everyone stared at Edýia wide-eyed. She didn't even flinch as she looked down on what remained of Saho.
Rom slithered among the others trying to keep out of Edýia's line of sight, picked up the pendant, and gingerly approached Edýia but she grabbed his neck when he was one step away from her and turned her head to him, with a stiff movement.
Edýia tilted her head and studied him for a few moments. " This transgression will be looked over, but it will be your last!" she warned and raised her other hand for Rom to hand her the pendant.
Rom reluctantly streched his hand, opening his the palm of his hand. Edýia picked up the necklace by its chain, brought it closer to her face, blew on it, and the pendant turned into dust, sprinkling on the ground on Saho's bare bones.
Everyone went mum, including Ian and Iris. She was truly powerful. Now, she knew that she wasn't who she said she was. No matter how powerful a Guardian was, none of them were strong enough to make darkness fade just by being near them.
Iris shook her head and sobered up, dragging Ian along. She moved closer to Edýia, halting her steps in front of her.
" Reveal yourself!" Iris curtly bowed and looked at Edýia waiting for an answer.
Edýia didn't answer.
" Please, we need to know, and we need help! Something" Iris paused for a moment and looked at Ian." Something is happening with the realms!" Ian continued her thoughts; he wanted to say more, but Edýia didn't seem to respond. She stared at them, or at least that what he thought she was doing, her white eyes, were unreadable, and her expression was blank.
A thud behind them made them look over their shoulders. Dakran stood up from the ground and brushed himself, looking rather displeased.
" Thank you for looking after me all these years!" Edýia bowed, and Dakran froze. He wasn't expecting that, seeing Edýia like that. Her white eyes could see through him, and he suddenly felt afraid of Edýia even more than he already was.
" You are my sister; it was my duty to raise you!" he struggled to keep his composure, his voice strained and struggled not to show fear.
Edýia hummed. " I will not be with you for very long. This vessel will die, cannot contain me for much longer, and do not wish for anyone to die, much less this poor girl. I'm not allowed to be here. If my brothers find out that I have intervened in the matters of the living, War will break soon, and the safety of the realm will be the last of you worries!" she explained, and the white light in Edýia's eyes faded, and she slumped on the ground, senseless.