NOVPUBDamon could hardly stop himself from rushing towards his other party members, this land was dangerous and teeming with horrible monstrosities.
He had been anxious to divide the party, even if it was more efficient.
Damon understood the dangers.
However, now on his return, he had chosen to spread his shadow perception to check on them.
He gritted his teeth, crossing the distance in mere moments. He skidded to a halt right next to Sylvia and Leona, who were kneeling—covered in blood.
Their anxious eyes were locked on something. Damon followed their gaze and froze.
A pair of human lips.
Damon gasped, the white light created by Sylvia's lunar magic illuminated the scene.
White light banished, the darkness away.
The pair of lips—Valarie Sunwarden—spoke weakly.
"Ahh, hello there boy... it's been a while..."
Damon forced a smile. Walking slowly towards her.
"Welcome back, Valarie..."
The pair of lips that was the totality of Valarie Sunwarden's body smiled up at him, fragile and soft.
He walked up to her and gently took her from Sylvia's arms.
Damon had only known this discarnate pair of lips for a short time, but Valarie Sunwarden had won their trust with her charismatic and disarming personality.
Even as a pair of lips that had long since lost her body to rot, she still remained.
Acting as their guide and teacher in exchange for a simple promise—to bury her in a cemetery. Or at the heart of the city.
The many centuries did not dull her will. Valarie remained true to her nature.
A warrior, a champion.
Damon gritted his teeth. Valarie Sunwarden was one of the few mentor figures in his life that had no malice towards him.
Just like Carmen Vale, she had a wisdom and a philosophy that showed her strength of character.
"Why do you look so sad, boy... I'm already dead, and we all know the dead can't die... twice..."
Her voice was weak, almost as if she was forcing herself to stay awake.
"I'm glad you children made it out alive... cough cough..."
She coughed, even though she had no body... it must have been a reflex from when she was still alive.
"The others filled me in on the situation... I'm sorry, my students. It seems I am not allowed to tell you the answer to the riddle..."
She paused, her lips growing duller in color. Valarie had her suspicions, however she didn't know what was safe to tell.
"That was not Vathren's power... he was suffering from it... all this time I never knew... corruption is a horrible curse... while the Ascendant armors gave us resistance, we are not immune..."
She operated her mouth slowly.
"For anyone who becomes corrupt, the greatest kindness would be killing them. Freeing them from the misery..."
She pressed her lips together for a long moment. 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝒐𝒎
"I wish I could do the same for Vathren... but I cannot. All I can do is help you children survive..."
As she spoke, Evangeline and Matia slowed down, the wind pushing away some of the wreckage. They held their weapons anxiously—until they saw Damon holding the lips of Valarie Sunwarden.
"Valarie," Evangeline called out, quickly kneeling beside Damon.
She was the successor of Valarie's armor. Perhaps it was better to say she was Valarie's truest student, even more than the others.
Valarie smiled.
"I'm glad to see you too, Evangeline... I hope the boy wasn't causing you too much trouble..."
Evangeline shook her head, a tearful glint in her eyes.
"No... we're fine..."
Valarie smiled lightly.
"I wouldn't call your situation fine, if you ask me... cough... but what do I know, I'm just a dead pair of lips..."
The others forced a smile at her attempt to lighten the mood. This ancient Ascendant always had a sense of humor.
She was someone who always looked on the bright side—and if there was none, she would find it.
'Small island of joy…' Damon thought, recalling her philosophy.
"Valarie..." Sylvia called out with an expression of worry on her face.
"Are you okay..."
Valarie smiled weakly.
"I'm... Hmmm, I can see the expression on your face. Fine, I won't exaggerate my condition..."
Sylvia glanced at her intensely, making a soft sound.
Damon glanced at her with a thin smile.
"Sylvia is right, you derelict... old hag. You aren't doing so hot, are you..."
Valarie sighed.
"I'm on my deathbed, and you still can't act the part of a gentleman..."
Damon's brows furrowed, but he adhered to their usual routine.
"You're already dead though... you can't have a deathbed... so ehmm... live."
His words sounded like a desperate prayer. An emotion he would not normally reveal.
Valarie smiled. She wanted to ease their worries.
"Hmm... I'm already dead, remember? You children will have to bury me and perform my last rites... but until then, I'll still stick around."
They all looked at her with expressions of relief.
Xander bit his lips. He had originally thought of her as a creepy mentor—he was cautious of her after everything they had learned.
But the most paranoid member of their party—their party leader Damon—seemed to have eased his guard around her.
'She's helped us a lot too...'
He glanced at the others. They all wore worried expressions. Was he wearing the same expression too?
Xander couldn't help but linger on Evangeline. He bit his lips again.
Damon took a deep breath.
"You should rest and recover... I'll figure something out..."
Valarie smiled. She was quite fond of this young boy—he was an exceptional leader with a powerful will.
'I wish I had known him back when I was still alive... I would have loved to teach him everything I know...'
But even in death, it wasn't too late for that. She smiled, looking at them—even though she was just a pair of lips.
"I'm weak, so I can't stay awake for long... it will take some time for me to recover... but for the time I am awake..."
She forced a smile.
"I'll teach you the basics of rune magic."
Valarie had a strong belief.
'no matter how broken, a soul of strength and purpose can still mentor, still love, and still protect.'
