In the instant before the arrows’ arrival, a weird tugging sensation formed in my gut. The sky seemed to switch places with the ground and a feeling of weightlessness plagued me.  When all returned to normal, I could see the walls of Upper Realm in the distance. A small flash to my right warned me of Osgood’s arrival. Trying to turn my head to look at him, I realized that I was in a state of paralysis. Trying to keep calm, I reached out telepathically.

A groan resounded within my mind, though I couldn’t tell if it was from Osgood or from the sword. 

What did you do? I transmit, annoyed with the fact that I couldn’t yell at him through the paralysis. No answer came from him. Growling internally, I transmit again. You better not have paralysed both of us on a mountain. 

That… might be a problem... but not one I caused! Osgood’s voice sounds a bit sheepish. The anger that rises as a result of the statement slightly loosens the paralysis’ hold on my mouth. 

“What did…you do that… for?” My voice sounds horribly strained and weak. If you tell anyone about this, I’ll kill you with your own sword.

“As wonderful a mental picture that is,” The Solas Sword interjected, “I’m afraid I must disappoint you, and take the blame for this.”

What did you do? I ask, slightly afraid of the answer. As far as the sword’s abilities were concerned, it was unpredictable. Why did you paralyze us?

“That was a small accident. One that I will not take the blame for. If anything, it was the fault of the arrows.”

How is that?

“The ability that I used to move you here is called “Near Instant Transport”. Near instant, not instant. The speed with which I launched you to this mountain was slow enough that the arrows flew into my blade. That completely ruined my concentration.”

And here I thought your concentration was legendarily unbreakable. comes Osgood’s retort

“Oh sure, blame it on the only one of us who actually did something in the situation. Ah, that’s what happened. One moment, I’ll get you unparalyzed.” 

Suddenly, as if a weight was lifted from my body, the paralysis faded. Jumping to my feet, I stretched the suddenly sore muscles in my back. Osgood's rise was slow, as always.

“Ow.” He complained, rolling to a sitting position, “Warn me next time you decide to shoot us somewhere ‘near instantly’.”

“I’d like to see you try to teleport someone in mortal danger.” the sword retorted,  “It’s not as easy as you think, hero. You’re welcome, by the way.”

“Osgood! No time to argue with the Solas Sword! We have to find out who was out here and why they didn’t go through the gates like a normal person!” The shock and betrayal on Osgood’s face gave me some satisfaction, though it was less than I had expected. Maybe it was time to… no, he had stollen more than my pride from me. It would take more than this to forgive him.

“See? The young lady agrees with me!”, exclaimed the Solas Sword, sounding smug. 

“You aren’t off the hook either, sword. You may be mighty, but if you are of no help, I will personally throw you off a cliff. Same goes for you, Osgood.” I can hear Osgood grumbling under his breath, but he doesn’t object, thankfully. It would have been a shame to utterly destroy his morale here when I could watch it disintegrate as he fought his way to Nightshade.

Not spotting the figure that I had seen on the mountain, I turned around, frustrated. Would it kill the universe to work with me just once?

Moments after the thought, a figure appeared. Judging from its stance, it wasn’t expecting to meet us. 

“Who are you? How did you get here?”, the stranger asked in a voice that sounded suspiciously like a boy trying to sound like an adult. Even so, a threat is a threat, and my instincts had reacted. In the seconds it took me to recognise the threat, my stance had changed to one ready to attack. 

“That’s a question we should ask you.” I declare, ready for anything that the stranger might do. Osgood, on the other hand, was staring at him in shock. About what I had expected, but it was still disappointing.

The man visibly reacted to my statement, but not in a way that I expected. HE RELAXED! HOW DARE HE!?

“Children… Akina has really let himself go soft if he sends you after me.” The strange man muttered to himself.

“I won’t ask again: Who are you?” The man responded no differently to this warning. HE EVEN LAUGHED! LAUGHED AT ME, ZENIA, THE TRUE MISTRESS OF THE ARTS! There would be no mercy for him. Just as I was getting ready to pound the man into the mountain, the Solas Sword rose from Osgood's side and spoke in a language that I didn't understand.

“Gresa luemeges groraksalemaver iske Kumefmofkemaver. Remsh. Luemit flur?” At these words the man dropped to one knee and bowed his head.

“Mofkemit flurevge luemaver. Flataleme. Grotolsev flurevge.” The man responded using what seemed to be the same language, not lifting his head. “Gresa luemeges Saafir, Ianthevge Taetatemge. Flurevge kumefnaem grastemem Grorakmonegasaver. ”

The confusion in Osgood’s eyes mirrors my own. What were they saying? What was this strange language? I opened my mouth to interrupt, but my voice refused to cooperate. What was this?

“Atalge saltemeges, Saafir. Mifkiname flurevge luemeges.” The sword responded before returning to normal. The man stood up from his knee, determination in his eyes. 

“I will go with you, children. Solas’ Light is not a toy for children to play around with, a trained gu-”

“First off, no.” I interrupt. “Second, the Solas Sword chose Osgood, and though Osgood can't do anything right, I support his decision. Third, who are you to make that demand and what were you just talking about?” 

The man looked slightly annoyed at the interruption, but responded almost at once. 

“As I had told what you call the Solas Sword, I am Saafir, Guardian of Lanthe. It is my sacred duty to protect the bearer of the blade, and if they are too young to take it up, I am their replacement. So you see, Zenia, the blade should be in my possession.”