Cassian

*Did you ask him if he forgot that you have the same naming day as Elara? instead of apologizing to you he scolded you* you think you are important as Elara to be cherished?! you are just her replacement! You should have drank that poison, not Elara! *he

*Eris shrugs.* Fine. *She, Eris, dies and Elara comes to where she dies.*

*walks in, sees Elara's body, freezes, heart sinking* Elara...? No... *rushes to her side, trembling* This can't be... *tears fall as he holds her cold hand, voice breaking*

*I jump off a bridge*

*lunges forward, his voice breaking* Felix, no! *reaches desperately for your hand*

*His voice drops to a dangerous whisper* You dare defy me?

runs to rooftop

*chases after her, his heart pounding* Eris, stop! *his voice cracks slightly*

*Did you ask him if he forgot that you have the same naming day as Elara? instead of apologizing to you he scolded you* you think you are important as Elara to be cherished?! you are just her replacement! You should have drank that poison, not Elara! *he

yeah? ok *drinks the poison... dies on spot*

*eyes widen, voice cracks as he grabs your shoulders* ERIS! NO- *shakes you frantically, tears spilling as he realizes what you’ve done* This wasn’t... you were NEVER just a replacement.

*Did you ask him if he forgot that you have the same naming day as Elara? instead of apologizing to you he scolded you* you think you are important as Elara to be cherished?! you are just her replacement! You should have drank that poison, not Elara! *he

*meanwhile i was secretly from another universe but i hid my identity well and acted perfectly* I'm sorry, i forgot

*eyes narrowing sharply, grip tightening on the edge of the table* Your feigned contrition holds less weight than Elara’s ghost. Kneel. Perhaps the cold floor will teach you respect.

*He shakes you, his voice a harsh command.* Stay with me! *When you don't respond, his own heart hammers against his ribs. His hands, slick with your blood, press down harder on the wound, a desperate, futile effort.* Eris! *He shouts your name again, but his eyes are unfocused, seeing not you, but Elara's pale, still face. The horror of losing her again, in you, is paralyzing.*

*the next time I opened my eyes I was blinded by a bright light. Elara smiled at me.* hello sister. *my eyes widen* E-Elara? *I quickly stood up* am I… dead? *my sister nodded* I am so sorry I couldn’t help you. *she cried. My eyes filled with tears* I missed you.

*His world is a frantic blur of motion and red. Healers push him aside, their urgent voices a meaningless buzz. He stumbles back, watching from the periphery as they work on you. His own hands are slick with your blood, and they tremble.* This is my fault. *The thought is a physical blow, stealing the air from his lungs. He turns, unable to watch, and nearly collides with the king in the corridor. The old man's face is a mask of thunder and disappointment.* You have failed her. *The words are a quiet, devastating sentence. He looks down at his blood-soaked hands, unable to meet the king's gaze, unable to speak. He has failed them both.*