Black Steel: A Tale of Fire and Mind

Once they were within Briohall, the doors were shut and barred behind them before people came forward, more people than Seraphina had anticipated, interested in the newcomers. Lucian quickly kept them at bay and instructed the horse master to lead the riders to the stables so the beasts could replenish their energy as well.

“Master Lucian has prepared rooms for you in his own home. You can head over to the tower and we’ll bring your possessions.” The horse master remarked as the quartet dismounted.

Seraphina grunted when she touched the ground. Reggie went to her side immediately. “Don’t act tough. You need the crutch. The cold…”

She cut him off. “I know. Give it to me.” He did and they walked according to Seraphina’s pace to the tower.

Along the snow-covered, paved pathway the gathered crowd bowed their heads to the passing group. Seraphina wondered what Lucian had told those people of them. So much respect and care was abnormal. She’d never received it even from the most dedicated hive she’s visited, the one she’d grown up close to. the one nearest Bandville.

Weston waited patiently for them at the tower’s steps. He gave them the option between dining and rest, but made sure to note if they chose to eat, Lucian wouldn’t be joining them. That would happen the following morning as their arrival put all sort of things in motion that he had to take care of.

A touch of peaceful sleep was far more essential than food in that moment, so Weston led them to two neighboring rooms on the ground floor with small fruit baskets to ease their hunger. Sleeping arrangements hardly came into question, but they did request a slab of meat for Raine who didn’t leave Reggie’s or Seraphina’s side.

After a short bath, Reggie dove under the covers quickly, trying to warm himself up as Seraphina took her turn in the bathtub. By the time she got out, Raine was done with her meal and Reggie was already asleep. Smiling, she shook her head, before she got dressed and joined him on the bed.

The weight shift woke the former imperial up and he moved closer to her. “How’s the knee?”

“Better.” She replied vaguely. “The heat helps.” She scooched over to him, letting him wrap his arms around her as she yawned.

“Mmm, how about I rub it up a little bit?” He murmured sleepily against her hair. She nodded into his chest. It was a relief she need not ask such things. He just knew.

◊◊◊

Morning came and Seraphina was the first to wake. She crawled out from under Reggie, careful not to wake him up too, and started wandering around the ground floor with her crutch and Raine, her companions still asleep in their rooms. Her rumbling stomach and demanding nose guided her straight into the dining room, where she found only Lucian in a wheeled chair and a maid.

He looked up from his plate and smiled at her. “Good morning. Care to join me? Or would you rather wait for your friends?”

Her stomach grumbled again then, rather loudly. “Good morning, master Lucian. I believe my body’s made the decision for me.”

He pointed to the seat next to him and signaled the maid to make the table for additional guests. While lowering herself onto the chair, she winced at a sudden pang in her knee. “Might I ask how I happened?”

“The Emperor’s goons thought breaking it would keep me from escaping.” She replied spreading a napkin on her legs. “They were wrong.” She continued in a cold tone. “Yours?”

“The Emperor thought cutting them off would keep me from going after him.” Lucian answered pitifully. “He was right…”

Seraphina considered his words. “So, you really are…from his time?”

“As Zera said, more than that.” The smile returned to his face. “I’ll tell you everything when we’re all gathered here. Going over this once is more than enough for me. But in the meantime…”

He wheeled himself over to her and touched her knee. Had he been anyone else, she’d already have punched the light out of him. But instead, she constricted herself and looked up at him. “What are you doing?”

“Checking the damage.” He didn’t take his hand off. “Hmm, bad, but too bad.” He hummed to himself. “It’s a good thing you’ve been trying to walk it, even with the pain.”

“Calvin, a medic at Embersummit, insisted.” She said as Lucian kept kneading her knee and nodding. His fingers weren’t hurting her, but they should be. “He couldn’t fix me, but at least I can move.”

“Hmm, just moving won’t do, my dear. We need your skills against the menace.” He said and smiled at her. “You’re lucky. I think I can fix this up.” She let the words register in her mind. She wanted to shake her head. She had accepted her new reality. What he was saying couldn’t happen. Wishful thinking. False hope.

And yet…

Warmth spread from his finger down her leg and she involuntarily flexed it. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. Where she expected pain, nothing came. She opened her eyes and deliberately flexed her leg. It functioned perfectly well. “Huh?” She did it again and again. She stood. No pain. No falling. She jumped. Her legs held. “But… but, how? It was beyond repair, the nerves, the muscle, how?”

He raised a hand. "What are you still doing here? Go. Test your limits..." He urged her with a wink.

Her elation was indescribable. Raine came to her side and eyed her curiously. She hadn’t seen Seraphina standing upright with no problem before.

Leaving the wolf and the old man behind, Seraphina took off, running for the first time since spring. One foot in front of the other and out she went, through the small courtyard, down the surprisingly busy street. The assembled crowd made room for her passing upon detecting her, even though she never asked for it, but she paid them no mind. All that mattered was that she was running again.

When her lungs could take no more, having been out of form for a long time, she stopped and took in the scenery. White everywhere. The snow had covered everything. Though she had no clue where she was, nor could she really retrace her steps due to the completely random route she'd taken, the top of the tower was still visible from the ground.

"It'll be easier to reach through the roofs." Seraphina thought smiling to herself. She rubbed her knee and searched for a building she could climb. "Let's see if you can still hold."

The shop to her right had a low upper balcony she could easily reach by running at and up the wall. She chose that path. She managed to hang on the ledge for a few short moments before she gave a final push and pulled herself up, catching the distrait maid off guard. Yet, Seraphina didn't falter. Again, she climbed, going further up until she reached the roof.

She was out of breath, but didn't stop. She started laughing. Rather than running along the roof, she walked till her breathing returned to normal, then went back at it. She maneuvered around chimneys, leapt to balconies astonishing the residents and little by little closed the distance between herself and the tower.

When she was a block away, she scoured for a quick way down and found her means of descent in a horse-drawn carriage on the street below her. She bounded on its top and nearly lost her footing at the sudden jerk the horse gave. Nearly.

The unsuspected coachman turned around in his seat in fit, but Seraphina was already moving, cutting him short, and landed on the ground as gracefully as she would’ve before her knee had been shattered. “The old man did a good job.”

Seraphina ignored the shrieks and complaints of the people around her. She understood their reasons, but they weren’t capable of apprehending hers, thus she didn’t let herself be dragged into pointless arguments.

She walked on.

Upon returning to the dining room, she found her companions had woken up and already started on their breakfast. Seeing Lucian’s smirk and how their eyes widened, it was safe to assume he hadn’t told them of what he’d done.

“How was your little… stroll?” Lucian asked breaking the silence.

Seraphina gave an appreciative nod. “Refreshing.” She answered simply and went to sit right on Reggie’s lap, turning to Lucian. “No words can express the depth of my gratitude, but… thank you.”

“It was nothing, just a simple touch.” He replied waving off with one hand. “Like I said, we will need your skills and valor. It was the least I could do.”

She nodded and started eating off her partner’s plate. Maxwell and Vivienne huddled close, whispering to each other, but Reggie, stunned as he was, spoke up. “How? Her knee was beyond healing.”

The whispers between them stopped and Maxwell glanced at Lucian confused. “And how are you so… healthy afterwards? When Vivienne saved me, her heart literally stopped. She was ill for days after.”

“All in good time, my friends.” Lucian’s expression turned into one of pity. “Damien has deprived our land of knowledge, so right now I can only answer the second question.” He smiled at Vivienne, who looked glum. “I have a lot more experience and insight.” He replied and clapped. The man who’d dragged the old cripple around the day before came into the room. “Weston, my friend, could you please arrange for my early manuscripts to be brought to my study from the vault?”

Weston nodded. “I have already asked for them. We’ll have them there shortly, Lucian.”

“Excellent.” He looked to the quartet and continued. “Seraphina, I’m sure your little run’s got you famished. When you’re done with your meal, please join me in my study, all of you. First door on the left.”

He wheeled himself away after Weston and the company was left alone. All eyes fell on Seraphina. “Stop looking at me like that. Yes, I can walk again.” Her words kick-started a series of reactions. Maxwell gave a booming laugh, Reggie touched his forehead to her shoulder holding onto her tight and, most surprisingly, Vivienne kept scowling. “What’s wrong, Viv?”

“You spent all this time a cripple.” She replied clenching her fists. “So much time, I could’ve helped.”

Nothing unexpected there, so Seraphina had an answer ready. “Viv, stop. You could’ve hurt yourself. If anyone’s to blame, it’s me.” Seraphina declared right away, locking eyes with Vivienne. “If I’d listened to you, if I hadn’t let this bring me down, we would’ve come here sooner.”

The two women kept staring at each other, until Vivienne stood up, ripping herself away from Maxwell’s arms. “I need a minute. I’ll just… come to the study in a few.”

Vivienne walked out without a second glance. They let a few seconds pass before Maxwell got up. “I’ll keep an eye on her. You know how she is with guilt and all that.”

After both Seraphina and Reggie nodded, Maxwell followed Vivienne. Seraphina went back to her meal, scooping up spoonful after spoonful of oatmeal in her mouth as if her life depended on it. “Careful. You’ll choke on your bites. Slow down.”

Seraphina did halt slightly. Swallowing her morsel, she turned back to Reggie. “I ran. I climbed. Reggie, I actually bounded across roofs. You didn’t know me… how I was before this. You can’t possibly imagine how much I’ve missed it.”

He pulled away from her shoulder. “Seems like you’ll be doing a lot of that again, little monkey, but there’s no need to choke on my food.”

“Sorry. There’s still some left though.” She apologized trying to feed him a bite.

“I’m already finished.” Reggie stated, but after she insisted, he chunked down a spoonful.

He kept gawking, with a broad grin painting his face. Even though she never let it show, it unnerved her. Every time. “What?” She said with a mouth half-full.

“Nothing. It’s just, this is a first.” He shrugged, but she held onto her confused expression as she swallowed. “This. You in my lap.”

She chuckled extinguishing the tension. “Well, my little puppy, there’s no fear a wrong move will make me scream inside. Just wait till you see all my moves…”

He touched his lips to her bare shoulder once more. “Looking forward to it.” He nodded towards his plate. “Done with your meal?”

Seraphina nodded and got up gracefully. “Yep. Let’s go see who our mighty Emperor really is.”

When Maxwell exited the dining room, he ran into a servant girl who silently pointed towards the hall leading to the sleeping quarters. Before he had a chance the thank the shy, little girl, she whisked past him and he went in search of Vivienne. Unsurprisingly, he found her in their room, arms crossed in front of her chest, and she was leaning against the window frame. He went to the other side of the dormer and mirrored her stance, staying still, waiting.

“Did you see the look on her face?” Vivienne questioned after a while. Besides her lips, she made no other move. She kept staring at the crowd below. So many people in a supposedly deserted city of ruins.

“We can just… be happy for her…?” Maxwell offered.

She snorted. “Don’t pretend you’re not dying to know how he did it. How I… could’ve it.” She called out.

Maxwell noticed her fists turn white against her biceps. She clenched them so tight. He closed the distance between them. “Of course I want to know. You girls don’t call me a sponge for nothing. But hey…” He titled her head up so she’d look at him. “…you couldn’t possibly do it. You may have the means, but you lack the knowledge, so how about you put aside this groundless guilt and we go learn?”

They stared at each other for a brief, few minutes, before Vivienne scrunched up her eyes. “You annoy me.”

He broke into a smile and wrapped his arms around her. “Part of my charm.” He didn’t react to her eye roll, just grabbed her hand and together they made their way back to the tower’s entrance, where Reggie, Seraphina and Raine waited.

Without the need to worry about hurting her, Reggie stood very close behind her, hands on her hips while talking directly to her ear. It took all of Maxwell’s willpower not to lambast them. Even after all that time of being around him and seeing Seraphina with him, Maxwell still couldn’t accept him. He only behaved for his sister’s sake. He played nice and caused no scenes, but every once in a while, a snide comment would pierce through his filter. Just like Seraphina in the beginning with Vivienne. It’d taken his grave injury and Vivienne almost dying in her involuntary attempt to heal him to make Seraphina seize all acrimonies. Maxwell often hoped he’d learn to accept it without anything of the sort happening as well.

Whatever Reggie said, it made Seraphina chuckle as Maxell and Vivienne approached. A carefree Seraphina was quite an improvement, even if slightly unnerving. Maxwell doubted it’d last longer than their meeting in the study with Lucian.

She straightened up and winked at Vivienne. “Time to settle our curiosity surrounding you, it seems. Ready, Viv?”

“For this? Yeah.” She nodded in answer. “Don’t know about that, though…” She pointed at Seraphina’s knee. “…I’m not sure I can handle the fact you were needlessly in pain for so long.”

“Maybe it wasn’t thaaat needless.” Seraphina reached back and scratched the underside of Reggie’s chin smiling. “Put it past you, I’m okay now. That’s all that matters, right?”

“Indeed, it is, Seraphina.” A voice behind them called startling them. Lucian in his wheelchair. “Come on in. There’s a tale of long ago for you to hear. A tale of an innocent child who saw his parents brutally murdered and brushed close to death himself.”

He wheeled himself into the study and let the words hang in the air. Reggie whistled quietly. “He sure knows how to draw you in. I’m already hooked.”

Vivienne shook her head. “I’m more interested in facts at the moment.”

Seraphina crossed her arms and scowled. There; They didn’t even need to get inside for the carefree smile to disappear. “Nice attempt, Viv, but leave the serious faces to me. Let’s go get those facts and stories.”

They walked in the study.

“Come on, don’t be shy.” Lucian called when they opened the door. They weren’t shy. Raine had just decided to cut in front of them, entering the room first. Maxwell was starting to doubt she was an actual wolf since she was acting a lot more like a domesticated dog than a wild animal, born to stake out in the woodland.

Maxwell went inside last and the sight before him caught his breath. Rows upon rows of bookshelves filled the room, carefully laid out in chronological order by stamps on the wooden structures.

Even if an avid and fast reader, Maxwell could spend fortnights in that room and still not go through everything. With a brief survey, he could see it dated back at least three hundred cycles. “So much knowledge, hidden away at the end of the world…”

Lucian beckoned them on. “Welcome to my study. Everything you’ll find here is handwritten by me personally. My own accounts or others’, after they’ve been verified, logged into journals for safekeeping till this very moment came.”

“What’s so special about this moment?” Vivienne asked warily.

Lucian intertwined his fingers and pointed at her. “You. You’ll all see why, once I speak of the tale.” He sighed and put a large journal of grey leather band on his desk, turning it over to them. “In this copy you’ll find everything I wrote down before and at the beginning of the Emperor’s reign. It’s received the blessing of the Order of Dawnfield.” Seeing their confused stares, he smiled. “I’ll explain it all, don’t worry.”

Seraphina grumbled in annoyance, never one to read. “There must be more than a thousand pages in this. Can’t you just tell us?”

Lucian nodded. “I will. It’s essential if the one who reads this wants to understand. After all, it’s my life, I know everything I mention here. A simple reader wouldn’t.” He slid the heavy book over towards Maxwell. “I believe you’ll be more appreciative of this than the others. You can help yourself to anything else in here as well, but be cautious, the time soon approaches when some need to be copied again.”

Maxwell gave a short bow in gratitude. “Thank you for the opportunity to learn, master Lucian.”

“Um, sorry, I don’t mean to be rush, but we have questions.” Reggie cut in, which made Maxwell turn to him glaring. He didn’t back down though.

“Of course, Reginald.” Lucian nodded. “Please, take a seat everyone. This will take long.” He didn’t continue until they’d followed his suggestion.

As expected, each couple took a sofa, with Seraphina very obviously enjoying her recovery as she deliberately crossed her legs leaning back. “We’re seated. Continue, if you will, master Lucian.”

He nodded, cleared his throat and looked at Vivienne. “Before reciting history, we need to be on the same page. My dear, what do you know about yourself?”

She didn’t hesitate. “Too little. Until last autumn, I thought I could only read minds and know how one felt.” She looked up at Maxwell for permission and after an affirmative nod, she continued. “I accidentally healed him once, I have no idea how, though. Apparently, my heart stopped and Max brought me back. Then, there’s what the councils of Embersummit and Bandville mentioned.”

“Too little, indeed.” Lucian said rubbing his chin. “I’ll take a wild guess and say you know not any more than her, so let’s settle that first.” Everyone seemed to lean in towards him, eager to get some long sought answers. “Well, Vivienne, we’re just like Maxwell and Seraphina. We’re Elementals. Like them, we have influence over one element, not fire or water, neither wind, nor earth, but aether, life force, spirit. It’s a little more difficult to define than the rest, so its applications aren’t as clear, unfortunately.”

No one made a sound, until Reggie sat back and huffed. “You do know what that sounds like, don’t you?”

Lucian laughed humorlessly. “Nowadays? Absurd, impossible, legend even. But I was born during another time, when being an Elemental, of any kind, was actually a great honor, but an Aetheral? It was the ultimate gift. I will go into detail on that later, once you comprehend what an Aetheral is and can do.”

“The councilmen spoke of some… talents, but they were hard to believe.” Vivienne trailed off.

“Hard to believe. Yes, yes, we can be like so.” Lucian agreed. “Whatever they mentioned is true, though. I personally handed them a list, so they could find another Aetheral and bring them here to me. You need to learn how to negate him if you’re to have any success.”

“Negate him? How do you mean?” Seraphina asked intrigued.

“As an Aetheral, he can draw the life out of someone. Touching them is preferable and most effective, but just by being close to him he can kill you. It’s why all attempts stopped after a while.” Lucian touched his thumb and forefinger together, planting a kiss on his middle one. “The assassins, no matter how skillful, got detected through their minds and by being at the right place, at the right time, he eliminated them, drained them little by little, till they dropped dead. The only thing he needed to do was stay close to them, but also out of their reach. Through a touch, though, it could happen instantly.”

“But one of you could deflect this… let’s say, attack?” Maxwell asked, already collecting and logging the new information in his mind’s storage.

“You can stop a waterball shot straight at you by another douser, can’t you?” Lucian replied with a question of his own.

“Under the right circumstances of readiness and skill, yes.” He answered without delay. “It’s been part of my training.”

“I’m sure. The same rule applies to us. It’s a surge of the same force.” Lucian explained. “With enough knowledge and training, we could even counter.”

They were all considering his words, until Vivienne spoke up. “So when I first touched your mind, you didn’t expect the invasion and didn’t have your… shield up?”

“Precisely. Once I noticed, I kept you out, even reached out myself.” He replied with a serious face. “With Damien, such a mishap could prove lethal, which is why I need to teach you how to protect yourself from his mental attacks.”

Maxwell clenched his fists. “Why only her? We can do this too.”

Seraphina and Reggie turned expectantly to Lucian, waiting for the answer. Vivienne had laid against the back of the sofa, thoughtful. “I believe you let your feelings cloud your mind. A non Aetheral can’t protect themselves from his attack. It’s as simple as that.”

“Not true. The twins have trained their minds to shield themselves from me.” Vivienne objected.

Seraphina had a say of her own. “I’m not sure that’s accurate. You still read our minds, we just pretend to think like normal people who know nothing of all this.”

Lucian clapped. “There’s some emotionless practicality.” Seraphina rolled her eyes. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t be helpful to her. Only that Vivienne has the best chance of dealing with that menace.”

“Um, sorry to interrupt, again…” Reggie cut in. “…he’s only a man, an arrow can finish him off, right? Sera’s the best bowman, she could take him out without any trouble.”

Lucian cocked his head to one side, scrunching. “Unless he dies instantly, he could heal. But again, Vivienne would have to do it. He could spot Seraphina and move out of her line of shot in time.”

“He can’t be mass reading at all times. I almost faint after continuous use.” Vivienne complained and Maxwell nodded along.

“I can teach you how to avoid exerting yourself, both while reading another’s mind and healing.” He said and touched his chin. “But yes, you and I cannot do it as long as he can…” Lucian trailed off sighing and his head dropped. The rest exchanged glances confused. “Which brings us to an Aetheral’s weakness and limitation. Whatever we do, every gift or power we exhibit, it stems from spirit. Ours or the target’s. By instinct, you've been using your own, essentially depleting your own life. Take Maxwell’s healing for example. You used your own life to save him from the poison.”

“Nothing happened to you when you fixed my leg.” Seraphina noted.

“I had mentors and time to perfect my gift. Vivienne’s inexperience made her go all in, involuntarily of course. I combined yours and mine to help your body patch up your nerves. Your knee wasn't irreparable, it was just out of our healer's skill and knowledge at this time. You would not believe how many of the simple ailments we treat nowadays, could prove lethal a few decades ago. It is why we Aetherals used to roam the land, but even that could sometimes not be enough.” Lucian replied with ease. “You see, Vivienne and I have a limitation. Our own life.”

“Doesn’t that apply to the Emperor?” Reggie asked confused.

But Maxwell and Seraphina had caught on. With a grim expression, she turned to him. “It does. But he draws from others and he’s ruthless, never caring if his targets die or not. Basically fueling himself and snuffing the life of others.”

“Right again, my dear.” Lucian confirmed.

Reggie nodded and an eerie silence filled the room. They were receiving knowledge long lost, but the more they learned, the grimmer the road ahead seemed. Vivienne spoke up in time, voicing the question that was on Maxwell’s mind as well. “It’s how we can live longer, stay young. Isn’t it?”

Lucian grew uncomfortable. He started scratching his arms nervously. “Yes. This part is the one thing the Order kept from the world, even back in my time. So that people wouldn’t abuse that power.”

“I apologize in advance master Lucian, but the last four hundred cycles prove they did a terrible job at that.” Seraphina couldn’t help herself.

Lucian shook his head. “Not the Order, Seraphina. It was me. I’m the one to blame for this mess.”

Maxwell cut him off. “Wait, the Emperor’s not the only one to have lived that long… How many have you drained and killed?”

He wouldn’t meet their eye, shame showing across his face. “None. He let only me live because my ethics don’t stand for that.”

“If so, how is it you’re still alive?” Reggie asked and Seraphina stepped on his foot a little too obviously.

“I haven’t killed, but I have drawn from others. Many, many others. I’m alive, but I haven’t preserved myself as he. I’m an old man now, frail with a lot less time ahead than him.” He answered still embarrassed.

“How? How can we preserve ourselves?” Vivienne inquired exasperated.

Lucian stared right into her eyes when he spoke. “I will teach you everything I know, my dear, but this? I’m never again sharing that knowledge. Not to purest of souls. I was fooled once, never again.”

Maxwell wanted to argue that Vivienne was the purest of souls and she should know, but Seraphina spoke first. “We understand. We don’t want another Damien rising, even if Vivienne is nothing like him.” She said, but the rest didn’t share her view. None of them opposed her in that moment. “But I have a question. If an Aetheral can heal themselves, and I believe you can, I’ve seen Vivienne recover from cuts and bruises quite faster than normal, why haven’t you healed yourself? You fixed me.”

“Excellent question, though I expected it from the scholar.” He replied smiling at Maxwell. He scratched his neck, looking down. “Technically, what we do is make the body work faster and a little better. Vivienne made Maxwell’s body burn the poison as if it was a nutrient of sort. Of course it was harmful, but if his organs didn’t fail till the poison burned away, he’d be fine. Vivienne accelerated the process and he lived through it. In your case, the nerves were there, nothing was cut and you have been working them through the pain. They needed a little push and now, you’re as good as new. In my case? Well…” he gave a humorous laugh. “…I can’t exactly regrow limbs.”

Reggie locked his hands behind his head. “Honestly? With everything I’ve found out since I met Sera, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

Lucian cackled. “Everything has a limit, Reginald. Even great forces such as this.” He shifted his gaze to Vivienne. “Something troubling you, my dear?”

“What else can we do? Will you teach me?” She asked sheepishly.

“Already said I would.” He nodded right away. “It’s why I’ve kept myself alive. To teach another, so the monster I let loose can be defeated. But not now. Now you learn his story. To reach him, manipulate him, you have to understand where he comes from.”

“Tell us then.” Maxwell urged him on.

“Where to start…?” Lucian wondered rubbing his chin. “This… land, your land, is only a corner of the world. The people Damien waged war against confined us here. Burned everything to the ground north of this point. I do not know how vast the desert they created is, only that I offered to stay behind to correct my error. I failed and first the Elementals, then the rest of the people, have suffered for it.”

“Why pull away and not fight back?” Seraphina asked in an accusatory tone.

“And why hasn’t anyone tried to reconnect with them? Travel across the desert or sail away through the south?” Maxwell added. His interests were as much academic as they were practical.

“That’s part of this story’s conclusion. The beginning comes with the territories. The world is so great, it seemed endless at times, so it was divided. Each territory had a central, a main city where a group of people, no matter their nature, together made decisions about the land. But you see, Aetherals received special tasks and treatment. We could inspire others, make fears vanish, bring people together, mend their wounds.

“They looked up to our kind. Because we could see the truth in people, unsurprisingly, inner Orders were created, not to rule, just provide assistance to those in need. Not every Aetheral was accepted in them. It had to determined they were good of spirit.

“They were put through morality tests for years before they were let in. Sometimes it took half a lifetime. Even one failure immediately deemed them unworthy of a position.” Lucian relayed, but it was like he was no longer with them, lost in his memories. “Once in, we roamed the land surveying for trouble and always reported back to our capital.”

“You passed all the tests, didn’t you?” Seraphina asked bringing him back to the moment.

He looked at her, smiling. “I did. Oh, so I did. When they told me I was a member… that was the moment I felt most proud of myself. Now I wish it never happened. Upon pledging myself to the cause, doing the best for our land, I was told of the secret to prolonging our life. Not much. Never to this extent. But we needed it sometimes, so they were telling us, just in case. The next worthy ones often took many cycles to appear. Aetherals many, but ones moral enough to hold such a burden? Not really.

My mentor was ninety years of age when she found me. I was sixteen. Something in me, my mind, my posture, made her consider I was worthy. At thirty-six, they allowed me to pledge and my mentor finally let time run its course. I thought I’d found my replacement, but my affection, my pity clouded my mind. I didn’t comprehend the signs.” Lucian’s fingers trembled on his thighs.

“The Emperor is the person you selected?” Reggie wondered aloud. “How could you not see the malevolence?”

“He wasn’t evil, no. Damien was a charm, nothing like what he is now. Villagers found him beaten, maimed, left for dead next to his parents. Bandits had tried to kill the family, but they failed to end him. The villagers brought him to the local doctors and he made an incredible, impossible even, recovery. That was when the Order got called in, because the boy was thought to be an Aetheral, which the Order later found true.

“He was only seven. I offered to bring him up, took him under my wing, thinking that by raising him well and being a good example, he would be the perfect candidate for my spot. After thirty winters in the business, I longed to lay back and live out my remaining days. I’m not sure whether it was my wishes or my guardianship that made me disregard his flaws, but I did.

“You see, my friends, no matter how good an example I made, there’s one thing that I could never, ever, extinguish. The boy’s fear of death. His close brush with death, with the pain, it affected him. More so than others. He grew terrified of the sole idea of it. Damien was kind, helpful, affectionate, always available for those in need, he even got married and led a happy life.

“All these traits made me overlook the effect of that fear. I mistook the madness he showed whenever we couldn’t heal someone and they died, for sorrow. Now I can see it wasn’t the case. It was death itself he grew terrified of.

“It never crossed my mind that he would use our gift to stay alive indefinitely by using people, simply as a resource for life.” Lucian shook his head, tears running down his cheeks. “I’ve doomed so many innocent souls because I overlooked it.”

“I understand it must be hard, but that’s only half the story. You spoke of war.” Maxwell recalled intrigued.

“I did, Maxwell. When I thought he was ready, I took him to the Order of Dawnfield. I vouched for him, the elders believed me and Damien pledged himself to us. After that, we told him of the secret and that I was slowly going to pull back from my duties. To this day, I cannot forget the glint in his eyes. I know now it was a raging madness, but I misjudged it for wonder then. The following winter, he arrived at the capital with more followers, Elementals among them, than we’d heard of in centuries. He offered a prolonged life like the ones of the elders and riches.

“We were at peace, so there was no army, only small parties mainly funded by the local lords. He took this land without so much of a fight. Then he turned his gaze to the rest of the world. But the rest of the world wasn’t interested in the tussle. After he escaped their assassins’ attempts multiple times, they pulled back. Damien no longer saw any value to the innocent, felling dozens as he pushed through to city after city.

“We even thought to ignore our ethics and use the same weapon against him, but even if he couldn’t negate us, he was always surrounded by people, hundreds, and we couldn’t target one person with a metal attack like that. Not from afar. Only through touch. But we couldn’t get near.

“So they couldn’t proceed with it. Couldn’t stoop to his level. Instead, they evacuated. They created the desert, a barrier, at the end of which I’m sure they have outposts, to warn them of anyone crossing. Soon after, Damien started eliminating the Elementals, even the ones on his side, especially the Aetherals. Even a whisper of someone being an Aetheral and he killed them along with all blood relatives, sometimes not even caring to decipher the truth…” He sat back, finished with his tale.

Seraphina got up and paced. It wasn’t a good sign. “So let me get this straight. The men and women charged with the protection and peace of the land chose to let a lunatic roam free because there would be casualties? Of people who chose to align themselves with said lunatic?”

“Yes.” He answered looking away.

She opened and closed her mouth multiple times. "Seriously?” She asked at least, scratching her head.

“I'm with Sera on this. How is that possible? How could they?” Vivienne added. Reggie was nodding, but Maxwell was biting his lip, thinking, trying to understand.

“Ethics. They were handpicked exactly because they led the life of a pacifist. Murder was something they abhorred. If you add the innocents involved, that’s it. They chose to disappear. I didn’t share the sentiment and stayed. I just wasn’t strong enough to face him successfully. I’m not proud of my actions or the ones of my people back then, but I’m of that time of peace. I can understand it. Not the case for you since you’ve been in war all your life.” Lucian tried to explain.

Hearing that all their lives’ troubles could’ve been prevented didn’t sit well with any of them. Seraphina kept up pacing and huffing. Reggie was tapping his leg continuously. Vivienne was gritting her teeth, holding on Maxwell’s knee tight. Maxwell himself was openly glaring at Lucian. Even Raine seemed to be on edge, lying close to Reggie’s feet, ears perked up.

“We appreciate your input, but I think we need some time to process all this.” Seraphina said and walked out of the study.

Reggie got up taking a bow. “By that, she means she has to shoot something. If you’ll excuse me.” He whistled. “Raine, come on.”

Lucian wheeled himself away towards another bookcase. “She’s quite… volatile, isn’t she?”

“Finding out a lot, if not all, of our sorrows could’ve never happened isn’t exactly a cheerful moment. She just needs to let off some steam.” Vivienne tried to justify.

“Honestly? From what I’ve seen in your minds, I’m surprised there are no fiery incidents. Aha, there we are.” He said pulling out a large tome and returned to the table. “The first manuscript details the world as it once was, I doubt anyone other than Maxwell will have interest in it, but this…” he placed it in front of Vivienne. “…will be of use to all you, but more so you Vivienne. Here, I’ve recorded everything I could on Damien.”

Vivienne picked it up, stroking the leather binding. “Doesn’t Sera always say ’First thing in combat, get to know your target’?” She asked looking at Maxwell, who nodded. “Master Lucian, I need you to teach me.”

“I will. As I promised, everything but the bit of prolonging your life.” He replied with a fist over his heart.

“I don’t want that knowledge. I don’t need it.” She said confidently. She pointed at his chest. “Isn’t that a standard imperial gesture?”

He smiled sheepishly. “It’s something of old he preserved. For me it means making and honoring a promise. Probably different for you, huh?”

“Quite.” Maxwell confirmed. “When will you begin your lessons?”

Lucian shrugged. “Even right now, if dear Vivienne is ready.”

“I am. It’s long overdue.” Vivienne said and set the book down. “Can Max stay?”

“As long as he doesn’t distract you, I have no problem.” Lucian replied rubbing his hands together.

“Don't worry, he'll be fine. You've give him new books. He’ll just read quietly in the corner.” She said and Maxwell nodded eagerly before he opened the largest of the two manuscripts. “So, where do we start?”

Seraphina ran to their room, going straight for their packs to find clothes and her equipment. She didn’t need to look back to know Reggie had followed. “On a scale of dry coals to inferno, where are we standing?” He asked leaning against the door frame.

“Fire, blazing fire.” She answered as she at last grabbed something warm enough to wear that didn’t restrict her movements. She just needed to find her weapons. “Can you stop with the Elemental references?”

“Can’t help it. It’s so fitting.” He said and entered the room, closing the door behind him so she could redress. “In the trunk, at the bottom of the wardrobe.”

Seraphina opened the chest and found what she needed. Her bow and daggers. “They must have some place I can shoot, right?”

“Probably, but I have a better idea.” He went up behind her, slid his arms around her waist and lowered the weapons, before he whispered in her ear. “How about we find some open space and you finally show me how easily you can beat me senseless?”

Seraphina went rigid and goosebumps covered her arms. She reached up, rubbing the back of his head as he placed it on her shoulder. “Have I ever told you I love you?”

“A few times. In your sleep. It’s always nice to hear.” He replied planting a featherlight kiss on her neck and stepped back. “I love you too.”

“He’s right, it is nice to hear.” She thought and got dressed in haste, eager to get back into combat training. Her muscles tingled at the mere thought. “Let’s go, puppy.”

They preferred to go outside the fortified city, since their interactions with the people had been limited to Lucian and Weston thus far. They weren’t comfortable to intrude just yet. Raine was close behind them till they stepped out of the gates, then she ran away towards the mountain, probably off to explore. No matter how domestic she seemed, she still was a wild wolf.

They removed their jackets and Seraphina stretched some, a little rusty after all that time. “Don’t you dare go easy on me. I’ll roast you.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, sweetheart.” Reggie replied and threw her a wooden sword. She easily caught it and swung it once, before she took up a fighting stance. “First time I fight with a sword against a lefty.”

“First time for everything.” She remarked smiling and charged at him.

He planted his feet on the ground and waited for the impact of her sword. Same mistake he always did. She feigned an attack with the sword and kicked him right at the knee. With a second kick, his own sword flew off to one side as she placed the tip of her blade against his neck.

“That was… clever.” He commented scrunching his eyes and rubbing his leg.

“I kept telling you you focus too much on your opponent’s hands. Time to fix that.” Seraphina said and gave him a hand for support. “You really should do better. I have some ideas of my own… for later. You can’t be too banged up.”

Reggie’s eyebrow shot up.

Maxwell had no trouble concentrating on the manuscript. Lucian’s constant guiding of Vivienne was barely more than a humming tune, a pleasant even background noise as he read of the people that came before them.

We tried with words, but we failed. The Phantom isn’t interested in anything other than persevering. It doesn’t matter how many innocents will die so he will live, not to him. We should never have allowed him in our Order, in our great secret.

We tried with spears, but we failed again. He uses the knowledge we’ve provided for harm. The men and women fighting for our freedom keep having many more casualties than his followers. The assassins we send, we never hear from, not even of their death. It cannot go on like this. The land he treads is doomed.

We will evacuate as many as we can and the Fire Elementals will scorch the earth as we pull back, away from this corner. The Earth ones will raise higher the great mountains east and west. He’ll be confined. We hope.

Lucian, his mentor and now most determined adversary, doesn’t agree with our decision. He believes we should fight him. We personally. The Aetherals. We are not cut out for it though. We have found a place in this Order because we mean no harm. Not even to him.

It is with great sorrow that we make this decision and we ask this land’s forgiveness, though we hardly deserve it. He can be stopped, but not by us, our morals won’t allow it. Find other Aetherals, moral yet forged in battle. People that will fight him. The secret will die with this generation. We see the consequences all around us and cannot in good conscience let it happen again.

Dawnfield will fall, but the Isolation has already begun. Soon, it will be finished and we will be gone.

In this manuscript you will find your history, which he will undoubtedly try to hide from you.

May the Elements guard and guide you

The Order of Dawnfield

“Cowards…” That was all Maxwell could think as he read the prologue. Both Aetherals in the room heard him and glanced at him. He shook his head and stuck his nose in the book.

◊◊◊ ◊◊◊ ◊◊◊

Up, left, right, down, impale and thrust down hard. It was all getting a little too predictable. She didn’t deter from her pattern and Seraphina could anticipate her strikes long before they came. Without Vivienne’s gift. Before the last hit came, Seraphina lifted up her own daggers and parried. She twisted her hands, once, twice, and just like that Vivienne was disarmed.

“Should I wear a blindfold next? You stand no chance against him when you’re so predictable, Viv, and I’m not even a mind reader.” Seraphina chastised shaking her head.

Vivienne spat out some blood. Her bleeding lip was already starting to heal. “I don’t plan on confronting him directly.”

“You’re sneaky, but you might have to. You need to be ready.” Seraphina replied and picked up the fallen weapons. “Not just him either. To get to him, we’ll have a whole army of trained soldiers standing in-between. They can’t all be fools.”

“I know.” Vivienne said wiping her forehead from the sweat. “Killing the bad guys is why we’re training, isn’t it?” She asked and stretched.

“To kill bad guys, you gotta be alive first. If your opponent can predict your moves, they can easily counter them and you’ll be in trouble.” Seraphina warned seriously.

Vivienne huffed. “Honestly, Sera. You and Max just love a good lecture.” She said, but nodded anyway. “It’s not hard to believe you are related.”

They walked over to a nearby bench, where Reggie was licking his wounds, having just been through an intense sparring session with Seraphina. Both had received blows, but while he’d been careful with his strikes, Seraphina hadn’t held back and busted his shoulder.

“What was his lecture about?” Seraphina asked with a chuckle.

“The usual. He finds something new in those textbooks and of course, he has to share.” Vivienne huffed. “This time it was all about the political structure back then or whatever. I stopped listening after five seconds.”

“You picked him. Should be careful with your choices.” Seraphina replied checking on Reggie’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, puppy.”

He shrugged and had to take a deep breath. “Meh, I’ve gotten used to you two beating me up. You’re too fast. I might need to learn some new moves.”

“Yes, you do.” Both Seraphina and Vivienne responded.

“In the meantime, let me fix that.” Vivienne said and touched his shoulder. “Here, as good as new.”

Healing was the first application of her Element she’d mastered. next came the concealment. It was always in her nature to help others and hide, even in plain sight, so there was no surprise she’d excelled in those.

“Thanks. Always good to be around you, Viv.” Reggie flexed his arm and nodded at Vivienne. “In my defense, I’m mostly trained as an archer.”

“None of it will matter when someone stabs you.” Seraphina noted and turned back at the training ground, just in time to hear a loud thud.

“What the hell was that?” Vivienne asked and looked back as well.

“My baby brother’s being an idiot. Again.” Seraphina replied rolling her eyes at the sight of Maxwell on the ground, touching his midriff.

“Ouch, that probably hurt.” Reggie said wincing. “I wonder how many ribs he cracked.”

“Well, I wish you’d all give me less reasons to practice.” Vivienne said rubbing her eyes. She hated seeing any of them hurt, more so Maxwell. It showed on her face every time one of them did.

That time Maxwell was training with the only other man his size in Briohall. Both were always going hard on each other, often getting each other injured, and that time was no exception. It’d ended up with Maxwell being thrown against the wall. The impact created the thundering noise that caught Seraphina’s attention.

Vivienne sighed. “I’ll go fix him.”

Seraphina touched her shoulder to stop her. “Maybe you should let him heal on his own. It might make him think twice about being so careless.”

Vivienne shook her head. “Sorry, Sera, I can’t help it.” She started walking over to him, fallen as he was on the ground with his sparring buddy over him. But before she reached them, she pivoted, her eyes fixed on the horizon, towards the pass they’d come from over a full cycle before. She squinted and ran to Maxwell, giving him a quick patch up, before she pulled him back to Seraphina and Reggie.

Both knew her well enough to discern she’d caught something outside the normal. “Okay, there’s obviously something up. Do we need weapons?”

“Definitely.” She replied and signaled everyone on the training grounds to come her way. “Let’s get moving, people! We have incoming!”

Everyone scrambled to get their equipment and together they ran to where Vivienne led them. Lucian’s tower. He and Weston were already waiting at its steps in a state of obvious distress. “I take it you saw it too?”

Vivienne only nodded. “It’s hard not to. Their thoughts are too loud.” She replied with a glance towards Seraphina.

“Something to do with me?” The look itself didn’t faze her. Not knowing the reason behind it certainly did though. “Spill it out, I can take it.”

“Damien’s made a Drudge out of an Elemental, a basher I believe.” Lucian answered, but it only created more questions for Seraphina, especially as to how she was connected in that. But the men and women around her were apparently familiar with the term, Maxwell included, and gasped. Gearing up came with more haste then.

Strapping up her leather armor, she spoke. “Drudge, basher, right. I’ll bite. What’s that and why would an Elemental be on his side now?”

“You’d know the answer to both if you ever paid any attention to me. It’s all in the manuscripts.” Maxwell chastised behind her. “No time to get into that, so let’s just say they have no choice since their mind is no longer their own.”

“Well put, Maxwell. Seraphina, this woman is on a mission to capture you. Preferably alive, so as to bring you back to Damien, but not necessarily. Her mind’s filled with you. A sketch of you with longer hair, a gravely injured left knee, but also the possibility of it being healed, but most importantly, a direct order to stay out of your reach, your touch.” Lucian declared.

“Same sketch the imperials carry.” She didn’t need anything further. She knew its meaning. “He thinks I’m the Aetheral here, huh? No surprise there and we can use it to our advantage. She’ll be too focused on me.”

“The soldiers she has with her are imperials right to the bone, but she’s probably not. She might know things that’ll help us.” Vivienne nodded and went to stand next to Seraphina. “If someone holds her down, I can erase his touch.”

Lucian struck his first down at the arm of his wheelchair. “Absolutely not. You’ve never done this. It’s very delicate work and if not done properly you can damage her mind. Seize her and bring her back to me. I’ll show Vivienne how to do it.” He ordered. All anyone could do was nod.

“The rest?” A man in the crowd asked.

“They’ve made their choice. Siding with the Emperor endangers the life of the innocent. We show them the consequences.” Weston answered lifting up his sword.

Many followed his example as they heard distant howling. “Raine must’ve caught a whiff of them.” Reggie whispered beside Seraphina.

Exchanging an intense look with Vivienne, she spoke. “Let’s hope she doesn’t do anything stupid. Her pups need her.”

◊◊◊

The men and women of Briohall had never engaged in actual battle, so all strategy fell in the hands of Maxwell, Seraphina, Vivienne and Reggie. In open field, Reggie was the most efficient combat strategist as Seraphina and Vivienne preferred covert operations and attacks based on the element of surprise, which was impossible in that situation, while Maxwell was all about overpowering the enemy with brute strength, which could result in casualties that they wanted to avoid.

Reggie combined everyone’s strengths and took note of their weaknesses. First line of attack was composed of Maxwell’s peers flanked on each side by a set of bowmen with swordsmanship skills led by Vivienne and Seraphina. At the back sat Reggie with his own set of archers, who were better off away from any sword play.

Fifty people in total, most of which trained in physical combat, against an estimated force of thirty-three according to Vivienne and Lucian. But in those thirty-three, there was one Earth Elemental who could do a lot of damage, yet they didn’t want to hurt.

Seraphina, bow in hand, was upon Nightlight so they could see her. It was crucial the enemy Elemental notice her. They needed most imperials to move towards her to apprehend her. Reggie’s strategy depended on it.

“Lady Seraphina, what’s it like to… kill someone?” One of the bowmen around her asked rather sheepishly.

Seraphina surveyed her side. A bunch of well-built men with no military experience versus career-driven soldiers. It was only natural there was fear on their side. “I won’t lie to you. Being responsible for someone’s death is one of the most difficult things you’ll ever face. My kills haunt me still, after all this time.” She paused and touched her daggers. “Right now, it doesn’t matter how we’ll feel. Right now, these people threaten our own. Remember that and it will help you do what you must. Right now, we fight.”

Affirmative nods came all around and fingers lied on bowstrings. They waited. Soon the clangs of sword against shield reached their ears, a fear tactic of sorts, before they saw their enemies. Reggie had told them to expect it, but it still affected them. He whistled and Seraphina aimed, before she released her taut string. The steel arrow found its home in the neck of the horn bearer before he managed to put a single blow into it.

“One down, thirty-one plus one to go.” She thought and surged Nightlight forward. She needed to catch the basher’s eye. “Archeeers, loose!” She called and her team followed her order instantaneously. She counted the fallen. “Twenty-eight… Come on, people, aim better!” She couldn’t speak the words. She couldn’t discourage them.

Enemy eyes looked her flank’s way. Upon seeing her, they locked onto her. She saw the basher lift up her arm pointing at her and the battalion immediately deviated, heading straight at her. One goal accomplished. A second round of arrows they let loose, every archer that time, not just Seraphina’s team, felling more men.

It caused the basher to lay back and drive her mercenaries forward. “Good. Just a little further, idiots. Just a little more...” Seraphina thought anxiously. The anticipation caused drops of sweats to drip down her temples. She pulled on her bowstring, aiming at the first man in line and waited.

The moment most of the platoon was within the ring of tar the Briohallers had created, she aimed down, surrounded her arrow’s tip with fire, not too obviously, and let it fly. It all became ablaze. There were screams. The Briohallers shut their ears to it. Burning bodies were coming out of the fiery vortex. The Briohallers aimed and felled them. When there was no more movement, Seraphina let the fire die.

The scorch seemed to stir something in the Basher. Even from afar, Seraphina could feel the fear. She didn’t think much of it. There was more work to do in that moment. More imperials to slay. Her own purpose was to be the distraction and eliminate enemies from a distance. “Sixteen more to go.”

Seraphina didn’t dare check on her own casualties. She’d noticed the chunks of stone flying towards their side, faster than any bolt and harder than any blow, but had been unable to make out any more than that. She had to defend herself and direct her inexperienced Briohallers.

She pulled on her reigns and kicked Nightlight’s hinges, galloping away to the left, as if they were on the run. It served as another distraction since Seraphina was the enemy’s true target, the rest only collateral damage. As Reggie had expected, the basher ordered her remaining men to hurry after Seraphina and they unwillingly did so.

All the while, Seraphina kept shooting at her pursuers. She hardly missed their bodies, but she also didn’t manage to deliver many killing blows. At the same time, Maxwell’s forces were advancing and together with Seraphina’s they managed to surround the last dozen. Reggie’s people provided long range assistance, but Vivienne and her own were already moving towards the Basher.

The most swift and agile had gone with Vivienne. While the rest were to deal with the Basher’s guard, they were after the Elemental. They had to incapacitate her. In dry, rocky land, doing so with an Earth Elemental was hard by default. With a force of thirty to guard her, it’d become even harder.

To incapacitate her, they’d had to cut through a pathway to her or get the men to leave her side. They’d used Seraphina’s face for that. No better way to pull the tight ring of men away than making them focus on their fleeing target fleeing. Maxwell had suggested it’d be best to make their life easier and eliminate them in the process. To that end, they made the ring of tar that Seraphina ignited.

In that endeavour, Reggie’s tactics and Seraphina’s skills, both natural and mastered through training, were being put to the test. Vivienne’s fast legs and ability to make others think her insignificant were in use. Of the four, only Maxwell was left out of the picture.

At first.

“How do we bring a Douser into play with no lakes, rivers nearby or even humidity?” Reggie had asked them when they were carefully spilling the black matter onto the ground. No one had had an answer. He’d smiled and tapped on his waist.

Running towards the nameless basher, Vivienne and her squad opened the flasks strapped onto their belts, just as Maxwell stood at the back of his line of men and took it up from there. He pulled the water out of the flasks and shot it straight at the basher from every angle possible.

Seraphina watched as she tried without any success to swat away the water drops slashing her face. Maxwell repeated his strikes again, and again, and again, keeping her occupied while Vivienne’s squad closed the distance.

By the time the Basher recollected herself, Vivienne had already managed to reach and tackle her. Another stood over her and punched the light out of her. The rest helped tie her up with the thickest rope found in Briohall.

Only when Vivienne lifted her first up in the air to signal they were done with the Basher and the last imperial was dead, did Seraphina glance at their side. There was laughter and cheering all around, but she wanted to see what their casualties were. They hadn’t come up unscathed. She counted eight dead and several injured by either arrows or the Basher’s gravel. Vivienne and Lucian would have their hands full that night.

Maxwell, Vivienne and Reggie were mostly okay. The men had been hit by the rocks and they had bruises already forming on their skins, while Vivienne got shook up in the collision with the Basher. Nothing too serious. Seraphina herself had sustained no injuries thanks the Emperor’s orders of her capture not death.

Reggie was congratulating every man or woman within his reach as he made way towards Seraphina who trotted back on Nightlight. Since their tactics didn’t require them, they brought no other horse to the plains.

“You’re okay, right? They didn’t hurt you?” he asked once he reached her and helped her down. They were both already pulling their bows over their shoulders.

“Really, everything’s fine, Reggie. They did what we expected.” Seraphina replied and handed the reigns to the man who’d asked her about taking a life. “Take her to Vivienne. No need for anyone to carry the unconscious woman to Briohall.”

“Yes, milady. At once.” He replied and followed her command.

Reggie openly wrapped an arm around Seraphina, sighing deeply as they watched their comrades gather their dead. “Do you think they’ll be able to sleep tonight?”

“I doubt any of us will.” She replied and lit up the last of their enemies’ corpses once her companions were out of range. “I’m not sure I mentioned, but good planning.”

“I had good teachers…” Reggie said grimly.

“That’s what I’m afraid of. You perfectly exploited my nature and even managed to add Max to the picture. Two Elementals. Only two. I personally know of dozens we never found, captured by the empire. If he can turn them into whatever that poor woman is now…” Seraphina trailed off clenching her fists.

“We’ll prevail.” Reggie said confidently.

“I know. We have an ace up our sleeve. But how many will burn, drown, suffocate or be squished in our path to him?” She asked shaking her head. “I’m willing to put my life on the line, but I’m not sure I can ask it of others anymore.”

“Hey, look at me.” He said stopping her and turned her to him. “Do you remember what I told you when I realized who you were? I wanted to join the resistance because the empire slaughtered my family.” He pointed behind her to Briohall. “These people sought refuge in the League. Like so many others you’ve helped. All our lives are on the line. Especially now. Now that he feels threatened. Now that we’re gathering against him. To end his horrifying reign, we’ll need everyone’s aid.

Seraphina stood still. “I don’t play well with others.” She groaned.

Reggie rolled his eyes. “I beg to differ. Your squad got hit the least.”

She looked back and noticed he was right. There were no casualties in her team and very few injuries. “Understandable. They didn’t want me dead.”

“That didn’t extend to your squad.” He replied wittily.

She scowled. “I still don’t like it. I want to have full control over something. The less variables, the better.” She was stubborn and couldn’t help but keep it up.

“Sure...” Reggie conceded knowing her well enough and figuring he wouldn’t win that one. “Now… are you really okay? You can hop on my back if you’d like. There’s some walking distance to Briohall. Damn, maybe not bringing any horses was a bad idea…”

Seraphina tapped on the dented armor covering his chest. He’d taken some projectiles too. “My love, I may have softened up, but never forget exactly who and what I am. I can walk just fine.” She smiled and traced his jaw.

He nodded. “I’m sleeping on the sofa again, aren’t I?”