âI donât see why youâre so startled,â Niccolai said as he leaned against the door frame of Allidarâs office. The death knight had been staring out the window all day. And half the day before that. Ever since Linthaelâs letter was found, he had accomplished absolutely nothing. Just staring. The doctor sighed and looked him over. His hands were clasped behind his waist, as they always did when he was lost in thought. Perhaps he wasnât even listening to begin with. âYou knew this wouldnât last. You knew it was only a matter of time until she couldnât stand you anymore.â
More silence. Niccolai combed his fingers through his wheat-blonde hair. âYou and she were like ice and fire. You didnât mix. One of you was bound to destroy the other.â He drummed his fingers on his arm. âI guess I should be grateful you werenât the one to strike first. Though you certainly chipped away at her patience all you could.â He wasnât sure why he bothered. The undead man wouldnât listen. He never did, not unless Niccolai had some sort of fact he had need of. âWell. Itâs all known to you already, anyway. I suppose Iâll be going.â
â...She didnât have to leave,â Allidar murmured. Niccolai lifted a brow. âWe could have... It didnât have to be this way. I could have...â
âYou could have what? Changed everything about yourself? Allidar, donât lie to yourself.â He sighed. âYouâve improved a lot since we first met. I hoped your biting issue would have been fixed by now, but... Progress is progress, I suppose.â The doctor adjusted his ruby specs. âAllidar, be honest with yourself. If you had any intention of fixing this, you would have learned to open up and speak to her as if she was an equal to you. You know, like a person would. If you truly wanted this to work out, you would have put more work into it.â
âBut I did, Niccolai.â He turned his head, his icy gaze cast over his shoulder. âI tried to accommodate her. I gave her what she wanted. I gave her Cirrus, I gave her Sorrowdusk, I gave her the freedom to seek from others what I could not give. I gave up my revenge...â He turned back to the window. â...Revenge is all I have, and I let it go for her. Hatred is all I can truly feel. Yet I stifled it for her. I havenât felt as dead before as I do now.â
âAllidar,â Niccolai sighed, âI know. I know you tried. But it wasnât enough. Itâs time to let it go. She wants nothing to do with you. She fled this world--this timeline--just to get away from you. Itâs over.â
â...It doesnât have to be.â
Niccolai turned and opened the door. âThat isnât really your decision.â He glanced over his shoulder once before shaking his head. â...Goodnight, my lord.â









