Thepa continued to ride her cloud of euphoria well into the week, savoring every moment with Claudia and Rory. It felt like they were schoolgirls again—working hard through the day just so they could stay up late, laughing and talking until the small hours of the night. There, she relished every joke, every shared secret, every moment of camaraderie. When morning came all too soon, they'd do it again, burning the candle at both ends trying to make up for lost time.

Save for the missing Einkidi, the week was as close to perfect as Thepa could imagine, and she was sure it was only going to get better. As the week finally drew to a close, Thepa's primary duties as captain of the Goldale Guard came to an end. Her focus now shifted to leading Sainta's first elite team—a team she'd share with two of her best friends. When the morning of the day finally arrived, she almost thrusted the position of the command on Lieutenant Aldermoon like a traveler shaking off a cursed amulet, eager to rid herself of its burden.

Now free, she left the barracks to find Rory exactly where Rory had busied herself during the week, on the lowest level of Goldale. In no time at all, she allowed her hooves to clack down the stone steps of the spire, wished a young family hello, then found herself once more in the kaleidoscope of unpleasant sights, jarring sounds, and pungent odors. In the center of it all was Rory, standing on a soapbox, preaching a homily to a captivated crowd.

"Love has no equal. Its patience endures longer than the stars, because it has no end. Its understanding is deeper than the oceans, embracing every flaw with gentle grace. Its compassion knows no bounds, reaching out to heal even the gravest of wounds. However, without love, even the greatest feats of power are hollow. Wizards can move mountains, but without love, they are merely slaves to war. Druids can tame the wild, but without love, they reduce their dominance to nothing more than indentured servitude."

"Save my baby!" cried a voice from the crowd.

"No, fix my leg!" shouted another.

Rory ignored the pleas, instead, she continued to stand above the fray, teetering on the edge of her soapbox, balanced by the pack on her back. If she wasn't careful, Thepa thought she might tip the whole thing over—a precarious balance for someone she remembered as having two left feet. How she managed it now was a mystery.

"Chandeidra is love. You see, many mistakenly believe love is just an emotion, a fleeting balance in the mind designed to stir up trouble in the body. But love," Rory continued, locking eyes with Thepa, "is more than an emotion. It is a force, driven by divine providence, that demands to be seen, compelling commitment. It calls us to act selflessly, to place the needs of others above our own, even when it demands great personal sacrifice. Those who live by her love do so, because we know something others do not. Love is not about..."

"Us," Thepa said completing the thought with her friend. Thepa personally found the whole thing to be nonsense, drivel designed to keep the masses in line, but she respected the depth of conviction with which Rory spoke of her deity. Over time, she had come to see that Rory was truly committed to the doctrine, never wavering in its belief. Her friend lived and breathed Chandeidra as naturally as she lived and breathed life itself. Thepa had heard Rory's teachings countless times, each word etched into her memory. She could recite much of it in her sleep, and she found herself doing just that, whispering the familiar words amongst the crowd. "It's about giving the lost a chance to find clemency and grace."

Rory smiled, a smile Thepa knew was just for her, continuing, "As long as others still have a chance at the promise, I will do what I can, even if it means giving my own life."

"You mustn't, Madam Priestess," came a despairing cry.

"Chandeidra save you from your enemies!" came another.

"But don't you see," Rory said, finally tearing her gaze away from Thepa. "She already has. Even if I give my life, my future is secure." As if to illustrate her point, Rory leapt off the soapbox, and the crowd parted to let her through. She stopped in front of a battered woman, a Youngling of the Stars barely above twenty completions. In her arms she held a swaddled bundle Thepa couldn't quite see, but the second Rory raised her hands, palms open and forward, Thepa knew she was casting a healing spell on the baby for which the woman had earlier pleaded.

A hush overtook the crowd. Blue light built up in Rory's hands, forming a shape of a small sphere. Ripples flickered off her fingers, weaving the magic into a more cohesive form. As the spell neared completion, Rory brought her hands closer to the baby, then forced the light inside with a gentle push. The blue light enveloped the infant, casting a warm, soothing glow. In the moments that followed, everyone collectively held their breaths, until the baby's cry of relief mingled with the mother's tearful gratitude broke through the air.

In the aftermath, chaos followed. The crowd around them began to shout, "Me next!" "No, me!" "I was here first!" One by one, they cried until they were on top of each other, all vying for Rory's attention. Thepa sensing danger, fixed her green beret ready to step in, but before she could move her two hooves forward, Rory held up a single hand demanding attention.

"Friends," she said piercing the chaos. "May Chandeidra heal you of your trespasses and ailments. I am her vessel. As long as I'm here, I will heal the body, but only she can heal the soul. Seek her love and forgiveness, and you will find redemption. As for now, I must conserve my energy for the war effort. Once I return, I will make myself available to you. In the meantime, may her light guide you through the darkness. Remember what I said."

"Love covers a multitude of iniquities," the crowd answered.

"Amen." Rory finished.

The crowd parted. Many stayed, hoping Rory would change her mind, but Rory moved passed them as if they weren't there. When she made her way over to Thepa, she gave her a soft smile, and gently hugged her saying, "I'm glad you got to hear that."

The hug was warm, but awkward. It wasn't the first moment since Rory arrived that gave Thepa pause. In her awkwardness, she gently patted her friend and sister's back fumbling for the right words, but Rory pulled a way, face contorted in a look of determination.

"Let's go. Claudia is waiting for us. I have something for you both, and I'd like to present it to you before the rest of the team arrives."

Thepa hesitated, looking back towards the dissipating crowd. "Rory is something—"

"I'm fine," Rory insisted. "Best not to keep Claudia waiting."

On the way up to the fourth level, Thepa listened as Rory talked insistently, not really saying anything. She spoke of her morning, what she had for breakfast, and how many people she had helped. However, there was a forced cheerfulness in Rory's voice. Thepa might not have been able to hide herself from Rory, but neither could Rory hide herself from Thepa. Something was bothering her friend, and it was clear she didn't want to talk about it. Unsure of what to do, she let Rory mutter on, until they arrived at council chambers. Once there, she wasn't at all surprised to see Claudia was waiting for them.

"Good morning," Claudia said greeting them enthusiastically before pausing with a raised brow. "Where's Gamma?"

Rory took off her pack and set it down on the table, careful to avoid the map Thepa requested for the mission. "I sent her home. She wasn't happy about it," she replied.

It was then Thepa realized she hadn't seen the human down at the docks. "Really? I thought she was coming with us." She stated in confusion.

Rory shook her head, removing an object from her pack. "It's better this way. Gamma isn't a soldier. She doesn't have the training. She's going to stay behind and do some of the clerical stuff."

"Oh, that's a good one," Claudia remarked. "A clerical cleric. What does she do, smite evil paperwork?"

Thepa started to laugh. It wasn't often Claudia made a joke, and this was good enough she thought Rory might win the bet she, herself and Einkidi had to break Claudia's stoic dementor. She looked to Rory to see if she too would laugh, but stopped dead in her tracks. It was subtle, but Thepa knew her friend and sister. The twitch, the red tip ears, the small bead of sweat on the brow. All were telling Thepa the exact same thing.

Rory was lying to them.

"Anyway, said Rory, shifting her gaze to Claudia. "I wanted you to come early, because I had a gift for both you. You're both very important people in my life and I just want to say thank you. Thank you for always being there for me."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

She handed the package to Claudia who hesitated either because of Rory's deception or her own humility. By the way her halfling friend and sister answered, Thepa assumed it was the latter.

"Rory, I don't—"

"Remember. Sometimes, getting a gift is about helping the giver. Let me do this please."

Claudia hesitated but nodded and accepted. As she opened it, she found a pendant in the shape of a star. Recognition on her face told Thepa she knew exactly what it was.

"Oh!"

"What is it?" Thepa asked.

Rory answered for Claudia. "It's a protection amulet. It magically protects the wearer similar to armor."

"It's a very thoughtful gift. Thank you, Rory."

Rory again smiled, then turned back to her pack. There was a stutter in her step and a small pause as she slowly reached in and pulled out a large parcel. Even though it was wrapped, Thepa could tell what it was based on its size and shape. Timidly, Rory gave it to her.

Without a word, Thepa carefully unwrapped the gift, her hands trembling. As she revealed the green composite bow nestled inside, a wave of awe washed over her. Her fingers traced the elegant curves of the bow, feeling its smooth surface and a delicate inscription etched along its side.

To my one True Sister, may you always find your mark.

Her heart swelled with gratitude; the earlier deception now forgotten. In her appreciation, her eyes glistened as she marveled at the beauty of the gift.

"It's beautiful."

"You like it?" Rory said hopefully.

"It's perfect. How did you get this in there?" She asked, gesturing to Rory's pack.

"It's a magical bag. I had a shoel of a time—" Rory started to say, but before she could finish her statement, the door opened, and in walked a satyr who was so beautiful, Thepa believed she would have captivated the attention of any man. It was her mother's champion: Sister Vivian.

Sister Vivian was a woman Thepa had known her whole life. As one of the three members of the Council of Sisters and the leader of the Sisters of Blood, Sister Vivian had been a significant influence throughout Thepa's upbringing. Her presence was always commanding and it wasn't hard to see why. Long sleek black hair cascaded down her back. Her muscular figure balanced the curves of her body, highlighted by her bronze skin. As if her figure wasn't enough, the Sister wore little, only a leather top that covered her breasts and a loose pair of trousers stopping just above her ankle. The woman carried no gear, not that Thepa expected her to. Instead, she had only her weapon, a large battle axe she had somehow strapped to her back.

Thepa smiled at the satyr whom she had admired since she was a youngling. "How was your trip?" Thepa asked sympathetically.

"Tiring," Sister Vivian replied, rolling her shoulders. "I do not like spending that much time on the open sea. It always sets my horns on edge."

Thepa nodded. "I'm sure. It was the same for—" Again the door opened and in walked an older human warrior, with gray hair and a scar running down the right side of his cheek. Unlike Sister Vivian, he was more dressed for battle, wearing Lightmount chainmail older than him. As the man entered, he pointed his chin up and held his nose high as if the stench of the room contained some unsightly odor. Still, Thepa greeted him warmly and gestured for him to sit down, opposite of Rory.

"I think we can get started in a minute; we're just waiting on—" Thepa offered as the door opened again revealing the last two members of the team.

The two could not have been more opposite. The first of the two was an elven monk. Thepa tried to greet him, but he ignored her and instead decided to sit next to Rory, staring daggers at the human. Awkwardness started to creep into the room and it only got worse. The second of the two she had already had the pleasure of meeting. It was the pink haired, pale skinned, scantily clad human female which had escorted Gildie into the council meeting. This time, the female wore a small pack around her back and a belt around her waist that held two slightly curved daggers which Thepa knew would be very deadly in very capable hands.

"Okay team, let's get started. My name is Captain Thepa of the Goldale Guard. By order of the Archduke and your nations leaders, I will be leading you on missions vital to the defense of Sainta." She paused to see if anyone would say anything, but save a few shifty looks, no one did. "Perhaps it would be helpful if we introduced ourselves?" She said, first turning to Claudia.

"Sergeant Major Claudia of the Wildehaven Ministry of Venya: Edlyn division."

"Lily, Swampspell," said the girl with pink hair and the promiscuous outfit.

The monk narrowed his eyes, his gaze darting suspiciously to each of the others around the table, "Bidant. Order of Kai"

"Sister Vivian of the Beachwick."

"Commander Will Steel. Personal guard to the President of Lightmount." The older knight said with a nod to Thepa. Normally, she would have found the gesture complementary, but something about it gave her pause.

"Aurora of the Wildehaven Ministry of Venya: Chandeidra division."

Not Rory? She thought. It was almost unheard of for Rory to use her given name. She didn't even like it when people used it for titles. Not wanting to call her out, she made a mental note to ask her about it later.

"Okay, well now that that is out of the way, let's go over the mission. Intelligence reports place a large group of goblins and hobgoblins coming into the Meric Mountains from the north and south." She took a moment to point out the two directions on the map sitting before her on the table. "Today, our job is pretty simple. We will approach the mountain range from the south using the Wildehaven controlled ionic crystal. From there, we will make our way north and attempt to track the beast's movements through the mountains. Our mission is to not engage the enemy before we ascertain their purpose for gathering in the mountains unless we absolutely must. Any questions so far?"

Again no one answered. At that point, Thepa thought the awkwardness in the room was so thick, it could have been cut with one of Lily's dagger. "Our mission is clear," Thepa stated firmly. "Once we determine their purpose for gathering in the mountains, we are to eliminate any possible threats that might arise from said gathering."

Claudia held up a hand. "What's our exit strategy?"

"Excellent question, Claudia," Thepa replied, her voice tinged with excitement. "Assuming everything goes according to plan, Ro—Aurora will use her teleportation magic to transport us back to the ionic crystal. From there, we will make our way to Wildehaven and catch a boat to Goldale. However, if things start to go south, we will need to retreat to a predetermined rendezvous point and wait twenty-four hours for everyone to regroup. If retreat is not an option, we'll hunker down on Aurora and rely on Plan Beta. She'll need..."

"Thirty seconds." Rory answered.

"Thirty seconds to cast her spell. Our goal is to keep her alive until then. From there the plan stays the same."

Will gave a small grunt, voicing his disapproval, "That doesn't seem like much of a plan."

"However, it is well thought out." said Sister Vivian.

Thepa felt a sense of gratitude at Sister Vivian's approval. She wasn't entirely satisfied with the escape plan either, but she hoped it wouldn't be put into action. At best, it meant Rory would be safe, even if she wouldn't be.

"If there are no further inquiries, we can conduct a final inventory check and begin our journey. I assume everyone is prepared a week in the mountains?" All members, except for Lily, gave a nod of confirmation. Instead, she checked her nails.

"And just to be sure, is everyone attuned to Wildehaven controlled ionic crystal?" Again, all but Lily nodded, finding a hangnail a better use of her time.

Frustrated, Thepa looked to Rory for help, but Rory shrugged her shoulders, stood up, and put her bag on.

Powerful magic permeated the room. The air cracked with energy as Rory began making intricate movements with her hands, chanting line after line of a spell. The rest of the group followed her lead by putting on their gear and much to Thepa's relief, Lily included. Thepa herself grabbed her own gear and new bow, watching as Rory finished her chant. When her friend and sister uttered the final line of the incantation, a burst of energy emanated from her, forming an arch around the group. In an instant, the room cracked, and they all vanished.

When they reappeared at the ionic crystal, the platform around it was chaos. The trip had been successful, but they somehow managed to teleport into the middle of a group of hobgoblins who had set up camp on the elevated platform. Though surprised, the hobgoblins were also caught off guard, giving Thepa and her team at least a competitive edge of having their weapons in hand.

Thepa's heart raced as she assessed the situation. Hobgoblins were everywhere; their red eyes glowing in the dim light of the campfire. She reached behind her back with one hand to grab her dagger as the hobgoblin next to her started to stand. She slashed at its throat, feeling the warm blood spray her face as it fell to the ground. She quickly turned to face the next one, but when she did, a sharp claw dug into her backside. In her discombobulation, a third hobgoblin had come up from behind, and she hadn't noticed until it was too late.

Next to her, Will pulled out his sword, wincing in pain as two hobgoblins attacked his legs with their claws. Working through the pain, he managed to kick one hobgoblin off the edge of the platform and stab the other.

Rory wasn't doing much better. She had reemerged from the teleport into the small fire. She attempted to shake off the flames, but only succeeded in kicking coals at the three hobgoblins trying to attack her.

Bidant was nowhere to be seen. To her left, Claudia and Lily teamed up to take out a pair of hobgoblins. On the far side of the platform, Sister Vivian had gone into a frenzy; single-handedly taking on the last three, blood and guts flying everywhere. What little wounds the hobgoblins managed to create quickly clotted at record speed as frenzy fueled Sister Vivian's rage. For someone so beautiful, it was not a pretty sight.

This is going south, Thepa thought. Where's Bidant? Too late now. Think, Thepa, think. You need to help Rory then go.

By then, Rory had managed to get her situation under control. She took some sweat from her brow, rubbed it in her fingers, and said a quick chant. Gallons of water poured from her hands extinguishing the flames at her feet. As the hobgoblins pounced, Thepa kicked the hobgoblin in front of her, turned and slashed at the one behind her, dropped her dagger to grab three arrows, then notched one into each of the three hobgoblins attacking Rory. The whole sequence couldn't have lasted more than a few seconds, yet Thepa was shocked at what she did. Never before had she moved that fast. Surprisingly, she wasn't even winded.

As the rest of the group finished off the hobgoblins, Rory took a piece of her burnt robe and said another quick chant. Seconds later, the squad glowed and Thepa felt revitalized as her wounds closed up. In the process, Bidant came running up the steps looking very disheveled as Sister Vivian killed the last hobgoblin.

"Well," said Lily. "That could have gone worse. I could have broken a nail. So far, things are not looking good for Elite Team Zero."

Thepa grimaced at the name, knowing she was already off to a terrible start.