That One Time I Married A Crazy Goddess

After Yuuna explained almost EVERYTHING, Sethrak went on to say, "So we're chasing the same exact guy? Figures."

Yuuna asked, "And Gridd was at the castle when this happened, right?"

Draeven raised a finger, "With you an-and Xyenn's son…good thing they got out alive."

Illyana mentioned, "Gridd stated that when the Prophet arrived, it was his arrival that set off king Haldrek. His daughter kept Gridd and your baby alive."

"Mm." Yuuna paced back and forth, then latched herself onto Xyenn. "Prophets have been involved with our thing too. The dragon god we killed was supposed to be killed by Kassius Velmire, the one we are all after. The Prophets went to the Lysfødt and informed them of an anomaly like the Sun God. The Lysfødt gave Kassius power to kill anomalies, wanting him to be their enforcer. But no one one knows where Kassius is. So it was up to us to kill the Sun God because…yeah. Obvious reasons."

Kivorn yawned, "The Prophets…are definitely our enemies now..since we got rid of the Sun God..he's not coming back…."

Xyenn added, "Exaclty. Sooo how far are you guys from Gabriel's Ladder?"

Zyphira snickered, "We'll be there by morning! And Gridd is probably worried about us too."

"Hm? Why?"

Mertha chuckled, "Because once we're in Yuuna's head, our physical bodies are just standing there still, no blinking or breathing or any movement."

Zyphira laughed, "HAHA! I bet he's so scared right now. I wanna see his old grizzly dwarf face."

Yuuna gave off a little laugh, "I'm surprised Gridd is going with you guys. He usually doesn't do much fighting."

Illyana bowed slightly, "I tried to tell him to go back, but his knowledge of Jörvaldr is very useful, we could probably find Kassius there in no time. Sorry, dear Yuuna."

Yuuna waved at her, "Nooo no it's okay. He's in good hands with you all. Soooo he'll be fine until we get there!"

Sethrak put his hand on his chin, asking in curiosity, "And the Lysfødt were going to use Kassius to kill you, Yuuna. Seeing you and all of us as anomalies, I wonder why they asked Xyenn to kill you if they have—Nevermind. Forget I asked."

Zyphira smirked and pointed at Sethrak, "Dummy! Kassius is missing! They couldn't use him so they tried to manipulate Xyenn!"

"Shut it, fool! I knew that."

Gorran, his arms folded, said, "Now onto serious matters."

Yuuna added, "That Parcy woman was a pixie, straight from the Astral World. The world of spiritual beings like spirits and all that magical stuff."

Draeven stuttered, "The Astral World?!"

'I've been there..'

Illyana asked Draeven with a smile, "You sound surprised. What's the matter?"

"Huh? Oh nothing. No-nothing.."

Yuuna explained, "The Astral World apparently is missing, ever since Parcy left, she couldn't feel it or see it anymore."

Draeven stated, "No way the Astral World can be gone like that..right? It has t-to still be there. It's a separate realm from this one.."

"If we can find the Astral World, then we can use it."

Xyenn asked, "But if we're not of any spiritual race, how can we even get in?"

"Haha! Plenty of ways!" Yuuna smiled manically. "For one way, we could probably cover ourselves in the essence, or gore and blood of a spiritual being and walk right in!"

Everyone looked at each other as Yuuna continued to laugh, saying in unison, "She's finally lost it.."

"But anyway, if we can use the Astral World to help us beat Haldrek, then yeah we'll try and reveal it again. But we'll need the help of a spiritual being of sorts. At first I contemplated on why we should even take him down, but I realized it's many other reasons why. Me and my darling's son, he's definitely important."

Xyenn was flustered hearing that, "Still can't believe in a father. Feel so old when I'm so young…"

Mertha hit Xyenn on the back laughing, "Damn runt! It ain't so bad."

"Ow! You oaf!"

Xyenn turned, and he saw Zyphira looking at him, and Zyphira looked away instantly.

Which made him think, 'This is the third time I've caught her looking at me and looking away…is there something on my face? I know my left eye is gone but, am I that hideous?'

Yuuna continued, "Second, Haldrek is unpredictable now. Based on what you told me that Gridd told you all, he's unpredictable now. Based on the way he's acting it's gotta be more than just destroying the god of war. He might even try and destroy every god ever. He's gone insane and is missing as well, so this is bad. Us leaving is probably the root of it all, and he's gone unstable. We can't run from him, everywhere we go we might bring him with us which will lead to more deaths. And as you all kinnnnda already notice, I'm trying to be better. He has to be stopped. I already know that he wants our heads. He may be even stronger now. There's no doubt."

Xyenn bowed his head, "I—."

Illyana put her hand on Xyenn's shoulder, saying, "Please do not say it's your fault. Yuuna needed her memories of you so you two could be stronger. And this is the first time in a while I've seen Yuuna happy."

"Yeah. My bad."

'She's right. I have to stop blaming myself for a bunch of shit. It was necessary to get Yuuna's memories of me back. Even if the cost was great.'

Kivorn asked, "So..what's the plan now..?"

Yuuna put her hand on her chin, "Hmmm. Oh! We all meet in Jörvaldr. We'll be there a little after the morning, we'll be heading out how. And we absorbed the power of the Sun-Drake, so that's super good."

Zyphira clapped, "Hell yeah!" 

Yuuna then said, "Great! Now that we're all on track, let's go then."

Zyphira looked over at Xyenn once more, inspecting his eye, and his dragon arm.

Zyphira thought, 'I keep finding myself looking at him. Why..? Is it because he inspires me? The things he's done and the things he's said, makes me want to be like him. But why do I feel mushy inside? He's with Yuuna, and if this weird feelings gets exposed…I'll be done for! Seeing how Xyenn is now, all we've been through, I can't like him like that. Yuuna is my best friend, if she knew what I was feeling about Xyenn right now…no. These feelings have to be fake, my emotions getting the best of me. I won't worry about it.'

Yuuna clapped her hands, saying with a smile, "Good luck, everyone! See you all soon! Byeee!"

…

The field in Soulcaris was drenched in blood. The high grass that once swayed with unnatural life was now flattened, soaked in gore, and scorched black in patches where the Sun-Drake's flames had ravaged the earth. The air was thick with the smell of charred flesh, metallic blood, and the faint acrid tinge of burnt runes that had faded after the battle's end. 

Out of the red haze, Xyenn, Yuuna, Mertha, and Gorran trudged forward, their once-bright armor and clothes now stained with dark crimson. Their breaths were uneven, their bodies heavy with exhaustion, and their faces carried the weary look of those who had just stared death in the face and somehow survived. 

Xyenn dragged his feet, wiping blood off his face with the back of his hand, though it only smeared further. Yuuna clung to him for support, her body trembling with exertion, her once-flawless silver hair matted with blood and sweat. 

Mertha limped slightly, a deep gash across her thigh, though her jagged-edged halo still flickered weakly above her head. The flames on her fists sputtered out, leaving her gauntlets cracked and dark. Gorran's Xenith blade rested on his shoulder, its edge chipped, and his armor dented, but the man still walked tall, his face set in a mask of grim determination. 

Ahead, Orin stood in his blood dragon form, his massive frame towering over the Bloodmaidens, who were still encircling the altar. They moved slowly now, their ritual complete, their breaths no longer frantic but steady as they knelt in reverence, their crimson veils soaked in sweat and blood. 

As Xyenn and the others approached, Orin's glowing, molten eyes turned to meet them. His massive wings folded at his sides, still dripping faint streams of blood that hissed and evaporated before hitting the ground. The jagged horns on his head gleamed faintly under the blood-red sky, and his expression, though monstrous, carried an air of authority. 

"Well done," Orin rumbled, his voice resonating through the field like a distant earthquake. He paused, his glowing eyes narrowing. "But…" He let the word hang in the air, his tone heavy with implication. 

Xyenn's heart clenched, and Yuuna stiffened beside him. Mertha tilted her head slightly, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten, and even Gorran's posture shifted as his grip on his blade tightened. 

"What do you mean 'but'?" Xyenn asked, his voice hoarse and uncertain. 

Orin exhaled deeply, his massive chest rising and falling as he lowered his head slightly. "She wasn't able to be saved." 

The words hit like a hammer. Yuuna froze, her face pale as her hands trembled. Mertha's jaw dropped, her eyes widening in disbelief, while Gorran's fists clenched so tightly that his gauntlets creaked under the pressure. 

"No…" Xyenn whispered, stepping forward, his voice breaking. "No, that's not possible. That's—!"

Orin's massive form suddenly shook, and a deep, guttural sound rumbled through the air. It took a moment for them to realize what it was. Laughter. 

Fucking laughter.

The blood dragon threw his head back, his voice booming with amusement. "Just kidding." 

The tension snapped. 

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Yuuna shouted, her voice cutting through the air as she threw her hands up. "YOU BASTARD!"

Mertha, bloodied and limping, glared at Orin with disbelief. "What is WRONG with you?!" 

Even Gorran, normally stoic, let out a frustrated groan, wiping blood off his face. 

'What a foolish deity..'

"You're an ass," Xyenn muttered, his shoulders slumping as the adrenaline drained from his body. 

Before anyone could say more, Yuuna and Mertha stormed toward Orin in perfect unison. 

"You think you're funny, huh?" Yuuna snapped, grabbing one of Orin's massive horns. 

Mertha grabbed his tail, tugging hard. "Let's see you laugh now, you oversized blood lizard!" 

The sight of the two bloodied women pulling and yanking on Orin's massive dragon form was absurd enough to make Xyenn and Gorran exchange a tired look. The Bloodmaidens, still kneeling in reverence, glanced upward with what might have been confusion, though their veils hid their expressions. 

"Stop pulling!" Orin growled, flapping his wings in protest, but the two didn't relent, their movements fueled by sheer frustration. 

Finally, Orin twisted his body free, shaking them off with a low grumble. "You mortals have no sense of humor." 

Yuuna and Mertha turned away from him with synchronized scoffs, crossing their arms as they muttered under their breaths. 

But any lingering humor was snuffed out as a faint sound came from the altar. 

Quinara stirred. 

Her eyes fluttered open, their golden irises glowing faintly against the blood-soaked scene around her. The Bloodmaidens immediately focused their attention on her, their hands outstretched as they manipulated the blood pooling around her body. Her stomach, once torn open in grotesque fashion, was slowly mending, the flesh knitting itself back together with threads of crimson magic. 

She blinked a few times, her expression blank and unreadable, before her gaze swept across the destruction and chaos surrounding her. 

"Did it work?" she asked, her voice calm and steady, as though she were asking about the weather. 

Xyenn nodded, swallowing hard as he stepped closer. "Yeah. It's done. He's gone." 

Quinara sat up slowly, ignoring the Bloodmaidens who continued to work on her wounds. She slid off the altar, her bare feet pressing into the blood-soaked ground, but she didn't seem to notice or care. Her posture was steady, her movements deliberate. 

She turned to Yuuna, her expression serious as she knelt before her. "I don't belong to the dragon goddess of the moon anymore." Her voice was steady, but there was a weight behind her words. 

Yuuna's eyes widened, and she took a step back. "What are you saying?" 

Quinara met her gaze without hesitation. "I want to be on your side. I want to fight with you." 

Xyenn, Mertha, and Gorran exchanged surprised looks, but Yuuna remained silent, her eyes narrowing slightly as Quinara continued. 

"My people, the Quen, cast me out the moment I was marked with the curse. They didn't even try to help me. They abandoned me—called me an abomination, something unworthy of the moon goddess's grace." Her jaw tightened, and for a brief moment, her calm demeanor cracked, a flicker of anger flashing in her eyes. 

"I don't want to go back. I don't want to belong to her anymore. The moon goddess has been reborn, and when she learns of me, of what I've done, I don't even wanna think about what she would do to me. My people will have told her everything. I can't go back, I don't wanna go back to those weirdos anyway."

Yuuna's expression hardened. "Quinara, this isn't a game. We're not just fighting gods—we're fighting forces that could destroy entire continents. If you join us, you're as good as dead." 

Quinara didn't flinch. "I know the risks. I don't care. I don't want to belong to the moon goddess anymore. I want to be a weapon—a weapon against them all. Sucks that everything is governed by these deities, having their way with us because they wanna live." She paused, her gaze steady. "I have nowhere else to go." 

Yuuna hesitated, her serious expression softening slightly as she looked to the others. "What do you think?" 

'I don't want to put her life at stake, and then feel responsible for her if she dies…I wanna save people now, not doom them. But the other Tyrants were the same way, they know the risks. If I don't help her, am I still dooming her…? What will happen to her…!'

Gorran shrugged, his voice gruff. "If she knows she's gonna die, let her join. We were the same way."

Mertha wiped blood from her face, her tone calm but firm. "We all joined for reasons like hers. No reason she can't be with us." 

Xyenn nodded awkwardly. "Y-Yeah, I agree." 

Quinara turned her gaze to him, raising an eyebrow. "Stop stuttering so much." 

Xyenn glared at her. "Be quiet. I haven't forgotten about you attacking me." 

Quinara smirked, her voice light with mockery. "Oh, you mean when you pinned a pregnant woman against the wall?" 

Xyenn answered. "IT WAS A REFLEX. I'm not letting some random woman hit me! Are you crazy or something?"

Yuuna's expression darkened, her smile unnaturally wide as she stepped closer. "Pinned her against the wall, huh?" 

The air grew heavy as Yuuna's aura flared, a murderous energy radiating from her that made even the Bloodmaidens flinch. Xyenn and the others staggered back instinctively, their faces pale. 

Yuuna grabbed Xyenn, latching herself onto him possessively. "Mine," she declared, her voice low and menacing. 

The tension hung for a moment before Yuuna's aura faded, and she stepped back, her expression calm once more. She turned to Quinara. "Fine. You can join us." 

Quinara nodded, her expression unwavering. 

Yuuna stepped forward, drawing a small blade and slicing across her palm. Scarlet blood dripped from her hand, glowing faintly with power. She extended her hand to Quinara. "Drink." 

Quinara hesitated for only a second before leaning forward, pressing her lips to Yuuna's palm and drinking the blood. 

The air still hung heavy with the aftermath of the battle, but for the first time in what felt like an eternity, there was a strange calmness. The tense energy that had gripped the group moments ago began to dissolve as Quinara stood there, seemingly unchanged, her body straight, her demeanor as cool and steady as ever. She wiped her lips with the back of her hand, her golden eyes glancing between everyone with her usual detached confidence. 

"That wasn't so bad," Quinara said, her voice calm, almost dismissive. "I don't see what the big deal is." 

Xyenn thought, 'So that's how they become Tyrants…'

Mertha said, "Phew. Looks weird from this angle. Seems so odd."

Gorran agreed, "Mhm."

Yuuna, standing off to the side, suddenly burst into a wide, devilish grin, her eyes glinting with mischievous energy. She clapped her hands together loudly, startling everyone. "Oh, you think it's over?" she said, her voice carrying a giddy laughter that sent a shiver through the group. 

Xyenn's head tilted, his brow furrowing as he exchanged a wary look with Mertha and Gorran. "What do you mean? What's going on?" 

Yuuna straightened her posture dramatically, pointing a finger at Quinara as if delivering an ominous prophecy. "Side effects." 

Xyenn's face immediately drained of all color. Mertha and Gorran both froze, and the three of them turned to each other, their expressions perfectly synchronized in growing dread. 

"Oh no," they all said in unison. 

"What do you mean, side effects?" Quinara asked, her brows knitting together as she placed a hand on her stomach. "Why do I feel so... weird?" 

Before anyone could answer, a loud, guttural *burp* escaped Quinara's mouth, followed by a puff of dark pink flames that shot into the air like a firework. The flames swirled and sizzled ominously, leaving behind a stench so foul that it made Xyenn gag on the spot. 

"What was THAT?!" Quinara exclaimed, clutching her stomach as her eyes widened in panic. 

"Oh no, it's starting!" Yuuna said gleefully, clapping her hands as if she were watching a stage play unfold. 

Quinara suddenly bent over slightly, clutching her midsection, and before she could say anything else, a loud *fart* erupted, this one also dark pink flames. The heat was intense, the flames shooting out like a miniature explosion. The group immediately scrambled to dodge it, all while gagging and coughing at the horrendous stench that followed. 

"OH MY GOD, IT BURNS!" Quinara shouted.

Mertha was doubled over, clutching her nose as tears streamed down her face. "Ugh this sucks!" She yelled, her voice muffled as she tried to shield her mouth. 

Gorran, standing a little too close, was caught off guard by a particularly loud burst of flames. He stumbled back, waving his hand in front of his face. "Foul…"

Quinara, mortified, tried to cover her mouth and rear at the same time, but the effort was futile. "I don't know what's happening!" she shouted, her voice breaking as another burp of pink flames escaped her. "I feel dirty as hell!"

Yuuna was doubled over, wheezing with laughter. "Oh, this is even better than I imagined!" 

"STOP LAUGHING AND HELP ME!" Quinara barked, her voice both angry and desperate as her body betrayed her again with another flaming fart. 

Xyenn, his face red from laughing and gagging simultaneously, stumbled backward, clutching his chest. "Yuuna—!"

"This was kinda like you! But you just went crazy and started eating everything like a psycho!"

"Damn I remember that so vividly..it's like I couldn't even control myself.."

"DON'T BRING THAT UP!" Xyenn shouted, his face turning red as he tried to dodge another fiery outburst from Quinara. 

Gorran, who had been relatively quiet, finally had enough. His patience snapped like a brittle twig. "That's it," he growled, stomping over to Quinara. "Stop moving!" 

Quinara looked up at him, her eyes wide. "What are you—" 

Before she could finish, Gorran dashed forward and pointed his blade at her, which caused her to pause. 

'Breaking her side effects with a shift in emotions ... .shes startled.'

The sudden silence that followed was almost deafening. 

Quinara blinked, her golden eyes meeting Gorran's piercing gray ones. For a moment, the world around them seemed to fade away. The tension, the flames, the stench—all of it vanished as they stared into each other's eyes. 

Badump.

Gorran's heart slammed against his chest, the sound reverberating in his ears as he found himself unable to look away from her. Quinara's expression softened slightly, her lips parting as if to say something, but no words came. 

The silence stretched on, heavy and electric, until— 

"Oh no," Yuuna whispered, her voice dripping with mischief as she leaned toward Xyenn and Mertha. 

The three of them huddled together, their faces lighting up with identical grins. 

"Gorran's in love," Yuuna said in a sing-song voice, covering her mouth with her hand to stifle her laughter. 

"Oh, the mighty stoic warrior," Xyenn chimed in, his tone mockingly dramatic as he placed a hand over his heart. "Brought to his knees by love!" 

Mertha clasped her hands together, her voice dripping with theatrical flair. "Look at him, so broody, so serious. And now? A blushing wreck!" 

The three of them burst into exaggerated whispers, acting as though they were in a play. Xyenn pretended to swoon while Yuuna fanned herself dramatically. Mertha clutched her chest as if overcome with emotion. 

Gorran's face turned bright red as he shot them a glare. "Go jump off a cliff, all of you!" 

"Aw, don't be shy, Gorran!" Xyenn teased, dodging to the side as Gorran swung his massive Xenith blade toward him. 

Mertha, still laughing, ducked under another swing. "Careful, Gorran, we wouldn't want your new lady friend to see how insanely violent and murderous you are!" 

Yuuna, laughing so hard she had to hold her sides, watched as Gorran chased Xyenn and Mertha around the field. The massive warrior swung his blade with practiced precision but intentionally missed, though his frustration was clearly mounting. 

"Come over here.!" Gorran roared, his voice echoing as Xyenn and Mertha darted around the bloodied field, still mocking him between fits of laughter. 

Quinara, who had been watching the chaos with wide eyes, finally let out a soft chuckle. 

Yuuna noticed and walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Yeah, this is pretty normal for us," Yuuna said, her voice warm and amused. "You'll get used to it." 

"I love it here already, goddess of darkness."

Orin's molten, glowing eyes surveyed them, his expression unreadable. The silence lingered until his deep, rumbling voice finally broke it. "What you did here…" Orin began, his gaze sweeping across them all, "saved Soulcaris." 

The group stared at him, their expressions shifting from exhaustion to mild disbelief. 

"The dragon god of the sun is dead," Orin continued, his voice heavy with finality. "The people of this land will no longer suffer under his oppressive light. They will no longer burn. No longer starve. No longer live in fear." 

"The people are free now," Orin said, his massive wings folding tightly at his sides. His gaze lingered on the distant horizon, where the darkened landscape of Soulcaris stretched endlessly. "This is not my domain, but it is good to see darkness liberated. But know that since this worked, the elder dragon gods might make a repeat of this and escape the Cycle of Rebirth. You lot will need to be careful as you continue your journey."

Xyenn asked, "You can't help us fight them?"

"I am prohibited from combat by any means."

Yuuna, leaning on her spear with a lazy grin, clapped Orin on his massive forearm. "Yeah, yeah, no need to be so dramatic," she said with a laugh, her voice light, though there was an edge of pride underneath. 

Orin turned his head slightly toward her, his glowing eyes narrowing. "The deal is still on, you know." 

Yuuna laughed loudly, throwing her head back. "I know! I know, geez!" She waved him off with a playful grin, though her laugh carried a hint of weariness. 

The others exchanged confused glances, silently wondering what this supposed "deal" was, but Yuuna seemed completely unfazed. 

Orin's massive form shifted slightly, and with a wave of his claw, a shimmering crimson glow began to form in the air. The blood around him swirled and twisted, condensing and shaping itself into a massive creature. The blood hardened, crystallizing into a large griffin. Its wings were broad and sharp, almost blade-like, and its body gleamed with a dark, ruby-like sheen. Its eyes glowed faintly, pulsing with the same energy that emanated from Orin. 

"This will take you to Gabriel's Ladder," Orin said, nodding toward the griffin. "It will cut your journey by days." 

Yuuna raised her eyebrows, impressed. "A blood griffin, huh? Fancy." 

The griffin let out a low, guttural screech, its wings unfurling as it lowered itself to the ground, inviting them to climb aboard. 

As the group began to approach, one of the Bloodmaidens, her voice soft yet piercing, turned to Orin. "He's dangerous now," she said, her veiled face tilting slightly toward Xyenn. "Should we be worried about that kid?" 

Orin's glowing eyes followed Xyenn, who was helping Yuuna climb onto the griffin's back. The dragon's gaze lingered for a moment before he rumbled softly, "No. We'll be fine." 

The Bloodmaiden nodded, though there was a faint hesitation in her movements. 

Once everyone was aboard, the griffin stretched its wings wide and let out a powerful screech. With a single beat of its massive wings, it took off into the air, the ground below shrinking rapidly as they ascended. 

The world of Soulcaris unfolded beneath them, illuminated by a strange, ethereal glow. With the sun now gone, the land was bathed in darkness, but it wasn't the kind of oppressive darkness they had expected. Instead, the magic of the people below lit up the world. 

Small orbs of light floated through the air, glowing softly like lanterns, their colors shifting between soft blues, purples, and greens. The people were emerging from their caves and shelters, their faces upturned as they looked at the darkened sky. 

Below, Xyenn could see families clinging to one another, tears streaming down their faces as they cried out in relief. Some hugged. Others fell to their knees, hands clasped in prayer. Children laughed and ran through the open fields, their laughter carrying faintly on the wind. 

But not all were celebrating. Here and there, people knelt beside makeshift graves, their faces etched with grief as they mourned loved ones lost to the sun god's tyranny. The mix of joy and sorrow painted a bittersweet picture, one that tugged at the heart. 

Yuuna sat at the edge of the griffin, her legs dangling over the side as the wind rushed past her. Her hair blew wildly around her face, and her eyes stayed locked on the scene below. Her lips trembled, her brows furrowed as if she were trying to hold something back. 

She swallowed hard, her hands gripping the edge of the griffin tightly. She wanted to cry. The sight of these people—their relief, their joy, their grief—overwhelmed her. She had spent her time since meeting Xyenn striving to save people, and now, seeing them free, she felt a weight lift off her. 

But she shook her head, forcing a grin as she let out a soft laugh. "Come on, Yuuna," she muttered under her breath. "You don't cry in front of people. Not here. Not now." 

Off to the side, Mertha sat quietly, her gaze also fixed on the world below. She whispered softly, her voice barely audible over the rush of wind. "I got this…" 

Her hand hovered over a locket she wore, her fingers brushing it gently. The memory of her son flickered in her mind, and she took a slow, deep breath, steadying herself. 

Gorran sat alone near the griffin's back, his hands resting on his Xenith blade as he stared ahead. His mind wandered, images of the Berserkers he had fought flashing before him. He wasn't someone trained to save people. No, he was trained to kill, to destroy. But now, after saving these people, there was a strange feeling in his chest, one he couldn't quite place. 

Quinara approached him, plopping down beside him with her usual casualness. "I like that blade," she said, nodding toward the Xenith. "Where'd ya get it?" 

Gorran glanced at her, his expression broody as usual. "It's a long story, rookie."

"I've got time," Quinara said, smirking. 

He sighed, running a hand over the blade's edge. "Hm....." 

Quinara tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. "You're not great at this whole 'small talk' thing, are you?" 

Gorran scowled slightly but didn't reply, and Quinara let out a soft laugh, leaning back as she watched the sky. "I like you, your badass. All edgy and stuff. Then when that character development hits, it's like BOOM!"

"Tch. I'm not badass."

Badump.

 "Sure sure. Wanna hear about my magic?"

"….Tell it to me. Might need it for combat. Not because—."

"—Not because you're curious huh, sureee. Okay so…"

Quinara began to explain her powers to Gorran.

Meanwhile, Yuuna felt someone sit beside her. She glanced over and saw Xyenn, who had quietly joined her. He didn't say anything, just sat down, letting the wind and the glow of magic below fill the silence between them. 

The world seemed to slow as they sat there, the soft glow from the magic below illuminating their faces. The wind was cool and gentle, carrying with it the faint sounds of laughter and cries from the people below. 

Yuuna leaned her head against Xyenn's shoulder, her voice soft. "I feel great." 

Xyenn nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Yeah, me too. We really helped these people. Crazy that we didn't come here to help them, only to get your memories of me back."

"It all worked out."

Xyenn had thought back to Haelga, the witch who had hung herself to ensure their success. Her dying wish had been for them to kill the sun god and save Quinara. As he looked at Yuuna, Mertha, and even himself, he felt a flicker of hope. Maybe the promises he had made—promises to everyone and himself, could be achieved after winning this battle.

"You did a good job," Yuuna said softly, her eyes growing heavy with sleep. "You're really growing, aren't you, darling...?" 

Her voice trailed off as she drifted into sleep, her breathing steady against his shoulder. 

Xyenn glanced at her, a small smile touching his lips. He looked up at the darkened sky, illuminated by the faint glow of magic. "Yeah," he said quietly to himself. "I guess I am." 

The peaceful silence lingered for a moment longer before Yuuna's tail had wrapped itself around his neck and yanked him downward. 

"Go to sleep with me," she mumbled groggily, still half-asleep. 

Xyenn immediately began squirming, his voice panicked. "ACK! You just go STRAIGHT to choking?! Thought you were asleep! The moment was so dramatic!"

"Haha..tricked ya."