Meanwhile- Back at camp

Sotet is seated across the pond from Lerfaf. He stares intensely at the unicorn as he dismantles a cryo pod in order to use the metal scrap for Adahlia’s half-sword. The unicorn pretends to be oblivious to Sotet’s scrutiny—slowly swishing his colorful tail from side to side and keeping both eyes almost shut. If not for the rhythmic movement of his tail; Lerfaf would appear to be sleeping. Sotet lowers the cryo pod he is holding to the ground and intensifies his stare.

“What do you see, Lerfaf?” Sotet exclaims without much preamble.

Lerfaf continues to keep his eyes shut—hoping that Sotet will not repeat the dreaded question. However, his hopes are shattered when Sotet queries him again.

“What do you see, Lerfaf?” Sotet pressures Lerfaf to answer. “You said, you can see many futures. What does our future look like, Lerfaf? Will I ever see my wife and clutchlings again? Will we ever make it off of this barren world? Or will we all die here? What does your ability reveal to you? What are the stakes? What are the odds?”

Lerfaf opens his eyes and fixes Sotet with a stern glare.

“I advise you to abandon this line of questioning, Sotet!” Lerfaf states in a firm voice. “I warn you, you may not like the answer.”

“What does it matter if the answer is difficult? We’re stuck here either way. I want to know— What are the chances that I will see my wife and children again? What of Adahlia? Will she ever be reunited with her mother? You claim to have this great hidden knowledge. Knowledge that you refuse to share. Who are you to keep this knowledge from us? Well, I want to know what you know! I deserve to know!”

Lerfaf laughs loudly. He does not shift his gaze from Sotet’s face. “And exactly why do you deserve to know this Sotet—Son of Glodit and Netorrav?” Lerfaf mocks. “Because Kotoro is the descendent of your famed Monoch? Do you dare think that your proximity to ‘royalty’ gives you sway over me? I am not of Shretonia. I answer not to you. If I tell you, it will be because I wish to. Not because you have implored me to do so.”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Sotet jumps to his feet and points an accusing finger at Lerfaf. “How are you any different than your fallen sisters and brethren?” Sotet exclaims accusingly. “You give us only morsels of knowledge so that we grovel for more. And you present yourself as some great pillar of morality and good. But if you were so good, Lerfaf, you would have done everything in your power to save your people. Instead, you fled. That is the act of a coward. Too afraid to face the unpleasantness of your kin’s folly—that you abandoned them. Do not lecture me, equifrit!”

Lerfaf’s expression hardens and he considers snapping back at Sotet. Instead, he simply lowers his voice and tells Sotet exactly what he wants to know.

“You are right, Sotet,” Lerfaf says calmly. “I was afraid. But not for the reasons you suspect. However, since you are so adamant to pick my brain for knowledge—I will tell you what you want to know. As I said before, you will not like it.”

Sotet smirks sarcastically and places his wing at his hip. “There’s not a whole lot I like these days.”

“You’ll like this a whole lot less,” Lerfaf states; a cold edge to his voice. “In nearly every single future that I am able to view—your wife is murdered by the Monoch’s political allies. Your children become wards of Zorobo and faithful servants of your rulers. Those who stand up to your puppet leaders are hunted down and either exiled or executed. Many others seek sanctuary on worlds outside of your sacred Olotir Alliance. The resistance puts up a good fight, but is eventually defeated by a superior foe. They never reach the outpost where the clones are being produced. All continues as before. As I told you, there are many futures. Many are not too good. Do you feel better now?”

Sotet falls to his knees and digs his talons into the dirt. He glares angrily at Lerfaf.

“No! No! You are lying!” Sotet screams. He claws the dirt several times before raising both wings to the sides of his head and wailing. His cries eventually trail off and become mournful trilling sounds. He finally pulls himself together, enough to speak, a moment or two later. “You’re lying! You’re just saying that to hurt me! To break me. You are evil just like your kin, Lerfaf! Evil!”

“No,” Lerfaf says firmly. “I tried to spare you, but you insisted. You insulted me and my fallen kin. Now, you get to see what I was trying to protect you from. Maybe now, you have the fire within you to forge a different future. But that is entirely up to you. Will you do what’s necessary to save your world, Sotet? Or will you flee?”

Sotet meets Lerfaf’s gaze and truly sees the unicorn for the first time.

“I’m willing to try,” Sotet trills.

Lerfaf only nods.