The Undertow: Session Thirty-Eight, The End

 

The shores of the Gate were frequently visited by Charon and his boat. Usually there were one or two souls upon it, as the experience was not limited to time and space and most die alone. But this time Charon's boat was full. On it was a family: Mikansia, Akseli, Yngvar, Dale, Ensio... and the thirteen year old Simone. Simone was laughing with a relief that hadn't been felt in years. And everyone was laughing with her, even though it wasn't technically Simone they were here to rejoice over.

But Mikansia didn't mind; Simone was everything to the triumphant. The sound of her laughter was enough.

Charon's boat stopped and Mikansia got out, Jabez's white stone in hand. On the shore stood before Mikansia stood a little girl in a white shift and a tall woman in black, sitting by the gate. Mikanksia knelt before the girl, smiling at her. "Hi, little one! You seem... familiar..."

And indeed she did, although Mikansia couldn't place when they could have met. "I've always been near you, but we've not really had a chance to meet," said the little girl. Jabez's white stone suddenly appeared in her hand. Another white stone appeared in Mikansia's hand, with a completely different script upon it.

The Gates swung wide. There Jabez stood, waves bouncing off light from a far-off land around the triumphant. Mikansia beamed at Jabez... but looked back at Simone. "Can I say goodbye to Simone? Before I go through?"

"Of course you can! Go on!" assured the girl.

Simone and Mikansia embraced. "It's so good to see you again," Simone enthused. "I waited all day for this and it was... I can't believe I stopped coming here. I know you have to go right now. Can I see you tomorrow night?"

"Come as often as you like!" said Mikansia. "Always."

"To visit," chuckled Simone.

"For awhile," Mikansia agreed.

Mikansia turned back to the little girl. She took Mikansia's hand-

This wasn't a little girl.

She was Death herself.

Mikansia was holding the hand of something that was wild, uncontrollable.. and yet the life of the little girl told a truth: Death's intent. The lie told the only truth that mattered.

"Do you regret anything more?' asked The Lady in Black.

Mikansia thought a moment. "No. No I don't."

Mikansia walked through the Gate with Death, to Jabez. "You made a promise you know! About your new name and telling me it what it was and all that."

Jabez motioned to the boat that Mikansia only now realized had been there the whole time. "I'll take you where that name will make sense. Both of ours."

They pushed the boat into the warm waters, the little girl doing the majority of the work. Death began to row, so Mikansia and Jabez stared out at the light they were rowing into, to the Land Beyond.

It was a sunrise unlike any other.

Almost eight years ago my therapist told me to stop playing role-playing games. I balked. I'd fought to play them as a teenager and had them as a vital part of my life for well over eight years before I'd found Burning Wheel. My first execution into the game I didn't like, and I was trying to run the game, properly. And what came out of that quick attempt to end the story so I could focus on my mental health was Revenge of the Countess of Fire. And that was unlike anything I've ever experienced. It felt like Tolkien, which was something that I'd never experienced before.

As a GM I've made many a world; as any world builder knows you kinda hafta to live there to make it come alive to others. Every place I'd visited before I didn't really want to go back before. But when I got to the end of that campaign something in my head said "I think I can live here for a long time. A very long time".  

So as soon as I was able to, I went back. But I could never fulfill my original wish.  Eight years went by, with me trying, over and over, to break the big 3-0, a full length Burning Wheel campaign. The longer I lived there, bouncing between worlds and seeing what that universe had to offer, the more I wanted to share it.

And then The Undertow came along. The Undertow was not a window into the world I expected. Every last thing about this campaign took me by surprise, even as the ending became clearer and clearer to Lena and I. We found ourselves juking left a whole hell of a lot more than I can begin to tell you, as Mikansia and the other characters began making decisions for us. This has been an experience unlike anything I've ever done, creatively or gaming-wise. For everyone who's read this thank you for doing so. It's a genuine joy to write these. It's good to be doing what I love.

The Undertow: Session Thirty-Seven

 

The followers of Princess Zaina are now in retreat, thanks to a mysterious storm that ransacked the keep they were holed up in. Prince Alpertti was convinced not to abdicate the throne. And now all of Jabez's children are safe. That only leaves one last problem.

Lore Note: Vaeltaja (elves)  do not see themselves in terms of male and female, given how little reproduction happens in a vaeltajan lifespan. We decided that elves would instead classify themselves in terms of how much Grief a vaeltaja carried on their soul. To them the differences between even a Grief of B1 and B2 would be noticeable, although for simplicity's sake they'd stick to what we think would make four categories:

Grief B0-B3: mu (singular and multiple)/mul (possesive)

Grief B4-B7 dai/dail

Grief B8-9 ta/tal

B10, but not yet sailed into the Void tor/torl

Oh, and those who died? The good ones are referred to as the triumphant, both in noun and pronoun. The bad ones are the houseless, noun and pronoun.

 

Mikansia turned to Tyce, smiled warmly at him, and then punched him in the arm, laughing. "You just hand me the Sword of Uriel and don't tell me?? What's wrong with you?"

Tyce moved away, laughing. "I knew you'd figure it out event- OW! HEY NOW!" as Mikansia closed the distance. "Oh come now, it was funny!"

"Doesn't mean I'm not going to hurt you for it!" laughed Mikansia in mock grimness. After a minute they stopped goofing around. "Why did you come here, Tyce? Nice as it is to see you."

"A lot is about to happen," Tyce said sadly. "And I know you'll want to be in on it." Tyce held out Sydanelma to Mikansia, who took it with raised eyebrows. "Toivol got to the Grotto just a moment after you left with Sydanelma. The triumphant passed in peace."

"Triumphant indeed," Mikansia said, staring at the blade. "Not that I mind, but why did you bring it back to me?"

"Because Nomi is in grave danger," Tyce said seriously.

"Ta was fine when I left! What happened?"

"... a lot. Nomi needs you. There's more coming too, so we can't be there too long."

"Zaina," Mikansia whispered. Tyce nodded. "Let's get Nomi," said Mikansia, cutting a hole into Dream with Sydanelma.

Ta cut to Constantine's bedroom, only to almost step on Constantine's unblinking face. Mikansia drew back. There was blood sprayed all around like an awful painting. Despite talself Mikansia checked Constantine's pulse, but given the gash in his throat...

Fish was leaning against the door, stomach held together by his shaking arms. Mikansia ran over and helped the injured dwarf to his feet. "What happened here? Where's Nomi?"

Fish coughed up blood. "Cou... coup. Aloysius. Came out of nowhere. Nomi... down the hall."

Mikansia turned to Tyce, who had just appeared. "Help me get him up?"

Tyce nodded sadly. "I'm not here for him, but I am here for you." And they pulled Fish up. Mikansia opened the door... well shoved it open... to find dozens of human corpses littering the hall. Picking their way gingerly down the hall, they finally found Nomi leaning against a wall, surrounded by corpses, covered in their blood.

The look in Nomi's eyes broke Mikansia's heart. Ta ran to Nomi, wrapping ta in tal arms. Nomi had run out of tears; tal cries came in barking fits. "He's... he's gone. Constantine. Gone... gone... gone... gone..."

Mikansia's tears spoke for Nomi's dry eyes.

And then time froze.

Mikansia turned to Tyce. "Was that you?"

Tyce looked sick. "You missed it. Just now."

"Missed what-" but Mikansia could feel it now. Something was wrong with the world. Very very wrong. Someone was Yetekaida: the dark elf messiah, the one who would call the Nameless to devour the world. "Zaina. It's done. Zaina finally did it."

"That was always going to happen. Once the Lone Keep had fallen it was just a matter of time before someone used the information they'd suppressed. But this isn't just anybody, this is Zaina," said Tyce.

"What do I need to do?" asked Mikansia, not missing a beat.

"We can send twelve legions of angels, but that's the blunt hammer approach. We'd end creation if we did that.  This really may kill you to do, Mikansia."

That didn't make Mikansia pause. 

"There are others who we could find to do this," said Tyce. "Had it been six months ago this would have been suicide for you and I would never have asked. But it's not now. But that doesn't mean-"

"It's Zaina. I can't let that... thing... continue on like this. Not after killing Yngvar. And Santeri. And wrecking Kotae Mah. It's gone on long enough. I need to do this. It's my fate. What do we need to do?"

"You'll need to use the Sword of Uriel, which won't work with you, not without charging it up. The person who the sword will awaken for will not be here for a few more centuries yet. So we'll have to give the sword a boost. But first, we need to get Nomi and Fish somewhere safe."

Mikansia nodded. And Time returned. Nomi gave Mikansia an odd look. "What's wrong?"

"We... we don't have a lot of time. So you'll need to trust me." Nomi nodded. "You'll be needing this." 

Nomi batted Sydanelma away as Mikansia held it out to ta. "No. NO. What are you doing? If there's trouble you'll need that," stammered Nomi.

"Not where I'm going."

"What happened??"

"There's not enough time. And there's no one else I'd trust this to. No one else that is family. Just you." 

Nomi took a moment to reply, eyes filled with emotion. "It's nice to feel wanted."

Where do you want to go?" asked Tyce, as gently as he could.

"I.. I... take me to Anneli. Take me to my baby sister."

They were on a beach, black skies and water invaded by the warm glow of a camp fire. A spit hovered above the fire; meat was being basted by a human. Sitting acrost from them was an elf who resembled Olivia the Thunderer more than Nomi.

***

Mikansia and Tyce were in Dream, Nomi, Fish, and Sydanelma behind them. "So how do we charge the Sword of Uriel?" asked Mikansia.

"I apologize in advance." Tyce did not look happy, not one bit.

"For what?"

"I really can't prepare-"

Tyce didn't even finish before he shoved Mikansia.

Down.

Down.

Down.

This was a darkness that can never be explained. Only experienced. Mikansia could feel someone, somethings that were there but-

A flash of memories overwhelmed Mikansia. Facing the Creature from Dream.  Losing Ensio. And Dale. Failing to understand Akseli, holding the triumphant in tal arms until there was only dust. Being raped by tal father. Watching Yngvar fall to the ground, neck first. And more. And more. And more. Over. And over. And over. Mikansia was in each moment, all at once Through the horror and pain and guilt and anger and hollowness of drinking talself into a stupor in Elfwatch Mikansia felt that the Somethings were watching, enjoying the anguish ta felt, as if it was a play they were watching, as if they were completely unaware a real person was experiencing these things! Mikansia was an object for their amusement. The last thing Mikansia remembered was the Sword of Uriel being in tal hand, growing ever more heavy.

Mikansia found talself in Tyce's arms. Ta burned a bit, touching Tyce, having absorbed some of the fell energy of The Nameless. But Mikansia didn't care and snuggled into Tyce's arms, where ta was safe. Mikansia looked up: Akseli, Yngvar, Ensio, and Dale were beaming at ta. They helped Mikansia to tal feet. The Sword of Uriel was vibrating in pain, heavier than any sword had any right to be, causing Mikansia's arm to go numb.

Ta was breathing water.

There was an enormous Flame behind Mikansia, so bright that no shadow could ever exist near it. The Flame shifted and changed before Mikansia's eyes, calming and soothing ta, helping ta come back to a peace ta had only recently thought was possibly... and more. So. Much. More. 

And the fuligin sword hungered for its touch. That hunger ran up the blade and into Mikansia, a piercing pain that spoke of the loss of all that was good, peaceful, kind... but not hope. Hope remained. Always to hope for restoral in the face of complete loss, that was the Sword of Uriel's fate, until the end of the world, when all would be made new again.

Akseli, Yngvar, Ensio and Dale picked up the end of the Sword and helped Mikansia walk it to the Flame. The blade entered the Flame.

Mikansia found talself atop a mountain. The sky was blue once more, the sun beat down fiercely. Standing at the edge, looking down, was a young human woman... with gray skin and bleach blonde hair. When she turned around eyes hollow with pain greeted Mikansia. For a moment Mikansia couldn't recognize her. 

But Simone's chin had not changed.

"Mi... Mikansia??" Simone came up to Mikansia, dumbfounded. "Where have you been, after all this time??"

"I've always been here," Mikansia found talself saying.

Simone began to sob; Mikansia took her into tal arms. "I've felt so alone!" Simone cried. "I can't.. I've not been back to the Gate since you left and I... I..."

"Your time is not up yet. You needn't be alone," reassured Mikansia.

"Why did you leave???" came ripping out of Simone's fragile frame.

"Because it was my time. I had to protect you, protect everyone. I had to keep you safe. So I did what I knew I had to do."

"But I miss you," shrieked Simone. "Why can't you be here???"

"But I am. And you can come see me. You can come to the Gate. I'll be waiting," promised Mikansia.

"I.. I will see you again. Tonight." declared Simone, eyes red, body shaking like a leaf.

Mikansia stroked Simone's precious face, stained with tears. "Yes, yes you will. Go live. Please. I'll see you again."

"Pr-promise?"

Looking into those eyes Mikansia said only what ta thought to be true.

And Mikansia was back before the Flame. The Sword was light as a feather, shining with an intensity equal to the Flame before ta; Akseli, Yngvar, Ensio, and Dale were positively corporeal in its light. Mikansia held the Sword of Uriel aloft, marveling at it.

"Ready to go kick Zaina's ass?" asked Yngvar.

And they were now in the main piazza of Kotae Mah. Prince Alpertti lay before  Mikansia and-

-Akseli, Yngvar, Dale, and Ensio were next to Mikansia. Solid. Corporeal, in the flesh, bathing in the light of the Sword of Uriel. Mikansia laughed for utter joy. "What, you thought we'd let you do this part alone?" asked Yngvar. 

Standing before the injured Prince Alpertti was what... remained... of Zaina. Eyes glowing, skin becoming transparent. Shadowy impressions of tentacles glowing out of its back. "This... this this is impossible!" it said in a voice that reminded Mikansia of the sucking sound a boot makes being pulled loose of mud. The skies rumbled in time with the voice. Mikansia looked up.

It was an army of Nameless.

The Music the Nameless emitted should have been enough to tear the whole planet apart.

Silence. As a positive force.

The Sword of Uriel would not be denied in the joy of fulfillment.

Zaina charged and what was left of it howled with the Nameless.

"Zaina, this ends, now." The Sword swung once. Not even dust was left. For one second Mikansia realized that Prince Alpertti was gaping at ta.

Akseli, Yngvar, Ensio, and Dale rose into the air. They grabbed Mikansia. "We'll give you a lift. Sound good?"asked Akseli.

"Thought you'd never ask," said Mikansia warmly, overjoyed by Silence. This was how it was always supposed to be, what ta had always needed, but had never had the words. And here they were, around here. The time had come.

The inhabitants of Heranyt, to this day, talk about what they saw in that moment. A V-formation of light so bright it hurt to look at sailed against the hundreds of Nameless that had come to Kotae Mah. The first explosion was the first one talked about the most, because no single explosion could be seen after that. The Nameless nearest the Kotae Mah vanished in a blast of light that washed over the planet like the caress a parent gives to their child. And then the other Nameless went up in a series of gentle blasts that happened so quickly it was all one incredible, overwhelming, gentle light. Some vaeltaja say they saw Olivia the Thunder at one wing of the flying formation. For whatever reason nobody doubted it.

There was no shadow for three hours.

Mikansia, for the triumphant's part, floated in light. The triumphant watched as the Sword of Uriel fell, given that Mikansia had no solid hands to hold it with. 

The Sword fell.

And fell.

And fell.

Glowing with the friction of re-entry, The Sword of Uriel entered a well in the City of Vigilance, nestled in the northern Etranger Mountains.

It came to a ringing rest in an anvil.

Which rested atop Uriel the Archangel.

Who will remain asleep until the time comes for him to arise and fight the Arch-Demon Eous once again, in the Armageddon to come.

But that time is not here. Not yet.

But all times are now in the face of the Flame, which is ever the same and ever-changing.

The Undertow: Session Thirty-Six

Princess Zaina has turned Kotae Mah upside down with a civil war. Prince Alpertti, rightful heir to the throne, had to be rescued by Mikansia. During the rescue Mikansia developed a new appreciation for the elven society ta had never really gotten the chance to experience, and helped Prince Alpertti come to accept mul role as the monarch of Kotae Mah.

Lore Note: Vaeltaja (elves)  do not see themselves in terms of male and female, given how little reproduction happens in a vaeltajan lifespan. We decided that elves would instead classify themselves in terms of how much Grief a vaeltaja carried on their soul. To them the differences between even a Grief of B1 and B2 would be noticeable, although for simplicity's sake they'd stick to what we think would make four categories:

Grief B0-B3: mu (singular and multiple)/mul (possesive)

Grief B4-B7 dai/dail

Grief B8-9 ta/tal

B10, but not yet sailed into the Void tor/torl

Oh, and those who died? The good ones are referred to as the triumphant, both in noun and pronoun. The bad ones are the houseless, noun and pronoun.

Prince Alpertti commanded patrols to be sent out, to see the damage done to Kotae Mah. Mikansia was assigned to a team and they moved out. Battles were still being fought in the streets, so they had to pick their way carefully.

A three masted ship came to a hover overhead. Bottles dropped from a chute in the bottom, and the team dove for cover. 

The jars broke open, covering the area in a sticky green liquid. Red fire leapt from the green, covering the whole block in an explosion, following by a roaring fire that defied all reason, as the fire was undeterred by stone, water, or earth. The whole city block collapsed in fire and flying stone. Out of one of the houses walked a flaming figure, who collapsed before Mikansia as ta picked talself up. Mikansia took tal cloak, the standard of the Sword Singer, off and began beating the prone figure before ta with it. The top half being more or less quenched, Mikansia flipped the unfortunate over.

Mikansia started as Makirta's dazed eyes stared up at ta. How Makirta was still alive was beyond Mikansia. But that didn't matter, there tor was. Mikansia picked up tal mother and ran to the remnants of an alleyway. Makirta was not easy to carry; tor was twitching and flopping like a fish in the bottom of a boat. Setting tor down was even harder, but Mikansia managed. Makirta's eyes were pleading, but torl mouth couldn't be controlled. Torl right hand was flapping harder than torl left, trying to reach into the pocket of whatever was left of torl pants. Makirta's eyes increased in intensity, somehow, as that hand flapped against torl unfeeling leg. Mikansia reached into tal mother's pocket and pulled out a metallic egg, complete with a hinge. Makirta's lips opened and closed in rapid succession, only barely permitting the word "Open" to pass. And then Makirta's eyes relaxed. And looked elsewhere. The body was at rest.

Mikansia sat at tal mother's side for what seemed to be a long moment, trying to take it all in. But, try as ta could, ta couldn't make it work in tal head. Makirta had routinely failed as a mother, why did ta feel this way? Why this hollow space, this grief, over someone who ta had no small amount of disdain for, someone who ta had never quite been able to forgive for the sting of abandonment ta had borne all tal life? But the rest of the patrol showed up before Mikansia could answer that question. "What are you doing here? Princess Zaina is sending more flying ships in a few moments, we need to get moving!" Mikansia looked over at tal mother's corpse. There had to be a way to honor the body; ta couldn't carry it, not now, not with more Elfhell about to be dropped in this sector of the city. 

For all of a Mikansia's life ta had held onto a ring ta had been told was Makirta's. Through this whole ordeal Mikansia had carried this ring, never mentioning it to anyone. Ta had no idea why ta still ahd it, but it had been there this whole time. It was the only thing Mikansia could do, to give the ring to what remained of Makirta.

Mikansia didn't open the metal egg until ta got back from patrol and reported to the Prince. Ta then found an empty alleyway outside their base of operations and opened it. There was earth inside the egg. And now Akseli was standing next to ta. They smiled warmly at each other. "We've much to discuss," said Akseli. "You'd better sit down." Mikansia sat without complaint, happy and safe, if not a little surprised.  Akseli sat next to ta, a bit transparent. "Makirta was here, looking for Jabez's children, on your behalf."

Mikansia was more than a little surprised. "Why?? Last I'd seen Makirta, the triumphant had adopted two human children. What happened?"

"A human couple came along and Makirta let the children go, to them. Kind hearted and good, the both of them. We knew you were handling Golau and that no one else could have done what you did. So I asked Makirta to come and stop Zaina from becoming Yetekaida."

"Excuse me??" Mikansia knew Zaina was bad but. 

"Oh, The Lone Keep always had the knowledge to make make a Yetekaida," said Akseli. Mikansia stared at the triumphant, stunned. "They've always had a way to do it, but the Lone Keep, for all the horrors it inflicted upon the world and itself, wanted to build a world, albeit a new one wrought in anguish. One they can live in, with the Nameless as their gods."

"But how could they have done it? You have to be a virgin elf and then invite the Nameless to hollow you out!" said Mikansia.

"Right, someone who had never been joined to another, inviting the darkness to replace them in their mortal shell. Horrifying, but stable. But children have no spiritual authority; they must have their parents make decisions for them. And so it is possible to invite the Nameless to hollow out a child, joining your will to theirs, and then binding them to you. You then become Yetekaida, as do they. They want it because you do. The child suffers immensely, and eventually rejects the Nameless, which then tears the adult apart. All depends on the adult's ability to hold the child in that awful embrace for as long they can."

"... Jabez's children," whispered Mikansia. "That.. that monster, that bitch! That... that..."

"Which is why I asked Makirta for help," said Akseli. "And the triumphant succeeded! Makirta got them away from Zaina and the remnants of The Lone Keep."

"Wait, were they in that building that just got bombed??" Mikansia demanded.

"No, the triumphant put them elsewhere, in The Grotto," Akseli clarified. "It was the only place safe enough, given Makirta's inability to get them off Kotae Mah immediately.

"I've never been in The Grotto," Mikansia admitted. "I hear it's a strange place."

"And a good one, at that," Akseli said. "No doubt Zaina is looking, right now. We must provide a distraction." Akseli stood up. "I must ask your permission for something. As things stand I'm not... connected... enough to do something, not directly. Makirta came up with a way to make sure I could come with the triumphant, and on the plane itself I have a lot more sway. But not up here, not beyond the cloud," Akseli said, indicating the clouds that now perpetually shrouded Heranyt.  You need someone with a bit more immediate influence, like the Damned. Ah, they're still attached to this world, clawing into it even as they left. KRAKERU! Come here!"

Krakeru's eyes were hollow, looking inward. Mikansia, who had stopped being afraid of Krakeru, was still uncomfortable ath the sight of the departed wretch. But Krakeru was almost unrecognizable. None of the swagger and machismo the damned had in life was here now. Akseli walked up to Krakeru. "They killed Makirta. That pisses you off, right?" The fires that had been in Krakeru's eyes returned, for a quick second.

"What are you suggesting?" asked Mikansia, growing more and more wary.

"We use Krakeru to create a distraction. Krakeru gets to rampage around a few minutes and you get to distract Zaina," said Akseli. "It's not like Krakeru here doesn't get something out of it or anything! Live as an animal in one life, be commanded as one in the next."

Mikansia wanted to argue and opened tal mouth to do so. But Jabez spoke up, in tal heart. Go. Get. The kids. Whatever it takes. Mikansia nodded, unsure if all this was really happening.

A moment later and Akseli and Krakeru were gone. An enormous cloud of lightning appeared, making a beeline for the palace of Kotae Mah. The elven soldiers let out a cheer: "Heaven has helped us! God is on our side! CHAAAAAAAAAARGE!!!!"

"Oh, if they only knew," muttered Mikansia. Ta hung back as the others charged, waiting in the shadows, wrapping tal cloak around tal shoulders to hide the glowing of the wyrmscale armor ta wore.

"Are you going to The Grotto?" Prince Alpertti asked. Dai seemed to come out of nowhere. Mikansia started but nodded after a moment. "May I walk with you? I ... I need guidance from those who dwell there." They fell in together. "So, you're Mikansia, the deserter from the Sword Singers," Prince Alpertti said with a playful but grave smile.

"How did you know that?" asked Mikansia, surprised.

"Oh, your story was very popular, before 'Princess' Zaina showed up and turned Kotae Mah into what you see now. Whole plays and operas were made about the star-crossed lovers, the great beauty Mikansia and the gallant Jabez, who died in each other's arms on the surface after fleeing the injustices of Kotae Mah!"

Mikansia stared, dumbstruck.

Prince Alpertti laughed, with an unexpectedly bitter tinge to dail voice. "The truth is far better," dai said as kindly a voice as dai could muster. Prince Alpertti gave Mikansia a letter. Mikansia looked it over as they walked down the quietly ruined street. The contents of the letter were awful: Toivol had told Prince Alpertti that dail father, the High King, was a dark elf, along with all the members of the court. "I managed to send a general who wasn't on that list, by sheer dumb luck," Prince Alpertti said bitterly. "I got the letter right after that."

"What do you want to do?" Mikansia asked.

"I'm not fit to be king. All this time I'd wondered, somewhere in the back of my mind, about everyone around me, but I did nothing. I'm done. My blood is steeped in the evil of The Lone Keep!" seethed Prince Alpertti.

"Why, because your father was evil? If anything that makes you more qualified, best qualified, because you're good, you know what you're protecting our people from."

"But you don't know.. what I've felt. What I think at night. What I see in the world. You don't see the things I inherited from my family. What happens if I give into those thoughts one day, just like my father, and the houseless's father before?"

"What do you see when you look at me?"

"A kind, selfless hero, someone who's given tal life for us, over and over."

"You're right. You don't see that I am from a long line of elves bred to be Yetekaida, to house the Nameless within them. You don't see the fights and heartbreak I had to endure to not become like my father. What you see is my choices. And when our people see you they see Kotae Mah's future. They see your strength, your wisdom," replied Mikansia. "What people see are your choices, Prince. Don't forget that." Prince Alpertti, nodded, thoughtful.

The Grotto, walled with love by the elves, stood before them. Its gates opened silently; they walked through. Inside The Grotto the sun shone as if they were on the planet still, the trees were as they were before the Ring of Tears had formed. "I've never been here before," whispered Mikansia.

"Neither have I," Prince Alpertti whispered back. "I was always told to never come here, except in direst need. I think this counts."

A strange humanoid with yellow parchment skin came from behind a tree, three little elves in tow. The children ran up to Mikansia, but stopped suddenly. The female of the three stepped forward. "You look like the nice tor. Where is tor?"

"Makirta, the triumphant, tried to come back, and gave everything to do so," said Mikansia, softly. Ta couldn't explain it, but something inside of ta had calmed at that statement, was at peace. "I'm Mikansia," ta said. The two boys were Macario and Eamon, the little girl Chloe. They were just as beautiful as Alexis; Mikansia's heart melted within ta.

The yellow-skinned figure came forward. "Welcome to The Grotto. This is a mysterious place."

Mikansia nodded. "I can see that."

"You are here to take the children to a new home, yes?" asked the monk. Mikansia nodded in assent. "Then come with me. I am assuming we are going to Vigilance." Mikansia wasn't even surprised. They left Prince Alpertti behind, waiting by the gates. "Dai has an appointement," said the monk. "Dai was called here."

They went around a tree and came out of an alleyway in Vigilance, facing Decima's house. Mikansia couldn't help talself; ta took a moment to look at the Chloe, Macario, and Eamon. They were so beautiful. There was a peace, a serenity that flowed out of Mikansia's soul. Mikansia wished this moment, looking at their beautiful eyes, seeing their still awkward little movements, could last forever. And ever. And ever.

And then the door flew open. "NEW FRIENDS!!" shouted Simone, who came running. Mikansia laughed, even as tal heart broke. Time wouldn't stay still, not now. 

Decima peaked her head out: "You coming in? she called, as the four children ran back inside, laughing already.

The heartbreak was almost too much; Mikansia almost succeeded in making talself forget about Kotae Mah and the trouble it was in. Ta almost made talself forget about  Prince Alpertti, about Toivol's sacrifice. Almost. But not quite. Mikansia shook tal head. "I... I have something I need to do, first," ta said with infinite longing, looking at tal family home. It occurred to Mikansia for the first time that this little house was just that: home.

"And you will need my help to get it done," said Tyce, who had appeared behind Mikansia. The monk was gone.