Crap, this can't be the end.

Sayhas took deep breaths. His wounds pulsed to the rhythm of his heart but the pain lessened.

“Why did you take Lucia, Kled,” Sayhas asked when he felt like his life wasn't going to flicker out abruptly.

He didn’t respond. Did he bleed out? Was he dead? That would be a shame. The great Bandit. The Untouchable and the Unseen. Dead by blood loss. Sayhas made to get up. He hoped Dismas and the others were fine.

Suddenly, Kled started to laugh. Blood vomited from his open mouth but the vile chuckles kept on coming. “We were sent to find someone. Couldn’t find him though. We stumbled upon your camp and I saw Lucia. Thought she was my daughter. We had the same skin and hair after all. Even our physique.”

“Kled, she’d nineteen.”

He laughed again. No blood came out. “I found that out later. Didn't you think that the guard was a little bit ill-equipped? Of course, nothing I could do against you. What a nasty little coincidence. But you must admit, our resemblance is striking.”

Sayhas tossed his head back, laughing. He began to tear up.

“Cinders!” Bandit screamed, “you dirty, coal-face, cur!”

Something pulled him away as he looked down at Kled. His arm was cut by the elbow. The detached limb held Bloodlust in a death grip. Long purple hair. Lucia?

“You drugged me,” she accused.

“Didn’t want you to get hurt.”

The three boys stepped up beside Sayhas. They were bruised and battered but otherwise fine.

“You even let Kirin fight,” she gestured wildly at the boy who now featured a very black eye and more than on slash wound. “I could’ve helped. I’m not a kid.”

Sayhas opened his mouth to retort, but couldn’t bring himself to. Lucia had just saved his life. He awkwardly closed it and turned to Kled. He was muttering to himself, clutching his detached limb. Kled pried Bloodlust from his detached hand and held it to his chest, whispering.

“Come back to me,” he whimpered, “Don’t leave. I’m sorry. Don’t leave me alone.” Kled cut his arm with the blade. “Talk to me. Let me hear you. Please.”

“Who sent you Kled? What are you after.”

Kled looked up and smiled wide showing his bloodstained teeth. “Run Sayhas, get far away from Clive Alvera. He’s not who you think.” Kled shrugged. “Or don’t. Die with him. I don’t care.” He paused, “I lost everything because of you. You pushed me to become who I am. I hope you’re happy. I hope you smile when you cross my name off that damned list of yours.”

Then, Bandit the Unseeable, Bandit the Untouchable, died.

A plethora of weapons materialized around Bandit, clattering to the ground. Sayhas took Bloodlust and the purple blade. He found a nice-sounding spear and grabbed a scythe just because it was a scythe. Then, he reached in a pocket tucked under his ruined duster and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. A messy scrawl filled the sheet. Most were stricken through with a thick line. The paper used to be white, writing an elegant cursive. The paper had turned brown, one edge was burnt, while the other was torn off. The writing was mostly faded.

At first, Sayhas had crossed-out names quickly. But it soon became more difficult. It’s been three years since the last one. He traced his finger through the sheet… Found it:

Kill: Kled, The Bandit. Red blade, purple hair, ghostly skin. Dangerous.

Sayhas struck through the line. Two more left, Sayhas thought. It wouldn’t be long. He could practically taste it. The day where he could finally go home.

It was close.

But two more first.

Sayhas reached into a pocket, in his duster. He frowned and studied it. It was a new duster, and in just a few days it was ruined. Burnt by lighting, slashed by swords and brush, and bloodied everywhere else. It was a nice one too. Sayhas sighed, he was back to having no nice clothes. Ignoring his wardrobe crisis, he slipped on a blue ring.

Gritting his teeth, Sayhas pulled out the dagger in his shoulder. His arm seized up and trembled. He pushed Discord into the ring. Cool, soothing Discord flooded the wound. It was only a low-grade water soul so it wouldn’t heal that fast, if at all. But it’d tide the pain until he reached Hysiedies or Mizu.

With the wound band-aid fixed, Sayhas tried to get up. He stumbled. His leg wound was still there. The water soul couldn’t handle that. Dismas slipped under his arm and stabilized Sayhas. Together they stood and hobbled like a three-legged man. The others followed, whispering to each other. Sayhas didn’t listen in.

After a while, Sayhas spoke up, “How did things go on your end?”

Taed, smiled an evil glimmer filling his eye. You see, “Kirin…”

Taed eagerly spilled the beans on how Kirin jeopardized all of them. If it wasn’t for Dismas’ and Taed’s Resonances they’d probably have failed. They both have Resonances? Sayhas thought.

How old was Taed? Twenty?

Lucia’s already nineteen… they’re not children anymore.

Taed is twenty-five. Of course he has Resonance.

“It wasn’t that bad,” Kirin protested, “you’re exaggerating.”

“Your fault, you don’t even have Attunement.”

“I don’t need it.” Dismas rolled his eyes at the statement. Kirin didn’t notice and plowed on. “I’ll best people with my superior swordsmanship.” He grinned and mimed a slashing motion.

“You don’t have that either,” Taed squeezed out between chuckles.

At least there’s still one kid left, I’m not that old yet.

Lucia shrugged, “I can beat you most of the time. And both of us combined can’t even compare to Taed.”

Sayhas pried himself from Dismas’ arms, “Thank you, I’ll be fine now.”

He took the lead, hiding his limp as he rushed through the foliage. He didn’t care about scratching his duster anymore; it was ruined beyond repair anyway. Sayhas turned his head to the side to address the group. “Morning’s coming soon. I don’t want a soul-spliced wolf to find us. And I doubt our chances are good.”

. . .

The had just broken over the canopy when they arrived back to camp. Along the way, Sayhas had grabbed a colourful flower to assuage Mizu’s wrath.

“You’re back, with Lucia I see.”

“Hello priest,” Sayhas said. Hysiedies was atop a tree, his staff pointing straight up. The false priest almost looked like a statue.

“Wasn’t it just suppose to be a scouting mission?”

“I’m saving my comebacks for when it matters.”

“Might as well take your victories while you can.” Sayhas held Hysiedies’ eyes saying nothing as he walked under the branch he stood on. “Kids these days,” Hysiedies muttered, “no respect.”

“I heard you.”

“I know,” Hysiedies shot back. “Kirin, today is the Light day, day of Sindras, we have much to do.”

“Today, but I killed people.” Kirin’s Discord churned.

“For a good cause. The god of light is benevolent and understanding of those with good intentions.”

Not in the mood for religious dogma, Sayahs quickened his pace.

Even before he broke out into the clearing, he could hear Mizu’s Discord. She was waiting for him. Cinders.

“You’re hurt,” Mizu said.

“It’s... worse than it looks.” All the excuses that's been simmering in his mind went up in smoke when he saw her bloodshot eyes. Had she slept a wink? He attempted a grin. It was a weak one. So bad it almost made Mizu laugh. Almost.

“You’re a terrible liar.”

She rushed up to Sayhas and patted him down. Off to the side, Oldum stood eyeing the scene, eyes impassive. Though Sayhas was sure a small amused grin had crept into the big man's face.

“How’s Falem, I ho—”

“Don’t even try that with me.” Mizu clicked her tongue. “What happened.”

Sayhas hesitated. Bad move.

Mizu’s face darkened to a glower, “My puppet of you burned so hot that it could set wood on fire instantly. I promised not to let you die. I will not fail because of your impulses.” Her face softened, but her Discord raged on like a storm in the Azealish. She was good enough to prevent her Discord from leaking like so, even on a terrible day. It was probably on purpose. “Either you tell me, or I get one of the others to tell me.” She smiled, in her assasiny sort of way.

“Aww, this is adorable? I expected to find a hardened, cast-off-the-weak sort of group. But instead, I find a close-knit family,” a sing-song but raspy voice said.

The owner of the voice came from a man wrapped in black bandages. He had a top hat with a purple band and a white cane.

A shield materialized into Oldum's hand, he stepped in front of Sayhas and Mizu. Where was the priest at? Sayhas couldn’t see them.

Hysiedies knew what he was doing, the kids—he always called them that—would be safe. Hopefully.

“And who might you be?” Clive asked, chains slithering down his wrist.

“You heard him, who are you?” Mizu asked.

“Cinders,” Sayhas spat out. They followed him back. He should have been more careful. He had led them straight to his camp. Sayhas was sloppy, complacent after Kleds death. “Sorry guys, my fault.” He struggled out of Mizu’s arms, falling forwards. “Let’s end them.” Maaier Speal fell into his hands.

The man’s eyes flicked onto him, then darted away as if he was not worth the trouble. “Clive Alvera,” he said instead. “You exist. I didn’t think so but you really exist. You’re still alive.”

“Who are you?” Clive asked again. Discord filled Clive's chains. He flicked them against the ground, orange sparks flew out followed by a loud crack.

Suddenly, Sayhas fell backwards, Mizu caught him. Did she kick him? “Go to sleep.” She poured a green liquid down his throat.

His vision swam.

He felt his knees hit the ground. Sayhas clawed madly in front of him but found to purchase. Someone braced him from behind.

Mizu’s face filled his vision. His eyes focused on her. She said something. Sayhas couldn’t hear it.

That was odd.

His eyes closed. And they didn't open for a very long time.

. . .

His head was on fire when he awoke. Burning pain flared across his scalp. When the panic faded, Sayhas opened his eyes. Tears welled up as he blinked in the light. His shoulder and leg were constricted by something. Mizu had drugged him.

It was her wagon. Sayhas recognized the wood of the roof and the cute, circular window at the side. Mizu’s wagon always had an exotic scent. Like perfume but it was never the same, always changing. It was never normal. Sayhas wasn’t completely sure whether or not it was safe either.

He also heard a slight clinking of glass and the rumbling of the wagon wheels as it rolled over uneven terrain. Sayhas tried to sit up but his muscles betrayed him. They were aching. With difficulty, he curled his fingers, squeezing them into fists. Slowly, he worked his way up his arms as his muscles remember how to move. His arm creaked upwards, it was like moving underwater.

Somehow, he managed to get up. The bed creaked loudly as he shifted his weight. Sayhas threw off the covers.

“You’re awake.” Mizu checked the clock above the door. “Already?”

“How long has it been? How are the kids?” What had happened? He couldn’t remember. Sayhas had gone to killed Kled and came back to camp, saving Lucia.

“Half a day. A little less. Don’t worry, we took care of them, nothing bad except a gash on Kirin’s arms. Probably won’t get infected. But it was child's play compared to you.” She rubbed her eyes and yawned.

“That long?” Sayhas rubbed his eyes. His arm tensed in protest.

“I gave you a large dose of green. And pain sedatives. You’ve been out for a relatively short time.”

He was forgetting something. What happened when he got back. Why was he drugged in the first place? Sayhas sighed, he couldn’t remember.

“What happened to scouting?” She asked it so innocently that Sayhas was caught off guard. How much did she know?

“Things got out of hand. But we got Lucia, everything's fine.”

Something changed in Mizu’s Discord but it quickly reset. Cinders. He said something wrong. Studying Mizu’s face, she seemed tense. What happened?

“How does Kled fit into this?”

“You looked at my list,” Sayhas accused.

“Yes, don’t change the subject.”

Sayhas felt like a child being verbally slapped by parents. “Yes, I dealt with him. He was the leader. Everything's fine.”

She cocked her eyebrows. “You knew he was there.”

Not a question, a statement of fact.

Sayhas said nothing.

She pulled a stool and sat down by the bed, keeping her eyes fixed in Sayhas the entire time. Then, she waited, idly fidgeting with her hair. There was no point in hiding anything from her. She’d figure it out eventually.

“Falem said that a man with a red blade took over his nightmares. I knew it was Kled from then. He said something as he died. Told me that Clive is not as he seems.”

Something flickered in her Discord again. “Why didn’t you take me with you?”

Sayhas flinched. That was not what he expected.

“I’m not going to yell at you. I mean, this just means you have to let me go to Jyn.”

“I thought you wouldn’t let me,” Sayhas explained, “I—”

“I was with you when you made that list. I know that’s the only thing stopping you from finding real happiness. Why would I impede you.’

Sayhas was at a loss for words. Mizu was… she was such a good person—friend. Sayhas didn’t deserve her. He looked at Mizu and felt ashamed of himself and his actions the day before. “Thank you, truly.”

“Yes, I’m not an asshole.”

It was a jab at him, lighthearted but also not. “I’m sorry,” Sayhas said quietly.

“And the heavens turned over,” she muttered.

Sayhas narrowed his eyes, “It was unfair of me to berate you. I’ve been hunting down my enemies for years and you’ve followed me. You should be given the same luxury.” Sayhas squeezed Mizu’s hand and smiled, “we’re going to Jyn. We’re giving you your country.”

“Perfect, you’re one step closer to being a good person. Now if you could just treat children better.”

“Huh?”

“That was a nice talk, we should have those more often.”

“Where you passive-aggressively yell at me?”

She laughed, then cocked her head and waited.

Suddenly, Sayhas remembered. “What to the man?”

Her eyes flickered and she frowned. Mizu got up and pulled out a notebook from a shelf above the bed. She dropped in on a table and hastily scrawled something. Muttering something about side effects.

“It was just him, he didn't bring an army as you suspected. With Dismas and Taed injured, I was the only one who could chase him. Clive sent Oldum too, but we both know that he can’t maneuver that well. The man was good, he almost lost me a few times.” Mizu shuddered.

“When I caught him, he fought back like possessed by a demon. And when he was at his last breaths. He said, ‘Princess Niya will hunt you down.’ I don’t know who Princess Niya is to Clive but I recognize the name too.” Mizu swallowed. “When Jyn was captured by the imposters, they mentioned someone called the future queen. They said that they were preparing the country for her arrival.”

Cinders, what's happening, I can't make sense of anything. Is this related to Kled? And how does Clive fit into this mess?

"The Future Queen Niya, that's who the look-alike said she was taking the throne for." Her Discord frothed and bubbled. "And why is Clive in the center of this madness? He's keeping something from us."

"We all have secrets," Sayhas said. He wasn't going to suspect Clive. He couldn't."

"I hate being in the dark." Hmm, ironic.

"Jyn. That's where we'll find our answers." And where Clive's secret will be revealed.

. . .

Sayhas had stayed with Mizu for the rest of the day. She hadn’t let him go out, claiming that he was too injured. They played board games and Sayhas helped her concoct new alchemical mixtures. Pink-petaled thistles had very interesting properties. Somehow, Sayhas managed to get Mizu to let him leave before she used him as a test dummy.

He also gave her the flowers he picked up. She had taken them with a wry grin, she knew exactly why he’d picked them up. It was either sky beads, a really rare flower, or winter gloves, something not rare at all, Unfortunately, Sayhas had crushed it in his pocket which left a stain on the duster—not that Sayhas cared anymore. Crushing it also made it alchemically useless.

“Must be your grubby hands,” she had said.

Sayhas was grateful that he ended up crushing it so thoroughly that Mizu couldn’t recognize it. If she couldn’t use it but still recognized it as sky beads, she’d be very mad. And thereby intolerable for the foreseeable future.

That night, Sayhas pulled out his list of names from his torn-up duster. And on the bottom he wrote:

Kill: Princess Niya, the future queen.

He had another mission now, to repay Mizu for all she’s done for him.

And this time, he wouldn’t take years to do it.

Putting the sheet in a secret compartment above a false back. Sayhas snuggled under his covers and quickly fell asleep.

Part One: END