Sorafin’s proposal stuck with Crow long after the man left him, sitting in the base of his mind like a spider in its web. Entrenched too deeply to be moved or buried, and burning with a bone-melting ferocity.

He’d taken his walk to lessen the issues, or at least let himself more clearly consider them. Instead he was heading back to his rooms with one more than before. Somehow it seemed typical to him.

When he arrived at his team’s new corridor he immediately noticed one of the doors held ajar.

It was a sign they’d all agreed on silently, then verbally once more at the drive of Deka’s compulsive need for clarity and order.

They’re still meeting? He marvelled, making his way to the room and feeling disquietment grow within him like rot swelling in a wound.

Exhaustive as they were, it was a rare thing for any of his team’s discussions to last so much as an hour. It had been that long when he’d left for his walk, more than half that again in the time taken to return. Whatever was being discussed had to be a weighty matter indeed.

“Finally, you’re back.”

Crow was stunned to see Unity offering the greeting. So stunned that he stimply stood where he was, staring absently at the boy and unable to think of any response more appropriate than that. Astra tired of his stupefaction first.

“Close the door, Birdie.” His sister said, almost sighing. The sound was made peculiar by her nose. “And sit down. I know you’ve only just gotten out of our last talk, but there’s been a change. We just had the next task’s time announced to us. As well as the number of contestants it requires the entry of.”

Like magic her revelation moved him, and Crow was seated. Waiting to hear what needed to be said.

All faces were grim, save Unity’s. Crow might have expected news of the Sieve’s continuation to bring light to his team before their last talk. Instead the apprehensive gloominess he saw all around him was barely surprising.

Most intensely of all, he saw it in Astra. Sight threatening to break his composure and bring forth a new wave of worry.

“We have three days until it begins.” Deka said, “And it requires two members from our team to compete.”

“Two.” Crow echoed, mulling the information over.

One would have been better, but perhaps unreasonable to hope for.

Between their team of five, Gem and Astra were wounded beyond the ability to fight. Crow had light scrapes from his last task, the sort he expected would fade by the time of the next, and Unity was scarcely more wounded than that.

It was good to have two unhurt among them, but disconcerting to know that they couldn’t afford a single other to be rendered unfit for combat.

“Should we use relics to try and restore one of you to your best condition?” He asked, looking between Astra and Gem.

Crow anticipated his suggestion would be dismissed, imagined both would prioritise the saving of such resources in as early a stage as they found themselves. It was very much the reaction he drew from Astra, yet there was an unexpected fire to Gem’s.

“I won’t compete in the next task.” She snapped, practically snarling. While all remained quiet and gaping, she continued in a more subdued tone.

“What I mean to say is I can’t, no matter how many credits we spend on restorative relics. I highly doubt three days will be enough time to administer the amount I’ll surely need to be fully healed.”

“She’s probably right.” Astra agreed, moving past her shock. “But we should at least buy and use one. If only to bring you nearer perfect condition, in case you’re needed in the task after.”

The girl’s face grew tight at that, her eyes turning hard and frosty as ice. Just when Crow feared an entirely new argument might begin, she nodded.

“Very well.”

The relief was almost enough to mask his confusion that Gem had been so against the notion to begin with.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

She was so eager to compete before. He thought. As much as Astra. Maybe more. Why would she hesitate to let herself do so again?

Crow found no answer in his own thoughts, only growing more worried at the ongoing uncertainty. He barely listened as Astra continued to speak.

“I suggest Crow and I compete in this next task.” She said, drawing his full attention.

“You want to compete again?” Crow asked, wanting to be sure.

“I have to.” She answered. “If we use healing relics carefully, I could recover in time. I’m not nearly as wounded as…” She glanced at Gem, then looked decidedly elsewhere. “As I could be. That Amelia girl was bizarrely gentle, all things considered. I suppose the gap between us permitted it” She finished.

Crow could hear the acid in her tone.

“What about me?” Asked Deka, almost placid.

“Pardon?” Astra replied.

The girl didn’t blink as she stared at Crow’s sister, barely even seemed to breathe.

“What about me.” She continued. “You suggested competing yourself alongside Crow in the newest task, expending a great deal of credits on what will doubtless be the fastest acting healing relics to ensure that you can. Why not enter me instead?”

Astra smiled, surely hoping to kill the conversation’s tension. Deka didn’t return the expression.

“Right.” Crow’s sister said, still smiling even as it faltered. “Somehow I forgot about you, I’m not even sure how I did that. Sorry Deka.”

“She didn’t forget.” Unity cut in, glaring daggers at the luminar. “She’s just not a fool, nor does she want to see you get torn to ribbons. The Sieve is a step and a half above your level. If you want to win, sit back and ride our coattails sensibly.”

Deka’s glare would have cut glass, but it glanced from Unity like water against steel. She shifted it, bringing its intensity to rest on each other member of her team one at a time. All withered before it, none more than Astra.

After agonisingly long seconds of silence, the girl spoke.

“Why is it that Unity alone tells me the truth?” She asked, voice trembling.

Once again, it was Astra who answered.

“Because it’s a hard truth.” She said, quiet.

Deka laughed at the answer, and for the first time since Crow had known the girl there was true scorn in it.

“So you thought you’d protect me from reality, just as you protected me from a contest I chose to enter.”

Gem frowned at that, cutting in.

“I thought you entered on the behest of the Alliance.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Deka snapped, rounding on her. “What matters is that none of you have even considered me an ally, least of all you. You’ve been happy to take my counsel and make me treat your wounds, but none of you have even dreamed of letting me fight beside you as an equal.”

“Because you’re not our equal.” Unity hissed. He seemed heedless of the contemptous glares Astra and Gem shot his way. “You’re weaker than us by… pit, more than even half I think. Ignoring that fact in favour of humouring your delusions of comradery would be equal parts cruel and stupid.”

“Enough.” Astra cut in, yet Deka spoke over the girl without even a glance thrown her way. Crow would have been impressed, were he not so confused at the luminar’s change.

“I am your equal.” She said, cold and level. “I deserve respect, and I deserve to decide my own fate just as you do. I won’t be kept locked away and walled off from danger like some… some damned princess in a tower.”

“Then you’ll die free.” Unity snapped. “Free and stupid. A victory as timeless as it is senseless, congratulations.”

Crow realised there was genuine frustration in the boy’s answer, not just casual mockery. His cheeks were flushed red, sweat beginning to bead and soak his black hair. Eyes tight and watery.

“It’s a victory I have every right to risk, if that’s what I wish.” Deka retorted. “Only children are protected by others from the consequences of their actions.”

“Children and idiots.” Unity corrected, cold again. “You’re certainly behaving like the latter.”

It looked to Crow like neither of them was ready to stop. Before their verbal fusilades could pick up again, Gem’s own voice entered the mix. Quieter than either of theirs, made weaker still by her ruined ribs. It nonetheless rang strong and irresistible in his ears. As if magic brought weight where flesh gave none.

“You’re going nowhere with this discussion.” The girl announced. “You may as well save your breath.”

Unity and Deka both turned to her, eyes burning with an aimless annoyance and shoulders squared for an argument. It was clear they had air enough to spend on her, too. Then Gem spoke again, quieter still.

“Besides.” She said, as if it were an afterthought, “Mightn’t it be best to wait until we actually know the rules of the task before selecting our team?”

That gave them pause, then started another round of bickering which ended only when both had arrived at the logical, perhaps obvious, conclusion. Agreeing with her.

“I won’t allow you to get yourself killed, moron.” Unity snarled, tone making it clear he meant the jab as a closing statement. Deka was unfazed.

The boy stormed from the room after that, sparing neither thought nor tongue for any other matter. Crow barely noticed his absence, already ensnared in his own thoughts. Already feeling the fire of hope begin to swell deep within.

A smile crept across his face, so strong he needed to beat it back by force to avoid grinning like an imbecile. The contest was on again.