The room was eerily silent in the aftermath of the battle. The air still crackled with residual energy, a faint hum of the power that had just been unleashed. Mary stood at the center, her body trembling from the strain of the Archangel's power coursing through her veins. Her saber had returned to its dormant state, the glowing light now a mere ember of its previous intensity. But the silence was more oppressive than any of the roars of battle.
Lela and Loosie moved cautiously around her, their faces a mix of concern and wariness. They had seen Mary in the heat of battle, seen her wield unimaginable power with precision and focus. But they also saw the toll it had taken on her. She was no longer the same person they had known. She was changing, and that change was not entirely for the better.
"Mary… are you sure you're okay?" Lela's voice was soft, as if afraid to break the fragile stillness that had settled between them.
Mary didn't answer at first. Her breath was ragged, her chest rising and falling unevenly. Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her saber, as though trying to draw comfort from its presence. But her mind was a maelstrom, torn between the exhilaration of victory and the overwhelming dread that had taken root in her heart.
"I don't know," she finally whispered. Her voice was distant, as if the words were foreign to her own ears. "I feel… different. Stronger, but—"
"But at what cost?" Loosie finished for her, stepping forward. The younger girl's gaze was sharp, intelligent, as always. But there was something else in her eyes now—a flicker of fear.
Mary couldn't meet her eyes. She wasn't sure she wanted to. There was a growing sense of unease in her that she couldn't shake. The Archangel's power had been seductive, intoxicating, and for a brief moment, it had felt like it was the key to everything. To victory, to control, to power beyond anything she had ever dreamed of. But now, it felt like a weight—a burden pressing down on her chest, threatening to suffocate her.
"Lela… Loosie," Mary said, her voice hoarse, "I think I've made a mistake."
Both of them flinched at her words, but before either could speak, she continued, her eyes finally meeting theirs, filled with a mix of guilt and fear.
"I thought I could control it. The power. But I don't know if I can anymore. It feels like it's… taking over me. I can feel it, always, like it's just waiting to break free."
Lela's brow furrowed, but it was Loosie who spoke first. "Mary, you've been fighting this darkness for a long time. I think we all knew it wouldn't be easy. But you are controlling it. You just need to stay focused. You need to stay in control."
Mary shook her head. "I'm not so sure anymore. When I fought that figure—when I used all that power—I felt… something else. Something that wasn't me. And it was so easy to give in. Just for a moment. I don't think I can ever go back."
Her voice cracked as the words tumbled out. The weight of it all—the endless battles, the sacrifices, the choices she had made—pressed down on her like a vice. She had become a weapon, a tool in a war she hadn't fully understood. And now, with this power coursing through her, she wondered if she had already lost herself.
There was a long silence. Lela took a step closer, her hand gently resting on Mary's shoulder. "You're not alone in this, Mary. We're here for you. We've always been here for you. But you need to tell us what's going on, what you're feeling. We can't help if we don't understand."
"I don't know if you can help," Mary muttered, her eyes distant. "This is bigger than any of us. It's bigger than what I ever imagined."
Her gaze drifted toward the crumbling remnants of the chamber. The walls that had once held the figure of darkness now stood cracked and broken, the echoes of the battle still lingering in the air. It was as though the entire world was beginning to feel the aftershocks of the power she had wielded.
"I don't know if I can go back to who I was," she said softly, the words barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I can ever be the person I used to be."
Lela squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "Mary, we're not asking you to go back to who you were. We're asking you to move forward. With us. Together."
Mary looked at her, and for the first time, she allowed herself to see the warmth in her friend's eyes, the unwavering loyalty and love that had always been there. She had lost so much already—so many people, so many battles. But there was something still left to fight for. Something worth saving.
"I don't know if I can carry this burden anymore," Mary said, her voice trembling. "This power… this darkness… it feels like it's consuming me."
Loosie stepped forward, her eyes blazing with determination. "Then don't carry it alone. We'll help you. We're in this together. All three of us. You don't have to do it by yourself."
Mary's heart clenched at the sincerity in Loosie's voice. It wasn't just about fighting anymore. It was about facing the darkness inside her, about confronting the things she had been running from. The power of the Archangel was not just a gift—it was a curse, and it would take everything she had to learn to control it.
But she wasn't alone. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.
"I'm scared," Mary admitted, her voice cracking. "Scared of what I could become. Scared of what might happen if I lose control."
"You won't lose control," Lela said firmly. "We won't let you. We're with you, Mary. Always."
There was a quiet moment as Mary let the weight of Lela's words settle in her heart. She didn't have all the answers. She didn't know what the future held. But one thing was certain: she wasn't in this fight alone. And that was more than she could have ever hoped for.
The three of them stood in the wreckage of the chamber, the ruins of their battle scattered around them. But amidst the devastation, there was a glimmer of hope. The battle wasn't over, not by a long shot. But they would face it together.
"Let's go," Mary said, her voice steadying as she took a deep breath. "We have a world to save."
And with that, the three of them turned and walked toward the unknown, toward whatever lay ahead. The road would be difficult, and the darkness would continue to pursue them. But they were ready to face it. Together.