I haven't played this game in probably 15 years so I don't remember this scene, but who cares, it's fanfiction
Deep down, Selena knew that the Manakete was right.
She was a shy little thing with eyes drowned in wisdom beyond her appearance. Selena wasn't a fool to think that she was young, but it wasn't easy to look past her tiny form.
"Myrrh," she'd said to her. "My name. I wish you no ill will." A strange thing to tell the woman who'd effectively kidnapped her.
Selena wasn't above reason, something that had regrettably drawn the attention of Valter who'd warned her the Emperor had grown suspicious of her loyalties.
Ridiculous, thought Selena. She was one of the six, the Fluorspar, loyal to only one thing and that was Emperor Vigarde. She would ride into battle upon her horse and die for his cause if need be; a loyalty was bred and boiled in her blood.
Which made the truth of it all, and the gravity of the situation hurt all the more. Selena knew that Grado was in the wrong, had so for a while now.
"The dark energy here," said Mryyh to her that night, tucked into the tiny corner of her cell. "It's changed the Emperor."
Selena did not respond, only stared back quietly.
"You know this," continued Mryyh, her child-like voice like a sharp knife through the air.
Selena wished that she could be honest with herself, wished that she could utter such words with supreme confidence. She couldn't though, no matter how correct they were. Once said, her pristine reality would come crashing down, and she'd be fighting for a cause that only harmed others.
And really, Selena deserved it, this drive towards darkness and villainy. She'd turned her back on those she trusted, she'd hunted others down that she once served with.
She'd nearly killed Duessel, was this close to ending his life when Valter appeared. The worst part was the relief she'd felt when she hadn't needed to draw that final blow, despite the accusation of where her allegiance stood.
It was exhausting, weighing two sides of the same coin, so Selene didn't. She'd picked a side, and it was the side she knew.
Still, Myrrh's words stirred within her things she thought long lost. A sense of duty and pride, the satisfaction that comes with the honor of being a knight true.
Selena was still a General, yes, but that title meant so little if she harmed so many. It was a gift that only brought destruction now.
"It doesn't matter," said Selena finally.
Myrrh sighed a soft little thing. "It could," she said, staring back with eyes that nearly glowed with perceptiveness. "You can make a difference. You can help change the tide of this war. Lord Duessel has made his choice, and what a choice it was."
"Bold words by someone so readily compromised."
"And yet, you've hesitated in killing me."
Selena had, even though she'd been ordered too. Seemed as though her heart was waiting on one last attempt to right her wrongs.
"Might I have my dragonstone back?" asked Myrrh.
Selena considered the request for a long, hard moment. Watched the girl watch her back in the dark prison. "This darkness," she said, "It permeates Grado."
"It fuels this war, yes."
"What a pity that I find myself on the opposing end."
"A pity indeed," said Myrrh.
Selena's hand found her belt, fingers curling around the key ring. "A mistake," she murmured as she unlocked the Manakete's cell. "Surely, a mistake. I won't give the dragonstone to you, but I will let you go. Warn Ephraim that I am coming for him."
Myrrh stood there for a moment. "Who warns an enemy?"
"Consider it to be the one decent thing I've done."
"You could do more."
Selena had already done everything she could. Her fingers tighten around the wrought iron of the cell door. "I only do what I was born to do," she said.
"A shame," said Myrrh. Finally, the woman-child moved, her wings stretching slightly. "I will warn him as you've asked. I only request that you consider saving yourself as well."
Once upon a time, Selena was so poor she barely knew what food was. The Emperor, once kind and just, saved her village and in the end, she'd devoted her life to him. She'd tell herself, forever and always, and until the end.
"Forever and always, and until the end," whispered Selena.
Myrrh heard, her pointed ears twitching.
"I apologize, I cannot give you the dragonstone."
Myrrh's mouth tightened, looking more forlorn than she should. "I will get it back," she said, her voice soft as she stepped from the cell.
Selena wasn't a fool. She knew that she was going to lose this next fight. Myrrh would pry the dragonstone from Selena's dead, cold hands at the end of it.
"I hope it is worth it," said Myrrh near the door.
It wouldn't be, but Selena wasn't worth much more than her skills as a rider and the spells in her hands. Her life belonged to the Emperor alone, and his word was her law.
"Save them," said Selena to Myrrh, "because it's out of my hands."
The world, Selena meant. Magvel was at risk and it deserved the be saved, even if she couldn't stay her hand. Myrrh nodded and then she was off, wings beating loudly in the silence of the night. And Selena watched after her, leaning against the door frame, arms crossed over her chest.
Valter was right, of course, she was a traitor in the end. Selena wished she had the courage of Lord Duessel. Instead, she held the same drive as Glen and it would lead ultimately to her death.
Selena sighed. "Until, the end, I suppose. There are worse ways to go."
Forever and always, and utterly true to her words. Perhaps she was a fool to think there couldn't be a better end to the story.
But perhaps it only showed that she'd been a fool all along.