I felt myself open my eyes, but didn't believe that it was actually happening. I tried to see, but my eyes were clouded over. I felt a warm hand squeeze mine and heard, although it was muffled, "Kayne? Can you hear me?" Was I dreaming, or was this Heaven?" That voice…I recognized it. Once again the phantom voice spoke, "Kayne?" The voice then turned away to speak in the other direction, ""Do you think she can hear me?" Another voice, deep and almost metallic in nature replied, "Unknown. She may not be able to hear your words."
I then tried to speak, and managed a whisper. "Wh…what happened?" I asked. "She's talking!" the voice said loudly. My eyesight was getting better by the minute and I finally realized who was speaking above me. The image of Chaz, cuts and bruises and all, came into view. "You're awake!" he shouted. I couldn't believe this. Somehow I had survived the technique. "Ru…Rune, is he alive?" I asked, somewhat fearful of the answer. Maybe I was alive because it had failed.
"Kayne, you did it. He's alive, resting in the other room," answered Rika. I felt tears stream down my face, stinging the cuts on their way down. Chaz took a soft cloth and wiped them from my cheeks. "I don't' know how you did it, but you survived," Chaz commented.
I then realized what had happened. By taking marriage vows in the Esper tradition, Rune and I had become not only physically bonded in marriage, but mentally bonded in our souls as well. Espers rely on strong mental powers, and because he was the Great Lutz, he was the only one who could use ShaRes and survive. When we became married, our telementals were joined, essentially making me Lutz, in respect. I had survived through Rune, even though it was his life I was saving. I relaxed and started sobbing uncontrollably. The fight was over, the Darkness was gone, and Rune was alive. I asked to be moved closer to my husband, and they picked me up and placed me at his side in his bed. I fell asleep, hand in hand with Rune. The last thing I remember is hearing his voice reverberate through my head, "I love you Kayne, thank you."
