At least she had cried for him–that was nice. It had been a stupid move, honestly. He should have left her–after all, she'd pretty much offered to save everyone. Sure, not him per se, but in a way, yes. Surely, she would have thought that fighting the Klink would also offer him a chance to run.

Yet he couldn't do it. It's ironic, since, as a Curse, he should be vehemently selfish since curses are supposed to take after Terrans. But he couldn't shake the feeling of pity and anger for her. She had been treated like a disposable object, abandoned, and left to fend for herself despite being clearly frightened–like a Nova. They had manipulated her into believing that it was her responsibility to protect them, all because of the curse that she bore. Not that Hashim was sure what her curse was, but that was another matter. A matter that no longer was his problem. He would die here, and the Novanoid would need to wait another one hundred years for a chance at freedom. Hashim winced at the thought–a deep sense of shame filling his chest. YoU sssHould haVe let hEr dIe.

"Yes, I should have." YoU mIght hAve liVed.

Heavy on the might. The chances were so low that Hashim had weighed his options and found it better to help the girl. Whatever her curse was–it seemed helpful. It seemed to have something to do with repelling magic–a curse Hashim had never heard of and felt that Adria would find extremely useful. So yes, he had saved the girl, but in a way, only for the Novanoid. In that way, he felt a little less guilty towards the Novanoid for dying. And he was dying.

The Klink, despite being fast, had no ability to climb. Just like Hashim, it was trapped. It wandered around, awaiting the poison to seep into Hashim's heart. Once it did, it would attach him to its back, causing him to disintegrate slowly. Hashim intended to take his own life before this could happen if he didn't succumb to blood loss first. But for the time being, he lay there. In typical Klink fashion, it had moved him to the broken wagon where all its treasure had been collected and mounted into one big pile, where it would remain useless for all of eternity. Similar to the ancient race of dragons, its lesser, cave-crawling cousin did the same. Hashim just wished it didn't have to be right next to the exit – as if the Klink had decided to torment him mentally as well.

He closed his eyes, clutching his chest as blood ran down his side, vision blurrying as he watched the Klink walk around. Ah, what a waste. Instead of dwelling on his mistake, he decided to simply listen to the soft hum of the electric lights.

A soft touch brushed the back of his neck, making him shiver despite the hot night air. Thinking it was a bug, he promptly ignored it until it reached his neck and pressed firmly against his pulse.

"He's alive!" a hushed whisper exclaimed in relief. A quieter voice responded, farther away, and Hashim tensed in alarm.

"There is a Klink here–it's best you leave and tell the nearest Nova," Hashim responded, "I've been poisoned so there is no need for you to try and help me."

"Oh, thank goodness, you are still conscious too." the voice responded and Hashim's eyes widened in shock as he realized it was Sadie. Why was she back here?

"C-Can you move at all?" She said, gently feeling along Hashim's face and arm as far as she could reach through the crack.

"Please leave, Sadie. I admire you staying here for my remaining minutes, but it would be a much better use of your time if you go and inform the Novanoid." Hashim tensed as Sadie patted his neck, then swatted away her hand.

"He can move his hand!" Sadie hissed in excitement and the second voice responded in the same tone.

"It's not looking over here, so I'm going to move you to a better position, okay?" Sadie whispered, her cool hands grabbing between Hashim's arms. What? She planned on moving him to a better position? Maybe so he had a better view of the Klink that would eat him? What a sweet offer.

The second she tried pulling him up, a fire of pain shot up his body, and black spots swam in his vision as he cried out. Sadie immediately stopped, her hands tensing as she held onto him.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Sadie whispered, her hands trembling as she gently touched Hashim's shoulder, "I just need to move you, though, so I can hand you the potions." Why was she here? She needed to leave. There was nothing she could do.

"I already have my potion, thank you," Hashim said, "I'll take it when I'm ready."

"When you are ready?" Sadie said in confusion. Hashim didn't respond, so Sadie gripped his shoulders again and hissed, "Just for a moment, do you think you can keep quiet? Just for a second?"

Hashim was unsure of her intentions, but he nodded in agreement, willing to provide whatever closure she felt she needed. Sadie pulled hard on his shoulders and Hashim gritted his teeth as he forced himself to remain quiet, sweat dripping down his face as his body shook from the pain.

When he was finally able to think amidst the pain, he gradually became aware that Sadie had adjusted his position to a more upright one. As he attempted to speak, Sadie pressed three potions into his open palm. His expression turned into a frown as he started, "I already told you I have my–" However, his words trailed off as he glanced down at the healing potions in his hand. To his surprise, these potions were considerably stronger than the one he had previously used, typically reserved for Nova missions. This–momentarily–could heal him quite a bit.

Just like most healing potions, it couldn't cure him from the curse, but it would halt it and give him quite a bit of his energy back. It was usually used in moments when a Nova needed enough energy to create a portal and escape.

"Where did you get this?" Hashim said slowly.

"Sam gave it to me! He said those were the remaining bottles he had from after being in the Cave." Sadie said, in excitement. Ah, then the second voice was dear Samuel Lark.

"We have two more after we escape, but–"

"Sadie," Hashim interrupted, "I can't outrun it. Even if I manage to get over the wagon it'll see me and then all three of us will be in danger. Please go home."

Hashim was enveloped by an overwhelming silence, and he assumed she had departed. Just as he was about to resign himself to the solitude, a soft, almost imperceptible voice escaped her lips. The words that reached his ears struck him with absolute disbelief. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that he would hear such words.

"I'm here to save you, Angus."

Among the plethora of Novanoid laws, there is one that is rarely broken—mostly due to the severe consequences that follow. This law states: never endanger yourself over a fallen Nova. If rescuing an injured Nova poses a significant risk, it is deemed better to leave them behind for the greater good. The rationale is simple: it is preferable to lose one life than two. At their core, Novas are considered expendable, and their deaths should not jeopardize the rest. This principle is drilled into every Nova during training, and it is seldom challenged because those who do often end up dead. Yet here stood a Terran—a young woman with everything to lose if Hashim lived—proclaiming that she was here to save him.

He could not understand. 

"You don't have to outrun it. I plan on killing it." Kill it? Hashim could only listen in utter shock as Sadie laid out her plan.

"Sam says these potions are very strong–strong enough to give you enough energy that you can use your magic," Sadie explained, "My problem was that I couldn't get close enough to it, but if it isn't moving I can just go straight to it and crush its heart. All you have to do is drink those potions, and force it to remain still for a few minutes while I kill it."

"And if I can't?" Hashim said back. Sadie remained quiet before she slowly said, "You can." Hashim tensed at her words.

"Go away, Sadie. I will not help you."

"You will." Sadie shot back. Hashim laughed lightly and said, "You can not force me."

"I can. There is a hole I can squeeze through, and I will go through it whether you have stopped it or not. You are a Nova, are you not? The Seft will force you to help me."

Hashim's eyes narrowed as he glared at the small hole through which Sadie was speaking. His voice was filled with frustration as he said, "Are you dense? What do you want from me? Don't feel guilty for something I did willingly. Leave before you pointlessly kill yourself."

She didn't mean it. She did not mean to save him—she was toying with him. There was no reason she would return like this and risk her life for a Nova who wanted her dead. Such a person did not exist in this world, and Hashim refused to accept it. It was not true. It could not be true. There was no way.

"I will kill them if you save me, Sadie. I will do it. I will track them down and kill them–and after I have finished, I will kill you as well." Hashim replied cooly. A wave of relief flowed through Hashim at her silence, believing he had threatened her enough, when she said quietly, "None of these items are cursed. I checked them myself. You have no right to kill them." 

Hashim froze at her words, fear gripping him for the first time that night. He had used large amounts of magic when crafting that lie. She should have believed him--no matter if she checked the crates herself. Who was this woman? 

"How-"

"Will you drink the potion, Angus?" Sadie said. Hashim tensed and clenched his teeth as he slowly said, "I wish for your death, Sadie. Go and ruin yourself–I do not care."

He held his breath, eyes gazing over the wagon, silently pleading for Sadie to have left at his words, but instead, he watched in horror as Sadie's head emerged from a small crack between the broken wagon. Her soiled dress was cut up to her knees, a dagger clenched in her hand, and a fearful look etched on her face. At that moment, Hashim realized he had been wrong. Idiots like this did exist, but the reason nobody believed in them was because they died too young.

He should have done nothing. He was not a Nova in this state, and the Seft had no power over him. He should have left her to die. 

But even he could not stop himself as he grasped the vials of potion and put them to his lips. With resolve, he started swallowing each one, feeling an immediate relief as the pain ebbed away and was replaced by a soothing sensation that seemed to wash over his entire body. As the potion took effect, Hashim's muscles relaxed, and a renewed sense of vigor coursed through him. His attention then turned to Sadie, waiting until she approached a safe distance before commanding the powerful Klink to freeze in its tracks.