Chapter XXXI

Nuvo Tannath gaped in shock as Ryokumo set a large pouch of coins on his desk before turning his head to gaze at him. The Master of Wind could only smirk, knowing that the man must now be internally debating what to do without wanting to show his surprise, something he was already failing at. Due to his sudden demand for Nuvo to change their smuggling from the following week to that very night, Ryokumo had doubled the amount of money that was being offered. After all, he didn’t intend to survive very long after this attack so it didn’t matter to him how much money he stole from the treasury. As long as Hannah and the Children were safely out of Erika, he didn’t care what he had to do, and he was more than ready to pressure Nuvo with all he had until the merchant took the new deal. They were currently in his office and the sun had set, so the only light they had was from the fire lamps attached to the walls.

“You’ve gotta be shitting me, Caeli,” he finally grunted. “Tonight? You want me to do all this shit tonight?”

Ryokumo nodded firmly. “I do. Unfortunately, Nigreos won’t be in the Citadel tomorrow so I have to take him down now, but I refuse to do something so risky unless I know that Hannah Lynn and the Children of Reiner will be safe. I’ve doubled our coin for the more challenging request so I hope that’s satisfactory.”

“And what about my plans, huh?” Nuvo demanded. “I’ve got a really important sale to make tomorrow so I can’t just go running off to Trovia out of the blue. Don’t you think that’ll look suspicious if I suddenly disappear the night the Children escape?”

“You can tell your business associate that the item was purchased for a higher price by someone else,” Ryokumo replied. “And as for suspicions, if you do this well enough, nobody should know that the Children escaped. The Citadel will be under the impression that they’re still in the city as long as you aren’t spotted.”

The merchant leaned back in his desk chair and put his fingers to his bald temples. “I fucking hate Masters. You’re all so unreasonable and impulsive.”

“And soon enough, you’ll be rid of us,” he reminded the man. “In fact, you’ll be rid of us tonight if you just do what I’m asking you to do. And if you can’t do it then I’ll simply have to find another way, but the money will be leaving with me.”

Nuvo’s beady eyes narrowed as he no doubt considered his options. In actuality, Ryokumo wasn’t sure what he would do if the man turned his request down. There wasn’t time for him to come up with an alternate solution and there was nobody else he could trust with the matter. Of course, he didn’t trust Nuvo as a person, but he trusted his sense of survival, and Ryokumo had made it clear that he wouldn’t hesitate to drag the man down with him should he be betrayed. He didn’t have dirt on anybody else in Erika so this was his only route to successfully saving Hannah and the others.

But if push comes to shove, I can always help them lead one last assault on the gates. The Korrei-Tarr are tough, but I’m still stronger, and with Hannah and the Children helping, we could probably win.

However, that would only be a last resort. Sneaking them out of the city was the best option since there wouldn’t be an immediate pursuit. If they could get over the Trovian border before the Citadel knew they were gone then they would be safe. Then they could use their guideship to barter for protection. Reigious would think twice about waging a war against another country just to kill them, especially if he never had any proof they were there.

Nuvo twisted his lips and sighed then shook his head. “You’re damn lucky that I made my preparations early just in case some shit like this came up.”

Ryokumo refused to let his relief show as he smiled smugly, wanting him to think that he’d been confident he’d say yes. “So you can do it then?”

“Yeah, I can fuckin’ do it,” he grunted, swiping the sack from the table and pocketing it within his coat before getting to his feet and stepping around the desk. “If it’s to get rid of Noctis then I’ll work something out. Just give me an hour and I’ll be ready. I’ll also need to know where to meet them because I’m sure as hell not letting them get sighted in here.”

“Very well,” Ryokumo responded. “In one hour, can you meet them at Abigail Reiner’s old orphanage?”

The man was already pacing around, collecting various items from the office before shoving them inside his rather large coat as well. Nuvo barely even glanced over his shoulder as he said, “The orphanage, huh? Sure, I can do that. Now get the fuck out of here, Caeli. If you do get yourself caught after all of this, I don’t want anybody seeing you in my shop either, you got that?”

The Master nodded. “I do. I’ll be off now. Though…” Just as he was turning around, something occurred to him and he stopped. “I suppose this will be the last time I see you, isn’t it? Come the morning, everything will be all over and with any luck, you won’t even be in the city anymore.”

“And it can’t come soon enough,” he growled. “Don’t tell me you’re getting sentimental. I met you barely a week ago.”

Ryokumo laughed softly before shaking his head. “Of course not. But I do have to thank you. Money or not, this is still a huge help to me and for that, I will be forever grateful. So thank you.”

Nuvo snorted, his back still turned to him as he rummaged through a box in the corner of the room. “Yeah, whatever. Just make sure Noctis never bothers me again. I’m gonna be pissed if I come back to find out you lost and that fucker is still running around.”

“I will win,” Ryokumo assured him. “Do not worry about it. Now, take care of yourself, Nuvo Tannath.”

“And you, Master Caeli. Now get out.”

With that gruff goodbye, Ryokumo pulled the hood of his dark brown cloak over his head and distorted his face before departing the office and heading back through the building. As the time to begin drew near, he found himself getting apprehensive.

I’m actually going to do this. I’m finally making a move against Nigreos and Album. I’ll save Ilirianna, whoever she was, and I’ll get Eric back home to his friends. Yet, as the moment to fight drew closer, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret deep in his chest. I know they aren’t the people I met at the Academy all those years ago, but that doesn't change the fact that they were my best friends once upon a time. And I’m going to have them killed. He reached the staircase and began to descend to the first floor. Though it feels like I’m being cowardly by having Eric be the one to do it. It really should be me who takes their lives, but he insisted so…

Ryokumo arrived in the tavern only to find it more packed than it had been when he arrived barely ten minutes earlier. He knew it was a relatively popular place, but those who frequented weren’t the types of people he liked to associate with. The rambunctious chatter and laughter was almost overwhelming and he quickened his pace to reach the door, yet just as he did, he noticed a particular individual sitting alone at a table in the far right corner, their head directed his way. A white cloak was wrapped around their body, concealing most of their physical features and their face was covered by a white mask with two little horns on the forehead just between the eyes, which were yellow. He didn’t know who they were, but he suddenly had a bad feeling, so he quickly pushed the door open and stalked outside without ever looking back.

The dark market street was crowded as always, but whenever he wanted to avoid being seen, he was grateful that it allowed him to blend in. The lampposts illuminated the street in that familiar reddish glow of fire magic and the market’s many scents wafted around, a sensation that was both nostalgic and uncomfortable. His destination was Abi’s orphanage where he would hopefully meet up with Hannah or one of the other Children. Eric would have already filled them in on the new plan so his hope was that they would be ready to wait for Nuvo.

After a few more minutes of moving with the crowd, Ryokumo broke off and headed down an alleyway that he knew would take him to the slums. There was only a single light connected to the building on his left right beside an overfilled dumpster. He needed to be quick so he and Eric could return to Citadel within the hour, but as the sound of his footsteps against the cobblestone ground echoed in his ears, he realized that there was something off about it. Ryokumo immediately came to a stop, brought his mana to his fingers, and spun around, his hand raised to fire off blades of wind should he need to.

“Who are you and why are you following me?” he demanded.

The cloaked individual from the tavern was standing just beside the dumpster and he could tell now that they were slightly shorter than he was. There was a small laugh as they raised their hand and gave a little wave that was so casual that it gave him the feeling they didn’t feel threatened. He didn’t have the time to be dealing with the games of some thief so he was about to repeat himself when the individual spoke first.

“I didn’t know you enjoyed Tannath’s tavern, Caeli.”

He could only stare in utter horror as she reached up and removed her mask, though it wasn’t because she knew who he was despite the distortion. It was because of the woman's identity—somebody who never should have known where he was. Her feline features curled in a smug smile as she tilted her head and laughed.

“So what were you doing in there? Had business with the owner?” Iris Mackia asked, an innocent look on her face. “Oh, and could you take the distortion down? I have a feeling your face is probably really funny right now. Were you shocked? Did I surprise you, Caeli?”

At that moment, he genuinely considered casting Perkari and cutting her down where she stood. As Master of Nature, most of her magic was based around healing, so he knew he could beat her in a fight without breaking a sweat. She wasn’t the fighter that Abigail had been, after all. The problem was that there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that Iris knew that, and someone as clever as her wouldn’t have confronted him on a whim. She must have had some sort of plan.

So are there others around? Is she not alone?

He tried sensing his surroundings, but he couldn’t feel the mana signatures of anybody except Iris. There wasn’t a distortion powerful enough to get past his refined senses except Reigious or Piura’s, but he didn’t think the Iijis would hide in the shadows. They would come out and face him, so for the moment, he was certain Iris was alone.

So then what’s her angle? What trick does she have up her sleeve?

“So are you satisfied yet?” Iris inquired. “I promise I’m alone, though I’m sure you’ve figured that out already. And I haven’t told anybody about this. Only I know you’re here so why don’t you at least do me the respect of talking to me. It’s rude to ignore a lady.”

Damn it! I don’t know what’s true here and I don’t have time to be dealing with Iris Mackia! I need to get to Eric and the others now, but I can’t just ignore her! Mackia could send this entire plan up in smoke and if she does, then it’s all over! All of my planning will have been for nothing!

Clenching his teeth in pure frustration, Ryokumo slowly lowered his hand and did as she requested, removing the distortion so she could see him. “How did you find me?”

Iris shrugged. “I followed you,” she said simply. “I waited for you and Eric to leave the Citadel and then I watched as you guys split up. I figured you’d be more fun to tail so I went with you to Tannath’s and here we are, easy as that.”

“And why did you follow us?” he demanded, trying to keep his voice in check and prevent his panic from showing. “What’s your plot here, Mackia?”

“The same as yours, I imagine.” Iris took a few steps forward, allowing the red light of the flame lamp to illuminate her features. “I don’t want Eric to get hurt. I want him to be safe, and that’s why I’m here. So what are the two of you plotting, Caeli? Where is the boy right now? He wouldn’t happen to be with Arisa Kirisan and your little traitor of an apprentice, would he?”

Ryokumo swallowed back his horror at her words, fearing that she already knew the answer, but still hoping he could somehow salvage the situation. “Of course not. I would never send him anywhere near them even if I knew where they were. He’s out on an errand while I deal with some investigation business. I heard rumors that Nuvo Tannath might have information on the Children so I went to interrogate him.”

“Really?” She tilted her head in mock consideration, drawing out her word in an obnoxious fashion. “But Cartus said she was heading into the city to investigate and never said anything about Tannath.”

“I don't report to Cartus,” he said sharply, though he couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread at the revelation that Sinna was in the city. “I report to Reigious, so I thought I’d look into the matter before bringing it to his attention. Unfortunately, it was a dead-end so I have nothing to tell him.”

“Hmm…” Iris reached one of her fingers up to her chin and grinned, her teeth glinting in the light. “But didn’t Reigious order you to keep Eric close when you leave the Citadel? So where is he? What errand is he on?”

“I…I sent him to the bakery,” he lied, hurriedly coming up with an excuse. “I thought he deserved a nice treat before his exam with you tomorrow so I gave him some coins to go pick something out. I trust him so I thought he’d be fine. Now, I need to go meet up with him so if you’ll excuse me…”

“You’re meeting him in the slums?” she quickly interrupted. “Why?”

He could feel her catlike eyes boring into him and her gleeful expression only told him that she was enjoying toying with him. “It’s a damn shortcut, Mackia. I’m not meeting my apprentice in the slums.”

The Master of Nature frowned before sighing. “Do you think I’m stupid, Caeli?”

“No, I think many things about you but stupid is certainly not one of them,” he grunted.

“Oh really?! I thought for sure you had a low opinion of me! Especially with how poorly you’re lying to me right now! I mean, if you honestly think I’m going to believe you then you must believe my brain fails to function.” Her cheerful expression vanished on the spot as her features turned stern. “Tell me the truth. What are you doing with Eric? What do you have him wrapped up in?”

I should have known that wasn’t going to work. She’s far too clever!

Yet, he refused to give in. Subtly bringing his mana back to his hands, he continued to argue.

“And why would you think I have him wrapped up in anything?”

“Well I’ve always suspected, but earlier today, I ran into him in the halls and he decided to thank me for teaching him.” She clicked her tongue. “It was so out of the blue that I couldn’t help but wonder… And the way he spoke made it seem like he’d never see me again. Almost like he doesn’t expect to attend class tomorrow…or maybe he won’t even be in the Citadel anymore.”

Damn it, Eric! What did you do?!

“Well, that’s certainly interesting,” Ryokumo muttered. “If he’s planning anything then it’s news to me.”

“No it isn’t,” she said bluntly. “No, if he’s planning anything then he knows he can win. He’s got you on his side and tonight, you’re going to make your move. But for the life of me, I can’t figure out what you’re going to do. Do you think rebelling is going to help him? Do you think leading him down his mother’s path will be good for anybody? I know he’s with Kirisan and Lynn. That makes the most sense to me.” She giggled softly. “Did you order your apprentice to kill Seiras? Did you stage your little battle in the Citadel?”

She was seeing right through him. With just a few key pieces of information, Iris Mackia was putting everything together and she was enjoying having him at her mercy.

“I did not,” he answered. “Hannah acted of her own accord. I may have wanted Seiras dead but I would never have ordered my apprentice to kill him. I would have sooner sacrificed myself than let her take the fall.” He narrowed his eyes. “But tell me, what’s it to you? Why are you so worried about Eric?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” she countered. “I’m his master, too, you know, and I’ve really come to like him. He’s special. He’s a good, talented boy who has a bright future ahead of him. His mother had that, too, but she let it all go. I don’t want him to make that same mistake. I want him to be happy.”

For the first time since that conversation began, he got the sudden feeling that Iris wasn’t teasing him. At the very least, that much was true, and he realized it was one of the only times he had ever gotten a glimpse of the real her.

“Do you?” he said. “Then if you really want him to be happy, you know what he needs. You know what he wants more than anything else.”

She furrowed her brow. “If you mean his friends then you’re kidding yourself. Luz is never going to let them out and you should know that better than anyone.”

“Oh, I know that,” he growled, preparing himself for the possibility that he may, in fact, have to take Iris down if she gave him an opening. “But there’s a way to force her. I can get them out of the erased realm. That’s what Eric wants more than anything so if you want him to be happy, then you’ll stay out of this, Mackia.”

“You…have a way?” She took another step toward him and stared right at him, as if trying to read his thoughts. “But there isn’t one. Only Album can release them and there’s no way she will. You can’t bring them back.”

“You're right, I can’t,” he admitted. “But I will. Or perhaps I will say that she will. Album is the only one who can do it, so I will make her. I will bring Eric’s friends back to the real world, and I will give him what he wants. He doesn’t belong in Ijiria. He belongs in Omaruo, so if you want to get in my way…” His wrists erupted in a burst of magic and wind began swirling around them. “Then I’ll kill you.”

Iris didn’t even flinch as she stared him down with a stunned expression. “You really mean that? You’re really willing to go to war with this country just for him?”

“Yes, I am,” he confirmed. “I have no loyalty to Ijiria. I respect Prince Reigious as a person, but I am loyal to Abigail Reiner and to one other, who I will save tonight. I’ll go to war if that’s what it takes to help them.”

Iris closed her eyes and inhaled softly as a soft breeze blew through the alleyway. They were both silent for a moment as Ryokumo waited for her to make a move that would force him to fight. Seconds later, her eyes opened and she grinned that mischievous smile that was so common for her.

“Then it seems that you and I are on the same side.”

***

When Arisa Kirisan finally escaped the flaming house, she no longer had the strength to remain standing as she collapsed to her knees on the cobbled floor, coughing up the smoke that invaded her lungs and feeling the utter pain of the burn marks that she failed to protect herself from. The blaze of the fire behind her was hot against her back and she knew she needed to get up and run that very moment, but she couldn’t feel her legs. She didn't know where the others were or what had happened, but she knew in her heart that they had been found. All she could pray for was that the others managed to get away unharmed, and when she slowly raised her head to stare at the road in front of the burning house, she could only smile bitterly.

“Good evening, Arisa Kirisan. It’s been a few months now, hasn’t it?”

The Master of Fire, Nakoma Taurus, was standing only twenty yards away, his crimson eyes gazing directly at her and a casual smile on his face, as if he were merely greeting an old friend. His red hair was combed back and well kept and his dark red overcoat fell down to his legs, unbuttoned so that it revealed the two swords strapped to his hips. He was a powerful presence, the oldest of the Masters and the most experienced. Even if he were alone, she never could have beaten him.

And he wasn’t alone.

On his right was the Master of Rock, Sinna Cartus, standing nearly two feet taller than him, her muscular arms protected by a layer of rock and her dark eyes glinting in the firelight as she regarded her with unrestrained disgust. In addition, there were five Korrei-Tarr, three to their left and two on their right, dressed in their intimidating red and black armor, their faces covered by helmets and their weapons all gripped in their hands. It was a variety of swords, axes, and spears. They were an elite force and the Masters were the elite of the elite.

Even at my full power, I’d be dead within seconds. There’s no way I’m getting out of this. I just have to hope that the others escaped… I don’t see or sense anybody else so maybe…

But the moment she thought that, her hopes were dashed. Nakoma indicated the Korrei-Tarr on his left, and one of them silently reached down and grabbed a figure that had been collapsed, out of Arisa’s sight, before dragging her to her knees and pulling her toward the Master of Fire.

“No, Irin!” Arisa rasped in an effort to scream.

Irin Vixal was covered in ugly burns, telling Arisa that she hadn’t been able to put a shield up in time. More likely than not, one of the others flung her from the house in a desperate attempt to save her life. Her eyes were barely open and she seemed close to death as the Korrei-Tarr held her in place while Nakoma drew one of his swords before placing its blade against her neck.

“Stop,” Arisa breathed, forcing feeling into her legs as she rose to a weak stance. “Don’t hurt her, you bastard.”

But Nakoma merely continued to smile in a carefree manner as he regarded her. “You know, so much of this could have been avoided if you’d just done as I asked and told me what I wanted to know. You wouldn’t have suffered through Seiras’s spell and we would have only executed you and Territh as guides.” Nakoma chuckled. “But now, you’ve left us with no choice. You’ve almost certainly spread guideship to your friends and thus, you all must die now. Each and every one of you…because you were stubborn.”

“Please,” Arisa begged, knowing it was pointless but still wanting to do everything in her power to save Irin. “Don’t kill her. Don’t…”

“You’re pitiful,” Sinna sneered. “You were always so defiant, Kirisan, and you’ve been a headache ever since we found you, yet now that you’ve lost, you beg for mercy? Do you think you deserve mercy after everything you’ve done?”

Somewhere in the distance, she heard shouts of incantations and she prayed it wasn’t the other Children who were fighting despite knowing how likely it was. Nakoma glanced off to Arisa’s right before motioning for two of the Korrei-Tarr to go help. Both moved at once, and even with only three Korrei-Tarr left, she knew she was still in a hopeless situation.

“You know, I like to consider myself a reasonable man,” Nakoma said. “I can hear people out, even when they don’t deserve it, so why don’t we make a deal, Kirisan? I can spare Miss Vixal and anybody else who decides not to fight back as long as you do as I ask.”

“Taurus,” Sinna snapped. “We are not making deals with guides. We were ordered to kill them and that’s what we’ll do.”

But Nakoma merely waved her comment aside. “Violence isn’t always necessary, Cartus. Sometimes being a bit diplomatic can be helpful. As it stands, my attack didn’t smoke them all out, and thus, Kirisan can be useful. Now…” Nakoma turned back to Arisa and raised his eyebrows, his blade pressing closer to Irin’s neck. “Call your friends back. Order them to stand down. I’m certain they’re all still nearby. They wouldn’t abandon you. So make this easy for us, and you can return to a nice cozy life in the Citadel dungeons. I’ll even have Mackia heal Miss Vixal up for you, good as new.”

Countless scenarios were going through her mind as she tried to find any possible solution. She didn’t care if she died, but she couldn’t let Irin or any of the others get hurt any more than they already had. She promised her little sister that she would protect and lead them. She’d already gotten too many of her fellow brothers and sisters killed so she couldn’t allow anybody else to die. She had to come up with something, but she didn’t have strength and if she failed, Irin would suffer. There was no doubt in her mind that Nakoma was lying about sparing them. This was the same man who just burnt their house away without a care for who was inside. For all she knew, one of the others could be laying dead inside, a charred husk, and more could be dying by the hands of the Korrei-Tarr elsewhere. He wouldn’t spare them.

But do I have an option? If he isn’t lying, then…

“No,” Irin suddenly choked out, her burnt face twitching in pain. “Run… Ari… Leave… me…”

Her breathing was ragged and her body was trembling, but Irin’s eyes were full of determination. She wanted Arisa to sacrifice her to live and she kept muttering even when she didn’t have the strength to be loud enough to hear.

But I can’t do that. I won’t! I won’t leave her! There has to be something! There has to be—! Right… I’ve got a play.

“Well look at that,” Nakoma mused. “Such a loving little sister. It’s actually touching that she would be so ready to die for a fool like you. Almost brings a tear to my eye.” He chuckled, his eyes dry and his expression neutral. “Well, what’ll it be, Kirisan? You gonna make this easy for us?”

“Yeah, I’ll make it easy,” she said, then with the quick whisper of an incarnation, a small object burst from her pocket and flew into her hand, its dark red surface glittering in the firelight. Nakoma and Sinna both stared in surprise before the latter’s features turned furious while the former grinned excitedly.

“An inferno stone,” Nakoma exclaimed. “So that’s your move? You’re gonna suicide bomb us?”

“I will,” Arisa said through gritted teeth. “If you touch her, I’ll blow us all away. You kill her, I kill us.”

“You’re insane!” Sinna spat.

Arisa smiled darkly, her breathing heavy with smoke still in her lungs. “You’re right, Master Cartus. I’ve lost my mind. I lost it long ago when my mother was taken from me… When my brothers and sisters were butchered in your fucking tower… Or when I was tortured…and burnt…and violated. I am insane…and I’m ready to die if you force my hand.”

The pain from the burns was causing her mind to get hazy so she fixated all her anger and hatred on the two Masters before her. If they killed Irin, she would load the stone up with mana and take them all out. Even if it didn’t kill them, it would incapacitate them for long enough to let anybody still out there get away.

“You know, I believe you,” Nakoma said. “So let’s test that.”

And with that, Nakoma sliced his blade across Irin’s neck as the Korrei-Tarr released her, allowing her body to begin falling forward. Yet, both Nakoma and Arisa frowned at the strange sound of metal against rock and it was in that brief second that she saw what happened: a small portion of Irin’s neck had been hardened into stone by rock magic, saving her life.

When did she cast that spell!?

Yet, Arisa never got the chance to fully process it before everything erupted into utter chaos as a clear voice echoed out through the night.

“Condite!”

Nakoma Taurus lurched backwards as if pulled by invisible ropes as a figure launched herself toward the Korrei-Tarr that had been holding Irin. She was so quick and graceful that the man never knew what had happened before her thin blade pierced his neck through the thin gap in his armor, sending blood splattering out onto the concrete before she pushed backwards and spun around, shouting “Nex!”

Hannah Lynn must have known what was coming as her shield of air went up to meet a sudden rush of flames from Nakoma just in time, holding him at a standstill. Yet as impressive as the sudden attack was, there were still two Korrei-Tarr and Sinna Cartus, leaving Hannah sorely outnumbered.

However, she wasn’t the only one who flew down from up above.

The moment Sinna rushed to intercept Ryokumo Caeli’s former apprentice, two new voices chanted out the word “Perkari”, sending blades of wind straight for the Master of Rock. The large woman reacted just in time, bringing her hardened arms up to take the attack head-on.

Tylo landed just inches away from Arisa, a determined look on his face as he hurriedly rushed to her side, his hands already glowing green as he quickly placed them against her back.

“Benedio,” he chanted, sending the soothing touch of healing magic into her burnt body.

At any other moment, she would have thanked him, but her eyes were stuck staring at the other individual who had dropped down with Tylo, his arms swirling with wind magic as he stood between Arisa and their enemies. For just a brief moment, he glanced back at her and looked into her eyes, a warm smile on his face, as if trying to silently assure her that it would be alright, before turning back to the Masters.

“You…” Sinna breathed just as Hannah lurched backwards to stand beside the boy, her blade held at the ready to take another spell from Nakoma. Yet the Master of Fire only eyed the boy with interest.

“So this is him, huh?” he said with a laugh. “Yeah, I can feel the same power I felt in her. Funny though. I was told you were an ally.”

Eric Reiner stood tall as he stared them down, not hesitating at all despite being in the presence of two Masters of Ijiria, and as she watched him, feeling her strength returning with Tylo’s healing, all she could think was one thing.

Eric, you idiot.