through the fire and wind

“I’m not afraid of anything.”“Not even death?”This stumped the child, and the cold steel on the back of Philza’s leg slipped a little bit as he considered this.“Well, I s’pose so. Because there’s nothing I can do about it.” His breathing hitched. “If you’re not gonna kill me, I figure I should sit down.”“Wait,” Philza said, cursing as he reached out his hand. “I can do something for you.”The child squinted his gold eyes. “You’re not gonna put me out of my misery. I’m stronger than I look.”“I know. I can help you if you take my hand. If you promise me one thing.”The child looked between his hand and his face. For a second, Philza feared he would shuffle off to his bed and leave him standing with his arm outstretched.Instead, small fingers wrapped into his own.“Promise me you’ll make what I’m about to do worth it.,” Philza said, surprising even himself.The child laughed a barking laugh. “Ok.”“Ok.”--or: the SBI D&D AU where Cleric Philza accompanies three violent young men to a forest of voices and secrets.