The first logical thing Kamui did when the Inquisition returned to Skyhold was collapse into bed, dress and all. The past week had been traveling back to the fortress with quick stops to nearby rifts and other problems that had popped up. It was early evening when Kamui entered her room, and simply fell onto the bed face-first. With a groan, she leaned her head up to take off her crown and place it to the side, slide off her sandals, and curl up into a ball on top of the covers.
A few minutes later, Cassandra snuck up the stairs, tip-toeing somewhat-loudly to the Inquisitor's side. With a smile, she lifted the Inquisitor up a bit, pulling the covers back and placing the girl back down, drawing the sheets up to her chin. With nary a word, she crept back downstairs, ready to fend off anyone who wanted to seek audience with the young woman.
"It's wonderful to meet you! Varric told me what was happening, and I came right away. I did work with an eluvian before, and I do know my way around it, and I'm babbling again aren't I?"
Kamui didn't know what to make of Varric's friend Merrill. Like she had requested, the elf was an expert on ancient elven history and magic, and she was nice; a departure from the icy front Morrigan put up.
"It's alright, Merrill. We're glad to have you with us."
Varric smiled.
"Vivienne, be honest with me."
"I am, Inquisitor."
"I saw your note about longer life. Is it for you?"
"..."
"Please, Vivienne. We're friends, at least I think so. And I do want to help you."
"It's for Bastien. He's sick. He might not have time left."
"Then let's go."
"What?"
"Right now. Let's go kill this snowy wyvern and save your lover. I'd do the same for Azura in a heartbeat."
"Thank you, Inquisitor."
If the Inquisitor had fought impressively before, now she was even more devastating. Blackwall couldn't remember the last time he had seen one person cause so much destruction and wield so much power as the Inquisitor.
He had heard how strong she was when she displayed her skills at the Winter Palace, but now, in a class she liked?
Apparently the Hoshido Noble class was awe-inspiring.
If she was acrobatic before, she was doubly so now. With kicks and flicks, her green-and-gold sword carved through mail and armor like butter. They were battling through the Exalted Plains when he saw her lean back, head morphed, before she attacked. She leapt forward into a flip, bringing her sword down onto corpse before jumping up and stabbing it with a morphed talon. She spun into a slice that sent her sword flying back, and spitting a projectile out of a mouth that simply obliterated the poor undead.
Maybe not so poor.
He quickly raised his shield to block a claw as he saw the Inquisitor jump into a horizontal spinning slash, decapitating a corpse.
"She deserves to die!"
"Leliana...this isn't like you. You're kind."
"This is the me that Justinia made."
A thought came to Kamui's mind, anything to stop Leliana from killing this woman.
They had come to Valence, the place where Leliana and the Hero of Ferelden had been married, and upon finding Justinia's box, Leliana had found the traitor out.
Kamui whispered, just loud enough for Leliana to hear, "What was it that she said? Evil doesn't worry about being good?"
A shock flashed by on Leliana's face, recognition from ten years past. Surana had said that by a campfire, almost word-for-word, after they dispatched Marjolaine. This was not who she was.
Leliana sheathed the knife, "Run, and tell your mistress we are coming. We are the Inquisition, and we will not be frightened by the likes of you."
As Natalie ran, Kamui embraced Leliana in a hug. "Thank you."
"Thank you, Inquisitor, for letting me see what I was blinded to."
She turned and opened the box.
"Cullen...you're somewhat of a jerk, but you're better than this."
"What...?"
"Don't take the lyrium. Even though I'd like for Cassandra to take your place, you're our 'best option'. For now. And your best is without drugs, or lyrium, or whatever it is."
She smiled.
"Though I do not like you that much, I do not wish to see you dead."
"Inquisitor...!"
"No."
"What?"
"You were about to start going on about how the last time someone cared about you was the Hero of Ferelden, Warden Surana. And then you were going to compare me to her, and how I've basically replaced her as your icon of love or whatever."
"How?"
"How do I know? Cullen, you're easy to read. And I'm a good reader. But please don't take lyrium. It's bad for your health."
She turned and left, taking the box of vials with her.
"You don't belong here."
Kamui turned from where she sat on the bench to see Morrigan's son, Kieran, staring at her.
"Why's that?"
"Your blood is different. From not-here. Like mine."
"You're a smart boy, aren't you?"
"Mother says so, yes."
Kamui smiled. "Where do I belong?"
Kieran returned the smile, "Home."
"Where's that?"
"Valla."
Kamui was startled, flinching forward. "How do you know that name? I've only told a few people..."
"It's what the mirror says."
"What mirror?"
Kamui, Morrigan, Kieran, and Merrill stood in front of the eluvian, magic glowing around the edges.
"This mirror, huh?" Kamui asked, hesitantly reaching a hand out towards it.
"How did you even get this here?"
With an affirmative nod, both Morrigan and Kieran said, "Magic."
"It's beautiful!" Merrill crooned, delight etched into her smile. "A working eluvian! I can't believe..."
"Hmph."
"Kieran," Kamui interrupted. "What did the mirror say?"
"What?" Morrigan asked.
"It went like this," Kieran said, before gesturing towards the mirror, as something astonishing happened.
A swirling image of Azura appeared in the mirror, looking confused at the four.
"Azura?"
"Kamui?"
"What you doing in there?" They both asked at the same time.
"There was this mirror - " The two said before stopping. Hesitantly, Kamui reached her hand out to the mirror, fingers meeting glass as Azura did the same.
"Where are you, Kamui?"
"It's a long story. But first, what happened? All I remember is hearing a noise and investigating and now I'm in another world. What happened in Valla?"
"Well, you went to check on a noise, and I went to check after a few minutes. When I looked around, you were gone, and the last place you were there was just...this mirror. We've been getting our best Exorcists and Sorcerers investigating, but neither Leo, Nyx, nor Hayato could figure it out."
"I'll try to explain later but..."
"Yes, Kamui?"
"How are Kana and Shigure?"
Azura smiled, before gesturing to the side as two small blue-haired children with pointed ears ran into Azura's legs.
"Kana, Shigure. Your Oma's here."
The two kids looked up to Azura and then to Kamui, through the mirror.
"Oma!" Kana babbled, as Shigure held his brother's hand, looking through his long bangs.
"Oma!" Shigure said as well, Kamui wiping a tear from her cheek. Meanwhile, Morrigan, Kieran, and Merrill stood to the side, silent.
"Heya, kids. You've been looking after Mommy?"
The two nodded vigorously. Azura leaned down before taking them into her arms, smiling.
"How long have I been gone, Azura?"
"They're about a year old, Kamui."
"So it's been about six months? Same on this side."
There was a rumble from Azura side before all eight members of Kamui's extended family tried to pop their heads into the mirror.
"Kamui?" Xander asked, as he pushed Leon's head down.
"We've been - " Hinoka started, elbowing Ryoma.
"Looking for - " Camilla said, leaing down onto Elise.
"You!" Sakura and Elise cheered at the same time, tilting their heads towards each other.
With the hodgepodge of the family pile up, with Aqua standing to the side and back with a surprised look on her face, the eight siblings fell down.
"Oh gods..." Kamui heard Takumi moan as Ryouma muttered, "Xander, your hand's on my - "
They all stopped as Kamui began to laugh, doubled over. They all looked at her until she stopped.
"It's just, you all, it's just really funny! Seeing you all be one big family!" All eight blushed simultaneously as they sorted out limbs.
"I think tis best," Morrigan whispered to Kieran and Morrigan, "If we leave her and her family alone for now. I'm sure the other Inquisition leaders will want to know about this."