[Edanian Journey] Markthanan

Chapter 8: The Flame That Would Not Die

Following Brynhild's directions, I climbed to the top of the castle. The <b>Dragon's Breath</b> burned fiercely with the last of Markthanan's magic.

When I placed Markthanan's heart into the flames, they engulfed it, but nothing more happened. Even after waiting, there was no change.

The flint I had expected to form never appeared.

The Black Spirit fumed that Brynhild must have deceived us again. We had not even used the key she gave me. There had not been a single locked door on the way up.

I returned to ask her why.

Agnete was standing there. Behind her, I saw <b>Brynhild's body</b>.

I asked if she had killed Brynhild. She said Brynhild had already been like that when she arrived, and that she had assumed I was the one who stayed with her until the end.

I remembered Brynhild saying she would rest beside the last of her father's warmth.

Something felt strange about the way Agnete spoke, as though she knew me. Then her form changed.

<b>Illezra</b> stood before me.

She explained that while refining the oil, she had sensed Grey's presence and realized he was headed my way. She had changed her appearance to interfere with his plan, taking the form my companion would hate most: a daughter of the Golden Dragon.

Only then did Brynhild's confession about the plan going awry in the mine fall into place.

But the flint was still incomplete.