The Heart of Valmar attacked Ryudo's party, who, fortunately, defeated it easily. Millennia appeared and absorbed it, leaving Selene dying on the floor. I teleported her body to the Cathedral before any vengeful NPCs could finish her off.

Her breathing was shallow. She didn't have long to live. I looked deep into those eyes, so dark and full of mystery. She looked scared.

"It's okay." I told her, "You're going to be with Granas now."

"Ze... ra..."

"I'm here, Selene."

"Ze... ra... forgive... me..." she said, her breath faltering, "I went... too... far..."

"I forgive you, Selene. It was only the Heart of Valmar speaking. I understand."

"No... you don't..." she gasped, "When I was up there... leading the Knights... I meant what I said... Zera... I... hate evil. I hate... corruption. I want only the innocent... to exist.

Sometimes, I... just wanted... to leave the planet... the evil hurts me so much..."

"You must be incredibly sensitive to corrupt energy. Why didn't you tell me? There are plenty of monasteries secluded from the outside world! It wouldn't hurt as much there."

"When they took me in... ten years old... I couldn't control it... I was so violent... they made me join the Knights..."

"I'm sorry, Selene."

"Zera... I can't... hear... the background music... from here..." she said before closing her eyes for the last time.

My psionic primal scream probably obliterated the minds of every level guardian from here to Carbo Village.

I quietly went into my office, adjusted my hat again, changed the background music to the Game Over theme and turned up the volume so high that it almost shattered the stained glass windows and turned into the Core of Valmar.

I wasn't planning that last move. I wanted to give Selene a proper burial, shout at Millennia until I was blue in the face, go into mourning for a while and then get on with my job. Unfortunately I completely lost control of the Core without realising it. I guess it was because I was so angry- angry at myself, angry at Millennia, angry at the clergy, angry at the laypeople, even angry at the photocopier. I blamed everyone and everything for Selene's death. I felt hopelessness as well. Selene was my light in a world of darkness. I realised that I only kept at the job for two reasons- the cute uniform and Selene. I didn't realise that my data was rapidly mutating until Elena knocked on the door.

You know what happened next. I don't remember a thing. I wasn't me. My own self was completely unconscious. Only afterwards, when I emerged on the Game Over Screen with a large sword wound in my chest, did I get to hear about it. I never realised the depths to which the programmers of Valmar would stoop in their eternal pursuit of bad taste. The thing with three heads wasn't that ugly- it was the butterfly thing everyone laughed at. I was extremely embarrassed. At least I really was the final guardian.

The receptionist ushered me to the waiting room and told me that there would be a secretary along to see me in a moment. Did you know that you went to a big office when you died? I certainly didn't. I wondered what Selene would make of it. I found a computer terminal with a help screen called 'Your Guide to Game Over'. It told me that people who died in cut scenes- Marag, for instance- are always deleted, no matter who they are. This is because if they returned to the plot, it would throw the plot into absolute chaos. I sat down, twiddled my hat and sang the Song of Light under my breath.