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 – simply 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 thrilled that Anna and I can return to the Chantry of Eternal Light for a nice hot bath and a good night’s sleep. Honestly, after everything that happened in there… that might be the best reward of all.

With the Holy Grail, Anna is on the cusp of becoming a fully-fledged Paladin. Saint Alyssa’s prize lies lightly in my arms, gem-studded metal and wood icy cold to the touch. I can’t wait to open it. Hell, I might even wear whatever’s inside when we meet Lady Iris tomorrow morning! Whatever it may be, it’s gotta be something incredible.

For Anna’s sake... I’m feeling really fucking stoked! It’s not quite the same joy I felt in the previous timeline when we survived Saint Alyssa’s three minutes. No, after that fight to the death, with our lives at stake… this is something else entirely. Something deeper. I’m proud of her. So damn proud.

But then, there’s the spell she’ll learn – Divine Intervention. A spell granted to all Paladins by the blessing of the Holy Grail, embodying their sacred purpose as a Healer’s sword and shield. By sacrificing themselves, a Paladin can fully restore a Healer’s life and Mana.

In that previous timeline, Anna used Divine Intervention to save me. Her life… for mine. I remember lying in the Land of Demons, bloodless and dying… and I can’t shake the memory. My stomach twists at the thought.

Oh. Good grief. That’s a real downer. I glance at Anna as we walk side by side. She’s smiling as she holds the Holy Grail close, but I’ve got this sinking feeling I can’t quite shake. And I…

“Arisa?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve been meaning to tell you...” Anna says, hesitating as her smile turns sheepish. “You were really, really cool when you rushed in to take Miss Alcadeias head-on!”

That smile is enough to loosen the knot in my chest. I feel like I can breathe again.

“Woah! You saw me in action?” I tease, flashing a toothy grin to play it cool. “You weren’t having your life flash before you with those claymores coming for ya?”

“Umm... it was a little of both!”

“Well, for the record… I totally had her on the ropes. I was definitely gonna kick her ass!”

“Right…”

“Really, though…” I say, smiling warmly. “I’m glad I did what I did.”

“But what was that spell?” Anna asks, her curiosity evident. “I’ve never seen another Healer use anything like it – not even Mom!”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“It’s called Aura Blade!” I exclaim. “Lady Alyssa taught it to me in my timeline. It’s a lifesaver in a bind! But, uh... it also uses a lot of Mana.”

“I never thought I’d hear you say that!” Anna teases, her voice playful as she crosses her arms and pouts. “You’re always casting powerful spells like it’s nothing.”

“Unfortunately… even I have limits!” I answer with a grin. “That’s why I need you, silly. You’re still the one for me. As Lady Alyssa said… you’re my Paladin – my sword and my shield!”

“Your meat shield?” Anna quips, stomping her foot playfully. “Is that it?”

“What!? Of course not!” I sputter, scratching the back of my head. “We’re way more than that! We’re...”

I trail off. We fall silent amid the ancient trees, standing in the long shadow of the Cathedral of the First Saint. Its ancient walls, weathered by time, seem to breathe history. And uh…

I look at Anna, meeting her gaze as she holds mine without hesitation. Her eyes – green like emeralds, like elysian fields… shimmer with a quiet light all their own. I wonder what she sees in mine. Hopefully, something good. Something better.

“Arisa.”

The Holy Grail and my coffers of vestments slip to the grass. She steps closer, her hands reaching for mine. Her touch is… electrifying. Her cheeks are a deep crimson, her breaths unsteady as she leans in. Slowly, gently… her lips meet mine.

They’re soft at first – tentative, sweet… a whisper of warmth against my lips. But then, they deepen, growing bolder, the delicate press of her mouth revealing a hunger beneath the surface, something raw and unspoken. My heart hammers in my chest as I kiss her back, drawn in, my fingers curling instinctively around hers. The world around me fades into a hazy blur of just the two of us… locked in this moment.

“Anna...” I whisper as we part, the word barely audible. “I…”

“I love you, Arisa,” she breathes, her voice trembling but resolute. “I want to be your strength, just as you’ve been mine.”

“I…”

Words fail me as emotions surge, threatening to spill over. She gazes at me, her eyes a window to her unwavering devotion, and I’m overcome with the weight of her love – its purity, its courage… its everything.

We’re together again… brought back by a miracle that defies time and space, granting us another chance to walk this path side by side. And once more, you choose to love me without hesitation, without doubt. And I love you so fucking much it hurts.

But I’m terrified, Anna. I’m terrified of holding you in my arms once more… reliving those memories of Arcadia one timeline ago. Those memories haunt me – they’re my sorrow and my shame…. because I know what I did. Or worse – what I failed to do for you.

“I believe in you, Arisa,” Anna says softly, her smile radiant. “No matter what, I always will. You’re my Healer, and I’m your Paladin. Now and forever.”

Good grief. She’s got a way with words, eh? And if she can believe in us… so can I! For her, I’ll be stronger, better. Twice as good. Twice as badass! I’ll believe in us… so I can stand tall and calmly say the words that I want to say without fear.

“I love you too, Anna,” I say, my voice steady despite the storm in my chest. “I’m your Healer, your one and only. Now and forever… to the end of days.”

“Oh, Arisa...”

Her voice is like music to my ears, soft and lilting as she smiles again. This time, she leans in with deliberate intent, her lips finding mine once more. The kiss deepens, her hands sliding up to cup my face as I draw her closer.

Our breaths mingle, the warmth of her skin igniting a fire within me. Her lips move against mine tenderly, each kiss a promise and an unspoken vow. The heat rises between us, our hearts beating as one. It’s intoxicating and overwhelming… and I never want it to end.

We part briefly, our foreheads resting together as we catch our breaths, our cheeks flushed.

“Stay with me…” Anna whispers, her voice a fragile thread. “Here and now… for a while longer.”

“Sure,” I reply, sealing my words with another kiss. “The world can wait.”

And maybe, just maybe… we should stay like this forever – Prophecy and timelines be damned. Or at least... for a little while longer. Just a little while longer.