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. Aija and Luka's burial.

----Rei agrees to take up Irih'va's offer of collaborating with the Itih'hra. 

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****47.2 XAN-AE LEE****

A thick blanket of snow shrouded the land.

It was hard to believe they weren't on Ierne but on Earth.

Xan stood by the graves, shivering, half from the cold, half from misery. Knowing what Ms Niyarah would do was the harshest thing he'd faced; it still hurt him.

He missed her. He'd spent the last few months constantly by her side or in her arms when he'd been a cat. Ms Niyarah had helped give him a second chance at life. If she hadn't released those souls, he wouldn't be here in Ish'thnor's body. She'd been in his strength when he felt lost and alone.

Xan deduced that a special relationship didn't always have to be romantic. It could be as simple and straightforward as friendship and just knowing someone for such a short time. He hadn't understood how much he'd truly depended on Ms Niyarah until she'd declared she was sacrificing herself. It'd hit him then, with such force, it felt like his world crumbled.

'*' '*'

|Earlier|

Xan sat in the front-yard where he could stay out of everyone's way. He'd spent very little time with Luka, but his death hit Xan awfully. It was all because of Ea. She may not have succeeded, but the one's who'd lost so much more were Thieron and Nala and Earth.

There was no use dawdling anymore; Xan wanted Vaughn with him. It was simple.

A quick dash of colour flew past him. Xan saw Ms Niyarah run through the front-yard and away onto grasslands.

"Ms Niyarah!" he called out.

She didn't turn.

Xan pouted. It was hard to process Luka's death; everyone needed their own time. Xan let out a breath and went rigid. Ms Niyarah had gone towards the Àvo. Xan took off in the direction she'd run, hoping his Iernei body gave him a quicker pace than her human one. He found her, on the ground, head up towards the Àvo; he'd predicted right.

"Ms Niyarah!" he yelled, going to her.

She appeared dazed, somewhere else, not Earth.

Xan freaked. "Ms Niyarah!" he shook her. "Ms Niyarah!"

She snapped into focus. "Xan?"

"Yes, it's me. What're you doing, Ms Niyarah?"

"Xan?" she asked again as if for confirmation.

Xan explained what had happened. She rued over Luka, and Xan responded only to keep her with him. He knew what she'd do. Like Luka, Ms Niyarah was a Priority Soul. He tried to get her to go when she spoke of being proud of him and Xan's heart skipped a fearful beat.

"I'm worried," he said. He only had to get her back to the building. Thieron was there. Xan could tell him, and he'd keep Ms Niyarah with him. Thieron loved her; she may listen to him.

"Oh, sweet Xan. Let's go back,"

Xan gave her half a smile, uneasy.

They slowly covered the distance back to the Core. Ms Niyarah was silent, and Xan knew the course of her thoughts even if he couldn't read her aura. Once they reached the garden of the Core, she stopped, looking up at the building.

"Don't do it, Ms Niyarah."

Her gaze landed on him.

"Don't. We can rebuild. Don't do it."

"Xan, as long as that Àvo is unused, it's a danger to Earth."

"And they'll protect it,"

She smiled. "It's futile, Xan. You know it too. Earth, even before this, was insufficient. Now, it's worse. Future generations will have it harder."

"Future generations aren't our problem,"

"That's the mistake we always make. Future generations are our priority. There's no use preserving ashes; it's life that deserves protection."

"But,"

"Xan," she turned to face him fully. "I've seen you for the past months. If there's one thing you've desired, it's to protect, to help. Am I wrong?"

Xan felt like he'd been punched in the chest. He wanted to yell that she was wrong only to keep her with him. But that'd be a lie. He shook his head.

"Be honest with me, Xan. If you were a Priority Soul with the power to end this suffering and restore Earth, what would you do?"

Xan didn't have to think; he knew the answer. He hated that she was right; he wished it wasn't on her to save Earth. She deserved to live longer; she'd just gotten together with Thieron.

He didn't reply; he cried, instead. Ms Niyarah put her hand on his arm. His sobs shook him.

"I need your help."

"You want me to help you die, Ms Niyarah? How could you ask me that? You gave me this life. If anything, I'm supposed to return the favour by helping you live, not helping you die."

She hugged him while he cried. Later, she said, "I need you to keep this between us; tell no one. After this, bring Vaughn. Do you understand? Get him, Xan, be happy."

"Don't do this, please," he put his arms around her as if her could keep her there safely. It amazed him to think of how much he'd relied on her strength, the stability of her presence.

In his embrace, she lifted her head and rested her chin on his chest. And smiled a smile full of warmness and no regret. Xan caught the tiny gap between her front teeth as she grinned, not a bit sad that she walked to her death.

"You are brave, sweet kitten," she said. "Now, I need paper."

Xan helped Ms Niyarah prepare several sheets of paper for letters she wanted to leave behind for everyone. Xan felt dirty, like he was committing murder. He stacked the papers filed with words in her half-cursive handwriting. She didn't hand him one for himself, but Xan didn't mind. After the letters were done, she took Xan to meet her brother, Avi.

The three of them spaced themselves far from Asahi and Layan by the ocean.

Ms Niyarah and Avi sat on a boulder; Xan stood behind them.

"Avi, I promised you, no more letters."

Avi's smile fell. "You're leaving?"

Ms Niyarah pursed her lips. "Yes,"

Xan left to let the siblings have their moment. He watched them from afar as Avi hugged his sister. Ms Niyarah came back to Xan when Avi ran to her.

"Ai?"

"Avi?"

"Thanks for telling me. I hate letters,"

Ms Niyarah smiled. "I love you. Go on now,"

"Ai?"

"Yes?"

Avi gulped. His eyes went to her, Xan, the ocean behind them, then back to his sister. "I love you."

Xan heard the breath catch in her throat. She blinked back tears.

"Thank you, Avi."

Avi grinned.

**

At the Core, Xan and Ms Niyarah sat in the Hall, waiting for the inevitable.

"I must go,"

Xan put his hands on her lap, nails digging into her coat like he'd pierce his claws into the fabric of her clothes when he was a cat. "Thank you for saving me. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for everything, Ms Niyarah."

"Thank you, Xan," she put a hand on his clenched fists.

"You're going now?"

"No. I must see Ah'n one last time."

Xan nodded, tears pricking his eyes.

"I'll miss you, Ms Niyarah."

"Stay strong, Xan."

"I'm strong now, Ms Niyarah."

She smiled, hugging him.

'*' '*'

Xan took out the note Ms Niyarah had left him. He'd found it later on in his coat. He didn't know when she'd slipped it so stealthily, but seeing it had made him cry all over again.

Sweet kitten,

Thank you.

Don't forget to get Vaughn. Live happy.

Ms Niyarah.

She'd signed 'Ms Niyarah,' not 'Aija,' even that had made him cry.

Xan took out the last letter she'd handed to him, addressed to Thieron. There had been no opportunity to give it to him. Thieron appeared lost, only physically present. Xan felt terrible; he feared giving the letter. Xan hadn't unfolded the paper, but it seemed short. He'd anticipated her letter to him to be the longest. Xan observed the backside of the paper, wondering if he ever left a note to Vaughn would it be so short? Even Ms Niyarah's letter to Ms King was longer. Perhaps, it was harder to say goodbye to someone who completed you.

"Ms Niyarah," he spoke out loud, "I'll get Vaughn. I promise."

That smile she'd given him when she'd left stuck with him. It kept him awake at night because that smile had zero regrets and all determination. And that's what had propelled Xan through all those months with the Ytai: her resilience.

"Thank you, Ms Niyarah," he bowed. "I'll be brave." 

Xan smiled. The graves were quiet, but he knew she'd be happy to see him smile than cry.

"I'm strong now, Ms Niyarah."

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