That night, everyone finally slept with the person they loved.
Klaus with Katrina.
Gale with Diana.
Ray with Isabella.
Axel with Marlie.
Bryan with Alix.
Eiden with Kira.
And Asher with Miria.
Miria slept curled up against Asher, her head resting on his chest. In her sleep, she found herself in a timeless place, bathed in a soft, undefined light.
In the middle of that space, a familiar silhouette was kneeling. Long green hair fell around a face soaked with tears. Yellow eyes shone with pain.
Miria Lysara of Ashenford.
"It's my fault…" she was moaning. "I killed everyone… I'm a monster…"
Miria advanced slowly and placed a gentle hand on her head.
"It's not your fault."
The young girl raised her face, surprised. Then she straightened up, her voice broken.
"Yes… it is my fault. I should have listened to my parents. I should never have trusted Kil. And now… everyone is dead. Even Leo…"
She hid her face in her hands and broke into sobs. Miria looked at her with deep compassion.
"It's not your fault… Besides… they're not dead."
The past Miria stopped crying at once. She lifted her head, eyes wide.
"What…? They're… they're not dead…?"
Miria gently shook her head.
"No. They managed to take shelter in time in the magical cave you created."
A fragile smile of hope appeared on her past self's face.
"Really…? But the cave is pretty far, isn't it? How did they reach it in time?"
"Leo is a descendant of a line of powerful sorcerers. Thanks to his powers, he created a portal that brought the inhabitants close enough to the cave so they could take refuge there. Of course… some couldn't make it in time. But the losses weren't as heavy as we thought. The survivors even created a new town near the cave. They named it Lemir."
"Lemir…?" the past Miria repeated, moved.
"Yes. In your honor… and in Leo's. To them, you and Leo are the saviors of their town. If you could see the tombstones made for the two of you… filled with wishes and prayers wishing you happiness…"
The past Miria lowered her eyes again.
"But… did Leo die at the same time as me?"
Miria smiled sadly.
"No. He died years later… from the grief of having lost you."
A heavy silence settled. Then the past Miria's voice grew lower, almost broken.
"I'll always regret understanding my feelings for him too late… Now he's gone… and I don't even know if I'll ever see him again."
Miria stepped closer and whispered in her ear:
"It's already done."
The young woman jumped.
"What do you mean…?"
Miria displayed a radiant, almost amused smile.
"I don't know how… but my Asher is truly your Leo."
The past Miria's eyes filled with tears of pure emotion.
"So… despite everything… I succeeded…?"
"Yes. You succeeded. All your friends survived thanks to you… and many other families too. And even if you and Leo couldn't be together… in this life, since I am you… and Leo is Asher… then Asher and I will make your love real."
A peaceful smile finally lit up the past Miria's face.
"I'm happy… and finally at peace. I hope you'll enjoy every moment spent with your Leo… or Asher, as he's called in this life. Enjoy life. As for me… I can now leave in peace. I no longer have any reason to haunt you."
She smiled one last time, radiant.
"So… goodbye."
Little by little, her silhouette dissolved into the light.
Miria woke up. A tear slid down her cheek. She murmured in the silence of the room:
"Farewell… Miria Lysara of Ashenford."
A smile mixing sadness, compassion, hope and peace appeared on her lips. Then she fell back asleep, her heart finally at peace.
---
The next morning, the group woke up in good spirits. After getting ready, they said their goodbyes to Élias and a few inhabitants of Lemir. Then they set off again toward the Valley of Ashes.
Hours of walking later, they finally arrived at the edge of the Eldermyr forest. The valley stretched out in the distance. Everyone stopped, silently observing this forest heavy with history.
Gale was the first to speak.
"Miria… isn't this where the Founders took refuge when they fled?"
"Yes…" she answered softly.
Kira frowned.
"I never really understood the reason for their flight…"
"According to the stories," Eiden explained, "at the time the four clans didn't get along. Any friendship with someone from another clan was considered a betrayal… punishable by death."
"Yes, but if they had decided to stop seeing each other, there would have been an amnesty, right?" Alix asked.
Marlie shook her head.
"I… I have more the feeling that there's something else. Something more serious that pushed the Founders to flee."
Suddenly, Miria stopped. Her gaze became distant.
"Yes… you're right, Marlie. There is indeed something else."
Everyone froze.
"What is it?" Asher asked.
Miria turned toward them. Her expression was serious, but determined.
"I'd like to explain everything to you… however it's a whole other story. I'll tell you another time. Because right now… time is short."