Chapter Text

Book I Chapter 1: Great Expectations

The world had been dark for as long as he could remember. He wasn't sure when he had awoken or when he had become aware of passing time, but it felt like he had re-experienced birth. Not that he remembered his birth, no. However, billions of years came before he had been born, but as far as he was concerned: all of history passed the moment he opened his eyes. 

The change was sudden. If he had to describe the change, it was as though a god had commanded, "Let there be light!" and light had listened. Its radiant glow cast a peculiar scene before his eyes. It felt… familiar—like a memory experienced time and again. 

He was lying on a bed of soft silk, looking up at a formless shape. It hovered above his face, subtly bobbing and swaying to an unheard melody of its own design. Try as he might, he could make little sense of it. Slowly, his senses sharpened as a haunting tune crept through his ears.

Was it a face?

Or a ghost?

No, a girl—a woman, with a voice so fragile, he felt it could shatter at any moment. 

She was singing… a lullaby?

No, not quite. It was too solemn. It was more like a requiem—a lilting dirge. Her words and the voice that sang them hemmed themselves with despair. 

Despairing; but not desperate. 

She sang as though this song foretold a fate she had long since resigned herself to.

Oh, it's more than a dream...

Dream? No, this wasn't a dream. At least, it didn't feel like a dream... 

Without warning, the floor beneath him gave way. The singer’s voice echoed around him as he plummeted into the abyss.

Oh, it's more than a dream...

Lucius’s eyes fluttered open.  He flinched, unprepared for the morning light that filtered through his window. Staring up at the dark wooden ceiling, he mulled over his thoughts. 

It had been no more than a dream, but it wasn't anything new; he had seen it many times—each as dream vivid as the first. Initially, Lucius had sought guidance from his master, Septimus. However, he was as useless as he was old—and the Sage had lived for well over a thousand years.

Or so he has claimed. As Lucius discovered, a lifespan of a thousand years was rather difficult to verify.

He slowly climbed out of bed. The old wooden floor groaned in protest under the sudden weight. Stretching, Lucius shuffled over to the body-length mirror that hung by the foot of his bed. 

As usual, his short, white hair was a chaotic mess. He wouldn't be surprised if the Old Man had brought a cow in the middle of the night just to lick his hair. It sounded like something he would. Never mind the logistical nightmare that was herding a cow up the tallest mountains on Terra, though it certainly would have been a sight to see. 

He quickly gave up on taming his hair. It would eventually fall into place. Lucius tried halfheartedly to push his fractured halo aside, but as expected, the damned thing wouldn’t budge. His black halo and wings made him feel like an edgy cartoon character, and his eyes—they only made things worse. They were a brilliant shade of red, with a black ring around where his pupils should’ve been. He should be completely blind without pupils, yet here he was, inspecting his infernal bedhead.

A cranky voice hollered from the floor below. "You better be out of bed!"

"I'm awake, ya old bat!" Lucius shouted back. "Don’t forget your diapers!" He couldn't resist the temptation. Sure, it was a low-hanging fruit, but a fruit was a fruit.

The Old Man quipped back without hesitation: "Too old, can’t hear you!" Lucius laughed.

Despite his cheeky nature, Lucius held great respect and admiration for his adopted father. Septimus had always been there to guide him. 

Lucius angled his head slightly and traced a hand over the mangled right side of his face. He could fit an entire palm over the scarring where his cheek and nose should have been. It looked- and felt- like someone had tried to scrape the flesh from his bones, but couldn't quite get the job done. Thankfully, despite his frightful appearance, Septimus had taken him in without a second thought.

Septimus’s temple was immensely popular with tourists and worshipers alike. The elderly visitors were, for the most part, quite pleasant toward Lucius; a few even praised him for persevering in the face of adversity. The children, however, were not so kind.

Many visiting children were simply frightened of him and did nothing to hide it. The local children, though, were much worse- they acted as if Lucius were a mythological monster. “The Monster of Daiji”, they called him. He couldn't entirely blame them—between his imposing stature and deformed face, he did look the part. They spun savage tales attesting to his supposed cruelty, telling of his thirst for blood and hunger for human flesh. They even made a game of sneaking into the inner compound to snap a picture of his face. 

Septimus had issued vicious reprimands in response to their behavior. He’d banned some children from the premises, expelled learners, and even charged fines for breaking and entering. Unfortunately, his actions only reinforced their belief: “Old man Septimus is hiding a demon deep within his temple.” 

So he hid himself. It was the easiest solution. 

For years, Lucius never left his room during the day unless he absolutely had to. He would only leave the house for a walk well after dusk. A habit that proved impossible to shake.

Though the mythology around him had faded over the years, Lucius was still self-conscious about his face. In particular, he was determined to prevent history from repeating itself, especially now that he had a chance to reinvent himself with a new crowd. He was a grown man now and determined to live the best life he could. 

Lucius had a big day ahead of him. Smiling, he hid the damaged half of his face behind a porcelain mask. The Old Man had it custom-made for his sixteenth birthday. The mask covered his right cheek and nose but stopped short of his mouth, allowing him to eat and drink easily. According to Septimus, it was based on the mask used in the Crimson Troupe’s musical, “Le Fantôme de l'Opéra.” 

It was all Gallic to him.

He changed hurriedly into simple slate-colored knickers and a matching long-sleeved turtleneck. He pulled a forest-green fisherman’s vest around his shoulders and grabbed a long white coat that hung neatly from his bed. He shimmied his arms through its long sleeves and fumbled with the hidden buttons. Damned things. He knew it was a popular design choice, but who in the world thought it was a good idea to make it harder to button a coat? It was almost impossible to fit the tiny bastards through the small holes hidden behind the lapel. As he struggled in vain, Lucius couldn’t help but appreciate the irony of the situation. He was impressively dextrous with a sword, but a total donkey when it came to buttons. Despite himself, he let out a quiet laugh. 

Lucius gave up with a sigh. It wasn’t worth the effort. Instead, he put on a simple brooch to keep his cloak in place. He stuffed a few boxes of cigarettes into some of the vest’s many pouches, followed by his trusty lighter. Lucius had always felt a strange connection with the small device. According to Septimus, it was in his pocket when he washed up on the beach.

Satisfied, he straightened his coat's high collar and headed for the kitchen.

On his way down the flight of stairs, he paused when his foot struck a loose floorboard. It squeaked. He smiled as he recalled memories of early adolescence. Squeaky board! He stepped back and placed his foot on top of the loose floorboard a second time. It squeaked again. Again, he retreated his foot and replaced it.

Squeak.

Again.

Squeak.

Again!

Squeak.

"God damn it, boy! If you don't knock it off, there won't be any breakfast for you!"

Squeak.

"I bloody mean it!"

Lucius chuckled as he ran down the remaining stairs. He found Septimus slouched in a chair by a wooden dining table. 

The Old Man was, quite frankly, a mess. Not that he seemed to care. Most people who chewed tobacco would walk over to the spittoon when finished, but the Old Man wasn’t like most people. Septimus was a bit of a lazy bastard, and proud of it. There was only one man in all of Higashi who could spit into a spittoon halfway across the hall and his name was Septimus.

Or so he had been told.

Then again, chewing tobacco had been outlawed in Higashi for almost a century, so there hadn't been much competition. 

He was reading the newspaper with a bored expression. He wore blue dress shorts and a gaudy Siestan Aloha shirt. The floral print was enough to make Lucius wish he was blind. "Ready for your trip?" He asked, without looking up. Lucius nodded as he walked into the kitchen.

Septimus ran a hand through his graying hair as he flipped a page. In his younger years, his hair might’ve been described as curly brown peppered with gray, but these days it was more akin to curly gray peppered with brown. 

Septimus glanced up from his paper. “I already brought your bags down. They’re by the door.” Lucius hummed a thanks. 

Septimus leaned back in his chair. “Can’t believe it’s been six years since I stumbled upon you gargling seaweed, it feels like it was only yesterday,” he said, stroking his beard.

Gargling seaweed, my ass, Lucius thought as he opened the fridge. The Old Man had found him washed up on some god-forsaken beach in Yan, certainly not gargling seaweed, and brought him to his mountainside temple in Higashi.

“Would have been sooner if you’d let me leave.” Lucius argued, pouring himself a glass of milk.

The Old Man snorted. “And let an amnesiac wander around on his own? No way.”

Septimus was right. As far as his memories were concerned, he was only six years old. Try as he might, he couldn't remember anything beyond six years. That wouldn’t be a problem if he was six years old, but he was around 20. Lucius didn’t need a calculator to understand he was missing a significant chunk of his life. Who he was or where he lived beforehand, he didn’t know. 

“Are you sure you want to leave?” Septimus asked.

Lucius shook his head with a sigh. “I’ve been waiting six years for this day,” He paused. Downing the milk with a satisfied ‘ah,’ Lucius wiped his mouth with his coat’s sleeve. “I’d be damned if I had to wait one day more.”

Septimus chuckled. “I wouldn’t be in such a rush if I were you,” he warned. “The lady I’m sending you to really knows how to work a guy to the bone.”

“Rhodes, was it?” 

“Rhodes Island. Want to travel the world and kill foreigners? There’s no better place than a roving PMC base! As long as that old cat allows it.”

Lucius suddenly eyed the Old Man as though he thought he was lying. “You said it was a pharmaceutical company.”

“Semantics. What sort of self-respecting pharmaceutical company doesn’t keep an army of PMCs on hand at all times?” Septimus said, with a wave of his hand. Turning another page, he peered over the paper. “Anyways, grab yourself something to eat before you go.”

Lucius reached into the fridge. Groping around blindly, he found his favorite yogurt missing. “Did you eat my yogurt?”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry about that.” The Old Man said, without an ounce of regret. He hadn’t so much as bothered to look up from his paper.

“Bastard!”

He sighed. “Look, kid. Once you start working at Rhodes, you’ll be able to buy all the yogurt you want.” He winked. “Trust me.”

Lucius couldn’t argue with that. Not that it addressed the issue at hand, but he figured any further argument was pointless. “Waffles it is, then...” he grumbled to himself. 

“You’d better hurry. Your ride’ll be here soon.”

Lucius dropped a waffle into the toaster. “Who are they?” He asked while setting the timer.

“They work for a friend of mine. They’re a good bunch. A bit eccentric, but reliable nonetheless,” Septimus said as he flipped the page again. His bored expression shifted to one of disappointment. “Another terrorist attack in Lungmen.” He tutted. “Terra’s going down the gutter. I better not see you on the news for blowing up famous landmarks.” Septimus said. Without missing a beat, he held a nearby cooking spoon to his mouth, mimicking a news anchor. “Breaking news: rogue monk destroys Dewville Crystal Mines. Three injured, two in critical condition, more at six.”

Lucius grabbed a dish from an overhead cupboard and plated his paltry meal. He rolled his eyes as he walked to the dining table. 

“Yeah, like that’s gonna happen,” he said, voice dripping with sarcasm, “the probability’s like, one in a million. Besides, no one’s going to miss the Dewville Mines.”

“You never know.”

“A giant hole in the ground where nerds rock hunt? Yeah, no.” Lucius hummed thoughtfully. “But the Gates of Lungmen? Now that’s something people would notice. If I end up destroying a symbol of national pride, I’m going all out.” The Sankta took a bite from his waffle.

“Well, I’d like to see you ‘go all out’ without your swords.” Said Septimus jokingly.

Lucius’s eyes widened as he choked on his food. Thumping his chest, he cleared his throat of waffle mush. He shot to his feet and bolted up the stairs. “Shit! Thanks, Old Man.” He shouted overhead shoulders.

Septimus shook his head. “Kids these days.”

Lucius burst into his room and tore his closet door open. He fastened three swords to his waist: two on the left and one on the right. While Luke could wield two swords simultaneously, he preferred to wield one at a time. He couldn’t even draw the third ornate sword. It was more of a good luck charm than a weapon. 

Thundering down the stairs, Lucius swung around a corner and slid into the dining room. He expected to see Septimus criticizing some politician in the newspaper but was surprised to see the Old Man conversing with two girls. The three occupants turned toward him with varying reactions.

Septimus simply rolled his eyes. Honestly, Lucius couldn’t blame him. His entrance was a bit on the rough side.

The taller of the two, a Lupo, regarded him with cold disinterest and a dash of irritation. The perfect recipe for a terrible first impression.

The other girl, a true Sankta, seemed pleased to encounter a fellow. Lucius was relieved to see she wasn’t bothered by his fallen appearance. He could only hope the other Sankta were equally open-minded.

“Ahem, this is my student and adopted son, Lucius, or Luke. Luke, this is Texas,” he gestured toward the Lupo, “and Exusiai.” He said, pointing to the Sankta. “They’re associates of Rhodes Island.”

Luke stepped forward and extended a hand in greeting. “It’s nice to meet you.” 

Exusiai craned her head up to meet his gaze. Luke towered over them. She eagerly took his hand in her own, shaking vigorously. “The pleasure’s all mine! Rest easy I’m nothing like that Lupo ice queen. By the way, you wouldn’t happen to be related to a Hoshiguma, would you?”

“Erm…no.”

Texas didn’t seem offended if she took any. Interpreting that as a good sign, Luke offered a handshake. Texas eyed him wearily as though uncertain of his intentions. Eventually, she responded with a curt nod but otherwise made no move to return the gesture. Note to self: Texas does not like physical contact. He thought regretfully.

Texas pointed at his three swords. “Can you even use those?” She asked.

Luke threw a sharp, sideways glance at her. How dare she! He spent years training! “Yes, I can.” He said irritably.

“They got names?”

“Only this one.” He pointed to one of the swords hanging by his left hip—the ornate one. A smart, golden silk was wrapped around its grip, forming diamonds. It radiated brilliantly. “Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi: Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds. Though we usually call it Ameno or Murakumo, because to be honest,” he flushed, “that long name is kinda embarrassing.”

“I see.”

“Alright!” The three jumped. Septimus suddenly folded his newspaper and set it on the table. He stood with a grunt. “I think it’s about time for you kids to head out. If you leave now you’ll probably make it to Rhodes by Lunchtime.”

“You’re right.” Texas said, forcing Exusiai’s head down into a bow, “We are thankful for your hospitality.” Exusiai whined as she fought Texas’s grip to no avail.

“I should be thanking you for taking the brat.” The Old Man said gently. “Without a guide, he’d be lost within a day.”

“Screw you.”

“It’s only our job.”

“Luke,” Septimus said, gesturing toward Texas, “you could learn some manners from this one. Come on, let’s grab your things.” Luke snatched the remnants of his waffle and shoved it in his mouth, leaving his plate behind. He figured the Old Man could clean his dishes.

Septimus led them to the front door. Slipping his feet into sandals, he pushed aside the sliding, wooden door and stepped out onto a gravel road. Placing his hands on his hips, he took a deep breath. “Can’t get enough of that fresh, mountain air!” He said with a sigh.

Luke stood next to him. “I’m gonna miss it. Can’t stand that putrid city vog.”

Exusiai waltzed up and skipped past Luke with a smile, kicking up pebbles in her wake. “Hey! We breathed that putrid city air and we turned out just fine!” Septimus snorted and nudged Luke in the back. He was holding two pieces of luggage. 

“Here you take one and I’ll take one,” he handed him a plastic suitcase, “Can’t make an old man do all the work.”

Luke clicked his tongue. “You’re only old when it’s convenient, huh?”

Septimus chuckled. “Of course, my father did it to me and now I’m doing it to you.” They walked together in silence as they followed Texas and Exusiai to their van. 

As the head “priest” of the temple, Septimus lived in a house separate from the main compound. Most of the time, the path to their house was closed off by a large gate. The only direct path to the main entrance was the long gravel road that ran through the entire temple complex. 

As Septimus’s adopted son, Luke enjoyed all the benefits of Sagehood without any of the usual limitations. Not that Septimus followed them himself. Because Luke wasn’t a religious student, he could eat whatever he wanted and could have, as the monks called it, “worldly possessions.” He had a smartphone, a love for dairy, and even picked up on his father’s smoking habit, much to the temple’s disappointment. Regardless, he was well-liked by the monks and their disciples. 

After a long walk, Septimus and Luke finally arrived at the temple’s main gate. As the largest and most prestigious temple in the east, Yamatozan-Daibutsuji, or simply Daiji, was well accommodated with its own access road and parking lot. Thousands of visitors flocked to its gates every year, securing it as one of the most visited temples in all of Terra. However, a lack of funds left the access roads in poor condition. While entirely safe, the bumpy roads made for a very unpleasant experience.

Luke hopped over a large pothole and landed next to Exusiai. She was busy inspecting the blinking rear lights. “Must have been a rough ride.” He said.

Exusiai shrugged, not entirely in disagreement. “Kinda. Texas is a bit of an eccentric driver, so I’m used to flying.”

Luke blinked owlishly. “Did you say flying?” 

“Yeah, happens every so often.”  Her response was casual, as though flying vans were everyday occurrences in Lungmen. Luke groaned with a sinking heart. He failed to notice Exusiai perk up. She took a few steps back. 

Septimus slapped him on the back. “Chin up, kid. At least you’ll make it in one piece.” They leaped back as Texas suddenly kicked the rear barn doors wide open. “For the most part.” Septimus finished with a laugh.

The cold beauty glared down at him. “Pack your stuff. We leave in five minutes.” She walked away, cursing under her breath. “Idiot.”

Exusiai placed a gloved hand on his shoulder. “Don’t mind her. She’s just cranky.” Exusiai reached for his luggage. “Here, let me help.” Luke handed over his suitcase and watched her climb into the van. He tactfully averted his gaze with a blush as she bent over.

Septimus shoved another piece of luggage into Luke’s chest. “At least load this one by yourself.” Luke heard Exusiai laugh from inside the vehicle.

Grumbling, the young Sage tossed the suitcase on top of its twin. He dusted his hands together with a huff. “Glad that’s over with.”

Septimus didn’t seem impressed. “You didn’t do much.” 

“At least I actually did something .” He retorted with a hint of sass. 

“I suppose that’s true,” Septimus paused with a smirk, “for a bitch ass pansy.” He laughed as Luke tackled him to the ground. The pair rolled around, wrestling playfully. 

“You take that back!” Luke shouted with faux anger. He may have beaten his adopted father in height, but overall, Septimus was easily twice his size. However, Luke wasn’t a pushover. His slim, fit body belied an enormous strength unnatural for his size. “When I get to Rhodes, I’m telling Saga that you’re swearing again.”

Septimus mocked Luke’s attempt to intimidate him. “Hah! See if I care! Her fuzzy ass can’t do nothing halfway across Terra!” They heard an irritated series of honks. Luke reluctantly untangled himself from his father and pushed himself to his feet. He offered Septimus a hand, but the Old Man swatted it aside with a smirk. “I ain’t that old yet,” he said, standing up, “come back in a hundred years.”

Luke felt a lump well up in his throat. “I guess this is it.” He said. He owed so much to his adopted father. Something he hoped to, one day, repay.

Septimus threw an arm around Luke’s shoulders. “Don’t think of it like that! I ain’t going anywhere.” He said with a tender smile. “If you ever feel homesick, just remember: these gates will always be open for you.” Luke wrapped his arms around the Sage. He felt truly blessed to have a father in Septimus. 

Pulling back, Septimus grinned cheekily. “Well, weekdays from nine to five and weekends from 10 to 4. Holidays excluded.” 

“How unfortunate., I’ll just have to break in.”

Septimus tossed his head back and laughed. “That's what makes me worried!” He smiled as his laughter subsided. “You better hop in, something tells me Texas might be getting a little irritated.” The two shared a final fistbump before the Old Man took a step back and hollered. “Text me once you settle down! And remember: be careful. Terra’s a messed up place. Don’t go around saving every damsel in distress, because you won’t be able to save them all. It’s not something one person can do… not yet.”

Luke nodded. He stepped into the van’s trunk and pulled himself in. He looked at his father for a final time. “I’ll see you in hell!” He shouted and pulled the barn doors shut. Luke climbed into the back seat and sat next to Exusiai. The van was in motion the instant he buckled his seat belt. “How Long of a drive are we looking at?” He asked.

The exuberant angel hummed. “Well, if it hasn’t moved, it should take about three to four hours?” 

Luke was visibly surprised. “That’s a lot shorter than I imagined.” Though he secretly doubted her claims. Exusiai nodded while rummaging through her pockets.

“Rhodes Island hopes to establish a partnership with Higashi, so it's currently docked with the city.” Finding what she was looking for, a bar of chocolate, Exusiai peeled back the wrapper and bit into the candy. “You’re lucky, you know that?” She said through a mouth full of chocolate. “Usually, the drive takes anywhere from five to eight days.

“Chew or talk. Not both.” Exusiai fell silent as she chewed merrily. Luke rolled his eyes but waited for her to finish chewing. “What happens once we get there?” He asked.

“Usually, you have to pass an interview, but by the sounds of it, Mr. Septimus pulled some strings.” 

Luke frowned. It felt wrong to utilize his Father’s connections for his benefit, but it was out of his control. It was something the Old Man had planned, not him.

“That’s it? Seems kind of simple for such a huge company.”

Exusiai smirked.“You’re quick on the uptake, aren’t ya?” Luke blushed. He wasn’t used to receiving compliments. “But you’re right. After the interview, there’s an orientation. Fun stuff like aptitude tests and medical examinations. Then there’s basic training.” He shivered at the thought of ‘basic training.’ 

Exusiai sensed his obvious discomfort. She gently placed a gloved hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry,” she said, “you won’t be suffering alone. Dr. Kal’tsit or Amiya will assign you a partner for the duration of your orientation and training. Most of the time, they’ll also be your partner on your first mission.”

“How was your first mission?” Exusiai averted her gaze and offered a meek, nervous chuckle. Luke was not comforted in the slightest . “Exusiai. What happened?”

“You remember when terrorists blew up the Aloha Tower in Siesta?”

Luke felt dread rear its ugly head. “Yeah, what about it…?”

“That,” she hesitantly started, “was us.” Exusiai suddenly offered her candy as though to change the topic, “Want some?” Luke looked askance at the partially eaten, slobber-covered bar of chocolate. 

He shook his head, “No thanks.” He was in for a rough ride.

Chapter Text

Book I Chapter 2: The Idiot

The trip to Rhodes Island was shorter than expected. Granted, it was a relatively short distance from Daiji to Higashi. However, based on past experiences, Luke had expected the drive to drag on for at least six hours—five, perhaps, if the driver was an angry Siracusan. So the sight of Higashi, around the fourth hour, had thrown him for a loop. The city must have moved since the last time he'd visited. Perhaps there had been some truth to Exusiai's words after all…

Luke noticed a peculiar object jutting out from Higashi's diplomatic quarter. The mobile city's shadow made it difficult to make out its exact color and design, but the object was vaguely rectangular in shape. It steadily grew in size as the van approached the city.

It soon became apparent that the large structure was not a part of Higashi, but a separate entity entirely. Luke tapped Exusiai on the shoulder. "What?!" She squealed in surprise, dropping her phone.

He pointed toward the hulk protruding from the nomadic city. "What's that?"

Exusiai shot a tepid glare as though she couldn't believe he had disturbed her for such a simple question. "What are you talking about?" She asked. "That's Rhodes Island."

Luke's jaw dropped. He had never seen a vehicle so large—so ugly—as the hulking behemoth before him.

" That's Rhodes Island?" He cried in disbelief. Texas's ears twitched in discomfort. "It's huge! I thought it was part of the city."

"You've seen Higashi before, right?" Exusiai said, seemingly puzzled by his reaction. "It's easily a hundred times larger than the land ship."

Luke huffed playfully. "Yeah, but that's different! Higashi is a city. It needs to house hundreds of thousands of people. But Rhodes Island is a company," he stressed.

"And companies need to produce and distribute their products." Texas interrupted. "I don't see what the problem is."

"What could Rhodes Island possibly do with that much space?"

"You'll know soon enough," Texas replied. Luke felt his heart sink as they entered the land ship's looming shadow.

A boyish voice came through Texas's radio. "Unregistered Penguin Logistics vehicle, please identify yourselves."

Texas rolled her eyes with an exasperated sigh. "Shut up, Lappland. You know damn well who it is."

Luke leaned toward Exusiai. "That wasn't very friendly." He whispered.

"They have some history."

"You don't say?"

"Haaaa, Texas!" Lappland moaned. "I hope you had a smooth drive. How about it? Why don't we—"

"Just tell me where to park."

The speaker clicked her tongue. "Boring as always, aren't we? That's fine, you can't run forever…" Lappland giggled hysterically. "Park in Garage A, Zone 3. Amiya should be there." She hung the transceiver with an audible click. Texas groaned and leaned back in her seat.

Luke shivered. "She gave me bad vibes."

"You have no idea," Texas replied. It was the first time she spoke candidly. "She follows me wherever I go."

"Enough of that!" Exusiai pointed skywards. "I bet you haven't seen something like that before!" She said excitedly. Luke craned his head aside to get a better view of the window. Far above, a large, flat deck protruded from the land ship.

Luke watched with keen interest as a section of the overhead surface separated itself from the rest of the deck. It slowly descended along a pair of rails. Its movements were clunky but methodical.

Exusiai flopped back into her seat. "Things I don't miss about Rhodes: slow elevators, wait times, work." Texas idly drummed her fingers on the dashboard.

"I've never seen something so large move like that," Luke said, "It's actually kinda cool."

The elevator touched the ground, throwing up a cloud of dirt. Texas maneuvered the van into position. "Just a heads up," she said as the van traveled over a bump, "the chief executive's very young but competent. Don't underestimate her."

Luke nodded. "Got it."

A jolt ran through the vehicle as the elevator lurched into motion. Fascinated, Luke watched as it slowly lifted them up and away from the dusty ground. After a few minutes, it had returned to its original position, flush with the landship's outer deck. Ahead of the van, three figures stood before a monstrous, rectangular entryway.

One was a radiant Vulpo with long, flowing hair and prominent curves, but it was her friend that caught Luke's attention. A horned woman with faded periwinkle hair gathered in a ponytail. Some would call her plain and they may be right, but there was something to that plain, everyday girl look that reached out to him. He hoped she was nice.

The third person was an enigma. She was clutching a tablet against her chest. With long ears and a cute face, she was likely a Cautus. At first glance, she appeared to be a young girl, but her calm eyes and stalwart posture spoke of maturity beyond her years.

Texas parked the van next to the three strangers. "Come on, let's get this over with. I want to leave before Lappland finds me." The two members of Penguin Logistics greeted the young Cautus with a hug and a nod. Luke, however, needed to retrieve his baggage. Walking out from behind the van, he caught the trailing end of their conversation.

"…Texas, Exusiai. Dr. Kal'tsit and I appreciate your efforts."

Exusiai's halo brightened momentarily. "Aw shucks, Amiya. It was nothing."

Luke noticed Amiya's ears twitch as he approached. "Hello. You must be Lucius." Her long ears drooped as she bowed. "My name is Amiya, CEO of Rhodes Island. It's nice to meet you. Unfortunately, Dr. Kal'tsit is away at the moment, but she sends her regards. Welcome to Rhodes Island."

Luke gaped as his brain put two and two together. The old cat Septimus mentioned? She was probably Kal'tsit. As far as Amiya, though, Luke had expected someone his age, not a teenager. "Damn, Texas was right. You really are young." Amiya giggled behind her sleeve.

"It's surprising, isn't it? You wouldn't expect to see a young girl, such as myself, in control of a large company."

"Yeah, I—" An intrusive bang shot his sentence dead as a door on the opposite side of the garage flew open, striking the wall. The gathered operators turned their attention towards the ruckus. A white-haired Kuranta rushed through, her hurried footsteps echoing throughout the spacious room as she approached.

"Good morning! Officer Grani, at your service!" She said with a salute. "I apologize for being late. Earthspirit left me a message: She said I would find my new partner here." Grani cast a scrutinizing gaze over Luke. "Are you Mr. Lucius?" she asked, looking up at him.

If Luke towered over Texas and Exusiai, then he dwarfed Grani. Confused, Luke pointed at the Kuranta. "What's with this peppy… lost child?"

Grani leaned forward with a challenging smirk. "I may be small, but I bet I can run circles around you!"

"Hmm…" Luke rubbed his chin. "How old are you?" he asked Amiya.

The Cautus smiled. "Fifteen." She gently replied.

"And you?" He asked Grani.

"I'm twenty!"

Luke nodded wisely, as though he had arrived at a profound realization. He hovered a hand above Grani's head. "Of course you are!"

Grani shoved it away. "Hey, wait! Don't pat my head!" she cried. Luke's hand moved again, this time towards her ears. " Or my ears! And don't poke my face!"

Luke chuckled. Her reactions were adorable. "Sorry about that," he said with a bow. "It's nice to meet you, Grani. I'm Luke. I look forward to working with you."

Grani gave a sharp look, clearly doubting the sincerity of his apology. "Okay then. As your senior operator ," she stressed, "Instructor Doberman and I will whip you into shape!" Grani finished with a nod. "Mhm! Call me S.O. Grani." Luke had to admit, she was rather cute—so much so that it was difficult to take her seriously.

Amiya raised a hand with an apologetic smile. "Actually, Grani, about that. At the moment, instructor Dobermann has her hands full with the reserve ops, so we have agreed to pass Luke's training on to Liskarm and Franka." She stepped back and gestured to the two women who had been standing quietly since Luke's arrival.

The plain-looking one cleared her throat. "Greetings. I am Liskarm, a mercenary in the employ of BSW." She jabbed a thumb towards her friend. The Vulpo waved. "This is my partner, Franka. As Amiya said, we will supervise your training during your orientation."

Luke tried his best to smile, but made a poor show of it. Franka chuckled softly. "No need to be shy. We're all friends here, right?" She gently nudged Liskarm with her elbow.

A slight blush dusted Liskarm’s cheeks as her expression hardened. "I wish you would maintain a sense of professionalism, Franka."

Franka responded with an exaggerated expression of apology. "Oh dear, I do hope you could excuse her cold attitude, she's terribly shy," Franka said with a sly grin.

"Franka!"

"Just kidding!"

"No, not at all!" Luke said, eager to make a good impression on Liskarm. "I find her attitude rather refreshing." Without missing a beat, she shot Franka a subtle but triumphant look.

Amiya cleared her throat. "With that out of the way… Franka, Liskarm, please help Grani show Lucius around."

"Texas and Exusiai, you have the next few days off. The Emperor has requested your presence, so we will drop you off as we pass by Lungmen." The two nodded and went their separate ways. Luke waved as Exusiai left the garage. He sincerely hoped he would see them again.

"Oh, that's right." Amiya plucked a sleeved plastic card from her pocket. "This is your ID Card. It doubles as both a key and a digital wallet, so don't lose it. Logistics has assigned you to dormitory room B405. Do you have any questions?"

He shook his head. "No, thank you."

"Okay!" Amiya smiled. "Last thing. Please visit HR tomorrow by 12:00 to have your picture taken. Once again, we welcome you to Rhodes Island and we look forward to working with you! Unfortunately, I have other business to attend to, so this is where we part for now." Amiya excused herself with a bow.

Grani pranced up to him with a twinkle in her eyes. "Your room is right next to mine!" She exclaimed. Her tail wagged with excitement, "I can finally use the side door! This means we can have a dorm party! We need to buy food, snacks, and drinks—oh!" Grani said, interrupting herself, "We need to eat lunch! Where should we go?" The young Kuranta was trembling with excitement.

Luke looked down at his baggage. "I'd like to unpack before going anywhere."

"Mhm! Then follow me!" Grani spun on her heels and marched off. "To the dorms!"

"So full of energy, that one," Franka said, ushering him to follow. "Let's go. I'm excited to see what she has in store for us."

As they made their way to the dorms, Luke couldn’t help but notice that Grani had a high-five or a fist bump for nearly everyone they passed. She even handed a piece of candy to a young girl while Luke puzzled over the presence of a child on the landship. He was amazed by her social skills- it seemed like everyone knew her name. "She's more puppy than pony,” he chortled to himself as they approached an elevator.

"Pardon?" 

Luke shouted in surprise. He wasn't expecting an answer. Liskarm was looking up at him, face set in a neutral expression. He had no idea when she had started walking beside him.

Her eyes widened imperceptibly, "Ah, my apologies. I didn't mean to surprise you." Luke waved away her concern.

"Don't worry, it was a pleasant surprise."

"Ah." She said, abruptly ending the conversation.

Luke leaned on his toes nervously. He felt like they were two peas in a socially awkward pod and neither knew how to break out. He didn't think Liskarm was ignoring him. At least, he hoped she wasn't. It seemed that she simply didn't have anything to talk about. Wouldn't she walk by herself if she wanted to be left alone? Regardless, Luke couldn't let the conversation end there. It would leave a sour taste in his mouth. Eventually, he took the plunge. "Liskarm, was it?"

She looked up. "Yes."

"So… you like bread?" He asked while they waited for an elevator. Franka snickered as Luke chastised himself internally. You idiot! What kind of question is that?! Is that how you're going to make friends? By asking everyone if they like bread ?!

Liskarm blinked owlishly, as though he’d said something completely incomprehensible. "Uh… it's alright, I suppose?" The elevator announced its arrival with a sharp ring. They stepped in.

Luke wanted to cry. His first day on Rhodes Island and he had already messed up. Figuring he had nothing to lose, Luke whispered a question he had been dying to ask: "Does Franka have four ears?"

Liskarm let a chuckle slip out, likely imagining her partner with two sets of fox ears. Catching herself, she flushed slightly and coughed to prevent a full laugh. "I—um… well, I never thought of it that way, but yes, I suppose she does."

She laughed! Somehow, Luke had done something right. He pressed the advantage. "By that logic, Texas, Amiya, and Dr. Kal'tsit would also have four ears. I suppose Grani does as well."

Liskarm grinned slightly. She gave a sideways glance at Grani's ears. "Yes, that is true."

"So when Franka wears earbuds, does she need two or four? And how does that work, really?" Still whispering, he rambled on. "Does she have two human earbuds and two fox earbuds; or does she have four human earbuds? Do fox earbuds even exist?"

Liskarm rubbed her chin. "I… don't think it'd make a difference… maybe?"

"I think it would. Because if she has four human earbuds, they would probably fall into her fox ears and get stuck."

She chuckled. "How about the Liberi? Birds don't have ears." She asked, fully engaged in the conversation.

"Actually," he said, adjusting his mask, "they do. Small holes on either side of their head. They aren't symmetrical either. One's higher up the head than the other."

Liskarm snorted. Blushing, she rushed to cover her mouth, but it was too late. Franka glanced back at her friend with a sly grin. Liskarm was cherry-faced. "What?" She snapped.

"Nothing…" Franka sang playfully.

The elevator chimed, and the doors slid open. Grani leaped out of the elevator and threw up her arms, "And we're here!" She announced proudly, "Welcome to floor B4!" Franka and Luke clapped and cheered softly.

The floor plan was a simple rectangle. Doors lined both sides of the hall, with the elevator located in the middle, directly across from Luke's room.

"That's convenient,” he said with a grin. "Can't get lost now."

Liskarm nodded. "Indeed. Moving in will be a lot easier."

"It's a lot…" Luke swiped his index finger along his room's metal door and rubbed it against his thumb. He pulled a face as the sticky, grimy substance clung to his fingers. "Dirtier than I expected."

Three pairs of eyes turned to Grani. She shrugged. "No matter how hard I cleaned, it just got dirty again. The inside should be clean, though. I heard cleaning drones the other day."

"Well, there's only one way to find out,” he said, pulling out a handkerchief. He wiped his fingers, then withdrew his ID from his vest pocket. Unlike the other IDs he'd seen, his was missing a photo of its owner—a photo of him.

Realizing that he hadn't the foggiest idea of what to do, he looked back to his new friends for help. They simply waved.

He sighed. The door lacked a keyhole, and it definitely didn't have a visible handle. He was at a loss. All the sliding doors he had seen, up until that moment, had some sort of handle. Unsure of what to do, he halfheartedly tossed his ID card at the door, hoping it might just slide open on its own.

It didn't.

The card struck the metallic surface and fell to the floor. The hall was silent for a brief moment, then Franka and Grani burst into laughter.

"Luke, what was that?" Franka asked through tears. "I heard you were raised in a temple, but I didn't think it was this bad. Have you ever been to a city before?"

"Of course I have! I'm not a shut-in."

Grani sighed. "I guess you can't do anything without your senior operator." She smiled with a nod, "Mhm, can't be helped. Let me handle this!" She picked Luke's ID off the floor and pressed it against a black box embedded in the door frame. The scanner beeped for a second before buzzing angrily.

Undeterred, Grani flashed a knowing grin. "Sometimes you have to scan it multiple times,” she said with a wink. "You can usually get by with one scan on the upper levels, but down here, you'd be lucky to get by with two!" She flipped the card over and pressed it against the scanner a second time. The scanner chirped in response, and the door slid open

Grani returned Luke's ID as he walked past her into the room. He looked over his shoulder. "What are you all waiting for?" he asked. "Come in!" 

Luke set his suitcases on the floor with a huff. He took a cursory glance around his room. Unlike the wooden temple he was used to, this room was made entirely of metal.

Opposite the entrance was his new bed. It sat in a shallow rectangular recess built into the outer wall Above it, a large, rectangular window provided a panoramic view of the outside world. At the moment, it revealed a picturesque scene featuring Higashi's rolling hills and sprawling forests.

To his right was a modest walk-in closet; to his left, another door. Entering the closet, he was disappointed to find it completely empty: not even a single shelf.

Grani frowned. "Aw, that's boring. It looks just like mine."

"My room doesn't!" Franka said, glibly. 

Grani shot her a halfhearted glare. "No one asked you!" 

Chuckling, Luke walked to the center of the room. It was noticeably bare, lacking any furniture. He pointed to the door standing by the foot of his bed. "Hey, didn't you mention something about this side door…?" he asked.

Instantly, Grani perked up. "That's right! I've been dying to open the side door!" She scurried out of his room.

"Why didn't you try earlier?" Luke called out into the hall. Frantic shuffling echoed from her side of the wall.

"I couldn't!" she cried, her voice muffled, "Because there are two doors back to back, and I couldn't open yours!" There was a knock. "Scan your ID like I showed you!" Luke did as instructed. The door opened to reveal a visibly excited Grani. She awkwardly shuffled forward, clearly hiding something behind her back.

She tilted her visor forward with a wink, "Good morning my neighbor!"

Franka tugged on Liskarm's jacket. "Can we keep her?" Liskarm swatted her hand away.

"Franka, please, don't embarrass me."

"Too bad. She's already mine," Luke said with a smug grin. Franka pouted.

Luke craned his neck to the side in an attempt to see behind Grani's back. "Whatcha got there?"

She revealed a set of colorful pennant banners, balloons, and party hats. "Tadah!" Grani cheered, "Party time!"

Liskarm raised a brow. "How long have you had these?"

"Since I arrived!" Grani pranced around the room, distributing the hats.

"Uh…" the three women turned to Luke. He was awkwardly tossing the hat between his hands, "you know Grani, I really appreciate the sentiment and all, but I can't wear this."

"Why not?" Luke wordlessly pointed to his black halo. She mouthed a silent "Oh" as realization dawned on her. "Well… I suppose I could let you off the hook…" Luke rolled his eyes. Grani recollected the hats and set them on his bed with the rest of the decorations.

“Here, let me help you.” Franka said, plucking one of the conical hats from his bed. Luke felt a sudden sense of dread grip his heart. She smiled as though to reassure him, but something in her expression left him terrified.

He took a step back. “Stay away.” 

“Hold still.” Franka instructed sweetly. She roughly grabbed his head and pulled it down towards her.

“What the—” Luke was unable to finish his sentence. Franka forcefully shoved the pointed end of the cone through the center of his halo, wedging it inside the ring. 

“Thanks." he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "Well, looks like I'll have to do some shopping. I can't unpack like this." Liskarm suddenly reached into her jacket. Rifling through her inner pockets, she pulled out a pen and a notebook. Franka cracked a grin and sidled up next to her.

"You're such an honor student,” she teased.

Liskarm shook her head with a sigh. Ignoring her partner, she walked across the room and stood next to Luke. "What else are you missing?" she asked, clicking her pen.

"Aw, don't ignore me!" Franka said petulantly.

Luke was distracted by how close she was standing. He shook his head. "Oh. Uh… a towel." Liskarm wrote 'bath towel' with fine, neat handwriting. She looked up. "And a toothbrush and some toothpaste," he continued.

"Anything else?"

Luke closed his eyes and rubbed his chin. He hummed. "Ah… let me think… Soap, shampoo, conditioner, a shower caddie, and a sleeping mask. I think that's it for personal items…"

"Okay…" Liskarm drew a straight line. "Furniture?"

"A dresser and a mirror."

"That's it?" she asked, seemingly perplexed by his short list.

Luke shrugged. "I don't have a lot of money. Besides, I can always buy more later." He turned to Grani, "How about you?" She had hunched over as though she had been punched in the gut. Her equine ears flattened against her head.

"Lunch…" she groaned, leaning against Franka, "So hungry…" Her stomach gurgled. Franka clapped her hands together with a smile.

"I'm feeling quite hungry myself! Why don't we eat lunch first and then go shopping?"

"Alright." Liskarm returned her writing materials to her pocket. "I can work with that." She looked up at Luke from the corner of her eyes.

He nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

Suddenly lively once again, Grani sprung into action. She marched up to Luke and poked his sternum. "As your S.O.," she proudly placed a hand over her chest, " I will be paying for your lunch." With an upturned nose and a proud expression, Grani looked every part the eager, newbie senior operator.

"No, I can pay for myself." Instantly, Grani deflated.

"Oh, okay…" she trudged in silence back towards her room. Luke and Franka exchanged knowing looks. She winked.

Luke hummed. "Actually, on second thought…" Grani's ears twitched as Luke grinned. She was so easy to understand. Grani wore her heart on her sleeve, something he found incredibly endearing. "I may not have enough money to both eat and shop…" She was in front of him within seconds. Luke thought her dazzling smile could light an entire city block and still have more to spare. Her ears stood straight up, and her tail wagged back and forth.

"Good thing I came prepared!" she exclaimed.

He bit his lips. Grani was a treasure. Glancing over at Franka and Liskarm, he could safely assume they agreed. Grani continued, punctuating each syllable with a poke to the chest. "What do you say?"

"Thank you, S.O. Grani."

"You're welcome, partner." For the second time, Grani tilted her visor forward with a wink. She darted off to her room. Luke gulped. Of everyone he had met that day, Grani was by far the most dangerous.

Franka skipped up to him. She threw an arm around his shoulder and gave him a thumbs up. "I've got a feeling that we're going to get along just fine."

Don't worry, Texas and Exusiai will be back. As always, please leave a review! It really helps

Chapter Text

Book I Chapter 3: Candide

Luke was initially nervous to visit the cafeteria. Thankfully, they arrived after the lunch rush, and the room was mostly empty. Like most of Rhodes Island’s common areas, it was overwhelmingly spacious. It was also unnervingly devoid of any private spaces. Unlike the quaint temple kitchen he shared with the Old Man, the cafeteria was open to the entire landship. 

Luke’s attention wandered away from his meal as he looked around the cafeteria.  With concrete walls and metallic floors, it had a rather industrial appearance. Hexagonal-mesh steel plates were installed overhead to conceal the piping. It appeared the room had once served a different purpose before it was converted into a dining area. 

His eyes flicked towards Grani. She’d already eaten two servings of beer-battered fish and was making short work of a third. He was genuinely impressed.

“Geez. For someone so small, you sure can eat,” he commented with a grin. “Where does it all go?” 

“Her thighs.”

“Franka!” The Vulpo raised her arms in mock surrender. Grani took a sip from her root beer as if nothing had happened. 

“I need all the energy I can get if I’m going to help those in need!” she proclaimed, tipping her visor with her signature wink. 

Franka clapped her hands in cheer. “I love it when you tilt your visor like that. It’s absolutely adorable,” she gushed. “Is that something you picked up during your tour of duty?”

“Mhm! My commanding officer would always greet civilians like that. I thought it was so cool! So I tried it for myself and everyone loved it!” Luke could hazard a guess as to why they loved her little gesture, and it certainly wasn’t because she looked cool.

Liskarm stirred her coffee listlessly. “Sometimes I forget that Grani has seen active service.” Luke froze mid-bite. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. 

“What?” he asked, setting his pizza down.

She raised a single brow. “Sometimes I forget that Grani has seen active service,” she repeated.

“You’re telling me that she’s a professional soldier?” The idea alone seemed outrageous. Liskarm looked at him as though he had asked a stupid question. 

“Police officer.” she corrected. “The Mounted Police is a branch of special forces within the Victorian Police Department. They specialize in high mobility, infiltration, and mechanized warfare.” That threw him for a loop. Grani, the small, adorable Kuranta—the friendly neighborhood sweetheart—was part of the special forces. 

Bonkers.

Grani thumped her chest with pride. “Yep! I was part of the mechanized brigade.”

“You can drive?!” Luke yelped, incredulous. She smirked.

“Of course I can drive. And not just cars, but trucks, and armored vehicles. They’re all infantry fighting vehicles,” she explained with a smug look on her face, “So I drove them like infantry fighting vehicles. What did you expect?”

Luke suddenly felt embarrassed. He scratched the back of his neck. “I don’t know, horses or something, I guess.” Grani burst out laughing. 

“A Kuranta, riding a horse?” she gasped out. “Not happening.” Luke’s jaw flapped uselessly as he struggled to wrap his mind around everything Grani had said. His first conversation with her echoed in his mind. What’s with this peppy…lost child? He felt a bit silly.

“Damn. I guess I was wrong about the whole kid thing.” 

“Mhm.” She popped a fry into her mouth with a satisfied grin. “Don’t worry. It doesn’t really bother me when people call me a child.” Her eyes flicked towards his pizza. “By the way… you haven’t eaten much… What kind of food do you like?” Luke hummed. He wasn’t a picky eater. 

“Honestly, I’ll eat pretty much anything as long as it’s not moving or still alive. Everything else is fair game. Though I do love a good yogurt in the morning…” Staring intently, Grani nodded as she munched on another fry.

“Except for insects,” he continued, abruptly. “They’re a no go for me…” He shuddered, as though the mere thought would conjure one up.

“Personally, I prefer fried food.” She replied. That came as a surprise for him. Luke expected Grani to be interested in sweeter things like fruits or candies—perhaps both—and Franka seemingly agreed. Placing an elbow on the table, she rested her chin on the palm of her hand.

“Make sure you don’t overeat.” Franka teased. “You might get fat.”

Liskarm rolled her eyes. “It’s not like you’re any better. I keep telling you to cut your caloric intake. It’s bad for your health,” she warned. “That’s why I prefer simpler meals.” Shrugging, Franka leaned back and cupped her chest with a smirk. 

“I don’t hear anyone complaining.” Liskarm facepalmed, her cheeks slightly flushed. 

Luke found a sudden interest in his uneaten pizza crust. It wouldn’t be appropriate to stare.

He thought Franka was quite upfront. In his opinion, she seemed like the type of person who’d express her thoughts regardless if it was appropriate or not. Frankly, it boggled his mind how she and Liskarm got along, something he divulged over their shared lunch. 

He watched from the corner of his eye as Liskarm absentmindedly picked at the crumbs on her plate. “To be honest, I can’t stand people like Franka. Even now, I’m unsure how we’re still partners.” She failed to notice Franka swipe a fry from her plate. Luke’s brows furrowed with confusion as she quickly stuffed it into the remaining portion of her burger before reaching for another one.

Liskarm continued. “Initially, we were forced into a partnership by our superiors. I suppose they figured the two trouble—” she stopped abruptly. He could almost see the cogs turning in her head as her eyes flicked between Franka’s empty tray and her shrinking pile of fries. Looking up, she caught Franka just as she finished her burger. A loose, soggy fry slipped from her lips. 

“Ugh.” Liskarm shoved the remaining fries towards Franka. “Just take it.”

Franka covered her mouth with a greasy hand. “Aw, for me? Thanks!” she spoke as though she had been pleasantly surprised by Liskarm’s action. It was painfully obvious that she had anticipated her reaction.

The sound of a sliding dish caught Luke’s attention. Grani had pushed one of her plates across the table. Squeezing her eyes shut, she looked away as she offered Liskarm her fries. “Here,” she said with a noticeable tremor, “you can have my chips.” 

Liskarm shook her head and returned Grani’s plate. “No, it’s alright Grani. I appreciate the sentiment, however.” Grani smiled. Luke had a sneaking suspicion that she had smiled more out of relief rather than gratitude.

“As I was saying,” she continued, “we were forced to work together. Though I suppose you could say it worked out because of our differences.”

Luke looked toward Grani. His partner was too busy finishing her fish and chips to notice. While he didn’t have anything against the young Kuranta, Luke would be lying if he said he didn’t feel slightly anxious. Grani’s pure kindness and energetic personality weren’t something he had experienced before and he wasn’t entirely sure what she wanted from him. Not to mention how infectious her personality was. He had a feeling he could easily be swept away by her seemingly boundless energy if he wasn’t careful. As it was, she was already dragging him around—figuratively thankfully, but it was fun to play along with her.

As though reading his thoughts, Franka lightly poked him in the shin with her foot. He looked up. 

“Don’t worry,” she reassured him with a genuine smile. He was mesmerized by how graceful she could look when she wasn’t fooling around. “I’m sure you’ll do fine. I mean look at us! I get along famously with that fusspot.” Luke snatched his attention away from Franka. 

Franka was also dangerous. 

Liskarm huffed. “Yes, and that fusspot is the only thing preventing you from getting yourself killed.”

Franka tutted as she collected her garbage. “It takes two to Tango, my dear.” She grabbed her empty tray and walked off. Liskarm clicked her tongue but quickly followed suit. 

Luke watched Grani shove the small remaining piece of battered fish into her mouth. Rising to her feet, she silently offered to take his trash. He shook his head. “I’ll go with you.” He figured he should at least know where to dispose of his trash. Grani’s ponytail bobbed as she nodded. 

After checking to make sure they hadn’t left anything behind, the pair left the table. He spotted Franka and Liskarm across the cafeteria, talking by a row of enclosed trash bins. Franka was leaning against the far wall next to the main entrance while Liskarm stood beside her. Grani led him down the center aisle towards them. She waved at the few operators sitting at tables as they passed by. A majority of them silently chuckled or smiled. The remainder merely nodded. It seemed like she was a common sight around these parts. 

Grani swallowed her food with an audible gulp as they approached the trash receptacles. She downed the rest of her water with a sigh of contentment. “That hit the spot.” She said, patting her stomach with her free hand. Grani pushed the bin’s flap open with her tray and swept her rubbish in. She then neatly stacked her tray on top of the bin. Luke followed her movements as faithfully as possible. After a short trip to the bathroom to wash their hands, the four met up outside the cafeteria.

“That was quite the meal,” Franka said as she slipped her hands back into her gloves. Luke glanced over at Liskarm, expecting some sort of reaction. She did not disappoint. 

“ Your meal was quite the meal,” she stressed, rummaging through her jacket. “The rest of us ate normally.” Finding what she was looking for, her pocket notebook, Liskarm quickly tore out a page and handed it to Luke. “Here.” she said. 

He looked down at the paper in his hands. It was the list she had written for him earlier in his room. “Where am I going to get all this stuff?” he asked. 

She looked up at him. “The Chief of Engineering runs an onboard department store,” she explained, returning the book to its pocket. “It should have everything you need.” 

“I’m sorry, what?” he blinked owlishly. “What’s the Chief of Engineering doing running a store?” 

“Beats me.” 

“Shouldn’t they be doing,” Luke scratched his head, “I don’t know, engineering stuff?”

“I’m sure she does… she’s constantly carrying tools around. Whether or not she actually uses them is a different story.” He shrugged. The land ship appeared to operate without any trouble, so whatever the Chief Engineer was doing, she was doing it right. 

Grani poked him in the arm. “Are you ready to go shopping?” 

“Yeah, where is it?” he asked, referring to the department store. 

“It has multiple floors, but the main entrance is located on the third floor, so right below us.” She said while pointing to the ground. “But there’s a secondary entrance on this floor. It’s a short walk. Should only take five to eight minutes.” 

Luke bowed grandly. “Lead the way, m’lady.”

Franka cooed as Luke raised his head. “Oh, my. Liskarm, why don’t you ever do that with me?” she asked.

“Because you aren’t any kind of a lady.” Franka pouted. 

“Meanie.” 

Grani laughed as she and Liskarm started down the hall. “Come on! Those items aren’t going to buy themselves.” 

Luke felt a mix of excitement and dread as he trailed behind them. He was excited to finally unpack and properly move into his new room, but he also dreaded the potential price tag associated with it. If he could live his entire life hoarding money without spending a cent, he would. Unfortunately, he needed to eat to survive so his hands were tied.

The group entered a large, open room. Several hallways branched out from various points along the walls. The corridor they had left continued directly ahead in the opposite wall of the room. A flash of bright colors caught his wandering attention. Looking up, Luke noticed a yellow rook had been painted directly above the octagonal walkway. Sitting directly below it was a pair of screens. Looking down, he could see his reflection staring up at him from the finely polished steel floors.

It was different.

It wasn’t what he was used to.

Luke was struggling to come to terms with his radical change of environment. Everything was moving so fast that it left him reeling in its wake.

One moment he was sleeping in his wooden bed in his wooden house in a wooden temple, and then the next he was dodging hanging wires and protruding pipes while walking through a glossy steel corridor under the bright glow of artificial light. 

The land ship was the temple’s total antithesis and felt closed off like a hulking steel sarcophagus. If he hadn’t known better, Luke would have thought Rhodes Island was hundreds of feet underground. He was amazed by the people who lived in the landship. If they spent all their time working under the guidance of lamplight how would they know when it was night? Days and nights became meaningless under the shadow of artificial lighting.

For the first time in his life, Luke felt slightly claustrophobic. He couldn’t see the Sun. He couldn’t smell the fresh air and he couldn’t hear the leaves rustling in the wind. He couldn’t even see the ocean or the stars. I hope I don’t stay here for long . He thought to himself. 

Franka’s cheerful voice reminded him that he was still in the company of others. “You like to wander off to your own little world, don’t you?” She teased as they continued under the yellow symbol and into the next hall.

“Yeah. I guess I do. I’m still struggling to take it all in.” Franka hummed as though she had expected his response. She smacked a wire dangling over her head.

“Liskarm had quite the culture shock as well. She’s always serious and moody like the rest of the BPRS.” Liskarm appeared to have overheard their conversation. She deliberately slowed her pace to match theirs. 

“Are you talking about our time at BSW again?” she asked. She looked up at Luke with a stern expression. “Don’t believe everything she says!”

“But it’s true!” Franka insisted. “She followed every rule and protocol down to the letter, but things are different here at Rhodes Island.” she said while tracing a hand along one of the several thin pipes running along the walk. “I have never seen her so speechless. I thought she had fainted while standing. So, if she could fit in, I’m sure you can.” Likely sensing the seriousness of Franka’s statement, Liskarm stayed quiet, despite the slight against herself.

Not entirely convinced, Luke gave Franka a lopsided grin. While that didn’t solve his problems, it at least helped kick the can down the road. “I’ll make sure not to follow any rules or regulations under any circumstances.”

Liskarm crossed her arms with a huff. “You won’t be thanking her for long…” she grumbled. Luke looked at her with a quizzical expression.

“Hoh” he sighed, intrigued by her vague threat. “And why is that?”

She briefly hesitated as though unsure if she wanted to continue. “Franka has a particular method when it comes to… helping operators.” she alluded cryptically.

Luke shrugged off her dark undertones. As a frequent victim of Franka’s misadventures, she was bound to have a bias or two. “Can’t be that bad, right?” While Franka was playful and a bit silly, she was mostly harmless. She had a mature vibe around her like that of a dotting older sister—someone he could trust. Luke didn’t see any indications of that changing. 

Grani bobbed her head excitedly in agreement. “That sounds fun!” she cheered. “I didn’t go through training when I joined, so I’m excited to finally experience it firsthand!” 

Franka’s eyes closed as she smiled. “You two are in good hands. But enough of that,” she said, changing the topic, “we’re almost there.” Looking forward, Luke saw the end of the hallway up ahead. He could hear the indistinct chatter of a hundred different conversations happening all at once. The sound grew from a soft trickle to a raucous roar as they rapidly approached the busy area. 

Eventually, the hallway opened up to a massive foyer filled with people of seemingly random professions. They bustled about like ants on a hill. Their movements were seemingly random, but like ants, he was sure every one of them had a purpose. When taken as a whole, each individual was a vital contribution to a larger society that, without the individual, would cease to function as a system altogether. They were like cogs in a machine. Sure, each cog could move independently, but without each other, they might as well have been dysfunctional pinwheels.

“So that’s where everybody was…” Luke thought out loud. “I was wondering why the halls and cafeteria were so empty. Everyone’s out shopping.”

Grani flashed a peace sign. “All part of the plan!”

He chuckled. “So where to?”

“This way! Let’s go!” She grabbed him by his wrist and pulled him out into the open foyer. “Run!” Luke vehemently shook his head as she dragged him along. 

“No! No running!” She released him with a laugh.

Liskarm nodded approvingly. “Running indoors is very dangerous, especially somewhere this busy.”

“I think the dangers we face on the field are slightly more perilous than running indoors, Liskarm.” Franka said, squeezing her finger together to emphasize her statement.

“Exactly, then why take unnecessary risks?”

“Cuz all the cool kids do it?” Luke offered. He was met with a firm glare. “Just saying…” he muttered under his breath.

As they walked amongst the crowd, he felt the sense of claustrophobia swell within him. Of course, there was ample space all around him, but never in his life had he been surrounded by so many people. It was a lot to take in. 

He much preferred the solitary life in the temples to the hustle and bustle of this part of Rhodes. It reminded him of a story the Old Man once told him— The Country Zalak and the City Zalak and he was very much a Country Zalak.

Grani suddenly made a sharp turn as she nimbly weaved between the crowd. Thankfully, Luke was tall enough to keep track of her, otherwise, they would have lost her amongst the sea of people. 

They finally arrived at the storefront. He was rendered speechless for the umpteenth time that day. A glowing sat on top of a terrace that overlooked the entryway. The glowing sign clearly indicated who owned the place. “Closure’s” it read. Unlike the walls and corridors he has seen thus far, the storefront was made entirely of seamless glass windows. Its bright clarity offered an unfettered view of the store’s interior. To call it big would be a severe understatement.

“Holy shit…”

“Language!” Grani chided.

“Sorry.” Luke stared at the bustling business in awe. He had assumed Grani was joking when she called it a department store, but the multi-floored shop was jammed packed with trinkets of all dimensions: clothes, games, electronics, and tools. It seemed as though it really had everything. 

Grani nudged him on the shoulder. “Don’t just stand there with your mouth open. You’re going to swallow a fly! Come on!” She said as she pushed him past the door.

“Wait, you don’t have to push me.” Grani refused to listen and continued to steer him through the store. Luke looked helplessly over his shoulder, silently begging his new friends to intervene. Liskarm and Franka shook their heads with a laugh. He groaned, resigning himself to Grani’s whims. Luke silently hoped that this wouldn’t become a common occurrence.

The two emerged from the store carrying a plastic bag each. Grani had taken the opportunity to purchase snacks for herself while Luke set up delivery times for his furniture. He had to hand it to her, she was a lot stronger than she looked. 

“Are you sure you don’t want me to carry that?” he asked, eyeing the bulging bag in her arms. It almost obscured the entirety of her upper body, leaving only her neck and head exposed.

Grani’s ponytail swayed with her head. “Nope! I got it!” 

“Well, what took you so long?” Luke looked up. Franka was sitting next to Liskarm on a nearby bench, waving a plastic bag. They stood as he and Grani approached. “We were starting to get bored!”

“Were you really?” Luke asked, feeling a tad bit guilty. Liskarm roughly elbowed her partner in between her ribs as though scolding her.

“No. We finished around the same time as you did, but Franka insisted on ‘being first’ as she said.” Franka stuck out her tongue.

“You’re no fun.”

“You’re simply far too childish.”

Franka snorted. “Enough of that.” She walked up to Luke and forced the plastic bag into his free hand. “Tadah!” she cheered. 

Luke stared at the tied bag in his hand with confusion. “Uh…” he droned out, bouncing the bag slightly as though testing the weight. “Yeah, I can carry it for you.”

Franka’s rolling eyes forced him to reconsider. “No, silly. It’s for you. Open it!” 

“Oh.” He untied the bag’s flimsy ears and pulled out a thick, protective jacket similar to the one Amiya had been wearing. 

“Think of it as a welcome gift from the both of us.” Franka said, wrapping an arm around Liskarm’s shoulder who blushed lightly. She coughed awkwardly.

“I may have jumped to conclusions earlier. My apologies, Franka.”

“I’m used to it.”

Luke unfolded the jacket with a shake. Surprisingly, it appeared as though it would fit. “How did you know my size?” 

Franka laughed. “I didn’t.” she admitted with a wink. “It was the largest size available, so I figured, if this doesn’t fit you then nothing will!”

Luke flipped the jacket over. The back side featured a familiar rook and triangle with the words “RHODES ISLAND” written in bold, white lettering. From the feel and look of the print, he knew her present couldn’t have been cheap. “Wow god, I—I don’t know what to say… thank you.”

“There’s more,” Liskarm muttered. He couldn’t help but feel slightly giddy at the prospect of a second gift. Luke draped his new jacket over his shoulder and reached into the bag. True to her words, a folded black shirt sat at the bottom. Its black and yellow design was simple but entertaining. The shirt’s print screamed “Stop OVERTIME Work” in black and yellow with a similarly colored x expunging the word “Overtime”. He chuckled

“It's perfect. Thank you Franka, thank you Liskarm. This really means a lot to me.” Luke carefully folded the clothing back into the bag.

“Don’t mention it!” 

Luke staggered slightly as Grani bumped him with her hips. “Yes, Grani?”

“And my gift to you is a party!” She said, beaming over the large bag. 

He smirked. “I thought all that food was for you?” Grani looked appalled. 

“What? No! Not even I could eat that much!”

“Whatever you say, Grandma.”

“Grandma? Where’d you get that from?” 

Exchanging looks, Franka and Luke grinned. She placed a palm against her cheek, feigning horror. “Oh my, we can’t let Granny walk by herself in the crowd, she could fall.” Grani’s eyes narrowed.

“It’s Grani, not Granny!” She pouted.

Luke allowed the plastic bags to slip around his elbows. He cupped his left hand around his mouth. “Excuse me!” he shouted, waving his right arm like a crossing guard. “Make way, the elderly are coming through.”

“Do I look that old already?” Grani stomped her feet. “Geez! If someone calls me Grandma one more time, I’m going to cry—for real!”

Luke cupped his chin in mock thought. He looked askance at her. “You know, Granny and Grandma mean the same thing? Are you stupid?” 

“You’re stupid!” There was a brief moment of silence before the trio laughed. Liskarm shook her head. A chuckle slipped past her lips. 

“What am I getting myself into?”

Chapter Text

Book I Chapter 4: Absalom, Absalom!

Chapter Text

Book I Chapter 5: Tender is the Night

Luke didn't know when he’d fallen asleep, but he knew he was dreaming. He tossed and turned in his bed as he grappled with a vivid nightmare. Within, he was paralyzed, trapped in the body of a young boy.

He couldn’t see much, which was little comfort when all he could do was watch. What little he could see was dark and horribly fragmented , like peering into the night through a shattered window. An ominous silhouette loomed a dozen feet ahead. It suddenly jerked forward, stumbling to and fro, as though fighting a higher power for control of itself. It made a horrible, guttural noise with each lumbering step. Whether it was a groan or a growl, he didn’t know. 

As it drew closer, Luke’s vision warbled out of focus, then fizzled out entirely. 

When the dream flickered back to life, the figure was much closer than before. There was a newcomer as well: a young girl, standing between himself and the monster, arms outstretched as if to protect him.

Luke…

He tried to warn her. Run, he tried to scream, but nothing came; his body refused to listen. He could only watch in horror as the monster drew ever closer. It bore a set of wicked, razor-sharp claws that shimmered in the light. Now, it moved with intent. 

He screamed, struggled, and lashed out in his mind, all to no avail. He could do nothing as it tore into the girl. It buried its hideous blades in her flesh, stabbing, thrashing, ripping away at her until she was nothing more than a pile of shattered bones and shredded viscera. 

Then, it looked up at him.

The monster lurched forward, crushing the girl’s remains underfoot as it went. Its sudden speed caught him completely by surprise. In an instant, his concern for the girl vanished, replaced by abject terror as the hideous thing bore down upon him, claws raised.

…Luke…

His consciousness was torn from the teen’s body. Disoriented, Luke watched his previous host crumple to the floor. 

“Luke, wake up!” 

Luke bolted upright, his body drenched in sweat. He frantically groped for his head, just in case. Feeling both his it and his sleeping mask firmly in place, he relaxed. “Oh, thank god.” Someone was in his room. Bleary eyed, he could just make out a shadowy outline hovering beside his bed. He groaned, rubbing the remaining sleep from his eyes.

“Grani? What are you doing here? It’s like, four in the morning.” A beam of moonlight caught her face as she leaned forward, highlighting the deep concern plain in her expression. 

“What am I doing here?!” she shouted, causing him to flinch. “You were practically screaming your lungs out!”

“I was? Sorry about that...” 

“What happened?” Luke shook his head. It was only a dream. Nothing she needed to concern herself with. 

“Just a horror movie I watched last night.” he lied smoothly. “Nothing to worry about.” Grani visibly relaxed. She turned around and sat on the foot of his bed, sighing with relief. 

“From now on, you’re forbidden from watching horror movies before bed,” she scolded, looking over her shoulder. “You had me seriously worried…” 

“Ah, uh… Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize!”

“…Sorry?”

“Ugh…”

“So…” His eyes darted around his room, looking for something— anything —to talk about. He’d been living at Rhodes Island for the better part of a week, and if he’d learned anything in that time, it would be that he sucked at holding a conversation. 

His eyes landed on Grani’s bright pajamas. A simple shirt and shorts, they were colored a faded sky blue and sprinkled with small embroideries depicting various types of food. His favorite was the cute green apple sewn into her breast pocket. He quickly averted his gaze. Grani was more developed than he was led to believe. 

Luke cleared his throat. “That’s a uh… a cute apple.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

You absolute jackass? He internally admonished himself. Blushing, Luke pointed to the green apple. 

Grani smiled, tucking strands of loose hair behind her ear. “Thanks. It’s a present from my mother.” She pointed to her face. “I see you sleep with a mask. At least this one’s made of fabric. I couldn’t imagine sleeping with the porcelain one on.”

Luke chuckled nervously. Where’s Franka when you need her? Her playful attitude shifted the pressure away from him in social situations. With her around, Luke felt like he could sit back and let her steer the conversation. “At home, I rarely wore a mask, but back then, you know, I didn’t have to worry about prying eyes or anything.” Luke paused as unpleasant memories began to resurface. “For the most part…” he finished, under his breath. 

He shook his head, dismissing the thought. Dwelling on the past wouldn’t change a thing.

“You don’t trust me?” Grani asked, her equine ears pressed against her head and lips upturned. A pang of guilt shot through his chest. 

“I didn’t mean it like that, Grani…” Luke said with an apologetic tone, “but I’ve only known you for a week. Put yourself in my shoes: I don’t think you’d be comfortable sharing your secrets with me…”

She laughed and slugged him, playfully, in the shoulder. “I’m just kidding. I don’t mind. As long as they aren’t harmful, your secrets are yours to keep.” 

Luke rubbed his shoulder. “Thanks, Grani.” She nodded, folding her hands in her lap. They sat for a while in comfortable silence. Luke gazed out his window and up at the moon, contemplating the nightmare she’d roused him from

He hadn’t recognized anyone in his dream. In a twisted sense, he felt relieved. He’d heard somewhere that the mind couldn’t invent new faces and instead reused those the dreamer had seen before. He’d seen thousands of faces, visitors coming and going from the temple. If he didn’t recognize the people in the dream, then he didn’t know them, right? Luke frowned. He had a nagging feeling that he hadn’t seen the last of that dream…

“Not going back to sleep?” 

Luke reluctantly tore his attention from the passing wastelands. “Maybe in a bit. How about you?”

“Meh, if you’re staying up, I’ll stay up.”

Luke slipped out from under his covers and tossed a pillow towards Grani. “Here, use this.” He leaned his back against the wall and angled himself to get a better view of the window.

Grani mirrored his position, using the pillow as lumbar support. She gazed out into the night and sighed. “Terra looks so peaceful, doesn’t it?”

There was something beautiful about Terra’s barren landscape. It was monotonous—unchanging. He could travel a thousand miles and the view he saw there would be the same as the one he saw now. He had no choice. What he saw was what he got. “That’s the beauty of it: Terra reveals what it wants to reveal, liberating you from the burden of choice.”

“Those are big words, coming from you.”

“Oof.”

Grani snorted. Her shoulders shook with barely-contained laughter. Looking away, she held out a hand, good-naturedly motioning him to stop. “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t be laughing, but what was that?”

“I mean, you did insult me.”

“Yeah, but who just says that?”

“What else am I supposed to say?” 

Grani leaned back against the wall. “I don’t know, but definitely not that.”

“Then I’ll be sure to…” Luke stretched as he yawned, “say it whenever I can.”

“Heh, you sounded like a cat.”

“Shaddup,” Luke mumbled. He rested his head against the window. The cool glass was ice against his skin—like a sip of water after a breath mint. It was refreshing. The rumble of the landship’s monstrous engines soothed his anxious mind and lulled him into a state of sweet torpor. His eyelids fluttered, then closed as sleep took hold of him once again. His last sight was of Grani resting her chin on the palm of her hand, starting out into the night.

Later that morning, Luke awoke to incessant knocking on his door. He slowly pushed off the wall, neck aching from sleeping against it, and nearly kicked Grani in the face. Sometime during the night, she had fallen asleep as well; her face was buried in his pillow at the opposite end of his bed, her legs dangling over its edge. 

The knocking resumed. “Good morning, you two! It’s your favorite operators, Liska and Frankarm!” 

“Franka!” ‘Liska’ cried.

Grani rolled over with a groan. Her long silver hair covered her face. “Ugh… tell them to go away…”

“Bold of them to assume that we’re awake…” Luke grumbled as he dragged himself out of bed, scratching his messy bed head . Guess I can rule out the midnight cow theory.

He staggered across the room, kicking aside dirty laundry as he went. With a sigh, Luke pushed the door release button and put on his best half-awake smile. “Morning. What’s with the wake-up call?” 

Franka and Liskarm blinked at him owlishly. Luke looked down and registered his disheveled appearance. “Oh, sorry about that. I just woke up.”

Franka reached up and pulled on one of his cowlicks. “Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” 

He lazily brushed her hand aside. “Please don’t. What're you doing here?”

Franka smiled as Grani, looking equally groggy, appeared next to him. “Well, you see… Last night, we happened to receive a new mission and we thought —” 

Liskarm interrupted her with a cough.

Rolling her eyes, Franka continued, “ I thought that this would be a great opportunity to get your feet wet!”

A bubble of excitement pushed the morning haze from Luke’s mind. He was thrilled at the prospect of leaving the landship, but didn’t want to show it. “Oh? What kind of mission?”

“It’s a simple bodyguard detail. Nothing too challenging. Just leave the tough work to us! Think of this as a field trip!”

Luke shrugged, trying to play it cool. “I mean, if Grani’s alright with that then, why not? What do you say?” 

Grani was markedly more liberal with her excitement. “Sure, sounds fun!”

Franka clapped excitedly. “Perfect! You’ll need to pack about two weeks’ worth of clothing, toiletries, and your ID’s.”

“My ID?” Luke questioned. 

“Well, you can’t enter another country without proper identification, can you?”

“Fair point.”

Liskarm cleared her throat. “We’re meeting our client in Lungmen at 11:00 AM, so we have to leave the landship no later than 9:00. Meet us in Garage 1A by 8:30. Two hours should provide ample time to pack. Any questions?”

Grani and Luke looked at one another, then back again. They shook their heads. Liskarm, satisfied, turned on a dime and strode towards the elevator. Mid-way, she stopped, and glanced over her shoulder at Luke. “And clean up your room.”

Luke wilted, his excitement gone as quickly as it had come. She had put him through a harsh regimen during their week of basic training, and her parting shot really hadn’t helped his mood. He hung his head with a sigh. 

Franka watched with a sad smile and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Don’t let her get to you. She’s rough around the edges, but she means well. She’s a good person.”

“I know…” he muttered weakly, “but even a good person has people they hate.” He appreciated Franka’s words, but if Liskarm was a nice person, then he must have really messed up. 

Franka’s smile faltered. “I wouldn’t say she hates you…”

“Heh. Could’ve fooled me.”

Grani looked on with concern. She tugged on Luke’s nightshirt. “Let’s get packing. I’m sure Franka has to prepare as well.”

Franka nodded. “Yep. We’ll see you at 8:30.” Luke caught a glimpse of her, grabbing Liskarm by the shoulder and leaning in as the elevator doors slid shut behind them. He couldn’t help but wonder what.

Grani frowned up at him. “You okay?” 

Luke nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit tired.” He took a deep breath, ran a hand through his matted hair, and walked toward the closet. “Nevermind that. Let’s get packing.”

Luke opened the door and revealed, to Grani’s dismay, a mound of clothing. He crouched down and yanked one of his suitcases from beneath the pile, causing it to collapse with a sad thump. He slid it across the floor, where it slowly spun to a stop by the foot of his bed.

Grani looked disdainfully at the mess he had created. “What’s the point in buying furniture if you aren’t going to use it?” she asked, pointing to the dresser inside his closet.

“I do use it. I put all my clean clothing inside,” he replied distractedly, busy rummaging through the base of Mount Polyester. He pulled out a few pairs of socks and tossed them over his shoulder. “Eventually.”

Grani balked. “They’re going to get wrinkled if you leave them like that!”

“And? It’s not like I’m trying to impress anyone,” he explained while searching for spare pajamas. “Besides, why should I be in a rush to put them away? I’m just going to use them again.”

Grani threw her arms in the air, vaguely disgusted. “Ugh, whatever.” She smacked him lightly with her tail as she turned toward her room. “I’m going to pack. I’ll see you in a bit.”

“See ya,” Luke said. He folded his spare pajamas and tossed them onto his bed. Shirts and pants…  

He stepped over the pile of clothing to where the dresser stood, and pulled the top drawer open. It was empty. Luke scratched his head. Even though he had organized the drawers himself, he still got them mixed up. He was thankful he had bought the model with four drawers instead of six. 

After a few minutes of searching, Luke found the shirts he was looking for. Seven should do. It’s not like I’ll be wearing these 24/7.

He crouched down and opened another drawer. He haphazardly shoved wrinkled pairs of shorts aside in search of longer pants. Luke despised shorts. They were too revealing, and it boggled his mind how people could wear them in public. After a few more minutes, he’d scrounged up a half-dozen pairs of slacks.

Satisfied, Luke walked over to his bed and stuffed everything into the suitcase. It took some effort to cram it all in. More, he thought, than if he’d bothered to fold any of it.

He looked back at the remaining drawer. Damn, I forgot underwear. Underwear… maybe seven?

“Grani?” 

“Yeah?” she answered from her room.

“How many changes of underwear should I bring? I think I could probably live with six if I flip them inside out…” He heard a loud thump, followed by frantic footsteps.

Grani burst into his room. “Gah! Stop! Enough!” she shouted, shoving him aside. He landed on his hands and knees. “I’ll do it! I’ll do the packing!” Grani hauled the suitcase onto his bed and dumped out the contents. A mess of wrinkled clothing spilled out onto his unmade sheets. 

Luke raised a hand in protest. “Hey, what the hell! I spent—”

“What is this?!” Grani asked, horrified at the mangled fabric. “You call this folded ?”

Luke pushed himself to his feet and crossed his arms. “Yeah? I mean, no, not really, but who cares?” He didn’t see the problem. People folded clothing to save space. So what if hiswere messy? As long as they all fit in the suitcase, his job was done.

Grani rummaged through the clothing he had packed. She held up his black pajamas. “One pair of pajamas? For two weeks ?” she cried.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “If you think about it, you only wear pajamas when you sleep. And if you only wear pajamas to bed after showering, then it’s clean. Great idea, right?” She shrugged his arm away, roughly, and shot him a withering look. Luke suddenly felt like there was a fault in his reasoning.

She pulled at her hair in distress. “What?! No! I—why are there only seven pairs of pants?”

Luke shrugged. “Because it’s not like I’m going to be wearing them all day. I’ll only wear them when we go out. That’s about half a day, so I can wear each article of clothing at least twice.” That had to make sense. Even Grani had to see the wisdom in his reasoning.

Apparently, she didn’t, if the twitch in her eye meant anything. “That’s not how it works!” Grani cried as she re-folded his clothing. “Don’t tell me you only packed seven shirts…” 

Luke nodded slowly. He didn’t like where this was going.

Grani let out a long sigh. “Okay, here’s what we’ll do: I’ll tell you what to grab and I want you to bring it to me. I’ll handle the rest. Okay?”

“Sounds good,” Luke said as he shuffled over to his closet. He would listen to her, for now. She never said he had to actually wear the extra clothing.

“First, seven pairs of pants…” Luke pulled down the mound of clothing, purposely seeking out pants that looked similar. If Grani couldn’t tell the difference between his chosen garments, then she wouldn’t know he was re-wearing them. He returned carrying seven pairs of black cargo pants. 

Grani folded them with a huff. “If you had them in the first place, then why didn’t you pack them?”

“Because I hate doing laundry.”

She rolled her eyes. “Maybe there’s some truth to what Liskarm said.”

Luke jabbed an angry finger at the door. “Hey! Liskarm’s out to get me, and you know it.” 

“Sure…” she replied, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Now, seven more shirts, and seven more pairs of socks.”

“Ugh.” Grumbling, Luke rummaged through his drawers. He unfolded several shirts to look at their designs. 

Too loud. Too boring. Too fancy. With each rejection, he tossed the unfolded shirt back into the drawer. He was thankful Grani couldn’t see what he was doing; if she could, she’d  probably chew him out. In the end, he decided on four black and three white shirts, each with a simple phrase or design. Thankfully, all his socks were plain black, sparing him the agony of choosing which to bring. He brought them over to Grani.

“There. See? That wasn’t so bad, was it?” she asked as she packed away the remaining clothing. “All that’s left are fourteen- ” she made a point of emphasizing the number- “ pairs of underwear. I trust you can do that, right?”

“Yep.” 

Grani didn't seem entirely convinced, if her narrowed eyes were anything to go by. She stood and, keeping an eye on him, slowly returned to her room.

When he was sure she wouldn’t return, Luke tossed his undergarments into the suitcase. “I’ll pack at least seven,” he muttered under his breath.

“I heard that!” Luke flinched at the unexpected reply. “Right, fourteen, I meant fourteen!” he said, and hurriedly grabbed another handful of boxers from the drawer. He shoved the whole lot, unfolded, into his suitcase, then hastily changed masks, slipping on the porcelain and packing away the cloth in a panic. The last thing he wanted was for Grani to check on his progress and find him changing. Finally done,  he zipped the suitcase shut, lifted it from his bed, and set it gently on the floor. 

He groaned. “Post-mission laundry is gonna suck so hard. ”

After washing up and grabbing a quick breakfast, Luke and Grani made their way to garage A1, luggage in tow. 

By the time they arrived, Franka and Liskarm were already waiting, coversing idly beside their own luggage. Franka’s lupine ears twitched as she looked in their direction. I guess those ears do work.

“Luke, Grani! Over here!” she shouted with a wave. Liskarm acknowledged them with a curt nod as they approached. 

Franka eyed their wheeled suitcases. “Got everything?” she asked.

Luke patted himself down, checking his Rhodes Island jacket for the essentials. Finding everything in its proper place, he nodded. “Yep.” 

“We better,” Grani said, with a pointed glare at Luke.

“Good!” 

Liskarm pulled her phone from her jacket pocket. “Normally, we have to find our own transportation, but thankfully we were able to secure a ride with a couple of other operators headed for Lungmen.”

Luke frowned. Something about her statement rang a bell.

“What’s wrong?” Grani asked.

He shook his head. “It’s nothing. Just… for some reason, I can’t shake this feeling of apprehen—”  

“Hi, hi!” He stiffened as a familiar voice echoed around the garage. “Remember me? It’s been so long!”

A terrible nagging feeling nipped at his chest as it came to him . “Oh dear god, no.”

“Exusiai, it’s been a week,” Texas said, munching on a stick of chocolate.

“Still pretty long if you ask me.” The two Penguin Logistics operators approached from behind and stood next to Grani. “Thanks for taking our mission!”

“Oh, it was your mission? Are we protecting you?” she asked, surprised.

Exusiai’s smile was blinding. “Well, more or less, but I’m not the one in need of protection.”

Grani tilted her head in confusion. “Then who is?”

The angel stuck out her tongue. “That’s a secret!”

Texas cut her off. “And for good reason too. We’ll talk about it once we arrive in Lungmen.” She stalked off towards their white van. “Come on. The earlier we arrive, the better.” 

Exusiai sang as she chased after her with a skip in her step. “Going home, going home, I am going home!” 

Luke leaned towards Grani. “Someone seems excited,” he whispered. 

“Wouldn’t you be?” 

He shrugged. “I guess.” 

The four operators trailed after Texas and Exusiai in awkward silence. Luke made sure to keep both Franka and Grani between him and Liskarm at all times. He could feel the tension between them, and didn’t feel like confronting her any time soon. 

As they approached the van, Luke heard a familiar chime as Texas unlocked the vehicle. She was standing by the driver's door. “I’ll drive.”

Exusiai waved an excited hand in the air. “I call shotgun!” 

“Liska and I will share the middle row,” Franka said.

“That means Luke and Grani will sit in the back,” Liskarm said, pointing to the rear seats. “Before that, let’s load the van. Luke, come help me.”

Luke sighed. So much for avoiding her. He trudged around the van as Exusiai opened the rear doors. 

“You know the drill!” she said with a smile. 

Luke nodded, avoiding eye contact. He didn’t hate her; in fact, it was quite the opposite. Exusiai was fun to be around, and she easily carried a conversation. Having not spoken with her in a week, though, and very little then, Luke felt like they were strangers again. 

Shaking his head, he lifted his suitcase into the trunk and dropped his swords on top of it. Liskarm pushed them deeper to make room for Grani’s baggage.

“Thanks, Luke,” Grani said as she handed him her suitcase and pike.

“Yep.”

Grani was followed by Franka, who gave him a wink as she handed off her luggage. “It’s nice having a bellboy for once. Usually it’s just us girls on BSW missions.”

Luke chuckled at her tease. “If you're going to do all the hard work, I might as well make myself useful.”

Franka laughed. “Ain’t that the truth.”

Finally, it was time to load Liskarm’s baggage. He reached out to lift the suitcase, but her slender hand stopped him. “I got it, just get in.”

Luke didn’t need to be told twice. He scurried away and hopped into the van, seating himself in the third row next to Grani. He waited for the trunk to close before he spoke. “That was stressful,” he said, his eyes following Liskarm around the van. She pulled open the sliding side door and climbed in.

“I can imagine,” Grani whispered back.

Texas cranked the ignition. “Everyone ready?” she asked. She received a chorus of positive responses. “Alright, let’s go.” 

Luke felt a vibration from within his jacket. He pulled out his phone, read the display, and paled. 

Septimus.

“Oh, shit.”

Grani turned to look at him. “What? Did you forget something?”

“Well, kinda.” 

She peeked over his shoulder. “Who is it?”

“My old man.” He began to sweat as panic set in. “I forgot to call him.”

“When were you supposed to call him?”

“A week ago…”

Chapter Text

Book I Chapter VI: The Divine Comedy

Luke had a dilemma.

He knew he couldn’t ignore the call from Septimus, not unless he wanted to risk further irritating his adopted father. However, he also wanted to avoid whatever sadistic punishment the old coot had in mind. He wiped his sweaty palms against the smooth fabric of his cargo pants. 

The last time he had ignored Septimus, the old man had gathered the resident monks in the temple’s main courtyard and forced him to recite classical poetry, wearing nothing but a loincloth. He shuddered at the memory. Hoping to avoid a similar incident, he reluctantly answered the call.

He immediately regretted his decision.

“You brat!” the old man hollered through the phone, rattling his eardrums. Luke flinched, pulling the phone away from his ear. Would it kill him to speak softer? I mean, I did forget to call, but still…

“I thought I told you to call me when things settled down?” 

Grani, amused, muffled a short giggle. Luke’s heart caught in his throat. He held a finger to his lips in an attempt to shut her up, but it was too little, too late. Septimus had already heard. 

“Was that a laugh?” he asked aggressively. “Who’s there with you? Where are you? Put me on speaker.”

A bead of sweat dripped down his temple. “No, I uh… I don't think that’s necessary,” Luke mumbled.

“Did I stutter, boy? ”

He bit the inside of his cheek. Shouldn’t have answered the door this morning. He braced himself for the oncoming storm and tapped the screen.

“Okay, you’re—”

“Hello? Hello!” Septimus yelled, interrupting him. “Damn hearing aids.”

What hearing aids?! Luke gurgled out a groan as embarrassment welled up inside him. He knew damn well that Septimus could hear perfectly fine, in spite of his age. The old man was acting up on purpose. Luke side-eyed Franka, who was clearly struggling to hold in her amusement. At his glance, a titter slipped past her lips. 

“Who’s there? Is this thing on?” A series of dull thunks came from the speaker, as Septimus smacked the receiver against his palm. “Just gotta give it a couple of good whacks,” Septimus mumbled to himself. 

“For Heaven’s sake, Gramps! Get on with it—ah, shit!” Luke cursed as the van drove over a bump, causing him to bite his tongue. 

“Whozzat? Are you in a brothel?!” 

Luke choked. Am I in a what?! 

Whatever restraint Grani had left crumbled in an instant. She pitched forward in her seat, wheezing hysterically, tears sprouting from the corners of her eyes. Franka and Exusiai were no better; even Liskarm and Texas spared a few chuckles. The whole damn van was filled with a chorus of laughs, chuckles, and giggles, and Luke knew Septimus would never let him live it down. He should’ve known the old bastard wouldn’t hesitate to make a fool of him, even in front of people he’d only just gotten to know. More than anything, he wished he hadn’t been so damn lazy about a simple phone call.  

“Well? Are you?” Septimus asked.

Luke gagged. “What?! No, I—”

Septimus clucked with disappointment. “I know you have a hard time holding it in, with all the wet dreams and what-not, but try to control yourself, kid.”

“With the what ?!” Grani managed to squeak between bouts of laughter and gasps for air.

Luke felt a flush crawling up his neck. He was well beyond simple embarrassment; now, he was absolutely mortified. “He’s lying! I swear! Gramps, tell them you’re lying!” he begged desperately, his voice pitched far higher than normal.

His pleas fell on deaf ears. “Consider it revenge for ignoring me for all week. Gahaha!”

That’s not a denial! Luke sobbed internally. The good reputation he had painstakingly forged over a week, gone in an instant, all for the amusement of a decrepit sadist. He groaned in despair. “What do you want…?”

“Just checking if you’re still alive.”

“I am, and I’m rather regretting it right now.”

“Which means you’re still alive.” Septimus paused briefly before chuckling warmly. “It sounds like you found some friends. How are things?”

Luke wanted nothing more than to hang up, but he knew that would only make things worse. If this was the Old Man’s revenge for a week of absence, interrupting the call would only embolden him, make him double down.

“Fine, I guess? Would’ve been better if you had never called,” he trailed off, then huffed. “Currently on my way to Lungmen to observe my trainers on a mission.” 

Septimus whistled in appreciation. “First week and already heading out on a mission.”

“Yep.”

Please hang up, please hang up. Luke chanted mentally, hoping his thoughts would somehow reach Higashi. They didn’t.

“Well? Are you going to introduce me to your friends or what?” Septimus demanded.

Luke pulled a face. He couldn’t believe Septimus had the gall to ask. “After what you just did? Hell no!”

Septimus grunted. “Ah come on, kid. Don’t be like that. Start off with the loud one.” 

Luke glanced towards the mess that was Grani. Her visor had fallen onto her lap, and loose strands of hair were sticking out at odd angles. Wheezing and tomato-faced, Grani looked as though she had just run a marathon.

“I’m sorry sir, I—” was all she managed to squeak out before tumbling into another fit of laughter. 

Luke would have socked her in the gut if she wasn’t so gosh darn adorable. It would be morally wrong, like kicking a puppy, or stealing candy from a baby. You just don’t do that.

Septimus chuckled. “Alright, we can save the introductions for later. Let’s get down to business. I need to speak with Exusiai.”

Luke blinked in surprise. What the… He looked over his shoulder through the rear window, half expecting to see the Old Man tailing close behind. He caught Exusiai snickering as he faced forward. “How’d you know she was here?”

“Connections!” Septimus exclaimed, as if it were the most obvious thing. “What good are they if you don’t use them? I knew you were heading out this morning. I even knew when you’d all be piling into that van, if you catch my drift.” 

Luke was baffled by the influence Septimus held, doubly so by the ways he chose to use it. It sometimes felt like the old bastard personally knew the entirety of Terra, and yet, here he was using it to embarrass his adopted son. Luke gently tossed the phone across the van, into Exusiai’s waiting hands. 

She caught the phone with a smile. “Hello again, mister!” 

“My second favorite Angel!” Septimus boomed. “How’s the Big E?”

Luke rolled his eyes at the thought of the immortal penguin. That bastard. To say that he hated the Emperor would be an overstatement, but as an old family friend, the infamous rapper had given Luke his fair share of grief over the years.

Exusiai hummed. “The boss? Well, I haven’t seen him since we accepted your mission, but knowing him, he’s probably fine!”

“Great. Tell him to be a good godfather for once and watch over the kid, alright?”

That was news to him. Luke balked, horrified at the prospect. “He’s my what?! ” Never in a thousand years would he have thought the Emperor was his godparent. Though he supposed that Septimus, of all people, would see the Emperor as a fitting role model. Luke shuddered as memories of his “internship” with the penguin resurfaced.

The Emperor held out a flipper and shouted expectantly, “Lil’ man! Where’s my OJ?”

He waddled into the room, pushing Luke with his head. “Yo, Sevens check it. This shit’s fire.” The penguin smacked him over the head. “Aye, boy, make that noise again!”

Emperor waved lil’ homie in front of his face. “I’m finna smack you upside the head if ya’ don’t shape up, lil’ man.”

“Didn’t I tell you when you left?” the Old Man asked, pulling Luke from his reverie.

He was fairly sure that he would have remembered something like that. “Not at all!”

“Huh,” Septimus hummed, unconcernedly, and moved on. “‘Kay, whatever, the—.”

“Aren’t you going to explain?!” Luke cried, interrupting him. He very much wanted to know how and why he had a penguin for a godfather, but Septimus brushed it aside. 

“Too old, can’t hear. You got a partner, right? The old bag told me all about it, so there’s no use in lying. Let me speak to them.” Realizing that he wouldn’t be getting his way, Luke reluctantly handed his phone to Grani, who accepted it with a smile. 

“Hello! My name is Grani—Luke’s partner and I guess I’m also his roommate?”

“I’m sorry,” Septimus’s tone was somber and dramatic, as if Grani had instead announced her own demise. Luke rolled his eyes.

An awkward smile crept across Grani’s face. She shook her head. “No, it’s fine, really. He’s just…” 

She paused, carefully considering her choice of words. “Unique.”

“Hmm… you lucked out, kid. I think you caught yourself a good one.”

“I don’t know about that,” Luke grumbled to himself. He couldn’t so much as breathe in Grani’s presence without her harping on about him doing something wrong. She was always there, it seemed, lurking just over his shoulder, ready to pounce on his slightest misstep.

“I’m sorry, am I missing something?” Liskarm asked, clearly having caught what should’ve been kept under his breath.

“Nothing!” Luke shouted, snatching his phone back. While he didn’t care if people learned about his efficient approach to laundry, he definitely didn’t want people finding out that Grani had essentially mothered him while packing. He figured his reputation had already suffered enough over the course of the conversation, without that little detail making it into the mix.

“So… how are things on your end?” Luke chuckled nervously as Liskarm’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.

“Oh! Pretty good. Received news that a certain someone cried while receiving an injection.” Luke cringed at the thought, and at the fact that Septimus somehow knew about it. “Besides that, nothing much. I just expect a call after your mission, capiche?”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.” He wasn’t that irresponsible, he thought for a moment, then recalled how he’d landed himself in this mess in the first place. Perhaps he was that irresponsible.

Septimus continued. “Take me off speaker phone.” 

Luke didn’t need to be told twice. He’d choked down enough embarrassment already. “What’s up?” he asked.

The old man took a deep breath. “Luke, pay very close attention to what I’m about to tell you.” 

Luke’s throat suddenly felt dry. A serious Septimus was never a good sign. He swallowed thickly. “Alright.”

“I know you’re excited to leave, but I want you to remember: there’s more to Terra than Higashi. Once you cross that border and leave her safety, you’ll be all on your own.”

Luke chuckled awkwardly. He wasn’t used to hearing Septimus speak so seriously, and he’d expected much worse. “Aw, come on, gramps. I—”

“This isn’t a game, Lucius.” He heard uncertainty in his adopted father’s voice. He slouched back in his seat, beginning to grasp the very real prospect of danger. “You can’t quit and reload a save file if something goes wrong. You have one chance, and one chance only. 

“I’ve shielded you from the nastier parts of Terra for six years. Now that you’ve left home to explore the world, you’ll start to see how horrific it can really be. You’ll see things you don’t like, things that aren’t fair, things you won’t even understand.. But no matter what, you must tread carefully. Stepping on the wrong toes is a death sentence out there.”

“Can’t I just call you?”

“No. Telephones are still a new invention, so an international network doesn’t exist yet. Thankfully, Higashi and Yan share a network. As long as you’re within its borders, you’ll be fine, but once you leave, I’ll have no way of contacting you aside from messengers.” No wonder Septimus was so upset Luke had forgotten to call—it was his last chance to do so. “Stay on your toes. You may see or feel things that defy common sense, but don’t panic. Things aren’t always as they seem.”

That struck Luke as particularly cryptic. It felt like the old man was hiding something. “Gramps, what’re you talking about? You’re freaking me out.”

“Just do what I say and don’t go around sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. The less you’re noticed, the better. And lastly: whatever you do, do not go to Iberia. In fact, stay as far as you can from anywhere and anything even remotely associated with Iberia.”

“Why? What’s wrong with Iberia?”

“The less you know, the better. I’ve done my best to protect you, but even I can only do so much now that you’re out in the world. And I want you to listen to every word Big E says. If he tells you to jump, you better jump, got it?”

Luke nodded to himself. “Got it…”

“Alright.” In an instant, Septimus was back to his usual laid-back self, as though the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. “Now have fun traveling the world and killing foreigners, but don’t piss your pants!”

“I don’t—” 

The phone beeped. “Shit.” He hung up.

“What’d he say?” Grani asked, tugging on his sleeve.

Liskarm crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “The fact that he asked to be taken off speaker phone suggests that he wanted it to be kept between Luke and himself, Grani.”

Grani flinched. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.” 

Luke waved away her concerns. “Don’t worry about it. Just some family stuff…” He leaned back with an exhausted sign and let his seatbelt cradle his head. He gazed out the window, watching the desert fly by. 

One rock, two rocks, three rocks…

Luke couldn’t wait until they arrived in Lungmen. He longed to see something other than an endless ocean of sand, dirt, and rock. Infrequent, towering spires of originium provided some contrast, but not much. However, they did make him wonder how they managed to get all the way out here, in the middle of nowhere. 

Suddenly, Franka giggled mischievously. “So, what was that about wet dreams?”

Luke screwed his eyes shut with a groan. Of course, she couldn’t just let one go. Just his luck. “That rat-assed bastard… Don’t listen to a single word he says. It’s all bullshit!”

Grani pinched his arm, and he flinched. “Language!” she shouted, though she appeared more amused than upset. 

Exusiai leaned over, looking back at him from the front seat with a smug grin. “Were you coveting thy neighbor's wife, Luke? Maybe that’s why you're fallen.”

Grani and Franka exhaled sharply in amusement. Liskarm shook her head, hiding her face from view. 

Luke wasn’t fooled. He couldn’t see her face, sure, but her shaking shoulders told him everything he needed to know. Luke flushed up a storm. “As if!” he spat. “I lived in a temple, Exusiai. My closest neighbors were flying squirrel-batteries, foxes, and goats!” 

Exusiai wiggled a crimson eyebrow. 

Bile crept up Luke’s throat. “What?! No! Absolutely not!” He shuddered at the decidedly repulsive thought of such a thing.

Exusiai pressed the assault. “Well, if not the animals, then what about the other people living there…?” 

“They’re all dudes!”

Texas glanced up through the rear view mirror. “I mean, sodomy’s supposed to be a sin as well, is it not?” she offered, with the barest hint of a grin. 

Luke gaped. Even Texas was getting in on it. Even Texas, who he’d never seen smile, or laugh, who seldom said anything at all, couldn’t resist jumping on the dogpile.

Grani slapped him on the back, hiccuping as she laughed.“It’s— hic— like this with you everyday! I’m going to— hic— die at this rate!” she cried, clutching her stomach.

“It’s not my fault!”

“Oh my,” Franka gasped in faux surprise, “perhaps we should add attempted murde r to the list of reasons.”

A single titter slipped past Liskarm’s defenses. Sensing an opportunity, Franka leaned towards her partner with a devious grin. “What was that you hated… Slothfulness?” she whispered loudly.

That did it. Liskarm’s chest heaved as she burst out laughing, no longer able to maintain anything resembling composure. She leaned back, chuckling and smiling like she had not a care in the world. 

If only she didn’t hate me, Luke thought to himself with a shake of his head. 

Grani threw her back against his body. “I—I can’t. Oh my god, I think I’m going to—” The Kuranta retched suddenly, startling him.

That’s not good.

“Ohhhh Okay, guys. I think that’s enough joking around,” Luke said. “Grani’s actually dying.” 

She pulled away, placing a hand on his shoulder to support herself. “I’m fine.” The following hiccup did nothing to reassure him.

Exusiai shrugged. “I think it’s okay. If she dies, we’ll send her remains to a Victorian glue factory.” 

Grani choked out a series of rasping coughs, no longer able to laugh properly. “I hate,” she wheezed, “you all.” 

Luke rubbed her back. “Take it easy,” he said, secretly thankful something had brought his torture to an end. “Has anyone got some water?”

Texas and Exusiai shared a look. The Siracusan shook her head. Chuckling, Exusiai looked back at them, scratching her temple sheepishly. “Aha… I knew we forgot something.” 

Luke sighed as he continued to rub Grani’s back. This is going to be a long drive…

To his pleasant surprise, Texas made short work of the remaining distance. Before he knew it, she was already approaching one of Lungmen’s several gates. Luke supposed it made sense, considering Rhodes Island had been traveling towards Lungmen for the better part of a week. The landship must’ve traveled farther than he thought.

Thank heavens for that, Luke thought to himself, eager to put the wastelands behind him. There was nothing worse than sand, dust, and Originium spires. 

“Welcome to Lungmen,” Texas muttered sarcastically as they pulled up to a checkpoint. 

Curious, Luke looked outside, and noticed a few officers milling about the large station. Most of them were checking the cargo of stopped vehicles; the remaining few were sitting around drinking and chatting. 

He watched with bated breath as Texas rolled down her window. “Morning, officer.” 

“You again?” the officer asked. “I certainly hope you aren’t transporting contraband.” The officer’s voice was distinctly feminine, but had a certain subtle strength that commanded respect.

Texas’s response was curt and reserved. “Even if we were, we wouldn’t know. You know we don’t pry into our clients' business.”

The officer grunted disapprovingly. “So you always claim.” 

Luke craned his neck around the seat in front of him, hoping to get a better view of the commotion. He choked.

The officer’s paradoxical beauty was mesmerizing. Her expression was firm and unforgiving as carved stone, but her features were smooth like porcelain, glimmering in the morning sun.

Her striking blue hair shined with a silken luster. She had the kind of simple radiance that felt intoxicating: like a cold pillow with a fresh cover. Her long locks were gathered in a pair of low hanging pigtails. They felt odd, almost childish, completely mismatched with her severe demeanor. Thankfully, she was too busy writing on a data pad to notice him ogling her. 

As though reading Luke’s mind, she looked up suddenly. Her shocking orange eyes briefly met his own. He hunched over in a panic, trying to hide behind Liskarm’s seat, but he was too large for that to even partially work. He felt his heart skip a beat. The jig was up.

The officer frowned and pointed towards him with her stylus, no doubt suspicious of his bizarre little performance. “Who’s that?” she demanded.

“No one. Don’t worry about him,” Texas replied, snidely.

In that moment, Luke wanted nothing more than to wrap his hands around Texas’s neck and throttle her. She could hardly have made him look more suspicious if she tried. Hell, maybe she was trying. He wouldn’t be surprised if the officer denied them entry into the city.

The young officer’s expression deepened from frown to outright scowl, clearly dissatisfied with Texas’s snarky attitude. Luke wrung his hands, palms sweating, heart racing.

“Tell him to get out.” 

Dammit, Texas…

Chapter Text

Book I Chapter 7: Lungmen Blues

“Tell him to get out.” 

Unsurprisingly, dodgy masks and dodgy actions don’t play well with the law. The thought might’ve crossed Luke’s mind, had he not been thoroughly preoccupied trying to avoid shitting himself. 

Texas sighed. She glanced over her shoulder and jerked a flippant thumb at the officer. “You heard her,” she said.

“But I didn’t do anything!” Luke protested, voice noticeably more shrill than usual. Had he the presence of mind to think on it, he might’ve appreciated the bitter irony of the situation. Only a short while ago, he desperately denied Septimus’ lurid accusations of adolescent… vigor , yet here he was, being ordered out of the car for ogling a customs officer. 

“Sorry, can’t disobey the LGD. That’s a crime.” 

He deflated like a popped balloon. His nervous energy vanished as quickly as it’d come, replaced with gut-churning fear. His first day outside Higashi, and he’d already found trouble with the law. At the rate he was going, he wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up quickly forgotten, left to rot in some godforsaken prison.

Grani placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’m sure it’ll be fine. As long as you follow her instructions, she has no reason to arrest you—you haven’t done anything that would warrant that, yet.”

He smiled weakly, thankful for her encouragement. As a former officer herself, Grani would surely have some insight, even if she’d served half a world away from Lungmen. 

Let’s get this over with, Luke thought, unbuckling himself with a huff. He rose to his feet, hunching over to avoid the van’s roof, and squeezed himself through the narrow space between Franka’s seat and the door. He reached for the handle, but a soft grip around his wrist stopped him. 

Franka gave him a reassuring smile. “I know that officer. She’s a total straight edge, so don’t worry,” she said.

Even Liskarm appeared concerned. “Just don’t do anything stupid. She’s temperamental, but not unreasonable.”

Luke nodded, opened the sliding door, and hopped out onto the dirt below. The sudden change in environment was jarring, and not at all pleasant. The van had been cool, dry, and comfortable, but the outside air was hot and muggy—an absolute sweat trap. 

Luke shuffled around the rear of the vehicle, rather than the front, a meaningless delay of the inevitable. He kicked aimlessly at a stone, wondering how much trouble he was in. Nothing to do now but find out, he supposed, as he rounded the van to face the irate officer.

He was surprised to see the officer was quite short, much shorter than he’d thought. Horns included, she was a good head shorter than him—which, remarkably, did nothing to detract from her intimidating aura. She stood there, leaning on one leg, staring him down from behind a pair of aviator sunglasses. One hand rested on her jutting hip, the other held a datapad against her torso. Confident, clear, and perhaps a touch sassy.

“Hurry up! I haven’t got all day,” she grunted. 

Very sassy . Luke approached the officer nervously, a meek expression on his face. He waved awkwardly. “Uh… hi, Miss Officer ma’am, lady… person. I’m Luke.”

Good luck in prison, idiot. 

The skin on the back of his neck crawled as he realized dozens of eyes were lingering on him. Other officers, people in line, hell, even a few immigrants waiting to enter had stopped arguing to look over at him. ‘ What, never seen a guy in a mask?’ he wanted to shout, but knew it would probably just make things worse.

The officer frowned up at him. “Officer Ch'en, of the LGD,” she said with a subtle nod. “I need to see some identification.”

Luke blinked, confused. “Identification…?” 

She eyed him with suspicion. “You do have an ID, right?” she asked, impatiently tapping her stylus against her datapad.

In a brief moment of inspiration, he remembered—Franka had said something about identification on the drive to Lungmen. “Well, you can’t enter another country without proper identification, can you?” Luke felt a rush of inspiration. My Rhodes ID! He’d have to thank Franka later, once he got out of this scrape.

“Oh, yeah. Uh…” Luke rummaged through his jacket, checking every pocket. He flipped open flaps, unfastened buttons, dug into every crevice, and found nothing. For the first time, he found the abundance of pockets sewn into his jacket cumbersome, rather than convenient. Every second he spent searching for his ID felt like a small eternity with Ch'en glowering at him throughout. After a solid minute of searching, he was near ready to tear the damn jacket off and never look back, gift be damned. From now on, he’d cram everything in the front pockets of his pants, organization be– 

Then he found it, right where he’d left it, tucked inside his upper left breast pocket. Thank the divines. Relieved, he handed it over with an entirely undeserved flourish, suddenly convinced that he’d be fine. 

She looked the laminated card over, then scanned it with her tablet. The screen flashed, and she frowned. “I’m going to have to ask you a couple of questions. Your cooperation is appreciated.” 

Luke looked back towards the van, nervous once again. Exusiai flashed him a thumbs-up and a grin. Couldn’t be that bad, right?

Her first question caught him off guard. “Where are you from?” 

Luke snapped around to face Ch'en. “I, uh… Higashi?”

“Is that a question?” she said, with an edge to her voice.

His shirt was quickly becoming damp with sweat.  “Oh, no. Higashi. I’m from Higashi.”

“What’s the nature of your visit?”

What is this? 20 Questions? “Work.”

Ch'en hummed. She held up her datapad and snapped a photo of his face before he could react. They stood in tense, momentary silence before her tablet beeped. “Well, your face doesn’t appear to match any known criminals in the database.” Luke realized then that he’d been holding his breath, and exhaled, relieved. Not that he had any reason to expect he might be in the criminal database. “But that’s because we have no information on you at all.” His breath caught again, as quickly as it had returned. Of course he wasn’t in the database, but he still had good reason to be nervous.

“Uh… is that bad?”

Ch'en clicked her tongue with irritation. “Remains to be seen. Take off the mask.” 

Fuck me . So much for reasonable…  He was already nervous, and now she wanted him to expose himself in front of all of Lungmen? A nasty blend of anger and fear swirled in his gut. “I’m afraid I must refuse.”

She shot him a fierce glare. “You have no choice. Take it off, now,” she said with finality.

His heart thumped wildly in his chest, ready to break free from its bony cage. “No, really, I insist. No one wants to see what’s under there,” he said, more forcefully than he’d intended. Who does she think she is? This face is bad enough as-is, without showing it off.

“Luke, just take off the damn mask!” Texas hollered from the van. 

What the hell, Texas? The first time he’d ever heard her raise her voice, and of course, she was busy demanding he expose himself. He looked around wildly, searching for any way to escape, but found none. He was trapped like a circus animal in a cage. “And if I don’t?”

The officer leaned forward, glaring over the rim of her shades. “What do you think?” she growled quietly at him, the threat evident by her tone of voice. “Just do as I say, and everything will be fine.” She couldn’t have sounded less reassuring, Luke thought, even if she’d tried.

“Uh…” Luke stalled, racking his brains for a way out. He caught sight of her slender tail as it wrapped around her leg. 

She’s a Lung. During his time in Higashi, he had picked up a thing or two about wider Yanese culture. The Lung, he recalled, were infamous for their pride, and from her actions, Ch'en didn’t seem any different. He could work with that. Not his first choice, but any port would do in a storm—anything but taking the mask off in public. 

“I refuse,” he said, glaring down at Ch'en.

She stiffened, clearly surprised by his increasingly brazen defiance. “Watch yourself, civilian. I don’t have all day,” she growled.

“Request, command, demand, doesn’t matter. You don’t scare me, short-stack.”

Ch'en scowled. Before Luke could react, she had him by the wrist, squeezing tighter than expected. She twisted his arm behind his back, then slammed him against the van. He saw Grani jump back from the window, shock etched on her face. He tried to reassure her with a grin, but the searing pain in his twisted shoulder turned it into a grimace. Behind him, the irate officer slapped a pair of handcuffs around his wrists. “You’re under arrest for disrupting LGD operations,” she hissed.

“Ch'en?” a new voice asked. Luke couldn’t see who had spoken, on account of having his face jammed against a window, but the voice carried a sense of uncertainty. “Can't we just let him go? You said it yourself, he isn’t a registered criminal.”

“That we know of,” the officer barked back. “And we know nothing about him, except—” she jerked the handcuffs uncomfortably tight—“that he is uncooperative with the law.” 

There was no further protest from the LGD officer who had intervened on Luke’s behalf. Inside the van, however, Grani was up in arms.

She pounded her fist against the window. “Let him go! He didn’t do anything wrong!” she shouted, somewhat muffled by the windowpane. “This is an unlawful arrest! Release him!” 

Ch'en shook her head. She grabbed Luke by the upper arm, now, and steered him away from the vehicle. “The rest of you can leave.” She glowered over her shoulder at Texas. “Get a move on before I change my mind.”

Exusiai leaned out of her window. “We’ll get the boss to bail you out.” 

Luke nodded. “Make it quick.” He wouldn’t need a lot of time. The Sankta watched as the van sped through the gates, a trail of dust wafting lazily in its wake. 

Clicking her tongue, Ch'en turned towards him with a fierce glare. “This could have been avoided.”

“I agree. This could have been avoided.” The officer crossed her arms beneath her chest and humphed with satisfaction. Luke smirked. Let’s get this show on the road. “If you weren’t such a bitch, that is.”

Ch'en’s eyes narrowed. Her lips pulled back in a snarl as she leaned towards him. “What did you just say?” she asked, voice dangerously low. 

Luke stood as straight as he could, glaring down at her and casting a long shadow over her lithe figure. He stepped forward, getting almost uncomfortably close. “You heard me, shorty. Far as I can tell, you’re a raging bitch.” From the corner of his eye, Luke noticed a few officers backing away silently. “I bet you’re still single, huh? Never fu—” 

Ch'en seized him by his collar and jerked him down to her eye level. Her tail flicked back and forth aggressively. Looks like I found a sore spot…

“Listen here,” she hissed, mere inches from his face. “You’re on thin ice. I suggest you tread carefully...” 

“Why? Gonna lock me up for shooting my mouth off?” Luke asked haughtily. “I don’t think so. I might not be very worldly, but I’m pretty sure that’s not a crime anywhere. Certainly not one worth serving time.” He puckered his lips and spat, hurling a wad of spittle by her feet. “You’re nothing but a stuck-up bitch who’s too prudish to get fucking laid.” He watched anxiously as her slender brows crushed against each other, twisting her beautiful face into an ugly rage. He felt a bit bad, but at this point, continuing on was his only choice. “Why should I listen to an expired, washed-up, Christmas cake of a hag? (1) Face it: No one wants you.” Nothing could be further from the truth— hell, he’d landed himself in this mess by over-appreciating her looks—but that didn’t really matter now.

“You bastard!” 

Luke forced a cocky grin onto his face. “It’s the truth.” His faux amusement, however, was short-lived. Ch'en’s fist lashed out, cracking against his exposed eye. His head snapped back, vision exploding with bursts of light. He stumbled back, tripped, and fell back onto the dusty ground, clutching the unmasked portion of his throbbing face.  Fucking hell! He had expected a punch—counting on it, actually—but nothing like that. 

Ch'en seized Luke by the right bicep, hauled him back to his feet, and dragged him towards a nearby vehicle emblazoned with the LGD’s crest. She flung the rear door open with one hand and shoved him in with the other, slamming it shut behind him. Not going to buckle me in? What if we get in an accident?  

Cursing under her breath, Ch'en slid into the driver’s seat. “You’ve made a huge mistake today,” she said as she started the car, “you hear me?”

Luke grunted as she floored the accelerator. He needed to tread carefully from here on out. He wanted to keep her angry, but not too angry. He still needed her to be somewhat reasonable if he ever wanted to get out. He was playing a dangerous game, and he knew that, but by constantly rising and backing away, he hoped to keep her in check with emotional brinkmanship. After all, an angry person was predictable: a cornered animal was not.

“Did you hear what I said?!” 

“Yes’sm.” Luke flopped his head against the leather upholstery. He couldn’t wait to take a nap…

Grani wrung her hands nervously as the van hurtled through a major intersection. She was beside herself with concern for her partner. She wasn’t entirely confident he could take care of himself, and if the LGD was anything like the Victorian police, justice was far from their top priority. 

She watched another highrise zip by. Grani didn’t like Lungmen. Not one bit. At first glance, the city seemed like the perfect place to live. Unlike Londinium, Lungmen appeared free of crime and violence. Everything seemed to run smoothly. Almost too smoothly. She couldn’t quite put a finger on it, but something about Lungmen’s tranquility rubbed her the wrong way.

Texas threw the van into a sudden, sharp turn, plastering Grani against the window. She frowned as the vehicle skidded to a halt inside a garage. She’d ridden with Texas enough times to know her driving wasn’t likely to result in an accident, but still, she didn’t see why every trip had to be made at breakneck speed. Not every minute spent in a car needed to be a thrill ride. 

It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dark orange light. The garage, while grungy and disorganized, was similar to the spaces utilized by the Mounted Police. Tools lay scattered about on shelves, tables, even on the floor. Grani craned her neck around to get a better look around the large room. A startled penguin tumbled through one of the doors, cussing and shaking its fist. She unlatched her seatbelt, threw it over her shoulder, and shimmied past Franka.

Exusiai leapt from the van in a panic with Grani hot on her heels.

The stocky penguin in white shuffled up to them. “Exu, about goddamn time! Was beginning to think you quit on me. Sora’s itchin—”

“Boss, you gotta help!” Exusiai cried, cutting him off. “We were just trying to enter the city and we didn’t mean any harm, but he—”

Emperor reared back, startled. “Who’s, what? What’re you on about?”

Grani pulled at her own hair. “Some officer arrested him! Something about disrupting LGD operations? I don’t know!” 

“Lil’ pony, hold your horses,” the Emperor said, pointing to both women. “Both of y’all are gonna run me out of business, talking at that speed. One more time, from the top.”

Exusiai closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Ch'en arrested your godson.” 

His beak flapped open. “Fo’ real?” 

“Yes.”

Emperor pressed a flipper against his forehead. Grani moved to speak, but stopped when he waved. After a momentary silence, Emperor sighed heavily. “What’s my lil’man Lucy doin’ here? Ain’t he supposed to be in Higashi or something?” 

Franka stepped out of the van, followed closely by Liskarm. “That would be our fault,” Franka said, eyebrows knit with concern.

Emperor looked up at her, surprised by her serious expression. “Frankie? The hell did you do?”

“Luke recently joined Rhodes Island where we,” she explained, gesturing between Liskarm and herself, “are his mentors. After receiving your request last night, we decided to bring him along.”

“You what?!” he squawked. “I asked for a guard detail, not a peashooter. Lucy’s got no business here! This shit’s whack!” 

Liskarm bowed deeply. “Words cannot express how sorry we are. We thought it would provide him with valuable experience.” 

“Valuable indeed…” the penguin grumbled. He scratched his head. “No use crackin’ eggs over it. What’s done is done.” He pointed to Grani. “And you! You said Officer Ch'en took him in?”

A deluge of rage surged through Grani’s mind. She balled her hands into fists, struggling to hold back the tide of emotion. “She didn’t even explain! She just—” Grani slammed a fist against the van. “Just arrested him! Just like the corrupt Victorian Police!” she bawled, slipping into her natal vernacular . (2)

Franka and Liskarm exchanged weary looks. The law Ch'en had cited while cuffing their now-absent trainee was extremely vague in definition. It allowed the LGD to arrest someone, more or less, whenever they felt the urge. However, neither was sure how to broach the topic with the furious Grani. 

Thankfully, Texas intervened. “Technically, he was arrested for failing to comply with lawful orders from the LGD,” she said, throwing in her two cents from the van. “She asked him to remove his mask, and he refused.”

“‘Course he did…” Emperor bowed his head and gurgled out indescribable penguin noises. He repeatedly bobbed up and down, croaking out strange cries as he moved. “How dare she! If she lays one finger on my servant boy—”

“Servant boy?” Grani asked, a touch exasperated.

His beak snapped open. “Bah, godson, same thing!” He waddled up to the van, urging them to follow. “Let’s go, we’re already running late!”

Luke shuffled out of LGD HQ a little worse for wear. He didn’t stick around to see what became of his arresting officer. He was more than glad to put the entire fiasco behind him. He didn’t have plans to return to Lungmen after the mission, so he took comfort in knowing that he would never have to deal with the draconian officer ever again. Hopefully…

A wave of pain lashed through his rapidly darkening eye, drawing a grimace from him. He reached up instinctively, covering the injury with his hand. Luke looked around in confusion. He had no idea where he was. He was standing in a large public square, surrounded by towering buildings. Thankfully, the clearing was mostly empty. He didn’t want prying eyes staring at his injury.

“Luke!”

He looked up. It was Grani. She leaned back, shouting around the corner she had emerged from. “I found him!”

Luke offered a weak wave as the group entered the courtyard. “Hey.” 

Grani was by his side in an instant. “Oh my—What happened?” she gasped, fussing over his frazzled look. She cupped his chin, turning his head every which way in search of other injuries. She grabbed his head and pulled it down, forcing him to bend over so she could inspect the top of his head. It must have been an amusing sight, considering the disparity in height, Grani had to reach overhead in order to touch his face. 

His godfather waddled up to him next. “Nasty bruise ya got there, Lucy.”

Luke gently pushed Grani’s hands away and straightened his back. “Yeah. Got punched in the face.”

“By who!?” Grani cried, stomping her foot in frustration.

He glanced over his shoulder and gestured towards LGD HQ with his chin. “Who do you think?” 

Texas appeared unconvinced. “You’re saying Ch'en punched you? I find that hard to believe,” she said.

Exusiai nodded. “She may be strict, but she’s level-headed. It’d take a lot to get under her skin.” She hummed in thought. “You must have done something.”

“Well… Yeah, I kinda goaded her into it. Said some rough things, and then spat at her feet.”

Exusiai, Franka, and Liskarm were horrified by his admission. “You what!?” they shouted simultaneously.

“Said some shit, spat at her feet,” Luke repeated.

“Why?” Exusiai cried. “Are you insane!?”

Luke smirked and rubbed his chin, proud of his plan. “You know, I just might be… regardless, the LGD is Wei Yenwu’s pride and joy. It’s practically the face of Lungmen. It would be a PR disaster if news got out that an officer assaulted a civilian without due cause. Not to mention, it’d make both the superintendent and Wei Yenwu appear weak for being unable to properly control their subordinates.”

Exusiai’s halo brightened. “So you provoked Old Ch'en into assaulting you and then blackmailed the LGD? You’re a genius!”

Grani rolled her eyes. “Or extremely foolish. There was no guarantee the LGD would give in.”

Emperor threw back his head, beak trilling with laughter. “Hah! The lil’ man grew a pair! That’s my boy!”

Luke took a haughty step toward his godfather. “Little man? The last time I checked, you were two feet shorter than me, Little E.” The gathered members of Penguin Logistics paled. “And drop the Lucy. It’s Luke.”

To their surprise, the Emperor seemed to enjoy their verbal spat. “The lil’ fighter’s got spirit!” He exclaimed, slapping Luke‘s arm. “Still hidin’ that ugly mug of yours behind a mask, I see.”

“Bold words, considering that freakshow you call a mouth.” Luke countered with a slight grin.

“You talkin' ‘bout this?” Emperor opened his beak to reveal a horror of fleshy spines and edges. 

Luke reeled back, and threw up his arm to cover the horrific sight. There weren’t many things he considered uglier or more horrific than the rough side of his face, but the Emperor’s mouth was definitely among them. “Yes, like that, you shitty bath toy!”

The penguin dipped a flipper as though challenging him to a fight. “Man! Show some respect, Lil’ Lucy. I didn’t hatch a delinquent.”

“Today’s escapade might suggest otherwise,” Texas muttered under her breath.

Luke sighed, rolling his eyes. It’d be easier to simply agree with the penguin instead of arguing his point. “Yeah, you’re right, E,” he conceded, exasperated. 

“Aye, don’t worry ‘bout it, kid. I ain’t gonna let it get to me. I was just foolin.” Emperor took stock of the various reactions around him. He returned their astonished looks with a glare over his shaded rims. “What? We all got family. I didn’t really hatch him, obviously. Speaking of which,” He held out a flipper. “Lucy Jones! Things are getting outta hand! We’re running late. What’re you gonna do ‘bout that?”

“You don’t have hands,” Luke replied, ignoring Emperor’s entire speech.

Emperor head-butted him in the gut. “Shaddup!” The others couldn’t help but laugh as the Emperor went back to berating him. Luke grinned a bit, in spite of himself. Maybe not the best morning, but at least it was behind him now.

Chapter Text

Book I Chapter 8: The Mission

Grani had begun fussing over him the moment they returned to Penguin Logistics’ safe house. Exusiai had been waiting with an ice bag, which Grani had promptly snatched away, not content to watch and wait as someone else cared for her injured partner.   

Luke shook his head stubbornly. “Grani, honestly, it’s not that bad.”

“Not that bad?” she cried, forcing the bag of ice into his hands. “Getting a cut is ‘not that bad,’ but this…” she trailed off, hands floundering. “Can you even see properly?”

“I said, I’m fine .” He pushed the makeshift compress away for the third time. “I can still see.” While he appreciated her concern, he could do without the suffocating attention. 

“No, you’re not!” Grani hissed, rising from the resin table she had been sitting on. “How can you even say that? Just—“ Luke raised a hand in protest, but Grani pushed past his feeble gesture with little concern. “Ugh! Why are you being so difficult?” She caught his wrist with her free hand and held it above his head, then pressed the frigid bag against his swollen eye. He flinched at the biting cold and jerked his head back, nearly dislodging his mask. “See! You can’t even take care of yourself!” 

Texas appeared with a bottle of water. She set it on the table and sat beside him. “She’s not likely to give up. I suggest you start listening,” she said, a faint trace of amusement in her voice.

Franka chuckled from a sofa opposite of the table. “My, my, it seems Grani is quite vocal about her concerns.” She gently nudged Liskarm, seated next to her, with her elbow. “What do you think?” 

Liskarm rolled her eyes, but remained silent. 

Grani stepped between them, obstructing his view with her body. “Does it hurt?” she asked, her voice fraught with concern.

Maybe Texas was right. Luke took the sack from her hand with a sigh. “A bit. I’m more concerned about when I’ll regain a semblance of depth perception.” 

Exusiai, who had been uncharacteristically silent, leaned over the back of his couch with a smile. “Look on the bright side: at least you aren’t completely blind,” she said, offering him a fist bump.

Luke returned the gesture with a smile of his own. “Grani would have a field day if I was.”

“Just give it a few weeks.” Luke was surprised to see the Emperor emerge from a hall with a cigar in his beak. Next to him was a young woman, likely in her late teens, with vibrant blonde hair and clad in an exceptionally garish outfit. Her dress, black and shimmering, was heavily laden with pink and white trimming, making her utterly impossible to miss. 

Emperor plucked the cigar from his beak as he spoke. “Alright, brats. S’about time we get this show on the road.” He flicked his head towards the young woman. “She’s the reason why I called you here today.”

Grani gasped. “Is that…”

Exusiai’s crimson hair bobbed as she nodded excitedly. “Sora? Yes, she is!” 

Luke frowned. Was he supposed to know Sora? Given the outfit, she was clearly some sort of Yanese idol, but that wasn’t a scene he knew much about. 

“I never thought I’d have the chance to meet a celebrity…” Grani said breathlessly. 

Sora hopped on one foot, kicked the other up behind her, threw up a peace sign, and winked cutely. “Hi, hi!” she cooed. “Everyone’s favorite idol, Sora, is here!” She opened her palms towards them and flashed a blinding smile. “Let’s hear it for today’s lucky winners! This is every fan’s dream!” The room chuckled along with her giggling.

Luke blinked once. Was that meant to be a joke? If it was, it was completely lost on him. He blinked again. “I’m sorry, who are you?” he asked.

Grani’s ponytail smacked the side of his face as she whipped her head around. “Are you serious?” she shouted, clearly incensed. “You don’t know who Sora is?” 

Emperor tapped his cigar and puffed out a cloud of smoke and coughed, catching Luke’s attention. “Yo, Lucy. You better not be foolin’, cuz that’s messed.”

Luke shot him a one-eyed glare. “Screw you, E. How am I supposed to know some random woman?” he cried. “What did you expect? I practically lived under a rock for the past six years.” 

The corner of Sora’s lips twitched slightly, but the tremor vanished as quickly as it had come. Luke would’ve missed if he had blinked. She hid her mouth behind a gloved hand and giggled. “You’re funny! Sora loves a good joke.” 

Luke choked back a gag. Oh god. Her voice was sickeningly sweet, and her personality felt fabricated, as though every giggle and titter was another lie. 

“Uh…” he stalled. This teen was in hard denial and, frankly, that terrified him. “I, um… Sora, was it?” She nodded and waved, still smiling magnificently. 

Luke shifted the ice pack against his left eye in discomfort. He had less than no idea how to handle this situation properly. He needed to cut through the phony veneer, but how?  The line that separated “too far” from “just enough” was incredibly vague, and he wasn’t eager to cross it. 

He scratched the back of his neck. “Look, I don’t mean to offend you or anything, but I have absolutely no idea who you are.”

Her immaculate facade faltered once again. “Wh-where are you from?” she asked, forcing a tremulous smile.

“Higashi.”

Sora took an aggressive step forward “But I’m huge in Higashi!” she cried, making a sweeping gesture with her arms. “You’ve definitely heard my music! Operation: Cinder ?!”

Luke snapped his fingers. “Oh! Yeah! I know that one!” 

Vindicated, Sora stepped back with a smug grin. She crossed her arms beneath her chest and humphed. “So you are a fan!”

“Not at all. The song’s too slow and boring. I can’t vibe with that.” He was only telling the truth. He much preferred a faster tempo over a sluggish drawl. 

She glared fiercely. 

Emperor barked out a sharp laugh. “Hah! The balls on the kid! Growin’ up to be just like your old man.” 

Luke stuttered in a panic. “W-wait, I’m not saying she’s bad at singing. I think she’s very talented, just not to my taste.”

Sora’s expression softened. “Thank you.” 

Woah, genuine gratitude. Maybe she wasn’t made entirely of sweet little lies. “Uh… yeah. So, now what?”

“Texas, give ‘em the skinny,” Emperor said.

Texas pushed herself from the sofa, looking exasperatedly at Luke as she stood. “First, I’d like to thank Franka, Liskarm, and the rest of BSW for accepting our request. As always, your support is appreciated.”

Franka smiled and shook her head politely. “No, no, we should be thanking you for inviting us again. It’s always a pleasure to see Sora perform.”

Texas nodded. “As you’ve probably gathered by now, Sora is the reason we’re here. She’ll be kicking off a new tour next week.” She unfolded a flier she had stowed in her pocket beforehand. “It’ll be a longer tour, and will feature a closed meet and greet with a select group of fans. We’ll talk about that later.

“Rank and file members of BSW will handle security at the venues. The two of—” her eyes flicked towards Grani, “sorry, four of you will assist us with Sora’s personal security, which involves riding in the RV with us.

“The first concert will be in three days, in the Imperial City. It’s a two day drive through the wastelands, so make sure to bring something to do…” Her voice faded into the background as Luke’s mind began to wander.

His left hand was starting to feel numb. The ice pack had begun to sweat, covering his palm with a thin coat of frigid water. On top of that, the room’s AC was blowing directly at him. He needed to ditch the ice before his hand developed frostbite. 

Looking around the room, he noticed an inconspicuous trash bin sitting by Texas’s feet and next to the sofa.

He flicked his eyes towards Grani who was too busy listening to Texas to notice his shifty gaze. Confident in his plan, Luke hunched forward, pretending to have dropped something. He smirked as blood began to rush to his head. Even if she had seen him move, his back would provide enough cover to hide his hands from her sight. 

With a flick of his wrist, Luke gently tossed the ice bag into the trash just as Exusiai swung her legs over the sofa, planting herself next to him. Luke’s heart leapt up into his throat, threatening to tumble from his mouth. Had he been seen? Or worse, had Grani caught on?

After a tense moment—for him, at least—Exusiai’s stomach growled a protest. “Please tell me that one of you can cook…” 

“Lucy can.”

Luke raked a hand through his matted hair with a sigh as the tension left his body. “Yeah,” he muttered.

Grani, still standing, looked down at him. “You can cook?” Her eyes shone with wonder. “Can you make eggs benedict?” she asked, seemingly no longer concerned with the now-absent ice pack.

Luke caught a glimpse of her tail swishing behind her. A turn of good luck. If anything would get her to forget about the damn ice pack, it was food. “Yeah, I can.”

Sora leaned over with a playful grin. “If you can make her a crepe, Sora may just forgive you.” 

Luke knew she was joking, but it could be a good opportunity to make amends. “You bet. Anything else?” He turned to his godfather. “How about you, E?”

“I ain’t goin’.”

“Oh?” Luke asked, quietly relieved at the revelation.

“I got more important shit to do. That damned messenger of ours done goofed up.”

“Oh!” Exusiai waved an arm, vying for Luke’s his attention. “Pastas: fettuccine, bolognese, ziti?”

Luke shrugged. “If you have the recipe and ingredients.”

“Apple pie!”

“Oh, capital idea!” Grani cheered.

“I mean,” Luke’s eyes wandered from Grani to Exusiai. “I guess?” he said uncertainly. Baking wasn’t his forte.

Exusiai fell back against the sofa, pumping a fist. “Heck yeah! Goodbye burnt toast, hello carbonara! Time for a grocery run!”

Texas looked uncertain. “Boss?”

Emperor hummed, breathing deeply from his cigar. “Do whatever you want. Just do it quick. Y’all leave soon,” he muttered through a cloud of smoke.

Texas nodded. “Alright. Grani?” The young officer’s ears twitched at the sound of her name. She peered over with a questioning look. “Help Franka and Liskarm transfer your belongings to the RV.”

“Alright!”

“Sora, help me load your equipment while Exusiai gets the RV ready. We’ll leave in ten.” Sora cheered and rushed from the room, skipping the whole way.

Luke twiddled his thumbs awkwardly. “So…?” he started.

“Too hot for the ice?” Franka teased. Her sly grin gave way to a genuine smile as she gestured towards the cold compress he had discarded. “You should take it easy.”

Luke chuckled weakly. “I can’t get anything past you, can I?”

“Not now, not ever!”

Emperor chuckled. “Antsy brat.”

Luke did feel a bit guilty. He scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “Hey, the bag was sweating, and my hands were freezing. At that point, it was doing more harm than good.”

Grani inhaled through clenched teeth. “I guess…” Her slender fingers wrapped around his wrist. “But just in case, stay in the RV, and don’t cause any trouble!” She demanded, pulling him to his feet only to stop halfway—too short to complete the task. With a heated huff, she unceremoniously dropped his hand, letting him fall back against the sofa. “Get up yourself,” she pouted.

Luke rolled his eyes as he pushed himself to his feet. “That was the plan. So, I’m going to assume the RV’s in the garage?”

“Yep!” Exusiai exclaimed, popping her lips. “Liskarm and Franka can show you the way. I need to grab the keys, so I’ll meet you there.” She left the room, jogging down the hall. 

The others looked at one another. “Lead the way,” Luke said, stepping aside.

“It’s next door,” Franka said, pushing Liskarm towards a door. “Come now, Lisky.”

The Vouivre growled. “ Don’t call me that!” She tore herself from Franka’s grasp. “And I can walk on my own.”

Luke glanced down at Grani, who merely shrugged. Together, they followed after their mentors, closing the door behind them. Luke had never seen an RV, and was excited to see one for the first time. However, whatever excitement he felt was replaced with confusion the moment he laid eyes on the large vehicle. He was expecting it to be relatively unassuming, painted black or perhaps gray. Some color that would avoid attracting much attention. Something that would blend in with the crowd.

Might as well paint “Shoot me, I’m over here!” he thought sarcastically.

Rather than something nondescript, the RV was covered with an explosion of pink and yellow splattered against a white backdrop. To Luke, it looked more like a clown car than an idol’s private transport. Colored swirls twisted about, forming a frame around an admittedly flattering depiction of Sora, posed forward with her fingers in a V and a wink on her face. A series of large, shaded windows looped around the vehicle, forming a segmented belt of tinted glass. A single footplate jutted out from beneath the RV’s door. 

Luke sighed with a shake of his head. At least, he supposed, they’d have no trouble finding the garish thing, no matter where they parked it. He jumped a touch as a hand slapped him on the back. It was Exusiai.

“Pretty, ain’t she?” she said, thumping her chest with pride. “Designed it myself!”

Luke grinned. “I’m not surprised.” 

The vehicle itself was quite large—longer and slightly taller than a city bus—but he was hard pressed to believe that it could comfortably house six people. “Hey, are you sure there’s enough space in there for six of us?”

Exusiai stuffed the keys into the door’s lock. “Why don’t you see for yourself?” She smirked, pulling the door open and gesturing towards the footplate.

Luke stepped onto the plate and climbed into the RV.

He was struck by how spacious the vehicle was. To his right was a perfectly normal driver’s cab, but to his left was an extraordinary living space. Luke wandered through a narrow entryway that led to a large, multi-purpose area. With laminated teak floors and spotless, granite countertops, the main compartment shone with freshly cleaned brilliance. 

Leather sofas faced each other from either side of the narrow central walkway, stopping just short of the kitchenette. Next to one of the sofas and across from the kitchen, was a countertop and a small retractable desk.  

The compact kitchen had everything a cook would need to prepare a decent meal. On one side of the walkway sat a stove, cooktop, and microwave, with a standing fridge placed opposite.

“So?” Luke turned around. Grani was standing by the door, carrying her pike in one hand and her suitcase in the other. “What do you think?” 

“Impressed, actually. It’s amazing how much they managed to squeeze in here, though there’s not much room to walk around… and do we, like, sleep on the floor or something?” Luke asked, surveying the room with a generous touch of uncertainty. 

Chuckling, Grani shuffled through the narrow entry, squeezing past him wordlessly as her wheeled luggage clunked clumsily behind. She stopped before one of the sofas, reached up, and pulled a tab hanging from the wall, revealing a small mattress wrapped in gray sheets. 

Luke mouthed a silent “Oh.” In retrospect, he should have seen that coming. After all, what kind of idol sleeps on the ground? He may be unworldly by most standards, but even he knew that celebrities were afforded a certain degree of comfort. “Can’t believe I missed that.”

“That makes two of us. And the vehicle can expand when parked, so it’ll be easier to walk around.” 

Together, they gazed through a window, watching Liskarm and Franka unload the van they’d arrived in. Luke sighed. What a day…

A sudden jolt of pain rushed through his left leg. “Ow! What the hell, Grani?” He flinched back, narrowly avoiding another swipe from her tail. It swished aside as though swatting a fly. 

Grani crossed her arms with a huff. “Don’t think I’ve forgiven you.” 

He ruffled her hair with a lopsided grin. “Thanks, Grani.”

She swiped at his arm, pushing his hand away from her head. “Hey! What did I say about patting my head?!”

Chapter Text

Book I Chapter 9: An Angel and a Vouivre Walk into a Bar

A car behind the RV honked sharply. Luke wrung his hands nervously as Texas ground her teeth. He had never seen the stoic Lupo's anger, and he wasn't looking forward to seeing it. Moments later, his concerns proved valid when a cold window met his face. The piercing caterwaul of screeching tires filled the RV as Texas hurled the vehicle into a sharp right turn, plastering him against the window.

She glared fiercely as a car thundered past them. "Asshole," she hissed.

Luke pushed himself off the window and noticed a bright yellow arrow outside that read Drive-Thru. "There's no way we're going to fit," he said, pointing to the drive-thru lane.

"Or the parking lot," Texas added with a prolonged sigh. "I suggest we send someone in. I'll drive around the block while we wait."

Exusiai flopped against her seat with a huff. "Not it. I got the groceries. Someone else should go."

Luke shrugged. He wouldn't pass up a chance to look at the menu. "I'll go."

Grani was before him in an instant with a deep frown carved on her face. The pint-sized officer jabbed a finger into his chest defiantly. "Oh no, you aren't. You are not leaving the RV: not with that injury," she commanded, punctuating each stressed syllable with another jab.

Luke rolled an eye. "Oh, come on, the swelling's died down and Sora's arts helped with the pain. What's the worst that could happen?" He was a responsible adult—he could look after himself.

Most of the time.

Grani folded her arms beneath her chest. "You aren't going anywhere and that's final." It seemed that she was still shaken by his confrontation with the LGD. He couldn't blame her.

Is this what it's like to have a mom? Luke plucked Grani's finger from its perch on his chest and flicked it aside."Look Grani, I—" A sharp clap interrupted him before he could finish his sentence.

It was Franka.

Their eyes met before Franka winked subtly. Gently pushing Grani aside, Franka stepped before her with a shimmering smile. "What if someone went with him?" she offered. "After all, it'll be easier for two people to carry the food, right? And they'll make sure he's safe."

Grani seemed racked with hesitation. She inhaled sharply through her teeth, tilting her head to one side. "I—I don't know…" she stuttered. "I suppose that makes sense… but I still—"

"Why don't you accompany him, Liskarm!" Franka suggested, interrupting her. Luke shifted his attention to the Vouivre sitting quietly by the kitchenette.

Liskarm glared fiercely as though offended by the mere suggestion. "Excuse me? And why would I do such a thing?"

"Aw don't be a sourpuss, Liskarm," Franka said, waving her arm dismissively. "It'll be fun!"

Liskarm sighed.

"Besides, someone needs to keep an eye on him…" Franka turned to Grani with a bright smile. "Isn't that right?"

There was something behind her smile almost like she had an ulterior motive, but Luke couldn't put his finger on it.

Grani nodded stiffly. "It would be helpful, yes."

Looks like someone's upset. Luke thought to himself. He couldn't blame her. He would be upset if a whimsical person like Franka bowled him over, but what could he do? Franka was hard to stop once she got rolling.

Liskarm pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed deeply as though expelling what little energy remained from her body. She slouched in her seat. "Ugh… the idea isn't without its merits," she muttered.

"I'm willing to go if you'd rather stay," Grani offered hopefully.

Liskarm shook her head. "No. It's fine." She rose from her chair and trudged towards the front of the RV. The reluctant operator grabbed Luke's hood as she passed, dragging him to his feet. "Come on."

Luke felt his jacket's sleeves digging into his armpits. "Oy, hey!" he shouted, trying to get Liskarm to stop.

She shuffled on, ignoring him. "With all due respect, I think you're too easy on him, Grani. He needs to be kept on a short leash. Who knows what this fool would do if left unattended."

"I'm not a dog," Luke replied, finally wrenching his jacket free from her hand.

Liskarm huffed. "Could have fooled me."

Texas glanced up as they passed. "Call us when you're ready."

Luke nodded. "Got it."

Without another word, Texas opened the door, allowing Luke and Liskarm to step out of the RV and into the parking lot. The door snapped shut and Texas drove off soon after.

Luke looked around the parking lot. It was mostly empty, something he was grateful for. He'd rather be found dead than spotted climbing out of Sora's gaudy monstrosity of an RV. He caught Liskarm glaring up at him from the corner of his eyes.

"What?" he growled. Luke wasn't stupid. It was obvious she had a bone to pick with him. As for why: he had no idea. Perhaps it was over something more fundamental: more about his personality than his actions. Luke shuddered at the thought of it. If she didn't like him as a person, then he was in for a long ride through the Yanese countryside.

He kicked a rock across the asphalt as he started towards the restaurant. "Place is pretty empty. I guess we lucked out." He mentally patted himself on the back. It wasn't the worst conversation starter, better than "Do you like bread" at least.

Liskarm trailed behind him. "Yes, or perhaps someone possessed the foresight to plan lunch before the afternoon rush," she replied tersely. "But go ahead: think of it as luck."

"For fucks sake." He had to admit, that probably wasn't the best thing to say, but in his defense, she was being unnecessarily hostile.

Liskarm clicked her tongue. He didn't need to see her face to know she was displeased. "Hmph, a simpleminded response for a simpleminded person."

Luke clenched his fists, nails digging into the palms of his hands. He stopped suddenly in his tracks, catching Liskarm off guard. He sighed as the tension slowly drained from his body. She was asking for it. "Look, can you at least try to be civil?" he hissed while looking ahead. He was already upset, heavens knows what he'd do if he saw her face. "I've had a long day, and it's barely noon. Let's just order the food and be done with this, okay?"

"…Alright."

The two crossed the parking lot in silence. For his part, Luke had no desire to converse with his teammate, and he suspected that it was the same for her. He pushed the glass door open and walked into the restaurant, holding said door open for Liskarm.

She blinked, apparently taken aback. "Oh, um…" she muttered softly. "Thank you."

"Whatever." Luke let the door swing close behind them. As expected, business inside the restaurant was slow. A couple of patrons sat eating at various tables scattered around the dining area. Thankfully, there wasn't a line in front of the registers.

Luke approached the counter and was a scant three paces away when he was struck by a horrifying realization. "Oh, shit," he said, backpedaling and taking three large steps away from the counter

Liskarm shook her head, clearly put off by his sudden realization. "What now?"

"We didn't take any orders."

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Fool."

Fool? Fool?! "Hey, you were there too!" he cried adamantly. "If I'm a fool for forgetting, then you're a fool for neglecting to remind me."

"Shut up, you're making a scene." Liskarm glared as she fished a notebook out from her jacket. "Call them. Now."

Luke clicked his tongue. "Excuse me, Princess. I'm doing it." He pulled out his phone and dialed Grani's number.

She answered before he could even breathe. "Orders?" She asked, her voice shimmering with amusement.

Luke sighed. He could feel the irritation drain from his body. Grani was like a breath of fresh air—a godsend. "Yeah…"

"You okay?"

"Yeah," he lied. No use getting her tangled up in his feud with Liskarm. "Just, can't believe I forgot."

She chuckled. "Happens to the best of us. Well, I'll take two double cheeseburgers meals with fries! Make them large!"

A small grin crept onto his face as Liskarm forced down a gag. Her steadfast dedication to all things food was always amusing for him. "How about the others?" he asked.

"Uh… hold on." The call fell silent. A short moment later, Exusiai's cheerful voice answered.

"Grani's in a good mood," she said.

"Yeah, food does that for her. It never fails to make her smile."

"Huh, is that right?" she muttered to herself. "Well anyways, I'll take 10 nuggets with a side order of apple pie!"

Luke could make out Texas's voice in the background. "Why… don't even… real apples."

"It's good for a quick fix!"

Luke shook his head. He supposed it made sense: Instant pie was better than no pie. "And for Texas?"

"Double Cheeseburger, hold the pickles, extra onions, and cheese." Exusiai and Sora replied in tandem.

"Jinx!" the angel cried victoriously.

"Ugh. Exusiai, last time you said it was my turn to order for Texas!"

What is she? Luke thought of Texas. A harem protagonist? He spared Liskarm a cautious glance, checking if she had taken note of Texas's order. She merely nodded.

Luke continued. "Sora?"

The idol hummed over the phone. "I think I'll have a salad."

"Are you sure?" Exusiai asked, her voice dripping with temptation. Luke could hear the amusement in her voice. "When was the last time you had a burger?"

Sora seemed to hesitate. It was hard to tell over the phone. "A month. Maybe more…?"

"No, I think it's been longer than that…"

Luke resisted the urge to sigh. He could practically see his fellow Sankta maliciously rubbing Sora's shoulders while whispering sweet temptations into her ear.

"One burger can't be that bad. Besides, when was the last time you went on tour? You should treat yourself…"

"But the calories…" Sora protested weakly.

"Don't worry. It's only one meal, right?"

Hesitating, Sora shook her head. "I guess… one small burger wouldn't hurt?"

"Hey," Exusiai chided. "If you're going to treat yourself, you might as well go all in. I mean, when's the next time you're going to eat fast food?"

Sora's voice started in a whisper but quickly rose to a shout. "Yeah… Yeah! You know what—you're right! I'll take a three-by-three, and make it large!"

Luke and Liskarm shared a look. For the first time in a while, they seemed to agree on something. "Are you sure?" he asked.

Sora hummed with conviction. "Positive. Whether it's as a team member or in studying, I'll always give it my all!"

"Okay… could you pass the phone to Franka?" Luke asked.

"No need, you're on Speaker."

Luke groaned. "Why is it that whenever I'm with you people, I'm always on speakerphone." Something about being on speakerphone was extremely nerve-wracking. Almost as though they were pressuring him to make a mistake.

Franka's melodic voice did little to comfort him. "Liskarm knows. I'll just have my usual."

Luke eyed Liskarm cautiously as she made urgent motions with her hand. What? What the hell do you want? Use your words!

"If that's it, then I'll call you when we're ready." Liskarm pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.

"See ya!" Grani chirped before hanging up the phone.

Luke returned his phone to his jacket and turned towards Liskarm. "What was that all about?" he demanded.

She glared up at him with disbelief. "Drinks, you fool."

"Oh shit."

Luke stepped into the RV, carrying four bags: two in each hand. "Two doubles with large fries!" he cried, holding up one of the larger paper bags.

Grani's hand shot into the air, waving excitedly. "Oh! Me!"

Luke excused himself as he maneuvered his way toward the counter where Grani was seated. He handed the bag to his partner with a smirk. "I know it's yours," he said while placing his meal next to her. "No one else would eat a three-course meal for lunch."

Liskarm placed a large drink on the counter while Grani unpacked her food. "Here you are." She turned to Sora who was standing by the entrance to the driver's cab. "Sora, I have yours."

Exusiai eyed Grani's sizable meal with wonder. "That's a lot of food. You gonna eat all that?"

"Yep!" Grani unwrapped one of her burgers and, with a deep breath, smelt her food. "I'm going to need all the energy I can get if I'm going to protect everyone!" She proceeded to bite into the burger, chewing with a large smile.

Exusiai laughed, slapping Luke's back affably. "You were right, Luke! Food does make her happy. It's almost like Lungmen didn't happen at all."

"Right?" he replied as he handed her a paper bag. "It's kinda cute. She's like a toddler going through a growth spurt. Except for the only way this toddler's growing is sideways."Luke said while motioning with his hands.

Grani poked a fry in his direction. "Fuddup," she mumbled through a mouth full of food.

Franka chuckled. "Grani, dear, eat or speak, not both." Grani tucked back into her food without a second word.

Luke rolled an eye at his partner's glutinous display. Of course, she chose to eat. "Looks like she's given up on communicating." He raised the remaining bag in his hand. "Who ordered the horribly mutilated cheeseburger?" he shouted, knowing full well who the owner was.

Liskarm shook her head while Franka giggled behind her hand.

Texas sighed. "I suppose that would be mine." She reached back, silently gesturing for her food. Luke squeezed past Liskarm and Sora and placed the bag squarely in Texas's waiting hand.

"Thanks," she said with a ghost of a smile.

Luke returned it with one of his own. "No problem."

With all the food handed out, it was finally his turn to eat. Luke shimmied his way through the narrow entrance for the third time. He sat next to Grani who was halfway through her first burger. "Woah, slow down there, Speedy. This is a low-speed zone. The food isn't going anywhere."

Grani laughed. "It'll get cold if I take too long!"

Luke shrugged as he unwrapped his burger. "Fair. Just be careful not to choke."

"I won't!"

Hungry from the exhausting ordeal he called his morning, Luke demolished his burger in record time. He gathered his trash and walked around the counter and into the kitchenette. There, he tossed the paper bag into the waste bin and washed his hands. He looked up and watched the Lungmen scenery zip by the kitchen window. It was a concrete jungle with a canopy of glass. It all felt so cramped. Perhaps he was a bit biased because of his life in the mountains, but the labyrinthine network of intersecting roads was mind-numbing. Life in the temple was simple and calming. He shivered suddenly as he dried his hands. And free of Officer Ch'en and the LGD.

He glanced over his shoulder to check on Grani. It was only a matter of time before her luck ran out, and for her to start choking. Fortunately, she was merrily eating away without a care in the world. With nothing better to do and not wanting to bother anyone else, Luke decided to bust open his rollaboard and find something to occupy himself with.

He left the kitchenette and mosied over to the storage closet sandwiched between the bathroom and the bedroom. Luke partially unzipped his suitcase and stuck his hand through the small opening. After a few minutes of fumbling around, he finally managed to pull out one of his current books. Satisfied, he returned to the kitchenette and sat on a sofa opposite of the counter where Grani was still eating.

Luke was thankful he made the last-minute decision to pack a few books before he left his dorm that morning. Unfortunately, he had forgotten to retrieve them and was forced to endure the sleep-invoking drive to Lungmen without them. However, the RV was not a delivery van and granted him free access to his suitcase. "Thank goodness for that," He thought while watching Grani wolf down another cheeseburger.

If he struggled to remain sane for the (comparatively) short drive to Lungmen, Luke couldn't imagine what several days of boredom would do to him.

As a shut-in, Luke had spent most of his days in his room, leaving only to eat or to relieve himself. It hadn't been all bad; Septimus had purchased a vast collection of books and forced him to take up literature as a hobby. At first, Luke had resisted all attempts to get him to read, but as time crawled on he found himself enjoying t

Reading—for such a simple action to expand his understanding of the world—was nothing short of a miracle. With the flip of a page, he could marvel at the mighty walls of Londinium, or frolic through the rolling hills of Kazimierz without leaving the confines of his room.

Luke enjoyed reading despite his frequent complaints, and he was fascinated with his current book. Who knew Ursus had such a rich and detailed cultural history? A satisfied groan pulled him from the tales of Ursine valor.

Grani was patting her stomach as she leaned back in her chair.

"Where does it all go?" Sora asked with wonder from her seat by the diver's cabin.

"Nowhere!" Franka smiled mischievously. "Little Grani's figure is surprisingly full." She waltzed up to Grani and buried a finger into her flank, eliciting a surprised squeal from the operator.

"Franka!" Liskarm shouted. "How many times do I have to tell you: keep your hands to yourself."

"Aw, don't be jealous…"

Liskarm leveled a heated glare at her partner. "Franka…"

The Vulpo raised her arms in mock surrender. She backed away from Grani with an unapologetic look on her face "Alright."

"So," Luke started, trying to guide the conversation away from his clashing teammates. He racked his brain for something to say, but couldn't think of anything. Damn it. Why isn't there a book on how to talk to people? Then, a memory from a few hours prior thundered into his head. "Where are we going?" he asked, recalling their conversation with Emperor.

Texas sighed. "Were you listening at all?"

Luke flushed. Mission failed. We'll get'em next time. "Uh… I mean, I wasn't not listening?"

She shook her head as she guided the RV around a corner. "Well, for those who weren't listening."

Grani shot Luke a pointed look.

Luke merely shrugged. Sorry, I had more important things to do.

"The first concert will be in the Imperial Capital. It's a major event scheduled to coordinate with the anniversary of the Imperial Family, so expect heavy foot traffic." Texas said with a huff. "After that, we'll travel to Ursus where Sora will perform in Chernobog and Deity Grypherburg. Then we'll return to Lungmen for a final concert."

Luke blinked owlishly. The tour was shorter than expected. "That's it?"

Sora nodded "Yep!"

"Any relevant information we should be aware of?" He looked behind him, opening the conversation to the rest of the RV. Maybe, just maybe, someone had something to talk about.

Texas's simple answer dashed any hope. "No."

"Kay… uh…" Luke wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. Couldn't they see he was trying to keep the ball rolling? The least they could do was meet him halfway and help avoid an awkward silence. His gaze wandered towards the window. Staring out, Luke realized the RV was standing still. They were at the end of a long line of vehicles that snaked its way towards the Lungmen gates. Damnit, not another line. It seemed as though there was a queue for everything in Lungmen—something he couldn't wrap his head around. There was no way so many people could be headed to the same place at the same time. What kind of coincidence was that?

"So, what's with the line?" He watched Texas take a long sip from her soda in silence. He couldn't help but feel slightly irritated by the action. She's doing this on purpose.

After what felt like minutes, Texas finally replaced her drink in its cup holder. "It's for outbound traffic—for vehicles leaving Lungmen."

A horrible sense of dread overcame him like a stone thrown into a river. Beautiful sapphire hair flashed before his eyes. "Please don't tell me there's another inspection."

Texas shook her head. "No. You should be fine."

A breath of relief left his chest. "Great, the last thing I need to see is that dastard of an officer again."

"Should have just removed the mask," Texas said, inching the RV forward.

Grani, having finished her meal, got up from the counter in the kitchenette and sat next to Luke. "She's got a good point," she said. "Why didn't you take off the mask? Seems like a lot of hassle could have been avoided."

Luke cursed mentally. Shit. He racked his brain for some kind—any kind of answer. Something that would explain my hesitation. Something they wouldn't question.

"It's a cultural tradition," he lied smoothly. "My people believe that exposing one's face is a sign of weakness. We only share our appearance with those who we are deeply intimate with."

Franka nodded slowly as though mulling over his explanation. "Interesting, I've never heard of such a culture."

Luke began to sweat bullets. Double shit. He rubbed the back of his head with a chuckle. "Uh… yeah, I'm not surprised. It's a… uh… Higashian thing." He glanced nervously out the window, searching for an escape from the difficult situation. For the first time in his life, Luke was relieved to be stuck in a queue. "Oh, hey! We're almost there!"

He had missed the Lungmen gates on his first visit, on account of Ch'en's invasive inspection, but now he had a perfect view of the towering spectacle. It was a marvel of steel, rising from the concrete jungle while pipes and cables crisscrossed overhead. It was a true marvel of engineering. The gate, while not spectacular in and of itself, was unique in its own way. The metallic fixture doubled as both a door and a boarding ramp. At least, it appeared to. For all he knew, there could be a second gate hidden somewhere in the wall.

"We can finally get the hell out of here. A second visit would be a lifetime too early." Luke finished with a grumble.

"I mean, we'll be back in a week or so. Which means another inspection," Grani said, reminding him of his impending doom.

"Don't remind me."

A sudden jolt pulled Luke from his novel. He looked up to see Texas looking back at them. "We should stop here for the night," she said.

Luke sighed with relief and pressed his forehead against a window. I hate deserts. They were stupid hot during the day and stupid cold at night, and that didn't even account for the sprawling monotony that was sand.

He gazed out at the landscape bathed in the setting sun. "Great, more sand," he muttered sarcastically. "If I knew this was what was waiting for me, I would have stayed in the mountains."

"It's not sand," Liskarm corrected from her table as she rose to her feet. "It's an igneous substrate formed over—"

"Oh my god! Who the hell cares?!" Luke cried, smacking the window with an open palm. "Geez, when Franka called you 'Honor Student' she really meant it, huh? All that matters is that it's boring and there's a fuck ton of it."

Grani slapped his wrist. "Hey…" she warned.

Luke flipped Liskarm the bird. "She started it!"

Grani grabbed the offending hand and forced it to his side with a disappointed frown. She looked up at him with a doleful expression. "Just try to get along, okay?"

A maelstrom of guilt enveloped him. Not for his spat with Liskarm, no—he couldn't care less for his tormentor, but for upsetting Grani? It felt like he had kicked a puppy. Luke bit his lip in an attempt to retain his righteous indignation. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was without her signature visor—she looked less like an officer and more like the young woman she was. "No, I—"

Her soft ears dropped low against her head. Large amethyst eyes bore holes through his heart, glimmering with unshed tears. "Please?"

Luke felt his resolve crumble beneath the crushing force of Grani's expression. "Ugh, fine."

Grani, still hiding his hand, squeezed it gently with an appreciative smile. "Thanks."

Luke felt heat rise to his face. He tore his hand from Grani's grasp and turned away, looking out at the setting sun. "S'no problem," he muttered.

"Oh my, what's this?" Franka teased with a drop of mischievousness in her voice. "Are you embarrassed? That's so adorable!"

The warmth reached the tip of his ears. "Am not!" he cried.

Exusiai stepped into the center of the RV, standing between them. "Alright, alright, let's not fight," she said with a close-eyed smile. "Let's have some fun in the dunes!"

Luke deflated with a tense sigh, forcing his anger out with his breath. "You know what? Sure. What do you have in mind?"

Without batting an eye, Exusiai exclaimed, "Shooting!"

"What?" Luke asked, blindsided by her sudden and unexpected response. However, he found himself on his feet before he could blink.

Whirling him around, Exusiai pushed him toward the front of the RV. "I'll show you! Texas, get the equipment ready!"

She nodded with a slight grin, no doubt looking forward to some light exercise after hours on the road. "Alright." She left the cab, walking past them and deeper into the RV.

"Wait, Exusiai!" Luke shouted as she practically threw him out of the RV. "I don't know how to shoot!" he said, stumbling in the sand.

Grani hopped out and over the stairs with her pike in hand, landing next to him. "Then I'll teach you!"

Exusiai, still holding his shoulders, poked her head around his wings. "And I'll help!"

"I'm down" Luke gently pushed against his fellow Angel, careful not to hurt her. "Just don't blame me for any injuries."

They smiled. "Great!"

"Hey, guys!" Turning around, Luke spotted Sora leaning out of a now-open window. "We're going to start preparing the beds, 'kay?"

"Alright!" Exusiai hollered back.

Luke bounced on the balls of his feet with anticipation. He was looking forward to some action. They had spent far too long sitting and twiddling their thumbs, and he was beginning to feel antsy. If only they had an Officer Ch'en-shaped target…

"Luke?" Grani called out to him.

Luke glanced down at his partner. "Yeah?"

She shook her head with a fond smile. "You're always getting lost in that head of yours."

"Sorry, just thinking about stuff," Luke said, feeling sheepish for getting caught in his thoughts again. "What did you say?"

Grani held out her rifle. "I was saying you could borrow my rifle," she chuckled. "Since you don't have a firearm."

"Seriously?" he asked, flattered that Grani trusted him with her precious weapon. "Thanks!" He took the firearm in his hands, testing its weight with a couple of bounces.

She nodded, causing her ears to flop forwards. "Mhm!"

Luke ran his hands over the rifle's sturdy material. Conclusion: Grani is an Angel. He thought, nodding to himself.

Texas reappeared atop the stairs leading into the RV, holding a drawstring bag. She tossed it in Exusiai's direction. "Here," she said before walking down the stairs.

Catching the bag, Exusiai's smile widened. "Thanks, Texas."

"No problem. Just don't get yourselves killed."

"No promises!" She about-faced and took an exaggerated step forward, jogging away from the RV at a moderate pace.

Luke watched her move farther and farther from where he, Grani, and Texas were standing. After about 30 paces, Exusiai stopped and opened the bag, dumping its contents out onto the sand. She plopped herself down beside it and began assembling some sort of stand.

Luke leaned towards Texas and asked, "What's she doing?"

"Building a target."

Sure enough, Exusiai stepped away from the stand, revealing a large cutout of a person. She hollered with a wave. "Okay! I'm ready!"

Luke flipped the rifle in his hands, inspecting it eagerly. "So, Grani, how do I do this?" he asked, fascinated by her weapon's craftsmanship.

Grani shrugged. "It's simple really," she said, aiming an imaginary rifle. "Point and shoot."

"Okay…" He held the weapon at eye level, tucking the butt of the rifle snugly between his arm and shoulder. He glanced up towards her. "Like this?"

She nodded with a smile. "Yeah! Just watch out for the reco—"

His wings and halo flickered like a dying light as he pulled the trigger. He heard Texas shouting, but it was drowned out by a sharp crack. Luke flinched at the sound, raising Grani's rifle at the last moment. His sudden motion launched the round into the air. It tumbled uncontrollably towards Exusiai who had ducked as though anticipating the oncoming projectile. It sailed over her halo, disappearing into the setting sun. He had experienced gunfire in movies, but this was completely different.

"I'm okay!" she shouted with a thumbs up and disheveled hair.

Grani pried the rifle from his hands. "Luke! You're going to kill someone!" She cried, severely distressed.

Luke raised a hand in protest. "You said point and shoot!" he shouted.

Texas shook her head with a sigh. "Not when someone's standing in front of you."

He felt immense embarrassment. "Oh," he muttered guiltily.

"Oh, I know!" Exusiai suddenly cried. "I'll be right back!" She cleared the distance between them and the target in seconds, disappearing into the RV.

Luke turned to face Grani who was looking up at himself "What?"

She sighed. "Nothing. It's just—you're the only person I know who would be so clumsy with a gun."

"Hey, I take offense to that." Luke thumped his chest with pride. "Who needs a gun when I can punch a hole through a sheet of metal?"

Grani snorted. "Good luck getting your first out of that hole without killing yourself."

Exusiai returned carrying a black, box-like firearm about the size of a pistol. "Here, try this!"

Luke raised a brow. "Why is it so small?"

"Who cares! Just give it a whirl!"

Luke shrugged and took the weapon in his hands. It had a decent weight to it, but nothing he couldn't handle. He held the gun out in front of him, as instructed, and pulled the trigger. A hail of bullets tore through the air, bisecting the target and throwing up a storm of dust and sand.

Luke paled. "No, definitely not." He quickly returned the gun to Exusiai. "I'll probably kill myself long before I nail the enemy—It's too unrefined. Might as well drop a bomb while I'm at it."

"Hey you three, wrap it up!" Luke looked over his shoulders, Franka was leaning against the door frame with an amused look on her face. "We have an early start tomorrow morning!"

Exusiai's face fell. "Aww… I didn't even get to shoot…"

Texas clapped her on the shoulder. "There's always tomorrow."

Exusiai perked up with a grin. "That's right! The faster I sleep, the faster tomorrow will come!" She began to disassemble the target. "Last one in's a rotten apple!"

Luke, Grani, and Texas, who were much closer to the RV, simply walked in, leaving behind a jeering Exusiai.

Luke sat on the topmost step and removed his shoes, clearing them of sand.

Franka, who was conversing with Liskarm, turned to address them. "Liskarm and I will take the back room as usual."

"I can sleep on the couch, I don't really care," Luke said while brushing the sand off his feet. Desperate footsteps caught his attention. Looking up, he saw Exusiai sprinting for the RV. He ducked as she jumped over him, landing right behind him.

"Holy hell, Exusiai, you could've killed me!"

If she heard him, she made no visible sign, as she continued the conversation as though she had been there the whole time. "Then Texas, Sora, and Grani will sleep on the bunk beds. Luke and I will sleep in the main room."

Grani stepped forward. "Wait, why can't you sleep in the remaining bunk? There's four of them?"

The two Sankta wordlessly pointed to their halos. Grani mouthed a silent "Oh."

Exusiai continued. "Any bunk preferences?"

Luke stood with a smirk. He placed a hand atop Grani's head, much to get chagrin. "Let Grani sleep in one of the bottom bunks, she rolls like a boat at sea."

Grani shook her head free of his hand and glared up at him. "I'm not that bad."

Unconvinced, Luke shrugged. "Just a suggestion, sort it out amongst yourselves. I just wanna sleep. This day cannot end any faster for me."

"Do you need the shower?" Franka asked.

"I'll take one in the morning." When everyone's asleep. Luke dragged his rollaboard over to the sofa towards the front of the RV. "Sleep's more important."

He pulled out his copy of Reconquista: the Religious Conflicts of Iberia and tucked himself in for a nice read before bed.

The next morning, Luke awoke at the crack of dawn. Better wash up before anyone wakes up. Careful not to wake Exusiai, he flipped off the sofa and crept into the bathroom, grabbing a change of clothes from his rollaboard beside the sofa.

After his shower, Luke stood before the small mirror, inspecting his reflection as he brushed his teeth. Could be worse. He thought to himself. His pupil-less eyes swept across his visage. I may be missing a nose, but at least I've got style! He pulled at his perpetually messy pearl-white hair. Luke hated how it never cooperated with him, but what could he do? Growing it out was out of the question—Long hair looked like hell to maintain. Not to mention that it would look terrible with his black wings and halo.

Satisfied, Luke rinsed his mouth and washed his face before folding his sleeping mask and stuffing it into his pajama pocket. He fixed his usual mask in place and stepped out of the bathroom.

He was startled by the gentle rhythm of a mixing spoon. Luke looked around the kitchenette and spotted Texas fixing herself a cup of coffee. "Oh. It's you. Hey."

Texas offered a groggy nod in response and walked towards a cushioned chair. She gracefully sat down without spilling a single drop of coffee. Setting her drink aside, Texas grabbed a remote and pointed toward the space before her. A TV swung down with a mechanical whir. Once in place, the screen flashed on, displaying the morning news.

Luke leaned against the counter to get a better view of the screen.

"This just in, another—" He couldn't hear the rest of the report as a dull thud echoed behind him, interrupting the broadcast. He turned to see Exusiai laying facedown on the floor off to his side, apparently having rolled out of her sofa. Regardless, her face plant hadn't dampened her mood, as she sprung to her feet and pranced into the kitchenette.

"Morning!" she greeted with a casual salute.

"Morning." Luke and Texas mumbled.

Exusiai reached into the fridge and poured herself a glass of apple juice. She stood beside Luke, sipping from her cup and watching the TV. "Whazzat?" she asked, leaning forward against the counter to get a better view. "Did someone's cat go missing?"

"No, mass murder, actually," Texas corrected between sips of coffee. "Five members of a girl band were found dead… each of them brutally dismembered with their remains burned in a pit."

Exusiai slowly lowered her cup, placing it on the counter. Any amusement had drained from her face, leaving behind a grim frown unbefitting her usual demeanor. She silently glared out at the space before her.

The severity of the news shocked Luke awake. "I'm sorry, where is this happening?"

Texas threw a lazy look over her shoulder. "The Capital."

Chapter Text

Book I Chapter 10: Sora’s Conviction

Luke couldn't tear his eyes away from the screen, each word from the broadcast anchored itself in his mind.

"The Imperial Guard has received an anonymous letter from the alleged murderer," the newscaster announced. "They warn that last night's massacre is merely a prelude, and caution all performers to reconsider participating in the upcoming celebration. Investigators are now in a race against time to determine the credibility of these threats."

For a moment, the room was dead silent except for the hum of the TV.

"What the—," Exusiai finally broke the silence, her words laced with disbelief as she looked at the others.

Texas, her brow furrowed, began massaging her temples. "This just added a new layer of complexity to an already complicated situation," she continued, her voice tinged with annoyance.

Exusiai hummed, drumming the side of her cup with her fingernails. "Feasibility aside, we also have to consider—"

"I'm going."

Luke turned, following the voice to find Sora at the far end of the RV. Her gaze was fixed on the TV screen, her eyes ablaze with an unyielding spirit.

Texas let out a weary sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Sora, I get it—you want to perform. But consider the risks involved. There will be other opportunities."

Sora's golden hair fluttered wildly as she shook her head, her eyes never leaving Texas's. "No. I'm going on that stage."

"Sora, it's too dangerous," Exusiai interjected, concern threading through her words.

"I don't care!" She snapped.

As though on cue, Franka scurried into the main room followed by Liskarm.

"What's going on?"

Luke nodded towards the TV screen. "An idol group from Yan was massacred in the Imperial City, or something? The authorities are suspecting a targeted attack."

Franka's eyes widened, and she reached for her mouth. "That's horrifying."

Liskarm took a step closer, gently laying her hand on Sora's shoulder. "Given the circumstances, perhaps it's fair to reconsider performing. I'm sure your fans would understand."

Sora shrugged her hand aside. "You don't know my fans!" she cried. "This means the world to us. If my voice can bring even a sliver of joy, then every risk is worth taking."

An awed silence fell over the RV, charged with the weight of her words. Luke found himself reevaluating Sora. There was a fierce commitment in her stance that he couldn't help but respect. It was as if she was channeling the collective desire of every person who had ever believed in her.

Finally, he broke the silence. "I say we let her perform."

Liskarm's head snapped toward Luke, disbelief etched across her face. "Have you lost your mind?"

Unfazed, Luke rolled his uninjured eye.

"Listen to yourself!" she shouted. "We have information on a legitimate threat, and you're suggesting we ignore it?"

"And what would you have us do? Run with our tails between our legs?" Luke pulled himself to his full height, challenging her to disagree. "It's obvious they're trying to scare us into submission," he asserted. "If we back down now, we'll just give them what they want. That's for sure."

"On what grounds?" Liskarm growled, her voice simmering with frustration. "You're making sweeping judgments without anything concrete to back them up."

"Concrete? Like your so-called 'credible' information?" Luke countered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Though he knew she had a point, he would rather meet his end than concede to her. "From where I'm standing, the line between a legitimate threat and a bluff looks pretty thin."

Liskarm drew near, her eyes burning with a ferocious intensity. "You're being irresponsible."

Luke pulled back with a scoff. "I think it's irresponsible to ignore Sora's feelings on the matter!"

"And are you saying that you considered her feelings?"

"Maybe we should just ask her what she wants, don't you think?"Their heads swiveled toward Sora, whose determined eyes met theirs .

The idol crossed her arms beneath her chest. "I won't be intimidated by anyone," she proclaimed. "The show stops for no one—not even death!"

Luke grinned smugly. "See?" Liskarm's icy glare met his victorious gaze; the air between them thick with unsaid words.

Franka stepped between them, gently nudging them apart. "Isn't this a familiar scene," she mused, elbowing Liskarm playfully. "Reminds me of that time you stormed into the forest, despite all warnings."

Liskarm reared back, blushing furiously. "T-That's a completely different story! I was worried about you and—"

Franka laughed and slapped her partner's back."Oh, so you were concerned? Finally admitting it, after all these years…" she wept mockingly, dabbing at fake tears with an imaginary handkerchief.

"Ugh! I—"

Luke shrugged. "Look, it's risky, but we've got Sora's back. Unless you doubt your own abilities to keep her safe," he taunted, his lips curving into a sly grin.

Liskarm bristled, her eyes narrowing to slits. "You insolent—"

Texas drank deeply from her cup of coffee before setting it down on the table before her with a soft sigh. "There's no use fighting over it. If she wants to perform, then she will perform, with or without us. It'd be safer if we all went."

She looked up at the operators from Rhodes Island. "But a word of warning, this isn't what you signed up for. If you want to turn back, then you'd better speak up. There won't be a second chance once we cross the desert."

Luke flashed an irreverent grin. "Miss out on the excitement? Not a chance."

Liskarm pushed past Franka to confront him. "This isn't a drill, Luke. Real lives, including yours, are at stake."

"And you think I don't understand that?" Their eyes locked in a battle of wills, neither willing to back down.

Just then, Grani, still in her food-themed pajamas, ambled sleepily into the room, shattering any semblance of tension like a pin to a balloon. "So cold…" she mumbled, nestling between Luke and Exusiai. Their stern expressions softened as she squeezed in.

Franka chuckled. "It's decided then—we're all going."

The next morning, Luke found himself sitting next to Grani as they watched the Imperial scenery fly by. They had just passed an inspection, and thankfully, due to Sora's influence, he had managed to avoid any violent confrontations with corrupt officials. Not that Luke was above greasing an officer's hand with a couple thousand LMD, because he wasn't, but the "I know Sora" card could come in handy in the future…

"So this is the Imperial Capital…" Grani gasped with awe, her eyes following the oriental architecture. The RV slowed as it passed through an ornate gate with a golden-red sign that read The Imperial Hotel . Grani turned to look up at him. "Everything's so different compared to Victoria. We didn't have this many street vendors back home."

"Victoria's on the opposite side of the globe," Luke replied with a grin. "I would be surprised if they looked remotely alike, and the street vendors—best food in all of Terra—nothing like the crap they serve in restaurants."

"That, I believe," Exusiai chimed in as she joined them. She gestured towards an imposing edifice. "Our hotel, by the way."

"You're kidding! It's enormous!" Grani exclaimed.

"It befits its 'Imperial' name," Luke noted, himself taken aback by its grandeur. As indifferent as he seemed, he himself was impressed with the hotel's majestic design. Unlike the few hotels he had seen, the Imperial Hotel wasn't rectangular, but rather U-shaped with the porte-cochère and valet located at the rounded end of the building. The two front doors were revolving (much to his excitement) and opened up to a brilliant lobby of granite, marble, and stainless steel.

Grani tugged at his jacket. "Do you reckon they have a swimming pool?" she asked excitedly, her eyes twinkling with wonder.

Luke shrugged. "Probably. I find it hard to believe that such an opulent hotel wouldn't have a pool."

Texas pulled into the porte-cochère and parked the RV. "You know what to do." She pulled a lever, opening the front doors. "I'll catch up with you later."

"Do we ever!" Exusiai cheered with a mock salute. She hopped from her seat and rushed out the doors.

"Come, let's go," Franka urged with a wave. "We have about thirty minutes before we have to meet our guide. That should be enough time to find our rooms, if we hurry." She turned and made for the exit.

Luke trailed behind her. "Shouldn't we take our luggage?" he inquired as they exited the RV, their feet meeting the solid ground. "We should bring them inside."

She dismissed the idea with a shake of her head. "No need. The hotel staff will handle our bags. Just bring what's important to you."

"Like our weapons?"

"Unless you plan on entering combat unarmed, I'd recommend it," Liskarm responded. Arms folded, she stood sentinel-like by the RV door. Sora peeked over her shoulder, wearing a grin.

Grani was the last to exit. Maneuvering past Liskarm, she hopped out with her pike firmly grasped.

Catching sight of her weapon, Luke nodded appreciatively. "Point taken."

"Get a move on!" Exusiai shouted from ahead.

Embarrassed, Luke turned and scurried back into the RV, slipping past Liskarm without a second glance. He picked out Murakumo with ease—It was hard to miss its golden handle, and with his spare blade nearby, collecting his weapons was a trivial task.

He would have liked to leave Murakumo back at the landship, but Septimus had explicitly stated that the sword was to never leave his side. He hadn't the foggiest idea why his father was so adamant in his demand. It wasn't like the sword was useful for anything.

Neither he nor Septimus had ever been able to draw the blade, and while its ornate, ebony sheath was a sight to behold, the sword was more like a good luck charm than a weapon. Realizing he had gotten lost in his thoughts again, Luke hurriedly fastened the two swords to his hip: Murakumo on his left, and the other blade on his right, and left the RV.

By the time he had returned, Franka had already retrieved her sword and was waiting patiently off to the side.

Grani nudged his arm, smiling playfully. "Terra to Luke: You there?"

Luke returned the gesture with a salute, imitating Grani's trademark stance. "Copy that, Captain."

She chuckled with a warm smile. "Just checking."

"Everyone ready?" Exusiai asked.

Luke nodded. He had to admit, he was looking forward to a long bath after more than two days on the road.

"Awesome, let's get going! We'll catch'ya later, Texas!" She spun on the balls of her feet and marched toward the hotel's grand entrance with Sora right behind her.

Sharing a quick nod of agreement, Luke and Grani wasted no time in following suit. Together, they traversed the porte-cochère and approached the hotel's main entrance.

A tall, well dressed valet approached them with a shallow bow. "Will you be checking in today?"

Exusiai shook her head. "It should be taken care of. By the way, don't worry about our ride." She jerked her thumb over her shoulder and toward the RV. "Our driver's got it handled."

The valet followed her thumb and jumped slightly at the sight of the gaudy vehicle. His eyes flicked back and forth before landing on Sora's golden hair. "Oh, Madame Sora! The Prima Donna's waiting for you inside." He took a quick look at the group, taking particular interest in their weapons. He nodded to himself. "I assume they are your escorts?"

Luke glanced over his shoulder toward Franka who merely shrugged. So much for finding our rooms. He thought bitterly

Sora's smile caused the attendant to blush fiercely. "Yes, they are."

The valet coughed into his fist. "Very well. Head on in."

Luke led the way through the revolving door. A part of him yearned to push as hard as he could, however, he knew such antics wouldn't be appreciated by his team—Liskarm in particular. Regrettably, his brief escapade ended as he set foot on the opulent, white marble floor of the lobby.

"Oh! Miss Sora, what a pleasant surprise." They looked up to see a middle aged woman rushing towards them with an elderly man in tow. "It's fortunate we arrived ahead of schedule," the woman said as she neared.

Sora returned her wave with a smile of her own. "Madame Evelyn. It's always a relief to see you," she said with a curtsy and a teasing grin.

Evelyn playfully swatted the idol over her head. "Oh, you." She chuckled and turned to the rest of the group. "Pardon me, where are my manners? My name is Evelyn Valois. I am a Victorian Prima Donna, as well as Sora's old dance instructor. I've known the girl for many years. She's practically a daughter to me," she said with an affectionate smile.

"Nowadays, I act as her liaison. It's my job to ensure her concert runs as smoothly as possible. As always, it's nice to see a few familiar faces: Miss Franka, Miss Liskarm, and Miss Exusiai—always a pleasure." She paused. "It appears we also have some newcomers. Would you be so kind as to introduce yourselves?"

Grani stood at attention with a stiff salute. "My name is Grani! Formerly of the Victorian Mounted Police. I am here on the invitation of Franka and Liskarm. It's a pleasure to meet you!"

"The pleasure is mine." Evelyn chuckled, amused by Grani's discipline. "The Mounted Police you say…? They're quite famous. We're certainly safe with you around." Grani preened under her praise, straightening her back with a proud smile on her face.

The Prima Donna turned her attention toward Luke. "Looks like you brought a strapping young lad with you this time."

Luke took that as his cue to introduce himself. "My name's Luke, and I'm her partner," he said, jerking a thumb toward Grani. "I'm basically an observer."

Evelyn chuckled. "Direct and to the point. It's nice to meet you, Mr. Luke."

The old man standing behind Evelyn cleared his throat, causing her to roll her eyes with a thin, wry smile. "Oh, act your age, Andy," she chided with a hint of amusement.

The old man moved to speak but remained silent. Grani and Luke exchanged awkward glances while Evelyn merely shook her head. She seemed used to it. "An old man like me can only be this happy once in a lifetime, Eve," he said after a short silence.

Evelyn sighed with a smile. "Yes, I suppose. Allow me to introduce you to your guide." She stepped aside, allowing the man to step forward. "This is Minister Antonio, a long time friend of mine. He's the pastor presiding over the Imperial celebrations," she suppressed a giggle with her hand. "And an avid fan of Sora."

The old man was the picture of a wise mentor. With a short gray beard and a friendly face, he leaned on a thick wooden cane as he approached Sora with graceful steps. Perhaps it was due to his age, but Antonio continued to speak with a slight delay. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Sora. My late son was very fond of your music. Unfortunately, he passed on recently due to complications with Oripathy."

Luke sensed a palpable shift in the group's atmosphere. Both Franka and Liskarm appeared visibly unsettled by the mention of the term. Even Grani and Exusiai looked disheartened. His brow furrowed. Oripathy? He recalled Dr. Warfarin had mentioned the disease in passing, and he had stumbled upon a few references to it in his readings. However, his understanding of the condition was rather limited, as he had never personally encountered anyone afflicted with it. His upbringing had been one of seclusion and relative isolation.

"As for me," the old man continued, "I found solace in your music following his passing. It helped me grapple with my grief in the wake of his passing. For that, I'm eternally grateful."

Sora responded with an empathetic smile. "I should be thanking you. There were moments when I was on the verge of quitting, succumbing to the criticism." She tenderly held the pastor's hand. "But realizing that my voice could be a source of light for others—that gave me the strength to keep going. As Madame Evelyn often puts it: 'Some people need more light than others...'"

"So make extra," Sora and Evelyn spoke simultaneously.

"So make extra." Antonio chimed in a beat late. The three exchanged a glance and laughed.

"You were late, Andy. Your age must be catching up with you," Evelyn noted, smiling.

Luke chuckled to himself at the elderly man's delayed response. I hope I don't do that when I get older.

Evelyn took a moment to catch her breath. "Are you prepared for tonight's performance?" she asked Sora.

Sora nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I've been looking forward to it for a while now."

Evelyn chuckled. Reaching into her handbag, she pulled out four paper brochures. "I reserved four rooms as requested by Miss Texas: Three doubles and a single—room 3004." she said, handing the brochures to Exusiai. "While I'd love to catch up with everyone, I'm afraid I have important work at the venue. The stage won't prepare itself."

Antonio nodded. "Indeed. I'll remain in the lobby for the time being. There are other guests I must attend to. We're expecting some rather big names from Lungmen." He tapped his cane against the marbled floor and straightened his back. "If you are in need of my assistance, please call the front desk. They'll patch you through to me. I look forward to working with you during the festivities." With that the elderly man bowed lightly and hobbled away with Evelyn right beside him.

Luke glanced at Exusiai. "I'm guessing the single room is mine?" he ventured. Given the closeness of the RV, it made sense; he and Grani had inadvertently shared a bed a few days ago, but that didn't mean they should share a room. Their dorm rooms, he reasoned, were essentially single spaces.

Exusiai shrugged. "Probably. Doesn't really matter to me."

"It does to me," he replied, taking the brochure labeled 3004. "I'm sure you all want your privacy after two days in an RV."

As they spoke, Luke and Exusiai failed to notice a shadowy figure detaching itself from one of the lobby's darker recesses. With furtive glances, the figure glided away, disappearing into the labyrinthine corridors of the hotel.

A cloaked messenger burst through ancient, decaying wooden doors. The sharp snap of splintering wood echoing throughout the cavernous chamber. The messenger raced across the dimly lit room. His boots sent ripples bounding through murky puddles, as he stomped through the stagnant water. The messenger skidded to a halt before an imposing stone dais covered in cryptic symbols, kneeling hastily on the cold, wet ground.

"Father," the messenger gasped, his breath ragged from exertion. "Sora has checked into the Imperial Hotel and rendezvoused with her escorts. Our operatives are shadowing her every move. Shall we engage?"

From atop the stone dais, a skeletal figure emerged from the shadows. His ancient hands delicately cradled a flickering candle, as if holding a fragile life between his fingers. With a sardonic grin, he allowed the flame to dance and caress his gnarled, veiny palms. "Haste makes waste, my child," he intoned softly, his voice dripping with condescension. "We have time on our side. Let's not squander it."

The messenger slammed a fist into a puddle at their feet. Water splashed all over the figure's robes. "Father, you're being too passive!" The messenger cried. "The time is ripe to eliminate her. Why hesitate?"

Unperturbed, the Father calmly patted his robes dry as he descended the dais to approach the messenger, his eyes locked onto his subordinate's. "Do not underestimate the Imperial Government. Should she be killed now, her death would simply be another state secret. Better to strike when denial becomes impossible."

The messenger inhaled sharply, realization dawning on them. "The concert?"

The Father's lips twisted into a sinister smile. "Precisely."

"And what of her entourage?"

The Father waved dismissively. "Inconsequential. They will soon realize that any breadcrumb of information they manage to glean from the situation will only lead them into a labyrinth of deceit." He gestured with a flick of his wrist, as if swatting away a nuisance. "Leave me. This technique is difficult to maintain."

The messenger bowed deeply, his form shrouded in a mix of reverence and fear. "As you command, Father."

Chapter Text

Book I Chapter 11: Postcards from Hell

Luke slipped his plastic keycard into his door, and pushed it open. His heart skipped a beat; it was his luggage, sitting quietly in the brilliantly lit room. It was unexpected, yet exactly as Franka had predicted. 

Well, I’ll be… he thought in disbelief. However, a lurking doubt remained, persisting in the corner of his mind: How could the hotel distinguish one guest's luggage from another? Whatever . It wasn’t his place to scrutinize the hotel’s logistics. Deciding to throw caution to the wind, he stepped inside, locking the door behind him.

Luke flopped belly-first onto his bed, sinking gently into its plush embrace. He exhaled deeply as a wave of exhaustion washed over him. The tension in his muscles gradually dissipated, draining from his body like a river of sweet molasses. For a fleeting moment, he let the cacophony of the world below grow soft and distant. The vibrant pulses of the city and his persistent anxieties seemed to melt into insignificance. 

Gravity, with her magnetic arms, wrapped her chains around his body, refusing to let him go. The simple idea of moving seemed like a herculean task. 

Gradually, he took in his surroundings. The large room featured polished wooden floors that gleamed in the afternoon sun, contrasting with pristine white walls that created a warm, yet modern ambiance. The lack of partitioning in the minimalistic layout gave the room an open feel, making it seem larger than it truly was. 

He appreciated the ensuite bathroom, but his eyes were drawn to a kitchen nestled in the corner opposite of the balcony—an unexpected delight in his temporary haven. 

Luke eyed the room's dresser, toying with the idea of neatly folding away his clothing. “What's the point?” he mused. “I'll be out of here in a few days.” The thought of simply rummaging through his suitcase each morning held a rebellious allure. After all, Grani wouldn't know.

His phone suddenly buzzed to life, jolting him out of his stupor. Looking at the screen, he noticed a text from Franka. "Come to room 3001?" He sighed, his visions of a long, relaxing bath—crushed within seconds. 

However, Franka wasn’t one for frivolous summons. It’s probably important. He pushed himself off the bed and made his way to the door, his steps heavy and unhurried.

Luke approached door “3001”  and knocked lightly, expecting to be greeted by Franka's friendly demeanor. Instead, he was met by Grani's stern expression. 

The lines on her face seemed to tighten further as she took in his appearance. "Have you unpacked everything? Squared it all away?”

Luke paused, remembering the unopened luggage in his room. "Well, more or less," he admitted, attempting to lighten the mood with a smile.

Her eyes narrowed.. "Uh Huh… Just be aware," she remarked coolly, stepping aside to let him in, "This is Sora's space, I expect you to respect that, so don’t make a mess. Got it?"

Luke nodded. "Understood."

Sora's room was immediately apparent in its grandeur. It was opulent, easily dwarfing Luke's suite in size. The space was less befitting of a hotel and more like a lavish apartment, exuding class and luxury fit for a global icon like her.

The heart of the suite was dominated by a posh common area bathed in the warm afternoon sun. Texas and Exusiai sat in plush, ornate chairs, engaging in casual conversation, punctuated by the clink of soda cans. Above them, a delicate chandelier cast a golden glow, capturing the fine mist from their freshly opened beverages.

Off to the side, the full kitchen boasted cutting-edge appliances. Liskarm stood there, her full figure silhouetted against the dim under-cabinet lighting, seemingly lost in thought. Sora, the star, sat on one of the chic bar stools lining the kitchen island. She twirled her drink delicately with a distant gaze, and a small wrinkle on her brow.

Franka stood before a sweeping floor-to-ceiling window. Framed by the azure sky, she stood with one hand on her hip while the other traced an outline on the window, seemingly engrossed in the panoramic urban splendor.

As Luke crossed the room, he caught the attention of Texas and Exusiai. Exusiai offered a warm smile and a wave, while Texas merely nodded subtly.

"You rang?" he quipped.

Franka lips curved in a sly smile. "Luke. Right on time. How do you feel about a lunchtime adventure?"

"Color me intrigued."

Luke noticed Franka toying with a vibrantly illustrated postcard nonchalantly. He was captivated almost instantly. 

The imagery on the card depicted a classic Yanese panorama: soaring mountains touching the heavens, a tranquil river below reflecting the forms of historic pagodas and willow trees. Against the backdrop of a setting sun, cranes gracefully flew, their silhouettes stark and captivating. Scattered throughout the landscape, fishermen on bamboo rafts set their nets, while the traditional houses of Yan, characterized by their distinctive roofs, were nestled quietly amidst terraced paddies.

"What a beautiful painting. The bold lines, and this color… This is the work of Madame Ling! Where’d you get it? I might get one of my own." Luke inquired of her.

Franka glanced at her watch, her tone indifferent. “Oh, this?” She chuckled. “I didn’t take you for a fan of the arts. A bellhop handed this over a moment ago—said it was for Sora.” She continued, noting the handwritten script on the back. “There was a message for her as well.”

"Dearest Sora," she began, her tone filled with amusement.

"In spring's embrace, many bask in Lungmen's breeze or tread Shangshu's ancient paths, yet you alone are drifting. You stood at a crossroads, and have taken the right path: The golden bridge awaits your arrival. Beware: Amass a store of gold and jade, and no one can protect it. Claim wealth and titles, and disaster will follow. Oversharpen a blade, and the edge will soon blunt. Being at one with the Way is eternal. And though the body dies, the Way will never pass."

As Franka read aloud, Luke felt a gnawing unease deep within him. An old Yanese proverb from one of his favorite poets whispered back to him: "The five colors blind the eye. Therefore the wise are guided by what they feel and not by what they see.”

"Could I see that?" Luke interjected, extending his hand. 

Franka, noting the shift in his demeanor, handed him the postcard with a frown. "Something bothering you? I mean, it's eccentric, but perhaps it's just a fan reminding Sora to remain humble?" She massaged her chin in thought. 

Luke’s brow furrowed with contemplation. "Franka," he began, his tone hesitant, "These poems—they sound familiar. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s more to this than meets the eye. Yanese proverbs shouldn’t be taken at face value.”

A stray strand of Franka’s chocolate-colored hair fluttered about, tickling his cheek as she shook her head. “You’re the last person I expected to hear that from! I think you’re overthinking things,” she said with a reassuring grin. Luke, however, wasn’t convinced, but Franka was an experienced operator, and in his mind, far more level-headed than Liskarm. 

He crossed his arms in resignation. “Maybe…”

Sensing his hesitation, Frank wrapped an arm around his shoulders, pulling him down to her height. “Tell you what?” she asked, serving him a dazzling smile that sparkled under the sun. “Why don’t we get ourselves some lunch? You’ll feel much better after a hearty meal.”

Luke looked away, not too keen on having certain assets pressed against his arm. “Well I’m not too hungry, but—”

“Great!” Franka exclaimed. If she had heard him, then she had decided to ignore him. “Let’s order room service!”

“Should we invite Father Antonio?” Exusiai asked. 

Sora flashed a brilliant smile. “That’s a great idea! We can ask him about places to visit in between concerts!”

Texas nodded towards a phone sitting on a nightstand next to Exusiai. “Call the front desk: Check if he’s free.”

“You got it!”

With his team preoccupied with arranging lunch, Luke’s mind began to wander. He couldn’t help but feel that there was more to the postcard than met the eye. There were many unanswered questions: who sent the card, and more importantly, how did they know where Sora was staying? That wasn’t the kind of information someone could simply look up. Questions aside, the postcard itself was unnerving. You stood at a crossroads, and have taken the right path: The golden bridge awaits your arrival. Those words tickled his brain, like an itch he couldn’t scratch. They were so eerily familiar, and the mere thought of them sent nervous jitters down his spine. They were definitely analects from his favorite poet, Madame Ling. 

Curious… He pondered. First a painting by Madame Ling, and then her prose… If only he could remember what they meant! I’m better than this! How could you forget her words!? It tormented him endlessly. Regardless, one thing was clear to him; the sender was closer than expected. 

“…uke, Luke?”

Luke’s pupils narrowed, struggling to focus on the waving arm before him. The world around him sharpened as he blinked. “Wha…?” he droned out, bereft of words.

Grani stopped waving her arm with a sharp huff. “Finally!” she pouted. “I swear, I’ve been trying to get your attention for the past ten minutes!”

“Two minutes.” Texas corrected cooly.

Grani continued unabated. “Hungry?”

The mere thought of lunch drew a gag from the depths of Luke’s stomach. “I’ll pass. I’m still full from breakfast.”

Exusiai shrugged as she plucked the phone from its receiver, tucking it between her shoulder and ear. “Suit yourself,” she said while punching in the room service number. “Hi, I’d like to request some room service…” her cheerful tone faded into obscurity as Luke shifted his attention away from the angel and toward his partner standing beside him. He realized she wasn’t wearing her usual brown and blue attire, but rather a pine green coat with white stripes that hugged her curves perfectly.

“Holy crap, you’re not in uniform…” he muttered, astonished by her sense of style. He had to admit—Grani certainly cleaned up well.

She rolled her eyes. “Did you just notice?” 

“Give me a break, I’ve slept on a sofa for the past three days, and I can barely move my head without my neck snapping like a twig.”

A knock on the door interrupted their brief exchange. “That must be Father Antonio,” Franka said. She excused herself and scurried over to the door, opening it with a smile and wave

“Long time no see!” The minister greeted jovially. “I hardly recognize you!” 

“Oh please, Father,” Franka chided. “It hasn’t even been a day!”

“You must have a busy day ahead of you,” Father Antonio commented as he shrugged off his coat. Walking into the room, the elderly man hooked his outerwear on a nearby coat hanger. “I must thank you for placing my order in my stead.”

“No problem!” Exusiai replied with a one-eyed smile. “Rehearsals and setup take awhile, so we only have two hours at best. I figured the sooner we ordered, the more time we’d have to relax.”

“Room service!” A boyish voice called from the hallway. 

“Well, bless my timing.” Antonio chuckled.

Liskarm pushed off of the kitchen island seamlessly. “I’ll get it.” She volunteered. Liskarm strode over to the door and held it open. The smell of various mouth watering food wafted into the room, assaulting Luke’s senses before he could even catch a glimpse of the service boy. Liskarm stepped aside, allowing a smartly dressed bellhop to push a large service cart into the room. He stopped beside the kitchen and began to swiftly unload the plates onto the kitchen island. 

“Be careful,” he warned as he removed the final dish from the cart. “The plates are still hot.”

Liskarm nodded in appreciation. For a short moment, the room was filled with a chorus of “Thank you’s.” 

Embarrassed, the hotel worker hurriedly left the room with his cart.

Father Antonio wandered over to the island with his hands behind his back, inspecting the food set out before him. “Oh, who ordered the Chicken Piccata?” he asked with a nostalgic smile. “My mother used to cook this when I was but a boy.”

Sora raised a hand with a proud grin, as though happy she had reminded the old man of fonder times. “That’s mine.”

The old man nodded appreciatively. “You have wonderful taste, Miss Sora.”

“Thank you!”

Without further delay, the group convened around the kitchen island, sitting before their meals while Luke stood off to the side content with watching them eat

“Pancakes!” Grani cheered. However, a second, aggressive knock on the door interrupted her before she could tuck in. Confused, Luke turned toward the disturbance; they weren’t expecting another guest. Moments later, as though answering their silent question, the mysterious interloper slipped a card beneath the door.

Luke cursed under his breath, a knot forming at the bottom of his gut—another postcard. He hadn’t read the letter, and yet, he had a sneaking suspicion that it wasn’t fan mail. Its appearance only confirmed his nagging concern that Franka had so easily brushed aside: Someone was after Sora. “That’s not good…” he muttered.

“Another love letter,” Texas grumbled, finding the card to be a mere nuisance. She silently excused herself from the dining table and stalked across the room with swift steps, her tail flicking with irritation. Sighing, she crouched down to pick up the postcard.

After a brief pause, Texas’s tail bristled with anger. “Tch.” 

“What’s wrong?” Exusiai asked, concerned.

“Sora, my dearest,” Texas read distastefully. 

“I can’t help But notice how you’ve yet to leave the hotel. I suggest you start packing if you want to live to see another day. I hope you enjoyed your meal of chicken piccata over rice, for it will be your last.” She flipped the card over to reveal a photo of herself leaving the RV. 

“What a load of shit.” She tore the postcard in two, casting a savage snarl over her shoulder toward the dining table. 

Luke had never seen such an emotional display from Texas, and by their reactions, neither had the rest of his team. Her slender lips twitched as she fought to maintain control of her emotions, revealing a set of visceral fangs. He could tell she was struggling to control her anger—fighting against her instincts, but Luke would be a fool to assume anger was the only emotion she was fighting—No: There was something more.

Her tail hung low, bristling out behind her, and yet, its tip reached up as though begging for help.

She was afraid.

Of what—that was beyond him. If he had to hazard a guess, he’d guess she was afraid of what she would do to the postcard’s author. Crude, but something he could relate with. He felt a sudden urge to console his acquaintance; but who was he to comfort someone he shared a professional relationship with? Someone he barely knew. Wouldn’t that be creepy? After all, he wouldn’t want someone butting into his business.

Screw it, Luke thought as he pushed off the wall. Nothing good could come from whatever she was feeling. He approached Texas without a second thought, much to Exusiai’s concern.

“Luke, wai—” She reached out as he passed, but Luke danced around her grasp, stopping right behind Texas.

What the hell am I doing?! He thought in a panic. He was a shut-in—a loner! He knew absolutely nothing about consoling others. His only therapeutic experience was the frequent sessions he had with the Old Man. 

With a sigh, Luke resigned himself to whatever fate awaited him, and placed his hands on her shoulders, just as his adopted father did to him. “You’re better than this.”

He felt Texas flinch beneath his firm grasp. She whipped her head in his direction, throwing a glare hotter than the Sargonian sun over her shoulder. “Don’t touch—” 

“Anger born from hatred is a sin—from love: a virtue. You are not your sins, not yet.” 

Texas’s tail slackened against his knee, falling to a more neutral position. Luke felt her shoulders relax for a moment before she wrenched herself from his grasp, and stalked across the room. She stood before the window with her arms crossed, gazing out at the city silently.

Luke let out a breath he didn’t know he had been holding, and leaned against the door. Could have been worse.

Franka cupped her chin with the palm of her hand and hummed, breaking the room’s stunned silence. “So, the sender knows we haven’t left. Then that means…”

“The sender must be a member of staff,” Liskarm finished. “Only someone who works for the hotel would have access to visitor records.”

A reasonable conclusion . Luke thought, but found himself at odds with Liskarm’s assertion. It was too simple—too obvious. If visitors weren’t allowed to mingle in the hotel’s lobby, then yes, he could see why the culprit could be someone who works for the hotel. However, not only were visitors allowed to sit around in the lobby, but the lobby was technically open to the public. Sure, no sane person would randomly loiter around in one the capital's most luxurious hotels, but there also wasn’t anything stopping them from doing so. If they considered the fact that the sender knew Sora hadn’t left as evidence of guilt, then the entire city was suspect. 

Luke shook his head. “We can’t assume that,” he said suddenly, startling the room. “Anyone could sit in the lobby and watch people come and go—even a random bum.”

Franka frowned, the wind blown from her sails. “He has a point…”

“A fair statement,” Father Antonio replied. “However, even if Miss Sora had left the hotel, the sender couldn’t claim she had checked out without the proper knowledge. Unfortunately, it seems the culprit does, indeed, lurk amongst the hotel staff.” Luke crossed his arms and leaned back against the door. He couldn’t argue with him there. 

“Also, the sender knew what Sora had for lunch. A ‘random bum’,” Liskarm said with air quotes, “wouldn’t have access to that information.”

What she said made sense, however, Luke wasn’t fully convinced. Something felt off. Perhaps it was his desperate bias against Liskarm, or he was upset that she had soundly defeated him in a debate. Whatever it was, he didn’t like it.

Still facing the window, Texas spoke. “Father Antonio, would it be possible to have a list of hotel staff written up for us?” she asked.

Antonio rubbed his gray beard with a hum. “Yes, it’s possible… but the hotel is so large, I fear a list of employees would be hundreds if not thousands of entries long.”

Exusiai snapped her fingers. “What if we limit it to those who work at the front desk and the kitchen?” she proposed with a grin. “Then we could cross examine the lists and filter out employees who work both jobs!”

Inspired, Antonio nodded enthusiastically, his eyes shining like fireflies dancing in the night. “Yes! That could work!” He pulled an old flip phone from his shirt’s pocket and dialed a number. The room hung in silence as they waited for him to complete his call. 

After what felt like an eternity, Father Antonio’s face brightened with visible excitement. He gestured frantically for a pen and paper. Thinking fast, Liskarm produced her notepad and pen from her jacket. Together they took note of every employee who worked at both reception and in the kitchen. 

Tearing a page from her notebook, Liskarm walked up to Luke, and handed him the page. “Don’t lose it,” she instructed harshly. “We’re going to help Sora prepare for dress rehearsals. In the meantime, I want you to search for these people.”

Luke took the slip of paper with a nod. “Got it.” Walking up to the kitchen island, he seized his partner by the arm and pulled her from the bar stool. “Let’s go.”

“But my pancakes…” Grani whined pitifully as she stumbled after him.

“Your pancakes can wait, Grani!” 

Luke felt a groan claw its way out of his throat: To call the ballroom “packed” would be a severe understatement. The occupants were so numerous that Luke was starting to feel claustrophobic. “Alright, who's first on the list?” he asked with a frown.

Concerned, Grani pressed her ears against her head “Ugh… God, I’m going to butcher these names...” she bemoaned. “Laozi?” 

Luke shrugged “Close enough.” Luke peered out at the sea of people milling about the spacious room. “Wish we had pictures of these people. It would definitely make things a lot easier.” 

“Maybe we should ask the host’s desk?” Grani suggested.

Luke hummed. It was the obvious solution, but would the workers help? If he was in their shoes, he’d tell Grani to shove it. Besides, Luke was fairly sure that handing out customer information was against the law. “Under whose authority? I don’t think they’ll listen to us.”

Grani looked up at him with a devious smile dripping from her face. “I got this, trust me.” She walked up to the hostess with quick, but deliberate steps. Confused, Luke watched on from the side, trailing after her. He was curious about what she was planning, but didn’t want to interfere. 

Grani smacked the butt of her pike against the marbled floor, catching the worker’s attention. 

The employee eyed Grani’s weapon warily. “Can I help you?” he asked cautiously.

Grani reached into her coat and flashed a shining badge. “Officer Grani of the Victorian Mounted Police, we’re looking for some of your coworkers. Your cooperation would be appreciated.”

The employee stiffened. “O-oh. Y-yes, I’d be happy to help, Officer.”

“Would you happen to know where this person is?” Grani asked, pointing out the first name in the list.

“Oh, him? He’s over… there,” he said, pointing to a slim man standing by the central stage. “W-would that be all?” The employee tugged at his tight collar.

Grani nodded stiffly. “Yes, much appreciated. Enjoy the rest of your day.” She left the counter and approached Luke with a giddy grin. “Ooh, this is just like the old days!” Grani gushed once they were out of earshot. “We’ll have this culprit behind bars by the end of the day!”

Luke gave her a doubtful look.

“Unless we get distracted, that is.”

Chapter Text

Book I Chapter 12: Jinxed

Luke waded through a sea of people, pushing past them without a second thought. The first name on their list led to a dead end. She did, however, recognize a few names and kindly directed them to a so-called “Red room” as she said, and it was easy for him to see why. Red carpets stretched from one side of the room to the other, interrupted solely by a central, circular floor built from a sand-inspired granite.

Striding forward, he took a sudden step to the right, swiping a shumai from a service boy’s plate as they hurtled by, pushing a cart chock full of dumplings. He had skipped out on lunch and was starting to regret his decision. 

Luke popped the pork filled delicacy into his mouth with a sigh of satisfaction. A pair of hands pulled at his hair, yanking it back along with his head.

“Ouch! Quit it!” He cried, slapping Grani’s ankles. 

“If I can’t eat, then you can’t eat!” She shot back, kicking against his chest. “This was your idea.”

Luke swallowed his food, sucking his fingers. “Hey, it’s easier to find people with a higher vantage point, right?”

“I guess…” Grani grumbled from her perch atop his shoulders. “It’s just,” she gestured to the dancers surrounding them, “we’re in the middle of a ballroom.”

Luke looked around the enormous room. “And?”

Grani paused. “Hey, isn’t he…” she trailed off, pointing toward the far end of the dance floor.

“Wha…?” Luke watched as a tall man bull rushed an elderly woman, knocking her over and snatching her purse in the process. He blinked dumbfounded, astonished by the sheer audacity of the purse snatcher.

Grani reached down and slapped the exposed half of Luke’s face, rousing him from his stupor. “Go! He’s making a run for it! After him!”

Nodding, Luke took off, running as fast as he could amongst the herd of vacation-goers. “Stop, you thief!” he shouted.

A young boy and his mother watched Luke push a dancing couple aside. The boy pointed at Luke as he approached. “Mommy, look,” he exclaimed excitedly. “The lady’s riding him!” 

Holding him protectively, the mother pulled her son away. “Don’t look at them, Charlie. Just. Keep. Walking,” she hissed, glaring like a gorgon.

“Hey!” Luke spat as he passed. How dare she think ill of them! Here they were, busting ass to catch a thief and what was she doing? He despised people like her: people who arbitrarily decided what was acceptable and what was unacceptable. She was no better than the kids who accosted him for his abhorrent face. 

Grani dug her heel into Luke’s chest. “Ignore them Luke, focus on the task at hand.”

“Ugh…” he thought otherwise, but decided to withhold his opinion. Luke liked Grani—he really did. She deserved more than his incessant whining. 

Spotting a pile of fallen luggage, Luke tightened his grip around Grani’s ankles. “Hang on.”

“Just go aro—” He leapt over the baggage, accidentally ramming her chin with his halo. “Ouch! Watch where you’re jumping!”

The thief stopped, looking left and right, before dashing down a corridor. Grani tugged at Luke’s hair. “Left, Left! Go left! He’s heading for the courtyard!”

“I’m not a horse!” Luke shouted in protest as he skidded to a halt, almost tumbling over due to Grani’s extra weight. Righting himself, he kicked off the floor and tore through the corridor, shoving people aside carelessly as he passed. The corridor was noticeably narrower, making it harder for him to navigate through the crowd. 

Grani pulled at his hair again. “Turn right!”

Luke could only imagine how all this looked to bystanders: A Kuranta riding a Sankta as they chased after a random member of hotel staff. 

Ahead, the hallway opened up to a courtyard lined with stone walls. Out in the open, Luke finally had a clear view of the culprit. He was well dressed, for a waiter, with dark hair and a bushy beard. He made a sharp turn, jumping over one of the retaining stone walls. 

Luke sidestepped around a running child and leapt over the wall in pursuit. A dull thunk echoed around him followed by a yelp of pain as Grani’s forehead smacked a low hanging placard.

“Luke, what’d I say about jumping? That hurt!” she cried, repeatedly pounding his head with an angry fist.

The waiter hopped over a chained sign that read “keep off grass,” and tore across the courtyard, kicking up mud in his wake. Grinning, Luke tightened his grip around Grani’s ankles and prepared to jump the chain. 

“Hold on tight!” 

“Don’t you dare!” She warned, but it was too late. His foot caught the chain as he jumped, pulling him and Grani to the ground. They fell face first into a mud pit, throwing up a wave of muddy water.

Groaning, Luke picked himself off the ground. “Damn we lost him,” he said, wiping his face. The words had barely left his lips when another wad of mud slapped his head.

“Not only that, now we have to wash up,” Grani snapped, preparing another mudball. 

His eyes narrowed. Two can play that game . He gathered a mudball of his own and hurled it at his partner— hard. The ball splattered across her face, knocking her over and onto her back.   

Groaning, Grani pushed herself to a seated position. “Why, you…” she growled, shoving a handful of mud into his face.  “Why are you always like this? Now, we’ll never find the culprit!” 

“That’s the least of your concerns…” a familiar voice hissed.

They looked up to see a mud-covered Liskarm glaring down at them with her arms crossed, eyes twitching. Behind her, Franka and Exusiai were hunched over in a poor effort to conceal their laughter.

“I just want to say,” Luke started slowly, pointing to Grani. “It was her idea.”

He soon found his head driven back into the mud by an angry Kuranta.

Luke leaned against his broom with a scowl. “I can’t believe she forced us to clean up the stadium.” He complained, casting his broom aside. “It’s already half past four, and we’ve been out here for hours .” 

“It was your fault. ”

“Well, I guess when you consider the fact that I was running, yes, I could see how someone might be… misled into believing that.”

Grani tossed her bag of trash into a dumpster with a huff. Looking down at her green blazer, she frowned. “Look what you did. There’s a stain on my blazer! This will take forever to wash out!” She marched up to Luke and jabbed a finger at his chest. “This is the second suit you’ve ruined! When we get back to Rhodes Island, you are so grounded .” 

“You’re not my mom.” 

“Ugh!” With a humph, Grani turned away, pouting.

Luke chuckled at her reaction. He couldn’t help but tease her. Her reaction was like a breath of fresh air: a temporary relief from the unending nightmares that plagued his dreams. With puffed up cheeks, pouty lips, and a frazzled tail, Grani was simply too cute to be left alone.

Conclusion: Grani is an angel. He thought, ruffling her hair.

She swatted at his hand in an attempt to dislodge the offending limb. “Hey! Stop patting my head! I’m an adult too, you know! How would you feel if I ruffled your head?”

“Wouldn’t feel much, ‘cuz I’d be dead. You’d probably snap my neck, munchkin.” 

“You’re impossible!”

Luke moved to respond, but stopped when a shadow leapt out from the corner of his eye. One blink, and it was gone. “Hey, did you see that?” 

“Don’t change the subject! I’m not falling for that food truck trick again!”

Luke shook his head. “No, Grani, I’m serious. I think someone snuck out back,” he said, pointing to a dark corner behind the dumpsters.

“I don’t see anything out of the ordinary…” Grani mumbled, unslinging her pike from her shoulder.

Luke walked around the dumpsters, holding his breath as he passed. Absolutely rancid. There, off to his side,  was a metal door left ajar. A lock and chain laid at the foot of the doorway. “Hold up,” he said, walking over to the fallen items. He picked up the chain,inspecting the steel links. They were old and worn, but more importantly, cut in two. “These look like they’ve been tampered with…”

Grani tugged at his sleeve. “You don’t think…?”

“It’s worth a shot.” Throwing the chain aside, Luke pulled Grani through the open door. He took a cautious step forward, but instead of solid ground, his boot found open air. “Oh, shi—” He fell forward, stomping the ground with more force than expected. He had over stepped two very steep stairs.

Grani looked down at him with a smug grin. “So this is what it’s like to be your height. I could get used to this.”

Luke chose to ignore her comment and focused on descending the stairs. The stairwell lacked both railings and overhead lights: Two glaring safety hazards in his opinion. The sunlight filtering through the open door could only reach so far; he and Grani would be bathed in darkness once they left the sun’s warmth. So, gingerly, Luke shuffled forward, probing the open air with his feet. He would take a step only if he was sure he wouldn’t slip and fall. Luke soon felt a bead of sweat drip from the rim of his mask: The stairwell was poorly ventilated. He could smell its musty odor as he plunged into a mire of stale air (would it kill them to crack a window?!) It was an agonizing experience.

After what felt like five minutes, the narrow stairwell opened up a massive basement filled with crates, equipment, and towering support structures. A few overhead lamps dotted the ceiling, casting a soft, eerie glow. 

“Geez, it’s like a warehouse down here…” Luke gaped with awe.

Grani held a finger to her lips. “Shhh!” She hissed as her equine ears twitched. 

Luke had to admit, there were times he wished he had four ears.He gave his partner a curious look. She crept forward, motioning for him to follow. Grani leapt behind a stack of crates, rolling silently, while Luke, unconfident in his ability to remain hidden, opted to merely tiptoe after her.

“Sarkaz mercenaries,” she whispered, gesturing to one of the large support columns.

Luke watched as two horned men milled around the pillar, fastening boxlike devices around its circumference. 

“This isn’t what I signed up for,” one of them groaned. “I was promised action and adventure, not this.”

“Just rig the explosives, newbie, and make sure you do it properly.” the other replied. “You heard what the boss said, no survivors.”

Luke inched forward. “We have to stop them.”

“Wait,” Grani hissed, grabbing his shoulder and pulling him back. “We should call Franka.”

“Screw that!” Luke snapped, shrugging off her hand. He wasn’t going to sit around while some goons ruined his client’s concert. “If these bastards want to kill Sora and her fans, they’ll have to pry the detonator from my cold, dead hands!”

“Luke, wait!” Ignoring his partner’s protest, Luke vaulted over the crates and dashed toward the horned figures. “One of these days, you’re going to get us both killed,” she mumbled to herself before leaping after him.

“What hell’s going on here?” Luke growled as Grani brought up the rear.

The figures whirled around, revealing their masked visage. “Shit, we’ve been spotted,” one cursed.

“I told you those guards saw us. We should’ve waited,” the other said.

“Does it matter? Just fuckin’ kill ’em.”

Drawing his unnamed sword, Luke strode forward with determined steps. “I’ve got a friend who’s been looking forward to this concert for a long time, and I’m not going to let you ruin it for her, or her fans!” He thrust his sword forward, pointing to the nearest mercenary. “I swear on her name, I’ll take down every last one of you!”

“Big words from a little nobody…” the mercenary blew a whistle. Several figures emerged from the shadows, carrying an assortment of weapons: swords, axes, guns, crossbows, and staves. 

Luke gulped. There were more than expected. 

“Scared, boy?” One of the horned mercenaries taunted. 

“Luke…” Grani warned.

“I tell you what, I’m a nice guy. Run now, and I’ll let you live. Oh, don’t bother taking the girl, she’ll fetch a high price on the market”

Something within Luke snapped. He was overwhelmed by a sudden deluge of emotions, as though a sluice gate had been thrown open, releasing a torrential surge of pure unaltered rage. It hijacked his mind from the reins of reason, rendering him bereft of logical thought or compassion. Drawing his spare sword, Luke leapt toward the mercenary, belching out a sonorous warcry.

“Luke, don’t!”

The mercenary deserved to die—no—that would be mundane. There was nothing artistic about death—nothing poetic. 

A person could only experience death once in their life, so it had to be special—a celebration for the life they lived. Yes, he would make them suffer: use their fat to make candles, paint a portrait with their entrails, peel the skin from their heads and wear their comrade’s faces as he tortured them. Only when they were begging for him to take their lives, would he snuff out their light like the vermin they were. 

Luke threw himself into the air and swung his sword in a sweeping overhead strike, confident in his ability to kill his opponent: The strike came as thunder. One moment he was poised to attack, and the next he was tumbling through the air like. Luke cried out in pain as his back slammed into a concrete pillar. Stars burst into life before him.

The mercenary spun his ax, planting it in the concrete floor in a show of force. “Lesson one, kid. Never attack an axeman from above.” 

Luke groaned as he pushed himself to his wobbly feet.

“Is that all you got? I think the girl would have put up a better fight than you.” He threw his head back and laughed. Soon, the other mercenaries were joining him in goading Luke, laughing for a moment.

But a moment was all Grani needed. Folding her pike into a rifle, she held her breath as she lined up a shot. 

One of the mercenaries pointed toward Grani. “You idiots! She’s got a gun!” He shouted desperately. He made a mad dash to save the axeman, but not even a vaunted Sarkaz mercenary could outpace a bullet. 

The ax-wielding mercenary fell to the ground, dead.

Grani frowned. Something’s wrong… she thought, backing up cautiously. That was almost too easy…  

The remaining mercenaries stood stock still, too stunned to move. Some pipsqueak half their size had taken out one of the senior mercenaries. Suddenly, a lone mercenary broke rank with a cry, shattering the  shocked tension. “You bitch!” he cried, charging toward Grani.

Then all hell broke loose. 

The basement was consumed by shouting as three other men joined the assault on Grani. She leapt back, taking potshots at the oncoming mercenaries. These aren’t typical Sarkaz mercenary tactics… they’re after something.

Luke rolled his shoulders with a groan as a hulking mass of a man approached him. 

The mercenary brandished his greatsword, resting it on his shoulders. “There won’t be anything left to send back to your family when we’re through with you.”

A crowd of mercenaries gathered around them, cheering as the swordsman twirled his massive sword nimbly in a show of strength and skill.

Luke picked up his fallen sword, returning it to its sheath. “Well, it’s a good thing I don’t have a family then, isn’t it?”

“I like your gumption, kid! Too bad you’re my enemy.” The lumbering swordsman kicked off the ground and dashed towards him, swinging his greatsword with a mighty roar.

Luke met his charge head on, countering with a strike of his own. His thin blade bounced harmlessly off the greatsword’s polished edge. The unexpected punch behind the Sarkaz’s swing caught him by surprise. He barely managed a block thanks to his sheer strength.

“Not bad,” the mercenary critiqued as they locked blades. “I wasn’t expecting you to be this strong.”

A bead of sweat trickled down the side of Luke’s mask as he leaned into his blade, attempting to match the mercenary’s power.

The mercenary stepped toward him, pushing him back a couple of inches. He smirked when Luke braced his sword with the palm of his hand. “I’m just getting started!”

Panicking, Luke leapt back just as the greatsword slipped against his blade. The room shook as the herculean weapon crashed into the floor, crushing concrete and bending rebar. He looked at the crater with wide eyes. “Holy…” 

The mercenary belched out a guffaw. “Surprised? Face it kid, you can’t hope to match me in a contest of strength.”

“You know,” Luke started with a lopsided grin. “I like you: With you, I don’t have to disport myself with a cockass game of guess who . You’re a bastard, and you don’t hide it.”

The mercenary shook his head with a chuckle. “You’re goddamned crazy, kid.” He pulled his massive sword from the ground and held it beside him, poised to strike.

If not strength, then speed! Luke burst into action, zipping toward his opponent. He carefully watched him for any signs of movement. The mercenary merely stood there as he began to run circles around him. Do something, you warthog! Luke blinked and, suddenly, the mercenary was in motion, his greatsword tearing through the air.

Caught off guard, Luke kicked off the ground into a sharp turn, narrowly avoiding the strike by a hair’s width. Looking back, he sighed in relief as the mercenary struck the ground once more. That should buy me a few seconds. He looked forward and saw another greatsword screaming toward him. He dove to the ground as the weapon’s edge sailed overhead, barely scratching the top of his halo. 

Luke rolled out of his dodge. Give me a break! How could anyone move that fast? It should have taken a few seconds for the mercenary to dislodge his sword, let alone attack again! 

He lashed out with his sword in desperation. His blade bit into the mercenary’s greaves, cutting through the shin guard and severing a section of plate from the armor. By some miracle, he had managed to land a decent hit.

The mercenary gripped his greatsword like a bat and swung a retaliatory strike. Luke had no time to dodge. The greatsword’s flat side smashed into his chest, throwing him off his feet. He hurtled through the air, flying through two pillars, before crashing into a third. He slid to the ground with a groan.

The crowd of mercenaries jeered as Luke struggled to his feet. “Kill him already!” one shouted.

The mercenary shook his head. “Where’s the fun in that?” He said. He sneered viciously. “Unless that’s all you got?”

Fun? If the fight was a game, then it sure as hell was a shitty one. Luke took a deep breath. If a frontal assault was impossible, then he’d simply strike from behind. With some semblance of a plan in mind, he limped toward his opponent. He started in a light canter before quickly building speed to a full sprint.

The mercenary smirked. “That’s more like it! Show me what you’re made of!” He raised his sword above his shoulders, preparing to receive Luke’s strike.

For once, Luke didn’t rise to his opponent’s taunts: He couldn’t spare the energy to. He had already received two brutal blows and couldn’t afford to take another. And if he fell, what would become of Grani? Not even a fighter of her caliber could fend off all the mercenaries. 

“Another bull rush?” The Sarkaz asked, disappointed. He shrugged. “Alright, it’s your death.” He pulled his sword from his shoulder, swinging in a wide, horizontal arch.

At the last possible second, Luke leapt over the greatsword, lashing out with a sheathed Murakumo in a rising uppercut. Luke used the mercenary’s head as a footstool, clearing his dangerous horns with an aerial somersault and landing behind him. He reached for his spare blade only to find it missing. His heart sunk into his stomach like an iron ball cast out into the ocean. He must’ve dropped the blade when his body struck the pillars. 

Out from the corner of his eyes, Luke caught a glimpse of his partner just as her opponent batted her weapon aside, delivering a vicious kick to her stomach. 

He gripped Murakumo’s handle, praying to the heavens for a miracle. Please, I don’t care if you reject me for the rest of my life; I don’t care what the price is; I don't care if you kill me; please—just this once… For once in his life, Luke was overcome with thoughts for a person other than himself. He had been alone and afraid for as long as he could remember. From the day he awoke on that bed in the temple, to the sofa he slept on the previous night, he could think of nothing but shielding himself from the world’s ostracism.

He watched helplessly as his friend retched on her knees, vomiting her lunch all over her gray top . Filled with determination, tighten his grip around Murakumo and pulled. 

A tidal wave of power surged through his body as Murakumo parted with her ornate sheath. She slipped from the wooden prison, revealing a glowing Auburn blade. 

Driven by instinct, he sliced the air before him, launching a spinning crescent of energy from Murakumo’s leading edge. The energetic disc slipped into his opponent’s body, bifurcating the beast before exploding into a dazzling shimmer of light.

“Go, now!” A voice cried out to him.

Wasting no time, he pushed off the ground and launched himself toward the silver haired girl, shoving aside demented creatures as he zipped by. Her opponent raised its arm, poised for the final blow. With a desperate jump, the Sankta scooped up his friend with his free hand just as her opponent swung down.

Holding the unconscious woman protectively beneath his arm, he skidded to a stop and swung Murakumo to intercept the oncoming attack. She sliced through the creature’s twisted body, cutting through its scaled skin like a hot knife through butter. The monster fell back, exploding into a thousand pieces.

The girl under his arm began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open as she looked around, confused. An angering realization seemed to beset her face. She flailed wildly, kicking and screaming. “You idiot!” she shouted, punching his stomach. “I was doing just fine on my own! Put me down, Barnaclehead!”

“Barnaclehead!” Her voice echoed around him, growing increasingly distant with every iteration. “Barnaclehead…” 

Is that… me?

Soon a new voice entered his mind, overwriting any memory of the previous speaker. “…uke… Luke…” 

It was somehow… familiar… 

“Luke.”

Grani…? 

“Luke!” 

He was torn from his body as a rush of sensations assaulted his senses. Everything came barreling in all at once as though someone had roused time after a long hibernation.

“Luke, snap out of it!” Grani cried. “This is no time for daydreaming!”

Luke looked around him, dazed and confused. Where… Where am I? He was standing amongst a killing field of Sarkaz mercenaries. He looked down to see Murakumo held safely within her sheath. Where are the creatures?  

“I appreciate the help, but next time, worry about yourself!” Grani said, tossing him his secondary sword.

Luke caught the blade. What happened to her injury? Was she okay? He shook his head. Whatever just happened: it didn’t matter. He could think about it later. He needed to focus on the here and now. 

A wet cough cought his attention. At his feet, knelt the mercenary who had attacked Grani. 

With his strength fading, the Sarkaz mercenary fell onto his back. “Listen closely.”  The mercenary gargled out, slowly drowning in his own blood. “The bombs… were… distractions…” 

Luke frowned… Distractions? Distracting them from what? If the bombs were distractions, then the stadium’s destruction wasn’t their objective. They weren’t planning to kill anyone: not yet. If they were plotting a murder, blowing up the stadium would all but guarantee their success. They wanted their target alive…

Luke’s eyes widened as the clues coalesced into a concrete picture: Sora.

“Grani we have to go! Now!” he shouted desperately just as she delivered a vicious roundhouse kick to one of her opponents.

“Heads up!” she cried. 

Luke ducked as another mercenary sailed overhead. Acting on instinct, he whirled around, blocking a battleaxe with Murakumo. Its sheath reflected the blow without so much as a scratch to its surface. Luke rushed in, knocking the mercenary off center with a bunt to his chest. He raised a leg for a front kick and—

A bolt of chaotic energy slammed into his back, knocking him off his feet. The force threw both him and his opponent to the ground.

“Nice shot!” One of the other Sarkaz casters exclaimed.

“Luke!” Grani stabbed another mercenary through the gut and swung her pike, hurling the dying body against one of its former compatriots. “Luke!” she cried again, dashing toward her partner. She barely ran a few paces before a fireball slammed into the ground before her, forcing Grani to backflip into a dodge. 

Luke rose to his knees, straddling the downed mercenary. He raised Murakumo and repeatedly bashed his opponent’s face, breaking the mercenary’s mask and bloodying his face. “I don’t have time for this!” he cried while brutalizing the struggling mercenary with the pommel of his sword.

Luke grabbed the Sarkaz and, holding him above his head, pushed himself to his feet. He hurled the mercenary’s body deeper into the basement. It skipped like a stone, disappearing into the darkness with a sickening crunch. Luke’s shoulders shook as his chest heaved with ragged breaths.

The remaining mercenaries looked at one another, bewildered. “What the hell?! The brat just threw him like it was nothing!” One exclaimed.

“You… you don’t think he’s that hunter do you?” another, more youthful voice asked.

The first mercenary turned to look at the second. “Idiot, the walking catastrophe’s a woman.” Seizing the opportunity, Grani delivered a flying roundhouse kick to his chest. The mercenary fell back, struggling to breathe. Luke rushed in for the kill, before a searing pain stopped him in his tracks.

The pain was sudden, but ferocious. Like a snake bite, it started at a single point before spreading throughout his abdomen as though it had been consumed by a wildfire—he had been shot in the flank.

“Shit…” Luke covered the wound with his free hand, hiding it from view. He made a mad dash for cover. Diving, Luke slid to a stop behind a stack of crates. They needed to reach Sora, and the last thing he needed was for Grani to freak out. If she flipped out over a punch from Ch’en, then he didn’t dare to imagine what she’d do now. “Could this get any worse?”

“Grani!” Exusiai’s frantic voice streamed from the radio strapped to Grani’s shoulder. “Grani, are you there?”

Grani swung her leg high, delivering a brutal side kick to the newbie mercenary’s temple. “I’m a little busy right now!” She dashed towards the group of casters who had shot Luke with their arts. Using her pike as a pole, Grani lifted herself off the ground and spun around her pike, knocking the casters off their feet.

“We’ve got company backstage!” Exusiai cried.

Luke pulled a thick pad of gauze and a roll of bandages from his jacket. He rolled up his shirt and tried to dress his wound as best he could, tying a tight knot right above the entry wound. “Shit, we’re too late,” he hissed.

“Can you handle them?” Grani asked as she landed gracefully.

“Uh maybe, just—” a burst of rapid gunfire interrupted the call. “A little help would be nice?”

“Shouldn’t have tempted fate…” Luke mumbled, rolling down his shirt. He peered around one of the crates just as a bullet whizzed by his head. Reeling back, Luke held his racing chest with a shaky breath.

That was close.  

In a burst of speed, Luke rushed out from his cover, drawing his blade. Caught off guard, the sniper fumbled with her ammo as she tried desperately to reload. 

Using his momentum, Luke shoved his spare sword through the sniper’s chest piece, shattering the armor and piercing her heart and lungs. The Sarkaz woman staggered back with a voiceless gasp. She clawed at her throat in vain as fluid flooded her ventricles. The sniper crumpled to the ground like a sack of rice as the light left her eyes. 

Luke stomped on her chest, pulling his sword from her body without a second thought. The tip of his blade threw up a putrid shower of metallic rust as it left the body. He sheathed his sword and took in the carnage around him. 

The basement was ripe with the foul stench of bile and blood. Puddles of human waste littered the basement floor. Gagging, Luke tore his eyes from the rancid sight. He watched Grani, covered in dust and blood, walk towards him while flashing a victorious peace sign. 

He recalled how his adopted father once claimed a person’s eyes were “a window into their soul.” Now he knew what Septimus had meant: Grani’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“How’s your stomach?” he asked, recalling the terrible blow she had received.

She stopped in her tracks, confused. “Stomach?”

“Yeah, that Sarkaz bastard kicked you,” he chuckled. “How could you forget?”

Grani slowly shook her head. “W-what are you talking about?” 

Luke frowned as his partner took a hesitant step back.“Wh-what happened back there? It was like you were a different person.”

He could see it in her eyes: She was afraid. He had barely processed her words when a magnificent explosion rocked the basement, hurling Grani in his direction. Luke adopted a horse riding stance, holding his arms open as Grani’s limp body sailed towards him. 

He staggered back with a grunt when she rocketed into his arms. “You’re a lot—” he hissed as a sudden jolt of pain rushed through his injury. “A lot heavier than I expected.”

She looked up at him. Her full lips parted slightly as she gasped, trying to catch her breath. The noticeable rise and fall of her supple chest sent shockwaves through his system. Grani’s soft face flushed seven shades of red before finishing with a glowing indignation. “Did you just call me—”

Her radio crackled to life, Exusiai’s battered voice blaring from its speaker. “Where are you guys?!” she questioned frantically over the chaotic battle raging in the background. “They’re pushing us back!”

Luke crouched down, gently setting Grani on her feet. “We’re in the basement,” he said, clutching his abdomen. “What’s the safest route to your location?”

“There should be a flight of—” An explosion interrupted her as the radio feed cut out.

Grani snatched the radio from her shoulder, desperately fiddling with the frequency dial. “Exusiai?” she ventured, her voice dyed with trepidation. “Exusiai!”

Chapter Text

Book I Chapter 13: Angel in Red

“Exusiai?” Grani ventured, her voice dyed with trepidation. “Exusiai!”

A sea of white noise met her calls. She desperately slapped the handheld radio with the palm of her hand. “Damn…” she cursed, returning the radio to its clasp on her shoulder. “We have to find them.”

“We know where they are,” Luke paused abruptly. Technically, they could have moved. “Or, well—were: They’re backstage, but the question is—how do we get there?”

Grani pulled at her ears in distress, visibly anxious. “She mentioned a flight or something?” she groaned, struggling to recall Exusiai’s exact words.

“A flight of stairs, probably.” 

She grabbed a hold of his arms, shaking him excitedly. “Yes! That’s it!” she sang, beaming broadly. A second passed before she shrank back abruptly, releasing his arms as though she had been burned. “S-sorry.”

Luke shrugged: It was no skin off his back. He could forgive Grani for anything. She could literally kill some random pedestrian off the street, and he wouldn’t bat an eye. He greatly valued her company. Especially because she was tolerable of a wretch like him. 

“If you’re looking for stairs, there are some over there,” he said, pointing to a nearby set of floating stairs. that disappeared into the ceiling. The decrepit structure looked like it hadn’t been maintained in decades . Its steps were old and rusting with holes riddling each platform with razor sharp edges. Geez, someone ought to replace these, he thought to himself.

Grani slapped her cheeks, muttering to herself. Reinvigorated, she marched over to the foot of the stairwell. 

Luke followed after her, placing his hand on the rusting handrail. He wasn’t too keen on climbing what was clearly a workplace safety hazard. Who the hell invented floating stairs, anyways? They were practically begging for trouble. The gaping hole between each step seemed more like a one way ticket to the hospital, than an effective cost saving measure. 

He squeezed the handrail as the pain in his abdomen flared up. He was starting to regret leaving Rhodes Island. When Franka mentioned a “grand adventure,” this wasn’t what he had in mind! He glanced down at the wet spot on his shirt: It had grown slightly larger since he last checked. Some of the blood was starting to dry, forming a wet, sticky mess. This is a mess. What a mess…  

Maybe he wasn’t too cut out for fighting after all. The world seemed so small and simple from his mountaintop paradise. Back home, he could subdue any challenger with ease. In retrospect, most of them were kids. 

Not that Luke had anything against kids: Quite the opposite. Just because he had been beating children, didn’t mean he despised them. In reality, he was rather fond of the little tykes. 

Even if they are a little cruel.

The intentions of children are as clear as day: they don’t disguise them behind ulterior motives. If they disliked you, they’d say it to your face. Kids don’t beat around the bush. They’re innocent—naive.

It was a stark contrast to how the rest of society behaved. The remaining rot hid their intentions behind farcical niceties, as if it made them look better. Of course, there were those who abstained from participating in such a masquerade, but those who didn’t—He had little patience for their pretense.

Every winter, scores of people would visit the temple. Each and every one of them would throw a pageant greeting each other: shaking hands with parents and their kids; bowing to their in-laws; talking and smiling with friends. Except when they saw a kid who (for a lack of better terms), was not quite right, or if one of their parents happened to be an Ægir or a Sarkaz, then they’d offer a faux smile or a curt nod before moving on to more 'suitable' company. Pathetic, really. And that’s if they were lucky. The unlucky ones were openly scorned. 

Poseurs—hypocrites!—the lot of them: Blindly worshiping their dogmatic practices; masking their disgust with cheap smiles and dollar-store greetings. Authentic kindness? None of them really cared about being kind. They merely wanted to look kind. 

He sighed. His emotions were getting the better of him. When was the last time he had smoked? A week? Two weeks? He could feel himself slipping further and further into irritation as though the slightest inconvenience could send him over the rails. Maybe I should have invested in some nicotine gums…

The sounds of a fierce battle brought an abrupt end to Luke’s ruminations as he and Grani neared the stairwell’s summit. He was relieved to hear Exusiai’s voice amidst the chaotic roar of battle. At least she was alive. His relief was short lived, as another round of excruciating pain radiated from the hole in his abdomen. He collapsed, falling to one knee just as he rounded the final corner.

Grani stopped in her tracks, turning to check on him. “What’s wrong?”

Luke crushed the handrail and pushed himself to his feet, clutching his abdomen with a strained grin. “It’s nothing, Grani,” he lied through his teeth. “I’m fine.” 

Climbing back down a few steps, Grani reached out and grasped his hand, gently moving it aside. Luke offered no resistance. She gasped: Equine ears pressed against her head—distressed. “You’re bleeding…” she whinnied, gingerly placing her hand over his clothed injury. 

Luke flinched as her bare hand kissed the drenched fabric. Blood had seeped through his shirt, leaving behind a large, dark mottle.

“Balls,” he cussed, brushing her hand aside. “It’ll have to do; we have other things to worry about. Besides, my body heals fast. Nothing short of a sword through the gut can take me down!” he lied. 

Grani frowned, slowly withdrawing her hand. “I don’t like it but… you’re right,” she admitted reluctantly. 

He had a feeling that she knew she was accepting a lie, but what else could she do? This way, if he died, she could at least pretend she hadn’t known. Then she could live guilt free for the rest of her life, right? Sure, it was selfish as hell, but he couldn’t blame her for that. What kind of person didn’t look after their own ass?

Luke forced a shaky smile to his face as a firestorm of searing agony swept over his body. “W-we should go. Exusiai needs our help.”

Grani gave him a final distressed look, before nodding solemnly and turning forward. “Don’t overdo it,” she said, climbing back up to the penultimate step. 

“Me? Never.” He straightened his back as the pain began to subside.

If someone had told him the battlefield used to be a backstage area, he would have called them out for talking out of their ass. It resembled nothing close to a backstage area. For one, backstages were supposed to be dark and cramped places, with boxes and props stacked one atop the other. There was supposed to be a labyrinth of walls and tunnels, linking the various rooms with center stage. 

This… place , whatever it was, was as open as goddamned prairie . Some bomb-crazed maniac had probably blown the roof off of the joint, because Luke could clearly see the night sky through the noticeably wall-less “room”. Garish winds tore through the venue-turned-arena, throwing a mess of paper and debris in every direction imaginable. What little boxes that remained were either in a million pieces or being used as cover. The whole area was awash with the gloomy atmosphere of a moonless night, solely illuminated by the soft incandescent glow of the city lights.

What a mess. Luke thought for the second time that day. He had a distinct feeling that this was going to become his new norm, and he didn’t hate the idea. It could help break the endless monotony of day-to-day life. He shook his head. He really needed to stop exploring his mental tangents. 

He spotted Exusiai and Texas crouching behind a mound of rubble near what would have been center stage. While unharmed, they seemed a little worse for wear.

He poked Grani in the ribs, gesturing toward their location with a wag of his chin. “Over there.”

“Please don’t poke me,” she said, shuffling a couple paces away from him. “I see them.” She dashed toward their position, tearing across the open terrain in record time and leaving him behind in the exposed stairwell.

I mean, screw me, am I right? He found it inconsiderate; the way Grani leapt at the opportunity to leave him behind. How was he supposed to catch up to her without assistance? Sure, he was perfectly capable of such a feat, but an offer would have been nice. He thought it was quite tasteless of her to not even ask if he needed help: which he didn’t.

Luke was well aware that he was being excessively whiny and subjectively so, but in his own defense, as long as he didn’t say it out loud, did it really matter? It wasn’t like someone could read his every thought, right?

Focus, you! He scolded himself. Inching his way up the remaining steps, Luke peered into the fray. He watched as Liskarm single handedly held the mercenaries at bay. She had positioned herself near the contact line, between the remnants of two concrete walls.

Texas had taken to guarding the flank closest to him while Grani covered the far side, protecting Liskarm from encirclement. He was thunderstruck by Texas’s raw power and sheer skill. Her shimmering obsidian hair fluttered through the night as she called forth a flurry of plasmatic blades, hurling them towards her enemies.

Franka was… out there. Somewhere. Unlike the rest of her team, the curvaceous Vulpo had thrown herself into the thick of the fight. Luke had managed to catch glimpses of her slim form, darting around the battlefield: seemingly blurring in and out of existence. Her sword effortlessly pierced everything, shields, weapons, armor, steel. Where his blade would have shattered, hers practically perforated.

Even Sora was doing her best, using her vocal arts to both heal and coordinate assaults. When Luke first met the idol, he had pegged her as a ditzy airhead—a spoiled girl who ate far too much for her size. It was comforting to know that he wasn’t entirely incorrect. Sora was a hard working girl who would give up anything for her friends and values.

And she was a ditzy girl who ate far too much for her size. Win-win.

With the enemy focusing all their attention on his team, Luke felt confident in his ability to cross the open terrain and safely rendezvous with Texas and Exusiai. Waiting for Exusiai to finish reloading, he sprung up from the stairs the moment she returned fire. He bolted across the concourse and dove for cover, sliding to a stop mere inches from his fellow Sankta’s feet.

“Hey,” he greeted, waving weakly from the floor.

“Hey, yoursel—ooooh my god!” Exusiai wailed, dropping to her knees. She tore off her gloves and yanked his blood soaked shirt over his head. “Luke, I—you… Sora!” she called desperately. “Sora, help!”

Startled, the idol stumbled from her perch backstage. Scurrying to her feet, Sora rushed towards them with a smile. She stuttered to a stop and knelt by Luke’s feet, the color draining from her face. “Wha… what happened?”

“I took a bullet.”

“ A bullet? As in one bullet?!” Exusiai asked hysterically, peeling away the soping bandages from his abdomen. “That’s way too much blood for a single bullet wound! Look, there are like, four holes here! How are you still alive?!”

Luke lazily rolled his head to the side. He watched as Franka suddenly appeared beside Texas. The two seemed to converse briefly, before Franka nodded. 

“Hey!” Exusiai snapped, slapping his exposed cheek. She roughly grabbed both sides of his face and turned his head, forcing him to look up at her. “Listen to me when I’m talking to you! When were you shot?” 

Luke had never seen Exusiai so worked up before. Granted, he had only known her for a mere fraction of his life. “When you first called.” 

“What!? You—” she froze as a solemn countenance befell her face. “You really don’t care how this turns out for you, do you?”

Luke returned her frown with a confused look. Where did she get that from? “What? What are you…?”

Texas suddenly appeared beside them, rolling into a crouch. “What’s goin—” She froze, gazing down at the bloody scene with a complex expression. “You're injured.”

Luke nodded dumbly as Exusiai resumed dressing his wounds. “Thank you, I’ve noticed.”

“You can’t fight like that.”

“I’m fine.”

“You should be dead.”

“I’ll be fine, really.” 

Texas growled. “No, no you won’t! You’re staying here, and that’s final,” she snapped, glaring down at him as though challenging him to disagree. “And if I see you out there: I’ll kill you myself.”

He blinked owlishly. Even he couldn’t argue with that, and even if he could, something in her tone of voice told him that she would actually do it. “Well, when you put it that way…” he mumbled.

Texas stood with a huff. “Sora, do what you can.” She disappeared in a blur, leaping back into the fray.

Shaking her head, Sora hesitated. “I-I don’t think I’ll be any help… there’s too much blood…”

“You have to at least try!” Exusiai begged.

“I might be able to stop the bleeding,” Sora explained with a solemn sigh, “but it’ll only be temporary…”

“That…” Luke chuckled breathlessly. “That would be nice…”

Nodding mournfully, Sora began to weave her arts into her words, filling the ruined stadium with her melody. Echoing from every corner and wall, it pierced his body and enveloped his soul, caressing it within its embrace. The battle raging around him slowed to a standstill. A shimmering, azure aura streamed from her person and into his. Slowly; gradually; the scuff marks on his face began to disappear as the pain around his abdomen began to subside.

He wondered how Grani was fairing. He knew she could more than look after herself, but the sight of her hunched over, retching, lingered within his mind’s eye. 

Or did it?

He could have sworn he saw the Sarkaz mercenary kick his partner in the stomach, but she looked fine. She also denied that it ever happened. Now that he thought about it, there should have been a puddle of vomit on the basement floor…

But there wasn’t. 

Had he imagined it? Had it been a dream? 

No, he thought with finality. It was far too real to have been a dream. He was there, the twisted creatures were there, and the silver haired girl was there. Yet, despite all his determination, a single doubt remained: 

Grani wasn’t injured.

Confound it all! How could the vision be real while Grani was perfectly fine? He was confident he saw her take a kick to the gut: He would bet his life on it. It all boiled down to what he trusted more: his eyes or his partner; her words or his vision. On one hand, Grani had told the truth, and his vision was nothing more than that—a vision. On the other hand, she could have lied, and his vision was as real as him or Exusiai. They were mutually exclusive. 

The only way for two conditions to coexist is if both conditions were true. Then the question didn’t pertain to which vision was real, but instead to when the visions occured. If his dream-like fugue occured after he saw the mercenary kick Grani, then Grani had lied, and she was actually injured. If the fugue occured before the mercenary kicked her, then it’s possible that Grani had told the truth, and she was uninjured. 

Luke wasn’t quite sure if his growing headache was due to his rampant blood loss, or the outrageous mental gymnastics he had to perform to reach his conclusions. 

Regardless, somehow, he was able to view the world through eyes other than his own. Either that, or he had traveled to another dimension, a possibility he refused to acknowledge. Even then, his discovery raised more questions than it had answered. It felt like he was fighting a mental hydra: whenever he solved a mystery, two more would rise to take its place. Truly, he was taking one step forwards and two steps back.

Whose sight had he borrowed? What were those creatures? And more importantly, who was that girl? She was a dilemma in and of itself. Her face was foreign to him, and her voice didn’t stir a sense of familiarity. 

A sudden slap brought his pondering to a premature end. “Hey, don’t fall asleep on me!” a voice cried, piercing through his mental fog. “Stay with me!” 

Who…? He cursed his bleary vision. How could he be expected to see if his eyes couldn’t focus! He was able to make out a vague red curtain and a glowing ring. Certainly a beautiful angel. 

Another stinging slap cleared his vision. “Now isn’t the time for pick-up lines!” The angel’s voice was stern, but something in her tone said she was secretly relieved. 

Groaning, he grabbed the offending hand and threw it aside. “Quit it.” 

The ring brightened. “Sora, don’t stop! He’s waking up! I think—”

“I’m sorry,” Sora wept, sobbing for breath. “I’m so sorry. I-I can’t continue. I don’t have the energy to…”

Luke blinked the drowsiness from his eyes. He had no idea when, but he must have fallen asleep sometime during his introspection. He watched Exusiai press a fresh bandage against his abdomen in a last ditch effort to stymy the flow of blood. She lifted the bandage only for the bleeding to stop entirely. She dropped the gauze in shock.

Luke watched the cloth flutter to the ground, landing beside Exusiai’s blood soaked boots. “Huh, neat.” 

“Luke…” Exusiai gasped, gazing down at his injuries with grave consternation. “What are you…?” 

“I’d like to know as well.” Texas said, landing beside them. She looked around the wrecked stadium, checking for survivors. “It’s over, Franka and Liskarm are mopping up the stragglers.”

Exusiai’s shoulders sagged with relief. “We need to get him to a hospital. By all means, he should be dead, but I suppose we shouldn’t count our blessings.”

Texas nodded just as Grani appeared. The Kuranta knelt beside her partner. Reaching out tentatively, she placed a hand over his wounds. “You liar,” she whispered. “Why would you go so far to—” A slow clap interrupted the weary officer.

“You still have a long way to go…” A voice rasped eerily. In a flurry of dark light, a hooded figure appeared before them near center stage. “After all, ‘A journey of a thousand paces begins beneath one’s feet.’” They lowered their hood to reveal Father Antonio’s wizened face.

“Father Antonio?!” Sora cried incredulously. “What are you doing here?!”

A journey of a thousand paces… A jolt of activity surged in Luke’s brain as a sudden name leapt to the forefront of his mind: 

Madame Ling…

Soon, a thousand facts were bursting from the bowels of his memory. His attention jumped from one thought to another, connecting points and forming a path.

Chicken Piccata… Delayed speech… Postcards… 

Sora…

Father Antonio…

“It’s you…” Luke whispered in realization. He grabbed Exusiai’s shoulder and, using her as a crutch, pushed himself to his feet.

“Luke, what are you doing?” she demanded, grabbing his arm. “You need to rest! You shouldn’t be moving about!”

Luke brushed her hands aside. “It’s you, Father Antonio,” he repeated, this time with more confidence. “You’re the sender of the postcards. You’re the one after Sora’s life.” 

The response was immediate. “Indeed, but I am no Antonio. This body is merely one in a million—a puppet for my machinations.”

“That rat assed bastard!” Luke watched with morbid fascination as Antonio’s body convulsed unnaturally: writhing in ways no body should. The awful convulsions dissolved as quickly as they had materialized, leaving Antonio’s body as stiff as a wax display. Nothing could have prepared him for what happened next.

Antonio’s body crumbled to the ground, seemingly aging before his very eyes. Its skin shone with a slight sheen, like a layer of sweat after an evening’s rut. Within seconds, the body began to expand at an alarming rate, becoming so large, so bloated, that it became unrecognizable. Luke pushed Exusiai behind him out of fear that the body would explode. 

“Dio mio…” Texas muttered as a despondent look arose from her face.

The body’s skin slowly darkened to a putrid green.

Shit. Luke crouched down, covering his hands with his own blood. Standing up, he rushed to wrap his arms around Texas and Exusiai. He gripped their faces, covering their noses with his bloodied hands. It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than nothing. 

“What the hell are you doing?” Texas growled, struggling to free herself. “Get your blood stained hands off of me.”

He remained silent as a foul odor permeated throughout the stadium, culminating in a malodorous assault on their senses: It was beyond description—perhaps akin to rotting fish. A nauseating concoction of fluids leaked from the cadaver as it slowly deflated. 

He felt Texas gag beneath his hand. “It won’t get any better, but this is as bad as it gets,” he said.

“How can you,” he tightened his grip around their faces as she dry-heaved. “How can you put up with this?”

“I can’t.” 

A hacking cackle echoed around them as a spindly man descended from the bleachers, landing gracefully before them. He was tall, about Luke’s height, but uncannily thin with blotched gray skin and green stained teeth. His eyes were a rotting, mustard yellow, and his head was completely devoid of hair. His decrepit body was wrapped in a long black cloak that sagged against his seemingly skeletal frame.

“I am Father Grendel, head priest of the Cult,” he croaked, his voice sinister and coarse. He looked down at the rotting mess at his feet. “Ah, yes. The local preacher. You have served your purpose.” 

He lowered a boney finger towards Antonio’s body, spawning a black vortex at the top of his finger. The whirling hole devoured the decomposing body and liquids, clearing the air of its rancidity and leaving a dense fog in its wake. “I am here to collect that which is rightfully ours.”

“And that would be?” Franka explored cautiously.

Grendel pointed at Luke. “You,” he rasped. “How did you know?”

Luke uncupped his hand from around Exusiai’s face and stepped toward Grendel. “I always knew. I just didn’t know I did. At first, I thought I was simply upset that Liskarm had gotten the better of me, but the more I thought about it, the more sense it made.

“The first postcard was ominous enough, despite its seemingly innocent intentions. It had everybody fooled with its clever references to Madame Ling. But at that point, the list of suspects included everybody in the city.  

“The second postcard was more specific. It was packed with information that only certain people would know. Assuming that one person wrote both postcards naturally eliminated the general public as suspects, narrowing the list down to those who worked in the hotel. 

“However, the second postcard taunted Sora over her lunch of Chicken Piccata over Rice. While it’s true that a member of staff would know what food would be delivered to Sora’s room. Only someone in the room would know which order belonged to Sora! Which left you as the sole suspect!

“Father Antonio always spoke with a slight delay, and I marked it up to nothing more than a symptom of his advanced age. But moments ago, you spoke through his body without any delay whatsoever! It was then, I knew, that ‘Father Antonio’ wasn’t who he claimed he was!”

“You motherless whelp!” Grendel raised his hands, poised to strike with his dark magic. 

A familiar shout cut through the thick fog. “Get away from him!” Grani leapt out from the shroud, barring towards the cultist with her pike drawn. 

“Fool.” Grendel launched a dark, pulsing wave with a flick of his wrist. The energetic disc slammed into Grani’s chest, throwing her into the air. Her limp body sailed through the air before crashing into the first floor bleachers.

Outraged, Luke rushed towards the mad cultist, only to be pulled back by Exusiai. “Let me go!” 

Exusiai vehemently shook her head. “No! You’re in no condition to fight!”

“I swear to god, Exusiai. If you don’t release me, I’ll kill you along with that scaly bastard!” he howled, thrashing wildly. Exusiai only tightened her grip around his shoulders.

“My,” Grendel sneered with a dastardly chuckle, “what good friend’s you’ve found, my little lab rat. I’ll be sure to cherish their remains as I suck the marrow from their bones.”

“Not if we have anything to say about it!” 

“What?!” he wheezed. Texas, Franka, and Liskarm leapt out from the shadows of their cover, weapons drawn.

Liskarm landed first. Casting aside her shield, the Vouivre dropped to her knees. “Texas, go! I’ll cover you!” she shouted, firing several rounds.

The Siracusan held her sword aloft. “Spade pioventi,” As if hearing her prayers, duplicates of her plasmatic blade appeared in the heavens above. “Falli a pezzi!” They began to fall—slowly at first, before quickly gathering speed.

Landing in a low stance, Franka lunged towards her prey, thrusting her thermite blade out before her. “ Please don’t tell me you forgot about little ol’me?” she whimpered before a coquettish grin slipped through her façade. “Just kidding!”

As if coordinated by some greater power, the falling swords and Franka’s thermite unit pierced Grendel’s body at the same time, followed by Texas’s original sword. The stadium stood in silence as Texas’s remaining swords sailed past the cultist, embedding themselves in the wooden stage with dull thumps.

A sole chuckle slipped past Grendel’s thin lips, catching them by surprise. Their eyes widened as a dark maw enveloped the myriad of glowing swords. Franka leapt back into a triple back handspring, barely avoiding one of the previously swallowed blades. Texas shifted in an attempt to escape, but only managed to run a few feet before a tendril of dark energy bound her legs. It plucked her off the ground and swung her around before hurling her toward Liskarm. 

Liskarm caught Texas with a grunt. “I got you!”

Grendel smirked, revealing his rotting teeth. He thrust his hands forward as a purple orb began to coalesce around his fingers. “The Texan bloodline ends with you…” A deep purple sword of miasmatic energy screamed towards Texas and Liskarm.

Luke wrenched his arms from Exusiai’s grasp and shoved her aside. He wasn’t entirely sure what he was doing. It was completely illogical and totally against his beliefs. He could see himself saving Grani, someone who had managed to scrounge up some kind of meager value from his existence, but not Texas and  certainly not Liskarm, people he barely knew at best, and yet, it felt like he didn’t need a reason to act. His body seemingly acted of its own accord.

I’m going to regret this . He thought. Throwing himself before them. Their eyes met for a brief moment before his vision faded to white. 

Luke inhaled sharply as the ethereal sword plunged into his back, tearing through his stomach before dissipating before his eyes. The burning agony dwarfed the tickle from his bullet wounds: A disparity as vast as the magnitude of scale between a single drop of water and the vast oceans. He clutched his gut in a desperate effort to mitigate the pain. A warm sticky liquid clung to his bare hand—blood. “What a mess…” 

“ No!” Grani screamed, her voice hoarse. 

Well, he thought. I did say a sword through the gut… He fell to his knees, collapsing in a pool of blood.

https:// discord. gg/ pPUd7HyF49 
Join us to participate in story discussion, lore talks, and character analysis!

Chapter Text

Book I Chapter 14: Angel in Blue

“You idiot!” Liskarm rolled him over, laying his battered body across her lap. “You idiotic moron!” 

Texas scrambled to his side, pressing down on his chest. “Does anything get through your thick skull?!” Her lupine ears dropped low as she whispered, angry tears in her eyes. “Idiota del cazzo…”

His raddled mind was ill equipped to handle the extreme situation it was suddenly thrown into. One by one, his senses began to shut down to cope with the overflow of stimuli. He could hear vague shouting in the background followed by what felt like several slaps to the face.

A single thought echoed in his hollow mind: it’s okay… Like a mantra of the devoted, it repeated without end.

“Luke?”

It’s okay…

“It’s okay…”

It’s okay… it’s okay…

“It’s okay…”

Liskarm cradled his bloodied body. “It’s not okay!” she snapped, clenching and squeezing his jacket. “I told you to keep your damn attitude in line!”

Grendel gazed down, bemused. “I was hoping to return this one alive, but no matter.” He held out his hands as malicious particles began to coalesce around them. “A broken tool is a useless tool,” he spat callously.

Liskarm glared up at the towering cultist—defiant. “Do your worst…” She tucked in Luke’s body, covering it with her own. 

Grendel chuckled. “Perish.”

An orange box fell from the sky, trapping Grendel within its confines. His body seized—seemingly cast in stone—before he could drive them from their mortal coil. 

Grani looked on, gobsmacked . “What in the…”

Echoing throughout the stadium, a silken voice saturated the cold, night sky with its satin tones. “Good grief, you really got yourselves into a mess this time.”

Franka’s attention whipped towards a shifting shadow in the upper bleachers. “Who are you?” she shouted. “Show yourself!”

Seemingly sensing her gaze, a bewitching Sarkaz stepped out from the shadows, grinning devilishly. “But it looks like I made it just in time.” She leapt down from the concourse, her long azure hair fluttering in the wind. 

Exusiai’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Mostima?!” 

The fallen Sankta landed gracefully, twirling her staves out from behind her. “At your service.” She looked around, surveying the chaotic scene before her. Her expression brightened tenfold when she beheld Liskarm, Texas, and Luke in her cyan gaze. 

“Oh, and what do we have here? I—”  Mostima paused abruptly, throwing a glance toward one of her staves. “Oh, hush you,” she chided. “You’ll be fine.” She turned back in the frozen cultist’s direction only to see a dragon made of fire rushing toward her. 

Grendel’s orange prison dissolved as Mostima sprang back, narrowly avoiding the torrent of flames. “Whoops. That was close.” She looked up, and the Father was gone. Her face fell. “Aw, the Boss isn’t going to like this…” 

With the coast clear, Grani hurriedly untangled herself from the bleacher’s mangled wreckage. A nail tore through her stockings, carving a large gash in her thigh. Hissing, she slapped the injury and wiped the blood on her palm across her skirt. 

Pain was no object: Her partner needed her. Stumbling, she clamored down the stairs and limped onto the stage. 

Get breath hitched at the sight of Liskarm clutching Luke’s pale body. She watched helplessly as Texas struggled to stem the outpour of blood. How could this have happened? How could she have failed so spectacularly?—To let her first friend receive such a mortal wound… Throwing her pain to the wind, Grani rushed to his side.

Texas’s gaze remained steadfast, fixed on the body before her: Her hands and sleeves soaked with blood. “I-I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do,” she rasped through clenched teeth. “The wound’s simply too large…” she said, and yet, her hands continued to move in a stunning display of cognitive dissonance 

A fierce glare materialized on Grani’s face. She shook her head, tossing her matted hair about. “No! There has to be a way! I won’t give up!”

Texas’s hands fell quiet. They shook as she clenched her fists. Blood oozed from between her gloved fingers, trailing down her wrist before dripping to the floor. She tore her gaze from Luke. “I’m sorry.”

Collapsing, Grani fell to her knees and into the growing pool of blood. “No…” she muttered, clutching her head with her blood soaked hands. She pulled at her hair in desperation. “No… There… there has to be something we can do!”

Presumably on cue, Mostima suddenly appeared beside her, smiling cryptically. “There is…”

Grani scrambled to her feet, nearly slipping in the sanguine puddle. She grasped Mostima’s gloved hands with her own. “Please!” she begged. “Please save him!”

Mostima nodded. “I will,” she looked over her shoulders, “if that’s okay with you.”

An irritable sigh emanated from the shadows behind her. “Do whatever you want: You don’t need my permission. It’s not like it’d stop you anyways.”

Chuckling, Mostima smacked her circle-tipped staff with the palm of her hand. “Oh, quiet you. Do as I say, then we’ll see Yith.”

An orange glow encapsulated Luke’s body as the gentle rise and fall of his chest slowed to a stop. 

Grani looked on with bated breath. “Wha… what did you do?”

Mostima’s reply was nonchalant. “I’ve stopped time.”

Exusiai watched through a window as medical staff from Rhodes Island, with Mostima’s assistance, loaded Luke into an emergency transport—his body still encased in her unique arts. Exusiai looked away from the scene below and took in the solemn atmosphere within their aerial transport. 

Texas was sitting on the floor beside her with her back against the wall, gazing up at some distant place with eyes of glass. Exusiai waved a hand in front of her friend’s face, but she continued to stare into the void—unblinking. Sora was standing nearby, trying her best to elicit a response from their mutual friend, but to no avail. The idol sighed, shaking her head.

Exusiai glanced across the transport where Liskarm sat with her head in her hands, leaning into Franka’s one armed hug. Franka sighed as she rubbed her partner’s shoulder, whispering into her ear. Liskarm had taken Luke’s condition a lot harder than Exusiai had anticipated. They were seemingly on bad terms, but, judging from Liskarm’s reaction, it seemed like her thoughts for him amounted to something more than mere indignation.

However, it was Grani who took Luke’s situation the hardest. Exusiai’s heart bled for the poor girl. She was a mess, really. Clumps of tear soaked hair clung to her face while others stuck out at odd angles. Her dull eyes had grown puffy and red from the constant rubbing and sobbing. Tears dripped from her flushed cheeks and nose as she sniveled. She would grow quiet for a minute before another wave of tears would send her over the edge.

“Oh gods…” Grani wept. “I don’t, I don’t know what to do.” She swallowed down another sob. “I-I should have been there to help. What if he doesn’t wake up?”

Exusiai wrapped her arms around the former officer, tucking her head into an embrace. “He’ll be okay,” she whispered, stroking her hair. “He has to be. I can feel it.” Grani nodded numbly into Exusiai’s shoulder, but remained silent. 

Franka turned to Grani with an atypically grave expression. “You and Luke are normally so close. What happened down there?”

“I… I don’t know,” Grani muttered. “One moment he was fine, and the next he was tearing through bodies like a madman. He flew off the handle in an instant.”

Sora nodded. “And his threats toward Exusiai: That wasn’t normal.”

Franka and Liskarm exchanged troubled expressions. “Is this… a common occurrence?” Franka asked, as if afraid of her response.

Extracting herself from Exusiai’s arms, Grani shook her head tearfully. “No, I mean, I don’t know?” she corrected. “Yeah, he’s rash, impulsive, and rarely thinks things through, but I’ve never seen him act so… violent.” She let out a shaky sigh. 

Liskarm folded her hands in her lap and pursed her lips. “I think he should be psychologically evaluated the moment we return to Rhodes Island,” she said, with a solemn frown. “His risky behavior and sudden mood swings are a danger to both himself and the team.” 

Nodding, Franka pulled out her phone to contact Rhodes Island. Operator Luke—immediate psychological evaluation required. “There, send.” The response was almost instantaneous: 

“ Roger, stay safe Frankie—Gavial.”

“Looks like Gavial’s working the night shift again.” Franka chuckled mirthlessly. “It’s fortunate Rhodes Island happened to be so close…” 

“It’s almost too convenient…” Liskarm muttered darkly.

“What is?” Franka asked.

“Think about it: Their relief arrived just in time. Meaning they were sent far in advance.”

Exusiai shook her head. “I think you might be overthinking things. They could have been on a mission, and happened to stumble upon us.”

Liskarm hesitated, unconvinced. “I suppose…”

Luke awoke to an unfamiliar ceiling. Jolting upright, he felt woozy as the blood rushed out from his head. His vision began to spot as he lost consciousness for a brief moment. Luke fell back, smacking his head against the metal frame of the bed he was resting in. 

A soft, silken laughter tickled his ears. Rolling over, he was greeted by an unfamiliar face—a woman. She grinned slightly, leaning back into her chair and crossing her arms.

A river of flowing cobalt tumbled down her head and around her shoulders, perfectly framing her slim face. The azure waterfall parted around twin horns that poked out from either side of her head. A dim ring of bright ebony floated just above her. Luke’s heart skipped a beat in excitement: She was just like him—a fallen!

His eyes flicked between her halo and her face before their eyes met. Her striking cyan orbs stared back at him as she chuckled, revealing a mouthful of blueberries? 

“You’re supposed to brush after every meal.” The words tumbled from his lips before he could even think about it. Some things never change .

Astonished, the woman blinked owlishly. “Hm…” she hummed with a pensive expression. “I wasn’t expecting that. It’s nice to hear something new every once in a while.”

“Where am I?”

The woman chuckled. “You don’t recognize your own medical ward? We’re in Rhodes Island.”

That threw him for a loop. He rose from the bed, slowly this time, and took time to appreciate sterile room around him. Sure enough, the Rhodes Island Rook was emblazoned across the metallic floor. “Holy shit…” He muttered. Questions poured from his lips. “Wha-what happened? Is everyone alright? How did I get here? Grani! Where’s Grani?”

She held up her hands, ushering him to slow down. “Easy there. You’ll get your answers.”

He blinked as recognition dawned on him. “You saved us.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” she continued with a drawl. “The staves did most of the heavy work.”

He shook his head. “The results were the same: Your methodology is irrelevant.” 

She cocked her head aside. “Is that so?”

Luke nodded. “It is.”

The two sat in silence, neither sure of what to say. Eventually the woman rose from her chair, revealing a slender tail. “That’s enough chit chat for one day,” she said, pulling her thick jacket straight. “I was only filling in for an old friend of mine. Oh by the way,” she reached into her pocket and pulled out a phone. “Catch.” 

Luke caught the cellular phone with his face. Groaning, he picked it up: It was his. A hundred questions coalesced into an inelegant jumble. “What the… why, who are you?”

“Mostima,” she replied, turning away from him. “And you?” 

He didn’t know why, but he felt a sudden urge to tell the truth—the bare truth. He looked down, dejected. “Hell if I know.” 

Mostima turned back, casting a curious gaze over her shoulder. “Is that so?”

Luke nodded. “It is.”

“I have a feeling there’s more to you than meets the eye.” She disappeared with a pop, her voice vanishing within the landship’s omnipresent mechanical hum. “I’d like to see it someday.”

As far as first encounters were, it was far from his worst experience. At least she hadn’t punched him. Damn, Ch’en. He didn’t get much time to ponder his mysterious encounter, as a herd of cattle thundered down the corridor that laid beyond his room’s door. It slid open just as Exusiai slid by, a mound of plastic wrappers clutched tightly against her chest. She skidded to a halt, dropping a few goodies before she clambered back to his room. 

“Mostima?!” she cried. “I brought some snacks for… you…” Her words trailed into silence as Luke blinked curiously. 

Was she alright? Had she forgotten something? Was she having a stroke or— what a mess… he thought as her arms fell slack, dropping the mound of packaged food all over the floor. 

Luke rolled an eye. “Well, that was—”

“Grani, he’s awake!” Exusiai cheered, interrupting his snide remark. 

He flinched when a loud chang! pierced the room’s wall as footsteps scurried about before stuttering to a halt. A brief argument ensued followed by an exasperated groan that crescendoed to a shout.

Grani burst into the room, leading Liskarm by the hand. They locked eyes for a brief moment before she threw herself on top of him. “You bloody scoundrel!” she growled, wailing on his chest with her fists. “I ought to hang you dry!”

Luke held up his hands in a meager display of self defense. “Ouch, hey! Knock it off!” A fist slipped by his arms, knocking him in the head. “What do you want from me?!”

Grani pushed off the bed, landing on her feet. “Are you sorry?” she asked Luke.

He gave his friend a funny look. “Sorry? For what?”

Grani crossed her arms. “Ugh, you’re impossible. You’re lucky that Liskarm has something to say.” She leaned into the Vouivre, nudging her with an elbow. “Right…?” 

Liskarm nodded numbly, but remained rooted to the floor. Sighing, Grani circled around her and pushed her towards his bed, much to Luke’s silent amusement.

Liskarm stumbled forward, avoiding eye contact. She bit her lips with a sigh. “I’m sorry,” she suddenly blurted out. “I was careless and as a result you were injured in my stead. I… I don’t know how to repay you.” 

Normally, he would have rolled his eyes. After all, it was more of the same farcical niceties, but something about her assuaged his usual contempt. She didn’t blabber about “how she changed his flowers every day,” or “how grateful she was that he was alive.” No, she was direct and straight to the point—no drama, no beating around the bush, she simply said her piece and moved on. He could get behind that. 

Luke flicked her nose. Liskarm flinched at the unexpected gesture. “There’s your punishment. Now, raise your head, idiot. It was my choice, not yours: You don’t owe me a damn thing.”

“No, I owe you my life. On my honor as a Vouivre, I must repay my debts.”

He waved dismissively. “Sure, whatever. Just buy me lunch or something—call it even.” 

Liskarm shook her head, frustration evident on her face. “I could never. A simple meal wouldn’t come close to—”

Luke dramatically threw his arms into the air. “Oh my god!” he cursed. “You want to repay me? Fine! Ju-just protect me with your shield or something? I don’t care!” 

Liskarm nodded. “Very well.”

He flinched when Grani body slammed his bed and resumed his beating. “Would you—” He groaned in frustration. Grabbing Grani by the collar, he hoisted her off the bed. 

She tucked in her legs, (seemingly dead set on making his life as difficult as possible) and glared down at him as she dangled by her shirt—limp-armed and pouty. 

“The worst part is having to deal with this thing,” Luke added with a huff.

Grani humphed. “Don’t think I’m through with you!” she proclaimed, pointing at him accusingly. “When you’re discharged, you’re so grounded.”

He rolled his eyes. “Not this crap again. Whatever, how long have I been out? What’d I miss?”

Luke felt his heart sink when her face fell. That wasn't a good sign. Extending her legs, Grani stood as Luke lowered his arm. She glanced askance. “You’ve been unconscious for almost three days. I can’t say much now, but a lot happened when you were out.”

Luke knit his eyebrow in confusion. What could she possibly mean? And why was she so serious about it?

“Enough about that,” Exusiai cried, squeezing herself between them. “We didn’t know you were awake! If we did, we definitely would have brought you snacks!”

Gulping, Grani tapped her friend on the shoulder. “Exusiai…?” she ventured.

Exusiai waved her away. “Not now Grani. What kinds of food do you like?” Luke didn’t even get a chance to respond as Exusiai bulldozed on. “Well, it’s okay. You can have the snacks I brought for Mostima, since she’s already gone.”

Liskarm cleared her throat. “Um… Exusiai? I think—”

“Not you too, Liskarm!” Exusiai whined. “This man needs some food! I’m sure he’s starving! Anyways, I brought some chips, chocolate, butterscotch, and—”

“Ahem.” Exusiai whirled around to see who dared to interrupt her, determined to give them a piece of her mind. She took a magnificent breath before the color drained from her face along with any sense of bravado. She had never looked more like a frightened kitten than she did at that one moment.

“D-Doctor Kal’tsit!” she exclaimed, moving in for a hug to which the Feline returned with a cold, emotionless gaze. 

“What a pleasant surprise! We… uh…” Exusiai took a large step towards the fallen snacks, dragging her other foot along with her. She swept the food behind her, smiling nervously. “We were just… checking up on him!”

The doctor sighed through her nose. “I assume those are from Closure’s?”

Luke raised a hand to speak on behalf of his acquaintance. After all, she only meant well, but Kal’tsit beat him to the punch. 

“I believe we spoke about this, Miss Exusiai, yes?” she said, her expression unwavering. 

Luke dropped his hand and zipped his lips. He could tell a terrific lecture was in the works and wanted no part of it. While he did feel bad for his kin (really he did), when he thought about it: It was her own fault anyways. No use risking his neck for her hide: She’d never learn!

“Foods rich in sodium and carbohydrates are not conducive to a healthy diet. If you wish to continue under our employment, you must adhere to company rules and regulations, am I clear?” Kal’tsit droned on without pause.

Luke double took. Under our employment? What the hell happened when I was out?!

Exusiai hung her head nodding in shame. The doctor turned towards him. “As for you Lucius, your guardian is most displeased with your situation.” 

He swallowed thickly. There were no, if, and, or buts: He was toast. Those weren’t the words he was hoping to hear. A “how are you feeling?” or a “that was a close call, huh?” would have been nice, but judging by her tone of voice, Dr. Kal’tsit wasn’t that kind of person.

She continued, “There are some concerning entries in your performance evaluation, and—”

“I’m not in trouble, am I ma’am?” 

Grani gaped like a fish out of water while Exusiai was chopping her neck, mouthing the words “cut it out.” Liskarm opted to distance herself from the doctor.

Dr. Kal’tsit gazed down at him impassively before closing her eyes. “That remains to be seen.” She sighed, blinking. “Regardless, you have been scheduled to be psychologically evaluated as soon as possible with—”

“When?” 

A smack reverberated throughout the room as a result of Exusiai slapping her forehead. 

Dr. Kal’tsit was silent for a moment. Eventually, after a several second long stare down, she continued. “As soon as possible.”

“So, now?” 

“Oh my giddy aunt…” Grani whispered, exasperated. By what? Hell if he knew. 

“ After your discharge.”

Luke nodded dumbly. “Oh, okay.”

“Your guardian has requested that I personally supervise your recovery. I expect your full cooperation.” Dr. Kal’tsit looked around the room, as though silently challenging them to disagree. They acquiesced. “That is all.” Kal’tsit swiftly left the room without another word.

The visitors turned towards Luke with varying expressions of relief and frustration. 

Liskarm shook her head. “You’re insane,” she sighed, a slight smile gracing her lips. “But I guess that’s part of your charm.”

Luke looked up at his former antagonist. She seemed to have warmed up to him, though that was to be expected, he supposed. Maybe, just maybe, he had been wrong about her. She was, after all, among the first people to visit him.

Luke offered a hand. “Friends?” he asked hopefully.

Liskarm chuckled, shaking her head. She grasped his hand, giving it a firm shake. “Friends.”

A radiant spark illuminated the arid night, casting long shadows across a towering mesa. The brilliance receded in an instant, leaving Mostima alone in the  dark. She stood in silence as the dry air prickled her cheeks. Shivering, she tucked her head into her hood.

“Was it worth it?” 

Peering over the cliff, Mostima shrugged, seemingly content with watching the Rhodes Island landship inch its way across the frigid sands. “Was what worth it?” she prodded with a grin.

A silhouette stepped out from the murky darkness, shaking its head with a sigh. “Must you resort to your antics…?”

She chuckled. “Even I need a little color in my life, you know. Besides,” she threw a knowing look over her shoulders, “you were curious too.”

A soft glow washed over the plateau, dispelling the silhouette’s disguise. A flame haired Liberi crossed her arms with a scowl while her wisping tail flicked with irritation. “Only because of your absurd request.” The shapely woman reached into her bag with a grumble. “They took the opportunity to change my damn codename again.”

Mostima turned her full attention towards the Liberi. “Oh? What is it this time? Dragon warrior? Avenger?”

The woman tossed an aging book onto the dirt before her. “Suffering,” she said, sighing in resignation. “It’s Suffering.”

Mostima smirked. “A fitting name.” She picked up the book, skimming through the pages while tapping her foot. “Interesting stuff she’s written—this Madame Ling.”

Suffering leaned to one side, gazing up at the moon. “I don’t know why you wanted this relic. It won’t be of any use to you. Like I said, it’s almost like—”

“Like he shouldn’t exist?”

Suffering nodded. “Do you really think he’s the answer to all,” she gestured to the sweeping badlands surrounding them, “this?”

Mostima remained silent. She bent the booklet backwards, inspecting the information page by page. “No,” she finally admitted. “But the Lock fears him. I need to know why.”

Chapter Text

Interlude I Part 1: A Familiar Ballad

Had someone told him that the wind possessed a voice, he would have laughed and carried on with his life, disregarding the encounter as mere happenstance; never to be remembered. 

Be that as it may, a still breeze drifted by as he floated in a pale void of white, sighing out a melancholic refrain. Its songstress, uttering a sonance knit from air, whispered into his ears: “Oh dream, please, let me not awaken.”

Her airs lilted with a subdued desperation like a pitcher with nothing left to pour, and yet, every time, she found more: The melody tumbling from its glass, filling his heart with its plea: So you wish, and yet, a dream has to end one day. Such is the fate of time . 

The pitcher’s stream was unending: The songstress bending its flow, wrapping its ends around his waist and back to its lips, all just to let him feel what it felt to be loved—the warmth resonating within his heart: Even if everything disappears like the wind, I will swim in the skies of your memory

Thus, the songstress and her aria returned to their home, vanishing with the wind: Even after you’ve awoken, the dream will always remain within you.  

Luke awoke with a snivel, blinking the bleary sleep from his eyes. Sitting up, he pulled down his night mask as saline mucus dripped from his nose. He wiped his sticky lips with the back of his hand. 

He took a shuddering breath as a lone tear leaked from his eye, tracing a previously unknown path to his chin.

Am I… crying?

Unable to fall back asleep, Luke slipped his jacket over his hospital gown and fastened his porcelain mask around his face. He quietly crept from his assigned room into the dark hallway. The last thing he needed was another lecture from the medical operators. That new intern, Hibiscus, had already laid it on thick, yapping on about proper rest and dietary restrictions.

Yeah, no.

Luke quietly tiptoed away from his room and towards the nurses’ stations. He had just slinked past three rooms, when his world was rocked by a sea of light. 

“Sneakin out again?” A smug voice asked.

Still blinded, Luke stumbled forward.  “Look, you know what I’m going to say,” he reasoned reasonably. “We do this almost every other night: You and I both know you’re going to let me go, Gavial.”

The Archosauria crossed her arms over her flak jacket with a smirk. “And yet you never learn!” She strode up to him, rapping the back of her knuckles against his head. “Ya’sure you’ve got anythin going on in there? Hasn’t it occurred to you that Hibiscus might be hangin around?”

Luke scoffed. “That kid couldn’t stay up past 8:30 for the life of her.”

Gavial chuckled. “Don’t let her catch’ya sayin that.” She gave him a friendly slap on the back. “Now get out of here. Before you know who shows up. That mongoose’s got no chill.”

Luke nodded. He didn’t have to be told twice. Dr. Kal’tsit apparent “apprentice” was a menace to Terra—and that was coming from him. He quickly left the medical wing, catching the nearest elevator.

He stepped out onto one of the landship’s many helidecks. Rummaging through his pockets, he pulled out a worn and beaten lighter and paused for a moment, turning the small object in his hands. 

It was found clutched in his hands when the Old Man dragged him from that beach all those years ago. It was an odd shape for a lighter—circular—not unlike that of a pocket watch. Its design, while peculiar, was somehow fitting: Cast from brass and embossed with a helmsman’s wheel, the lighter featured a ship’s keel as its cover. 

A shame really , Luke thought to himself. While there was no doubt it was once a brilliant masterpiece, it had long lost its keen luster, having turned old and dull from time and abuse.

He could sense it was somehow important to his former self. He couldn’t explain it. It almost felt like greeting an old friend—he simply felt an inexplicable connection. What that significance was was lost upon him—along with his previous life and memories—washed away with the waves, sinking into the dark, cold depths of the ocean.

His previous self would probably loath to see how Luke used his precious lighter. To him, Luke, It was nothing more than a flame for a growing addiction—a means to an end.

Luke flicked the cover, casting a small and shadowless flame. I suppose, he thought forlornly as he watched the flighty dancer lick the palm of his hands. It’s the sole connection to my, to his, past. Luke snuffed the flame, ending her show prematurely. He returned a hand to his pocket, withdrawing a beaten box of cigarettes.

He hadn’t smoked since the day he left home—before he left the temple. A period of eight, long, smokeless days. He should never have waited that long—he was starting to lose control of his reckless thoughts and emotions. He picked out a random cigarette: There wasn’t a need to be picky. Unlike people, cigarettes didn’t care who or what was left behind. A smoke was a smoke.

He traced a hand along his mask. At times he wondered what his past self did to deserve such a countenance. Maybe it’s best I don’t remember , he thought as he kissed the filter end of the cigarette. He flicked a light, shielding the flame with his hand and lighting the stick.

Luke breathed deeply, reveling in the burning sobriety that smoking brought with its noxious fumes. Feeling a sense of peace, he thought back to his waking dream. 

It had been a nice change of pace: For once, he hadn’t awoken kicking and screaming. He had, however, felt an odd sense of loneliness—and he still did. The emptiness he felt lingered within his heart along with a familiar sense of longing. The emotions frustrated him to no end, tormenting him. 

Torture!—Torture, it was! This accursed, perfidiously saccharine dream dredged up nostalgic emotions from the depths of his psyche, and yet the precious memories remained just beyond his reach, left behind in the dark doldrums of his mind.

Who was this woman? The songstress: Who was she? Of course he couldn’t remember.

But, at the same time, he felt like he didn’t need to remember.

As though a part of him would always know who she was—what she meant to him. The tender words she carried on her haunting elegy lent him the comfort that it was, as it is now, okay to feel vulnerable. Like a tender embrace, her wisping tones brought warmth, familiarity, security, and other emotions unknown to him: All the more reason to feel guilt over forgetting her. 

Luke clicked his tongue against his cheek, puffing out a haze of smoke, cursing himself. She had offered him acceptance, warmth, and comfort; and yet, he spat in her face, tarnishing her memory like a writhing insect, crushed and smeared across her headstone. 

He longed to lash out, scream, cry, and shout. It taunted him to no end!—lambasting him with emotions he’d never feel. He was so close and yet so far. Every night, he was haunted by these dreams; seeing faceless people and hearing toneless voices. These… phantoms—formless ghosts of his past—they stirred up fragments of his former self, polluting his mind with memorial shreds—with litter. 

He brought the cigarette to his lips. “Rubbish,” he ground out. “One step forward; two steps back; it’s all rubbish.” 

Luke laughed sardonically. Maybe Grani’s Victorian colloquialisms were rubbing off on him. She said all kinds of things: Rubbish, Cheeky, Splendid, Reckon, hell, he was pretty sure he caught her saying “cheesed off,” but she had denied it vehemently. 

Grani truly was his one source of comfort amongst all the chaos. Her voice never failed to bring a smile to his face, not because every other word that graced her lips was an idiosyncratic notion (though he had to admit, it did contribute a fair bit to his mood), but rather, she was a veritable spring of sincere integrity. 

He supposed there was something disarming about her unfettered geniality. She wore her emotions on her sleeve like a red badge of courage—what she had to struggle through to become such a bright person was unfathomable. He could never do it. What she said was what she thought, and she had never sought to deceive him in any way. Sure, she followed the same dogma as the rest of the societal rot, but unlike them, she spared nothing in extending her kindness to each and every person she met. 

That was something he admired—something he aspired to be, but he knew he didn’t have the strength to face his inner demons.

Hell, he didn’t even have the strength to protect her. He was reminded of the fight with Grendel, and how utterly useless he had been. Visions of Grani’s defeat had plagued his mind since he had awoken in the medical ward. He could only watch helplessly as her limp body sailed into a concession stand over and over again. 

She would have died if it weren’t for Mostima.

What happened? Why was he so weak? Why was he so useless? And what of Murakumo: Why hadn’t she heeded his call in his darkest hour? What use is power if he couldn’t use it to protect his only friend—the one person he really cared for—Grani. 

It was clear to him that he couldn’t rely on his ornate blade or his natural strength. He would need to change—grow stronger—or at least a little faster. After all, how could he trust himself to support his friend if he couldn’t even guarantee her safe return? He was a shity combatant and an even worse partner.

But Luke was at a loss. He spent his entire life (or at least what little of it he remembered) floating just above the surface, neither sinking nor swimming. He had invested the minimal amount of effort required to barely scrape by. How was he meant to make up for all that lost time and then some? He couldn’t ask Franka and Liskarm: They were departing for another mission within the week, and he hadn’t seen neither hide nor hair of Texas since the fight.

He took a deep, long drag from his cigarette. He exhaled slowly, feeling the nicotine work through his system. This wasn’t something he could burden Grani with. He had already dragged her into enough problems already. This was something he had to figure out on his own.

Luke chuckled wryly, expelling a cloud of smoke. Grani and Gavial would definitely kill him if they caught him smoking. As well as Exusiai—she already had her hands full dealing with Texas’s smoking habits. 

His thoughts wandered to his energetic acquaintance. Luke was wracked with guilt over how he had treated her the other day—threatening to kill her. She didn't deserve it. 

Luke pressed his forehead against the helideck’s railing with a tired groan. “She was only looking out for you…” 

Sure, it seemed like she had forgiven him, but who’s to say that she wasn’t wearing her own mask? How could he tell what she was really thinking? What if she hadn’t forgiven him? What if he creeped her out? The doubt, the guilt, his frustrations, all of his doubts and fears, everything began to bubble up to the surface with nowhere to go.

“God, what’s wrong with me?” He asked, banging his head against the steel bar. Why did I do that? “Stupid.”

Grumbling, he continued abusing his head as penance for his transgressions. I shouldn’t have threatened her. “Stupid.”

What if she’s scared of me? “Stupid.” 

Am I less likable now? “Stupid.” 

What if she hates me? “Stupid, stupid stupid, stupid!”

His anxieties, thriving in a cesspool of his doubts and regrets, bred thoughts like puss in a cyst. Forced to the surface, but trapped beneath his skin, his apprehension boiled; festered; Accumulating like snow mounds before an avalanche, the putrid thoughts metastasized at an increasing rate that he could not control until it reached a breaking point where there was only one thing his emotions could do.

Pop.

Luke crushed the burning cigarette in his hand. Screaming out at the top of his lungs, he hurled the stub over the railing and watched the glowing amber sail out into the night sky. 

His shoulders shook as he struggled to reign in his anger. Quickly, almost desperately, he retrieved a fresh smoke from his pocket. Luke fell back, sitting on the helipad with his back against the hangar door. He took a long and shaky breath from his second smoke, gazing up at the stars as his adopted father’s words came to mind: I’m getting too old for this shit.  

Luke chuckled mirthlessly. “I don’t even know how old I am,” he said, tapping his cigarette free of ash. “Or who I am.”

Yes, if only his past self could see him now.

And so—quietly—a lurking shadow returned to the interior hall, closing the deck’s door behind them.

A sudden earthquake woke Luke from his dreamless sleep. “Mr. Luke! Wake up! It’s time for your psychological evaluation!”

God damn it. It was no earthquake, no, it was something far worse—Hibiscus. “Get lost,” Luke groaned, still half asleep. He rolled over, turning his back to the blinding morning light. “Grown ups need their sleep.”

Hibiscus humphed. Grabbing his blankets, she pulled with all her might, yanking the covers from his body. “I already told you: I’m 15!”

He reached to shield his eyes from the sun’s harsh rays, but stopped when his knuckles met a stone cold surface. “Shit, fell asleep with my mask on… alright, quit shaking the bed!” Luke cried, sitting up. “I’m getting up.”

Hibiscus popped her hip to one side, placing the back of her hand against her slim waist. “It’s important to wake up early in the morning in order to get a head start on your day,” she lectured, wagging her finger authoritatively. “I even brought you breakfast!” 

Luke forced down an ounce of bile. He’d heard rumors about her unique cooking.  “No, that’s okay,” he groaned. “I’m not that hungry.” And it was true, he wasn’t hungry— anymore at least…

“Nonsense! You haven’t eaten since dinner!” the intern said, rummaging through her satchel. How she knew that was beyond him.

This was his chance! Now! While she’s distracted! He swung his legs over the bed, hopping onto the cold floor, barefooted. “Well… I’m going to be late, so I’d be—”

“A-haa!” Hibiscus cheered, holding up plastic Tupperware triumphantly. “Here it is!” Her arm whipped behind her, snagging the collar of Luke’s hospital gown as he passed. “Oh, you. You’re just like Lava!”

He sighed. It was worth a shot. “Give me that.” Luke snatched the Tupperware from her hands and planted himself on the edge of his bed. Tearing off the lid, he tore into the food with his bare hands.

Hibiscus’s cooking was bitter and tasteless, but undoubtedly homemade. The energetic girl must’ve woken at the crack of dawn, just to prepare the meal for him. That killed him. It really did.

In his opinion, if a person couldn’t afford to be kind, then they shouldn’t be kind. As the Old Man said: There’s no such thing as a free lunch—Someone, somewhere, had to pay a price. 

In his mind, a genuinely kind person would extend a hand without expecting compensation. After all, rewards were not a right, but a privilege. Those who donated to charity, expecting praise, were nothing more than profligate charlatans—posers! And Luke was no poser. 

Groaning, he swallowed the final bit of food. He set the empty Tupperware aside, rose from his bed, and rushed to an adjacent bathroom to wash his hands. He’d hate to soil his sheets with his dirty hands. 

Maybe I should have asked for a fork or something. He thought while drying his hands. Luke emerged to a meek Hibiscus looking up at him through the bangs of her purple hair. 

“H-how was it?” she asked, fiddling with her fingers. 

He wasn’t a fool. He knew that Hibiscus was painfully aware of her peculiar cooking. 

“Shit,” but he also wouldn’t lie to her. “What the hell did you do to this? It literally couldn’t get any worse unless you burned the damn thing.” He reached into his mouth and pulled a loose strand of spinach from between his molars. He returned the finger to his mouth, licking the food free. 

Hibiscus looked down, defeated. “B-but you ate the whole thing…” she whimpered.

“Of course I did,” Luke rolled his eyes. What a foolish statement. “ You made it. You set aside time and effort to cook for me, obviously I’ll eat it. Even if it’s shit, bland, and burnt, I’d still eat it.” He placed a hand between her horns and ruffled her hair. 

Hibiscus squeaked softly, squirming beneath his touch. 

“I appreciate how much thought and care you put into this—into someone like me.” With a final tousle, Luke pushed two fingers into her forehead, much to her consternation. She stumbled back with a pout. 

Slipping on his shoes and jacket, Luke tossed a wave over his shoulders. “Thanks, Hibiscus. It means a lot to me,” he said with a slight smile. “It really does.” 

Luke left the room, closing the door behind him….

…Only to come face to face with Gavial. 

The nurse leaned forward with a toothy smile, rubbing her chin. “Whaddya know…” 

Luke did not like her tone of voice. He took a step back and tried to walk around her, but Gavial simply moved to intercept him. She chuckled, sending shivers down his spine. “Despite your constant complaining, you’re rather fond of her, aren’t you?”

He looked away. “I have no idea what you’re talking about: Her cooking is terrible and her boundless energy irritates me,” he stated, side stepping around his designated nurse. 

Gavial took a step of her own, blocking his path. “But what about Grani? She’s practically bouncing off the walls.”

“Hey,” Luke warned, finally turning to face her with an accusatory finger, “Grani’s different. She’s—”

“I’m what?” 

Flinching, Luke lowered his hand. The last person he wanted to overhear had suddenly appeared behind him. “She’s… picking me up for my appointment…!” he fibbed, hurling a glare in Gavial’s direction.

You knew! He lipped. There wasn’t a shred of doubt in his mind: Gavial must have seen Grani coming.

Gavial’s smile simply grew.

“Indeed I am!” Grani proclaimed with a proud nod. “Had I left him alone, he’d still be faffing around!”

“I don’t know about that…” Gavial said, glancing askance. “I asked a friend of his to wake him up today.”

Luke rolled his eyes. He found himself doing that a lot lately. Regardless, it was typical of Gavial to send Hibiscus to irritate him. “We should get going,” he grumbled. “I want to get this evaluation over with.” 

He shuffled away, dragging his feet. While he wanted to be done with whatever Dr. Kal’tsit had in store for him, he also wasn’t particularly keen to participate either.

Grani tipped her visor forward, giving the medic one of her signature salutes before chasing after him. “Well! We’ll be off then! Cheers, Gavial!” she shouted with a wave.

Scratching his head in frustration, Luke dug through his usual pocket only to find it empty. That’s strange… could have sworn I—

Grani rushed past him, whipping something out from behind her back. “Looking for these ?” she asked, shaking his box of cigarettes. “Too bad! A little birdie told me that you went out for a ciggie last night.”

Shrugging, Luke reached into another pocket to fetch more cigarettes and his handy lighter. “S’okay. I’ve got more.”

Grani suddenly leapt up, snatching the box from his hand. “Oh, leave it off!” she shouted.

Huffing, Luke flicked his lighter in irritation. 

They rounded the final corner before the Aromatherapist’s clinic, when Luke stopped suddenly, causing Grani to walk into his back. 

“Hey, what’s the hold up?” she grumbled, rubbing her nose.

There, standing in the corridor, was a tall woman about his age. A silken wonder of silver and gray spilled out from beneath her hat, cascading down her back. The shimmering tresses were loosely held together in a vague bundle, forking into a tail at the very bottom. Her figure was lithe but full—and very generous indeed. Long lashes dusted her pale cheeks whenever she blinked. She turned towards them, revealing two lustrous rubies that gleamed dolefully beneath the corridor’s artificial light. A massive greatsword hung by its strap, thrown lazily over its owner’s quant shoulders.

Luke leaned toward Grani. “Who’s that?” he whispered.

“That’s Skadi, a new hire. She was recruited while you were undergoing treatment,” she explained with a tilt of her head. “Do you know her?”

“She’s cute.”

Her eyes narrowed. “ Oh ,” she huffed. “Is that right? Cuter than your best friend?”

Luke knew that tone of voice: She was hoping to get a rise out of him—that troublemaker. Well, he’d show her.

He played it cool with a relaxed shrug. “Yeah, I guess… I mean, I bet she doesn’t fart in her sleep.”

Grani’s face flushed up to her human ears with indignation. “I do not fart in my sleep!” she retorted, stomping a foot. “I reckon you do it loads more than I do!”

Luke smirked. Hook, line, and sinker. “I never said it was you.”

“Gah!” Grani cried, grasping the sides of her head. “I’ve been had! You’ve ought to feel ashamed, tricking me like this!”

He casually threw up his arms as though to say what can I say. “Remember, Grani. It doesn’t matter how cute or sexy you are: Everyone farts silently when they walk.”

Luke, too distracted by their rambunctious horseplay, failed to notice the new hire approaching them. 

“Where did you get that?” she asked, catching him off guard. 

Luke yelped with a jolt. “ Holy shit. Do you just go around scaring people like that?”

Skadi ignored him. “Where did you get that?” she asked, forcefully repeating her question.

“What, this thing?” Luke asked as he shoved Grani’s face away from him. He flipped the ship’s keel, igniting a flame. “Gramps found it on the beach with me. It’s a pretty cool design, isn’t it?”

Skadi stared up at him for a moment, scrutinizing his face as though searching for traces of a lie. She eventually lowered her hand and brushed past them without another word.

Luke watched as she retreated around the corridor from where they came. 

He shrugged. “A bit rude, but at least she’s up front.” He could appreciate that.

Grani rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand. “Come on, we’re going to be late, because someone woke up late.”

“Shame on you.”

“Luke!”

Chapter Text

Interlude I Part 2: Of Baboons and Religion

The greenhouse’s sheer size took him by surprise. The sweeping glass windows encapsulated what felt like a small park. Plants of all varieties lined every wall: some flowering, others budding, some hanging from overhead vines. He would have thought he was outside if it weren’t for the curving class ceiling.

A series of picnic benches stood in the middle of the garden, one of which was occupied by a curvaceous Vulpo, who was facing him, with a blue haired Liberi—facing away from him. The two were engaged in what felt like a serious conversation. Regardless, Luke had to admit, both women were incredibly fetching. 

Noticing them, the Vulpo waved. “Γειά σας! It’s nice to meet you two. My name is Lena, a perfumer, but you may refer to me by my title.”

Title? What title? “Lena?” Luke asked hesitantly.

She smiled sweetly. “Perfumer.”

He nodded. “Perfumer. Got it.” Something in her smile felt incredibly dangerous. Why are all the Vulpos here crazy? He thought, harkening back to his time with Franka.

Content, Perfumer returned to her conversation with the Liberi sitting before her. “That will be all, Astesia, you may leave.”

“Astesia” stood from the bench and bowed deeply. “Thank you, Miss Perfumer. I am incredibly grateful for all your help.”

Luke stepped aside to make way for the timid woman. She whispered her thanks as she passed through the door. 

The place didn’t look anything like a psych eval location. Sure, it was an Aromatherapist’s clinic, but when he thought about it, should an aromatherapist be conducting such a task? 

He pulled at his partner’s ears, much to her irritation. “Hey, Grani. Are you sure this—”

“I heard you snuck out again.” 

Jolting upright, Luke stood stock still. He groaned. There, standing beside him, was the last person he wanted to see—Folinic.

“About that…”

Ignoring him, the feline medic roughly spun him around, leaning in close to sniff at his hospital gown. She pulled back, glaring up at him. “I knew it. You’re smoking again. How many times do I have to tell you that smoking is bad for your health?”

“One time too many…” Luke mumbled. 

Perfumer giggled, as though expecting the verbal confrontation. “Did you just figure that out, Louisa? My, your senses are awfully dull for someone as young as yourself.”

Folinic simply brushed past Luke, taking a seat on the far side of the bench with a sigh, seemingly content to let Perfumer’s quip slide. She produced a tablet from a satchel she had slung around her shoulders and began tapping away while Perfumer milled about, crushing petals and mixing oils.

A sudden realization struck Luke. “Wait, how’d you know?” he asked the older medic

“That you’re a smoker?” 

“Yeah.”

Perfumer chuckled. “By scent, of course! I could smell you coming a mile away! No harm intended.”

He waved aside her concerns. “None taken.”

“Thank you,” she said with an amicable smile as she returned to her business. “Please, have a seat.”

Not wanting to appear rude, Luke sat opposite of Folinic with Grani sitting beside him.

“As I mentioned previously, my name is Lena, but you may call me Perfumer . I see you’re already familiar with Loui—Folinic. I’ll let her take the reins.”

Folinic nodded gratefully. “Thank you for loaning us your garden, Lena. Luke, I will be administering your psychological evaluation today. Unlike most medical diagnoses, a psychological evaluation lacks a proper quantitative scale. Thus, it can only be as accurate as the patient is honest. It’s imperative that you be entirely truthful.”

“Guh…” The mere thought of divulging his secrets to Folinic while in front of a total stranger made him feel sick. 

“We’ve decided to administer the evaluation in combination with aromatherapy,” Folinic said, gesturing to an incense machine, “in the hope it will ease your mind throughout the process.” 

That certainly explained the exotically enchanting scents in the air. Luke had to admit, a hint of lavender certainly was very calming.

Folinic then turned to Grani, addressing her with a polite nod. “This is something that must stay between Luke, Lena, and I. Ms. Grani, may I ask you to step outside for a moment?”

Grani’s face fell, but she stood nevertheless. However, Luke gently pushed her back into her chair, shaking his head. “No, she can stay. I trust her.”

Folinic raised a curious brow. “Is that alright with you, Ms. Grani?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “O-of course!”

Sighing, Folinic shook her head. “Well, let’s start off with the basics. Please, tell me about yourself. How was life growing up?”

Growing up… Luke leaned back against the bench, crossing his arms with a sigh. “Growing up, huh…?” he asked, gazing up at the glass roof silently. Words long forgotten wormed their way into his brain, consuming all before him.

“That Lucius boy…” a woman tutted with a shake of her head. “Such an ill mannered child.”

Another woman tittered with indignation. “I reckon he believes he’ll get off scot free.” She looked around furtively before leaning towards her clique, whispering. “He’s the Master’s son, you know.”

A passing man stopped dead in his tracks. “Is he really?” he gasped.

The gossiping women hushed him. 

“Quiet!” one of them hissed. 

The original speaker motioned her group towards her. “Now this is all hearsay, but I’ve heard that he’s adopted…”

The man rubbed his chin. “He does look rather foreign…”

The second woman scoffed into a laugh. “I can’t blame his parents, who would want such a hideous child?”

“Oh please, you’re too much!” the other woman said, slapping her friend with a handbag. “Though I can’t help but agree…”

“Hush. There he is now.”

Gentle shaking roused Luke from his flashback. Blinking several times, he shook his head and noticed Grani’s slender hand on his shoulder. She was looking up at him with concern.

“You okay?” she asked.

“Sorry, I was lost in thought,” Luke said. “You wanted to discuss my formative years?”

Folinic nodded. “Yes, if possible. How were they?”

“Shit,” Luke said without hesitation. “I mean, everything was all sorts of shit.”

“Care to explain?”

“Well, you see…”

First off, let me start by informing you that I have, in essence, the prudence of a six year old. You see, I was adopted—well, adopted is a bit of a stretch, as there were no authorities to hand me over, and I didn’t have any parents to legally put me up for adoption. It was a huge mess, really. To clarify, it still is a huge mess, because Gramps didn’t pick me out from an orphanage like a vegetable from the fuckin produce aisle. He essentially stumbled upon my soggy corpse on some goddamned beach in Yan or something. Or was it Higashi? I’m pretty sure it’s—I know Higashi doesn’t have any beaches, Folinic. That’s why I posed my last sentence as a question rather than a statement. 

As I was saying, Gramps found me on that beach and I guess he decided to take me in, because I remember waking up to a completely foreign environment. Well I guess everything was foreign at that point…

Imagine that: waking up in some blasted temple in the middle of fuckin nowhere. Well, it wasn’t really nowhere, I suppose. Gramps lived in the mountains of central Higashi—he still does—but it certainly felt like he lived nowhere, because everyone around me was already old and decrepit. So as you can imagine, I got pretty lonely. 

It wasn’t all that bad, really. Kids my age would come and go with the seasons—religious folk—people like that. And let me tell you, just because a kid was religious, didn’t mean they were kind, or even moral. Just because a kid was raised in a religious environment, or community, didn’t necessarily mean they were upstanding members of said community. You see, in Higashi, religious values don't necessitate a sense of integrity. On the contrary, my observations seem to contradict that expectation: Religious folk in Higashi were the least genuine folk out there. That’s not to say that all religious folk are disingenuous—I’m sure there are many, many people who are both religious and genuine. Maybe I happened upon a bad batch—experimental sample bias, the likes of that.

I digress. Those pilgrimage kids were terrible —extraordinarily bad apples, as they say. They came in groups—cohorts, I liked to call them. Cohorts of baboons. I’m not entirely sure why or for what they came to Gramps’s place, but from what I gathered, it was like some sort of summer camp for them—a seasonal camp, I suppose. They came twice a year—the same kids—every year, on end, with some variation. Maybe some kid got sick and died, and some other kid took his place, I don’t know. I say this because girls weren’t allowed on these camps, far as I could tell. They never brought any girls with them, at least. Not that I saw.

I mean, whatever. 

But by god, should you look at those cohorts go! On the first day, the moment they stepped off the bus, these goddamned baboons would stratify into different castes based on size and appearance—a microcosm of society, I suppose. Some fucking Lord of the Flies shit. Anyways, I was always at the bottom of the system because I had a funny face, or something like that. To be honest, I don’t really know why Gramps put me in with them. Probably something to do with “getting to know kids my age,” or some bullshit like that. 

Shower time was a fuckin travesty, I tell’ya—an absolutely travesty. A man could hardly wash himself without getting the whip. Kids in the upper caste would mill about the shower stalls, marauding in the shadows like the fricking bogeyman—luring you into this false sense of security. And every night, just when you’d think that you got away whip free—smack! Those dullards would leap from their hiding places and snap your ass with their wet towels. Boy did it hurt. By the end of the night, your ass would be glowing red from all the whipping and snapping. 

It was fascinating, in some aspects. You could tell which caste a boy stood in by the color of their cheeks. Of course, the top dogs’ asses were peachy keen—they never got the lickings, but the poor guys below them would get a few, and the guys below them would get more. It essentially progressed similarly, with each caste’s asses getting progressively redder. My ass was as red as that blasted reindeer's nose, but I didn’t really mind. After a while you kinda get used to it, and it becomes something more akin to a chore than a punishment. Like, just bend over and tell’em to get it over with, you know? I had better shit to do anyways. Besides, kids will be kids. By the way, that’s why I call them baboons: A bunch of deranged screaming followed by ripe asses. And that’s not even half of it. It was a huge mess—a blazing mess, really. 

In retrospect, it was kind of perverse—the stratification of the cohorts, I mean, not the whipping. Though, I suppose that would also constitute a perverse description. I digress, I think that’s when I realized how fucked up the world is. Think about it: these kids were segregating themselves along racial lines. Ultimately, I had no idea where I was, who I was, or how I got there. I was in a real bad place, you know? It was a huge conundrum—a behemoth of a conundrum—since neither I nor the baboons knew what I was, racially that is, I surmised that my caste was decided on account of my funny looking face instead of my race. To reiterate, these are kids I’m talking about. This ad hoc caste system is something I would expect from adults, but to think that their dogmatic practices had metastasized to children: That kills me. Kids should be free to socialize as they please, not brainwashed into a dogmatic cult.

It wasn’t long before I met the parental baboons, and by god did everything suddenly make sense. You should have seen the way they acted. It’s no wonder their kids turned out so poorly. These kids, the adults that is, were so fake they could have been actors for heaven’s sake. They would greet each other like old friends who haven’t met in a long while: shaking hands, giving out hugs, trading greetings, shit like that. But whenever they met an Ægir mother, or a Sarkaz father, or even worse a mixed kid, everything would change. Sure, they would smile or force a laugh—make small talk that their heart clearly wasn’t in—but the moment they saw a fellow , they would spew some bullshit excuse and go converse with them for a fucking hour. It sickened me. It still sickens me. If you want to be kind, then be kind. If you want to be a fucking degenerate, then do it! But don’t pretend to be kind if you don’t mean it. 

Gutless cowards like them really get me going. How stupidly self absorbed do you have to be to not only have horrible preconceptions based purely on a fluke of birth, but to also lack the integrity to admit it simply because you’re too obsessed with what others think about you. What a clown show. 

It’s utterly despicable how these parents decide who’s worthy of their time based entirely on race. I’d understand if we were morally corrupt, that’s something else entirely , but what’d we do to be ostracized? 

Nothing.

That’s what—nothing. 

It’s all based on a fluke of birth. Bullshit. It’s all a mess of bullshit. All these fucking parents should be hung in public. Let them be stoned to death, I don’t give a shit. 

I think the only reason people gave me the time of day was because of Gramps. Gramps was a sight to behold when he was mad! He would suddenly fly off the handle like a madman, beating kids, and me, whenever we acted out. Though I have to admit, I usually deserved it. The lickings became less frequent as I got older. I supposed he figured a young adult was old enough to regret their own decisions, and boy was he right.

One time, I went around the temple smashing all the pots with my head and made a huge mess of the place. Even now, I struggle to recall exactly why I lost it, but I do remember feeling an extreme sense of guilt. I must’ve done something really despicable and gotten told off for it. Not really surprising, considering it was me after all.

Isn’t that funny? How the brain works, that is. You remember the fallout of an event, but not the actual event itself. Anyways. I suppose, to them, the adults I mean, I’m a freaking bedlamite —a psycho. But I’m okay with that. I’d rather die a fool than a dogmatic phony. The fool loves completely, you know? No need to RSVP, you are cordially invited. I Read that from one of my favorite poems. It would have been cool if it was Madame Ling’s prose, but it’s not.

Anyways, I thought I would never find a person who was unconditionally kind to everyone: Someone who actually cared for those around them, but then I met Grani. You should have seen her when I first arrived on the Landship. Kids flocked around her, practically begging for her attention, and not only did she take the time to address every single one of them, but she was also genuinely interested in their well being. Isn’t that amazing? Grani’s really one in a million. I really love that part about her, you know? It’s really hard to be a kind person, but for Grani, it just comes naturally. 

Luke sighed, satisfied with his long exposition.

“Is… that all…?” Folinic asked, hesitant.

He shrugged. “More or less. There’s other stuff, but I’d rather not go into details.”

“Then, tell me, who are you?”

Luke leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. He glanced to his side, taking a sudden interest in Grani’s boots. “I don’t know.”

Folinic was quiet for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. “Have you heard of dissociative amnesia?” she asked suddenly.

Luke shook his head. “No, I can’t say I have.”

She nodded to herself, as if confirming a suspicion. “It’s a rare form of Amnesia, found in less than 1% of the population. It’s typically caused by an extremely traumatic event, especially in victims of sexual assault,” she took at deep breath,  “and now you.”

Luke sighed. That much was expected. After all, he didn’t even know his true name or age. 

Folinic continued. “Your psyche is further complicated by a type B personality disorder—a coping mechanism. This is common amongst dissociative amnesiacs. Based on field reports submitted by your team and elements from your story, it appears you suffer from BPD—Borderline Personality Disorder.

“This manifests itself with unusual quirks in personality such as: impulsivity, extremely unstable emotions, inability to form close interpersonal relationships, social isolation, distortion of self image, fears of abandonment, irritability, risky and reckless behavior, self-harm, substance abuse, and other antisocial tendencies.

“I suspect you were abused as a child, but a combination of BPD and desensitization has left you unconcerned with the finer details and the experience as a whole, for which I’m unsure if I should feel concerned or grateful for. Regardless, I cannot be entirely sure, as your lackadaisical recollection leaves too many questions unanswered.”

A fog of silence fell over the room as Grani gazed up at him with a mist of concern hazed with uncertainty, eagerly awaiting his response. 

Luke merely shrugged with a chuckle. “I figured. That certainly explains a lot.”

Folinic glanced askance, catching Perfumer’s attention. 

She simply smiled. 

“Well,” Folinic started, returning her attention to Luke, “there are several avenues towards convalescence. The majority of which revolve around recovering your memories, thus riding the need for a coping mechanism and clearing your psyche.”

“Okay.”

“Among those avenues are varying methods to assist your recovery. You could actively search for clues regarding your past, or you could simply wait and see what happens. Most dissociative amnesiacs will naturally recall their identities after a period of time, but given how long it’s been since you were found, you’ll remember little if anything.

“There’s circumstantial evidence that suggests regular aromatherapy may lead to a faster recovery, but success seems to come on a case-by-case basis. However,” she paused, gesturing towards Perfumer. “That’s where Lena comes in.”

Perfumer clapped her hands together, pleased with having her turn in the spotlight. “Indeed! I am no ordinary Perfumer! By utilizing modern medicine and aromatherapy, I’m able to heal both mind and body. Through experimentation and observation, we found that my aromatics are well suited for psychological treatment.”

Folinic thanked her friend with a slight smile. “Regardless, what we do is entirely up to you,” she said.

Luke sat in silence, mulling over his options. Of course, he would like to recover his memories, that was without a doubt. However, he wasn’t entirely sold on the whole “aromatherapy” thing. On one hand, it sounded like a bunch of hocus-pocus magic bullshit. On the other hand, he would need all the help he could get, even if it came in the form of magic bullshit.

“I need some time to think about it.” 

“While unfortunate,” Folinic sighed. “That is completely understandable.”

It seemed like she was expecting an immediate answer. However, this could be a monumental decision for him. It wasn’t something he wanted to decide on a whim. “Will that be it?” he asked, eager to blow off some steam.

Folinic nodded. “That’ll be all.”

Luke stood and, pulling Grani by the hand, hastily made for the exit. Halfway through the doorway, he looked over his shoulders. “You know,” he said, catching Folinic’s attention, “you’re surprisingly agreeable when you aren’t badgering me about smoking. Maybe that Prince Charming will come around after all.”

Folinic’s face exploded into a cloud of red. Reaching down, she slipped a shoe from one of her feet. “Why you…”

Luke slammed the garden door shut just as Folinic hurled her boot towards him. It smacked the door with a sharp thud. 

He chuckled, ignoring Grani’s stern look of disapproval. 

She sighed. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

Luke shrugged. “I seem to recall you mentioning that once or twice.” 

“Yes, and I believe it’s worth repeating.”

“Sure…” he said, unconvinced.

Grani looked down, taking a sudden vested interest in her feet. “Hey, d-did you really mean that? W-What you told Folinic…” she asked, fiddling with her hair.

There was something remarkably endearing about the way she was acting, and he couldn’t help but find her unusually timid reaction attractive. “Of course. You’re irreplace—” Luke paused abruptly, turning away from his partner. 

Shit. Why did I say that?

Grani’s eyes twinkled brightly as a Gigawatt smile illuminated her face. He had never seen such a wide grin on her face, yet somehow it felt natural. “What? I’m what?” she asked, her tail whipping back and forth.

One peek was all he needed: She damn well knew what he had said. Luke hid his growing blush behind his shoulder. “N-nothing!” He coughed, clearing his throat. “I didn’t say anything.”

Grani pranced around him. Despite his best efforts, she managed to catch a quick glimpse of his flushed face. Gasping excitedly, she thrust her face into his personal space. “Oh my god… Are you blushing?!” she cried, zeroing in on his flushed features. “I can’t believe this! You’re totally blushing!”

Luke shoved her face away from him, hiding his cheek with his free hand. “N-no, I’m not!”

Undeterred, Grani pressed her soft cheek against the palm of his hand. “Marvy! Camera, I need a camera!”

Before Luke could even blink, Grani had whipped out her phone and had snapped a picture of his red face. He tried to swipe the device from her hands, but she simply danced away from his grasp. 

“You…” he growled. “You better hand that over, right now…”

Grani stuck out her tongue, blowing a raspberry. “Blegh!”

The indignation drained from Luke’s body in an instant, leaving behind joyful notes of amusement. A slight smile slipped through his ambivalent mask. “You’re lucky I’m in a good mood today…”

Scrolling through her gallery, Grani rolled her eyes. “Oh please , you’re so melodramatic.”

Together, the two settled into a comfortable silence as they made their way back to Luke’s room in the medical ward.

“You knew, didn’t you?” he asked suddenly.

Pocketing her phone, Grani scratched the side off her cheek sheepishly. “Dr. Kal’tsit filled me in while you were out. Said that your erratic actions weren’t yours entirely.” She looked away. “I ought to apologize.”

He frowned. That was news to him. Grani hadn’t done anything that warranted an apology. Besides, even if she had, he’d still refuse to accept it. She could do no wrong in his eyes. “For?”

Her shoulders slumped forward—a sharp contrast to her previous elation. “Giving you the cold shoulder—back in the stadium. I should’ve stayed by your side, because of that you—”

“It’s fine,” Luke said, interrupting her. He didn’t need Grani blaming herself for his stupid decisions.

She glared up at him. “You could have died!” 

“…But I didn’t. And it wasn’t your fault. Just as it’s not your job to protect me—It’s mine.” 

Chapter Text

Interlude I Part 3: The Twins

Gavial had barely left his room when Grani barged in, announcing that she had come to “pick him up,” nevermind the fact they both lived aboard the landship. How she found out about his discharge was beyond him—her presence meant that she knew about it before he did. Regardless, the former officer was bursting with energy. 

“Let’s have a party! ” She exclaimed, unprompted. “A movie night! Game night! Snack night!” She spent the next ten minutes musing on and intermittently pitching celebratory activities while he packed his belongings. She must’ve been truly ecstatic, as she didn’t offer to help—something she would’ve normally done. 

His things packed, he turned to leave, following as Grani half-skipped down the hallway and into the elevator room.

It occurred to Luke that he couldn’t recall a time—convalescence aside—when she wasn’t hovering by his side (nagging or otherwise). Of course, she’d never been to the temple where he’d spent the majority of his life, but so much had changed recently, that his time back home had begun to feel like a distant memory.

“Hey! Are you listening?”

Blinking, Luke found himself in an elevator—specifically, between its console and Grani. Realizing he had zoned out, he apologized sheepishly and pushed a button.

“What were you saying?” he asked, repositioning the box in his hands.

“We should travel the world together!” Grani exclaimed. “There’s so much to see!” 

Traveling the world? That sounded like it’d require a great deal of effort. “I don’t know…” he muttered noncommittally, as the elevator groaned to a stop.

She hopped through the opening doors, landing on both her feet. The rubber ducky squeaked in her hand. “Come on, think about it!—backpacking through the Leithanian forests, camping in the wilderness, sleeping beneath the stars. We could have all the s’mores we’d like—just me and you!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with wonder. “I, for one, sure would fancy a stroll through the rolling hills of Kazimierz. Doesn’t that sound grand?”

Luke hummed. She made the idea seem more tempting when she put it that way. He had never been camping before, and he did enjoy the occasional marshmallow. “That does sound nice…”

“Right?” Grani marched ahead, swinging her arms by her side like a soldier. 

Luke trailed silently after her, his eyes tracing her shapely figure as it swayed with her movements. Something about her had changed. He felt a constant need to be on guard whenever she was around. Like walking along a narrow bridge—one wrong move, and he would tumble into the abyss below. 

Despite his newfound wariness, he couldn’t for the life of him figure out what had changed. It was apt to drive him mad. He watched her tail flick about as she skipped ahead, humming merrily. She certainly didn’t appear on edge. On the contrary, she seemed more upbeat than usual, but he knew well that looks could be deceiving. Did she simply have a pleasant breakfast? Was he reading too much into this? Was it because he’d been released from medical, and she was happy to have him back? The thought was equal parts pleasurable and terrifying. Was he willing to test that hypothesis? 

Lost in thought again, he realized with a start that she was looking over her shoulder with a mysterious grin. 

He’d been caught staring. 

Their eyes met— if only for a brief second— before he nervously wrenched them away, looking somewhere, anywhere else in the hallway. She turned fully towards him, walking half-backwards for a moment as her eyes closed and her smile widened. Clearly, she shared none of his reticence—something that would’ve been annoying, were it not so thoroughly captivating.

An invisible hand gripped his heart, wrestling it still for a brief moment. No, he decided. The scientific method could wait; there would be no testing of hypotheses today. It’d be foolhardy—too risky. There was simply too much at stake. What those stakes were, he didn’t know, but he felt them, nevertheless.

“I’ve got it!” Grani suddenly shouted, startling a passing purple-haired Feline.

Luke waved apologetically before questioning his friend. “What?” 

Grani held the caddy out behind her back. “We should go to Victoria! I’d love to show you my hometown!” Bending at the waist, she leaned forward with a wink. “If you show me yours, of course.”

Another missed beat. Fresh out of medical and she’s already aiming to give me a heart attack , he thought for a moment, before his usual cynicism was swept away in a tidal wave of emotion. 

Invite her to his place? Why would she want to visit the single most boring location in all of Terra? What would they even do there? The thought of bringing anyone home to Septimus, let alone a woman, made his stomach churn. Did she really want to show him her hometown? And why had she proposed it as some form of exchange? What did she want from him? How should he respond?

“Hello…! ATC to Luke, are you there?”

Luke looked up just in time to realize he was inches from a closed door. He walked straight into it, fell backwards, and spilled the contents of his box across the cold metal floor. His head cracked off it shortly thereafter, sending his world into a tumble. 

“Fuck, who the hell put this stupid door here?” He looked up. It was his room, still spinning slightly. “Oh. Guess that’d be me.”

Grani rushed to his side. “Are you okay?! Are you sure you didn’t leave medical too soon? That’s the third time you zoned out on the way back!” She reached out to help, but Luke waved her away.

“I’m fine,” he grumbled. Part of him was glad that Grani was the sole witness to his folly. On the other hand, the fact she had seen such a pathetic display at all  really drove him up the wall. He could feel the heat of embarrassment beginning to gather in his cheeks.

“I didn’t think you’d actually run into your door,” she said, leaning in with a smile. “Despite your tough words and monstrous scowl, you really are a silly goose.” She was close enough now that he could feel the warmth of her breath against his ear. 

“Shuddup,” Luke muttered, eyes glued to the floor in front of him as he rubbed the back of his skull. He was thoroughly flushed by this point, though the embarrassment was quickly turning to an afterthought. He didn’t dare turn to meet her gaze. 

After collecting and repacking his belongings, Luke approached his room’s door while juggling the plastic box with his feet. He reached into his pocket for his key, but found nothing. 

“For fuck’s—where’s my ID?” he cursed, patting himself down. Following its unexpected acquaintance with the floor, his head had begun to throb unpleasantly, and his patience was waning.

Grani sprung up with a gasp. “Oh!” She darted to her door. “Stay right there!” she commanded, fumbling with her keycard. 

Luke watched her disappear into her room. Her footsteps grew distant, then loud again as she entered his side of the room. A few seconds passed in silence, before his door slid open to reveal a cheery Grani.

“Welcome home!” she exclaimed as she hopped through the doorframe, arms spread wide, a radiant smile on her face. 

Luke stared, dumbfounded. He struggled to find the right words to describe her. She reminded him of a Higashian word for “bright”. The sort of brightness one could only experience after having spent weeks underground, only to emerge to a blinding sun delivering equal parts warmth and discomfort. The sort of brightness that forced one to shield his eyes. 

He lazily pushed Grani’s visor down, so that it covered her face. “Mabushii…” he groaned, with mock beleaguerment. Yes, bright… Grani was as bright and as warm as the sun.

“What was that for?!” she squawked in surprise, pushing her visor back in place.

“Nothing. It’s just… good to be back.” He ruffled her hair, much to her chagrin, and pushed her into his room.

Grani dropped his shower caddy on the floor and pranced toward his bed. She placed the rubber ducky on top of his pillow, positioning it like a king on a throne.

Luke gave the toiletries a halfhearted kick, sending it spinning into his closet. As it skidded to a stop, he placed the box of his belongings next to it. 

“What a pain in the ass. This is the last time I’m moving in and out of this room. I’d better be dead the next time they drag me to medical.” 

Stretching out, he breathed deeply, taking in the familiar sight of his room. His arms fell to his side. “Now what?”

Grani’s smile widened. “I want to show you something! I’ll be right back,” said, scrambling back to her room.

Luke plucked the rubber ducky from its perch on his pillow with a shrug. He turned the bath toy over in his hands and gave it a couple experimental squeaks. The noise reminded him of something—

He didn’t own a rubber ducky. 

“What the hell?” 

Luke dropped the toy as if it had sprouted thorns. Backing away, he side eyed Grani’s open door. “Grani?” he hollered over his shoulders. “What the hell is this?”

“What?” came the vaguely concerned, muffled response. “What’s what?”

“The rubber duck!”

He heard Grani chuckle faintly through the wall. “It’s a gift from Hibiscus. Something about making you smile more.”

I don’t think this is going to make me smile , he thought to himself. “I’m going to toss it!” he shouted back.

Grani’s head emerged from the open door, her expression clearly displeased. “Rubbish!” she scolded. “You’ll do no such thing! I ought to slap some common courtesy into you! What if Hibiscus comes to visit and it’s gone, hmmm?”

Luke peered into her eyes. They were as firm as they were otherworldly in their beauty. He had never been good at saying no to her, and this instance was no different.

Sighing, Luke shook his head. “Fine…” 

“Good.” With a nod, Grani disappeared back into her room. A minute later, she reappeared in the adjoining doorway with a photo album in hand. She held it aloft, high and triumphant, as she crossed the threshold into his room. 

“A-ha! I’ve found it!” Tucking the book against her chest, she waddled over to his bed, kicked off her boots, and dove for the comfort of his bed.

Luke rolled his eyes. “Make yourself at home.”

Grani peered over her shoulders and blew a cheeky raspberry and proceeded to flip to a seemingly random page before excitedly patting the bed, beckoning him to sit beside her. “We haven’t got all day!”

Luke did as instructed and craned his neck to get a better view of the album. He watched Grani leaf through several laminated pages. 

“It’s a gift from my grandma,” she explained, kicking her feet idly. “She spent years on the road before settling in Victoria, and grandpa took loads of photos with his old camera.” She turned a page. 

A large river poured from the faded development, filling a sparkling lake with crystalline water as dense forests faded into gravel shores. Nestled between rolling hills, the body of water resembled a paw print embedded in a carpet of trees

She sighed. “Marvy! Isn’t the view simply splendid? We have to find this place—we must .”

Luke stared into the photo, picturing Grani and himself sitting by the river’s edge. He could fish by the lake while Grani, sitting by a campfire, roasted chestnuts and potatoes for an afternoon meal, and, after a long day of hiking and exploration, they could retire to a tent with only the stars and each other as company. 

It was a pleasant thought.

A chime broke the photo’s magical hold over them. Placing the open album on the bed, Grani pushed herself to her feet and shuffled over to a console embedded in a nearby wall. A bright orange light blinked from the surface. 

Grani tapped the screen with a hum. “It’s a message from Dr. Kal’tsit,” Grani mumbled, scrolling through the wall of text. “She wants us to report to the control center as soon as possible.”

Luke felt a sense of dread nausea welling up from his gut. What did one of the most senior members of Rhodes Island want with him? Had the LGD ratted him out? Had karma finally come knocking on his door?

“She’s going to kill me…”

Grani rubbed his back soothingly. “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

Luke stood up wearily from his bed, suddenly feeling more tired than he had in weeks.. “Let’s get this over with.”

A plastic card fell from his jacket as he shimmied an arm through its sleeve. 

Grani picked it up with a chuckle. “You had your ID the whole time, silly. Where would you be without me?”

Luke huffed as he straightened his jacket. “I don’t know.”

She poked him in the chest playfully. “Probably living in a dump.”

He chuckled. “Probably.”

The control center was both everything and nothing like he had imagined. The room perfectly fit his mental image in the sense that it was a large, open room covered floor to ceiling with computers, monitors, and a few panoramic windows. It was nothing like his expectations, because of the teenage CEO directing operators twice her age. 

Amiya smiled and waved, directing them up a flight of stairs that led to a second floor that overlooked the first, larger work area. This room featured a large ovoid table lined with several chairs and laden with projectors. There, a familiar figure sat with her back towards them. It was hard to forget such striking blue hair. Astesia…? What was she doing here? 

He spotted Doctor Kal’tsit standing behind a console at the far end of the table, leafing through a clipboard-bound ream of notes. 

He felt Grani shove him forward, forcing him to stumble towards the woman who was effectively his boss. “Hey, quit it!” 

“Quit your foolin’ and get on with it! We haven’t got all day! I’ve yet to have breakfast!” she replied. 

Luke felt her tail swat against his calf—a clear sign of a minute, but growing impatience. Better get going.  

Despite her apparent absorption in her notes, Kal’tsit was clearly aware of their presence. They had scarcely moved three paces when she glanced up from her papers, addressing them with a curt nod. “Please, have a seat. I’ll be with you momentarily.”

He couldn’t wrap his head around the doctor’s mysterious aura. It felt like something was watching them… How had she detected them from the far side of the room?

Luke approached the empty chairs before him. A tall, horned woman was sitting nearby. He wasn’t sure how he missed her, given her towering stature. He briefly entertained the idea of simply sitting beside her without asking her opinion on the matter. After all, he had long despised minor pleasantries: “ How’s life?” ; “Is your mother well?” ; “Nice weather we’re having .” Crap like that was nothing but an annoyance: The How do you do ’s, or in his case, May I sit here? That seemed more like something Grani would do.

She had become a common sight around the medical ward, frequenting his room to check up on him before running off to her next errand. She would often comment on his appearance, and how he looked healthier, or ask how he was fairing. He wasn’t accustomed to that sort of attention. It felt strange—foreign, perhaps—but certainly not wrong. 

Luke mustered up his courage. “Uh… can I shit here?” 

Damn it! He had bit his tongue. 

The woman chuckled lightly with a smile. “Yes, of course. You may sit with me.” 

She had a long curtain of silver hair and a soft pale face. The woman wasn’t a complete stranger; he recalled seeing her working in the medical ward on a few occasions over the past weeks.

Taking a seat beside her, Luke waved at Astesia. She seemed confused at first, but a look of recognition soon came over her face. She returned the wave with a shy smile just as Grani took a seat between them. 

“Thank you for coming,” Kal’tsit started while thumbing through her stack of papers. “Our actions in Yan have not gone unnoticed. The Chief Executive of the semi-autonomous region of Lungmen expresses his heartfelt gratitude for protecting both the Imperial City and the life of his younger brother. He has opened negotiations with the intent of establishing diplomatic relations with Rhodes Island. He has proposed a potential collaboration between ourselves and the LGD. Amiya, if you please.”

Smiling, the CEO tapped a series of commands into her tablet. A holographic projection appeared from above the center of the table, displaying a wall of text and images. None were familiar to him.

“In exchange for funding, Chief Wei has requested to borrow a team of Rhodes Island operators. This team will assist the LGD with several sensitive problems which have cropped up in Lungmen over the previous months. We will be borrowing the expertise of researchers from Rhine Labs to expedite the process.” She slid a slender finger across the console before her. 

The hologram morphed into a portrait of an animalistic man with long whiskers and a bearded snout. “Chief Executive of the Lungmen Semi-Autonomous District, Wei Yenwu.” 

He did not have a particularly kissable face, Luke realized.

Kal’tsit continued. “This is an unprecedented first step by Chief Wei Yenwu. He is extraordinarily protective of his city, as well as his grip on it. To bring in outside help is to cede a certain degree of control, something uncharacteristic of his previous behavior. I suspect there’s more to this offer than meets the eye, but as of now, I am unsure of his motives. Therefore, I must stress how important the success of this operation is.”

“Then, why am I here?” Luke asked. He was neither diplomat nor spy, and after what happened in the stadium, he hardly imagined himself as among the best and brightest  Rhodes Island had to offer.

Kal’tsit stood silent for a moment, her sharp gaze practically boring through him.  “Normally,” she sighed, “I would never consider an inexperienced operator for such a mission. However, I’ve been informed that the superintendent-in-training has specifically requested your presence, Lucius, and was quite insistent about it.” 

She elegantly laid her stack of papers on the table with a sharp, impassive glare. Never had such an inane action seem so threatening. “Would you happen to know why?” she said.

Luke paled. “I… uh…” He could only think of one person who would stand to gain anything from his presence in Lungmen—Ch'en. And somehow, for some reason, Dr. Kal’tsit knew. 

“Maybe?” he squeaked.

Kal’tsit hummed disapprovingly. “Regardless, I’ve decided to place you under the supervision of Shining, one of our most senior operators.” The woman sitting beside him smiled with a subtle nod. “Astesia, a researcher from Rhine Labs, and—” 

“Hey, sis! Hibsicus said I’d find you in here!” A near carbon copy of Astesia burst into the room with a shout. “About that situation with the LGD—” she fumbled to a halt as the room's attention snapped to her in an instant. 

Dr. Kal’tsit merely nodded. “Elena Urbica, I presume? Indeed, your sister is here.”

Elena was by Astesia’s side in the blink of an eye. “Sis!” she hissed in a whisper. “I thought the meeting was tomorrow?!”

Astesia shook her head with a sigh. “What in heaven’s name gave you that impression? You’re already late. Have a seat before you embarrass yourself any further.”

Elena flopped down into a chair beside her sister. “Aw, fiddlesticks…” she moaned. “I’m so getting written up for this…”

Dr. Kal’tsit’s lack of irritation—or any reaction, for that matter—unnerved Luke greatly. She was cold, calculating, and more like a machine than a living, breathing being.

She continued without missing a beat. “To reiterate, this operation is of the utmost importance. Please keep that in mind as you fulfill your obligations. You will meet in hangar four at 6:00 AM on Sunday, leaving you three days to prepare. That is all.” She whirled around with a snap of her coat and left the meeting room.

Grani chuckled as Luke let out a deep and troubled sigh. “She freaks the hell out of me.”

“She’s kind, in her own way,” she said.

Luke scoffed. “Yeah, and I’m a super soldier.”

A soft and thoughtful reply caught him by surprise. “I find Miss Grani’s statement more plausible than yours,” Astesia said with a bow. “It’s a pleasure to meet you two again.”

Luke internally chastised himself. Dr. Kal’tsit had just mentioned her name. How could he have already forgotten? “Uh…” he mumbled, stalling for time. 

What was he supposed to say? “Hey, I know we met before, but I didn’t think your name was important enough to remember!” Forget stupid introductions, that was a one way ticket to permanently souring any working relationship they might have.

Grani smiled to herself. She stepped forward, returning the gesture with a smile and a wave. “Astesia! I’m glad to see your health has improved.”

Astesia! Yes, Astesia! Luke nodded in an effort to cover up his folly. “It’s been a while.”

She blinked. “It’s been four days.”

Fuck.

As though sensing his frustration, Grani rubbed his back soothingly. “It’s okay, you tried. We’ll get there eventually.”

A quiet titter escaped Astesia’s lips. “Pay it no mind. I, too, have forgotten your name,” she admitted gracefully, leaving him stunned.

Luke knew she was lying. Unprompted, she’d have no reason to admit to such a faux pas. . No, she’d done it for his benefit—she had manufactured an acceptable excuse for him to forget, allowing him to save face. It made him wonder—how did she do it? It came so naturally for her, and was quite the kind gesture to make on behalf of a near stranger…

Astesia wheeled around, bearing down on her sister. “And you! ” she hissed, her voice taking on a deeper tone. She pinched her sister’s cheeks. “I told you to mark it in your calendar!”

“I’m sorry!” Elena cried, her words muffled by Astesia’s attack. “Let me go! You’re embarrassing me!”

Astesia released her sister with a huff. “You’ve already seen to that yourself.”

Luke wasn’t entirely sure what to do. Previously, he would have elected to mind his own business and ignore the bickering siblings. However, he was beginning to see the circumstantial benefits to “playing nice” as Grani would describe it. He still preferred to keep to himself, social expectations be damned, but Grani’s encouraging smile stirred something within him.

She brushed his calf with her tail, urging him forward.

Fine.  

“Elena, was it?” he asked, uncertain.

Immediately, the siblings stopped fighting. Elena wiggled out of Astesia’s grasp with a huff. “Astgenne, actually,” she replied, dusting herself off. “Elena’s a pseudonym.”

Luke stared at her awkwardly. Now what? The sisters had stopped fighting, but now their eyes were on him. What did they expect? He had put an end to their useless bickering. The least they could do was thank him.

Shaking her head, Grani sighed with a smile. “So, who’s the older sister?”

“I am,” the sisters replied in unison. Surprised, they turned to each other with a frown. “Don’t listen to her, she’s lying!”

Luke held his head in his hand, frustration mounting. “Who’s the real older sister?” 

“I am,” they repeated.

Astesia took a threatening step towards Astgenne, who threw up her hands in self defense.

“Don’t hit me!” she squealed. 

Pushing her hands aside, Astesia flicked her forehead. “We’re twins,” she huffed, “but I was born first. Astgenne is my younger sister.”

Luke frowned. Were all families as dysfunctional as his? It seemed the Urbica twins were as aggressive as the Old Man and Emperor.

Astgenne rubbed the red spot on her forehead. “So Luke, how do you know the superintendent-in-training?”

Luke groaned. He was not looking forward to his reunion with Ch'en. “This mission is going to be the death of me…”

“I’d like to know that as well.”

The group jumped with a shout.

“Shining!” Grani exclaimed. “You were so quiet, I completely forgot about you!” Astgenne nodded furiously in agreement.

Shining chuckled. “My apologies, I was merely enjoying your conversation. You all will make a lively team.” She rose from her seat, revealing her imposing stature for the first time. 

Luke gawked at the sight. He only caught a few short glimpses of Shining’s face as her dark robes had obscured her body from view, but now, with her robes pulled back, he was finally able to see her figure in its entirety. She was of average height, standing just shy of his shoulders (an impressive feat, considering his own height). Previously, he had thought Ch'en, Grani, and Perfumer were well developed, but Shining’s full, curvaceous figure and mature form really put things into perspective. A pair of graceful horns protruded from her hood, a clear sign of her racial identity. He wasn’t sure how he had missed them, given their size and prominence, but unlike Hibiscus’s cute stubs, Shining’s were long and slender, like a swan

Luke felt a sharp sting in his legs as Grani’s tail snapped and whipped against his skin. She rolled her eyes, muttering “Boys…” under her breath.

He returned his attention to Shining. “You’re a lot taller than I expected.”

Shining gave a friendly smile. “As are you. I rarely meet men taller than I.”

“Me,” he corrected. “‘I rarely meet men taller than me’ or ‘I rarely meet men who are taller than I.’”

Grani sighed as her shoulders sagged. “I guess some habits are harder to break than others” 

Shining’s laughter rang like sleigh bells—rhythmically smooth. She smiled fondly as she caught her breath. “My apologies. Your words were quite refreshing. Rarely am I treated with such indifference.” A few stray titters slipped from her lips. “Thank you.”

Sensing a natural lull in their conversation, Amiya ambled towards them with a wave. “Good morning, Mr. Luke.” She smiled. “It’s been some time since we last spoke—if you remember.”

Luke scratched the back of his head. He would be hard pressed to forget his teenage boss even if he wanted to. “Amiya, right?” 

Amiya nodded. “Yes. I’ve heard a lot about your mission from Ms. Texas and Ms. Exusiai. They had a lot of praise for you, especially Ms. Texas.”

“Texas?” he asked, bewildered. “Texas complimented me?” That certainly came as a surprise—Exusiai, he could expect. She was the type of person who could see the good in everyone, but Texas? She didn’t even visit him during his stay in medical, let alone thank him for saving her. “I find that hard to believe.”

Amiya smiled to herself as she fiddled with her data tablet. “It’s true. As a matter of fact, we were just speaking of you before the meeting.”

Just speaking? That was odd… he was sure Texas had left again the moment they had returned. “She’s still here?”

Amiya stood on the balls of her feet. “Of course! Ms. Exusiai is as well. They’re both operators of Rhodes Island now—much like you and Ms. Grani.”

“Well, that’s a surprise,” Grani said. “What inspired them to make such a decision?”

Luke stumbled as a sudden weight fell over his shoulders. “It was a request from the boss!” 

A bubbly voice; the faint scent of cinnamon; he could only think of one person. “Exusiai…?”

She slapped him on the back. “The one and only! Boss told us to stay at Rhodes to keep an eye on ya!”

Luke scoffed. “That fat bird?”

Amiya masked a giggle behind her tablet. “He was quite worried about you.”

“Yeah, more like worried about his free labor,” he mumbled. 

“Don’t say that!” Exusiai chided. “If he wasn’t concerned, he wouldn’t have sent Mostima after us!”

A shout caught Luke’s attention. He watched as the Urbica twins descended into another argument. Somehow, her words felt hollow. “Would he though…?”

Chapter Text

Book II Chapter 1: Astgenne

Luke rubbed his chin as he took in the hangar bay’s organized chaos. Operators milled about, performing their duties with a sort of finesse he doubted he could replicate. They reminded him of ants—some ran, some walked, others carried boxes, while some pushed carts. They were a smaller part of a larger being—the monstrous organism that was shipping and receiving. It was humbling from a certain point of view. One operator could only do so much, but large vehicles could be moved when they came together.

And he fucking hated it. 

Man was not meant to fly. Humanity had to jump through veritable hoops just to get their sorry asses off the ground. If there was such a monumental obstacle to overcome, then clearly it wasn’t meant to be. Even he—a being with wings—couldn’t fly. Surely no one else should.

“Goddamned freaks and their flying machines…” he muttered to himself, glaring at the scene before him.

A pair of rollaboard suitcases lay open on a nearby canister, their plastic shells bulging from the veritable hordes of books, clothes, and tools their owners had stuffed into their compartments.

Grani and the twins stood beside him, gazing down at suitcases’ contents with thoughtful expressions. The former sighed after a moment of contemplation, cradling her cheek in one hand. 

In Luke’s opinion, things were going A-okay. He woke up on time, promptly packed his things, and even had time for a quick breakfast. He closed his eyes, nodding to himself. Yes—he did well. 

His delusions were shattered when Grani suddenly slapped him over the head. 

“I told you to fold them!” she snapped, gesturing to his crumpled hodgepodge of luggage stuffing.

“They are folded!” Luke shouted, his face prickling. He reached into his suitcase and extracted a vaguely folded shirt. “Look!”

Grani snatched it from his hands, unraveling it with a grumble. “Luke, you can’t be serious?!” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “The seams aren’t even matching!”

Shaking out a shirt of her own, Astesia nodded in agreement. “And you, Astgenne. You’re a Doctor with three PhDs. Surely you know that five sets of clothing is far too little for this assignment, no?” 

Astgenne sheepishly fiddled with a pair of goggles hanging by her neck. “W-well, you see sis, I needed space for my books, and I can’t leave my tools behind…”

“So you decided to pack—”

“So I decided to pack only five days of clothing, yes…” 

A warm chuckle interrupted their argument. “It pleases me to see you all getting along,” Shining said. “I was afraid I’d have to administer ice breakers, but it seems my concerns were unfounded.” She nodded towards Astgenne.

“Now, Astegenne. Do you think you can manage with what you’ve packed?”

She hung her head. “No, not really…” she mumbled. 

“And Luke, would you not have more space for clothing if you brought fewer books?”

“I suppose I would…” he admitted begrudgingly. He didn’t like it, but Shining wasn’t incorrect . 

She offered a serene smile. “We still have time before our departure, why don’t you two reorganize your belongings in the meantime?”

Luke let out a sharp sigh as he bent a knee to close his suitcase, his face gradually flushing as he rose to his feet. It was degrading, really. It felt like he was submitting to Grani’s demands by simply picking up his suitcase. As though by leaving, he had literally bent a knee at the foot of her throne.

His eyes twitched when Grani crossed her arms with a huff. “Boys…”

He had half the mind to turn back and argue that folding clothing was a waste of time, but couldn’t spare the energy to make the effort and instead trudged off with Astgenne in tow.

She kicked a small rock down the hangar’s smooth floor. “But where am I gonna put my tools? I can’t work without them!”

His gaze followed the stone before wandering aside. “I dunno,” he muttered with a half hearted shrug. Hell if he knew. It wasn’t his problem.

She rushed forward, looking up at him with curiosity. “You’re a lot quieter than I expected.”

He sighed. Some people just can’t take a hint, huh? He thought, ignorant of his own hypocrisy. “There’s nothing to talk about, so why talk at all?” he asked, letting his arm flop against his pants.

“Sure there is!” Astgenne chirped. “We could talk about the Hall Effect at the p-n junction of a doped semiconductor!”

He suddenly stopped in his tracks. “What the hell are you talking about?” he asked, rubbing his visible brow. “That literally makes no sense. The Hall Effec—” Flushing, he bit his lip. 

Astgenne’s eyes thinned as she looked up at him with a snide grin. “A-ha! Grani was right: You are a nerd!”

Luke swallowed his words with a grimace. “Great, more gossip…” he muttered, kicking Astgenne’s stone into a hall.

Astgenne gripped her rollaboard with two hands, ambling ahead with her arms outstretched behind her. “Well, she’s always talking about you, y’know?”

His breath hitched. “Really?” 

She nodded, popping her lips. “Yep.” 

“I see…” he said with a crisp nod and a grin. He had to admit, it was pleasing to know he was on her mind.

“So…” Astgenne started, kicking the rock into an elevator room. “You like poetry?”

A genuine smile spread across Luke’s face. “Yes, I’m rather fond of poetry.”

Astgenne stood stock still, absentmindedly licking her lips. “Wow… uh… I think that’s the first time I’ve seen you smile.”

“Well, don’t get used to it,” he said, pushing a button. “Who’s your favorite poet?”

She looked away, scratching the corner of her lip. “Uh… who’s that guy who wrote that… thing about a machine…?”

“Forster?”

Eyes widening, she snapped her fingers. “Yes, that guy! Forester. Yeah, love his work. Especially the machine one.”

“The Machine Stops?”

“Mhm!” Astgenne nodded with her hands in her hips. “Yep! That’s the one!”

Luke chuckled as the elevator arrived. “It’s more of a short story than a poem, but its allegories are certainly poetic.”

She withered slightly, her smile faltering. “Ah… is that right…?”

He kicked the rock into the elevator. “Yes. It’s one of my favorites.”

Astgenne caught the large pebble with her foot and pointed to the elevator’s console. “What floor?”

“B4.”

Her eyes lit up. “Me too! What’s your room number?” she asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet. 

“405?”

“Wow, we’re staying in 415. We’re right across from you!” She bumped his shoulder. “Well, not right across from you, because that’s where the elevator is, but you get the idea. Who else is on our floor?”

Luke scratched his temple. “Well aside from Grani, there’s a tall girl named Skadi in 404, but I’ve only seen her once.” He raised a brow as Astgenne snickered. 

She waved an apology as the elevator slowed to a stop. “Sorry, it’s funny how the missing girl lives in room 404. Because, you know, when a server can’t find its requested item, it throws an HTTP 404?” Her smile faltered at the sight of his blank stare. “No? Nevermind, just ignore me.” Pouting, she kicked the rock out of the elevator and into Luke’s door.

“Well, I’m over here,” Astgenne said, pointing to a door on their right. “Holler if you need anything!”

Luke watched her jog to her room, suitcase in hand. Standing before his door, he bit his lip and shook his head. Unpacking and refolding all his clothing was too much of a hassle. In the end, he still didn’t understand what Grani’s problem was. He’d end up wearing the clothing anyway. He didn’t particularly care about a couple of wrinkles, and he doubted others did either. From his point of view, both Grani and Shining were being unreasonable, but he couldn’t simply ignore them and show up with nothing changed—Grani would throw a fit. He could offer the space to Astgenne, he supposed… I guess that’s it then.

“Astgenne!” he called. A minute passed before she half leaned out of her room, holding her door frame for support.

“Yeah?” she asked with a raised brow.

“You can put your tools in my suitcase.”

Her eyes widened as her fingers slipped. Astgenne stumbled from her room with an incredulous stare. She crossed the hall in two steps. “What! Really?!”

He flinched at the sudden outburst, taking a step back. “Yeah, Grani’s expecting me to take fewer books, and I don’t have anything else to take,” he explained, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Really?!” she asked, unable to contain her smile. “Are you sure?”

He rolled his eyes. “I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t sure, Astgenne.”

She rushed into her room and returned soon after, dragging her open suitcase along the floor. “I mean, you could spread out your clothes or something?” she laughed, digging through her suitcase.

Luke averted his gaze as certain unmentionables flashed before his eyes. “It’s too much work to refold everything…”

Astgenne was silent for a moment before shaking her head with a smile. “I might just take you up on that offer,” she said, pulling several boxes from her suitcase. “Just don’t tell my sister.”

Chapter Text

Book II Chapter 2: A Lung Awaited Reunion

Luke awoke with a start; eyes heavy with a tacky sap of tears and detritus. Rubbing his eyes, he mopped up the crust with the back of his hand and rolled the debris between his fingers. He had once read that the human eye regularly washed itself with a mixture of tears and mucus, but also read that it was rather tasteless. He shrugged, sticking his finger into his mouth. Couldn’t be as bad as the bag of peanuts their pilot had handed him at the start of their journey or Hibiscus’s cooking for that matter. Luke gagged at the thought of her unique culinary style. Even Grani had second thoughts about the intern’s cooking, and he’d wager she’d plate originium slugs and ask for seconds.

The helicopter suddenly lurched, taking his stomach for a ride. He leaned back with a burping groan. Everyone else seemed fine. Shining was peacefully reading a book while the twins played their silly hand games. Hell, he was the only one suffering from motion sickness. Bullshit! It was unfair: Why’d he have to suffer through waves of nausea while everyone else enjoyed a pleasant flight? Hell, even Grani, who had engorged herself with food, had taken to using his shoulder as a pillow and was sound asleep. If anything, she should at least feel the tiniest bit queasy!

Luke reached out to pinch one of her equine ears, rubbing the tip between his fingers with mild irritation. It was surprisingly soft like cottoned fur. You lucky fuzzball… sleeping like a baby! Her ears flicked in response, tickling his neck.

Smiling, Grani chuckled softly in her sleep. “No… I can’t possibly eat anymore… hehe… well, if you insist…” 

Luke shivered as a long strand of saliva dripped onto the back of his hand. Oh, ew… He thought, wiping his hand off with one of her ears. It was her spit after all, so no harm done. He nearly bit his tongue with a flinch as Grani shifted in her seat with a groan. He quickly withdrew his hand: it would be hard to explain why he was playing with her ears while she slept. He could see it now, “Operator arrested for assaulting his coworker in her sleep, more at five.”

Grani sighed, slowly dragging her head from his shoulder. “What time is it?” she croaked, looking up at him through her long lashes. He would have found the sight particularly arousing if it weren’t for the bold lines circling her face. Holding in his laughter, Luke pulled out his phone and snapped a quick picture.

Grani rubbed her eyes. “Wha…?” 

Smirking, Luke showed her the photo. For a long moment, Grani stared blankly at the screen, blinking absentmindedly. 

“I think I’ll add this to the Grani Gallery,” Luke said with a teasing smirk. Did such a gallery exist? Yes, but did she need to know he wasn’t joking? No.

Grani’s eyes widened in horror. Fully awake, she reached for the phone, pressing herself against him. “Delete it!” she cried, thumping a fist against his chest. “Delete it now!” 

Luke pulled his phone away, holding it above his head and beyond her reach “Never!” 

Grabbing his halo, Grani yanked his head down, taking a swipe at his hand. “I said delete it!”

“Gah, don’t pull!” He jerked back, prying the halo from her grasp. “You’ll break my head!” 

Astgenne sidled up beside him, grinning devilishly. “Whatcha got there?” 

“My new wallpaper.” He leaned forward as Grani made a sudden, desperate lunge, tumbling into the aisle.

Astgenne kicked her feet in delight. “Show me!”

“Luke! Don’t you dare!” 

Grani’s pleas fell on deaf ears as Luke shoved her face away and swiftly shared the image with his new friend. 

Astgenne snorted. Grani’s face appeared compressed; as if the entire photo had seemingly been squeezed into a box two sizes too short. Her captured expression was scrunched-up with baggy eyes and a wrinkled nose. Her wilting ears were pressed flat against her head, while a loose strand of hair clung to the corner of her lips, plastered across her cheeks with half dried saliva. Large bold lines circled her face, forming a monocle and a handlebar mustache. It was chaos incarnate and very cute.

Astgenne smirked, twirling a marker between her fingers. “Nice tattoo, Grani.”

“Nice,” Luke said, giving Astgenne a fist bump.

The Liberi smiled with a shrug. “I try.”

Grani flopped back into her chair, crossing her arms with a pout, blowing a loose strand of hair from from her face. “I’m never trusting any of you ever again.”

Luke rolled his eyes. She’d forget all about this the moment they bought lunch.

Astesia rushed across the aisle and seized her twin by the ear, dragging her back to the far side of the helicopter. “I’m terribly sorry for my sister's antics…” she said with a deep bow. 

She whirled about and pinched Astgenne’s cheeks, pulling them apart with a stern frown. “Astgenne, you’re far too old for such childish behavior! Apologize!”

Astgenne merely chuckled. “I think you have other things to worry about, sis.” She smirked, tapping her cheek with a wink.

Gasping, Astesia fumbled with the folds of her dress, patting herself down. Smirking, Astgenne casually handed her a hand mirror. 

“Astgenne Urbica! How dare you!” Astesia snapped. “I am not a bootylicious booby queen!”

Astgenne dodged the swipe aimed at her head with a boisterous laugh. “Could’ve fooled me! You’re packing the whole damn bakery back there!” She unfortunately missed the follow up jab to her gut. Slumping back in her chair, Astgenne groaned. “Worth it…”

Astesia huffed with an upturned nose. “Ugh! This is why I can’t take you anywhere! Why must you embarrass me so?”

Luke eyed the astrologist. Her ornate dress hid most of her figure, but even then, he could tell she was quite developed. He reckoned she was about his age, maybe a bit older. At the very least, she was definitely older and more developed than Grani. The words tumbled from his lips before he could stop them. “Well she’s not wrong…” 

Grani dug her elbow into his ribs with a sharp glare.

He flinched. Deserved that one.

Astesia buried her face in her hands with a distressed sigh. “Astgenne Urbica!”

Shining watched the twins bicker from her seat beside them. “Sometimes I wish I had a sister of my own,” she admitted with a soft smile.

Luke balked. “What? Why? They fight like cats and dogs.” He held back a gag as the helicopter suddenly descended.

Shining chuckled. “Things aren’t always as they seem.”

“Get sorted!” A muffled voice cried from the cockpit. “We’ll be landing in ten minutes!” 

Shining stood and, like a librarian amidst school children, simply waited for the twins to stop bickering in silence. Her imposing figure commanded an aura of respect and confidence; one that even the fighting twins could not ignore. They quickly found their seats with a sheepish smile apiece. Shining nodded with a smile.

“Thank you. As I’m sure you’ve heard from our pilot, Dylan, we will be arriving in Lungmen within the hour. Originally, we were supposed to be received by the superintendent of LGD, but unfortunately he was unable to meet us. Thus, Dr. Kal’tsit has arranged for the superintendent-in-training to greet us upon our arrival.” She paused. Her sharp gaze swept across the cabin before landing on Luke. “I trust this won’t be a problem,” she said with a smile.

Luke’s heart leapt into overdrive as a bead of sweat trickled down his neck. He would be a fool to mistake her smile as a sign of good will. She spoke without uttering a single word: Don’t act up. 

He nodded quickly, his mouth dry. “Y-yeah.”

Shining continued. “From there, I will have a meeting with Chief Wei, so I ask you to take our belongings to our temporary residence. I expect the meeting to take up most if not the entirety of the day, therefore you will be given the rest of the time off.”

“Alright, PTO!” Astgenne whooped.

“Your time off will not be compensated.”

The younger twin slumped back into her chair. “I still haven’t paid off the loans from my second PhD…” she whimpered, wilting beneath the crushing weight of her student debt.

Shining chuckled. “I will rejoin you all for dinner. Are there any questions? Yes, Luke?”

Luke pointed out the small porthole window. “Will she ask for my papers again?”

Shining shook her head. “No she will not. All documents have been handled and processed by the company.”

He sighed and glared out the window.   She was just standing there along with two other unfortunate women. Her jacket flapped wildly as her azure hair whipped across her face, revealing a fierce scowl with her brows sewn tightly together. Even the shuttle’s downdraft couldn’t break her frown.

He could have sworn she was glaring straight up at him, unblinking from a hundred feet below with her shoulders pulled back and her arms crossed under her ample chest. Luke bit his lip. He had hoped that Ch'en had miraculously fallen ill and would be absent from their meeting, but reality was a bitch. In hindsight, he had lucked out with his previous encounter with Ch'en. Had things gone south, she would have moped the floor with him. There was no way he could stand toe-to-toe with her in a fair fight. His bouts in Yan had made that abundantly clear, but that didn’t mean he had to play nice. He would take every opportunity to piss her off.

He felt a grip around his arm. “Don’t worry!” Grani exclaimed with a toothy grin. “This time, I’ll be there to protect you!” 

Luke looked away to hide a smile behind his mask—a brief respite from the nauseating motion sickness. He’d never hear the end of it if she caught him smiling. He pushed her visor over her face, covering her eyes. 

Grani squawked and pushed him away, fixing her visor with a huff. “Hey, quit it! Why do you keep doing that?”

“No reason.” 

He burped in relief as the helicopter finally landed. He supposed this was how Iberian sailors of old felt when they finally pulled into port; relief, sobriety, peace. 

Rising from his seat, he staggered toward the now open doors and tumbled from the chopper. He caught himself with his hands, scraping his knees against the paved helipad. Man doesn’t belong in the sky. He thought as he picked himself off the pavement. If they did, then some higher power would have given them wings. 

Sitting up, he watched as Ch'en stalked toward him with a savage grin, her tail coiling behind her. She unfolded her arms, letting her hands find refuge on her hips. 

He was screwed, and she knew it. Her eyes burned with a sadistic flame as she leered over her nose. “You thought you could run away?” she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. 

Luke pushed himself to his feet, drawing himself to his full height. “To be honest, yeah.” 

Ch'en leaned forward. Luke’s shadow cast menacingly across her slim face. “Justice knows every man’s number, Lucius.” She spat his name like a wad of gum—a low hiss laced with malice and anger. She held nothing back. 

His jaw twitched, but otherwise he remained silent.

Ch'en scoffed. “What, cat got your tongue? Regretting your decisions?”

He watched her strut about the helipad. Her tail undulated behind her as she walked. He would kill to wipe that stupid grin from her face. She was relishing the moment, and it drove him mad. 

“Maybe if you had listened instead of running your mouth, you wouldn’t be in this situation.”

He clenched his teeth as her taunts continued. 

“I will run you into the ground by the end of the week, Lucius,” she hissed with a sneer.

Luke rolled his eyes knowing full well that she had orchestrated the entire reunion. “Luckily for you, whatever horned devil you worship has answered your prayers.” 

He would have continued laying into her, if a flamboyant Feline hadn’t caught his eye. Hell, flamboyant didn’t even begin to describe her. This lady, whoever she was, was a walking circus. With a belted, brand name, black jacket with a glaring orange inner lining, she looked like a motorcyclist going through a midlife crisis. All she needed was a Leithanien Stahlhelm, and she’d be off to the races. Her entire outfit screamed upper class. This lady was wealthy, and she wanted people to know she was rolling in it. 

What a piece of work.

The Feline approached them with a muffled snort. “Horned devil? How fitting.” She snapped her fan in Ch'en’s direction. “She’s nothing more than an overgrown lizard.”

Ch'en whirled to face her. “Swire…” For a moment the two women glared at one another. Luke found a sense of joy in watching them fight. It felt so refreshing to see Ch'en so thoroughly and utterly irritated.

Suddenly, Grani leapt from the helicopter with pike in hand, shattering their little staring contest. She slid to a halt, inserting herself between Luke and Ch'en with her arms held outstretched. “Back off.”

Ch'en turned, regarding her with a thoughtful expression. She leaned back with crossed arms. “Huh… So they’ve sent a retainer…”

So much for not acting up…

“Leave her out of this,” Luke snapped. He stepped forward, pushing Grani behind him. “You’re one to talk. I can’t imagine they’d let a rabid animal loose without a chain to tie it down. I’m surprised they didn’t lock you in a kennel.”

The Feline (Swire, he presumed) snapped out her fan, covering her mouth as she laughed. “Aha! Finally, someone understands my side of the river!”

“Don’t force my hand…” Ch'en hissed, reaching for her sword. 

A gloved hand grabbed her shoulder, pulling her back with practiced ease. “Easy there, Ch'en.”

For a moment, Luke was sure she was going to rip the hand from its arm, but to his surprise she stepped back with a tense sigh. “Hoshiguma…”

A bead of sweat dripped from his brow, trickling down his neck as Shining approached with the Urbica twins in tow. “Perhaps it would have been better if I had been left behind. At least I wouldn’t have to deal with her,” Luke muttered to his captain.

Shining smiled. “Don’t let your emotions cloud your vision. People get upset for a reason. If you can identify and address the underlying problem, you’ll be surprised by how much you can learn,” she replied, brushing off his jacket. “It’s best to keep that in mind, lest you lose yourself to your anger.”

Luke merely shrugged at her words. Who was she to decide how he should feel? Telling him to “think about her feelings”. He understood what she was trying to say, but he was behind caring. His world, her world, who cares what Ch'en had to say? She was rude and unreasonable and deserved to be treated as such. 

Ch'en addressed Shining with a nod. “You must be the one in charge. The name’s Ch'en, Vice Superintendent and Assistant Chief of the LGD’s Special Inspection Unit. This is my partner, Hoshiguma, and an assistant—Swire.”

Swire gaped, taking great offense to her introduction. This, Luke noted, seemed to be a common occurrence. “Ugh!” she gasped. “How rude! I am by no means an assistant!” 

“Puk gai,” Ch'en muttered.

Swire growled, taking an aggressive step towards her. “You!”

Hoshiguma gently grabbed her by the shoulder. “Swire, now’s not the time. We have a meeting with Chief Wei.”

Swire straightened her jacket with a click of her tongue. “Ugh. We wouldn’t have this problem if somebody wasn’t such a bitch. Cau hai,” she replied with a smug grin.

Ch'en’s head snapped in her direction. “Care to run that by me again?”

Luke didn’t know what Swire said, but whatever it was, he liked it. Anything that got under Ch'en’s skin was A-okay in his book.

Hoshiguma sighed. Stepping between the two, she pushed them apart. “That’s enough! We’re in front of Chief Wei’s guests. Would you go so far as to soil his reputation?”

Ch'en’s tail roiled with rage. At least, what Luke assumed was rage. What else could it be? She really only had two moods—angry and furious. She eked out a long and trembling breath. “I hate it when you’re right.”

Despite his opinion of her, Luke conceded that she was quite adept at suppressing her anger. A fact that only reminded him of how far he had pushed her when they first met. 

Swire scoffed. Snapping her fan shut with a flick of her wrist, she pointed towards Luke with a grin. “Enough chit-chat. I believe you have a ride waiting for you, yes?”

“I do?”

She smirked. “Yes, from a certain artist.”

Fuck.

Chapter Text

I’ve received several comments and messages about the story! Thank you so much for loving this little corner of the community (´°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀) 

don’t worry folks, I’m not dead and neither is the story. I managed to scrounge together a few people from our discord to help write out the plot for the chapter.

A bit of info on how my writing process works. I actually have a master timeline and a timeline for each specific book. Whenever I start a new chapter, I take x number of events from the timeline and set that as the “goal” for the chapter. From there I slowly add more and more detail to form a detailed outline of the chapter. so a couple of people from our discord helped me add details to that chapter outline.

I’m struggling with motivational issues with the story, but I’m in the process of slowly overcoming these by writing out character dialogue and interactions for the chapter. I honesty live for character interaction.

TLDR: progress is being made on the chapter. I know that my story turns off a lot of people because they can’t envision themselves in Luke’s shoes (he is after all, a very flawed character). So I always feel encouraged when someone likes the story 

Thank you and see you soon!