Vir had so many questions, he didn’t even know where to begin. Ashani had never once hinted that the Imperium employed such despicable practices. Then again, she never claimed that the Imperium created the original orbs, either.
Had they uncovered the magic at some point, and simply built upon it? Or was there a darker side that Ashani wasn’t revealing—or perhaps didn’t even know about?
Questions for another time. Right now, Vir was filled with mixed emotions about this whole situation. Should he be elated at Maiya’s success? Thankful that she defeated Ekanai? Or heartbroken that she had to endure such pain?
“So, uh, what now?” Maiya asked, though Vir had the same question.
“I honestly don’t—Maiya!” Vir shouted, pointing.
Maiya looked down at her arm, which was steadily dissolving away.
“Maiya! No!” Vir shrieked, rushing up to her. “No-no-no!”
Prana bled from Ekanai’s body at an alarming rate as it crumbled away to dust. Vir desperately surged Ash prana into Ekanai’s body, but to no avail.
“Gotta admit. Didn’t see this coming,” Maiya said nervously.
“No. Stop. Stop!” Vir didn’t even know who he was yelling at. “This can’t be happening. Maiya! Maiya!”
Ekanai’s body continued to vanish before Vir’s very eyes, and there was absolutely nothing he could do. Nothing, except watch as Maiya’s eyes filled with tears, but she didn’t cry.
And if she didn’t, how could he?
Maiya said nothing. She simply held him gently… right until she was gone.
Vir, who’d been holding back his tears, fell to his knees.
But the tears didn’t come. His eyes widened.
For instead of an empty cavern, a brilliantly white form stood before him. Maiya’s wispy form, exactly as she’d been when he first found her fighting Ekanai.
No, not the same. Maiya shone as brightly as ever. Prana surged through her veins—both her Ice and Wind prana, but also Ekanai’s Ash prana as well. Not within her—surrounding her. Then it surged into her body, causing her to convulse. It didn’t enter her bloodstream as Vir expected but rather disappeared somewhere deep within her, and her hair shone so brightly it almost looked as if it were on fire.
“Maiya!” Vir blurted. “Are you…”
“I feel great!” Maiya said, whirling. “What in the realms…”
Vir stared at her dumbfounded. She was alive. Maiya was alive!
He was about to embrace her when she began to disappear.
Not just her. The entire cave crumbled away, leaving nothing but inky darkness.
No. A terrible thought formed in Vir’s head. What if none of this is real? What if Maiya isn’t…
Just an hour ago, he’d wished it wasn’t real. That it was all just his imagination, and that Maiya hadn’t endured any of the pain she’d gone through.
Now? Now, he was terrified it might all be fake.
“It’s alright, Vir,” Maiya said as her form dimmed. “I’m just… returning. It’s okay.”
“How do you know!” Vir wailed. “How can you possibly know?”
“Call me sometime, yeah?” Maiya said, as her essence disappeared entirely. “I’ve missed you. A lot.”
Vir tried to reply but felt a sudden lurch. A brilliant white light flashed, and suddenly, he was on a bumpy, rough surface in the middle of a circular room.
Green roots covered every inch of the room, and at its center, a tree rose from the roots to form a great trunk.
A trunk that pulsed with prana and chakra.
What in all the realms?
85MEMENTO MORI (CIRAYUS)
Greesha appeared as a white essence, semi-translucent. She did not look pleased to be here.
“You’re like a cockroach, Cirayus. I see you survived the Ash,” Greesha said, her thin lips taut. Her voice trembled for a quick instant, and she scratched her neck.
She’d never been one to show her emotions, but having known the woman for centuries, Cirayus had become quite proficient at reading her tells.
She’s happy. Relieved.
“And the boy?” she asked sharply.
“Alive and well. And about to return to right all the wrongs we’ve wrought.”
This time, Greesha’s brows raised in genuine surprise.
She exhaled deeply, as if shedding a heavy burden. “I see.”
Kamesh offered Cirayus a ceremonial dagger. “You know what needs to be done.”
“What good will killing Greesha do?” Cirayus asked, refusing the dagger.
“This abomination has the blood of an entire clan on her hands. Yet did she die like the rest of us? No. She lives in comfort while we perish.”
Cirayus looked to his wife, who nodded. “Kamesh is right, Cirayus,” Kiyara said, locking eyes with Cirayus. “Had Greesha not divulged her prophecy to Maion and Shari, Sarvaak would have been born normal. There would have been no war between the Chitran and the Garga.”
And I would still be alive, her expression said. More than anyone else present, it was her words that cut through Cirayus the most. He’d treasured her. They’d fought together. They’d loved together. She’d been his other half in nearly all aspects of life.
As old as Cirayus was, until he’d met her, he’d been convinced he’d never find that again. He valued her companionship more than most things in the world.
Most, but not all.
“I cannot. You know this. Killing Greesha will not bring you back to life.”
“No, but it will allow us to move on,” Kiyara replied.
Cirayus paused. “Is this true?” he asked Kamesh. “Are you unable to rejoin the cycle?”
“Kill her, and we will be free,” the elder said. “Absolve yourself of your sins!”
“Greesha?” Cirayus asked. “You have always had a stronger command of these matters than I. Do their words ring true? Does this make sense?”
“‘Does it make sense?’ he asks! I was happily sleeping in my cot when my soul was rudely—and rather painfully—snatched away to this place. Only in prophecies does such a thing occur, and I assure you, this is no prophecy. So, no. No, it does not make sense, Cirayus.”
Cirayus nearly chuckled despite the situation. This was Greesha, alright. Despite what must have been grueling years, living under the Chitrans’ thumb, she hadn’t lost her fire.
“What I can tell you,” Greesha said, pointing at Kamesh, “is that you have no knowledge of the workings of death and rebirth. Rejoin the cycle of incarnation? Nobody knows what comes after! Least of all lost souls like yourselves. I’m of a mind to believe you’re not even real.”
“How dare—”
“How dare you!” Greesha snapped, spitting at Kamesh’s feet. “What sin has Cirayus committed? The sin of dissuading you all to fight on behalf of the Garga? If I recall, it was you lot who pointlessly threw your lives away. Don’t blame him for your inadequacies. I swear, it disgusts me to see you all like this. Have you no shame?”
“Kill her!” Kamesh roared.
Cirayus crossed his four arms. “No.”
“You would deny us our final wish, Father?” Satish said, his face full of anguish.
Cirayus shook his head. “I will. For this is not your wish, Satish. I raised you better than this. My son would never behave this way.”
Satish scowled. “Then it seems you do not know me at all.”
Greesha cleared her throat. “As much as I’d like to agree, we cannot be sure of that, Cirayus. We are not here. This place is a fabrication. But their souls? Less certain.”
Cirayus’ expression darkened. “You mean to tell me that these… ghosts are real?”