Ember had been excited to hear about the raid but she should have known better. While the guards stormed the place with spears and swords brandished and magic slung, Ember was tucked safely away from the action. She was considered young and untrained so she was regulated to a safe house where she was able to confirm any changes to the location.

Despite her not being involved in the raid, she was given a bonus by the lieutenant and was acknowledged as an honorary guard. The guard captain was notified of her involvement and she was permanently assigned to work with guards, Ian and Haley, and two other guards chosen by the captain. It was set up to prevent knowledge of her mapping ability from getting out.

The few people who had met her at the guardhouse were put under oath with a compulsion to turn themselves into Second Lieutenant Jasper if they broke the vow. Ember could see multiple ways to get around that. Such as, if the person who wanted the information simply killed the guard or sent in a disposable lackey to get the information and then report back. Still, she appreciated the effort to try to keep her safe.

Ember soon found her days filled with training in the morning, guard duties in the afternoon, and magic practice in the evenings. On her off days, she volunteered at the temple infirmary. Her mother had managed to find a place to rent in the temple district though she had a hard time without the gentry title. Ember suggested they officially purchase a gentry title but her mother said she would think about it but never followed up. Ember got the feeling she didn't want to have such a big change in their station without her father being involved.

She knew that her mother dearly missed her husband and so her mother did everything she could to keep busy. This ended with her finding work at a shop. She fell into the job accidentally and proved to have a knack for sales. She went into the job informing them she couldn't stay long, which the shopkeeper was fine with since he only needed a temporary worker since his daughter, who helped around the shop, was close to giving birth and couldn't work.

Rowan also kept himself busy. He spent extra hours training and had even gotten friendly with the mercenaries that they rented the training grounds from. It allowed him to train even on the days the training grounds were being used by the mercenaries. When he wasn't doing that, he was tutored by their mother. Their mother had felt bad about being so neglectful of their education and wanted to fix that. Rowan wasn't quite as enthused about the tutoring sessions but stuck to it when Knight Garrick mentioned that all the royal knights were required to know how to read, write, and do math.

Weeks went by and the three of them fell into an easy routine. Still, the knowledge that they would soon need to leave for the capital itched at the back of Ember's mind. Justine reported back often about Allyana, though Ember spent enough time with the other girl to find most of the information on her own. This ended up with Ember loosening Justine's watch on Allyana but still having her keep her informed of any schedule changes when Ember wasn't around to see for herself. However, she was starting to think that the kidnapping would no longer happen. After Ember helped save Meri there had been no signs of the kidnapper.

Still, Ember didn't let her guard down and eventually, she found herself joining Allyana on a district round. Count Uniar had finally agreed that Allyana could make her rounds as long as she took Patricia and her warrior-priests. On top of that, several guards would be secretly following them. Allyana hadn't liked having so many guards around and worried they would frighten away the people who sought help but she didn't dare disagree with her father after just managing to get his approval.

Two groups were going on the rounds. Allyana's group included Allen, Patricia, Bridget, Ember, Richard, Priest Michael, Priest Andrew, and two acolytes Ember had seen around but wasn't familiar with. Priest Andrew often worked in the infirmary so she knew him well. Priest Michael, she had seen around and knew he was mainly in charge of providing food to the poor during the great festivals. The other group had a similar makeup - two priests and several acolytes.

"Why is she here?" Bridget said when she saw Ember.

"Because I invited her. She has been helping out regularly in the infirmary," Allyana said.

"Unlike someone," Richard muttered.

Bridget flushed. "I've been working at the research facility. I've had to work overtime because of her." She pointed at Ember.

"You mean because of you," Ember shot back. "It's not my fault you decided to push me around."

Bridget glared at Ember and then spun around. "Whatever. I don't plan on arguing with a child."

Ember rolled her eyes though she couldn't dispute it. Bridget and the others were around seventeen and eighteen, and Patricia was fourteen. It made Ember the youngest at twelve. She gathered that because of her age, Bridget had felt justified in trying to order her around. At first, she had assumed it was a class issue but Bridget was also a commoner and despite her attitude was very dedicated to the temple and studying curses. If she became a priest, class wouldn't matter since once a person became a priest they discarded any noble rank. There was still the Order hierarchy but as an acolyte, she was the lowest rank. So Ember figured, and it was now confirmed, that it was probably her age that gave Bridget her sense of superiority.

"Bridget please," Allyana said and hooked her arm with the other girl's. "This is my first outing in a while and I want to show Ember the good work we do. Can't you get along with her for my sake?"

Bridget huffed but her expression softened. "Fine."

Ember ignored the girl and instead fished out several bracelets she stored in a pouch. "I have something for everyone," Ember said.

She began handing the bracelets out to everyone in the group. They were simple bronze bands embedded with a small colored stone. They were elegant but not too expensive.

"What are these for?" Allen asked as she handed him one.

"I thought it would be nice to commemorate the occasion. I won't be in Hekral for much longer since I have to go to the capital with Knight Vantosia, so I thought I would do this in appreciation for how you all have taken care of me."

When Ember gave one to Bridget the girl looked surprised. "For me too?"

Ember shrugged and handed it over.

Bridget looked like she wasn't sure what to do but she slid the bracelet on. "Thank you, I guess."

Allyana smiled brightly at her words and put her bracelet on.

"Is there magic on these?" Allen asked, staring at the bracelet curiously.

"Do you think I could afford that?" Ember said.

Allen laughed and slid the bracelet on and so did Richard. Ember looked at Patricia to check on her and her friend was already wearing hers. What Ember had told them was true. There was no magic on the bracelet, but each bracelet had a small inscription on it that would help her locate them on her map. Ian's trick with the coin had stuck with her. If they were separated, Ember would be able to locate them as long as they kept the bracelet on. Having them wear the bracelet had been the hard part, but she figured if she gave it as a group gift, they would at least wear it during the outing in an attempt to be polite.

A few minutes later, the group set off. They planned to work a straight line from the Temple District to the Commoner District. Once they reached the Commoner District, they would move deeper in and set up a tent where they would provide medical aid or food to anyone who needed it.

Their path through the Temple District was uneventful. Not many people came out to see them. With the temple being so close they could always go there for what they needed, though there were a few that asked for food. The temple didn't give food out regularly unlike medical treatment so there were still people who approached them for it.

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Still, it wasn't too busy and they quickly made their way to the Commoner District. There, they were slowed down drastically. They were stopped many times to give out food, medicine, and first aid when possible. For people who needed more extensive aid, they were directed to follow them so they could be treated in the tents they were preparing to set up. Several city guards had also joined them, doing crowd control.

"I didn't know the city guard would be here," Ember commented.

"They always come out to help," Allyana said. "It's to prevent a riot or our supplies being stolen. People get desperate and that desperation can devolve into violence."

Ember looked at Allyana in surprise. Allyana had always come across to Ember as idealistic and a little naive but for her to acknowledge that violence of poverty showed Ember that perhaps she wasn't as naive as she first thought.

Finally, they reached the spot where they decided to set up the tents, and together the acolytes started setting up while the city guard guided people into two lines, one for food and the other for medical aid. The entire thing was a lot more organized than Ember expected.

"It's impressive, isn't it?" Richard said beside her.

Ember looked at him in surprise. She didn't talk much with Richard. His attention tended to be solely on Allyana and protecting her.

"Yes. I was admiring how organized it is."

"It's all because of Lady Allyana," Richard said proudly. "You don't see a lot of people willing to go so far for the poor, especially a noble, but she tries her hardest. A lot of people were against the district rounds, saying it was too dangerous and that people should just come to the temple. But Lady Allyana was determined to make it happen."

Ember looked at the crowd. "She's doing a lot of good."

Richard nodded and then he walked over to Allyana to help her. Ember watched him. She got the feeling that Richard's feelings for Allyana went further than admiration.

"What a tricky situation." Ember didn't dwell on it. Instead, she joined in on the work, sticking by Patricia while keeping an eye on Allyana.

As the day went on, the line didn't seem to get any shorter and by the afternoon there was still a large group, but the temple stated they were temporarily closing for an hour's lunch so half of the crowd departed while some stuck around, not wanting to lose their place in line.

Most of the two groups ate within the tent but a few sat outside. Allyana, Richard, and Allen decided to stay outside. Reluctantly, Bridget joined them, sticking to Allen's side.

"Let's join them," Ember said to Patricia.

Patricia nodded and they joined the group with the warrior-priests not far behind though they gave the group space.

"I feel like my arms are going to fall off," Bridget said.

"Same," Allyana said, stretching her arms out. "At least it's for a good cause."

Bridget grunted but Ember had seen the tenderness the girl had taken when caring for a patient with a bad infection. She didn't flinch like Ember expected. Even if Ember didn't like the girl, she had to admit she took her duties as an acolyte seriously.

"I need a nap," Allen said with a yawn. "Do you think we'll be here much longer?"

"Probably for a few hours more. We need to return before it grows dark," Richard stated.

"Excuse me," a voice called out and a little boy crept closer to Allen. "Can you help me?"

Richard immediately stood, blocking the boy's approach while the warrior-priests moved closer to Patricia.

Since the boy had approached Allen, he was the one who spoke up. "Is there something wrong?"

"My sister," the boy said, shrinking back a little when he saw Richard and the warrior-priests's aggressive stances. "She's too sick to come here and I can't carry her. Can you please help her?"

Allyana's face softened. "Of course we-"

"No, you can't," Richard said, cutting Allyana off. "Count Uniar said you can only do the rounds if you stay with the tents."

Allyana glared at Richard but she didn't say anything further. Instead, she turned Allen with a pleading look.

Allen shrugged. "Sure. I'll take a look."

"You can't go alone," Bridget blurted out.

"Are you volunteering?"

"I am," Bridget said, though she sounded nervous.

"I'll have a guard go with you," Richard said.

Bridget looked relieved and soon the pair left with the boy. Richard signaled a guard to follow them and then left to report what happened to the priests.

By the time lunch was over and the tents were re-opened, Allen and Bridget still hadn't returned. Ember started to worry. If the kidnapper was watching and had changed targets because of her involvement that meant Bridget and Allen could be in danger.

Ember moved to a corner of the tent and pulled out her map, making sure to keep it small and unobtrusive. She had Finder locate each of the bracelets and noticed that the two bracelets she gave to Allen and Bridget were stopped not too far from the tents.

Ember wondered if she should investigate when a scream cut through the air. Everyone turned to see a woman on the ground, clawing at their body as she let out gut-wrenching screams of pain. It seemed like an eternity but had to be only a few seconds and the woman fell limp.

Everyone was frozen in shock but it was short-lived. Another scream ripped through the air, then another and another. Chaos spread everywhere as people fled the area while more people fell to the ground screaming. The priest and acolytes ran to the victims, trying to pull them into cover and away from the fleeing masses.

"What's going on?" A priest said his eyes wide, but just as he did an acolyte fell to the ground beside him, screaming.

"We need to get out of here," one of the warrior-priests said and they surrounded Patricia and began guiding her out of the crowd.

Ember wanted to follow her but she knew this had to be part of the attack by the kidnapper. It was just like Meri had said, a pain that couldn't be explained. Ember couldn't hesitate. She rushed to Allyana.

The noble was surrounded by guards and was being guided to the temple just like Patricia. It didn't look like Ember could get close.

"Wait! Ember!" Allyana said, coming to a halt. "She's coming with us. Allen too!"

Ember turned around to see Allen looking pale and scared. She hadn't noticed him arriving in the chaos.

"Where's Bridget?"

Allen looked pale. "She started screaming and..."

"No time," Richard said. "We have to go."

"We can't just abandon her," Allyana insisted but her protests were ignored as the Count's guard ushered her forward.

With no carriage available, they had to fight their way through the streets. All around them, Ember could see panicked faces. Still, she stuck close to Allyana. She couldn't afford to lose sight of the noblewoman. The group managed to reach the temple whole. Ember was a little surprised that they were going to the temple instead of the Uniar estate but she knew the temple was closer.

"We'll have to wait here until the carriage arrives then we'll take you to the estate," Richard stated.

Allyana nodded, looking pale. "What do you think happened to Bridget?"

Richard's lips tightened but he didn't say anything.

"We should go somewhere safe," Allen said. "We can stay with the oracle. That's the safest bet."

Richard considered, looking at how pale Allyana was, and nodded.

Richard and the Uniar guards led them to where Patricia stayed. It took some convincing and Patricia's insistence but they were allowed inside. As soon as they entered, Patricia ran over and hugged Ember.

"You ran off," Patricia said, her voice filled with worry.

"I wanted to make sure everyone was safe," Patricia said.

"What was that back there?" Allyana said. "And what happened to Bridget?"

Everyone's attention turned to Allen. "She fell to the ground screaming. The guard scooped her up and ran to the tents and I followed but when I arrived the same thing that happened to Bridget was happening to everyone else."

"It had to be an ability," Richard said. "But one I've never seen before."

Ember frowned. Pain without a touch and falling to the ground, clawing at themselves. Why did this seem familiar? Then it clicked. She knew this power. She had this power.

It was Soul Torture.

Someone was using soul torture but the ability had only appeared once and that was in the capital several years from now. It had been a serial killer who enjoyed torturing their victims. No one had been able to stop them until Ember got involved. Did that mean Allyana had been the victim of the serial killer in the past?

No, she couldn't allow someone with that power to go around unfretted.

"I have to find him," Ember said and she called up her map. She hesitated. If she asked Finder to locate them then everyone in this room would know she could locate people by their abilities. It was dangerous but she had to do it. She could just ask Knight Vantosia to make them take an oath.

"So that's how you did it. Well, that's no fun."

Ember turned and as she did a wave of excruciating pain clawed through her. Before she knew it, she was on the ground, screaming. It was just like when she had fallen unconscious back at Lord Felis's manor but somehow it was worse. Ember struggled to fight against the pain. She could even feel her soul resistance kick in but it was too much. She barely managed to open her eyes and when she did she saw that everyone was on the ground, screaming and convulsing.

Everyone but one person.

Allen stood, looking down at them, and he was grinning.