“It’s been weeks!” Anna raged, throwing a teacup at the wall. “Have any of the portals returned to normal yet?”

Specialist Jean McCleary rolled her eyes and adjusted the notebook to avoid the tea splatters.

Anna was losing her mind as she desperately thought of ways to get her daughter back. Her husband was no better. His devotion towards research had taken on a whole new fervor as he did his part.

It wasn’t to be, every single portal on Aperra had been locked down. Each was undergoing its Change at the same time.

It was worrying since she knew that after their Change, the Great Change for the world would come.

How long would she have to wait to see her daughter again? Would she be able to see her again? She believed that Zack and Zara would help keep her safe, but the portals were unpredictable places.

If there was a silver lining to any of this, it was that Shouvain was now at war with multiple countries. They had pushed too hard, too fast, and were now paying the price.

Fittrel was none too happy with them for what they had done, and none of the other countries around them were either. All the supposed treaties and alliances had been broken by their thoughtless actions.

Stealing Fittrel’s airship, and then losing it, had left them without a single friend in the region.

It might have been different if they had succeeded in retrieving it, but they hadn’t. They had instead decided to do a bombing run and attack a facility on Albion soil. Something that they had indisputable proof of.

She had barely survived that ship going down. The entire operation had been a mess of near epic proportions, if she was being honest. It had been a mistake to bring the kids there, no matter how much they had wanted to end things.

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It had only made everything worse and more confusing.

Now here she was weeks later, with no idea of where her daughter was.

Jean waved the notes at her. “We’re running low on crystals.”

“So, tell the King and Queen!” Anna growled, her eyes flashing impatiently. She had no patience for dealing with something they had no control over at the moment.

“I have, as has the Major and Amar. They have no solution to the problem; we were getting low before all of this began. The number of portals Travelers were willing to enter had shrunk too much by then. The country’s reserves are too depleted.”

“Then why tell me?” Anna asked with a tired sigh.

“I… don’t know. Just looking for other perspectives and ideas, I guess.”

“Why are you even working on that? You’re part of the military, and a teacher, not Energy and Resource Management.”

Jean shrugged. “The Queen wanted an outsider’s perspective on a few things and the Major voluntold me.”

Anna grunted, realizing just how out of the loop she had become since they disappeared. “And have you found anything interesting?”

“I have actually. Nearly all of the companies with contracts to the portals have been skimming what they owe the crown.”

“Profits alone or Mana Crystals?”

The female soldier grinned. “See, I knew you would get it right away.”

Anna closed her eyes and forcefully pushed the worry she felt for her daughter to the side. This was something she needed to worry about now and could actually help with.

“Fine, contact the Major and Amar for me and I’ll organize the next steps. The Major and you can handle the lawful seizure of everything the crown is owed, along with interest. Meanwhile, I believe everyone will be paid a visit by Faluers’ Fist as well, taking everything else they have. It will be a nice lesson for them to never take from the crown.”

She traced the scar on her cheek for a second. “One more thing, Jean, I need a favor, something off the books. I think it’s about time I took care of my oldest and last enemy. All the portals locking everyone out should have freaked them. Can you look into them for me, please?”

“If you’re sure that now is time, then yeah. I know some of the story, but not the specifics. Tell me what I need to know, and I’ll look into it for you.” Jean replied without hesitation.

Once Aperra began its Great Change, that would be Anna’s best opportunity to end everything once and for all. She would get her daughter back and then take care of business.