Laira’s hysterical. She can’t stop crying. And I don’t even try to stop her. I want to cry too but she’s sobbing enough for the both of us.

“I’m…I’m so happy… to see you… Sis!” She barely has enough air to speak. I smile and just keep rubbing her back.

“I was so worried!” She keeps sobbing. I don’t say anything. What can I say? There aren’t enough words to describe how sorry I am. Even though I thought, I had made peace with never seeing her again, I am happy to see her now. It makes me even happier that she’s so emotional about seeing me too.

“I know…” That's all I can tell her at the moment, without breaking into tears myself… She pushes herself away from me and with waterfalls instead of eyes, she looks at me. She doesn’t say anything. Just hugs me again and cries. We stand there like that for what feels like a good eternity until she finally calms down.

“We should probably go somewhere inside, it’s late and you’re probably tired anyway.” She wipes her tears. “Emerald!” She hugs my cat. Here we go again. I sigh. There’s no end to the water works tonight…

“I’m so happy to see you! How are you?” Laira transforms into a five year old, as she buries both of her arms, elbows deep, into Emerald. My cat licks my hysterical little sister in return for the generous pets.

“Where are you staying?” Laira asks me.

“Right here.” I tell her.

“I see. Typical.” She smiles. “Then I know just the perfect place for us to stay and catch up.” She looks at Emerald. “You will be able to relax there much more comfortably.” Emerald whips her tail to the sides. “I thought you might like the idea.”

“Then you can take Emerald there and I’ll see you in the morning.” I put the bags on the saddle and give the reins to Laira. She's on the verge of tears again.

“There’s one last thing I need to do tonight.” I kiss her on the forehead.

“I understand.” Suddenly the little crybaby is gone. Instead, in her place, stands a fine young woman, with eyes full of wisdom.

“I’ll see you soon.” I tell Emerald and take flight.

What a night. I was tired from all of these mixed emotions. But Emerald’s right. I had agreed to do this, so there was no turning back. However, if I’m going to do this properly, I have to see him. I have to get it out of the way. I’m not an idiot. We are bound to work together on this. And I will be damned if I will let my feelings get the best of me. So, here I am, flying to the west of the Palace. The “usual spot” is a cave in the mountains. The only way to get there is on a flying mount. We found it one time by accident when trying to hide from a storm. We were so close back then. While taking shelter in the cave we decided to make it our usual meeting place for when we wanted to be just the two of us. It was the perfect spot. And only the two of us ever knew about it. I close in on the mountain top. Just don’t lose it. I flap my wings a couple more times and dive down to land on the ledge. He's already here.

I hear her land. I knew it was her because my ride was getting all excited outside.

“Hey, Meteor.” That sweet voice… Breeze. “I know, I’ve missed you too.” My dragon has his tail wrapped around her waist and is nuzzling against her. She doesn’t seem to mind it. I wait quietly for the reunion to finish. Never in my life was I so jealous of another creature. If only I could trade places with him.

“Alright, alright, now let me go.” She struggles to get away. I begin to wonder if I need to intervene. But Meteor manages to let go of her long enough for her to make her way inside. As soon as she steps inside the cave, Meteor lights it up with one of his wings. The reason why I enjoy having him is that one special ability – he could heat up his wings to make them shine. Meteor was even able to generate enough heat to warm up the cave. In this situation he’s providing light for us. Breeze turns around and thanks him.

“You wanted to talk.” Now she’s speaking to me. Her voice doesn’t sound anywhere near the sweet seduction it was a couple of moments go. Yet still… “So, talk.”

“First, I want you to know, I had no idea The King was willing to go to such lengths to get you to agree with him.” I wait.

“Why should I believe you?”

“I never lied to you in my life.” I look her over. “Why would I do it now?” She looks good. That’s not the point here!

“Is that all you have to tell me?” She remains ice cold.

“No. I’m here to tell you that I also believe we have a fighting chance this time.”

“Crile.” Hearing her say my name with such hate was like getting stabbed in the gut… “You just said you never lied to me and you wouldn’t start now. So why are you lying to me right now?” She comes closer to me.

“I’m not lying.”

“Yes, you are.” She glares at me. “If you are not going to be honest, then we are done here.” She turns around to leave.

“Alright!” I yell out. She stops.

“Just like you - I didn’t want it to happen. I was against it. But just like you - I was forced into it.”

“You? What possible weakness the great Crile Shadowkill might have that could be used against him?” I feel the sarcasm emanating from the depths of her bones with that one.

“That’s not the point here now.” I try to keep calm. “There’s another reason why I asked you to be here.” I wait a brief moment just in case. She doesn’t say anything, so I continue.

“No matter how big of a bastard the King is, he is right about one thing.” I got your attention now. “You’re not the one to take the blame for what happened back then. I am.”

“What?”

“You were thrown off your game the night before the battle and that was my fault. If that hadn’t happened, you never would have given into the influence of that power and all of us could have gotten out of there alive. I was weak, and because of that, you and the rest of them paid the price…” I hold my gaze and my breath. Breeze begins to slowly lose the color from her face. I go on. “The reason Starlight died is me. Not you.”

“ENOUGH!” The whole mountain rings from the strength of her voice. “Not another word out of you!” Her body begins to tremble. That could only mean she’s trying her best not to shift. I have to make this quick.

“Breeze you know it is true! I am to blame for everything! I should have been able to be there for you when you needed me the most but I screwed up! I slept with Viroma just before the battle and I hurt you. I won’t deny it but you need to know that was the one mistake I regret the most!” Now that was a lie.

Yes, I slept with Viroma back then but the fact was that she used me to hurt Breeze just before the battle. That was the reason why Breeze got possessed so easily. That was the reason the strange power was able to use Breeze’s hidden potential as a Celestian to go on a rampage, wiping out almost all of the remaining forces and kill Starlight as well. Our best friend. The night before the battle Viroma impersonated Breeze. I thought I was with Breeze when in reality it was Viroma - The Illusionist. A mage with the ability to change appearances. A skill that is almost as difficult to master as the one used by the Blood Shamans. Of course, it took me a few years to figure out what was the purpose of Viroma’s actions and who she really was. But that did not ease my suffering. I hated myself for getting duped so easily. I would rather die before I would hurt Breeze. And yet my worst nightmare came true… And the thing that I regretted the most was letting Breeze leave. I wanted to tell her the truth but I knew that wasn’t enough to atone for what I did to her. So, I decided to make her hate me instead. Yes, I loved her and yes, I wanted to get her back but there was no way she would forgive me for betraying her like that.

“I never wanted to hurt you. You have to believe me…” I try to speak as calmly as my trembling body lets me. “But… It happened and no one can change that. If it wasn’t for my weakness, none of it would have happened. I am the only one responsible for all of them dying! Not you!” Her whole body shook. I’m afraid of what might happen next.

“Bastard!” Her voice a growl. “How could you…” She spits the words out. “Those soldiers died by my hands! Every night, for fifty years, I would fall asleep listening to their screams and pleads to spare their lives! And now! NOW, YOU DARE TELL ME IT’S YOUR FAULT?!” She starts to walk towards me. If she wants to kill me – fine. I won’t resist.

“You didn’t just hurt me! You trampled all over my feelings that I had for you fifty years ago! You humiliated me! You betrayed me! YOU STABBED ME IN THE BACK!” Slowly she begins to shift. There is something terrifying about that slow change of hers...

“Did you really think that by telling me this now, somehow it would make it all better?” Her voice gets deeper. Colder. Her body changing. Her palms turning into giant paws. Her spine arching, sprouting fur. Her face turning into a muzzle with fangs.

“I didn’t think it would change anything!” I’m afraid to see how this will end. “You just needed to know! That’s all!” I can almost feel my heartbeat in my throat...

“LIAR!” She growls. “You didn’t get forced into this, you volunteered! All so you could get a chance to mess with me all over again, right?”

“Wrong! I told you! He gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse!” I can’t tell her what it was…

“Then TELL ME!” Her teeth are an inch away from me. I swallow hard.

“I can’t.” I answer her quietly.

“LIAR!” She growls again and smacks me with the back of her paw. I fly to the side and smash against the rock wall with my back.

“I won’t!” I try to get back to my feet but my head swam from the hit. My vision blurred.

“TELL ME OR I’LL KILL YOU!” She throws me to the opening of the cave and I almost fly over the edge, but Meteor catches me the last second. This is getting out of hand. I begin to think I don’t have anything to lose. Either way, the one thing I want is Breeze but I lost her already long ago… She clamps her paw on my neck and leans in closer.

“Tell me.” She growls through her distorted half beast-half human jaw.

“You!” I spit one word out. Her grip loosens. “He threatened to kill you if I refused…” There. Happy?

“Why would that be your weakness?” Her tone changed somehow… She’s back to her usual form.

“Because…” I gasp for air. “You are the only one I ever cared about.”

“That was years ago.”

“That’s where you’re wrong…” I finally manage to stand up. “I care about you…” She doesn’t say anything. She just stands there. I have to use the opportunity.

“I know you care about me too.”

She snaps out of it. “What makes you say that?”

“Because. You kept it. I saw it.” Now her face gets stone cold. No emotions, no feelings. Nothing.

“I kept it as a reminder not to trust anyone ever again.” She shifts and takes off… I watch her fly away. Maybe so. But you have it still. The dagger I made for you. You kept it. That is all that matters.