#you obviously don't have to go with this but if you wanna say drace is alive that works with me dfsgjhkdfsg

[disillusionedjudge]

@tarnishedxknight (Noah) sent: " i'm proud of you. "

"Gabranth!"

There was no time for her to grab her sword that had been knocked to the side and sent skittering. Gabranth was struggling, she knew, to hold Vayne back, even with his sword aflame and driven deep into Vayne's chest. His mutated body, born from nethicite and Venat's interference, would not be easy to kill, and Gylfie was not going to let her beloved mentor die.

She lurched to her feet and unsheathed her dagger - still stained with her brother's blood - and bolted for them. The smell of ozone beginning to build around her as she began to channel her magick into her hand, as lightning began to spark along the darkened blade. The sound of her own heartbeat drowning everything else around her, and before Vayne could retaliate against Gabranth, she cried out as she drove the dagger into his back and to his heart.

Had he still been a normal hume, it would have killed him. Her aim was true, the discharge sparking throughout his body as Vayne let out a furious, agonized scream. Her magick focused only on him, to avoid injuring Gabranth all the same. But he was strengthened beyond measure, and before she even had time to react, he shoved Gabranth away, and--

Energy burned through Vayne's hand as he struck her aside - his magick as unnatural as he. Gylfie was thrown back with a strangled yelp, and she felt something snap as she slammed into the ground - agony flaring from her hip and throughout her body. A burning sensation tore through her abdomen as she struggled for breath, the air knocked clean from her lungs, and she clutched at her side - shock taking hold as swiftly as her blood that began to pool around her.

Was this it? Was this how it was going to end?

Dazed but fueled with adrenaline, she struggled to get up - to push herself up by her hands, the pain from her hip a dull ache. But she couldn't move her leg, and her body gave out just as easily. She slumped back to the ground, her mind whirling as everything around her drowned out and became nothing more than a blur of colors and muffled sounds resonating in her mind. She needed to keep fighting. Needed to--

"Stay still."

A strangled groan fell from Gylfie's lips as she felt someone help her up, and she barely registered Balthier pulling her to the side to help her sit up. Her ears ringing as she struggled to make sense of anything - of what was wrong with her. Of what had happened. Of what she had done. She tried to speak as he finally came into focus, but--

The expression on his face and the pain that began to eat through her adrenaline said it all.

She was going to die, wasn't she?

Yet... even as her blood soaked through her clothing and clung to her skin - the metallic scent filling her nose and the slick sheen coating her hands - her shock numbed her panic. Her fears snuffed as she fought for breath into lungs that seemed unable to expand. The realization was an iciness that filled her veins and numbed her mind, and as she stared at Balthier, it drowned out the words he was saying to her. Telling her to hold on. Telling her she would be alright. Telling her she was foolish, no doubt, though the horror and grief in his eyes said it all.

"Go," she choked out, even with the painful throbbing that worsened with the pressure on her hip. Even with the ragged breaths she now took as her mind accepted its numb state and settled into silence. Even at the thought of being alone.

Dying alone was deserved, wasn't it? After what she had done. She had left Takrin and Silas to die alone. It was a shared fate - the end of their House, even if she was not a true Ynarra. That's alright.

"Please."

Balthier didn't need to watch her die, even though Gylfie wanted nothing more than to beg him to stay. Even despite the hurt that filled his expression before he gave her bloodied hand one last, comforting squeeze before he pulled away and ran after the others. As they raced off to hunt Vayne down.

She deserved this.

Her eyes closed as each breath rasped out, wet and wheezing. As she clutched tightly to her abdomen in a feeble attempt to stanch the bleeding. As her pain made it harder and harder to hold to consciousness. Tears trickled down her cheeks, but she hardly noticed. She couldn't think - couldn't focus. This was it. This was--

Gylfie cracked open her eyes as she heard the sound of clattering metal. She struggled to make sense of it, even as the familiar dark armor of Gabranth came into focus as he sank to the floor before her. But the sight of him was more than welcomed and, for a moment, her relief felt like cool water washing over her.

He was alive. She had done her job, then.

It was going to be alright after all, wasn't it?

Her lips moved soundlessly as she struggled to speak, and only just managed to form his name as her strength waned. Should she ask him to stay? Tell him to go? As much as she could not bear the thought of dying alone, a part of her didn't want him to suffer to see her in such a state. Her lips moved again, and, this time, she managed a faint, Gabranth.

I'm proud of you.

Gabranth's words echoed through her mind, and a weak smile flickered across Gylfie's ashen face. It hurt to breathe, now, but... that was quite alright. Larsa was safe, as was her beloved mentor. They had each other, and she had faith the others would defeat Vayne. They had come this far, after all, and... she needed to cling to that faith. She had done her part, and there was nothing else she could do now. Except for...

Her blurred vision began to darken. Gabranth was with her. She wasn't going to die alone. It was alright.

She just wished he didn't have to witness it.

Gylfie's mouth moved, though it took a moment for her to be able to speak. There was too much blood, now, as her arms grew limp at her abdomen from her fading strength. "Thank you," she breathed, in a voice barely audible. "For everythin'." I'm sorry. I don't want to go. "You 'e're... a father t' me, y'know?" Her lungs constricted with a shallow, ragged gasp, but she struggled to cough. Struggled to catch her breath as her chest heaved and body shook. Take care of yourself, too. Larsa needs you more than ever, now. "'m sorry."