2 | 𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐒 , pidge gunderson

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GULIAE was surprised, to say the least. Not only had Enlightenment not been held in five generations, but it had also never been held by someone not native to Galantis. Nonetheless, when the rest of the group reached the top of the steps, Guliae fully accepted Janiorce as the new holder.

It took quite some time for Amal to do the same, but soon enough the Pakistani girl managed to rise to her feet, with shaky legs and a pale face. The Shadow were nothing compared to the fear of Janiorce being in danger.

Now they were all traveling back down the staircase (much against the complaints of Lance). Janiorce somehow managed to keep his eyes on Enlightenment without falling down the stairs, but to be fair, Amal kept a firm hold on his shoulders.

Pidge, no longer worried about her girlfriend, had dozed off onto Shiro's shoulder. Her wounds drained a lot from her, but the rest sped up the process and brought her closer to the end result she desired for.

"Janiorce has been gifted with a great honor," the elder Galantian finally spoke up. Amal squeezed her little friend's shoulders, resisting the urge to snap at her. She was proud of the alien boy, no doubt, but she didn't want him to go through anything else traumatizing. "He will most likely be the holder of Enlightenment until he passes onto the next life."

Hunk raised an eyebrow, looking at Guliae in concern. "He has to hold that ball until he dies?"

"Of course not. After you defeat the Shadow, I expect to see Enlightenment back on Galantis soil as soon as possible. I simply meant that he will be the only being in all of the multiverses who will be able to equip Enlightenment, until he passes."

"If you don't mind me asking, how does the crystal work?" Allura questioned from the back of the group. Pidge opened her eyes for a split second, Amal quickly soothing her back to sleep.

"If Janiorce holds both Enlightenment and a crystal at once, he will rupture and his matter will be spread throughout the galaxy." The calmness in Guliae's voice threatened Amal, and she watched her friend even closer. "Someone else will have to hold the crystal up, as Enlightenment shines through."

"But why are they the only thing that can kill the Shadow?" Shiro asked, his voice low as to not disturb the girl on his back.

"You must look back at every war that has ever been fought," Guliae began. "Not one was resolved with peace, but by fighting the evil with a stronger evil. Just look at yourselves, the Paladins of Voltron, fighting against the tyranny of the Galra Empire."

"We're not evil," Lance growled from his place beside Hunk.

"Well, to most, you are not. But in the eyes of us Galantians, everyone is evil, including you. Your malevolent attitude towards the Galra is the only reason you have made headway in this war. That being said, being evil does not mean you are immoral, or bad."

"What does this have to do with why it effects the Shadow?" Keith cut the conversation short. Despite the wisdom her words held, not everyone was willing to accept them.

Guliae sighed, and answered the original question. "Enlightenment is pure. The crystal filters all of the goodness out, leaving only a toxic, radioactive light. It is fighting evil with evil— oh, forgive me, we've arrived at the mines. Janiorce must wait outside."

"Hell no—" Amal went to say, but surprisingly Coran was the one to cut her off.

"I don't think we want Enlightenment in a cave full of the crystals that make it deadly."

"Then I'll wait out here with—"

"No," Guliae's voice was stern. "I believe you would be very angry to find another one of your friend's making an enormous sacrifice."