Hiraeth | Sebastian Sallow Love Story

Chapter Eighty One: Peace

Gracie had to occlude. She slid her eyes away from Sebastian who suddenly looked young and boyish while he held onto Ominis and cried into his chest. War had aged him mentally, but emotionally he was still the Fifth Year trying to keep his friends from dying, and still failing five years later.

She grabbed the hilt of the sword and tugged hard with some magical intervention. It came loose, but the blade had cracked. It wouldn't be effective anymore. It wouldn't be able to destroy the ancient magic inside Ranrock.

Anger was reaching towards her heart with ugly talons ready to pierce her deep, but then she noticed an oddity floating down from the ceiling. It shimmered, but there was no light to reflect against its wings. As it approached them, Gracie realized it was a butterfly.

Blue wings that fluttered and were adorned with several shades of periwinkle and lavender in them. She'd never seen anything so beautiful. The butterfly descended slowly, until it sat on Ominis' cheek. The light distracted Sebastian, causing him to pull back from his friend's chest.

"What...?" His voice was hoarse.

Gracie walked closer until she could kneel beside him. To their amazement, another light appeared from Ominis' chest. At first it was like a glowing orb until the light dimmed to reveal an emerald butterfly.

Confusion replaced anger.

What was the meaning behind these two butterflies?

In the next moment, both butterflies flew towards her. They landed on the sword, but nothing happened. At least, nothing is what it seemed.

But then the most incredible thing happened. A glowing light, a mixture of blue and green lit up the crack in the sword; mending before their eyes.

The sword was restored to its former glory....

...And two little butterflies circled each other before flying away.

Sebastian's eyes were slightly red, but he wasn't as angry anymore. For a reason unknown to her, there was a something akin to peace in his eyes. Like although his friend was just murdered in front of him, something extraordinary happened as a result.

He held out his hand, gaze trained on the sword. Instead of handing it to him, Gracie placed her hand in his. "We do this together."

Sebastian nodded slowly, "It's you and me."

They walked towards Ranrock's body. His breathing was shallow and he would die soon, but they would make sure that the ancient magic died with him. With their hands both on the hilt of the sword, Sebastian and Gracie plunged it through his armor and through his chest.

A gurgling noise escaped the goblin before he died in clear agony while the venom destroyed him from the inside. The ancient magic, once red, now faded away, and the armor became lifeless.

Sebastian turned back towards his friend who laid on his back, eyes closed. They could almost pretend he'd decided to take a nap in the middle of battle rather than dying.

"What magic was that?" The wizard beside her asked quietly, "Did Ominis use a spell to counter?"

"It's sacrificial protection." Gracie replied, recalling a lesson from her time as an unspeakable in training, "That sort of magic is ancient and quite powerful. When someone sacrifices their own life willingly and out of pure love to save another... Well... You saw what happened."

"Why didn't it work in the caverns? When Charlotte and Anne died?"

"Ranrock didn't give them the option to live. He was intent on killing them. Ominis consciously and willingly chose death to save you."