Laira smelled fresh air above. The tunnel ended, leading up into the ruins of Eteer. The dragons of Requiem emerged into the night. Stars covered the firmaments. The Draco constellation shone over the sea, but its light seemed faded despite the clear night. The dragons flew across the toppled city and landed on the beach, claws sinking into the wet sand. The waves whispered ahead, their crests limned with moonlight. Of the thousand dragons who had entered the Abyss, perhaps only five hundred remained; the rest had fallen to the horrors of the underworld.

Laira climbed off Jeid's back and laid Issari down upon the sand. The young woman smiled up at her, eyelids fluttering, and ten beams of light flowed out from her fingertips and toes.

A red dragon landed beside them and released his magic. Tanin ran up to Issari and clutched her hand, the one which contained the amulet. Laira held her other hand, the one embedded with a star.

"Issari," Tanin whispered. "Can you hear me? You have to let it go. Let out the starlight." He looked up at Laira and barely forced the words past his lips. "She's burning up."

The others gathered around: Jeid, his fur cloak gone to the fire, his bare chest covered with welts and cuts; Maev, blood staining the dragon tattoos along her arms, her eyes hard but her trembling lips revealing her fear; Dorvin, his stubbly hair caked with ash and blood, his eyes wide with horror. All stared down at Issari.

"Is she dying?" Dorvin whispered. "She's lit up like a bloody lantern."

The strands of light began to flee Issari, flowing out from her body and coiling around her, wrapping her in a cocoon.

"The light of Draco shines within me," Issari whispered, and her voice thrummed, high, harp-like. "I've taken the light into me, a conduit for the stars, and now those stars call me home." Tears like diamonds fell from her eyes. "I will find Requiem's sky. Do you see it, Laira? Do you see?"

"What?" Laira whispered, holding her sister's hand. "What should I see?"

Issari smiled tremulously. "The palace of Requiem. The halls of our kingdom. All silvery, rising from the forest, hundreds of columns and Vir Requis in white robes, playing harps, and leaves upon the tiles. I see them above. The celestial halls." She squeezed Laira’s hand. "You will build them, Laira Aeternum, Mother of Requiem. Your descendants will grow into a great nation that will rise in their light." She looked at Tanin. "And you will forever fly with her, Tanin, Prince of Requiem, the light of my heart, the love of my soul. You will build these halls together, and I'll watch over you. Always. Always."

Tears dampened Tanin's cheeks. He pulled Issari into his arms and kissed her lips. "Don't speak like that. As if you won't be there with us." His chest shook. "Don't you leave us, Issari Seran. Don't you dare."