Sunset ^beta

Agnea was late, Throné thought to herself as she stared out the window of her inn room in Wellgrove. She'd heard that Agnea was set to perform here next, and thus rushed to this town upon receiving that news. Since the day their group of eight had gone their separate ways, Throné had enjoyed traveling for traveling's sake now that no collar weighed her down, but while she hadn't minded the solitude, sometimes, too often, her thoughts drifted to Agnea and the young dancer's dazzling smile.

Yet the sun had nearly set, and there was still no sign of Agnea.

Throné sighed. It wasn't as if she had told Agnea she would be here in this town. Perhaps in her excitement to see Agnea again, she had simply arrived too soon.

A loud banging came from below, and Throné jumped to her feet, touching the dagger strapped to her thigh. Quickly she left the room, hearing hurried footsteps near the entrance of the inn. Worried voices echoed around her and she raced down the stairs to the main area of the inn. Whatever had happened, it couldn't be good, and fear filled her.

"There are some empty rooms on this floor!" the innkeeper said to a group of apothecaries. "You can take the wounded there!"

Throné watched the chaos before her carefully. Apothecaries hovered around wounded people in armor, cleaning and dressing bloody injuries. Based on their weapons, they appeared to be hired bodyguards, and one lay upon a blanket on the floor, an apothecary treating her burned arm. The stench of blood filled Throné's nose, and her body stiffened. Whatever had attacked this group was no ordinary threat.

"Throné!"

She jerked her head up at the sound of that familiar voice. Agnea, pale as a sheet and a bandage wrapped around her arm, rushed toward Throné, and Throné felt her heart sink. "Agnea?" she forced out in a strained voice.

"Oh, Throné, I'm so glad to see you!" Agnea exclaimed as she threw her arms around Throné for a tight embrace, and her shoulders trembled. "It was terrible…! There were so many monsters, and…!"

Carefully Throné laid her hand on Agnea's hair. "You're safe now, I promise," she said calmly, although her heart was anything but.

Agnea simply sobbed as her entire body still quaked, and Throné didn't press her for any further details. Other than the bandage around her arm, Agnea didn't appear injured, and for that Throné was grateful. Fiends weren't uncommon in the forests surrounding Wellgrove, but neither were they supposed to be particularly dangerous. For an entire protective unit to be injured like this was unheard of. She glanced at the wounded, and apothecaries had begun helping them to empty rooms.

Soon Agnea's tears stopped, although her eyes were still puffy and bloodshot. "I wasn't expecting to see you here," she said quietly. "But I'm glad, really."

"I heard you would be performing in this town, and I wanted to see you again." Throné glanced down at the bandage around Agnea's arm. "Are you…?"

"Oh, no, it's just a scratch." Agnea smiled grimly. "I got lucky. We were almost to town, but then everything went dark so suddenly, like that long night…"

Throné's blood ran cold. That long night. She could never forget that night for as long as she lived. But it was supposed to be over. The eight of them had defeated the wicked god Vide to bring back the dawn. "Agnea—"

"My lady," said an armored woman as she came beside Agnea. She was tall and muscular, and her blonde hair was tied back tightly. "The innkeeper said she'll have some of the town guard stand watch outside the inn. I don't believe any of those strange fiends will enter the town, but we could all use some peace of mind."

"Thank you," Agnea said as she finally released Throné. "Um, will everyone be okay…?"

The guardswoman's expression softened. "The apothecaries say that the wounded will all recover. There will be scars, but no lives were lost."

Agnea folded her hands over her heart. "That's a relief to hear."

"It is our honor to protect the star of the Grand Gala." The guardswoman glanced at Throné. "I assume you are a friend of Lady Agnea's?"

Throné nodded; this woman's gaze was particularly striking. "My name is Throné. We've traveled together before."

"You can call me Glenna." To Agnea, she said, "Please, rest easy for tonight."

"You can share my room," Throné said, those words out of her mouth before she could think about them.

Agnea's expression brightened. "Really? It won't be a bother?"

Glenna laid a heavy hand on Throné's shoulder. "If Lady Agnea trusts you, then so do I."

As Agnea bid Glenna goodnight, Glenna left to check on the other guards, and Throné led Agnea up the stairs to her room. Their hands brushed just briefly, and Throné tried to ignore the warmth blossoming in her chest. She had forgotten just how beautiful Agnea was.

Once at the far end of the hallway, Throné opened the door and led Agnea into the room. There was only one bed, but they had shared beds before during their earlier travels, so now shouldn't be any different, Throné tried to tell herself. More importantly, however, was what Agnea had told her earlier. "Tell me everything that happened during the attack," she said as she sat upon the edge of the bed.

"I was in the carriage with Glenna, so I didn't see much," Agnea replied as she sat beside Throné, closer than Throné had expected. "But I would never mistake the sight of that purple haze. Shadowy fiends attacked us and I tried to rush out to help, but Glenna stopped me."

Wise woman, Throné thought to herself but did not say out loud. Agnea had chosen well for her protective detail.

"I did see something else strange, though," Agnea continued to say. "In the trees, I saw a man in a dark cloak just standing there. I think… I think he may have been controlling the fiends. We fled as fast as we could, and the fiends stopped attacking us when we reached town."

Throné bit her lip. "Perhaps some members of the Moonshade Order survived," she said. "In that case, let me be your bodyguard too, Agnea."

Agnea's eyes went wide. "Are you sure?"

"Of course. I won't let any harm come to you, I swear."

Much to Throné's surprise, Agnea embraced her again. "Oh, thank you!" Agnea cried. "I really am so happy to see you again…"

Throné laid her hand on Agnea's hair, no longer trusting herself to speak. If someone really was controlling those fiends, had they been targeting Agnea specifically? While it wasn't widely known that the eight of them had been the ones to bring back the dawn, Ori's journals had said they were being observed by the Moonshade Order, so likely any survivors would be able to surmise who had defeated their leaders and Vide. In that case, it wasn't difficult to imagine that Agnea, whose dream was the most antithetical to the Moonshade Order's creed, would be targeted first in retaliation for Vide's defeat.

As she often did these days, Throné touched her bare throat. Even she had sometimes feared the dawn would never come for her. She could understand a desire for oblivion. But she had fought hard for her own dawn, and she would never allow another to take that away from her.

"What's wrong?" Agnea asked, raising a shaking hand to Throné's cheek.

Throné's mouth went dry. How she had missed this affection. "Are you frightened?"

"Mm, a little, I think." Agnea let out a weak laugh. "But we've survived so much already. We even defeated an evil god! I may just be a dancer, but that's why I fought so hard to make the sun rise again. I won't let some doomsday cult stop me from bringing hope!"

"Agnea…" was all Throné could say. After everything they had seen on their journeys together, from Montwise to Stormhail to Lostseed and elsewhere, that Agnea could still smile was a miracle, and if not for that hope she believed in so dearly, Throné doubted she would've survived her own journey. Because she could still smile, she could have hope for the future.

Perhaps that was why Throné despised the Moonshade Order so much, despite understanding their suffering. Not only had they created a monster like Claude, but because they had no hope, they felt no one else deserved hope either, and Throné was tired of such people trying to control her life.

A tense silence fell between Throné and Agnea, and slowly Agnea cupped Throné's face between her hands, lifting Throné's gaze, and Agnea's hands were soft and warm. A heartbeat passed between them, and for the briefest of moments Agnea pressed her lips to Throné's.

Maybe Throné was only dreaming, and what a pleasant dream it was.

Another moment passed, and Throné finally broke the silence. "We should sleep now. You've had a long day."

"Yes, you're right," Agnea said, her voice small. "Goodnight, Throné."

Throné put out the candles after the two of them got ready for bed. They lay together on the bed sheets, and although the bed wasn't particularly large, the distance between them had never felt so vast.

Yet Throné had just barely drifted to sleep when an uneasy feeling filled her. It was still night outside, and her heart began to race; her instincts had never failed her, so if she was awake now, there had to be a good reason for it. Quietly so as not to disturb Agnea sleeping beside her - the way her body grew warm just being near Agnea again! - and made her way to the window. She peered through the gap in the curtains, and the night sky looked as it always did.

She touched her thigh, missing the familiar feel of her dagger. She wished her reunion with Agnea had been a more joyous occasion. That anyone would even think of harming Agnea…!

For a moment, or even just a fraction of a moment, she saw a shadowy figure on the ground beneath the window. She blinked, and the figure was gone. Frowning, she pulled open the curtains, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

"Throné? What's wrong?"

She turned and saw that Agnea was awake and sitting up. "No, nothing at all. Did I wake you?"

Agnea shook her head. "I think I'm just on edge. But I need to get a good night's rest, and so do you."

Throné couldn't argue with that, so she returned to bed. She and Agnea again lay upon the sheets, and Agnea lifted her hand, as if wanting to reach for Throné, but instead simply folded that hand to her chest. Neither spoke, the two of them simply watching each other, and the memory of Agnea's kiss was still fresh in Throné's mind.

Finally Agnea spoke again, her voice a mere whisper. "Goodnight, Throné."

"Goodnight, Agnea."

Agnea fell asleep first, and the sound of her rhythmic breathing was soothing to Throné. Her eyes fell upon Agnea's lips, so bright even in this darkness. When had she begun to long for Agnea like this? Not just for the hope Agnea promised, but Agnea herself. Throné brushed her lips against a strand of Agnea's hair, and willed herself to fall asleep too.

Agnea was her usual chipper self the following morning, as if the attack of the previous night hadn't happened. Her performance at the dancer's guild was the next day, so today she said she wanted to explore Wellgrove with Throné. Of course Throné agreed, but neither could forget that she was acting as Agnea's bodyguard.

And with most of Glenna's squad still recovering, they would be rather short-handed if another attack did happen.

"Wellgrove really has come a long way since we all first visited, hasn't it?" Agnea said, bending to examine a rose bush. She wore a large straw hat and a different dress than her usual, and none of the residents had yet recognized her as the world famous dancer Agnea Bristarni. "And Partitio tells me the orphanage is doing really good too."

Throné smiled. The orphanage formally known as "Mother's Garden" was now under the purview of Alrond and the Church of the Sacred Flame, and both Alrond and Partitio donated substantial sums to the improvement of the orphanage. "Those children will be in attendance at your performance tomorrow, won't they?"

"Of course!" Agnea beamed brightly. "The guildmaster told me that some of the children have expressed interest in joining."

"That's wonderful to hear." Some months ago Throné had visited the orphanage with Partitio at his encouragement, and she'd been stunned at how much happier the children were. Even Mira's smile reflected little of the trauma she had endured. Not for the first time Throné wished she had grown up in a place of such love.

But then, would she have met Agnea and their other companions? If she hadn't undertaken her bloody quest for freedom, would this orphanage still be trapped beneath Mother's cruelty? Her hand settled at the base of her throat. For all that her freedom had cost, the only thing she could truly say she regretted was not realizing that desire for freedom until after Donnie, Scaracci, and Pirro had died.

Agnea took Throné's hand, startling her. "I know a place you might like," Agnea said with a gentle smile.

Throné could only nod, her throat suddenly too dry to speak. Her fingers curled around Agnea's, her heart racing even at such a simple touch, and she let Agnea led her. As they walked, Throné tried to keep an eye out for anything suspicious, but always her gaze kept returning to Agnea before her. Again she remembered that brief kiss, how warm and soft Agnea's lips had been. Had that kiss been a mere dream?

Yet often Throné saw Agnea watching her out of the corner of her eye, and when she realized Throné had noticed her staring, her cheeks would flush as she quickly turned away.

They walked past the bustling department store, toward the path to the dancer's guild, where they had visited earlier and Agnea had spoken animatedly at length with the guildmaster about her upcoming performance. However, instead of entering the guild again as Throné had expected, Agnea led her past it, and behind the building was a small path that Throné wouldn't have noticed if Agnea hadn't pointed it out to her.

"This way," Agnea said, her fingers tightening around Throné's. The path through the bushes and trees was narrow, and a floral scent filled Throné's nose. The ground beneath her feet was uneven and Agnea nearly stumbled once, but caught herself before Throné could fling out an arm to catch her.

At the end of the path was a large garden, and at the center was a water fountain adorned with a statue much like the ones around Alrond's manor. Rows of rose bushes lined the enclosed space, and lush ivy snaked around stone pillars. Throné took a careful step forward, inhaling deeply to take in the scent of all these flowers.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Agnea said as she span on her heel to face Throné. "The guildmaster told me about place years ago. Not many people know about it, so it's great for getting away from crowds!"

Now that Throné looked closer, this garden held a kind of wildness; there was little rhyme or reason to how the plants were organized, as if they had been given the freedom to grow however they wished, and just enough was pruned to create a walking path through the garden. She rather appreciated the sentiment. Agnea sat upon a stone bench at the edge of the garden and Throné followed to sit beside her. Here, surrounded by nature and beneath a clear blue sky, she could almost forget why she was currently acting as Agnea's bodyguard.

Agnea removed her straw hat and fanned herself with it. "Before Mama passed away, she used to bring me and Pala to Wellgrove so we could visit the dancer's guild. That's when the guildmaster told us about this place."

"It is very peaceful," Throné said, and again she found herself staring at Agnea's lips. How desperately she wanted to kiss those lips, to prove to herself that what happened last night hadn't been a dream.

"Mama would dance all around this garden, and me and Pala would clap and cheer for her." Agnea giggled, a playful gleam in her blue eyes. "Would you like me to dance for you too?"

"I…" Throné hesitated. When Agnea stared at her with those bright, honest eyes of hers, it grew difficult to think clearly. Throné swallowed thickly, and that longing only became stronger. "Yes, I'd like that very much."

With a smile, Agnea jumped to her feet and gave Throné an exaggerated bow. "Now, watch me shine!" she exclaimed, spreading her arms wide.

She fell into a familiar dance, the one her mother called "The Journey Begins," she had once told Throné, and it was also similar to the dance she had taught Laila in Sai. It gave Throné both a sense of melancholy and one of hope, of partings and new meetings. Agnea sang the lyrics softly, but still they echoed clearly in Throné's ears. This was the first dance she had seen Agnea perform, and she would never tire of watching it. Agnea danced as if the whole world was watching her, but whenever their eyes met, Throné felt as if they were the only two in the world. A faint smile tugged at her lips; she didn't mind solitude, but being with Agnea was truly preferred.

A monster shrieked nearby, and Agnea froze. Splotches of purple haze began to fill the air, and Throné shot to her feet and drew her dagger. "Agnea, watch out!" she yelled as a shadowy beast rushed toward Agnea. She shoved Agnea out of the way, the fiend just barely missing the two of them.

The dark fiend snarled, as if in frustration, and it rounded on Throné and Agnea and lunged forward again just as they were getting back to their feet. Agnea gave it a swift ruinous kick to its muzzle, and it let out a distorted yelp of pain as it hit the ground. Throné's grip tightened around the hilt of her dagger and she charged for the fiend, but it quickly recovered from Agnea's kick and dodged Throné's strike to lunge for Agnea again.

Throné cursed under her breath; so this fiend's target really was Agnea. "Darkness, strike," she chanted, channeling dark magic in her hands to blast into the fiend's side, shoving it away from Agnea. The fiend howled and turned on Throné to charge at her, and she dodged to the side and drove her dagger into the fiend's neck. It twitched for a moment and then went limp as its body withered away into nothing. The purple haze also began to fade, leaving no trace behind.

Agnea's face was pale as she approached Throné. "Is that all…?" she said, her breathing heavy.

"It seems to be." Throné sheathed her dagger. "But if the fiends have reached the town, then you're in danger. It may be best to cancel your performance."

"No!" Agnea cried, frowning. "Throné, we've already survived so much together! I won't be so easily cowed! My fans are waiting for me!"

"And if those fiends attack during your performance, your fans will be the ones hurt!"

Agnea winced at Throné's harsh words and opened her mouth, but said nothing more. Her cheeks were red with anger, and her gaze fell from Throné's.

Throné inhaled a deep breath. "We should tell Glenna what happened, and maybe we'll be able to come up with a plan."

Agnea only nodded, still silent, and she and Throné left the hidden garden, the tension between them thicker than ever. As they walked, Throné kept glancing back over her shoulder, feeling as if someone was watching her, but each time she saw nothing out of the ordinary. When the town came into view, Throné was relieved to see no signs of that unnatural purple haze.

She touched the dagger at her thigh; no matter what, she would protect Agnea. That much she could at least promise herself.

Throné and Agnea told Glenna and the town guard what had happened earlier, and Glenna formulated a compromise. Agnea's performance tomorrow could continue as scheduled, but with an increased guard presence around the crowds while tonight some of the guard would do a sweep around the town for anything or anyone suspicious. Agnea wasn't entirely happy with the compromise, worried that the presence of guards would alarm her fans, but otherwise didn't try to argue. Throné understood Agnea's concerns, but while she knew that a highly anticipated performance was not so easily rescheduled, she still didn't agree with said performance happening so soon.

During supper, Throné and Agnea exchanged few words, and afterwards Agnea tried to do a little more practice of her dance routine before the sun set. Throné, of course, watched her along with Glenna, and the joy on Agnea's face as she danced almost helped Throné forget that someone was likely targeting her.

"She is beautiful," Glenna said to Throné, laying her hand over the hilt of the sword at her waist. "It is difficult to fathom why someone would try to hurt her."

"There are still twisted people in this world," Throné muttered. Just because the eight of them had defeated Vide didn't mean that they had eliminated all evil and suffering from the world. She knew that all too well.

When night fell, Throné and Agnea retired to their inn room, and Agnea seemed to be in slightly better spirits after her practice. However, neither yet changed out of their day clothes into their sleepwear, and Agnea simply sat beside the window, staring at the stars outside. More than once Throné tried to say something, anything at all, but no words would form.

Agnea laid her hand over her chest. "The stars really are beautiful, aren't they?" she said suddenly.

"Yes, they are," Throné replied, and upon finding her voice again, added, "You should sleep. You've an important day tomorrow."

"I know." Agnea lowered her gaze, and her profile illuminated by candlelight was beautiful. "But I'm not sure I'd be able to sleep right now."

"True enough, I suppose. We've both been on edge all day."

"Throné…" Agnea lifted her head, a gentle pleading in her blue eyes. "Why don't we get some fresh air? Just the two of us."

Throné frowned. "This late and dark, it'll be too dangerous."

"We'll tell Glenna, and we won't go far from the entrance to the inn."

"…if you insist. But only for a little bit."

Agnea smiled, the first she had truly smiled since the attack in the hidden garden. "Thank you, Throné!"

When Agnea smiled at her like that, Throné could almost ignore all her instincts advising her otherwise.

Once they left their room and headed down the stairs, they let Glenna know their plans, and while she seemed uncertain, she said she hadn't received any reports of suspicious activities or individuals, so she didn't argue and reminded them to stay within view of the inn. Agnea smiled again and thanked Glenna, and thus together she and Throné left the inn.

Agnea inhaled deeply and stretched her arms. No one else was outside the inn at this time, and a cold feeling prickled at the back of Throné's neck, and she touched the dagger at her thigh to reassure herself. "Have you known Glenna for long?" she asked Agnea; she didn't really care about the answer, but simply wanted to break the silence.

"Mm, maybe about a few months?" Agnea replied, pressing a finger to her chin. "We met in New Delsta, and Dolcinaea recommended her squad."

"I see." There was more Throné wanted to say, away from the prying ears of others. She'd had that opportunity in the wild garden, but then that fiend had attacked. It had only been a day since their reunion, and all the unspoken feelings between them had come rushing back, words she had realized she wanted to say aloud only after the eight of them had gone their separate ways, words she had thought would remain locked away deep in her heart. Until now.

And that Agnea had kissed her…

Agnea stepped closer to a streetlamp, moths fluttering around the comforting light. Whether in the moonlight or the sunlight, she always appeared so beautiful, blessed by the Lady of Grace herself. Being with the Blacksnakes, Throné always had to be alert, never allowing herself to be distracted, but during their travels together, she had let her gaze be drawn to Agnea, simply enjoying watching the young dancer, and just as often had she noticed Agnea watching her, and eventually she had come to recognize the desire in that gaze.

She took a step closer to Agnea, reaching for Agnea's hand. "Agnea, I—" she began to say.

"Throné, over there!" Agnea exclaimed, and Throné followed the direction of her gaze. A man in a dark cloak stood at the end of the street, a purple, shadowy haze at his feet, and upon realizing he had been spotted, he bolted.

"Damn it," Throné muttered under her breath. "We have to let Glenna—" She froze as Agnea rushed past her, toward that strange man. "Agnea, wait!" she called out, also giving chase.

Both the hooded man and Agnea were fast, and Throné could barely keep up with them, despite her own speed. How could Agnea be so reckless? If this man had the power of Vide's darkness, then there was no doubt that he was dangerous. She remembered Harvey and Kaldena trying to control the Shadow and how that power had distorted their bodies beyond recognition. She bit her lip; but as Agnea had said, they had faced this kind of twisted magic before.

The man kept running, leading Agnea and Throné away from the streets and into the trees, and Throné worried they might have been falling into a trap. Still, that suspicious figure was now in their sights, and they couldn't waste this opportunity to apprehend him. They soon came to the hidden garden Agnea had shown Throné earlier, and the man finally stopped. "What are you planning?" Agnea demanded, drawing her dagger and holding it protectively in front of herself.

The man turned around, slowing drawing back his hood, and Throné spotted the dark collar around his throat first. His cheeks were more sunken and his beard unkempt compared to when Throné saw him last, but she recognized him as a fellow Blacksnake. His eyes went wide upon seeing her. "Throné?" he said, his voice rough. "So it really is you. I didn't expect to meet you here."

Throné stepped in front of Agnea, unsheathing her own dagger. "What are you doing here? Is it me you're targeting?"

The thief let out a harsh laugh, the shadows around him pulling into a twisted purple haze, and Throné couldn't ignore the way his gaze lingered on her bare throat. "The rumors were true. Father's favorite really was the one to kill him and Mother."

Agnea tried to charge forward, but Throné held out an arm to stop her. "The Blacksnakes are finished," she said to the other thief. "You've no reason to attack Agnea or me, or anyone else."

"Traitor," he hissed, the unnatural shadows around him growing more agitated. "You could've had it all. The Blacksnakes held New Delsta in their hands. But you had to go and ruin everything." He cackled, his eyes growing wide. "I found a ruined castle not far from the city, though, and discovered this new magic. A voice filled my head, saying that all I have to do is kill that vapid little dancer and it would grant me the power to revive the Blacksnakes."

Throné clicked her tongue, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her dagger. "So some part of Vide still lingered in that place."

"Vide, huh?" The thief raised his arm, and the darkness twisted into the forms of those shadowy beasts. "Sorry, little lady. I don't know what you did to anger a dark god, but it's nothing personal, okay?"

The dark fiends lunged for Throné and Agnea, and Throné slashed at them with her dagger while Agnea tore them apart with her wind magic. The fiends weren't as strong as during Vide's long night, but the sneer number of them was almost overwhelming. However, Throné and Agnea fell into a familiar routine as they fought, Throné being the more aggressive to of the two while Agnea watched her blind spots. Back-to-back like this, nothing could break their defenses, no matter how many fiends there were. During their travels, Throné had taught Agnea how to more effectively wield a dagger, and Agnea's own dancing skills had helped her ease into Throné's style of fighting. Clearly Agnea had not allowed those skills to rust, and Throné could not stop the pride that filled her chest.

As Throné and Agnea continued to fight the shadowy fiends, blades and magic piercing those fragile, unstable bodies, the thief still wore that twisted smile, but Throné could see beads of sweat forming on his forehead and his breathing had grown ragged. If this was anything like when Kaldena or Harvey tried to take the power of the Shadow within themselves, then his body would soon no longer be able to endure the strain, and then Throné would be able to land the killing blow.

And likely this man was a half-sibling of hers, like so many of the other Blacksnakes…

"Agnea," Throné said in a whisper, "return to the inn as fast as you can and get Glenna. She's likely already noticed we haven't returned yet."

"I can't leave you behind!" Agnea said, stealing a glance over her shoulder at Throné beside her.

"I can handle this much at least, so don't worry about me."

"But—!"

"Now, Agnea!"

Agnea hesitated for a fraction of a second longer, and then dashed away from the garden. A fiend tried to chase after her, but Throné summoned her dark magic to blast into it, and its unstable body faded away upon impact. There were fewer fiends now, and she doubted the other thief would be able to summon much more.

"Damn it!" he swore, and Throné could see his hands shaking. "The Blacksnakes have ruled New Delsta from the shadows for nearly half a century! You were Father's favorite!"

"From the shadows, hm?" Throné smirked. "If it's darkness you want, I suppose I can indulge you a little longer."

The man scowled and charged for Throné, drawing a dagger of his own from beneath his cloak. She parried the strike of his dagger with one of her own and sent a swift kick to his side to shove him back. He stumbled, but only for a moment, and tried to lunge for her again. She dodged to his right, hooking her dagger beneath his to jerk it out of his hand. Rather sloppy for a Blacksnake, Throné thought to herself, and she stabbed her dagger into his chest, bracing herself for the smell of blood, blood that they likely shared if Claude was indeed this man's father too.

Yet the man only smiled, and a strange black liquid gushed from his wound. He curled his fingers tightly around Throné's dagger imbedded in his flesh, and with a quiet chant, summoned his own dark magic to blast her away from him. Her back hit the ground hard, momentarily stunning her, and he yanked the dagger out of his chest and tossed it aside. Before she could get back to her feet, the thief was on top of her, his hands seizing her throat. Still he bled that black liquid, and his face was deathly pale.

"I will revive the Blacksnakes…" he muttered, his fingers tightening around Throné's neck. "And we'll be more powerful than ever…"

Throné choked and thrashed beneath him, his grip around her throat cutting off her air completely. She scratched at his hands and arms, hard enough to draw more of that black blood, but he didn't seem to feel the pain. He squeezed harder, and his fingers dug painfully into the flesh of her throat.

She tried to reach for her dagger on the ground, but it was just out of reach. How could she have been so careless? Black tinted the edges of her vision while her lungs burned, screaming for air. Specks danced before her eyes, that man's hateful scowl bearing down on her as he pressed more of his weight onto her throat. Saliva trailed from her lips, and the sound of blood pounding in her ears grew weaker and weaker.

"Whirlwind blow!"

A blast of wind magic struck the thief and knocked him from Throné. She inhaled deeply, precious air filling her aching lungs. As Agnea rushed to her side, she clutched her throat, coughing and sputtering. "Agnea?" she forced out, and though her voice was rough, she was relieved to still be able to speak.

"I couldn't leave you by yourself," Agnea said. Dagger in hand, she turned and glared at the other thief as he pushed himself onto his hands and knees.

"Damn you…" he hissed, and black blood gushed from both his mouth and the wound on his chest. He tried to get back to his feet, but his legs quaked too much and he stumbled again. A blotchy purple haze hovered around him, and Throné could see his limbs twitching and convulsing.

Agnea gasped and drew closer to Throné. They had seen this once before, in Gravell when the eight of them had confronted Harvey to rescue Osvald's daughter Elena. The thief tried to drag himself closer, but he screamed as that darkness began to consume his body. His expression held only fear as he reached out a pleading hand, and dark fire engulfed him. Agnea turned her face away, but Throné watched as he was burnt away to nearly nothing, leaving behind only a skeleton charred black. It was the least she could do for a fellow Blacksnake.

Silence lingered over Throné and Agnea, and no longer was there any trace of Vide's darkness. Throné turned to face Agnea, and Agnea, with tears in her eyes, threw her arms around Throné. "Oh, Throné, I'm so sorry!" she cried. "I didn't listen to you and I put all of us in danger…!"

"You saved me," Throné said carefully, laying her hands on Agnea's shaking shoulders. "Thank you, Agnea."

Agnea's arms tightened around Throné, her face pressed to Throné's shoulder. "You didn't want me to see you kill that man, did you?" she whispered in a muffled voice.

Throné simply sighed. Even free now of that collar, there was still darkness she couldn't escape. After all, the cost of this freedom had been her own flesh and blood.

Glenna and some of the town guard soon arrived, and the guards carefully took away the corpse while Throné and Agnea explained to Glenna what had happened, or at least as much as they could; Glenna knew little of the Moonshade Order and Throné didn't want to reveal her connection to the Blacksnakes. Much to Throné's surprise, Glenna didn't scold them for being so reckless, and she thanked Throné for protecting Agnea.

They returned to the inn in silence, and Throné no longer felt as if they were being watched. Inside the inn, an apothecary prepared a tonic that would help soothe Throné's bruised throat, and despite the taste, she drank the tonic without complaint. After that, as she and Agnea entered their room, exhaustion finally caught up to her, and she fell back onto the bed before even removing her boots.

Agnea laughed weakly as she sat beside Throné. "It's been a long day, hasn't it?" Her face fell for a moment. "Do you think it's all over…?"

"Most likely," Throné replied, and although her voice still sounded rough, it didn't hurt as much to speak thanks to that apothecary's tonic. "That man was always the type to act alone, and I don't remember him being particularly close to any of the other Blacksnakes."

"But he still wanted to revive the Blacksnakes so badly." Agnea folded her hands in her lap, her fingers twisting in her skirt. "I just don't understand why…"

"It's all right that you don't." Throné could understand a desire for the familiar, however twisted that familiarity was. She sat up and touched Agnea's shoulder. "I'll send a letter to Temenos tomorrow. He's been wanting the Church to investigate Lostseed for some time now."

"It might be a good idea to send letters to all our companions about this." Hesitantly Agnea raised a hand to Throné's throat, her soft fingers brushing against the bruising. "I really have been too reckless lately, haven't I? I'm sorry, Throné."

"I should apologize too." Throné closed her hand around Agnea's. "We've fought together for so long and I know how strong you are. I shouldn't have tried to send you away like that." She bit her lip. "You're right, I didn't want you to see me kill again."

Agnea rested her head against Throné's shoulder. "I'm glad you're with me, I really am."

Throné's breath caught in her throat, and her arm, as if moving of its own accord, came around Agnea's back to draw her closer, and Throné could feel how Agnea's body still trembled, as if the fear of all that had happened finally caught up to her. A remnant of Vide's power, left behind in Lostseed by that monster Claude, and then targeting Agnea specifically - that was unforgivable. As Agnea had suggested, they would have to send letters to their other companions warning them of other possible lingering remnants of that darkness.

Agnea soon spoke again, her breath ticklish against Throné's neck. "That shadow was definitely Vide's power, and that man said he was ordered to kill me in exchange for that power…" She paused a moment, chewing her lip. "Is it revenge Vide wants? But he went after me first, and I don't understand… I'm just a dancer…"

"You may be the most important of the eight of us," Throné said as she cupped Agnea's chin. "You were the first to set out and gather the rest of us. It's a simple thing, wanting to make others smile, but that's why it's so important. You taught me that."

"R-Really?" Agnea stammered, her eyes wide.

"But people like the Moonshade Order prey on those without hope, needing others to stay miserable so that they can feel superior about themselves. They want to force oblivion onto everyone else. That's why Vide fears you most - if you can remind at least one person of hope, then that hope will keep spreading to others."

"G-Gosh, Throné, you really make me sound so grand and all…"

"Perhaps that's because of all the hope you've given me. You truly are a star, Agnea."

Agnea stared up at Throné, her blue eyes bright in the candlelight. Throné pressed a hand to Agnea's cheek, brushing her thumb over soft lips. That kiss hadn't been a mere dream. She had seen how Agnea looked at her, with hope and desire in that honest gaze. Whether it was fate or simply coincidence that had led to this reunion in Wellgrove, Throné didn't want to throw away this renewed hope. Thus she bent to kiss Agnea, this time being certain to savor the warmth of Agnea's lips.

Immediately Agnea's arms latched around Throné's back, deepening the kiss. Over and over they kissed, until they were out of breath. When their lips parted, Agnea let out a sweet laugh, her smile dazzling, and she kissed Throné again, and Throné was now certain this was no dream.

"I've been wanting to do that for a long time," Agnea said as she tucked her head beneath Throné's chin.

Gently Throné played with Agnea's braid, a smirk tugging at her lips. "You're rather daring, desiring a woman like me."

"Is it really so surprising? You're kind and strong, and I never could've gotten this far without your support." Agnea lifted her head, her gaze bright and honest, as if staring into Throné's very soul. "Stay with me, please, and not just as my bodyguard."

Throné touched Agnea's face, her fingertips brushing against Agnea's hair. That Agnea could look at her like that, even knowing how stained in blood her hands were and the high cost of her freedom, was more than she had ever dared to hope for. But because she was free now, she could dare to hope. "Of course," she said, and again she pressed her lips to Agnea's.

Agnea's performance went on as scheduled, and Glenna and the town guard found no further threats in or around the town. While the risk of another person discovering upon a remnant of Vide's power wasn't nil, now that Throné and Agnea knew it was possible, they wouldn't be caught unaware if it happened again. Before Agnea's performance, Throné had finished her letter for Temenos in Flamechurch and gave it to a letter carrier.

The performance was held outside the dancer's guild, and a large crowd had gathered around the temporary stage. Throné recognized many of the children from the orphanage, and she spotted Mira with the elderly guard and his brother. In his casual disguise, Alrond stood closer to the stage, just within sight of his butler Misha. Throné herself stood at the edge of the crowd, partly to give herself space and partly to keep everyone else in sight.

The crowd hushed as Agnea took to the stage after the guildmaster's introduction, and with a smile and a bow she began to dance. It was a slower, more relaxed dance than her usual, but no less dazzling. She invoked the beauty of the night and the stars, how the moon always followed the sun and the light that the sun shared with the moon. As it did every time, watching Agnea dance took Throné's breath away, and she remembered when first they met in New Delsta, after saving that puppy from a pair of cruel thugs. Because Agnea believed in her, she could fight for the dawn.

The celebrations continued well into the evening, and Throné and Agnea didn't manage to return to their inn room until after nightfall. As they entered the room, Agnea kicked off her shoes and let herself fall onto the bed. "What a day!" she exclaimed.

"You were wonderful as always," Throné said as she sat beside Agnea.

Agnea giggled. "I'm glad you were here to see me dance."

"Where do you plan to go next?"

"Once Glenna's squad is recovered, we'll be heading to Timberain, and after that I'll return home to Cropdale to rest a bit."

"That's good to hear." Throné tucked a strand of hair behind Agnea's ear. "I've not visited Cropdale myself in quite some time."

"And this is the perfect time of year for raspberries too, you know!"

"Well then, I certainly can't refuse you now."

Again Agnea giggled, and she pulled Throné into a tight embrace.

The night was still young, and a new spark was lit between the two of them. Their hands were tentative at first while exploring each other's bodies, and Agnea's smile grew inviting as Throné slid a hand up her skirt. Shivering with anticipation, Agnea slowly peeled the cloth of Throné's dress from her shoulders and planted a gentle kiss at the base of her throat. "You're beautiful, Throné," Agnea murmured, her breath warm against Throné's skin.

They had already seen each other nude - bathing in the wild during their travels had left little room for privacy - and thus Agnea had seen the scars over Throné's body before. Those scars were a part of Throné, and if Agnea could still find her beautiful, she refused to be ashamed of them. Their hands grew more confident, helping to remove each other's clothing, and once they were both completely nude, Agnea laid back on the bed and drew Throné closer for a kiss.

Throné threaded her fingers through Agnea's unbound hair as she slipped her tongue past Agnea's parted lips, breasts to breasts, thighs against thighs. Agnea's hands explored her back, trailing downwards to her hips, and she broke the kiss for a moment to watch Agnea's expression as she cupped Agnea's ample breasts, giving the soft flesh a gentle squeeze.

"Throné!" Agnea gasped breathlessly.

"What pretty breasts you have," Throné teased, and she felt her own nipples tighten the more she played with Agnea's breasts. She bent to take one of Agnea's pert nipples between her lips, delighting in the way Agnea squirmed beneath her.

"Y-Yes, like that, please…" Agnea begged, her fingers tangling around Throné's hair.

Throné smirked, pressing her tongue against Agnea's nipple. She wasn't as experienced as Agnea likely thought she was, but her instincts rarely misled her, and the sweet moans that fell from Agnea's lips were like music to her ears. She'd seen the way Agnea watched her, sometimes even noticing Agnea stealing glances at her breasts, and thus occasionally she may have gone out of her way to emphasize her cleavage to draw Agnea's attention. She felt as if she were on fire, finally baring all of herself to Agnea like this.

Throné's hand slid lower, her fingers drifting over the toned muscles of Agnea's dancer thighs. Her hand settled between Agnea's legs, feeling how moist Agnea had become. She drew a teasing finger around Agnea's clit, and Agnea moaned deeply in response, clamping her thighs around Throné's hand. Encouraged, Throné slipped a finger into Agnea, savoring that warmth, and her own arousal grew stronger as well.

Agnea's hands caressed the curve of Throné's spine, her fingertips scraping along the skin. Throné still teased her breasts, pinching one nipple between her thumb and finger while kissing the other. Breathless moans fell from Agnea's lips, and she pressed more of herself against Throné's hand. "T-Throné, please…" she said, a heated smile upon her lips.

"You're very lovely, Agnea," Throné muttered, kissing Agnea's cleavage, and she slid another finger into Agnea, feeling how Agnea's body writhed beneath hers, begging for more. That these fingers of hers could bring such pleasure to Agnea now was something that mere months ago she never could've imagined.

When Agnea reached her climax, she let out a loud cry as her body shuddered around Throné. Her arms were tight around Throné's back, and it was only when that embrace loosened that Throné withdrew her hand, and still the warmth of Agnea's arousal lingered.

However, Throné suddenly found herself on her back with Agnea on top of her, and upon her lips Agnea wore a playful, alluring smirk of her own. "Let me do the same for you," she murmured, pressing her thigh against Throné's arousal, and Throné couldn't stop the moan that slipped from her lips; she rather liked this aggressive side of Agnea.

She cupped Agnea's face to pull her closer for a kiss, and Agnea's hands soon found Throné's breasts, squeezing tightly. Throné gasped into Agnea's mouth, and Agnea's fingers dug more into the tender flesh of her breasts, her nipples hardening against Agnea's palms. Agnea rubbed her thigh against Throné's swollen clit, and Throné's own body began to squirm beneath hers.

"Your breasts really are big," Agnea said in a low whisper, and her fingers tweaked and pulled Throné's nipples, clearly enjoying how she teased Throné. "I've always wanted to touch them like this."

Throné tried to speak, but all she could manage were low moans the more Agnea fondled her breasts. Agnea's hands were eager and confident as she didn't hold back at all while groping Throné's large breasts, and the way her thigh, lean and toned, rubbed against Throné's arousal was nearly overwhelming. Only a lusty haze filled her mind as she touched Agnea's body wherever she could reach, and soon enough her lips found Agnea's for yet another kiss.

Pleasure washed over Throné when she came, Agnea's soft fingers still tight around her breasts. She'd pleasured herself before to fantasies of Agnea, but this pleasure she shared now with Agnea was stronger still. Her mind went blank for a moment, the tremors of her orgasm echoing throughout her body. Her very being ached with that pleasure, the weight of Agnea's body comforting against her own.

They held each other a while in the twilight of their intimacy, a gentle silence having fallen over them. Agnea raised her gaze, a sweet smile on her lips, and lightly she kissed Throné's throat. Much of the bruising had already faded, but some harsh purple marks still marred the flesh. It wasn't the first time Agnea had saved her life.

"Traveling with you again certainly won't be boring," Throné said, finally breaking the silence.

"And I always feel stronger with you around!" Agnea's smile softened as she raised a hand to touch Throné's cheek. "Though, I usually draw a crowd wherever I go, and I know you don't really like crowds…"

Throné planted a quick kiss to the crook of Agnea's neck. "It's not so bad watching you from the shadows, knowing that you're waiting for me."

"In that case, I'll be sure to never keep you waiting long!"

Carefully Throné curled her fingers around Agnea's hand and brought it to her lips. "Agnea," she said in a soft voice, "thank you for loving me."

Again Agnea smiled, that sweet, dazzling smile of hers. "You really are wonderful, Throné," she said, her voice equally quiet, and she pressed her lips to Throné's for a kiss.

Because Agnea believed in her, Throné could have hope for the future. It was such a simple thing, but Throné would always be grateful for that love.