The sun overhead was already well past midday.

  Aurania moved through the village at a brisk pace, the duffle gripped tight at her side. The quake’s aftermath was visible in every corner. Cracks spidered through old stone walls, makeshift scaffolding propped up a collapsed awning, and piles of swept rubble marked where villagers had already begun recovery efforts. Near the southern corner of the plaza, the old dyehouse had been repurposed into a makeshift triage center. Its wide doors were propped open for airflow, and she caught a glimpse of Elias inside, sleeves rolled, issuing quiet instructions as he moved between cots. A few volunteers moved around him urgently, and the sharp scent of antiseptic herbs drifted out over the courtyard.

  Aurania kept moving and passed a pair of children chasing a loose chicken through the rubble like nothing had happened. As she approached the guesthouse she saw Veolo posted outside the front door, just like Aurania had ordered earlier. Her arms were folded tight, her rifle slung across her back. She still hadn’t had a chance to don any armor with the chaotic nature of the morning. Her jaw was set, eyes sharp beneath the shadow of the overhang, but she rose to stand more at attention as she caught sight of her War-Chieftess.

  Aurania slowed as she approached. “He still inside?”

  Veolo gave a curt nod. “Yes ma’am.” The girl was young, only 26 and still coming into herself, both physically and emotionally. Aurania sensed she was upset by something, but there just wasn’t time to ask her about it yet.

  Aurania walked up and knocked on the door. A few short footsteps responded from the other side and the small CIPHER girl with blonde and pink hair answered.

  “Hello again, ma’am,” she said respectfully.

  Aurania held out the duffle bag. “Clothes. Make sure he wears them.”

  Tamiyo took it without flinching. “I will, thank you so much.” Her tone was cheerful and innocent, but her gaze didn’t waiver. The girl was looking up at her with those electric blue eyes the exact same way she had in the town square.

  “Get him dressed and back to Silvara’s Hall. We still have a lot to discuss.” Aurania still had a tone of anger, but she didn’t mean to take it out on this girl. Not entirely, at least. She gestured back over her shoulder. “As soon as he’s ready, Veolo will escort you back. Don’t dawdle.” She turned to leave.

  Tamiyo’s voice followed her before she’d taken more than two steps. “Why does he get under your skin so much?”

  Aurania froze in place, her spine going rigid. That same fucking question that Kizara had asked. The audacity. Who did this girl think she was? Aurania turned and glared at her.

  Tamiyo stared back, resilient as a steel wall. “He’s confused. Hurt. Still trying to understand what this place even is. You don’t have to like him. But maybe stop being so mean to him.”

  Aurania felt her rage boiling up again. She exhaled so hard through her nose she thought steam might shoot out, and bit out, “Why?”

  “Because I see how strong you are, Aurania.” The girl had never called her by name before. “And temper tantrums look weak on someone like you.” Then she bowed low without another word and slowly closed the door.

  As brazen as the words were, she hadn’t sounded mocking. There’d been no challenge in her tone, only clarity. That didn’t stop her from getting angry. Kizara would say the girl had a point.

  Aurania turned and saw Veolo still at her post, eyes fixed straight ahead. Her jaw was tight and she looked like she’d swallowed whatever she was about to say. She’d heard the whole thing. Aurania stalked past her without a word, hooves crunching against sunbaked grit, and headed back toward Silvara’s Hall.

  By the time she arrived, the afternoon sun was already flirting with evening. The space had quieted, the bustle from earlier giving way to the tension of the meeting about to resume. Samara was already seated at the stone table, hands folded in front of her, posture composed but heavy with thought. Elias and Inelius were both seated again in the same spots as before, and Violet quietly stood guard a short distance away.

  Aurania crossed the chamber and took her place beside her sister, saying nothing. Her shoulders were tight, and she was starting to get a headache.

  A few minutes later, the main doors opened.

  Veolo stepped inside followed by the two CIPHER girls.

  Then him.

  His new clothing was simple but sharply cut, Kizara had designed his outfit similar to their militia outfits, but completely blacked out. His pants were tactical in design with large pockets on the sides of his thighs. They were tucked into matte military-style boots that laced up past his ankles, and a form fitted shirt clung tight to his frame. The fabric was smooth and practical, but there was no hiding what was underneath: big arms, a broad chest, muscles that screamed strength even without whatever crazy power laid underneath. He looked clean now, skin faintly flushed from scrubbing off the blood and dust. His hair was trimmed shorter on the sides than on top, which was straight and ran around five inches long. It didn’t appear to be styled in any particular way, but shot up and forward in quick angles. Just like the color—dark at the roots and quickly shifting to silvery-white—everything about it seemed to defy physics. Even at rest, it looked like he’d just stepped out of a storm.

  Aurania’s eyes lingered on him for just a moment longer than she wished they would have, her lips parting as she forgot how to think for a heartbeat. She quickly tore her eyes away and silently cursed at Kizara.

  Soren paused as his eyes moved across the chamber, briefly landing on Samara, then Aurania—then darting away elsewhere, almost too quickly. He walked over and sat down with them, once more propping up the translator with one hand. Tamiyo and Raine joined them a moment after.

  No one spoke for a few moments. Then Samara took a deep breath and began. “I finally received word from Altina while we were in recess.” She looked around the table before turning to Soren. “Have you been informed of where Miss Tamiyo actually found you?”

  He read the words on his screen, then responded in his old Terr-English vernacular. “Yes. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, it was very unsettling. I guess it matches up with some of the details of what I remember, not being able to breathe and whatnot. But I can’t speak as to why I was there in the first place. Or why a black hole is missing.” He still wouldn’t look at them for more than a fraction of a second.

  “While those pieces of the puzzle would be very beneficial, even without them, you are undoubtedly connected to everything happening to our world,” Samara said. “Inelius and I separated the facts from the speculation while we were waiting. Inelius, if you would you be so kind.”

  “Yes ma’am,” he responded. “We discussed the possibility of Aurania’s vision being a lie. We asked ourselves: what if this mysterious figure actually was acting maliciously?”

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  As he paused for a moment, Soren adjusted his posture nervously in his chair.

  “Even if he’s lying to us,” Inelius continued, “Tamiyo found him floating in the middle of space, where no human should be able to survive. There is also a missing black hole; that has been confirmed by Altina. Ever since the Mandachor Abyss vanished, strange weather phenomena have been occurring. Not just here, Altina says they're happening all over the planet.” Inelius looked around the table before he continued.

  “Additionally,” Inelius glanced at Aurania, then looked directly at Soren. “He appears to be borderline invincible. And extremely physically strong.”

  The group nodded in agreement.

  “These are facts,” Inelius said, “regardless of if we believe Soren acted in self-defense or not. As far as speculation goes, there are two main questions we have to ask, both ourselves, and of Soren.”

  The table looked at Soren, then back to Inelius.

  “First, if he was not acting in self-defense in the jungle, then why did he attack the camp? Second, why did he put so much effort into protecting the villagers of Berilinsk this morning during the quake?”

  There was a long pause after Inelius finished. The weight of his final question lingered in the air. No one looked directly at Soren, but no one challenged what had been said either. The wind outside shifted against the old stone of the Hall, a soft whistle threading through a cracked arch above.

  Then Samara spoke. “The facts have led me to be less suspicious of you, Soren.” True to form, her words were soft and kind, but the tone she used and the way she was looking at him—they held firm with the full weight of her authority. “That does not, however, absolve you of the blood on your hands.”

  Soren tensed, but said nothing. His eyes were glued to the translator.

  “You saved lives earlier today, and for that, we are grateful. But our village is already actively mourning the losses, and the Celebration of Life festival will soon begin in remembrance of the five people whose blood you washed off just in the time since we last spoke.” Aurania’s eldest sister wasn’t being cruel, but she wasn’t sugar coating it either. “That pain is still fresh. It is as present in this room as any one of us at this table. If you would like to take steps toward easing this burden, then do not object to my next request.”

  Aurania glanced at Samara then looked back at Soren, who looked like he was about to start sweating.

  “According to Altina, the Mandachor Abyss was part of a delicate gravitational balance between our planet and sun. The other planets in our star system appear to be far enough away that they were unaffected, but…” she glanced at Soren. “Whatever this thing is that you’re inexplicably linked to, whatever caused the black hole to disappear—it has thrown Nox out of balance.”

  Samara paused to let people absorb that.

  It was shocking for Aurania to hear herself.

  “Apparently,” Samara continued, “it’s only going to get worse. Altina’s researchers are still gathering data and running simulations, but the early results are… troubling. We don’t know what’s coming, only that it will escalate.”

  She let that hang for a moment. “Soren. I need you to accompany an escort to Altina and speak directly with the Observatory. Hopefully, by the time you arrive, they should have a clearer assessment of what’s happening to our world. But you,” her gaze sharpened, “you appear to be a part of whatever broke it. Let them study you. Cooperate with whatever needs to be done to understand what you are and how we might begin to set things right.”

  For a moment, no one spoke. Soren slowly tilted his head to the side, lost in thought. He didn’t look up. His jaw worked slightly, like he was trying to chew through a thought that wouldn’t budge.

  Tamiyo glanced toward him, not speaking, but her posture shifted—more alert, more protective.

  “I…” Soren started, then stopped. He read the translator again, as if making sure he hadn’t misunderstood. Finally, he looked up—almost looking away again, but managing to stay fixed on Samara’s eyes. “I would actually really like that, thank you ma’am.” His shoulders seemed to relax a little.

  Aurania couldn’t say it was the response she was expecting, but it wasn’t unwelcome.

  Soren continued. “I’ve had no idea where to even begin looking for answers since I woke up on Tamiyo’s ship. So thank you for giving me somewhere to start.”

  Samara studied his candor for a few moments, then said, “Good. In the morning you will be departing for Altina. You can stay in the guest house with Miss Tamiyo, but if you wish to stay in my good graces, you will stay indoors.”

  “I do apologize for the trouble I’ve caused,” Soren told her. “I’d like to help pick up the damage around town or do whatever I can to help make things right.”

  Samara observed him for a moment. Then she said, “I appreciate the sentiment and understand the urge to make amends, but let me think it over. Our people are proud, and when grief is fresh, even sincere gestures can cause more pain than healing.”

  Samara looked to Tamiyo and Raine. “You girls are still welcome around Berilinsk under our prior arrangement, but I will be posting a guard to ensure he doesn’t leave the house.”

  The CIPHERs exchanged a glance and Raine spoke up, “We understand ma’am, thank you.”

  Samara stood, and the rest of the table joined her. “It has been a long day and a longer week, and I fear we are just beginning. Everyone rest up and take care of yourselves,” she paused, briefly looking around the table. “The trucks leave at sunrise. Good luck.”

  Stepping away from the table, Samara beckoned Aurania over to her.

  “You want me to escort them, don’t you?” Aurania asked.

  “Do you not want to go?” Samara responded.

  “I didn’t say that.”

  Samara chuckled lightly. “What did Kizara have to say?”

  Aurania flushed a little and looked away from her sister.

  Samara grinned widely. “I bet I can guess a couple things she said.” She reached out and rested both hands on Aurania’s upper arms. “Are you alright, Little Sister?”

  “I’m fine,” Aurania muttered, avoiding her sister’s eyes. “Don’t call me little, I’m taller than you. Have been for a long time.”

  “You’ll always be my little sister,” Samara said. She finally managed to catch Aurania’s gaze and her expression made it feel impossible to look away. She was intense, commanding, soft, and maternal all at once. It’s what made her such a good Chieftess.

  “You need to go with them,” Samara said, her voice softer now. “I’ve never seen anyone affect you the way he does. He’s part of whatever’s happening to Nox. And like it or not, you’ve become linked to it too.”

  Aurania didn’t answer right away.

  “Take your warriors with you,” Samara said. “In many ways, they’re more your sisters than I am. They’re a reflection of you. They look to you for guidance. Keep them close.” Samara pulled her down and planted a soft kiss on Aurania’s cheek, like a mother to a child. Then she strode away to return to her duties.

  Aurania stood still for a moment, the warmth from her sister still lingering. The fire under Aurania’s skin was still present, but it almost felt like it was beginning to fade. Not gone, just dulled at the edges. She turned to leave the chamber. Near the main doors, Tamiyo, Soren, and Raine were walking towards the exit.

  Veolo was in front of them, blocking the way.

  She looked livid.

  Aurania’s heart leapt into her throat.

  “I don’t care if you helped today or not,” Veolo growled, her voice echoing off the chamber walls. “I saw what was left in that jungle. What was left of my friends.”

  Soren didn’t respond. His eyes dropped toward the floor.

  Tamiyo stepped slightly in front of him defensively, but she sounded nervous. “Veolo—”

  “No!” Veolo cut her off, glaring hot daggers down into the girl. “You weren’t there. You didn’t see what he did. The way Thamdir’s neck was snapped from how hard you hit him,” her words were like acid through the air at Soren. “Or the way Kasey’s throat was an open gash because of the way you threw Klix at her like a fucking ragdoll.”

  There were no tears in Veolo’s eyes like Aurania had had earlier. She was burning hot with rage. “We’re still burying friends because of you.”

  Aurania exhaled, then approached.

  “Veolo,” she said in a commanding tone. It made her feel like shit, like she was reprimanding herself.

  Veolo looked at Aurania and although her rage held, a flash of fear crossed under her eyes. She was little more than a child, after all.

  “Veolo, let them pass,” Aurania told her gently.

  The young warrior looked at Soren, down to Tamiyo, up at Aurania, then back at Soren. She snarled at him and spit at his feet before stalking out of the building.