The Assassin's Tale; The End of an Era, Part Three

Credits; Krell, Rea, Petra, Courtney, Arcania,

Krell raced to Rea's side.  Thanks to Legion's miraculous assistance she was breathing and the wound the other demon had inflicted had been sealed completely.  But something else seemed to have changed about her. 
"Wuh?"
"Sshh.  You nearly, you actually did die."
"I...died?"
"You got hacked by a demon.  There was blood everywhere.  If you weren't dead outright, you'd know it."
"Oh.  Yeah, I suppose so.  Did we win?"
"Yes we did Rea.  We did indeed.  Tala had a plan set up, there was lightning everywhere.  Then she broke Petra's sword and ordered her to retire.  It was kind of cool." 
"Hehe, what was the pass phrase?"
"Chastity McMomProblems, why?"
Rea started laughing.  "Yeah, that sounds like Tala alright."  She stopped and looked around for a moment.  He reached down and helped her up.  She looked him over for a moment.  "Krell, did you shrink?" 
Krell looked at her for a moment.  It took him a moment to realize what had happened.  She'd put him before herself, and then, just like the prophecy had said, she'd been relieved of her curse.  She'd grown nearly two inches and had...well, her leather breastplate was looking a little less loose. 
"And this armor isn't fitting right either, it's too small."  She started trying to adjust it and Krell found himself paralyzed by the sight.  It took a while for Rea to stop and look up.  "Krell?  Are you alright?"
"Rea, uhm, the armor didn't shrink, and neither did I."
"Sure doesn't feel like it; are you sure?"
"Yeah."  He swallowed.  "Rea, you're looking...a bit..."
Courtney walked over and set her hand warmly on Rea's shoulder.  Nao, for all his earlier behavior, didn't even linger on Rea.  "Sweetie, happy birthday."
It took Rea a moment to figure out what she meant, but the moment she did it was inescapably noticeable.  She started crying but her face had lit up like a sun.  She hugged Courtney and Nao and then pushed past them and held on to him for longer than it took for Nao to wander off and bring back lunch and a repair crew.  When she finally loosened her grip he looked down and saw that she wasn't happy anymore. 
"What's the matter?  Is it anything..womanly?"
"No it's just..I promised Tala I'd spend my birthday with her.  When she was still young.  Do you think we could?"
Courtney nodded and gestured.  She and Nao were quiet out of respect.  Whether for Tala's recent post-immortal show of strength or for Rea's sorrow he couldn't tell.  He did notice that the two never let go of each other the whole way.  Tala's grave was on a small platform off of the palace district.  There was a bridge covered with some sort of vine that produced long blue fillaments that hung just over their heads.  He could see why they'd picked it, it was the same shade as Tala's hair.  Her grave sat alone, on a little grassy mound.  The marker showed a storm cloud; he'd seen the same mark around the city, in the palace and outside the palace in the Gothic quarter.  They stood around the marker, Rea still holding herself close against him.  There was a pop and he saw Arcania step up beside them. 
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.  You were right, I should have come, I could have saved her if I'd only come."
"Ello Katherine."
"Courtney."
"We were just paying our respects to the woman who won the battle with Legion.  I don't suppose you could be silent in the presence of the dead and buried?"
Arcania didn't say another word.  None of them did until Petra finally trudged up.  She was still holding her sword hilt.  Her armor had been discarded already, and she waited on the bridge for them to finally turn to leave. 
"I've decided to respect her wishes; all of your wishes.  Courtney, if you would find some suitable place to hang my sword?  I..I don't want to be reminded of today.  I'll go now.  I'm sorry, for everything." 
Krell stretched out a free hand to stop her, but Rea moved a hand over his lips. 
"Leave her be."
Petra let the hilt roll off the back of her hand and walked away, teleporting out midstep.  Courtney motioned and Nao retrieved it for her. 
"Take this, and if the blade remains in the hall of the pantheon have them set together and sent to the palace of Anatolia.  Their steward will know of some use for its power."
Courtney and Nao walked off towards the palace.  Nao waved over his shoulder as they went.  Krell turned towards Rea. 
"So, what now?"
"I think I could go for a vacation.  You in?"
"Yeah."
"You sure?  I'm grown up now, your debt is paid."
"And I think you've still got a ways to go before you're properly grown up.  You still need me around  You have a problem with that young lady?"
Rea smiled and they vanished with a blink.