Estelle frowned. "Erwine's not responding. I can't even find her. She's not…anywhere." Theodora looked as well.
"The only this is possible," Theodora remarked, "Is if her mind has been shielded very well. Not sure why she would do that for any other reason than if…" She let Estelle finish her words.
"She was escaping with Liselotte," Estelle cursed. They were just arriving back to the inquisitorial building. A bright light lit up the night sky as a shuttle craft slipped away and shot upwards.
"Damn it!" Estelle shouted. Justinia, get the others up. Get in the shuttle get up to the ship. We'll be right behind you, Erwine's broken Liselotte out! Justinia responded with an affirmative.
Nadine didn't need to ask. She simply walked past the two, chuckling softly to herself. "You saw this coming." Estelle spat.
"I did," Nadine confirmed.
"Why didn't you stop it?" The dark-haired inquisitor demanded.
"That's a good question," Nadine replied, not turning around or stopping, "Perhaps you ought to answer it in regards to yourself."
"Bolton, this is Erwine, please open the hangar doors."
"Erwine, sorry, but I'm getting some words from people a lot higher than you are to keep them closed."
"Nice," she remarked. She took a deep breath. Her magic was released. "Open the doors!"
"On it," the reply came, artificial sounding. Liselotte swing the craft inside. "Now shut them!" Erwine shouted again. They closed behind the shuttle.
The two magical girls were running out of the craft, "For the bridge!" Erwine cried, "We make it there, and we can get this ship out of the system!" They ran as fast as they possibly could.
Elle Langnesse was not happy at the moment. She had been getting some sleep, and had been looking forwards to perhaps spending some time on the surface the next day. Then a frantic call from the bridge woke her.
Holding the vox in her hand as she hurried to the bridge, she shouted at the caller, "Justinia?! What is going on?!"
"Erwine's getting away with a prisoner. Please stop the Rosie. Permission to disable the ship if necessary. Bolton will most likely be under telepathic influence." The neutral monotone came back gently and calmly in response to Elle's frantic shouts.
"Got it!" She shouted as she came onto the bridge. Her first officer already had the engines already, with weapons batteries at full. Slipping into the command chair, she felt herself plug into the ship's mainframe. She took a deep breath, "Channel to the Rosie!"
"Captain Bolton, this is Captain Langnesse of Her Holy Majesty's Imperial Navy, you are hereby ordered to bring your vessel to a complete halt, and prepare for boarding. You have ten seconds to begin deceleration or we will open fire."
Bolton sent back a stream of curses. "Well whoever is controlling him is angry…" She observed under her breath. Increasing her volume, she barked out, "Prepare lances. Aim for the engines. Knock them out with precision, minimize collateral. Fire on my mark."
She took a deep breath. "Three, two, one, mark."
Bright white beams sliced through the blackness of the void. An equal number of bright flashes light up the nothingness as the shield repelled the lances. "Increase speed," Elle said, as the Rosie revved engines to maximum. Both were beginning to slip away from the planet.
"Lances fire at will," Elle ordered, "Prepare torpedoes, wait to fire on my mark."
Spears, packing colossal energy, ripped through space towards the fleeing target. The shield's flashing grew less and less bright and vibrant. "Enemy shields at 25%!" one called.
"Enemy speed is too risky for torpedoes. We might end up doing too much with this level of inaccuracy!" The armsman called.
"Continue with lances, prepare boarding parties, but do not launch till my mark." Another salvo of lasers. The shields popped like a massive bubble. "Hold!" Elle shouted, "Precision!" she reminded them, "Just one shot, end it quick!"
She trusted that the gunner would have the skill required. She knew he did. Being the patron of an inquisitor meant that one got a lot of pocket money lying around. Training crew members, and hiring the most skilled mercenaries, was not too hard.
The single bolt of truth flew like an arrow from the Goddess herself. And like such a strike of judgment, it inflicted the penalty upon the fleeing vessel. A large explosion lit the void as the lance impacted its target.
"Near hit!" came the call, "Engines not entirely disabled, they can still move, but we can close in even better now."
"Bolton!" Elle shouted, "Stop the damn ship or we will break it!"
"One more shot!" The armsman said, "One more shot will shut it all down."
"Careful," Elle reminded them, "What did the last hit?"
"An area which, theoretically, should not have been occupied." The response came.
"Will another hit destabilize the structural integrity? Of the engine area?"
"Possibly. The enemy ship was originally a merchant vessel, so it's not too touch. Seems to have been modified for speed, and some extra firepower, maybe some shielding. Not armor."
Made sense. Weapons from warships could kill continents. There was not much sense having that much of a focus on armor when it could still be cut through rather easily. Only the larger types of vessels could actually have the proper armor thickness to resist even a mild amount of warship fire.
"So yes, another lance shot of that magnitude would endanger everyone in that area. Possibly a few hundred deaths."
Elle nodded. "How far are they from possible warp jump point?" She sent the question to her navigator.
If they've a good navigator, then they're still about forty-five minutes, maybe an hour away. We have time to catch up. The soft reply came in a telepathic message.
"Reinforcements from Justinia?" Elle asked.
"Catching up. They won't' actually reach us at our current speed. We need to slow down if we want them assisting."
"If we slow down, can we still get into range, for shuttle launch?"
It took a few seconds, "Yes, but we won't be able to recover. Chances are the shuttles will get in right as the warp engines spin up. It will be incredibly risky. We'll have to pull away as soon as possible, or else we'll be caught up in the warp corridor as it closes."
The information was relayed to Justinia, who carried Sechylia, Sanae, Ayelen, and Wei along with her. "I'll take the risk," she decided, "Decelerate, then catch up."
A tense period of time passed as the chase continued. "Will they catch us?" Erwine demanded, only ten minutes left to warp entry.
"They are gaining on us, but they've yet to attempt anything more. They are in boarding range, but the shuttles shouldn't be able to get to us before we start opening the warp breach." Bolton answered. He felt the strange coercion on his mind as Erwine kept using her magic, but there was not much he could do about it.
"Would they even be able to get on?" Erwine asked.
"There is a hole in the rear of the ship. They could easily board through there and break through the doors, no matter how airtight they are."
"Jump to the nearest possible system, but not in the direction of Hadiens. We can take a more roundabout route. Hopefully they'll keep up the Reiker for the sake of protecting the rest of the sect, which will give us a lot more time to work with." Erwine ordered.
"Liselotte, can you keep handling him?" she asked.
"Yes," the girl replied, following Erwine as they went for the open doors of the bridge. "But only for so long before the warp forces me to shut down."
"Alright," Erwine said. They moved faster and faster for the rear of the ship, expecting the boarding to be there.
Before the door opened, Justinia ordered, "Take a deep breath. Shield yourself with your magic. You have about a minute before you start dying, depending on how well you can keep your body safe and pressurized. That is, if Wei's program fails. So get moving, very fast."
The program maintained a small bubble of air around the group as they kicked off from the ship. They touched down, and all linked hands. Justinia fired a salvo of rockets, holding her ground. They were on the Rosie now. The artificial gravity field was holding them down. The doors were blown open, they rushed forwards. The hallway in front of them depressurized as emergency doors in the middle began to close.
Justinia held them open, the others slipping by before she ducked in. Now standing before the five were two girls. Erwine and Liselotte looked a bit grim at the odds they had to face.
Wiping the bits of smoldering metal off of her suit, Justinia stood. A smile on her face.
"Well ladies, considered surrender yet?"
Erwine had considered surrender, actually. But there was no way she was actually going to do that. She accelerated forwards, her leapt carrying her as she swung her blade in a horizontal arc at the gathered opponents.
The sliding of metal on metal at a speed faster than Erwine could comprehend, and a fast of silver light, preceded a clang of one blade against another. She ended up forced back. Sanae sheathed her katana, spinning away as Ayelen stabbed forwards with two dozen spears.
"Stop it!" Erwine shouted. The girls would have had hearing disabled. But they were nearing the warp. Telepathy was not something that could be used. Ayelen hesitated. Erwine knocked the blades away, swinging towards Ayelen's body.
Justinia sighed, firing a salvo of rockets for the wall. They blew out a small hole. The air was gone. The gravity from the ship held them down. Wei opened a program that began to restore oxygen and pressurize the area as emergency doors closed down the hall, locking the combatants into the small arena.
Liselotte's hand yanked her back, pulling her away as Sechylia opened fire with her shotgun. Wide arcs, and a charged blade coursing with magic, knocked the pellets away, and Erwine leapt back in as Liselotte engaged Ayelen.
Sechylia was right in Erwine's range. Erwine tightened up her grip on the longer hilt of her greatsword, and stabbed in towards the girl. Her blade was glowing a sleek silver-ish sheen as she accelerated forwards.
Justinia stepped in. Her left hand drew something from a pitch black scabbard at her belt. It was a small scabbard, blending in perfectly with her suit. The small combat knife was tiny, not even her magical weapon.
It was unharmed as it was pressed, for barely a second, against the magical field of Erwine's blade, Justinia stepping to the side to intercept the attacker. Erwine's blade was deflected, the parry absolutely perfect. Erwine's jaw dropped in shock at the maneuver. She knew it was possible to have the speed and control to do such a thing, but doubted she'd ever see it in her lifetime.
Her momentum lost, Erwine stumbled. Justinia spun, bringing her left leg up. Erwine was now forwards by a foot, and to Justinia's left. Justinia slammed the heel of her fancy shoe into Erwine's head. Her knife was flipped around in her left hand.
As she spun around again, the knife was flicked ahead. It missed its target as Erwine saw the knife coming and tilted her head back. Instead of finding her eye and going right back into her brain, it found only her cheek.
The combat knife sunk to the hilt into Erwine's left cheek. There was still no way Erwine was going to give up now. Sechylia fired multiple times at Erwine, still reeling from Justinia's assault. Justinia had spun around, planting her left leg and lifting her right. Her stance switched, she kicked out with her right leg at Erwine.
Erwine held her blade with one hand. She choked up on the grip of the featherweight weapon with her right hand, swinging it around wildly to try and deflect the pellets coming at her. Her hardened skin should theoretically help with that issue, but they still hurt when they hit. Luckily, only her legs were hit, and even then, nothing too vital.
Erwine's left hand yanked out the knife in her cheek. She held it out, swinging the point towards the back of Justinia's leg that now came towards her face. With amazing control, Justinia retracted the leg just in time, and planted it on the ground. Erwine's swing missed, and Justinia hinged her left foot inwards, her left fist shoot out from her side with her knuckles facing down.
The hingestep only gave a massive amount more power to the strike, and then Justinia twisted it. Erwine felt her magic-enhanced body groan under the pressure of the strike. However, Erwine was still grounded at the moment. Her legs screamed in pain from Sechylia's shots, but Justinia's closeness prevented the girl from doing anything more.
She held her ground. Justinia's left fist, planted in Erwine's gut, then went upwards. Erwine still held the knife in her left hand, and was moving Nada in her right to cut into Justinia from the side. Erwine swung out horizontally at the level of Justinia's neck with the knife. Nada cut down where Justinia's torso should have been.
The girl bent her head down, while leaning back. This gave time for her right hand to come across her body and block Erwine's right wrist, catching it and preventing the greatsword from slicing off Justinia's left arm as it shot upwards at Erwine's chin.
The uppercut hit Erwine hard, knocking her off balance. Then Justinia came back in, standing up as she stepped backwards with her rear right foot. Her left arm straightened out. Erwine's left arm was still flailing out to the side. Justinia grabbed the wrist, twisting it. The knife dropped. It was taken.
Justinia took her hold on Erwine's right wrist and stretched the arm out, putting it behind her neck. Erwine's sword, however, was quite long. She pressed the edge to Justinia's throat, only pausing because of what was pressed to hers. Justinia wrapped her left arm around Erwine's neck, pressing the knife to her throat. That was where Erwine's soul gem was. The two paused there. Till Erwine realized she was exposed to Wei and Sechylia, both of whom were not involved in any other conflict.
Wei had a rather large program ready to be executed. Erwine didn't feel like getting hit by that. She flicked her right hand. Nada spun through the air, end over end, at Wei, who had to dodge to the side. Erwine moved forwards. She pressed to the side, resulting in the knife cutting into her collar instead of her soul gem.
For a human, this still would have meant death. Perhaps a slower one, but still death. For a magical girl, it was just another flesh wound. The weapon dug in, while Erwine's left hand snaked under Justinia's and pushed outwards. She forced the girl away with the sudden movement as she dragged her off balance.
Erwine stepped in with her left foot as Justinia's left arm was pushed away. Her right arm still held, she bent it as she punched Justinia in the gut. Justinia held her ground. The girl smiled, despite the fact that Erwine had the advantage at the moment.
The knife sunk deep into Erwine's lower back. "Smiling?" Erwine asked, confused. She was about to punch again before yanking her right arm away and finishing the duel.
Justinia's left arm pressed hard against Erwine's hips. It snaked around, and Justinia pulled Erwine tight against her. Her right arm came around Erwine's head and pulled her tight there.
The faces of the two girls were right next to each other. "Yeah," Justinia said, "Because I never wanted to win."
Erwine felt somebody grab her from behind. Arms encircled her neck. "Hey Erwine," Wei whispered. Justinia smiled one last time, before stepping away. Erwine felt the arms lock down on her, Wei slowly bringing her to the ground.
Relaxing Erwine into her lap. Erwine struggled wildly. She couldn't say anything. "Don't worry Erwine," Wei said softly, "I'll help you. I'm here for you."
The last thing Erwine saw before she blacked out was Wei looking over her, a smile on her face. Then there was a sharp crack.
The Rosie slipped into the warp, with its damaged engines and all, as Elle was helpless to do nothing but sit and watch. She sighed, "When can we pursue?" she asked.
New jump point already found, Moravia, the navigator, replied. She gave the coordinates. "Get us there," Elle ordered, "As fast as possible. Make the jump. Tell Estelle we'll have to go ahead of her in order to support them as fast as we can. Hours may make the difference here. Do you have a trajectory?"
"Yes, Victoria managed to get it to me before they jump," Moravia used the name of the Rosie's astrotelepath, who would be linked with the navigator. "Headed not towards Hadiens, but that's probably to confuse us. Already input trajectory. Can jump in fifteen minutes."
"Then hurry it up," Elle ordered.
Estelle and Nadine stood with Theodora on the bridge of her vessel. There'd been no time for goodbyes back on Curia. They had to go, after staying for not even two days. The stay had been one the most pleasant on a planet for none of them. With Estelle's experience on Hadiens, Nadine's experience on Khyllis, and Theodora's solitude on Vasillica, it was fair to say that Curia was a bright moment.
Do you think Erwine will be alright? Estelle asked Nadine privately.
Most likely. Wei is there, and Justinia is as well. The former has a stake in the matter, and the latter will moderate things. I expect that Erwine will still have a lot of issues when we catch up to them, but not quite as severe as they were now. Nadine was calm, as opposed to Estelle's fear and nervousness.
Alright…Estelle said.
You're wondering if she was right. Nadine observed.
Theodora has said some strange things…not even related to the case, I mean.
She might just have her reasons…or Erwine might be right. Only time can tell, and we have plenty of time before we're going to be catching that girl.
Erwine woke up in a darkened room. Her hands were behind her back. Cuffed. She was expecting that, considering the manner in which she died in the first place. She looked about, realizing that it was her room. She sighed, knowing that things had perhaps gone in the worst possible direction.
The ship was damaged, which was really not good for something traveling through the warp, and she was trapped aboard with a bunch of people she did not exactly like. They did like her, however. Erwine tried to restrain her running mind, trying to make it see some kind of sense.
Time passed. Time kept passing. Erwine lost track.
The door opened. Erwine was not exactly surprised to see that it was Wei. She glared at the girl as she stood in the doorway silently. Wei hesitated. Erwine said nothing. She'd already said to Wei everything she had to say.
"You know this is just you running away again, right?" Wei asked.
That didn't seem to be understood by Erwine. "I don't see what you mean. I'm faced this issue head-on, really, I took control of the situation."
"Not from your problems…" Wei sighed. A dejected look came onto her features as she looked aside. Painfully, she said, "From me."
Erwine sucked in a long breath. She avoided Wei's gaze the whole way through, even as her words followed the exhalation. "I thought we'd already spoken on this." She said.
"We did," Wei confirmed. Teeth chattering in her mouth, she clenched down, steeling herself. "But that doesn't change what you did."
"I wonder what Justinia actually wants," Erwine cut in right at the end, "She seems so insignificant, yet somehow she keeps bouncing you right back to me." Erwine chuckled.
"Don't just shift the blame to her-" Wei started to say, but she was silenced.
"I'm not shifting any blame." Erwine spat. "What I'm saying is that you wouldn't be in here saying these things if Justinia hadn't put them in your head." For the first time, she looked Wei in the eyes. "Right?"
The dark-haired girl's jaw dropped. She just felt herself lose control as the world spun around her for a second. "Erwine…" She started, "You-you really don't care, do you?"
"Wei. I told you, I don't like people who get in my way." Erwine explained, "You're going to come in here and go on about how sad your life is because I ran away from you, and how I should just stop all this for one reason or another." Her voice was ice-cold as she stated, "I will not stop. Not because you whine to me, nor because your sadness is enough to change my mind. I just won't. So why even try, Wei?"
"I want to try," Wei replied her voice determined, "Even if you're not going to listen, I want to try."
"Try to do what? Get me to give you a hug and tell you I'll never run away again?" Wei shook her head. Erwine sat on her bed, her legs crossed. "Then why did you come here? To taunt me? To try and convince me that I'm wrong?" She wondered, "Is everyone lined up out there waiting to come in and try?"
"No, I'm not at all willing," Erwine replied. A sick grin spread across her face. "And here we come to the great dilemma. I want more, to stop being controlled, but the only way to do that is to throw away everyone else around me, become like Adrianne was. I don't want to do that, so I can't do what I want to do."
Erwine laughed maniacally, "Don't you see how beautiful it is?"
"You could just get some backbone, and stand up for yourself," Wei suggested, "You want more power, then go out and get it."
"But as long as I'm wrapped up in this whole issue with Ishna, and whatever she has set up, I can't," Erwine explained, "I have to keep chasing this mystery, no matter where it takes me. It's the reason Adrianne made me, to go do all of this. But if I do, then I can't break away from what controls me, and if I don't, I disrespect Adrianne."
Wei tightened her fists. She gritted her teeth together. She was tiring quickly of hearing that accursed name. "Who cares about Adrianne?!" Wei shouted, her anger suddenly driving Erwine back, "She's dead! She's going to stay that way! Just go and do what you want to, and stop whining about what she might have wanted you to do?!"
"Don't say that about her!" Erwine shot back, standing up from the bed, taking steps forwards, "Adrianne…She meant more to me than you can possible understand!"
"Really?" Wei asked. She walked forwards, the two meeting in the middle of the room. "Is that why you don't want to be compared to her?! Is that why you hate being just like her?!"
Erwine shook her head. Wei saw her crying. "Adrianne…I loved her like my mother. She raped me, she hurt me in ways no one else ever can again, but I…I won't let you defile her memory! Get out of this room if all you have to say is hateful!"
Wei slapped Erwine. There was not much Erwine could do about it, her hands still bound behind her. The slap was hard, knocking Erwine's head to the side. "Silence," Wei ordered, "I am the one with the power here." She was calmer now. "You will listen to me, or I will just walk out of this room. I know you really don't want me to."
"Really?" Erwine asked. She turned around. "Go, I don't care. You represent only an obstacle, Wei." She took a deep breath, slowing herself down. "I know this was all…so very sudden. But please…I respect you, a lot. Stop believing that I'm going to come back for you. I said that one day, this will all be over, and I can live up to that promise I made you. That still holds true."
Erwine looked over her shoulder. Her sad eyes met Wei's. "I'm sorry. I know you don't think I am, but I'm sorry. If saying that word enough times could make all the bad things you did go away, I would proudly say that as many times as needed. But it can't, so go."
"Erwine…" Wei said. She stepped forwards.
"Wei…Let me make this choice for myself. That's all I want. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm the one acting foolish, and being deceived. I probably am." Erwine looked forwards again. "But it's still my choice. Let me have my little moment of foolish freedom. I think that's what you're supposed to give to stupid teenagers like me."
"The difference is that your little moment of foolish freedom might get people killed, came very close to that," Wei said. "A teenage girl's rebellion against her parents doesn't tend to start Inquisitorial incidents."
"Then the comparison was false," Erwine corrected herself, "But it still works in a way."
"Erwine, why are you really doing this?" Wei snapped, anger suddenly flaring, "You know exactly why, and I think you're just scared to admit that's the reason." The room was silent. "I know it has to do with Ishna, but all of this, this firmness of your belief, there's something more."
Erwine looked down in thought. She became serious in that moment, really understanding what was being asked of her. "I've told one person what my wish was," Erwine said. "I'm not sure I want to make you the second…"
"What do you have to lose?" Wei asked. She walked forwards. She laid a hand on Erwine's shoulder, the girl's back still turned to her.
"I wish to become more than I am now, to have the power to make my own decisions, to control my own fate. To be my own person, free of control." Erwine spoke in a soft whisper, reciting the words that had become burned into her memory. "Those are the words I spoke to the Incubator on that day."
Wei winced. She could tell why Erwine was so consumed by anger at her fate. "That…I'm sorry," Wei whispered.
"Don't apologize when you had nothing to do with any of this." Erwine ordered. "Just understand why."
Wei nodded, "Thank you, for telling me all of that." She turned for the door. "Goodbye, Erwine…see you soon I guess."
Erwine only nodded as she heard the door open and close softly. She expected someone else to enter after Wei. No one did. She felt another presence in front of the door, but not that of a magical girl.
She spun around. There had been no sound of the thing entering. But that made sense. It was one of them. The white thing sat there, large eyes staring up at Erwine. Its tail flicked back and forth.
"What did you do?!" Erwine shouted, "I made a wish, where is the result?!"
The result? The Incubator asked. I'm afraid that your wish…it just didn't work out.
"You're supposed to grant wishes, right?!" Erwine shouted, "Why did mine not come true?! I made a contract with the Goddess herself, is she not strong enough to enact my wish?!"
The issue was not with what you asked. The issue was with your ability to enact that. Your potential was not enough to create a sufficiently capable soul gem. You see, everyone in this universe is woven together with dozens of threads of fate, tying them to everything they will encounter in their lifetimes.
You are no exception, Erwine Braune. You wished those threads of fate away, which means that there is no set ending for you. This would require a massive amount of potential. Only the Goddess herself would be able to do such a thing with her soul gem. You cannot. The result of your wish was that it failed. You will never get the outcome of your wish.
"You lie!" Erwine was shaking, tears streaming down her face. "Stop lying to me!"
But I'm not lying. I can't lie. Why would I lie to you right now? You cannot become as you wish. You still have a set end. You shall walk down the path to that end until you encounter it. You have contracted, so you are still bound by a duty to the Goddess.
Erwine fell down to her knees. She shook her head, "You can't be telling the truth…please…please make my wish come true."
It never will come true. The Incubator replied. Erwine could not detect a hint of emotion in its voice. Why do you care? You should have been wary with what you wished for. The incubator warned her. Erwine lunged forwards, trying to lash out at the thing. It was behind her now. Don't be silly, Erwine. Conserve your energy.
"I made a wish!" Erwine shouted at the top of her lungs. She stood up. Spinning around, she glared at the incubator. "It will come true, whether or not the Goddess will grant it!"
You can't. The Incubator replied.
"The Infinite Potential Theory says otherwise!" Erwine shouted.
There is no example of that theory save for the Goddess herself. Do you intend to become just like her?
"If I have to…" Erwine hesitated, before she made her declaration, "If I have to, I will become another goddess, just for the sake of my wish. I made that and left everything I loved behind. I destroyed the life of my best friend for that wish, only to find out that I made the wrong wish…" Erwine took a deep breath. "I will do this, and you cannot stop me."
I do not intend to. Your own limitations will tear you apart before you get even close to the objective. The Incubator promised. The Imperium needs people like you. Smart, competent people. Let go of this fantasy, and just accept the path that is set for you.
"Never," Erwine promised, "I'll never do that. Not now, nor at any time in the future."
Well then, the Incubator said. It turned around. I have nothing more to say. The lights flickered. For a moment, a split second, the light was pitch black. Then the incubator was gone.
Erwine was still sobbing. But a new resolve appeared on her face. To do something that she knew, deep down in her heart, that she could not do. She smiled a little.
"I wonder what Adrianne might think if she saw me now…"
Erwine was pacing about the room when the door opened again. She was wondering who it was. She doubted it would be Wei, and was surprised to find that it was Ayelen. "Hmmm…and what stake do you have in this whole issue?"
"You're still a friend of mine," Ayelen explained as she entered, the door shutting with a soft click behind her. "At least you were. Are you still?"
Erwine shrugged. She stood there with her face covered in tears. "Do I look like I am?" The question was not rhetorical. She was actually expecting a reply.
It took a bit of time for Ayelen to actually understand that. Erwine chuckled, and just kept pacing about the room, practically ignoring Ayelen till she spoke again. It would take a minute for that to happen. "At this point, you seem to be equally distancing yourself from everyone."
"True, true," Erwine agreed, in a crazed singsong tone. She had started pirouetting about, a motion that was making Ayelen back away towards the door, a confused look on her face.
"Erwine…what are you doing?" the question was asked shakily, Ayelen feeling like she was staring at someone descend into madness.
"Just thinking to myself," Erwine replied in an uncannily whimsical voice, "But you're here, so it's rather hard."
"Would you prefer that I left?" Ayelen wondered.
"Yes, but you won't," Erwine guessed perfectly.
"I know that you don't want help…but I just want to talk to you."
"About what?" Erwine asked. She knew Ayelen was just going to disguise her true intentions with words that might be more appealing to Erwine.
"What you've been doing. I want to understand why." Ayelen explained. She leaned back against the door, Erwine still occupying all of the room with her seemingly random movements.
"I guess I haven't told you at all," Erwine remarked. She stopped moving, looking Ayelen in the eyes, "Perhaps you want to know?"
"Yes," Ayelen said.
"I made a wish to gain control over my own fate. That wish…did not come true." Erwine explained. "I just found out it can't come true. I want my wish to come true, but I can't make it without reducing myself to the level of Adrianne."
"I see the dilemma," Ayelen said. "But why don't…why do you care so much about your wish?"
"For fourteen years I was nothing more than a tiny piece of a great machine. I made my wish with the intention of wiping away any chance of some unknown force controlling me. But that didn't work. Here I am, still being led down a path by Ishna's plan, towards an end set for me when I was born. My best friend, she hates me for abandoning her back there."
"I need my wish to come true, or else I did it for nothing," Erwine explained. She smiled sweetly. The smile was false. Behind it, Ayelen could see touches of insanity. The same things she saw in Adrianne. "Do you see now?"
"You could-"
"How about we not play the 'you could…' game?" Erwine requested, "I played it with Wei. It didn't work. You have two options. Either keep talking and go in some different direction, or get out."
Ayelen choose the former option. "Why do you still worship Adrianne?"
Erwine chuckled. "Well, should've seen that coming." She spun around, just one rotation. Her feet gracefully came to a stop as she put a smile on her face. "Well, that's a good question, let me do my best to answer it."
"Adrianne made me the way I am today. If it weren't for her, and her influence, I doubt I would have amounted to much as a magical girl. Especially because my wish failed. I respect Adrianne because in the end, she cared for me more than anything else. I failed her in the end, so I owe her multiple debts. One for all the good she's done to me, and one for all the good I have failed to do for her. The last I can do is ensure that her legacy is untarnished, and that the person whom she spent half her life hunting down is stopped forever."
"I don't think you're going to succeed," Ayelen said.
"Does it matter what you think?" Erwine asked, "This is what I think. It's what I believe. You can't make me think otherwise, at least not for now. I will keep watching, searching, until I tear up every part of the mystery Ishna laid out for me to solve. And when that happens…only then can I be truly satisfied."
"You're going to destroy yourself. You really are going to be the same thing Adrianne was. Just a tortured soul blindly searching for redemption. I don't want to see that."
"But I don't care," Erwine said. "I've already accepted all of this. Please, let me be."
Ayelen shook her head, "Erwine, you were always stronger than this. What happened to the Erwine…the Erwine who was able to forgive, not even a day afterwards, someone who raped them?"
"Adrianne had a reason to do that. It had nothing to do with integrity and willpower. She had...she was possessed by her sorrow, her anguish. I did my job of serving the Inquisition there. I won't deny that. This is about getting your wish denied. Learning that your wish failed, and that it will never come true. This means that everything I have done has been for no gain." Erwine shrugged, "I've gotten nothing, which is against the whole point of the system."
"Sounds selfish to me," Ayelen said.
"Exactly," Erwine agreed. She laughed a little, her face spreading into a wide smile, "Perhaps that's way this all hurts me so much. I know full well that I'm just being a selfish fool, unwilling to change." The girl shrugged. "I understand this is all so very foolish."
She sighed. "Well, I'd prefer if you could go now. I'd like some time alone, and it's fairly obvious that you're done as well."
Ayelen shook her head, "No, not really. I care for you, even though we've never been the closest. Adrianne hurt me, Laelia continued, but even I was not as beaten on as you were. I don't understand how you did it, but apparently you just pretended you were fine."
Erwine laughed as the girl walked towards the door. "You think this has to do with some kind of pent up emotions?" she shook her head, even though Ayelen was already exiting, "Well, you're so very wrong."
The door shut. Ayelen either didn't hear, or didn't heed, the words Erwine said. The girl knew that the latter was what happened.
"Sorry about all the telepathic controlling," Justinia said to the man, standing on the bridge next to his chair. "Hope it didn't cause too much trouble."
"Oh no," Bolton said, his sarcasm quite clear. "It only caused pretty heavy damage to my ship. I'm sure it'll all be fine, especially since we're in the warp with half the engine power we should have."
"Is there anything major we need to be worrying about?" Justinia asked, "If there is, I'd like to know."
"The Gellar field might end up failing if things keep going the way they are. We've run into a strong patch of turbulence. Nothing that would matter normally, but as we are, we might suffer a breach of some kind, even if it is minor."
"What kind of breach? Just the astrotelepath and navigator, or would it spread farther?"
"There's a good chance we'll just lose those two for a bit, about sixty-three percent. But the rest of the chance…well, if the die rolls in that direction, then the humans are not going to be making it out with entirely whole bodies and minds. You all should be alright, provided things don't get too bad."
"Can we drop out of the warp?" Justinia asked.
"Not at this point," that was Melody, using the vox, given that her mind was otherwise occupied. "We're in interstellar space. We could send out a distress signal, but we'd just be floating there. It wouldn't be hard to survive, but I'm not sure it's the best option with the damages we have, as we don't know what might come along."
"What do you suggest?"
"You plotted a course for the nearest system. That is about one day away, maybe a bit more if this turbulence continues as it does. However, the Gellar field is to fail within thirteen hours. We have twenty-five plus to destination. It wouldn't be hard for us to get picked up by someone from that system, but I think it is safe to say that we have enemies. If they know we are damaged, then they could just as easily catch up to us. So we continue going for as long as possible, then drop out at the last second. We batten down the hatches, and prepare to wait out what might be enemy attack while awaiting rescue."
She took a deep breath. "Let me extend an apology for getting you, your crew, and your ship wrapped up in all of this," Justinia said to the man beside her, "I can't imagine this entire incident has been pleasant."
"It has not been," Bolton agreed.
"Has Erwine been acting like this for the past six months?" Justinia wondered.
"To an extent, yes. She was reckless, uncaring about authority, doing what she thought was best for her goals." Bolton said. "What did happen on Curia, it seemed like something just pushed her over the edge?"
"A lot, too much to explain now." Justinia replied, "I should go speak to her, make sure that everything is alright. We can't have her causing trouble. Need to talk to the other one as well."
"May I speak to Erwine as well?" Bolton asked.
"You want to?"
"Do you think it might help in any way?"
"Perhaps," Justinia said, "You can, if you want to. But let me get in there and judge her first. Wei can't be relied upon, and even though Ayelen did go talk to her, I doubt that helped either."
She walked away from the man's chair. Bolton called, "Adrianne really was a good person at heart, you know. Erwine…Erwine respects that woman because of that fact."
Justinia nodded. "I know someone like that."
The remark meant little to Bolton, so he didn't say anything in reply. He kept sitting where he was, merely hoping that this would not end with his soul being a feast for a flock of daemons.
Erwine was tired now. She sat on her bed, expecting Justinia to arrive before she was going to be able to go to sleep. She did want some rest. Her night had been devoid of it entirely, and she had been awake for a full day now.
Sure enough, the crimson-haired woman, a stoic look still on her face, did enter the room. "I'm sure you've heard all about how Ayelen and Wei want to help you. I'm not here to say that, and I know you're going to take me seriously. I am here to assess how much of a threat you are."
"At this point," Justinia continued, "We are all in this together. Within thirteen hours, the Gellar field will fail. Hopefully we will be able to drop out of the warp before that point. If we cannot, the ship will be breached by daemons. I sincerely hope that does not happen. If it does, we need to stick together. However, I am not going to let you out until that point, unless you can show me that you actually understand what your actions have caused and can explain why you carried through with whatever foolish thoughts were in your head."
Erwine hesitated. She took a deep breath, and seemed to have to force the words out in the end. But she spoke. She spoke of what she said to Wei and Ayelen. But that wasn't everything.
"Is there something more?" Justinia asked. All that doesn't explain her current attitude. She thought. "Erwine, you need to tell me everything, or else I cannot trust you."
"My wish failed," Erwine said quickly. It slipped out of her mouth like an accident.
Justinia was saddened. The fact that her cool demeanor was broken for a couple seconds meant more than anything else. "I'm sorry," she said, seeming to understand entirely.
A long pause came before she spoke again. Composing herself once more, Justinia said, "Then, Erwine." She walked forwards. Her hands moved to her sides. Erwine gasped as Justinia suddenly leapt onto the bed, knocking Erwine onto her back.
In her right hand was a key, in the left her knife. She moved her hand to unlock Erwine's restraints, before placing the knife against her chest, and guiding Erwine's hand to it. "I'm in your way," Justinia said, "Now come, kill me."
A beat. Erwine gritted her teeth and tossed the knife aside. "I don't want to hurt anyone." She said, "It was never my intention to get anyone hurt." Her eyes went wide as everything came crashing down at once.
Justinia stood quickly and retrieved her knife. "You technically outrank all of us here. Therefore, I am placing you in command. I am going to speak to Liselotte. Remember, fighting us won't make it easier in thirteen hours." She left the room without another word.
Erwine felt the first tears slipping down her cheeks as she struggled to sit up. My wish failed. I'm just like Adrianne. Everyone on this ship will die because of me. The horrific realizations went round and round in her head. She couldn't escape from them. She stumbled forwards, before falling down to her knees. She sobbed uncontrollably as she somehow tried to find an excuse to stand up and keep moving.
There wasn't one. She had done everything wrong. Her soul gem filled with darkness.
But there was still something she had left to do. Even if everything else was for naught, her goal had not changed. "All along, that's what I've been trying to do. Escape from the destiny Ishna gave to me. If that's really the case then…then escaping from all the destiny can't be much harder." She forced herself to her feet, bringing her tears under her control.
"That's right," She whispered, "I still have to stop her. I still have to…" A bit of a grin came onto her face. "I still have to be a hero." She wiped the tears from her eyes as she strode to the door. "I won't give up, at least not until Adrianne, Ishna, and everything they wrought has been laid to rest."
Erwine was pacing about the hallway in front of her room when she saw Bolton come down it. He was surprised to see her at first, before she said, "I'm in charge, now."
"In charge?" Bolton asked.
"Yes," Erwine replied, "Justinia apparently doesn't want to be in charge. So she released me. I understand the situation."
"She told you about that?"
"Indeed," Erwine confirmed, "Only about twelve and a half hours left till we're fighting for our lives, or just drifting amidst nothingness. Either way…" She just shrugged.
Bolton chuckled as he approached. "So I guess you're feeling a bit better?"
"Perhaps," Erwine agreed. "But no so much, I'd say."
"What do you mean?" Bolton asked.
Erwine wouldn't dare speak to him about the more personal issues. "Well I'm in charge now. Ayelen and Wei gave me some time to think about what I've done…but Justinia made me realize that I really am the odd one out here. The only one believing what Liselotte says, purely because I want to rebel against destiny."
"Maybe you really have some kind of gut feeling, some instinct, telling you she's correct?" Bolton wondered.
"Perhaps," Erwine agreed, "But I don't think so. I'm really more inclined to chalk this all down to some despair-induced bought of foolishness and selfishness on my part."
"What if you're right? What would you do then?"
"I'd consider the whole gut instinct thing, but I don't think I am." Erwine shook her head, "Liselotte…tells a convincing story, but there are plenty of holes. Things that she refuses to entirely explain. She's hiding something, but perhaps getting her out here will make her more inclined to talk."
Bolton laid a hand on Erwine's shoulder. "Adrianne was a good person," he reminded her, "Don't feel bad if you're becoming like her."
"What do you mean?" Erwine asked.
"She was terrible to you, I won't deny that, but remember the times besides that? She was fun a lot of the time, she had a good attitude a lot of the time. Things changed with you because she had to do all those things to you, at least in her head she thought she had to. If Ishna had died on that asteroid, and Adrianne had lived…she would be a wonderful person right now, I don't doubt that for a moment."
"You're serious?" Erwine asked.
"I am serious," Bolton confirmed, "More than serious. She had a lot of potential to be an amazing person if she just let go of her anguish and brightened up. Thanks to you, she would have, were it not for her untimely death."
"Seriously?" Erwine asked. The idea of Adrianne living a normal, happy life was almost an alien one for Erwine.
"Yeah, I don't know if that makes you feel any better. I can say for certain that you're nowhere near as bad as Adrianne was. Breaking promises with one person was nothing like what Adrianne did."
"I know," Erwine said. "But…I just still have my doubts about what I'm doing."
"Then go ahead with what you're doing. Let the consequences come, and deal with them if they appear. Unless you can see the future, there is not much more you can do." Bolton shrugged. He took a deep breath.
"I'll go, you should get some rest." He turned around, walking down the hallway. Erwine watched him go, almost sad the conversation was over. She was lightened by it, believing a bit more in herself.
She turned towards the door to her room, entering inside. She looked at the bed, deciding to make what seemed like a sound choice, and get some rest.
It was like something out of a dream. Not in the slightest way had it changed since she left it. Her eyes ran over every inch, seeking to find some irregularity, some kind of difference that set the room apart from how she knew it. But there was none. All she could find was the same thing she'd seen for years. Years that had been some of the worst of her life.
Arms crossed, body shaking, her breathes started to become more and more unsteady. A hand fell on her shoulder. Ayelen gasped, turning to face the offender, but calming as she recognized the face. "Ah," She said…as Sanae gave her a worried look.
"Bad memories?" She asked. Ayelen just nodded.
"You know," she said. Her legs collapsed under her, and Sanae stepped in to hold her up. They stood there for a few moments, resting in each other's grips. "I'm scared," Ayelen whispered.
"I know you are," Sanae replied. "But…I feel as though we'll be fine."
"Why do you think that?" Ayelen asked, almost unable to believe such optimism.
"Because I want to." Sanae replied. "There's really no reason more than that." Ayelen nodded, content with the answer.
Liselotte was cuffed in the chair. Sechylia had been keeping watch on her over the course of the past hour. Justinia now entered. She looked at the girl, whose face shot out an angry scowl.
"Well, Erwine is in charge now," Justinia explained. Liselotte's face turned into something entirely different, now showing total confusion. "She proved that I can trust her. You see, there are zero people accusing her of working for the enemy. However, Theodora is accusing you, and even Erwine isn't sure on what you are."
"Therefore, you are not going to be coming out of that chair until you begin talking, about everything you know." Justinia pulled up another chair in front of the girl. She sat down, crossing arms and legs. "Torture is not going to work, and we've no telepath to get into your head if we could use telepathy anyways, so I guess we'll just have to do this another way."
She looked Liselotte in the eyes. "So far, nine humans and one magical girl are dead thanks to your actions. Now don't start telling me how you weren't responsible for the ruins attack. You were, we wouldn't have been there if you hadn't started all of this."
"For the human deaths, you'd be looking at a full telepathic examination, and possible reprogramming. If you don't get brainwashed into being a better person, then that's over ten years in prison, and penal duties after that. For the magical girl killing?" Justinia shook her head, "That's going to be twenty-five plus years, given that it was indirect. But still twenty-five years."
Justinia leaned in, "Do you want to spend twenty-five years of your life in prison? Do you know what could change in those twenty-five years?"
She spoke in a calm, gentle tone. She held no threat in her voice, just the cold stating of facts. "Do you, Liselotte Arna? Or would you prefer to speak up and save yourself the trouble?"
The girl said nothing. Did nothing. Justinia nodded. "If you really are found to be working for Ishna, then that's going to be considered grand heresy, given who Ishna was. You're getting death at that point. Not a slow death, but still death."
"Do you want to live?" Justinia asked, "Or do you want to die along with the rest of the Hadiens Sect? I control Estelle, if you want me to be honest. She doesn't control Juno, but Juno listens to Estelle. Estelle has eyes directly on this entire affair. Juno will be the one cracking down on you all when this ends. I can probably convince Estelle to convince Juno to not be so harsh on the entirety of the Hadiens Sect. I know you're all in on this. Well, I don't know. But I'm pretty sure, and from the way you look at the moment, I'm right."
Liselotte still didn't speak a word. Justinia sighed. She turned around, thinking hard. Her mind ran around and around. I have to get her to talk. If I can't, then there's no way we know what's really going on. Especially with what's about to happen, this may be our only chance.
She turned around. Liselotte's confident eyes met her own. Subdued was the cold in them, but it was there. "In a few hours, your life suddenly starts to begin hanging by a thin thread. Your behavior so far has made me think this was no suicide mission. At least a part of you wants to live. Talking now will assist you greatly. As much as I want you to live so that I can know what you know, I also want to live myself." She knelt down, pressing her face within inches of Liselotte's. Her voice barely registered in Liselotte's ears. "What I'm saying is that I wouldn't hesitate to give you up to the warp if it meant saving myself, and people who mean far more to me."
Liselotte shivered. Her eyes widened. Several times, they blinked, as though she realized what was going on. Her teeth bit down on her lip, tugging at the flesh as her eyes darted back and forth in their sockets. "Don't dawdle," Justinia suggested, "From what navigators and astrotelepaths have told me, being taken by a demon is a terrible thing. I wonder what it'd be like to be cast into the warp for eternity." Her lips moved to right beside Liselotte's ear. "Do you? Because I think you might just find out, if you remain so stubborn."
Observing from the corner of the room, Sechylia shivered. Not a single threat had been uttered. Just facts. The cold, hard truth. Laid out in a dramatic fashion, but that pushed it over the edge. Liselotte knew that she only heard what really would happen if she refused to speak.
Her eyes closed. A regretful sigh tinged with fear came from her mouth. Then, she spoke. "The intention was to draw whoever was working for Ishna to Curia. As well as Estelle. We figured she would bring Erwine and Nadine as well."
Justinia looked Liselotte in the eyes, and grinned in approval. "And?"
"If there is a plan, someone has to be carrying it out, right?" Liselotte said. "Part of what we uncovered revealed some ritual had to take place. What I did was a mimic of that, hoping to bring out whoever is assisting Ishna's plan."
Justinia frowned. "So you're saying Theodora is Ishna's agent?" Liselotte nodded.
"That is what the evidence would indicate." She confirmed.
"Good." Justinia stood up. She gestured to the door, and Sechylia opened it. "We shall speak more later. For now, consider if there's anything else you need to tell me." With that, the girl departed. The door shut behind her.
She was lying down on her bed. Her eyes were finally closed after what seemed like an eternity of painful revelations and harsh conversations. The last thing that she wanted was someone else to talk to. But apparently the world had other plans for her.
Yet the knock…it was different. Erwine had never heard anything like it before. She stood up. The door was locked. She didn't want anyone else coming in. She hesitated before opening the door. It could have been Sechylia, so she supposed that Justinia had something major to tell her.
Erwine was surprised, however, to find that the person in question was not at all Sechylia. Nor anyone else she usually talked to. "Victoria?" she raised an eyebrow as she looked down at the little girl, who had a pleasant expression on her petite face.
"Hello," Victoria said, her voice low. Erwine saw Justinia and Sechylia standing across the hall. "May I come in?"
"I guess," Erwine said. She figured that the girl had something good to say, given that she had to have known that Erwine wasn't in a good mood. Victoria rarely associated herself with Erwine unless she had something good to say.
The door was closed as Erwine walked back into her room. "What do you want to talk about?" Erwine's fatigue showed in the faintness of her voice.
"I don't know," Victoria replied. She went and sat on Erwine's bed. The other girl was still standing in the middle of the room. She hadn't invited her to do anything. But that was how Victoria was, rather assertive for her role, size, and personality as a whole.
"Then why come here?"
"You want company," Victoria replied.
"Really?" Erwine asked.
"Would you have let me in if you did not?" Victoria wondered. She answered the question for herself, "You wouldn't have. It's not bad to have some weakness."
Erwine sighed. "Please Victoria, I've not the time for pointless bantering. I'd like to get some sleep."
"I'd like some sleep as well," Victoria agreed, "I'd prefer to be as rested as I can be before the Gellar field fails."
"You don't expect us to make it out in time?"
"Assuming the worst," Victoria explained, "Generally works better than hoping for the best."
Erwine didn't feel like agreeing with her, despite knowing that it was true. "So you're going to sleep in here?"
"I want company," Victoria said, before laying down on the bed, as if the three words would give Erwine all the explanation she needed.
"Wouldn't you be safer in your sanctuary?" Erwine asked.
"Are you scared of having me in here?"
"Will you be insulted if I say yes?"
"Not at all," Victoria grinned, "I know I'm a major threat to those around me. But I'd prefer to just be in here."
"What's the other motive?" Erwine asked, "I can tell you have one."
Victoria chuckled. "A bit aggressive, aren't we? Don't worry, someone with your experience I can understand."
"You mean that?"
"Yeah," Victoria said. She caught Erwine's eyes in the darkened room. She smiled. "I've watched you over the past year. Everyone else…they don't seem to get what you've been through."
"Not even Nadine?"
"She gets it, but she's siding with Estelle for some reason. I can't actually fathom why. I did want to come here to tell you that I don't blame you for your actions."
"You're serious?" Erwine asked.
"Of course I'm serious. You're not at fault. Many other factors are. But not you, not entirely." Victoria rolled over, facing away from Erwine. There was room on the bed still, but Erwine was going to feel a bit uncomfortable. "I'm not sure if I ought to…" she muttered.
"Oh don't worry," Victoria said. She insisted, "Sleep, you're going to need it."
Laying there in silence for half a minute, Erwine then asked, "Do you think we'll make it through this? In one piece?"
"Certainly," Victoria said, "Too much has gone on for you to die now. If Ishna really did create some big plan, it's not as if she'd let you die thanks to an event like this."
"Do you think she'd predict all of these exact things occurring?"
"Do you think she could have?" Victoria replied.
"There's a chance." Erwine said, "She was very powerful…and I suppose we all have a set destiny."
"Exactly. I think she was a very smart one. Maybe she didn't see this coming. Maybe she did. For all you know, you're just going to dance along to her tune until her final goal is accomplished."
"Can we…can we stop talking about this?" Erwine let her fear guide her words in this moment.
"Certainly." Victoria went silent. After another minute, Erwine heard nothing more from the girl than hushed breathing. She was asleep.
Carefully, Erwine stood. She found the vox in her room, left by Justinia, and lifted it to her lips, clicking it on. Just one last thing I must do. She told herself. Before I embark on this path forever.
Wei stared up at the ceiling. Just beyond that relatively thin barrier of a window covered by a might plate of armor was the hellish dimension that would come pouring forth in only a matter of hours. Somehow, she didn't feel scared.
Not because some bravery had been found within herself, but more because she just didn't know how. Her mind was occupied entirely with Erwine. Every thought had to do with that girl had said. Is Erwine really to blame? She wondered. Her wish was made to escape from fate. If she really is Ishna's pawn then...it didn't work, did it? She's just trapped, and all she can do is rage against the shackles placed on her.
Wei shuddered. I want to stay with her, but how am I supposed to when she rejects everything in sake of that wish? Of course, wishes are what we're made of. She gave her soul for that wish. If it's not fulfilled then…then her only purpose in life would be to see that it is. Can I do anything at all to change her?
The vox clicked on. "Wei, please reply." It was Erwine's voice. Justinia had informed them all of her decision, and while Wei didn't find herself agreeing, she didn't find herself disagreeing.
"Erwine, I just want to be left alone," she spoke softly into the device.
"I understand, but I want to apologize before anything starts happening," Erwine explained. The sound of a deep breath came through the crackly line. "I'm sorry, for both what I have done, and for what you have done."
Before Wei could ask for an explanation, Erwine gave it. "You made a mistake, unfortunately. By choosing me, you have dedicated yourself to chasing someone who can't be followed. Or maybe you can follow me, but you won't enjoy where I go." A pause. "It is my intention to break free of destiny. To escape everything that might control me."
With a heavy voice, Erwine said, "Wei, my wish failed. I didn't get what I desired, because I'm not strong enough. Even now, I don't think I'm strong enough. But that doesn't mean I'll stop. I'll keep going till the very end. And that end will be me escaping my destiny." With that, the vox clicked off. Wei didn't know how to reply, so she didn't try.
She just felt herself crying. A tiny voice in her head said that she can still change her. Wei choose to believe that voice. Perhaps she had no power, even in comparison to Erwine. But that didn't mean she couldn't try. She swore to herself. "I'll find some way. Some way to change this, to change Erwine."