Therin and Drade stood atop the shell of the airship, watching the destruction from on high. Therin had apparently flown them to the top of the ship for that very purpose.

They both watched as the world burned.

“So that’s...the power of gods...” Therin said, a shiver running down his spine as blinding flashes of light echoed in the distance. If it weren’t for the ship’s anti-nuclear shielding, it likely would have seared their eyeballs. “I knew she was strong, but...”

Drauko’s eyes fluttered. “You got what you wanted, huh...”

“How could this have ever been what I wanted?” Therin asked, anger leaking into his voice. “Is this really the time to be criticizing...”

Drauko continued to stare forward, tired. Regretful.

He looked back to the destruction, calming. “This power...my mother said that her vessel was cursed, or the like. Do you know anything about that?”

Drauko nodded. “When the day is up, it will be like she never existed. I dunno what that means when she gets possessed halfway through the day, but...”

“So if she destroyed the world, for instance, then her actions would be undone the next day?”

“Yeah.”

“And what if she caused someone else to do it?”

“It’d still be reversed.”

“Hmm...”

Drauko heard Therin pull something from his dimensional storage. They then heard its metallic click, accompanied by a low hum. When they moved the object out of their periphery, they saw Therin pointing some sort of laser gun at them.

...

“I’m already dead,” Drauko explained. “Onei saved my life, so when the day is over...” they looked back at the gods. “I’ll be dead.”

“So you don’t mind if I kill you, then?” Therin asked.

“I do, actually.”

...

Therin shook his head. “I can’t allow you to live. If my mother finds some way to break you and get her hands on Chaos...” They coughed. “...I’d rather betray one final person than allow that to happen.”

“I plan on going to my father,” they explained without prompting. “When I heard what The Great Mother said...if it weren’t for her, I would’ve thought there was no way for me to survive.”

“How so?”

“I don’t know anything about Chaos. It’s just something that’s been in my body since I was born. Apparently, it’s...god. That’s really weird, right? Being born with the power of the creator of the universe?”

“It is, given,” Therin admitted. “But using it comes at a great cost. As far as I’m concerned, it’s just another strange attribute that can set one person apart from another.”

“What’s the cost?”

“Your soul.”

“My...soul?” Drauko frowned. “So, like how Drade can use his soul up to make magic?”

Therin nodded. “I’m not familiar with the details, but if that’s a power you have, then yes. It most likely is the same one; the ability to create.”

“Huh...”

“That’s all the guidance I can provide you, however. Tell me one reason I shouldn’t kill you now.”

“My father will protect me once I get home?” Drauko said with a wry shrug.

“As dangerous as his organization is, there is yet a chance that he won’t be able to protect you from a god. Mother seemed to have divined your location from nothing when she burst into my ship, so I doubt she would have trouble finding you again.”

“Umm...even if she finds me, she won’t be able to break my mind or whatever. I can’t be affected by her dream powers.”

“I believe she has a backup plan; The Far Realm is a cold and uncaring place, one not meant for living beings, where a person’s mind can break very easily from the strange flow of time within it. She is one of those few who are native to that plane of existence and is capable of dragging others into it. I doubt she would struggle to do so.”

“Uhh...” Drauko shrugged. “I just personally doubt that she’d be able to rip Chaos from us. I’m being a bit put on the spot right now.”

Therin shook his head. “Well, it sounds like I should just shoot you now. I hope you find some way to revive yourself after the day is over. Goodbye.”

Therin shot the gun.

The laser bullet, midway to Drauko’s head, suddenly reversed its direction and sliced through Therin’s gun, then through some of his hand. He sighed as his arm fell limp. “Hi, Uffy.”

“You’re not killing Drade!” Flying out of the hole he’d flown Drauko out of a few minutes ago, Uffield arrived.

He rolled his eyes as he dropped what was left of the gun. “I’m sorry, Uffy. And the same goes for you, too, Drade.”

“Wait, you knew I was here?”

“Of course I did. It was either going to be you or The Dark Queen. I would have been very surprised had your father not sent anyone.” He walked away from Drauko, unbothered. “Do as you wish, you two. I stick by my decision, but if I later find some flaw in it, I’ll admit that it may have been hasty. That said, I knew that shooting you wouldn’t work.” As he stepped past Uffield and to the edge of the hole, he shook his head. “I’ll do what I can to stop my mother. I trust that you two know what to do next. Just remember the stakes at play here. If she is allowed to run rampant...I think I may know how to kill her once and for all, but I’d rather avoid taking any risks when the world is at stake.”

Drauko nodded. “We’ll stop her.”

“Goodbye. I just trusted you two with the world. Don’t fuck this up.”

“O-oh, bye, Therin...” Uffield said as he stepped off the ledge and into the hole.

...

“I need to take you to Dad’s house,” she said. “A-and do you realize what it means to...fuse?”

“The heck is so wrong with being fused?” Drauko asked as they hopped onto Luuko’s back.

“So you don’t...” she said with relief. “I think you should ask Dad about that when you get the chance.”

“Why specifically him?!”

“I...I’m taking off.” Uffield flew away with Drauko.

“Mmm....you’re so comfy, Uffied...” Drauko muttered.

This is sooo uncomfortable. Uffield thought to herself. It wasn’t like she minded being treated like a pillow; not at all, but...context mattered.

She just tried to ignore it.

“S-so what have you two been up to?” she asked.

“Running for my life, mostly.”

“That figures...”

“A bit of fighting, some flying, getting stabbed, getting nearly stabbed...getting theoretically stabbed. Stuff like that.”

“H-huh. Umm...by the way, it should take us about two and a half hours to get to The Dark House.”

Drauko looked up and out at the ground. “Even at this speed?”

“I’m flying as fast as I can, but twice the speed of sound is the best I can do without a good source of magic. By the time I get there, I’ll be completely drained.”

Drauko frowned. “I’m sorry.”

“It's fine.”

...

Through the chilling wind, they fell asleep.

“D-Drade? Or...L-Luuko? We’re here.”

They rolled off Drauko, their eyes still closed, and stood once their feet hit the ground. Their eyes slowly opened, and they looked on at what stood before them. It was a replica of The White House, except...black.

Standing in front of its doors was a figure, but as of now, Drauko and Uffield stood in the center of the gardens.

They took in a deep breath. “Is that...Dad?”

“Yeah. I’ll...be taking a breather in the mana fountains.” She slowly flew into one of the fountains surrounding the estate and plopped herself in. The water seemed to hold mana, which she devoured hungrily.

Drauko walked forward.

A moment later, they stood in front of Gau.

He wore a small black top hat and a black trench coat with far too many pockets, as well as dress shoes and pants. What most stood out about him, however, was the thin, black skintight suit that covered his whole body.

“Hi, Dad,” they said nervously.

“Hello, son.”

...

“Have you had a...” Gau continued before snapping two finger guns at Drauko. “God day?”

Drauko stared at him in silence, squinting tiredly. They eventually sighed. “What the fuck else did I expect you to say...”

Their father chuckled. “I can’t be sure. Why don’t you follow me inside?”

Gau led them to a large dining room.

As Drauko readied to sit on the edge of the table, Gau pulled out the heading seat. “No, you sit here now.”

They pursed their lips as they walked forward and sat in the chair.

Gau sat on the next nearest seat, his cheek pressed against his palm, holding his head up. “I know,” he said. “I may seem silly, but I’m not dumb. You don’t really plan on taking the seat.”

They slowly nodded.

“That’s fine.” He put his fingers together into a picture frame. “But that image of you sitting there is worth its weight in gold.”

Drauko instinctively tried to brush back their hair as they slouched forward and looked at their food, only to remember that their hair was short. They sighed as they lifted their spoon and took a bite into the macaroni and cheese. Despite his status, Gau’s tastes were...simple

“What’s wrong?”Gau asked.

“This...this is my fault.” Drauko replied somberly.

“I was informed further on the circumstances by Therin. She won’t get past my defenses, and she won’t have hurt anyone by the day’s end. That is what you’re worried about, right?”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Drauko nodded. “I...I know. But people are dying. I couldn’t even try to imagine what they’re all going through.”

Gau sighed. “You have such an eldritch sense of ethics.” He chuckled at the pun.

Drauko raised their eyes to where his would be. “It’s not exactly a complicated one.”

“Oh, I know. But that you would fret about it when the world is on the line is...adorable, if dreary.”

...

“Dad...” they began, “You do realize...I’m going to die, right?’

“Yes,” he responded, nodding. “Quite the...pickle you got yourself into!” As Gau dramatically plucked a pickle from his sandwich, Drauko impassively cringed. “But you’ll find a way out, won’tcha?” He put the pickle back then raised the sandwich to where his mouth would’ve been, chomping down beneath his suit and somehow carving a bite into it.

“I mean...” They clicked their tongue. “All I can do is hope that I didn’t die in the theoretical world where Onei doesn’t exist...”

Although they couldn’t see his face, Gau’s emotions seemed to turn cold and serious. “You have one last hope, though. Chaos.”

Drauko coughed.

“Bless you~”

They looked at him unamusedly before frowning. “I hardly know anything about it. the only way I’ve ever used it is to create magic...” they glanced at their chest. “And look where that got me.”

“Where’d it get you?”

“Oh, can you not see my soul?”

“I can’t see things like your sister. Or you, for that matter.” He pointed a thumb at his chest. “I’m only half eldritch after all.”

“But then how do you see past...” They stared at the cloth covering his whole body and ‘eyes’. “Well, I’ve...” they glanced to the side. “I’ve used up my soul over the years, turning it into magic. I’m barely hanging on as is...”

“I...see,” he said sadly. “But there’s no reason to ruminate over your life or actions. Not now, at least. Do you want my advice?”

“On what?”

“On when you meet Law.” The name reverberated through the room.

Drauko nodded. “I can’t die,” they asserted. “What advice can you give me?”

“If and when you leave this world, there is a brief time between the here and the thereafter a time between when each person leaves the world, and when they are taken beyond The Gates of Law. Technically, that time is a place. It’s known by a few names, but Therin calls it the fifth layer of the spirit realm.”

“Okay...how will I know if I’m there?”

Gau shrugged. “You will see The Gates of Law, probably? Biiig white door, so they say. Can’t miss it. Once you’re there, the door’ll open, then you will apparently die.”

“So...how do I not die?”

Gau shrugged. “No idea.”

They frowned, unhappy with his answer.

“At that point, I’d ask your great-grandfather that question.”

“So...Law.”

He nodded. “Yep. You’ve met him before, right? On the moon or whatever?”

“That was a long time ago,” they said with rare regret leaking into their voice. “Why?”

“If you meet him before you die...well, nobody else would have better advice on not dying than death himself, eh? Or maybe he’d have the worst...?”

“So basically, I’m just hoping that anything goes well for me?”

“Yep. So x out of ten, how helpful was this advice?” he asked, pretending to hold a clipboard.

“Two.”

“Alright, just sign off on the customer satisfaction survey, and we’ll be good to go.” He held out the nonexistent board and pen. “Heh.”

Drauko began to eat the food they’d been given, idly thinking. Gau gave them time to think in silence, and a few minutes later, they asked, “Hey, why did Therin and Uffield react really weirdly when they learned that I’d fused souls with Luuko?”

On his second-to-last bite, Gau froze, his sandwich half-raised. He slowly turned his head to Drauko, an aura of mortification emanating from him, then a moment later, he scooched his chair a good ten feet away with one strong push. “Err...umm...y-you...this isn’t a joke, is it?”

Drauko leveled an annoyed gaze at him. “No.”

“A-ahh...that’s...v-very interesting, yeah. You should ask your mom about it.”

“What’s the damn problem?” they asked more forcefully. “Explain it to me now.”

“M-mm...so...Hannah really never told you about that...” He cleared his ‘throat’. “W-well, you see, when two eldritch beings...erm, wish to...copulate....they can fuse together -both soul and body.”

Drauko’s expression very quickly grew mortified.

“And then after doing so, they can reproduce asexually, like a cell would. It’s not like you and this...Luuko are randomly going to split into a copy of yourselves...but fusing with another species’ soul is...how would I best describe it.”

They held out a hand. “Hold up just a-”

He snapped a finger, raising it to the sky. “Ahh, right! But it is seen as something akin to anal-”

“SHUT IT!” They suddenly yelled, eye twitching. “I’m just going to pretend I heard nothing and never do or ask about this ever again.”

“Alright I won’t- Oh, and you could also compare it to exhibi-”

Drauko stared daggers at Gau. “Dad. Please shut the fuck up.”

He cleared his throat. “Ahem...understood.”

When they finished eating, Drauko asked for a room to sleep in. Something small and simple.

What they got was one of the smaller rooms in The Black House, albeit still rather large. The moment they walked in, though, it suddenly turned into a much smaller one, and the bed in the center grew to encompass the whole room, magically fitting itself to their wishes.

“Will this room do?” Gau asked.

“Yeah.”

He nodded. “Then I’ll leave you to think.” He then walked away.

They sat on the black-sheeted bed, criss-crossing their legs as they closed their eyes.

They separated their souls.

Drade sighed, sitting beside Luuko in their mindscape.

“That was kinda traumatic,” he said in monotone.

“Mmm...a bit.”

An awkward silence passed between them as they thought.

“So,” Luuko said, “What should we do?”

Drade raised an eyebrow. “I dunno.”

“I guess I should have known...” she muttered. I was you for the last few hours, after all.

“I’m sorry,” Drade said suddenly. “It’s my fault I brought you into this mess. Unless I’m mistaken...” He sighed. “We’re both probably going to die. If I hadn’t-”

“Don’t think like that, Drade,” Luuko said suddenly. She lowered her eyes, her mouth twisting. “I...always thought you were so confident, so decisive...but it’s not that, is it? You just...put yourself in the hands of fate.”

He slowly nodded. “In part, maybe. But I am a being of law.”

“I guess,” she admitted. “A normal person couldn’t act the way you do. But it’s still really not what I expected.”

“Why did you bring this up?” he asked.

“It’s just...I thought that you were some unstoppable force of change.”

“A what?”

“Well, everyone in The Friends had their lives changed by you, but...I mean, you barely even notice it. You’re like a tidal wave picking people up on the way. The only way to stay afloat is to move with the flow, right?”

“Hmm...I can see where you’re coming from. But that’s just fate,” he explained. “I’m just another person riding the wave.”

She nodded. “That’s exactly what I’m trying to say. I thought you were so strong, such a unique and distinguished person...but you’re not.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Ow. I’m kinda sensitive about being called emotionless, you know.”

“You a-” She shook her head. “That’s not what I meant. I meant that I...I compared myself to you. I looked up to you. But you’re not that special.” She fell onto her back. “I thought that I had to be just as special for anyone to...” She averted her eyes. “To care about me. And so...I guess...that really hurt me, to think like that.”

Drade stared at her, his expression unchanging.

“I just thought I had to be special. That’s why I never tried to be closer friends with you, or Sara, or Felix, it’s why I never tried to make something of myself, it’s why I spend my time watching other people...” She sighed. “It’s just why I don’t like being me. I’m just...boring, useless, and-and a really big waste of everyone’s time.”

“Hm.” Drade grunted

When he didn’t comment at all, Luuko rolled her eyes. “You’re meant to say something inspiring right about now, man.”

“Oh. Sorry.” He shrugged. “You’re hardly useless, really. You’re not a waste of time either. You’re also not boring.”

“Really now?” she said skeptically, despite asking for the affirmations. “In what way?”

“Basically everyone alive can be helpful. And being a ‘waste of time’ is kinda vague. It’s not like you can’t be trained to be useful in something. Actually, I’m almost sure you’re not useless, given how you’ve got really high grades in every class at school.”

“I cheat half the time,” she argued.

He rolled his eyes. “I’m calling bullshit on that. Even if you copied most of your homework from other people, that wouldn’t explain why you ace most tests. The fact that you can listen in on multiple classes at once clearly shows that you are far from a lost cause.”

“That’s just school...” Luuko muttered. “I’m not even trying to be good at it. I just don’t have anything better to do.”

“Well I, as the student who barely avoids flunking out of his classes, find it is far from boring.”

“Whatever, man.” She closed her eyes. “One way or another, I’m just not an interesting person. I spend most of my time watching other people instead of being me. ”

“I guess so,” he said, leaning back onto his arms. “But you have all the time in the world to become whoever you want to be.”

“I know...” she muttered. “That’s what I was saying in the first place, until I started talking about this.” She sighed. “I just realized that I don’t need to be that special. I just need to be...me.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And just who is ‘you’?”

“I...” she looked at her hand. “I’m not sure, yet. I still don’t feel like me. I feel like I’m just trying to be...someone I can’t be. When I came to you yesterday, I thought that training my ability would make me feel better about myself...But I don’t think that’s the case anymore. I need to...to somehow find out who I am.”

She’s going through the same thing everyone else our age goes through, Drade thought as he slowly nodded. Trying to find the nebulous ideal of her ‘self’, an identity beyond what she is on the outside. “Do you want my advice?” he asked.

“Sure.” She relaxed further onto the ground.

“When all of this is over, you could leave The Friends.”

“Leave? Why?!”

“A lot of people need to break off from what they’re comfortable with. When I left my hometown a few years ago, I left my friends behind, friends like Livia; friends who would have taken a bullet for me.” He sighed sadly. “I want to meet them all a second time. I want to show them all how much I’ve grown.” He put a hand on his chest, a feeling pooling up as he remembered a life he’d left behind a long time ago. “But I need to be ready, first.” He took in a deep breath, then set his hand back down. “But that’s just my advice. If you don’t like it, then I’m sure you’ll find some other way to find out what you want for yourself.”

She looked down. “That’s...a lot to take in.”

He tilted his head. “Is it? Sorry, I’m not a really well articulated person. I just kinda try to express myself and hope things work out. When it comes to life advice like this, I feel like a fish out of water.”

“O-oh, no, I think you were fine, it’s really just a lot to think about.”

“Oh.”

Some more time passed in silence.

“So...” she said finally. “What do we do? Nothing?”

“I think that’s still the plan,” Drade responded. “All we can do is wait for the day to end. If neither Dad nor Therin knows how to save me...we just have to fight with everything we have against Onei’s curse when the time comes.”

Luuko chuckled inwardly as they slipped beneath their covers. That’s reassuring, though. I’m an expert at doing nothing!

Good. Because there’s twelve hours till’ the day ends. That’s a lot of nothing to do.

A lot of sleeping, that is...