The tea cooled as Skye spoke. He started by revealing the old scar on the back of his head and thanking the doctor for treating him. Then he went over his recovery journey and how his friendship with Rierana and Lyonel had formed. He mentioned how they used to climb into high places together in Radethyst District, their journeys to fish in Aquanturine, and their trips into Florald District searching for berries.

  “You've been spying on us?” Rierana said, frowning. “That was only me and Lyonel.”

  Skye shook his head, then described in detail their one-time secret incursion into the Deeps when they spent over an hour making sure no one followed. Eyes unblinking, mouth ajar, Rierana stared as her parents glared at her in silent reprimand.

  Afterwards, he described his ventures into the Deeps, with Gideom at first, then alone. He admitted he’d done it against the doctor’s requests, and apologized profusely. When he finally reached the night of his team’s deaths, his throat locked up.

  “The cave-in happened out of nowhere,” he said. “And that’s when my bell appeared.”

  He continued his story, speaking of his miraculous escape, and omitting the parts about the wardens and elexos as they were not the Medhars’ issue to worry about. Finally, he told of how he met each of them afterwards, and shared his investigations so far.

  Once he was finished, they asked for clarifications and he answered as best he could. Then there was silence.

  Skye heard his heart beating in his ears. He summoned his bell. He didn’t know what to expect. But if the Medhars started to ridicule or accuse him of lying, he’d leave immediately.

  “I’ve never heard of such a condition,” Dr. Stenser confirmed what Skye already suspected. “Treating fantasia ailments is far beyond my ability. But I think I can pull a few favors to ask some experts about it.”

  Skye’s jaw quivered. “You will help me?”

  Dr. Stenser nodded. “I’ll do what I can. But you have to promise not to go prospecting into the Deeps again.”

  Skye perked up. “I promise!”

  The doctor stood. “It’s been a long day for all of us, and it’ll be a long day tomorrow. Have some rest tonight.”

  “Yes, thank you.” Skye said, beaming with joy.

  After helping wash the dishes, Rierana led him into his old room. Alone, he threw himself onto his bed and stared up at the familiar ceiling. In a fury of muffled shouts, he punched the air excitedly, unable to contain his joy. He’d made it back home. He was no longer alone, and he had help. Everything would be fine.

  Rierana returned a moment later, carrying clean sheets and a blanket.

  “Were you really there with Gideom when… it happened?” Rierana asked, arranging the bedsheet.

  “Yes,” Skye replied, replacing the pillowcase. “He saved my life.”

  Rierana sighed. “I used to think Gideom was my grandpa when I was little.” She looked out the window, eyes distant as if trapped in an old memory. “I cried a lot when I learned he died.” She gave Skye a crooked smile. “But I’m glad you made it out.”

  “Thank you.” When she turned to leave, he called after her. “How did Dr. Stenser get… um, hurt?”

  Rierana threw her hands in disdain. “He treated some prospectors at the Gateway who survived a cave-in. Turned out they were gang members, and when their rivals heard, they ambushed him.”

  “Oh,” Skye intoned. “Which gang?”

  “We don’t know yet, and honestly, I don’t care,” she said. “I’m just happy he’s alright.”

  They said goodnight, and Rierana left. Skye lay on his bed, eyes wide open. Cave-ins were still common in the Deeps, which meant the wardens were still experimenting there. He’d have to get the names of both gangs to narrow down the wardens’ new operations arena. But he’d promised not to visit the Deeps again.

  No, he promised not to go prospecting.

  **********

  A series of loud bangs jolted him awake. He leaped from his bed, as he heard Rierana shout, rushing into her room. She was on the floor, groaning, her face wet with rain. The window was wide open, the winds slamming the shutters in both directions.

  He hurried to her side. “Are you alright?”

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  She raised a hand to the purple contusion on her forehead, then carefully touched her abrased elbow. “Ouch,” she whimpered.

  “Your arm’s bleeding!” he said, alarmed.

  “I tried to close it, but it slammed into my head then I fell.” She groaned, sounding dazed. “Please shut it. My bed’s getting drenched.”

  Skye climbed over the wet sheets, and reached into the storm, grabbing for the shutters. As rain lashed his face and the gusts kept knocking the boards just out of reach, he learned that this struggle was not as funny as he’d imagined from below.

  Eventually, he caught the left shutter and noticed the tip of its lock was broken. “Hey, you might want to get this fixed. Because otherwise-“

  Dong!

  Thunder struck above. Rierana screamed.

  Skye watched his accursed bell hop around the room merrily. Then turned to Rierana wide-eyed, his damp hair covering his face.

  “No, no, no,” he whispered, stepping off the bed. “Rierana, it’s me, Skye! We’re friends. You know me!”

  Rierana screamed still, crawling away from him, her elbow bleeding. Outside, footsteps rushed toward them.

  This was not fair. There was no built-up dread, no warnings, and no hint that the bell would ring. It had activated on its own, as if to sabotage his life.

  This morning… it had activated without his command. He wanted to grab and smash it, but it avoided his sight as much as it had escaped his control.

  “Get out of my room!” Rierana shouted, throwing her shoe at this stranger in her room, terror gleaming in her eyes.

  He ducked just in time. “Rierana, please!” he pleaded. “I’m not going to hurt you!”

  Doctor Stenser charged in, kicking the door open. Without warning, he rushed directly toward the bed, grabbing and slamming Skye against the closet.

  “What have you done to my daughter?!” Stenser roared, his face contorted with fury.

  Skye gasped. The doctor’s forearm crushed his throat. Uselessly he tried to push him away, but the man was like an enraged stonebear, unstoppable, inevitable. After all, he was twice Skye’s size, and he was fighting for his family.

  “Sten, she’s bleeding!” Jella said, brows furrowed. She knelt next to her daughter, holding the injured arm.

  “My shutters flew open, and I thought it was the wind,” Rierana said, dazed. “Then something slammed into me, and threw me off, and he was standing on my bed.” She pointed at Skye.

  Skye squirmed, trying to speak, to beg them to wait, to give him a chance to explain. As the doctor pressed harder, the pain in his neck and chest became unbearable and an animalistic instinct took hold of his arms and legs as he floundered, pushing, and clawing for air. Mercilessly, Stenser punched his gut so hard, it felt like he’d dug a hole through him.

  Skye crumpled to the floor. Gagging, he retched, and vomited his supper onto the carpet.

  “Who sent you?!” Stenser bellowed, yanking Skye up by his hair. “Who do you work for?! ANSWER ME!”

  Skye refused to believe that this was happening. He was not being beaten by the doctor. Jella and Rierana were not looking at him terrified and hateful. Barely outside his reach, the Void-spawned bell swung happily, as if proud of the results of its actions.

  “Dad, stop!” Rierana yelled.

  Stenser paused for a moment, then slammed Skye’s face into the mess on the floor. Groggy, Skye felt hands patting him down, searching his pockets.

  Finding nothing, the doctor snarled in frustration. He grabbed Skye by the collar and pulled him out the room.

  “I’m getting to the bottom of this, you hear me?” Stenser snapped, dragging him down the stairs.

  Skye stumbled, barely able to keep up. His entire body ached. “It’s all a misunderstanding. Please let me explain!”

  “Save it for the constables.” Stenser shoved Skye down the stairs. “I’ll make sure they rip the truth out of your jaw whatever it takes.”

  Skye clung to the railing. “Please, stop! I didn’t do anything wrong. I-I don’t deserve this!”

  Stenser twisted Skye, the wrath in his eyes similar to that of the burning monster. “You broke into my house and attacked my daughter in her bedroom!” he shouted, his nostrils flaring. “You gang rats have crossed the line! Maybe you think this is the Deeps, where the rules are loose. But up here? We throw people like you into the Scar.” He finished the last sentence with a snarl. “Forget the constables. I’m taking you to the wardens.”

  “No!” Skye cried.

  He lashed out with a fist, catching the doctor in the stomach. At the same moment, he rang his bell.

  The shock sent Stenser staggering, his eyeglasses falling and breaking on the ground.

  Skye bolted for the door. At the threshold, in the storm, he looked back. The doctor stood bent over, stunned. Jella and Rierana staring from above, confused.

  He slammed the door shut, casting his curse again.

  Under the rain he ran, not knowing where to go. The hateful looks of the Medhars haunted him. He shouted into the night to clear their accusations from his mind.

  He wished the wardens had gotten him too. They’d have held a nice funeral for him, and that would be it.

  It was a mistake to come here. What an idiot he was for thinking anything good would come out of it.

  He hastened away, heart throbbing, tears washing in the rain. All of this happened because of those Void-damned wardens. He wished he could find them, to beat them. To break their bones like they did to his teammates. He craved dancing on their corpses and leaving their bloodied bits in the Deeps to petrify.

  Shaking, he stopped at the end of the street, leaning against a wall. His stomach churned. Retching, he dry-heaved on the sidewalk; he had nothing inside anymore.

  He wiped his mouth, then stared at the ceiling above, thick raindrops splashing against his skin.

  Even after everything, he wanted to go back to the Medhars'. He knew they’d apologize if they’d learned the truth. But he couldn’t face them again; not tonight. Not before breaking his curse and saving the city.

  What those wardens did to his teammates was only the beginning. Two months from now, the monsters would come to destroy Troqua and kill thousands more.

  He did Stenser’s breathing exercises, steadying himself, holding onto the blue ribbon. Half-measures wouldn’t work. Going without a plan would guarantee tragedy. If he wanted to save this city, to save anyone, he had to give it his all.

  The wardens hadn’t won yet. It seemed the whole world was against him, but that didn’t matter. Those wardens had worked hard to hide their crimes, but they missed one important detail.

  Him.

  I will stop them, he thought, marching forward. His chest burned with fire. His skin shivered from the cold. Everything ached. No matter how long it takes, I will stop them.

  ?????Days until Green Eve: 60?????