Pale lavender clouds mixed with red stretched across a warm dusky sky, dim and low, the sun did not rise yet.
Willow sat alone in the cathedral garden, hands tugged on his sling, cloak waving behind him. A cold dew clung to the grass he stared at.
He was tired. Tired of the truth.
Behind him, inside the stone walls of the Church, the others argued. Veronica's voice cut sharply. Felicia's followed, calmer, but no less firm. Sinephilim said nothing. Rhenvar hadn't spoken since the ring left his hand and Willow gave him his command.
Willow didn't care. He alone held Rhenvar's ring.
That same ring weighed heavily in his pocket. The same ring that got his sister killed.
He could still feel Rhenvar's voice echoing:
"With this ring, you don't have to fear me. Only control me."
Willow wanted to throw it into the sea. He wanted to lock it away. He wanted to slip it onto his own hand and keep Rhenvar safe. All of those wants burned behind his ribs. He couldn't tell which were his and which was the heart talking.
How do you hold someone's soul in your hand? How do you decide who gets to hold that? How am I worthy of it?
Footsteps approached behind him, soft on stone. He didn't turn. He knew it was Felicia. He knew her steps.
"Your boyfriend having a soul eating fetish was not on my bingo card," Felicia said.
"F- Felicia!" Willow blushed.
"I'm joking," she said smiling. "So, how are you feeling?"
"This ring is more of a burden to me than Rhen realizes. I should give it to someone else."
"Are you thinking about giving it to Sinephilim?" Felicia's voice was quiet. No judgment. Just warm.
Willow nodded his head. "She'd make the most sense. Charles can't control her."
Felicia hummed in agreement. "What about Veronica, then?"
"She'd have his power; I don't trust her like I trust you."
Felicia stepped up beside him. "But you want to keep it, why don't you put it on?"
"I'm afraid I'd never take it off."
That made her quiet. He finally looked at her. Her smile was sad and knowing.
"Do you want to protect him?" She asked. "Or keep him?"
Willow looked down at his hands. "Is there a difference?"
Felicia touched his shoulder lightly. "Sometimes there is. Sometimes there isn't."
They stood there in silence.
The cathedral bells began to chime in the distance. Morning prayers. More playacting. More politics. More pretending this world wasn't under a Worldeater's shadow ready to be swallowed.
"He cried," Willow whispered. "In the cell. Rhenvar. He cried like… like a boy who lost everything, just to have it return to him."
I had never seen show so many emotions, was all of that just bottled up?
Felicia closed her eyes. "Then maybe he deserves a chance to be more than a monster."
Willow felt the ring in his pocket. It was cold.
Or maybe it was just him; he was trembling again.
"Use me," Willow whispered. "Rhen…"
But Willow didn't want to use him. He wanted… something else. He just didn't know how to put it into words.
The breeze shifted. A rustle was the only noise.
Then.
"Cold," Viir's voice murmured. "This world's too cold."
Willow blinked.
Viir stirred in his sling, sluggish, bleary; her voice muffled against his shoulder. Her small hand curled against his cloak like a child refusing to wake up.
Willow smiled just a little. "You're awake."
"Ugh," she groaned. "Unfortunately."
Viir didn't lift her head. She just nestled deeper into his warmth. Her hair was messy. Wings bright. She looked radiant and flawless.
"You've been out for a while," Willow said softly.
"I like to sleep after I have fun."
"That was fun?" Willow squeaked.
"You didn't think so?" She opened one eye, flickering red.
Willow didn't answer.
Viir shifted slightly. Her voice dropped.
"The seal broke, Rhen will be different you know."
Willow blinked.
That should be a good thing…
"I know he already feels more… warm," Willow said. "Now that I think about it, so do you."
Viir closed her eyes again. "That's because I'm linked to his soul dummy. He's holding back."
Holding back?
Footsteps echoed from the archway. Rhenvar stood there, still in his armor, no helmet, no sword. Just him. Pale. Quiet. His expression was unreadable.
He gave me his ring. And I… told him, listen to his soul.
Willow tensed, instinctively tightening his hands around Viir. The thought of forcing him to do anything chilled his mind.
Rhenvar stepped forward.
"Oh, these flowers!" Felicia turned. "I'm going to smell them."
Willow didn't move.
"Willow," Rhenvar said. His voice was hoarse. Like he hadn't used it since he confessed about what he was.
"I have the ring," Willow said before he could ask.
"Pfft, I know."
"And I don't know what to do with it."
Rhenvar looked down at his hand. The absence of it. A shackle he'd willingly give away again.
"Just hold onto it. I trust you." He said simply. "I- "
"And what if someone steals it and abuses it?" Willow asked.
Rhenvar exhaled slowly. "I hope it doesn't come to that again…"
It was a fearful thought, both of them knew what that meant.
"Rhen… how much of you is still human?"
Rhenvar flinched.
"How much? I don't understand- "
Willow's eyes met Rhenvar's.
"I've known you for five hundred years, you were always a bit… off. Sylvia always questioned you. I never did but now- "
Willow looked away.
"Our time together, was it real? Or was it an act?"
"I'm sorry Willow- "
"So, it was an act... "
"But even if it was, we made memories together." He grabbed Willow's shoulders. "Memories I can now feel. Memories I can cherish!"
Willow looked at him. His eyes blue eyes flickered with hope and fear.
"So yes, it was an act, muscle memory of who I was but Willow- "
"Rhen… did you love my sister?"
Did you love me?
Rhenvar let go and stepped back.
"I- I... dammit it's hard to answer that… I think I need time."
"And us? Our friendship?"
Rhenvar stepped closer again. His eyes never leaving Willow's.
"You're everything to me Willow."
His heart clenched. He felt those words.
Viir stretched and floated from the sling, drifting like a tired specter over to Rhenvar. She bumped her forehead gently against his chest.
"You both talk too much," Viir muttered.
Felicia stepped up again.
"Willow," Felicia said quietly, "Veronica wants to brief us on the festival plan. The king's approved limited action, but they're watching us. And get this! With the Shadows of the Lion." Felicia grabbed Willow's arm, jumping up and down. "The crown's best assassins! How cool!"
Willow's thoughts lingered on Rhenvar. He had admitted it was an act. Willow should have felt furious, but he didn't.
"We don't have time for therapy," Felicia said gently. "We have a world to save."
"Yeah," Rhenvar murmured. "We have a job to do."
Willow threw his thoughts away. "Then, let's go."
They all started walking.
Rhenvar stopped. And turned to Willow.
"I just remembered something. You… looked really good in that red dress."
Willow's ears went pink. Then red. Then nuclear.
"I… That wasn't! It was part of the mission!"
Viir snorted.
Felicia laughed.
Rhenvar smirked his eyes never leaving Willow.
And Willow buried his face in his hands.