I lean back down on the piece of parchment to add various details before I forget them while Celyz heads to a bookshelf and picks a pair of books out. She sets them in front of her, going through the pages with Rykz writing.

“With the time we have, I can teach you the more efficient nourishing construct used by the Empire to prepare its best soldiers to join a phalanx. The shredding construct as discussed. The scanning construct which has applications on everything from detecting tunnels underground to projectiles, enemies, or construct targeting. The variations of the defensive construct, air construct, signaling construct, and shredding construct.” Celyz lists. “Which reminds me of the signaling construct you sent me with a mention about the lightning construct, I am ashamed to say that I did not place much importance on it before now.”

“It's...” I hesitate. “I found that it has two applications you didn't mention, one of which I cannot share.” I tell her.

“Alright.” Celyz nods, leaning in to listen closely.

“Inside the institute, I sent lightning through the walls which had metal veins. It tore my Vuskyt weapon out of my hands.” I clumsily explain.

“Magnetism.” Celyz nods. “Vuskyt is rather sensitive to it but it affects most metals.”

“I made use of that to break through the gate to Cetyz' cell.” I tell her.

“You could direct it precisely with that kind of force?” She asks intently.

“I don't know about precision, it simply followed the lightning's trajectory along the tunnel.” I reply.

“Interesting.” Celyz murmurs. “Would you know what these veins were made of?”

“Not a clue.” I shake my head. “I'm telling you because you taught it to me despite it being a Rykz secret but the other application is dangerous to the Empire so I can't share it, sorry.”

“Do not worry, I understand. The Lisilese and the Empire have a good idea of how the lightning construct functions, this secret will not last another couple of centuries.” Celyz calmly tells me. “I will explore this application, but so should you with your apparent gift for altering constructs beyond their primary purpose.”

“Gift.” I scoff. “If I have a gift it's one of slaughter through sheer desperation.”

“Cetyz told me of the spheres you created with the air and lightning constructs.” Cetyz tells me, veering the conversation away. “It is quite a feat to alter the shape and purpose of these constructs to such a degree in the time you had at your disposal.”

“I used them on the ship to Meiridin so they weren't new to me and I had to figure these constructs out to attack the institute, the Exemplar helped quite a bit.” I dismiss. “It's amazing what you can accomplish with your life on the line.” I wryly comment. “And how much it helps to practice flow manipulation every winter for years because you have no friends.” I mutter under my breath.

“I am sorry you had to go through that.” Celyz says in a gentle resounding voice.

“Don't worry about it.” I shrug.

“There is one construct I want to teach you that cannot ever cross your lips.” Celyz tells me in a tense tone.

“Which one? I would rather not hold any more secrets.” I tell her.

“One to control the symbiont's implantation process.” Celyz says. “It would give you a better chance if you find yourself in danger.”

“How bad would it be if it got tortured out of me?” I ask, a cold shiver running through my back.

“It...” Celyz hesitates.

“Celyz.” I press her.

“With Suxen alive, considering what I found in the notebook, the experiments, and what she took from Cetyz, it could potentially be disastrous on the long run.” She admits.

“Then no.” I decide.

“It is extremely unlikely that all the factors necessary for something terrible to happen will converge.” Celyz insists.

“But not impossible. I've experienced torture, I know that I would break for a fact. The only question is whether or not I would be able to protect these secrets.” I declare.

“You would, I am certain of it.” Celyz affirms.

“But is it worth the risk when I am not?” I ask.

“I think it is for your safety.” She says with shaking tendrils. “You are the best hope of peace between Rykz and humans, even Mother would agree.”

“You overestimate me, my Princess.” I tell her, feeling her warmth in my heart. “I will not be re-implanting the symbiont once it is taken from my body, not unless my death is certain if I do not.”

“Or hers.” Celyz utters with audible spite.

“Or yours.” I add in a soothing tone. “The inherent danger of those situations means that I might not even have the flow to use that construct since it required so much from your Queen. The Little one is familiar with my physiology as you've said, it won't kill me.”

We fall into an awkward silence that Celyz breaks by assembling a series of segments, 'if', 'and', 'or', 'not', and 'then'. She spends the next hour teaching me how to create the first few, barely touching on the basics of using them in a construct for now.

“I relish the lack of negotiation as we discuss these things together.” I tell her, assembling a small lightning sphere to show her how I used air-spheres to contain the charged air.

“We owe you much.” Celyz says in a smiling voice as she inspects my construct. “You were willing to be left behind just to improve my sister's chances at escaping.”

“That.” I mutter. “It, it wasn't for you.”

“Not even a little?” Celyz asks, angling her head to the side.

“Well, probably a little.” I admit, hearing the gut-wrenching echo of a snap. “It was mostly about the oath I took to end this regardless of the cost to myself.”

“The Rykz respect such commitment to the truth of an oath, Jessica.” Celyz calmly tells me. “Even when it does not benefit us.”

“Has the Emperor been truthful in his dealings with you?” I ask.

“Yes. Treaties were broken by the Empire but never frivolously and most often to get out of an undesirable position we had put the Emperor in through shrewd negotiating. For example, a Queen had once obtained the guarantee that no phalanxes would venture east of Trident Hill for a decade in exchange for steel forging methods but Emperor Rasaec broke it when three Hordes ventured north and invaded these very lands.” Celyz explains. “He broke the treaty for an entire year but extended the deadline for two more in return. It destroyed the scheme but it is not like we can claim the moral high ground in this matter.”

“You said he keeps secrets.” I note.

“What little we know of the Vault, we cannot reveal.” Celyz shakes her head. “We have little time ahead of us today, Jessica, would you rather not continue?”

“There's no way I'll be able to learn even these segments in the next few hours.” I comment.

“Indeed.” Celyz acknowledges. “But you seem to have acquired some sense of the logic behind their function.”

“Maybe.” I mutter, assembling the 'if' segments to make it spin in front of me. “But not really, this one is off.”

“It is but the fact that you are able to tell says much.” Celyz notes.

“Hm.” I ponder. “I don't know, it's a lot easier with constructs, an air-blade isn't that much different from an air-shield, it's only a difference in thickness and shape, all I have to do is rearrange the segments while preserving the preexisting order.”

“These segments are far more complex than those who are widely used, they can even be described as miniature constructs of their own.” Celyz says.

“Okay, you convinced me.” I chuckle. “Dissect them again for me.”

Celyz goes through the basics of the segments again but more slowly, entirely doing away with their purpose to focus on the way to assemble them. I suspect that it isn't entirely needed to use them since she would have started with that to begin with otherwise.

She seems to enjoy explaining so much that I don't cut her off, not to mention that it's interesting and that listening to her voice is soothing in itself. The two of us relax as we discuss, sometimes even finishing the others' sentences.

“So, how do I integrate them in a construct?” I ask.

“You set the 'if yes' and 'if no' that you link to 'then' segments that trigger effects.” She explains.

“Okay, I'm going to need to write the specifics down.” I tell her.

I take hold of Suxen's notebook to flip to the end where I find blank pages. She spends the next two hours reformulating what her books say into simpler terms and analogies for me to write down.

“I'm going to need to go.” I speak up, sad to put an end to our peace, but certain of the necessity to keep forging ahead.

“Do you want me to accompany you?” Celyz asks.

“It would be great.” I reply. “But, she wants to confront Cenwalh, it might not be safe if you are in sight.”

“Do not worry, I will remain at a distance.” Celyz tells me.

“Okay.” I immediately accept.

I pick my mask up and set it back over my face. We head out of the room and walk through the tunnels together. I grow nervous for no apparent reason. It takes me a while to link the feeling to my lack of readily available defenses.

I assemble a few lightning constructs and air-blade shells, even one that I shape like a sword, and anchor those constructs in my forearms. Which makes me think of a few changes I'll need to make to my new weapon.

As we make our way through the Rykz camp towards the human one, I assemble a signaling construct and arrange a set of my personal runes into the defensive runic construct specifically designed to counter generic armor-piercing constructs since Lassus steel isn't as naturally resistant to those as Vuskyt.

I'll be engraving that one on the handle, it would also be good to add two runic lightning-armor-piercing constructs to the back of the blades so I can activate and deactivate them at will. I slow down my pace as I think through the specifics of making it work.

“What are you doing?” Celyz asks curiously.

“Putting together a few ideas for my weapon.” I say. “I'm trying to hide a construct behind another.”

“Which constructs?” She questions.

“Sorry, can't say.” I apologize.

“What is the problem then, in detail?” Celyz asks, in no way vexed.

“Hm.” I quickly think of a way to express it. “I want to make it seem like I'm using more flow than I really am.”

“That is quite simple, add more flow in a tertiary construct that transfers the energy back to you once the first two have activated.” Celyz tells me.

“I don't know how to do...” My voice trails off as she extends one of her tendrils with a minuscule construct.

“It is a safety construct, used to drain power when a construct destabilizes.” She explains. “It can pour the excess energy back to a body, a reservoir, or disperse it in thin air.”

“Thanks.” I mutter, attaching it to the signaling construct and anchoring both inside my chest. “For everything.”

“No need. I have to tell you that Fenyz and I will need to withdraw the energy we've pledged to you as we depart the Izla.” Celyz tells me, her tendrils shifting awkwardly.

“I honestly thought you would have rescinded them by now.” I say.

“You remain in danger because of your work for us, it would not be fitting to do so at this time.” Celyz says.

“But you can't keep feeding me either.” I acknowledge. “It's alright, I do not want my freedom to depend on another's power.”

“I am glad to hear you do not resent me, but your goal seems quite...” Celyz trails off.

“Arrogant?” I ask.

“Ambitious.” She hurriedly corrects.

“We'll see.” I shrug. “With my body almost healed, I'm going to have much flow to train all these constructs you want to teach me. It would help if you have the time to advise me.”

“I do for you, my friend.” Celyz reassures me.

“I could always ask another Princess if you don't.” I propose, worried that I'm abusing her good will.

“No need!” Celyz protests a little too forcefully.

“Right.” I grin.

As we reach the edge of the camp, I notice a detachment of several dozen warriors and scouts making their way to us in squads. I throw a glance around, finding that there are carriages gathering to the south and west.

Some workers are dismantling beds, tents, and workbenches to stack them on while others are moving stacks of amphorae from the center of the camp to the edge, likely to be sent south along with the army when it departs.

“Quick.” I nod. “Where are your sisters?”

“...” Celyz doesn't reply, turning her ovaloid head away.

“Supporting Cetyz.” I mutter, understanding. “Sorry.”

“We cannot ask you to set everything aside for her desire to retaliate here and now.” Celyz says sadly. “I will wait here, call if you need help and I will hear.”

She waves her tendrils and the warriors tighten their ranks around her while the scouts spread out. I'm slowly pushed away as the circle closes around her. I throw her an annoyed look but, if I go by how Celyz keeps moving her appendages, she seems as confused as I am by their attitude. They can tell the pain I caused... cause her.

I hurriedly turn my back on her and make my way to the human's camp, passing far away from where the organization's members are training. Henry and Margaret are guarding a tent, which means that the rest are likely inside. I can't help but uncomfortably open and close my right hand to try to dispel the itch for a weapon to hold onto.

It doesn't mean anything that it's getting worse the further I get from Celyz. I resolve to press onward, as always, focusing on the fact that I have constructs prepared and adding a set of lion's steps even though I can use them without doing so.

Leomi steps out of the tent, likely warned by the two Nobles of my approach. She finds me within moments, her expression as sharp as usual but also distinctively optimistic. She further brightens as she inspects me, likely because she finds no weapon in my hands.

That is until she spots Celyz, at which point her expression falls. I take the air-blade construct shell I made to stand in for a sword and send it out of my forearm, activating it. Leomi pinches her lips with a difficult expression at the demonstration.

I dismantle the construct as I realize that the amount of energy it's consuming to maintain the blade's three-dimensional shape is unjustifiable in combat, not to mention utterly wasteful when I could use a real sword. Leomi swiftly walks up to me.

“I would have preferred it if you felt comfortable enough to walk around unarmed.” She tells me.

“I saw your face when you thought she helped more than you did.” I mutter, coming short of accusing her of lying.

“I'm not perfect, I wouldn't like it if that Rykz took advantage of our night together.” Leomi replies, discreetly reshaping my words. “But I do mean it. Your health matters more than my ego.” Leomi tells me.

“Please don't make it a contest. She is my friend, the two of you help.” I sigh.

“Alright.” Leomi acknowledges soberly. “Did you talk about their creation?”

“No.” I reply, unwilling to lie.

“I can go talk to her in your place if you want.” Leomi proposes, discreetly planting her left hand's nails into her palm.

“I really don't think a fight's going to help, no matter how much I'd enjoy your defeat.” I reply provocatively.

“Liz, this is killing you.” Leomi makes a disapproving frown. “She seems to care for you, perhaps she needs only to be told that humans aren't as sturdy as Rykz or Lisilese.”

I'm relatively certain Celyz knows more about that than you do. I inspect Leomi, finding no rise of temperature or any other early indicator of upcoming aggression.

“Wait, you're serious?” I blink. “You're willing to go talk to her on my behalf over this? Without picking a fight?”

“Yes.” Leomi affirms. “Someone needs to make sure you're not going to end up killing yourself.”

“I assure you, I'm not.” I chuckle. Leomi bites down on her tongue, obviously disbelieving me. “I'll deal with it after this is over, kitten, don't worry about it.” I tell her, feeling uplifted.

“Kitten.” Leomi groans. “Are you going to say I have the heart of one again?”

“No, but you cuddled like one all night.” I reply, reaching up to a strand of her straight black hair to set it back behind her left ear.

“You're deflecting.” She notes, failing to hide her smile at my display of affection.

“I am but it's because you can't intervene in this matter.” I flatly tell her.

“Why not? You belong to me.” She utters firmly.

“Because you're liable to say these things without thinking like you just have.” I sigh.

“I, I won't.” Leomi denies miserably. I incline my head to the side, signaling her to keep talking. “Alright, fine, I might if that Princess pushes me.”

“Let it go. Focus on your task.” I say. “I told you I'll deal with that issue and I will, it should be enough.”

“You swear?” She asks, squinting her eyes.

“On our lives.” I nod.

“Okay.” She grins, blushing slightly.

I swallow my saliva at the beauty of her, feeling an irresistible pull to kiss, to bite her. She takes hold of my gloved left hand, unable to help herself from hesitantly running her thumb over the back of it, likely looking for tendrils like those she felt in my torso.

I let her, confident that the camouflage is effective enough to fool her. As we make our way to the tent hand in hand, the Little one expresses a desire to taste her, no, eat her?

No, it wants to have her, to control her, for her to have it, to own it. I shiver in fear at this distorted reflection of my darkest desires, impulses that I know would not make me happy in the least if they were granted to me.

I push back with all the strength of my will, telling it that I would kill us before I would let that happen, that this is not what the two of us are. The Little one responds with panic, confusion, and even fear at the idea of death.

It sends the contrary of the possessive feelings it projected at me merely seconds ago, ending up with me reflexively breaking our handhold as we step inside. Leomi nods as she composes her expression into a more serious one, misunderstanding.

I straighten up as I walk inside, trying to express that moderation exists to the Little one. It replies with a shallow acknowledgment, making me feel like the symbiont is already forgetting its own impulse or trying to end that line of communication, or perhaps both.