Zalia scooped up Boreal as they left the room,

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“We believe that whoever is performing the rituals is not choosing the locations idly. The added location of the one you just brought back to us may prove vital in deciphering what exactly is going on,” Hidey explained.

“Do you think they are performing some sort of wider scale ritual by the placement of all these smaller ones?” Indis asked.

“Possibly, we shall see,” Hidey replied.

They walked for a short time through the keep before arriving in a large room with not a small number of people walking around. Centered in the room was a large map of the kingdom with small red pins located in several locations near to Endelbyrn, the old mine being one of them. The ritual sites found so far were in two small arcs, one smaller than the other, with a few in between the two ranging about as far out as the mine. Hidey added a small pin on the mountain where their team had found the ritual and it fit into the pattern, though much further out than any other discovered site. The further out arc of pins would connect the mine to the mountain of the Born of Heat and Stone and if it continued would make a large circle with the kingdom's capital at the centre. The second arc would fit within the larger one with the kingdom’s capital also at its centre if a full circle were drawn from it. Not all of the pins were located within the two arcs path, dotting in between and within where the two circles would be. Majority of what they had was relatively close to Endelbyrn with Zalia’s team's pin being the furthest out.

“So, it has something to do with the capital?” Zalia asked.

“What makes you say that?” Zen asked.

“If you continue the pattern it forms two circles both centered around the capital,” Zalia pointed out.

“Yes, that was my thinking as well," Hidey said.

"Is a ritual on that scale even possible?" Zalia asked.

"I'm not sure… I've never seen something like it. Whoever is doing it seems to think it is possible however and that's reason enough to try to stop it," Hidey replied, looking deep in thought.

"So what do we do?" Zen asked.

"Until we know more, we stop it," Hidey said simply.

"How do we do that?" Ember asked, frowning.

"Well, we destroy the ritual sites as a start though I do not know if it will stop what is coming or not," Hidey explained, looking just a little worried.

"I guess it's a start," Ember said, still frowning.

_________________________________________________________________________

Boreal watched the other two legged ones from her perch on the warm one’s shoulders. They were making sounds at each other, some form of communication she had discovered. She had started to understand some of the sounds the two legged ones made but was entirely uninterested by the current goings on. She decided to take things into her own paws, hopping off the warm one’s shoulders and walking innocently around inspecting the room as the warm one watched her. Once the warm one was making sounds at the others and distracted, Boreal began sneaking from the room. The familiar feeling of her power activating flowed through her as she left the room, inspecting each direction before choosing to go left.

Boreal travelled for a few minutes in the winding stone corridors of the strange spiky mountain, inspecting each doorway as she passed and looking for something fun to do. A flash of feathers and talons passed through her mind as she remembered the last time she had gone wandering. Her fur began settling as the memory faded once more; this time it would go differently. The warm one was a good leader and a strong hunter, there was much she could learn from such a hunter who was always well fed but the warm one also tended to have moments of being in the most boring situations and that didn't interest Boreal. No, she was more interested in what secrets she could find in the winding tunnels of this spiky mountain.

Eventually, Boreal happened upon a room that smelled quite interesting indeed. Within, she found some more of the two legged ones standing within a large room doing some sort of ritual with their food. Boreal had not seen fire until the warm one had found her but she now knew that the two legged ones often performed a ritual of fire before eating their kill. It seemed strange and inefficient to Boreal but she was young, so maybe they two legged ones knew something she did not. She snuck up a stack of small boxes onto the long bench the two legged ones were performing their ritual at. They did not look like they would be able to run very fast and so she struck. Boreal grabbed a large chunk of meat within her mouth and sprinted from the room as yells and clattering sounds came from behind, the two legged ones throwing some hard objects and sounds at her as she fled.

Boreal quickly made her way back to where she had left the warm one, holding her prize as she passed through the winding halls.

_________________________________________________________________________

A few minutes of conversation passed as they came up with theories and ideas as to what was happening in the lands but each was quickly shut down. It was quite obvious that they would need to find out more before they could come to any conclusion. Zalia had begun zoning out of the conversation, her mind idly floating away as she couldn't focus on the theories and ideas any more. It was at this point she realised she didn't know where Boreal was. She quickly looked through the room and found the small feline finish off eating some kind of meat,

“What?” she thought.

She walked over to Boreal, Ember glancing her way before focusing back into the conversation.

“What have you been up to?” Zalia asked Boreal quietly before picking up the small feline receiving a mew of protest.

She walked back to the table holding Boreal in her arms as it seemed the others finally came to the same conclusion she had.

“So what do you want us to do?” Zalia asked Hidey directly.

“Want us destroying some ritual sites?” Zen asked.

“Mmm, no. I believe the ritual sites are too dangerous for you to go without the help of a Gold ranker, considering each manifestation of elementals around a site has been of that rank. At that point we may as well just send the Gold ranker and you would only get in the way,” Hidey said, looking thoughtful as ever.

“Where do you want us then?” Indis asked.

“I thought you might actually go back and contact that spy you spoke to. I would be interested to know what the rebellion knows about the rituals, if anything,” Hidey replied.

“We could do that… I guess,” Indis said, looking a little worried.

“Concerns?” Hidey asked.

“Well… isn’t that kind of a risky thing to do? I mean there is a war going on and we are working for the people who are at war with the rebellion,” Indis said quickly.

“Indeed but just because the kingdom is paying us to look into the elementals does not mean we work for them. We work with them and if they are the ones responsible then they will be ones facing the consequences. Yes, for now go and contact the spy once more and see if you can't set up a meeting with someone higher up. Be discreet about it but also be careful. You have full discretion to call the whole thing off if you ever think that you are at risk of serious harm. Understood?” Hidey said, finished.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Understood,” Indis said, still looking a little unconvinced.

They began to leave the room when Hidey called out,

“Zalia, a moment,” he said.

“Yeah?” Zalia asked once the others had left.

“Be careful with that little one you have adopted, keep it safe,” Hidey said, looking at little Boreal.

“I will, don't worry,” she replied, smiling.

“Juniper contacted me about Darren, said you knew what had happened to him,” Hidey said.

“I know what has happened, yes,” Zalia said, looking unhappy.

“I have a small amount of sway with a few key people in the army and have organised for him to be kept on inner territory patrols for a while. Hopefully that will keep him out of danger for some time, enough time for this damned war to be over. Let Juniper know on your way back would you?” Hidey asked, a mixture of emotions very visible on his face and in his posture.

“I will,” Zalia said.

“Thank you, now be quick there is much to be about,” Hidey said, waving at Zalia in an imperious and dismissive way.

She just rolled her eyes,

“Oh just had a thought, could you perhaps have a look into someone called Vidar? He was a captain in the army, someone one of my friends knew that we found to be corrupted. Something might come up,” she asked.

“I can, I’ll let you know if I find anything,” Hidey said.

“Thanks,” she said.

Zalia left the room, finding the rest of her team waiting for her in the hallway.

“Everything good?” Ember asked.

“All good,” Zalia replied.

“What now?” Zen asked.

“We go to that town again and find the spy, though I need to drop by Juniper’s farm on the way,” Zalia said.

“Can we have a day or two to see our families?” Zen asked, almost pleading.

“Don't see why not,” Zalia said, looking to Indis.

“It would be nice, though I have only a cousin in this city,” Indis said.

“Alright, a day or two then. See you all around,” Zalia said, walking off as she scratched Boreal’s head.

She heard quick footsteps behind her before Ember caught up,

“Mind if I come along with you?” Ember asked.

“Sure,” Zalia replied.

She inspected the woman closely for any emotion but it was like reading a book that had been glued shut. She had thought that maybe Ember had family in the city but by the fact she wanted to spend the day or two with her rather than family meant they were either estranged or not around.

They walked for some time in silence before Zalia spoke up,

“Why did you join the Morning’s shade? I kind of understand why Lady Indis and Zen are here but I can't figure you out” she asked.

Ember inspected her for a long moment as they walked before replying,

“Someone has to step up first and help others,” Ember said.

“Is that the only reason?” Zalia said, trying to pry further.

Ember paused for another moment,

“I… I had a tough life growing up and there were many times that my life could have turned around if someone had just stepped up and helped,” Ember said, unsteadily at first.

Zalia stayed silent, waiting,

“And then someone did and my life did turn around so now… well, someone has to step up first and help others,” Ember said, finishing off with a shrug.

“It makes sense to me,” Zalia said, finally.

“And you? I can't figure out what your deal is either,” Ember asked.

“I don't know, to be honest. I came here to learn about magic but I seem to be fine figuring it out on my own with a little help here and there. Then I got swept up into whatever this politics and ritual nonsense is and I don't really have anything else in this world so… I’m just going along for now. It seems like I could do some good for a whole lot of people by helping with this,” Zalia replied, feeling oddly comfortable talking with Ember.

Zalia sighed before continuing,

“Which isn’t the main reason I’m here but it's as good as any to finish whatever this is I’m already involved with. Sometimes I think about just going back to the wilderness but I’m not sure I could live with myself if I walked away and something terrible happened that I could have stopped. As much as I hate dealing with all of it, I feel I’ll hate what happens if I ignore it more. Then, once this is all done and dealt with and my year of service is done I’m going to use as many Morning’s shade resources as I can to go explore the wild places of the world,” Zalia finished, smiling at the thought of wandering the world; just her and Boreal.

“Sounds nice,” Ember said.

“Doesn't it?” Zalia agreed.

They walked for some more time in silence before ending up in the park that Zalia had once spent a few nights sleeping in. They trained for a time before Zalia called a halt,

“So what do you usually do when we aren’t on a contract?” Ember asked.

Zalia shrugged,

“Hunt, train and train some more. I don't really have any other hobbies, have something in mind?” Zalia asked.

“Yeah, I actually do,” Ember said, before taking off at a jog.

They lightly ran through the city before arriving at the gate and passing into the small plains beyond. Ember picked up the pace and Zalia matched her speed, the two of them sprinting across the land.

They ran for a time before Ember slowed down, puffing. They then walked for some time before taking off at a run once more, alternating the pattern until arriving at a small farmstead nearby to Endelbyrn. Zalia watched as Ember walked up to the door and knocked, the door opening as the people inside greeted Ember with open arms and wide smiles. The farmer couple took Ember around the side of the house, Zalia following, to a small pen holding some of the animals she recognised as the cow-like creatures. They led Ember to one that had trouble walking and Ember healed the creature. The farmer couple tried to give Ember a few coins but she refused and walked back over to Zalia, gesturing to the road once more,

“Shall we?” Ember asked.

Zalia nodded and they took off down the road once more, running ever onwards.

They stopped off at two more farms, a small town and a way stop at a crossroads. Each time they stopped Ember was greeted as if a close friend or family member and led to an injured animal or person. Not all of them had injured but those that did, didn't hesitate when they saw Ember. Zalia was a little bit in awe as the woman refused any coin or token of gratitude, simply healing whoever or whatever needed and moving on once more.

“Is this what you do with your spare time?” Zalia asked.

“Sometimes,” Ember replied.

“I’d ask why but I think I know what you will say,” Zalia said with a chuckle.

Ember smiled,

“I thought I would show you what I meant. These people can't afford a healer, they aren’t rich nor powerful. Many reach a high level through the hunting of monsters and beasts but these are simple farmers and merchants, they level much slower then we do and most likely won't ever reach Bronze rank if even that. I can spend a single day of my time and heal animals that might have struggled for months or people that would have been out of work for weeks due to injury and all it costs me is a little time,” Ember explained.

“I understand why you do it,” Zalia said.

“I’m glad,” Ember said, smiling.

They continued for some more time, stopping off at a few more places as they ran in a loop back to Endelbyrn. When they arrived Zalia was actually quite exhausted, Ember looking similarly so. Zalia had tried to get Boreal to run beside them but the poor feline had only lasted a short time before becoming exhausted and passing out, needing to be carried. It was getting dark as they stood before the city gates,

“I usually make a few days trip out of it, walking the roads slowly but I thought I would make it into some mobility training as well. To keep you from dying of boredom of course,” Ember said, looking amused.

“Ha ha, funny. In all seriousness though, I appreciate you showing this to me. I think I understand you just a little bit better now,” Zalia said.

“Of course, you did strike me as someone who would understand why I am doing it,” Ember replied.

“I do, yes. Now if you don't mind I'm going to go to the forest and pass out in a tree or something,” Zalia said.

“Naturally,” Ember said, laughing.

They went their separate ways as Ember re-entered the city and Zalia went back to her small log cabin home in the forest nearby. She fell asleep curled up around Boreal with thoughts of the day's events. The increasingly mysterious rituals and elementals all around the kingdom, disrupting people's lives and sometimes even ending them. It was at odds with the thought of Ember running through the lands, healing and helping as she went for the simple reason that if she didn't do it, who would?

The thought that maybe there were other people out there like Ember helped her relax as she drifted off.