Alva looks down at her hand.

"Why?" Alva said, not looking at Ikarus or the sword on the ground.

Ikarus let his sword disappear, looking nearly human. ". . .Because I was tired of running."

"And all this," Alva gestured around, the sounds of decadence and the scent of corruption thick in the air. "Just for that?"

"I wanted to make a choice of my own." Ikarus sounded tired. "I was just going through the motions. Doing as I was told, reacting to what other **** on me."

"All this," Alva let her hand fall, a deep pain filling her. A deep pain, and something else. "Just for that?"

Ikarus thought for a moment, looking around. "Yes. Absolutely."

Alva slapped him in the face.

"You gave up."

"I have nothing left." Alva, to her shame, found that she was crying. "I entrusted everything to the Goddess."

"It wasn't enough." Ikarus reached out and cupped her cheek. Alva didn't have any strength left, only a bone-deep exhaustion and something she didn't want to acknowledge. "Why did you come here?"

"It was the will of the Goddess."

"Why did you kill my Chosen?"

"It was the will of the Goddess." Alva voice grew smaller, shaking with her sobs.

Ikarus wiped the tear away, "Why do you fight?"

"It was by. . ." Alva's legs gave out. She had withstood pain and ****, sights of countless violations. She had killed and killed and killed, and she didn't know why. ". . .the will of the goddess."

"You're a ****."

". . .Yes. . ."

"Why did you slap me?"

"Because I-" Alva choked out a sob, feeling pure rage roil up. "I envy you. Haha, I envy what you are."

Ikarus knelt, patting Alva gently on the back. She pulled at her hair, her eyes wild, and pulled away.

"It shouldn't be surprising!" She screeched. "You're free! Nothing to tie you down! Your own will and nothing else! What **** doesn't envy the free!?"

"Are you. . ." Ikarus met her eyes and smiled, "Tired of running?"