Leomi stands with Celyz' ovaloid head in her left hand, slender fingers holding the head by the openings that allow Celyz to breathe. The sword that cut the head off at the neck is held in her right hand. Her grip on the weapon is so tight that her phalanxes turned white.

Fear shakes me until I hazily recall that my... sister. That my sister has told me that such a thing would not kill her. Her headless body rises behind Leomi, tendrils slashing the air threateningly. Viscous brown blood burst up out of Celyz' neck like from one of those fountains I saw in Meria and Meiridin.

Leomi hasn't noticed, she is focused on me, righteous fury in her light gray, almost white, irises. Celyz slashes at Leomi with her tendrils, they wrap around her neck, wrists, elbows. The Princess uses three of her tendrils to twist and turn the Countess' right arm in different directions, literally and figuratively disarming her.

Blood bursts out of Leomi's shredded shoulder. The Countess immediately retaliates by delivering a left palm strike that collapses the Princess' torso. Both fall to the ground. Blood pouring out of their wounds. They gasp for air and grasp for life, yet I cannot move.

I am frozen by the choice offered to me is impossible. Which do I save? I am not given the time to reflect. They die when the question crosses my mind. Neither is moving, they are as dead as dead can they be. Both betrayed me. Left me alone.

--- --- ---

It was a dream, the most vivid dream I've ever had. The scariest one despite the fact that it only rehashes old fears about Leomi. Hic. I swallow and take a deep brea... Hic. I take a deep breath and try to rise. The runic shackles around my wrists and ankles prevent me to do so.

I panic at first but soon realize that I am still in the chair. That is a good thing, not much time has passed since my mind shut down to preserve itself from madness and insanity. I giggle at that thought. If I could ward off those two afflictions in that way, I wouldn't have awoken in Celyz' arms the morning after my Lady broke our vow, would never have awoken.

I inspect my surroundings, finding Vikiana and Aisha arguing with the Director still. How could that be? It felt like I slept for hours but it's only been a few minutes at the most?

Vikiana rises her heel and brings it down, startling both Director and Shade. She barks something and the Director's polite smile twists onto her lips. Aisha replies, apparently in agreement with the Exemplar.

The Director flips around and departs. I have a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, I intellectually realize it is paranoia but I cannot shake the feeling so I do not wait for them to come free me.

I assemble four tiny blood-blades and make small cuts in my wrists. I focus entirely on my flow, shaping the constructs to guide the blood leaking out of my wounds towards the locks. I set the blood-blades in position inside the locks and turn, opening the shackles.

The first thing I do is reset the conditional timers on all the lightning constructs in the warehouse, finding that I felt the hour short because it was, there were a few minutes left before they activate.

I rise from the chair, naked like the day I was born. Dark orange blood is leaking out of the injuries in my chest and belly. The result of red and brown mixing. I tell my symbiont that it can now act without reserve, its tendrils jerk into action, closing the wounds and starting to heal itself.

It understood well that what we can do must be hidden from the Director. Aisha and Vikiana head back inside. The Shade signals to Tsek, watching the warehouse from a roof, that he must remain outside.

He doesn't listen, why would he? They are prisoners and he probably guessed that I'm inside without clothes, my body exposed for him to see. He has the justification and motive not to listen.

I lean down and grab my soft leather sleeve glove. I slip it on just as Aisha and Vikiana walk inside. I control myself, I don't let the paranoia or desire to lash out because of my loneliness overtake me.

“Your opinion.” I utter sharply, implying that I have been listening in.

The Exemplar's hard traits soften somewhat at the question, likely reassured about my mental state. It destabilizes me, brings the irrational resentment I feel against her to the forefront. She stood there, twice, while I was... tortured by that Director, treated like less than a slave, handled like you would an animal.

“I don't know exactly what she wants from you, but she is as interested in experimenting on you than in the data.” Aisha speaks up. “She said that a fourth meeting will be unnecessary unless it happens in the institute where she has the facilities to... um, safely cut you open. So only one more.”

It is likely a good thing that the Shade is the one to speak because I don't feel the same thing for her than for the Exemplar as I expect betrayal from her. Betrayal. I shiver and activate the air-blade holding my scimitar, absent-mindedly correcting the trajectory I set it on earlier.

The weapon is propelled off the shelve it rests on and flies towards my left hand which pulls the long scimitar out of the air without my asking it to. I battle the void of emptiness pounding in my chest, urging me to spill and bathe in the two women's blood.

“You truly are gifted at manipulating flow.” The Exemplar speaks up.

I tell my symbiont to calm down, that we are suffering for Celyz and for Leomi, which makes it all not only bearable but worth it for the future. It releases a burst of its cool substance and we relax. Soon, its tendrils undulate inside my flesh, making Aisha and Vikiana pale a little. They look at me with... worry.

“I'm not going to kill you.” I say.

I detect Tsek about to enter the warehouse. I activate one of my lightning constructs for a split second, a small bolt strikes in-between him and the door. The Shade and Exemplar startle at the sound, my words don't seem to have reassured them, on the contrary.

“Was that an option?” Aisha asks, trying to make the question sound casual.

“Is it starting to devour you, Jess... Elizabeth?” Vikiana asks tensely.

“Ah, that.” I shake my head. “I'm in control.”

“Okay.” The Exemplar agrees, lies.

I ponder for a second. They don't seem to be afraid for themselves despite my making them think I heard it all, indicating it is likely the conversation they just had with Suxen mirrored the one they had the last time.

“Do you want to get cleaned up?” Aisha asks, pointedly avoiding to look at my bare body.

“Later.” I reply sharply.

I pick up my clothes to dress up. As I do, the Shade looks away. Her real face shows discomfort, embarrassment, perhaps some repressed desire. I know why I would be attracted to her.

Much as despite betrayal, I am clear-headed enough to realize that I am somewhat broken inside, I am not as bothered as I should be by people who want something from me, often at my expense. Tsek being the latest. Perhaps I surround myself with those kinds of people our of self-destructive impulses.

“We'll be changing locations tonight.” I speak up. “What time is it?”

“Mid-afternoon.” Vikiana replies.

“Alright, then we go in circles to lose any possible tail and then go back to pick up our stuff.” I conclude. “Tsek!” I call out.

“Don't come in!” Vikiana intervenes.

“What?” I ask.

“We need to talk a bit.” The Exemplar tells me. “Alone.”

I frown. Did Aisha turn on me? Pass a secret message? Tsek walks inside, having ignored the Exemplar order. Good, at least he knows who he should listen to. Aisha doesn't seem anxious about us two speaking,

“Take Aisha outside and guard her please, Tsek.” I say.

“Alright, you okay?” He asks.

“Peachy.” I reply snappily.

Tsek nods and steps out, keeping the warehouse's door open for Aisha to follow. He is showing discipline, perhaps I should have said I would truly consider his request to reinforce his loyalty. But I resent manipulation so, if I did do that, I would have felt obligated to repay him later.

“What is it, Exemplar?” I ask.

“You'll be alright. Don't let any idea that something's wrong into your head when there are no signs that there's an issue with you.” Vikiana says.

“What?” I blink.

“There is no reason to think you won't be able to bear a child. You're healthy and she didn't find any damage.” She explains.

“The reason I won't bear child has nothing to do with the state of my body.” I chuckle, angling my head sideways.

Vikiana loses her spunk as I shove my 'predilection' in her face. Her expression returns to that of a cold veteran. Her compassion as a mother fading as she realizes I care not.

“My daughter can't make the sa...” She interrupts herself.

“What?” I ask.

“No, it was petty. I apologize.” She replies.

I shrug and point her at the shackles. She moves to remove them from the chair while I dismantle my constructs. Once done, we make to the door, before I open, I notice that Aisha's hand is on Tsek's forearm and I raise my own to tell Vikiana to wait.

“I told you no.” Tsek says firmly.

“No strings.” Aisha counters. “I need this, she's messing with me.”

“I don't think you can blame her when you're the one attracted to her.” Tsek comments with a tolerant, irritating, smile.

“Well, it's not her fault, per say, but...” Aisha sighs, holding her tongue on the specifics. “I'm really not looking forward to reporting on this mission. I screwed up so bad.”

“Just omit stuff that makes you look bad.” Tsek shrugs.

“I can't do that.” Aisha shakes her head. “For the first time, I'm glad that I'm too unimportant to meet my Emperor.”

“Weren't you sent on that mission to capture the Princess?” Tsek asks. I notice that he hasn't shaken her hand from his arm despite his earlier refusal.

“There's a reason those who were sent weren't from Kruzser. The University wasn't confident that their product would work so deep in their territory and near their rulers so they picked people qualified enough to succeed but disposable enough that it wouldn't weaken the Empire's borders if we failed.” Aisha explains quietly.

“Oh. I'm sorry.” Tsek says.

“It's fine. I did receive instructions directly from our Emperor after all.” She says, yet her expression lacks pride.

“How did you do that trick on the chains?” Tsek asks, changing the subject. I'm starting to suspect that he's avoiding the subject of the Emperor.

“Took a week with what scraps of flow I had but it was a merging construct. I merged air into the iron.” Aisha shrugs.

“You did that while you were flirting with me?” Tsek questions, half-way impressed, half-way vexed.

“Well, you weren't that hard for me.” Aisha says with a wink. Tsek's cheeks rise in temperature. “To trick.” She adds.

She is so relaxed, it reminds me of when I spoke to her in the brothel when she was together with the other whores. Another victim of duty. I shake the compassionate idea out of my head.

I'm inclined to truly believe that her errors were caused because she lost control and was desperate to fulfill her duty, to regain control because she feared making a mistake, like the one she alluded to with Cecil.

I walk out with Vikiana as there is a lull in their conversation and we don't have much time to waste. We make our way through the streets as a group, I take the same precautions as the last time except I elect not to go to an inn.

When night falls, we head back to the house to eat and recover all our gear. The chest containing Vikiana's plate armor being the most cumbersome. As they prepare for us to leave this place behind, I take the rag map out and use a piece of charcoal to draw a line between the Palace and the institute, where I observed the leyline.

We'll be looking for a place which isn't too far from the leyline or the building where I store my flow. I also make a quick calculation on the amount that'll be available to me in a couple of weeks.

The maximum would be close to seven hundred portions but between maintaining the constructs to guard the prisoners, what I consume during training, and natural energy dispersion, it'll likely be around five hundred.

We spend the night exploring the line between the institute and the palace, there are many empty houses, shops, and workshops. I pick a run down shop which is still in the slums but close to where the leyline should pass.

Tsek goes to sleep as soon as Aisha and Vikiana are secured in a large room which was used as storage before. Finally alone, I take my time to wash the blood off of my chest, belly, and wrists.

My symbiont's tendrils are already almost fully healed while the cuts Suxen made with her scalpel are quickly mending and don't require a healing construct, thanks to the tendrils holding them shut.

It isn't too difficult to stay awake through the night, the short loss of consciousness I experienced seems to have recharged my batteries. By morning, my reserves are full and I notice with some anguish that they've risen to twenty-five portions.

That's good news for my plans, not so much for me. The wound Suxen inflicted to the tendril fused to my abs apparently caused it to further meld with me. I notice Aisha waking up as I am lost in thought, she checks on Vikiana first, finding the woman asleep.

A stream of energy leaves her fingers and she starts shaping a construct. I squint and prepare to intervene, violently. It's only a fire construct, but she knows that she is forbidden to even use that. I seize my scimitar, but before I can even get up, she calls me.

I carefully shape a defensive construct, air-blades, and lightning constructs before making my way to the storage room. They both slept on the hard wooden floor, neither complained or seemed bothered.

“It's cold.” She whispers. “Can I activate this?”

“You should have asked me before even making it.” I frown.

“I wanted to get you in here.” Aisha shrugs. “I'm don't do well with rules if you hadn't noticed.” She punctuates that declaration by activating the construct and setting it to float near the Exemplar. “Let's talk for a bit.”

“I'm tired, Shade.” I reply.

“Well, so is she which is why I'm asking now.” She counters.

“Alright, you've peaked my curiosity.” I nod.

I untie her, careful not to wake Vikiana up. We settle in front of a small chimney, the only place where we can cook since this isn't a house. Aisha uses the rest of her flow to light it on fire.

“Amand told you to present yourself at the Temple a month after the end of hostilities, correct?” She asks. I'm really not surprised she knows.

“He did. Why, what's your angle in that?” I ask.

“You're probably unaware that there is a rift in the Order between loyalists like Vikiana and people like Master Amand who ponder whether or not the Emperor is starting to lose touch with the Empire's needs.” She tells me.

“How could there be people who doubt our Emperor within the Order?” I question.

“You cannot run an entire Empire with staunch loyalists alone, it would be extremely impractical and a waste.” Aisha replies easily. “Those who show doubt are simply sent to the fringes, like Master Amand.” She pauses for a moment. “I'm not manipulating you to get you to go to him because Elizabeth Vil could be considered a 'victim' and 'proof' of their misguided belief, on the contrary, the fact that I covered for you as a Shade means they might try to execute you to see what our Emperor decides to do.”

“Why tell me this now?” I ask, letting go under silence that it would be inconvenient for her if Amand did that and revealed what I am so she is steering me away from that.

“Show of trust, this isn't something you'll hear about. Those who question our Emperor aren't open about it, they are loyal if misguided in their concern.” She explains. I don't know what this is about but it has no immediate effect on my situation.

“Why shouldn't Vikiana hear this?” I ask.

“Because she had trouble getting recommended to become an Exemplar. I don't want to set her against Amand for that. He's always been harsher and more demanding of her than any other Templar.” Aisha replies.

“Ah.” I smirk. “That's not it. What you don't want is for her to talk to him. She's started questioning our Emperor lately, hasn't she?” The Shade remains silent. “There is much to ask our Emperor Rasaec about this. It would be a problem if both a Master and an Exemplar came out of this entire affair with shaken loyalties.”

“He has ruled us for centuries and never led us astray. Just because things didn't go as well as they could doesn't mean we can start questioning His will.” She utters firmly.

“My Faith remains strong, Aisha, but I'm starting to realize that blind faith may do more damage than distrust.” I reply calmly.

“I.” She pauses. “Cecil said the same thing.” She whispers, expression dropping.

She appears shaken to her core beneath a calm illusory face. I don't trust that but I am not devoid of empathy so I don't press her in case her discussions with Vikiana truly made her look back on this affair. I make my way to Tsek's room and shake his shoulder.

“Hm.” He groans but opens his eyes.

“Get up, it's your shift.” I tell him.

“Had a good night?” He asks.

“Yea. Give Aisha a moment if you want to train your thievery.” I reply.

He pushes his blanket away and holds his hand out. I take it and lift him out of the bunk composed of two layered blankets. He doesn't let go immediately, rubbing his face with his other hand.

“You'll have time to train me this afternoon?” He asks.

“Probably not.” I reply.

“Oh, okay.” He says, looking disappointed.

“I might have an hour or two before dinner.” I tell him.

He lets go of me with an enthusiastic smile and heads out. I slip into the covers and wrap them around my shoulders and feet. My loneliness returns as I try to fall asleep, likely because Vikiana is up and watching Aisha teach Tsek.

I wish I could return to who I was before. Someone who could bear loneliness and rejection. I was stronger in some ways back then, before I met Leomi. Yet, I wouldn't change the past for the world, she gave me purpose. A simple but powerful one, to be with her, to no longer be alone.

--- --- ---

– Arc 04 End –