Although they had won, the arena shade had dealt a terrible blow to the Rime-Bound and his armour. The horn had broken from his helm, and the spectral opponent had dealt a deep blow to the left flank before Beast could separate the two. Spirits were an unfortunate opponent because they tended to ignore what they did not care for in the material realm, and it seemed as though this one was no different.

Still, Dawn attempted to nudge Rime-Bound into some semblance of self-care as he urged his companion to slow down and take the rear guard for the time being. Beast, loathe to leave the front to the skittish Aspirant Lanner, had reluctantly taken point with his skeletal servant as they made for the next chambers of the Dungeon; the Aspirant had quietly taken up a position behind the mercenary with Slinks upon his back as some form of rather playful lookout. They did not dare turn around to face the bickering duo, far more fixated on crossing the ancient bridge before it crumbled beneath their hooves.

"You were a fool to hurl yourself forward like that," Dawn hissed quietly as he nudged the new dent in Rime-Bound's armour. "Brute force only gets you so far, Rime. You know this."

"It was not going to be talked to death," Rime snipped in return as Lear settled into the hollow of his neckpiece. The Wisp flickered as it went still, apparently just as unhappy with Rime-Bound as Dawn was. "I did what needed to be done, no less-"

"This is not how a Knight behaves, and you know it!" Dawn stamped his hoof on the ground and felt the bridge almost shudder beneath him. Perhaps that was not the best of ideas, he confessed to himself as he cast an apologetic look not only to his partner but their two companions. The look on Lanner's face spelt absolute terror, and it looked as though he might bolt at any moment. "I did not think this was so unsteady-"

"It is my responsibility to fight these battles," Rime-Bound said quietly as he trod forward, his head lower than it had been before as he flattened his ears. And I will do so of my own power."

"Your own power? What need have you-"

"Quiet," Beast said, the unsettling rasp of his faux-voice barely loud enough to hear as the bridge seemed to sway just slightly. "Hear."

"Wait, I hear it too," Lanner said as he lifted his head, ears high. "Where's that coming from?"

Dawn furrowed his brow and listened for what they were hearing. It was faint, a whisper, but it grew louder with each heartbeat, and each word seemed to sway the bridge ever so slightly further each way: promises of power and strength, unimaginable success, and eternal glory. It was a falsehood through and through, but it was a temptation easily bought into if one was to wither in one's own willpower.

Or if one was burdened by unyielding guilt for a tragedy they could never have prevented, for who could ask a foal to save his protectors?

Dawn reared, the gold of his armour flashing in the dim light as Othello flashed brightly. "Make for the other side, quickly! It promises our deaths!"

The Aspirant and the Mercenary both seemed to process what had been said and turned to charge down what remained of the trial, however unsteady it may have been. Beast swooped his head low to snatch the skeletal creature that shadowed him from the bridge as he galloped forward, and Slinks seemed to hold on with all his might as Lanner fled with surprising agility from the swaying stone. Dawn could see the Aspirant leap between crumbling stones and knew the two would be fine should he and his partner not make it across.

Rime-Bound seemed frozen in his place, and Lear could not drive him forward. In a moment of foolishness, Dawn charged him with all his strength - which, while nothing to scoff at, was not enough to overpower Rime-Bound in a contest - and shoved him forward. It seemed enough to jar the stallion from his temptations, though Dawn could recognize the look in his eyes from too many nights of guilt-ridden sorrow.

"Fuil cannot be found through spirits and lies," Dawn barked as he pushed Rime-Bound further, the bridge now dangerously close to collapse. "We will find her, but you must run, Rime!"