After all the plans I’ve run through, this is the only way things work.

C. 11 days, 27 hours since the assassination of rebel leadership

Estingai let out a deep, heavy breath as she pushed through the curtain into the small workshop she often used for her georaural projects. To her, the day of meetings and inspections had stretched far longer than the usual forty hours, and she looked forward to unwinding with some quiet time alone with—

Uuchantuu and Naruuna?

Estingai blinked as she noticed the room's two other occupants, and tried to hold back a frown. She wanted to have something to do, and working with georaurals usually calmed her mind, but, more than that, she wanted to be away from people. She needed some way to escape all of this.

Carefully, she took a step backward. The two women hadn't seemed to notice her yet, so maybe…

"Estingai?"

Forcing a smile, she met Uuchantuu's gaze. Naruuna looked up and smiled as well, nodding out of respect.

"I thought you two would relax a bit more after your mission before getting to work," she said, turning to go. "I didn't mean to bother you."

"Wait."

Estingai forced back a frown and took a deep breath. She turned back to Uuchantuu and found a knowing look in her eyes.

"You should stay," the shorter Natari woman said, voice pleasant, but firm.

"We don't mind the company," Naruuna added.

"And we could use your help with the armor.

Estingai nodded. "Of course."

She walked over to a space next to Uuchantuu at the stone workbench that spanned the entirety of the room on one side.

"Where are you at with it so far?"

Before Uuchantuu could say anything, Naruuna moved a bit closer and took one of the torso plates in hand.

"You did most of the hard work for us; replacing the buckles and straps and the wires that ran along them to connect the different plates.”

Estingai nodded. That was something she hadn't expected, and something she wished she'd thought of. The straps always seemed too vulnerable to her, but as long as the armor was well-constructed, the biggest danger to them was wear and time.

"I think we'll be able to fix it with little issue," Uuchantuu said. "Only one or two of the biogems were cracked, and thankfully it looks like those fulfilled basic functions, just the gems and wires."

Estingai let out a sigh at that. "And what about the draining devices?"

Uuchantuu frowned at that. "Those will be a bit harder." She took the device Estingai had recovered from the Lightforged and held it up, studying it. "It's intact, and easy enough to figure out, but its main function—"

"Requires materials we don't have," Estingai sighed.

Many georaurals could be constructed with only biogems and metal to direct the device, but those that mimicked Auroramantic abilities required something extra. Something they hadn't had access to since the months following Yrmuunthal's destruction.

"Build a few anyway," Estingai said. "The housing for them at least. Maybe we'll be able to steal some georaurals from the Imaia with sapphires in them and repurpose them."

That had been their saving grace the past few years—the biogems from georaurals were never locked into a device by function and could be switched in and out when needed, either for replenishing Auroralight, or use in another framework.

"See if you could make them drain faster or store more power, too," Estingai said. "That could be useful. For now… you have at least one siphoner on your team, right?"

Uuchantuu nodded. "Bavlos."

"Keep him with one of your teams when you're in Memfoso, and keep this one on you. Just in case."

Estingai's stomach tightened even as she said the words, and she noticed a shiver raise goosebumps on Uuchantuu's arms.

Darkness, I hope they don't have to deal with that.

It made her wish she could go with them, but that wasn't an option. She could walk on her leg without damaging it, but it still hurt. She would need another week with healing georaurals before she could test it out, much less fight again.

"Have you figured out what the georaurals do to the armor?" Estingai asked, forcing the thoughts from her head. "Other than make it lighter and stronger, of course?"

Uuchantuu snorted, grinning. "Not even close. The helmet and mask are just one giant framework between the plates and the padding, so we haven't touched that, yet. Same with the gauntlets, and those are so intricate, I'll need a magnifying glass just to keep track of the wires and gemstones."

Despite Uuchantuu's excitement, Estingai found herself troubled as she looked at the plates of armor. A part of her hated it for its role in Kozasana's death, hated herself for wearing it even to bring it back here. Yet, it was priceless, and it had worked well enough in shocking Uuldina and Meik'ka into listening to Marjatla and Aaden about working together.

Would wearing it again project strength to the factions? Or feed the rumors?

Estingai knew she would have to put it on again, have to use it when she found herself in a fight again. She thought about making it at least a bit less showy, but…

If Imaia soldiers see someone wearing Lightforged armor attacking them, they'll be terrified at the least, and maybe even mistrust the Lightforged next time they see them.

Even a little bit of that could go a long way toward the Imaia's faith and trust in their demonic weapons.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"The chest plates aren't too bad, though," Naruuna said, interrupting her thoughts. The Samjati woman turned over one of the pieces she'd been looking at. "They have the core framework which strengthens the pieces, as well as hidden gembraces for Auroralight reserves, but there are a few smaller frameworks with ruby and aquamarine biogems that I haven't been able to figure out yet."

As Naruuna spoke, Estingai found her gaze pulled to Uuchantuu, specifically the bit of color darkening Uuchantuu's cheeks and the way she bit her bottom lip as she gazed at Naruuna.

That brought a smile to her lips.

She was about to suggest that she leave them and come back later when Naruuna thrust one of the chest plates toward her.

"Look at the framework on this piece," she said, voice brimming with excitement. "It's so detailed and symmetrical, it almost looks like it was laid out by a machine."

Estingai hid her smile as she took the pieces that formed the upper chest plate, examining them. She noticed Uuchantuu lean in a bit closer and cock her head, so Estingai laid the plates down on the workbench.

Naruuna was right. Georaurals worked best—some only worked—if constructed in a hexagonal framework. Though scholars had argued back and forth for centuries on what type of hexagonal shapes worked best, all of them agreed that the more symmetrical the formation, the more reliable and more efficient the device. Once Estingai had taken an interest in the craft years ago, she'd spent months just learning how to twist and bend wires into the correct shapes. She'd apparently learned the technique quicker than most, but it still took time checking the wires and angles.

Whoever had worked on these must have spent hours on the framework alone, working with incredibly fine tools. Setting the gems and attaching the framework to the armor would have been another monster of a task altogether.

Of course, the Imaia can afford to pay someone to spend hours working on a single piece of armor like this and use up all the materials they need getting it right.

Estingai blinked as Naruuna suddenly hopped off her stool and started toward the hall. "I need something to sketch this with. And some water. I'll be right back."

Estingai watched her go, then looked to Uuchantuu and raised an eyebrow.

The young woman's cheeks darkened even further.

For a moment, Estingai was happy for Uuchantuu. She didn't know if Naruuna would return her feelings—the chances weren’t bad, since she was Samjati—but it was nice to see Uuchantuu even entertaining something like that in the world they lived in.

Then Estingai had to hold back a frown as the silence stretched and a strange awkwardness set in. Estingai realized she had no clue how to just talk with this young woman who was basically her sister—the closest thing to family she had left beside Koruuksi.

"What do you think these do?" Uuchantuu asked, turning back to the armor, pointing toward the framework with the ruby biogems.

A bit of the tension left Estingai, and as she leaned in over the armor, she smiled when Uuchantuu glanced at her.

For a while, they theorized about what the armor could do. Estingai had worn it, but she hadn't tested it out. She imagined there was some sort of training to wearing the armor, as some of the frameworks had thin plates attached to them that looked like they would activate the mechanism.

"Do you think Koruuksi is okay?"

Estingai blinked at the question. The worry in Uuchantuu's voice made her chest grow tight.

"He knows how to handle himself," Estingai said, avoiding the other woman's gaze.

"That's not what I'm worried about."

Estingai sighed, meeting Uuchantuu's gaze. Her golden-brown eyes held concern, and not just for Koruuksi.

"You two have been through a lot, and not just in the past few weeks. You're not the only ones, but…" Uuchantuu trailed off with a shrug. "Most other people don't carry the weight of their people on their shoulders."

Estingai resisted the urge to roll and stretch her shoulders.

"He'll be okay," she said, managing a smile. "I think I will be, too."

She tapped the Lightforged armor. "This, at least, will provide a bit of a distraction when my mind gets too bogged down with everything else I have to worry about. It's a nice escape. And…" Estingai hesitated, then put her hand over Uuchantuu's. "I'm glad I still have someone to share it with."

Uuchantuu smiled, and Estingai saw the same pain in her sister's eyes that squeezed her heart as they remembered their adoptive uncle.

Darkness… I just make everything more depressing.

"So, how are things with Naruuna?" she said, swallowing the lump in her throat and forcing a smile. "She seems smart. And sweet. And I don't think Koruuksi's flirted with her despite how cute she is."

Uuchantuu snorted a laugh, cheeks turning a dark purple, and Estingai couldn't resist joining in.

"She is," Uuchantuu said, smiling. "She loves history, too. Gets very bored when she doesn't have georaurals to work with, or a book to read, or someone to talk with about either." Then Uuchantuu let out a heavy sigh, rolling her eyes. "And of course, she has no interest in women."

Estingai frowned. "There are enough Samjati women in the other factions that you're bound to find someone. Especially once we start working together more."

Uuchantuu shrugged. "I hope so, but…" She sighed. "Remember what you told me about how you and Svemakuu took forever to act on your feelings since you were always around each other?”

Estingai nodded.

"There's a bit of that for me. There is for everyone else, too, I guess, since we all see each other all the time, and I know Koruuksi doesn't have a problem with it, but I just…"

She shrugged, looking back to the armor.

Estingai frowned. "I know how that feels. It almost stopped me and Svemakuu." She swallowed, not knowing whether to feel proud or terrible that she kept her voice from breaking when saying her husband's name. "But you shouldn't let it stop you from trying at least."

Uuchantuu frowned as she met Estingai's gaze. Her eyes didn't hold pity, but the concern was almost as bad.

"Estingai," Uuchantuu began, voice soft.

Estingai forced a smile. "Forget about it. Once we have everyone together, I'll help you look—make sure you find someone good enough for you. Whatever our version of a princess is."

Uuchantuu smirked. "I think that’s sort of what we are, isn’t it? As far as the Remnant is concerned, at least.”

Estingai shrugged. "All the more reason to find you another one."

They smiled at each other for a moment, then the silence set in again, threatening awkwardness.

“Are you ready for the Memfoso mission? It will be more dangerous since you stole so much of the Imaia’s equipment last time.”

Uuchantuu frowned, but nodded. “I have to be, don’t I? I still can’t believe Anarak gave us some of his contacts.”

Estingai still had trouble believing it. Ironpeak’s replacement leader had been almost as standoffish as Mahele in response to her attempts at reaching out, but apparently Koruuksi’s friends from that faction had convinced the man to trust her this much, at least. That had nearly made Estingai pull the mission, worried about a trap, but they had to follow through after giving Koruuksi that intel to pass to Last Shadow. She would just have to trust Koruuksi’s choice in friends.

"Has anyone on the team acted strange so far?"

Estingai bit off the last word. The question had just slipped out.

Am I really that bad? I’m not even able to talk with Uuchantuu anymore without messing it up?

Uuchantuu frowned, then blinked, eyes widening for a moment. She quickly shook her head, though.

"Not that I've noticed. Araana was being… weird, but I took care of that.”

Estingai raised an eyebrow. “How so?”

Uuchantuu frowned. “She was mad that Koruuksi and I didn’t trust her with the meeting. She came by that morning asking where you and the others were. Koruuksi and I just told her you two had gotten up early. As far as the rest of the team…” Uuchantuu shrugged. “I haven’t really spent enough time with them to know if they’re acting strange.”

Estingai sighed, holding in a frown. She couldn't tell if Uuchantuu was being honest, or trying to tell herself she had nothing to worry about.

"I'm sure you don't have anything to worry about," she said. "Koruuksi's path seems like the—"

She cut off as footsteps and the curtain rustling caught her attention, and turned to smile at Naruuna as the tiny Samjati woman walked in with her eyes fixed on the board and sheets of paper she'd clipped to it. It looked like she'd already sketched a few things.

The woman had three water bottles on straps slung over one shoulder, and offered one to both her and Uuchantuu once she set down her papers.

Uuchantuu took hers, but Estingai refused, throwing a smile at Uuchantuu.

"I should probably go see if Marjatla or Aaden need anything from me," she said, turning toward the curtain as Uuchantuu blushed and rolled her eyes. "I'll let you two know if I have any other ideas for the armor."

As she walked out into the hall, Estingai realized she'd smiled more in talking with Uuchantuu than she had in weeks. Forcing a smile onto her face, she tried to hold onto that feeling even as she walked off to meet with Marjatla and Aaden.

It's what Svemakuu would want me to do.