“You do? Well, I mean, except for Wesley, I don’t see the other five wanting to do what you do and become the world-saving-Last-Necromancer type, after everything they’ve been through. But I want to, Dad. To be that for you, for us, for everyone. So you’re not the Last Necromancer anymore.”
“You do, huh?”
“Yeah, I guess after everything, I finally do. I… like it. From our training and everything, you know?”
“Then you’ll be happy to know that I’ve found a way to prevent Risen Reckoning from ever being used on the living again.”
“You have?”
“Yes. So you wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore. Others wouldn’t have to fear that from you either—however unfounded their fears are. But I do need your help to see to it. Wesley has also offered to assist.”
“Wesley? You spoke to him after you pulled them out?”
“Him and your other five new friends. They’re here with me right now and very worried about you, because you blocked my attempt to pull you out alongside them. I should also mention that a certain fearsome Ifrit is currently down in Sanctus causing one hell of a fiery ruckus in a bid to get to you. Vaxan is decimating the material aspect. And Evira held back a volcanic eruption.”
“Fuck… that’s… a lot.”
“You’re so dearly loved, Win. And you’re not alone in this.”
“Dad… what if I come out of here and they all see I’m not the same? What if they see I’m violent and vengeful now? When I hurt Ruxnoth earlier, I… I liked it.”
“As I’ve said, there’s no shame in a logical, very reasonable reaction to what he’s put you through.”
“You don’t think that’s who I’ll always be now?”
“Not for a single moment.”
“W-what if you’re wrong?”
“Then nothing.”
“What?”
“You’ll still be my son. Still be beloved and adored by Evira, Vaxan, and Zayn. Developing and evolving doesn’t undermine who you are at your core. They still see you, still know who you are, even if this was permanent—which I don’t think it is at all—it would only bring more care from them, through wanting to help you come to terms with it.”
“Oh God,” I groaned as his words had me choking the fuck up, then tears were literally spilling down my cheeks.
“Are you crying?”
“Yes, you bastard.”
His chuckle wrapped around me.
“I didn’t know it was possible to actually cry in here.”
“Yep. Both me and your mom have.”
“What?”
“When I was entrenched in staying behind and sacrificing myself to the Valley, and your mom, Pops, and Father didn’t exactly take it well. Yeah, we were all choked up during that awful ordeal—Pops and Father on the outside, your mom and me in here.”
“Jeez, it just never ends, does it?”
“It will. All of this is the last verse in a song Morien started long ago. The Celestial Plane’s overreach also. We’vejust inherited that poison. But we’re flushing it out, and we’re almost done now. You can feel it, can’t you? How close we are?”
“Yeah,” I admitted. “I can.”
“But none of that works without you, Win. The poison won’t flush out without you. We won’t remain unbroken without you. And I really don’t think you want to stay here in your heart of hearts either.”
