Chapter 13:

  "A Nexean?" Jade repeated. Shogai was also surprised, but he explained why Mira lived so well.

  "What do you mean by Inner Rank 8? What's an Inner Rank?"

  Mira smirked at their surprise and sat down at a desk.

  "You two know of Nexus, but not of the structure within it. Let me explain-"

  "Wait."

  Jade put her chin on her hands and leaned forward.

  "You barely know us. Why tell us this? Isn't this a secret?"

  "Either you already believe in Nexus, in which case there's no harm in knowing, or you don't, and you think I'm crazy. Also harmless. If Sekara is really dead, I need to leave immediately."

  As Mira bustled about, she answered Shogai’s original question. “Inner Ranks are the upper half of Nexus. The other half are Outer Ranks. 8 of each.”

  “There are only 16 Nexeans?” Jade was taken aback, “Why?”

  “Keeps us undercover.” Mira threw some random objects in a bag, slinging it over her shoulder. “Too many Nexeans means we get exposed. If the public finds out about Nexus, they’d hate us. But I don’t have time to get into it. I’ve been on missions with Nifa before, so I know they’d appreciate my help. I can’t believe it. We stand a chance.”

  Shogai and Jade glanced at each other once more. If they were going to ask, it had to be now.

  "C-can we come?"

  "What? Oh. Yeah. Sure."

  Who knew if Mira would have let them along if she were thinking straight? It didn't matter. Excitement was building within Shogai. They had a ride.

  "Mother," Mira called when they went back downstairs, "sorry for the sudden emergency, but we need to go visit Sis right now."

  Mira hugged her mother, and her mother paused.

  "Honey, it's dark outside. Are you sure you'll be safe?"

  "Shogai and Jade are fighters. They'll protect me. I promise I'll be back by sunset. I love you."

  The goodbye reminded Shogai of Jade and Armison, and he wrote down another mental note. Get Mira home safely as well.

  Mira had a horse and cart out the back, and the cool night sky made them excited to go for a run.

  "Sunden is a full night away," she said. "You two can get some sleep if you want. I'm too full of energy."

  Falling asleep in the back of a stranger's cart. A few days ago, Shogai never would have done it. But he'd been introduced to many new bad people, as well as good people. Plus, he was tired. He needed this rest.

  "Thank you," he said, as the horses trotted. Jade was already asleep. Shogai lay beside her and closed his eyes. He owed Mira. He very much owed Mira.

  Shogai slept dreamlessly, but he was shaken awake by Mira a few hours later.

  "Hey, so I lied. I don't have the energy to keep my eyes open all night. Could you guide the horses the rest of the way, please?"

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Shogai rubbed his eyes and checked his bearings. They were travelling in a curved line, where the desert met the mountains.

  "Why not go straight? We'd be there faster."

  "No. We can't go through the desert."

  "Why?"

  "...we don't know."

  Mira sat down on the cart as Shogai held the reins of the horses. He'd done this a lot within Nomun, making sure people were ready for trips. It came naturally to him, even though he himself had never left.

  Mira yawned.

  "Arenosum desert. It's cursed. There used to be a mountain in the middle of it. We suspected it was the base of the Deviants, actually, since Aberrants roamed the desert."

  Shogai watched the empty, open space. No sign of any Aberrants. "What do you mean, there used to be a mountain?"

  "It vanished. Was destroyed. No idea. If you go far enough, you'll see a huge crater in its place. Then you'll die from radiation. No one knows what happened to it, but it vanished about a year ago. Even Aberrants are staying away from the desert. So we are as well. If the Nexeans know what happened, they're keeping it very secretive. Until we know more, never cross the desert."

  Shogai shuddered. An entire mountain vanished overnight? He strongly agreed that it was best to stay away. He also didn't think Aberrants could even be hurt by radiation, but they were still staying away after a year. Whatever did this was powerful.

  Things were silent for a bit longer. Shogai didn't turn around, but he could sense that Mira was still awake.

  "Can't sleep?" He heard Mira let out a small laugh behind him.

  "Insomnia. The irony, I know. A healer like me with a broken mind. Nifa, my sister, had insomnia as well, but she's stronger than me. She was able to heal herself. She couldn't fix me. But it's fine. I'm used to it."

  "Used to it? How do you get through each day?"

  "Healing. It's not very… honest, but every morning I can clear the grey circles from my eyes and try to get on my feet. Healing takes my own energy, though, so I sort of find it difficult to walk in the mornings. It's just not sustainable."

  Mira traced a shape in the sky, and Shogai noticed her watching the stars.

  "I like seeing the night sky. Most people sleep through it, but the lights are pretty. So many of them. It reminds me how many other people suffer more than I, and how I can help them all." Mira lowered her hand.

  "Just like Nifa?" Shogai asked. Mira nodded.

  "Just like Nifa."

  Mira wasn't too unlike Shogai. He understood what she was saying and thought about his own goals. If he became a Nexean, he might meet Nifa. He'd tell her that he's only alive because of her sister.

  “Hey Shogai,” Mira mumbled, “Do you want to be a Nexean?”

  “What makes you ask?”

  “You’re a fighter, and I think they’d like you.”

  It was a nice thing to say. Shogai would be lying if he said he hadn’t considered it, but right now, he had a different objective. Killing Sekara. But he couldn’t say that. He couldn’t tell Mira that they’d lied to her, and that the whole reason they’re coming to Nexus is based on a lie. They’d explain it to her after Sekara was dead.

  “Saying that,” Mira continued, her tone very matter-of-fact, “You wouldn’t last a day on your own if you fought a Deviant.”

  The horses stopped as Shogai pulled back on the reins. What did she just say? That sounded unnecessarily cruel. “Why would you say that? You haven’t even seen me fight.”

  “I’ve seen your wounds.” Mira stood and navigated the reins in Shogai’s hands, encouraging him to keep moving. “They remind me of other wounds I’ve healed countless times. I know what kills fighters like you.”

  “What do you mean by 'fighters like me'?” Shogai was beginning to take offence, but Mira was dead serious.

  “You’ve killed hundreds of Aberrants, I’m sure.” Mira sat back down, “But Deviants are different. They’re intelligent. I can’t imagine you’ve ever fought someone with both your intelligence and your strength. If you had, your wounds wouldn’t be so bad. You’re strong. You’re fast. And you’re reckless. That won’t work against Deviants. You’d die.”

  He wanted to argue, but she was right. He’d lost to Sekara twice, and both times, he wasn’t even able to get close to bringing her down. But Ryukyu and the witch girl both took her down easily. Was this step 1 to reaching their level?

  If Sekara attacked him before they made it to Nexus, Shogai had two people to protect. He wouldn’t be able to do that if he didn’t change. But, again, he couldn’t tell Mira that they were being hunted. She might turn back straight away.

  “I don’t get what you mean.” Shogai lied, trying to change the topic. “I don’t plan to become a Nexean. I’m just tagging along.”

  Mira still didn’t question him, either due to confusion or being overly tired, but she did respond.

  She got to her feet and, as he looked ahead at the path, punched him in the back of the head.

  “Ow!” It didn’t hurt that badly, but Shogai turned with a growl, “What was that for?”

  “Block it this time.”