Vex collapsed to the ground, her body pierced by the massive Reiloran's sword. The leader of the Imperium's assault laughed. Keyleth, still in her earth elemental form, let out a stone-splitting scream. She couldn't believe her friend was dying. They couldn't have come to Vax's rescue only to lose Vex. Keyleth's first instinct was to run, to get between Vex and the next blow, but she would never be fast enough. The Reiloran raised his weapon again and again. Even from this distance, Keyleth saw the light in Vex's eyes go out. Her lips moved faintly, her hand reaching out to Percy. Keyleth closed her eyes. Tears of rage and grief burned in her eyes. She knew what Vex was saying. "I love you." "It's not your fault." "Save my brother." Keyleth would have given her life not to see the pain, anger, and resignation spread across Percy's face.

He didn't cry, but Keyleth read on his face the same pain she had felt when she saw Vax slaughtered in front of her. They trapped him, and now, they killed Vex. The same scene replaying itself. Same drama, same place. Keyleth had witnessed Vax's annihilation from the front row, paralyzed and unable to do anything but blink.

Never again.

Ludinus and all his minions were going to die for this. She hated them for using the same tools to destroy their spirits, but if they thought they could do it again and get out alive, they were wrong. Keyleth had no love for the gods, but she did not hate them. All she asked was for them to leave her alone and give her Vax back. Besides that, they could answer all the prayers they wanted for all she cared. Someone had to answer the prayers of the destitute, and it couldn't always be Vox Machina, the Mighty Nein, or the Hells Bells who would come to their aid. Sometimes mortals needed to feel a divine breath in their ears to find the strength to stand up to injustice. She didn't mind that. What she minded was that men capable of tearing the world apart and destroying happy families to satisfy their dream of greatness existed. They wanted to overthrow the pyramid of power only to put themselves on top. These men only deserved her to sink her claws into their flesh as she tore them inside out. Vox Machina loved to call their friend "No Mercy Percy." Ludinus and his minion would discover that Keyleth was more than capable of deserving of that nickname.

She remained frozen, but others did not. Pike took two steps forward. Her face was serene as ever, with barely a worry line on her forehead. Only the line of tears on her face, already dried by the desert heat. For the first time in a long, long time, Keyleth joined her prayers to hers. Everlight, if you ever had any compassion in your frozen little godly heart, give us this miracle. It's your arrogant little ass we're trying to save. That Vex is trying to save.

Did her prayer lack reverence or adoration? Keyleth didn't give a damn. If the Everlight didn't answer Pike's call pronto, Keyleth would turn her into a modern art piece with her claws. Pike could make a nice and fancy prayer, but Keyleth would skip straight to the threat.

Luckily for them, the Everlight didn't fail them this time. A golden light, even more vibrant under the intense marquesian sun, surrounded its cleric. A ray of sunlight fell on Vex's bloody face, like a caress. Vex's body jerked. She opened her eyes and closed them again, knowing she couldn't draw the Reilorans' attention to her in her current state. She'd lived, if they were lucky.

Keyleth let out her breath. Thank you, Everlight, Raven Queen, Dawnfather, whoever you were who watched over her today. Don't let her out of your sight, or Percy and I will find you and destroy you.

She wouldn't let the rage burning in her guts subside. Keyleth was here to eradicate the invasion forces, destroy the bridge between Ruidus and Exandria, and bring Vax back to his people. Leaving Percy to exact his revenge on the Reiloran and get Vex to safety, Keyleth changed into an air elemental. She soared through the crumbling towers to a height where she landed on the staircase, facing the spinning sphere that was the man she loved. It had cracked under the pressure Ludinus and the Ruby Vanguard had inflicted on it.

For the first time since the assault had been decided, Keyleth let herself wonder if Vax was still alive inside the sphere. When the Raven Queen had visited her, she could not tell Keyleth if he was. That was weeks ago. Even if he was alive, would he be okay when they retrieve him? Was there even something left of the man she loved in there, or would they only rescue an empty shell, his spirit annihilated by weeks of torture? All these questions raced through Keyleth's mind in a flash before she sprang into action. Either she saved Vax or she ended his suffering, but she would not remain passive. Still in her air elemental form, she positioned herself around the sphere, then moved back, dragging it with her. The cables that held the sphere prisoner in the device resisted. They designed the cables to hold Vax captive and torture him until Ludinus was finished with him. They were strong, but Keyleth was stronger. She pulled harder. One cable broke, then another. Finally, all gave way. The Malleus Key was no more.

The sphere shattered before Keyleth could rejoice. Darkness escaped from the sphere, which Keyleth's air form could not contain. Had she killed Vax, trying to save him? A black mist slowly fell to the top of the stairs, swirling in all directions, and then regrouping into a familiar silhouette. It became increasingly solid and Keyleth breathed again, then sobbed. As soon as Vax had finished materialized, the stair collapsed under his weight. Keyleth had no time to react, but she didn't need to. Vax's shoulders tensed in a very familiar way. His shadow cloak shifted, and a pair of black wings appeared, holding him aloft and preventing him from falling ten feet into the cloud of dust and debris. He let out a breath, almost a gasp, and his hand reached out to stab a Thought Eater that passed within range.

It was as if a hurricane had come into play. Vax's wings closed. He dove toward the nearest Reiloran and struck, once, twice, three times. He didn't miss once. The daggers withdrew, infused with golden light and soaked in blood, letting the body fall limp. Farther out on the battlefield, Grog stood over Ozo's bloody corpse. A nearly identical vicious grin played across Vex and Percy's faces before their grin dissolved, replaced by a myriad of emotions too intense to describe when they saw Vax in action.

He took to the skies again. His wings spread wide, magnificent against the azure sky, free at last from the unholy magic of the Blood Bridge that darkened it. Vax looked down at Vex, covered in blood but alive, so wonderfully alive, and then at Keyleth. In her elemental form, Keyleth was nothing more than a barely visible gust of wind, but for a moment, he gave her one of those half-smiles she had nearly forgotten, barely visible beneath his half-broken mask, and then he turned his head back to the battlefield, searching for the next target, the next duel.

Keyleth would have died for a chance to bring him back and return him to his family. But after seeing that half-smile, after seeing the tension in his shoulders and his exhaustion, she knew she would survive this fight, because there was no way she would die without touching him, without telling him everything she had on her heart.

The fight didn't last much longer. It was possible to take down a member of Vox Machina, but taking down the whole group wasn't so easy, not while any of them were still alive, and especially not when they felt on fire after saving Vax. They charged again with a vigor they hadn't felt in years, not since they'd lost him. The last survivors fled across the desert. They wouldn't survive there. Keyleth would give orders to make sure of that. But for now, it wasn't revenge she was thinking about, nor dealing with Ludinus' minions or Ludinus himself. The man was a too-great threat to be left alive, but she left the problem for tomorrow. Her Ashari and the others were quite capable of finishing the fight, not to mention the angels and demons who had come as reinforcements to save their divine master' asses.

Keyleth only had eyes for Vax. She landed next to him but when she tried to talked she couldn't find her words. She waited for the other to hobble towards them before she became herself again. They all silently formed a circle around Vax. No one dared talk or take Vax into their arms. Like her, they probably feared that he would dissolve into thin air.

Vex leaned on Percy. It was impossible to tell whether she was close to fainting from emotion or her injuries. Keyleth knew she was close to fainting herself.

Finally, Vax removed his mask. Tears rose in Keyleth's eyes, seeing his face marked by the suffering he had just endured. His eyes betrayed his pain. And yet… beyond the pain, it was the same face he wore when they had been forced to say goodbye to him. He had not changed at all. It was unsettling to see him next to Vex and to see how different they looked now. Vex was older. There was maturity on her face that Vax lacked. Even so, his eyes seemed the oldest. In them, Keyleth could read a life of melancholy, regrets, desires, and love that he had not been able to offer for a very long time and no longer knew how to express.

"What now?"

Vax's voice echoed in the silent desert. It was hoarse, like a crow's caw, probably because of the long torment he had endured. No one answered him. Keyleth could hear each of their breath. She felt a lump in her throat. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes, but she wouldn't cry. She refused to cry. Deep down, it didn't surprise her he had been the first to speak. They were still too shocked to see him, too worried about what would happen next, while he had forgotten that he could let his emotions speak rather than duty. Since no one was speaking, Keyleth had to take the plunge and say what they all thought.

"I guess it's still the same. You're not really back, are you?"

Vax tilted his head slightly to the side, like a raven, closed his eyes, inhaled, and then opened them again.

"No," he admitted in an emotionless tone.

Keyleth would have shouted at him if she hadn't seen the scream hiding in his eyes.

"How long, before you have to go?"

"I... would like nothing more to stay with you all. I've thought of you forever. Forever and ever."

You are my family, he didn't say. And we are yours, not that winged bitch, Keyleth wanted to scream, but the words were stuck in her mouth.

"Then stay," Vex said in a tone of certainty she must be far from feeling. "She's distracted. Stay as long as you can. "

"Yes, this is the fight," Grog chuckled. "It's not like it isn't important."

Keyleth wanted to smile at him. Everything was always so simple for Grog, but he wasn't wrong. The fight was over, at least for Vox Machina. Who knew where the Hell Bells and the Mighty Nein were up there on Ruidus? She hoped Orym was alright. A thought suddenly occurred to her.

"If there is no more Matron, do you know what happens to you?"

He took a few seconds to answer, as if he needed to remind himself of what was happening. It wasn't surprising, not after what he'd been through. Was he even aware of what happened?

"It's funny," he muttered in a flat voice, "I would not have her go."

"You would not have her go? Okay. Well."

She closed her eyes to hold back a new flood of tears that threatened to fall. He took her hand. His skin was so cold. Keyleth forced herself to open her eyes and smile.

"I'll still be here, I guess."

If your Raven Queen disappears, I'll be there to pick up the pieces, she tried to say, but she was too tired to find the words. The Raven Queen's fate was not in her hands, but if Vax wanted her to, she would fight for her. But not tonight. Tonight, Keyleth was too tired to do anything. From the soft light in Vax's eyes, she knew he understood, and thanked her.

"Death is a part of life," he whispered. "When I say I would not have her go, it does not mean that I do not want to stay. I mean she does kindness, in all our ends. I mean she does us a kindness, in all our ends. Do not mistake me. I long for our life."

A sob escaped Keyleth's throat. He might long for this life, but he wouldn't stay. She could see it in his eyes. It would hurt, but he still would go.

"When will your time be served?" she whimpered. "When will your debt be paid? I have to assume that I won't see that in my lifetime. And that's a long time."

He blinked but didn't answer.

"So that's it, you're just going back?" Scanlan asked, his voice heavy with emotion.

Keyleth looked around. She had almost forgotten the others were here. Grog carried Pike on his shoulders as he did in the old days, but he was frowning and his hand shook as he squeezed Pike's. Pike herself didn't hide her tears. Her temples were turning a little white. Scanlan was slightly balding. Percy… Percy was getting old. Keyleth had never realized or wanted to see it. This was his last fight, and one day it might be Vax who would come and take his soul. Keyleth hoped it would be him anyway, and not the Raven Queen. All eyes were wet, even Cerkonos' and Lieve'tel's.

"This is why you came, isn't it?" Keyleth asked the Raven Queen's cleric. "What is there to do?"

Before Lieve'tel could answer, an angel landed a few feet away from them, a being of light and metal almost too bright to look at. It was almost reassuring to see how different Vax was from them, despite what he was.

"Champion, the deed here is done. The next fight we bring to them, to Issylra, to finish what they might not be able to. Come."

He flew away again, not waiting for an answer. The other angels and demons took off after him, all flying north. Vax's eyes followed them, but he didn't take flight. His feet seemed riveted to the ground. Keyleth wanted to encase him in a stone shell to keep him close to her, but she wouldn't. Too many times, others had denied him the right to choose, so Keyleth wouldn't impose her will, however much she wanted to.

"Would it really be so bad if I were to stay?" Vax whispered in the same dull voice, his eyes fixed on nothing.

"The children would love to meet you," Percy said, "And finally find out how much I'm embellishing the memory of you."

Through the tears she could no longer hold back, Keyleth smiled. Like her, Vex wouldn't try manipulating her brother, for the same reason Keyleth didn't try to. Percy wasn't the same. He viciously aimed for the chink in the armor every chance he got, with his friends and his enemies alike. Vax jumped and tilted his head, as if listening to an invisible voice. He slowly brought his hand to his shoulder, his left, because his right was still holding Keyleth's. Percy's hand rested on Keyleth's shoulder, pulling her closer to offer his support as he was doing with Vex.

"I will serve you still," Vax finally whispered. "Here. In this mortal world, and to its end. Thank you."

Could she dare hope? Vax turned towards them. A veil seemed to have disappeared from his eyes. Some of the pain that Keyleth had read in them a moment earlier had disappeared. She tried to smile at him, but failed.

"But what are we going to do next?" he asked. His voice sounded more human.

"What must be done, I suppose," Percy answered cautiously.

"Issylra?"

The night is yours, a voice suddenly echoed in Keyleth's head. She saw the others jump. They had heard it too, and Keyleth knew whose voice it was. A gift from the Raven Queen, perhaps her last. Keyleth closed her eyes and fought back tears. One night? Was that all she would give them? One night, after thirty years of battling despair.

"No," Vex said firmly. "Fuck the battle. You're here with us."

The last of the angels and demons flew north. Vax smiled, squeezed Keyleth's hand tighter, and didn't fly away. With his free hand, he took Vex's. There was disbelief and hope in his eyes. A second later, they were all pressed together, breathing in unison, finally. One night. They only had one night. At least they had one night.

"Tell me what I've missed. Tell me about these nieces and nephews," Vax finally asked when they finally gave him some air.

"We can do better," Percy decreed. "We're Vox Machina and we have fought today. We go to rest, we go to recuperate, we go home, and we will be called when it is time. Come home, we are not battle-ready. Let us rest, if even for one day."

Predathos might not give them that much, but Keyleth wouldn't accept losing a single second of it.

"Is that all you have? One day? How long?"

"I don't know," he whispered. "Tonight, at least."

"Then let's go home," Vex whispered, pulling her closer again.

"I want to hear everything."

Their accumulated prayers had finally reached him. He nodded to everything they said, his gaze still incredulous. Keyleth let his hand go to approach the tree created by Vex's bow in the middle of battle. One hand on the young tree, she began to incantate the spell that would bring them home, while promising the tree to come back to help it take root despite the lightning that had struck it. It would bring life to this valley devastated by the madness of Ludinus' ambition. Suddenly, she felt two hands around her shoulders.

"We did it", Vex whispered in her ear.

"We did it", Keyleth replied.

"One night."

"One night. I could use a glass of wine."

"I'll get you one. Let's pretend everything is fine, for one night."

"For one night."

Vex whistled for the others to get ready and run. Six seconds later, they were standing under Whitestone's sky. It was cold after Marquet's deadly heat. Keyleth didn't care. They were home. It wasn't Zephrah, but home nonetheless, and Keyleth suddenly rediscovered how to breathe without feeling stones accumulating on her chest.

They walked silently up the road from the Sun Tree to the castle. Reluctantly, Pike and Scanlan left the group to get their children. They didn't want to leave Vax, but they didn't want to deprive their children of this unique opportunity to meet their almost-uncle. Vex and Percy's children weren't the only ones who heard of Vax since the day they were born.

Cassandra was awake when they got to the castle. She cried out in shock, then directed them to the private lounge where Vox Machina met on the rare occasions they found time. After that, she dragged Cerkonos and Lieve'tel after her to find them a room, or at least serve them food before they left for Vasselheim. Percy also left to go wake the children, then Grog went in search of the kitchens. Vax, Vex, and Keyleth remained alone in the room.

"Will they like me?" Vax asked, suddenly anxious.

"Of course they will," Vex smiled, wiping away the traces of her tears. "They'll love you. How could they not? I do."

She took off her armor and threw it behind a curtain, then put on a new tunic so that her children would not realize how close she had come to death. Before she could make her blood-soaked tunic disappear in the same way, Vax caught it in mid-air. Vex tried to snatch it away, but Vax held on to it before giving her a horrified look. Keyleth looked away and wrung her hands nervously. Of course, the Raven Queen's Champion could recognize the signs of a mortal wound on his sister's body and clothing.

"It's my fault," she muttered.

Vex turned toward her.

"No," she said with a certainty that Keyleth was far from feeling.

"If I had sensed the trap…"

"We've talked about it a hundred times. No. It's not your fault."

"But if I had…"

"I also knew it was a trap," Vax said in his hoarse voice. "I came anyway, against her advice. I couldn't leave you."

"So it's my fault, like I said."

"Yours? Or mine for charging in despite knowing I was falling into the trap, not knowing what form it would take, but knowing it was there?"

"It's no one's fault except Ludinus Da'leth and his henchmen," Vex decreed, raising her voice exactly as she did with her children when scolding them for something stupid they did or said. "Of course you went, Keyleth. You were only doing your duty, and there was no sign of what was going to happen. You know that. We heard some of the survivor's stories together. And of course Vax came after you. He loves you."

"As strong as the day I fell in love," Vax croaked. "As strong as our last day together."

"The subject is closed," Vex continued. "We have... we only have one night, apparently. It's too short a time to waste it arguing, right?"

Keyleth nodded, still not looking at them. Shame was something hard to control, even when she knew Vex was right. Suddenly, two pairs of arms closed around her, and her sobs turned to laughter. She returned their embrace. It had been so long since she had found herself locked between their four arms, safe from all danger.

"No arguing," she whispered. "Sorry, Vex."

"I'm not gonna say yes to your no-fighting rule," Vax protested. "Vax'ildan Fredrick de Rolo? What was Percy thinking?"

"That he couldn't refuse his wife anything when she screamed in pain as she gave birth to his fourth child? Did you expect me to think clearly, after six hours of labor? Also, I regret nothing."

"And you were hoping I'd show up by doing something like that."

"And we were hoping you'd show up," Vex acknowledged with a smile. "If you're going to make fun of someone, make fun of Scanlan and Pike for naming their son Wilhand'ilan. Poor Wax didn't deserve that and his parents decided on the name in advance, which we didn't."

"They've been drinking?"

"So much drinking involved. Anyway..."

A noise of five kid running interrupted him. The children were coming, and Vex was only half-changed. She threw her blood-soaked tunic into Vax's arms, which made it fall to the ground. With a gust of wind, Keyleth sent it rolling under the nearest couch.

It was about time. The two doors of the door opened and banged against the wall.

"Mom!"

Vex opened her arms wide to embrace her five children. Percy joined in the embrace with a slower step. His hands were shaking a little on his cane. No wonder. It had taken a miracle for them all to come out of this latest adventure alive. Keyleth had long wondered why the Ashari leaders did not intervene more often in world affairs. They had all made their Aramante, which meant they had all been adventurers one day. Now she understood why they were withdrawing and leaving it to younger people to save the world. They had too many responsibilities, too many people counting on them, too many children to protect. When she was younger, Keyleth had nothing to lose. Then she had lost everything, and now she had too much to lose. It was up to Orym and others to take over now. From now on, Keyleth would be happy with only guide these younger adventurers and protect those she cared about. Her family. Her people. She would always have a soft spot for adventurers, but her time roaming the roads fighting wannabee gods was over unless the threat needed an Archidruidess to rise to fight it.

Beside her, Keyleth felt Vax tense up, looking at his nephews and nieces. She took his hand and received a nervous smile in return.

"They'll love you," Keyleth promised.

"Are you sure? They don't know me."

"Of course they do. You're in almost every story their parents have ever told."

He frowned.

"I didn't mean to cast such a shadow over their childhood."

"It wasn't a shadow," Keyleth promised. "Just bittersweet memories to share, so they know why their mother was sad sometimes, or why she smiled when she saw them display your most remarkable traits. We never compared them to you and we didn't put you on a pedestal, I swear. They know your worst traits. But, of all the uncles and aunts they never had the chance to know because of fate or the Briarwood's treachery, you're their favorite. On the other hand, if you want to be first in their heart before Cassandra, you'll have to work hard. They love her so much."

"And you? Aren't you also their aunt?"

"I'm not."

Vax snorted.

"Liar."

"But I'm not! Not by blood, anyway."

"And since when does blood alone make a family in Vox Machina?"

He was right, but since his death, Keyleth had struggled to feel like a full member of Vox Machina and their families. Pike said that was her trauma expressing itself and she would eventually heal, but thirty years later, the pain hadn't decreased. It was just... muffled. She struggled to find an answer that wouldn't make Vax feel more guilty for leaving her behind, but could find nothing. Vex pulled her out of this delicate situation when she turned towards them, smiling like she hadn't in a very, very long time.

"Children, met my brother, Vax. Vax this is…"

"Vesper, Wolfe, Leona, Freddy, and Gwen," he recited while pointing at them. "Vesper's favorite meal of the day is breakfast before she needs to take on her responsibilities. Leona likes to hunt and prefers falcon hunting, Wolfe doesn't like it but likes to spend these moments alone with his mother and his twin, Freddy wants to make his own way that is not that of his elders and hates he haven't found something that calls him yet, Gwen is a little nosy girl who will drive her parents crazy one day soon."

Even Vesper, at the height of her thirty years, showed her shock learning he knew that. Gwen's jaw almost fell to the ground.

"That means... you know who broke Grandpa's vase?" She wiggled nervously, denouncing herself without realizing it.

"I know... but I won't tell," Vax replied with a wink, as much addressed to his nephews and nieces as to their parents.

"You saw us grow up then, Uncle Vax'ildan?" Vesper asked.

"I kept an eye on the situation as often as I could, but I missed a lot. For example, who got punished for the cherry cake theft?"

Three mouths opened, eager to tell the story. Keyleth let go of Vax's hand and let his nieces and nephews overwhelm him with questions. He had already won them over, just as she had predicted.

She felt like she was in the way, but couldn't find the courage to move away. The stress of the fight and of having seen Vex fall suddenly caught up with her. She let herself fall into an armchair on the other side of the room. Cassandra, who had come and gone discreetly, had left food on the table next to her. Keyleth ate a little, then curled up in the armchair and closed her eyes. She barely heard Grog, Pike, Scanlan, and their children enter the room and join in the discussion. Keyleth vaguely thought it was sad that everyone was too exhausted to retrieve Velora or her mother. She would have love for her mother to finally meet the man Keyleth had mourned for so long. Even if she had the strength, she wasn't sure she wanted to share him with more people, not when they had so little time to share together. She should probably get up and join the others, but it had been a long day. The anger she kept for so long, her fears, and the bittersweet reunion with Vax had left her in a daze that she was having trouble recovering from. It was getting hard to think, so she closed her eyes and fell asleep without meaning to.

Vex's hand on her shoulder woke her. Keyleth blinked and looked up. It was quieter, the children were nowhere in sight. The room was half empty by now. Night had fallen. Percy was talking quietly to Vax next to the window frame. The others were finishing eating. They were quietly laughing. It was almost as if they were back in time, if it weren't for the wrinkles and white hair around the table. Vex placed a mug of hot chocolate in Keyleth's hands and balanced herself on the chair, stroking her hair. It felt good, as did the warmth of the drink. Keyleth hadn't realized she was this cold.

"Where are the kids?"

"They went to sleep. It was an emotional night for them, but Vesper volunteered to put the younger ones to bed, and the older ones will have a pajama party in Vesper's room. They need to talk after what happened between themselves."

Keyleth shook her head in mocked disbelief.

"To think that the twins are almost twenty… Old enough to go on adventures."

"It's not the twins I worry about, but Freddie, and especially Gwen. Luckily, I still have some time before they give me a cardiac arrest. But that's not why I'm here. Want to tell me why you're staying away?"

"I didn't mean to intrude…"

Vex snorted.

"Intrude on your own family gathering? That be something to see!"

"I know how much you and Vax mean to each other. This is the only night we have with him, and I didn't mean to be selfish. He's your brother."

Tears welled up in Vex's eyes.

"Idiot. He's my brother, yes. Am I happy to have him by my side again, even for one night? Yes. Of course, I am. Do we both miss him that much? Of course! But the difference is that with that night, I already had everything I could have dreamed of: talking to Vax one last time, making sure he was okay, and seeing him talk to my children. Thirty years may have passed for both of us, Kiki, but the difference between us is that I've built a life for myself. I have had five children, and my greatest wish since Vesper was born was to see their eyes shine differently when I told them about Vax. They loved my stories, but they were only stories to them. I wanted them to know him, to truly understand why I care so much about him. I could tell them about Vax all I wanted, tell them about the intonation of his voice, the way he smiled, and his worst flaws, but…"

"It wasn't the same."

"No. They've created an image of Vax, but it wasn't him they saw. Now, when I tell our stories, they will remember his voice and the way he moves. And that's all I could hope for. Now, I will share his memory with them, not transmit to them the remembrance of a missing person. Now, they will love him as I do and not for the love of me. And that… that's priceless."

She angrily wiped away her tears and forced herself to smile. Keyleth did the same. It was a wonder there was still water in her body with how much she's been crying.

"But that does not mean that you have to fade away as if you did not matter," Vex continued after blowing her nose. "The situation is different for both of us. I built a life here, a home. I had Percy and the children to pull me out of bed on days when it was too difficult going on without Vax. But you, what did you have to help?"

"I had things to keep my mind occupied," Keyleth protested. "Zephrah, Tal'Dorei…"

"Okay, but all these years, have you been anything but the Tempest?"

"I… Yes, of course."

"When?"

"With you. When I found my mother. And…"

Keyleth trailed off. It was hard to find times when she had truly been herself. Vex takes her hand.

"See? You had your duty to keep you occupied, but it's not the same. I built a life, and even if I lose Vax again, I'll still have Percy and the kids. You… you'll end up the way you were before, with only your duty to keep you occupied. So no, it's not the same. I've already gotten what I could out of tonight. Now it's your turn."

"Are you sure?"

"Deadly so, and I guarantee the others would say the same thing if you took the time to ask them. I can go to bed tonight and wake up tomorrow with no regrets. I'm going to cry more this week than I have in the last ten years, but I'll have Percy and the kids. If you went to bed now, what would you end up doing tomorrow, other than hurting yourself more? Please don't condemn yourself to a life of regret. Take what you can tonight, and see what tomorrow has for you. Tonight, be selfish. For yourself. For Vax. Please?"

How could she say no to that? Keyleth nodded slowly. Vex smiled at her and let her alone to think. Keyleth took the time she needed to gather her thoughts and finish her drink while exchanging furtive glances with Vax. Vex was right. Keyleth could hurt herself with the knowledge Vax would be gone tomorrow, or she could enjoy every second of his presence. She had waited too long already.

Setting the mug down, she stood up and went straight to Vax, who was still talking to Percy. She tried to find something to say, but if Keyleth was good at tearing her enemies apart, she was much less good at finding the right words. Instead, she simply grabbed Vax's hand and pulled him towards the door. Laughter and whistles accompanied them.

Keyleth was barely in the hallway when she found herself pinned against the wall. Vax hugged her tightly and placed his head against her neck to inhale her perfume. Her head immediately began to spin. Her heart beat faster.

"Your scent…" he whispered hoarsely. "I had forgotten your scent."

Keyleth inhaled as well. Over time, the memory of Vax's scent had faded a little from her memory, but she was sure it had changed. He still smelled of leather, but there was something else, the smell of fresh earth, and something else behind it, something indefinable. His skin was cold, as if he had just come inside after walking through a blizzard. Keyleth closed her hands on his cloak and pulled him closer. He moved to match her gesture, just as he had done before. In an instant, they rediscovered instincts she thought she had forgotten.

"You're here," she felt the need to say out loud between kisses. "You're really here."

"Yes. For tonight only, but I'm here. I'm yours."

"I don't want you to go," she warned, holding back her tears again.

Vax caught her tears with his finger before pressing them to his heart.

"I don't want to leave."

"Then stay. What's stopping you, now that you're here? She owes you that much after the months of torture you've just endured."

Vax sighed and pulled away from her to lean against the wall. All the fatigue that had vanished from his face during the evening had returned.

"She would have every right to come and get me and force me to go back."

"But she won't need to. You'll be gone by morning, won't you?"

"We both know the price of duty," he replied regretfully. "But no, she won't need to drag me back. I know what I have to do, and it's not a duty I do by force."

"Really?"

Keyleth couldn't hide the doubt in her voice. Vax laughed softly.

"It would be easier if that were the case, wouldn't it? If I were a prisoner forced to work for a mistress unworthy of my services. Sometimes I would have wanted it to be like that, at least at first. I wanted to resent her, but… I serve a cause I believe in, Kiki. I've seen things… You have no idea how many people seek to seize power over life and death and abuse it. Ludinus is just one of the hundreds people the Raven Queen has in her sights, hundreds of threats to watch over or destroy if they began believing that a person's life is nothing compared to their dreams of grandeur. You do not know how fragile the line between life and death is. Even if Predathos is freed tonight, even if the Raven Queen disappears, there will always be that line to protect, and people to help cross it. It's important. And I'll always be there to help her protect it."

"I understand."

"I'm sorry. I get this sense of duty from you. I… I'm sorry, Kiki."

"Don't apologize. I know why I fell in love with you. Why I never forgot you."

"Sometimes, I wish you did. I wish you moved on, found someone else to love."

"I could have. Just the other day, I met that Dark Elf. He was a fan of Ashari poetry. I think I would have just said a word and…"

She trailed off. She had tried to lighten the mood, but she saw Vax's face freeze and a glint of fear appear in his eyes.

"You should do it," he whispered reluctantly. "I don't like it, Kiki, seeing you suffer like this, seeing you isolate yourself and stay alone. Tonight is the exception, but tomorrow… I swear it wouldn't hurt me. I just want to see you happy, even if you got with someone else."

Even if his mouth said he was fine with that, his eyes screamed it would break his heart, that she was one of his last ties that to life, with Vex, of course. Keyleth found herself unable to speak. She would live a thousand years and still be unable to forget him and love another, and even knowing that he couldn't give up the duty that had defined him for so long, where did that leave them? They stood there for a moment, silent and leaning against the wall, until the door to the living room opened, letting Vex and Scanlan's heads pass through.

"I knew it!" Vex shouted. "What are you still doing here? Get out! Find a room, a garden, a roof, but don't just stand there in the hallway. It's either disgusting or pathetic."

"So far it seems mostly pathetic," Scanlan added. "Need some help remembering how to have sex?"

Vax made a rude gesture in their direction. The door slammed shut, but Keyleth could tell there were at least two pairs of ears glued to the door. If they didn't move soon, they were going to get more comments. Keyleth wasn't sure she could handle them the way she used to. She turned to Vax and swallowed. She hadn't been this nervous around him in a long time.

"What now?" she asked in a tiny voice.

"I don't want to argue," Vax whispered.

"Me neither."

"This is a chance I never thought I'd get. I don't want to waste it regretting it couldn't be more."

"Me neither."

They stared at each other. Keyleth hated the new distance between them. She didn't know anymore how to talk or smile at him. Kissing him had seemed so natural, so why everything else wasn't? She took his hand again. He clung to it as if it was a lifeline. Keyleth suddenly realized how much his hands shook when he touched her, how his shoulders tensed and his gaze suddenly became almost terrified. Her heart broke for the... third? Eight times this evening when she realized Vax wasn't used to being touched anymore. He didn't know what it was like to be alive anymore. She felt terrible. Here she was, wanting to beg him to stay, when she should focus on giving him strong enough memories to help him remember how to keep his humanity. It didn't matter if she had a broken heart in the morning. This night wasn't for her, it was for him.

"Come. Follow me."

She led him upstairs, not to the room they'd shared years ago, but to the walled garden next to Vex's office. No one would come there at this late hour, and it wasn't full of memories. Once the door closed, she pressed herself against him again and felt him tremble from head to toe. It strengthened her resolve.

"I want you to promise me something," she whispered.

"Anything," he promised in an even huskier voice.

The desire in his voice sent electric shocks through Keyleth's body, but she put a hand on his shoulder to keep him from moving.

"Tomorrow morning, I don't want you to wake me. I want you to leave quietly, without even kissing me. Because if I know you're still here, I'm going to try to hold you back, and that'll only hurt us both. I don't want you to even turn around and look at me. Don't hurt yourself any more than I want to hurt you. Promise?"

"Okay. I will."

Keyleth's smile got sadder. She knew he wouldn't keep his word. Vax always felt compelled to hurt himself when he felt guilty. But if she wouldn't let herself be angry tonight, he had no right to feel guilty, and it was up to her to stop him. Luckily, she knew by heart the best way to stop Vax from thinking. She leaned forward to kiss him. He reached out for her again, trembling, and kissed her back with an uncharacteristic clumsiness. Keyleth hadn't kissed anyone since she lost him, but her reflexes came back faster. One kiss gave way to another, then another. Finally, out of breath, Keyleth pulled away. Vax moaned in protest.

"I'm here," she reassured him. "I'm not going anywhere."

She took a moment to study his face, searching for any wrinkle that would show that time had passed in him, in vain. The only sign of change in him was the strange glimmer in his eyes, those eyes that were no longer those of a mortal but still screamed of the suffering he had just been through. She wished he would close his eyes. She never wanted to take her eyes off them again.

"You look at me like I'm a dream, but I'm not," he smiled weakly. "I'm still the same, Kiki."

She smiled back, not saying that was part of the problem. Words were of no use to her tonight, so she stopped trying. Silently, she began to remove his armor. Vax turned to her, seeking to kiss her again. They fell off balance, into the grass. Keyleth hit her elbow on a root. Vax sat up with moss in his hair. For some reason, that makes her giggle. Smiling, Vax picked a flower from the nearest bush and stuck it behind her ear.

"I love you," he whispered.

Keyleth placed a hand on his lips. He immediately tried to grab it and kiss it.

"I love you," he repeated with disarming sincerity.

"Don't tell me that. I know. Show me instead."

With a familiar smile that finally reached his eyes, Vax grabbed her hips to pull her closer and lay her down on the moss. Keyleth lifted her head to make it easier for him to kiss her throat and her breast. She gave a silent thank you to fate that was giving him back to her for one night, even if it had meant going through the worst torture. Then she stopped thinking about tomorrow and concentrated on Vax alone.

The rays of the rising sun on her face woke her in the early morning. Keyleth kept her eyes closed and listened, but she couldn't catch the sound of Vax's breathing. With a pang in her heart, she forced herself to open her eyes and look around. Vax was nowhere in sight, but small flowers had grown around where Keyleth had fallen asleep, and a raven feather rested on her cloak.

"Oh Vax," she breathed. "You couldn't help but turn around, could you?"

She picked up the feather with a trembling hand and held it to her heart. Even if she would have nothing else, she would at least have the memory of that night. Alas, she feared it would never be enough to fill the void that Vax had left there, once again.