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. Aija goes to the Avo. Thieron tries to stop her. Aija sacrifices herself for Earth. Zuri is shocked when she finds Aija dead. Rei learns Aija sacrificed herself.

----Irih'va cuts his hair in mourning. He goes to Earth; tell Rei to bury Luka and Aija.

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****46 NALA****

A new day dawned on a glorious Earth.

It snowed, the sun drenching it golden.

The air, purer than it'd ever been, filled her lungs.

Nala stood in the front-yard of the Core, watching the humans dig two graves. More rock than soil, the land here proved hard to break, and the humans had been going at it all night.

A harrowing stillness clawed itself into Nala's bones. She didn't want to be calm. She wanted to scream and rage at the Gods for taking Luka and Aija; she wanted to curse the Gods for putting Thieron through this again. But grief had stolen her strength, and all she could do was stare into space while everyone around her carried on.

Zuri had screamed her lungs out. First, she'd been indignant, then she'd begged Aija to come back, then she'd cried and cried until the voice and tears had drained out of her. Now she sat next to Thieron, quiet as him.

Even Aa'di Irih'va hadn't succeeded in moving Thieron. He didn't say a word, didn't move, didn't cry, didn't respond when spoken to, or drink water when offered. He just sat by Aija, frozen. Nala had caught him dozing off once in a while. But he'd woken each time as if cursing himself for it, as if when he slept, Aija would disappear. The only time he'd paid any attention was when Irih'va had summoned a Healer to draw the xau'kyvn runes on Aija's arms.

Aa'di Irih'va had noticed the blessings on Aija's temple and insisted she get the xau'kyvn runes as per Ytai and Iernei tradition. As per the Emperor's persistence, Luka and Aija weren't to be turned to xau'ryn; they were being buried. But the xau'kyvn runes were drawn anyway.

The humans called out that they'd completed their work. Nala headed back to the Medic Centre. Hra'an sat alone by Luka, the cousins nowhere to be seen. Ze, Ruyanir, Xan, Zuri, Thieron, and Aa'di were by Aija. The Oshiro's weren't around.

Nala went to Luka. Hra'an stood, displeased as if she'd murdered him. Nala ignored the man, placing a kiss on Luka's cheek.

"Rurenor, I'll miss you, dhi'er," she whispered, continuing with the short version of the blessing of the departed, "May Lh'ean bless you. May Iro'h soothe you. Shine bright on us, dhi'er; help me through my darkest."

Hra'an bowed in respect, earlier glare replaced by tears. He put a hand on his heart, over the suns' tattoo, and bowed a second time for Nala; she returned it. She went to Aija and repeated the blessing.

Rei and Vincent arrived with two Iernei guards. The guards bowed to their Emperor.

"It's time," Vincent announced.

Next to Vincent, Rei tried very hard not to break down.

"Let me bless them," Aa'di Hi'er requested.

Vincent and Rei waited whilst the Emperor removed a tin from his gw'xun. He dipped two fingers into it, dragging them over Aija's eyes, left to right, from temple to temple. The salve's translucency turned a stunning purple. Irih'va placed a hand on her head, reciting in Ytèan what Nala had earlier,

"Te'ni hifr konoè, Lh'ean te'oè wer cafryn. Te'ni iro'nr tralaroè, Iro'h te'oè dst cafryn. Te kāve mepa pranirinè, oa fnondm kāve xaroè."

May your virtues add up, and Lh'ean bless you. May your sacrifices be valued, and Iro'h soothe you. May you shine bright upon us and lead us through our darkest.

Nala knew Aa'di Irih'va had spoken in Ytèan, not Iernei for Thieron's sake. Thieron had his eyes on the drying salve on Aija's eyes; the deep-purple a reflection of her soul's colour.

Aa'di Hi'er repeated it with Luka and placed a blade in his clasped hands. The salve on Luka's eyes morphed to a scintillating silver.

Once the Emperor was done, Rei commanded the Iernei guards to take Luka. That finally caused Thieron to stir.

"No," he murmured under his breath.

Hra'an carried Luka over his back.

"No," Thieron rose. "Dhi'er," he stumbled, tripping to the floor. "Don't,"

"Ah'n," Ayr'i held him.

Thieron shook his head. "Dhi'er. No. Don't go," he crawled forward.

Ayr'i clutched him harder. Aa'di went to stand by him when Vincent went to carry Aija.

"No!" Thieron yelled. "Let her go!" he stood.

Aa'di Irih'va held him back.

"Let her go! Let. Her. Go!" Thieron cried out.

"Ah'n," Aa'di Irih'va gritted his teeth, holding him to himself, struggling against Thieron's might. "You have to let go,"

"No," Thieron stammered, watching Vincent carrying Aija out in his arms.

Rei eyed Thieron with sorrow a second longer before following his boyfriend out.

"No, let me go," Thieron struggled in Aa'di's hold. "Don't take them; bring her back."

"Ah'n," Aa'di's voice went low. "Ah'n,"

Nala cried. It was painful to see him this way. He didn't deserve this; he'd lost his parents, his uncle had been a monster, his cousin too, he lost Luka and Aija.

Thieron swivelled around and punched Aa'di hard across the face. The whole room went awfully silent. The Iernei guards drew their swords, but the Emperor held a hand out to stop them. He put a hand to his nose; it came back bloodied. He didn't even flinch.

Thieron heaved, moving to hit Aa'di again, wild with grief. The Emperor caught his hand, pushing him back. Thieron staggered back, falling.

"Ah'n," Nala moved to hold him.

"Don't," the Emperor barked at her, and at Thieron he commanded, "Rise,"

Thieron growled. He grabbed a chair, swinging it at the Emperor. It struck him against the arm, splintering. Aa'di shielded himself against Thieron's lightning and hit Thieron with his own. Unprepared for it, Thieron struck the floor, striking himself on the bed's edge as he fell. That seemed to knock him off balance; he lay, panting, bewildered.

"Stop," Nala pleaded.

"Iro'h," Aa'di's voice was a warning.

"Irih'va," Nala stood her ground.

The Emperor scowled. She'd used his name once, only once, when she hadn't known who he was. And only now did she notice that their names rhymed. Iro'h. Irih'va.

"It's the first emotion he's shown in days, Iro'h,"

Nala cried. "We need to be out there, not fighting here. Please, Aa'di."

Ayr'i sat on the floor, hugging her stunned brother. Zuri and Xan stood quietly, subdued. Ruyanir had a hand clasped over her open mouth. Ze refused to look at anything but his feet.

Premiere Zhaleh came. "We're waiting,"

Her words instilled movement into Thieron. He rose, woebegone, and wobbled out bare feet padding against the wooden floor.

Vincent and Rei waited in the hallway. Thieron halted, so did everyone else. No one had expected them to wait. Rei gave Thieron a nod; he'd waited to let him have a proper goodbye before Aija was buried in everyone's presence. Nala's respect for Rei grew.

Thieron inched forward, steps heavy. He cupped Aija's face, running his fingers through her hair. He adjusted the fwe'gun, and Nala noticed one was new. A Ru Ro'ein fwe'gun. Thieron had proposed marriage; Aija had accepted. Nala stared, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks. Thieron kissed her head, whispered, "Va lh'ean," and let her go.

Vincent left with Aija, and Thieron stood frozen for a few seconds before following.

Had Aija lived, they would've married. They would've married. Nala's heart hurt.

Nine bowls were placed around the graves in a circle. Fire, mud, water, air made up eight; a sword in the ninth. Aa'di had requested the xau'kyvn rituals to be adhered even when it was a burial.

Aija's family stood to one side of her grave, the rest of the Gale behind them.

Thieron halted between the two graves, silent, eyes down. The Emperor went to stand next to him, to stop him if he lashed out again. Nala and Zuri stood behind them; Ayr'i, Ze, Ruyanir, and Xan next to her. Nala worried for Thieron. He was barefooted on snow-drenched land. But it didn't seem to discomfort him; he didn't seem to feel anything.

Vincent said a few words on Aija and Luka. Nala barely heard a word over the pounding of her heart. Why? Why had it come to this? Why had they lost Luka and Aija? Nala had the burning desire to murder Ea, murder the Holy Entities. The Gods were meant to protect the good; instead, they brought on suffering.

Aija's youngest brothers placed flowers in her hands.

When they lowered Aija and Luka into the earth, Thieron collapsed. He wept loudly, on his knees, saying Aija's name over and over and over again.

Aija's family viewed him with pity. They didn't know who he was. How must it be for them to watch a stranger lament their daughter? Rei's eyes were glued on Thieron, his chest heaving as he wept too.

Thieron cried out, hands grabbing at the snow, head touching the ground.

Zuri, who'd been silent, cried again. Ze hugged her.

Nala didn't understand life. People existed, shining their light onto those around them. And all of a sudden, they weren't there anymore. But their light, that had touched people around them, lingered, still warming their skin long after they'd gone. It was hard to move past that. One's life wasn't theirs alone. Little parts of their souls were absorbed into the hearts of those around them. And when they left, those parts still resided in others, living as a part of their hearts, just as people leave with little parts of the souls of those around them as well.

One's life wasn't one's own; it belonged to everyone as a whole.

Aija and Luka had taken little parts of everyone there with them. They'd also left part of themselves in everyone. Nala would never be whole. The part Aija and Luka had taken would never return. That part was significant for Thieron. He'd remain barely half without Aija for as long as he lived.

Nala laced her hand through Zuri's. If Zuri ever left, Nala couldn't live with herself either.

The burial done, the Gale had left. The Oshiro's had stayed a little longer and went when the snowfall had increased.

Thieron still cried with no sign of quieting, reality finally hitting him. Aa'di Irih'va stood by him, hands tied at the back, eyes closed, silent tears streaking his face. The sound of Thieron's jagged sobs shattered Nala's composure. And the fact that she had no power to change what had happened to soothe him broke her heart.

How would they heal from this?

Zuri swayed, strength ebbed.

"Zu," Nala buoyed her. "Let's go in,"

Zuri shook her head.

"It's too cold,"

Xan helped coax Zuri. "I've something to give you, Ms King."

"I only want Ai back," Zuri murmured, throat coarse.

"It's from Ms Niyarah,"

That caught Zuri's attention. Nala, Zuri, Ze, Ruyanir, and Xan headed in. Nala knew the Emperor wouldn't leave Thieron's side.

Nala took one last glance at Thieron, the Emperor next to him, his sister behind.

It was a hard way forward.

It'd been Thieron, Nala, and Luka for decades. Now the two of them were left with bigger holes in their hearts than what they'd started with together.

Once in their room, Xan hurried out, returning with paper. He held it out for Zuri, who took it, puzzled.

"A letter from Ms Niyarah,"

"How?" Zuri flipped the folded paper open, showing Aija's beautiful handwriting.

"I knew what she was going to do, Ms King. Ms Niyarah told me."

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