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Nora stepped forward, but I held my arm out to stop her. “None of you have any authority over us, and we’re not obligated to respond to your ridiculous request.”

Nora leaned in and whispered, “Rae, just tell them that—”

“No,” I interrupted, still holding my gaze on them.

They wouldn’t believe she was from another world anyway, but even if they did, it really wasn’t their business. And who did this knight think he was? Nora was alive and breathing, so he was the one in the wrong!

The woman pretending to be Captain Sonea frowned. “You’d risk this entire parlay just to protect your suspicious subordinate?”

I folded my arms. “Your subordinate already forfeited it the moment he threatened her with his sword, which violates the rule of Safe Conduct. And Nora isn’t my subordinate.”

I paused, rubbing my chin with one hand while signaling Nora with the other held behind my back. “However, I’m all for second chances. You can go back to your boss and tell them what happened here. I’ll return in, oh, four hours or so. Maybe you can bring someone with some common sense and better judgment next time.”

I was a bit overdramatic, still annoyed with the knight’s piercing that analyzed us so quickly, only for him to fail so miserably at his diplomacy save. So, when I snapped my fingers, I did it three times in a zigzag to let Nora know we needed to leave in style. She obliged, summoning her magic circle with a tap of her foot. It blazed into existence, its edges flaring skyward before swallowing us and hurtling us back to the forums. The resulting landing was rough, and neither of us managed to stay on our feet.

“Sorry!” Nora apologized. “Got a little excited!”

Vernie offered me a hand up. “Well?”

“They sent someone who looks like their captain, but it definitely wasn’t her,” I replied, taking her hand. “Either that or something is wrong with me.”

Well, something new, I mean.

We entered the High Temple’s sanctuary, which had been retrofitted as central command. It bustled with soldiers and priests of varying ranks, all reporting on their assigned regions of the city. Captain Corwin called for silence just before Nora and I briefed everyone on the situation.

Prince Mito’s brow furrowed as we explained. “Another imposter captain in disguise? How utterly unoriginal.”

Emmy, hovering nearby, swiftly elbowed him in the side. He turned and grinned openly at her before skipping out of her reach.

Oh..! Yes, I ship it!

Relias watched the two of them with a slightly insufferable expression. “I suspect that was also a test of your abilities.”

“You mean ferreting out the counterfeit Captain?”

“That was probably half of it,” he agreed. “The other part was likely how you responded to Sir Selric. A demon would have had different motivations than you and would have reacted differently.”

I thought about it.

What would a demon have done?

“You mean trick them? Lie about Nora?”

Relias sniffed. “At the very least. A demon, with the right motivation, would have offered her as a hostage just to continue the conversation if that served its goal. Instead, you admonished the knight for his unacceptable behavior and disengaged. However, demons are not known for quitting a task once they start to execute it. Sacrificing a fellow demon means nothing if it gets them closer to their goal.”

I frowned, scratching my head absently. “And that’s because… most tasks are actually orders from their progenitor, and the consequences for not following through…”

Absorption. Unalived. Game Over. Return to Naught; do not pass Go.

His Holiness sighed. “You overly relate the possibility of negative consequences to actions chosen, as if they behave like humans. The truth is much simpler. Demons gain strength by sowing chaos and discord. They are generously rewarded the moment they make someone suffer.”

Really? Dismissing my interpretation as correlation mistaken for causation? Only for him to make a convenient heel-turn to instant gratification? Which, by the way, is a natural act… for us humans!

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If I’m offered a plate of cookies? I desire them all. Far be it from me to say, ‘Oh, I’ll just save them for later.’

But we’re just going to ignore the idea that demons might have complex motivations, like fearing those who control them, so they comply outwardly while secretly gathering strength to hold their own or maybe even one day overthrow their oppressor?

Relias’s journey to change would be longer than mine—unless I helped pull him back on course.

“I’ll agree, for now, remembering that Bodil chose violence even after being told to return by the General,” I admitted. “But I don’t think our enemies are that simple-minded, especially now that Epiales is gone. There’s more going on than we know.”

Relias flinched, his eyes clouding as if he were having an internal battle. “…I will acknowledge that much.”

A small step, but at least it was in the right direction.

Captain Corwin pulled himself away from the map of Chairo, his eyes flickering with unease. “The White may hold their positions for now, but I’d feel much better seeing her with my own eyes.”

“You’ve met Captain Sonea, right?” I asked. “Maybe you should go with Nora next time, and I’ll stay here?”

Corwin turned to stare at Euphridia’s altar, his face contorting as he mentally crafted his answer. “I would accompany you both,” he eventually decided. “I’ll temper my responses so I seem open to their requests, but I’ll defer all decisions to you, Chosen One. Should anything untoward happen, you two will return to base without me.”

Master Landon cleared his throat. “My pupil isn’t the only one who can connect to the translocation circle. I can bring us both back safely.”

“I should go in your stead, Captain Corwin,” Relias disagreed. “She was promoted to Captain with traditional honors, correct?”

Corwin wrinkled his nose but nodded. “About five years ago, yes. I was there as a witness.”

Relias smiled slightly. “Then I should be able to confirm her assigned Purpose on sight.”

“If she shows,” Nora muttered. “This could just be another in a set of tests. What if they’re being influenced by demons, delaying us to miss the General’s deadline?”

I had to ask. “Is it even really a good idea to leave right now?”

Of course I was having second thoughts. Who runs off to face some big bad just because they were told to?

…

You didn’t need to answer that. It was rhetorical, and frankly, I’m disappointed that you’d bring that up. I’m a different person now!

Corwin’s gaze locked on mine, his voice firm. “No matter what their game is, you will leave Chairo by the end of the week.”

“You know, that almost sounded like an order,” I said, surprised by his tone.

His face hardened. “Didn’t you put me in charge of the city’s safety?”

“Um. Yes, yes, I did. Right after you put me in charge of everything.” Even you!

“Then let me do my job.” He froze, then flinched in response to Tetora’s loud snarl. “That… came out harsh, Chosen One. I meant to say… we can take care of ourselves now, thanks to your efforts.”

I glanced around the room, noting several nods of agreement. Prince Mito’s was the most enthusiastic, while Father Irijah and Father Titus nodded in perfect unison. Even Vicar Thomas allowed himself the smallest of encouraging smiles, which surprised me.

“I wasn’t going to disagree with you… It’s just…”

Aleph placed a steady, reassuring hand on my shoulder. “It’s natural to worry for those you care about. And though it may feel as if everything is reaching a breaking point, I believe you couldn’t have chosen a stronger group of allies here in Chairo for what lies ahead.”

To be honest, I had stumbled upon them while sowing some confused chaos of my own. But if I said that aloud, they might have taken it the wrong way. Everyone here was skilled in their own ways, and while I trusted them to do the right thing, I wasn’t sure anything would be enough. However… the clock was ticking, and soon, I’d be their most significant risk.

“You’re right. I’ll finish up and clear out of your way soon.” I extended my hand to Captain Corwin, meeting his firm grip. “Promise.”

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Although both flags awaited us in the neutral territory designated for our parlay, nothing else was there.

“I did say ‘about’ and not exactly four hours,” I said with a huff as we waited. “I suppose I could have been clearer.”

Relias leaned on his staff. “We may wait an hour at most. We should return before sunset.”

While Nora and Master Landon worked on honing their control over a few holy crystal shards, I started once again to worry about what would come next. Faith, however, mercifully distracted me by filling my head with what could only be described as… lo-fi elevator jazz. Catchy at points, then slipping into vaguely jarring refrains, as if the shield couldn’t quite pick the following note without risking copyright infringement.

“Wait. Are you just… using my memories to generate music?”

A tiny bell pealed out with high-pitched dings.

“Could I switch stations? Maybe something nostalgic… like, there’s this anime I used to watch. A petite but fiery sorceress who never gave up, no matter how bad the odds were! How about the theme song from the second season? I think it’s pretty rocking!”

Faith rewarded me with an enhanced version of the melody, letting me mentally sing along in its original language as best I could from memory.

“Yeah, that’s the stuff! ‘I won’t be stopped by anyone’… For a teenager, she knew what she was talking about—”

Faith abruptly switched back to the Order of the White’s melody. Sure enough, nine figures on horseback were approaching. The half-dozen flanking the center three wore full plate, holding pennants in their saddles. A long-held blink assured me the six were true holy knights, and their Captain rode with them. But when I opened my eyes, I saw double.

“Twins?” Nora gasped just as I realized the same thing.

Relias’s face darkened as they drew near, his breath catching. “Come no further!” he commanded, conjuring a protective barrier around us. “Explain yourself, Captain Sonea. It is unsettling enough that you ride beside your Gemini with Purpose unassigned. But why do you bring the disgraced ex-Captain Alban here? His treachery in allowing demons to breach the frontlines and massacre innocents across Ecclesia is known even to me. What justification can you possibly have for his presence here and now?”

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