“Though death is always my companion.

I am still lonely.

For after screams fade and blood dries.

Such empty silence remains.”

-Rainfall Verse 43

Every now and again, Romy used to recite these passages of Rainstopper scripture. Little mantras that the Sect would teach to young assassins. She said they didn’t really mean anything. In truth, I always thought they were kind of silly. But right now, Verse 43 is stuck in my head. I call out hesitantly-

“N-Natalia?”

“M-Meera?”

…

…

No answer.

The voice said that I wouldn’t have to choose.

What if both of them are dead?

Then I wouldn’t have to choose…

“NO!” I shake my head. The world rocks about as my brain is jostled. “Urgh…” Trying to keep it together, I stiffen my neck. There’s no telling what’s behind me. And I’m afraid to turn around. “Guys, come on. Will someone answer me?”

…

…

I can’t help but imagine two small piles of crumbling ash behind my back. Perhaps Natalia and Meera are already-

No…it won’t be like that.

But why aren’t they answering then?

…

“I-I have to look.”

In the end, there’s no avoiding it. I turn, and it’s agonizing torture as my body swings around. My feet tremble with each passing heartbeat. My ears are filled with ringing but it’s deadly silent in the throne room. I can hear my toes scuffing against the floor. Then…the girls come into view.

I…this isn’t…

“Guys?” I feel my breath catch.

*Whoosh*

And then I’m running.

Call it limping.

Or maybe hobbling.

My body is barely working after being phased in and out of reality.

But I’m going to them.

Because they’re not ash.

They’re whole, all in one piece.

I reach Natalia first.

She’s unconscious but breathing.

Heart pounding, I run to Meera next.

What the hell?

I bend down over the original target of my healing spell. When I put a hand over her mouth, she is breathing. And the devastating wound to her chest, it’s healed. Or at least, I think so. But the thing that’s hard to explain…is…I mean…Meera has always been…well, Meera. A silly human girl. Emphasis on the human part. But that seems to have changed. I don’t know how or why, but various bits of her have become…a little furry. It’s not everything. She doesn’t look as cat-like as Natalia when she transforms, but rather, somewhere in-between. The change is patchy and uneven. Some parts of her face are human, some are covered in fur. One of her ears has migrated to the top of her head. It’s like she’s turning into a Demi. Could this be a side effect of the healing?

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Perhaps since Natalia was nearby…

Time Reversal used her as the template to fix Meera?

“Do I really care how it happened?” My voice echoes in the empty throne room. “She’s okay. Or at least, she’s not dead. Am I really going to question that?”

Meera…Meera!

You’re alive.

Suddenly tears burst from my eyes, and I can’t breathe. Sitting beside Meera and Natalia, I lose control. Taking deep heaving breathes, I cry for them. It was almost all over. Even though we took Merekeep, even though we made it into this damn throne room, even though we killed the Stranger-

It was almost all for nothing.

“G-Good thing…you guys can’t…see me…” I blubber incoherently over them. Sniffling, I remember Meera’s determined face as she took the Stranger’s blade for Natalia. “You stupid…stupid…girl. Why couldn’t you just be selfish like you always are?! And you…dammit, Natalia! Why don’t you ever listen to me!” For what feels like an eon, I cry out the remaining moisture in my body. In the end, I’m left…numb. It doesn’t matter that we ‘won’. I don’t even know if things will really be okay. But I know one thing.

For me.

No, for us.

The battle is over.

I don’t care about the grand scheme of things. All my plans, all that crap, I don’t give a damn. I know that outside, there’s probably still a horde of Issel’s monsters rampaging about the city. But it doesn’t matter. There isn’t a single bit of willpower left in me to go and deal with that problem. All I want to do…is stay right here with these two…until they wake up.

“Come on guys…let’s get comfortable.” Carefully, I lift both of them with wind magic. Natalia and Meera float eerily alongside me like maiden ghosts, their hair tumbling about, and I frown, still not used to seeing Meera with one, odd scruffy cat-ear. That is just…so weird. Slowly, I ascend the steps to the throne, grunting slightly as the strain of maintaining even a spell this simple costs me dearly. My heart starts to beat fast, but I refuse to stop.

I’m bringing them, damnit!

At the top, the throne is waiting for us. Big, giant, shiny and golden. It was made for a tall man like the Stranger, not teenagers like us, so there’s room for more than one. With infinite care, I lower the girls down on either side of the seat, first Meera, and then Natalia.

“There.” Looking at them, snoozing on either side of the throne, I think I’m supposed to smile. But I’m too tired. So I just turn around and plop myself down in-between them. Natalia’s head falls on my lap, while Meera’s forehead rests on my shoulder. Their warm, pleasant breaths remind me that they are still alive. I want to join them in their rest, but I won’t leave us unguarded. I’m not sure what I’d be able to do if some horrible monster burst in here right now, but I won’t fall asleep.

That was too close. I’m too weak. Staring out over the carnage in the palace, the bodies and intricate throne-room decorations might as well be invisible. Reaching out gingerly, I stroke Natalia’s hair with one hand, and hold Meera tight with the other. I thought all my tears had surely fallen already, but more drops keep coming. I guess they won’t stop until a certain Rainstopper wakes up. Sighing, I’m reminded of a certain paladin.

“Mark, I think the palace roof is leaking.”

…

…

…

Elina and Jarshan find us not long after it’s over. Cuddled up, sleeping on Merekeep’s throne. When my Auntie busts in through the main door, she is covered in blood and unspeakable things. But she rushes towards us with all the speed of a top assassin. Jarshan isn’t far behind.

“Myrr! Are you okay?” Elina frantically runs up the steps. I don’t really react. My head is too fuzzy. But I watch her come. I haven’t fallen asleep. I will protect them. “What’s wrong! Talk to me!”

“Elina…wait.” Jarshan flickers up the steps and throws out his hand suspiciously. He glances around, taking in Selena’s corpse and the countless dead bodies lying about. “Be careful! Myrr told us there was another one. Someone strong. Where’s the Stranger?!”

“He’s dead.” I say softly. “I killed him.”

“You…?” Elina’s voice turns soft to match my tone. “Myrr, you killed him? What happened here-”

“It doesn’t matter.” I cut her off. Sitting on the throne, I finally lean back and close my eyes. It’s finally over. Darkness takes over almost immediately. But I still manage to whisper out a final order. “Elina, check on Meera and Natalia. Make sure they’re okay.”

“Are they hurt?!”

I can feel the wind as Elina hurriedly bends down to examine them. She tries to examine me too, but I shy away from her touch. “I’m fine! But Meera…and Natalia…I used…Time Reversal-”

“Yuel help us!” The Healer screeches as she catches sight of Meera. “Is that…is that a cat-ear?!”

I don’t respond. Elina will handle it.

My eyes won’t open.

Even as Jarshan speaks, I can’t find any strength to look at him-

“Myrr, our forces have taken over the city, but these mutated monsters…I don’t understand. Where are the Omniscient Guard?”

“They are the Omniscient Guard.” I inform him. “Wipe them out. Or set up a perimeter. I don’t care.”

“WHAT?!”

“By the Raingods…is that what they were?”

…

…

“Secthead?”

“Myrr!”

…

Can’t…stay awake.

Auntie Elina, please.

You have to make sure Meera and Natalia are okay!