Chapter Text
“We’re meant to lose this fight.”
Mel’s thoughts swam with the final moments of her mother, her arms still feeling the weight of Ambessa’s corpse when she collapsed. A phantom feeling that she does not want gone. She wanted to pretend that she was still holding her mother, that everything since her mothers eyes went blank was some sort of illusion or dream that she can wake up from. All she wished for was to go back to the disagreements they had on how to best handle conflict, but she can’t go back to that. Ambessa was gone. Her mother was gone.
She had been walking on autopilot since the battle ended. Still in shock since Viktor’s “Glorious Evolution” had let go of the people. Let her go.
The first place she went after the smoke and her mind had cleared was the hexgate. She wasn’t sure what she expected to see, but after her mother dying in her arms, Mel was looking for something to be hopeful for.
The last thing she wanted to see was Jayce’s hammer crumbling to dust.
At first, she denied it. Looking around for Jayce or Victor, hoping that the only casualty was something so easily recrafted as a simple hammer, but her searching was to no avail. Ekko said something to her before riding off, probably to check on his friends, but whatever he said, Mel couldn’t hear. Either that, or she didn’t want to.
Eyes wider than a doe in a hunter’s crosshair, she about-faced, and started walking.
Next thing Mel knows, she’s at the door of her study, unsure as to why. Perhaps in shock, her instincts brought her to a place where she always was able to collect her thoughts. Without a thought, she turned the doorknob, hoping to be alone and collect herself.
Her eyes scanned over the cavernous room. The first thing that usually draws the eye is always the intricate windows across the back wall that flood the room with natural light. Next are the rows and rows of bookshelves, enough to fill a small library, or perhaps the large chunks of unprocessed garnet piled on the floor. Of course, the true focal point of the room was the gilded standing desk, still covered in the papers and books that she and Elora were working on the last time–
Elora.
How could she forget?
Elora died in this room. Right here, in front of her as Mel was being taken by the Black Rose. She remembered reaching out, fighting as the shadowy claws ripped her away. Watching in horror as Elora’s final moments were that of agony, before in a blink of an eye she was gone. It was all her fault, and yet she forgot.
As if her knees were waiting for the right moment, Mel felt them buckle from underneath her. Something on her face itched, it was wet. It wasn’t until its salty taste hit her lips did she realize that she was crying.
“We’re meant to lose this fight.”
If Jayce were here right now, he would point out the dramatic irony of the statement. If Jayce were here now, he’d wrap her up in his arms as she cried. If Jayce were here she probably wouldn’t be crying.
Elora, her friend. Kino, her brother. Jayce, the man she loved. Ambessa, her mother. Everyone she loved around her had died, and she was alone. On the cold linoleum, she was alone, and she screamed.
She wailed until her voice went hoarse. Her throat burned like she had been sculling down turpentine. Her face grew hot and her nose started running like she spiked a fever. The heartbeat in Mel’s chest hurt with the mixture of heartbreak and adrenaline pumping inside of her. She sobbed on the floor until she couldn’t keep herself upright.
Mel was so deep in despair that she didn’t notice that someone had entered the room until they had spoken.
“Oh my god.”
The voice was soft. Mel used the last of her strength to push herself up to turn to the figure. The tears in her eyes made her vision blurry, but she’d recognize those ears anywhere.
“Lest?” she said with a sniff.