Sirius breathed heavily, moving forward on an enclosed and dark stone path. The night above swirled with colour, beautifully shifting each second. He wanted to stop and watch the light, but there were more important matters at hand. His eyes flicked down from the sky and to the ground which was laden with flowers. They looked somewhat familiar, but what they specifically were he didn’t know. Everything seemed too quiet, too peaceful.

A soft gust of wind hit his face as he moved out of the dark and into the night. He stopped for a moment, gazing at a seemingless boundless field of those same flowers, all a pure blue and white. However, in the middle of it laid a figure, knelt down and almost completely still. Sirius approached them, slowly recognizing his dirty blonde hair. He quickened his footsteps, frantically scanning their surroundings as he got near. Stopping just behind him, he cursed and looked away. Long locks of platinum blonde hair fell from Raynauld’s arm, drifting in the wind. Sirius forced himself to look and stared at Felicia’s face. Her eyes were still limply open, glazed over and gazing into nothing as her lips remained parted.

He tried to speak, but couldn’t manage to get any words out. She was supposed to be safe, to be protected. Raynauld quietly pulled her closer to himself, his arms wrapped tightly around her small body. Her right arm was gone and all that was left of where it should’ve been was ripped and bloodies cloth.

“... This is your fault.”

Sirius shook his head, watching Raynauld slowly lay Felicia’s body on the ground and stumble to his feet. “Raynauld, you-”

“You never should’ve opposed us.”

“She never should have been here in the first place, why-”

“She wanted to-”

“And you let her!?”

“SHUT UP!” He whipped around, his body shaking. “You’ve already killed Maria, don’t act like you care.”

“Felicia was never meant-”

“You don’t know her.”

“I knew enough.”

Raynauld took a shaking inhale with glistening eyes, gritting his teeth and picking up a bloody sword off the ground. “You’re a traitor.”

“Now’s not the time-” Sirius didn’t get to finish his sentence before Raynauld dashed towards him with a stab. He quickly dodged out of the way, avoiding the clumsy blow and pushing the blade to the side. He narrowed his eyes as he recognized the sword and grit his teeth. Raynauld stepped forward for an overhead swing which was easily dodged again. Sirius growled under his breath. “As soon as she’s gone, this is how you act?”

Raynauld didn’t answer and swung again, his form terrible, his footing completely off. After another slash, Sirius grabbed Raynauld’s arm and pulled on it hard, yanking him forward and into his knee. Sirius ripped the sword from his grip and then grabbed Raynauld by the back of the head and slammed him to the floor. He planted a knee on his back as he growled. “You think I wanted for any of this to happen? For anybody to get hurt?”

Raynauld struggled and tried to push himself up in vain as Sirius’s voice raised. “Do you have any idea what I would’ve done to prevent all of this? To have gone back to the city like nothing ever happened? Do you!?” He gripped onto Felicia’s sword and shook his head. “Of course you don’t, you never gave anybody a second glance. How many lives are you going to throw away before you realize it’s not worth it!?”

Raynauld roared and moved a hand upwards grabbing onto Sirius’s arm and pulling him downwards. He rolled over, trying to pin him to the ground but was kicked away. They both stood to the feet as Sirius’s anger flared. “Did it cross your mind that the reason that she was here in the first place was you?-”

“Shut up.”

“She wasn’t meant for any of this, no matter how much potential the fucking higher ups saw-”

“I said shut up!” Raynauld ran forwards with a fist raised, throwing a punch with all his momentum. Sirius moved to the side of it and kicked his leg as he passed, crumpling him to the ground. Raising the sword with a grunt, he moved towards Raynauld as he tried to get up. “You’ll never learn to think for yourself, will you!?”

The sword thrust downwards, embedding deep into the dirt. They stared at each other, both glaring into each other's eyes. Sirius pointed at Raynauld’s red stained chest. “When are you going to realize it’s not your blood that you’re sacrificing?”

Raynauld slowly looked over to the sword, it’s blade still a sickly red. “... I know. Dammit, I know.” He took a shaking breath before closing his eyes. “I wanted it to be me instead.”

Sirius slowly moved aside, taking a long inhale and sitting down beside him. “She never would’ve let that happen.”

“But why? Why was it her? Why was it everyone else but me?”

Sirius looked over as Raynauld gripped his bloodied hands and hoarsely whispered. “Why am I still alive?”

“... I asked myself the same thing for a long time.”

Raynauld stared up at the sky with tears in his eyes. “It doesn’t make sense. None of it does.”

“It never did.” Sirius sighed and lowered his head. “We’ll be stuck trying to figure it out for a long time.”

“I should’ve listened, Maria warned me so many times, I…”

“What’s done is done. She also used to say that. We’re soldiers, we mourn once the battle’s over.”

Raynauld nodded and breathed a long exhale. “But what now? What am I supposed to do?”

“Well… what would she want you to do?”

“What?”

“Felicia, what would she want?”

“She…” He took a moment and shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“You do.”

Raynauld glanced at him and then sat up, rubbing his eyes. “... She would want me to get back safely.”

“Will you then?”

“I… there’s something else.”

“Hm?”

“Her mother is alive.”

“What? I thought that-”

“We all did, I did as well.” He ran a hand through his hair before cursing himself under his breath. “She’s half monster, she was the one who killed Kashire, but she spoke to Felicia and had control… I don’t know anymore.”

Sirius grit his teeth in realization. “Shit, we need to move then.”

“What?”

He stood up and looked away with a grimace. “I was initially hired to hunt her down. I’m not anymore, the opposite actually, but my partner is still trying to.”

“... You what?”

“I was told she was a monster-”

“That’s why you were there?”

“Yes, I was tricked, I was supposed to be a distraction for you, obviously it worked.”

“Wait, who hired you?” Raynauld stood up, glaring.

“... I didn’t know it was him.”

Raynauld turned around, a hand to his forehead. “How in the hell did you accept a contract from Tylocke?”

“He specifically asked for me-”

“And that wasn’t suspicious?!” Raynauld turned around, grumbling through grit teeth. Sirius sighed and nodded. “I made a mistake, there’s no point in arguing right now. We have more important things to do.”

Raynauld opened his mouth to speak, but looked over to where Felicia was laying and took a deep breath. “... Alright. Fine.”

“I’m not sure, I haven’t worked with you in a while, would you rather hunt or protect a target?”

“... I want to get rid of the threat.”

Sirius raised an eyebrow as Raynauld moved over to Felicia’s body, kneeling down and slowly dragging his fingers across her face, closing her eyes. He carefully took the sword’s sheath out of her belt and held it firmly in one hand while gently pressing the other to her cheek. Sirius walked to his side, quietly speaking. “Do you want to bring her someplace else?”

“I… she would like it here. I’ll come back for her when the time comes. I’ll come back for all of them.”

Sirius looked up to the field of swaying flowers and the bright skies above, silently agreeing. Raynauld stood up straight after holding Felicia’s limp hand for a moment and turned to Sirius. “Let’s clean up your mess.”

“My mess?-”

“We have more important things to do than argue.” Raynauld gave a sarcastic roll of his eyes. “Come on.”

They moved out of the field and into a large broken stone building, their footsteps echoing along the long and towering walls. After a minute of walking, Sirius spoke up. “Do you know where you’re going?”

“The inner quarters.”

“For what?”

“To be found.” Raynauld looked around them, his glaive held tightly. “Tylocke wouldn’t give up the opportunity to toy with me.”

Sirius stared at him, realizing that Raynauld was somehow even more determined than before. However, determination wasn’t always an asset. “You should slow down.”

“What?”

“You’ve exerted yourself enough already, do you really think you can take him at this stage?”

He shook his head, pushing past. “I have to.”

“No, you don’t, you’re playing into his hands right now.”

“Then what am I supposed to do? Let him get away with this?”

“No, but fight him on your own terms, not his.”

“That’s what I’m doing right now. If you don’t want to take part then leave.”

“I’m not letting you die as well.” Sirius shook his head and hissed through grit teeth, staring him down.

“... Don’t act like we’re back to before.”

“I’m not-”

“I’ll never look at you the same way. That should be obvious.”

“I know, but that changes nothing here.”

Raynauld gripped onto his glaive and looked away, shaking his head. “What I said still stands, whether you stay or leave, I’m going through with it.”

Sirius let out a long sigh and rubbed his forehead. “Never going to drop the arrogant bullshit, huh?”

“Shut up, you’re not any better.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re still trying to play the hero.”

“I’m just trying to not get you killed-”

“Not just that, you never think that you have a wrong solution. Not everybody needs someone watching them over the shoulder. Now be quiet, it’s already too late to back out.”

“What are you-”

“He’s close, listen.”

The sound of scraping metal echoed through the halls and Sirius cursed while drawing his sword. “How the hell does he find you so fast?”

“Don’t ask me, doesn’t matter now.” Raynauld drew Felicia’s sword, holding it uncomfortably before stepping forward. Sirius drew his sword as well, shaking his head. “Take one side, I’ll take the other.”

“He’ll lay traps for you, don’t be too aggressive.”

Sirius glanced over while holding his sword by his waist. “Are you sure you’ll be fine with just a sword?”

“... I’ll be fine. I still practice.”

Sirius nodded and shifted his gaze to the ever closer noise. Chains wrapped around the corner, glowing softly and swaying in the air. Suddenly, they shot forward, whipping through the air. Both Raynauld and Sirius deflected the blow, returning to a defensive stance. Tylocke rounded the corner with a frown, his hand gripped into a fist. “Really now, you’re here as well?”

Sirius didn’t answer and raised his sword handle up to his chin, aiming the blade at Tylocke who grumbled in annoyance. “Fine, it doesn’t matter.”

He raised his hand, bringing up his chains and walking forward as they slithered along the ground and started to lash out. Sirius moved to the right as Raynauld dashed to the left, splitting the attacks and slowly advancing. Tylocke took a few steps back as they moved away from each other. The strikes came quickly, whipping down on the two of them. Sirius grunted as he blocked a swipe at his side and dodged an overhead strike, taking a few steps forward as he did. He stole a glance at Raynauld, carefully watching him rush inwards, using his sword to deflect the blows. Tylocke’s backwards steps quickened as a grimace crossed his face.

The chains suddenly shot upwards, lashing into the support beams above. Sirius jumped back, avoiding the falling debris. He looked over to see Raynauld dashing inwards, his sword poised for a stab. The blow was deflected by another chain and Tylocke turned his full attention to him. Sirius moved away from a block of stone which crashed into the floor and rushed to rejoin the fight. Raynauld grunted as a chain wrapped around his arm, pulling him aside as another raised upward. The strike was stopped by Sirius’s sword, but the chain on Raynauld’s arm didn’t release.

He gasped in pain as Sirius tried to move closer, struggling and using Felicia’s sword with one hand. Another length of metal shot toward Sirius and wrapped around his arm as well. Cold needles shot through him, spreading through his whole body. He grimaced and dashed forward with a stab. Tylocke’s eyes widened and he released the chains, blocking the attack and jumping away. He gave a small laugh while he recovered. “Oh, I forgot, you’re the useless one.”

Raynauld leaped forward before Tylocke finished the sentence and aimed a stab at his throat. The chains shot out once again, resuming the barrage. Sirius and Raynauld advanced in tandem, their steps quicker than before. Tylocke started to run out of space to retreat, the end of the room growing closer. Ducking under an overhead strike, Sirius charged forward with an upwards slash. The blow was blocked, but Raynauld’s slash wasn’t. Tylocke gasped in pain as Raynauld cut into his side before being batted away. He stumbled backwards, holding the wound with his hand, almost falling to the floor. With a quick grunt and flick of his wrist, Tylocke brought the chains close to himself before disappearing in a flash of blue light.

Raynauld clumsily swung his sword at the dissipating embers and growled under his breath. “I’m going to find you. Mark my words.”

Sirius slowly sheathed his sword, breathing out a long sigh. “He won’t be coming back for a while.”

“I’m going for him.”

“... Raynauld-”

“Don’t lecture me.”

“I won’t.” Sirius breathed in deeply before shaking his head. “... It’s not up to me if you stop, and my concerns aren’t the same as yours.”

Raynauld sheathed Felicia’s sword before sighing as well. “Your partner, right?”

“Yeah, her.” He watched Raynauld shake his head before continuing. “She’s hunting Avaria for her own reasons.”

“... That doesn’t matter to me.”

“I know, and I won’t let her do it.”

Raynauld nodded and looked at his still bloody hand before turning away. “Go after her then.”

“Tylocke will be waiting for you.”

“I know, and I’ll be ready. You have your own things to do.”

Sirius paused for a moment before nodding and watching Raynauld walk away and call out with his back still turned. “If Felicia’s mother gets hurt I’ll kill you both.”

Sirius raised his eyebrows before turning away, hoping he wasn’t already too late.