The next mark on their map took them to the Ancient Puturum. It appeared avian in nature, a skeleton of a bird made in stone. Lord Red studied the creature as Deneve, and the black spirit received the memories from it. Of course, the same thing happened as the first time but seeing Deneve sink to her knees, holding her head, wasn’t as frightening as he knew what to expect.

Once they made camp, she seemed to recover quicker this time. She was relatively quiet and excused herself, citing the need for some air. He let her go without inquiry. Thinking that she just needed time to process what had been shoved into her head.

It had been some time after she left when he looked up from his notes on ancient machines. He realized that it was pretty late, and she hadn’t returned. Worried, he took the direction she had gone when she left. He had walked quite a distance when he heard the familiar sound of the magic crackling. Fearing the worst, he quickened his pace until he saw her.

When she came into view, he stopped, stunned at what he was seeing. Deneve wasn’t in danger, nor did she have a combatant. She was…practicing.

He watched as she raised boulders from the earth and using her different skills. She destroyed them. She combined elements as well. His eyes widened as he saw her use earth and fire together to create a most explosive combination. She spun around, calling on the skeleton king. His dark energy and her water seem to disintegrate the rock.
Lord Red could not tear his eyes away from the tempest that was Deneve at that moment. He watched for what seemed an eternity as she used all of her summonses in turn.

Finally exhausted, she sank to the ground, Arne, Marg, Tett, Gorr, the Skeleton King, Garzar, and even the Black Spirit gathered around her, and a light seemed to emulate from them as they seemed to comfort her.
It wasn’t about practice. It was about dealing with all that had happened. Deneve looked toward Tett as he brushed her hair back from her face, and Lord Red could see traces of the tears she had shed. How could he have been so blind?

She didn’t want you to see. Arne said quietly.

She had taken on not only trying to go home for them. She was now attached to this world. Deneve’s decisions were going shape this world as surely as rain and rivers shaped canyons. She never wanted that kind of power. Atosa was right. Whether they liked it or not, she was to be a leader of this world. She couldn’t just walk away. That wasn’t in her nature. She needed a place where she could be safe and relaxed.

He started to walk toward her as he wondered if there was a way for her to be free. Noticing his approach, she gave him a half-hearted smile. “I thought I felt your presence earlier.”

“You were enchanting to watch,” Lord Red answered with a small smile of his own as he placed his overcoat over her shivering shoulders.

“I think I may have stayed out too long,” she said gratefully, snuggling into the warm clothing.

“Yes,” He agreed, pulling her back to his chest in a hug under the pretense of warming her up. She stiffened in surprise but didn’t pull away. Leaning down, he buried his face in her hair to take in her scent for a few moments before stepping back. “We should head back to camp.”

She nodded in agreement, “I think you’re right.”

As they walked back, he couldn’t help but notice she was a bit wobbly from her exertions earlier. However, she said nothing of it, so he kept his silence as he gently took her elbow to help stabilize her.

“Thank you.” She said ruefully, “I may have overdone it.”

“Did it help?” He asked curiously.

“Some,” She admitted. “But I still don’t know what Atosa expects me to do as this leader, and then there is the Valencian Royal Family to deal with. Blackie seems to think everything will become clearer after we finish this quest, but I don’t exactly have his optimism.”

They had arrived at the camp, and Deneve quickly made tea as Lord Red pulled some cheese and dried fruit from his pack. As they sat to enjoy the impromptu refreshment Lord Red reached over to take Deneve’s hand.
“You can always talk to me as well.” He said earnestly. “I know you have to be one to decide. I can at least listen.”

She nodded, and a genuine natural smile spread across her features. It made her even more beautiful. Lord Red wanted to see her smile like that more.

Leaning toward him, she grazed his cheek with a kiss before moving toward his ear and saying, “I might take you up on that.”