Tam clapped a hand on Chul’s shoulder as they exited their private tea room.

“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me,” Tam addressed Chul warmly.

The young man smiled up at him. “Thank you for your wisdom, Mr. Voll.”

Yun was just starting to push off from the wall– the fact that he was taking his time to do so gave the action a palpable attitude which spoke volumes of the hierarchy between Chul and Yun.

Tam’s steady gaze met with Chul’s.

If the young man had no idea when he was being slighted, he had no hope.

But Tam watched as he bristled…

He did know.

So all that was left was for him to gain the confidence that allowed him to stop it.

I wish I could do more for him, but I have my hands full as it is with-

“Mr. Voll! My goodness! I haven’t seen you in days, how have you been?”

Tam’s stomach somersaulted as he turned around to see none other than Lord Kim striding along with three attendants wearing linen shirts and pants trailing behind him.

“Lord Kim,” Tam bowed. “Apologies for keeping away. I had some business I had to attend to.”

As if on cue, Tam felt his magic flush through his being… And it was strong.

Stronger than it ever had been before.

Tam swallowed with difficulty, he hoped none of the black, smokey tendrils were visible yet. He needed to get out. He needed to go home… He wanted to be home.

His magic tugged harder.

“Of course I know you’re a busy man, Mr. Voll, what with your family matters and research.” Lord Kim smiled good naturedly then glanced at Chul. He raised an eyebrow at the brightness of his clothes. “And you are…?”

“Right. Sorry,” Tam blinked rapidly trying to fight off the power. “This here is Lord Chul Nam from Bani.”

Chul inclined himself politely, but Lord Kim paused, and a coolness Tam had never seen before entered his gaze. “Ah yes. I’ve heard of the Nam family.”

Tam’s mind raced.

Even though Chul had claimed that not many people knew he was gay, was it possible Lord Kim knew…? As a follower of the religion of Acker they did not take kindly to those that preferred the same gender…

“How is it you two know each other?” Lord Kim’s next question sounded more like an accusation, and Tam knew he’d have to answer incredibly carefully.

“Lord Chul and I met the other night at an event and I’m afraid I was a bit rude, so I invited him out to your fine tea house to apologize.”

Tam could see Yun out of the corner of his eye tilt his head and narrow his gaze.

Lord Kim didn’t say anything to Chul, but he did clear his throat and lean forward to Tam. “Would you be able to spare a moment for a private discussion?”

“Of course! I hope you don’t mind, Lord Chul,” Tam felt relief wash over him, which in turn helped his magic ebb back.

“Not at all,” Chul smiled uncertainly at Lord Kim, then Tam. “Will it be alright if I call on you and my sister again?”

Tam felt his heart drop.

Evidently, Chul had forgotten the bit about Eli not wanting to be associated with the Nam family, and also was blissfully unaware that he had just risked Tam, Eli and the Ryu brother’s entire objective in Junya.

“Have a good day, Lord Chul,” was all Tam could say as his magic once again pounded in his ears, making him dizzy with the effort it took to resist it.

The young lord cast one last bewildered look at Tam, then with a slow nod, proceeded to turn back to the stairs and make his way down with Yun following, though the assistant paused on his way when he was just beside Tam, and leaned in to whisper.

“Don’t think I have forgotten about your magic trick yesterday. We aren’t finished, you and I.”

Tam’s right hand trembled as he struggled against his power. “Trust me, Yun. You don’t want me to finish you.”

The assistant hesitated for only a moment before giving a scoff and heading down the stairs after his master.

Once they were gone, Tam was able to turn to look at Lord Kim. He had to salvage his relationship with the man, but there was nothing he could do until he learned what it was exactly about the Nam family that had clearly upset him.

Lord Kim gestured back down the balcony he had just come. “Mind joining me in my office?”

Tam inclined himself and proceeded to follow Lord Kim at a respectful distance.

Lord Kim had chosen to wear a tasteful pale green satin coat tied across his wide stomach, and linen pants that looked airy and comfortable… And yet, as one could expect of a lord, his presence filled the space.

Tam tried to home his thoughts on the conversation he was about to have, but the power welling up in his chest was making it hard to breathe.

I want to be here. I want to be here. I want to be here.

He repeated the mantra over and over, trying to convince himself he wanted to stay put, and not be sucked into nothingness

Though Tam couldn’t help but wonder why it felt like his abilities had grown stronger. Had his time in the void increased their potency…? But why?!

Tam’s panicked thoughts were interrupted when Lord Kim showed him into a discreet corner room that turned out not to be another tea room, but an office.

The two walls across from the door were lined with windows overlooking the streets of Junya and its tiled rooftops. Its ledges were mostly free from clutter save for a Jade tree in one corner, and a stack of books in the other.

Aside from that, the room was warm and welcoming, with two comfortable armchairs in front of a large oak desk and a matching chair behind it with emerald cushions…

It struck Tam as odd that the furniture was all Daxarian.

Another reminder of the fact that Lord Kim was a follower of the Acker religion… As the woman who had started it had been, in fact, Daxarian.

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“Mr. Voll, please take a seat.”

The door closed behind Tam, and he noted that the attendants stayed outside.

Stiffly, he made his way over to one of the chairs in front of the desk, and the moment his backside grazed the cushion Lord Kim started to talk.

“I was under the impression that your wife was from Haeson.”

Venturing a careful guess, Tam could reason that a portion of the truth would serve him well.

“They are, but her brother resides in Bani.”

“Which is where Lord Geun Nam lives with his wife, son, and two other daughters. So there is something not adding up to these stories,” Lord Kim’s eyes were cutting, and if Tam truly were a powerless scholar, he’d probably start to feel more than a little concerned.

As it was, Tam hung his head with a sigh. “My wife had… a bad history with the Nam family, and she has not been considered part of their family since she was eight.” Tam watched as the lord frowned. It had been a gamble that Eli’s past wasn’t widely known. “Might I ask why you seemed… concerned about Lord Chul’s presence?”

Tam hoped to the Gods it wasn’t about Chul’s romantic preferences…

“The family is rotten,” Lord Kim responded bluntly. “They currently support the concubine Soo Hebin and all of her duplicitous dealings that include human trafficking.” The Zinferan nobleman shook his head, and as a result missed Tam’s shocked reaction. It wasn’t often that nobility spoke openly about such things. “All the Nam family care about is being seen as the most lavish and highly elevated.”

Overcoming his surprise, Tam bobbed his head. “My wife did mention… A few things like that… She doesn’t want much to do with her former family. However, her brother, Lord Chul, was worried about her, and sought her out.”

“Don’t trust him,” Lord Kim warned. “Your wife is wise to want to avoid them.”

Lord Kim sighed, and Tam was relieved to see that the Zinferan looked like he believed him and was easing back into his chair.

“I understand. I only wished to alleviate Lord Chul’s concerns without having his presence upset my wife.”

Lord Kim shot Tam a kind half smile. “You’re a good man, Mr. Voll.” He leaned forward and pressed the tips of his fingers together while resting his elbows on his desk. “I take it the family you were referring to that lived in Haeson is the one that adopted your wife… Ellie? Was it?”

“Yes,” Tam smiled back and nodded without clarifying her family background.

“Well, I am sorry to hear she had such a troublesome past. I must confess, I had heard whispers about the Nam family having an elder daughter that was adopted by our emperor, but that must have been a rumor they made up to seem more prestigious,” Lord Kim scoffed. “There is nothing but greed and toxic pride in their hearts.”

Tam lowered his head without offering any more elaboration.

“Was it because she was a witch?”

Tam’s gaze snapped back up and noticed the way Lord Kim watched him.

“I’ve never seen her use any kind of magic,” Tam insisted quite honestly.

The lord tilted his head back and forth thoughtfully before leaning back in his seat. “That was the rumor back then. That the eldest Nam daughter was a witch, and her powers were dangerous, so the emperor took her in to use as a weapon. I happen to have friends in court who saw her there, though she wasn’t seen often. I’m given to understand that the emperor’s mother took a liking to her.”

Tam’s heart was slowly increasing its pace.

“If your wife is who she says she is, and the rumors are true, then it must be quite a story of how she went from the Nam family, to the palace, to allegedly another noble family in Haeson. Especially given that only four or five princes and princesses remain in the palace last I heard while the others have either disappeared, or married into other families.”

Tam remained silent, but inwardly he cursed Chul’s slip of the tongue brutally.

Then again, it had been his own fault for having tea with him in the first place…

“So… Tell me. Is Princess Elisara here in Zinfera to claim her place as a successor to the throne?”

Tam’s magic stuttered in his head as he himself wavered on how best to handle this spiraling situation.

If he revealed his true identity, then they were stuck with everyone’s eyes on them. If he tried to lie more, there was a chance Lord Kim could order an investigation…

“You aren’t simply a scholar, are you?” The nobleman’s voice was soft.

“If my wife is who you think she is, then I would be inclined to inform you that she truly did only return here due to circumstances outside of her control, and she wishes to leave as soon as possible,” Tam started carefully, hoping to glean some ounce of insight based on Lord Kim’s reaction to the news on whether he would keep his mouth shut or if he’d be a big problem.

Gods… My mother was always the one who was great at handling these confrontations. My strengths were always to hide in the shadows and observe… What would she do now? Hell. What would my father do to get out of this?

“I am here to study, and I will protect my family.”

“That was an interesting response. Now, I have another question… I recently heard whisperings that the devil has landed here on our Zinferan shores, as stories have spread from not only a crew of pirates, but a reputable crew belonging to Daxaria. It’s interesting given how the description of such a man aligns so well with none other than yourself. I didn’t think much on it, but if you are connected with the Nam family… well. It only makes sense.”

Tam’s magic felt like it was swelling under his skin until it ached as he watched Lord Kim stand.

“I’d say sorry, Mr. Voll, but I don’t think the devil gives two wits about an apology, and nor does he deserve one.” The fire in the Zinferan’s eyes left Tam with little imagination as to how wrong everything was about to go given the assumption Lord Kim had just leapt to.

Tam stood up, and upon doing so, Lord Kim halted, eyeing him warily as he reached behind himself… Tam wasn’t certain if it was for a weapon or something else, but he could tell blackness was consuming his vision, he knew he was barely hanging on to his power, and it didn’t help when Lord Kim drew out a dagger.

“Gods… there is the true you, I see the princess has recruited some dark forces to seek her revenge” the gruff hoarseness of Lord Kim’s voice was filled with horror, and while inwardly Tam recoiled from it, he knew he had no choice.

He lunged for the lord across the desk right as Lord Kim thrust the blade forward to defend himself. But Tam had been trained, and he was faster. He caught the hand that wielded the blade, and with his other hand clasping Lord Kim’s shoulder, he felt darkness consume them both in a wispy black, silvery rush that stole them both from the world.