“Fire in the camp to the west! Grab buckets and other containers! We need to stop it!”

“What about the wizards?”

“Don’t you remember? They’re casting a spell for tomorrow and are not to be interrupted!”

“Shit! We need to stop it ourselves! What set it any-” the man said but his voice drifted away. He walked out of Rowena’s earshot.

Still she waited a moment longer before shifting into her human form and darting towards the siege engine. It was made of wood and easily fifty meters tall. More probably.

She got lamp oil out of her bag and turned into an eagle. It wasn’t inconspicuous but it would have to work. Flying and letting oil just slide down the engine’s sides was the fastest way to cover it.

One done, seven more to go. She wondered for a moment whether to light it up now or wait until all were prepared. Second option was better in general as it had less chance of being thwarted once finished. But if she got caught midway, not a single engine would get destroyed.

Did she trust herself enough not to draw attention and finish?

She clenched her teeth and started circling the second engine, oil dripping from the almost empty container. Today there was no time for half-measures. It was all or nothing. If they failed, there would be nothing to defend tomorrow. No second chance.

On the fifth one she got noticed. It was an accident really. A person was running from the fires instead of towards them and caught sight of her hiding behind a wooden beam. And before she could do anything he was screaming, “Intruders, intruders! I saw a shape! A shape!”

Rowena froze in the air, unsure of what to do. Should she try and finish her work or rush to light the oiled engines?

Once again before she took action, another form came from the shadows. It silenced the shouting man and when others rushed from a corner, said that he saw someone running towards the eastern side. Someone dressed in black and trying to keep to the darker places.

They all ran off in that direction and Rowena breathed a sigh of relief, feeling her heart beating against chest like mad. When had she stopped breathing?

No, it didn’t matter. She got lucky. That was great but there was still work before her. Half left. She took out a new oil contained and started flying faster.

Chaos was below. People running shouting,horses neighing in distress, flames raging in the tents. It would be hard to distinguish the sound of her wings beating in that mess. She should have thought of that earlier. So much more would have been done if the thought had only crossed her mind.

It did now and in third of the time, she was done. For a second she admired her work, oil running the engines’ sides in thick, slow streams. A smile came on her lips as she descended to take her form and light everything up.

It should be a glorious sight. One of victory.

“You done?” a voice from behind startled her.

The spell words dropped from her lips as she whirled to face her new opponent. Her fingers had turned into claws by the time she recognised Fenek. “Don’t sneak up on me!” she hissed at him.

He chuckled at her reaction. “Who do you think I am?”

She had to agree he had a point there and huffed, turning away. Her claws turned back into fingers and she calmed herself to remember the fire spell. Shamans weren’t best casters but they had a few spells to survive in the wild.

“Spark,” she whispered near the first engine, not bothering with the full incantation. Oil caught in an instant and in moment the giant structure was caught in bright golden glow. Wood wasn’t burning yet but it there hadn’t been any rain recently so it was dry, prepared to light the whole camp.

Rowena turned to put the second engine on fire when she noticed it was already covered in flames. Fenek was by the last engine, flint in his hands. He hit it a few times until a spark came and only then came to her to admire their work.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she whispered. Flames were reaching for the skies, licking at each other and growing in size. Sparks flew wide, one descending into Rowena’s hair. She brushed it out while staring at the smoke reaching for the heavens.

“Sure,” Fenek agreed in a hurry, tugging at her hand. “But we need to leave. There will be people coming here in seconds.”

Rowena nodded and after a last glance at the night turned day shifted into a cheetah and went after Fenek.

**

Darkness ruled the night. Or so it had been in the evening. Soon after midnight red lights jumped high in the air, lightening everything around. From the walls you could see people running in all directions with hands over their heads.

Some carried buckets or pots but they were minority. There were more just standing and watching the destruction of their camp in simple awe. Fires were everywhere; tents, engines, carriages, even the forest.

It was like the whole world outside the city walls had been lit up. Anyone who wasn’t dead tired, though there were few of those, came up and watched with relief on their faces. None believed this would be enough but it was nice to see their enemies suffering for once.

“Think we should have done this earlier?” L asked watching from his tower.

Monthu stood by his side, a frown on his face. “It would have changed nothing then like it would change nothing now.”

“People need hope. This might even stop tomorrow’s attack,” L said in a low tone without any conviction. It was clear he didn’t believe it himself.

Monthu didn’t reply. Silent he watched destruction below and wondered what it meant.

Lasran was going down in the morning .That was set in stone. But what did it mean for him? He had tried his best to save this city but it just wasn’t happening. They were too far behind with no way to catch up in anything. Not a single advantage on their side.

“Wing promised to help.”

“Did he?” Monthu asked without turning towards L. “I remember you saying he’d agreed to think.”

L leaned on the windowsill, eyes locked on a burning siege engine. Some beam inside broke and it was crumbling upon itself. You could hear cracks and groans of wood as far as inside the city.

Or at least L thought so. He wanted to see, hear and feel Marion suffer. The bastard could have destroyed him in a one all-out battle but no. He was patient and slow, making sure that L’s defeat would be inevitable and as painful as possible.

Probably not. He smiled with self-mockery. Marion was a dry stuck-up. He wouldn’t care about L’s feelings. All this city signified to him was just another chess piece on his board. He would remove it and move forward, never remembering it had ever existed.

Just a part of his continuously increasing rule.

“Do you think he considered coming back? Or just abandoned us?”

Monthu shrugged. “Who knows. It’s not like he explained himself to me.”

“But you talked. You’re the one who knows him best.”

“If by that you mean he lied straight to my face, pretended and smiled all innocent, then sure,” Monthu said pushing himself off the windowsill.

He walked back into the room. His eyes landed on the table, enemy markers like angry wolves surrounding a sheep. “I thought I knew him but.. The more I think, the less likely it sounds. If he tricked everyone, why should I have been different? You know? I think he was just that good.”

L turned to watch him. “How is your brother doing? Is he coming back?”

“Doubt. He doesn’t want to be see this place empty of his friend.” He shook his head, covering his face with a hand. “I’m still wondering why I’m here and not with him.”

“You love this world as much as everyone else,” L said leaning back and glancing at the red horizon from his shoulder. “Whatever your reason to enter, you fell for this place and don’t want to see it destroyed. Silly? Probably. It’s just a game,” he whispered. “Just a game...”

He closed his eyes, trying not to think. All he had worked for, all he had achieved in over a year’s time would be soon gone. Nothing left but a pile of dust in the middle of nowhere. Marion was going to level his city to the ground and all he could do was die with it.

Like a sinking ship’s captain. Titanic. This was quite a similar story, wasn’t it? Full of promise and grandeur, astonishing at first glance. But soon enough those dreams are sunk to the bottom of the ocean, never to be seen again.

“What is that?” Monthu asked, coming closer to him. L turned to face the open window. “Where?” “To the right, there’s something white in the horizon.”

L squinted in the lit night, trying to determine what was that strange white glow. Was that his demise? Marion’s secret weapon because he got pissed?

“I think it’s someone flying?” Monthu said like it was a question.

“Wing?”

“Did you ever see him wear white? It’s probably the only colour I never saw him in.”

The sigh that left L’s chest could have made elders feel young again. “You love killing my dreams, don’t you?”

Monthu didn’t answer but watched the sky. It was littered with stars but the light in the west wasn’t them. It was coming closer and increasing in size, intensity. He thought for a moment before saying, “I’m going to the wall.”

L nodded, glanced over his dying city and turned away. His chair stood on the dais as grand as ever and he plopped down. Some papers flew off the armrests and he pushed the rest after. None of them were going to help him now.

Today was his last day of glory, stinging the lion at his door.

**

Monthu stood on the battlement watching the upcoming figures. It was obvious now that the light was living beings. They were flying straight for the city while carrying something.

He squinted, trying to understand what it was but they were still too far. All he knew was that they were human shaped and emanated white light. One that made it impossible to see any details.

“What is that?” someone near him asked with a finger pointing in the light’s direction. More heads turned but none had an idea. It was unclear even whether it was friend or enemy.

‘Not that it mattered,’ Monthu thought to himself. They had lost and more enemies made little difference. Their city’s shield couldn’t prevent a fly from entering. It was on the verge of shattering from simple wind.

“Are those angels?” a voice asked with wonder. It’s owner leaned farther over the wall’s edge to get a better look. Monthu had to grab him by the scruff to prevent him falling. “It’s them! Arenan’s help is coming! Angels are coming!”

Other people caught the words and they spread like a wildfire. “Angels! Angels!” started a chant. It rose lonesome from somewhere below, where people couldn’t even see, but gained strength in quick bursts. Two, five, ten, fifty more people joined and the whole courtyard echoed with their voices.

“Angels! Angels!”

The light was white and creatures human shaped but Monthu held onto his doubts. He had been in Arenan himself and knew better. That place had no angels. They were extinct, gone from this world.

Only one person had made it seem like an untruth. Monthu felt a groan trying to escape but held it in.

Ace was back, and with another crazy scheme of his.

**

The boy was pushing through the air, sweat running his back in torrents. Whole nigh and half a day of jumping from one field to another. At first he had pretended to fly, adjusting his movements so that they looked right.

However, an hour in the air cured him of that notion. He rather expanded the scope of his illusion so that it covered him whole while he could do anything he wanted. Like save energy by simply running on the fields.

It had felt like a good idea at first but three hours more and he was starting to get tired. Scenery under him changed quick but he had already wasted three days getting to Arenan and another talking with the elders. It was long past the time he had to be in Lasran.

By the tenth hour he was reduced to counting steps to keep himself moving. His stamina was at the very bottom but game logic had never bothered him too much. He just didn’t stop moving. One leg before the other.

He had to get to Lasran, that’s all there was to it.

Firelight could be seen far ahead but it gave no burst of energy. He was far past that. If he stopped to think about anything but his destination, he was sure he’d fall exhausted and wouldn’t wake up for days.

Some more steps ahead, he looked to the ground. [Mystic Eyes] helped him see clear in the dark and the sight almost made him stop mid-air. Fires didn’t burn to light Marion’s camp.

They were devouring it. Large wooden structures, people’s tents and wagons. All of them were aflame. People were running with water but were often distracted by maddened animals.

A few horses had their manes on fire and were dashing back and forth in panic. They crazed others even more, trampling on players and ramming straight into if they got in the way.

It was pure chaos below.

Was he too late? Had L and Monthu found of a way to win while he was gone? The thought stabbed him like a blade. He faltered in his movements and saw his illusion shiver. For a whole second it was gone.

“No!” he screamed as loud as he could. They weren’t going to reduce him to that. He didn’t need them. He hadn’t come all this way to be told it was too late. All he needed was to make a scene. It would be all worth it then. No one will know his true reasoning for coming.

Yeah, that was the right way. He closed his eyes for a second, breathing deep and then let a smile form on his lips. It was his game. He was the mastermind here. If others thought they didn’t need him, he would show them. Oh, he’ll make a spectacle.

He set his sights on the wall near the front gates and started a slow decent. In the meantime he re-adjusted his illusion. It had to be perfect. Not a single feather out of place.

Maybe even add some tone? Colour to the whole picture? No, he shouldn’t overdo. It would only lower the quality of his work. Sometimes less was better.

Right as he was about to land, he saw Monthu. He was standing some ten meters off and staring straight him in the eyes. Ace felt like they were drilling through him, looking for answers he didn’t want to give. So he smirked at him and made a sharp turn.

Wind pushed people back and he skipped the last steps to land right before Monthu on one knee. From the corner of his eyes he made sure the illusion was well and returned his attention to the man before him.

“It is a pleasure to meet you again,” he said in a silky voice that meant anything but what was said. “I have brought aid as requested.” He lowered his head as if awaiting a command while, in truth, hiding the mirth in his eyes.

Monthu stood still, not agreeing not participate in this show. But he didn’t have a choice. Not really. Ace had made sure of that with this display, and now to hammer the last nail. “Is there anything else you would require of me, Master?”

The intake of breath was a universal reaction. People gasped and tried to form words to no avail. They stared at Monthu and then Ace, unable to wrap their minds about what they had just witnessed.

Ace felt exhilaration rush through his body. All tiredness was deleted in a second. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so alive. It wasn’t every day you framed a person who thought you a friend. Who you had thought a friend.

It didn’t matter. They had all left him. He was a monster. Freak. Unnatural. There was something wrong with him. Inside as much as outside.

“Report to L,” Monthu said in a level voice. It was tight under control, but Ace knew he could snap it with a single word, one move. The man was furious inside. This betrayal wasn’t going to be forgiven.

Not that he had hoped for forgiveness. It wasn’t him who needed that. They should have asked. It was them who had looked at him like a monster. Like there was something wrong with him.

But he didn’t do that forgive and forget shit.

It wasn’t in his nature.

“As you command,” Ace replied and stood up. “Master,” he added jumping into the air.

Laughter bubbled in his chest when he was high up. He chortled and cackled, shaking all over. Almost fell off of his fields, catching last second and giggling more.

This was so amazing. He would have done it ages ago if he’d known it would feel this good. He was free now! No more attachments to anyone. Par was gone, Monthu pushed over the edge too while others hadn’t come even close to him.

It was all over.

The thought made some uncomfortable feeling tingle in his chest but he slammed the doors shut. Nothing was going to dampen his moment of glory. Not even his own conscience.

He eyed the buildings below. It was time for a second act.

With a slower pace he approached the castle, wondering where L would be. His study popped first in his mind but it was doubtful. It faced away from the main gates. L would want to be able to see everything that was going on.

It left only one possible place. Huge tower loomed over the castle, its windows facing all four directions without anything blocking the view. This was where Ace would go if he needed to order a defence.

He landed on the windowsill with a soft thud, folding his wings to get through. His companions didn’t follow but perched on the the sill. There wasn’t any reason for them to enter. Smart creatures.

The room was cast in shadow, not a single lamp or candle glowing. [Mystic Eyes] lighted the place for him instead. He could see a human shape sitting on the throne and walked there at a slow pace.

He could see threads of colour surrounding the man. They circled him in hues of light blue, present in everyone, but they were weak. Deep purple, turning into pink was prominent with tinges of red here and there. But they were all pale, depressing colours.

This man didn’t look like a victor. It was as if he had just discovered the pointlessness of life. Everything blurred and deathly pale. What had happened here?

Before he could ask, the doors flew open and Monthu blasted in. One look told Ace more than he needed to know. He was dead. Dead and gone. Nothing was brining him back to life.

He inclined his head in a show of respect. “There was no need for you to come. I would have relayed the message as ordered.”

“Would you?” Monthu asked through gritted teeth. It brought Ace’s attention to him and he saw something unexpected.

Bright red, colour of fires burning outside. Those threads swirled around his hands and torso, intercepting, winding together and separating. Fiery shield of reds, oranges and yellows.

There were light blue, black and golden deep within but they were smothered by the light colours. All but a deep red. It wasn’t part of the flame motive. No.

The thread started near the heart and spread in all directions like a dark stain. A pool of blood. It stayed underneath the fiery shield but that just made it more noticeable. More prominent.

Ace’s lip tugged upwards against his will. This was what he had wanted, wasn’t it? He had finally burnt all the bridges. There was no coming back.

“What?” L started to ask as Ace turned to him but soon changed his approach. “Did you find a way to help? Do you have a plan?”

The hope in his voice took Ace aback. Way to save the city? Wasn’t Lasran already winning? Doubt trickled in. Had he misunderstood? Was everything just a show? Foolish last stand?

He took a step back. This couldn’t be. No way. It just couldn’t be true. He staggered like a drunk backwards, hand raising to cover his face. What had he done?

Without a thought in mind he whirled around and jumped into the air. He had to get out. Time to think. Time to understand. What had happened?

Something caught his leg. He turned to see L with narrowed eyes and his lips in a thin line. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I,” Ace got out, his eyes darting between L and the window. “I need to leave!” he shouted out, kicking L in the chest and rushing out.

When he was near escape, Monthu’s voice reached his ears. “Let him run. It’s what he does best.”

“No! I-” Ace tried to refute but his voice shook. He didn’t know how to finish the sentence. Legs themselves moved towards the window. Away from this. Them.

L rounded on him once again. “Why can’t you just face the mess you’ve made for once? Are you that weak?”

“I’m not weak! I jus- I just need to go somewhere!”

“And where’s that?” Monthu asked with mockery in his tone. L threw him a warning look but he didn’t take notice. “Hide in a corner? Need to kill someone to forget? That’s what you do, isn’t it?”

Ace shook all over. He needed to get out, it was... This place was... He didn’t know what was happening but he didn’t like it. It was dangerous. It...

It hurt.

Those words, they tore wounds he’d so carefully sewn together. He knew he wasn’t perfect. Was very aware of the fact. It stared at him everyday in the mirror. Why did he have to be reminded? And here! Wasn’t this his place? His world?

No one should be able to hurt him here! It wasn’t fair. Why was the world such a shitty place?

Tears collected in his eyes as stood breathing hard, staring at Monthu. The man looked to be surprised at something and then it appeared in his eyes. One emotion Ace couldn’t stand. Everything but that.

Pity.

He didn’t need it. Didn’t want. He wasn’t that pathetic.

Without a thought he dashed forward. As he came closer, he found a dagger in his hand. Kris. Perfect. It will wipe that disgusting look off Monthu’s face.

His attack was blocked by a giant scythe. Great. This was something familiar. He knew how to deal with this. Faint right, attack left and duck low. Slash at the leg. Roll forward.

Evade the swing and block the rod while getting closer. Don’t give him space to use the scythe. Simple as that. Now through his defences. Another slash and a stab here. Chase after.

Kick his legs from under him. Stand over and glare into those dark eyes. Step away from the masked hurt there.

No! He had to kill! That’s what he did. That’s how the sequence always ended. With death. But...

But he couldn’t. He tried to raise his hand but it refused. Kris clattered to the ground. Metal on stone, the sound made Ace wince. He walked backwards more. Until his back was to the wall.

Cold. It relaxed his tensed muscles and he breathed deep. What was going on? What did he do? He didn’t want to open his eyes.

He couldn’t stay like this forever, but what if? Maybe if he really wished, he could turn into a statue? Become one with the stone wall? It would have been so much better than having to face the scene ahead.

One he knew and without having to look. The bitter chill had brought clarity along. He could have given anything for it to be otherwise. But it was over. He was back to himself and dead tired.

Legs gave under and he toppled to the ground. Eyes shut. Sleep. This was what he needed. Maybe, when he woke up it would be different. Maybe it’ll show up to have been a dream.

His mouth filled with a taste of bitterness but he pretended not to notice. For once, it would be great if he could dream. Just for a moment believe in the impossible. That everything would be all right.

“Hey!” L shouted in his ear, shaking him violently. “The city? Did you find a way to save it?”

It had been so long ago. Ace tried to remember but came up blank. He opened his eyes to stare uncomprehending into L’s misty grey ones. “I don’t know...” he whispered in an exhale. Why couldn’t he be left alone to sleep?

“Please! You need to stay awake!” L pleaded. He took Ace’s head in his hand, raising it from the ground. “Please! Tell me what you learnt! What can I do?”

Those words, what can I do? Ace remembered thinking them over and over all three days he had flown. Never coming up with an answer. He was powerless. Was he?

A memory came. He stood, no hovered, before the elders, listening. Everyone was so exited. Had they found a way?

He pulled a parchment out of his bag. It was in a white case with golden ornaments. Beautiful. He had wasted half an hour to find it. His return had to have been majestic. Perfect in every regard.

People might have even forgiven his sins. He would have saved the city and made everything right. Hero of the land. Reformed criminal. Story from which everyone could learn. Darkness wasn’t eternal and people could change.

But reality proved him wrong once again. Making things right, it wasn’t easy. Impossible. He was a demon and should have accepted the fact.

There was no happy ending for him.