Wait.
Something was wrong. I felt the shift, felt myself detach from Max in the final instant.
WAIT!
No, not to come so far just to lose now.
Sudden, crushing pressure, choking, dying. It was supposed to end quietly, gone in a flash of an instant, not drained, empty, broken.
Falling.
I fell, hurtling toward the ground below, slow motion all over again while the two armies above me clashed together around a bright, white light.
Max. A shining star, his magic devouring the maji, burning him up. I only needed your strength and your heart, he sent as illumination flared so bright I was blinded by it, eyes burned, crying out in pain. Not your death. Live, dear Syd. With my thanks.
NO! I fought and writhed, the armor on my body struggling against me as I tried so hard to return, to end my plunging fall, to go back to Max. This wasn't how it was supposed to be, I was supposed to die with him, to have my ending.
The blood of the maji was on my hands. Not his.