The brief moments that Essairyn existed atmospherically felt strange. No matter how much she practiced, she could never get used to the feeling. But she couldn't dwell on this, at least while teleporting. One had to focus only on the destination in order for safe, undisrupted travel.

Once she felt her body solidifying and her boots touching the wooden floor, Essairyn knew that she could finally open her eyes. Seeing, the familiar inside of the room, she left out a relieved breath. I did it. A widening grin graced her face. Now, let's get that package and go. Lyressa is barely holding on, so the sooner I get back, the better. Thank goodness Eisso is a brilliant doctor. He underestimates himself when it comes to his loved ones. So I have to make sure that Lyressa recovers.

She touched the gem of her necklace hidden underneath her shirt, measuring the amount of stored magic left. Eisso had poured all the magic he had available in his study into her Ayvirdizite. With this extra mana and that which she had stored up from herself, it was just safely enough for a round trip to Byar'non and back. Essairyn was lucky that she learned teleportation quick enough that she could save some magic from practicing additional attempts.

Reaching the relay station, she sighed in relief. Everything was going well. After they saved Lyressa, they could prepare to travel for Neu'arth. Aispin had also agreed to go, sharing the same sentiments as Darren and Essairyn about becoming stronger and investigating H.T. in a way that didn't put them directly in harm's way. They all realized now that they had been too rash, thinking that a trio of young adults and a 'newborn' spirit fox could do anything to undercover H.T.'s nefarious schemes and headquarters.

Essairyn had not been in a relay station many times during her previous stay in Byar'non. But she was familiar enough to know how to send and where to pick up mail in the high-ceiling, spacious station with walls of compartments. The speed of service powered by magic made it convenient for patrons to deliver and receive any packages without assistance from staff. Payment was done either electronically or magically through their in-house machines with sleek touchscreen interfaces.

Expeditiously, Essairyn located Eisso Cyanmay's package through the delivery portal and walked to the shelf that the magical dispenser would retrieve it from. Once the package was safely in her cache, she nodded happily and proceeded to exit the relay station. But as she approached the exit, she froze upon spotting a familiar back that sent shivers down her spine. No... It can't be—!!! He's—!! She dashed toward the doors which were now closing on the person.

"Leœss!!!" She practically screamed, startling all of the people nearby. The man in question seemed to jolt and turn his head halfway just as the doors shut. No no no no— Essairyn would not let this man get away, not after how much she cried after his death and how much the loss pained Darren and Aispin.

At lightning speed, she burst through the doors and raced ahead while whipping her head about to locate him. He had not gone far. Or rather, he couldn't because Essairyn had pounced on him as soon as he tried making a break for it.

"You ******* idiot!! I can't believe you didn't actually—"

"Shut up!!" Leœss slapped a hand over her mouth. "You caught me, okay? So don't make a scene in broad daylight."

His words incensed Essairyn to the point of chomping on his hand, making him jump back while sputtering curses. "You will NOT make any excuses. If I have to drag and tie you up until you spill the truth, so help me I will—"

"Jeez, I get it already, Essairyn. No need to scare me into it." Leœss sighed with his hand behind his neck, massaging the sore areas where she had jumped on him.

"Peh!" She nearly spat on the ground. "You were the ones that scared us. How can you speak so normally after making us think you died?! Was that even your body buried under the ******* dirt?! And then how can you actually try to run away from me without an explanation? Of course I'll—"

"Ahhhhh," Leœss droned with a palm over one ear. "I get it, I get it!" He kneaded the furrow of his brows with his fingers. He couldn't believe that Essairyn was actually in front of him. She was the last person he expected to appear along with everyone else who had traveled with him. Why aren't they all still chasing after Kajarn and Lyam to the northwest? We already moved out of Byar'non for now.

Seeing his expression, Essairyn narrowed her eyes. "I recognize that face. Don't try to talk your way out of this one, buddy! You saved Balgair, didn't you? Why else would his body have disappeared? No... you...you're actually part of H—!!"

"Yes." Leœss interrupted. "Those are just our initials. And the body you found of me was a double I had saved for emergencies. It got blasted pretty hard, so you wouldn't have been able to discern that it wasn't me. Although, I didn't really think I would actually need to use it. But who knew that Balgair was going to go berserk on you like that? I guess Kajarn's words about you really infuriated him."

Essairyn frowning, not quite following all of his words. Regardless, it was clear that Leœss had betrayed their trust. Not only had he known about H.T. prior, he was even part of that murderous group. Without Akari and Caelen, they could have died—Leœss had left them for dead. Well...I guess he still didn't kill us when given the chance. She sighed mockingly to herself.

At her expression, Leœss also sighed. "I also recognize that face. You lost all trust in me, right? Or rather, you're simply suspicious of me after thinking I lied. But did I actually lie? I never lied to you once, Essairyn, whether you believe it or not."

She turned her head, looking at him skeptically from the corner of her eyes. While she wanted to believe him, she simply couldn't. This made Leœss ruffle his hair in exasperation as he continued.

"You never personally checked back on the abandoned village after that time, right? You should go back and learn the truth from the villagers. H.T. is not what you think it is. We are not your enemy, Essairyn. You just haven't been in this world long enough to know who the true enemy is. You thought all those captured people at Farinheld were used in some kind of experiment, right? With demons?" He smirked, placing a hand on his hip. "You would be partly right. But they weren't victims, but volunteers."

"What?" Essairyn's voice raised in pitch. "That's ridiculous! You really think I'd believe people would willingly become demons? Unless you threatened them?!"

Leœss laughed. "Oh Essairyn. You really don't this world. But you've seen how power affects this land. How Darren and I were treated, and even you yourself, at school. People with no magical power are stepped on while those with power are restricted. What do you think the Oath is for? Wannabe knights have no idea what they're getting themselves in for. It's all just 'noble' way to keep everyone in line so that all the people up top stay in power."

"You...can't be..."

"Can't be right?" Leœss smiled smugly before his face softened into a gentler expression. "Essairyn. I really like you and everyone. You and Darren, even Aispin, treated me fairly as equals, as friends. Thank you."

Essairyn clasped her hands into quavering fists. This ludicrous situation was playing with her emotions and rationality all at once. Have I actually been blind? But how? When everything is so clear through their violent actions? I don't understand. If H.T. is not some terrorist kind of group, then just what are they?

Leœss stepped closer, making Essairyn unconsciously flinch back. She wasn't ready to hear the 'truth', wasn't sure whether to believe anything he said. Leœss smiled, knowing that he had finally pried open her door just a bit.

"Hyd' Tyml, meaning The Hand of God. We will grant the wishes of the people, for the humans of As'pyze which have suffered under elemental control in our own lands and servitude in theirs. Remember the Borderlands? Well, you should go study up about it, maybe take a field trip. Maybe then you'll finally see the truth. Essairyn." Leœss placed a hand on her shoulder and peered into her lavender orbs whirling with confusion.

"Don't listen to what others say, what the Knights say, what the elementals say, go and learn for yourself. And when you do..." His hand departed and he walked past her frozen figure in the street.

"The Revolution will be waiting for you."