Epilogue

Alina held the sharp point of the spear in her hand as if she was weighing the options. "Saved you I did, yes, but stay I will not." She got up on her feet and brushed down along her dress to straighten it. "Oh yes, leave I will now."

"No…" Rodin cried out and reached for her. Alina turned but did not put her tiny hand in his hand.

"Let me go, friend, you will not suffer anymore. You will be found soon, and your enemies will not come back for you. Sleep now, or watch the sky, stargazer. In these lands, centaurs are called star-gazers that tell the future by the stars. They are all wise creatures and loyal to the end, or so I heard." She smiled.

"I can bear the suffering, but only if you stay with me…"

"Why should I stay? What do I mean to you? You know nothing of me yet you claim that even though we've never met before you cannot live without me anymore? I have merely saved you, nothing more, nothing less. You will find your way in life and be happy one more."

"But I have never been happy before!"

"Oh come on! Don't lie to me, it is useless. You've been happy with your family, your friends, you've even been happy fighting for your cause." Alina's aura began to glow. It was not your fault, not your choice to keep fighting even though it was not a good cause in the end. You have seen it yourself."

"You showed me…"

"No, you just saw what is true. I cannot show things, I can only make you see…I am not real, Rodin, all that is real is you and what is around you. Go back to what is real to you, go back to your life."

"I don't have a life anymore…"

"Then create yourself a new one." Alina laughed. "But do it without me…Even if I wanted to stay, I could not. I am probably only a product of someone else's fantasies. Or maybe yours. Let go of me now, and stop your dreaming. Wake up and live!"

She bent forward and placed a soft and cool kiss on his forehead. For a moment Rodin closed his eyes but when he opened them again, she had vanished. There was not even a trace of her, and the snow had vanished, too. Was this just a dream?

The wound in his chest was still hurting, but he had gathered enough strength to stand up again. He heard the noise of beating hooves and soon his fellows found him in the undergrowth. He was save, finally.