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The door to my quarters flew open, and Relias burst abruptly into the room. “The Order of the White is advancing!”

“They are?!” I replied, jumping out of bed.

I must have forgotten to lock the door…

“Yes, and—” he stopped and quickly turned away, a flash of crimson streaking his right ear. “Forgive me! I did not realize you were still… still…”

“…In my nightgown?”

He hurried toward the hallway, his voice wavering. “I-I shall grant you the time to prepare yourself with proper attire. When you are ready, we shall await you on the upper balcony!”

What, did he catch a glance at my ankle-length hem? How risqué!

I slapped my face a few times and shook my head. “Let’s see how far our questionable allies have moved…” I mumbled to myself.

I had slept poorly the night before, waking several times. Perhaps my subconscious was to blame; I had used each disjointed moment of alertness to spy on the White with my mind’s eye. To my surprise, I really couldn’t see any difference from the day before—there were still a few squads off in the distance, but other than that, nothing of note.

Was something wrong with my ability?

I glanced at my newly acquired holy shield suspiciously, but it made no light nor sound. Sighing, I dressed and equipped myself quickly, stifling several yawns. However, when I picked up the Faith of Euphridia, it spitefully played Reveille on a telepathic trumpet, sending me into a startled fluster.

“You better not do that every morning!” I snapped, fastening it to my arm.

Morning calisthenics consisted of scrambling up the stairs to the aforementioned balcony. Before I could catch my breath and greet Captain Corwin, Nora pointed to a large spyglass.

“Take a look,” she ordered, swinging the instrument toward me. I considered asking about the bags under her eyes, but I thought better of pointing them out in front of the others. I silently complied, gazing upon waves of foot soldiers moving forward.

“What the…” I closed my eyes again, but nothing. “I can’t see them! I mean, with my eyes closed. What’s the deal with that?”

Captain Corwin and Relias exchanged a long look, thankfully ignoring the stupidity behind the sentences I had just uttered.

“They may be reservists… even conscripts,” Corwin conceded. “Captain Sonea spends as much time recruiting as she does in the saddle. Porta’s draft has been active for a few years, given its north border pressing against the wastelands…”

“That… makes a difference?” I asked, blinking.

Relias frowned. “Fascinating… like a private, hidden army within the Order. Not knights nor priests, but others pressed beyond their Purpose…”

“You can’t have a life based on work alone,” Nora muttered.

“Totally agree!” I added, catching a look from both men. “Well, it's true!”

Relias closed his eyes. “I do not disagree… but this—an army you cannot see—worries me.”

“We could wait until they’re within range and use the silver signal,” I suggested again. “Watch for the effects?”

Captain Corwin folded his arms. “The spell’s range is not so great. If it doesn’t work because demons hide within the bodies of those humans and hybrids…”

They’d be on our doorstep, and we’d be unable to shout orders over the deafening.

Relias glanced at me. “Do you see any clouds of animus around them?”

I gazed again through the spyglass, wondering if indirect visualization would compromise my observation. “No. And they also seem to be moving very cautiously… What if they’re wondering the same thing about us as we are about them? From their perspective, they see Chairo, with its barrier shattered, and damage to the walls, its outer city mostly abandoned…” I scratched at my forearm absently. “Would they recognize my shield? You know, if I made it do a few tricks?”

Relias gasped. “You cannot go out there!”

“Why not?”

“It’s too dangerous!”

I took a four-second-deep breath, held it, and then exhaled at the same tempo. “Your Holiness. All of this is dangerous. We’re not communicating with each other! There’s no way we can pretend to be blind to their actions anymore. We must respond, whether they be a threat or an ally. Besides…” I paused, recalling last night’s dream.

Even his subordinates questioned his use of cheating.

“I am quite certain the General would not do anything to risk his rematch,” I concluded, staring straight at Relias to gauge his reaction. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he’s trying to restore some sense of honor through his ultimatum.”

Relias opened his mouth as if to object. However, he glanced downward, his brow furrowing, and I knew we’d have to talk more about my dream later. “Perhaps he is, at that…” he admitted, to my surprise. “But no! He is a demon, and your thought remains a risky assumption at best. Cheaters are notorious for repeating history, even when swearing otherwise. Demons do not have honor!”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

…Well… at least he considered the idea for a moment. That was progress.

Nora had a slightly different take on the situation. “You know what happens when you assume, Rae!” she screeched. “Remember when you thought Captain Garvith would let you surrender peacefully? Tell me again how that turned out? Also, let us recall that we just witnessed demons willing to defy the General’s direct orders!”

“Well… What should I do instead?” I asked plaintively. “We’re running out of time.”

“You’ll have to bring me with you,” she declared, her eyes as hard as steel. “At least I can serve as a distraction… even a quick exit, if necessary.”

“A quick exit?” I asked, elated by the prospect. “How?”

She pointed at the ground, and glowing purple runes flickered from the cobblestones. “A mobile, temporary, short-range translocation circle. It’s attuned to the circle at the end of the Forums.”

“Uh… Are you sure it works?”

“Tested it myself with Master Landon… several times,” she affirmed, clapping her hands to unsummon the circle. “I can transport both of us at the same time, and it only works once, so no one else can use it after we’re on our way.”

“So… if things go bad…”

“We cheese it,” she agreed.

Relias nodded. “Yes, you two should have breakfast first, at the very least.”

Nora was about to correct him on the use of her idiom, but my glare stopped her. If I were going to do something foolhardy, it would be on a full stomach.

“I also want some information on the White. Names of those in charge, possible fighting styles… Oh, and a sword… It doesn’t have to be fancy or anything. Maybe I could just ask Prince Mito for my old one back…”

“I think we can do better than that,” Relias objected, though his voice was relatively mild. “It just so happens I ordered a captain’s sword for Captain Armand after our arrival, but… if you would be so kind as to keep this between us, I believe it would serve better under you at this time.”

I nodded, glad he was warming to our idea. “Okay.”

Captain Corwin rubbed his chin. “Take a pennant with you. It will help you request a parlay. I’ll go over a few phrases that should get their attention.”

After reviewing the plan for a few minutes, I realized we were going in circles. “I think that’s just about everything we can think of to prepare—”

An abrupt, trombone-like sound caught my attention, like an irritated throat clearing. “I won't forget you, Faith. Remember, I listed you first.”

“Faith?” they all asked, bewildered.

“The shield,” I said, looking at the buckler. “I can call you that as a nickname, right?”

I was rewarded with the playful trill of a flute.

“I’m going to assume that was a yes.”

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Nora and I exited the south gate on foot, with the entire garrison watching from the tower walls. His Holiness had blessed the new captain’s sword hanging from my belt, and while it wasn’t quite as fancy as Holy Celestia, it was a bit more balanced. I had taken a few swings to adjust to its weight before our journey, and I was impressed with its ability to amplify my aura. When I raised it, it even glowed an electric blue, which added a contrast I thought was pretty cool.

As always, Nora brought her regular staff, though she held it a little tighter in her grip.

“You stayed up all night working on that spell?” I asked, trying to make casual conversation.

“Yes,” she muttered. “I know you, remember? I figured on a 90% chance you’d be doing something ridiculous like this. But this time, it’s going to be different.”

“Thank you,” I said sincerely.

“…What makes you so sure the General has honorable intentions, anyway?”

“He wants to see me,” I said with a shrug. “I don’t like how he’s motivating me to meet his deadline, but whatever his plan is involves me being in his physical presence.”

“Master Landon told me about the hero he killed…” Nora whispered. “He was losing the battle and—”

“He cut her head off after she turned away in distraction,” I finished. “I know. Except…” I stopped walking, deciding we were close enough to be seen by the other forces while still within range of Nora’s fast travel spell.

“Except what?”

As Captain Corwin had instructed, I started waving the pennant back and forth in wide, slow arcs. “The whole setup was weird. She challenged him. For whatever reason, Relias didn’t seem on board with it either. If I had to bet, she probably… uh…”

Nora turned her violet eyes on me. “Went off on her own? Wow. Imagine that.”

“Hey now… I’m learning from my mistakes!”

We waited for a few minutes, taking turns with the flag.

“There’s no way their advance forces haven’t seen us by now,” Nora murmured.

“They’re probably awaiting further orders,” I replied. “These things take time.”

“It’s unnerving, standing out in the middle of nowhere.”

“Yep, can’t argue with that. But at least the weather’s cleared up... somewhat.”

Nora gazed skyward. “Have you… asked her about the General?”

“No… Raedine never fought her, so—”

“I mean Raeanne.”

“Oh. No,” I answered, realizing she was the one Raedine had been holding back. “She’s not very nice to me. She just wants me to attack anything in my way. But I don’t think that’s always the best solution. I’m not going to let her perspective color mine.”

I was different, right?

I could do things another way.

Except… I wouldn’t exactly be able to parlay with the General like I was trying with the White, now would I?

He wanted to fight just as much as she did.

No, that’s a problem for future Rachel. Present Rachel has other pressing priorities.

Eventually, a woman fitting the description of Captain Sonea made her way up the main road on horseback. Two other holy knights flanked her, but a quick blink told me she was an imposter. I powered up my aura and struck the flagpole downward, anchoring it several inches into the ground with force. Then, I pulled off my buckler, making a show of turning it into the large shield it had been presented as. Nora stepped slightly behind me as I had warned her to earlier.

"Ma’am, armor can be polished to shine a brilliant white,” I called, slowly enunciating each word to increase their weight. “But the Light sees beyond what is worn."

The three on horseback stopped, exchanged glances, and dismounted about a hundred and fifty feet away. The knight on her right raised his flag, which depicted Euphridia’s star on a white background, and stabbed it into the earth.

“Prudence dictates caution,” the woman called back. “Many have claimed the Chosen One’s Name and Purpose these past several years, but none have delivered on said promise.”

“So I’ve heard,” I acknowledged. “But I would hear of your Purpose. Tell me, why are you marching on Chairo? Do you plan to subjugate it on behalf of the General? Or perhaps you’re working for the Mistress? Either way, I won’t let you threaten those within its borders, regardless of the colors you wear.”

The woman folded her arms and turned to one of the knights. “Well, Sir Selric?”

The knight lifted his visor. “Hmm. She has crossed paths with Bodhil not long ago—traces of her animus still cling to her, though faint. But as for the woman herself, I sense no demonic possession. She’s off balance, yes, but nothing unexpected given the circumstances. Given that she has a high-level blessed sword and shield that matches the descriptions of antiquity, I would say it may be her.”

He paused, his eyes darkening as his hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword. “Yet something is troubling. Before we proceed, I must know why the dark mage’s resonance contains neither amity nor animus. Such a state should not exist for anything living, so I order you to explain yourself.”

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