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My friends and acquaintances entered the dimly lit assembly hall in sleepy drips and drabs. Darkness shrouded its hallowed upper decks, so we kept close to the chairs and lanterns scattered about the assembly floor.

“Did you find the culprit?” Prince Mito asked after crossing the threshold, absently rubbing at his cheeks.

“No,” Nora answered, pointing to a free chair. “Get comfortable, but not too comfortable. We have a lot of important matters to discuss, so stay awake.”

He sighed. “Would it damage you irreparably if you were to treat me as my title suggests?”

Nora shook her head before jerking it toward me. “Now’s not the time, Your Highness.”

Prince Mito gave me a curious look. “Wearing your armor this late at night? It must be serious. Forgive me—I was trying to lighten the mood, but now I see the futility in the effort.”

I nodded to Nora. “That’s everyone. Can you do that silence spell to keep our meeting private? I don’t want anyone outside this room listening in.”

“Let me give Master Landon a heads-up first.”

After a short discussion, Master Landon agreed and watched her as she cast Obice Silenti. “Your pronunciation is atrocious,” he grunted. “But the result is acceptable.”

Would you believe Nora bowed? “Thanks, teach.”

“Master,” he corrected.

“Sorry, didn’t hear that,” she replied as she walked back toward me.

Relias was still sitting at his desk off to the side, trying to find something in the stacks of documents that would give us just a little more insight into what to expect next.

“Your Holiness,” I called. “I think we’re ready to start.”

“Nothing of note,” he said dejectedly as he stood up. “Unless you care to know what type of tea is most favored in the temple…”

“Jasmine?”

“A close second,” he replied absently, though he did not offer the answer. After a deep breath, he addressed the room. “My esteemed friends and devoted servants of Holy Euphridia, we find ourselves at the threshold of a late hour most grave. What we are about to disclose will challenge the very essence of our Purpose and the foundation of our Faith.”

He waited a few moments for his words to register as multiple around the room. Although we wanted to focus more on the reasons why we believed Chairo was headed for a demonic invasion, we did have to start with the outcome of our murder investigation.

“You didn’t find the assassins yet, though, did you?” Prince Mito asked after our swift summarization. “All we know is it’s someone inside the temple with amity powers who did a poor job trying to frame hybrids.”

“They had access to the kitchens and Tetora’s room,” I added. “But yes, that’s as much as we have to go on for now.”

“My subordinates are already conducting a sweep of the temple,” Captain Corwin assured him. “If even a drop of Orlathot was left behind, we’ll find it.”

I cleared my throat. “That’s not the only problem we face. The northeast crystal, Kaikias’s Eye, is flashing differently. But instead of its flashing indicating increased damage, it seems to represent a partial repair—or, more likely, a modification made to broadcast a new message to Chairo’s antagonists. There are also the falsified reports—”

“Captain Lightbringer, you’re going to have to be more specific,” Emmy interjected.

“I would if I could, but we aren’t aware of the message’s meaning, so—”

“Hmph. I’m talking about the phrase ‘Chairo’s antagonists.’ Who do you mean, exactly?”

I didn’t want to start screaming ‘demons’ like everyone else did whenever there was a problem, but this might be one of those few times where it was appropriate. “I’m not entirely sure of the intended recipient,” I warned.

She flipped her hair back. “But you have a hunch, don’t you?”

“And not much more, that’s why I’m hesitant to—”

“Just say it.”

Being interrupted three times is too much!

“I believe it’s intended for the General,” I stated loudly. “But this is only a gut feeling. I don’t exactly have proof of that. We should be open to other possibilities, too.”

Relias nodded approvingly. “Yes, but it’s the worst-case scenario, so we should prepare for it and cover our other bases while we’re at it. And it’s a valid hazard, at that. After his emasculation at Chairo’s gate fifty years ago, one can’t help but imagine he yearns for revenge.”

Public emasculation?!

Shocked by the mental imagery, my hand shot up to cover my mouth, but Relias must have caught my swift movement. “He had his eye ripped out by his brother, Captain Lightbringer. Such a humiliating act, among other things, bereft him of his ability to shapeshift and translocate, forcing him to retreat from the battle as if he were a mere mortal. It would be foolhardy, however, to assume that he has lost all his powers. He remains a viable threat.”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Was that what Olethros meant when he said he stopped by here once on business?

Why would he… save Chairo?

Relias cleared his throat warningly, obviously sensing my doubt and confusion. “Do not think of it as an act of moral altruism on behalf of humanity. His brother only did it to humiliate and weaken him, stealing several of General Ragnerus’s subordinates in the process.”

“Alright…” I replied, silently noting the whole thing sounded like the most complicated way possible to recruit new employees.

“We’re getting off-topic,” Emmy warned. “You said something about falsified reports?”

Captain Corwin, who had previously voiced great concern over including Emmy in our confidential meeting, glowered disdainfully at her. “The last report we can authenticate from the Order of the White arrived over three months ago. What we have received since looks to be her handwriting, but they are all exact duplicates of each other. Do you have any insight on that?”

Emmy flinched. “No, Captain, I do not.”

He cocked his head to the side. “Are you sure? Your arrival here coincides with the change in documentation. And weren’t you supposed to head straight to Porta after your debut here? Perhaps your next mission is even more sinister…”

“Captain Corwin, you go too far!” Prince Mito thundered, his face crimson. “She has been absolved of any wrongdoing by Relias himself, yet you continue to cast aspersions that suggest otherwise!”

Ello… What’s all this, then?

Emmy shot him a grateful glance before declaring, “I keep telling you, Project Hero was to rebuild Faith in the church. I was supposed to be an inspiration to the Orders, Captain, not a suspect.”

Nora nudged me with a sudden laugh. “Like the USO in our world. Boosting morale.”

“Ah… and entertaining the troops, too. Now I get it.”

It was Relias’s turn to look shocked. “Chosen One, I did not want your Name or Purpose to be subject to such mockery… I was going to tell you the extent of the findings of Project Hero after I ensured that everyone involved in the act was—”

“It makes sense, actually,” I said with a small smile. “Inspiring the holy knights would help them fight better, wouldn’t it? The whole Self Confidence, Trust, and Faith trinity, right? Sounds like a good Purpose to me...”

“No one was expected to believe I was the true hero,” Emmy added quickly. “It was a persona. I was supposed to play the role of inspiring others to keep her in their hearts! Who would have ever thought she would return in the flesh just as I was debuting? Certainly not I…”

“I guess not everything the councilmen were doing was bad,” I admitted before turning to Relias. “Though it seems a little underhanded to do it without your permission.”

“I would not dare speak ill of the departed now,” Relias murmured, his voice heavy and tired. He drew a deep breath before continuing, “Let us also remember that we are all bound by the same sacred Purpose; rather than sow discord or doubt among us, we must stand united in our resolve so that we may safeguard those we hold dear under the light of the Goddess.”

Captain Corwin stiffened but held his tongue.

I signaled to Nora, who took a seat at Relias’s desk. She then held up a quill pen, signifying she was ready.

I cleared my throat. “In other words, we need a unified plan, and we need one now. Let’s start with the safety and security of the citizens. Captain Corwin? What should we focus on first?”

“The barrier still holds… Fixing the crystal should be our top priority.”

Master Landon stood up. “I would like to request half a dozen priests to accompany me. I'll have to readjust for the recent changes.”

Relias agreed. “You should be escorted, at the very least, by a squad of Holy Knights as well. Your worksite should be properly secured.”

“Maybe we should station squads at every crystal,” I suggested. “I’m not convinced that one is the only vulnerable one.”

Nora scribbled for a moment and then glanced up. “What about me? Should I come too? I might learn something new.”

“I should think you have better things to do than serve in a redundant capacity,” Master Landon said with a note of dismissal. “Just try to stay out of trouble while I’m gone.”

You should ask for the moon and stars while you’re at it, sir.

“How defensible are the Periphery walls?” I asked. “Just in case the barrier… er…”

I didn’t say it because I didn’t want to jinx it.

Captain Corwin folded his arms. “Assuming our adversary attacks with a demon army of a similar size to the last invasion... And if we conscripted every priest, we could get our hands on to cast spells on the walls… I would estimate two, perhaps three days at most. They were never meant to hold off demons. That’s what the crystals are for.”

Except, somehow, they had become just as forgotten as those outer walls in terms of maintenance, reduced to just a non-value-added expense.

“What about the inner walls?”

“Well, they’re in better shape, and steel runs through them… They might last up to two weeks if we rotate in shifts…”

The situation wasn’t optimal. “But the outer walls would hold long enough for us to evacuate all the citizens into the Sanctum, should the need arise?”

“I believe so, Captain. With the right mix of priests and knights at the ready. However…”

“Your forces are spread too thin,” I conceded. “Because of their duties not only here and there about the city but also those surrounding the pilgrim encampment.”

Tetora roared. “I’ll protect them! Even if it costs me my life, I won’t leave them to face the demons alone.”

“I will accompany you,” Aleph added. “If it is our time, then we shall greet it head-on.”

“Don’t be so foolish,” Vernie snapped. “Why would you even suggest such an absurd idea? Trying to defend a muddy field of tents is suicide.”

Tetora snarled. “That encampment isn’t just a muddy field!”

“Not yet,” I acknowledged. “But it will be soon enough. I will personally invite all the hybrids into the city first thing in the morning.”

Relias blinked several times. “That is quite a noble and just act, Chosen One… but we should consider the logistics surrounding a sudden influx of homeless hybrids…”

Don’t ask for permission. Rachel. Just act like it’s a done deal.

I plastered the most confident smile I had across my face, pulling out a stack of deeds from my cape. “They won’t be homeless. They can stay at my place—places. I feel bad I haven’t adequately prepared for my guests, but I’m sure they’ll understand.”

If Relias was caught off guard by my reveal, he certainly didn't show it. “We’ll still need to offer them protection,” Relias murmured. “But it would make defending them easier on us if they were within our walls. Yet we need to consider resources for them as well.”

A loud tapping came from the amphitheater above us as slow, descending footsteps echoed in the darkness.

“To allow the hybrids safe passage, Captain Lightbringer,” Vicar Thomas’s uninvited voice called from the upper shadows. “You will need to declare martial law. The General Assembly will never agree with you otherwise.”

Who told him we were meeting here and now?

Relias?

However, Relias’s dour face and twitching temples suggested he was just as blindsided as I was.

“I… thought it would be best if he listened in,” Father Irijah confessed, far out of range from His Holiness. “I know I should have asked, but…”

We would have said no.

“Well?” the Vicar inquired coolly as he stepped onto the assembly floor, his staff once again tapping the ground as he steadied himself. “Aren’t you going to ask me how to do that, Captain Lightbringer?”

Of everyone I had met, he was the biggest enigma of all.

“I will consider it as soon as I determine whose side you’re on.”

For the first time, a slight smirk formed on his lips. “Why, the church’s, of course. Not yours, not theirs. Every doctrine I cite, every question I ask, is in service to her.” He took an empty seat, exhaling as if the effort exhausted him. “And after listening to your analysis, I believe it is in the church’s best interest to give you the tools necessary to make such a declaration. Otherwise, I fear nothing will soon be left for me to serve.”

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