Snow crunches beneath my feet, I cannot see far in front of me, and the winds shriek still, but there is a desperation to it. A finality. This is a dying storm. I clench my fingers and find that I still have a hold of Amanda's shoulder. She is caught completely off-guard by the cold and hunches over reflexively. I curse, realising I also haven't properly equipped myself.

With a snap of my fingers a rune appears on the ground, and for a small radius everything becomes tolerably warm. The snow beneath us slowly starts to lose its ice-packed solidity. Amanda stomps and drags her feet as though wiping them on a doormat. I rub my shoulders and crane my head to examine her.

"Where is everyone?" she asks before I can glean anything useful.

I cast my eyes off into the storm. The swirling white flakes and fog

"Not sure," I mutter.

I enhance my vision and strain further. In the distance I am able to discern a shifting mass which might be a column of marching men. I frown, then check my last storage ring. Capacity is still reasonably high, though it will take much longer to recharge. At the very least, it will stave off the ravages magic has inflicted and will continue to inflict upon my body.

"Out that way," I point. "I think. We might wait a moment, though, I can feel the storm subsiding."

"Cool," she says faintly.

Her eyes are fixed on the stiletto knife Rose threw to her, and her fingers twist it precisely.

"I don't know if I'm going crazy or not," she says, "But I think she threw the original knife. Not a duplicate or anything."

"Hm…" I lean forward, "You might be right."

I use a simple analysis spell. I learn nothing.

"Sorry," I grimace.

I crane my head again and try to get a good look at her features. She is sombre. Understandably. Suddenly, she looks up and makes eye contact with me. I feel as though I've been caught doing something terrible and look away.

"It's not your fault," Amanda says. "I should have been paying more attention. It's a little late to ask her now."

I swallow and scan the winds again. I can now see the mass of people more clearly. At their head I see a pair of glowing white eyes. I begin to hear a distant sound: the men are singing. I can't make

"Nonsense, I'm sorry if all this was a little abrupt. I don't think any of us planned for this. How are you feeling?"

Amanda rolls her shoulders into a hunch again.

"I miss him already, but that's not going to change anything."

I think on Warnado's constant joking, his playful arrogance, his magically-enabled comfort eating. He never liked me much but…

"I miss him too."

I back away, and a morsel of the song is carried to me. It arcs along the wind, then caresses my ear like a lost love.

…It's but the turning of the weather.

The Spring breeze leads me home…

I smile as I remember the tune.

"Oh, that's a lovely old one," I chuckle. "We used to sing that in Zine. Gracey of all people gave a great rendition. I still remember one evening-"

I turn to Amanda. She' smiling politely, but there's a tear running down her cheek. I kneel down and draw her in. She hugs me back. We don't say anything for a while. The singing draws nearer, becomes a constant murmur. I can see the Watcher's white eyes blazing more clearly. I let go of her and stand up.

"Alright," I say. "A song like that demands better weather."

I stand up, rubbing my hands together, a grin stampeding across my face. Amanda straightens up and begins to walk off beyond the bounds of the warming spell. I grab stop her.

"Oh, are we not going to join them?"

I scrunch the corners of my mouth downwards. I feel the magic building up inside me.

"In a second. Like I said, we need better weather."

She squints and for a second my newfound energy infects her too, sending a smile pulsing across her face.

I raise my hands, and there is a release. A pulse goes out, driving the storm away as it goes. The snow is uncovered. It glistens in the sunlight, but also with other colours. The parting of the clouds reveals a brilliant aurora of countless colours.

"Woah," Amanda says. "Did you do that as well?"

I remember where I first saw the aurora. Back on the border of the Vanilla Craft. Kay had come back, missing his obsidian-plated armour, saying he'd been robbed. The day he announced his intention to retire… I think I understand that choice a little better now. At least he tried. I suppress the pain and maintain a confused frown for Amanda's benefit.

"No," I stroke my chin and lean back. "That's Shadow I think… Nexus had a lot of energy tied up in it. A million magical undercurrents all tied up together. So, when Shadow tore that up, I guess it all just got released."

"You just made that up."

"Pretty much."

We laugh.

I look back to where I'd previously seen the vague mass. Now, it is there, in brilliant detail.

The Vanillans make their long trek back towards the grey walls of the Old Craft. Legionnaires carry shields by straps. Vangaardians hold their heads high. Arcationites and Brotherhood acolytes exchange great boasts of war. And there are Blackshells, and Legionnaires, and Gaians and so many others. Content in their battered glory, returning from war to the distant promise of peace. I see my guild. Aaron begins to jump and wave. Herobrine stops to demurely nod. With him, the procession halts. They await our arrival.

I raise my hand in acknowledgement and take Amanda by the arm. We begin to march towards them.

"What do we do, once we get there?" Amanda asks.

"You know," I start. "I don't really know. My banishment is over. Herobrine indicated he might have a use for me at the True Court, though I can't imagine Jeb will agree. Jeb was not happy about Herobrine joining us, and I don't imagine he's happy with me for helping to persuade him. Of course, there's always Cossack and the Gaians, I should be welcome to any post I want in his government."

"Oh," she halfway groans.

I look down at her and smile.

"I agree. Saying it out loud it all sounds a little 'tribal' to me. I had also thought of setting out to see the world again. Travelling for a while with the Guild. Would you like to join me?"

I see a distant hope flicker in her eyes. She allows herself to smile.

"I think I would."

I smile and squeeze her against me. The Guild are approaching us now. Aaron, Tass, Secret, and the others. I remember the relief of our reunion on the Fields. Even in such darkness as the aftermath of the coup, just seeing them again had brought so much joy. I break away from Amanda and suddenly kneel, making a show of adjusting my boot.

"Go on ahead. Best you start meeting our travelling companions properly."

She smirks as she detects the lie in my tone but heads on with a shake of her head. I spare a glance at the aurora and close my eyes.

I feel the energy coalesce in my hand, then open them once again. A golden ray, identical to the ones from Shadow's portals rises from my palm. Not enough to make a functional portal, but a starting point from which to reconstruct the spell. The first thread in a tapestry.

I clench my fist shut and vow that, one day, I will have it working again. And then, perhaps, if the universe is willing to grant us one more miracle and preserve Warnado's life, I can give her that same gift of reunion.

Amanda is already trapped beneath an avalanche of conversation from Tass and Aaron. Mo and Secret are jeering at me to hurry up. I glance over my shoulder, back across the frigid tomb of Acrisius, and I thank the fallen for bringing us this far. The fallen of Nexus, and of my own world. Fristad, Destiny, David, Mini, Bokane… Kay. I thank you all. I forgive what I can.

Then, I move on. A new journey begins, unburdened by the old.