As the gates shut behind them, Sprite looks back warily. He hears nothing and quickly alerts, but no call is given back. He turns around and sees a cloaked shadowy figure holding a lantern—its shadow flicking off of the walls of the cavern. He lets out a distressed chirp and flies after them. It seems to take forever for Sprite to catch. He sees an odd sight—Sweiza is skipping along just in front of the Reaper. His eyes narrow—something isn’t right.

  He flies past the Reaper, not giving him much attention except for that annoying lantern. He darts in front of Sweiza and flies an arc until he is just in front of her—he moves backwards to maintain position in front of her. He lets out a click. She doesn’t respond. He lets out a chirp, again she doesn’t respond. His wings flicker in anticipation. He finally let’s out a squawk. His arms finally cross when she doesn’t respond. He flies up within a foot of her eyes and lets out a chirp. His eyes pulse blue once and a blue light flickers from his body. She still doesn’t respond.

  He flies up to her shoulder and lands. He is not giving up on this. He is about to perform his maneuver, but senses an impending dread loom over him. He tries to move, but cannot. Something cold and ominous grabs him—he feels as if all of the life has been sucked out of him. He watches in terror as the world around him starts to move under him. Sprite sees the world spin right behind him as the Grim Reaper—glowing orbs for eyes—eyes him. When the Reaper speaks, it surprisingly speaks Spritekin. Sprite feels helpless as the words wash over him—“” Sprite tries to respond, but little comes out than a panicked chirp. He tries again and again—the Reaper will have none of it and chucks him to the side. Sprite still feels the same dread, but it is now all around him. It takes all of his enchanted being to land safely, but his wings remain powerless and locked in terror. When he lands, it is with a light thud as the dust around him scatters. He lets out several distressed squawks as he tries to undo the Reaper’s effects. He doesn’t know by what matter of enchantment, but he has an alarming sensation that the same thing has affected Sweiza—only of a greater design and power than can affect him. It would make sense, Spritekin are immune to most enchantments and hallucinations. It doesn’t do him any good as he reaches towards the distant and dimming form of his friend. He lets out one last squawk towards that wretched thing of death before he passes out.

  —

  Sweiza hears the distant and faint echo of her old life. The distant sounds of her body’s aches and old life’s treachery are now gone. She can finally enjoy the solitude that she so ritually deserves. It was always a ritual and a combative way of rebelling to get what she longed and yearned for. She only wishes Lester could join her in the afterlife.

  Sweiza lets out a giggle at the thought. She feels her childish side returning. That which was once taken from her is back.

  A sudden thought flitters in her mind. That which was taken from her. The dream. That wretched dream that sometimes haunts her. They did things to her, unspeakable things that robbed her of her purity. It was supposedly a ritual or right of passage according to Strife. It wasn’t real. Rather, it was her body being augmented as a Valkyrie. Strange visions of things to come. Strange things that appear to be happening. But if it happened, that is why she killed herself, isn’t it? She chose to drown that day after the was sunk, after Strife died.

  Wait, that can’t be right. Strife is supposed to be here in Helheim. That is why Sweiza is here isn’t it? Didn’t she (Sweiza) kill herself? No, she committed suicide. That is the only way to get here…

  But didn’t Fenrir lead her to the Gates of Helheim? No, it was the Gates of Nifflung. There is a way into the Land of the Dead. But what lies beyond the gate? A long corridor of death? She looks around at the thought. She finally stops. She feels her hairs stand on end. She looks behind her. She sees something weird. It is the Grim Reaper, but something is odd about him. There is an odd aura about him—it almost looks like a ghostly blue emanating from his cloak. She feels a sudden temptation to pull off his cloak and see what is underneath. She already knows the legend though, “t”, or rather, they are at at least at death’s door. Is she at death’s door? Did she commit suicide? She remembers what happened in the dream. It isn’t worth living anymore. She wasn’t lowered to that lifeboat, it didn’t happen that way. No! She jumped overboard from the Sterling Blue during the battle with the Vikings— A fitting way for a wretch like herself—an impure girl—death by suicide.

  She stops dead in her tracks. ? Where did she get a crazy idea like that? She doesn’t ever remember seeing anything like that aboard the . Captain Dillion would also never approve of such a thing—he was quite nice and charming. But then what about Brynhilde? Didn’t Salmira try to kill her? Salmira always has that ominous red aurora about her; then there was that St. Elmo’s Fire in the sky. Was that death? That similar creepy vibe? The one Salmira has? Is there such a thing as blue St. Elmo’s Fire?

  The ghostly blue aura around the Reaper doesn’t let up. Instead, he raises his lantern and waves his scythe—motioning to go deeper into the cave. Sweiza doesn’t hear his voice, but she understands what it means. She is to march forward and accept her destiny—death’s sweet embrace longs for her. A sudde powerful sensation washes over her. Her eyes ghost over and turn to the same amber that occurs in the full moon of Lokul. She can feel some kind of enchantment calling her. It isn’t that of the Berserkergang, but something far more colorful.

  She swears she hears the voice of an old friend, something like a whistle or “”. She can’t remember—it doesn’t matter anymore. As the sudden feeling of apathetic joy washes over her, she feels this longing of her childhood. She starts humming to herself and rocking her head back and forth.

  “” Thoughts of enchantment and entertainment enter her mind. This is a place bereft of joy, but how can it swallow a person’s sorrow, regret and otherwise all of their trauma? “T” The thoughts echo in her mind, they reverberate and exasperate, and then they fade into nothingness.

  Sweiza suddenly stops. She feels her body shudder. Something about this isn’t right.

  She feels something icy and cold on her shoulder. She whips around. It is the Reaper. He points in front of her with his lantern. A light sparks from the lantern and shoots towards the depths of the cave. Sweiza again feels giddiness wash over her as she chases after the light trail. As the light dims, she skids to a halt around a bend in the cave. It is the mouth of the cave, and a spectacular sight awaits her.

  She looks around like a starstruck child in wonderment. She is standing near a cliff face, but there are hundreds—no, thousands!—of cave openings throughout the facing side cliffs. It seems to stretch onward to infinity; looking down the same effect! She looks up expecting the same awe and wonderment! However, she is left with such disappointment! She sees something odd with the sky—if it can be called a sky.

  A heavenly display of blue hues and colors dance in the midnight sky—not unlike the Reaper’s aura—and it comes in the form of a blue aurora. Salmira’s sister? Her thoughts and attention are diverted to one of the moons lower than the aurora.

  There appears to be something covering above the cliffs. It appears to be the surface of water—or at least what looks like the moon rippling off of it. That is the moon of Lokul isn’t it? Why isn’t she breaking out into the berserkergang? Why so many questions?

  She shakes her head and sets her eyes in front of her. There is a massive tower in the center of this ‘. She feels drawn to it. She takes one look back at the Reaper. Her eyebrows dart up in surprise as it is closer to her—much closer than she would like. She feels the giddiness drop as it reaches a hand in front of her. It’s skeletal hand pushes her forward. She beams at the thought. Wait, why is his hand on his scythe made of flesh? Her eyes dart from the skeletal lantern hand to the scythe hand of flesh.

  Again the Reaper pushes her forward. This time she nods, knowing what her purpose is here. She is here with other spirits from all over the world—she has answered Lady Hella’s beckoning. In this moment under veil thin moonlight, she is to help mine this chasm out as living quarters for the dead. Helheim Canyon has been filling up over the last few centuries and they must keep the dead occupied.

  She looks up once at the Reaper and beams. She skips down the crevice of the cliff face. It will take her some time to descend the several hundred floors and stepways that lead to the bottom floor of the canyon.

  “” The thought occurs to her; rather several as her mind races. She walks straight forward. She takes several steps forward. To her dismay she is on a bridge—one that is transparent. With each step she sees a flicker of what is really in the canyon. From the cave entrance just traversed, there is a bridge in front of her. The bridge fades. She takes a wary step forward and the bridge flickers into view. Further, she sees there are actually spirits that flicker into existence and fade—reverberating with each footstep. She breaks into a run. She intended to fall to the ground—being a spirit and all—

  It feels like an eternity as she runs endlessly on the bridge. Yet she feels tireless. When it is over, it feels only like a matter of seconds. She looks behind her and can see the Reaper watching her. Its form begins to fade. She spooks when she hears something behind her. It is the Reaper. Sweiza feels panic set in, but then a strange sensation—the same giddiness from before—washes over her. She stammers at the figure in front of her.

  It speaks—its voice a rustle. It sounds like something otherworldly—almost like something dark and damp that comes out of a cave—but it seems to echo with deliberate purpose.

  “You are a chooser of the slain, yet you fetch enchantments to lead the souls of the dead. Why do you come to ”

  Sweiza’s head cocks at the Reaper. What is he asking her? She doesn’t have any ench….

  She holds out both of her hands and summons from within her being the large Soul Mirror from Delphis and Alchon’s machinations. It takes form as it spins slowly. The Reaper holds up its lantern as the pyramid begins to glow. There is a whine and hum from the mirror as several humanoid forms take shape.

  The Reaper doesn’t hesitate as he raises his scythe. His eyes spark a light brighter than the sun—his scythe smashes down on the mirror. A sudden eruption of light illuminates the area as the mirror shatters.

  When the light settles and everything takes shape—the figures stand as spirits in opaque, but semi-transparent form. The Reaper reaches his lantern hand out in front of Sweiza. The Reaper again speaks in the same voice.

  “”

  However, she tries to lie her way through it, but she fails. The Reaper’s all seeing gaze is all around her; she can feel death itself. It looms within her being and she lets out a nervous voice, barely a hoarse whisper.

  “I am a Star Guardian.”

  The Reaper steps closer to her. It raises the lantern just mere feet from her face. The glow illuminates her face. It is hard to gaze at the Reaper. She feels dread as if she is going to die. She chooses to fight! She will not die in this place!

  She stamps her foot in defiance.

  “I am a Star Guardian! I do not kill!”

  The Grim Reaper says nothing as he lowers his lantern. He walks just side-to-side of her. He says something in an unknown language. She swears she sees him shrug as he walks off. Rather, she realizes he was never walking—his cloak hovers above the ground with no legs. She lets out an “” as she sees the Reaper enter the doors to the large tower in front of her.

  She scratches her head at the sight that just transpired.

  She suddenly hears a squawk behind her. She turns around in time to see a blue light flying straight for her. It’s Sprite!

  He stops just shy of her.

  He starts panting and wheezing. His glow fades and then flickers. He starts to lose the fight against gravity as he is slowly pulled to the ground. He drops to all fours.

  “Serves you right for eating so much sugar… again!” Sweiza lets out a laugh.

  Sprite looks up. His eyes narrow. He would splash a bad scent her way, but he is too tired. He lets out a chirp. Sweiza knows this one. She stoops over and cups her hands around him—picking him up ever so gently. She blows a puff of air on him. It grabs his hair and he shakes twice to fight the influence of it.

  “Sweiza! There’s something weird about this place! That hooded thing has some kind of enchantment!”

  Sweiza nods, “Of course he does Sprite, that is the Grim Reaper!” Sweiza lets out a laugh at the name.

  Sprite cocks his head at her, “You do know why we are here, don’t you?” He wills himself to stand up and adopts a human posture of defiance—he spreads his legs apart and puts his hands on his hips. Sweiza recognizes this. He is copying her.

  “That is from my old life Sprite! Now that I’m dead it doesn’t matter!” She lets out another giggle.

  “You’re not dead! You’d be floating around mindlessly like everyone else!” He lets out an angry chirp at her.

  Sweiza’s head tilts at him. Did he die with her? Does he not know what is…

  Sweiza lets out a yelp as Sprite bites her. He bites her hard enough to draw blood. The enchantment guarding her suddenly drops and she lets out a cry.

  “You little shit!”

  Sprite flies in front of her. Sweiza takes one step forward and the bridge illuminates again. She stops when she sees all of the spirits flicker into view. They fade just as quickly. Her gaze darts around.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “”

  She steps back trying to avoid the danger which is seemingly gone. She lets out a cry when her footsteps trigger the spirits to appear yet again. She falls backwards and the bridge and spirits illuminate again. She finally looks up and sees the sky. They appear to be underwater with the Lokul moon rippling off the surface. She freezes. Her attention jumps back to the fact there are spirits in the vicinity. She hates ghosts!

  “Are you back to normal?” Sprite bobs in front of her a few times. She nods. However, her nod is not a good one. In fact, she feels impending danger around herself. She stands up.

  “Inside the tower, now!” She turns around and doesn’t wait. Her voice is loud and clear for Sprite. He charges ahead of her into the open doors. Chasing after the Reaper again; she must be incredibly brave, or ferociously stupid. But Sprite is also the first one to charge in front of her to “”. J

  —

  Inside the tower she sees a very large shaft with stairs winding the circumference. Sprite and Sweiza look at each other. Up or down?

  Sprite points up. “If we go up, we might find the land of the living.”

  Sweiza nods in agreement. She charges upward. She doesn’t understand why, but she knows this is how it works here. What is an eternity, happens in the blink of an eye. They are suddenly at the top of the inside of the tower. There is a door in front of them. It is white and covered with ice. Sweiza lets out a puff of air at her hair as she looks over to Sprite. He knows the drill. He flies to the door and lets out a puff of air. Suddenly the ice condensates to water and flows around his being. He is covered in a water ball that bursts. Part of it covers Sweiza.

  “Thanks a lot Dewey!”

  “Don’t mention it!” He beams at her. It’s about time he got back at her for a change.

  Sweiza’s hands go to her hips as she eyes the door. It has a giant bar on it holding it shut. Sprite might not be strong enough to pry it open, but she can. She grabs the bar and attempts to move it. Nothing. She pushes with all of her might. It doesn’t budge. This time she throws her back into it and summons every ounce of strength she has in her being. Sprite beholds a strange sight as her Valkyrie armor appears. Sweiza pushes at the bar with all of her might and it finally comes loose. Her armor disappears just as easily as it came.

  Sprite flies up to her, a curious expression on his face.

  “I don’t know. I suddenly felt really strong. I don’t feel so…” Sweiza staggers as she falls backwards. Luckily, the wall behind her catches and braces her. She slides down the wall to a sitting position. Her gaze follows Sprite with curiosity as he attempts to push the door open. For all of the enchantment of being a Spritekin, he lacks the strength needed. He lets out an angry chirp and flies in front of Sweiza. He points at the door as he lets out a chirp.

  “In a minute, I’m tired.” Sweiza feels the life slowly drain from her being.

  Sprite lets out an alarm and it alerts Sweiza. She forces herself to her feet as she grabs the door. She tries to open it, but nothing happens.

  She lets out a nervous laugh.

  “I’m so stupid! It opens from the inside…” Sweiza jerks on the door and the weight of her action almost throws her backward. She hits the railing just beyond the staircase. She looks backwards and feels vertigo. She shakes herself back to reality and rushes out the door.

  Sprite hears her let out a cry when she is outside. He flies outside, but stops just shy of the water. He lets out a cry of alarm and flies behind Sweiza. She finally catches her breath leaning over the railing. She looks down at the black water and the moon reflecting off of its ripples against the tower. She pulls herself up and tries to fight the vertigo. She turns round to go back in the tower. She freezes when she sees the tower. It is the same obsidian color as the Myrkvellir Monoument. However, this looks different. There are weird gold markings and lines on the tower; she swears she sees some of what look like the .

  Her attention is again disrupted by Sprite giving out a very high pitched alert. He rapidly points behind her. “” is all he says as he darts back inside.

  Sweiza turns around. She looks up, but sees nothing. She suddenly hears something splash off the water’s surface. She regrets looking down! There is a giant sea serpent staring her down. Its scales—but more importantly, those hideous black eyes—reflect the moonlight of Lokul. She freezes. It suddenly begins rising out of the water. The water dripping from it sparkles in the moonlight. She looks up in terror as it ascends in height. It is massive! The world serpent? A blue aurora behind it? She tries to move, but is frozen in terror. She groans. Is this thing enchanted like the Reaper? She feels something suddenly prick her finger. She looks down and it is Sprite. He has drawn more blood from another bite.

  “You lit…”

  She charges into the door, Sprite comes careening in after her. She slaps the door shut and throws the metal bar in front of it again. It clasps shut in time for the tower to suddenly shudder and reverberate down its interior. Just what the hell was that?

  “Sera!”

  She looks over at him and nods. She starts running down the stairs. Sprite flies in unison beside her. He lets out a nervous laugh.

  “I’ll take death over that thing!”

  Sprite nods, “I want sweet things for this!”

  “Later!” Sweiza continues her run.

  In what feels like an eternity, but is no time at all, she finds herself at the bottom of the tower. She looks around. The base of the inside of the tower is massive. J

  She dismisses it. There is a reason she is here.

  She can feel it wash over her again. It tries to take hold. She looks down at Sprite. He’ll just bite her again! She claps both of her hands on her cheeks.

  “I know!” She holds out her hand and summons the penchant. The jewel in it glows blue. The hands on it suddenly start to turn in random directions. It points directly in front of her.

  “Thanks a lot… useless trinket!”

  She marches forward. She is indirect with her poise, but she forgets why she is here. She can feel the depth of the fog crushing her confidence. After some time of walking, she finds a small castle taking shape in the distance. It looks dark and foreboding. There are no lights on in it. She eyes it once. She hears Sprite alert. She recognizes his call—he doesn’t want to go.

  “There is something bad inside there!” Sprite flies just in front of her and clings to her shirt. “”

  Sweiza rolls her eyes at him. She holds up the penchant at the castle. The jewel glows blue and the hands whir again. They point to the right side of the castle. Sweiza cocks her head at it.

  “”

  “You mean Hella!”

  Sweiza looks down at the shaking Spritekin. He is clearly afraid of the castle.

  “Okay, we’ll go around.” She holds the Penchant up and follows the hands. She squints once when she sees the hands rotate and correct their direction every so often. They are definitely pointing and chasing a path around the castle. Sweiza scowls at the penchant, “

  She looks down at Sprite. He is still clinging for dear life. But perhaps that is what he wants after all. He doesn’t want to die in this place of death. She silently concurs. If nothing else—for his sake—she will find a way out of this mess.

  It takes some time——and she finds herself at the backside of the castle. Sweiza dismisses it. She has business here. She again holds the Penchant up. The hands again whir and point a direction that is seemingly straight forward.

  She suddenly sees something gliding towards them. It is a spirit. It is opaque, but semi-transparent. It hovers in front of her. It tries to speak, but no voice comes out. She holds up the Penchant at it. The blue jewel suddenly turns grey. She again looks at the spirit. It tries to speak, but nothing comes out. More spirits start to appear.

  Sweiza stamps her foot and takes a defensive stance. Her armor appears and she aims her sword at them.

  “”

  The spirits suddenly comply and line up side-by-side. A shocked Sweiza suddenly stops. She sheaths her sword. She hurries on her way down both rows. She stares straight ahead. She breaks it a run. As she seemingly reaches the end of both rows, more spirits line up. She runs, faster and faster—but the spirits keep lining up. More time passes, almost an eternity, but just as she thinks it cannot go on any longer, she reaches her destination in no time at all. She is back in front of the castle from before. However, this time she sees something different.

  However, something isn’t right. The fog suddenly lifts. Strife is in some kind of glass—fully clad in her armor. As Sweiza approaches, she can see there are other figures in the glass. It looks like some kind of transparent rock. As she gets closer, the shadowed figures behind Strife take form—it is the crew of the . But something isn’t right.

  As she gets closer, Sweiza sees something odd next to Strife. It is a fountain, rather the water has been frozen. Strife is gazing at it just from behind. Her expression looks surprised and otherworldly. Strife’s skin is a ghostly white—for that matter, the crew of the also has white skin. Sweiza cocks her head at the sight—as she does so, her gaze falls to the sword in Strife’s hand.

  “She has trespassed in my realm…”

  Fog suddenly sweeps in front of Sweiza, it swirls in and around itself as a dark figure inside takes form. The lantern is the first thing that is visible. The fog suddenly rushes out and the Grim Reaper stands before her. His eyes glow at her. He speaks, but the voice comes out as female.

  “Do you intend to cheat death as well?”

  Sweiza shrinks into herself. “No…” She fights it and steps backwards. This thing before her is not just the Reaper. Sprite lets out an alarmed call. He summons all of his might and charges towards the Reaper’s hood. As he closes in, the Reaper attempts to block him with his scythe, but it misses. Sprite grabs onto the cloaked figure’s hood and pulls on it. He feels death wash over him as his body slackens; he pulls for dear life and the hood breaks free. He falls to the ground behind the Reaper. He looks up and back to see the Reaper’s head—and a shocked Sweiza.

  A helm of ram horns set at the back; an intricately designed black helm. But it is the pale white skin and the dark mascara that the woman wears. The Grim Reaper is no man, but a woman! Sweiza lets out an “” when she sees the veil over the woman’s face. It is a frightening sight as it seemingly flows in a non-existent wind. Where the veil flows over her face is nothing but a skeleton. Sweiza’s breathing quickens when the woman speaks—she holds up a lantern at the girl.

  “She tried to cheat me. Do you intend to do the same?”

  Sweiza blinks. She knows who this is. Sweiza takes in a deep breath.

  She debates whether she should negotiate like Strife would. She instead comes right out with it.

  “What happened here?”

  Lady Hella is taken aback by the request. “You are foolish to question me.”

  Sprite flies up between them.

  “You tricked us!”

  Lady Hella is unphased and quite emotionless at his accusations. She holds the lantern up at him.

  “This is my domain. Why are the living here?”

  Sweiza looks back at the form of Strife frozen in crystal. She notices there is a semi-transparent figure in the air, but still locked in crystal. The form appears to be male. He has a resemblance to herself, but she doesn’t recognize him. His hand reaches down towards Strife whom has her hand half fallen. It does not do justice to the look of surprise on her face. Sweiza again sees the forms behind her; several of them have weapons brandished.

  Sweiza looks back again at Hella. The Goddess of Death is unphased—still holding her lantern upright.

  “Would you quite pointing that thing at me?”

  Lady Hella’s eyebrows raise and then drop momentarily, “It is the Lantern of Truth. It shows me the intent of all who enter this .”

  Sweiza squints. She is not about to be outsmarted. She holds the Penchant up at Lady Hella. The crystal glows blue and then lets out a strange spark of blue light and then disappears. As it fades the crystal turns a dull grey. Sweiza stares at it. It isn’t working as intended. The hands suddenly start to spin erratically. She expects them to stop, but they do not. She refrains from swearing. She lowers the Penchant and looks up at Hella.

  Hella gives her a once over, “This valley is beyond the reach of mortals. Your enchantments will not work here.”

  It is Sweiza’s turn to speak, but Hella interrupts her. “This is my domain. Not even Odin may enter. Nigh on his day of reckoning shall he find solace with me.”

  Sweiza cocks her head. “” she things to herself. Hella appears to be stalling.

  “Why’d you do that to them?” Sweiza turns her voice to something sharp as she changes her bargaining posture—for good measure, she thumbs behind herself at Strife’s and the others’ current prison.

  Hella makes a strange face—something akin to a smile and frown.

  “You are not like her.” Lady Hella walks towards her. Sweiza freezes when she sees the Reaper’s cloak part. Sweiza feels her gag reflex kick in as she sees Hella’s legs. They are half rotting. A transparent cloth—similar to what is draped on Hella’s face—swings over the Death Goddess’s legs. As the cloth swings over them, the cloth reveals a skeleton underneath. Sweiza winces.

  “I will grant you penance for those lost souls. You have my thanks… . Do not return until that appropriate time. .”

  Sweiza tries to break free from the woman’s gaze, but she feels frozen. She looks down at Sprite. He appears to be frozen.

  Sweiza looks up as Lady Hella lowers her scythe laden hand and users her skeletal lantern hand to raise her cloak’s hood up again. As the Grim Reaper, her eyes pulse gold. Suddenly, Sweiza hears something crack behind her. She also feels Lady Hella’s hold break free. Lady Hella turns around and walks away as her form seemingly vanishes. Sweiza hears another crack. She whirls around with her sword in hand. She charges the cracking crystal.

  She jams her sword into it hard and a massive crack appears around the sword. Sweiza pulls her sword out and the rock cracks further. Suddenly a light erupts from the rock. The rock glows a white light that begins to envelop everyone. Sweiza hears a man’s voice, it yells “Alyssa!” as Strife’s yells “Sigurd!” There are several screams and cries from the crew as their forms slowly move. Sweiza sees the spirit’s hand attempt to reach Strife as she is thrown back from some unknown force. She (Strife) attempts to reach up towards him. She falls backward and drops the sword. As time speeds up for them, Strife’s form is suddenly thrown to the ground and she skids. Several of the crew charge with weapon’s drawn. Sigurd’s form is slowly pulled away from them and several spirits charge forward. The white light envelops all of them. The last thing Sweiza hears is the distant yell of Strife and Sigurd saying each other’s names.

  —

  As the light slowly dims, Sweiza is left to face the , anchored some distance from the shore—a dingy sits abreast of the shore between them. Sweiza lets out a large breath of dismayed relief. She turns around.

  “Damn it!” Strife’s voice trembles, but is still loud.

  Murmurs surround a surprised crew.

  “Strife!” Sweiza runs up to Strife and gives her a big hug.

  “Let go!” Strife’s tears confuse Sweiza.

  “Sera!” Sprite flies up, and motions for Sweiza to look up.

  Sweiza looks up and just beyond Strife—just in time to see a familiar stone gate with stone doors wide open. The same blue aura from before (Lady Hella) encircles and surrounds the gates. There is a rumble in the ground as the gates groan and start to close.

  “Let go!” Strife elbows Sweiza in the gut and breaks free of her grasp. She whirls around and looks down at the ground. She finds her quarry and charges towards it. In one motion she stoops over while running and grabs the hilt of the Sword of Embers. She attempts to charge towards the gate. Sweiza looks back at the crew of the . They just stand there. Sweiza shakes her head and charges after Strife. Strife closes the gap between her and the gates. However, she drops the sword as she is thrown forward. She drops to the ground with Sweiza on top of her. Strife does everything she can to break free. She lets out several dismayed grunts. She tries to elbow Sweiza again, but this time Sweiza dodges it. Sweiza tries to dodge Strife’s punch, but Strife swings her other arm’s elbow into her (Sweiza’s) chest. Sweiza lets out a cry as she drops to the ground while left to gasp for air. Strife scowls at her as she looks just beyond the girl. Strife walks past her and picks up the Sword of Embers. She breaks into a run past Sweiza and towards the doors.

  The doors close and their metal assembly reverberates with their noise. Strife is too late. She is not about to give up. As she begins her final approach, she aims the sword high and into a thrust. She stabs it straight for the seam between the doors. However, she and the sword are thrown backwards. She lets out a cry.

  “” She claws at the door. She tries several times to peel at the center seam in the door. It doesn’t budge. She grips the metal knocker on it and knocks furiously. She cries Sigurd’s name. She claws and kicks at the door several more times, letting out grunts and dismayed screams inbetween.

  “Strife! We have to go!”

  Strife stops in place. She turns around. Her lip is pursed and tears are down her eyes. She sends a nasty glare at Sweiza as the girl approaches. Still clutching her gut, Sweiza attempts to put her hand on Strife’s shoulder and gives her a slight shake.

  “”

  Strife lets out a gruff grunt and pushes Sweiza away from her.

  “Strife?”

  Strife looks back at her forlorn. “The fact you're here means I’ve failed.”

  Strife looks down at the Sword of Embers. “And I have a trophy to show for my failure.”

  The sword disappears into Strife’s being. She walks up with haste to Sweiza. “”

  Strife raises her gauntlet to swing at the girl. Sweiza makes no attempts to defy her mentor. She closes her eyes, and gives a meek, “”

  Sweiza waits for it. The hand that bites never comes. Her eyes chance a gander. Strife looks worse for wear with tears down her eyes. Her body and face tremble. Her gauntlet instead comes up to wipe the tears off of her face.

  “”

  Strife turns around and storms off. She ignores a shocked crew and heads for the dingy.

  Sprite flies up to Sweiza. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  Sweiza shakes her head and fights the tears. She finally breaks down crying as she walks towards the dingy. She ignores the remaining crew of the Sweiza pushes the thoughts out of her mind as she steps into the dingy. Strife turns her head away. An insufferable sight between them. Sweiza is left in silence as Strife refuses to look at her. Strife begins rowing. When Sweiza tries to speak, Strife shoots her a glare. Sweiza looks down knowing she won’t win. She looks down at Sprite in her lap. He lets out a chirp. Sweiza lets out a faint smile between her tears as she wipes the bad memories away.

  Things were not supposed to turn out this way—this night, this place. However, if time heals wounds, Strife might relent with her graces.