Chapter 25: Last Stand

By SodiumChlouride12, derived from Fire Emblem, owned by Nintendo.

A/N: Can't really think about what to put here. A review would be nice...but then again just y'all being here is a blessing enough. I'm open to all feedback...so I hope y'all enjoy the fruits of my labor.


Sometimes I wonder why I do this. I go out of my way to help these people...but at what cost? My body can only take so much punishment...even with the magical energies that inhabit this world. Every new injury takes a little longer to heal, and every new cut grants me increasingly more obvious scars. My brain has been rocked with so many concussions that I don't even remember the name of real parents anymore. It seems that my grasp of that older reality is slipping away weekly. My whole perception of reality feels like it's slipping away as well.

My mental state is decreasing by the day. The power I need to enforce my will on others comes at the price of my own conscious will. Now, it takes nothing more than a small ember to ignite my seething anger. My pride isn't getting any better either, and it's caused much trouble thus far. Although I haven't seen the likes of gluttony or lust yet, I'm aware that their right out the front door. The lock is nothing more than a small string holding together the door frame with the wall...an idiot could break through that. It won't take much for me to be completely dominated by my illogical emotions, and for that monster to take over my body.

I've underestimated him. Like a snake beckoning me to partake in the forbidden fruit, he set me up in a situation where he would emerge victoriously. My sense of right and wrong is disintegrating, but I know that his victory would come at the cost of the innocence. I've seen so many die in this accursed war, a war that erupted from the power vacuum caused by the disappearance of that all-powerful monarch.

That monarch...he stated that he was second in divinity to the Creator. One had to ask where his God was when that bomb went off. A God that would allow for his prophet to die at the hands of some nameless terrorist. Granted...perhaps that God had chosen to forsake him. Or maybe he didn't exist at all. I didn't know for sure.

I laud myself as a genius among idiots...but the sheer uncertainty I live with day to day frustrates me. The lack of information is the bane to any tactician's existence, but even then impatience outranks that. My stupid actions to endanger myself and Lumina were completely unnecessary. I realize that now, but hindsight is often 20/20.

Ow!

I felt a small sting of pain surround my body. It was light at first but began to increase exponentially. It was the only sensation I could feel as my senses of sight and sound had given out a short while ago.

The small mustard seed ballooned into an inferno of despair. Intense heat rocked my body like an earthquake, and I could feel copious amounts of blood loss.

I just wanted it to stop. I didn't care if I died at this point...I wanted an escape. An escape from my responsibilities...an exit from the perpetual typhoon of sadness. I was ready to meet my maker right here...

Huh? What's that?

A light appeared at the center of my vision. It was impossible to look away from, and it began to glow brighter. As it did so, the pain intensified, and I was soon overwhelmed by the light...

I opened my eyes surrounded by death and destruction. It was a hellhole. Fire covered every square inch in my direct vicinity, and the flame's wings lashed out to me like a whip. Smoke made it difficult to breathe, but not so much as to kill me outright. Rubble and other debris covered the floor, almost acting like a cushion to my battered body.

I had suffered some of the worst injuries of my life. There was a sharp pain in the left side of my chest, something I immediately associated with a punctured lung. My head had hit the ground during the blast, and I was dazed due to another concussion. My eyes were watering due to the intense smoke, and everything seemed blurry. My skin was dry and cracked; my left leg was unmovable due to a sprained ankle. The accompanying pain had me wish that someone would just come by and end it, but my abysmal vision wouldn't allow me to see any passerby's. The smoke made it impossible to speak, so calling out for mercy was out of the question as well. All I could do was sit and wait for the flames to come and kill me.

Perhaps this was for the best. Lumina was probably already dead and Lyn is far away. The latter would likely realize my demise in a few months, and although she would be overcome with sorrow, she'd end up finding another man. Someone who wasn't as weak or pathetic as I. In my view, my death would result in the death of Azazel, along with a net gain in Lyn's livelihood. There were no cons...other than the denial of my own selfish desires. Yes...I should just sit here and allow my body to turn to soot. Maybe my ash will fertilize some vegetation in some far off time...or just be taken away by the four winds.

The pain...if doesn't feel good. But it's for the best...

Suddenly, I felt a force lift me up from the ground. I recognized its aura, it's comforting grip. Looking at its face, I was able to make out a dash of white. Through my delirious stupor, I recognized my savior as the manakete Lumina.

She's...not dead?

Her body heaved as she struggled to support herself and me. She had erratic, short breaths. Her skin was cold and clammy despite the intense heat. She lurched forward as she nearly fell over from her labor.

Through my difficulties, I managed to mutter a single sentence.

I said, "Lumina...put me down...save yourself."

She continued walking us towards safety. I was too weak to resist, and I just let go to her will.

The distance could have been several feet, or even several miles. Time continued on slowly, but with each passing second, the heat subsided. My lungs cleared as the smoke went down as well. After some time, she fell into the ground with a thud. Although I was still in pain, it was clear that we were in a safe location.

I muttered, "Lumina...why?"

Lumina spoke with a hushed whisper that could only be heard by me.

She said, "I...don't want you to die. Please...live on...for me. Please...remember...your...promise."

My eyes widened as I realized what Lumina meant. Shifting through the ground for her hand, I found it and didn't let go.

Lumina died holding onto the closest thing to a brother she ever had in her life. My blurry vision went wet with tears, and all I could see was the burnt husk of what used to be my companion. The companion I had endured so much adversity with...the only person that completely understands my pain.

For the first time in a long time, I felt alone. My cries fell on deaf ears on the battlefield, and I did not move an inch from that spot.

I don't know how long I mourned her there. As the day turned to night...I began to lose track of time...


Aquila could hardly contain her emotions as she threaded through the rubble. Most of the flames have already since subsided, but some isolated embers still inhabited some distant corners. She took a step over what used to be a storefront, and nearly landed on a former soldier's bony hand. She held back the urge to gag, but she had a clearer view of what had happened here.

A large magical fireball had engulfed this section of the line. The resulting inferno inflicted 90% casualties to their number, along with creating a lot of damage. The intention of this was to stop or at least slow their offensive and then counterattack after the initial blow. But no troops flooded this area. She wondered why.

Continuing to survey the area, she came upon the corpse of a fascist soldier. His head was split open from a precise arrow, and his blood was staining the ground. Considering the blood hadn't evaporated from the flames, it was clear that this man was felled after the blast.

She shifted her gaze forward and so another body. Then another. And another. About 100 enemy troops laid before her, an entire company. All shared one common trait...they had that signature arrow protruding from their temple. This was a development that intrigued the Major; no one in Carazan was this particularly good at archery. This was because of Carazan's non-existent hunting culture, so most people armed with a bow weren't exactly winning any awards. Yet, it appears that didn't stop this one lonely archer from fending off these soldiers. Such a feat would entitle any soldier to the highest possible military award, the Noble Cross. Whoever was responsible for this must have been with the rearguard during the attack, and had one valiant last stand among this rubble.

She wondered where this archer was, and her first clue was nearby. A broken steel bow laid at the side of the street, and it could have easily been mistaken for an ordinary piece of wood. It must have belonged to the archer, judging from its broken string. But ultimately, it wasn't the bow that was important to her. A red, bloody trail led to a place further west, so Aquila decided to sate her curiosity. Her troops had since filled in the hole caused by this attack, so she felt free to investigate.

She followed the trail, noting how the bright blots of crimson became of less volume with increased distance. She weaved past former businesses, homes, and a public library. The road was black from the smoke, and it gave off a hideous odor. But she didn't care. She began to realize the gravity of the situation, and how nobody could lose this much blood at once...

She stopped. The blood trail had become unrecognizable against the black ground, but she didn't need it anymore. She covered her mouth as she came upon a grizzly sight.

A man laid comatose on the ground. His clothes were black from the burns, along with some of his skin. His black hair was like camouflage against the pavement, but he still appeared alive.

But the same could not be said for his companion. The entire right side of her body was black due to a direct hit from a fire spell. Her white hair was nothing more than a scalp...it had burnt off. She had five arrows protruding from her body, and about twenty cuts penetrating her skin. Her left leg was split in half, with bare bone visible. Tears began to form in the Major's eyes as she tried to imagine the amount of pain this woman was enduring at her final moments.

She gasped. She came to a revelation.

She knew these people.

The man was none other than the tactician, while the woman was none other than his trusted companion Lumina. Lumina had spent her last time on Earth protecting the man he considered his brother...

Aquila collapsed on the floor and began bawling. No single word could describe the sorrow in her heart, nor would she try to. It had only been yesterday when she had seen these two laughing and talking to one another. Now, one was going to have to spend the rest of their lives without the other, with nothing but thoughts of what could have been.

What could have been...

I woke up hurting all over. To my relief, it wasn't as bad as earlier, but it pained me to move. I looked over at my skin and was shocked by how well it had healed from the flames. It gave off a healthy tanned glow, with a few streak marks left over from the burns. The tips of my hairs were still burnt, but that could be tended to with shaving and time.

Hmm...that's odd.

I made out a blue figure sitting on a stool nearby. It appeared to be reading something to pass the time and was oblivious to my awakening. I strained my eyes to try to visualize its features, but my eyes failed me. It looks like magic couldn't fix everything I suppose. I surmised that I was back in Carvel's manor, where the man had put me in one of his guest rooms.

I said calmly, "Hi...who would you be?"

The figure put its literature on a nearby table. It got up from the stool and came up to me. It had a feminine voice I immediately recognized.

Aquila asked, "Huh? Do you have amnesia Mark?"

I shook my head.

I replied, "No...it's just that I think the smoke did something weird to my eyesight. Everything's blurry right now."

She put what I assumed to be her finger above her chin.

She replied, "I've never heard of something like that before. If it doesn't go away you might have to get glasses."

Glasses...I have some faint memories of having to wear some in my old life. I led a fairly active lifestyle, and I broke them more often than I really should have. Oh, how I took for granted the gift of 20/20 vision. On the bright side, at least technology here had the capacity to produce trinkets like these. Even if it's something as simple as modified glass on frames.

I asked, "Does Carazan happen to have an optometrist...wait...Lumina..."

I remembered how she carried my immobile body across what seemed to be hell itself. She was the sole reason I didn't suffocate or burn to death earlier. Unfortunately...she did this at the cost of her own life...

A tear fell onto my blanket.

I said, "I don't understand...why?! Why did she save me? Why did she have to die?!"

Aquila replied, "She died defending you Mark. She truly cared about you...and her familial love for you guided her hand. She routed an entire company of the enemy by herself. She was truly dedicated to what she was doing."

I slammed my hand on my bed.

"I wish she had instead turned and left me for dead! She's been alive for centuries! She had so much to live for...but me? I'm damned to a familiar cycle of despair. I'm a harbinger of death, with the swipe of a pen I could order the demise of an entire people. I'm filth...no I'm worse than filth. The demon that lives within me will lead me to a hellfire...that is for certain. My life is not worth saving."

I heard a voice emerge from an unknown location. It carried with it a familiarity I hadn't bore witness to in months.

"That's where you're wrong."

Two figures entered through the front door. Their tall posture and copper/brown hair made it clear who they were. It was none other than my old companions Barthillas and Yanden.

I said, "W-What?! What are y'all doing here?"

Another voice emerged through the door. My face went hot and my heart jumped.

"Not just them. But for me as well."

A slender figure with dark purple hair came into view. On her right, there was a large, yellow-haired man that I took for her knight. They had Lycian dress, but I could recognize that voice anywhere.

It was Lyn's. Lyn had found me. My mouth went wide open.

Aquila said, "Sorry, but I figured that if you woke up with them around then it might've been too much for you to handle at once."

The blue haired former maid stood up and made for the exit.

She added, "I'll make my way out. I'll leave the heartfelt reunion to you."

Although it probably wasn't her intention, she closed the door with enough force to cause it to slam. The noise caused me to jolt up in a small episode of terror, but it soon subsided.

At this moment, my only regret was that I couldn't make out the precise facial expressions of my friends. Clarity was only sufficient at a distance of about a foot from my face.

Lyn walked forward and took my hand. The warmth in it evaporated any anxiety I had in my body. Yanden, Barthillas, and whom I assumed was Kent stood nearby.

She said, "Hello darling. It's been a while since I've had the pleasure of listening to your funny accent."

I smiled. Even in a touching moment like this she still had to include a slight jab like that. This a part of her I hoped never changed.

I replied, "Hey...nice to see you again. I take that you're still putting that icky stuff on your face before every hunt?"

Might as well take some pot shots while she's here anyway. Lyn's face went red.

She said, "To think I traveled all the way here to just to have my lover bad mouth me. We even had to dye our hair and eyes so that we wouldn't be recognized in public. Its fairly inconsiderate, your friends have spoken highly of you. They had to do a lot to get us here."

Yanden stepped forward, "We had to convince Whitney to give us passage to Carazan. It took some time, but I was...persuasive."

Barthillas coughed. I'm not sure if it was a legitimate cough or stifled laughter.

Yanden added, "Er...yeah. While we were preparing to leave port this young lady appeared in Badon. She was asking for you, and once she told us who she was we knew we had to bring her with us. We took to the sea, but we were stopped for several days by a blockade initiated by those men. Eventually, we managed to slip through and land in a friendly port...and now we're here. It was quite the journey...but I was glad to be at sea again."

Barthillas said, "That lass was quite the traveler to have around. The sea can get repetitive after a while, but she and her knight kept us entertained with her their exploits. I didn't take you as someone who could fell a mighty knight with one concentrated blast, Mark."

I blushed and rubbed the back of my head.

"I used up all my mana with that attack. Nearly killed me and it caused a bunch of other problems. Funny thing is, after that, I got in some more trouble with someone else. I got beat up pretty bad, and had Lyn not given me some of her blood I probably would have bled out."

Yanden said, "Oh so Lyn's blood is compatible with yours? In my home country, two people with compatible blood types are said to be made for one another. Perhaps it was fate that you two fell for one another."

I disagreed, "No, to suggest that something out of my control like fate was a driving force in our relationship would suggest that my feelings towards her aren't genuine. I have free will, and it's untampered nature allowed me to love her as I do."

The nomad blushed. Yanden and Barthillas held in concealed laughter. I smiled awkwardly as I realized I had just gone off on a corny rant. I could tell Lyn wanted to change the subject to something less personal.

She said, "W-Well...how have you been Mark? Other than injury, I see that you got yourself involved in this country's civil war."

I replied, "To be completely honest...not good. First thing's first though, I'd like to go by a new name now. Please...from now on call me by my true name, Samuel Castillo..."

If I could level up in storytelling, I surely would have maxed out by now. Unfortunately, the act was unavoidable when trying to catch up with some old friends; smartphones haven't been invented yet. Regardless of my attitude towards it, I was still able to communicate my message effectively.

Yanden was intrigued when he heard of my epic escape from those slavers. Kent raised his brow when he pondered the possibility of a hidden civilization further east. Barthillas smiled when he heard of my triumph over the Sword Demon. Carvel [who had walked in earlier] acknowledged the validity of my story here in Carazan. Lyn flinched at the mention of every serious injury I sustained in my journey; which were many.

Despite my ever increasing oratory skills, I found it difficult to describe Azazel's resurgence. I've always struggled with describing arbitrary concepts; I went to college not as a philosophy major but as a mechanical engineering major after all. I did my best regardless and mentioned everything from the lady of Proxima Centauri to the demon lord himself.

Lyn was noticeably uncomfortable. It was clear to me she was trying to suppress some terrible memories.

Barthillas said, "So your meaning to tell me that Azazel's still residing within you? What is he some sort of parasite?"

A: Your friend better watch his mouth if he doesn't want to be the first to die.

S: Go back to the hellhole you came from.

I replied, "Yeah...I made the mistake of giving him the opportunity to manifest. He's been toying with my conscious mind constantly now. I've been thinking about ways to get rid of him...but none come to mind."

Yanden suggested, "How about we try to get the Elimine church to try to exorcise him out of you?

A: I'll kill the priest and burn the church down. Then I'll crucify the altar boy...

M: Shut up!

I replied, "I don't think that'll work. I'm not sure if any form of light magic could fix this."

Lyn said, "Maybe my Mani Katti could come of use? It's a divine blade, so perhaps it could cleave your personalities apart?"

A: I'll take my greatest pleasure in killing her. I'll defile her and then drain her body of her quintessence...

M: ...

I said, "I'm pretty sure that would kill me. Excuse me y'all, I have to excuse myself for a moment."

I got up from my bed and walked outside the door.

Once I did so, I balled up my fist and had to hold back the temptation to put another hole in Carvel's wall.

It was no use. I can't even try to scheme ways to get rid of this bastard without him trying to mess with me.

Regardless of this demon's pleasure in my annoyance, I had to continue forward. Otherwise, I'd let him win. Whether it be due to pride's influence on me, or my own natural competitive spirit, I couldn't let that stand. I have to win, not just for myself, but for my friends as well.

"Oh hey, Mark! It's a pleasure to see you up and well!"

Carvel had turned the corner and came into view. I broke into a brief sweat as I hoped he didn't see my mini mental breakdown, but then I realized he had already seen me snap much worse earlier. He was all smiles and didn't seem to mind that I had almost caused damage to his property again.

I did my best impression of a composed tactician and greeted my friend.

I said, "It's nice to see you as well Carvel! What brings you here?"

Carvel tilted his head in curiosity.

"What do you mean what brings me here? This is my house."

Boom. Confidence gone.

That question was stupid. Time to make an awkward attempt to brush it off.

I replied, "Er...yes! I have to thank you again for granting me and my friends your wonderful hospitality. I presume that you've come to check on me?"

The noble nodded his head.

He said, "I did...I've also come to let you know that your duty with my faction has now been fulfilled. Thanks to your plan, and Lumina's valient efforts, we were able to capture some dockyards and are currently supplying our troops. The fascists are a long way from outright surrendering, but I think the writing's on the wall. You've done a good job, and I can't ask of anything else from you. If I did I'd be asking you to risk your life for my country. That isn't your responsibility but is for myself and my countrymen. Therefore, I humbly ask that you vacate Carazan with your friends. From the bottom of my heart...thank you."

I looked towards the ground, avoiding eye contact with the general. A tear hit the ground as I was reminded of her memory.

I muttered, "Lumina..."

Carvel put his hand gently on my shoulder.

He said, "Although she held back that entire company of enemy troops on her own, it is clear that she did it in the defense of you and nothing else. Regardless, I am prepared to bury her here with full military honors, with statues commemorating her memory adorning the town square once the war is over. As her last of kin...I'd need your permission of course."

Doing so would allow Lumina's memory to be entrenched in this nation's lore for eternity. School children would read about her in their textbooks. Biographers would scour libraries for information on the mysterious white-haired maiden. Historians would inquire about her past. Her tomb would serve as a confirmation of the existence of a hero.

Lumina was my hero. The rest of the world would share that view.

I said, "Yes...you have my utmost permission."

"So Lumina really is dead huh?"

I turned over to the person who said that. It was Simon, who was depressingly loading his things into the ship. The usually optimistic knight had a frown on his face.

We were at a dockyard on the north side of the coast. After introducing Simon and Raven to the others, we all made over to Whitney's ship to prepare for the journey back home. I had taken a hammock located in the ship's hull, with Barthillas and Simon serving as my immediate neighbors.

My voice had a somber tone to it.

"Yeah..."

Simon added, "I see...you have my condolences. She was a friend to me and Raven as well...so we can mourn together. Raven isn't taking this particularly well either. Even though those two bickered often, Raven greatly respected her."

"Oh..."

Simon put the last of his things on the cramped floor.

He said, "You two should talk. Maybe you can get a better grasp of one another. I don't mean to come off as rude, but you two were always fairly distant."

He wasn't wrong. It had always been Lumina and Simon who had been closest with Raven. I always did my best to avoid him, and the amount of dialogue we shared could probably fit in a small notecard. This was because I consistently felt uneasy around him...or rather his unnerving glare.

I suppose it was time to break the ice. If for nothing else than to mourn with him over a fallen friend.

I took my leave from Simon and made my way to the deck. The stairwell to the surface was rickety and had signs of termite infestation, but it supported my weight effortlessly. Breaking into the sunlight, I took a whiff of that refreshing ocean air. I was glad to be free from the confines of the damp, musty hull. On board, the deck was being shared by about a dozen persons, most of which was being occupied by Whitney and her crew. The blonde captain was busy barking up a storm as her laborers loaded up her ship with goods bound for Badon.

She exclaimed, "Work faster men! Carvel can only guarantee a break in the blockade for several more hours! Goods from Carazan won't hit the global market for a while...so we have the opportunity to make a killing! Put us at full capacity by the end of the hour and I'll guarantee your bodies will be filled with so much booze that you won't be able to control yourselves!"

At the mention of alcohol, the men increased their speed by about 150%. In another life maybe Whitney would have made a decent industrial engineer.

Granted, it doesn't take an engineer to realize the three things a man most holds dear. Behold the holy trifecta of happiness; beer, money, and women. Each is powerful on their own, but should you combine all three you might just summon a giant robot.

I spotted Raven gazing over the sunny horizon. As I approached him, my heart jumped not because I feared, but in response to the faraway magical artillery pounding the earth. I did my best to calm my nerves, and I greeted him.

I said, "H-Hey R-Raven! It's n-nice to see we have some fair weather today!"

The reserved mercenary stayed still. It was like he hadn't even heard me.

I cleared my throat and tried again.

"Raven?"

He slowly tilted his head around towards me. He had a plain expression, like a regular glazed donut. It wasn't angry or even mildly annoyed. It was indifferent as if he had not a care in the world. But I quickly found out that it was a facade.

He said, "You speak like a man trying to profess his love. Funny...I said a similar thing to Lumina."

I replied, "It's n-not what it looks like! I'm just a bit jittery right now."

He smirked and beckoned for me to join him by the railing. I took him up on his offer.

He said, "Lumina meant a lot to me. Although I'm not too familiar with you, I feel that if Lumina felt obligated to protect you then you must be an honorable man. I heard among the crowd that you'd like to go by a new name if I am correct?"

I replied, "You'd be right. My full name is Samuel Castillo. Mark was just a moniker I used before I discovered my true identity."

He said, "Ah...so you were amnesiac. What a long journey you must have taken on then."

He looked towards me and smiled. It was the first genuine smile I had ever seen from him. It came in stark contrast to all the unnerving glares, cold shoulders, and untrusting aura I had received from him. The warmth coming from his person was uplifting, and I doubted I would ever receive it again.

We looked out over Carazan. Above all the smoke and fire that littered the city, I spotted a cathedral whose spire was pointing towards the heavens. It came at stark defiance to its surroundings, choosing to look ahead than at the travesty happening around it.

Raven asked, "Tell me, Samuel, do you have any plans for the next hour?"

I responded, "Yes, I'll be visiting Lumina's casket at the cathedral. Would you like to come with me?"

He said, "Yes...I would like that very much..."

Raven and I went together to a cathedral that was tucked deep in monarchist territory. The cathedral itself was a structure built on a site that Elimine supposedly chose herself, and it was easily one of the most lavish buildings in town. The after mentioned spire pointed towards the sky, and from the inside, it looked like a heavenly spiral painted with gold, white, and holy yellow. Colorful stained glass depicted Elimine with a yellow sun around her head, making her appear more like the Greek god Apollo than the prophet of a monotheistic religion.

The pews were simple benches made of wood and had no cushioning. A long red carpet led to a warm hearth located centrally at the front, and a priest was humbly watching us silently behind some sacramental objects. Lumina's open casket was in front of the flame, and the orange color mixed with her skin.

She looked so peaceful. Like a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. On her right hand, she held an arrow, a symbol of her class. On her left, she held a white rose, representing her purity of heart. Although I doubted the latter, it couldn't be denied that she represented the pinnacle of humanity. A pillar of hope that many future women will probably base themselves after. Raven left a red rose, while I left a purple one. It was customary for all roses to be thrown in with the grave during the burial, but since we will not be present due to uncontrollable circumstances, the priest will throw in our keepsakes in our stead. Tears fell down from my eyes as Raven struggled to keep his in.

I reminisced on all of our memories together. The good...the bad. Some of which had already disappeared due to my countless concussions, others I will cherish until my final hour. Before me was one of the few people I considered my family, and now she was no more.

I questioned why I tried so hard to find family. I was so excited when I thought Ninian and Nils were my siblings, only to be rebutted. Although I considered Lyn to be basically family, I wasn't content with just her. I wanted more...a support network of human beings that would all be bound by a relationship of familial love. Perhaps it was because in my old life I had an extended family numbering countless individuals, and now that I was in Elibe that number was cut drastically. Maybe Lumina was looking for the same thing, especially since her only family was taken away from her. A little girl lost alone in the abyss of the world.

I understand now why we both connected so well. We both longed for something that was taken away from us, and we were able to mutually fulfill that need together. By calling her my sister, and myself her brother, we essentially became siblings. Not one related by blood, but by the afternentioned familial love. We mutually supported each other through some of the most difficult moments of our lives, and I will forever be grateful to have known her.

Raven silently went up to her and made the sign of Elimine. I went up to her and followed suit.

I knew that we were to leave shortly. Although I wanted to stay longer, our time was up.

Turning away from the white manakete one last time, my promise to her was still fresh in my mind. I was a man of my word, and I shall do everything in my power to honor it.

Farewell Lumina. You can rest now. I haven't forgotten about your promise. I will find your dear sister and release her from her chains.

I'll live the life with her I never could with you. I'll do it for you...

Hermana mayor...

The Carazanite coast seemed distant now. Its famous chapel was nothing but a faint needle barely visible in the sky.

We had left port about an hour ago. Had we left an hour later, we'd still be stuck in Carazan with brown boats serving as prison bars. Carazan and Aquila were at the port to send us off, and it was there that I bid them farewell. It was a quiant affair, but tears were involved. Although Carvel was able to maintain his composure when I gave him a firm handshake, the blue-haired maid was overcome with emotion. She embraced me in a tight hug, a gesture that I was not prepared to take. Regardless of that fact, I relented. She was the one that found my crumpled body in that rubble after all. I still remember what she whispered in my ear.

She said, "It's a shame you have to go. I actually found you a bit charming."

I flinched, "Wait what?!"

A slightly annoyed Lyndis arrived soon after and took me away back to the ship. She had a smile on her face while she did so, though it was clear it was a facade. I wondered if she considered cutting down Aquila right then and there.

I looked out toward the Carazanite coast again. The cathedral had now disappeared.

Carvel said, "Come back and visit after we win this war. We'll be waiting...and I'm sure she will be too."

To be honest, I hoped I never had to go back to that town again. If it wasn't for the fact that her grave was there, I'd wouldn't have to. I'll be bringing her sister here when I find her...what was her name again?

Laniakea...

Her name means immense heaven. I hope that Lumina's watching me from heaven right now...

I heard Azazel break into a subconscious maniacal laughter.

A: Muwahahaha! Finally, we've left that hellhole! Now the rest of the world can witness my scourge!

If this devil doesn't calm down...I'm going to need all the divine intervention I could get.