I look at Kaia.
My Trouble. My Valkyrie. The girl I’ve been holding together since I was a child.
She’s still at the Gate. Still guiding. Wings pulsing, face calm, tears drying on her cheeks.
She has no idea.
No idea what I did. What I’ve been doing. What my magic has been screaming about since the moment she walked into my life.
I wipe my face. Take a breath.
“Bye, Ed.”
The word comes out steadier than I expected.
Another Ed shuffles past. Then another.
“See you later, Ed.”
Torric’s hand squeezes my shoulder.
“Safe travels, Ed.”
Malrik’s shadows brush my ankles. Gentle.
“Thanks for waiting, Ed.”
Aspen doesn’t let go of my hand.
“She came for you.”
Darian’s light pulses warm.
“She finally came.”
I keep saying goodbye.
But it feels different now.
I’m not joking anymore.
I’m not crying anymore either.
I’m just… here. Standing with my brothers. Watching the woman I saved before I knew her name guide the dead to their rest.
“Hey, Ed?”
The next shadow pauses. Almost like it’s listening. Probably not. It’s an Ed.
“When you get to the other side? Tell them about her.” My voice is steady now. Strong. “Tell them a Valkyrie came back. Tell them she had help.”
The Ed shuffles past. Disappears into the light.
Another takes its place.
Then another.
Then a thousand more.
