Epilogue

It was a confusing neighborhood, made all the more perplexing by the bridge that connected the sections. Raxae's block was situated right underneath it, and, to Corven's dismay, after several attempts, he had to accept that the house was empty. Yet again.

What were the chances? Frustrated, he concluded that the best course of action was to return to his own block and get some sleep. As he retraced his steps to the alley, something caught his eye. Nearby in the sky, a group of individuals transformed into dots, flying towards Dicterium.

Such a sight was rare in Sectum.

Corven walked to the location where he had seen them ascend and found Raxae, alone, pacing in a parallel direction, their face covered in tears.

They noticed him and approached with surprise.

"What are you doing here? How do you know my neighborhood?"

"I’m searching for Zaraz. Bostan gave me your address, claiming you might know her whereabouts. I need to speak with her. Are you alright?" Corven asked, concerned.

"Adria is gone," they managed between tears.

A chill took over him; his legs felt weak.

"She’s dead?" Panic engulfed him.

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"No, she’s not.” Raxae let out a laugh with relief. “A group of sephirah just arrived. They informed Adria that she was innocent of the crimes she was blamed for seven years ago. They are on their way to Malkuth."

"What? But no one has been wrongly accused in more than a century; she’d be…"

"The Nineteenth," Raxae interrupted.

His mind flashed back to the image of those figures drifting away. It had been Adria, surrounded by the sephirah.

"What will happen with the uprising? Adria is crucial to our success. Without her, we have nothing!" He felt abandoned. He knew he shouldn't feel this way, but a growing grudge brew inside him.

"Stop whining. We'll be fine. You've never seen Markus and Bostan fight, and they weren’t lying when they said they had people to support us. One dictadurian being absolved of their charges won’t quench the fire that's already ignited in the depths of Negativus. In fact, now that I consider it, it might do the opposite." They conveyed this with confidence. "They’ve done it before."

Corven felt defeated for losing her but knew they were right; the security guards seemed prepared to become leaders of such movement, they had the charisma for it. He felt guilty for grudging Adria, even if it was short-lived.

Raxae sensed his change in mood. "Our friend asked me to tell you she was sorry. I told her not to worry about it. We can make it work."

"I hope you’re right." It was inevitable to feel somewhat pessimistic.

"I tend to be." Raxae was full of sassiness. "Let's go, I might know where we can get you a nice eyepatch while we find an eyeball to fill in for that lost eye."

"Thank you." He responded, pondering about the future, chaotic as it would seem. Countless variables lay ahead, and Corven hoped to make the right decisions along the way, willing to do what was necessary to live another day.

End of Volume I: The Souls in Sectum

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