Deka said nothing as she met her team outside the entry tunnel. Forced a smile onto her face, nodded and blushed as they congratulated her, let her grin turn embarrassed as they spoke of the power she’d demonstrated and marvelled at how thoroughly hidden it had been.

It was a crushing display. Something she’d yearned for since her magic first failed, finally placed before her only to be made sour and twisted.

She couldn’t accept their praise and awe, remembering that iciness with which she’d fought. Yet to tell them the truth would surely be worse.

Eden alone was a source of comfort, indifference making itself a haven amid the storm of underserved praise. That fact disturbed Deka more than any other.

Relievingly, conversation soon shifted in topic. By the time they’d reached their quarters it had left Deka’s task almost entirely, subtracting the great weight from atop her chest and leaving air to move freely through her once more. The reprieve didn’t last long.

Sieve staff awaited them as they neared their quarters, severe as always.

It came as no surprise to receive the note they handed over, nor the deafening silence accompanying it. Both were gone by the time Astra tore the envelope open to peer at the paper beneath, and none paid their retreat any mind

“Instructions for the next task?” Eden asked, leaning against a wall and doing an admirable job of feigning apathy to the contents of the paper. Astra nodded absently as she read, face tense as a hangman’s rope.

The note had scheduled their next task for a mere two days ahead. She’d have wished for far more time than that, but there were more pressing revelations.

“We’re all involved.” Gem said, dropping herself down into a seat with far less gentleness than Deka would have advised.

“That’s ideal.” Eden mused, throwing himself across a sofa. “Amelia and Rajah are easily the biggest threats to us, and both of them are by far the strongest players on their team.

Either one could best the Gemini in a direct confrontation. Any task which involves entire teams is one that places us at an advantage against them.”

“You’re assuming Gem will be able to compete.” Deka cut in, speaking without thought. “That she’ll have recovered enough.”

Eden eyed her as though she were a moron.

“Of course she will, it’s in two days time and we have more than enough credits between to hasten her healing. She may not be at her best, but she’ll certainly be able to fight.”

Deka almost continued her argument, faltered only as she glanced at Gem. Saw the silent plea written across the girl’s eyes, finding herself struck dumb by it.

“What’s this about a guide?” Crow cut in, drawing eyes to himself. “We need someone to navigate. It keeps using that word, navigate. Perhaps this task will have something to do with exploration?”

“The guide looks down from above, according to that note.” Astra added. “Do you think that’s figurative or literal?”

“Literal.” Eden answered, leaving barely a pause before he did. “The Alliance is strictly factual with their official documents, scriptural talk notwithstanding.”

The blonde nodded at that, unsurprised.

“So then it’s likely whoever the guide is will be getting a more complete view of things than the rest of us. I suppose that makes sense since they’re the ones tasked with helping the others navigate.”

“That sounds like a good guess.” Eden nodded, turning to Deka. “So it seems we’ve finally found a way for Xenus to contribute regardless. It’s almost a shame she’s our new strongest member.”

It stunned Deka to hear herself addressed as such, even ironically. Shock turned to awe as she realised none were contradicting the boy.

“Looks like your lucky day.” Crow said, smiling at Deka with the warmth that seemed ever present in him. “You get to risk life and limb twice in a row.”

She saw the jest for what it was, but so too was it clear where the boy’s humour ended. Deka knew he meant well, knew they all did- save perhaps Eden. They’d simply no clue of the weight they were placing on her chest.

“I can’t.” She breathed.

Eyes hardened immediately, and panic took Deka as she mentally scrambled for an ammendment. Her thoughts were slick like oiled ropes, eluding her clumsy grasps as they tangled together. It was almost enough to make her miss the empty impassivity she’d found against the alphoe.

Almost.

“That was a very specific state of mind I entered.” She continued, slowly. “I’m not sure I could reach it again. Certainly not with the pressure of another task looming over me.”

Deka knew she’d fumbled with her lie, knew it would fail to convince anyone who already suspected her of dishonesty. Her teammates seemed convinced regardless, Deka could only thank herself for previously being so verbally clumsy.

“Then you should be the guide.” Eden said, an edge to his tone. Deka realised he expected her to argue. “The note says it’s not a combative role, but it’s the one that best fits you.”

She nodded. The thought of fighting again almost made her sick.

“I agree.”

Relief lowered his shoulders as Crow spoke.

“So then there’s nothing else to discuss, is there? All of us are involved, the only choice to be made was which took the position of guide.”

“Nothing else to discuss.” Eden agreed, then turned to Gem.

“Assuming the princess here is willing to compete?”

Gem’s eyes didn’t meet Eden’s gaze, remaining affixed unwaveringly to the ground before her. The room grew tense again.

***

Lichos struggled to speak, tongue strangled in his mouth by the finery surrounding him.

They were as pristine as ever, Kaiosyni’s quarters. Moreso even than he’d have imagined for ones occupied by the Princess of Taiklos. Their lustre made him feel dirty, left him fearful of marring their pristinity.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

He forced words in spite of the atmosphere, doing his best to hide nerves beneath confidence. Kaiosyni’s golden eyes seemed to strip his pretences bare.

“With all due respect, sir,” He began, “This is a stupid idea and will end in disaster.”

Kaiosyni looked at him like a disapproving statue, filling his guts with wriggling eels using only her glare. Lichos powered on heedless.

“I’m not a Descendant, it’s not my job to root out conspiracies and backstabbers. Fuck, I’m not even an investigator- I’m a Wrathman. A mudboot. My job is to march for a very long time, reload a gun very fast and shoot scary things until they die.”

The woman sighed as though it taxed her patience just to behold him, looking away as she answered.

“I am aware of your training, Kleidra. I’ve read several accounts of your past exploits. Some of which tell me you have a knack for… shall we say trenchless combat?”

He felt the muscles jump in his face, breaths suddenly reluctant.

The sensation only deepened as Kaiosyin’s aureate stare came to fall back upon him.

“Yes, I’m talking about the incident in Rorik.”

Lichos said nothing, merely held her eyes. Seconds passed before Kaiosyni spoke again.

“You’re not a mindless grunt, no matter how much security you take in being dismissed as such.“

He bit his tongue to hold back the outburst threatening to bubble free, calming himself by force.

“I’m not an investigator either.” He growled. “I know my own limits, I know I’ve got enough wits to get by, but that doesn’t make me smart enough to go about infiltrating and investigating.”

To his surprise, the woman nodded.

“You’re right” She conceded. “It would be foolish to send you alone.”

Shit. Lichos thought, realising only then what the mystic planned.

“That’s why,” She continued, “You will be accompanying another operative. One more suited to the inquisitive aspects of the duty.”

At seemingly no signal from Kaiosyni, the door behind Lichos opened abruptly. He turned to see a Taik woman of middling height and build enter, red hair as wavy as the Princess’ and brown eyes holding a whisper of the gilded intensity he’d grown accustomed to.

A whisper, yet still too much for the room to contain.

“This is Pyrrhic.” Kaioysyni said. “She is my dula and personal assistant, I believe you’ve met. More pressingly, she will be the one accompanying you on your invesgitation of Reginald Tamaias’ death.”

“A civilian dun.” Lichos muttered, thoughtless.

“A skilled investigator.” The Princess countered, voice unchanged even as the red-haired woman bristled. “More skilled, I assure you, than any you’ll have encountered yourself. And lacking only in the ability to defend herself.”

Which is where I come in. He realised. A bodyguard again.

He studied the woman. She was stern, clearly not impressed by his dismissal, but still… Resilient. Certainly, she did a fine job of hiding the disgust his presence inspired in her. But it made her no less of a civilian, no more of a mystic.

Turning back to Kaiosyni, Lichos steadied his nerves.

“I’m your protector, not your servant.”

It made the woman’s glare molten.

“You’re a servant of Taiklos.” She answered, tone harsh and eyes bladed. “You, like all others, serve your nation as you must. I intend to do the same. And I cannot do so now, my face is too recognisable for investigation and subterfuge.”

“And if your father’s famous temper gets the better of him, when you die with your bodyguard nowhere to be seen?”

An eyebrow arched at that, a gesture that infuriated Lichos more with each repetition he witnessed.

“I assure you he won’t take his rage out on you or your fellow Wrathmen, if that’s what you fear. He’aran did not become ruler of a Mirandis’ greatest nation through unchecked emotion and impulsivity.”

Lichos couldn’t bring himself to feel any semblance of relief at the words, they conveyed too clearly what his charge truly was. A zealot, one who’d interpret his insistence on remaining by her side as an act harmful to Taiklos itself.

There was never a choice at all.

“Alright.” He said at last, not bothering to hide his reluctance.. “When am I setting off?”

The Princess didn’t smile before answering, didn’t give any sign that his words had moved her at all. She just spoke in the same, factual tone that always came to her when business was discussed.

“I trust you’ve no small amount of experience with mystics?” She asked. “You’ll be interviewing some of them. ”

Fisher’s face was grim as he spoke, mood grimmer still.

“They’re powerful.” He noted, voicing the obvious for want of anything else to say. Ajoke still couldn’t bring herself to say anything at all.

“Powerful, and lucky.” The giant continued, face donning a mask of cheery bravado. “It was bloody typical the alphoe’d find us first.”

That drew words from her, souring her mood as it did.

“No.” Ajoke answered, shaking her head. “It was’t poor fortune. They’d likely have won no matter what. Astra Tempora and Deka Xenus are some of the most gifted mystics I’ve ever met. Neither is any older than me, but still…”

“Are they as talented as you are?” Fisher asked, suddenly serious. More, Ajoke realised. Fearful. She almost couldn’t bear to answer him.

“Tempora is in the same league, at the very least. Which of us is more gifted by nature depends on whether she’s closer to sixteen or fifteen, such gaps make a difference at our age.”

“And Xenus?”

Ajoke paused, then forced herself to speak. There was never anything to gain by delaying the truth.

“She’s more talented than I am, and the difference between us isn’t even close. She’s fucking fifteen, and her birthday’s in Jatiko. She’s twenty weeks my junior and already wielding power enough to make a joke of me.”

Pausing, Ajoke pushed herself to finish.

“It wasn’t luck that let that girl claim victory when the rest of us lay battered and broken.”

Just making mention of the state they’d ended the task in drew Ajoke’s eyes back to Fisher’s wounds. Bandages peeked out from behind his clothing even as they spoke, one eye closed with swelling and bare skin littered with grazes and cuts.

His magic had been funelled into physical enhancement, and durability above all other facets of it. He, more than anything else, was testament to the difficulty of their fight. Ajoke wasn’t surprised to see his deflated reaction to hearing of Xenus’s power.

“Then we’ll have to fight harder to make up the slack.” He growled. There was a strength to his voice, born of indignation. Fury, even. More powerful than the desire to win, stemming from his refusal to lose.

It infected Ajoke, adding to her own spirits and bringing certainty where she’d felt none. An illusion, but one she was happy to be under.

Gem was relieved when the day’s energy began to fade, quarters falling quiet around her as she lay back in her bed. Thoughts uncontested by sound and distraction.

The tranquility lasted mere minutes before her considerations proved a greater derailment to peace than anything else.

She turned over where she lay, tossing and shifting, rolling and dislodging herself with every passing moment. Searching for comfort in a mattress that seemed infinitely harder and rougher than it had the day before.

It was pointless. The feeling in her gut wasn’t something she could address through how she lay.

Two days. She found herself repeating, words ringing like a death rattle in her mind. Two days.

Rarely had Gem ever heard something so haunting as that. Every repetition brought her first task’s memory to the forefront. Her first task, and her only task. A humiliation so great it had made a coward of her.

Karma’s words contested that, but Gem found little time for self soothing and glamorous half truths. They did nothing to quiet the torrent of her thoughts.

Still she turned, still she rocked. Still she found an answer beyond her reach, questions like trapped, thrashing animals in her mind’s grasp.

For the hundredth time her eyes turned to the table beside her, falling upon the resonance stone in its cradle. She dragged her glare from it, stilled the agonised emotions it conjured.

Gem knew she’d find no aid in the device. She’d still had no reply from her father.