Isabelle caught Tunga by the shoulders just as he was about to hurl himself at Garath. “Tunga, stop!”

  The inquisitor’s lips curved into a cold smile. He stood in Ebonshade with a full garrison at his back. Whatever rage burned in the old shaman’s chest, Garath had nothing to fear from it.

  Isabelle knew him too well. This was exactly the reaction he wanted.

  The shaman bared his teeth. “Let me kill him, Warden…” His voice dropped to a rasp. “I promise it will be quick.”

  “Don’t be reckless,” she murmured. “I don’t want to arrest you. Please.” Her arms still ached from the clash with Elias and from hauling the Death sphere, and Tunga looked little better. If he lost himself now, she doubted she could hold him back.

  His shoulders eased under her grip, a sharp breath bursting from flared nostrils.

  She let go slowly and stepped back.

  Garath watched with a smirk. With a casual wave, he gestured at the ruined village. “As for what happened here, I expect a full and detailed report once we’re back in Rothmere, Warden.”

  Her jaw tightened. Fists curled, then eased, though the urge to let Tunga smash that smug grin lingered. “You still haven’t told me what evidence you found against the Nakori tribe.”

  Garath’s eyes slid to the shaman. “I’ll be happy to share the details of our investigation, once we’re away from prying ears. It’s classified.”

  “Or maybe,” Derek cut in, “it’s just a steaming pile you threw together. Come on—you’ve been itching for an excuse to invade tribal territory for a while now, haven’t you?”

  Isabelle’s shoulders went rigid. If Derek started pulling stunts again, she’d never get the truth out of Garath. “Derek, please,” she said quickly.

  His glare locked on her.

  That look never meant anything good, but she pushed on. “Trust me, just this once. Stay out of it. This is an investigation. That’s my field. You’ve got… other areas of expertise.”

  He shook his head. “I’d love to trust you, Isabelle. But lately, that hasn’t worked out too well, has it?”

  The words slammed into her chest. Breath caught sharp, a knot clawing up her throat. She swallowed hard against it.

  She’d risked everything for him. Even what she’d done with Alyra, she’d done it for him. She would’ve sacrificed herself if she could’ve. How could he say that to her?

  It took every ounce of discipline she had to keep her expression steady. “Derek, I… I can make it right. At least this. Let me handle this.”

  He looked down. “I’m tired. I’m heading back to Rothmere. Vanda, show me the way.” The helmet sealed around his face with a sharp hiss. He turned and limped south, each step of the armor echoing with a heavy clank.

  She stayed rooted, eyes following his retreat. The weight in his stride said more than any words.

  Alyra glanced back at her, worry etched across the girl’s face. Isabelle forced a small smile and gave a quick nod, signaling her to go. Alyra hesitated, then broke into a trot to catch up.

  Tunga let out a low, rumbling growl at Garath before stalking after them.

  Garath exhaled beside her. “It must’ve been truly awful here.”

  Isabelle nodded. She’d been through hell, no question. Yet somehow, that single sentence from Derek cut deeper than everything else.

  Garath laid a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry I had to leave you alone with them. I did what I could to gather support quickly, but the looming war hasn’t made things any easier.”

  Her skin crawled at the touch. She brushed his hand away and met his eyes. “I was with the Cashnar. Hard to ask for better company. That said, timely reinforcements would’ve been very helpful.”

  He stiffened. “I understand, but—”

  “And also,” she broke in, “I don’t know what kind of evidence you think you’ve got, but I’d like to see it with my own eyes.”

  He blinked, then frowned. “Of course, Warden. But I can assure you there’s no doubt a member of the Nakori tribe attacked the Cashnar.”

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  “Oh, I believe you,” she said, arms folding across her chest. “Takes only a trace to identify someone. I know that, Garath, I went to the same academy you did, remember? But before starting a war, maybe—just maybe—we should make sure we also know who ordered the hit. Don’t you think?”

  The inquisitor shifted, unease tightening his stance. “What are you implying?”

  “The fact that the killer came from the tribe doesn’t mean the Nakori as a whole are guilty. What if it was—who knows—someone from the Heretics? The Cult of the Dead? Or maybe…” Her eyes narrowed. “Maybe someone from the Church itself.”

  Garath stiffened. “That’s a serious accusation, Warden.”

  She shook her head. “Not an accusation. A theory. That’s how proper investigations begin.”

  “As I said, Uriela is already preparing for the campaign. She hasn’t requested further inquiry.”

  Isabelle rolled her eyes. “Uriela doesn’t need to ask us to do our jobs. If something warrants an investigation, we investigate. You handle things your way, I’ll handle mine—and if I find anything, Uriela will listen.”

  “I’m the one in charge of this case. The Citadel’s security falls under my jurisdiction.”

  Her lips curved. “Then I’ll be happy to assist you, Inquisitor.”

  Color drained from his face. He forced a tight smile and dipped in a shallow bow.

  Alyra trailed a few steps behind Derek. The moon hung high, spilling pale light across the dirt road that wound toward Rothmere. The jungle loomed on either side, alive with rustles and fleeting shadows. Small creatures darted across the path, gone in an instant among the roots and leaves.

  The air carried the damp tang of moss and wet earth, mixed with the sweet scent of orchids and the faint rot of fallen fruit. Each breath clung warm and heavy against her skin.

  The sounds of the jungle had settled back into their rhythm, like nightmares dissolving the instant you opened your eyes. Ebonshade and its horrors already felt far behind, though they had been walking for barely an hour.

  Two small flying golems buzzed around Derek’s armor, as busy as bees. They hovered close, tiny arms producing glowing tools that flickered in the moonlight. One after another, they touched the armor, then swapped tools and drifted to a different spot.

  “What are they doing?” Alyra asked, her voice cutting through the silence more than out of curiosity.

  “Who?” Derek muttered without looking at her.

  “Your little golems. What are they doing?”

  Derek shrugged. “I guess they’re collecting repair data. Trying to figure out what’s busted so they can…” He scratched at his beard, brow furrowed. “So they can optimize the process when it’s time to patch up this damn suit.”

  She nodded, eyes fixed on the little golems. “They’re amazing. I’ve never seen anything like them.”

  He gave her a crooked smile. “There’s way more incredible stuff out there in the galaxy. You wouldn’t believe it. Someday, I’ll take you along for a ride, if you want.”

  Her chest fluttered. “Really? You’ll take me up into the sky with you?”

  He turned and laughed. “Of course. It’s nothing special. Where I come from, traveling between stars is just… normal. I just have to find a way off this rock, and then you’ll see.”

  Her pulse quickened. The thought of standing here to fight beside him and Isabelle suddenly felt small compared to the stars. “And Isabelle? Will she come with us into the sky?”

  He stopped smiling and looked up at the sky. “You care about her?”

  “About Isabelle? Yeah, of course. She came to save us when our village was attacked. She led us all the way through the jungle to Rothmere. At least, until we met you.”

  He nodded. “Got it. If you want her to come too, then we’ll bring Isabelle along. Happy now?”

  Her smile spread wide as she nodded. Sleep wouldn’t come to her that night, and if it did, her dreams would be filled with stars.

  Tunga let out a low grunt. “People made for walking ground, not sky.”

  Derek shot him a sideways glance. “Really, shaman? You fling fireballs out of a stick, and you’re lecturing me just because I want to fly a little?”

  Tunga grunted again.

  Alyra burst into laughter.

  Both Derek and Tunga froze and turned to stare at her.

  She clamped a hand over her mouth. “What? What is it?”

  “N-nothing…” Derek said. “It’s just… we’ve never heard you laugh before.”

  Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she touched them with both hands. “It’s been… a long time.”

  Derek gave a small nod and set off again.

  When he spoke next, the playfulness from a moment earlier had drained away. “Alyra, before we get to Rothmere, there’s something we need to talk about.”

  She nodded quickly. Her gaze dropped to her hands, and she hid them behind her back. That strange crawling under her skin lingered, faint now, nothing like the storm that had raged when she faced the undead abomination.

  Derek scratched at his head. “I don’t even really… know what it is yet. But it has to do with those hooded creeps we saw earlier.”

  Tunga let out a low growl. “Death Bringers.”

  Derek jabbed an elbow into his side and shoved him a full meter off the path.

  The shaman’s glare could have split stone.

  “Anyway,” Derek continued, “bringing me that sphere that saved us might’ve had some… side effects. For you.”

  Her throat tightened, the air catching dry. “What do you mean? Is something going to happen to me?”

  “I’m… not sure. I’m not exactly the best expert to ask. But it looks like a trace of that Death power stuck to you somehow.”

  Her stomach clenched. “Death’s power?” Her eyes dropped to her hands. “It’s inside me?”

  He set a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, relax. Isabelle says it’s stable. It’s not gonna kill you. Somehow, you’re fine.”

  “Uhm…” Tunga muttered. “When this happen in tribe… person die. Or… we kill them.”

  Alyra froze, jaw hanging slack.

  Derek rolled his eyes. “Wow, thanks, Tunga. Really helpful.” He turned back to her. “Listen. All you gotta do is keep it hidden. Whatever power shows up, don’t let anyone see it. Just act like all the other girls at school and you’ll be fine. Got it?”

  She nodded. “But… when I ascend, will I still be able to gain the power of the spheres? I want to become an Orbisar Ascendant like the other Novices!”

  Derek’s lips curved into a smile. “Of course. And when that happens, the power from the sphere will cover up that nasty Death residue clinging to you. After that, you’ll be safe.”

  Her chest loosened, her heartbeat slowly steadying. This was something she could work toward. All she had to do was what she’d always done—train, improve, and wait for her moment. Now she had even more reason to reach it as soon as possible. “Okay!” she said, beaming.

  Derek smiled back.

  “Hiding Death inside little girl…” Tunga muttered. “Another stupid idea.”

  Derek shot him a glare.

  “And what about you?” Alyra asked, turning to him.

  He drew a long breath. “If people stop trying to kill me, and you stop getting yourself kidnapped, I’ll go back to what brought me to the Citadel in the first place. Figure out where those prophecies about me come from, dig up as much as I can about the origin of the spheres, and—if I’m lucky—find another Kolaar Node on this planet.”

  Alyra nodded. “Do you miss her a lot?”

  His brow furrowed. “Who?”

  “The woman you’re looking for that Kolaar Node for. Isabelle said you’re doing it for her. Even though… I didn’t really get why.”

  One eyebrow lifted. “Ah, so that’s what she told you, huh?” He scratched at his beard. “Yeah, kid. I miss her a lot.”

  “Do you hope to use that thing to find her?”

  Derek’s mouth twisted into a bitter smile. “No. She’s never coming back. She died… a long time ago.”

  Her face fell. “Then why do you need to find it?”

  He let out a slow breath. “We were studying one of those Kolaar Nodes when an accident… killed her. I don’t know if it was something I told her to do, or not.” His hand dragged through his hair. “I’m looking for another Node so I can figure out if it was my fault. I… need to know.”

  Alyra lowered her gaze. The weight of it pressed down on her chest. He was chasing the truth to find out if he had killed the woman he loved. The thought twisted in her stomach. If it really had been his fault… would he still want to take her with him, out into the stars?

  Heat burned at the edges of her eyes, and she shook her head sharply. Selfish. How could she even think that?

  “Even if it was… it was just an accident,” she said softly.

  “Yeah, you’re right, kid. I really wish that was enough to help me sleep at night.”

  Silence settled over them for the rest of the walk.

  Rothmere was still far ahead, but Alyra had already decided she would stay there.

  She would train until she was the best.

  She would become an Orbisar Ascendant.

  And one day… she would reach the stars.

  Her lungs filled with a steady breath. No one—nothing—was going to stand in her way.

  Above the canopy, the stars burned bright, scattered across the sky like promises waiting to be claimed.