"A Necessary End" by Saltillo

XVIII. Requiescat

Within the quiet sanctuary of our moonlit room, I listened to my emotions wash over me. Within that silence, Fang lay over the bed, still in her corset and boots, smiling down at me. I knelt down along the floor near the side of the bed and kept my head bowed to her. I'd only taken my boots, rings, watch and wristbands off, leaving my necklace the rest of my clothes on. She reached over to the nightstand next to me, feeding me fruit and white chocolate. She had her eye on the clock. Fang wouldn't let me touch her until midnight. I'd been kneeling before her for an hour, waiting. Just a few more minutes. In that hour; in those minutes, as I lightly sucked her fingers, I felt the way I fell for her. Horizons in my heart broadened as I waited for her permission to lift my head up. Fang was so much closer to me after our scene earlier. Ardently close—I could feel the warmth of her smile right against my bowed head. Her zeal, her vigor to live dared me to dream beyond my limitations. I felt it all building with my arousal at simply kneeling before her, promising with words unspoken that I was completely loyal to her.

Fang fed me another sliced strawberry. "Your sense of honor turns me on," she murmured. "I know I told you already. It don't hurt to tell you again." I sucked on her fingertips. She moaned softly through her smile. "This reminds me…did I ever tell you why you're my left hand?"

"You said Vanille's your right hand," I recalled. "I don't think you told me why I'm your left one."

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched the clock strike midnight. "The left hand is closer to the heart," said Fang. My heart swelled from the metaphor. "After that mind fuck you gave me, I feel madly close to you. I'm in a lovin' mood now." She shifted, sitting over the bed. I inhaled the vodka-leather smell of her fuck me boots. She pressed one of them along my shoulder. "Are you?"

"Yes, my queen," I breathed.

She edged her boot closer to my face. The smell of vodka over her leather didn't fill me with that loss of control. I held Fang's leg in my arms, crossed around her in the same shape as the laces running down her shins. I took my time kissing up her boots. I wanted to let her feel how special she was to me—through this. Fang's impassioned sighs drove me deeper into a trance. Vague sounds of the party downstairs gradually filtered out. I stopped thinking, letting everything else take over. All I wanted to do was please her—infinitely. Fang held my face in her hands and pulled me up to her. I knelt over the bed. She drew me into her full lips; her softness steamed me so much I started to sweat. The faint breeze from the air conditioner brushed up my arms—higher when Fang slipped my short-sleeved jacket down. I heard the fabric fall to the floor behind me. I reached behind Fang and undid her corset. She inhaled deeply, pressing her breasts against my shirt. Marks from the corset had hollowed over her skin. I traced across the ones over her back: such a contradiction of softness and sinew over her smooth skin.

Fang's kept her hands along my shoulders, pushing to pull me into her. "Happy birthday, baby," she whispered, spreading her legs; bringing me closer. "I'm all yours." She wrapped her legs around my waist. Heated pressure built all over me when I felt how wet she was. "Love me. Just love me…"

When she leaned down to the bed, I fell into another beginning with her. Something I hadn't let myself experience before. Every time her tongue brushed against mine, Fang painted a deeper picture through me: one where I couldn't be without her. I truly needed her in this light. The brightness of it all made my breaths tremble into her. Sharper I inhaled to mask my fear, moving to kiss down and back up her whole body. Her reactions to me sounded softer than I remembered; more emotive all the same. She combed her fingers through my sweating scalp. She pulled off my top and shorts, leaving my undershirt boxer briefs alone. I groaned at the tightness of her boots clamping around me. That same pressure built within. It built thicker when she guided my hand between her, stroking her hot warmth with hers and mine. It built thickest when she held my other hand alongside her face, fingers intertwined.

Sensations unfamiliar and bright lights overwhelmed me. These foreign, near-crippling emotions took over. Two of my fingers I slipped into her. Fang dug her slick fingertips into my back—just hard enough to tell me she wanted more. I kept my forehead pressed against hers, staring down into her eyes. Fearless intensity and need I saw there in her, wordlessly begging me to keep going. Deeper I inched into her, using my wrist to push through her tight need—claiming her. Hotter, soaking want slipped around and down my hand, mixing with the sweat in my palms and the nerves in my limbs. I gripped her hand tighter as I pushed all the way inside of her. She arched into me and cried out in longing.

I stopped to take in the moment. Fang palmed my back beneath my undershirt. Such a rare sentiment: I wouldn't have minded if she made me take it off. She left it alone. I shut my eyes, leaning my head down to rest against her heated neck. Smelling the dark waves of her hair and feeling her deep breathing underneath me were reminders that this was real. I'd nearly lost myself to how surreal this was. Not just the moment, but this change I felt in me.

"Light," she whispered, breaths quavering against my ear. "Whatever you're feelin'…give it to me." I couldn't speak. My throat stung with all of my emotions broiling to the surface. I pulled out just enough and thrust back inside of her. Fang's rapture echoed through me and against my skin. "Pour everything into me. Share it with me…love me with it, harder."

I followed her wishes. Three fingers and then four, soaking me farther down. Her cries grew more guttural every time I went into her. Fang's sounds and heat and presence and beauty coiled around any chances I'd had to live without her. Any cold independence I had; any lone wolf tendencies; any selfishness, any loneliness, any pure self-interests and any means I had to resist her love all dissipated as the days and nights passed with her in my arms. Two weeks all blended into one long moment of pleasing Fang, of setting aside any room my honor had to exist on its own. This uncharted place brought out too many fears in me. I couldn't sleep without her next to me. I couldn't think clearly unless Fang was with me, or if I knew she was someplace safe. I couldn't imagine my life separate from hers. True devotion and dependency on another person: two things I'd never understood, and still couldn't. They gripped me as Fang did every night when I loved her, fucked her physically, mentally and emotionally, whipped her, challenged her. I sensed more understanding from Fang in the way she didn't touch me. She knew me better now that she'd read my journal. If she did try, I wouldn't have been as resistant to it. Not on the outside. With all of these revelations, I knew I risked my heart running away from her to keep myself safe. Safety, seclusion…two things I'd relied on for so long, and I didn't need them anymore.

.

Lightning…ever since you brought me home, I've wanted to fly with you. Not just in an airship. Through the skies, emotionally charged—off together on our own journey that no one else could imagine. I wanna go everywhere with you, whether it's by air or sea. The way you handle me reassures me again and again that I wasn't a fool when I first fell in love with you. Waitin' an eternity for you was truly worth it.

The first Saturday of November had finally arrived. It was the night of PSICOM's charity ball in Snow's palace. The funds were supposed to go toward rebuilding their headquarters in Bodhum, but Jihl of course had other plans. I had on my white tuxedo, waiting alone in a rococo-style vestibule that led to the ballroom. Tall ceilings and bright lights surrounded me as I listened to the chatter coming from beyond the doors. Thousands of politicians and other dignitaries all made their way through the foyer and up to the ballroom, networking and scoping out the state of the war. There were people from Nova Chrysalia and Cocoon in attendance, hoping to fund our side of the war—not just the reconstruction. Luxerion's isolationist status hadn't exactly made them a lot of friends. Every other crystal-state seemed more interested in cutting off Luxerion's Secutors, leaving the city vulnerable to a friendly takeover. I looked forward to that happening—I'd finally be able to stop worrying about Noel finding some way to take Fang away from me.

As soon as the ball started at nine, Fang and I were due to share the first dance of the night—and our first dance of all time. A slow-dance was perfect for the occasion. This would be a lot different than sitting around at some bar, watching her dance with Vanille and Serah from a distance.

I stood next to a wooden table where I had all of my documents spread out: photographs outlining Snow's security system, details on the differences between the silent alarm and the mobilized one, and all of the emergency exits hidden around the building. It looked like the emergency exits were useless if the silent alarm went off—every window and door would quietly seal itself. Except the front door. That was technically the most inconspicuous option, but I didn't have a good feeling about it. In case Snow's security and Jihl lost track of Rosch, I'd be forced to walk casually out the front door and hope I didn't get shot. I couldn't rely on that. I reached inside my crystal, checking to see if I could use Etro's blessing as a last resort. I triggered it, generating a dim shield of light around me. It did draw some attention, but it would guarantee me protection against at least one projectile. I disabled the shield and breathed a sigh of relief.

My nerves crept back up again as the clock neared nine, and yet Jihl still hadn't contacted me. I knew she wanted to keep things covert. This was ridiculous. She couldn't even check in with me first?

"Kupo!" Mog appeared in front of me, wearing a little tuxedo and a bow tie. "Lightning! There you are, kupo," he said. "Serah asked me to check on you. Are you okay, kupo?"

"I'm a little nervous," I replied. "I wish there wasn't so many people around to see Fang and I dance for the first time. Other than that, I'm fine." He wouldn't say it, but he seemed to know that there was more to my story. "Have you seen Jihl Nabaat around? She was supposed to contact me. I haven't heard from her all day."

"The PSICOM officer?" he asked. "Oh! I definitely saw her in the palace a while ago, kupo. She was looking for someone. Maybe she's trying to find you?"

"That's strange," I muttered. "I expected her to call me…"

"Would you like me to look for her, kupo?"

I shook my head and said, "It's all right. Thanks for offering."

Mog twirled around. "Okay, kupo!" he answered. "Just so you know, I'll be going with you to Luxerion! My magic will work with Nova Chrysalia's crystal barrier to help disguise you, kupo. I also have to help Serah connect to the internet! She'll fall behind with her classes without it, kupo."

"I'm glad she's staying on top of things," I said. "And I'm glad you'll be with us. In case we run into trouble, my sister will have her bow and arrows with you." The talking settled down in the ballroom. I checked my watch; it was nearly nine. My nerves crept back up again. I sighed them back down. "I have to get going soon. Tell Serah not to worry about me. I'll go talk to her after I find Jihl."

He promised that he would send the message as he disappeared into thin air. I put the documents back into my crystal, waiting for the few minutes to pass. I had this terrible feeling that something had happened to Jihl. It wasn't like her to not get in touch with me. The only safety net I had was that Rosch wasn't setting up until the second half of the ball. That was all the time I had to find Jihl and figure out where to go from here. She'd been so damn confident in her ability to control this situation. I should have doubted her more. I should have told her what I thought. It was too late now. I had to improvise and hope for the best.

I wasn't any good at either of those things. Not having solid plans made me feel powerless. I didn't have a choice in the matter. If I didn't at least go dance with Fang, she'd know that something was up. My main goal in all of this was to not worry her. If I had to leave suddenly, I'd have to find some way to explain this to her. I didn't want to have to have that conversation with her. I knew she'd be mad at me for keeping her in the dark. If it kept her safe; if it kept her from lashing out at Rosch and compromising the mission, she had to stay oblivious for as long as possible.

I felt awful for lying to her. Boiling acid churned in my stomach, making me nauseous. After the way I'd fallen for Fang lately, this guilt was determined to devour me from the inside out.

Right on time, I stepped out of the vestibule to the loud echoes of applause from around the ballroom and the upper floors. I held the pendant of my necklace for a moment, stepping out to the marble floor beneath the bright diamond chandelier. The palace in all its brightness felt as a negative image of how it had looked during the party a few weeks ago. When I saw Fang walking toward me, she looked like a negative image, too. Her black sari fooled me into thinking Vespair had taken her place for some reason. Her dark hair shone with natural red highlights beneath the bright lights and all the eyes on us, setting her apart from the pure shadows of her demon. I saw something playfully smug behind her eyes, gorgeous as ever. She must have noticed how nervous I was. She had no idea exactly why I felt this way.

Fang smirked at me as we met in the center. "Hey there, sweet pea," she said. The chandelier overhead dimmed a little as the slow music started. She draped her arms around my neck. "I didn't think this dance would be such a big deal for you. You're lookin' downright green, babe. Nervous?"

I held her around her waist. "Maybe," I replied, pulling her closer. "We've never danced before." Crisp cherry blossoms from her perfume filled my senses. They helped to block out everyone looking at us. "You look beautiful. I like that you used this perfume again. It always gets to me." Loud distractions of my worries blared through my head. I couldn't fully enjoy this dance with her. I tried to stop thinking about all of that. "I'm curious…why are you wearing this? I thought you were your demon."

"It was her idea," she whispered in my ear. "Somethin' about needin' to be closer to me tonight. What's weird is she just said it. She hasn't been tryin' to mess with my head these days. I shouldn't complain. I don't miss that about her." Listening to her breathe, and feeling the sway of her hips in my hold helped to relax me. "Talk to me, Light. I know there's somethin' on your mind."

"…Jihl was supposed to contact me tonight," I told her. "I haven't heard anything. I'm worried."

"You think somethin' happened to her?" asked Fang.

"Probably," I answered. "It's not like her to go back on her word. Then again, I don't want to think about it. I'm here with you now. We have this moment. I don't want to ruin it."

Fang pressed her forehead against mine. We kept our eyes downcast, staring at the imaginary space between us. I wanted to blurt out the truth. I didn't want to kill this dance we shared. I wanted to take responsibility for things going wrong. I didn't want Fang to get angry and do something brash. Despite all of those contradictions, I had to make this better, somehow.

"Listen," I murmured. "I want you to know…no matter what happens, I'll always stand by you. And…I'll always love you. I've gone past the point where I could have possibly lived my life without you."

"Yeah?" she asked, smiling. "I've felt that way for a while. What started it for you?"

I tilted my head just enough to kiss her. She moaned through her parted lips. "I didn't realize it," I said, "But I was afraid to fall for you completely. It meant giving up some part of my independence. Spending this time with you has really opened me. I feel like I can't separate myself from you. Loving you is the most important thing to me. A while back, I didn't care about these things—or I made myself ignore it. My honor rests with you."

Other couples slowly started to surround us. If not for the chandelier lighting up Fang's face again, I wouldn't have noticed everyone in my periphery. Somewhere in that crowd, I saw Vanille and Serah dancing together. I smiled a little more at the thought of their relationship progressing.

Fang's eyes brightened from my words. "It was the sex, wasn't it?" she teased. My face reddened—I hadn't expected her to say that. She laughed. "Oh, babe, I know you. Tryin' to charm me with your silver tongue instead of sayin' it out loud. Don't get me wrong. I love it when you sweet-talk me. But…"

"But what…?"

"I noticed a little change in you over the weeks," she said. "It's brave of you to open up with me." Words unspoken: because if something bad ever happened between us, I'd feel the pain that much more. "I really like this. I'm damn curious to see how things'll be in another three months!"

Once we stopped dancing, I guided Fang over to the table where the others were. Snow, Hope, Vanille, Serah and Sazh were there, talking over dinner. I sat with Fang the whole time, keeping my arm wrapped around her waist. For a time, as I listened to my friends and family laugh with each other, I was able to forget about the real reason why I was there. As the halfway point neared, I couldn't keep ignoring the fears in the back of my head: Rosch putting a bullet through my skull because I slacked off and didn't find Jihl in time. I noticed Snow pressing his hand to his earpiece every now and then. He subtly gave me a thumbs-up when he could, letting me know that his security had eyes on Rosch in the building. Eventually, Serah jumped up and dragged Hope to the ballroom floor with her, thinking she might cheer him up a bit more if they danced. Sazh and Snow shrugged and followed after them, deciding to dance together for the hell of it. Vanille and Fang did the same, leaving me with plenty of time to go looking around on my own.

When I made it to the darkened landing of the second floor, I saw Lumina and Vespair talking together in low voices. They beckoned me over and had me follow them down the hall.

"What were you two doing?" I asked.

"We were waitin' for you!" replied Vespair, waving her hand over her shoulder. "You think we like standin' around in dark hallways chattin' about your possible death? I was about to go get you. Glad you saved me the trouble. Looked like you were havin' a fine time with your friends."

"Thanks for being so considerate…" I saw Lumina holding back a smile. Then the thought occurred to me: "Were you the one who left those cocktails out? Now that I think about it, that whole situation just had your name written all over it." Lumina snorted back her laughter, nodding. "Figures. I should have known."

"Anyway!" said Lumina. "We've been looking all over for Jihl… I think we know where she is."

I had an overhead view of the ballroom floor. From my shadowed perspective, I saw Fang and Vanille laughing as they danced together. The song playing was a waltz, but I didn't recognize their dance at all. It looked less intimate than a waltz—more of an upbeat, friendly dance, most likely from Oerba. I smiled as I watched, keeping them in my view for as long as I could. Their friendship was truly unbreakable.

We turned a corner and entered one of the rooms. Lumina's gasp of surprise was my first warning that something wasn't right. The smell of blood in the bedroom unsettled me. Vespair cursed and ran back out of the room. Blood spattered over the walls. A bloody knife was in a corner of the room. The color drained from my face when I saw who was on the floor. Every single terrible end to this mission played out in my head. Jihl lay there, face up, steadily choking on her own blood. She feebly reached out over the floor, searching for something. Her empty eye sockets bled clear through to the floor.

"Jihl!" I yelled, going to her side. "Jihl, what happened to you?! Who did this?" She kept reaching with her hand, looking with no eyes. I saw a video recorder not too far away. I grabbed it and put it in her hand. "Is this what you're looking for…?"

Jihl nodded, coughing up blood. I turned around as she pressed the play button. Lumina was already off to find Snow's security guards. We listened to the recording. I recognized Rosch's voice: "Jihl, Jihl…did you think you had me fooled? Did you truly believe I was an oblivious little boy in the face of your spying games? I must commend you for your efforts, but you've come up short yet again. You didn't anticipate this, did you? The meticulousness with which you work leaves you vulnerable to predictability. And so here I offer you my unpredictability: yes, I plan to kill the Savior tonight. No, I do not care for the sick affair she shares with that barbaric heathen from the underworld. Their foolhardy love is all that stands between war and peace in our new world! How could you let them carry on this way after the hundreds of civilians we lost during Luxerion's assault on Bodhum? After the thousands of soldiers we have had to bury from our worthless attempts at breaching Luxerion's crystal barrier? After the precious technology we have had stolen from us during the cyber warfare? I once believed you to be a woman of utilitarianism. If you have abandoned your ways, it is for selfish motivations. You wish to see me put down for my willingness to value the lives of millions over a single, profane relationship between two women? The jurors and judge alike will laugh you out of court once they hear my testimony. Accept this defeat, Jihl! If you do not, I will personally see to it that your days of spying on me are over."

The security guards rushed into the room soon after. A few of them hurried to carry Jihl out of the room. Others looked around, surveying the scene of the crime. I stayed knelt over the floor, staring in shock at the place where Jihl had just been. This had all happened so fast. One minute I had no idea where Jihl was. The next I found her lying in a pool of her own blood after her eyes had been carved out of her head. This entire mission relied on Jihl getting Rosch's confession, and her stopping him from firing at me in the open crowd. If I stayed gone for too long, he would know that I knew.

He might've decided to hurt Fang instead. I had to get her and the others out of the building.

"Savior!" said one of the guards, stopping me from leaving. "We've lost Lieutenant-Colonel Rosch! All we know is that he is somewhere in the palace. We'll be able to find him easily if we trigger the silent alarm…"

"…then my only way out of here is through the front doors," I finished for him. "That's all the way downstairs past the foyer."

He nodded gravely, asking, "Do you want us to cover you on the way out?"

"No," I answered. "That'll be a dead giveaway. I can take care of myself. Send a team to get Fang, Serah and the rest of our friends outside. Once we're out there, do whatever you need to do to detain him. This mission's already compromised. Do you need to follow-up with Snow, or will you follow my lead?"

"I'm calling in another team now," he promised. "We won't fail you."

I hurried back downstairs. On the way there, I used Etro's blessing to put up another temporary shield of light. With how bright the chandelier was, I'd be able to blend in with everyone else in the ballroom. As soon as I made it to the crowd of people there, I slowed down to a normal pace. The front doors were just down one more flight of stairs. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement coming from the second floor, all the way on the other end of the ballroom. Rosch was there, shadowed by the dark in otherwise plain sight, setting up his sniper rifle. I took a deep breath. I trusted in the power of my barrier. It would keep me safe. He could fire at me and everyone would see him from that angle. He'd be tried in Yusnaan's court for attempting to assassinate the Savior and for blinding his fellow leader of our crystal-state. He couldn't talk his way out of Yusnaan's court—not with all the evidence against him.

Not too far away, I saw Hope and Sazh talking to each other. A few of Snow's security guards ushered them downstairs. Those two were safe. They'd be fine. I had to keep an eye out to make sure the others got downstairs—

Vanille bumped into me. "Lightning!" she exclaimed. She was only a little shorter than me. I should have been able to see her. I was way too distracted. Luckily, she couldn't see the blood on my tux. "There you are! Fang and I were so worried—we've been searching all over for you! Where did you run off to?"

"I was—in the bathroom," I lied, trying to keep walking. Vanille hummed in thought, obviously not believing me. "Look, Vanille, you need to find Fang and my sister. Tell them to get outside."

"What for?" she asked. "We'll miss the rest of the party if we leave now!" I kept on going, thinking she would get the hint and just do as I said. Vanille struggled to keep up with me. "Hey! Slow down!" I groaned and stopped. She had no idea that I was a literal target right now. "I need to speak to you about something first… I'm really grateful for what you did. Talking to Serah about the way she was acting, I mean." This was seriously the absolute wrong time to have this conversation. I grit my teeth and did my best to listen. Rosch had his eyes on me, still preparing his rifle. "She apologized the other day and explained the situation to me. It's still a little complicated…but I have faith that she's a better person than she was before. Serah truly looks up to you. I can't thank you enough."

I finally saw Fang and my sister somewhere nearby. They both looked around the ballroom with worried expressions. "I'm glad I could help, Vanille," I said, "But you really need to get outside. It's important…"

"Okay!" she replied, hugging me tightly. "Just one last thing, Lightning… I have this feeling that something will happen soon. Promise me you'll always be safe. Please?" Rosch stared at me, nearly ready to aim. "You may not realize it, but you've become a beacon of light for me. This actually isn't for Fang's sake. I only want you to promise me this for my own peace of mind."

When I looked down at Vanille in my arms, I lost track of Serah and Fang in the crowd. She held me tighter, oddly protective of me. The gesture warmed my heart, even as Rosch aimed his sniper rifle right at me. "I promise, Vanille," I said to her. "You can call me Light, by the way. I should have given you permission a long time ago." She beamed at me and let go. "You don't have to worry. Now go get the others. There's something I need to tell you all once we're outside. I can't say it here."

Vanille skipped off to search for everyone else. The closer I got to the last staircase, the thinner the crowd became. I had more space to move around. Less chances of someone getting injured. From this angle, I couldn't keep my periphery on Rosch anymore. The last I saw was him keeping me in view of his scope. I'd nearly made it to a wall to block his view. He had to shoot now or he'd lose his chance. I braced myself, focusing all of my energy into my barrier. Every good memory I had of Fang helped to build the strength of light surrounding me. I had to survive this.

Time dilated right before Rosch fired. Rushed footsteps sounded over the floor, headed in my direction. In place of the rifle going off, I heard a single call of my name:

"Light!"

Fang jumped in front of me, taking the bullet straight through her chest. The impact shook her body. She fell back against me. Her negative image of chaos swirled in front of her heart, holding her life in place. I slumped to the marble at my feet. White of my tuxedo bled of her, and my white-hot tears, bleeding wide over Jihl's traces on me. The people around us screamed; no sound came out of their mouths. They ran; no sound came from their footsteps. Fang's head hung over my arm, her skin and open eyes barely holding onto the light glittering down from the chandelier. Punctured black of her smooth sari; silk soaking blood. I couldn't—feel—think—hear—so incongruous. Her strength still brimmed through her body. I couldn't know this by looking at her, but at the world around us. The palace hadn't flooded. The world hadn't burst into flames. The world hadn't ended. The world didn't reflect the dead-silent bile festering in my heart. Festering in the disease of my failure. Failure to tell her what this night was, what this mission was; that it had been compromised, that I'd had a plan; that she hadn't needed to sacrifice herself. I should have spoken to her. I should have told her. I should have realized that this could have happened. I shouldn't have lied to her.

If my love was truly dead, all around us would have—should have—turned to nothingness. It didn't. Apparently lifeless. She breathed still—breathed of chaos, of dark mist instead of air. Vespair worked to keep her alive. That realization, I slowly clung to, and the world came flooding back to my senses:

Serah and Vanille hurrying with me through the frenzied streets of Yusnaan, on our way to the train station. They'd somehow gotten me to my feet and made me go with them. I carried Fang in my arms, only able to keep going forward from the faint hopes I had. Fainter memories I had of Vanille knowing what this was: this chaos-induced coma and how to fix it. My perceptions cut out again once we were on the train. Mog's magic glamour over our bodies kept anyone from seeing us as we were. No one saw the vortex of chaos over Fang's wound. No one paid attention to my world crumbling underneath me. The one around me didn't end. Mine, inside of me, was determined to show me hell through my eyes. Guilt broiled within me all over again as I cried over Fang next to a window. I was completely open to her. Suddenly filled with fear over these prospects I couldn't control. Tearing at the weakened walls of my mind to let me out of this nightmare and bring Fang back.

Again, somewhere, somehow, I heard Vanille promise me: Fang would be all right. She would be. Luxerion was our only hope. Vanille should have been furious with me over my failures. She wasn't. Or I was so far-removed in my sorrow that I couldn't comprehend anything else. I drowned in my grief for the whole train ride. When I finally woke up to the world around me again, I saw Vanille and my sister walking next to me. We were along the wide avenues of Luxerion, the Divine City of Light. Secutors and suits of Magitek armor we passed by didn't even notice us. Far in the distance, through my blurred eyes, through the tall monuments and military bases, I saw the Order of Salvation's cathedral. Larger than I remembered, wider—far more expansive and decorated than ever before.

The one within had the power to solve all our problems—and create more in the process. Far more. I was prepared to take that risk; to make that sacrifice if it would bring Fang back to me.