"Our power…. How can this be!?" Charibert panted, staggering to his feet.
Using her staff to steady her aching body, she focused on steadying her breathing. Edonea had exhausted her aether on that last Thundra spell, and the pull of taught muscle warned that if she used any more, it would cause severe damage.
[Haurchefant is going to give me a good lecture about recklessness later] Edonea thought absentmindedly. Movement beyond Charibert caught her attention.
From the open doorway, Zephirin gave the order to fall back.
Disgruntled at his defeat, Charibert turned and followed beyond the doors.
Going to follow a shout got Edonea's attention. Sol called out and directed our team's attention to the airship that flew overhead "We can't let them get airborne".
They continued with a nod of agreement, and it was not long until Haurchefant's team re-joined them.
"Good to see you still in one piece" Ettie joked as they came to doors leading out to a platform that led out to the Archbishop's airship.
With one arm firmly over what Chiyu had confirmed were broken ribs, Aymeric stumbled ahead of the group.
"Father, please!" he pleaded. The openness of their surroundings amplifying his voice.
"We're not too late my dear" Haurchefant said quietly. Edonea nodded, knowing that he would have her back.
It's what she loved most about him.
"Why must you do this, Father!?" Aymeric continued to argue, however, his words fell on deaf ears.
"Nidhogg is fallen! There is no need for further deception! Now is the time to renounce the lies which led us down this path – to start anew!"
Silence.
Silence so thick it was suffocating.
"And tear down the very pillars of our society – our history – our values – everything we have built over a thousand years?" the Archbishop replied with a heavy sigh "A fool to the last."
Every hair on Edonea's body stood on end at the end of that statement. If they did not act now, the Archbishop would get away.
With a knowing look, Haurchefant and Edonea charged forward before the rest of our party could react.
They were halfway out on the platform when Ettie let out a shrill scream of warning.
"BEHIND YOU!"
Edonea was ahead of Haurchefant and hadn't heard what Ettie shouted. Turning to look back she saw him with shield raised, facing a threat neither had noticed.
A spear of piercing white light collided with Haurchefant's shield. The force of it blinded them, and Edonea let out a small cry of fright.
"I have your back my love" Haurchefant reassured as he struggled against the force of the spear.
Time suddenly felt slow to her as her horns picked up on the sound of buckling steel.
With a grunt, Haurchefant tried to push the spear of light back.
The smell of molten metal and flesh stung her nose.
Tears fell as she saw the tip of the spear protrude through Haurchefant's back.
All thoughts of the Archbishop left Edonea's mind. As the world around her fell away, her heart broke with the anguished scream that tore from her throat.
"HAURCHEFANT!"
As the spear of light faded, Haurchefant fell.
She vaguely remembered hearing the Archbishop saying with remorse "Go. Azys Lla awaits."
Body numb, Edonea fell to her knees as a loud ringing filled her ears.
"Lord Haurchefant!" Aymeric's shouted.
Pulling out her wand, she began summoning aether directly from her lifeforce. [You've learnt some conjuring Edonea so heal!] she growled mentally to herself trying to remember the lessons Chiyu had taught her.
She knew the risks of exhausting her aether, but if it saved Haurcehant's life, she didn't care.
Indescribable pain shot through her body as Edonea summoned aether made of her life force. Her tongue suddenly tasting copper.
Estinine and Chiyu rushed to their side "Edonea stop! You'll kill yourself!" she ordered taking the staff from Edonea's trembling fingers, cutting off the spell.
[Why wouldn't she let me heal him? He'd be ok if I could just heal him] tear-stained cheeks pale from strain and grief.
A shaky hand took hers. Looking down, Edonea saw Haurchefant giving a strained smile of relief.
"You… you are unharmed? F-forgive me… I could not bare the thought of… of…."
A crimson coughing fit rattled through him. Cradling his hand like a lifeline, Edonea brought it up to cup her face.
His thumb gently brushed over her cheek "Oh, do not look at me so" he chuckled as blood began dry on his lips "A smile better suits a hero…"
Swallowing hard, Edonea felt her lips twitch into a smile. Her smile so bright and for him alone.
Haurchefant's face lit up as if he were the happiest man in the world.
His head fell back, and his hand fell from her face.
The ringing in Edonea's horns became deafening, causing the voices around her to sound static and unintelligible.
As a part of her died with Haurchefant, all she could do was scream out her grief while Sol and Ettie quietly helped her to her feet.