“So, what's next?” Eamon asked.
The three Locksmiths had settled into a local tavern, where they reconvened after putting the girl in some of Lyra's clothes. They were too big for her, but they would have to do.
“I'm not sure. This isn't your normal case of a missing child,” Sly said. Her hands pressed together, and her brows furrowed, trying to think of what to do next.
“And we certainly can't put a report out there.” Lyra pointed out as she spoon-fed the child some hot porridge. “She was floating in the water, naked, mind you, and she displayed weird powers. I'm betting that she was in servitude or something worse, judging by how she reacted seeing you both, an adult and a male”.
Eamon and Sly agreed. Putting the child's identity out there would bring the perpetrators to them.
“For now,” Sly said, resting her hands on the table. “We bring her with us. We won't tell anyone where we found her, not the truth, until we learn more about her before proceeding. She still hasn't remembered anything?”
Sly directed the question to Lyra. She shook her head. “No. All she keeps saying is ‘blue water. Bubbles. Floating. Men in white funny clothes.’ I'm assuming the blue water is her time in the ocean, maybe, but the ‘men in white funny clothes’ alludes to me.”
Sly hummed. She rubbed her chin with her hand. “Men in white funny clothes, huh? That could be anything. Well, let us not dawdle on it. We only have a few days' journey to Ledel Kingdom, and how this country is going, we'll have a lot cut out for us.”
•†•
The four traveled the long road to Lydel on foot. It would be a few days before they saw the aftermath of what the conference caused.
“Ninety-eight, Ninety-nine, one hundred!” The white-haired girl exclaimed with a broad smile as she cheered, gripping Lyra’s hand.
Lyra chuckled at the excitable child. “Very good. Seems like you already know your numbers.”
“And she had quick calculations to the math question I gave her,” Eamon said. “She didn't even stutter once.”
“That one hurt my brain. I don't know how she did it.” Lyra chuckled to herself, feigning hurt by rubbing her head.
“It would seem she is plenty intelligent, and wherever she came from, this must be one of her specialties, so why whoever kept her?” Sly pondered this. Her eyes were closed as she thought about who could be the person behind it all.
“What are you thinking, Sly?” Lyra asked.
“I'm not sure yet. Hopefully, she can remember something to help us help her.”
Lyra pouted. She breathed out a breathless sigh, “Yeah, okay.” She wanted nothing more than to see the little girl who had warmed her heart safe.
“Cheer up, Lyra,” Eamon said next to her. “We aren't going to stop till we find something. She'll stay with us regardless.”
Lyra cocked a grin. “Yeah. Thanks, Eamon.”
A tug pulled at Lyra’s clothing, and she looked down to see the girl's curious, large eyes.
“Hmm? What is it, sweetie?”
“Am I Ashbourne?”
Lyra tilted her head to the side. “Huh? No, I am Ashbourne. Lyra Ashbourne.”
The girl pouted. Her eyes grew sad. “Why am I not? I want to be Ashbourne. A name.”
Lyra blinked. Unsure where her spat came from.
Eamon chuckled. “I think I get what she wants.”
Lyra raised a brow. “Well, do grace us with the answers.” only after a second did it occur to her. She felt silly at that moment. Here she was calling her sweetie or her, but never once thought to ask for a name, let alone give her one.
Lyra stopped walking. The others followed suit. She grabbed the girl's hand in hers.
“Is that it? You want a name, too, because you don't have a name of your own?”
Her eyes twinkled at Lyra, finally understanding. She bobbed her head.
Lyra grinned. “I'm sorry I neglected that. So… how about names.” she thought shortly until a light bulb went off. “Aurora. Because the aura you give off is peaceful and can make people happy. How about that?”
She beamed. Aurora's hands shot up as she jumped in, shouting: Aurora Ashbourne! Aurora Ashbourne! Repeatedly until Lyra settled her down.
Eamon chuckled along with the girl's giggling. “A well-suited name. Nice to meet you, Aurora.” The little girl gave him a toothy smile.
Still, Sly stayed back and smiled, watching the three of them. “They sure grow up fast.”
•†•
It had been a week and a half since the High Elder–Cassandra Aegis’ uncle– sent her to the Lysandrian Kingdom's capital, Ledel, to recover.
That was the story they were going with.
The mighty Praefectus Vigilum had fallen into a psychotic state after watching brave soldiers slaughtered, only for a lunatic to torture Cassandra, who barely managed to survive.
There were no mentions of the Children of Deimos or Magycte Beast. Even if strange beasts were emerging from the newly Ethereal Rifts, people would rather disregard something that may be imaginary and deal with something more tangible, like the Chancellor’s appeal to raise taxes.
It wasn't all bad. Cassandra said to herself, except for the night terrors. She shook her body free of the images that floated to her mind. Every night seemed the same, and she would see his face. The murderer. A member of the Children of Deimos, Maxwell Croger.
“Are you ready?” Tierney asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.
Tierney was holding up a button-up shirt. Cassandra cringed mentally at the pain she would be enduring.
The physician said she had broken a few bones from her shoulder blade down. Her arm was fitted into a sling for the time being since it would take some time to heal properly, even if the healers had used Essentia to mend the bones together.
“Yes, I’m ready. Let’s do this.”
She slowly stretched out her arm. Her brows furrowed as the excruciating pain shot up her arm like white-hot fire. Her teeth gritted together, holding back a scream.
Tierney cringed in pain, seeing Cassandra in agony. She helped in any way she could, and once she slipped one sleeve on her broken arm, Cassandra’s face relaxed, and she continued to put the sleeve on the other arm.
“Phew, that was better than last time, huh?” Cassandra said, smiling, hoping to make light of the subject.
Tierney did not think it was so funny. Watching her in so much pain hurt even her.
“Oh, come on, Tierney. Please don’t give me that look. I’m fine, promise.”
To make a show of it, she tried raising her arm, but the sharp, white-hot pain caused her to clench her teeth instead, and a hiss escaped past her lips.
Tierney pouted. “Doesn’t look fine to me.”
Cassandra sighed. She knew she was right. Nothing was okay about the situation. All she could do was stay hidden until things blew over—if they ever did—and attend her treatment with the physician as ordered by the High Cardinal.
If Cassandra were honest with herself, she would trade all of that for the lives of her soldiers.
Hundreds of people, dead, lost at the hands of that strange beast and mysterious man.
Sovran #5, Maxwell Croger, and… the Magycte Beast was what Croger called it. Yet, no one believed her or did not want people to know.
“Cassandra?” Tierney asked in concern, seeing her spacing out. “Are you okay?”
Cassandra shook away her thoughts and beamed at the girl. “Of course. Do you want to take a stroll in the gardens? I could use some fresh air.”
Tierney nodded. The two of them walked out of their room and down the halls of Ledel’s palace, where Mayor Elara Duskmire had graciously given them a roof over their heads after The High Cardinal’s request. She hated being indebted to people, especially someone so powerful, but it would not look good on the High Cardinal or the Tsar if she refused.
They were not down the next flight of steps when they saw servants outside the mayor's doors. Cassandra tilted her head, curious about the loud commotion.
She asked a maid wearing a bonnet over short, cropped dark hair. “Excuse me, what is going on out here?”
“Oh! Praefectus, you are awake. I hope you’re feeling a bit better.”
“I am. Thank you for asking. Is something special going on in the mayor’s office?”
Her eyes beamed. A broad smile spread across her lips. “Quite! The A-Rank Locksmith Sly the Rosevera Whips is here, and she’s not alone; an Ashbourne is with her, too.”
The Rosevera Whip and an Ashbourne? Cassandra knew plenty about Sly. She was what every Locksmith, Custodian, and even soldier wanted to be. She would be lying if some of her fans had not been fans when she was a young teenager trying to prove herself in the ranks without any Essentia.
The only other Ashbourne she knew of was Eldred, the Sentinel Riftbreaker, who had long since retired and ran a guild in a small town. Then there was his late son, Arcemedus, who died several years ago before he could hit his prime; some say he could have surpassed even his father if he was still alive.
“What are they doing here?” Cassandra asked. From the corner of her eye, she saw Tierney shift.
Since her accident, Tierney had been constantly wary of Cassandra's every movement and thought process. She did not want her to overexert herself.
“Well, you didn’t hear it from me…” the maid whispered, leaning forward so no one overheard them. Cassandra leaned in, too. “They say she talks about seeing and fighting not one but three Magycte Beasts, one of which was the one that attacked in Troér.”
Magycte Beasts? Did she genuinely see these things? Undoubtedly, an A-rank and well-respected Locksmith would have no reason to lie.
“And,” the maid said, pulling Cassandra back to the conversation. “They say they’ve fought the Children of Deimos and are planning something. Who knows what, but could they be back after so long? They haven’t been seen since the Primal Chaos era.”
The Children of Deimos.
“Cassandra!” Tierney shouted.
The young girl caught Cassandra’s arm before she staggered backward. Her mind was a wave of confusion hearing the word again. She knew that she was not crazy.
“I’m…I’m fine, Tierney.” Assuring her with a comforting look, Tierney frowned, not yet trusting if she’d fall over, but let her go after a moment.
Cassandra looked to the maid, who clenched her hands together, ready to assist if needed.
“Could you get me an audience with The Rosevera Whip?”
The maid blinked, taken aback by Cassandra’s shift in tone. “Uh, um, I could try and get a message across. What should I tell them?”
“I’ll be waiting in the city's park. It’s about what they experienced in their travels.” Leaving it at that, Cassandra and Tierney took their leave to wait for The Rosevera Whip and the mysterious Ashbourne.
----------------------------------------
“I appreciate you meeting with us, Mayor Elara Duskmire,” Sly said. She and Eamon sat around a small table drinking tea in the Mayor’s study.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“It wasn’t a problem at all, Sly. You’ve certainly done many great things for this country. I can recall multiple occasions when you came to my aid. Meeting you was the least I could do.”
Mayor Elara Duskmire was an older woman—roughly around Sly’s age—with short gray hair in tight curls. Her tan complexion held wrinkles, showing her age and wisdom. She wore a purple wool bouclé. The double-breasted, purple-trimmed collared suit matched with a trademark dome-shaped purple hat and white gloves.
“But I’m afraid the situation will be more challenging than that.”
Sly and Eamon stopped sipping their tea. They eyed the Mayor, who had her cup and saucer on her lap.
“Do you care to elaborate? Sly asked.
“It is simple, is it not?” she raised a delicate gray eyebrow. “Look how Aurum’s citizens reacted to the Harmony Tax—they’ve begun forming militias—and I fear that revolutions are rising. Did you hear what happened in the Empire? I know this all started with an investigation, but it's bigger than that now.”
The look was brief when Sly gave Eamon a side-eye. She wondered if the newly named Aurora Ashbourne had something to do with it.
“With all due respect, Mayor,” Eamon said, resting his teacup on the table. “Don’t you think panic would ensue more if we don’t tell anyone? Let more civilians, Locksmiths, and the guilds know what is happening, and they’ll be better prepared. Plenty of guilds are understaffed because of the random weather disturbances, and no one knows how to fix the problem.”
Elara pressed her lips together. Her fingers squeezed around the cup's handle as she looked into the brown liquid.
“And your suggestion is to tell the public that not only these Ethereal Rifts are bringing back Magycte Beasts—the very same ones that haven’t been seen since the Primal era—but the Children of Deimos too? They have been mere legends our ancestors have told us for so long as children that it has become a mere bedtime story.”
“We know how it sounds, Mayor,” Sly interrupted. She hoped to sway the woman’s unease at the preposterous idea that a mere legend and stories of old were real. “I know it sounds too good to be true if not merely a tale, but we have seen for our own eyes the real thing. Yes, there may be panic, but if more people know, we could get aid and assistance from Locksmiths, Custodians, and even the military. You’ve sent me to investigate, and now I have given you the answers to the problem. ”
Eamon mentally stiffened at her curt tone but kept his composure calm.
The Mayor hummed to herself, thinking. Finally, she looked like she had made a decision. She sighed first and then relaxed her shoulders.
“You have given me much to think about. I shall reconvene this information with the rest of the CC.”
Sly nodded, knowing that this was better than the alternative. She stood to her feet, and Eamon followed suit.
“We thank you for your time, Mayor Duskmire.”
They both bowed, and the Mayor dipped her head cordially.
Eamon and Sly left the room.
“Do you think she’s going to make it public?” Eamon asked when they were out of earshot of the Mayor’s door.
Before Sly could answer, a maid approached them and bowed. “I have a message for the Rosevera Whip and one Ashbourne.”
Sly and Eamon looked at each other with raised brows.
“And who has summoned us?” Sly questioned her.
“Someone who has witnessed what you have seen in your travels. They’ll be waiting in the city courtyard.” The maid skirted off, leaving Eamon and Sly flabbergasted.
They would head for the city's park, but first, they would need to get Lyra and Aurora from the tavern where they were staying.
•†•
“Wait, so you mean there's someone who actually has encountered not only a Magycte Beast but the Children of Deimos, too?”
After Sly and Eamon returned to Lyra and Aurora from the tavern, they explained everything to her. They agreed to meet the person and walked through the large city of Ledel to the park. It was the largest city in Lysandrian, second to Troér in Gearford.
The streets were wide berths with tan cobblestones, ridden over by horse-drawn carriages, people in breeches and dresses, and women wearing close-fitting bodices and a trained skirt.
The park was located in a busy city. It was overflowing with beautiful trees with purple flowers and a bushel of shrubberies around the area. There was a fountain where a couple of ducks waded by the pool.
A few older gentlemen and ladies waltzed the streets, but two individuals by the bench seemed out of place among the park visitors.
They almost seemed… royal. Especially the blonde-haired woman, who–despite the sling on her arm–had a rather astute and firm posture as if aligned with the military.
The group walked over to the blonde-haired woman and her child companion.
Sensing their movement, Cassandra turned to see four figures approaching. At first, she was wary, thinking it was a trap until she recognized Sly. Cassandra stood to her feet, Tierney followed suit, and the two bowed when they got close.
“Thank you for meeting me, Rosevera Whip. You must be very busy, so I shall make this quick so as not to hold you up.”
Sly crossed her arms. With a wave of one hand, she shrugged her shoulders.
“No need for apologies or formalities–Sly will do just fine. And these are my companions: Lyra and Eamon and…” She glimpsed at Aurora before saying, “And Aurora Ashbourne.”
Cassandra greeted herself and Tierney in kind.
“My name is Cassandra Aegis, and this is Tierney.”
Once pleasantries were in order, the group found a place underneath a large tree to talk.
“So, you're saying that you fought not just a Magycte Beast but a Sovran from the Children of Demios?” Lyra balked as she questioned Cassandra.
Cassandra nodded. She bit into a triangular sandwich that Tierney had brought with her and offered to their guest. “That's the bulk of it, correct.”
“And no one, not even your uncle, the High Cardinal, believes you?” Eamon asked afterward.
Cassandra flinched. Then, with a stiff nod.
“He and the Tsar didn't want to… frighten the people.”
“That's a load of Veilspawn dung!” Lyra exclaimed.
Her shout startled Cassandra. Lyra stood up. “People are already scared and furious with these taxes running amok. Telling them about a greater threat may cause panic, but it's also prohibiting the people from staying out of harm's way by traveling and prevents Locksmiths from protecting the people cause they aren't being informed.”
Aurora reached out and took Lyra’s hand. The gesture relaxed Lyra as her nerves unraveled, and her shoulders drooped in a lax way.
“I'm glad you all feel the same way I do. It's not right, and the people… they need to know. These Magycte Beasts and the Children of Deimos, what are they planning and why?”
Sly had been quiet, taking in the conversation, sitting with her arms and legs crossed and her eyes closed. She finally opened them.
“That's what we want to know, too. Even if the higher authorities tell us one thing–keeping quiet about what's going on– isn't going to stop us from doing our duty to protect the citizens of Aurum. If any danger comes between our duties, we have every right to step in and let a Locksmith know, at the very least.”
Cassandra’s eyes widened at Sly’s remark. “So that means…”
Lyra whistled. “Sweet Lumos. I didn’t think you’d work the system in your favor, Sly.”
Sly smirked. “Years of experience and practice. Don’t worry, you’ll get there. As for you, Commander Aegis?”
Cassandra straightened at attention by force of habit.
“What do you say about accompanying us on our journey? And finding the guilty party responsible.”
Cassandra nodded. She reached out her hand. Sly accepted it with a tight squeeze back.
“Let’s catch ourselves some monsters.”