Sylceris grabbed her arm.
"Aegis, get up. Get up right now."
Aegis didn't move. She stayed on her knees, her palms flat against the marble floor, her eyes closed. She could feel the construct beneath her, massive and dense, a coiled serpent of shadow energy waiting to strike. The hum of it vibrated through her hands, through her knees, through every bone in her body.
[Oh, I can feel it in the air. The blast is going to happen right here.]
"Are you insane?" Sylceris pulled at her arm, hard, trying to drag her to her feet. "The detonation is in minutes. If you're in the radius when it—"
"Sylceris." Aegis opened her eyes and looked up at her. "Go."
"I'm not leaving you here to die!"
"Go."
Sylceris stared down at her, her dark eyes wide with terror. She was afraid for Aegis. Despite everything, despite the betrayal, despite all of it, she was afraid for her.
"Please," Sylceris whispered.
"I'll be fine," Aegis replied.
[I hope.]
