Epilogue:

*Gasp*

The girl on the bed awakens with a panicked little cry for help. Her bruised hands tighten on the crisp white sheets of the bed. Elina told me she would probably regain consciousness sometime today. I wanted to be there when it happened. Not out of semblance of care. I don’t mind at all if she feels alone, after what she’s done. But the truth of the matter is that she’ll be at her weakest when she wakes up. Helpless and alone. It’s now that I want to extend my hand. That is how I claim my slaves loyal employees.

“Mm-mmm?!” Meera’s hands crumple the sheets as she desperately searches for somebody. Then her fingers rise to her ears, and she shudders as if remembering the pain when I ruptured her eardrums. Wet tears leak out from under her eyelids. She trembles, rolling about in terror, screaming, “H-Hello?! I can’t hear anything! It’s all dark! Is anybody out there!”

*Tap*

Roughly, I reach in and remove her hands from her ears. She hollers and screams, too scared to notice that she’s healed. I sigh. Tapping her forehead with a finger, I lean in and whisper beside her face.

“Wakey, wakey...can you hear me?”

“J-Janus?” Meera searches for me with her eyes still closed. “I-I’m so cold...help me! I can’t see! I CAN’T SEE!” For a few seconds, I consider just letting her enjoy the fruits of her treachery. Unfortunately, in the end, I’m still too much of a softie. Besides, you’re wasting my time. It’s time to get up. You have work to do!

“I’m not Janus.” My hand hovers over her face as Meera’s whole body freezes. She tenses up, like a springboard, her blind terror suddenly very focused on one thing and one thing only. Me.

“N-No! It can’t be!” Meera doesn’t want to believe it. She shakes her head side to side, stretching out like a tormented cat. I’m afraid however, all she’ll find is me in the end. “I-It can’t be you! Even if I lost...Janus should have killed you! This has to be a dream! Janus! JANUS! HELP! I CAN’T WAKE UP!”

“Janus isn’t coming...” I whisper in her ears and her efforts to escape come to an abrupt halt. Now there must be no mistake who I am. There’s a big grin on my face. I kind of like playing the villain from time to time. Slowly, I run a finger over her forehead. She doesn’t move, having realized that if I’m here and Janus isn’t...something has gone very, very wrong. “But I’m here. If you don’t believe me, why don’t you...take a look!”

*Schwip*

Using two fingers, I reach over to her right eye, and press down on her upper and lower eyelids. Moving a little more gently, I pull my fingers apart and force her eye open-

“AHH!” She cries as the light hits her fully dilated pupils. “N-No way! How can it be...I know! The Third Trial hasn’t happened yet! But who let you into my room?! Janus! Master! Someone! Myrr’s here to kill me! HELP! HE’S GONE CRAZY!”

...

“HELP!”

...

“ANYONE?!”

...

“ELINA?”

...

After the fourth try, Meera understands the gravity of her situation. The entire time, I just sit there, by her bedside and watch. When she sees that I’m not going to attack her, I reply.

“Did you really think Elina would help you? After what you’ve done?”

“I...what are you...doing here? Why can’t I...see?” She blinks while staring at me. Her hand rises slowly to her face, past the good eye and to the other one. It’s covered in a small black eyepatch. I can see her anguish as she realizes what it is. And then her terror that it might be permanent. Finally, when it is undeniable, she drops her hand from the eyepatch and tries to hide her fear. “You...do anything to me and my Master will make you pay!”

“Nah, I don’t think she will,” I tell her. Pointing my finger like a needle at her eyepatch, I laugh as she flinches. “Elina tells me that she can’t heal your left eye. However, for someone of your talents, losing one eye shouldn’t be a problem. I hope you don’t disappoint me. If this is all it takes to throw you off, maybe I should have just had Jarshan slit your throat.”

“Jarshan...? He wouldn’t listen to you...unless...”

That’s right.

Jarshan wouldn’t listen to me.

Unless things have changed.

“Meera, I’m going to put this to you simply. So, you can understand. Please listen closely, I don’t appreciate it when I have to repeat myself,” I explain slowly so she can follow along. Her one good eye is still darting about, searching for escape angles, but I just snort, knowing there’s nothing she can do. “Stop, looking for an exit. You’re going to be a bit wobbly and I don’t want you hurting yourself.”

“W-Why...? Are you telling me these things?” Meera’s voice shivers. The longer this goes on, the more she’s getting the message that she’s at my complete and utter mercy right now. “Where is Master Aisenguard? Where is Janus? They can’t be...?”

“Shut up, and I’ll tell you,” Rolling my eyes, I sit back a bit and mentally think of what she needs to know to catch up. Naturally, I’m monitoring the future for any possible sneak attacks. Not that I’m afraid of her in this state. But it doesn’t hurt to be careful. “Okay, where to start? Number one, I beat you. Unfortunately, that has resulted in a permanent wound to your eye. Regrettable, but you gave me no choice...hey, don’t look at me like that!” Meera’s face is like acid as she glares at me. It’s kind of funny because she’s trying to look tough but the eyepatch is ruining it. She looks like a little girl playing pirate on Halloween. Do you think I should tell her that Elina drew a heart on her eyepatch or should I let her find out in the mirror?

“Y-You’ll pay for that!” She yells. However, I just stare at her impassively until she’s quiet again. “How can you be...so confident that no one will come?”

“That’s not the right question,” I sigh, running a finger through my hair. “A better question would be, why am I letting you run your mouth when I could have gagged you? And the answer is...because I don’t care if anyone hears us. What does that tell you?”

“...You don’t think anyone will come,” Meera understands. I scan doubly hard for sneak attacks in the future. After all, she knows she’s cornered now. “Then why am I still alive? What do you want with me?”

“Ahh there we go. That’s the right question. Now seriously, be quiet or I will gag you.” Stretching my legs, I cross them and smile at her. She shudders seeing my face and I try to tone it down a little. Woops, don’t want to scare her...that much. “So, let’s see, what happened after I beat you. Hey, hey! It’s a fact, okay? Don’t even think about doing anything! Now then, Janus and I decided to move up the Third Trial to that night after our little scuffle. He was a little angry that I beat you.” Okay...to be honest, I can’t resist rubbing it in a little. But that’s enough. She’s really going to attack me if I push it any farther. Carefully, I lean back even more, out of her reach to dissuade her from whatever schemes she’s cooking up in that devious mind of hers. “Anyways, it’s a long story, but I beat Janus, and he very honorably decided to join with me against the Elders. Jarshan helped out so your master, her sister, and all the other Elders are dead. I’m the new Interim Secthead...and...well yea, that’s about it. Got it?”

...

...

...

Meera’s mouth is open. Gaping wide open as a matter of fact. She can’t process it.

“Yea, I know. It’s pretty cool, huh?” I run a hand through my hair, waiting for her to sort through the emotions. “Anyways, you probably don’t believe me yet, but just think about how you got here. Clearly, you’ve been healed. Yet, I’ve been allowed complete access to you. What does this tell you?”

“You...could have bribed Elina!” She retorts.

“Not bad...but do you think Elina would let me harm one of her patients? I might be her favorite, but she’s a Healer after all.” My response causes her to pause.

“Well then...well...” Meera trails off. She can’t think of a way this series of events could be happening. Eventually, she can only latch on to one truth. The one I’m giving her. “Y-You...really won? But the Elders-”

“Bingo!” I reach over and quickly ruffle her hair. She glares daggers at me but can’t escape my hands fast enough. I smile winningly. “Very good, you’re looking better already. Yes, this isn’t a trick. I beat your fiance, he decided to join me, as did Jarshan. It’s been...oh I think about a week since our fight? I’ve been making some...changes...around here. As a matter of fact, I think you might like some of them. See, I think we can work together. Despite what you and the Elders seemed to think, I’m not actually so opposed to the old ways actually-“

“Where is he?” She interrupts me and I have half a mind to just slap a gag on her. Tch...Elina, did you draw that heart on her eyepatch for me? You knew I wouldn’t be able stay serious, didn’t you? Do you really trust me so little now? What did you think I was going to do to her?

“Ugh,” I suck in my lips. Raising my voice, I give in, “Fine, you won’t believe me? Janus, show her how things are now!”

*Tap*

He makes noise on purpose as he walks through the door of the makeshift infirmary tent. Elina’s hut has been rebuilt, but I didn’t want Meera staying there. Janus slides inside in his dark Rainstopper robes, just enough so that Meera can see him. He looks great, evidence of Elina’s time reversal magic. I almost killed him, but she brought him back without so much as a scratch after a day with her. She even managed to reattach one of his fingers! I wonder how much of his recovery was Elina’s healing and how much was just that freakishly strong body though...talk about talent.

“J-Janus? Is that really you?” Meera tremulously calls out. He nods.

“It’s me. Meera, listen to the Secthead, our masters are dead. We’re done,” Janus replies, stone-faced. Instead of saying anything more to her, he turns to me and bows deeply at the waist. “Secthead how can I be of service?”

“That’s all, Janus. I just wanted her to hear it from you,” Nodding back at him, I wave him out. “Let me know immediately if anything comes up with that other matter, okay?”

“Understood.” Janus marches out of the tent without another word. Grinning, I turn back at Meera. Her face is white, a stark contrast with the cute black, heart-eyepatch. I can rest easy with Janus keeping watch.

“Believe me now?”

“You really...I don’t...but he wouldn’t lie...” The incontrovertible evidence finally breaks down any last resistance from Meera. She slumps back in her bed, dejected. Staring up at the ceiling, she ignores me. “Just get it over with then. You’ve won. I’m sorry I did what I did, but it was all for the good of the Sect. Give me a quick death, please.”

...

...

I pause long enough to make her uncomfortable. Until she has to look at me.

“A quick death? Do you think I had you healed...just to extract a little revenge before killing you?” Shaking my head, I lean in, carefully watching the future for tricks. “No...no no no. I didn’t save you for that. Didn’t you notice? Janus has decided to join my side. You, of all people should know that a man like that won’t serve someone he doesn’t approve. So, ask yourself, why would he join me then?”

“My fiance...Janus would only work under a Secthead he believed was truly good for the Sect,” Meera’s good eye widens. She suddenly turns to me, confusion and excitement battling for control of her face. Our noses are almost touching, “You...you want me to work for you!”

“Good, finally catching on!” I lean back and applaud with my hands. “Maybe there’s hope for you yet. You see, I have big plans for the Sect. And if you’re willing to keep an open mind, as your fiance and Jarshan have, then maybe there’s a place for you-“

“I’m in!”

Wait what?

Hold on, I’m not done monologuing!

WTF?

It must look strange, my look of shock since my speech stutters in the present before Meera even says the words. But when she agrees to help me just like that, I can’t help myself.

“Um, I’m sorry, you’re willing to join me? Just like that?” Before I can catch myself, I let her take control of the conversation. “Don’t you want to hear what I have planned first? I had to work pretty hard to convince your fiance so you know, I don’t mind explaining-”

“Nope!” Meera empathetically shakes her head. The way she’s gazing at me, it’s changed. For the first time, even though I can see the future, I grow uneasy. Hold on...why are you looking at me like that? She suddenly rolls over and smiles. Immediately, I lean back. “To be honest, if Janus believes that you’re good for the Sect, then that’s good enough for me. Also, if what you’re saying is true then...he’s not really my...um, nevermind.”

“What do you mean never-mind?” I feel, odd. Suspicious even as Meera bites her lip. She’s clearly holding something back. Unsettled, I make sure to confirm with her, “Look, this isn’t something you should decide on a whim. Like seriously, I’m only looking for people who are willing to die for what they believe in! Once you say you’re my woman, there’s no going back!”

“Your...woman?” Meera’s eye gleams. She smirks at me. But it looks different than before. No more disdain, though she’s definitely still mocking me. “I thought this was about the Sect, not the Interim Secthead’s personal desires...mmm?”

Nice try.

But it’ll take more than a little wordplay to throw me off.

“That came out wrong.” I pause, making sure she’s not planning anything. At the very least...in the near future, she’s not. “Alright, well, since you’ve agreed to join me. Then shut up and listen. This is what’s going to happen. You’re going to...

...

...

...

Understand?”

For some time, Meera is silent. Just like Jarshan and Janus, the only sound after hearing my plan is her awestruck breathing.

Hah! That’s the reaction I’m looking for!

Bow down to my greatness...

After a while, Meera’s face is shining with tears. Once again, the way she looks at me has changed. It’s like I’ve become the messiah or something. Though to be honest, her expression isn’t quite the same as Jarshan or Janus’s. If anything, it’s even more fervent, she’s clearly devoted to my cause. But something’s still making my uneasy for some reason. While I’d like to stay and bask in the glory of victory of turning her over to the dark side, a phantom sixth sense is telling me to get out of here.

“Well then, you rest up! I already told you the first phase of the plan, and that’s more than I told anyone else, so make sure you heal properly!” Quickly, I stand up and back away out of the makeshift infirmary tent. As I’m almost out, the hairs on my neck stand up. Immediately, I scan the future and realize that I’m trapped. But it’s not Meera I need to be worried about. Crap...at the very least, I need to get out of this tent! Calling over my shoulder, I start powerwalking to the exit. “Welp, until next time, Meera-!”

“MYRR!” A decidedly angry voice calls inside the tent and I wince. Just on time...ah crap! Damnit Janus! I told you to warn me if she was coming! What the hell are you doing! Useless Rainstopper idiots...

“You’re going?” Meera says softly as I leave. But I’m already heading out the door. I don’t quite catch the end of her sentence, “Okay...but you know...Janus and I...our marriage was arranged by-“

“Tell me later, gotta go!”

“MYRR, GET OUT HERE OR SO HELP ME, YOU’LL BE SORRY!”