Angel and Illyria/Fred are taking a journey through time and memory. Unfortunately, it looks like it’s through Illyria’s memory instead of Angel’s. And that can only mean potential violence and death if Angel and Fred don’t figure out the answer that Illyria’s searching for.
Note: This recap may contain spoilers!
Illyria only takes control of Fred’s body at certain points, so it’s mostly Fred driving their exploring and it’s she who figures out that they’re in Illyria’s past, thanks to the presence of demon soldiers. It’s important that they remain safe, especially avoiding the Illyria of that time, because they know she would not offer any patience for them. Her true form is indeed a very large and scary presence, and she even appears to be chasing her own followers, so two strangers will not stand a chance.
Fred can feel that Illyria has a reason for bringing them there, that something happened to her here, but she does not yet know what. The Illyria that’s inhabiting Fred’s body emphasizes that her followers are not running from her, even if that’s what it looks like. Instead, she reveals that another creature had come to her kingdom and was feasting on her people. There seemed to be no hope, and she would rather see the land burn than fall to another, so she destroyed it. Not a very hopeful outcome, but I guess Illyria thought her options were limited.
Now that she has a chance to make things right again, Illyria sets off to fight the creature before the past can repeat itself. Angel tries to get the demons to leave, to save themselves, but they would rather stand up alongside Illyria and fight in her name. And so the past has a way of repeating itself, despite intervention. Her soldiers will still die — if not by her hand, then by the creature’s. It doesn’t seem like there’s a way to break the cycle.
They do make one last attempt, however. One of the demons who had been out hunting has returned to find his village in shambles. Angel and Fred manage to talk to him and explain that, to save themselves, his fellow demons must run and hide. So, he is tasked with convincing a whole village to turn against the one they worship, a figure that is very unhappy when she finds them conspiring. Can current Illyria convince past Illyria that the plan is solid? Or will Angel and Fred be killed for their efforts? Onward to the next issue!
Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
