After changing out of my armor and back into my tunic and jacket, we managed to make it to the Taylor’s Emporium. A collection of open-air stalls all interconnected greeted us as we happened upon the crowd of milling shoppers. Kacee crossed her arms as she searched the group before us, eyes narrowing as her scar twitched at the movement. As she did that, I looked around too, sliding my hands into the pockets of my jacket. My gaze flitted among the various faces that passed us by, searching for something familiar.

Silver. A memory came to the surface. The rooftop pursuit. The flashbang arrow and bolas. The man and woman… Morgan and Yvette? I believe those are the names of the two who chased me.

I focused on the woman who stood with her back to us, clad in a pair of slim dark brown leather pants, a short-sleeve jacket, and a bag slung over a single shoulder. Her dark silver hair barely reached chin length but appeared immaculately maintained. Fabrics and an assortment of other craft materials poked out from the bag.

“Ah. There’s Yvette. Let’s go.” Without another word, Kacee resumed walking towards her subordinate. I fell in step with her, watching as she called out to Yvette. The woman lifted her head and turned to face us, eyes flickering to me, before landing back on Kacee. “How goes it?”

“I’ve nearly gathered everything. Haggling’s an issue since Briar has her task, but I’ve saved here and there.” Her deadpan tone answered clinically as her eyes went over to me. “How are you this day…Lyall? Especially during the festival.” I couldn’t help but notice the twitch at the corner of her lips, amusement dancing in her tired expression.

I shrugged. “I’m doing fine; finishing my errands. As for the festival…?” I allowed a small smile to appear on my face. “It’s nice seeing people enjoy themselves, even if the…topic of the festival doesn’t sit right with me.”

Yvette’s lips twitched as I caught the laughter in her eyes, the bags lightening ever so lightly. “I suppose so.” She faced Kacee, meeting my friend’s silent stare. The two shared a quiet conversation before she turned towards me once more. “Captain told my colleagues and me of her wishes regarding you. It…” Her lips curled downwards in an attempt to hold back the laughter she, no doubt, nearly succumbed to. “Caused quite a stir among us.”

“I guarantee that their reactions weren’t as funny as Kacee’s.” Kacee rolled her eyes at my irreverent answer but said nothing in response.

Laughter finally escaped the mercenary. “I wish I could disagree, but it seems we both know the Captain too well.” Yvette’s expression sobered, her deep regard falling onto me. “I’m sure you know the risk her request involves.”

“Considering I’ve become persona non grata for Verum as a whole. I think I have an idea.” I grimaced but shrugged as I looked to the side.

As Yvette frowned at my statement, Kacee sighed and shook her head. “I understand that it’s a difficult request. Maybe the most difficult, but I believe we can do it.”

“It’s not a matter of can or can’t, Captain,” Yvette said, her tone patient. “Nor is it a matter of danger. But a matter of will.” She inclined her head towards me. “I do not doubt that Lyall could be a man worthy of immense respect and capability, but in our line of work, we must always measure the risk.” Her regard had an intensity to it that caused me to blink surprise. “You should know that, Captain.”

“I do.” Kacee held herself with no less intensity, but her scarred visage offered a bit more weight. “However, when measured against future investments, such risk is more than worth it.”

Yvette blinked, then her eyes widened as Kacee’s words surprised her. “Oh…” Her eyes rolled onto me, sparkling with an unseen emotion. “I see.” Kacee then faced me, crossing her arms with a self-satisfied cat-smile.

I furrowed my brow at them. “What do you mean ‘future investment’?”

“Once again, I am stunned into silence at your insight, Captain. I would never have seen beyond the stories. But that is something we should indeed look into.” Yvette murmured, her lips parting and curling upwards to reveal her teeth.

As the target of their regards, I couldn’t help the chill that raced down my spine. “Okay, now you’re starting to scare me. What the hell do the two of you mean?”

Kacee sighed through her nose, rolling her eyes. She looked around casually. “For a smart person, you can be dumb. You’re going to become a King. What do kingdoms have?” She drawled, eyes falling half-shut as she stared at me.

I sucked in a breath to demand an explanation before realization struck me. I’m going to be a King; hell, I’m already a King, but without a nation. But to run a country, a King needs money, and a country has a treasury. With the time that’s passed, all the people that have traveled to, and died upon reaching, has no doubt given Terras an impressive amount of resources. Money, armor, weapons. Everything that’s considered liquid assets.

“You want me to pay you.” I did not ask, despite the sheer disbelief that filled me. “You offered to guide me. To protect me out of the goodness of your heart. And you want me to pay you.”

“Yes.” Yvette deadpanned, but I ignored her.

Kacee shrugged, rolling her shoulders with a playful smile. “I run a business. I have to make ends-meat somehow.”

As I pinched the bridge of my nose with a sigh, Yvette made an impressed sound. “Already you’ve found a way to spark a profit. As expected of our Captain.” I heard Kacee’s amused humm and shook my head.

Before I could suffer this situation any longer, with the impromptu comedy duo before me, a familiar voice broke into our airspace. “Is…everything okay?” Arce’s soft voice pulled my attention to her. She blinked at my suffering expression before concern overtook her countenance. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m surrounded by strange people.”

Kacee snorted at my answer. “Like you’re one to talk.”

I gave her a dry glare. “You’re talking about me paying you from a treasury I don’t know anything about.”

As Yvette and Kacee offered me faux-serious stares, Arce mused with a hum. “I’m sure Lady Regent wouldn’t mind such an expense.” That caused everyone to focus in on her. She grimaced and flinched at our surprised stares. The Fox Beastkin faintly folded in on herself for a moment before she solidified her resolve. “Lady Regent,” Her gaze fell onto me, narrowing ever so slightly before she continued. “She could be persuaded to allot discretionary funds for escorting our King on his journey.”

It seemed that she wanted me to keep Penemue’s name secret. Whether it’s because we’re in public, or if we’re keeping it from everyone, I didn’t know. I just decided to roll with it.

Yvette hummed with a playful smile, regarding Kacee with approval. “Leander will lose his mind. Paid to escort a…monarch on his journey. It’s like an old tale that Briar has read.”

Kacee returned the smile with one of her own, nodding decisively. “Even considering the client, a paying job is a paying job.” She grinned at me, crossing her arms. “Barring a violent refusal, or a screw up on your part, we’re very likely to take on your job, Lyall.” She leaned forward and squinted. “Don’t screw it up.”

“I’ll screw it up just to spite you,” I said to her with narrowed eyes, unable to entirely hide my playful smile.

“Please don’t.” Arce pulled at my sleeve. “Such jokes aren’t in good taste.” She beseeched me, eyes swimming with emotion.

Meeting her gaze, it reminded me of Maggie when I had made similar jokes in the past. A pang of hurt flashed in my chest, but I swiftly pushed it back down, forcing myself to look away from Arce’s stare. She must’ve noticed if the sudden apology in her eyes told me anything. “Alright. That’s taken care of. When do we meet your lieutenants?”

Kacee turned her attention towards Yvette, who examined the bag hanging from her shoulder. “I’ve essentially picked up everything and special ordered for more. All I need to do is pay for them, and we should be good to go.”

“Good. Go ahead and finish things up here. We’ll meet you at the entrance to the Emporium.” At that, Yvette then left the conversation to make her purchases. Kacee turned towards Arce and I. “Honestly, I do hope things roll in your favor. I want to join you, Joseph, but I will not force my people to act against their will.”

“I can understand that,” I said, unable to stop myself from turning towards Arce. She caught my regard and turned away, her cheeks darkening from the attention. “What’s everyone been up to?”

Arce hummed as she pursed her lips. “Everyone has their tasks. Soralynn is gathering resources and mapping out a route. If all goes to plan, then we should be able to set out soon after you've finished your commissions .” Her lips quirked upwards. “While staying in the Luvian Manor, Marishka has been practicing shifting sizes. I think she’s anxious to show it to you in person.”

“Marishka?” Kacee asked as the three of us began to head towards the entrance. “You have someone else following you?” I could hear ‘another girl?’ in her tone of voice.

“She’s…a young wolf,” I answered carefully, catching the suspicious narrow of the eyes from her. I shook my head but continued. “I found her after an unfortunate accident with her mother, and she ended up traveling with me. We bonded and…” I offered a shrug and trailed off at the end of my sentence.

Kacee hummed and smiled. “I look forward to meeting her. How old is she?”

Arce fielded this question. “The specifics elude me, but according to her size, attitude, and breed, I would assume her to be around six to eight months.”

I blinked, surprise filling me. “That young? I know her breed necessitates early growth, but that seems a bit ridiculous.” I paused, considering her appearance during my ‘fight’ against Rorick and Faithe. “Speaking of, how can she grow like that in the first place?”

Kacee paid particularly close attention to Arce as the Beastkin patiently explained. “Marishka’s breed is noted to be viciously independent from birth, due to both dietary requirements and temperament. Natural growth is accelerated compared to other breeds because of that; they are among the more mystical breeds of creatures inhabiting Verum.” She turned her gaze towards me, eyes pinioning me as she offered a contemplative frown. “That she’s as submissive to you as she is, even at her age, makes her an anomaly.”

“Does that make her the runt of the litter, then?” I asked, considering her fervent disagreements at mentions of her small size.

Much to my surprise, Arce shook her head. “On the contrary, Marishka is in the upper percentile of physical and mental development for her breed, from my observations,” Arce explained clinically, showing none of the skittishness I’d seen her express in social moments. “Surprisingly enough, I estimate that she’ll be fully grown in two months, give or take two weeks, if she remains healthy and active in the meantime.” Her lips quirked as she met my gaze. “Until then, I guess our food budget will stay reasonable. Afterward? Who knows?” Upon realizing that Kacee and I gave her our undivided attention, she blushed up a storm and shrunk in on herself.

Kacee blinked slowly as she studied my companion before she faced me once more. “How did you find a Fenrir?”

“Wrong mythology.” I immediately refuted her, unable to hide my playful smile. “Though I don’t know how these particular wolves compare to a Fenrir.”

“Fenrir are lost to the world,” Arce spoke softly, straightening her posture and looking away from us. “At one point, they walked Verum freely, unfettered by the conflicts that plagued, still plague, humanity. Now?” She shrugged. “No one knows their whereabouts, or even if they still live.”

My friend and I stayed silent as we contemplated those words. We locked gazes, no doubt sharing the same thought on the subject. Something like that, an important detail that fell onto our laps, could only mean one thing. “That’s some heavy foreshadowing, Arce.” I couldn’t keep the amused smile from appearing on my face. “We’re almost guaranteed to run into one on our journey now.”

Kacee snorted and turned away from me, hiding a grin behind her hand. Her shoulders shook as Arce blinked and faced me with a pout. “That’s not a laughing matter.”

“Don’t worry.” I waved her off, my smile widening to a grin. “If it happens, you can ‘I told you so.’”

Arce’s pouted deepened, but before she could continue, Kacee waved it off. “He won’t let this go, Arce. Just enjoy the moment when you can finally say those words.”

My companion turned her pout towards Kacee, but another interruption prevented her from voicing her displeasure. Yvette approached us and hefted her bag. “I’ve made my purchases. Let’s go.” She studied us, seeing the grins Kacee and I had, and Arce’s pout. “What did I miss?”

Arce crossed her arms, pout deepening. “Our leaders not taking anything seriously.”

“So just another day, then?” Yvette’s flippant response caused Arce to deflate as she closed her eyes and sighed.

We reached the Twin Flags building after a fifteen-minute walk, making meaningless small talk to pass the time. As we walked inside, Yvette spoke up. “Let me put everything with our luggage. I’ll meet all of you in the conference room.” With a nod, she turned and strolled into a further room within the building.

Kacee lifted a hand to her knee and pushed hair behind her ear, eyes closing for a moment. Then she nodded and said, “Let’s go. They’ll meet us in a few moments.”

As Arce and I followed her, I couldn’t help but notice the other members of Kacee’s company watching me with wide eyes. I looked around, meeting everyone’s gaze, before offering a playful grin. They quickly scattered, going about their business with an almost frenzied intensity. “Please don’t terrify my subordinates.” Kacee deadpanned, without looking back at me.

“It’s not my fault they’re so skittish,” I said good-naturedly, grinning playfully. It didn’t take much longer until we entered the same conference room as yesterday. Kacee walked over to the head of the table and looked through the papers that sat upon it. I scanned the room, then the table, before my gaze fell upon the spot I had punched through yesterday. “So, uh, you haven’t had this fixed, yet, huh?”

“It’s barely been a day, Joseph.” Kacee deadpanned, not looking away from her papers. “Besides, it’d be difficult to explain, considering how strong the stone table is.”

“What’s it made of?” I asked, curious of my own strength, especially since I have yet to find my limits.

“It’s significantly tougher than stone, that’s for sure.”

“So you don’t know.” I couldn’t help the smile at her evasive answer.

Kacee rolled her eyes; her lips twisted into the ghost of a smile. “Yes. I don’t know.”

At her wry tone, I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me; it felt like a carefree laugh that lightened the phantom weight that settled on my shoulders. Kacee’s smile and her nostalgic exasperation made me feel lighter than any moment in the past week. Honestly, it felt like nothing had changed, despite knowing that all of it did.

The door exploded open and a young woman, who appeared a year or two younger than Kacee and I, raced inside. She wore a set of leather pants with a cloth skirt that fell to her knees and a sleeveless vest with an elbow-length armored cloak. Her dark grey hair fell to her shoulders, parted in the right of her head, held back by a white clip. Atop her head sat a pair of furred ears, with the left hanging limply. Oddly, I also noticed a couple of ears on the sides of her head, which answered one question I never knew I had. An odd hue of purple in her eyes gave me pause as she questioned Kacee. “Captain! You’re back! Where is-” She froze as Kacee looked towards me. My eyes noticed the scar that trailed down her left cheek and along her neck, before vanishing under her clothing.

Almost robotically, the girl turned her head to face me. Murky lilac widened as they met my blue, her light skin gaining a red hue as her lips parted into a circle. Her hands opened and closed, shoulders falling as she studied me.

I looked towards Kacee, pointing towards the catatonic girl with worry. “Is she…okay?”

Kacee grimaced, pushing her papers into a single stack. “Briar happened to be one of the ones who wanted to meet you. Badly.”

I blinked at that, turning my attention back to Briar. Concern filled me at her catatonia, so I approached her and offered a hand. “Nice to meet you, Miss Briar. Hope my reputation hasn’t soured me to you just yet.”

Briar jerked out of her stupor and quickly grasped my hand with both of hers. Warmth engulfed my hand as she took it with an almost fervent restraint. “No!” She grimaced and quickly shook her head. “I mean, it’s an honor to meet you finally. I just…” Briar pursed her lips and furrowed her brow as she cocked her head to the side. She looked around me. “You have someone else with you.” The intensity in her gaze seemed almost…fervent.

“You mean Arce?” I glanced behind me to see Arce also staring at Briar, lips curling downwards.

My companion walked up to us and inclined her head to Briar. “It’s nice to see you again, Briar. Glad to see that you’re doing well.”

“You…” Briar seemed almost…confused. “You were always a part of this?”

“I have my debts to pay, my beliefs to follow.” She offered me a small smile. “I will follow Milord until the day he full ascends.”

Briar turned her attention back to me, lilac orbs examining me intently.

“Briar! Stop running ahead!” A boy’s voice caused us to look towards the door as he practically sprinted into the room. The newcomer appeared similar to Briar, but a few inches taller and broader in the shoulders. He had the same hair color, but shorter, and his ears were the same, though the left missed a chunk. He wore a set of loose, leather armor, though he had a long right sleeve, compared to his short left one. His unassuming armor seemed to be built for a combination of finesse and force, being thick around his arms and legs, while torso and waist appeared lightly armored. It seemed almost…familiar. His own lilac gaze appeared lighter than Briars, but more narrowed and searching.

When his gaze fell onto me, he froze as well.

Kacee sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Hello, Ash. Nice to see that you’re following your own advice.”

The newly named Ash flinched at Kacee’s implied reproach. “Apologies, Captain.” She accepted his words with a nod, and he turned back to face us. Ash opened his mouth, no doubt to reply, but when his gaze fell upon Briar and me, his expression changed into something that made me think he’d been kicked somewhere sensitive.

Kacee snorted, “Hmm. Joey, Briar, how long are you going to hold hands?”

Briar’s skin once again gained a red hue as she dropped my hand with a squeak.

Why did this feel so familiar? I couldn’t help but ask as I felt a gamut of gazes on me, with a variety of amused and frustrated expressions.