Solo Victory

“Finally, the end of the road has been reached. The trek was hard, the foes were great, and the food drew scarce.” Kalina paused, wiping her arm over her brow, staring at the empty hall in before her. “Still, I have prevailed. I overcame every trial to reach here.”

“You realize you’re not alone?” Tannin said behind her.

Kalina ignored him, stepping forward. “Another step toward the altar and my destiny. I alone can do this,” she whispered.

“You realize your whispers aren’t that quiet,” Tannin interjected.

Kalina crinkled her nose as she stared at the altar. “Why do you have to be so annoying?”

“I don’t know. Why do you have to be so pompous?” Val responded. She sounded far more annoyed than Tannin. “And you realize we’re all still here.”

What did they want from her? She had to make this trek. She had to reach the altar. “It is my destiny to save the kingdom.”

Taking a final step forward, Kalina placed her hand on the stone. The long-worn chamber faded away.

“Took you all long enough to arrive,” a voice boomed in the wall-less expanse she found herself in.

I have wor–” Kalina stopped, staring at the god’s visage. “What do you mean, you all?”

The god gestured behind her. Turning, she found Tannin, Val, and the others standing with their arms crossed and expressions which said she was the problem.

“What? You didn’t think this quest was doable alone, did you?” Her ears burned, and she was sure she’d turned a brilliant red. The god broke into laughter. So much for her solo victory.