Tamura hadn't spoken to anyone in days. It wasn't out of anger or anything like that.
It was out of necessity.
His mind had run in a thousand places at once. But in all those places, it all lead back to one feeling.
Desire.
His desire to get stronger and become the caregiver for his people he once swore he would be. His desire to hold Nekeya close to him and coddle her. His desire to end those that got in the way of his goals.
He sat in silence, hands resting on his knees, eyes closed.
He's trying his hand at meditation.
But his mind couldn't help but wander.
"Freya believed in healing. In restoration. Not revenge. Not what I've been doing."
He remembered her hands—small, calloused, always reaching for someone else. She used to press her palm to his chest when he couldn't breathe. Whisper things he didn't understand.
He could hear her voice. "You don't have to burn to be seen as strong."
He hadn't understood it then.
But now...
He was beginning to learn.
---
Tamura's marks flared all around his body.
This time it was gently.
His violet flames curled around his fingers, invisible to most.
His Cardinal State—the full awakening of his infernal blood—was something he feared. Not because of the power. Because of what it made others see.
A monster.
A weapon.
A threat.
But there was another side.
He remembered the battlefield. He remembered fighting the Redmane's. He remembered even though he wasn't in control, he healed his team. He restored them nearly to full power.
Their mana returned. Their spells stabilized.
He hadn't known how.
He still didn't.
But he wanted to. His moment of understand was cut short however.
Tamura opened his eyes.
The candlelight flickered.
He remembered Vayrik's voice—rough, tired, but always steady in recent times.
"Protecting people isn't just about eliminating the threat. It's about making sure those you killed for are still standing when the threat is gone and the smoke clears."
Tamura had just nodded away then.
But now, he understood.
He didn't want to be a blade.
He wanted to be a shield.
A hearth.
A place where others could breathe again.
Not the smoke that suffocated them.
---
Once again his train of thought was interrupted. This time it was from someone actually there.
"Yo!"
Tamura opened his eyes. "What is it Mugen?"
"Vayrik said he got an assignment for the entire guild. Come on, let's go."
He stood, robes brushing the floor, necklace warm against his chest.
He wasn't ready to fight.
Not yet.
But he was ready to heal.
And when Nekeya returned—when Mugen called—when Yanis finally saw him for what he was—
He would be more than a survivor or a weapon. He would be a sanctuary.
---
Inside the Guild Hall. Late evening. The flame glyphs burn low. Vayrik stands at the head of the table, eyes shadowed, voice steady—but not whole, like he was light years away.
The room was quiet.
Not tense, just really quiet.
Vayrik finally spoke, "I'm taking a mission. Alone."
Yanis scoffed. "You're joking. Our guild is still recovering from the red gate, and yiu're going out soul searching?"
"I don't joke about business Yanis. I delegate as that is what is required of me by the kingdom." Vayrik glared down at the zealous elf as the room grew cold.
"I would advise you to remember where we are and who I am, Yanis. Respect the chain of command within these walls or I shall place you outside of them. Understood?"
He tapped the table. Sigils flared and lit the room, revealing the empire map—each province glowing faintly.
Vayrik spoke up with a more present and demanding tone, "We're splitting up temporarily. You'll go where you're needed. Or where you'll cause the least amount of trouble."
"Tamura. Yanis. You're going to the Hollow Marches with 28 others."
Yanis groaned.
Yanis spoke with a quieter tone, "You're pairing me with him?"
Tamura was more than ready for another conflict with the elf, "I volunteered to go there. I know that must be a foreign concept for you nobles."
Yanis smiled with malice behind his words. "You volunteering your life to me devil?"
Vayrik hit the table in annoyance, "I volunteered you both to grow up. Worst case scenario, I come back to one less loudmouth asshole that I have to listen to."
Tamura just nodded as he thought to himself. "This is my chance to show the guild and show Vayrik that they can rely on me. I need to make things right."
Vayrik cleared his throat, "Mugen. You're going to be stationed at the Sundrel Basin with 29 other guild members."
Mugen grinned. "Finally. A place that understands me."
Vayrik grinned, "Try not to gamble the guild's reputation away or our funding."
"No promises. But I'll try and win it back double if I do."
Vayrik turned to Nekeya, "You and 29 other guild members will be going to Thirien Vale."
She stepped forward.
Nekeya seemed unbothered. "I actually wanted to head up there anyway, to understand the soul bond. And learning if healing a soul is possible."
Vayrik nodded.
The remaining 30 members will remain in the capital to keep guild operations going.
The light dimmed and the map began to disappear.
The room stayed silent.
Vayrik turned away.
"Whatever caused that red gate is still lingering around the provinces. I need answers or better yet...some silence."
---
As the guild dispersed, Tamura and Nekeya lingered behind everyone.
"Be careful out there and good luck with your research."
"You too." Nekeya smiled.
They hugged for what would be their last time for a while.
Mugen met with the couple.
"Look Tamura, about that red gate.."
Tamura put his hand up. "Relax man, I'm not pissed with you. I'm pissed at myself because I left you guys and got distracted. I swear on our family Mugen that it will never happen again."
Mugen smiled.
"Then I'll see you in three months brother."
---
"Wait, three months? I thought this was a quick mission." Tamura's mind was in a panic. He would have to spend so much time away from everything?
Mugen replied. "Vayrik didn't mention it because he knew how'd you react after we lost the others. Calm down man."
"Don't ask me to calm down!"
"We just got attacked or did you forget? We should take time to recover and plan our next move. You can't believe the red gate was just a coincidence right?"
Nekeya grabbed Tamura's face. "Can you please calm down for five seconds? I like you better when you're not paranoid."
Mugen stepped closer to Tamura. "Look, I don't like the idea of splitting up either but the red gate is why we are being sent away."
"The fight didn't end with any casualties, but there are too many unknowns. Like that boy you saw."
"Vayrik is leaving the guild to get some answers. He asked us to get our strength from other guilds and to learn from them as well as give them reinforcements."
"We don't want what happened to us happening to anyone else."
---
"Tamura, can you do this? For our people?"
"Can you let go of your pride and your abandonment issues to focus on what really matters?"
Tamura knew that he had a lot to atone for and if this was how he did it, then so be it.
"Yes. Yes I can. You have my word, brother."