People continued to stream out of the warehouse, the runes along the sides clinging to them momentarily before allowing them to pass. It felt like Daniel's heart beat with every step that was taken around him. Now? They were doing this now? Even with the war council being called they should have had a day until the army arrived at Aurus, and he'd assumed Zolyra would want them to synchronize their incursion into the Arcadian.

The Commander's stance was firm as the seven of them approached. "I'll make this brief. Go to the Arcadian and find whatever it is you think is in there. You-" She began to lower her voice, saw the attention locked onto them from those still nearby, and instead covered them in a loose web of runes that blocked out sound.

"I could have just used this," Daniel offered, holding out his muffle sound necklace. "How does this power work anyway? It's practically a class by itself."

"You see the runes on the walls?" Zolyra asked quickly and rhetorically. "You know what I write scrolls with? Figure it out, I don't have time to go into specifics. I've already lost one man in this war and it hasn't started yet." That hit Daniel in the gut. It was still hard to believe William could be dead, but Silora seemed sure he was. It was always possible Zozar was strong enough to block out her powers, but that didn't bode well for him either. "I could be betting the world on you."

"We're aware of the stakes." Evalyn had gotten sharp again, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on her most of all. "But we don't have a way out unless you know something we don't."

"Quala was working with Bekali to try and get us another weapon," Daniel added. "I haven't checked with her since yesterday because I thought we'd have time."

One of Zolyra's claws tore a hole in the soundproofing around them like his hands had once pierced the Shroud. "Cleric Fulwing! Check on Tiltfeather and bring any results to this team's compound. Report back to the Divine Quarter when you're finished."

There? …oh. Something started to make sense to Daniel, but rather than try and confirm his hunch he let the Commander continue speaking. It wouldn't make that much of a difference for them and it was a secret she'd clearly kept from everyone else.

"As for you, you've heard enough of our strategy. Coordinate with me when you have something. Murdon and Esket are the secondaries should I fall before then." Her voice was so casual you could almost ignore the fact that she was contemplating her own death.

"Not Ashier?" Evalyn clarified.

Daniel was reasonably sure the gestalt couldn't hear them through Zolyra's protections, but he still glanced over to where they were hovering. She clearly wasn't worried as she spoke freely. "I don't want a Tyrant in control of whatever's up there. The less they know about it, the better. I'd prefer having someone like that defending a region when all of this is over, but I'm also prepared to make good on my threats if they forget themselves again."

"Understood. We were going to discuss this after the meeting, but I want Thomas Kaysian to come with us. Is that going to be a problem?"

Zolyra's eyes flicked across empty space, as if reassessing everything in her battle plans before responding. "That's fine. Only because he was in the reserves, and I don't think the powers he has will make a difference here. Anything else?"

"Don't suppose you have a scroll that can stop someone from dying?"

"Not one I can give you," Zolyra answered Shuni with a straight face.

…

For what might be the last time, Wingcraft assembled in the courtyard of the compound. Neither were they alone. Padri stood in his self-named core armor, frantically affixing weapons to both the war suit and smaller cutters beside him. In another section Tlara brought out a dominated frost wyvern that her sister, still bearing painted lines of red and white symbolizing her two spirits, invested Wisp into. The last two were Spinner, wearing a set of eight boots of flying, and somehow least congruous of all of them, Alex.

She was less than a month into the Octyrrum and the most she should have to deal with was Daniel's new girlfriend. She didn't deserve to be thrown into the middle of a war, but here they were.

I don't like this, Hunter thought as they waited for Quala and Thomas to arrive. It feels like I'm running from the fire dragon again. The real fighting is somewhere else.

This is important too, Daniel thought back. Besides, it's not like we aren't expecting a fight. It'll be elites guarding that battery. They won't be as bad as the converted gestalt we fought, but I still almost died to one.

And? Something like a smile crossed Hunter's face. I'll need something stronger than your weak prey to have fun.

Careful what you wish for. Mentally waving Hunter away, Daniel sat next to his sister as she pulled on a boot. "Sorry for the short notice."

She didn't look up at him, instead redoing straps that had already been tight enough. "Tell me they're going to be ok."

"They're going to be ok, I promise," Daniel lied. "If we're lucky I can call down an air strike before it kicks off and solve everything."

Alex abandoned her boots and put both elbows on her knees, holding the back of her neck. "And then what, mission accomplished and you'll go honeymoon with Shuni?"

"We're only dating," Daniel laughed. "It's just, intentional now. Not that it was an accident before. But some time to actually breathe, that would be good."

Alex turned her head to look at him, and now her voice was reluctant. "I think I'm close to figuring out some more of my magic. I almost have one of them down. It's extremely weird if I'm right, but if I am… it could help you if you're fighting."

"No," Daniel said instantly, but the wind behind his sails let out as Alex didn't immediately object. "Look, Alex, the only reason Willow is getting close to hunts we're in is the protection she gets from her bond. Plus, Bardic music doesn't stack so you'd be competing with Evalyn's effects."

"Makes sense." She took in another few breaths before saying, "One of the last things Lograve told me was a joke about how he would make sure to avoid people with black armor and red swords. He was giving me 'I'm trying not to tell you the odds' vibes. I know I'm going with you but it's just to sit around in a safe room. It's the same as when you went to get Khiat's parents, only this time I think there's a better chance than not I don't see someone I know again."

Spoke, you don't have anything she could get to help out, do you? The mana thing is nice but kind of pointless if we have to clear active rifts. As always there was no answer to his question, at least no obvious one. Time would have to tell. "We're all worried about him. The others too, but you weren't the only one to pick up on Lograve." A short distance away, Padri used a short burst of flight to embark in his war suit before driving it onto his quad-core platform that would bring it up to the Arcadian. Self-flight for the mech had been sacrificed for a few other improvements, including what was sheathed along each wooden leg. "You're just too far behind us. Even if you had one of those I'd be worried about splash damage getting to you."

"I don't want to fight! I just, why is that the only thing that matters here?"

"Not always," Daniel replied distantly. "Alex, you saved Willow. Whenever she's done healing Spinner's soul, I'm sure your lessons are going to have just as much of an impact. We're not just fighting people, we're finding people like Hunter and saving them. One day, whenever the sparrow stops being a homicidal pyromaniac, he's going to thank you for what you did."

His sister leaned over for a sideways hug, some of the anxiety leaving her with it. "I guess that counts for something. Thanks, Daniel."

"Eh, don't mention it. You may be older, but I outlevel you which means I have to be the responsible one." He let her get the last mock-affronted word in as he quickly retreated back to where Shuni was checking over her gear. Where he had an issue tracking his various magazine types, she'd suffered from his habit of grinding out daggers whenever he wanted a break from bullets.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"She doing ok?" Shuni asked while moving a sparking frostfang dagger between bags of holding.

"Yeah, she's just worried about Lograve. We all have someone in the main force like that."

"Same. I want that statue after this is over."

Daniel stared at her in mute horror for a few seconds. "Shuni, you want Lograve to make a barely PG-13 depiction of the two of us 'together'? I mean, I'm up for it if you're more like Tounaki than you've let on, but I don't know about intentional exhibitionism."

"No," Shuni protested quickly. "I want something like that illusion on your Focus that I can palm. Figured it'd be quicker and cheaper than a painting."

"And with the bag of cooling it'd keep," Daniel said, now nodding along. "That's actually a good idea."

"What, a class that doesn't specialize intelligence can't have those every now and then?" Her smile faded as her head turned to the side. "Quala and Thomas, half a minute out." Daniel borrowed Hunter's improved hearing and confirmed the sighting, Thomas' aura flicking in place beside Quala. "You're still going to head in there if she doesn't have another mana weapon?"

"Yeah." Daniel tapped his muffle sound necklace. "We have enough food for weeks, worst case, and the Sword of Threst can get us out if I can't. If Zolyra loses… well, I know Soraso still wants me alive to control the Arcadian. We're not going to be stuck in there like Bekali was."

Shuni backed away slightly. "Who's to say that bastard doesn't treat the rest of us like that Ranger?"

"It's a risk," Daniel acknowledged. "But if I tried to avoid the worst case scenario all the time, I'd never have ended up with you."

She considered him in a surprisingly unsettling way before striding over to the entrance of the compound, calling over her shoulder as she did so. "I'm going to go ahead and guess that sounded more romantic in your head."

"Wait." Daniel blinked, reviewed what he'd just said, and then paled a little. "Wait, let me rephrase that!"

…

"Thanks for taking me with you, Guy." Daniel nodded, still grimacing internally at his slip up. The Cleric looked kind of odd as he put on the borrowed flight gear, making him realize this was the first time he'd ever used the set.

Crap, if his level disparity makes him like Alex he'll probably have to ride on Spinner. Problems for later. They were about to have a more serious one if Quala had bad news for him. "Did Bekali give you anything?"

"I'm not sure if I would call it improvement," the green-feathered Cleric said, though despite how important this was her mind seemed elsewhere. "But she was able to partially succeed. Daniel, I don't have much time, but I have something to tell you. Privately."

Lead with the spears so I can't disagree. That's low, not like her. What's on her mind? He tapped his muffle sound enchantment again, willing to admit that the price he'd paid for the formulae was worth it. Daniel had no idea how he'd have improvised it himself, and there was no guarantee it would've ever dropped from an Encyclopedia scan. "Here's fine. I trust everyone in this place anyway."

"I see. I'm happy to hear that, but I also need to insist." A sharp look was all Thomas needed to run along and talk with the rest of the team, looking somewhat awkward as he hadn't figured out how to retract the wings yet. Shuni was more hesitant, but Quala also didn't look like she'd budge.

"I'll tell you whatever it is after we're done. Don't worry, I don't do secrets anymore. Not with you."

"So desperate to win points back already, are you?" Shuni patted him on the head as he turned around. "I don't know if you're getting back in the birdhouse that easily."

"Shouldn't I want to get out of there?" Shuni's short laugh was enough to convince him the idiom didn't translate perfectly despite his Spoke's assistance.

When he turned back around Quala was ruefully smiling. "It's good to see you in high spirits, all things considered."

"What's with the cloak and dagger?" Daniel asked, a little aggrieved even though he knew it wasn't her fault he'd said something dumb. The Cleric pulled out a few spearheads out from her bag of holding in response and the sight of them was enough to redirect him. Bekali had done well enough to make three of them, but they started to break down at several points along the shaft. It was slow, but they were disintegrating like something improperly enchanted. "Whoa."

"Will this be enough?"

"I don't know, how long will they last?" Quala inclined her head indecisively so Daniel took them, now aware of another clock they were running under. "If one does, then yeah. Thanks, Quala, but that's not exactly top secret stuff. Unless it's because you don't like discussing patient info?"

"That's a good reason, but no. Two things. First, Bekali was starting to remember more when she attempted this. It's my opinion this could be therapeutic if done carefully, but… she asked about the others."

"The other weapons?" Daniel ventured. "I have a trident she made, but I burned the others getting into the Arcadian the last time. Can she only make what I give her?"

"Not the other weapons." Quala took in a breath. "The other people."

"The-" Daniel's eyes widened. "Oh fuck. She wasn't alone in there, was she? How many? Who?"

"She didn't know. It was a glimpse into the past, nothing more. I'm sorry if that makes it harder, but you should know." Her eyes went over his shoulder and tracked Thomas as Khiat, amused, tried showing him how the wings worked. "For all your sakes."

His head was spinning. Daniel still believed taking Alex to the Arcadian was the right call, but if enemies on the scale of Bekali were still roaming in addition to the elites it was a harder call. Maybe they died? Maybe they were lower level and only Bekali lived that long. It wasn't a bet he'd make considering the lives on the line. Then he realized Quala had said she had two things to tell him. "You aren't saving the worst for last, are you?"

She looked at him sadly. "I can't say. But, I'm also surprised to find you unaffected by what Zolyra uncovered in the meeting today. Not William, whose soul I pray for," she clarified. "Daniel, I only mention this because it's not something you should face without knowing. Have you forgotten where Claire was?"

Now he was grateful Quala had made this private. Shuni knew about his past, of course, but he'd been doing his best to avoid thinking about his former flame. He'd wanted a fresh start, and…"The Sojourn." With those two words all the air left his body, and it was only Balance that kept him standing. "I, I didn't…" Quala caught his arm as he swayed again. "Zolyra, she said everyone had been turned."

"She did." Quala covered her face with her other hand. "I tried to help her. Claire didn't want it. Only her revenge."

He put that puzzle together quickly. Thomas had given him enough pieces already. "She made a vengeance bond!?"

"She did," the Cleric said, just as softly as the first time. "I don't know who or what she is now, other than my greatest failure. Mine, Daniel." She raised his chin so they were facing each other. "Let it be that you never face her again. I expect her to be drawn to the Tyrant's dragon. Despite the side she's taken I'd hope for her to survive. I have to believe she would have chosen differently if her mind wasn't clouded. There could still be a path forward if she overcomes her bond, only…"

He understood her immediately, as well as her difficulty putting it into words. It didn't bode well for his promise to Shuni, but no one said relationships were easy. Living proof of that was somewhere in the region, no longer human. "I don't know what to say. If she's out there…" Daniel shook his head. "I ended things, and it doesn't matter how. Thank you for telling me."

"Of course." She looked back over Pinion's Point, most of which was visible from the raised entrance of the compound. A grim, armed procession was heading to the town's Divine Quarter. The Cleric removed her holy symbol from her belt and held it against her chest. She closed her eyes in a way that made Daniel reflexively do the same, and only then did he register the fact that this was the first time he'd seen her pray publicly. "There goes a war, of friend turned against friend. There comes pain, anguish, and despair. Lives broken for senseless ambition and hatred. Protect us from these evils, Hand, wherever you are. Though all have said you have no ears for my words, my faith still remains. Grant us your mercy so we may grant it in kind."

Daniel's entire body began to glow, and for one terribly hopeful moment he thought the god had answered. Then an alert came through on his Focus Shield.

You have been Designated by an allied Ability: Prayer of Protection. Damage you would take is modestly reduced until the Effect ends in 8 hours. Taking a significant amount of damage in a short amount of time will prematurely end this effect, Healing the majority of the triggering damage.

The glow faded after a moment, leaving Daniel staring at the screen with a puzzled frown. This is more information than I normally get without looking up the power. Spoke, are you helping because of the threat?

"I'm sorry, but you're the only one I can extend the power to outside of my team," Quala apologized, misinterpreting his expression and the projected words that were unintelligible to her. "Despite the benefits level 4 has given, I'm not beyond the limits of mortality."

"Level 4?" Daniel watched as the aura tag on her updated. It was only based on his knowledge of her since the power didn't work on mortals above his level, and he hadn't noticed any significant difference from his seventh sense. "Did you just get there?"

"Yes. I'd be little use to Murdon's team otherwise. This came sooner than I would have hoped, but I have to keep serving as an example for that one, don't I?" she asked with far less gravitas than her prayer, indicating Thomas. "If he spends too long at the same level as I am, he might get it into his head that he has nothing left to learn."

"With his powers still suppressed for a while, I think you've got enough time. Thank you, again, Quala." He caught one of her hands after she affixed her Focus back to her belt. "Please, don't die. Don't let any of them die."

It was a moment of unguarded weakness, brought on both by the news of Claire shaking him, and Quala always being someone he felt he could confide in. She smiled sadly down to him. "If only, if only." She took off shortly after that, nothing left to be said.

Hunter was of a similar mind. Brother, it is time.

The enchanted necklace was deactivated and then placed in a bag of holding to not risk it midflight. Daniel craned his neck up, looking to where the Arcadian would be if the sky limit wasn't in the way. Yeah. Alright brother, let's get this done.

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