Hearing Harkon call out a challenge, Hal's gaze snaps to him. Focussing on Harkon, he sees the undead get engulfed in fire. The scream of pain that erupts over the telepathic relay freezes him in panic. His darting eyes fix on Van's body as she drops to the ground, her armour blackened and hair scorched.

His vision narrows as the magic coalescing in his fingers dissipates. An image of a young Van, playing tag with Tori and Monty by the lakeside. Somehow amidst the chaos he notices a tiny bead of energy fly into the hall. A memory of Van smiling from ear to ear after animating her first corpse, the body of their old school teacher lurching clumsily behind her. Hal doesn't have time to panic before the explosion engulfs the chamber. A memory of Van's promise. You won't. Van's body disappears in the flame.

Gone. Just like everyone else. They were all gone.

Hal let's go. It barely registers that his body is darting into the hall with arms outstretched. The hail of arrows flies overhead as he cradles the broken body of his familiar. His empty eyes stare down at his fallen companion, his friend.