Written December 1st 2022

The battle for Halophell was over.

The First and Last stood at the top of Graz’zt’s tower, battered and bruised, but not beaten.

Far below them, the sounds of battle carried on, but they were growing fainter with every passing minute. With the portal closed, the remaining creatures would be easy enough to round up and eliminate. They were only lesser demons, a distraction while Graz’zt toyed with The First and Last.

“Is everyone good?” Ailith watched Ace press one last bit of healing magic to Talus’s shoulder, and the rest of the group nodded in assent. “Okay, great. We should get down there, see what they need from us.”

A collective murmur of agreement followed her words, and Ailith wrapped her arm tighter around Feyra’s waist. The adrenaline was starting to fade, and Ailith was starting to feel the fatigue in her muscles and the ache in her bones. She couldn’t wait for this day to be over; she was in dire need of a bath.

As one, they moved towards the stairs. All but one of them.

Ailith watched out of the corner of her eye as Xiv walked instead to the edge of the tower, their tall frame dark against the setting sun.

Ailith stopped, nodding her head in Xiv’s direction when Feyra looked at her quizzically. A sense of dread churned in Ailith’s stomach. Something wasn’t right.

“Xiv?” She asked warily, “You okay?”

They all watched as Xiv nodded, pulling something out of their pocket and fiddling with it. Xiv turned back to them, a tiny capsule grasped between their fingers.

No one said a word as Xiv slowly undid their utility belt, dropping it to the floor in front of them. Their Bag of Holding, weapons, and magical items joined the growing heap on the floor as Xiv unloaded everything on their person.

Understanding hit Ailith like a bolt of lightning. She knew what this was. “Xiv…” She pleaded. It wasn’t time yet. They couldn’t just leave, not right after Graz’zt’s defeat, not before celebrating. Not before she had a chance to say goodbye.

Xiv looked up from their task, dropping their Helm of Teleportation with a sense of finality. Ailith met their eyes and shook her head. Not yet. Xiv just looked back at the sunset and nodded again, before turning back to the rest of The First and Last.

“I was Xiv,” they rasped, and bit into the capsule in their hand. Ailith heard gasps from the group as Xiv’s form began disintegrating, pieces of them being carried away by the wind.

“Are they…?” Talus’s question hung in the air.

“They’re gone, buddy,” Ailith whispered, half in awe. “The crazy bastard actually did it.”

High above them, the moon peeked out from behind a cloud as the sun finished setting. Xiv was gone, and sadness mingled with pride in Ailith’s chest. They did it.