Teva takes a while to leave, perhaps because of the emotional burden of realizing the extent of the mistake she made, perhaps because she did not want to leave, perhaps because she wanted me to come with her.

Whatever her reasons are, my chin remains down and my eyes fixed on the floorboards as I refuse to make eye contact. I do not blame her, not truly, but her betrayal hurts all the more because she thought I had abandoned my beliefs.

“No one can ask you to place the rebellion above yourself, I understand this, but your two names are the only ones peasants across the Empire call out in their despair towards oppression or in their hope for freedom.” Teva speaks up with spiteful undertones, her sour feelings coming to the surface. “A true champion would dedicate herself fully to the Cause.”

“Ideals are naught if victory isn't obtained, Teva.” I coldly respond, unwilling to stay silent because it would mean carrying the burden of her words.

My sunshine doesn't continue the conversation, she picks up her leather bag and leaves. I wait a while before reaching out to Leomi's reserve which I can vaguely distinguish as a silver haze in the adjacent room.

I link to it and call upon the jay through her. It takes a short moment before the jay lazily flies in from the other room and lands on my half-shoulder. I reach up to scratch its neck, knowing it is aware of what it has to do now.

The flow bird stays to be pampered for a few moments before taking off again to go protect Teva until she leaves Kruzser. I trust it will be able with its connection to Leomi's access and ability to completely destroy constructs that it encounters.

I finally push back my nausea, my feelings of powerlessness and loss of control to get up. I make my way to Yvonne's room and open the door. Leomi is sitting by the bed where my bestie lies with a pale face.

“... feel more with this girth.” Yvonne says with a smile so innocent-looking it must be anything but. Yet, Leomi appears riveted to her words. So much so that she doesn't notice me entering. “Trust me, you'll want to try so you'll know exactly how it feels.” My friend whispers with an enigmatic tone as her eyes flick to me.

Leomi follows the glance to the side and finds me. She hurriedly conceals something between her legs as her eyes widen and her cheeks turn bright red. I take note of their conspiracy but push it to the back of my mind.

“Teva is leaving Kruzser to try to fix what she did.” I calmly tell them.

“Is that safe? Shouldn't we try to retrieve your writings?” Leomi asks.

“It's for the best.” I quietly utter but with an undertone of finality.

Rowland walks in from a side-door with a wet cloth that he carefully places on Yvonne's forehead. Leomi rises to leave him the seat, oddly turning her back to me and making shifty movements before facing me.

“Rowland, can you gather everyone together by tonight?” I ask him. But, can I trust them?

“I am able, I'll send messengers.” The large man responds with a quiet voice.

“Do you really think we can find her tonight?” Leomi questions.

“All her subordinates must know what Elizabeth seeks after last night.” I reply. “They'll make it a point to figure out where their Liege is to save their lives if they're the next ones caught.”

“But can she find them?” Yvonne probes.

“ I would have said yes fifteen minutes ago but, now...” I trail off. “I truly couldn't tell you.” I admit with a sigh. “We're not at the top of our shape, and I do not mean physically.”

“That was evident when you allowed them to ambush Yvonne.” Her man spits out.

“Rowland!” Leomi exclaims in outrage. “Your expectations are out of line and unrealistic!”

“He's right, I predicted much but was naive in many ways and didn't take the precautions I should have.” I speak up.

“That's an understatement.” Rowland mutters.

“You...” My fiancee growls at the man but my glare shuts her down. “Very well, then let us not repeat the mistake tonight.”

“Agreed.” I say.

“What matters right now is to focus on what actions we take next, not what brought us to this point.” Lance speaks up, clearly saying so to comfort me from Rowland's remark but there is such conviction in her tone I can't help but admire her. “Meet me in the conference room, Jess.” She tells me.

I nod and she departs. I make the effort to wink to Yvonne as soon as Lance has turned her back despite not being in the mood to let her know I'm aware she's playing shenanigans with her ward.

It pays off as a bright smile blossoms on my best friend's pale face. I reach out and squeeze her shoulder before leaving to reaffirm my promise to end all those who conspired to hurt her.

I make my way to the conference room where I find a large round table with a map laid upon it and a very nervous officer standing at attention to wait for his Grand Commander. He's a bit taller than me with very short brown hair.

“Take a seat and relax.” I tell the man.

“I've a report to make, Dame Freepath.” He responds, not directly refusing.

“And you can make it from a seat.” I note. “Relax or your nerves may lead you astray.” I advise. The man hesitates but chooses to step forth and pull a chair in the end.

“Thank you, Dame Freepath.” He says as he sits down.

“Jessica.” I correct without taking my eyes off him while resting my hand on my lap.

“Is it true you defeated Lord Claywood in a hand to hand duel?” He questions while pressing his lips together as if worried he's making a misstep by asking.

“I did.” I acknowledge. “That Lordling was the lesser with weapons and did not realize he was even more disadvantaged using flow, I doubt he had the mind to even comprehend how his end came.”

“Lord Claywood was a hero!” The officer exclaims as he jumps to his feet with a dagger in hand that he thrusts towards my heart. “Die, you littl...”

Snap. My major slaps into my palm and a long golden javelin breaks through the table from beneath. My projectile skewers the assassin's skull, going through his face to pierce his brain and come out the back of his head.

The body slumps down, the torso slams into the table and leaves a bloody stain on the map before it drops on the floor. I raise a trembling hand and recall my air-javelin.

Drops of blood are dripping from the construct's golden membrane, seemingly coming out of nowhere as the substance sticks to the solidified air but not the flow appearing to contain it.

It is an odd sight for it should be impossible for a membrane to contain thin air but allow thick blood to pass. I shake my head because that isn't how this construct is made, the energy reinforces inner bonds rather than containing from the outside.

“Idiot.” I address the killer. “Leomi would not send me somewhere any random officer could access, she may not always be attentive to my needs but she knows not to tell me to wait alone in a room with someone unknown.”

Feeling a bit hungry after this latest attempt on my life, I run my tongue over the projectile to savor the irony taste of my foe's blood. Leomi walks in as I lick it for the third time.

Her silvery irises flick from the body to my construct and lastly to my bloodied tongue. Leomi's eyebrows tighten and small creases appear at the corners of her eyes.

“How did he get inside?” She asks me.

“Don't know, he was here when I arrived.” I respond.

“Someone's going to pay for this.” Lance utters with a dark tone.

She stomps over to me and hugs me tight before shaping a construct to eject the dead body from the room. I hear her bark a few orders before returning to sit by me and take hold of my hand.

“How many attempts did the Hospitaliers foil so far?” I question.

“Three dozen at the last report.” She replies.

“Then don't make a fuss and let it go.” I tell her. “One had to make it eventually and he died without achieving anything. It's tactically better to suppress the news than to let it be known one of the killers got this close, it would only encourage our enemies to keep trying.”

“... I will do so.” Leomi agrees with a worried expression. “You're not okay, are you?”

“I am not.” I acknowledge, very conscious of the stone stuck in my throat and the twist in my guts. “But I will be once you've dealt with Roskal.”

“I confirmed that the Calmwater Duchy is in turmoil but that is far from all there is to it.” Lance speaks up. I lean forward to listen closely because it was part of what convinced my sunshine to turn on me. “The Duke himself mistakenly revealed the damage his house's extravagant expenses are doing to his Duchy. He lamented in front of his servants that he had not the gold to repair one of their main mills all because he listened to several of his nieces and nephews, thus throwing a ball in Kruzser for their birthdays with transportation arranged for all the guests.”

“Was it a move to retake control of his house?” I ask.

“If it was any other Noble, I would suspect so, but not this one. Even his family, who all blame his loose tongue for their troubles, does not suspect an underhanded move.” Leomi shakes her head. “The only incident of import so far has been a manifestation from peasants but there have been a few isolated cases where a manor was raided by rebels. My officers have told me to expect a large disruption to the Empire's food supply as Calmwater is one of the major providers of grain for the army.”

“It seems Cecil's prediction was more accurate than any of us knew.” I mutter.

I have no trouble believing a Noble would be as foolish as Duke Calmwater but still decide not to trust the overwhelming consensus on his scatter-minded personality.

After all, it may not be a coincidence the man slipped up now instead of any other point during the last decade since his loose tongue coexisted with his house's abuses for years.

“What's your plan so far?” Leomi asks.

“I know how to catch Wraith and defeating Roskal is only a matter of finding her.” I reply, feeling down because I expected myself to be further along. “I would like to hear your opinion on that.”

“Well you're not wrong that many of her officers may have found out where she is to trade for their lives but I may have an easier way to track her down that doesn't rely on the accuracy of their information.” Leomi tells me as she points at several locations on the map. “These are the places you raided, they're all located in a zone of a few blocks, I believe she was taken in that area to heal because they wouldn't want to be isolated from their forces if Elizabeth Vil did find her again.”

“Makes sense.” I acknowledge. “How do we narrow it down?”

“We either move in with overwhelming force, breaching the Emperor's decree, or we eliminate the unlikely possibilities until only a few remain so that we can realistically check each in the span of a single night.”

“Agreed.” I murmur.

“Are you certain you are up for this, Jess?” Leomi asks worriedly. “We can fortify our positions and leave Kruzser, there is no pressing need to have our revenge.”

“Defenses can be breached.” I quietly reply as I glance down to the blood staining the map. “And delaying will cost us the advantage we have in our enemies being unaware Elizabeth Vil and Jessica Freepath are us, Cenwalh must know so he will not be tricked by Yvonne's fake death.”

“We may as well abandon this for what little good it has done us to pretend there is conflict between us.” Leomi murmurs.

“Nobles fear E.Vil so much because none knows how to find her, same as Wraith.” I explain. “We will face much fiercer opposition once it is revealed, not to mention the Order will know where to seek me out.”

“Why hasn't Cenwalh spoken?” Lance asks.

“Aisha told him to hold the information secret but something changed since Roskal seems to have no issue causing bloodshed in Kruzser, defying the Emperor.” I say.

“I understand holding onto secrets to have an advantage over others but that only makes sense if it doesn't become a detriment to your own forces.” She hesitantly mutters. “But, then again, Elizabeth Vil disappeared so there was no reason to tell others.”

“Tell me what you really think.” I demand.

“Cenwalh is not only planning to let things devolve to the point where Nobility has no choice but to band together but is in fact actively pursuing such an end.” Leomi speaks up.

“Why?” I question.

“Because he hasn't done everything he could to limit my growing power in Caeviel, his eyes are now set upon the Empire itself, it shows in how he has left the Kingdom to travel to Telnur with as large an army as he could gather.” Lance explains. “No matter how much he underestimates Edusa, he has to be aware of the danger Hetlan presents to him. He may have seized much of the Duchy's lands but the populace itself won't be converted for generations.”

“A gamble.” I note.

“Is it?” She asks. “He is King, he believes himself superior to all but the Emperor who he likely now sees as a threat to his crown. It would be a gamble if he was secure on his throne but since he is not, then this is a course of action he must take to emerge the ultimate victor.”

I nod in understanding and acknowledgment of her reasoning but it doesn't help me feel any less lost. As I was about to ask about details on which properties Roskal could have taken refuge in, someone knocks at the door.

I snatch my weapon's handle and prepare to shape my flow to defend our lives. Leomi rises while squeezing my hand to appease me. It works to a small degree.

“What is it?” She calls out.

“Lord Olhiar is here and willing to surrender himself to you in exchange for guarantees, Grand Commander.” A voice responds, it belongs to the Justicier I met.

“Roskal's logistics officer, the one you couldn't find.” Leomi informs me. “Did you confirm his identity?” She asks.

“I have and believe his offer genuine.” The man declares.

“Then take away his weapons and send him in, alone.” Lance orders. “It isn't negotiable.”

“Very well.” The Justicier agrees.

“You can order Justiciers?” I ask.

“In those circumstances, yes.” She replies. “We have limited personnel so they are mere subordinates when they aren't acting as overseers.”

It takes a good ten minutes for Olhiar to be taken to us. The Lord is a tall thin man, unexpected for a logistics officer, with middling blond hair. Another oddity for a Noble is the purple bruise around his left eye and the thick bandage around his right arm. He looks like he was in a brawl as his fearful traits testify.

“What do you want?” Leomi asks with a cold voice.

“Protection. I cannot leave Kruzser without losing everything but I cannot remain without losing my life.” He murmurs. “Elizabeth Vil tried to kill me last night and almost succeeded despite it being far from her best effort.”

“She gave you those injuries?” I question.

“Yes.” He confirms as trembles course through his body. You lie or are too gullible to be credible. “I do not want to spend the rest of my life hiding in fear.”

“We could hold you prisoner.” Leomi notes. “But why should we put any effort into saving you?”

“Because I hold information you want.” He directly reveals. “Duchess Roskal's location as well as information on what her people plan to do, and secret intelligence on what the Emperor plans to end this conflict.”

“Speak.” I order.

“Only if you guarantee my safety on your honor, both of you.” Olhiar demands.

“I will do no such thing, Lordling.” I gripe with a mocking snarl. “You've chosen your side, the most I will do is spare you.” The man recoils with a shiver while lowering his gaze.

“If what you have to say is worth it, then I can arrange your safe transfer and exile on Izla Meria.” Leomi speaks up. “You won't have a manor but it will be peaceful.”

She throws me a look that puzzles me because it doesn't feel like she's asking for my opinion but considering making the same offer to me. I nod to tell her I don't want the man's life so much I would refuse such a good deal.

“No, I want refuge for as long as you're in Kruzser but I am to remain here when you leave with that madwoman.” Olhiar requests.

"Elizabeth Vil doesn't follow me.” Lance notes.

“No, but she follows you.” He contradicts with a different meaning of the words. “My life isn't of such import she will remain to kill me.”

“Why should we trust what you have to say?” I question.

“Because the proof will come to you soon enough.” He responds quickly, proving only that he expected to be asked.

“It's a deal. I will give you the refuge you seek, and only that, if you tell us all you know.” Leomi declares. “But it only holds if you do not attempt to trick us.”

“My life matters more to me than Duchess Roskal's revenge.” Olhiar assures us while pressing his lips together as if impatient to get this over with to put this ordeal behind himself. “There will be raids against your supporters all across Kruzser tonight by units of soldiers meant to kill, capture, or intimidate.”

“You do not mean low born but Nobles and bourgeois.” Leomi quickly assesses. “They are turning Elizabeth's tactics against us?”

“Yes, but the objective is to weaken your faction in preparation for an audience the Emperor is to convene between you and Duchess Roskal to resolve the conflict.” He speaks rapidly. “It's said our faction has little to no chance of getting out of it unscathed because proof was found implicating us in the massacre at the inn.”

“A desperate move.” I note without believing it.

“No, I do not know why but Roskal had calculated this falling out with the Emperor from long ago but it came from an unexpected direction.” The logistics officer denies. “One of her pawns is said to have turned on her and placed us in this situation but I've not been able to find details on the matter.”

“Have you ever been ordered to drop gold and weapons in caches?” I ask.

“I have.” The man acknowledges. “If you mean to say I've perhaps supplied her pawn. Then yes, that has occurred to me.”

“You mean to hide from more than Elizabeth Vil.” Leomi coldly notes.

“I had no knowledge.” He affirms.

“I don't believe you.” I calmly speak up.

“Neither do I.” Lance utters with a harsh tone. “There will be inquiry by Justiciers who will determine your role in the matter and fate.”

“What?!” The man questions with an outraged expression. “You promised to leave me my freedom!”

“To give you refuge.” Leomi softly corrects. “And even then only if you tell us where to find Roskal. I have not said I would forgive your crimes for I have not the power to do so.” She explains with a vicious smirk.

“... I, wh...” The man's cheeks turn white. He falls to his knees and buries his face in his palms from which soft sobs soon escape. “I, I just want it to end.” He mumbles.

“Tell us where to find Roskal and you'll be free from the burden.” Leomi whispers. “Your part in all this must be minimal, at worst you will be held captive for a short while and freed. It will be no different from the demands you've made and I assure you Elizabeth Vil will lose interest in you as soon as she learns where her target is hiding.”

“... I tracked her healer. She's still at the Midnight Palace, she was too injured to leave.” Olhiar murmurs with an empty voice.