“I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you correctly. You built a statue for me?!” I couldn’t move, not when staring that thing in the face. I sat on my knees, drinking it all in.

The first thing that hit me was the way they had my hair: flat and lifeless like I’d just stepped out of a pool. You couldn’t tell from the statue but the armor they pictured me in was black with purple highlights on every crevice and seam. My horns were covered in black crystalline holders, a poor attempt at a crown in my opinion. I hated how my abs were exposed, what’s the point of armor when my vitals are open season? In actuality, it wasn’t the design style that really ticked me off. 

It was the history behind it.

“You know, most people would be a little flattered.” Guy smirked at my anguish, standing next to me. Wyatt wandered off–never far–he was always in my eyesight.

In a way, he was right. And if the image they used to make the statue wasn’t so horrible, I probably would be flattered. But when I say they picked the worst possible one, I mean you could pick a better picture of me faceplanting into horseshit and I’d still have my dignity left. But this?

Nope.

“You all didn’t think it was odd that I was wearing something so…out of character? Who decided what to use when they made this?” My home had been ransacked but there was no visible evidence of me wearing this god-awful suit for them to pull from. And from the look of how low–tech everything is, I doubt they have access to the cloud.

“I think you’ve never looked more beautiful—well, you didn’t until tonight at least.”

Any other time and I'd be happy to flirt back.

Grabbing him by the shoulders, I filed away how solid his shoulder muscles were beneath that tactical gear.

“Guy, I need you to hear me loud and clear: that—” I point at the statue, “is the absolute worst version of me to ever exist. The outfit might be fire but it’s also when I was heading down the path of absolute evil–villains do get sexier outfits, it’s a rule. The last thing I want or need is for people to associate that version of me as the iconic version, understand?”

He glanced at my hands, still firmly grasping his shoulders, then back at me.

“I hear you, Sapphyra, but it’s a little late for that. The Dragon Archives–”

“Take me to them.”

He wrinkled his nose, “What, right now? Just take you there? You’re not hungry or tired?” 

“I’m in need of a shower, but I’ll be fine. Right now, all I care about is setting the record straight on who I was–err—am. Who I am.”

The mushroom people called me a destroyer, and I should have clocked it back then that something was off. I am so much more than just that, so why doesn’t anyone remember that?

“Alright, do you want me to–”

“I can walk and jump just fine.” I cut him off. I glanced around for Wyatt and used my thumb to rub the crystal housing him on my throat.

“Oh, okay, don’t do that again.” He said, appearing right next to me with a flushed face.

“Don’t tell me the statue does it for you.” I groaned, shaking my head. The last thing I need is him trying to rekindle intimacy right now.

“No. But when you touch the gem, I lose my sense of self.”  I side-eyed him. “I lose myself in a non-sexy way. You are such a juvenile.”

Chuckling, I rolled my eyes. “You love me anyway.”

It only partially bothered me when he said nothing in return.

We silently followed ‌Guy, walking for about 10 blocks to an old building that was surprisingly still in good shape. With its marble columns and floors, it reminded me of the courthouse we had downtown.

“Wait…there's no way this old thing is still standing after all this time.” Sure enough, after getting through the security guys at the front, a familiar cracked sign met us on the way in.

Cyran City Municipal Building.

“Damn. We used to joke about this place withstanding hell on earth.I can’t believe I was right.” I idly commented, more to Wyatt than anyone else.

“Yep, considering how many monsters and giant robots we bounced off of it–I really should have investigated what the hell this building is made of. Marble is not that sturdy.” Wyatt walked with me, eyeing the architecture and ground—anywhere but at me.

I shouldn’t feel bad…but I do, and I hate it.

“Alright, here we are.” Guy announced as we stepped into what used to be a meeting room. Council members voted on policies here, and now it’s just a massive library with wall to wall bookshelves.

Huh…I wonder why they just didn’t use the public library?

“If you look over there, you’ll see the oldest recorded pieces of history we have.” Guy pointed towards the front bookshelf. The very first book was so thick, it put my thighs to shame. 

“Sounds like a job for Super Wyatt-man and his speed-reading power!” I softly chuckled, inwardly cringing. This is what he’s brought me to: horrible jokes to get a reaction.

“Don’t,” my grumpy supervillain husband commented, still not looking at me.

“Should I leave you two alone?” Guy asked, eyes nervously darting from Wyatt and back to me.

I clenched my teeth and started to say no, but thought better of it. I unclasped the choker–finally getting a reaction out of Wyatt.

“What are you doing? Put that back on.” His form started fading in and out of view.

“No. You’ve been acting lukewarm and now you’re cold to me. It should be the other way around, Wyatt, but here we are–or rather, here I am. When I’ve cooled off, I’ll come get you. Until then…”

I place the choker atop the book Guy pointed out and turn my back on him. 

“Sapphyra, this is–you don’t understand it.”

“And I never will because you never try to meet me even a quarter of the way, Wyatt! I need some time away from you. And, no, the hundred years in Sanctuary doesn’t count; I couldn’t escape you there either.”

The world felt even darker when I walked away from him and stood next to Guy. Each step gave me a sense of freedom that I never knew I needed, but it also made me sick to my stomach.

I’m in a world where the only part of my old life left is both cruel and kind, and it’s driving me mad.

Only one thing can help me find any sense of control—of reason once more.

I turned to Guy. “Hey. Do me a favor?”

“For you? Anything.” His million-megawatt smile stayed the same.

“Show me the city.”

He raised a brow and sheepishly frowned. “Cyran? It’s in shambles right now. Not much to see.”

I smiled, already feeling my abilities stirring within me–eager to make something new out of the old.

“Shambles, I can work with. Let’s go.”