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Aranel had thought erasing himself would hurt more, especially given the vandraghor blood spreading throughout his body. But as the green flash engulfed him, as the longing feeling for Sherka’s chitrons finally dispelled from him, the only pain Aranel felt was a twinge of sorrow for his betrayal to his friends.
They’ll do what needs to be done, he thought as consciousness slipped away.
[Echoes of memories…Then a far away notion of…Squirming. Crawling. Anguished sobs. Frightened screams.]
A bright white light…
Aranel…Aranel…
He knows that voice. Meizan? Samarel? Taralei? Mother? Thousands of faces flash in his mind’s eye in quick succession.
A hard slap to the face jolts him awake. Awake to…
“Aina…?” He croaked.
“Finally!” She yelled in exasperation, her voice echoing through the dark.
Her small hand grabs his to lever him to his feet. “Aina…wh—”
He doesn’t even know what the question on the tip of his tongue was before a hard jab stung his ribs.
Gah, why does she always go for the ribs.
“That’s what you get,” her exasperation had worn away and she addressed him, “For erasing—no failing—to erase yourself. For leaving us with this mess.”
“And you had to articulate how much you missed me with violence?”
“It’s also a warning,” Aranel looked into the girl’s amber eyes, finally spotting the dark red—almost black lines snaking down her face. Andraken’s bond. Aina stated in a serious tone, “To quit trying to help me. Trying to make us even. You never understand me.”
“And I just make things worse?” He said and she quirked a smile. “Noted.”
“Now come on and stay close to me,” Aina clasped his hand and they began their shaky trek through the darkness, “You know what we have to do to save the universe, yes?”
Aranel recounted his disorienting memories and nodded.
“Good. But first we need to stop Azyaka and Meizan from destroying what little is left of the realms.”
“WHAT?” Aranel exclaimed, “Why did Meizan—I told him to bond to SHERKA!”
“Apparently he didn’t get the message.”
Aranel squeezed Aina’s hand, “Thank you for coming for me.”
“It’s not all about you,” she huffed.
“I know,” he said, “But I was an awful friend to you. But if I may, I am glad we get to fight beside each other and finally bring balance to the universe.”
Aranel now knew his place, and what he needed to do.