Illegalist Insurrection: An Unofficial TwoSet Adventure

Aileana's Sacrifice (Part 2)

Legalist nearly fell over again.

Aileana had never looked so radiant as now—with a bright smile on her dust-covered face, hair flowing in the wind, outstretched arms covered in trails of blue light as the lightning traveled through her veins.

And then as quickly as she had arrived, she collapsed lifeless on the ground. And the light disappeared, and the glow he felt was extinguished cold.

Illegalist was still there—stunned into an electrified trance, but still there.

The horror of what had just happened hit Legalist in the face like the slap of a whip, and he scrambled to his feet, breath quickening. No, no, no. It can't be. No. Please, by the power of Ling Ling, no, he desperately thought, running as fast as his sore feet would take him on the parched earth. Ailea, no, you better not have done it, please, by Ling Ling, Ailea, no—

He practically fell next to her and shook her shoulders. "Ailea!" he frantically called. Her breathing was shallow. "Aileana! Stay with me!"

He'd sworn off tears a long time ago, when he'd first gained power. And suddenly yet, there they were all over again, ready to form, threatening to build up in his eyes.

Aileana inhaled sharply. "Hi, Le..." she whispered hoarsely.

Legalist could've yelled at her. "I thought I told you to stay away," he berated her, voice rising in pitch. "You weren't supposed to get involved in this!"

"How was I not?" Aileana interrupted. "You couldn't face him on your own. It's impossible."

"And so what about that?" Legalist demanded. "What did you just do?"

Aileana coughed weakly. "Just... y'know, called down the biggest thunderstorm in my life to knock him out for a few seconds," she said. "I wasn't sure how bad it'd overload me, but I guess... well... it did rough me up a bit."

"You call this—" Legalist gestured around "—a bit? Are you kidding me?"

"Course not," Aileana huffed, chuckling weakly, turning her face toward him. Her eyes glimmered. "I told you I'd go down with you, right?"

Legalist sighed and shut his eyes. "Yeah," he mumbled under his breath. "That you did."

Aileana sighed. "Sorry I couldn't stay alive, like you asked," she said, staring off into space.

"No. Aileana. Stay with me," Legalist demanded, breath heaving. "I'm not losing you today, and I told you that. You're gonna stay alive and see me win this thing, and we'll go home, and it'll be okay. You're not going anywhere."

She was quiet for a bit, then nodded. "Okay," she said. "I'll stay."

The rain had steadily been growing harder, and now it fell off the rim of Legalist's hat to the muddying ground. Aileana smiled. "Look, the fires are going out," she said. "Maybe one day this desert will be green again."

Legalist nodded absentmindedly. "Maybe," he said.

"Hey, Le," Aileana suddenly said, suddenly sounding very tired.

"What is it, Ailea?" Legalist immediately replied.

She looked up at him. "I'm gonna take a nap," she whispered, closing her eyes. "Okay? Tell me if we win."

Legalist bit his lip. "I will," he managed to say.

And then she was silent, her breath shallow, eyes closed.

The lightning and thunder softened, giving way to even harsher rain. He stroked her hair softly.