Miller and Xia Bai clash once again, their blades grinding up against the other. Miller’s blade drinks up, his blood growing jagged and sharper as the weight increases. He pushes harder, pushing Xia Bai back as she takes off into the air. She fires off fireballs from above, with Miller slicing through them with his sword. Frustrated, she charges ahead at full speed, holding out her sword and swinging it with all her might. Miller counters as and slices at her blade, shattering her sword as its pieces fall across the battlefield. Xia Bai falls crashing into the ground as Miller stands over her, pointing his sword into her face.

  “Yield.” He orders.

  She glares up at him. “I’d rather die!” She yells at the top of her lungs.

  “Then….”

  Xia notices Miller’s hesitation and lunges forward with her claws. She slashes his cheek as she moves past him, then swings around and smacks him with her tail. He spins backward, only for her to run in with a kick, shooting him back into a nearby tree.

  Miller picks himself up and moves as she fires another barrage of fireballs. He leaps ahead, swinging his sword at her as she dodges the attacks. As she leaps away, he thrusts the blade into the ground with metal spikes shooting out from under the ground. The spikes pierce through Xia’s scales as Miller rushes in, slicing into her stomach.

  Xia winces in pain, reaching out and stabbing Miller in the shoulder with her claws. She breaks herself free, cauterizing another wound but feeling the effects of the blood loss. She collapses onto her knees, with Miller holding his shoulder to cover the bleeding.

  “Do you yield now!?”

  She struggles to breathe, collapsing as Miller stands over her.

  He walks forward, finally noticing she’s unconscious, as he falls to his knees. “Stubborn woman.”

  Hours pass and the sun sets in the distance, with Miller lying under a tree. Nearby Xia Bai lies unconscious, her wounds somewhat treated as Miller watches her. His eyes dance from the blood loss as he reaches into his pocket to eat a small medicine ball.

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  “This stuff still tastes like ick.” He says.

  “What does?” Xia Bai asks opening her eyes.

  “It’s some medicine Glyn came up with. You see, my sword drinks my blood to grow stronger and sharper. The downside is that it can leave me woozy if I use it for too long. So, Glyn and Pepper came up with this medicine to help with blood loss. I forget exactly what it does.”

  “Probably stimulates blood production or something. Isaac thought of something similar to help warriors after a fight.” Xia struggles to sit up. “I feel pain all over.”

  “Well, you did do a number on me. So, I had to give it right back.”

  She stares at him. “Why am I not dead?”

  “Because. I don’t want to kill someone who doesn’t deserve it.”

  “What?”

  “You did all this, betrayed us and fought me for your master. If any of my friends were in a dangerous situation and I had to do the same thing. I know I would.”

  She smirks. “Where I come from, betrayal is one of the worst crimes deserving of death.”

  “Same. But I can make a few exceptions. Besides, I admire your warrior spirit, if that means anything.”

  She laughs. “Some warrior I am. I was supposed to keep him safe. I was….”

  Miller turns away. “Let it out. I won’t judge you for anything.”

  Xia Bai turns to Miller. “I… I was the one who suggested we come here. He said we’d work to stop the fighting before it gets bad. But the first one we ran into was that bitch, Morgan! We tried to play nice, tried to make peace, but she wanted… she wanted us dead. We lost everything and even then, we didn’t turn. away we went back at it out of some misguided idea of revenge. If only I was strong enough then….”

  “You think you could’ve saved him?”

  “I know it. He relied on me. He was my responsibility. I was his vessel. What good am I if I don’t die for the one I’m meant to serve!?”

  “Did he ask you to die for him?”

  “What?”

  “I haven’t known Glyn for long. But one thing I know is that he’s never come up with a plan that calls for any of us to sacrifice ourselves. I’ve seen him go to great lengths to make sure none of us has to die. He’s a strange one, but he’s also the man I choose to follow even now.”

  Xia Bai smiles. “You sound so fond of him when you talk like that.”

  “I guess I am fond of him somewhat.” Miller smiles. “Oh, but if he does something to hurt my sister, I’m stabbing him with every sword I can find.”

  She laughs. “Isaac was the same way. He helped me so many times and I feel like no matter what I did, I was never there for him when he needed it.”

  “Did he feel that way? Just having someone beside you can have a very calming presence. I know that for a fact.”

  Xia Bai cries. “Why? Why does it hurt so much?”

  “The pain only shows how much you cared.”

  “You’re an idiot.”

  “Maybe. But I’ll wait by your side until you're ready to move on your own again.” Miller stares towards the sky. “Until then. Just let it out. There’s no shame in expressing your pain.”