Just as Anduin and Fenna's adventure was forcibly interrupted by an uninvited guest, a bizarre story was also beginning in another quiet place.
"Hah... hah..."
Varian raised his head with difficulty. Drowsiness still lingered in his mind, but his senses had cleared a little. That meant the dark touch that had constantly haunted his heart was rapidly fading, but that was precisely what frightened him most.
If it could invade Varian's thoughts so easily, did its voluntary retreat mean it had already achieved its purpose?
To certain mysterious beings, mortal minds were no less fragile than a sheet of blank paper. Even their attention could twist those minds. Even if they instinctively did not wish for that distortion to occur, it was not something they could control.
"Varian! Varian, are you all right?"
A weak voice roused the king from that peculiar confusion. Leaning against the wall, Varian turned his head with difficulty and saw Magni gripping the prison bars. The dwarven king had probably awakened before him, perhaps because the souls of long-lived races were stronger than those of humans. But perhaps for that very reason, heavy shackles had also been fastened around the dwarven king's arms.
Clutching the bars, Magni said to Varian in a low voice, "Hey, bastard, wake up. Stop sleeping!"
"Mm... where... where is this? Everyone..."
Varian rubbed his forehead with difficulty. It felt as though he had been hungover for an entire day and night, the dizzying sensation unbearable. Fighting back the urge to vomit rising in his chest, he turned toward Magni.
"Is everyone all right?"
"No... not at all."
Another voice came from the cell on Varian's other side. Daelin leaned feebly in a corner, his hair disheveled and the corners of his mouth peeling from thirst. Clearly, the old king, who