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 Every fiber of her being trembled, her mind racing and seemingly ready to burst from the barrage of terrors she was taking in. 

She couldn't comprehend it, the evil, and she felt the bile building in her throat. Tears blurred her vision, a mercy, but the sounds from those horrific images were still ringing in her ears all around her. 

"Anina," a voice broke through the torrent. She couldn't understand how she could hear him over the screams. It was calm but it seemed to shake the ground beneath her feet. 

Gathering the last fragment left of her courage, she squeezed the tears from her eyes and lifted her head. The path beneath her feet was incomprehensibly narrow, barely a hair's width beneath her feet, it felt. 

"Anina. Eyes on me."

There was only patience in that voice, but she knew it was a command that meant life or death.

He had already asked so much. This was more than she could handle, more than anyone could handle! Why was he demanding this of her? Was he trying to get her killed? Could he not sense that she was at the very last ounce of strength, that mentally and physically she was almost broken? There was no surviving this! Impossible! She--

She silenced her own thoughts and with shaky breath put a foot forward. It took all her willpower to tear her head from the storm of chaos on either side of the path. Anything--absolutely anything--could end her life here, with the road before her offering no comfort. Her instincts fought her, logic screamed at her to scan around her for horrors that were sure to attack. Still, she looked away, and her eyes settled on him.

He nodded, turned and walked steadily forward a few yards in front of her. 

Shapes keeled towards her from the path side, the screams intensified, and several minutes later reptilian eyes bulged and claws missed her skin by a millimeter.

In a panic she turned to fend for herself and almost lost her footing. Aico's hand reached out to catch her just in time.

"Eyes on me," he repeated, looking straight into her eyes.

The silver and gold of his eyes swirled like molten metal, but the kindness and certainty behind them was overwhelming. 

She retched off the side of the path, then slowly, shakily, rose and locked her sights on him again.

"I will get you through this, Anina. Just keep your eyes on me."

She didn't know what she was doing. None of this made sense. He promised to keep her safe yet here they were walking through the thickest of dangers. But despite the logic, her focus was set on him now, and she did not look away again.

I hold your contract, she felt him say inwardly. They cannot have you so long as you stay with me. But how can I save them when they refused the help I offered?

(The key t peace is surrounded by a current of war)