Page 142 of Dance of Stars and Ashes

Copper light imbued the evening sky, guiding the dead towards the afterlife, where their next journey would await. Zarya hoped Aarav’s next life would bring him the peace he’d sought in this one. Beautiful and tragic, the circle of life would continue.

“You know, I kind of miss him,” Yasen said.

“Me too.” Zarya rested her head on Yasen’s shoulder. “Can you believe that?”

“Not really.” His voice was soft.

Silently, they watched as Kindle cast ribbons of fire towards each barge, engulfing them in flames that crackled in the air.

“How are you feeling?” Yasen rested his cheek on Zarya’s head. She shrugged.

“Like I’ve been cut into pieces and restitched by a blindfolded tailor. I miss him, Yas. Maybe I shouldn’t, but I do.”

“For what it’s worth, I don’t think Rabin was faking what he felt for you. I’ve known him a long time, and I’ve never seen him smile like that. I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen him smile, come to think of it. No one is that good an actor.”

Hope tickled in her chest, still overshadowed by betrayal, a wound still too raw to bear. Zarya squeezed Yasen’s arm tighter and sighed.

Aarav continued to burn, the orange flames mingling against the brilliant hues of the setting sun like the world was on fire.

It was a glorious sight. A fitting end for a hero.

“Farewell… friend,” Yasen said as Aarav disappeared over the horizon.

Supported by the chain of the Chiranjivi’s magic, Amrita made a full recovery. Koura worked through every root and knot until the Jai Tree’s bark shimmered, and Amrita’s canopy of flowers grew lusher and more beautiful than ever.

They now had one more task to complete.

Zarya clutched her father’s notebook to her chest. Somehow she’d managed to hang on to it through all the chaos.

“You have the power to seal in the darkness, Amrita. The book claims your roots are the key. They are what keeps the darkness at bay.”

“She is ready,” Vikram replied before he looked at everyone. “Before we begin, we have an announcement we’d like to share.”

Everyone turned expectantly to Amrita.

“We’ve decided to release the seed Amrita had implanted after the joining, and she is currently with child. After such a near miss, we decided not to delay.”

Zarya opened her mouth, not entirely sure how to respond. How had they released the seed? She thought it was probably better not to know.

A chorus of congratulations erupted, hugs going all around. For a moment, Vikram looked shell-shocked, and then he grinned as his face lit with joy.

“I’m going to be a father!” He threw his arms wide, and they all laughed and congratulated and hugged him again. Perhaps a child would stave off the strange loneliness of Vikram’s life and give him something else to focus on.

Whatever animosity had lingered between them had been stuffed away for now. She hoped he wasn’t harboring any ill will towards her, and in time, maybe they could be friends again. He’d been burdened with choices that weren’t his own, too.

“She is ready,” Vikram said, and everyone went quiet, watching Amrita.

“Does she know what to do?” Yasen asked.

Vikram nodded. “She’s been testing it on her own, but it requires a great deal of strength. She wouldn’t be able to do it without you.”

“Are we sure this is going to work with only six of us?” Zarya asked just as a set of sharp footsteps drew everyone’s attention to the Jai Tree’s door.

Rabin strode across the tiles as the breath in Zarya’s lungs seized. She didn’t know where he’d gone after she told him to leave, and she hadn’t been prepared to see him again now.

Wary looks were shared around the circle, and Zarya caught Yasen’s eye, his expression asking if she was okay. She nodded. Helping Amrita was far more important than her silly, broken heart.

“There are seven of us now,” he said.