The darkness of death filled Amara's vision. Nothing at all was around her. The only fate she saw was an eternity here, left behind by everyone and everything. To have been abandoned by time and space.
Six months earlier, Amara had been faced with the possibility of her own death. By some miracle, she had escaped from that destiny, and time and time again, she had pulled through. Flames of warfare raged whenever she stepped into the heat of battle, against the monsters known as Shadows. However, it was merely delaying the inevitable. The flames had been put out, and the cold atmosphere of void stretched out as far as the eye can see.
Her mind seemed to have shut down, too. Fear was absent. Worry had left. Everything that had swelled up inside her had been expelled, to be sucked away into the abyss. If this was what it meant to die, she told herself she could accept it. After all, it meant no more fighting, no more tears, and no more suffering.
However, something happened. In this brief moment of acceptance, she saw something in front of her. Ethan, with his back turned to her. His name registered in her memory, and she tried to gasp. She tried to raise her hand, trying to reach out to him, but he started to walk on ahead.
"...Wait!" Amara shouted. She started to get up, and gasped. Her body – it was still there. Her fingers, her toes, everything was intact. However, Ethan was growing more and more distant. She started to run, as fast as she could, but to no avail. He remained too far apart to be reached, and her voice did not reach his ears. Soon, he went up a flight of invisible stairs, and vanished.
"Ethan, wait!" Amara yelled. "Don't leave us here!"
There was silence. No one else but herself. Her mind went to the others who had fought with her – Sophie. Alastair. The other Amara. What had become of them? And everyone else fighting the Ater Vox? Would anyone be able to face Janus?
Amara Furaha. Death almost vanquished you, but the Sun shines even in the darkest hour. You must return...I shall take you there. Your final task is nearly at hand...please, do not fail. Humanity cannot afford to lose you yet.
With that voice, Amara shut her eyes. When she opened them, all was bright. The aroma of flowers was all around her, and the chattering of familiar voices rang in her ears.
Amara Furaha was back.
Arc X: Duality of Finality
Chapter 96: Ataraxia
|Ashen Amurdad – Garden of Remembrance|4:06 am|
Amara sat up, staring at the grass beneath her. The flowers of the garden were still there, swaying in the gentle breeze, and the sun was filtering through light, fluffy clouds.
"Huh...?" She said. The grand palace was right in front of her, looming over the town of Amurdad. Slowly, she stood up. Just what had happened? The Liberated Mummy had attacked them here, and she was sure she had defeated it with the help of her other self. However, the Shadow sacrificed itself for one last attack, and thus Amara was faced with death itself.
"You're alright...?" Other Amara said, walking up to her. "I was so scared...I thought that was it! We were goners...but.."
"The Mummy is definitely gone now." Sophie said. "And we're all still alive...thank goodness..." Out of sheer relief, she embraced Other Amara close.
"We're all lucky to have survived." Alastair said, rubbing his eyes. "I assumed that was the end of us. But it looks like we've cheated death."
"...Yeah." Amara said, looking in the opposite direction. She saw people in the distance, and her heart skipped a beat. A whole crowd of people were marching towards the palatial gardens, and one in particular was running at her. "Serena!"
"Amara!" Serena screamed. She flung herself at Amara, and the two girls held each other close, sobbing with joy. Against all odds, both of them had survived their ordeals. And not just her. Two much taller people joined the hug, equally relieved. "Blaine...Nathan..."
"Hey, girl..." Blaine said, teary-eyed. "Sorry we took so long..."
"We all made it here safe and sound...there's nothing to worry about." Nathan said, sniffling.
"Karl, get over here!" Serena said.
"Sorry...is there room?" Karl asked, wandering over. He managed to join in, squeezing in between Nathan and Blaine. "Haha...I never thought I'd be so happy to see everyone..."
The group hug ended, and Amara soon saw everyone else congregate, exchanging stories on their battles. All five of the Ater Vox members had been slain, and their souls were free from Janus at last. On their way to Amurdad, the five groups had managed to reunite, and made their way through to the palace together.
"We saw their past lives..." Roger said. "Pierre and his cousin..."
"Archie and my dad..." Other Blaine said.
"My sis..." Other Serena said.
"Josephine and her husband..." Other Nathan said.
"Carlos and his daughter..." Bianca said.
Amara listened, intently, to the memories they had been privy to see. Now, it felt like she could respect them a little. They were people like her and her friends, she realised. Their last wishes would be carried out by the team, as soon as the world could be considered normal again.
"It looks like we've got a lot of work to do." Aimee said, happily. "But I don't mind at all. It gives us purpose, even after we succeed."
"You sound confident!" Karl said.
"Of course she does!" Lucy said. "We're going to beat Janus and its two behinds!"
"Yeah!" Shirley said. "One kick, and I'll send it back to hell where it came!"
"Violent..." Karen said. "Of course, not that I'm complaining. I'd like to do that myself."
"This place is beautiful." Bianca said, admiring Ashi's flowers. "Whoever planted them here, I wish I could thank them. I want to make a garden just like this when we get back!"
"Sure puts Kanaloa to shame." Dan said, looking around. "Now this is a home for a guy with king in his surname. Right?"
"Sure, Dan, but this was a time before TVs and cheap beer..." Matthew said.
"No problem!" Dan said, smiling. "All I'd have to do is take up hunting, and get toasted on champagne."
"...I'm detecting historical inaccuracies." Kyle said. "That aside...are we all accounted for? I see both Amaras, Sophie and Alastair...looks like we're all okay."
"Um...actually..." Serena said, anxious. "There is someone missing, isn't there? Amara's group had five members."
"Oh god! Ethan!" Amara gasped. "How could I forget about him?!"
"He's...missing?" Alastair asked. "But that can't be! We was with us when the Mummy used that horrible final attack of his!"
"He must have awakened before us, and left...idiot!" Other Amara said, angered. "Come on, we've got to get in there! Nihane's up there somewhere!"
"Alright. Everyone, we're off! This is our last mission, and this time, I mean it!" Aimee said. The team ran up the steps, and through the grand bronze doors. After what felt like an eternity of battling in front of it, Amara would finally enter the foreboding halls of the Amurdad Palace.
|Ashen Amurdad – Palatial Discord|4:09 am|
Hurry...I've got to hurry!
Throughout the white marbled archways of the huge palace, Ethan ran as fast as he could. The carpets, statues, portraits and ornaments zoomed by as he bounded down the corridors and up flights of stairs. Eventually, he reached a large spiral stairwell, and ignoring his own fatigue, he stormed up it.
I'm sorry I left you all behind, but there's no time to waste...
Ethan had been the only one standing. The Liberated Mummy's final effort to take their lives had failed, but Ethan was the only one who had escaped unharmed. Waiting for Amara and the others to awaken was not an option, he realised. For Janus was preparing for the Eternal Road right this second.
"Come on...it's not much further..."
Finally, Ethan reached a long, grand and tall corridor at the very highest floor. At the end of this path were the doors to the throne room. Ethan, sword at his side, marched down. The torches on the walls turned from orange to blue, and the doors flung open. Ethan jumped into it, sliding across the floor.
|Palatial Discord – Throne of Ahura Mazda|4:15 am|
This throne room was much larger than Ethan expected. It was more like a giant cathedral. Giant windows lined the walls, but in the centre was a tremendous balcony. There was the throne, a finely crafted golden masterpiece decorated with the Kronos family's seal. Sitting on it, with his legs crossed and his head in his hand, was Nihane Kronos.
"That Mummy couldn't do one simple job?" Nihane said, disgusted. "Him and my so-called friends failed! I was hoping I could have watched the end from here, in this comfy seat...but no! All the Shadows keep dying, my friends keep dying...but the old me refuses to die! He's standing right here before me. No doubt about to launch into a spirit to make me change my mind!"
"...No." Ethan said. "Words won't help you now." He held out his sword, and pointed it to his counterpart's head. "On your feet. A real descendant of Nihane Kronos would never sit idly on a throne."
Nihane scoffed, and levitated from his chair. His cape fluttered in the wind, and his crown shimmered an eerie red hue. He ran a hand through his hair, exposing more of his purely white skin – and red eyes.
"You still want to fight? Now? What's the point?" Nihane demanded. "I gave my all for this, you know. A chance to rule over a brand new Amurdad, one that would last forever! But...Janus had different ideas. He used me and my friends to make the whole planet disappear! My whole life has been for nothing...nothing at all..."
"...Yeah." Ethan said, sadly. "If I hadn't been born, this would never have happened."
"You agree, don't you? That we should have never been born!" Nihane yelled madly. "I was chasing after a dream that could never happen! This is the closest I can get. The furthest I can go...is looking over a mirage! Amurdad was never meant to come back. Its people will never have their vengeance. Now, they'll curse me as we all fade away."
"If I hadn't listened to Janus, I could have stopped all this. That project at Aeternus might not have achieved anything in the end, but at least I'd have my friends." Ethan said, sorrowful. "Now, I'm the only one left. All of that is on my shoulders..."
"Then let's fade together." Nihane offered. He held out his hand, pleadingly staring into Ethan's eyes. "You're me, remember? You and I are the same. We've no one else. No home to return to. Your future, if it continues past today, is going to be empty...those rebels are just siding with you until they get what they desire."
"...Maybe so." Ethan said reluctantly.
"You can't just go back to a normal life." Nihane said. "How could you, after this? I...I was prepared to end this all alone. If I have to face the Eternal Road with myself, fine. At least I won't be alone. I can die with someone to hold my hand."
"Even knowing it's the exact same hand?" Ethan asked.
"It doesn't matter..." Nihane said, shaking his head. "There's nothing beyond the Eternal Road, you know. It means we can just vanish, leaving behind all of our pain. The world that did this to us will go away too."
Ethan was silent. He just stared at his own hand in front of him, begging for his acceptance. In the short time Ethan had been his real self, he had dwelled on his prospects. Truth be told, he had no idea what he should do. In the Normal World, he was declared dead. In the Other World, the people of the city would know him as Nihane Kronos, the man that promised them safety from the crisis he himself had unleashed.
What...do I do? He's right. What am I even fighting for? I was so sure of myself when we were facing the Mummy. It was hard enough for me to make friends with Archibald and the others. I...don't have a future at all, do I? Then I may as well just give in and let everything end.
As that thought echoed in his mind, however, something rang hollow. Something very important. The prospect of not having a future was terrifying. Yet worse was the fact that if he went through with this, he would deny the entire planet theirs. Even if humanity weren't perfect...they had a chance at evolving beyond their current state.
I may not have the answer for my own path. But there billions left on this Earth who are chasing their own goals. It...it wouldn't be right to take that from them. Amara and her friends have been holding on for this long for that purpose. How can I leave them to oblivion?
"It won't be long now. The human and Shadow worlds will soon be one and the same. When that happens, everything will start to fade away...it's already begun!" Nihane said, his eyes fiercely staring into his own. "Maybe this is what I've been looking for all along! A chance to save everyone!"
"You call this salvation?" Ethan asked, angrily. "There's still too much potential left in humanity! Too much for you to just cast aside!"
"You think so? What difference is there in the people of today to those two hundred and fifty years ago?!" Nihane shouted. "None! They're still waging wars, all in the name of their supposed justice! You think Janus is going to be patient enough to wait a thousand years, maybe more?! No! And neither am I..."
Out came Janus – yet each half had changed considerably. The male one now had grey skin, one purple, 'normal' eye, and the other was bright pink and incredibly bright. He wore black, finely tailored clothes with golden lace and a cravat, and his sleek black hair covered most of his 'normal' eye, and had a ponytail longer than his own body, tied with red bands. The scythe had changed too – it was a much broader, deadlier weapon now, with a lion insignia at the top of the shaft.
The female form had also shed her cloak. She had a silver, long tied ponytail with a pretty red gem at the bottom. Her skin was pure pale, and her eyes were the inverse of the male form's. Instead of a shapeless robe, she wore a tight blue and gold tabard that split at the back, with matching long gloves. On her forehead was a blue, glowing object that looked like a lotus flower, and on her back were six flapping white wings, with golden pipes like a church organ's between them. Her rod was now a long white one, with sapphires in them, with a blue orb floating on the top.
Nihane. The fallen Lord who fancied himself as Master. We will allow you to control us...as a reward for your years of service. Ethan Walters, you will NEVER have what you seek. Humanity's potential has run out. You yourself have made it all possible. Your reward shall be an early, quick and painless death!
"I don't think so!" Ethan roared. "Sraosha!" The Amesha Spenta appeared, and with his counterpart, aimed his sword at his opponent. Nihane drew his, still floating, and before long, all blades had clashed.
The closing battle of the war had begun, baring its fangs to all those who dared to venture near.
|Palatial Discord – Antechamber's Tragedy|4:15 am|
Amara gasped. Not even her father's home, or any other place she had seen during her travels, was like this. A magnificent palace, taking cues from all sorts of architecture at the time. A melding of great minds had come together to build this place, from the giant arches, mosaic flooring, portraits across the walls, and grand candles lighting up the walls. Blue curtains framed the domed windows, and there were flowers placed throughout the large, long hallways.
"It's like something out of Victorian times...before good old Queen Vic was even born..." Matthew said, amazed.
"I'm surprised the surrounding areas hated Amurdad so much. It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen." Bianca said, admiring some marigolds.
"People back then were more ignorant..." Nathan said. "I'm ashamed to admit it, but even in these times, Nova Albion is still exclusive to the upper class."
"The rich are the bad guys? Now there's a game changer." Blaine said, rolling his eyes. "...I didn't mean you. Don't look so upset."
Serena, curious, took out her phone. While it obviously had no signal, and it was a good quarter of a millennium before Wi-Fi took off, it still turned on. It claimed 'Emergency Calls Only', but of course the police would be out of their depth with this. Serena's interest was her camera. She opened the application, but her viewfinder only displayed white space.
"Huh?" She said. "But...why's it doing that?"
"Simple. This place isn't really here. At the moment, nothing 'really' exists on this spot." Sophie said. "Kanaloa was destroyed, the Aeternus HQ is no more, and this is a simulacrum, nothing else. Our human minds can perceive it, but your smartphones cannot."
"Sophie, can you tell where Ethan is?" Lucy asked. "This place gives me the creeps..."
"I still can't believe they tore this entire place down...what a waste." Other Serena said.
"One second." Sophie said, concentrating. "He's..." She gasped, looking up at the ceiling. "He's at the highest point of this place! The Throne Room! And...Nihane's there with him!"
"Oh, fucking hell..." Other Blaine said, irritated. "He just had to get there first? How's he going to last on his own?!"
"We've got to get to him!" Other Amara said.
"Yes! He needs us. We have to show him that...he's not alone!" Amara said. "I know it's corny, but most of the things I've said here have been!"
"No arguments here..." Lucy said, sticking out her tongue.
"Nihane may be even stronger this time. I doubt his new outfit is merely ceremonial." Kazuya said, frightful.
"We've come this far, everybody. You all did well to get here...we can do the impossible. We can win!" Karl said, pumping the air with his fist.
"It may not be that easy..." Sophie said, gravely concerned. "Janus has placed a barrier to stop us from going up. To destroy them, we're going to have to kill six Shadows that are carrying keys."
"Oh, come on!" Tara groaned. "Can't we solve puzzles, push blocks, and pull levers for a change?"
"This isn't Tomb Raider..." Serena said, grinning.
"Shame. Tara would fit her costume perfectly." Matthew said, staring at his friend's chest. She glared at him stonily, and he backed away, laughing awkwardly – as if to say 'spare me my life'.
"I know it's frustrating, but we've got no choice! We can't take a chance and wait for Ethan to win by himself." Aimee said. "Get to work! There are Shadows all around us. This time, go anywhere! Teams or no teams, just do it! But we go up together. No one, and I mean no one, is getting left behind!"
"It feels like ages since we last fought together." Nathan said, looking at his 'classic' team.
"Yeah. A few hours feels like months down here." Blaine said. "Let's kick some ass!"
"It'll be nice to have weak Shadows to kill this time." Serena said, cheerfully. "Might be relaxing."
"As long as the Trauma Shadows don't pull another comeback, we'll be fine!" Karl said, warmly smiling.
"...Let's go, team!" Amara yelled. She ran ahead, and engaged a gang of Basalt Shadows. These would fall within seconds, no matter what spells they knew. For there was no greater power in this ghostly city than them, the Motus Rebels.
|Throne of Ahura Mazda|4:20 am|
Nihane growled, as his sword clashed with Ethan's. Sparks flew with every strike, yet neither could break the others guard. Nihane, however, neared closer and closer to the grand balcony of the throne, and infuriated, flew high above, channelling Janus' power.
"You can't win!" Nihane said. "Janus still needs me...it won't let me die! You're surplus to requirements now, though. Let me make it easy for you!"
"With your power, you've probably never been challenged until today..." Ethan said. "If this is the last conflict to ever take place, then neither side should simply surrender! Evanescence!" He rolled to the right, dodging Nihane's mighty sword dive, just in time for Sraosha to inflict his debilitation magic.
"Hahaha!" Nihane said. "You wish to rob me of strength as well as happiness? My last chance to be the ultimate Persona user, Nihane Kronos, is not something I'll throw away. Even for you! Peerless Ascent!"
No matter how high you soar, you will never be our equal.
Janus let out a column of white and purple light to enhance every fibre of Nihane's body. His strength had been returned, and he seemed positively charged with incredible energy.
"Drat!" Ethan moaned. Frantic, he blocked another sword attack, and leaped back to escape from another. I shouldn't have waited, should I? But we've taken long enough. I've got to do my best to stop Nihane and Janus. Even if it really means murdering myself.
"Die!" Nihane screamed, stabbing forward. Ethan swerved out of the way, and scored one hit across his foe's face. "Argh! You – bastard!"
"Sraosha!" Ethan roared. "Voyeykov!"
"Janus!" Nihane cried. "Crimson Riot!"
A medley of fierce scythe attacks erupted on one side of the battlefield, as a terrifying cold glacier collapsed on the other. Somehow, Sraosha was holding its own. Yet if Ethan couldn't keep up with his opponent, he would ruin everything.
"Tired already?" Nihane asked snidely. He swiftly lunged at Ethan, striking him with a downwards slice. Ethan was too slow to block, and was sent spinning to the side. "Ha! Weak!"
"No...that's not true." Ethan said, shaking his head. "I don't have to rely on Janus to fight. Sraosha and I are one of the same!"
"Doesn't that prove how expendable you and I are, then?" Nihane asked, smugly. "Sraosha was blotted out for ten long years of toil and turmoil! The little power it has won't save you now!"
"I don't have just a little power..." Ethan said, fiercely staring down his counterpart. "Even without Janus, I've got the strength to take down even a god! I can feel it...Aeon!"
Sraosha looked at Janus, and coldly stared at it with revulsion. Then, his eyes turned to Ethan, and lit with warmth. He aimed an orange beam of light at him, and his body's pain was soothed away.
"How ridiculous. You go from blaming yourself for everything to proclaiming yourself as some kind of legendary hero." Nihane said. "But...I'm in the same boat, aren't I? I'm no leader of Amurdad. I never truly reigned over New Motus City either! I'm a lap dog...but I'm still beyond the rest of you! Broken Soul!"
The Male Janus flew towards Ethan, and swung his sword – but there was no painful screaming, or even a flash of blood. However, something around Ethan seemed to change. Like he was susceptible to anything around him.
Come on, Ethan. Keep at it. The others will be here in time. I have to win this for them!
Ethan struck forward again. This time, every attack mattered. And he would make sure each one had its full impact.
|Palatial Discord – Library of Innocence|4:25 am|
Amara's team had taken it upon themselves to defeat Shadows around the left of the palace. To their surprise, they found a massive, two-tier library. Mostly plainly decorated, with comfortable chairs and tables, it was stocked full of books, old and new. Amara took a look, and gasped. There was a copy of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, still in relatively good condition. She could not quite recall when William Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon, had passed away, but it was long before the period laid before them.
"They've got all kinds of books here." Serena said, fingering through the archives. "I don't suppose it'd be possible to take one, would it?"
"Considering we're trying to make this illusion of Amurdad vanish, I doubt we could stop all these books going away." Nathan said. "A great shame...they've conducted studies on all sorts. Surely outdated by modern science, but there could have been something in here that would have proven useful."
"The worst part is?" Blaine began saying. "The library near my house is falling to bits. I've never seen anybody go in there. If the Amurdad folks knew what was going to be built over their old home, they'd go out of their fucking minds."
"It really is too bad. We can only get an idea of what life was like here." Amara said. "It reminds me of Cairo...full of history. So this is another Library of Alexandria."
The group stepped forward, and soon enough, Shadows appeared – fittingly, they were in the shape of floating books, with wigs beneath them. They were flanked by Mothers, Drives, Genes, and the occasional Hand. After the battles the team had been through, however, every single one of them might as well have been a housefly. They were slaughtered in one or two hits, with barely any struggle.
"Man. Without the Trauma Shadows, they're just lost sheep." Blaine said.
"That one over there might be stronger, though..." Serena said. "Hey, he's holding a key!"
It was a Purple Sigil, one of a rare variety. These were powerful warlocks, hidden in a cube-like barrier of enchanted pages of arcane wisdom. Amara grinned. She was no novice to fighting, and with every single Trauma Shadow now truly dead, this one would only make for a quick scuffle. Her sword still ready, she launched into battle. It offered a token resistance, pulling off Mind Charge, Aquadyne, Ziodyne and Megidola, but ultimately the team were too skilled for it to handle. A Lunar Scope from Serena sent it to its doom, and the purple key was dropped.
"Great!" Serena said, pocketing it. "We can get back to the others now. They'll have found the other keys."
"I wish I could stay and look at the rest of the books, but..." Amara said. "We've got a job to do."
Just then, however, the atmosphere changed. It was after nightfall, and in the back area, two young people were sitting down, listening to an aged scholar. He spoke in a language neither contemporary person knew, but from the sound of his voice he was not an interesting teacher. The young boy – Jahan – yawned, and his sister Ashi nudged him to keep him awake, laughing awkwardly when the teacher gave them odd looks.
"Who are these people?" Serena asked.
"Jahan and Ashi Kronos. Children of the last real Nihane." Amara said. "She was the woman who we saw..."
"Oh!" Nathan said. "That unfortunate lady...so this is her as a youth. Her brother doesn't seem interested in the lesson, though."
"Reminds me of Matthew's school reports." Blaine said. "'Mr Kingsley, your brother isn't going to get very far if he can't stay awake in class. Perhaps less TV and an earlier bedtime would be more productive for him. Also, he put gum on my chair last week, and it ruined a perfectly good skirt.'."
"Sounds like Matthew." Serena said, giggling.
The memory flashed to a little later on, and the scholar had left. Instead, however, was a rather tall and angry man, ranting at the young Jahan. This was their father, the last official Nihane Kronos. A rather strict looking man, who dressed much like his descendant, but he fit the costume much more. Ashi stared hopelessly, as her protests were ignored.
"I already can't stand that old guy..." Serena said.
"Parents need to discipline their parents, but from the sound of his voice, he's going overboard." Nathan said, disapprovingly.
Finally, Nihane left the library in a huff, slamming the door loudly. Jahan, in tears, sank into his chair, leaving Ashi to console him. Amara wondered – was this a common occurrence for their family? And where was their mother? She had heard nothing about her. Maybe she was like Amara's own mother Ayodele, dead well before her time. With only that abrasive man as their parent, it seemed Ashi had to be a mother to Jahan, as well as a sister.
Both of them vanished, leaving the library in its original condition. With nothing else to do here, Amara left, her mind pondering the Kronos family of days gone by.
If Ethan had a sister like Ashi, would he have become Nihane after all?
|Stairway to Purgatory|4:29 am|
As Sophie had stated, a strange barrier was in place. Six coloured walls were in front of the stairs. Luckily, the others were here, and they presented the other five keys.
"Sorry we're late!" Amara said. "Did those Shadows give you any trouble?"
"Not even a little." Kazuya said. "But we are the guys who finished off the Ater Vox. And the Trauma Shadows. It's not unexpected that we'd trounce much weaker prey."
"All the same, you must be careful." Alastair cautioned.
With each key, the six walls broke apart and vanished. And thus, so did the keys. Shrugging this off, the rebels made their way up the same stairwell Ethan had done minutes before. They were greeted by the marvellous second floor, where most of the living chambers were.
"Not even Nathan's house was as fancy as this. Although this looks a little grand for a barbecue and beer party." Blaine said, staring at a picture of a garden – the same one Amara had fought the Mummy in.
"Hey, look!" Lucy said, looking up at a different portrait. It was of a tall woman in a fine red dress, sitting in front of a fireplace with her arms crossed. She was a woman of dignity, grace and refinement, Amara could tell, with her pointed nose, prominent cheekbones, and haughty looking eyes. Her hair was silver, but her eyes were blue.
Ashi and Jahan's mother? She looks quite frail. Perhaps she couldn't handle the birth of her second child...
"There's that girl!" Matthew said. The portrait to the right of it was of Ashi Kronos, dressed in her finest silk green dress, holding a white bouquet in her hands. She was in a room with a light pink colour, overlooking a river. "Pretty..."
"That's the old Nihane Kronos, right?" Dan asked, looking at a portrait of the man himself. He really did look like a leader, if a stern one. The Nihane the team had met, however, was more like a child imitating their parent to impress their peers.
"I would assume so. And that boy..." Priscilla said, looking at the last family portrait. "He looks young." It was an unsmiling Jahan, sitting on a chair in his best green and black clothes. The room around him was white, with a window overlooking the streets of Amurdad. "He seems rather miserable. Sitting around while one paints your face must be unpleasant."
"Thank goodness they invented cameras, huh?" Amara said, grinning. "Although there is something to be said about the traditional method. When I was at school, we needed a male model for a project, so Karl volunteered – without knowing he had to take off his -"
"Uh, okay, we can talk about that another time!" Karl said, blushing.
"Really? They had to make do with him?" Blaine said, grinning. "They missed a real masterpiece..."
"Guys, be quiet." Sophie said, frowning. "The Throne Room is on the floor above. As you might have expected, that's where Ethan and Nihane are fighting. Neither of them are losing...yet."
"Then we'd better get going, while we still can." Aimee said.
Sophie shook her head, sadly. "Janus...has another blockade in place. This time, we must go into the different chambers of the people on display here. That would be...Nihane, Anahita, Ashi and Jahan."
"Anahita?" Amara asked. "That's the woman's name?"
"Indeed. I can't tell much about her, but I can sense strong memories relating to Anahita. She...died young. Not because of childbirth, but due to an illness that may have been cancer. Ashi was fourteen at the time, but Jahan was only four." Sophie said.
"How dreadful..." Karen said. "I can only wonder what she must think of this situation."
"To have been forgotten, with only us to know she even existed..." Kyle said, sadly. "Even death would be preferable."
"Kyle, she did die." Matthew pointed out.
"You know what I mean! I was going for a moment there!" Kyle said. "Okay, so point is, we've got to go to their bedrooms?"
"Correct. Not only that, there's also the music room, and the scholar's sleeping chambers. But this time...defeating the Shadows won't give us keys. This time, we need to retrieve something else from them. And once we have all six of these items, we need to do something with them to unlock the way."
"Going to bed shouldn't sound this boring..." Lucy said, mockingly yawning.
"Before you get any ideas, remember we're kind of in a hurry." Tara said, raising her eyebrow.
"Oh come on, we don't...um...it's not that often...is it?" Lucy asked.
"Well, one week I had to put on my headphones at three in the morning..." Other Serena said, shuddering.
"I guess that's one thing on our two-do list. Get a place with thicker walls." Other Blaine said, embarrassed.
|Throne of Ahura Mazda|4:35 am|
Ethan's sword coursed through the thick air of hatred. Its edge was brought against the mighty armament the fallen leader of the Ater Vox wielded. To have survived this long was a miracle, Ethan believed, but this was not a confrontation that would be resolved by good fortune. He had to strike, harder than ever.
"Sraosha should be stagnant and limpid, but it can stay the course..." Nihane said. "Just how can you be so determined to face me?"
"You should understand. You are me..." Ethan said. "I won't abandon the world just to be free of pain..."
"I never wanted that either!" Nihane said. "But...what other choice is there for me? The one thing that gave me purpose was living in a place where everyone looked up to me! Where I was never alone! And look what that purpose led to. There's nothing I can really turn to anymore. You might have some potential to start over...however infinitesimally small. Yet my story ends here!"
"Fine. Then mine will go on, with or without you! Almacia!" Ethan screamed. Sraosha's enigmatic sword, using the energy around him, was driven through Nihane. Its supreme energy flashed through his body, causing him great pain.
"Ugh...you idiot!" Nihane said. "Your childish techniques are worthless. These moves may not be truly my own, but no other could wield them with such power!"
"If they're so great, stop talking about it and show me!" Ethan said, tapping the ground with his foot.
"Very well. Shimmering Wasteland!" Nihane ordered.
There is no place where our fallen master can shine.
The arena transformed, and all Ethan could see was an Arctic tundra. All one could see was an eternal snow shower, coming from the dark cold sky. The cold was unbearable. Far worse than any winter she had experienced. Suddenly, the snow turned into a great blizzard, pouring down on Ethan like daggers. He shivered, unsteady, as pain pounded his heart.
"Tch. It was more fun when it was Amara." Nihane said, bored.
"You still feel pleasure at the thought of harming those people?" Ethan said, disgusted.
"Um, I was in your body at the time. This isn't Cain and Abel, you know. We're both up to our necks in other people's blood." Nihane said, rolling his eyes. "So quit acting the victim!"
"This is my fault...that's why I have to do something! Anything at all to stop the old me. That includes your sadistic tendencies! If anyone tries to kill Amara, that girl I met all those years ago...I will make sure they regret it. Prism Apex!" Ethan cried.
Sraosha wielded his sword with both hands. With a hateful stare towards Nihane, he thrust his blade forward. From the tip, a giant laser of light was shot, and the light dissipated into many dancing atoms of angelic power.
"You are at no apex..." Nihane said, fiendishly brandishing his sword. He leaped forward, laughing madly, and slashed downward – letting a hail of red lasers hit Ethan on the spot.
"What?!" Ethan moaned.
"You've forgotten fighting on that rooftop already?" Nihane asked. "Janus can do many things, using me as its avatar...such as this! Midnight Dawn!"
There will be no more light, thus no more shadow.
Two orbs appeared before Ethan. One of pearl white, the other of onyx black. They flew around him, until they crashed into each other, creating an explosion of half light, half darkness. Ethan groaned, but stayed standing, holding onto his blade. He lunged forward, slashing as many times as he could, before a powerful final hit.
"Urgh!" Nihane groaned. "If I hadn't been forced out of that body...you would have been stuck as a measly inert ghost!"
"You said this was a gift. I'm not returning it." Ethan said, smirking. However, he felt his arms sore. That was one consequence of fighting alone – having to look after your own health. Reluctant, he cast another Aeon.
"Ah, good thinking. This new body can't run forever either." Nihane said. "Janus, sustain me with the Pulse of Life!"
Your recovery shall be fleeting, like your ambitions.
The femme Janus used red, unearthly energy to cure Nihane of his pain. Satisfied, he struck with his blade, and Ethan blocked just in time. The sword strikes came fast and furiously, and no matter how much distance Ethan gained, Nihane would follow in cold-blooded pursuit.
While I was Janus' minion, I wanted nothing more to shed the old me. That desire must be what's fuelling his mania. How can I stop him? Is murder the only solution?
Ethan brought forward his own blade, and forced Nihane back. The raging battle continued, its sounds of violence echoing through the nostalgic chaos of Ater Peractorum.
|Palatial Discord – Jahan's Sorrow|4:35 am|
This bedroom was mostly white and black in style, with a curtained bed in the back centre. On top of the red sheets were several wooden toys, and there was a wooden desk and chair for his private lessons. Fixed to the wall were various items with the Kronos family seal, such as ornamental shields and spears. Also, there were numerous scrolls here and there, and even a fireplace.
However, before Amara's team could fully explore this room, they had to contend with the Heartless Machine standing in the middle of the room. It was yet another giant robotic Shadow that seemed to have come out of a mecha anime. To say it looked out of place here was an understatement, but it seemed rather agitated nevertheless. The way it moved, however, felt more like a child was moving its limbs, rather than natural movement.
"Let me guess, Serena, you saw something like this on TV?" Nathan asked.
"I dunno...I think Kyle has a model in his room a bit like this one." Serena said. "That's it! It's here because kids like Jahan play with these kinds of figures!"
"That's great, but we kind of need to scrap this hunk of junk." Blaine said, aiming his gun.
"Alright then, let's get this going." Amara said, sword ready.
The Heartless Machine was a strong Shadow, packing Brave Blade, Power Change and Heat Riser. Luckily, it was rather vulnerable to Elec moves. Therefore, Blaine's endless supply of Ziodyne, complemented by Lightning Circuit and Stormy Ascent, soon put an end to the mech. It broke apart, and before it exploded, something fell out of its cockpit. It was a toy wooden soldier, freshly painted. It was surprisingly detailed, with a black and red suit of armour. On the back, an Arabic word was written – 'Jahan', or 'world'.
Ah, now I understand. Jahan meant the world to his parents, even if they couldn't show it. My father told me my name is 'eternal beauty'. Not necessarily physical beauty, but of the soul. The beauty inside me that I want to paint for others to see. A child's name is proof of their parents' love...that much I want to believe.
"Wow. Not a bad little toy for its time." Nathan said. "Whoever made this certainly put a lot of thought into it."
"It's kind of cute!" Serena said, poking the soldier's sword. "Wow...it's still sharp."
"Not as cool as my Batman figure, but I guess kids in these times can't be choosers." Blaine said.
"Jahan's upbringing may have been strict, but I like to think he had a lot of happy memories here." Amara said, smiling.
Just then, however, the door opened. A boy with black hair walked in, and went to his desk, putting down a large stack of books. He began writing, completing test questions over and over again, until finally, he fell asleep on his chair.
"Ha..." Amara said. "Even after all this time, people are still pulling all nighters."
"Oh great, is that what I have to look forward to in college?" Serena asked.
"At least you'll have the internet." Nathan pointed out.
"And alcohol." Blaine added, clicking his fingers.
"...Hurray?" Serena said, uneasy.
The memory skipped ahead to the next morning. Another person walked through the door, and this time it was Ashi. She gently ruffled Jahan's hair, and he looked at up at her, rubbing his eyes. Wearily, he got up from his chair, and Ashi giggled. She went to the window, and opened the curtains. The sun's rays shined on her, and she beamed, while Jahan squinted, still exhausted. She smiled, and sat on his bed. He joined her, looking rather upset.
"Hmm. I can't quite identify what they're saying, but they're very close siblings." Nathan said, fondly. "Knowing what happened later, though, is...sobering."
"Jahan survived the incident...I wonder what happened to him after that? His lineage continued overseas, until Ethan came to live here..." Amara said, in deep thought. To be torn from everything you love, with no hope of going back. She had been in that same position before, when her family had moved to New Motus City. Yet that turned out to be a blessing. For Jahan, not so much. His resentment probably never healed. "Jahan, if you're watching us...forgive us. We have to stop your descendant."
After a long silence, the team left the room, leaving behind the memories of youth.
|Throne of Ahura Mazda|4:40 am|
The seat of Amurdad's power was barely holding together from the conflict that had erupted. Flames, snow, thunder and wind had laid siege to this room, and both sides were not prepared to lose. For Ethan, he had forbidden himself from being defeated. No matter how much agony he would go through, he would cast that all aside until this ended in his victory.
"Claíohm Solais!" Ethan ordered. Sraosha, in a big flash, slashed Nihane quickly but ferociously. The former Lord fell to the floor, groaning. "Good work..."
There was no time to lose. Ethan quickly ran forward, and prepared to drive his blade into Nihane's head. This was not a dignified assault, he knew, but he was prepared for this. Alas, his blade only touched the ground. Nihane had already vanished. Ethan just began looking for him when he was knocked down by another rain of red lasers.
"I thought you were supposed to be the good one! Stabbing me through the brain isn't very noble, is it?"
"I'm not 'good'. I'm not 'noble'!" Ethan said, getting up. "I'm just Ethan Walters..."
"Idiot. You had that name erased from people's minds!" Nihane roared. "Now you're wearing it like some kind of medal. Is that supposed to be you being the 'bigger man'? It's just sheer hypocrisy! Sinking Mountain!"
We shall drag the False Lord to the depths of hell.
Ethan was perched atop the peak of a giant mountain, far grander than anything he had seen in the United Kingdom. Surrounding him was a burnt, dried up landscape, with ominous craters around then. After a second or so of silence, the mountain started to break apart, and the fragments of parched earth slammed into Ethan. The entire area completely disintegrated, and when the throne returned, he was left on the ground, groaning.
"Bastard...!" Ethan snarled.
"I am?" Nihane said. He laughed, sadly. "Well...no wonder! I've never had a normal life, have I? Stuck in an orphanage for my entire childhood! No friends until I was over twenty years old...and flung into a god's apocalypse agenda!"
"It doesn't have to be that way!" Ethan pleaded. "Maybe the others can help you break free! Sophie will probably know a way! And if we need some kind of technology to do it...Kyle and Roger are geniuses! Me too!"
Nihane frowned, his eyes burning with hate. "You complete and utter simpleton! How could you possibly 'save' me from Janus? It's because of Janus that I'm in this fake body, and you can inhabit mine! Even if there was some way you could save me...I won't accept it! I don't want to go on like this anymore...let me die with the rest of the world!"
I was manipulated by Janus so easily because I wanted a world I belonged in. For Nihane, Janus' true goal means that he was never going to belong anywhere. That he might as well not even exist. Maybe that's true for me as well...but I don't want everyone else to vanish. I'll accept my responsibilities, as long as I can keep this world going!
"I'm sorry you feel that way. I thought, if you really were the same as me, you'd understand..." Ethan said, glum. "Kifuka!"
Once more, Sraosha brought down a mighty thunder storm, comprised of 158 lightning bolts. Nihane was being electrocuted on the spot, but his hateful eyes remained fixed on Ethan – his past form. In rage, he swooped at him, slashing him across the torso with his dark blade.
"Ugh!"
"I'm not going to listen to you any longer. You should have never returned! You're the me I tried so hard to delete from people's memory, but escaping the past wasn't so simple. This will have to do instead! Scarlet Crusade!"
The fields shall dry up, never to yield life even from your blood.
Male Janus held his scythe in both hands, and the blade became bright red. The land beneath the ground became the same bloody colour. Ethan gulped. Before he could move, the scythe suddenly flashed through them – and the pain took a few seconds to arrive. When it did, it resonated badly.
"See that?" Nihane asked, laughing at his injured opponent. "Janus is the upper echelon of power. You might be a distant second...but that won't help you!"
"Echelon my ass!" Ethan screamed. Nihane blinked, disturbed. "Janus is nothing more than a baby throwing a tantrum! Nothing more!"
You once had our power inside you, and you dare regard us as a bawling infant? Nihane, you cannot allow this man's arrogance to overwhelm you. Destroy him.
"Yes." Nihane replied. "Judgment!"
"Eidolon!" Ethan countered.
The two halves of Janus had prepared their omnipotent sphere of blue light, generated by their combined godly strength. Its light radiated from the throne room upon the entire Ater Peractorum. In fact, it was so bright it could be seen from high above, around the mammoth crater that had been the Aeternus HQ.
At the same time, however, Sraosha span in the air rapidly, and created a swirl of white and blue power around Nihane. The supreme energy exploded like a supernova, just as Janus' sphere detonated around Ethan.
"Argh..." Ethan groaned.
"No..." Nihane croaked. "How...?!"
He will perish very shortly. You must end him, before our barriers are broken! Then we can sacrifice the Persona flock at long last. Hurry! Or shall we take over...?
Nihane gulped, and shook his head. "No, Janus. Let me do this as myself."
Ethan looked up, frightened. He had no strength left in him...was this to be the end? Sraosha had served him well, but it was not a godlike being in the same manner as Janus. Ethan shut his eyes, to await his death knell.
Amara, you'll have to finish the job without me. Good luck...
|Palatial Discord – Road to Reunion|4:50 am|
The six teams rendezvoused in front of the spiral staircase to the final floor. In front of it, however, was a magic barrier, powered by six statues. These had uncanny appearances, as their faces were blank and featureless, and their bodies were white, undefined but still slightly humanoid in musculature. It was like looking at shop mannequins.
"Okay, we have all six of the items we need." Aimee said, holding up the jewel-encrusted sword she had taken from Nihane's room. From Anahita's, Karen held up a handheld mirror, with a golden handle and a bird on the crest. Priscilla took out a large bouquet of white lillies. In the music room, Karl had obtained a long silver flute. Also, the scholar's room had a large book of beautiful illustrations, which Kazuya had taken.
"These are nice objects, to be sure..." Other Nathan said. "But what's their significance?"
"We have to do something with them in regards to those statues." Sophie said. "Ah. Look at the way they're posed. The one on the left has both hands together at his waist, but if you look at the way they're cupped together, they're pointing away from his face. Wouldn't it make sense if they were meant to hold an ornament sword?"
"Okay. I was getting tired carrying this thing anyway..." Aimee said. With some difficulty, she heaved the sword into the statue's hands. Instantly, it changed completely, to look like the old Nihane Kronos in the flesh. He was in the except same pose of his portrait. "Oh! Now I get it!"
Karen took the mirror, and looked at the statue to Nihane's right. She had one hand on her waist, and the other in front of her face in a fist. Sighing with relief, she gave this one the mirror. It too became something else – the austere woman from the portrait, Anahita Kronos.
"Okay, my turn..." Kazuya said. The statue to the far right was looking down, and his hands both seemed to be gripping something. He opened the book, and gave it to the statue – which became the old scholar from the library. "My goodness...he reminds me of my grandfather."
"Dull and boring?" Richard asked.
"Yes, exactly..." Kazuya replied.
"Ah, this is too easy." Karl said. One statue happened to have its hands close to the face, and it's mouth was open. He gave it the flute, and it became an unknown man with auburn hair, a chiselled face, and a military-like uniform, with high boots and a cape. "Huh? Who's this guy?"
"This was Ashi's husband." Sophie said. "He died defending this land. We saw a vision of him practising in the music room, and Ashi showed up and started clapping. I think his name is Zaigham."
"He looks so handsome..." Lucy said, admiring him. "There's something about a military man, isn't there? The way he gives orders, takes control, and heads off into battle so bravely..."
"So basically, me?" Other Blaine asked.
"Yeah..." Lucy said, blushing.
"So modest." Shirley said, chuckling.
"Things don't always work out when Blaine takes control. I ask him to put up a shelf. For the next month, I'm picking up pieces of wood everywhere." Dan said.
"Hey, shut up. It's what happens when you use forty year old tools." Other Blaine said. "It still gets to me...how did something this nice exist in Kanaloa?"
"Until the massacre, this area was a beautiful land of peace." Sophie said. "Yet after the deaths of the thousands who lived here, it left scars that centuries later never healed. Why do you think the Divine Spark here took all of Kanaloa, and not just one building?"
"Damn..." Matthew said. "Maybe Kanaloa failed as a summer resort because the Amurdad folk didn't want anyone else to take their land. No wonder everyone who lives there has such bad luck..."
"Not always." Blaine said. "Just this year, plenty of great things have happened. Like me being here with everyone. My new job. And...her."
"...Then there's still hope." Nathan said. "We have to show that hope to Janus."
"Okay, my turn!" Amara said. She went to one of the middle statues, and gave the soldier to one of them. While it accepted the soldier, holding it in its right hand, it did not change appearance. Concerned, Amara tried to take it back, but it was stuck. "...Huh?"
"This one should have become Jahan..." Sophie said. "Why is it still blank?"
"Maybe Jahan really looked like this, and the Kronos had one hell of a makeup team." Richard jested. "Who cares! Just give the flowers to the last one, and we can get going!"
"Oh...okay..." Priscilla said. The final statue had her hands in front of her stomach, and they were perfectly posed to hold the flowers. They were received, and the statue changed to look like the silver haired maiden of the Kronos – Ashi.
The wall behind them broke apart. Nihane sheathed his sword, and vanished. His wife admired herself one last time, and disappeared. The scholar folded shut his book, and walked off, fading away. Zaigham placed his flute in his satchel, gave a salute, and disappeared as well. The statue that should have been Jahan completely disappeared. However, the one that was Ashi stood still...and started to blink.
"Hmm?" Amara walked closer to her. "...Is this another memory?"
"I don't know..." Alastair said. "Huh? She's – breathing?!"
Sure enough, Ashi's chest was rising and falling, like a human's. She opened her mouth, and let out a quiet gasp. There was no doubt about it. Ashi Kronos herself was in front of them.
"No way! She's...alive!" Matthew proclaimed.
"How is this possible?" Tara questioned. "Don't tell me it's like the Interitus Legion?!"
"Ashi, can you hear us?" Other Amara asked. "...You probably don't speak English, but -"
Ashi looked upwards, and gasped. Her eyes widened with horror. Could she sense the fight upstairs? Without even turning back to the group, she stormed up the spiral staircase.
"Hey! Wait!" Other Amara shouted. The entire team followed, as fast as possible.
If Jahan didn't appear on his statue...does that mean he's not here? Then, where is Ashi going? Is Ethan...her brother?!
|Throne of Ahura Mazda|4:53 am|
Ethan did not open his eyes. Instead, he listened to the familiar sounds. The masses of energy Janus summoned, and Nihane manipulating that power for the purpose of complete annihilation.
The building blocks of the human body shall be taken apart, to disappear forever. All shall be destroyed, even what the eye cannot see. Even memory itself will vanish. This shall be a death beyond death, for there will be nowhere for your soul to rest. Once you are gone, you will never have existed. Nor will those who would mourn your passing, or celebrate.
This is it, then. At least I get to die as myself...but I wanted to fight Janus with the others...they're strong. They'll make it. But this is where my journey ends.
"ERASURE!"
Ethan could tell the pillar of ultimate power was nearing him. And unlike last time, there was nothing to counter it. He would accept his demise, as long as Janus would come after him. He smiled, gracefully.
"Huh?! What – who's that?!"
Ethan looked up, and gasped. Someone was standing in front of him, their arms spread out. The gigantic Erasure before her neared closer, and reached her. Its howls of energy blinded Ethan, and seemed to shake Amurdad to its very foundations. Once the light dimmed, however, he looked up. The lady in front of him was still there, but fading away.
"What? No! You're -"
"Ashi?" Ethan asked. She turned to him, face full of sorrow. "...You can't be her!"
Ashi went to him, and lent him her hand. He took it, and managed to stand up. His eyes met hers. They were both melancholic, yet ecstatic. And something about this made him want to cry too. His ancestor had come to save him, even if it meant taking the full impact of Nihane's power.
She reminds me of something...I used to daydream about having a real family back in the orphanage. Either my real one, or another coming to adopt me. Each time, there was an older sister there...I think they always ended up looking like this woman, too.
"I'm sorry. Even after everything you went through, you continue to suffer. All because of me." Ethan said, tearfully. Ashi shook her head, and wiped his tears. "I..."
"Ethan!" Someone else yelled. Ethan looked, still in shock. There, the entire group had arrived, with Amara in front. So they had survived all their battles, and made it here. The Mummy's curse had failed, and the Ater Vox had truly fallen...now he was not alone. Even his big sister was here with him.
"I'm okay...thank you all for coming." Ethan said. "I'm sorry I left you all behind."
"You idiot! We thought you might have been killed!" Serena yelled.
"What's going on?!" Nihane demanded. "...Why is Ashi Kronos here?!"
Ashi looked at him, tearfully. She did not speak. Instead, her body began to shine, and became pure light. It broke apart into tiny fragments, and those were all absorbed into Ethan's body. The others gasped, amazed.
"No!" Ethan said, trying to push them away. "Don't leave! There's so many things I need to ask you!"
I've waited two hundred and fifty years for this moment. Now I have no more regrets. You're here now. There's nothing for you to worry about. Just remember. I am always here.
Ashi...I have no right to accept your help. But if you've gone this far, I won't let you down.
"...Sraosha."
Nihane looked up, in fear.
I don't need to say anything. You know how I feel. A voice from the past came back to save me. For her sake, and her brother's, I will end this tragedy!
Sraosha was bathed in pure blue light, his hands brimming with power. His sword was suspended in the air in front of them, also sharing this massive power that was growing. Before long, the light was strong enough to blot out every inch of the throne room. All one could see was the divine luminescence of Sraosha.
Five circles of energy appeared in front of Ethan, each one a different colour. From the yellow one came Thor. The red one released Loki. The blue one let out Hel. The green one contained Venti. And the orange one unleashed Cybele.
What?! You...you're here with me, too? Then...please. For one last time, help me. Let us go together!
While Sraosha's energy developed, the five Personas began their assault. The divine thunder of Krevad Mjolnir struck Nihane. Next was the chilling cold of Hailstone Tempest. The earthquake of Terra Lapsis followed, and immediately afterwards was a Tornado Strike. Finally, one Flamme Mauvais burned Nihane to the core.
"No!" Nihane screamed. "Stop this at once! Janus, save me!"
"Voice of Conscience!"
What seemed like a million flashes of blue light triggered, their power practically roaring. This power could only be described as almighty, and Ethan was its king. This strength was the true might of the Kronos family, one that could not be lost to time. The raging storm of light boomed, and there was the sound of stone shattering and glass breaking. Nothing would survive this will, the determination of Ethan Walters.
Amara finally was able to see once again, after Sraosha's outburst ended. When it was over, she gasped. The roof of the palace above them was gone, as were the walls. All that was around them was the wreckage of the once glorious throne room. Ethan fell back, panting for breath, while Nihane lay still, unmoving.
It was over at last. Nihane Kronos had fallen.