“No.” Calëb simply said.

“And please don’t try to convince me otherwise. He deserves to hang until the end of time and that is that.” Calëb snapped just as Shiru opened her mouth to speak.

“I… I see.” Shiru said with a visibly distressed face, but her face suddenly shifted to a more composed one after she took a single deep breath.

She then stood up and turned to leave.

“Please don’t do anything that will force my hand.” Calëb pleases but Shiru didn’t respond.

She and Raer made their way back to Coh and a silent Shiru made her way to the egg where she stood completely still, even as the evening brought cold winds that swept across the Expanse.

“What was the name of your superior again?” Shiru asked softly. Her voice almost inaudible in the face of the wind.

“Lieutenant Colonel Umbris, ma’am.”

“Please bring him here. If he’s not busy, of course.” Shiru said and Raer disappeared shortly after.

Shiru then stared at the egg as her face twisted and contorted painfully.

She looked it’s its burnt exterior and bit her teeth so much so that her jaw hurt.

Raer eventually returned with the Kommáti known only as Umbris.

He looked down at Shiru with his dark eyes.

Like all Kommáti, he was bald and his armor contained nothing that indicated his rank.

“Who is your superior?”

“Lord Katsíki, of course.” Umbris said. His deep voice shaking the very air.

“Could… could I ask that your temporarily transfer all administrative permissions to Deag and I?” Shiru asked with a desperate expression.

“Mmm…” Umbris droned before turning to the north as stormy clouds rolled over the Expanse.

“Shiru… may I call you that?” Umbris asked.

“Of course.”

“I watched over you quite a bit during the earlier days and in that time I never imagined that you’d ever make that face.”

Shiru gasped upon realizing that she was still scowling.

“I- I’m…” She struggled to say.

She then lowered her head just as a few rain drops landed on her skin.

Umbris sighed before raising his hand.

He then gestured that she sit and she joined him in staring at the egg.

“Tell me your ambitions and if they align with his, I will temporarily transfer all power to you.” Umbris said as the rain fell everywhere but where they sat.

Not a single drop touched them, but Shiru didn’t have time to gaze in awe at Umbris’s barrier.

She instead turned to the Ash covered ground.

“I want to restore the air of safety this place once had. You said you watched over Erna and I before. Then I’m sure you remember how… peaceful everything was. How carefree everyone was. I know we cannot return to how things were, but there’s a part of me that feels that if everyone works together, we could restore- build a united Expanse that Katsíki would have been proud of.” Shiru said with a frown.

Umbris nodded before looking up.

“A united Expanse… as an Ia, I would have laughed at the thought not so long ago. But here I sit, thinking of that future. But I’d like to add something, if you don’t mind.”

“Go ahead.” Shiru said.

“How about a united Coalition of all southern territories?”

Shiru’s eyes widened.

“We could create Rahadiya in Katsíki’s vision-“

Umbris stopped as Shiru offered him her hand.

“In our vision.”

Umbris nodded before accepted her hand and helping her stand.

“Then, as of now, you are currently Shiru, one of two leaders the Expanse and chief in command of the Kommáti.” Umbris said with a feint smile.

Shiru nodded before taking a deep breath.

“Could I ask you to follow me to the Oasis?”

“Why?” Umbris asked with a raised brow. Although his eyebrows were shaved clean.

“I want you to help me convince Calëb to transfer Petrus to Site A. I need him there so that Aevana can help us with our plan. I’m sure you’ve heard of it by now.”

“Ah yes, you plan on creating not only a Black Legion, but an entire Army of Sable Soldiers. An ambitious undertaking, but… it might be just what we need.” Umbris said with narrowed eyes.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“Alright. I’ll help you convince her. But we must make this quick. I am needed in the Kommátia planes.”

Shiru nodded before leading Umbris and Raer to the teleportation platforms and it wasn’t long before she was back in Calëb’s tent.

The Foph warrior saw Umbris and her face instantly twisted as though she were in great pain.

“Please… don’t.” Calëb pleaded as Shiru stood in front of her.

“You will permit the transfer, yes?” She asked Calëb who’s eyes slowly stopped trembling.

The Arcusus then took several deep breaths before staring at Shiru, who sat calmly before her.

“Yes.”

“Good. Oh and trust me, this is all for the good of the Expanse.” Shiru said as she turned to leave.

“Please have him sent to Site C where his head will be fixed.” She added with a yawn.

“Alright.” Calëb said and like that, Shiru and company were gone.

Shiru bid Umbris farewell before returning home where she removed her jacket before placing it on the coat rack.

She then realized that Erna and Qualel weren’t home.

She sighed before asking Raer to take her to Site C where she entered the facility and made her way through it brightly lit corridors.

She then passed the Kommáti production bays and approached the deepest parts if the facility wherein the sounds of construction could be heard.

She made her way to a large empty hall which was filled with space magicians who carved out large chunks of the ground and placed them into containers for extraction.

The entire operation was lit by bright orbs of light that hung high above.

Shiru nodded, seemingly satisfied with what she saw before heading to one of the medical bays where she saw a small man with short golden hair being treated.

Shiru walked up to one of the healers and they explained that he was almost perfectly healthy again although he was beyond mentally scarred. So much so that he wouldn’t or couldn’t talk.

Shiru looked into the small man’s golden eyes as they fearfully darted from Rendaro to Rendaro.

This fear was visibly doubled as a Kommáti walked past the room.

He wrapped his arms around himself and began crying.

“Raer, pick him up.” Shiru said with a deep yawn.

The small man trembled even more as Raer appeared next to him.

She then picked him up before returning to Shiru’s side.

“Thank you for your work.” Shiru said before teleporting to Site A and they promptly entered Aevana’s room where they found the woman still seated in the corner of the room, although two empty bowls could be seen at her feet.

Aevana looked up and gasped upon seeing Petrus.

Shiru walked up to her and raised her nose slightly.

“I expect you will be resuming your duties as soon as possible.” Shiru said only for Aevana to smack her forehead onto the ground as she knelt.

“Yes and thank you!” She wheezed.

“Mmm.” Shiru sounded as Raer handed Petrus over to Aevana who wept tearlessly.

Shiru then returned home to find Qualel placing a bowl of rice and Lamb stew on the table.

“Oh, you’re back. Why were you both out so late?” Shiru asked as she sat to eat.

“Erna is working on a…. Secret project.” Qualel simply said.

“Oh? I’ll respect her privacy but I’d rather she didn’t stay up until such late hours of night.” Shiru said as she ate.

She eventually finished up eating and, after getting undressed, joined Erna in bed.

The poor thing was so exhausted all she could do to greet her mother was whimper.

Shiru wrapped her arms around Erna and the two slept soundly as the rain began to fall yet again.

.

..

“Knock, knock.” Thneia playfully sounded prompting Deag to raise his tired eyes.

“Come in.” He said as he squinted to see that she had two flasks in hand.

She handed him a flask and he took a generous sip of the perfectly hot, mildly sweet tea.

“Ahh… thanks. You have no idea how refreshing that was.” Deag said with a rare smile.

He then leaned back into his chair before looking up and Thneia who had a rather distant expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“Mmm… I think I’ve figured out what’s missing. Innocence.”

Deag’s eyes narrowed.

“When I first arrived, after learning that King Rahad’s son was here, I expected to find a ruthless leader who had been tempered by life in the Expanse but I cannot describe what I felt when I looked into his sweet little eyes.” Thneia said as the air grew slighter warmer.

“Such a strange existence. So small yet so fierce. I-“

Thneia stopped as Deag lightly chuckled.

“What?” She asked with a pained expression.

“Small and fierce. You just described little Erna.”

“Oh?” Thneia whimpered. Her pupils narrowed to a thin slit.

“Yep. She and Katsíki would probably be inseparable were it not for… everything.” Deag said before finishing his tea.

“You should spend some time with her and Shiru and you’ll see that innocence is still alive and well in the Expanse. The next generation is being trained and educated in Mt. Jivu and if we do things right… we could create a safe future for them.”

Thneia nodded before silently leaving Deag’s office.

Deag let out a weak sign before organizing his desk and making his way back home where, after changing, he snuck into bed and slept.

.

..

Shiru was awoken by an uncomfortable heat.

She wanted to stand up and investigate what was going on but she was far too hot and tired so she closed her eyes and slowly fell asleep again.

.

..

Shiru awoke with a dry yawn.

She felt beyond exhausted and extremely thirsty.

She grabbed a flask of water that sat by the bedside table and she gulped half of its contents.

She then gently shook Shiru awake and had her drink some water as well.

The two then sleepily made their way into the kitchen where they found both Qualel and Raer staring at the food on the table.

“What’s wrong?” Shiru asked as she sat alongside her daughter.

“These dishes were made with fish from Serenaya.” Qualel simply said.

“And?”

Neither of the Kommáti spoke.

“If you want some you can just go get some or you can share with us-“ Shiru stopped as the Kommáti suddenly disappeared.

They eventually returned with two plates of food and they ate in silence alongside Shiru and Erna.

Breakfast came and went, but before Shiru left for the war room, she decided go braid Erna’s hair because even though it wasn’t that long, it’d be troublesome if she got any hair into the food she prepared.

“Mom, when will Katsíki come back?” Erna suddenly asked while sitting in between her mother’s legs.

Shiru froze.

She thought back to the horrid scenes from the day of Caligo’s attack.

She remembered staring at Kenos’s back as he got further and further away.

“I… don’t know.”

“Aww. Well, I hope he’s back soon. I couldn’t become a mighty warrior like I said, but I’ve learnt many other things and I can’t wait to show him!” Erna said excitedly as Shiru bound her silky black hair into braids.

“Oh? Like what?”

“It’s a secret!” Erna said and Shiru could tell that the girl was grinning.

“Oh my… to think my own daughter would one day keep things from me. My Heart aches, truly.” Shiru said while feigning sadness.

“It’s nothing bad! Actually, we were planning on showing you-“

“Erna!” Qualel called, stopping the girl mid sentence.

“Mmm…” Shiru droned as the morning’s pale light bathed the house.

“You know what, it sounds lie you’re working on something very important, so keep it to yourself for now, ok?” Shiru asked and Erna weakly nodded.

“Good. Now, let’s all go to work!” Shiru said as she stood alongside Erna.

They all left the house and Shiru caught a glimpse of the Black Temple which sat in the center of Southern Coh. A gargantuan building with a large dome sitting proudly on top of it.

It was still under construction but people still visited it to pray.

Shiru wanted to see it for herself.

“Go on and work hard, ok?” Shiru said to Erna as she stood by Qualel’s side.

“OK!” Erna said before suddenly disappearing.

Shiru nodded to herself and began walking towards the Black Temple.