It took his eyes a moment to fully adjust. The light exuding off of the butterfly remained quite intense.

Both Evelyn and Aphelia’s will to fight wavered for a moment. They merely observed the being that remained between them in the air.

The light exuding from the butterfly began to dim a little. Every nearby shadow became softer whilst a warm and inviting presence enveloped the entirety of this chamber.

A sense of peace that he hadn’t felt in a long while became present. I have missed this. How this being could cause him to feel this way, was a mystery but he enjoyed it nonetheless.

“Who or what are you?” Lady Meredith asked.

The butterfly turned over towards her with its wings spread out. “Who do you think I am?”

She appeared a bit taken aback as if she knew but didn’t at the same time.

“Listen to my voice. It must sound familiar. Or have you forgotten it after all of these years, Mother?”

Evelyn backed up to Lady Meredith. She held up a sword with an arm that appeared quite weak compared to before. “These are a conjurer’s tricks. Do not listen to another word that this thing says.”

“I am not a trick nor am I an illusion. I am Alanora. I am indeed the one you are so intent to protect.”

“Liar!”

The light became brighter increasingly so. It became so bright, that he nearly raised his hand again to shield him from their sight. However, he simply squinted and focused on what he saw not wanting to lose sight of this moment. Compared to everyone else, Evelyn became enveloped in the heavenly light that the butterfly exuded towards them in particular.

So this butterfly is supposed to be Alanora? He wasn’t quite sure how to take that, especially as the butterfly could speak now. If she had spoken sooner, she would’ve spared them a whole lot of trouble. As if to answer his questions regarding her, the butterfly began to speak further. “I am sorry I did not appear sooner, I-I did not know how to control this form properly. But I am finally here and hope to put an end to all of this.”

“My lady,” Evelyn said struggling to maintain her composure. She shielded her eyes with a hand. “Please heed my words.”

“That’s enough.” Lady Meredith put her hands on Evelyn’s shoulders. “Our fight is over.”

Evelyn’s arm that shook, fell to the side. The sword she manifested dissipated into the air. The most defeated look he could imagine ran across her face. At this moment, all of her will to fight died.

Aphelia smiled as she allowed her sword to disappear as well. “Thank you,” she said softly while clasping both hands in front of herself.

Moments ago, he was to bear witness to them killing each other. Now that didn’t have to happen which relieved not just him, but everyone else besides maybe Abigail. Although, even she probably would prefer this outcome in all reality.

Yorais approached the butterfly. “You’ve revealed yourself to us at a convenient time. I had questioned whether you existed at all except within his mind.” She looked over at Kiran briefly.

“I am very much real. I however haven’t been able to properly manifest this corporeal form. To be honest, I have no real idea what I’m doing. I…I’m just glad that someone other than him can finally perceive me and even hear me.”

Lady Meredith approached her. “If you can take this form, why can you not awaken in your own body?”

“I have lost my connection with it.” She flew over towards her body which remained asleep on the altar. “My spirit, if that is the right term to describe it, has been severed from my physical body.”

“Is this severing permanent?”

“I don’t believe so. I have, let’s say, come to believe there’s a method that will allow my spirit to merge back into my own body. It will require the two of them, however. That’s largely why I tried everything in my power to figure out how to appear as I am now. Thankfully I somehow made it work to prevent either of you from killing each other.”

A moment of pure strife and immediacy tended to force these kinds of things. Luckily it worked before either Evelyn or Aphelia died.

“Whatever you need,” Aphelia said, “I will gladly do it for you.”

“I would not wish to be dishonest with either of you though.” Alanora flew away from her own body coming back over towards them. The light exuding off of her wings dimmed a little. “I fear that the two of you will die if you do what I request.”

Neither of them appeared completely aghast at hearing that. If anything they appeared understanding. They both were devoted in their own personal ways to her even with different ideas on how best to serve her. Evelyn wanted to protect her at all costs, no matter how many others must suffer. Then there was Aphelia who wanted to spare Alanora from suffering a life denied any semblance of normalcy. They both deeply cared for her in dramatically different ways, yet that will of devotion to her was in many ways the same.

That same devotion led them to accept this grave cost with no hesitation. “My sole purpose of being is to serve you,” Evelyn said.

“As is mine,” Aphelia replied.

Kiran approached Aphelia who didn’t appear sad or remorseful in any way. If anything she appeared more happy than he had seen since meeting her. “Are you sure about doing whatever it is that she wants you to do?”

“I am. I have experienced much since awakening to this mortal domain. I have many fond memories both good and bad. I will forever cherish them, especially the ones I’ve made with you all. But I also do not belong here. Neither I nor Evelyn are supposed to exist. We are distortions, much like the other distortions that have manifested in this world. Order must be reestablished and this will help push things in that direction.”

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He did not perceive any doubts or thoughts opposed to what she said. She truly was willing to sacrifice herself to serve a much greater purpose.

Kiran gave her a big wide smile. “Then I guess I better give you a warm farewell then.” He gestured towards the rest. “You all better do so as well.”

Aphelia wasn’t a true member of the coalition or someone they had all known for all that long. They knew here for a relatively short amount of time. But he was glad to have gotten the chance to know her. She was a uniquely kind and gentle person who at the same time, could crack a person’s skull quite easily since she was so powerful.

They said their farewells to her and their goodbyes. “You’ll be missed,” he said backing away.

“I’ll miss you all as well. I hope all goes well for you and that life becomes much easier for you from now on.”

The butterfly flew over to her physical body once more. “You two come now.” Her wings spread out wide exuding more light once more.

The runic etchings on the altar began to glow more vividly. Every large or small arcane root within this chamber began to dim as their own light became more enveloping and intense.

“Each of you lie down on the altar on opposing sides.” By her command, they both got up on the altar and spread their bodies out. “Now then. Press your hands over my body.” Their hands and arms began to remain atop her body together while the butterfly remained above them all.

Kiran began to back away as enormous power surged to the altar. Every nearby arcane root became even more dim. The ground itself began to shake, and the energy motioning by them only became more obvious.

“Uh Yorais,” Abigail said poking her a little. “Should we be staying here during this?”

“You can always run out of here if you like. I’m a bit too interested in seeing this through to personally get up and leave.”

Well if Yorais was staying, he would too. He took Lar’s hand grasping it tightly while they observed the amount of power he was witnessing within here.

Every arcane root became even more dim as the entirety of the altar took on a light bluish glow. The shadows on the outer parts of this chamber became practically black. The contrast between it, the altar, and the butterfly made his eyes hurt.

Every arcane root protruding from the ground nearby appeared completely dead like the one he had taken from Queen Luvia Aenveld.

The butterfly began to motion into the woman’s body entering it completely. Both Evelyn and Aphelia’s bodies began to appear as silhouettes made of light.

Their silhouettes remained human appearing for a little while, until their forms became nothing more than simple abstract shapes.

A crack began to form beneath his feet.

Kiran stepped out of the way worrying whether they’d end up swallowed up by the ground. Thankfully, the crack wasn’t large enough to accomplish such a feat.

He remained watchful of the altar and figures of light as they began to merge into the woman still asleep on the altar.

He felt kind of bad for them, especially for Aphelia for having to sacrifice herself, but such a sacrifice was to lead to their salvation if everything ended up working out.

The silhouettes of light completely disappeared causing only one figure to remain on the altar. A crack ran all the way to the altar causing even it to crack. The bluish light exuding off its surfaces went completely dark submerging this chamber into complete darkness.

Yorais summoned multiple orbs of light. They no longer had all of the arcane roots in there to act as their source of illumination. This procedure that Alanora had somehow utilized, caused every bit of power within them to exist no more. Nor did the altar appear capable of being used either due to the damage it sustained.

Lady Meredith found herself at the altar. “Alanora,” she said trying to wake her up. “Alanora!”

Kiran began to approach only for Lar to hold him back. She shook her head as everyone appeared willing to let her be for now. She would have to pay for her crimes, but she was in no position to bring them any harm at this point.

“Alanora—”

“Mother?” She lifted her body and pressed a hand to her forehead. Her mother embraced her for a hug reuniting them in a more appropriate manner.

“That worked, huh,” Frederek said. “I don’t know what exactly she did, but hey, I’m not one to complain about not knowing some things.”

“Let us just revel in our success,” Yorais said, “and be happy that things ended up this way.”

Abigail crossed her arms. “So is that it? Can we expect to see the sun once again in this domain?”

“We’ll first have to exit this cave and see. Although if it’s still technically nighttime, we’ll have to wait until the morning to know for sure.”

It was almost too hard to believe. After everything, they had finally done what they set out to achieve.

He felt like he could finally relax. Ever since he entered this domain, it had been a fight for his life and constantly having to worry. It wasn’t like he had been able to relax back in Liall either so to feel as he does now, made for a huge difference.

I don’t care what troubles we encounter in the future. I’m taking a long vacation after all of this. Give me a spot on a hill and I’ll remain there for a little while before carrying on.

He watched Lady Meredith and her daughter continuing to embrace each other. Despite his feelings towards Lady Meredith, in a way, he was happy for her. This was what she always wanted. Her daughter had been in a state of permanent sleep on an altar meant to heal her. Instead, things had gone in an entirely different direction. Now she finally had the chance to reunite with her.

As for Alanora, he was glad that she was able to return, especially now knowing she had been the butterfly this entire time.

“What’re we going to do with her now?” Lar asked. “We’re not just going to let her go free, now are we?”

“Absolutely not,” Yorais said. “But like I said earlier, she is no threat to us at this point. We can afford to offer her some kindness by reuniting with her daughter before she’s to be dealt with appropriately. I imagine when day officially breaks, if it hasn’t already, whatever conflicts were to ensue, will no longer occur.”

Abigail moaned a little. “That sure better be the case. I didn’t go through all of this trouble just so everything continues on as it has been.”

“Are you so sure about that?” Frederek said. “I would’ve figured you’d prefer more conflict. Have you tired so much from all that you’ve received lately?”

“Even I can only handle so much my dearest F-Frederek.”

“Did you just stutter when saying my name?”

“N-no.”

He began to look down at her and frown. After a moment of silence, the two of them began to laugh to themselves.

Spirits are already being lifted now that we’ve seen some actual success.

“Come on,” Yorais said. “We should begin to leave this wretched environment. I would not want to miss our first sighting of the sun if it has yet to come.”