Jose wiped the tears from his eyes and sat through the whole ceremony. The whole experience was surreal and he worried he’d wake up from this event and find out how much of a loser he really was but seeing Emma smile at him, beaming with pride, was enough to smite even the smallest of insecurities.

He sat down next to Lysa and was immediately punched in the arm.

“Ow, what the fuck was that for?” Jose punched back with his own reinforced blow, to little effect.

“If we weren’t up here right now, I’d be giving you a damn talking to.” Lysa said in a half serious tone.

“You reprimanding me? You’re not even at my playing field to start talking about the stuff I’ve done or should we double back on all of your fuck ups?”

“This is different, Jose,” the levity in her tone fell off and Lysa looked at him seriously, “You died back there. Like actually died. And I had to stand there and watch get thrown around like a ragdoll.”

Jose sighed and relented, “Look, that may be the case but-”

“No buts, Jose. I don’t want you to go acting like your life isn’t worth anything just because it wasn’t actually real life.” Lysa did her best to put on an angry face but the incongruity of her current behavior with her past antics made it hard for him to take her comments seriously.

“I did my best with what I could think of and-”

“Clearly I gave you too much credit, you blockhead. We could have came up with something else if we worked together to-”

“Alright, fine. I was reckless with my actions even if it helped us get our asses into these seats. We’ll have time now to plan things out so I won’t go running around trying to throw my life away. Happy?”

Lysa sat up straight with a chip on her shoulder, “Just so long as you know you were wrong for what you did.” She ignored everything but his admission of guilt, the asshole. They leaned away from each other and waited for the formalities of the ceremony to end.

The procession was long winded but empowering. Isabella, for all of her faults, was entertaining in the way she highlighted their talents to and captivated the audience. He could see the other volunteers in the audience, some with a gleam in their eye like patient predators waiting for them to step off stage to attack, others without any light in their eyes at all.

He grimaced whenever he made eye contact with those folk.

“With the games now concluded, these volunteers and a remaining five from this round will be debriefed on the details of this expedition and prepare accordingly. They’ll have a week before Ileah is at the shortest possible distance between itself and the salvage point so if you see them walk by this week, give them your kindness.” Elder Nero informed the audience. Vanguard soldiers standing at the ends of the hall started shuffling citizens out of their headquarters, leaving the remaining volunteers and the Elders to mingle on and off stage.

The three Elders stepped away from the podium and approached their team.

“Congratulations once again on earning your spots on the expedition. I hope this is as lucrative a venture for you all as I hope it will be for the Ileahian citizens.” Elder Nero grabbed each of their hands and gave it a firm shake. “You all can rest easy tonight, because you’ll be swamped with homework soon enough.” Elder Nero chuckled loudly, spittle flying out of his mouth as he coughed at the end. “The Vanguard soldiers are currently working with the Whisperer to synthesize everyone's viewpoint for you all to inspect when making your decision for who to add on the boat.”

Oh? Well this was news to Jose. If they caught the perspectives of everyone dealing with the final event, maybe he’d catch some conspirators in the act. They still needed to avoid having any of Isabella’s cronies fall through any gaps in their information.

“Also expect a meeting with us Elders and the Overseer tomorrow, bright and early in the morning. I’d like to get your initial debriefing out of the way before you make any considerations for who else to add onto your expedition. Saber es poder, no?” Again, Elder Nero laughed with a vibrancy expected of someone decades younger than he was. Jose was starting to get why they called him a ‘gray fox’ and it couldn’t have just been the shape he kept himself in.

“If you’ll excuse this old man, I’ve got some war stories to indulge in with my people.” He laughed and walked out of the stage towards a group of excited Vanguard soldiers waiting at the edge.

Elder Tessa disengaged from her small talk with Joanna who carried herself with a haughtiness Jose hadn’t seen, and walked towards him.

“Hello again, Mister Ileria. I am once again surprised to see you having made it this far.” She extended her hand and Jose shook it. Her palm was calloused and the shake was firm yet gentle. “Your display at the end was tragically heroic. I’m glad that you and your mother are different in that regard.”

Jose twitched at the mention of his mother but disregarded it, “I did what I felt was necessary to help the rest of my team. I hope I never go through that experience again.”

“Regardless, I’m glad to see someone as skilled as you acquire a spot on the expedition. Your intimacy with the vessel's contents will serve you quite well.” She raised her eyebrow at him and smirked. Did she know about the information he kept for himself?

“Jose,” He turned to see Emma approach and wrap her arm around him, “Hello Elder Tessa. Thank you for repairing my reckless partner.”

“It was simply my duty, Miss Ileria. I’m only thankful that the injuries suffered by your partner and those other impassioned volunteers were not as severe, even if there were plenty of patients to serve.” Elder Tessa replied diplomatically.

“Regardless, I thank you for that service. You have no idea how much of a bonehead he can be when he gets stuck on an idea.” Emma teased him and he felt his cheeks heat up.

“I can imagine. It’s a quality that he and his mother share with one another.” Emma looked at Jose tense and although curious, refrained from digging deeper into Tessa’s comment.

“Well Elder Tessa, we should leave you to shower more praise on your disciples. Joanna performed her duties quite well and I’m sure Izirrary led her own team through the final event in decisive fashion.” Jose maintained his composure.

“Of course,” Elder Tessa gave Jose a long and knowing look, “I hope to hear more from you Mister Ileria. Come to my clinic for tea some time. I’m sure we have much to discuss if you seek a scholar of the Arcane. Miss Ileria, it was a pleasure to meet you.” She disengaged from them after her pleasantries.

Jose looked at Emma and felt her grip around his forearm tighten.

“Hey, are you okay?” Emma asked.

“I’ll be fine.” Jose believed. He refused to sour at the mention of his past. Not after a success like this. Not in the company of his partner and friends.

He looked at the stage and saw Carmina and Matteo giving him looks-

“Mister Ileria?” He turned around and saw Elder Isabella extending her hand at him, “You’ve been makin’ some waves throughout these events.”

In more ways than one, he imagined. Jose felt his skin prickle as the siblings stared at him, scrutinizing his approach.

“I’m sure it was good for business?” Jose did his best to covertly extend a thin film of soul around his palm before shaking her hand. If she noticed anything, Isabella didn’t let it on.

“Of course. Keepin’ a secret over being an Arcanist really did numbers for bringing in crowds. Helps that this was the only unscheduled fiesta our little colony’s been able to enjoy since anchoring at the Green Mouth.” Her grip was firm and their shake lasted long enough to make Emma’s lip tighten with discomfort.

“Well it was a surprise for all of us when the rules changed as suddenly as they did. I was shocked to hear the other Elders went along with the change.” Again, no reaction.

“It took a lot of convincing but I managed to get my way when I started to stress the amount of funds we’d rake in and the morale that’d come from the whole thing. To talk about the expedition for a moment,” the genial tone in Isabella’s voice shifted into a razor's point, “Any reason why you volunteered for the position?”

Before Jose could come up with a response, Emma interjected, “What does it matter to you?” Her voice was full of indignation. It looked like something could phase the merchant because she recoiled at the interjection for a second before controlling her expression.

“If it’s personal Miss Ileria, then I won’t pry. Didn’t mean to strike a nerve, was just curious, is all.” Elder Isabella replied in an uncharacteristically diplomatic manner. “I also asked because I wanted to know if you’d be willing to hear an offer for… material rights.”

Was this bait? How much of an unknown element was he to her and why was she so open to discuss an offer in front of everyone like this?

Jose thought about his answer, “I’m sure whatever you offer me won’t be worth the storied items in the vessel.”

“Not even if I offer you Grimoires? Arcanists like that sort of stuff, right? Name something within reason and I’m sure I can finagle somethin’.”

“I’m good, thank you. I wouldn’t want to haggle with someone that’s defined their career on that talent. I’m sure that if I find something worth your while you’d be willing to bargain with all of the other potential buyers.” Jose saw Isabella raise an eyebrow and her face grow taut to maintain an amiable expression. She couldn’t have been that desperate, could she?

“Well, I wish you and your team good luck. Hopefully they’re not as cautious a customer as you are.” Elder Isabella laughed at her own joke and finally released his hand from her grip. He held off from taking a sigh of relief until she’d turned around and walked towards Lysa.

Isabella didn’t bother making eye contact with the siblings, walking past them without acknowledgment.

“What a distasteful person.” Emma whispered into his ear. “I didn’t get a good feeling from her.”

“Neither do I.” Jose curtly responded. He wasn’t sure whether it was safe to embroil his partner into the event situation and needed more time to consider things. Emma could hold her own but he didn’t know to what extent Isabella was willing to go to make any potential detractors suffer and through what methods.

“Finally, I get the chance to speak with the popular Arcanist.” Carmina approached Jose with a faint limp, Matteo following closely behind her. “And I am once again reintroduced to your lovely, loving partner.” Emma looked at Jose and smirked. “I never properly introduced us; I am Carmina and this is my brother, Matteo.”

“Hello.” Matteo looked uncomfortable having Emma stare at him.

“Well Carmina, I’m pleased to see the both of you made it out in one piece. The two of you looked capable in that final stretch.” Emma commended the both of them.

“We’re salt souled, we are!” Carmina flexed her bicep and flashed a grin.

Matteo jabbed Carmina’s ribs with his elbow and gestured for her to get on with it.

“Anyway, I came here to thank Jose. Crazy fuck summoned a cyclone just to keep those monsters from nipping at our heels and not once did he give me up when I was out for the count.”

“I wouldn’t have let them either way.” Matteo stated flatly.

“I know you wouldn’t, but to see Jose stick by a couple of underside dwelling strangers like us warmed me.”

Emma perked up, “You’re from Barnacle Bay?”

Carmina’s smile grew wide, “I’d expect someone of your profession would know of rabble like us. Yeah, Matteo and I are happy residents of the Bay. Or are you familiar with us for our pleasure sites?” She winked at Emma in a playful fashion.

“It's a grab bag of reasons. Mainly that this one liked to drink down there when he was dealing with… stuff.” Jose didn’t feel much recalling his spiral during that time. It helped that what he could recall were raucous sea shanties, sticky alcohol soaked floors, and the unpleasant stench of vomit and fish. The fact he could even stomach alcohol now was a miracle.

“Ah, to be expected that someone like you would have so many layers.” Carmina leaned in to tease Jose but Matteo grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back.

“Thank you for sticking with us this far, Jose. I speak for both of us in saying we trust you.” Matteo cracked a smile on his stony face and Jose lightened up.

“There’s more to talk about but yeah. I’m glad you have that kind of trust in me.” Jose replied. There was more to investigate but Jose allowed himself the chance to catch a breath. A conspiracy as big as this had too many moving parts to move with any form of alacrity so they had enough time to at least revel in their victory.