Sleep eluded Estelle that night. She lay awake, staring at the rough stone ceiling, her thoughts a chaotic swirl. Mira was curled up next to her, still clutching her arm even in sleep, as if afraid her sister would vanish if she let go. Across the room, Dante sat against the wall, his eyes never leaving Estelle. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his posture spoke volumes. He didn’t trust her—how could he, after everything?
Morning came slowly, the faint sounds of the shelter waking up filtering through the walls. Estelle could hear the muffled voices and the soft shuffle of feet as the day began. Iris was the first to leave, excusing herself to fetch the mask she had mentioned the night before. Finn, who had been restless all night, lingered only briefly before heading out as well, muttering something about checking the perimeter. His need for action was palpable in his quick steps and the tension in his shoulders.
Estelle felt Dante’s watchful gaze on her, a constant reminder that she was still an outsider in this world, even among her own siblings. But instead of retreating inward, Estelle’s protective instincts took over. She needed to understand the full scope of their situation and, more importantly, ensure her siblings would be safe.
“Dante,” she whispered, keeping her voice low to avoid waking Mira, “…what exactly are we up against? What’s been happening in this world?”
Dante’s gaze hardened, and he took a deep breath before answering. “It’s… grim. As the world grew weary, a regime took advantage. They exploited the chaos caused by the appearance of the Essence and the monsters, using it as an excuse to seize power. They see Aeths as both a threat and a tool—something to be controlled, used, or eradicated.”
He paused, watching her reaction, but Estelle remained deep in thought.
“They control most of the continent’s resources now,” Dante continued, “including the production and distribution of essential goods. They enforce their rule with an iron fist. Aeths who don’t join them are hunted, imprisoned, or worse. Some, probably desperate or power-hungry, have joined the regime, becoming enforcers. They hunt their own kind, betraying us for personal gain.”
Estelle’s heart pounded as she processed his words. She had spent so much time trying to keep her siblings away from danger, but here they were, entrenched in a war she couldn’t fully understand—yet.
Dante’s voice took on a bitter edge as he went on. “There are rumors that they’re experimenting on captured Aeths, trying to unlock the full potential of the Essence, but no one knows for sure. The resistance is doing what it can, but we’re constantly at risk of being compromised by spies and traitors.”
He leaned back, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “We’ve managed to forge alliances with underground networks and sympathetic civilians. They help us gather intelligence, secure safehouses, and smuggle supplies, but it’s never enough. The regime has been developing Essence-based technology—weaponry, surveillance, control. We’ve stolen some of it, but using it is a risk. Every time we do, we might reveal our position.”
As Dante spoke, Estelle felt a deep resolve hardening within her. She didn’t fully understand how she had ended up here, but she knew she couldn’t stand by and do nothing. These were her siblings, even if they didn’t fully trust her yet. There was a part of her that felt responsible, even if she didn’t yet know why.
“We need to move forward,” Dante said, breaking her thoughts. “Once Iris returns with the mask, we’ll introduce you to Alaric. It’s how we bring all new recruits into the fold. The mask will keep you hidden until we’re ready to explain everything to him.”
Estelle nodded, accepting the plan. “And what about the story? How do we explain who I am?”
Dante looked at her, considering the options. “We’ll say you’re a new recruit from one of our allied safehouses. We’ll come up with a name and a backstory that fits. It’s not uncommon for people to move between safehouses, so it shouldn’t raise too many questions.”
Mira stirred beside her, her eyes fluttering open as she adjusted to the dim light filtering through the cracks in the walls. “What’s going on?” she mumbled, still half-asleep.
“Nothing, Mira,” Estelle said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her sister’s face. “We’re just making plans.”
Mira nodded sleepily, snuggling closer to Estelle. “Okay… just don’t leave me,” she whispered, her voice full of childlike trust.
Estelle’s heart ached at the words, and she tightened her hold on Mira. “I won’t,” she promised. “We’ll figure this out together.”
Dante glanced at them, his expression softening for a moment before he turned his attention back to the task at hand. “We need to think of a name for you,” he said. “Something that won’t draw too much attention.”
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“How about… Lily?” she suggested, the name popping into her mind as she thought of something close enough to her real name but different enough to serve as an alias.
Dante nodded. “Lily it is. We’ll work out the rest of the details as we go. For now, let’s just focus on getting you settled and prepared for when Iris returns.”
The minutes ticked by in tense silence as Estelle, Dante, and Mira waited. Mira had drifted back to sleep, still clinging to Estelle’s arm, but Dante remained vigilant, his gaze occasionally drifting to the door. Estelle couldn’t blame him for his wariness—in this world, trust was a scarce commodity, and she was still an unknown factor.
The door creaked open, and Iris stepped back into the room, carrying a small, carefully wrapped package. She glanced between Estelle and Dante, her eyes sharp with scrutiny, as though she were trying to gauge whether things had settled down since last night.
“I’ve got it,” she said simply, holding up the package containing the mask.
Dante nodded and gestured for her to join them. Iris placed the package on the small table in the center of the room and began to unwrap it, revealing a sleek, dark mask with an intricate design of flowing lines etched into its surface. The material had a faint sheen, giving it an almost otherworldly quality, and Estelle could feel the subtle hum of Essence within it.
“The Aeth who made this assured me it will not only conceal your appearance but will also alter your voice,” Iris explained, her tone businesslike. “You’ll be unrecognizable.”
Estelle picked up the mask, feeling its weight in her hands. It was lighter than she expected, almost as if it were designed to mold itself to her face seamlessly. The idea of wearing it constantly, even in the shelter, didn’t sit well with her, but she knew it was necessary to avoid suspicion—especially from Alaric.
Dante cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “We need to make sure the others don’t ask questions about why you’re wearing the mask inside the shelter. It’s not common for recruits to hide their identities once they’re here.”
Estelle furrowed her brow. “Do you think they’ll be suspicious if I wear it all the time?”
“Not if we come up with a good enough reason,” Iris replied, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall. “We could say you’re from a safehouse where your identity needs to stay hidden because the regime is actively hunting you. Maybe you were part of a larger rebellion group, and they’ve already marked you as a target.”
Dante considered this, then shook his head. “That could work, but it might draw too much attention. People would want to know why you’re so important.”
“What if we say I’m injured?” Estelle suggested, her mind working quickly. “We could say I was injured in a recent mission—maybe burned or scarred—and that I’m wearing the mask while I recover. It would explain why I’m covering my face and why I don’t want anyone to see it.”
Iris nodded slowly. “That could work. It’s a common enough occurrence that people wouldn’t question it, and it gives you a reason to stay out of the spotlight.”
Dante crossed his arms, thinking it over. “It’s believable. We could say that Lily was caught in an explosion during an ambush and her face is still recovering. That would explain why you’re here and why you’re keeping a low profile.”
Estelle agreed, relieved that they had come up with a plausible story. “Alright. We’ll go with that.” Though a part of her still bristled at the idea of hiding. She was used to fighting openly, but in this world, discretion was the key to survival.
“Alright,” she said, placing the mask gently on the table. “Lily it is, and I’m a recruit who was caught in an explosion during an ambush. I’ll keep the mask on, even in the shelter, and we’ll stick to the story that I don’t want people to see my scars.”
Iris gave a small nod of approval. “It’s a solid cover. If anyone asks, we’ll vouch for you.”
Mira, who had been listening quietly from where she lay, sat up and looked at the mask. “You’ll really have to wear that all the time?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.
Estelle smiled softly at her youngest sister. “Just for now, Mira. Until things settle down and we know it’s safe. I’ll still be here with you, even if I’m wearing the mask.”
Mira seemed to accept this with a nod, though her worry was still evident in her eyes.
Dante stood and stretched, his expression thoughtful. “We’ll have to introduce you to Alaric soon. We’ll need to be cautious with him—he doesn’t take new recruits lightly, and his reaction to… well, it might be unpredictable.”
At that moment, the door creaked open again, and Finn slipped back into the room. His hair was tousled, and there was a streak of dirt on his cheek, evidence that he’d been up to something during his time outside. He paused in the doorway, his eyes darting between Estelle and the mask on the table.
“What’s going on?” he asked, his voice casual but tinged with curiosity.
“We’ve got a plan,” Dante replied, filling Finn in on the cover story they’d devised. Finn listened carefully, his brow furrowing as he processed the information.
“So, you’re going to be Lily, a new recruit recovering from an injury?” Finn summarized, glancing at Estelle. “That’s a pretty good cover.”
Estelle nodded. “It’s the best way to keep things quiet until we can figure out what’s really going on.”
Finn rubbed the back of his neck, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “I can help keep an eye out, you know—make sure no one’s poking around too much. I’ll keep them off your back if I can.”
Estelle gave him a grateful smile. “Thanks, Finn. That would help a lot.”
With the plan in place, Dante exchanged a look with Iris and Finn, the silent communication between them clear. They were still cautious, still uncertain, but there was a shared determination to move forward.
Dante cleared his throat, addressing the group. “We’ll need to take turns keeping an eye on Estelle… or Lily—except for Mira, of course. Just to make sure nothing… unexpected happens. We still don’t know the full story here, and we can’t take any risks.”
Mira’s face fell slightly, and she sulked a little at being excluded. But Iris and Finn nodded in agreement, their expressions serious. Estelle understood the precaution, even if it stung a little. Trust was a luxury they couldn’t afford just yet.