You Already Won

Chapter 156 152: Answers

Destiny watched as North came down the stairs.

A small smile touched her lips.

Jamal noticed immediately.

He leaned back and shook his head.

"Crazy shit, all this," he muttered. "Especially them two Tin-whatever mfs. Well—guess shawty said her name Caroline now, but still… getting kicked out the whole world into the void is insane. Shit."

Destiny gave a quiet hum of agreement.

"Yeah."

She looked over at him.

They'd all been through too much.

Lost too much.

Survived too much.

But there was still one thing she wanted to know.

One thing she'd been sitting on.

"Why did you save her?"

Jamal groaned immediately.

"I knew this was comin'."

Destiny didn't blink.

"Why ain't you ask before?"

"Tired."

That got a laugh out of him.

"I felt that."

He sighed and rubbed the side of his face, pushing his locs to the side.

"Ria saved my life back in that club fight," he said. "And she helped Crisper get her kill streak."

Destiny stayed quiet, listening.

"So," Jamal continued, "I figured I owed her."

Destiny looked at him for a long moment.

Jamal caught the look and smiled.

"What?"

He lifted a shoulder.

"I told her if she ain't disintegrate, she can slide."

That made Destiny's expression twitch just slightly.

Jamal smirked.

"Besides," he added, "she's leaving today too."

Destiny nodded once.

"I know."

Jamal frowned.

"What?"

Destiny's golden eyes stayed on him.

"She's behind you."

She walked toward them slowly.

A scarf was wrapped around her head, and her hospital robe hung loosely around her frame. A mask covered the lower half of her face for now—the burns still hadn't healed all the way.

Jamal smiled the second he saw her.

Destiny didn't.

She just watched.

Ria stopped in front of them.

For a moment, she said nothing.

Then she looked at Jamal.

"Thanks."

Jamal gave a small nod.

"Yuh," he said. "Now we even."

Ria's gaze shifted.

Her yellow slit eyes met Destiny's golden ones.

The two of them held each other's stare for a second.

Then—

They both nodded.

Nothing more needed to be said.

Jamal leaned back slightly and looked Ria over.

"You gotta start pickin' better people to side with," he said.

Ria gave the faintest tilt of her head.

"Maybe..."

Jamal snorted.

"Yeah. Maybe stop teamin' up with wildin murder weirdos."

Ria's eyes narrowed slightly above the mask.

"You say that as though your group is significantly more stable."

That got a laugh out of him.

"Real shit… I can't argue that," Jamal said. "Still. You cool."

He pointed at her.

"Just don't try to mind control me again."

Ria gave a small nod.

"I won't."

Then, after a pause—

"I'll take the lessons from this event going forward."

Destiny finally spoke.

"Are you mad Cawren died?"

Ria looked at her.

Really looked at her.

Then shook her head once.

"No."

Her voice stayed calm.

"We were two people walking the same path for a while."

She glanced away slightly.

"Eventually, one of us would have killed the other."

She chuckled.

"He only saved me and kept me around because he couldn't kill me," she said. "And because I was useful."

Jamal stared at her for a second.

Then laughed.

"Man, shut up."

Ria blinked at him.

Jamal grinned.

"You also ain't try to kill him."

That made her eyes narrow just slightly.

"And you can front all you want," he added, "but you had fun with that man."

That made her pause.

For the first time since walking over, something in her expression shifted.

Her eyes dimmed.

Only slightly.

And then—

Slowly—

She smiled.

Small.

"I suppose," she said, "I did."

Jamal tilted his head.

"So who you leavin' with anyway?"

Ria continued to smile beneath her mask.

"A guild of Outlanders," she said. "They call themselves The Eternal Arcade."

Jamal blinked.

Destiny's brow lifted slightly.

Ria continued.

"They sent me a request. And since I'm… gamer adjacent…"

Her eyes gleamed faintly.

"I thought, why not?"

Jamal slowly nodded.

"Okay," he said. "That actually makes the ship make sense."

Destiny looked past Ria toward the bay doors.

A ship had just landed outside.

It looked less like a proper vessel and more like someone had built a spaceship out of a customizable garage.

Bright panels. Overdesigned plating. Needlessly flashy lights.

And spray-painted across the side in bold letters:

T.E.A.

Destiny stared.

Jamal stared.

Then both of them said at the same time—

"Tea?"

Ria laughed.

Actually laughed.

And somehow, that was the weirdest part.

"Well," she said, turning toward the ship as the door slid open, "I suppose I'll see you all around."

Jamal watched her go and hoped—

In some small, foolish way—

That maybe this would help her.

Destiny watched her too.

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And hoped she'd never have to see her again.

Ria could have learned from this.

Maybe she had seen the cost of the path she walked.

Maybe she had understood, even for a moment, what it meant to stand on the wrong side of everything.

Maybe this group—

This disaster of survivors and idiots and miracles—

Could have been the kind of thing that changed someone like her.

A chance to right her wrongs.

A chance to become something better.

But unfortunately—

Ria Dyusin…

Was a Malefic One.

"Who was that?" North asked.

Jamal and Destiny looked at each other.

Then back at him.

Destiny answered.

And as she explained, North's expression slowly flattened more and more until he finally dragged a hand down his face.

Then facepalmed.

Hard.

"You mean to tell me," he said, voice muffled behind his hand, "Cawren's little girlfriend survived…"

He lowered it and stared at them.

"And now she's leaving with a group I'm pretty sure I've fought before?"

Jamal chuckled.

"Shit, Blood, I ain't know all that," he said. "I'm just repaying a debt."

North stared at him for a second longer.

Then sighed.

"Well. Whatever. I'll deal with it if it comes up."

He rolled his shoulders once.

"And—"

His eyes shifted toward the bay.

"Oh."

That made both of them look.

North frowned.

"Whose ship is that?"

The three of them fell silent.

Because this one was different.

Completely different.

It hadn't landed like the others.

It arrived like it had permission to exist above everyone else.

The hull was too pristine.

The kind of ship only one kind of people moved around in.

North's expression sharpened.

Jamal's smile disappeared.

Destiny's eyes narrowed.

Because without a doubt—

That ship belonged to a Supreme Family.

Its body looked as though it had been carved from crystal and diamond, all sharp beauty and impossible expense. Black and deep blue made up most of its frame, with streaks of white woven through it like frozen lightning.

It didn't look built.

It looked commissioned by arrogance itself.

North stared.

Jamal stared.

Even Destiny had to blink once.

Then her eyes narrowed.

"Oh," she said.

Jamal looked at her.

"What?"

Destiny pointed toward the side of the ship.

A flag hung from its frame, shifting slightly in the cosmic wind.

North followed her finger.

So did Jamal.

And there it was.

A crown of black snakes wrapped around thirteen blades.

One of the symbols of Wraithingamous.

Destiny folded her arms.

"They're here for you."

Jamal frowned.

"How you know that?"

She didn't even look at him.

She just kept staring at the ship.

"I know that crest."

Jamal looked back toward the vessel.

Then a slow grin spread across his face.

"Oh."

A beat passed.

Then—

"Ooooh! Bet."

The door opened.

But it didn't.

Not really.

It only gave the illusion of opening—its shape shifting depending on who looked at it, like the ship itself refused to be understood from a single angle.

For one person, it unfolded like crystal petals.

For another, it split down the center like a divine door.

For others—

It simply appeared already open, as if the act of entry had happened before they were worthy of seeing it.

And the moment it did—

The entire bay changed.

Natives dropped.

Dock workers.

Patients.

Guards.

Even people stepping off other ships nearby hit their knees without understanding why.

Conversations died.

Engines hummed lower.

The whole docking station seemed to hold its breath.

Only three people remained standing.

North.

Destiny.

And Jamal.

North narrowed his eyes.

Destiny's body tensed.

Jamal just stared.

Then—

She stepped out.

A woman walked from the ship as glowing orange-red sigils unfolded beneath her feet, each one forming a radiant bridge in the air before fading behind her.

She was draped in black and deep indigo with gold and ember-like light blooming across the fabric in circular patterns that looked almost alive. Her silhouette was elegant, impossible, and predatory all at once.

A sword rested at her back.

Her face was beautiful.

Her eyes glowed like banked suns.

And behind her head, a burning halo of layered orange-red light pulsed like a second celestial body had descended into the bay.

Jamal's eyes widened.

Destiny noticed immediately.

A smirk touched her lips.

"Oh," she said softly.

North glanced between them.

The woman continued forward.

Gracefully.

And with each step—

The pressure increased.

Until the very structure of TI-09 trembled for a brief, violent moment.

Metal groaned.

Glass shivered.

The floor beneath them vibrated once—

Then stilled.

The pressure didn't lessen.

The station had simply adjusted.

Jamal squinted as she got closer.

Then his eyes widened a little more.

Because that burning halo behind her head—

Wasn't a halo or behind her head.

It was an afro.

A radiant crown of flame and light shaped like a haloed puff, with tiny suns burning inside it like ornaments trapped in orbit.

And her dark skin—

It carried the same impossible richness Aulura's did.

Jamal's smile widened instantly.

"Oh, y'all really some brothas and sistas huh?" he said. "I can fuck with that."

Destiny sighed into her hand.

North laughed.

The woman appeared in front of them in the next instant, a smile already waiting on her face.

She looked directly at Jamal.

"Jamal Wright?"

"Yeah," he said. "And you are?"

She laughed.

A warm sound.

Dangerous, but warm.

"They were right about you."

Her glowing eyes gave him a slow once-over.

She looked…

Impressed.

"I am Mahahazx Tierniea Marcarith Wraithingamous."

Jamal blinked once.

Then twice.

"That's long as hell. I'm bout to call you Maha."

Destiny immediately smacked him.

"He's sorry."

Mahahazx looked at her.

"No need to speak for him, Jujisn of Vari," she said smoothly. "I was made aware of his antics before arriving."

A faint smile touched her lips.

"It adds to his charm."

That made Jamal grin.

North snorted.

Then Mahahazx's gaze shifted.

She looked at North fully now.

And for the first time since stepping off the ship, her expression changed just slightly.

"To see the Jujisn of Jafar, the Blood Prince in person," she said, "is a treat."

Her smile sharpened.

"A pleasure."

North gave her a once-over.

"You're not bad on the eyes either."

Destiny hit him too.

North winced.

"Damn, what?"

Mahahazx laughed again.

Then she straightened, the atmosphere around her settling back into something elegant and oppressive all at once.

"We shall be departing," she said. "Crown Heiress Aulura is waiting."

She paused.

"And many others."

Jamal nodded.

"Bet."

Then he lifted a finger.

"But one sec, shawty."

That made Mahahazx pause.

Then laugh again.

"Yes," she said. "But do not take too long."

"I won't."

She inclined her head once, then stepped back just enough to give them space.

Jamal smirked.

"Yo, Norf. You and I already had our talk."

Destiny made a face at that.

"So," Jamal continued, "I'ma give these last words to my sis over here, if you don't mind."

North lifted both hands and stepped back.

"Floor's yours."

Destiny giggled under her breath.

These guys were so stupid.

Jamal looked at her.

Really looked at her for a second.

Then his expression softened just a little.

"I'm glad I met you," he said.

Destiny blinked.

"And Crisper too," he added. "Journey and shit was rocky as hell in the beginning, but…"

He shrugged.

"I had fun."

That made her smile immediately.

Jamal shook his head once, locs swaying.

"And all in all…" he said, "I couldn't ask for a better crew."

Destiny's expression softened.

Jamal pointed at her.

"You might be House of Vari and all that extra divine weirdness…"

He tapped his chest.

"But you blood to me."

That one hit her harder than she expected.

Destiny looked away for half a second, then back at him.

"I wish I wasn't so difficult sometimes," she admitted.

Jamal immediately made a face.

"Girl."

"I'm serious," she said, trying not to laugh. "And the Jujisn stuff got a little…"

"A little?" Jamal repeated.

She gave him a look.

"Okay. A lot."

Jamal nodded firmly.

"Factualnonfiction."

That made Destiny burst out laughing.

North did too from where he stood a few steps away.

Destiny shook her head.

"That is not a word."

"It is now. I said it before anyway! I knew ya'll ain't listen when I speak!"

"Whatever!"

Jamal opened his arms.

Destiny stepped into them without hesitation.

He hugged her tightly.

And after a moment, he leaned back enough to look at her.

"Once I'm settled," he said, "I'll make sure you can contact me."

Destiny nodded.

Then her expression shifted slightly.

She looked past him for just a second toward the waiting ship.

Toward Mahahazx.

Toward what he was walking into.

"You're leaving with one of the strongest families in Requiem," she said quietly. "Some would argue the strongest."

At first, she wanted to tell him to be careful.

But that wasn't right.

Not for him.

Jamal had earned every bit of this.

He made it this far on his own merit.

On instinct.

On grit.

On heart.

So instead, she stepped forward and kissed him on the cheek.

Then smiled and said only—

"Good luck."

Jamal blinked once.

Then smiled back.

Softly.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Course, D," he said. "I'ma live it up for Crisper."

His smile sharpened.

"You do the same."

Then his voice lowered just slightly.

"And we gon' see each other again."

They hugged one last time.

Then Jamal stepped back and turned toward North.

No extra shit.

Just a dap.

And that was enough.

Then he turned and headed toward Mahahazx.

As the two of them walked back toward the ship, Jamal glanced at her.

"Aight, important question."

Mahahazx looked at him.

"Do y'all got weed?"

She blinked.

"I am… not familiar with this term."

Jamal looked genuinely offended.

"Damn."

Then he started explaining it with full sincerity, using way too many hand gestures.

"It's cool though," he said. "Y'all probably got some equivalent. Absence of evidence does not mean evidence is absent."

Mahahazx stared at him for exactly one second.

Then laughed.

And together, the two of them disappeared into the ship.

They watched as the ship disappeared into space.

Slowly, the natives around them began acting normal again.

They stood.

Workers resumed moving.

Other ships started docking once more.

Like reality had simply decided it was safe to continue.

North and Destiny stayed where they were.

Still.

North took a long breath.

Just being able to stand there without pain swallowing him whole felt like a blessing.

And space…

Space looked beautiful.

For a while, neither of them said anything.

Then Destiny finally spoke, still staring at the place Jamal's ship had vanished into.

"So," she said softly, "I guess we have to talk, huh?"

North smiled.

"Yeah."

Then he looked at her from the side.

That made her blink.

His smile stayed small.

Destiny's chest tightened.

North looked back out into the stars.

Then he turned toward her fully.

"I'm sorry."

Destiny blinked.

"For what?"

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"For putting this on you."

And just like that—

Destiny's heart started racing.

She kept her face as still as possible.

"I'm glad you see it that way," she said carefully.

A second ship cut across the bay.

Golden and black.

Another Supreme House vessel.

The crest alone made Destiny sigh.

North looked over and let out a low whistle.

"Damn," he said. "Y'all was really about to leave me while I was asleep."

Destiny folded her arms.

"We didn't have a choice."

She glanced at him.

"You get two days once you're healed. We waited as long as we could."

North made a face.

"Damn. Generous."

Then his expression softened slightly as he looked back toward the bay.

"Wish Ozzy and Tabia were here."

He exhaled.

"Sucks everybody's leaving in parts."

A beat passed.

"Except Ria. That was a left-field hit."

That got a laugh out of Destiny.

Then she looked at him.

"Walk with me?"

North smirked immediately.

"It's why I'm here."

They walked slowly.

The Vari ship had already docked, and just like before, the natives around them reacted the same way they had when Wraithingamous arrived.

Knees bent.

Voices lowered.

Reality adjusted.

North chuckled under his breath.

"True power is ridiculous," he muttered.

But right now—

Something else felt heavier.

Destiny smiled.

Then, without warning, she reached out and took his hand.

North blinked.

But he didn't pull away.

They kept walking like that.

Side by side.

Until they reached the docking platform.

A staircase of gold unfolded toward her, each step forming from light itself.

North glanced around.

No guards.

No escorts.

He appreciated that.

Destiny looked at him.

"Everyone already said their goodbyes days ago," she said. "We were just waiting for you to wake up."

North nodded.

"Even Ria?"

Destiny gave him a look.

"Are you that concerned about her?"

North immediately shook his head.

"No. No. Stop that. It was just a question."

She hummed.

They fell quiet again.

There was a lot to say.

Too much.

North looked at her.

Really looked at her.

Even now—

Wounded.

Scarred.

Still healing—

She was beautiful to him.

He opened his mouth to speak—

And she gently placed a finger against his lips.

Stopping him.

Her eyes softened.

"Let me speak first," she said.

"Thank thee, North," she continued quietly, "for all thou hast done—for me, for us, for the path we walked."

North didn't interrupt.

"I love thee," she continued, her gaze steady, "for who thou art—not what thou hast become, nor what thou shalt be."

His chest tightened.

"But the road I now take…" she said, "…is not one meant to be walked with a lover at my side."

A small breath left her.

"I would see more of this world. Learn it. Live it. Become more within it."

Her expression softened further.

"And thou… should do the same."

A beat.

"We both know we could work."

North's eyes slowly narrowed.

"But I desire more still," she said. "More experiences. More truths. More of what lies beyond us."

She lowered her hand from his lips.

North nodded slowly.

It hurt.

But—

He understood.

"…I love you too," he said.

Destiny smiled.

Then tilted her head slightly.

"Besides," she added lightly, "if we are both single when next we meet…"

North raised a brow.

"Oh?"

She smirked.

"I told you," she said, "you're at least above an eight."

North scoffed.

"Only an eight?"

They both laughed.

Then—

They stepped into each other again.

A hug.

Tighter this time.

And then—

Against both of their better judgment—

They kissed.

It wasn't desperate.

It said everything.

And nothing.

All at once.

When they pulled apart, neither of them spoke for a second.

They just held each other again.

Grounding themselves.

"Survive out there," North said quietly.

Destiny nodded.

"I hope you find your footing."

She stepped back.

Then paused.

Turned.

"Congratulations," she said. "On becoming a Ranker."

North shrugged.

"Same to you."

She smiled.

"What rank are you?"

North waved a hand.

"Like… eight hundred million something."

She blinked.

Then grinned.

"I'm in the seven hundred millions."

North froze.

"HOW?"

She crossed her arms proudly.

"I beat a Ranker in the nine hundred millions. She had enhanced abilities, which helped push her up as well. So after I took Civen's rank… I ranked up again."

She smirked.

"Perks of being Vari's Chosen."

North stared at her.

Then slowly raised both middle fingers.

She burst out laughing.

Because she knew.

He only did that because she was missing one.

"Fuck you," she said.

"Whenever you're ready, blondie."

She smirked and turned toward the staircase.

Then paused one last time.

"Be safe, North."

And then—

She walked up.

Each golden step deformed beneath her as she ascended.

Until she disappeared into the ship.

North stood there.

Watching.

Then gave a small wave as the doors closed.

The ship lifted.

And as it left—

The weight in his chest grew.

But that—

Would have to wait.

North let out a slow breath and turned away from the empty void of space.

Then his eyes landed on a nearby bench.

Tinsurnae sat there alone.

Head lowered.

Hands folded.

North stared at him for a second.

Then snorted.

Aww, he thought.

Bro look miserable.

Well.

Time to settle this too.

And with that, North started walking toward him.