Evening, outside the Cathedral of the First Saint…

Dusk wreathes the heavens in the gold, black, and grey of sunset skies. The evening air is cool, calm, and fresh, and it’s amazing!

It went as well as it could in there! Words can’t even begin to express my joy, but I’ll try! For real, though, I’m glad Anna and I can return to the Chantry of Eternal Light for a nice hot bath and a good night’s sleep. It’s perhaps the best reward of all! Kinda! Thereafter, when dawn breaks anew… Lady Iris awaits our good news!

With the Holy Grail, Anna’s gonna become a fully-fledged Paladin. Saint Alyssa’s prize weighs lightly in my arms, gem-studded metal and wood icy cold to the touch. And I can’t wait to open it up! Hell, I’ll even wear whatever’s in there when we meet Lady Iris tomorrow morning! Whatever it may be. I mean, it’s gotta be really nice and good!

For Anna… I’m feeling really fucking stoked! It’s not quite the same happy feeling I had in the previous timeline when she and I survived Saint Alyssa’s three minutes. No, it’s something different I’m feeling… something more than a sense of personal accomplishment. Like, uh… yes, that’s it! I’m proud of her! I really, really am!

But then… she’ll learn that spell again – Divine Intervention. It’s the spell granted to all Paladins by the blessing of the Holy Grail, for it embodies their purpose as a Healer’s sword and shield, a last resort should it ever come to that. By giving up their life in its entirety, a Paladin can fully restore a Healer’s life and Mana. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

I know, in my memories from another timeline, that Anna used this spell to save me as we lay bloodless and dying in the Land of Demons. Her life, for mine. Fuck.

Good grief. That’s a real downer. I’m not feeling too good right now, thinking all these thoughts as we walk side-by-side. Anna’s all smiles as she holds the Holy Grail close, but uh… I’ve just got this sinking feeling in me, and uh…

“Arisa?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve been meaning to tell you, umm…” Anna says, smiling sheepishly. “You were really, really cool when you rushed in to take Miss Alcadeias head-on!”

Good grief. Oh, man. It’s been a long day, but that smile of hers is enough to allay that tight feeling in my chest. I feel like I can breathe again.

“Woah! You saw me in action?” I tease, forcing out a toothy grin to play it cool. “I thought she knocked you out for quite a while.”

“Umm… I saw a few seconds of it while struggling to get back on my feet.”

“Heh. I think that was the part where I was losing. Before that, I totally had her on the ropes.”

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“Hmm… I believe you!”

“Really?”

“I do! I was very worried, but then I saw what you were doing with Elizabeth! It was… amazing! But umm… I’ve never seen any other Healer use a spell like that. Not even Mom…”

“I’m sure she knows that spell too, being the Ecclesiarch and all. It’s just that she’s not one to get into fights. Since, y’know… she’s staying home all day to take care of the Order and the Akashic Record.”

“I suppose so… but then, what was that spell? What’s it called?”

“It’s called Aura Blade!” I exclaim enthusiastically. “Lady Alcadeias taught me that spell when I met her in my timeline. It’s really handy in a bind! But it’s also a little… draining.”

“That’s something I never thought you’d say!” Anna teases playfully. “You’re always quick to cast powerful spells, and so many at a time too! Your Mana’s almost like Mom’s…”

“Nearly infinite?”

“Yeah!”

“Unfortunately, even I have limits!” I exclaim playfully. “But that’s why I need you, Anna! You’re still the one for me. You’re my Paladin, my sword and shield!”

“Your meat shield?” Anna answers teasingly, pouting playfully as she crosses her arms and stomps her feet. “Hmph! Is that right?”

“What!? Of course not!” I add, grinning sheepishly as I scratch the back of my head. “We’re way more than that! Why, we’re…”

I don’t finish that thought. We become silent amid the trees and rustling leaves of spring, standing in the long shadow of the Cathedral of the First Saint. It’s an ancient place, full of history, surely… or something like that! Uh…

Quietly, I look at Anna, gazing into her eyes as she gazes back into mine. Hers are green like emeralds, green like elysian fields. I wonder what she thinks of mine. Hopefully, something good and kind and sweet like she is all the damn time.

“Arisa…”

Holy Grail and coffer fall to the grass as Anna takes a deep breath before moving in a little closer, taking my hands into hers. Her touch is… electrifying. And her face… her cheeks… they’re red like roses, red like apples as she gets even closer, gently pressing her lips on mine… kissing me. And I…

“Anna…”

“I love you, Arisa…” Anna says softly. “I want to be your strength, just as you’ve been mine.”

“Anna, I…”

We’re together again, Anna… reunited by a miracle of the gods to live our lives together once more in another timeline. And again… you choose to love me. It came so naturally this time around… and I do love you too, so fucking much. Too fucking much.

Good grief. I can’t fuck this up again, can I!? I’m afraid, Anna. I’m afraid of having you in my arms once again… in Arcadia. That memory is my sorrow and my shame. Because I know what I’ve done. Or rather, what I couldn’t do for you at the end of days.

“I believe in you, Arisa. No matter what, I will,” Anna adds gently, her eyes and her smile warm like the morning sun. “You are my Healer, and I’m your Paladin. Now and forever.”

Heh. Good fucking grief. You’ve really got a way with words, huh? But if you’ll do that for me… I’ll do it too – I’ll believe in us! I’ll be twice as powerful, twice as caring. Twice as good! I was feeling really awful just now, but not anymore! Thanks to you, Anna… no matter what happens, I can place my hand on my heart and say these words of mine clearly. That I…

“I love you too, Anna…” I say calmly, bowing my head. “I’m your Healer. Your one and only! Now and forever and ever, to the end of days.”

“Oh, Arisa…”

Smiling sweetly and demurely, Anna leans in again with my prize – another kiss on the lips! I do the same for her, kissing her on her lips, soft as they are. Our cheeks are red like roses filled with dreams, and I’m feeling the heat in mine… but I don’t mind remaining like this forever. With you, and only you, Anna... as we kiss each other again and again... always on the lips.

Maybe, just maybe, we should do that! Prophecy and timelines be damned. Or at least, we should remain like this... for a little while longer. Just a little while longer...