Skyfrost chuckled and widened their wings. “Let’s see how equal we are.”

They jetted towards Ragna, and Ragna sped into the air. The two swung their arms and grabbed each other’s claws. Back and forth, neither would relent and advance mere millimeters. When one would push the opponent further, the other would force their way back.

Ragna activated her gravity manipulator. The device increased her strength, and she trashed Skyfrost into the floor. Skyfrost shot from the crater into the sky and tore into Ragna’s chest with their claws.

Ragna ignored the damage. She grabbed Skyfrost’s arm and bit into it. Skyfrost beat her wings, dragging Ragna further into the sky. Their speed increased, and the forces loosened Ragna’s bite. Her fangs penetrated their muscles and flesh, hooking them on her opponent’s arm.

Skyfrost rattled their body, their claw formed to a fist, and punched her face. The talons opened up and clawed her until Ragna’s cheek swelled and bled, but she wouldn’t get off.

“Persistent like an insect. Skyfrost chuckled. “But don’t worry, I’ll crush you.”

They spread their wings, tilting their trajectory. Skyfrost flew like a rocket and looped their body around their axis. Ragna’s fangs tore deeper into Skyfrost’s flesh. She increased the pressure they exerted, and Skyfrost’s forearm ripped off.

The Vice-captain screamed. Their blood splattered on Ragna as she spat out the torn limb and fell to the ground. Skyfrost pained expression turned into a grin. They threw a kick, dropped their feet into Ragna’s stomach, and rammed her into the ground.

Skyfrost jumped back into the sky. They performed a backflip and dropped their feet a second time into Ragna’s stomach.

Ragna croaked, and Skyfrost pressed her talons on Ragna’s face. They stomped on her head until a cracking sound overshadowed Ragna’s groans.

She raised her tail and wrapped it around Skyfrost’s ankle.

“What?”

Before Skyfrost could free themselves, Ragna had swiped the Vice-captain off her feet. They fell to the ground. Ragna let go of the claw and coiled her tail around Skyfrost’s neck.

But then, Skyfrost spread their wings and ascended into the sky. With her tail still wrapped around the Vice-captain, Ragna hung from them like a leash. Skyfrost spun their body like a wild animal, and Ragna flailed around. Her body crashed from one wall to another.

Ragna groaned. She beat her wings and closed the distance to Skyfrost. She snapped her teeth and bit into their shoulder. In return, Skyfrost wrapped their legs around her and clawed into her back. The talons penetrated the armor and drew their marks into her skin.

Through the air flew the two in their embrace. They clawed and tore, shredded through skin and flesh, and pierced into bones. Skyfrost hammered her head against Ragna’s and inserted her claws deeper into her flesh. Blood rivered out of the wounds. Ragna’s skin burned, but her mind never wavered.

She would emerge as the victor. Against Skyfrost, she couldn’t afford to lose. Not just for the sake of getting her life back or her hatred for them. A desire screamed inside her that compelled her to win. It wasn’t her Fylgja or her greed, either. This was her. She had to win for the girl who had lost her dreams. She had to prove that she wasn’t that girl anymore.

Ragna reached for her blades. She clenched her hands around the hilts and rammed them into Skyfrost’s chest. Skyfrost’s face became pale.

They coughed blood, and their eyes wandered towards the wound. “You…”

“It’s over, Skyfrost. I’ve won.”

Skyfrost chuckled. “How naïve. How naïve. You know so little about life, Ragna Griffin. Do you really think you’ve won just because I’ve lost?”

Runes flickered on Skyfrost’s body. The air started to heat up and cool down. The Mana in the atmosphere erupted. Fire spread in the air, and at the same time, the Mana froze. Ice manifested as well.

Ragna’s head turned in every direction. Her eyes couldn’t stop staring at the particles.

What was going on?

“I’ll show you how little you can win.” Fire and ice exploded from Skyfrost’s body and engulfed the two. Their movements stopped, and both dropped from the sky.

They fell into a mirror, and a white life shone.

Out of the window from a car, the two fell on the street.

Ragna looked around. Behind her stood the colosseum. They had arrived at their starting point. Here, Clockwork and Skyfrost had ambushed her. Ragna’s swayed forward. She couldn’t tell whether her skin had become crisp or frozen already.

Her tail, she had still wrapped around Skyfrost’s neck. She raised their head and slammed it into the ground. She repeated the movement, bashing Skyfrost’s skull against the asphalt until the blood had smeared every spec of skin.

Only then had she satisfied her carnage.

Ragna lifted their neck until the two looked each other in the eyes. The Mana had fallen off them like shed skin, and Skyfrost had reverted to their human form.

Their limbs had regenerated as well. If one looked at them, they wouldn’t have guessed that Skyfrost had been in a battle. The damage Skyfrost had suffered in the Mana realm had ceased to exist the moment they had left the world, or their shapeshifter ability allowed them to shift their body to a past point.

Air escaped Skyfrost’s lips as they heaved up and down.

“You got tenacity if nothing else.” Ragna’s voice lacked any emotions.

Whatever emotions Skyfrost caused to swell up within her, none of them remained. The battle had exhausted her, and a void spread in her.

Skyfrost didn’t say a word. Their eyes closed, and their head hung from their neck.

“Well, I guess that’s Twice’s mercy. I don’t know what you’re dreaming about, but at least you can believe yourself that you achieved your goals. But honestly, I don’t care. Whatever you want to achieve in life, it’s over. Everything you had will be gone. You’ll become nothing but a memory.” A sad laugh escaped Ragna. “Cruel, isn’t it? That’s death for you. But I don’t care. You’ve been a curse on my family for far too long.” She dropped her shoulders. For a moment, her face seemed to have aged twenty years. Under the hints that had remained of her makeup, black rings became visible. Her skin lacked any complexion and not an ounce of joy could one find on her. “I just want you gone.”

“Ragna!”

She turned around. The window glowed, and Altera jumped out of it. Alongside her stood a girl whose hair she had died in a variety of colors.

Wasn’t that…?

“Altera. What are you doing with that Clockwork girl?”

“Let Skyfrost go.” Altera reached for her partisan.

“Why?” Ragna didn’t raise her voice. Whether she lacked the strength or the desire to fight with Altera, she couldn’t guess. “If they were in my position, do you think Skyfrost would hesitate?”

“No.” Altera shook her head. “That’s why I’m talking to you. You’re not Skyfrost. You’re better.”

Ragna chuckled. “Had you asked me two months ago, I would’ve agreed. Now, I’m not so sure.”

“You still have a heart. You still care about others. You’re compassionate to a fault.”

Ragna sighed. “And if you asked Skyfrost’s mother, she would probably say the same about them. So, back to the original question. Why should I let Skyfrost live?”

Altera narrowed her eyes. “Skyfrost’s a Vice-captain. Even if you’re allowed to kill them legally, do you think anyone in Midgard will accept you? Skyfrost may have an unpleasant personality. But as long as we haven’t proven their crimes, they’re still an official member of the Valkyries. Do you think any Valkyrie will accept you if you kill one of their own? You’ll never become a Valkyrie. You’ll never fulfill your dreams.”

Ragna shrugged. “I don’t really care. My dreams are shattered.”

“Ragna.” Altera lowered her eyelids.

“All I want is my life back. I’m not a Valkyrie, and I’ll never be one.”

“Then why do you want to kill Skyfrost?”

“If I let them go, they’ll continue to hunt us. Skyfrost’s a curse in our lives. And we’ll never be happy.

“Is that it?” Altera looked her in the eyes. “Honestly, that’s kinda weak. I’ve expected better from you.”

Ragna raised her brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“The Ragna I cherish is stronger than that.” Altera raised her voice. She clenched her hand to a fist and placed it in front of her chest. “You would never take the easy way, just because something’s impossible. You would fight and fight and fight until you prove the world wrong.”

Ragna gulped.

“If you say that you can’t achieve happiness if Skyfrost hunts you, then prove them wrong. Be happy. Show them that no matter what they try, it won’t affect you. You’ll be happy despite Skyfrost’s best efforts.” Altera started to blush and averted her eyes. Her voice became meek and lost all the splendor she had displayed moments ago. “And if you’ve trouble, I’ll do my best to make you happy.”

“Alti…” Ragna started to blush as well.

At that moment, she forgot about Skyfrost and her goals. She forgot about Heorot, Midgard, Vaix, and everything that had been swimming in her mind. All but Altera vanished.

“Ragna!”

Altera’s voice brought Ragna back to reality.

She looked into the sky, and her eyes widened. A lightning bolt fell from the clouds right above her. Her body froze to ice. In a reflex, her tail loosened, and Skyfrost fell to the ground.

A dome of ice formed in the sky, and the lightning struck. The construct burst into pieces, and from the nearest building jumped a shadow. The impact of their landing created a crater on the streets.

Altera and Ragna gulped as they gazed upon the man who had arrived and reached for their weapons.

“Good thing that I’ve made sure everyone evacuates in time.” Captain Gerard Donnerschlag grinned. Before anyone could react, he had snatched Skyfrost away from them. “It wouldn’t be great if I had accidentally killed an innocent person.” His eyes gazed upon Ragna and Altera. “Now, let’s get down to business.”