What was under the city wasn’t anything they could have imagined, the darkness that lurked beneath made you feel like you been transported to another plane. It was hard to think that above them was the city that accepted the changeling into their ranks. That they needed to protect it now, the place they came to call home needed them to step up and show why they were a queensgaurd. Not only did Akanis know Elira but so did Ingrid. Elira had a sweet spot for the Elvhen as he was always so polite, sweet even, always had time to listen to her no matter the occasion. Where she would often chastised Ingrid after finding out the queensgaurd had snuck away some extra pastries, though it probably didn’t help that Ingrid had no time for what she called prattling.

It had brought a small smile to his lips as Akanis watched Celaya operate in the investigation. Offering her a squireship was something he knew was right. Despite what everyone else had to say, he believed that she could become someone spectacular, that she could provide hope for a future. Maybe some might believe him mad but Akanis knew one thing for certain that anyone can become more than what they were. Celaya could become more than what was done to her. She was more than a Witcher.

It wasn't a surprise that a place that had statues of the mother of dragons required some kind of test to pass. Those who went on the quest said it was a test that it wasn’t real and that they should play by the cults rules. But that was easier said then done. Akanis wouldn’t compromise his morals for some test, he would not go back into the darkness of sinking his head into the ground. Test or not it was a test of character that he was proud to fail, he wasn’t going to be pressured to scarify his morals not again. But Ingrid had learnt that morals only got in the way of power, of recognition, of titles and she would play to the cults test in order to get out unscathed, whatever it took Ingrid wouldn’t fall in this place.

It was when they were travelling deeper into the dead city that Akanis saw a glint of his own death. He couldn’t speak his last word of warning before his head was taken from his shoulders before he could even blink. Unceremonially dropping to the ground, rolling a couple feet away from his body, his eyes now truly held a dead look within them. The shift, Ingrid phasing into existence was the most painful exchange she had ever experienced. He couldn’t be resurrected at the tower without her, that what she thought this sundering of their souls was, this pull but little did she know. His face was scared into her memory, she saw it before when they were completing their trails, she had found comfort in him being beside her in that moment. But there was no comfort in seeing him this time. Just devastation. It hadn’t been just him, Agron a gueensguard who had more experience than them both and a renowned gladiator Dior, who wasn’t just famous for his charisma but his skill with a blade. At least they had all perished in good company.

There was no time to process her emotion right there, she had forgotten why they were truly here, why they all had come to this forsaken place to begin with but she knew she couldn’t let Scylla face a similar fate and without hesitation gave the owlbear a way to conceal herself. Her mind was fogged over with loss, there was a cloud of despair that hung over her thoughts. All she could think about was the blade that the woman held, how it sliced like butter. How it sliced through him like air plagued her as she hunted the woman down in the battlefield, she had expected it to be Ormir that she worked in tandem with but stranger thing had happened and in battle he was actually impressive unlike his politics. It was a strenuous battle, one where many rose and fall. She’d seen Celaya fall victim, even when she had managed to get to her feet again, she was a victim of their attacks.

The crystal in the was cracking, splintering, it could no longer take the pressure it must have been containing. There was only so much energy anything could take, be that living or not, everything had its breaking point and the crystal had reached its. With all that energy contained inside it would kill anyone within its reach. Time froze, she could turn and run, hope for the best that the wave to come wouldn’t reach them, that it wouldn’t damage the foundations of the city that badly it would collapse. Even though he wasn’t with her she could hear not just his words but feel his beliefs within her. There was a slim chance they could stop some of the damage, that she could do something. Looking back, Celaya was on the floor, Akanis’ new squire laid there as a skeleton tried to take her to safety. None of them were going to make it to safety if something wasn’t done, when given the opportunity to run, an opportunity that Ormir had given her instead of feeling she charged towards the crystal. Standing stallward as the magical energy grew she looked back once more making sure all that came here were out the room safely, thankfully the dragon that had no right to be so kind had scooped up Celaya. It had to be now or it would brake of its own volition, this was her honour, duty, responsibility as a queensguard to give her life in defense of the queendom. This was her moment to prove to everyone… no to prove to herself that she was worthy to stand beside Akanis and Agron as a queendguard. Her denotation of loyalty to not only the queen but the people came crashing against the crystal all she had was hope. There was the briefest of quiet, one that led her to believe she had accomplished something, but a breath later she realised she was going to die in this place, as her body turned to dust.

It was hard to imagine darkness, to picture the world with no light but that is how this limbo appeared. There was still this pulling sensation that she knew was Akanis and in this darkness she needed his light. Her pace felt like a hundred years had passed but finally there was a faint glow in the distance “Akanis!” she screamed out to him as she ran into his open arms. His form was featureless but she knew it was him by the warmth he radiated out, the way he held her in his arms that shone brightly like the sun. “Ingrid” the words whispered softly as they embraced each other. “We can go back now, back to our bodies." That was what this was right? He’d been here waiting for her. “You must go back, yes.” his voice was soft like he had made peace with something. “No, us Akanis…” it took a second to realise what was going on here. “No, you promised together. You don’t just get to decide that you're not going back, what about the promise we made? Together!” her voice was raw, rattling. “You need me and the shadow I cast gone to be the woman you’re meant to be Ingird. It’s my time to go back to the wheel and if it weaves it so you’ll be able to call on me again.” He took her face that had been buried in his shoulder in his hands, wiping away tears that had begun to fall. “I know the woman who hides away in there, I know she wants to fight for this world. So fight in my stead Ingrid, fight harder, fight for the both of us. You took a stand down there knowing that you could die permanently, why did you do that?” He posed her a question. “ Because it was the right thing to do.” It was the simplest answer but one she knew to be true. “Exactly! You know what you need to do, here knows.” his flaming has hovered over her heart “We don’t have much time left. You need to help Celaya, she has dark days to come and you need to be there for them. If you can’t find the person I believe in, that I know is there you can at least help her become a knight. Love fiercely, stand courageously, don’t let fear hesitate your action.” It wasn’t a request that he made. Slowly he let go of Ingrid and got to one knee “It had been a pleasure serving with you Sir Ingrid Isherwood.” His light dimmed as the wheel took him back, Ingird to began to fade but not before she could kneel herself “ I won’t forget you.” Of course he had to be a benevolent fucker in their finale moments but she would houner his finale wishes even if she was unsure how to be what he thought she could be, she couldn’t see what he could but he always seen the good that lurked with in her.