A girl sits on the edge of a rooftop, staring at the sky. It is early – still evening, the sun barely out of sight and the rose moon only half-risen from the horizon – yet deep fuchsia bruises beneath her eyes betray the girl's weariness. Crisis may strike at any time, but Feferi is still unused to working through the days.
Footsteps sound on the roof behind her, but she does not turn. She knows who approaches; only one person has ever sought her here. The girl walks to the edge and sits beside Feferi without a word.
So many questions race through Feferi's mind, a million hows. How are we meant to keep going after days like this? How are we ever meant to defeat her? If we do, how am I supposed to fix a mess like this? But she has asked each one before, and she knows that when the time comes, her friends will stand with her. She knows, only exhaustion fills her with doubt.
Together, they watch the moonrise for a while. As a sliver of emerald begins to emerge, Feferi thinks of Jade, and the game, and the second chance she never expected to receive.
She thinks of a question – not a how, this time, but a why.
"Why are you here?" she asks her companion. "Doesn't it bother you, breaking the law like this?"
Terezi looks at her. Feferi shivers under her unseeing gaze, feeling as if her every insecurity is inspected and analysed. After a moment, Terezi smiles, and turns her face back to the moons.
"Veritas vos liberabit," she replies. "It was an Earth saying, something Rose told me once. 'The truth shall set you free.'"
Terezi reaches out, and takes Feferi's hand.
"Justice and law aren't always the same thing. We have truth on our side. And that's why the Condesce will never manage to defeat you."
Feferi scoots towards her. Beneath her feet is a long fall, fatality waiting an inch away – but she leans into Terezi's shoulder, and feels safe.
"I shore hope so," she says quietly, and Terezi chuckles, low and gentle.
The moons have risen now, and the sky is growing dark. Soon, trolls will be crawling out of their recuperacoons to greet the new night.
"Come inside," Terezi says – not a question or a command, but an acknowledgement of what has to happen eventually.
"Oh-cray," Feferi answers, kissing her on the cheek. "Let's go get some sleep."