Elwin sprinted through the streets ankle-deep in soft white salt, kicking up a trail of fine, stinging dust that hung in the gentle dawn light, peering over the mountains to the east. The Ellenian ran and ran and ran as if his desperate running could somehow change the reality of the sight drawing larger with each step.

Kari’s body lay in the street. The man was surrounded by the three others. Coming close, Elwin hesitated, seeing Lumie bent over in grief. The elf dug in his heels, bringing himself to a skidding stop.

Lumie looked up with puffy red eyes. She gasped.

“Elwin!!” the knight said, getting up and enveloping him in a warm hug.

Elwin was taken aback, reflexively returning the gesture with a gentle pat on the back, followed by more consciously made, comforting touches. Suddenly overcome with emotion, Elwin squeezed his eyes shut. He felt his own eyes similarly drowning in warm tears.

The elf didn’t know what to say, so he chose not to say anything.

Like gasping for breath, Elwin blinked the tears away as best he could, bringing his gaze to Kari’s body. His peaceful face still bore the traces of a contented, self-righteous smile.

At Lumie’s sudden change in behaviour, the other two men gave Elwin a glance but returned to watching over Kari’s corpse.

“…I just don’t understand it,” Leon said, even as his sister sobbed in Elwin’s arms.

“The spell required a noble soul. When Kari sacrificed himself, it seems that ADAM found that his soul was even more worthy than-” Runald began to say. The warlock was standing. His broken hip and other wounds had inexplicably been healed by the holy light that had streamed forth from Kari.

“No, not that. It just surprises me that he… chose to do what he did.” Leon said.

“Come now, man. He just gave his life for us. Let him have some respect.” Runald said gently, a little perplexed.

“No, I mean-, he just never struck me as a hero.”

“I would agree with that assessment.” Said a new, but familiar voice.

The four of them turned to look, taking in the sight of a silver angel with pointy ears and azure, columnar wings made of light. A similar holographic halo floated emanated from about her head. The elf’s metallic form was shaped to resemble a body clothed in elegant dress-like robes. Blue.

“I only knew him for a week or so, but he was the kind of man that would cut the rope to save himself, rather than take the risk to try and haul his partner to safety... But I suppose that even people like that can change.” The High Priestess said with a sad smile.

Lumie slowly extricated herself from Elwin as everyone else stood in mild wordless surprise at the new arrival.

“Who are you?” Runald asked.

“The High Priestess, Blue. I have come with Elwin, here, to visit ADAM.” The silver form said, gesturing to Elwin as she spoke.

“You- the Labyrinth is open, then?” Lumie asked in surprise.

“Yes. The ultimate test awaits beneath our feet. But, I have been promised by a certain rapier-wielding acrobat to bring Grandmaster Sophia there.”

“Phee,” Runald said, figuring out Blue’s riddle. He pulled Blue aside, engaging in quiet conversation with her with renewed urgency.

Meanwhile, Elwin continued to mourn Kari’s loss, holding the man’s cold, rigid hand in his own as he kneeled.

Lumie studied the elf’s tearful expression for a few moments, trying to think of the right thing to say. “Hey.” She said, trying to get his attention.

Elwin had to tear his gaze away from Kari’s lifeless face.

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Meeting Lumie’s eyes, he couldn’t help but break into a light smile, even as tears continued to roll down his cheeks.

“How did you know him?” Lumie asked.

“He passed through Ellenia. He seemed like a seasoned adventurer, exceptionally skilled with his Gift. I was convinced that he would be the man I would travel with to reach you, all the way here. But it turned out that he was being chased by some kind of assassin. After he endangered our lives in the second-to-last Labyrinth Trial, that’s when Blue and I decided to part ways with him.”

“Well, you were at least partially right. You did end up reaching me here, thanks to him.”

“Yeah… Blue and I saw him one last time in Sarigold City. He was on death’s door. We argued, but ultimately decided to save him…”

“And then… he saved me,” Lumie said, her voice struggling under the weight of her words.

“…Not just you,” Leon said, interrupting them and drawing their gaze. “He saved everyone in Al Dherjza. In ADAM’s eyes, Kari’s soul was worth far more than your typical ‘noble soul’ that Runald planned to use. Thanks to Kari’s sacrifice, the war is over.”

“What about the Coronum, won’t they just cast another spell to replace their armies?” Lumie asked.

“They could, but they’re not. Look.” Leon said, pointing to the skies.

The distant Coronum was lit up by periodic flashes of light, varying in shades of colour.

“What are they doing?” Elwin asked.

“Blue said that they seem to be fighting. The Lords of Night appear to have gone missing. Without their leadership, the Coronum has devolved into chaos.”

They were all silent for a moment as the totality of the situation created by Kari’s sacrifice set in.

“…Does that mean that it’s finally over?” Lumie asked.

No one dared to answer her question.

Runald and Blue finished up their conversation on the side.

“I shall go on ahead,” Blue declared. She shapeshifted into a wheel that quickly rolled off towards the domed roof of Al Dherjza’s main hospital in a plume of white powder.

“She’s gone to protect Sophia. It wouldn’t do much good for the King to emerge from the Labyrinth, only to see his princess captured.” Runald explained after her.

“So, what’s the plan now?” Leon asked.

“Well, I’m not sure. Apparently, you and Blue spotted Empress Lucina of the Incandestine invaders making her way across the city, is that right?” Runald asked Elwin.

“Yes. But Blue says that she cannot be opposed, especially with how limited your resources are.”

“What are we to do then?” Lumie asked.

“We should move Kari’s body, and tell the people what he did. He deserves to be recognised as a hero,” Runald said resolutely.

Elwin found himself nodding in agreement, as did the others.

“Help me move him,” Leon said, bending down and taking Kari’s heels in hand to lift him up. Elwin took Kari’s shoulders.

“We’ll take him to the morgue near the hospital. There’s an entrance to the catacombs there too.” Said Runald.

Runald and Lumie each took a side, and the four survivors escorted Kari’s body through Al Dherjza’s streets.

It was a strange feeling for Elwin, to carry this man’s body. This person that he had known for such a short, but significant period of time.

And, perhaps stranger still to the young elf, that flawed man was to be hailed as a hero.

What of his actions in Sarigold? Elwin wondered as the group trudged through the grainy streets that gradually grew brighter with the light of day. The question burrowed into his mind, doubt blossoming from its incontestable presence. The fruit of that doubtful flower spilt out from Elwin’s lips. “How did you all know him? Was-was he a good man?” the elf asked, stuttering slightly.

It was Leon who spoke first. “I was the first to meet him. In Sarigold. We exchanged little words. He had helped organise to teleport a group of us here in secret. But after we arrived here, he disappeared off on his own. I happened across him in an alley, about to be shot by one of those Incandestine soldiers. I’m not sure, but it looked like he had just run from a fight. But, he changed his mind about abandoning the people he had seen and turned around just as the Incandestine brute opened fire. It saved his life. Gave me just enough time to run my trusty Ostendere through the shiny bastard.” Leon gestured towards his holstered sword with a head nod as he spoke its name.

“I caught him falling from the battlements,” Runald said. “I didn’t have much time to think of him, there were bigger problems afoot. The only other detail I would offer was that he was looking for Lumie here.”

“He was?” Elwin asked with shock.

“Yes. He said he was here on your behalf.” Lumie said. “It seemed like he wanted to repay some kind of debt. Probably the debt he owed you and Blue for saving his life.”

“Suffice it to say that he paid the debt back, and then some,” Runald said matter-of-factly.

“So, did he strike you as a good man?” Elwin asked, reiterating his question. It was evident that his desire to know came from a place of needing closure.

The three humans struggled to come up with the right words for the inquisitive elf.

“…It’s not my place to judge,” Lumie said eventually.

“I agree.” Leon chimed. “I would say that it’s not our place to judge a person’s character. Why, I’d wager that we’ve all done things that we aren’t proud of. Even if you took a look at my life. I don’t know if I would be able to call myself ‘good’ or ‘bad’. I would just hope that most people would see me as good.”

“Everyone wishes to think of themselves as ‘good’ people,” Runald said cynically. “It is what we tell ourselves so that we can fall asleep at night.”

“All we can do is reflect on words and deeds. It’s not right for us to judge people. All we can judge is what we’ve done.” Lumie said. “So to answer your question. I think Kari was just like any of us. He made some mistakes, but he did some good things too. Does that answer your question?”

Elwin nodded, swallowing emotion that had welled up in his throat. “Yes, it does.”