“We once again thank the Tengu’s clan for your hospitality, friendship and assistance during our stay,” Kite intoned, giving Little Crow and the other members of the clan a deep bow along his Dragonfly and his family.


    Quite a few of the onyx-haired celestines had shown up to give their farewells, because while Kite hadn’t had that much time to properly interact with them during this stay, both of his aunties seemed to have made fast friends with some of them. Most, though, seemed to be present to give their enthusiastic farewells to little Raven who received many a gift in parting as she somberly waved to each and every one of them.


    “It has been a pleasure, adopted brother Kite,” Little Crow replied, giving a slightly less deep bow of his own. “You and yours are welcome at any time. Also, should you need assistance of a more martial nature in the future, you know where to find me. And my rates,” he finished with a mischievous smile.


    “While I hope that we will not need it, you would always be a welcome addition. Even though I’d best start saving up the essences and stones sooner rather than later. Farewell, all of you. May your paths take you even further towards the heavens until next we meet. And an extra note of thanks to the most honored senior brother. His intervention was most welcome,” Kite finished, neither him nor Little Crow doubting in the slightest that the gold-ranker had heard.


    Then they were off, the gates of the clan compound closing behind them as the group started making their way down the streets of the heavenly stairway and down towards Heavenward proper.


    “Oh I can’t wait to get home! Those greenhouses of theirs were such an inspiration. Dear, we just have to get you the materials for those formations-” auntie Dove said, chattering excitedly of her plans while auntie Crow just nodded along where she walked beside her wife.


    “I will surely agree to that,” Dragonfly told Kite as she sidled up to him, nodding to Dove’s animated explanations while giving Raven a boop on the nose where she rested in Kite’s arms; one that was received by a proper and somber gravitas, as was tradition. “The capital has been awesome, but all those monsters aren’t going to hunt themselves. And you probably have a message or three from Gauntlet waiting impatiently at your doorstep. Happy with your stay? And your meetings with… you know who?”


    Kite nodded in response, weighing his words more carefully as they had returned the potent privacy screen which they had been loaned by the Crows. Both he and Ardent had agreed that the longer they could keep their connection a secret from most, the better. During their time spent together exchanging tales and stories of their respective lives, the pair had found a bit of an ease in the dynamic between them. Kite wasn’t looking for a father, and neither was Ardent trying to find a son in him. But once past the initial awkwardness, their interactions had become rather pleasant as they often ventured into topics of the spirit, auras and meditation.


    By the time of Kite’s departure, there was a kind of informal teacher-student relationship brewing, and Kite had been left with a standing invitation of visiting the sect even though any potential meetings with the sect leader would remain a discreet affair.


    That was why Kite could answer Dragonfly’s question honestly as he spoke.


    “Yes. While the development was most unexpected, there is an odd kind of closure between us. And he seems to be fond of teaching, an opportunity I would be a fool to squander. Still, compared to the last time I visited, things went rather smoothly.”


    “Still, I do believe that there was the matter of a certain number of duels. Remind me, how many were there in the end?” Dragonfly asked sweetly.


    “I honestly thought I was going to make it there before the sect disciples made their group challenge there at the end,” Kite said, handing a stack of coins to his lover with a sigh. “It was good tempering though, and even came with a prize. Who-”


    His words were interrupted by a procession of bodyguards turning a corner in the distance; a group of silvers that set its course straight towards Kite and his family.


    “I believe that I spoke too soon in regards to complications,” Kite said as he recognized the draconian in the front. “Little beauty? I believe that this is a matter for you?”


    Glint, walking beside Kite while clad in a fashionable set of pale pink robes - one of many new outfits she had procured or been gifted during their stay in the capital - had also noted the approaching group.


    “Indeed. Leave it to this young mistress to handle the matter. I shall return shortly,” she said, closing her fan with a snap as she strode ahead of the others. Even though it seemed like the Young Master Monsoon couldn’t wait until she drew close before speaking.


    “Oh radiant one! I apologize for my presumptuousness, but I just couldn’t stand idly by as you left Heavenward without any word of when you might return. Please, won’t you reconsider? My family would be most happy to host you for however long you’d like, with your own guest house and company to ensure propriety-”


    The rest was cut off as Glint got within range to activate her own privacy screen, and the onlookers got to witness a lot of heartfelt gestures from the young master while Glint in turn stood aloof and prim. After a bit of back and forth, the shoulders and tail of the suitor finally drooped, even though he quickly recovered at least the semblance of proud dignity.


    “-at least leave you with a remembrance so that you would not risk forgetting about me,” the young master said, producing a beautiful lockbox which he opened, proffering its content to Glint. Kite only managed to see a glimpse of something very shiny before Glint gave a final nod of acceptance, which led to the young man brightening as he closed the little box and reverently handed it over to her. “Then I can only pray for your prompt return, you whose luster rivals the starry skies. Please-”


    “Monsoon!”


    The cry of outrage interrupted whatever more the young master had to say, as another entourage of bodyguards was making their fast approach, another - most irate - draconian almost racing ahead of his followers in his haste.


    “Ever-Jade!”


    Monsoon’s retort was more a growl than a call, his eyes thinning as he turned to meet the one who dared intrude upon what he no doubt thought of as his moment. The two draconians were soon squaring off against one another, snouts almost touching while their auras were already locked in combat. Kite recognized the newcomer as Glint’s company to the clash for the throne, Young Master Ever-Jade’s vibrant green scales a distinct contrast to the pale cyan of Young Master Monsoon.


    “Who are you to accost the pearl of the heavens like this after she chose me as her companion for last evening’s soirée? Know your place, lizard!”


    “Y-you! The gall!” Young Master Monsoon called, recoiling from the most harsh insult. “She only accompanied you because of family matters calling me out of the city. This very image of perfection has already spent the day before enjoying my company at my family’s pleasure barge as we took a tour down the river, accompanied by the sweet sound of our retained orchestra. Don’t you dare go debasing her good name with your presence!”


    The trading of insults continued, with Glint apparently content with letting the two men verbally fight it out while the rest of the onlookers could only watch with expressions ranging from amused to horrified. Auntie Crow definitely belonged to the former group, even producing a small bag of candied nuts to delicately eat while watching the spectacle unfold, although from the sparks which had started playing across the spines of Young Master Monsoon’s neck, Kite wondered if their conflict would remain one of words alone.


    But when the argument had started going in circles, it seemed that the object of said conflict had finally had enough. The snap of Glint’s fan closing once more wasn’t loud, but apparently carried a certain quality that had both men immediately fall silent as they looked to the one eliciting such passion in their hearts.


    “Young Master Monsoon. Young Master Ever-Jade,” she spoke, voice kept aloof. “You are both starting to let your decorum slip, both through your words and your continued delayal of my departure.”


    A gesture with her closed fan forestalled any attempts to beg forgiveness, with Glint giving them both a grave look.


    “As you both should know, neither of you has progressed far enough for an exclusive courtship. As such, I would instead like to remind you of the fact that I do plan to return in the future, and that you might want to spend your time until then in a more worthy fashion. Young Master Cinnabar has already sworn to present me with a grand trophy from a series of monster hunts which he has now scheduled. I would recommend that both of you similarly consider how you aim to show me that you are devoted to improving yourselves and your paths.”


    “C-cinnabar?” the two young masters sputtered almost in unison, before giving each other an assessing look.


    “Well, Ever-Jade, then I believe that I cannot spend any more precious time verbally destroying you, as it would be time for me to go out on some hunts of my own soon. Prepare to be thoroughly left in the dust of my rise.”


    “Bah! Words are wind! You will be left whimpering before the deeds I shall be performing soon! Mark my words!”


    As the pair continued their bluster, Glint once more opened her fan and made her dignified return to her group, leaving the pair of rivals to their quarrels.


    “Well then, my bond. Honored aunties. Dragonfly. Raven. Shall we depart?”


    <hr>


    “Thank you, honored Crow. It seems that there is indeed a trail to follow here. Please keep us informed, even if we expect the investigation to be a long one,” Branch Director Anasta Temren said to the shadowy bird on her windowsill, the magical conjuration bowing once before dissolving into shadow.


    “Well, that was pleasing news,” Maximilian remarked, the deputy director’s pen making a final flourish as he finished taking notes.


    “Oh it is, it is,” Anasta agreed, a fierce grin spreading across her face. “The clashes of the locals have finally given us a trail to follow. That artifact, whatever it was, is our first and foremost lead even without us even having it in our possession.”


    “The reports of the analysis by the magic society are positive. Discord''s affinity was subtle, yet there. However, those affinities won’t linger in the ambient magic forever. Most would not have been able to make it out, especially not without the proper tools and knowledge.


    “And we’d best keep it that way. Gods bless that we at least have some reliable local members of both societies,” Anasta agreed, looking out over Heavenward with her grin still playing across her face. “But we finally have something conclusive, rather than the games of shades and misdirections which our investigators have been playing with their people. The little stunt at the clash should up the pressure on them. And that almost always leads to mistakes. We should continue preparations and contingencies of our own as well. So that when they make some kind of move, we will be there to notice it.”


    <hr>


    “Speak,” Ametrine commanded her subordinate, the servant giving a proper bow behind where she was seated at a low table. A casual observer would think her busy painting her nails, where someone more observant might notice the odd haze around her; the thinnest sheen of shimmering smoke obfuscating documents and reports.


    “We have confirmed some of the information sent by your allies on the council to have been false leads, with a higher concentration than usual from Gold Mask,” the silver-ranked man stated, referring to one of Ametrines counterparts in their local council. “While it might be happenstance, you have specifically ordered to be informed of any such irregularities. Also, we believe that the adventure society, supported by some members also part of the magic society, have picked up the trail as well.”


    Had these news reached Ametrine a few months ago, she would have most thoroughly cursed any such developments. Keeping the adventure society following false trails had been challenging for the council, but worthwhile and doable due to the local political landscape. If they had found a firm trail of the council’s presence and influence, things would only become that much harder. But given what occurred during the clash for the throne, Ametrine now saw an opportunity.


    “I see. Keep delivering any such words to me, and start activating some of our assets in the Heavenward magic society. Nothing major, but bog down any attempts at coordination in as much administrative procedures and internal politicking as you can. The more affluent masters and mistresses playing at being researchers and investigators involved, the better. I will handle some other matters myself.”


    “Of course, honored Gardener.”


    As the man disappeared, Ametrine took a thoughtful draft on her long, thin pipe, enjoying the pleasant tastes while it gave her a perfect cover to spread even more obscuring smoke from her essence powers throughout the room. Satisfied, she looked back to her documents - written in her personal cipher, of course - and began a new line of speculations. Gold Mask was powerful, but of the council, he was the worst schemer by far. Fortunately, such talents weren’t required by all of Discord’s clergy in a world where might did in the end make the right in most cases. But that also meant that he was either a more nuanced person than Ametrine had so far taken him for, or that the trail was a false one.


    “Which would then leave Black Wood Mask as the main suspect,” she thought.


    The other woman in the council, whoever she might be, was indeed a schemer. And while the maneuverings between her and Amterine were normally within the acceptable levels for a kind of truce to reign between them, a move such as indirectly sponsoring the Valors with such an artifact as the one revealed during the clash would be a declaration of war. A hidden one, to be sure, but nonetheless a declaration that Black Wood Mask had her eyes on Ametrine’s part of their grand undertaking.


    With those thoughts in the forefront of her mind, Ametrine changed some internal priorities of inquiry. Maybe the nosy adventurers could indeed be useful down the line, protecting her and King’s place in their grand working while ostensibly also doing their jobs. A thoughtful smile teasing at her lips, Ametrine dove into her work. It was easy to sow the seeds of Discord, but for them to thrive? One had to be most meticulous and patient.


    <hr>


    “Dear heavens above,” uncle Walker said, leaning heavily back into his chair as he processed what he had just been told. “That sure is quite some tale, little Kite. Extraordinary in scope, yet specific enough to be believable, even had I never known you for a liar.” This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    “Oh, I do understand, uncle,” Kite said, sipping his tea. “Proof that fates and fortunes are most complex, and that the world is both so very large and so very small at the same time.”


    The pair was seated in the Convergence guildhall, which had - given the troubles of the past summer - become Walker’s new base of operations. While the older man often grumbled of missing the forests of the Autumn lands up north, not even he could deny that there was barely any need for his services there anymore now that the irons and bronzes of the Gilded branch had thoroughly come into their own. Never before had the rural regions been so well connected or patrolled, which in turn freed Walker up to be at the guild’s front lines of development with Second Spring in support.


    “Well, we already knew you to be precious cargo, little Kite. And from your telling of things, you seem pretty content with the outcome.”


    “Indeed. Even should it complicate the future, there is a bit of closure in at least knowing something of how I came to be. It lets me focus even more on what is to come.”


    “And what is that, little Kite? With the truce with the local sects, the guild is in a good place now that we can begin to fill our little niche around Convergence as well. Soul is handling the martial side of things too, even if she would claim that it’s only for her own benefit. We even had a few students of some sects of the south coming to seek out her arena the other week. First I thought they’d mean trouble, but after a few days of challenges and trading pointers, they left; all smiles and polite bows once those bruised egos had been allowed to heal a bit.”


    “Hah! As someone who has been sought out for duels before, I can surely believe it,” Kite laughed, just imagining the celestine woman’s satisfaction as even more foes came to her rather than the other way around. “As for my plans? Well, the heavens won’t reach themselves. As I am at the infamous wall of silver rank in most parts of my path, things will probably be slow and steady for a few years now. At least as far as one can call working for Gauntlet anything like slow,” he finished with a wry shake of his head.


    “Just the grind then? Not diving head first into any of the Queen’s gates, kicking down the doors of a sect or otherwise being ambushed by young masters and mistresses thinking themselves heaven-chosen?”


    “Oh hush, uncle. Strife does tend to find those with some kind of power. Hence, one can only plan for the calm moments in between,” Kite retorted. “And I do have some plans within ‘the grind’ as you so eloquently put it; working more with Peony now that their life as parents is starting to settle in, trying to raise at least one portal-user for the guild, expand the family compound a bit with living arrangements for traveling guild members, accompany Glint to the capital for her little games of courtship,” he started counting off on his fingers. “And that is even on top of my work with Gauntlet and going on plenty of contracts with Dragonfly.”


    “You forgot spending quality time with your dear uncle there, little Kite. A pure oversight, I am sure.”


    “Of course, most venerable mentor. I would be remiss in forgetting to pay my respects regularly.”


    “Bah, no need to get all fancy with this old man,” Walker grumbled good naturedly. “I do appreciate your company, little Kite. And all that you do for the guild. With all the progress recently, especially those adventurer priests that keep showing up to join, we’re really making a difference for these parts of the country.”


    “What about you then, uncle? Any plans?”


    “You’ll probably have to ask Spring. She’s usually in charge of my schedule,” Walker muttered, his feelings regarding some parts of the guild master life made quite clear.


    “Except when you suddenly leave for a small, nice little week-long walk in the woods? Woods that you conjure yourself?”


    “Talked with her already, haven’t you?” Walker asked, looking completely unashamed at his blatant little flights from responsibility.


    “I did. I hope that she is getting some time off for her own pursuits too, uncle. You know that she’s aiming for silver in the long run too,” Kite pointed out.


    “Of course, little Kite, of course! Can’t work poor Spring to death now, can I? She’s taking plenty of contracts too. Have even recruited some members while on the road.”


    “Speaking of pursuits though-”


    “Little Kite, I don’t think we need to go there.”


    “-maybe you should actually consider how long she’ll be putting up with your little antics before moving on to some more reasonable targets. From what I’ve heard, more than one young master has professed his interest, claiming her to be one of the fairies of legend for her looks.”


    “What? One of those fops? Spring wouldn’t give them the time of day.”


    “Maybe not today, uncle. But what about tomorrow? Mind you, I would never try to push you into something that you clearly did not want. But in this case, you’re both obvious enough that there’s even a communal betting pool in the guild of when you’ll eventually dare and admit it to yourself. And a separate pool regarding how long it will take until she finally gives up on you.”


    Walker gave Kite a long look through thinned eyes, remaining silent for a while longer as he managed to grumpily sip his tea. “Bah, young people these days. No respect for your elders and propriety. Traitors, the lot of you.”


    <hr>


    “Even as my life has moved on, spectacular revelations and all, you remain the same,” Kite thought to the big seed, illuminated in purple by the faintly glowing moss in its cave. “Or well, almost the same,” he inwardly corrected himself as he cut off the stream of mana which the seed - true to form - had eagerly devoured.


    Even as Kite had fed the thing mana here and there over the years since he had first found it, progress had been slow. But there was still progress. The lights in the small cracks were a bit brighter, and the thing felt more vibrant. Kite lacked the knowledge or instruments for anything more specific, but if he had to hazard a guess he thought that it would be at least a few more years. Assuming that the thing wasn’t just some endless devourer of mana, but that wasn’t what his magical perception was telling him.


    “Well, I will see you again once I’m back. Gauntlet has come calling. Some kind of summoner who has crossed more than one line with his research. Heavens keep you, whatever you are,” he said aloud, even waving once as he started making his way towards the exit. As always, the seed gave no response. But Kite still left with the distinct sense that it was quite busy growing.


    <hr>


    “Kyyyyaaaaaahhh!”


    Dragonfly’s warcry echoed between the sharp mountain cliffs, causing birds and other critters within hundreds of meters to scurry to safety. The dreadmaw in front of her - a small but stocky vaguely humanoid thing whose torso was mostly a set of huge gaping fangs - did not even flinch from her outcry. But her empowered axe tearing into its side? That at least garnered a reaction.


    Dreadmaws were slow for silver-ranked monsters, lumbering around on two stubby, thick legs which seemed too small to properly support their larger bodies and fangs. But like most silvers, they had magical tricks to both make up for some deficiencies and lean into their strengths. The case of the dreadmaws, those advantages were twofold.


    First, their ridiculously powerful fangs were further supplemented by magic that could bite off and devour other magic. Be it natural manifestations or - as in the case of Dragonfly’s flaming axe - magical conjurations, the things gobbled up everything they could. And while the second set of powers were less dangerous to a silver-ranker like Dragonfly, it was what made them such a danger to anyone less powerful.


    A great clump of rubble consisting of masoned stone and lumber support beams suddenly rose and launched themselves towards Dragonfly, who in turn let her axe continue its trajectory to cut and incinerate the biggest of the incoming projectiles while letting the smaller pelt and bruise her to stoke her inner fire. More telekinetically launched rubble came flying at her as the other individuals in the dreadmaw pack followed suit.


    Still, while the incoming debris was certainly a distraction, Dragonfly actually felt grateful. Because for every one of the monsters utilizing their powers to attack her, one less had the chance to continue excavating the piles of rubble that had previously been a village to get at the people hiding or buried beneath; their fearful auras giving them away as surely as if they had been standing out in the open. Given the amount of blood that had been incinerated by the flaming aura of Dragonfly’s armor so far, those buried beneath fallen timbers and trapped inside their cellars were still somehow the lucky ones.


    Feeling that all of the monsters were now fully focused on her, Dragonfly decided to change up the pace. Her flaming greataxe appeared in her hands at the same time as she sent Piece of Heaven, the axe formerly wielded by the leader of the erstwhile Descending Star sect, out into a low, circling arc that passed beneath the bulk of incoming projectiles. Simultaneously, Dragonfly then executed her spinning special attack with both axes, creating dual circles of scything mayhem.


    Butcher’s Pinwheel, grimly named by someone long before Dragonfly’s time, carried great force with her heavy weapon. She continuously angled the burning axe in her hands to cleave through and scatter the incoming debris, turning danger into opportunity as the stinging hits that came through just further boosted her. At the same time, Piece of Heaven carved bloody circles through the Dreadmaws as it circled her eight times in three heartbeats.


    “Just try and eat that axe,” Dragonfly thought triumphantly as she transitioned from Butcher’s Pinwheel into Power Leap, barreling through the final clutter thrown her way and cleaving one beleaguered Dreadmaw in half. The monster might not be the optimal target for Shield Breaker, but the added damage always helped to add just that final touch and cleave right through instead of risking her axe getting stuck. And best of all, it continued to trigger Dragonfly’s evolved racial gift from back at bronze rank.


    Vigor of Passion, as Dragonfly had named it, increased the potency of each special attack Dragonfly used as long as it was a different one than she had previously used. This increased potency was further boosted by the fact that the cost also increased, taking the empowered attack to further heights. For many, this might just have turned them into candles burning brightly but briefly, spending all their resources in short order. But for Dragonfly, who just kept replenishing faster and faster the longer she fought and was injured? For Dragonfly, it made her path truly come alive if she could hit her stride.


    Shieldbreaker transitioned to Internal Ember’s Treachery before Descending Sunwheel allowed her to finish yet another of the monsters, and it continuously went downhill from there for the ravenous manifestation. At one point, one of the beasts did manage to use the demise of one of its packmates to launch itself onto Dragonfly and clamp its huge fangs down onto her head, torso and upper arms in spite of the aura of fire it had to dive through to get there.


    Instead of a crunching demise, however, the magically enhanced teeth barely managed to break through the light armor and dig into the flesh beneath before they abruptly stopped. Within a heartbeat, a gout of flames erupted from within the monster while the animated Piece of Heaven came in from the side and knocked the now slack-jawed monster off of Dragonfly just in time for her to swing and punch another of the monsters aside before the burning greataxe was once more in her hand.


    “Thank the heavens for Unbreakable Moment,” Dragonfly thought as the mounting slaughter resumed. “Still, have to be careful with the fire. Wouldn’t want to accidentally have it reach anyone unintended. Woe the silver-ranker and her awesomely huge areas!”


    The final sarcastic thought caused the grin on her face to widen even more as she threw herself back into battle with ever rising vigor. While it was always hard to determine time in a fight, the delays between the availability of her power did help Dragonfly to slightly gauge the time spent as she finally stood among the charred corpses of the Dreadmaws.


    “Only a few minutes. Good,” she thought to herself as she didn’t delay longer than it took to use Gather the Embers to absorb what cinders remained in the area before she was off towards the nearest house where she still sensed one or more auras.


    The village had been thoroughly sacked during the monsters’ initial rampage as they had swooped in and no doubt started breaking apart the brittle shells of the mundane stone houses to get at the fleshy treats inside. She knew that someone like Kite might have formed a better plan on how to go about the rescue operation now underway, but as he was currently away on a contract for Gauntlet, these particular villagers would have to settle for the more straight-forward Dragonfly. Action was better than inaction in most cases like these, after all, she reasoned.


    A pile of rubble was thrown aside while her animated axe played at being a plow in a nearby house, freeing cellar trapdoors and similar places of hiding. One more unlucky soul was found buried beneath a pile of rubble without such protections, and Dragonfly made the most of her still empowered speed as she threw debris off the gasping young man before making sure that he didn’t choke on the bronze-ranked healing pill she fed him. Then she was off again, pushing herself to the limits of her waning boons.


    As the more able-bodied among the freed villagers started to help in her efforts, Dragonfly could direct her efforts even better, prioritizing the greatest piles of rubble, and an hour later she came upon the last aura she could sense that hadn’t yet been freed. It was terrified but steady, and as such she had left it last.


    Stepping into the ruined house, Dragonfly saw that pile of fallen roof beams and shingles piled up around the hearth of the house with the chimney emerging from it like a weathered monument. It didn’t take long for her to shift a few of the fallen beams aside and with a groan of effort Dragonfly shifted the whole remaining pile to the side at once.


    She had barely let the burden fall to the side before a shriek and a glint of steel came from the fireplace. To Dragonfly, the soot-smeared arm holding the knife moved ever so slowly, and it was a small matter for her to kneel down and let the point of the mundane knife stop dead against the flat of her bare palm.


    “Don’t worry, little one. I’ve handled the monsters,” she told the stunned looking girl of maybe ten years who was hiding among the coals of the fireplace, almost as black with soot as the cramped space she had been hiding inside.


    Contrary to what Dragonfly had been expecting, she got a question in response, rather than the tears of relief that she might have expected.


    “A-all of them?” the girl asked, trying to put some steel into her voice even though Dragonfly could feel her aura shake with distress like a leaf caught out in the gale.


    “All of them,” Dragonfly confirmed, which got an attempted stoic nod in return.


    “Good.”


    “I try to do my best. Would you like to come out?”


    At first it looked like the child would refuse, but after a few seconds spent regarding Dragonfly’s outstretched arms, she caved, even letting the adventurer carry her as they walked to rejoin the other gathered villagers.


    “Th-thank you, great Mistress! We would surely all have perished had you not arrived. Truly, Fortune and the heavens be praised!”


    The praise began with one of the older women, and was soon echoed by each and everyone of the survivors. Dragonfly took a moment and just basked in the nice, warm feeling before finally raising a hand for silence.


    “Fortune be praised indeed. I was just passing through on the way back from another contract when I felt the auras of the monsters,” she began, leaving out any lamentations of not having gotten there sooner. They all shared that sentiment, and the grief and shock was barely contained within the auras of some of the more silent survivors.


    Instead, Dragonfly gestured to the soot-covered girl on her other arm, the child having silently burrowed her face into Dragonfly’s shoulder. “I did find one last holdout as well. And a fierce one at that,” she said, giving the girl a silent squeeze of approval. “Anyone know of any family or relatives of hers?”


    The woman who had begun singing Dragonfly’s praises stepped forward to peek at the girl, who still mostly attempted to hide from the gazes of everyone by clinging harder to her rescuer, and a moment of scrutiny later led to an answer.


    “Ah, it''s Sprite. Little Sun Sprite,” the older woman said, her expression turning more complicated. “Poor young one lost her parents a few years ago. Been a bit of a loner since then. She’s been living with the old baker since, helping out. Has anyone seen him?”


    Her final words were directed to the crowd, and a few moments of murmuring and looking around gave no response.


    “I… see,” the woman said with a sigh. “He was one among us with a single essence. Part of the militia too…” She didn’t need to finish, the implications clear. The militia of most villages were the ones responsible for operating the defensive formations or arrays. And were also the ones closest to any monsters if said defenses proved insufficient.  “Well, little Sprite, we’ll sort you out. Come here now. Don’t bother the mistress adventurer any more.”


    The villager made to reach for the girl, but Dragonfly could feel the child’s aura tense, coil and surge in fright and a bit of anger. Catching the primal, defiant kick delivered backwards before it had barely begun was no trouble, and the villagers seemed to brace herself before another try.


    “There, Sprite. Don’t be difficult now. I’m sorry, Mistress adventurer. She means no harm, it''s just her way-”


    But Dragonfly had already half forgotten the woman as she glimpsed the girl’s eyes briefly before she once again buried her face into Dragonfly’s armored shoulder. They were filled with fear and anger, tears welling up in the corner of her eyes. But there was also something defiant in them, triggering another memory of a girl from over a dozen years ago, all but quivering as she stood staring up at Force of Raging Torrent and proclaiming that she wanted them to kill all the monsters in the whole world.


    “Oh… Heavens,” Dragonfly thought as things snapped into place, her heart telling her with quite some surety what she should do. That some karma could never be severed, because that had never been the end goal. But that the very same karmic links could be spread and shared, creating a chain of something better. And that this was just such an opportunity. A purpose.


    “Sprite, was it?” Dragonfly asked, holding up a hand to forestall the villager’s next attempt at prying the child from her arms. She got no response, but continued anyway. “What I am about to say is a pretty big deal. You’ll need to think it through, and we need to have another long talk about it before you decide. But with that said… If you don’t have anyone waiting for you here, and if you are willing to leave this village… Would you like to come with me? As my student?”