Jareth's consciousness drifted between darkness and light, his body heavy, aching. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim glow surrounding him. A cool sensation spread through his wounds, the pain ebbing away like receding waves. A soft, radiant blue light pulsed against his skin—healing magic. He took a sharp breath, his senses sharpening as he realized he wasn't alone.
Nerina knelt beside him, her hands hovering over his chest, faint blue energy swirling around them. Her expression remained neutral, but the mistrust in her voice was clear.
"Now, tell me… how did my sister survive that sword thrust?"
Jareth took a slow breath before answering. "Before that… My name is Jareth Dragonheart." He pushed himself up slightly, meeting her piercing gaze. "And yours?"
She hesitated, as if weighing his worth before responding. "Nerina Azurecrest."
Jareth gave a weak nod before explaining. "Your sister, Lyra… She wasn't sacrificed the way you think. Right before the final moment, she whispered to me—to trust her. She thrust the sword into herself as part of a deception, a trick to fool the Evil Gods." He paused, watching her reaction. "Afterward, we sealed her divine presence to hide her from them."
Nerina's breath hitched, her fingers tightening. "And where is she now?"
"She's alive and well. She's in the city of Elaria, serving as a General. She's been training their forces and protecting the reclaimed lands from enemy attacks."
A long silence stretched between them. Then, another voice echoed through the chamber.
"Bahamut, I apologize for my silence before."
The deep, soothing voice of Undine filled the space, speaking directly to the Dragon God.
"As you know, even gods are not always trustworthy anymore. You understand this well, given your past."
Bahamut rumbled in understanding. "I do." His tone held no resentment, only acknowledgment. "Your caution was justified."
Nerina exhaled, absorbing the revelation. "If what you're saying is true, then Elaria is in danger. A large-scale assault must already be in motion."
Jareth's eyes narrowed. "I've already defended the city from an attack—a force of twenty-five thousand soldiers. We won."
Nerina shook her head, her expression darkening. "No, you don't understand. That was just a test. They were probing your defenses." Her fists clenched. "The real attack will be five times that size."
Jareth's blood ran cold. "We need to go back. Right now." He moved to stand, but Bahamut's voice stopped him.
"No, Jareth. We can't."
Jareth froze. "What?"
"If we retreat, this tower will call for reinforcements. If that happens, you may not be able to defend Elaria a second time." Bahamut's tone was firm. "Even the Godsword points toward the top of this tower. This place holds a powerful enemy we must defeat."
Jareth exhaled sharply, glancing at Nerina. "Then we have no choice." He met her gaze. "You need to go back to your sister. Head south, toward Yggdrasil. The city should be close to there. I will unlock her seal from here. Once she regains her Godform, both of you will need to protect the city."
Nerina hesitated, then nodded. "I wish we could talk more about what actually happened to me, but we have no time. I'm sorry too, Jareth, for attacking you." She turned toward the chamber's exit but stopped briefly. "Be careful on the top floors. The boss there… he's a tricky enemy. On the level of a Demon King."
With that, she bolted toward the stairwell at a breakneck pace, her form vanishing into the dim corridors below. Her footsteps echoed down the stone halls where Jareth had already carved his path of destruction, leaving behind nothing but the remnants of battle.
Jareth tightened his grip on his sword, his heart pounding. The final battle in this tower awaited. And he would not falter.