image [https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1049139125908930620/1209195517943222352/Akh_Nara.png?ex=65e60a15&is=65d39515&hm=063a49ed8b53fbda4f6837d52d232acb7ff549bf764a62132f95fcf626601149&]

“Well?” Greesha said once they’d arrived at her place of work. Resembling a miniature temple with pointed roofs, it was nestled in between other large, three-story structures. As if it’d been there first, and everything else had been built around it.

The temple was in a far nicer part of town compared to where Vir had just been.

“Give me one reason I shouldn’t have you thrown into jail. Entering my town and making a ruckus right away, hmm?”

Darsh and Hetal kept their heads bowed, avoiding eye contact. Vir suspected it had something to do with the badge adorned with a red crown that hung from Greesha’s neck. A Chitran Ruler Calling badge.

“You’re in charge of this city?” Vir asked, earning him a raised brow from the woman. She clearly wasn’t used to people talking back to her.

“You’re treading dangerous water, boy. Were I any other Ruler in the city, your head would’ve been on a pike by now. Show some deference to your betters. Be grateful that I’m willing to overlook this incident and run along. And be sure it doesn’t happen again!”

Vir glowered at her. This was Greesha? The revered Seer? He wondered if Cirayus had lost his mind by speaking so highly of her. Or perhaps the years had changed her?

This didn’t look at all like a woman worthy of Vir’s respect.

“If you’re expecting me to bow down and grovel because of that fancy badge you’re wearing, think again.”

Darsh pulled at Vir’s sleeve to get his attention. “What are you doing!? She’s a Ruler!” he whispered, his eyes wide. Beside him Hetal, averted her eyes, looking like she wanted to shrivel up.

Vir exhaled. “Look, these kids have nothing to do with me. Why don’t you let them go?”

Greesha swept her dominating gaze across the children. Vir could almost feel them withering under the power of those eyes.

“Fine. But don’t cause any more trouble, you hear?” Greesha said, addressing the children. “Next time, I’ll feed you to the wolves.”

“Understood, ma’am! It was an honest mistake. We’ll see to our business and head right back!”

The siblings darted for the exit, but Darsh paused, giving Vir a conflicted look.

Vir chuckled. “I can handle myself. Get home safe, yeah?”

“T-thanks. And, uh. Your fight. It was seric!”

Blushing, Darsh grabbed his sister and disappeared out the door.

“So?” Greesha said the moment they’d left. “Mind telling me who you are and what you’re doing in this city?”

Vir narrowed his eyes. “As I said, Vaak—of Ash. I’ve been training there for years.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt it. I saw you fight. You’re strong, clearly.”

“Then, what do you—”

“You waltz in here showing no decorum. No respect for my badge. You act as though you own this place. I must say, it’s almost refreshing.”

Refreshing?

“So the way I see it, either you’re someone important in disguise… Or you’re just a chal. Well?”

Vir regarded her evenly. “The Callings are supposed to be equal, are they not?”

Greesha’s eyes widened in surprise. “Which rock have you been living under—Unless. Oh no. You’re with the ones protesting the Callings, aren’t you?”

Vir was unaware there even was a faction looking to overthrow the Calling System. Useful information he filed away for later.

“Not quite.”

It was time to drop the ruse. He’d wanted to scope Greesha out, to get a feel for her character. If he was honest, he didn’t like what he saw, but Cirayus had told him she would be a helpful ally. As he was, he didn’t have the luxury to pick who he worked with. He needed help if he was to learn the lay of the land.

“I come on behalf of a mutual friend,” he started, watching the woman for any changes in expression.

The woman’s frown deepened. “If you’re going to lie, try harder. I haven’t—”

“Cirayus the Ravager. Does that name ring any bells?”

Greesha’s expression changed so rapidly, Vir struggled to keep up. First, confusion flitted across her face, before recognition. Then shock, followed finally by something he didn’t expect. Fear.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Impossible.”

“Very possible,” Vir fired back.

“Then,” she whispered. “You are…”

Vir nodded.

“Can-can I see?”

Vir paused, looked around, and finding no one within range of Prana Vision—no spies who might be listening through walls—Vir pulled down his cuirass and undid his undershirt, allowing Greesha a glimpse of his tattoo.

“For the first time in a very long time, I admit I’m at a loss for words,” Greesha said after staring for several moments. Long after Vir had fastened his armor back on. “Then your red skin…”

“A disguise. I’m sure you’ll understand my need for excess caution. Even revealing this much to you is an act of faith on my part.”

“Yes, of course. Just, your disguise is… Well, impressive.”

Greesha chuckled, and the tension seemed to bleed out of her.

Vir hesitated. “You were expecting me, right?”

“Well, expecting is a rather strong word. Until now, I did not know whether what I experienced was a vision, or simply a dream.”

Vir’s heart beat faster. “You were… sucked away. To someplace else, right? Or your soul was, rather?”

“Cirayus told you, did he? Where is he?”

“Attending to some business. Finding allies in Clan Baira,” Vir replied, but his mind was elsewhere. Greesha’s soul had been pulled away. Just like Maiya’s. Vir couldn’t be sure without having seen Greesha’s detached soul form, but it certainly sounded like the same thing that had happened to Maiya.

Why Greesha remembered and Maiya didn’t, Vir couldn’t say. Perhaps Greesha’s experience was less traumatic? Who knew what having one’s soul sucked into an orb did to a person.

Vir allowed the revelation to wash over him. It was all real. Maiya really was there, wasn’t she?

He bit his lip. This meant he’d have to come clean and tell Maiya about it. This was something that directly impacted her. She had a right to know. She’d saved him, after all. The least he could do was fill the gaps in her memory.

“Are you… alright?” Greesha asked, though her hard edge had softened a bit. Vir saw some of that fear return. “I, er… to be honest, I’m rightly unsure how to address you, Akh Nara.”

Greesha whispered the title, almost reverently.

Vir waved away her concern, surprised to find her fretting over something so trivial.

“Continue as you are. My cover cannot be compromised. Which is why I need your help. Cirayus said I could trust you, and I trust Cirayus.”

There was so much Vir wanted to talk about. Even now, the blood boiled just beneath his skin. This was the demon who’d prophesied his birth. Who’d caused the death of his mother, father, and thousands of his clan. He wanted to yell at the woman. To tell her she should’ve known what it would mean to reveal her prophecy to the world. That Vir never wanted this burden. That he’d have given it all up just to have a happy life with his parents.

He said none of those things. For while he might’ve hated her, he’d deal with it. Because right now, Greesha was indispensable for him. And there were more important things than being angry at an old woman.

“You can,” she replied confidently.

“There is much I don’t know about the Demon Realm,” Vir said. “About Samar Patag. And… my people. How many are left? Do they survive?”

Greesha looked off into the distance. She said nothing for a moment, then two. When Vir thought she’d forgotten him entirely, she finally spoke.

“The war was not easy for any of us. But yes. They do. We live on. Mostly, anyway. Though what we currently have here is… well, you ought to be the one to judge for yourself.”

“Where should I begin?”

Greesha rubbed her chin in thought. “For one, you’ll be needing a Chitran Calling badge. Warrior, preferably. I can arrange this, though it may take a day or two.”

“You can make them so easily?” Vir asked.

“Not easily, no. I’d be pulling many strings. I don’t do this for just anyone. But, well… your existence is critical to the future of this realm… and I owe a great debt to your family,” she added softly, looking into the distance, across space and time.

Is that… remorse in her voice?

So what if it was, though? Her feelings wouldn’t change the past. Rather than dive into an argument that would likely end in a shouting match, Vir took a deep breath and kept the conversation on topic.

There would be time for such chats later.

“They… really aren’t equal, are they?” Vir asked. “The Callings…”

The old woman chuckled. “Well, it’s no wonder you were so rude before. Is that what Cirayus told you?”

Vir shrugged. “He said I should see with my own eyes.”

“Of course he did,” Greesha snorted. “Typical Cirayus. The answer should be obvious, yes?”

Vir nodded slowly. “Equal in theory, but in practice…”

“The Rulers hold all the power, kept in check only by the greater number of Warriors. As for the Laborers, they’re the least respected. They can influence the others if they all band together, but that never happens. As for the Outcasts, well…”

“Right. In that case, can you make me a few different badges under different names?”

Greesha frowned. “Granting one Warrior badge is within my means. Several, however…”

“No, not Warrior Callings. Give me Laborer and Outcast Callings.”

“Outcast? Why would you—” she paused, appraising Vir. “You are serious about this?”

“Yes. If I’m going to get to know my people, I need to live as they live. I need to see the worst side of this city.”

“Very well,” Greesha replied. “Far less scrutiny for those badges. Brace yourself. You will not like what you see.”

“Thanks, but I can handle myself. I’ll also need to hook up with the Rebellion.”

Greesha drew a short breath. Nearly imperceptible, but Vir caught it.

“Would that… be a bad idea?”

“Perceptive, aren’t you?” Greesha said, looking impressed. “The Rebellion is… perhaps not what you think they are.”

“Meaning?”

“Just don’t go revealing your true identity to them anytime soon. You… may not appreciate the results. Or their ways, for that matter.”

Ah.

“They blame me for what happened,” Vir said.

“Some do. Worse—they’re borderline fanatics. Times were… rough, after the fall. I myself nearly didn’t make it. Managed to establish a footing here thanks to my powers as a Seer. Most of what I do is keep those hooligans in check. They’re just prana bombs waiting to go off, if you ask me. Always on the cusp of ruining what little we have. You’ll find in them at best, a challenge, and at worst, an enemy.”

Vir’s hopes for swooping in and organizing those demons began to crumble before his eyes.

“Can you put me in touch?” Vir asked.

Greesha shook her head. “It’d do more harm than good, I’m afraid. My reputation with them is less than pleasant. Better to get noticed by them on your own, if that’s your wish. Make a name for yourself. They’re like hounds; they simply can’t resist the scent of fresh blood.”

“I see,” Vir said, understanding that this was going to be a longer road than he thought. “Is there hope?” he asked at last.

Greesha smiled sadly. “There was, at the beginning. It was a chal’s hope, but the spark was there. Gargans fought back. There’s only so many times you can fail before you get some sense knocked into you. Especially when failure means death. Or worse. Without a leader to rally behind, without resources and allies… We never stood a chance. So, you ask, is there hope?”

Greesha stared earnestly into Vir’s eyes.

“There wasn’t before. There is now.”