“That door was expensive.” Quin chuckled and waved her fan.

“What are you doing here?” Altera reached for her partisan.

Again, Quin was with Ragna. Couldn’t she keep her hands from her friend? Ragna didn’t belong to her.

“Me?” Quin smiled and slanted her eyes. “I’m helping my sweet little Lindi out.”

Lindi?

Altera's brow furrowed, and her grip over her partisan tightened.

How dare she call Ragna that nickname. Only she and the princess had the right to call her Lindi.

“You think I killed your brother?” Ragna asked. “Do you have any proof? I mean, you can’t go around accusing people of murder. I was there with you when he died.”

Altera exhaled.

She had to ignore Quin. Her existence didn't matter.

“And that was your trick,” said Altera. “Because he was already dead when the alarm rang.”

Ragna raised her eyebrow. “How should that be possible? We know that Geißel rang the alarm in his last moments.”

“No. We know that the alarm rang, but we don’t know if Geißel did it.”

“Who else could? Like, I don’t know his phone password or anything like that.”

Altera pointed at Quin. “You’re his wife. I’ve seen you using his phone before.”

“But I was downstairs,” Quin said. “How could I press the button when I didn’t enter the room?”

“You used your Ysbryd. With your fan, you can control the wind. As the Chieftess, you know the layout of your residence by heart. You summoned a gust of wind unnoticeable to anyone and sent it upstairs into Geißel’s room. There, he was already dead. You slit his throat open and activated his phone.”

“Doesn’t that sound preposterous? You want to tell me, without knowing its location, I activated the code of his phone and pressed the right app to activate the alarm?”

Altera nodded. “You’ve mastered your Ysbryd. So, you can control the winds like an extension of your arm. You can manipulate the intensity of the wind on a whim. And with a touch screen, it wouldn’t be too difficult to press the app that rang the alarm. If you practice long enough, you could do it without looking, I presume. Same for the code.”

“Still, that doesn’t answer how I could locate his phone. We found it in Geißel’s hand. But that was luck. It could have been anywhere.”

Altera smiled. “You called him. Your Ysbryd is an extension of yourself. Whatever happens to the wind, you can feel it as well. It expands your senses and serves as an extra sensory organ. When you called Geißel’s phone, his ring tone vibrated through the atmosphere and resonated with the wind. You could feel the vibrations with the wind, and thus you located his phone. And with your Ysbryd, you could carry it near his hand to make it look like he rang the alarm before he died.”

“An interesting theory.” Quin didn’t lose her smile for a second. “But how do you know it was me? I’m not the only one with a Ysbryd or a Fylgja. With creative use of the abilities, everyone could have done it.”

“They couldn’t. We would have seen it. A Ysbryd manifests as an object, and both Priest Amakusa and Avici didn't have their Ysbryd out. We would have noticed, given how conspicuous those are. But yours is a fan. You could and did use it during the entire dinner. And for us with a Fylgja, none of us knew his password or had access to his phone long enough to practice testing with it. You’re the only one who could do it.”

“Okay, let’s say I did it. Why would I help cover my husband’s death? And how do you want to know it was Ragna?”

“Both questions are easy to answer,” said Altera. “Let’s start with your motive. You helped Ragna because your allegiance lies with Linde Sieg. You never cared about my brother. You just wanted to hurt me, so you took him away as a convenient cover. No one should realize your love for a dead woman. And once Ragna appeared at your door, you saw your chance to get Linde Sieg back. But Geißel was in the way. So, you convinced Ragna to kill him.”

“That’s quite reaching. But I’ll amuse you. Let’s say you’re correct, and I helped to cover up my husband's murder. How do you want to know it was Ragna?”

“Because, as I stated before, we would have seen if anyone had used a Ysbryd. And likewise, the people of Utgard don’t have access to runes. That leaves only us. Eric’s and mine Fylgja aren’t exactly unnoticeable, and our runes are useless for an assassination. We would have seen it if Eric used teleportation. If I used my runes, you would have seen other wounds. That leaves only you.”

“What about Jareth?”

“He has neither access to runes nor a Fylgja or a Ysbryd. I got confirmation from Brynhildr for that.”

She didn’t, but neither of the two needed to know that Jareth was a drifter who had stumbled upon this scenario.

Altera took a deep breath.

She had ignored the possibility even though she should have considered it from the beginning. Her fondness of Ragna had blinded her.

“You poisoned him with the Iwas rune. After your fight, you touched his glass and dripped your poison in his drink. Later, when he was in his room, Geißel started to vomit blood and wine because his stomach tried to fight it off. That’s why the liquids were everywhere in his room and why it was leaking out of his body.”

Several seconds passed. No one said a word or moved. All three looked at each other until Ragna started to clap.

“So, you figured it out.” In Ragna’s voice was neither surprise nor regret. She sounded disappointed, like a child who had lost a game they had played. She shrugged and placed her arms on her hips. “What now?”

“I don’t understand. Why did you kill my brother?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Because of you.”

Altera raised her eyes. “Because of me? W...What do you mean?”

“She wanted to free you from your abuser’s clutch.” Quin wrapped her arm around Ragna’s.

Altera cringed. “He didn’t...He never…”

“That’s a classic sign of abuse.”

Altera tried to answer, tried to defend her brother, but Quin cut her off with a movement of her hand.

“I couldn’t just sit there and watch him make you miserable,” said Ragna. “You’re my friend. I did this all for you.”

No, that couldn’t be. She couldn’t be the reason Geißel had died.

“No.” Altera’s lips trembled. “This isn’t right. Murder isn’t right.”

“Altera, wake up.” Ragna raised her voice. “This is justice. I did it to protect you. This is what we’re supposed to do. Letting him continue would be nothing but evil. But now, you’re free from him. You can live your life however you want. We can be free.”

“No,” Altera said again. “This isn’t what I wanted. This isn’t justice.”

“I asked you before what justice is. What is good? Letting your brother live would be good. A noble and pure answer for sure. But would that have been just? Would it have been just to let him continue to torment you? Someone as powerful as Geißel stands above the law. I executed him and brought justice to this world.”

“No…” Altera repeated. “I can’t accept this. This isn’t justice.”

Ragna sighed. “Did I hit your head, or why do you say the same words again and again? Face it, this world is complicated, and sometimes, there’s no perfect or easy solution. Your ideals of being a Valkyrie are, in the end, just that. Ideals. It’s nice to dream and think about the perfect woman, but no one will ever become one. Sure, go on and play being a Valkyrie. But how much can you achieve? How often did you fail?”

Ragna spread out her fingers and counted the incidents on her hand.

“On the Bifrost, you failed. Against Eikthyrnir, you had entered a bargain that will hunt you for the rest of your life. You failed to save a single passenger. If it weren’t for me, the Paladins would have killed us. And let’s recap your performance in this tower. First off, without Quin, Geißel would have ended your journey right then and there. Your first task was something as simple as leaving a room, and you almost failed. Then, you would’ve drowned if it weren’t for me. In our fight against Quin, I had to bail you out, and here, you sure gave us one train wreck of a show. Seriously, you’re nothing but a fuck-up.”

Altera didn’t answer.

There wasn’t a response she could give. Ragna was right on every account. She had failed too often. Nothing she tried ever worked out.

“And when it comes to your ideals, you aren’t as perfect as you think you are. Path of righteousness, my ass." Ragna blew her nose. "You’re a greedy, obsessive, and co-dependent bundle of psychoses and disorders. Your brain’s a mess. The way you think about me sure isn’t Valkyrian-like at all. You finally found something close to a friend, and now you want to keep me forever. How ridiculous.” Ragna let out a laugh and ground her teeth. “You think you can own me? I’m free in ways you’ll never be. Do you know what I am going to do next?”

Altera stared at Ragna, her face becoming paler by the second.

“I’ll sit on Utgard’s throne. I bested the Chieftain. Doesn’t that make me the new one? In a world where power sets you above the law, people will accept me as their new idol. Though I guess there are a few confessions I’ve to make. I killed Geißel for you, but now that I think about it, that motivation was a waste of time.”

“W...What do you mean?” Altera asked.

That didn't make sense. Why was Ragna saying that? It didn't make sense. Why couldn't everything be logical?

“I don’t like you."

Altera's partisan dropped from hand. "Huh? No. Please..."

"We tried to be friends, but we’re too different in the end. Trying to be your friend was a waste of time, and I don’t want to see you ever again.”

“No, you’re lying.”

“A classic Altera: denying the truth in front of her.” Ragna smirked and shook her head. “The two of us could have worked out. It wasn’t some impossible task. I wanted to be your friend. I wanted to like you and be with you. But you blew it. Your loneliness is your fault and only yours. And since we’re at it, let me confess the second truth. As the Chieftain, I need a wife, and only one person can fit that role.”

“No.” Altera’s body started to shive, and her armor rattled. “Please, Ragna. Don’t do this to me.”

Ragna turned to Quin. Ignoring Altera’s pleading, she looked her in the eyes. With a grin she directed at Altera, Ragna jumped into Quin’s embrace and kissed her. Their lips locked, their tongues intertwined in passion.

Altera shouted at the two. Tears ran down her face, but they wouldn’t stop. As she stood there, the two women continued to make out.

How long did it last?

Altera couldn’t tell. When Quin faced her again, Altera’s senses had stopped functioning.

“I guess I should reintroduce myself. I’m Quin Bei Fong, Ragna’s wife.” With a smile on her face, Quin bowed. “My hobbies are martial arts, cooking, and taking everything Altera Xion holds dear from her. Nice to meet you.”

“Stop it.”

“You see,” Ragna continued. “While you were working hard and failing, I was fooling around with her. Perhaps I’m a bad woman? Or perhaps I needed someone worthy of me? I mean, how can a pathetic woman like you ever compare to someone as amazing as Quin? She understands me, unlike you.”

“No, you’re lying. Didn’t you say you were making out with Eric? You do this just to mess with me." Altera clutched her hands to a prayer. "This is another of your sick jokes. I get it. I’m sorry for everything I did. But please stop.”

“Oh, that?” Ragna’s smile widened to a grin. Her voice became softer and turned into a mirror of her joy and ecstasy. “That wasn’t a lie. We did make out. You see, my standards are quite low, actually.”

She walked towards Altera. For every step Ragna took, Altera walked one step back. Altera tried to increase the distance between the two until she felt the Orichalcum wall behind her back. She couldn’t retreat further.

“I'll have fun with Eric. And with Aura. Your father. My father. Quin, and Nephthys, and the masked man. I will have fun with the Captains and Paladins and Rory.”

“Please. Stop.” Altera rocked her head. “Nonono. I don’t want to this. Please stop.”

“There are billions of people in this world. So many stories and faces. Humans are awesome, aren’t they? I want to meet them all. Each of them is better than you. Yes, I will let any person near me. Except for you.”

Ragna grabbed Altera’s head. Her fingers dug into her skin and skull. “That’s the sad reality. I’m not interested in a worthless wannabe hero. Literally anyone's better than you. Go, play Valkyrie and fail at everything you try. And remember this touch. It’s all you will ever get from me. So, please cling to this memory like the pathetic loser you are.”

Ragna turned around and strolled away, her hips swinging with every move.

“Please. I’ll do anything.” Altera reached with her hand, but Ragna was too far gone. “Please don’t leave me. I’m begging you. I'll change. I’ll become a better person. I'll give you whatever you want. Please. You can use me. Please, don’t leave me. Please, don’t leave me. Please, don’t leave me. I’m sorry for everything. I’m begging you. Don’t leave me. Please like me.”

Nothing of the once-proud Valkyrie remained. Ragna’s betrayal reduced her to a begging mess. She threw away her pride and self-respect – all to get Ragna back. Nothing else mattered anymore. She didn’t want to stay alone.

Altera repeated the phrases in a loop. Her mind couldn’t compute what actions she could perform. Her hopes of escaping her solitude transformed into despair. The voices in her head turned out to be correct. Their whispers weren’t self-doubt and low self-esteem. Neither was it cynicism and anxiety speaking to her, but the truth.

Alter had told herself not to listen, but that was her denial. She didn’t want to face the reality that her destiny was to fail. Forever, she would stay alone and miserable. Happiness was a privilege she didn’t deserve.

Ragna didn’t listen to a word Altera said. She grabbed Quin’s arm and threw her on the bed, her legs dangling over the edge. As she lay there, Ragna licked her lips. She took off her shirt, displaying her breasts in front of Altera.

Climbing on the bed, she positioned herself on Quin’s hip and raised her partner’s leg. Ragna leaned forward. Her lips grew closer until she could reach her. From the thigh, Ragna worked herself up to Quin’s feet. She took out her tongue and savored Quin's skin and flesh.

“Please stop.”

“Oh, you’re still here.” Ragna turned around. Her voice contained neither contempt nor disgust or annoyance. She spoke in a cheery tone, displaying nothing but bliss. “I’m sorry. But would you be a good girl and go away?”

For Ragna, Altera might have become an afterthought. She didn’t look if Altera listened to her and left. Ragna continued kissing Quin’s feet.

And Altera screamed.

The room froze. Ice covered every sport, and shards flew at Ragna. Her body crystallized into a sculpture. The projectiles pierced her body, and her head broke off. It rolled along the ground, stopping at Altera’s knees.

When her scream ended and Altera’s eyes lay on the room, she fell.

What had she done? No, she couldn’t have killed Ragna.

No, no, no.

“I’m sorry.” She picked up Ragna’s head and cradled it between her arms. She rocked them back and forth. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. But you don’t have to worry. I can make this right.”

With the head in her arms, Altera crawled to Ragna’s body. “I can make this right. You see, Ragna, I can make this right.”

She placed Ragna’s head on top of her throat and froze the gap with ice. “See, Ragna. Everything’s fine.” Altera let out a chuckle as her tears continued to flow and drop. The ice thawed, and Altera let a new layer cover the gap. “See, Ragna. I’m a good girl. I’m a good girl, Ragna. So please don’t hate me. Please, don’t hate me.”

But no matter how often Altera tried, the ice would thaw. In the end, Ragna’s head dropped off and shattered on the ground.

What was happening to her? How could she have murdered Ragna? It wasn’t righteous. She had become a murderer. What was happening to her? She had murdered a defenseless person, and for what reason? Because Ragna didn’t like her? Could there be a pettier reason to commit a crime? Before this journey started, she could have never done such an act. What did change? Why did she change? She ought to be perfect. How could she become a Valkyrie like that? She had forsaken her future and any right to live. And even, what would be the point? Her life was worthless without becoming a Valkyrie, and now, she had become a murderer.

The scenery dematerialized, leaving behind the tower’s floor. With this, Eric and Altera had cleared the seventh level.

Altera kneeled on the floor. She couldn’t talk to anyone. She cried and wept, mumbled words of denial and apology.

Within the tower's air, ice formed into a crystal dagger. It clanged on the floor, and Altera's eyes shifted to the noise.

A dagger?

Without a second of hesitation, she grabbed the weapon. On its blade, the tower's light reflected her face. A pathetic mirror of human existence gaffed back at her.

As she was looking at her, Altera's stomach started to turn.

Now, the world would be better, and all the bad things in it gone.

She had to do this. No other punishment would suffice.

Altera pointed its edge at her throat. One move was all it took.

She rammed the dagger into her throat, but when it touched her skin, the weapon disintegrated into nothingness.

Her runes wouldn't allow Altera to end her life. In their obligation not to harm her, they would condemn Altera to endure her misery.