As Vernie, Nora, and I huddled over the secret sewer map in our tent later that night, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. It was much sparser in detail than any videogame I had played. Instead of a sprawling labyrinth of interconnected tunnels, the sewer system seemed more like a patchwork quilt, with vast areas left untouched by its dingy embrace. “Guess not everyone has direct access,” I murmured, pitying the people who had to hold it and run to find relief.

Nora, with her magical ball of light illuminating the map, pointed out some of the open-air sections in Chairo’s Periphery. “Huh... looks like even the sewers need a breath of fresh air themselves every now and then,” she remarked with a wry smile. “At least we know we can reach a few of its access points.”

I wrinkled my nose as I traced the most prominent line to its output, a river bearing the same name as the Holy City. “I bet that makes the outer city a little fragrant, though…” I paused then, unable to help myself. “And I think shit’s going to go down in the Sanctum instead.”

Nora snorted, then made a flushing noise that went over Vernie’s head. After we lamely explained the joke with our fundamental knowledge of indoor plumbing, she just rolled her eyes at us as if we were toddlers.

“Hmm? What’s this?” I tapped on an oddly blank circular part of the map within the Sanctum, with sewer lines curving around the space as if to avoid it entirely.

Vernie shrugged in response. “Dunno. But it’s entirely walled off with stone reinforced by steel all the way around.”

“No doors in or out of the area?” I pressed.

“None whatsoever. Trust me. I was curious about it myself, but I couldn’t find a way in.”

If she couldn’t find her way in, I doubt anyone could.

“I’d be tempted to blast that wall wide open and see what's hiding in there,” I mused, slipping momentarily back into my gamer mindset.

Nora took a large, almost excited breath but then paused. “That’s a horrible idea, actually,” she said as she exhaled. “We might set the whole sewer on fire with that!”

“Oh, right…”

Vernie marked four critical locations in the Sanctuary section, eager to bring us back on track. “These are our emergency exits.”

I studied the marked points intently, committing them to memory. While our initial plans to sneak into the city may have been thwarted by Relias's objections, having backup options was still prudent. After all, in our line of work, you never know when things might take a turn for the worse.

“I’m still going to hold out hope that we don’t have to use them,” Nora murmured.

----------------------------------------

The following day, we readied ourselves to return to the road with the rising sun, and Aurum was itching to lead the way. He practically nudged me into the saddle with his nose, barely giving me time to settle before he surged forward.

“You're eager to take charge, aren't you?” I grumbled tiredly into his ear, not ready to start the day. As if in response, he playfully trotted ahead a few steps. “You need to wait for the others, though.” Aurum snorted, and I let him walk around a little so he didn’t get too unruly.

Relias’s sedate mare refused to watch Aurum’s antics, waiting patiently as the soldiers hitched a small wooden equipment cart to one of the mounts. All in all, we were traveling pretty light, but we still had some extra sundries that didn’t quite make it into our already full rucksacks. Pots and pans, in particular, were quite unwieldy in our packs.

“Would you permit me the honor of riding alongside you again today, Captain?” Relias asked. “I found our discourse yesterday most enriching, and I would be grateful to continue our spiritual and intellectual exchange today.”

“Sure,” I concurred while stifling a yawn. “There are a few things I’d like to discuss with you.” Even if Aleph had recognized my awkwardness with His Holiness, that wasn’t a reason to avoid the conversation I had been putting off for a while.

“I look forward to it,” he responded, his gaze drifting over to the group gathering. Prince Mito was the last to present himself, appearing slightly disheveled.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“How do you get used to sleeping on the ground?” he asked me plaintively.

I shrugged. “Practice?” What was he expecting me to say?

He exaggerated his sigh to the entire group, expressing his general displeasure. However, no one paid much heed, as they all continued their tasks without a second thought.

We headed out shortly after, with His Highness placed protectively in the middle of our main formation. His soldiers surrounded him, with the rest of the Holy Order of Gold flanking them on either side. Relias and I checked behind us occasionally, just making sure that the group stuck together.

“What was it you wanted to talk about?” he finally asked after we had been on the road for about half an hour.

“I have an idea… but I wanted to talk to you about it first before I just went off on my own.”

“Please, enlighten me.”

“Well… Pravum’s going to act like I’m an imposter… right? So naturally, I’m going to have to put on some sort of show?”

Relias frowned thoughtfully. “I’d hardly call activating your powers a mere show, but I suspect your idea does not end here…”

“He’s skilled with amity too, right? Well… what’s keeping me from taking away his powers, like I did with Dolus back in Kopria? I’m just thinking it could avoid the potential for bloodshed—”

“Promise me you will do no such thing!” he yelled, clearly flustered.

I knew he was going to have an extreme reaction!

“I’m an adult!” I snapped. “So, at least explain to me why you think it’s a bad idea.”

“Captain…” he moaned, rubbing his temples. “When you pluck the fangs of a wolf in front of its pack, what do you think the pack will do to you in response?”

I began to shiver. “They… can’t take my powers away, can they?!” I’m supposed to be the hero!

“I doubt that specific retaliation would ever be possible, yet they will undoubtedly regard you with a heightened sense of fear and animosity, especially after you subdue one of their own.” He sighed softly. “You spoke of Dolus. The actions you took against him, though seemingly justified at that moment, undoubtedly have cast long shadows. While Dolus operated alone in Kopria, we must not assume he lacks allies elsewhere—those who may now thirst for retribution.”

Seemingly justified? I think I had been overly, overly kind, all things considered.

“You did a similar thing to Volker,” I muttered angrily.

“Yes, I know,” he admitted calmly. “And I am prepared to deal with the repercussions, for I am not subject to the power of his peers. But removing a Councilman's power without trial would subject us to dire consequences. Even Dolus may have a grievance that the Church could not ignore if he were to report it.”

“Fine… I won’t do it…”

Unless it becomes necessary.

“Rae. I know your heart is pure and your intentions are most noble, but matters of the Church fall under my purview. Trust in my wisdom and experience to address Pravum appropriately.”

Pure of heart? Noble intentions? No, I wanted him to get his for making life even more challenging for many people already playing on hard mode.

“It just seemed that yesterday you didn’t want to confront him…”

He pulled his mare to a halt, and I followed suit. After gathering his thoughts, he said, “Though my heart truly yearns for a different path, I am bound by Purpose to do what is necessary, just as you are compelled to fulfill your sacred charge to safeguard our world.”

I mulled over his words silently for a long moment, annoyed by their sting but lacking an appropriate response to explain why they bothered me. Clucking somewhat unfairly at Aurum, we started forward again with a faster gait.

“You are displeased with me,” Relias observed after a few moments, his mare matching our pace.

“I didn’t say that,” I replied, focusing on the road ahead.

“You don’t have to. It’s evident across your features. Is your displeasure rooted in my assertion that we both shoulder a heavy burden of responsibility?”

I grunted, furrowing my brow. “Maybe… I’m displeased with the responsibility itself and just taking it out on you.”

“Please, do not hesitate to express your frustrations whenever necessary. I trust I am equipped to empathize appropriately... though, let us forgo weapons, for even my healing has its limits.”

“I wouldn’t strike you!”

He smiled gently. “I know.”

“Then why did you even suggest—”

“It was merely a means to encourage dialogue between us once more. Our discussions are precious, especially when they unearth uncomfortable truths.”

“You… find the uncomfortable… comforting?”

“Yes, in this situation,” he agreed brightly. “Because it is your truth, and you are finally sharing it with me. I am finally learning about the real you.”

“But you won’t even call me Rachel,” I blurted out, feeling like he could never acknowledge the real me, even if it was something I had cobbled together.

“No, I will not. It is too dangerous to use your birth name. It is a weakness that you must hide lest it be used against you by your enemies.”

Rachel… is my real birth name?!