Sigarda had felt when Liesa returned.

It was a shock, so much so she lowered her guard and allowed flesh-wax strings grip her, surrundering her to the vampires. She wasn't afforded much processing in the weeks that followed, but now that she was free she found the weight of this truth anew.

She had distracted herself by freeing Thraben, her radiance purging the undead hordes so carelessly left there. Gisa had already left, but that was a shame for another time.

In the dawn, dusk came, her wings like a vulture's and just as silent in the air.

She didn't dare look. How could she? She didn't lift a finger to save her, and when she realised that mistake it had been far too late. Liesa was not known for rancor, but surely not even she could not forgive her now.

"Please, look at me" Liesa whispered, almost begging.

Reluctantly, Sigarda's eyes met her sister's.

There was no resentment, if fact there was even a joy of sorts. But there was no warmth, either.

A silence filled the air, as the light from Sigarda's spell died. When the air fully shifted from fiery gold to dreary silver, she spoke:

"I'm sorry."

A human perhaps would have cried in this situation, but even the most compassionate of angels has alasbater for a face. Even in her warmth, there was a restraint to Sigarda's apology.

Liesa sighed. It looked as though she wanted to say something, something perhaps akin to "it's alright" or "I forgive you". But a more damning, if matter-of-factly, thing came out:

"Seems you've been taking my advice."

Ah.

"Yes" Sigarda replied, "I now see your wisdom. My hypocrisy is my shame."

"It isn't really hypocrisy if you're sorry" Liesa said, "Though it still hurts that you let her kill me. I forgive you nonetheless."

Now was the time when restraint fell, and Sigarda wept. A hand laid softly by her shoulder, steeling her as she let it all out.

The sobs eventually died down, like the light before them. Sigarda wiped her tears, and as she stared back at Liesa its was like she saw her sister anew. She was smiling warmly, which made Sigarda even more ashamed.

"What now?" she asked, not fully composed.

"Well, I suppose we will repeat the pattern" Liesa responded, "My flight was always smaller, just as it needs to be, and you can devote your strength to the masses. Hopefully we can cooperate now, but I understand if you will have us stick to the shadows."

"No" Sigarda shook her head, "You can now have sanction. They won't understand immediately, but soon they will accept you. I will make sure of that."

"You're sure of this?" Liesa asked concernedly, "I admit I'm not well versed in what your people call 'The Travails', but if I'm not mistaken there was a religious schism of sorts. I don't want things to come to that."

"Things won't come to that, ever again. I promise you."

Liesa was still apprehensive, but she sighed submissively.

"Lead the way."