Here goes, guys. I might need to do this in more than one installment, so bear with me. I am under the assumption that the only one who was killed was Mabel. I am writing this as such. I also have assumed that the entirety of the battle took place within the mountain. If I am mistaken in these aspects, then oh well.
Enjoy, as we've all earned it.
***
Caston ran from the battle site as fast as his weary legs would take him. His mind raced ever faster than his body. He still could not fully comprehend what had happened, but the most important thing was that they had beaten Dusk.
They had
killed Dusk.
Caston could hardly take solace in the fact that the twisted wizard had wanted to die. He had still taken a life, the life of a man.
Dusk's chamber had collapsed. The rest of the mountain was soon to follow. Even if that were not true, inside the bowels of the natural fortress was far from the safest place to be. The entirety of the structure quaked, rumbled, and protested the death of its master as well as the battle that had ensued.
It wasn't the time for lamentation. Everyone would surely die if they did not make it out of the falling mountain. Paige led the group, as the maze of tunnels were somehow more confusing now than when the party had entered.
"This way!" She shouted over the din. The group followed silently. Adam. Grageon. Kyrina tending to Jarret. Tahu. Delon. Emotion welled up inside Caston as if someone had cast a spel on his soul. His friends had been steadfast in their support. And he of them.
A lifetime passed before the group saw a faint light. Caston shielded his face as he emerged stumbling from the cave, Paige in front of him and the rest of the party behind. Never had the young wizard been so glad for the warmth of the sun.
He chuckled to himself. The others looked upon him, puzzled. His chuckle soon turned into a mild laugh, then a full on chortle. The others could not resist, even Adam allowed himself a smile and a few awkward 'ho hos'.
"We did it." Caston said, wiping tears of joy from his eyes. "WE DID IIIIIT!" He shouted to his friends, to the wilderness, to the collapsed mountain. To the universe and everything in it. They had succeeded.
And thus, his body tired to full capacity from the adventure, Caston collapsed.
***
Caston awoke with a start. Grageon was standing over him. "Stay s-still," he said. He then motioned for the others to join him near Caston's side.
"You were the most taxed of any of us," Paige informed him. "Your display was nothing short of remarkable. Even more so, that you ran without stopping through the entire mountain." She gazed back at the partially collapsed fortress. Her home. Had it ever been? She saw now, more than ever, that it had been a prison. Once Dusk had completed his madness by breaking his solemn promise to her, Paige had been released from his grasp. She would always hold tender memories of the man in her heart, but the bitterness she faced down from the monster put her somewhat at ease.
"I'm glad you're all right," Jarrett said. Others murmured agreement.
"You're glad
I'm alright? What about you? Everyone else?" Caston said, baffled. He looked around at each of them. "Is no one hurt? Where's Mabel?"
"She's dead." Tahu said, interrupting the silence. "She knew full well the dangers of this mission, as did we all. If dying aided you in your success, she'd have died a thousand times." Eyes downcast, Caston began to protest softly. Tahu interrupted him. "Do you not know what you've done? What we've all done? We've saved the world. That's all there is to it."
"And made a whole lot of money," Delon piped in. Everyone smiled.
"And given me a chance to try out my creative side on these," Jarrett said, holding up his hands. Or at least, where they ought to have been. "Adam has assured me that he can fashion some neat devices to serve as hands. Or as weapons, or forks, or spoons..." he went on listing things, but no one was listening.
"Everyone," Caston began, only to be interrupted again. This time by Kyrina.
"We know what you're about to say, Caston. But the truth of it is, you need to rest. We'll move once you're up to the task." She said with mock severity. She was right, of course. With the threat gone, the party could take a rather leisurely walk back to the capital.
"Just...thank you. Thank you all so much." Caston fell back to sleep, and slept for nearly a day before awakening again to near-full strength.
***
The party had indeed taken their sweet time in getting back to the capital. Everyone was in good spirits, and talk of songs, riches, and wine were abound. It wasn't long before the city's gates were in sight.
I was saving it for a special occasion. She could refract light and stuff the whole time but I never told anyone the meaning of the staff; there was no way you could've known, heh.
