The salty air of the ocean raced around the fast moving carriage, making my hair whip around wildly. I stuck my head out the carriage window a little higher, grunting when I hit the top accidentally. I grumbled a bit under my breath, before admiring the glittering blue sea once more. It was a crystal clear blue mixed with a tint of green. The sand was a pale yellow, almost a shining white. I smiled a bit, feeling a warm feeling surge through my chest, squeezing at my heart. I paused when I felt a hand tug at my wrist, pulling me back inside the carriage. "You're going to fall out, moron." Azrael gruffly spoke, staring at me with furrowed brows and narrowed black eyes.  I settled back into my seat, rolling my eyes and sighing dramatically, pushing a curly strand of hair out of my eye. "I was just looking. You're so uptight, Azrael." The glittering silver armor boots clinked as I placed my feet back on the floor of the carriage, the cold metal brushing against my clothed skin. It was quite hot, and I felt sweat trickle down my neck, traveling down my back. The carriage was now set in a deep silence, with only the clopping of the horses hooves faintly heard from outside and the slight clang of armor at each bump in the road. Our swords were hidden under the carriage seats, the only sign that they were there in the first place being the occasional ding of the metal and gems. I felt the carriage slow down as we began to slowly park in the sandy white beach, the salty air as pungent as ever. Azrael stared me down with an unreadable expression, his eyes darkened and lips turned into a dissatisfied frown. After another moment of silence, he spoke up, his voice grave and pitying. "You don't have to do this. For Ishtar's sake, its only been a month since---" "The sun is quite pretty today isnt it? We should get going before it gets dark and the waves grow stronger." I interrupted him with a thin smile that didn't reach my eyes, feeling my chest tighten and my mind grow nauseous. Azrael glared a little at me, his eyes watching as I stepped out the carriage. I paused, slipping off my armored shoes, tossing them to the side without a care. Azrael made some kind of noise similar a disgruntled scoff. I sighed deeply, taking in the salty air, ignoring the complaints of my second in command, taking in the warm beach air. I began to slowly walk down the sand, memories rushing past me with each step. Every step I took took me back to the gruesome blood stained dirt of Nergal, with smoke filling the air and roaring fires everywhere you look, rotting flesh making me sick. I shakily took a breath, feeling the cold ocean water tickle my feet. I shuddered, feeling my eyes sting. How I wished it was three instead of two. That they would be there, scolding Azrael for being a stick in the mud and splashing in the water, despite the freezing temperature. Maybe they could be here, instead of being drenched in blood and rotting under the dirt. I didnt even realize my shallow breath and tear stained face until Azrael pulled me into a tight hug, the cold armor pressing against my cheek. He didn't say a word, just as I preferred, letting my cry my sorrows out as long as I needed. I stood there for Ishtar knows how long, crying pathetically and shaking like a leaf. After what seemed to be forever, the tears stopped falling, yet my chest still had that hollow ache that clouded my sense of mind. I let Azrael tug me back to the carriage, as I stumbled mindlessly behind him, letting my tears dry on my skin. I only registered we were back in the carriage and his knight cloak was wrapped around me when I heard the familiar sound of the horses hooves starting once more, and when Azrael spoke up quietly. "It wasn't your fault. Mara purposefully saved them. If she hadnt run in front of that trap, that whole family would've been gone. I shakily nodded, looking away. I didn't want him to see, that deep down, no matter how much I resented my own thoughts and wished I could claw out my heart to stop this insufferable ache and pain, that I wouldn't have cared if they died or not, as long as my dearest younger sister had lived and been by my side until the end of time. (END POINT.)