Dread Mage

Sonder looked out to where her door had been, but not before yelping in fear as the sudden and violent nature of the opening of her door scared her for a moment.

The Irath would have never acted like that.

Sonder had barely had time to react to the sudden intrusion.

A man stood in the doorway. He was covered in blood, his hand mangled and bleeding, but there was a wild look of victory in his eyes.

"Sonder," he said, his voice gruff and filled with a strange sort of warmth. "I'm Bachram."

Behind him, she saw a raised hand, and a voice came.

"He's a friend," it said.

Sonder felt a rush of relief at the sound of Vell's voice.

She got to her feet, her knees trembling slightly from the shock and fear. But there was no time to dwell on that.

"Take a step back, little girl," Bachram warned, readying himself.

Familiar with pain and torment, he had no qualms about what lay ahead. However, witnessing Mage Vell's caution around these barriers, Bachram wanted to be well-prepared.

With determination, he pushed himself through the walls.

His skin boiled and burned.

But his warrior spirit refused to yield. With a guttural scream, he forced himself through the last layer of the barrier, his body falling heavily on the other side. His labored breathing echoed in the silent room, his bloodied figure a grotesque silhouette against the pink glow.

"Sonder," Bachram managed to gasp out, "move, now!"

With nothing but concern etched on her face, Sonder quickly complied, scrambling away from the barrier towards Bachram.

Her heart pounded as she watched him struggle to rise, his every movement laced with pain.

"I will get you out of here if that's the last thing I do."

He took Sonder in his arms, his blood staining every part of her, and then he moved again.

He twisted himself to shield Sonder as best he could while moving, though he couldn't protect everything, and parts of the girl's body were also burned away.

Her wounds were shallow in comparison to Bachram's, and when he finally managed to move through, he fell to his knees, losing the grip he had on Sonder.

"You did it, Bachram," Vell said, gently touching the simerian on the shoulder. "You saved her."

Bachram simply nodded; his face almost burned off. But he managed a weak grin.

"I chose how to live my life. If you can do me one favor, tell my people that I died with honor. ...It was never your choice," he repeated before collapsing to the ground, expiring right before their eyes.