[Chapter 25]

Hal balanced the chisel delicately between his fingers, sensing the subtle shifting of its weight as he adjusted to the perfect angle. With a patient but firm tap, he hammered the end with his mallet and chipped away the last few fragments of stone. A quick burst of air from his lips pushed aside the dust and laid bare the final cut of the "L". He sighed in satisfaction as he used his fingers to trace out the letter and verify that indeed, all was as he imagined it.

After months stuck inside the hospital, getting outside was quite literally a breath of fresh air. The cool evening wind had a humid weight that lent a calm silence to his solemn task. Saying goodbye was never easy, but at least this time Hal could do it on his own terms.

He moved his hand over all the letters in turn, examining the sum total of his long efforts: 'MARCUS ANDREI ADHIL'. His brother's tombstone was finally complete.

"Hey." Miri's voice emerged from behind his shoulder, and Hal instinctively looked up, even though he couldn't see her.

"Hey Miri."

Hal let a long exhale escape his lungs as he allowed his fingers to dwell on the cold stone surface. Marcus' body was long since disposed of by the authorities, but after a great deal of argument, he won the time to craft a marker for Marcus and Vanir, here in the Calypsa cemetery. The new headstones rested near the older ones for the rest of Hal's family, and through supervised visits, Hal had been able to carve the new names into place himself. It seemed only fitting that he should be the one to memorialize the lives that ended by his hand.

"I think it's really nice of you to make these for them." Miri offered her encouragement with a sober tone. A warm hand rested gently on his shoulder. "You did a good job, Hal."

"Thanks." Hal smiled wistfully, letting the bittersweet moment sink in now that his task was done. Miri must have sensed something in his tone, because she offered a question that drifted through the air over his shoulder.

"Are you sad about what happened?"

Hal chuckled lightly in response. "I don't know. A little I guess, but..." He struggled for a few moments to find the right words. "It's hard to explain. Despite all that happened, and all that he did... I think I finally realize that I still loved him, Miri." Hal let his fingers linger on the last letter for just a few more moments before releasing his touch. "Marcus may have been misguided in his methods, and he might have let too much hate spill into his heart over the years, but you know, he never stopped fighting. He never stopped fighting until the very end."

Miri's hand gripped Hal a bit tighter, giving him a soft gesture of comfort. "He saw the city for everything that it denied us, and he raged against it. He wouldn't accept anything less than true freedom. I can't help but love him for that." Hal placed his hand on the earth beneath him, soaking in its cool and fortifying touch. "I only hope that now he has found the peace he so desperately fought for his whole life."

"I think he did." Miri's voice spoke confidently. From the way the sound shifted ever so slightly, Hal imagined she must have been nodding as she said so.

"Yeah." Hal agreed. "Maybe we all did." He stretched one hand out to the space at his side, and Miri was quick to grab it firmly and help Hal back up from his crouch. He grunted at the effort, but soon found his shaky balance beneath him with a few steady breaths.

From the pace the air had been dropping in temperature, it felt like it was nearly sundown. Most people would find it hard to see or work in the dark, but Hal was surprised how quickly he adjusted to using his other senses to navigate the world. In a way, the world had grown larger, not smaller, after his struggles and injuries. He could hear subtle sounds from across a large room. He could feel the slightest changes of texture with his touch. In fact, it often seemed that because he couldn't anticipate his surroundings beyond his direct experiences, that every moment had a hidden delight that surprised him.

Right now, that pleasure was the sound of the first insect of the night chirping to life. It sat somewhere in the grass beyond, alone, calling out in the hopes that someone might find it. That tiny creature had no idea that Hal could hear its cries. Perhaps, it felt like it was entirely alone. Perhaps, it would never know that Hal was actually right here, keeping it company. Still, it continued to sing, and Hal continued to listen.

What a beautiful sound. What a delicate little moment they shared.

"It really is a nice night, tonight." Hal smiled, speaking out to no one in particular.

Miri slid closer to him, helping steady his body. "You're right. The stars are staring to come out. The sky is really clear right now."

Hal laughed a bit, letting the warmth of that emotion run its full course.

"What's so funny?" Miri didn't understand why Hal was laughing at the sky.

"Haha, well, I was just thinking." Hal pulled Miri closer and gave her an affectionate hug. "In spite of all the troubles in my life. All the pain I had to endure. All the things that happened to my family, to Marcus, to us..." Hal shook his head. "Everything. It all led me here. This place. This moment. This next fresh breath of air."

Hal inhaled a deep breath and held it long before slowly letting it leak back into the world. "It's not so bad, is it?"

"No." Miri nodded, rubbing her cheek against his shoulder. "I suppose it isn't that bad at all." She laughed a little herself, maybe understanding a bit by what Hal meant. "It's not what I expected, but I guess that's just how life goes sometimes."

A new voice interrupted them both from somewhere behind. "I'm sorry, Mister Adhil. Miss Rodgers." It was a familiar voice by now, after being under guard for so many months. "It's time to go. The Lieutenant is waiting in the groundcar."

"Thank you, Nik. You have good timing. I think we're all done here." Miri responded with a chuckle, helping turn Hal around and guide him back down the path the arrived on.

The soldier's voice, still cracking slightly with the awkwardness of youth, sounded relieved. "Good. I hoped I wouldn't have to interrupt you before it arrived." Hal couldn't see the gesture, but he knew the recruit was waving the two of them along. "This way."

With Miri's help, Hal was able to work his way down the shallow hill with only a slightly halting limp. It was likely that they would never set foot in that cemetery again, now that the day of their discharge had officially arrived. That was just fine though. Cemeteries weren't places one should linger for long.

"What took you so long?" Another new voice, this one mature and commanding welcomed them to the base of the hill with the distinct edge of annoyance coloring his words.

"Why so impatient, Lieutenant?" Hal smirked. "Did you get passed over for promotion again while I was limping out of the cemetery?"

"Fuck you, Adhil."

"Good to see you too, Ronald."

"Just get in the damned groundcar. The sooner I can finally be rid of you, the sooner I can get back to doing real work." The leader of their guard detail was as cheerful as always. As much as some things always changed, other things always stayed the same.

Miri stepped in first, before helping pull Hal up into the passenger compartment. He nearly hit his head on the ceiling, but her experienced and steady touch held him low enough to clear it with just a little room to spare. After they both took their seats, Hal felt the entire carriage shake from side to side as Nik clambered in to take a seat across from them. A heavy metallic thud told Hal that the trooper's rifle, a mere formality at this point, was laid to rest against the other wall of the compartment.

"It's going to be a long ride, sir." Nik's softer voice seemed ill-fitting for his large frame and the profession he chose. "You should probably get comfortable."

"Damn it, Private!" The Lieutenant clambered into the front of the groundcar with a huff, clattering the reigns of the Manekale beast that was waiting to pull them onward. "How many times do I have to tell you? Stop talking to the fucking prisoners! We pay you to be their guard, not their friend!"

"Sorry, sir."

A violent lurch spurred the groundcar into motion, and just like that, they were on their way. Nik dutifully fell silent, though not without indulging in a small sigh of frustration. Hal felt for the kid, but somehow he had a feeling that Private Hobbes here would get through life just fine.

The groundcar clattered and creaked as they trotted through the streets of Anduruna one last time. The sounds of the city outside were muffled and muted when heard through armored walls. Already the places Hal knew seemed like they were becoming memories, fading quietly into his past. The day didn't end with a climax or a dramatic finish. There was no bold underline marking the transition from citizen to banished wanderer. There was just the soothing rocking of the compartment where he rested.

The echo of hooves bounced back through the walls for a few moments, telling Hal that they must have been passing underneath one of the entrances of the perimeter wall. He leaned his head against the carriage wall and felt the small tremors pass through his body for only a moment, before the tunnel gave way once again to open ground. The sunset was probably behind the Starfall mountains right now, giving them a sharp, dark outline in front of a golden sky. He couldn't look out a window and see the sight for himself, but Hal still had a clear picture in his mind.

Miri's fingers snaked around his own, sliding into place with a soft, affectionate touch. She didn't say anything, but Hal knew that this was as just a big moment for her as it was for him. Perhaps even moreso. He returned her grasp with a firm squeeze of support, and she slid closer to rest her head against his shoulder. They each settled in for the long trip by resting together, sharing body heat and the cadence of breathing.

At some point, whether it was seconds or hours later, Hal drifted off to sleep. What his destination was, when they would reach it, and what he was going to do once they got there, was a mystery to him. The soldiers never bothered to tell him, and in all honesty, it's not like if they gave him any particular answer he would care at all. Hal slept soundly with Miri beside him, and the passage of time was lost for a while.

The groundcar rocked a bit, waking Hal from his quickly forgotten dreams. Nothing in his world had changed from before he slept, and he was entirely unsure of the time until Lieutenant Ronald banged his fist on the wall from the driver's compartment up front. "Private! Prisoners! Wake up!" Ronald's voice echoed faintly through the steel. "We're here!"

Miri stirred, lifting her head from where it rested alongside Hal. "Good morning to you too..."

Nikolas' armor clattered a bit as he shuffled to life, likely just as asleep as everyone else before the Lieutenant interrupted things. Metal dragged across wood as the rifle ended up back in his hands. A cough failed to conceal the sleepy sound of the soldier's yawn. "Looks like we made it. This way sirs."

The car lurched again as Nik stepped out, and Miri gently guided Hal up from his seat and through the door down onto the waiting earth beyond. His feet were standing on mixed clumps of dirt and grass, and the air felt invigorating with the weight of unevaporated dew.

"Where are we?" Miri asked, as her sound slowly paced around the area.

"That's not for me to share." The Lieutenant seemed to derive some cruel satisfaction from not filling them in. They could be anywhere, but Hal had to guess they were somewhere out near the Eridu delta, since he wasn't standing on a mountain or in a desert. There were worse places to end up.

"Halcyon Adhil. Miriel Rodgers." The Lieutenant's voice took on an overly official bearing. You are hereby discharged from your custody. If you ever return to Anduruna again, your lives will be forfeit." Hal pictured the Lieutenant smiling as he gave the address. "Do you understand?"

Hal couldn't help but laugh quietly to himself at the whole affair. "Sure. Yeah. Go on home, Lieutenant."

"Hmph." Hal heard the manekale attached to the groundcar shuffle a bit, clattering it's harness. "Come on, Hobbes. We're outta here."

Nik stepped close offering them a more sincere goodbye. "Take care of yourselves, sirs. I don't think we'll have the opportunity to meet again."

Hal stretched one hand out towards the sound of the voice, and he was pleased that the gesture was returned with a full handshake. "You might be right, Private. Take care of yourself as well. Don't let the jackal over there boss you around too much. He's all bark and no bite."

Miri laughed a bit and offered her own warm words. "I appreciate all the company you gave us, Nikolas. I won't forget you."

"Thank you ma'am."

"Private!" Nik's grunt of amusement was quickly drowned out by more orders. "How many times do I have to tell you! Get back in the groundcar before I personally kick the living shit out of you!"

"Coming, sir." The faintest twinges of disrespect eked their way into the final word.

Heavy bootsteps crunched the grass behind them before clambering up into the vehicle and disappearing behind the heavy thud of a door being closed. It didn't take long for the groundcar to march away, towed by the powerful gait of the animal that pulled it. The sound of those wheels creaking and rolling slowly faded to silence, and soon both Hal and Miri found themselves entirely alone.

They stood together, holding hands for a quiet moment before curiosity got the better of Hal. "So, where are we, Miri?"

"Um..." Miri's weight and sound shifted around, as if she was giving the area a full survey. "It looks like were a long way from the city. I can't even see the tower from here. Lots of fallow pasture and gently rolling hills."

Hal nodded. "Is there a hill nearby we can walk to?"

"Yeah." Miri's hand started to pull Hal in one direction. "This way."

They marched through untrimmed grass for a few minutes, climbing a gentle slope to reach the nearest peak. As Hal reached the crest of the hill, he felt the air grow a little bit warmer. Warming rays of sunlight were starting to kiss the surroundings, and he could predict Miri's words before she even spoke them.

"Oh spirits!" Miri was taken aback by the sight she laid eyes on. "The sunrise..." Her fingers squeezed Hal's own with more intensity. "We're close to the ocean. The light is reflecting off the water. Millions of sparkles. Just like the snow." Hal knew that she was smiling brightly, just like the sunrise. "It's so beautiful."

"I know."

Miri shifted her weight, turning towards him. "But... you can't even see..." Her words trailed off, too late to hide her disbelieving tone.

Hal laughed a bit and let go of Miri's hand. Reaching up, he felt his fingers brush against the gauze bandages that was wrapped around his eyes. He took a few seconds to feel out the knot that held them in place, but it didn't take long before it was loosened and eventually released by his careful work. Hal pulled the bandages away and felt the sunlight and the wind wash over his whole face for the first time. The air felt sharp and fresh as it touched his raw and scarred flesh, but there was no pain. Hal's grip loosened, allowing a short gust of wind to pull the gauze completely free from his possession. The fabric drifted away with the current, carried off to places unknown.

It took an extraordinary amount of effort, but eventually Hal was able to force his cracked and broken eyelids to open, revealing the hazy eyes that had been waiting underneath for so very long. With his eyes open, Hal couldn't see again like he used to, but the world did seem to get just a little bit brighter. Miri didn't recoil or gasp in surprise at his appearance, but instead she waited patiently for the answer he had yet to give her.

"Hey Miri."

"Yes Hal?" She chuckled a bit at the reversal of the ordinary.

"Would you like to know what the sunrise really looks like?" Hal opened his hand again, waiting for her to take it.

Her fingers warmly wrapped back around his own. "Okay."

With the troopers gone, there was no one left to stop them from sharing the moment as it was meant to be shared. Miri activated her power, and all of a sudden the image of the sunrise as she saw it was what Hal saw as well. Her heartbeat was superimposed upon his own. Indeed, the sunrise was just now cresting over the ocean that sat a mere mile away, and orange flashes of light reflected gently across the shifting surface. Hal smiled at the sight.

"Are you ready?"

Miri nodded.

Hal grinned, and activated his own power. With their senses now linked, the orange sunrise that drifted gently above the horizon, finally became what it always was.

An explosion of color poured forth, reflecting off of everything in creation. Prismatic hues that had no names scorched the morning itself, welcoming it with brilliance. Shades of red, orange, purple and gold bounced off of the water and bent the air itself. The sky beyond the horizon became deeper, wider, and full of shimmering life. The weight of glory buckled Miri's knees, and suddenly it was Hal who supported her as she took in the true majesty of life for the very first time.

"Oh... Hal..." Her voice was breathless, and the vision of the world blurred as tears welled in her eyes. "Is this..." Her voice caught, and she swallowed, blinking away tears. "Is this what you see?"

"Every morning."

She sobbed happily, absorbing the warmth of that sunrise alongside him. "It's the most beautiful sight I've ever seen."

Hal laughed deeply, letting that celebration carry out into the wind. "Well, I think you're in luck, Miri. Tomorrow there will be another sunrise, just like this one."

"Haha!" Miri laughed as well. Something was different about this one, though. It had a weight to it. A wholeness. It wasn't a 'laugh at Hal's joke' type of laugh. It was more. It was the laugh that Miri always wanted to have, but could never unleash until now. The laugh that celebrated life itself. "I think I'd like to see that one too."

Hal saw himself through her eyes as he angled his face down towards her and grinned. "We can see the entire world together, Miri. That is... if you'll be my eyes."

Miri pretended to give the proposition serious consideration. "Hmmm..." The hum turned into a wide smile. "I'll be yours if you'll be mine."

Hal nodded. "It's a deal."

Miri punched Hal playfully. "That's the best line you got? 'It's a deal'? You could have said something really romantic instead of really lame."

"Haha, sorry." Hal scratched at the edge of one eye. "I'll work on that."

"You better."

Miri leaned forward to give him a light kiss. They watched the sunrise together for a long time after that, sharing a warm embrace. Once the beautiful sphere of fire cleared the horizon completely, Miri spoke up. "So... where do we go from here?"

Hal shook his head, chuckling a little. "I'm not really sure."

"Me either."

"Well, I'm glad we're in agreement."

They shared another laugh together before Miri held Hal tighter. "I'm a little scared about what happens next. I've never been this far from the city before."

Hal returned the hug, giving Miri some reassurance. "Truth be told, Miri, I'm a little scared too. But you know what?"

Miri looked up, watching Hal smile down at her.

"Somehow, I get the feeling that everything will turn out okay."

[FIN]