Azvalath never wanted to resurface. The darkness was safe and calm like a womb. He felt nothing, thought nothing, and feared nothing for the first time in forever. It was true peace.

The more he tried to resist becoming aware of his body again, the more his awareness grew like a thorn in his side. Azvalath cursed his consciousness as it returned. He opened his eyes. Everything looked distorted, as if he were underwater. Someone held his hand. He closed his fingers. When he realized who it was, the world jolted into sharp focus. “Master?”

Xigon released his grip. “Slept well?”

Azvalath looked at Xigon and shuddered. “What happened? How am I alive?”

“Did you really think I would kill you like that?” Xigon crossed his arms. “No, I wouldn’t.”

Azvalath’s head swam. He picked his hand up and stared at his own fingers like they were the strangest sight ever. “What did you do?”

“I did interfere with your heart,” said Xigon. “Though not fatally, and not irreparably. Then I put you under a healing sleep for four and a half days. Though you probably needed longer now that I think about it.” He leaned back and sighed. “And I’ve been here with you the whole time.”

Azvalath sat up. The cot creaked under him. “What? You didn’t sleep for four and a half days?”

Xigon shrugged. “Nothing new for me.” A small smirk crossed his lips.

Always so calm, Azvalath thought. So above every situation. It was the thing he both loved and hated the most about Xigon. He scowled and chuckled at the same time. “I see nothing’s changed with you either.”

“Hm.” Xigon lifted his goggles up to rub his eyes. “I suppose we never did catch up, seeing how I was too busy reprimanding you. Which, yes, I think you needed.” He put his goggles back down. “By the way, I added those six marks to your arm while you slept.”

Azvalath shrugged. “All right. So what’s been happening while Channei and I were out? Master Qila only told me the basics.”

Xigon looked up. “Let’s see. Lalek broke one of my crutches the day before you returned, so I’ve been using my chair until I have the motivation to fix it.”

Azvalath put a hand over his mouth. “How’d that happen?”

“She ran into me in the hallway. Full speed.” Xigon smacked his hands together. “Pow! Also put a hole in the wall. I asked Rizval to crystallize said hole, but they won’t because they think it’s hilarious.”

Azvalath imagined all of that playing out and it made him chuckle.

“On a more serious note,” said Xigon. “The mission was successful. Channei brought the devil-child back. She survived her first ascension and is recovering well.”

Azvalath brightened. “Really?”

“Yes,” said Xigon. “She’s currently staying with Qila in her quarters. I would encourage you to visit and introduce yourself properly as her new comrade. It’s important that she not be afraid of anyone here.”

Azvalath nodded. “All right. May I do that now?”

“If you’re so eager already, then go ahead.” Xigon backed his wheelchair up a little. “Before you go, though, I should inform you of something else.”

“I’m listening,” said Azvalath.

Xigon folded his hands on his lap. “You’re demoted.”

Azvalath tensed up. “What?!”

“It was decided after talking to both you and Channei about what happened on your mission,” said Xigon. “Your actions were in serious violation of our tenets.”

“But we were successful,” Azvalath protested. “We did what you asked!”

“Channei was successful,” Xigon corrected him. “She did what we asked. You did what you wanted. Until further notice, you’re a student again, and you no longer hold any commanding authority.”

Azvalath trembled with rage. “But…!”

“End of discussion.” Xigon pointed him toward the door. “I’m not interested in arguing right now. Take your grievances to Qila.”

Azvalath threw his blanket off and stormed out of the room. He charged down the hallway and toward the stairs. Right at the base of the steps, he saw a spiderweb of cracks around a gaping hole in the wall. Some splinters of wood stuck out. That must have from been the accident Xigon had mentioned. Despite his rage, he almost laughed, but instead ended up making a sound he didn’t know humans could make. Then he coughed and clutched his injured ribs.

Silently, he thanked Lalek for the smile. He went up the stairs and felt a little lighter. As he passed by Lalek and Channei’s room, he caught his name in a conversation and froze.

“I’m telling you, Lalek, it’s amazing how good Azvalath is at killing people, but can’t bag a squirrel to save his life,” said Channei.

Lalek giggled. Azvalath took a deep breath and resisted the urge to yell at them or pound at their door.

“Are you eavesdropping? You’re such a creep!” Channei swung the door open and startled him. She took one look at him and frowned. “Who pissed in your porridge?”

Azvalath leaned against the wall. “Master Xigon, damn him.”

“What, are you mad he made you sleep so long?” Lalek piped up from across the room. “Not like you missed much.”

“No, that sleep was quite a relief.” Azvalath crossed his arms. “Until he woke me up and slapped me with a demotion.”

“Oh.” Channei looked down. “Yeah, I heard about that. Unfortunate.”

“Sorry to hear that.” Lalek punched the sandbag suspended from their ceiling. “Need to hit something? Great stress relief.”

Azvalath thought about it. “I might take you up on that offer later. Right now, though, I’m going to see Master Qila. Maybe she’ll have something to say in my defense.”

Channei waved. “See you later, creep.”

Azvalath grumbled as he walked away. “You’re one to talk.”

“What was that?” Channei called after him.

Azvalath looked over his shoulder. “Nothing!”

When he yelled, his chest hurt again. He tried his best to shrug it off, but by the time he arrived at Qila’s door, he was panting and sweating like he had run up a steep hill. He took a moment to catch his breath, then knocked.

“Who’s there?” Qila asked.

“Azvalath.” His voice cracked. He flushed. “Is now a bad time?”

Qila opened the door and grinned at the sight of him. “You’re awake! Goodness, it’s been too quiet the past four days or so. Especially with Channei out and about again, but not you. Come on in. Would you like some tea?”

Azvalath stepped into Qila’s study and found the chair he liked best. He sniffed the air but couldn’t put a name to the scent. Whatever kind of tea it was, it probably tasted as unpleasant as it smelled. “No thanks.”

“Your loss.” Qila poured herself a cup and blew on it. “Mm. How can I help you, then?”

Azvalath bit his lip. “I want to strangle Master Xigon right now.”

“That seems rather extreme,” said Qila. “What’s going on?”

“He demoted me.” Azvalath shook and bared his teeth. “Can you believe that?”

Qila pulled a chair up and sat across from him. “Of course I can,” she said. “It was my suggestion to begin with.”

Azvalath opened his mouth but could form no words.

“We discussed it while you slept and agreed to treat your actions as ignorance rather than willful malice.” Qila took a long sip of her tea. “Understand that this is mercy and not true justice. Neither of us believe you were ignorant for one second. You killed scores of innocents out of bloodlust because you believed yourself above them, not because you didn’t know better.”

Azvalath’s shoulders sagged. Hearing it from Qila as well as Xigon was enough to crush him. A log exploded in the fireplace and showered sparks everywhere. He flinched.

“So, student.” Qila leaned closer to him. “Remind me of our tenets.”

Azvalath averted his eyes.

“I’m waiting,” said Qila.

“We are the Iron God’s hand,” said Azvalath.

“And what does that mean?” Qila asked.

“With his power and blessing, we may do his work to preserve the living world. But it’s our duty to keep true to his vision,” he said.

“Very good. Next?”

“We are neither above the mortal world, nor below it,” said Azvalath.

“Ah-ha.” Qila pointed her finger at him. “Never forget that. Continue.”

“I know the tenets, Master,” he snarled.

“Prove it to me, then,” said Qila. “What’s the last big one?”

“We cannot expect to reach others if we ourselves are not willing to be touched.” said Azvalath.

“Indeed,” said Qila. “Understand first, then you have a right to be understood.” She looked at the door to her bedroom. “You can come out now, Kolo.”

Azvalath jolted as the door creaked open.

“It’s time you understood for once,” said Qila. “In that sense, you were always far behind.”

The devil-child – no, Kolo – peeked her face out of Qila’s room. Her eyes were full of red glow. Her ratty white hair fell across her forehead. Azvalath heard her take a shaky breath in. He shuddered too. Without the shield of his sabretooth mask, he was no longer a predator. With her name and her eyes on fire like theirs, she was no longer prey. It gave him a gnawing unrest. Now, they met not as predator and prey, but as two humans. It made him feel small.

“Hey,” he whispered. “I’m Azvalath.”

Kolo’s hands clenched and unclenched. “Az…Az…a” She struggled with his name. “Aza.”

“Azvalath,” he corrected, as gently as he could. “There’s a v.”

She ignored him.

“Are you feeling all right?” he asked.

“You did it.” Kolo scowled at him. “You made this all happen.”

Qila nodded. Azvalath looked down. He didn’t know what to say.

“Why?” Kolo asked.

Azvalath stared at Qila. “Master, I…”

“Azvalath came to us the same way,” said Qila. “I hunted him like he hunted you. I even had to cut him down so he might be lifted back up. Just like you.”

Kolo’s face seemed to soften.

“I was terrified and confused, just like you.” Azvalath took Qila’s hint. “Worse, even. I didn’t ascend as easily as you did. I almost didn’t survive.” He sat up straighter. “But now, I’m stronger than I ever was. Now I have a family. I have a home. I have a purpose. Is that so bad?”

Kolo averted her eyes. “I don’t know.”

“And you don’t have to know right away.” Qila stood up and stretched. “Why don’t you two come and help me make dinner? We’re having soup tonight.”

Azvalath shrugged. Kolo tapped her foot on the floor.

“That was a rhetorical question,” said Qila.

“Don’t phrase it as a question, then.” Azvalath got up and cracked his knuckles. Perhaps, he hoped, hacking up vegetables would feel as good as punching someone.