Incindia’s POV

The between space, a lifeless and barren realm where both Celestia and Ash seem to thrive, always felt suffocating to me. Few elements existed in the realm and I resonated with none of them.

“To think I’d be forced down to this desolate place,” I groaned. “You better have a good reason for this, Cel—estuary…”

Bolton, Aqua, and Ash were present in the inner library as well.

I chortled. “What is this? We haven’t all met like this since… since before the fall actually.”

“Nice of you to join us Cindy, perhaps nicer if you tamed that hot tongue.” Ash offered me a faceless glance and a phantom grin, though the last was likely imagined.

My hands fisted, and the air grew hot around me.

Aqua shifted to place herself between us. She placed her hand on my shoulder then gave it a firm squeeze as she said,“Don’t be foolish. Not here…”

Ash folded his arms across his chest, turning back to Celestia as he said, “Now we are all gathered as you requested. What is so urgent that you must interfere with all our unique duties?”

Celestia raised a brow. “Your duties? Were you even doing them?”

Bolton released a hearty guffaw that filled the space.

Celestia looked at each of us. When her eyes finally reached me, they seemed to soften. I wasn't sure if it was an illusion, a trick of the light, or a subtle emotion hidden within her, but something changed in that instant. Her face was cold and her eyes distant, yet somehow it was like she looked right into me and saw my thoughts clearly.

Then it was gone and she returned her focus to the group at large.

“Someone besides us five has been in here. Maybe more than one someone. I suspect that one of you now knows exactly why I’ve called you all together.”

Ash stiffened. It was a small reaction, but a sign I wasn't sure anyone else noticed. I wanted to point out that his body language suggested he was hiding something. It was obvious and made me feel certain I knew what his secrets were.

I was no fool though. Calling attention to him would only raise suspicion of me and that was the last thing I needed. Instead I asked, “How could anyone else have gotten in here? It would take a true mage to survive in this place, those petty magisters would die the moment they crossed.”

I noticed Ash relax, but Aqua raised a hand to her hair twirling the strands like a restless child.

She must’ve known something.

Celestia smirked at my comment, but Bolton made no reaction at all.

The silence was uncomfortable. I waited a beat, expecting one of them to say something, but everyone seemed content to wait for someone else to speak first.

After an excruciating length of silence, Bolton spoke up, saying, “Well, since I’ve been away the last century overseeing the war and ensuring it remained secret—”

Celestia rolled her eyes, moving her head just a hair to the left. That little motion was enough to freeze the breath in my lungs.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Bolton paused with his mouth still open, groping for the word he wanted to say, but never finding it.

“And what of you Celestia?” Ash demanded. “This place is your direct responsibility. Overseeing the books on the outside, while guarding this place. Who are you to accuse us of failure when yours was the most important task and you’ve failed.”

Celestia released a heavy breath, shaking her head and muttering something.

I thought I heard her say, stupid man, but couldn’t be sure.

The room trembled and the atmosphere grew tense.

Ash looked at me. His flaming eyes appeared like red coals in a fire as he said, “Your disease was suppressed to keep them all in check, ensuring that only mages under our control could survive. So between the two of you, tell me, how did someone get in here?” Turning back to Celestia, he added, “and what the hell did they find?”

Her gaze fell to the ground. She seemed to shrink a little, as she whispered, “My memories.”

Ash flared with rage, dust storming around him as his form tripled in size.

My heart leapt to my throat and a rush of excitement flowed over my whole body. It wasn't his size that intimidated me, but his command over the space. Only Celestia stood a chance if he were to attack us here, but she didn’t flinch, tremble, or respond.

Her confidence made it all the more surprising when her gaze never rose to meet his as she said, in a defeated tone, “You all know what this means. Someone out there knows what we are, who we are, and exactly how to end us. Whichever of you allowed this to happen, speak now and let us reclaim what has been lost.”

Bolton stood, taking a step forward, saying, “You don’t have any proof that any of us allowed it. It could just as well have been your own fault, you have been lax on the outer perimeter. As far as I’m concerned none of you can be trusted. Especially not you! How dare you scold me for one little ant slipping out of the war zone, while you sit here playing librarian and can’t even guard one small door.”

I wanted to tell him to shut up and take a look in a mirror, but I wasn’t about to come to Celestia's defense. I wasn’t going to speak up for any of them. I had a good idea who was responsible, but to think this was her plan.

It was foolish and reckless, but this whole situation was working out in my favor.

As long as they didn’t trust each other, I wouldn’t have to worry about them teaming up against me. I only needed to convince them to eliminate each other, starting with Celestia, then Ash.

Celestia’s star speckled eyes stared blankly at Bolton. She smiled, then said, “If this is where we are then, you are all welcome to search my memory. It won’t show you anything more than I can say aloud, but it will give you some assurance that I wasn’t involved and haven't been hiding anything.”

Bolton relaxed a bit, seeming to consider her proposal. After a moment he asked, “All of us? Including Ash?”

She nodded.

This wasn’t a path I wanted to go down. If they decided to all share memories then my own plots would be exposed as well. The fact I knew of Aqua’s actions would—

Actually no… I had already told Celestia about my suspicions, sort of. So why didn’t she call out Aqua directly?

“Celestia, what about…”

She shot me a sharp glare.

I bit my tongue. It didn't feel right letting Aqua off, but Celestia’s position seemed clear.

Bolton walked over to her. His head turned as his gaze flicked between Ash, Celestia, and myself.

“The three of you are the most suspicious. I won’t be party to this farce any longer. One of you, maybe all of you, knows what’s up. Hide behind your airs, but remember, I’ve been closer to the crystal than any of you since this all began. By now, I have nothing to fear from you.”

With those words, he vanished in a bright yellow flash that shook the room and rattled the chains on the shelves.

Aqua seemed to hesitate, glancing from Celestia to Ash and then to me. I couldn’t imagine she felt any confidence after Bolton so plainly laid out his suspicion of all three of us, but she moved to Celestia all the same. She whispered something, then walked away, leaving me alone with Celestia and Ash.

My previous confidence began to waiver. They weren’t as divided as I thought, and even with the cracks exposed, I wasn’t so sure I had been careful enough to hide my own tracks.

My throat felt tight as I asked, “So what do we do now?”

Celestia closed her eyes, crossing her arms as she said, “We wait, for the traitor to expose themself.”