>>5359403>>5359406>>5359412>>5359414>>5359447"Merlina... I know you're somewhere in there... Let us put an end to this... I am exhausted of this violence, this killing, let us put these foolish ambitions to rest." Attempting to reach the human side of your master, you speak to the amalgamation as you walk over to the ghost of the occultist.
"VLAD! DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE MONSTER! APPROACHING YOU IS WHAT SHE WANTS!" Farnese quivers, seeing you getting so close to the monster that could end your memories in a blink of an eye.
"She is no monster, Farnese... She's the one who made me the man I am today... The one who contained Conrad's plagues in my stead... she could have killed me back then, but ever since she was abandoned, to the day she died... she remained human."
"GGH! AAAARGH!" Her voice becomes more audible as she lets go of the hand in her stomach, with several souls escaping her, the image of the corpse you met 3 years ago became much more clear, to the point where she resembled the human she deserved to be.
"SPARE ME YOUR KINDNESS, TRAITOR. YOUR FAKENESS DISGUSTS ME!" Blinded by rage from beyond the grave, she momentarily escaped the grasp of the amalgamation, only to reject the feelings of compassion you gave to her. She remembers you, but not fondly.
As the amalgamation took possession of her once more, it aimed it's scythe to split your brain from your head. You attempted to raise block her flow, but your energy was too weak to even do that.
Before she could off your head, the fire wall seemingly protected you as it redirected her blade, forming the familiar, rejuvenated image of a giant Flora.
"M-Master?!" Schierke is shocked to see a huge image blocking Merlina from attacking your team.
"You have done well in saving the black swordsman from himself, Schierke. The spirits will not last much longer, and the young must not dwell in the interstice for long. Go."
"Master... I can't leave you... Not like this... Not like this!"
"My passing was long overdue. As a sorceress, you should know how sinful it is to distort the laws of magic to extend your lifespan. Tragedy would find me one way or another. At least, I can be at ease, knowing that my dearest student was able to leave her nest, before it turned to ashes. March forth from here and form your own path. The days I spent with you were short, but out of my countless days in this physical realm, those were the most serene."
"I... I will try..." Schierke wipes her tears, slowly marching towards the caravan to escape the battlegrounds. "I will try to live up to your expectations."
>Thank you for letting her stay with us, Flora. We will guard her from now on.>I am very grateful of being blessed by your knowledge. If only we had more time to know of each other's plans.>May we meet each other again, grand magician.>Please, let me speak to my master. I can still save her.>Write-in. 