As our heroes float in the endless void, they can't help but take a moment of introspection.
Berrick is doing his stoic best to suppress the thoughts of inevitability, things always end in a fight but surely there's got to be another way.
Silas is ever defiant in finding hope for people. Fuelled but his oath of vengeance it takes the form a fighting to the last, he'll go down swinging, but what he is fighting for is hope for everybody else.
Flynn considers how attacking and destroying are not always the right actions, maybe words are a solution, he can't shake the feeling that maybe we're missing something else.
Lotty had been running on anger, this is starting to subside into sorrow. She's bordering on catatonic just thinking and trying to reconcile the vast number of people known to her now lost.
Null can't shake the anger and confusion. She doesn't understand the reasons why, why doesn't the Watcher just stop what they're doing, why is wiping out civilization the only conclusion. She reflects on what Latharial would do and decides to set about gathering all the facts and information and channel that into whatever she can do to make a difference.
Silas holds up the Mote he was given; ever the champion of hope, he sees an opportunity to give hope to his friends. He explains the liquid in the vial can restore a soul, it could be Lotty's soul, his soul or anyone we've lost. The Ashen Company reflect on all the people that have been lost and the possibility that they may need this in the near future to bring one of them back. In the end, they decide that the dead should stay buried, Lotty doesn't want to risk anything happening to the piece of her soul that keeps Cade alive; the action company ask Silas to take this boon for himself. Whilst they all know
Silas thinks it a selfish act they convince him it's the most selfless thing he can do for the people that love him.
Knowing that Mordecai gave up part of himself so that Silas could return to them Flynn looks into his urn and calls for Mordecai. There's no response, Flynn moves over to Silas leans in and listens to his heart pounding in his chest “it's done” Flynn shouts out, Silas has his own soul now. With no response Flynn grabs null and Silas and heads into the jar.
There's no sign of Mordecai anywhere, inside the urn is covered in mud - the mix from the gardener that was used to repair the urn. For once it's Flynn that insists the place is cleaned, the three of them set about putting some elbow grease to use and clean up the urn. When he is happy with the state of the urn Flynn gives Null and Silas a cookie each, it's only been a few days since Mordecai was here, and they're only a little bit stale. He then, unceremoniously, kicks the two of them out of the urn sits alone taking in the space.
For the first time since Flynn lost his connection to Mordecai, he comes to terms with the thought that Mordecai might actually be gone forever. As he eats a cookie and let's the tears flow from his eyes he sees a crumpled parchment stuck under the corner of a table, wiping away enough tears to see Flynn reads a half written letter:
My dearest Flynn, Flynn my man, Flynn
I'm so nervous for you, I've heard you all are going to the city and I don't know what that means and how difficult dangerous it will be for you. It has been a great journey being your patron my friend, we've talked many times about me wanting my freedom and I've often thought daydreamed about whet what that would look like. Whilst I've been bound by this urn you've been the greatest frien fami warlock I could have asked for and you've made me feel free. So, if that's the only taste of freedom I get it's been sweat sweet. I do hope one day we
When Flynn comes out of the urn his friends are there to comfort him, Flynn makes Silas promise he'll take care of himself and his friends.
After the mixture of celebration that Silas' soul has been returned to him but commiseration the Mordecai wasn't returned as expected the Ashen Company move on to the next construct they see. As they enter a void like space shimmers around them, the stars in the background shift and a mirror like surface appears beneath and all around our heroes. Their reflections in this glass don't mirror their own movements though, after a moment they realise that they're seeing alternative versions of themselves when they all hear a voice at the same time warning them that they may be able to gain boons in this place where all possibilities converge it comes at a cost, and they shouldn't be too greedy.
The Ashen Company all talk to different versions of themselves. Flynn finds a version of himself that owns a successful cigar shop and he's never heard of Erathax, another Flynn is a chiselled fighter; Silas find contentment in a version of himself that seems like they've led a good life, Null spend some time talking to Ellie a version of herself that turned out to be a farmer happy in her work without the worries of the world on her shoulders; Lotty is satisfied to see as a version of herself that had a family, stayed at home and earned an honest living.
Our heroes discover this room provides the opportunity for them to swap their skills and expertise with other versions of themselves. As both Flynn and Berrick take advantage of this chance they both see in the background of the mirrors black creatures stalking around, unseen to the rest of the party they seem to be getting closer each time a swap takes place.