A sword was thrust into the soil for each fallen soldier; a flower was planted beside it from each of their friends.

The burden of moving forward loomed heavily on the hearts of all members of the Libertatum Brotherhood. Kayden could feel the pain looming over them all like a guardian angel that would make sure they didn’t forget. The chosen field was atop a wide hill, from which they could see the ocean and hope their friends were now somewhere beyond it. Even Kaijin Base itself seemed downhearted, wailing at the sky with the rescued slaves and villagers on its platforms.

Tham was carefully planting his flower next to his dad’s memorial sword as Kayden approached, struggling without his sight.

“Hey,” Kayden said softly. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Tham finished planting the flower with a downcast head, wincing as he then looked up at Kayden.

“You let my father die,” he said with a sore voice.

Something broke inside Kayden upon hearing that line.

“Your dad went out as a hero,” Kayden replied, clumsily trying to decide what to say. “Chances are, he saved us all with what he learnt, what you told us. Knowing that the Everbender’s weakness lies in her mask, we now have a better chance of…”

“Of what?” Tham snapped. “Of letting her live?”

Kayden remained silent.

“You’re not trying to kill her,” Tham said. “It’s obvious. What do you really want, Kayden?”

Kayden didn’t know what to say. So, as Tham stood up, he went for the truth.

“I still dream of her,” he whispered. “We made a promise, centuries ago. I remember clearly now. We promised we’d become heroes together, and that we’d appear in history books together, and inspire others through our stories to become heroes just like we had been inspired once. I… I’m not giving up on that dream, Tham.”

Tham seemed horrified. “You of all people. Kayden… I thought you were set up to defeat her. Not… whatever that is.”

“You know that hasn’t changed,” said Kayden. “It’s just that, deep inside, I still hope I can defeat her by… redeeming her, you know?”

“I…” Tham didn’t finish the sentence. He winced, turned around, and ran away.

“Tham!” Kayden called out, but a firm but gentle hand grabbed his shoulder.

“Sorry I overheard,” Merdilen said. The blond man had a hurt look in his eyes. “Kayden… if it means anything, I believe in you.”

Kayden turned to him with teared eyes.

“I’ve seen redemption first-hand,” Merdilen continued. “I know you guys don’t know much about me, but what I said our first day in Kaijin Base is true. I’ve been in the Everbender’s place. You know how I constantly talk about my world? The one before I fell here through the Echo. I… I guess I was the villain back there.”

Kayden pursed his lips. “I see.”

“My point is not to alarm you, but to make you understand,” Merdilen said, “that it’s still possible. As long as she lives, she’ll remember. And that means she can change. I don’t know her beyond fighting her, and neither do the others. Only you do. You can’t forget the evil she did. But you can make her turn around.”

Kayden breathed in deeply. “Thanks, man. It means a lot. But I have no idea how to do it.”

“I have no way of knowing either,” Merdilen admitted. “But I can show you one thing.” He crouched, pointing at a flower on the grass. “This flower, it’s looking up at the sky. It smiles. These blades of grass are dancing to the rhythm of our heartbeats. The sun doesn’t shine on us because it needs to, it shines on us because it wants to. I think you’ve forgotten something along the way, Kayden. This world is alive, and it is beautiful. She forgot it too. But you must not let go. Fight for this world, Kayden. For this world is fighting for you too.”

– – –

Tham couldn’t believe it.

He wiped away his angry tears as he stumbled through the forest on the way to nowhere, too upset to truly focus with his Echosense.

Kayden wasn’t going to kill the Everbender. He’d let Tham’s father die, and wasn’t intending to do anything to make his death worthwhile. Kayden, of all people.

How had Tham ever trusted in him?

“I get you, kid,” a deep voice said.

Varokan was apparently leaning against a tree with his head cast down, from what Tham could sense. Was he grieving alone too?

“You know,” Varokan said, “you come just in time, because I’ve made a vow. I vow that I’ll kill the Everbender or die trying.”

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“Don’t call me kid,” Tham said with narrowed eyes.

“Sorry for that… Tham,” Varokan said. “I know you get me too. So I’ve got a simple question. Do I have your support in killing the Everbender?”

“You do,” Tham said.

“Even though your friend Kayden opposes the idea?”

Tham hesitated for a moment, but then nodded firmly.

“...Yes.”

“Good,” Varokan said. “Hold on to those feelings. In the end, your determination’s what matters most.”

“You know I will,” Tham said.

“Well,” Varokan said, “keep an ear out. You’ll receive instructions soon.”

– – –

Hassah approached the eastern end of the memorial field, before the hill started dropping.

Her family was safe. After years of slavery, her family –and those who still lived of her village– had been rescued, by none other than herself. She’d spent the last couple of days enjoying with them, sharing her stories. But she had joined the Skyguard for a greater quest. And that hadn’t ended yet.

Haroken the dragon laid curled up on the grass, his wounds from Anthalopus closed but still ugly. Hassah hopped on his massive tail and walked forward until she was sitting right next to his face.

“Hey,” she said with a smile. “How are you doing today, Haroken?”

“Hello, Hassah,” Haroken said with his deep rumble of a voice. “Better, I believe. Physically, at least. I still fear what comes next.”

“Yeah,” Hassah said. “Is it fine if I stay here a little? It’s nice to talk to someone who knows how to keep their cool. Of course, it’s understandable, but everyone seems so heated up about everything these days, it’s kinda stressful. It’s hard not to listen for a Soundbender like me.”

“The human world…” Haroken said. “It heats up so much. I know what you mean, Hassah. You are part of it, and shouldn’t act like you’re not. But, if you wish to listen to my advice… don’t lose yourself fighting human wars. You will end up disappointed if you do.”

“I guess that’s true,” Hassah said after a while. “What about you, Haroken? What do you fight for?”

“It’s strange,” he replied, looking up at the sky. “Of course, I fight for honor and for my code, but I also fight for a dream. An unattainable dream. I fight for the hope that, some day, I will get my wings back, and I’ll be able to soar the skies again. I do not seek vengeance; it’s been long since I forgot the names of those who took them from me. I know it’s logically impossible for me to achieve such a thing as flying again, but if I die, if I let go, I won’t be able to dream anymore. And I can’t allow that.”

Hassah smiled. “I knew you’d have a dream too. Even if it didn’t look like it.”

“Do you dream, Hassah?” Haroken then asked.

“Yep,” she said. “I’ll learn to play an instrument someday. I’ll be great at it, and I’ll marvel everyone with my melodies. It makes sense, doesn’t it? I’m a Soundbender. Among other things, I can amplify sound.”

“You’ll be a great musician,” Haroken said. “I’ll be looking forward to seeing you perform.”

Hassah grinned. “As soon as this is all over.”

– – –

Kayden followed the crowd of fighters as Varokan called them all to the center of the field.

“I’ve never been one to give speeches,” Varokan said loudly, “but I think we all need it right now. For centuries, the Everbender has pushed us to our limits, enslaving and exploiting us. She’s set up mines to throw us to monsters and systems to burn fear into our hearts. Us, and our fathers, and our grandfathers, and generations upon generations before them! It is time to shout back.”

Cheering and shouting from the crowd of fighters.

“Even though we could’ve never expected this to happen,” Varokan continued, “even though we never expected friends to die, things have been set in motion. And that cannot be undone. So we’ll fight! We’ll set everything in motion. We’ll call on every allied sword. Three days from now. In three days from now, we’ll storm the imperial palace, Empire’s Heart!”

The crowd roared its approval.

“We’ll kill the Everbender,” Varokan said. “When we do, we’ll take over the empire, and we’ll free this world from its chains. Brothers and sisters… this is the fight of our lives. Who’s with me?!”

The entirety of the Libertatum Brotherhood’s fighters raised their swords towards the sky.

– – –

Kayden took a good look at the stars that night, walking through the silent fields that surrounded the temporary camp at the feet of Kaijin Base.

He may never see them again after the battle to come. As they usually did, the stars reminded him of the Field of Memories, so long ago. He couldn’t help but thinking about what Merdilen said.

“This world is alive, and it is beautiful.”

Is this world really fighting for me too? Kayden thought to himself with a pang of a feeling he couldn’t quite describe.

He’d failed so much. He had failed the original Skyguard. He had failed his friends. He had failed Abner Chafter, he had failed Tandol. He had failed Tham.

He was still fighting. He had already given up once. He would never give up again.

But… was it still worth it? His time had come and passed. He was a foreigner in his own world, living centuries beyond physics and nature. Was he really making such a difference by continuing this way?

“It’s just… Have we been of any use, Tham?” he remembered asking, weeks ago, when first reaching Kaijin Base. “Have we done any good?”

Kayden had told Tham he wouldn’t forget the good he’d done for his friends. Even so, the crushing weight of the rest of the world was hard to ignore. Had he really made a difference in the greater scheme of things?

Chances were, if Kayden didn’t fight in the next battle, the Libertatum Brotherhood would kill the Everbender anyway. They were just too many for her. …Right?

No, Kayden told himself, resolute. You’re not just fighting to change the world.

Kayden was fighting to save her. The Everbender. The girl he had once loved. Lauren Lerahen. He knew there had to be a way. He’d save her somehow. He wouldn’t stop fighting until he made sure everyone was saved. Everyone.

Kayden breathed in deeply, and then shouted into the sky.

“I won’t let this world defeat me! I won’t give up until I become the hero I know I need to be! I won’t… give up… until we fulfill our dream! That’s a promise… Lauren!”