Episode 3 Part 3 Sneak Peek #7

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You are drawing near the citadel now.

The great gates loom at the top of the hill, glinting in the strange light. They are strangely intact for all the devastation around the tower. The landscape shifts as you approach the epicentre, the air humming with energy akin to a lightning storm. Floating debris speckles the sky—the remnants of a giant glass dome, a staircase sheared from its foundations, parts of a large mosaic broken into two pieces. The force that ripped through this area shattered everything in its path and froze them in the moment of their destruction.

You will have to go under it to reach you destination.

Aeran plows on ahead without question. This was the direction he wanted to take after all, and he must feel some sort of relief knowing how close you are to the Astrial. But you pause, doubt clouding your mind. There’s no telling how the suspended debris will react once two Wayfarers pass into its vicinity. You know how unstable the area has become. The debris could fall of its own volition, or your mere presence could unravel the magical bonds keeping it in place.

Quinn gave you an alternative route along the battlements. It would take time for you to backtrack and you would have to make your way past the horde of surveillance orbs, but perhaps that is the safer way.

1. You’ve come this far. You don’t have time to waste with an alternative route.
2. [PERSUASION] Convince Aeran to change routes. Now you’ve seen what the citadel is like first-hand, even he will have to admit that the way forward isn’t safe. [PASS]

“No,” you say. “We’re going back.”

Aeran wheels around. “What the hell—”

“Look at what’s around us! Not even the Grandmaster would want to risk walking through that mess—”

He snorts. “You have no idea what Sero would risk,” he mutters.

Your gut twists with irritation, irked by his words. You don’t know if you rather shout at him or punch him. “Do what you want,” you snap. “I’m going back.”

You turn your back on the impossible scene before you and stride away.

“$firstname!”

You keep walking.

“$nickname!”

The familiar use of that name for you brings you to a stop. You pause, your whole body shaking—whether it is from the sticky heat or your anger at him, you do not know. It’s painful to hear him call you that. Far more painful than you want to admit.

A clatter of footsteps, a rush of air. He arrives beside you, a shadow in your peripheral vision, having sprinted to catch up with you.

“What are you doing?” you grunt. “You have your path, I’ll take mine. Get going.”

“If you think I’m leaving you here to wander by yourself, you’re wrong.”

Your jaw clenches. Strange that he conceded that easily—not that his actions make any sense to you. Shrugging, you push past him and take the lead, heading back the way you came.