Chapter 3: Reunion


Serenica was still reeling.

Here she was, standing before the love of her life. Long ago, at the close of their adventure, he had left her, and she had not even been present for his final moments. Her refusal to accept such an outcome had led her on a new journey, one saturated with desperation and despondency. A hint of hope had winked at her in the form of the Time's Sphere, only to be snuffed out upon realising that it was impossible for her to break the crystallisation of time. Her last comfort had been knowing that she would join him in the afterlife. But, instead, she had drifted.

Then, light had engulfed her, restoring Serenica to her senses. She had come to in front of a man whose groomed features she had not recognised, yet his warmth insisted familiarity. It was in that instant that she had comprehended it: this was Erdwin's reincarnation. The golden sheen of his birthmark confirmed his identity.

He and his party had briefed her of her fate and that of her companions. She remembered gripping her skirt tightly with the urge to tear Morcant a new one. She remembered the amazement she had felt when Junichi had offered her the Super Sword of Light, lending her his power. Her hope restored and heart full, she had made ready to fulfil her wish.

It was nothing short of a miracle.

"Erdwin," she breathed.

"Serenica," he said, grasping her hands as his shoulders slumped in relief. "We did search far and wide for thee."

She smiled. "It gladdens mine own heart to findst thee well."

His brows drew together in confusion. "What dost thou mean?"

Rather than explaining herself, she leant forward to lay her head on his chest. The steady beat of his heart reverberated through her being.

Serenica could save him. She could save Morcant.

She would be forever grateful to Junichi for this chance. She would not allow Erdrea to forget what he had done.

For their sake and for the world, she would set matters right.

"Serenica?" Erdwin called again. His arm moved to hold her close. "Forsooth, 'tis unusual that thou begin this embrace."

"I shalt not loseth thee anew," she whispered fiercely.

She wanted nothing more than to stay in his warm arms for the rest of her life, but there was much to be done. Serenica permitted herself a moment longer to savour his gentle touch before pulling away, much to her lover's consternation. He took her hand instead and they strolled along the path to return to the rest of their party. Though somewhat distracted by the comfort of her hand in his, the ensuing silence allowed her to gather her thoughts.

She would have to insist that they train far harder than before so that she and Drustan could remain with them as the final blow was dealt to Calasmos. Morcant's desire for power had to be curbed; his friendship with Erdwin ought to be unbreakable. Perhaps she could delve into the texts of old in order to research methods of shielding one's mind against exterior forces. Morcant could be recruited to aid in that aspect.

It would be a long road yet, but she vowed that they would succeed.


"Above!"

Serenica jumped back without glancing at the incoming tentacle, trusting that Morcant's word would lead her truly. The man dodged another tentacle nimbly and boiled it with a thunderous incantation. She cast a spell to rejuvenate Drustan as he held back yet another barrage of shadowy missiles. He did not spare her a nod in thanks, but she needed it not, and someone may well have shouted at him to pay attention had he done so. She turned towards Erdwin, energising his body to hack away at Calasmos. The antithesis of creation retaliated with a blast of darkness, flinging the sage onto her back. Flaring pain in her upper left shoulder accompanied a loud crack. She winced and yelped subconsciously before chanting a hasty heal. Her shoulder blade had likely broken, but there was no time to tend to it properly.

"We must endure!" bellowed Drustan, voice robust despite the long minutes spent wearing their enemy down. Without an enchantment, he gave strength to his friends; they redoubled their efforts.

It was not much longer now. The Stygian aura that had surrounded him had been blown away some time ago when Erdwin had brandished the Super Sword of Light. The Dark One was weakening. Darkness issued from fissures in his green, crab-like armour. His mask had broken a minute or two beforehand, revealing features twisted with hatred for existence. He attacked, desperate to end life whilst they fought to protect it. Serenica summoned a glowing shield and the blackness passed harmlessly to each side of them.

A cry sounded from the rear of their group. She pivoted, a gasp escaping her lips. Miasma encased their mage, hiding him from sight.

"Nay," she entreated, her pupils wide. "Morcant! Verily, thou art a child of light! Allowest not thy lust for power to bespell thee!"

She pleaded with the unseen man, hoping that her words reached him, that all their preparation amounted to something. That Morcant would fend off Calasmos' cowardly assault. That Erdwin would live and that she would not have to seek out the Temple of Lost Time once again. That the course of destiny would be changed.

The black-and-indigo cloud whirled ferociously to form a mini-tornado. Her eyes squeezed shut against the roaring gale and arms were raised in a futile attempt to deflect the mist – she could feel frostbite and heatstroke devouring her skin. She would have crumpled had it not been for Erdwin's timely intervention, summoning light to banish the darkness.

In those moments of extraordinary radiance, Serenica stretched her hand out, desiring only the touch of her fellow mage to assure her of his salvation.

The light began to fade in time and her hope with it. She blinked rapidly to clear the sunspots and her blurred vision. But just as she went to withdraw her hand, someone seized it and wrung it with all the strength of a man.

"Fearest not, dear sage, for the forces of evil prevailed not upon mine own soul," Morcant declared, beaming so widely she was treated to a singular view of his pink gums. "Our preparations were indispensable, I assure thee; else I should be lost."

Such was the intensity of her relief that she would have sunken to the ground were it not for Morcant's firm grip. She struggled with her spiralling thoughts. "I…"

"Serenica. Thou hast no need of words. I knowest thy mind." His eyes crinkled, irises blue as a peaceful sky. "Yet, I enjoin thy remembrance: the final blow hath not hitherto been delivered."

She exhaled slowly, banishing all worries of wicked enchantments and bleak futures. A nod was all the encouragement Morcant needed to release her. Her gaze assimilated the state of affairs in an instant. Drustan was busying Calasmos' main body while Erdwin was occupied with his regenerating appendages. They were translucent and moved lethargically – likely still recuperating from the previous bout.

"Very well," she said. "Come, let us end this villain."


Burnt orange filtered through the blinds, bathing the room in the glow of the dying sun. The scent of game rubbed with butter and garnished with piquant herbs wafted throughout the cosy dwelling. Its fireplace crackled contentedly, providing sufficient light for the house's occupants. The quiet thump of wooden spoons on crockery was drowned out by the hum of conversation, for the most part.

"'Tis but a trivial matter, yet ought to be conveyed posthaste," Drustan insisted as he twirled his eating knife. "Surely thou wouldst pass through Nhou Wat on thy travels?"

Morcant threw his hands up and somehow managed a shrug in that position, much to Serenica's perplexity. "Indeed! But long and arduous be the path to Angri-La; thou canst not presume thy goods undamaged. Further, cease thy show of dexterity. It sways me not."

"I implore thee to findest another poor soul willing enough to heave thine armour across Erdrea," Erdwin interjected, still laughing. "The beast thou art – why, it ought to weigh some hundred kilograms! Morcant is far too spindly to perform such a task, e'en with sorcery. Hire a caravan, forthwith!"

"I thankest thee for thy succour," grumbled Morcant.

Drustan guffawed. "Thou raisest a fine point! I accede to thy request."

"And I thankest thee for thy mercy, O esteeméd Sir Drustan!"

The knight leant against the back of his seat and belched without reserve. Morcant flinched and muttered aught of unseemly and ungracious oafs. Serenica, meanwhile, hid her blush with an improper giggle.

"Thy display of satisfaction with our supper dost flatter mine wife!" Erdwin opined. She slapped his arm and he grinned as he continued, "You must make merry in my home whenever business alloweth."

Serenica groaned quietly, knowing that the two visitors would take that to heart and come whenever they were able. As they were both familiar with the Zoom spell, she was certain that she and her husband would entertain them weekly, if not more frequently.

She got to her feet, gathering everyone's dishes. "I daresay Drustan might grow to resemble a jargon should he take thee up on that, my dear."

Drustan's eyebrows shot up with the unexpected barb even as he chuckled. "Thy wife hath kept her tongue sharp, my friend!"

"In truth, the lady hath whet it on me," her husband sighed.

They all shared a laugh as she took care of the tableware and bade the men goodnight. They would drink through the evening and be helpless come morning, no doubt. As for her, she had an oath to carry out. She lit a candle of beeswax and padded to their study, where rolls of parchment, a quill, and an inkwell sat waiting.

Such articles were expensive, reserved only for the most well-to-do. Fortunately for her, as one who had eliminated the darkness on top of being married to the Luminary, Serenica was afforded many luxuries. Notwithstanding their newfound fame, she and Erdwin wished only to live simply. For the task at hand, however, she would employ whatever means necessary to keep her promise that Erdrea would know the deeds of the hero yet to come. Following that, she was determined to preserve the story of her husband's adventure. Many candles would be burnt through sleepless nights.

Thus, the legend of the first Erdrick and the tale of the first Luminary were passed on through the ages.


Omake

Serenica had thought she could fix everything that had gone awry.

She was wrong.

She should have known it would not work. Not for her. She who possessed but an echo of the Luminary's potential, had merely borrowed the sword only he could wield truly.

Never again would she lay eyes her dearest. Never again would she hear his voice, bask in his gaze, in his laughter.

Golden bubbles of time floated past – the only sources of illumination in the abyss. She attempted to grasp one, but all it gave her was the vision of her despair. She tried again, reaching for one which emitted tenderness, but it eluded her. If any brushed past her, they bore only misery.

She shut her eyes. Perhaps if she thought only of Erdwin, the spacetime continuum would lead to her to him. Her heart called up every memory of him: his tell-tale grunts during Drustan's training, his animated features as he regaled them with embarrassing stories of Morcant, the tilt of his head when he listened to her, his scarlet face as they exchanged bracelets…

Each image served only to immerse her more deeply in the darkness. She was drowning, entrenched in her anguish. She could no longer breathe; desolation suffocated her being. Eternal shadow and utmost wretchedness would be her portion.

Tears pooled beneath her lids.

Farewell, my love.

Denied even the consolation of reunion in the next world, Serenica wandered forevermore.


AN:

Cross-posted on Ao3.

Sorry for the wait. Exams and making song covers. And Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition. Then I came back to this chapter and saw all my stuff about changing destiny… Now I'm tempted to stick a 'seize our destiny' somewhere…

The omake is NOT part of this story. I thought I should make that very clear. It springs from the Timekeeper's declaration that one could be lost in time, and I thought Serenica would have a greater chance since she's not the true Luminary.

I am certain that I have made a plethora of Middle English errors; I mightn't come back to this scenario.

I add that a couple of my romantic stimuli are 'What It Means To Be Living' and 'In This Cage' by The_Ocean_Deep (Ao3). They comprise a series of FFVII fanfics that I would highly recommend. The rest stems from my own relationship or from what I have seen in others; I have learnt much and continue to.

Next instalment: Adventure Awaits. Gemma sings for adventure in the great wide somewhere and gets it.