Vareck raised his eyes. Before him stood the luminous and semi-transparent silhouette of Siobhan. Her face was gentle, infinitely sad… and full of love.
"Mistress Siobhan… Mother?" he breathed, his voice broken.
He almost threw himself forward, tears flowing without restraint.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… You made so many sacrifices for me… and I… I killed you with my own hands… I betrayed you… I…"
Siobhan knelt in front of him and placed an ethereal hand on his cheek. Even though she couldn't really touch him, the gesture was of heartbreaking tenderness.
"Shh… If you only knew how long I've been waiting for this moment, my son…"
"How can you still… call me that… after everything I've done…?"
"Because you are my son. And I've always loved you. Even in my final moments."
Vareck sobbed harder.
"I should have… I should have known… I should have recognized you…"
"I should have told you the truth," Siobhan answered in a soft voice. "It's my fault too. I wanted to protect you… and by protecting you… I left you in the dark. But now… you've recognized your faults. You've seen the light. It's okay. I don't hold it against you."
She drew him into a spectral embrace. Vareck closed his eyes and returned the embrace with all his strength, even though he could only feel the warmth of a memory.
"I'm happy… that you were able to repent. That you were able to change. Even if it's at the end… I love you. And I will always love you."
She placed a spectral kiss on his forehead.
"My son…"
"Mother…" Vareck murmured, holding her tighter.
Siobhan's light began to fade gently.
"I love you… forever…"
Then she disappeared.
Vareck remained on his knees, his shoulders shaken by even more violent sobs. He finally raised his eyes toward Miria, his face ravaged by tears.
"I'm sorry… Everything is my fault. Even the War of Ashes… It was after my birth that everything fell apart. And even today… I've caused another war."
He lowered his head, tears flowing freely. Then he raised his eyes again, a gaze both determined and broken.
"It's time for me to disappear… so I can no longer harm anyone."
Miria looked at him, incredulous.
"What… what are you going to do?"
Vareck didn't answer. He closed his eyes and unleashed all his power. A dark and unstable energy began to swirl around him, making the cave walls tremble. Cracks appeared. Stones began to fall.
"Vareck, stop!" Miria cried. "There are other ways! You don't have to go this far!"
He cast one last look at her. A look charged with gratitude… and infinite regrets.
"No… It's better this way. People like me… must disappear. I'm sorry. Present my apologies to the others. And… I hope you'll be able to be happy with Asher. Thank you… for showing me the light."
The cave trembled more strongly. Stones were collapsing from all sides.
Miria cast a look filled with sadness at him… then launched herself toward the exit.
She got out just in time. Behind her, a monstrous explosion rang out. The shockwave projected her far away.
At the same moment, on the other side of the valley, the rest of the group had just eliminated Vareck's last minions. The explosion made every head turn.
Asher, his face suddenly pale with worry, shouted:
"Miria!!!!"
He started running toward the source of the explosion, immediately followed by the others.