Aurora glanced back at Karl, shoulders drooping, her eyes tired. “Fine. Let’s get Samantha.”

Julius jumped in, as if possessing springs for feet. “Thank you, Aurora. And with perfect timing. The capital’s in chaos currently. Those in power are giving Samantha a fight, including our troops. She doesn’t control the army yet, just a pack of thugs. If we strike fast—”

Karl cut him off with a grim nod. “We have a fucking chance. I’ve got backup coming from my base. My men. They should be here soon.” His eyes flicked toward Amy. “Libbet’s leading them.”

Aurora’s gaze drifted past them, unfocused, as if she’d already left. The silence stretched before Aurora muttered, almost to herself, “Chaos is good. Let her choke on it. We’ll cut her down before she gains control of everything.”

“Aurora,” Julius said slowly. “We might have no other choice, but charging her head-on? Is that really the best idea? Chances are, she’s been waiting for this moment for years.”

Aurora’s mouth twisted into a grin. “I knew it. All this time, she’s been obsessed with me.”

Karl opened his mouth to deliver a sarcastic barb. Aurora raised her eyebrow to retort accordingly.

Amy’s arms prickled with cold. “Stop, both of you. We’re not fighting. And,” she said. “I have information too. I know what Samantha wants.”

They stared as she commanded their attention this time. Amy forced the words out slowly. “Milo told me. She wants him back.”

Aurora’s eyebrow raised. “Back?”

Fear cracked Karl’s hostile mask as backs stiffened.

“What do you mean?” Karl spat. He laughed inappropriately, as if barely coping. “No. It doesn’t matter what she wants. Soon, she’ll will be dead. And Milo will stay dead.” Amy felt the terror rattling his bones. “My men are close,” he shared a glance with Julius, as if he could steady him. The fear melted slightly as they locked eyes. Karl let out a shaky breath. “We move now. Kill her. Time’s already slipping. We’re losing our advantage by the second.”

Aurora nodded and followed Karl toward the door. Amy started to follow only to be slammed back by chains of light whipped from Aurora’s hands, pinning her to Thomas’s wall.

“What—?” Her cry broke, but the three of them were already leaving. “Mom!”

Aurora didn’t turn. “I said I’d help,” she muttered. “I never said you were coming.”

At the threshold, she finally glanced at Thomas. She looked like she couldn’t care less, but Amy felt a pang of desperation from her mother.

When she thinks of Samantha, she’s scared. Scared of…losing?

She remembered Samantha’s battle with Kristo.

“Stay with her,” Aurora whispered.

Thomas didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. Aurora gave a single, sharp nod and was gone, the door closing behind her. The light of the chains buzzed against Amy’s skin.

***

Amy thrashed against the chains until her skin burned. Aurora’s light had done something — now, her dark magic wasn’t working, the ice silenced.

“Please! She needs me! I can’t just—” Her voice died as she saw Thomas, looking out through the hole, thoughtfully.

“I mentored Christopher when he was young,” he said. “He was talented and hopeful, but too willing to shoulder every burden. His flaw was a pity, a shame. But at youth, everybody loved him. And he loved back fiercely.”

“This has nothing to do with —“ But Amy’s words died in her throat. There was a knowing glint in Thomas’ eyes. His calm silenced her.

“Christopher was a man who knew loss. He and I were Vivids, generals, for the Blade Kingdom. We fought in the Inferno War — the one that orphaned Aurora. And when Aurora fell into his care, he loved her completely, as if she had been born from his heart.”

Amy swallowed hard, chest aching. “Aurora was left all alone when she needed him most,” she whispered. “And where were you?”

Thomas sighed.

“And that’s the question, isn’t it.” He looked up at the ceiling. “Christopher swore me to silence. In order to protect her from Cerceras by staying away. And so I obeyed. But what began as protection became a prison. She grew up believing no one saw her suffering. That no one cared.” His voice faltered, then steadied. “My silence carved her hollow. It is my sin, and I will regret it until my last breath.”

Amy’s lip trembled. “And… Christopher? Pretending to be the villain must have killed him.”

Thomas’s eyes darkened. “Aye. But he believed if she hated him, she might learn to survive without him. And in the end, he gave his life to save hers. Do you think Aurora already made sense of that? Has she grappled with despising her whole life the ones she loved most?” He shook his head. “She cannot reconcile it. She is broken by it.”

Tears welled and spilled hot down Amy’s cheeks. “I want to help. How can I?”

At that, Thomas turned to her fully, his gaze kind but unflinching. “You have already shown me, child. You fulfill what you are destined to do. Because you, Amy are the proof. Proof to Aurora that love endures. She sees that you carry Kristo’s loyalty, Christopher’s heart, and even fragments of your father’s sharpness. You are the sum of them, though not their echo. Stay on your path. Don’t deviate or give up. Just be you.”

Amy’s voice shivered. “But… what if I break, too?”

“You won’t,” Thomas said. His voice was calm, but unshakable. “Do you know why?”

She shook her head.

“Because when they carried their burdens, they carried them alone. You did what Aurora could never do. She saw the world as hostile and dangerous so she shielded herself. Learned to solve her own problems without showing vulnerability. But you ask questions. You reach for others. You beg for love, even when it wounds you to admit it. That is not weakness, but the truest strength I have ever seen. That is what Aurora needs to see.”

Amy swallowed, tears streaming her cheek. She couldn’t even wipe them.

After a long silence, she whispered, “Did you… did you know Kristo?”

Thomas’s gaze softened. He shook his head. “No. But I see the marks men leave. And I can see the man he was in you.”

Amy’s chest tightened. Memories flooded her as her head bowed. Thank you, Kristo. For… everything.

When she raised her eyes again, they were wet but steady.

“Release me. I’m ready.”

Thomas smiled, walking forward. The chains of light shimmered against Amy’s wrists, burning cold and beautiful. Thomas’s hand hovered over them, his weathered face solemn.

Amy’s eyes widened as Thomas’ hand glowed red, then purple. The flame danced, as if alive.

What?

The light flickered, dimmed. The chains faded away, glittering in the sunlight like stars.

“I trust you more than she does,” he whispered. “And for once, I feel at peace with the choices I’m making.”

He reminded her of Kristo. She turned toward the door. To her relief, Thomas accompanied her as they set off into the forest of Amoria.