A faifethi period of mourning could last a week to several months or even an entire lesser year. Depending on the fame or infamy of the person who died, it may continue longer. Unfortunately, Vadeen and his family were members of the military, and a pressing issue hung over them all, one of war. The Empress indeed considered Lanad's "actions" and those of the indrahti culpable for destroying the 21st Bracket declarations of war against them from the indrahti themselves.

Returning to normalcy would be a jarringly difficult task, and not just because of Vadeen's rapidly devolving mental condition.

He was denied immediate return to his duties as second lieutenant even after the three days his mother and brother were given before returning to their positions. The Rākhirah member who had visited their palace indeed came by to pass on information that not just the Wasihl Queen, Linhoc, decided, but also the absolute monarch, Empress Rākhirah herself.

He couldn't feel more repulsed by his own body after hearing his empress had learned of what he did to one of her messengers.

During his break from his duties, he stayed in his bracket. Yet, he didn't pass so much as a smile or friendly gesture to his friends. Perhaps his mannerisms were juvenile, but at times he thought of them as former friends. It had become dangerous for him to linger on the knowledge the overwhelming majority of them did not attend Lanad's funeral. From what he heard, only his younger friend Rorimi and his superior Soren personally attended while Zhen and his sister, Zaraio, merely sent their regards.

On the matter of Dōl-Rangī, his whereabouts were completely unknown. Not much else could be said about the matter; the Snake hadn't been seen in Faifeleth since the night of Jonjae-Bū.

Regardless of his involvement in the Mahilasi poisoning, they couldn't do anything about him.

Much to Vadeen's seething chagrin.

He sat in his meditation corner, his eyes closed and seemingly calm, but his body twitched every other second. No matter how hard he tried to stay at ease, his mind wandered. For the past several days, he thought of his brother and of the events surrounding his death. How all went from being a normal celebration of Jonjae-Bū to receiving the sudden news his brother committed high treason.

His thoughts came to a merciful halt when he heard a commotion in the halls. He recognized the voices of Rorimi, Zhen, and Zaraio, making his eyes narrow and focus on the door.

On cue, someone banged on it. "Vadeen!" Zhen shouted. "I need to talk to you!"

"No, Zhen!" Rorimi hushed. "This isn't right!"

Letting his eyes close, Vadeen ignored them. Sighing, he stood and approached his bed to put his boots back on.

"Vadeen! I'm opening the door!"

His door swung open, but he didn't turn around.

He sensed Zhen near him. "Vadeen, what's wrong with you? Why haven't you spoken to us?"

"Zhen!" Zaraio hissed in horror.

"Vadeen!"

A hand landed on Vadeen's shoulder. Grabbing it, he had Zhen on the floor in seconds, apprehending him with his hands behind his back. "Last I checked, Ruosala, this is highly inappropriate conduct against a Mahilasi," he said in a monotone.

Both Zaraio and Rorimi took a step back, then immediately fell in place, dropping to one knee. "A-apologies, Kizo-nu[1] !" Rorimi squeaked.

"I know you're acting, Vadeen!" Zhen struggled against him, but Vadeen effortlessly kept him still. "Answer the question! Why have you avoided us? Is it because of La—"

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Slamming him on the floor, Vadeen neared Zhen's ear and growled, "Don't you dare say his name."

Zhen stared back at him with wide eyes, meeting ocher orbs that were tinted red. After a moment, he regained his voice. "Vadeen, he...he was—"

"My brother." Vadeen tightened his grasp, forcing a pained grunt from the older man. "He was my brother. And you better damn well remember that, Ruosala. You, too," he snapped at Rorimi and Zaraio.

They almost jumped at the venom in his voice.

"He was innocent. The indrahti found prove that."

"They were working with him," Zhen tried.

Eyes widening, Vadeen's face twisted as his ira wriggled violently inside. Effortlessly, he threw Zhen across the room with a reverberating, animalistic snarl. The older man landed hard against the opposite wall, causing their friends to gasp while rising to their feet.

Breathing heavily, Vadeen's neck cracked as he rose from the floor. Half of his vision had turned red. "Get out," he said between his teeth.

"V-Vadeen—"

"GET OUT!" he roared, eyes wide and body hunched. He twitched violently, trying with all his might not to attack. Already, he could smell their fear. He took a sharp inhale, and his eyes wanted to roll into his head. "I-I...can't hold back...for m-much longer."

Immediately, someone appeared in the doorway. It was Soren. "Ruosala! Baek! Heteti!" he barked in a tone Vadeen had never heard before. "LEAVE!"

"U-understood!" Rorimi promptly responded. She entered and grabbed a dumbstruck Zhen from the floor on the other side of the room and ushered a teary-eyed Zaraio out the door.

Vadeen slightly calmed at their receding presences. He kept his head lowered, let his hair hide his face, continued to breathe hard, and intermittently emitted soft growls.

"Wuan?" Soren softly called.

Rip...

Vadeen shook his head at both the voice and at his superior.

Maim...

He heard Soren exhale quietly. "Understood. I apologize."

The moment the door shut, he forced himself to control his breath, shakily exhaling through his nose as his mother taught him.

As if something released him from a tight grasp, he fell hard to his knees.

For several moments, he remained on the floor. His breath slowly evened out, and he gradually opened his eyes.

Only when the world no longer had a pink tint did he slowly move to his feet. Calm once more, he turned around and sat on his bed, head lowered, while tears streamed unbidden down his face.

More knocking at the door brought him out of another meditative trance sometime later. When he reached with his senses, another energy signature met his. He jumped from his bed and approached the door to open it.

"Mokā," he said softly.

His mother smiled down at him but the expression lacked its usual cheer. "Are you feeling well?" she asked, reaching to brush her hands through his loose locks. "I heard what happened."

He looked away, nodding. "I'm alright."

She didn't comment, but he felt her keen eyes watching him.

He slightly fidgeted. "Just been...thinking," he finally added, "about..."

Much to his own surprise, he didn't break down into sobs or tremors, but his eyes did water.

He kept trying to tell himself it wouldn't hurt as much if Lanad's name hadn't been slandered and hated behind their back—or directly in his face.

It could hurt because of that.

It could hurt for the obvious reason.

Does it matter?

His mother brought him closer and hugged him, enveloping him in warmth and her large body. Exhaling shakily, he rested against her, covering his eyes with a hand. They stood in silence for however long. He felt so tired...

"I want to go back to work," he said softly. "I need...something to do. Something aside from beating the shit out of people." His free hand tightened into a fist.

His body slightly rose and fell as she sighed. She didn't immediately respond, likely weighing the pros and cons.

He understood if she didn't want to bring him back to his duties so soon; he wasn't even sure if she could allow him to.

Finally, she gently moved him back to look into his eyes. "Permission granted. I'll sort everything out with the superiors; don't worry about it."

"But—"

She gave him a somewhat humored but stern look.

His shoulders evened. "Alright. Thank you."

A smile formed on her face, then she stood up straight. "Unfortunately, I've some bad news. Two days ago, we received a message from an indrahti messenger."

His eyes widened, and a flare of anger rose within him, but he listened calmly.

She glanced away with a deep exhale. "The Tenk'ha, unsurprisingly, killed said messenger, but not before they informed that envoys are coming. Two of them, apparently."

He huffed, blowing hair out of his face. Indeed, their empress would murder any indrahti that so much as stepped foot on Sahīleth. But messengers and envoys...? That was too much courtesy...

"The envoys are expected to arrive tomorrow."

"What?" He made a face. "So soon. They must have something to say..."

"Indeed. Something fucking stupid, likely." His mother turned to leave. "Tomorrow, I'll have a few words to say at lightbeaming in the officer's chamber. Ready for it."

"Understood." He gave a bow of his head.

She nodded at him, then walked up the hall. He watched after her, then briefly glanced down the corridor before closing his door.

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[1] The address for royal members of the faifethi dynasties (masc aligned).