cascade | kotlc

8. Dead and Would Die

The world swirled as it lost and reentered focus, and she gasped into a starry night sky and glowing ocean waves as she impacted against the pristine sandy beach. She gasped painfully as she rolled over, panting heavily, trying to get the sand out of her mouth.

"June?" a voice whispered beside her. She didn't have the energy to look as she lay on her back, clutching her chest as she stared into the night sky, the stars and constellations gliding above them. She found Cygnus, shining brightly in the darkness.

"Get Elwin," she cried out as the shadows swallowed her and Cygnus disappeared into the ether above.

She woke up to a burning city.

Elwin was crouching over her, and Sophie and Fitz were holding her, and her head was aching, really, really bad.

"Head," she whimpered as she realized she was on the outskirts of Eternalia. "What- happened?" Elwin scurried around and fished for a vial. He popped it open and poured it onto her forehead. Her mind cleared and her eyes sharpened.

"Is... everyone... okay?"

Sophie looked away, panic in her eyes. "I don't know."

"I should've realized... earlier," June mumbled. "Sunlight was the only... the only thing that could get through that tower. And it can... spark Everblaze. If I just... realized sooner..."

"It's not your fault," Sophie said, tears filling her eyes. "It's mine. I healed Fintan. If I hadn't..."

"It's none of your fault," Fitz said firmly. "It's Fintan's. He was the one who set the Everblaze. Don't blame yourself for something you can't control. None of us were expecting him to burn down Oblivimyre."

June rasped, trying to move her numb arms. "Is... everyone... alive?"

"I don't know."

She tried to get up, but gravity overpowered her. She crumpled onto the ground, dejected and heartbroken, miserable and exhausted.

"I stole Fintan's pathfinder," she managed to get out. "I don't know if he's still alive. He might've found- a second one."

She choked on her breath, gasping as she clutched her throat. It still felt like smoke was everywhere, creeping into her body, cutting away her air.

"Frissyn?"

Sophie closed her eyes. "Yes. The gnomes are... putting it out."

Alden went up to them, his eyes wandering over the distance and over the firestorm. "The Everblaze will be contained. But now... there is much to explain."

June met his glazed eyes, which reflected the bright yellow behind them. The bright yellow beads of Everblaze that razed the city behind them.

She hadn't managed to kill Fintan. She had hoped that kick could've taken him over the edge, or the fire would've engulfed him, but it hadn't.

She promised herself she would one day. If he was still alive.

"No -- you have to tell me what happened, I can't..." Sophie begged. "If someone was hurt, I need to know."

Alden's lips formed into a word, but at the last second it changed to, "I really think you should rest before we talk about this."

"I won't be able to sleep, Alden," June whispered. "I've just dueled Fintan and almost died from the flames. I need to know."

"She's right, Dad," Fitz agreed.

His face paled. He looked about a thousand years old as he sat down between them and buried his face in his hands. "I don't know how to tell you this."