Endosymbiosis

52. Cure

Third circle of the Empire
Pacifia

On the same noxdiem, we traveled to Pacifia.

On the ship, Doxy handed me the remedy like it was my favorite drink, and I shook the liquid in the glass, watching my dim reflection wonder about that little mystery I could do nothing but swallow.

"How much longer do I have to take this?" I didn't run away from asking. Doxy shrugged, as if it wasn't important.

"Until it's no longer needed."

"And when will that be?"

"When there is no more war to worry about."

I confirmed silently. It didn't make sense to wish for the fevino's end when he was my best weapon. I took a deep breath and drinked the dose.

"Do you have any plans for when the war is over?" I asked, curious. "If it doesn't end you, actually..."

Doxy opened the smile of someone who always had a plan.

"I intend to have something I've never seen, but I've heard about it a few times..." She paused dramatically. "A normal life." I let out a laugh that infected her. "What about you? Do you have any plans for the future?"

A heavy silence hung between us; much bigger than I expected.

"I should have one, shouldn't I?"

"I can put you in mine... When the war is over." Her smile made me believe in the promise that someday I would never have to worry about loneliness again. "When there is finally a tomorrow for us to wish..."

Beneath Doxy's eyes I felt visible for the first time, as if even the words I hadn't said mattered, or like my mind was a mystery worth deciphering... I wanted to warn her that it wasn't, but she was the kind of person who tried for much less.

Doxy walked over and ran her fingers down my face. I took them and kissed their knots, my eyes on hers, accepting her promise and making sure that nothing in this war, frightening as it was, would make me run away again.

This time I would stay until the end. And if death was what was left for those who remained, then it would finally know my face.

"May today take us to it then."

• • • ֍ • • •

When we reached the golden doors of the metriona's palace we were greeted by a wall of fageines with their sharp spikes and imposingness, making us stop. My finger wrapped around the trigger of my gun and I held my breath for a moment, waiting for their first shot...

But it never came.

"The Aulics sent us." One of the fageines said, his clothes full of brooches in an attempt to profess power. "We came to make sure you stick to your part of the deal."

In front of the group, Korrok nodded and advanced towards the palace, making the fageines move out of his way so we could pass.

"Apparently Bleine decided to send reinforcements..." I whispered to Doxy.

"Reinforcements? I think they're just here to check out when we're done... And then to get rid of us."

"Glad we're armed then." I poked her with the tip of my gun, making Doxy frown. "If everything goes wrong, just pull the trigger."

"My triggers are all pulled."

We walked in silence through the corridors of the palace, the sounds of our footsteps on the glossy floor echoing through the emptiness of the halls in an invitation for the enemy to confront us. But only silence enveloped us in response. There seemed to be no one else in the entire palace, - or in the universe - and I wondered if that was true or if that was what they wanted us to think...