After the successful arrest of Professor Faramund, the girls were let out of prison. Although Eila sided with the professor, Terra managed to convince the fanice to let her stay with her. Now, they're back in that dusty old cottage amongst the dead, rotting plants of Faecliff Village. They're still being surveilled 23/7, but at least they have a nice place to sleep.
Terra wakes up in she and Eila's bed and sees her sister is missing. For a moment, she panics, wondering if she may have run away. She throws some clothes on, but when she rushes into the living room, she finds Eila sitting at the same desk the professor used to invent at every day. The desk contents are now empty. She stares blankly at its polished wood.
"Good morning," Terra says. She takes a seat on the couch nearby.
Eila avoids eye contact.
Terra leans in. "Again, I'm sorry. I didn't want to do what I did yesterday. I had no other choice."
Her sister stays silent.
"What would have happened if we ran away? We might have been able to hide for a while, but the fanice would have found us eventually. They're too powerful to fight. Right now, we have a chance to be allies. We have a chance to save our people. I couldn't throw that away."
Eila looks at the floor, frowning.
Terra stares at the overgrown vines covering the window beside them. They have now turned brown. "Do you wish we had killed the fanice instead?"
Finally, the little girl takes a deep breath, and she speaks. "No."
"Then you understand why I turned the professor in, don't you?"
"She's going to die now," Eila declares. "She still cares about us, and the missing people. She doesn't deserve that."
"No one is dying today," Terra says. "Gabriel said he wouldn't hurt her as long as she gives up who she's working with."
"And do you really think she'll do that?" Eila shouts. She's standing up now. "She wouldn't even tell us. What makes you think she'll tell them?"
Terra's breath catches in her throat. Eila is right. The professor isn't likely to confess to anything. Still, there has to be a way to get her to talk. She'll find it. No matter what.
Even if she does, though, will Gabriel actually keep his promise?
Knock knock knock
A knock comes from the door, and Terra nearly jumps out of her seat. She looks at her sister, and Eila sits down, gesturing for her to answer. Cautiously, she reaches for the doorknob.
Of course, it's King Gabriel.
"Terra," he says darkly. No 'good morning' or any of his usual greetings. He just says her name. It makes sense, but it still hurts to hear. "I need to speak with you."
That's not a request. It's a demand. "Alright," she says.
As she steps out the door, Eila crosses her arms and looks away. She isn't even thinking of coming with them. That's for the best. The two of them close the door and walk down the dirt path. Despite saving their alliance yesterday, Terra can't help but feel nervous. She can't think of a reason he would want to be alone with her unless it's to share bad news.
They pass a few plant patches and walk past a bench made of logs. Now, they're standing on the edge of the steep cliffside of the village, overlooking the overgrown statues in the courtyard below. When Terra first came to this place, she wondered who those two could be. Now she knows. That's King Azrael, and the blonde woman standing next to him is his wife. Both are dead.
Gabriel stares at the effigies of his parents, looking melancholic. For a moment, Terra has an intrusive thought of him pushing her over the side of this cliff. She would certainly die from the fall. She tries to forget such musings. If the king wanted to kill her, he could do it in many easier ways.
Finally, he says something. "There have been attempts to interrogate Damira, but she won't talk."
"That makes sense," Terra responds.
"This morning, she did make a request, though."
Terra raises an eyebrow. "Oh? What is it?"
"She says she'll only answer questions if you two are the ones asking."
"Really? After yesterday? Why would she want to see me?"
"I have no idea, but it's the only thing she's said. She'll talk if she sees you two. Of course, you will be supervised."
"Of course."
Gabriel looks at her. "So, will you do it?"
"Yeah, I'll let Eila know when I get back." She's not sure why Gabriel is even asking her. It's not like she has a choice. It's either this, or the professor gets tortured… or worse.
There is a long, extremely awkward pause. Gabriel stares at the statues of his parents, while Terra's eyes dart around.
After a few painful minutes, she can't take the silence anymore. "I guess I'll go back to the cottage, then. Let us know when it's time to go to the dungeons." She turns to leave.
"Wait," Gabriel says.
She freezes.
"Take a walk with me." Again, it doesn't sound like he's asking.
Terra glares at him. "Why?"
Now, Gabriel's eyes are darting around, and he shifts the weight on his feet.
"Is there any more news on the professor?" Terra asks.
The king shakes his head.
"Then we have nothing more to talk about." She tries to leave again.
"I think we do," Gabriel says.
Terra crosses her arms.
Gabriel walks across the dirt path and takes a seat on the tree log bench. He pats the spot next to him.
Terra doesn't move. "I'm not sitting next to you."
"Why?" he asks.
"Because…" she trails off. Is he seriously asking that question right now? "We're not friends. You have my mentor in captivity, and you're holding my sister hostage."
"And you held a gun to my head. I am well aware of the state of our relationship," Gabriel states. "That's not why I want to talk."
Terra flinches at the memory of that pistol. She wonders where the fanice put that weapon. It was likely destroyed. "Then what's the reason?"
His blond eyebrows furrow, and his turquoise eyes are filled with worry. "Are you doing all right? After everything?"
"Why do you care?" Terra asks. "I'm a human, and a member of my family killed your father."
"That is true, but you sided with us," Gabriel states. "You turned against your family not once, but twice. You had nothing to gain, yet you still did it. I want to know your reason for that."
Terra thinks back to what happened in the server room. The horrifying shrieks from the fanice, the revelation that humans used them as energy, and the revelation that they would die should she go through with the professor's plan. "I was doing the right thing. Nothing more."
Gabriel runs his hands over the roots on his arms. His folded wings twitch slightly. Then, he looks at her again. "Is that all?"
She nods.
"Then why do you still have the necklace?" he asks.
Terra's eyes widen. She completely forgot about that piece of jewelry and that he can track her through it. The necklace is still in her black pants, which are now in the closet of the cottage bedroom. Today, she wears shorts given to her by the fanice and her usual black shirt. She's not wearing piercings. "I forgot about it. That's it."
"I see." Gabriel hesitates again, looking like he's thinking hard. Then, finally, he sighs. "I wish things didn't have to be this way."
"Me too." Terra can't help but agree.
"Despite everything, I'm not angry. I get why you did what you did. You didn't understand the situation. You were a pawn in someone else's game. I cannot fault you for that. It's why I want to help."
Terra clenches her fists. She recalls what he said to them when he found out they were human. "So, you are going to keep your promise? When our usefulness runs out, you aren't going to send Eila and me to that dimension alongside the rest of our people?"
His jaw drops. "What? No. I'm not going to do that."
"Why not? You have nothing to lose."
Gabriel leans against the back of the bench. "I keep my word, Terra. Plus, I couldn't transport you there even if I wanted to."
Curious, Terra walks closer. "Seriously?"
He nods. "We can't just send beings to other dimensions on a whim. There are rules."
"Then why did you threaten to send me and Eila back when we were in the server room?"
Realization dawns on his face. It seems he forgot about that. "I was furious, and in the moment, I believed you were behind everything. But I can't just snap my fingers and make you two disappear."
Terra wants to ask more. How did he and his father perform The Vanishing? How does royal magic work, and what are its limits? Yet now that he's said this, only one question burns in her mind. "If that's true, then how do you plan to bring the humans back?"
He tenses. "I said we'd find a way. I did not say it would be easy."
"In other words, you don't have a plan."
Gabriel gets up, too, trying to meet her eyes. "No, that's not it. There are other factors to consider. First of all, if I bring them back here, not only will my reputation plummet, but they'll go right back to oppressing us. I'm sure the fact that we trapped them won't make that better, either. Second, transporting people, especially that many across dimensions, takes an enormous amount of energy. Even if I tried to do it in secret, the other fanice would know. Third, they're not dead. They're fine. Time works differently in that void, so they won't die of disease or old age. We have plenty of time to figure this out, but for now, we should focus on the problems in front of us."
Terra grits her teeth. "Are you kidding me? How long will we have to wait? Ten years? Twenty? Until we're all dead? Meanwhile, they're in forced comas. They don't get to live or die. They're trapped in solitude, lost in their own nightmares. You destroyed our city, our homes, and everything we built. I don't know why you keep saying that's ethical!"
"They are NOT my priority!" Gabriel shouts. He spreads his wings, making him look much larger. "I am the king of the fanice, and I have a duty to protect my people. This world belongs to us, and I will not let them take it away again."
Terra backs away, her heart pounding.
"I care about you, Terra, but I will not sacrifice everything for you. If there were a way to save your people without endangering mine, then I'd do it. But until such a situation arises, I will not rescue our greatest enemy."
Terra takes several more steps back, and the king does not follow her. "Th-Then, what happens if that isn't possible?"
His face falls, and he stares blankly at her. "I guess you'd make a liar of me."
…
After Gabriel says that damning statement, Terra goes back to the cottage. This time, the king does not stop her.
She closes and locks the door, out of breath from the stress. Eila is still sitting at Professor Faramund's desk. She asks Terra what they talked about but keeps it general, not wanting her sister to lose hope.
Terra hates what Gabriel said, but at the same time, she understands it. If they bring the humans back here, there will be chaos. It's a problem she's been worried about since Professor Faramund told them what happened to the world. Now, she has to find an impossible solution.
…
An hour passes. Terra explains that they'll be interrogating Professor Faramund soon, and Eila says nothing will come of it. She's convinced that the professor is doomed, and Terra gets why. She tries to reassure her, but it doesn't work. After that, the sisters hardly speak to each other, until another knock sounds from the door.
Knock knock knock
This time, Gabriel and Michaela are on the other side. Ariel is with them, too. "Time to go," Michaela says. "You'd better not screw this up, or we'll throw you in with her."
"Don't be so mean, honey," Ariel responds. "We want them to cooperate, don't we?"
"With all respect, darling, don't tell me how to do my job. I'm not even sure why you wanted to come along."
The redheaded fanice pauses, biting her lower lip. "To stop you from doing this, obviously. You're being way too harsh. You could learn a thing or two from King Gabriel."
Michaela scoffs and leads the girls to the dungeon.
…
As they walk to the cells, Michaela tells Terra to ask certain questions. Who is Damira? How did she know about The Vanishing? And, most importantly, who was she working with? She calls the professor a royal, indicating she knows about that now. However, she still calls Terra and Eila "halflings." Briefly, Terra makes eye contact with Gabriel. He still hasn't filled them in on what they really are. She's thankful for that.
Meanwhile, Ariel trails behind the king. Her usual bubbly demeanor has melted away. She frowns, glaring ahead. It's hard to tell what she's thinking.
They make their way past the fanice prisoners, who are less than happy to see Terra and Eila free. They make mocking remarks, but everyone ignores them. Finally, Professor Faramund is in the cell at the end of the hall, far away from the other prisoners. Terra isn't sure why they put her there, but she can come up with a few ideas. She and those three fanice criminals likely did not get along.
The professor sits on her mattress with her knees to her chest and her back leaned against the corner wall. Of course, her backpack full of devices is gone. All she has is the clothes on her back. When she spots the girls, she rushes toward the bars. "Eila! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Miss Faramund," she says.
It breaks Terra's heart that she didn't ask about her, too, but she can't blame her.
"We did as you asked," Gabriel states. "Now, we expect you to talk."
"You'd better listen to him, halfling." Michaela says. "He's being ridiculously merciful." She glares at the king as if they've been having a month-long argument about that.
"I made a promise, Michaela. You know that."
She rolls her eyes.
Meanwhile, the professor glares daggers at the fanice. "Alone."
"What?" Michaela asks.
"I want to talk to my girls alone."
The captain of the guard laughs. "Seriously? You think you're in a position to make demands like that?"
Professor Faramund stares at them, her expression resolute.
"We can't leave you alone with them," Gabriel says. "That's too far."
"Then I won't talk, I'll die, and you'll never get the information you seek." the professor retorts. "You were right. I was working with someone, and you want to know who that is. I am, in fact, in a position to make demands."
Michaela looks like she's about to lose her cool. Then, Ariel steps forward. The color has drained from her face. "Th-That's too far. What makes you think we'll follow what you say after everything you've done?"
Professor Faramund stares at Ariel for an eerily long time. Then, she looks back and the king and captain of the guard. "Grant me this one request, and I will tell you the identity of my accomplice."
Gabriel seems to consider this.
And Michaela doesn't. "No! Not a chance. Do you think we're that stupid? What's to stop these two from using a spell to break you out?"
"I highly doubt that will happen, Michaela." Gabriel adds. His tone is insulting. "Besides, even if it does, they have nowhere to run. We'll stay right up the hall."
"That's ridiculous," Ariel says. "We have no obligation to entertain this. She's too dangerous."
The king narrows his eyes at the redhead. For once, Ariel and her girlfriend agree on something. The woman who was all about flowers, fun, and acceptance now doesn't want to give them an inch. This sudden shift in personality is jarring. Then again, the one behind bars did nearly wipe out their species. Terra shouldn't suspect anything but rage in return.
Gabriel looks between the two women, then at the girls. "There's nowhere for them to run. Besides, we need to discuss what to do once we do find the mole. Come with me, you two. Let's give them a few minutes, but only a few. After all, Terra did help us find Damira. We at least owe her a modicum of trust."
For a few more minutes, the women continue to argue with him. However, he's made up his mind. Eventually, Michaela gives in, leaving only Ariel who's against it. She desperately tries to convince the king this is a bad idea, but she's outnumbered. The fanice leave, with the first two practically dragging Ariel away. Realizing the little time they have, Terra immediately starts her first question.
"So, professor, here is what they want to know. What were you—"
But she is cut off. "Do you truly think you can save humanity like this?"
"Huh? That's not important right now. I'm trying to save you. Please, answer the questions."
"Oh, Terra. You still haven't learned anything, have you? I'm a dead woman walking. All I want to know now is if you truly believe you can save the people of this planet. Because from where I'm standing, you've sentenced you and your sister to a life of imprisonment. That is, if you're lucky."
Eila's eyes well with tears. "You really think so, Miss Faramund?"
"I'm certain of it. I'm sorry, Eila. You deserved better. I can't protect you anymore. That's why I'm hoping your joke of a sister has a plan, considering how ruthlessly she betrayed us to keep it alive. So, tell me, Terra, do you have a plan to save our people?"
"I…" she starts. This is worse than any interrogation. "I made a deal with Gabriel. He promised he'd to his best to help." She thinks of the resolute look in his eyes, the determination to protect his people at all costs, and shudders.
"And… what did he say?"
"He said he's still…" she takes a deep breath, knowing how this will sound. "figuring that out. He doesn't want to bring the humans back to this dimension because that could endanger the fanice. We're brainstorming… other ideas."
"Ha! You call that a plan? I told you, you can never trust the fanice. They don't want to help humanity, not even that naïve young king. You've dug our graves, Terra."
"Is that really true?" Eila asks. Somehow, she looks even more betrayed than before. "He isn't going to bring them back?"
"No! It's not over. I just need to find a way to bring them back without anyone getting hurt. Maybe we could move them to another part of the world."
"That won't work," the professor says. "Hardly any of Planet Viatrix is habitable. It can't sustain both populations aboveground."
"Then what about having some people live underground? Maybe we can work something out where the species take turns sharing the city?"
"That's ridiculous, and you know it."
"Then maybe we can…" She tries to think of other solutions, but each one is worse than the last. Working together to rebuild the ships and leave the planet is out because all known habitable planets nearby are under Galactic Federation jurisdiction. She thinks of trying to mend relations with the Federation, but that would not be possible if they don't take their land back from the fanice.
"Give it up," Professor Faramund says. "It's over. I'd suggest doing the best with the time you have and apologizing to your sister. You've wronged her beyond words."
Terra glances at Eila, and the little girl glares at her. She never thought her little sister would look at her with such hatred. "I'm sorry, Eila," and she means it. "If I could get you out of here, I'd give my life for that. I love you, and I hate seeing you suffer."
"Maybe we did make a mistake," she mumbles.
Terra's lower lip trembles. She doesn't want to say it out loud, but Eila might be right. She can see now where the professor was coming from. The death of the fanice would have been a tragedy, but it might have been the only way to save the three million people who are trapped.
Then, she thinks of the fanice: their families, thoughts, and feelings. They are people, too. "No, I still don't regret it. What the fanice did is temporary, but death is forever. I refuse to believe killing the fanice is the only way towards peace. I will find another way to rescue our people, no matter what it takes. You have to believ—"
Step step step
Before she can finish, the professor looks down the hall, holding a finger to her lips.
Footsteps.
They're out of time.
…
The fanice are back, and Terra's heart skips a beat.
Michaela crosses her huge arms. "What are you two staring for? We gave you what you wanted. Now, it's time to hold your end of the deal." She leans against the cell bars. "Who were you working with?"
Gabriel leans in apprehensively. Ariel looks pale as a ghost.
Conversely, the professor stays rooted to her spot, staring at the captain of the guard as if she's not a head taller than her. "Yes, you did hold your end of the bargain." Then, she points at Ariel, "but this one was less than cooperative."
"Why should that matter?" Gabriel asks. "No more games. If you value your daughters' safety, you will tell us who you were working with."
Professor Faramund smiles wickedly. "Honestly, I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yourselves. You know, with how extreme the previous king's policies were, it wasn't hard to find fanice with… let's just say, similar grievances. In order to get to Azrael, though, I couldn't pick just anyone. They needed to be close to the target, but not so much that they were loyal. Someone trusted within the inner circle, yet doesn't have any true bond with them like family ties or guards' oaths."
"Get to the point," Michaela says through gritted teeth. Pink particles hang in the air. Terra holds her breath, praying the professor will actually hold her end of the deal.
"I'm not sure you want me to," the professor continues. "After all, you know the person I'm talking about the best. You two are so close, yet you couldn't see what she truly wanted. It's an embarassment."
Realizing what she means, Michaela turns to Ariel.
The timid fanice backs away, her body hitting the wall on the other side of the hall. "D-Do you mean me? I didn't do anything."
"Sweetie, your innocent act isn't going to work anymore," the professor says, clearly enjoying this. "There's your big bad mole. The one who betrayed her own kind. The one who felled your precious king."
Michaela's face falls. "No… No! That's not right. Ariel's too meek to do anything like that. Stop playing games and tell us the truth already!"
Gabriel looks completely different, though. He approaches Ariel, his expression vacant and eyes glassy. "How did you do it?"
Tears well in the woman's eyes, but she doesn't respond.
"HOW did you do it?" he screams. "Nothing was fed to him when he arrived. No suspicious magic was used. So how did he die? Tell me!"
She trembles like an animal caught in headlights.
"Stop it, Gabriel!" Michaela shouts. "Damira is lying. Sure, Ariel wasn't a fan of the late king, but she loves our people. She'd never betray them to cavort with humans. She knows we are the rightful rulers of this world."
This statement causes a shift in Ariel. Suddenly, she doesn't seem afraid anymore. The woman glares at her girlfriend, those green eyes filled with resentment. "Really? And why are we the ones who decide that?"
Michaela's jaw drops at the sudden shift in tone. A chilling silence fills the hall.
"I'm sorry, honey," Ariel says, "but they're right. The culprit is me. I did it. I killed King Azrael."