You sit across from the girl in front of you. This place is, frankly, nasty. It’s literally an underground cavern. There’s a shit hole in the far left, a worn sleeping bag to the right. Scattered amongst the dirt ground are pictures. Sooo many pictures. Many of her with some friends, other by herself, sporting a megawatt smile.

All of them in clearly happier times. The blonde young adult sitting across from you doesn’t seem very happy right now.

She’s shaking. Lightly, but she is. Her blonde hair was clearly more vibrant before all…this. Now it’s fading and you swear there’s a couple grey hairs in there. Her once clearly flashy and bright dress is faded, torn, ripped to the knees for better mobility and hasn’t been washed in who knows how long. The girl isn’t even drinking age yet and she looks four times that.

Then again, being on the run from two planets’ worth of hate will do that to you. She takes the recorder you offered in a shaking hand, swallows. Begins to speak.

“M-My name is Mippi Glittershine. Princess of- formerly of the-the great Glittershine Royal House. This is my last will and testament, a-as well as my…my confession. B-because I’m about to die here. Underground. Alone.” She glances at you, but you give no impression one way or another. Frowning in sorrow, she continues speaking. “My kingdom…is in ruins. My-my people are calling for my blood. I guess not mine anymore, but-” she shakes her head, tries to continue. “I- they’re alongside the outsiders that- that I brought in. That I wanted to share this wondrous land of Faenalia with. Even my oldest friend turned against me. She…left three days ago. Saying that she couldn’t help me anymore, not when I…” she pauses, clearly remembering something painful. You don’t blame her. It’s that same friend that’s how you even found her at all.

She takes a deep breath, before squeaking out the rest.

“I’m not a bad person! I…I just…I made a mistake.” Tears. “I didn’t mean to. I didn’t mean to do any of this! I just wanted to try to make up for-”

“Mippi.” You speak once. She understands, and refocuses.

“R-right. I…everyone wanted t-to know how this happened. I…I guess I should say why. Why and how I…” She squeezes her eyes closed, doesn’t want to admit it. You know she did it. She knows she did it.

Eventually, she comes clean.

“I caused the Manaburn. Why I destroyed the Magical Realm. Why…” she sighs, and you see a part of her die right then and there. “...why so many are dead because of me.”