A warm embrace wrapped itself around Ymir’s cold body from behind, the comfort of gentle arms ensnared him and the delicate fingers closed his open hand. The beckoning of death that hung at his palm had waned back into the atmosphere from whence it formed.

Ymir closed his eyes at Ira whispering softly into his ear, “It’s okay, Ymir. You’ve done enough.”

Both of their minds began to haze over at one another’s contact.

Exact the revenge you have longed for, Child of Chains...

Let the bitch rot beneath our feet, Ymir!

An eye for an eye!

Feed her corpse to the worms!

“My apologies for the late arrival. I had some business to take care of,” Lilith announced, pulling Ira and Ymir out of their trance. “Belzar, apprehend Erelia.”

No longer in her demon form, Lilith limped her way through the courtyard, Belzar and the remainder of the exhausted Legionnaires trailing behind.

With a slight bend at the waist, “As you wish, Mistress Lilith.”

Ira and Ymir both stared at each other with inquisitive eyes. As neither dared to ask the other what they had just experienced, they pushed the thought to the back of their minds.

                                                                      ●

The horrors of the night had all but been swept away under the light of a new day. What transpired hours earlier might as well have been a dream that will be washed away in the sands of time.

Inside the estate, they sat around the same table once again, give or take a few participants.

“Mora,” Lilith began, “We must ask of you to take up your mother’s position. With Erelia ousted from the seat of Grovekeeper, we have resolved the sole concern of freeing the Grovelands from Solum’s influence; however, without a strong and capable leader that the people can trust, there would be far greater threats.”

“Why not Ira?” Mora interjected. “Despite our mother excommunicating her, the common folk of the Grovelands still hold her in high regard! She is far stronger and far more capable than myself!”

“I understand your sentiments, but that is not an option. We need Ira, a Proxy, to serve as the vital link between your people and the Alliance. She plays a crucial part in uniting this broken land of Nocterra.”

Ira placed a hand on her younger sister’s arm. “Mora, I believe in you. Besides, I have been gone for far too long for the people of this nation to see me as one of their own, let alone accept me as the new Grovekeeper.”

“You will have the complete backing of the Alliance,” Lilith continued, “And I will personally station my fifth legion, the Legion of Envy, here in the Grovelands under your command to ensure the safety and safekeeping of you and your people; Commander Vainglory will work diligently under your guidance.”

“As much as I disagree with the idea of myself being appointed to this prestigious position. I can sympathize with your intentions.” Mora scanned the room, reading the tired faces of those around her. “Very well. I will humbly accept your proposal.”

With everything said and done, the meeting was adjourned. Lilith, Belzar, and Mora began their discussions on the logistics and planning, Ira seemed lost in thought, and Ymir, who felt out of place again, retreated outside to indulge in the fresh air.

Standing there, he looked onward as the citizens of the Grovelands cleaned the debris littered throughout the streets, repaired the damages to their market and structures, and returned to their daily lives.

“What was that... ‘Exact the revenge you have longed for, Child of Chains... Let the bitch rot beneath our feet, Ymir...’ It was like, if only for a moment, we peered into each other’s souls...”

“Ymir?” Ira grasped her hands behind her back as she approached him from behind.

Ymir turned to face the subject of his thoughts, “Ira... What’s wrong?”

“What happened back then...” Moving her hands in front of her, she began to fidget her fingers. “Have you been shouldering this weight all along?”

Despite the opportunity to discuss it with her privately, Ymir winced at her question.

“Since that day in Umbrium...” His voice began to crack behind the pain of the memories, “I COULDN’T SAVE RE--”

Ymir’s eyes were wide open. The entirety of his vision was blurry from fighting back the tears, but he could clearly see Ira -- her lips pressed tightly against his.

Ira pulled herself away from him slowly, “I... I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” Contradicting her composed personality, she covered her flushed red face and rushed back inside the estate.

Ymir, now alone once more, crouched down and touched his lips. “How the hell am I supposed to feel?”