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The grating, incessant sound of Nora’s knuckles rapping against the locked door reverberated through the small, stone room I had claimed as my last refuge after truly waking up from that demonic nightmare.

“Are you going to let her in?” Raedine asked with the slightest hint of curiosity. “This is the third time she’s stopped by today.”

No. I can’t be trusted. What if I lose my mind again?

“How long do you think it will be until she simply breaks the lock?”

Ignoring the question, I curled into a tight ball within a white magic circle etched onto the cool, rough floor.

“You know your treatment was completed hours ago. Relias said you are no longer afflicted. It’s time to move on. You have much to work out.”

Move on?! How does one just move on from attempting to murder someone?!

“You have been focusing on past events ever since you woke up. What transpired does not fit the definition of attempted murder. You did not have a specific intention to cause her death.”

My behavior was reckless. I should be in prison!

“So, you’re not going to face her?” Nora’s knocking became more insistent. “You’re going to stick your head in the sand, as they say?”

I can’t. Not right now.

“Very well. I temporarily relieve you from duty.”

Wait, what?

“Just a moment, Lady Nora,” Raedine called with my voice as I stood up against my will. She unlocked the door, pulled it open, and bowed with a gracefulness beyond my own abilities. “It’s a pleasure to finally have the opportunity to speak with you.”

Nora, with the underside of her eyes sooty from lack of sleep, glared at us sharply. “Which one are you?”

“My name was Raedine,” she said, bowing again. “Miss Rachel has decided to wallow in a proverbial pigpen of self-pity for the foreseeable future, so I have decided to temporarily commandeer this vessel until such time as she has had her fill of melancholic malingering. As we wait for her to grow up, would you care for a cup of tea?”

That was uncalled for!

"Take back control, then."

Huh?

“Push me away. Take control."

I...

"You must learn this skill soon. I am not the only one in here."

Nora spent a few moments considering the offer of tea with a suspicious look on her face, rubbing a rather puffy cheek. “Can she… still hear us?”

“Yes,” Raedine replied with a bright grin. “Feel free to say whatever you wish.”

Nora blinked, a slightly playful twitch pulling at the corner of her mouth. “Well then, why not?” Nora shrugged and looked around. “Want to check out the inner courtyard? I was planning to ask her to join me, but since she’s sulking…”

Hey! Now she’s doing it, too!

“Yes. Obviously, she has already forgiven you, yet you have decided not to follow suit. However, when you are ready, you only need to assert yourself and push me—”

No. Some things are unforgivable.

“She’s being stubborn in there, isn’t she?” Nora asked as we made our way to the gardens. “Probably thinking about something like… she doesn’t deserve forgiveness.”

“You know her quite well,” Raedine agreed with a light laugh. “However, I’m quite curious—why did you not tell Relias about her plans leading up to last night’s incident?”

It was more than an incident! It was a disaster!

“There are two reasons. First…” She held up her index finger. “She made me promise not to say anything. And second, I heard her talking the entire time.” Nora gestured for a nearby attendant as she sat at the same wrought-iron table where I had caught her with Relias previously. “It was clear she didn’t manage to talk to him, so I’m not even sure he’s responsible for what happened.”

Who else could it have possibly been?! It was his office, I’m sure of it!

Except... For some reason, I had this irrationally deep belief that he detested giant spiders almost as much as I did, so it didn't make sense he would have one in his employ.

Spiders were born of nightmares...

He had said that more than once, but what was the context?

Stupid faulty memory...

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“Good afternoon, Captain Lightbringer, Lady Nora,” the attendant greeted us with a warm smile and a slight bow. “How may I be of assistance?”

“Would you be so good as to get us some tea?” Raedine asked. “Jasmine, if it is available.”

“Same for me, thanks,” Nora added before turning to us. “Maybe a snack as well?”

“Oh…” Raedine exhaled. “Yes. I wish to try the…” She paused. “Small, colorful cake sandwiches.”

“Macarons?” Nora suggested. “Though I think they’re technically considered a cookie.”

“Yes!” Raedine declared emphatically. “Those. As many as you can carry!”

Nora waited until the attendant left to say, “Well, there’s something you two have in common…”

“It should not come as a surprise, statistically speaking,” Raedine said with a shrug. “Love for sweet treats is widespread.”

Nora also gave a non-committal shrug before sitting up in her seat. “I take it you didn’t invite me for tea just to discuss dessert.”

“Yes. I wish to ask you about a book Miss Rachel read long ago. Are you familiar with Lucian’s True History?”

“Lucian... of Samosata?” Nora blinked a few times and then made a wry face. “I only read it to criticize the genre; I’ll have you know!”

Raedine shook my head. “I must confess, I do not understand your negative reaction.”

“Ah… not only is it satire but also science fiction. Perhaps one of the oldest pieces representing both. I prefer a nice, straightforward fantasy, myself.”

She’s lying. She loves them all. And she knows there’s not all that much difference between science fiction and fantasy!

“Satire? Science... fiction?” Our voice quivered with uncertainty. “So, Achilles is merely a myth? He doesn’t reside on the Isle of the Blessed? And Plato—is he just a fictional creation too?”

Nora froze for a moment. “No… Plato was real, most likely. There’s quite a bit of evidence of that. But how in the world do you know about—”

“And the Isle of the Blessed—do I still journey there once I’ve aided Rachel in fulfilling her Purpose and released my lingering regrets?”

Nora’s eyes clouded over as she gave Raedine’s loaded question considerable thought. “I… don’t know much about the afterlife… Wouldn’t Euphridia’s Covenant dictate your fate?”

Raedine nodded solemnly. “I used to think that, as well. But how can I continue to exist as a conscious spirit, given another chance to help fulfill our shared Purpose… while Rachel already lives as myself reborn? It makes me question what will happen to me once we succeed.” While her words were weighty, she delivered them quietly, with a soft dignity that I found heartbreaking. “I have little but some recollection of the life I lived… and I certainly do not remember having any answers that align with my current state of semi-existence. However, a passage in Lucian’s True History gave me hope that the next world’s afterlife would bring me to other heroic souls who had made sacrifices.”

Nora’s extended silence was indeed resounding as we all struggled with the concept of reincarnation while being able to talk to those past lives that could reason for themselves. We were unable to assuage her fears with any solid arguments other than assuring her Lucian’s True History certainly wasn’t the final answer on anything.

Nora finally asked, “You said Rachel read the story? I don’t ever recall talking about it with her.”

I felt myself scrunch my face in concentration. “She read it before she left this world. But she… can’t remember much of it now.”

“How could she have possibly read a copy back then?” Nora questioned with a scowl.

Somebody… lent it to me. He lent it to me!

Despite knowing my response, Raedine chose to withhold it, adopting a more formal demeanor as the attendant arrived with our tea and snacks.

"You should tell her, not I. Will you now summon the courage to take back your body?"

I stubbornly chose silence as my response.

“Is there anything else I may offer?” the attendant asked, appearing eager to be dismissed.

“Will you see to it that we are not disturbed?” Raedine asked. “I would confer with my companion in private.”

“Of course, Chosen One,” he replied with a final bow, retreating towards the garden’s entrance.

“There are other, more important things we must discuss,” Raedine advised, pouring two cups of tea.

Nora helped herself to a white macaron. “Such as?”

Raedine pointed to my temple. “You know there are others residing here, yet not all share my philosophical nature. Should Rae behave oddly in the future, do not always assume it is due to a demonic presence like last night. Each of us fallen heroes has our own perceptions, obligations, and motivations. In the meantime, I will continue encouraging her to maintain control of her body so today's situation doesn't repeat itself.”

Nora whistled softly. “Is Raela in there? There are so many things I want to ask her!”

“I would like to question her as well…” Raedine sighed softly. “Should she ever appear.”

“Crud,” Nora muttered before taking a sip of tea. “Can you talk to any of the others?”

“I have tried. However, we have disagreed on many, many things,” Raedine admitted, hesitating on which macaron to try first. “Perhaps you will succeed better than I with getting through to them... if Rachel fails to keep them in check.”

Nora offered us a light tan cookie. “Hazelnut?”

“A good place to start,” Raedine agreed before taking a bite. “Oh! Delectable!”

I would have chosen the chocolate one.

“It would have been yours… had you taken my advice.”

Did she avoid that particular macaron just to spite me?

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Nora promised. “I probably know her best. But how do I get her back?”

Raedine shrugged. “She simply needs to reassert herself and show us who is in charge. If she put in the effort, she’d already be back now.”

It was apparent that Nora’s knowing glare was meant for me in particular, but I still refused to respond. Raedine eventually turned her gaze towards the sound of footsteps. The attendant had returned, bowing nervously at the edge of our table. “My deepest apologies, but Relias would like to speak with you both. May I have him join you?”

As Raedine cringed, I felt a heavy wave of guilt wash over us.

“I cannot face him. Today's lesson is over.”

Are you… kidding me?! You wouldn’t even give me a day to sort out my feelings privately, and now you’re about to do the same thing I did!

“I chased away our dark mage, faced the demon king alone, succumbed to animus overload, and left him to resolve the chaos I caused—after everyone else perished trying to stop me. Our sins are not the same!”

“You’re the very definition of a hypocrite!” I shouted, unaware that I had been placed back in control by default.

The attendant trembled and stammered, “I know I promised no interruptions, but His Holiness wouldn't take no for an answer...” he trailed off, his head tucked to his chest and knees knocking.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean you…” I sighed dejectedly. “Please escort him over.”

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