The operation went off without a hitch. Isabelle had instructed her family to sit in a certain manner, claiming to the guards present that it was a traditional last rite. Because the number of deaths that were to follow were of an unprecedented scale, Isabelle managed to convince the supervisors to let her family, who had been broken up into multiple jail cells, to spend their last night together.

According to her, allowing them to sit in two giant circles and hold hands was a right that a former House had. Gaius wasn’t too sure how she managed to argue that point out, but results were results.

He looked at the two giant rings of people who had their eyes closed. Some of them were probably sixty or seventy years old, while others were as young as children, but all of them had looks of surprise on their face when Isabelle got them to open their eyes.

“We’re in a forest. At night.” One of the oldest ladies said quietly. “How is this possible? Am I dreaming?”

“No, grandmother,” replied Isabelle. “We just broke you out of jail.”

“We’re out? How’s this possible?”

“We’re not going to die?”

Similar words like this made Gaius smile gently, and after making sure that he was still invisible, he nudged Isabelle forward. The first part — getting them all out — had been completed without any hitch. Now came the second part, which was making them understand that they were nothing short of fugitives framed and abandoned by the old system.

Isabelle was noticeably nervous, if nothing else, as she clapped her hands. Eighty pairs of eyes turned to her, the star of the show, and Gaius couldn’t help but feel somewhat amused.

“We’ve been betrayed,” said Isabelle. “The new administration, the new Assembly has seen it fit to throw us aside for the sake of consolidating power. Despite our track record, despite our willingness to serve our people and nation wholeheartedly…the people at the top have seen us as expendable tools to be disposed of when needed.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It was one thing for Gaius to say it to her; and it was an entirely different thing when Isabelle itself said it. The boy could see her shudder, see a single tear roll down her cheeks, as she took in a new reality.

This was the end of House Lorenze, the true end. Never again would they be able to walk in the cities still controlled by the Assembly. Their history would be expunged, only whispered inside the walls of their new home and nation. Centuries of a legacy had run its course, and like countless others, faded to an end.

The other members of her family were reacting in a similar manner, if not as intensive. They hadn’t fully understood yet. But Gaius knew that they would, in time, and only then would they know why Isabelle was crying today.

“Esteemed elders and beloved family members, make for the Republic of Francois,” said Isabelle. “Do not harbour any hopes that we will be able to return home. For we have no place for us left. Look up and forward, to the way ahead. And may we find a new home there.”

“You aren’t coming with us?” Isabelle’s grandmother asked.

“No,” replied the Knight. “I’ve a new master now.”

“A new master?” She echoed these words, somewhat confused, and then started looking around the clearing. “Is he the one who brought us all out of jail?”

“Precisely so,” replied Isabelle.

“I’ll like to offer my thanks in person,” said her grandmother. “Your new master saved our entire family, and it would be unseemly were I not to express my gratitude.”

“You have already done so, grandmother,” Isabelle replied, a faint smile on her face. “It’ll be better if you make your way towards the Republic now, rather.”

Gaius, still invisible, floated to her ear and whispered, “You should go with them. Keep them safe until they settle down.”

She jumped slightly, which drew the eyes of everyone present. Clearing her throat slightly, Isabelle said, “There’s been a slight change of plans. I’ll be following everyone to the Republic before I leave. I’ve been given permission to do so.”

Her grandmother smiled faintly, and then turned to face her family members. “For millennia, we’ve governed the city of Lorenze well. We guarded the Altar of Gods, and prevented the unworthy from using it. And this is our reward. I say we go. Let the corrupt and the venal use it, and may the new Assembly find joy in doing so. Isabelle, let’s go.”

Gaius pricked his ears up, but seeing as the old lady didn’t elaborate on what the Altar of Gods was about — he couldn’t help but hope that Isabelle might enlighten him on what that ominous sounding MacGuffin was.

Isabelle relaxed, and then began to lead the way out. After a few minutes of aimless ambling, the Lorenze family finally got their bearings, and began to make their way south, towards the areas controlled by the burgeoning Republic. It was unbelievable how a small rebellion had grown with such speed, to the point that the old system, which had lasted for a long, long time, was now under threat.

The fact that the Assembly was just beginning to react to the threat the Republic represented didn’t really bode well. Even with the Map of Stars, Gaius couldn’t even begin to fathom the scale of the Republican forces, so it was probably a good thing for a family of skilled administrators to defect now to the rising power. And there, Isabelle’s family might be able to rise up all over again, to build their new legacy.

Gaius shook his head as the small family vanished from view, and then flew back to Lumari, where the city walls were now blazing with light. From afar, he could see countless silhouettes searching the local area. Given that he’d taken a quarter of an hour to fly to his current spot from the spot that the Lorenze family were teleported to, he didn’t really fancy their chances of catching up to their quarry.

He narrowed his eyes slightly as a figure soared to the skies. It hovered in the air for a few minutes, as though as it was looking for something, and then headed towards Gaius. Without any hesitation, the boy vanished, blinking right in front of the unidentified figure and stabbed out with his knife.

Fortunately, it was too dark for anyone to make out Gaius’ features, and the boy wasn’t about to give him time to bring out a light or something. Sparks flew out as knife met sword, and with a strength that supposedly rivalled that of a Lord, Gaius disarmed the Knight with a follow up strike.

His sword flew into the distance, landing on the forest far below the two, and before the Knight could do anything else, the boy had reappeared behind him. Gaius rested his knife on the back of the man’s throat.

“Right now, I’m having a bargain sale of letting my enemies scurry away, so don’t make me regret my life choice,” said Gaius. “We can do this the easy way, or I can stab you slowly and make you tell me the hard way. Your choice.”

“I-I’ll talk.” He raised his hand, and began to answer the boy’s questions.