Two days later, on the last day of her break, Prelinsa encountered Corynn again outside the Western Keep. This time, Carolynn was with her – Prelinsa was glad to see that Corynn’s sister was alright. However, Corynn looked particularly upset. It was a rare sight, since it took a lot to disturb Corynn.
“Carolynn,” Corynn said. “I know you were just trying to help, but you shouldn’t have done something so dangerous.”
Carolynn quickly punched out something on her phone.
<
“Even so. I told you before, I just want you to be safe and happy.”
Carolynn frowned.
<
Corynn made a conflicted face, as she paused for words.
“…You might be right. But I don’t like that you just acted without saying anything. Next time, please at least tell someone first. Okay?”
<
Corynn struggled for more words.
Carolynn was about to say something more, but then the two sisters noticed Prelinsa.
“I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything,” Prelinsa commented.
Corynn shook her head. “I think we were just finishing up.”
Carolynn nodded in agreement.
As she spoke, the red squirrel from before scurried along, being chased by a cat. The squirrel scurried up Corynn’s leg, up her her body, and onto her shoulder.
“Oh!” Corynn said. “Hello there.”
Carolynn looked at the squirrel curiously.
The cat didn’t follow. It meowed up at Corynn, hoping for her assistance.
“Sorry, kitty. We’re talking about something important. Find another squirrel, okay?”
The cat seemed to understand, and ambled off begrudgingly. The squirrel however remained on Corynn’s shoulder.
“Well, that was something,” Prelinsa said.
“It sure was.”
“Anyway, can I know what’s going on?”
Carolynn stayed silent and just deferred to Corynn, glancing at her.
Corynn paused, thinking about it. She then echoed something to Prelinsa in Phoenix Code – a series of magical pulses of the Phoenix Heart that could only readily be picked up and understood by other Phoenix Heart bearers, and only within a few meters at that.
Prelinsa’s eyes briefly widened in surprise. It didn’t seem like Carolynn had been told about Rensa’s idea of using method actors to bait out the Rogues’ magic teachers. But somehow, Carolynn had come to a similar conclusion of putting herself out there. Even if her plan was reckless, it was a lot more clever than Prelinsa would have expected.
“Let’s take this conversation somewhere more private,” Corynn added, for Carolynn’s benefit. “Anyway, off you go, squirrel. You’re safe now.”
She shooed the critter away. It scampered off and scurried up a nearby tree.
----------------------------------------
The three of them went to an empty meeting room, locking the door and gathering around a table.
“Carolynn, tell us what you found,” Corynn said.
Carolynn began typing.
<>
Prelinsa frowned at that. “What do you mean by that?”
The response took some time.
<>
Prelinsa thought back to her vision – the Leviathan she saw in her vision had also been alive, yet not. She wondered if this was related.
“What did he look like?”
<
Prelinsa thought about that description. It sounded familiar to her – she knew someone who looked just like that. But surely, it was just a coincidence. Surely.
“Did he say anything?” Prelinsa asked.
More typing.
<
“Anything else?”
<
“The Troubles, huh?” Prelinsa thought about the rocky cliffs north of Cydonia’s more gentle harbor bay, where waves crashed aggressively against the land. The Troubles were a location where the dance of water and mana was fairly strong, and yet the mana flow was weak due to a lack of wildlife. Something like that couldn’t stop a Phoenix Warrior, but it did let a powerful water mage hide more easily.
“We need to talk with the Council about this,” Corynn said.
“Yeah,” Prelinsa agreed. “Good job, Carolynn.”
“Yes. You did do a good job,” Corynn agreed. “But please don’t do something like this again. Alright?”
<
----------------------------------------
The Council murmured as Prelinsa and Corynn finished their explanation.
“Before I speak, does anyone have any thoughts?” Rensa asked.
“Though I do not approve of Carolynn’s actions, it seems that she has uncovered an important lead,” Elder Lumio remarked. “We would be remiss not to act upon it.”
Corynn twitched upon hearing that.
“Elder Lumio,” Sable Pastore said, looking deeply concerned. “With all due respect, Carolynn is not as stable or mentally healthy as some of the other clones. Most of them are able to speak, yet she still cannot. She also has a strong desire for power. Is is not dangerous and irresponsible to send her to meet this mysterious individual?”
“Of course it is dangerous and irresponsible. If this were a normal situation, I would be against the idea myself,” Elder Lumio agreed. “However, we have spent many weeks investigating to no avail. This is the only new lead we have gained. If we do not act soon, we risk exposing the public to further danger. We have gotten away without any deaths for now, but who knows what will happen next?”
“You are right that the public is at risk. But I believe there must be a better solution,” Sable protested. “Perhaps we can send one of the other clones. It would be far less morally questionable.”
“We have already tried sending out method actors, and none of them have found anything,” Elder Lumio insisted. “Sending a different clone risks us losing our lead. I understand your feelings, but we no longer have the luxury of the moral high ground. We need more information now.”
As the Council began to debate over the situation, Elder Kirith looked at Rensa. As the ex-Matriarch, she didn’t say anything for the time being, but Prelinsa knew that she was not comfortable with the idea of sending Carolynn. She couldn’t have been. For that matter, Rensa wasn’t either.
Suddenly, an informant burst into the meeting room.
“I greet the Council!” She exclaimed, gasping for breath.
“At ease,” Rensa said. “What is it?”
The informant stopped for the right words. “…It’s terrible! Rogues have attacked Red Desert Village, to the south! The soldiers on station were unable to stop them before one of them exploded! So far, the death toll is three! Injuries number sixteen!”
Shocked murmurs went through the Council. Elder Lumio crossed his arms and shook his head, his expression unreadable behind his mask.
“Order in the Council!” Rensa said, and people went silent again.
“Rensa. What do you think of this matter?” Elder Kirith asked.
The Grand Princess frowned, and sighed. “I hate to say it, but Elder Lumio is right,” she said. “Innocent people are already dead. We need more information before this gets worse.”
She stood from her seat.
“Something has to give. I’d rather do something ‘morally questionable’ than continue to risk peoples’ lives,” she declared. “We’ll send Carolynn to the Cydonian Troubles, and back her up with as much support as we possibly can. We need powerful mages with suicide prevention skills, who can hide their presences well enough to avoid detection by the rogue mage. Does anyone object to this plan?”
The Council was hesitant, but after hearing that people had died, nobody dared raise any objections. How could they, when the threat had escalated to this point?
On the other hand, Sable Pastore stood from her seat and walked out of the room in protest.
Corynn looked rather upset, yet resigned to the will of the Council.
“Sister Rensa. If we’re going through with this, at least let me join the operation in some way,” she insisted.
“Of course. I know you’re more worried than any of us,” Rensa replied.
----------------------------------------
Although Prelinsa wasn’t allowed to partake directly in the operation, she was allowed to follow from a distance and watch what was happening from inside a mobile command center, via camera footage. This was for the sake of gaining more experience. Corynn was also present there – she was not considered suitable for the main mission, due to her attachments to Carolynn.
The two pokkits were surrounded by cold, blinking lights and various camera displays. They watched the video feeds as Carolynn ventured into the rocky coast, which stood high over the ocean. The sky was cloudy, and the weather was a bit rough and windy, causing Carolynn’s chin-length bob to blow about in the wind. Below the cliffs, white-capped waves covered the ocean, occasionally throwing up big sprays of seawater. Prelinsa could practically smell the salty breeze.
Carolynn had not been told about the specifics of the operation – she’d only been told to go meet the Rogue teacher, and talk to him. This was to ensure that her behavior would be as natural as possible. Prelinsa felt a bit ill at that, and wanted to go punch someone. Really, she would punch Rensa if the plan failed. She knew they didn’t have many options now that people had died, but this whole thing was such a stupid idea.
Prelinsa also felt that Corynn was quite tense – unconsciously so. Of course she was – she was worried for her sister. Prelinsa put her arm around the older pokkit’s shoulders.
“There’s nothing we can do now. We just have to believe in Carolynn and the others,” she said.
“I know. But I still hate this,” Corynn muttered.
“Yeah. Same.”
The two watched in silence for several tense minutes, wondering if anything would happen. Carolynn continued to walk forth with purpose. It was as if she could feel something calling to her – something unseen. The idea of that was deeply unsettling. Was it the Leviathan itself calling to her?
“Hey, look. You see that?” Prelinsa asked, pointing.
“Yeah.”
The two of them leaned in further.
On the screens, a mysterious figure approached Carolynn – clad entirely in robes, and with a hood that denied a clear view of their face. The way this figure moved was slightly uncanny. Prelinsa understood why quickly – their movements didn’t have any hesitation. Any normal person would move with nuance, but this person didn’t.
Carolynn and the figure began speaking. Prelinsa could just make out some words through lip-reading. They were talking about powerful magic, and being helpful. As their dialogue progressed, Carolynn actually looked somewhat tempted, which was concerning. The figure outstretched a hand, beckoning for Carolynn to come forth. Corynn looked like she wanted to bite her nails – Prelinsa could feel her practically screaming ‘don’t do it, Carolynn!’
But then, the Silvermoons’ strike force came out of hiding. They included Marchioness Leclerc acting as a poison specialist, and two mana fury specialists. Baron Lightfoot, Lana’s father, was also there. He was in his rabbit form, which was very small and unassuming.
He ran at incredible speed, his tiny legs a blur on the camera feeds. With quick bolts of lightning, he paralyzed the mysterious figure, who toppled to the ground. The rest moved in to apprehend him, with handcuffs and various enchanted tools.
Carolynn stepped back, watching with a blank expression on her face as two members of the strike force approached her, giving her a briefing on what was happening. The pokkit simply nodded, though she must have been bothered by not being told what was happening.
As the mystery mage was tied up in restraints, Corynn sighed in relief.
The hood was pulled from the mage’s head, and some of the camera angles now had a clear view of his face. Prelinsa just stared, wide-eyed.
It was her father.
----------------------------------------
The interrogations began later that day, but Prelinsa’s father refused to budge. It was as if he had totally cut off part of his own existence, which let him avoid saying anything at all – no matter what anyone did to him. For that matter, his lack of presence was so strong that it was no wonder nobody had found him earlier. Just as Carolynn had claimed, it was questionable as to whether one could even call him ‘someone.’ He was alive only in the sense that he wasn’t dead.
“Let me try talking to him,” Prelinsa said to Rensa.
“Why?” Rensa asked.
“I know who he is,” Prelinsa said.
“You think he’s your father, and you can get something out of him.”
Rensa was sharp as usual – Prelinsa simply nodded. The Grand Princess thought about this.
“Well, he does match the description,” she finally said. “We can do a DNA test, if that’s what you’re thinking. If it’s a match, then I’ll let you try after a few days. But only if we don’t get anything out of him by then.”
“That’s fine. I need time to prepare myself, anyway.”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
----------------------------------------
The DNA test was indeed a positive match. Three days later, Prelinsa was allowed into the interrogation room, with the reasoning being that the worst thing that could happen was nothing. After all, ‘nothing’ was how the interrogations were going so far.
The interrogation room – and the facility it was inside of – was actually suspended high above the ground, hanging from a lighter-than-air vehicle filled with helium. It was a new, highly efficient method of imprisoning mages that had started to be used after the Second Civil War, following research into flying machines. Except for Phoenix Warriors, all mages – no matter how strong – were powerless when separated from mana.
Luckily, Prelinsa wasn’t scared of heights, either. With phoenixfire wings, she flew up to the holding facility herself, landing on a platform that was normally reserved for aircraft. The door slid open for her, and she entered.
Walking through sterile white corridors, she eventually reached a dark area where the interrogation room was. Psychologists were on standby outside, in case something especially bad happened. Rensa was also standing there. The two pokkits nodded at each other. Then, Prelinsa entered the room, and the door closed behind her.
It was a bright, totally empty space with white walls, hidden cameras, and a one-way mirror that let the people outside see what was happening. The mysterious man was tied up, and sitting on a chair – the only piece of furniture present. It was eerie how much nothing there was.
Not just in the room – Prelinsa could see and smell the man so clearly before her, yet she felt nothing from him. He looked gaunt and worn out, his skin pale and beginning to sag with middle age. His expression was totally blank, as if he didn’t feel any emotions at all. His blonde hair and beard were washed, but unkempt. A mole was visible beneath his left eye. Both his eyes were ice blue in color.
Although was he older than the man in Prelinsa’s memories, there was no mistaking him – this was her birth father, Decebal, who had left her and Marianne alone all those years ago. His eyes and hair color were the spitting image of Prelinsa’s, before her transformation by the Phoenix Heart. Prelinsa had a lot of complicated feelings, but did her best to channel them into a productive interrogation.
“Hi,” she said, looking down at Decebal.
Decebal looked up, staring blankly at her. Something seemed to stir within him – like a fire being reignited.
“…Marianne?” He croaked.
“Do you recognize me?” Prelinsa asked. She watched Decebal carefully for further reactions.
Her care proved unnecessary. Suddenly, Decebal jolted in his seat, and Prelinsa took a step back. Color came back to the man’s face, and his eyes went wide with shock. He started rambling and hyperventilating terribly, as sweat began to drip from his forehead.
“Marianne! I’m sorry! Forgive me!” He screamed, trying to wrestle himself free from his restraints and approach Prelinsa. Tears rolled uncontrollably from his eyes. “I was a coward! I left you and Prelinsa to die! I couldn’t go a single day without wondering what happened to you! But now you’re here and we can be together again! I know you must be angry, but please, give me another chance!”
He looked desperate, and wouldn’t stop talking. He barely even stopped to take breaths.
“Is Prelinsa still alive? Please, tell me that Prelinsa is still alive! We can take care of her together! I promise to be a better father!”
Prelinsa was stunned by the sudden reemergence of her father’s personality. It came so rapidly and unexpectedly that she took several moments to compose herself, thinking of how to approach this while Decebal continued to babble on and on. Eventually, she decided that honesty was the best approach.
“Stop,” she said, interrupting Decebal. “I’m not Marianne.”
Decebal took several seconds to digest that statement, as he studied Prelinsa’s appearance. “No! That’s impossible!” He yelled. He was going catatonic. “You look just like her! Your face, your ears, your tail! But… the shape of your eyes is different. Who are you, if not Marianne?! Her sister?! She never told me about a sister!”
“I’m Prelinsa. The daughter you abandoned for being sick,” Prelinsa replied. “I became a Phoenix Warrior, and got a new body. That’s why I look like my mom, Marianne.”
Decebal went silent. He just gaped at Prelinsa, trembling, not seeming to process what his daughter just said to him – if he even understood that she was his daughter. His eyes went so wide that they practically bulged from their sockets, but he was unable to find any words. But eventually, finally, he managed to say something.
“…Where is Marianne, then?” He whispered.
“First, I need to know who you’re working for and why,” Prelinsa said.
Decebal clutched his head, shaking terribly. “No! They’ll kill me if I tell you!” He said, looking very afraid. This wasn’t any normal fear. It was a deep-rooted, carnal fear of something beyond imagination.
“Who’s they?” Prelinsa asked.
Decebal looked up desperately at Prelinsa. “I can’t tell you! They could be watching us right now! We have no way of knowing! Please! We’ll both be in danger if you keep asking!”
Prelinsa sighed. “Fine. I won’t keep asking for now.”
“Now tell me! Where is Marianne?! Tell me now!”
“Mom is dead,” Prelinsa replied coldly. “After you left, I watched her die in the slums.”
Once more, the color drained away from Decebal’ face. He was silent for several more moments, as he took in what Prelinsa told him. Then, something within him snapped.
“NOOOO! MARIANNE! FORGIVE ME!!”
Decebal thrashed about, so violently that even with his restraints, he fell over in his chair, crashing to the floor. He continued to scream Marianne’s name while sobbing incoherently, still writhing about.
“MARIAAAAANNE!”
Seeing that she wouldn’t get anything else out of him, Prelinsa turned without another word and left the room. Meanwhile, specialists rushed in to deal with Decebal.
----------------------------------------
“Well, you got something out of him,” Rensa remarked, seemingly indifferent to the events that had just taken place.
“Yeah. But I don’t know if I helped, or just made things worse,” Prelinsa replied, still zoned out after having witnessed her father in such a state. She wasn’t about to forgive Decebal for leaving her and Marianne, or for spreading the Way of the Leviathan. No, she would never forgive him – she wanted to punish him for the years of suffering that she and Marianne went through. A part of her was happy to see him broken into pieces the way he was now. But in this moment, she did feel genuinely sorry for him as well. It was a strange and turbulent feeling.
“Nah,” Rensa replied. “You definitely helped. Thanks to this interrogation, I have a big clue as to what’s going on with these Rogues and their teachers.”
“If you say so.” Prelinsa’s ears were still lowered, and her tail was slack.
Rensa patted her gently on the shoulder. “I know what you saw was tough,” she said. “He’s your father, and he was a terrible person. It’s normal for you to have complicated feelings. But if my hunch is right, we’re going to see a lot more people like him. Take your time getting over this, and be prepared for what’s coming next.”
Prelinsa just nodded without a word.
----------------------------------------
“So he was yer father after all, huh?” Missus B. asked over dinner.
“Yep,” Prelinsa said, trying to be nonchalant.
“That fucking coward,” Missus B. said, with a dark expression. It was so rare for her to swear like this. “I wanna punch him real good. But after hearing what happened, it’s hard to even stay angry at him.” She took a sip of her water.
“Yeah,” Prelinsa agreed. “It’s weird. My whole life, I’ve felt angry at dad because he left me and mom behind. Because of him, everything was terrible. We lived in the slums, and mom even died. I’m still angry at dad, but now that I’ve seen him and said what I wanted, I feel a bit sad for him too. He really did seem sorry.”
“Well, feeling sorry’s a start,” Missus B. said, nodding. “But sometimes, it’s just not good enough, ya know? I don’t think it’s wrong for ya to feel both angry and sad. As Missus Kirith would say, yer feelings are justified. All I hope is that you’ve got yourself a little bit of closure now.”
Prelinsa nodded. “I think I have, yeah.”
“Good. Feel out what ya need to, but don’t dwell on it too much. There’s nothing ya can do for him right now – that’s what the therapists are for.”
“You’re right,” Prelinsa said. “And I still need to prepare myself for more questioning.”
----------------------------------------
News of the successful capture of Decebal spread to the public. As far as Rensa was concerned, the method of using Carolynn to capture a Leviathan mage was a one-off that should never be repeated again, so she was fine with letting people know about it – even the Rogues themselves. She also believed that transparency was a virtue in this situation – if she could help it, she didn’t want to hide the bad things that House Silvermoon was up to. She wanted the public’s trust.
Naturally, there was quite a bit of negative press – there was much criticism for sending Carolynn, a supposedly unstable clone, to meet with a dangerous Leviathan mage and not even telling her about the specifics of the operation. Some went as far as to compare this with House Goldensun’s use of innocent clones in war, claiming that there was a slippery slope.
However, the damage was mitigated by a few things. Firstly, innocent people had already died, so it looked like Rensa’s hand had been forced. Sending Carolynn wasn’t a preemptive action – it was completely reactive.
Secondly, Rensa was frank about the situation, and how much she hated sending Carolynn to do such a dangerous job. Instead of focusing on the successful results of the operation, her speeches emphasized how the Council had done their utmost to keep Carolynn safe.
Thirdly, there were people who, while not necessarily happy with Rensa and the Council’s choice, appreciated that the safety of the public had been prioritized over that of a single individual. To these people, the Council had been faced with a difficult decision, and chosen the lesser of two evils.
As a result, although there was some public anger, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Naturally, Rensa’s approval ratings were still down as a result. However, this was not entirely a bad thing to the foxy Rensa. The bad PR and the focus on Carolynn both distracted the public from a big project that she was working on.
Meanwhile, after Prelinsa had successfully managed to get something out of Decebal, the interrogations continued. They were hindered by the man’s catatonic state, but with Prelinsa’s assistance, a good amount of progress was made over the following days.
“So this time, he talked about an organization called the Axis of the Leviathan,” Prelinsa reported to Rensa. This time, they were talking in a meeting room in the Western Keep. “They’re the ones he’s been working for.”
Rensa nodded in approval. “So we have a name now. Did he say anything about this Axis?”
“Yeah,” said Prelinsa. “They promised that if he joined them, he would be freed of his guilt and suffering. Something about using the power of the Leviathan to destroy parts of themselves. Like destroying their own personalities, memories, and even identities.”
“Ah, that matches with my hunch from before,” Rensa thought aloud. “Great work; this explains a lot. That’s some really theoretical magic they’re using. But in your father’s case, it looks like the destruction wasn’t complete. Seeing you made him go back to himself.”
“Mm.” Prelinsa was still a bit uncomfortable, remembering how Decebal came back so suddenly.
“It seems like finding sources of attachment will be important for dealing with the Axis,” Rensa continued. “With how many of them there are, solving for that is a huge pain.”
“Yeah.”
“Fortunately, we know how they’re hiding now. I have an idea that we can try very soon to draw them out.”
Rensa put a hand on Prelinsa’s shoulder, doing her best to be compassionate.
“You’ve been a great help, Prelinsa. I mean it. We wouldn’t have gotten this far without you.”
“It feels weird hearing that, since dad only reacted because I look like my mom,” Prelinsa muttered.
“Yeah. I know it’s uncomfortable, but we got very lucky with that. Otherwise, we might still be interrogating an empty shell.”
As they spoke, someone knocked on the door. Prelinsa felt a pair of familiar mana hearts.
“You may enter,” Rensa said.
The door opened, and Corynn and Carolynn entered. The squirrel was on Corynn’s shoulder again – it seemed she hadn’t been able to rid herself of it. She didn’t seem to mind, though.
“Sister Rensa, and Prelinsa,” Corynn said, bowing slightly.
Carolynn also bowed slightly.
“At ease,” said Rensa.
“Have you made any progress?” Corynn asked.
“Yeah. We have a name, and we have the methods,” Rensa replied.
----------------------------------------
“The Axis of the Leviathan,” Corynn repeated.
“Yeah,” Rensa said. “A bunch of mages who use magic to destroy aspects of their own selves, and go around spreading the Way of the Leviathan. I have some ideas as to why they’re doing it, but nobody knows for sure yet.”
Corynn frowned. “Why did they go after Carolynn, when they didn’t go after anyone else?”
The squirrel tilted its head.
“I have three guesses,” Rensa offered. “One, she’s already a Leviathan mage. Two, she actively wants to get stronger. Three, she’s good at pretending that she doesn’t have any ulterior motives.”
Carolynn glanced at Corynn.
<
Corynn frowned. “Yes. It was fast. But I still hate it.”
Carolynn looked very annoyed, her Leviathan Core surging like bitter, rocky waves. She typed furiously on the keyboard.
<
“I’m sorry about that, Carolynn,” Rensa said. “Really, I am. I hate keeping people in the dark, and you did something that nobody else could. But in this case. I think you can understand that your actions might’ve been different if you knew what was going on.”
Carolynn exhaled sharply, taking some time to collect herself. Moments passed as she took in Rensa’s words, and tried to calm herself down. Finally, she replied with a blank look on her face.
<>
Prelinsa wasn’t sure that Carolynn actually understood. Most of the other clones were by this point well-adjusted, but Carolynn still clearly had issues with trusting people. She also had extensive practice in hiding her true emotions, which she had gained while working for the Magic Freedom Fighters. In short, she could be a challenging individual to read.
For now, all Prelinsa could do was hope that Carolynn would listen to Rensa.
“As for your magic learning, I’ve been trying to find skilled Goldensuns to help speed things up. Unfortunately, most of them are busy fighting against the Axis,” Rensa continued. “If there’s something else I can do for your in the meantime, let me know. You’ve done us all a great service, and I’m really grateful for that. I want to reward you somehow.”
Carolynn paused, then nodded a bit sullenly.
“Think on it, alright?”
<
Rensa thought for a moment.
“If you’d like, you can shadow me and Corynn during some of our work,” she offered. “I get that you don’t like things being kept from you. I’m the same way, after all. So I hope this helps a little, even if it’s not much.”
Carolynn nodded again, a bit more eagerly this time.
<
----------------------------------------
Following their discussions, Prelinsa exited the Western Keep. Out on the grounds, she saw Mirabelle waving at her.
“Hey! Is this a bad time?” The lycan asked.
“Nah. What’s up?”
“I wanted to thank you for snapping Cammy out of her funk,” Mirabelle said, looking truly grateful. As she said this, a black fox trotted by, then lay down some distance away and yawned.
“You’re welcome,” Prelinsa replied. “I just did what I thought a friend should do.”
“Yeah, you’ve been a really good friend for her,” Mirabelle replied. “I had no idea how to deal with Cammy the past few weeks.” She looked uncomfortable at the recollection of that. “Mother and father had no idea, either. But this week, Cammy seems like she’s finally got it together again. And it only happened because you talked to her.”
“Well, I just hope she’s doing better now,” Prelinsa replied. “I almost feel like I did something bad, telling her to find new reasons to work hard.”
Mirabelle shook her head. “Nah. You did the right thing,” she said. “Cammy lost sight of why she wanted to be a Silvermoon. It was super unhealthy for her, so I’m glad you snapped her out of it.” She smiled, a bit sadly. “Cammy needs to move on and find something else to live for. Even if that means giving up on some stuff. It’s for the best.”
Prelinsa nodded. “Yeah.”
“So, wanna go for a few spars? Gotta keep ourselves sharp for our new enemies!” Mirabelle sounded like she wanted to fight for the sake of fun and self-improvement, not just for the sake of their enemies. But Prelinsa wasn’t opposed.
“Sure thing,” she said.