"Father, Mother, I'm home."
Amariel tidied her shoes in the foyer and ascended the steps. From the landing, she saw her parents sitting on the living room couch.
Their faces brightened at the sight of her. "Welcome home, dear."
Amariel ducked her head. "How is Alice? Did she wake up?"
Her father, Julian Cline, scratched his beard and sighed. "Not yet. She's still breathing, so it's only a matter of time."
Heart aching, Amariel asked about her brother, Zein. Julian and her mother, Thea, shook their heads; he was still out.
"Please tell him he doesn't need to work so much," Amariel urged her parents. "His plan to travel to Itolon isn't necessary."
Julian nodded. "I'll tell him. But remember to get some rest, Amariel. I don't want you tiring yourself out, either."
Amariel nodded and left for her room without another word. On the way, she peeked into Alice's room and knocked softly.
There was no response.
"Alice. . ."
It had been three years since Alice Cline's mysterious paralysis began, and no doctor in Houtis could determine the cause. Because of the severity, they had considered moving to Itolon, the Kingdom of Knowledge and Advancement, to find a cure.
That dream vanished when tensions rose between the two countries. The borders shut abruptly, and King Selwyn declared that no Houtisian should ever trust an Itolonian.
Zein vowed to join politics—specifically the Minister's Office—and reopen them.
Meanwhile, Amariel decided to study medicine, for Alice's sake and for the betterment of Houtis as a whole.
. . . .
'Hey, Emory.'
Yes?
'There's a Circlet in that building. A woman, twenty-three. She has little to no power, so this should be an easy kill.'
Emory Vaughan quickened his steps. Using Illusion to change his appearance, he entered a small office building in the heart of Trila.
The office was predominantly staffed by women, to his surprise. He retreated to a secluded corner and altered his illusion again. This was only his second time appearing as a woman, and the feeling was still unnerving.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts and stepped back into the main area. He scanned what was clearly a journalist's office and locked onto his target.
She was a young woman with dark circles under her eyes and a lifeless expression.
He couldn't just walk in and kill her, though; there could be others of Bersebus Descent present. He asked Specter, Is there anyone else with Bersebus blood?
'No.'
Alright, I'll set my plan up.
Emory found a person of authority, copied their appearance, and stepped into the main lounge where his target worked.
"Early lunch, everyone!"
He needn't say more. The workers, perhaps tired or simply eager, immediately got up and headed toward food.
Emory followed his target and waited until she was isolated outside.
A swift slice.
Her neck severed like a frayed rope.
As with the old man, Emory removed the woman's heart, kidneys, and pancreas. He performed the prayer, remembering to add, "Contrivance is Almighty."
He felt Authority flow into his bones, and a miniscule feeling of regret within him disappeared. I shouldn't sorrow the deaths of these guys. What am I thinking? He massaged his temples. The woman's corpse ahead was gruesome, all bloody and torn into. He shook with fear. No, Emory. This is for a good cause. You're helping society. You're ridding it of evil. Stop thinking like this. Stop.
'Two down. You need two more Circlets or one Arch.' Specter woke him from the rampant thoughts.
With a somewhat clear head, Emory asked, Do you think I can take an Arch?
'Not in your current condition, no. Return to the Mandate and train with the other Hierarchs.'
I don't even know where the Mandate is, Emory pointed out.
'Head to Houtis Cemetery. I will guide you from there.'
Understood.
The Abolition Mandate's location near a cemetery made a grim kind of sense, given that their abilities dealt with death. Additionally, his former roommate, Siole Iare, had said it was actually under a cemetery.
So he set off for the largest graveyard in the country.
. . . .
"Do you have everything you need?" Alanus asked Lluvia as he donned a night-black robe. The contrast to his usual bright-colored outfits was necessary for their mission: to find Emory Vaughan.
"Yes, I'm ready." Lluvia pulled on her own dark cloak, her obsidian blade already in hand. She did a final mental check of her pack before turning to Alanus.
"All clear."
"Good."
The pair set off; Houtis Cemetery a three-day journey from Trila. To avoid attracting suspicion from their superiors, they had taken a leave of absence for "vacation needs."
Although Aulus Caesar claimed the Vizier Squads would handle it, Alanus doubted his sincerity. The squads were far more interested in the spasming Mirielis than a single lost Hierarch boy.
That said, Hierarch or not, Emory would return home.
As a precaution, they opted against carriages and went on foot. They had met secretly in a local forest to prepare before beginning their trek.
Through the rustling leaves, Alanus said, "Be prepared to fight, Lluvia. We may be walking into a Mandate."
"We don't know that for sure yet," Lluvia corrected him gently.
Alanus fell silent, slightly embarrassed.
After a day's walk, it was time to rest. They had left the metropolis behind for a rural area with little human presence—a grassy, uneven tundra devoid of any infrastructure.
After a brief search, they found a small cave to spend the night in.
First, they unsheathed their swords and scouted the area to ensure it was clear of beasts. Lluvia ended up slaying three wolves and a lone Hierarch, while Alanus found nothing.
He tended to a small cut on her lower abdomen beside a crackling fire, the shadows dancing around them. Lluvia grimaced, then offered a pained smile. "Your healing magic is useful."
Bashful, she was acutely aware that Alanus was seeing so much of her stomach. She'd had to remove her shirt for him to heal the wound, and though he had quickly covered her with his cloak, it didn't erase the split second exposure.
Alanus, to his credit, seemed professionally detached. He was not a man who ogled, and for that, Lluvia was grateful.
"If we find Emory before the three days are up, let's not go back to the office right away."
"Why not?"
She gulped.
"Wouldn't a break be nice? Just to relax. Or spend time with. . ." She trailed off, tapping her index fingers together. "I'll be free too. So. . . maybe we could go somewhere? Together?"
Alanus, finished healing her wound, smiled. "Of course. I'd be glad to go anywhere with you, General."
Lluvia chuckled, but a pang of worry struck her. She'd noticed his expression darken when she mentioned "loved ones." For the sake of the moment, she decided not to press him. Instead, their conversation drifted from the rescue plan, to their least favorite duties, and finally, to their personal dreams.
Lluvia grew animated as she shared her dreams with him.
Alanus stared, wide-eyed. "Preole Grye?"
"Yes! My father told me stories about it when I was a girl. A magical island that never stays in one place. His last words to me, before he died, were to find it."
"I'm sorry for your loss."
"It's alright; I've made my peace." She offered a silent prayer for her father. "I also dream of becoming a commander. . ."
Alanus unsurprisingly nodded. "Suits you. Suits you very well, actually."
"And my final dream is to. . ." She stopped. Her final dream was to find a good man and raise a family. But how could she say that to Alanus with a straight face?
Alanus tilted his head. "What is it?"
"Nothing!" Lluvia calmed her rosy cheeks. "My. . . my final dream is to get married. To raise a family."
Alanus was silent for a split second then laughed softly. "I think that's the most admirable dream of the three."
"You really think so?"
"I do. Raising a family is one of the best things a person can do. The most rewarding. I've. . . thought about it too. But I could never ask a wife to live with the dangers of my job."
"It's really unfortunate."
"It is."
". . ."
An easy silence fell between them.
Lluvia laid out the bedrolls while Alanus prepared a meal. When he was done, his eyes widened at how close she had placed them.
Lluvia avoided his gaze. "Just in case. . . you know. . . we're ambushed." She rubbed her arm. "We'd need to wake each other quickly."
Stumped by her logic, Alanus nodded, gulping. Your mission is to find Emory. Focus!
They ate a bland meal in silence and prepared for bed.
"Goodnight. . ."
"Goodnight."
At ages thirty-two and thirty-three, Lluvia and Alanus shouldn't have been so embarrassed. It was a sad testament to how their careers had overshadowed their personal lives.
Loneliness was a familiar enemy to them both.
Alanus's hand twitched.
What am I doing. . .?
It twitched again, inching toward Lluvia.
Pretending to sleep, Lluvia's heart hammered in her chest. She was so tired of waiting for Alanus to see what was right in front of him. For him to realize his feelings like she did.
Suddenly, she felt something touch her hand. It was another hand. Alanus's.
She jolted internally but didn't pull away. His voice was barely a whisper. "This is. . . just for tonight."
She intertwined her fingers with his. "Okay. . ."