Godric lay in bed that night, his crimson eyes fixed on the bare ceiling above, the soft velvet sheets beneath him providing no solace. Sweat clung to his skin despite the chill in the air, his mind an endless storm of thoughts and regrets. Every decision he contemplated felt like a trap, every path a dead end leading to more pain. His gaze drifted downward to Raine, who was curled up beside him, her arm draped lightly across his chest. Her silver hair spilled over the pillow in shimmering waves, her ears twitching faintly as she slept peacefully.
He smiled faintly, his hand moving to run through her hair. She instinctively leaned into his touch, a soft murmur escaping her lips. The sight of her, serene and unburdened, tore at his heart. Since the battle at the clock tower, the nightmares that once haunted her had vanished. She no longer startled awake in fear, no longer cried for the family she had lost or begged unseen tormentors to leave her be. For the first time, she seemed truly safe, truly at peace.
And that knowledge only deepened his anguish.
The thought that this might be the last time he would hold her, the last time he would kiss her, or feel the warmth of her against him, cut deeper than any blade ever could. His chest tightened, the ache in his heart nearly unbearable. He clenched his teeth, swallowing the sob that threatened to escape as his breath hitched.
Raine stirred beside him, her golden eyes fluttering open as she lifted her head slightly. "Godric?" she murmured. "What's wrong? Are you alright?"
He looked down at her, forcing a small smile to his lips. "I'm sorry, my darling. I didn't mean to wake you."
"It's alright," she replied, shaking her head lightly as she nestled closer to him. Her fingers traced small circles on his chest. "Go back to sleep, my love. You'll need your rest for tomorrow."
Godric wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tightly against him, as if holding on for dear life. He kissed the top of her head, his heart breaking with every beat. "I love you, Raine," he whispered softly.
She smiled against his chest. "I love you too, my brave lion."
As her breathing slowed and she drifted back to sleep, Godric's grip on her tightened ever so slightly. "I'm sorry," he whispered through clenched teeth.
****
The chime of the Excalibur clock tower echoed through the night, marking the hour as the hands struck eight. Darkness had enveloped the Academy, its stillness broken only by the occasional rustling of wind over the frozen lake. Godric stood upon the floating pavilion. His breath visible in the biting winter air. The bonfire behind him cast flickering shadows across the wooden structure, its warm glow doing little to chase away the cold that gripped him.
In his hand lay the open pendant, revealing the moving photograph of him and Raine—captured smiles, a fleeting moment of joy preserved forever. His crimson eyes lingered on the image, his jaw tightening as the weight of the night pressed heavily on his shoulders.
The sound of footsteps behind him broke his reverie, and he turned. His gaze fell upon Raine, her golden eyes lighting up as she approached him with her usual warmth.
"Hey," she greeted softly, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "I got your message." She looked around, her eyes settling on the pavilion. "Brings back memories, doesn't it? Our usual spot at eight?" She chuckled, the sound light and comforting as she closed the distance between them. Her arms wrapped around him, and she leaned into his chest. "Mmm, you always smell so nice."
Godric managed a faint smile, his arms instinctively wrapping around her, though the weight of his turmoil refused to lift. As her gaze drifted up to meet his, her expression shifted, concern replacing her cheer.
"Godric, what's wrong?" she asked. "Something's bothering you. Talk to me."
He drew a shaky breath, reaching for her hands and holding them in his own. "Raine… we…" His words faltered as he struggled to speak. "We need to talk."
Her ears drooped, her eyes widening slightly. "Okay," she said softly, though her words were hesitant. "Listen, my darling, whatever it is, we can face it. Together."
"No," Godric said through gritted teeth, his grip on her hands tightening. "No, we can't."
"Yes, we can," Raine insisted, her golden eyes pleading. "We've been through so much already. As long as we're together—"
"We can't be together!" Godric blurted out as the tears broke free, streaming down his face. "I'm so sorry, Raine. I'm so, so sorry."
Raine froze, the warmth draining from her expression as she stared at him, her hands trembling in his. "Godric, what are you talking about? You're not making any sense. Please… just tell me," she whispered.
Godric's throat constricted, his breath uneven as he fought the tempest of emotions surging within him. Each word he prepared in his mind felt like a blade poised to sever the fragile thread between them. His crimson eyes locked onto hers, the warmth and trust in her golden gaze sharp as daggers, tearing at his resolve. He clenched his teeth, trying to anchor himself in the face of the impending devastation. His chest heaved as he drew in a shaky breath, trembling under the weight of what he had to say.
"That talk with Professor Workner," Godric began. "He wasn't alone—Bran was there with him."
"Bran?" Raine asked, tilting her head. "As in Rowena's brother? The Adjudicator?"
Godric nodded slowly. "The same. And he told me… because you're free now, the law says you can't stay here at Excalibur. You're no longer a slave, Raine. You're not… property anymore."
Raine blinked, her confusion evident. "Is that what all this is about?" she asked, her tone steady but uncertain. "Alright, I understand. It's no big deal. I'll just find a place in Caerleon. You know, get a job, and we can—"
"No, Raine," Godric interrupted. "It's not that simple." He took a deep, shaky breath. "Professor Workner tried, Raine. He reached out to every connection he had in the city, every lead he could think of. But none of them would take you. Those who might have couldn't afford to, and the rest…" He clenched his teeth. "They didn't even give you a chance. Not because of who you are, but because of what you were."
Raine's golden eyes widened, her disbelief etched across her face. "What I was?" she whispered. "You mean… because I was a slave?"
Godric nodded, his head bowing slightly as though the weight of the truth was too much to bear. "I didn't want to believe it," he confessed. "So, while we were in town yesterday, I spent every spare moment looking. Asking. Begging for something—anything. For someone who'd be willing to listen." His shoulders sagged, his hands trembling. "But every single time they heard you were once a slave, they didn't just say no. They looked at me like I was mad. Like I was asking for the impossible."
He turned away, unable to meet her gaze. "It didn't matter how much I pleaded, how much I tried to make them see you for who you are now. All they saw was your past."
Raine stood frozen, the weight of his words pressing down on her. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.
"I thought this city was better than this," Godric said. "But, as always, I clung to the foolish notion of what I wanted it to be, rather than what it truly is." His shoulders sagged, his crimson eyes clouded with frustration and sorrow. "I wanted to believe that everything would work out, but you've seen how they look at you—the people in Caerleon."
He turned his gaze to the frozen lake, his expression tightening. "When you were a slave of the Academy, they masked their disdain. Probably to avoid running afoul of the faculty. But now that you're free…" He paused as he took a shuddering breath. "Their prejudices go deep, Raine, far deeper than I ever realized. That's not going to change anytime soon, and I… I was too blind to see it. To think I could protect you from it."
"Godric, it's fine," Raine said softly, her hand gently touching his arm. "I'll figure it out, you know I will. I'll find shelter, scrounge for whatever I can. I've been through worse." Her ears drooped slightly, her gaze wavering. "And if I have to…" Her hand moved to her shoulder, tugging softly at the hem of her dress.
Godric's eyes widened in horror. "Raine, no! Don't even think about it! I won't let you, I won't!"
"I'll do anything, my love, anything," Raine insisted. "I don't care what I have to do. They can take my body, but they'll never take my heart. So long as it keeps me close to you, I'll endure it. I'll endure anything."
"So would I, my darling." Godric's chest tightening as he struggled to hold back the swell of emotions. "Listen to me." He cupped her face gently, his touch at odds with the fire in his tone. "I would rather burn this entire city to the ground than let you degrade yourself like that. Not after everything you've been through."
His words grew more resolute. "They tried to break you, Raine. The slavers who wanted to turn you into something you're not, the students who saw you as less than human. Don't you dare think for a second that I would ever let anyone put you through that nightmare again. Never."
Raine's face paled, her golden eyes wide with desperation as her ears drooped low against her silver hair. Her trembling lips parted. "Then… let's run away." Her gaze searched his, pleading for hope. "Let's leave all of this behind. Go far away from here. Somewhere. Anywhere."
Her words gained strength as she continued, clinging to the possibility. "Beyond the Howling Mountains, across the Aridian Sea—anywhere they can't reach us. We could start over, Godric. Just you and me."
She stepped closer. "We could find a place where the world doesn't care who we are, where none of this matters."
Her voice cracked as she whispered, "Please. Let's just go. We can make it work. I know we can." Tears welled in her eyes, shimmering like liquid gold, her tail stilling behind her.
"By the Gods, I want to," Godric said. "You have no idea how much I want to. I was ready—so ready—to leave everything behind. To drop out of Excalibur, to go wherever you needed me to, no matter what it took." He paused, his breath hitching. "But they told me…" He hesitated. The words almost too painful to say. "They told me I'd be sent back to my world. Because I'm not from Avalon. I can't stay here if I leave Excalibur."
His gaze fell to the wooden floorboards beneath his feet. "And Bran made it clear that they'll never leave us alone. The Clock Tower won't stop. We'd always be running, always looking over our shoulders, waiting for the day they'd finally catch up to us."
The words hung heavy in the frosty air. "You deserve so much more," he whispered. "You deserve peace. Happiness. A life free from fear."
Raine's hands trembled in his. "So that's it? You're just giving up?" Her words laced with anger and heartbreak. "You're letting them win, Godric. After everything we've fought for, after everything we've been through—you're giving up on us?"
"I'm not…" Godric's words faltered, his heart splintering at her plea. "Raine, I don't… I don't want to leave you. I don't want to lose you." His hands trembled as he held hers tighter, as though afraid she might slip away. "The thought of being without you… it tears me apart, more than words can say."
He drew yet another shaky breath, his crimson eyes locking with her golden ones, desperate and filled with anguish. "But they won't let us be together. If I stay, you can't. And if we run, they'll never stop chasing us. We'd be fugitives forever, always looking over our shoulders, always running. That's not a life, Raine. Not for you, and certainly not for the family we've dreamed of."
"I've thought about every option, every path we could take. I've gone over it again and again, praying I'd find some way out of this… but it all ends the same." His tears fell faster now, his grip on her hands tightening. "But this isn't about what I want, Raine. This isn't about me. This is about what's best for you."
"What's best for me?" Raine repeated as her golden eyes widened with dread. Her ears twitched, her tail stilling behind her. "I… I don't understand."
Godric swallowed hard, his throat tightening. "Bran," he began cautiously, "he found your old village. The one in the Howling Mountains. Where you were taken from. Your people, your family—they might still be there, Raine." He paused, his chest heaving as he forced the words out. "And Bran said… he can take you back."
Raine froze, her body going rigid as though she'd been struck. "You're… you're sending me away?" she whispered. Her gaze searched his face, desperate for reassurance. "You want me to leave?"
"You can start over, Raine," Godric said as he forced himself to meet her gaze. "You'll be safe there. You'll have a chance to build a new life. To—"
"No!" she interrupted. "No, I won't go! Godric, they're not my family. They're strangers!" Tears spilled down her cheeks. "You're my family! You're the one who saved me, who gave me hope, who taught me to dream! I can't leave you. I won't! Don't ask me to do this."
"Raine, please…" Godric's composure crumbled as he struggled to find the words. He reached out to steady her, but she threw herself into his arms, clutching at him as if letting go would shatter her entirely.
"You're my mate!" she cried. "I love you, Godric! I want to be with you, to build our life, our family! Don't send me away. Please, don't do this. Don't leave me… I'll die if you do." Her sobs tore through the cold air, her grip tightening on him.
Godric's arms wrapped around her instinctively, trembling as he held her close. He buried his face in her hair, breathing in the scent of her, trying to imprint every moment into his memory. "I don't…" his words, heavy with heartbreak. "I don't want to do this. I don't want to let you go. It's tearing me apart inside, Raine. But I don't know what else to do."
Raine pulled back slightly, her golden eyes meeting his. "You don't have to figure it all out. You don't have to give me anything but you. You're my world, my life, my everything. Don't let them take that away. Don't let this be the end."
"I love you, Raine," Godric began. "More than anything in this world. More than words could ever hope to express." He pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. "Do you remember the book I gave you? The Tales of Lumea and the Starbound Tree? Remember Lumea and the Prince? Despite their love, they knew they were from different worlds… that they could never truly be together. And yet, she sacrificed everything for him, because she loved him."
"But this isn't their story, it's ours," he whispered, brushing the tears from her cheeks with trembling fingers. "I promised you, that no matter what, I will always put you first. So, I need you to let me go, for as much as I want to, as much as it kills me, I can't stay… I can't be part of your story anymore."
Raine's golden eyes widened in shock as she shook her head. "Don't, Godric. Don't ask me to do that," she pleaded, her hands clutching his shirt desperately. "I can't do that. I just can't."
Godric's lips curved into a trembling smile. "I've never loved anyone the way I've loved you, Raine," he said softly. "Do… do you remember your favorite part of the book?"
Raine's ears twitched, her gaze filled with pain as she nodded. "I remember," she murmured.
"What was it?" Godric asked gently. "What did Lumea say to the Prince at the end?"
Raine hesitated before reciting the words. "You know that place between sleep and awake, that place where you still remember dreaming? That's where I'll always love you."
"And there's where I'll always be waiting for you." Godric nodded as he cupped her face in his trembling hands. His crimson eyes bore into hers, filled with a love so fierce it seemed to defy the very weight of the world. "No matter where life takes us, no matter how far apart we are… that's where you'll find me." he whispered. "Therianthropes mate for life, and I swear to you, Raine, I'm yours. Always. For now, for tomorrow, for every moment until my final breath."
"You promised me—promised us—that we'd be together, no matter what." Raine shook her head vehemently, her resolve crumbling as she buried her face in his chest, sobbing. "Don't do this, my darling. I love you. I need you."
A gust of cold air swept through the pavilion, causing the bonfire to flicker and cast shifting shadows across the wooden beams. Godric looked up; his crimson eyes meeting Bran's as the older man appeared in a swirl of smoke. The silence between them was heavy, the unspoken understanding hanging in the air. Godric nodded solemnly, his arms tightening around Raine as he held her close, cherishing her warmth and presence for the last fleeting moment they had.
Raine clung to him, her body trembling. "Please don't let me go," she whispered. "I can't lose you."
Godric's closed his eyes, his heart shattering as he whispered against her hair, "I'll love you forever, Raine."
Bran pushed up his glasses, his face an unreadable mask, though the faint flicker of sorrow crossed his lime-green eyes. He raised his wand, the polished wood catching the dim light as he pointed it toward Raine. Bran's lips moved, whispering the incantation. A blinding white light erupted from the tip of his wand, engulfing the pavilion. The flames of the bonfire flared brightly before dimming, the light consuming everything in its path.
Raine's golden eyes widened as the light enveloped her. Her grip on Godric's shirt weakened. "Godric…"
As the light dimmed and the pavilion returned to stillness, Raine's body went limp, her golden eyes closed as Bran stepped forward, catching her in his arms with practiced ease. He held her carefully, his expression a mixture of resolve and regret. Both locked eyes for a long moment. No words passed between them—there was nothing left to say. Bran's gaze softened, offering a faint, unspoken condolence. Then, without a word, he turned, carrying Raine down the wooden bridge toward the castle, his steps echoing faintly against the frozen lake.
Godric fell to his knees, his strength finally abandoning him, clutching the snowflake pendant in his trembling hands. The moving image inside flickered one last time, a frozen snapshot of the love he had lost. The cold winter wind swept through the pavilion, biting at his skin, but he didn't flinch. The ache in his chest drowned out everything else.
Tears streamed freely down his face, his chest heaving with suppressed sobs until he could hold them back no longer. He threw his head back and let out a cry—a primal, guttural roar of anguish that pierced the stillness of the night like a wounded lion.
The sound echoed across the lake, carrying through the icy air, reaching the trees, the castle walls, and beyond. Spreading across Avalon like a haunting requiem. Then, silence returned, leaving only the faint crackle of the dying bonfire and the crushing weight of loss.
****
As Godric's anguished cry echoed through the still night, Workner sat slumped over his desk in his dimly lit office. The room was silent save for the faint crackle of the hearth, the warmth doing little to chase away the cold that clung to his heart. His trembling hands gripped the edges of the desk, his knuckles whitening before he slammed his fist down with a resounding thud. The force toppled the framed photograph, its glass face catching the flicker of the firelight as it tipped over.
Workner's shoulders shook as he buried his face in his hands, his sobs breaking the heavy silence. "Amelia…" he choked. "Amelia, what have I done?"
His words lingered in the air, a confession to the empty room that bore witness to his sorrow. The firelight danced over the photograph lying face down—a frozen moment of joy now shrouded in shadow, much like the weight on his soul.
****
In Professor Serfence's room, the chill of the frosted window pressed against his arm as he stood, gazing out at the distant floating pavilion. The sight of it bathed in moonlight, stark against the night's darkness, only deepened the ache in his chest. Godric's anguished cry still lingered in his mind, stirring memories he'd buried long ago. A haunting echo of his own scream when Amelia lay lifeless in his arms.
He drew a sharp breath, his eyes closing as the pain resurfaced—a sorrow both familiar and suffocating. Turning away from the window, his gaze fell upon the ring on his desk, the velvet-lined box open to reveal its delicate beauty. The sapphire set in the center shimmered faintly, catching the flickering light of the fireplace.
"Amelia, if only I had been stronger…" Serfence's hand hovered over it for a moment before withdrawing, the weight of what it represented too heavy to bear. "I failed you, and now… I've failed him." His fingers curled into fists.
The fire crackled softly in the hearth, the only sound in the room, as the professor stood in silence, the memories of love lost and promises broken tightening their hold on his weary soul.
****
The four friends stood in the castle's snow-covered courtyard, the gray cobblestones slick with morning dampness. The chill of winter stung their cheeks, prompting them to tighten their scarves against the biting air. A sleek black car waited nearby, its driver securing the last of the luggage in the trunk with a snap. Helga rubbed her gloved hands together, breathing warm air into them. Rowena, book in hand, flipped through its pages, her nose buried deep despite the cold. Salazar, however, kept his emerald gaze fixed on Godric, noting the pallor of his friend's expression and the hollow look in his crimson eyes.
"Godric, my dear friend, are you quite alright?" Salazar's voice broke the silence. "You've been awfully quiet since breakfast. It's rather unlike you."
Godric startled slightly, his eyes flickering to Salazar before falling again to the snow-covered ground. "Oh, it's… nothing," he murmured.
Before Salazar could press further, Bran emerged from the castle, his footsteps crunching on the snow-dusted cobblestones. The four friends turned to greet him. Rowena snapped her book shut, a soft smile spreading across her lips. Bran's lime-green eyes swept over them as he approached, his expression warm despite the chill.
"You know, you didn't have to come see me off," Bran said with a chuckle, tucking his gloved hands into his coat pockets. "I can manage just fine on my own."
Rowena's cheeks flushed slightly as she stepped forward. "I just… I wanted to catch you before you left," she said softly.
Bran grinned, his eyes twinkling. "I'll be home in a week or two. Besides, absence makes the heart grow fonder, doesn't it?"
"It was lovely meeting you in person at last, Bran," Helga chimed in with a warm smile. "It's great to finally have a face to go with all the stories Rowena tells about you."
Rowena's face turned a deep shade of crimson as she snapped her gaze to Helga. "Helga!" she hissed, mortified.
Bran laughed, clearly amused. "Oh, does she now?" He shot Rowena a teasing glance, his grin widening as her blush deepened. "Well, it's been an eventful few days, but as all good things must, I suppose this too comes to an end." He turned to address the group. "Thank you, all of you, for looking after Rowena and being such wonderful friends."
"Think nothing of it," Salazar replied, his tone casual but his gaze sharp. "Though, if I may speak plainly, let's hope that the next time we meet, it's as Rowena's brother rather than an Adjudicator. That particular title doesn't suit social gatherings."
"That sentiment cuts both ways, Mister Slytherin. I could say the same about you." Bran adjusted his glasses with a faint smirk, meeting Salazar's eyes. He then looked over his shoulder. "Now, shall we be off?"
Rowena's curiosity peaked at Bran's words. "We?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Their attention shifted to Raine, emerging gracefully in a flowing sapphire blue dress that shimmered in the winter sunlight. Her silver hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of light, and her golden eyes met theirs with a calm warmth as she approached Bran's side. She gave them a soft, heartfelt smile.
Bran's lime-green eyes settled on Raine as he spoke softly, "I trust you've said your goodbyes?"
Raine nodded, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, the bittersweet glimmer in her gaze betraying the steady smile on her face. "I have. Especially to Sophia and Hikari." Her voice faltered briefly before she pressed on. "I'll miss them all terribly."
"Goodbyes?" Rowena's brow furrowed in confusion. "Raine, what do you mean by goodbyes?"
Raine tilted her head, her expression puzzled for a moment before a spark of recognition brightened her face. "Oh, you must be Rowena—Bran's sister." She nodded politely. "It's good to meet you, and yes, Bran will be accompanying me home to the Howling Mountains. It's where I was taken from… where I belong." Her wolfen ears drooped slightly. "You see, I am… Well, was a slave."
"But by Freya's grace," Raine continued, "the Academy has granted me my freedom, and I'll forever be grateful for that." Her attention shifted to the rest of the group. Her smile polite yet distant. "And these must be your friends," she said softly, dipping her head in acknowledgment. "It's an honor to meet you all."
Helga's face twisted in confusion. "Raine, what are you talking about? Why are you acting as if we've never—?"
Salazar's expression darkened as realization dawned. His gaze snapped from Raine's polite but unfamiliar demeanor to Godric's desolate expression, then to Bran, who adjusted his glasses with an air of uneasy composure. His lips curled into a grim line.
"Bran…" Rowena's breath hitching as her expression shifted from confusion to shock. "What… what did you do?" Her wide eyes locked onto her brother, caught somewhere between disbelief and fury.
Bran's shoulders stiffened momentarily, but he quickly masked it with a calm demeanor. Clearing his throat, he stepped toward the car, deliberately avoiding her gaze. "We should get going," he said. "The airship departs in an hour, and it's a long journey ahead." He opened the car door, gesturing for Raine to step inside.
Raine turned back to the group, her expression serene. "I suppose this is goodbye," she said softly. Her gaze lingered on Godric for a moment longer than the others, as though trying to recall something buried deep in her mind. She smiled, radiant and bittersweet as she gave a small wave. "Perhaps someday, we'll meet again."
Godric's hands tightened into fists at his sides, his crimson eyes brimming with unshed tears as he watched her, unable to speak. His heart ached with the weight of everything he couldn't say, every moment he'd never get back.
Bran shut the door gently behind her, then turned to Rowena, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Take care of yourself, Rowena. I'll see you soon."
"Bran, wait!" Rowena's cried out as she reached for him.
But Bran gave her a fleeting, somber glance before climbing into the car. The driver started the engine, and a faint hum filled the courtyard as ethereal smoke curled from the exhaust. The car rolled forward, its tires crunching softly against the snow-covered path.
Godric stood frozen, the ache in his chest now an unbearable void. Salazar's darkened gaze lingered on him, sharp with understanding but void of words. Helga looked away, tears threatening to spill, while Rowena's hand rested lightly on her brother's parting touch, her expression unreadable. The courtyard was silent save for the whisper of the wind, carrying with it the faintest echo of Raine's goodbye.
****
"Godric Gryffindor!" Rowena cried.
Godric flinched at her tone but couldn't bring himself to meet her gaze. She stormed toward him, her sapphire eyes glistening, her hands trembling as she grabbed the front of his coat and shook him.
"Explain yourself this instant!" she snarled. "What the hell did Bran do? What did you do?!"
Godric clenched his jaw as he remained silent, unable to muster the words. His crimson eyes dropped to the snowy ground. His silence spoke volumes, and it was all Rowena needed to confirm her worst fears.
"No…" Rowena gasped. Her grip on his coat loosened before tightening again, her hands trembling. "No, you didn't," she whispered, her eyes wide. "Please tell me you didn't!" she pleaded.
Helga and Salazar stood frozen, their usual banter and wit absent as the weight of the moment bore down on all of them. Neither spoke, their expressions unreadable.
"You… you…!" Rowena raised a trembling hand and slapped Godric across the face with all her strength, the sharp sound echoing in the still courtyard. "You heartless bastard, how could you?!" she screamed. "It wasn't your decision to make!"
Godric didn't move to defend himself, his head snapping to the side from the force of the slap. He remained still, his face contorted with a mixture of anguish and guilt as he stood there, the pain of her words cutting deeper than the sting on his cheek.
"She loved you!" Rowena spat through clenched teeth. "She trusted you, and you just…!"
Rowena raised her hand again, fury blazing in her tear-filled eyes, ready to strike. But before her hand could make contact, Salazar's firm grip caught her wrist mid-air.
"Unhand me this instant, Salazar!" Rowena cried.
"That's enough," Salazar said firmly, his emerald eyes locked onto hers.
"I said let me go!" Rowena snapped, struggling against him.
"By the Gods, Rowena!" Salazar's frustration finally breaking through as his gaze turned sharp. "For someone so smart, are you truly this dense?!" His words stopped her cold. "Look at him!" He gestured toward Godric. "Can't you see how much he's suffering? How much pain he's in?!"
Rowena froze as her gaze shifted back to Godric, and the fury in her eyes began to waver as she truly took in the broken man before her.
"Haven't you considered," Salazar continued, "that this wasn't by choice? That this wasn't some act of malice or indifference?" He drew a sharp breath, his frustration palpable. "We know Godric better than anyone. And I know, beyond any shadow of doubt, that he'd rather run himself through than do what he did."
Rowena's lip trembled, her resolve faltering, but she opened her mouth to retort. Salazar didn't let her.
"If you truly want someone to blame," Salazar said, "then blame your brother. Blame the bloody laws he represents!"
"Don't you dare put this on him, Salazar!" Rowena snapped, but her tone lacked the fire it held moments ago.
"And why not?!" Salazar released her arm with a sharp gesture, his piercing gaze not letting her turn away. "You Ravenclaws and your damned infatuation with the Clock Tower and its blasted rules. Always claiming it maintains order, that it helps others. But what good is it when it can't even protect the ones who matter most?"
Rowena opened her mouth, her expression contorting as she struggled for a response, but no words came.
"And tell me this," Salazar pressed, his emerald eyes narrowing as he leaned closer, his voice low and biting. "Do you truly believe your precious brother—oh, forgive me, husband—would sacrifice everything for you the way Godric has for Raine?"
He let the words hang in the air before continuing. "Would the glorious Adjudicator have cast aside his duty, defied the law, and risked everything just to keep you safe?" Salazar's teeth clenched. "Or would he have done exactly what he did to her? Obliviate you, strip you of everything that made you you, and carry on with his perfect little life as if nothing had happened?"
Rowena flinched at his words, her expression crumbling as she looked away, shame and conflict warring within her eyes. Godric, still silent, sank further into himself, his pain now an unspoken cry for the impossible comfort they couldn't offer.
Helga stepped toward Godric. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry, Godric," she whispered. "I'm so, so sorry."
Godric's shoulders sagged as he leaned into her, the weight of his grief pressing down on him like an anchor. Salazar stepped closer, placing a steady hand on his friend's shoulder, his expression tempered with rare gentleness. "Are you… alright, dear friend?" Salazar asked quietly.
Godric didn't respond immediately. His crimson eyes lifted to the gray, overcast sky, where snowflakes drifted silently to the ground. His lips trembled as he finally spoke. "It's… it's a terrible day for rain."
Salazar furrowed his brow, glancing upward at the cold, clear snowfall. "What are you talking about? It's not—" He stopped abruptly as his gaze returned to Godric, and he noticed the tears streaming freely down his friend's face.
"Yes," Godric murmured with the weight of unspoken pain. "Yes, it is."
Salazar's expression softened. "So, it is." He squeezed Godric's shoulder in quiet solidarity. He then glanced at Helga, who gave him a slight nod.
"Come on," Salazar said. "Let's get back inside. It's getting rather chilly out here."
Helga gently loosened her embrace as she quickly wiped her face. She managed a small, encouraging smile for Godric, her touch lingering briefly on his arm. Salazar gave a solemn nod, his hand still resting on Godric's shoulder as he led them forward.
The three friends began their slow, silent walk back toward the castle, the crunch of their boots on the snow-covered cobblestones the only sound in the still air. The grand silhouette of Excalibur Academy loomed ahead, its warm lights contrasting the cold gray of the winter sky.
Behind them, Rowena remained frozen in place, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as though trying to ward off the biting chill—or the ache in her chest. Her sapphire eyes brimmed with tears that spilled over unchecked, her quiet sobs breaking through the heavy silence. She turned her face upward, letting the falling snow mask the evidence of her grief as it melted into her flushed cheeks. The courtyard, blanketed in soft white, seemed to hold its breath, the solemn stillness of the moment stretching infinitely as if the very world shared in their sorrow.
****
Raine's golden eyes widened in wonder as she gazed out of the tall glass windows lining the side of the airship. The metallic walls, polished copper panels, and intricate web of pipes gave the vessel a gleaming, industrial elegance. It stretched long and wide, large enough to house at least a hundred passengers comfortably, divided into multiple layers and floors. The front observation deck offered an unobstructed view of the breathtaking world below—a sprawling miniature of forests, rivers, and towns. Her wolfen tail wagged softly, betraying her excitement as she pressed her hands against the cool glass.
"Enjoying the view?" Bran's voice came from behind her, warm and steady. He stepped closer, his lime-green eyes joining hers on the distant horizon. "I'll admit, as an Adjudicator, you get used to airships. They all start to feel the same after a while. But the view?" He smiled faintly. "That's something that never loses its magic."
"It's incredible," Raine whispered. "As a slave, I'd always look up at the sky and dream about what it'd be like to ride one of these. Now that I'm here…" She trailed off, her gaze fixed on the tiny, glowing cityscape far below. "It's even more beautiful than I imagined."
Bran nodded, leaning against the glass beside her. "It is. I remember my first time on an airship. Rowena couldn't be convinced to join me," he chuckled, his tone light. "She has a thing about heights—not the towers, mind you, but flying. Something about the transportation itself unnerves her."
Raine chuckled softly, her ears twitching. "You and Rowena sound close."
Bran's expression softened. "We are. I've known her for as long as I can remember. From the day Father brought her home as a baby, we've been inseparable. She's always been my sister, blood or not."
Raine's ears drooped slightly as her expression grew wistful. "I had a sister once. Her name was Skye. We were taken together, but… the slavers separated us." Her voice faltered. "I hope, wherever she is, she's safe. I hope she thinks of me as much as I do her."
Bran's gaze lingered on her. "I have no doubt she does."
Raine offered Bran a small, grateful smile before turning back to the window. "Being here," she murmured softly, "it's everything I dreamed of. Just like Godric and I promised—"
Her words faltered as her gaze dropped to her wrist. The golden bracelet encircling it felt so familiar, so natural, that she hadn't even noticed it before. Her fingers trembled as they traced the delicate contours of the jewelry, pausing on the ruby lion charm that glimmered faintly in the soft light.
"Wait… who… who's Godric?" Raine her breath caught in her throat. "And where did I get this?" she asked, a note of confusion laced with unease. "When… when did I get this?"
Her hand lingered on the charm as an inexplicable wave of emotion washed over her. Something deep inside her stirred—an ache she couldn't place, like the shadow of a memory just out of reach, an echo from a dream.
Her chest tightened, and her cheeks grew damp. She lifted her hand to touch her face, realizing they were tears. "Why… why am I crying?" she whispered as she trembled.
Bran's expression darkened, his gaze turning upward to the sky. He inhaled deeply, his tone soft but heavy. "A terrible day for rain, indeed," he said quietly, his words laced with an unspoken weight.