Their swords clashed, and the two fought. 

Neither appeared to be loosing, but that also meant that neither appeared to be winning.

I kept thinking about what Laurence had said. That he would always be there for me. He always told me that, he always tried to reassure me of that. 

Laurence was the one during the war that I could trust with the amulet.

Laurence had been the one to get Garroth to listen to himself.

Laurence was the one to take me back to the village after I almost killed myself trying to open the Irene Dimension.

Laurence had been the one to save me from a loveless marriage.

Laurence had always looked out for me, had always been there for me, had gone on any journey with me. 

But what did I do for him, when he was hurt, when he was trapped in the nether, when he had been unable to be there for Hayden in his last days, I did nothing. He did everything for me, and expected nothing. Zenix's words came back to me.

"Well Aphmau do you like him, better yet do you love him?"

Somehow I knew the answer without even saying it.

A loud clatter on the floor brought me back to reality.

During their fight, Zenix had disarmed Laurence and his emerald sword lay on the floor. Laurence himself was backed against a wall, his sword was just out of reach. Zenix, who's expression I might not have been able to see but was probably a smirk, had his sword up to Laurence's throat.

"Any last words?"

I had to say something.

"No!"

Zenix looked over to me, his sword still at Laurence's throat. True to my thoughts he was smirking.

"Did you have something to say?"

"I-I..."

"Aph, don't answer his question! He's going to use it against you!" said Laurence, only having Zenix move his sword closer.

"Not a word from you!"

He looked back at me.

"Now what were you going to say?"

"I-I..."

"Spit it out already!"

I lost it. I couldn't answer. Not now, not while Zenix was here.

"You're wasting my time you know. You idiot girl. You can't even speak. Your guard can't save you now. No one will know where you are. No one will find you. No one wi-"

A potion flew at Zenix, hitting him, and he fell over passed out. Laurence and I looked up.

To our surprise Michi had thrown the potion at Zenix.

Michi.

a/n

The end is near. I hope you enjoyed.

Cat out!