Porom stepped through space and into Saronia's familiar grassland. Forest and villages filled her view, with a glimpse of the castle peeking over treetops. The ocean laid beyond that castle and she caught a whiff of its salty winds.

Cater disappeared with a quick farewell and left them to make their way over these rolling hills away from the castle. Zidane and Eiko got caught up in conversation behind them.

Bartz whistled beside her, a habit of his that followed tension. He put his hands behind his head and made the appearance of one unbothered by the world despite the way his eyes darted about them.

"You'll like the Guild," Porom told him. "And I bet Lenna will be excited to meet you."

"If she even remembers me at this point."

"Why wouldn't she remember you?"

Bartz stuttered in his stride and confusion twisted his face. "She gets distracted by the weirdest things."

"Like?"

"Like fixing people she runs into. And it looks like you placed her among a bunch fixables, so…"

Porom tried to remember, but her time with the Guild felt like a lifetime ago. "I doubt she'd forget you."

Bartz kept his eyes forward and said nothing. She missed the easy laughs he shared before—…

When they reached the Cabin's yards, no one sparred. Instead, they gathered around the structure that was once the Cabin's shack of a replacement and now developed it into something larger. Arc, Palom, Luneth, and Leonora levitated blocks and wood shafts into place while Firion, Vaan, Penelo, Ingus, Gladio, Iris, and a new kid maneuvered them about the roof. Baralai, Refia, Faris, Setzer, and others she didn't recognize handled the brick, paint, and lacquer of the lower, older walls. And then a half dozen other people talked amongst themselves.

Palom, Leonora, and Arc all lived and moved about the building like it was another day. Porom wondered at the changes. The land looked the same save for those new dirt patches and shattered boulders and the people didn't look much different aside from the altered clothes that included more checkers and otherworld-ish vestments.

Zidane ran to meet people and Eiko moved with him. They caused a stir among the beam-movers and made quick friends of Vaan and Penelo.

Bartz hung back a ways and Porom looked between him and Faris, who didn't seem to notice their approach.

"You can do it," Porom said.

"I don't know that I can," Bartz said. "I think I'm about to drop dead from the pressure."

"You're better than that." Porom gave him a nudge. "Tell me how it goes, and I'll tell you if I make any progress with Palom."

She approached the building and Refia jumped to her feet. "Porom, you're back!"

Heads perked up and the work paused. Leonora and Palom dropped their attention to a beam and Arc shrieked before catching it with magic and straining under its weight. Ingus glanced at the thing that almost crushed him.

"Oh, sorry!" Leonora refocused, but not without another glance Porom's way. "If you need a rest, we'll break in a minute!"

Palom glanced between them, something akin to alarm in his face.

Porom said, "Palom, can I talk to you?"

He visibly steeled himself before hopping from the roof and joining her in a burst of wind. "What?" he asked.

"Not here…" Porom guided him to the side and looked at him when she realized he actually followed her. And a new headpiece adorned the old spot on his forehead. "Wait, no insults to my intelligence this time?"

He rolled his eyes and it filled her with dizzying relief to see him act not only alive but normal.

"Fine." Porom took a deep breath and steadied herself. "I did a lot of bad things, okay? And I experienced a lot of bad things. After surviving the failsafe left by Bhunivelze, I realized you might have died, and I couldn't handle that. I wanted to say sorry. Sorry for not believing you, sorry for going along with the village in treating you like a miscreant for so long… I've been so distracted by the approval of others that I forgot your feelings. Can we promise not to be jerks to each other anymore?"

Palom looked away.

"You're not even going to snipe me for it? I just admitted I was wrong and you're not going to crow about it? I know it wasn't all my fault—you can be an absolute asshole and you've made it clear that you prefer Leonora's opinion over my own and I'm not going to forgive you for everything right now, but I'm admitting to my mistakes and I expect you to do the same."

"I don't know."

"Don't know what?"

"I don't." Palom cleared his throat and refused to look her in the eye. "I don't know."

Porom felt a sinking in her stomach. "I don't miss your insults, but I expected something. What happened on the other planets?"

"Not on… other planets." Palom squinted his eyes shut as if in pain. "On… home. Back home. Cecil and Rosa."

"You saw Cecil and Rosa?"

"I don't have to explain all of it."

Leonora joined them, face flushed. "Sorry I took so long. Porom, we need to talk."

Porom's heart clenched at the flashes of green that darkened Leonora's eyes. "Something happened to you, too," Porom said.

"I just fell into the Lifestream. There's a lot that's happened. As well with you, I assume."

"Not… so much. Is that painful?"

"Is what painful?"

"The marks on you?"

"Not really."

"Will it go away?"

Leonora opened her mouth and closed it again. Then looked at Palom with something softer than the desperate yearning before. Leonora said, "Something went wrong—"

"I've got work to do." Palom spun on his heel and left them.

Leonora didn't wither like she usually did when he left. She said, "He jumped and broke his headpiece. We're still diagnosing what happened that damaged his speech cohesion."

"You're still infected. We should look at that, too."

"It's going away. At this rate, I think I'll be free of it in a year."

"A year."

"Ish."

Porom put her arms around Leonora. "We'll move past this."

Leonora relaxed into her. "Will you?"

"I've handled worse." Porom glanced to where the strangers were and found them gone. "You've gathered a lot more people."

"Honestly, I wasn't here when half of them came. But…" Leonora pulled away and glanced toward the Cabin. "We might have lost Krile."

"… What happened?"

"I'm not sure—the break caught her at a bad time I think. Lenna's taken her home in the hopes that the crystals can still revive her. Also, Hilda left and Faris almost killed Mr. Shinra and Baralai went through a drinking phase while we were gone, while Vaan and Penelo got lost on Spira and—"

"I'll get the details later." Porom watched Arc work with Palom and Luneth to guide pillars into place. They all flew now. "Let's lend them a hand, shall we? Where are we getting the wood?"

"We gather it in rounds. How do you feel about a tower? Arc mentioned wanting a tower and Palom insists on going through with it. Arc's been going through a slump and I want to make him happier, but I don't know how we're supposed to get it to work with the base we already have. It would need a ladder instead of stairs, but we took out a lot of the old roof anyway and might manage a spiral staircase, but that gets more expensive."

"Is Alus paying for all this again?"

"Only most of the supplies. It'll be as plain as the rest of it, but we wanted to treat ourselves after the fiasco with the Crystals. So, what do you think about the tower? It'd be cool, but is it really feasible when we're taking so long with a second floor?"

"Let's start with the base of a tower and work from there."

They joined the other mages and Porom worked with Arc and Luneth to get rolls of notched logs up to those on the roof. They would fit those together to get walls, using the strength of pillars landed into the old cabin—apparently rebuilt from the rubble of their old home because of the disaster that came with hers and the others' possession.

Arc moved in sluggish motions and Porom felt a gnawing tug on her heart at the reminder of her failure to save him and Palom and the others from Bhunivelze's attack. "I've earned an update," Porom said.

Arc looked her way but took a while to respond. "We beat Bhunivelze back. Not much happened besides that."

"Besides you and Palom getting possessed."

He looked away, sheepish.

"Have you talked about your time possessed?"

"With whom?"

"Anyone. Palom, even. You two have gone through similar happenings, you should relate together on it. Find strength, you know. Not that he's been good at building others up, but you share an understanding. I assume, given you two worked together."

"Well, we threw each other off buildings."

"Sure. Talk about that." Porom paused when she caught sight of Baralai speaking with a new guy. "One sec."

Arc made a sound of confusion before she joined Baralai and Firion and that man with the white coat. "Pardon," she said, and they stopped their conversation to look up at her. "I haven't met this one."

"Rufus Shinra." He clasped his hands. "And you must be Porom."

She cast a wary glance to the now-similarly-dressed Baralai and Firion. They integrated into this world faster than she expected. Baralai watched their interaction with stoic interest while Firion got back to work on the roof. "You know my name," she said.

"I've heard much about you and it seems you're close to the workings of this guild, and therefore of most interest. Perhaps we can talk in private about the aims of this group?"

"Do you mean to belittle the contributions of our individuals?"

"Not at all. I simply don't have the bandwidth to concern myself with them and frankly don't trust them. I've only known this place for a few days and would prefer not to risk more than I have to."

"… Bandwidth? Never mind. You share a name with Shinra—are you his father?"

"No." The man heaved a sigh and looked to Baralai. "Perhaps I should stop sharing my surname if it's going to cause this much confusion."

"I doubt it could hurt," Baralai said.

"Very well. Call me Rufus, then." He gestured. "I've spoken with the other relevant leaders aside from yourself and they say you were involved in the makings of this group."

Porom said, "I would prefer not to keep this conversation secret. I have nothing to hide, after all."

"It's more a matter of privacy."

Vaan and Eiko passed by with bottles of Saronia's ale. "Drink, anyone?" Vaan asked.

Baralai gave a reluctant shake of his head. Rufus accepted and took a long, hard drink. Eiko took a swig from her own waterskin while watching him with a dour expression.

Vaan mouthed something to Porom which she took as suffering before he left to offer to the others. Rufus turned his attention back to her and asked, "What experience do you have with spirits?"

"More, now that I've worked as a pawn."

"This is where privacy comes. Are you sure you wish to talk about this among the others?"

"Yes. Half of them at least know possession and the others understand it better than any citizen you'll find this side of the cosmos."

"Very well." Rufus stepped away from Baralai, who got back to work with well-acted indifference. "I hold valuable information, thanks to my work half-broken. Bhunivelze's targeted Gaia VII and set his eyes on the Lifestream there."

"We were more focused on sowing chaos, but I heard about the loss of VII."

"You know white magic well?"

"Yes."

Rufus nodded to himself. "Then you'll be our key to taking back my homeworld. Get yourself ready—we've work to do."

Porom watched him leave and pull someone else aside. Her back ached with the loss of her borrowed power as if to agree with Rufus that this work was far from done.


"She's left with Krile."

Bartz barely heard Faris' words. "When?"

"Before we fought. I told her to leave."

"Why?"

Faris gave a disgruntled sniff. Bartz expected another retort, but she kept quiet. He remembered Krile's grief at her grandfather's death. He remembered rushing wind and the taste of bloodthirst when he went after Exdeath and he longed for something like that to take him away from this. But he had no dragons or ships to take now. They took his shards.

Gentle hands rested on his shoulders and Bartz smelled Faris' murky water scent. "I'm sorry, mate," she whispered.

Bartz choked and turned to her. Tried to look her in the eyes, but his strength gave out and he bent toward her, body shaking. Faris pressed her forehead to his and they cried together.

"It's too heavy," Bartz managed.

"Hence why we bear it together. We're not here to feel sorry for ourselves, mate, we're here to beat off anyone that gets in our way."

He couldn't think of a response. He just drowned in sudden, clawing emotion that tore at his insides and burned his eyes.

Faris stayed with him, silent and unmoving. When his cries ebbed and he regained some control of himself, he made out the faintest hitch in Faris' breath.

"She can still come back," Faris said at length. "Though I wouldn't want you to cling to false hope."

Bartz swallowed his grief, wiped the tears from his face, and stood. His head swam and his fingers tingled with vertigo, but he stayed on his feet. "We're here to protect the order of the crystals and everything good. That's what matters. Right?"

"But first, you should rest. The river's still quiet. Go sleep."

Bartz recoiled at the thought of being alone with himself. "But I have work to do."

"Work with no end. We need your head unclouded. I'll wake you if need be."

Bartz opened his mouth to protest, but the sway of the ground beneath him made him reconsider. "Then I'll see you all in a few minutes."

He took directions and found himself at the bank of a lazy stream barely two yards wide. The grass here was soft and tickled his skin, much like the land back home. He missed Planet R and a part of him ached to see its weaving streets again instead of the empty land that separated this settlement from the city to the east.

The wind teased his hair and cooled his heated face. He remembered his fatigue as he relaxed, and he wondered when the last time was that he really slept.

Voices joined him and Bartz found the sky darkened to twilight. He felt more tired than before, but the ache of traveled faded. His mouth felt dry and he remembered Faris and Lenna. Remembered Krile.

Two men had joined him—well, a man and a child. One wore hues of blue, the other red. They sparked a sense of familiarity and he assumed them former possessees.

"Aria didn't tell me much," the man was saying, "but she spoke of it like a critical piece of my past. I still remember only mindless battles and vague glimpses of traveling companions."

"It doesn't help that we didn't work together much," said the child.

"I didn't expect to see Lightning again. She looked so much different from when we saw her, I almost didn't recognize her."

"Lightning? She didn't look that different to me."

"There was this glow to her like she descended from the realm of gods."

"… I didn't see any light."

"But she fought well, didn't she?"

"I guess. I was kind of distracted by the explosions."

Bartz straightened himself to sit and look at them. The boy held his bandaged middle and sported exposed burns. Even from here, Bartz made out the telling flush of fever in the kid's face.

"Sorry to disturb you," said the man, who wore layered and form-fitting attire. Bartz made out at three visible blades strapped to his waist and legs. "Did you sleep?"

"As much as I needed." Bartz inched their way despite the inertia. "You also ex-minions?"

"Not quite," said the man.

"Just world travelers, then? Have we met before?"

"In a sense," said the boy.

"Yet no one believes you when you explain it," the man said. "Why is that?"

"Because they don't remember. And they shouldn't. It's stupid of me to try, really."

"Try what?" Bartz asked.

The man said, "Many of us fought in another dimension together, controlled by gods and manipulated to ulterior motives until they wiped our minds and started over. I think they went through thirteen cycles, sometimes with the same people and sometimes not."

"It rings a bell." Bartz came closer and took a seat by the suffering boy. "I may not remember, but maybe we can be friends, anyway. I'm Bartz Klauser."

"Firion." The man looked to the boy. "And this is the Onion Knight—we've been calling him mixes of 'Onion' and 'Gestalt.'"

"I have no name," said the kid. "Because I don't really exist as a person. Though moments like this certainly leave me doubting that. Now that Arc's back and connected, I'll be departing to your world, Bartz. To take Krile's place until the crystals see it fit to disperse me again. Or until Sarah finds another purpose for me."

Bartz reached for potions he no longer held. "Where are you from?"

"Nowhere. And everywhere. The crystals formed me from their observations, mixed with the template of a sacrificed soul."

"The crystals on my world?"

"Sort of." The boy hissed and reached for Firion. "Could you go see if we have any cooling agents? I don't know if anyone here knows the technology, but I've run into it here and there and I'm dying from this heat."

"You need to eat."

"No, I don't."

"I'll get you some soup and you'll drink that before we ice you."

Bartz watched Firion leave them and asked, "We fought together, you said?"

"Yeah. Not as much as you did with Zidane, or I with Terra, but we pulled off some shenanigans. Do you see those lights or is it just me?"

"Zidane, too? Never mind. How are you supposed to replace Krile?"

"It's not replacing, it's providing a temporary substitute until the crystals feel safe leaving all the work to you three. I'm like a brace, brought out to help the broken bones heal and protect the damaged body. And stuff. Agh, I'm gonna throw up."

Bartz checked Onion's temple and the kid recoiled. "You're burning up."

"And I'm trying to tell Firion that, but they're convinced I'm going to die of cold first. Oh, man, that water looks good. If I could just lie in there for a while…"

"I don't think soaking in cold water would help you. A hot bath on the other hand…"

"I don't want a hot bath."

Bartz didn't know why being with Onion made him feel hope, but it warmed him from the inside and brought calm to replace the dread. "How about you tell me about these cycles?"

"Tidus would know those better than me and he's not even here."

Bartz wondered at the thought of having all these people that he knew but didn't remember. Maybe after all was said and done, he could go out and see who else he was supposed to know.


Balthier checked the rings on his fingers, counting them for the days he spent among the Judges back on Ivalice. They compared but didn't match up.

"You do not answer to that meddlesome beast," said Fran, who rested with him under the tree. They took their break away from the Cabin rebuilding and Balthier relished the quiet.

"I grow leery of your power to read my mind," Balthier said. "Do I hold any secrets from you?"

"Not many. Your motions betray you."

"And yet I've been told I say little without words. How do you hear so much?"

"Hey, guys." Penelo took a seat by Fran. "Mind if I hideaway with you for a bit?"

"Doesn't much sound like a request," Balthier said.

"I just want some time to think is all."

"A common story of late."

"Is it?" Penelo asked.

"More than you might realize. What prompts your isolation today, young pirate?"

"What do you mean?"

"You've shown a habit of straying from the encampment at odd triggers. You avoid the new boy soldier like he carried an infestation and you show such dread when Lenna brings up her childhood habits as a budding ruler one could assume you know trauma associated with such."

"… Why would I do that?"

"A question better directed your way. Whether it's a lingering resentment toward reminders of the war or some odd sense of entitlement, I couldn't guess. So, pray tell."

Penelo frowned and looked away. "Arc's acting up and it freaks me out."

"You refer to his hallucinations?"

"What if they aren't hallucinations?"

"You mean to ask if he's making it up?"

"No, what if he's right? What if he sees something we don't?"

"Or perhaps these crystals we just saved are experiencing some complications after all the excitement. I imagine it'll smooth over within days."

"It matches her pattern," Fran said.

Balthier nodded to himself. "And there it is with your telepathic powers, my dear. I repeat my caution around your omniscience. Has it to do with Alus, perchance? You don't much like him either it seems."

"He reminds me of Larsa. After everything that happened, I feel bad leaving him alone."

"Is it your job to console our friend emperor?"

"Well, no, but—"

"Larsa may yet appear young, but he has a full staff to attend to his needs. That's what they're paid to do, even. And then you're a sky pirate, the furthest thing from answerable to the emperor."

"Friends don't pay friends."

"No, but friends also don't take without giving. Larsa is not in a position to give you much and thus he does not deserve your constant attention."

"… I miss him, though."

"Now that is allowed. What do you think, Fran? Will Ashe, Basch, and Larsa survive without us?"

"They will manage," Fran said.

"And we will, too." Balthier sucked in that cool, spring air and closed his eyes. "Just give it time. We'll see our home again and all too soon."

"I want to see them now."

Fran reminded her to be patient and Balthier let them talk, rings still bothering him. They reminded him of days spent in labyrinthine halls and dark rooms. Reminded him of stifling armor and the constant pressure of his superiors to do right by the Throne and his father.


Every bone in her body ached and every muscle protested movement. Her eyes burned at the dimmest light and her lungs at the weight of her torso. Rydia all but collapsed against the wooden fence around the training yard near Fran and Balthier. Ellone and Terra stayed with her.

When she arrived at the fire crystal, she thought that magic was hers. She didn't expect side-effects.

"You're sure you're okay?" Ellone asked.

Rydia nodded, though her neck felt like it might break. "I'm recovering. Explain to me what happened?"

"You used my power for your summon."

Terra said, "We can't do that every time."

"No, but we might as well try." Rydia took deliberate breaths against the pain. "Can we practice, Ellone? Test our limits so we know them next time?"

Terra frowned. "Seems like a dangerous plan."

"It is," Ellone said. "And I'm willing to try, but I'm also not the one getting knocked out."

"Doesn't it hurt?" Terra asked.

"No." Ellone kicked at the dirt. "It flows straight through, like water crashing over you. I can't channel so much, anyway. Not as far from the crystals as we are."

"Allow me," said Fran. Rydia startled—she didn't notice her approach.

Ellone nodded and reached for Rydia. "We still need your connection to the summons. Don't worry—you'll just be another catalyst this time."

Rydia took her hand and a chasm opened in her heart, full of nothing but—

Rydia yanked away.

"It might be hard at first," Ellone said. "To be converted into something you aren't."

"It wasn't the conversion."

Terra took her hand and caught her eye. It looked to Rydia like galaxies contained within Terra's eyes, universes untouched. And yet, she was just a girl who still faced an early death if she didn't find what she was looking for.

"Waves." Rydia turned to Ellone, ready to try again. But this time, she was prepared. "You said it's like waves."

Ellone looked confused but took her hand anyway. Rydia faced the chasm of nothingness and let the terror wash past her. It faded in moments.

Ellone looked at Fran. "Go ahead."

Fran gestured toward Ellone and Rydia tensed.

Energy rose from nowhere and she heard the call of summons. They accepted this purpose—it would affect their worlds, too.

And the power overwhelmed her. Rydia pressed herself to the fence and gripped Ellone tighter. She felt the exact moment Fran twisted the power to summon. The voices changed. They grew louder yet quieter, torrenting like a maelstrom.

Fran shook but held tight. The nothingness evaporated, leaving Rydia to gasp for air again. Balthier came to Fran's side. "My dear, you look worn."

She didn't respond, though she separated from Ellone and recovered her breath.

"I'm sorry," Rydia said. "I didn't know that would happen."

"You mustn't worry," Fran said. "I've controlled worse."

"How far did she get?" Terra asked.

Ellone swallowed. "Far. Over a hundred readied to answer."

"So many?" Rydia asked. "Then I see why I fainted."

Terra looked between them. "It's still a question how much Rydia suffered to summon so many."

"No matter the pain," Fran said, "this is needed. The Crystals reach further than us."

Rydia remembered that coursing strain and surging power. "It's a terrible thing. But I agree. There are forces ready to lend themselves against this thing and not only would we waste an opportunity not to accept, but we'd steal them the chance to fight for their homes."

"If they work with such motivations," Fran said.

"They think differently," Terra said, "and it varies between each realm. You're right, it doesn't translate the same. But I also know they get something similar out of it to us. They still care about not fading away and they still take it as a responsibility to protect their own despite their restraints."

"It's settled, then." Ellone stood. "We'll get this figured out. Just let me take a nap first because it's exhausting to channel such massive explosions."

Rydia exchanged a look with Terra and earned a shy smile. Fran and Balthier left to rejoin Penelo. Rydia closed her eyes and savored the quiet. It was high time she rested herself.


Evening fell.

With Zidane's arrival, Firion wondered if he might meet all his old friends at this rate. It hurt less with every reminder and he even found himself enjoying some of the snippets of memories he picked up. Zidane still didn't catch on despite Vaan's rapid recovery and Firion wondered what caused the difference between their recollections.

It came time for his usual catchup with Baralai—an informal habit they created—and Firion found him around the Cabin. They didn't hide away from the rest of the group, though Firion might feel better if not everyone heard all their words. It was as much synchronization between them as it was an evaluation of the Guild as a whole.

"When will we start inviting Rufus?" Firion asked when he took a seat across from Baralai on a broken boulder. "He considers himself an authority, already."

"I imagine he'll invite himself with time."

"You trusted him well enough for someone you never met."

"We did meet."

"As possessees. I don't think that counts."

"It counts for more than meeting outside possession."

"Why?"

Baralai gave him an intent look. "Because we were honest with each other in ways we cannot be outside the influence."

"And yet you force that honesty anyway."

"Only with those I have to."

"Do you really have to, though?"

Baralai went still and Firion knew he triggered something. "What do you mean?"

"I know you can't be honest in all things, but even Prompto left us. What if you do the same?"

"I'm not."

"What if it was the other way around? Would you take my word for it if it were me?"

"You mean to say I'm unfair."

"Only that you shouldn't use tactics on others that you wouldn't use on yourself." Firion doubted himself before leaning in and whispering, "Don't fear the light."

Baralai closed his eyes in defeat and Firion barely finished the next part before he said, "I have nothing to hide. I pushed Prompto away for his own sake and I've never strayed from the goals of this guild."

"Would you tell me if you changed your plans?"

"Depends on why." Baralai looked away and Firion was struck by the free expression of it.

"When wouldn't you?"

"If it meant involving Maria in something dangerous. Or putting a bad name to Hilda's work."

"What of the others? Would you kill them for your plans?"

Baralai grimaced. "Only if I found it necessary."

"You don't like that?"

"No."

"Because it's not ruthless enough of you or because you would sacrifice people for your own ends?"

"Both."

"How many have you sacrificed already?"

Baralai furrowed his brow and stayed quiet for a while. "… Dozens, I think."

"Anyone I know?"

"Prompto. No one else."

"Why Prompto?"

"Because he had a role to play."

"And which is that?"

"As the light piece. He does a better job than anyone else in this camp at hiding himself from truth."

"But possession wouldn't allow for him to turn spy. It changes people."

"Maybe." Baralai gave a wry smile. "That's what makes it a great experiment, though, isn't it? We don't know what happens when someone's possessed a second time."

"Don't you?"

Baralai said nothing.

"The people you tested returned to themselves within moments, but you've kept up conversation with me. Why?"

"Because this doesn't work like a spell. There's no trigger to snap someone out or a set time until it fades. It's like a drug that worms itself into the body and ebbs with the flow of bodily function. It takes longer for some than for others."

"Why would yours take so long?"

"Maybe it's because I've slowed. Maybe it's because the pieces of me that would dispel it don't work as they should. Maybe it's because I'm more conditioned than the rest. It's probably a mix of the three. Maybe I'm acting."

"You're a good actor, but this feels different."

Baralai hit the table and Firion startled back. "Your naivety will be the death of you," Baralai said. "Just as it almost killed me. Don't trust anyone you've worked with like this. Don't trust anyone at all."

"I think I knocked something loose and you're spiraling for it."

"No kidding."

"You spent a lot of time with him, didn't you? I can't help asking, what was the worst part?"

For the first time, Baralai resisted. Firion considered pushing it before he gave up and said, "I'll assume it was hurting people. That's the way it is for everyone, isn't it?"

"… No."

"Then what?"

"The fact that I don't care. Didn't care. People hurt and I let it roll off my back. I killed and it didn't bother me. That and the pain. I worried more about my aching feet than the cries of the damned." Maybe it was the light, but Firion could swear that Baralai's eyes glistened. "That doesn't change anything, though. No matter how much I aim to save everyone, I find myself more and more desperate for a long, hot bath and the plentiful food I left in Bevelle's palace."

"That's normal—"

"That's not what I'm saying! I hate the sparring and the jabs and the banter and the magic and the practice and the training! I've half a mind myself to burn this place down and leave it to smolder."

"You're tired—"

"I've been tired! I doubt by now that I'd find rest anywhere but in death."

"You're not killing yourself."

"And who'll stop me?"

"I will. The sand twins will."

"They're not twins."

"They'll stop you. If you abandon them, I'll wish all my ancestors to haunt you in death."

Baralai hunched over and looked ten years older. "Then how am I to proceed?"

"By sleeping. Maybe you'll never recover to your full, but I insist you go take a full night's rest before further talk of this."

"Or what?"

"I'll tell Paine how uncooperative you've been when next I see her."

Baralai gave a smile at that. "I doubt she'd disapprove."

"And yet you don't want me telling her everything that's happened, do you?"

"… No."

"Then take a rest."

Baralai squinted. "Is that Alus? He took a long time to get back, didn't he?"

The Crystalchosen warriors greeted Alus near to the gate and Firion never thought he'd see the young prince so harried. Baralai gave Firion an odd look before getting up. Firion took his arm and Baralai stopped short.

"If it's urgent," Firion said, "they'll call us. For once, I don't want to see you up before the sky's lost its colors."

Baralai sat down again and smiled. It looked strange and genuine. Firion offered a drink and Baralai accepted. "Just for tonight," he said.


Alus snatched Arc's hands and Arc found him weaker than he remembered.

"Apologies," Alus said upon pulling away. "I find myself anxious when you—any of you—disappear. I'm glad you're well."

"We feel the same about you," Refia said.

Alus lit up. "Have you given further thought to—?"

"Wait." Toan stepped in. "We need to talk about what happened."

Arc lost feeling in his fingers. "When did you get here?"

"Just before we left. Did you ever meet Seda?"

"I don't think so."

"It looks like the Genie's back, and now we've lost the Fairy King."

"Luneth."

"Yes, where is he?"

"Gone. He went missing after the fight, but he's been doing that a lot lately, so I haven't worried about it until now."

Toan swore and pulled Arc aside. "We should talk."

"We're doing that already—"

"Somewhere quiet."

"Can't it wait a few more minutes?" Alus asked. "I still want to speak with both Arc and Refia on their futures in my court."

Toan chewed on his lip before releasing Arc. "Do what you have to. I'll talk to you after."

Arc wasn't sure how to respond before Refia dragged him with her and went on about his duties in Saronia because he needed to do those and he really cared about Alus, right? So, he would go with Alus so Refia wouldn't have to.