“Were you about to say Carnadine?”

Jacques shook his head quickly. “N-no, that’s not—”

“But she’s dead,” Toulou insisted. “She’s dead, right? That’s what you told me.”

“Yes, she is—”

“Then what were you about to say?”

There was a pause, and Adrian looked between them worriedly while Pepin bit his lip in silence.

“Toulou,” Jacques began, then his face fell. “I was going to tell you.”

“What?” They stood; disbelief clear on their face.

“Toulou, listen—”

“You’re telling me... she’s still alive?”

“Yes, but—”

“She can’t be. I mean, all along, you’re saying she’s been on the other side of the portal?” They searched the man’s face, and there was silence. “You lied to me. Why?”

“I felt there was no other choice—”

“No other choice? What do you mean? I can’t—” They ran hands stressfully over black dreads. “I don’t believe this. She’s been alive this entire time, and you never thought to tell me? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Pepin stood, attempting to lay a calming hand on their shoulder, but Toulou pulled away harshly. “Toulou, just wait a momen—”

“Why aren’t you more upset about this, Pep? He lied to both of us.”

He blinked away guiltily. “I, um... already knew.”

“What?”

“We both overheard them talking five years ago,” Emelri cut in quietly. “Jacques and Adrian.”

The two men blinked at her in surprise.

“Five years ago?” Toulou demanded. “So, all of you knew already?”

There was silence.

“Five years ago,” Adrian began gently, “we thought it best to keep it from you so you wouldn’t do anything reckless.”

“You know how you used to be, Toulou,” Pepin chimed in.

“Are you even listening to yourselves?” Green flashed over their livid eyes. “You all just lied to me for five years and collectively decided that was okay.”

“You would have gone off and opened the portal,” Jacques said.

“No shit I would have. Carnadine deserves to suffer for what she did. It was always my destiny to kill her. How are you all okay with the fact that she’s still alive and no doubt, killing more magic users in Yayma as we speak? How many more families need to be destroyed and mothers murdered before something is done about it? This isn’t your secret to keep. You’ve kept the portal from everyone this whole time, but isn’t it your obligation to open it or let someone else do it?” They stepped back, a million thoughts racing behind those brown eyes, then realization dawned on them. “And... that’s exactly what I’m meant to do.”

“Wait, what?” Jacques exclaimed, standing as well now.

The eldest made their way across the dining room before Adrian caught them by the arm. “Toulou, stop! You’re not thinking clearly.”

“We don’t want anyone else coming through,” Jacques said. “There were dozens of assassins, just waiting at the entrance.”

“They will still be there when you open it,” Emelri added, “most likely waiting to rush in and attack you and anyone else they meet. I know these Spillers too well.”

“Toulou, please,” Adrian begged, and brown eyes met blue. “It’s not safe, especially for a magic user.”

They searched their father’s face then their expression hardened. “No.” They snatched their arm back. “You all don’t get to lie to me for five years and then tell me what I get to think and do. No...” They stood straighter. “I’m going and you can’t stop me.”

“Wh—right now?” Jacques cried.

“That’s right.” They were on the move again but were met this time by Jacques who blocked their path. “Step aside,” Toulou growled, and the room filled with a dim emerald glow along with prickling energy.

“Absolutely not.”

“You can’t stop me. Not anymore.”

“Don’t do anything rash.”

“I’ll decide what I will and won’t do. Step aside.” Their eyes glowed green, their voice humming with magic.

Unmoving, Jacques matched their energy, his own pupils disappearing. “Toulou, enough—” Words cut off, he blinked quickly before catching and absorbing the mass of magic that was launched at him.

Toulou struck without hesitation, throwing a quick series of attacks as those in the background gasped and shouted things that never reached their ears. They would not relent, precision and ferocity behind every strike while Jacques caught or dodged each one; a few stray blasts hit and shattered a window and a wall.

After preventing a charge of electricity from reaching Adrian, he was caught off guard by the next, and thrown back. What happened after, Emelri was not entirely sure, but a deafening crack of lightning pierced through the ceiling, and once she was no longer disoriented, she looked up from the floor to see the dining table in splinters, covered in rubble from the collapsed ceiling. Pepin held her around the waist, his body having been used as some sort of glowing human shield. Adrian lay on the other side of the broken furniture, coughing while Jacques fussed over him.

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Toulou was nowhere to be seen.

“Are you alright, Sweetheart?” Jacques asked, stroking his face.

“I’m fine. What about the others?”

They both looked over at Pepin and Emelri.

“We’re both fine,” Pepin assured, getting off her.

“Go after Toulou,” Adrian said quickly, and Jacques nodded, getting up and disappearing in a flash of light to the two teenagers’ dismay.

“Did he just...” Emelri began.

“Teleport?” Pepin finished, shaking his head in disbelief.

“He’ll be able to catch Toulou in no time now,” Adrian assured, and Emelri shook her head slightly then frowned.

“I’m not so sure.”

“He will.”

“No, she’s right, Adrian,” Pepin said, helping her off the floor.

“What do you mean?”

“They learned how to make their body transparent. They can essentially turn invisible. If Toulou doesn’t want to be found, then they won’t be.”

His eyes widened. “We have to believe Jacques will still be able to. He taught them what they know after all.”

Pepin looked down but said nothing.

The three were waiting by the front door as the sun began to set when Jacques appeared on the front porch in a flash of light.

Wrenching the door open, Adrian had him by the arms. “Well?”

He was met with a defeated expression and a slow shake of the head. “They’re gone. Headed to the portal no doubt.”

“Oh, Jacques...”

“They took the gem key and Adrian’s journal,” Emelri said in the background.

“If they’re on their way to the portal,” Pepin said quickly, “then we’ll know where to find them. We should go after them.”

“They took the speeder as well,” she added. “How in Ziluria’s name would we catch up?”

“You won’t,” Jacques said firmly. “Adrian and I will go. I need you both here to watch over the house and the donkeys.”

“No way. We’re coming,” Pepin declared.

“That’s right,” Emelri chimed in. “We’ll have Zuri and Andre watch over things, but we’re not being left behind.”

“Emi, your job—” Jacques began.

“That doesn’t matter.” He blinked. “If Toulou makes it to the portal and opens it, then I’m your best chance at navigating Yayma and bringing them back home. There’s a lot of things you don’t know about my homeland that could prove fatal.”

He considered her expression, then to everyone’s surprise, relented. “Fine. Get your things ready. We’re leaving in fifteen minutes.”

Adrian hurried past them. “I’ll get started on our bags.”

“Wait, won’t Toulou be long gone?” she asked, and Jacques shook his head.

“Don’t worry about that.”

In only ten minutes, they were all outside with large packs on their backs. Emelri, with her massive battle axe strapped behind her, furrowed her brows as Jacques made them all take a hold of one another, insisting this would bring them closer to Toulou somehow.

Before she could launch a complaint, her breath was taken from her, and the feeling of her body being hurled and her skin torn off, left her gasping for air even after the sensation stopped.

Chest heaving as the world no longer spun, she nearly fell over, but Adrian caught her by the arm. “Steady. Jumping takes some getting used to.”

“Since when could you teleport?” Pepin demanded, also breathing heavily as he looked around at the surrounding brick walls.

“Since always,” Jacques replied. He and Adrian appeared unaffected by the jump.

“And you never bothered to teach us?”

“Uh, duh.” He talked while leading them out of the private alleyway and up the street towards Zuri’s clinic. “Do you know how much more chaotic all this would be if you and Toulou were teleporting everywhere?”

“Oh, true.”

“Now we can use it to our advantage.” They all ducked into the building, Jacques ringing the little bell at the counter. “Zuri, get your ass out here!”

After a few more shouts, the flustered medic appeared with a frown on their face. “We’re closed for fuck’s sake. You can’t just barge in here demanding things, Jacques. Whiny little bitch.”

“Zuri, it’s urgent.”

They looked between all four of them, the annoyance melting from their face. “Woah, what’s wrong? What happened?”

“It’s Toulou,” Jacques continued. “They left. They’re headed for the portal. There’s not much time. I need you to watch over the house while we’re gone.”

“Oh shit. Yeah of course. Here, outside.” They made a shooing motion. “It’s too cramped in here.”

They all left the building as Jacques gave the medic the house key. “I’m not sure when we’ll be back.”

“I’ll let Huit and Andre know as well, and we’ll all take turns caring for your place.”

“Thanks, oh and the house is a bit... in shambles right now.” He glanced behind them into the distance.

“Oh, well, we can get that sorted out for you,” they said, following his gaze. “It can’t be too bad—Holy shit! What happened to your roof?” Emelri glanced in the same direction, catching sight of the fancy house with one side of it completely in ruins.

“It’s a long story,” Adrian said.

“Well, okay then.” They made a flustered sound. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll sort it out.”

“Thanks again, Zuri,” Jacques said.

“Of course. Stay safe and don’t learn too many life-changing, groundbreaking things if you end up going through the portal.” They sighed. “Somehow I always end up missing all the action.”

The blond placed a hand on their shoulder. “Next time. Take care.”

“I suppose this means you won’t be making it to your shift tomorrow, Alchemist girl.”

Emelri nodded. “Sorry, Zuri—”

“Don’t fret. You guys should go now.”

Jacques placed a hand on both Pepin and Emelri’s shoulders while Adrian’s hand rested on his lower back. “I agree. Time to go.”

As Zuri waved, Emelri narrowed her eyes. The medic shifted then disappeared along with all other surroundings, and that terrible physical sensation came over her again. When it stopped, she was breathing heavily as she looked around, seeing that they were on the outskirts of New Minoka.

“Be prepared,” Jacques warned, not removing his hand from her, “we’re jumping again.”

She opened her mouth before being subjected to another bout of teleportation. After this jump, everyone had hands on their knees, all bowing their heads in exhaustion. They were in the middle of nowhere in the desert now. Adrian was scanning the empty landscape while Jacques blipped away in a flash of light.

“Keep your eyes out for them,” Adrian said between labored breaths before sprinting off in one direction.

Emelri made eye contact with Pepin before they both split up as well. Stuffing her hand in her shirt, she pulled out the end of the shell pendant and turned it. Disappearing, she went on her own search, thinking perhaps she’d have a better chance of finding them if she too were invisible.

Hours passed. Nothing that any of them did was to any avail as they reconvened later.

“How long will it take them to reach the portal on the speeder, do you think?” Emelri asked, turning herself visible again.

“Without breaks?” Jacques clarified. “Tomorrow morning I’d say.”

“We need to keep going then,” Adrian insisted. “If we make it to the portal as soon as possible, we can cut them off. We need to jump now.”

Jacques twisted the end of his black ponytail between his fingers. “Sweetheart, we’re all exhausted. I don’t know how many more jumps I have in me. It’s been such a long time since I’ve teleported anything—”

“We can’t allow them to go through. We can’t stop, Jacques. Can’t you recharge with the crystals?”

“That’s not how it works. My body still gets tired no matter how much my magic is recharged.”

“But I don’t remember you being this tired when you were teleporting the ship.”

“That’s because I was pulling from a much bigger energy crystal source. I only have the few in my pockets and the rest is being pulled directly from my core. That’s enough for me to do only a few jumps but it’s certainly not enough to cover the distances we did in the ship. I’m better off well-rested. We’re better off. Trust me. If we completely exhaust ourselves by the time we catch Toulou, there’s no way any of us are going to have enough strength to stop them from going through the portal.”

Pain crossed his face as he blinked away. “Okay.”

“We’re setting up camp then?” Emelri interjected.

Jacques nodded. “We’ll leave as soon as the sun rises tomorrow. That sound alright?”

There was a thick gloom in the air between them, but no one voiced any complaints.