My life was unrecognizable, and I couldn’t have been happier about it. From my first steps in this world to the point where I find myself now was a difference as vast as a mountain and just as clear. It was also funny, in a way, that everything had seemed to come full circle as I ended up where I had started, and in a position of power at that.

I became the spearhead of the reformation movement for the Thrainian government, working alongside Durdan to bring changes to their society and education. To start, the monarchy was dismantled, and in its place, I drafted up a basic republic framework to keep things running after the coalition dropped martial law. The Thrainian territory was divided into equal districts, each would hold an election to designate a representative that would give them voting power for future decisions.

The aristocracy also needed to be changed, and those changes were resisted at every step by those who formerly held power over their lands and the people. If it wasn’t handled delicately, then it would only sow seeds of rebellion at a later date. To that effect, I made many promises and concessions to appease them while still allowing what is one of the most corrupt forms of government to be phased out. Any land that the nobles owned, that wasn’t part of a nearby town or village, would remain theirs for as long as they desired to own it. Those who were former governors of a specific territory would be allowed to continue to do so for a single election cycle, after which the people would be free to decide whether they maintained power over the region.

Slavery was another hot topic issue that I was regrettably unable to solve immediately. While freeing those who were captured and sold into slavery during the war was a must, the practice itself was allowed to persist for the foreseeable future. It was an unfortunate fact that a large part of the economy maintained due to the presence of slaves as the primary work force, and if that was taken away with no stop gaps, then an economic collapse would be unavoidable and likely leave many people starving by the end of the year. For now, I was at least able to limit the acquisition of slaves to criminals where people could essentially purchase their sentences.

History books like to focus on the people who signed laws or fought wars to bring an end to slavery, but there was no denying that industry helped to eliminate the need for it as well. requiring less people to work in a field or put things together in a factory meant that the trade itself was losing money, and it would only be a matter of time before it shut down due to unprofitability. So, my goal became to bring about an industrial revolution in this magical society with the ultimate goal of ending the need for slaves.

The first step for any dramatic increase in the quality of life for people would be an increase in the quality of education. That old saying about teaching a man to fish certainly applied to this situation as I wanted people to take my ideas and knowledge and run with them as fast as they could. So, the construction of public schools was started, beginning with the first one being built from the ruins of the capital of Fulvrist.

It was received a lot better than I had thought it might be considering it was technically a new tax on the people to fund it, but I suppose the prospect of education was just that appealing to the citizenry that an extra coin or two out of their purse was of little consequence. There weren’t enough teachers to meet these new demands, though, so that became one of my jobs as well, training a new generation of instructors. The basics were all covered. Reading, writing, math, and science. These foundations would grow and expand with time, branching off into more specialized subsets of advanced learning all on their own. I imparted knowledge that I thought would be relatively harmless yet would give them hints on the next step to take.

For once it seemed like the future wasn’t such an uncertain thing. The world was beginning to heal as the chaos faded to memory. The scars of battle slowly disappeared as homes were rebuilt and lives that were previously in shambles were allowed the chance to become whole again. It took two and a half years of concentrated effort, but Fulvrist once more became a center of industry.

I was juggling many jobs, not only from my efforts to reform the Thrainians, but for my promises that I had made during my time in the coalition capital and to Soro. After trade had opened between the two sides again, I was present for introduction and negotiations between Yol’vastume and council woman Nadala. It boiled down to a lot of shaking hands and pointless platitudes all designed to ingratiate oneself with the other side.

It was a good thing that I wasn’t doing a lot of talking at these negotiations, because I was rather distracted with my own thoughts during my time there. We were meeting with retainers and representatives, people who were temporarily placed in charge of Yol’vastume. The heir to this land, Velanie, was not yet old enough to assume the responsibilities of command, especially now that the rules were changing. I did not know if she was even here or not, but the thought of running into her now put a conflicted pit of dread in my stomach. Part of me wanted to see if she was doing alright, but the other half was afraid that the truth might have reached her by now.

I did not make contact with her during my return to Yol’vastume, and the negotiations between Nadala and the representatives went off without a hitch. She was able to secure a favorable deal for regular shipments and it was almost scary how she managed to worm her way into it, even with my influence skewing their decision making slightly. At least my obligations to her were fulfilled with the signing of the trade contract. Now, it was time to make good on my promise to Soro.

The titanic serpent needed a new home, one that was somewhat isolated and easy to defend. That was part of his requests as when I offered to carve out a bit of space for him to create a burrow at Fulvrist, he adamantly denied it, and of course threw disparaging remarks at the other races who would be living in the city. So, I had to go on a hunt for a magic rich plot of land with little to no civilization around. A tall order considering that most cities were built where they could have easy access to crystals, which just so happened to be near such locations more often than not.

This task would require much more effort, and negotiations, than my deal with Nadala. Unless I wanted to wander the wilderness and talk to every prospector to find a lead on an undiscovered hotspot, I would need to requisition the use of an already discovered mine. With that in mind, the Thrainian’s territory would likely be my best bet. They were known to have abundant access to the crystals that they used to create many magical tools.

The options that were presented to me on a map were a bit limited if they were going to fit with Soro’s demands of privacy. Not only that, but because I had no idea how much magic was enough for the eggs, I had to essentially take him on a tour of each site so he could get a feel for things. Infuriatingly, he refused to give me more than a handful of words to voice his opinion on the places he visited, most of which he would simply say ‘no’ without elaboration. I was of half a mind to just go obnoxious realtor mode on him and try to sell every aspect of a location while questioning him on every little thing he looked at to get his opinion.

I was only able to just barely contain myself over the course of those weeks spent trekking across the countryside in search of the perfect hole in the ground. My suffering finally came to an end with a visit to a mine that was carved into the side of a mountain. It was several miles from the largest population center with only a small village of less than a hundred closer than that. Recently discovered, many of the crystals within had yet to be mined, leaving the area rich in natural magic. He liked it, thank fuck for that, and so I began the next labor of negotiating the mines release to Soro’s ownership. Long story short, with the support of Durdan and the council of Sor’Balvas, a lot of money exchanged hands and many promises were made for access to the next mining location that appeared to be offered to the previous owner first.

Soro didn’t even wait for the deal to be finalized before making changes to the area. He created walls, domes, alternate passageways that lead to dead ends, a veritable fortress around this former mine which in and of itself was a natural keep. Durdan even posted a small detachment of soldiers to patrol the area and keep curious eyes out. I wondered how Soro would transport all the eggs by himself, but when I offered some assistance in doing so, he denied me again claiming he didn’t need it. With no point in arguing about it, I trusted that he could handle the task and considered my part in this done.

I felt satisfied with the way this turned out, even though Soro was frustrating to work with. I’d have to make a commitment to visit once the eggs started to hatch. If those kids could grow up with a healthy relationship with the other races, then history will not repeat itself, and the world will be a richer place for it.

Now that my immediate debts were paid, I could focus on doing what I’ve always wanted to do; create a better future. It was a rather exciting prospect if I was honest, and one that allowed me to fulfill another promise I had made to Ophelia. Trying to figure out the best ways to combine my knowledge of the natural world with the enigmatic possibilities of magic was a puzzle, but one that had untold potential. I could use this to make a request to the church to aid me and send Ophelia to do so. My excuse was that having her here and personally working with me to create something that would drastically improve the lives of everyone, Thrianian and coalition alike, would do wonders to improve relations. They went for it, and I could only imagine how excited Ophelia was when the news reached her.

To start this plan, I wanted to find ways to automate tasks or provide a means through which manual labor could be replaced by machines. The simplest, and possibly most efficient, idea was a steam piston. Waterwheels and windmills are a very popular means of automation in a society like this. Even with magic, physics was still a reliable and cheap alternative if you knew what you were doing. Having engine power that was portable would open many new avenues for the people of this world.

Of course, knowledge and practical application were two different things. While I knew of the concept, and how it is supposed to work, engineering was not a strong suit of mine. I had to bring in outside help, and explaining, developing, and crafting the pieces of this world's first steam engine was not a simple process. Trial and error were involved as we needed to find the right thickness for the tubes and pipes so that it would be powerful enough to move large machines while not blowing up in your face, and it did blow up a number of times. All I’ll say on that matter was that I’m glad I had access to healing magic or else I might not have much of a face at this point.

It took nearly two years to get it right. Not being able to machine parts for something was a real bitch. This wasn’t just because it took days, if not weeks, just to get a single part of the engine made, but any imperfections that occurred during the forging could lead to a failure in the system that could have devastating consequences. It was all worth it, though, because we were now able to show a working model of the engine to the public, after creating casting molds, of course.

My name had only spread further since the conquest of Fulvrist, and now, standing in the rebuilt town square of that same city, a large crowd had gathered to see my newest invention. The population of the city was still mostly Thrainian, but there were members of the coalition dotted here and there as well. Many of them happened to be the families of the guards who were assigned to Fulvrist.

The former empire was still on probation, not allowed to amass any large standing force, so to keep the peace a lot of former coalition soldiers ended up as guards for the many Thrainian cities. There were efforts to reverse, or at least equalize the distribution of manpower between the two sides, but it was a gradual plan, one that rewarded good behavior and an adherence to the new rules. In the future the new Thrainian republic could be largely self-governing again, but that was still a decade or two down the line.

When the engine itself was revealed, it was met with many confused looks and curious murmurings. I was able to alleviate most of the inquisitive voices by walking through a demonstration. First, you could use a bucket of water, or a mage with control of such things, to fill the tank. After that I made use of the runes that would rapidly heat the inside of the container to a boiling point. It took a moment, but soon enough the pistons started to move in a steady back and forth manner, the action causing a wheel at the end of the engine to spin at a respectable speed.

Most of the viewers seemed to understand just what could be done with this, and the chatter increased substantially as they looked in awe at my creation. To have your work received so well is a wonderful feeling, and I felt myself smile as I scanned the faces of the crowd only to stop when I saw something, or perhaps someone, unexpected.

Amongst the many faces in the crowd, those from the coalition species were easy to pick out. The one I was locked on, however, was a pair of Trelnval, a mother and child duo. The mother was holding the child so that they could see what was happening on stage. It was the appearance of the kid that awakened many melancholy feelings inside me. They were probably close to four years of age. I didn’t know if it was just a coincidence or not, but the kid had blue scales with a red tipped tail that wagged happily as they watched my machine move with wide eyed wonder.

Despite being labeled a champion of it, I still knew little of the dominant religion of this world. I wanted to believe that it was him in another form, but even if it was, he wouldn’t know me anymore. Even so, I smiled knowing that if it really was Holdrem who had come back, then I could give him the comfortable and peaceful life he wanted this time around.

Speaking of, Ophelia was living it up now that she wasn’t under the constant watchful eye of the coalition’s church. Sure, they had people do regular check-ins with her to make sure that nothing was amiss, but other than that, she was free to do as she pleased. The first time she got drunk at the bar Velian and Ulthises set up in the city was quite hilarious. She was such a lightweight that only three drinks saw her slithering in circles with a dopey smile on her face as she sang loudly and a bit off key. She looked truly happy, and I would make sure she could keep that happiness.

The work continued, and time passed. There were ups and downs, problems and solutions as old wounds occasionally were torn open. However, peace was still widespread. My friends all got to move on and live their dreams. Jorn and Otar were promoted to officers after exemplary service, each gaining command of their own squad which constantly patrolled the lands to stifle any growing unrest that popped up. Hargon returned to the sea, joining a shipping lane that had opened again now that peace allowed for it. While he could not visit often, I still saw him sometimes at the bar when he had an extended shore leave.

Years came and went as I worked, taught, and created in the name of making a better world. Before I knew it, a decade had passed. I found myself living in a nice house in the city with my family. It was a double-edged sword in my opinion. On the one hand, plenty of space to use and luxuries to indulge in. On the other, rich snobs surrounded me. They had gotten better over the years since their influence in the political sphere was cut down to size, but that attitude from their noble days was hard to kick.

I woke up in my large bed, thick covers weighing down on me to keep the heat in during these winter months. The morning light was filtered through the window by a thin curtain, taking away the harshness of the sun while still allowing it inside. Rolling to my side, I looked lovingly at my wife as she slept next to me. Even years after the fact, being able to refer to Kala as my wife brought a smile to my face.

Reaching out, I lightly brushed my hand along the side of her face. She stirred a bit at my touch, but just mumbled and tried to bury her head in the pillow. This song and dance was the standard for our mornings. It was a rare day where Kala would get up of her own volition.

Leaning over, I gave her a kiss on the side of her face which made her smile even as her eyes refused to open. “Wakey, wakey sleepy head. It’s time to get a start on the day.”

“The day ain’t goin anywhere,” she groaned, still half asleep.

I chuckled at her. “On the contrary, did you forget what day it is?”

“Hmm?”

“It’s the ten-year celebration of the end of the war, remember?” She barely opened one of her eyes, squinting at me. “They were planning a huge party for the whole city to begin at midday and last until sundown. We have to get ready for that.”

She closed her eye again and sighed. “Fine, I’m up.”

After a dramatic showing she rolled out of bed, shivering a bit as she left the warm comfort of the sheets. She made a grasping hand at me like a small child wanting some attention. I laughed at her antics, and after making sure my ring was secured on my finger, I walked to her side and put my arm around her shoulder as she leaned into me, sighing as I warmed her again.

So, first order of business for the day, waking up the rest of the house. We exited our room and were presented with two doors. “You take left, I take right?” I asked Kala.

“Sure, but I want you to talk to her more.”

“I know, and I am trying, you know that.”

“She’ll come around, just give her some more time. We had a similar problem with the boys after all.”

“Yeah, but, it’s only me this time.”

Kala gave me a quick nuzzle. “I know, but if you just keep doing what you do best, then I’m sure she’ll open up to you.”

“Hopefully.” I gave her a quick kiss before separating. “Well, let the chaos begin.” She chuckled at that as we opened the doors and entered the rooms.

I stepped over the strewn about toys, knickknacks, and wooden weaponry. The two lumps sleeping in their adjacent beds hardly moved save for the steady rise and fall of their breathing. Standing between them, I reached out with one hand each and jostled both of them awake.

“Rise and shine boys, we got a big day ahead of us.” They grumbled as they tossed and turned before stretching to wake up. “Morning sleeping beauties.”

“Mornin’ dad,” the two of them replied, still shaking off the sleepiness.

Ahh, I will never get tired of hearing that. Acquiring a parental title has got to be one of the best feelings in the world. Brun was an Ulgor with dark brown hair who just turned twelve two months ago. He was getting to that age where he was hitting growth spurts and his baby fat was starting to disappear, letting more rugged features start to take shape. Roskin was a Thrainian who turned thirteen back in spring. His dirty blonde hair was a bit unkempt most days, so we kept it short for minimal maintenance. Both of them were war orphans that we adopted eight years ago, and they’ve been a light in our lives since.

The two of them had a bit of a rivalry with one another. Nothing serious, but I don’t think Roskin liked being the older brother and yet he was already a bit shorter than Bron. Ulgor puberty hit pretty hard, after all. They made competitions out of just about everything, including putting on clothes as they raced to get that done, nearly tripping over themselves as they did so. Roskin managed to eke out a win this time, and the smug smile he wore was amusing to see.

We exited the room to see Kala standing in the hall, and she was holding out youngest. Marin was our little Trelnval girl, and at the young age of eight she still had a lot of growing to do. Her scales were a darker shade of blue, and she was a bit on the small side as far as Trelnval children her age go. We adopted her five years ago. She wasn’t a war orphan, just a victim of poor circumstances. It wasn’t known why her parents left her as a baby, but the most common cause is usually poverty.

Marin clung to Kala, half burying her face in her neck. She looked out shyly at everyone else, always the quiet one. Kala was really the only one who managed to bond with her. The rest of us she hardly interacted with. It wasn’t so bad that she would run away when spoken to, but most of the time she would just sit there and stare without so much as a murmur. Most days I would consider myself lucky to receive even two words from her. She always ran straight to her mom when she wanted something. Still, I would not be easily deterred.

“Morning sweety,” I said as I walked up and gave Marin a kiss on the forehead before turning to my wife. “And an extra good morning to you, my love.” For Kala, I gave her a more passionate kiss, to which the boys were repulsed.

“Eww, Dad, we just woke up,” Bron complained.

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“Give it a few more years, you’ll understand.” My comment only made him quirk an eyebrow in confused disgust before running off with his brother. When puberty fully kicked in for him it was going to be a real handful. I wasn’t really looking forward to the talk.

We had a simple breakfast as a family before spending an hour reading our favorite books. Marin sat in Kala’s lap as she read to her while the boys debated which of their favorite characters was best. There wasn’t a surplus of books in this world because everything was still done by hand, but I was working on a prototype printing press, so hopefully that would lead to an explosion of literature. It would help with the schools as well, being able to make subject-oriented books for advanced learning.

After some mostly quiet family time, we decided to head out and see what was being prepared in the city. It was a massive celebration as they wanted to associate the end of the war with good things that the population will remember. It also brought a massive influx of trade to the city as stalls and businesses came alive. Banners and streamers lined the streets, and the smell of cooking food filled the air, wetting the appetite of even the most well-fed person. Stages and platforms were being constructed around the center of town for future performances that would happen, and I was excited to see what they would come up with this year.

The new streets and buildings were clean, polished, and afforded some extra decorative features to even the smallest of houses. You should always make the most of every situation, and even though the destruction of the city was horrible, we used it to improve the overall quality of life for the citizens of all levels. I was even able to sneak in central heating for the new buildings, installing a boiler room in each of the basements. It was basically the parent project of my steam engine and was much easier to implement due to fewer moving parts.

There was also a significant difference between the interactions of today and those of ten years ago. You might still see a bit of unease when those not of Thrainian descent passed those who were, but it wasn’t the openly hostile treatment and more of a general wariness that had yet to fade. Still, it was an improvement, and I was glad to see it.

The kids stared at all the sights and sounds with wide eyed excitement. It would only get better once the time for the celebration arrived, and luckily that wasn’t too far off at this point. More and more people started to show up by the minute as noon was fast approaching.

I think people were eager to begin as I saw a few places where revelries had already started. We joined a few of these smaller party locations that looked to be kid friendly, which were mostly eateries that served drinks and played music for their customers. The kids enjoyed the music and fruity beverages, particularly Marin who seemed quite mesmerized by the melody. I observed her and considered that maybe music could help her come out of her shell. Making a mental note to follow up on that, I focused once more on enjoying this time with my family until noon came upon us.

There was a planned performance to mark the beginning of the celebration, and I wanted the kids to see it. Being involved in governmental planning and work does have its benefits after all, such as knowledge of public events. We found a good position and waited for the show to begin.

It started with a bang as the previously empty stage was suddenly engulfed in flame that spiraled into a column that stretched high into the air. There were many shocked gasps including from my kids as they were caught off guard. The fire spiraled for a moment longer and cast its warmth over the crowd. Suddenly the pillar disappeared with a dramatic whoosh, revealing a well-dressed Thrainian man who took a bow shortly after appearing. Once people realized that this was part of the show they relaxed and started to applaud the man.

What followed this entrance was a combination of an illusion show and choregraphed dance routine augmented by real magic. Female assistants of each of the races assisted the magician as he made objects, people, and animals disappear and appear at his commands all while they distracted the crowd with their dances and magic, causing snow, water, ice, and fire to dance through the air creating spectacular effects. It was a wonderful show, and a fantastic way to kick off the celebration of a decade of peace.

After the main show had concluded its first act of the afternoon, the other stalls and attractions opened and began to attract customers. Kala and I were led around by the kids who wanted to see literally everything. Bron and Roskin were as excitable as always, but the energy in the air was even getting to Marin as she looked much less shy than usual as all the sights and sounds grabbed at her attention.

I loved seeing them so happy, and if I could remain at their side all night I would, but unfortunately being involved in government, even as just an advisor, also had its drawbacks. The sun was starting to hang low in the sky, and my heart was heavy as I got Kala’s attention.

“It’s time. I wait any longer and people will throw a fit.”

She looked a bit downtrodden but recovered quickly with an understanding nod. “Try not to start any fights this time,” she teased me.

“Hey, all I did was suggest a different course of action. It was the hotheads in the room that began to argue to the point of shoving.”

“And you totally weren’t the one who bumped Governor Verris into his cohorts.”

“The man’s a ‘traditionalist’ as-” I caught the word in my mouth before it managed to get out in the presence of Marin. “aaaand a very unpleasant person.”

Kala chuckled at my save before leaning in for a kiss. I obliged, and then turned my attention to the kids. “Alright you three, be good for you mom and don’t cause any trouble. I don’t want to come back down here and discover the whole town has burned down because of you.”

The boys chuckled like it was something to be proud of and I tussled their hair a bit before turning to Marin and giving the back of her neck a gentle massage. “Try to keep the boys in line for me princess. Can you do that?” She hesitated for a second before giving me a shy nod. “Good girl.” With a quick kiss on Marin’s head and a wave goodbye, I returned to my house to change into something more fitting for where I was going.

After struggling into an immaculate black suit with silver threads I proceeded up the hill in the direction of the keep. They held a high society party every year where the governors and representatives would come together and exchange information, partake in politicking, and maybe just enjoy the celebration for a while. I hated every second of it, but my efforts to change society as well as my celebrity status made my attendance near mandatory if I wanted to keep my progressive reforms moving.

People knew my face, hard not to when I have a pretty distinctive feature. As such, I didn’t even need to announce myself upon approach to the castle, I just walked right in. The halls of the castle had changed somewhat in the years following the war. Reconstruction allowed us to dial back the grandeur from borderline garish to a more restrained yet regal appearance, like a more reserved Victorian chateau. This was still the seat of the government after all, so a bit of flair was considered appropriate.

Decore aside, the party had already started with only late arrivals such as me trickling in. The main ballroom was left mostly the same after the renovations, mostly just received a fresh coat of paint and a bit of polish. Frankly I would have preferred it if they replaced everything because I was always nervous when I stepped into this room. Flashbacks are a bitch, and I have to force a slow, deep breath to remind myself that the bastard was dead and gone.

After snuffing out a potential panic attack, I began to deal with the next worst thing that I’d have to face tonight, socializing. If politicians and nobles had one thing in common, it was that they were both insufferable. They always expected something, never did anything for free, and it was like pulling teeth just to get them to do what was right. Very few of them genuinely liked me, probably because I was putting every increasing limitations on their power and influence wherever I could. I’m certain that many of them would have preferred me to just leave and never come back, and believe me, I was right there with them, but I didn’t fight a whole damn war just to see my hard work tossed in the garbage bin by the next idiot who got hyped up on the smell of their own shit. I was going to help make a republic that lasted, and then I would fuck off. I couldn’t even drink to help get through this as I remained stone cold sober. Not making that mistake again, no matter how unlikely it might be.

It was a slow, drudgery-filled night of shaking hands, trying to be pleasant with people who only pretended to care, and making sure that what supporters I did have were still in my corner. The more rights I gave to the citizens to ensure a balance of power, the more it felt like I was standing alone. I really wanted to be back with my family.

As I finished a discussion with another group of governors who were trying to rope me into a thinly veiled ploy for power, I was approached by someone.

“James Anderson, yes?” a very soft and charming feminine voice called out from behind me.

I turned to see a young woman sporting a lovely blue dress with a design similar to a frock, yet with more intricate patterns that allowed it to appear fancy and practical for movement. She had raven black hair that flowed freely down her back and a petite figure with gentle curves that ran the length of her body. Something about her face seemed familiar, but with all the faces coming and going from these parties it was hard to attach it to a name. By all accounts she was very attractive, but I was more than happy with my wife, so I treated her like I would any other.

“Good evening miss. Forgive me, but I can’t seem to recall having the pleasure of your name.”

I thought I saw a twitch in her facial features, but it could have been anything, and she never dropped her polite smile. “My name is Cascabela, sir. You may not know, but my family owns a large number of trade ships that make their way out of Avren. We’ve had many dealings with the coalition in recent years, and I was hoping to speak with you about furthering this connection on various levels. It is well known that you have many friends on that side of the continent.”

That was certainly interesting and heartening besides. It may be a shallow reason, but making positive connections through trade was still a step in the right direction. “I’m glad to hear that you are seeing success in trading with the coalition and want to expand. What might your request of me be?”

“Well...” She paused, glancing around at the others surrounding us. “Some of it has to do with trade secrets of my family, which of course I’m not entirely comfortable speaking about in such a public setting. Might we speak in a more private venue?”

“Understandable. There are many meeting rooms in the castle for just such conversations. If you are more comfortable with that, then I would be more than happy to accommodate.” She gave me a thankful bow of her head before I led the way out of the ballroom. To be honest I was glad for the excuse to leave the suffocating environment.

It didn’t take long for us to find an empty meeting room, and I opened the door for the lady to step inside before following her. It was fairly basic, all things considered. There was a table with enough fancy chairs around it to seat six comfortably. A few crystals lanterns adorned the walls on the left and right side, framing scenic paintings while a pair of narrow windows opened the back wall to the outside.

I approached and kept a respectable conversation distance with Cascabela. “So, what would you like to discuss first?” I asked her.

She did not answer immediately, and even turned her back to me to look at the painting on the wall. When she did speak, it was with a reserved tone, almost like she was measuring her words. “My family has been a major influence on trade for generations. There was a time when we had control of a majority of the goods that circulated through imperial lands. Our control has lessened over the years for various reasons, some being a part of the ‘anti-monopoly’ laws you passed.”

Is she planning to level a complaint against me? Damn, and I thought this would be productive. “I apologize for the trouble, but it was a necessary step.”

She waved her hand in a dismissive manner. “I'm not attacking you over it, it was the smart thing to do. Part of the reason why the old empire fell was because we relied too much on individual providers. It’s not like my family is poor, either. We adapted and are making the best of the new rules. No, my family will survive just fine, though I do have a personal grievance I would like to voice.”

In a smooth motion, she turned and took a step closer to me. I saw a flash of something in my lower peripheral followed by a biting sting in my abdomen that made me grunt. Looking down, I saw a thin bladed dagger embedding inside me almost up to the hilt. The shock I was feeling left me struck dumb for a moment, but then she twisted the knife which brought forth a wave of elucidating pain as a pained growl escaped my lips. I tried to reach for her wrist, but she withdrew the blade quickly and then shoved me backward into the table.

I steadied myself against the table, clutching my wound as my blood was already soaking into my clothes. Fuck, how long has it been since I’d been stabbed? Ten years of peace of and quiet had evidently softened me somewhat because this hurt like a bitch.

Cascabela stalked in front of me, bloodied dagger gripped tight as her eyes now burned with fury. I was completely lost as to the reasoning behind this. “I’m sorry but, do I know you? This feels a bit too personal to be a normal assassination attempt.” I tried to keep my voice steady, but a little strain still seeped through from the pain.

She chuckled as she shook her head. “I know it's been a while, but to think that such a simple change could serve as a disguise. Though, I guess you used it as well to trick my father.”

That... confused me even more at the implications, but she saw fit to explain as she reached into a carefully hidden pocket in her dress and removed a rounded crystal, etched with runes, that fit in the palm of her hand. She held it up as it started to glow, and I noticed a change almost immediately. Her hair started to shift in color, rapidly changing from ebony black to a bright and vibrant golden yellow. My eyes widened as the change completed, and the reason for everything became clear.

She slipped the crystal back into her pocket before speaking again. “Ironic, don’t you think? I used the same trick you did to get close to my father before stabbing him in the back.”

My heart was filled with pain completely unrelated to the wound in my gut that had felt like it turned into a pinprick compared to this revelation. I swallowed the dry stone that had found its way into my throat, and it settled heavily in my gut before I could find it in me to speak even a single thing.

“V-Velanie.” The name exited my mouth a little louder than a whisper. Her body tensed when I said her real name, and her scowl deepened. She lunged at me; blade extended straight. I could not find the will to even attempt to move out of its way as the knife plunged into my shoulder. I winced, but I did not break eye contact with her.

“So, you do remember me? Good!” She snarled as she drove the blade an inch deeper. “It would be pointless if you didn’t, because now I can finally face you as the daughter of Balidor Kirthwain, a woman grown and not an ignorant child who follows the very monster that took everything from me!”

Her words hurt more than any blade could. Deep down, pushed beneath optimism for the future, I had feared this very confrontation and the inevitable day that it would happen. My heart ached, crushed beneath a mountain of guilt that had resurfaced upon it.

Trying to force words out was like attempting to rip a tree out of the ground. “Velanie... I-”

She yanked the knife out of my shoulder, and with eyes burning with hatred, slashed my throat open. I choked on whatever word was going to come out of me next, and a copious amount of blood. Clutching my throat I collapsed on the ground, slowly suffocating in my own blood. She stood over me and watched as I died, eyes filled with contempt as my vision started to fade until going black.

This void was familiar, yet it had been so long since I had last experienced it. The voice that I knew was coming would feel as recognizable as a neighbor saying hello in the morning, yet it felt almost as if a whole lifetime had passed since last hearing it. She spoke to me for the first time in a decade, and her voice was laced with sympathetic pity even if she only ever said one word in times like this.

Again.

I awoke, not knowing what I’d find. As soon as my eyes opened, Velanie was there, kneeling on top of me, waiting with her dagger gripped in both hands and poised above her head. She knew about my regeneration, and the moment she recognized that I was alive again, she started stabbing me in the chest with all her might.

She grunted and growled, near feral with every forceful thrust. I could have fought back, or resisted her in some way, but I did not lift a finger against her as she sent me immediately back to the abyss of death.

Again.

Normally this would have been a situation that I would have done anything to avoid, stuck in an endless loop of death. However, I couldn’t scorn this woman... no, this young girl who was trapped in the past, lost inside a storm of emotions that she had no way of dealing with. I had taken her father from her, was responsible for the destruction of her home, and left her without either parent from which she could seek guidance. Her uncle and his family probably did the best they could, but nothing could replace the family you were born to. That was a fact that I had come to accept after adopting my own children.

Again.

With every death her stabbing slowed, her limbs falling loosely as she ran out of the steam even though the fire still burned hot. I could tell that she was feeling frustrated beneath her rage. Beneath the snarl and furious glare, there was that little girl who just wanted some way to relieve the pain she felt in her heart. Moisture started to build around the corners of her eyes, and then she stabbed me in the heart.

Again.

When next I came back, something wet was dripping on my face. At first, I thought it was blood, but then realized it was tears as Velanie had broken down and started crying even as she continued to expend the last of her energy on stabbing me. Her breaths came in gasps and choked sobs as her knife left shallower wounds every time she brought it down upon me. Her hands were slick with blood and her face covered in splatter marks. Still, it was enough to kill me as she pierced several organs.

Again.

There was no immediate pain when I woke this time, and Velanie was no longer kneeling over me. The blood-soaked knife was lying discarded next to me, and when I sat up, I saw her in the corner of the room, head buried in her knees as she hugged her legs. Her dress was a mess with my blood being splattered over it. I could hear quiet sobs from her and a few mumbled words as I stood again.

“I can’t even avenge him.”

There were no words that could possibly have been spoken at that moment to make anything better. I felt utterly useless, unable to fix what it was that I had broken. With slow steps, I walked to her side, kneeling as she continued to cry. My hand hesitantly reached out to her shoulder, but the moment I touched her, she recoiled and slapped my hand away.

Her face, still stained with blood and tears, glared at me with a snarl on her lips. She immediately stood up and stormed out of the room while I remained rooted in place, caught by indecision. It seemed the choice was made for me however, when a shocked voice echoed out from the hall.

“What in the pits happened here!?”

Worried, I jumped into action and looked out in the hallway. A pair of guards had caught her in her retreat, holding onto her as they questioned why she was covered in blood. I stepped out and confronted them.

“That’s enough! Release her.”

The pair looked my way and then went wide eyed as they saw my state. “Sir, are you alright? Did she assault you?”

“No, everything is fine. You may let her leave.” It was an obvious lie, which they could see.

“But sir, the blood.”

Sighing, I ripped open my shirt which was already in tatters to expose my bloody yet unharmed chest. “Do you see any injuries on me?”

“I... No?”

“Then there is no problem here. Release her immediately.”

The two of them looked conflicted, but it was Velanie who stared at me almost like she was insulted that I would come to her aid. Confusion, disgust, and anger were just a few of the emotions that flashed across her face. In the end she gave a firm tug away from the guards which broke their grips and then continued to storm off.

I went after her, but at a leisurely pace so as to give her some space to hopefully sort things out. I passed the perplexed guards and offered a few words to lift their unease. “Thank you for your diligence. Please return to your normal rounds.”

Even though Velanie had left my line of sight, it wasn’t difficult to follow her. There were tiny drips of blood that fell off her as she walked which created a clear trail. This path eventually led outside to the gardens. A light blanket of snow had formed over the gardens, and now I had clear footprints to follow instead of just blood.

It didn’t take long to find her again. She had walked into the middle of what is normally a patch of grass and laid down. The ground must have been cold, but I doubt she cared as she stared up at the night sky. She probably knew I was there already, but she didn’t acknowledge my existence, even when I sat down on a nearby bench.

There were a few quiet minutes that passed as we both looked at the stars. Perhaps the silence was getting to me, or maybe I just needed to do something to relieve the pressure building within my heart, but I was the first to speak.

“He... he loved you; you know. I’m sure that’s obvious, but-”

“I don’t want to hear that from you,” she spat.

A forlorn sigh escaped me. “I know, but I still think it needs to be said. He once told me that he did what he did to make a better future for you. His love was genuine, and if it wasn’t for the will of a man who had near completely lost his mind, that love might have been used to change the world for the better.”

The reaction I got from telling her that wasn’t exactly what I hoped for. She said nothing, and her face was unreadable. If she wasn’t going to speak, then I would.

“I don’t know if you will believe me, but I never wanted to kill him. I pleaded with him to just surrender, but he already knew his life was coming to an end. He said he wanted to die on his feet rather than be executed. However, I think part of it was he didn’t want you to see him like that. He made me promise to make sure that you were safe, and I argued and fought to fulfill that promise. You can hate me, and I don’t blame you for that, I just hope that you understand that I wish things could have been different.”

Everything was silent again. The frosted plants all around us lent a feeling of deathly stillness to the world. It was a solid minute before she spoke again.

“Did you lie to me?”

The question confused me. “About what?”

“About worlds beyond our own, out there among the stars. After I learned the truth, I wanted to hate everything about you, think of everything you ever said as a lie. Yet, I didn’t want to give that idea up.” She rolled her head to stare at me, her hardened expression boring into me in search of an answer. “Is it true?”

That I could at least answer with confidence. “Yes. Every star in the sky has the chance to hold a world around it. Some may be baren wastelands, others may be teeming with life. We could never truly know unless we see for ourselves.”

“I believe I asked this before, but why bother? We’ll never be able to reach them.”

“Today we might not be able to, but the future holds infinite possibilities. Great achievements aren’t the result of a single person making a sudden jump, it’s a culmination of hundreds, or even thousands of people who all decided to take a step in that direction. The future is made by our actions today. It’s up to us to ensure that they are the right ones.”

“It still sounds impossible.”

“Well, think of it like this, a river is formed from so many drops of rain that it’s impossible to tell an individual piece apart from the whole. Yet without that piece, and all the others like it, the river would not exist. All one-person need do is contribute a single drop and eventually you’ll reach the goal.”

She took some time to consider my words. “I suppose you have a point. Maybe my time would be better spent chasing a distant dream than pursuing an impossible grudge.”

“I’m sure your father would have preferred that as well.”

Her gaze hardened on me again. “Don’t act like this changes anything. I still hate you.”

“And I will accept that hatred but know that if you ever are in need of something, you need only ask, and I will help in whatever way I can.”

“Keep your charity, I don’t need it.”

“Consider it a debt then. The world I strive to make is one where families don’t need to be torn apart for someone’s dream to come true. I probably won’t live to see such a world, but even so I will not stop fighting for it. I owe you that and more.”

She sighed as she sat up, snow crunching beneath her shifting body weight. “Fine, then I will collect on this debt when needed. You’ll be sure to find that it is a difficult cost to pay back.”

“I have no expectations of ever being able to,” I said with a knowing grin.

She brushed herself off as best she could while stained with my blood. “I hope I won’t have to see you again for a while.” With that she started to walk away before pausing a moment. “I will pray that your dream is seen to fruition sooner rather than later, though.”

“You and me both.”

With no more words left to be said between us, she left the garden, and probably the party all together. I could no longer attend either as my attire was completely ruined. That suited me just fine. After all...

We had a lot of work to do.