The Last Time

ㅤ The mountains grew angry, pelting the warring groups with a wave of snow, separating them. It was difficult to tell who was who, impossible to orient oneself and make the right decision. There wasn't even a moment to plead for one's safety. White suddenly turned to black, fear faded into nothingness. How long she remained in this state, Tear didn't know. The realization that she was still alive came slowly. The long awakening felt alien, unclear. And as soon as she caught a glimpse of a familiar silhouette out of the corner of her eye, she tried to sit up. The sudden movement caused pain in her chest and took her breath away. "You'd better move less, so you can recover faster and get back on your feet with a hymn." Legretta remained completely calm and impartial. Despite their differences, she saved Tear, found them shelter in a cave, and bandaged their wounds. And then she guarded the peace of her student, who had chosen a different path. Legretta didn't judge her. It was Tear's choice, and she respected it. Tear had no strength to argue. Nor any reason to attack at that moment, so she obediently lay down, trying to even out her breathing. Legretta was right: until she could sing, she couldn't heal herself or put up a decent fight. And although Legretta's non-hostile company gave her a surprising peace, transporting her back to a distant, naive past, the silence gave birth to a multitude of thoughts. And with it, sadness… "Why?" Tear said weakly. "I couldn't let you die there. Your battle isn't over yet." Legretta spoke as if it didn't concern her. Detachedly, almost emotionlessly. She had long ago entrusted her will and life into the hands of one man, wanting to fix the broken world that brought so much pain every day. Wrong world. And even though Van's idea was insane, requiring the shedding of much blood, it gave her hope that at least someday, for someone, there would be a brighter future. "Why are you following my brother?" Tear asked, almost in tears. And not at all because of the pain she felt with every word. Legretta had taught her too much. Including standing up for herself, having her own opinion. She had become a role model for her… She and her brother were the images she aspired to. But in the end, the cruel truth destroyed them. And Tear still couldn't understand why they had chosen this path. How they could have thought of it as something normal. There was no answer. Legretta and Van had long since given up hope of Tear's understanding. They had long ago made it clear that she could not stop them except by killing them. At the same time, they had no intention of harming her. Tear was no one special to Legretta. She was simply Van's younger sister. Legretta was simply following orders, trying to treat Tear with mutual respect. It didn't matter to her that fate had scattered them on opposite sides of the barricades. And she could only hope that this fact wouldn't one day derail Van. That they would reach the end… Hearing something, Legretta left. The noise of commotion shattered the silence. Soon, Luke and company burst into the cave. Their worried expressions pulled Tear from her thoughts about the past, from her useless regrets. Looking at her friends with a sad smile, she bitterly accepted the fact that this was likely the last time she and Legretta would be able to spend peacefully together. And now they would meet again only as enemies… ㅤㅤ