“Finally, some rest.” In the motel room, they had rented, Ilias yawned into his hand and crossed his legs. Resting his head on his arms, he lay on his bed. A smile was hushing over his face.

All in all, the mission had been a success. And not just that. They had traveled to Heorot expecting to take two weeks to clean everything up. But a day was all it took, so he was now on paid leave. Once his comrades had finished talking to Heorot’s government and their friends from Kemet-Raa, his vacation could start.

Not that he didn’t encounter surprises: Vishnu, that abomination that could eat Mana, and Ragna Griffin. She was quite something. If one had told her that woman who had negotiated with Agravaine and talked out Grendel of the Border was the one her InstaNorse account presented, he would have questioned their sanity. Ragna had told him the truth when she said that she had changed. Her majesty would jump in joy at the chance to meet Ragna. And Altera too.

Ilias held out his arm in the air, and something tickled the back of his hand. A robotic dragonfly made up of countless triangles materialized. “Hello, AG Bifrons.”

While they were arguing, this little bugger had recorded everything and collected samples from the abomination, Vishnu, and every other living being. It should come in handy. Her majesty probably knew about Vishnu already, so showing her the footage shouldn’t breach the deal.

Hopefully, it had collected samples from that hooded man. His instincts told him something wasn’t right about him, and the other Paladins should know they couldn’t underestimate the Judas Group anymore. The “Once and future”-ceremony was coming up, too. Vaix had yet to decide who would accompany her majesty into Avalon. Some turbulent times were about to arrive in Aes. And then, there was what Ragna had said about the assassin with the mask.

Ilias sighed. He had hoped to postpone his report after his vacation.

“Whatever. Just one day of paperwork,” he said to himself with a smile. “And my vacation can start.”

֎

Ragna fell on her bed. As her body bounced on the mattress, she buried her face in her pillow. She let out a groan and pressed her eyelids together. The lights were burning, but she couldn’t be bothered to turn them off, and in the corner of the room, she had thrown her shirt to gather dust. Topless, she lay on her bed, not bothering to put on her clothes.

What a shitshow this day had been: The botched game against Sahyir, her Fylgja almost going out of control, the world finding out that she’s alive because of her fight against Ray, the whole mess with Skyfrost and Clockwork, and then having to deal with Agravaine’s women-hating ass and the disaster with Vishnu. There would be consequences, but she couldn’t be thinking about that now. At least they got the tickets to Avalon, and she could finally rest.

Pain and heat were pulsating from her cheek thanks to Jareth’s punch, urging her to press her hand against the spot to cool it down. But it couldn’t overcome her exhaustion, and Ragna didn’t move her arms.

It knocked on the door, and Ragna groaned.

Only one person wouldn’t try to sleep at this hour. She had feared that this conversation would come. As much as talking to her once she had rested would be preferable, she couldn’t postpone it. It was too important.

Ragna raised her head. “Come in.”

The door opened, and Altera entered the room as Ragna stood up and sat on her bed’s rims. Moon Moon was running in circles around her feet. “Whatcha want?”

Altera closed the door and stopped. She had dropped her shoulders and clutched her right arm. As she always did when she addressed an issue she found uncomfortable. Her eyes wandered to Ragna, a blush spreading across her face. She grabbed Moon Moon into her arms and covered his eyes with her elbow. “Why are you topless?”

“I’m tired. Couldn’t be arsed to search something.” Ragna shrugged and flipped one of her twin tails. “Got a problem with that?”

Altera shook her head while her elbow lifted up and down to prevent Moon Moon, who tried his best to peek, from seeing Ragna’s naked body. “It’s okay since it’s you. But please wear something before you catch a cold.”

Ragna chuckled and covered her torso with a layer of ice. “Look at you how much you’ve changed. Not long ago, you would’ve died of embarrassment and ran away like a headless chicken. Have I corrupted our innocent Altera that much?”

Altera frowned, lowering her eyelids. “Please, don’t joke about this.”

So much about making the atmosphere light. Ragna sighed and patted the spot next to her on her bed. “If you’re okay seeing me naked, you can sit next to me. Don’t just stand here, or did you just come here so I can ogle you? Fine by me. You’re quite a sight, after all.”

Altera huffed, but she did as Ragna told her and sat on the bed. “You know that not everyone will take your jests so lightly.” She inflated her voice, sounding like a teacher about to scold her students. “Not everyone can deal with your antics, so don’t say these things to anyone but me.”

Her gesture might have had more effect had Moon Moon not decided to jump out of Altera’s arms onto her shoulder and slide down her back like a ramp, landing on the bed where he danced around.

Ragna grinned. “And what if I don’t?”

Perhaps she could still lighten the atmosphere. Teasing Altera a little bit shouldn’t hurt.

“I would have to punish you.” Altera smiled as well, but the words shot out of her mouth like ice bullets. “I wouldn’t like that, you know?”

Ragna gulped, and Moon Moon froze on the spot, his tail dropping.

That didn’t sound like a joke. Her voice sounded too serious. No, that didn’t matter. She couldn’t let that distract herself.

“So, what do you want to talk about?” Ragna asked after two seconds of silence had passed, and she could gather her thoughts.

“How are you?” Altera’s smile faded away, her voice softening. “Are you okay after…”

“Of course not.” Ragna cut her off before Altera could finish her sentence. “You think I want to let Vishnu suffer? But what should I’ve done? Our choices wouldn’t matter a bit.” She shook her head. “Ah, who am I kidding? All I cared about was my goals.”

She hadn’t spent any thoughts about the possibility of saving him in the future. Her mind had been busy with the present. Agravaine and Bedivere would have killed them, and if they had survived, they couldn’t enter Avalon. It would take weeks until the citizen returned from Heorot resumed their daily lives, and the exchange stand opened. By the time they got the tickets and could leave for Avalon, her father could be anywhere. She couldn’t risk any of this: her friends or her dreams dying.

“I understand that.” Altera maintained her voice, her face not betraying her feelings. “You did what you thought was best. I’m not going to debate this. What you did, was wrong, and your circumstances don’t change that.”

“What should I’ve done?” Ragna swallowed, holding back her tears. Her voice got hoarser, and her face heated up. “Risk losing you? Risk losing my dreams? Do you know how much it scares me to even think about this? Every day I wake up, I’m glad that I still have you guys, that I still have something to live for. But I know it could always be the last. That tomorrow I could have nothing left. There’s nothing in this world, nothing in my life. All I have is this dream that could break at any moment. And all I can do is continue chasing it. Not because it’s possible, but because it’s all I can do. No matter the cost.”

Ragna covered her eyes with her hand.

She couldn’t cry. Not now. Not in front of Altera. She couldn’t show her any weakness. The last thing she wanted was Altera’s pity. They were equals. So why? Why did Altera have to talk with her now? Couldn’t they have at a later point when she had recollected her thoughts and was ready for whatever she would say?

“You’re really selfish.” Altera’s voice sounded in her ears. Ragna couldn’t recognize if she looked down on her, pitied her, loathed her, or stated facts. She couldn’t bear to look at Altera. Not with this pathetic look in her eyes. “But you’re not as selfish as you think you are. Just because what you did was wrong doesn’t mean it was the wrong thing to do. I know how you feel. I know what you go through. But I will never accept it. And one day, I will save Vishnu. Even if I have to destroy your dreams.”

Ragna cringed. Altera’s words twisted like a knife in her throat, but she couldn’t argue against them. She spoke the truth, holding to her ideals, and she would never forgive herself if she made Altera abandon her path.

“But I’ve also realized that I’ve to change too,” Altera continued. “Ragna, you did everything you could, and you succeeded. That’s more than I can say about myself.” A bitter scoff left Altera. “There’s so much I still can’t do. For all my self-righteousness, I couldn’t save Vishnu. And I couldn’t resolve the dilemma. You were right about that. Perhaps, it’s fitting that I failed my Bragi.”

“Alti.” Ragna removed her hand, staring at her as Altera bit on her lip, bitterness reflecting in her eyes.

“You at least have a dream you can cling to even if it hurts. I’ve nothing left. My dreams are gone.” Altera stood up. “I’m not going to tell you that one situation’s better than the other, but I’ve to decide what I want to do with my life.”

Altera was about to leave when Ragna grabbed her wrist. “Please, stay.” Ragna’s voice could barely count as a whisper. Her strength and resolve were gone. With her teary eyes, she looked at Altera even if it hurt. “We can think of something tomorrow. We can make new plans. Come up with new ideas. But now, I’m just … I need you … Can you … Please, just stay with me. For the night.”

But Altera freed her hand. “I’m sorry. I need to be alone.” Her voice became somber. “I have to. There’s a lot I’ve to think about. How can my life continue? What can I do now, and what will be my future? How can I live with nothing to live for? I’m really sorry.”

“Alti.”

Altera turned her head to her and smiled. “Don’t worry. I won’t do anything drastic. Not with Moon Moon in my care.” She crouched and clapped her hands, signaling Moon Moon to come to her. The Netherwolf puppy stooped his dance and looked at her master. Before he jumped, he japed at Ragna, letting her scratch his ear. The goofiest grin appeared on Moon Moon’s face. He ran from the bed and jumped into Altera’s arms. “Even if I can’t become a Valkyrie anymore and have lost my human rights. I’ll make sure that you’ll achieve your dreams and be happy even if there’s no happiness for me anymore. And I’ll do everything to prevent a world war. So, don’t worry. I’ll be back in a few hours. I just need some alone time now.”

Altera stood up, and Ragna jumped from her bed and wrung her arms around Altera’s waist. For a moment, the body contact startled her. But then she put her arms on Ragna.

“We’ll be waiting for you, so don’t be late.” Ragna placed her lips on Altera’s neck, leaving a coral-blue mark when she removed them. “I promise you a million times I’ll never abandon you.”