Helen stood with her hands in her pockets, tilting her head to the side as she regarded Alana. Alana couldn’t read the expression on the other woman’s face. She approached Alana’s answer with the same stoic determination that she approached violence. She immersed herself totally, giving it the entirety of her spirit. Silence hung between them as Helen mulled over Alana’s words.

The two were standing on the veranda of Alana’s Donnyton home, looking out over Donnyton. Below, smoke billowing up from the industrial district reveal that the city already was preparing to move through the day, despite the early hour. Finally, Helen shifted; she reached up and cracked her jaw with one hand before speaking. “What made you change your mind?”

Alana chuckled. “Perhaps the fact that it was a bad idea, to begin with? I… shouldn’t tie my life to Randidly Ghosthound, at least not literally. I am the prophet that will spread the virtues that he exemplifies across this world. I’ll be the voice to reach that Randidly cannot on his own. But I’m not going to make the same mistakes in regards to my role that I did with the responsibility of Donnyton. I have my own Path, independent of him.”

At that answer, Helen favored Alana with a wicked grin. “Are you sure you aren’t just a sore loser after ambushing him? How’s your head?”

Alana turned away from the other woman. To tell the truth, she probably was still at only about half power, a week out from the fight. But she wasn’t going to dignify Helen’s jibe with a response. “Are you sure you don’t just want a punching bag in the Nexus? No, this is the right decision. I realized while fighting Randidly that I shouldn’t be trying so hard to be him. He has… some very notable weaknesses that are better avoided. I can be myself and also continue to strengthen Expira.”

For several seconds, Helen was silent. Without any more words passing between them, Helen could understand. Because she, too, had faced a similar decision in the past. Even if she had made the opposite choice, she could respect Alana’s reasons. “...then good luck.”

“You too,” Alana said seriously. There was the sound of water lapping against stone and then the air darkened. By the time Alana turned around, Helen had vanished, carried away by her Tides of Blood. Alana stared after idly her, allowing some of the doubts she had toward her decision to surface on her face. It hadn’t been easy. Alana’s troubled frown formed deep caverns across her cheeks.

The morning breeze was cold on Alana’s hands gripping the railing of her veranda. Winter was truly here.

But the more time passed with this opportunity gone, the more Alana began to relax. There were consequences of not following the Ghosthound on the journey, but at the very least, this was her choice. She had earned those consequences. And making it allowed Alana Donal to feel free. She closed her eyes and felt the steady pulse of life coming from her altered Fate. It reaffirmed her conviction.

As long as she continued walking, this Path would carry her forward.

Alana was still sitting on her veranda, enjoying a meal of fried ham and potatoes when Wivanya’s bulky for noisily landed in her yard. Her dragon companion’s wide wingspan blew huge gusts of wind across the surrounding houses, likely waking any sleeping neighbors. Icicles were shaken and dislodged from the manicured trees in the surrounding lawns. But Alana doubted that the sulky neighbors would have the nerve to bring it up to her.

She allowed herself a small smirk. Just a perk of being the strongest duo on Expira. Plus, it shouldn’t happen too often in the future… I won’t be remaining in Donnyton for long.

Although Wivanya was typically composed in her actions, currently the dragon simply pressed her wings to her sides when she was about ten meters away from the ground and dropped like a frozen bomb toward the ground. After hitting the lawn and sending another shockwave through the surrounding block, the dragon used her claws to scramble up toward Alana on the veranda. “Alana! Is it true?!?”

“You’ve heard the news about the Ghosthound, I assume?” Alana kept her face impassive, balancing out the wild emotional reverberations coming from the dragon. Perhaps because Alana had known Randidly when he was just… Randidly, but his eventual departure was something she knew would happen eventually. But Wivanya seemed completely blindsided by this development.

The Frost Dragon Broodmother swung her head side to side, like a dog looking for a scent. “Yes! They say he left last night! Without…. Without even coming to visit the Ghosthound Cathedral?!?!”

Inwardly, Alana snorted; honestly, Randidly would be more likely to come to the Village of the pious Frost Dragons if he didn’t know about their cathedral dedicated to him. Continuing to shout about it at every opportunity would not lure him into visiting. But she understood how much the figure of the Ghosthound meant to Wivanya. The entirety of the growing Frost Dragon population dearly wanted to show him their sincerity.

Unfortunately, I think this is a situation where you will be disappointed for now… such is the prerogative of gods… Alana thought sadly. But her face opened up into a warm smile as she mastered those feelings to cheer up her friend. “The Ghosthound cannot yet visit; he is required in the Nexus. But… doesn’t that mean that Ghosthound Cathedral can be even more impressive when he finally does visit?”

Wivanya considered that. Her sapphire eyes narrowed and Alana briefly thought that her dragon saw through her rather clumsy misdirection. But when Wivanya spoke, she used a voice that was trembling with excitement. “...a whole… glorious Ghosthound complex… hum… maybe we should add a pyramid.”

Sorry, Randidly, Alana thought as she reached out and patted her companion's long neck.

*****

“You… run this shop yourself?” Elmer Arrietti asked as the woman gracefully leaned forward and set the large tray of food in front of him. The smells hit him first, warm and rich. He couldn’t control the saliva in his mouth as he gazed at the heaps of smoked brisket, pulled pork, baked beans, cheesy mashed potatoes, and cornbread. But then the Police Commissioner reached down and adjusted his belt, reminding himself to act his station. He looked back up at the proprietress and cleared his throat.

Selene favored him with one of her winning smiles and the Commissioner was briefly stunned; his face tingled like she had lightly slapped him. His heart pounded in his chest as she spoke. “Why, yes. It’s actually been somewhat difficult for me… moving to a new city and setting everything up. But smoking meats is what my family has been doing for generations. Hehe, I’m glad I can now count the Police Commissioner as one of my customers. Maybe I should put it on a sign and hang it up?”

“I-” Arrietti cleared his throat again. “Well… I do technically still need to taste the food, so…”

The woman smiled and withdrew to the other side of the small restaurant. Commissioner Arrietti couldn’t keep his eyes from following her. She was short and had an extremely... healthy waist, with her arms and legs lean from the labor of hauling and hanging all the meat that the restaurant. Her auburn hair was done up in a tight bun above her head. Although he didn’t want to get ahead of himself, Arrietti would admit that she was very close to his ideal type. Adding to that the fact that she moved to Kharon alone…

I must be careful… cannot make it seem like I’m using my station to pick up women, Arrietti scolded himself. He took a drink of water, cooling his throat and also cleansing his palate.

When he had arrived, he had thought she was a beautiful waitress. He had been mortified when he asked to talk to the pitmaster to speak about the meat selection and she sweetly responded that she preferred the term pit mistress and introduced herself as Selene. After stumbling through his order, he had guiltily used his high Perception to follow her movements through the back of the restaurant as she prepared the food.

She truly handled everything herself. So not just a beautiful woman, but also a capable one… Elmer Arrietti gulped. He took another drink of water.

Abruptly, he realized that he was looking over at Selene and she was staring back at him, with her chin in her hands. As recognition dawned in Arrieiti’s expression, the corner of Selene’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “What, you don’t like a woman who likes to watch?”

When Arrieti’s mouth refused to close normally, he took a fork and stuffed some of the brisket inside so the expression wasn’t so unusual. The common physical machinations of chewing began to take over. But almost immediately, he forgot all about Selene’s coy expression; Elmer Arrietti was immediately at peak concentration. He mobilized his image so that every one of his senses was heightened to its limit. “This meat…”

The next ten minutes were a blur of barbecue sauce and savory flavors. The meats were placed on Arrieti’s tongue, where their spiced juices and tender flesh became a culinary delight. Although he usually controlled his appetite, on this meal he made so such attempts for this meal. He continued voraciously devouring the food until the tray was entirely clean.

Elmer leaned back from the table and sighed in contentment. Selene laughed as she stepped forward and picked up his tray. “That’s a great expression on your face. That’s exactly why I like to watch my customers eat, when I can. Can I get anything else for you?”

“Actually…” Arrietti took a steadying breath. Her earlier comments had definitely been a bit flirty, right? Although it was somewhat awkward that he was doing this at her place of work… they were both adults. They could behave as adults. And Elmer’s heart was trembling in a way he hadn’t felt in twenty years. But it was an extremely adult tremor. More than her looks, Selene’s cooking…! “Actually…. Maybe sometime I can come to eat here with you again.”

That… wasn’t quite right. Commissioner Arrieti’s eyelid twitched.

Selene smiled. “Sure! I’m open six days a week. Do you want your check then?”

“No, I- errr, yes, actually, bring the check.” Arrietti scratched the side of his head. “But what I meant to say is that… you and I… the two of us… maybe not at your restaurant-”

“COOOOOOOMMMMMMMIISSSSSSIOOOOONNNEEEEEERRRRRRRRR!”

Arrieiti’s stuttered proposal was drowned out by the sound of someone yelling from outside on the street. In a way, Arrietti was relieved at the distraction; why was he behaving like a prepubescent boy? Shouldn’t he be old enough that these sort of nerves didn’t ruffle him? But simultaneously, he felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach; he recognized that voice.

Heiffal burst through the door to the restaurant, followed closely by the other members of the crew that had enthusiastically taken the joy out of bowling for Commissioner Arrietti. These were the few dozen that constantly infested the alley, making it boisterous and busy at all hours of the day. They were the ones that had stolen Elmer’s peaceful moments of repose from him. The group crowded in behind Heiffal, quickly filling up the available space. Tables and chairs were pushed to the side, making more room for them to congregate around Arrietti.

There were tears in Heiffal’s eyes. “Commissioner Arrietti…. I just want to say… thank you for everything you’ve taught us… about control and precision… about inner peace and self-improvement…”

Arrietti began gritting his teeth. Control? Inner peace? You people? Why haven’t I ever seen any evidence of this?!?

“We are heading back to the Nexus,” Heiffal continued, a single tear running down his cheek as he regarded Arrietti. “But we knew we couldn’t go without one last game of bowling. So…. please…. For old time’s sake…”

“Ah… I’m actually…” Elmer was trembling. He had FINALLY found an opportunity to escape his status as a fifty-two-year-old bachelor, and these punks wanted to ruin his first impression?!? “I need to-”

“Commissioner Arrietti, your sense of honor is pretty legendary in Kharon. I’ll give you this one on credit.” Selene said as she deftly wove her way through the press of bodies. Then she waved goodbye with a napkin, as though sending him off on a sea voyage from which he might not return safely.

Elmer Arrietti studiously kept control of his face as he was buoyed away by the capable hands of Heiffal’s crew. Behind him, he could hear Heiffal’s soldiers whispering.

“Look at his face… he can barely control his emotions…”

“Ah…. Commissioner Arrietti, he’s so overcome…. Seeing him so emotional like this-!”

“Take it easy… be strong, just like Commissioner Arrietti. We can’t- guh! We can’t cry! Waaahh!”

So… she had heard of me before…? A bitter Arrietti thought, desperately trying to find the silver lining in the situation.