"I congratulate you on making it this far, Gaius. But this is where your story ends. Your friends have abandoned you, or they're already dead. Who knows when it comes to incompetent and ruthless guards such as mine? But I digress. You see, you are entirely at my mercy, and mercy is what I lack. You think I don't know your every move? Even now, I can see the cogs turning in your head. Turn back time this, warp a little space that. But Wielding has limits, Trevor. (Yes, I even know your birth name.) It can only go along with Pawd's will, and anything evil or selfish goes against that, doesn't it? So, what are your last words, Trevor Gaius Conti-Nüum? Let me hear them."

"You're wrong, Noxfire. Pawd allows evil Wieldings, so that a greater good may come out of them." Trevor reached out his hand and made a few vague motions with it, and soon a clatter was heard downstairs in the armory before the head of a spear appeared in the midst of the dracofox's abdomen. The creature gurgled before collapsing, the chains of darkness holding Trevor hostage dissipating. Soon, the draconic part of Noxfire went away as well, revealing a white-masked and -bellied black fox and a melanistic cougar holding each other tightly, the fusion undone.

Their eyes fluttered open, and Trevor could only smile. The two loved each other very much, so much so that Mason risked his Light to dissipate the Darkness that had overcome Umbrina's Shadow. Even though Trevor had yet to find someone like that, he knew there must be someone out there for him. And so he walked off into the courtyard outside the chamber, standing below the parapet where his adventure had begun what felt like, and in some ways was, an eternity ago. Turning at the sound of footsteps behind him, he saw Scarlet approaching. "Gaius?..."

"Save it, young man. I've got places to be."

"I think you should know: The one for you has been with you since the beginning."

Trevor looked beyond the fox seven years his junior to see the rest of his friends, Wielders and Wieldless alike, coming out from the safe room's passageway where the guards had kept them against the Draconan incarnation's orders, Zebedia running toward him and embracing him with a gale before throwing herself into his arms, each of her four arms hugging him. Reluctantly, knowing her like a sister, he hugged her back, giving the best four-armed hug two could have.

Spoiler text because you just inspired part of the ending of my book. Well done!

❤❤❤