Zareb’s goal is a noble one. But peace between the races will not be so easily achieved, even if all went as well as possible. Before the Great Fragmentation, before even the Human-Elf War, the tension between the races had been palpable. And opinions towards human kind especially had been far from favorable. Now factor in how Athanasius and the Dominion have oppressed and abused generations of elves? I fear Vindanna will cry for blood. With her children that had been enslaved for centuries being especially thirsty for vengeance…

  -Excerpt from Arvad Malachi’s Musings

  A few days have passed since Galen and Tufani first arrived to the Rebellion’s hideout. They spent that time mostly resting and recovering from their ordeals in Ignis and the trip here.

  Galen wanted to speak more with Aleksi, but his mentor had been occupied managing things with the Rebellion, as well as making up for lost time with his wife and friends. The Rebellion itself had also been hard at work.

  From what he’d been able to gather, their forces were currently focusing on helping elf slaves escape from the Dominion’s wrath after the destruction of Ignis. While Aleksi and the others hadn’t made mention of it, likely to not worry either him or Tufani, he figured that the Dominion had to be retaliating over the destruction of its capital in Axis Mundi.

  The gruesome sight that greeted them when they met with Norman flashed in his mind.

  He shuddered to imagine such brutality occurring throughout the Realm.

  I can only imagine how Tufani is feeling about this. Especially given what happened two days ago, he thought.

  The incident in question was one where Tufani had, after learning of the Rebellion’s efforts to aid the elf slaves, demanded to go out to help them. Lusha, however, had convinced her not to go.

  Barely.

  The reasoning Lusha had used was that Tufani’s mission was too important to risk dying, especially since there wouldn’t be much aid she’d be able to provide in the first place.

  Though Tufani had been rather cross with having her abilities questioned, Galen completely understood, remembering how effortlessly Arvad had swatted aside Tufani’s attempt to strike him. He recalled his own training sessions with Aleksi back when they’d been in Ignis. There had not been a single time where Galen thought victory against his mentor was even a remote possibility. And if there were others in the Rebellion who were near his level… well, he figured Lusha’s assessment was pretty darn accurate.

  Thinking of this all made him worry for how Tufani was doing. He hadn’t spoken with her since their first day here. She’d been busy catching up and spending time with Sana and Onas.

  I’ll check on her tomorrow morning, he thought as the hour was late.

  He felt more tired than he probably should be given he hadn’t done anything physically demanding. His brain also began to feel foggy, so he figured it would be best to get some sleep to refresh himself before trying to speak with her.

  Unfortunately, when he awoke, he didn’t feel refreshed.

  His eyes snapped open, his vision blurry, as he was immediately hit with a sense of nausea. He groaned as he tried to stand, only for his sense of balance to suddenly give out on him. He only barely managed to regain it before he could fall face first to the floor. He noted, however, after his vision cleared that his body was trembling and was suddenly wracked with varying pains in his muscles.

  He clenched his teeth, or rather tried to, as his teeth were currently chattering.

  The symptoms passed, though the pains remained to lessened degrees and a feeling of lethargy passed through him, making him want to lie down on the ground and stay there.

  He shook his head, trying to fight off the feeling, as he grabbed Redian and clumsily strapped the sword to his side.

  The withdrawals are getting worse… Galen noted.

  He needed to find and talk to either Lusha or Aleksi about this, Maybe they’ll give me back the pills and I can FINALLY take one-

  He shook his head again, harder this time, to clear his mind. He would NOT feed the addiction. He grit his teeth, cursing Athanasius and the Dominion for what they’d done to him.

  Galen looked around the massive, cavernous chamber, hoping to find either Aria or Aleksi.

  Unfortunately, he didn’t know where either were at. However, perhaps Redian could find them if they were nearby.

  He could sense the sword’s worry for him, which had been present since he’d left the tent. No doubt the Sentient Weapon could sense what was going on in his body, if not detect Galen’s distress from the withdrawals.

  He reopened the mental connection between them, Redian. I need you to try to find either Lusha, or Aleski.

  “I’ve already been looking boss,” Redian answered, “I’ll find them quickly.”

  “Thanks,” Galen muttered aloud to the sword.

  He continued to walk about, scanning the area for either of them. Most of the camp was empty, what with the Rebellion’s focus in finding and helping elf slaves escape the Dominion. A decent number still remained, however, and they eyed Galen as he passed. Most simply snuck glances his way, though some did smile and wave at him. He noted how their smiles seemed forced, concern evident even as they tried to hide it.

  Damn, I must look terrible...

  He tried to put on a front and waved back with a forced smile of his own, noting how, even after a few days, he was still a point of interest to the people here. Not surprising, he supposed, given his status as the new Champion of the Dominion.

  Former Champion, now, he reminded himself.

  There was no way he’d ever willingly return to that position. Not after all that he’d learned.

  “Boss!” Redian called to him.

  You found one of them? He asked.

  Before the sword could answer, a familiar voice called to him.

  “Daxton?”

  He turned to see Tufani standing before him, a look of concern on her face.

  ***

  Aria was surprised that she’d run into Daxton, but more so at how... unwell he looked.

  She frowned, studying his appearance.

  He had bags under his eyes, his face seemed stuck in a grimace, and his body seemed to be lightly trembling.

  “Cham- Daxton, are you okay?” she asked him, surprised at how genuinely concerned she felt.

  It’s only been a few days since we last spoke. Why does he look so worn out?

  It was then that she remembered how the Dominion had laced the medication they had given him with highly addictive substances. Her mother had told her stories of plants that were used for medicine in Vindanna, and how some were dangerous due to the risk of developing a dependence on them.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  She’d also mentioned that breaking free from that dependence was rather difficult due to the side effects the body experienced in the process.

  Looking at Daxton now, she began to understand what Anila had meant.

  “I-I’m fine…” he muttered.

  She was incredulous, “Void, you’re really saying that with how you look?”

  Daxton frowned, and unsheathed his sword, which looked recently polished. He used the black blade as a mirror, and raised his brows at his reflection, “Okay… yeah, I look like shit. Which is about how I feel right now.”

  Aria walked up to him, worried his knees might give out and make him fall. “What happened?” she asked, though she already strongly suspected what it was.

  Her suspicions were confirmed when he answered, “Withdrawals. Addiction is… well, I won’t say what I was about to given now I’m in good company.”

  He forced a smile, and Aria shook her head, “Should I heal you? Maybe a healing Art will-”

  “No,” Daxton cut her off with a look of warning, “my Ether intolerance makes my body have an adverse reaction to Ether being used. The power in its dormant state doesn’t trigger it, but any usage of it, whether from my own or someone else’s via healing, does.”

  He let out an exasperated sigh, “It’s freaking inconvenient, isn’t it?”

  “I’ll say,” Aria tilted her head, “is there anything else I can do?”

  He seemed surprised that she made the offer, “Uh… yeah, actually. If you don’t mind that is.”

  “I asked, didn’t I? What is it?”

  “Do you know where either Aleksi or Lusha are? I… I need to talk to them about… this,” he waved a hand towards his face.

  “I believe one of them returned not too long ago. Though I don’t know where. Come on, I’ll help you find them.”

  “Thank you,” he responded gratefully.

  She was surprised by his gratitude, Considering all you’ve done for me, this is nothing.

  They walked and searched together. Aria made sure to keep an eye on Daxton in case he began to weaken further. Thankfully, it didn’t take long to find one of the two.

  She noticed Daxton perk up, “Redian says he found Aleksi.”

  She nodded, “Lead the way.”

  He did, and after a bit of walking, she too began to pick up Zareb’s Ether signature. She felt a stab of annoyance at how the Champion’s- no, Daxton’s sword had sensed the Rebellion General before she did. She hid it well, however.

  They found the general speaking with some newly found elf slaves. Aria’s breath hitched upon noticing their condition.

  They all looked exhausted, their clothes dirty, worn out, and alarmingly caked with dried blood. Through the initial burst of panic, she noted with interest how none of them wore the Dominion’s accursed collars.

  “I have some business I need to attend to,” Zareb spoke with a calm, soothing voice, “I will have one of my men see that you all get treatment for your injuries. We’ll also help you all get cleaned up, get you some fresh clothes, and some food in your bellies. I promise.”

  With that he gestured to one of the soldiers, who saluted and led the elves into the chamber. The general turned to them. He initially smiled, though the expression quickly melted upon noticing Daxton’s appearance.

  “Lad?!” Zareb quickly approached, “Maker above, you look almost as bad as that group of elves I brought in. What happened?”

  “Withdrawals,” Daxton grimaced.

  Zareb frowned, “I didn’t think they’d be this bad already… Void, forgive me for delaying, lad.”

  He gestured for them to follow him.

  By the time they made it to Zareb’s tent, Daxton’s legs began to wobble. Aria quickly grabbed a chair and dragged it over.

  He all but collapsed onto the chair, barely managing to seat himself.

  Void, he looks like he’s about to vomit, Aria thought.

  And then, just as she thought that, he threw his head to the side and retched.

  Zareb went to a corner where a small chest was located. As he rummaged through his things, Aria looked at Daxton with concern. He was still hunched over, pale, trembling intensely, and breaking out in cold sweat. She reached a hand out, but hesitated.

  She placed a hand on his back and rubbed soothingly. She was surprised by how broad and toned his back was, a clear sign of the fruits of training.

  Daxton let out a shaky breath, and Aria was also astonished to find just how much she was worried about him. She didn’t think she’d had it in her to be so concerned for a hume, no, a human.

  Zareb returned with a water skin and a bottle filled with what looked like small pellets. He took one out and proffered it and the water skin to the young human.

  “Here, lad,” he whispered, “take it.”

  Daxton abruptly reached out with one hand to swipe at the pellet in the general’s hand, spooking Aria with his sudden and quick movement.

  Then, just as quickly, he used his other hand to stop himself. He shook violently, and though a kind of hunger shown in his brown eyes, there was also resolve.

  The young human shook his head with effort, and let out a weak, “No…”

  Zareb frowned, “Lad-”

  “No!” he interrupted with a stronger voice, “I… won’t feed this addiction, Aleksi. I. Won’t!”

  In spite of his words, the hunger in his eyes remained. Aria shuddered at the clear internal struggle within him.

  “I’ll let the withdrawals run their course,” he added, “I can… I can bear it…”

  Zareb shook his head, “Lad, the drugs they laced the medication with aren’t the kind that you can go cold turkey on. The withdrawals will continue to get worse until they kill you. We’ll need to slowly taper you off them. Until we find a better solution, that is.”

  Daxton looked between the pellet and Zareb, looking like a cornered animal, an expression of pain on his face. And Aria suspected it wasn’t merely the withdrawals causing him that pain.

  “Are… are you certain?” he asked the general.

  “Yes,” Zareb answered without hesitation.

  Daxton swore under his breath in a strange, incomprehensible tongue, before taking the proffered pellet and taking a large swig from the water skin. He let out a relieved exhale after taking several gulps of water. His body still shook, and his condition remained unchanged.

  “Will he-” Aria began, brow furrowed with concern as she continued to rub his back.

  “He’ll be fine,” Zareb assured her, “go ahead and cast a healing Art on him. That’ll help speed up the recovery.”

  “But his Intolerance…”

  “That pill he took was his medication for it. Now that he’s taken one, he’ll be able to use Ether without an adverse reaction for the next few hours. Naturally, that includes being healed by the power as well,” Zareb explained.

  Aria was still hesitant, having a hard time believing the pellet, or rather pill, could work that fast. Looking at Daxton’s pale complexion, however, she couldn’t suppress the surprising desire to help him.

  She took a deep breath, priming the Ether within her as she spoke the Invocation, “Oh winds. Take the power within me and use it to restore that which was harmed. Healing Breeze.”

  The power responded eagerly, and a wind tinged slightly green traveled from the hand rubbing at Daxton’s back and spread throughout his body. He let out a relieved sigh as the Art did its work, healing him and soothing away his pains.

  He leaned back on the chair, Aria removing her hand from his back as he did so. In a move that surprised her, he caught her hand in his own in a gentle hold.

  “Thank you…” he whispered to her, locking eyes with her as he did, making the gratitude he felt for her aid evident.

  Aria’s heart skipped a beat as she took her hand from his. “Think nothing of it,” she responded quickly.

  He shook his head, giving her a smile as the color began to return to his skin, “It means a lot to me, really.”

  She nodded, accepting his thanks as she tried to regain her cool.

  Why did his gratitude make me feel flustered…? she thought towards herself with confusion.

  “How are you feeling now, lad?” Zareb asked.

  Daxton took a moment to gather himself before answering, “I… I’m feeling a lot better than I did earlier, that’s for sure. Hell, I’m… I’m feeling better by the second.”

  Zareb sighed with relief, “That’s good. Though, as I mentioned earlier, I’m surprised your withdrawals reached this point in such a short amount of time…”

  The general frowned as he asked, “Tell me, lad. Did the Dominion increase the frequency of your Ether training when they replaced me?”

  Daxton nodded, grimacing, “Yeah… your duties were split between two people. Milton took over the role of overseeing my studies.”

  For some reason, Zareb had a pained look upon hearing that, though the Champion didn’t seem to notice.

  No… stop calling him that, Aria reprimanded herself.

  “I see…” Zareb commented, “I can see why they gave him the role. What about your Ether training? Who took over that role?”

  Interestingly, Daxton’s face went from a grimace to a full on scowl as he answered with a name, “Arawn.”

  Her eyes widened the instant she heard his name. Her stomach dropped, her heart began to pound in her chest, and she clenched her hands into tight fists. Her awareness of the outside world began to dim as the name brought forth terrible memories. It was a name that would haunt her for the rest of her life.

  Arawn.

  A huge thank you and special shoutout to my Lore Master tier Patrons, Mountain Knight, Conman2731, ThoMiCroN, and MCE 2 München 2. Your support is sincerely and greatly appreciated.

  https://www.patreon.com/GenZVall2025