Later, Gwendith held Yuriko throughout the night. The torrent of grief and despair nearly brought her back into that strange funk that lasted two Seasons, but…with the shared grief with her parents and brothers…with how Gwendith comforted her, she…

Yuriko sniffled and wiped her tears off her eyes and cheeks. She floated into her bathroom and splashed water onto her face. The ravages of grief didn’t really touch her face, which ironically only made her more upset, but those were the realities of her situation. Gwendith was still asleep, and considering both of them stayed up until the small hours of the night, she’d rather let her girlfriend rest.

Yesterday, after she felt the thread snap, and after she explained to her Da about it, they’d gone over to Mum. Sadeen paled at Yuriko’s news, but she shook her head and said, “We will wait for the Progenitor to confirm. There are many ways to block the Threads of Fate, but, uhm,” here, her Mum fidgeted and hesitated, losing that bit of confidence that Yuriko saw in her, “most of them are deadly to Knights,” she finished in a whisper.

“But still,” Virgil said, “hold on to hope.”

Yuriko simply nodded.

The connection between her and her brothers and parents weren’t simply the Threads of Fate. They were connections forged by her Mien. It had a visceral aspect that she just couldn’t shake. She wanted to believe in Da and Mum, but she was afraid that they were simply grasping at straws.

And so, in time-honoured fashion, for both herself and apparently Damien, she simply threw the issue as far as she could into the depths of her mind, to surface only when there was no other choice. As for what to believe, she didn’t know, and she threw the need for that choice into the depths too.

Of course, she was nearly catatonic in deep meditation, but by the time the day ended, and the entire night she cuddled with Gwendith, she had dealt with her grief.

Mostly.

Partly.

Or simply, just enough to function.

And now, as she disentangled herself from Gwendith’s softly snoring body, she decided that if he was alive, she would find him. And if he was dead, she would kill whoever did the deed.

Though in her heart, she also thought that everything was the Watcher’s fault, and since he was already dead…

Then there was no vengeance to be had. And that cast her adrift, floundering…

“Yuri?” Gwendith’s soft voice and her firm hand on Yuriko’s shoulder tore her away from her deadly spiral.

“Thank you,” Yuriko said softly, then leaned down and gave Gwendith a relatively chaste kiss.

Gwendith simply gave a soft smile.

____________

The next couple of weeks passed by in a blur. Yuriko met with Heron and examined the effects of his Actualisation. She was more than startled to find out that he chose to bind himself to her, too. She didn’t notice…

Or rather, it was more that she was too preoccupied with Gwendith, then Kato afterwards.

It was when she had, more or less, gotten her grief under control that Heron showed up at her door. As soon as he entered the living room, and as soon as she alighted on the ground floor, he’d gone done on one knee, bowed his head, and had his right fist over his heart, for all the Myriad Planes looking like a warrior about to swear fealty. Which was actually what he did.

“Yuriko, I pledge my life to you…”

“Wait, wait!” Yuriko protested even as she tried to get Heron to stand.

“...I’ve already made my choice.” He looked up at her and smiled. “I have no regrets.”

“Uhm, even if…”

“I don’t care. I will follow you and pro…uh, help you as much as I can.”

“Ah, how sweet!” Ryoko giggled from the kitchen.

“Hie hie!” Gwendith giggled from behind her.

“Are you sure?” Yuriko asked.

“I am,” Heron said firmly.

“Very well.” Yuriko sighed. “I accept.”

“Thank you,” Heron answered seriously, though there was a hint of a mile at the edge of his lips.

Well, not that any really changed between them afterwards. Ever since Yuriko’s relationship with Gwendith changed, she found that the strange impulses that poked at her mind had weakened or simply disappeared. Keeping her Mien in the Tranquility state was easier than before, seeming only to require her Will rather than forcing her into a specific emotional state.

Hmmm, not that she didn’t find Heron attractive. He was. And maybe if she… uhm, was seized by the impulse, she might invite him to her bed. Or maybe she’d rather wait for him to pluck up the courage to actually ask her. She was curious what the difference was between a male and female lover, even if her incarnations in the World Trials gave her a peek. Well, for now, Gwendith filled that particular need.

The rest of the week was filled with training, teaching, and simply…being. She went around to check up on her friends. The beastkin tribesmen were keen on leaving, actually, but Kassy seemed a bit reluctant. Either way, they didn’t actually have a Chaos ship since the last one they used had been moored in Uaran City.

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As for the Karcellians…

Edison Matthews was teaching in the school. Darla Worrington was learning from Spellweaver Merill, and Douglas Hart, huh, he was pursuing cousin Miya.

Yuriko felt more than a little bit of amusement there. She felt Miya had only been looking for a little bit of entertainment but it seemed that Karcellian prudishness meant that Douglas had taken things rather seriously. She, er, spied on him trying to insist on upholding Miya’s honour.

Miya, for her part, didn’t seem to want to be tied down. Ah, Mum was actually the unusual Mishala in actually only having Da as her partner. Or so Aunt Kiyo revealed. Most Mishalas, even if they were married, still had multiple lovers. And they only bore children from their spouses, though only until the agreed-upon number of kids were born.

Yuriko had been surprised by that, but after a while, realised she actually didn’t mind that kind of arrangement. Was it strange for her to think so? She didn’t quite know. Anyway, Douglas had approached her and asked how he could make an honest woman out of Miya, but since Yuriko didn’t know, she told him to talk to her aunt.

As for the Haveenians and Kadracki civilians she rescued, Izna, the twin’s friend, was working with them at the shop. The others picked up new professions across town and had settled in.

Her cousins, Riley and Aidan, as well as Aunt Layla, had departed with the Silver Tiger to return to Realmheart. They didn’t return when the Tiger did.

And so, on the 34th Day of Water, AF 3002, the Silver Tiger returned and installed a new Gemheart into Rumiga, and restored the tether connecting the plane to Delovine. Yuriko had not been present when it was installed, and she didn’t know where the Legion Agminis put it. Though from how many people congregated near the old Imperial Pass, she assumed it was there, or rather, underneath it. That or it was a decoy.

A day later, she received a messenger crane from Legate Jiro Segawa.

“Knight-Captain Davar,

You are requested to attend a meeting with myself and two other members of the Imperial Government to address the matter of your profession. As you should know, all Knights and above are granted a weekly stipend, but with the caveat of an annual contribution. Most Knights are attached to legions, militia, navy, merchant marine, or other suitable positions, but not all.

We would be pleased to offer you a position in Legion Vagaris, or Legion Agminis, or other suitable trade, craft, or profession you wish to undertake. Further, there is an urgent matter that requires your presence and contribution, and the way you may undertake it would depend on your position.

If it pleases you, please attend us today, two hours after noon, at the town hall, Western District, Faron’s Crossing.

For the Legate,

Tribunus Maruko Haru Manuella”

Yuriko sent the messenger crane back with an acceptance, then whiled the hours away with meditation, training, and cuddling.

She went to the meeting alone. She didn’t bother asking the receptionist which meeting room she had to go to. Her Anima perception easily saw which one was occupied, and when she felt something push her aura away, that was where the Legate was.

The conference room’s door was ajar and inside were the two Legates and Tribunus Manuella.

“Good afternoon,” she said politely, and both Knights Domini smiled in return.

“Yuriko Mishala Davar,” Legate Segawa started. “Welcome. Come and sit. There should be no formalities between comrades in arms who’ve shared life and death.” Yuriko noticed the Tribunus snorting.

“Ah, thank you,” Yuriko said as she sat down.

They were seated behind a long table, in a row, while she took the armchair set a few paces back.

“So.” Legate Brygos started.

The wound she received from the Chaos Duke had not been completely healed, and aside from her head, her body was still in a partial elemental form. Well, her hands looked normal, but her clothes covered the rest, showing only yellow shards below the neck.

“You are unassigned.” She broke off. “Pardon, you were never in Agaza hence not automatically part of the legion, militia, or navy. But you have reached such heights that it would be common to be a part of the Imperial Might.”

“Do all Knights join?” Yuriko asked. “My cousins are not.”

“You speak of your Davar family members?”

“Yes. Uhm, they were part of the temporary legion, but before that, they were Knights protecting a merchant ship.”

“Merchant marine, then. That is still an honourable service, though not one well rewarded by the state,” Iola Brygos stated somewhat dismissively.

Yuriko frowned. “They served with distinction.”

Iola nodded. “So they have.”

“What my fellow Legate is saying,” Jiro Segawa interjected, “is that many Knights find it rewarding to join a legion. Whether it is an Explorer Legion like Vagaris or a Guardian Legion like Agminis. The pay is quite rewarding for either, and as a career path, it is not bad at all.

“As a Knight Captain, you rate as a Cohort leader, in charge of a thousand legionnaires. However, since you have not graduated from Agaza, nor completed your Reserve Officer Training, your posting in any legion will be compliant with retraining and continued education. Base pay will be two thousand five hundred Sovereigns per week, with an accumulating two weeks per annum leave,” Jiro said.

Legate Brygos interjected. “If you choose Agminis or any other Guardian Legion, the base pay is lesser at two thousand Sovereigns per week, but you will be stationed within your home plane rather than gallivanting all over the place.”

“Yes, well, I heard from your father that you’ve wished to join Vagaris since your youth, I hope that dream has survived your tribulations?” He asked hopefully, but upon seeing her expression he sighed. “Ah, I guess not.”

Yuriko nodded. “It was my childhood dream, but you are right, it no longer is.”

“I see. Would you be interested in any other Imperial position? Your Mishala Clan notwithstanding, there are more than enough openings in the Sorcery Corps, Runescriveners, or Spellweavers?”

Yuriko shook her head. She didn’t want to be part of the bureaucracy, actually. Or part of the Imperial Might. Not anymore.

Hmmm, while the extra pay was nice if she took a posting, it would mean her path to advancing would slow down. What she really wanted to do, now that she’d spent more than half a year just coasting, was to travel and experience new things. It was the Davar wanderlust, wasn’t it?

“What other ways can I contribute without taking a permanent post?” Yuriko finally asked.

“Ah, I thought that would be the case. Despite your beauty, your demeanour resembles your father more than Lady Sadeen.” Jiro laughed. “If you wish no permanent post, then the only thing the Empire asks is that you be Our Agent. You can take missions from the planar government such as what your father has done for the past decade, protecting Faron’s Crossing, and the like.”

“I didn’t think you would accept.” Iola Brygos said warmly. “You seem to value your freedom.”

“Anyway, I guess this means that we should proceed with the next step.” Jiro pulled out a folder from the case in front of him. “If you had chosen to join, this would have been your training mission, but since you’d rather be an Imperial Agent, this will be your contributing mission.” He handed it to her, and Yuriko pulled out the papers within.

The writing inside was small and nearly made her head hurt. She only skimmed the summary. “Ambrosia?”

“Yes. The task force sent to the plane of Bella had not been able to secure the source, and since you were the source of the intelligence and the one able to acquire the Ambrosia, you are requested to head there and lend your aid to the legion assigned.”

Yuriko looked down at the mission papers thoughtfully. Return to that plane? Hmmm, well, she needed Ambrosia anyway.

“I accept.”

The two Legates and Tribunus Manuella smiled. “Good.”