David lifted the cage door and grabbed the mosser by the scruff. It struggled, rapidly kicking the air. Ualani slipped a rope harness onto it that they had made of tightenable knots.

  Their whole process was quickly becoming more and more efficient.

  “Okay, I am ready,” He struck his fists together as Ualani placed the animal on the table.

  A dagger flashed in her hand as she made a tiny cut on its leg.

  Sudden pain revitalized the mosser’s struggle against the bindings, but for naught.

  Ualani watched him, tapping her foot. Something was weird about her that day, but David was already too focused on the mosser to pay attention to her.

  He set out to analyze it with mana, as she had taught him.

  He focused on the weird sensation. If he did it correctly, it worked like a sixth-sense, allowing him to interpret the insides of the body with all the visualization he could want. That went for sound and touch too.

  “Are you always going to be this slow?” Ualani said, her tone acerbic. “Infuse the wound already.”

  David clenched his jaw, but remained focused. He didn’t have the full image yet, but he nonetheless proceeded as she told him.

  “To think I agreed to your brilliant idea.” She scoffed. “Now I have Diana breathing down my neck.”

  Her words hit like a blow—pure disdain aimed straight at him.

  David’s focus wavered as his shoulders tensed. Mana poured freely through his fingers.

  The mosser screeched in pain as its flesh started to warp and blacken.

  David pulled away from the table, his fists tight. He felt livid as his eyes darted between Ualani’s face and the animal, whose meat was now peeling off the bone.

  It stopped moving, frozen in extreme misery.

  “What is your problem?” David raised his voice. “You knew what you were signing up for.”

  “Just thinking out loud.” She shrugged, though her scrunched up face and tone full of vitriol betrayed how she felt. “Did you want me to blow my cover? Pretend you had nothing to do with it?”

  “Then why would I ever cover for you?” David breathed out the anger. “Why not just let you dig your grave?”

  "I--"

  “We both have monstrous secrets." He made his best attempt at a calm voice. "That you cannot keep yours is not my responsibility.”

  “I used to keep it just fine.” She looked away first.

  “We can work together or we can kill each other,” David swiped his arm wide. “But I’m not taking any shit from you for things I had nothing to do with.”

  This time, David could pinpoint the exact second Ualani stopped herself from speaking. She took a few deep breaths, slowly calming down.

  “I… I guess you’re right.” She finally let out. “Sorry.”

  “I don’t think sorry covers it.” David clutched his nose, more annoyed than angry. “That was the last mosser we had.”

  “And?”

  “And… are you going to make it up to me?” He sighed. “Catching them is much more time consuming than you’d think.”

  “It’s just a dumb animal and I said I am sorry.” She put her hands on her hips. “What would you even want for it?”

  “I–I don’t know,” David’s shoulders sagged. “Just… something.”

  So it didn’t die for nothing.

  Her eyes darted around until they landed on the mutilated mosser and the corners of her mouth curled up. “You were interested in limiting sleep, right?”

  “Yes…?” David looked between her and the mosser, his brows knitting together. “I’m still not going to let you touch me.”

  “I know, I know.” she raised her hands. “Remember that potion I drank when they got suspicious?”

  He nodded and Ualani walked toward the corner. She picked up a small potion out of a crate.

  “It makes it easier to ignore exhaustion,” She slowly waved the vial from side to side. “I can let you try it.”

  “Alright, that’s certainly interesting.” He took the vial from her. “Should I down the whole thing?”

  “No!” She rushed to stop him. “You’re allowed only a sip.”

  He shrugged as he brought the potion to his lips. The taste was… unique. Uniquely bad. Chilli pepper, raw mushrooms and citrus.

  David stared at her, his mind blank as he felt the unfamiliar-yet-known tingle going through his brain.

  Did I finally do it? Did I find coffee?

  He had no idea what kind of stimulant it was exactly, but it definitely was one.

  “So, how is it?” Ualani queried, her eyes expectant. “Anything wrong?”

  “Um…” David took a while to collect himself. The potion was such a small thing, and yet so impactful, that he didn’t even mind being used as a lab rat. “Can I have the recipe?”

  “Since I made you mess up your dumb little animal…” She flipped her hair. “I guess so. But you'll have to wait until it's perfected.”

  “Do you mean… you designed it?” David's eyes widened. “I thought it's something from the library.”

  “It's my work,” she shrugged. “What, you don't want it anymore?”

  “No, that's not it. This is worth much more than even a dozen mossers,” David shook his head once he was done. “Now I need to repay you.”

  “In that case—” Ualani paused halfway, her cheeks becoming slightly red. “Never mind. I don’t need anything right now, but I’ll let you know.”

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  “Did you just blush?” David’s eyes widened as curiosity got the best of him. “Now you have to tell me what you wanted to say.”

  Ualani’s eyes landed on the floor as she bit her lip.

  “...I heard you gave Diana her hairpin.”

  “Yes, what about it?” David tilted his head. “I don’t have a second artifact like that, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “It just…” she struggled with words, “looks kind of nice.”

  “Do you want one?”

  “No,” she shook her head. “It wouldn't be useful.”

  The next two months passed quickly. Nothing happened, nothing important, as everything slowly changed.

  Days flew by as David poured his all into work.

  Together with his family, they entered a cacophony of a rhythm.

  Each time David attended combat training with Zerik, their team grew stronger. It felt great, if you ignored Aura and Bert looking past one another.

  Every caught and ‘healed’ mosser brought him closer to mastery. And the green of their camouflage kept reminding him of the dimming light in Sophie's eyes.

  Each time he translated ancient script with Aura, she reassured him that they patched it up with Bert. That they're supporting Sophie as well as they can.

  Had someone asked him for help, he would have. It was convenient that they didn’t.

  And for what it was worth, neither he nor Sophie heard them openly argue since.

  Until one day, the scales of fate started to tip.

  David steadied himself with a deep breath. The eerie quiet of Greine’s soundproof barrier gave him chills.

  “Lady Greine, have I done something to offend you?” He asked, staring at the ground.

  “Whatever do you mean?” She said, her eyes focused on the end of her sleeve.

  “I am yet to receive any guidance from you.”

  “Are you perhaps trying to blame me for your lack of ability?”

  “No, I–-”

  “Then do better.”

  As mana flickered through his eyes, David created a shower of sparks between him and his teacher.

  “Again.” Lady Greine said, her eyes bored.

  The second David started casting, a magic circle flashed to his side and a gust of wind pushed at him.

  But he was ready.

  His body repositioned by instinct, keeping steady against the coming force.

  Tempered by Dolen’s brutal methods, his attention didn’t even flicker.

  Another, larger, shower of sparks blossomed.

  “Again,” she scoffed without even raising her eyes.

  And so he did. Again and again, dodging increasingly pestilent interruptions from Greine.

  “Again,” she repeated.

  “May we stop? I have done it all perfectly. May I receive further guidance instead?” He asked, his fists tight.

  “Did you now?” Her eyes finally rose to meet his. “Let’s test it one last time.”

  David nodded and braced himself.

  He began casting a spark yet again.

  A massive circle appeared between them. From the self-satisfied look on Lady Greine’s face, she was going all out; no more puny winds or tiny iceballs.

  Coming his way was something he couldn’t hope to dodge: A shockwave.

  David laughed internally as he split his focus between the spark and the thin bracer on his arm.

  A barrier phased into existence in front of him, just in time to protect him. As the spells dissipated, a shower of sparks erupted.

  A flicker of displeasure crossed Greine’s face, but she quickly schooled her expression.

  “Inelegant and brutish.” She shrugged, a small, almost invisible motion. “Return to your seat and keep practicing.”

  David rolled his eyes, turned around, and walked away.

  There was no point arguing.

  The lesson ended in relative peace and David approached Diana to return the bracer.

  “I’m surprised it didn’t work,” Diana’s face was scrunched up in thought. “Everyone could see how she assaulted you time and time again, and when you came out on top, she dismissed you.”

  “It was a good plan,” David shook his head. “But you can’t force people to change their minds.”

  “I want you to realize your potential,” Diana sighed, her shoulders slacking.

  An uncharacteristic imperfection in her posture. She sat there for a while, tapping her chin and David waited.

  “How confident are you in your skills?” She finally asked. “Could you pass year one evaluation today?”

  “Probably?” David scratched his head. “Runes and mana control—I’m set on that for sure, but if they want specific spells, I might not know them.”

  “Well, you better study hard then,” Diana crossed her arms. “We’ll sidestep the Greine issue entirely.”

  “Are you sure? I already have a lot on my plate.” David looked around in discomfort. “And I dislike the spotlight.”

  “Oh, do you perhaps have anything to hide?” She chuckled. “But in truth, I want the attention. Do it for me, will you?”

  David scratched his neck. He really couldn’t refuse when she put it like that.

  “Fine,” He hung his head. “I’ll do my best.”

  Fresh from scrubbing travel grime off his skin, Darryl left Sally behind in the tavern, then ventured into the rebellion’s hideout.

  Inside, Alver discussed with Cero, while Viera slept on the table, reeking of booze.

  “You missed me?” His smirk didn’t reach his eyes. He sat down, his bones hurting in rhythm with the creaking of the chair. “You all are way too somber, for all the hard work I did.”

  “We might have lost Dolen.” Alver’s mouth was pressed tight.

  “Lost him?” Darryl ran his hand through his still moist hair. “What is he, a set of keys?”

  “Figuratively, yes.” Alver rubbed his neck. “He'd left to deal with something important to the east. He said he’d be back soon, but I think the empire bought him out.”

  “I don’t see the issue,” Darryl shrugged. “We’ll have thousands to replace him. And isn’t the Empire on our side?”

  “It is until it won’t be.” Cero stretched, his armor clinking. “While I agree they’re our best bet for support, we should strive for sovereignty.”

  For the first time, Darryl’s gaze tracked toward the sword strapped across Cero’s back.

  “Nice weapon by the way,” He whistled softly. “Where’d you get that?”

  Cero looked at him, his face contorting with grief. “Same place I lost my wife.”

  A silence, flat and heavy, settled over the table.

  Even Viera moved a bit, though it was probably coincidental.

  “Huh. I’m sorry for your loss.” Darryl exhaled but then gripped his fist tighter. “Did you steal it?”

  “It was a trade,” Cero said through his teeth. “With a kid, but a trade nonetheless.”

  “Was the kid’s name Marco?” Darryl chuckled.

  “You knew him?” Alver’s eyes grew wider.

  “Might sound funny, but we fought together. The kid was crazy. Even murdered a noble.” Darryl chuckled. “How is he these days?”

  No one laughed.

  “Probably dead.” Cero’s jaw tightened. “Like all the people we left behind.”

  “Seriously?” Darryl shook his head. “Pity. Kid had the potential to form a spine. Maybe I should have taken him with me after all.”

  “He’s not dead.” Alver spoke up, rolling his shoulders. “I got the intel some time ago.”

  “And you didn’t tell us?” Cero slammed the table. “What about the others?”

  “I didn’t want to distract you.” Alver scratched behind his ear. “No such luck anyway. As far as I know, the kid’s the only one of ours that survived the purge.”

  “Good for him.” Cero whispered, staring into the floor. “But how?”

  “We didn’t get that deep. Someone was sniffing for my informants.”

  “He was a crafty kid, he probably figured out some trick.” Darryl shrugged. “Anyway, I’m dead tired. Let’s talk plans.”

  Viera woke up with her cheek swollen and a warm weight around her shoulders. A pelt.

  The room was empty now, save for the bright light above her. She pushed herself up, head swaying, and staggered to the door.

  Her thoughts came slow, as shreds of the conversation came back to her.

  Marco was alive.

  She remembered him. A boy terrified after Hiveo’s death. A boy who almost saved Janni. A boy who had, nonetheless, murdered a noble in cold blood.

  The pieces didn’t click together.

  And yet.

  They were true.

  How had he made it past the walls? Avoided the manhunt?

  Does it even matter? A splitting migraine made her wince.

  I need a drink.