>>6310631You remember Willow, holding up a hand to shield her eyes at night.
How bright your nights are, compared to those of her world.
And that silvery thing…
“The <span class="mu-i">ring</span>.”
“Correct once again, Argia Candente.”
Your mind reels with revelation after revelation. You feel like you are in free fall.
“Let me adjust—” the spheres floating on her hand change: one develops a thin ring around it, and another a smaller sphere that escorts it.
“Well this is not to scale,” she frowns. “You must imagine them much farther, and…” she blinks. “Oh, this is my husband rubbing off on me again. Nevermind!” She clenches her hands and the spheres disappear. “The one thing you should keep in mind: the Worm is like a wedge keeping a door open. The one good thing about this is that it is still in its infancy. What I will do is to kick that wedge off. If it’s not too late.”
Not too late?
“That is also why I came to you. I wanted to know the extent of Ansàrra’s plan before facing the Seven—and I have fallen into her hand once again.” She clicks her tongue. “Fooled once more, and for the same reasons.”
“Wait. Wait… the Worm is keeping the door open for the Seven, but what about Willow?”
Her crimson eyes smolder.
“The care you show for your friends is endearing, Argia Candente. You admitted being jealous, and it is my turn now. I yearn for friends that would stand by my side, without withering under the weight of years, without falling to dust. But that is my fate. The Seven have robbed me of the joys of a mortal body. Ansàrra has robbed me of holding a child I could call my own. I made my choices and Willow Stark has made her own.”
You remember your very first vision—when Saint Bragia confessed how she wanted six children with Candeloro.
Centuries ago.
But wait… <span class="mu-i">Willow made her choices</span>?
“You won’t kill— you won’t have to kill Willow, will you?”
“The Worm cannot be suffered to live, Argia Candente.” Her lips form a thin hard line. “Everything else is collateral.”
[cont.]
