Rise of the Overlord

Chapter Thirty-Six

Jay couldn't fall back asleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see Nya fall into the darkness again and again. He could hear the deep voice hiss We're coming in his ear, feeling the icy breath against his skin. He shuddered at the thought.

Jay climbed out of his cot, glancing around the room at his sleeping teammates- or teammate, he should say. Cole was buried under their thin blanket, his face contorted into an expression of discontentment. The Master of Lightning slipped out of the room and shut the door behind him with a soft click, creeping through the hallway. In the room across from him, he could hear Garmadon pacing and murmuring out loud. He briefly heard Misako, but her voice was too muffled to be understood.

Jay crept through the hallway, passing Kai and Lloyd's room beside the stairwell. He could hear Kai's voice through the door calming Lloyd, but he couldn't make out the words. He didn't need to know what he was saying, that should stay between the pair. As he descended the stairs, he began to wonder about the future ahead of them.

"Hey, uh Wisp?"

Yes, Jay?

"We don't have much time left, do we?" Jay stood in front of the mural, his eyes lingered over the faded imagery of his corrupted self.

I... fear not. I sense the war brewing on the horizon. We might have less than two days to finish preparing.

"What happened while I was... like that?"

To be quite honest, I'm not sure. The other ancestors and I last physically saw you enter the castle, then we saw you briefly in an attempt to capture Kai. When we brought you to the Spirit Coves, you were asleep. If I had to assume, I would say that anger burned in your soul. You were willing to do anything to complete your missions. At least, that is how Nya was... and still is.

We came in contact with her at the Fire Temple. She was filled with a fury beyond recognition, sneering and snarling at Kai. She was unlike anything I had ever seen before. I fear that her actions mirrored what you and your teammates were like. If you are desperate to know, I believe you could ask Zane. Shard has alerted us that Zane has been hiding that knowledge, whether due to fear or reluctance to talk I don't know. I would recommend talking to him before the Final Battle commences, we want everyone to be focused on the fight.

"Okay, where is he?"

At the peak, meditating with Shard.

Jay's eyes traveled up the length of the mountainside, but he couldn't see the Master of Ice at the peak. His legs ached at the thought of trekking up to the top, but he knew that he needed to find his friend. Not only for his own sake but for Zane's as well.

Watching every step, silently regretting not having Cole to aid him, Jay made his way up the mountainside. Occasionally he would glance away from his feet and at the spectacular view surrounding him; cotton-ball clouds lazily drifted past the Temple of Darkness as the Sun started to breach the horizon, it's fiery rays reached across the desolate valleys and hills. Jay had to pause, closing his eyes in bliss as the warmth of the Sun's light caressed his face.

Keep moving, he reminded himself. Avoid the rocks, don't slip on the dew, don't twist your- Jay's foot slipped out from under him, forcing him onto his hands and knees. Stupid dew. Jay regained his footing, using his hands for extra support as he steadily climbed towards the peak. Then, he saw Zane sitting in silence at the very top.

"Hello Jay," Zane said without turning around.

"Hey Zane, mind if I join you?"

The Master of Ice gestured to his right. Jay sat down without a word, fidgeting with his hands. How was he going to ask him about their darkest moments? Would Zane even talk about it? The words seemed to tangle and choke in his throat. Could he handle the truth?