Dark smoke filled the sky.
The Timelost Gate behind them closed slowly, glowing with fading light.
Harvie and Edna stood on the other side… safe, but not unharmed.
They had escaped the Kingdom of Solistra, but the cost was heavy.
Harvie's steps were weak. Blood leaked from his side, soaking his black coat. His breath was short. His knees shook.
"Edna…" he whispered, voice low.
She held his arm tightly, helping him walk. "Just a little more, Harvie. There's a cliff up ahead—we'll rest there. You're okay."
But he was not okay.
Each step felt heavier. His vision blurred. He tried to rewind, just a little… just one second back—
Nothing happened.
No time magic. No second chances.
The system was still broken in this zone. And he was still mortal.
His body gave out. He fell to his knees.
Then, to the ground.
"Harvie!" Edna cried. She dropped beside him and turned him over.
His eyes were half-closed now. His skin turned pale.
Edna pressed her hands over his wound. "Don't you dare die. Not now. Not like this. We're almost—almost free…"
Harvie gave a weak smile. "You… said that last time…"
Tears filled Edna's eyes.
She shook her head, pressing her forehead against his. "I won't let it happen again. You're not dying here."
A soft red light began to glow around her.
The mark of the Flame Vow—the soul pact they made—started to burn on her chest and on Harvie's hand.
Edna closed her eyes.
"I made a promise," she whispered. "If you fall… I'll burn the world to bring you back."
Her body started to shake. Flames lit up around them, but they didn't hurt.
Instead, they wrapped around Harvie like a warm blanket.
His wound stopped bleeding. His breathing slowed… then paused.
"Harvie," Edna said softly, cradling him in her arms. "Come back. Please…"
And then—
The fire on her back flared up, shooting into the sky like a pillar of light.
A burning wind howled across the land.
Edna's scream was swallowed by the roar of the flame.
Her soul… cracked.
But then—Harvie opened his eyes.
Softly. Slowly.
He blinked up at the red sky and the girl holding him.
His voice was hoarse. "Edna…?"
She looked down at him, tears running down her face.
"You're back," she said, smiling weakly. "You're back."
Harvie tried to sit up, but she stopped him.
"No. Rest," she said. "Just rest for now."
He looked at her. Something in her aura felt… wrong.
Her flame was weaker now. Dimmer.
Like a candle running out of wax.
"What did you do…?" he asked.
Edna stroked his hair.
"I used the pact," she said. "It burned part of my soul… but it brought you back."
Harvie stared at her, horror in his eyes. "Why would you…?"
"Because you've died too many times," she whispered. "Let me burn once… for you."
He tried to speak, but no words came out.
So he just lay there, in her arms.
The fire faded around them.
And for the first time in a long, long time…
There was silence.
No system voice.
No clock ticking.
Only the wind.
Only her heartbeat.
Only peace—for now.