“It’s okay, Eory. It’s not your fault. You had just as big a chance of hitting Terran as you did Ashaya. There’s just one thing I beg of you to do.” Eliita sniffled. 

“What’s that?” Eory sniffled.

“Find the confidence that Terran always wanted you to find. Never let something like that happen to someone you love ever again.” Eliita said, and then wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek. 

Eory held her at arm’s length. “I’m so sorry Eliita. I should have been the one who died, not him.”

Eliita shook her head, looking at her feet with glassy eyes. “Don’t say that. Terran gave his life for you… your life must be worth something, if he was willing to lay down his for it.”

Eory bit back tears. “He should have made it out here with us… he should have died out here, if he was going to die at all. He died in that horrible, miasma-ridden place. He hadn’t seen a blue sky in three years…”

Eliita’s eyes became drowned in tears, but she nevertheless drew Eory into another embrace. “He deserved the world, but all he got was that hideous tower. It kills me that I have to leave him behind in that awful place. When I think that I couldn’t even give him a proper burial, I…” 

Eliita choked on her words, and couldn’t say anything else. In a moment, she managed to take a deep breath, and she held Eory at arm’s length again. She tucked his hair behind his ear and said, voice barely above a whisper, “It was a poisonous tower, but it was our home. And we had a family there. It was where we met you and Tock… it’s where we had our best memories. He died in our home. He died a hero. You need to live your life Eory. See as many places as possible, meet as many people. Do something grand, for Terran. That’s what I plan on doing.” 

Eory looked into her eyes, and saw the familiar, motherly warmth bursting from them. He was comforted by her. He knew she had forgiven him, and wasn’t giving him empty words.

“I have to do what Terran would have wanted me to do, too. Which is why I have to part ways with you. I’m going back to Ghar, and I’m going to put a new king on the throne.” Eliita explained.

Eory was flabbergasted. He laughed awkwardly. “How in the world do you plan to do that?”

Eliita winked. “I have my ways. And don’t worry about me, Eory. I’ll be fine. I have a child to look after, the one thing I’ll have left of Terran… and I have my family to worry about, too. I’m going to lift them all out of poverty.”  

Eory found all this hard to believe. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to Maribel with me? I’m sure you’ll be welcomed there. You’ll have a safe place to raise your child and–” 

Eliita smiled gently, but shook her head. “I’m sorry, Eory. Maribel is your home, not mine. I have to protect my home, and you have to protect yours. I’ll make sure I see you again, though.” 

“W-wait! I can send Pollyanna with you! Make sure you get home safe… I can take you to Ghar first, before going to Maribel.” Eory insisted. 

Eliita placed a comforting hand on his cheek. “I’ll be okay, Eory. My baby… I have Terran’s strength bursting within me. You’re the one who needs all the help you can get.”

Eliita then turned to Pollyanna. She looked up at the other woman and held her hands in hers. Eory was stunned to see Pollyanna in tears. 

“Eliita…” Pollyanna sniffled. “I’ve experienced the man I loved dying. I never recovered. You gave me the relief I needed, though. I never thought you, of all people, could help free me from my chains. You didn’t deserve to lose him. He was a good man.” 

Eliita reached up and brushed her face, tears relentlessly streaming down her anient cheeks. “You were a great friend to me in that tower, Pollyanna. I’m glad I was able to help you. Look after Eory for me.” 

Eliita looked down at her feet. “Where’s Tock? I wanted to say goodbye…”

“He’s gone.” Eory said. “I don’t know where.”

Eliita wept all the harder. “If you see him again, tell him I wish him all the best, and I hope we’ll all be together again someday.”

Eliita gave them all one last look, and her eyes widened in surprise when she finally took the time to notice Gershom. “Eory… what is that?” 

Eory glanced at his dog, and he replied, “You remember the dog I told you about, the one who died in the ballroom? This is him. I guess I… preserved him with my magic.”

Eliita approached the dog curiously. The dog growled, raising his hackles. Eliita stopped in her tracks, but Eory admonished his dog. “It’s okay, Gershom. Eliita is the nicest person you’ll ever meet.”  

At Eory’s words, Eliita approached again, and Gershom made a soft moan. He lowered his head and allowed Eliita to scratch him under his chin. She whispered, “It’s good to meet you, Gershom… you seem like such a good boy.”

The dog cocked its head to the side, and then licked her cheek. Eliita giggled. “I like you too, Gershom.” 

Eory smiled. “Eliita, how about you at least take Gershom with you? He can protect you.” 

There was a moment of silence. Eliita nodded slowly. “I think that would be okay.” 

Eory turned to Gershom. He hugged the dog tightly around the neck, and then whispered, “Look after Eliita for me, buddy. I’ll be sure to see you again, alright?”

Gershom’s ears folded back in sadness, but he walked to Eliita’s side as directed. 

Eliita took one last look at her broken family. Only Eory and Pollyanna were there, but she felt as if Terran was looking down upon them from heaven, and Tock was there in spirit. She knew she would never feel as at home anywhere else as she did at that awful tower, with the people she loved most, but now, she had to think of her child and her homeland.

“Goodbye, everyone. I’m sure I’ll see you again.” Eliita said.