?Mina.?
More questions?
?I remembered something. Why do you need Elena to kill Anxietas??
I rub my temple. My shoulders feel like stone. How do I explain this?
?As long as Elena doesn’t decide he’s no longer useful, he’ll keep reforming. Even if he’s killed.?
Elio narrows his eyes, fists tightening.
?So you only have freedom as long as Elena allows it.?
I nod, lowering my gaze to the fire.
?Nothing can exist here that she cannot conceive. None of us can rebel or truly change unless she permits it.?
The crackling of the fire fills the silence. Elio leans closer.
?Doesn’t that bother you? Depending on her for everything? She decides your fate and you can’t do anything about it.?
He isn’t wrong.
But this is how it has been for millennia.
I stay silent, rubbing my tired eyes.
?That system is what kept the peace for the last ten thousand years. Now that she’s not holding the reins… there’s chaos.?
I glance at Serena. She’s hugging her knees.
?Elio…? she lifts her eyes to him. ?In your world, you have a god too.?
Elio nods slowly. I’ve never heard Serena speak about gods before. Gaia listens as well.
?Your god guides your destinies. He’s powerful enough to know everything and do anything. And yet… you still love him. You still pray.?
Elio rubs the back of his neck.
?Well… maybe. But I’m not a believer.?
That sparks something in me.
?In the past, Elena was my point of reference.?
Everyone turns toward me. Little Sander nods.
?She used to visit me every day.?
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
I shrug.
?I always managed on my own. But I knew that if I ever truly needed her, she would be there. Her presence gave meaning to things. It gave answers to my questions. I suppose that’s why I don’t renounce her.?
Gaia smiles faintly.
?Yeah… now that I think about it, she’s the one who told me how to beat you.?
Damn. I hadn’t remembered that in three thousand years.
?How to cheat, you mean.?
I let out a small laugh.
Gaia widens her eyes.
?Look how it still stings! You already got your revenge. But I still owe Elena for that one.?
She looks at the others.
?Actually… we all owe her something.?
Put that way, it does make me feel a little lighter.
Gaia yawns.
?I’m going to sleep.?
I nod. Elio lies down on the ground, clutching his pale arm.
Serena holds out a blanket to me.
?Rest, Mina. I’ll take the watch. You can stay near me if you want.?
I take it, spread it on the ground, and nod.
?I’ll tie Elio up first. Then I’ll join you.?
I pick up the rope and crouch beside him.
I pull back and throw the blade in a wide arc. Drops of black blood fall back into the sea of ink. Three of the hooded black figures before me step back. They sway along with the darkness of the Dark Realm.
I deflect a dagger. The weapon vanishes into the outer ranks of the circle. My arms burn and throb.
A tear opens near my shoulder. My shirt soaks through. My legs tremble.
The blade slips from my hands. My knees give out. My frozen palms slide across the ink and I collapse onto my side.
Is this the end?
Why isn’t anyone finishing me?
I open my eyes. The black figures still surround me. A smell of burning stings my nose. A shape made of smoke sways before me.
I’ve seen this before.
But he didn’t look like this.
?Mina, correct??
His voice echoes like a breath of wind.
?My apologies for the inconvenience. My Affanni were created to attack anything that is not like them.?
So this is how I die.
He grows fainter as he kneels before me.
?This place obeys the strongest will.?
I lift my blurred eyes. His face has no mouth, yet he speaks.
The strongest will?
?I can heal your wounds. But if you do not join me, my Affanni will continue to see you as an enemy.?
If they answer to him, then he waited until the last possible moment to stop them.
I’m not sure I can trust him.
But if he gives the order again, I’m finished.
?You are strong,? he continues. ?But you cannot fight me. Even your creator is weaker than I am in this realm.?
He extends a hand of smoke toward me.
My creator?
The one who ignored my call?
I press my elbow against the acrid ground and tremble. I can’t trust him.
But I don’t want to die here.
I reach toward him.
My chest feels heavy. My stomach twists.
I can’t.
I stop.
I’ve seen this before.
Where was I?
Not here.
I was on a field. With my companions.
I lift my gaze to him.
?This is a dream… and I—?
My thoughts steady. My body stops shaking. A surge of energy runs through me.
I rise to my feet.
?…I’m perfectly fine.?
The Affanni point dozens of blades at me.
Anxietas takes a step back.
?Look up, Mina.?
I raise my eyes.
A crack of light. Blue sky. Trees.
They’re right there.
A faint laugh echoes inside my head.
?You won’t reach it. You belong to me. To the Dark Realm, Mina.?
The blades strike.
Dozens of points pierce through me.
My breath shatters. My body burns and floods.
The light of the crack blurs.
My heart begins to pound.
In my chest. In my throat. Shaking my entire body.
Get them off me.
The light goes out.
I don’t want to die.
I don’t want to die here.