“The Blade of Galahad…”

  Noelle whispered the name reverently as she regarded the blade in Evantra’s grip. Evantra had tried repeatedly to consume the catalyst, but it was beyond her level. If Galahad was anything to go by, she suspected it was far beyond her level.

  The broken blade had a worn hilt and a blade that extended about ten inches outwards. Its surface gleamed, and Evantra found that whatever came into contact with it was unable to marr it, or dull its shine.

  Noelle’s expression darkened as she appeared to recall what Evantra had relayed to her about the events aboard the Spirit of Nimue.

  ‘Galahad’, the knight clad in abyssal armour with alien proportions that had torn through Elaine and her Ghostslayers without taking a single step. The beautiful and eerie visage of ‘Nimue’, the other ghost that accompanied him, who had bestowed Evantra her rose.

  Ghosts of Avalon.

  They had long ago learned that ghosts entered their realm through rituals, as opposed to the other mythic realms. The main threat that the realms posed was the deluge of Veilcreatures that poured through.

  That they too contained ghosts held chilling implications.

  What if Earth isn’t the only realm that the Ghosts have made their way into?

  “From what you learned aboard the Spirit, it seemed as if Elaine was attempting to pave a way into Avalon by making an agreement with that… revenant,” Noelle began, her face pale. “Revenants. Ghosts with sentience born of belief. They sound just like the ancestral spirits in Africa that Adeline spoke to us about.”

  Evantra nodded slowly.

  The disparate pieces had been floating in her mind independently, but they had gradually begun to draw together the more that she puzzled over it.

  “It seems like the Mythic Veilsurges are the targets of Megacorporations for the advancements and secrets they hold. It doesn’t surprise me. Just think about Panacea’s stims as an example,” Evantra frowned, thinking back to the regenerative properties of salamanders she had been enlightened to the hard way. Also recalling how the stim that Guinevere had administered had healed her broken bones after free-falling from the balcony above the multipurpose hall.

  “Having the ability to heal broken bones. The Megacorps are trying to monetise… magic. Or at least, tech beyond our comprehension. Products and cybernetics derived from artefacts, Veilcreatures and who knows what else. I’d imagine Caliburn’s entrance to Avalon was motivated by a similar goal. I have to ask…”

  Noelle’s green eyes lingered on the continental greenhouses beyond before she gave Evantra a curt nod.

  “Demeteria’s interest is in the Hanging Gardens, as you might imagine. But the only ventures that I was privy to were seemingly innocent ones associated with Veilcreatures that came through to Earth, and their potential applications in an agricultural context.” Noelle bit her lip, her fists clenching by her side as a look of rage flashed in her eyes.

  That look again.

  I first glimpsed it in our very first visit to the range with Trevor.

  Then again, with her words to Trevor during the memorial.

  Just what has her family subjected her to?

  “Likely a deliberate decision by mother and father to limit what I had access to. What surprised me about Caliburn’s activities was the extent of their ambition. Seeking access to Avalon to unveil its secrets. And achieving it through what seemed like a pact with Galahad. Not to mention…”

  Noelle’s eyes rose to meet her own.

  “The revenants choosing not to kill you. Nimue giving you a catalyst and leaving you Galahad’s blade. Why?”

  Evantra coughed, averting her eyes.

  “Nimue… seemed to notice that I was trying to atone for something. She seemed to differentiate me from the other Caliburn operatives.”

  Noelle nodded.

  “It’s possible that she saw you for what you were. A magical girl capable of being empowered by the artefacts you gain. Even if she did leave them to you for the nebulous goal of ‘redemption’… the question remains—”

  “Noelle… it felt an awful lot like they were placing their trust in me.”

  Evantra recalled the visceral chill that she had felt when she had glimpsed Galahad, a being that eclipsed her in its power. Utterly dominating the space that he occupied, tearing Caliburn’s Ghostslayers to shreds without taking a single step. Nimue herself, capable of reaching across the gulf of incomprehension to twist her words into Evantra’s understanding.

  Silence fell between them.

  Evantra felt her skin prickle at the words left unsaid.

  For ghosts so far beyond her in the power they commanded to seek to empower her to the extent that they did…

  Her mind was drawn once more to her companion and its message to her.

  HELP.

  “On the matter of revenants…” Evantra continued, ignoring the heavy thumps reverberating in her ribcage.

  “I had a theory. That strange creature that I saw in the lost territories. Assuming that it was a sentient Veilcreature… if revenants are born from belief, what if these revenants weren’t born from the belief of humanity but of Veilcreatures. That is assuming that the beings that I saw were revenants.”

  Noelle’s jaw dropped as she stared at Evantra, before nodding fervently.

  “There have always been theories about just why the Mythic Realms bear some passing resemblance to our myths and stories. One prevailing theory is that the realms bled through to our ancestors in their dreams.”

  Something to ask Benjamin when we get the chance.

  I still remember his reaction to both the mention of artefacts and sentient Veilcreatures.

  Her world, which had seemed too small, had expanded beyond belief. Becoming a magical girl in a world left bereft of them. Learning of what could potentially be sentient creatures in the Mythic realms. Ghosts far beyond in her power in search of assistance. Rituals, artefacts and the circumstances of her awakening – Project Darwin. Tantalising, Earth-shaking mysteries that paled in the face of the image that lingered on her mind. A kind, bloody smile of an officer with a heart of gold.

  Another reminder of her failure.

  Evantra felt the momentary feelings of curiosity give way to a rage that burned like a cold flame in her veins, eating away at the last vestiges of innocent curiosity. She watched Noelle’s eyes widen, her back straightening and her own eyes hardening as she watched the subtle change that came over Evantra.

  “Back to the blade,” Noelle said softly, her eyes falling on the catalyst. “You said you saw Lancelot use it to…” Noelle trailed off, her voice falling.

  Evantra nodded.

  “He used it to kill the spirit inhabiting Trevor. Have you heard of Ghostslayers stabbing ghosts to death before?”

  Noelle bit her lip as she considered the question.

  “There seem to be different strategies for different ghosts. But I haven’t heard of a weapon capable of harming them directly, which is what Galahad’s blade seems to do. From what you’re telling me… it seemed to scream in agony after being stabbed with it.”

  “Want to test it out?”

  “That would be quite a sight, wouldn’t it, us chasing around ghosts with that,” Noelle said, gesturing towards the broken blade.

  They exchanged a smile, and the tension that permeated them eased a degree. After a moment, Evantra let out a heavy sigh.

  “Hmm…” Evantra paused.

  Noelle raised an eyebrow in inquiry.

  “I may have torn apart a business card that Uriel gave me. It was a nice business card. Double-embossed. The type that would leave corpos envious. She would have made a pretty good mentor.”

  Noelle stared at her in silence. For a moment, Evantra mentally prepared for Noelle to tear her a new one.

  The girl nodded.

  “I approve.”

  It was Evantra’s turn to stare back in surprise.

  “You do?”

  “What have we learned so far about megacorps? The government?”

  Noelle sat on the edge of her mattress, crossing her arms.

  “Everyone and their grandmother wants a piece of you. Literally. You remember the lab.”

  Evantra nodded her agreement.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  “For once… I guess the trust issues worked in my favour.”

  Noelle rolled her eyes as Evantra grinned. She continued.

  “It seems like the Ghostslayer academy is our best bet to learn about actual ghost slaying, without having to find a mentor who won’t sell me out to the highest bidder.”

  Noelle nodded.

  “It sure is. The academy will be within our reach once we make enough money for us to move to Elsecaller City. Until then, let’s focus on solving our more immediate problems. Ghosts are still far beyond you.”

  Noelle paused, walking over to their room window. She took into the sweeping continental greenhouses arrayed beyond Bastion, covering the land.

  “Evantra?”

  “Yes?”

  “When everything is under control… when we’ve figured out a way to pay for Tai and Lucas’ schooling and figure out what to do about the Trove Seeker… let’s catch up.”

  Stopping at a light, Evantra turned to look at Noelle.

  For some strange reason, Noelle just looked at her in silence with an emotion in her eyes that she just couldn’t place. Her hands were shaking, gripped firmly by her sides.

  Does she want to talk about Wisptown?

  What happened at the border? Carmen refuses to tell me just what went down… but I know that Noelle wasn’t really the same afterwards.

  Maybe she wants to talk about the pain?

  The grief?

  I can’t think of—

  Oh.

  Catching up.

  Not just about Wisptown.

  Like normal girls our age do.

  Normal girls who aren’t trying to slay Veilcreatures, ghosts, and prevent the deaths of cities.

  Who aren’t burdened with the scars and guilt of having failed countless people, endangering others, and condemning some to their deaths.

  Like friends do.

  Noelle continued to stare out of the window in silence.

  “I’d like that,” Evantra whispered.

  ***

  Carmen’s POV

  Carmen ran her fingers through Lucas’ hair. She smiled as she watched her son’s chest rise and fall as he napped.

  Lucas was a smart boy.

  Smarter than most people realised. Smart enough to conceal his fatigue. To place his mother, Evantra and Noelle before himself. Carmen noticed how he would retreat to the toilet to cry quietly, not realising that she could pick out the slightest tinge of red in his eyes.

  He didn’t want to worry anyone.

  A selfless, brave boy.

  It seemed like Evantra had rubbed off on him, not that Carmen would ever admit it to her.

  I would book another counselling session with Kugan… for all of us.

  We’re too tight on funds at the moment.

  Lucas and Tai are our priorities.

  Carmen rose from where she was seated, and she pulled out her diary. She flipped it to the day she had visited Bastion with Trevor, for their first date. She looked down at the rose that was pressed between the pages.

  She saw it for what it was.

  A rose from both Evantra and Trevor.

  She smiled as she traced a finger over its petals, contemplating what could have been, and what would never be.

  Carmen knew that Trevor had lied to her.

  On their final date, in the quaint café which sold her favourite strawberry parfaits. His assurances that he would get transferred out of Wisptown, to join them in Bastion. A part of her resented him for the lie, but she also understood. They were both kindred souls. Trying to be better. For themselves, and for the ones they loved. To Trevor, that meant fulfilling his duty to the very end.

  That, Carmen could appreciate. She knew what her duty was. Her eyes lingered on Lucas.

  Setting the diary gently within her suitcase, Carmen rose. She wrote a brief note to Lucas, telling him that she was leaving for a meal with Amy, before exiting out into the living room.

  “Come on, abuela. You can do this.”

  All the deep breathing and meditative techniques in the world, which Noelle had taken the trouble to teach her, were struggling to stem her anxiety.

  Where did you even begin when you wished to speak to someone who had lost their entire world?

  ***

  Carmen and Amy stepped out of the lift onto a floor of the megabuilding filled with restaurants. Megabuilding A3 was split into 3 sections. The lower, middle, and upper sectors – each with its own amenities and areas. Residents were able to access the sector in which their apartment was situated, and those below them. That meant that residents in the upper sectors had access to the entire building, while residents in the middle sector could access the lower sector. The middle and upper sectors were inaccessible to residents on the lower floors.

  The ride down had been silent and tense, barring the steady rumble of lift.

  The events of Wisptown still played over in their minds, and it wasn’t a scar that was going to heal for a while.

  Amy Tran rose to about Carmen’s shoulder, and had her black hair was tied up in a ponytail. Carmen could easily see Tai’s resemblance to her mother. They shared the same button nose and thick, long black hair.

  Carmen had also noticed that Tai Tran took after her mother in more ways than one. She recalled Amy striding right up to the wraith that appeared before them – Evantra’s ‘companion’. It was clear that Tai had inherited her mother’s bravery and resilience, even if the girl had naturally become more withdrawn with the passing of her father. Amy Tran was stoic, and at first glance, an ignorant onlooker would be none the wiser to the trial she had been through.

  Carmen knew better.

  They walked through the floor, peering into the restaurants as they passed. The quality of the outlets was far beyond that which was on offer in Wisptown. For one, they were clean, furnished in a homogenous, modern style, despite the differences in the cuisines they offered. They glimpsed university students hard at work in café’s, drones that flew above them, carrying food up into the residences above.

  It wasn’t long before they came to a halt.

  Amy turned to her and they exchanged a look.

  Carmen couldn’t help but break out into a smile at the expression on her face.

  “My thoughts exactly.”

  ***

  Carmen and Amy emerged out into chaos.

  The shouting of hawkers reached them as soon as the lift doors opened. In stark contrast to the calm and serene atmosphere on floor 20, the food stalls in the lower sector were anything but. They were immediately bombarded with sights, sounds and stimuli that overpowered their senses. The sizzling of meat could be heard over the shouts of hawkers selling goods and produce from the levels below.

  A writhing crowd was crammed into the narrow corridors, people lined up in disorderly lines, queuing for their food.

  “This is where we’re going to get the good food. For much cheaper, too.”

  Carmen watched as Amy nodded in satisfaction, and Carmen felt the corners of her lips tug upwards. If there was anything that could even begin to transcend the trauma of having your home destroyed and people you loved stolen from you…

  Food did the trick as much as it was possible.

  They settled for a Vietnamese stall, and Carmen watched as Amy exchanged some words in Vietnamese to the hawker before retrieving two bowls of beef pho.

  They navigated the mass of people around them to a crowded seating area. The residents around them were engaged in raucous conversation, and all manner of person could be found. On a table a distance away from them, they glimpsed a group of corpos in sleek, black attire sharing a meal together. Likely residents from the upper sectors, who had come to the same conclusion on the quality of food as Carmen and Amy had. They also glimpsed students from Rosewood College, Megabuilding A3’s singular school that catered to primary and secondary students alike.

  Security drones buzzed in the air above them, emitting a low drone as they continued on their patrol. Taking a glimpse to the right, Carmen could see that the floor led to a vast, open area where an “outdoor” gym had been set up. She could hear the clank of weights being racked, and glimpsed a large boxing ring lit by harsh floodlights. It was ‘outdoor’ in the sense that it wasn’t contained in a separate room but seamlessly connected to the floor.

  They ate their meals in silence, and Carmen felt some of her previous anxiety return.

  “Thanks for agreeing to this. How are you, Amy?”

  Amy gave her a brief glance and a curt nod before returning to her meal. Carmen winced as the words escaped her lips. She internally cursed at her unwieldy words and lamented her inability to convey what she so desired.

  Instead, she turned her attention to her meal, and the pair ate in silence. Every so often, Carmen would cast a glance over at Amy, picking up on small details which made her ache.

  Clothes with creases.

  The slightest tear stains on her blouse.

  Hair out of place.

  Dark circles under her eyes from the sleepless nights.

  “I’ve been through this once before,” Carmen said softly, her words reaching Amy through the din around them. Amy finally looked up from her meal, her eyes latching onto Carmen’s own. The world around them seemed to fade away as she continued.

  “Losing my husband. Having to start over with nothing. Raising a child that you love more than yourself when you’ve lost your whole world, and it feels like you’re a single misstep away from everything coming tumbling down.”

  Emboldened by Amy’s attention, Carmen continued, her back straightening.

  “If you’re anything like me, all your creds went into securing your home. It will take a long time to rebuild, to eventually find a new one. Living together in a big family unit will help us minimise our expenses as we find our feet. Then… there are the less practical elements to consider.”

  “We will leave as soon as we can. Thank you for letting us stay with you.”

  Carmen flinched when Amy delivered her response.

  “Of course.”

  Carmen swallowed.

  Come on, get the words out.

  “Something that surprised me about it was… the loneliness. A home that feels so much larger than it was before. The stupidest of things set me off. Watching a show we’d seen together. A bad song on the radio. Even… just seeing things in Lucas that reminded me of him.”

  Carmen felt the sickening melding of emotions well up inside of her, but she continued. The grief that she had only recently been able to surmount, which had begun to well up anew.

  The helplessness.

  “I… would get angry at Lucas. Impatient. Because there was all of this… rage in me. Resentment. And it had nowhere to go. The only reason I got as far as I did was because Evantra’s parents were there for me. Evangeline and William. I was a mess. But they were there for me, and I wouldn’t have made it through without their kindness.”

  The words came out in a rush, before Carmen steadied herself. She recalled a young girl with black hair running up to her doorstep to deliver food despite all her attempts to shoo her away.

  “Without Evantra’s kindness as well.”

  Carmen watched as Amy ate in silence, her expression stony and her eyes averted from her own.

  “I guess, what I’m trying to tell you… is that if you ever need someone to talk to, beyond that… we’ll be here for you. For you and Tai.”

  Amy remained silent.

  Carmen returned to her food, feeling her cheeks warm while she averted her eyes.

  “You’re welcome to stay with us for as long as you’d like. If you would have us… you’re welcome to be part of our family.”

  Amy completed her meal and laid her chopsticks on her bowl. She stood to her feet, and clutched the bag of takeout, her eyes still averted from Carmen’s. Carmen rose with her, and together, they made their way back to the apartment.

  The woman’s silence cut into her like a knife, for it was an answer in and of itself. But she remembered how she had reacted to Evangeline and William’s kindness when they had first reached out to her after Luis’ death.

  With anger, reflexively. Biting the hand that they extended to her, like wounded animals so often did. She remembered their enduring patience and their warmth, and how their presence and Evantra’s had given her something she never thought she would see after Luis’ death.

  Hope.

  All that mattered was that the words were said.

  That Amy knew that she had someone to count on.

  And far more important than pretty words were actions.

  Carmen felt a degree of reassurance at the thought.

  She had never been good at pretty words, like Noelle, Evangeline or William.

  But action?

  That, she could manage.

  Carmen’s eyes lingered on the woman’s back. Its slight curvature and hunch, bent by work. Her hardened expression, that concealed a wealth of pain that was no doubt ripping her apart from within. An expression shared by Tai, albeit to a lesser degree, only because Tai hadn’t yet mastered the art of concealing it.

  I’ll see to it that you have a good life.

  That you both do.

  ***

  Evantra watched as Amy and Carmen returned from their dinner. Carmen spared her a brief smile before turning to return to her room. As Lucas and Noelle began to get the dinner plates ready, Evantra deftly trailed her, halting by her doorway.

  She could hear Carmen’s soft sobs echoing from within.

  Evantra gently knocked on the door before entering. She found Carmen seated on her mattress, hurriedly tucking away the tissues she had used to wipe away her tears. Carmen turned, greeting her with a smile, her tears and sorrow nowhere to be seen.

  “Hey, pendej—”

  Sitting beside her, Evantra silently drew one of her hands into her own.

  Evantra closed her eyes, and they sat together in silence. As the minutes passed, Evantra could feel Carmen’s breath catch as she inhaled, betraying the sobs she was suppressing.

  “You know that I didn’t see eye to eye with mum and dad on a good day. But one of the things that I never doubted, and never disagreed with, was their opinion of you, abuela.”

  Evantra pulled Carmen into a gentle hug, hands tightening around her shoulders.

  “We’ll do right by them. You’ll open that bar of yours, and we’re going to watch Lucas and Tai to grow up to be every bit as amazing as their parents are,” Evantra whispered. “I’m here for you. I always will be, and you’d better remember it.”

  Carmen snorted, interrupting a sob that managed to escape. Then her smile fell and she acceded to Evantra’s embrace.

  “Thanks, Eva. Are all magical girls such lovable pains in the asses?”

  Evantra grinned.

  “None as much as me.”

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