"Albus, remember why you use your sword," Dustin said quietly. "You fight to protect your sister and your family. Hold on to that. It matters more than anything else."

Albus froze, then slowly closed his eyes. Blanche's smile, his family's faces, and the companions who had fought beside him these past days all surfaced in his mind. When he opened them again, his gaze was clear, and the pressure weighing on him had eased.

"Thank you, Dustin," he said, his voice steady as he straightened up and