It was this fame, that led to the young Legosia arriving in the presence of King Vernash once again. Only this time, the King did not ask him for his services in the battlefield. Instead, the aging ruler of Elneshe brought forth his own son, a boy no older than Legosia himself.

-From the 3rd Chapter of “The Remont of Elneshe”

He floated in the air, waiting for trouble to rear its head. Galeon saw a cart approaching the camp from far away, and recognized it. He flew over to the cart and landed beside its owner. The old man looked surprised and bowed his head. He was an aged, though strong looking old man, with a scar along his lip.

“Hallowed one, how can I help you?” he asked. It had been so long since he’d been addressed so respectfully, that Galeon forgot how it felt.

“I was dropping by to see if you needed help,” Galeon offered.

“Ah, no. Thank you for sparing your time for me, Hallowed one, but I can’t bother you with such work!” the man said. He started taking his boxes off of the cart, and Galeon could see him visibly struggling.

“Come on. I have the power to help you, just let me,” Galeon offered again, holding one of the crates up for him. the man smiled awkwardly back at Galeon, then nodded.

“If you think it will be worth your time. But I won’t ask you to help me without an offering,” the man said, lifting one of the lighter boxes and pushing it towards Galeon.

“These oranges are right in season. I hope you find them acceptable,” the man offered to Galeon. The Afterburner set the crate aside and unpacked the rest of the crates. They took them along the road to one of the stockpiles.

Galeon was satisfied with the state of the boxes, and nodded towards the noble in charge of them. The merchant traded a jingling bag with the noble, and the both of them left together. Galeon flew the man back to his cart, and he tried to offer some more gifts to him.

“It’s only right! I wouldn’t have been able to do it all so quickly by myself!” he said, trying to push a little pouch towards the Afterburner.

“And I told you I don’t need your coins! What am I even going to buy here when most everyone just gives me what I want!” Galeon asked the merchant, pushing away the pouch.

“Oh,” the merchant replied, abruptly stopping. “You pose a good point, Hallowed one…”

“If you’re really so eager to give it away, many people here could use the money. You should give it to one of them,” Galeon told the man.

“Really, Hallowed one?”

“And no more of that “Hallowed one” title. You can just call me Galeon.”

“If you say so, Galeon,” the merchant said awkwardly. Finally, he left and Galeon could breathe a sigh of relief. He took off into the air once again, and looked around the camps. Some people roamed the streets even now, and Galeon thought he could make himself useful.

****

“No, there were only five out there,” Galeon explained to the farmer.

“I counted six escaping! Did you eat the last one, you Devourer?” the woman angrily replied.

“I’m an Afterburner! And I can’t even prepare a chicken, much less cook it!” he argued back and forth.

In his hands he held a bunch of scratching and cawing hens in his hands, that struggled to leave. He was covered in feathers and his hair was ruffled, which worsened his mood all the more. By the end of the argument, he had to fly off as the woman swore she’d bring this betrayal to the king.

****

“You’ve taken my hallowmancy!” Galeon beckoned. All six of his jets had been bound by Egil’s growing number of test subjects. the scholar whooped in the air at the discovery.

“We’ve done it! Your control over your powers is gone, and all it took were six soldiers each and thirty minutes!” Egil cackled. Galeon hoped the theatrics were worth it, as he was growing more annoyed.

“Uh, Sir?” one of the soldiers raised a hand.

“What is it?” the scholar asked, stopping his laughter.

“What do we do if the Afterburner is in the air?” he asked.

“Well, you…” he looked between Galeon and the soldiers.

“Obviously you would…” but he paused again.

“We can…”

“We’ll think about that later! This is a victory!” Egil brushed the worries aside, trying to rile up the rest of the soldiers.

“Look, your combined might has disabled an Afterburner. Think about that accomplishment!” Egil told them. But it was Galeon’s turn to raise his hand.

“Actually, I’ve… had them back for a few moments now,” he said, pressing a finger to his palm and placing a new jet there. The scholar seemed to deflate under his looks, and Galeon couldn’t help but feel guilty.

“….Fly away and bring one of your more cooperative friends back,” Egil whispered to him, shooing him away. Galeon took off into flight again, and he’d be lying if he didn’t feel comfortable having his jets back.

****

“We have drills,” Ninel told him.

“Egil needs this!” Galeon told him.

“I’m not wasting my time for a charlatan wearing the mask of a scholar,” Ninel replied. “The answer is no.”

Galeon slumped his shoulders. He was so tired of convincing people, that he’d rather have just given up there. But Stele thankfully intervened.

“People are saying Egil might be on to something. You and I should check it out regardless, Ninel. Give Galeon some rest,” he said, patting the blonde Afterburner on the shoulders.

“Thanks, Stele,” Galeon told him. He tried to put on his best smile for Ninel, whose stony demeanour seemed to crack just a little.

“Only this once, Galeon,” he told him. The both of them left together towards Egil’s training grounds, and Galeon thanked Seraphas that the problem wasn’t his anymore. He sat himself down on the ground and leaned against the wall, taking a breath.

But the longer he waited, the more something crept into the back of his mind. Galeon had no time for whatever thoughts lingered there, so he took to the skies again. People needed help. Even if he wasn’t out in the field, that didn’t give him the right to sit idly by.

****

Galeon rushed through the air as fast as he could, medical supplies stuffed into his coat. Scissors, poultices, herbs and clean cloth were all plastered to his chest and he dropped to the ground in front of a doctor’s tent. He cushioned his fall with his powers, rushing inside and bringing out the tools.

“Bring them over here!” the doctor shouted from behind a curtain. Galeon took them out as quickly as he could, running over to the medical staff and handing it to them. They moved as a coordinated unit inside of the tent, yet they weren’t what Galeon’s eyes were plastered to.

It was instead the unconscious woman who laid before him. Blood oozed from cuts across her hands and feet, and a purple bruise seemed to be slowly creeping across her chest.

“Why isn’t she waking up?” Galeon asked them, worried. These wounds shouldn’t be as severe as they seemed, and especially not for the woman in front of him. Why wasn’t she healing them? Why wasn’t she responding?

“That’s up to us, Afterburner. We have to stabilize her condition. The rest will be up to her, once she’s awake.”

Galeon hung around the edges of the bed as he waited for the doctors to perform. A sudden call had brought him here to help in saving the poor Planar in front of him. The staff worked with an expertise that Galeon often overlooked.

People without hallowmancy had a much harder time dealing with wounds, something he pitied them for. His powers made him take injuries for granted, when for others it would’ve been life-defining.

Yet now here they were, saving someone who by all rights could’ve done a better job herself. They cleaned off the areas where she was bleeding, using the poultices and cloth to stop it. By the time the procedure was complete, she was breathing evenly, though hadn’t waken up.

Galeon followed the doctor out of the tent, shooting glances back at the woman every so often.

“What happened to her?” He asked.

“Bad placement. Scouting work gone wrong. Fainted before she could heal a single wound,” the doctor said plainly.

“Is she….” But the doctor stopped his line of thought.

“She’ll live. You and her are tough types. Most all hallowmancers walk out of there without a scratch on them,” the doctor told him. It gave Galeon a bit of relief, though he still wanted to see for himself.

“You should go, Hallowed one. You must be busy, after all,” the doctor said. He tried to pull out something to offer him, but Galeon raised his hands in defence.

“Please. If I take anything more I’ll have to shift to a larger room,” he chuckled.

“As you wish,” the doctor concluded. A nurse called the man back inside, which left Galeon alone once more. A wave of exhaustion came over him, yet he ignored it. There was still more work to do.

****

Galeon stumbled through the air, trying to keep himself awake. His jets kept him aloft, yet his eyes would always wink shut for a moment or else. The cold… it was seeping into his bones with every passing moment.

He’d spent the entire day running back and forth the camp, memorizing it over twice again. He looked below himself, towards the tents and buildings, and wondered, why are they so small?

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Only then realizing how high he’d flown, Galeon let out a sigh. He let himself fall through the air, even as it took away what little warmth he had. A moment later, he activated his jets again, slowing his descent until he landed softly on the snow.

No matter how long he spent out here, the dead silence unnerved him. When it rained, you’d be hard pressed not to notice. But with snow, something was missing. Something dead and frozen.

A green tinged glow at the edge of Galeon’s vision alerted him to the presence of a newcomer. He looked towards the fringes of the camp, where a man walked out of the portal. Who is that?

A dark cloak covered the man from head to toe, leaving nothing bare. The portal behind him winked out, and Galeon stepped slightly into the shadow of a house. The man began to walk slowly towards the camp, his cloak shifting as he took glances around himself.

But he stopped a few paces into the camp proper. The man’s gaze didn’t move, stuck in Galeon’s direction. The young Afterburner stood still, heart hammering in his chest. He couldn’t see the stranger’s eyes, couldn’t gleam what he was thinking.

And then the stranger began running.

“Stop!” Galeon shouted after him, to no avail.

A green dot appeared in front of him, and he began carving another portal. Galeon placed jets on each of his arms and feet, taking into the air. The man completed his portal and jumped through. Galeon caught only a glimpse of dark foliage on the other side, shifting his eyes towards the forest.

It took only a moment to find the residual glow of the other portal, and Galeon shot off towards it. The Planar hadn’t expected it, glancing between Galeon and the forest in surprise.

“I said stop!” Galeon shouted again, before the Planar took off in a sprint. He jumped onto a nearby branch of one of the trees, launching off of it into another one soon after.

His cloak fluttered in the air, and Galeon tried swiping at it. But the man dropped off of the branch he was on and into an awaiting portal. Galeon watched as he shot out of another one further away.

It’s… him! The same man who’d dropped bombs on the camp, killed innocents! Galeon struggled not to clench his fists, growling at the enemy.

“You’re not getting away this time!” Galeon shouted at him. He looked back at Galeon, and the Afterburner could feel him smiling underneath his hood. Galeon dropped to the ground and changed his jets’ configuration.

They went on his elbows, calves and back, and Galeon pumped all of his bewl into them. The force pushed his shoulder blades inwards, as he shot off faster than before. Galeon manoeuvred around the bushes and rocks, across the terrain, catching up with the Planar faster than ever.

The man seemed genuinely surprised, taking off higher into the branches to avoid Galeon. Their chase continued deeper into the forest, only the Planar didn’t dare use his portals. By the time Galeon finally caught up to him, he pushed off of a rock and jumped into the air. He positioned his back downwards, taking off further and tackling the man off of a tree.

The man grunted in surprise. They both rolled in the air and came crashing down onto the ground. Galeon wrapped his arms around the Planar, even as he struggled. They finally came to a stop near a clearing under the moon, Galeon holding both of his arms. His cloak had come off, and Galeon could finally see the man in full.

He had amber eyes with thick lashes. His dark brown hair was spiky and cut short. He wore forest green Ravenishtani clothing underneath his cloak, and a necklace around his throat. The necklace held a single metallic bead in the centre, which caught Galeon’s attention for a moment.

The man smiled at him, like someone who had been caught by a child in a game. A million questions raced through the young Afterburner’s head, one chief among them.

“You’re Phasgorian… Why did you attack the camp?! You’re one of us!” Galeon shouted at him.

“Really? You think a bit of shared blood makes right between us? You’re a dull knife if you believe that,” the man snidely remarked. Galeon slammed both of his hands back down onto the ground, freeing all of his strength.

“So, you go around bombing farmers and merchants? Beggars and children?”

“You and them both, Dull-end. You’re blind following the blind. Not a single drop of wit between any of you. Why should I regret anything, when you’re in my way?” the Planar chuckled.

“What are you talking about? That doesn’t explain anything!” Galeon was growing steadily more annoyed. First the annoying work he was sent on, then this? Couldn’t he get a straight answer for once?

His hands clenched the Planar’s arms, and he couldn’t help but think, what if he just took his life? They couldn’t keep a Planar contained at the best of times. No one would care if Galeon were to take care of a dissident, especially one who’d done so much harm. The thought pricked at the edge of his mind, growing stronger with every passing moment. He just needed to tear out the man’s throat and eyes, and he’d be gone.

It was the right thing to do, wasn’t it? Avenge those whose lives the Planar had so brazenly taken? He didn’t regret it, clearly, so what else was there to do?

“You’re working for them, aren’t you? What did Ravenishtan offer you in return, huh? Money? Land? Or did they offer you nothing, and you still decided to betray us?” Galeon asked him. that seemed to amuse the Planar, as he laughed even louder.

“You really are simple-minded! That was your best guess, Dull-end? Couldn’t think of anything better? Nothing working in that brain of yours? Maybe you should send some bewl, make sure you’re all there!” the man’s laughs echoed throughout the forest, even as Galeon hardened his grip.

“Stop playing your games and tell me. Or I’ll kill you!” Galeon threatened him, and the man went silent. But a smile crept along his face.

“Please, a threat is only worth something coming from someone who can carry it out. And I know you, Dull-end, you can’t,” The Planar said, then something strange occurred. Galeon felt something appear under his hands. He knew the feeling well. Jets.

He looked at the Planar, who smiled back. A red glow started to spread from under Galeon’s hands, and he tried to control it. But he couldn’t. they weren’t his jets after all. The burst of force pushed him off of the Planar, who rubbed the burn marks left on his arms.

Galeon flew backwards into a tree, his arms spread beside him as the jets pinned him there. His arms kept being pushed backwards by the force of the jets. They pulled at his arms, trying to wrench them from his shoulders. Galeon struggled through the pain, trying to form a question.

“W-what… How?” Galeon shouted after him.

“Please, you hallowmancers think yourself so great. But you’ve only a single power to yourselves,” The Planar, no, the dual hallowmancer told him.

“There’s only supposed to be a few…” Galeon whimpered. It wasn’t impossible he knew. But no one he knew had ever seen a dual hallowmancer firsthand. There were rumours, but nothing beyond those.

“And I am the few. Next time you think you’re special, remember that,” The man told him. a Planar portal opened up next to him and his eyes glowed green. He scoffed at Galeon’s predicament, then left through the portal.

As soon as it winked out, so did the jets on Galeon’s arms. The young Afterburner fell onto the ground, feeling wrung out and in pain. He flushed bewl through his arms and shoulders, relieving the pain that he felt. In those few moments, he knew he’d lost the stranger. The dual hallowmancer who had kept his powers hidden.

Galeon finished his round of healing and stood up. He rolled his arms around in his shoulders, looking out towards the forest. Though the night still stretched on, he had to tell someone. He had to tell Noviselle what had happened.

****

An incessant ringing of bells outside of her tent is what woke the Countess up in the morning. A late night had knocked her out early, and she had hoped that she would regain that energy for the next morning. So, when the shouts came, and Noviselle saw that the sun hadn’t risen, her mood was already ruined.

Bleary eyed, she made her way to the front of the tent flap. She flipped it aside and glared at whoever had come to interrupt her, surprised to find it being Galeon. The Afterburner was covered in leaves and dirt, with dark bags running under his eyes.

“Novi, we need to talk. Someone tried to infiltrate the camps last night,” Galeon fired at her. The words went in one ear and out the other, as Noviselle was still yawning. She stretched her arms and swept her hair to one side, shivering in the cold.

“How long have you been awake, Leon?” She asked him. the question seemed to stun the Afterburner, who rubbed at his eyes.

“Since… yesterday?”

“Come inside. We’ll talk there,” Noviselle told him, gesturing towards her room.

Galeon obeyed silently, following the countess into her abode. Though the tent was small, it was furnished with a carpet, tables and chairs. There was a secure fire place next to the main room, with a chimney to let the steam out. For something that was supposed to be a temporary lodging, Noviselle had made it a homely place.

But that was besides the point. He was here on more important work.

“Novi, someone was here. I’ve already told Stele, Janel and the others, but I don’t know when he might be back. He’s the same Planar as before, but he’s not just a Planar. I thin-”

Galeon stopped only when Novi raised a hand in front of him.

“You’re rambling. I’ll get you something to drink, so sit down and calm yourself,” she told him, moving with a metal pot towards the fire place. But Galeon wanted to continue. He felt so restless, like the words needed to come out of his mouth.

He paced around the room for a few moments before the energy faded from him. When did he last rest? He thought he might’ve slept a little in between the work, but did he?

Lethargy overtook him in an instant, and Galeon collapsed down into a wooden chair. His boots were covered in snow, and Galeon didn’t want to spread it in Novi’s tent. So, he took those off too, placing them beside the other shoes she kept.

He sat there on the chair until Novi brought the pot of steaming back from the fire. She placed it on a table and poured two cups for them. Galeon took a single sip of the brew, letting out a soft breath.

“Feeling easier?” Noviselle asked.

“Easy as can be,” Galeon smiled slightly.

“What was that you were rambling about before, then? The Planar who attacked us came back?” Noviselle asked.

Galeon nodded as he took another sip.

“He’s not Ravenishtani, that’s for sure.”

“But he was using their grenades!”

“I don’t think he’s working for either Ravenishtan or Phasgoria, Novi,” Galeon replied.

“So, a third faction, then? As if we didn’t already have enough problems,” Noviselle lamented.

“And that’s not the worst part. He had more than one hallowmancy,” Galeon told her. Noviselle’s eyes widened.

“Is that even… possible?” she asked him.

Galeon nodded once again, looking deep into his cup.

“It’s something they tell us is rare. As much as a chance there is of someone being born with hallowmancy, there’s a same chance of a hallowmancer being born with a second power,” he explained.

“That little? And you’re saying this Planar was one?” Noviselle asked.

“He created his own Afterburner jets. I couldn’t feel them at all.”

Noviselle paused for a moment.

“Maybe… maybe it’s related to what Egil is doing?” Noviselle suggested. But Galeon shook his head.

“It doesn’t feel the same. What Egil’s soldiers are doing, it’s more like… like they’re binding my powers away. This rogue Planar, he wasn’t binding anything, just using his own abilities,” Galeon replied.

“Someone like that wouldn’t be satisfied just being another hallowmancer, I suppose. But who is he working for?” Noviselle asked.

And there was the question. Galeon wondered if he could even figure it out. But maybe instead of answering the question, he could link it to others.

“When me, Emile and Isil were in the camps, we saw something,” Galeon said. Noviselle refocused her attention on Galeon, and he could see her trying to calm her hands.

“It was almost as if Ravenishtan had been planning on leaving. Boxes and Carts were being loaded up, and people were taking tents down,” Galeon said.

“Just like us… until Lady Arelia suggested we investigate,” Noviselle said.

“Where a General died, forcing both camps to stay back,” Galeon finished. “What happened to those soldiers the Duchess sent along with us, Novi? Did they…”

“We don’t know. None of them ever returned,” Novi said.

“And the Duchess’ Devourers?”

“She’s been requesting new ones for a week now,” Noviselle spoke, the words enlightening her.

It was cruel knowledge to have. For pieces to fit together so seamlessly, and yet so horrifyingly.

“Novi, you don’t think the Duchess did it on purpose, did she?” Galeon asked.

“I think she did, Leon. I… think she’s a traitor,” Noviselle said, baffled.

Galeon crushed the cup in his hand accidently.

“Then, she’s the reason Emile and Isil are dead…” a cold anger spread through the young Afterburner. He didn’t care for the Planar’s words at that moment. Did it matter if he was a Dull-end. With enough force you could jam even a dull blade through someone’s eyes. And the Duchess wouldn’t have the power to oppose him.

Galeon stood up from his chair, not a single shred of doubt in his body. He moved towards the entrance, only stopping when Noviselle blocked it.

“Where are you going?” she asked him. A simple question, and one she knew the answer to.

“To avenge our friends.”

“In the middle of Latren? Surrounded by so many hallowmancers you’d be dead in the moment?”

“I’ve outrun more before,” Galeon smiled slightly, though it only seemed to unsettle Novi.

“Galeon, please, don’t.”

“Novi, she’s just sitting out there, free and unpunished!” Galeon shouted. How could she oppose him. Didn’t she love Isildan and Emile like he had?

“And how do you know she’s actually the one who planned the death? Where’s your evidence?” Noviselle asked him, her face twisting into a grimace. “But who am I kidding? You always think you’re right, don’t you, Leon?”

She pushed him back into the room. Galeon was surprised. Noviselle could get angry, but she’d never be so physical.

“Please, just think about it for a moment before you go getting yourself killed as well!” She shouted at him. Tears started forming at the edge of the countess’ eyes, and Galeon felt guilty.

He looked down at his hand, unclenching it to reveal ceramic pieces. They dug into his hands, causing slight cuts. The ceramic fell from his hand, and Galeon’s thoughts sobered up. What had he been thinking? Would he really rather leave Noviselle by herself, with only harshness as their parting words?

He sniffled, and a hot wetness creeped down his face.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to leave you too,” Galeon told her. He embraced Noviselle, crying into her shoulder. A load lightened off of his chest, and he felt a bit better for it.

“We’ll find out what she’s planning. Together,” Noviselle told him.

“Together,” Galeon agreed.