The sun climbed higher as breakfast dwindled. The courtyard glowed with morning warmth, laughter lingering in the air like woodsmoke.
Perseus leaned back with a satisfied sigh, his plate picked clean. Nearby, Loque snoozed with his tail twitching contentedly.
Nyxia stretched, arms rising above her head as her joints popped."You know," she mused, "I missed this. The normal. The calm."
Perseus smirked."What, getting ambushed by ancient rot dragons not calm enough for you?"
She snorted."Not quite. But this? Sharing food, sitting still for more than a minute… yeah. I missed it."
A pause passed between them before Nyxia tilted her head, her grin turning mischievous."Remember that ruined temple north of Darnassus? The one hidden under the silver birches?"
Perseus blinked. Color crept into his cheeks."Oh… that temple."
Nyxia laughed."I can't believe we thought lighting incense would make it feel more sacred."
"I was trying to impress you!" he protested, covering his face. "You said you liked rituals and I panicked."
"You brought candles. And a feather pillow. A pillow, Perseus."
"It was one time," he groaned. "You're never going to let that go, are you?"
"Nope." Her eyes sparkled. "But you were sweet. Nervous, but sweet. We had no idea what we were doing."
Perseus chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck."No idea at all. I thought—Light, I thought kissing would fix whatever tension we had."
"And instead," Nyxia added, "we made it worse."
They both burst into laughter, echoing off the courtyard walls. But as it faded, a quieter stillness settled.
Perseus glanced at her."I always thought we might've had something. Once. But then she came."
Nyxia's smile dimmed."Ves'Sariel."
He nodded."She slipped into our little group like she belonged. Clever. Quiet. She saw things others didn't."
Nyxia's gaze dropped to her hands."I didn't mean for it to happen. It just… did. One night, after you'd left early. She stayed behind to help me rewrap my bowstring. Our hands touched, and… the way she looked at me—it was like she knew."
"I figured it out eventually," Perseus said softly. "You were gone more. Always with her. She looked at you like the stars fell just to rest in your hair."
A pained smile tugged at Nyxia's lips."She was magnetic. But she was also already unraveling. I just didn't want to see it."
"She loved you," he said gently. "Still does. Somewhere inside that corrupted shell."
Nyxia swallowed."That's what terrifies me. That she's still in there. Watching. Waiting."
Perseus reached across the table and laid a hand over hers."Then we'll find her. Together."
The sunlight caught on their joined hands—two survivors clinging to memory and scar.
Loque stirred nearby, lifting his head to watch them with quiet, knowing eyes.
Later That Afternoon
After the dishes were rinsed and Loque gave up his sunny spot, Perseus brought Nyxia to a quiet wing of the sanctuary.
The room smelled of parchment, candlewax, and Light. Shelves lined the walls—scrolls, relics, forgotten lore.
"This room's been sealed since before I arrived," he said, brushing dust from a table. "Most of these scrolls were gathered from ruins… broken temples. But a scribe here—Yuren—told me about something I think we need to see."
Nyxia ran her fingers over a scroll, eyes scanning old Elvish.
"What are we looking for?"
Perseus unrolled a thicker scroll. Its edges were singed. A crimson symbol marked the center—tendrils wrapping around a diamond-shaped eye.
"Ves'Sariel's corruption didn't start at the temple," he said. "This might be the true source. A site older than Elune's first breath. Hidden beneath the Shattered Gloomglade. Said to be a prison—or a vault. Maybe both."
Nyxia's expression sharpened."Why would she go there?"
"Because it speaks to those already touched. Offers power… in exchange for submission."
Nyxia's mouth tightened, fire rising in her eyes."Then we burn it to the ground."
"We don't even know what's inside."
"Doesn't matter. If it's the root, it has to go."
Perseus hesitated, then nodded."We'll need to go through the Rotfang Thickets. It'll take days. And the wilds are worse now with the void beasts. I'll contact someone in Dreadpetal Grove. A botanist. Knows the forest like blood."
Nyxia raised an eyebrow."Charming guide."
"He's insufferable," Perseus replied with a smirk. "But he owes me."
Loque rumbled softly and nudged Nyxia's side.
She brushed her hand through his fur and nodded."I don't care what's in that vault. If Ves'Sariel's soul is in there, I'm going to reach her."
"And if it's not?" Perseus asked quietly.
"Then I'll rip the monster that wears her skin apart."
A heavy silence passed between them.
Perseus rested a hand on her shoulder and gave a solemn nod."Then let's start packing."
Evening in the Sanctuary
The sun slipped behind crystal spires, casting the sky in lavender and gold. The air cooled, scented with pine and incense.
Nyxia stood barefoot on the stone floor of her chamber. Her armor lay disassembled on the bed—leathers worn, claw-marked, stitched again and again.
She moved with quiet precision, laying out gear from an old travel satchel:A whetstone. Flint and steel. Dried shadowberries. A flask carved from kodo horn, half-full of bitter tonic.
Her fingers brushed a broken feather—pale and curved.
Ves'Sariel's.
She stared at it for a moment… then tucked it into her bracer's inner pocket.
Across the room, Loque sat tall as Perseus adjusted his saddlebags. The spirit beast bore it with dignity, tail flicking in annoyance.
"These straps weren't made for moonlight titans," Perseus muttered. "Loque's more spirit-lord than panther."
Nyxia chuckled, stepping closer."He's carried my gear since the Northrend campaigns. You're just not used to beasts who don't answer to the Light."
Loque snorted in agreement.
Perseus smiled, brushing his hand down Loque's side."He's incredible. Still don't know how you bonded."
Nyxia placed a satchel into the pack."He nearly killed me. We fought in the Basin. I wouldn't back down. He respected that."
"He respects your rage."
She nodded tightly."It's mutual."
Nearby, Perseus packed with soldierly neatness: maps, potion vials, Void-sensing tools. His armor gleamed with runes and gold.
"Any weapons besides your bow?" he asked.
Nyxia pulled a bone knife from her boot and spun it."This. And Loque."
Perseus grinned."I'd rather not be on the receiving end of either. Not after the temple."
Her hand tightened around the blade."They were already gone."
"I know."
She turned toward the window."Do you think we're ready?"
"No."
She laughed—sharp at first, then soft.
"But we've got each other," he said. "And him."
Loque growled low, pleased.
Nyxia pressed her forehead to his fur."We move at first light. You carry the satchels. Keep your claws ready."
The glow in Loque's eyes pulsed in silent promise.
Perseus clapped his hands."Then we sleep. A short night, but we'll need it."
Nyxia shot him a look."Just don't snore."
"No promises."