Suddenly, the flames parted, and a lone figure rushed up to us. My breath caught. Everest. That was Everest. Even in the shadow of this dream, I recognized his aura. There was nothing else like it. But as he raced up to Frankie, I realized he didn’t look the way I expected him to, the way he always looked. This Everest had the same face but now his snow-white hair was long and straight, hanging over his shoulder. He wore silver body armor, but it was not a style of armor I’d ever seen, even in history books.

Everest didn’t even glance in our direction. He swooped in and cupped Frankie’s face in his palms, then lifted her to her feet. Glowing orange lines covered both of their hands and poked out from the top of the armor protecting their throats. His thumbs brushed over the tears on her cheeks. “I’m here. I’m here⁠—”

“I’m sorry. I had to. I had to. I’m sorry. Forgive me⁠—”

“It’s okay. Breathe for me.” His voice was soft yet firm. Unwavering.

She cried and shook her head. Her whole body still trembled and quaked like a giant crevice was about to open up inside of her and swallow her whole. Those pink eyes scanned his face without pausing, just bouncing around. “I had to, I had to, I had to. I’m sorry. Forgive me, I had to⁠—”

“This is not happening right now. That’s over,” he whispered with a voice more soft and tender than I expected him capable of. “Come back to me, Gali.”

She gasped, her back arched—and then she collapsed against his chest.

The fire vanished instantly the second her eyes closed. But she was not asleep. I knew that by the way her hands gripped his side. He was back in his usual white suit, his hair cropped short again. Her golden armor and long hair had changed to her normal shoulder-length hot-pink hair, and she wore a black sweater with leggings and fuzzy socks. There were no blood or dirt stains on her hands or face. Only tracks of tears. Her body trembled against him, but he held her tight against his chest. We were on her balcony again, yet the snow had vanished too.