[Necromancer]. The [Singer]’s mind went blank. She backed away as the small figure wandered towards her. Reaching for…

“No, no.”

This she couldn’t do. Cara recoiled. She backed away and then heard a second voice.

“Sasi?”

Cara turned. Who had said…?

Culin. He walked towards them. Somehow, he had followed them amidst the chaos, losing his bodyguards. He did not look for the [Necromancer], or at Cara.

He had eyes only for his sister.

Culin had a dagger in his hand. It was wet under the rain, but he hadn’t fought. He walked towards his sister, like he was dreaming. Yet his eyes were locked on her face. Cara moved to block him. No. Not like—Culin looked at her. His voice was trembling.

“She has to rest. I have to do it. It’s my responsibility.”

Sasi’s eyes slowly tracked Culin as he pulled away from Cara. He walked over to her. She swayed where she stood.

A little girl with torn clothing. Ashy from the fire. She looked at him blankly, breathing faintly. Her eyes were fluttering. Her right foot bandaged. Culin was shaking. He raised the dagger. His voice broke as he stumbled forwards.

“You can rest with Mother and Father.”

“No—”

Cara made a sound. The [Lord] wavered. His hand shook like a leaf. But his sister. Culin ran forwards with a scream. Cara saw Culin’s dagger plunge forwards. The blank little girl looked up—

And Sasi caught his arm. The boy froze. The girl gripped his arm. He raised his hand—and Sasi inhaled.

She…inhaled. Her mouth opened and she breathed in. Out. She held Culin’s arm with a shaking grip, and her eyes focused on the dagger. She blinked a few times. Then she looked at her little brother. The girl croaked.

“Culin?”

Culin’s face went pale. Sasi just stared at him. Blinking, as if coming out of a dream. He stuttered.

Disbelieving. Wanting to, but…the dagger pointed at her throat.

“But—Sasi? But the [Necromancer]—”

Sasi looked at him. No glowing eyes. No…Culin glanced down. At her bandaged and splinted foot. Sasi whispered, staring blankly around.

“He cast a spell on me.”

Cara saw the dagger drop from Culin’s hand. The boy reached out with trembling fingers, and touched his sister’s cheek. He wiped away a bit of soot mixed with the rain. Felt her warm cheek. She shivered and he gazed at her. Then he grabbed Sasi and hugged her. Without a word, she embraced him, tears running from their eyes.

The [Singer] was on her knees as she looked at the two. She…

Cara searched around the consumed fields. The ash. Nothing remained of the [Necromancer]. Cara looked at Sasi. Alive.

The remnants of a soul.

Feremont.

Cara would never thank him. Even so—