Anda tightly held onto the collar of his armour's chest plate as he and countless guards and Custodians watched what appeared to be a peaceful protest at centre of Iana, just in front of the hub.

About two hundred or so Rendaro from both Eimval and Iana were yelling something about how the Rendaro should be led by a Rendaro.

Certain people had always been sceptical about Katsíki and Yna’s ruling of the Expanse and the truth about Kenos’s nature going public didn’t help.

This made some people think that Katsíki was unfit to lead and not only that, some people were clearly still afraid of Yna. Although that fear was justified.

According to intel from Tasha’s guards, the ministers had planned on causing a disturbance that the guards wouldn’t be able to handle.

This would have forced Anda and Tasha to seek the help of Yna who would come to Iana, only to meet the Deathkin, who would then kill her.

However, things weren’t going according to their plan.

Not only had Anda and Tasha kept regular people from accessing the centre, thereby keeping innocent people safe, they had also told all guards to keep their distance.

Now all the rebels could do was loudly yell at Anda and the guards who all kept their distance.

The next step of all this was locating the Deathkin and the ministers.

Tasha had informed Anda that they were buried beneath Iana, but she wasn’t specific because she herself didn’t know.

The Deathkin were created long before she was born and Leiv had never once told her.

“Well? Have they given up yet?” Yna asked from behind Anda.

They were hidden in a shop that was along the circular street of the centre.

“No.” Anda said through gnashed teeth.

“Oh well. We tried. Capture them all and take them to you-know-where.” Yna said.

Anda didn’t need to turned around to know that she was grinning, but he didn’t falter.

He raised his hand and made a fist, signalling that all guards move.

He then watched as the guards engaged and subdued many of the rebels, but there was one last thing that needed to be done.

“Alright, my turn.” Yna said before walking out of the shop with Anda in tow.

For some reason, the Black and grey UEF uniform gave Yna an almost deadly aura.

One felt nothing but fear and crippling anxiety whenever she was around and that air was made doubly worse by her black great sword.

Anda looked around and as Tasha had predicted, minister Leiv and Vemon were nowhere to be seen.

Olen was missing as well.

Anda found it detestable that those men were all willing to let the people beneath them face Yna wrath while they hid.

He tightly squeezed his sheathed sword and Yna must have noticed this because she lowered her sword and loudly tapped it on the stone road.

“What do you think is taking the Deathkin so long?” She asked.

“No idea.” Anda said stiffly.

“Yeah… well, I’m bored. Get some space magicians here.” Yna ordered and like that, a handful of magicians appeared.

Yna then walked up to the town centre where all the rebellious Rendaro were being held.

She then eyes the ground for a moment before crossing her arms as Anda walked up to her side.

“Send us down!” She barked.

“Err… all of us, or just you?”

“You can come along if you like.” Yna said.

Anda didn’t even get a chance to blink as the magicians teleported him and Yna to a dark place.

His eyes adjusted and he saw that he and Yna were in a large circular chamber made from dark stone.

At its centre stood several people, but their faces were hidden by the darkness of the chamber which was lit only by a few orbs of light in the distance.

“Alright, we’ve got you cornered. Surrender or die. The choice is yours.” Yna said as she raised. The blade was then coated in countless arcs light and they illuminated the dark figures at the centre of the chamber.

It’s here that Anda noticed that the dark figures were all standing begins what looked and smelled like a pile of rotten corpses.

“This is hopeless!”

One of the figures cried before seemingly disappearing.

Anda new that the person had teleported up and out of the chamber, but the only thing waiting for him above was a swift arrest.

He followed Yna, who slowly walked towards the hooded figures.

“Come on, men! Attack her! Better to die a free man than live and subjugate our offspring to subjugation!”

One of them yelled before rushing towards Yna while thrusting forth a small dagger.

Yna nonchalantly swung her sword horizontally and everyone in the chamber watched in horror as the top of the man’s torso was cleaved off of his body.

Even Anda failed to hide his terror as the man’s torso messily fell to the ground.

“We surrender!”

The hooded figures all said before falling to their knees.

“Good. Check if any of them are ministers Vemon and the other one. Oh and tell me if Olen is here. Because I want him for my own personal use.” Yna said with glowing eyes.

Anda frantically nodded before running past the corpse and checking beneath the hoods of the group of men to see if any of them were the men in question.

“None of them are here!” Anda said with a trembling heart.

“Oh? Then let’s return to the surface and inform Tasha. Those maggots plotted to harm my little Katsíki not once but twice! I will see to it that they are appropriately punished!” Yna yelled with eyes that glowed so brightly they clearly illuminated the chamber.

Several guards appeared next to Yna and they all grabbed the hooded figures before teleporting out of the chamber with them.

Yna walked up to Anda before deeply sighing.

“Do you think it unreasonable of me?” She asked with a saddened face.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“I… if it’s to protect those you care for… nothing is beyond the realm of reason.” Anda said while struggling to look into Yna’s bright eyes.

“You really think so?”

Anda nodded.

“Thank you! I needed that. It’ll make torturing them that much easier. Katsíki gets super sad whenever the subject of torture comes up. Your words will comfort me while I work.” Yna said.

Anda, in this moment, pitied and even felt sorry for Olen, Vemon and Leiv.

“Come on. Let’s go.” Yna said before taking Anda back to the surface where they made their way towards Tasha’s home, but something wasn’t quite right when they reached the large house.

The door hung wildly open and the sounds of yelling could be heard from within.

Yna and Anda rushed into the building to find Tasha yelled at Leiv who was being held up by several guards.

His face looked badly beaten and his long black hair messily covered the floor. A few bodies could also be spotted littered around the house.

Anda turned his gaze to a teary eyed Tasha who looked away after seeing that Yna and Anda were there.

“W-what happened?” Anda asked while Yna simply crossed his arms.

“Leiv… my own father, tried to kill me.” She said.

“You are no daughter of mine! Never were! For you to allow this golden dog to walk all over this place… a true Ia would have rather died!” Leiv spat while glaring at Yna.

Anda stared at Tasha and watched as her face went from horrified to scarily composed.

“L-lady Yna, I am guessing that he will be punished for his transgressions?” She asked.

“Most definitely.” Yna said.

“C-could I ask that you make his death painless?” Tasha asked while deeply bowing.

“What? Spare me your altruism, useless bitch! If I am going to die, it will be in the same manner as my brothers!” Leiv yelled while literally spitting onto Tasha’s face, but she didn’t move.

“Fine. His death will come quicker than that of the others.” Yna said before gesturing that the guards bring Leiv to her.

“Err… I’ll take care of the other two. You stay here and… help her out-“

“I don’t need help. Apprehend Vemon and especially Olen. The AKC pose a real threat to lord Katsíki’s hard-fought peace.” Tasha said and although she was standing upright, her head was still lowered

Anda nodded before following Yna out of the house along with a surprisingly silent Leiv.

“Vemon is probably hiding in his office, but where do you think we’ll find Olen?” Anda asked while desperately trying to not look back and check up on Tasha.

“This group seems to prideful and stubborn in nature. He’s probably in lower Eimval. We’ll ask Tasha’s men about his whereabouts later, but for now, let’s deal with these two worms.” Yna said with wide eyes.

Anda nodded before leading Yna back onto the streets of Iana.

He then led her to Vemon’ office where they were predictably stopped by a handful of guards. Some of which looked painfully familiar to Anda.

“What business do you have with the minister?”

One of them asked, but Yna simply pointed her sword at them before coating the blade with light.

“Move aside or die.” She hissed.

The guards all ran into the building with Yna and Anda followed closely behind.

The guards then ran into Vemon’s office where the man could be seen calmly sitting behind his small table.

Yna and Anda entered the office while Vemon looked at them with a grin.

“What brings the almighty golden knight to my office?” Vemon asked with an obviously trembling voice.

Yna walked up to him before grabbing him by his collar and picking him up.

His guards all hesitated to act because Yna’s sword was still clearly glowing and emitting waves of heat.

“Hoh- what’s this? For you to attack an unarmed man-“

Yna head-butted the minister, breaking his nose.

“AHH! Why would you do that?” Vemon asked as tears welled up in his eyes.

Yna remained silent as she dragged him outside.

Anda cautiously followed her all while keeping a close eye on Vemon’s petrified guards.

“What have I done to warrant such abuse- yes! You’re already abusing your power over us! This cannot stand! Especially if you desire to rule over us peacefully! People will see this and think you unjust leaders! This will surely lead to all manner of rebellions and uprisings-“

Yna dropped Vemon before grabbing him around his mouth.

She then used this newfound grip on the man to drag him by his head across the street as she and Anda walked back towards the town centre where all the other guards could be seen monitoring the regular citizens as the streets were reopened.

Yna sighed as she and Anda stood in the alleyway.

“Go on back to Tasha. I can’t have her being all mopey and sad. Make sure she’s ok and if she isn’t, tell me so that we can look for a replacement. Actually, it’d be far better if one of my Black Blades came down here and-“

“Don’t worry, I’m sure she’s still capable of leading the Ia down here!” Anda said while frantically waving his hands.

“Oh? I hope so because I do not want to see or hear anything about a resurgence of the AKC. If I do, it’ll be on your head.” Yna said before walking southward towards one of the buildings Tasha had prepared.

Nearby people all stared in horror as she dragged a licking and silently screaming Vemon.

Anda sighed before consulting a fee of Tasha’s guards.

They all reported that not all of AKC had shown up, meaning that others were still out there.

Anda decided that it would be his mission to ensure that the AKC were completely eradicated.

But that was a matter for another time.

Anda wanted nothing to do with Yna’s experiments and so he avoided the topic whenever the guards brought it up.

He eventually concluded his business with the guards and so, after double checking and making sure everyone was safe and accounted for, he made his way back to Tasha’s room where her guards could be seen disposing Leiv’s men.

Anda approached one of them.

“Umm… Where is-“

“In her room upstairs.”

The guard said curtly.

Anda nodded before ascending the flight of stairs.

He quickly found himself standing in front of a large, wooden double door which he gently knocked.

A moment passed and so, after assuming Tasha hadn’t heard him, he raised his hand to knock again, but the door opened, revealing a red eyed Tasha.

“Mmm? Have you already caught Olen?” Tasha weakly asked.

“No, but Lady Yna said she’d take care of it.”

“I see.” Tasha said while looking away.

“Do you… I…” Anda stuttered as he didn’t really know what to say.

He and Tasha just stood in complete silence while being on opposite sides of the door.

“Could you give me your hand?” Anda eventually asked.

“Mmm?” Tasha whimpered.

“Your hand… give it to me.”

Tasha did as Anda asked and her gently cradled it in his hands while looking deeply into his eyes.

“Remember my promise? I said I’d always be there-“

Anda didn’t even get to finish his sentence as Tasha ran into his arms.

He gently held her before taking a single step forward.

Tasha tight clung to his uniform and gently pulled him into the room where she promptly closed the door.

“I… I realize now that… people can never truly know just how much value others place on them.” Tasha said with a voice that trembled.

“A little girl can never truly ever know just how much her father loves her if at all.” She continued while grabbing Anda’s uniform so tightly that she pinched his flesh.

But no matter how tightly Tasha held him, Anda didn’t move or speak.

He instead placed his hand on her head and this seemingly caused her to lose strength in her legs because as he gently patted her head, she slowly fell to the ground, all while clinging to Anda as though he were about to leave.

“But… I suppose the only value that matters is the one we give ourselves but… I can't help but hope that my father loved me. Even if it was just a little." Tasha whimpered.

A moment passed in the silence of her bedroom as she and Anda embraced each other.

"Wait!” She suddenly gasped as she let go of Anda.

“You spoke of lord Katsíki as a benevolent being! Perhaps we could get him to convince lady Yna to spare him!” Tasha said but all Anda’s face could do in response was twist in pain.

“Don’t look at me like that, just say what you think!” Tasha cried as streams of tears fell from her face.

“Say something!” She yelled.

“Tell me the man who raised me didn’t see me as nothing less than a political tool!” Tasha yelled before grabbing Anda by his collar, but all the Custodian could do was watch as the woman in front of him cried.

He didn’t know what to do or say to make her feel better and his relationship with her wasn’t old enough for him to use sweet and old memories to dampen the pain.

All he could do was bite his teeth and offer Tasha his hand once more.

Tasha looked at his hand and for a second it looked like she wanted to smack it away, but she instead fell into Anda’s embrace again, where she cried in earnest.

.

..

Some time passed and Tasha had eventually stopped crying.

She slowly let go of Anda before attempting to stand up, but she quickly fell down afterwards.

“I’m pathetic.” She said while messily wiping away the tears on her face that hadn’t dried.

“Me, the High Elder of Iana reduced to nothing but tears after losing a man who didn’t even care for her… wait a moment… if that is true… then doesn’t that mean that everything I accomplished was done thanks to my efforts alone?” Tasha asked a wide eyed Anda.

“Yes… I’m thankful for the fact that he kept me safe for the earlier, more vulnerable years of my life, but once he introduced me to the old council members, I slowly fit into my role as High Elder. I created my secret group of guards and even got two of them appointed as ministers who helped me keep the peace in Iana for as long as I have. Yes! I do have value… although I feel as though it has somewhat diminished. Whew! I know it’ll take some time to fully accept Leiv’s words, but I can do it. Right?” Tasha asked.

Anda opened his mouth to speak only to get gingerly smacked on the shoulder.

“Yes I can!” Tasha said before standing up.

“Come on. The time for sulking is short and our duties beckon. I’m assuming you’ll be assisting lady Yna with the next phase of her plan?”

“Honestly, no. Part of me knows that unspeakable things are going to happen to all those Rendaro and I’d rather not know the details.” Anda said.

“Ah… I-I guess that’s reasonable. Perhaps we should stay as far removed from lady Yna’s dealings for as long as possible, huh?” Tasha asked.

Anda noticed that she was speaking far more roughly and loudly, but he chose not to point that out.

“Yeah. But Tasha, don’t forget that I’ll always be there when you need a good cry.” Anda said.

Tasha stared into his eyes for a moment and a single tear fell from her reddened eye.

She wiped it away before raising her hand over Anda’s shoulder.

Anda winced in preparation for being smacked, but Tasha gently held his shoulder before gently rubbing the spot she’d previously hit.

“I know. Now let’s get back to work.”