I exchanged looks with Tristan, then turned to Ara. “Should I leave?”

“No. I believe you should hear this too,” Ara murmured.

Tristan gently set Destiny’s hand on the bed and stood, setting his shoulders and shifting his attention. “What is it?”

“There is no easy way to suggest this, so I will be brief.” Ara pulled her arms behind her and straightened her spine. “Please allow me to take Celestia’s place.”

I’d expected her to request an exit from the Party for her sister, but the sudden suggestion of her taking over the school? That about knocked the wind out of me. “Seriously?”

Tristan held up a hand. “I couldn’t put that kind of pressure on you, Ara.”

Ara’s lips quirked into a sad smile, and she gave a small shake of her head. “You wouldn’t be. I am the one making the request. Not to sound immodest, but I believe I am the most qualified of the girls in the Venicia School of Etiquette—or in Venicia for that matter—to become acting Headmistress.”

“How do you figure?” I asked.

“After my formal education, I was one of the select few girls Celestia often called on to manage her books and records, as well as take deliveries and messages around the town. She would call on me first to resolve conflicts and seek my opinion on changes.” Her tail flicked behind her ankles and she took a deep breath before continuing. “Thanks to my travels with the two of you, I have a greater understanding of the current situations across Shi Island. While… While you’re…” She paused, chewing on her lip as her eyes dropped to the floor.

“Ara, you don’t have to—” Tristan began.

She raised her voice, speaking over him. “While you are away, I can simultaneously initiate immediate restoration efforts while moving the school in a more positive direction.”

Tristan waited until she was finished before asking, “And what about Celestia?”

“That, of course, is ultimately your decision.” Ara cleared her throat. “However, if it were up to me, I would consider keeping her confined to a room. Perhaps the one of her own design for some time.”

I thought Celestia deserved far worse than that. Let Ravyn sear every nerve on her body, then throw her in a pitch-black cell. Ara’s frustrated stare and tense shoulders implied that she felt similarly but held back what she really wanted to say.

Tristan’s fingers balled into fists, his knuckles white. “While I agree that Celestia needs to be punished, I don’t know if torture is the way to do it.”

“Torture?” Ara’s smile turned wry. “But, young Master, the Room was always seen as a disciplinary measure. A place to ‘reassess your actions.’ There is no torture involved.”

I watched the warring emotions take their time with Tristan’s features. He didn’t hide his feelings very well—Ara would be wise to teach him her poker face some time. I could see how badly he wanted to be the good guy in all of this, and none of the options presented were great.

“What about our Party?” he asked after a few heartbeats of silence. His voice broke halfway through the sentence.

Ara flinched. As if we’d already covered that part. “I-I know. However, Destiny is a capable [Alchemist] and Lara a [Conjurer]. They should be the ones to go with you.”

“But I want you with me. You and Lynn.” His plea was thin and desperate. Gut-wrenching coming from a guy who’d suffered the full wrath of his island. I couldn’t imagine what he was feeling. It’d be like if any of my Party suddenly left. “We started this together.”

“And I will be here when you return. So will Lynn,” Ara reassured him gently.

I set a hand on Tristan’s shoulder. Wanted to remind him that he wasn’t alone. “Ara, is this really what you want? Not just for the good of the island or your sister?”

She slowly nodded her head. “It would be irresponsible to believe otherwise.”

“Maybe, but I’m sure we can find someone else to lead. We can all see this through. You’ve earned your spot a hundred times over,” I replied.

“That is kind of you to say, Matt. But I am certain that this is the best course of action.” Ara bowed. “Young Master, please let me know your decision as swiftly as possible so I may make the necessary arrangements.”

Tristan nodded, running a hand through his hair. When Ara left the room, he looked at me with bloodshot eyes. “I… I need some time alone.”

“Yeah, no problem.” I patted him on the back and moved to the door. “We’ll be downstairs if you need anything.”

“Mm,” he hummed, kneeling next to Destiny once more.

I closed the door behind me. It seemed Ara had already vanished into Lynn’s room, so I made my way down the stairs to find Ceres, Ravyn, and Cannoli at the large dining room table. Multiple candles and two oil lamps flickered from nearly every surface, illuminating Ravyn’s perfect penmanship across the parchment.

Ball Gag perched on the mantle of a fireplace with more dust and cobwebs than kindling inside. Ceres and Cannoli were seated on either side of her, leaning forward with focused concentration on Ravyn’s list. Keke stood, leaning against a nearby corner with her arms crossed over her chest, tail listlessly whipping back and forth behind her. Her gaze was miles away from anything in the room, and I wondered what she was thinking about.

Only a few soft words were exchanged between the girls when I entered the room, and all four pairs of eyes snapped to me as my footsteps echoed against the wood flooring.

“Sir Matt, is aught amiss?” Ceres asked, immediately standing from her seat and offering a curt bow.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. Please, you don’t have to stand up like that.” I gestured for Ceres to sit back down. “I don’t know about amiss, but I do have some news.”

Ravyn set her quill to the side, carefully balancing the nib on the bottle of black ink. Buttons was curled around the circular glass, dozing with his head resting on his tail. “What the hell did we miss in the ten minutes you were gone?”

I pulled a chair across the table away and slumped into the cushioned seat. “Well…”

Keke took a seat beside me, and they attentively listened as I explained Ara’s proposition to take over Celestia’s role and offering Destiny and Lara as replacements.

“Oh, no. Tristan must be devastated,” Cannoli murmured, touching a hand to her lips.

“He’s not taking it great, no. Can’t really blame him,” I agreed.

“Yeah, but, like you said, this isn’t forever. Tristan will come back here eventually.” Ravyn shrugged.

Keke nodded. “Ravyn’s right. All of us traveling together will end once the men meet. I think Ara could really make a difference here.”

“It would let her keep an eye on Lynn, too,” Cannoli noted. “But, still. Poor Tristan.”

Keke’s comment about our travels ending set off a pang in my gut. I guess I hadn’t really realized how attached to our caravan I’d become. Having Tristan and Ara with us felt so normal that the idea of splitting up with them was strange as hell.

“Matt? Are you alright?” Keke asked, touching my shoulder.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m good.” Whether I was reassuring her or myself, I couldn’t tell you. “Has this ever happened before? The four men in Nyarlea trying to meet up?”

All of us looked at Ravyn. Her eyebrows raised, and she bared her sharp white teeth. “Nani? What the fuck are all of you looking at me for?”

“You’re the, um, most experienced, Ravyn,” Cannoli replied carefully.

Good job not calling her old.

“Wow. Smooth. Kuso,” Ravyn cursed quietly. “No. I don’t think it’s ever been attempted before. Or if it has been, I’ve never heard of it in my advanced experience.”

“Perhaps you could ask Tristan as well? He is well-read, it seems,” Ceres suggested.

“Why do you ask?” Keke wondered.

I shook my head. “Just thinking out loud, really. Without Cailu sending us, we wouldn’t have met so many great people or traveled so far. It’s crazy to think about.”

“Gross. Don’t give him compliments,” Ravyn hissed.

“Nah, not really a compliment. Just something I noticed.” I shrugged. “So, yeah. Ara wants to take over. Destiny and Lara may be joining in her place. You’re all caught up, and now it’s my turn. What’s on the list?”

“Cannoli’s helping me come up with ingredients we can use for the potion we need. Since not everything from San Island or Ni Island grows on Shi Island, Ceres gave us some options for herbs and materials that would act the same way,” Ravyn explained.

“And I’m Keke,” Keke grumbled.

I squeezed her thigh beneath the table, and she snickered.

“That reminds me.” I let my hand rest on Keke’s leg, and her fingers snaked through mine. “I didn’t know that [Alchemist] was a Class.”

“Wait, really?” Ravyn sneered. “Did you even look at your options before you chose [Warrior]?”

“I…no,” I admitted. “I wanted something tanky that could do a good amount of damage. So here we are.”

“Baka. You should seriously read your iPaw once in a while. For Saoirse’s sake.”

“[Alchemist] is one of the options for second Class after [Chemist],” Cannoli explained cheerily. “I tried [Chemist] out for a little while, but it’s, uh, really expensive.”

“Why become an [Alchemist] Class instead of just practicing [Alchemy]?” I asked.

“[Chemist]s and [Alchemist]s have the ability to add additional effects and options to everything they craft. Whether it is offensive or defensive. As Cannoli said, however, the materials and ingredients required are exceedingly rare and expensive,” Ceres explained. “For most, it is better to simply practice [Alchemy] and have the option while using a more powerful Class to Level.”

“Offensive [Alchemy]? And that isn’t your Class, Ravyn?” I teased.

“No,” Ravyn replied in a tone suggesting that the conversation was over. She picked up the quill again. “Let’s get back to work. I want to leave as soon as the sun’s up.”

What did I screw up now? I sighed and stood. “Is there anything I can do to help you right now?”

“I believe we are sufficient. Thank you, Sir Matt.” Ceres stood again.

How do I tell her not to do that without hurting her feelings? “I’m gonna get some sleep, then.”

“I’ll come with you,” Keke said and got to her feet. “I’m not helping much here anyway.”

“We’ll need your foraging tomorrow, Keke! You’re the best of all of us!” Cannoli cheered.

Keke cracked a smile. We gave them one last wave and a good night before heading upstairs.

There were two rooms still unoccupied upstairs and two more I spotted downstairs. I figured everyone else could figure out their sleeping situations and picked the empty bedroom farthest down the hall. Keke followed me inside and had her arms around my neck by the time I shut the door. She pulled me down and captured my kiss, and I circled her waist to draw her close.

Nyarlea was a crazy world. There were still so many things that didn’t make sense and subjects that completely evaded me. Yet, in Keke’s embrace, I felt safe and sure. For just a few moments, the rest of the world melted away.

Please don’t ever melt away.