VII.
Jacqueline and Fiona were standing in the red, disturbing light permeating the Worldstone's antechamber. Now the elaborate tile floor was littered with corpses and smeared with blood, the walls were charred and in spots outright demolished. But the way forward has been laid bare before them, and it was all that mattered. Or was it?
The Valkyrie approached silently, having finally extricated her spear from the thick, gnarly hide of the Minion of Destruction she had stabbed to death. The battle was not easy by any means because the final level of the Mount Arreat's dungeon was literally crawling with powerful demons, and luring them out to be slaughtered piecemeal proved exceedingly difficult. The two mortal warriors were exhausted from running around as much as they were from fighting, especially since Jacqueline had to resort to her spear more than once, as the tight quarters did not favor ranged combat. The spirit soldier appeared indefatigable, as always, but the Amazon could not help feeling that something was amiss about her – even though she had never summoned a Valkyrie before, only having been granted this kind of revelation shortly before their journey took them to Lut Gholein.
Seeing that Fiona was none too eager to proceed with haste, Jacqueline acted on impulse, approaching her celestial sister in arms and putting her hand, now gloveless, on the slightly glowing, inhumanly colored arm of the Valkyrie. Her fingers felt the cool skin that did not, again, register as being human, but she did not care. Feeling the absolution looming before them, she was compelled to speak aloud that which had coalesced in her mind.
"Listen... I can't know who you are, or were, but for what it's worth, it's been an honor to fight by your side. I can only hope to become the warrior like you are, and were in life, to have been uplifted like that. Do you not have the name to remember you by if we-"
The spirit woman was tempted to speak, to spill out her heart and the newly remembered history that had been gnawing at her whole consciousness, but she dared not. What was the use burdening this young woman, abloom with life and strength, with a ghost tale – especially the one she could not remember in its entirety? Even if, by some whim of fate, Jacqueline would have known Randgrid, or at least her name, there would have been no meaningful outcome for this. So instead of speaking, the Valkyrie only shook her head – technically answering the Amazon's exact question, nothing more and nothing less, trying to disregard the imaginary dagger that pierced her nonexistent heart in that instant. The Askari shrank back at this reply – not in fear, but in muted grief and compassion she could not have hoped to express in the way that would have felt right. Her eyes were full of sympathy as her hand lingered on the spirit soldier's arm.
"I wish the stories hadn't been true..." she whispered before turning her face away in sorrow.
Fiona approached, and awkwardly repeated Jacqueline's gesture – awkwardly not because she was reluctant, but for lack of understanding as to what in the world could be done to remedy the situation.
"I'm not even an Amazon, but I've been honored to fight with you and... think of you as a sister in arms", the Rogue managed.
For the only time in their shared journey, the Valkyrie felt compelled to lead the way, if only to break the vicious circle of compassion that stung like a wreath of thorns encircling her head. Smiling slightly to Fiona – even though the Goddess only knew what that smile had cost her! – she turned towards the room where the portal leading to the Worldstone chamber lay.