The Jackal's Song
Chapter 20: The Archwizard

Tracker made short work of the lock barring their way from the study. The door groaned open, revealing a vast library, its towering shelves covered in dust and shadow. The air was thick with the faint scent of leather and old paper, but there was also a faint hum Senu couldn't describe. It wasn't quite sound, nor magic of a kind he understood, but there was something stirring inside him, as if his bones were vibrating.

Tracker seemed not to notice. “Fuck me," he muttered, eyes lighting up. “There's gotta be something valuable in here."

Before anyone could stop him, he was already moving, claws tapping against the wooden floor as he darted toward the nearest shelves.

Terrance sighed. “Can we at least pretend to have a plan?" He looked to Senu. “Thirty minutes. No splitting up."

Senu nodded. “Works for me."

So they trailed behind Tracker as he picked his way through shelves of books. The floor was polished and untouched by the destruction they'd found elsewhere in the tower. Plush chairs and elegant tables were in pristine condition. Even the acrid scent of smoke and burned wood was faint here. The second floor was especially cavernous, even more so than the first, and a flickering glow of enchanted sconces illuminated row upon row of books.

While Tracker hurriedly pulled books from shelves, occasionally stuffing one into his pack, Senu perused an instructional book about crafting enchanted swords. The detailed illustrations were beautifully rendered, each themselves a work of art. Terrance and Bahadur were trailing a bit behind, conversing quietly between themselves. 

There was no warning. From among the stacks three glowing orbs of blue and red light streaked from the darkness. A distinct crackle cut through the air before a bolt of red lightning slammed into Tracker's side. The blast scattered books, and the kobold was thrown hard into a shelf. 

Bahadur's sword was out in an instant, a golden aura flaring to life around it. “Eyes up!" he barked while moving to engage. 

Terrance reacted faster than Senu had seen him move before, swiftly planting himself between Tracker and the advancing wisps, shield at the ready.

A heartbeat later, Bahadur had crossed the distance as well, and his glowing blade sliced through one of the spirits, sending a ripple through its form like a drop of water in a still pond. It flickered, but did not dissipate. 

Meanwhile, Senu helped Tracker get away from the melee and sang a few bars of a song while applying a healing spell to the worst of the kobold's burns. His breathing steadied.

“Where'd they go?" Terrance said, irritated. The creatures had vanished, but the charged air was charged more than it had before.

“They're still here," he called. 

Bahadur nodded, head and ears moving quickly, trying to guard from all directions at once. “Stay alert." 

Despite the warning, none of them had time to react when another jolt of energy sliced into Tracker's back. Again, he cried out in pain and found himself knocked into a shelf, this time with enough force to damage it, pouring its contents over his sprawled form. 

“Enough of this!" Bahadur growled, tightening his grip on his sword. He closed his eyes for a moment, muttering a prayer under his breath. The blade flared, casting long shadows against the shelves.

He drove it straight through the only visible wisp.

The orb shuddered and was still for a single heartbeat, then burst apart, scattering like embers in the wind.

The back and forth battle was chaotic, but Bahadur finished off a second wisp much as he had the first, simply waiting for it to appear. 

Senu finished off the last one, calling on his innate connection to the Seelie rather than the Universal Symphony. As the last of the wisps was disabled, they were left panting and alert in case other hidden adversaries were around. 

Finally, Tracker broke the silence as he clawed his way free of the books that had nearly entombed him. “On second thought, fuck this place." 

Terrance was wrapping his singed arm in a bandage. “We let our guard down. We can't forget where we are. That could have ended much worse for us."

There was no disagreement. Bahadur crouched next to Tracker, giving him a once-over. “I don't have much magic left, are you going to be good?"

“Good enough," Tracker muttered. “Though, next time, I'd rather not be used for target practice." 

“Noted."

When he'd seen to his wound, Terrance sat down heavily in a high-backed chair. “I'm not at my best either. Let's rest for a few minutes to catch our breath and have some food."

Senu exhaled. “Good idea. I'm getting close to my limit as far as magic goes."

Tracker was already rummaging through the shelves again. “You know, if we weren't in mortal danger every few minutes, this place would be a gold mine." He ran a claw along the spine of an old tome, peering at the faded title. “Bet some of these don't exist anywhere else anymore."

“The problem," Bahadur said, stretching out his legs, “is we have no idea if any of them are real. The Dungeon doesn't just make copies—it makes things up. There's no way to know if the information in these books is even remotely accurate. In some cases, it might be dangerously wrong. A recipe for a medication that is instead a poison, for example."

Senu's thoughts drifted back to Count Alaric and the dragon scrolls. What if those were Dungeon-forged? What if they weren't history, but a distorted version of it the Dungeon wanted to spread?

He shook the thought away and focused on eating, though he had no appetite.

They didn't speak much as they took care of their basic needs. Eventually, everyone was standing and apparently ready to go. 

“That's enough of this place, at least for now," Terrance finally said, “Let's move on."

And so they did. Through a set of double doors on the second level of the library, they found a spiraling corridor that moved steadily upward through the central pillar of the tower. The scorched stone walls and glowing runes were ever more prevalent here, but it also became clear they were getting close to the top. 

As the corridor ended, they came to a massive circular door of black stone, inset with intricate gold filigree. The workings were precise and intricate in a way no hand could manage without magical aid. 

Tracker adjusted his spectacles, “Sophisticated lock. They didn't even bother hiding the trap. If we set it off, the door will get coated in some sort of liquid. My bet's on a nasty contact poison of some kind, but it could just as easily be acid or something even more creative."

“Well, I didn't see any keys down below," Senu said. “Can you get it open without one?"

Tracker shrugged. “It's worth a shot, but we need to be ready to run if it goes wrong. And I'm going to need you to lift me up so I can reach the mechanism."

The kobold's first attempt came very close to setting off the trap, but he managed to catch himself in time. He cursed under his breath, shook out his fingers, and tried again. This time, after some careful maneuvering there was a satisfying click. 

As the door swung open, a rush of air filled the corridor. It felt heavy, and there was a scent that reminded him of lightning in the air. 

Inside, they found what appeared to be the personal home of the wizard who had once controlled this tower. The chamber was vast, its ribbed ceiling lit by orbs of enchanted light. A towering bookshelf curved along the far wall, packed with weathered tomes, aged scrolls, and bound grimoires. 

But the real light came from the burning blue flame near the rear of the room. It sat within an intricate brass apparatus, the glow casting strange, wavering shadows across the walls.

And near it stood a tall, lupine woman wearing a navy blue robe. Her fur was a dark silver streaked with white. Beyond a flick of her ears, she did not react to their presence or even turn to look at them. 

Beside her, a beast uncoiled from the darkness, watching them with gleaming yellow eyes. It was a grotesque fusion of a feral wolf and serpent—broad-shouldered and furred at the front, but long and scaled at the back. Its muscles visibly tensed as it prepared to strike. 

Then, with a flick of the wizard's fingers, the door slammed shut behind them.

Tracker froze. “That's a bad sign."

The woman turned.

Green eyes burned, though not with malice. Instead of madness, it was cool assessment and calculation. She studied them for a long moment before speaking.

“Opportunists."

Senu caught the subtle shift in Bahadur's stance—his shoulders squared, his fingers flexed over his sword's hilt before curling tight. “We're exploring," Bahadur said, his tone steady, but Senu could hear the undercurrent of unease beneath it.

She tilted her head, considering.

“Explorers. Raiders. Scavengers. The distinction is thin."

Senu swallowed, forcing himself to hold her gaze. “Who are you?"

She took a slow step forward, the flickering blue fire casting half her face in shadow.

“I am Rhea, Archwizard of this tower." Her voice dropped into something quieter, heavier “What claim do you have to my domain?"

Silence. Senu's throat felt dry.

“She's an echo," Terrance murmured, barely above a whisper. “Like the rest of the Dungeon."

Rhea's ears flicked at that, but she did not deny it.

“I am what remains," she said instead. “A construct of memory, woven from the fragments of who I once was."

Bahadur frowned. “Then you're not really the Archwizard."

Rhea turned fully to face them.

“I am Rhea," she murmured, her voice like a spell. “I remember my life. My tower. My death. And I will not rest until I rewrite them."

She lifted a hand.

The flame surged.

And for a brief moment, the tower changed.

The charred walls turned to polished marble, glowing with ethereal runes. The air smelled of old parchment and burning candlewax, not ash. The bookshelves were whole, the chamber alive in a way that felt real.

Then, just as quickly, it was gone.

The magic snapped back.

Rhea lowered her hand, a stony look of disappointment breaking through her stoicism.

“…You're trying to change what happened," Senu murmured.

Rhea's gaze shifted to him, sharp. “A jackal? You of all beasts should understand the need to preserve the past. Not all of us are content with dreams."

Senu stiffened. The words struck deeper than he wanted to admit. His people saw themselves as preserving the memory of a world everyone else had forgotten. He had spent his life learning stories and songs, analyzing and archiving ancient history. But the old gods had agreed to step aside because change was inevitable. The jackals were merely custodians of the memory of that old world. The idea of restoring it was ludicrous. Wasn't it? 

Tracker snorted. “You're messing with time magic. Even I know that's stupid."

Rhea regarded him with something like pity.

“What know you of magic, dull creature? The gods would have you believe time like it is a river, and we but flotsam drifting on its currents," she said. “But with the right tools we can fight against the current. What if the past need not be lost? What if broken things can be mended. Not just remembered, but restored?"

Terrance's expression darkened. “And what would this spell do to us? Our home? Our families?"

Rhea's cool expression darkened and her fingers flexed at her side. For a moment, it seemed as if she might answer. Then, with a wave of her hand, she turned away, as if they no longer mattered.

“Take what you want from the rest of the tower," she said. “And leave me to my work."

Bahadur's ears dropped. “And if we refuse?"

The beast at her side lifted its head, yellow eyes gleaming. A slow, deliberate growl rolled through its massive chest, vibrating in the stone beneath their feet.

Rhea glanced at them over her shoulder. “Then you will all die here." 

Her voice was calm. Certain. She wasn't making a threat, it was a simple statement of fact.

They hesitated. Bahadur's ears were flat now, and the grip on his sword was steady. But he did not raise it. Instead, after a long breath, he gave a single, small nod. The door creaked open, seemingly of its own accord. Rhea did not stop them.

They descended quickly, winding their way down the spiraling corridor in tense silence. No one spoke, not even Tracker.

When they emerged back into the library complex, the large chamber felt emptier and more lifeless than before. The flickering sconces still burned, casting long shadows over the towering bookshelves, but something had changed.

Before they could collect their bearings, a shimmer in the air twisted into form, coalescing into a sleek, feline shape. Its paws met the polished stone without a sound.

It was strange creature the size of a large bird of prey that walked forward on four paws. Metallic golden fur shimmered under the eerie light of the library. A sleek, feline body moved with unhurried grace, its lion's tail lashing idly behind it. A pair of broad feathered wings spread wide, their edges catching the dim light with an iridescent sheen.

The creature began to hover, but the air around it remained still. Its wings shifted in slow, deliberate motions, yet there was no rush of displaced wind, no pull of air from the movement. Senu's fur bristled before he could stop it.

Then it spoke in a distorted voice. It was alike a harmony where each note was just slightly out of tune. The words resonated in his chest, vibrating through his bones.

“You hesitate. Yet every moment wasted brings your world closer to ruin."

Senu stared at the creature, ear twitching as his mind scrambled to process what he was seeing. Sphinxes were creatures of myth. Even most of the elder jackals had never seen one in person, and every encounter was a story still remembered. And yet, here one stood before him. 

“A sphinx," he breathed, still not believing. 

The creature gave a dismissive chime. “Yes, yes. Messenger of Yttrus, guardian of knowledge, embodiment of enigmas. None of that matters. The wizard above seeks to unravel time itself."

Terrance frowned. “But if she turns back time, wouldn't that just stop whatever disaster happened? How's that a bad thing?"

The sphinx circled them. “If one wizard is allowed to change time, others will quickly follow. Imagine a thousand, each rewriting their own past over and over again. Cities snapping in and out of existence. Entire lives erased and rewritten endlessly until all of existence is trapped in a single repeating moment. The world would stagnate. You would be trapped within it and never even know."

Tracker crossed his arms. “Not to question an all-knowing god, but shouldn't Yttrus be handling this?"

“The Dungeon exists beyond the reach of the gods' domains. Verasta could enter, perhaps. But he'd sooner roll dice for the outcome than actually intervene. Or, more likely, find a way to bungle it—assuming he hasn't already. Yttrus cannot come here at all."

Terrance regarded the sphinx carefully. He was clearly unnerved by the unexpected presence of such a strange creature, but his mind remained focused on tactics. “If she's even close to the strength of a true Archwizard, we don't have a chance. Maybe with a dozen more fighters. Even then, we'd likely lose half."

Bahadur nodded. “Unfortunately, I have to agree. In fact, I'd say Terrance's estimation is generous." 

“She lacks the true power of Rhea. The Dungeon isn't capable of connecting her to the Arcana. What she has is….like an imitation. Powerful, but limited. With a plan, I am certain we could defeat her. Though losses are likely."

Bahadur gripped the hilt of his sword as he looked back towards the stairs they had just descended. “I'm not afraid to die in battle if it means something," he said after a moment of contemplation. “What do you think Terrance?" 

The older wolf had a grim expression. “What exactly is she doing? And why, out of all the creatures in this world, does it have to be us?"

The sphinx met Terrance's gaze, unblinking. “Because you are here."

Terrance's ears splayed and his tone darkened. “That's not an answer."

“It is the only answer," the sphinx said. “There is no fate, no reason. You were simply those who arrived first. You are the ones who answered the Dungeon's call. There will be no reinforcements. No second chances. Either you act, or she succeeds. And if she does, everything you know will cease to exist in any way that matters."

Terrance's ears twitched in irritation, but there was no denying the worry in his eyes. Senu had no doubt he was thinking of his wife and children. 

They were here. They were the only ones who could be here.

“We need a plan." Terrance steadied himself before meeting their eyes. “With just the four of us, our best shot is keeping that beast of hers busy long enough for Tracker to slip in and… put the mage down. It's not honorable, but real fights rarely are."

He turned to the sphinx. “What can you do to help?"

“I am no warrior, but I will give you what aid I can."

It extended a wing, sending a faint ripple through the air. “I can alter probability. I can shield you from some harms, dull the sting of death, and disrupt her magic, at least for a short time. If she is weakened, I may be able to hold her in place for a time."

The sphinx folded its wings neatly against its body. “That is what I offer. No more, no less. The rest is in your hands."

Terrance nodded. “All right. Focus on keeping us standing. If there's a moment where she slips, make sure one of us can take advantage of it. We can't afford to let this drag out longer than it has to." He then turned to Tracker. “Think you can get close enough to strike before she sees you?"

The kobold adjusted his lenses. “Assassinate a powerful wizard? Sure. I can work around the room and try to get a shot at her back. The trick is making sure she's focused on the rest of you. If she sees me, this whole thing goes tits up."

He hesitated, rubbing the back of his head. “I'll make it work."

Bahadur rolled his shoulders as if trying to shake off the weight settling on them. He looked to the others, his usual confidence absent.

“I have fought many battles, but this one..." He tightened his grip on his weapon. “This one feels different."

He turned his gaze to Senu, then to Tracker, then to Terrance. “Aubade teaches that battle is a performance, a display of will and strength." He hesitated. “If this is to be our last, then let it be a song worth remembering."

The cleric let out a breath, nodding as if reaffirming something to himself. “We fight together, we stand together. And no matter how this ends, may the Sun Bull light our way."

“Well said, Scion of Aubade." The sphinx landed near Bahadur and placed a paw on his fur. A radiant glow surged through him. “I have renewed your connection to the Divine and will make sure your god knows of your deeds." 

Senu swallowed back his doubts, glancing once at the sphinx as if to remind himself it was real. “I'm no cleric. I'm not even much of a bard. But this is something that has to be done. And, apparently, we're the only ones who can do it."

He straightened. “If the stakes are high enough that even the gods are watching, then let's make sure we give them a good show."

Tracker snickered. Bahadur nodded. Terrance put a hand on Senu's shoulder. “What you are, Senu, is a good friend. If we have to do this, I'm glad to have you with me." 

One by one, the others readied themselves, adjusting armor, testing grips, and steadying their breath. The weight of what lay ahead pressed upon them, heavy and inescapable.

Senu's fingers brushed over the strings of his lyre, plucking a quiet note—not to play, but to focus, to prepare. His other hand rested lightly on his sword's hilt. Tracker muttered something under his breath, too quiet to hear, but his tail flicked with nervous energy. Bahadur stood at the front, a towering presence, his sword gleaming as he turned to face the door they had come through.

The sphinx spoke one last time. “Your path is set. Do not hesitate. She will not."

Senu let his hand fall to his blade. No more waiting. No more fear.

Bahadur exhaled and stepped forward. The others followed.

***

The door opened easily for them. 

Rhea was still near arcane machine, apparently in the middle of some delicate work. Several fist-sized mechanical creatures resembling spiders were crawling over the device, using pointed limbs to assist her. The wolf's silvered fur was illuminated by the strange blue glow of its pulsing energy. She did not turn to greet them, but the strange serpent-lupine creature immediately focused its attention on them. 

Bahadur didn't hesitate as he took one measured step forward, sword drawn and glowing with red-gold sunlight. 

“Rhea!" his voice rang out, deep, commanding, and full of conviction. 

The mage tilted her head slightly, one ear angling towards them.

“We know what you're doing. You may wield power, but this is not your world and I will not allow you to continue. The real Rhea is dead. Surrender, and perhaps you can find a new place here."

Tracker, already moving along the outer edges of the room, kept low and quiet. Senu lost track of him shortly after Bahadur began speaking. 

Bahadur's voice continued, steady, unwavering. “If you insist on making this your final stand, then come and face me. Your name has already been forgotten by most. I doubt anyone will remember your echo."

That got her attention.

Slowly, Rhea turned.

Her eyes burned, filled with a mix of emotions. Anger, yes. And amusement. Senu thought there was a flicker of sadness there to. Resignation. 

Then, she lifted her hand.

“No."

The beast moved before the word was fully spoken.

From the shadows near her feet, the hulking hybrid uncoiled and moved across the room with unnatural speed. The lower half of its body was a scaled serpent's tail that rippled like water while its front half was mostly lupine. Before they could do more than a shout, the creature was on them. 

It went for Terrance first, crashing into him with a thunderous impact that Senu felt as much as heard. Sharp claws and teeth raked across armor and the older wolf snarled in pain as he was forced back, barely keeping his footing.

Bahadur was calm, but quick as his sword flashed and left a burning laceration down the creature's flank. Seeing an opening, Senu positioned himself to further restrict the beast's movements, his own blade ringing as it left its sheath. 

The battle was now being fought in earnest, but Rhea wasn't even paying them attention. She was focused entirely on her machine. Senu spared a glance in her direction and was startled when he caught a glimpse of Tracker, now on the other side of the room concealed in shadow. 

The shot he fired was perfect. It streaked towards Rhea's exposed back. She didn't even look as she lifted a hand. A crackle of energy, a flash of light, and the arrow was embedded in a table leg. Useless. 

Her gaze snapped toward Tracker, then. 

“Clever." She turned, muzzle revealing sharp fangs she snarled. “But predictable."

With a lazy flick of her fingers, one of the spider-like constructs scuttled out from the inner workings of her machine, its metal legs clicking against the stone floor as it charged at Tracker, who let out a loud curse before the thing was on him, razor-like appendages glinting in the dim light. He barely managed to avoiding a strike aimed straight for his throat. 

Meanwhile, Senu was forced to refocus on the beast as it nearly raked his eyes. Bahadur and Terrance were flanking it now. Terrance managed to leave another deep wound across the creature's back while it fended off a strike from Bahadur, and Senu managed to thrust into its underbelly while it was distracted. 

The beast clearly wasn't used to fighting on the defensive. It lashed out recklessly, and each time it did, one of the three was able to take advantage. 

Frustrated, it reared back, snarling, blood dripping from multiple wounds. It sensed the end was near. As did its master. 

As Tracker fought for his life against another of her creations, the wizard turned to the melee and let out an  angered growl. The machine pulsed, sending a faint, unstable ripple through the air.

Her eyes flicked toward the faultering glyphs. She needed it.

The realization crawled over Senu's skin like a chill. Magic was as much a part of him as his blood. It was imperfect, and often exhausting, but it was his. He could feel the Arcana, touch it, draw it out through music and will. 

Wizards understood magic on a much deeper level. They studied it as if it were a science. They knew its inner workings and the obscure, often abstract theory behind every spell they cast. Rhea seemed to have that knowledge, but the sphinx had said she wasn't connected to the Arcana. What she had was an imitation. It would be limiting. 

Senu's eyes flicked to her fingers, the way they hovered near the machine but never quite touched it. She was trying to use it as a focus. A crutch she could use to reach out to the true Arcana again. Without that, whatever grand ritual she had planned to restore the tower was hopeless. 

She was running out of time. And it wasn't ready.

Senu saw it in her face. The way her tail curled around her. The faint twitch of her fingers.

“Damn you," she snarled, her voice low, barely audible.

Then, she turned to what she could still command.

Heat flared around her, the air warping as fire curled at her fingertips. The spell formed too quickly, raw and untamed, a spell of instinct, not precision.

With a single violent gesture, she hurled a ball of liquid flame into the heart of the battle. The sphinx managed to erect a protective field around them, but it did little to blunt the impact. 

The fireball exploded, the force of it shattering the air with a deafening roar. Heat rushed outward like a tidal wave, consuming everything in its path.

He raised his arms to shield his face, but  the sheer force took him off his feet and hurled him backwards into the stone wall. The breath was knocked from his lungs. Fire licked at his fur, and pain flared white-hot across his body. He gasped, then coughed as his lungs burned, struggling to focus as the world spun around him.

Somewhere in the haze, golden light flared as the sphinx's magic tried to keep them alive, snuffing out the remaining flames and soothing some of their wounds. 

Across the chamber, Bahadur staggered, but still standing, even as his fur was singed and smoking He gritted his teeth and slammed the tip of his sword into the ground, using it as a brace. With his other hand and a low growl, he sent a pulse of divine magic outward. The worst of his burns healed, but he was still badly wounded, and the battle was far from over.

Senu coughed, forcing himself up. He spotted Terrance, similarly scorched, his armor smoking as he wrestled with the beast, who itself had been badly burned as well. But the monstrous fusion of wolf and serpent refused to die. 

Bahadur regained his composure and lunged at it. The holy blade sliced deep into the creature's shoulder, but it ignored the wound and raked its claws down Bahadur arm, leaving deep furrows of torn flesh. The wolf barely grunted from the pain, and he did not falter. He attacked again, carving another deep gash into its tough hide.

Terrance didn't relent either. His blade found soft flesh beneath its belly, and the creature recoiled with a pained shriek, finally trying to withdraw. But Senu was ready. 

His movements were more intuition than skill, but the jackal moved with purpose. His sword flashed as he drove it forward, straight into the creature's exposed throat.

The beast thrashed violently, then, with a final gurgled roar, it collapsed.

Rhea was clearly enraged, but the words she cried out were arcane in nature. A spell. Senu looked just in time to see her vanish and let out a low whine. Invisibility. 

Nearby, Tracker was still locked in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the clockwork spider. His clothing and armor was torn in multiple places, and dark blood trickled from a dozen shallow wounds.

More metallic clicks echoed through the chamber as glyphs across the machine flickered and glowed. The other spiders she had held back to help with the work on the machine now crawled from it and began moving towards Tracker, threatening to overwhelm him even as the kobold twisted away from yet another attack. 

“The hell are these things?" Tracker spat, kicking one away. It tumbled across the stone, gears grinding, before righting itself with a series of quick mechanical twitches.

“They're tools," Senu realized aloud. “She's throwing everything she has left at us. The machine's some kind of focus. Whatever she's doing, she needs it." 

Terrance looked between them, then the machine. The decision was almost instantaneous.  

Armor still smoldering from the fireball, he ignored one of the spider-things, eyes locking on Rhea's machine. He barely had time to swing his sword. Metal screeched, sparks burst, and a pulse of force rippled outward, distorting the air.

The glyphs carved into its structure burned too brightly, then dimmed. 

Senu spotted the movement too late to react. A blur of movement, barely distinguishable from the flickering lights of the damaged device. But he saw her shape, shifting, twisting, closing in on Terrance. The shape of a long knife in one hand. 

His heart lurched.

“Terrance!"

Too late.

The dagger flashed into existence with a glint of steel and plunged into Terrance's back. The wolf let out a startled grunt as he stiffened, his sword slipping from his slackened grasp. For several long seconds he remained upright, as if refusing to accept what had happened. Then, his legs buckled, he collapsed forward, and did not move. His blood pooled beneath him, reflecting the blue glow of the machine he'd damaged. 

Senu stared in horror. This couldn't be happening. 

But she was still here. Moving. Hunting.

Bahadur lashed out wildly as he stepped forward, no doubt intending to heal Terrance. His magical weapon swept in wide arcs through empty space, but never connected with something solid. The cleric knew she was coming for him. But for the first time since Senu had met him, the golden wolf seemed helpless. And then a wet gasp escaped his muzzle as the knife reappeared in his chest. 

The cleric's massive frame shuddered, a wound bloomed in the center of his chest, and his legs gave out as if someone had cut the strings holding him up. His glowing sword clattered to the floor seconds before his body crashed into the table, knocking it and its contents over with a cacophonous clatter. 

Senu's breath came ragged, uneven. His vision blurred with exhaustion, with pain, fear, and grief. He could feel the Arcana flickering within him. He'd used too much magic earlier. There was barely anything left.

But he wasn't completely helpless. Not yet.

Gritting his teeth, he thrust his hands forward, forcing what little he had left into a desperate spell.

Light flared from his fingertips, his entire body shaking from the effort. It wasn't an attack. He knew that was hopeless. Instead, he bolstered the last of them still standing with everything he had. 

Senu barely saw the movement in the corner of his eye—Tracker taking position, ignoring the spiders trying to kill him, steadying himself just long enough.

It was almost a shock when the arrow slammed into seemingly empty space and stayed there. A sharp gasp echoed through the chamber, and the wizard's body was suddenly visible once more. Her fingers curled instinctively around the shaft protruding from her side, as if she could undo what had just happened.

The sphinx, having waited for this moment, moved with perfect efficiency. There was a flash of light. A burst of arcane energy. And then a spell struck true.

Rhea's body seized, her muscles locking in place, magic snapping tight around her like a blanket, paralyzing.

All she could offer was a muffled scream of frustration and fury as Senu rushed forward and ran her through. She could do nothing but watch as Senu withdrew the blade and the spell holding her faded. She collapsed onto the floor, motionless. 

The sphinx, with cold efficiency, ended it as it landed atop her and drove its claws in deep. The Archwizard of the tower, or at least the echo of her, moved no more.

The clockwork creatures, without her to sustain them, collapsed and the chamber was immersed in a suffocating silence. The scent of blood and burned fur and flesh was still strong in the air as Senu forced his legs to carry him forward. The magic was weak, flickering like a dying ember, but it was enough.

He pressed his hands against Bahadur's blood-soaked chest. The cleric's breathing had stopped, but his heart was still beating faintly. There was still enough life for him to rekindle. The wolf's chest rose as he took in a sudden sharp gasp before the wolf jerked back into consciousness, his eyes blazing with renewed awareness.

With Senu's urging, the cleric was quick to recover and together they were able to bring Terrance back. The older wolf was slower to wake, but nevertheless still alive. 

When it was done, Senu barely had the strength to move away before his own limbs buckled beneath him.

They had survived. They were injured and certainly not whole. But no one had died. 

Bahadur leaned heavily on his sword. Magic had healed his wounds, but his fur was darkened by soot and blood, his massive frame seemed like a burden as he moved. Tracker had pulled himself up against a bare patch of wall, one arm clutching his side where blood had soaked through his leathers.

Even the sphinx showed signs of strain. Singed metallic fur, an uneven stance, movements tentative.

“The machine is badly damaged," the sphinx finally said, stepping toward the fallen mage. Its voice, usually commanding, was softer now. “But not destroyed. When it ceases to function, I believe the Dungeon will reclaim this place. The tower it restored will cease to exist within hours. If you wish to explore further, I would do so quickly."

Senu let out a slow breath, his throat raw. “I don't think we're going anywhere soon. What will you do?" 

The sphinx turned its gaze to Rhea's still form.

“Yttrus makes demands of those who violate his laws."

The words felt heavy.

It stepped forward, its golden fur catching the eerie blue light, standing over what remained of Rhea. Echo or not, the blood around her form looked real. 

“Though this creature is not of the Beast World, she had enough will to make a choice. That is all that matters." A pause. “She must serve."

The words settled in like a weight around them.

Bahadur pressed a paw against his chest. “I've heard the stories…" he murmured.

Senu had as well. Yttrus was one of the most frightening of the gods. They weren't ruthless, but they were dispassionate, and when a would be magic user violated the limitations they enforced there were consequences. All jackals learned those limitations when they were young to ensure ignorance was no excuse. 

Rhea, or at least this version of her, would not be allowed to simply die. Her body would continue to serve, trapped in the space between life and death. She wasn't undead, at least not in the technical sense, but she would have no will of her own. 

“A mummy, then," Senu said. “You plan to bind her?"

The sphinx's golden eyes did not waver. “It will take time."

Tracker's tail twitched, but he didn't say anything. 

Bahadur inhaled deeply, adjusting his stance, but the exhaustion was plain.

“We need time to recover. We're in no shape to even leave this room."

The sphinx regarded them, then gave a small, slow nod.

“Yes. That is true."

Its attention flicked back to the broken remains of the arcane machine.

“There are few truly safe options. The best, I think, is for you to rest here. See to your wounds. Sleep if you can. I will stand guard and finish tending to Rhea."

None of them argued. They were too tired. Even moving felt like a slow, painful ordeal.

They made their way to the far side of the chamber, where the remnants of a bedroom—a bed, a couch, old but sturdy furniture—offered some semblance of comfort.

Terrance fell onto the couch without a word, his leathers creaking as he let out a deep, pained sigh.

Bahadur sat beside him, leaning forward, his hands clasped over the pommel of his sword. Tracker, too tired for a snarky remark, simply stretched out on the floor. His tail flicked once before going still.

Senu settled onto the edge of the bed, his body aching, his mind numb.

Across the room, magic flickered.

Faint golden light pulsed around the sphinx, where it stood beside Rhea's body. The magic was subtle but controlled. Methodical.

A ritual was beginning.

Senu closed his eyes. For now, they had done all they could. One by one, exhaustion claimed them.

And for the first time since they had entered this cursed tower, the world was quiet.

***

When they awoke, it was early morning. The room was quiet, with only the faint sounds of their breathing breaking the silence. The makeshift camp where they had slept was a stark contrast to the chaos of the battle the day before. They were sore and bruised, but the sphinx had aided in their healing, and none of their remaining wounds were of any serious concern. The creature itself was gone. In its place was a scroll tied in gold ribbon and a large, gilded chest. Senu took the scroll and unrolled the parchment.

“I have been assured you will be quite safe here until you leave the room, so I have taken the liberty of removing what remains of Rhea and her experiments. I thank you for your aid in dealing with her. There are objects of power still here, of course, you may wish to take. The most dangerous ones were removed. Yttrus thanks you for your service and has provided a reward of his own. If we meet again, I hope it is under better conditions. Stay safe, Delvers. And know the gods watch over you."

Senu read the note aloud, his voice still hoarse from the previous day's exertions. Tracker, ever the pragmatist, was already at the chest, his fingers itching to discover its contents.

“I didn't expect to get wrapped up in this kind of shit when we left Shimmer Bay," Tracker said as he toyed with the opening of the chest. “But fuck me if I don't want to know what reward a god can offer."

Bahadur was eyeing the chest and the scroll with some suspicion. “I would be content with a few stacks of coins."

Terrance chuckled, then pointed to a nearby shelf. There, several stacks of gold coins were neatly arranged. “Maybe he assumed that was enough."

“If that's my share of the logout,, I won't complain," Bahadur said, moving to inspect the coins. “But I suppose that's up to you, Senu." 

“I want to get back to Shimmer Bay before we worry too much about that," he said as he moved towards the chest, “But, let's see what we're dealing with."

The chest contained a few things. First were the magic items Rhea had been wielding during their fight: a ring, a dagger, and a staff, neatly labeled in an elegant, uniform hand. The other items had small placards with their names written on them: a magical cloak for Senu, an amulet for Bahadur, a wand for Tracker, and a ring of water walking for Terrance. At first, Senu thought Terrance's gift seemed underwhelming compared to the others, but he was pleased with it. “Do you have any idea how much easier fishing will be with this?"

That done, they set about searching the room, finding a few other things of interest: a bottle filled with liquid sunlight, a clay flask full of green fire, a spell book clearly having once belonged to Rhea (though many pages had been wiped clean), and a bizarre purple gem with swirling bands of energy trapped within its facets.

“We'll need to figure out what that does," Bahadur said. “The sphinx said all the dangerous things had been taken, but I want to be certain before we try selling something we don't understand."

Senu studied it for a moment and probed it with a bit of magic. Instantly, the gem pulled his Arcana inside of it and Senu felt a sudden connection. As if someone had flipped a switch, he now had a perfect understanding of the gem and what it could do. “Interesting. It's some kind of spell amplifier attuned to a specific spell."

“That seems pretty useless," Tracker said.

“It could be valuable if we learn whatever spell its attached to."

“Well, you've got me there. You should keep it then."

“Maybe. It would definitely be quite valuable to the right buyer. I suppose we'll see what we can learn back in town."

He unfolded the cloak the sphinx had left him, running his fingers over the impossibly smooth fabric. The colors shifted, deep blue one moment, shadowy green the next—always reflecting something familiar, something from home.

A piece of parchment fluttered free. Tracker snatched it mid-air, scanning it before letting out a small 'hmph.' “That's not really fair, is it?"

Senu frowned. “What?"

The kobold just handed him the note and went back to rummaging through a bookshelf.

Senu read it to himself..

“Senu: my master asked me to let you know your tuition will be paid for as long as you wish to attend the Harmonious Accord. He did not explain by what means, but I've learned not to question these things. While this is a great gift, you should know they rarely give such things without an ulterior motive. I expect you'll hear from us again. - S."

His grip tightened on the parchment.

This was what he had been fighting for. What he had risked his life for. And yet, looking at the words on the page, all he felt was... unease.

Yttrus had given him the future he wanted, but he had already paid a cost for it. What more would be asked of him? 

“Displacement cloak," Bahadur murmured, apparently misinterpreting Senu's expression. “I've seen only one before. Once you say the command word, you will always appear to be a fes steps away from where you actually are."

Senu frowned. “This all feels like a lot."

“Well, your note did say they wanted you to do more shit for them," Tracker was saying. “That's probably all it is. Making sure you know you owe them so they can call in favors later."

Senu shrugged. “If it was a god asking, I'd be inclined to do it anyway. Wouldn't you?"

Tracker laughed. “Only if the money was good, pup."

“Pup?" Senu said, head tilted. “I'm at least three times your age."

Tracker pulled out a book with subtle gold around the pages and stuffed it into his already full bag. “Age doesn't mean shit. What matters is the amount of experience you've got. And you're still a pup. Not a bad one. But a pup, nonetheless."

Bahadur put a hand on his shoulder. “Don't take it the wrong way, Senu. Tracker's not much for tact." The kobold grunted in amusement. “But he's right. By jackal standards, you are a pup. And you're still learning. There's nothing wrong with that."

Terrance seemed a bit surprised. “Wait, how old are you?"

Senu hesitated. Hadn't he explained this to Terrance at some point? He searched his memory and realized no, he hadn't.

“Jackals don't really age once we reach adulthood. I mean, we do, but it's very slow. My brother looks about the same age I do, but he's about 250 years old. My parents are both at least 900. I suspect Mom might be from the first generation, but she always dodges when I ask." Terrance mouthed the numbers, staring at him with wide eyes. “Oh, but I'm only 34. I still pretty much look like I would if I'd aged at the same rate you do."

Tracker seemed vindicated. “See. Just a pup."

Terrance blinked, then shook his head. “That's... Huh. Senu, you don't look like you're in your thirties. At most, I'd say you were 20."

“Really?" He looked to others.

Tracker scoffed. “No offense, but most of you dogs look kind of the same to me. Not that I'm complaining. You're damn cute, and Pirhoua knew what she was doing when she gave you those knots."

Senu's ears flattened and he looked away. Bahadur just laughed. Terrance again looked to the three of them. “Are you really all... you know."

“Fucking?" Tracker asked.

Terrance sighed. “Sure. If you want to put it crassly."

“Crass is the best way to put most things."

Bahadur stretched out a bit, apparently done with ransacking the room for anything of value. “Aren't you from Allemance? I thought they had some pretty libertine views about such things."

Terrance shrugged. “All the pups in my village were essentially raised by the community. I still think of most of the ones I grew up with as my brothers and sisters, though I have no idea how many were actually related by blood. It makes courtship inside your own community complicated. My parents were my parents, but...  well, they seemed to have a lot of friends. I didn't really figure it out until I was older." He shrugged. “Anyway, I'm not being a prude. I just... well, you barely seem to know each other."

“What, are you jealous?" Tracker said, pulling up a stool and sitting next to Terrance. “You're a bit old for me, but I don't mind as long as you don't have a heart attack or something."

The older wolf gave him a light shove. “Watch it. Unlike you three, I don't let my cock do my thinking for me. But even if I did, I'd have higher standards than you."

“Ouch. Well, can't say I didn't try," Tracker said.

Bahadur was staring off. Senu nudged him.

“Ah. Sorry. Lost in thought." He shrugged, then looked to Terrance. “I always liked sex, but it never became a recreational thing until I started serving Aubade. For me, it's a form of worship. I try to do it as often as I can."

Terrance's eyebrows went up. “Really?"

“As I explained to these two when we met, Aubade is a god of passions. He exalts in most forms of expression, be they on the battlefield, on an artist's canvas, or in a lover's bed. I've had some of my deepest spiritual moments in the throws of climax. It's hard to explain, but those are the moments that let me know I'm on the right path."

“I'll admit, that's more eloquent than I was expecting," Terrance said.

Bahadur smiled, a bit sadly. “I have a lot of time to think about these things." He walked towards the door and picked up his backpack, which was looking considerably heavier than it had when they'd first entered this tower. “It's getting late. If we want to get started towards home today, we should leave soon."

Senu followed. He didn't particularly like the idea of leaving this place behind. They hadn't even tried to search the caverns beneath the place, and he was still worried about possible connections to the Cult of the Red Priest. But the sphinx had been clear the Burning Doom would disappear soon after they left this room. “I'm ready," he said, fastening his new cloak and then grabbing the rest of his things.

Terrance nodded. “I'm set. Alessia can't be too upset with me when I show her the sack of coins I brought back. We'll have enough for the new irrigation and plenty left over."

They headed downstairs, and Senu couldn't help but give the room a last look before shutting the door.

The tower was dark and quiet as they left. The runes that had lit up much of the interior, along with the magical fire on the outside, were now dim. Before they were even a mile away, they could hear it collapsing. Turning back, they watched for several minutes as it crumbled and then vanished, as if it had never been there. In its place was a smooth patch of cold slag.

“Dragon's balls," Tracker muttered. “What if it had done that while we were in there?"

Senu looked on, the wind forcing him to lower his ears. “Does that happen?"

“Sometimes. It's rare, but there are always rumors of crews who didn't make it out in time. Dungeons don't always collapse when they've been defeated, but some do. No one's sure why." Bahadur said.

Senu glanced back one last time at where the tower once stood. The ground now empty, as though reality itself had rejected its existence. But he knew better. Memory was stubborn. And what was done here, he was certain, would echo for a very long time.