"Are you sure, Bickslow?"

Bickslow, who had arrived just hours after Ayva had returned to the Sabertooth guild hall with her brother, nodded. "Ya. When I got here, I could sense something strange. When I followed it to where his body was being cleansed, I saw it there with him."

"That freak put her soul into her brother?"

"It looked more like he drew her soul into him when that freak tried to steal it and he was trying to protect it. But something happened along the way and he was hurt pretty bad. Her soul was what was keeping him alive."

Sting and Rogue looked at each other, then at Bickslow.

"Have you told her, yet?"

Bickslow shook his head. "No, I can't find her."

"I'll go look for her."

"There's no need."

Sting, Rogue, and Bickslow turned as Ayva came into the room.

"Ayva..."

Ayva looked at Bickslow. "I assume you found my soul?"

Bickslow nodded. "It's with your brother's body."

"I see. I would like to proceed with restoring it, if you wouldn't mind?"

"S-Sure, OK."

Sting and Rogue followed after Bickslow and Ayva as they made their way from Sting's office and down the hall to infirmary. They stood off to the side and watched silently as Ayva assured Bickslow that she was ready and watched as he activated his magik.

Bickslow activated his Seith Magik: Human Possession and focused on Ayva's soul, trying to guide it back into Ayva's body.

Sting and Rogue watched nervously as Bickslow moved his hands, seeing Ayva's soul beginning to glow and become corporeal enough to see. They watched in amazement as the glow of her soul brightened for a moment before rushing into her body.

"Ayva!"

Rogue hurried to catch Ayva as she lost consciousness, lifting her into the next bed over. He set her down gently, then looked at Bickslow. "Did it work?"

"Her soul is restored to her body, yes. She got lucky, that one. I wasn't sure it'd actually work."

"Thank you, Bickslow." Rogue looked from him to Ayva. "I'm in your debt."

"We all are." Sting patted his shoulder. "Thanks again for coming, we appreciate it."

Bickslow nodded. "Sure thing. I should get back to the guild and let the Master know how everything went." He looked at Ayva. "Apparently this little lady here saved his life some years back. He says he still owes her a debt and was worried he couldn't ever repay it."

"Well, tell him what happened. I'll send a copy of the report with you when you go." Sting said.

"I'm going to sit with her for a bit longer." Rogue said.

Sting nodded, leading Bickslow out of the infirmary.

Rogue looked between Ayva and Elyon, seeing quite the resemblance. Ayva had told him enough about him to where he felt like he almost knew the boy personally. He wished he actually had known him, though. "Rest peacefully, Elyon Stryt."

Ayva woke to find herself in the infirmary with her brother's body still on the bed next to her. She sat up slowly, her head pounding. "It worked..." Ayva felt whole, something she hadn't felt in sixteen years. "Thank you, Elyon, for keeping it safe for me."

A few hours later, Rogue returned to the infirmary to check on Ayva only to find it empty- not even Elyon's body was there.

He searched the entire guild hall, asking everyone if they had seen them, then ran into town and searched for her there- again asking everyone if they had seen them.

No one had seen them leave the guild hall or in the town and there was no trace of them anywhere.

Rogue even tried going to the cliff where Ayva often went to clear her mind and still no sign of her. He stood at the cliff's edge, looking up at the darkening sky.

"Where are you, Ayva?"

Ayva had used the teleportation crystal she had found in Elyon's pocket to transport herself and Elyon to the ruins of Lilvelone. She carried his body through the ruined city towards where she had placed the memorial stone just a few years after she had joined the Stonevale Rangers, setting his body on the ground while she built a pyre. She placed his body on the pyre and lit it, standing back to watch as the fire consumed his body.

She stood for hours, watching until the fire had died out and Elyon's ashes had been scattered on the wind. The moon was at its highest, the light shining brightly off the aetoris stone memorial. Using the light of the moon, Ayva found the names of her friends and family, tracing her finger over the name of her brother.

"Elyon Terron Stryt, April 24, X771 to June 4, X775." She looked at her mother and father's names as well. "Castien Rolim Stryt, July X737 to June 4, X775. Elincia Shyael Stryt, February 17, X740 to June 4, X 775." She pressed her head to the stone and closed her eyes, the tears finally breaking free. "I'm so sorry...!"

Ayva collapsed onto her knees, crying her eyes out- letting all of her sorrow flow freely. She had finally laid to rest the last of her family and the reality of almost certainty of being the last of her people finally came crashing down on her.

The following morning, Ayva woke to find herself resting against the memorial after having cried herself to sleep. She stood and looked up at the sky, the sun beginning to peak through the thick branches of the chestnut trees.

"Mother, Father, Elyon, everyone. Rest in peace." She said, turning to the memorial stone. "By the honor of our people, by the honor of the mighty god Eranos, by the honor of our family I swear to you this: I will live a life worth living, fight for what is right, protect those I love, and keep our memories and stories alive."

Ayva bowed before turning away, leaving her old home behind once again. As she faded from view, little did she know that she was seen off by the spirits of her loved ones.

"She's grown to be such a strong girl."

"So she has. You did good, my boy."

Elyon looked at his mother and father, smiling. He looked to where Ayva had disappeared. "Good luck, sister."

"Fitting that she makes such vow on her birthday." One of the other villager said.

"Indeed it is."

"Let's wish her a happy birthday and well on her new journey!"

Ayva was nearing the edge of the forest of Lilvelone when a giant rush of wind surrounded her. "What?"

"Happy birthday, Ayva! Good luck, be well and remember your vow!"

Ayva's eyes teared up as she heard the faint resonating sound of the people of Lilvelone's voices, her family's among them. She looked at the sky through the clearing where the wind had blown and smiled. "I will, I promise!" She clasped her hands to her chest. "Thank you, everyone..."