Ryan turned back to Ayeden.
"How do I release you?"
Ayeden held out his hand.
"Take my hand."
Ryan stretched out his hand, and it slowly went through the dome.
The Elf took his hand and walked out of the dome.
Grizzly and Eragon's eyes never left Ayeden as he took a deep breath.
He bowed to the crew.
"I pledge on my life that I will take you to my people."
Before he could stand up straight, Grizzly grabbed him by the shoulder and slammed him against the dome.
"Your pledges don't mean shit to me, Allen, or Ayeden, or whatever your name is."
Ryan wanted to intervene, but decided to trust the old man as he continued.
"I will warn you just this once."
Grizzly moved his head close and spoke into the Elf's ear.
"If you fuck me over, I'll kill you."
The emotionless way he spoke made a chill run up Ryan's back.
When he turned his attention to the Elf, he saw something different.
Ayeden's knees were shaking, and his mouth was speaking without words.
Grizzly seemed satisfied and let go.
The Elf fell to the ground and put his face in his hands.
Ryan walked up to the sobbing Elf and put a hand on his shoulder.
He flinched at the touch, but seemed to calm down as he saw Ryan's face.
Ryan decided to squat down.
"Ayeden. How do we get to your people?"
He wiped the tears from his face and stood up.
"Follow me. I must warn you, travelling on the Twilight Path is more nuanced than you may think."
He waited for Eragon and Grizzly to follow.
The crew was led deeper into the caverns.
This time, Ryan didn't have any memories to guide him.
Ryan walked a few steps forward so that he was next to Ayeden.
"What is the Twilight Path?"
Ayeden smiled, and Ryan was still unnerved by the blank eyes.
"It is both complex and simple. We have many doorways that lead to many destinations."
Ryan frowned.
"What do you mean? I don't follow."
"I don't know where it will lead. I will, however, know if the doorway can lead us to our people."
Ryan heard Eragon quip behind him.
"The doorways are random unless they aren't. That is dumb."
Ayeden turned his gaze to Eragon.
"You see our ways as foolish because you are mortal."
Eragon took a long step forward, but he was stopped when Ryan held out his hand.
"Elves live forever. They have strange ways."
Eragon snorted, and smoke came out of his nose.
Ryan turned his attention back to Ayeden.
"How would you know which doorway leads back to your people?"
Ayeden smiled.
"I think it would be more interesting if I showed you."
Ryan frowned, and just as he was about to rejoin the others, Ayeden spoke.
"I mean no offence. You are a half-Blood with potential. You may enjoy the tutelage."
Ryan almost froze in place.
"What do you mean by potential?"
Ayeden laughed.
"You have an Elven Eye, and I can sense your magic from the ring you wear."
Ryan looked down at the ring and back to Ayeden.
"This is a magical weapon. I have no magic."
Ayeden shook his head.
"It is true that the ring is a magical item, but the item must draw power from somewhere."
Ryan clenched his teeth hard.
Aleksandar must have known from the beginning.
"How does Elven magic work?"
Ayeden turned his head to Grizzly and then back to Ryan.
"I think it is best that we focus on your mission, whatever it may be."
Ryan realised at that moment that he came without that knowledge.
"I discovered a Changeling, and we need the Elves to find the rest."
Ayeden nodded.
"I understand. As thanks for your honesty, I will show you how to operate the Path."
After a few minutes, they saw a massive circle on the floor.
It had many intricate designs and a small circle in the middle with two green gems in the centre.
"Ryan. Stand upon the stones."
He listened and took his place.
"Close your eyes. Try to sense the stones, and share your power."
Ryan did as he was instructed, but he couldn't feel anything.
After a minute, he felt a hand on his shoulder.
It was Ayeden.
"Let me take your place."
Ryan moved to Grizzly and Eragon, but he was stopped by Ayeden.
"Wait. Place your hand on my shoulder. Try to focus on the movement of my power."
Ryan listened.
For a moment, he felt nothing, but then he felt the waves of magic move under his touch.
The magic moved through Ayeden to the floor, and that magic filled the circle.
Through his closed eye, he could see the form of the magic create a path to another destination.
The circle then followed the path to the next destination.
In a flash, all of them were at the next destination.
Ryan fell to his knees and gasped for air.
As he opened his eyes, he met a kneeling Eragon's gaze.
"Dude, are you ok?"
Ryan nodded.
"Yes. I saw why it is called the Twilight Path."
Eragon helped Ryan to his feet.
Ryan took a few breaths as Ayeden smiled.
"I must apologise. I had to take a small amount of your magic. That was the only way for you to-"
His words were cut short by Grizzly grabbing his shoulder.
"Enough of the tutoring. Is this the right path?"
Ayeden looked down.
"I apologise, but no."
Grizzly pushed him toward the centre of the circle.
"Go on, get on with it."
Ayeden bowed.
"That won't be possible. It used up most of my magic. I need to rest."
Eragon looked around the cavern they were in.
"Where are we? I am kinda hungry."
Ayeden walked over to a wall and placed his palm on a rock.
The wall opened, and a large room with a table in the middle could be seen.
"Take your place at the table."
They all took a seat, and after a moment, food appeared in front of them.
Eragon dug into his mountain of meat.
Ryan started eating his meal, but when he looked up at Grizzly, he wasn't eating.
He just stared at Ayeden while taking long drags from his cigarette.