Diane woke up due to the light.

The sweet smell of magnolias spread all around the room; the rays of the morning sun made the walls seem golden, and the particles of dust glistened like little diamonds. Despite the subtle screeching in her ears, she was well-rested. She felt unusually fresh and cheerful until she remembered why she had been unconscious for days. She quickly sat up and immediately noticed Isaac who was sitting on a chair to her left, soundlessly sleeping with his head in his hand. Thomas was there as well, passed out on the sofa in front of her; besides the perfectly clean bandages covering his arms and legs, nothing seemed out of order. Diane placed her head back on her pillow, fighting the urge to close her eyes once more; the feeling of uneasiness and guilt wouldn't leave her alone.

“Sleep. There is not much you can do now anyway,” Isaac whispered in a sleepy voice. He stretched his back and rubbed his eyes.

“It’s been a while since I last came here.” Diane looked at the bandages on her arms; none of the wounds hurt anymore. “Do you think anyone saw you?” she asked straight away.

Isaac shook his head. “I don't think so. But I can't be sure yet.”

They were moved to Florus, for Crystalia wasn't a safe place anymore. Diane could see Isaac's beautiful garden from where she lay and guessed it wouldn’t be easy to go back home. She had planned to return to Lewtown once the ball was over to complete the only part of her mission that was partially not grounded in lies; now she wasn’t sure if it would be that easy. It all depended on the game the Judge was playing. The realization hit her again, that everything she had done, she had sacrificed, could have been for nothing. She didn’t even know if the ideals she had been fed since birth were true, or if the people leading her life were up to something much worse than saving the world. And the worst part was, she was forbidden from asking.

“Would it be possible to continue our mission?” Diane asked Isaac.

He chuckled. “So, it’s our mission now?”

“What did the Judge say?”

“Nothing. I take that as “Proceed as planned”.”

Diane was silent for some time again. Isaac’s castle always provided her with relief and she found she always thought better when away from home. Her doubts from before now seemed all the more grounded, and the reasons to believe she had been the one in the right in the past more graspable. “She knew the Demons would come.”

“She did.”

“Why didn’t she tell us then?”

“Maybe she wanted to see how well we worked together,” Isaac suggested, happily crossing his arms. “I’d say we passed the test.”

“So she let so many die for a test,” Diane whispered. “I cannot say I am completely surprised, but…”

Isaac frowned. “She is just doing her job like all of us. You know you would do the same.”

“Would I?” Diane looked straight at him with sadness all over her face.

“That’s our problem, Diane. You think too much,” he leaned towards her and, glancing at Thomas, added, “You do your part, we do ours. Then everyone will be happy.”

“Not me,” Diane protested.

Isaac put his head in his hands and sighed deeply. “You must have hit your head pretty hard. We talked about this years ago and we agreed you would stop sabotaging the mission. Did we not?” Diane nodded, looking at the garden. Isaac knew that she could never completely give up her righteousness, so the best he could do was to keep it as far away from the Judge as possible. “I won’t tell her about this. You’re welcome.”

Diane felt like she had experienced it all before; a hospital room, a strange headache, and the fear of finding out what had happened behind closed doors. It was evident to her then as it was now that so many things were being decided on without her, and that so many truths were hidden so she would “do her part”. Whether she was their cause or consequence, she was yet to find out.

“Would you die for me, Isaac?” Diane asked, eyes fixed on her friend.

Isaac winced. “Please, Diane, just get some rest.”

Diane frowned. “I can’t.” She stood up and walked up to the open window, taking in the beautiful sight. Her voice was steady when she spoke. “I have so many thoughts in my head…”

“Then get rid of them,” he advised softly, not to wake up Thomas.

Diane sighed and pressed her temples with the lower parts of her palms; when they stopped throbbing, she was able to regain control of her lips. “If, by any chance, there was an unfortunate witness, they'll be taken care of,” she told Isaac like she was supposed to.

“Do you really think that's necessary?” Isaac asked, his voice filled with sadness and fear. He was now standing next to her, admiring his creation.

“Do you trust the people around you?”

The autumn breeze played with her long hair, twisting and turning, tying it into countless knots. She just enjoyed the sound of nightingales and breathed in the warm air. It brought her back to her past, so meaningful yet completely forgotten in the time that had passed. It felt like home. She hadn't realized it before the tear rolled down her cheek. She quickly wiped it off, putting the feeling back on the pile it came from.

Isaac was silent.

“I thought so,” Diane nodded.

“Please, don't do anything reckless,” he pleaded.

“I thought murder was justified as long as it was for Her.” The comment left a sour taste in both of their mouths. “There is nothing for you to worry about; if there is a stain, I'll clean it. That much I owe you.”

“You don’t owe me anything,” Isaac said and put his hand on her shoulder. “I know this all seems cruel to you, but, please, for your good, just do what you are told. I can’t stop you from thinking what you want…”

“She would disagree,” Diane mumbled.

“...but, please, just do your job. That way it can all be over.”

“Isaac,” Diane said, looking far into the distance, “do you think there is a way out of this?”

Isaac sighed. “There is always a way out.”

Diane sighed. “Is there a way out of this… alive?”

“You would have to ask the Judge. But I think that, as long as you have faith, everything will turn out well.”

Diane mirrored Isaac’s movements and leaned onto the window frame, so they were both staring at the door. She wanted to tell him none of it could ever be for her or his good but knew Isaac wouldn’t understand it the way she did. She didn’t understand it either. She was stuck in such a horrible swirl of options, emotions, and forgotten memories that she couldn’t discern what was true and what was a dream.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Does your head hurt?” Isaac asked softly.

“I just… I don’t know anymore. No one tells me things. I just get orders and they expect me to follow them. I used to be certain that I could do it because it was for good, but now… I am not so sure if their methods are something I can stand behind. She knew that there would be bloodshed and she just let it happen. Whatever the reason, it is not good enough. It just makes me wonder what she would make us do in the future. And then there is this whole fiasco with George’s father…”

Isaac’s face put on a paler shade too discreet for Diane to notice. “What about George’s father?”

She sighed. “Nothing. I don’t know. I just remembered something he said. But… I don’t know. This whole time, I never once believed that I was the one who killed him. I just… I can’t describe it. I feel like something is very wrong.” Then she looked at her friend, her walls never so low. “But you would tell me, wouldn’t you?”

Isaac smiled. “Of course.” He hated that he could see where she was coming from. He always tried to find the easiest way out, but now that everything was happening so quickly, he wasn’t sure if such a way existed. His loyalty lay with the Judge; he lived, and would, he was certain, die on her command. Still, he didn’t want his only friend to live a life she despised. “Destiny only binds. I have made my choice, and I stand behind it.”

“You know it’s not that easy.”

“But it is. Think about it, make your choice, and stand behind it. But find the will first. For some reason, I have a feeling it’s very important.” Isaac was looking at his fingers; he knew very well that the Judge wouldn’t be pleased with his advice. She sought soldiers, not commanders.

Diane turned towards him. “Why? Has she said anything?”

“No. But she still wants you to proceed with your mission, which means that it wasn’t just a distraction. She needs you to find this will.”

Both of them were startled when Thomas suddenly cleared his throat. There was that pleading innocence in his eyes that Diane knew she would have to root out sooner rather than later.

“You're awake,” Thomas said awkwardly. It didn’t seem like there was space for him in front of the window, so he stayed seated.

Silence followed. Together, Brandon's heiress and Florus's future king chased the fallen star holding the key to their future. But what was so great about that future? Was it worth spilling blood and quelling souls? Diane always tried to believe that she would be able to follow orders as long as it meant she would not have to sink even deeper into the mud she was stuck in; now that she thought back on everything she knew for sure, not what she had been told, she feared there was so much more than a father out of place. But was she brave enough to do something about it? It was only her gut telling her to run. It was those small irregularities of character that kept her up at night. And now that Thomas Hammer was looking at her with so much innocence, she had to quickly decide what path she would take. For now.

“Is your body healing well?” the princess asked, looking at the door.

“I suppose. I mean, the skin has regenerated. More or less,” he smiled. “What happened to me back there was…”

“Thank you,” she said, turning her stiff body to face him. “You saved us all.”

“It was bound to happen sooner or later,” Isaac said as he moved back to sit on his uncomfortable chair.

“What do you suggest we do?” the Princess of Wax asked. Isaac’s words were enough for Diane to be sure he would not be on her side should she go rogue again.

Does that mean that I was really wrong? It might just be my pride telling me pieces are missing. Everyone else seems certain that following the Judge’s orders is the right thing to do. Is there something wrong with me, then? Am I the anomaly?

“We have to think of a way to get you both back to Crystalia. If we are lucky, word hasn't spread that far yet, so we might be able to continue our mission without much disturbance,” Isaac said.

“If it's rumors you fear, then you have nothing to worry about. It’s my father we’re talking about. Massacres are kind of his thing.”

“Even he isn't almighty, Diane.”

“But the Judge is. She wants us to continue with the mission.”

They both looked at Thomas who was quietly watching them. The three knew that the unpleasant event had revealed something that had been hidden by Thomas’s refusal to abandon the idyllic life he had led thus far; they also knew that one day, they would finally put an end to this charade. But she could still see as clear as day that same fear in his eyes, that refusal to put the pieces together. Then she remembered what the Judge told her.

Don’t push him. The Fool has to make his choice. Otherwise, he will run and hide. And then it will all be for nothing.

“What happened to you, Thomas?” Diane nudged him.

Thomas looked down. “I don’t remember.”

“Yes, you do.”

“I remember a bunch of Crystalians killing other Crystalians.”

“Demons.”

“Demons don’t exist, Diane!” he yelled at her, his whole body shaking.

Isaac and Diane looked at each other in horror. It was exactly what they had been afraid of. “Thomas,” Isaac said with a smile, “take it easy.”

“No, Isaac! I am sick of all these… these lies! Demons don’t exist! And you didn’t heal us because… because no one has the ability to heal! Especially not a Florian! You control nature and no one has two abilities!” Thomas yelled, his hands holding his head.

“We are at war, Thomas,” she suddenly said, still fixated on his eyes.

They darkened as he leaned backwards and smiled. “Right. Great. How about some truth for a change?”

“It is the truth,” she calmly replied.

Thomas scoffed, his lips quivering ever so slightly. “Yeah, right. And who are we fighting?”

“Demons.”

“The mysterious race. Sure.”

“You saw them.”

Thomas shook his head. “No. No, I saw a bunch of evil Crystalians killing a bunch of royals.”

“Diane,” Isaac whispered as he put his hand on her shoulder. “Stop.”

Diane looked at Thomas with disgust. He was so weak and so unwilling to ever change, and she hated how much she envied him for it. “Are you that scared that you can’t see the truth?!”

“I am not scared,” Thomas denied.

“Shame on you!” she yelled, her insides quivering and her head and chest pounding. “You can see all around you signs pointing towards your future, your duty, and you are just pretending they are not there! Do you think it’s easier that way?! No, it’s not. There is no easier way in life, Thomas. What you are doing is slowing everyone down because of your insecurities! And if everyone, everyone, dies, it will be your fault! You are nothing but a coward!” Diane screamed, her face red and her body shaking so much that Isaac had to grab her shoulders and force her to look at him.

“Diane, stop!”

“Well,” Thomas replied, “one of us has to be.” Then he slammed the door shut.

Isaac and Diane stood in silence for a moment. Diane sat on the window pane and took a few deep breaths. It was not Thomas she was yelling at and she knew it. The way she looked at him would haunt her, she was sure. And she didn’t mean to be a monster; all she wanted was for someone to take a portion of her burden, to understand her, and to believe in her now that she didn’t. She needed someone to tell her it was not all in her head, that she was not insane, but the people around her only seemed conscious of her when she was saving their offspring.

“What now?” Isaac asked. He would always pull that annoying smile out of his sleeve when he didn’t want to deal with other people’s emotions. And though Diane Hunster was his only friend, she was also the one thing in everyone’s way.

If only she wasn’t so proud.

“Now we wait. You weren’t any easier to crack,” Diane replied.

Isaac gasped. “Lies!”

Diane chucked. “Keep telling yourself that.”

“No, but seriously.”

Diane sighed. She felt so lightheaded that she feared she would collapse if the conversation continued. “I will go to Lewtown as soon as possible. I have to get the map,” she gave him the acceptable answer.

“Do you know where it is?”

“Yes. I will send you a letter when I get it. Bring Thomas with you.”

“If he protests?”

“He won’t.”

Isaac put his hands around Diane and she suddenly lulled by his scent; her muscles relaxed and she closed her eyes. “Take care,” he whispered.

“I will,” she whispered. “He will become strong. And then he won’t need me anymore.”

Isaac silently stroked her hair and left. Only then did she notice that, in the air, Thomas had left behind silence and a hint of blissful ignorance. If it were possible to inhale it and forget about George, Meredith, about Him and Her, Diane would have made her lungs burst and her brain explode.

Just a little more patience. It will all come to an end soon.