The tale took some telling and the Arch Mage asked detailed questions, some leaving Jayln questioning if they related at all. Nevertheless, with Matius's quiet encouragement she told all she knew. When she was done, the Arch Mage leaned back in the plush armchair he had summoned over for himself.

"Hmmm. From what you've told me, I can understand why Niv would take an interest in your friend. The Pantheon feeds off their elements. His life of pain and hatred would be a feast she would be unwilling to finish quickly. Somehow she’s even used him to destroy us, a horrifying notion on two fronts. As her new weapon, a strong and experienced fighter makes up for the usual weaknesses of mages and Pantheon zealots, the perfect bodyguard. Second it means she knew we were in the valley."

The Arch Mage stood. "I should have listened to you, Matius, and acted weeks ago. We will prepare to assault the valley."

"But what if she's opened another rift?" Matius asked.

The Arch Mage turned to Jayln. "I have a theory. Your friend, the demon-touched one. He has been resistant to my examinations and I have not pressed. However, I believe that he would be able to sense proximity to a rift— at least one that led to Enu. If I'm right that Niv will stick to attempting to summon her brother first, he would be vital in ensuring we don't deliver exactly what Niv needs."

"So Tryst needs to come," Jayln said simply and the Arch Mage nodded. "He won't want to," she added.

"I predict so as well. With so many lives on the line, I am not above taking him with force but I would prefer if he could be convinced. Talk to him, if it is payment he would take, we can provide a sum."

Jayln nodded. "I'm coming too. I'm yuji, so won't be a liability."

The Arch Mage agreed and Jayln nudged Matius. "Take me to Tryst. I can't do that stairs thingy."

Matius smiled and gave the Arch Mage a bow before whisking Jayln down the magic stairs. Tryst, Echa, and Anwen had been boarded in an inn on the mainland. Matius had generously paid for three weeks, but even now the ex-pirate had shown little sign of vacating.

Jayln knocked on the door. "Tryst, it's me. We need to talk. Now."

Tryst opened the door, a bottle dangling from his hand and the smell of rum on his breath. "Hrm. Sounds urgent."

He let her push through the doorway. Despite Tryst's disheveled state, the room was neat and tidy. Jayln turned back to the man, who leaned against the door as it shut.

"Tryst, Fenrin's alive."

His half-hooded, uninterested eyes widened and he stood up straight, revealing how much of his drunkenness was an act. "The captain's alive?"

"He's being tortured by Niv. He's gone berserk and killed two mages. The Arch Mage himself is going to assault the valley. We have to go with them and rescue him."

Tryst glanced for a moment at Matius. The Third Apprentice shifted uncomfortably, knowing he was a terrible liar and Tryst instantly realized there was something they weren't telling him.

He took another long draft from his bottle and belched. "No offence, but we weren't exactly holding our own last time, Jay. Sounds like a suicide mission for us normal types." Tryst nodded at Matius. "Good luck, man. Tell the captain I'll have a drink ready."

Jayln scowled. "We need you!"

Matius nudged her but she shot him a sharp look and he backed off.

"Oh?" A smile crept onto Tryst's face as he smelled opportunity.

Jayln had no patience for his games. "Yes, you and your...broken soul. The Arch Mage says he thinks you can sense if another rift’s been opened. We have to know that because if there is one and an Azir go near it, Enu, Niv's brother, will possess the Azir and we'll have a bigger problem to deal with."

Tryst grew pale and he shivered. "Not exactly a convincing speech, love. If anything, it had quite the opposite effect."

Moving forward, Jayln grabbed Tryst and pinned him against the wall. "Listen, I know you're not the heroic type but if you don't help and another demon shows up and defeats the Arch Mage, do you really think you'll be safe? He's had a taste of your soul and I'd bet it'd be easy for him to find the rest. You'd be on the run."

Tryst pushed her off. "You have no proof of that. The mages prodded me enough for me to know they don't know squat about my soul."

"What about Fenrin? Don't you owe it to your captain to try to save him?"

"Anything that can hurt that man, I'd not stand a chance against. It'd be a losing battle."

"Like running into a cave full of Brimstones to snatch a girl off the altar?" Jayln prodded and Tryst flinched but then shrugged.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Did that. Lost part of my soul as you so poignantly pointed out. As you said, I'm not the heroic type."

"Echa thinks you are," Jayln stated and Tryst threw the bottle, which shattered against the far wall.

"Well maybe she's wrong! Maybe I did one good thing in my life and that's it. Quota fulfilled. I can't change who I am!"

Jayln stared at him and said softly, "Fenrin did. He changed more than anyone, even me, thought was possible. People can change and everytime they do, the world gets a little bit better and I for one I'm not going to let some bitch of hell and darkness undo all that with the snap of a finger.”

She let go of Tryst. “I'm going back to that valley. I can't sense rifts or shoot fire from my fingers, but I'll put an arrow or fist through anyone that believes the world needs any more darkness than it already has."

Tryst glared at her. "Well good for you. Have fun dying."

"Have fun finding a job," Matius said from the side and both turned to him.

The mage shrugged. "I heard you'd started job hunting and it wasn't going well. I know how hard it is to be a yuji in Aziron, but I can't imagine what it's like to be an ex-pirate yuji in Aziron. Not a lot of marketable skills without implicating yourself."

Tryst stuck a thumb out and asked Jayln, "What's he going on about?"

Jayln looked at Matius wondering the same thing.

Matius continued nonchalantly, "You've got this room for a week but after that..." He shrugged again. "I saw Echa shopping at the market so I guess she's figured something out. From the look of you, I'd guess she even bought you that rum."

Tryst grew steely eyed but Matius continued without pause, "Wouldn't you like to be back on your feet? The Arch Mage is offering to pay you for your services. Just tell us if you get the shivers—no heroics required."

The Third Apprentice gave Tryst an innocent smile and the ex-pirate rubbed his neck. "Should've led with that. When do we leave?"

Jayln's jaw dropped but Matius took her arm and walked towards the door. "I'll come get you in an hour or so. Try to freshen up a bit. Would two thousand work for you?"

"That'll do nicely." Tryst grinned and swept the door closed. "Pleasure doing business with you."

Matius pulled Jayln down the road, hushing her whenever she tried to talk until they were skimming across the water back to the Arch Mage’s island.

"What the hell, Matius?" she said but couldn't stop from smiling. Matius winked and she exclaimed, "I didn't think he'd do it for the money. I honestly didn't."

"He didn't." At her confused look, Matius gave her a nudge. "You got to him. He just needed a way out that didn't make him feel like he'd lost to you. It's easier to be a mercenary than a hero."

She shook her head, realizing he was right. "Still, thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. I'm sure he'll find out we would've taken him anyway eventually and I don't think he'll like that."

Jayln grinned. "I'll handle it."

Arriving on the island, Matius walked along the coast and Jayln followed. He sat down on a bench, positioned to overlook the azure waves of the ocean. She sat next to him and they stared out towards the sea.

"Jayln, can you promise me something?"

She took his hand, "What?"

"If Fenrin doesn't make it...well, just promise me you'll be ready for that possibility."

Jayln turned to him. "I'm not an idiot. I understand the chances are slim."

"No, no. It's just—" Matius waved a hand trying to find the right words.

Finally he took Jayln's other hand, holding them both tightly as he looked at her. "You have this idea in your head that Fenrin's fate is the world's fate. I just don't want to see you lose hope if one man doesn't make it. I get that Fenrin's change was inspiring but if he can't win, it doesn't mean no one can. There are plenty of good people in this world, you don't have to try to make them yourself."

Jayln mulled over that, stopping herself from denying it outright. She was beginning to accept that Fenrin had become an obsession. What had started out as an experiment had turned into a fascination and now she was about to risk her life over a man she had once considered irredeemable. She looked at Matius's kind concerned face, leaned forward, and kissed him.

When she pulled away his face was a pleasant shade of pink. "I promise. I'll let him go if that's what it comes to."

"Gods. Oh um, yes, good. Glad to hear," Matius stumbled nervously and she leaned against his shoulder.

She wanted to enjoy this moment, but her mind was still considering the battle ahead. Jayln was willing to let Fenrin go, but something still told her that she should fight for him. That he was worth saving. "Have you ever felt like someone entered your life for a reason? Like there was some purpose they had to play?"

Matius gave a small laugh. "I'm sorry. It's just a funny thing to say, considering." She blushed at the implication but he shook his head. "I know that's not what you meant but it's also funny because that's the reason I'm here."

"What do you mean?"

"I told you the Arch Mage found me and adopted me, despite me being yuji. It was a controversial decision for many reasons. When he then took me on as his apprentice, something Azir worked their whole lives for, there were many who straight up resented me. I used to ask him all the time—why me? Every Azir had a specialty, a quirk or talent they excel at. The Arch Mage's has always been divination, for years he's been known as an eccentric who makes decisions off gut feeling but he's also known for being right."

Matius smiled, looking into the distance. "When I asked ‘why me’, he said something similar to what you said—that he had a feeling I had been there for a reason. That there was a purpose I had to play. Coming from him, that was both reassuring and a bit terrifying. Not to mention a lot of pressure for a kid."

He shifted his hand, their fingers still intertwining.

"After that, fewer people questioned my being here. Sure, people still resented me, especially younger Azir, but it soon became clear the value in having a capable yuji mage. I have closed over a dozen rifts since I was appointed, each one an unbelievable danger to an Azir, but just another job for me."

Jayln sat up. "So that was the purpose then?"

Matius smiled and shrugged. "Maybe? I told myself years ago that I wouldn't wonder what the purpose was. It was starting to drive me crazy. Eventually I just decided to do the best I could. Do as much good for the world as I was in the position to. I couldn't go wrong if I did that right?"

Jayln really wanted to kiss him again but instead she said, "We should probably get ready."

Matius nodded and hand in hand they walked back to the tower.