Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 783: Never Lose To It ()

~Fort Inferno

Neveah inhaled a measured breath. The taste of ash still lingered on her tongue, and that surge that had forced her veins to expand pulsed within it, even now. It was mild, but it was there, like a prickle underneath her skin.

The residues left her feeling almost restless. Neveah couldn’t quite place it, but something within her felt wrong. Her veins buzzed, a subtle hum deep beneath her flesh that reminded her of the times when she was unable to control or contain Demevirld.

The times when it haunted her thoughts, driving her close to insanity.

She had given into it completely. She let it have a full expression of magic through her. There had not been much of a choice at the time, but it had tapped into something that left a lasting effect on her.

Was it the Arcane? Or something worse? Neveah did not want to imagine it.

She was exhausted, all her strength drained, used in fuelling Demevirld’s outburst. Neveah inhaled deeply again, suppressing this deep, unfamiliar ache that ruthlessly clung to her.

"Shall we return to the castle? You need to rest."

Xenon’s voice in Neveah’s mind drew her out of her musing.

Neveah shook her head, though her body begged her to comply. She couldn’t rest, not yet. The tension in the air was palpable, and every movement from the Infernal dragons only served to heighten the feeling that time was slipping away.

Xenon circled the inner perimeter, maintaining a steady flight. The whole of Inferno had been moved into the inner perimeter by this time, the district farthest from the volcano. At this moment, they were being settled into the available accomodations and provided with supplies and medical treatments for those that had been hurt in the rush.

The mages and healers handled this aspect, while the Infernal dragons kept watch from the skies. Like Neveah and Xenon did.

"Lord Kiroff reports matters in the castle have been properly handled." Xenon thought to Neveah.

"Let’s take a look." Neveah gave in.

The Infernal castle had opened its doors too, it was a structure built for resistance and situated within the inner perimeter and so Neveah had decided the aged and the young would be accommodated within the castle itself.

Neveah dismounted on the landing platform, her boots clicking against the rough, rocky surface. The world spun around her for a moment and Neveah shook her head to stabilize her vision.

"Love. You need rest." Xenon said, coming up behind Neveah to steady her with a hand around her waist. "There’s not much else you can do in this condition."

"Not yet." Neveah insisted. "Not until I’m certain there won’t be another eruption today."

The volcano had been quiet for a short while, but even now, Neveah could feel its restlessness. The ground trembled beneath her boots as she stepped forward. In her mind, she could already feel the rumblings of the volcano. It was stirring, preparing for the next surge.

When that would be? Neveah had no idea. Lord Kiroff had said the last eruption had carried on at intervals for a duration of six months.

This was only the first day, and it had required her to push beyond her limits.

But what more could she do? She had already exhausted herself. She had already tapped into a force that had nearly overwhelmed her. Would it be enough to stop it again? Or was the better choice to let it be? Let the volcano erupt, and hope it wouldn’t break through to the inner sanctum of the castle? The thought twisted her gut.

Xenon slowed as he noticed the change in her demeanor. He turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. "You’re not yourself, Veah. What’s going on?"

Neveah hesitated, swallowing the words that tried to escape. She couldn’t tell him, how she felt a dreadful residue of magic crawling within her. How it kept her every instinct on edge. She couldn’t burden him with it.

If he sensed anything was off, Xenon would take her away from active duty without hesitation. She couldn’t let her weakness show. Not now, not when they were on the brink of losing Inferno.

"I’m just... tired. I’ll be fine."

Xenon did not accept her answer, it was obvious to him there was more to the story but he did not press either.

"We will have to let it take its course at one point or the other." Xenon said to Neveah, placing his hands on her shoulders.

Neveah heaved a quiet sigh. "I know. I know."

"Do you?" He asked, his brows furrowed. His eyes searched Neveah’s, those piercing orbs reading deep into her soul.

"Do you know why Jian fears Demevirld so? And why Keila changed so drastically with the touch of the Arcane?" Xenon asked in a serious tone.

Neveah pursed her lips. She could already tell where Xenon was going with this and the sinking feeling within her was proof enough that he was right.

"Magic takes more from the wielder than it can ever give back. The more you take from it, the more it demands of you." Xenon asserted. "It is a grim exchange you might never be able to fully repay in a lifetime. The ability...to bend reality and change the fate of the world at will, it is no easy burden."

"Veah... I do not want you to fear Demevirld, or magic. It has become too deeply entwined with the essence of your being that it can no longer be separated..." Xenon trailed off, his tone grim.

"But I want you to never lose to it. You must maintain the upper hand over Demevirld. It will be a constant battle, a fight that will get more difficult each time you wield it so intensely...but it is a fight you must win. Everyday... every moment."

"A fight to stay in touch with reality and understand your own limits. Not because you are unable to do anything...but because even when being able to, there are times you must choose not to. Not if it means sacrificing too much of you, that we may never recover." His tone was firm.