Much, much later, after the sun had already set, Mother Malta stepped out of the Gates of Argus to meet the Shepard family. But Serena wasn’t with her.
“Your Excellency,” Steven bowed his head.
Adele did the same, although she was quick to raise her head again and ask, “Did something happen? Where’s Serena?”
Even Sam looked up expectantly at the high priestess, and he was quick to pick up on how old she suddenly looked. A pale, grave face looked down at Sam, and he knew instantly that something had gone terribly wrong.
'Oh, no… Please, gods, don’t let this be bad news,' he prayed.
“I am truly sorry,” Mother Malta said in a gloomy voice that had lost some of its authority. “Your daughter—”
“No,” Adele whispered.
Steven held his wife as she began to shake in place. Tears started to roll down both their cheeks.
“W-what happened?” he asked.
“The gift… it was too strong, and neither her body nor her mind could endure it,” Mother Malta explained.