With the misunderstanding quickly resolved, it didn’t take long for the rest of the Kacee’s lieutenants to reach the conference room. She took a seat at the head of the table, looking through some papers she had pulled from her bag. I had taken a chair near her, but before Arce could sit next to me, Briar excitedly dropped next to me and began to ask me all different sorts of questions. Her exuberance surprised me, throwing me off for a moment before I recovered.

As I spoke with her, though, I couldn’t help but notice Ash’s intense stare. It didn’t feel angry or demanding, just…probing as if searching for something. I tried not to pay him any mind, just allowing him to come to his conclusions. In my periphery, I could see Kacee giving her a gentle look, warmth filling her brown eyes.

Not long after, Yvette had returned with three others in tow. Morgan nodded towards me, though he gave me an amused smirk, shaking his head as he sat down across from me. The next two people were a pair of men, one who looked around my age, if a little older, with hair that reminded me of a dull flame. He studied me warily, his expression unsure, if a little frightened, as he sat down next to Morgan.

The second was a man of an undiscernible age with a narrow face and pointed ears. He narrowed his eyes at me, studying and searching for something notable with his discerning gaze. He kept his expression stoic, though his eyes betrayed his curiosity.

“You’ve all made it, good.” About to stand, Kacee watched as Arce approached the door and closed it, pressing the stone next to it. A complicated expression crossed her features as she studied Arce. “Thank you.” Arce nodded towards her, taking up a stance behind me, arms crossed behind her. Kacee rolled her gaze over us. “I understand that this is last minute, but I thank all of you for making it on such short notice.”

“You’re the Captain, Captain. It’s only right.” The redhead replied flippantly, though the quiver of his voice brought everyone’s gaze towards him.

“This decides the future of Twin Flags.” The half-elf drawled. “It’s only logical.”

Ash grunted. “It’s important. Not really a choice.”

Yvette hummed, then shrugged. “This should be an amusing conversation.”

Morgan snorted. “I’m curious. More than anything.”

Briar vibrated in her seat, nodding once. “It’s important.”

Kacee rolled her gaze towards me. “Anything you’d like to say?” I could hear the word ‘smartass’ hanging off the end of her statement.

Screw it. “Sure. But only because you asked for it.” I turned my attention to the six sitting near me. “I’m Joseph Blaine, but I’m sure that’s old news to all of you right now.” I allowed a playful grin to appear on my face. “And I’m the next Demon Lord.” A plethora of reactions danced before me, eliciting a sense of schadenfreude from me. “Though, I’m not exactly fond of causing destruction, so you’re all safe.” I grinned playfully, leaning back in my seat and crossing my arms.

Kacee palmed her face as I heard a choking gasp from the redhead. Yvette’s expression brightened, her lips curling as laughter danced in her eyes. Morgan held back laughter.

Ash snorted wheezing laughter.

The half-elf rolled his eyes with a suffering exhale.

Briar blinked and hummed contemplatively.

“Another one.” The half-elf groaned.

Ash cleared his throat and stared at me in disbelief. “You think this is funny?”

I met his gaze, and my grin turned flinty. “Well, it’s either make a joke out of it or dwell in angst while dressing in black.” His expression twisted as he stared in incomprehension at my words.

Kacee snorted, covering her mouth as I noticed the sides of her scar twisting upwards. She quickly gathered herself once more and pulled our attention to her. “I ask you all here for a single reason. I want to propose a new job. A paying job.” She focused on me, even as exasperation filled me. “I put forward the motion that we accept the job of escorting Joseph as he gathers his Generals.”

I’m starting to think that Kacee enjoys doing this as much as I do because the amusement in her gaze at everyone’s slack-jawed responses told me far too much.

The redhead grunted and punched himself in the chest. “Repeat that, please. I think I hear things.”

“No, Leander. I don’t think you are.” Morgan’s devil-may-care grin and forward. “You serious, Captain?” At Kacee’s nod, he let out a snort of laughter. Clapping his palm on the table, he pulled a slip of paper and threw it forward. “I’m for it. We’ve had a drought long enough.”

Another slip joined it, Briar smiled widely, lips parting to show her teeth. “A chance to see more of the world, alongside two Heroes? I’m all for it.”

Ash rolled his eyes at his sister, the corners of his mouth curving upwards. “Keep it under control, Briar.” He threw a slip onto the table. She glared at him, her cheeks gaining color.

Yvette scowled at the trio. “Too fast. You didn’t even wait for him to explain payment.” She said that she tossed her slip onto the table.

The half-elf stared at his compatriots with a look of suffering, a half-lidded stare with a furrowed brow. His gaze fell onto the slips. “You say that, yet you don’t wait for him to do so.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes closed as he exhaled gustily. When he opened his eyes, the man turned his gaze towards me. “Sir Blaine, how exactly are you going to purchase our services?”

“To be honest, I’m just as lost as you are,” I answered, my tone drier than the Sahara. For a moment, the half-elf and I shared a moment of solidarity amid this insanity, before I opened my mouth to put forward a way to pay.

However, Arce interrupted me by placing a blue stone onto the table. “Lady Regent of Terras foresaw something such as this, so she allowed Sora and me to make an offer.” She turned towards the half-elf. “Would this satisfy you, Mr. Fallinor?”

The newly-named Fallinor frowned as Arce addressed him, reaching forward to pick up the gem. “Yvette. Will you check it out?”

The woman hummed as she plucked it from his palm. She closed and eye and studied the gem intensely. “Perfectly cut. Seamless edges. Great enchantment potential. A masterful piece of art.” Yvette placed the jewel back onto the table as though she handled something made from glass. Her intense gaze honed in on Arce. “This gem has worth equal to approximately 50 platinum pieces, at least.”

Arce nodded. “Yes. It does. Should Twin Flags prove willing to offer aid supporting my Lord, then we will pay you in the amount of thirty gems, of equal cut and finish. Half now, half at the end of the job. As per protocol.” Deafening silence settled in the room, all eyes focusing Arce and me; even Kacee stared at us in disbelief, eyes wide and jaw dropped.

In my periphery, I noticed another paper slide to the rest. Fallinor entwined his hands over one another, nodding once as I gave him a questioning look.

Soon enough, all eyes fell onto Leander. He had a paled expression, green coloring his cheeks. He looked at the slips, then to the gem in front of Yvette. “I don’t…I don’t know, Captain.” He flinched as her eyes fell onto him. “It’s…it’s a lot of money. Platinum.” Then his shaky gaze focused on me. “But a Demon Lord… I’m not a devout man, far from it, but…”

Kacee opened her mouth to reply, but… “Do what you feel you must.” I retorted, causing him to flinch. “No matter what, you only have one life to live.” Leander nearly replied, but he just exhaled breathily. “But take it from the person who died. If there’s something you want, take it.” I leaned forward in my seat, meeting Leander’s fearful gaze without hesitation. “If there’s a dream you wish to fulfill, throw away your hesitations. Sneer at those who would stop you and push them aside. Cast off your fear, the shackles that hold you back.” He shook, nearly shivering as he never looked away from my unblinking gaze. “If you’re afraid of me, then do something about it. Face your fears; challenge me, because believe me, the longer the wallow, the more you suffer.”

“Joseph.” Kacee’s soft, but stern, voice pulled my attention to her. She frowned as he met my eyes with her own. In the reflection of her lenses, I noticed a flicker of red, a crimson glare. The moment I saw it, though, the red faded until it fully bled away to blue. “You shouldn’t-”

“No need, Captain.” Leander’s voice broke our stalemate. The sixth slip of paper joined the rest as I once more faced the last Lieutenant. Leander defiantly met my gaze, though I noticed a trickle of sweat trailing down his temple. “I’ll do what I have to. No matter what.”

I couldn’t help the grin that appeared on my face, excitement bubbling within my chest. “I look forward to it, Leander. Show me what you can do.” His expression twisted, eyes narrowing as he met my gaze defiantly.

“Gladly.”

Kacee groaned as she rolled her eyes. “Boys.” She then heaved a heavy sigh. “Now that we agree, shall we start planning out the job?” Kacee didn’t allow anyone to reply. “Yes? Good. Morgan, Fallinor, tell our people of our newest job. Give them all the information you feel they need. Use your discretion for each individual.” She turned towards Yvette. “Continue with the requisitions. Gather the people you need to expedite and do it properly.” Her gaze fell onto Leander. “Scout out all available routes heading out of Xadria. We’ll have more information for you when we reunite with everyone.”

When she turned towards Briar, the girl straightened upon making eye contact. “Briar, Ash, I want the two of you to travel with Joseph and Arce to meet the rest of his companions. Gauge capabilities and decide on whether an escort is necessary.” She earned a decisive nod from the pair. “Good. I’ll stay here and put together the appropriate paperwork to finalize the job.”

With that, the meeting ended, and I left alongside Arce, Ash, and Briar. Our destination? Luvian Manor to meet Sora and Alba.

As we walked, though, Briar seemed to start, then hesitate, as if she tried to think of what to say. She opened her mouth, paused, then closed it with a frown. She furrowed her brow and pursed her lips in a way that reminded me of my sister; the way the look of intense focus and pinched lips betrayed her desire to ask me something.

“Captain…” Ash broke the silence first, bringing my attention to him. Briar gave him a dirty look, lips curved downward into a cute pout. “Captain said that you have a little sister.”

I blinked at the non sequitur. “That…came out of nowhere,” I replied with a hum. I nodded, regardless. “I do. Why do you ask?” Being a world apart doesn’t make me less protective of my baby sister, even if a friend mentioned her.

Ash shrugged a single shoulder. “It’s just…” He twisted his lips and looked towards an equally perplexed Briar. “How did the Captain put it? Little facts like that… Humanizes people?” He grimaced and shook his head. “I don’t know. She always says these big and difficult words.” Ash rubbed the back of his head.

Briar hummed and nodded. “She put Ash and me in charge of recruitment, cuz we can read people really well.” She lifted her hands and shrugged, palms facing upwards. “We always ask them simple things like that. Ash and I get to see how they are when they talk about and think of, people important to them.”

“Families aren’t always well-adjusted.” My voice didn’t go above a whisper, but they heard me, considering Briar’s intense study of me and the cock of her ears. The two of them offered confused stares before understand flashed in her gaze.

“They’re still important.” She said softly, lips quirking into a half-smile. “Good or bad, they make us react in different ways.”

Ash’s eyes flashed in understanding. “Oh! That’s what you mean!” He grimaced and rubbed the back of his head. “You are just like the Captain. You talk with big words, too.” He shrugged a single shoulder. “She taught me and Briar how to read and write, but lots of words still don’t make sense to me.”

My brows rose as I looked to him in surprise. “Kacee taught you how to read and write?” I guess it makes sense, considering her English skills. Though, I wonder how she worked around the language barrier. Knowing her, I suppose, she’s probably already mastered Verum’s alphabet and grammar. It wouldn’t surprise me, that’s for sure.

Briar nodded with a smile, humming in content. “Yeah. After we joined, she helped us learn how to…” She paused and put a finger on her chin, cocking her head to the side. Her ears twitched as she narrowed her eyes. It distinctly reminded me of some dogs I’ve seen reacting to something new. All of a sudden, her eyes widened, and she grinned, her left ear twitching upwards before it returned to hanging limply. “She taught us how to ‘properly function in society.’ Reading, writing, and speaking correctly!”

Her brother made a face and practically shivered. “So scary. She never let me rest.”

I couldn’t help the weak smile that spread on my face. These two… There’s a story behind this. A pair of siblings, scarred and latched to the hip, yet still strangely optimistic. Could they have been slaves? Illegitimate children of the nobility tossed aside, or sold, for being unwanted? Or just homeless kids, forced to live in poverty until they finally found someone who gave a damn? I suppose I won’t know, not until they tell me. Something like that? It’s far too personal, too painful, to speak of with a stranger.

Still, though, seeing them interact; seeing them laugh, joke and reminisce; it did indeed remind me of my sister and me. Briar’s happy-go-lucky bearing brought Maggie to mind; her never-ending optimism in Mom’s return even as I lost hope. The ever-present smile that never wavered, even as my anger simmered beneath the surface. How her mere presence always made things feel just a bit lighter, just enough to make it bearable. Ash’s wary regard reminded me of myself; how I’d cautiously study everything that neared Maggie. That steady stare, he levied towards me when he thought I couldn’t see it, causing me to consider my attitude over the years. When had I begun to assume the worst? When had I started to only see the worst in every situation?

“Yeah.” My voice was just above a whisper, catching their attention. Briar’s eyes widened just as Ash’s narrowed. “I have a little sister. Margaret. Maggie.” Arce, my silent companion, strode ahead of us, meeting my gaze with a small smile. She walked in front of us, eyes scanning the area around us; we passed through the thoroughfare, slipping the crowds of the people going about their days. We currently walked through that transition area between the noble district and the commercial zone in Xadria, where traffic was both at its heaviest, yet easiest to navigate.

“What is she like?” Briar’s intense gaze never left my face as she asked as if probing for something in my expression.

What was my sister like? Really? Happy? No; she struggled with or torn family just like I did, but never let me see it. Angry, like me? I don’t think so. Maggie’s infinitely better with her emotions than me. Dissatisfied? Definitely, but she’d never let me see it; always putting a strong face forward. Maggie, no doubt knew that I’d do everything I could to make it better, even if it caused an attack.

“She’s strong.” My voice came out a whisper, hoarse as I cleared my throat. “Even when things were bad, she never let it show. Always putting on a brave face when given bad news.” I allowed a smile to appear on my face as I looked forward. “Maggie always found something positive; never letting the bad overshadow the good.” I shook my head, a helpless laugh escaping me. “At times, it felt like she protected more than I ever did for her.” I closed my eyes tightly, fighting back the tears that threatened to come forward.

I missed her. My only family left.

“Your anchor.” Ash’s voice caused me to stop walking, my heart beginning to pound deep in my chest. I looked towards the wolf Beastkin with an intense stare. He hesitated, nearly cowering under the weight of my stare. But he steeled himself, meeting my eyes with an empathetic grimace. “Without her, you’d be lost. You’d have no reason to keep fighting. No reason to care for anything beyond yourself.”

No reason to not be a monster. The unspoken words rang in the back of my mind. Indeed, I can honestly say that without my sister, I’d probably have lost myself by now.

Ash blushed beneath the weight of my stare, looking away even as Briar gave him a worried frown. “Ash…”

The boy shrugged, rubbing his arm. “So, yeah. I get it. Before the Captain, it was just Briar and me. She may be older, but I had to be strong.” He gave a resolute nod, meeting my eyes. “She may not be here, but she’s living her life, right? Maggie’s waitin’ for you. What do you want her to see when you meet her again?”

Hah. This kid cut right to the heart. I closed my eyes, breaking the stare. A breath escaped me along with a shaky laugh. I dropped a hand on his shoulder and gave a firm squeeze. “You don’t hold back, do you?” I shook my head. “Kacee did right picking you and your sister up. No doubt.” He flushed at my words, a pleased expression on his face as he faced away from me. When I turned around to face forward, I noticed a wide grin on Briar’s face, her cheeks sporting a healthy blush.

Upon noticing my gaze on her, she turned away from me and looked to Arce. “Miss Arce, how close are we?” Her voice came out rushed with a squeak, but none of us decided to point it out, though Ash did offer her a smirk.

“Not far, but please, just call me Arce.” The fox Beastkin offered her a kind smile over her shoulder.

“Then call me Briar.”

Indeed, it wasn’t far, considering we reached Alba’s manor not a few moments later. Oxton, seemingly expecting us, met us at the gate and escorted us inside. He led the four of us through the garden, where those working there greeted us politely but deferred to me with respectful nods. We walked through the entrance hall and towards Alba’s office. When we reached the door, he bowed and spoke, “The Lady waits with Miss Soralynn inside. They’ve been expecting your return. I wish you all a good day.”

“Thank you, Oxton,” I said to the butler.

“Your thanks are unnecessary, but accepted gratefully, Lord Blaine.” Oxton bowed towards me, deeper than he did so for the others, and promptly turned away, walking towards his next destination.

As I watched Arce open the door, I couldn’t help but notice the twisted expression on Briar’s face. A contorted, paled grimace with a hint of green in her cheeks. Sweat already peppered her forehead, but she held herself carefully, swaying ever so lightly. “Briar?” I asked her, causing Ash to jerk towards me at the concern in my tone.

“I’m fine.” Her voice quivered, breathing deeply. “I already prepared myself for this.”

Ash stepped over to her. “You should’ve stayed with the Captain. I could’ve done this on my own.” Concern warred with disapproval as he placed a hand on her shoulder, straightening her posture.

Briar pushed his hand off her shoulder. “No. I can’t hide from them. I need to get used to them eventually.”

“This is why Captain hasn’t fielded you in battle yet.”

“I know!” She whispered harshly, glaring shakily at him.

I studied them silently, trying to decipher what their argument. Before I could say anything, though, the door to Alba’s office opened fully. I looked inside to see Sora standing to the side and reading something on the desk. Alba stared at it intently, a frown on her face. That, coupled with Briar’s apparent discomfort, set off so many warning bells. They didn’t notice us as we walked inside. “-do they mean, they’ve lost contact with our agents around Xadria?!” Alba said through the gritted teeth, fingers white as she squeezed the quill in her left hand.

“I don’t know, but I don’t like it.” Sora hissed, eyes glowing as they narrowed. “Something has gone wrong on both sides.”

“Have they died?” Alba sounded like she contemplated killing them herself.

“Perhaps.” Sora murmured. “They should know how important Xadria is right now. Discretion should’ve been emphasized.”

“What’s going on?” I cut into their conversation, approaching the desk with a frown.

Neither appeared surprised as they looked up to me. “There’s been no reply from our people. The message went through, but it’s past their reply timeframe.” Alba placed her quill onto the table with deliberately slow movement, as if restraining herself. Her gaze flickered to Ash and Briar. “Is you’ve returned with company. Did your meeting with Miss Fitzgerald go well?”

Ash stepped forward, clasping a fist over his heart, and bowed at the waist. “Ash, a senior member of Twin Flags, offers his greetings.” It sounded stilted and half-practiced, but when I noticed the shivering and stiff Briar, I knew that he covered for her. “Briar and me are here to talk about working with Joseph Blaine and his party about their…” He furrowed his brow and looked towards me. “Mission.”

Alba looked towards Sora, who offered him an amused smile, like an adult humoring a child. The two locked gazes as the former nodded to the latter, deferring to her with a distasteful look on her face. Sora hummed and turned towards Ash. “That depends on what you mean?” Her gaze fell onto the pale and shivering Briar but said nothing.

Ash stepped in front of her, expression turning mulish. “We know that you’re escorting a…” He met my eyes for a moment before facing Sora. “A King.”

Sora’s eyes flashed, lips parting to a small smile. “A ‘King,’ hmm? I see. Tell me why I should care?”

“Sora,” I growled as I stared at her.

She inclined her head. “What can you offer, little wolf?”

“Twin Flags offers their support in searching for the Demon Lord’s four Generals.” Ash did not speak those words, but Briar, who had stepped forward and jutted her chin out in defiance. She held herself back from shivering but clenched her hand tight enough for blood to pour from her fist. “We offer manpower, resources, and support.”

Sora smiled as she studied the shaky girl, a hint of respect entering her amber gaze. “Good. We may call upon that soon.”

“What?” Confusion filled me. “Why?”

Alba and Sora silently locked eyes, before facing me once more, the latter replying almost flippantly, with only her glowing amber orbs betraying her frustration. “Because a contingent of the Royal Family will arrive in Xadria on the last day of the festival.”