pantothenic

The Hourglass Order

Part 3

“Dark Somnians…” Yalen gasped. Cardinal Verus was correct. Their reputation preceded them, and it was not a positive one. He had only seen them in person during important religious holidays which demanded mandatory attendance from the orders. They were viewed as reckless insurgents rather than justicars. Many assassinations and serial killings were pinned on the actions of the Dark Somnians, and unlike the Black Rezaindians they appeared far more willing to turn on other members of the clergy if their creed demanded it.

“You sound afraid of us Brother Castel.”

“And why wouldn’t he be? The church has been filling his head with lies before he could even walk.”

“That’s enough. I-I think I should leave now.” Yalen attempted to get up and exit the room…

“SIT.” …but his body would no longer obey him. Verus lifted himself into the air and took a seat on the table in front of Yalen. Being so close like this, Yalen could smell the sachet of herbs hidden underneath his elder’s clothes.

“Come now, are you really going to crawl back and submit yourself to their kangaroo court? There is no penance awaiting you Yalen. You saw firsthand how ready they were to cut you down to reach Jocasta. If they identify you as one of her allies then your journey will end on the gallows. I’m sure they’ll make a nice speech about you repenting in the next life.” Verus was wracked with another coughing fit.

“You should join our cause. We’ll give you a purpose again. Trust me, no one is as loyal to Dami as we are. The public fears us because our desire to protect mankind often drives us to violence, but make no mistake. We are NOT careless murderers. Unlike those Rezaindians, death is just one tool among many that we use to enforce our god’s laws. Just like you, we only wish to do what is right.”

“Even if the entire world despises us.”

“Why? Why do you want me?” Yalen demanded.

”We have had our eyes on you for a while, Yalen. We know what motivates you. If anyone can be trusted with the authority to pass judgment on others, it is someone like you who has no interest in acquiring power for personal gain. Your ability to love the enemy stems from an open mind, one that is able to look past your own preconceptions and listen to both sides. To us, you are more valuable than any gifted prodigy.”

“He still hasn’t tried to summon his friends to rescue him.”

“Of course not. After all, this is a man who would even lend an ear to the Traveler, our most hated enemy of all.”
“!!!”

“He has gone pale your eminence.”

“Oh. Don’t be alarmed. We are not omniscient. We just have agents in the refuges who help us keep tabs on things. Jocasta Re’s sudden appearance caught us completely off guard, trust me. We had each of you tailed in case you were her fellow assassins. That is how we caught wind of the Traveler’s presence… though she became wary of us and escaped.”

“We’re glad you didn’t let her words lead you astray.”

“Truly commendable. Unfortunately, the Traveler is not the only false prophet in this world. We have enemies all around us. Corruption within the church is at an all time high, and its disastrous mismanagement has allowed an unknown power to steal our most secretive magics. Futhermore, Hugo Hunghorasz-”

“What madness am I hearing! You would point your fingers at the paradigm!? He is the one who had us save the refuge in Torragon to begin with!”

“Do NOT be so quick to trust that man. You do not understand the extent of the magic that he wields… When someone becomes as powerful as Hugo, they begin to grow distant from humanity. He cannot be trusted to have our best interests at heart forever.”

“Especially since he is obsessed with your girlfriend.”

“What?”

“Gloria, be professional.” The cardinal growled. “As Sister Graziano says, there is a connection between Hugo and Jocasta. He has been following her closely ever since becoming aware of her existence. Of all the magic users in the world, her power is the only one to surpass his in raw potential. He may mean to have her captured or killed so that none may challenge his superiority.”

“That can’t be…”

“It is common sense for someone in his position. Think about it. If he decided to turn back time so none of us were born, she is one of the few individuals with the knowledge and strength necessary to challenge him.”

“He may have done it once already.”

“Stop interrupting me Gloria.” Cardinal Verus admonished. Gloria’s mouth clamped shut.

“That is just a wild theory. The man has grown so old now. If he was capable of such godlike feats, it begs the question of why he hasn’t already turned back the clock. Regardless, Jocasta is most certainly a threat to his existence. He cannot ignore her as long as there is a small chance she could be ordered to assassinate him.”

“She’s not like that anymore. Jocasta has changed!”

“But of course. You and your friends have made sure of that, haven’t you? I am just giving you an outside view on things…” Verus sighed and collapsed back into his chair. “In any case, the paradigm is not our chief concern. We are more worried about hostile forces working within Ersand’Enise. If only that damned Matthew hadn’t jumped the gun…”

“Matthew?”

“Brother Wolf. That misguided fool. I tried to earn his loyalty, but he was always the Optimate’s lapdog. If he hadn’t jumped the gun, we could have used Jocasta Re to lure out an even greater threat to stability. The league of assassins that she-”

“Wait! The Afortunado? What makes them so important?”

“No, no. Not the Afortunado. Jocasta hasn’t told you everything, has she? The acts she committed as an Afortunado were indeed worthy of condemnation, but we were not aware of her existence then.” Sister Graziano looked like she was going to explode if she kept silent any longer. The cardinal reluctantly gestured for her to speak.

“I was spying on Brother Ash when he confronted you. The accusations he made against Jocasta were not related to the Afortunado like you believe. Your understanding of the bigger picture is still incomplete.”

“They call themselves the Volti. They are an international terrorist cell. Their origins are unknown. Their identities are a blank slate. Above all, their reach appears to be limitless. We do not know who they work for or where they get their funding from. As usual we suspect the Traveler, but there is no evidence linking her to the organization. We had no proof that Jocasta Re was a member either… but we gathered enough anecdotal evidence to try and pursue a connection. The delegation from Varennes planned to torture a confession out of her before putting her to the guillotine. And they say our methods are heartless.”

“We think they were behind the plot to assassinate the throne holders.”

“The five kings? No! Does that mean Jo was involved?”

“Involved? It’s impossible to know. The Volti operate behind a veil of anonymity. They wear masks and obscure their voices whenever possible. She could have been there, or not. You would have to get her to talk, and that’s assuming that she is who we think she is.”

“We cannot stress how important Jocasta Re is. The secrets in Matthew’s head were priceless. If the Volti were the ones to sink their claws into him, then they have now become a threat to the entire world. Our best and only hope of pinning them down is by following Jocasta Re. Even if she isn’t Volti, her power makes her a prime candidate for recruitment. She MUST be protected.”

“Please, wait a minute. This is just too much for me to process all at once.” Yalen pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. These people were essentially telling him that he’s had his head buried in the sand and that his love interest may or may not be a wanted terrorist.

“I’m sorry we’ve burdened you with so much information Yalen. But, surely you have seen the signs around you. We are offering you a chance to redeem your honor and discover the truth.”

I suspected there was more to her than just the Afortunado, but I can’t believe everything I hear. Still, he is a cardinal of the Somnian order…casting doubt on him says more about myself than his eminence.

“Even if she isn’t a Volti, she has still done some regrettable things. Whether the Volti are defeated or not, I want to know what you plan to do with her.”

“After we started suspecting her of being Volti, we looked into the Afortunado case. I must say, the girl would make a fine member of our order.”

“Nothing but murderers and rapists!” Gloria gagged. “I would have killed them myself if I had the chance!” Her impertinence earned her a pinch on the ear from the cardinal.

“I would offer to help her lay low, but she seems… distrustful of the church, especially given today’s events. Regardless, I promise that we mean her no harm. I cannot say the same for the rest of the Holy See. We can delay their actions, but they will inevitably strike at her again. That is why we need you to be with her as much as possible.”

Though, you were planning to do that anyways, weren’t you?” Gloria beamed.

Despite the gravity of the situation, Yalen’s face was red like a tomato. He did not know Sister Graziano until today, but he definitely did not like her. She might be friendly, but her teasing put Zarina to shame.

“You’ve been very helpful today Gloria. However, I’d like you to STOP TALKING for a minute.” The sound of the cardinal’s command sent Gloria into a dead silence. She looked at him with tears in her eyes and pouted in her chair.

“Yalen, we have discovered much, but the puzzle is not yet completed. The fate of the world is at stake and we are running out of time. You and your friends could be the key to unlocking the entire mystery. I must ask you again, will you join the Dark Somnians? We cannot assist you without your oath of fealty.”

Yalen bit his thumbnail as he seriously considered the offer from his superior. It wasn’t like he wished to die. He just didn’t know how else he could make up for the atrocity that he felt responsible for. He hadn’t just disgraced his own order, he took up arms against the priesthood. The cardinal’s offer was likely the only way he would be able to remain in service of the Pentad. The only other fate that awaited him was death, or at least permanent excommunication. Neither option appealed to him when there were still lives he could protect.

“These Volti… are you asking me to kill them?” Yalen whispered.

“I am asking you to bring them to justice, no matter the cost. What that means is entirely up to you and Dami’s will.”

“And if we succeed in stopping them?”

“The Volti are just the beginning Yalen. We will always have an enemy in the Traveler, and the world is full of evils besides. Our work will never be done.”

“You seem to know much about the evils plaguing this world.” Yalen declared as he stood from his chair. “I admit, I am ashamed of my own ignorance up until now.” He bowed before the cardinal until his back was parallel to the floor.

“Your eminence, I feel I cannot sit on the side lines any longer. Not while my friends continue to fight their own battles. If I must stain myself black in order to uproot evil then so be it. I will become a Dark Somnian.”

Verus wordlessly wrapped his arms around Yalen’s waist and pulled him into a hug. The unexpected display of affection was a shock that left him standing there foolishly staring at the wall.

“Dami be praised! Dami be praised! Dami be-” Cardinal Verus entered another coughing fit that sent him collapsing to the floor. Gloria was almost too late teleporting from her chair in order to catch him. She massaged his chest with a circular motion and waited for his eminence to calm down.

“Huff. Huff. My apologies. It is rare for us to add a new member to our ranks. We have many friends, but even more enemies. Recruiting in secret like this is all we can manage.”

“Mmm!”

“What is it Gloria? You may speak now.”

“We should give Brother Castel his welcoming presents now.”

“Ah, well said. I will let you do the honors first.”

Yalen felt a spike of energy from Gloria before his clothes started to twist and stretch. The sensation gave him goosebumps. His holy vestments gradually changed their color and shape before his very eyes. White faded to dark gray. Gold embroidery was transmuted to silver. His outfit which had become ill fitting in light of his recent growth sat comfortably on his skin once more. However, the look he was presented with was confusingly familiar.

“I am… a High Somnian?” Yalen tugged as his collar.

“We find that operating in plain sight is the simplest way for us to avoid trouble. It has become difficult for us to publicly present ourselves, and so our official vestments have taken on a more ceremonial role. We plant agents like you in an order that suits their mission and gather reports from them on a weekly basis. Brother Pierce will help initiate you into the High Somnian brotherhood. You will learn their ways and perform the appropriate duties, but your loyalty ultimately lies with us. Understand?”

“Yes, your eminence.”

“Good. Give me your hand once more, if you please.”

Yalen allowed the cardinal to take his hand and examine it. His gnarled fingers brushed across the ring he made out of Rita’s snail shell. It was one of his most heartfelt treasures.

“This feels handmade. Excellent. A sentimental attachment will make the enchantment even stronger.”

Enchantment? Yalen thought. He then felt a sting in his finger, causing him to cry out in pain. “Ow!”

Yalen’s ring finger was covered in his own blood. The cardinal had forced the skin to split open.

“Do not struggle! This will only help you. Believe me.”

Verus squeezed his hands tightly around Yalen’s finger, and then he felt it. His ring became warm, and warmer still, until it grew unbearably hot. He was not used to such pain and involuntarily tried to pull his hand away, but Gloria was standing behind him to keep him steady. He bit down on his free hand and prayed for the pain to end quickly.

And it did, eventually. Yalen could practically see the red mist rising from his hand as Verus released his grip. The ivory colored ring was now stained a deep red, and even when the enchantment was complete it still felt warm to the touch.

“What does it do?” Yalen asked while admiring the cardinal’s handiwork.

“I’ll show you. Close your eyes.”

Yalen did so.

“Now… I want you to imagine the person connected to that ring. Focus on them at the expense of everything else. What do they look like? How do you feel about them?”

Mista Yaweeeen! Hee hee!

Of course, how could I have been so stupid? I can’t disappear yet. There are still people out there who couldn’t do without me. I owe it to them to stay alive for as long as possible. I’ll make this world a better place for their sake.

Yalen fondly remembered Rita’s cute round face and mismatched teeth. He remembered how much she loved to swim in the river, and how she hated studying arithmetic. Her capacity to enjoy life in spite of the hardships she’d faced was incredible. She was an example he felt compelled to follow as her guardian. As long as she had hope for the future, so would he.

Something feels amiss. Yalen’s eyes fluttered open to see what the cause for his anxiety was. What he saw next shocked him.

Gloria was pushing an aberration into his chest.

“What are you doing!?” Yalen shouted. He tried to get away from her, but he was being held in place by powerful magic. He’d been betrayed! “Get that thing away from me!”

“This is your first lesson in the real world. We are pulling the wool off of your head and showing you the truth.” Cardinal Verus calmly explained. “You have been told that the aberrations are unholy and should be avoided at all costs. The truth is, you were indoctrinated into believing that lie as a form of control.”

“C-control!?”

“Yes. If every person’s first instinct was to absorb an aberration the moment they laid eyes on one, it would cause absolute chaos. Some would succumb to the madness and die. Others would gain a hold of it and grow stronger than before. The former is dangerous of course, but the latter is what we fear most. Not everyone is like you, Yalen. They cannot be trusted with power lest they abuse it for selfish reasons. We had to slow the spread somehow.”

“You, like us, are different. You are not interested in strength for its own sake. You have always wielded your gifts to protect others.” Gloria added.

The surge of manas was the same as the time in the Dune Sea, but something was missing. Yalen felt his energy capacity grow, but the madness that consumed him before was no longer present.

“It’s that ring. If you meditate on it while absorbing the energy of the void, it can protect you from its harmful effects. Even still, I would not overdo it. We still don’t fully understand the nature of these aberrations.”

“What are they? Truly?”

“I’m sorry, we lack the means to understand them completely. Our order has only just begun to utilize them in a useful capacity. What we do know is that they have a connection with a dimension different from our own, and they can be created using specific applications of temporal or dark magic. The mechanism by which they operate is a mystery, though the Traveler might have discovered something we have not. I just want you to know this: as long as you treat aberrations with care and respect, you can safely use them to bring your strength to new heights. Many of your friends already have.”

Damn it all. How could I be so stupid? Even in his head, Yalen almost never swore. He felt like he had been left behind while his friends were running off to save the world without him. What else did he not know?

“I appreciate the gift, but if my manas continue to grow then my hourglass will only grow shorter...”

“Perhaps, but your lifespan isn’t as short as you think it is. Trust me, you will need more magic if you are to overcome the challenges that lay ahead of you. Aberrations are simply a tool to get you there.”

“As you say, your eminence. I will take your words to heart. Will there be anything further?”

“For tonight you are free to go. We will call on you when it is time. You should consider using the Trials as an opportunity to gather weapons and arm yourself. The end of the school year will also be a good opportunity to learn a combat skill or two. Maybe you should ask Captain D’aureville to teach you.”

“Don’t worry about spilling the beans or anything. She’s been working for us for the past two years.”

“Colette… has…?” Yalen felt dizziness overtake him. The exhausted student fainted on the spot.

The Hourglass Order

Part 2

“Whoa!” The young priest was taken by surprise when the space in front of him started to warp. He took several steps back and watched distrustfully as the rippling air slowly molded itself into the shape of a temporal gateway. Manipulation of time and space appeared to be disturbingly common in Ersand’Enise.

Just what could it be this time? Yalen squinted his eyes and attempted to discern what lay on the other side of the portal, but other than an indistinct source of light he could see little of what was beyond. It was likely night over there as well.

Finally the ones responsible for opening the gate revealed themselves. Two figures stepped out, one of whom was somewhat familiar to Yalen. There weren’t many priestesses walking around bearing the distinctive phenotype of a blood child. When her crimson eyes met his, she gave him a polite bow.

“Sister Graziano?”

“Greetings Brother Castel! How are you this evening?”

“Oh, I’m fine. Uh, thank you for asking. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Yalen felt apprehensive about this sudden encounter. Had Gloria been sent here to make him answer for Covenant’s demise? It was obvious that they had been waiting for him to leave. The timing was too perfect.

Yalen’s eyes moved to her left. The person accompanying Sister Graziano was not quite as eye-catching as she was. To say they were dressed plainly was an understatement. Their sandals looked worn out and ill suited for the present storm, and the stranger’s attire consisted only of a slate colored robe tied at the waist with a length of fabric. The only thing that stood out about them was their face, which was concealed behind a metal mask cast in the shape of a snow leopard. There weren’t any openings for the wearer to see through.

“It was I who arranged for this meeting.” The man answered back. “Well met Yalen Castel. May I have some of your time before you retire for the night?”

Yalen stared at the pair with weary eyes. He had been on an emotional roller coaster today. His body was aching from partially healed wounds and sores, and it had been far too long since he last saw his bed. On top of that, he had no idea who this man was. His only reassurance was that neither of them had attempted to cut his head off on the spot.

“I see I need not introduce myself. May I ask for your name sir?”

I am-” The masked man was ravaged by a spontaneous fit of coughing. ”I am Cardinal Verus. Dami guide you, my child.”

A cardinal! Yalen bent at the waist until his back formed a perfect angle. “And Oraff keep you your eminence. I am sorry for speaking so plainly to you just now.”

“It’s alright. The blame does not lie with you Yalen. I-” Another fit of coughing, now even more severe. Gloria hovered her hands over the cardinal’s chest and concentrated. Yalen could sense the flow of energy produced by her healing spell.

“Thank you Gloria.” Verus gave his assistant a grateful nod and went back to speaking with Yalen.

“I am dressed like this so I won’t be recognized in public. There are people who would see me dead in the street if they knew I was coming here. Every day I find it harder and harder to talk to people in person rather than through a messenger.” Cardinal Verus hobbled closer to Yalen so only a few feet’s distance separated them. The tethered stood his ground for the time being.

“You have held my interest for a while now, Yalen. May I call you Yalen?” The man tilted his head questioningly, unable to express himself through the cold iron mask. Yalen nodded in the affirmative, ignoring that the cardinal had already called him Yalen several times now.

“Glorious. Before I discuss my business with you, I would like to shake your hand. You don’t mind, do you?” Verus extended his hand outwards. His oversized sleeve rolled back to reveal a hand that was covered in ugly scars. The tip of his middle finger was missing, replaced by a smooth nub. The two gently shook hands. When they did, Yalen thought he felt something like static pass between their palms, but the sensation was too faint to know for certain.

“Oh. It is as I thought.” Verus muttered under his breath. “Yalen, you have been touched by the darkness, haven’t you?”

“Pardon?”

“The void. I can feel its energies moving through you. It has made you stronger. More resilient. More…” The cardinal was interrupted by another whooping cough. Yalen retracted his hand and rubbed it.

“Aberrations. You’re talking about aberrations, aren’t you?” Yalen spoke bluntly. “Did my conversation with my teacher raise your suspicions?”

“What?” Verus pulled his sleeve back over his tattered hand. “Your discussion with Mrs. Tomaras had nothing to do with us. I assure you that no eavesdropping took place.”

“Then how did you know?”

“Because I’ve been trained, and because I know where to look for the signs. Or did you mean to ask, how did I know to check you in the first place? Well…” The cardinal shrugged.

“It was just an educated guess. The anomalies have been popping up all over your school. It would be strange if at least one student didn’t disobey the rules and try to absorb one.”

So he doesn’t know that there was an aberration in Torragon. Still, the cat is out of the bag now. There is no point in hiding anything from here on. Yalen’s expression darkened.

“Then are you here to punish me?”

“...”

Cardinal Verus burst out laughing until he was hunched forward in pain. Gloria silently tucked her hand underneath one of his armpits while rubbing his chest.

“Hee… ho… heh heh… That was… an excellent jest Brother Castel.” Verus loudly exhaled through his leopard mask. “Me, a cardinal, being sent personally to punish a disobedient trainee for such a trivial thing. What a scandal that would be.” The cardinal massaged his throat a bit.

“I don’t- I don’t understand.” Yalen murmured. “Then what...Oh. Oh, I see. Yes, I think I know what it is now.” He calmly closed his eyes. For a cardinal to come all this way, it would have to be for something truly abhorrent. “This is about Djamant isn’t it?”

“I told you he was a smart boy. He even managed to deceive Brother Ash for a short time. Can you believe it?”

“Indeed. The Dordians are lucky to have such a fine talent in their fold.”

Yalen lowered his head and offered his hands with palms turned upwards.

“Then by all means, please take me to the tribunal. I will not resist.”

The cardinal rested his knuckles where his chin would normally be and hummed.

“No... No, I don’t think I will.” Verus chuckled. He gripped Yalen’s hands with telekinesis and threw them down to his sides. The biro’s mouth was agape with confusion.

“Gloria. Take us to Fieldgate Tower. Get us out of this depressing storm.”

“As you say.” Reality flickered, and then Sister Graziano instantly popped up in front of Yalen. Before he could react she grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him through another tear in spacetime.

---

Most of the furnishing in Fieldgate Tower had been removed for cleaning after the conclusion of the melon derby. The floor that the three now occupied was almost totally swept clean, aside from some piled up storage chests, a few shelves stocked with bottles, and a handful of torches in the corners of the room. These glowed faintly, still warm from recent use. Yalen encouraged them to burn just a little bit brighter.

“Allow me.” Gloria announced. She stretched her arms out wide and let her magic run free. The thick stone floor rumbled and shifted. Up from the dusty old brickwork sprung a limestone table, as well as an appropriate number of chairs for the trio to sit on.

“Take a seat.”

Yalen and the cardinal took the chairs facing each other while Gloria settled into the side seat. Verus clapped, and then a chest slid across the room and flung open. Wooden cups floated out of the chest and landed in front of everyone. The priestess transported a bottle into her hand with spatial manipulation and filled the cups with a clear brown liquid. Her master picked up his mug and raised it up.

“Before we begin, let us warm our bodies with a drink.” Cardinal Verus tipped his head back and sipped his refreshment through a thin slit in his mask. Yalen nervously traced the rim of his cup with his index finger, but when he saw Gloria take a drink as well he felt obliged to do the same. The liquor tasted of either molasses or sugarcane. It was dry, with a hint of vanilla and nutmeg. It was strong! Yalen reflexively beat his chest and coughed. As soon as the rum hit home, a warm feeling blossomed in his stomach and spread to the rest of his body.

“Now,” the cardinal began after putting his cup down, “Is there anything else you’d like to say to me before we begin?”

Yalen shook his head. “...No sir.” Even though the cardinal’s eyes were hidden behind a false visage, the younger priest still couldn’t bring himself to look any higher than the man’s chest.

“Very well, then let’s not beat around the bush.” Verus leaned back in his chair and bridged his fingers together in a relaxed position. “I know that you and your friends went to Djamant. I know that you met the team calling themselves Covenant, and that your meeting inevitably ended in bloodshed. However, I was not there to witness events transpire with my own eyes.”

Yalen swallowed a mouthful of air.

“I want to know why you went to that island. What did you learn in Djamant, and how did you manage to defeat a team made of the Optimate’s most powerful agents?”

“I-” Yalen began.

“Hide NOTHING.”

The cardinal’s voice pierced Yalen’s brain like a lance. It felt like he was confronting Brother Wolf all over again. His mouth formed words without his consent, possessed by the preternatural authority of Verus and his cryptic magic. Everything that was discovered on Djamant was laid bare. He could not stop himself from incriminating himself and his friends as Covenant’s demise was described in gruesome detail. Yalen was unable to resist revealing the true extent of Jocasta’s power, and the existence of the one called Benedetto. How were Wolf and Verus able to control a man’s will so easily?

“Hmm.”

“There is no hard evidence, but…” Gloria whispered.

“Yes, the boy’s story confirms much of what we already know. I believe we have finally found her.”

Her? Do they mean Jocasta? Yalen thought to himself as he massaged his throat. Were these people after her too?

“Yalen.” Verus abruptly addressed him, snapping him out of his idle thoughts.

“Y-yes your eminence?”

“Do you regret your actions today?”

Yalen almost immediately answered yes, but he stopped. Even without the compulsion of the cardinal’s magic, he felt that he had nothing left to hide from these people.

“N-no.” He lowered his head in shame.

“No? You mean to say that if I asked Gloria to turn back time, you would help your companions murder Wolf a second time?”

Yalen’s reply stuck in his throat like a thorn. He couldn’t get the words out, but only nodded in reply.

“Is that why you feel guilty right now?”

“A… a servant of Oraff should not willingly choose one person’s life over another. I-I…” Yalen hiccuped.

“I have sinned beyond redemption your eminence. I deserve to be punished to the full extent of Quentic law.”

“Do you?” Cardinal Verus leaned forward and rested his chin on his knuckles. “I wonder about that.”

“W-what?”

“I know how you feel, Yalen. As a Brother of Sunset your mission is to save lives at all costs. In Torragon, you even spared a man holding a child at knifepoint.”

So he was watching…!

”Yet, time and time again you have found yourself courting the angels of death. No doubt some of those tethered you trained used their gifts to take revenge on their former jailors… And now you have the blood of over a dozen clergy on your hands. I’m certain that In your mind your actions went against everything you stand for.”

“I have no excuse.”

“And I ask for none.” Verus quietly finished his drink and stood up. He began to pace back and forth behind Yalen while continuing to speak.

“Frankly Yalen, I don’t think you belong in a Dordian brotherhood.”

“Excuse me?” Yalen was so taken aback by the cardinal’s statement that he forgot to watch his tone of voice. He self consciously looked towards Gloria, who continued to observe without comment.

“You’re no idealist Mr. Castel, even if you pretend to be one. The confrontation between Jocasta Re and Brother Wolf would have ended in bloodshed with or without your intervention, and I think you understood that with your level of power you couldn’t have saved everyone. Faced with the inevitable, you made a decision no servant of Oraff wishes to make in their lifetime. You chose one life over another.”

“Love before duty.” Gloria crooned.

Love. Yalen’s eyes were squeezed shut. He couldn’t hide from a woman’s intuition, and he couldn’t hide from the secret that he had tried to bury deep inside his heart.

He had grown to love someone, and it was enough to sacrifice his entire future for her.

“It was a crime of passion, but while you were a traitor to your kin you still chose to show mercy. I heard one of the assassins was taken alive thanks to your efforts.” Cardinal Verus stood behind Yalen and rested a crippled hand on his shoulder. “You still believed in justice to the very end, which is why…”

”We’d like you to renounce your service to Oraff, and join us.”

“Renounce my-” Yalen stuttered. “How can you of all people suggest that to me?”

“Because she is no sister of the Unconquered Sun, my dear Yalen.” Verus interjected. “She is beholden to a much higher purpose, as am I.” His eminence paced back to the other side of the table with his back turned.

“There is a holy order so feared within the church that the Holy See would seek to ruin our reputation with vile propaganda. In their hatred of us they call us murderers, rebels, and vigilantes. They slander us because we refuse to bow before any mortal authority. Because we would even turn our blades against the optimates themselves if Dami judged them wanting.” The cardinal slowly turned around.

“We are the Dark Somnians.”

The Hourglass Order

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7th of Velles - 1:05 HI
Ersand’Enise Grand Cathedral
Flashback: Arriving home at the end of Prickly Situation

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It was another stormy night in Ersand’Enise. For the second time since his fateful meeting with Hugo Hunghorasz, Yalen chose to disobey the rules and wander the streets after curfew. This time his reasons had nothing to do with the wizard living in the tower. He was not on a quest to save a village or retrieve an important magical artifact. He just wanted to get as far away as he could from his friends, his family, and from the entire school. Yalen needed time to process what he had just been through.

Trying to avoid being spotted outside his dorm was even harder now than it was before the advent of the Trials. The number of sentries had nearly doubled to account for the chaos brought by thousands of eager spectators. Every street corner Yalen rounded was guarded by a pair of Lamplighters here, or a town watchman there. There weren’t many places to go, but he did not want to return to his dorm where he might run into Colette or Isabella. The roaming student was corralled this way and that by the presence of the night watch until he unwittingly found himself standing in front of the grand cathedral.

Yalen gazed up at the temple’s marbled spires, the rainwater flowing perfectly down her walls. Nobody came forth to confront him despite him being frozen there in awe. This divine sanctum was a place where the city’s soldiers were forbidden entry by the special authority of the Holy See. The Rezaindian guardians that protected the courtyard in their place gave him one look and then let him pass undisturbed. He had not visited the cathedral often enough for them to recognize that he was here as a biro, rather than a member of the clergy.

His arms drew inward as Yalen came nearer to the church’s cedarwood doors. He was deliberating whether or not it was right for him to be here. There was a miserable wind chill that turned the water to ice on his skin, and the sodden cleric was eager to escape the storm. However, his feet were weighed down by the confusing mass of emotions swirling in his heart. There was a nagging guilt that made Yalen want to turn around and run home. Even still, a part of him felt that coming here would help him find closure. It took him a few minutes of thinking it over before he found the courage to go inside.

---

Yalen took a knee before the altar and made the sign of the Pentad. He then pressed his forehead against the floor and prostrated himself before the gods. His consciousness fled for a split second when his head touched the ground. He was still exhausted from a desperate battle he had barely managed to survive. It took considerable willpower, and some self applied healing magic, to rise to his feet and walk back down the nave. Each row of seats Yalen passed was mostly empty save for a handful of late night parishioners. He had no difficulty finding a seat in the aisle that offered a suitable amount of privacy. Yalen settled onto the bench and rested his hands on his lap. Not a word of prayer escaped his lips as he stared blankly at the ceiling.

How could I let this happen?

When Yalen went to Djamant to help his friend Jocasta regain her memories, he thought it would just be a fun adventure with his classmates. It was supposed to be a chance to explore the world and meet new people. Maybe they would encounter some vicious animals, or at worst be forced to deal with a couple of crooks. Danger was a normal part of life, and he believed himself brave enough to face it just like everyone else.

His naivete left him unprepared to deal with the tragedy that occurred when the members of Covenant arrived. Escorted by a troop of Black Rezaindian assassins, Brother Wolf and his allies demanded that Yalen and company surrender Jocasta to the authority of the church. Naturally his classmates chose to resist, and in a fit of unexplainable passion he elected to stand with them against his sworn brothers and sisters. It was not his intention to hurt anybody. Yalen stepped up believing that he would help his friends evade imprisonment. Win or lose, he was prepared to submit himself to a tribunal when the battle was finished, so that he might be excommunicated for his betrayal.

What was he supposed to think then, when his brothers in faith sought to end his life without so much as flinching? For the crime of protecting his friends, Yalen was nearly beheaded and boiled alive. The others answered violence with violence, maiming and killing many. He had always known some of his friends were capable of taking lives, but the level of brutality he witnessed today was unconscionable. Worst of all, rather than leave or try to stop the carnage, the former pacifist had just become an accomplice to several murders. He assisted his allies in destroying Covenant, and thanks to that Brother Wolf was dead, as was Brother Ash and many others.

What will happen to me now? Should I drop out of school? Can I even go back home anymore? Yalen felt his eyes water when a crushing wave of anxiety washed over him. His body convulsed while he fought to hold back a sob. He was panicked and confused but couldn’t put into words why he felt that way. Yalen was too young to understand how to confront his feelings, and the guilt he was experiencing made it impossible to confide in his loved ones. His conflicted emotions were beginning to eat him up inside.

“Yalen? Yalen Castel?” A soft voice called from behind. Yalen was frozen stiff by the sound of his name being called. Nobody was meant to know he was here.

“Yalen, is that you?” The voice spoke again, much closer this time. Yalen fearfully looked around to see who it was that had found him.

“Mrs. Tomaras…?”

Leaning against the side of the bench was a young looking Thalak woman with curly brown hair. Kora Tomaras was the academy’s theology instructor and the head of the Carnation Accord. She and Yalen often chatted outside of class, so they had gotten to know each other well as a teacher and student. Without asking for permission the professor took a seat next to her weary pupil and started to rub his back. She could feel his body shivering.

Yalen furiously rubbed his eyes against his sleeve trying to pull himself together. Part of him was relieved to be near somebody he knew, but he was conflicted about too many things to properly engage with her. This was not the state of mind he wanted to be in while talking to a friend. He should have been more discreet while attempting to isolate himself.

“It will be alright.” Kora whispered while patting her student on the back. “We all need to cry sometimes. You don’t need to act strong in front of me.”

Yalen bit the inside of his cheek. She had nearly succeeded in sending him over the edge again. The young priest actually hated how easily he cried in front of people, because it was another way in which he was a burden to others. He had been in the path of danger so many times, and when everything was on the line it was always him who needed to be protected. That was a frustrating reality to come to terms with.

I can’t be the kid clinging to my sister’s skirt forever. Yalen reminded himself. He used a little bit of magic to suppress the soreness of his throat so he could speak.

“Thank you for worrying Mrs. Tomaras, but I’m fine.” Yalen gently pushed her hand down. “I get emotional sometimes when I come to pray, that's all.” He punctuated this statement by flashing a smile her way.

“Oh yeah, I understand completely.” Kora’s head bobbed up and down in agreement. She accepted his excuse so easily that he felt bad.

“Yeah…” Yalen trailed off. He scrambled his brain trying to think of a way to keep the conversation going before it got awkward.

“So what brings you to church at this hour?”

“Eh? Isn’t that a question the teacher should be asking her naughty pupil?” The corner of his teacher’s mouth turned up into a knowing smirk.

“Um…”

“Hehe. It’s alright, I didn’t mean that. Since you asked, I came to pray for the safety of those participating in tomorrow’s event. It’s something I do every year during the Trials.” Kora brushed aside her unruly bangs with the side of her hand.
“Are you one of the proctors for the Trials, Mrs. Tomaras?”

“Yes. It has kept me very busy. The kids can mend a cut or a fracture, but when their neck is hanging off their shoulders it’s always up to adults like me to fix things.” Yalen’s teacher stuck her tongue out with a grimace and made a slashing motion across her neck. The mental image made him recoil more than a little bit.

“That is an interesting look on your face. Have you not had much experience performing surgery as a Brother of Sunset?”

“It’s not that, it’s just…” For some reason her words brought Yalen back to the battle in Djamant. He’d thought of Zarina running a man through with her sword. Trypano transforming into a monster and biting a man’s hands off. He had dug his fingers into plenty of wounds. He had forced a lung into a man’s chest and stitched the hole closed. That was just part of practicing medicine. What Yalen never witnessed was the act of killing another human being in cold blood.

“Yalen!” Mrs. Tomaras yelled in shock as Yalen hunched over and went into a coughing fit. He was dry heaving.

I can still see their faces…! Yalen dug his fingers into his head until it hurt. He pressed his eyes against the palms of his hands until his vision became white. The memories were rushing back into his head again. Jocasta was the assassin she claimed to be. Trypano was a blood mage. There was an Atomic magic wielding psychopath in their school. Everyone was a killer. He was too, even if he wasn’t responsible for landing the final blow. The same could be said for the coup in the refuge. How many died there? He was a fraud pretending to be a holy man.

“That’s enough.” Said Mrs. Tomaras. There was a spike in magical energy. Yalen’s body began to tingle, and then it felt like his head was filled with pins and needles. His panic attack subsided as his emotions gradually flatlined into a calm equilibrium. He was strangely at peace despite coming close to fainting a few seconds ago.

Kora carefully observed her student as he slowly straightened himself back into a sitting position.

“Are you feeling better?”

“I- I’m fine.” Yalen waved his hand. There was still obvious tension in his face, but the professor could see that her healing powers had done him some good. She considered asking about the source of his trauma, but after watching his behavior she chose to keep her questions to herself for the time being. Her silence left an opening for the pupil to lead with a question of his own.

“Mrs. Tomaras?”

“Yes Yalen?”

“Is it true that you willingly touched an aberration?”

“What?” The teacher twirled a lock of her hair around nervously. It appeared the blunt query had made her uncomfortable, and rightfully so. “Well, yes. Yes I did. I guess even you pay attention to the rumors at school.” Yalen nodded, but did not mention that he was passing by her clinic on the day she fell ill.

“What made you do something like that?” He continued.

“Despite the church and the school making it clear that aberrations are not to be tampered with? That they have connections with demonic activity and forbidden dark magic? That we damn our eternal souls by laying our hands upon one? Are you asking me why I chose to become a vessel for an aberration despite all those things?” The way she said it so casually took Yalen by surprise. He was at a loss for a reply. Kora sighed and crossed her arms under her chest.

“It was stupid of me to try and contain the aberration, but one of my first years was hypnotized by it. I panicked and rushed for it first. How could I, a teacher of this school, stand by and let my precious student fall prey to such a dangerous anomaly? I would never be able to forgive myself.”

Yalen’s eyes drooped down as his thoughts drifted towards his sister. He remembered how, on the very same day, his knight in shining armor arrived to save him from an aberration outside of his dorm. That night she explained to him how she had absorbed over a dozen aberrations in service of the Century. She volunteered to do it because her devouring manas were resistant to the negative effects of aberration madness. Colette chose the path of the martyr just as Kora Tomaras had. Yalen had done the same for his friends when they defeated the dragons in Torragon, sacrificing his purity to lessen their suffering. He came home tonight a traitor to his order. Was he doing the right thing? Were they? What was this all going to lead to? Questions like these kept popping into his head unbidden. It was maddening.

“Are you- are you scared? Of what comes after I mean.” Yalen whispered.

Mrs. Tomaras looked puzzled. She had to stop and contemplate his incomplete question for a moment. She couldn’t meet his eyes when she finally gave him an answer.

“I… I don’t know what will happen to me of course. No-one does. It’s possible that I’ll be reborn as a demon, or I’ll be forced to endure a lifetime of purgatory. I am scared Yalen. How could I not be?” The Tan-Zeno clutched the Quentic rosary hanging from her wrist like it was a safety blanket. Her reaction hit him like a stab in the chest.

Before anything further could be said, the chime of a distant clock announced the passing of the hour.

“...I had better hurry home. I didn’t mean to stay here so late. You should go to bed as soon as you can, okay? I’ll pretend you weren’t here.” Kora straightened out her effects and rose from her seat. Yalen felt the sting of loneliness watching his teacher’s back as she walked towards the isle. He still had questions he wanted to ask her, but he didn’t have an excuse to make her stay. Before she was completely out of earshot, Kora abruptly turned around and offered him some parting words.

“The gods know us better than we know ourselves Yalen. Our intentions matter. As long as we act with the genuine wish to help others, I believe we can eventually be forgiven for the mistakes we make.” Mrs. Tomaras bowed her head and proceeded to leave further delay. When she reached the door she nearly bumped into a pair of clergymen, forcing her to make a clumsy apology on the way out.

She’s so kind. Perhaps she would have… Yalen shook his head. He wanted to tell her the truth about what happened today but lost his nerve. The tethered student slapped his head repeatedly, berating himself for being such a coward. If he wasn’t willing to be up front with someone as big hearted as Mrs. Tomaras, then there was nobody he would be able to talk to.

A confession then. What Yalen referred to was the act of requesting a confessional from the church. By laying bare one’s sins before an ordained member of the Somnian order, it was possible to shrug off the burden of their crimes and be forgiven. However, choosing to submit to Quentic authority over that of the local government was not as simple as saying a few prayers and swearing you would never sin again. Dami’s justice was fair and uncompromising; the greater the sin, the greater the penance you were ordered to endure. Atonement took different forms for everyone, but it was known that some people died before they ever completed their penance. There could be untold pain awaiting him if that was the path he chose.

Yalen sniffled and wiped his face on the inside of his sleeve. His teacher had helped him make up his mind. After wiping the bench dry of any water left behind by his damp clothes, the tired biro marched to the door. Tomorrow he planned to drop out of the Trials to return here to make his confession. Those who did not go to Djamant would surely be confused and angry at his decision to forfeit, but this was something he had to do no matter what. He knew that at least Jocasta would understand.

Yalen felt his stomach twist into a knot as he grabbed the door handles. If he followed through with this decision to undergo penance, then tomorrow might be the last the two saw of each other for a long time.

I don’t know if it will help or hurt her but… Before he disappeared, Yalen planned to give an answer to her spontaneous confession. He pretended not to hear it, but Jocasta’s affection was not lost on him. He knew what he was to the girl from the refuge, and what she meant to him in kind. It would leave him nothing but regret if he continued to hide his own feelings for her.

I just wish I hadn’t waited so long to tell her I love her. I’m such a coward! Yalen thrust the door open, causing a wave of cold air to blow through the chapel. He shivered involuntarily as he reluctantly stepped back out into the rain slicked courtyard. The downpour had weakened considerably by now, but it was likely to pick up again if the distant thunder was any indication. He had to hurry home.

O R I F L A M M E

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Location: Royal palace of Solenne

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”You’re certain it wasn’t arcane magic?”

”It had a vague resemblance, but I’m sure it was entirely different. The energy came from a source I had never felt before. I was barely able to control the blast before it drained me completely. A few more seconds would have spelled my doom.”

”How frightening… A spell that even you, a Luminary of the holy flame could not contain? What happened when you finally freed yourself from the flow of power?”

”Destruction. Unimaginable destruction. It wasn’t just a ray of fire Misha. The magic changed things... It split the heavens and summoned a great storm in the blink of an eye. Damn near burned their sacred tree down too, though I believe the rains that followed averted certain disaster. I’m sure even that swamp witch was amazed at how quickly the sky darkened that day.”

Gerard and Misha were chatting by themselves at the foot of a long violet table. The conference room they currently occupied was located in the eastern wing of the castle. The size of the room was excessive in the eyes of the ascetic Rezaindian priests. The space could easily fit an entire peasant dwelling with volume to spare. The two of them tried not to let the extravagant decor pull their thoughts astray, for they were here to discuss matters of grave importance. It was not the nobility they had come to hold an audience with however, but a different party entirely.

”Do you think you can replicate the spell? If you were able to teach others how to-”

”No.” Gerard cut off his apprentice. ”I dare not breathe a word of this power unless absolutely necessary.” He took a sip from the goblet placed before him, courtesy of the king’s servants. ”What I produced was a mere fraction of a monstrous whole. I fear the ruin I would bring to the world if I spread this knowledge. I’m not even sure I could succeed in casting it again.”

The two warrior priests sat in silence as the conversation temporarily died off. Misha took a drink from her own cup while her master produced a worn out clay pipe. He poured a sachet of an unknown herb into the bowl, then ignited the substance with his magic. Gerard pulled a mouthful of smoke into his mouth and held it there, content to savor the taste and aroma of whatever he had just imbibed.

”Well, I’m glad you’re back. I feel a lot better when the three of us are together. I can’t help but think of the worst whenever I let you and Tristan out of my sight.” Misha sighed.

”Yes. I am back.” Gerard replied. His familiar bored tone had returned once more. His acolyte rolled her eyes at his apparent lack of interest in forming a reply.

”Ugh. Come on Master Castello. At least tell me you missed me or something. The aloof act gets old you know.”

”Hmmm.” Gerard blew a puff of smoke, filling the air with an earthy and spicy aroma that stung Misha’s nose. She waved her hand to clear the air near her face while sending a dour look his way. ”I suppose I was getting tired of carrying my own luggage.” He flashed a smirk from underneath his hood.

”So mean!” Misha pouted. ”Your jokes aren’t funny master!”

The doors at the end of the room opened suddenly, interrupting their exchange of banter. In came Tristan, the Essence manipulating swordsman and Misha’s partner in crime. Following close behind him was an entourage of robed figures bearing various colors and insignias upon their vestments. It was the delegation from the church that Gerard had been expecting. Now that the attendees were all here, it would soon be time to commence the negotiations.

”Ah, they are here.” Gerard commented out loud. He extinguished his pipe and hid it away, while Misha smoothed down her robes and sat up straight. The procession of clergymen slowly trickled in and filled the seats until a dozen hooded figures were seated across the table.

Very good. Now, how should I go about persuading them to back our reckless plan...?

The Hourglass Order

There used to be a sheet here. It is now being improved.

The Hourglass Order

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Velles 5th

Location: Merchants’ Quarters, Isabella’s Residence - Commoners' Dormitory
Day of the week: Lepdes
Time: 3:XX HS
Characters: Abdel @YummyYummy, Isabella

This is a reply to an event that takes place before the day of the Dragon.

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”A regular old piece of ribeye might do the trick, but I like to be prepared.” Isabella replied to Abdel’s inquiry. Though she was able to answer him, the seamstress was too focused on her current project to spare her assistant any eye contact. She was working on cutting the buttonholes out of an expensive looking wool doublet. Mineral dye gave it a rich blue color, and gold embroidery was stitched from the sleeves all the way down to the waist in an intricate floral pattern. For the nobleman who commissioned the piece it was just another addition to his overflowing wardrobe. For Isabella, it was the sum of hours upon hours of labor.

”Let’s see here…” Izzy set aside her work in progress and scooped up Abdel’s spoils. She poked her finger at the pile of change he brought back and nodded with approval. It actually didn’t matter whether he brought back any of the errand money or not. Isabella’s profits were guaranteed from the moment she negotiated a price for her commissions. Her noble clientele were essentially idiots with money to burn, so they were happy to overpay three or four times what they should as long as the work was high quality.

Without explanation or warning, Isabella rolled over and threw a lace collar around Abdel’s neck. Lately he had taken the place of the bronze statue she used to model her handiwork on, and she was not shy about treating him like a piece of furniture.

”Interesting.” She mumbled cryptically before removing the collar. Isabella didn’t appear too worried about discussing strategies for the Dragon at the moment. After class, during lunch breaks, and even between stretches of the Trials she was busy with work. If it weren’t for her disability one might even consider her a superwoman.

Abdel froze up like a kitten being pulled by the nape when his employer used his neck as a standard for whatever prototype she was working on. An awkward silence soon followed. Maybe he was scared of what could come next, and avoiding motion could make him invisible to the questionably human specimen he signed his soul to. Although staying put was never Abdel’s strong suit, “... So, the dragon. Yep, I can see this fabric being helpful.” he nodded as his weathered hand passed over the velvet he had brought to Isabella, “Man, I’d work overtime for a new running getup with this fabric.”

There was a predatory look in Isabella’s eye when Abdel made that thoughtless comment. He had no idea what he had just roped himself into.

”That can be arranged.” She smiled as she held up a pair of scissors.

The Hourglass Order

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Date: Fourth of Velles
Event: The end of the melon derby
Characters: Yalen, Jocasta

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After parting ways with Blaze of Glory for the time being, it was time for Mozaru’s students to decide how to spend the rest of their evening. With varying levels of enthusiasm, the five Biros congratulated each other on a stunning victory. Once they were done shaking hands and patting each other on the back, one by one they offered some excuse or another and broke away to take care of their own business. First Trypano, then Evander, and finally Carmillia. Perhaps the derby had fostered a spark of camaraderie among the bickering apprentices, but they weren’t quite friends yet.

It was just about supper time, and with no other pressing matters to deal with Yalen was thinking about finding a place to eat. Dining in the Zeno’s household was fine and all, but these were the Trials! Every eatery in town was stepping up their game and bringing out their best seasonal dishes. Some places even had specials that they only served on a Trials year, that was how profitable the event was. There were a few places the young priest had bookmarked in his head, and his stomach agreed with his choices.

“I can literally sense the hunger in your chemical signature,” Jocasta observed, appearing in the doorframe, one hand on each of its posts. “Take a look at me and you’ll see the same.”

“If you can tell how I’m feeling just by reading me, you should know when you’ve made one too many jokes about my height.” Yalen sulked. His indignation was false however, and his smile quickly returned to his face. He clasped his fingers together and stretched his arms out tiredly. Those melons really took their toll when you had to carry them halfway across the city! “Well I don’t think either of us is an amazing cook, so what do you say we grab a bite in town? There is this bakery called Oliviere’s I have been meaning to show you.”

Jocasta set hands to wheels, gliding past him towards the door. “And how do you know I’m not an amazing cook?” she teased, floating her cloak off one of the pegs in the front atrium.

“Because I can literally sense when you’re burning a cake for Ayla.” Yalen replied.

“I blame the oven,” chirped Jocasta, settling the light cloak about her shoulders and turning the handle. It was late and the sun had just set as she pulled the door open. While the usual Victendes option had been moved to a later time, she had her own reasons for not joining her other friends in attendance and it appeared that Yalen did as well, or perhaps not. He was just not as… complicated as a lot of other people who she knew, and it was welcome relief, even from herself at times. “Anyways, it sounds good. Sounds Revidian.” She smirked ruefully. “Good thing neither of us is Parrench, huh?”

“Asking a Miattan whether they agree with the Parrench or the Revidians is like asking the Eskandr which country is their true seat of power.” Yalen shook his head. “Not that the politics affect my station much.”

“Fair,” Jocasta snorted. “It’s just weird to think that things that never really mattered before suddenly do to some people. A lot.”

The two tethered continued exchanging small talk as they made their way to their destination. There was something to be said about a big city at night. The atmosphere was unlike anything Yalen could experience in his rural hometown. It was strange to see so many lamp lights for someone whose routine was previously dictated by the movement of the sun. His eyes were drawn this way and that, admiring both the people and the scenery.

“Having a good gawk there, country boy?” she teased. “It’s… kind of strange for me too, to be honest.” She let her eyes wander for a moment, steering round some rougher cobblestones. “There was always a curfew at the Refuge for everyone but us Afortunado. I remember walking the paths at night on the way to where we trained in the cenote: it was this little island of light and warmth in the middle of a vast black desert.” Other people walked along in pairs or little groups, some holding hands, some chatting and gesticulating animatedly. It occurred to Jocasta that she and Yalen constituted such a pair in the eyes of others. She shot him a little smile because that was what you were supposed to do, right?

“Ahhh, the monastery has a curfew as well.” Yalen commented, trying to steer the conversation away from any mention of the refuge. The situation there still left a sour taste in his mouth. “Sister Denali would patrol the orphanage with a broom. We got smacked on the bum with the handle if any of us got caught wandering around. She was certainly a believer in tough love.” His hand unconsciously drifted behind his thigh as the painful memory resurfaced.

A pair of students passed by Yalen and Jocasta, and one of them gave the former a polite wave. Yalen returned the gesture with a grin, recalling the fair number of times he’d lent the guy a pen in chemistry class. Until he was summoned to the Forked Tower he had never been acquainted with so many people. It was a life changing moment for him, and one that he did not regret. Ayla, Zarina, Jocasta, and Kaspar. The ragamuffin team from the desert. They weren’t the only friends he had made at Ersand’Enise, but they were undoubtedly his best friends. He was coming to cherish their relationship as much as he did his bond with Colette, and it showed in the way he acted so loosely around them.

“So,” Jocasta continued after a bit, “Whatcha gonna do with all that cheddar if we win it?” She was loath to just assume, but it was hard to not at least let herself imagine. She’d never wanted for money since being taken in by the Volti, but it wasn’t her own and there was no escaping that. She remained an investment that needed to be justified. “Honestly, I don’t even know.” Yalen had a way of bringing her perspective, and nonjudgmentally enough that she was willing to let things slip that she otherwise wouldn’t have.

“If it was up to me I would have already sent all the money I have back to Miatto. Dad got mad when I tried that though. He won’t entertain the idea of me using my allowances for anyone other than myself. He says I’m too altruistic.” Yalen’s shoulders slumped a bit. “These days all my magi either end up in a box or at the bank. The last big expense I had was my D.R.A.G.O.N. license, and that didn’t even make a dent in what I made from that auction. I would donate it all to some cause but I think Colette has been writing home about me…” He wrung his hands together unconsciously. “Once I graduate though he won’t be able to tell me what to do. He’ll love the new roof I have planned for the monastery.”

“Y’know…” Jocasta teased, “you can always be altruistic with me.” She batted her eyelashes in a purposely exaggerated fashion, but her expression soon reverted back to a rather flat smirk. “That the place?” she said after a moment, raising an arm to point as she drifted forward. “Because, if it’s not, I‘m still saying we go there.”

“Mhm. We’ve arrived.” Yalen answered. The outside of the bakery looked different from when he last ate there with Isabella. There were tables set up outside for people to dine-in, and the menu board on display was geared towards a more savory taste for the dinner crowd. The cute Parrench girl manning the front booth was still there, her eyes clouded by exhaustion in spite of her huge smile, and her brother was struggling to keep the massive line in order. Even with the unprecedented amount of customers he appeared to be buttering up the female guests with his usual charm.

“Looks like we’ll be here a while…” Yalen groaned as he and Jocasta took their spot in line. Though he was the patient sort, his legs were screaming at him to find somewhere to sit down. He had to resort to numbing the pain with magic in order to endure the thought of waiting. “Well since we’ll be stuck here for some time, there is something I’ve been meaning to bring up with you. Can you, uh, make things a bit quieter?” Yalen whispered, referring to Jocasta’s ability to muffle sounds.

“Come closer for a sec?” Jocasta prodded, motioning for him to lean in.

Yalen brought his face closer to Jocasta’s ear and, immediately, she grabbed him with gentle but irresistible force. The world wavered and then they were in Torragon again, on the outskirts of a town by dusk. “Don’t worry. We won’t lose our spot in line. They won’t even know we’re gone, but we can speak freely here.” She tilted her head to one side and her eyes became concerned. “You’re tired, Yalen. I can sense that kind of thing in the body just as well as you can.” She gestured toward a barrel and began rolling up to it. “Take a seat.”

“Please warn me before you do that.” Yalen complained, suddenly struck by mild vertigo. “Thank you though.” The tired priest sank onto the “chair” and braced his arms on his lap. “I have been working on my fitness as of late, but the melon derby still took a lot out of me.” He hammered his fists against his thighs to try and work out some of the soreness.

After letting himself rest for a minute Yalen picked the conversation back up. “Back to what we were talking about. I don’t mean to be so secretive, but what I have to tell you is something best left unheard by others.” He paused in hesitation, not knowing how his friend would react to the news he had to share. “I met a couple of the delegates from Varennes today. They said they are looking for some people. You were not named directly, but based on their description I know for a fact that you are a target. I think they know about the Afortunado. They may seek to bring you to trial, or worse.”

There was a long moment where Jocasta went still. Then, Yalen felt the soreness dissipating from his body. “You’re a Chemical mage and a binder. Why don’t you heal yourself?” Her heart went on a little bit faster, and she didn’t bother to hide it. Yalen was concerned. He had a right to see that his words were important.

“Because I don’t want myself to completely forget what pain feels like. How about you? What are you feeling right now?” Yalen’s voice was, on this rare occasion, completely serious. He couldn’t read her mind, but he suspected he was touching on a topic she didn’t want to engage with right now. He wasn’t going to let her run away from this.

“I’ve had enough of pain,” Jocasta said, glancing at something off to the side, “but I know I’ve earned some. I killed. I’m a killer. That’s why they’ll say they want me.” She shook her head slowly, twisting back to meet his eyes. “What they really want, though, is to get rid of a threat or bring it onto their side.” She breathed slowly, steadily, and a little too deeply. “It’s been…” She trailed off for a moment. “refreshing,” she concluded. “Healing, a blessing, fun to pretend to be normal for the past few weeks, just like all of you who I’m -” She hesitated for the briefest of moments. “I know so well, but the truth is that my existence is dangerous to them - dangerous to everyone. They fear what they cannot control.” Her voice hardened. “And I will never let anyone control me again.”

Yalen was silent. He wanted to say something positive, to make a statement that would reassure her somehow. This time though, he was out of his depth. He was only sixteen years old; he had met many people, yet the priest in training had never had to counsel a murderer before. Applying that kind of label to Jocasta made him feel sick inside, but it wasn’t something she could hide from forever. Her nature was at odds with her past deeds, and there was nobody left alive to forgive her for what she had done. As well meaning as he was, it was impossible for someone as sheltered as Yalen to empathize with her suffering. All he could do was listen, though maybe that was what she needed the most right now.

“I only wanted to warn you of the danger Jocasta. Though I may be a student of the church, I do not feel it is my duty to make you turn yourself in. Facing your past, finding some kind of atonement… A friend I may be, but I can’t bear that burden for you. Still, I can pick you up when you fall.” Yalen took a deep breath to recuperate. His hand found Jocasta’s shoulder as he tried to offer a measure of reassurance. Despite being the strongest biro in Ersand’Enise, it felt like she would fall apart if he shook her ever so slightly. “You have allies here, so there’s no reason to think that this is all over yet. Instead of acting like you’re going to disappear tomorrow, maybe you should figure out how to lay low so the Holy See doesn’t catch your tail.”

She rose from her seat and floated over beside him. Normally, Jocasta was not one to enjoy physical contact, much less initiate it. She squeezed onto the barrel and wrapped her arms around him tightly from the side. “Don’t worry, Yalen. I’m not going anywhere.” She breathed in and out. “Eshi, I thought we were just going to get some quick food, maybe hang out a bit without all the lil’ short range people to bug us.” She smiled weakly. “But I‘m not gonna run either, and I’m not gonna let other people fight my battles for me. You’d get hurt and I’d have done even more harm than good then.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “Help me by being you: your good, honest, generous self.”

The night air in the desert was cool, and it was one of those rare nights that wasn't cloudless. Two streams of breath came out in little white clouds, joining and mingling. “I don’t need your help to be strong, I need it to be good, and so do a lot of other people, I think.”

“I know you’ll get there, with or without me. You are never alone as long as the Pentad watches over us all.” Yalen patted her head like a child, suddenly forgetting how outclassed he was by the person next to him. “Let’s go back already. Tonight is my treat. I can show you some of that generosity as you requested.”

Jocasta blushed, batting his hand away in embarrassment. “If you were anyone else, you’d lose a -” She stopped and made a raspberry. “Who am I kidding?” With one last squeeze, she released him. “I am perfectly onboard with your chivalry,” she chirped, floating back to her chair. There was a surge of magic and, momentarily, they found themselves back in line outside the bakery. Jocasta reached out for Yalen’s hand. He didn’t hesitate to take it, squeezing with a strength that he hadn’t possessed when they first met. Yalen noticed one of the girls in front of him looking over her shoulder with a knowing eye, and his ears immediately reddened. Still, he did not let go.

“Welcome to Oliviere’s once again sir priest!” A familiar voice rang out from several feet away. The two tethered craned their heads to get a look at the caller, and spotted the teen who’d tried to hit on Isabella the last time Yalen came here.

“Ah, you are -” The monk was tongue tied by the realization that he never got the stranger’s name.

“Carlo Oliviere, at your service!” The Parrenchman let out a hearty chuckle. He looked down at Jocasta and his eyes widened. “You scoundrel! Are you really two-timing your girlfriend with this beauty?”

“I believe you are mistaken, sir,” said Jocasta not-quite frostily. “Yalen is categorically not the sort to have a girlfriend and not tell me.” She smirked challengingly in the monk’s direction. “Mhm?”

Yalen’s attempt to clear the air by loudly coughing was too obvious to be called smooth.

“Mr. Oliviere, uh, I just wanted to let you know that my friend was very happy with the free samples you offered her during our last visit.” Yalen forced out in an attempt to change the subject. Thankfully, Carlo was every bit the womanizer he appeared to be and was quickly distracted by the mention of the pigtailed girl.

“Splendid! You don’t know how happy I am to hear that. I do hope she’ll visit again.” Carlo sighed wistfully. “Ah, that reminds me. I would like you to have this miss. Please accept the generosity of my family.” The baker’s son placed a wood block in Jocasta’s lap unprompted. “Today your possession of this gets you a free slice of chocolate cake! Enjoy the Trials!”

Jocasta blinked. “Uh… um, th-thank you,” she stammered, shades of the girl from a few weeks ago peeking through. “Thank you v-very much.” She twisted and smiled sweetly up at Yalen. “Looks like it’s chocolate cake for you today. We can split it, hmm?”

“It scares me how easily you can do that. Maybe you should join the Fingersteeplers with me.” Yalen murmured.

“Hehe,” the blonde girl giggled. Her voice sank conspiratorially. “How do you know I’m not already there?” She winked.

The Hourglass Order

Hour 1

Though his physical capabilities had gone up somewhat, Yalen agreed to stay behind and house sit with his fellow tethered. While Jocasta used her temporal magic to move melons around, he and Jodi checked various points of interest with their tethered senses, which easily covered the entirety of the school. Until the tactical situation changed, they constantly tried to detect any fluctuations that gave away the presence of an elemelon.

Yalen's first sweep reveals nothing in his targeted locations, but he resolves to return to it in a minute or two, continuing to monitor. A few sweeps later, however, Jocasta starts. "Trypano's got the firemelon!" she exclaims, backing up a push and half-turning. There's the by-now-familiar feel of a temporal draw and a hole in spacetime opens.

At right around the same time, he feels a powerful magnetic jolt in the Grand Library as someone hit pay dirt. "Library!" he shouts.
Within moments, Jodi strikes gold as well. "Big kinetic rrrush at the overlook, right up by the Proving grounds. Guessing it's cloud or terra."

As soon as the elemelon signals were detected, Yalen and Jodi ceased their scanning of the city and enacted the next step of their plan. The two tethered used their channeling to create floating orbs of light above the cloudmelon and thundermelon. At the same time, Jocasta was creating similar looking decoys elsewhere when she wasn't preoccupied with portalling. While their own team knew which colors to look for, anyone trying to use the beacons to follow the melons would have to either split their forces or hope the one closest to them was the correct one. No matter what happened, the holders of the prized melons had huge targets hovering over their heads.

Hour 2

With the thundermelon's interception unsuccessful, Yalen ceased his attempt to follow it and went back to passively observing the city. When the supreme melon's signature energy burst went off, practically everyone in Ersand'Enise with a talent for magic felt it no matter where they were. When he saw the beam of light outside the window, he asked Jocasta to teleport him straight to where it was. The fastest way to identify who was in possession of it was with his own eyes.

When he dropped out of the portal near the Arches' residence he was surprised to find his own team exiting the building. They appeared to be scrambling to figure out how to get the melon home without everyone in the city dropping on top of them. They had to hurry up before other temporal mages arrived on the scene.

After joining heads the combined brains of Carmillia, Dante, and Yalen birthed a simple but possibly effective plan. The five students joined in a huddle and swapped some of their melons around before they each broke off from the group, everyone taking their own separate route back to Mozaru's residence. But this time, something had changed. After a brief flicker, there was not one, but TWO melons emitting a beam of light. Yalen possessed one, while Jemar held the other. Everyone else had normal melons in their arms, but the five of them ran home with an equal amount of urgency.

Hour 3

Yalen's mad dash for the finish line is interrupted when out of nowhere he begins to feel very nauseous. It's like there's a fly buzzing inside his ear. He momentarily loses his sense of balance and drops to one knee.

He looks up to find that he is being assailed by his friend Ayla and an unknown Yasoi. His heart wrenches momentarily when he realizes what he has to do, but he steels his mind for battle by reminding himself this is all just a friendly competition.

Ayla keeps her distance at first and lets the two boys lock horns while she supports from afar. Through illusion and internal chemical magic, Ashon tries to overwhelm Yalen's senses and force him to concede the fight. However, the young monk is a fairly capable chemical mage himself. After a brief confrontation, Yalen is able to overwhelm his opponent and put him into a magical slumber.

Without her friend to back her up Ayla is forced to fight solo, but she is more capable than she seems. Her sonic magic is not something Yalen is capable of fighting back against, and she practically dances circles around him. Despite his best efforts to rebuff her, he is eventually beaten.

After politely claiming his melon, Ayla collects Ashon and departs. When they are gone, he closes his eyes and searches with his mind for someone he knows is very close by. After all, it was part of her role. He runs over to a tree a short distance away and whistles, prompting Brandi to jump down with her melon still cradled in hand.

"Change of plans." Yalen told her before leaning to her ear and muttering something secretive. The Weggosi gal raised an eyebrow but shrugged and tossed the melon his way. As soon as he took possession of it the melon began emitting the telltale rod of light belonging to the Melon Supreme. Brandi ran off in the direction of Zeno Mozaru's house, leaving the priest to do his own thing. Rather than follow her lead he detoured south to take a longer route back home, hoping it would take him further away from the scrap happening nearby.

Yalen is able to make it back much of the way before he runs into the robed figure of a Black Rezaindian. "Hail, brother," says the tall, unusually pale man. "Unfortunately, I will be needing a look at that melon you're carrying. This is a competition, after all." He smiles regretfully. "But first, if I may bother you, I would like to have a word about a matter of great import to the church." A turquoise hundrian appears beside him, shapely beneath her ecclesiastical attire. "I promise that there is no deception on our part, brother dordian. We do not much care for the worldly matter of winning this competition, so long as we do not embarrass the holy see. There is a sickness in this school, however, and we would beg your help in rooting it out."

Hour 4

Yalen instinctively takes a step back at the sight of the agents from Covenant, then freezes in place. Something in his gut tells him that he can't hope to escape from here, much less win a battle against two prodigies of the Holy See. Not by himself. There was also something indescribably alien about the man that the boy could sense, but he could not explain it. Until the situation changes he decides to try and talk things out, but he does not let go of the glowing melon.

"Speak your piece brother. We both serve the church above all other matters. I trust in your integrity."

"Your trust is not misplaced, brother," the hundrian assures him. "I am called Sister Cadence. This is Brother Ash. None shall interfere with us."

There is something strange about Ash. Yalen has sensed it in others before, in passing, but this man screams it in a way that they do not. "We are here in search of two individuals, around you- our age, little discernible background, but likely rather tragic and otherwise inscrutable. Both with exceptionally high capacity numbers."

"We are also here," continued Cadence, bleeding anxiety, "in search of a lost artifact." She glanced about furtively. "I hesitate to even speak it, but it is a tome - an ancient one in which a demon and its dark secrets were sealed many years ago. It was being transported from Kerremand by way of Feska when disaster befell its ship near the mouth of Dami's Eye. The tome was stolen and now this foul magic may be loose."

"In the wrong hands," warned Ash, "it could prove catastrophic. Innocents will suffer."

"You wouldn't have noticed anything amiss?" Cadence entreated, "Anything suspicious?"

Yalen listened very carefully to Brother Ash. He wasn't a fool. It was easy to deduce that one of their targets was Jocasta. As his mind raced to process the situation, for a second it occurred to him they might be trying to investigate her past wrongdoings. It was a moral quandrary that he was not prepared to address with a couple of strangers, Holy See or not. Jocasta was his friend, and exposing her to any organization that showed an interest her would be a betrayal of their trust.

He didn't make it a habit of lying to people, but his heart rate and body temperature were already raised considerably by his physical exertions. Even if one of them was using the Gift to sense any tells they would be hard pressed to do so.

"There are many standouts present within the school. Surely you've encountered the man from Cubed? I don't know anyone personally who might fit your description. I fear I have no useful leads for you." Yalen shook his head regretfully.

"As for the book you seek, I cannot say I've heard of it." It was the truth. Carmillia had not revealed the book's existence to him. He was not aware of her secrets. "Perhaps you should try to secure a place in the Forked Tower. There are unusual relics on display in the prize pool." Yalen took a few steps toward his colleagues and held his melon out, waiting for them to respond. He had no intention of resisting.

Brother Ash sniffed the air for a moment in a very... unhuman manner. He and Cadence exchanged a glance. Then, the former smiled, and it was a bit too large. The latter clasped her hands understandingly. "We are sorry for any distress we may have caused you, Dordian. Please be on the lookout, though." She shook her head concernedly, glancing over her shoulder. "The people we have spoken about are terribly dangerous and subversive, wolves in sheep's clothing."

"I would hate for more innocents to have to die," added brother Ash, eyes on Yalen for a moment. He shook his head sadly after a long moment. "They have killed many times before and will do so again, when least expected." His fists clenched and unclenched.

"Now, shall we escort you back to you base?" offered Sister Cadence. "As my dear friend here mentioned earlier, we have little interest in winning... so long as we finish ahead of that team from Verrano," she grumbled. The smile was back after a moment. So was Ash's.

Yalen was hesitant to go along with these folks despite their common allegiance. Brother Ash's behavior was unnerving. Was everyone in the holy city this enigmatic? Despite his misgivings he knew it would look suspicious if he tried to avoid them now, so he had no choice but to return to base. Otherwise, they might do something much more forceful to get him to talk. Hopefully they would be satisfied with taking him to the front door and no further. Strangely they didn't seem that interested in the melon in his hands, but they did say they weren't here to win.

"Your kindness is appreciated friends. If you would." Yalen gave them a shallow bow and changed course to Zeno Mozaru's house, with his new escorts following from a polite distance. Yalen is promptly and kindly returned in working order to his base. Nobody nearby seems to want to interfere with him. It's... almost eerie. The Covenant members sniff around the perimeter of his base for a bit before leaving.

Hour 5

Yalen thanks the Covenant members for their assistance and rejoins the majority of his team that has elected to protect the base. He is grateful that, at least for the time being, he has managed to avoid a third party conflict. He looks down at the melon in his hand, the light slowly beginning to dim, and goes inside the house.

(I kinda lost track of what I was doing at this point)

O R I F L A M M E

---

”Prepare yourself Birger. Our task begins at the first sight of smoke.” Gerard expectantly touched his staff, which was hidden on his back by his slightly oversized traveller’s cloak. The two men stood at the ready near the base of the hill next to a wooden cart, waiting for their fellow infiltrators throughout the city to follow through with the plan. They were accompanied as well by three Parrenchmen in disguise. The nearby civilians had either evacuated the immediate area or locked themselves in their homes. Word of the rampaging pinniped was spreading quickly.

”I have been prepared for this long before you set foot on our motherland. I knew it would come to this someday.” Birger looked solemnly up at the majestic Grontempel, its richly decorated spires just barely visible over the hilltop. Gerard’s expression was inscrutable as he looked sideways at the Eskandr convert.

”Get a good look. This will be the last time you’ll see it again.” He warned. Birger looked back at the wizard but made no reply.

After several minutes passed, the signs of the raid became visible. A grey plume of smoke rose from the northwest quarter of the city, growing darker and larger until a cloud began to form over Meldheim. The fire attack had begun. Clandestine agents had been distributed at key locations with jugs of oil. At the predetermined time, they were ordered to set parts of the city ablaze in order to sew chaos and occupy the garrison. The Parrench had purposefully set the fire upwind so that it would continue to perpetuate through the wooden city on its own. The flame would become an inferno within the hour.

Long have I waited for this. Gerard pulled out his staff and held it up high, drawing upon the infinite power of the sun. He greedily syphoned as much solar energy as his four wheel capacity would allow. Once he was at his limit, the priest opened the door and let his magic free. Hundreds of little flames erupted from the staff’s dragon pearl core and set every house in the vicinity on fire. There was an immediate reaction as a few dozen civilians escaped their homes in a mass panic. When they saw the overwhelming amount of smoke and ash blowing in from the west, the disorganised mob began running towards the seaboard. Gerard and his followers gave the people a wide berth as they passed by, going mostly unnoticed as the herd mentality overtook the fleeing citizens.

Using the torched houses as fuel, Gerard pulled the blaze towards him and sent a tongue of fire towards the green temple. It was a beautiful work of art, and impressively large too, but it was not a stone castle of the north. The Grontempel exploded into a wildfire just as easily as the rest of the wooden city.

”Okay, let’s go.” Gerard ordered. Birger and the other men started pushing the cart up the hill as fast as they could while the Rezaindian gave them all an invisible push. During their hurried advance up the hill they passed many fleeing pilgrims, some of whom were being carried by their friends and family. Whether knocked unconscious by smoke or scorched by the heat, many failed to escape the burning temple uninjured. When Gerard saw the harm he had done, for a moment he felt guilty. However, the compassion he had shown when rescuing a child was now quieted by seething hatred. These people had chosen to turn from the Pentad’s light and now he was here to deliver their punishment. If they wanted to be spared the coming fire they should have converted long ago, as Birger had.

”Wait.” Gerard stopped his squad a few metres away from the gate. He closed his eyes and reached with his mind towards the ocean. He channelled the endless motion of the waves and, wielding his magic like a hammer, ripped apart the ancient double doors. It was not an elegant solution by any means, but his teacher was the murderous witch named Thorunn Silverhair.

The wagon was brought into the temple while Gerard held the flames at bay with sorcery. Much of the treasure had been damaged by his unrestricted assault, but there was still enough loot within to buy a small castle in the countryside. Anything made of valuable metal was pilfered. Every heirloom neskal was plundered. The Parrench took what they could and left the rest to collapse, desecrating generations of Eskandr history in less than an hour.

“The wagon is nearly full!” One of the soldiers yelled out as he dumped one last armful of silver candelabras. Gerard nodded and marched to the exit.

”Then let us be off!” The troops threw a pelt over the top of the wagon to protect their plunder and proceeded with dragging it out of the temple. It was a considerably heavier burden now with all the valuables piled within. Getting downhill without dropping the cart wouldn’t be easy.

Before the team exited the temple, Birger caught the priest’s sleeve.

”Wait a moment Sir Castello. I would ask a favour of you.” There was a grave tone in the man’s voice that caught Gerard’s full attention. He stopped in his tracks and faced the Eskandr conspirator.

”Explain yourself Birger.”

”There is one more thing I must do here, but it will not be possible without your help. I beg thee to hear my request.”

Gerard’s face was even more severe as usual as he studied Birger’s face. He looked for signs of dishonesty and cowardice. There was a great deal of tension in the air, and heat as well. Were it not for the red Rezaindian’s arcane expertise they would already have been cooked alive. Staying in this place for much longer was inadvisable.

”...Take the wagon and go to the meeting place ahead of us. I shall hear what our friend has to say.” Gerard half wondered if the men would protest, but maybe they were too concerned with escaping the burning building to care about his intentions. They departed the scene without complaint and took the spoils with them.

”What is it that you want Birger?”

”Many of us are expected to die before this stratagem reaches its completion. If I fall in battle today I would like my soul to go where it truly belongs…”

The Hourglass Order

𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔊𝔲𝔫𝔟𝔬𝔞𝔱 𝔇𝔦𝔭𝔩𝔬𝔪𝔞𝔱𝔰

---

Zeno Mozaru’s biros had more or less come together just when the first portals began to disburse their foreign passengers. However, while the five students could be counted on to arrive at the plaza on time, little else could be said regarding their merits as a team. There was an invisible tension hanging in the air around them as they silently stood, or sat, near the front of the massive crowd, observing the stage as the representatives of each school arrived. Of all the cohorts in the academy, theirs was likely the least unified of the bunch. Whether it was a lack of common history, personality clashes, or just distrust, Zander’s pupils were more comfortable ignoring each other than they were forcing a half-hearted conversation. Not even the optimistic Yalen could force people to be friends overnight. It seemed like only he and Jocasta got along. Unbeknownst to them however, the team’s lack of camaraderie would soon lead to serious complications…

Jocasta didn’t see a lick of it. Sitting amid a forest of giants, she listened to the various oohs and aahs and overheard the excited conversation. She could’ve risen from her wheeled-chair and hovered there, but it would not do to bring too much attention upon herself. “So…” she twisted and looked up at Yalen. “Wishing you could stand on your tippy-toes right now?” she teased.

“I would make a witty reply, but I’d rather not stoop down to your level…” Yalen replied. The number of sassy women in his life was slowly turning him numb to japes regarding his insecurities. However, despite his growing bravado his face was still a bit red with embarrassment. “Some of these people look so exotic. I’ve never stepped foot outside the Twin Continents you know.”

“Yes, I’ve never stepped foot either,” Jocasta replied, deadpan. “Tell me, do the Eeaiko’s faces look all fishy? I’d look myself, but I’m playing little miss helpless here.”

It was at this point in the conversation that Carmillia decided to interject. Ever since they were introduced to each other, animosity between them had been brewing. Though it was unlike her to break her friendly and kind facade, the opportunity presented was far too tantalizing to forego.

“Appearances indeed are deceiving, Jocasta. I wouldn’t have guessed you had a talent for stand-up comedy,” said Carmillia, with the most charming smile she could muster.

Jocasta smiled back with nearly equal charm. “Oh but of course, hun, there’s a lot you don’t know about me.” She glanced Yalen’s way and visibly winked.

Being underestimated was normally considered a boon to Carmillia. It often created many gateways and paths but the idea that Jocasta deemed her insignificant felt intolerable.

“I’d be inclined to agree with you but then it'd mean we'd both be wrong.”

“Pffft,” Jocasta replied after a moment, grinning. “You win. You’re smarter than me. Hee hee.” She rolled her eyes. “Anyways, have the two holy teams beat each other up yet?” she prodded. “And Yalen, why aren’t you on one?”

“Jocasta, I’m sure the Holy See would only want the cream of the crop to represent her interests. Even if I had the will, I am simply unworthy.” Yalen shrugged.

She was all ready with some sort of witty riposte, but something about his reply struck Jocasta deep and true. She looked up at him and shook her head slightly. “You’re the worthiest person I know. Strength isn’t everything. Trust me.”

“Oh. Thank you.” Yalen clammed up for a moment, as he was taken aback by the unexpected compliment. “That… that means a lot to me.” He said with a growing smile. His focus on his tethered friend was too narrow for him to detect the animosity between the two girls.

With the conversation taking an awkward turn, Carmillia refrained from any additional towards Jocasta. That might have been unbecoming of me, she thought. Fortunately, this confirms my suspicionsl. Yalen was most definitely the key to Jocasta.

The silence droned on for several moments before Carmillia ended it with a polite cough. “On to the matter at hand, this year’s lineup for the Trials look formidable.” She motioned toward the representative of Vystha’s Favoured. “Tyrel’yrash’dichora,” she said, enunciating the Yasoi name with no issues. “A mage capable of both the temporal and dark schools of magic. Conveniently blessed with one of the highest RAS scores in gifted history.”

“Dichora…” murmured Evander pensively. “Is that not the name of another student at this school?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Jocasta waved a hand dismissively. “I can deal with her easily enough. Besides, this town isn’t big enough for more cripples.” She paused. “We should be more worried about the Hegelans. I’ve heard they have ways of increasing one’s mana capacity and I would love to know how and by how much.”

Evander reacted to Jocasta’s dismissiveness with his face contorting into a pinched expression. He was annoyed. She casted away his question without any consideration. Noted. He would forgive her, but he would not forget. After all, they were a team…for now…so he chose to act like it.

Trypano had been silently standing by for the while. Small talk was not something she indulged in. With fingers steepled she listened on to the mild chitter chatter and talk. It didn’t really add up to much.

What she may have found interesting however, was the creeping chill that suddenly swept through the plaza. Carmillia and Yalen, healthy as could be mere moments ago, now looked strangely ill. Something or someone was exerting an invisible pressure that soon brought everyone with a modest RAS to their knees, and even the stronger participants were visibly uncomfortable. As this anomalous event transpired, it seemed like even their breath was beginning to crystallize as it left their lips.

To some extent, Yalen recognized the source of their discomfort. Jocasta created the same effect any time she cast at her full power. There was someone in this plaza who was even stronger than her. Stronger than Hugo. He wanted to say as much, but it was taking all his strength just to stay awake.

Jocasta furrowed her brow. “Someone’s really letting us know they’re here,” she grumbled, unmoving but casting about with her energy sense. She wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of her attention. “Here and really strong.” Stronger than me, she thought with some alarm, stronger than the Paradigm. And they wanted people to know it. Aside from sunblessed, she could think of no others who would carry that much energy constantly around with them but for intimidation purposes. It would get exhausting before long.

Evander’s cheeks began to rise in color from white to red as his warm blood gathered to the surface to combat the layer of chill entering the room. He crossed his arms as his body became more rigid. The weight of a power tugged at him as he anchored his body in frustration to the discomforting pull, “How dramatic…” Evander stated. Anyone who felt compelled to demonstrate this amount of force on their environment while surrounded by kids was not impressing him, “...how unnecessary,” he rolled his eyes as if this display of power was beneath him.

Trypano herself took her left hand and brought her index and middle finger up to the side of her neck, checking her pulse.

“Heart rhythm regular, blood alkaline levels stable at seven point forty four, adrenal glands output at standard rate. Nerve activations operating as expected.” She muttered under her breath, evaluating her condition using her magical arts in tandem to measure out her state in a calculated manner. It seemed the pathology of this condition was originating from an outside exertion of magical force, likely quite powerful given its radius. For the time being however she did not weigh in on the comments regarding it.

Yalen eventually recovered from his fainting episode and put a hand on Jocasta’s roller to steady himself. Luckily he didn’t black out this time, having been strengthened considerably by his experiences in Torragon. “For a second there I thought I was going to lose my breakfast. How could someone that powerful go unannounced by the proctors?” He sent a mental probe out into the crowd to see if he could find the culprit, but whoever they were they had cut the flow of power. However, there was a considerable amount of movement in the crowd a few dozen feet away. The person responsible was likely to be found there.

That strange occurrence temporarily took the wind out of the team’s sails, and they remained silent for a time as the school’s guests continued to trickle in one portal after another. When the processions were finally over Zenith Upta took over the stage and began announcing the order of this year’s events. The Melon Derby was an unmovable staple and came as no surprise. The Dragon was the second event to be announced, and Jocasta’s eyes may have lit up a bit when Roses & Neskals was announced as the third. “We’ve got a good shot in that one, I think,” she remarked. Thin Air and Tug of Peace rounded things off to a nice and orderly five. People began speculating and pre-planning their strategies immediately, causing the plaza to fill with chatter that nearly drowned out the rest of the Zenith’s speech. This caused her to amplify her voice even louder, and what she revealed next was unprecedented.

“The moment that I ring this,” she declared, picking the bell up, “your team will have three minutes to find a second team - not from your school - to pair with. So long as you are in physical contact with them at the exact moment that your three minutes is up, you will be allied to them for the first event. Your points will be their points and vice versa. However, those teams who are unable to find partners will participate on their own, at a severe disadvantage.” The chatter in the crowd turned into a loud panic, as nobody had anticipated this development. Zander Mozaru’s cohort was no exception, and they began to bicker right away as soon as the bell rang.

The news of picking a team to pair with was surprising and exciting. More people, meant more opportunities to score. Evander looked at his team and immediately strove for interest toward the team he identified strong Revidians in, “I say we pair up with the Angels of Pentad, what say everyone else?”

“And find ourselves targets for the Varennes team?” Jocasta replied. She shook her head. “No thank you. The two Optimal teams always go after each other. I’d rather not have to obliterate any monks.” She glanced Yalen’s way and smiled puckishly. “No offense, brother Yalen.”

Was Jocasta scared? Why did she care if they were targeted, after all, she could obliterate them…her words. Evander sensed there was more hesitation than confidence in Jocasta’s comment, Did she talk big because she felt small? Evander then followed the line of conversing to Yalen who spoke next.

“None taken. And, while I agree with Evander’s choice, Jocasta has a point. If either of the Holy Sees make a target out of us we will face serious setbacks. They will possess magics that wouldn’t normally be trusted to the common wizardry. Does anyone else have a suggestion?” Yalen questioned.

Was Yalen not confident? Did he not believe in our team to deal with the Varennes, especially with the Angels of Pentad on our side? Evander continued to listen to Yalen ask for suggestions without offering any of his own, What indecisiveness… Evander’s patience began to wear thin.

“Hmm.” Trypano considered Yalen’s open inquiry. “I can agree that simply opting for a team simply off of their strength opens us to risk of being targeted by other teams. Given how our team is fairly competent already I would recommend a team that demonstrates cohesiveness both internally and externally.” She pursed her lips, deep in consideration.

“While I’m not specifically a specialist on Eeiako culture I am aware of what little is known regarding them, including their inherent ability to cast in union. It would be interesting to see how that could be incorporated into our existing skill-set.”

Was Trypano confused? To state that choosing a team solely on its strength opened them up to risks of being targeted by other teams, while offering a team suggestion based on their strength to cast in unity, and recommending a team she admittedly knew little about except for her own interest about the Eeaiko did not make for a reasonable suggestion. Evander was puzzled, How did I end up on a team that feared to be seen, indecisive, and confused?

“It’s a risky play if they can’t,” Jocasta responded, “but could pay off if we can make it work. If not, I’ll flex these RAS muscles of mine.” She giggled a bit and blushed.

Evander laughed and tagged off Jocasta, “It isn’t risky, it’s nonsense. You do not choose a team you know little about. The Angels of the Pentad and our team in this Trial together would be targeted, sure.” He paused to acknowledge Jocasta’s input, “But, are we afraid of being targeted? I mean if you do not believe in our ability to contend with the best, then why even contend at all?” Evander did not care if the Varennes targeted them, hell, he did not care if several teams targeted them, it was about challenging their abilities together, not evading the competition to ‘steal’ a win. He continued, “Let’s act as if there is a fire behind us and stop wailing on specifics, hell, I’d even take the passionate light-hearted Weggos at this point if it meant we made every other teams experience difficulty when they crossed us.” Evander looked to Yalen, “We have five trials, not one, and whether we win or lose this one, if we punch hard, we can leave every other team hesitating against us in the other rounds, even you Yalen, an average RAS monk might put the fear of Pentad in them before even running into you.” Evander’s passion for competition was not to win the battle, but the war, and the war was five trials, if they could get into the head of their opponents on trial one, then there would be more opportunities in later rounds.

Deep down Evander knew they had to make a decision, it did not matter who they got, as long as everyone felt that their team was going to win The Trials regardless of their pair, “We need to decide now!”

We’re going to get nowhere at this rate, thought Carmillia. A minute had already passed and she was not fond at all of any of their choices. The chilling pressure from earlier was enough of an indication that this year’s Trials was full of monsters that were on par or exceeded Jocasta.

Pairing up with a random run of the mill team was pointless but simultaneously working with a powerhouse and dealing with multiple Jocasta-level egos would likely be detrimental to their success.

No, Carmillia already had an ideal team in mind. One that was capable and cunning, one she could envision endless possibilities when working with.

She needed to get through Yalen. Jocasta would be more open to the suggestion if the decision was made through him. Trypano would agree if she did and Carmillia wagered she could handle Evander.

Another 30 seconds passed and at this point Evander was deep into a discussion with Jocasta and Trypano. It was at this point she made her move.

“Yalen, what do you think of Blaze of Glory?” she asked.

He raised an eyebrow. “Blaze of Glory? Er, I’m not sure what to say about them. I know very little about Weggos, and the rosters for the teams were very brief. I guess I’m not particularly interested?”

She could work with this. Carmillia sent tendrils of chemical energy into Yalen’s brain, making his already amicable personality more so.

“Likewise, they didn't catch my attention at first glance. But that was before I caught wind of the rumors,” she responded.

Yalen's interest was piqued at this point. He had turned his whole body towards her to focus fully on the conversation.

“Their RAS scores aren’t by any means huge. But their members all possess unique skill sets and personalities that I believe would work well in the Trials.”

She continued with a more detailed breakdown over each member. Jemar with his boundless energy. Moriah being the calm intellect. Brandi who somehow always gets the job done. Dante the mad genius and Jodi, the sneaky tethered.

“With three tethered, we'd possess a powerful advantage during the Melon Derby. Are you in?”

“I guess so.” Yalen answered without really wondering why. “We’re running out of time though. Where do you suppose they are?”

“South west of the Plaza, next to the Sawandi Biros. There's no guarantee that they're still there but my gut tells me they're still within the vicinity. Go, I'll keep the rest of them busy.”

In any event, Jocasta didn’t really need to be ‘kept busy.’ She had mostly checked out of a conversation that fast looked to be going nowhere. She was surrounded by idiots and egos: people used to thinking that they were the smartest in the room, regardless of whether they were or not. She reached under her seat cushion, where she often stored things, took out a roll of chicle, and popped some into her mouth. The tethered crossed her arms and let her eyes wander. It didn’t really matter who they allied with, truth be told. She would do as she needed to. They would succeed or fail based upon that.

Everyone’s apathy would work to Carmillia’s advantage, for Yalen found Blaze of Glory exactly where she said they would be. Yet, there seemed to be an issue regarding the Weggosi team.

“We need strength!” one was insisting. “The other stuff’s aight, but we’ve gotta be able to beat these teams man for man!”

“And woman for woman,” added a petite girl with hot pink afro–puffs.

“Jemar, I love you, man, but we’ve gotta find the smart people: the ones who know this place and have a plan.”

“Uh, guyyyz, isn’t like… the timer gonna end soon? Or something?” A tall, pretty girl with bleached blonde dreadlocks looked up from examining her nails.

The fifth member of the team, however, was headed straight for Yalen, and their eyes met. “I’m Moriah,” she said simply, holding her hand out. “We got thirty seconds left. We should ally or we’re both in deep shit.”

“I’m guessing you’re having trouble reaching a consensus?” Yalen asked the girl while shaking her hand. “The same goes for my team unfortunately. We’re standing over there.” He pointed to his four team mates, who were still in the middle of bickering. Carmillia caught his gaze and sent an innocent smile their way.

“Jus a word, fools,” Moriah shouted, “We got twenny seconds left. It’s this team or nobody.”

“Twenty!?”

“Bumba!”

“Ipte’s tits!”

Yalen cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted to Carm. “Get everybody over here, and hurry! We’re out of time!” Whether by choice or via Carmillia’s manipulation, Mozaru’s cohort sprinted over to the Blaze of Glory team and began haphazardly grabbing whatever parts their hands could reach. The same could be said of their newfound allies. The pink-haired girl, tethered and unable to run as quickly as the others, was prey for Jocasta, who teleported over and laid a hand on her just as the bells began to ring. After a moment, Yalen looked about, only to notice a slight shift in the position of the other two tethered. “Yes, they froze it,” Jocasta confirmed.

“But we good, right?” asked one of the Weggosi. They didn’t even know each other’s names yet. Jocasta nodded. “We are, whatever that means.”

“Iiiiirie,” breathed another of their new allies.

“Blouse an’ skirt, that was a close one,” announced a third. “Les’ hope we married good, huh?”