It had been nearly five months since he had last seen her at these very steps of the Guild House. Back then, she had asked him to let her go, saying she didn’t like the angry, bitter person she was turning into. She liked him, but at the same time, found it painful to stay at his side.

Luna looked to be in good shape, but the lively, energetic, and occasionally shy maiden no longer stood before him. There was a hardness in her sapphire eyes now, and a quiet set of her jaw that spoke of subdued authority.

The brief look of panic when she lost her balance had been replaced with resentment as she shrugged her shoulder free from his grasp, brushing her shoulder length blonde hair behind her pointed ears.

“You cut your hair.” he said, immediately regretting his opening line.

“And you have an additional mistress, how much did this one cost you?” She curtly responded. If words could cut, it would have grievously wounded him.

Exill let out an exasperated sigh.

Technically… she was right, Tsarra had cost him 700 Denars. It didn’t help that his reputation had deteriorated to a point where no one believed his attempts to explain they were not sex slaves. When informed that he had set Tsarra free, most people looked at him as if he was a lunatic.

“For your information, she is not a slave and is in fact my apprentice, one of the best in fact.” He couldn’t help himself as his tone grew colder at her accusations.

“As for Envy, she is this close to being free and living her own life. I give it a couple months at most.” Exill held his thumb and forefinger apart to accentuate how close he was to freeing her.

“Well, congratulations then. I think you would make a fine couple.” Luna replied tartly, yet some of the coldness had disappeared from her voice.

Exill paused for a few seconds, trying to understand why he was feeling so irritated, but quickly asked a neutral question when he saw she was about to leave. There was so much left to say and explain regarding his unwitting enthralment.

“You look better than when I last saw you… did you manage to find an apprentice?” he asked in a conciliatory tone.

“No, but I received many partnership marriage offers.”

‘Ah… of course she would.’ He raised his hand to hold her back as she made to leave when it was clear he had nothing else to say. Instead of grasping her arm, his hand continued to rise and now rested on the back of his head, tightly gripping his hair.

‘What is the point of reconciliation when I’m going to leave Ark anyway?’ he thought ruefully, watching her receding figure.

Yet it strangely hurt, just as much as last time, if not more; watching her disappear into the crowds. He wouldn’t be able to say goodbye to someone he had considered his closest friend. Someone who had given her all to save life and limb.

Luna had told him they were even, but he knew he owed her so much more.

Turning to the refreshment table for something to distract him from the melancholy, he saw Envy whispering a few words into Tsarra’s ear off to one side. Ignoring the two, he picked up a glass of sparkling wine and returned to the colonnade, leaning against the stone railing beside Perg.

“Did you meet Luna? Matured into a fine young woman hasn’t she? I’ve heard rumours the Head of the Guild approached her to reel you in with marriage but was firmly turned down. Why don’t you give it a shot my good chum, you could do a lot worse you know!”

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“Perg… why aren’t you married?” Exill ignored his question and took a crude jab of his own.

“You must be mistaken! I thought we were better friends than that… my wife lives in Virigo with our two children didn’t you know? City life being what it is, she wanted to live with her parents in the open countryside, saying the air of the caldera was better for the kids. Didn’t I tell you this already? I thought you met them when you were stationed there.” There was an animated grin on Perg’s lips, happy that Exill had taken an interest in his personal life.

“Wait. If your family lives in Virigo… why didn’t you go there instead of me?” he asked, frowning in confusion.

“Ah~ you have yet to learn the ways of the world young one!” Perg tapped his temple excitedly. “Small town politics is nothing to a man like me. I would starve and grow thin on petty rumours and the like. No, if I left Ark, the Guild would find a reason to permanently station me there.”

Exill nodded, it made some sense.

“Actually… that is one of the reasons you have been invited here today. We are eternally grateful for your service at Virigo, everyone agrees you did a fantastic job. The thing with doing a job too well is that you are often awarded with new opportunities. Have you heard of Brieshire? Picturesque little town east of here. Not as large as Virigo mind you but large enough. Has a large brewing industry been what I heard; we source a lot of good ales from there.” Perg drew a long breath.

“Anyway, could you do us a tiny favour and fill in for the Healer there, only for two weeks? It is two days travel by fast coach and the Guild Treasurer has authorised me to pay you 2000 Denars for the posting.” Perg grasped both his hands with a pleading look in his eyes.

“When do I have to decide this by?” Exill asked, determined to say ‘no’ if they wanted an immediate answer.

“Oh! Are you willing to give it some thought? That is magnanimous of you my good friend. Well, no need to worry, this posting isn’t as urgent as the last one. We just need you to get back to us in the next five days, the sooner the better.”

Exill nodded again. Perhaps he was looking at this with rose-tinted glasses now that it was behind him but the trip to Virigo hadn’t been all that bad. On the contrary, if you ignored the Eldritch Aberrations and the assassination attempts, it had been a great bonding experience and he had learnt many new things and earned a lot of Denars.

“That should be the procession now!” Perg excitedly pointed at the Royal Gates that were opening.

The sound of resounding trumpets reached their ears, and people in the rooms of the Guild House steadily filed out to grab a better view. Exill moved back a bit to let Tsarra stand in front, her diminutive height making it difficult to look over shoulders.

It might have been the effects of the sparkling wine on an empty stomach, but he found himself holding Tsarra from behind. His chin resting on the crest of her head as the gentle scent of lilac pleasantly surrounded him.

She squeezed his arm while they watched a parade of mounted knights, resplendent in shining armour leading the procession. They were followed by cadres of servicemen ordered by prestige of their profession. Exill spotted a group of mounted spearmen towards the front, soon followed by an open topped carriage from which the royal couple were standing, gently waving at the assembled crowd.

“Kneel before his Majesty!” The Herald announced, his voice amplified through some skill over the crowd.

People all around him began to kneel, even those up in the upper storeys of the Guild House. Exill found it a little annoying, but released Tsarra to follow the lead of everyone else. People began to rise again when the Royal Coach passed them by. The procession was continued by supporting divisions of the Army, such as the engineering corps, healers and even priests from the Church.

There was a vast uproar as people recognised the blindfolded woman leading the rear. Exill recognised her from her unworldly beauty even at this distance, and spotted Inquisitor Deroch standing protectively beside her as well.

Two Bishops stood in front of her, recognisable from their golden caps. They wielded a glowing staff of elderwood, from the top of which streamed a soft beam of light in the direction of the Labyrinth Tower. The Oracle held a similar staff, but affixed on top was the bulbous eye of some monstrous beast, swivelling around as its creamy fibrous pupil sought out some hidden prey. It kept returning to stare at the Labyrinth Tower far away, but when the procession drew nearer to the Guild Hall, it fixed its blind sight on Exill, and along with it came a piercing pain, followed by jabbering whispers in his mind.

The Oracle pursed her full lips, and the Staff finally averted its eyes, staring instead at the Tower far beyond. However Inquisitor Deroch had noticed its fixation, and his brows were furrowed while glaring at the Guild Hall.

‘The Church has a way to detect me.’ Exill thought with immediate dread.