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What a relief. Germal was ready to lay back and whatever happened happen, since he wasn't in much condition to do anything else, but then Nerovoy was there, invoking the regeneration.

Stability and awareness began to return.

And Damian attacked Nerovoy.

That was it.

That was what Ettol needed.

Parson and Overra were fully on his side now. Even if he was still recovering, this battle was already won. Ettol knew it.

Closer than he would've liked, certainly. This troublesome trio. But they were fractured now.

Before long, Damian fled. He didn't put up much of a fight against Parson, probably because, even in his burgeoning madness, he still did not truly wish to harm the other man.

Or perhaps he could see what Ettol saw. His fight was lost.

Feromas gave chase. Not ideal. Ettol would've preferred he stay and become convinced by the new web that he was about to weave for the others, but oh well. Feromas would have to be a future project.

This wasn't over, of course. There was no doubt in his mind that they would meet again, but there would be plenty of time to prepare for that day.

Ettol had much to do...

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The illusory vision kept going for a while longer, and it took all of Parson's concentration to remain focused on it after the revelations about Germal's true nature. And about what had happened to Damian.

About everything. The culmination of their entire history together.

Jonah.

He showed them memories. As real and immersive as Parson and Damian were there themselves--and occasionally, they were. It was surely a strange thing, seeing their younger selves from Jonah's perspective.

But frankly, Parson didn't really need to see the rest. He remembered perfectly well himself.

After the breaking of their fellowship in this little ancient fortress, he'd encountered Damian several more times. But Jonah--or Ettol--had always been there, too, ensuring that every attempt at reconciliation failed.

So many lies.

Woven seamlessly into the truth.

Made utterly indistinguishable from one another.

But so much was slotting into place now.

Damian had tried to explain the truth to him. Couched in madness as he'd been, he'd still tried. But Parson had never been able to bring himself to believe him. He just seemed so far gone--and this Ettol, so reasonable by comparison.

By the time the vision concluded, Parson Miles had long since fallen to his knees.