The story so far:

----Luka sacrifices himself to save Earth. Thieron is upset about Luka. Rei learns Vincent is alive. He finds out that Iyler and John helped Ea. Aija finally feels the enormity of Luka's death. Rei feels scared about the still glowing Avo. Zuri has the inexplicable urge to talk to Aija. She leaves in search of her.

----Thieron wakes to find Aija gone.

✽✽✽

****43.2 AIJA****

Everything.

Aija remembered everything of herself from her true beginning unto her present moment.

She knew her purpose, buried deep within her.

Aija had held Thieron while he slept and wept, for she'd miss him. So, so much. Yet again.

Why had she taken so long to recognise him? They'd spent their time in hate, in avoidance. All the while, she loved him. So, so much.

Aa'di Irih'va had begged her to stay for this. He'd known. He'd known.

Aija strode over the grasslands, feeling every rush of air tugging at her hair, filling her lungs deep with it. Earth was beautiful. It could be glorious. While she'd taken the ist'we stone, it was in case someone caught her, and she needed a way out. She wanted the last minutes spent living fully. Just living, breathing, feeling her heart beating in her chest.

"Tell me, Tai'un," Aija wrapped her hands around herself, pressing the shirt she wore to her skin.

"Yes?" he walked next to her.

"This will be worth it?"

"Yes, va xr'ouh, it will."

"Rei will have a beautiful world,"

"He will," Tai'un agreed.

They stopped in front of the Àvo, burning bright. An Iernei and a human stood guard a little distance from it. They eyed her warily.

"I like Aija," she said. "I've loved Aija best."

"So have I," Tai'un smiled.

"I've to part from Ah'n, again," Aija pushed the lump in her throat down.

Tai'un took her hand in his.

"You will protect him,"

"As I always have," Tai'un bowed.

Tears pricked her eyes; she closed them. Images of Thieron burned her eyes. His eyes, his smile, the way he looked at her, reverent; the way he said her name, a hymn.

"Aija! No!"

Aija took a sharp breath.

Thieron was running to her, dressed in pants and an overcoat. The wind swept his hair back.

"Don't, Aija!" he shouted from the distance. "Please!"

Her tears ran down her cheeks. Oh, how she loved him. She'd die a million deaths to have a million slivers of life with him; however short, all precious.

Aija put her hand on the ist'we stone.

Thieron neared her. "No!"

She saw the desperation on his face, heard it in his voice.

"No! Please, Aija! Va lh'ean!"

Aija smiled at him and mouthed, "Va lh'ean," 

"Time to go home, va xr'ouh," Tai'un pulled her forward.

"Va lh'ean!" Thieron's voice rang through the stillness.

Va lh'ean. The last thing Aija heard.

✽✽✽