Chapter 47: Standstill

Haco’s voice boomed from atop her new mount. “Mount up!”

Valtor had arranged fresh mounts, ready for the clash at the western walls. Haco had boasted earlier about her foresight in preparing for this, convinced she’d meet the onslaught of The Darkness beyond the city’s boundaries.

Still, Vina shot her a sharp glance while assisting one of her guards into the saddle. Anxiety twisted her thoughts. Ann was out there, somewhere beyond those walls, probably fending off creatures alongside Adir.

“The Lady First... she’s such a minap, isn't she?” the guard grumbled as Vina hoisted his armored frame.

Vina allowed herself a wry grin. She had no idea what a minap was, but the contempt in his tone was clear. Once he was settled, she glanced towards Oyna, who was already mounting with elegant ease. Accepting an animal from a young Stigandorian she presumed to be male, Vina offered a quick “Thank you!”

Caja, watching nearby, spoke in Avathari to the youth, then nodded at Vina.

Catching the cue, Vina repeated, “Elenoros!”

The man responded with a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Ner larun vantur, Asharaina."

Vina turned awkwardly to Caja, confused. She hadn’t heard any of those words before. Caja smiled, repeating the phrase slowly, breaking it down: "For. Our. Unity." Then, quicker, “You’re welcome. Is Trina translating it correctly?”

Vina tilted her head, processing. “Yeah, kind of. She’s changing the meaning when you speak it quickly. But... What is this unity?”

Caja’s grin widened, but before she could answer, Haco’s stern voice cut through the air, “Form ranks! Move out!”

Caja moved beside her as they spurred their mounts toward the western gate of Randar. As they rode, Vina’s gaze swept over the city. What she saw now, she hadn’t seen upon her arrival. The buildings, once standing proud, were now husks, charred remnants of fires long extinguished. Hollow shells, razed by unseen conflict. But something caught her eye: the damage seemed deliberate, centralized around Trina’s refuges. Only a few remained, their protective barriers barely holding.

She exchanged a glance with Caja, who wore an expression of equal dismay.

“Caja, did The Darkness do this?” Vina asked.

“I don't know,” Caja replied softly, sadness tinging her voice. “It’s... changed since I was last here.”

Haco’s voice, cold and certain, broke the silence. “It was The Supreme. While you killed The Shaper, The Supreme purged Randar of Trina’s followers. Valtor said it’s since gone silent, disappeared.”

Caja gasped, "Serzatol liratol!"

“Yeah, that’s my guess.” Haco shouted over her shoulder. “Valtor won’t say it out loud, but we’ve got enough problems. Let’s hope The Supreme focuses on The Darkness first.”

Vina turned to Caja when Trina didn’t translate. “What does that mean?”

Caja’s eyes flicked around before resting on Vina. “Zel'alor is our primary Valchara. It was there for us when we first arrived in your world. Only some of us aspire to Trina’s ideals. Zel'alor’s actions now demand allegiance—serzatol liratol. It will kill anyone who doesn’t accept it as their true Valchara.”

“I thought you said it wasn’t a real Valchara,” Vina pressed, uncertain.

Caja hesitated, worry clearly in her eyes. “It may not be, but it's behaving aggressively. If it commands, my people could turn against yours, especially against those who still follow Trina.”

Vina turned to Haco with a startled look. "Wait, didn't a lot of Stigandorians move to Lampasa, Haco?"

"We're aware, Vina," Haco responded sharply. "We're taking precautions. You should've listened when I said I was trying to save lives."

Chastened, Vina closed her mouth slowly. Haco’s words were truthful, but doubt began to creep in. What precautions? Segregation? Concentration camps? She shuddered at the dark memories of her first world.

But in the distance, relief washed over her as they neared a still-operational refuge. Vina’s eyes locked onto it—an escape, a way to override Etana’s travel restriction. “I need to visit that refuge, Riza!” Vina called out, veering her mount sharply.

“Lady Esca,” Riza groaned, her tone warning, “Wait—” her protest cut off as Vina’s steed darted to the side.

Refuge recall location added.

Back in formation, Riza's glare was met by Caja's teasing voice. "Lar vivrak sasti ner tedolam tesh."

Vina strained to parse the unfamiliar words, recognizing only fragments—‘she,’ ‘for,’ ‘kill,’ and ‘it.’ But the rest escaped her. “She... kill... you... for... something?”

“Oooh… so close.” Caja laughed. "I said, she's going to kill you for doing that.”

Riza chimed in, her voice dry, “I’m not going to kill her. I’m merely noting her recklessness. When I save her sister, she’ll know why I couldn’t save the head of the Esca Family.”

Vina bit back a retort, not wanting to air their disagreements for all to hear. The confrontation could wait. Instead she set her gaze on the horizon as they exited the western Randar gate. She activated Vibrance tracking once more and saw Ann had not moved since the last time Vina had checked on her. “She’s over there!” Vina called out and pointed when she saw Haco was not quite leading them in the correct direction.

Haco turned the column and headed in the direction Vina indicated. Every moment that passed, Vina felt the anticipation growing within her and soon she saw the light come across the horizon. Ann’s vibrance sat like a single ember in a vast void of darkness. However, as Vina and her group approached the anticipated war front, the sounds they expected — the clanging of weapons, war cries, and the mayhem of battle — were conspicuously absent. Instead, there was a strange stillness in the air.

Through the light dust cloud stirred up by their approach, she could discern figures in the distance. But instead of the chaotic fray Vina had envisioned, she saw a deathly thin, dirty blonde woman resting her head, eyes closed, against the shoulder of a massive man who was seated, seemingly relaxed, with a vast dark army arrayed behind them.

Vina reigned in her mount, the abruptness causing a small cloud of dust to rise. The confusion in her vibrance mirrored everyone else’s around her. "What in the world...?" she murmured.

The column ground to a halt at Haco's command, her voice echoing across the empty battlefield. Dust swirled in the air as the small company Vina traveled with spread out into defensive positions, their weapons at the ready. The vast army behind the two resting figures loomed ominously, its dark presence pressing against them.

When Haco’s boots touched the ground, Vina followed suit, ignoring Riza’s cautionary tug on her arm. Squinting against the dusty horizon, she tried to discern the frail form in the distance. "Ann?" Her voice was an uneasy mix of hope and uncertainty. The silhouette matched, but the gaunt, haggard figure was far from the vivacious sister of her memories.

Ann’s frail form stirred as she looked up, a light of recognition flickering in her tired eyes. “Vina...”

Vina's heart constricted, a pang of pain for the ravages the bonding sickness had inflicted upon her sister. Yet, even as memories surged, her emotions felt distant, as if separated by a vast, impenetrable chasm. She yearned to cry, to let her tears be proof of her overwhelming guilt and joy. To be engulfed in the euphoria of reunion. Instead, she was met with a sterile sense of achievement, a cold tick on a mental checklist.

Quest Updated: Reunite with your sisters: 1/2.

That barren satisfaction was a cruel mockery, a pale shadow of the emotions that should've been. And in that moment, the absence of feeling became its own profound agony.

With a surge of strength that belied her frail appearance, Ann, with the aspect of light still embedded on her forehead, scrambled to her feet and rushed toward Vina. As the distance closed between them, Vina’s throat tightened. Every step Ann took was a bridge attempting to span the emotional chasm Vina felt inside.

When Ann enveloped her in an embrace, Vina felt the warmth of her sister's body, the shuddering breaths racking Ann's bony frame, and the wetness of tears soaking through her clothes. It was a symphony of sensations, but Vina remained numb to the undercurrent of love and joy that should've accompanied such a moment. She stood stiff, disconnected, the hollow feeling gnawing at her very core.

Ann’s breath was ragged against Vina’s armor, and Vina’s mind scrambled, trying to connect, trying to feel something real. Then, a small ripple—faint, almost imperceptible—stirred deep within her heart. It wasn’t joy. It wasn’t love. But it was something. It was there. And it came from her sister. Vina realized why: her sister had automatically connected through Riza’s Life Link ability. Their lives were momentarily intertwined, but the connection was muted compared to the others Vina could already sense.

“You have a blood class,” Vina whispered softly into Ann’s ear, the words more observation than revelation, but she didn’t release the embrace just yet.

“That’s enough,” Haco’s voice growled from beside her. “Adir, what in Trina’s name is going on?”

Vina’s gaze flicked past Ann’s trembling form to where Adir now stood, rising to his feet, gesturing to the army behind him. “Long story...” Adir began, but Vina tuned him out. Riza had dismounted and was already moving toward Ann, rifling through her pouches.

“I’m sorry, Lady Esca,” Riza began, her tone urgent. “We have to—”

Vina let go of Ann, and stepped back. “Yes, of course. Ann, this is Riza, she’s here to help you.”

Riza, already moving, quickly draped a cloak around Ann’s shoulders, her voice calm yet firm. “Ann, you’re part of The Esca Family now, and it’s my duty to tend to you. I’ll need to treat you for several things. We’ll start with—”

“I’m okay,” Ann interrupted with a small smile, gripping the cloak. “Really. The Darkness saved me!”

A flicker of worry crossed Riza’s face, her voice lowering in concern. “Ann, you’ve been through much. You’ll need treatment, and afterward, you must return to the cities of Halos or Valanire for safety. I can’t allow—”

Haco’s voice sliced through the air, sharp as a blade. “Vina!” She snapped, her eyes burning with intensity. “They’ve been talking to The Darkness for too long!”

“No, we haven’t!” Adir’s voice rang with anger, standing tall against her accusations.

Haco’s gaze darkened. “You’re going back to Lampasa. Your proposal to work with The Darkness is denied.”

“That’s not what I’m requesting!” Adir countered, raising his voice.

Vina watched the exchange, not certain what Haco thought she could do. Adir’s vibrance far exceeded her own. For that matter, strangely Ann’s own vibrance exceeded Adir’s despite her frail appearance. She doubted Ann would just let anyone push Adir around. She glanced back at Ann, seeing her sister highly focused on the exchange of words.

“Let’s just understand what they’ve been through first, Haco,” Vina proposed, but before anyone could speak again, the sound of beating wings filled the sky, and everyone instinctively looked up. A massive creature swooped down, casting a dark silhouette over the battlefield. Its landing shook the ground as two leathery wings folded, revealing a two-headed creature—both heads unmistakably those of Kaliq and Siany.

Haco acted first, her hand snapping upward as fiery strands exploded from her fingertips. The flames sliced through the air, but before they could reach their target, Adir lunged forward, seizing Haco’s wrist and wrenching it aside. The fiery projectiles veered off course, scorching the ground instead.

“Stop!” Adir roared, further twisting her arm. “Hear us out!”

Haco cried out in pain while bringing her free hand to Adir’s chest. “I’ll never work with The Darkness!” A burst of force knocked him to the ground, rolling him across the dirt.

A sharp cry tore from Ann’s throat, her face contorted in fear and rage. With a sudden, desperate surge of energy, she tore herself free from Riza’s grip, her movements wild and unsteady as she sprinted toward Adir. Her feet pounded against the dirt, her breath ragged as she closed the distance to Adir.

But Haco was faster. Her hand snapped upward, and fiery flares exploded from her fingertips, rocketing toward Adir in rapid succession. The heat hit Vina like a physical force, rolling off Haco’s body in scorching waves. Instinctively, Vina staggered backward, raising an arm to shield her face from the blinding glare even as her sister pressed into the firestorm. Flames licked at the air around her, and she cursed under her breath, the intense heat forcing her back. Blinking through the smoke, she focused on her blood sense, searching for Ann amidst the inferno. 'There she is!' she thought with relief, locking onto her sister's Vibrance. Gritting her teeth, Vina summoned her blood cloak to shield against the heat and pushed forward, her steps measured and careful as she fought through the scorching air.

“Ann!” Vina shouted above the roar of the flames. “Adir’s still alive! I can sense him!”

“I’m going to kill Haco!” Ann declared with an alarming certainty. Her body tensed, ready to act.

But before she could make her move, the fire abruptly stopped.

Smoke and dust swirled around them, but through the haze, Vina could feel it. Adir’s vibrance was still intact, kneeling in the dirt, arms raised defensively, but not a single burn marred his skin. When he lowered his arms, even he seemed surprised. Everyone stood frozen for a moment, as if the air itself had turned to ice. Even Haco, fists clenched and eyes blazing, seemed to hesitate as the realization sank in: her attack had failed.

“How...?” Haco and Adir asked simultaneously, both stunned.

As the thick smoke began to dissipate, a figure emerged from the shadows, stepping confidently from behind the protective wings of the creature. Her movements were fluid, purposeful, each step sending small ripples through the settling dust. A silver thrusting sword hung at her hip, the blade catching the faint light as she walked. For a brief moment, Vina’s breath caught, her mind flashing back to her first encounter with Amaya. But then, as the figure moved closer, the familiar details of Alora’s dress and Etana’s determined expression snapped into focus.

“I removed her attacks,” Etana called out as she approached. Her eyes flicked between the gathered group before settling on Ann and Vina. “Adir’s right. The situation is far more complicated than a simple fight against The Darkness.”

“Trina?” Adir’s voice wavered, disbelief etched across his face.

Haco’s snarl cut him off. “Shut up! That’s Etana, the other sister. All three of Shan’s children are here now. Vina, get your sisters under control!”

Quest Completed: Reunite with your sisters: 2/2. You have earned 10000 experience points for completing a quest.

All eyes turned to Vina, and for a moment, her mind went blank. She was supposed to resolve this? Haco had just attacked Adir, Ann was prepared to fight Haco, and now Etana stood by, apparently working with Stine. Everything was spiraling out of control, and Vina’s thoughts struggled to keep pace.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Etana, however, wasted no time. She stepped forward, embracing Ann tightly, her eyes glistening with tears. “I thought you were dead!” her voice cracked, raw with emotion.

Ann clung to her, her own tears falling freely. “Me too!”

Vina tried to find her voice, to say something to diffuse the tension within her, but before she could, Etana’s gaze shifted to her, her eyes filled with a sorrow Vina hadn’t expected.

“I’m so sorry, Vina,” Etana’s voice was heavy with regret. “I left you behind. I can see now how much you’ve suffered because of that choice. Do you have Langternem?”

Vina nodded slowly, her mind racing to catch up. She stepped toward her mount and pulled the crystal from her saddlebag. “I have to keep it fed,” she explained, her voice steady despite the turmoil swirling inside her. “Or it’ll try to escape.”

Etana’s eyes softened as she let go of Ann. “Hold on.” In a flash, she was in front of Vina, so fast that Vina involuntarily stepped back. “I have something like this too. It’s named Anomos. I think I’m beginning to understand our world.”

Her hand came up to rest on Vina’s armored shoulder, a soft caress that felt strangely comforting. “I know you’re numb. We’ll figure out how to fix it.”

“What are you figuring out?” Haco interjected, her tone sharp, impatient.

Etana raised her voice slightly, pointing at the crystal. “I can’t destroy Langternem or Anomos. I don’t know why, but the original Trina kept them both locked up. There’s another entity like them, Zel’alor, or The Supreme. It’s walking free now, but I think it was supposed to be locked up too.”

Vina nodded, a slow realization dawning. If she and Etana could work together to capture Zel’alor, together they could recover the Aspect of the System. With that in hand, she may just be able to protect her people from Trina’s control. “I just heard it destroyed a lot of refuges in Randar. If it starts demanding allegiance, Stigandorians and Paliternians might start fighting each other.”

Ann hesitatingly stepped away from Adir, but then after a moment dragged him behind her. “Why are you traveling with The Darkness? Why are you wearing Trina’s clothing? What happened to you?”

“Too much has happened, Ann,” she finally said, her voice soft, broken. “I thought you were dead. I thought I’d lost both of you. I left you, Vina... I left you both behind, and I see now what that’s done to you.”

Ann’s gaze softened, and for a brief moment, the time of separation between them seemed to melt away. But the moment was fleeting, replaced by the tension of the present. “And now?” Ann asked, her voice unsteady. “Are you working with Stine?”

Resolve returned to Etana’s eyes. “Yes. Stine and I have found a way to contain these entities. Langternem, Anomos, and now Zel’alor—none of them can be left unchecked. Trina may have locked them up once, but some of those locks are failing. We need to act before it’s too late.”

“Listen to me, children.” Haco's voice cut through their discussion like a knife. “I spoke with The Shaper about the memories of this world, long before The Severing. There were no strange entities like Langternem wandering around before it attacked. Trina dealt with that one in the best way she could manage.” She paused, her eyes narrowing. “Stine and The Supreme were not here before The Severing. I can guarantee you of that.”

She glanced at Etana, her voice lowering with conviction. “I don’t know the name Anomos, but I do know of the ever-changing cluster of stones on the island far to the west. Priya herself interrogated it. It existed long before Langternem but was never a threat. Trina protected it with a rune circle.”

Etana nodded. “That’s Anomos. The rune circle failed. It ran out of divinity over the years and forgot the aspect pattern that contained Anomos perfectly. I’ve restored part of it, along with other runed pads throughout the world.”

“There’s others?” Haco’s tone was incredulous, but a flicker of understanding danced in her eyes.

“Yes,” Etana said firmly. “There’s something much bigger happening than just the conflict we're fighting here. I’m not asking you to trust Stine, but it has been acting to prevent our world from being destroyed by entities like Anomos. We should use its power to find Zel'alor.”

Ann’s voice was weary but edged with a quiet strength. “Stine saved my life too. When I thought it was going to kill me, I took control of the lights powering a gloom. I couldn’t let go of the threads, and Stine shut it down, resetting the gloom. It used all that energy to heal my bonding sickness... and gave me some free levels.”

As her sister’s spoke, Vina couldn’t help but narrow her eyes with growing suspicion. She shot a look at Haco who stood just off to her side a dozen feet away. She saw Haco doing the same to her.

“Hold on,” Vina interjected, her voice tightening with resentment. “Stine has done nothing but hurt us. It captured Shan’s shadow and tortured me. It destroyed Prosit and Termily. It’s killed thousands of people just to teach me a lesson. It tricked me into killing innocent people, and when it couldn’t trick me, it slaughtered others to hurt me. And now, it’s trying to conquer Randar! We can’t let it deceive us into thinking it can be our ally, even for a moment.”

Ann shifted uneasily, her gaze flicking between the two, uncertain but unwilling to interrupt.

Haco’s voice rang out in agreement, sharp and unforgiving. “Finally, a voice of reason. I’ve seen how Stine operates for hundreds of years. You, Etana, Ann, Adir—all of you have been manipulated by Stine’s voice. Normally, I’d have Tacey sever your connection and let you recover. But that’s not an option right now. We need to defend Randar, or we’ll be complicit in genocide.”

Her eyes turned to Ann, evaluating her strength. “I can see how strong you’ve become, Ann. With the Aspect of Light as powerful as it is now, we have a real chance to destroy these shadows for good.”

Ann shook her head, her voice calm but firm. “That’s not how the shadows work. They need to return to Palitern. Besides, this army…” she gestured to the soldiers behind her. “…they’re not here to conquer Randar. They’re here to make sure Zel'alor can’t escape.”

Vina and Haco scoffed at the same time, exchanging another brief glance of mutual disbelief. “Shit…” Vina muttered under her breath. She hated agreeing with Haco, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that Stine was still manipulating everything.

“She’s not wrong,” Etana said, stepping in to support Ann. “Stine and I devised a way to stop Zel'alor from traveling freely. I’ve shut down its ability to use portal rings. Stine tracked its movements for some time until Zel'alor found a way to evade the shadows.”

Vina raised a hand, stopping Etana’s explanation. “I’m sorry, but you’re missing something important. Stine is literally fighting us on two warfronts right now. It’s been trying to invade Randar for weeks. This army behind you is just another part of Stine’s plan to attack. Haco and I are here to delay them while the city evacuates.”

Etana frowned, her voice more pointed now. “I saw your portal ring movements, Vina. You’ve made some sort of deal with The Watch to get the bounty off your head. Is it mutual, or are you being forced to cooperate?”

Vina’s eyes narrowed. “No! Can’t you see my life events?”

Etana tilted her head, scrutinizing Vina. “I see… your back, your shadow, the echo… What did Stine do to you?”

Vina opened her mouth, then closed it, feeling helpless against the growing complexity of the situation. She finally shrugged, letting her hands fall in resignation. “You tell me.”

Etana’s gaze darted between Vina and Ann, then settled on Haco. “Don’t hurt anyone while I’m gone,” she warned. Grabbing Ann’s hand, she stepped forward, her Vibrance surging. Vina felt a hand grasp her, and suddenly, she was yanked away.

On the other side, Vina’s stomach lurched as the familiar sickness of traveling through Vibrance overtook her. Her body rebelled against the sudden shift, but before she could react, another hand grabbed her, and a surge of Vibrance flooded her veins, chasing away the nausea with unnatural speed.

Ann flinched, her hand jerking away from Vina’s arm as if burned. Her voice trembled, filled with a mixture of fear and disbelief. “Vina! What is that? I—I can’t cure it!” Horror twisted her features, her breath catching as though she had touched something deeply wrong.

Confusion clouded Vina’s mind as she blinked, trying to orient herself. She glanced around, the dim light from the lantern on her hip illuminating their surroundings with a cold, eerie glow. “It’s either whatever Stine did to me or Trina’s binding quest that’s trying to kill me,” Vina said evenly, though a wave of disgust rippled through her at the thought.

Her eyes adjusted to the dark, recognizing the familiar, oppressive atmosphere barely illuminated by her lantern. “You took us to a gloom?” Her voice carried a sharp edge of disdain as she turned to Etana. The pulse of something nearby—dark, sinister—throbbed through the Vibrance. “We’re next to an assembler. That’s dangerous.”

“It’s safe here,” Etana said calmly, though there was an undercurrent of tension in her words. “Stine controls all of the creatures that exit from it.”

“Can I see it?” Ann asked in curiosity.

“Vina is already walking toward it. I guess she can see in the darkness,” Etana said.

Vina’s gaze hardened, the tug of the assembler’s presence growing stronger with every step she took toward it. “I can sense its blood. Why did you bring us here?” Her voice dropped, suspicion flaring as she focused on the pulsating mass ahead of them.

“We needed to get out of that environment,” Etana answered, hesitation creeping into her tone. “It was about to blow up. Too many conflicting opinions. Too much pressure. Haco is reckless, and I can’t trust anyone else right now. We needed space to think. To talk.”

Vina stepped closer to the grotesque mass, her hand hovering just above its surface. She could feel the trapped Vibrance, writhing within. They called to her, not in words but in a shared pain she recognized. She pressed her palm against it. “You have the Aspect of Names. You know all of my major life events. You probably know Ann’s too. Everything about us... without us even saying a word.”

Ann glanced at Etana, surprise flickering in her eyes. “Is that true? Can you see my memories?”

“Significant life events,” Etana corrected, her voice quieter now. “The ones that shape your name. Your true name.”

Ann’s eyes narrowed, her expression thoughtful, as though she were unraveling a mystery. “I’m learning that to Trina, we’re all just walking containers of life experience. The Aspect of Light has shown me how it’s taken from Palitern and allocated to us. Maybe you’re seeing the unique configuration of that life experience.”

She paused, gaze drifting to the assembler, her voice growing quieter. “This thing... It's pulling light. No, not light—experience—from Palitern and doing something with it...” Her words trailed off, uncertainty clouding her face.

Vina turned sharply toward her, her heart skipping a beat. “You can feel it too?”

Ann hesitated, considering her response. “No, I don’t feel it. I can see it.” She glanced at the assembler again, her brow furrowing in concern. “I don’t think it should be doing that. The last time too much experience was taken from Palitern, Trina sent us a rebalance message.” Her voice softened. “That was my fault... I think.”

Vina felt a jolt of shock, her breath catching at Ann’s admission. The suffering—the devastation her people had endured—was because of Ann? No, her mind immediately rejected the idea. Whatever the cause, Trina had enacted The Broken Balance. She spoke before she realized, her voice tight. “Trina chose to steal everyone’s life experience.” The words tasted bitter.

Blinking to regain focus, Vina shifted back to the assembler. “It’s using Vibrance to make creatures—based on two other Vibrances. I can feel the blood being created for whatever it’s about to spit out.” She turned to Etana, her eyes probing. “Can you see its memories?”

Etana gestured to the squirming, pulsating mass. “I didn’t bring you here to discuss this thing. I brought us here to talk about what we’re going to do about The Twelve, about Stine, about the other entities threatening our world. Maybe, how we can even find Mom.”

Vina inhaled deeply, steadying herself. “Listen. Ann is part of The Twelve now. She’s their Lady Phare. Someone warned me she might choose a different path from mine. You should ask her if she plans to leave Adir behind.”

Etana looked to Ann, but Ann was already shaking her head, her short blonde hair moving in a defiant rhythm. “He saved me. Haco tried to kill him.” Ann’s voice wavered, growing more distressed with each word. “I shouldn’t even be here. I need to go back and protect him.”

Her voice tightened as she continued, “Stine and I spoke, but I’m not convinced I should help it. Maybe it saved me, but Haco and Vina are right too. Stine has terrorized our world for centuries. It even tried to kill us outside of Termily! Don’t you remember, Etana?” Her tone cracked, as though she were rediscovering her own truth. “I don’t know how I got so confused. But when Haco and Vina shared their experiences... I started to remember.”

“So you’ll stay with The Twelve?” Etana asked softly, pain evident in her voice.

Ann hesitated, her gaze distant. “I don’t know... after what Haco did...” Her words faded into silence.

Etana turned on Vina, her frustration surfacing. “What about you? I saw the system’s attempt to kill you. Have you turned against Trina?”

“No,” Vina shook her head, her voice hard. “But I’ve given up on her. I have my own goals now, and they’re about saving the people I care about.”

Etana’s frustration deepened. “You mean your work as an Asharaina.” Her tone cut through the air, filled with both pain and anger. “What about us, Vina? Don’t you care about us anymore?”

Vina’s gaze locked onto her sister’s, feeling the heat of Etana’s Vibrance. She wanted to say she cared, but the words stuck in her throat. Finally, she spoke, her voice cold, measured. “Ann has a blood subclass. She’s one of the people I’m determined to protect. And I want to protect you too—because you’re my sister. But are you only determined to protect Palitern?” Her eyes flicked to the dress Etana wore. “Are you still obsessed with replacing Trina?”

Before Etana could respond, the assembler beside them gave a sickening, wet squelch, its mass shuddering violently. The three of them stepped back as several grotesque creatures ripped their way through its walls, emerging from the fleshy substance before scattering into the gloom.

Vina felt the mass cry out, its pain a living thing. Siany’s Vibrance, trapped within, shone brighter, the suffering radiating through the space like a beacon. Vina’s heart clenched, but Etana’s Vibrance flickered with disgust. Ann, however, remained simply... curious.

In the heavy silence that followed, Vina was the first to speak, her voice low, strained. “I’m sorry, Etana. I’m... really broken up inside.” She struggled, fighting against the numbness gnawing at her. “Our family, The Esca Family, owns a city called Valanire. I’m turning it into a home for my people and everyone I care about. It’s isolated from the rest of the world—protected by a barrier. I’m working to sever it from Trina’s control. Please... come there with me. Both of you. You’ll be safe. We can plan our next steps. I know where Mom is and maybe together we can rescue her.”

Etana and Ann both turned to her, their eyes wide with disbelief.

“What?!” they exclaimed together. They exchanged a glance, then spoke in unison, “Where?”

Vina managed a small, tired smile. The tension between them shifted, replaced by the briefest flicker of familiarity. “She locked herself inside my lantern somehow,” Vina explained, patting the lantern at her side. “I’m surprised you didn’t see it in my life events, Etana.”

Etana frowned, the weight of her power and responsibilities pulling at her. “I can’t see everything all at once. I have to dig through them sometimes.””

Ann reached out, gently lifting the lantern to peer inside. “She’s... right. There’s another light there. It’s faint though, almost... compressed. What did she do?”

“More importantly,” Etana interjected, her voice tightening with urgency, “how do we get her out?”

Vina shook her head, frustration and sorrow mixing in her expression. “I don’t know. I’m still working on it. Come to Valanire with me?” Her voice was soft, almost pleading.

There was a pause—heavy with unspoken emotions—before Etana spoke again. “You two should go. I can’t stay in one place. I have to check the seals that hold back the entities. Stine and I need to find Zel'alor before it can do more damage.”

Vina sighed heavily, her exhaustion weighing on her. “What damage? I’m not aware of anything Zel'alor is doing, beyond bringing Stigandorians here just to be killed by Stine.”

“I’m still piecing it together,” Etana admitted, her brow furrowing. “But I think Zel'alor is manipulating the system. We both saw the aspect it pulled from its body. What if it’s the one suppressing blood classes? What if it wasn’t Trina trying to kill you, but Zel'alor?”

Vina tilted her head, considering the possibility. Etana’s explanation wasn’t without merit; Zel'alor had already shown it could control parts of the system. “I hadn’t thought of that.” She paused, choosing her next words carefully. “I’m not against containing or killing Zel'alor, especially if it’s using the system to attack people with blood classes. But I can’t compromise on Stine. We have to find a way to kill it—and all of its creatures.”

She took a slow step back toward the assembler, her gaze settling on the shifting Vibrance within. Siany’s presence grew more intense, the suffering radiating from her almost unbearable through Vina’s blood sense. “My sister needs mercy,” Vina thought, memories of Siany’s torment at the hands of Langternem rising to the surface. The pain tugged at her, but deep down she knew she couldn’t snuff out the last remaining shreds of Siany’s vibrance. Instead, she forced herself to focus on the present, turning her attention back to her real sisters.

Etana’s voice was calm, but resolute. “We can’t focus solely on killing Stine and its creatures. Stine’s using them to contain entities like Anomos and Zel'alor. Countless creatures have died just to keep Anomos contained until I could fix the runes. If you’re not going to revive Trina, then I have to step up to protect our world. But I need more aspects for that. Right now, we still need Stine’s strength.”

Vina’s gaze shifted to Ann, a quiet question hanging between them. “What are you feeling?”

Ann’s voice was soft, almost hesitant. “I want us to stick together, but I feel like we aren’t considering The Twelve.”

Vina sensed Etana’s Vibrance flicker, a brief pause filling the space between them. Ann’s frustration and curiosity pulsed in the air, leaving Vina to follow her own instincts. “Etana and I killed Faer. I killed The Shaper and Ebba. I trapped Tacey in a Refuge of Trina in Prosit, but she might have escaped after The Broken Balance. There’s only seven left now, excluding you.” Her voice dropped, as though the weight of those words pressed on her. “I don’t think Carda or Gij are interested in killing our family.”

Ann’s expression softened. “Thank you, Vina. Adir is safe for us as well.”

Etana’s tone grew cautious, her curiosity piqued. “So, who’s left?” She hesitated before continuing, her gaze distant. “Something happened to me with The Twelve, but I can’t talk about it. I can’t break the promise, or I’ll die.”

Vina’s eyes remained on her sister, watching the struggle unfold in Etana’s Vibrance. She spoke slowly, listing the names. “Haco, The Exemplar, Zera, Amets, and Nil.” Etana’s eyes sparked with recognition as Vina spoke the last name.

Ann frowned, confusion crossing her face. “Wait. That doesn’t add up. You’re missing one.”

Vina’s gaze flicked back to her, her mind running through the names again. “Haco, Tacey, Carda, Zera, Gij, The Shaper, Faer, Nil, Adir, Phare, Exemplar, and Ebba. That’s twelve.”

Ann’s voice was slow, deliberate. “Lady Phare didn’t exist when I joined. I took Ebba’s place after you killed her. There weren’t any openings when I joined The Twelve.”

“So, Amets then?” Vina asked, her voice trailing off as she realized the truth. She glanced at Ann, the realization dawning on both of them. “Amets was never among The Twelve, was she?”

Ann shook her head, her voice filled with quiet certainty. “No. There’s another of The Twelve we don’t know.”

Vina’s voice dropped to a whisper, as though speaking the truth aloud would solidify it. “Like Faer, they aren’t in Shan’s book.” She paused for a moment before continuing, her voice filled with resolve. “This is why I have to keep working with The Twelve. I’ve already negotiated a cooperation agreement with them. I can secure our safety. We can’t fight everyone in this world.”

Ann gave Etana a pained look, the weight of her choice evident in her eyes. “That’s one reason I need to stay with The Twelve. I can influence them from within. I can fight with them to close the glooms, and I’ll make them dependent on me. At the very least, I’ll have a warning if they turn against us. Maybe I can even figure out who this unknown member is—and why they’re hidden.”

Vina nodded, her decision firm. “As soon as I have the chance, I’ll negotiate with Haco. I’ll bind her and the rest of The Twelve with a contract. Once that’s done, we’ll be safe from them.”

Etana’s voice cut through the air, her words heavy with caution. “But what will you have to give up in return?” It wasn’t a question so much as a warning, but before Vina could respond, the air around them shifted.

From the shadows, a large creature suddenly emerged.

Vina’s blood surged, her body tensing in response. “Stine, you can’t sneak up on us anymore!” Her voice rang with anger. “What the hell do you want?”

Stine’s voice resonated through the gloom, calm and commanding. “The situation outside Randar has changed since you’ve been away. You three may want to return.”