The small room was dimly lit, with only a single table and three chairs occupying its center. Ferdinand and Alice sat across from each other, waiting for their guest to arrive. Ferdinand had objected to Alice's presence, but she argued that she knew Albert better than anyone else, and it might help. Ferdinand reluctantly agreed, and they had arrived a few minutes ahead of Albert.

When Albert arrived, he looked exhausted. Dark circles under his eyes indicated that he hadn't slept since he was brought in. The two magisters escorting him sat him down in the chair opposite Ferdinand and Alice and left the room, locking the door behind them.

The room fell silent as the three of them settled into their seats. Ferdinand cleared his throat and spoke first.

"Just for the record, you are Albert Nedely, son of Constant Nedely, head of the Nedely Trade Network, is that correct?" Ferdinand asked.

Albert nodded. "Yes, that's correct."

"Good. I'd like to remind you that we have psychic defense in place, so don't worry about your mind being affected. Is that clear?" Ferdinand said.

Albert nodded again. "Yes, sir."

"Excellent. Now, you stand accused of aiding and abetting the assassination of a sovereign citizen of Legoria, kidnapping a noble, and acting as an accomplice to the mass manipulation of a population of no less than a million souls. What do you have to say in your defense?" Ferdinand asked.

"In my personal opinion, I did what was required to maintain my own safety and not endanger the lives of others," Albert said.

"Do you deny the charges against you?" Ferdinand asked.

"I maintain that they were made under duress," Albert said.

Alice dryly laughed. "Sure, duress. You weren't the one shoved in a closet."

"Please, Lady Magrisal," Ferdinand said, turning back to Albert. He placed a folder on the table in front of him. "This contains independent records confirming that you, under a pseudonym, set up a news journal in the city weeks ago, before the projected timeline of the assassination. How do you explain this?"

"It's complicated, and I'm not sure what I can tell you without risking my own life," Albert said.

Ferdinand leaned forward. "Young man, you should know that I am capable of pulling the very membrane of your mind apart and looking for myself. Do not play games with me."

Albert gulped audibly. "Yes, sorry. Force of habit. I know the true identity of Arch Mage White, and I also know who instigated her assassination contract. I am currently operating under the Dante Favor to capitalize on this information. I set up the paper to gather information and got caught up in it all."

Ferdinand's eyes widened in shock. "What makes you believe this?"

"I personally listened to the contractor say as much," Albert said.

Ferdinand's voice was tense. "Who was the contractor, and who do you believe Arch Mage White is?"

"The contractor is Ander Plact, Headmaster of Cylas. As for the identity of Arch Mage White, that is someone we're all familiar with," Albert said.

"It's Andromeda, isn't it?" Alice said, her voice in a that suggested that she wasn’t surprised.

Albert nodded. Ferdinand shook his head in disbelief.

"Of course... how many know?" Ferdinand asked with wariness in his voice.

"At the current moment, that's all I'm sure know for a fact. The group planning the assassination and the ones who kidnapped Alice don't seem to know this," Albert replied calmly.

Ferdinand furrowed his eyebrows. "Are you sure? We have reason to believe that this 'Arbiter' person is capable of interfering with the minds of others."

"Arbiter?" Albert repeated, confused by the name.

"Yes. Not long ago, a woman by that name visited this facility despite not having any reason to know where it was, and she had an educated guess that Andromeda was here," Ferdinand explained.

"I was never given a name for her, and no one that I knew ever mentioned a name like that. But assuming it is the same person, no, she doesn’t invade everyone’s minds. For some reason, she would leave certain people alone. I never got an answer for why," Albert shared.

Ferdinand took a deep breath. "You seem to know about some of their operations. Tell me more about it."

"It's like I said, my hands were tied. If I refused to help, this 'Arbiter' would kill a lot of people. I made the call to help and keep some of the blood off my hands. At first, I tried to worm my way around it, but got caught lying and nearly ruined it all," Albert admitted.

"Answer the question, please," Ferdinand pressed.

"Fine, as far as I'm aware, the actual primary group is made up of only a few people. The Arbiter, Aixen Vannse, a few elite bodyguards, and some support staff. No more than ten total. As far as I'm aware, they don't know who Andromeda really is. Though that doesn't make sense," Albert said.

"Why?" Ferdinand inquired.

"Because I know that this group is not the entire organization. If the rumors I heard around the guards and staff are true, The Arbiter is a high-level operative. Not the kind of person you send to kill one person," Albert stated.

"Andromeda wasn't exactly popular among the college. We all heard the rumors about her," Alice chimed in.

"I know, which is why I am confused. If they wanted her dead, it wouldn’t have taken her to do it. They wouldn't need to take an entire island hostage to make that happen," Albert pondered.

"That brings me to another point. What is Entai Algoer's role in all this? Until this Arbiter character appeared, we were under the impression he was in charge of the operation," Ferdinand said, furrowing his brows.

“Absolutely not, er, I mean, he isn’t involved in this. I’ve only spoken to him a few times, but never once did he approve of it, or want to help. However, it seems like the Arbiter is afraid of him for some reason.” Albert said. Then Albert suddenly remembered something, and just as he reached into his pocket. Ferdinand braced himself in case this was some kind of sneak attack, but he was surprised when Albert put a black cube of some description on the table in front of them.

“He gave me this, to give to Andromeda. But he gave me strange instructions on when to give it to her.” Albert said.

“First, tell me what it is.“ Ferdinand .

“I have no idea, and that’s kind of part of the problem. He said that only those who know what it is can have it.” Albert clarified.

“Strange.” Ferdinand reached forward to grab it, and before Albert could stop him, his finger touched the black surface and it hissed at his touch.

“Gah, what the hell?” He exclaimed.

“He told me that it can’t be touched by anyone who it wasn’t given to, he “gave” it to me, and wants me to give it to Andromeda!” Albert said quickly, already hearing the door outside unlocking.

“You just said that only people who know what it is can have it.” Ferdinand said, rubbing his hand gently.

Albert picked the cube back up and put it in his pocket, “Look, I was at the college for all of a month and a half, I don’t know how this stuff works beyond the basics.”

“Do you have any evidence that would lead me to believe this isn’t a trick?” Ferdinand said. Alice then sighed and shook her head.

“Actually, I can explain. Andromeda apparently received a letter from Entai Algoer, he invited her to visit his home, and he intended to give her a gift and a job opportunity after Cylas.” Alice said.

“Really?” Ferdinand asked.

“Yes, and if I remember correctly, this letter arrived before Albert left the college.” Alice said.

Ferdinand contemplated quietly on the meaning of this. While he considered many variables, he considered Entai Algoer was still their enemy, or a potential ally.

“What are the chances he might assist us in this situation?” Ferdinand asked.

“I couldn’t say, not long after he gave me the cube, he came down with something awful. The Arbiter has been trying to stabilize him, but it hasn’t been going well.”

“Damn,” Ferdinand muttered under his breath.

“Another thing, I’m sure you’re already aware, but the place you pulled us out of was their makeshift hideout. It’s also where they want you to take Andromeda. Taking us and leaving the place looking like it did won’t end well.” Albert said.

“You’ll let us worry about that, you’re only responsibility is to tell me everything I need to know.”

Albert leaned in and gave Ferdinand a look that he couldn’t place. “Sir, there are a great many people who are only in danger because I was reckless. If you are not careful, they will die. I can’t live with that on my conscience.”

It was something he was hearing a lot lately. Argram, Carrion, Andromeda, and now this young man. Where did they find this urge to avoid something that increasingly looked like the future?

He shook his head, It didn’t matter. He would wait for the future to come, and worry about promises then, broken or not.

Carrion and Argo sat in the dark room, with Elias “Eli” Boreas sitting before them. Argo was brought in due to having a passing knowledge of him, as they were neighbors in King’s Grove. Carrion had spent the last few minutes trying to get Eli to talk, but to little success.

“Elias, I need to re-iterate that the charges against you are substantial. I can’t even say that you’re looking at just prison, these are capital offences, you could be hanged. You need to work with us here.” Carrion said. Then, for the first time since they sat down, Argo spoke up.

“Eli, son, I’ve known your pa since we were little kids. I watched them walk through the door with you in your mother’s arms. You were always a kind kid, what could have made take part in all this?” Argo asked.

As he looked at Eli, it was hard to take in his appearance. His eyes were bloodshot, his cheeks were gaunt, if you listened closely you could heard the sounds of his stomach chewing itself in hunger. His farmer’s tan clashed against the spattering of leather he wore as armor. Worst of all was the look in his eyes, they were absent like Andromeda’s. But not cold and lost, the only other time Argo had seen a man with that look was when he looked at Nico as they let Reine down into the earth. It was a cold and dark distance that one took upon themselves. Then Argo was reminded of something.

“Son, do you remember, it must have been about 15 years ago. It was the first time you and my little girl met.” Argo said. Eli’s eyes swung towards him. That didn’t surprise him. It was a story that spread throughout the country. But Eli was close, and knew the pain very well.

“Me and your pa went to the market that day for lunch stuffs. It must have been in spring, or early summer. I remember sitting there, and then I hear a crunch, when I look to see the source I see you laying on top of Reine. A market stand just inches away crushed under a falling chimney. Do you remember that son?” Argo asked.

Eli looked down at the table, and Argo leaned in.

“I don’t know what the particulars of that day was. But the poor man who didn’t walk away from that sold tomatoes son. Reine loved Tomatoes. I know she was standing there.” Argo said.

Eli was quiet still, but Argo could see his eyes flickering.

“You didn’t say anything, but I had a feeling I knew what happened.” Argo continued.

Eli shuddered slightly.

“Son, You saved my daughter that day. Even if you were too young to remember, I do. The day has come again, and I need you to help me save her again.” Argo said.

Argo watched as the blood drained from Eli’s face. His lip quivered. “That was…”

“Yes son, that hood Andromeda has is Reine’s. I gave it to her just before she left.” Argo said quietly.

Eli took a staggered breath, as if it was hard to do, and cleared his throat.

“I’ll try, Mr. Lander.” Eli said.

“Thank you lad, now please, answer the man’s questions.” Argo said, then he turned to Carrion. He flipped a page, skipping past the introductions as they had moved past that by this point.

“First, we must know what your connection to Andromeda is.” Carrion said.

Eli took a moment to answer, “I met her as we left the farms and split when we reached Salsi, I didn’t see her until some time later when I was escorting her from Trevias to Betel.” Eli said, his words came slow and carefully, as if each one hard to deliver.

“Right, can you… clarify… what happened between there and here. We have recieved, well, unflattering reports…” Carrion said.

“If you’re asking about what I did, I won’t lie.” Eli said, his voice so clear that the change was jarring.

“Then is it true? I’d like your side.” Carrion said.

“We were on the boat, and while I spoke to someone I thought was my enemy, the boat started to shake. Next I saw her she was standing in the middle of the deck, there were cracks in the hull. I had a dagger in my hand expecting a fight.”

“That matches our reports, go on.”

“I feared for my life, and I thought she was going to kill us all. By that point, she had given me that impression more than enough times. I stabbed her, it went through her spine.” Eli said. The soft crunch of wood sounded as both Carrion and Eli noticed that Argo had gripped the table in front of them with enough force to dig his fingers into it. Eli continued.

“She barely hit the ground it broke.” Eli said.

“Broke? What Broke? The dagger?” Carrion asked.

“No.” Eli said, then he looked Carrion dead in the eye. In a way that made the hardened beastman shiver. “Reality. Broke.”. His voice was cold, and there wasn’t the slightest suggestion that he was exaggerating. “The deck shattered and slid against itself like broken glass, men to my left and right moved like bolts of lightning, some reduced to children, while others grew old in an instant.”

Eli’s hand laid on the table and Argo watched it shake. “I saw the sun break in two, there were two shadows for each man.” He said. “She wasn’t on the ground, she just floated there, her hair had turned silver and the wound I left was gone. Silver light bathed the deck and for a moment I thought the entire world would fall apart around her. The sky was shattered like glass, in that moment I realized what was happening.”

Carrion’s eyes went wide when he heard the silver, and as his mind raced, Eli reached into his pocket and produced a small piece of paper, and place it on the table in front of him. Both Carrion and Argo wondered at the reason, but Eli explained.

“This is reality.” He said, “When I stabbed her, reality broke.” He pulled the top and bottom of the paper in two different directions, and it ripped in half, now laid in two haves unaligned.

“I don’t know why, but it didn’t affect me like the others. Seconds passed in hours, and hours passed in seconds. I don’t know how long it took, but she eventually stumbled off the side of the deck and fell into the sea. Some time passed and the world put itself back together. It was chaos until we reached the port.” Eli said.

Carrion shook cleared his thoughts and returned to the task at hand.“Where you’ve since been working with those who plan on killing a citizen of the country.”

“No, they tried to make me work for them. They called it an “Embrace”. Half the time they did it to someone, they’d become a drooling zombie, barely able to breath without being told, and the other half kept their heads on, but just did whatever they were asked anyway.”

“So, why didn’t they do it to you?” Carrion asked.

“They tried, but this time thing messing with my head got in the way. Or at least that’s what they said. She’d whisper in my ear, then a day would pass, or she would try to worm her way into my thoughts and time would practically stop. I have to focus really hard just to keep it moving right.” Eli said.

“What are you doing?” Carrion asked.

“Time doesn’t move right for me, I don’t even know how long its been since I got here. For me its felt like months.” Eli said.

“Assuming you came in on that ship with the strange reports, around a week.” Carrion said.

“See, I couldn’t have told you. Half the reason I even stayed is because Its hard to move around without falling or losing my balance.” Eli said.

“I see, I can’t say I’ve ever heard of something like this happening.” Carrion said, then he put the clipboard down, and looked Eli dead in the eye. “I think I have the general idea, but I now I want you to step me through every single detail of their operation that you know.”

Catherine stood in the observation room while Andromeda sat quietly at the table inside. The disparity between Andromeda's ever-changing skin and her bored expression made Catherine's stomach uneasy.

Suddenly, the air changed and a young woman appeared beside her. She had a youthful, timeless air about her and stared longingly through the glass. Catherine knew that mages were flighty, so she didn't question the sudden appearance, although she found it strange that it was nearly silent. Catherine had assumed that all magic made noise and light.

The look in the young woman's eye stirred something within Catherine, a small sadness. She decided to speak. "Hello there," she said with a warm smile.

The young woman turned to her, and Catherine saw the depth of her feelings at that moment - a purely dead and dejected look. It was a look Catherine knew well from the days she and Argo grieved. Then she was reminded of a warning she got when she arrived. There was a woman floating around the facility, and she was unpredictable, and that Catherine would know her just by looking. Her name was Rapture.

"It was my fault. There was a pregnant pause as Catherine took in what she heard. But despite herself, she laughed and wiped the tear from her eye, seeing the confused look on the young woman's face. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh. I think it all just hit me at once."

There was another pause, and the young woman spoke. "What do you mean?" she asked. Catherine put her hand on the glass.

"All of this. I came here wanting to help as best I could, and I can’t do anything at all. She’s frightened and alone, and I can't do anything about it," Catherine said. "It's not the first time, you know?" Catherine laughed again, more bitterly. The young woman stared at her, and Catherine took that as a reason to go on.

"My little girl was playing out in the field, and she broke her leg in a hole. We took her inside, and it was infected. The break was terrible, we couldn't find a clinic fast enough..." Catherine continued. The room felt heavy. For whom it was hard to say. Both women felt pressure on their chests, but for different reasons.

"I lost my little girl. It took me a long time to live again, and to be honest, I can't say I ever fully did," Catherine said. "That's why I laughed. I said the same so many times after that day. The words went funny on me." Catherine looked clearly at the young woman, and in her eyes, the young woman saw the same look she saw in the mirror.

The young woman turned away, and so did Catherine. They stared at Andromeda for only a moment, taking in the same sight that they both knew they felt at the same time. Then the young woman spoke again.

"I could bring her back," she said.

"Hmm?" Catherine said.

"I could break reality. I've done it before. I could fix it."

Catherine laughed again, which chilled the young woman to the bone.

“I said the same thing, but it doesn’t mean I could. Our hearts want things they can’t have.” Catherine said, her hand on the glass once more. “I’d rather protect what I have, then dwell on what I don’t.”