Varcien Hollendale pulled open the side drawer of the desk. He contemplated the box that laid within it. It had space for 5 cigars underlaid by padding and purple silk, but two of the spaces were empty. The smell drifting from the drawer up to his nose set an itch in the back of his mind, his fingers automatically reaching for the next cigar in line before pausing when a knock came at the study door.

Varcien clenched his teeth and shut the desk drawer a bit harder than he’d intended. “Who is it?” he barked.

“It’s me, brother. I need to try the com stone one more time before I head out.” It was Cyris.

Varcien felt a headache coming on. Cyris had been visiting this office quite often today, each time trying to reach their father on the border of the empire through the com stone that was set into a pedestal beside the desk. Each time, Varcien had overseen the use of the stone, and each time, it had only managed to reach their father’s attendant. While he wanted to refuse and take back his permission for Cyris to use the stone, he knew that when it came to information their father might need, he didn’t dare block Cyris’s attempt to contact him.

“Come in, but be quick about it.” Varcien glared at Cyris as he entered the study for the fourth time that day and walked to the com stone, lighting it up as he touched it and pushed mana into it.

“I will be,” said Cyris. “It will only take a moment to know whether he is available.”

The com stone glowed brighter before a polite male voice came through it. “I am the attendant for General Hollendale. May I ask who is calling?”

“Hi Wentin, it is Cyris again. Is the general in?” Cyris asked.

“Ah, I am glad you called back, Lord Cyris. He is finally in at the moment. Please hold on, I will let him know. I believe he just finished supper.” The glow in the stone dimmed a bit as the person on the other end removed their hand and their mana for a moment.

Varcien began to thumb through a few papers on the desk just to pass the time. Irritation that this would no longer be a quick attempt to use the com stone but would be a longer call warred with curiosity at what Cyris was going to tell their father. Irritation won out as soon as Varcien concluded that it was probably just knight business. But he stayed in the office all the same. He’d be damned if he let Cyris speak to their father through the com stone, which was his responsibility, without him present.

The silence in the room lengthened as they waited for the attendant to return with their father, so Varcien did something he hadn’t done in a while—use his skill on Cyris. Perfect Desire, he said in his mind. His skill activated, his eyes widening at what it revealed to him.

Normally, his skill didn’t seem to work well on Cyris. The man didn’t seem to have any strong desires, so no symbols would appear above his head. It was all incredibly boring. Varcien still checked every so often, but more out of habit than with any expectation that something had changed.

But something had changed this time. Where there was normally no symbol at all, one now hovered translucently above Cyris’s head. Most symbols were easy to read regardless of the fact that his skill didn’t produce definite words or explanations: desires for money, power, sex, rest, fulfillment, and safety. These were all ones he had seen above the heads of nobles and commoners alike, but occasionally, one that was more of a riddle would appear, and that was the kind that now appeared above his brother’s head.

The symbol was of a shield with a very faint image on it. The shield part was fairly easy to discern with some deduction. Given that Cyris had never had a great desire for his own safety, a shield could only mean that he wished to protect something. As a knight, that also made the most sense. But the circle on the shield with one line radiating from the center to the top and one from the center to the middle of the right side was quite odd. The lines didn’t appear to be the same length as well. But the symbol was so light that Varcien involuntarily squinted as if to make it out better—even though that wouldn’t help. He was still puzzling out what it could mean when his skill’s effect faded from his sight.

Well the boring man has a boring desire finally. What rubbish! He put the symbol out of his mind as the itching feeling began to take up more of his attention. How he wished this call was over so he could reopen that drawer. Patience, patience, he thought, but it did little good.

Finally, their father’s voice was heard as the com stone grew brighter once more. “Cyris, I hear you have something important to relay to me?” There was no, “How have you been, my son?” or, “It is good to hear from you.” But that was to be expected. General Hollendale’s children existed to do their duty, and nothing else.

“I do,” answered Cyris just as coldly. “The emperor will be sending the details I cannot enclose through the com stone, but I wanted to alert you to an investigation I’ve been a part of for several days. There’s been multiple incidents of unexplained destruction to property. And while I have found out some information, I’ll let you read over what the emperor will share.”

“That secretive, hmm? Very well. I will keep an eye out for the emperor’s informant. But what reason do you have to warn me? Are these events not happening in the capital?” It made sense. The general was quite far from the capital at the moment, dealing with lawless bands of marauders to the west. It was unlikely anything happening in the capital would affect him or his troops unless it was a major blow to the palace and government as a whole.

“Well, what is going on may be bigger than just the capital, so I feel a warning to every defender of the empire is warranted. Even the commander of the City Knights and other officers of the Royal Knights are getting warnings even if not specific details. I wouldn’t be surprised if this escalates, so if you notice any unexplained destructive events that would normally be reported and forgotten, please be sure to let me know.” Cyris’s face showed an expression Varcien hadn’t seen on the man since he was a boy, one of genuine uncertainty and concern. Whatever this was, it was big.

“I see,” their father said through the com stone. He was quiet for a few moments before saying, “It is further information you’re after to see if it is affecting other areas, even this far out. Good call. I will wait for the emperor’s informant and then have Wentin take a look at the past few week’s records and monitor current ones for what you’re after. If you’re out, I’ll leave a message with Varcien to have you contact me. Is that all?”

Cyris smoothed his expression back to cold impassivity. “Yes, father. That is all.”

“Very well.” And with that, the com stone dimmed, the connection lost.

“If you’re finished, please vacate my office. I still have much to do.” Varcien waved his hand, shooing Cyris towards the door.

Cyris only nodded and left.

Boring as ever. Varcien opened the drawer again and took out one of the cigars. The first puff settled the itch in the back of his mind; it brought a lightness to his limbs and a sharp focus to his attention. Feeling more like himself, he dug into the paperwork with ease.