He patted him on the back and added softly.

- I understand that it’s hard for you to say her name out loud, that you’re just as worried about her as you are about Thea. Sometimes taking pain for granted is not a weakness, we are all human beings and we all have hearts capable of carrying a different range of emotions through ourselves.

- I wanted to tell her so much. - His voice cracked slightly.

- Why didn’t you tell her before?

- I thought there was no time, but this is just an attempt to escape from the truth. In fact, I was just afraid to be honest with her and with myself.

- I understand.

- If someone asked me if I wanted to rewind everything and fix something, I would say... "No". Because if it were possible to go back in time, I would never have met Thea, I would never have known that my heart is capable of loving someone so much. But at the same time, I feel guilty for making Temi take the brunt of it. After all, I was the one who asked her to return Thea’s body and she promised me that she would not let her die. I just put my responsibilities for protecting this girl on her, although I’m not sure if she wanted it herself.

- If you want to know what she wanted, I’ll tell you. She wanted to go back to those moments when she was loved and when she loved herself.

- But that’s not going to happen.

- Why do you think that?

- But I... and Thea...

- She may have been deeply offended at first, but she is a strong girl, and even more so smart, compassionate and kind. She put your feelings above her own and was able to let go of this pain, protecting only the feeling of platonic love for you. You’ve been through a lot and you could just be good friends to each other, don’t you think?

Skars was silent and Ivrim could see how deep the doubt was in the sparkling eyes. He wanted to believe, but he doubted it.

- What if I told her there was a way for you to ask her yourself? Her words will be truer than mine.

As if in disbelief, Skarsa’s head slowly turned, slightly tilted to one side.

- What do you mean?

Ivrim stepped back a little and a phoenix flew off Auriel’s shoulder, which became like a domestic bird. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

- Phoenixes are amazing creatures, as I’ve already told you. They burn down when they do their duty to their master, but at the same time they can be reborn numerous times while you live and watch this wonderful action.

- But it still hasn’t burned down....

- That’s right. What you saw on the battlefield... You thought the phoenix was saving Thea....

- Isn’t that right? - A strange feeling arose in the heart of Raphael, who was still holding the hand of the pacified Thea, continuing his connection through Skars.

- Thea was not in any danger initially. Your blood was already flowing in her blood and it was only a matter of time before you gave her a supplement so she could wake up. But with Artemis it was different. The part of her soul trapped in Thea’s body was on the verge of disappearing, she was dying, completely giving herself and her strength so that we could win.

Many of those present, as well as Skars, were completely at a loss and did not understand at all what the elf wanted to say.

- Have you ever wondered why you were able to kill Lillian? You felt it yourself, didn’t you?

- A sense of one’s own mortality.

- That’s right. - Ivrim nodded approvingly. - Your immortality was a gift and a curse that Artemis gave you before she died. There was a part of her in you–her ancient blood and a piece of her soul. Another part of her soul was imprinted in the elven crown. But when the battle was in full swing, she sacrificed all her strength for her people and allies, thereby making herself completely exposed and defenseless. The artifact just became an ordinary piece of metal on her head, which confirms how easily it flew off her head as soon as you picked her up.

- But you said her soul hadn’t died yet, didn’t you? I don’t understand.

- Her soul, as a human being, did not die. But she no longer held the essence of any race and therefore the connection with you was severed forever. You stopped being immortal as soon as her powers ran out. Exactly the same thing happened with Lillian, who was tied to your blood, but all this originally belonged only to Artemis. This curse has split between the two of you. While you thought that she had condemned you to eternal torment, she used black magic to cast a spell and condemned herself to the separation of souls.

Skars was silent, he just couldn’t utter a word, trying to digest all the information he had just heard.

- That’s exactly what this feathered comrade’s duty is. - He stroked the beautiful bird. – He has absorbed the smoldering remnant of Artemis’s soul and is ready to release it. That’s when he can do his duty to me.

- But how to release it? What should I do for this? - It sounded like something supernatural, which was already enough in their daily lives, but it was radically different from it.

- We have to give her another body. And I even have one in mind.

- Who?

- There’s a witch girl in the infirmary who’s going to die any day if she doesn’t get help. But considering the fate you’ve prepared for your enemies, I don’t think she’ll need this body anymore. So why not give it to Artemis and let her live another life? She died because of their fault, and therefore has every right to take advantage of this chance. What do you think?

- Do it! I want her to live. - Skars answered without hesitation.

- Do you want to tell her in person what you told me? - The elf smiled.

- Yes, I have to. I want her to be happy.

- Then leave it to me. And don’t worry, I’m not offended by your harsh words, they don’t take offense at children. - Ivrim chuckled, recalling to Raphael his words about the cowardice of the elves.