Never had Quin seen such a large house. So many rooms appeared before him one after another, each with different sets of ornate furniture, all with walls painted a spotless white.

  He couldn’t see too much of the rooms though, him and his partners were surrounded by servants.

  They avoided eye contact as they followed their cloaked visitors and only spoke in whispers away from view.

  Days in the wilderness made him forget. The cold and distant feeling that came with Yerp interaction.

  It felt more acute given the location. The Fyful residence, home to the most important man in Sirqu and by extension, his boss, who knew exactly where to go despite the entourage.

  They all made it to a set of double doors which the servants opened. Inside was a round parlor room. More modest compared to the other rooms, it had a circular table that held flower jars in the center.

  At the end of the table sat a young lady in a white tunic with blue eyes, black hair, and a smile.

  “Oh I remember you!” Conon uttered before his face dropped, deep in thought. “Uh, yur that...um...uh. Th..the kissy lady.”

  “Quisis,” she said.

  “Yeah yeah, yeah that’s it.”

  “Where did my father go?” asked Ythan.

  “He stepped into the next room for a bit,” Quisis replied as she pointed to a door at the side. “I’m so glad you’ve returned. With how you stormed off earlier, I thought you would never come back.”

  Ythan groaned as he turned away. His head shook.

  Quisis peered curiously at the Tyrovivs with a smile for each of them. “I knew your squad would be different, but I only recognize the tall one.”

  “Yeah, a lot can change ‘n a year,” Conon said, his face looked down.

  The side door opened and everyone turned, eager to meet and greet the Aerviv. Their anticipations faded when they saw who came through.

  The red cloak caught their sights first followed by his earring. A wry smile on his face, Tchay Cosane looked delighted to catch sight of Ythan.

  The Neraviv closed his eyes. “Ohhh. You’re here.”

  “I hope I’m not intruding,” Tchay said as he slowly approached the blue cloak. “I just needed a quick word with the Aerviv.” He made a passing glance at the Tyrovivs, mostly Quin before he turned back to Ythan.

  “Well look at this, you have a squad again. Looks like you’re getting that second chance after all. Except, it’s like you’re starting all over. If only time could start over too.”

  Ythan only responded with a glare. Conon and Onyl bunched up beside their boss.

  Tchay rested a forearm on the Neraviv’s shoulder. “Everyone knows you’re a hard worker and you certainly don’t make the same mistakes twice. Plus, I have this feeling about your new team.” He took a look at the squad and another peek at Quin.

  “Maybe it’s good. Maybe it’s nothing. Only time can tell. In any case, don’t screw this up.” He patted Ythan’s shoulder before he made his way to the exit.

  The cold air in the room left with him before a more majestic air began to fill it. In stepped Ypro Fyful, the one, the only.

  Conon and Onyl straightened themselves before they bowed their heads beneath their forearms. It didn’t take long for Quin to follow suit.

  “Please, please. There’s no need for that here,” Fyful said with waved hands. “You’re guests in my home. Relax yourselves, don’t mind me. Although, I’d like to have a word with your new Tyroviv.”

  Quin raised his head and looked around before he posed the question, “Me?”

  “Of course boy-o,” Fyful answered as he beckoned Quin over to the next room. “Please, come in.”

  Quin saw the anger on Ythan’s face as he met up with Fyful. The squinted eyes and reversed curve lips were the last thing he saw before the door closed.

  Inside, the room’s lack of windows contributed to its darkness as well as its dark red walls.

  Unlike all the other rooms, there were very little furnishings. Large plush cushions circled the room on top of a red carpet with gold designs.

  In the center stood a small metal tripod with wax candles lit up on top.

  “Please, have a seat,” offered Fyful. “I was hoping we’d get a chance to have this conversation. Lift up your mask. Let me get a good look at you boy-o.”

  Quin revealed his face and the anxieties it wore. The two seated themselves across from each other before an uneasy silence occurred.

  Fyful stared sternly at a nervous Quin while the latter’s eyes made laps around the room.

  The tense air was hard to bear. He felt like time slowed down. He waited for the Aerviv to say something; anything.

  “It’s a nice room isn’t it?” Fyful asked kindly. “I’ve grown so accustomed to tent life that I just don’t feel comfortable anywhere else. It’s this kind of environment where I truly feel at home.”

  Quin greatly felt otherwise.

  “So how’s it been so far? How you’ve been holding up as a Cosondere? I hope my son hasn’t given you a hard time.”

  His boss considered him as the weak link, his relationship with the team was still tenuous, and his arm and leg were still sore from the earlier skirmish. The past few days had been a series of rough experiences for Quin.

  Despite all that, he answered, “Oh...uh, it’s been fine. I mean things have changed since I became a Cosondere, but it hasn’t been too hectic.”

  “Fantastic. Good to hear. Glad to know it’s been smooth so far. So...have you seen any of that red aura since our last visit?”

  “Huh? Red aura? Um, no. I can’t recall. Outside of the Pit, I haven’t seen any.”

  Fyful leaned back in his seat and exhaled through his nose.

  “Maybe another time then. Anyway, I have an errand for you and your team. I know you’re still new to all this, so I made sure it wasn’t overwhelming.

  “All you have to do is guard some chroniclers while they do whatever they do. It’ll give you a chance to familiarize yourself with the lands further out.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Traveling’s a big part of being a Cosondere. We’re known far and wide because we go far and wide. It’s important for you to know your way around...”

  Quin couldn’t follow all of Fyful’s words.

  As much as the man tried to assuage him, he was still in the presence of the Aerviv, and by himself at that. He found himself in a conversation with one of the most famous people in the world.

  Aside from his eyes, no other part of his face moved. The moment felt too surreal for his nerves to handle.

  “Now I’m sure you’re aware that our line of work can be...dangerous at times,” Fyful mentioned. “But there’s no way this mission will leave you dangling over some cliff.

  “The people you’re escorting are mere Yerps. They shouldn’t give you any trouble, but if they do, you remind them of their place in the world.” His raised fist hinted what he meant.

  For the first time all meeting, Quin’s expression changed. He took the hint. It left him peeved and puzzled.

  In their last encounter, Quin sensed trouble would come his way because of his brush with Wordy, even though Wordy’s assault on a Yerp started it.

  When Fyful supposedly let him off the hook, Quin thought the Aerviv sided with him over the mistreatment of harmless Yerps. Now he received mixed messages.

  “What exactly is their place in the world?” Quin asked.

  Fyful went back to his silent stares. The seconds felt like minutes. The stern look Fyful posed, passed off to Quin as he awaited a response.

  “I guess it’d make sense you wouldn’t know. You were still a Yerp yourself until recently. Do you know what the Sentar’i spirit is?”

  “No. No I don’t”

  “For years, decades, centuries, millennia, the Sentar’i have been guided by one singular purpose, to be the best.

  “We were gifted all these wonderful abilities, it’s only natural that we’d want to display those abilities.

  “But some of us have been gifted more than others and in order to prove that, we have to demonstrate our powers to let everyone know where they stand compared to us.

  “You see, it’s a pecking order. The strongest are at the top, the weakest, at the bottom. When you’re at the top, you dictate the terms of the world. When you’re not, all you can do is accept those terms.”

  Quin’s eyes were glued to Fyful as he listened intently. His nerves vanished.

  “It’s about asserting superiority. Showing your place in the pecking order.

  “Of course, someone else can show up and bump you down the order if they prove to be stronger than you or even worse, prove that you’re weak.

  “No Sentar’i wants to be proven weak thus why we all strive for the top. That’s what the Sentar’i spirit is about.

  “Naturally, that means the Yerps are at the very bottom. With no abilities, no strength, no powers, how can they impose any kind of term? They can’t. Where else in the order could they be? Where else?

  “That’s why you have to remind everyone of their place, Yerps included, Yerps especially. Should a Sentar’i accept Yerp insolence, it’ll be seen as them conceding their spot in the order.”

  “How is that fair?” Quin interjected. “So you’re telling me this is all a race to the top?

  “If the only people who can win are Sentar’i, then why do the Yerps have to be involved in it? Why do they have to play this game against their will when they can’t even win?”

  “I told you boy-o, when you’re at the top, you dictate terms. When you’re not, you accept them.”

  “No.” Quin muttered as his hands rolled to fists.

  Fyful pointed an ear to Quin and went, “I’m sorry?”

  “No! I don’t accept that! It was already a struggle just for us to get to the next day, you’re telling me we had to put up with all the harassment because it’s some sort of tradition?

  “The Yerps should be left in peace. They should be free to tend to their business without fear of some Sentar’i bullying them just to ‘assert superiority’.

  “We’re all people in this crazy world. It would benefit us all to treat each other with some courtesy and respect. Yerps included. Yerps especially.”

  Silence took over the room. Fyful returned to his stern stares but it felt more intense. The air suddenly became heavy. The red walls appeared to wave behind him. Quin felt like his nose lost all sense and his tongue dried up like a raisin.

  Despite all that, he returned a stare of his own, his eyes the only part of him that held steady.

  “Why?” Quin started. “Why did you take me out of the Pit so early? Why was I assigned to a squad so fast? Why am I assigned to a mission when I haven’t been fully trained? Why any of this?”

  Fyful sighed and the air in the room relaxed. He turned in his seat then raised a knee to rest his arm on it. For the first time, he stared at something other than Quin.

  “Ruth was right. Your support of Yerps is no ruse,” Fyful concluded. “I wasn’t sure the first time we met. But now, more than ever, I know you’re exactly who I’m looking for.”

  Confusion covered Quin’s face. He uttered, “What?”

  “My boy, the world is at a crossroads right now. Nearly twenty years had passed since the war, and many of us still bare the scars.

  “But soon, there will be plenty of people like yourself who have never seen such horrors, out and about in the world. What caused that war? The Sentar’i spirit.

  “Our generation saw that, and that’s why the Cosondera was created. We try to clamp down on disputes before they escalate to chaos, but our generation isn’t long for this world.

  “With the Sentar’i spirit as strong as ever, it’s only a matter of time before history repeats itself.

  “It’s very clear you don’t like the way things are right now. Between you and me, I don’t either. I also don’t like where it’s going.

  “Ever since the war, all I wanted to do was change the world and make it safer.

  “The Cosondera was just one step, but I don’t know how much time I have to see that next step carried out.

  “That’s where you come in boy-o. We both want the same things, but you have an entire future on your side. As someone whose sole concern is the future, that means you have me on your side.”

  Quin’s face rippled from side to side in a daze. Ever since his time as a cobbler, he thought about what he would do if he could change the world.

  Even in his wildest dreams, Quin knew he’d never get an actual chance. Even when he became a Sentar’i, he knew his chances only improved marginally.

  Now he had a real shot. A real chance. A real opportunity. After all the daydreams and all the hypotheticals, a path shown itself to make them all a reality.

  “You have the motivation, and I can provide you the means. All you need now are the capabilities.

  “If you accept my guidance, we can truly leave an impression on the world and get it moving the way it should. What do you say boy-o? Do I have your support?”

  Quin had no hesitations. “Yes. Yes! Absolutely!”

  “Terrific!” Fyful exclaimed before he stood up. “This will be the beginning of great things my boy, just you wait! Oh. But before you go, I need you to do me one favor.”

  “Yes sir. No problem.” Quin responded as he rose up. “What is it?”

  “We want to change the world, but we can’t do too much too fast. We have to be slow, discreet.

  “Not everyone shares the same sentiment of Yerps as you and forcing them to share it is not slow and not discreet. So don’t be so quick to blurt out what you told me to anyone, okay?”

  The words were solid advice for Quin.

  As much as it crawled under his skin, he couldn’t pick a fight with every Sentar’i who provoked a Yerp, at least not right now. For the time being, discretion sounded like a good plan.

  “I understand,” Quin nodded. “I’ll try to avoid any trouble.”

  “Sounds good boy-o.” The two reached the door before Fyful paused. “I’m sure this goes without saying, but the details of our talk stay in this room. Nobody should know of our plan.”

  “Uh sure, you got it sir. It’s between us.”

  Fyful lightly smiled before he followed it with a small nod. He opened the door and the two returned to the parlor room.

  Everyone stopped to focus their attention on the Aerviv and Quin. The eyes forced him to look away. It also reminded him to place his mask back on.

  Ythan wasted no time to approach his father. “What happened?” he asked. “What was going on in there?”

  The Aerviv replied, “Now’s no time for that son. I already pushed my schedule back just being here. I presume everyone knows the deal here right? If there’s nothing else, I must be off.”

  The Tyrovivs repeated their earlier gesture with tucked heads behind right arms.

  “Wait! But father-” His words were held back by the double doors as they swung close.

  His eyes kept at the doors in disbelief as air traveled into his mouth. One look at Quin and his face soured immediately.

  Quisis rose from her seat. “I guess I’ll be taking my leave too.”

  Ythan turned to her with a raised eyebrow. “So you’re not coming with us?”

  Quisis’ smile went from ear to ear as she slowly walked up to him. “Do you want me to?” she whispered.

  “That’s not what I said.”

  “All I do back home is train, I never get to relax. So I’m here to enjoy everything Sirqu has to offer.” She grabbed Ythan’s hands. “But if you travel by boat then we can reunite all the more faster.”

  Ythan pulled his hands away. “As expedient and preferable as that is (the travel, that is) there’s been too much word about pier closures.

  “No point reaching Comi by sea just to be turned away. We’ll get there by foot. At the very least, we can still set foot at our destination.”

  “All the while longer I get to rest at Sirqu then. Do make sure to find me when you return. I know it’s not as exciting as you’d like, but this mission is super important still. So give it your best.”

  “Regardless of excitement, every mission is to be accomplished with equal vigor.”

  Quisis beamed brightly as she made her way to the doors.

  “I knew you’d say that. Then I eagerly await your return. The Yerps will be in your service until then and are right outside the city in some carriage or whatnot.”

  Ythan sighed before he turned to his three juniors. They had their mission and thus their test finally began. Halfway through the entrance, Quisis turned and waved goodbye.

  “Kisses!” she voiced before she disappeared behind the doors.

  “Ah, that’s why I remembered her as the kissy lady,” Conon said with a wag of his finger.