19 An Old Friend

"This path narrows."

"Disturbingly so."

Gently placed onto her feet Lyrea watched as Koel stepped forward, shielding Lyrea behind himself.

"It would seem that another of my wardens wait before us."

Before the pair, the path of brilliant white light grew dim, almost cold as it was stretched to a fine point and encased in ice.

"What lies before us?"

"I do not know what measures they have put against me. I can see the contorted waste they have left behind in their measures to control and abduct the worlds for their own but not the meanings behind some of their works."

"Is it safe?"

"For you, yes. For me, I do not know. They never would have planned or envisioned for the ascent of yourself as well as I."

"We have no choice do we."

"Choice was lost a long time ago."

Stepping forward Koel used his body to shield Lyrea as he reached his skeletal fingers forward, grasping onto the ice that blocked the path of light. Clenching his hands Koel's body groaned as the ice slowly broke revealing the world beyond.

"No matter what happens you must keep moving forward my dear, I can afford to be forgotten and lost but not you."

With a blinding flash of light Koel and Lyrea entered the world that awaited them, put in place by another of Koel's wardens.

…

Encased in the purest of ice was a fire that issued warmth even as it no longer shifted or moved, frozen in place as even the wood beneath it was unable to burn.

Perched around this fire was an aged and decrepit figure, sporting a long greyed beard that lay down across his sat figure, covering his legs as he warmed himself by the fire.

"Who is this?"

"An old friend."

For the first time since Lyrea had met Koel she witnessed him show true concern as his skeletal figure placed a hand upon the figure sat before them, saddened by loss.

"Is he…"

"Dead.Yes."

"I'm sorry."

"Why do you apologize when you are not the one who slew him."

"Who was he to you?"

"A friend who stood by my side even against death."

"What was his name?"

"He wouldn't want it spoken here. He never liked to stay in one place for long."

Nodding her head Lyrea remained quiet to give Koel the time and peace to say farewell to an old friend. Instead, she cast her eyes around the small cave they were in, strangely illuminated and lit up by the frozen fire.

Cast through the frozen flickered flames the glistening ice walls were painted in streaks and shades of lined shadow, only subtly changed by the shifting figures of Lyrea and Koel.

"Rest well old friend, thank you for being there when I needed you most."

In shock Lyrea watched as Koel raised his skeletal hand high and clenched his hand tight, causing his bones to squeal and creak under the pressure. With a thunderous crack Koel struck the skeletal remains of his friend, causing the ice cave to shudder and flicker as the fire was clouded by shards of ice.

"What are you doing!"

Trying to rush forward and stop Koel's strikes Lyrea was stuck in place as he raised his voice.

"Stay where you are. I will not let his remains rot in this prison alongside mine."

Striking again and again Lyrea watched as a crack was beginning to form around the skeletal remains, one that caused the air to twist and distort revealing a dark black canvas behind with no road of white to coat it.

"Be free of this entrapment and wander as far as your dreams always took you."

With a gentle sway Koel guided the remains through the hole and watched as an inky black swallowed the bones before closing and sealing the world once more.

"Where was that?"

"The space beyond the worlds we walk, even I do not know what can be found there, if anything can be found there."

The sound of cracking followed the sealing of the hole as Koel's left hand, one that had struck and broken through many worlds was reduced to dust, scattering amongst the ice.

"Your hand."

"It is not just perfection that demands a price."

Turning around Koel looked at Lyrea as she openly wept, how it must have pained Koel to say farewells to his last friend on a journey where he had to confront all who betrayed him, with only her to comfort him.

"You are too soft hearted for these worlds."

Raising his remaining hand Koel swept the frozen tears from Lyrea's eyes only to pause as Lyrea pulled Koel into her embrace.

"Indeed, but none deserve to have you suffer so greatly for them."

"What a sad pair we make."

Only warmed by a cold fire the pair stood, gently embraced together in a cold world of ice and snow.