The swarm of flying demons’ screeches tore across the landscape, drawing the gaze of the demonkin and beastkin scattered beneath the hillside. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, staring up as the lead dark-winged monster filled my view, claws extended like a bird of prey.
A figure appeared in front of , a black cloak fluttering in the wind from the demon’s approach. There was a flash of violet and steel. A sword appeared in his grip, already extended at the end of a slash. A black arc of pure shadow leaped upward, cutting through the air. It struck the demon in the chest and didn’t slow, passing seamlessly through it.
The demon continued its dive, but its shriek died in its throat. One wing beat later, it broke into two halves, neatly bisected. The glow in its eyes faded as it plumted, slowly disintegrating into shadows. The pieces hit the ground on either side of the hillside and broke entirely, vanishing from sight. The other demons behind it scattered, veering away and returning to the rest of the horde.
The figure turned, and our eyes t. My breath caught as I recognized Luke. His violet eyes glowed, filled with worry, drawing in. Fragnted mories ca together; not so much scenes or events but feelings. Warmth, safety, trust. Tears filled my eyes, and my lip trembled on the edge of a sob.
"Xiviyah," he said, kneeling by my side. He gently pried my hand apart, holding it in his. His hands were giant compared to mine, rough, calloused, and warm. His thumb brushed the back of my hand, sending tingles through my body.
"Luke," I whispered.
"What are you doing up here?" His voice was gentle but stern.
"Luke," I said again, squeezing his hand tighter. My entire body trembled as the adrenaline wore off. I swayed, a wave of dizziness rushing over . He looked so strong and secure, his grip comforting. The fear I’d felt directed at him before was gone, tempered by an inexplicable need welling up inside . He was dangerous, my mories proved that, but to , he was...
His tone grew sharper, scattering my thoughts before I could fully understand the surge of emotion. "Why did you leave my tent? It was shielded to hide your aura. It was supposed to keep you safe!"
The words stung, and I sniffled, biting my lip. "I-I’m sorry, I didn’t an to. She just said–"
Luke took a deep breath, his grip on my hand loosening. "I’m sorry, I didn’t an to get upset. It’s just, when you disappeared, and I felt your aura here, I... ugh, maybe he was right."
He stood, gently pulling to my feet. My legs shook, and I leaned against his chest, fingers curling into his tunic. He coughed, shifting awkwardly, but I ignored his discomfort, my cheek against his chest. His scent filled my nostrils, bringing another wave of warmth.
"Er, Xiviyah," he said, hands resting on my shoulders. He gently pried away, putting a few inches of cold air between us.
"Luke..." I bit my lip, looking up with wavering eyes.
"I...I’m not like that," he said, refusing to et my gaze. "You don’t know . You don’t rember . You’re scared and hurt, and I only saved you, so...it isn’t right. You shouldn’t trust so easily."
A jolt ran through . Not a jolt of fear, but of a new, cold feeling. A flash of a face I couldn’t place: a young man with golden hair, a warm smile, and earnest eyes. He was a ghost, a taste of bitterness. The warmth Luke had given vanished, replaced by a cold emptiness. The tears I’d been holding back finally burst, and a mory of Aurle pierced through . My heart ached for her sacrifice. How could I have forgotten her?
"Xiviyah?" Luke’s eyes widened with worry, but he still didn’t pull close. He took a single step back, as if the tears were fire.
"I’m sorry," I repeated, the words escaping my lips in a choked whisper.
The golden light around reacted to the anguish swelling in my chest, swirling faster and faster, forming a whirlpool of stars. A strange energy arose within , surrounding a bundle of feelings that weren’t my own. Tingles ran across my skin, driving back the exhaustion and filling with light. It was like the infernal mana Jessia showed , only warm and pure and...mine.
The mana, for that was what it had to be, continued to grow. It went from a river to a sea to an ocean, swelling until it seed that I would burst. My tears dried as the sensation beca overwhelming, and goosebumps broke out across my entire body. The golden light spread to cover the hillside and spilled into the demonkin camp, moving between the tents like floodwater. The currents encircled the beastkin and demonkin in a storm of stars, and many began to collapse, falling to their knees or staggering against tent posts.
"I rember," I whispered.
Luke looked at , holding a touch closer, but still not close enough. The train of mories he’d begun hadn’t ceased, the intensity only growing as my mana awakened. Life Magic blossod across my body as six magic circles appeared beneath my feet. The warmth was stunning, almost satisfying the itch for soone to embrace .
My tail cracked, the bandage falling off as the bone subrged beneath the break. Soft, scaly flesh flowed over the wound, closing it without so much as a scar. My side knit together, letting take my first full breath since teleporting. When the light faded, the pain was gone.
"Do you rember ?" Luke asked, his voice wavering.
"I...kind of." I pressed a hand to my horn. "There are so many holes, so many things I should know, but every ti I see sothing, it brings back more."
"Thank the emperors," Luke said with a sigh. His hands slipped from my shoulder, and he turned, facing the camp below. "Do you recall what happened before you teleported?"
The question seed harmless, but his chest wasn’t moving. He was holding his breath.
"So of it," I answered carefully. "Enough to know we succeeded. I learned where the central formation of the World Barrier is."
Luke stiffened. "You did? Where is it?"
I started to answer, then hesitated, tail flicking anxiously. "I...is it enough?"
He frowned. "For what?"
"The shards."
Tears filled my eyes again, and I drew closer to him, looking up into his gaze. He flinched, but I was too close for him to look away.
"Xiviyah, it’s not that I–"
"Oh." My heart sank. I bowed my head. "But I tried so hard...and after everything...it wasn’t enough? I wasn’t?"
He turned away, a shadow crossing his face. "It’s not you, Xiviyah. It’s just...when you asked if you could try, I couldn’t...I couldn’t say no." He took a long breath, staring at the horizon. "The emperors are...unhappy with the way things developed. Not all of them, but enough. Rash’alon has rallied his allies, and they’re pressuring the few in the demon realm that supported . To leave shards behind, when our enemies are stronger than ever..."
"What are you saying?" I whispered, a tear dripping down my cheek.
He touched his forehead, fingertips sliding over the base of his horn. "I’m sorry."
"No, please..."
I took hold of his sleeve, gripping it so tight my knuckles turned white. He jerked it out of my grip, backing away slowly.
"People like us, Xiviyah...we don’t change. You’ll always be soft, sweet, and timid. No matter how many tis you get hurt, you’re still...innocent. Even when you lost your mories, you were the sa Xiviyah. But as for ? No matter how many chances I see, how many tis I might change, the end is the sa. It’s just an illusion."
"Then...why?" I whispered, taking a step toward him. My gaze dropped to his collar. "Why are you still wearing it?"
He flinched, his hand flying to the brooch. The air between us crackled with a new tension.
"I forgave you, Luke," I said, my voice breaking. "That day, when you protected , I forgave you. You promised we could walk this path together. What did I do wrong? Why are you so cold now? What changed?"
"I told you already. It never could have worked out," he said, his voice raw. "I lied to you again, even after everything. Can’t you see? Every ti I promised to protect you, I failed." His words were sharp, but his eyes pleaded with .
He turned toward , and I was startled to see his eyes glisten with moisture. He was standing on a precipice, as real as the ledge I clung to in the dungeons beneath Heartland. It had seed so easy to let go then, to let myself disappear into the darkness. That mory was terrifying. What would I have lost if I had given up then?
As the mories flickered through my mind, so for the first ti since I’d lost them, I took Luke’s hand with both of mine, holding it to my chest. My heartbeat quickened at the feel of his skin against mine, and I tightened my grip.
"I have changed. I never thought I could smile, or trust soone, or call another my friend. I never thought I could hold soone’s hand and be brave when they were scared."
"Scared?" Luke’s eyes flashed, his voice indignant. "I’ve killed demon lords and inquisitors. I stand against the gods themselves. What more could I do? What more is there to fear losing?"
But even as he said it, his voice was hollow, his eyes haunted. His hand twitched in my grip, nearly jerking free, but I held him close. I felt my face flush, keenly aware of how close we were. My heart trembled beneath his fingertips, confessing my vulnerability to him, but I couldn’t bear to pull away.
Looking into his violet eyes, I spoke the truth even as it burned on my tongue, making want to wilt in embarrassnt.
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