I am tired of this.

It is something I cannot afford to confess. My men look to me for reassurance. They have fought this foe for a few decades at most, while I have fought it for two eons. They think this gives me an edge. In terms of skill, I suppose it does.

But I am tired. I do not know how much longer I can hold on anymore. This frightens me, as, for the first time, I begin to understand the Enemy.

-Aiedra Okron, circa 2,100 Post Fall of Meridian

Icy rain pattered against Ryla Magala’s carbon fiber battlesuit as she descended onto the cement ground of the launch pad. Lightning flashed in the distance. A pause. Then thunder.

After that, the louder roar of an engine as a massive carrier took off, thrusters sending smoke billowing over the waiting crowd. All around Ryla, mechanics and soldiers and passengers alike cursed and coughed, shoving their noses into the sleeves of their rain-covered coats. Ryla shielded her own nose with her hand, though she burned Ever to push the smoke away from herself.

Strange, how reflexively she did that these days. Before training with Larsh, she’d nearly had a panic attack every time she’d used the ethereal energy. That was before learning that her memory burning would not, in fact, drive her insane.

As if in response to her thoughts, she saw a red line of light flicker in the air beside her. She shivered, continuing forward.

How did one appear while I’m Infused with Ever? Larsh said you can’t see the afterlife while wielding another Power.

Well, it wouldn’t be the first time Larsh had been wrong.

Eyes followed her as she made her way through the crowd; though many of the departing passengers also wore Talar uniforms, with the Bladed Wheel emblazoned on her chest, she still stood out. Whispers followed her, too, none of them loud enough she could have heard them with her natural senses.

Being a memory burner, though, had its perks, and she caught every word they said and more.

Voidling, one woman thought, strutting around here, of all places.

Look, it’s the anti-war activist, an older man muttered. Wearing her battle uniform. Hypocrite.

Hypocrite. She tried to show no visible reaction to the man’s words, but they still stung. All she’d done, and this was the thanks she got?

They don’t know I’ve planned anything yet, she reminded herself. Things will change soon. Very soon, if I can manage it.

She pushed those thoughts away, too. There wasn’t time for her plans, not now. Right now she needed to catch her brother before he got himself killed.

Smoke billowed again as another massive carrier, the size of a small skyscraper, lifted off nearby. As it did, a young girl nearby burst into tears, burying her head into the leg of a man who stared wistfully at the ship as it soared upward. Her father, probably. Though perhaps not; it may very well be the girl’s father who was on that ship.

How many families were torn apart today, Ryla thought, just so Larsh can start another invasion? Her fist tightened in anger. Another flicker of ethereal red light warped the air beside her. She cursed under her breath.

It didn’t take long for her to spot her destination, a terminal where hundreds of young soldiers, in newly commissioned purple uniforms, were filing into line, waiting for the cruiser that would take them away to Grahala.

That would take Ryla’s brother to Grahala.

She swept her eyes over the crowd, then, realizing there were too many to pick out her brother normally, she stepped away, closing her eyes and drawing on her memory sense.

Her mind expanded, thoughts rushing through her, an overwhelming amount of them. Enough she had to lean over and grip her knees just to remain coherent.

But Larsh, for all her faults, was a competent teacher, and within a moment or two, Ryla picked out her brother’s mind. He was sitting and chatting with a shorter man next to him, wringing his hands in anticipation for his squad to be called.

Lighting up with Ever, Ryla soared into the air -- an act that drew even more eyes and whispers -- then shot over to her brother. She didn’t do a great job slowing her descent, and her knees strained as she struck the cement. I’ll have to work on that.

Her brother looked away from his conversation as she landed, eyes widening, then narrowing as he saw Ryla. His cheeks tightened, and he cursed softly under his breath, rising from the bench.

“Ryla. What’re you doing here?”

Behind him, the other soldier cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably. “Uh, Kai, might not be best to upset the noble…”

Ryla’s brother -- Kairus -- raised a hand. “Long story,” he said. “I’ll tell you later.” He met Ryla’s eyes. “Why are you here?”

Ryla could feel his thoughts, even though she tried not to. Okron, if she’s here to turn me in…

So he was trying that foolish plan of his. Fool! Why?

“We need to talk,” she said. She glanced toward the other soldier. “In private.”

Kairus snorted. “We’re in the middle of a spaceport. There’s nowhere private to go.”

Ryla closed her eyes, burning thoughts, letting her flesh fill with Ever until she was blazing with blue light. Then, she waved her hand, and both she and her brother began to hover. Kairus’ eyes widened.

“Ryla, I don’t think this is a good idea!”

“I’m your sister. Doing things you don’t approve of is my job.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Kairus groaned, but he didn’t have another chance to protest before Ryla burned more Ever to send them rocketing into the sky. She was careful not to accelerate them too quickly -- pushing two objects at once took extra focus -- but they still went fast enough that Kairus’ eyes nearly popped out of his head.

Ryla smiled deviously. “Good view, eh?”

“Put me down,” Kairus yelped.

Ryla’s grin widened, and she let Kairus’ acceleration slow, just enough that he would experience a moment of weightlessness. He yelped again, louder this time.

“Alright, alright, stop!”

Ryla laughed, letting them both slow to a constant hover above the spaceport. “I’m not going to drop you.”

“You sure made me think you would,” Kairus muttered. But, slowly, he relaxed. “I suppose this is one way to have a private conversation.”

“The best way.” Ryla paused, eyes turning downward, a part of her not wanting to ruin this moment. The view really was astounding, you could see the city sprawling out in every direction, rolling over hills, twisting through canyons, covering every plot of land it could. Her brother hovered silently beside her.

Did she really have to ruin this moment, with more talk of war?

Sadly, she knew the answer. “Why?” she asked. “It took a lot of effort to get you out of the draft, Kai. And then you sign up anyway?”

Kairus frowned. He was silent for a moment, and Ryla had to resist the urge to read his thoughts. It was better, she’d found, to have a proper conversation, especially when it was with someone you cared about.

“People are dying,” he said finally. “I can’t just stand aside.”

“Isn’t that what uncle would do? Going to war only results in more death.”

“No.” Kairus’ voice was suddenly forceful. “Uncle got himself out of the draft, yes, but only so he could stay and pressure Larsh here. You weren’t old enough to remember, but he actually hated doing it. Kept saying he was sending his men to die, while he lounged at home.” Kairus sighed. “It was the right decision for him. But not for me.”

Ryla shifted. “That… does sound like him, I guess. But… Kai, this war is brutal.”

“You would know,” Kairus muttered.

Ryla winced. “You know I don’t have a choice.”

Kairus pursed his lips. “You do. You just don’t want to make it.”

Ryla stiffened. “If I run, Larsh kills me.”

“And?” Kairus smiled sadly. “I know you can read my thoughts, Ryla. You know what I’m actually doing here.”

“Deserting,” Ryla whispered. She trembled. “They’ll kill you.” She closed her eyes, as if the darkness could somehow make the truth go away. “Just like they did uncle.”

“Only if I’m caught.” There was a question in his tone, and in his thoughts. Are you going to turn me in?

“I won’t turn you in; I’m not Mother. You don’t have to worry about that. I just… I want to know why.”

There was a long pause. Ryla’s Ever was running low, and while her eyes were still closed, she Reached for more thoughts, pulling them from the people below.

A mother ran her hands through her hair as she watched her son’s carrier rise into the atmosphere. His father had died on Ethea, fourteen years ago. Now she would lose him, too; she was sure of it.

A young man limped on crutches to his wife. They embraced. The hug didn’t last long, for they both knew the cost of healing his leg would crush them.

And that little girl Ryla had seen earlier. The poor little girl, who didn’t understand why her papa was going away…

As she opened her eyes and returned to reality, she knew what Kairus would say.

“We’re the bad guys, Ryla.”

“Larsh is the bad guy.”

“And those who follow her?”

Ryla raised an eyebrow. “What’re you suggesting?”

Kairus raised a placating hand. “I understand you don’t see it the same way. And I understand that you have… plans, and I do hope they work. But I can’t keep sitting at home, supporting a war machine just by my presence.” He met her eyes again. “And I think, if you look at your actions hard enough, you’ll realize you can’t justify them, either.”

Ryla tensed. “I’m doing what I have to, Kai. To make a better galaxy.”

“Oh? And where are you headed after this?”

“Alai challenged me. I have to take care of that.”

“By pummeling him into the dirt?”

“He killed uncle!’

“Oh? And what choice did he have, with Larsh breathing over his shoulder? You hate him, but can’t you see yourself in him?” He grunted, shaking his head. “We’ve already had this argument a dozen times. If you’re not going to turn me in, let me down.”

Ryla paused. A part of her was tempted to turn Kairus in, at least if he were in prison, he wouldn’t be dying in a mutiny.

But then, as she studied Kairus’ fiery, determined expression, she realized even that wouldn’t stop him from getting himself killed.

He’s stubborn. Like me, like Mother. Like uncle.

Tears threatened to well up in her eyes, but she pushed them backward. He’ll be fine. No need to cry. Burning Ever, she drifted toward him, wrapping her arms around him in an embrace. He hesitated, then hugged her back. She felt tension draining from his muscles as he did.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “That might’ve been a bit too blunt.”

“It’s fine. You resist Larsh your way.” She let go, forcing herself to smile. Forcing herself to pretend like everything was fine. “I’ll resist her my way. And, well, one day it’ll all work out.”

Kairus smiled, too, though there was a distinct sadness to the gesture. “One day.” He paused. “Take care of Arrus for me. Kid’s in way more trouble than he realizes.”

One day. Endowed, Ryla thought. I wish I actually believed that. “I will,” she said softly.

They hovered in silence for a moment. An instant Ryla wished could last an eternity. Then, straightening, she waved her hand, and they descended back to the ground. Soldiers swarmed Kairus as they touched down, and Ryla gave him one last goodbye, then shot back into the sky. She was already almost late to the arena.

Sear you, Alai, for challenging me today of all days. She shot one final glance back at the spaceport. A third ship was taking off. She knew rationally that her brother wasn’t on it, he still had an hour before his battlecruiser left, but it seemed to her a sign. For a moment the tears threatened to surface again, but she twisted the emotion into a simmering rage instead.

Things will change, Larsh. I will stop you.

Whatever it takes.