Chapter 127: Shattered Edge


    Vir prepared to use <em>Dance of the Shadow Demon</em> to enter his shared bedroom suite. Partly out of a desire not to wake anyone, but with as big as the space was, that was hardly a concern. Rather, he wanted to grab his things and get Neel with no one noticing.


    At least, that was the n, until <em>Prana Vision </em>showed that everyone was awake.


    Youre all up? Vir asked with a broken voice, entering the traditional way. I thought you went to bed?


    Well, we were about to, but then Haymi asked where youd gone. I said you were just off getting some fresh air. Haymi disagreed, and so we ced bets, Vason said, looking at Vir with ravenous eyes. Theres a lot of money on the table, so you better have been out for a walk. You were, werent you?


    I uh. Vir debated lying, but itd only raise more attention when he packed his things to leave. I was speaking to an Executor.


    No! Vason roared, pounding his fists on the table.


    Told ya! Tia said smugly, holding out an open palm.


    Chs <em>Knees, </em>Tia! Ugh. As if you need the money. Let us paupers be, will you?


    But Tias smile remained unchanged. A bets a bet. You too, Haymi.


    Each took out a silver and handed it to Tia. Just a year ago, Vir wouldve balked at how people would be so frivolous. Now, it was just spare change.


    I, uh. I have some business to attend to. I dont know how long Ill be away, Vir said, hoping they wouldnt ask too many questions.


    Oh, perfect! Tia replied. We were just thinking about a change of scenery. When do we leave?


    Uh, sorry? Vir asked. I, er, was nning on going alone.


    Youre leaving the party? After everything weve been through? Tia asked, all joy leaving her face. Her reaction made Vir want to immediately retract his words, but he stood firm.


    Tia,e on. You yourself said you wouldnt pressure me to stay. Truthfully, I like working with you all. And to be honest, Id nned on staying a bit longer. Yeah, the Matron fight was incredibly dangerous, but it was <em>fun, </em>too.


    But this is more important? Tia asked, leveling her gaze at Vir. There was no judgment in her eyes, nor scorn.


    It is. There is something I must do. Something that I must know.


    I understand. We wont badger you, then. Just where <em>are </em>you going? Id at least like to know youre safe.


    Vir thought it over for a moment. Though Tia might ask questions if he told her he was going to the Pagan Order, it wasnt bad to have an insurance policy. <em>Especially </em>with such vtile actors as the Order. The Executor gave him his word that Vir wouldnt be harmed, and that counted for a lot, but one could never be too sure, given the Orders reputation.


    Also <em>Id rather avoid bringing them into enemy territory. </em>Hed feel terrible if something happened to Tia and the others there. This felt like a goodpromise.


    The Pagan Orders capital. Balindam. I might only be gone a week, but Ill write letters. If they stoping Well, Id appreciate it if you coulde looking.


    The room fell silent upon hearing the words Pagan Order. Hardly a surprise, given their infamy.


    I see. Apramor, be careful. I know you use Talents, but still. The Voinds are strange. It saps your very energy. Dont expect to fight at your full strength there. And beware of the Order. Im sure youve heard the rumors. They might do the world a favor hunting demons, but I wouldnt trust them as far as I could throw them.


    Tias casual words were like icicles to Virs heart, but he didn''t allow a single trace of his anger to show.


    Trust me, Ill be careful.


    Wait. How <em>are </em>you getting there? Vason asked. Itll take weeks just to travel there? How are you expecting to be gone only!? No way. An <em>Acira?</em>


    Vir smiled. The Orders sent one. Its waiting on me as we speak.


    Impressive, Haymi said softly, giving Vir a pointed look. They must want you badly.


    Yeah, its odd, Vir replied, scratching his neck.


    Its more than just <em>odd, </em>Apramor, Tia replied. Most people dont even <em>see </em>an Acira in their lives, let alone ride one. Even most Sawai dont get the opportunity. Do you have <em>any </em>idea how much Acira cost to buy and maintain? Were talking <em>serics. </em>Im honestly shocked. For the Order to send an Acira. Its unheard of.


    Yeah. I dunno what to think.


    I dont think theyd harm someone theyre extending the red carpet to, but be vignt.


    Believe me, I fully intend to. But uh, that leaves Bumpy. Would would you mind looking after him for me? Hes a good boy. I feel bad about leaving him behind like this?


    Tia smiled. Bumpys the finest! Hell live like royalty while youre gone. No expense will be spared. You have my word. And, um, when youe back, maybe think about rejoining the party?


    Thanks, Tia. I will.


    Fearing an awkward silence, Vir left for his room and packed his gear. He didnt have much; packing didnt take long at all.


    Then well be off, he said, returning to themon room with his rucksack. Haymi, Vason? Its been a pleasure.


    Aw, cmere. No way youre going off just like that! Vason said, enveloping Vir in a great bear hug that forced him to <em>Toughen </em>his chest to avoid being crushed. Gonna miss you, Apramor. Had my doubts about you at first, but youre alright.


    Haymi gave him a more reserved, tight-lipped farewell. Goodbye, Apramor. Ive also enjoyed our time together. I-its a shame we wont be able to get to know one another better, she said with aplicated look.


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    Vir averted his eyes. She knew he was a demon, and yet there was more to her expression that he couldn''t quite ce.


    L-Likewise, Haymi. Ive learned so much from you. From all of you, Vir said, flustered at her scrutiny. I really owe you a debt.


    Please, Tia said, rolling her eyes. You were the one who took on the Narapazu, mostly. Younded the killing blow on the Brood Matron. Dont sell yourself short.


    Vir smiled. I wont. Cmon Neel. Were leaving.


    The Bandy perked up, obediently following Vir out of the room and down the stairs to the Sanctums Aciranding area. Vir had never had reason toe to this side of the building, so it was all new to him. The lone Acira upying the open space caught his eye immediately.


    Jet-ck and scaly, it looked fearsome, though he knew Acira were docile, domesticated, and posed no danger to anyone. They were strictly mounts for transportation. The <em>best </em>mounts, capable of traveling faster than anything other than an Altani Fast Attack Skyship.


    Apramor, I presume? a man in an ornately tailored robe said, bowing lightly as Vir approached.


    Thats right, Vir replied. Are you the one who will take me to Balindam?


    Indeed. We appreciate your timely response, and sincerely apologize for the urgency of the situation.


    Its fine, Vir replied, somewhat surprised at the mans refinement. The Pagan Order was supposed to be awless ce, full of barbarians, but if Vir didnt know their reputation, hed have thought this man was a Sawai from Rani or some other civilized country.


    I see you have brought along your Bandy. Will he be joining us on our flight?


    Yes. Will that be a problem? Vir didnt know how much weight Acira could carry, but he doubted it was a lot. Unlike Ashva, <em>they </em>had to defy their own weight.


    Not at all. Our Acira are bred for carrying burdens, unlike many others. So long as he behaves, of course. The flight will be rather long, at five hours. We shall take frequent breaks, but if your Bandy grows restless


    Hell be fine. Hes well-trained. Arent you, boy?


    Awoo!


    Excellent. Then let us be off!


    The Aciras pilot guided Vir up its back to a saddle that had been positioned behind the pilots seat. Vir had Neel sit behind him, and the pilot tied a tether to Neels cor. In case the bandy slipped, at least he wouldnt go falling off. Vir and the pilot both tied their own tethers around their belt.


    Do people ever fall off? Vir asked.


    The man smiled. Rarely. But idents can happen.


    <em>Great</em>


    Worse, in the air, Vir couldnt use a single Talent. While <em>Light Step </em>would soften his fall, hed never fallen from great heights before. For all he knew, he might end up a sttered mess on the ground. Luckily, the tether was there to prevent that grim demise.


    The beast pped its mighty wings, kicking up a cloud of dust and wind. For a moment, Vir wondered whether it was overloaded, but then it lurched up into the sky, making Virs stomach drop.


    <em>Blergh, </em>Neel groaned. The experience hadnt suited the Bandy any more than it had him.


    The ground fell away rapidly, and for the first time, Vir got an aerial view of Avi. Hed thought the city beautiful from the ground but he realized hed only been seeing a small sliver of its beauty. With itswork of waterways, bridges, and waterfalls that fell from the Legion Mountains, Avi was <em>breathtaking.</em>


    The sightplemented the cool wind to make for an idyllic ride.


    All things grew old, however, and after several minutes of travel, the refreshing breeze became increasingly intolerable. He noticed the pilot had wrapped his entire face in a turban, and Vir copied him, tying some cloth wraps, leaving only his eyes open to gaze upon the scenery that blurred underneath.


    Avi fell further and further away until the Acira was nearly at the same height as the lowest clouds.


    Then they leveled out and sped forth. Vir had been expecting a whoosh of speed but other than the butterflies in his stomach and the wind sting against his face, the result was quite underwhelming. In fact, it was hard to tell that they were making forward progress at all. Thend underneath crept by at a cial pace.


    <em>Are we really going so slow? </em>Vir wondered, before realizing it was an illusion caused by their incredible height. <em>Its the same as looking at a far-offndmark while on an Ashva!</em>


    Soon, the North Legion Mountains crept up under them, forcing the pilot to ascend to avoid their peaks.


    Navigating those mountains would have taken weeks, but the Acira passed them over in no time at all. Vir could scarcely believe such a mode of transport existed.


    <em>Wonder what its like on an Altani skyship. Or any skyship, for that matter. </em>The idea of walking around the deck of a flying ship made him giddy with excitement, though he doubted hed have that chance anytime soon.


    Hed hoped to pepper the pilot with questions, but the noise of the wind squashed those hopes. So instead, the hours dragged on in silence, allowing Vir to ponder the nature of the mission the Order had given him.


    <em>Assassination, huh? </em>Hed honestly thought his days of killing people were behind him. But Fate, it seemed, had other ns. Vir thought back to Janaks words at Vka Amara, deep beneath Daha. Hed mentioned beings known as Fateweavers. Entities older even than the Gods. Which, Vir now knew, was known as the Prime Imperium.


    Hed never really thought about it, but the fact that all the worlds coinage was <em>Imperium </em>coinage now made sense.


    <em>So our money hails from the Age of the Gods</em>


    After a while, Vir realized his thoughts had drifted. Hed no idea who the Order wanted him to assassinate, but he did have one fear.


    The Pagan Order hunted demons. <em>What if they ask me to kill a demon?</em>


    Could he manage that? Vir wasnt <em>strictly </em>a demonLord Janak had said he was something more. A Primordial, whatever that was. That he was the seventh of his line. Despite that, Janak mentioned he shouldve been born in the Demon Realm. He at least had <em>some </em>amount of demonic blood flowing through him.


    Truthfully, Vir knew precious little about them. The ones hed met in Bakuras hold seemed alright, but he didnt doubt Tias words that demons had murdered her parents. Much the same as when hed arrived at Daha with instructions to kill Mina, hecked information.


    Were demons truly evil? Or were they good?


    Vir steeled himself for what was toe.<hr>


    A war raged within Haymi''s mind. On one side was her duty to Tia. As the princess'' sworn bodyguard, Tia was her top priority, no matter what. Her loyalty was unquestionable. At least it <em>had </em>been. Then Apramor came along and threw all of it into chaos.


    <em>Why? Its so silly. Its so juvenile. This feeling.</em>


    She hated it. Her heart had been in shambles ever since she found out he was a demon.


    Haymi, you look like you ate something nasty. What''s up? Tia said, sticking her face right up against the mejai, causing her to yelp in surprise.


    I-It''s nothing, Tia, Haymi said, unable to return her lieges gaze.


    Well, princess? Vason asked. We gonna just let him go off to thend of barbarians like that?


    Tia fell silent. I did say he was free to leave whenever he wished


    Except, hes going to the <em>Pagan </em>Order, Vason said, meeting Haymis gaze. Thend of crazies? Im not saying we shouldnt honor his wishes. Just, yknow we <em>could </em>give the guy a bit of support? Maybe check on things, make sure its all going alright for him? As concerned friends, I mean.


    Haymi understood what Vason was getting at. Vason knew what Apramor was. A demon. And he was walking into a country that hunted them.


    Though as much as she wanted to support Vason, her guilt prevented her. <em>What right do I have to counsel Tia, having withheld such a secret?</em>


    The princess sighed. Wish I could, Vason. But my brother


    Did he contact you? Haymi asked immediately.


    Tia ruffled her hair. Yeah. Heaped his dirtyundry on us. Wants us to head to Kinjal for some guard duty.


    Kinjal throwing their weight around again, Vason spat. They are no different from the proverbial vige bully.


    Be that as it may, we cant simply ignore a request from the Crown Prince, Haymi said.


    Eh, I told him Id think about it. Im thinking about it. Ready our Acira, Tia ordered. Were following Apra. Well check on him, then maybe well head for Kinjal.


    Yes, your highness, Haymi replied, barely suppressing a smile.


    <em>Ill get to see him again!</em>