The sun peeked over the mountain range when they reached Alryn's walls. Citizens hurried to their aid, ready to turn their attentions to the wounded. Women and children hugged their husbands and fathers, while others searched the crowd, waiting with uncertainty at the fate of their loved ones. Mido avoided their gazes as his horse walked lazily through the city, nickering when the stable came into sight.

Mido slid off the horse's back and left the horse to graze, still saddled. He would be back. He checked on the wounded, pretending to be engaged while his mind was in a foggy world. After his inspections, he made his way into the castle, reporting the events to King Sloan. He was lost in thought as King Sloan spoke to him, his words not fully registering in his brain. When he was finished, Mido nodded absentmindedly. The king watched him for a moment before speaking again.

“I've gotten word that Calliope is safe,” he said, hoping to spark Mido's attention.

Mido nodded. Hearing Calliope's name and that she was safe brought him comfort.

“Lucas told me about the battle,” he said. “Thank you for keeping him safe.”

Mido nodded once more, his mind on Calliope.

“Why don't you get some rest,” King Sloan said. “We have troops keeping watch. For now, you can be at ease.”

King Sloan dismissed him and Mido dragged himself out of the castle. He felt drained from the chaos of the last couple of days, but he wanted nothing more than to see Calliope and hold her close. He mounted the horse; it took him three pathetic attempts to get into the saddle. He stretched his arms, took the reins in hand, and pushed his horse forward. They walked through the bustling city until the buildings grew further apart and the cobble stone road turned to dirt. He pushed his horse faster and they galloped across the kingdom towards its boundary line. Calliope was just outside of the kingdom, near Scarletta's ruined castle.

His heart raced as he got closer. The exhaustion his body felt was replaced with anticipation. He pushed his horse even faster as they dashed through the trees in the forest. The journey across the kingdom was not short enough as the sun made its way across the sky. When he finally reached the edge of the forest, he was greeted by Maria.

“How is she?” he asked.

“She's fine. She'll be happy ta see ya still alive. How's Ian?”

Mido smiled at Maria. “Asmar doesn't stand a chance against him,” he assured her.

Mido followed Maria to what remained of Scarletta's castle. They dismounted and made their way through the rubble to a room that still stood intact, hidden by the fallen stone. Calliope sat in the corner, her arms around her knees. She looked up at the visitors; her face lit up when she saw Mido. She pushed herself off the ground and ran towards him. Mido wrapped her arms around her and buried his face in her hair.

“You look awful,” she said, pulling away from him. She inspected him carefully and pulled him into the room.

“Thanks,” he mumbled.

Calliope sat him down and brushed his hair out of his face. She busied herself inspecting the cuts and bruises on his body. Mido let his head rest against the wall and closed his eyes, a second wave of exhaustion taking over his body.

*****

Mido woke up suddenly; his eyes darted around the dim room. His hand immediately searched for Calliope, and she took his hand in hers to assure him she was still there.

“You're up,” she said. The sun had set, blanketing the world in an uneasy darkness. A few lit candles flickered in the room. Calliope let her head rest against his shoulder.

“What happened?” she whispered.

Mido shook his head.

“What's going on?”

“A war.”

Calliope was quiet. Mido sighed.

“Are you okay?” he asked, turning to her.

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“Of course. I've been hiding in the middle of nowhere, what were you expecting?”

“I don't know. The worst.”

Mido looked around the room. They were alone.

“Where is Maria?”

“Outside.”

Mido sighed. He couldn't stay much longer, but he couldn't bring himself to leave Calliope's side. He wished he could stay with her in this moment and pretend everything was fine. He searched her face for assurance but only found worry and fear. He leaned in and pressed his lips against hers.

Calliope's head buzzed and she pulled away. Mido wouldn't be able to stay with her for much longer, and it would be too hard for her to watch him leave.

“Mido,” she whispered. He put a finger on her lips and shushed her.

She pressed closer to him and their lips met once more. She twisted her fingers in his hair, pressing as close as she could. She could feel his heartbeat in his chest. She felt his breath on her face. Her head swam and she clung to him desperately.

Mido pulled away, letting his lips linger on hers for a moment. He let his head rest against hers and ran his fingers through her hair. He couldn't stay any longer. He shouldn't have come in the first place; he couldn't bear the thought of leaving her side. He sighed.

“I need to go,” Mido said; he pulled himself away from Calliope and avoided her gaze as his heart pulled in his chest to her.

“You just got here.” Calliope stood and grabbed his hand. He turned and took her hands in his.

“I know. I shouldn't even be here. I have to get back to my troops.”

“Wait,” she said. Calliope pulled away and pulled out Samus's journal and Scarletta's notes. “I found this,” she said, hesitant. Mido took them from her.

“What is this?” he asked, scanning the papers.

“Notes. From Samus and Scarletta.”

“Where did you get these?” he asked, angry.

“Samus had them.”

“You went back?”

“Yes.”

Mido glared at her. “Why did you do that? I thought we were done with this?”

“Mido, just look, we don't have to worry anymore.”

“You promised me you wouldn't go back there.”

“Mido –“

“You disobeyed me.”

Calliope was taken aback. She grew angry with him. He was not her master. “Disobeyed you? You don't own me.”

“You are in my care. You are my responsibility.”

“No one put you in charge of me. I don't take orders from you. I'm not one of your soldiers.”

Mido crumpled the papers into a ball in his fist. “If something happens to you, it's on me. If you do something bad, it's on me. If we lose this war, it's on me. Everything is on me.”

Calliope was quiet, but he needed to know the truth in those pages.

“Mido,” she whispered. “I'm sorry. But you need to know what's in those pages.”

Mido studied her carefully. She had never steered him wrong, but he was suddenly afraid of what the pages would tell him. “What?”

Calliope hesitated for a moment. “Scarletta created a spell,” she began. “She was going to sacrifice one of her witches, granting her ultimate power. She probably would have used me. Samus searched her castle and found the spell. I think it's what he used it to bring me back.”

“What does that mean?” he asked.

“It means I might have the use of as much magic as I want. I cannot run out like before.”

Mido's expression did not change. He pondered this. It seemed too good to be true.

“You might?” he repeated.

Calliope hesitated. “I don't know for sure,” she admitted. “But it all adds up.”

“At what price?” he asked.

“There's no price.”

Mido shook his head. “There's always a price to be paid.”

“Mido-”

The door creaked opened. Maria's head appeared from around the corner.

“We should move on,” she said to Calliope.

Mido stared at Calliope for a moment, his lips pinched together, before turning around and pushing past Maria. Calliope followed him outside.

“Where are you going?”

“Back to fight for you,” he growled, not looking back. Calliope could hear the hostility in his voice. Mido mounted his horse. Calliope could not wrap her head around what had just happened. Mido kicked his horse forward. Enraged by his attitude, Calliope threw her hands down, causing the Earth to tremble. The horse reared in surprise.

“You did not just use magic on me,” he hissed at her when the horse calmed. Calliope could feel the color drain from her face. She hadn't even meant to. She could feel all eyes on her, but she held her ground, meeting Mido's glare. Neither of them budged, determined to appear the stronger person. Inside, however, they both felt weak.

The horse pranced, anxious to gallop across the kingdom. Mido's eyes seemed to soften for a moment, but in that instant, he pushed the horse forward fiercely and they disappeared into the forest. Calliope stared into the forest, longing for Mido, deeply regretting everything that led to that point, until Maria's hand brought her out of the darkness of her mind and back to the present.

“C'mon, Honey.”

Calliope said nothing as she climbed onto Lily's back and waited for her bodyguards.

“He'll be okay, Honey,” Maria assured her.

Calliope's head buzzed. She nodded half-heartedly and let Lily take over, following the others back into the forest.