I stand below Bex's camp. Danis is at ground level with me, blocking the ladder. He's scowling at me like a petulant cat.

Father, forgive me. I cannot remove him.

"She doesn't want to speak with you, and it's for the best. Now please leave."

I glance up. "Bex, I would like the opportunity to clarify my intentions."

She peeks over the platform, face slack. "I think you've already made yourself crystal clear."

"No. I-"

"She's said her piece. Now accept it and go." Danis steps a little closer to me, chest out. His shoulders go stiff as my hands move to my pockets.

My gaze drifts to his feet. "Are you standing on your toes?"

"What?" His heels hit the planks. "No!"

"Stop it, the both of you!"

I look up. "Bex, we may not see eye to eye now, but that shouldn't get in the way of what we've organized so far."

She sniffs, then straightens her posture. "I never said I was leaving the operation."

"I'm glad to hear it. There's something I'd like to show you. If you're willing to hear me out then meet me at my camp, when you're ready."

"Absolutely not!" Danis's voice cracks.

"Danis!" She stands. "What have I told you? I appreciate that you want to support me, but you cannot speak for me."

"You've seen what kind of man he is. I don't know what this operation is, but I'm certain you don't need to go wandering off with him to get it done."

"...You don't trust me."

He turns to her, slack-jawed. "Of course I do! You know I do!"

"Then stop acting like you don't."

His brow grows tight.

Bex sighs. "I'll think about it, Vash. But please, just... give me time."

I nod softly, glance back down at Danis, then take my leave.

The fire warms my face as I rest on a fallen log. I tap my thumbs together, watching the flames lick the air.

If she doesn't come back, then everything I've scheduled for tomorrow will move forward regardless. Perhaps it's for the best, but it feels like a missing cog in a machine that can't be stopped. I reach into my breast pocket and pull out the grove's inventory, studying it once again.

Astarion sits on his stool, legs crossed, book resting in his lap. I feel his eyes on me.

"What's that?"

"It's something I think you might find very interesting."

He blinks before shifting his attention to something behind me.

I turn and see Bex coming down the path and make my way toward her. "Thank you for accepting my offer."

"Thank you for allowing me to consider it."

I offer a smile and begin walking down the riverbank. She follows. The hush of water fills the silence, and we're misted by shallow rapids as we pass.

Father wishes for me to drown her. I hear it.

I glance at her and my lip twitches. I clasp my hands behind my back, focusing on the path ahead.

"We'll be presenting the evidence to the rebels tomorrow morning. If we are to continue working together, then we need to find common ground."

"I thought we had common ground. Now I'm not so sure," she says, watching the shore as she walks.

"Why did you choose to confront those goblins?" I ask.

"It should go without saying. He needed help, and the strong have a duty to protect the weak. It was the right thing to do and I will not apologize for my actions."

"So you forced me into a position where I either had to watch you die, or intervene, potentially getting us both killed."

Her jaw grows tight. "I didn't. It seems you were able to handle the goblin horde perfectly fine on your own. When were you going to tell me you were a True Soul?"

"It was not relevant for you to know."

"Until it became very relevant. Do not tell me I misjudged the situation when you were the one withholding information."

"I'm telling you that you mishandled the situation because you chose to act regardless."

There is a quiet that fills the space between us.

"Then it seems we're at an impasse."

I take a breath and my shoulders fall. "Bex. What have you witnessed on our travels together? A heroic monster hunter who was going to drag Astarion back into slavery. An apothecary who was going to resurrect his lover against her will."

She looks up at me and my voice softens.

"Bex, the hero who is going to save the hollow by turning a druid circle against itself."

She stiffens. "That isn't fair."

"Isn't it?"

"It's not my intention to hurt anyone. It's unfortunate that it's come to this."

"Exactly."

The sound of pebbles crunches beneath our footsteps.

"I need you to understand something," I say. "You are far more valuable to me alive. I intend to keep you that way."

The bank bends along the river as we approach our destination.

"Before you act, I ask that you consider this: Survival is never guaranteed." I glance down at her. "And heroes don't exist."

Her tail flicks behind her. "That doesn't mean we can't do what's right."

"Then perhaps together, we can decide on exactly what is right."

"That sounds like a challenge, but..." She flexes her fingers at her side. "I think we've found the middle ground."

I take a breath and briefly close my eyes. "I'm very glad."

Smoke drifts across the water as the devastation of the wreckage unfolds before us.

"There is something I wanted to share with you. Something personal, that I think is important for you to know..."

Her pace slows as I bring her to the center of the nautiloid's wreckage. Vast, arching shards of a spiraled shell are sunken into the sands of the river's shore. The smell of burning chitin and decaying ship-flesh assaults the senses. Waning hues of sunlight cast beams through smoke that weaves around the wreckage. The sound of lapping water echoes against the walls, amplified more so by the dreaded silence.

She approaches a sunken landing, carefully touching it. A chitinous chest bolted firmly in place, lid askew. "What is this place?"

"This is the crash that rattled the hollow. Do you know what this structure is?"

She scans the grand hull, shaking her head. "No. I've never seen anything like it."

"It's called a nautiloid. An illithid warship."

"Illithid?"

I gesture toward a few scattered mind flayer bodies lying in silver pools of blood. Shriveled, peaceful, and empty. "Illithids travel the realms, functioning as a collective. They rely on psionic powers for control and communication. They are insidious and parasitic."

Bex steps toward me, her eyes lingering on the corpses.

"My companions and I are survivors of this crash."

"By the Nine... how?"

"We're not sure, but the fact remains. We survived against astonishing odds."

I reach into my coat pocket. "What I'm about to show you may be... unnerving."

"Show me."

I pull out a vial that contains a tadpole. The parasite inside swims frantically, biting at the glass. The tadpole in my head flexes vaguely at its presence.

Her nostrils flare as she studies the abomination.

I turn the vial in my fingers. "Such a small thing to be the source of so many profound problems," I mutter. "This is an illithid parasite. A tadpole. It absorbs the memories of its host. Ours seem to have gifted us with psionic powers."

"Ours?"

My gaze shifts to Bex briefly. "Because of my infection, I have been named a True Soul in the cult of the Absolute. There is no more to it."

Her eyes grow wide and she takes a step back. "Infected?!"

"Yes. The damned thing sits behind my eye. We are all infected, and we are searching for a cure. Halsin has been studying them. This is why it was imperative that I find him."

She hesitates, and her face falls. "I thought you were helping the grove."

"One does not preclude the other."

"Vash... why are you trying to stop the Rite?"

I shift where I stand as she watches me, reticent and focused.

"Because I am a man who woke up right here four days ago with nothing.

I need to build something."

"What exactly are you building?"

"A home."

She brings her hand to her chest. "Oh."

"Bex." I take her hand. "I would like for you to be my lieutenant. Even after the Rite has ended, much more will need to be done. I think you can carry that title effectively."

She looks at her hand in mine before glancing back at me. "You make it sound like you're building an army."

"It will be necessary to maintain stability after Kagha is ousted. The druids will be without leadership after the fact. I will offer my services as a Steward until Halsin returns. With our guidance, they will be able to find a measured stability that guarantees peace not only among themselves, but with the caravan as well." My hands tighten around hers. "It's not something I can do alone."

"I-" She searches my face, before returning the grip. "After everything we've discussed, why would you want me by your side?"

"It is because you afforded me the discussion. You challenged me intelligently. That is rare, and far more valuable to me."

Her brows lift. "I must admit, that is... refreshing to hear."

"So, you'll consider it?"

"No, Vash."

My shoulders fall.

She smiles. "I accept."

My eyes linger on her. "Bex..." I step closer, and her hand gently lands on my chest.

"Thank you for trusting me, Vash."

I release a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

Her fingers rest a moment too long. Then her smile falls as her brow creases. She shifts back and almost speaks. She turns toward camp, leaving me rooted to the moment.

Her pace slows, and she glances back.

My body moves, closing the distance between us.

She walks, and I follow.