Hundreds of freed slaves huddled together. For some, the freedom was overwhelming. For others, it was a dream they never believed would come true. Vastarael stood at the center of it all, his eyes scanning the crowd. One by one, people approached him, offering thanks. Some fell to their knees and others clasped his hands as if they were holding on to salvation itself.
"Thank you," an older man whispered. "You gave us a chance we never thought we'd have."
Another, a woman holding a child tightly, added, "We'll never forget this. None of us will."
Vastarael, unused to such open displays of gratitude, merely nodded with a soft smile.
"You don't need to thank me. Just live. Live free and don't let anyone take this away from you. I suggest to go to the mountains and live there."
The crowd murmured in agreement. From among them, a tall and broad-shouldered man approached him. He had been the de facto leader of the slaves even before their escape, rallying them in their darkest hours. Now, he stood before Vastarael with something close to loyalty.
"Here," Vastarael said, holding out the artifact he had taken from the lava monster. "Take this."
The man hesitated, clearly unaware of the artifact's power.
"What is it?"
"A defense. It'll give you the strength to protect your people. If anyone comes after you, and they will, this will help you fight back. Just use it wisely."
The man accepted it with trembling hands, nodding solemnly.
"We will. I promise."
Satisfied, Vastarael stepped back, his gaze wandering until it found her.
Arletta was standing near the edge of the forest clearing they were all in. Her chains were gone now but she hadn't strayed far from her adopted family. It was a couple and their three children. They were surrounding a small, energetic wolf cub that ran between their legs, yipping happily. The cub hadn't grown at all. It looked just as it had in the memories he saw. Yet despite its small size, it radiated a kind of stubborn vitality.
Chainless knelt beside it. Her hands gently ran through its wet fur. The smile on Arletta's face was unlike anything Vastarael had seen from her before. He approached quietly, not wanting to interrupt the moment. The family noticed him first though. The mother, a petite woman with kind eyes, stepped forward.
"You're the one who helped her, aren't you?"
Vastarael scratched the back of his neck, suddenly feeling awkward.
"I just… did what needed to be done."
"No," the father interjected, shaking his head. "You gave her more than freedom. You gave her hope. You gave all of us hope.'
The children looked up at Vastarael with wide, curious eyes and even the wolf cub seemed to acknowledge him with a bark.
"Arletta, I'm about to leave. I doubt we'll see each other again. I only bonded with you because I had to pass my first test. And now that it's over, I can break the bond. If you want me to, that is."
She didn't nod, didn't shake her head or even move.
"You can't even tell me what you want, huh? You remind me of Adelasta a lot."
Still, he stood and gave a small wave to the family.
"Take care of her. Stay safe."
The rain masked his footsteps as he walked away, heading back toward the forest and the portal that still waited for him.
[You're really going to leave her behind?]
"What else can I do? When I go back to my present, the bond will break anyway. She's not alive in my time, Phaenora. This is ancient Spheraphase."
There was a pause before she spoke again.
[You liked her, didn't you?]
He hesitated, then chuckled.
"She was... interesting. I liked showing her things and teaching her. For someone who didn't say a word, she was good company."
[You could take her with you.]
He laughed, though it sounded hollow.
"And what, show her the modern world for a few days? No, Phaenora. This is where she belongs. With her family, with her... cub. To be honest, I'm glad I met her. I hope I'll find her in history books back in the academy."
The portal came into view.
He paused, glancing back toward the clearing one last time. Through the rain, he could barely make out Chainless still standing with her family. For a moment, he thought she was looking at him, but it was hard to tell.
"Goodbye, Chainless," he whispered, ready to step through the portal and vanishing into the storm.
He took a deep breath, the faint hum of the portal pulling him forward.
A sharp, piercing bark rang through the forest loud enough to cut through the downpour. From the shadows of the slope, he saw her.
She was running as fast as her legs could carry her with the small wolf cub clutched tightly in her arms. Her feet slipped on the wet roots and mossy ground and she stumbled more than once.
"Chainless?"
She tripped again as she slid down the slope, but she didn't seem to care. With a final, desperate push, she landed right in front of him as she clung to the wolf cub.
"Arletta? What are you doing here? Why aren't you with your family?"
She looked up at hi. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something but the sound never came. She faltered, then looked down, visibly frustrated. It was clear she wanted to explain but her inability to speak made it agonizing.
Finally, she scrambled to her feet and glanced around. Her eyes found a long twig nearby and she grabbed it, crouching to write in the muddy ground.
Vastarael watched in silence as her hand moved swiftly, tracing the familiar Xinoraci runes he had taught her. When she was done, she stepped back, letting him read her words.
"I want to join you."
"Join me? But what about your family? Did they even agree to this?"
Chainless didn't hesitate. She crouched again, writing quickly in the mud.
"I let them go."
"Arletta…"
But she wasn't done. She dropped the twig, falling to her knees and clasping her hands together in a gesture of pure desperation. The rain drenched both of them but she didn't care. She leaned forward and began tracing another set of runes in the mud with trembling fingers.
"Please don't leave. Don't break the bond."
Phaenora's voice whispered in his mind.
[The same way you saw her memories, she saw yours. She's seen your world... both your words. That's what she's asking for. A chance to live it, even for a moment. Sorry I didn't tell you this. I didn't want you to get too attached to her because we're in the past.]
"You're serious about this?" He asked aloud, though the answer was already clear.
Chainless nodded. She lifted her twig again, carving the final message into the mud.
"I want to see the life you showed me. I have no purpose in this world. So please, take me to yours. This is the only request I ask as your subordinate."
For a moment, he was silent. Then, a low chuckle escaped his lips. He threw his head back, laughing.
When his laughter faded, he knelt down to meet her gaze. He smiled warmly at her. It was a smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts.
"Alright, you win. You can come with me."
Chainless's face lit up in a way he'd never seen before. Her lips parted into a beam so bright it rivaled the rainstorm's gloom and for the first time, she reached out, not with her hands, but with her lips. Even though she couldn't speak, he read her lips.
"Thank you, Veneri."
Vastarael's breath hitched. It took him completely by surprise as he said his name from Earth. He shook his head, still smiling.
"You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
Without waiting for a response, he reached out and gently grasped her free hand.
"Come on. Let's go before I change my mind."
With her wolf cub nestled securely in her arms and her fingers entwined with his, they turned toward the glowing portal.
[Welcome To The Seventh Test.]