It had been a long time since I had actually enjoyed the Teans in the bright, hot day. The sun's rays glittered atop the water like burning gems. The cobblestone streets were hot, and a faint aura of heat rose up. Vendors sold fresh fruits and dried fish. Birds soared in flocks about the houses, chirping and calling to one another.

It was a shame that I didn't have more time to enjoy this sight. Christen, Rico and I were at the docks, waiting for the last ship of the day heading to the southern island, to leave. Well, Christen was waiting, flipping through the book she had taken from the Magus. I was arguing with one of the stinking sailors concerning a piece of my luggage. Primarily, my caravan.

“la, is too big ta go on 'ship.” he snapped. “You'll havta sell it 'fore you board... 'er leave it wit yer friend there.” He gestured to Rico, who was standing with us, with no luggage.

“Look.” I said “I've seen you manage to get crates on board, much bigger than this, and horses too. Now look, you go find your captain-” I handed him a small bag of silver coins. Though it was small, it was likely more than he made in one voyage, “- and tell him I insist on having my Caravan aboard.”

He took the silver, and wandered away, muttering to himself. “Dolt.” I muttered under my breath once he was gone.

“We'll have to sail with these people.” Christen said. “I would rather not have my throat slit in the night.”

“I'll bribe the crew,” I said dully, turning by back on the ship. “or I'll threaten them.”

“Great.” Christen muttered. “I feel so safe now.” She sighed. “What we really need is someone who knows how to be civil.” she glanced at Rico. “But.. You aren't coming..”

Slowly, Rico shook his head. “I'm sorry. I need to stay here. I can still.. “ He sighed. “I can't leave. Not until I'm sure of what I have to do.”

“You still want to help your bother. Even though you use magic, and use it well... You think he's right?”

“I don't know. Do I think that because he thinks that, or because I myself actually do? I'm not sure anymore. But, so long as even a part of me still feels that I should stay here... That's what I have to do.”

“We don't know where we're going yet, but we'll try to lead you to us.”

Rico nodded. “I'm sure we'll meet again,” he said.

My horses started to get jumpy for some unfathomable reason. I sighed and went up to them, stroking their necks to calm them. Rico walked up behind me, and stood silently a moment.

“..Stiri?”

“What?”

“I just wanted to.. It's been.. exciting getting to meet you. “

I shrugged. “Well, it's not everyday I meet such a fire thrower either.” I muttered. Rico laughed behind me.

“Don't...” I started, but I hesitated. I looked at Rico, and phrased my words carefully. “Don't simply trust Justin.”

“Stiri, I-”

“I know, I know, blood and all that. But just because it's blood, doesn't mean you have to just trust him blindly. Be careful... don't let him trick you...”

Rico looked at me closely for a few long moments, then grinned. “I'll be careful, I promise.”

Suddenly, the wind picked up. The heat of the day was blown away in a great gust of icy cold wind. My horses reared up and stomped on the dock. I moved away, worried that they might hit me.

“What's happening?” Christen called over the wind. She tried to pull her hair out of her face. The wind tore at my cloak, and I almost lost my footing.

“Sudden winds.” I called. “I don't-” I looked behind her to the houses that lay away from the docks. Atop the roof of one house, I saw one cloaked figure, holding a misshapen hand to the sky.

A hand that looked like a talon.

Suddenly, I felt a pull on my cloak. I stumbled, and turned to see Rico pulling me towards the land.

“What?” I called

“Look behind you!”

I look behind me. The force of the wind was pulling the ship away from the docks. Ropes snapped and boards crashed into the water. Planks of wood ripped free of the docks and fell into the water. It seemed as though the boat was going to float away.

Then the wind changed. A great gust of wind blew inland. The waves roared and crashed against the docks. The ship changed it's direction, and began charging at the dock.

I pulled myself away from Rico's grip. “The horses!” I cried. “The caravan!” I ran back towards the anxious horses. They had tried to run, but I had tied them to the dock to make sure they didn't wander off before they were on the ship. They reared up, and thrashed at the dock.

The boat hit the docks. Great planks of wood splintered, and the ancient docks cracked. The wood beneath me fell and I was kept from falling into the raging sea, now filled with rotten planks by two sets of hands that pulled me. We ran as fast as out feet could carry us to proper ground as the docks fell to pieces behind us. The boat rushed towards the city, and crashed against the rocks. The docks splintered into pieces, the mast fell into the water with a great splash. Those who were unfortunate enough to have fallen into the water were drowned or killed by debris.

Once I determined I was safe, I did the only thing natural for a person under such conditions. I fell to my hands and knees and gasped for breath that I had been holding the whole time. The bizarre rush that had coursed through my mind began to settle, and proper thoughts began to form again.

I remembered the horses. I looked up, and into the water. The caravan was nowhere to be found: either crushed by the ship, or sank with the heavy load of weapons inside. Likewise, my horses were nowhere to be seen.

They must have fallen into the water, and drowned.

Christen fell to her knees next to me. “Oh..” she muttered weakly. “That was...That was..”

“Horrible.” Rico finished. He helped Christen to her feet. “I've never seen that happen before..”

“No. It shouldn't happen” I said. I stood to my feet and turned around. “What kind of people have power over the air?” I demanded. Rico looked oddly at me a moment, then realization hit his eyes.

“The halfling. Tenlon!” He said.

I looked over the housetops, and saw a figure leap from atop one house and onto the streets below. Snarling, I took off after him.

Behind me, Rico cursed, and ran after me. “Stiri, where are you going?”

“I'm going after him!” I snapped. “I saw him.”

“Don't be stupid.” Christen said. “Last time, you almost died.”

The same hate ran through my mind, I felt as though I was being lifted off the ground. “He killed my horses,” I growled. “All three of them. He destroyed my home, he killed Foster!”

I ran into the mess of houses with Christen and Rico behind me. Surprisingly, I caught up to the wretched halfling quickly. Even more surprising was that he was running from me. We chased him halfway around Teans until he ran into a dead end. He kicked in a locked door, breaking it open, and ran into a darkened building just as I caught my hands on the cloak that covered his wings. He ran into what happened to be a slaughter house. He ran around slabs of meat, and tables covered in dead animal. I looked about, leapt onto a table, up to the rafters, and ran over them, getting to the other end of the building before he did. I dropped before him, right in front of the main exit, just as he was approaching it. He stopped before me.

“You can't use you little wind trick in here.” I growled. “There's no wind inside. You can't fly away either.” I drew my dagger and readied myself to pounce on him. “It's strange though. Kos said he dealt with you. I thought you were dead.” Christen and Rico caught up, and stood guard behind him. Christen had her own dagger out, and Rico was a weapon in his own rights.

“Why did you run? You could take me. You took me before.”

He clicked his beak. “Foolish human. Did you not wonder as well why I didn't just fly away?” He tore his cloak off his shoulders and threw it to the ground. The torn and dirty fabric fell upon the freshly cleaned meat of an unidentifiable animal.

Tenlon's wings were torn to shreds. Most of the feathers were gone, and the winds were folded awkwardly, bent out of place. Half of one wing was even missing. Behind him, Christen gasped. Rico took one step back.

I smirked. “You lost your wings?” I snapped. “Your strength is weak. Good. That means I can kill you.”

The halfling again made that odd clicking noise with his beak that I could only identify with a laugh. “You, kill me?” He laughed again. “You wouldn't... Nay, you couldn't kill me anymore than you already have. This, this is your fault!”

“I never touched your wings.” I growled. “But the gods know I would have if I had been given the chance.”

His beak clicked. “You're not the same Stiri I've heard of. You are not the heartless assassin I thought.”

“Of course I am. I'm just off duty.”

The halfling laughed again. “Why did you rush after me in the castle? Why here as well? Was it because I killed Foster? The Stiri I had heard of would not have risked his life for such silly things. I also heard that Stiri worked alone.”

“How did you know I was here?”

“Simple. I searched for you, and happened across you and your little friends as you were traveling here... You have no idea how relived I was; I have powerful allies here now, who would be so happy to have the lot of you..”

“Kos is here?”

The halfling laughed again. “No, you foolish human. Didn't you hear what I had said.” he glared at me, “The moment he knew of your existence, he didn't have need for me anymore. I suppose he thought you were a competent warrior, and would be easier to use... given that you're his son.”

“I owed Kos nothing. Why would I work for him just because he happens to be my father?”

The halfling ruffled the stumps that used to be his wings. “Kos seemed to think it a good idea. He didn't think you would work without incentive, mind, but he did think he could use his relationship with you to help him use you.”

I considered this for a moment. Did that really have anything to do with agreeing to Kos' terms? I shook it off.

“Your allies, then. Who are they?”

“Who else would it be? You mostly decimated Baliancia with fire, from what I've heard: burned their hideaway, and I've been betrayed by Kos. Look!” He turned to show off his mutilated wings. “He knew you wouldn't work for him unless I suffered some form of consequence for having killed Foster, for having incurred your hate.”

“That's why you blame me?” I snapped. Tenlon nodded.

“You put Kos into a position where he was forced to do this to me.” he said. “It is your fault. However, Now, with the help of the Vanguard, I can kill you.”

“The Vanguard?” Rico said. “No. They would never work with you. You're a being of magic.”

“As are you. Unlike you, however, I am a being of magic by consequence of my birth. You, on the other hand, sought out your power. Did you not... I told Justin how you used your power, exaggerated perhaps just how much I actually knew about. You think he wants to work with you now? You betrayed him!”

“I didn't betray him. I failed. ”

He clicked his beak and turned back to me. “I saw you going on that ship. I knew you were planning an escape. So I did all I could to postpone you. I destroyed the ship, and the docks.”

“And you killed my horses!”

“Ah. I see. That's why you chased after me so recklessly this time. You're precious horses. I killed them all now did I? Oh.. and I suppose your caravan went down with them.”

I clenched my jaw and growled in the back of my throat. My dagger seemed to vibrate with my rage in my hand.”

“I wonder how long that little shack had been your home. How many years? Oh, you don't want to say? Ah well, it's a piece of junk anyway. I likely did you great favor disposing of it. Your horses were old as well. Perhaps you should have killed them years ago.”

I snapped. I flew upon him, dagger facing outward. He leapt out of my way, and I fell to the floor on my hands and knees. I quickly leapt up, and found Tenlon, trying to break down the main door. I leapt on his back. He stumbled backwards, and fell down on top of me. I suppose he was not used to the uneven weight of his wings. I braced my feet against the floor, grabbed his arms with my own, and flipped over. In a moment, I was kneeling on him, my legs pinning down his arms, one hand on his chest, balancing me, the other holding my dagger above his heart.

His beak clicked. “Do it.” he snapped. “You won't. You can't. you cannot stand to become a murderer.”

“He's an assassin.” Christen said coldly. “It's not problem for him to kill you.”

The halfling laughed again. “Fools, all of you. Are you so new to the human race, so involved in your own petty problems that you cannot see even the most basic patterns in behavior? That you cannot so easily spot weaknesses in a man's character?” He glared over his beak at me. “Stiri has never killed without being paid. He does not consider himself a killer. Hasn't he said, and I have heard it repeated, that he considered himself a deadly weapon?”

“... A weapon..” Rico muttered. “Wielded by the weak, the rich, the desperate.”

“Would you hold a dagger responsible for its actions? So long as he continues like that, so long as he doesn't kill by his own incentive, he cannot -in his own mind- blame himself for the deaths of others.”

“Silence.” I growled. But my dagger hung, shaking over his chest, unmoving.

“Do it then.” The halfling growled. “Kill me. Prove me wrong.”

I sat atop him, dagger shaking in my hand, beads of sweat beginning to run off my face. I realized that he was right. I couldn't kill him. I didn't consider myself a killer, I considered myself an assassin, a weapon... and it was true. If I killed on my own, then indeed, how could I continue to believe that I wouldn't have killed anyone on my own anyway? How could I not blame myself for the deaths of the hundreds of men, woman, and indeed children that I had killed? Cara.

Then, Christen threw a bag of silver coins at me. In the leather bag, they rattled against each other as they fell. Out of the corner of my eye, I looked up at Christen.

“Kill him,” she said. “I want him dead. He's hurting you.”

My hand shook a moment, and I felt an odd sting at my eyes. I blinked, then looked back at the halfling, smirking.

“It looks like your theories won't matter,” I said. “I've just been hired to kill you.”

“You won't have the chance,” Tenlon snapped. In a mighty voice, he called out “Justin!”

I don't know why, but I waited for a moment. Perhaps it was fear. However, nothing happened. No one came. Save for the deep breathing of the halfling, the shuffling about of Christen and Rico, and my own tense heart beating within my chest, I heard nothing.

I waited no longer. I plunged my dagger into Tenlon's heart. His blood drenched my hand, and my cloak. He thrashed, and threw me off him. He turned over, and tried to crawl away. His strength left him, he twitched, and fell limp.

Finally, he was dead. I had only been hired to slay him moments ago, but I had wished to kill him for almost a year. More then I had wished to kill anyone else.

Did it matter that I waited until I was hired?

I didn't realize until I was halfway to my feet that Rico was pulling me up. My breathing was heavy, and my face felt hot. I was covered in the dead halfling's blood.

“Are you ok?” Rico asked.

I pulled myself gently from him and nodded. “Fine. Just tired.”

Rico nodded. “Can we get out of here? I would rather not spend more time in a slaughter house..”

Christen bent down, and picked the bag of coins from the floor. She handed it to me “Here.” she said. “Yours.” I hesitated a moment, then took the coins and hid them in my cloak.

“I need a new cloak,” I said softly. Mine was covered in blood, and decorated with rips.

Christen nodded. “We have time to find one now. It might be a while before we can leave. The docks were entirely destroyed.”

I grunted and pressed the side of my hand to the bridge of my nose. The docks were destroyed, the caravan was destroyed, my horses were dead, Foster was dead, Artis was destroyed. Everything was destroyed. Now, with my hate of Tenlon destroyed, I felt something else. A distracting sorrow. My head, free of the rushing blood, could now sense the ache in the heart.

I shook my head. I preferred the hate.

“Yes.. let's get out of here. It stinks in here.” I muttered. I went to the door, and threw them open. Bright light fell on my eyes and near blinded me. A moment passed, and as my vision returned, I saw a group of armed guards, faces in black masks, standing silent and still, surrounding the door, with Justin at the front.

“Thank you for killing the halfling.” He said, his voice as smooth and fluid as water from a mountain's stream. “He was troublesome, but powerful. I knew I could use him.”

I drew my dagger. “What, more?” I snapped.

“Stiri, please!” Rico begged. “Don't kill him.”

I looked over at Rico. “Are you kidding? He tried to kill you, and now he has us trapped. He always hated you. Why do you want-”

“Please.”

“Sheath your weapon, and we might speak,” Justin said softly. I looked down the street. Guards stood at the ends of the street we were in, keeping people from coming in. “We wouldn't want to cause to much of a fuss, would we?”

I took one more look at Rico's pleading face. Sighing, I sheathed my dagger. The moment I did, I was captured by two awkwardly moving guards on either side. I was sure I could escape from them though. However, now didn't seem like the time. I had to wait, until I was in a better spot.

Justin waved to the guards, who began to pull me out of the alley. I heard him speak to Rico and Christen, and in a moment, they were following behind me, unbound by guards.

We went outside the city. The guards set up a small camp, and tied my arms together. There were still to many for me to fight, but I still figured I could get out of the knots. I just needed time to do so. The guards would have to sleep soon. I would have my chance then. Christen and Rico likewise were bound, thrown to the ground next to me. We sat in the darkness for a long time while waiting for Justin.

“What's going on.” I whispered to Rico. He and Justin had been speaking while we left the city, but I had not been able to catch anything they had said.

“They used Tenlon,” he said. “Though, I don't care about him. He didn't want to oppose Kos, only gain more power, so Kos would take him back, and if he needed the help of a group...Well, any old group would have worked.

“And The Vanguard?”

Rico shrugged. “They stood by to see what would happen. At any rate, someone would be killed, the halfling or you. They let things play out, and then took the victor for their prize.”

“So, they would have killed Tenlon too...”

“Maybe not. They thought they could still use him. They don't trust you anymore: Tenlon told them that you had abandoned your plan.”

“How did he know?”

“He could have just made it up.”

“Why did Justin tell you all that?” Christen asked. “I thought he hated you.”

“I thought so too.” Rico said softly. I shrugged as best as I could being bound in rope

“They think they can use you too.” I said. “If they do the right things, say the right things. They were willing to use a halfling, what will they do too you now.”

Rico stared at the ground. “I can't believe that my brother would do that to me though..” He said sadly.

“Can't, or won't?

“Stiri's right.” Christen said softly. “You can't trust them. Even if he is your brother...He'll never trust you, He'll never consider you his brother, no matter what. He only seeks to use you like he did Tenlon. That's what you are to him. Just a being of Magic that can be used.”

Rico's shoulders shook. “How could you say that,” he said “I would expect Stiri to, but you, Christen? how could you say-”

“Because Stiri's telling the truth, and you need to know that, fast. We don't know what they will try.”

The guards seemed to be finished with their dinner. They stood up, and followed Justin over to us. He untied Christen, and Rico. He took Christen by her arm, and thrust her into the group of Guards.

“Hold her. She has no part in this.”

“Riko!” She cried. A guard quickly put a hand over her mouth.

Justin walked up to Riko, and faced him. “Rico,” he said simply.

Riko glared at him. “You imprisoned me.” he snapped. “You allowed Luke to poison Stiri, you allowed Christen to be sentenced to death!”

“I know. I wronged you,” he said.

“Yeah, you say that now...Just because you failed. Just because you know I have power, and you don't. You just want to use me!”

I admit, I was surprised that Rico had taken our advice.

Justin sadly looked down at the ground before Rico's feet. “My bonds to our blood have been weak. How can I see fault in you, when I myself have such a fault in myself.”

Glaring, Rico put his clenched hands down to his sides. “I swore I would be loyal to you, I swore I would help you in your quests. I made your desires my own, I did everything you asked of me!”

“I know,” He said softly. “I heard that Lord Emmerson-” he let his eyes travel to me,” and his guards had been captured in Rawlin. It was because of that that I managed to convince people that I was Lord Emmerson. But,I thought you were dead.” he said. He looked off to the side, his eyes downcast, his hands folded behind his back. “I was sure you were dead. And then I thought about how loyal you had been... It was never your fault. I realize that now. You erred, I erred. Since I thought you had died, I had been blaming myself, hating myself.” He suddenly looked up at Rico. “And now, I see that the only way I could stop that, the only way I could... accept my fault, was to accept yours as well...”

Rico said nothing, but continued to stare at him. I looked up at the tilt of his head in the nearly-full moon. He was thinking about it. I admit, it seemed sensible. Regret is a strong motivator.

“You have no idea, Rico... How soon this can be over,” he said. “I want it to be over. If we destroy the items.. You know as well as I do. Kos will never release that terrible power... However..”

“...However?”

“However, there is something I never told you,” he said. “No matter what, you will live and die with your power. There is no way to rid yourself of it. There is nothing you can do... and I realize that, and I realize that if I want to stop blaming myself for my mistakes, I have to stop blaming you for mistakes you made when you were but a child.”

Rico chuckled. “So then what? If I have this power until I die, what's the point of fighting? Why bother try to stop magic when I'm cursed with it?”

“Our actions won't have immediate results. Kos' will. If Kos does as he wishes to, the world will be plunged into... Those dark ages again. You must know this.”

“I do.”

“And we cannot let that happen. Those who would let that happen.” he looked over at me, distaste in his eyes, “even those that would run away from it, are cowards, and in the end, just as guilty as Kos himself.”

“I know.” he sniped. “I wasn't... sure if I should leave. Not yet.”

“I know, I know,” Justin said. “And it's that too that made me realize that you are, indeed, worthwhile. So, I want to give you the opportunity to help us again. I want you to work alongside me...”

“He tricked you before, Rico!” Christen called out. However, she was quickly muffled. Rico quickly looked at her, then turned, and looked at me.

“I told you what I think.” I said slowly.

“All I need,” Justin said, “is to prove to my men here that you are loyal to our cause. They doubt you, you see. You've traveled with this... Filth-” He waved his hand at me, “ -For far to long.”

“It wasn't long ago when you were praising me, and offering me more gold than I would know what to-” I gasped as I was suddenly kicked in the small of my back from behind.

“I don't doubt you.” Justin continued. “I think I can trust you. I think you've proven your worth. However, these men-” he waved at the crowd, “need proof.”

“What kind of proof?”

“Hasn't it become clear?” Justin demanded. “I want you to kill Stiri?”

I pulled myself into a sitting position, and looked at Rico. I couldn't see his face, because his back was turned to me. Christen was looking on with an expression akin to horror.

“Kill him?”

“He can't be trusted, he has the pendant. That wretched halfling said he likely held the stone as well.”

The stone. I remembered suddenly the stone. I had to stop myself from smirking, or laughing.

“I even ask you to use your great power. Use it, so that I can even show this mob that though your a powerful magician, your powers, when put to good use can aid us.”

There was a moment's silence. The nearly full moon cast her silver light upon the ground. Warm, wet air wafted through the land. Somewhere in the distance, a bird called out. I could still hear the distant crash of waves from the ocean, I could still smell the salt in the air.

Rico shook his head. “I won't kill him.” He said. He looked up at Justin, and held his arms out helplessly. “There's no point! He has no loyalties, and he was just planning to leave anyway. He has no interest in any of this... and... and..”

“And?”

“... And he is my friend.”

“I'm your brother.” Justin said. “Rico.. I know things haven't been easy between us for many many years, but I do want to change that. I cannot allow you back into my circle unless you do this.”

“I see no point in it.” he said slowly. “It's senseless violence.... Senseless... “ He shook his head. “Senseless, like the chaos that Kos wants to put us through... I won't do it.”

Justin shook his head sadly. “I'm sorry to hear that.” He said. He nodded to a group of guards nearby, who grabbed Rico and pulled him back.

“I'll just have to do it myself” Justin said. He unsheathed a long, thin sword and walked towards me.

Now was the time to free myself from these damned ropes, draw my dagger, and get out of this mess. All I had to do was twist my hands, Just like...

I twisted my hands, but the ropes didn't loosen. Panic raced through me, and I tried to loosen them again. I realized that these were more complicated knots then I had first imagined. I could indeed free myself, that was no problem. I've gotten out of this before. However, I needed time. Time which was as fleeting as the sparkle of the moon on Justin's sword.

He walked to me, and held the sword over my head.

“No!” Rico cried, “Justin, don't kill him!”

Suddenly, I felt a wave of heat. The guards that had been holding Christen waved flaming hands, trying to put them out. Riko ran before me and released a wave of flames at Justin.

Justin dropped his sword, which fell to the grass softly and with no noise. The grass shriveled around him, and Justin was consumed by flames. His scream echoed in the night, his cries to the gods mixed with shrieks of pain and terror. Rico looked out, horrified, his eyes wide, his mouth open.

Finally, Justin's charred remains fell to the ground. A silent moment passed, and I was out of my ropes and to my feet.

“... I.. I didn't.. I didn't intend..” Rico was muttering. Suddenly, he clutched his skull. “I didn't intend this. I didn't. I didn't. I just wanted to.. I didn't want.” He sobbed into the ground, looking through his tears at the charred remains of his brother.

This time, I had to pull him up. “We're not safe yet.” I muttered. The guards were still all around us, unmoving. They showed no reaction to the death of their leader.

“Why are they doing this?” I asked Rico. He didn't respond. I looked over at the guards who had been holding Rico. Their hands were burnt to bones, but they stood, silently, stoically.

“Who are you!” I demanded. They didn't reply. Instead, they flew towards me. I turned to call Christen to help me, but she was already unconscious. I snarled, and slashed at one of the guards, reaching at me. I managed to slice off his hand, which fell to the ground, and withered. From the stump of his arm poured black, goo-like blood.

“Homunculi?” I said. I stood up, dagger out as they crowded around us. “Rico, you need to get us out of here.”

Rico sniffed, and wiped his face on the back of his hand. “I killed-”

“I know! And if you don't use your power, then we'll be killed too! That's Christen, Rico. She'll die too.”

A moment passed. Nothing happened. “Why are you waiting? Burn them to crisps.”

“Even if I trusted my powers now.. They have Christen with them. I would have no ability to protect her”

I cursed as the homunculi came in at us. I used my dagger to slash my way through various limbs that sought to hold me. Thankfully, there weren't that many. Rico struggled nearby, but he wasn't able to use his powers. Rico didn't even have a weapon.

They were pulling us away, but I didn't know if we were going back to the city. I pulled against them, slashing at what I could. I finally broke free of them, but as I did, I fell to the ground. My leg twisted painfully under me, and I couldn't move. Pieces of the homunculi inched towards me, as their owners strode forward.

I clutched the pendant around my neck. The grass around me stiffened and froze. The fire from where Justin had sat with his guards before died, and the homunculi that had been approaching me stiffened and fell to the ground.

I tried to move, but I cried out in pain as my leg shot jolts of pain up my spine. I sat up as best as I could.

Save for the homunculi, frost-covered and glittering like diamonds in the silver moonlight, I was alone. The other homunculi had already taken Rico and Christen, and left me, stranded in the middle of a field.

Crying out in pain, I tried to drag myself to the city. I could see it, the candlelights in the windows, fire pits glowing light in the streets. Each move I made was a moment in agony, a cry from my lips. I wasn't close enough for anyone from the city to hear me yet.

I pulled myself forward, once more, then collapsed. I had passed my limits.