Milla rolls onto her back and sits up, shaking her head to try and clear it. As she shakes, the chains over her shoulders fall away. It takes a moment for her to notice her extra mobility, but when she does, she starts to vigorously work her arms free of the chains. It takes several minutes and leaves the hound breathless, but she manages to free one of her arms. Once its free, a wave of relief washes over the hound, and she takes a few moments to rest before using the skills Carol taught her to pick the locks with her claws.

A few minutes later, finally fully free from her chains, Milla gets to her feet. At first, she's a little unsteady, but she soon regains her balance. Curious, she inspects the locks that held her chains in place to find the casing of one of them had shattered, rendering the lock useless.

Leaving the remnants of the shattered lock, Milla walks over to Maria and Tai, and cuts their chains with a few well‑controlled sparks of psychoergokinetic energy.

"Thanks," Maria and Tai chorus as they shed the chains and get to their feet. Unsteady, they both stumble and catch each other before regaining their balance.

Milla then walks over to Lilac and crouches to break the chains.

"Leave me," Lilac whispers. "I'm no use to you now."

Milla ignores Lilac and breaks the chains anyway. "Don't be silly," she comforts. "You're Sash Lilac, Saviour of Avalice."

"I'm a failure," Lilac corrects. "This is Thermal Base all over again, except Carol's not here to save me."

"Well, that makes me feel so much better," Milla remarks sarcastically. "Come on, we're getting out of here."

Lilac doesn't move.

"Can you give me a hand?" Milla asks Maria and Tai.

Together, the felines lift Lilac onto her feet, holding her up as the dragoness refuses to support her own weight.

"Why are you bothering?" Lilac asks. "Just leave me here to die."

"What happened to you?" Milla asks, not even trying to hide her disappointment. "Where's your fighting spirit?"

"Dead on the Sigwada," Lilac answers. "Face it: we've lost."

"When you were captured by Brevon, did you give up?" Milla challenges.

"Yes," Lilac admits.

"You know who didn't? Me and Carol," Milla replies. "What's more, I'm still standing, and Carol's… doing whatever it is she's doing." I hope she has a plan…

"Look at me!" Lilac barks, tears in her eyes. "How can I be of any use‽"

"You were hurt this bad before, and you went onto save the world," Milla reminds. "You will do so again."

"How‽" Lilac demands. "I‑"

Lilac convulses, coughing violently and spitting blood.

"Take it easy," Milla requests. "I understand you're frustrated, but right now, you need to remain calm."

"You don't get it," Lilac argues quietly. "I'm dying. I can… I can feel my body failing… I don't know how long I have left… Maybe a few hours… if I'm lucky."

"We'll get help," Milla promises.

"By the time you do… it'll be too late," Lilac sighs, her breathing becoming laboured. "I'm… going too quickly… There's no… no way I… I… I…"

Lilac collapses, unconscious.

"Lilac!" Milla drops beside her dying friend. "Please," she begs, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Don't die now…"

Lilac stops breathing.

Maria and Tai spring into action immediately, rolling Lilac onto her back and checking her vital signs. Unable to find a pulse or heartbeat, they begin CPR, doing everything they can to revive the dragoness.

They are not successful.

Maria turns to Milla, tears in her eyes. "I'm so, so sorry. We tried our best."

Milla doesn't respond; she simply stares at Lilac's body in silence.

Maria and Tai move to hug Milla in silent comfort. Focussed on helping the distraught basset hound, they both fail to notice someone approaching. By the time they notice, Neera Li is already crouched by Lilac's side, pouring a bottle of elixir into the dragon's mouth.

"It's too late," Maria informs Neera. "She's‑"

"I'm not losing another one!" Neera asserts aggressively. "One way or another, I'm saving her!"

Not willing to argue, Maria and Tai return to comforting Milla.

Elixir administered, Neera checks for a pulse and doesn't find one. Determined, she begins CPR, chanting mantras as she works‑

Lilac suddenly splutters back into life. Desperate for air, the dragoness suffers a brief and bloodied coughing fit before sucking in huge lungfuls.

"Thank the Ancients," Neera sighs in relief, sitting back to give Lilac space to breathe.

Milla, Maria, and Tai simply stare in disbelief.


Half an hour later, the group is sat around a campfire powered by Neera's staff. Maria and Tai are snoozing gently in each other's arms, and Milla is in a deep meditative trance.

"Why did you save me?" Lilac asks Neera.

"Because Avalice needs its heroes," Neera explains simply.

"Look at me," Lilac replies. "Incomplete, half‑roasted, and despite your efforts, still dying. You've bought me a few hours at best. Why did the Magister send you, anyway?"

"He didn't send me," Neera admits. "I don't work for him anymore. He doesn't even know I'm here."

Stunned, Lilac cannot think of a reply.

"I shouldn't be telling you this, but the Magister is partially responsible for this whole mess," Neera explains. "It was him who gave Princess Cordelia the research materials that allowed her to establish that Arctic research station and create Merga."

"Wait… You mean he's‑"

"One hundred and seventy‑three."

Lilac takes a moment to absorb the news. "He's… a dragon."

"He hides it well," Neera confirms.

"Very." Lilac thinks a moment. "This is going to sound like an odd question, but have you ever heard of Zynnia Lilac?"

"The name does sound familiar, but I'd have to check to be sure," Neera answers. "Though I get the feeling that if she was anything like you, then she must have been a truly wonderful person."

Lilac is taken by surprise. "Did… Did you just compliment me?"

"Is that so hard to believe?"

"Yes: the first time we met, you accused me of all manner of deceit and put me in gaol."

"The second time, and believe it: after your actions during the Brevon Crisis, you've earned my eternal respect."

Lilac subconsciously reaches for a hair whip at the mention of Brevon, her hand grabbing empty air.

"You never got counselling, did you?" Neera guesses.

"Didn't think I needed it," Lilac confesses.

"You definitely need it," Neera advises. "If you'd had counselling, then your friendship with Carol would have remained intact. In fact, I believe it would have become even stronger."

"It's too late to do anything about that now," Lilac sighs. "She's sided with Corazon."

Despite herself, Neera cannot help but chuckle softly.

"You think it's funny‽" Lilac snaps.

"Sorry," Neera apologises, recovering her composure.

"Why did you laugh‽"

"Because, even after everything that's happened to you over the last few years, you still don't get it."

"Enlighten me."

"What's Carol's surname?"

"Tea. Why is that relevant?"

"What clan is she from?"

"Yěmāo Shìzú. What of it?"

"Think about it."

"I don't know‑" The epiphany hits Lilac like a semi‑truck at highway speed. "By the Ancients," she breathes. "She's doing what's necessary: working to bring Corazon down from the inside!"

"Now you're starting to get it."

"Lilac is the hero everyone wants," Milla interrupts, emerging from her trance. "But Carol is the hero everyone needs."

"And it's about time I recognised that," Lilac agrees. "Do you think Carol will want to be my friend again?"

"That depends on you," Milla answers.

"We can worry about that later," Neera decides. "Right now, we need to get you rebuilt. Luckily, I have a ship nearby with an elixir bath ready for you."

"Thanks," Lilac replies. "This'll be the second time I've been rebuilt."

"Hopefully, this time you'll take better care of yourself," Neera teases.

"Careful Neera," Lilac responds in kind. "At this rate, we might become friends!"

"I'd like that," Neera smiles.

"Me too," Lilac agrees.

"Glad to hear it," Neera smiles. "Come on, let's get to my ship."