The next day, Sybil headed into town with three men. Duxton had planned to join them today but he had gotten annoyed at the lot of them during breakfast. It was bad enough when Vincent came along. Meals had become long and boring conversations about stupid paladin stuff. Vincent had succeeded in convincing Shaw to prepare flavorless healthy meals for all of them to enjoy.

What were once joyless meals transcended into pure absurdity once Veximarl had joined the table. History this, health benefits of the plants used in the meal that, suggestions on how to make everything duller and yet completely aggravating. The thought of being around them all made Duxton want to yank out his hair.

Sybil finished her meetings early and chose to spend the rest of her time idling out on the balcony. Townhall was near the market. There always seemed to be something interesting to see. Veximarl stood next to her. His spirits were down, despite the good company and fresh air.

Lady Till had warned him that Duxton was overreacting, and indeed, it did seem like the situation had been handled. He only agreed to go because there wasn’t much for him to do at the barracks, and he had the opportunity to visit Tish on his way back. Now that he was here, he was concerned with how the prince could be influencing Sybil.

“You've spent more time with him than anyone else I trust. What do you think of the prince?”

Sybil shrugged. “It's too early to say if he'll be a good king. I think that deep down, he really does want to be worthy of the role but I also think that he’s already given up. I sometimes forget that he’s not that much older than us. It’s hard for me to imagine how much weight he’s had to carry for all these years.”

“Not in terms as a prince... What do you think of him as a person?” He raised an eyebrow as Sybil let out an annoyed sigh. She thought he was an absolutely horrible and unredeemable individual, and hoped he would either change or get the punishment he so rightly deserved. “... Are you having relations with him?”

Her mouth dropped open. “W-what?!” She clutched at her throat and shuddered violently.

Veximarl squinted. “That. You did that too.”

“Did what?”

“You acted this way when Alton was first tried to court you. It seemed like you wanted to get away from him a great deal, but you also snuck off with him frequently to... I'm certain you know what you were doing. You were the one doing it.” She stared at him as though he were insane. “I thought he was doing something to force you into it, but then I realized you have a habit of rejecting what makes you happy.” Now Sybil was frowning at him. “Or you simply had a gut instinct to avoid him, which was perhaps the right thing to do.”

Her look softened and she leaned against the railing. “Alton has hurt me in the past but Duxton... Duxton has done a lot worse. A whole lot worse.” Like barg into her room at night and make her extremely uncomfortable by comparing her to Sena. “I’m starting to think that Alton would’ve ended up just as terrible as him if he stayed in Fogbloom.”

That was it. Lately, when she looked at Duxton, she was starting to see what Alton could have been. Duxton was forced to live the life meant for Alton and he lost the ability to understand himself in the process. Even so, he also chose to become the worst version of what Alton could have been. That was his own doing. In a way, he was also to blame.

“It's those similarities you need to be wary of. You care about Alton, anyone can see that, but it prevents you from seeing his flaws. You're right. He has hurt you. You gave up and gave him what he wanted, but we have no idea how he will behave if you take that away from him.

Duxton has flaws as well. Similar once that could be quite dangerous. You may be confusing traits you should hate for ones you admire. In fact, it’s possible that you might be blind to anything Duxton is doing to you because you’re rationalizing it as normal behavior. Otherwise, how could your relationship with Alton be considered sane?”

Sybil's face flushed red and she bit onto her bottom lip. “Not a word of what I'm about to say. Not to anyone else, and I don't want your opinion on it.” He nodded. “That night when I died? They took me back to the hotel, and I was so out of it that I thought Duxton was Alton. I may have... K-kissed him a little because of it...”

“That isn't your fault. In fact, that further drops my opinion of him if he allowed you to-”

“Not a word!” She pointed and he nodded while furrowing his brows. “So... Ever since then, I kinda get bashful when he plays with my hair. I think he noticed because he’s been doing it more… And the other night, he came into my room, and… Nothing happened, but I think I’m starting to pity him.

Maybe I should give up. I know I want to be a knight for Carapace, but Carapace seems to be fixing itself without me. Duke Rubire is gone and some Dogfall kids stayed in Starsons. In a few years, I can see myself being proud of my city again. Maybe I should stay by Duxton’s side and help him out more. He said I bring out the best in him. If it’s for the good of Lustro, shouldn’t I- What are you doing?”

Veximarl had grabbed onto her cheeks so he could stare deeply into her eyes. “It’s odd… For the faintest of moments, I could have sworn that the color had faded from your eyes.” She crinkled her nose. “It must have been a trick of the light.” He let go of her. “Please continue.”

“... I don’t really have much else to add.”

Veximarl took hold of her hand. “The prince is an arrogant man who manipulates those around him. He has isolated you and has given you false freedom in hopes that you will side with him. Do not drop your guard and do not trust what he says. He is waiting for the chance for you to slip up so that he may obliterate everything around you. He wants to be your only source of light. That is the type of man Duxton is.”

“I know that. I truly know that,” she whispered.

“I will always be your confidant, Sybil, and you will always be my greatest friend in life. Please come to me in the future if these concerns become too overwhelming to bear. I fear what will happen to you if you lose control. If ever such a moment were to arrive, the prince will not hesitate to possess you completely. I will not let such events happen, but you must always be willing to speak with me so I can help you. Otherwise, all will go to ruin.”

“Thank you, Vex. I needed to hear that. I know that you’ll- AHH!” The necromancer had suddenly yanked her down to the ground.

She had been talking at the moment, but Veximarl had managed to hear it. The high pitched whistle of an arrow flying through the air. He had been struck by too many of Bronzescale’s arrows and had developed a nervous tick from it.

In addition to pulling her down, he had put up his shield. Another nervous habit from the explosive arrowheads that Irving used. His shield did absolutely nothing to stop the projectile. A loud crack and the arrow struck a post behind them.

Sybil’s scream had caught both Vincent’s and Shaw’s attention. Both came through the door, and they an archer below notch another arrow into their bow. It only took one glance at Veximarl's broken shield to send Shaw quickly ducking back into the room. Vincent had set up his shield. Another crack, followed by a grunt as the arrow pierced Vincent’s chestplate.

Shaw reached around the door frame and yanked Vincent in by the back of his armor. “Crawl in!” He snarled at Sybil and Veximarl.

Sybil shifted into mist and reformed indoors. She clutched at her chest and hoped that they wouldn't need to be doing any running soon. These weren’t the shoes for it… And what was with balconies and people trying to kill her?! Can’t she just stand around doing nothing without someone threatening her life?!

Veximarl unsummoned his shield and crawled in behind her. He stayed low as he put a hand on Vincent. The paladin's face had flushed and his eyes were glassing over. His face became flushed with concern.

“And here I thought Lady Blu's stories were an exaggeration. Absolutely astounding.” He pulled a set of feathers from a belt pouch, cut off the ends, and wiggled them into Vincent’s wound. “The arrowhead has a set of barbs. I’m capping each with a feather shaft so that I may remove the arrow.” He took a moment to adjust them. “We must work quickly before too much of the blood iron dissolves into your system.

Slow breath. Exhale all the air in your chest but do not inhale. Concentrate on healing your lung before you do so, otherwise, it will collapse.” Vincent gave a pained nod and Veximarl slipped the arrow out. He examined the arrowhead as he addressed Shaw. “If you could help him, please do so. I need to do what I can to remove the blood iron from the wound.”

“Impossible,” whispered Shaw. His eyes were frozen on the arrow.

“Yet here it is,” replied Veximarl.

Veximarl handed the projectile to Sybil. It was a barbed arrow tip with a swirled pattern. Steel that had been folded with blood iron over and over again. There was also a message tied to it by the fletching. She pulled it off so she could read it.

Veximarl dusted his hands with disinfectant powder and began to rub them together. “An arrow of true faith. The worst weapon to have ever come to Lustro.” He was explaining it to Sybil as he worked. “A rather new invention that first appeared twenty years ago in the Coral Kingdom. Imagine having your blood replaced with tiny glass shards, because that’s what it does.

They were manufactured and sold to the Clay Region when the war began. Rather than turn it against the north, they used it to slay hundreds of their own paladins. They claimed it was a ritualistic purge. Those who were left unable to heal themselves were told that they had lost their faith in the gods.”

“It’s what they used to kill Prince Cornelius,” whispered Sybil.

“And several of my kin,” replied Shaw. He was nearly shaking from the rage that was welling inside of him.

Veximarl gave a pause. “We are fortunate that Lady Blu requires her squad to be prepared for this and that I have spent many hours rehearsing treatments.” He pulled out some gauze and wrapped it around some herbs and other medicines. This was also dusted with disinfectant powder and carefully stuffed into the arrow wound. “If we had let the arrow linger for even a few seconds longer, he would be dead in a day or two.”

“And you just happen to have a treatment with you?” Now Shaw was becoming as paranoid and suspicious as Duxton had been.

“I am able to treat him with my standard medical kit.” And a little bit of necromancy magic, which he used to draw out the blood iron in the area. “If there were an antidote, I would have brought it with me. Duxton used code when he asked for assistance. I feared that he had been doing so because he had stumbled across an arrow of true faith.”

“And yet you, someone else who is vulnerable, chose to come?” Shaw stared at him in a strained manner. This man was clearly insane.

Veximarl exhaled in a dismayed fashion. “If I were honest, I would have preferred to stay at the barracks so that I might prepare for my upcoming lessons. However, there was simply no other squire available.”

“W-when does the pain... Stop..?” Vincent gritted his teeth and shut his eyes tightly.

“A week. Two at most,” stated Veximarl flatly. “The lungs are quite delicate, but I believe the scarring will be minimal. Worry not. I will write to Duke Sickleson on your behalf. He'll understand if you need additional time off.” He looked up at Sybil. “You've been oddly qui- There was a note?”

Sybil frowned. “There isn't much. It has the conditions for my surrender along with what I think is a map of the aquifer systems?”

“A map?” Veximarl took it from Sybil. “Whatever could it mean?”

Shaw frowned. “It means that Duxton’s delusions were true. The elementalist threatened to cause an environmental disaster if Baron Rockender refused to leave.”

“And now they want me in exchange for everyone’s safety.” Sybil tightened her hands into fists. “I have no choice but to go.”

Shaw began to give out his orders in a low and calm tone. “I believe they meant to gain our attention with today's attack. They have it. We should be safe to leave.” He paused for a moment as his eyes darted about in thought. “An arrow hit the wall on the balcony. I will fetch it and then we will take a carriage back to the estate. The two of you will wait while I discuss this matter with Prince Duxton.”

They reached the estate without further incident and Vincent was ordered to take a nap. Veximarl had given him something to knock him unconscious. Then he told the others it might be a few days before he’d be able to get out of bed. Shaw excused himself and left Duxton's office. Sybil and Veximarl were left waiting in her room.

“He’s going to order something stupid,” muttered Sybil under her breath. Duxton was going to overreact to the situation.

“At least we have confirmation about what they gave you,” replied Veximarl. “Both arrows were fashioned differently. They’re relics from the war. The concoction they gave you is no doubt a relic from that time.”

Sybil sighed. “Then it’s best to ask Lady Blu for advice.” She had spent most of the war in the Clay Region, and would be familiar with any medical procedures done at the time.

“Indeed,” replied Veximarl.

Sybil took the falchion off her belt and set it on the table. The sword was meant to give her a more authoritative air during her meetings, though having to wear it with a dress was uncomfortable. Folding her arms with a sigh, she began to stare at it intently.

Veximarl glanced at the sword. He then fumbled with something in his pocket. “I should have given this to you earlier, but I hesitated.” He retrieved Erskine's pendant and held it out for her to take. “You left this on your dresser.”

Sybil waved her hands about. “I didn’t want to risk losing it again. Would you mind taking it back with you?”

Veximarl pulled his hand back. His fingers clasped tightly around the pendant. “I-I see…” He shook his head. “As you wish.”

“What’s wrong?” Sybil studied him. He was unusually tense.

“I’m here. That means that you are under my watch. I do not wish to see you taken away again. I feel… Quite powerless about our predicament.”

Sybil shook her head. She knew him better than that. ”You’re making up an excuse to hide what’s really bothering you. What is it?”

Veximarl opened his hand and stared at the pendant. “There was a reason why I was able to use that sword during that attack upon Carapace... My father is Erskine Fogbloom.” He shook his head. “My mother, Tria, had been hiding as a human for some time. He sought her out and… I was the result of their union.”

“Then you should keep it for yourself,” replied Sybil bluntly. “... I’m sorry that I’ve been holding onto it this whole time. I would’ve handed it over if you had mentioned it sooner.”

He let out a pained laugh. “This is why I admire you, Sybil. It isn’t the nature of my heritage that bothers you, it’s the fact that you unknowingly held onto something of my father’s for so long.”

Sybil shook her head. “You said before that your parents were misunderstood people. I knew you would say something when you were ready to tell me. There’s always been ears around us and not many opportunities for us to share our secrets.”

“... That is true.” He smiled to himself, but there was agony in his eyes. “My father was obsessed with becoming king. I was born to assist him in that conquest. He eventually decided that he would have a better chance of success if he used a would-be to create a new god. My mother was to be his first sacrifice and Lady Larkin was the one who saved her.

Unfortunately, I do not know more about the relationship between our mothers, but that was how Lady Larkin gained possession of his pendant.” He once again held out the pendant for Sybil to take. “You wear this because you promised that you would one day help out the Fogbloom family. You would find proof of their plight and show it to Lustro. I beseech that you take it and carry on with your promise.”

Sybil clasped her hands around both the pendant and his hand. “I want you to make a promise for me.” She tightened her grip. “I want you to promise that you’ll always take care of others who have suffered as you have. I want you to stop people from becoming like your father and Barcus. The only time it’s too late to save someone is after they’re dead.”

“... You’re not angry at Barcus for murdering you?”

“No. I’m upset that he didn’t get the help he needed. The same could be said about Erskine. We have no way of knowing what really happened between your father and my grandfather. Somewhere along their path, Aeneas had had enough but Erskine kept going. Maybe something happened to save Aeneas that Erskine couldn’t understand.

So this pendant isn’t a memento of your father. It’s a gift from me. Both of us are going to work hard to make sure nothing like this ever happens again. Sometimes the greatest enemy someone has is themselves, and we are going to be the ones to save them. This pendant represents that promise between us.” She clasped his hand closed, tightening it around the pendant. “I know you can do it.”

“... Is this the reason why you’ve been so lenient with the prince?” He said with half a smile. “Patience that he will one day desire to save himself?”

“... Yeah, whatever,” muttered Sybil as she looked off to the side in disgust. “I guess even Duxton deserves to have someone save him.” She then gestured to the sword. “So, because he’s an idiot, let’s work on a way to save me?”

“How do you propose we do that?” Veximarl glanced over to the falchion.

“We're in over our heads. Duxton has had the best education this country has to offer, and he’s clever. He’ll know what to do, but I don’t trust him to make a rational decision. I believe that I should give myself up, but maybe I’m also wrong.”

This was similar to the test that Sybil had given during the exams. She chose it because there wasn’t a clear answer. In the actual operation, the fort was stormed, and the general was captured. However, the war plans had been snuck out at the start of the battle. Without them, the general was able to lie about his army’s position. The Clay Region won the next battle, and Stonetoe received a demotion. Both of these problems had multiple solutions with undesirable results.

Veximarl smiled softly. “You are the type of person that claims to see a clear choice and act on it without considering how it affects those closest to you.” Like when she dragged poor Shaw and Zaniyah into the core while it was erupting with tainted beasts.

Sybil picked up the weapon and pulled the sword out. The sheath was placed back down. “Wake up, please.” The blade began to glow faintly. She turned Veximarl and held out her hand. “We’re in need of an outside opinion. Should we do this together?”

He placed his hand over hers. “Of course.” The two nodded at each other. “It will be interesting to see the family again.”