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The other warriors of the stars had either retired for the night or were off on their own adventures, leaving Nerissa and Lady Bloodflame on their own under the oppressive night sky.
This was by design - even those more hesitant than others to forgive the five betrayers understood the tension had to be resolved between these two were they to make any progress toward victory. Nerissa had worked to ensure the meeting would occur, but Lady Bloodflame had to be tricked into it; she would be a lot less trusting of the phoenix going forward.
For the first five minutes, Nerissa would open her mouth, then withdraw. She wanted — needed — Lady Bloodflame to break the silence. She had already given her heartfelt apology many times, and it clearly wasn't enough. If any resolutions were to be made tonight, it would have to be on the knight's terms. Eventually, it seemed like Lady Bloodflame finally got the hint, and spoke her first words of the night:
"I have nothing to say to you, witch."
That word... it felt much different than it used to. Once upon a time, it had stung; a series of sharp pricks from a stubborn knight who refused her own feelings. Now, it was more like a bludgeon: a reminder of everything Nerissa had done to Lady Bloodflame, to the others, to herself. But she knew she couldn't let this deter her. This was to be a battle of words, and she was ready to fight back.
"I don't think that's true, Lady Bloodflame. I think there's a lot you need to say to me, and this is the perfect opportunity to do so."
"And how are you so certain of that, hm? Could you somehow read my mind while coercing me into doing your bidding?"
"As if that would be necessary. Your emotions have always been easy for anyone to read."
Lady Bloodflame smirked, finally turning around to face her conversational partner. At last, the battle could properly begin.
"Let's say you're right, witch. That my heart is full of conflicting emotions about you, like a schoolgirl dealing with her first crush. Why would I share any of it with you? Once I called you a princess, swore I would fight for you no matter what. Where did that lead me? Why should I even tell you what color I think the sky is, as if you wouldn't find a way to control me with that, too?"
"Don't act like these circumstances are the same. You know fully well that at that point I had already been..."
"Corrupted, right? By the Stains, I've been told?"
Nerissa cursed herself for hesitating there. She knew Lady Bloodflame had her doubts about that, and allowed her an opening she didn't want her to have.
"The fluffy and fuzzy ones, I'm certain, were not acting of their own will. Even the little princess, despite her... er, former corruption, was likely led astray. But you and Shiori? You were always like this."
"Lady Bloodflame, surely you don't-"
"Do you think I can forgive myself for ever considering you two amongst my ranks? For letting you... seduce me, letting her write those disgusting lies about all of us and sell them?"
"Is that what you think your mistake was?"
"Pardon?"
"You think your issue is that you were too trusting? After all the times you pushed me away when I tried to get closer to you, ignoring me when I needed you..."
"I-I don't know if..."
"...do you truly believe that you would have stopped me if you were even worse?
For the first time in what felt like ages, silence filled the air around the two. Lady Bloodflame looked down, the grass beneath her bringing no additional comfort to her situation.
"And w-what about-"
"'What about all the times we sparred,' are you going to ask? What about all the dungeons we cleared together, all the gifts we exchanged, the kisses we shared?"
"You didn't have to mention the-"
"I'd like to ask you that question, Lady Bloodflame. What was I to you during any of that? A weird, clingy friend? An accursed witch who needed to be entertained with the idea of companionship? If I was something more to you, you certainly didn't want me to believe it."
The flame on Lady Bloodflame's chest illuminated several tears rolling down her cheek. She did not acknowledge them.
"I'm not saying I'm blameless here. I take full responsibility for the pain I put you and everyone through. I just... wish you would accept some of your own."
After several minutes of silence, Lady Bloodflame finally wiped her tears away. "You're right. I'm sorry. I should have realized from the start."
Nerissa, too, began to tear up. Perhaps, the seemingly impossible process of healing could begin.
"From the moment we set foot in Libestal, you... have always been my greatest mistake."
"Your... what?"
"I thought I could pacify you. Indulge your fancies. Sort those feelings I had of you out, and continue being a noble and stoic knight. But I faltered, and let you slip further and further into the role you were always meant to play."
"L-Liz, I don't think-"
"That's why I couldn't bear to look at you after you were freed. Not because I hate you, or even distrust you. But because you're a mirror that shows me I am nothing but a failure as a knight... and as a companion."
A witch. A princess. A friend, and then a foe. None of them what she truly wanted to be, and yet she'd pick any of them in a heartbeat over being a mirror.
"That's not... truly how you see me, is it, Lady Bloodflame? As nothing but a mirror?"
"Aren't my emotions so easy to read?"
Nerissa stared into Lady Bloodflame's eyes, hoping desperately to find the darting gaze that never failed to prove her uncertainty. It was not there. Her pupils did not flinch, and it was clear her convictions wouldn't either.
"If that's really how it is... what do you intend to do?"
"Well, that's just the problem, isn't it? I can't exactly kill you, but-"
"EXCUSE ME? You want to kill me?"
"Well, what else am I supposed to do? Lock you in a cell so I never have to see you again? According to your friend, I've already done that."
There was no irony to her words, no emotional discord that belied her true feelings. She was speaking of murder and imprisonment with as much enthusiasm as someone throwing away unwanted furniture. Nerissa had spent the entire day preparing herself for this argument, for whatever the stubborn knight would try to throw at her. For the first time, she had no response.
"Hm... I have an idea, actually."
"Y-you do?"
"I made a promise to you, didn't I? That I would stand by your side no matter what. And I fulfilled that promise, even as you made me fight my compatriots. If you truly are reformed... isn't it only fair you make a similar covenant?"
"What do you want me to do?"
"Die. And don't return."
"Lady Bloodflame?"
"You can feel it too, right? Whenever we perish, there's a force that pulls us back into the world of the living. But you can resist that force. You can remain gone. You'll do that for me, won't you?"
The tone of that last question was familiar to Nerissa. It was the same she would use when flirting with her, when trying to get her to open up. It was far more effective than it ever was coming out of her mouth.
"Very well. I... shall depart from this world, if that is what you truly desire."
Lady Bloodflame smiled, looking happier than Nerissa had ever seen her.
"Thank you. I knew you would understand how important your sacrifice is. I shall let you choose your method as well! There's a cliff nearby, if you have a flair for the dramatic, though the quiet and subdued drowning may be more suited to the look on your face right now-"
"I want you to kill me. With your own sword."
"...Oh. Getting personal, are we?"
"And I want you to look at me when you do it. Don't take your eyes off mine for a second. If you can't do this, I won't do as you say."
This was Nerissa's last chance. To break whatever curse had fallen over her companion. Even if they could never be together, she had to bring her to her senses. For the future of the kingdom, if nothing else.
"Your terms are accepted." Lady Bloodflame took several steps back and unsheathed Thorn, aiming it at the raven's midsection. Their eyes met, as promised. Nerissa did her best to bare her very soul through her expression.
The knight lunged forward. The blade stopped several centimeters from her target's skin. And a moment later, it fell to the ground. Followed by Lady Bloodflame's knees, followed by her tears.
"I-... what have I done? Killing you? How could I... what came over me?"
Her face, a sobbing wreck, looked up to be met with Nerissa's warm smile. The deep shame she felt only compounded as forgiveness radiated from her former target.
Nerissa knelt down and held the knight in a tight embrace. She closed her eyes, focusing entirely on the warmth of her flame and the feeling of their necks touching.
Had she paid a bit more attention, she might have noticed Thorn was no longer lying underneath them.
"We can move forward. Together."
Not that it would have given her enough time to move out of the way.
"No, that won't be necessary."
The moment the piercing sensation in her back registered, she could already see the bloody sword, lit by blue flame, emerging from her chest. The rest of her nerve endings then followed suit.
The shock made it too hard to scream. A combination of her body rapidly fading and reality itself being impossible to comprehend. Before she knew it, she was lying on the ground, the sword removed from the now-gaping wound. With the last of her strength, she managed to roll over and see her killer's face.
"Quite the neat trick, isn't it? I only discovered it a day or so ago. This flame binds Thorn to me. If it travels a certain distance from my side, I can make it return to me... however I want.
There was no corruption in her voice. No impurity in her eyes. That was the final realization to go through Nerissa's head. Looking down upon her, blue flame glowing brighter than ever, was the woman Lady Bloodflame always was.
"I hope you don't forget our promise, My Maven In Blue."
The scarlet knight stood alone in a vast field. The sun was beginning to rise, and the pools of blood at her feet and on her sword were all that remained of the night's encounter. She sheathed Thorn, letting the blood dry inside her scabbard. As she turned to walk back towards the town, a voice inside her head began to fill her with doubt: were these truly the actions of a knight? One who must protect anyone from evil, no matter what?
Lady Bloodflame let out a small chuckle. A knight? What was that voice talking about?
A knight obeys. A knight puts others before themselves.
Lady Bloodflame isn't a knight. She's a queen. And not a phony make-believe queen like that pompous clock woman. A genuine queen, capable of bending everyone to her will - or else.
A harbinger of Order. A leader of Justice.
The witch would undoubtedly return. She would try to rally her friends again. She might even exploit the sympathy of the others to "warn" them of this new development. Queen Bloodflame would need a team. A group that could, under her command, lay waste to any who oppose her cause.
Gonathon, the unwaveringly loyal knight, whose heart was toyed with and thrown out by that "Archiver".
Immerkind, the beautiful automaton whose true love was ripped from her right before her eyes.
And the pink cat, whom the phoenix proved was easily manipulatable.
Yes... this would do.
Together, they would tear down this foolish notion of fighting fate. They would destroy the corruption on their own terms. And they would bring that petulant Outsider to heel once and for all.
And if Libestal had to fall in the process... a small price to pay for Justice.