"I'm pretty sure I'm Terrana. That's surprising. Nobody likes fades like me. We're unsettling."

"That's not a good reason not to like someone, I feel."

"It's alright. I'm not useful or interesting anymore."

She sighs. "It's not really alright. Why were you depressed?"

"The lawsuits."

"—lawsuits?"

"One lawsuit. Then news and everyone else demonizing me. More lawsuits after the first one worked. I stopped healing, I stopped. Doing things."

"Why did they sue you?"

"I... Can't remember the details. I think I healed a minor and their parents are the ones who filed the lawsuit."

"...did you give someone a medical transition? Because parents are very often terrible about this. I'd know."

"I don't remember. But parents would be terrible about it."

The ghost looks at her and smiles wanly. Smiles!

She smiles back, but sighs. "I'm genderfluid, you know. My father's—an asshole, honestly—but I don't care, he can do whatever he wants, sometimes I'm a boy and that's it."

"You have every right to be what you feel like."

"...Perhaps..."

"Yes?"

"I could give you my magic. Then I will serve some use still, in my last moments."

"—and what happens to you?"

"I fade immediately, instead of slowly losing more pieces for years and years until nothing of me is left. It is faster..."

"—but there must be some way to recover—"

"...Still trying. Find someone. Ask. I have months yet."

"Yes. I'll—figure it out."

"I'm telling you, it won't work. But thank you for caring enough to try."

"Yeah, maybe it won't, but I can't—just let it happen."

"And that is why you are worthy to inherit my magic. You care for one beyond help. If you can restore me somehow... I swear I will convince the spirit of the river valleys to grant you magic anyway."

"...um, thank you, I guess. I don't really—need to be paid or whatever. I just—if I can help."

"You will help more than just me if you take my offer of magic."