I lead Reine back to our campsite and the others greet her warmly and with some concern about her wounds, but she assures us that she's fine. Ciana goes off to find a source of water while Dimitri chops up more wood to make a bucket to put the water in and Ayette watches as she sits on one of the logs, her eyes scanning his figure. A few minutes later, Dimitri finishes making the bucket, tying the wood together with some rope before he goes off to find Ciana.

"I can come with, you know," Ayette offers.

"No," Dimitri says firmly as he continues walking off, "you're staying right where you are."

Ayette sighs and rolls her eyes, but she stays put nevertheless.

"Are you sure you're okay?" I ask as I sit beside Reine on one of the logs while Renji examines her wounds.

"I'm fine," Reine waves it off, "don't worry about me."

"What on earth happened to you?" Renji frowns, "you look like you ran into a tree branch, lost your balance, fell down a hill and kept rolling for miles."

"I held Kione off for as long as I could, but I ended up having to run when she broke through my shield," Reine explains, "I fought her as I ran and eventually I escaped her."

"Well, you'll be fine, but you should rest for a little bit," Renji sighs.

Just then, Ciana and Dimitri return with a bucket full of water and they place it down next to me and Reine.

"I'm glad you're okay," Dimitri smiles tiredly and Reine smiles back.

"Yeah, me too," Reine says.

"We don't exactly have a cloth to clean your wounds with, but we found you some water," Ciana says and smiles sheepishly.

"Thanks," Reine sighs and Ciana and Dimitri wander off around the campsite with Renji.

I glance between Reine and the bucket and chew on my bottom lip, wondering if I should help her.

"Here," I sigh, making a split-second decision to tug at the corners of my shirt and pull it over my head, Reine's eyes widening in the process, "use this."

"I couldn't--" Reine starts, raising her hands in protest.

"It's fine, Reine," I insist and motion for her to take my navy blue t-shirt.

Reine stays quiet for a few moments, her eyes downcast, and I sigh.

"Fine," I say as I scooch closer to her, "I'll just do it myself then."

"Wh--" Reine starts, lifting her head up as I dip my shirt in the water after folding it up and I wipe it alongside her face.

The dirt and blood on the side of her face smears slightly before it eventually all gets wiped away and I smile at her softly as her lavender eyes imploringly stare into mine.

"There," I say as I continue wiping off her wounds, "that isn't so bad, is it?"

"Uh," Reine clears her throat and shakes her head slightly, making her hair frame her face, "no..."

"You're going to give the poor girl a heart attack," Mikasa muses from her spot around the fire.

"What?" I furrow my eyebrows and turn to face Mikasa, my hand stilling on Reine's arm.

Meanwhile, Ciana giggles from the other side of the campsite as she throws us a glance over her shoulder at Mikasa's words and Dimitri turns back to glare at me.

"You really are dense," Ayette mutters and crosses her arms.

"Um..." Reine starts and I turn my gaze back to her, "it's fine. Don't worry about it. I'm fine, really."

It's then that I notice the pink hue to her cheeks and the bridge of her nose and my lips part in realization.

"Oh..." I trail off, "oh...sorry."

"It's fine," Reine assures me with a small smile, "it's just...I'm not used to people taking care of me."

"I'd say you'd better get used to it," Ciana smirks.

"Don't give him any ideas," Dimitri snaps and elbows her in the side.

"Ow," Ciana whines and pouts playfully, rubbing her side.

Renji and Mikasa share a knowing smile while Ayette just shakes her head and smiles. I share a sheepish smile with Reine before I continue cleaning her wounds but make sure to be more mindful in the process this time.

***

A few hours later, we head out from the campsite and Renji lends me his white jacket to wear since my shirt still needs washed. Dimitri continuously keeps an illusonary dome around us as we move in order to ensure that Kione doesn't find us again. Eventually, dusk comes as we travel and the setting sun makes the woods glow golden.

"This isn't good," Dimitri scowls, "we shouldn't be out here when it gets dark."

"We'll be fine," Ayette sighs, "and can you put me down now?!"

I smirk as I glance over at Dimitri, who's carrying Ayette on his back and refuses to let her down.

"No," Dimitri grunts, "you might do something stupid again."

"Stupid?" Ayette scoffs, "I saved your life."

"Yeah..." Dimitri breathes out, his steps almost faltering, "you did...but--"

"But what, Dimitri?" Ayette scowls.

"But yours is worth far more than mine," Dimitri says and Ayette's eyes widen as her breath hitches in the back of her throat.

Reine's eyes flicker over to Dimitri and Ayette and a frown forms on her face, her eyes sad at his words.

"How dare you," Ayette croaks out before she bangs her fists against his chest, "how dare you!"

"Guys--" Renji frowns as he stops and looks over at them.

"How dare you say something like that!" Ayette shouts and shakes her head.

"I--" Dimitri falters and his eyes widen when he feels wet droplets landing on his shirt and he stops in his tracks, "Ayette..."

"Guys!" Mikasa shouts from beside Renji and gains everyone's attention, "we're here."

"Woah," Ciana breathes out as she looks in front of her.

I turn to face where Ciana and the others are now looking and my breath hitches.

"Woah, indeed," I breathe out.

Before us, a giant dome made of glowing golden light with bright green tints around it surrounds an area that's impossible to see due to the dome itself. Multiple white columns with hanging braziers with marble angel wings surround a white marble archway that leads into the dome.

Dimitri reluctantly lets Ayette down and she heads towards the archway without another word. Me, Reine, Ciana, and Mikasa approach the archway with Ayette and we glance between ourselves as we get ready to enter the dome. Ayette sends a sad glance over her shoulder at Dimitri before she turns back and walks forwards, disappearing from sight as she becomes enveloped within the golden dome.

"We'll be here," Renji assures us and Dimitri nods in agreement.

Without another word, the four of us enter the dome after Ayette and we find ourselves standing in the middle of a throne room with cracked stone stairs in what looks like a giant botanical garden with a giant stone throne in the center. A halo of light glows above the throne and stone wings are attached to the back of the throne and multiple orbs of light glow in the air and float, lighting up the area. Old braziers line the sides of the stairs and they light up with golden fire and a puff of black smoke as we ascend each stair.

"Why have you come here?" a feminine voice rings out and I glance around, searching for the source of the voice.

"We wish to seek your help," Ciana says as she looks around as well.

"Khalida, please," Mikasa says, her eyes sad, "what happened to you?"

Suddenly, a white glowing light in the shape of a figure appears in front of us and after a brief flash of energy, a sandy haired woman with extended, bright, white angel wings, a white battle-dress with burgundy trim, white and burgundy gauntlets on her arms, and white greaves appears.

"What happened to me?" her amber eyes burn with anguish, "I turned into something I never wished to be. That's what happened to me. Turn back, Akiyama. I no longer help anyone."

"Khalida, we--" Reine starts.

"You need my help to vanquish Coralyinn. Isn't that what you were going to say?" Khalida raises her chin, "forget it. I refuse and nothing will convince me otherwise. Be gone from here."

"But--" Mikasa starts.

"I said be gone!" Khalida shouts and waves her right arm sharply, sending Ciana and Reine flying backwards to the entrance of the dome.

"Khalida!" Mikasa shouts, "I'm begging you! We need your help! Please!"

"Do you know what I've done?" Khalida seethes out, "I have leveled armies, destroyed enemy cities in one foul swoop, and walked the path of blood all because of Coralyinn. I refuse to spill any more blood. I refuse to fight. I refuse to leave my sanctuary."

"But if you don't then even more blood will be spilled!" Mikasa shouts desperately.

"You are only here because you want your brother back. But I have a newsflash for you, Zen isn't coming back! Zen won't ever be the same!" Khalida snaps and steps forwards before her eyes flash to Reine, "you're here because you believe you should stop the war, but you're doing it for selfish reasons. You're doing it all for your family and for Gabriel."

Reine glances away and Mikasa lowers her gaze as Khalida continues to walk throughout the throne room, analyzing us each.

"You only want to figure out who you really are," Khalida says to me and I sigh, knowing she's not entirely wrong.

"You don't know us!" Ciana snaps angrily, flames starting to pick up around her eyes as she marches forwards, "you think you have the right to judge us? To pick apart our desires and hopes and twist them into selfish reasons? You have no right to do that. Look at yourself for once. You trapped yourself away in cowardice! You're supposed to be a leader, a role model! But you're no leader. You're a pathetic little girl who hides away because she thinks she'll do more damage than good, even if it's for a good cause. And so, you let everyone who ever looked up to you down. What happened to the Khalida from the stories? The legend herself. So much for that, huh? Because all I can see is a nobody."

"Ciana..." Reine's breath hitches and she steps forwards to place a hand on her shoulder but decides not to and lets her arm drop to her side.

Ciana turns on her heel angrily and storms out of the dome as Khalida watches her with fury burning in her eyes.

"Don't be mad because she's right," Ayette finally speaks up and Khalida's eyes drift over to her.

"Excuse me?" Khalida raises her eyebrows.

"You think breaking down the pieces of others will help yourself seem better, make you feel like you're doing the right thing," Ayette starts and meets Khalida's gaze determinedly, "but that doesn't make it right at all. That makes you worse than you actually are. I would respect you more if you could own what you are and what you've done. You're supposed to be a leader for all Iegashyias under you, but what example do you set when you hide behind your walls? Perhaps being peaceful and not doing anything can be seen as noble, but I don't see it that way. I see it as an easy way out-- a way to say that you've done all you possibly can when you actually haven't. I feel like...when Jin died and you inherited this position, you felt you were taking her place and that wasn't right. So, you acted out and did as much damage to the opposing side that you could before you realized it wasn't enough. That's when you hid yourself away. You think you're preserving Jin's honor and legacy and that acting upon your position as a leader would erase her, but what you're doing now is actually the opposite."

"You," Khalida narrows her eyes and walks up to Ayette, "why are you here?"

"I--" Ayette starts.

Khalida reaches a hand out and wraps it around Ayette's neck and lifts her a few inches off of the ground.

"Ayette!" I shout and draw my katana, but Khalida flicks her left hand and sends my weapon flying against the farthest wall.

"Khalida! Let her go!" Mikasa gasps, clutching her right hand in front of her chest.

Ayette stares at Khalida with wide eyes and claws at the hand around her throat, desperately trying to get her to let go.

"I just...have to..." Ayette croaks out.

"You don't actually have a selfish reason for being here, do you?" Khalida's amber eyes light up golden, "you think you could do a better job than me, hmm? Isn't that what you were saying earlier?"

"That's not--" Ayette starts.

"Khalida, release her!" Reine says firmly and begins marching up to her.

"You want my help, don't you?" Khalida turns to face Reine and Reine stops in her tracks, her eyebrows furrowing, "then you can have it."

Khalida turns back to Ayette and Mikasa gasps in realization as golden energy begins to swirl around Khalida's feet and around the hand that's holding Ayette up. The golden energy begins to surround Ayette and swirls around her violently, her relic floating out into the air and glowing brightly as it tries to counter Khalida's powers. Ayette continues to struggle in Khalida's hold before a bright golden flash goes off and blocks sight from the entire area.

"Khalida!" Mikasa screams as the light goes off and she falls to her knees.

I cover my eyes with my right arm upon the flash and manage to summon my katana back to me as the light fades. Ciana comes running back inside upon seeing the flash from outside and I can hear Renji and Dimitri shouting from outside. Upon opening my eyes I notice particles of golden energy floating throughout the air and slowly fading as Ayette lies there unconscious on the floor, golden energy swirling around her in a calm manner before it fades entirely. My eyes flicker to the crystal in Ayette's necklace to see that it's shattered into multiple tiny pieces and my eyes widen.

"That was powerful enough to break a relic..." Reine breathes out and rushes up to Ayette with me and Ciana.

"Ayette! Ayette, are you okay?!" Ciana shouts frantically and gently lifts Ayette's head to rest in her lap.

"Where's Khalida?" I ask as I glance around, my expression filled with confusion and worry.

"Khalida's...gone..." Mikasa whispers from her place on the ground, her eyes staring dead ahead at empty space.

"What do you mean she's gone?!" I ask frantically, "and what happened to my step-sister?!"

"No way..." Reine breathes out in realization and her eyes widen.

"What?" I ask wearily, my eyes meeting hers.

"Khalida is gone..." Mikasa starts, "because she sacrificed herself and gave her gifts to Ayette."

"You mean..." my breath hitches in my throat as I look back at Ayette's unconscious figure that's sprawled out on the floor, her blue hair fanning out in waves and her lips parted as her eyes are fluttered shut, "Ayette's an Iegashyia?"

"That is exactly what I mean," Mikasa breathes out.