The great hall of the Eclipsevane guild was quiet, the usual hum of activity replaced by a heavy stillness. Elara Windwhisper sat at the head of the long table, her sharp green eyes scanning the faces of those before her. Jane and Merrick sat side by side, their postures tense, their expressions etched with worry.
"We can't leave him out there," Jane said, breaking the silence. Her voice was firm, but the undercurrent of desperation was unmistakable. "You saw what they did to him. Exiled him with no real supplies, no support… it's a death sentence."
Elara folded her hands on the table, her expression unreadable. "Jane," she said calmly, "the vote was final. It's not as simple as just bringing him back."
"Then we make it simple," Jane snapped, her hands clenching into fists. "He doesn't deserve this. He's—he's not what they think he is."
Merrick let out a heavy sigh, his voice low and steady. "I agree with Jane," he said. "Changra's dangerous, yes, but that's because he doesn't understand his own power. Exile won't teach him anything—it'll only push him further toward chaos."
Elara's gaze flicked between them, her lips pressing into a thin line. "You both realize what you're suggesting," she said. "Defying the guild, going against the will of the council. It would make us outcasts as well."
Jane leaned forward, her voice trembling but resolute. "I don't care. Changra saved my life more than once. He's not a monster—he's just a kid trying to survive. If we don't help him, no one will."
Elara was silent for a long moment, her gaze distant as if weighing the consequences. The room felt colder, the stillness oppressive.
Merrick broke the silence. "Elara, you've seen the prophecy. You know there's more to him than just destruction. If he's meant to play a role in this world, it won't be fulfilled if he dies out there."
The mention of the prophecy seemed to stir something in Elara. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she leaned back in her chair. "You're suggesting we act against everything the guild stands for. Risk everything—for him."
"Yes," Jane said without hesitation. "He's worth it."
Merrick nodded, his voice steady. "If we abandon him now, we're no better than the forces that want to use him."
Elara exhaled slowly, her expression softening. "You're both determined to do this, aren't you?"
They nodded in unison, their conviction unwavering.
"Then we'll need a plan," Elara said finally. "If we're going to bring him back, we have to do it carefully. The guild cannot know what we're doing."
Jane's eyes lit up with hope. "Thank you," she said softly.
Elara held up a hand. "This isn't a decision I make lightly," she said. "And it will come at a cost. But if there's even a chance he can be saved, we owe it to him—and to ourselves—to try."
Merrick's lips curved into a faint smile. "Then let's figure out how to make this happen."
Elara leaned back in her chair, her expression still guarded despite the agreement to help. "If we're going to bring Changra back, we need to consider the obstacles. The guild won't just let us undo a council decision without consequences."
Merrick nodded thoughtfully. "The council's power lies in its control over resources and alliances. We'll need to work outside those channels."
Jane sat forward, her eyes flickering with a mix of hope and determination. "What do you mean? What kind of resources?"
"Travel, for one," Elara said. "We'll need to locate Changra first. Aetterus threw him far—miles beyond the guild's jurisdiction. We'll need someone who can track him."
"Someone discreet," Merrick added. "We can't risk the council catching wind of this. If they do, we'll be labeled traitors."
Jane's expression hardened. "I don't care what they call us. We can't let him die out there."
Elara allowed herself a faint smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Your loyalty is admirable, Jane, but it won't be enough. We need a plan that covers every angle."
Merrick stroked his beard thoughtfully. "We might need to enlist help from outside the guild. There are those who oppose the council's rigid structure, those who believe in redemption over condemnation."
"That's a risk," Elara warned. "Outsiders are unpredictable. If word spreads that we're defying the council, it could put all of Eclipsevane in jeopardy."
Jane's voice was firm. "If it means saving Changra, it's a risk worth taking."
Elara studied her, her sharp gaze piercing. "You're willing to leave everything behind for this, aren't you?"
Jane hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "He's my friend. And he'd do the same for me."
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air. Elara finally sighed, her gaze softening. "Very well. We'll start by gathering what information we can. Aetterus may know where he sent Changra—or at least have a way to narrow the search."
Jane's eyes darkened at the mention of Aetterus. "Do you trust him?"
"Not in the slightest," Elara admitted. "But he's the only lead we have. And I know how to deal with him."
Merrick leaned forward, his voice low. "Once we find him, we'll need to move quickly. The council may suspect something if we're gone too long."
Jane's jaw tightened. "Then we don't waste time. We find him. We bring him back."
Elara nodded, standing and smoothing her robes. "We'll reconvene tomorrow. I'll reach out to a few contacts and see what I can uncover."
Merrick rose as well, placing a steadying hand on Jane's shoulder. "We'll make this work," he said quietly. "For him—and for all of us."
Jane looked up at him, her determination unwavering. "We have to."
As the three parted ways, the weight of their decision loomed over them. They were embarking on a dangerous path, one that could cost them everything. But for Changra, they were willing to risk it all.
The corridors of the Eclipsevane guild were dim and silent as Jane made her way back to her room. Her footsteps echoed faintly, each step feeling heavier than the last. Her mind raced, replaying every word, every moment from the meeting with Elara and Merrick.
When she finally reached her door, she pushed it open with trembling hands. The familiar space greeted her, but it felt different now—cold, empty, suffocating. She closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a moment as she let out a shaky breath.
The silence was deafening.
She crossed the room to the small table by her window and sat down, her hands gripping the edge of the wood. Her gaze drifted to the night sky beyond the glass, the stars twinkling like distant beacons. Somewhere out there, Changra was alone, lost, and unprotected.
Her chest tightened as the weight of it all sank in. She imagined him wandering aimlessly, his smirks and jokes hiding the pain she knew was eating him alive. The thought was unbearable.
Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision. She tried to hold them back, but the dam broke, and the tears fell freely down her cheeks. A soft sob escaped her lips as she buried her face in her hands.
"Why?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Why did it have to be him?"
She thought of his laugh, the way he used humor as a shield against the world. She thought of the rare moments when his guard slipped, revealing the vulnerable, wounded soul beneath. And she thought of the way he had always been there for her, even when no one else was.
Her fingers tightened against the table, her tears falling harder. "He doesn't deserve this," she said aloud, her voice breaking. "Not him. Not Changra."
As the tears continued to fall, a realization struck her—a deep, undeniable truth that made her heart ache even more.
She cared about him. More than she had ever admitted to herself. More than she had wanted to acknowledge.
The thought sent a fresh wave of emotion crashing over her. She leaned forward, resting her forehead against the table as her shoulders shook with silent sobs.
"I can't lose him," she whispered, the words barely audible. "I can't."
For a long time, she sat there in the quiet, her tears slowly subsiding. But the ache in her chest remained, a constant reminder of the bond she had with him. A bond she couldn't ignore.
When she finally lifted her head, her resolve had hardened. She wouldn't let him face this alone. No matter what it took, no matter the cost—she would find a way to bring him back.