The southern cliffs were quiet, save for the occasional birds overhead and the gentle sea waves below. The bleached trees scattered the dusty red path, and I was grateful to have changed into more comfortable clothes and shoes before our impromptu morning stroll. Lumo walked beside me, hands behind his back as we both waited for the other to speak.

Suddenly, Lumo stopped. He turned to me, arms reaching towards me, hesitating in the air, before they once more dropped to his side. I watched him, nervous and unsure as the sunlight glittered anew against his golden mask.

“Mira,” he began, clearing his throat, “Why… why do you have my magic?”

“What?” I hesitated.

“Your eyes - I can see a piece of me there, although faded. How?” he took a slow step forward, “How am I there?”

I looked down, mind racing.

“Before I answer that - may I ask you something?”

“Anything,” he said, lowering his head to mine.

I took a careful breath.

“Is it true - Did you wed Herculea?”

The question had burned bright in my mind as soon as our paths crossed again, yet, until now, I was afraid to ask. But, as the words left my mouth, I felt ashamed, embarrassed even, to bring it up.

Lumo stared back at me for a moment, quietly considering my question. He then looked up, watching a new flock of birds cross the path above while he seemed to search for an answer.

“I… I did what I had to do to survive,” he said slowly, “And when fighting and protesting her wishes did not work, I feigned surrender to once more gain any sort of freedom,” he sighed, looking down.

I nodded.

Of course.

“Perhaps we could sit a moment?” he asked softly, “I do believe there’s quite a bit we need to talk about.”

We found a spot nearby in the shade, letting the silence once more settle over us. I watched as Lumo picked idly at the dry grass, catching him looking up every so often at my gray hands. Once I noticed, I hid them in my sweater pockets, hoping to avoid the topic of void magic for as long as I could manage.

Lumo cleared his throat.

“It… it was not easy - being locked in the tower. I will… spare you the details but… I fought as long as I could, tried every way I could imagine to find some sort of escape - and was met with even greater resistance at each failed attempt… So I played my part. I became what she wanted - what she had always wanted me to be. And although it may have taken some time to build her trust - I was able to finally earn some freedoms.”

I watched him sit for a moment, quiet once more in reflection as he tore a piece of grass into tiny dried specks, again and again. His jaw became tight once more as he swallowed hard.

“I did things I will never be proud of - and earned my way as commander, just as she had always intended. I was a perfect reflection of my brother, forever the right hand of Selphena, and followed every order with a smile of admiration… The night raid was yet another test - One that I had even suggested. For I knew that If I would ever find any sort of freedom again, it would be here. The final stop.

“I told her that I would prove myself - I would take a small army and eliminate Camp Twin Trees for good. A token of my affection in the form of thousands of dead blood mage - and gratefully - she accepted. And so my plans of a great escape fell into place.”

He looked up from the grass and towards me, searching.

“Gods, was I surprised to see you there - of all people,” he said softly, a smile dancing on his lips.

“Do you think she’ll come looking for you?” I asked.

“Oh, I’m sure she will. It might be some time before then however - she’ll have to find some way around my little armor trick,” he chuckled. “Mira, now, if you could - please tell me everything that has happened since the tower… since Solia. I am dying to know how you ended up here, at the edge of nowhere - of all places.”

He was leaning forward, and once more reached for me before once again dropping his hands to his sides.

“Please… if you don’t mind,” he asked again, looking down.

I leaned forward, lightly placing my hand upon his where it lay on the ground, and watched the smile once more return to his lips. He hesitated for a moment, then lifted my hand, pulling it closer to his face. He gently traced the faint gray lines that sprouted from my fingertips, lips now pressed in concentration. He then once more looked at me, patiently waiting for my next words.

“I… I suppose I should start at the beginning,” I sighed.

And so, for what felt like the thousandth time, I recounted my sordid tale - beginning with my awakening on the Western Barrens shore where I was greeted by a concerned and confused Ciro. Lumo listened, patient and nodding, although tensing when I told of my first encounter with Aixel.

I told him of Milea and the skirmish with the seer and Selphene knights. Yet, when it came time to speak of Aixel first teaching me void magic, I could not utter the truth, and left the encounter out of my tale. As much as I wanted to tell Lumo everything, there was still a piece of me that wanted to protect Aixel, especially now. Lumo already did not trust the void mage, and I knew telling of that night by the fire, needles in my skin, would only do more harm than good.

It was only when I mentioned my encounter with Myrel that Lumo stopped me.

“Gods, that vile, vile man,” Lumo muttered, “He actually found you. I should have known.”

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“What do you mean?”

“I played all his little games - asking him to see if you were safe. And the liar said he could not find a trace of you. Gods, I’m sure he is up to something.”

I continued with my tale, explaining the encounter at the red fields, and my consumption by the strange seer-beast.

“... and in the darkness, you were there.”

“I… I’m not sure what you mean,” said Lumo, shaking his head.

“I could hear you - feel you. You told me you had to give it a gift of your magic to escape… Then you had me… take your magic to escape.”

Lumo suddenly stood.

“Gods… the cursed fae in those fields. Unbelievable,” he muttered, pacing now, “That was so long ago, Mira. A moment of panic - the cutting of my finger as a last desperate attempt to escape… How could I forget those damned fields.”

He then suddenly dropped to his knees before me, urgent.

“Mira, I’d like to try something if you can bear with me for a moment.”

I nodded.

He then slowly raised his hands to the side of my face, placing them softly to my cheeks, and I felt my face grow warm.

“I’d like to try and connect with my magic once more - It might not work… this part of me has been blocked off for far too long, but, if you’ll indulge me for a moment. This might be a bit uncomfortable.”

I raised my hands to his wrists, thoughts racing.

“I’m… I’m not sure you’ll like what you see,” I stuttered.

He stared at me for a moment, studying me, and I wished he wore no mask to hide his expression.

“Please, Mira,” he urged. “I promise I will bid you no ill judgment. I just… need to see. Trust me, just for a moment.”

And so I did.

I closed my eyes and in a blink, I watched every painful and joyous moment before me. Every stabbing pain and smile, every scream and tear, every conversation and word left unsaid. I saw Milea in the bog clearing, asking me to rise again after one of our many sparring sessions. I saw a smiling Lumo, embracing Herculea, and broken mirror shards in my knuckles. I saw my hands beside the face of the soldier, turning to black corruption between my fingers. I saw the terrified Cylie, the face of the Sylien, and the light leaving Ciro’s eyes. I saw Aixel pulling away from me, trying to hide the pain of my rejection before he disappeared once more into the night.

But I also saw joy, laughter, acceptance and purpose, hidden between each bitter moment, trying hard to fight their way through the muck and decay before me. There were gentle moments between the bits of pure survival, still pushing me forward. Despite everything, I was still here - awake and alive.

Yet, when my vision once again became black, I found myself hesitating to once more open my eyes. I was not ready to face Lumo - to face each choice I have made since we last parted. And when his hands slowly fell from my face, and I once more looked upon golden mask, I was not afraid, but relieved.

There were no words that would do justice to what I had experienced, and when Lumo suddenly pulled me close to his chest, softly holding me without words, I knew he understood.

We stayed like this, with me resting on him, with his arms pressing into him, for a long while. And I listened to the sea, and the birds, existing just the same as they always had while Lumo drifted his hand over my hair in soft comfort.

“Gods, Mira,” he finally muttered, “I’m so sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” I whispered.

“I should have been there… I should have found a way to find you. I should have tried harder,” he stammered.

I shook my head, pulling away from him and sitting up.

“I… as grateful as I am that you saved me - more than once - I’m not your responsibility. Whether you were here or not - that doesn’t change the war… it doesn’t change the Barrens. You may have done well to soften the blow, but it wouldn’t change the death - the pain on every face I’ve crossed since I’ve arrived.”

Lumo was quiet, watching the horizon, expression hidden from me, as always.

“Lumo,” I hesitated, “Why… why me? What could I possibly offer someone like you?”

My insecurities, held in the back of my throat for far too long, finally came crashing out.

“I am - I am not particularly talented, nor could I ever be a great warrior. I am a coward - a fool. I am by no means any sort of great beauty. There will be no books written about me - no bard’s tale or poem of my fantastic deeds. Compared to you - I am… I am…”

I stopped. Lumo was laughing at me.

“Sorry - I didn’t realize how amusing I was,” I spat, standing up and distancing myself from him.

“Mira - Mira…” he choked between laughs, “You can’t possibly be serious.”

I stood, arms crossed at the cliff’s edge, watching the water and doing all I could to distract myself from my own embarrassment. Lumo jumped up, and in two graceful steps, he was behind me, arms crossing my waist, pulling me to him. I shook my head, trying to remain stoic as I felt his chin rest on my shoulder.

“Mira, do you have any idea just how much comfort you bring me?” he whispered through a smile.

I turned my face away, only to feel him pull me even closer.

“Even with all that you’ve seen - all that you know - you still have not lost your heart. Even when faced with those who wanted you dead - who wanted you to suffer for what you had no choice over - you did not draw their blood. I watched you hesitate with your blade - every time, even when it came at a cost. You saw those soldiers for what they were - mere victims of their own fates. Gods, you even gave a void mage a birthday present,” he laughed, “But even before then - before Solia’s sentencing - I could see it. I could see you. Even the bogfae knew your heart- immediately. When everything around us asks for venom and revenge, blood for blood - your eyes remain clear, curious, and far more understanding than most people I’ve known.”

My heart felt heavy, and my throat began to tighten. My mind flashed to the knight below my blackened palms, screaming.

“How… how can you say that,” I shook my head, “You saw what I did.”

I looked at my still-blackened fingertips, face hot with shame.

He turned me around, and took my hands in his. He brought them to his face, lightly kissing both before holding my hands to his chest and taking a step closer.

“Mira, look at me,” he said, voice low.

I hesitated, before finally gathering the courage to face him once more.

“The fact that, even now you cry over a man who would have killed you in an instant, after he slaughtered countless victims beside you, shows you have not lost your heart,” he said with a sad laugh.

He then pulled away once more, staring at my lined hands, tracing them with his thumbs. His face grew serious.

“Although, admittedly, I wish you weren’t able to do such a thing. No one deserves that pain - especially you,” said Lumo softly. “Although taking magic is never ideal - at least it leaves the opportunity for creation - for life. Voided magic brings naught but misery. And… I am sorry for that little show with your friend. I know now how much you care for him, but - when I saw your hands…”

He sighed, shaking his head.

“I just haven’t had the best of experiences with void mages. Most are not particularly kind. But I am grateful that you had him - and Cylie as comfort.”

He pulled me to him, wrapping his arms once more around me and letting my head rest against his chest. I felt the calm familiar thump of his heart and felt more at peace than any bewitching word could ever provide.

“You must be tired. Let’s get you back home,” he said - pulling away, but not before lightly placing a kiss on my forehead. Then, to my surprise, he began to laugh once more. “And if I ever hear you talking about yourself like that again, I will scream. ‘I am no great beauty.’ Honestly, Mira.”