Tabitha, still seething with rage, found Louise at the academy, just as they knew they would, sitting beneath a tree and hugging her knees. They couldn't regard her grieving countenance, so blinded by fury they were as they marched up to Louise.
"You!" Tabitha snarled as they reached down and grabbed Louise by the shoulders, wrenching her up and pinning her against the tree whilst she blinked in terror. "Your fault! All your fault! You were impatient! Just as bad as Joseph!" Tabitha wrenched back their fist-adorned hand to strike Louise, who merely flinched as she sobbed.
Tabitha's hand was caught by a now-revealed Zeratul, You wish to harm her again, Treacherous Tabitha? The tone was one of warning.
Tabitha, though they glared at him, relaxed enough to let him know they would not hit her, and he let them go. They then trained their glare on Louise, whose tear-streaked face simply looked broken by grief. That's when they noticed something…
Siesta was missing.
Tabitha's face fell, and the wind of their wrath was stolen from them. Replaced instead with a seething anger that they could not let go of, but was at least less acute than the fury they had before.
"So many dead because of you," Tabitha growled. "Couldn't wait. Couldn't scout. Couldn't get more information. Just… went."
Louise refused to meet their gaze as fresh tears flowed down her face.
Tabitha wordlessly growled, feeling themself tense up for another attempt at violence. Instead, the more they looked at the transparently broken Louise, the more they realized they couldn't hold on to that kind of anger. There were so many factors that went into that battle. And they knew Louise. They knew she would never order them into such a risky situation like that. The Louise they had come to know had developed meticulous planning skills. She did have patience. And she did heed Tabitha's words about it being a trap. She did plan accordingly.
It just all went wrong.
In a way it was unfair of Tabitha to hold her responsible for.
And the moment the situation changed, Louise was wise enough to order retreat.
Still…
They couldn't let it go. Not yet. Not when they had lost so many souls. When they had lost the Surtis. When the Spear of Adun was gone.
They took a deep breath, pulling a data pad out and tossing it before Louise, whose eyes flicked to it.
"Found out what's wrong with Cattleya," Tabitha said in their normal, monotone way.
Louise leaned down and picked up the pad, looking over it.
"No cure. But treatment. Should be able to live normal life with medicine," Tabitha stated.
Louise looked confused by the data on the pad. Tabitha could tell she didn't really understand it as she handed it back.
"T-Thank you," Louise finally said as she nodded at Tabitha, who mirrored the action before leaving.
As Tabitha marched away, Illococoo, who was standing at a good distance to the interaction, regarded Louise with confusion before turning the confusion on her master.
"What was that, sis? Why did you hurt your friend?" Illococoo innocently asked as she started keeping pace with Tabitha.
It was enough to break Tabitha's scowl as they thought about it. Their face fell.
"I… was angry," Tabitha simply answered, their tone carrying an edge of shame.
"Why? Did she hurt sis? Should I eat her?" Illococoo offered with a look of conviction.
Tabitha chuckled as they stopped for a moment, with Illococoo stopping and giving Tabitha an imploring look. "It's alright. Thank you," Tabitha said as they ruffled Illococoo's hair, causing her to hum with delight.
Louise, for her part, felt a slight lightening of the burdens she was tasked with. But just as she was about to embrace this speck of hope, she felt a deep mourning from Zeratul. And shame.
She looked over at him as he refused to meet her gaze. The first time he had ever looked as ashamed as he felt. Her heart was clenched with panic.
"Why do I feel that from you?" Louise asked, hesitant.
A heavy pause was shared between them.
The Spear of Adun… Zeratul began as Louise's eyes widened and she trembled, it was lost in the battle with Amon.
Louise felt that horribly familiar feeling of something breaking within her as her legs gave out. She collapsed, leaning against the tree as her face was blank and her mind buzzed with static, unable to form any thought or emotion from the sheer shock of that.
Wait.
Cattleya…
Louise shrieked denial into her hands as she began rocking back and forth. This couldn't be true. She couldn't have this? This one miniscule bit of hope? It seemed she was destined for despair. She wanted to give up. She wanted to surrender. She wanted… to die. No more Siesta. No more Artanis. No more Karax. No more-
Even approaching the thought made her give a shrieking sob as Zeratul fell beside her, letting her collapse into him.
I am sorry, Louise, Zeratul said. Mournfully. Sympathetically.
It took some time for the swelling in her throat to go down enough for her to speak. "No," she took a deep sniff, "I'm sorry. You… lost so much. Because of me. Because I was too stupid and impatient." She gave another sharp sob.
Zeratul stroked her back.
"No, Louise," a new voice joined them.
Both Zeratul and Louise looked up to see an approaching Tiffa, who sank down and sat cross-legged before them as she gave them both a look of conviction.
"The only one who knew what was going to happen was Ma'lash. He told no one. There was no way we could have known what his death would unleash." Tiffa's face fell, "If anything this was my fault. If I hadn't been so blinded by revenge. By my rage. I could have simply defeated him. And Amon would not have been made manifest on your world."
Louise pulled away from Zeratul, shaking her head at Tiffa.
"It's not your fault. You couldn't-"
"Couldn't have known? Neither could you. None of us could. I just said that," Tiffa's tone was curt with irritation. But Louise could tell it was not directed at her. Tiffa slammed her fist into the ground, "He played us all… That damn Ma'lash and Amon played us all like fools. And I just… let him." Tiffa's face was contorted in wrathful grief, "My mother… I killed her for nothing."
Louise crawled forward to tightly embrace Tiffa. "No. No, if what you say is true. Then it's not your fault. It wasn't for nothing."
"Then it's not your fault either," Tiffa assured her with a brief wavering breath of a laugh through tears she was trying to fight.
The two embraced for countless moments that came and faded in a blur, with neither being aware of how much time had passed. It soothed them. If only barely. Tiffa was the first to pull back, looking down on Louise as she wiped extra moisture from her eyes. That was when she became aware of something that made her face fall.
"Louise?" Tiffa asked. "Where is Siesta?"
Louise's face fell alongside her gaze. With shame. Guilt. And grief.
"She didn't-?!"
"No," Louise shook her head. "I… sent her somewhere safe."
Tiffa felt her jaw twitch to ask more questions, but the look on Louise's face bore an expression that silenced them before they could form. Instead, Tiffa merely opted to gently pull Louise's head into her chest.
"I'm sorry," Tiffa whispered to her.
Louise sniffled, betraying her tears had returned, "At least she's safe." She had to believe that.
Once more, time ceased having meaning as they sat there. Until Tiffa became more acutely aware of the situation and once more pulled back to look down on Louise with a stern, concerned look.
"You haven't rested, have you?" Tiffa asked.
Louise's gaze fell as she shook her head.
"C'mon," Tiffa effortlessly picked her up, holding her like a child as Louise froze with shock. "Just tell me where."
Once her shock had passed, Louise wrapped her arms around Tiffa's neck and nodded into her shoulder.
Earlier, Saito had gone straight to Tabitha's room once he and them had arrived, with Kirche staying close by him by Tabitha's request. Once he went to open the door, he was greeted by a simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar sight that he could recognize even with her back turned.
"Tabitha! What's-?!" Penelope began to ask as she turned and beheld Saito. Her eyes first widened with shock. Then her face almost immediately fell to a cold scowl.
"Oh. It's you," Penelope said in an icy, hostile tone.
Saito's gaze fell with shame.
"Wait, you know-? Oh. Of course," Kirche awkwardly silenced herself.
The trio stood in brisk silence for a time before Saito swallowed his anxiety and met her gaze with conviction, "I'm sorry."
Penelope met his apology with a silent glare, making Saito wince.
"I know that doesn't even begin to cover it-."
"Your level of understatement is profoundly insulting. Not just to me, but to my dau-my child," Penelope snapped.
"I know. And… I'm trying to make it right," Saito's eyes were struggling to stay locked on Penelope's.
"Laughable," Penelope scoffed. "Are you here to break my mind again? Enslave Tabitha to Joseph's will like before?"
Saito's conviction renewed, "Joseph is dead."
Penelope's glare broke in sheer astonishment.
"I killed him," Saito stated.
The two exchanged more silence before Kirche stepped past Saito to get in between them, "He's telling the truth. Our little excursion ended with one dead Admiral Joseph," Kirche gave Saito a half-smile, "Thanks to him."
"That undoes nothing of what he did," Penelope retorted with a raised, indignant voice, her face becoming contorted with rage, "It won't give me my husband back. It won't give me my time with my child back. No," she snarled, "there is nothing he can do to salve the wounds he inflicted. On me. On Cha-Tabitha."
Saito's conviction faltered once more as his gaze fell. "I know," he repeated in a shameful tone. Kirche gently took his hand, giving him a reassuring look that gave him the strength to continue, "But I'm still going to try."
Penelope's wrath became undercut. Her countenance softened. Then, it hardened to a scowl once more, "Do as you will. But leave me out of it."
"That… may prove difficult," Kirche awkwardly said.
Penelope raised an eyebrow at her, "And why is that?"
"Because I love him," Tabitha, flanked by a blissfully smiling Illococoo, had suddenly appeared beside Saito, startling everyone else as they looked at their mother with conviction.
Saito's own surprise came from the fact that he'd never heard them say that aloud.
Penelope was left aghast at this. Then, her wrath redoubled upon Saito.
"What did you do to her? To them?" Penelope snarled as she grabbed her wand from the bedside table.
Tabitha stepped in front of Saito, "Nothing, mother."
Penelope's wrath was broken by a streak of shock.
"Loved him long before all this," Tabitha declared with finality in their tone.
Saito's eyes stung with tears as he let go of Kirche's hand, taking Tabitha's as he warmly smiled.
The wind in the sails of Penelope's wrath had now been stolen from her as she beheld this development, dropping her wand as she fell sitting on the bed.
"I… I can't believe this," Penelope said, as though she were in a trance, before she gave the trio before her a desperate look, "Is this… real?"
The three looked at each other, worried, before Tabitha let go of Saito and kneeled before their mother, taking her hands. "It is. I love him, mother."
Penelope flinched upon hearing that, making Tabitha's gaze fall.
"Why?" Penelope nearly whispered. "After all he did? Why?"
Tabitha took a deep breath before meeting their mother's gaze with renewed conviction, "Didn't have a choice."
Penelope inferred the invisible "he" from her child's speech, causing a worrying uncertainty to overtake her countenance as she had to rethink everything she thought she knew about that boy. Before he poisoned her… she did genuinely pity him. She was not blind, after all, to his scars. Nor deaf to the degradation he endured. But… what he did? To her? And, by extension, to Tabitha? Penelope's grip on that bitterness felt life-sustaining. It was the only thing that had kept her tethered to any semblance of life when she was trapped in her mind.
Penelope's ruminations were interrupted when Saito fell to his knees and prostrated before her.
"My lady, I'm not telling you to forgive me. None of us are," Saito began, "I'm telling you that I'm sorry. Whether or not you choose to forgive is up to you. But I'm going to at least try and demonstrate that I mean my apology. For the rest of my days."
Penelope just noticed he had a new wound. Rather, he was missing something. His left hand. She started putting pieces together, but felt she needed the help of her child to see if she was on the right track.
"Tabitha?" Penelope asked for her child's attention, getting them to meet her eyes, "Is it true, then? Did he kill Joseph?"
Tabitha, stunned by what felt like a nearing resolution, nodded. "Saved me, too. Twice," Tabitha gave a single, wry titter.
Penelope slowly blinked as she took this in. Then, she looked, again, at Saito. He was still bowing deeply, his head buried in the floor.
Kirche, meanwhile, was unknowingly breathing so shallow she was going light-headed as she anxiously regarded this scene.
Finally, Penelope let out a defeated sigh. "I'm not sure I can ever truly, fully forgive him," she began as she squeezed Tabitha's hands, "But do you trust him?"
Tabitha, their eyes stinging with coming tears, nodded.
Penelope leaned down and kissed Tabitha's forehead, "Then I trust you."
Kirche took and released a deep breath, getting everyone's attention.
"What? That was intense!" Kirche defended herself, causing everyone to half-smile at her.
"What was intense? Illococoo doesn't understand," Illococoo chimed in, causing everyone to giggle.
After a moment, Tabitha latched on to their mother, finally letting the flood of emotions they'd been holding back since Surtis break through as they sobbed. Penelope, with no hesitation, reciprocated the embrace with all the same fervent intensity, feeling a burning of sympathetic tears in her own eyes for her child's suffering.
"It's alright, Tabitha," Penelope cooed reassuringly into her child's ear, "what happened?"
Tabitha needed a moment before they could breathe enough to relay the events they'd just experienced. And the overwhelming fear it had birthed within them.
Zeratul mournfully sat upon the top of what used to be Louise's dormitory, staring into the burning skies and letting the loss hit him in waves. It felt so profoundly unreal. To have lost so much so fast. He was sure his loss could be felt externally, and if any humans were near, they surely would have doubled over in a keening that was not their own.
Zeratul perked up when he saw flashes of light near to the academy Pylon, standing as he beheld the light coalesce into more of his brethren. His heart leapt with hope as he wrapped himself in shadows and blinked to the ground, marching to the lights to greet whoever had arrived.
His heart overflowed with joy when the light finally stabilized into the form of Artanis, who he ran to greet.
Brother! I am overjoyed to see you have survived! Zeratul called out as he met Artanis with what was now an instinctive embrace.
Artanis, not having any experience with this display of affection merely raised a hand to pat Zeratul's shoulder and gently guide him back. Zeratul, feeling the slightest shame at forgetting himself, looked around to see Talandar, less than a handful of Zealots, an Adept, and some Nerazim.
The deep sense of external mourning, tinged with self-directed wrath, brought an immediate weight to Zeratul's spirit.
How did this come to be? Zeratul asked.
Artanis' gaze fell as he recounted what happened on the Spear of Adun.
Zeratul remained standing through Artanis' recollection. Only due to the fact that he had already passed over the most acute grieving.
I now know why the phase-smith. No. Our brother, Artanis said as a small disc warped into his hand and a holographic image appeared upon it, traded his life.
That is-!
Indeed, Artanis confirmed before Zeratul could say, it is the Executor Louise's kin.
A small part of Zeratul's mourning was relieved at that moment. And he suspected it would brighten Louise's spirit as well.
What of the others? Zeratul asked, indicating to the smattering of warriors that had joined Artanis.
They are a detachment of the other survivors. The rest have gathered on smaller ships that managed to escape Amon, Artanis explained.
Zeratul clapped a hand on Artanis' shoulder, Rest assured, brother, Karax's death will not have been in vain.
Artanis returned the gesture, Indeed. Together, there is nothing the firstborn are not capable of.
Henrietta had spent every moment since she arrived tending to survivors. So many wounded. So many maimed. So many a breath from death. So many their minds in denial about their being dead.
She worked alongside Montmorency, who had fetched experimental potions from her room to help deal with the situation, finding herself impressed with the spellwork on display from a "lesser noble".
Once the triage was nearing completion, Henrietta was becoming frustrated at how it seemed her limbs were no longer obeying her instructions, contorting her face in agonized frustration as she needed every bit of her effort to even move a finger how she wanted. Sitting just at the outskirts of the makeshift triage area, she attempted to stand, and just as she felt her legs simply stop listening to her, she was stabilized by a firm grip.
"You need to rest, Henrietta," Julien gently chastised her.
She frowned and shook him off, attempting to stand independently. Once more, she faltered, and Julien needed to catch her.
"Henrietta…" Julien chided her, this time a little forcefully.
"I'm not a child," Henrietta growled as she made one more attempt to return to the wounded, only for her to fall to one knee. Henrietta cursed herself as she attempted to hit the ground, finding her hand unable to make any fist as it trembled.
Julien stood before her, hunched over, and offered a hand as he looked down at her with worry, "You've done all you can do," Julien began, "let yourself be helped."
Henrietta weakly raised her gaze to give him a wry, open-mouthed smile through her effortful breaths, "Very specific choice of words."
Julien gave a wry titter, "Well, I just want you to know if it's not me you want help from that you should get it from someone." He twitched his hand expectantly at her, "You don't have to do it all on your own, you know?"
Henrietta's gaze fell, "If I don't, who will?"
Julien kneeled and placed a reassuring hand upon her shoulder, "We all will," he gave her a playful smirk, "just trust us."
It was Henrietta's turn to give a wry titter as she instinctively rolled her eyes.
"Fine," Henrietta sighed in resignation as she finally took his hand, with Julien pulling her up. Once she was near full height, she faltered again, with Julien catching her in his arms.
"I'll help you inside. I'm sure there's somewhere to rest in there," Julien assured her with conviction as they positioned themselves so Julien could bear her weight.
Henrietta gave a small nod as she let him lead their way, still cursing herself for her weakness as they went into a nearby dusty shack.
Julien had no idea where he was going. He merely saw a close structure and figured it better than nothing as he helped Henrietta to it. Once inside, he regarded the dusty surroundings curiously. So many sheets covering strangely shaped objects. So many tables and cabinets. And a single, weathered bench near the door that Julien decided was good enough.
He gently helped Henrietta sit, causing her to release a massive sigh of relief before she reached up to the latches of her armor with trembling fingers. She made several attempts, growing more visibly frustrated with each failed one as she tried to grasp and release the straps.
"Need help?" Julien asked, keeping his chuckle at her expense internal.
Henrietta frowned before ultimately nodding with a resigned groan.
Julien, his fingers much more steady, deftly got Henrietta out of her bloodied and dirtied armor, gently setting each piece down on a nearby table as he worked.
Once he was done, Henrietta slumped down onto the bench, groaning and wincing from the effort she exerted earlier.
"Think you'll be fine on your own?" Julien asked as he took a knee beside her and twisted his mouth with concern.
Henrietta's eyes flicked away from him in contemplation before she nodded, "I think so. But maybe you should stay, regardless. I'm sure you're tired, too."
Julien released an exasperated groan, "I was hoping you'd say that. I really am." He, also groaning with effort, removed his cloak and his layer of padded armor on his torso that he made into a makeshift pillow before he laid down beside Henrietta, whose arm was dangling from the bench.
Julien took her hand, giving her a forced half-smile, "We did good, today."
Henrietta raised an eyebrow at him, "Did we?"
Julien's face fell, "Well… we didn't die."
Henrietta gave a wry titter as she clenched his hand, "True."
Their exhaustion overcame them soon after.
Osmond was already in a state of alarm from the darkening of the sky that refused to let up. And from the sudden appearance of an army in the academy. A sorely bruised one, at that. So when the door to his office was opened without warning, it was enough for him to whip an instinctive air blade at the potential intruder, only to see the target drop and dodge it almost instantly.
"Feeling a little jumpy?" Colbert asked, his tone awkward and wavering from his near-death experience as he struggled to stand.
"Colbert," Osmond gave a relieved sigh, "I expected to see you again, but not like this."
"Indeed," Colbert said as he walked forward and respectfully shook Osmond's hand. There was a heavy resignation on his face as he indicated to the window with his chin and took a place by Osmond as they both regarded not just the broken army, but the burning skies above.
"Looks like you were right," Colbert spoke up after a bout of intense silence between the two men. Osmond regarded him with a raised eyebrow. "The return of the Void was ill for us all."
Osmond gave a resigned sigh as he peered out the window once more, his eyes raking over the Vestri court where he and Colbert conducted their little "experiment" just over a year ago. There was hope at that time. Hope that this would not come to pass. Hope that they still had time.
"We were fools," Osmond grumbled as his grip tightened around his staff. "We should have taken no chances. Merely ended this right then and there at the moment of suspicion."
Colbert narrowed his eyes at Osmond.
"Surely you're not suggesting-?"
"I am telling," Osmond firmly stated as he indicated to the countless wounded, dead, and dying below. "If all it took was the young Valliere girl's life? Would it not be-?"
Osmond was interrupted by Cobert throttling him to the desk, making sure to relieve him of his staff as he did. Despite the swiftness of his actions, his face bore not a trace of emotion. Merely regarding the now-choking Osmond with a daed-eyed resolve.
"No," Colbert stated with greater firmness, "no matter the reason, murder of a child is never correct."
Osmond, weak in his old age, struggled to free himself. Colbert mercifully relented, causing Osmond to cough and sputter.
"You should know better than any of us," Colbert declared, "that it would only delay this inevitable outcome. Were you hoping to shuffle into the afterlife before you had to deal with it?" Colbert shook his head, "Shame on you."
Osmond, breathing raggedly, scowled up at Colbert. "And this is preferable?"
Colbert took a moment before giving a resigned sigh, "It simply is what it is."
Osmond shook his head, "That naivete was always at odds with your past, Flame Snake." Colbert made no reaction to his supposed provocation, "But it's also why I hired you."
Now that provoked a reaction from Colbert. A mere raising of the brow.
"I always knew I was a man of too many mistakes. Too much cowardice." Osmond's gaze fell. "One reason I hoped to delay things was I knew if you were in charge of this academy? Things would have turned out better."
Colbert blinked in disbelief at him.
"We both agree, don't we? I am too slow to act. Too quick to judge. Too cowardly. You?" Osmond gave a wry chuckle as he straightened up as much as his back could allow and leaned against his desk. "You are none of those things."
"Is there a point to your flattery, old man?" Colbert scoffed.
"My point, Jean," Osmond said as he gently placed a hand on Colbert's shoulder, "is that you were always better. And… I'm sorry you got stuck with an old coot like me having to make the decisions that led us to this," Osmond indicated to the window. To the eclipse that held a vice grip on the world's skies.
"I probably would have made the same ones," Colbert admitted after a moment's silence.
"Have more faith in yourself, Jean," Osmond reassured him, "Other than your sense of direction? I always had faith in you."
Colbert genuinely cracked a half-smile at that.
"Now, come on," Osmond beckoned as he bent down to pick up his staff, sparing a thought for a certain assistant he had that he knew he owed a lifetime of apologies to, "we should get down there and see what we can do."
Colbert raised an eyebrow before smirking and nodding at him.
Montmorency stumbled away from the triage area. She was unsure how much time had passed since they were warped back to Tristain. All she knew was she had to keep moving. Keep helping. She was only stopping because one of the "medics" sent her away, declaring her "no longer fit for active duty".
What does she know? Montmorency bitterly thought to herself as she clenched her fists. And then became acutely aware what stained them. She raised her hands to behold the deep, red stains upon them. From so many she'd lied to about being okay. It was enough to make her legs finally surrender to their exhaustion that had built up.
"Montmorency!" she could hear her fiance call out as he rushed to her. He was too far. He wouldn't catch her in time. A wave from his wand sent a glowing petal in her direction, and she found herself caught in a cold metal golem's arms.
"Are you alright, my Montmorency?" Guiche asked once he was within her presence.
Montmorency could not regard him. She was still simultaneously frozen and trembling as she found herself drowning in agonized screams she heard echoing endlessly in her head.
"Montmorency," Guiche gently held her as the golem crumbled away, sinking into the grass with her as she continued to contemplate her hands with growing horror. "It's okay. You did well. We're alive. We're safe now."
Montmorency could only silently stare at her hands as her vision focused and unfocused seemingly at random.
Are we? Montmorency hopelessly though.
Guiche beheld his fiance with naked concern, biting his lip as he watched her breaking into pieces. Summoning all the strength he could, he cradled her in his arms and attempted to bridal-carry her from the open court, straining as he did.
His eyes swept over the area, regarding all the makeshift beds he'd shaped with his earth magic for the wounded and dying, and he felt an acute pang of exhaustion hit him.
No, not yet, Guiche forced himself to think as he put one foot in front of the other, headed for the girls' dormitory that was across the courtyard. We'll be okay. I promise.
He was straining too much to say it aloud.
Aly, merely exhausted, went to the brick laid area of the court the entrance led to and went to take one of the many metal chairs. Teens she assumed were students of this place noticeably jumped and scattered from her presence, which she gave an amused smirk at as she took a seat and kicked her legs onto one of the metal tables.
"Yeah, that settles it," a wizened, feminine voice said beside her.
Aly turned to see a woman that looked just over middle age sporting what looked like makeshift leather armor and a patched-up ghost suit with a weathered, torn, beige scarf or shawl around her neck and nearly all-silver hair tied back into a tight bun.
"Of course you can't sit normally," the woman said with an amused, knowing tone as she walked up to a chair beside Aly and placed one of her booted feet upon it and did lunging stretches against it while groaning.
Aly raised an eyebrow at her, "Do I know you?"
The woman chuckled before she held out a hand to Aly, "Mama Cassandra."
Aly's eyes went wide as she fervently took her hand, "Oh! You! Yes!"
Mama Cassandra's warm smile grew at her as she looked Aly's wine-red cloak-adorned form over, "You're like me."
Aly regarded her with confusion as she pulled her hand back. Then, understanding took over her face as she smirked, "You can tell all that from how a person sits?"
Mama Cassandra barked out a laugh as she switched legs, "Among other things. But the way you carry yourself makes it obvious." She gave Aly a knowing smile, "I got a wife back in the capital."
Aly's face fell with concern, "I… hope she's alright."
Mama Cassandra gave a dismissive, playful scoff, "I'm sure she is. Believe it or not, she's the stronger one of the two of us."
Aly chuckled, "I'll take your word for it. But… you look like you're pretty strong, yourself."
Mama Cassandra made a dismissive noise as she sat on the chair, kicking her own legs upon the table as she leaned the chair back, "I know how to stay alive, is all." She gave Aly a knowing look, "I think you understand."
Aly nodded.
"Got someone special for you?" Mama Cassandra asked.
"I think so," Aly answered without thinking, nearly covering her mouth the moment the words left them.
"Haven't worked up the courage?"
Aly shook her head.
"Well, luckily we'll have plenty of time once this is all over," Mama Cassandra casually declared, making Aly give her an incredulous look. The elder woman, catching Aly's expression, smirked at her, "I got faith in those kids, you know?"
Aly looked at her with confusion.
"Pinky and her raven," Mama Cassandra said wistfully as she gazed up at the burning skies. "You haven't been around them a lot, but… Trust me."
Aly frowned, "First time I work with them I end up being part of a disaster."
Mama Cassandra snapped into a proper seated position, giving Aly a severe look, "We don't know what happened. Could have been well out of our control."
Aly broke her gaze from the woman, contorting her face with frustration, "If they're so great they should have been able to turn it around."
Mama Cassandra continued to bore her gaze into Aly, "You can't account for everything. I'm sure they prepared as much as they could."
Aly gave her another incredulous look, "Why are you so defensive over them?"
Mama Cassandra smirked, "I've fought beside them plenty." Once more, she wistfully looked into the sky, "Have hope. It's the only thing we can have right now. The only thing that's been the lifeblood of many before and will be for many after."
Aly's face softened as she considered this woman's words. Even if she couldn't fully believe them.
While Tiffa initially walked towards the dormitory she remembered meeting with Louise in before, she was stopped. She could acutely feel the brokenhearted nature in which she was informed that Louise had no place there, anymore, and did not inquire further as Louise thought about where to go.
"Tiffa!" Tiffa and Louise's planning was interrupted by Agnes calling out to them.
Tiffa turned to see Agnes running in their direction from the Academy entrance, with a look of relief upon her face. Once she reached the two, she took a moment to catch her breath before smiling up at them.
"Thank goodness," Agnes breathed as she took Tiffa into a firm embrace, with Tiffa using her free arm to reciprocate it. "When all the elves turned on us… I feared you were lost as well…"
Tiffa gently rubbed Agnes' back, "I was. But only briefly. Zeratul gave me the strength and guidance I needed to free myself." Her face fell, "If… only I had the strength to free anyone else."
Agnes pulled back, giving her a stern look, "You did the best you could. I can tell you're pushing past your limits even now."
"C'mon, she's not that heavy…"
"That's not what I mean," Agnes observed, making Tiffa look at her with confusion, "You need to rest, Tiffa."
Tiffa took a moment before sighing with resignation, "I know." She repositioned an awake, but silent, Louise in her other arm, "But… I should take care of this one, first."
Agnes arched a brow. Then, she looked around. Solemn understanding dawned upon her face as she recognized a missing presence and her gaze fell.
"Oh, she's not dead!" Tiffa quickly reassured, making it Agnes' turn to be confused, "She's just… somewhere else. Somewhere safe, according to her."
Tiffa felt Louise cling tighter to her, which the elf reciprocated.
"I… see," Agnes replied, slightly unconvinced. "So you were taking her to her room?"
Tiffa shook her head, "Apparently… that's out."
Agnes raised an eyebrow but did not inquire further, "Perhaps the servants' quarters, then?"
Tiffa nudged Louise for confirmation, who, after a moment, silently shrugged.
"I guess that will do," Tiffa said as she gestured for Agnes to lead the way while redoubling her hold on Louise as she carried her to where Agnes directed.
It was a plain place. Just a boxy, wooden structure with peeling white paint upon its walls and weathered trim around the windows. But it was assuredly shelter. And, when they entered, there were surely beds. Agnes led them upstairs to the first set of bedrooms in this three-story building, checking room after room and finding them empty or as if someone had left in a hurry.
"Uh… Can I help you?" a nervous, masculine voice asked.
Tiffa and Agnes turned to see a lanky man with vibrant, coiffed, pink and blue hair giving them a confused and nervous look.
That nervousness faltered when his eyes fell upon Louise, "Oh! You're with her?"
Tiffa and Agnes nodded.
"We're trying to find a place for her to rest," Tiffa stated, regarding the man's wince with a prick of hurt she was still too familiar with.
"Ah, well, they're all open, basically. I'm just late to clearing out," the young man looked around and past them, "Where's Siesta?"
Louise's fingers dug into Tiffa.
"She's… not here," Agnes solemnly informed.
The young man's face fell, "Oh. I see."
"She's not dead," Tiffa spoke up, not seeing the man wince this time, "she's just… far away. Safe."
The young man raised an eyebrow, clearly not having a full understanding even as he slowly nodded.
"Well, in that case," he said as he gestured they follow him.
They were led to a particular room in the middle of the second floor, facing out towards the academy courtyard. He opened it up, revealing a barren room with naught but a bed, a weathered armoire, and a similarly weathered bedside table. Whilst the two standing women wondered as to why this room was chosen, the young man quickly cleared his throat.
"It was Siesta's. Back when she worked here," the young man informed, causing understanding to dawn on both women's faces while Louise dug her head into Tiffa's shoulder.
Tiffa laid Louise down, removed her shoes, and pulled the bedding over her, briefly stroking her hair while giving her a solemn, apologetic smile. She watched Louise curl into herself, taking deep breaths. Each breath Tiffa could see Louise's eyelids grow heavier. Soon, she saw Louise's body slump into sleep.
With one more stroke of Louise's hair to push it from her dirtied face, Tiffa straightened out and left the room, giving the young man a half-smile.
"Thank you," Tiffa said to him, with no trace of fear in response.
"No problem," the young man tittered as he held out a hand to Tiffa, "Eddie."
Tiffa took his head and gave him a sincere smile, "Tiffania."
Eddie nodded at her before turning to leave her and Agnes on their own.
"Tiffania?" Agnes asked with the slightest teasing as she took Tiffa's hand.
"My real name, it turns out. My mother told me," Tiffa sheepishly informed.
"Oh? Do I get to meet her?" Agnes once more teased, only to regret it when she saw Tiffa's face fall. "I'm sorry, was I-?"
"No," Tiffa sniffed as a sudden overflow of tears from her eyes caught her off guard. "It was… sudden. Very sudden. And recent." Tiffa gave a wry titter as she wiped eyes and looked down at Agnes, "I think… we need to talk about all that."
Agnes raised her eyebrows. Then gave Tiffa a reassuring smile as she nodded.
The sleeping arrangements for Saito, Kirche, Tabitha, and Penelope were a bit… complex to figure out, to say the least. Tabitha insisted on having Saito near. Penelope refused to vacate the room for him. And no one dared suggest that she, Tabitha, and Saito share a bed together. So… a compromise was reached.
One that Saito was uncomfortable with. Not overwhelmingly so, but, still.
"It's… probably just for tonight," Kirche reassured Saito as they stepped into her room.
Saito nervously regarded the surroundings that made him more confused than unnerved. It was a (admittedly pleasantly) fragrant room adorned with what felt like maybe too many candles of various scents that surprisingly didn't clash with each other. A large, ornate rug ran under the four-poster bed that had burgundy curtains tied up with golden ropes, with a second, thin, translucent light pink curtain layer just beneath. Overall the room very nearly looked cluttered with its table, its various dressers and armoires and shelves and cabinets. And against the window he could see a tub, but could not discern a source of water for it.
"Saito," Kirche got Saito's attention as she stepped past him and began rummaging through her things, "I'm going to bathe. You can stay, if you like, but I understand if you wish to leave. I may be a while to get all the-." Kirche gestured wildly to the surroundings, "you know?"
Saito raised an eyebrow at her as he blinked in confusion, but ultimately nodded.
"I'll wait outside, then," Saito offered as he inclined his head and left a slightly disappointed Kirche behind.
As Kirche prepared herself by removing the jumpsuit she'd been wearing for what felt like forever, she breathed a massive sigh of relief and stretched out. That was when she realized she had no water, which made her slump and groan as she realized she'd been taking servants and Tabitha for granted.
She took a moment to think before turning to the door.
"Saito?" she called out in a raised voice.
"Yes?" Saito's muffled voice answered.
"This may be inconvenient but could you be a dear and fetch water for me?" Kirche asked in her coquettish and sultry manner she turned on for all men she wanted something from.
A moment of silence greeted her.
"I'll… try," Saito answered hesitantly.
Kirche waited on her bed for an indeterminate amount of time before she heard a knock on the door.
"I think I did it. I… got some from the fountain downstairs?" Saito asked.
Kirche raised an eyebrow and stifled a snicker. That wasn't exactly meant for bathing in but what could she expect from him? Besides, it's not like she didn't know the spell to purify water.
"Very good Saito, would you please bring it in for me?" Kirche requested.
The door opened, and the moment Saito beheld Kirche's nude form, he turned a brilliant shade of red as his eyes went wide.
Kirche was, at first, confused. She then playfully giggled as she grabbed and flicked her wand to cover herself with a towel.
"Sorry, I forget how much more… reserved others can be," Kirche giggled as Saito frowned at her.
Saito gave an exasperated sigh before he entered the room, with two buckets of water floating behind him. He noticed Kirche's look of wonder.
"You didn't know I was psionic?" Saito asked.
Kirche shook her head, "Does it have anything to do with-?" Kirche indicated to his forehead.
Saito's eyes rolled up before his gaze fell and he nodded, "The power came from it. I definitely wasn't like this back in my world."
"Your… world?" Kirche asked, curious, as Saito waved his hand, causing the buckets to empty into the tub.
"Did you also not know I'm from another world?" Saito asked, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
Kirche shook her head. "I've never met a human from another world," Kirche's tone was light with wonder as she absentmindedly approached.
"I guess…" Saito began with an awkward, playful tone as he finished his task and looked over at her, "I'm glad to be your first?"
Kirche giggled as she stopped just short of making contact with him, still acutely aware of his anxieties as she held his gaze. She kept her smirk internal when she became aware of his blushing.
"Well, thank you for your help," Kirche said as she moved over to the bath and sat at its edge waving her wand at the water as she muttered the chant for purification.
"No problem," Saito stuttered in response as he averted his gaze from her while the water briefly glowed before Kirche muttered another chant that caused it to bubble and steam to begin rising from it.
"I meant what I said, you know," Kirche said as she gave him a sultry, expectant look. "You can stay, if you like."
Saito gulped as he continued to avoid looking at her.
"I promise," Kirche began as she felt the water and smirked as she found it exactly to her liking, "No funny business. I just want to get to know the one I'm sharing Tabitha with."
Saito's blushing faded as his face fell. Something that made her own face fall sympathetically. After a moment of silence he nodded as he sat on the bed, facing away from her. She undressed and stepped into the water, feeling a wave of delightful tingles wash over her just as she was about to wash herself.
"I was summoned here about five years ago," Saito began as Kirche started the task of cleaning herself.
He told her everything. About their first meeting. About how they snuck around to be with each other and play. How they'd spend time listening to music together. How they'd get caught nearly every time and Saito would be corporally punished. It simultaneously warmed and broke Kirche's heart to hear it all. And all she wanted to do was hold him like she'd hold Tabitha. Instead, she listened. And listened. She had long since finished cleaning herself and now remained soaking while she kept listening to more bittersweet, more bitter than sweet, tales of Saito and Tabitha's past that Tabitha, themself, was mostly tight-lipped about.
"That… sounds like a lot," Kirche finally said as a heavy silence fell between them. She leaned over the edge of the tub, looking at him sympathetically.
"Yeah," Saito plainly replied.
Kirche's face fell into contemplation for a moment before she had an idea, "Maybe you, me, and Tabitha can do that together."
Saito looked to perk up. "You mean-?"
"Yeah!" Kirche brightly answered before he could fully ask, "It sounds interesting. I didn't hear too much music when we were in Gallia but what I did hear got stuck in my head," she tittered, "If Tabitha trusts your taste enough then I trust it shouldn't be too bad."
Saito gave a playful scoff, "Well, according to them it may be a bit too eclectic."
Kirche smirked, wishing he could see it, "You don't know me, though. Who knows? Maybe I'll be a bit more… open." She made sure to put a sly emphasis on her last word that she was amused to see Saito twitch and blush in response to.
Finally, Saito turned around and gave her a scrutinizing look, with no more hints of awkwardness upon his countenance.
"We'll see about that." He smirked, lifting Kirche's spirit. Saito's eyes then went to one of her hands that was clinging to the edge of the tub, "You're getting pruney."
Kirche snapped her hand away, startled as a mortified look took over her face. It was quickly replaced by a solemnly amused smile as she chuckled to herself and met Saito's gaze.
"You're so much alike," Kirche commented as she shook her head.
Saito raised an eyebrow.
Once Kirche had finished and adorned herself in her rather revealing nightgown she crawled into bed, with Saito leaping up as she did.
"You're allowed, you know," Kirche patted the space beside her.
Saito sheepishly averted his gaze, "I'm… not tired yet."
Kirche raised an eyebrow before she nodded, "Well, when you're ready. I promise I don't mind." She paused, "And I promise, again, there will be no funny business."
Saito nodded in understanding as Kirche waved her wand, extinguishing all the candles in the room as she fell asleep in mere moments.
Saito, however, couldn't sleep. He felt it so obvious, and so pathetic, as to why he couldn't. With Kirche peacefully slumbering before him, her visage looking divine even in the dark, all Saito could think about was Tabitha. And how much he still needed them.
As he watched Kirche turn over, with her nightgown nearly slipping to reveal her modesty, he became flustered and snapped his head away from her. He didn't know how much time was passing on the chair he had sat himself upon. Whether the seconds dragged or sped by in this room was unknown to him.
He has returned, Saito heard in his head, jolting him from his contemplation. It was his own voice. No. It was-
Omega? Saito replied. He closed his eyes to enter their shared psionic space, finding himself in that same blank, black space where he'd first spoken to the cerebrate.
He came face-to-face with himself. With his twin bearing two hands.
"You may need to update that," Saito wryly commented as he raised his stumped left forearm.
Omega, adorned in Saito's form, raised an eyebrow as they regarded the fully present left hand on their own body. Then, Omega shrugged.
"It matters not. These are merely projections," Omega dismissed as he slowly began pacing around Saito.
"Right," Saito scoffed as he watched Omega. "So… you know about Amon's return?"
Omega paused. Then nodded. "The Dark Master is here to devour us all." They met Saito's gaze, "He presses at the edges of my mind. He wishes to enslave me."
Saito gave them a look of conviction, "That won't happen."
Omega raised an eyebrow.
"Because we're going to beat him," Saito began as he marched up to Omega, "or die trying."
Omega blinked. Then scoffed. "Naive."
Saito frowned, "Better to die free than live as a slave, wouldn't you agree?"
Omega broke their gaze to consider.
"Look, you don't have to, but we'd appreciate it if you'd help," Saito requested, "I'd appreciate it if you helped."
Omega met his gaze once more with an amused look.
"Surely we shall perish. From our connection I am well aware you lack the power to challenge the Master."
Saito smirked, "You never know if you don't try, right?"
Omega gave a hearty, booming laugh that echoed in Saito's head.
"It is as you say," Omega deliberately clapped their left hand on Saito's shoulder with a smirk, "better to die free than live as a slave."
Saito gave a smiling scoff before he nodded.