《One Vengeance - Raven's Scheme》


 Chapter 1: The Arrival

    Nine Star Academy¡¯s aging coachman would never remember the boy who decided to kill the Titan. Nor would he recall the student with no pool, the one who came to humiliate his teachers. The old man would never connect his passenger to the one who intended to solve Panka¡¯s riddle and free the Sleeping Devil from her cocoon.


    No, Simon LeGee wouldn¡¯t remember the person sitting in his wagon for any of those things. The memory destined to forever linger in his mind as he looked back at his young fare was something trivial, yet, at the same time, far more frightening.


    He would remember the way Raven Whitesong sat in silence.


    The hours-long course up Mount Chappelle took Simon¡¯s wagon over mounds of snow, pushing through vile, blustery winds intent on turning them back. Bitter cold enclosed him in a shell, seeping through every layer of clothing. This winter would never see its equal, and any other passenger would have demanded the journey¡¯s cancellation by now.


    But not this boy. Donned in simple robes, Raven sat with the patience Simon never would have believed had he not seen it for himself. Snow piled inside the open carriage, reaching to the young man¡¯s knees and coating his body. Bursts of fog expelled from under his hood with each steady breath, and his hands were so pale, the blue tint of a cadaver surfaced beneath his skin.


    Yet, he never moved an inch. Simon looked back many times, sure that the boy would be frozen stiff. But the steady fog bursts never stopped. A shiver unrelated to the cold ran up Simon¡¯s spine, and he longed for their destination. He never wished more to hurry the wagon along, but the Bomfrosts couldn¡¯t keep up with so much snow, and his pandora were too limited in such weather.


    In place of horses, four angel-like statues of stone floated before the carriage, pulling it along by chains. Coprophim. The stone was old, chipped in some places and broken in others. Wings were missing, and faces were weathered by time. In each of the angels¡¯ cupped hands, a silver, rectangular object like a card hovered in place, rotating on its edge and shining with soft brilliance.


    A potent flurry blasted the wagon. Simon gasped, bundling further within his cloak. Every part of his body felt numb, yet a terrible feeling gripped his heart. He knew he should never have agreed to go back up the mountain. But the boy offered him so much money, he couldn¡¯t refuse. Now the bag of coins felt heavy in his pocket. If throwing the money into the wind would have stopped its relentless assault, he¡¯d have done it by now.


    Just when he was convinced he would die today, Simon spotted a black speck on the side of the mountain, and his fearful heart lurched with hope. It was definitely the tunnel road to Reyk Roespeye. Finally! He sat up in his seat and whipped the reins of chain metal. The statues jumped a tad before continuing at their slow, floating pace.


    Simon cursed his lousy pandora before looking back again. Still, the boy sat in silence. Snow piled over his arms now and up to his chest. If the wagon driver wasn¡¯t so frightened, he would have found the picture comical. But there was nothing funny about this. In fact, he would have bet all the money he¡¯d just earned that the city of Roespeye was about to regret the boy¡¯s mere presence.


    Everything about this day was vile. The city, with its towering structures of ancient architecture, appeared as a faint outline through the bluster. A disguise of shadows atop the mountain.


    Even the Bomfrost Trees seemed sinister. Normally, Simon possessed nothing but pleasant feelings about them. The way their thick roots burst from the ground to reach out and swallow up snow in his way. Slithering like snakes, they picked up large piles and stowed it all away among sturdy branches. But the trees were acting differently. With so much snow, the roots ate greedily, making the whole forest crawl with their constant slithering motion. And they stored so much snow in their treetops, the branches creaked and groaned, threatening to snap under all the weight.


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    It seemed forever, but the wagon finally reached the wooden tunnel that sheltered the road and led safer passage to the city. Simon¡¯s floating statues assumed a swifter speed, and the wagon rolled across the stone path with ease. He exhaled in small relief, but he knew he would find no other comfort until they arrived. Shadows came and went as the wagon passed under the pandora lights floating above.


    Simon noticed a certain shadow on the wall shift, and he looked back. For the first time since they started the trek up the mountain, his passenger moved. Raven still made no attempt to unbury himself from all the snow, but his head lifted to look at the floating pandora of the tunnel ceiling. From the higher vantage, Simon finally got a good look at his face. He couldn¡¯t be sure if he was normally so pale or if his pallor was a result of the cold, but there was nothing natural about the color of the boy¡¯s eyes.


    Lifeless gray. Blanched. Horribly drab. There were numerous ways to describe his eyes, but nothing to perfectly express how cold they were or the sharp consideration behind them. Raven looked at the pandora with interest, and his eyes narrowed as if he despised the card-shaped objects providing meager, unceasing light to the tunnel. A gaze of pure, deliberate wrath that soaked up the very cold around him and converted it into something even more harrowing.


    Simon shivered again. In the new silence of the tunnel, he knew he had to break the tension lest he go insane. But what could he possibly say?


    ¡°Uh¡­ aren¡¯t you cold there, son?¡± he croaked. The words scratched his throat, and he instantly regretted them.


    Raven looked at him briefly before resuming to watch the pandora. It was a horrific moment, so intense was the sensation it delivered. But the silence was worse still, and the pounding of Simon¡¯s heart urged him to speak yet again.


    ¡°We were¡­ quite delayed, weren¡¯t we? If these pandora are lighting the way¡­ it means it¡¯s almost the end of the day. I apologize¡­¡±


    No response.


    Simon tugged at his scarf. Somehow, it now felt like a furnace beneath the layers. ¡°You¡¯re a new student, right? Well, no need to worry, son. I have heard the masters are usually lenient under such circumstances.¡±


    Raven bowed his head, hiding his face yet again. The snow coating his hood had melted, revealing the intense black of his robes. The wagon driver looked ahead, figuring the boy had no intention of saying anything. Only the rickety wheels laboring over the road offered any relief from the silence. Each second ticked by in agonizing fashion, and the tunnel¡¯s end seemed a torment to Simon¡¯s already fragile state of mind.


    Then, Raven spoke.


    Or rather¡­ he began to chant. In a haunting hush of a mantra, like the possessed drone of a cultic chieftain. Simon slowly looked back, eyes wide in fear of what he might find. Raven¡¯s eyes smoldered, filled with a controlled kind of fury bent on vengeance. His hand lifted out of the mound of snow, holding a pandora between two fingers. A pair of black wings decorated the card, complete with a twisted halo. The pandora glowed with otherworldly force, impressing a demon¡¯s grip on Simon¡¯s throat. Never had he known a pandora of such power.


    Raven repeated the chant, and each syllable drove straight to Simon¡¯s marrow, gnawing with savage hunger. And he knew in that moment, no matter how many years he had left to live on this earth, he would never forget the words Raven Whitesong spoke:


    A year upon the learners¡¯ door. Asleep to bide the time.


    Release the Devil, take back her soul, and end the trickster¡¯s chime.


    Thief of Life, yon Titan. Come claim your wicked prize.


    The soul I take, a different sort, concealed to greedy eyes.


    Beyond the grave, the Raven crows. Black Stare on Reyk Provote.


    Rare bird pursues your wretched life, to seize it by the throat.


    Rogue puppet hides beneath your watch. Save for me, he dares not yield.


    The day draws near when you shall die by mind and sword and shield.

 Chapter 2: The Vark Ilias

    Once Raven¡¯s crates were hauled off the wagon, his spooked coachman-for-hire immediately climbed back aboard and drove away in a hurry, presumptively to a place warm and distant from his former fare.


    Raven smirked.


    ¡°And so it begins,¡± a voice said in his ears. Girlish and small, the familiar voice only Raven could hear still rang with shrewd perception. But then again, she¡¯d been with him since he was just a boy. The name of her pandora was Rue the Day. He called her Rue, the name she asked to be called.


    He stood alone on the side of the road, a gravelly gray interruption to the snow surrounding him. The Bomfrosts did not grow at such an altitude, nor did much else. He shook his robes free of the accumulating ice. His clothing served him well, loose around the chest and legs, but tight around the waist by a cloth belt. His sleeves were wide and extensive to hide his hands.


    He turned to the grand iron gate barricading entrance to Nine Star Academy. The wall of Reyk Roespeye surrounded the gate, one of twelve. The city¡¯s fortification towered high into the gray sky, thick in its defense but lacking all grandeur. Typical of Roespeye, with its cowardly citizens hiding far up in the mountains and behind deep walls. Men and women of ¡°education and practice.¡± But they knew what lurked beyond the mist-strewn ranges, no matter how high their precious refuge reached.


    The Titan suffered no walls.


    Raven glared. But he will suffer me.


    Anger again welled up within him. His most important work was about to begin, and after waiting so long, he couldn¡¯t wait to start. But then, he paused. He could feel Rue beating on his heart, filled with doubt, fear and a great sadness equal to his wrath. But instead of asking about it, he waited for her to broach her distress.


    ¡°Raven¡­what if I get taken?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I would never allow that,¡± he replied right away.


    Another pause. ¡°And you won¡¯t die, either¡­ right?¡±


    Raven stared hard, mouth moving in twitches. He folded his arms, and his anger subsided.


    ¡°If I do¡­ it¡¯s only because I¡¯ve succeeded,¡± he finally replied quietly. ¡°But no matter what happens, you will live, Rue. You will live well.¡±


    The crates carrying his possessions sat in the snow beside him, but he set off without them, following the barely visible road as it passed by the gate. The doorway granted passage to a huge clock tower built into the wall. A massive pendulum bob rocked back and forth with riotous clacks. At the gate, a boy about Raven¡¯s age waited nervously, cheeks flushed pink from the cold. He stood beside his own set of crates, which he watched protectively, as if afraid someone might steal them at any moment. When he noticed Raven, he did a double-take, appraising his clothing with an odd expression and stepping back.


    At that moment, the twenty-span high gate clicked, and the carved door of iron opened with a riotous screech. A bald man with a ledger peeked his head out.


    ¡°Oh, there are still more of you,¡± he said with mild surprise, pushing a pair of glasses up the bridge of his nose. ¡°Next please. You may leave your possessions there. We will see to them¡­ if you are approved for enrollment, of course.¡±


    Raven stepped forward, and the man bid him entrance. The boy waiting was about to protest, but Raven stopped and looked him in the eyes. All objection to cutting in line vanished, and Raven proceeded through the door.


    And in no time at all, he found himself before his quarry. The seven masters of Nine Star Academy sat before him, eyeing him with mild interest from the other side of the immense hall. Raven bowed his head, a devilish smile growing.


    ¡°Be nice, Raven,¡± Rue said.


    ¡°Not today, my friend,¡± he whispered back.


    ¡°What was that, young man?¡± one of the masters asked. ¡°Step forward.¡±


    Raven did as commanded, slowly stepping into the cavernous, dimly lit chamber. The Ilias Drome, or grand meeting place, of Nine Star Academy dwarfed any cathedral he had ever laid eyes upon. Or at least he suspected it did, because the top could not even be seen. Darkness consumed the expanse above thirty spans. Pandora in iron cages lined the circular walls, illuminating what they could. Some flickered, being close to heavenly retirement, while others glowed with the steady determination of a new term.


    Parchment papers were scattered all over the place. Yellowed with age, the pages skittered across the stone floors at the direction of some undetectable air current. As he moved, they made way for him before resuming never-ending loops and twirls of disorder.


    Raven stopped in the middle of the hall, arms limp at his side and head still bowed. In seven different-leveled oak podiums, the teachers sat in silence, donned in official black.


    ¡°Masters,¡± he said.


    ¡°Name,¡± one of the teachers said impatiently. ¡°Be quick about it, son. It¡¯s been a long day, and you are very late. I¡¯m tempted to close enrollment right now and turn you back into the cold.¡±


    Raven looked up, eyeing the large, bearded man with a glare. ¡°For me, you will make an exception.¡±


    Four of the other masters frowned at Raven¡¯s statement, while the youngest, and the only female among them, smiled with amusement. The last teacher¡¯s face could not be fully seen, as the high collar of his coat reached up past his nose. But incredibly bushy black eyebrows turned down in a carefully guarded look. A cardinal sitting on his shoulder chirped shrilly at Raven before turning its back on him.


    The first master harrumphed with disdain. His immense black beard ruffled in anger as he spoke up, ¡°Is that so? Tough talk from such a short and sickly-looking runt. Before I turn you away right now for your manners, why don¡¯t you explain to us why you are so special.¡±


    Raven sniffed, a contemptible smile on his lips. ¡°My name is Raven Whitesong of Reyk Surlance. No need to remember it, for by the end of my time here, it will be burned into your memory. I come here for what you are fond to call an education, but what I shall label an utter waste of time. However, to your benefit, I will enroll, and by doing so, show you something grand.¡±


    The bearded master¡¯s face began turning various shades of red, and a teacher beside him had to grasp his arm. ¡°Calm yourself, Czeslaw.¡±


    ¡°Surlance?¡± Czeslaw growled behind gritted teeth. ¡°That filthy, sorry excuse for a city? Where even dogs are shamed to live?¡±


    ¡°Indeed. Yet another embarrassment for you, I suppose. That a student from such a place should be greater than the lot of you combined.¡±


    Czeslaw slammed his fist on the podium while two other masters quickly stood in anger.


    ¡°Enough!¡± the female on the far right said with authority. Her smile remained, and a fire danced in her eyes.


    ¡°Enough, indeed!¡± Czeslaw growled. ¡°Where is Sampson? I want this boy out of here right now.¡±


    A silence permeated the seven as they stared at Raven with a mixture of scorn and bewildered disbelief.


    The female spoke again. ¡°Do you know who I am, Raven Whitesong?¡±


    Raven¡¯s smile turned another notch. ¡°Master Fyre ¨C mathematics and science. To your left, Master Cooley ¨C economics; Master Turngood ¨C pandora and Hydra; Master Czeslaw ¨C history, artifacts, and relics; Master Bastille ¨C religion; Master Smith ¨C seals; and¡­¡± Raven slowly turned to look at the bushy-eyebrow teacher. ¡°¡­Master Selim Forir ¨C battle and war tactics.¡±


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    Forir¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, save for a subtle spark in his gaze.


    Fyre ran a hand through her brown ponytail, not the slightest put off. ¡°If you know who we are and what this is, and if you¡¯re so amazing, then there must be a reason you have come to our fair school other than to brashly insult us. So please, if you could end the posturing and get to the real purpose of your presence, we can get home that much faster.¡±


    ¡°Home? Don¡¯t you mean to Little Fastings, Master Fyre? Or have you already gambled away this month¡¯s salary at the casino?¡±


    Czeslaw gasped in fury. ¡°You little¡ª¡±


    Fyre clapped her hands excitedly. ¡°Oh, how fascinating. You¡¯ve even taken the time to study each of us. I do indeed have something of a gambling problem, don¡¯t I? Not much of a secret, though. If Little Fastings was open this time of year, I¡¯d probably be there. Well, you have my attention, young Whitesong, regardless of the reason you are here.¡± She turned to the other teachers. ¡°Let¡¯s commence with enrollment, shall we?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± Turngood exclaimed in a labored voice. He patted down the wisps of white hair still left on his head. ¡°This boy is utterly contemptible.¡±


    ¡°Too bad. I¡¯ve decided this is interesting. And after a long day of enrolling one boring student after another, this is just the cap on the day I wanted.¡± She pointed to Raven. ¡°Disrobe.¡±


    Raven reached to his waist, unraveling the belt. His robes fell to the ground, revealing a naked torso. And his pants were of thin material. The masters leaned forward, wide-eyed. His skin was paler than anything they¡¯d ever seen, nearly glowing. He was indeed short for his age, but his robes had belied a toned physique, adorned with several thin scars. His head was shorn and shaved. And each ear featured an earring with a dangling green orb.


    ¡°Young man,¡± Smith spoke up, lowering his rectangular spectacles to examine him closer. ¡°How are you not freezing to death?¡±


    ¡°I embrace the cold,¡± Raven answered with a straight face. He continued to stare at Czeslaw.


    ¡°Turn around,¡± Fyre ordered, resting her chin in her hand.


    Raven turned once. When he did, Czeslaw slapped his podium in triumph. ¡°Look at that! I should have known.¡±


    A rigid scar was etched into the back of Raven¡¯s head, brutal in every sense of the word: a square marking with a line running diagonally through it.


    ¡°There you have it,¡± Czeslaw said, folding his arms in delight. ¡°A filthy Rogue. Doesn¡¯t even have a pool.¡±


    ¡°Hang on,¡± Fyre interrupted. ¡°Rogues are branded with ink. That¡¯s no tattoo.¡±


    ¡°Trifles. If he has Hydra, he can prove it. I¡¯m throwing this rat back to the snow right now.¡±


    Czeslaw reached into his cloak and produced a pandora. The silver card featured an emblem of a spear. He stood up and held the card before Raven. The pandora burst with a halo of light. A sphere of energy bubbled from the surface, then shot forward. From the blinding streak, a form materialized. Raven turned and watched as armor of stone appeared out of the light, forming a soldier twice his size, at least ten spans high. A mighty spear also appeared, which the warrior took with one enormous hand. The other hand reached down and grabbed Raven by the neck, snatching him off the ground.


    ¡°Rook, that¡¯s enough!¡± Fyre shouted.


    But Czeslaw didn¡¯t listen, so happy was he to rid the Ilias Drome of the instigator. However, his smile washed away when he realized Raven wasn¡¯t struggling. He simply hung from the statue¡¯s hand like a rag doll, pale gaze rife with amusement. Czeslaw¡¯s face then drained of all flush when his stone soldier began to crack and crumble. With a riotous crash, the guardian collapsed in a heap of rubble before disappearing in a flash of light. Raven landed back down with ease, and the light from the teacher¡¯s pandora faded.


    Raven kneeled, calmly picking up his robes and proceeding to clothe himself once more. The six other masters sat with dropped jaws while Czeslaw still stood with arm extended, frozen and wide-eyed.


    ¡°I assume you still require certain information for enrollment,¡± Raven said once he was finished. ¡°Let¡¯s start with the demographics. I have already stated I am from Surlance, but it is true I have no pool, for I was adopted. I am sixteen years old, five-point-two spans tall, one-hundred thirty danes heavy, and devout to the Holy One.¡±


    ¡°If you have no pool, how are you able to use Hydra?¡± Master Bastille asked, lifting his wide-brimmed hat and blinking several times. ¡°You claim to serve the Holy One. Then dispense with the lies.¡±


    Raven did not answer, making Bastille frown. The religion teacher leaned toward Master Smith and whispered, ¡°He clearly has a pool. The scar means nothing. Maybe it was the result of bullying, or perhaps some cruel punishment in his youth.¡±


    Smith nodded, then cleared his throat. ¡°Raven Whitesong, a condition of enrollment is to reveal your strongest pandora, if you possess any. Please do so now.¡±


    ¡°I cannot do that,¡± Raven replied.


    ¡°Then you will not be enrolled.¡±


    Raven sighed again with added emphasis. ¡°The Titan¡¯s Law states no one can be forced to reveal a pandora greater than Class Five.¡±


    The elder master issued a trebling chuckle. ¡°You possess a pandora stronger than Five? Among the teachers sitting before you, only Master Forir owns a pandora of such clout.¡±


    ¡°Hence my contempt for your authority.¡±


    ¡°You truly delight in obstinance, don¡¯t you? The Titan¡¯s Law may prohibit forcing a person to reveal his high-class pandora, but we can inquire about the highest you possess. So tell us, young man¡­ what is the class of your greatest soul?¡±


    ¡°Class Eight.¡±


    Czeslaw and Turngood again yammered their outrage.


    ¡°This is getting ridiculous,¡± Smith agreed. ¡°Young man, you are a liar! This is a place of higher learning, not a jester¡¯s court. Why have you come here if your only intent is to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Show us your highest pandora then,¡± Fyre quickly said. ¡°Class Five or lower.¡± Her eyes twinkled with anticipation.


    ¡°Certainly,¡± Raven replied, lifting an arm. ¡°Let me substantiate your collective weakness.¡±


    A pandora drifted out of his wide sleeve, hovering before him and slowly turning in place. The card featured an emblem of a woman holding a sheath of wheat and blowing a powerful wind across grain fields.


    ¡°Widow¡¯s Reaver. Class Five,¡± Raven said. At that moment, another pandora drifted out of his robes, floating up next to the first. ¡°How about this one? Class Five.¡±


    Again and again, gray cards emerged from his sleeves, until twenty were lined in a row between Raven and the seven masters.


    ¡°And these are just my Class Fives,¡± Raven finished. ¡°Would you like to see my Fours?¡±


    Again, six dumbfounded masters made no response. Raven waited in silence, basking in their shock. His plan was commencing flawlessly.


    ¡°As expected,¡± the voice in his ears said.


    Fyre, however, clapped her hands with glee. ¡°This is going to be the best year our city has ever seen. How delightful! I expect you to be on time to my class, young man. I can tolerate narcissism seven days a week, but tardiness is a different matter.¡±


    Raven sniffed. ¡°As you wish.¡±


    ¡°HOLD ON!¡± Czeslaw nearly screamed. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one with a say, Fanny. I¡¯m not finished yet. Or have you forgotten we don¡¯t do this for free?¡±


    Fyre frowned. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Get on with it, then.¡±


    Czeslaw¡¯s burly chest expanded as he looked down on Raven in judgment. ¡°Tuition is two-thousand crowns.¡±


    Fyre¡¯s head snapped to look at him in shock. ¡°What? That¡¯s ten times normal tuition for a year.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the tuition! Or have I suddenly been replaced as treasurer on this¡ª¡±


    He was interrupted by a loud thud that echoed through the hall. The masters looked at Raven again. At his feet sat a velvet bag tied with a golden cord.


    ¡°Done,¡± Raven replied.


    Czeslaw¡¯s eye began to twitch.


    ¡°Not enough?¡± Raven asked. He reached into his sleeve. Two more large bags fell at his feet. ¡°What about this? Is this enough, Master Czeslaw? Would six-thousand crowns suffice for this year¡¯s tuition? You are, after all, the treasurer.¡±


    Raven issued a look of pure loathing that shot daggers at the man. ¡°You will enroll me now,¡± he rasped.


    ¡°Young Whitesong.¡±


    The feathery voice of Master Finitim Cooley finally emerged after complete silence during the whole exchange. The dark-skinned man with a sharp nose and even sharper eyes stood, laying hands on his podium.


    ¡°I must concur with Master Fyre. You have not come to simply mock us. You have come here for a purpose, and you are pursuing that purpose even now. Your words are laced with intention, full of poison seeking specific victims. Enough games. You have made your point. So, tell us. Why have you come here?¡±


    Raven considered Cooley carefully. I might have underestimated this one.


    ¡°Am I enrolled?¡± he finally asked.


    Cooley nodded. ¡°You are.¡±


    Raven slowly lifted his arm, finger pointed high. ¡°I have come¡­ to issue a challenge.¡±


    A riotous creak filled the chamber.


    A drop of black rain fell on Czeslaw¡¯s podium, splashing in a tiny puddle before vanishing. The teachers all looked at him, and then up into the darkness. Another black drop fell on Turngood¡¯s nose, and yet another on a stack of papers in Fyre¡¯s hands. Drop, drop, drop. And in moments, the Ilias Drome was consumed with a black downpour of silent, shadowy rain that vanished into nether upon impact.


    It ended as quickly as it began. Another loud screech, like metal on metal, preceded a blaring gong. And from the darkness above, a single wooden beam descended. The massive square post of dark lumber stretched down so far, Raven¡¯s pointed finger nearly touched it. At the end of the beam, four ivory busts of eagles were installed, one on every side. Each of their beaks held a copper sphere.


    ¡°What are you DOING?¡± Bastille nearly screamed in horror. ¡°You can¡¯t invoke the Vark Ilias!¡±


    ¡°I am now a student of Nine Star,¡± Raven replied, lowering his arm. ¡°So yes¡­ I can. Generations of former masters have tried to snuff the Vark from memory, but nothing is hidden from my eyes. You will remember this.¡±


    ¡°What on earth is the Vark Ilias?¡± Turngood asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s a special ritual that all students of Nine Star Academy have the right to call upon,¡± Czeslaw answered darkly. ¡°It allows them to issue a challenge to any schoolmaster. Yet another of Panka¡¯s nasty, pointless tricks.¡±


    ¡°You idiot brat!¡± Smith exclaimed, matching Bastille¡¯s fear. ¡°The Titan will definitely hear about this! And then he¡¯ll come¡­ oh no, he¡¯ll come to Roespeye! What have you done? He¡¯ll come!¡±


    Raven smiled. That¡¯s exactly the point.


    Master Fyre¡¯s cheer vanished. She looked Raven in the eyes. ¡°What is your challenge?¡± she asked.


    He pointed at them. ¡°At the end of my term here at the school, one year from now, I will defeat each of you in any contest you name!¡±

 Chapter 3: Vanyard Von Sephim

    ¡°Surely, you can¡¯t be that arrogant,¡± Turngood said shakily.


    ¡°Arrogance is for the weak,¡± Raven replied. ¡°This is an official challenge of honor, granted to me by the guardian Panka. You are unable to refuse me without cause. And I doubt you could refuse a challenge that¡­ favors you so greatly.¡±


    ¡°What are the stakes?¡± Cooley asked in a guarded tone.


    ¡°I have presented six-thousand crowns, thirty times normal tuition. Is money no longer acceptable collateral?¡± He looked at Fyre, who smirked. Raven raised a finger. ¡°I shall control the order of the duels and they shall commence over a one-day period, but if I lose even one of the seven matches, you keep the money and I leave Nine Star without credentials, regardless of my academic marks, which I assure you will be perfect.¡±


    ¡°And if you win?¡±


    ¡°Once I defeat all seven of you, I will officially be honored by the school as the greatest student to ever grace these grounds. A monument will be built to commemorate the occasion.¡±


    Czeslaw¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°That¡¯s it? This whole thing is just about your ego?¡±


    ¡°They have no idea,¡± Rue said. Raven could imagine her shaking her head.


    Fyre held up her hands and shrugged. ¡°I guess we have no choice then.¡±


    ¡°But this will reach the Titan¡¯s ears!¡± Master Smith pleaded.


    ¡°Yes, it will, but it would draw his attention even more if we refused.¡±


    Smith slumped in his seat. Several others did likewise. Fyre, however, stood and lifted her hand toward the wooden beam. One of the copper spheres in the eagles¡¯ beaks popped out and floated toward her. She snatched it from the air before sitting back down.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with,¡± she said. ¡°Write down on a slip of paper the challenge you will test Raven Whitesong with.¡± She looked down at him. ¡°I¡¯m sure you will allow us a bit of time to think about it?¡±


    Raven folded his arms. ¡°Proceed.¡±


    At that moment, an idea seemed to pop into Master Czeslaw¡¯s head, because he grinned wickedly. He turned to Master Turngood, who must have understood, because he also began to smile with delight. They each took slips of paper and pandora pens from their podiums and scribbled their challenges. They compared them to each other¡¯s, snickered with glee, and passed them down to Fyre before looking back at Raven with levity.


    Raven barely regarded them. He looked back and forth between all the masters as they considered their duels. Forir and Cooley were careful, covering their papers as if sure Raven could see what they wrote down. Smith could barely sit, let alone come up with a proper challenge, so nervous was he about the whole matter. And Bastille began to meditate, disregarding everything else around him.


    Fanny Fyre, on the other hand, kept her full attention on Raven. Eyes danced with curiosity, and her smile lacked even a hint of anxiety. Raven had to admit, he had not expected her confidence. Being the youngest and least experienced of the seven masters, she was supposed to be the least of his problems.


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate girls,¡± Rue whispered.


    Raven sniffed. He didn¡¯t need to be told that. Not after being acquainted with Noelle Rose for so many years.


    Finally, the remaining masters wrote down their challenges and passed them down to Fyre. She, also, quickly wrote something down. Folding the parchment up, she stacked it with the other six. She then took the copper sphere and squeezed it between two hands. The metal split down the middle before popping open with a crackle of sparks. She placed the seven challenges inside the hollow space before squeezing the two halves together again. The metal molded together into a solid sphere, then shot out of her hands to replace itself inside the eagle¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Well, there you have it,¡± Fyre said. ¡°One year the challenges will wait. No one will be able to open it until that time.¡±


    ¡°This¡­ is a horrible day,¡± Smith lamented.


    ¡°Quite the contrary!¡± She smiled with sincere joy and looked back down at the boy who caused all their trouble. ¡°I think this is going to be fun. On behalf of the seven masters, welcome to Nine Star Academy¡­ Rogue Raven.¡±


    He bowed slightly before turning and making for another set of doors. He pulled it open, and the masters all began to pack their things, unraveling themselves from their collective daze.


    ¡°Oh, by the way,¡± Raven said, turning back to look at them. ¡°You still have one more student waiting to be enrolled. He¡¯s probably freezing by now.¡±


    And with that, Raven strolled out of the Ilias Drome.


    ¡°That went almost exactly as expected,¡± he said as he stepped into the cold.


    ¡°The Titan will definitely hear about it,¡± Rue replied.


    ¡°But not for a while. It¡¯s time to get to work.¡±


    He found himself in the massive pool courtyard. The sprawling grounds of the academy consumed the southeast corner of Roespeye. A city in its own right, Nine Star was most noted for containing Roespeye¡¯s pool. Panka¡¯s Well sat in the middle of the open court, a rounded repository surrounded by a short stone wall three spans high. A tapered shelter of wood covered the pool. The appearance of it was modest, especially by the standards of the other pools in the realm of Fallowreyk. But Panka¡¯s Well possessed special draw, too. For Roespeye¡¯s great spring didn¡¯t emerge from the earth. Rather, its mighty waters returned to the earth.


    Raven had noticed there was no snow. He looked up into the drab sky to witness the city¡¯s never-ending cocoon of white. By the force of great Hydra, all the snowfall was consumed in a drift of quiet wind that gathered and drove toward the pool, forming a cone of hurtling snow so wide, it eclipsed half the city. As a result, no snow coated the paths or structures of the institute. It never did.


    The gentle snow drifts were sucked into the tip of the pool¡¯s pointed roof. And beneath the roof, the snow became water that poured like rain into what appeared to be an empty well. A long line of people stood in the cold, waiting for their turn to drink. A priest of the Holy One stood on the short stone staircase, holding his arm under the waterfall. A ladle in his hand collected enough of the water, then he would hold it out for the next person in line to drink or to sprinkle on a baby. Raven knew this would go on all day, with the priest relieved by others throughout the afternoon. Only those born to Roespeye could drink from the well. It was plain water to anyone else, but to those granted Panka¡¯s gift, it provided the power of Hydra, and with it, the ability to change the world.


    Nine clock towers surrounded the courtyard, immense in structure and design. Each clock featured a golden pendulum bob that chimed pleasantly, loud enough to be heard deep into the city, but not so thunderous as to bombard those in the courtyard. Eight of the towers worked in sync so that each pendulum chimed every few seconds, creating a never-ending round designed to instill focus in the students.


    But Tower Nine, called Funny Tower, did away with such devices. The tricks of Roespeye¡¯s guardian were everywhere, and this tower proved to be no different. While the other clocks worked in harmony, Panka¡¯s chime worked against them, random in its timing. Of course, Raven didn¡¯t like the word ¡°random.¡± Just listening to the clock tower¡¯s chaotic chime, he could hear the intelligent playfulness. The gong would sound off at the most opportune times to disrupt the harmony of the other eight. Sometimes, chiming a hundred times in a round, and other times, none. It would mirror some chimes, making them noisy, and for others, Panka¡¯s chime would toll right before the next in line.


    Raven liked this mischievous attribute of Nine Star Academy. But in a year¡¯s time, he would end Panka¡¯s trick for good. In fact, his entire scheme depended on it.


    ¡°What¡¯s the first step?¡± Rue whispered.


    Raven looked around, sifting through the many locals and students milling about the courtyard. ¡°First, I need to find our Hydra supply. Then, we¡¯ll find our room.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re actually going to stay in the dormitories?¡±


    ¡°I think not. I have a special room in mind. A place even the teachers won¡¯t be able to find me. But it¡¯s a treacherous place, and I¡¯ll need to have a source handy before I attempt to find it.¡±


    ¡°I feel someone close by. I think he was on our list.¡±


    Glancing aside, he spotted what she noticed. At the north end of the courtyard, three older students surrounded a fourth, a boy Raven recognized. An obvious and unhindered bout of bullying was taking place that everyone in the vicinity expertly ignored. The largest of the trio finally shoved their quarry to the ground.


    ¡°Hey, hey, hey.¡± The lanky victim slowly got up. He winced and rubbed his butt. ¡°I gave you what I have, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    The boy didn¡¯t appear threatened, despite being surrounded. In fact, his lack of concern was nearly palpable. A wave of golden brown hair cascaded over his forehead. He wore beige and black attire that must have been customized, for his jacket and pants featured strange pockets and metallic clasps. A raggedy piece of canvas served as a makeshift cloak, and a brown scarf wound around his neck.


    ¡°Shut it, Van,¡± the lead bully growled with a satisfied grin. He held a pandora in his hand. ¡°I haven¡¯t shaken you loose yet.¡±


    ¡°I swear that¡¯s all I¡¯ve got on me,¡± Van replied with a casual shake of his hand. ¡°You¡¯ve taken the only ¡®dora I have claim to in this world, Khern.¡±


    ¡°Yeah right. You have a Class Two, and I¡¯m expected to believe that? Grab him.¡±


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    His two lackeys seized Van¡¯s arms.


    ¡°You there!¡±


    The four boys looked in Raven¡¯s direction. He had swiftly approached and now stood just paces away. Raven looked directly at Van. ¡°Follow me. I have need of your services.¡±


    He then turned and began making his way to the pool without another word. Khern and his lackeys stood with stupefied expressions. Van, likewise, was surprised.


    Khern recovered in time to grunt back, ¡°Hey!¡±


    Raven did not stop, forcing Khern to run after him.


    ¡°Hey, you! I¡¯m talking to you. Don¡¯t walk away from me.¡±


    He grabbed Raven by the shoulder and swung it back, forcing him to face him. An electric surge ran up his arm. Raven looked up at Khern, eyes alight with sudden clout, vivid as the Lamgard sun.


    ¡°What the¡­?¡±


    Before Khern could utter another word, his body slammed into the ground by an invisible force. Twelve pairs of black, feathery wings emerged behind Raven, collecting into an even larger pair that stretched high above him. Pressure built higher and higher, and Khern screamed as his body was bombarded by the weight, driving him into the stone. The ground cracked and fissured. A crater formed, digging deeper into the earth. Blood pooled from Khern¡¯s mouth as his bones were slowly crushed. He gasped, fading into unconsciousness.


    Raven raised his arm, eyes glowing white hot.


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ touch¡­ me.¡±


    And then it was over. The sounds of pounding earth and snapping bones ended, and the wings disappeared. Raven¡¯s eyes turned lifeless gray, and Khern lay in a span-deep crater, half-way to dead. Nearly everyone in the courtyard was frozen in horror. A few ran off to find help.


    ¡°You overdid it, Raven!¡± Rue whispered fearfully.


    ¡°Actually, I did just enough,¡± he replied.


    He looked straight ahead. Standing near the door to the Ilias Drome was Master Forir, gazing back at him with hard eyes. Bushy eyebrows furrowed with anger and disbelief.


    ¡°You,¡± Raven said, not taking his eyes off Forir.


    There was silence before Van, who stood nearby, replied hesitantly. ¡°Are¡­ are you talking to me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Van approached, looking at Khern with wide eyes. ¡°Is he dead?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll be fine¡­ probably. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a Saphian nearby.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just going to leave him?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Now, follow me.¡± Raven turned, making for the now deserted pool.


    Van made a quick decision. He jumped into the crater and took back his stolen pandora from Khern Davies. ¡°Sorry, pal. Wrong place, wrong time.¡± Jumping back out, he took off after Raven, falling in line behind him.


    ¡°So, Raven, was it?¡±


    Raven stopped. ¡°How do you know my name?¡±


    ¡°I know a lot of things.¡± Van put an arm around Raven¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m a guy who knows stuff.¡±


    Raven looked at Van¡¯s arm. His eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Van said, slowly taking it off. ¡°That was a really dumb thing I just did there, wasn¡¯t it? I mean¡­ you just destroyed that guy back there not five ticks ago for touching you, and here I am, doing the exact same thing.¡± He slowly backed away, looking truly fearful for the first time. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate if you wouldn¡¯t kill me.¡±


    ¡°And you are Vanyard.¡±


    Relieved, he bowed with emphasis and a wave of his hand. ¡°Vanyard von Sephim. People call me Van. Brand new student. Long-time resident.¡±


    ¡°As I said,¡± Raven continued, ignoring his antics. ¡°I have need of your service.¡±


    Van backed away, clasping his hands together as if praying. ¡°I can¡¯t say I¡¯m interested in following you anywhere after the display you just put on. So, I¡¯ll just be on my way.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a coward.¡±


    He frowned. ¡°That¡¯s a bit much to say to a fellow you just met.¡±


    ¡°Very well. You¡¯re probably a coward.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ better? Anyway, I¡¯m sorry you had to make a scene on my behalf. Wasn¡¯t really necessary. But this whole place is about to be swarming with the law, so I¡¯m going to leave now. Catch you later, shorty.¡±


    He began scurrying away.


    Raven called out, ¡°It wasn¡¯t necessary because you were putting on an act, right?¡±


    Van froze.


    Tilting his head, Raven smirked. ¡°By the way, the item you think you stole from me just now won¡¯t get you much in trade.¡±


    Van whirled and reached inside his jacket, producing the sack he pick-pocketed from Raven¡¯s robes. A few dozen pebbles lay inside. He looked up to find Raven holding three pandora.


    ¡°It was an act so you could steal these from Khern, right?¡± he finished.


    Van quickly patted his pocket and found it empty of the cards Raven stole. He smiled, running a hand through his hair. ¡°Okay, now you¡¯ve got my attention. But if you¡¯re a better pick than I am, what do you need me for?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s leave this place first. As you said, the courtyard is about to be occupied by undesirables.¡±


    Van nodded aside. ¡°Funny Tower.¡±


    They quickly exited the square, hurrying to the brick tower closest to the pool. The guardian¡¯s clock tower was a wonder to behold. Devoid of any sort of doors, the wide, open hall had been crafted by the finest builders. The clock¡¯s chaotic chime echoed divinely in the open hall, where students loitered without a care in the world.


    And in the center of the tower, the great puzzle was found. As Raven and Van entered the main pavilion, they looked up at Panka¡¯s Riddle in awe. A mighty slab of gold-plated steel, forty spans high and thirty spans wide, stood erect in the center of the hall. Protruding from the face of it were various golden statues of warriors and other figurines on metal beams that ran along grooves, like tracks. The nine pieces were currently situated in a random formation. Some of the tracks glowed with soft light, while others did not. An etched phrase in ancient dialect ran across the top of the slab.


    Before the puzzle, a podium was erected that featured a similar setup: a miniature copy of the slab with models corresponding to the statues on the tracks. A golden lever was positioned beside the map. The whole of Panka¡¯s Riddle and the podium was surrounded by a blue seal of sorcery. Other students occupied the sanctuary, studying Panka¡¯s Riddle from a distance and quietly working out ways to solve it, but no one dared to cross the blue line.


    Raven stared intently at the immense rectangular slab of gold. He produced a small box from his robes and reached inside the package, taking a piece of chocolate, which he ate with zeal.


    ¡°Erelticus zentor su vinus,¡± he said, reading the script on the slab. ¡°At the beginning, find the end.¡±


    ¡°Everyone knows that,¡± Van replied. ¡°Not much of a clue to the puzzle, though.¡±


    Raven smiled, but didn¡¯t reply.


    ¡°So now¡­¡± Van said, turning to him. ¡°What do you want from me? And what are you offering in return?¡±


    He didn¡¯t answer. He continued to eat his candy while staring up at the puzzle. At that moment, a student nervously approached the blue border. Those close enough to see him realized what was happening and became excited, and a whispering torrent soon filled the hall. The boy stepped over the seal, which abruptly turned red. He stepped up onto the podium, and shouted in a shaky voice: ¡°I will solve Panka¡¯s Riddle!¡±


    The boy commenced to work on the podium map, taking hold of the miniatures and moving them along the tracks. As he did, the corresponding statues on the gold slab moved as well. With riotous clacks, they slid along the grooves, leaving tracks of light in their wake. When statues crossed another path of light, it cut off that source, darkening the track.


    He worked for over twenty minutes, sweat dripping from his brow. But no matter what he seemed to do, the statues and tracks of light remained in chaos. The other students waited with bated breath. Some even cheered him on, but it soon became obvious he did not know how to solve the puzzle. Eventually his shoulders slumped, and he backed away from the podium. Taking a deep breath, he stepped back over the red line, which turned back to blue. The moment he did, a blaring gong filled Raven¡¯s hearing, and a magnified voice spoke from some unknown source, as if it was directly in his ear.


    ¡°Stephon Salinode, please report to Master Czeslaw¡¯s quarters immediately!¡±


    Stephon¡¯s shoulders slumped further, and he trudged out of the puzzle room to face his punishment.


    Raven snickered, shaking his head before popping another chocolate in his mouth.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you plan on trying to solve the puzzle,¡± Van said. ¡°The kid had good sense to give up and accept punishment from the school instead of Panka. Pulling that lever is suicide. I don¡¯t care who you are.¡±


    ¡°I need a partner,¡± Raven replied. ¡°Someone who can aid me in my various endeavors for the year.¡±


    ¡°¡®Various endeavors,¡¯ huh? Sounds a bit sketchy. Want to fill me in on a few more details?¡±


    ¡°Not yet, but at the moment, I only have you in mind for two specific tasks. The others will present themselves as the days progress.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to do a little better than that. I don¡¯t even know you, and you¡¯ve already shown you¡¯re more capable than I will ever be.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes schemes require partners. You sell yourself far too short. I have seen your skill, and I know your reputation in the city by name alone. It will more than serve my purpose.¡±


    ¡°Ah, so we¡¯re partners now.¡± Van chuckled. ¡°And if I agree to help you, what do I get in return?¡±


    Raven finished the chocolate and stashed the empty box away. ¡°Whatever you wish.¡±


    ¡°Anything?¡±


    He nodded.


    Van issued a rascally grin and rubbed his hands together. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see then. If you¡¯re going to give me anything.¡± He began to pace, and Raven could almost see the various possibilities running through his head. Finally, he stopped and faced Raven with an imperious smile.


    ¡°I want four things. Three I want now. The fourth is a service I request over the course of our¡­ partnership, as you have taken to calling it.¡±


    Raven barely reacted. ¡°Name your requests.¡±


    ¡°First, as a sign of good faith, I¡¯ll get back my ¡®dora now.¡±


    He held out his hand, and Raven obliged, taking out the three pandora he pick-pocketed and returning them. Van looked them over with content before stashing them away.


    ¡°Mind you, I¡¯m not really a thief,¡± he said, sweeping a hand through his hair. ¡°I just take my revenge in special ways. Khern is a notorious bully, so taking his ¡®dora will ruin him and send him packing from the academy¡­ if he survives.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    Van frowned. ¡°It¡¯s unsettling that I believe you.¡±


    ¡°What else?¡±


    ¡°Second, I want to know what that power was that you used on Khern. I¡¯ve never seen anything like it.¡±


    ¡°You value knowledge,¡± Raven replied with interest. ¡°Excellent. Very well, I will show you.¡± He held up his arm, and a pandora floated out of his sleeve. Snatching it with two fingers, Raven held up the card with black wings and a twisted halo.


    ¡°Class Eight pandora, Rue the Day.¡±


    His eyes widened. ¡°Class Eight? Holy wild! I¡¯ve never even seen a Class Six!¡± He came closer, inspecting it. ¡°Wow. I can feel the clout coming from it. What does it do?¡±


    ¡°Rue emits extraordinary gravitational pulses. She can create short-term offensive bursts or defensive barriers. A magnificent soul.¡±


    ¡°Incredible. Not a great name though.¡±


    Rue harrumphed in Raven¡¯s ears. ¡°How rude!¡±


    Raven tucked away the card. ¡°What else?¡±


    Van stood up straight again. ¡°My third request is more of a stipulation: I¡¯m not a slave, Whitesong, and I won¡¯t be doing your laundry or homework or any other menial tasks. If that¡¯s what you¡¯ve had in mind, then you can forget it. And if we¡¯re partners, that means if I scratch your back, you scratch mine. I¡¯m not the smartest guy in the world, but I know a powerful ally when I see one. It¡¯s the only real reason I¡¯m even considering this. This school is more dangerous than people are willing to admit. You¡¯re the walking definition of a deterrent.¡±


    ¡°Very well. What else?¡±


    ¡°Fourth¡­¡± Van stepped back, wandering closer to the seal and looking uncertain for the first time. ¡°My last request will seem odd, but I find myself in a bit of a quandary and needing help.¡±


    Raven raised a hand. ¡°You would be surprised what I am capable of achieving. My knowledge exceeds that of any of the masters. Tell me.¡±


    Van rubbed his face. ¡°What do you know about women?¡±


    Raven blanched. Rue giggled in his ears.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± he said.


    ¡°Hey, I didn¡¯t ask for commentary. Do you know how to win the heart of a woman or not?¡±


    ¡°I have a working knowledge of the way women generally think and behave. I am betrothed, after all. To someone I have known since I was young.¡±


    Van frowned. ¡°I guess that¡¯s the best I can expect. My fourth request is that you help me win the affections of a certain girl. I won¡¯t demand success, but I¡¯ll expect full effort.¡±


    Raven¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°This is a stupid request. Why are you asking for this? It¡¯s certainly not normal.¡±


    His shoulders slumped. ¡°You¡¯re right about that. You said I was a coward. Well, truth is, you¡¯re right. I may look confident on the outside, but I just don¡¯t like confrontations. It¡¯s just not me, my man. I really like this girl, but I¡¯ll never be able to simply walk up, introduce myself, and ask her, well¡­ anything. Especially considering she¡¯s something really special. I need a scheme. And like you said, sometimes schemes require partners.¡±


    Raven sniffed in amusement. ¡°Well stated.¡± He sighed in resignation. ¡°Very well, we have an agreement, Vanyard von Sephim. I will help you win this girl¡¯s affections.¡±


    He held out his hand. Van looked at it a moment before smiling and shaking.


    ¡°It¡¯s a deal, short stuff.¡±


    ¡°No more short jokes.¡±


    Van cleared his throat, tugging at his scarf. ¡°Got it. So¡­ what do we do now?¡±


    ¡°First, we need a base of operations. Meet me tonight in the courtyard by the pool.¡±


    ¡°Your room in the dormitories will have already been allotted to you. If you haven¡¯t already been expelled, that is.¡±


    Raven smirked. ¡°I have no intention of living there. I have some place else in mind. A room that¡¯s just a little more¡­ special.¡±

 Chapter 4: The Sleeping Devil

    ¡°When I agreed to our partnership, you didn¡¯t say anything about this.¡±


    Van came alongside Raven, frowning deeply. He shouldered a large pack Raven had handed him when they met up during the night, as they initially agreed. Then Raven took the lead in what he described would be a fascinating adventure. Five minutes later, they were out of the courtyard and winding a course through narrow passages on school grounds before he stopped at an inconspicuous gap between Tower Five and a secluded stone building. The space was no more than a few spans wide, but Van recognized it the moment Raven stopped.


    The yellow glow of the Sleeping Devil could not be mistaken.


    Van shivered. ¡°This place is cursed. I don¡¯t want anything to do with whatever plans you have stashed up those gigantic sleeves.¡±


    ¡°Eventually, I¡¯m going to require that you trade in your faint heart for a stronger one,¡± Raven replied. ¡°There is no curse. Anything you have heard is well-laid rumor. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    He moved through the small entryway, and Van reluctantly followed, trailing close behind. The tower, the stone building, and a dilapidated wall covered in thick vines together formed a small enclosure. Clumps of grass sprouted through cracks in the cobbles, and moss consumed what wasn¡¯t mired in vines. The entire space, by reason, should have been green. But it wasn¡¯t. Rather, a gray and portentous vision unrelated to the night filled their seeing. It was as if the evil of that place robbed the very beauty of nature.


    That is, everything was drab save for her glow. At the far end of the space, the cocoon of the Sleeping Devil rested on the stump of a long-since felled tree. Raven approached the egg-shaped phenomenon in silence, eyes wide with excitement. It towered above him, twice his height, and glowed with the neon power of a million fireflies. And through the translucent surface, Raven laid eyes on her once again.


    A small girl, no older than ten, lay asleep within the crystalline form. Like a creature trapped in amber, she slept upright, preserved from time and harm. Pale skin was marred by dirty smudges, and her clothes were cheap and torn, but besides that, she was beautiful. Long brown hair cascaded down her back, and her hands were outstretched in a peculiar manner, as if she had been trapped in a single moment.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like this place,¡± Rue whispered.


    Raven placed a hand on the cocoon. ¡°I know.¡±


    Van gasped. ¡°Don¡¯t touch it! What on earth are you doing?¡±


    He ignored him, rubbing the smooth surface carefully. It was warm, yet hard as rock. ¡°Do you know the true story of the Sleeping Devil?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Can¡¯t we leave first? We¡¯re not even allowed to come here.¡±


    ¡°Vanyard, if our work together is to be successful, you¡¯re going to need to trust me. No harm will come from being here. Now, I asked you a question. Do you know the true story of this girl?¡±


    ¡°I only know the gist. A hundred years ago or something like that, this girl possessed an abnormal soul and turned into a monster, nearly destroying the city all by herself before turning on the school. But a legendary hero, Valius Shrale, sealed her up in a golden cocoon. He couldn¡¯t kill her, and he suffered mortal wounds in the battle, but he saved the academy and city from further harm.¡±


    ¡°Two things I will tell you now,¡± Raven replied. ¡°And I would ask that you consider them carefully before reacting. First, the story you know about the Sleeping Devil, whose real name is Sheeharu, might be false. And it is my intention to discover what really happened.¡±


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    ¡°And the second thing?¡±


    Raven turned. Dangerous eyes peered from behind his hood. ¡°I plan to wake her up.¡±


    Van stared at him, dumbfounded. Then, to Raven¡¯s surprise, he laughed. Not in a way that made him sound as if he thought Raven was joking, but rather, he laughed with resignation.


    ¡°Okay, what is this?¡± he asked. ¡°The word is already out about your challenge to the schoolmasters and what you did to Khern. In hours, you¡¯ve become a city-wide topic of discussion. And anyone with half a brain knows that making a name for yourself in any part of Fallowreyk is just asking for a visit from the Titan. Now you¡¯re telling me you plan on reviving a walking curse who destroyed half the city once upon a time?¡± He reached up and knocked on the amber capsule. ¡°Not to mention you¡¯d have to break this big egg-thing that¡¯s got her locked up, which even the Titan himself said he couldn¡¯t destroy! I mean¡­ level with me here! Who are you, Raven? If I hadn¡¯t seen what you did to Khern with my own eyes, I¡¯d have thought you were playing games to get attention.¡±


    ¡°But now you know better.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I do. But that just means I shouldn¡¯t have anything to do with you. Am I wrong?¡±


    In lieu of an answer, Raven began looking around, searching for something. In little time, he spotted what he was looking for and made his way over to the vine-strewn wall behind Sheeharu.


    ¡°This girl that you love,¡± he said, reaching into the vines. ¡°Tell me about her.¡±


    Van approached in curiosity, watching him search through the thick greenery. ¡°Uh¡­ okay. Changing the subject. Well, she¡¯s amazing. Her name is Valentine, and she¡¯s a new student to Nine Star, but I¡¯ve known her for a long time. She¡¯s incredibly smart, beautiful as a rose, and wealthier than anyone I¡¯ve ever known.¡±


    ¡°So, she¡¯s a Roespian like you?¡±


    ¡°No, she¡¯s¡­ Lamgardian. She just happens¡­ to live here. Um, what in the world are you looking for?¡±


    ¡°Ah, a girl from Reyk Lamgard,¡± Raven said. He felt the grooves embedded in the wall and began searching for the right ones. ¡°Adds to the mystery, I suppose?¡±


    ¡°I guess.¡±


    ¡°Well let me tell you something about Valentine. She wants to be with someone who is much better than you.¡±


    ¡°You know her?¡±


    ¡°No, but I don¡¯t have to. I can already tell you aren¡¯t strong enough for her. You run from challenges, even when the potential reward is great. You have intelligence and skill, yet you refuse to put them to real use, because you¡¯re mired in fear.¡±


    Raven found exactly what he was looking for, and he pushed his fingers into two specific grooves etched into the wall, that of a sword and a shield. There was a loud click, and a portion of the wall came away, revealing a stone staircase leading into a pitch-black tunnel driving deep underground. As Van looked on in amazement, Raven ripped vines away until the opening was wide enough to enter.


    He turned back to his new companion. ¡°You are a chicken, and an accomplished girl in a world that does not cater to women would never acknowledge you.¡±


    Van stepped forward, looking into the tunnel. ¡°A secret passage! How did you know about this?¡±


    ¡°You would be amazed what you can find in books.¡±


    ¡°I suppose you mean to go down there.¡±


    ¡°Yes, and you can follow me, or we can go our separate ways here and now. But there¡¯s much more at stake than you know. You asked for my help in winning the affections of the girl you love, but that will require changing your heart, not hers. Now you have been presented with an opportunity to do just that. Will you willingly follow me to adventure and danger, knowing the ultimate prize? Or will you run from it, clutching to your safety? The choice is yours.¡±


    Van stood looking into the maw of the tunnel. He finally looked at Raven. ¡°Let me ask you one question. Where does all this end?¡±


    Raven smirked. ¡°That is a superb question. And I will give you an answer.¡± He raised a hand. ¡°I am Raven Whitesong of Surlance, and I am going to kill the Titan.¡±


    ¡°Wow¡­ okay, I did not see that coming.¡± Van shook his head. But then he sighed, and a shiver ran through him. He took another glance down the tunnel and smiled. ¡°Well, I guess you need to count me in.¡±


    ¡°That was rather fast.¡±


    He shrugged. ¡°I really like her.¡±


    And without another word, Van approached the tunnel and began to descend. Raven sniffed and made to follow, but then he stopped. Turning back, his sight again fell on the girl trapped in the amber cocoon, the one called the Sleeping Devil.


    ¡°I will set you free, little one,¡± he whispered. ¡°Wait for me¡­ just a little bit longer.¡±

 Chapter 5: Rail Roespeye

    The passage was unexpectedly welcoming. When Raven first discovered the hidden passage during his studies, he had fully expected a dank and gloomy hall sunk in dilapidation and mired in spookiness. But it was nearly the opposite. At the bottom of the stairway, warm and plentiful light greeted them. The beginning of a long corridor featured a rich crimson carpet, and alabaster walls were lined with paintings and curious tapestries. It resembled the foyer of a mansion rather than the throat of a perilous cave.


    Van turned in circles, admiring their surroundings. ¡°This is crazy. All this time, this was down here?¡±


    Raven nodded. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s quite something. Very well preserved. Almost as if someone has been personally attending to its maintenance.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re saying someone hasn¡¯t?¡± He ran a finger along the smooth wall and showed him. ¡°It¡¯s squeaky clean. And where is all this light coming from? Now that I think about it, there isn¡¯t a torch or pandora to be seen, yet it¡¯s light as day down here.¡±


    ¡°There is an artifact at work in this place.¡±


    Van whistled. ¡°I¡¯ve only ever seen one or two artifacts in my lifetime.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get any ideas about taking it if you discover its whereabouts.¡±


    ¡°What, me? You offend my honor.¡±


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t bode well for you. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Raven walked at a moderate pace down the hall, and Van followed close behind, adjusting the pack he carried every now and again, but otherwise remaining silent. At times, the hall would curve or turn. At others, it branched into separate paths. But beyond that, the hall stayed exactly the same for what looked and felt like eternity. But Raven knew the way. He didn¡¯t hesitate when multiple doors of gold and jade presented themselves, offering alternative adventures if only he would stop to open them. Perhaps they could soon be explored, but tonight there was only one destination.


    The hall finally opened to an expansive sanctuary filled with equivalent light. High above, luminescent orbs surrounded a golden sphere the size of a house. Black rods sprouted from the sphere, impaling into the domed ceiling at various points. Three designs were carved into the surface of the globe, that of a sword, a shield, and an eye.


    ¡°There¡¯s the artifact,¡± Raven said.


    Van¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°It¡¯s huge!¡±


    He nodded his agreement. ¡°This is Rail Roespeye, the court of the guardian.¡±


    Van ventured out into the open space, marveling at the palatial grandeur. Raven felt the same wonder. The former stronghold of Panka surged with unbridled clout, as if authority from the Holy One took on nearly tangible form. Columns of gold and jade supported silver stanchions, and a wide fountain occupied the middle of the hall, bubbling with clear water. A few dozen separate passages lined the sanctuary, identical to the one from which they had just emerged.


    A deep echo churned through the previously silent hall as Van began to laugh out loud. Then he let out a cheery holler. ¡°This is unbelievable!¡± he shouted. The echo crashed back and forth several times. He turned to Raven, arms open wide. ¡°You could fit the whole school in this place!¡±


    Raven shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve seen bigger.¡±


    He turned his attention back to the various passages, quickly finding what he was looking for and resuming his patient pilgrimage. Van fell behind for a moment, still awed by their surroundings, before catching up.


    ¡°Hey, do we have to move so fast?¡± he asked. ¡°This is seriously incredible. There¡¯s so much I want to explore down here.¡±


    ¡°Tell me about yourself,¡± Raven said.


    He sighed. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going to be honest. Your one-eighties are going to get old real fast. If you don¡¯t want to answer a question, just say so.¡±


    Raven stopped and faced him. Van also stopped, looking uncertain. ¡°We don¡¯t have time to explore right now,¡± Raven said. ¡°I have a destination in mind that I would like to reach tonight.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough.¡±


    Raven reached into his robes and produced two flat packages wrapped in paper. He ripped them open and handed one to Van.


    He looked at it blankly. ¡°A chocolate bar?¡±


    Raven took a bite of his. ¡°It¡¯s very good.¡±


    Van blinked several times. He looked down at the large slab before taking a bite.


    ¡°Wow¡­ this is good.¡±


    ¡°I wish I could have some,¡± Rue whispered.


    ¡°Now, tell me about yourself,¡± Raven said, taking another bite. ¡°Your past, your background, your goals and dreams. It¡¯s important if I am to help you win Valentine.¡±


    He resumed his trek and Van quickly followed, coming alongside him. ¡°There¡¯s not much to tell. My father is a groundskeeper to the wealthy. Currently, our family manages Moriland Manor in Snow River Park, but when I was a boy, we kept the summer residence of the Chessex family. That was when I first saw her.¡±


    ¡°I am familiar with Hershel Chessex. So, you¡¯ve set your eyes on his daughter? Very bold, indeed.¡±


    Van scratched his cheek, smiling apologetically. ¡°Bold¡­ or stupid. It¡¯s a thin line dividing the two. But I can¡¯t help it.¡±


    ¡°She knows you?¡±


    ¡°Doubtful. I only spoke to her a few times when we were younger, but I remember watching her. She was always in her room, and I used to sneak away at night just so I could look at her. At first, it was because I felt bad. She had classic Lamgard Division.¡±


    Raven looked at him, incredulous. ¡°How old was she?¡±


    ¡°Just ten. I know. Far too early. Years before it happens to even the earliest of them. She wasn¡¯t nearly strong enough, and it assaulted her brain. The doctors were sure she wouldn¡¯t make it. Every week, it was the same prognosis. ¡®She¡¯ll be dead in a week.¡¯ But she kept surviving, hanging on by the scrape of her teeth. Days went by, then weeks, but she never gave up.¡±


    Van lifted his scarf, covering his mouth. His eyes told Raven everything. He had wanted to help her but couldn¡¯t. It tortured him, even now.


    ¡°Somehow¡­ Valentine made it. She survived. But then, it happened. I don¡¯t know why anyone was surprised.¡±


    Raven hummed in interest. ¡°She split.¡±


    Van nodded. ¡°Two personalities came alive inside her, fighting for control. She survived the Division and obtained her gift, and her body recovered. But her mind broke, as sometimes happens to even the best of them. A tragedy, worse than what was supposed to occur. Worse than death even.¡±


    ¡°A true statement,¡± Raven replied, finishing his chocolate. ¡°I saw a Lamgardian once with the splits. He was a brain-dead stump, broken in every sense. It¡¯s not just that their minds break. In nearly every case recorded, the two personalities are complete opposites, and they fight for control of the mind in a short lifetime of struggle.¡±


    ¡°A struggle that can never be won, because the two personalities are halves of a whole,¡± Van said. ¡°One can¡¯t survive without the other. But Valentine rose above it. She somehow controlled both sides of herself. At least enough to keep her sanity. Some people, myself included, think it was because her personalities kept one thing in common, and that allowed them to form something of a truce.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Raven interrupted. ¡°This intrigues me. Are you saying she doesn¡¯t struggle?¡±


    ¡°Oh, she struggles alright. Don¡¯t misunderstand. Valentine struggles all the time. It¡¯s disconcerting to watch. Her personalities still fight against each other, and the visible switch between them is disturbing. But it never consumes her. And that¡¯s what makes her so amazing. She enrolled at Nine Star last season, and she¡¯s already the top ranked student. Completely brilliant.¡±


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Raven smirked. ¡°I look forward to meeting her. It should be interesting to watch her reaction when she realizes she won¡¯t be the number one student anymore.¡±


    Van laughed. ¡°You sure are cocky. I guess you have reason to be. But you¡¯re about to meet your match. She doesn¡¯t lay down for anyone. And you can say she¡¯s the reason I am who I am today.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°After her siblings died and she endured the splits, Valentine stopped visiting from Lamgard. She went home and stayed for good. It drove me crazy. That¡¯s when I started hunting for information about her. In time, my contacts and methods of obtaining news got better. Eventually, very little escaped my ears. It was all because of her. I just wanted to know what happened to her, and I¡¯ve been listening ever since, even when her family started visiting again in preparation for her schooling.¡±


    Raven hummed. ¡°I did wonder how you learned things so fast. So, you¡¯re an info broker. Impressive.¡±


    ¡°Your turn.¡±


    ¡°My turn?¡±


    Van finished his own chocolate bar, licking his fingers one-by-one. ¡°I told you about myself. Now it¡¯s your turn.¡±


    ¡°You talked about your girlfriend most of the time.¡±


    ¡°Do me a favor. Don¡¯t call her that when you meet her. I¡¯m gonna go out on a limb and say it would dampen my chances.¡±


    ¡°My origins and past, I shall keep to myself,¡± Raven said. ¡°Trust me when I say, there is no profit in learning anything about it. But I can tell you about my present self. I am from Reyk Surlance, as you already know, but I am a Rogue. I know this because I have taken a drink from all seven wells, and received no Hydra. And you may sometimes see me talking to what appears to be no one. But in truth, I am talking to my pandora.¡±


    ¡°You talk¡­ to your cards?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call them cards. Pandora are the pure essence of human life. Therefore, each one retains the spirit of the one from whom it was formed. The strongest pandora, those with high-level souls, can speak to those who are able to listen. I can converse with any of these souls, Class Seven or higher.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not a gift of any of the seven Reyks,¡± Van said exhaustedly. ¡°I¡¯ve never even heard of anything like that, and that¡¯s saying something. And if you¡¯re a Drymouth, how can you even use your gift? How are you able to use Hydra? Where do you drink from? None of what you¡¯re saying should be possible without a pool.¡±


    ¡°I have never been given power from a pool. But I can use Hydra, as you have witnessed. If you want to know how this is accomplished, you will have your answer later tonight.¡±


    Raven suddenly halted, forcing Van to swing to the side to keep from colliding. He looked at a door to their left with a hardened stare, lowering his hood. This was not right. The door looked like all the others, golden and inlaid with jade. But he didn¡¯t know this door, and unlike the others, this door featured a strange mark above the knob. A crude black triangle sketched with ink and marked within by a red, pin-point dot.


    ¡°What is it? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°This door is different,¡± Raven replied vaguely. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ unexpected.¡±


    Van immediately pointed to the mark. ¡°That¡¯s new.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± He frowned. ¡°New and unfamiliar.¡±


    ¡°Really? Why do I feel like I¡¯ve seen it before?¡±


    While Van racked his brain, Raven kneeled to look at the door closer. He had memorized every corridor, every room, every entrance in Rail Roespeye. From detailed maps to secondhand accounts, he had compiled all available sources both known and unknown to mankind. Then, using pandora and complex mathematic algorithms to eliminate false information, he had recreated the true map and committed it to memory. Even though this was his first visit, Raven had been confident he knew every nook and cranny of the Rail. What¡¯s more, a strange feeling emanated from within, reaching sinewy fingers deep inside his heart.


    ¡°Raven, let¡¯s leave,¡± Rue whispered fearfully. ¡°I don¡¯t like this place. Please, let¡¯s leave.¡±


    Raven nodded and continued on, but he made a mental note to revisit that door soon. Was it possible someone had gained entrance to the Rail and been able to construct a room beyond the guardian¡¯s eye? He smirked as they came to yet another turn in the hallway. Maybe he would ask Panka directly.


    Van turned the corner, but Raven stopped, looking at the unassuming corner wall. A painting adorned each side, small and similar to the multitude of sophomoric works filling the halls.


    When Van realized Raven wasn¡¯t following, he backtracked and joined him to stare at the corner. ¡°What is it?¡± he asked excitedly. ¡°Another secret passage?¡±


    ¡°The secret passage,¡± he replied. ¡°Look at the paintings closely, Vanyard. Tell me what you see.¡±


    ¡°Alright listen here, pint-size,¡± Van drawled, draping an arm over Raven¡¯s shoulder and leaning in close to leer at him. ¡°The name may be Vanyard, but nobody calls me that but my mother. And even then, I¡¯m not the biggest fan. Just call me Van.¡±


    Raven¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°I can destroy you.¡±


    ¡°I can pick you up with one arm.¡±


    They stared at each other unblinking. Then Raven smirked. ¡°Tell me what you see in the paintings, Van.¡±


    He nodded in satisfaction. Taking his arm off Raven¡¯s shoulder, he leaned forward, squinting his eyes at the artwork like an experienced curator. The painting on the left featured four gentlemen riding horses. They rode at a brisk pace, chasing after running dogs that were presumably on the hunt for some unknown bushy-tailed quarry. The painting on the right consisted of a bowl of fruit on a table. Van described the scenes to Raven just how he saw them.


    ¡°You must open your eyes,¡± Raven said, putting a hand on the wall. ¡°To truly learn the secrets of Nine Star Academy, you must understand the guardian of Roespeye. Panka, the great charlatan, is always looking for ways to play tricks on students and teachers alike, even dangerous ones. Knowing this, look again at the paintings and tell me what you see.¡±


    Van bobbed his head as if to say, ¡°Sounds interesting¡± and leaned in again, taking the perusal seriously this time. Starting with the painting of the hunters, his gaze scanned the canvas. After a few moments, he burst into laughter.


    ¡°Oh, how funny,¡± he said, pointing. ¡°There¡¯s a cat running with the hunting dogs.¡±


    ¡°Truly ridiculous,¡± Raven commented.


    Van took to examining the painting of the fruit and quickly noticed the quirk. ¡°Wow. I didn¡¯t even see the purple banana. It¡¯s right there, dead-center.¡±


    ¡°You had help,¡± a voice spoke in the emptiness of the halls.


    Van jumped in surprise and looked around wildly, trying to find the source.


    ¡°Indeed he had a great amount of assistance from the short lad,¡± another voice spoke. ¡°He should not be allowed to enter.¡±


    Raven folded his arms, still facing the corner. ¡°Oh, is there a rule book about this sort of thing?¡± he said. ¡°If so, I¡¯d love to see it.¡±


    Van came beside him and gasped when he saw what Raven already knew would happen. The horse riders in the painting were moving, their horses turned to face them. The dogs faded from view, and a wind fluttered the grasses and the riders¡¯ coats in short, blustery waves.


    ¡°Holy wild!¡± Van exclaimed, moving in closer. ¡°What kind of Hydra is that? Is this a pandora at work?¡± He tried to look behind the frame.


    One of the riders with a red moustache and bowler hat nodded to his companions. ¡°I see the lad¡¯s point. I do. But even so¡­ that other one had help. Yes he did.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s right! There was only one rule. And they solved the mystery,¡± another black-haired rider replied with a wave of his painted finger.


    ¡°Flawless logic, Pemberton. Flawless to the letter.¡±


    Grunts and hums went through the four gentlemen. Then, the corner of the wall split with a loud crack, and the walls parted aside, leaving Van without an answer. The singular space widened greatly, revealing an incredibly wide stone staircase with smooth, shallow steps and ivory banisters.


    The first observation to be made was the sound: rushing water, filling the ears so fully the sensation might drown them. As if dropped through a portal into a different world, the auricular sensation was immediate and resounding. Yet, at the same time, it wasn¡¯t raucous enough to drown out Van¡¯s voice as he whistled and descended a few steps.


    They had found another immense place, but far different than the court they vacated. This place was more like a cavern, carved from rock into a deep amphitheater below ground. The stairs surrounded the space, descending into a deep pit. And in the dead center, a single waterfall plunged into the void, dwarfed by the immense space, yet defining the whole stadium at the same time. It was like a pillar of misty water, as the beginning and the end both could not be seen. And the stairs were like seats for a million people to come and watch it plunge, if only anyone else knew it existed.


    ¡°Are we at the source of Panka¡¯s Well?¡± Van asked, whirling to look at Raven.


    ¡°You could say that,¡± he replied. ¡°Though, in this case, the source is actually from the sky. But the Hydra comes from this place.¡±


    ¡°Amazing,¡± he said. He cupped his hands in front of his mouth. ¡°AMAZING!¡± he shouted. The sounds of water negated any possible echo. He looked at Raven again, who observed quietly from the higher step.


    ¡°I am so glad I followed you down here,¡± Van said with awe, turning in place.


    From somewhere in the abyss, a new noise met their ears, deep and creaky.


    ¡°Is that¡­ laughter?¡± Van asked.


    Raven smirked. ¡°Uh oh.¡±


    ¡°Uh oh?¡± he repeated. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Suddenly, a massive roar preceded a wave of water crashing over him. The abrupt waterfall from nowhere consumed them in a direct crash from above before expanding to pour over everything in sight. In moments, Van was nearly drowning, plunged into an upside-down sea.


    ¡°Raven!¡± Van blubbered desperately through the torrent. He raised his hands to keep the water out of his face, but it was everywhere. ¡°What is this? RAVEN!¡±


    He stumbled and collapsed on the step as the water increased in its torrent. Curling up into a ball, he did is best to cover his mouth, but it was seeping through. He coughed violently and started to black out. Then, a new sensation hit him. A gap in the water opened by his face, and he gulped in the fresh air. The gap twisted into a funnel that widened, curling over his body.


    In the expanding space, Van was met with a startling sight. On the step above him, Raven sat on what appeared to be a throne of ice. Three pandora rotated around them in dizzying circles, blazing with red fire. And he was bone dry. His elbow lay on the arm rest, with his temple propped against his knuckle, and he smiled with amusement as he stared into the roaring tornado of water that surrounded them.


    Raven looked down at Van and reached to offer his hand. ¡°Need help?¡±


    ¡°I am not so glad I followed you down here!¡± Van spat, taking his hand and pulling himself up.


    ¡°You¡¯re not having fun?¡±


    Van wiped his face and shook his body, but he was soaked to the bone. ¡°No.¡±


    In that moment, the laughter returned, this time loud and obnoxious, as if it was made right in their ears. ¡°Well, who invited you to the party?¡± a voice asked.


    They both looked as the water still swirling about collected high above them. The water churned and frothed, climbing up to form a pyramid of water. And from the surging waves, something emerged. A body, human in form but far more massive, crashed out of the surface. Instead of legs, water merely poured from the torso, forming a snake-like figure. But his upper body was like that of an old man¡¯s. Bald and wrinkled, he still possessed the muscle of a formerly stout warrior. A gray beard ran down his chest before curling back up to sling over his shoulder. He held a trident with strange baubles in one hand, and his mouth was curled into a rascally, gray-toothed grin.


    ¡°Wh-what is that?¡± Van asked, stepping closer to Raven.


    ¡°That¡­¡± Raven replied. ¡°¡­is the Guardian of Reyk Roespeye.¡±

 Chapter 6: The Trickster

    ¡°Panka?¡± Van nearly shouted. ¡°Thee Panka?¡±


    The snake-like persona wriggled, and Panka cackled in glee, pointing at Van. ¡°I got you! I got you so good!¡±


    Van¡¯s jaw fell in disgust, water still trickling from his chin. ¡°That was supposed to be a prank? I could have died!¡±


    Raven smirked, looking up at the guardian in amusement. ¡°A truly sneaky victory, Lord Panka.¡±


    Panka frowned. ¡°You saw through it. I don¡¯t know if I like you. You don¡¯t seem like much fun.¡±


    The pandora still encircling Raven in a protective halo slowed their pace. The fire extinguished, and the cards drifted into his hand. He was about to stow them away in his sleeves, when the water guardian shouted.


    ¡°Wait!¡±


    He slithered down, his strange water snake body sloshing as he did so. He closely examined the three pandora in Raven¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Oh! Oh, my dear friends.¡± He frowned in deep sadness and reached out his hand. Raven thought maybe he saw a tear come to the guardian¡¯s eye. He betrayed his instincts and handed the cards over. Panka took them and cradled them close to his body, like a mother to her child.


    In the distraction, Van sidled up to Raven, sitting on the broad arm rest. ¡°This is the strangest thing I¡¯ve ever seen in my life,¡± he said, wiping his face. ¡°Is that really Panka? Am I dreaming?¡±


    Raven bowed his head, smiling. ¡°I said your partnership with me would be a true adventure. Do you believe it now?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still hard. This is just so unreal.¡±


    ¡°What is unreal about it? You have accepted the reality of the magic of Panka¡¯s pool, but you did not believe in Panka himself? Of course he is real, just as the Holy One is real and blesses those who serve Him. Panka is one of the seven guardians, and it was imperative I found him tonight.¡±


    ¡°Nine guardians,¡± Panka corrected sadly, drifting back to Raven.


    ¡°Nine?¡± he repeated, tilting his head. ¡°There are seven wells, are there not?¡±


    ¡°Now there are seven. Two of the pools were lost long ago.¡± Panka handed him back the three pandora. ¡°Do you know what you have there, young new student of mine?¡±


    Raven held up the three cards. ¡°Charles Avante, Soro deSoto, and Allentine Flores.¡±


    Panka¡¯s cheer returned a bit. ¡°You know their human names?¡±


    ¡°I do. And it took me great pains to bring them together again. They were separated for so long.¡± Raven raised his hand, and the three cards floated out to hover before them. They rotated in place, glowing. ¡°Glass Blower, Ice Token, and Wind Ruby. These are the names the world assigned to them when their souls were converted into barbaric tools, but I see the men they used to be. Class Fives, each of them, and truly unique, fascinating souls. But together, they are even more. Something I¡¯ve never seen duplicated.¡±


    Panka chuckled, scratching his beard. The baubles on his trident rattled with a childlike charm. ¡°They were students of my school. Real troublemakers. Ah, how I miss hearing them talk about their schemes. I was so proud.¡±


    Sadness conquered the guardian again, and he sighed deeply. ¡°When I heard they died by the Titan¡¯s hand¡­ it hit me hard.¡± Panka slammed a massive hand on the stairwell, and water burst from the impact, spraying in a wide arc. ¡°But when I learned their pandora were separated from each other¡­ well I just didn¡¯t know what to do with myself. No justice anymore! That damned Titan!¡±


    Raven smiled devilishly, crossing his legs. ¡°Well then, how about we get to business.¡±


    Panka harrumphed, and an adult expression came over him for the first time before he roared in laughter. The cave shook with clout. ¡°You are an imp, but what could you offer me, pale one? I have interest only in my students and playing games with them.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s precisely why I¡¯ve come. You see, I would like to play a prank¡­ on the Titan.¡±


    Before that moment, the picture of a mischievous sparkle in an ancient immortal¡¯s eye could only have been imagined, and Raven knew he would never be able to describe it, despite his best effort. Glee rose up in the guardian¡¯s face, alighting it with a scorch that rivaled the sun. His mouth widened into a devil¡¯s crescent, and he lowered himself to look at Raven.


    ¡°What did you have in mind?¡± he asked, twirling his trident.


    ¡°You know who I am. Your ear never leaves the school, so you know of my challenge to the masters of Nine Star.¡±


    Panka grunted his approval. ¡°Watched the whole thing once my Vark was called. The look on Czeslaw¡¯s face was priceless.¡±


    ¡°The Titan will hear of this in a matter of days, if he hasn¡¯t already.¡±


    ¡°He has better ears than even me.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡± Raven leaned forward. ¡°Which is why he will also know about your treasure. The prize for solving your great puzzle.¡±


    Panka propped his elbow on the steps, placing his head in his hand. He smiled with amusement. ¡°He might think he knows.¡±


    ¡°Wait, there¡¯s really a treasure if you solve the riddle?¡± Van said, getting up. ¡°No one really knew for sure what would happen if anyone solved Panka¡¯s¡­ er, I mean¡­ your puzzle. Obviously, no one¡¯s ever done it before.¡±


    Raven leaned back again. ¡°The Titan doesn¡¯t know the true prize¡­ but I do. And that is how I¡¯m going to trick him.¡±


    ¡°I see it now,¡± Panka said with a disappointed and condescending tone. ¡°You came here to make a deal. I assume you want me to help you solve my riddle. Well you can forget it.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t need help there. But you are right. I did come here to negotiate.¡±


    The water guardian scratched his beard. ¡°I do want to play a trick on the Titan. But if you don¡¯t need help with my riddle, what is it you want?¡±


    ¡°Two things. The first is access to your tower. I need a place to work while I attend school, away from the prying eyes of the masters.¡±


    Panka held up his hand. ¡°Before you move on to your second request, I assume you have something to offer me in return?¡±


    Raven cocked his head. ¡°Isn¡¯t playing a prank on the Titan good enough?¡±


    ¡°Not nearly, pale one.¡± He extended his open hand. ¡°You need me to pull this off, which is why you are here. And if that¡¯s the case, then we are partners in this little game. So, if you want my tower, what will you give me?¡±


    Raven¡¯s smile washed away, and his eyes narrowed. ¡°How about the Titan¡¯s death?¡±


    ¡°Ahhh, and there it is. I knew I sensed something dark about you.¡±


    Panka rose up again, taking his trident and moving back. He wandered to and fro, deep in thought. In the conversation¡¯s pause, the sound of the waterfall seemed to thunder anew. Raven tapped his fingers on the icy arm of his chair impatiently. He needed Panka¡¯s cooperation for his plan to succeed.


    ¡°Tell him about your other proposal,¡± Rue whispered. ¡°It will sway him.¡±


    Stolen story; please report.


    Raven hummed. An excellent idea.


    ¡°Lord Panka, before you say anything more, allow me to tell you about the other token I can offer,¡± he said quickly. ¡°It will entice you more than the Titan¡¯s death.¡±


    ¡°Another game?¡± he replied.


    ¡°No. A much more serious offer. One I know you have sought for a long time.¡±


    ¡°And what is that?¡±


    ¡°I can rescue Sheeharu.¡±


    The moment the words left his lips, a vast and haunting silence filled the space. Raven and Van watched as the waterfall ceased, reduced to a mere trickle in moments. And Panka was left alone to float before them, trident limp at his side, and a grave expression filling the void that joviality left behind when it abandoned his face. And then, something even more shocking happened. The guardian¡¯s bottom lip began to tremble. His bearded chin twitched, and a sparkling trickle fell from his eye.


    ¡°Sheeharu¡­¡± he whispered.


    Raven nodded, trying not to seem uncertain about whether or not he made the right decision. He certainly never expected to see the guardian reduced to tears. Then, Panka pointed his trident at them. Van ducked behind the ice throne, and Raven gripped the arm rests. A massive roar shook the hall as the waterfall returned twice as powerful as before. And the water soared toward them in a furious drive. Before they could act, the torrent reached them, but instead of crushing their bodies, Panka blocked the flow.


    Raven exhaled, watching as the bedless river swirled around the guardian, flowing up his arm and sinking into his trident. The water was absorbed completely into the staff. Then, a concentrated stream burst from the three prongs, glowing fantastically. Calmer liquid pooled into an oval plate that floated between them like a mirror. And from the mirror, an image formed.


    A young girl strode happily down a cobbled lane, carrying a basket of bread.


    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s the Sleeping Devil,¡± Van exclaimed, coming back out. ¡°Is this the same magic as the painting?¡± He reached his hand out, touching the surface of the mirror. The water stirred, sending ripples through the moving image.


    ¡°A sleeping devil she is not,¡± Raven replied. ¡°Sheeharu was nothing but an innocent child¡­ until the day she wasn¡¯t.¡±


    The guardian frowned deeply, face hardened to stone. ¡°She was precious to me. Something happened to little Sheeharu that has troubled me greatly since that day.¡± He looked down at Raven. ¡°Can you truly save her?¡±


    Raven¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Tell me everything you know. If you agree to my terms, then you have my word Sheeharu will smile again.¡±


    ¡°You have asked me for my tower. What is the second request?¡±


    ¡°Hydra¡­ at the right time. I don¡¯t bear this scar on my head for nothing. I may not require it in the end, but¡­ I¡¯m simply making preparations.¡±


    Panka smiled back, but it lacked all levity. ¡°Then we have an agreement. Heaven help you if you fail to keep your promise.¡± He swung his trident wide, baubles bouncing. The mirror remained floating between them. ¡°There is only one thing I am certain of. And it haunts me, even now. The way Sheeharu turned on the city was something I had never seen before, and something I never want to see again.¡±


    ¡°Start from the beginning.¡±


    ¡°Sheeharu Rendan was special. Born on the road from Reyk Lamgard to the Gray Light Citadel, she couldn¡¯t have come from more humble origins. Her parents were bakers and former students of my school. They lived in poverty, always struggling to make ends meet, but they were a happy family, and Sheeharu smiled even on the worst of days.¡± Panka rubbed his face heavily. ¡°She was a light in a dark world. I couldn¡¯t wait until she enrolled for school.¡±


    ¡°Why was she special?¡± Van asked, sitting back down on the arm of Raven¡¯s ice throne.


    ¡°While she herself possessed a soul deep with Hydra, this little girl was unaffected by other Hydra. It wasn¡¯t just that she was a Drymouth. Rather, the waters of worldly magic possessed no place in her life and had no effect on her body, mind or soul. Curses were useless, and blessings faded before her presence. No matter the strength of pandora, seal or artifact, Hydra could never touch her.¡±


    Van scratched his face. ¡°But, wasn¡¯t Hydra what cursed her in the end?¡±


    Panka frowned and jabbed his trident again. The image of the strolling girl changed, and the new picture shocked them. A ruined city appeared now, buildings reduced to rubble, and dead bodies strewn everywhere. And in the middle of an immense crater, a halo of wicked light shone. The image moved in closer, and at the center of the light, Sheeharu glowed. Her skin was whiter than the falling snow, yet her body was covered in shadows, and her eyes glowed vivid red and green. Pulses of destructive Hydra crashed out from her body in waves, ripping through the remaining structures of old Reyk Roespeye as if they were constructed from straw. She slowly walked through the city, crushing everything.


    ¡°This is your Sleeping Devil,¡± Panka replied. ¡°This is what became of her, the day the city was nearly reduced to ruin on account of this little girl. One ordinary day, on a fine winter afternoon, she disappeared from my wide view. Snatched in a moment. A week later, she reappeared in Roespeye like this, and obliterated all in her path. A monster. There was no sign¡­ no warning. She just became the devil incarnate during an otherwise forgettable stretch of time.¡±


    ¡°Then it¡¯s all true.¡± Van dragged both hands down his face, shaking his head in disbelief. ¡°I think I need to be the one to ask the pertinent question here. Regardless of what she was like before this happened, why on earth would we want to release her and chance this happening again?¡±


    ¡°Something did this to her!¡± Panka roared, making Van flinch. ¡°This didn¡¯t just happen on its own!¡±


    ¡°And what was that?¡±


    ¡°Her soul was ripped from her body!¡± Panka roared all the more. Waters hurled out from his body in waves of force, and he slammed his trident on the staircase. ¡°WHILE SHE WAS ALIVE! This is what happens when a human being loses her soul while still alive. When the image of the Holy One is stripped of its spiritual nature. The body¡¯s Hydra is released without control. And Sheeharu¡¯s was so potent, it wrecked my city. To this day, it makes me FURIOUS!¡±


    ¡°You need to calm down,¡± Raven chided.


    Van¡¯s eyes bugged out in disbelief, and he quickly looked up at the guardian. Panka gritted his teeth, eyeing Raven like a petulant child.


    ¡°I know these things,¡± Raven continued. ¡°I did not come here to speculate about the Sleeping Devil¡¯s origins and circumstances. I came to free that young child trapped in the golden egg, and restore her to health and happiness. I came here to solve the greatest puzzle of all. But to do that, I need your help. So, please calm yourself and tell me what I need to know.¡±


    Panka stared daggers at him for a moment before sighing exhaustedly.


    ¡°Yes, you are right.¡± He laughed. ¡°It¡¯s been an eternity since a human has spoken to me this way.¡± He lowered himself to Raven¡¯s level. ¡°But I guess it turns out I needed it. Only Sheeharu is important. What do you need to know?¡±


    Raven¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Tell me about Valius Shrale.¡±


    ¡°The hero who saved the city, eh?¡± Panka crossed his arms, grumbling. ¡°Well, the first thing I¡¯ll tell you is that I didn¡¯t like him much.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°He was too clever. He knew how to hide things from me. Did you see the extra door in my halls? He did that. And I can¡¯t even get in!¡±


    ¡°But he did save the city from Sheeharu, right?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°I suppose,¡± he mumbled. ¡°When Sheeharu came close to the school after her attack on the city, Shrale appeared suddenly and confronted her before she could reach it. And he did indeed use a unique magic to seal her up in the cocoon. He died a short time later after suffering immense wounds. So, I concede he was a true hero. But I stand by my opinion of the man while he was alive.¡±


    ¡°But Shrale had a connection to Sheeharu before the attack, didn¡¯t he?¡± Raven asked.


    Panka¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°How could you possibly know that?¡±


    ¡°I spoke to Master Hintilius Forge, the economics teacher here at Nine Star while Shrale was alive. He revealed this to me.¡±


    ¡°Forge died long before you were born.¡±


    Raven stared Panka in the eyes. ¡°Indeed.¡±


    Van and Panka glanced at each other, before turning their attention back to Raven. Mumbling under his breath again, Panka floated back and continued. ¡°Shrale was the one who discovered Sheeharu and her strange soul. He persuaded her parents to become her personal tutor.¡±


    ¡°Her tutor?¡± Raven repeated. He folded his arms. ¡°This I did not know. And it troubles me.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Van asked. ¡°She was obviously special. And Lord Panka just said she was to be enrolled at Nine Star.¡±


    ¡°Why would Shrale concern himself with a little girl who could never use Hydra? What did he have to gain? From my conversation with Master Forge, I learned that Shrale never doted on Sheeharu or treated her special. He was simply seen talking with her from time to time. In the courtyard or market. Forge never thought anything of it. But if Shrale was her tutor, that meant they must have spent a considerable amount of time together.¡±


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Panka asked.


    ¡°Nothing at the moment,¡± he deferred, unwilling to say anything more. ¡°I need time to think on this new information. Sheeharu¡¯s transformation into a monster wasn¡¯t a random occurrence. Something specific happened to her. Something stole her soul away. I am sure of it. And if I can learn what really happened, I can save her. Lord Panka, you have my word ¨C Sheeharu¡¯s eyes will see the snow of Roespeye once more.¡±


    Panka¡¯s body rose above them, dominant in stature. Panka the troublemaker was replaced by Panka the divine, and all folly was abandoned.


    ¡°You are intelligent, and full of understanding beyond your years, Raven Whitesong.¡± He cast his trident aside in a sweeping arc. ¡°Though I am troubled by your sudden presence here, I will cling to your declaration of devotion to the Holy One. For I serve Him as well. We have an accord.¡±


    His trident pointed to a light that suddenly appeared a distance away from their position on the staircase. It was another passage, previously hidden.


    ¡°You are granted possession of my tower, to use as long as you like. You and Vanyard and anyone else you deem worthy of the secret. But know this¡­¡± He stared down at them gravely. ¡°The task of killing the Titan has been taken by many. And none have survived it. I wish to see the Titan dead, though I fear for the one who takes up the mantle to see it done, especially one of my dear students. You have a long road ahead of you, and I wonder whether or not you truly understand the task with which you burden your own neck.¡±


    Raven and Van stood, and the throne of ice crumbled at their feet.


    ¡°My vengeance against the Thief of Life cannot be compared, for I have destined myself for this single cause.¡± Raven raised a fist at the guardian of Roespeye. ¡°I will crush the Titan with my own hands, and make him wish he had never taken up the title to which he so desperately cleaves. The blood of many will cry out, aiding me in this pursuit¡­ and I shall answer all of them.¡±

 Chapter 7: Pankas Tower

    Rook Czeslaw collapsed into a plush armchair with an exhausted grunt.  Drops of beer slipped from his glass, splashing his robes. His bearded face drooped with disgust. He gulped down half the goblet, then set it aside on a table. Whiskers bristled as he remembered their encounter with Whitesong.


    ¡°What do we even make of this?¡± he growled.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like Nine Star hasn¡¯t seen its share of geniuses over the centuries,¡± Fanny Fyre replied as she entered the masters¡¯ lounge. She took off her black school robe, placing it on a hook beside the door. ¡°This is just the latest one.¡±


    The lounge featured all the comforts a teacher of the academy could desire. Comfortable furniture sat upon a lavish crimson rug. A rack of liquors, wines and cigars was mounted on the wall beside a bell that could be rung to call for food or other items. Portraits of stately former headmasters decorated the stone walls. A pandora was at work cleaning the room. The card wandered about on its own, sucking up dust or trash with powerful force and depositing it into nearby trash bins. Another pandora sat in a nearby pedestal, glowing as it prevented insects or spiders from crawling in through open windows or crevices.


    Fanny touched another nearby pandora pedestal. The card ignited, providing more light to the lounge. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve been waiting for something like this,¡± she continued, pouring herself some wine from a decanter. Her tongue stuck out with zeal. ¡°It¡¯s exactly what our school needs.¡±


    ¡°Wrong,¡± Selim Forir interjected.


    Fyre and Czeslaw looked to the corner of the room. Forir stood gazing out of one of the large open windows. His thick eyebrows were still heavily furrowed, and his hands were clasped behind his back. His red bird sat silently on his shoulder.


    ¡°This¡­ is a disaster,¡± he said in his incredibly deep voice, looking at Fyre.


    ¡°Oh c¡¯mon, Selim,¡± she replied, settling into a sofa. She absentmindedly pulled a deck of cards from her pocket and began to shuffle them. ¡°Nothing good ever happens here.¡±


    Forir turned. ¡°You¡¯ve never seen the Titan, have you?¡± His bird shrilled.


    She put on a bored face. ¡°Here we go again.¡±


    Czeslaw harrumphed at her.


    ¡°One day, Fanny. One day you will lay eyes on him.¡± Forir turned back to look out the window. ¡°And your lackadaisical nature about the ruler will be gone. Like the yellow fire of Lamgard¡¯s mountain, realization will shower you in a moment. One day¡­ he will stand before you. And you will shudder. His presence will crush you, and you will only hope that he does not kill you. That he does not strip the very life from your body and snatch your soul away. Or worse, take the soul of someone you love right before your eyes. You can be apathetic about many things, but heed my advice. The Titan owns this world, and because of this student¡¯s actions, his gaze might just focus back on Roespeye.¡±


    ¡°And then it¡¯s hell to pay,¡± Czeslaw said.


    Fyre frowned, slumping in the couch. ¡°What good is it to cower?¡± she said beneath her breath.


    ¡°What was that?¡±


    She sat up straighter. ¡°I¡¯m not an idiot, okay. I know what there is to fear. He scares me, ever since I was a little girl. But what good does it do me to live out that fear? The Titan kills who he wants, right? He wanders the land, killing the strongest and collecting their souls. I know what he is. We all do. But I can¡¯t do anything about it. No one can. And no one can hide from him. So what options do I have? I can either cower or not let it affect me.¡±


    She sighed heavily. ¡°I think that¡¯s why I liked Raven so much. He doesn¡¯t give a pile of crap about the Titan. It was like he was daring the man to come find him, just like he was daring us to reject him from the school. And we flinched, like we always do.¡±


    Czeslaw slammed his goblet on the table. ¡°It must be a world of rainbows and butterflies in that head of yours, Fanny. But we¡¯re talking about peoples¡¯ lives here. It¡¯s been ten years since the Titan has come to Roespeye. Ten years. No people slaughtered in a public spectacle. No bloody streets. We¡¯ve been ignored. That¡¯s success. That¡¯s victory in this world of madness. And some runty brat might have just ruined it. For what?¡±


    Fyre folded her arms. No reply issued forth.


    Czeslaw nodded triumphantly. ¡°Exactly. For nothing. You don¡¯t gamble with peoples¡¯ lives. Whitesong is a circus this city doesn¡¯t need, and I¡¯m going to do everything in my power to see that boy expelled. I still can¡¯t believe Panka didn¡¯t do it himself after what he did to that boy. Khern Davies nearly died.¡±


    ¡°The guardian¡¯s judgment is absolute. And his orb told us Raven¡¯s attack was in self-defense. We must accept it.¡±


    ¡°Regardless, I will be watching him¡­ very close, and if he so much as breathes funny, I¡¯ll put him back on a cart back to Surlance myself.¡±


    Fyre snorted. ¡°As if you could. That kid has real power. He made a fool out of you, Rook. And that¡¯s what¡¯s really got you all hot.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡± Forir said, bowing his head. Again, the other two masters quieted as they looked at him. ¡°Raven Whitesong is indeed powerful. I witnessed his strength myself, and it is beyond either of you. He somehow possesses a wealth of pandora and wields at least one Class Eight, just as he told us. It seems to manipulate gravitational push in some way.¡±


    ¡°He must have stolen it,¡± Czeslaw growled. ¡°And he can use Hydra, which means he has a pool and refused to reveal which one. That makes him a liar, as well as a thief and near-murderer. I hate everything about this poisonous brat. He¡¯s going to ruin this city. Mark my words.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Fyre shot back. ¡°But I¡¯m not interested in making an enemy out of something I don¡¯t understand. I want the truth. I want to know who he is and what he¡¯s really after. Something deeper is happening here, and I¡¯m going to be part of it¡­¡± She looked Forir in the eyes. ¡°¡­even if it means I face the Titan.¡±


    ¡°You will get your chance,¡± Forir replied. His cardinal chirped with a sad tone. ¡°We have a long year ahead of us now. One year to discover Whitesong¡¯s true intentions. One year to go about our business and teach the students what we can. And one year to keep our eyes and ears open for any schemes against our proud school. I am content knowing the Holy One and his faithful guardian Panka are on our side, even if the Titan¡¯s eyes are set upon us.¡±


    Czeslaw groaned. ¡°Normally that makes me feel better, but after seeing what that boy did to our school in just one day¡­ I have a sick feeling in my stomach that won¡¯t go away.¡±


    *                 *                 *


    Raven and Van steadily climbed the spiraling stone staircase. Raven pushed on with zeal, eager to discover his new place of study. Van, on the other hand, labored under the weight of Raven¡¯s large pack, and he struggled to keep up as the stairs continued to climb without seeming end.


    ¡°Hold on,¡± he finally gasped, pulling up and clutching to his side. ¡°Where on earth does this lead? It feels like we must be a mile above ground by now. And I know that isn¡¯t possible. Are you sure this isn¡¯t another trick?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure. Onward.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just waiting for Panka to pop out of the walls and laugh at how many stairs we climbed for nothing. ¡®Oh, didn¡¯t you notice the invisible door a thousand steps ago?¡¯¡± he mocked with a cackle. It was a surprisingly good imitation.


    ¡°I will grant you, there¡¯s a chance it could be a trick.¡±


    ¡°So then what do we do?¡±


    He started climbing the steps again. ¡°Onward.¡±


    Van groaned. He lugged the pack further up onto his shoulder and trudged after him. But no sooner had they climbed a few dozen more steps before the stairs abruptly ended, coming to a nondescript wooden door with a crystal knob.


    Van glanced at Raven with a labored grimace. ¡°Panka did that on purpose.¡±


    ¡°Now what did your complaining merit again?¡± Raven asked, smirking.


    ¡°Shut it. I¡¯m exhausted. There better be a chair in there.¡±


    Raven took hold of the knob. The unlocked door swung wide. ¡°I¡¯ll wager there¡¯s a lot more than that.¡±


    Panka¡¯s tower-top study opened before them, illuminated by the light of dawn coming through tall, half-round windows.


    ¡°Whoa,¡± Van exclaimed, dumping the pack on the stone floor.


    The open room was circular with a peaking roof, everything Raven expected from the top chamber of a traditional tower. Cobwebs crowded into corners, dust coated the floor, and broken furniture lay scattered about. A two-posted bed was situated on one side, next to a large black ambry. The cabinet doors had windows through which Raven spied several old books. Other than that, there was nothing of value.


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    ¡°Needs a scrubbing,¡± he said.


    ¡°Look at this!¡± Van called from one of the windows.


    Raven joined him as he pried the glass window open, allowing a shivering wind to invade the space. Together they looked out. A whitewash canvas greeted their sight, pure and soft. Snow swirled in gusty whorls, streaming down at unnatural speeds. Below them, the sleet gathered into a thick cone.


    ¡°We¡¯re directly above the pool, aren¡¯t we?¡± Van said.


    ¡°Appears so. No wonder Panka kept this so hidden. The falling snow is absorbed constantly, sucked into the well, so this tower has probably never been seen from the ground. The snow acts like a barrier.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it though.¡± Van leaned his body out, looking down. ¡°Are we floating in the air? There¡¯s no base that I can see. And if that¡¯s the case, how did we even get here? Is this from a pandora?¡±


    ¡°It must be the work of that artifact in the Rail. Panka would never resort to using pandora. Now¡­¡± He left the window to face his new room, rubbing his hands together. ¡°Time to settle in.¡±


    He raised an arm and three pandora floated out of his sleeves. Raven touched one, a card with three hurricane-shaped insignias. ¡°Wind Ruby,¡± he said. ¡°Clear out the trash. Only the bed and ambry remain.¡±


    Upon his command, three red cords burst from the face of the card. The cords each wrapped end to end to form hoops. Eruptions of air and steam exploded from holes around their lengths, and the hoops went to work, gliding across the room like wheels. Dust fled from their presence, shattered furniture was tossed through windows, and the walls and floors were scrubbed clean in their tracks.


    Van watched on in amazement, but Raven touched the next pandora floating before him. ¡°Deep View,¡± he said, touching the card that depicted a starry night sky. The pandora grew in size before him, expanding until it stood taller than him. A black handle protruded from the surface.


    ¡°A door?¡± Van said, coming beside him. ¡°To nothing?¡±


    Raven knocked on the surface. Van jumped when a knock came back. There was a click, and the door swung wide. The doorway that should have opened to nothing instead revealed a shadowed area, a portal to a different place. It was a murky room, and the entrance was curtained by an ethereal screen, dark purple and rippling from the steam torrents.


    Being the recklessly curious sort, Van reached out his hand to touch the screen. Raven quickly snatched his wrist.


    ¡°Do you value your life?¡± he asked.


    Van gulped and took his hand back.


    ¡°You have arrived, sir?¡± a stately voice came from the void.


    Unnoticeable before, a stirring beyond the screen pushed against it. Eyes bright as two moons peered back at them, and someone slowly approached from inside. He wore a fine black suit with a blue sash and steel buckle, the mark of a butler, but his skin was the hue of volcanic ash, and his balding hair matched the pigment.


    ¡°Just yesterday, Bart¨®n¡± Raven replied to him, careful not to come near the screen dividing them.


    ¡°I sense deep Hydra from beyond the View. It appears you have been successful thus far.¡±


    ¡°Are you surprised?¡±


    ¡°Not at all,¡± he replied with a slight bow.


    ¡°Status on Noelle and Arkh.¡±


    Bart¨®n straightened. ¡°Lady Sevalier¡¯s work has begun. She labors at her armor every night and even between classes. Her diligence knows no bounds.¡±


    ¡°Once again, no surprise.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. Lord Slipfire, meanwhile, has ignored your advice to be patient and has departed on his quest. In fact, he left the same day you did.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. Arkh will be himself, and his time is now. There¡¯s nothing I could say to stop him from leaving.¡±


    ¡°What else do you require, sir?¡±


    ¡°Nothing at the moment. I will gather everything. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡± Bart¨®n bowed and left their presence, melding into the darkness once more.


    ¡°Interesting guy,¡± Van remarked. ¡°Kind of dirty though. Why was he covered in soot?¡±


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t dirt,¡± Raven replied. ¡°Bart¨®n isn¡¯t a person. He¡¯s a pandora entity.¡±


    Van whistled. ¡°I¡¯d heard of pandora that create servants or other ¡®people-adjacents,¡¯ if you will, but never seen one.¡±


    Raven reached up and tapped the third pandora floating before him. Unlike the others, this card wasn¡¯t gray. Rather it displayed a multitude of bright colors. The moment he touched it, a burst of light ignited behind him. Rays of different colors shot up and over his head like the plumes of a peacock. Each bright feather, seven in all, featured a makeshift hand that wriggled with strange fingers.


    Raven folded his arms, while the wormy rainbow beams went to work. They curled over him and reached inside the door, through the curtain. Sparks of light ignited as they did so. Then they withdrew, each one grasping a different item. One had a stack of books, another, a nightstand. Two worked together to grasp a pushpin board, while the last three produced a large wood coffin.


    The hands went back and forth at Raven¡¯s bequest, lashing like the tails of lions and providing him all his necessary possessions. Maps, a large trunk, and a dresser came next, followed by a man-sized scarecrow stuffed with hay. As they worked, Van stuck close to Raven, watching in amazement as each hand worked in unison to place objects in the places Raven wanted. His room was formed before their eyes.


    ¡°Are you some sort of monarch?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°A what?¡±


    ¡°Raven, you have more high-class pandora than I¡¯ve ever heard of one person owning.¡± He ran a hand through his hair, wide-eyed with bewilderment. ¡°And most of them are not just high-class, but a class I couldn¡¯t fathom borrowing, let alone owning. How did you get all these? Even the richest of Fallowreyk¡¯s citizens are limited by short supply, but your collection seems to be endless.¡± A dark look came over him. ¡°You didn¡¯t¡­ murder all these people, did you?¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t lump me with the Titan,¡± he scolded, dropping his arms.


    ¡°Then, how do you have so many?¡±


    ¡°After all you have seen in just one day, are you certain that is something you wish to know?


    ¡°You could say I¡¯m already getting numb to outrageous experiences.¡±


    Raven grimaced. ¡°Pandora are valuable to me. But not in the way others value them ¨C as tools and nothing more. They are partners in a great scheme. So, I have made it my life pursuit to gather as many as I can, regardless of ability or usefulness. Often, I save them from otherwise terrible fortunes.


    ¡°Oh, well gosh¡­ isn¡¯t that just a lovely story!¡± His lips curled with annoyance. ¡°You¡¯ve told me nothing. Anybody can try to collect pandora. I¡¯m asking how you succeeded. Did you steal ¡®em? You can tell me.¡±


    He sighed. ¡°A conservative mind might suggest I have been less than honest on certain occasions if he knew the details behind how I acquired some of them. Now¡­ to the task at hand.¡±


    The colorful hands stopped, the task finished. Raven¡¯s room now looked like a comfy and luxurious boudoir, complete with bed, armoire, apothecary, bath, and various other furniture. Raven tapped his pandora, and the arms of color sank back into the card, which abruptly floated back inside his sleeve. The magic door shrank to the size of a card once more, and the red loops returned to their home, and those two pandora returned to Raven as well. Then, a new card floated out, and he tapped it. It featured a picture of the moon with a woman¡¯s face, highlighted by large, glowing eyes.


    The moment he touched the pandora, two flashes of faint light sparked over his own eyes. A thin film peeled away from each of his eyeballs. The slivers of luminous material then rolled up into needles. Raven made his way to a desk and produced seven sheets of paper. He then side stepped to a curious piece of furniture beside the bed. It featured only a smooth plank of wood on two broad legs ¨C a piece solely constructed for writing while standing.


    Raven laid each of the sheets of paper across the surface, and the two needles of light hovered over the first two pages. Raven flicked his wrist, and the needles went to work, gliding over the paper and leaving trails of blue ink in their wake.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°This is Moon¡¯s Ark, a special pandora,¡± he replied. ¡°During my enrollment and subsequent challenge to the masters, I employed it. It grants my eyes uncanny powers of surveillance, and records what I wish to write down later. In this case, I was able to determine what the masters wrote down on their challenge sheets by observing the movements of their hands and wrists as they wrote.¡±


    ¡°Wow. What a cheater.¡± He beamed at him. ¡°I couldn¡¯t be prouder. And what a card! Moon¡¯s Ark would sell for buckets at auction, but triple that in the underground market.¡±


    ¡°Those kinds of remarks are what I was referring to earlier.¡± Raven replied. ¡°Why should Deborah Salis be treated like that? When she led such a kind, hard-working life as a scholar, scribe, and mother?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Deborah Salis?¡± he asked absently, wandering about the room and perusing Raven¡¯s belongings with interest.


    Raven frowned. ¡°Exactly.¡±


    The two needle-thin pens finished writing on the first two pages, and moved on to the third and fourth. However, after a pause, one of the needles skipped over, leaving the page blank and moving on to the fifth page.


    ¡°That would be either Master Cooley or Master Forir,¡± Raven said, pointing to the blank page. ¡°They were careful to cover their papers and disguise their movements. It will be imperative I discover what they wrote down in the next twelve months. I have an idea about Forir, but Cooley is a mystery.¡±


    ¡°I can tell you everything I know about him,¡± Van replied. ¡°He¡¯s something of a recluse, but he¡¯s famous for his integrity and values. A good man. Kind of scary sometimes, but a decent guy in all respects you can think of.¡±


    ¡°What about the other teachers?¡±


    ¡°I have a book of information on each of them. Hey, let me ask you. Why do you have a scarecrow in your room?¡± He poked at the straw effigy propped against the wall. Golden hay stuffed the ratty clothes to near bursting, and eyes and a smile of buttons seemed nearly sadistic. A fake purple rose was pinned to its canvas jacket.


    Raven gazed curiously at Van. Then, a notion hit him. ¡°You¡¯re not just an info broker, are you? You¡¯re a Thimble.¡±


    ¡°Surprised you didn¡¯t come to that revelation earlier. I wasn¡¯t trying to hide it. In fact, I advertise it.¡±


    The glowing needles moved on to the last two pages. Again, one was skipped, so they worked together to write out the last of the challenges. Raven smirked. ¡°I approached you for different reasons, but it would appear I am fortunate. Information is everything to me. And I will need all I can acquire.¡±


    ¡°I charge a fair price.¡± He moved on to another object propped against a different wall. The large black coffin was tilted diagonally and featured only one embellishment: a large clasp with no lock. He laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you sleep in this thing.¡±


    Raven hummed, making Van stop and glance at the coffin again warily. Raven said nothing more, gathering up the sheets of paper and making his way to the push-pin board. Using tacks he produced from the desk, he pinned the seven sheets to the cork surface.


    ¡°You know, now that I think about it, you said you would tell me last night why you chose me as your partner.¡± Van spoke up again. ¡°You said it was for a specific reason. What was it?¡±


    Raven froze. His arm lingered above his head, mid-way through posting another sheet. For a few moments, he said nothing. Then he slowly turned his head, looking directly into Van¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°You have to do it sometime,¡± Rue whispered with a sigh. ¡°Might as well do it now.¡±


    He turned and placed the remaining sheets aside. His arms dropped at his sides.


    ¡°Stand before me,¡± he said.


    Van¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I will reveal the reason I selected you.¡±


    Van tentatively approached, stepping slowly and every muscle braced for something bad. Soon, he stood a span away, looking down at Raven with a mixture of curiosity and dread. For a moment, Raven kept his head bowed. Then, he raised it, and his drab eyes looked directly into his.


    In a blinking moment, Raven slammed his palm into Van¡¯s chest. Van gasped, but did not collapse. He couldn¡¯t. Frozen in place, he stared ahead wild-eyed. Raven dug his palm in deeper, paralyzing him. Then, a white burst of light seeped from Van¡¯s chest. Curling around Raven¡¯s fingers, the light shot into his own body. More and more Hydra flowed out of Van¡¯s convulsing body and transferred to Raven. As it did, his eyes began turning color. The gray turned black before quickly gaining pigment. And like the filling of a glass, green poured into his eyes. In little time, his irises shamed the finest emeralds.


    Sucked dry, Van¡¯s body collapsed in a heap.


    Raven withdrew his hand. For a moment, he looked down with a carefully guarded stare. Then, a devilish smile played across his lips.


    ¡°That¡­ would be the reason.¡±

 Chapter 8: Preparations

    With his board of challenges before him, Raven meditated.


    The board of seven sheets stood as an obstacle. No¡­ it stood as a monument. The next step in his vengeance. He just needed to see it done.


    He sat on the floor and crossed his legs. He touched the tips of his middle fingers together and folded his ring fingers in, letting the raging storm of his thoughts calm to a zephyr. The familiar pose taught to him as a boy ¨C Grand Harmony ¨C served him well now as he dove deep into rumination. He knew five of the seven challenges; two more yet to learn. But defeating the masters of Nine Star was only a step. A ruse.


    His scheme aimed much higher. But he needed Panka¡¯s prize.


    ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± Rue asked.


    Raven opened his eyes, shaken from his meditation. He pulled Rue¡¯s pandora from his sleeve.


    ¡°I attend classes,¡± he replied to the card.


    ¡°Not the answer I expected. I thought you had a bigger plan in mind?¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not as if I knew the exact road that awaited me. There was no way to predict what the masters would challenge, beyond educated guesses. I made a reasonable gamble heavily stacked in my favor thanks to Moon¡¯s Ark. And it succeeded. I know five of the challenges ahead of time. One year remains to learn the other two and devise a successful plan to win them all. And it starts by attending class. I will learn everything I can about the teachers. I¡¯ll poke and prod each of them when necessary. I¡¯ll scheme. I¡¯ll lie. Whatever it takes to accomplish the task at hand.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re sure you had to challenge all the masters? Not just one or two?¡±


    Raven looked up at his board. The seven pinned leaflets shifted with each slight breeze from the open window. ¡°Glorious Pinnacle.¡±


    ¡°I understand. But I¡¯m worried. What if he doesn¡¯t wait one year? What if he comes sooner?¡±


    ¡°I thought about that. And I can revise my plans if that¡¯s the case. But he loves the grandest stages. And his obsession demands it. I am confident he will wait.¡±


    A heavy moan interrupted their conversation. Raven looked to the bed.


    Van slowly rose, propping himself up and grasping his head. He blinked several times and scrunched his eyes, looking left and right and appearing very lost. He moaned again, dragging his feet over the edge of the bed and dropping them to the floor.


    ¡°What¡­ the hell¡­ happened?¡± He shook his head. His cheeks were sunken and the undersides of his eyes were dark.


    ¡°I took your Hydra,¡± Raven replied.


    ¡°You¡­ what?¡±


    Rue giggled.


    ¡°I took it. Stole it. Pilfered it. I know your brain is addled at the moment, but I have to assume you understand.¡±


    He looked at Raven, face contorted with utter confusion.


    ¡°Or maybe not.¡± Raven got up, making his way over and placing a hand on his shoulder. ¡°I took your fresh supply of Hydra and transferred it to myself.¡± No response. ¡°Let me use shorter words. You used to have a lot, and I had a little. Now I have a lot, and you only have a little.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ how?¡± A bit of anger came over him as clarity slowly returned. ¡°And more importantly, why?¡±


    ¡°Which answer do you want first?¡±


    ¡°The why.¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m a Drymouth. You said you wanted to know the reason why I originally picked you as my comrade. I needed a source, and you are a citizen of Roespeye. You can drink from the pool any time you want to refresh your Hydra. If I were in Reyk Zaliance, I would have chosen someone from that city.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ I¡¯m just some sort of lunchbox to you?¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t say it like that. You¡¯re more like a¡­ pantry. Full of good things.¡±


    Rue laughed hysterically.


    ¡°Is it really that big of a deal?¡± he continued. ¡°I took most of your Hydra this time so you¡¯d understand the worst it could ever be. From here on out, I won¡¯t take as much, and I¡¯ll even tell you when I need it. You won¡¯t pass out. We can conduct the transfer near the pool so you can immediately go and take a drink, and we¡¯ll both have fresh spirits. Win, win.¡±


    ¡°This is really messed up, brother.¡±


    ¡°If it makes you feel any better, I have already started devising a plan in your pursuit to win the love of Valentine Chessex.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± He sat up straighter. ¡°Well¡­ I guess when you really think about it, it¡¯s only a little inconvenience in the scheme of things.¡±


    ¡°Jolly good.¡±


    ¡°So, now that I know what the heck is going on, how did you take my Hydra?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s another special gift of mine. I¡¯ve always been able to do it. Very useful.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll say! Never having to return home when you¡¯re low. Never worrying about going dry. It¡¯s incredible. Geez, I¡¯d swear you¡¯re from another world. Does anyone else know about this?¡±


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    ¡°Not in Roespeye. And I¡¯d like to keep it that way.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Well, let¡¯s talk about that plan then.¡±


    ¡°Business before pleasure. Tomorrow is the start of the school year, and we must prepare ourselves for the task at hand.¡± Raven pointed to the push-pin board. ¡°The challenges.¡±


    ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa,¡± Van said, standing up. ¡°You just robbed me blind¡­ again, and I¡¯ve got nothing to show for it. It¡¯s my turn, pal.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right, Raven,¡± Rue said with one last chuckle. ¡°Time to be nicer to your new friend. You need him.¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    Going back to the board, Raven took hold of the top and pulled it down. The panel swiveled, revealing the other side. On it, other sheets had been pinned to it, including a map of Reyk Lamgard, notes on the abilities of its people and their culture, and a genealogy of the Chessex family.


    ¡°Whoa,¡± Van said. ¡°When did you do this?¡±


    ¡°While you slept.¡±


    ¡°You mean while I was knocked out cold?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    He folded his arms. ¡°This is pretty thorough, although I can already see some of your information is wrong.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t doubt it. This was simply to lay the foundation based on what I already know. It will be up to you to fill in the gaps. The more, the better. Currently I know nothing about the heiress.¡±


    ¡°I can do that. So, what are you thinking?¡±


    ¡°The classic approach to the pursuit of women is chivalry and gallant displays of strength. The idea is to appear as a suitable mate capable of protection and provision.¡±


    ¡°Or to actually be that,¡± Van interjected.


    ¡°Mmm, yes. However, I believe neither is the most suitable approach for Valentine. I will need time to study her personally, but I¡¯m willing to believe it¡¯s not her heart that needs to be won. Rather, it will be her mind. Her unstable psyche is the fragile prize she guards with utmost care. Therefore, by reasonable conclusion, it will be the way to her affections. Assuming she considers herself to be available in the first place.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s say she does. How would I try to ¡®win her mind?¡¯ You¡¯re not gonna make me attend lectures and start reading textbooks in my spare time, are you?¡±


    ¡°Possibly, but I doubt it. I¡¯ve been thinking of a much darker scheme. However, I hope you can refrain from any bouts of stupidity in her presence while I work out the details of our little caper?¡±


    ¡°I make no promises. Luckily, I have her in only one class this season ¨C Seals Epo.¡±


    ¡°Perfect. I¡¯m planning on taking the same class. It will be just the opportunity I need to develop a sound plan based on her persona.¡±


    ¡°Develop a sound plan based on her persona,¡± Van repeated comically. ¡°Raven, never become a dating consultant.¡±


    He leered at him. ¡°You asked for my help. I have no problem dropping this right now and moving on to more important things.¡±


    Van raised his hands. ¡°Apologies. I appreciate it.¡±


    ¡°Try to be invisible tomorrow during Smith¡¯s class. Trust me when I say that every word I utter and every action I take will be deliberate.¡±


    ¡°Should be interesting.¡±


    ¡°Now¡­¡± Raven flipped the board again. ¡°The challenges.¡±


    Van came alongside him and gave the seven sheets a once-over. He inhaled mightily as he read them and shook his head dubiously. But to Raven¡¯s surprise, he folded his arms and said, ¡°Okay. Where do we start?¡±


    Raven produced a bag of caramel almonds and took a handful before passing the bag to Van. He then took a three-span long switch attached to the side of the board and used it to point to the first sheet.


    ¡°Rook Czeslaw¡¯s challenge: Solve Panka¡¯s Riddle.¡±


    Van stuffed a handful of the almonds into his mouth. ¡°Impothible,¡± he managed to reply.


    ¡°We shall see.¡± He pointed to the second sheet. ¡°Simeon Turngood¡¯s challenge: Destroy the Sleeping Devil.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t that conflict with your intentions? To free her?¡±


    Raven took back the almonds and popped a few more. ¡°My intention is to save her. If I restore her soul, she will no longer be the demon she is imagined to be. The Devil will be destroyed.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re hoping to win on a technicality.¡±


    ¡°In matters of disputes like these, Panka is always the final judge. Whose side do you think he would take?¡±


    ¡°Fair enough. Next?¡±


    ¡°Bartholomew Bastille¡¯s challenge: Restore the Star Tome.¡±


    ¡°What is that?¡±


    ¡°No idea.¡±


    ¡°Boy, I gotta tell ya¡­ these are really hard challenges. The masters didn¡¯t mess around.¡±


    ¡°I expected no less. Next, Alabanie Smith¡¯s challenge: Defeat him in a game of seals. Followed by Fanny Fyre¡¯s challenge: Defeat her in a game of Parchen. And of course Finitum Cooley and Selim Forir¡¯s challenges are blank, because I could not discover them.¡±


    ¡°If I have enough logic in me to sort this out, it looks like you¡¯ve ordered the challenges by degree of apparent difficulty.¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    ¡°But if I¡¯ve learned anything about you in the last two days, it¡¯s that you¡¯re a couple steps ahead of the game. So why don¡¯t you reorganize these by degree of personal concern.¡±


    Raven reached to the board and began to unpin the challenges, shuffling them around. Soon, Forir¡¯s blank page was first, followed by Cooley and Bastille. Panka¡¯s Riddle and Sleeping Devil were fourth and fifth, respectively, followed by Fyre¡¯s challenge. Master Smith¡¯s was dead last.


    Van nodded. ¡°That¡¯s better.¡± He took a sweeping intake, then turned and swiped the almonds from Raven¡¯s hand. ¡°Smart to make Forir first. The man is not to be trifled with.¡±


    ¡°If I had to guess, it¡¯s probably a duel of some kind, but I don¡¯t work in hunches. I want the truth so I can prepare.¡±


    ¡°Then, he should be the priority. Same for Cooley.¡±


    Raven tapped his nose. ¡°Precisely. Which is why I will be taking their Epo classes first.¡±


    ¡°What other classes are you taking?¡±


    ¡°Seals Epo and Hydra-Pandora Epo. Four classes total ¨C I¡¯m starting light.¡±


    ¡°We share two classes. I¡¯m only taking three, and Fyre¡¯s class is notoriously easy. Figured it would give me the best start.¡± Van suddenly yawned wider than a lion. ¡°Oh man¡­ I am beat. What time is it?¡±


    Raven glanced at a large clock beside his bed. ¡°Noon. You should go drink from the pool and then get your rest. The start of term tomorrow marks the beginning of our grand schemes.¡±


    ¡°How do we leave?¡± He looked to the one door. ¡°Are we really gonna have to traipse through the entire path we took every time?¡±


    ¡°Nothing to fear. A second doorway opened at the bottom of the staircase today. It leads to the opposite side of the Sleeping Devil¡¯s Court. Panka granted us easy access.¡±


    ¡°For now,¡± he replied heavily. ¡°What if he tries manipulating the staircase again?¡±


    ¡°I would learn to appreciate this school for what it is. I think bemoaning Panka antagonizes him. He wants his students to laugh in the end, not complain. You may just find relief.¡±


    Van hummed before tossing the empty almond bag at him and then clapping him hard on the back. ¡°Alright, thanks for the advice. Later, partner. I¡¯ll meet you by the pool tomorrow morning. But just remember something¡­¡± He opened the door before turning back to look at him. ¡°You may have a lot at stake here at the school, but so do I. So let me give you a piece of advice in return. Don¡¯t force me to make a choice I have no choice but to make.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Raven replied.


    Van left, closing the door behind him.


    ¡°I like him,¡± Rue said.


    ¡°Yes, he is a suitable companion.¡± Raven failed in stifling his own yawn. ¡°Well¡­ it looks like my work for the day is satisfactory.¡± He looked around the room, putting his hands on his hips. From the bed to the armoire, coffin to scarecrow, and push-pin board to apothecary, all was as it should be. Top to bottom, he was ready.


    ¡°Everything starts tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Everything indeed. But for now¡­ it¡¯s time for a long sleep.¡± He yawned again, and then smiled. ¡°And when I open my eyes again, I hope to see something new.¡±

 Chapter 9: Seals

    The start of the school season began with another blistery day for Roespeye. While snow blanketed the rest of the city, Nine Star Academy was snow-free, thanks to Panka¡¯s Well. However, the bedeviled temperature broke even the strongest human¡¯s breaking point.


    When Raven arrived at the pool that morning, the courtyard was nearly empty. Heavily bundled students scurried direct paths to the warmth found inside the towers, but otherwise there was nobody to be found except the priest huddled beside the well, ladle clutched tightly in hand. Raven stood patiently, observing his surroundings with interest. It was surprising that so few of Roespeye¡¯s citizens were well-equipped to handle extreme cold. Granted, this winter was colder than any other in recent memory, but they lived on top of a mountain. Did they expect the sun?


    ¡°You¡¯re the son of an ice demon, aren¡¯t you?¡± Van said as he approached. He hugged himself, rubbing his arms vigorously.


    ¡°I just like the cold,¡± he replied. ¡°You¡¯re late.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry! Did my natural human response to horrible weather delay you by a few minutes?¡± He slapped the top of his other hand. ¡°Bad Van. Very bad.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Wait a moment. I need to drink.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t do that last night?¡±


    ¡°I was too exhausted. You know¡­ from having my Hydra literally ripped from my body by an albino dwarf.¡±


    Raven scowled as Van made his way to the priest. ¡°I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll grow taller this year,¡± he grumbled.


    The shivering priest reached his ladle over the well. Sprinkles collected into a drink, which he offered to Van. He drank quickly, wiping his mouth and thanking the priest with a sympathetic nod. Then, he ran back to Raven.


    ¡°I feel great!¡± he said, stretching his arms.


    ¡°I envy you,¡± Raven replied. ¡°I¡¯ve never known the experience. To be able to take a simple drink of water and refresh your spirit whenever you desire.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d switch with you if I could,¡± he replied, rubbing his arms again as the cold set back in. ¡°You may have to steal Hydra to use it, but at least you never have to worry about running out when you leave home. You don¡¯t have the weakness every other person in Fallowreyk has to deal with when they leave their own city.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you are right. Even so, I¡¯d give a great deal to experience it just once.¡±


    Alabanie Smith¡¯s Seals Epo class was located in the southern-most tower, tucked against Roespeye¡¯s mighty wall. Unlike Funny Tower, this one featured heavy wood doors as the entrance. Upon arrival, Raven reached for the handle, but Van stopped him.


    ¡°I think it might be best if we don¡¯t enter together,¡± he said.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll know when you go in.¡± He pulled open the door and slipped inside before closing the door behind him.


    Raven tilted his head before reopening the door. He immediately realized what Van meant. Two hundred eyeballs focused in on him at once, and a silence cut through a chorus of student chatter. He was indeed infamous, and his presence chilled the smiles of all in attendance.


    The Seals lecture hall consumed the entirety of this tower¡¯s lower level. Walls of sleek white reached to a high ceiling, the floor was one immense limestone slab, and a professional grade seals table commanded the center space. Four wood supports thicker than elephant legs maintained a white square board with a flip scorekeeper.


    Rising steps surrounded the seals table, arena-style and pitch-black. The grandstand took only a relatively small space in the middle of the hall, a dark bull¡¯s-eye, but it was large enough to support a hundred large desks on its four levels. Each of the desks also featured a white square surface. And once Van took up one of the desks in the corner, only one remained empty, directly in the middle.


    The waiting students whispered nervously as Raven lowered his hood and approached, and those close to the empty desk groaned as he climbed two flights of stairs and claimed it, sitting down and folding his hands together. Immediately, the whispers grew more excited, as they always did when people discovered the scar on the back of his head.


    ¡°A Drymouth? Then he shouldn¡¯t be that scary.¡±


    ¡°What if it¡¯s fake?¡±


    ¡°He probably did it himself.¡±


    Raven ignored their murmuring, scanning the room and making observations. There were students of all ages, even an elderly man buried in several thick cloaks. Most were buzzing with excitement over the first day of school. Raven could see a few students with swords, Munians in pursuit of a double education. And there was even a student from Reyk Zaliance. His collapsed armor floated behind his neck, a block of shining metal humming quietly with incredible power. There were forty-five girls in the class; most were still heavily bundled in winter cloaks as the tower was barely warmer inside than out. And all of them avoided eye contact with him¡­ except one.


    A girl on the left side of the stands was eyeing him with a pointed gaze. Raven was reminded strongly of a hawk, so smoldering was her stare. She had midnight black hair that draped down her back along with two long ponytails. And unlike the other girls, she was dressed as if the cold had little effect on her. A dark pinafore dress over a white shirt with short sleeves. Her skin was quite pale, and her lips were painted a red so deep, it was closer to black.


    ¡°Do you think she¡¯s the one?¡± Rue asked.


    Before Raven could ponder the answer, a side door opened with a small squeak and Master Smith entered, donned in his teaching robes and clutching a leather-bound blotter. He stood behind the Seals table and looked over his rectangular spectacles to give Raven a scornful glare. Then, his expression changed in a moment, and he smiled to the rest of his new students.


    ¡°Welcome, learners, to Nine Star Academy. This is Seals Epo, an excellent class to start your academic endeavors, as it will provide a fundamental foundation to the rest of your studies. In my class, you will learn about seals and the nine holy runes, including but not limited to: their history, their usefulness in conjunction with pandora and Hydra, and their limits. When you finish this course, you will be able to successfully draw up three-star seals and also pair them with appropriate pandora. And, of course, you will obtain a foundation for Seals Suna, the next course. You will not need your materials right now so you may put them away, but I expect all of you to be ready with paper and writing utensil in hand by the next assembly. Today, I will introduce you to the subject matter in a more practical manner.¡±


    Master Smith placed his blotter on the table and produced a pandora and a reed-thin stick from a sleeve in the binder. He attached the tip of the instrument to a corner of the card and then raised it up for all to see.


    ¡°Seals¡­ are a gift from the Holy One. As you will learn in Master Bastille¡¯s classes, they are one of many blessings handed down to the dwellers of His land. When made properly, they can draw upon the Hydra within one¡¯s self, enhance the abilities of particular pandora, and even work all things together in unison to create new mysteries.¡±


    He swished his wand-like reed through the air, and three black lines appeared on the surface of the limestone floor, surrounding him in a triangle. Chairs screeched as students shuffled to get a closer look. At each point of the triangle was a rune or ¡°star¡± of distinctly different design. Smith stepped out of the enclosure and produced another pandora. It was a Class One light-giving soul. He activated it, and the card began to glow.


    ¡°As you can see, I have a pandora here giving me ample light to see for some distance. And I stand before a three-star seal. Does anyone recognize it?¡±


    The girl in the black dress raised her hand, and Smith pointed at her.


    ¡°A Sur-Lam-Pro variant¡­ the Seal of Minor Enhancement,¡± she answered. Her voice was an icy lake, smooth and cold.


    ¡°Correct. So then, if my seal is properly drawn up, what will happen if I step inside with an activated pandora such as this? Let¡¯s find out.¡±


    He reentered the seal, and the shine of his pandora immediately doubled. He received no applause, as his students were definitely already acquainted with such seals, but most appeared interested in finally learning how to draw them up properly.


    ¡°But that¡¯s just the beginning!¡± Smith said. He stepped out again and flicked his apparatus. The seal crawled along the floor and transferred to the nearest wall, growing until it consumed a sizable portion. The reason for the classroom¡¯s all-white form was now apparent. Every wall could be used to draw up seals.


    ¡°How about a seal within a seal?¡± Smith said. With a wave of his hand, two more black triangles were written on the wall. Two formed a base, while the third sat upon them to form an even larger triangle. Each of the seals had identical runes to each other.


    ¡°So then, there are three Sur-Lam-Pro seals there, connected to form a larger seal. What will happen if my illuminated pandora sits in the middle?¡±


    The same girl raised her hand, and Smith pointed at her again.


    ¡°Nothing at all,¡± she replied with a small smile. This time, her voice was soft and sweeter, nothing like how she sounded the first time.


    Smith tapped his nose. ¡°Exactly. Can anyone else explain why?¡± His gaze bounced over his uneager charges, looking for a sacrifice. When it fell on Raven, he smiled loftily. ¡°What about you, Whitesong. Care to have a go?¡±


    The room was bereft of student whispers, and all eyes were on him.


    ¡°This is it, Raven,¡± Rue said happily. ¡°Do your thing.¡±


    ¡°You have arranged the seals in a manner that does not allow pandora to flow in equal measures,¡± Raven answered. ¡°Seals work according to the provision of the Holy One as ordained within His decrees. And that provision includes balance between Mind, Sword and Shield, the symbols of His kingdom. One of your seals is positioned incorrectly. Arrange the seals in a position that allows each of the three chosen stars to form a major point, and the new seal will successfully enhance your pandora to a magnitude of about six ¨C the Seal of Major Enhancement.¡±


    Smith frowned. ¡°Correct,¡± he replied from the corner of his mouth.


    As the teacher waved his hand again to rearrange the seals, Raven looked at the girl in the black dress. She was staring at him again, this time with a hard look devoid of restraint. Raven smirked and looked back ahead. Smith had corrected the ¡°seal within a seal¡± and flicked his pandora through the air. It stuck to the wall, positioned between the three triangles. Immediately, the card glowed with a severe light that threatened to blind them all. Smith quickly disbanded the seals, and the pandora floated back to his hand.


    ¡°Now, I show you all what a seal within a seal can do, but the one I just displayed is the simplest known to mankind. All others are far more intricate, and more importantly, far more perilous. Seals drawn incorrectly aren¡¯t always lifeless, as I¡¯m sure your parents have all explained to you at one point or another. Remember this the rest of your lives: Seals are dangerous. Treat them with respect.¡±


    ¡°Master Smith,¡± one student in a black cowl called out. ¡°Will we learn how to draw seals within seals?¡±


    He chuckled. ¡°No, no, no. Those are far beyond the potential of beginners.¡±


    Raven jumped at the chance. ¡°What about seals within seals within seals?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No such thing.¡±


    ¡°I disagree.¡±


    Smith frowned while his class went silent again.


    ¡°Young man, you may have gotten away with contempt during your admittance hearing, but I won¡¯t tolerate such a thing in my own class.¡±


    ¡°I meant no disrespect. I was simply stating my viewpoint.¡±


    ¡°And I suppose you¡¯re an expert in seals, are you?¡±


    Raven made no response.


    ¡°Suddenly lost your wit, have you? Well, since you seem to be so advanced in this field of study, why don¡¯t we put on a little display for the others here who are¡­ beneath us? Perhaps a game of seals?¡±


    ¡°I like to play seals. Why not?¡± Raven got up and descended the grandstand before Smith could say another word.


    The other students all looked at each other for a moment before they stood in a collective rush and swarmed around the seals table, chattering excitedly. Snippets of confused murmurings issued from Smith¡¯s mouth as this happened, until he was surrounded by his students and Raven stood across from him on the opposite side of the seals table.


    ¡°Oh, very well,¡± he sighed. ¡°This, too, can be instructional.¡±


    Pulling up chairs, Raven and Master Smith sat. The others encircled them. The game of seals was a favorite of all citizens of Fallowreyk. Raven knew this match would be the talk of the school today. And any news about him spreading through Roespeye was good news.


    ¡°I assume you know the fundamentals?¡± Smith said, lowering his head to look at Raven over the top of his spectacles.


    ¡°I am familiar with the game.¡±


    ¡°Well, I am a former professional player who once made a living off it. You obviously did not know this. So, despite my displeasure over how you treat your superiors, I am unwilling to display the full brunt of my prowess.¡±


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    ¡°You¡¯re going easy on me, Master Smith?¡±


    ¡°For the sake of my students, of course. They can learn about seals in a practical manner if I delay the end of the game.¡±


    ¡°Tournament rules, then?


    Smith frowned in confusion. ¡°Er¡­ I suppose that would be fine. Do you know all the rules?¡±


    ¡°All nine stars in play. Five seals to win. Opponents are allotted a chance to respond to any declared victory. A seal within a seal is an automatic victory with no response available. Illegal plays must be challenged by the opponent during the subsequent turn, or the opportunity is forfeit.¡±


    While Smith¡¯s eyebrow rose and the students whispered amongst themselves, Raven reached into his belt and produced a pandora pen. Like the teacher¡¯s device, Raven¡¯s black stylus was topped by an ink-producing pandora. Unlike Smith¡¯s, though, his pandora was a Class Two, and the silver card featured a blue border and an image of a top hat and cane.


    ¡°We will need a judge, of course,¡± Raven said.


    Smith lifted a finger. ¡°Ah, we have someone qualified in attendance.¡± He turned his head. ¡°Valentine Chessex¡­ if you would.¡±


    The girl with the long ponytails that had been staring at Raven sifted through the crowd and stood beside the table with her hands on her hips and a grave expression.


    ¡°I am at your disposal, Master Smith,¡± she replied. ¡°I will judge fairly and without bias.¡± She looked directly at Raven. ¡°I¡¯d like to propose the rule of verification to ensure no pandora can be used to somehow cheat during the match.¡±


    ¡°Very well. Thank you, Ms. Chessex.¡±


    She smiled, and in a sudden flip of personality, she replied, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s no problem at all. I love doing this.¡±


    ¡°Uh, yes, very well, very well.¡±


    Raven stared at Valentine. She looked back at him, and her personality flipped again. A cold gaze met his, and she pursed her dark lips. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± she demanded.


    Raven¡¯s eyes narrowed. This will definitely be interesting.


    ¡°So then, how about I explain the rules of this game for those here who don¡¯t know how to play?¡± Smith asked, clearly telling Raven rather than asking. ¡°Now then, pay attention, class. Note the white playing board before us. Raven and I are each equipped with pandora pens. Ink is generated at our command to draw lines on the board. The point of the game is to successfully draw up seals uninterrupted by opponent lines or runes. I shall start our game.¡±


    He lifted his pen and made a slight movement through the air. Two red-colored runes appeared on the board in the master¡¯s handwriting. Then a long red line connected the two stars, which were ¡°Lam¡± runes. Raven then proceeded to mimic the action. He swiped his pen, and two black ¡°Zal¡± runes appeared on either side of Smith¡¯s line. A black line connected the two stars, cutting through the first line.


    ¡°This is known as the ¡®Opening X¡¯ in seals,¡± Smith instructed. ¡°The first player chooses one of the nine runes and draws two of them, then connects them by a line. The opponent follows suit, crossing the first line. Then, the game begins. As I said before, the goal is to draw up five uninterrupted triangles with identical runes at each of the points. Each player during their turn must subsequently draw two runes and one line, but after the ¡°Opening X,¡± the two runes must be different each turn. Lines can only connect identical runes. Like so¡­¡±


    He swished his pen. This time, another Lam rune was drawn in his red ink, but then, a ¡°Roe¡± as well. Finally, a line connected the new Lam rune with one of the previously drawn ones.


    ¡°Now, as you can see, I have drawn two lines, and they form two-thirds of a triangle. However, because Mr. Whitesong¡¯s first line was drawn through mine, this potential triangle can never be completed. It is interrupted. This is the foundation of the game of seals. It¡¯s very important to remember to add the ¡®Vich¡¯ to each rune to render these seals dead. Remember, this is just a game. Always respect the seal.¡±


    The students talked amongst themselves. Those who already knew the game immediately began to discuss strategy, while the others leaned closer to look and take in the whole board while listening eagerly.


    ¡°I believe it¡¯s your turn, young Whitesong,¡± Smith said with warmth.


    ¡°Hmmmmm.¡± Raven hummed deeply. He tapped his pen on the table for several moments before taking his turn. He drew up another Zal and connected a line between it and one of his original stars. Then, he drew up yet another rune at the very bottom of the table, right in front of himself. Once it was completed, Valentine¡¯s forehead scrunched in confusion. The other students leaned in all at once, puzzled as well.


    Smith, on the other hand, began to chuckle. ¡°Students, look closely. Mr. Whitesong has just demonstrated a classic blunder. As you have noticed, he seems to have attempted what appears to be a Roe, but it¡¯s barely recognizable and therefore won¡¯t be eligible for a proper seal ¨C only the nine true runes can be used in a game of seals, and they must be drawn well. If he were to claim a seal point later in the game, I would have the opportunity to challenge, and Ms. Chessex would be forced to rule the seal ineligible. And this is a valuable lesson for you all. Much like in a game of seals, careful and meticulous drawing is needed for true seals. Otherwise, the consequences could be far more dire.¡±


    Raven scowled, but did not reply.


    ¡°My turn.¡± Smith confidently drew a Roe and Lam rune, one each on opposite edges of the board. Then, a long line swept across the board. ¡°Another lesson students,¡± he said upon completion. ¡°Notice there is no restriction on the length of your lines. But the width of them, along with the size of your stars, must be within regulation when playing by tournament rules. Stars can be as small as you like as long as they are visible, but cannot be larger than a tenth-span.¡±


    Raven and Master Smith traded moves for several minutes, playing all across the board. Each line was played defensively, making sure to draw through multiple opponent lines to prevent whole triangles. Then, Smith made his move, drawing up two new runes and a line on the right side. The students gasped when they saw that Raven had two-thirds of a triangle available on the left side of the board with no interruption.


    Raven jumped at the chance, closing the gap by drawing the third line. He hastily drew up two more runes in corners of the board to complete his move. ¡°One point,¡± he declared.


    Valentine looked for a moment, nodded her head, and then flipped the point counter on Raven¡¯s side.


    Smith smiled. ¡°Your impatience will cost you, lad. Look closely, students. Two more mistakes. Note how Mr. Whitesong, in his hurry to claim a point, has placed yet another poorly drawn rune in the corner that will prove to be illegal. And while this mark could never be used to form seals, it can be used to connect lines with identical symbols. His intent was to be able to control two of the corners and thus claim the opportunity to connect to any of his other Roe stars on the board during subsequent turns. Theoretically, I shouldn¡¯t be able to surpass his corner stars. However, he asked for tournament rules¡­ and he shall have them.¡±


    Smith directed his pandora pen. And the students in the room save for Raven and Valentine gasped as a Lam rune appeared in mid-air beyond the board, floating and vivid like a red firefly.


    ¡°In the business of seals, the only rules are the ones in your mind,¡± he said. ¡°This goes double for drawing up legitimate seals. The world is always looking for the next legend, for the one who will find new seals that can change the world. I hope you all have gained some perspective on how important this class is to your education.


    ¡°Now, back to the game. As I said, Mr. Whitesong made two mistakes. I have exposed the first, and now I will show you the second. In his haste to score his first point, he did not recognize the board I have set up.¡±


    Smith carefully drew up his pen again, this time focusing as he took in the game board. A line slowly and carefully started from his floating Lam rune. It cut through the air, past Raven¡¯s misshapen corner rune and diagonally across the board. It cut right through another Lam rune and kept going until it reached a third Lam rune on the other side. ¡°Now, I believe that is two completed seals.¡±


    Raven and Valentine leaned forward to discover what he said was true. Smith had indeed connected two identical runes with a line. In so doing, however, he also connected a third Lam rune lined up perfectly between them, effectively drawing two new lines instead of one. And his lines, along with his floating rune, created two very long isosceles triangles, uninterrupted by any of Raven¡¯s own runes or lines. The rules were clear. A player could not draw a line through opponent runes, but he could draw lines through his own if it was in the path of a legal line.


    Valentine flipped two points on the scorekeeper. The students clapped, thoroughly impressed, as their teacher took the lead.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good move,¡± Raven said, taking in the board and smiling. ¡°But it¡¯s not over yet. As you pointed out, I can at least make use of my mistakes.¡± He swept his pen across the board, and a non-rune identical to his other two errors was drawn, making three total. Then, he connected a line between two of them, cutting through several of Master Smith¡¯s. He finished his move by making another Zal.


    ¡°You¡¯re wasting your available moves,¡± Smith chided, taking his next turn. ¡°You should be setting up plays in advance. I¡¯d recommend you read up on the fundamentals of the game. The same goes for all of you.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps I will,¡± Raven replied. ¡°In the meantime, I¡¯ll tie up the match.¡±


    He drew up a long line that streaked across the board. It ran from another of his illegal runes, through two of his Zal runes, and then ended at the corner, where his second ineligible star was located. The line that ran through the two Zal runes formed the third side of a completed seal.


    ¡°One point.¡±


    Valentine stared at him with a dangerous fire behind her eyes. She flipped the score.


    Smith smiled again, this time with sincere mirth. ¡°And that¡¯s the game.¡±


    Students gasped and crowded in further, consuming the board with their collective gaze.


    Raven simply stared at the professor. ¡°How so?¡±


    Smith drew up another rune to float in mid-air, near Raven¡¯s arm. Then a line crossed over the entire board. It ran through multiple Lam runes before reaching its destination on the other side. And in short time, everyone watching realized he appeared to complete three triangles with just one line.


    ¡°I hope this was educational for you,¡± Smith said, placing his pen down. He began to clean his spectacles with a handkerchief. ¡°Ms. Chessex, please tally my points. I am declaring a victory in this match.¡±


    Valentine again looked at Raven, who looked back at her. An inquisitive glimmer was in her eyes, and her countenance was an unexpected mix of curiosity and caution. She folded her arms behind her back and calmly looked over the board. Raven thought back to the things Van told him about her. He said she was brilliant, and if she was able to survive the Splits as a small child, he didn¡¯t doubt it. But could it be she¡¯d discovered his scheme?


    ¡°Ms. Chessex?¡± Smith repeated, replacing his glasses and glancing up at her. ¡°The score, if you please?¡±


    She inhaled deeply. ¡°You have seven points, Master Smith. The score is seven to two in your favor.¡±


    A shocked hush went through the students, and Raven continued to stare at Valentine, this time with intrigue. She had figured it out. He was¡­ truly impressed. And he wasn¡¯t the only one. A pressure came from Rue¡¯s pandora, pushing against his chest as she also ached to reach out and discover more about her.


    Smith was confused, of course. ¡°What?¡± he replied. ¡°I thought you knew this game, Valentine. I should have five points.¡±


    ¡°Your last line completed five triangles, sir. You have seven points.¡± Her expression suddenly changed, and she smiled nervously. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m sure you realized that. The more points, the better, right?¡±


    She blushed, looking down at her feet.


    Smith looked from Valentine to the board and then to Raven. When Raven made no effort to elaborate, he studied the board again, this time closely. Then, something struck him and he quickly looked back up at Raven. And when he did, Raven smiled so wickedly, it sent a violent shiver up his spine


    Alabanie Smith slowly lowered his body, shifting so he could look at the board at eye-level. His mouth immediately fell agape. Not a single one of Raven¡¯s runes or lines were drawn directly onto the board. Each and every one was floating above the board by a few hairs¡¯ length. And because they did, none of his own lines actually crossed with Raven¡¯s.


    He sat back up, looking over the board flabbergasted. The whole time, he had been playing his own game while Raven toyed with him, allowing him to believe he was a novice to belittle in front of the other students while setting up his own practically separate board. And each of his stars and lines were drawn with expert precision, floating so close above the board, it would have been impossible to tell without closer examination.


    ¡°You tricked me,¡± Smith finally said.


    ¡°I did,¡± Raven replied.


    The students were chattering with explosive confusion and wonder, and when Smith slumped in his chair, the rate increased. But Raven didn¡¯t pay attention to any of it ¨C Smith meant nothing to him. He resumed looking at Valentine, who had been his real target. She folded her arms and stared back at him without fear.


    ¡°I think you¡¯ve met your match, Raven,¡± Rue said. A playful happiness filled her voice as she laughed.


    ¡°Doubtful,¡± he replied. ¡°But you never know.¡±


    ¡°What was that?¡± Smith asked. Anger was beginning to conquer his helplessness. He sat back up, placing both hands on the table.


    ¡°I believe it¡¯s my turn. I am granted a final turn to respond to a declared victory. Tournament rules¡­ as we agreed.¡±


    A small growl issued from Smith¡¯s throat as he looked back at the board. Then, as if a small miracle had been granted to him, his anger immediately turned to surprise, and then to elation.


    ¡°Wait a minute,¡± he said. ¡°Even with everything you¡¯ve done¡­ there¡¯s no single line you can make to create enough seals to beat me.¡±


    He checked again to make sure his statement was accurate. Breathing became quick, and sweat crept onto his cheeks. He smiled. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure of it. Well¡­ it seems I am still victorious.¡± He sat back in his chair, relieved. ¡°That was clever, Mr. Whitesong, but your gamble didn¡¯t pay off in the end.¡±


    ¡°Which gamble, Master Smith?¡±


    ¡°Your ¡®floating¡¯ board, of course. It could have beaten me if you¡¯d created a better set-up.¡±


    Raven tsked. ¡°Master Smith¡­ don¡¯t you think that once I realized you didn¡¯t have a clue what I was doing, I could have quickly drawn up five triangles and won the game?¡±


    Smith¡¯s forehead scrunched, and his smile faded.


    Raven folded his hands and stared daggers at the man. ¡°You see, Master Smith, I had a far grander scheme in mind. Winning wasn¡¯t enough. The moment I entered this classroom, I was looking to crush you so thoroughly that it would make you question not only your skills as a player, but your qualifications as a teacher. I wanted you to realize with one stroke of my pen that not only do I have knowledge of seals a hundred times greater than your own, but that I have complete contempt of your standing as professor. Contempt so great, in fact, that I was willing to lower myself and play this game with you so I could set up what amounts to the greatest degradation a seals player can ever face. A blight on your record so devastating, word of it would reach every corner of this land, and you would be denied standing as a player of repute for the rest of your days.¡±


    Smith gulped, eyes wide and hands trembling.


    ¡°Make your move then and prove it,¡± he whispered shakily.


    Raven promptly drew up two random runes. Then, he connected a line between two of the illegal runes he had drawn up earlier. The result was an apparent completed triangle with the illegal runes at the points. When he finished, he placed his pen inside his robes, and folded his arms.


    ¡°I declare victory by a seal within a seal.¡±


    The students again began to chatter nervously. Victory by a ¡°seal within a seal¡± was understood to be so impossible that losing to it was considered worse than losing to a small child.


    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Smith demanded. ¡°Those runes are illegal. I challenge!¡±


    Valentine nodded. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to explain, Whitesong. I saw through your earlier ploy, but this makes no sense.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a pity,¡± Raven replied, grinning deviously. ¡°I heard you used to be the top student. Seems you¡¯re just ordinary after all.¡±


    The students began whispering angrily at his comment. Apparently, they held her in high regard. She stared daggers at him. Then, her anger ceased and she smiled nervously, wringing her hands. ¡°Be nice now. I just want to understand.¡±


    Raven pointed to each of his three stars. ¡°These are not poorly drawn runes, as Smith ignorantly assumed. In fact, they are completed seals made up of three very small Zal stars. However, when I initially drew them up, I did not claim them, forfeiting the points.¡±


    Smith¡¯s jaw dropped. He and Valentine bent over to look at them closely, and discovered what he said to be true. What had appeared to be hastily drawn runes were in fact very tiny seals with three perfectly drawn stars connected by three unbroken lines.


    ¡°That¡¯s against the rules!¡± Smith barked. ¡°You can¡¯t draw more than two runes and one line per turn!¡±


    ¡°As you so eloquently stated, in the business of seals, the only rules are the ones in your mind,¡± Raven replied. ¡°And in my excellent mind, there are no restrictions. Tournament rules state illegal moves must be challenged in the subsequent turn, and you refrained from doing so. You cannot challenge my previous actions because the runes were drawn more than a turn ago. And now we have come to the finale. By connecting three triangles within a larger triangle, I gain immediate victory with no chance of response.¡±


    Smith grinded his teeth, seething. ¡°That is utter nonsense!¡±


    ¡°Call it what you wish. But the victory I have gained today is even larger than you anticipate,¡± Raven said, still smiling with supreme satisfaction. ¡°Because for the next year, you are going to stew over this loss. And the seals community will never cease to badger you with mocking gloats and disbelieving stares. ¡®How did he lose to a student?¡¯ they will ask. ¡®How did he lose in such a way?¡¯ they will ask. It will eat at you, keeping you up for nights on end, until the day draws near for our next match.¡±


    Smith gasped.


    ¡°Yeeeees.¡± Raven tilted his head ever so slightly. ¡°Exactly the proper response. I know your challenge, Master Smith. I know what you wrote on that piece of paper. So let me be the first to express how thankful I am. And you have my word, when that day comes for our rematch, I won¡¯t toy with you as I did today.¡± He slowly stood. ¡°On that day, I will utterly crush you.¡±


    Something vile pierced Smith¡¯s soul as he stared at the boy across from him. It was sinister and dangerous, a black tarnish in an otherwise whitewashed world. Only one other time had he felt such a suffocating presence¡­ long ago. And after seeing the Titan for the first time, he had wished with all his heart to never lay eyes on him again. The same was true now, maybe more so. Because for all the terror the Titan was capable of inflicting, Raven Whitesong could match it along with a sound topper of humiliation.


    ¡°Get out of my classroom,¡± he managed to rasp. ¡°Never come back again. You hear me? Never. You¡¯ll get your perfect marks. Just stay away from me.¡±


    The students became dead silent. Raven bowed.


    ¡°As you wish.¡±

 Chapter 10: Valentines Challenge

    Nine Star¡¯s cafeteria in Tower Two impressed even Raven. Richly stocked kitchens filled with gourmet chefs produced a bounty of delights three times a day. The head chef, Monty Messier, possessed a chef pandora which did most of the prep work, leaving him free to create never-ending culinary masterpieces to be subsequently underappreciated by the na?ve youth of his school.


    Hot foods warmed an expansive refectory that was a popular oasis from the cold. Groups of teachers and students sat at tables with bowls of soup and hot sandwiches, or reclined on comfortable couches with cups of coffee or cocoa to read the papers. Other sections were designated with study areas, where some students were already attending to newly assigned homework. Dozens of roaring fireplaces and oversized armchairs provided relief and cozy tranquility.


    Van found Raven sitting at an empty table during lunch time, and after a moment of hesitation, he sat across from him. The whole room immediately exploded with chatter.


    ¡°Did you decide it¡¯s okay to associate with me now?¡± Raven asked with a sly grin. ¡°I¡¯d hate to ruin your reputation.¡±


    ¡°Too late. Everyone knows.¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    Van started to dive into a steak sandwich when he noticed what Raven was eating. An immense bowl of chocolate ice cream was set before him, covered in almonds and nearly half-eaten. Raven ate with gusto, using a large spoon to devour it.


    ¡°Something wrong with your lunch?¡± Raven asked.


    Van set his sandwich down and folded his hands together. ¡°So, I realize you¡¯re an orphan and therefore had no parents to tell you what¡¯s wrong and right as you grew up¡­ but did you learn nothing when you were a kid? Like¡­ at all?¡±


    ¡°I learned many things.¡±


    ¡°But not what is proper to eat for lunch.¡±


    ¡°Life is far too short in a world ruled by a tyrant. I do what I want.¡±


    ¡°Yes, well, the rest of the school is starting to realize that.¡± Van lowered his voice. ¡°After your little display this morning, the masters had an emergency meeting sans Smith. Apparently, he was too fragile at the moment to join them.¡±


    ¡°I wonder why?¡± Rue whispered.


    ¡°I can only imagine what they talked about,¡± Raven said.


    ¡°They discussed ways to expel you,¡± Van replied. ¡°Well, mainly Czeslaw and Turngood did most of that talking. Nothing new. The others just didn¡¯t know what to do. Nothing really came of it. But the really crazy part was Master Fyre.¡±


    ¡°What about her?¡±


    ¡°She was livid. And that¡¯s saying something. She¡¯s famous for her optimism. Usually cool as a cucumber, but when she heard what happened, she stormed out of the room.¡±


    Raven set his spoon down. ¡°How do you know all this? Communes between the professors are normally private affairs.¡±


    ¡°I have my ways.¡±


    ¡°I see. Well that is indeed unfortunate. I was hoping to gain her as an ally. I wasn¡¯t aware she had any kind of entente with Smith.¡± He frowned. ¡°It appears my research on the masters was deficient.¡±


    ¡°There must be more to it.¡± Rue encouraged. ¡°What you did during enrollment was far more outrageous than this. She shouldn¡¯t have been so shocked.¡±


    Raven nodded. Rue was right. How could Fyre have been surprised by what happened in Smith¡¯s class that morning? Even if she did have some sort of association with Smith beyond their professional relationship, she could have easily warned Raven beforehand, but she welcomed him the day he came to Roespeye.


    His rumination was interrupted when a tray of food slammed onto their table. Raven and Van looked up to find Valentine fuming.


    ¡°You embarrassed me,¡± she seethed, casting a scornful look at Raven. ¡°In front of the whole class. Not to mention in front of Master Smith!¡±


    Van was stunned, his jaw nearly on the floor. But Raven simply looked up at her before resuming to eat his dessert-for-lunch.


    ¡°Um¡­ excuse me¡­ Raven?¡± a small voice inquired tepidly.


    Raven looked back at Valentine. The previously irate girl was now a nervous, shy thing shrinking within herself to make herself smaller. She was slightly shaking, and her cheeks turned red.


    ¡°I did not appreciate your remarks,¡± she said to him, looking away and rubbing her arm. ¡°But I think if we became better acquainted, we might gain mutual respect for each other. YOU HUMILIATED ME!¡±


    The shift was more violent and sudden than an earthquake. Valentine¡¯s personalities were switching without warning, upset by the perceived slight. Raven grimaced, realizing she was becoming more unstable than he anticipated.


    ¡°I suppose I did,¡± he answered.


    ¡°Why?¡± she asked. ¡°Did I wrong you somehow? If so, I deeply apologize.¡± Her face contorted. ¡°No! I did nothing to you, and now you¡¯ll pay for it! Meet me tomorrow night at the Grewwauld Clock in Roespeye¡¯s city square. A pandora duel. If you don¡¯t accept, you¡¯re a coward, and I¡¯ll make sure everyone knows it!¡± She shrank again. ¡°Unless you¡¯re not feeling well. Or you just want to apologize and let bygones be bygones. No big deal.¡±


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Her eyes became cruel and she drew closer to Raven. ¡°I will not be disrespected by anyone, let alone a diminutive child with no manners.¡±


    ¡°Careful what you wish for,¡± he replied. ¡°You might just find monsters scarier than you can imagine.¡±


    She clenched her jaw, confused by his statement. Glancing quickly at Van, she then picked up her tray and walked away.


    Van was slow to recover from the confrontation. In fact, by the time he did, they had dropped off their dishes and were back out in the blistery cold, making their way back to Panka¡¯s Tower.


    He finally slapped his forehead. ¡°What the hell, man? I thought you were going to help me win her affections? Now she must see me as the lackey of a person she probably already hates more than anyone! How is this going to help me?¡±


    ¡°Trust me. This needed to happen.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    They stopped at the entrance to the Sleeping Devil¡¯s courtyard. ¡°Because I have a plan. But for it to succeed, she needs to lose her stability for a time. Didn¡¯t you notice how she reacted? Only one side of her was angry with me. She responded exactly as I hoped, and it will serve our purpose if we act swiftly. Let¡¯s discuss it further in the tower.¡±


    They turned to make their way for the secret door, but then stopped immediately. Standing beside the Sleeping Devil¡¯s cocoon was Fanny Fyre. Her whimsical manner was gone, replaced with an angry glare. Her robes were coated with a thin layer of frost. She must have been waiting for a while.


    ¡°You and I need to have a talk,¡± she said, looking straight at Raven.


    Van started to back away, but she whipped her head. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. I¡¯m talking to you, too, Vam Sopher.¡±


    He winced and returned to Raven¡¯s side. ¡°It¡¯s Von Sephim,¡± he said meekly. His pale partner simply folded his arms.


    The math and science teacher quickly approached to stand before them. ¡°What do you have to say for yourself? If there¡¯s one thing I won¡¯t tolerate, it¡¯s attacking someone so vulnerable. What you did was completely uncalled for!¡±


    ¡°Master Smith invited me to play,¡± he replied with a casual smile. ¡°So I played.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about that old fart,¡± she snapped. ¡°If he picked a fight with you, then he had it coming. I¡¯m talking about Valentine Chessex.¡±


    Raven¡¯s smile faded. ¡°Valentine?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I heard what you said to her in front of all the other students. If you want to pick a fight with the teachers, fine. They should know how to handle themselves. But I won¡¯t allow anyone to berate Valentine so callously. You come at her again like that, I¡¯ll make your life a nightmare.¡±


    Van¡¯s eyes bugged at her statement, but Raven matched Fyre¡¯s cold gaze with one of his own.


    ¡°What are you to her?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business, but if you have to know, you can consider me her guardian of a sort.¡±


    ¡°And how did that come about?¡±


    ¡°Like I said. It¡¯s not your business. Just stay away from her.¡±


    Raven considered her demand a moment, before smiling. ¡°How about we make a bet. You¡¯re always up for a little game, right? If I can name all the items in your robe pockets, you answer questions I have about Valentine.¡±


    Her eyebrow rose. ¡°What do you want to know about her?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you if I win.¡±


    ¡°And what if I win?¡±


    Raven smirked. She truly was a sucker for a gamble.


    ¡°Be humble, Raven,¡± Rue warned. ¡°This might be your chance to gain her as an ally.¡±


    He nodded. ¡°If you win, Master Fyre, I¡¯ll never speak to Valentine again.¡±


    Fyre¡¯s demeanor changed. Her eyes sparkled at the prospect of a new game. ¡°Alright, I accept. Name the three items in my pockets.¡±


    ¡°Nice try,¡± Raven shot back. ¡°There are five items on your person. And judging by the surprise on your face, I¡¯d guess you already know I¡¯m going to win this bet. Shall I continue, or do you want to concede now?¡±


    ¡°Continue,¡± she replied, intrigued.


    ¡°Four of the items are as follows: a pack of playing cards, a money purse, a bag of ivory and jade dice, and a bit of paper containing your own class rosters.¡±


    Fyre sighed and shook her head ruefully. She produced the four items exactly as he said. ¡°I should have known it was a bad bet.¡±


    ¡°How did you know what she had?¡± Van asked. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be shocked to learn you¡¯re a stalker.¡±


    He leered at him. ¡°Master Fyre is notorious for carrying cards and dice at all times. That was simple. I¡¯ve seen her buy lunch with her money purse. And from discussions I¡¯ve had with former teachers and students of the school, one thing that always struck each of them was how bad she is with names. On the first day of school, the odds were very good she would keep her student rosters with her.¡±


    She ran a hand through her ponytail. ¡°There are better things to pay attention to. Well I guess you win. What did you want to know about Valentine?¡±


    ¡°Wait, Raven said there were five items,¡± Van said.


    Raven smirked and reached into his own robes. Fyre flinched. ¡°Indeed,¡± he replied. ¡°The fifth item I cannot name, because I don¡¯t know what it is, but I have this.¡±


    He produced a rolled-up bit of cloth and unraveled it. A yellow image was crudely drawn onto the surface, and when Fyre saw it, her eyes bulged. It resembled a thin cylinder with a ring on one end. Something long and jagged emerged from the bottom of the other end.


    ¡°Where did you get this?¡± she asked, taking it from him.


    ¡°This is the fifth item you are carrying. It¡¯s with you everywhere you go, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°No one is supposed to know about this except¡­¡± she trailed off, realizing she had said too much.


    ¡°Except Master Forir,¡± Raven finished. ¡°Because he has the other one.¡±


    Her jaw dropped.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°I have no idea,¡± Raven answered, laughing. ¡°But it must be valuable. I assume from the one peculiar end that it¡¯s a key.¡±


    The math teacher exhaled mightily. Then, she shrugged and reached to her neck and lifted a silver necklace to take out the cylinder. It matched Raven¡¯s cloth drawing, but that image hardly did it justice. About a span long, the key glowed as only pure gold does.


    ¡°I sure hope you haven¡¯t told anyone else about this,¡± she replied. ¡°I was warned to never reveal this to anyone or talk to anyone but Forir about it. But I have to say¡­ I¡¯m kind of glad someone else knows. It¡¯s a bit of a burden.¡±


    Van reached out, running a finger along the smooth surface. ¡°Why? What is it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But I was told it was an extremely valuable school treasure by my predecessor.¡±


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Raven said. ¡°Meaning it¡¯s passed down from one math teacher to the next. Same for the war master, I presume?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°Frankly, I¡¯m astonished that I¡¯m fine with revealing all this to you, but with some self-reflection, I realize now that I¡¯m hoping someone as smart as you can help me figure out what it is. I hate not knowing.¡±


    He hummed. ¡°So¡­ regarding Valentine Chessex.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, get on with it,¡± she grumbled, replacing her necklace. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you want, but a bet is a bet. But I better not hear you used any of this information against her. She is a precious student of mine. You hear me?¡±


    ¡°I hear you. What exactly is your connection to Valentine?¡±


    ¡°Actually, why don¡¯t we get out of this cold first? Aren¡¯t you two freezing?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± Van protested. ¡°Speak for yourself.¡±


    ¡°I did speak for myself. Otherwise, I would have said, ¡®We¡¯re fine.¡¯¡±


    He grumbled, but didn¡¯t reply. Master Fyre smiled wide, red cheeks turning chipmunk. ¡°You two are quite a pair. We can talk in my quarters in Tower Three. It¡¯s warm, and I¡¯ve got treats.¡± Then her smile turned mischievous. ¡°And maybe we can play a game or two.¡±

 Chapter 11: The Gambler

    Master Fyre¡¯s quarters featured a contradiction of perceptions. Upon first glance at the quite large space, one would discover a complete mess. Like Van whispered in Raven¡¯s ear as they stood in the entryway, she had ¡°a lot of stuff.¡± They could spot clothes, newspapers, game boards, books, dishes, and all of it seemingly strewn haphazardly.


    But on closer inspection, Raven realized it wasn¡¯t quite the mess it first appeared. Clothes weren¡¯t tossed ¨C rather they were laid in specific places across furniture or on packed hooks. Dishes of cold coffee or cider crowded a table littered with books and writing utensils, denoting Fyre¡¯s constant place of study. And while there were most definitely more items related to games than Raven could possibly identify, visible in every corner of the room, there didn¡¯t seem to be an unused bit among them. The whole of her office was like this. She indeed had a lot of stuff, and she wasn¡¯t tidy, but the space was hers, it was loved, and each object of interest had its own place. This was Fyre¡¯s respite. It was home.


    ¡°You live here, Master Fyre?¡± Raven asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± she replied with a smile, unraveling herself from her large cloak, and hanging it on a hook by a comfortable-looking bed. The hook was too full, so it fell to the floor. ¡°No one¡¯s ever objected before. And it saves a lot of time and money when I don¡¯t have to come in and out from the city. By the way, you boys can call me Fanny when we¡¯re not in public. I¡¯ve been a teacher here for four years, and I still don¡¯t like being called ¡®Master.¡¯¡±


    It was in that moment that Raven heard a distinct clamor. It bordered on the pitch of a human voice, but it was so small, he first felt it could only be in his head. But then, he felt Rue pulse against his chest.


    ¡°Raven¡­¡± she whispered in a very small voice of her own. ¡°Something is here. I don¡¯t like it. It¡¯s painful.¡±


    He nodded, but didn¡¯t answer back. However, the source of something hidden was not immediately noticeable.


    Fanny led them through a maze of furniture that formed narrow corridors to a wood table. She cleared it of dirty dishes, piling them into an already full sink. Then, they sat. Immediately, Raven and Van were drawn to the copper contraption sitting on the end. The table was set against the stone wall, and attached to the wall by heavy bolts was an immense machine of some sort. A large copper container reached from the ceiling all the way to just a span above the table surface. Eight smaller pipes extended from the bottom, ending in golden taps. Another spindle stored a stack of large steins. And a single pandora was affixed to the front, featuring an exquisite goblet, adorned with jewels and miniscule details.


    Fanny basked in their wonder, nearly hopping in her seat as she waited for one of them to ask the inevitable question.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°Only my pride and joy!¡± she replied.


    She took one of the steins from the spindle and placed it under one of the taps. Pulling the handle, steaming hot cocoa poured from the spigot. Just as she finished, three marshmallows tumbled out.


    ¡°A giant hot cocoa maker,¡± Van said. ¡°Nice. Can I have some?¡±


    ¡°Help yourself,¡± she replied with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.


    He did so, taking a cup off the stack and placing it under the nearest tap. However, when he pulled the handle, hot cocoa did not pour out. Instead, a golden frothy liquid rapidly filled his cup.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he asked in puzzlement.


    ¡°Beer,¡± she replied.


    He took a taste, and judging from his expression, he was quite pleased.


    ¡°Fascinating,¡± Raven said. ¡°Does this contraption produce eight different beverages?¡±


    ¡°Constantly,¡± she replied. ¡°And only the best kind you¡¯ll ever have of each. But it¡¯s my pandora that does the work.¡±


    ¡°What else does it make?¡±


    ¡°Cider, white wine, red wine, cherry fizzy, coffee and tea.¡±


    ¡°Ch-cherry fizzy?¡± he repeated with wide eyes. He gulped with excitement. ¡°I¡¯ll take some of that, please.¡±


    She poured him a full glass, and he took it and drank. The ice-cold liquid was sweet and refreshing, bubbling on his tongue and down his throat. Cherry fizzy was his favorite drink, and this was definitely the best he¡¯d ever had.


    ¡°You have a never-ending supply?¡± he asked in wonder, gulping down more.


    ¡°Yep.¡±


    ¡°How have you accomplished this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my dad¡¯s doing.¡± She stared admiringly at the pandora affixed to the cylinder. ¡°He used to run a drink parlor. Everyone said he was the best. I think you agree.¡±


    Van nodded, sipping his beer contentedly.


    Raven was more wild-eyed. His cup was now empty. He looked back and forth from Fanny to the dispenser, debating whether or not to ask for more. But she understood, offering her hand. He gave her the cup, and she refilled it.


    ¡°He was sold to pay off my family¡¯s debts, but in short time, I got him back. Won him in a game of Parchen. Got really lucky at the right time. I¡¯d like to think he had something to do with it.¡±


    As she and Van continued to chat, Raven again looked around the room, and more details of Fanny¡¯s chambers came into focus. There was a table in one tight wedge of the room that had a tall stack of Parchen cards and game pieces spread out over the surface. They were arranged in a manner that suggested she had been practicing the game. And this was not an outlier. Raven realized there were spaces dedicated everywhere to particular games. One corner had seven poker hands dealt. There was a roulette table with number histories posted on a corkboard. She had a Seals table, a Djinn table, a dominos table, even a Roubicon board ¨C all of them splayed out in the middle of advanced game scenarios.


    Fanny Fyre wasn¡¯t just someone who loved to gamble. She was obsessed with it. And this unnerved Raven. Everything he had learned about her before coming to the school suggested she was terrible at the casino. She regularly lost entire months¡¯ worth of salary to poor gambles. But this place told a different story. How could someone who spent so much time studying game theory be so terrible? Especially a math teacher?


    He was careful not to let Fanny see his concern, but he made a note to revisit his observations in the future and consider them acutely.


    In that moment, a noise exploded in Raven¡¯s ears. It was definitely a voice, yelling unintelligible words with fierce anger bordering on torture. He jumped from his seat, at the alert. And as the intense roars continued, he could almost feel Rue shrinking within herself.


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    ¡°Raven, I really don¡¯t like this place,¡± the pandora said. Her card felt cold. ¡°Something is here¡­ it¡¯s scary.¡±


    He ignored Van and Fanny¡¯s stares. ¡°What is it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But it¡¯s painful. So painful.¡±


    The yelling stopped as soon as it started.


    Rue exhaled. ¡°It¡¯s gone.¡±


    Raven slowly sat down, his gaze devouring the room. He waited for an attack of some kind. But none came.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Fanny asked with wide eyes.


    ¡°Yeah you¡¯re kind of freaking us out,¡± Van followed up.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he replied, gathering himself. ¡°Uh¡­ what were we talking about?¡±


    ¡°Beer, I think.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m pretty sure we were about to discuss Valentine Chessex,¡± Raven said with a smirk. ¡°That is why we came up here, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Fanny frowned. ¡°Oh that. Fine, what do you want to know?¡±


    ¡°What is your connection to Valentine?¡± He stared down at his empty mug and then looked at her.


    She rolled her eyes, and took it. ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m something of a guardian to her. I¡¯ve known her family my whole life. Lord Chessex funded my education, looked out for my parents, who served in his household for a time, and sponsored me for the position of Master here at the school. I consider him to be my second father. And I watched Valentine grow up. She has led a hard life.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Van told me about her hardships,¡± he replied, taking his newly filled drink.


    ¡°Did he now?¡± She looked at him sternly. ¡°And how would you know about it?¡±


    Van avoided her gaze. ¡°I lived in close proximity to her once upon a time.¡±


    She hummed. ¡°Anyways, her parents were not anxious to allow her to go to school, but she was insistent. So, they asked that I look out for her, and I take the task very seriously. If you understand her plight, you should know how fragile she is. Her sanity quite literally hangs by a thread.¡±


    ¡°Literally?¡± Van repeated.


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain later,¡± Raven replied. He turned his attention back to Fanny. ¡°What I want to know is why she started her Division so early¡­ and how on earth she was able to survive it. I have never heard of anyone so young surviving the process, much less subsequently overcoming the Splits.¡±


    ¡°That I can¡¯t tell you. No one can. It¡¯s a complete mystery. All Lamgardians go through the Division around their early twenties, and most people survive it thanks to centuries of research that perfected the convalescence method. They receive their second gift and live normally. Valentine started the transformation at ten. She was as good as dead. But somehow she lived. No one has ever figured out how she managed it.¡±


    ¡°Even so, the consequences led to the Splits,¡± Raven said. ¡°Split personalities that normally receive one gift each, which never matters, because anyone suffering from it goes completely insane and becomes brain-dead in months. So how is Valentine not completely off her rocker?¡±


    ¡°I hate to disappoint you when I promised to answer your questions, but I just don¡¯t know. She¡¯s clearly suffering from multiple personalities, but she maintains her sanity. Even she couldn¡¯t answer that, even though she understands her own plight and is aware of both sides of herself.¡±


    Raven took a deep drink from his mug while thinking hard. He had a strong theory about Valentine¡¯s problem, and he was mostly confident in his plan to help her. But he had been hoping Fanny would give him more information. Now, his scheme would be forced to endure a small measure of luck, which he loathed above all else.


    Van had become solemn during their exchange. His jaw clenched. ¡°Is she going to be able to survive this?¡±


    Fanny bowed her head, frowning in deep sadness. ¡°I hope so, but I just don¡¯t know. Any kind of rift in her daily life makes her extremely unstable. This is why I got so mad at you boys. Valentine was very upset by how she was treated this morning, and the effect has assaulted her mind. What would something more serious do to her?¡±


    ¡°Like say¡­ a pandora duel tomorrow night at the Grewwauld Clock?¡± Van asked, glancing at Raven nervously.


    Raven frowned. ¡°Traitor.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m worried about her, okay?¡± he snapped.


    Fanny gasped. ¡°You challenged her to a duel?¡± she shouted.


    ¡°Other way around.¡±


    ¡°Listen to me. Under no circumstances are you to meet her for that duel. It would kill her. Do you understand? Please confirm you understand.


    Just then, Rue screamed. ¡°RAVEN! It¡¯s back!¡± she shouted in agony.


    Then it came. A nearly deafening wail that only Raven and Rue could hear.


    Again, Raven was out of his seat like lightning. ¡°MASTER FYRE!¡± he shouted with authority.


    ¡°What?¡± she nearly screamed in fright.


    ¡°We are hearing something,¡± he said quickly. ¡°And now I¡¯ve figured out what it is. A pandora. Do you have something dangerous here? Something out of control?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± She turned pale. ¡°Who is we? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re¡­ what?¡±


    The screaming continued, and Rue continued to howl. She shrunk deep inside Raven¡¯s mind, desperate to hide. It was affecting her somehow.


    ¡°A pandora,¡± he repeated. ¡°You know what I¡¯m talking about.¡± He pulled out Rue¡¯s card, and it was glowing in a way he¡¯d never seen before. A black halo of clout.


    Fanny quickly got up and rushed around the maze of furniture back to her kitchenette. Raven and Van followed. She shoved an icebox aside to reveal a steel safe in the wall featuring only a handle and nothing else. She placed her hand on the door. There was a click, and it swung open.


    An immense wave of heat hit their faces. Fanny gasped in fear. A small furnace was ablaze, and Raven quickly found the source. A pandora lay inside, discharging immense waves. With each new human scream coming from the card, new jets of flame expelled, incinerating anything else inside. And now that the safe was open, fire began to creep up the walls, threatening to overtake the room.


    Raven acted quickly. A pandora whipped out from his sleeve, featuring three snowflakes. ¡°Ice Token,¡± he said, snapping his fingers.


    An icy jet of frost blasted from the card, encasing the pandora aflame in a clear ice bubble. In seconds, the heat dissipated, and Raven snatched the bubble from the safe with both hands. The pandora inside still raged in fire, but it could not break the icy shell. And the screaming stopped immediately. Rue settled down, but she remained mute.


    ¡°What the hell is that?¡± Van shouted.


    Fanny was already desperately at work trying to salvage items from her safe, reaching quick but tentative hands through the rubble. She bemoaned each loss she discovered and sighed in relief at each save.


    ¡°This¡­ is a very powerful pandora,¡± Raven replied. His eyes narrowed. ¡°A Class Seven. Fanny, where did you get this?¡±


    ¡°I won it, believe it or not.¡± She spread her salvage across the table. ¡°In a game of Parchen. I got really lucky. Or maybe I was unlucky. I¡¯m certainly not so lucky today.¡± She sighed again, placing a hand on her face and shaking her head. ¡°I just lost a fortune in rare treasures.¡±


    ¡°A Class Seven!¡± Van repeated in awe.


    ¡°It could be a Class Ten for all I care. It never did anything before today. A dud.¡± She rejoined them, and they surrounded the orb in Raven¡¯s hands. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. I thought it was useless. Then you show up, and it bursts into flames.¡±


    ¡°It was screaming,¡± Raven said. ¡°It still is, I would imagine.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anything,¡± Fanny said. ¡°Van, did you?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anything either, but Raven can talk to pandora.¡±


    ¡°Only Class Seven or higher,¡± Raven said. ¡°But this soul seemed to come under severe distress when we came inside. And Rue reacted just as severely. She was desperate to get away, in fact.¡±


    ¡°Rue?¡± Fanny asked with interest.


    ¡°My Class Eight. A soul with whom I can converse. And she felt this pandora long before I did.¡±


    ¡°Well, if you figure out a way to talk to that thing,¡± she said with disgust, pointing at the globe, ¡°Tell him, thanks a lot!¡±


    Raven stared at the pandora inside, glowing like a white-hot branding iron. Something about it wasn¡¯t so foreign to him. He felt something¡­ familiar. Something devilish and clever. And anything Rue detested was something of interest.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you let me hold onto this?¡± he asked Fanny.


    ¡°Why, what are you thinking?¡± she asked. Curiosity consumed her expression now.


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking my familiarity with high-class pandora will help me discover its secrets.¡±


    ¡°A Class Seven pandora is still a Class Seven. That thing is worth a hundred times its weight in gold.¡±


    ¡°How about we make a deal then? Let us borrow this soul, and I promise to discover not only what this pandora can do, but also the secret of the two keys.¡±


    She hummed with interest, fingering the chain around her neck. ¡°By when?¡±


    ¡°The end of my time at the school.¡±


    ¡°And if you don¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°I give it back.¡±


    ¡°So basically, you¡¯re asking to borrow it for a year, free of charge?¡±


    ¡°Geez,¡± Van piped up. ¡°It¡¯s not like you were loaning it out to other people for a fee before now. It was sitting in a safe! And didn¡¯t it just cost you more than you could ever earn anyway? What if it burns everything else down that you own?¡±


    She tsked. ¡°That¡¯s a really good point.¡±


    ¡°Raven obviously knows how to handle unstable business like this.¡±


    ¡°Alright, you boys have a deal. But on one condition.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I can guess,¡± Raven replied dryly.


    ¡°Under no condition are you to meet Valentine tomorrow for that duel. This is non-negotiable. Do we have a deal?¡±


    Raven considered it for a moment before smiling a devilish grin. ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡±

 Chapter 12: The Duel

    Of course, Raven would disobey.


    Not only did his partnership with Van depend on staying the course with their designs on Valentine Chessex, but he was also intrigued by her. Raven had long ago formed a theory about Lamgard Division, the transformative process every Lamgardian endures when they become adults. Those who are unable to cope with the burden are mentally crushed, their minds split in half which usually reduces them to brain-dead stumps.


    Yet, despite starting the Division at only ten years old and subsequently enduring the Splits, Valentine Chessex was not only sane, but thriving. This told Raven two things: that she had outrageous talent rivaled by only the best souls Fallowreyk had to offer, and that she was walking a razor-thin path of destruction. Veer left or right just a span, and her mind was liable to self-destruct.


    How she kept control of her two halves, Raven didn¡¯t know, but he was aching to find out. And his goal would not be stymied by Fanny Fyre. However, he was expecting her to try.


    ¡°You really think Master Fyre will show up?¡± Van asked, shivering.


    They crouched together on the roof of a two-story meat souk overlooking the shadowy central plaza of the city. Taller pointed steeples surrounded the square in black ink shapes amongst the snowfall. For the last hour, they had been reconnoitering, waiting for Valentine to arrive for their predetermined duel. A foot of fresh snow caked the wide yard. The shops were all closed up, silent as the night. In the center of the circular space was an ornate black post with a four-sided clock. The faces were powerfully illuminated by a pandora within.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Raven replied. ¡°But I¡¯m prepared for it all the same.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s so damn cold!¡± he said, huddling into a ball and hugging his legs. ¡°How do you stand this weather?¡±


    ¡°Here.¡± Raven extended his arm, and a pandora floated out. ¡°You can borrow Glass Blower tonight.¡±


    Van took the card with wide eyes. ¡°Is this a Class Five? Wow. I can literally feel the magic coming from it. What does it do?¡±


    ¡°Among many things, it produces heat. Place it on your chest, and it will warm you up. I need you in top shape if my plan is to be successful. You¡¯re sure you have it memorized?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get all excited,¡± he said, slipping the pandora down his neck. He shivered as warmth spread through him, and then smiled lazily. ¡°Oh yeeeeaah¡­ that¡¯s the good stuff.¡±


    ¡°Shh!¡±


    Raven crouched lower, looking over the edge of the roof. A shadow approached from the West. The form of Valentine slowly took shape. She carried a rucksack and walked with a determined gait. Raven smiled in excitement.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s time. Van, get to your position.¡±


    He turned his head, but Van was gone. Raven looked about everywhere in surprise. He had vanished like a ghost.


    Now that¡¯s interesting. You have some hidden talents, don¡¯t you, my friend?


    He put Van¡¯s disappearing act out of mind for the time being. Valentine had made it to the clock, and stood waiting. She wore nothing besides her short dress, but seemed little more affected by the cold than he was. In fact, she seemed hot, so mean was her countenance.


    She really is looking for a fight. Well, I guess I better not disappoint.


    ___


    Valentine stood at the ready, watchful for her enemy.


    ¡°Well, not really my enemy,¡± she said quietly to herself. She gracefully brushed snow from her shoulder and then clasped her hands together.


    ¡°No, he¡¯s definitely our enemy, and I need to beat him to a pulp,¡± she said in a stronger voice. Valentine Sword¡¯s mouth formed a sneer. ¡°This will be a victory not just for me, but for the school and even the whole city. You know what¡¯s he¡¯s doing.¡±


    Valentine Shield winced. ¡°Yes¡­ I don¡¯t know why no one else can see it, but it¡¯s plain as day. He wants the Titan to come to Roespeye. He¡¯s begging for it.¡± She shuddered. ¡°Such an awful objective.¡±


    ¡°Awful¡­ and stupid!¡± She growled beneath her breath. ¡°Why would anyone tempt the Tyrant to kill him? He¡¯s so arrogant, risking lives just for his ego. I want to wipe the smugness right off his face.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear.¡± Shield frowned and placed a hand on her cheek. ¡°Can¡¯t we offer him a truce instead? He¡¯s so very smart. Maybe we can reason with him and even call him a friend?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Sword nearly shouted. ¡°He treated me like garbage. Everyone laughed at me in Master Smith¡¯s class. Or they would have¡­ if they weren¡¯t so afraid of Raven. I¡¯m not afraid.¡±


    ¡°Van is with him.¡±


    She became silent, leaning back against the clock.


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°We should talk to him,¡± Shield said gently. ¡°We know him. Van wouldn¡¯t join with someone like Raven without a good reason.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t he? Van¡¯s not in the business of nice. He¡¯s a street urchin with his ear wedged into every door, window, and wall in the city.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s a very nice urchin. A handsome urchin.¡±


    Valentine blushed furiously. ¡°That has nothing to do with this! We¡¯re here to fight Whitesong and that¡¯s all there is to it. Even if it means Van won¡¯t like me¡­ even if he comes to despise me.¡±


    She became sullen, using her boot to draw a circle in the snow.


    ¡°He¡¯s a nice urchin,¡± Valentine Shield said comfortingly.


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Sword replied.


    The crunch of snow alerted her, and she stood at attention. From the shadows of an unlit street came a deeper shadow.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d show,¡± Valentine said, folding her arms. She flashed a smile full of false confidence.


    ¡°Were you expecting me?¡± a gravelly voice replied.


    Valentine¡¯s smile faded. That was not Raven Whitesong¡¯s voice. The cloaked figure appeared, revealed by the light of the clock. He wore robes similar to Raven¡¯s, but his face was covered by a white mask. The cover had no holes for eyes or mouth. Instead two small handprints were impressed where the eyes would normally be. And a small black line formed an impish grin.


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    ¡°You are Whitesong. Don¡¯t try to deny it.¡±


    The figure reached inside his robes. Valentine flinched, quickly reaching to her pack and producing three pandora. But the masked fiend revealed something she did not expect.


    ¡°Look at this,¡± the strange voice commanded, holding up his hand. His painted grin seemed to widen.


    It was another mask, similar in form. This one was black, with a crude butterfly etched into the surface. He continued to hold it beside his head so that his mask was side-by-side.


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to be?¡± she demanded. ¡°Are we going to duel or not?¡±


    ¡°Valentine!¡± a sudden shout came.


    She and her adversary both looked at the source. To her surprise, Vanyard von Sephim came running from another street, caked in snow and looking wild and desperate. Valentine was stunned. She had guessed she might see him tonight, but not in such a state.


    ¡°That¡¯s not Raven!¡± he shouted. ¡°Get away from him! He wants to kill you!¡±


    She stepped back in uncertainty. The masked man had started to approach her, still holding up the second mask like a talisman, as if to ward off evil.


    ¡°Valentine!¡± a second shout echoed in the court.


    All three people present whirled at the new source coming from the opposite side. This time, Fanny appeared, holding up a pandora threateningly. She glared at the masked man.


    ¡°I told you not to come here!¡± she shouted angrily. ¡°We had a deal!¡±


    ¡°RUN!¡± Van shouted desperately.


    Valentine looked back at the masked man and gasped. In a flash, he had bolted and was now only a few spans away. Van dashed for them, reaching out his hand. Valentine swiped her pandora, and they began to glow, but the masked man ducked, plunging a pandora of his own into the snow.


    ¡°Too slow,¡± he said with an evil chuckle.


    The snow was obliterated in a moment, bursting into steam before clearing in the cold air. And beneath their feet was a complex seal within a seal, which he and Valentine were standing right in the middle of. Each of the lines immediately burst into a red glow as the seal activated.


    ¡°What? When did you¡­?¡±


    Van reached them and grabbed her arm. But that was it. All went dark, and the night faded into nothing.


    ___


    Raven and Van opened their eyes.


    The open night had been replaced, now a dimly lit room with damp stone walls, lichen swaddling the corners. A small pedestal stood in the middle of the room with a brass candelabrum, and an open doorway led to a dank hall.


    Van looked around, turning in place. ¡°Is this¡­?¡± he ventured.


    Raven hummed. ¡°We¡¯re inside Valentine¡¯s mind.¡±


    ¡°Fascinating. It¡¯s darker than I assumed.¡±


    ¡°Really? I wasn¡¯t expecting it to be so quiet. I don¡¯t hear a thing.¡±


    ¡°That was a close call. I thought you would be forced to activate the seal before I could make it.¡±


    ¡°I almost had to.¡±


    ¡°What about Master Fyre? Will she be able to interfere in the real world?¡±


    ¡°No. My seal within a seal includes a Hydra-infused physical shield that will last an hour. More than enough time. Right now, she can only watch our bodies as they stand within the runescape.¡±


    Van traipsed around the small room, marveling at it all. ¡°So, answer me this. You said that the seal you drew up would trap all those within and allow us to enter the mind of the subject, meaning Valentine. So, what are we right now?¡±


    ¡°We are the subconscious manifestations of our own soul psyches.¡±


    ¡°Manifested by Valentine,¡± Van concluded.


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    ¡°Then, how do I still have my ¡®dora?¡± He reached to his neck and produced the card that Raven had given him earlier. ¡°Everything else I had in my pockets isn¡¯t there anymore. Because she couldn¡¯t see them, right? So¡­ her brain couldn¡¯t manifest them into form. I understand that part. But if Valentine never saw my pandora either, how is that possible?¡±


    ¡°Pandora are human souls.¡± He crouched and began to draw lines in dust on the floor. ¡°The seal I created features two Lam-Mun-Pro variants with a sweeping tri-Zal inlay. The inlay is important, because it allows for the insert of soul psyches forcefully into the mind. Pandora are no exception.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m doing fine, thanks for asking,¡± Rue piped up.


    ¡°This is why it was important that she saw me holding the masks.¡± Raven stood back up and produced from his robes the mask he had been wearing, along with the black butterfly mask. He handed that one to Van. ¡°She saw the masks and associated them to me. So, I still have them here. Now, we begin phase two. And it¡¯s starting as perfectly as I envisioned.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Take a look above the door.¡±


    Van looked to see something easily missed to an untrained eye. Scratched into the stone was a large rectangular border, and within, a weaving of hundreds of seemingly random lines. A haphazard net of sorts.


    ¡°Is that what I think it is?¡±


    ¡°Depends on how much you know about the human mind.¡±


    ¡°My father used to talk about it all the time. The ¡®Mind Web,¡¯ right?¡±


    Raven sneered. ¡°Obnoxious slang. It¡¯s called the Holy Frame.¡±


    Van rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Anyways,¡± Raven said with a short grunt. ¡°That is Valentine¡¯s frame. The unique pattern of her mind¡¯s makeup. Now look at what I drew into the ground. Would you say it¡¯s identical?¡±


    Van studied the etching in the floor and the frame above the door for several minutes. ¡°Yeah, looks perfect.¡±


    ¡°Good. Then I have memorized it. Let¡¯s be going.¡±


    He placed his mask over his face. The cover suctioned onto his skin. Van did the same. Eyes appeared on both masks in splashy ink lines that moved as their own eyes did. They looked at each other and nodded. The door lead to a long corridor in both directions. Raven looked each way several times.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know where to go, do you?¡± Van said.


    ¡°Nope. I¡¯ve never been inside Valentine¡¯s mind before. Have you?¡±


    ¡°Funny. Well, let¡¯s go left.¡±


    ¡°Why left?¡±


    ¡°Valentine is left-handed.¡±


    ¡°As good a reason as any.¡±


    ¡°Raven, I can feel her,¡± Rue said.


    ¡°Really?¡± he replied. ¡°Which way then?¡±


    ¡°Left.¡±


    Raven clapped Van on the back. ¡°Good intuition.¡±


    They calmly traversed the passage side-by-side. One right turn led to a left. And this happened many times. No doors or side corridors presented themselves, and the setting was uniform ¨C stone walls lit by candelabra every twenty spans or so. And as the minutes passed, Van began to grow tense.


    ¡°Relax,¡± Raven finally said when his fisted knuckles started turning white.


    ¡°You said this was dangerous,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Not for us.¡±


    ¡°Just for Valentine. That doesn¡¯t make you at least apprehensive?¡±


    ¡°I mitigate the costs of fear with preparation.¡±


    ¡°You were the one who said this whole plan was risky.¡±


    Raven hummed. ¡°I won¡¯t avoid the truth. I am risking Valentine¡¯s life. But not without purpose. I think you know as well as I do that she¡¯s dead already. It¡¯s just a matter of time.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that for sure.¡±


    ¡°Actually I do. I just had no desire to tell you before we started. Valentine is dying.¡±


    Van stopped to look at him. Raven did as well.


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. It can¡¯t be.¡±


    Raven raised his hands in irritation. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m doing all this for my health? Do you think I blatantly disobeyed a teacher and devised a complex and dangerous seal to enter the mind of a girl I barely knew existed just a few days ago?¡±


    Van folded his arms. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Ok, well you may have me there. But I¡¯m not reckless.¡± He continued walking and Van followed. ¡°Valentine is dying. No one can survive long without an intact frame of mind. But there¡¯s a good chance I can save her life, depending on if I¡¯m right about what¡¯s happening in the first place. So far, I¡¯d say I¡¯ve not given you any reason to doubt. But what do you say?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d say I¡¯m scared for Valentine. I¡¯m not afraid to admit that.¡±


    ¡°Then put your trust in me. Regardless of what happens, remember that you gave your all to save her life when, before this chance, she was doomed.¡±


    He suddenly stopped, sensing a change, and peeked around another corner. Van stretched over him and did likewise. The hall abruptly ended and led into a massive empty chamber. There was adequate light, but the cavity was so large, darkness consumed the greatest portion. And far in the distance, they could see three people. They stood close to a shining golden object resembling a huge painting frame.


    Raven and Van drew back.


    ¡°They all look like Valentine,¡± Van said.


    ¡°Yes. Those are the three divisions of her soul psyche. Mind, Sword, and Shield. They are all present, which is exactly what I¡¯d hoped.¡± He produced a new pandora from his robes. This one featured a golden eagle mid-flight. It began to glow.


    Van looked around the corner again. One of the Valentines was wandering the sanctuary, wary and alert. But the other two were still as statues; each stood on one side of the golden frame, holding the ends of what appeared to be a white rope of some kind. They held it taut while staring straight ahead. He looked back at Raven to ask a question, and then nearly jumped at the new sight.


    Instead of one masked Raven, there were now two standing beside each other.


    ¡°Holy wild! You could have warned me.¡±


    ¡°I told you when we planned all this,¡± one of them said. ¡°This pandora, Free Regions, allows me to split my own psyche into its Sword and Shield personas.¡±


    ¡°Without it, no part of my scheme would be possible,¡± the second Raven followed.


    ¡°I thought only a Lamgardian could do that.¡±


    ¡°In the physical world, this is true, but we are on a mental plane. I am a projection only.¡±


    ¡°Uh, let¡¯s get started,¡± Van said. The ink of his mask changed to relay disgust. ¡°Too much of this and I might really freak out.¡±


    ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll go first,¡± the second Raven replied. ¡°Wait for the signal. But Van, remember¡­ be brave. How would you want Valentine to see you in her dreams? Keep that question in your mind. Everything you desire can be had here and now. But you must be brave.¡±

 Chapter 13: The Holy Frame

    Valentine paced and paced.


    Something was happening. Nothing was right. It had to have been Raven in the courtyard. It just had to be. But his voice was entirely dissimilar. And Van¡¯s warning¡­


    ¡°But he¡¯s in league with Raven,¡± she said to herself. ¡°He was tricking me.¡±


    She stopped. That couldn¡¯t be true. Van was a good person. Even if he didn¡¯t know who she was, he wouldn¡¯t do anything underhanded. But wait, he knew her name, right? In the courtyard, he shouted her name. And he was trying to save her! She shook her head, frustrated. Everything was so confusing, and it all happened so suddenly. She had to figure this out!


    But what could she do? She was somehow stuck inside her own mind. She didn¡¯t know how she knew this, but she did. Even so, she didn¡¯t know where she was or how to escape. It felt like an eternity since she had appeared in this dark place, and she tried very hard not to look at the glowing object close by, even though she knew what it was. The image of it¡­ she couldn¡¯t handle the horror there.


    Focus, Valentine.


    ¡°This all has something to do with that seal,¡± she said. ¡°Maybe Van stopped it from being deadly or¡­¡±


    ¡°You think he could stop me?¡± a voice replied.


    Valentine shuddered and whirled to face the sudden intruder. Just like before, the masked man approached out of the darkness, a vile drawn face grinning wickedly. His voice was gritty and echoing, an avalanche of muck with every obnoxious, nerve-pinching word.


    Valentine whipped three pandora from her pocket, holding them out like weapons. He only smiled all the more, raising his arms. A pandora floated out from the sleeves to each of his hands.


    ¡°Who are you? I demand an answer!¡±


    ¡°I am DEATH.¡± He cackled, apprehension growing vulture-like on his painted face. ¡°You robbed me of my rightful possession. I¡¯m here to claim what¡¯s mine.¡±


    One of his cards ignited. Enormous apparitions appeared all around them, hands of the blackest ink. The multitude of appendages clenched into giant fists slammed into the floor. Valentine dodged, dashing from spot to spot just to keep from being crushed. She raised two of her pandora. Wings of light appeared behind her back, and she immediately burst from the ground, flying up into the air.


    Her attacker frowned in anger. Her second pandora then materialized, forming an exquisite ivory sword that floated in mid-air and aimed right for her attacker¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Well then¡­¡± she said, courage filling her face. ¡°I should be glad you¡¯re here. You took my brother and sister before me.¡± She motioned to her two pandora. ¡°But you won¡¯t have me. And if you really are Death incarnate, I¡¯m actually looking forward to this. A little revenge is in order.¡±


    The sword exploded by some unknown force, jettisoned toward the enemy. One of the many hands came down, blocking it, but the weapon glanced off and attacked again and again, whirling, slicing, and thrusting. Valentine directed its movement with her hand while flying freely through the air. Her wings shined brilliantly, untouched by even a pinch of the dark.


    Raven Shield silently dropped to the floor. He looked up, careful to make sure he wasn¡¯t noticed. In the far distance, Raven Sword kept Valentine¡¯s mind engaged in battle, with her gaze drawn asunder. He doubted it was necessary at this point, though. The whole time observing her, she was unwilling to even look at her own frame.


    He couldn¡¯t blame her.


    What Raven saw up close was shocking. The rectangular frame of her mind stood on a black dais, about six spans high and ten spans wide. It was solid gold, so lustrous that a visible glow cascaded from the surface of all four sides. Standing in front of it on each side were Valentine Shield and Valentine Sword. The two personalities of her psyche couldn¡¯t hear or see anything, including him. But their arms were outstretched toward each other while facing away from the frame. They held what appeared to be a solid white rope, keeping it taut. Many other rope-like objects were strewn across the dais, ripped into pieces.


    This was unlike anything Raven had ever seen, but he now fully understood what happened to her, confirming his theory. The Splits truly embodied its own title. The ¡°rope¡± her two personalities held was all that remained of her Holy Frame of Mind. During the Lamgard Division, her mind was broken, and the psychic cords of her frame were ripped to shreds ¨C these were the mental conduits granted to her at conception, unique to herself. The destruction of them should have meant the annihilation of her very being. Yet somehow, she managed to keep one cord united. By the strength of her own psyche, she kept her sanity. The rope wasn¡¯t even connected to the frame, but because Shield and Sword held tight, she survived. They formed a deliberate partnership and worked together to save herself from the void.


    Both fascinated and awed, Raven looked from her Shield persona to Sword and back again. While Valentine Shield stared ahead, looking very much like her physical self, Valentine Sword was riddled with painful-looking scars from head to foot. And long-dried blood dyed many portions of her skin.


    Incredible. Normally the Shield persona of a person¡¯s psyche absorbs physical and mental attacks. That¡¯s one of its purposes. But for Valentine, it¡¯s the Sword that seems to have taken all the punishment of the Splits and anything else that assaulted her. It seems she was protecting Shield of her own accord.


    Was this what saved her in the end? He didn¡¯t know, but he was exploding with curiosity about the answer. One thing he did know for certain was that Valentine was even more amazing than he first guessed. Just observing the scene before him, he knew only a powerful mind could have accomplished this. She was truly brilliant, perhaps even as smart as Arkh and Noelle. He understood why Van was so taken with her. She possessed a raw will to survive, capable of overcoming any obstacle. In fact, her genius was probably the reason she started the Division so young in the first place. It was no wonder she didn¡¯t seem scared as she battled his other projection. After all she¡¯d been through, even death couldn¡¯t frighten her.


    Raven could have spent weeks exploring her mind, but the task at hand was more important and he didn¡¯t have much more time. Producing a pandora, he situated it between his fingers like a pen. The picture on the card was that of a city bombarded by sleet and lightning ¨C a crafting pandora, rare but not unknown. Recalling the frame he previously memorized, Raven began to draw in the air. A white cord erupted from the corner of his pandora, falling into his hand. Just as he predicted, the crafting pandora worked perfectly in the mental plane to rematerialize psychic cords. He reached up and placed it on one side of the frame, where the ethereal material instantly melded into the gold.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°Well, Valentine,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s see if I can fix you up.¡±


    Raven Sword continued to attack Valentine, throwing all he had at her while shielding himself from her constant barrage. Her pandora were truly remarkable, but her combat prowess impressed him even more. This definitely wasn¡¯t her first time in battle, sparring or otherwise.


    While engaging her, he kept track of his other personality¡¯s progress on the Holy Frame, making sure Valentine kept all her attention on him. It was about halfway through when he made his next move, activating the pandora in his other hand. Rue glowed fiercely, and she cheered.


    ¡°It¡¯s my turn!¡± she said.


    A burst of force extended out from Raven¡¯s body, blowing the hands of darkness and Valentine¡¯s sword away. The pulse was so strong, Valentine was sent plummeting to the ground with a scream. She bounced across the floor, gasping in shock with each fall. Raven approached, his gigantic hands rematerializing and hovering just above her.


    ¡°That was fun,¡± he said darkly. ¡°But I¡¯d like to kill you now.¡±


    She gasped, covering her head. But she wasn¡¯t crushed. Instead, there was a muffled thud followed by a hateful growl. She looked up, and then her jaw dropped. Yet another masked person had appeared out of nowhere. But this one stood over her, holding up his arms. By what appeared to be his strength alone, he stopped the colossal hand from smashing them.


    He turned his head to look down at her. ¡°Are you alright, miss?¡± he asked in a righteous, heroic voice. It sounded incredibly familiar and warm. He was wearing a different mask than Death¡¯s, featuring a strange butterfly. Where had she seen it before?


    ¡°You!¡± Raven blasted in the angriest voice he could manage, pointing at him. ¡°Why do you always interfere with my plans?¡±


    Van yelled and pushed up with all his might. The black fist was tossed far away. He offered his hand to Valentine and gently helped her up. A smile of ink spread on the mask. Then he looked at Raven and pointed back.


    ¡°I will always be there to stop your nefarious plans, Death!¡±


    Van instantly felt queasy. I can¡¯t believe I just said something so lame in front of Valentine. But I have to remember. This will be like a dream to her when she wakes up. I¡¯ve got to play the part, and this needs to be quick!


    ¡°Not this time, hero!¡± his actor-in-crime shouted back.


    Raven¡¯s own unapologetic performance definitely helped Van shrug off his embarrassment. The gigantic, shrouded hands returned in force. Van took Valentine¡¯s hand, and they dashed away.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Valentine demanded shakily.


    ¡°No one important,¡± he replied, dashing this way and that as humongous fists crushed the ground all around them before exploding into smoke. ¡°Just here to help.¡±


    ¡°Well, I can take care of myself.¡±


    She wrenched herself free from his grip and flew back up into the air. But Raven flashed Rue¡¯s card immediately. The burst sent her plummeting back down. Van burst forward and caught her, crouching low and then dashing to the side to avoid another fist of death.


    ¡°I have no doubt about that, miss,¡± Van said, holding her close in his arms while zig-zagging through the arena. ¡°But I can be your support. Let¡¯s defeat him together.¡±


    She blushed furiously. Her rescuer was very strong, carrying her in his arms with ease. ¡°Put me down,¡± she ordered without conviction.


    Van jumped, just avoiding another fist. The smoke from the impact consumed them in a black fog. When he landed, Van quickly set her on her feet. ¡°I¡¯ll distract Death. Wait for an opening and then attack!¡±


    Van dashed out of the plume, making a beeline for Raven. He produced a pandora of his own and it flashed. Raven held up Rue and explosive gravity shot at him. It should have blasted him away, but Van suddenly disappeared only to reappear again, a few spans left of where he had been.


    Raven growled, and a barrage of dark hands came up to block Van¡¯s path. They reached to snatch him up, but then Van disappeared again! He reappeared instantly on the other side of the wall. Reaching back, Van punched Raven square in the middle of the mask. He was sent flying, skidding across the stone floor and howling in pain.


    The moment he came to a stop, Raven looked up. He gasped and rolled to his left just before Valentine¡¯s sword could skewer him. Over and over, her sword made to pin him to the ground, but he rolled away, quickly getting up and dashing for Valentine¡¯s position. She flew up into the air.


    Raven held up Rue, who exploded with force. The pulse blasted into Valentine, and she hurtled into two of Raven¡¯s giant hands. The ghostly appendages caught her and gripped her tight. They began to squeeze. Valentine screamed in pain, trying to free herself but to no avail.


    Raven laughed loud and evilly, putting his hands on his hips. His magical dark hands squeezed even harder. She choked and began to turn red, then blue. The very life was being sucked out of her. She couldn¡¯t breathe! Just when she thought she was going to die, the hands suddenly relented, dissipating into harmless smoke.


    She fell. Vaguely aware, she waited for the impact of her head against the floor, but it never came. Instead, she once again fell into a smooth embrace. Warm hands caught her, strong arms pulled her in, and she was tucked against the body of her strange hero once more.


    ¡°Why¡­?¡± she managed to whisper. ¡°Why are you saving me?¡±


    The man with the butterfly mask looked at her, and a dashing smile of ink painted itself on the surface, but he didn¡¯t reply.


    She looked around, trying to regain her bearings, but everything was a blur. There was a cloaked person in the distance, lying on the ground. Was that blood on the floor? Had her attacker been killed?


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand any of this,¡± she said, feeling very tired. ¡°Why are we here? Why did you save me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to keep you around, Valentine Chessex,¡± he replied. ¡°You¡¯re important to me.¡±


    ¡°You know my name?¡± Her eyes refocused a bit. ¡°Why? Who are you?¡±


    Van set her on her feet, and she stood up but kept a grip on him for support. He reached up to his mask and slowly removed it. She held her breath in amazement when Van¡¯s face appeared.


    ¡°Vanyard¡­¡± she said softly.


    He smiled. ¡°It seems you know my name, too.¡±


    ¡°Of course! I¡­ I¡¯ve always known.¡±


    ¡°Then know this as well: I¡¯ll always be there to save you. No matter what.¡±


    Both Ravens listened to their conversation in the distance. Raven Sword lay very still, pretending to be dead. Raven Shield stood before the newly restored Frame. This was it, and now it was time for the gamble. Would Valentine survive this? He hadn¡¯t allowed himself to wonder if he was wrong before now, but this was the time to ask that all-important question.


    ¡°I believe in you, Raven,¡± Rue said. Her voiced warmed his soul.


    He heard Van say in the distance. ¡°Then know this as well: I¡¯ll always be there to save you. No matter what.¡±


    That¡¯s the perfect ending! It was now or never. He reached out to the cord still held by Valentine¡¯s personalities and pulled hard. The cord snapped. Immediately, the arena of Valentine¡¯s mind rumbled. She fell into Van¡¯s arms. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head, and she collapsed. Then, all went dark.


    Raven and Van opened their eyes, but Valentine did not. She crumpled, leaving Van to catch her just before she hit the ground. She was incredibly pale, seemingly drained of life, and her breath was as frigid as the night. The cold of the winter air raced to their bones, bringing them back to the present. Raven¡¯s seal dispersed, and the lines faded. The barrier of the seal disappeared as well, and a layer of collected snow fell over them in a light heap. He removed his mask and shook his head free of lingering snow.


    Immediately, Fanny Fyre came forward and slapped Raven across the face. Tears brimmed at the surface of her eyes, and her expression was a potent mixture of fear and fury. Raven turned his head back and looked at her with a cool gaze. There were other people in the square now, including Masters Bastille and Czeslaw. They surrounded them in a circle, and all looked just as angry as Fanny, if not more.


    Fanny seized Valentine from Van¡¯s arms, and two people came forward to take her, gently placing her limp body onto a gurney before rushing her away in the direction of the city¡¯s nearest medic ward. Soon they were gone, leaving Raven and Van to face the wrathful glares alone.


    Czeslaw growled. ¡°Do you have any idea¡ª¡±


    But Fanny held up her hand, silencing him. There was a brief moment of hush as she and Raven stared each other down.


    A tear trickled down her face.


    ¡°I am going to do everything in my power to make sure you are expelled.¡±

 Chapter 14: Bright Flame

    Warmth seeped into Raven¡¯s cold flesh and bones. Despite his normal preference, the higher temperature was a good thing right now. It helped him meditate. The invisible rays melted the snow around him, caressed his skin dry, and made his fingers tingle.


    He sat on a relatively flat plateau of earth and rock. While the city of Roespeye was surrounded by an immense wall, it served no purpose in this day and age, and many various ways in and out of the city had been fashioned over the centuries. One of these routes was formed by way of a wooden bridge built over the wall, connecting an auditorium¡¯s tower inside the city to the face of the mountain outside of it. Actors and performers enjoyed use of the bridge during the spring and summer period to travel to the mountain where several outdoor theaters were constructed for gratis plays or music festivals.


    From his current vantage, Raven beheld the entire city, a gem blanketed in blustery white. The city was peanut shaped, consuming all available space of a plateau on the north face of Mount Chappelle. The academy¡¯s towers could barely be seen at the far side of the city. When he heard about this place on the opposite side, he came on the first day off from school. It wasn¡¯t necessarily an escape, but rather a retreat.


    Behind Raven, a metal pole stood upright where he had driven it into the ground. Six spans high it reached, and at its apex was a pandora featuring a boy singing with hands clasped and eyes closed. A bubble of pleasant heat cascaded from Glass Blower, melting all the snow around it for several spans. Grass sprung up from the soil, and small insects emerged from hibernation to scurry to and fro.


    He sat cross-legged with his hands positioned in Grand Harmony. Through closed eyes, he searched unknown worlds and dwelled on his time so far at the school. So many things had happened in such a short time, and he wondered if he was moving too fast. Or, perhaps¡­ not fast enough? Was his ultimate mission succeeding? But most of all, he thought about Valentine.


    It had been three days since their excursion into her brain. Since then, she¡¯d been in a deep coma. Word of what happened spread like wildfire, gripping the school and even the whole city with fear. Some students began to plea with the masters for Raven¡¯s immediate removal from Nine Star Academy. No decision had yet been made, however, and none approached Raven. Even Van stayed away for the most part.


    Van was understandably devastated about Valentine¡¯s condition. Raven had offered him strong hope when he devised his scheme, and Van had put faith in it. But he was also brave and did not blame Raven for what was happening. He said he knew deep down that Valentine was doomed, having known about the death of her siblings before her. Even so, he wasn¡¯t consolable and didn¡¯t attend classes the past few days. Where he went, Raven didn¡¯t know.


    It was beneficial to both of them. Raven didn¡¯t feel like talking either. Valentine¡¯s coma was unexpected, though not outside the boundary of the possibilities he deliberated. What he hadn¡¯t considered, however, was that her condition would render his seal null, thus expelling them from her mind the moment she became unconscious. As a result, Raven was never able to observe what happened inside her mind after breaking her last original psychic cord. No damage control could be performed. He couldn¡¯t even document the reasons for his failure if she passed away in the end.


    He shook his head. Valentine wouldn¡¯t die. He had been correct about everything he theorized until that point. She should be able to survive this. She would make it¡­


    Raven frowned. What good was it to try fooling himself? Valentine was in danger, and it was because he might have been mistaken about how to help her. While he could console himself with the knowledge that she had been destined to die anyway, it did much less to ease his discomfort than he had thought. The fact of the matter was that Valentine Chessex was a jewel. A rare, gifted soul with a spark this world needed and leadership skills Fallowreyk would desperately demand the day it was finally rid of the Titan. Even after witnessing so many similarly talented people die by the Tyrant¡¯s hands, it would still be painful to watch yet another bright flame burn out.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Footsteps interrupted his meditation. Van plodded through layers of snow until he reached the sunny bubble. He sat beside Raven, letting his legs dangle over the precipice of the ledge. He plucked a long strand of grass, placed it between his teeth, then leaned back on his hands and took in the view.


    For a while, they said nothing. Or rather, nothing needed to be said. But, as is often the case, Van couldn¡¯t help but open his mouth.


    ¡°Welp, we¡¯re expelled,¡± he said.


    Raven hummed, resuming meditation.


    ¡°I just got word of it,¡± Van continued. ¡°All seven masters voted us kicked out immediately.¡±


    ¡°How did you find me?¡±


    ¡°I have my ways.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m starting to be impressed by them.¡±


    ¡°I wish I could have had a chance to impress Valentine.¡±


    Raven opened his eyes again and looked at him. Van¡¯s head was bowed, but there was a measure of peace about him.


    ¡°It¡¯s not over yet,¡± Raven said. ¡°She¡¯s still alive.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± He sighed. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t help us much, does it? I really have no idea what I¡¯m going to tell my parents. And what are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°The school is just a means to an end. There is nothing its curriculum or teachers could have done for me. But there are things here I will have before the end, regardless of my status as a student.¡±


    ¡°Then why not just take them? Why did you go through the charade?¡±


    Raven didn¡¯t answer. He broke Grand Harmony and leaned back on his hands. The sun was setting, and its white spot on the gray clouds grew dimmer. Far into the evening sky, he spotted the Flying Dim Castle of the Seal Master drifting in and out of the clouds as it made its regular rounds about Followreyk. Large metal wings flashed as it passed through the scant few rays peeking through the clouds.


    Raven felt tired, and something within him desired to be open and truthful. ¡°I guess¡­ if I had to be honest, school sounded fun on some level.¡±


    ¡°Fun?¡±


    ¡°The things I¡¯ve come to Roespeye to accomplish are hard and fraught with a negative and purposeful misery. I have friends that I¡¯ve left behind, and I came to this place to spend a year away from them. In fact, my intent is to stay as far away as possible.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­ I won¡¯t pretend to understand why, but I can relate to what you¡¯re saying.¡± Van sighed again. ¡°I was finding school fun, too. Especially after you showed up. But I figure we were doomed to be expelled no matter what.¡±


    Raven smiled. He was about to retort when more crunching snow met their ears. They turned to find Fanny Fyre staring at them with a hard expression. They quickly got up to face her. She looked dreadful, with frazzled hair, rumpled robes, and bloodshot and teary eyes. Raven was prepared for the worst, and he wondered how it was that everybody seemed to be able to locate him today. For several moments, there was an awkward silence, but then Raven noticed something else.


    Someone was standing behind her.


    The second person slowly stepped out. Raven blinked. Van¡¯s jaw hit the floor. Valentine Chessex revealed herself and approached, stepping into the light of Raven¡¯s pandora.


    It was quite surreal to see her suddenly standing before them in such a manner, and neither of the boys could find words. She looked frail and exhausted with dark circles beneath her eyes. But Raven sensed a restored spirit, like a land granted peace after a long storm. She looked from Raven to Van and back again, expectant, as if waiting for somebody to say something. Van was stunned stupid, but Raven felt immense relief. He rarely doubted himself, but even he was human.


    Fanny was smiling. She wiped her eyes, looking just as relieved as Raven.


    ¡°How¡­¡± Van finally ventured. ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    Valentine cocked her head a bit. ¡°I feel¡­¡± She stopped, searching for the answer. Then, instead of speaking again, she came forward and slowly wrapped her arms around him.


    Stunned, Van hugged her back. She parted from him and came to Raven and hugged him as well. Raven just stood there.


    ¡°I feel better. I feel¡­ free,¡± she said, gripping Raven tight. ¡°Thank you. Thank you, both. So very much.¡±


    She parted to look at Raven. For a moment, they stared at each other as the relief everyone felt grew to new heights. Then Raven smirked.


    ¡°It was all Van¡¯s idea, actually.¡±

 Chapter 15: Pandora

    And just like that, Raven and Van were back in school.


    It turns out Panka had once again vetoed the Masters¡¯ collective decision to expel them, something that had never happened before. It was mass outrage for a few hours, but then word spread that Valentine had woken up at the medical ward.


    She was better. More than better, in fact. By some unknown phenomenon, she had been cured of the Splits. Her personalities were unified, though there were some lingering effects that still seeped through. Even so, her psyche was restored to full health, and she was no longer unstable. At first, no one understood what was happening, and the doctors claimed it was a miracle. But while family, friends, and fellow students were overjoyed by her return and wanted to visit with her, Valentine immediately deduced the truth and requested to get out of bed and find Raven Whitesong.


    She was initially denied. He was her attacker, after all. But she firmly demanded it, and her parents eventually relented, allowing her to leave the ward as long as she was accompanied by someone they trusted. Fanny volunteered, informing them she knew where to find him.


    Raven watched as Valentine entered the courtyard the first morning of the next school week. A gathering of students were situated by the well, waiting for the start of a field trip into the city. Master Turngood had informed his Hydra-Pandora Epo students over the weekend that there would be an impromptu trek into the city for an ¡°observation.¡± What that meant, nobody knew, but the class would be combined with Master Cooley¡¯s Economics Suna class for a joint trip.


    Raven stood alone. A sizable distance was maintained by the other students. Despite rumors and speculation that had been discussed ad nauseam over the weekend, no one really knew what had happened between him and Valentine, and so Raven was just as feared as before, perhaps more so. But as Valentine approached, she did not join the others, some of whom waved for her. Instead, she walked right up to Raven.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± she said cheerfully.


    Raven nodded.


    ¡°Do you know what this field trip is about?¡± she asked.


    ¡°No idea.¡±


    ¡°If I had to guess, it could be we¡¯re going to the museum. Or maybe the City Hall. I¡¯ve heard Master Turngood has taken his students there before. Although¡­¡±


    As Valentine speculated about the trip, Raven stared at her in confusion. What was happening here? Why was she talking to him so animatedly?


    ¡°Uh, Raven?¡± Rue spoke up.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I think she¡¯s your friend now.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± His eyebrows rose in surprise. He hadn¡¯t even considered that.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Valentine asked, combing fingers through her hair.


    He smirked. ¡°Nothing. I can¡¯t imagine two schoolmasters are banding together for a trip to a museum, especially when it¡¯s so last minute. No, this is probably something sporadic. An event of some kind that can only be today or not at all.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense.¡± She looked around. ¡°Where¡¯s Van?¡±


    ¡°He isn¡¯t taking Hydra-Pandora this season.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised. You two seemed attached at the hip.¡±


    ¡°Yes, he is quite devoted to me, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    She smiled. It was warm and sincere. Raven smiled back.


    ¡°Hello, students!¡± a voice called out.


    Everyone in the area gave Master Turngood their attention. He wore the white robes of a medic, and he was filled with enthusiasm. Beside him was Master Cooley, who folded his hands behind him.


    ¡°Today we have a special treat for you all,¡± Turngood said loudly. ¡°We will be privileged to witness something rare this morning. Stick close together as we make our way into the city. I expect no lollygagging. Now let¡¯s get to it. The sooner we leave, the sooner we¡¯re out of the cold.¡±


    He led the way out of the courtyard, followed by Cooley. Their students followed behind in a trailing line. Passing under the red arch of the school entrance, the familiar cobblestones of High Street led the way through the residential district of Roespeye. It was still early morning, so windows were shut up and pandora lamps remained lumined.


    ¡°Raven?¡± Valentine asked after several minutes of silent walking.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I want to thank you again for what you did for me. Whatever it was that you did. The last few days, I¡¯ve slept peacefully for the first time in my life.¡±


    ¡°As I said before, it was Van¡¯s idea.¡±


    ¡°I know that¡¯s not true. Or rather, I can believe it was Van¡¯s idea, but I know only you could have made it possible.¡±


    ¡°Why do you say that?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re not ordinary. Forgive my candor, but I know you are different, and only someone like you could have found a way to save me from my demons. I could say you are ¡®special¡¯ but the truth is you¡¯re an outright aberration.¡±


    ¡°And I see you have a talent with first impressions,¡± he drolled.


    She blushed and suddenly looked downcast. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m getting used to my own head right now. I can sense both Sword and Shield within me, even though the struggle has vanished. The doctors have told me they will harmonize in time, but I¡¯m still fighting to maintain control.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t what?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fight for control. Whatever your physicians told you is nonsense. You are who you are now. Learning about who you are is one thing, but ¡®fighting for control¡¯ of your own self is rubbish.¡±


    He stopped and faced her, holding his arms out. ¡°This is you. All of you. The one created by the Holy One. There is nothing more to be fixed or changed. Let it go, and be yourself.¡±


    She blushed deeper. ¡°I find it frightening how quickly I can accept what you are saying.¡±


    ¡°I can be quite convincing.¡±


    They continued walking, quickening their step to catch up with the rest of the students. It wasn¡¯t long before the distinct sounds of horns met their ears, growing louder. The residential district ended, and they found themselves walking along a frozen riverbank. Hundreds of fishing holes were cut into the ice, and heavily bundled men sat on chairs up and down the river, poles in hand and patiently waiting for the next catch. Many of the buckets were bursting with catches already, and jumping fish threatened to escape. One fisherman nearby had a bucket that had reached its fullest point. He held up a squeeze horn, blasting a shrill honk into the morning air.


    Fisheries were situated on the bank, alive with the sound of hard work. At the cry of the horn, a man rushed out on ice skates, grasping a trolley also situated on skates. Racing across the river surface, he careened around the fishing hole, gathering up any full buckets in one go and replacing them with empty buckets in the next round. In just two rotations, he had gathered up all the fish at the hole and was racing back to the fishery to deliver the goods. Many other horns intermittently sounded off on the river. It seemed thousands of fish were just waiting for their turn to be caught.


    As they walked, Raven found Valentine glancing at him many times, obviously bursting with a question she wanted to ask. He produced a bag of caramels from his robes and ate one, letting the sweetness remove the stench of cold fish from his senses.


    He offered her the bag and said, ¡°Ask away.¡±


    She smiled and took one. ¡°You can tell I have something on my mind. Well, the truth is, I do. It¡¯s been on my mind since the moment I learned it was you that healed me.¡±


    ¡°Ah. You want to know how I did it.¡±


    ¡°Precisely. Your discovery would be a salvation to my people. So many lives have been lost to the Splits in centuries past, including my brother and sister. But you have found the way to stop it from ever happening again. It¡¯s a big deal!¡±


    ¡°¡®Salvation¡¯ you say.¡±


    She frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t you agree?¡±


    He ate another caramel. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°So will you give your research to Lamgard?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet.¡±


    ¡°How can you say that?¡± she nearly shouted in shock. ¡°Do you understand the devastation our condition has caused? Reyk Lamgard suffers daily on account of the horrors of the Division. If we used your methods, we could end the suffering! Our people would never have to fear it, and parents could be at peace, knowing their children won¡¯t die from it. How can you be so selfish?¡±


    Raven¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You¡¯re blinded by personal sorrow. But you would understand my stance if you allowed yourself to.¡±


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t,¡± she retorted angrily.


    ¡°You are a Lamgardian. You know full well of the Holy Frame. Therefore, you should have already concluded that I found the way to restore yours.¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡±


    ¡°This means Van and I had complete access to your frame of mind.¡±


    She opened her mouth to reply, but then stopped. Realization swept over her in an observable burst through her body, making her body shudder first then dropping her head in shame.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± He tapped his head. ¡°I was inside your mind, Valentine. I stood alone before your very life force. And with one hand, I snapped your last psychic cord like it was a twig. I could have killed you, and no one would have known how I did it. Now imagine that knowledge in the hands of a wicked man, or worse¡­ the Titan.¡±


    For a while they continued on in silence. The winding path along the river turned back into the city. The whirling cone of snow above Panka¡¯s well had no reach this far into the city. As a result, snowfall sprinkled onto shivering students. But soon, they were in the market district, where barrels of fire stood in the streets to provide some measure of warmth.


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    ¡°I apologize,¡± Valentine finally said, sighing with burden. ¡°You are right. I was blinded. Nothing I can do will bring my brother and sister back, but they are all I could think about lately.¡±


    ¡°Understandable. ¡®If only¡¯ right?¡±


    She smiled half-heartedly, taking another caramel from his bag. ¡°If only.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re here, students!¡± Turngood shouted above the din of loitering shoppers in the streets. ¡°Everyone gather around! We¡¯ve made perfect time. Our appointment should be in just a few moments.¡±


    The rest of the students encircled one of the barrels of fire, crowding in to claim as much of the heat as possible. Raven and Valentine lagged further back, standing in the middle of the road and staring at the dreadful sight before them. Raven glared in anger. A bleak stone building was nestled on the corner of two streets, surrounded by wrought-iron fencing.


    The Morborium.


    ¡°Raven¡­ why?¡± Valentine whispered. Her eyes became glassy.


    ¡°An observation of something you can¡¯t plan for,¡± he replied with a sneer of loathing. ¡°I should have guessed it immediately.¡±


    A man in black robes and a necktie opened the gray door to the Morborium, clipboard in hand, and strode businesslike down the stone pathway, past the gates and straight up to the teachers.


    ¡°Good morning, Master Cooley. Master Turngood.¡±


    Cooley nodded. Turngood smiled wide. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Cane,¡± he said, shaking the man¡¯s hand.


    Cane glanced at the clipboard. ¡°All is proceeding as expected. Jep Glowe is fading rapidly and preparations have been made, so please follow me.¡±


    He turned and made his way back. The teachers followed, and with a wave of Turngood¡¯s hand, the students trailed close behind them. Some whispered eagerly while others shuddered and crowded together in apprehension. They were led into a spacious vestibule with black walls and a stone ceiling.


    Nearby, three teller windows operated quietly. People in lines did business in hushed tones with the men behind the counters, as if they understood they were dealing with the devil and didn¡¯t want anyone to know. Pandora, crowns, gold plates, and other commodities exchanged hands at a rapid pace, and the customers left the Morborium as quickly as they were able, usually unwilling to meet eyes with anyone along the way.


    Raven¡¯s glare never relented. ¡°I hate this place.¡±


    ¡°Me too,¡± Valentine replied. Her eyes had a faraway look. ¡°I¡¯ve been here so many times, but it never gets easier.¡±


    ¡°Alright students,¡± Turngood announced, paying little attention to the somber atmosphere and drawing looks from the people in the lines. ¡°As you see, we have come to the Morborium. And today, an elderly gentleman is about to pass on. He has sold his pandora rights, and the preparations have been made. As soon as Mr. Cane retrieves us, we will be privy to the entire process. Isn¡¯t this exciting?¡±


    The bald teacher¡¯s smile angered Raven further, but he remained silent.


    ¡°Now,¡± Turngood continued, ¡°the reason we have combined this trip today with Master Cooley¡¯s should be obvious. Pandora are the true base of Fallowreyk¡¯s economic system.¡±


    Cooley cleared his throat. Despite the cold, a slight sheen of sweat coated his dark skin. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Over the centuries, it has replaced crowns and gold as the standard for wealth. Banks and citizens alike would always prefer pandora for a number of reasons we will observe and even demonstrate to you today. While this will be discomforting for many of you, it is important that all of you pay close attention when we are inside. There is nothing happy about the occasion, but this is the world we live in, and students of Nine Star that intend to go out into the world and apply their learned skills must have an understanding of this unfortunate part of our society.¡±


    Turngood frowned. ¡°Am I the only one excited about this?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Cooley replied.


    Another door opened and Mr. Cane appeared again, motioning for the class to join him while signaling for them all to be quiet. Teachers and students shuffled in, following Mr. Cane down a long hallway that was solemn as a mortuary. He opened one of the last doors and led them all inside.


    The room was very spacious with carpeted floors, wood paneling and several bookshelves. Tall windows were situated over a single bed, where an old man lay, pale and gaunt. His eyes were closed, and his breathing was labored. A group of people that must have been his family were beside him. Some were crying, which increased even more so as they entered. Behind the family was a cleric of Provote, dressed in white robes and holding a long staff topped by a snowflake crest. While the surroundings were assuredly meant to give comfort, Raven thought it all provided the opposite.


    ¡°Gather round students,¡± Turngood whispered loudly. They closed in on him. ¡°As I said earlier, this morning we are going to witness firsthand the creation of a pandora. Poor Mr. Glowe here is moments from death, and he signed a contract with this Morborium months ago. Charlie Vaga, the owner, is a former student of Nine Star, and from time to time has granted us permission to observe the ritual. I want all of you to pay close attention. There will definitely be a quiz in my class next week.¡±


    Despite his prattling, hardly a student was paying attention to Master Turngood anymore. Reduced to pitying silence, their gazes were on the mournful family that surrounded their loved one. The cleric approached the bedside, staff in hand.


    Raven had witnessed the ritual too many times to count. Only a Provotian could create pandora, as it stemmed from their gift, but every year Reyk Provote sent new clerics by the thousands into the land to ensure their expensive services could be had by anyone. Raven couldn¡¯t help but wonder how many Provotian clerics this Morborium alone employed. And there were many others in Roespeye.


    The elderly Mr. Glowe¡¯s breathing noticeably stopped, and his family was overcome with powerful new grief. But the cleric who had been waiting patiently immediately went to work, placing the staff and an outstretched hand over the body. A black thread of potent energy emerged from the dead man¡¯s chest and was pulled from the body by the staff, drawn up with such force it convulsed the corpse.


    Jep Glowe¡¯s family muffled screams as they watched with terrible suffering. The black force of the man¡¯s soul formed a cross-like apparition between the body and the staff. The cleric twisted his hand, fingers contorting powerfully. Thin filaments began to peel off the cross, swirling around his hand and forming a rectangular frame. More and more strings of black gleam broke apart from the soul, forming the body of that unholy card.


    In moments, the emblem vanished, and the pandora was complete. Jep Glowe¡¯s body fell back onto the bed, no different in appearance than it had been only moments ago yet still noticeably different, sucked dry of life¡¯s essence. Two women immediately fell over his chest, weeping uncontrollably. The pandora fell into the cleric¡¯s hand. A hissing smoke issued from the soul. The card was black as night, not yet grayed by time.


    The cleric turned and handed the card to a man nearby. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said. Immediately, he left the bedside, past the students and walked out the door.


    Despite the intense morose in the room, Turngood was all smiles. ¡°Ah it¡¯s a Class Two!¡± he said, pointing. ¡°Notice the two striations on the corners of the pandora. How wonderful for his family! That will increase the value at auction. Over ninety percent of all pandora are Class One. Make sure to remember that for the quiz, students.¡±


    He approached the bedside just as the man holding his father¡¯s soul mournfully handed it over to Mr. Cane, who was writing detailed notes on his ledger.


    ¡°May I?¡± Turngood asked.


    Cane handed him the pandora. ¡°Very well. But please be quick. There are many other appointments today.¡±


    Turngood stood before the students, holding it up. Jep Glowe¡¯s pandora featured a detailed impression of two lanterns glowing amidst a heavy rain storm.


    ¡°A man¡¯s soul in tangible form,¡± Master Turngood stated. ¡°These are the riches of Fallowreyk. For the standard term, Jep Glowe will serve people using whatever gift the Holy One granted him. The Morborium will do research this very day to discover just what that is. Now for some, the process of turning dead people into tools for human use is still barbarous, but I want you all to think hard on the facts. Mr. Glowe has led a full life, and now he has given his family something valuable. The money his pandora will bring to auction will bring them income and help sustain their happiness. And once his term is over, the card will evaporate, and his soul will be released to the Holy One.


    ¡°Yes, the process itself might be hard on some of you to watch, but this is the economics of our world. I ask you this question: why would you not want to become a pandora when you died? Would that not be a waste to your loved ones? I can see it in the eyes of many of you. You¡¯ve witnessed grandparents and other family members become cards for your future comfort. And that¡¯s because they loved you all and wanted the best for you, is it not? And some of you still have those pandora, unwilling to sell them. And that is, of course, perfectly acceptable! They still live on, giving you benefits that would otherwise have been lost. Mr. Glowe is a great man who made a decision to take care of his family, and all it will cost is a relatively short delay before he can join his ancestors.¡±


    Most of the students looked at each other uneasily, still queasy over the spectacle they witnessed. Raven watched as many of them reached inside pockets or bags to finger their own pandora, no doubt consisting of their own family members¡¯ souls. Even Valentine produced her two cards, looking at them with misty eyes.


    Her brother and sister.


    But Turngood was oblivious to all of it. ¡°Now, while a pandora is thin and malleable, it is completely indestructible,¡± he continued. ¡°There have been many attempts to try and destroy a pandora or even scratch it, in the name of science, of course. But they have all failed. The hottest fires and the sharpest blades can¡¯t even blemish them. And yet¡­¡±


    Turngood folded the pandora in half, to the horror of Glowe¡¯s watching family. Then he crumpled it up into a ball. ¡°See? It can be molded into nearly any form.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s ENOUGH!¡± Raven roared.


    He stomped toward the stunned teacher and snatched the pandora from his hand.


    ¡°Whitesong, what are you doi¨C¡±


    ¡°You shut up!¡±


    Turngood fell silent, dread creeping over his face. Raven uncrumpled the pandora and placed it between two of his fingers. Breathing deep, he slowly pulled the card through. When it came out the other side, the card was perfectly flat without a trace of bending lines. He approached the family, holding the pandora before him with immense respect, and presented it to one of Glowe¡¯s sons.


    ¡°I am so very sorry,¡± Raven said. ¡°Your father made a courageous sacrifice. He must have loved you all very much.¡±


    The son took the card and nodded. The family left the room, and Master Cooley shut the door behind them.


    Raven rejoined the students, but he was fuming.


    ¡°Listen to me, all of you!¡± he shouted. ¡°Pandora aren¡¯t blessings! They are a cowardly and vicious curse on Fallowreyk! They are utterly despicable! And all of you know it. Somewhere deep down inside every person in this room is the knowledge that this disgusting practice is against everything the Holy One teaches us, and indeed it is! This comes not from heaven but from the fires of hell! Just look at all this.¡± He spread his hands out. ¡°This is a rancorous and profane act, a blight on our own souls. And I am sick of it! Believe me when I say the day is coming when I will END THIS BARBARIC RITUAL!¡±


    Raven raised a fist. ¡°I will destroy this world of pandora,¡± he rasped. ¡°And kill anyone who tries to stop me.¡±


    He stormed out of the room, leaving every other person in a state of wide-eyed bewilderment. Every person¡­ except one. Finitum Cooley watched Raven go with a careful gaze. And when he was gone, the master of economics slowly smiled.


    ___


    ¡°Raven!¡± Valentine shouted.


    He stopped, still incensed but very much in need of breath. He had stomped all the way back to the river before she could catch up to him. The fishermen were gone, most likely having met their quotient for the day, leaving them alone under the snowfall. He turned to look at her, but they said nothing as they both caught their breath.


    ¡°I want to join you,¡± she finally said. A hint of desperation laced her voice.


    ¡°Join me? You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re asking,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Yes, I do. I know why you¡¯ve come, Raven. I know your real intentions.¡±


    ¡°Doubtful.¡±


    ¡°You want to lure the Titan to Roespeye!¡±


    Raven¡¯s eyes grew wide. ¡°How did you¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re doing all this. That¡¯s why you challenged the masters. To get his attention. I don¡¯t know why, and I don¡¯t care. I want to help you! Whatever you need, whatever the challenge. I can help.¡±


    Her face was flushed red and her breathing quickened even more. But she didn¡¯t break eye contact with him, so anxious was she for an acquiescent reply. Raven watched her in astonishment. He had had to speak openly to Van about the true nature of his presence at the school, but Valentine had figured it out right away.


    ¡°Why are you asking for this?¡±


    ¡°Because everything you said in the Morborium is what has been screaming inside my head and heart for years,¡± she replied, holding a hand to her chest. Tears sprang to her eyes. ¡°This system of pandora is vile. We use them like toys, forgetting what they really are. My grandparents both contracted to become pandora when they died. But their souls were so powerful, they were sold to make my family richer. And when my brother and sister passed away, it didn¡¯t even give my parents pause to consider whether or not to convert their souls into tools. We didn¡¯t need the money, but Master Turngood said it all. This world is so dependent on pandora that turning loved ones into wretched cards is second nature. But I know how gross it is. And just thinking about how close I came to becoming a card myself is horrifying!


    ¡°Raven, my life was over,¡± she choked. ¡°But you saved me, and now I can start again. And this is what I want.¡±


    Raven frowned. The thought of having this brilliant mind in his corner was incredibly appealing to him, especially someone connected not only to Lamgard but to the powerful Chessex family. Even so, the more he shared the details of his scheme with others, the more likely it was to fail. While he took this risk with Van, it was only because he knew he couldn¡¯t accomplish everything without a partner, but sharing it with yet another? If even a rumor of his true plans reached the Titan, it would be completely for naught, and years of planning could potentially be wasted.


    ¡°Raven,¡± Rue whispered in his head.


    It was soft and soothing, and he paused in his whirlwind of thinking to listen.


    ¡°Feel Valentine¡¯s soul. She is someone who can help us. You know the truth. Let¡¯s save her one more time.¡±


    Raven closed his eyes and exhaled mightily. ¡°Well, it¡¯s certainly too hard to deny such a rare request from you, my friend.¡± He opened his eyes again and smiled mischievously. ¡°I guess I don¡¯t have a choice.¡±

 Chapter 16: Mystery Doors

    It was incredibly amusing to watch Van stand in absolute stupor while Valentine perused Raven¡¯s room. Van had been lying on Raven¡¯s bed reading a newspaper when Raven opened the door and invited her in. The look on his face was quite simply comical, and he jolted from the bed, mumbling gibberish before having the sense to fall silent.


    And so he remained, standing beside the bed red-faced as he stared at the girl of his dreams. Steam was nearly bursting from his ears. Betrayal, embarrassment, joy, and fear all crossed his face one after the other, exchanging places in rapid carousel fashion. Raven snickered, knowing he was going to have a good shouting-to coming from Van later, but it was worth it.


    Van stared daggers at him. ¡°What is she doing here?¡± his angry eyes shouted.


    Raven smirked drolly. ¡°Valentine Chessex is our new partner,¡± he said loudly and with flare. ¡°I feel she can be trusted, and she¡¯s decided that she ¡®owes us.¡¯ Now I can¡¯t remember. Do you two know each other?¡±


    Valentine turned in surprise to look at him. Then she timidly turned to Van. ¡°Oh! Uh¡­¡± She smiled. ¡°Yes, we were previously acquainted.¡±


    ¡°You know who I am?¡± Van asked in surprise.


    ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t you remember your father used to oversee the grounds of our old estate? I would watch you help him on occasion. It is unfortunate we never got to know each other better, but I was¡­ otherwise occupied.¡±


    Raven laughed and they both looked at him.


    ¡°Oh,¡± he said. ¡°I thought you were making a joke.¡±


    Valentine smiled. ¡°A sad one. But yes, I suppose I was.¡±


    They stood awkwardly for a moment before Van clapped his hands together and rubbed them vigorously. ¡°Well, I guess if you¡¯re joining in on this little caper to beat the schoolmasters, you ought to be told everything.¡±


    ¡°Raven has filled me in on most of the details. It¡¯s a strange task, dedicating so much time and effort just to humiliate the masters. But outside of Fanny, I have no love for them. As long as our actions don¡¯t impede my studies, I feel I am dedicated to Raven¡¯s ultimate cause of ending the reign of the Titan. If this furthers that goal somehow, I will do anything to help.¡±


    Van frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like it¡¯s truly hit me yet how dangerous these plans are. Luring the Titan to the city, making deals with Panka, releasing Sheeharu from her cocoon¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh yes!¡± Valentine exclaimed. ¡°That poor girl we used to call the Sleeping Devil. I never knew her real plight. That just makes me all the more willing. And as Raven said, I am in great debt to you both.¡±


    ¡°Not to me,¡± Van said quickly. ¡°Please think nothing of it. We were very glad to help you.¡±


    She smiled again before glancing around the room once more. ¡°I am astounded by this place. I can¡¯t believe no one ever knew it was here.¡± She did a double take. ¡°Is that a coffin?¡±


    As she approached the large black box propped up against the wall, Van looked to Raven again. Raven nodded in her direction.


    I¡¯m giving you a prime opportunity to get to know her, his look said. Please don¡¯t waste my efforts to help you.


    Van understood right away, coming alongside Valentine to peruse the casket-like object. He cleared his throat. ¡°I asked Raven what this was the first time we came here. He wouldn¡¯t tell me. Although¡­ wait a minute! What¡¯s this?¡±


    He pointed to a pandora affixed to the middle of the box. The Class Six card featured a clock with the hands both pointed at the ¡°9¡± ¨C it flashed with a soft flickering glow every now and again. The pandora sealed the coffin shut. They looked at Raven.


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t there a couple days ago,¡± Van said. ¡°What is this?¡±


    Raven was gathering some things into a pack. He looked up at his question. ¡°That¡¯s a pandora,¡± he replied.


    Van rolled his eyes. ¡°I know what it is. But why is it stuck to the coffin? It¡¯s keeping the thing shut. What did you put inside?¡±


    ¡°Who ever said it was a coffin?¡±


    Van turned to Valentine. ¡°See what I mean? Shady.¡±


    She bit her thumbnail. ¡°I¡¯m kind of curious myself.¡±


    ¡°Now that I think about it, he¡¯s made a few other changes. What happened to that weird scarecrow?¡±


    Raven continued packing as if nothing was out of place. ¡°What scarecrow?¡±


    ¡°Oh c¡¯mon. The other day, you had a giant scarecrow in that corner of the room. It was stuffed with straw, had a funny little hat, and a giant purple flower pinned to its chest. It was a fake rose or something. Ugliest thing I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±


    ¡°Oh yes. It was quite ugly. I got rid of it.¡± He closed the pack and looked up. ¡°Are you both ready to go?¡±


    They looked at each other. ¡°Go where?¡± Valentine asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to explore the Rail. Neither of you have classes the rest of the day, correct? I have everything we need. Candy, chocolate, some cookies, cakes and pies. I also brought crackers, if either of you like that sort of thing.¡±


    ¡°You want to explore a potentially vast underground grotto and bring nothing but a backpack full of sweets?¡± Valentine asked.


    ¡°And crackers.¡±


    ¡°What about water, rope, a map, or actual food?¡±


    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t plan on us being down there for too long. And the map¡¯s in my head. We¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    She sighed. ¡°I see I¡¯m going to have my work cut out for me, being friends with you boys.¡±


    Van¡¯s smile was blinding.


    Raven shouldered the pack. ¡°Shall we?¡±


    The excursion started off quietly enough. Raven led them back to the Sleeping Devil¡¯s courtyard, where Valentine perused the golden cocoon with intrigue. She confessed she had never dared to come here, but now that she knew the truth about Sheeharu, she was no longer concerned. Even so, she spoke in whispers, and Van stayed away from it.


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    Raven made his way back to the original passageway and they descended into the Rail. Valentine immediately awed at their surroundings much the same way Van did on their first arrival.


    ¡°Right?¡± Van exclaimed when Valentine¡¯s wonder reached its peak. ¡°And this is just one hallway!¡±


    In little time, they were chatting animatedly. Raven silently watched them talk back and forth as they examined the walls, tapestries, and doors.


    ¡°You really did a good job setting them up,¡± Rue said. Her pandora felt warm.


    ¡°To be honest, I thought I would have to do a lot more to get to this point,¡± he replied. ¡°Do you think Van will consider my obligation in the matter fulfilled?¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡±


    He sighed. ¡°I suspected as much.¡±


    ¡°They need to fall in love. That was the deal.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this.¡±


    ¡°No complaining.¡±


    ¡°Are you talking to a pandora?¡± Valentine suddenly asked, coming up to Raven.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he replied.


    ¡°I wish I could talk to mine. Is there a way to learn?¡±


    ¡°Not that I know of. And that is saying a lot.¡±


    ¡°We can try to find a way!¡± Van blurted.


    ¡°Alright. Well¡­ I¡¯ll leave that project to you.¡±


    Van became quiet.


    ¡°So, shall we begin here?¡± Raven pointed to the first door, inlaid with gold and jade like all the others.


    ¡°What are you expecting to find?¡± Valentine asked. She lightly tapped the golden knob as if expecting it to be scalding hot. It wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°I forced myself to do away with any expectations but one: to find something. I will only be disappointed if we open all these doors and find empty rooms.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we be more worried about dangerous traps or something like that?¡± Van asked. ¡°Maybe Panka kept this place hidden on purpose.¡±


    ¡°Panka likes to play pranks, not kill his students.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know about that,¡± Valentine said. ¡°Everyone knows that the punishment for pulling the lever of Panka¡¯s Riddle is extremely violent. It¡¯s said to have killed people in the past for not solving it correctly.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a risk I¡¯m willing to take.¡±


    Raven took hold of the knob. He turned it and pushed the door open. The other two came closer to look inside.


    The small room was empty.


    Raven sighed. Van snickered.


    ¡°It looks like Panka is already living up to his reputation,¡± Valentine consoled with a suppressed grin.


    ¡°On to the next one!¡± Van said with a raised finger.


    He led them to the next door down the hall. With newfound courage, he turned the knob and swung the door open.


    ¡°And behind this door we hav¡ª¡±


    A barrage of water exploded from the entryway. The freezing avalanche hit them all in an instant, blasting them off their feet and dunking them beneath the surface. Like a broken dam, water rushed from the door, filling the wall and washing them away. The currents swept them to and fro, dashing them up against walls before pulling them back under. Fighting to keep their heads above water, they glubbed and blubbed for several minutes until finally they were granted relief and flung into the main auditorium of the Rail. They washed up onto the stone floor as the water receded, sliding to a stop staring up at the expansive ceiling. They choked and coughed up fountains of liquid before heaving for air.


    They said nothing, slowly catching their breath. But after a long while, Van turned his head to look at Raven, who stared up with a tired expression.


    ¡°This is going to be a long day, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Raven nodded.


    Valentine burst into laughter. They looked at her in confusion. But her abrupt mirth only gained, echoing in the vast hall. Soon Van was laughing with her. But Raven suddenly panicked. He looked around for his pack and found it close by. He got up and rushed to its location, shoes slopping on the water. He threw the cover open and desperately rummaged inside. For a few moments, Van and Valentine watched on, wondering what he was worried about.


    Finally, Raven let out a sigh of relief and smiled. ¡°The snacks weren¡¯t ruined.¡±


    His new friends exploded with laughter again.


    In no time, they were racing back down the same hall to find the next entryway. Raven carefully opened the third door before they all jumped back.


    Nothing. In fact, instead of more water, an intense shine met their vision. The room was a tower packed full of gold, jewels, and treasure chests! The bright gleam of the wealth nearly blinded them. They slowly walked inside, eyes wide in wonder. It was more fortune than anyone could have ever dreamed up.


    Van immediately reached out to grasp some nearby coins. When his fingers came close, a gooey black substance began to ooze from the surface of the gold. A stench of otherworldly intensity issued from puffs of dark steam letting off from the secretion.


    The trio slowly backed away and Raven closed the door.


    The next door featured the start of a maze. An entryway made entirely of creeping vines led deep into the bowels of a dark passage. Raven led the way, eager to see where it took them. It took hours, and Van got lost and separated from Raven and Valentine several times, but finally they reached the apparent end where a prize awaited each of them.


    For Valentine, a very ancient-looking book sat in a velvet-laced basket. It was an olden volume on Hydra written by a man Raven knew by name, but nothing more. Van¡¯s reward was a smooth cloak of canvas identical to the ratty one he now wore. He donned it immediately, casting his old one aside. Raven¡¯s prize was a large chocolate cookie. He ate it with relish.


    Beyond the prizes was another door. They exited, only to find themselves in the same spot in the hall where they had entered.


    They explored several more rooms that afternoon. Some had dangerous tests like an immense Golem that challenged them all to battle. These things they wisely sidestepped for the most part. Other places had grand delights like the maze room. One room in particular was actually filled with kittens and puppies pouncing and frolicking on various toys and fluffy edifices. They played with the baby animals for over an hour.


    It was Raven who finally had the sense to suggest they stop for the night. While Van and Valentine were disappointed at the suggestion they stop searching out Panka¡¯s amusements, they immediately felt tired and knew he was right. They had been inside the Rail for half a day and only finished a single hallway.


    Even so, Raven led them to one more door before they retreated back to Panka¡¯s Tower. It was the door Panka did not construct, the one with Valius Shrale¡¯s mark. Raven kneeled to closer inspect the doorknob while the other two watched on. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but he realized the triangle insignia was actually embedded into the wood with thin, deep grooves. He carefully turned the knob. It was locked, of course.


    He was not yet prepared to attempt entry by other means. There was something truly vile about it. A feeling that once again reached inside and made him cold. Rue must have felt it, too, because she became quiet, and her pulse couldn¡¯t be felt.


    ¡°So, Panka told you he couldn¡¯t get inside?¡± Valentine asked. ¡°That must mean it¡¯s being guarded by sorcery far more powerful than any pandora could produce, at least not without an incredibly complex seal. It might even be an artifact.¡±


    Raven hummed. ¡°I agree. And this mark is most likely a lock, meaning the only safe way in is to obtain the original key, an insignia ring or seal of some sort. I don¡¯t expect we¡¯ll ever find that. But we must find a way inside. Valius Shrale is the key to finding out what really happened to Sheeharu the day she destroyed the city. And if he kept his secrets here, this is where we start.¡±


    ¡°So, you think whatever he kept behind the door holds the answer to saving her?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°Possibly. Panka said that Sheeharu disappeared for an entire week before her transformation. He couldn¡¯t find her anywhere, and that¡¯s saying something. I suspect wherever this door leads is where Sheeharu disappeared to, and that¡¯s why Panka couldn¡¯t find her.¡±


    ¡°A black triangle with a red dot,¡± Valentine said, examining the insignia above the door. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen it before.¡±


    ¡°Neither have I.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that,¡± Van said simply, putting his hands in his pockets. ¡°Yeah, I know what that is now.¡±


    ¡°You do?¡± Raven and Valentine said in unison.


    ¡°Yeah, I knew I¡¯d seen it before. I just couldn¡¯t remember where. It was driving me crazy, so I gave it to one of my boys to investigate. He got me an answer in no time.¡±


    ¡°One of your¡­ boys?¡± Valentine repeated with a strange look.


    ¡°Er¡­ you know¡­ a friend.¡±


    Clearly a lie, but Raven pressed him. ¡°So, what is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Valius Shrale¡¯s symbol.¡±


    Raven scowled. ¡°I already deduced that from inference.¡±


    ¡°I think we both did, which is why I didn¡¯t mention it until now. Panka already told us this door was created by him. So, I didn¡¯t think anything else of it.¡±


    ¡°But how did your¡­ boy¡­ figure out this was Shrale¡¯s officially adopted insignia? I¡¯ve never seen it anywhere else. No text I know of has record of it.¡±


    ¡°Now you¡¯re asking the right question,¡± Van replied with smile and a snap of the fingers. ¡°And now that I think about it, there is a place you¡¯re really gonna want to see.¡±

 Chapter 17: The Descendant

    Despite Van¡¯s cryptic clue regarding Shrale¡¯s emblem, he wouldn¡¯t tell Raven anything more or lead him to it for another two days. He claimed he had to study for upcoming tests, and when Valentine offered to help him, there was no convincing him to reveal his secret. It was complete hogwash, but Van was trying to impress her. And since Raven was beholden to comply with such a scheme as part of their deal, he was left to stew for the two days. In fact, he was concocting plans of painful torture on Van when the intended victim walked into his room the morning after the exams.


    ¡°Ready to go?¡± he asked.


    Raven smirked, and all rancor was forgotten. He would at last get his answer.


    Valentine was waiting in the courtyard, and together they whisked off into the snowy blunder of the city. Van led them in the direction of the Doolittle District, where political and intercity affairs were handled.


    ¡°How did you do on the exams?¡± Valentine asked, as they pressed on through span-high snow.


    ¡°Thanks to your help, I got passing marks,¡± Van replied. ¡°Better than passing. Fanny even said she was impressed. What about you?¡±


    ¡°Perfect marks on all my tests,¡± she replied with a flip of her hair and an imperious smile. ¡°I definitely won¡¯t be challenged until I¡¯m taking my Suna classes.¡±


    ¡°So, you got first?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ well¡­ tied for first. Someone else got perfect scores as well.¡±


    Van glanced at Raven. He smiled broadly.


    ¡°So besides the freak, you¡¯re top of the school.¡±


    Valentine laughed nervously. ¡°You say that, but I think we¡¯re all freaks here.¡± Her expression changed to one of disturbing and nearly wicked amusement. She placed a hand on Van¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Because you have some secrets, too, don¡¯t you, Van?¡±


    He gulped. ¡°Whaaaaaat?¡± he said, trailing off.


    ¡°Yes, quite a few, I¡¯d guess,¡± Raven said. ¡°But let¡¯s focus. Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°We have to stop by City Hall to get a permit.¡±


    ¡°A permit? For what?¡±


    ¡°To take the tunnel.¡±


    Valentine¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°The Black Side Tunnel? My parents won¡¯t let me go. They¡¯ve forbidden it.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± They stopped. Van shook snow from his hair and frowned. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ you know. It¡¯s dangerous.¡±


    Raven hummed. ¡°I think she¡¯s just afraid.¡±


    Valentine glared at him. ¡°How dare you! I¡¯m not afraid of anything.¡±


    ¡°Then you¡¯re not afraid to defy your parents and take the tunnel.¡±


    She frowned. ¡°Fine.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± He and Van continued on. She hesitated and then raced to catch up.


    ¡°I see what you mean,¡± she said to Van. ¡°He can be a devil.¡±


    ¡°Told ya.¡±


    City Hall was nothing more than four walls and a door. This did not surprise Raven in the slightest since the Church and the Titan had more clout than anybody else in the city. The clerk inside was immediately resistant to comply with a teenager¡¯s request for a permit. But when Van produced a metal object from his pocket and flashed it at him, he immediately began writing up the permission. Raven thought it looked like some kind of ring, but Van quickly stashed it away.


    In no time, they were back in the cold and Van led them toward the mountain face. A steep road down into a valley ended a half hour later at the mouth of a wide tunnel carved into the mountain, guarded by two clerics equipped with spears. The entrance was shaped like the mouth of a fish, but two fangs of ice extended down from the top. Water steadily dripping made the fangs appear to be bursting with poison.


    Upon inspecting the permission, the guards regarded them suspiciously but eventually allowed passage.


    The dark path didn¡¯t seem so dark once they stepped inside. In fact, the warmth was pleasant, and the walkway was straight and inviting, with smooth concave walls lined with pandora lanterns. But after about twenty minutes, the tunnel ended, and all pleasantness was lost.


    The black side of the mountain was a steep plunge. Pine trees of deep, deep green covered the many crags, sparse in their needles and lacking any pleasant smells normally associated with evergreens. Some were planted on patches so narrow, they tilted sideways just to take root. From the mouth of the tunnel, the smallest of paths hugged the mountain, driving a winding path wherever footing could be found. And what footing existed was buried in snow some places, or slick with ice in others. If Raven hadn¡¯t known a path existed, he would have supposed there wasn¡¯t one.


    Van leaned over the edge, gulping as he stared down the incredible drop.


    ¡°Still up for this?¡± he asked.


    But he didn¡¯t get an answer. He turned to find Raven already taking the path, keeping close to the wall but descending comfortably.


    ¡°Oh, c¡¯mon now Van,¡± Valentine said, holding out a pandora. ¡°This is child¡¯s play, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    The card burst with radiance, and luminous wings materialized behind her, majestic in appearance. She took a short jump and lifted into the air. With a playful smile and an arch of her eyebrow, she turned and followed after Raven in easy flight. The fact that she was hanging above a sure plunge to death for anyone else was of no concern. Van didn¡¯t think he could love her more. He raced to catch up, mimicking Raven¡¯s surefooted steps as best as he could.


    ¡°I thought I was leading this little excursion,¡± he said after several minutes.


    ¡°You¡¯ve made it quite clear,¡± Raven replied, pushing a pine branch out of his way. ¡°There¡¯s only one reason to come this way. We¡¯re going to Supenheil.¡±


    ¡°But what could possibly be of interest there?¡± Valentine asked. Van¡¯s foot slipped on an icy rock at that moment. She snatched his arm and nudged him back onto the path. He attempted to express his gratitude, but it was much more like babbling. Without missing a beat, Valentine continued. ¡°Isn¡¯t Supenheil just a squatter¡¯s paradise?¡±


    ¡°Yes, for the most part,¡± Van said, tip-toeing on a razor thin ledge. ¡°But it¡¯s not what we¡¯re looking for. It¡¯s who.¡±


    Raven jumped down, landing on a wide rock plateau. He looked up at them. ¡°Someone who knows about the door?¡±


    Van jumped down. Valentine landed lightly beside them, and her wings vanished.


    ¡°No. Someone who knows a lot about Valius Shrale,¡± Van said. ¡°C¡¯mon.¡±


    He resumed the lead, following a much easier path down a crumbling staircase, until they reached a less steep part of the mountain. The outline of the grisly village could be seen among the black trees and brambles. Raven associated it with a village, but Supenheil was really more of a gathering of many campfires and tents, where the lowest of lowlifes gathered. But there were some ramshackle huts, built of wood softened by snow from many winters long since passed.


    They made their way down, pushing through incredible snow piles. There were a few Bomfrosts in these parts, but the trees were dormant, completely filled up with snow and looking content to ride out the rest of the winter. The trio finally made it to the encampment and passed through a pitiful entryway of splintered wood beams. Several people huddled beside nearby fires turned to look at them, some instinctively reaching for weapons while others disregarded them. A few, however, followed them with wicked smiles.


    Van put his hands in his pockets. ¡°Never changes, Supenheil. They should burn this place to the ground.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been here before?¡± Valentine asked with a smirk.


    ¡°Oh, well you know. Not on purpose or anything.¡±


    ¡°How would you get here by accident?¡±


    ¡°No, what I mean is, I never came here for a real reason.¡±


    ¡°Sightseeing then?¡±


    ¡°Call it morbid curiosity.¡±


    ¡°Be needin¡¯ any help, young ones?¡± a brutish voice interrupted. A barrel of a man with large ears approached, staring directly at Van. ¡°I thought I told ya never to come back, lad.¡±


    Van issued a fake nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his head. ¡°Me? I¡¯m just a student. I think you have me mistaken for someone else, sir.¡±


    The thug grabbed Van¡¯s jacket, growling. Valentine gasped. But Van regarded him coolly, putting his hands back in his pockets. There was a significant moment of silence, broken only by the further squeezing of Van¡¯s garment.


    ¡°I feel like we¡¯ve done this before,¡± Van finally said. ¡°How did that turn out for you last time, my man?¡±


    The man flinched, growling deeper before finally dropping him. He walked away, mumbling something incendiary about thimbles.


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Well, that was¡­ interesting,¡± Valentine said. ¡°Care to explain?¡±


    ¡°That pleasant fellow is called Danne Taggert,¡± Van replied, smoothing out his mantle. ¡°I may have been the reason he spent some time in prison.¡±


    ¡°Oh. He¡¯s a criminal then?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. And he¡¯s already wanted by authorities again. That¡¯s why I nicked this from his belt.¡± He held up a pandora. ¡°He¡¯ll be in prison again within a week. So, might as well.¡±


    Raven laughed. Valentine seemed a bit overwhelmed, but after a moment, she rolled her eyes and smiled exhaustedly. ¡°Can we get on with the task at hand, please?¡±


    ¡°Ah yes. Marcus Shrale. His hut is this way.¡±


    ¡°Shrale?¡± Raven repeated as they resumed following him.


    ¡°Yes. If you¡¯re about to ask¡­ well, I¡¯d better just let you see for yourself. I have to warn you, though. I¡¯ve heard this guy¡¯s a bit of a loon.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t long before they stood before a short rickety staircase leading up to a two-story hut on stilts. This structure wasn¡¯t as dilapidated as most of the others. The windows were intact, albeit filthy, and mold wasn¡¯t growing in every nook and cranny. Compared to the rest of the camp, it was a palace. And finely etched into the doorframe was the mark of Valius Shrale. If Raven hadn¡¯t known what to look for, he would have missed it, but because he did, it was like a glorious sign they were on the right track.


    They climbed the stairs and opened the door, stepping into a very confined space. What would have otherwise been a moderately spacious room was crammed to the gills with clutter.


    ¡°This place makes Fanny¡¯s room look splendiferous,¡± Valentine said, scrunching her nose at their surroundings.


    Among the piles of newspapers, broken furniture and other useless debris were a few scant display cases. Through severely smudged glass, they could see objects presented as antiques, but looking rather like all the other junk outside the cases. Van reached to touch one of them when a shout stopped him in his tracks.


    ¡°OH MY WORD!¡±


    They looked to the corner of the shack to find a man at the bottom of a narrow staircase, staring at them in delight. He came down the last few steps and held out his hands to them.


    ¡°Customers! In my shop! Oh goodness, what to do, what to do?¡±


    The middle-aged proprietor was lumpy and his face was severely spotted with lentigo. He wore the rattiest robes that could ever be conceived by even the most talented imagination. Threadbare and tattered, the garment consisted of more repaired stitching than actual fabric. But the oddest site of all was the pandora affixed over his right eye. The card was wedged against his nose. The image on the pandora was an eyeball, and it moved as his other eye did, looking directly at them.


    ¡°What can I do for you?¡± he asked excitedly, grabbing his face. ¡°Can I get you some water? Perhaps some tea? I think I have some around here. Oh dear, what a mess. But oh, how exciting to have you here. Do you want to look at the things I have for sale? Come see. Come see what I have!¡±


    As they followed him to the nearest case, Raven glanced at Van. Is this him? He silently asked.


    Van nodded. Told you. Loony.


    Marcus Shrale was bombarding Valentine at the moment, telling her all about the special items in his cases.


    ¡°Mr. Shrale?¡± Raven interrupted.


    ¡°Oh, yes! You have a question, young sir?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we are very interested in the hero, Valius Shrale. But there¡¯s surprisingly very little known about him. Would you happen to know anything more?¡±


    The sincere joy that came over Marcus was so severe, it would have been easy to think Daytime Day had come early.


    ¡°Valius Shrale? Are you kidding me? I know everything about him! Don¡¯t you know? He¡¯s my great-great grandfather! I¡¯m the true descendant of Roespeye¡¯s greatest hero! See this incredible robe I¡¯m wearing? It was his! I¡¯ve never even washed it. You can still see some of his blood from when he died. See? Right there.¡±


    Valentine failed to stifle her sneer.


    But Raven stayed on point. ¡°That¡¯s amazing. So, what else can you tell us about him? We¡¯re all incredibly interested. Uh, he¡¯s our hero, in fact. We want to write essays on him for school.¡±


    Marcus folded his arms a little too tightly, as if he were giving himself a hug. He gave them a knowing smile. ¡°The masters won¡¯t tell you anything, is that it?¡± He shook his head and exhaled with absurd exaggeration. ¡°They try to shut me up, but they can¡¯t do it forever.¡±


    ¡°Who is trying to shut you up?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°Those¡­ people,¡± he nearly shouted. ¡°They all want what I have, but I¡¯m the true heir. They just wish they could be me, but they can¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°Who are¡ª¡±


    ¡°I can only imagine how hard it is,¡± Raven said quickly. ¡°We can¡¯t even fully describe how much they¡¯ve done to prevent us from coming here. But we made it. And now, if you can, please share with us everything you know about the great hero. We are so desperate to learn about him. And that¡¯ll show them. We¡¯ll show them all!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right¡­¡± Van managed, trying to match the enthusiasm but failing badly. ¡°We¡¯ll show them all¡­ with our essays.¡±


    Marcus preened silently, folding his arms again and looking between the three students with delight. Then he nodded his head toward the staircase.


    ¡°Come on. Let me show you a world you probably only dreamed of.¡±


    ¡°In our nightmares,¡± Rue said in disgust.


    Marcus glided toward the staircase. Raven followed close behind with the others in reluctant tow. But their hesitance vanished as they ascended the staircase. For when they reached the second floor, all trace of dirt, grime, and filth was replaced with shiny brass, deeply polished mahogany and display cases of pristine quality. It rivaled any museum in luster. Raven was impressed, and his hopes began to rise about the man¡¯s obsession with his ancestor. Could he provide them with clues to the door?


    Marcus again silently plumed watching their transfigured faces. He offered them a settee with bright red cushions on which to sit.


    ¡°How on earth did you afford all this?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°Oh, I get everything I need from the Fyre Fund. Anything I make from my shop is a bonus.¡±


    Valentine groaned.


    Raven went right to work.


    ¡°Sir, what can you tell us about Valius Shrale?¡±


    Marcus clapped his knees. ¡°Well¡­ as you know, I am his descendant. As such, I¡¯ve inherited many of his possessions, passed down from one Shrale to the next. And I¡¯ve dedicated my life to studying him. He was a grand figure in history, and it was he alone that saved Nine Star Academy from ruin.¡± He plucked at his eye as if to remove a tear that wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Giving up his life to save his precious students. How grand. And to think that I am his true descendant.¡±


    ¡°Tell me. Did he ever tutor students? Or take on apprentices?¡±


    ¡°No. Definitely not. In fact, he often said his time was much too valuable for teaching at all. But the money and time allowed him to pursue his other endeavors.¡±


    Raven frowned. Uh oh.


    Valentine continued in his stead. ¡°Where did he study? Considering how important his work was, he must have needed a lot of space and resources.¡±


    The height of Marcus¡¯s exultation was reached. He sat back and spread out his arms. ¡°This¡­ is the place he studied and worked. This very room. Can you believe that?¡±


    Raven¡¯s frown deepened. He could not have been more disappointed. Van was trying to hold back laughter, but Raven found this man¡¯s ignorance exasperating. Marcus didn¡¯t know anything about Valius Shrale! This whole jaunt down to Supenheil was starting to feel like a huge waste of time.


    ¡°You, uh, said you inherited some of his possessions,¡± Van said, recovering. ¡°Would you mind terribly showing us?¡±


    ¡°Not at all! Come, students. Come. This way.¡±


    He stood up and led them to a series of display cases lining the walls between large glass windows. Based on the grand and expensive appearance of the cases, Raven expected equally astonishing items of antiquity. But again, he was severely disappointed. There was nothing but everyday objects inside.


    ¡°See this blank sheet of paper?¡± Marcus asked them. ¡°This is the last sheet from Valius Shrale¡¯s own stockpile. ¡°And this smooth rock here, now this is truly wondrous. This rock sat on his own desk for years. He used it to sharpen quills and letter openers. Oh, and here is one of his shoes¡­¡±


    Van snorted in laughter before quickly covering it up by pretending to sneeze. But Raven and Valentine stood before the cases, disillusioned by this man¡¯s nonsense. Their momentary hope that he might provide some clues about Valius Shrale were dashed. They were back to square one.


    However, Marcus must have realized their discontent, because he suddenly raised a finger into the air and nearly shouted.


    ¡°But wait! This is just the beginning!¡± His voice warbled nervously, and he issued a trebling laugh. ¡°You haven¡¯t seen the really amazing items I have. The things the masters would just love to get their hands on. You have no idea!¡±


    ¡°What things?¡± Valentine asked.


    He slowly brought his hand down. His smile became nervous, and a gleam of sweat appeared on his forehead.


    ¡°Very, very special items. Truly priceless artifacts from that time.¡±


    ¡°Shrale, everything you have shown us thus far is preposterously lame,¡± Raven said. ¡°We bragged to our teachers that we were going to learn the truth about Valius from you, and they laughed at us. They said you were a liar.¡±


    ¡°They¡­ they what?¡± He became red-faced. ¡°I am Valius Shrale¡¯s descendent. I AM! I AM! I know everything about him!¡±


    ¡°Then help us believe you.¡±


    The eye etched into the pandora on his face shifted from them to the far wall and back again. Finally, he clenched his tatty robes and nodded. ¡°Okay, this way.¡±


    He led them to the northern-facing side of the room, grumbling about Nine Star under his breath. The mahogany slats covering the walls were unassuming, but Raven did notice now that while tapestries and paintings adorned the other three walls, this wall was empty. Marcus peeled the pandora from his face, revealing an empty eye socket. He placed the card up against the wall. There was a click, and slowly the wall began to slide away, folding into itself.


    Replacing the pandora over his face, Marcus joined the students as the wall finished parting, revealing three pedestals glowing beneath concentrated beams of light. On each pedestal was a bell jar of fine glass and within each was a red velvet pillow. On one of the pillows sat a marble statuette of a bizarre foreign lizard with a flicking forked tongue. An insignia of a seven-pointed star had been stamped onto the base with faded letters that read:


    D.V.


    The second jar held nothing. But it was the third that immediately drew all attention. Raven, Van, and Valentine pointed to it and asked in unison: ¡°What is that?¡±


    On the pillow sat a metallic signet ring. A seal with Valius Shrale¡¯s mark. Raven¡¯s heart wanted to beat out of his chest, and an excited fire roared up within him. It was the right size and everything. Could it be?


    Marcus Shrale did not answer their question for a moment, as he regarded them with a curious stare. It slowly turned guarded as he replied. ¡°That is Valius Shrale¡¯s own signet ring. Quite something, isn¡¯t it? Now do you believe me?¡±


    ¡°How much?¡± Raven asked.


    Now Marcus frowned. ¡°These items are not for sale. It¡¯s why they aren¡¯t displayed.¡±


    Raven smirked. ¡°I don¡¯t think you understand. Money is no object. Just tell me how much you want for it.¡±


    Marcus smiled broadly. He folded his arms behind him and slowly walked up to the bell jar. Lifting the glass, he took the ring off the pillow. Then, before anybody could react, Marcus bolted, scurrying to the corner of the room. Raven was so surprised by the action, he couldn¡¯t even react. They watched as he reached a black chest tucked away in the corner and flung it open.


    Raven¡¯s heart sank. Oh no! A Facker Chest!


    Before he could even attempt to stop him, Marcus threw the ring into the trunk and slammed it shut before whirling on them.


    ¡°WHO ARE YOU?¡± he shouted hysterically. ¡°Why have you come? I demand an answer!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re students!¡± Van answered hastily in shock.


    ¡°Students who just happen to have the money to purchase priceless artifacts? You LIE!¡± He stomped toward them. The wall immediately slammed shut, hiding the pedestals again. ¡°You¡¯re here to take my heirlooms! They¡¯re MINE! MINE! I am the true heir!¡±


    ¡°No one said you weren¡¯t,¡± Valentine replied.


    ¡°I want you out of my shop!¡± he screamed, flailing his arms about. ¡°Now! Now, now, now!¡±


    Valentine grabbed the man¡¯s robes and snapped him down so they were staring at each other. A cruel manner came over her. ¡°I don¡¯t think you know who you¡¯re talking to.¡±


    He squealed in fear, but hysteria overtook him. He lunged away from her, freeing himself from her grip. ¡°OUT, I SAY! OUT!¡±


    He shooed his hands, and they slowly backed up, Raven and Valentine staring daggers at the disheveled man. Eventually, they made their way down the stairs and left the shop, descending the stairs as the door was slammed violently behind them, shattering several windows.


    ¡°And don¡¯t ever come back!¡±


    They stared up at the hut in silence. Raven was so furious, he could only manage to mentally hurl the worst obscenities he knew toward it, leaving Rue to cower in distress.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just steal it from him,¡± Valentine said after a long while.


    ¡°While I applaud your newfound daring,¡± Van replied. ¡°That would be impossible. He stashed it in a Facker Chest.¡±


    ¡°What is that?¡±


    ¡°An artifact. And not a terribly uncommon one. Only the owner of a chest can open it. And no manner of force or sorcery could ever pry it open otherwise. A fortress of truly ancient design. I can¡¯t believe this snake has one. I¡¯d never seen one before, but I knew what it was the moment I saw it. And I think Raven did, too.¡±


    Van,¡± Raven rasped. He turned his head to look at them. His eyes were alight with fury. ¡°I want to know everything about Marcus Shrale¡­ absolutely everything.¡±

 Chapter 18: Little Fastings

    Every night for two weeks after the first encounter, Raven successfully snuck into Marcus Shrale¡¯s hut, fully intending to steal Valius¡¯s all-important relic. The safeguards were but a nuisance. But the heirloom was never put back into its original display jar. As kooky as the man was, Marcus¡¯s paranoia was serving him well now, to the distaste of Raven¡¯s patience. There was no way to break into a Facker Chest, and even if Marcus took it out, Raven would never know unless he chose to reveal it in public. He needed a new scheme, and it would have to start with the underground casino.


    Little Fastings operated at its own whim. Everyone knew about its existence, even Roespeye¡¯s governing body, but no one bothered to halt or regulate its operations. So, it became something of an exception to the rule of order. A place both disapproved of and disregarded by the church and ruling city state. Seek it out at one¡¯s own peril. Even so, it was technically illegal and therefore banned for all students of Nine Star. But such a thing never stopped Raven before.


    It did stop Valentine, however, who quite easily bade farewell to the boys the night Raven and Van intended to sneak in.


    ¡°Going to the black side is one thing. Disobeying school edicts? Quite another,¡± she said before walking off into the night, waving as she went.


    ¡°She¡¯s right, you know,¡± Van said as they watched her go. They had met by the academy stables, a stone¡¯s throw from the girls¡¯ dormitory. A dozen wide paddocks were attached to two sizable houses where the groundskeeper and coachman lived.


    Van continued. ¡°If we get caught, we could get expelled¡­ again.¡±


    Raven put up his hood. They both wore heavy black cloaks. ¡°At this point in the game, do you really care about school?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Hell no. This is much better.¡±


    Raven smirked. ¡°Besides. This won¡¯t be my first time to Little Fastings.¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t be mine, either. But I usually go for a beer. Not to spy on someone with the hope of stealing a priceless object.¡±


    ¡°Theft is typically my last resort, but he seems to have no intent to give up the ring. We¡¯ll just observe from afar tonight. We have to find a way to get it, no matter the risk. Sheeharu¡¯s fate depends on it. You¡¯re sure he¡¯ll be there?¡±


    ¡°As I understand it, he¡¯s never missed opening night. That¡¯s when the so-called ¡®Fyre Fund¡¯ is the biggest.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s get going.¡±


    They made their way back into the city. While Roespeye was covered in snow a vast majority of the year, the winters on the mountain were especially harsh. They could freeze rivers and make commute anywhere by carriage nearly impossible, whether drawn by horse or pandora. And these conditions forced the casino to close down annually during those darkest of months. This night was the end of the cruel winter period, marking the opening of Little Fastings once again. The city was abuzz with whispered chatter, and it was perfect timing for Raven to observe Marcus Shrale away from his ramshackle abode in Supenheil. But first he had to get there.


    They sidestepped the main route through the city, instead opting for the river¡¯s course through a park. At the north end, a stream broke off from the river. The ice was cracked, and flowing water¡¯s soft melody beckoned them down into a darkened corner of the garden. The Bomfrosts were gaunt here, and snow crows cawed shrilly from their ice nests tunneled into the treetops.


    The watercourse eventually drove back into the mountain by way of an icicle-toothed cave. On the riverbank were several small rowboats. There was no one around, so they quickly claimed one and shoved off, letting the current guide them into the cavern. Raven stood at the bow holding up a light pandora while Van sat in the back, steering with an oar. They drifted into the expanding darkness in silence.


    The cave walls quickly became smooth and rounded, and the waters stilled, rippling as the skiff advanced into the blackness, turning at several bends through the mountain. Then, a new light appeared. A pandora lantern hung by an iron chain. Others followed, lighting the way until they came to a wide space carved into the tunnel, a landing with a makeshift dock.


    A man in a crimson vest and green trousers stood at the end of the mooring. When he spotted their boat, he reached out with a long rod to catch the boat by a hook. He tugged, turning the boat around and bringing it alongside the dock until Raven and Van could disembark. Then, he let the vessel go. It drifted back into the river¡¯s current and followed it to some unknown destination.


    The boathook looked at Raven and then Van. He shook his head and muttered, ¡°How on earth did you two find each other?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not gonna tell Bumbkin, are you?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°No, but if and when he catches you lot, you¡¯d better tell him you snuck in through the main doors. I don¡¯t want to lose this job on account of you.¡±


    Raven smirked. They proceeded up the short dock and onto the carved-out landing. A small door nearby opened quite easily.


    Immediately, their senses were assailed. The roudy mirth of gambling drinkers and drinking gamblers mixed together, nearly drowning out what would have been loud music in any other venue. And what a venue this was! Little Fastings featured a wide and spacious scene. Though the casino had a rather low ceiling, the carpeted floor was immense, and hundreds were crowded around dozens of game tables or seated at a long bar with few unoccupied stools. Raven was reminded strongly of the first time he came to Little Fastings with Noelle. He smiled at the pleasant thought.


    The door through which he and Van entered was behind the bar, and they quickly side-stepped a few of the scantily clad bartenders to take two available seats on the other side. Raven ordered a cherry fizzy and Van took a stein from his belt to have filled with his beer of choice. And then they watched. Careful to keep their hoods drawn up, they scanned the revelers for their quarry.


    Little Fastings featured six main games. There was blackjack, craps, seals, Djinn, and roulette, as usual. But there were also several tables dedicated to Parchen, and according to Van, that was Marcus Shrale¡¯s vice of choice. Parchen was not a forte of Raven¡¯s but he knew the general concept. It was a chess-like game that featured two opponents taking command of identical armies facing each other. The one who takes the king wins. But that¡¯s where the similarities end. In Parchen, before the start of the game, the players take ¡°move¡± cards from a pool of available moves. One hundred move cards are picked per player and those are the available moves for all pieces. Each player uses one move card per turn and then discards it. Moves are made until both players run out or cannot legally play any of their remaining cards. Then sixty new cards are drawn each, if necessary. They also get to pick five ¡°special move¡± cards at the start of the game, which can drastically alter the flow or even change the rules of a game, depending on the circumstances.


    While Raven had never played Parchen, he knew it was a difficult game to play. The best players had long memorized all the possible moves available in the large pool of cards, as well as all the special moves. Professional Parchen players picked the best moves based on their chosen strategy and opponent. But the reason the game was so popular was because of the nature of its betting. Throughout the game, gamblers are allowed to make bets with others or the House on who will be the victor. Odds are updated after every move by the ¡°dealer¡± of the table. Bets are proposed and can be accepted by any in the casino, even the players. Thus, gamblers would often work in teams. A good player could manipulate the odds by showing strength or weakness with any given move, thus allowing teammates to make or accept bets at the most crucial time without giving away the partnership between them.


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    ¡°I see him,¡± Van said into Raven¡¯s ear.


    Raven followed his gaze. Two tables down, Marcus Shrale squeezed into a spot at a Parchen table, red-faced and smiling from ear to ear. He wore his same ratty garments, but he was in particularly good spirits, and it wasn¡¯t hard to figure out why. Everyone at that table was smiling big, because Fanny Fyre had just stepped up to play a game.


    ¡°You¡¯re all in big trouble!¡± she said, smiling with fierce tenacity. ¡°Lady Luck is calling my name tonight!¡±


    She drew her hair up into a ponytail while her opponent took the opposite side of the table, a large man with a grizzly beard. Van said his name was Bear. The man flashed a crooked smile at her as they both began poring through large stacks of white-backed cards on the side of the table. Fanny studied the cards intently, and a bead of sweat ran down her face as she sorted through them, looking very much nervous. One by one she added cards to a personal pile. Bear finished picking his cards in short order. Once his deck was at his side, he folded his arms and shook his head at Fanny. The others laughed.


    Finally, she finished, exhaling mightily. But then she smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s do this!¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you forgetting something?¡± Bear asked.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°The special move cards. Unless you don¡¯t want any?¡±


    Again, the onlookers burst into laughter while Fanny turned red-faced. ¡°I-I know! That¡¯s what I meant!¡±


    ¡°You can go first,¡± Bear said, chuckling.


    Fanny reached for a shorter stack of blue cards. She frowned as she thumbed through them, clearly overwhelmed. She eventually picked one and handed the deck to Bear. Back and forth they went until they both had five each.


    Raven leaned forward in his seat as the game began. The bar was slightly elevated compared to the casino floor so he had a manageable view of the table. Fanny started, playing a ¡°Goblin +2 any¡± card. The checkered game board featured thirty pieces per army, and the front row consisted of eight Goblins and seven Wardens. She took one of the Goblin game pieces and moved it forward two spaces. The ¡°any¡± directive indicated the goblin could move in any direction. Fanny discarded the used move into a designated pile.


    The dealer sitting beside the table wrote on a ledger in hand. Then he called out in a strong voice. ¡°Favorite: Bear. One to Two Odds.¡±


    And like a flood, dozens of bettors shouted all at once.


    ¡°Bet! On Bear!¡±


    ¡°Bear! Twenty-five crowns!¡±


    ¡°Forty crowns! Bear! Bear!¡±


    And Marcus Shrale was among them. They all held bags of coins up in the air, jingling as the arms holding them jostled for position around the table. Because all of the bettors were offering their wages to a single person.


    And in one fell swoop, Fanny proved all the rumors true. ¡°I¡¯ll take all those bets!¡± she exclaimed.


    ¡°Hurrah!¡± they all cried.


    The dealer began furiously scribbling the bets into his ledger.


    Van shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m seeing the famed Fyre Fund at work,¡± he said quietly. ¡°I¡¯ve never even heard of a player plummeting to two-to-one odds after the first move. But she¡¯s still betting on herself. And all those bets amount to a small fortune. Bear is either that good, or she¡¯s that terrible.¡±


    Raven frowned. This didn¡¯t make any sense at all. Fanny was obviously a rational, intelligent person. But by his calculation, she had just put an entire month¡¯s worth of salary on the line. Was she so addicted to gambling that she would take such a ridiculous risk?


    As there were no further bets offered, Bear commenced with his first move. To Raven¡¯s surprise, he reached for his small stack of blue cards.


    ¡°Special move,¡± he proclaimed. ¡°Prince¡¯s Charge. I can take my Prince and move it anywhere on the board as long as it¡¯s exactly four spaces away from the enemy King. A piece taken cannot be a royal.¡±


    Bear quickly reached down, taking a piece standing next to his king and used it to smack one of Fanny¡¯s tokens off the board, a corner piece Raven knew to be the valuable Lancer Knight.


    Fanny gasped, bringing her hands to her head.


    ¡°What?¡± she squealed. ¡°Is that even possible? I didn¡¯t know you could use special moves on your first turn!¡±


    ¡°Favorite: Bear!¡± the dealer announced. ¡°One to Three Odds.¡±


    This time only two people around the table offered up bets. As Fanny was left nervously scanning her cards, looking like a novice in every way, Raven surveyed the situation. He now understood why so many bets had been made after the first turn. With every move, it seemed the odds were going to further favor Bear. By making big bets early, the most money was to be had if and when he was victorious.


    Fanny ended up taking the two bets offered. Though she tried to sound confident still, she was clearly glum. She made another common move, and Bear took another of her pieces on his turn. Back and forth they went until about twenty moves had been made each. By that point, Bear was in complete control, and a heap of her pieces was piled on his side.


    Fanny was red-faced and drenched from creeping perspiration. Her hands shook as they sifted through her remaining cards looking for salvation. But none seemed to find her. She made one more move and then slumped her head. Bear smiled and immediately played his card before the dealer could declare new odds.


    ¡°I win.¡± He used his Queen to topple Fanny¡¯s King.


    And then the casino erupted with joy again. Everybody who made a bet had just won a lot of money. Drinks were ordered up, people laughed and hugged each other, and some even clapped Fanny¡¯s back in thankfulness.


    This seemed to get her a bit irate. She stamped her foot and clenched her fists. ¡°I want a rematch!¡± she shouted.


    ¡°HURRAH!¡± they all cried.


    ¡°Good Lord,¡± Van exclaimed. ¡°I have to get in on this action. I just have to!¡±


    Raven nodded. ¡°I think it¡¯s at least time to get a little closer to Marcus anyway. Let¡¯s see if we can get next to him without being noticed.¡±


    They were about to hop off their stools when strong hands grabbed them by their shoulders, keeping them seated. Then, they were whirled around to face the bar again.


    Sonny Bumbkin, the owner of the casino, placed an enormous arm on the bar and leaned into it, looking Raven straight in the eyes. He took a deep puff of a long pipe sitting between his teeth and exhaled from the side of his mouth. One of his eyes was deeply yellowed, a stark contrast to his dark skin, and two of his teeth were silver. He looked from Raven to Van, puffing his pipe. Then back to Raven. Another puff.


    ¡°So?¡± he said. His voice was ratchety and astringent. ¡°You gonna tell me what you¡¯re doin¡¯ here, Raven? And with this guy, no less?¡±


    Van laughed nervously. ¡°Whaaaaaat? I don¡¯t know this ¡®Raven¡¯ person.¡± He actually used air quotes. ¡°Who is this scoundrel you speak of?¡±


    Sonny looked at him dully. The muscles of his huge arms flexed and tightened as he reached beneath the bar for a mug. He poured himself a drink from the tap.


    ¡°Been a while, Sonny,¡± Raven said. ¡°A year, is it?¡±


    ¡°Heh.¡± He took a drink. The handle of a sword at his side flashed in the light. ¡°Almost two. Nearly made a mess of my casino. You didn¡¯t think I¡¯d forget that now, did ya?¡±


    ¡°You were paid handsomely, if I recall.¡±


    ¡°I already told you both I can¡¯t have you showin¡¯ your faces in my place. Not ¡®til you¡¯re the age that won¡¯t be causin¡¯ me all sorts of problems. Seventeen. That¡¯s the city law. Why do I gotta repeat myself?¡±


    Raven smiled. ¡°I see plenty of people here that are probably our age.¡±


    ¡°Maybe, but they ain¡¯t you,¡± he quipped. ¡°Nobody cares about a bunch of nobodies. But you ain¡¯t nobody, Whitesong.¡± He looked at Van. ¡°And you¡­¡± He issued a short, pointed laugh. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve had a target on your back for a while, haven¡¯t ya? Look fellas, I don¡¯t mess around when it comes to my place.¡±


    A dangerous look came over him as he leaned in close. ¡°I ain¡¯t losin¡¯ my place. So, I¡¯m gonna ask you boys to scram.¡±


    Raven tsked. He had hoped Sonny wouldn¡¯t notice him, but it was a fool¡¯s hope. Sonny was always far too careful for his own good. Raven downed the last of his cherry fizzy and hopped off the stool. Nearby, Fanny was in the midst of another losing game. Marcus Shrale was delirious with joy.


    Raven flicked a coin at Sonny. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll be seeing you after I turn seventeen,¡± he said.


    Sonny took another deep hit from his pipe. ¡°By all means,¡± he said. ¡°But not until then.¡±


    Raven and Van made to leave.


    ¡°Oh, one more thing,¡± Sonny said. Raven stopped.


    ¡°Tell Arkh I got something for him,¡± Sonny said. He laughed like a deep, lingering drum. ¡°Tell him¡­ it¡¯s gonna finally put a smile on that sour face of his.¡±

 Chapter 19: Gold Lecher

    Time lingered as spring set in, which didn¡¯t mean much this high up in the mountains. The other students complained about the cold less, content to shiver as long as their teeth no longer chattered. But Raven grew restless. Every night he spied on Marcus Shrale, and every morning, he came away without advancement toward his goal. The man guarded his treasured signet ring like a bear to her cub.


    To fill the time, Raven worked toward accomplishing his other tasks, the promises he had made to others since his arrival. One of those undertakings was the mysterious Class Seven pandora Fanny had lent him, the soul constantly in combustion. He recently heard of a man inside the city with special knowledge regarding high class pandora, a miscreant called the Gold Lecher. Raven intended to seek him out that afternoon as soon as classes were done for the day.


    All he had to do now was endure his obligatory presence in a Battle and War Tactics session. Master Forir possessed the space of an entire tower all to himself, and he made the most of it. Three days a week, the students of his class entered through iron doors into a vast forum devoid of other doors or rooms. It was a wide, empty field of battle, whereby students might practice in the art of conflict. Only one space on the wall was dedicated to anything. Three long rows of painted portraits were affixed to a nearby wall, featuring all the past masters of Battle and War Tactics. Master Forir¡¯s grim painting hung at the end of the last row.


    The desks of the students were crowded into one corner where Forir lectured. He never sat, never turned his back to anyone at any time, and his guarded glare was constant, even when he seemed pleased by something his charges accomplished. Then again, it was hard to tell. His closed collar blocked off sight of his face from the nose down.


    Raven had attended several of his classes now, and the man¡¯s consistency was exemplary. Even his strange pet cardinal seemed to share in Forir¡¯s reliable guardedness. The creature possessed keen intelligence, there was no doubt. Always on his master¡¯s shoulder, the red bird peered ceaselessly at Raven. It was as if the bird had been ordered to watch him and was following that directive to the letter.


    Raven watched as Forir guided two students in practice dueling with pandora. Arms folded behind him, he scrutinized their actions with extreme care. Today was the first time he was allowing them to use seals to enhance their attacks. A tall boy stood in the middle of a rather tame seal he had just drawn onto the floor, the Seal of Wind. Raven shook his head as the boy nervously raised a pandora. Immediately, the seal reacted with a flash of light, and he was knocked out of the circle, falling flat on his back. He coughed hard, and a trickle of blood dribbled from his nose.


    No one dared to laugh or even react.


    ¡°Why did this happen, Tomas?¡± Forir asked, approaching the student. His bird chirped a stern rebuke.


    Tomas slowly got up, wincing and groaning as he did. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know, sir.¡±


    Forir knelt, pointing to the floor. The seal Tomas had drawn beforehand was in practice chalk. The teacher pointed to the smallest of gaps in the chalk line. ¡°Your seal is broken. What have we talked about over and over in my class?¡±


    ¡°Respect the seal, sir,¡± he replied glumly. He took a chalk stick and connected the lines.


    ¡°Standing inside a stronger, more intricately drawn seal, you could have died. Or even just by holding a stronger pandora. Listen to me, class!¡±


    He stood, turning aside to face the rest of the students.


    ¡°You must respect the seal, no matter the reason for creating them. I will drill this one impression into your brain, even if it¡¯s the only thing you take away from this class. I know some of you are here solely for higher learning, and you know nothing of war. You have no desire to study battle. And I do not begrudge any of you for such feelings. It is the way of our world. But these classes were never meant to train you for real combat. I should hope, in fact, you would never use seals and pandora to harm another person.¡±


    He paused, looking out over his class. His eyes met Raven¡¯s. A carefully guarded look came over him, and Raven returned the gaze in kind.


    ¡°These are not trifles,¡± Forir continued. ¡°When you draw your seals, take the utmost care, even with the simplest of them. When the time comes to learn how to draw them swiftly with pandora pens, you will not always catch your mistakes. So then, as I said on our first day together, why are we here?¡±


    A few students meekly said, ¡°To learn how not to make mistakes.¡±


    ¡°Very good. I know most of you have no interest in seals, but they should be learned nonetheless, because they are from the Holy One. Now, Tomas¡­ try it again.¡±


    Eventually, the rest of the students joined Tomas in practicing. But Raven remained sitting, as Forir had forbidden him from using pandora on the very first day. So he sat and watched, counting the minutes until the session was over. He reached into his robes and pulled out the sphere of ice holding Fanny¡¯s intense pandora, placing it on his desk.


    How odd it was. Burning constantly, the pandora gave Raven the impression of a defense mechanism. As if the soul inside was cutting off all influence from the outside world. The fire was deep and constant, brooding in its nature and so penetrating, it was impossible to see the actual card itself beyond its edges.


    ¡°Is there something you want to share?¡±


    Raven looked up to find Master Forir approaching his desk, glaring guardedly at him. The students had stopped in their practicing to watch them.


    ¡°Nothing, sir,¡± Raven replied. He placed two fingertips on the ice sphere and gently rolled it back and forth. He stared the master right in the eyes. ¡°This is nothing to concern yourself with.¡±


    ¡°I thought I made it clear you were not to use pandora in this class.¡±


    ¡°This pandora is acting of its own accord. I have no control over it. But you may let go of your fear. I have rendered it harmless for now.¡±


    ¡°Your arrogance is appalling. How does a young man become this way?¡± He sighed with deep frustration. ¡°It reminds me so much of my brother, Seliph. In his youth, he frequently spouted blustery boasts, insufferable in his pride. Arrogant. So arrogant.¡±


    ¡°And where is your brother now?¡±


    ¡°Dead. Murdered two years ago by an unknown assailant. But there can be no doubt. His hubris led to his downfall. May you learn a lesson from his fate.¡±


    Raven considered the man before him with interest. Of all the masters, Raven knew the least about him, so guarded was his past. While Raven already knew about his murdered brother, he had not known Seliph¡¯s death affected the master so much. Clearly, Forir still grieved.


    Raven smiled. A wonderful new scheme was hatched in that moment, devious in its purpose, yet so simple in its execution. He was practically giddy by the new inspiration. And if everything went according to plan, he could perhaps kill two birds with one stone. But exploration was still required before he could perpetrate such a trick on the venerable master. Raven would bide his time and develop the perfect plot.


    Class ended soon after that exchange, and Raven was quickly out, eager to find his quarry. He was out of the school in no time and weaving through Roespeye¡¯s narrow roads until he located the Lunar Sills, a dreary section of the lower city beleaguered with a wet stench. Slowly melting snow trickled down the streets, sluicing dirty, cold sludge. Raven trekked the passages through the Sills, locating an alley called Simon¡¯s Call. Warehouses of stored dry goods entrapped a black shingled shanty on one end.


    As he entered the alley, Raven had the sudden feeling he was being followed, and he whirled. But there was nothing. The narrow path was steeped in shadow but empty, with no place for anything to hide.  He waited, but nothing appeared.


    ¡°Odd,¡± he said, narrowing his eyes.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Rue asked.


    ¡°I felt a presence. Human. But I can¡¯t sense it now.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t feel anything. Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°No. That¡¯s what I don¡¯t like.¡±


    He turned and made his way to the shanty. Stepping through the open doorway, he found the place unoccupied. There were tables and a desk covered in papers, trinkets, and black books. The well-worn rug was stained with red blotches and several windows were broken.


    A rollaway door was open on one side. Raven heard voices and followed them through the opening and onto a wooden portico. The portico overlooked a forested courtyard and a pond, deep green and still frozen over but showing signs of thawing. Four men were playing a game of poker on a rickety table, while another person stood nearby, cloaked and holding a green mask over her face by way of a long wooden stick. The holes for the eyes and mouth were narrow rectangles.


    At the far end of the table, the Gold Lecher sat, holding a handful of playing cards and sporting a confident smirk. He was easily identified by his bald head, gold boots and gold fingernail polish. He laid his cards down, and his compatriots moaned in defeat. Raven slowly approached as the man raked in his pot.


    The Gold Lecher, whose real name was Franky Gold, had a hand in several operations in the city. From the pig farms to the salt mines, Gold seemed to have a slice of every pie. But it wasn¡¯t until Raven learned of his fearsome passion for rare pandora that the man¡¯s existence piqued any interest. From what he was told, the Lecher of Roespeye was particularly wise about pandora produced in his own city.


    Gold watched with interest as Raven approached. He placed his hands on the table and glanced at the cloaked woman standing nearby. But she said nothing.


    ¡°And what do we have here?¡± he said casually, shuffling the deck of cards.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re a man who knows things about high-level pandora,¡± Raven said. Gold¡¯s friends turned to look at him suspiciously.


    ¡°Could be,¡± Gold replied, smiling easily. Raven was a little surprised he didn¡¯t have gold teeth. ¡°Why would a lad like yourself be interested in such things?¡±


    ¡°I have a Class Seven, mysterious and¡­ ill-tempered. Highly unstable. As such, I have thus far been unable to discover its secrets. You could say I¡¯m looking for a different perspective.¡±


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    Gold laid the stack of cards on the table in a neat pile. He glanced at his companions and nodded. They collected their things off the table and immediately left, leaving only him, Raven, and the woman holding the mask.


    ¡°Let¡¯s discuss this inside, shall we?¡± Gold said pleasantly.


    Raven nodded and followed him into the shanty. The woman in the mask stayed outside, just beyond the sliding door. She eyed Raven carefully, but didn¡¯t seem cagey. Gold sat behind his desk and kicked his feet up. He placed his hands behind his head as he leaned back, watching Raven as he pulled up a chair and sat opposite him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have a look then,¡± Gold said simply.


    Raven lifted his arm. The pandora encased in the ice globe floated out of his sleeve. Gold sat up in surprise and opened his hands. The globe fell into his hands, and he placed it on his desk. Inside, the pandora burned bright as ever, consumed in concealing flame.


    ¡°Well, wouldn¡¯t you know¡­¡± he said quietly. The light of the fire danced across his face. He placed his hand on the globe.


    ¡°Surprised by what you are seeing?¡± Raven asked.


    Gold leaned back, keeping his hand over the pandora. ¡°It¡¯s a bit funny. The other day, my mate says to me, ¡®Gold, you¡¯re not gonna believe this.¡¯ I said, ¡®What?¡¯ and he says ¡®There¡¯s a kid at the school who¡¯s got a bunch of pandora. High-end. Loaded.¡¯ I said to him, ¡®No way,¡¯ and he says, ¡®It¡¯s true. Everybody is talking about him.¡¯¡±


    Raven smirked.


    Gold continued. ¡°So, I look into it. Turns out, there is a kid packing tons of pandora. Goes by the name Raven. He¡¯s causin¡¯ a fuss in the city, flashin¡¯ cards like he owns the place. The kind of thing that gets my attention. So, one day, my mate says to me, ¡®Gold, there¡¯s a fortune to be made here.¡¯ I said, ¡®How¡¯s that?¡± He says, ¡®Why don¡¯t we just¡­ take ¡®em?¡¯¡±


    Gold flashed a smile, grasping the globe of ice and lifting it up. In that moment, heavy footsteps preceded a group of men filtering into the shack through the side entrance. Over the course of a minute, approximately thirty henchmen of Gold¡¯s, armed to the teeth, surrounded Raven, leaving only a gap for their boss to remain in eye contact.


    ¡°Take the kid¡¯s pandora?¡± Gold said. ¡°It¡¯s an idea, isn¡¯t it? But now, I said to my mate, ¡®We couldn¡¯t do something like that in the school. Panka wouldn¡¯t have it.¡¯ So, my mate says, ¡®Well, let¡¯s draw him out of there then. Maybe we invite him here to talk business.¡¯ And I said, ¡®He wouldn¡¯t come to my place alone.¡¯ He says, ¡®Maybe he will.¡¯ And I say, ¡®No way.¡¯¡±


    Gold laughed. ¡°And wouldn¡¯t you know it? Just as we start to talk about it, the little squirt shows up uninvited, handing priceless pandora over to me like I¡¯m the Titan himself.¡± His men laughed along with him.


    ¡°That¡¯s a fascinating story,¡± Raven replied when the laughter died. ¡°Now allow me tell you one.¡±


    ¡°Go right ahead.¡±


    ¡°As I was thinking about ways in which to discover this pandora¡¯s secrets, my friend Van tells me about a man in the Lunar Sills who might be able to help. I¡¯m interested. ¡®I have to warn you, though,¡¯ he said. ¡®He¡¯s a crook. He might try to rob you.¡¯ So, I said to Van, ¡®After everything I¡¯ve shown I¡¯m capable of, there¡¯s no way a man as careful as Gold will try to rob me.¡¯ Right? But he says, ¡®I don¡¯t think he¡¯s that careful. I bet he¡¯ll try to rob you.¡¯¡±


    Gold¡¯s smile slowly turned into a scowl.


    Raven continued, ¡°¡®No, I¡¯m sure Gold won¡¯t try anything. He¡¯ll know by now that I would absolutely¡­ destroy him.¡¯ So, Van says, ¡®I¡¯ll bet you ten crowns.¡¯ I couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡®Ten crowns?¡¯ And he says, ¡®Yes, I bet you ten crowns Gold tries to rob you and then you¡¯ll have to kill him.¡¯ So, I said, ¡®It¡¯s a deal.¡¯


    ¡°And wouldn¡¯t you know it?¡± Raven said, smiling darkly. ¡°It seems I¡¯m out ten crowns.¡±


    ¡°Take him,¡± Gold ordered.


    His men barely had time to process the command before Raven lifted up Rue for all to see. Power exploded from the pandora, launching them into the walls with violent thuds. Bones crunched and boards splintered with sickening effect. They toppled over each other, forming jumbles of unconscious bodies. A few managed to remain conscious, attempting to get up, but Rue attacked again, hurling them back into the walls with such force, they burst the walls of the shanty and tumbled to a sliding stop outside.


    Gold was pinned to the wall behind him. Rue¡¯s force increased. He screamed in pain. The old wooden boards groaned and creaked from the pressure.


    Finally, Raven relented, lowering Rue. Gold dropped, collapsing like a bag of potatoes. Raven propped his head against his knuckles, smiling wearily, like a father watching his child behave silly. He waved Rue again, and Gold¡¯s desk was split asunder. The pieces scattered, leaving nothing between them.


    Gold hacked, shuddering in pain. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to do something?¡± he rasped angrily.


    The woman with the green mask was still standing outside, watching. ¡°What would you have me do?¡± she asked. ¡°I warned you about him. You didn¡¯t take me seriously.¡±


    Raven lifted Rue again. Gold was slammed back into the wall, rising as if picked up by the neck. The pressure increased. A few ribs snapped, and he roared in pain. ¡°Stop! Stop! I beg you!¡±


    Raven again relented, and Gold dropped. Wisps of smoke issued from Rue¡¯s pandora. He rose from his seat and approached, grabbing Gold by the arm and pulling him up. He moaned as he was propped against the wall. Blood dribbled from his mouth and nose, and his breathing had been reduced to short gasps.


    Raven picked up the ice orb where it lay in the corner. He sat back in his chair. ¡°Well then, Franky. What should we talk about?¡±


    Gold coughed. ¡°You have... some nerve... calling me that.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s say we¡¯re even. Now... tell me about the pandora.¡±


    For a fleeting moment, it seemed Gold was going to tell Raven to go to hell, but his resistance lasted only a moment before he succumbed to reality. He bowed his head in shame.


    ¡°What do you wanna know?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s start with the obvious. Why is this pandora burning? I¡¯ve never seen a pandora react this way.¡±


    Gold gave a pathetic laugh. ¡°I have¡­ plenty of times.¡± He snorted up a glob of blood dribbling from his nose. ¡°But there¡¯s a reason for that. I used to work at the Morborium as a lad. The Grey Ward.¡±


    ¡°The Grey Ward? Where they store the so-called ¡®useless¡¯ pandora?¡±


    ¡°They call them useless. But I know better. Thing is, sometimes souls don¡¯t wanna be used. Sometimes... they just say no.¡± Gold hacked up a mouthful of blood. He groaned. ¡°When a person dies¡­ and they get made into a card, the soul still has to accept the reality. That¡¯s always been my belief. They have to put themselves to work. But sometimes, they refuse.¡±


    ¡°Very few cards ever get sent to the Grey Ward,¡± Raven objected. ¡°Considering the circumstances, I¡¯d have guessed a lot more would refuse to ¡®work¡¯ when they become pandora if what you say was true.¡±


    Gold sniffed, wiping the sweat and blood from his face with his arm. ¡°Well, that¡¯s the tricky part, isn¡¯t it? But I figured it out a long time ago. The thing is, it isn¡¯t that easy to resist the pandora. When you get made into a card, you¡¯re compelled to work. It¡¯s the nature of the beast. So, to have the power to deny, well, you need to have a good reason.¡±


    ¡°A reason? Like what?¡±


    ¡°Could be anything. Maybe you¡¯ve got regrets from your past life. Maybe you hate the person who holds your soul. Or maybe you¡¯re just belligerent. All I know for sure is that the pandora that were deemed useless were always different in life. They used to be criminals or poor or rich. Maybe they had a grudge or used to be famous. But it was always something. Always. No one sent to the Ward ever had a normal life.¡±


    Raven regarded him silently, mind churning with interest. He looked down at the globe. The pandora within burned so fiercely, it was hard not to accept what Gold was telling him.


    ¡°And you¡¯ve seen pandora on fire like this?¡± he asked.


    Gold coughed again, clutching weakly to his stomach. ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you enough?¡±


    ¡°Not nearly.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Just like that. But only the high-level ones. The ones with the power to act out. The others? They just look like duds when you try to use ¡®em.¡±


    ¡°So, here¡¯s the million-crown question, Franky. How do I get this pandora to stop burning?¡±


    ¡°If I answer, do I get a million crowns?¡± He laughed weakly.


    ¡°Maybe I let you live.¡±


    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll tell you. But after that, you gotta swear to leave.¡±


    ¡°If the information is adequate, I¡¯ll dust my shoes and be on my way.¡±


    ¡°I said before that the soul inside has to have a reason. A reason to refuse to work like a pandora should. It¡¯s a feeling they hold onto. An urge. Or an emotion. So, to get them to stop acting out, you have to placate them. Treat them like humans again and do the same thing you¡¯d do if they were alive. If they¡¯re angry, you have to calm them. If they¡¯re sad, you have to console them.¡±


    ¡°And this pandora?¡± Raven replied, holding up the orb.


    Gold shrugged and then winced in pain from the action. ¡°I couldn¡¯t know. Depends on what¡¯s going on with whoever that is. Whatever feeling that person¡¯s holding onto and just won¡¯t let go.¡±


    Raven smirked. ¡°Very well. I shall be on my way. Thank you. Maybe next time, we¡¯ll speak under different circumstances.¡±


    Gold coughed violently. ¡°Yeah right,¡± he groaned, keeling over to one side.


    Raven glanced at the woman in the mask. She remained where she was, calm and wary. Raven did not know who she was, but he guessed she was an information broker like Van. The mask was strange. Even stranger was her lack of fear.


    ¡°Will he live?¡± she asked.


    Raven slowly stood up.


    ¡°Should I care?¡± He looked her dead in the eyes.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± she asked. ¡°Why are you really here?¡±


    Raven didn¡¯t answer. He continued to stare for a moment before turning and making for the doorway. She followed from a safe distance as he exited. As he slowly vanished into the darkening alley, he uttered his chant.


    A year upon the learners¡¯ door. Asleep to bide the time.


    Release the Devil, take back her soul, and end the trickster¡¯s chime.


    Thief of Life, yon Titan. Come claim your wicked prize.


    The soul I take, a different sort, concealed to greedy eyes.


    Beyond the grave, the Raven crows. Black Stare on Reyk Provote.


    Rare bird pursues your wretched life, to seize it by the throat.


    Rogue Puppet hides beneath your watch. Save for me, he dares not yield.


    The day draws near when you shall die by mind and sword and shield.


    Raven was back on the wet streets of the Lunar Sills.


    ¡°She¡¯s not following you,¡± Rue said.


    He slipped away and quickly found another empty alley. He ducked inside and checked for any watchers. When he was sure he was alone, he lifted up the ice globe. Inside, the pandora burned bright as ever.


    What Gold had said made sense. Just as pandora could speak to those who were able to listen, it was also reasonable that they could act in other ways. So, the pandora burned with purpose, but for what reason? And why did it start doing so only when Raven had come into proximity with it?


    He had many questions, but none could be answered without ridding the card of its fire. And he had an idea now. He lifted his arm, and two pandora floated out. Ice Token and Widow¡¯s Reaver floated side-by-side.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± Raven asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Rue replied. ¡°But it has to be done, right?¡±


    He nodded. Ice Token activated, and the globe of ice it previously constructed melted away. Raven jumped back as the flames exploded in a huge burst. No longer hindered, it floated in mid-air and emitted a huge bonfire of conflagration, so hot it charred the dirt path.


    ¡°Hurry, Raven!¡± Rue moaned. ¡°It¡¯s screaming again! It¡¯s so painful! Please hurry!¡±


    Raven lifted his arm. Widow¡¯s Reaver began to glow white hot. A dark pulse came and went. Then, a shadowy arm appeared, followed by a body. A black apparition materialized out of the pandora, seeping gaseous fumes from every part of its translucent body. Two spectral hands reached into the fire. A screech filled Raven¡¯s hearing as the shadow phantom battled with the blaze. Rue continued to torment, moaning in pain.


    After several intense moments, Raven finally found the progress he was hoping for. The flames were slowly reducing. He smiled in triumph and clenched his raised fist, urging his pandora to increase its effort.


    Widow¡¯s Reaver was a Mind type pandora, capable of reducing creatures, human and animal alike, to a calm or even vegetative condition. While it had a grip on the brain of its victim, it could render it completely incapacitated. Raven seldom used it, however, due to its dangerous and often unstable properties. A person under the influence of Widow¡¯s Reaver was rarely the same afterwards, even under its lightest touch. But after hearing what Gold said earlier, Raven quickly theorized it might be the perfect method for stabilizing the pandora in question.


    The flames grew lighter and lighter, and Rue calmed. The shadow figure closed its hands around the pandora, squeezing them together until eventually, the flames were completely snuffed out.


    ¡°You did it,¡± Rue said in awe. ¡°I can still feel him. The soul within. But... his rage has subsided. It looks like Gold was telling the truth.¡±


    Raven nodded and slowly approached. He waved his hand. The black ghost cautiously released its grip, revealing the pandora within. It hovered before him, charred black by its own fire. For the first time, Raven could see the image on the card, and he was immediately shocked beyond words.


    ¡°What... what does this mean?¡± Rue asked fearfully.


    Raven didn¡¯t reply. He couldn¡¯t, because he had no answer. The image of the mystery pandora was the exact same image as Rue¡¯s own pandora. A pair of black wings with a contorted halo. Then, an even more haunting event struck him in that moment.


    A voice.


    A mere whisper, issuing from the Class Seven pandora. Eyes wide, Raven stepped closer. It was barely audible, but eventually he determined what the pandora was saying.


    Over and over, it repeated the same words.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry... I¡¯m so sorry... Oh¡­ I¡¯m so¡­so¡­ sorry¡­¡±

 Chapter 20: Chessex Manor

    Normally, whenever Raven wrote to his beloved, the words flowed. Ink weaved the pattern of his affection without interruption. But tonight, he was at a loss for words. As he sat at his desk, Raven tapped the pandora pen on the flattop, unnerved by his vacillation. The sheet of paper lay nearly blank. Only ¡°My Dearest Noelle,¡± was scribed at the top.


    And now¡­ nothing.


    But of course, that wasn¡¯t true. Raven¡¯s mind churned with the thoughts and feelings he wished to convey. It was now six months since their parting. Her mission was underway, same as his. And since then, he¡¯d written her at least once every week. Her most recent letter back to him lay open nearby. She had told him of her recent challenges and setbacks. The development of her new lady in waiting. About the troubles she faced in her own path to vengeance. He sensed her uncertainty, her fear.


    However, instead of mustering the key words to strengthen her resolve, Raven found himself grappling with his own obstacles. The conundrum of the locked door in the Rail, the exasperating Marcus Shrale, the tedious task of matchmaking Van to Valentine, the challenges to the masters, the mystery key of Fanny¡¯s, and¡­


    The unknown soul.


    Raven was utterly perplexed by it. He looked aside. The reticent pandora floated above the apex of a stand, slowly rotating in place. And still it spoke in melancholy whispers.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    How it vexed him these past weeks. Why did this pandora have the exact same design as Rue¡¯s? What was the connection? He¡¯d tried speaking with the person within. No different reply came forth. He¡¯d checked his best sources. Nothing could provide even a hint of the answers he sought. It was the capstone on a halt in the progress Raven had enjoyed earlier in the school year. And time slowly ebbed.


    News had reached Roespeye a week ago that the Titan had massacred a town in the region of Saphioc. At least five hundred men and women dead. As usual, it was a sensation for only a short time in the city. The citizens of Fallowreyk were numb to such reports. One could only hope the Titan didn¡¯t come for you.


    Normally, nothing aggravated Raven, but he was stuck in a bog. And the news of the Titan¡¯s latest act reignited his fury. Something had to change. He needed a new scheme, and he was determined to create one. He only regretted that it was momentarily costing Noelle something precious.


    A knock on the door interrupted Raven¡¯s thoughts. Van entered the room.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± he asked.


    Van was dressed in a fine suit. Black jacket and trousers with a dark blue vest. A small flower adorned his lapel, and a gray silk scarf wrapped around his neck. Raven issued a small sigh and stood.


    Van nodded in approval. ¡°Not bad.¡±


    Raven had acquired a suit of his own in town. It featured none of the embellishments only Van could pull off, but it was tailored well. And a black bow tie gave it some flair.


    ¡°I half expected you to wear your robes,¡± Van joked.


    ¡°I considered it. But making a lasting impression on the Chessex family could prove invaluable in the end. I will make the most of this opportunity.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re expected at seven. I don¡¯t want to be late.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re off then.¡±


    The dinner to which Valentine invited Raven and Van was to be held at her family¡¯s estate. As far as Raven knew, they were the only attendees, but the invitations she gave them some weeks ago were weighty and fine, apprising them of an auspicious event in waiting.


    Van, of course, was blustery about the whole thing. Never had Raven seen him so worked up about something. While he was inwardly pleased Van was advancing toward his goal, his puppy-like manner further reminded Raven of how long it had been since he¡¯d last seen Noelle. He missed her. Once they returned from the dinner, he was determined to finish the letter.


    Chessex Manor was located south of the city, further down the mountain where snow possessed lessened dominance. A closed horse-drawn carriage had been arranged to pick the boys up by the pool, which was waiting for them when they arrived in the square. Raven smirked when he saw it was Simon LeGee. The coachman took one look at Raven, gulped, and hid his face. The boys climbed in, and they were off in a moment, passing beyond the city wall and descending the mountain.


    Raven had not left the city since his first arrival. He took in the view with interest. The Bomfrosts were just beginning to lose their supplies of snow; branches poked out from the enormous masses every so often. Still, the sight of them offered little comfort, a graveyard of snow.


    But further down, they no longer had such presence, and the first true signs of spring appeared. Grass popped up in odd tufts through the lingering slush, and pine trees dared to exist. In fact, they grew so heartily this far down the massif, they formed a thick forest through which the path winded a labyrinthine trek. After a jaunt through the maze, the thicket broke into a wide glen. Snow droplets glistened on millions of blades of long grass, twinkling in waves as they rustled. A pebble-paved avenue preceded Chessex Manor, a classic estate, lavish in all respects.


    LeGee pulled into the courtyard and let them out. No sooner had they stepped off before he was away again.


    ¡°Uh¡­ I sure hope he knows to come back for us later,¡± Van said as they watched him go.


    A biting breeze whisked through the empty courtyard. They were quite alone.


    ¡°I think I made a lasting impression on him a while back,¡± Raven said.


    ¡°Aww, he knows you?¡± Van whined. ¡°He¡¯s definitely not coming back.¡±


    The large set of burgundy doors opened, and warm light embraced them, followed by delicate music. Valentine stepped out to join them, smiling pristinely. She wore an extravagant black dress and long gloves. Her shoes were mismatched. One white, one black.


    Van¡¯s mouth stood agape. ¡°Wow¡­ you look really beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Quite,¡± Raven said.


    Valentine¡¯s smile brightened further. ¡°You boys look quite dashing yourselves. I am so glad you both came. Please come inside.¡±


    They followed her into a wide entrance hall, where Valentine¡¯s parents waited.


    Hershel and Ophelia Chessex were opposites in every way imaginable. Valentine¡¯s father was a hulking boulder, towering over his wife. His broad chest could not be contained by the fur-maned coat, and a single hand covered the small of Ophelia¡¯s back. But despite his intimidating presence, a smile somehow appeared behind a mighty mustache.


    Ophelia did not smile, though her countenance proved just as warm. She possessed the regality of her daughter and even greater refinement. No two people could have suited Chessex Manor more.


    ¡°Mother, Father¡­¡± Valentine said as they approached. ¡°This is Vanyard von Sephim and Raven Whitesong, my classmates.¡±


    ¡°Much more than that!¡± Hershel said, as he clapped Van on the back, nearly sending him flying.


    ¡°Darling, please,¡± Ophelia reprimanded. ¡°I do apologize for my husband¡¯s crassness.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no problem,¡± Raven replied with a smile as Van stifled a cough. His eyes were watering.


    ¡°Yes¡­ no¡­ problem,¡± he gasped.


    ¡°We are thrilled you have joined us tonight,¡± Ophelia said. ¡°We have wanted to extend this invitation for some time. While we didn¡¯t know quite what to think about the events that transpired with our daughter, we have since come to realize how incredibly fortunate we are. You saved our child from a terrible fate, and we are forever in your debt.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re very welcome,¡± Van replied, rubbing the back of his head.


    A waiter approached with a silver tray.


    ¡°Drinks?¡± Hershel asked as he took an enormous stein from the tray. ¡°We have ale imported all the way from Reyk Zaliance.¡±


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Van¡¯s eyes lit up. But Ophelia turned quickly. ¡°Um, darling? No, no, no. They are underage. But we do have cherry fizzy. Three cups for the children, please.¡±


    Raven smiled while Van did his best not to appear devastated.


    ¡°Oh, what¡¯s the harm?¡± Hershel exclaimed. ¡°You think they¡¯ve never had a beer? Am I right, Van?¡±


    He roared with laughter and clapped him on the back again. Van¡¯s cherry fizzy spilled everywhere.


    ¡°Oh dear,¡± Ophelia said with a hand on her face.


    As she apologized to her waiter and kindly requested for his assistance to clean the mess, Valentine took Van¡¯s arm and pulled him close. ¡°Don¡¯t say anything. Follow my lead,¡± she whispered.


    He nodded.


    ¡°Father?¡± she said. ¡°Van¡¯s father used to be our groundskeeper. I¡¯m sure you remember him.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Von Sephim was the best. I was sad to lose him.¡±


    ¡°Well, Van is familiar with the grounds, but hasn¡¯t been to Chessex Manor in a while. Would you mind if I showed him the gardens?¡±


    ¡°Not at all. Raven, what about you, son?¡±


    Raven looked from Hershel to his friends.


    Van¡¯s eyes said it all. Please, please, please, please.


    ¡°Uh, no¡­ I think I¡¯m alright, Lord Chessex. In fact, Valentine tells me you have astounding hunting acumen. Do you have a trophy room?¡±


    ¡°¡®Do I have a trophy room?¡¯ he says.¡± Hershel laughed and squeezed Raven close, gripping his shoulder like a vice. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re interested or just trying to get further into my good graces, but either way, my trophy room you shall see. To the Lodge!¡±


    ¡°Oh, but we have such lovely starter dishes waiting for us in the music room,¡± Ophelia protested.


    ¡°We¡¯ll get to those,¡± Hershel said as he led Raven through a side door. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, love,¡± he called.


    ¡°Dinner is in one hour!¡± But the door had closed.


    Van and Valentine were gone as well.


    Ophelia sighed, looking around the suddenly quiet hall. She placed a hand on her face and turned to her butler. ¡°Well¡­ are you hungry, by any chance?¡±


    Valentine did not take Van to the gardens. In fact, he found himself ascending stairs to a separate wing of the manor. But he was barely processing this fact. Valentine led him by the hand, and the only thought he could handle was his wonder of what her skin must feel like under the glove. Like a sheep, he followed without question or complaint. In short time, she led them into a quiet hallway and opened a wide door bedecked with dried flowers.


    ¡°My wing,¡± she said, letting go of his hand and walking inside.


    ¡°Your wing?¡± Van repeated as he walked in. ¡°You mean¡­ your room?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a bit more than a room.¡±


    Valentine¡¯s chambers were humbling in their size. Cathedral style ceilings featured more than one hanging chandelier, and several rooms were connected to the space. One wall facing to the west was entirely glass, with a wide balcony just beyond, overlooking the gardens. Van knew exactly where he was. As a child, he had watched Valentine from afar, standing on that same balcony. But he had never known the entire place was all her own.


    ¡°Come,¡± she said, leading him there.


    She opened double glass doors, and a chilly breeze met their faces. A small table was awaiting them on the marble deck. A bottle of wine sat in a bucket of ice next to three glasses.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Cherry Fizzy isn¡¯t my drink of choice. But I let my mother believe I¡¯m still a little girl every now and then.¡±


    ¡°I guess you were expecting Raven to join us,¡± he said, noting the third glass. He felt a bit crestfallen.


    ¡°Yes¡­ but I was hoping he wouldn¡¯t.¡± She smiled as she proceeded to open the bottle.


    Van¡¯s heart thumped in his chest. Did she prepare all this just for me? Is this really happening?


    The chill of the night helped to cool his burning face. Afraid he might be perspiring, he turned away to look out over the gardens. How many times had he wished he could have joined her on this balcony? Too many to count.


    ¡°Do you remember them?¡± she asked, coming alongside him and handing him his glass.


    ¡°The gardens? Very much,¡± he replied. ¡°Your dad has kept them the same.¡±


    ¡°Because he always loved how your father kept them. He insisted our new groundskeeper keep them exactly the same.¡± She laughed. It was like music. ¡°He was so upset to see him go.¡±


    Van nodded. ¡°So was my dad. But we had to. Moriland Manor was so much closer to our hut, with much less land to manage. I think he has some regret about it, even today, but he made the best decision.¡±


    There was a small silence as they looked out over the gardens together.


    ¡°How is he?¡± she asked.


    Van breathed deep. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ dying.¡±


    ¡°Oh Van.¡± She put her hand on his. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. But it¡¯s¡­ alright. He¡¯s had a good long life. He¡¯s content and our family will be able to continue on at Moriland. He intended to commit to the Morborium, but now he¡¯s thinking he might be against it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful!¡±


    ¡°I think so, too. I doubted for a while, but Raven is convincing me it might be the right choice.¡±


    ¡°He truly hates the practice,¡± she agreed, taking a sip of her wine. She took a deep breath and shook her head. ¡°We live in such an uncertain world. The recent tragedy in Saphioc reminds me of that. Those poor people the Titan killed. It¡¯s refreshing to know someone who is so certain of himself.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve always seemed just as certain to me.¡±


    ¡°I wish that were true. If anything, I¡¯ve been the complete opposite. I can¡¯t remember ever being certain of anything. Always fretting. Always feeling afraid.¡±


    Van watched her intently as she spoke. Her eyes reflected sadness and doubt, and a small frown marred her lovely face. He pointed to a large tree in the distance. ¡°Do you see that maple tree? The one with the two branches peeking over that wall?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I used to watch you from that tree when I was a boy.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± She smiled again.


    ¡°You do?¡±


    ¡°I used to watch you, too. Maybe not so blatantly.¡± She laughed. ¡°But I always saw you.¡±


    ¡°I was never good at making friends. Working to make ends meet doesn¡¯t give a kid a lot of time to fraternize with others. But, when I saw you, I was encouraged. You had so much more to worry about in life. Such sorrow. I knew I had nothing to complain about. It made me want to reach out to you, but then one day, you were gone. You went back home to Lamgard, and I suddenly felt very empty.¡±


    Valentine looked at him with such a penetrating gaze. She was searching his eyes with so much ardor and contemplation. She drew closer and he faced her.


    ¡°I never knew,¡± she said.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad, though. I know it¡¯s silly, considering we¡¯d barely ever spoken to each other, but when you left, it made me want to become something more. To do something with my life that mattered. So that one day I could¡­ well, anyway¡­ that¡¯s when I joined the Thimbles. And it was because of you.¡± He rubbed the back of his head. ¡°So, thank you, Valentine. You changed my life. More than you could ever know.¡±


    She smiled. A gust whipped her long hair into a momentary frolic.


    ¡°The day Luc died, I remember it so vividly,¡± she said. ¡°My father knew I would be next. He made preparations to return home, thinking it might help. But my own Division started almost immediately. I can¡¯t begin to describe what a pall came over this place. It was like I had already died. My mother wept constantly. My father sank into a restless rage over his helplessness. And I¡­ well I felt numb. This balcony was my only respite, a place to harbor no anger or sadness over my fate, but rather to dream and perhaps, hope. I think this is why I remember you so vividly. When you were watching me, I didn¡¯t feel so alone. I didn¡¯t feel afraid. Van, I think you changed my life as well.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Actually, I know you did. But even before I had the privilege to meet you properly.¡±


    For the next hour, Van lived out a dream, conversing alone with the girl he desired so fervently. They chatted non-stop about anything and everything, and he realized in that moment how happy she was. It was like she was experiencing normal life for the first time, unabashed in her joy for it. And she was sharing it with him.


    ¡°I wish I had mustered up the courage to talk to you before you left,¡± he said when the conversation returned to their childhood. ¡°I wanted to.¡±


    ¡°It worked out in the end,¡± she replied. ¡°Though I was sad to leave Roespeye, it was good that I returned home when I was sick. Going home helps. It always helps.¡±


    ¡°School is on official hiatus as of today. I¡¯m assuming you¡¯re going back home soon?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow actually. We need to drink from our pool, and the journey is a long one. I look forward to going home again, but that¡¯s why I wanted to have this dinner tonight. I¡¯ll be gone for a while.¡±


    She blushed and looked down, fingering her glass. ¡°I will miss you,¡± she said quietly. Then quickly, ¡°And Raven, of course.¡±


    Van took her hand, and she looked up at him. ¡°I will miss you, too,¡± he said.


    He tried desperately to calm the tremble in his limbs. He wanted this moment to last forever, but her own shiver in the cold night signaled the end drew near. Still, she continued to look at him so pressingly, as if she expected something. He swallowed hard.


    Did he dare kiss her?


    Before he could decide, the door to the balcony opened. It was Valentine¡¯s butler, looking harried.


    ¡°Miss? You¡¯d better come. Dinner is nearly ready, and your other guest is¡­ well he¡¯s causing something of a commotion.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear.¡±


    Van scowled. Curse you, Raven!


    ¡°We¡¯d better go,¡± Valentine said.


    They hurried back through the halls of the manor, though not too quickly, for which Van was grateful. Valentine produced a peppermint candy from a pocket in her dress and began sucking on it furiously.


    Blushing, she gave one to him as well. ¡°My mother really doesn¡¯t approve of young people drinking alcohol. She¡¯s actually really strict about it.¡±


    She led him by a new route toward what Van assumed was the dining hall, but before they arrived, the sound of laughter met their ears. They stopped and looked at each other with odd expressions. The laughter dancing through the hallway was uproarious and gleeful.


    ¡°That¡¯s my mother!¡± Valentine exclaimed. They hurried down the corridor, and she opened double doors to a large banquet hall.


    At a long table sat Hershel, Ophelia, and Raven. Plates full of food sat untouched in front of them. And they all held large mugs. Ophelia was laughing uncontrollably, red-faced and clearly inebriated. Hershel took a long drink from his mug before slamming it on the table and joining her in the revelry. And Raven sat primly, just as red-faced, with half-closed eyes and a goofy smile.


    ¡°And that¡¯s not the best part,¡± Raven slurred, bracing himself on the table so as not to fall over. ¡°When I told the chief where his pet bear was that we¡­¡± He hiccupped. ¡°¡­borrowed, he raced to the kitchen storeroom! And when he opened the doors, he found his big ol¡¯ bear. And he was sleeping. Completely knocked out from having eaten every single bit¡­¡± He hiccupped. ¡°¡­of food they possessed.¡±


    Hershel and Ophelia again burst into laughter. Raven smiled and tried to drink from his mug, but it was empty. He frowned and turned the glass upside-down, as if to make sure there was no more ale. That was when he noticed Van and Valentine, staring at them in stupor.


    ¡°Oh, Vanyard!¡± he shouted, overjoyed. ¡°Come join us! Come join us! I was just telling the story of my encounter with Chief Fillyfally of Reyk Mune some time ago.¡±


    ¡°I thought it was Chief Fillenfall?¡± Hershel snickered.


    Ophelia howled. ¡°Chief Fillyfally!¡±


    ¡°What is going on here?¡± Valentine asked, aghast.


    ¡°Good news!¡± Raven replied. ¡°Your lovely mother was just telling me how much fun your trip home to Lamgard is. And they invited us to join!¡± He hiccupped. ¡°Isn¡¯t that great? What a wonderful idea!¡±


    He hiccupped again and lifted his empty mug. ¡°Now, Hershel. Where can a lad get more beer around here? Mine seems to have run off somewhere.¡±

 Chapter 21: The People of Fire

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

 Chapter 22: The Crown and the Scepter

    In recognition of Barkley¡¯s special day, the guardian of Lamgard blessed those who had gathered with a rare gift. The licks of flame ever raining upon the desert land at Rumail¡¯s command relented, leaving a gathering of around two hundred of Barkley¡¯s family and friends to freely bear witness to his promotion.


    The day was still hot, but not unbearably so. A dry breeze ruffled the fine clothes most of the observers donned for the occasion. Raven remained in his robes and Van in his normal attire, but Valentine and her parents braved the heat in garments as fine as the occasion. Barkley wore his newly commissioned armor, with a gleaming sword at his side. A captain of the army was on hand to bestow the honor, and they were nearly ready to begin.


    ¡°Barkley looks so great,¡± Valentine said. ¡°He worked hard for this.¡±


    ¡°A fine accomplishment,¡± Raven said.


    Valentine had the option of standing closer with her parents, but she chose to stay with her friends, who found a place near one of the tips of the wide half-circle surrounding Barkley and the captain. It provided a better vantage to watch from anyway, she argued. Raven smirked. She and Van conversed non-stop, eyes sparkling. It was Van¡¯s birthday today. He had mentioned it only in passing, but Valentine doted on him, saying she felt guilty she hadn¡¯t known. Otherwise, she would have gotten him a gift.


    Raven shook his head, rolling his eyes and smiling wider. Van was getting the present he wanted. Valentine just didn¡¯t know it. It had become clear to Raven very early on that she was just as enamored with him as Van was with her. Whatever plans Raven had devised to cause her to fall in love with him were no longer needed. Only time now remained.


    Raven turned his attention back to Barkley, who started in his approach toward the captain. He took practiced steps in succession, a timely routine. One hand lay over the hilt of his sword, while the other played across his chest. When he had reached the officer, he stamped two boots into the ground, clicking them together.


    The ceremony had officially begun, and a hush came over the onlookers. But as the captain began to orate, Raven became distracted. Something came over him. A feeling, subtle at first but growing with each passing second.


    What was that?


    He looked to and fro, searching for the source. It was a strange feeling, familiar in its depth. He had felt it before¡­ once. But he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it. Was it a spirit? Perhaps a pandora was at work in this place.


    No, that wasn¡¯t it.


    The captain spoke in verbose language, regaling those in attendance of Barkley¡¯s mighty deeds, fabricated for effect. Raven wanted to focus, but something itched at the corner of his mind. It was like an invisible ocean was closing in all around him. Instinct brought Rue to his hand, ready to bring her forth.


    ¡°Raven? Are you okay?¡± Valentine asked, noticing his frown.


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± He barely recognized she had spoken to him. What was this feeling? It was almost like¡­


    ¡°RAVEN!¡± Rue suddenly screamed in his head.


    ¡°Oh God,¡± Raven whispered, eyes wide at the realization. ¡°He¡¯s here.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Van asked in alarm.


    ¡°THE TITAN!¡±


    Before he could utter another word, a scream went out from the crowd. And then another. Soon, the whole gathering began collapsing in on themselves with fear, shouting and screaming in primitive cries as the anguish of the sight they beheld closed in all around them.


    The shroud of the Titan¡¯s power slowly dispersed, revealing his army of thousands of soldiers as if it had materialized from thin air. The Horde of Provote easily surrounded them all without a hint of warning. Not a footstep had met their ears. Nor a horse¡¯s whinny.


    ¡°Raven!¡± Valentine shouted, grabbing his sleeve. ¡°What do we do? Is he here for us? Who has he come for?¡±


    Raven grit his teeth. He knew exactly who the Titan had come for. He couldn¡¯t look her in the eyes. The answer would have been unbearable. His mind raced for solutions, but he knew¡­ they were trapped.


    The wave of soldiers parted, a glittering splash of silver steel helmets making way for their master. Upon a gold chariot, the Thief of Life came, encircling the paralyzed party once before his driver pulled up on his reins and stopped the vehicle before them. The Coprophim of his chariot settled into the sand. And there he stood, gazing out at the frightened mass with a devilish grin.


    A vile, ugly grin.


    The portly Titan stepped out from his opulent chariot, causing it to sway as he did so. Raven folded his arms and glowered at the man from beneath his hood. The sickening disgust he felt poured over him in a drippy sliminess running so deep, it felt disturbingly permanent. The audacity of the Titan rivaled no others.


    For the Titan wore no armor, as he feared no harm.


    And the Titan bore no weapons, for his hands needed them not.


    The Titan possessed only the Crown and the Scepter. By the Crown, he was Lord of Reyk Provote. And by the Scepter, he was Lord of All Souls.


    The silence in the desert was ghastly. The Titan surveyed his quarry, an impudent grin never relenting in its torment over them. The sun¡¯s rays flashed against his crown. Neither gold nor silver adorned his headpiece. Rather, affixed pandora lined his head. And above his forehead rose two more prominent. These pandora were not gray. Rather, they shined in lustrous blue, shaming the finest sapphires.


    Raven grimaced. The power¡­ such power that emanated from his crown. He had not felt it since the day the Titan had murdered his mentor. His body betrayed him with a shiver.


    The Titan slowly stepped forward. His scepter dragged behind him, scoring the ground. Every deep purposeful step was like a drum in the ear. Just when it felt unbearable, the Titan finally raised stout arms to the sky, as if he was being welcomed home.


    ¡°What a joyous gathering!¡± he finally said. His voice grated, laced with malice. A wide grin spread voluminous cracks across a grayish face. Deep, dark circles and wrinkles clung beneath wicked eyes, a strange mixture of exhaustion and delighted atrocity.


    ¡°Raven,¡± Valentine whispered ever so slightly, words shivering from her lips. ¡°What do we do?¡± she asked again.


    Raven glared deeper, hurling silent curses at the Titan, but he still did not respond to her. There was no answer to give.


    ¡°I was informed that today marked a special occasion,¡± the Titan shouted for all to hear. He lowered his arms. ¡°And when I received word¡­ well I summoned my welcoming party and came as soon I could.¡± He frowned in condescension. ¡°I am very sad I did not receive an invitation. Now¡­where is the man of this fine hour?¡±


    Valentine gasped, and a muffled cry went through her family. Tears began to pour from her eyes. ¡°Oh God, no! Please no!¡± she cried. She took a step toward her cousin, but Van grabbed her arm tightly, pulling her back.


    Barkley stood in place, wide-eyed upon the realization that the Titan had come for him. The fear seized him for but a moment before he bowed his head and calmed himself. He raised it again, and any sign of fear was gone.


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    But those in attendance were slowly backing away in seized terror. As they did, the Titan¡¯s right-hand man jumped down from the chariot to stand beside the Titan. Unlike his master, this man embodied power in bodily form, towering over all. His black hair was like a lion¡¯s mane, with teeth to match. His belt was lined with glistening blue rods, and on his back, a sword pulsed with green light, at least eight spans long.


    ¡°BE STILL!¡± he shouted, taking his mighty sword and pointing it at them. ¡°Your Lord speaks!¡±


    ¡°Calm, Roho Birim,¡± the Titan said, raising a hand and shaking his head. ¡°This is a day of cheer, remember? For we are celebrating the achievement of young Barkley Chessex here. Ah yes, a worthy captain. Step forward, young man.¡±


    Barkley hesitated. A droplet of sweat raced down his face.


    ¡°Your Titan gave you an order!¡± Roho roared. Murderous eyes demanded obedience or death with just a look.


    Barkley slowly approached, hand steady on his sword. Women dropped to their knees, sobbing and reaching their hands out to him.


    The Titan raised his hand again. Barkley stopped.


    ¡°You have shown much promise. I am¡­ so terribly excited.¡± He grinned. ¡°Today we are going to test that promise. Are you ready?¡±


    Raven grimaced. ¡°Here she comes,¡± he whispered.


    ¡°Who?¡± Van asked.


    The twin pandora of the Titan¡¯s crown began to glow, and a sinister clout of energy invaded the space. Electrical charges ran up and down the Titan before two figures materialized from the tremendous light. The first was a man. He wore slight, red armor and no helm. Ordinary in every way, seemingly as dull as the name of his pandora ¨C Big Shield. He held a massive crimson shield, so large it covered more than half his body. A yellow insignia emblazoned the face of it.


    The second figure was more imposing. A woman, tall and fair, shining in mighty silver and gold armor. Long blonde hair cascaded from her silver helm, and her eyes flashed like emeralds. Not in ten lifetimes could Raven imagine beauty that compared to hers. In one hand, she held up a mighty sword, longer than she was tall. She held it effortlessly, but its mere presence crushed the onlookers with the sheer gravity of its clout.


    Remnant Aria. It had been so long since Raven last looked on her face.


    The pandora entities stared straight ahead with soulless eyes. They neither moved nor responded to the cries or other noises coming from the crowd. The two weapons stood before their master, facing Barkley at the ready.


    The Titan gazed upon Remnant Aria with sinister delight. ¡°Ah, my darling. My love.¡± He took her free hand and pressed it against his face, and then kissed and licked her skin, causing him to shudder in delight. His repulsive actions drew out no reaction from her. She stared ahead, lustrous hair drifting in the hot breeze.


    ¡°Champion, you will fight to the death,¡± Roho commanded, pointing his own sword at Barkley.


    More desperate cries went out from his family and friends, but none dared approach. Valentine¡¯s hands were on her face, red and wet with tears.


    Barkley swallowed hard. The Titan¡¯s weapons waited. The silence of a moment seemed an eternity.


    Raven bowed his head. I¡¯m sorry, Barkley.


    Barkley started to draw his sword. But before it was halfway free from its sheathe, he gasped and coughed. A scream went up from his family.


    The sword of the Titan sliced him through.


    In the blink of an eye, Remnant Aria crossed the space between them. In a flash, the almighty sword plunged through his body to the hilt. Without word or warning, she brought victory to her master. The Titan smiled devilishly as he watched from afar.


    Barkley was dead. His body slumped over the sword. The volcano of Lamgard suddenly exploded with fury, hurling fire and smoke into the sky. A massive boom proceeded the blast in the distance.


    Raven lifted his head. The Titan¡¯s servant withdrew her sword from Barkley¡¯s chest, and he collapsed to the ground in a heap. She stood to the side, splattered in his blood. But she remained lifeless, eyes staring straight ahead. Valentine cried in anguish, burying her head in Van¡¯s chest.


    The Titan completely disregarded the volcano¡¯s explosion. With a look of demented glee, he approached Barkley¡¯s body as the flecks of fire returned to rain all around them. He produced the scepter from his belt. A golden rod of sharp, jutting thistles.


    The Titan extended it and rapidly extracted Barkley¡¯s spirit, forming it into the black pandora of his soul. The Titan snatched it from the air and looked upon it greedily. Raven smiled in the consolation of knowing what was about to happen.


    The Titan¡¯s evil grin crashed into devastation.


    ¡°NO!¡± he shrieked, collapsing to his knees. ¡°No, no, no!¡± He dropped Barkley¡¯s pandora, as if it disgusted him, and fell to his hands and knees, defeated.


    ¡°A Class Three,¡± he rasped. ¡°A rotten, useless Class Three. How can this be?¡±


    He quickly got to his feet and rushed toward those in attendance, hands wide and pleading. ¡°Why?¡± he shouted desperately.


    Spittle spewed from his mouth as he stepped closer. The people backed away in horrible fear, but the Titan¡¯s army closed in and pinned them.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t he a promising soldier?¡± the Titan asked in torment. ¡°Wasn¡¯t he your future? WHY? Don¡¯t you people understand? I¡¯m so tired! I¡¯m so TIRED! Where are you? Where are you?¡±


    He pointed at the nearest person, an older woman. Immediately, Remnant Aria struck her down with a lightning strike. The Titan raised his staff and extracted her pandora.


    ¡°Class One,¡± he laughed in a shaking, frantic voice. Panic consumed him. He pointed at the terrified man next to her. Aria killed him too. Over and over, the Titan killed those nearby and took their pandora. There was nowhere to run.


    ¡°Class One¡­ Class One¡­ Class Two¡­ Class One.¡±


    As he killed, his face grew red, boiling with worry and rage, until finally he collapsed again to his hands and knees. Aria stopped killing, drenched in the blood of the bodies surrounding her. At least twenty of the Chessex party, family or friends, had been slaughtered. Valentine shook in dread. Van could only hold her, looking on in horror.


    ¡°Why?¡± the Titan lamented quietly. ¡°Where are you? I am so tired¡­¡±


    Barkley¡¯s captain was only a few spans away from him. His eyes flashed with rage at the opportunity suddenly presented. He drew his sword quickly and sliced it down to kill the Titan.


    The sword never reached him. Quicker even than Remnant Aria, Big Shield appeared out of thin air. The captain¡¯s sword clanged off the massive bulwark between them, knocking him back. The Titan barely acknowledged what occurred. He waved a pitiful hand, and Aria skewered Barkley¡¯s beloved captain. The Titan slowly got up, defeat filling his face. He raised his scepter over the body and took the captain¡¯s pandora. The soul card formed in his hand.


    He laughed feebly. ¡°Class Two¡­ of course.¡±


    He dropped it and slowly plodded back to his chariot, stepping on Barkley¡¯s body as he did so. But then he stopped and turned, scanning the crowd before he spotted Valentine¡¯s father. Hershel clutched tightly to his wife, trying his best to hide her.


    ¡°Ah, Hershel Chessex,¡± the Titan said, seeming to gain back some of his clarity. ¡°I want to praise you for your show of support. It was not forgotten today. Your Titan is merciful after all.¡± He turned back again and returned to his chariot.


    Valentine quickly lifted her head. ¡°What?¡± she whispered, wiping her face. ¡°What is he talking about?¡±


    ¡°Our discussion on your veranda,¡± Raven replied with loathing. ¡°As your father said¡­ the Titan has eyes and ears everywhere. He heard the whole conversation we had. A terrible attempt to turn your family against your father.¡±


    The Titan trudged past Roho, still slumped in sadness.


    ¡°Did you not hear your ruler?¡± Roho suddenly raged, frightening the crowd anew. ¡°The Titan shows you mercy by not destroying you and your kin where you stand. And yet you disrespect his grace? Bow down before your god!¡±


    Slowly some obeyed, kneeling.


    ¡°I SAID BOW!¡± he roared. His voice shook the valley.


    Those before him collapsed to the ground in dread, prostrate before the Titan. All that were left alive sunk their faces to the ground.


    All except Raven.


    Raven calmly brought his robed hands together before him. He closed his eyes and breathed deep.


    ¡°Raven, what are you doing?¡± Van asked, not daring to lift his head. ¡°Get down!¡±


    Raven did not reply. He watched on steadily, standing tall.


    Roho spotted him. Filled with wrath, the gargantuan servant made his way toward him, dragging his massive sword behind him. The man towered over Raven, fuming at his insolence. Raven smirked, gazing up at him.


    ¡°You would defy us, rat?¡± he asked.


    There was a short silence as Raven returned his stare. ¡°I have a friend who is looking for you,¡± he finally replied. ¡°And trust me when I say¡­ he will find you.¡±


    The warrior lifted his sword to strike Raven down.


    ¡°Halt,¡± the Titan said.


    Roho stopped and turned.


    ¡°Leave that one be,¡± he said, climbing into his chariot. He smiled. ¡°He is not yet ready. Let him¡­ develop.¡±


    The warrior sniffed in quiet disdain, but left Raven be, and joined the Titan in the chariot. For the first time, Raven¡¯s gaze met the Titan¡¯s. The enemy peered at him chidingly, as if Raven were a small child.


    Without another word, they were off. Parting the army once again, the chariot disappeared among them, as quickly as they had come. The Horde of Provote followed, melting into the air, like a mirage betrayed to clarity.


    All was quiet. Those bowing were slow to lift their heads, as if they couldn¡¯t believe it could be over. They looked this way and that in dread, waiting for the enemy to return.


    Raven broke the silence. He began to hum in deep lulls, and he beat his chest. Heads lifted and all eyes turned to him. He marched toward Barkley and the rest of the Titan¡¯s victims. Over and over, he strummed the Dirge of Lamgard, beating his chest in rhythm.


    Those around the fallen slowly regained their courage, hearing the familiar ballad of their people. The men joined him in getting up and humming, beating their chests in sync. They formed a circle around the fallen, raising their voices to the sky. The women carefully and tearfully gathered up their fallen loved ones, closing their eyes and covering their wounds. Then they fell in behind the men.


    Raven picked up Barkley¡¯s pandora as the dirge rang higher still. The picture of his card portrayed a mighty warrior drenched in flame.


    ¡°We must avenge him,¡± Rue said.


    ¡°We will avenge him,¡± Raven replied. ¡°The day is coming, Rue. The day will come when that man dies. He shall die by mind¡­ and sword¡­ and shield.¡±

 Chapter 23: Rumails Wrath

    ¡°Valentine, where are you going?¡± Van shouted.


    He raised a hand against the assault of wind and heat on his face, pushing into the force nearly in vain just to keep up with her. The fervor of her drive was relentless. The Blazing Highlands punished travelers, always unforgiving, but drawing closer to the volcano proved the true violence of the mountain harboring the city. Lava rivers flowed for miles, never ceasing. Of course, this had always been the case, but something changed.


    It had been mere hours since Barkley¡¯s death. Since then, the mountain rumbled constantly, doom-like, groaning in anger. Searing wind and fiery rain blustered through the land. Conditions to cause any reasonable person to seek immediate refuge in the city. But Raven had disappeared without warning shortly after the Titan¡¯s departure. And now Valentine was seeking him, recklessly pressing further into the badlands without direction.


    ¡°Raven!¡± she called out, searching for him on the horizon.


    But the driven dust, fire, and wind prevented any visual clarity, and her voice nearly drowned out. Still, she pressed on, and Van struggled to keep up. The drops of fire singed his skin, hair and clothes. Something wild drove her, almost manic. Her family had pleaded with her not to leave, to stay with them and mourn Barkley and the other fallen, but she wouldn¡¯t have it.


    Of course, Van joined her. But his own thoughts struggled to stay the course. He was frightened. And baffled. And lost. The presence of the Titan had only been imagined before, and his mind had done him a severe disservice. Never could he have fathomed such suffocating wickedness, such clout. When his servant, Roho, roared at them, Van fell to his face before the Titan without thinking, so rife with dread. His body reacted on its own.


    But Raven stood against the fiend. He stood even in the face of those weapons. Van felt ashamed. But he also felt angry. Some part of him had begun to believe Raven was on the level of the Titan. The way he spoke, without fear¡­ Van actually believed Raven would kill him and end the plight of his reign. But he did nothing. Raven watched Barkley die and then watched the Titan leave.


    What were they doing, then? What was any of this for, if not to destroy the Titan when he presented himself? He knew such questions weren¡¯t fair. That terrifying woman borne from the Titan¡¯s pandora¡­ she embodied death itself. How could anyone counter such blinding speed and unrelenting obedience to evil? Did Raven not know about her? He must have.


    He must have known.


    Valentine was getting ahead of Van, and he pressed deeper into the wind to try and catch up, but the fury seemed to increase.


    ¡°Valentine, wait!¡± he shouted.


    ¡°There he is!¡± she cried.


    She pointed to a small plateau overlooking the mountain. This side of the volcano teemed with lava flow, yellow and red as far as they could see. Despite still being fairly far away, the heat was suffocating. But through the ash and smoke, Van spotted what she saw. Raven sat at the edge of the rock. His robes furled wildly about him with the storm, but he seemed little affected by his environment. His eyes were closed, and his hands were placed before him on his lap, in the formation he called ¡°Grand Harmony.¡± Middle fingers down, ring fingers touching.


    Valentine now ran, wind be damned. She reached the rock formation and found a makeshift path around it to reach his level. Van finally caught up, and together they watched him. Raven¡¯s face was scrunched with concentration, or perhaps determined anger.


    ¡°Raven!¡± Valentine shouted again, approaching.


    But he did not open his eyes or reply.


    Valentine looked at Van. And when she did, Van immediately felt pity. So many emotions displayed in one face. Desperation. Determination. Hatred. Resolution¡­ and maybe an uncommon hope. He wasn¡¯t sure how to react, but then she did something he did not expect. She sat down next to Raven, her back to him. And she copied the placement of hands, and began to meditate.


    Van now understood. He ran a hand through his hair. What a fool he had been.


    Valentine didn¡¯t blame Raven for Barkley¡¯s death. No. She trusted him. She was a follower. A comrade.


    He felt even greater shame. On some level, this had all been a game to him. Raven was interesting. He was dangerous, but he was also a friend in some way. The investigations, the pursuit of Valentine, the search for information. All a game, an adventure. But for Raven and Valentine, this was no game.


    Raven, an orphan. Marked with a cruel scar on his head, and filled with loathing for the one he called the Thief of Life. Valentine¡¯s family was dying all around her, turned into cards of slavery. They wanted justice in this world, and they would seek it to success or their doom.


    Van sat down, squeezing between them so they were all shoulder to shoulder in a circle. He shook his embarrassment free and placed his hands together in Grand Harmony. And he searched. For what, he didn¡¯t know. But this was no longer a game. He had to be more.


    And the Titan had to die.


    He didn¡¯t remember when the chaos around him disappeared. Nor did he perceive when he arrived somewhere new. And when he opened his eyes again, it seemed they had been closed for so long, he wondered if he fell asleep, because what he beheld could only have been a dream.


    White. Quiet. Peace.


    Those were the only observations that could be made. He slowly stood up, looking all around. There were tints of pink on the horizon of the plane in which he found himself, like distant clouds, but otherwise, everything in the existence of this place was white.


    ¡°Where are we?¡±


    Van turned. Valentine was there.


    She was so¡­ beautiful.


    ¡°This is entirely different than when we were inside your mind,¡± he finally said. The volume of his own voice seemed raucous against the silence. ¡°It¡¯s like¡­ a dream. But we can¡¯t be dreaming together, can we?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Look.¡±


    She pointed into the distance. A black splotch violated the white and pink canvas.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s Raven.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Van felt strange as they made their way to him. His legs were heavy, like he was trudging through waist-deep water. And his head hurt, an ache that amplified as Raven drew closer. Valentine¡¯s struggles matched his own, but they pressed on.


    Soon, they realized the black splotch was not just Raven, but someone else. A gigantic man standing before him. Van had never seen such a person. He wore a loose, black tunic, darker than his skin, but not by much, and a brown cloth wrapped around his head and neck that trailed down his back. A green feather nestled into the top folds. A gilded sword hung from his belt, but that was not what made Van¡¯s jaw drop.


    This man could only be described as a colossus. With muscles so large and mighty, no tunic could have concealed them. His exposed arms were the most impressive of all. Van believed in that moment they could hold the world, so indomitable were they. In fact, Van would have thought him to be the Titan himself, had he not already seen what he looked like that day. Strangely, though, despite his stature, he must have been young. The youthfulness of his face suggested he was not much older than those standing before him.


    He and Raven were not speaking to each other, but Raven seemed at ease. Van and Valentine came up behind him, but did not speak, so in awe were they of the man¡¯s presence. Raven¡¯s eyes were closed. Even so, the man waited patiently, looking only at him.


    ¡°I am glad I could reach you, Arkh,¡± Raven finally said. He opened his eyes. ¡°Time is of the essence.¡±


    ¡°I felt your anxiety, my friend,¡± Arkh replied.


    His voice was smooth as glass. Van had expected something gruff and thick, like a grizzled warrior. But it was like the voice of God, full of power.


    ¡°Who are they?¡± Arkh asked, motioning his head toward Van and Valentine.


    Raven turned and was surprised to see them.


    ¡°These are my companions,¡± he finally replied, turning back to Arkh. ¡°They have joined me in my mission.¡±


    Arkh nodded in approval. ¡°They must be strong to have found their way to this place.¡±


    ¡°There is no time to talk. He is here.¡±


    Arkh scowled. The feather in his head wrap turned bright red. ¡°Where are you?¡±


    ¡°I am in Lamgard. The Titan murdered about twenty people only hours ago. Members of the Chessex clan. He is already on the move.¡±


    ¡°Curses on this land!¡± Arkh growled in frustration. ¡°I am further away than anyone could be.¡±


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    ¡°In Saphioc?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Across the River Shallonigh, near the Forest of Medes.¡±


    ¡°If I send you wings, can you be ready?¡±


    ¡°I am always ready.¡±


    ¡°I know it. Look to the south. I will deliver you to him, Arkh. You have my word.¡± He extended his hand, and Arkh shook it.


    ¡°Our Vengeance is one,¡± Arkh said. ¡°I will send word when I arrive.¡±


    ¡°May your strength increase, Arkh. Our Vengeance is one.¡±


    Immediately, the white disappeared. Van lurched through blackness, and the fires of the Highlands stormed back into his vision. The heat and wind returned. Disoriented, he struggled to get up, but he worked with Valentine to get to their feet. Raven was already standing, looking up at the lava-strewn volcano.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said. And he made his way down from the plateau. ¡°Hurry!¡±


    Van and Valentine looked at each other before quickly following.


    Raven scurried across the desert, drawing closer to the mountain. The heat of the lava grew more intense, soon nearly unbearable. But he did not stop. Instead, he produced a pandora from his robes. Van recognized it as Ice Token, the card Raven used most.


    The pandora gleamed, and a blue essence poured from the vessel to cover them. The shimmering dust blasted them with freezing relief, and it coated them each in an intense azure cloak. Van exhaled from the instant respite from the heat, and a surge of energy ran through him when he saw Raven burst into a sprint.


    Van and Valentine followed close behind, right up to the edge of a waterfall of lava. The thick yellow river of stone, bright as gold, poured into a deep basin. Just a small stone plank connected the edge of the basin to the waterfall. But even as close as they were to the lava, there was no longer an effect of the heat on their skin. Raven stepped onto the plank and strode up to the waterfall. He glowed frosty blue, a truly strange contrast to the searing magma.


    He scowled deeply. ¡°I will end this unsightly plague,¡± he rasped.


    And to Van and Valentine¡¯s shock, he walked straight into the lava flow and disappeared. They ran to the spot he had been standing, aghast. Van shook his head in amazement. What else will I see in Raven¡¯s presence that I will never see again?


    He looked at Valentine. ¡°Well¡­ shall we?¡±


    She breathed deep and exhaled a frosty plume. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    They plunged their arms into the lava. It was incredibly heavy, but it did not burn them. Armed with the security of their well-being, they followed Raven into the flow. After a few steps, they came out on the other side, covered in quickly-cooling earth and rock that they shook free. Raven watched as they approached. Behind him, a long tunnel burrowed into the mountain, effulgent from the gleaming, red-hot stone. This place burned so greatly, Van¡¯s vision blurred. Had it not been for their icy armor, they would have been roasted.


    ¡°You did well,¡± Raven said.


    ¡°Was that a test?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°No. We are not children. But I once asked if you would willingly follow me to danger, or run from it, clutching to your safety. You both know the stakes now. The urgency of this quest. Those who join me must desire death before failure. Or all will be lost. If you were to ever remember one thing about me, remember this: I will not fail to destroy the Titan. But the road is long, and here we start the true journey.¡±


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Valentine asked.


    Raven turned and proceeded down the blazing path. ¡°To the lair of Rumail.¡±


    ¡°The guardian?¡± Valentine asked in shock.


    Having met Panka, this did not surprise Van quite as much. ¡°Raven, do you know where all the guardians of the Reyks are?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Have you met them all?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Wow. Is Rumail a prankster like Panka?¡±


    ¡°No. He is extremely dangerous. It is very likely he will want to kill us.¡±


    ¡°Raven,¡± Valentine said. ¡°What was that place we entered when we meditated? Who was that man?¡±


    Raven stopped and held up a hand to quiet them. Slowly, he stepped forward into a wider expanse. The tunnel gave way to a great cavern, similar to Panka¡¯s. But in place of waterfalls, lava and fire poured into the deep chasm, from which a whirlwind of smoke and steam rose, climbing to some unknown height.


    ¡°Is this the source of our well?¡± Valentine whispered in awe.


    ¡°Here he comes,¡± Raven warned, climbing down a few of the steps leading to the bottomless pit.


    Van had envisioned a fire version of Panka when Raven spoke of Rumail, but Lamgard¡¯s guardian emerged from the whirlwind as a pyro of monstrous spirit. The very picture of a demon. Black wings kept the creature afloat. A fire-lick tongue emerged from a wide mouth lined with jagged, black teeth. Long fiery hair and a beard of lava trickled down his body endlessly, and a mighty ashen hand held a rod of gold. His face filled with fury at the sight of them.


    ¡°Is that¡­ him?¡± Valentine whispered, terror-stricken.


    Van held her hand.


    ¡°I told you to never come back here!¡± Rumail roared. The blast of fire issuing from his mouth enveloped them, but Raven¡¯s pandora shielded them.


    ¡°I never intended to return,¡± Raven replied, scowling. ¡°But circumstances change. Or have you been sleeping, unaware of what is happening at your doorstep?¡±


    ¡°HOW DARE YOU!¡± Rumail towered over them, livid. ¡°I warned you I would kill you if you ever returned. Now you mock me? On this day of all days?¡±


    ¡°You think I wanted to return to this pestilent place you call a sanctuary?¡± Raven shouted back, matching his anger. Van had never seen him so furious. Raven raised a fist at him. ¡°The Titan returns to your city and murders your people, and what do you do? You throw a big temper tantrum! You coward!¡±


    Rumail slammed a massive fist on the ground beside them, shattering the stone. They steadied themselves, but Raven would not be sidetracked. He matched Rumail¡¯s glare, staring the guardian down. Fire enveloped them all, wrapping sinews around their bodies and aching to squeeze.


    ¡°What would you have me do?¡± Rumail growled through gritted teeth. His pointy nose was mere inches from Raven¡¯s face. ¡°There he stands, the imp Whitesong, who promises the salvation of the whole land! Did you not stand there watching Barkley die?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I was there. I watched as the Titan bullied the people you claim to protect!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just as loud and annoying as the last time you came here. Where is that girl you were with, the curt one, your so-called ¡®love?¡¯ The both of you had no answers then and you have no answers now. How would you defeat the Titan? You still have no answer, do you?¡±


    ¡°Noelle and I have done nothing but scour the earth for the method to destroy him,¡± Raven shot back. ¡°We have bled and toiled, and to what end? Just to watch the guardians of Fallowreyk lie as dusty rugs before his wicked throne. Hiding! Hiding like little birds from the storm! What have you done since that day? Do you resist him? No. You sit in your mountain doing nothing.¡±


    Rumail harumphed, drawing back. ¡°Leave this place!¡±


    ¡°You still don¡¯t understand, do you? You haven¡¯t even noticed!¡± Raven held up his arms in frustration. ¡°Some guardian you are!¡±


    ¡°Noticed what? What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°The means to the salvation of your people stands before you, and you take no heed. We could have left here, and you would have never known. How blind you are, great Rumail! You are WEAK!¡±


    A halo of black smoke whirled around Rumail¡¯s head, and a treacherous look came over him as he raised his rod of gold. ¡°You have mocked me for the last time, Whitesong.¡±


    Raven raised a hand. ¡°Open your eyes, you old fool. Look at who is standing next to me!¡±


    The fire guardian stopped from striking them and looked at Van and Valentine. He barely regarded them. ¡°What of them?¡±


    ¡°Still nothing?¡± Raven replied, mocking being flabbergasted. ¡°It doesn¡¯t even occur to you?¡±


    Raven stepped behind Valentine and put his hands on her shoulders. ¡°Who is this, Rumail?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any idea!¡± Rumail shouted. ¡°GET TO THE POINT!¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Raven asked her.


    ¡°I¡­ I am your servant, Valentine Chessex!¡± she managed shakily. She bowed.


    Confusion swept over Rumail as he drew closer. He looked Valentine up and down, bewilderment growing deeper as he did. He shook his head. ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­ I don¡¯t¡­ explain this, Whitesong. What is this?¡±


    Raven stepped forward again. ¡°This has always been your problem. You have spent so long identifying people by their Frame of Mind, you forgot what your own people look like. This truly is Valentine Chessex, the girl once destroyed by the curse of your so-called gifts, but restored in mind and body. Her Frame has been restored.¡±


    ¡°YOU LIE!¡±


    ¡°Cease with your stupidity, Rumail! LOOK AT HER!¡±


    For the first time, the guardian of Lamgard appeared intimidated. He quieted, and the smoke dispersed from around him. He looked at Valentine again, drawing closer. Valentine seemed to gain some measure of courage, and she let go of Van¡¯s hand.


    ¡°How?¡± Rumail finally said. ¡°How did you do this?¡±


    Raven exhaled, calming himself. ¡°Now isn¡¯t that a question I¡¯ve been asked more than a few times?¡± He smirked, looking at Valentine. She smiled uncertainly, but kept her eyes on Rumail.


    Rumail never stopped looking at her. His body shrunk and began to transform. The wings, fire, and ash faded away, leaving a person standing on two feet, like a man deeply coated in soot. He climbed the stone stairs to stand before her. He reached a hand toward her and cupped her cold face. A tear of fire ran down his cheek. Then he slowly reached in and embraced her.


    ¡°My dear child,¡± he whispered, hugging her tight.


    There was a silence as he held her. To Van¡¯s surprise, she returned his embrace.


    ¡°For so long, your people have suffered,¡± Raven said. His voice was gentle now. ¡°It is a terrible thing, the Splits. But she was spared.¡±


    He finally relented, letting go of her. Wiping away his tears, he floated back into the air, and his previous form returned, cloaked in fire and ash.


    ¡°Is this what you came to tell me?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No. I came here because I need wings. And I need them now.¡±


    Rumail¡¯s scowl returned in tempered form. ¡°Of course. There¡¯s always something you want, isn¡¯t there? As grateful as I am for your service to Valentine, why should I grant you such a thing? You have spent every moment of your time in Lamgard tormenting me.¡±


    ¡°I do not come empty-handed. As I said, I have been asked many times for the method I used to restore Valentine¡¯s Frame of Mind. But I denied every request, because I feared the knowledge could fall into the Titan¡¯s hands. However, every second we spend here talking, we waste. If you give me these wings, we could potentially deal the Titan a mighty blow here and now. So, in exchange, I will give you the knowledge.¡±


    Raven reached into his robes and produced a notebook, glowing blue in icy protection. ¡°The method to save your people from the Splits forever. I will entrust it to you, and to you alone, so that you may disperse the cure to your people as you see fit. What say you, Rumail, guardian of Lamgard?¡±


    Rumail looked at Valentine one last time. He nodded and for the first time, issued a wry smile. ¡°This is a truly acceptable deal.¡±


    Immense bursts of flame suddenly surrounded him, swirling and turning until they formed an incredible chariot of fire, pulled by a pair of flaming winged horses. Steam poured from the nostrils of the beasts and sparks exploded from their bodies.


    ¡°Where am I sending them?¡±


    ¡°The Forest of Medes. Arkh Slipfire will be waiting.¡±


    Rumail nodded. The flame horses whinnied and sped off into the dark expanse above them. The notebook floated out of Raven¡¯s hands, which Rumail swallowed up whole.


    For a small moment, Raven and Rumail stared at each other. Then Raven turned to leave, and Van and Valentine quickly followed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t sit here doing nothing,¡± Rumail said. Raven stopped, but didn¡¯t turn. ¡°I do everything I can to protect my people,¡± the fire guardian continued. ¡°Everything.¡±


    Raven did not reply. He stood for a moment before continuing on into the tunnel.


    They exited the mountain the same way they came, shaking the lava free after passing under the falls again. Raven led them back to the plateau where they had first found him. Van pointed up into the sky. The flaming chariot sped through the heavens, north toward its target. In seconds, it disappeared.


    The blue protection of Ice Token finally faded, and the miserable heat returned. Raven produced the pandora from his robes. The card had turned milky white.


    ¡°Raven¡­¡± Valentine said. ¡°Is that¡­?¡±


    Raven brought the card to his forehead, holding it gently in both hands. He sighed, then brought it down to look at it.


    ¡°You have been my friend for so long,¡± he whispered. ¡°Your service has been mighty, and your spirit true. Return now to the Holy One and rest, Soro.¡±


    Ice Token slowly faded into bright wisps of smoke, melting away. In moments, the pandora was no more, retired from its term. The soul of Soro deSoto would be in heaven that very hour.


    Raven looked up into the sky. ¡°This day extracted a great toll. Let¡¯s ensure it was not in vain.¡±


    ¡°What is the next step?¡± Valentine asked. ¡°I don¡¯t want to delay a single moment.¡±


    ¡°Next?¡± he repeated. ¡°Next is Marcus Shrale. We are going to get that ring from him, even if I have to extract it from his ugly corpse.¡±

 Chapter 24: Lucky Night

    They departed Lamgard that very evening, riding three horses provided by Hershel. Into the night they sped, making all haste for Roespeye. They rested when needed, but otherwise, stuck to the Grand Highway at the fastest stride the animals could handle. Van and Valentine were excellent riders, and easily kept pace without complaint. Day and night they carried on, hastened by the urgency of their goal.


    They cut the normal trip in half, and arrived a full week before the second season started. It was perfect timing, because Raven turned seventeen the day they reached the city. Though still cold, Roespeye began to show signs of a creeping summer, with grass bursting from snow patches here and there, and hardy flowers growing at windowsill pots.


    No time was wasted. As night fell on the mountain, Raven and Van prepared for their trip back to Little Fastings. Van received confirmation Marcus Shrale would be there. Valentine decided not to join. She was not yet seventeen. And her father had given her Barkley¡¯s sword to gift to Master Cooley, Barkley¡¯s mentor, as a memento. She wanted to deliver it immediately, hoping she could deliver the news of his death before he heard about it elsewhere.


    To reach the main entrance to Little Fastings required a jaunt through the city, turning north at the Windmill Keep and keeping to a stone path winding around the mountain, marked by red flags tattered by sleet and time. An unassuming cave entrance sat at the end, closed shut by two red doors bedecked with wolf silhouettes. Raven recognized the man standing at attention in front of them, holding a clipboard. It was the boathook they ran across the last time they snuck in.


    ¡°Osten,¡± Van greeted him with a nod.


    ¡°You two again?¡± he complained. ¡°You guys are going to get me in trouble.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re both seventeen now.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ really?¡± He seemed like he was going to ask for proof, but then thought better of it. ¡°Okay, well then head on in, fellas. But uh¡­ can you not make trouble?¡±


    ¡°No promises.¡±


    With a sigh, Osten opened one of the doors to usher them in.


    The casino wasn¡¯t quite as lively as it had been opening night, but it was packed even so. And really, it felt like nothing had changed. Well-dressed patrons enjoyed their vices at every turn, noisy chatter filled their hearing, and Fanny was losing a game of Parchen at the main table, giving away her money by the fistful to delighted winners.


    Raven and Van took two empty stools at the bar and scanned the crowds. It didn¡¯t take long for them to spot their quarry. Marcus Shrale stood amongst those who were enjoying winning money at Fanny¡¯s expense.


    ¡°Should I go see if I can pick his pocket?¡± Van asked quietly.


    Raven looked around. Sonny Bumpkin was at the other end of the bar. Their eyes met, and they gave each other curt nods.


    ¡°No. Not while Sonny is here. Let¡¯s be patient. But make no mistake. We are getting Valius Shrale¡¯s ring tonight.¡±


    ¡°What on earth are you boys doing here?¡± a familiar voice asked.


    They turned to find Fanny looking at them with a disapproving scowl.


    ¡°Are you taking a break from going broke?¡± Raven asked with a smirk.


    ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject,¡± she replied. She sat in the empty stool next to Van and ordered an iced water. ¡°Nine Star students are forbidden from coming here. You both know that.¡±


    ¡°What are they gonna do?¡± Van asked. ¡°Expel us?¡±


    She frowned. ¡°Well at least Valentine had the sense not to join. Although I would imagine¡­ levity would be difficult for her right now.¡±


    ¡°So, you heard about Barkley,¡± Raven said.


    She nodded. ¡°News just broke today about the attack. Were you there?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You saw the Titan?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Her eyes widened. She looked from Raven to Van and back again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, boys.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not here for levity, either, Master Fyre,¡± Van said.


    Fyre nodded in understanding and gave them her full attention. ¡°Talk to me.¡±


    Raven nodded in Marcus Shrale¡¯s direction. ¡°What do you know about him? The hobo with the pandora eye.¡±


    ¡°Marcus? He¡¯s harmless.¡±


    ¡°Is he really Valius Shrale¡¯s descendant?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°Yes. And he has the heirlooms to prove it.¡±


    ¡°We need one of them. An insignia ring.¡±


    ¡°Good luck with that. He treats them like they¡¯re his children.¡±


    ¡°Fanny¡­¡± Raven said. She looked at him. ¡°We need it.¡±


    She again looked back and forth between them, trying to decipher without asking questions. Finally, she seemed to resolve herself.


    ¡°Wait here.¡±


    ¡°Are you¡ª¡±


    She held up a hand. ¡°I said wait. Let me work.¡±


    And so, they waited. Fanny returned to the Parchen tables and was immediately granted access to the same table again. And she proceeded to lose. Over and over. Raven grew a tad impatient as an hour passed, and then two. But the irritation was dimmed by his fascination with Fanny¡¯s actions. She lost boatloads of money with each loss, and she lost so many times that eventually her opponents would exhaust themselves and new challengers would step in to play. But she never stopped playing, she never stopped betting on herself, and she didn¡¯t win a single game.


    As it reached the third hour, Fanny¡¯s latest opponent decided he¡¯d done enough damage, having won a dozen games or so. Raven¡¯s attention perked when Marcus Shrale stepped up to the Parchen table in his stead.


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    ¡°Ready to lose, Marcus?¡± Fanny asked imperiously, as if she had the shortest memory in the world.


    ¡°I suppose it¡¯s my turn to keep this party going,¡± he replied. His face was like that of a parent looking amusingly on his ridiculous child.


    They picked their move cards and commenced the game. Marcus played a simple move ¡°Warden +3 Forward or Back¡± and moved his piece the corresponding direction and then discarded.


    The dealer sitting beside the table wrote on his ledger. Then he called out: ¡°Favorite: Marcus. One to Two Odds.¡±


    And as per usual, the interested bettors squeezed around the table made the maximum bets allowed, and Fanny accepted them all. The game commenced as Raven was used to seeing. Fanny flubbed her way through her moves, and Marcus prevailed quickly. Raven had seen this show before. Fanny was flustered and dumbfounded, looking at her dead hand of cards as if wishing they would tell her what she was doing wrong. She was so bad at Parchen, that even after all the watching he did, Raven was still not entirely familiar with the game. She lost so quickly, nuance was lost.


    Several more games passed, and Fanny was now becoming truly frustrated, disheveled and making more mistakes than ever. Finally, during their fifth game, Marcus played a move while shaking his head.


    ¡°Fanny, why do you do this to yourself?¡± Marcus asked.


    ¡°My time is coming,¡± Fanny replied, red-faced. ¡°I¡¯ve just had a bad night.¡±


    As he played the winning move to renewed praise from the victors, he looked up at her. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t say this, because we¡¯re all having so much fun, but you really should just stop. It¡¯s unbecoming.¡±


    Those surrounding the table hissed at him playfully.


    ¡°If you think you¡¯re so great, raise the stakes then,¡± Fanny chided, folding her arms in anger.


    ¡°I have no problem with that. How much do you want to wager?¡±


    She harrumphed. ¡°I¡¯ll bet anything you like that I win this next game!¡±


    Marcus¡¯s pandora eye danced about the card with interest. ¡°Anything?¡±


    ¡°You heard me.¡±


    ¡°Then I want it back.¡±


    There was a silence at the table when he said that, and Raven¡¯s interest piqued.


    Fanny regarded him coolly, but didn¡¯t reply.


    ¡°Do you still have it?¡± Marcus continued.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied.


    ¡°I¡¯ll wager all my winnings tonight against it.¡±


    She laughed in shock. ¡°I beat you fair and square that night. And I know what it¡¯s worth. There¡¯s isn¡¯t enough money in this casino to pry it away from me!¡±


    Marcus frowned miserably.


    ¡°Of course¡­¡±


    He perked up in surprise.


    ¡°I¡¯d be willing to wager it¡­ against something of similar value,¡± she said. ¡°Like the ring of Valius Shrale.¡±


    Anger and distrust filled Marcus¡¯s demeanor. Raven knew the look well.


    ¡°No way!¡± he snarled.


    ¡°Fine by me! I love looking at the prize I won from you, a reminder that I can beat you in Parchen any day. And that goes for everyone here!¡±


    Laughs went up as the merriment around the table returned, but Marcus stood glaring at Fanny, deep in obvious inner turmoil over Fanny¡¯s offer. She possessed something he once had owned. Another treasure?


    ¡°Fine,¡± he said quietly. Sweat now poured from his brow.


    ¡°What was that?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I accept your terms. One game. I am Valius¡¯s true heir. Me. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Okay then. Let¡¯s play Parchen.¡±


    Raven couldn¡¯t believe it. Fanny just got Marcus to willingly wager the ring they were so eager to possess. Now she just had to actually win a game¡­


    The match started the same as usual. Fanny and Marcus picked their move cards, and then their special move cards. Fanny started confidently, but as she picked more cards and built her available pool, confusion and frustration replaced the initial demeanor. She finished picking long after Marcus was done. Once her deck was down, they began, with Fanny to move first.


    She played a ¡°Goblin +2 any¡± card and moved the black game piece forward two spaces before discarding the move. It was Fanny¡¯s most common first move. The dealer sitting beside the table quickly scribbled in his ledger and declared Marcus the favorite. After bets were offered and taken only by Fanny, it was Marcus¡¯s turn.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to use a special move,¡± Marcus declared.


    By now, Raven knew this was very early, as they only had five each.


    ¡°Prince¡¯s Charge,¡± he said. He took his Prince piece, and replaced Fanny¡¯s corner Lancer Knight with it. The powerful white piece was now deep behind Fanny¡¯s frontline. Raven remembered this move. The person everyone called Bear had performed this same opening when Raven first watched Fanny play. But she appeared equally flummoxed by the move, as if she¡¯d never seen it done before.


    ¡°Favorite: Marcus!¡± the dealer announced. ¡°One to Three Odds.¡±


    There were no bets. The bettors had already gotten their best odds.


    The turn came back to Fanny. She stood still, looking through her cards nervously. Her lips undulated as she thought furiously. Raven¡¯s small hope died by the second.


    But suddenly, as if a light came on, her eyebrows rose in wonder.


    ¡°Oh!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°I think I can do this?¡±


    She played one of her own special move cards. ¡°Night and Day. If an opponent moves more than 5 spaces to take one of my pieces, and my pieces are in position to perform the exact same move, I can do so and take the original opponent piece as well.¡±


    She looked at the oddsmaker, unsure if what she did was allowed. Those surrounding the table were aghast as they all leaned in closer to confirm it was a legal move. Marcus¡¯s jaw hung agape. When no one said anything, Fanny smiled. She took Marcus¡¯s Prince, and then used her own Prince to take Marcus¡¯s Lancer Knight.


    The Oddsmaker took his time to peruse the board. All were still quiet. It was like they were waiting for him to change what had happened. But after he scribbled in his journal, he declared: ¡°Favorite: Fanny. One to Two Odds.¡±


    The effect was profound. Those watching exploded in anger. Anger at the Oddsmaker, at Marcus, at Fanny, and at each other. It was a small pandemonium. Fanny wiped the sweat off her brow and seemed rejuvenated, while Marcus had turned white as a sheet. His shaking hands looked through his available cards, searching for an answer. Finally, he played a card, making a defensive move.


    And then, something wondrous happened. Fanny continued to play well. Some cards she only played after asking for clarification on what the card she wanted to play could even do. Other times she played cards illegally and was forced to take them back to play something else, only to make a better play. All through the game, Marcus had no response, and piece after piece was taken, growing into a large pile beside Fanny. It was a miraculous turn of events at the perfect moment. Almost as if¡­


    And then it struck Raven. It had been a long time since he felt so foolish. Why didn¡¯t he see it before?


    This was all an act.


    Fanny Fyre, the mathematics professor. Fanny Fyre, the holder of treasures so valuable, she had no concern over money. Fanny Fyre, a person who played and studied and loved games so much, they riddled her home and filled her pockets.


    She wasn¡¯t a gaming novice. She was a gaming monster.


    With the patience to rival a monk, she played the part of a buffoon over and over. Giving away money she didn¡¯t need and building the reputation of a loser. But she was a shark. Waiting for something far more valuable to come along. The ring she was about to win was worth a lifetime of money.


    ¡°Ho-ly wild,¡± Van said. He understood as well.


    In that moment, Fanny glanced at Raven and Van. And the sly smile that flashed briefly across her face made Raven shudder. Cold, calculating, and full of devious charm. If he wasn¡¯t already spoken for, he was sure he¡¯d have fallen in love.


    Fanny waited eagerly to finish Marcus off. He was shaking, and sweat severely dampened his raggedy clothes. Tears began to stream from his good eye.


    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ this can¡¯t be happening¡­ not again¡­ I¡­¡±


    ¡°I win, Marcus,¡± she said, playing her last card to take his king. ¡°Pay up!¡±


    Deep groans surrounded the table as they all began to tally their losses. But Marcus looked ready to explode, red-faced and holding his head in his hands. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring, looking on the silver piece as if it was reprimanding him. His shaking hand finally dropped it onto the game board. He fled, wailing in frantic sorrow.


    Fanny picked it up along with her winnings. ¡°I think I¡¯ll take that as a sign to be done for the night, everyone.¡±


    She stepped away from the table and approached Raven and Van. She tossed the ring at Raven, who caught it.


    ¡°That¡¯s a loan, boys,¡± she said.


    She walked on by, high-fived Sonny as she went, and left the casino, smiling the whole way.


    They watched her go in silence, still stunned by what they witnessed.


    ¡°Uh, I hate to be a downer¡­because I know we just got the ring and all,¡± Van finally said, scratching his face. ¡°But isn¡¯t Fanny¡¯s challenge that you have to beat her in a game of Parchen?¡±


    Raven looked up at him. ¡°I have to learn how to play Parchen.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±

 Chapter 25: The Hidden Study

    The door had once appeared merely odd.


    Then, an ominous presence seeped from the out-of-place entrance within the Rail. Slowly at first, but now¡­ it felt sinister. Raven, Van, and Valentine stood before the door created by Valius Shrale, listening in silence. Waiting for it to do something, perhaps even speak. For months, they had dwelled on it. The next step to discovering the fate of the Sleeping Devil lay beyond, and they finally gained the power to enter thanks to Fanny. Even so, the trio lingered in apprehension, steeling themselves to the task. Shrale built this door for a purpose, shielded by magic not even Panka could undo. What lay behind it worthy of such protection?


    Raven took the metallic seal ring. They held their breath. He placed the insignia against the mirrored image above the doorknob. There was a click. Deafening in the silence.


    Van put a hand to the door and gave a soft push. The door slowly opened with a creak. They waited a moment, peering into a dimly lit hall. Raven cautiously reached a hand over the threshold. Nothing happened. He pushed an arm through, and then a leg. Finally, he stepped through the door and turned to look at his companions.


    Valentine ventured in next, and then Van. They stood inside the shadowy space, eyes wandering over all that they beheld. What could only be described as a vast, abandoned library stretched a long way. Shelves of books towered dozens of spans high. There were hundreds of rows, if not a thousand. The ceiling of the dusty archive rose cathedral-like into a domed apex. The poor lighting seemed to extend to every nook, but the light available possessed a hidden origin, for there were no windows, and no other doors within view.


    They progressed further. Footfalls were silenced on thick, luxurious carpets lining the walkways. They took the left walkway, sticking close to the stone wall. No tapestries or paintings adorned them. Just sheer towering rock. The rows of books drove deep into the hall. Raven noted immediately the uniformity of the books. They all had black bindings with no covers or script.


    After what seemed a long time, they came to the opposite corner of the archive. There, a wide space provided relief from the many tall rows of shelves. The shelves were split down the length by a middle corridor. Two bubbling fountains with an unknown source of water lined the entrance to that corridor, with marble sculptures of angels facing the nearest wall, which was decorated by a strange mural of clouds and stars. A marble arch had been built into the wall, forming a faux doorway. In one corner, a long desk sat, littered with papers, books, knick-knacks, test tubes, and writing instruments. There was a feeling of disorder about it, as if the owner of the desk went out one day on a whim but never returned.


    ¡°Look at this,¡± Van said.


    He pointed to the ground in front of the arch. At the end of the middle corridor, a wide circled space spanned a huge open area. Within, the adopted sign of Valius Shrale took shape through black steel panels riveted into the floor.


    Van stood inside the circle. ¡°Is this for practicing seals?¡±


    Valentine shook her head. ¡°Impossible. Those steel grooves in the floor would upend the seals.¡±


    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s right,¡± Raven replied. ¡°Lines like that could easily ruin seals.¡±


    ¡°So, it¡¯s just for show?¡± Van replied. ¡°How did Shrale even build this place on his own?¡±


    ¡°Raven, do you think this was Shrale¡¯s true study?¡± Valentine asked. She reached to the nearest row of books and withdrew a large volume, flipping through its dusty pages.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe,¡± he replied. ¡°He must have drawn on Panka¡¯s power to build it. Perhaps even tapping into the artifact itself.¡±


    ¡°This is a journal,¡± she said, showing them the pages of the book. ¡°Hand-written notes. And look, there¡¯s Shrale¡¯s mark! On the first page.¡±


    ¡°Surely they can¡¯t all be journals,¡± Van said. He took another book and flipped it open. But inside were more painstakingly written entries. Shrale¡¯s mark again had been penned into the first page.


    They each took another. It was the same. They took examples from other rows. Nothing changed. They were all journals.


    ¡°No way,¡± Van exclaimed. ¡°There¡¯s no way these are all notebooks!¡±


    ¡°We would have to sample other shelves to be sure,¡± Valentine replied.


    Van put a hand to his head, ruffling his hair. ¡°I¡¯m just going to come out and say it. None of this makes any sense.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Well, what I mean is¡­ well¡­ it¡¯s kind of hard to say. This place just doesn¡¯t fit. Why is this here? Shrale goes to all the trouble of building this¡­ absolute cathedral, out of Panka¡¯s sight, and it¡¯s just a bunch of journals? And I¡¯m supposed to believe he worked on that little desk over there? Completely out of step compared to the grandeur of this place. I don¡¯t believe it.¡±


    Raven pursed his lips.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Rue asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking Van is right. This is not what I was expecting. The size is unreal. Could these all truly be the written notes of Shrale? It would take a lifetime to write it all down. He may have used a pandora, but these look hand-written. Rue, do you recognize anything? Or do you have any ideas?¡±


    ¡°None. I don¡¯t feel or recognize anything.¡±


    They explored the other side, and then roamed the aisles. For over an hour, they searched for clues, doors, or any other signs of something they were missing, but none were found. When they reconvened by the desk, Raven sat at the chair and searched through the papers and instruments, but found nothing of interest.


    He opened the nearest book. It was yet another journal.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s interesting,¡± Valentine said. She pointed to the first page. ¡°Every other journal we¡¯ve opened has only had Valius Shrale¡¯s mark, but this one is signed by him instead.¡±


    ¡°It might be one of his earlier journals,¡± Raven replied. ¡°There¡¯s also a pen mark going through the corner of this first page. See here? Looks like an accident. The others were much more pristine.¡±


    He raised a hand over the journal. The pages rapidly turned over, as if blown by the wind.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°I used Moon¡¯s Ark to read it,¡± Raven replied. He closed his eyes, going over the information rapidly entering his mind. ¡°This journal documents his early observations of the Rail. Interesting insights, but nothing of note in regard to Sheeharu.¡±


    Van picked up the book. ¡°Incredible! You read this entire journal in just a few seconds? Even so¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, even with Moon¡¯s Ark, reading all of these journals would take months.¡± Raven sighed, drumming his fingers on the desk and preparing himself for the monumental task. But it had to be done.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Valentine said.


    They looked at her in surprise. Her face filled with steely resolve. ¡°I will need to borrow your pandora,¡± she continued. ¡°But I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t ask if you understand what you are promising to do, because I know that you do,¡± Raven said. ¡°But are you sure you want to do this? Look at it¡­¡±


    He gestured to the myriad bookstacks. Together they looked out at the many rows and potentially hundreds of thousands of books. ¡°You must consume all the information stored in this place. Consume it, retain it, understand it, analyze it¡ª¡±


    ¡°Just give me the pandora!¡± Valentine yelled angrily. She then gasped in shock and put her hands to her mouth in fear. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± She blushed furiously, looking from Raven to Van and back again. ¡°I-I-I¡¯m still learning to¡­ you know¡­ harmonize my two selves. Since Barkley¡¯s death¡­ it¡¯s been more difficult.¡±


    ¡°We know,¡± Raven replied. Van gave her a casual thumbs up.


    She held out her hand. ¡°I will discover the secret to rescue the Sleeping Devil, if it exists in these journals.¡±


    Raven raised his hand, and Moon¡¯s Ark floated out of his sleeve to slip between her two fingers, which she closed around it. She raised her other hand over the journal Raven just read. The Class Six pandora glowed, and the pages whipped forward rapidly. Valentine stepped back, stunned. She closed her eyes and held a hand to her forehead.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s quite a rush the first few times,¡± Raven said.


    Van held her arm gently. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I am fine. Thank you, Van.¡± She straightened up. ¡°I will get to work immediately. I guess we¡¯ll be spending a lot of time in here.¡±


    Van snapped his fingers. ¡°Oh, that reminds me. Raven and I have to get going!¡±


    ¡°What? Why? Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Yes, where are we going?¡± Raven repeated, just as unaware.


    ¡°You said you needed more information on that Class Seven pandora Fanny let us borrow. The one that sets itself on fire. I just got word an old friend arrived in town. And she is just the person you want to talk to about this. Knows more about pandora than even the Gold Lecher. Maybe even more than you!¡± He scratched his cheek. ¡°But I should probably warn you¡­¡± He put an arm around his shoulder and leaned in close. ¡°She¡¯s kind of¡­ weird.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡±


    Raven let Van lead the way, leaving Valentine to start work. While he was torn between continuing to explore Shrale¡¯s secret room inside the Rail or learning more about Fanny¡¯s mystery pandora, it was an easy decision to go with Van in the end. The appearance of Rue¡¯s soul design on the pandora was simply incomprehensible, and he needed to know more.


    They found themselves back at Nine Star¡¯s main courtyard. Deep summer was the only time during the year when snowfall didn¡¯t bombard the mountain. As a result, the ever-present cone of snow sucked into Panka¡¯s well was gone. Raven looked up into the sky, finding it so odd that he could now actually see it. But what interested him even more was the seeming disappearance of the floating tower in which he now secretly resided. From the vantage of the tower, Raven could look down onto the courtyard from any of his windows, but it seemed Panka¡¯s magic hid sight of his tower from all who peered above.


    Panka must have also been at work on his pool. With its snow source gone, the once-bottomless pit now brimmed with water like a normal pool. The priest assigned to standard duties stood beside the well no longer. Instead, residents could drink from the pool as they pleased.


    As they crossed the courtyard, Raven noted the Funny Tower¡¯s gong seemed especially keen to delight its listeners today. The heavy chime played wordless ditties that invited children to dance in the court, and left something to be desired from the gongs of the other eight towers. More so than usual, anyway. Despite the gray skies and still-cold air, it felt like a true summer day. Flower and fruit vendors camped at the entrance to the school, enthusiastically hocking their wares. One cart stood out among them, displaying buckets full of large, black and purple blooms. Raven knew them to be rare Lightflare Lilies. They only grew on the mountain, and only during this time of the year. He found himself wishing he could buy some for Noelle.


    But Van was all business, swift in foot as he led Raven to the Ilias Drome. He pulled open one of the giant doors and carefully peered inside, before swinging the door wider and entering. Raven followed and shut the door behind them.


    They paused in the chilling quiet of the place. Raven had not been here since the day he had been enrolled, when he challenged the seven masters of the school. The seven podiums stood quiet in a soft shaft of light. And all throughout the arena-like space, parchment pages were scattered on the ground. As they traversed the hall, the unusual nature of the aged paper revealed itself yet again. They flitted to and fro on some unfelt current, never allowing themselves to be touched, even as Raven and Van hurried across the Drome. The paper moved with such tempered wildness, the words written on the leaflets could not be effectively read. Raven had wondered why they were never cleaned up, but it seemed some magic enchanted the torn pages, demanding their permanence.


    They exited the building and stepped outside into the forest beyond the city walls.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Raven asked.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°A secret place,¡± he said, leading him off the path and into the forest. ¡°Pipes is wanted by the Titan. She never stays in one place for too long.¡±


    ¡°Pipes?¡±


    ¡°Short for Piper. Piper Redtune. I¡¯ve known her for a while. She¡¯s rarely in town, but we¡¯ve traded a lot of information over the last few years.¡±


    ¡°An enemy of the Titan? Color me intrigued.¡±


    The forest trek proved challenging, as the descent was quite steep. They made their way down as quickly as possible, but they were forced to zig and zag through the woodland in order to find sure footing.


    ¡°So why haven¡¯t you mentioned this person before?¡± Raven asked after a while of silent hiking.


    ¡°She¡¯s constantly on the move, all over Fallowreyk. No family that I know of. Seems a sad sort of life, but she says it¡¯s her calling from the Holy One. Not sure what she means, but she says it a lot.¡±


    ¡°Well, we¡¯re clearly headed for Flapenheil. I assume she is staying there.¡±


    Van hopped off a large rock as they continued their descent within the forest. ¡°So, you know about Flapenheil as well?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve visited all three of Roespeye¡¯s satellite townships at one point or another.¡±


    ¡°We are heading toward the village, but she¡¯s not staying there.¡± He paused suddenly, hiding behind a tree.


    Raven copied his actions. Together, they looked further down the hillside. Tucked among large trees, a stone cottage stood along a river embankment. Smoke drifted from a humble chimney. All was quiet. Further down the hill, Raven could just make out the edge of Flapenheil, a modest town, but much more well off than Supenheil.


    ¡°There it is, just as she said,¡± Van finally whispered.


    ¡°You¡¯ve never been here?¡±


    ¡°Pipes never stays in the same place twice. C¡¯mon.¡±


    They scurried down the hill, as quiet as possible. But when they came near the cottage, they were surprised to see the door open. A familiar figure stepped out onto the porch, closing the door behind her. It was the woman Raven met at the lair of the Gold Lecher. She still held the green mask to her face by way of a long stick, and was heavily cloaked.


    When their eyes met, they paused, eyeing each other warily. She looked at Van briefly, and then back at Raven. Raven¡¯s gaze immediately flashed to the signet ring on her finger.


    ¡°Whitesong, we meet again,¡± she finally said. ¡°Still asleep?¡±


    Raven smirked. ¡°Just to bide the time. Are you this person named Piper?¡±


    Van shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not her.¡±


    ¡°I see. Well, it seems my name is known, but what is yours?¡± Raven asked her.


    ¡°My name I shall keep to myself for now,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Her name is Sarratica Lively,¡± Van said, putting his hands into his pockets.


    ¡°How do you know my name?¡± she asked in shock.


    ¡°It¡¯s my job to know things.¡±


    Though he couldn¡¯t really see it, Raven was sure she frowned deeply. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Pipes called for me. Raven is my guest.¡±


    ¡°Does Piper know about your¡­ guest?¡±


    Van swallowed hard and gave a nervous laugh, swiping his hair back against his head. ¡°Not yet.¡±


    Sarratica tilted her head and then shook it disapprovingly. She walked down the short stairway and passed them on her way back to Roespeye. ¡°Good luck,¡± she finally said.


    They climbed the stairs. Van looked around warily before knocking on the door.


    ¡°Enter,¡± a strange voice answered.


    Van opened the door, and they stepped inside. Raven was immediately struck by the smells of sweet incense. Smoke swirls clouded the space, hazy and calm. Two people looked back at them warily. The first sat on a large red pillow on the floor, cross legged and holding a very long pipe. She possessed all the trappings of a cat somehow confined in a small human body. She wore no shoes, and her feet and hands were sleek with orangish-brown fur. But her face appeared rather normal¡­ except that it wasn¡¯t quite normal when examined more closely. She didn¡¯t quite have fangs, but as she opened her mouth to puff from her pipe, Raven noticed abnormally long incisors. And she didn¡¯t quite have cat ears, but tufts of her unruly brown hair resembled them. Even her bright green eyes suggested a feline nature, as her pupils weren¡¯t necessarily slits, but almond-shaped.


    She was young, perhaps no older than they. Petite in stature, but possessing the refined presence of an adult. A much more imposing figure stood beside her. A wide face and square jaw were scattered with deep scars, and his mouth turned into a deep grimace. He possessed the deep purple eyes of the men of the Riverren Clan of Saphioc, a luminant glow penetrated only by intense black irises. His fists clenched as Van closed the door behind them.


    ¡°Who is this-nanana?¡± the cat-like person asked, nodding toward Raven. Her voice was high and scratchy, but pleasant, like a little girl¡¯s.


    ¡°Hey Pipes,¡± Van replied. ¡°I know this is against the rules, but you¡¯re really gonna like this guy.¡±


    A deep silence permeated the room as Van¡¯s acquaintances stared daggers at Raven.


    Van elbowed Raven hard. ¡°Right?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea,¡± Raven replied calmly, rubbing his arm. ¡°I know these people as much as they know me.¡±


    He groaned, leering at him. ¡°Look, just hear me out before you say anything.¡±


    Piper raised her hand. Raven was surprised she didn¡¯t have claws. ¡°Say no more,¡± she said. ¡°I am already intrigued-nanana.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Van said in surprise. ¡°Good.¡±


    ¡°Please, sit down.¡±


    Before her, a low table stretched for several spans. An ash tray, a large bowl of fruit, and some old books were scattered before her. Raven and Van sat on two pillows opposite Piper. Her companion chose to remain standing, watching Raven warily but saying nothing.


    The cottage was quite strange. It seemed wholly personal, with hangings on the wall, and curious decorations and pillows scattered all around. It did not resemble a temporary place to stay whatsoever. In fact, Raven was reminded very much of the domicile of an elderly woman, one who had made herself at home long ago.


    Piper never took her eyes off Raven. She puffed at her pipe in quick bursts, tapping her finger lightly on the table. ¡°You wear the Earrings of Yearning,¡± she finally said after a long pause.


    Raven¡¯s eyebrows rose. Not many people understood the significance of his green orb earrings. ¡°You know of the pledge rite?¡±


    ¡°Quite well. Who is your betrothed?¡±


    ¡°The Princess of Zaliance.¡±


    ¡°Oh my.¡± She smiled, revealing her curious little fangs. ¡°I heard rumor she was betrothed, but didn¡¯t believe it. That is¡­ quite a burden-nanana.¡±


    ¡°She is worth it.¡±


    ¡°Wait, what is this about a princess?¡± Van asked.


    Piper laughed, a cackle mixed with a song. ¡°Van, you sly dog. What have you brought me?¡±


    ¡°Wait, wait, wait. I¡¯m not going to let that comment go,¡± Van said quickly, looking at Raven. ¡°The girl you¡¯re betrothed to is a princess? What the hell? How come you never told us?¡±


    ¡°You never asked.¡±


    Van muttered a quiet expletive. ¡°Pipes, this is Raven Whitesong,¡± he grumbled comically.


    At the utterance of his name, Piper and her companion looked at each other.


    ¡°Is my name cause for concern?¡± Raven asked.


    Piper took a deep puff of her pipe as she contemplated him. ¡°Not necessarily-nanana. Raven, this is my guardian consort, Tellius of Riverren.¡± The man standing beside her nodded curtly. ¡°Do you know who we are?¡± she asked.


    ¡°No. And that is saying something.¡±


    She hummed. ¡°Where do you come from-nanana?¡±


    ¡°Surlance.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± She seemed visibly disappointed.


    ¡°But I wasn¡¯t born there.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Then where is your pool-nanana?¡±


    ¡°I do not have one.¡±


    She perked at this, looking at Tellius once again. Excitement came over her as she pulled down her shirt over her shoulder. A tattoo of a rectangle with a line running diagonally through it had been etched into her skin, just above her collarbone.


    Raven turned his head, showing them the scar on the back of his head with the same design. Now Tellius appeared interested, and he stepped closer to the table.


    ¡°Yeah, see that¡¯s why I knew you would be happy,¡± Van said.


    ¡°I¡¯m curious,¡± Raven said. ¡°Why did my name indicate to you that I was a Rogue?¡±


    ¡°Just a hunch,¡± Piper replied. ¡°Whitesong. It is similar to my name, no? Redtune.¡±


    ¡°I suppose they are similar. But I know very little of my family¡¯s origins or history.¡±


    She sighed. ¡°The same is true for me-nanana. I remember nothing. Of course, I am one hundred and twenty-one years old, so my memory of early things is quite brittle.¡±


    ¡°Holy Wild,¡± Van exclaimed. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were that old.¡±


    She leered at him. ¡°Watch it.¡±


    ¡°Pipes, you haven¡¯t seen anything yet. Remember when we last met, and you showed me your special talent? Well, believe it or not, but Raven can do it, too!¡±


    ¡°Do what?¡± Raven asked.


    ¡°Talk to pandora!¡±


    Now it was Raven¡¯s turn to be shocked. He looked at Piper, and she returned his excitement in kind. ¡°You can speak to pandora?¡± Raven asked. ¡°Truly?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Well, only high-class pandora, but yes-nanana!¡±


    Raven produced Rue and set her card on the table. ¡°Rue, can you say hello?¡±


    ¡°Hello,¡± she said meekly.


    ¡°Hello, dear one,¡± Piper replied joyfully, picking up the pandora. She handled it lovingly, bringing it up to look at the design of her card. ¡°Are you well-nanana?¡±


    ¡°I am just fine. I did not expect this. What a treat!¡±


    ¡°A treat indeed!¡± Piper exclaimed.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never talked to another girl before. I only have Raven to talk to.¡±


    She laughed. ¡°I can only imagine the horror-nanana.¡±


    ¡°I do my best to compensate,¡± Raven said.


    ¡°You big liar! You¡¯re a boy through and through!¡± She laughed, and Raven and Piper laughed with her.


    Van and Tellius looked at each other, clueless. Van shrugged, and he did likewise.


    ¡°Well, I must say, this is something!¡± Piper exclaimed, setting Rue down. ¡°Raven, do you know what this means?¡±


    ¡°I am starting to.¡±


    ¡°We are alike! We have similar gifts. I think we share the same pool-nanana!¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t have a pool.¡±


    ¡°Neither do I. And yet I can use Hydra. Why?¡±


    ¡°Holy Wild!¡± Van suddenly said. He looked at Tellius. ¡°Does Pipes suck up your Hydra, too?¡±


    ¡°Damn straight,¡± he replied. His voice was gruff in disapproval, but there was a hint of amusement behind it.


    ¡°Raven calls me his ¡®pantry,¡¯¡± Van complained.


    Piper, Tellius, and Rue burst into laughter. Van was shocked, so certain that Tellius would sympathize. He folded his arms and harrumphed. ¡°I guess I¡¯m just a piece of meat.¡±


    They laughed again, and Raven joined them with a chuckle, but his mind was racing. Could this all be true?


    He allowed the laughter to die down before he asked, ¡°So¡­ do you think we hail from some unknown city?¡±


    Piper nodded. ¡°A reyk lost to time. I now firmly believe it. You and I must be kin! I lost hope so long ago that I would meet another like myself, but seeing you, hope is rekindled-nanana.¡±


    ¡°When I spoke to the guardian Panka, he did say there used to be nine wells. I thought it was curious, but didn¡¯t take enough time to consider all the implications. Could it be he also meant those two lost pools dwelled within two lost cities? Civilizations waiting to be rediscovered? It would explain why there are nine holy runes identified within the Holy Texts. Shal and Ken have no corresponding Reyks.¡±


    ¡°These questions must be answered!¡± Piper replied. ¡°I will search for the rest of our brethren, no matter the cost-nanana.¡±


    ¡°I wish you luck on your quest. But for now, it cannot be my mantle.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Tellius asked.


    ¡°I have another mission. My life¡¯s work and end.¡±


    ¡°What mission is this-nanana?¡±


    He looked her in the eyes. ¡°I am the one who will kill the Titan.¡±


    A silence permeated the room. Piper considered him for a moment, tapping her fingers on the table. Then she looked at Van. When she noted he wasn¡¯t the least perturbed by Raven¡¯s statement, she looked up at Tellius. He nodded.


    ¡°My death is desired by that devil,¡± she said, tapping her fingers on the table again. ¡°His pursuits have caused me great pains. How I detest him.¡±


    ¡°Then help me,¡± Raven said. ¡°I will never rest until he is dead.¡±


    ¡°What do you need?¡±


    Raven held up his arm, and the mystery pandora floated out to lay beside Rue.


    Piper leaned in, amazed. ¡°The designs of these pandora¡­¡±


    ¡°They are one and the same. And I don¡¯t know why.¡±


    ¡°I told Raven you knew everything about pandora,¡± Van said.


    She frowned. ¡°Not everything, but I do know much-nanana.¡± She picked up the card. ¡°What is he saying? I can barely make it out. My hearing is not what it used to be.¡±


    ¡°The person within says nothing but ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡¯ over and over,¡± Raven replied. ¡°Even now, he laments. It is both chilling and saddening to listen to.¡±


    ¡°Ah yes, I hear it now. Fascinating.¡±


    She placed the pandora next to Rue. They sat side-by-side, nearly identical in every way. The only way to tell them apart was by their Class markers. Rue possessed eight marking lines in each corner, while the other pandora featured only seven.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen this once before-nanana,¡± she said. ¡°A long time ago.¡± She sighed, frowning, and for the first time, Raven witnessed a glimpse of her age within her countenance. ¡°Tellius, could you be a dear and prepare some tea?¡±


    As he set about the task, Piper placed an elbow on the table and propped her head against her hand. She picked up the Class Seven pandora, pondering the design with a worried and frustrated look.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°When I was your age, I was a servant girl in the Titan¡¯s court-nanana. I kept my head down and did as I was told. Anything to avoid a beating or time in the pit. But over the course of my forced service, I made friends here and there-nanana. Other servant girls, some of the kinder soldiers. None of them lasted long, and I¡¯ve forgotten most of them. But there were two that stuck in my memory. Natalia. I don¡¯t remember her last name-nanana. She served in the kitchens, a pathetic little thing. Very pretty, but very gloomy. The Titan had killed her family and taken her away from her home. She possessed nothing but her work.


    ¡°But then she met Jean-nanana. A young sentry in the Titan¡¯s guard. An invisible nobody. They took notice of each other and eventually fell in love. Oh, how they fell in love. Of course, such a thing was forbidden by the Titan.¡±


    Tellius handed her a cup of tea on a dish. She took them. The dishes rattled as she did so, because her hands were shaking. She quickly set the cup down and held her hands together.


    ¡°I remember them¡­ so vividly,¡± she continued.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°They¡­died.¡± Her look was faraway now.


    ¡°The Titan?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°No. Another guard discovered their secret-nanana. Turned them in, like a good little soldier.¡± A tear fell down her cheek. ¡°Executed them both on the spot. I still remember¡­ how they held each other in those last moments. I¡¯d never seen such love.¡±


    ¡°I understand now,¡± Rue said, sobbing. ¡°They were turned into pandora, weren¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Their souls were taken-nanana. Both Class One souls. Worthless in the eyes of the Titan. So, they were sold off immediately. No one else even bothered to notice the amazing thing I had just witnessed.¡±


    Raven nodded, tapping Rue¡¯s card. ¡°They shared the same pandora design.¡±


    ¡°Yes-nanana.¡±


    ¡°What could that mean?¡± Van asked. ¡°There have been loads of loved ones who died together in the past. But I¡¯ve never heard of two people sharing the same picture on their cards.¡±


    Piper picked up Rue¡¯s pandora again. ¡°Little one, do you remember anything from your life-nanana?¡±


    ¡°No, nothing. My only memories are as a pandora. If Raven hadn¡¯t convinced me that I once existed in your world, I¡¯d have believed this was all I ever was.¡±


    ¡°What do you think, Piper?¡± Raven asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate she does not have her memories, although it might be a blessing in disguise,¡± she replied. ¡°Most high level pandora keep their memories. I do not believe this match of pandora pictures is a coincidence.¡± She picked up the mystery pandora. ¡°This person knew your Rue in their former lives. They knew each other and they affected each other.¡±


    ¡°But Rue¡¯s pandora is nearly a hundred years old.¡±


    ¡°Then, whoever this is must also be a hundred years old-nanana. There is no other explanation. The Holy One does not impress the soul by mistake. He is purposeful, and his creation is wonderous.¡±


    ¡°So does that mean they were both destined for this design?¡± Tellius asked.


    ¡°No. The Holy Frame is separate from the pandora-nanana. One is righteous and one is evil. But I believe that strong feeling can change a pandora design.¡±


    ¡°So, strong love caused one pandora to change the design of the other,¡± Van concluded.


    Piper frowned. ¡°Strong feeling,¡± she corrected. ¡°I cannot say only love could do this-nanana. This is only the second time I have seen such a thing.¡±


    ¡°So the question becomes,¡± Raven said. ¡°Did Rue affect this person in the pandora and change his pandora design? Or did this person change Rue¡¯s?¡±


    Piper picked up the Class Seven, lifting it up for them to see. ¡°I believe the soul within might be trying to tell you the answer.¡±


    They listened to the voice, ever-present in their hearing.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± It was a wallowing anguish, growing more pitiful with time.


    ¡°This was¡­ very helpful, Piper,¡± Raven finally said. ¡°I am glad to have met you. I can only hope we meet again one day under better circumstances.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Raven, can¡¯t we stay a while longer?¡± Rue said suddenly. ¡°I want to talk to Piper more.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s not a problem at all-nanana!¡± Piper replied. ¡°Please, stay for dinner. I insist. Tellius is cooking a marvelous roast, and we have plenty to drink.¡±


    Raven looked at Van. ¡°I guess I can stay. Can you?¡±


    ¡°Fine by me,¡± Van said, plucking a banana from the bowl on the table. He was about to peel it when an impish grin suddenly came over his face. ¡°Hey Pipes¡­ say ¡®banana.¡¯¡±


    Her smile turned into loathing. ¡°You¡¯re uninvited now.¡±


    ¡°C¡¯mon. Just say it.¡±


    She groaned. ¡°Banana-nanana.¡±

 Chapter 26: The Sword and the Shield

    When Van and Valentine didn¡¯t have class, they were in the Rail, searching for the next clue to freeing the Sleeping Devil. Valentine scoured Valius Shrale¡¯s journals with Moon¡¯s Ark, Van worked to provide her new stacks of journals while returning the ones she finished to the exact places from which they had been taken, and Raven perused a sample of books individually, searching for information beyond the written words. So far, the work proffered no results regarding Shrale¡¯s connection to the girl slumbering within the golden cocoon.


    It had been several days since Raven¡¯s encounter with Piper Redtune. He had spent a considerable amount of time thinking about their conversation since. He wanted to return, but she had left the city the next day. And while Rue did her best to help him, she simply couldn¡¯t recollect anything about her former life that provided a clue to the mystery. He needed to talk to Fanny about it again. Perhaps she remembered who she won the pandora from. But she was currently out of town, and would not return for a fortnight. According to Van, she had assistants teaching her classes while she was gone.


    So, for now, all focus remained on the Tetrapolis. This is the name Shrale had designated to the hall of his design, something Valentine discovered early on in her reading.


    Van dropped a huge stack of journals on the desk, wheezing. ¡°Okay, wait,¡± he gasped. ¡°I need a break. You¡¯re reading too fast.¡±


    Valentine looked up, having just finished consuming the writing within the last journal in her latest batch. She smiled. ¡°You have the easy job, you know.¡±


    ¡°I know¡­ I know¡­¡± He collapsed into a nearby chair, still breathing heavily. ¡°But I still need a break.¡±


    She laughed, placing the journal she finished to another stack before standing up and taking the first one atop the new stack. She opened the first page, and her eyes lit up.


    ¡°Look!¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s another journal with his signature instead of his mark.¡±


    Raven and Van looked closer. Van pointed to the page. ¡°It has an errant line running through the page, too. Didn¡¯t the first one have something similar?¡±


    ¡°Read it,¡± Raven said. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s another early journal.¡±


    She raised her hand over it, and pages rushed forward in a flurry. Her eyelids flittered as the knowledge forced its way into her mind. When finished, she shook her head and blinked a few times.


    ¡°I¡¯m still not completely used to the sting,¡± she said.


    ¡°Take your time,¡± Van replied.


    ¡°I wish we had time.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Raven said, kicking up his feet onto the table. ¡°What was the journal¡¯s subject?¡±


    She closed her eyes. ¡°Snow crow migration.¡±


    Raven frowned as he turned the page of the journal in his hands. ¡°There is something frustrating about this endeavor. These must exist for a reason, but that reason eludes me completely. What does Shrale want the reader to know?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something elegant about them, though,¡± Valentine said. ¡°Shrale¡¯s passion for knowledge shines in the text. Each journal is the same. He poses a question. A theorem if you will. The premise is always built on educated speculation of a subject. And then, he explores the possibilities. Each is purposeful.¡±


    ¡°But none of the journals presupposes the research has true meaning,¡± Raven replied. ¡°The topics range from the important to the mundane and sometimes to the absurd. Does he really care about the topographical history of Mount Chappelle?¡± He held up the journal in his hand. ¡°The appearance of passion exists here, but does the cause? His voice remains silent in that regard.¡±


    ¡°I see your point. Even so¡­¡± She pressed her lips together. ¡°After reading so many of them now, I get the impression of enthusiasm about the things that do matter. He cared deeply for the school, and for Roespeye and her people. He mentions having children, although he has not yet given their names.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure Marcus could tell us,¡± Van quipped.


    ¡°There is a reverence for things he seems to really care about. I feel like I can understand why he was called a hero. Why he was able to give his life to save the city. Of course, I¡¯ve only scratched the surface, but I¡¯m gaining new insights every day.¡±


    She took another book and read it using Moon¡¯s Ark, finishing it in moments.


    ¡°Ooh,¡± she exclaimed, grabbing her head in pain. She tilted, and Van quickly stood to catch her before she fell.


    ¡°Valentine, are you okay?¡± he asked, gently helping her back into a chair.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m alright.¡± She placed both palms on the desk, blinking rapidly. ¡°I need to keep going.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to take a break?¡±


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t. This is important.¡±


    He frowned. He was about to put his hand on hers, but then he quickly withdrew. ¡°It¡¯s not more important than your safety. I think even Raven would agree.¡±


    Raven remained silent.


    She smiled. ¡°I appreciate that, Van. Thank you. But I must continue. I want to solve this puzzle and aid the cause. And when you really want something¡­ you go for it.¡±


    He looked at her in surprise, falling silent. He looked at Raven with an odd expression, as if something dawned on him.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Raven asked.


    ¡°I¡­¡± He looked back at Valentine again. Then, without another word, he stood and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back,¡± and left before anyone could object.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°What was that about?¡± Valentine asked, bewildered.


    ¡°No idea,¡± Raven replied. ¡°He¡¯s an odd duck.¡±


    She laughed. ¡°I always said he was a nice urchin. My opinion hasn¡¯t changed.¡±


    ¡°An urchin¡­ a truly apt description.¡±


    He went back to analyzing the journal he held. She did the same, flipping through the pages absently.


    ¡°Raven¡­¡± she said after a few minutes of silent reading. ¡°Can I ask you a question? You don¡¯t have to. But it¡¯s been on my mind, and I need to ask.¡±


    ¡°You want to know why I didn¡¯t kill the Titan in Lamgard,¡± he replied, not taking his eyes off his journal.


    She smiled in a sad sort of way. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be surprised you know what is on my mind. I wouldn¡¯t say I want to know why you didn¡¯t kill him. I guess¡­ I just want to know what we are really doing. So, to be blunt¡­ aren¡¯t we trying to kill him?¡±


    Raven set his journal down and folded his hands together.


    ¡°Are you prepared to kill him?¡±


    Her gaze became icy. ¡°Do you doubt me?¡±


    ¡°I do not doubt your resolve, nor Van¡¯s. But you must understand the task. Once you gain that understanding, your ears will be opened to what your mouth says freely. Your father possesses wisdom even I do not yet possess.¡±


    ¡°You mean talking about the Titan¡¯s death out in the open.¡±


    ¡°The Titan¡¯s power¡­ his resources¡­ they are beyond comprehension. He has eyes and ears in every corner of Fallowreyk. I have spent every waking hour of my conscious life obtaining knowledge for the singular purpose of slaying the Titan, but I have not yet penetrated the depths of his menace. However, I do know much, and that has led me to a singular conclusion: he cannot be killed.¡± He smirked. ¡°That is¡­ not before I first counter his protection.¡±


    ¡°His protection? Oh, you mean those pandora he used in the desert.¡±


    Raven breathed deep, closing his eyes. ¡°The Titan possesses, among many other resources, two weapons. Two immense weapons. The first is a Class Ten pandora called Big Shield. At all times, the pandora protects the Titan from any attacks, both magical and physical. An impenetrable, omnipresent barrier requiring no direction from the Titan. It protects him from any harm, even in his sleep. The second is a Class Ten pandora called Remnant Aria. The ultimate sword. A divine soul able to cut through even the mightiest defense. At the Titan¡¯s whim, Aria could destroy an entire city, and she has. The Horde of Provote is nothing but a witness to her colossal deeds.¡±


    A tear trickled down Valentine¡¯s cheek. ¡°So, Barkley had no chance, did he?¡±


    ¡°And neither did we. Make no mistake. The Titan rules Fallowreyk by the might of his two standard-bearers. They are not easily overcome. But I will find the way. I must.¡±


    ¡°How much service do these pandora have left?¡±


    ¡°The Titan possesses the natural gift to extend not only his own life, but the life of the souls captive within pandora. Big Shield and Remnant Aria will never be freed, not as long as he possesses them.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± She fell silent, continuing to flip through the pages absently.


    ¡°Can I ask you another question?¡± she said.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t the Titan kill you?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Raven sniffed, shaking his head. ¡°I was too young.¡±


    ¡°Too young?¡±


    ¡°The Titan believes that souls mature. That the class of a soul grows as people become adults and develop into their full potential. So, he waits. He waits to kill them until they reach the apex of their stature. At the height of their accomplishment, whenever he believes that is. Such as during Barkley¡¯s promotion. He¡¯s obsessed with this notion. He sincerely holds that there is a key to finding more high-level souls. He has no interest in killing children, only because he believes it wastes greater pandora that could be had. I praise the Holy One for His grace in this.¡±


    ¡°So, he¡¯s looking for more pandora?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Why? If he has achieved perfect protection, what else could he want?¡±


    ¡°I can only guess, but I believe my guess is a good one. I think he¡¯s afraid. You saw how he acted in the desert. I believe he¡¯s so afraid of people like us, that he searches for even more protection, even more power. At least¡­ I hope that is the reason.¡±


    She smiled. ¡°Thank you, Raven. I feel reassured. So, is this why we are trying to free the Sleeping Devil?¡±


    ¡°She is a key part in a greater scheme. Her freedom from Shrale¡¯s cocoon is immensely important.¡±


    ¡°Then my resolve is renewed. I will read every single journal in the Tetrapolis if I have to. Shrale wrote them for a hidden purpose. We agree on this. I will discover that purpose.¡±


    The sound of footsteps preceded Van¡¯s sudden return. He held a large bouquet of Lightflare Lilies. He approached the desk. Looking Valentine in the eyes, he extended the flowers toward her.


    ¡°Valentine, will you go on a date with me?¡±


    Her jaw dropped. Raven¡¯s eyebrows rose. She took the flowers, cradling them. ¡°Of¡­ of course!¡±


    ¡°You will?¡±


    She smiled, recovering from her shock, but still heavily blushed. ¡°Yes, I will. When?¡±


    He ran a hand through his hair, smiling brightly. He offered his hand. ¡°I was hoping right now.¡±


    ¡°Oh, but¡­¡± She looked at Raven.


    He smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know your resolve is true. Go. Trust me, I¡¯m happy about this development as well.¡±


    She smiled and took Van¡¯s hand. Raven watched as they went, amazed by Van¡¯s sudden courage. What a development. He was elated to finally be free from his silly agreement to help him.


    But then the silence hit him. Looking around, he suddenly realized how alone he had become in the great hall. The quiet was deafening.


    ¡°I¡¯m still here,¡± Rue said.


    ¡°Yes, you are right. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    He sighed. ¡°I miss her.¡±


    ¡°And Noelle misses you. She works hard, even now, to accomplish her mission.¡±


    He tapped the desk, finding himself less interested in journals by the second. ¡°Valentine reminds me of her in that way. Seeing their new love¡­ just makes me long for her even more.¡±


    ¡°Your last Task of Yearning begins soon. You¡¯ll see her then, won¡¯t you?¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°No. In fact, it is imperative I not look upon Noelle¡¯s face. That will be far more difficult than the Task.¡±


    ¡°Take heart, Raven. You may not get to see her, but she will see you. And she will be strengthened by your resolve. Soon, you will have your bride. Be strong.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your words. They have helped.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you write her a letter. It¡¯s been some time, right?¡±


    ¡°An excellent idea. You are right. It has been far too long.¡±


    Raven returned to Panka¡¯s Tower, having no desire to continue without Valentine and Van. He was tired and ready for rest, but Rue¡¯s idea sparked his desire to reach out to his beloved. Seated at his desk, he found his previous writer¡¯s block forgotten, and the words flowed from his pen.


    .


    My Dearest Noelle,


    Words cannot express how often my thoughts turn to you. You are my breath and my song, the light of my dreams. Forgive my silence these past weeks. I found myself in an intolerable state, mired in a swamp of unrest and dissatisfaction of my progress thus far. My only hope is that you have garnered greater success.


    However, I am glad to report we have achieved some recent advancement, having finally penetrated the mysterious room in the Rail. Van and Valentine, my two unexpected underlings, have become something more than lackeys, I daresay. I should be keen to call them friends. They recently bore witness to the Titan¡¯s atrocities firsthand. Since then, they have better understood the daunting task before us all. As Arkh would often say, their eyes opened in the night, clear as day. Their fervor for vengeance is amplified, and it has greatly served our purpose.


    Even so, I worry. The more they learn, the more difficult it will be in the end. They believe I have come to Roespeye to kill the Titan. They believe this because I have made it so. If only they could know the truth. Perhaps one day they will forgive me, but for this one vengeance, the deception must endure.


    I will soon be leaving for Zaliance. Pray for me, this boy who would become your husband. My last task lies before me, but the difficulty will not compare to the day when I complete it and stand near to you, unable to touch you or even look upon your beautiful face. Know that when that day comes, though my face should harden, my heart remains forever yours.


    Raven

 Chapter 27: Divine Risk

    The warmth of the season lasted about a week. Perhaps two. Snow returned to Mount Chappelle, and with it, the signal of another cold year around the corner. While it wasn¡¯t truly freezing by winter¡¯s comparison, the disappearance of the sun behind constant clouds and snowfall hastened the forsaking of carefree comings and goings of Roespeye¡¯s citizenry. They instead scampered from location to location, seeking warmth wherever they might find it.


    Raven scanned the smooth, glassy surface of the golden cocoon confining Sheeharu, the Sleeping Devil. The innocent child slumbering within remained ever peaceful, locked in immortal stasis. Raven pressed his palm against the surface. There were no jagged edges or rough patches. He scratched it. It left no mark, of course. The mystical substance created by Valius Shrale was somehow so impenetrable that not even Remnant Aria had been able to crack it.


    That meant only one thing: the golden structure of the Sleeping Devil¡¯s cocoon had also been drawn from something immortal and unbreakable. Raven¡¯s first thought on the source: a soul. But how did he do it? The answer had to be procured. Not only could such information be invaluable in the fight against the Titan and his peerless pandora weapons, but it was the key to saving the girl. Releasing her from these shackles and restoring her to peace. Raven¡¯s first conjecture had been that the cocoon was built from Sheeharu¡¯s own soul. But this ultimately seemed unlikely. According to Panka, Sheeharu¡¯s soul had been extracted before Shrale locked her within the cocoon, and she had terrorized the city for a sizable amount of time between the two events.


    So then, what else could it be? Could Shrale have used his own soul to form the cocoon? That also seemed unlikely, since he initially survived whatever ritual he devised. Could he have used something else? An artifact, perhaps, which are also nearly unbreakable. Or perhaps an extremely advanced seal?


    Raven shook his head. All speculation. He needed more information, and he wished he had more time to continue looking. But his last Task remained before him, and he was about to start his long journey.


    Suddenly, Raven felt another presence and he whirled, looking around the courtyard. But nothing was there. It was the same presence he had felt on Simon¡¯s Call, the alley leading to the Gold Lecher¡¯s place.


    ¡°Show yourself¡± Raven called out, eyes narrowing.


    There was no reply, but he still felt it. It didn¡¯t feel threatening, but it also didn¡¯t feel friendly. He turned in place, looking all around. Something was definitely watching him. Something in the shadow.


    ¡°Raven?¡±


    He turned, pandora at the ready. Van emerged from the gap between the buildings that served as the entrance to the courtyard.


    ¡°Woah, what¡¯s going on?¡± he asked in alarm.


    Raven didn¡¯t reply, searching again for the mysterious presence. But it was gone. He put his pandora away.


    ¡°You okay?¡± Van asked, coming up to him while looking around.


    Raven picked up the pack next to his feet, slinging it over his shoulder. ¡°I am fine. Not sure what it was.¡±


    Van handed him a slip of paper. ¡°One of my boys will meet you in the city. At the location you directed. Second Holy Day from today, at sunrise. Don¡¯t be late.¡±


    Raven pocketed the paper. ¡°I got it.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re going to Zaliance. I¡¯ve never been, but I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s outstanding. You sure you don¡¯t want me to tag along?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure. This task is my own. You won¡¯t be able to help me.¡±


    ¡°How long will you be gone?¡±


    ¡°Two months or so.¡±


    ¡°Sheesh. So that¡¯s why you didn¡¯t enroll in any classes this term.¡±


    ¡°I frontloaded many of my required classes in the second quarter, and just completed all the final exams without issue. I am glad you were able to find me the information I needed. I can hopefully kill two birds now.¡±


    ¡°You really think you¡¯ll be able to solve the mystery of that murder in such a short time?¡±


    ¡°If I can, it would certainly help with a certain scheme.¡±


    ¡°Well, good luck.¡± Van scratched his face. ¡°You know, there¡¯s two kids trying to solve Panka¡¯s Riddle right now. Want to watch before you go?¡±


    ¡°I suppose I could be entertained by the stupidity of the attempt.¡±


    ¡°If the attempt is stupid,¡± Van asked as they headed for the main courtyard, ¡°how are you going to solve it?¡±


    ¡°I already know how to solve the riddle. But it requires certain additional elements. Elements I don¡¯t yet have in place.¡±


    ¡°Valentine said she tried to figure out the riddle herself once, but her parents forbade her from ever trying it.¡±


    ¡°They are very wise. Speaking of Valentine, how have you two been doing?¡±


    Van¡¯s face lit up in a dream-like sort of reverie. ¡°I¡¯m happier than I¡¯ve ever been. It¡¯s a bit strange. Valentine, she¡­ well she still mourns for Barkley. But I think she¡¯s also really happy. Probably not as happy as I am, though. It¡¯s only been a couple weeks dating, but¡­ I am going to marry this girl.¡±


    ¡°I envy you. Not something I say very often. Enjoy these moments. And protect them. In this world shaped by the Titan, happiness possesses a habit of abandoning the ones who embrace it most.¡±


    They arrived at Funny Tower, stepping inside to find a large group surrounding Panka¡¯s Riddle. The barrier around the great puzzle was red, and a boy stood on the podium inside, frantically working the puzzle¡¯s miniature statues while constantly referring to a notebook. Raven recognized Stephon Salinode, as he had several times attempted to solve the puzzle during the year. As he slid them along the tracks, the giant statues on the towering golden slab copied the movements. At the moment, there was no discernible pattern.


    Raven produced a bag of chocolates and munched on the candy while they watched Stephon work. His clothes were raggedy and dirty, and his shoes had holes in them. Another boy that must have been his brother stood just outside the barrier, anxiously watching him work.


    ¡°Come to watch the riddle finally be solved, young sirs?¡± a voice said behind them.


    Raven and Van turned to find Master Cooley, accompanied by Master Czeslaw. Cooley smiled, clasping his hands behind his back. Czeslaw harrumphed with disdain upon sight of Raven.


    ¡°Er, hello,¡± Van said awkwardly.


    ¡°I am the one who will be solving Panka¡¯s Riddle,¡± Raven replied. He looked at Master Czeslaw. ¡°That was your challenge, isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    Czeslaw huffed again angrily, ruffling him immense beard. ¡°You are intolerable.¡± He walked away, mingling with others in the crowd.


    Raven turned to Master Cooley, regarding the mysterious professor with interest. He didn¡¯t seem upset with the torment directed at his colleague; rather, he looked into Raven¡¯s eyes with a penetrating gaze.


    ¡°So, you do know what we wrote on our papers,¡± Cooley said. ¡°Rumor had it you somehow found out.¡±


    Raven smirked. ¡°Does that cause concern, Master Cooley?¡±


    He chuckled. ¡°Not really. If I lose my challenge, then I will have won.¡±


    Van and Raven looked at each other briefly. Cooley¡¯s challenge was one they didn¡¯t yet know, and it seemed the professor had no intention to talk about it.


    ¡°I wanted to wish my condolences to you regarding Barkley Chessex,¡± Raven said. ¡°I hadn¡¯t found the opportunity until now.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Cooley nodded. ¡°He will be missed. Such a kind young man. I heard you two were there. That you came face-to-face with the Titan.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t the first time. And it certainly won¡¯t be the last.¡±


    Raven watched his face carefully as he said this. The professor¡¯s reaction, however, lived up to his name. He regarded Raven with a straight look, searching his face but not seeming the least bit put off.


    ¡°Even so, I was glad I got to know him during the brief time we had together,¡± Raven continued. ¡°He spoke very highly of you.¡±


    Cooley smiled. ¡°He was a light in a dark world.¡±


    Raven¡¯s gaze flashed to the man¡¯s insignia ring. He considered broaching the subject of his secret society, when he was interrupted by a shout of joy.


    "Mike, I think I did it!¡±


    Behind the barrier around Panka¡¯s Riddle, Stephon seemed elated as sweat poured down his brow. The formation of the statues on the slab now formed something resembling a pattern. The light tracks also possessed a noticeable design as they wound up the grid. The crowd watching him buzzed at his elation as he jumped up and down.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do it,¡± Raven and Cooley said at the same time. They looked at each other in surprise, before focusing back on Stephon.


    ¡°Pull the lever, Steph!¡± his brother shouted, placing his hands up against the barrier. ¡°We¡¯re gonna get that treasure!¡±


    Stephon placed both hands on the golden lever on the podium.


    ¡°Oh no,¡± Raven said. ¡°He can¡¯t¡­¡±


    But with a shout, Stephon pulled the lever switch down.


    The figurines and statues shuddered, racing out of their current positions. They careened through the tracks until they all stood at attention at original starting positions, marked by a symbol. Steam issued from the podium, and Stephon looked around nervously, waiting for something to happen.


    ¡°Did I do it?¡± he asked.


    Then, the podium ignited with white light. Stephon screamed in horror, grabbing his head. Electrical currents ensnared him in tendrils, squeezing him as they coursed through his body. Louder and louder his shouts became, filled with torment. His brother cried, pounding on the barrier, but there was nothing he could do.


    The crowds backed away in terror. What seemed like an eternity of torture finally relented as the currents snapped and faded. Smoke issued from Stephon¡¯s body as he collapsed off the podium. The barrier disappeared, and the marking seal turned blue. Mike rushed to hold his brother. The moment he did, the seal turned red again, and the barrier returned.


    ¡°DAMN!¡± Raven shouted, rushing to the front of the crowd.


    Mike sat beside his brother, crying and holding him tight. Stephon would be dead soon. The punishment for pulling the lever when the puzzle wasn¡¯t correctly solved had been demanded of him.


    ¡°Michael, come back across the seal,¡± Raven said. ¡°Hurry!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± he replied through the tears. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Your brother needs medical attention. You must bring him over. We can¡¯t get through.¡±


    The boy looked at him angrily. ¡°I know who you are! You¡¯re that devil student. You¡¯re just trying to trick me, aren¡¯t you? We were about to win Panka¡¯s treasure!¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t solve the riddle. You don¡¯t know how and neither did your brother. Don¡¯t ruin your life like he did.¡±


    ¡°Woah,¡± Van said behind him.


    Raven looked at him angrily, but felt a measure of shame. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± He turned back to Mike. ¡°I¡¯m saying you don¡¯t have the answer. Come back through the barrier.¡±


    ¡°NO!¡± Mike let go of his brother and jumped onto the podium.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that!¡± Raven shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare.¡±


    Mike reached for one of the figurines.


    ¡°DON¡¯T DO IT!¡± Raven shouted, pounding his fist on the barrier. ¡°DO NOT TOUCH THAT! I WILL DESTROY YOU! DO YOU UNDERSTAND? I WILL UTTERLY END YOU!¡±


    The young boy defiantly switched one of the figurines down the nearest track. The corresponding statue on the slab copied the movement, with a beam of light following the track as it moved.


    ¡°DAMN!¡± Raven roared, pounding on the barrier once more. ¡°You have no idea what you¡¯re doing! You stupid child!¡±


    Tears streamed down the boy¡¯s face as he continued to work, referring to his own notebook through blurry eyes to try and solve the puzzle. After several minutes, it became apparent he was lost. And he couldn¡¯t help but constantly look aside to his brother lying on the ground.


    Raven folded his arms, pure loathing in his eyes as he watched.


    After several minutes, Mike¡¯s shoulders slumped. He heaved with new tears, and stepped off the podium to hold his brother once more. Raven continued to hurl mental daggers at him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, Raven,¡± Rue said. ¡°Please don¡¯t be mad. They were just making a wish.¡±


    Raven sighed. His anger still fomented within. But Rue was right, and he found himself pitying the boys. The raggedy clothes. The desperation. They were just poor children looking for a miracle. Hadn¡¯t he once been the same?


    ¡°Damn.¡± He sighed again. ¡°Michael,¡± he said calmly now. The boy looked up at him. ¡°Come back across the barrier. I will do what I can for your brother.¡±


    Czeslaw approached him, angrily. ¡°What are you talking about? The punishment for pulling the lever without solving the puzzle has always been death. You yell at him like a monster, and now you¡¯re saying you will save them?¡±


    ¡°You shut your mouth,¡± Raven rasped. ¡°I won¡¯t entertain fools.¡±


    Hope had returned to the boy¡¯s face. He took his brother¡¯s arms and dragged his body back across the seal, which turned blue once more. Raven produced a pandora pen and quickly commenced to draw a seal on the ground around Stephon¡¯s body. With expert precision, the seal within a seal was completed.


    ¡°Step outside, Michael,¡± he commanded. He obeyed.


    Raven kneeled, placing one hand on Stephon¡¯s head and the other on the seal. All immediately went dark.


    When he opened his eyes again, he beheld a now-familiar sight. The room was quite similar to the first room within Valentine¡¯s mind. Stephon¡¯s Frame of Mind pattern was etched into the wall above a small door frame. However, the similarity between his mind and Valentine¡¯s ended there. Unlike the vast network of halls within Valentine¡¯s mind, reaching to a deep cavernous grotto, this mind featured a simple form. The door led to an adjacent room not much bigger than the first.


    Raven stepped inside and frowned. Stephon¡¯s Frame of Mind stood on its dais, bare. The cords of his conscious had been ripped to shreds by the punishment curse, scattered on the ground. Stephon Sword, Stephon Shield, and Stephon Mind all lay on the floor, asleep. And their tangible forms were fading, as if slowly melting away into ghosts.


    ¡°Well¡­ let¡¯s see if we can fix this.¡±


    ¡°Stop!¡±


    Raven whirled. Standing before him in human form¡­ was Panka. The guardian¡¯s human self was nearly naked and ashen, similar to Rumail. But he possessed all the command of his full guardian persona.


    ¡°You cannot do this,¡± Panka commanded.


    ¡°Why?¡± Raven shot back.


    ¡°This is the punishment for pulling the lever when the puzzle isn¡¯t solved. The divine risk they all must wager. You cannot undo it.¡±


    ¡°You are okay with one of your citizens dying? I can save him.¡±


    ¡°Of course I don¡¯t want him to die! I love all my people! But it¡¯s not my decision!¡± Panka growled.


    ¡°That¡¯s a load of garbage, and you know it.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what you are talking about.¡±


    ¡°Of course I do!¡± Raven shot back. ¡°Why on earth do you think I¡¯m here, Panka? Have you really not understood? After all this time? What did you think this was all about? Shrale? Sheeharu? Taking school tests and whiling away the hours in the cafeteria? No¡­ I am here for your treasure!¡±


    Panka¡¯s eyes widened, but he did not respond.


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look. I care deeply about saving Sheeharu. Just like I care about saving this boy, and it¡¯s because I can. And I will. But this is about so much more than that. The Titan must die. And your treasure is the key to everything. Everything! You know this. Which is why the Titan can never have it and why you were appointed to guard it by the Holy One. But you were required to devise a test so that someone could obtain it one day, right? Someone worthy?¡±


    The guardian frowned, flabbergasted. ¡°How do you know all this?¡±


    Raven raised both hands. ¡°Because I, too, have been called. I figured this out a long time ago. Maybe you don¡¯t believe it, but I am fortunate to know my sole purpose in life. Along with Noelle Sevalier and Arkh Slipfire, we have dedicated ourselves to this single cause, this One Vengeance. Nothing else matters except the Titan¡¯s death. And nothing will hinder us. Your treasure is my mission, and I will have it.¡±


    ¡°Then why haven¡¯t you taken it yet? I thought this was all bluster before.¡±


    ¡°You know why.¡±


    Panka sighed. Looking down at Stephon¡¯s body, he frowned deeply. ¡°If word gets out that the punishment for failing my Riddle can be reversed, it would cause a mass rush of attempts to obtain ultimate riches. Someone else will eventually figure it out. It¡¯s supposed to be a true test of conviction and sacrifice.¡±


    ¡°No one knows the method of restoring the Frame of Mind except me and Rumail. And we are the only ones who will ever have that knowledge.¡±


    ¡°Rumail?¡± Panka sneered in disgust. ¡°I already know why you gave him the knowledge, but just hearing his name is nauseating. He¡¯s such a pill.¡±


    Raven smirked. ¡°Quite. So then, I will save Stephon. But I will put a seal on his Frame that keeps him in a coma for some time. To the outsider, it will seem like a miracle he survived, and the punishment will still be seen as outrageous. This ploy only needs to last until I solve the Riddle and take the treasure.¡±


    Panka nodded. ¡°I suppose this is acceptable. Just promise me one thing.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Regardless of what happens, promise me you won¡¯t abandon Sheeharu. Promise me you will find a way to save the child.¡±


    ¡°Panka¡­ it¡¯s the promise of a lifetime.¡±


    Raven opened his eyes and stood up. The onlookers collectively gasped, closing in to look at the scene. After a few seconds of silence, one of the onlookers shouted, ¡°He¡¯s breathing!¡±


    Stephon indeed had started breathing again. Raven stepped out of the seal, dragging his foot across the seal lines to destroy the pattern. Mike rushed in to hold his brother, sobbing with joy.


    ¡°Someone bring in a doctor. He needs attention,¡± Raven said calmly.


    Master Cooley came alongside Raven. ¡°How have you done this?¡± he asked. ¡°It¡¯s a miracle!¡±


    Raven looked at him, but did not answer. Van stood to the side, eyebrows raised. ¡°Yeah, how did you do this?¡± he feigned.


    ¡°Attention, everyone!¡± Raven shouted, turning to the crowd.


    The throng fell silent as all eyes turned toward him.


    ¡°Most of you know my name,¡± he said. ¡°You have heard about my challenges to the masters of this school. And you have heard of my exploits since I arrived. But some of you do not know who I am. So, hear my words now. My name is Raven Whitesong, and I will be the one to solve this Riddle. It is my guarantee!¡±


    Whispered chatter went through the crowd as they regarded him carefully. Fear crept into their faces as they looked all about.


    ¡°Why are you afraid? Why do you fear the Titan? Let these words reach his foul ears!¡± Raven shouted. ¡°And allow your fear to vanish, because I will kill the Titan!¡± Gasps went through the mass, but he shouted all the more. ¡°And with his death, I will end this world of pandora forever. Let this be a day you remember. May it soak your minds and hearts. The day you heard the Titan¡¯s great enemy declare his very death sentence. For the day is coming when you will behold his death, and when that time comes, remember this day. Remember it for as long as you live!¡±

 Chapter 28: The Final Task of Yearning

    Frigid winds descending the slopes of Mount Chappelle generated a steady current across the Plains of Amorgh called the Green River. Regardless of season, these winds consistently blustered in a known course northwest from Roespeye, all the way to the Black Deep Oceans.


    Raven elected to travel by balloon to Reyk Zaliance. A service at the base of the mountain range provided personal travelling baskets with direct route to the Dream City, a one-way, one-destination trip. The method was expensive, as the traveler essentially purchased the whole balloon and burner mechanism to use it, but it was quicker than the Grand Highway, even by horseback, and Raven desired to save as much time as possible.


    Thousands of spans high in the sky, Raven beheld the wide verdant expanse of the Plains of Amorgh, with snaking rivers winding blue cords through the greenery like a broken weave. In the distance, he spotted the Flying Dim Castle of the Seal Master. The gargantuan steel fortress sailed effortlessly across the sky, heading northwest. If Raven remembered the Seal Master¡¯s infallible schedule correctly, he would be on his way to Saphioc and then Mune. He rested his arms on the edge of the basket, breathing deep as he drifted across the chilly skies in quiet isolation.


    ¡°It¡¯s peaceful,¡± Rue said.


    Raven hummed his agreement. He looked up at the big red balloon, reaching out to test the security of the ropes holding them aloft.


    ¡°You¡¯re restless,¡± she said.


    ¡°You know me,¡± he replied, sitting down. ¡°Always running against time. Always thinking about it. Thinking about the next move. The next scheme.¡±


    ¡°Is that what the big announcement was about after you saved that boy?¡±


    Raven nodded. ¡°It bothered me that Piper didn¡¯t know who I was. I need to be famous. Or infamous. Whatever is required. The Titan must keep his eyes on Roespeye. It¡¯s so important.¡±


    ¡°We still have time.¡±


    Raven bowed his head. ¡°I cannot fail them. Arkh¡­ and Noelle. They need me.¡±


    ¡°We all need you, Raven. But our faith is not unfounded. Do you remember when you found my pandora?¡±


    Raven sniffed in amusement. ¡°Stole, you mean? Yes, I remember. It was quite difficult. That old codger kept you sealed up tight.¡±


    ¡°It should have been impossible. But you saved me anyway. I was alone in the dark for so long. Stashed away like gold in a bank. But then I heard your voice, and it was like waking up from a long sleep. You said you would rescue me. And you did. You were only eleven years old. I still don¡¯t know you pulled it off. But my faith in you has only grown. You¡¯re a man, now. A great man. I know you will save us all.¡±


    Raven produced Rue from his robes and looked at her pandora. ¡°You have been my guiding light since then, Rue. A whisper of reason among the clamor of madness. I don¡¯t know if I would be here without you. And I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ll do once you are gone.¡±


    ¡°You would be just as successful had we never met. You always find the way. Arkh and Noelle believe this, too. And Van and Valentine and Fanny. All of us. Trust in yourself and the Holy One. We have not yet been led astray.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. You are right.¡± He stood back up. ¡°I continue to march ahead with conviction. This must be done.¡±


    After several days of guideless drifting, the faint outline of Reyk Zaliance finally appeared on the horizon on the expected morning. The reliable winds delivered Raven at the anticipated time, and he prepared for the arrival. Having flown by balloon many times, he timed the descent just right, landing on the grassy plains just outside the city limits.


    Men on horses rode out to greet him as he climbed out of the basket. They purchased back the balloon from him for a small sum, which they would eventually load onto a boat and transport upriver, back to the balloon station for its next service.


    From his vantage, Raven could behold the breadth of Reyk Zaliance, the Dream City. And such a dream it was. Marble walls surrounded a white metropolis of truly ancient design, unmatched by the other Reyks. The white rock shimmered in the early morning sun. Four immense ziggurats reached above the skyline of the city, each larger than the last. The highest of them all featured a towering white statue: an eagle posed in mid-flight with its head outstretched to overlook its wide domain. Waterfalls poured forth from each of its wing feathers, casting a cloud of mist all around the pyramid. The Soaring Bird of Zaliance offered warning to those who might trespass with evil intent. Within the mouth of Zaliance¡¯s protector, the royal princess ruled on high, one of Fallowreyk¡¯s only regalities. Noelle Sevalier governed the mighty peoples within her walls, and the people loved her.


    Raven donned his hood and approached the open gates of the city. Guards stood at each post, ten-span spears always at the ready. Each soldier boasted the shining metal armor blocks floating directly behind their necks, the signature of their guardianship. Commerce passed to and fro, and Raven entered the city without trouble. Zaliance proffered no trouble to those who did not bring any. He was glad to enter quietly. For while he demanded all the attention he could attain in Roespeye, here in this city it was of the utmost importance the Titan did not know about it, if possible.


    He chose to walk. Though the city extended up and down the seaside for a hundred thousand spans in each direction, the local rickshaw and carriage services were too risky. He possessed only one purpose in Zaliance, and the less who saw him, the better. He took the sideroads through the southside, where the common folk lived and worked. Memories flooded over him as he trekked across the cobbled lanes of old, where he had once played with friends and hatched schemes less nefarious than killing the Titan. Fine trees lined wide sidewalks, flowery gardens patched crisscross lanes, and aquatic channels worked myriad paths through the lower quarters, gushing with sparkling clean waters. Boatmen on long canoes oared their way up and down the runnels, expertly weaving their way back and forth from the coastal estuaries.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Raven ignored the delicious smells wafting from the restaurants and cut across Midacre Park, and then up into the stone quarries, where the craftsmen and tradesmen of Zaliance fame worked. There among the hills and trenches, Raven found his destination.


    In a far corner of the quarry mines, a dusty road wound through deserted dirt fields. Hundreds of unfinished spire towers littered the abandoned grounds. Some rose only a few spans, while others rose several dozen, each a single stone spire with a winding staircase around the outside. None of the structures were completed.


    Raven came upon the largest of them all. To the naked eye, the structure appeared about three quarters finished, rising to cast a long morning shadow across the field. A colossal stack of stone blocks sat in a pile nearby. On the side of the road, a brick building faced the tower, with one door on the first floor and single darkened window on the second.


    Raven entered the domicile. There were no other windows or doors and no stairs or path to the second floor. A cot sat in the corner, covered with a raggedy blanket marred by blood and dirt. An elderly man dressed in fine attire stood waiting with hands behind his back. His armor block was black as night, and an ominous aura seeped from the smooth lines running through it, cascading down his neck to his chest in wispy tendrils.


    ¡°So, you actually showed up?¡± he said. A curt nod accompanied an angry appearance.


    ¡°As if there was ever any doubt,¡± Raven replied, setting his pack down.


    The white-haired man grumbled something unintelligible. ¡°Let¡¯s get this charade over with.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re in a particularly dour mood, Saxon. Am I to be the recipient of this honor the entire time?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Very well. I expected no less, I suppose.¡± Raven removed his robes. Beneath, he wore a light tunic and strong corded pants along with a thick pair of boots. ¡°I am ready.¡±


    Saxon harrumphed. ¡°State your covenant mantra.¡±


    ¡°A year upon the learners¡¯ door. Asleep to bide the time. Release the Devil, take back her soul, and end the trickster¡¯s chime. Thief of Life, yon Titan. Come claim your wicked prize. The soul I take, a different sort, concealed to greedy eyes. Beyond the grave, the Raven crows. Black Stare on Reyk Provote. Rare bird pursues your wretched life, to seize it by the throat. Rogue Puppet hides beneath your watch. Save for me, he dares not yield. The day draws near when you shall die by mind and sword and shield.¡±


    Saxon produced a metallic object from his pocket, holding it up. The short rod was topped with a golden eye bedecked with eagle wings. ¡°The covenant holds true. Now, I must test your soul. You still have one, correct?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t tell if you are joking.¡±


    The eye began to glow. Very quickly, however, smoke issued from the rod. Almost immediately, the metal began to bubble and melt. Saxon dropped the object in shock. The rod dissolved into a pile of gooey, steamy metal.


    ¡°I trust you are satisfied?¡± Raven said.


    ¡°Yes, well¡­ I guess I have to be. That was my best ankh, too,¡± he grumbled. ¡°You are charged with the Tasks of Yearning by our departed King Gervany and Queen Melody. I don¡¯t know what possessed them to allow it, but they did it all the same. In order to fulfill the betrothal and accept the hand of our beloved princess in marriage, you must not fail. This is your last task. You must complete the task within the framework stipulated by the laws of our people. No pandora, seals, or any other tools may be used in any capacity. Do you understand everything I have said?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°You may begin. May the Holy One have mercy on you. You¡¯re going to need it.¡±


    ¡°Despite the sarcasm, I will take it as good luck all the same.¡±


    He stepped back outside, crossing the road. But then he stopped. A shiver ran up his spine as he felt her unmistakable presence.


    Noelle was watching.


    From the second floor, she would be seated in her chair to watch in silence. She would watch him¡­ the whole time. The irrepressible desire to look up at her choked him. To see her beautiful face just once. To take her warm hand into his for but a moment.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a little while, Raven,¡± Rue encouraged. ¡°Just a little while more.¡±


    Raven bowed his head. He nodded and continued crossing the road to face his tower. He stretched his arms and legs for several minutes, preparing his mind and body for the daunting job ahead. Then, without another word, he approached the large pile of rectangular stones. He wrapped his arms around one. With a heave, he lifted the massive rock and marched to the bottom of the spiraling staircase. Step by step, he climbed the flight as it wound around the tower. After just a couple minutes, Raven¡¯s muscles began to scream in protest. The vivid reminder of the work he¡¯d already done to get this far came roaring back. The long hours. The sweat and blood. All that lay behind him now once again stood before him, demanding all the more.


    But he pressed on, step after step. Sweat poured from his face as he climbed under the exposure of the growing sun. One step preceded another until finally he reached the top. He reached a landing and shuffled to the nearest unfinished portion of the wall. Grunting, he carefully let down the stone. He stayed bent over, gasping for air. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he stood up, righting his back. He raised his head to the sky, breathing heavily.


    One.


    He came back down the stairs and retrieved another stone. And then he climbed again. Over. And over. And over. With each stone, the tower of his Yearning gained inches of completion. With each climb, he came one step closer. After ten stones were piled up, Raven clutched to a severe stitch in his side. He pressed on. After twenty, he tilted and swayed, dizzy from the heat. He pressed on. After forty stones, his knees buckled and he fell, racked with fatigue.


    He pressed on.


    In the midday, when it seemed like he might faint, Saxon provided him a brief respite. A lunch of plain bread and boiled leg of lamb accompanied by a jug of water. It was a truly welcome break, but he did not sit. He stood in the shade, eating quickly. When he was finished, he continued.


    His progress slowed as the immense burden took its toll. Each step was its own obstacle, a taunting precipice for which new energy had to be mustered just to climb. Blood dribbled down his arms from scrapes, and his hands shook. Just when he was about to reach the landing, his hand slipped, and he dropped the stone. The brick cracked down the middle.


    Gasping for air, Raven looked down at the broken stone angrily. He picked up the two pieces and heaved them over the side. With head bowed, he slowly descended the staircase, grasping to the wall to steady himself. He returned to the pile to take a new one. But his strength failed him, and he slumped over the pile in exhaustion.


    ¡°Get up, Raven,¡± Rue said. ¡°Get up.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ always forget¡­ how hard this is,¡± he wheezed.


    ¡°Get up, Raven. The Titan suffers no weakness. And you are not weak. You can do this. You can do this!¡±


    Raven weakly gasped for air. It would be so easy to cheat with pandora. He knew he could do it without anyone seeing. Why was he doing this again?


    ¡°It was your promise, Raven,¡± Rue said. It was like she knew his inner thoughts.


    ¡°Ah yes,¡± he said weakly.


    ¡°You promised them. Gervany and Melody. You promised you would complete the tasks.¡±


    Queen Melody¡¯s face came into Raven¡¯s vision in that moment. A tear fell down his face as the memories surfaced.


    ¡°I wish¡­ I could have saved her,¡± he said.


    ¡°You did save her.¡±


    ¡°Once. But saving her once wasn¡¯t enough¡­ the Titan killed them anyway. The damn Titan killed them anyway!¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ I remember. So¡­ will their loss be in vain?¡±


    Raven¡¯s face screwed up with anger. ¡°Never!¡±


    With a shout, he stood up and grabbed the next stone. With shaking arms, he lifted it, bracing it on his thigh. He turned. And step by step, he made his renewed way up the tower.

 Chapter 29: Those Forgotten

    When night finally fell, Raven halted, collapsing to the ground. Every nerve in his body burned. He crawled back cross the field to his hut, one agonizing arm¡¯s reach at a time. Beside his cot, another plate of bread and boiled mutton had been placed. He somehow lifted his body into the makeshift bed. Through discipline, he endured the fatigue and pain long enough to force himself to eat his dinner. Then, he subdued to his drowsiness.


    He did not remember falling asleep. So, it was a great shock when Saxon shook him awake the next morning.


    ¡°Day two, lad,¡± he said. He placed a plate of bread and meat beside his bed, along with a single raw egg. ¡°Day two. The masons set the stones you brought up last night using their special pandora. The tower is ready for you again.¡±


    Raven could barely move. Every measure of his being protested in outrageous pain. But he scrunched up his face and slowly lifted himself up, forcing his muscles to respond to his order. Groaning through gritted teeth, he finally sat up, but he collapsed against the wall. A small bout of sympathy crossed Saxon¡¯s face as he watched on, but it was quickly replaced by his signature scowl.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get to it,¡± he said before walking out.


    ¡°I really loath him,¡± Raven said.


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t,¡± Rue replied, laughing.


    ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t.¡±


    He wolfed his breakfast before gingerly stepping outside. Birds chirping echoed in the fog-strewn morning. Dew coated tufts of brown grasses patching the field. And his tower stood dominant in his view, daring him to approach. But approach he did. After extremely painful stretching, he got back to work.


    Raven had never experienced such physical torment before. On the previous tasks, he had received simple aids. A horse during the first task, to build the foundation of the tower. A pulley lift during the second task. And then a cart during the third and fourth tasks as he built his tower up. Still immense work, especially for a youth, but this final task granted no aid. His body and grit were the only tools at his disposal.


    Even so, as the work went along, the monotony of the task gained relevance, and Raven was able to put his mind to work while his body endured. He thought about what remained to do on his mission. He thought about Van and Valentine, and how they were faring. He thought about Arkh.


    But mostly, he thought about Noelle. What she must be thinking, watching him toil up and down the tower he built for her. He thought about how her own mission progressed. Was she finding success? Or was her required observance of this task also causing delays in her own schemes?


    As he reached the landing for the hundredth time that afternoon, Raven took a small breather. He stretched his back while looking out across the field. A mother pheasant and her chicks traipsed single-file through the brush. Saxon sat on a chair near the road, polishing his armor block. From his vantage, Raven could see the whole city, ziggurats shining in the sun like golden altars. The White Fleet of Zaliance¡¯s famed navy sat like a single grand sheet of glory across the ocean in the far distance.


    Most days, such a peaceful afternoon would have granted strength and clarity to Raven¡¯s mind, but this was a desolate place. So many unfinished towers littered the horizon. So many failed tasks by people who had given up. Who were they that had forgotten what they once desired so desperately? Where were they now? What regrets did they harbor to their dying day? The towers served as a haunting reminder. Dreams of something better in this world demanded a heavy cost.


    Raven wiped his brow and got back to work. The heavy cost must be paid.


    On the morning of the third day, Raven awoke startled. He found himself face-down in the dirt. He hadn¡¯t even made it to his bed this time. Groaning, he rolled onto his back to find Saxon looking down at him. The royal guardian held the standard plate of bread and boiled lamb.


    ¡°Day Three. You must be starving.¡±


    ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get going. The masons finished the work from yesterday. They weren¡¯t happy they had to walk around you all night.¡±


    ¡°Those poor masons. I can¡¯t imagine the inconvenience.¡±


    He carried on with his work. The suffering did not get easier; instead, it manifested in new ways. By the end of the day, calluses on his hands doubled in size, a searing discomfort. After the fourth day, he registered several partially torn muscles, extremely tender to the touch. After the fifth, his knees began to protest, turning purple and swollen. His production on the sixth day slowed to a crawl, reduced to a tenth of what he was able to carry up the stairs on the first day. He could feel his body start to give out on every climb. When he finally collapsed into his cot that night, the demanding toll could be felt in every fiber of his body.


    Saxon came into his hut that night with his dinner. Before Raven faded into oblivion, the old man said, ¡°You have finished one more level of your tower.¡±


    Raven smiled weakly. ¡°One down.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow is your day of rest. Use it wisely.¡±


    But the rest would have to wait. In the early morning of Holy Day, Raven forced himself awake. Bit by bit, he eased out of the makeshift bed, gasping at each ache shooting needles through his legs and back. It took him half an hour just to get to his feet, and another ten minutes to stand up straight.  The agony reached slithering tendrils to his bones, demanding more rest.


    He shook his head. No. Even at the cost of his life, the mission would carry on.


    The sun had not yet risen, but a breakfast of bread and lamb was still available beside his cot. He made two sandwiches from it, donned his robes, and gingerly stepped out into the darkness, eating one of his sandwiches on his way while stashing the other. The brisk air felt good on his sore body, rapidly bringing him the alertness he required.


    The path through the quarries merged onto a larger street driving deep into the heart of Reyk Zaliance. After an hour of walking, pushing through the discomfort, Raven finally came upon Marble Downs, a former upper-class section of the city, now fallen into some disrepair. It was something of a curious location. Immense houses and other city structures lined the well-lit boulevards, but in the dead of night, they possessed the feeling of desolation. As if the people who lived in this part of city dreaded anyone knowing it.


    Raven soon came to the local quarter of Marble Downs, where the street branched into several others in a star-like pattern. At the center of the convergence, a massive statue of the Titan sat on a pedestal. The man¡¯s face had been configured to appear kingly. Raven ignored the spectacle, taking one of the branching paths and finally arriving at the entrance to a small alley. There, a man in a flat cap waited. He wore long shorts and an old leather jacket that probably had once been brown, but now featured all sorts of streaked drab colors.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    ¡°You Raven?¡± he asked. His grizzled features suggested he was middle-aged and didn¡¯t take much stock in appearances.


    ¡°Indeed. And you are Van¡¯s¡­ well, actually I don¡¯t know what you are to Van.¡±


    ¡°Van¡¯s my boss,¡± he replied. ¡°He didn¡¯t tell you? Name¡¯s Jack Storne.¡±


    ¡°Van is your¡­ boss.¡±


    Jack nodded. ¡°He said to meet you here this morning, so here I am and¡­ wait, what is that¡­¡± A look of disgust came over the man as he leaned in. He took a sniff of Raven and then recoiled. ¡°Oh, my goodness, man! You reek!¡±


    Raven frowned. ¡°I haven¡¯t bathed in a while.¡±


    ¡°I can tell! Maybe you should! Oh man¡­ ohhhhhh man¡­¡± Jack backed away, covering his nose. ¡°It¡¯s worse than that, though. You smell like a trash dump. What have you been doing?¡±


    ¡°Can we get on with our business, please?¡± Raven said, aggravated.


    ¡°Yeah, alright,¡± his muffled reply came. He led Raven down the alley, still covering his nose and mouth. ¡°This is the place.¡±


    A long row of connected domiciles made up both sides of the long alley. The house Jack led him to was boarded up at the door and both windows. A faded inscription on the door read ¡°Forir.¡± Jack stood on the other side of the alley, leaving a wide gap between himself and Raven.


    Raven easily pulled away the wooden panels boarding up the doorway. He opened the door, letting it sway open to dusty darkness. ¡°What do you know about it?¡± he asked.


    Jack cleared his throat. ¡°Yeah, Boss had me look into it. No one¡¯s lived in the place since the man was killed. Bit of a mystery. The constables came to no conclusions about who killed him. And it¡¯s been a while since, about two years. He¡¯s sort of just been¡­ forgotten.¡± He reached inside his jacket and produced a pile of folded papers. ¡°Here are the copies of their old written notes.¡±


    He stretched out to hand Raven the notes while maintaining as much distance as he could. Raven snatched them, frowning deeper. ¡°I don¡¯t smell that bad.¡±


    ¡°Are you joking? You smell like the business end of a heifer.¡±


    Raven flipped through the notes before looking back up at the abandoned dwelling. The first morning light provided purple clarity to the formerly black sky, and he could hear the locals begin to stir on the street.


    ¡°I better get to work. Keep looking into this and see if you can find any more information. Former neighbors. Former friends. I¡¯ll meet you here same time next week.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± He came up and held out his hand while pinching his nose with the other, looking at Raven expectantly.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Raven asked.


    ¡°Payment. Us Thimbles don¡¯t do this for free, ya know.¡±


    Raven smirked. ¡°Tell Van to bill me.¡±


    ¡°Bah. You bet I will. Going to add a hazard fee, too.¡±


    .


    Raven returned from his jaunt into the city that evening drained. He ate his dinner quickly and fell into a deep sleep. But the change of pace from the past six days had provided stimulation to his mind. So, when Saxon woke him the next morning, he found some measure of rejuvenation, despite the lingering soreness. He found just a little more success than his first day. And then a little more the day after that. Stone after stone piled onto the tower, worked into place each night by masons with special pandora.


    After six more days, another level of the tower had been built. However, the unfortunate cost was a complete shutdown of his body by the end of the week. Raven could now see the faint outlines of his ribs with every breath he took. His hands quivered mightily, and spasms and cramps ripped through his body all night. It was nearly morning by the time he finally fell asleep.


    He awoke just a few hours later. Bloodshot eyes searched through blurry vision to discover where he was, because it took him several minutes to remember why he was there. Searing morning sunlight shooting in from the open doorway burned what little vision he had. He covered his face, physically unable to roll out of the way.


    ¡°You need to get up, Raven,¡± Rue said. ¡°There¡¯s still work to do.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ can¡¯t,¡± he replied hoarsely. ¡°I can¡¯t move.¡±


    ¡°You must.¡±


    Raven contemplated his fate when there was a tap at the door. Raven opened his eyes and blinked away the blurriness to find Saxon waiting in the doorway.


    ¡°A delivery for you,¡± he said. He approached and handed Raven a folded sheet of paper. He then laid Raven¡¯s breakfast on the floor before walking out.


    Raven opened the paper. Inside was a single message in familiar, graceful handwriting.


    ¡°Get up.¡±


    ¨C N. ¨C


    He rose. He made his sandwiches. And he slowly, but surely, traveled back to Marble Downs.


    Jack Storne was prepared this time around, wearing a mask of several bandanas tightly covering his nose and mouth. But as Raven limped up the alley, he suddenly gagged and backed away.


    ¡°Take a shower!¡± the man protested. ¡°This is just offensive! How can you stand it? It¡¯s like you slept in hot cheese!¡±


    Raven leered at him as he stepped inside the house.


    Nothing had been disturbed during the week. The small abode featured one bedroom, a bathroom, and a kitchen. The connecting living room was devoid of any furnishings, having long been removed after the murder. The only embellishments across the stone floor and walls were the dark splotches of old blood where the man had been killed.


    Raven kneeled, once again examining the strange, jagged line etched into the floor that started from the doorway and reached all the way to the middle of the room. He had spent the previous Holy Day examining the other rooms, but he found nothing of interest in the empty chambers.


    ¡°Do you have anything new for me?¡± he asked, walking the length of the line, and looking all around.


    The Thimble cleared his throat. ¡°A few things, I guess. The man was a bit of a loner. Stuck to himself, but those who did know him say he was incredibly arrogant. Loved to brag about his exploits.¡±


    ¡°Did any of your sources know what those exploits were?¡±


    ¡°Um, let¡¯s see¡­¡± Jack flipped through a pad, quickly scanning his written notes. ¡°One former neighbor mentioned something about mines. He said Seliph was something of a miner. Always came home dirty.¡±


    ¡°A miner? There are no mines in these parts. What did he mine?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, those are my words, not his. The word he used was ¡®Gemmer.¡¯¡±


    Raven whirled. ¡°He used that word specifically? ¡®Gemmer?¡¯¡±


    ¡°Yeah. It sounded like an insult when he said it. Why?¡±


    ¡°Because that¡¯s the word used for a dealer of gems. The word is notorious in the North. Several mined jewels have been outlawed.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Without going too much into it, certain unearthed materials can be used nefariously. But there are no mines around Zaliance. Not that I¡¯ve ever heard.¡±


    Jack shrugged his shoulders, leaning back against the wall. ¡°Not sure what good that is right now, though.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Raven slowly explored the space, looking up and down the walls. ¡°It might explain why he lived here. This used to be a fine area of the city, and even a small home like this was costly. If Seliph was a Gemmer, it could explain how he made his money. And if he lived here, I would guess he had somewhere to stash his product.¡±


    Raven kneeled near a far corner of the living room. The color of the stone was lighter, and he suspected something had been set here. He touched the grooves of the stones, running his fingers over them. The faintest sparkle flashed as he ran them through the dust.


    ¡°I bet it was here,¡± he said. ¡°He had something holding his gems. Maybe a locker or hidden cabinet. So, the neighbor appears to have been telling you the truth.¡±


    Jack started to come closer, but then he smelled Raven and backed away again. ¡°The constable¡¯s notes didn¡¯t mention anything about seized gems.¡±


    ¡°Which means the murderer probably took them. And my guess is his killer is someone who knows all about them. See this long groove running through the stone all the way from the doorway?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. What is that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still a guess at this point, but I¡¯m becoming more certain. The strongest warriors from Reyk Mune love to carry immense swords. The larger they are, the better. And some of them are so large, they will drag along the ground as they walk. For a sword to make a permanent groove in stone, it would have to be enormous. And Munians know everything about gems. They are constantly looking for higher class materials to create their weapons.¡±


    Raven stood and came to the end of the grooved line. ¡°I think the murderer killed Seliph with a sword right here. Seliph was found with a fatal wound matching such a weapon, right?¡± Raven raised his arm and slashed it across. ¡°The blood spray matches.


    It¡¯s a connection, but this will require further research. Can you look into it?¡±


    ¡°What do you want me to look for?¡±


    ¡°I want to know what gems he was dealing. It may help me narrow down the suspects.¡±


    He scratched his face. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not much to go by, but I¡¯ll give it a shot.¡±


    ¡°Can you meet me next week in the quarries with whatever new information you discover? I have no need to come down to Marble Downs anymore. I¡¯ve seen what I need to see here.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll cost extra.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure it will. You¡¯ll get paid. Just get me what I need.¡±

 Chapter 30: The White Bell

    Raven arose the next morning refreshed. Well, not refreshed, exactly. More like not completely destroyed in both body and soul, which was a nice change of pace. He had returned from Marble Downs early in the afternoon and slept the rest of the day, rising the next morning with a hungry belly but a refreshed mind.


    The standard bread and boiled lamb lay on his plate, along with an egg. However, a carrot now accompanied his breakfast, which he ate with zeal, a welcome respite from the dreadful food he was required to consume during his task.


    Once back outside, he gazed up at his now very tall tower. Only two more levels remained to build now. The spire was starting to converge near the top. After stretching, he got back to work. The days pressed on like a terrible dirge. The seemingly endless pile of stones taunted him, and the work only grew as the tower grew higher and the steps increased.


    But something occurred during the third week that Raven had anticipated, but couldn¡¯t fully count on until it happened. His body, little by little, became accustomed to the toil. The sharp pains dulled with each new day. The cramps and spasms reduced, and the food he was provided offered just a little more fulfillment after consumption. Up and down he went, lugging the mighty stones, placing them, and returning for another. The pattern became something of a hypnotic delirium, where time passed in achingly slow fashion, but when each day ended, Raven found himself marveling how time seemed to fly.


    So, when Holy Day came once again after another six grueling days of work and another level completed, he was hurting, but no longer wishing for either deliverance or death. His rest day became his first true day of cessation, where he stayed in his bed to recover. It was, of course, incredibly boring. Rue did her best to keep him company, but the doldrums of waiting for his last week to start overcame any dread.


    It was welcome relief, then, when Jack Storne knocked on the entrance of the hut and came inside, hands buried in his pockets.


    ¡°Found you. Wow, you are filthy.¡± Jack¡¯s face immediately screwed up in horror. ¡°Aw man! This is just gross. How can you stand the stench?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes,¡± Raven replied dully. ¡°I smell bad. You think I don¡¯t realize?¡±


    ¡°Why are you laid up? Break something?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯d you break?¡±


    ¡°Everything.¡±


    He laughed. ¡°Alright then. So, I have some more tidbits of information. It isn¡¯t much.¡±


    ¡°Tell me.¡±


    ¡°Seliph¡¯s brother is a teacher in Roespeye.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t say?¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Jack retorted with mild irritation. ¡°Doing my best here.¡± He flipped through his notes again. ¡°Let¡¯s see. He held a number of odd jobs throughout the city. Farmhand, city clerk, gondolier.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t surprise me. The jobs probably helped him run cover. Did you discover anything related to the gems?¡±


    ¡°Not really. To be honest, it may be a dead end. Another old alley neighbor I tracked down seemed to suggest Seliph wasn¡¯t a Gemmer at all.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°This lady said she never saw him with jewels. Only big handfuls of metal sticks.¡±


    Raven jolted up. ¡°You mean rods?¡± he repeated. ¡°What kind of rods?¡±


    ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­¡± Rue said.


    Jack¡¯s eyebrows rose at Raven¡¯s sudden piqued interest. He flipped through his notes in a hurry. ¡°She didn¡¯t say. She said they were small and thin, like glowing flutes.¡±


    ¡°The rods glowed? What color?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask.¡±


    ¡°Jack, listen to me. This is important. If you can get me the name of the contraband Seliph was smuggling, I¡¯ll triple whatever payment you¡¯re owed.¡±


    His eyes lit up. ¡°Well now you¡¯re speaking my language! That kind of talk almost makes me forget you smell like a dozen dead cats¡­ almost.¡±


    ¡°You have one week. Get to it.¡±


    Raven laid back down after Jack left, mind churning.


    ¡°What are the odds it¡¯s really him?¡± Rue asked. ¡°We can¡¯t get ahead of ourselves.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, but¡­ if the rods Seliph were smuggling happen to be what I hope it is.¡±


    ¡°Yes, then it can only be him.¡±


    ¡°It fits.¡± Raven sighed. ¡°If only I had the time or energy to look into this right now.¡±


    ¡°Leave it to Jack. You need rest, Raven. Tomorrow starts the last week. You have to finish by the sixth day, or else this was all for nothing.¡±


    Raven tossed and turned all night. The cost of the task gnawed on his mind. So much time spent, so much time lost. Only when his thoughts turned back to Noelle did he find sleep. It was a good thing, too, because in the morning, he felt intimidated by the tower for the first time. His construction now stood like a mighty fortress compared to the crumbling towers all around it. Only one more level remained; however, that meant the steps had grown by another level. Just one climb was daunting, but he now had to pick up the pace.


    As he surveyed the refreshed pile of stones, he breathed deep and closed his eyes. The idea of repeating his work for a fourth week threatened to crush his spirits. He was so tired. He shook his head and looked up, clenching his fists.


    Look what I have built. By my own hands I will complete the work. Gervany¡­ Melody¡­ watch me.


    The labor commenced once again. Around and around he went as he climbed the spiral staircase. A brisk wind caught him off guard for a moment before he steadied himself and continued to the top. The altitude of his tower proved far more immense than he had first considered. As he set his first stone in place, he paused to look out over the city. His tower was far taller than anything in the vicinity. Any other vantage within the reyk should now be able to spot his tower peaking above the local sightlines, and he was curious who might have wondered about it.


    But there was no time to linger. Raven headed back down, energized by newfound urgency. The burden of the looming timeline gave him strength day after day. Each night, the surrounding walls of the last level were gradually built by the nameless masons using his stones, followed by another staircase. As the level was built, it curved further inward, forming a much smaller platform on the top.


    On the evening of the fifth day of the week, Raven heaved his last rock to the top. He moaned in agony and collapsed to the newly formed floor, caked in dust and drenched in sweat. The moisture ran down his face, stinging his eyes, but he could barely form the energy to blink it away. His blood-stained clothes were torn nearly to shreds, and his whole body trembled.


    Saxon waited nearby. He approached and knelt beside him, placing a hand on his back. Before Raven faded into unconsciousness, he heard Saxon speak.


    ¡°One more day, lad. Just the bell is left.¡±


    The next morning, Raven slowly opened his eyes. Staring up at the ceiling, he realized he was back in his cot. Had Saxon carried him back down the tower? Or had he done it himself and forgotten?


    ¡°You¡¯re up,¡± Rue said.


    ¡°How long has the sun been up?¡± Raven croaked.


    ¡°Not long. I debated how long I should let you sleep.¡±


    Raven slowly sat up. Black spots burst before his eyes, and he could feel his muscles protest in every strand. He rolled over, falling onto the ground. Just the effort caused his breathing to labor and the sweat to return. His body toed the edge of all-out rebellion against him.


    ¡°Oh dear. You knocked over your breakfast.¡±


    ¡°Yesterday was the last time I eat that dreadful food.¡±


    ¡°You need your strength.¡±


    ¡°Noelle is almost mine. This thought is all the strength I need.¡±


    He slowly stood, bracing himself against the nearby wall. Step by step, he limped toward the door until he was back outside. He winced from the bright morning sun. It would be another hot day.


    When he gained his surroundings, he found Saxon standing nearby, looking at him. His arms were clasped behind his back, but he no longer appeared grouchy. Just focusing on him caused Raven to get woozy. He placed his hand on the door jamb and shook his head. But the dizziness remained.


    ¡°I have to admit,¡± Saxon said softly. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you could do this. I apologize, lad.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything yet,¡± Raven replied hoarsely.


    ¡°Yes¡­ the bell is ready for you.¡±


    He crossed the road into the field. Raven mustered the strength to follow. He fell several times, but forced himself back up each time. The gnawing agony of his empty stomach was matched only by the raw protest of every muscle he possessed. After falling yet again, he crawled on his hands and knees the last few spans before leaning back on his legs to stare up at the tower. Several identical structures drifted in and out of his vision, accompanied by more black and white spots.


    Saxon stood beside the last test. A massive white bell had been placed beside the stairway. The Eagle Dawn Banner of Zaliance adorned the metal surface of the bell, engraved in gold.


    ¡°It comes to this,¡± Saxon said. ¡°You must carry this bell to the top and hang it in the belfry the masons built. Do this and you complete the Tasks. But the bell must be rung before the sun sets, or¡­¡±


    Raven nodded. He closed his eyes and placed his hands in Grand Harmony.


    He was so exhausted. Not in a lifetime could he have imagined the difficulty of this trial. In the past, he had often pondered the peculiar look King Gervany had given him the day he first charged Raven with the Tasks. Only now did he realize it had been pity.


    Raven grimaced. How na?ve he had been at the time. Of course this was difficult. Of course this was impossible! Of course so many had failed before him. That a rat from Surlance should request the hand of the princess of Zaliance ¨C should not the difficulty of the Task equal the absurdity of the request? For the first time¡­ Raven doubted. How would he do this? His body was broken. In the farthest depths of mind and soul was he crushed. Yet, the hardest labor of all remained.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Then again¡­ he was almost done, wasn¡¯t he? All around him, unfinished towers silently wept in the shadow of his product. Just one more climb remained. And Noelle would be watching the entire time.


    Spurred by that thought, he slowly stood and approached the bell. It sat in the grass, taunting him with its gaudy shine. He glared at the bell angrily. Breathing deep, he started to bend down. Saxon cleared his throat, interrupting him.


    ¡°Before you start, there¡¯s something I need to give you,¡± he said, reaching into his pocket and producing another folded sheet of paper. ¡°Almost forgot. Your man, Jack Storne, dropped this off with me this morning.¡±


    Raven took the paper and unfolded it. Inside was written a single word.


    Vitronite


    He stared at the paper for a moment before bursting into laughter. ¡°Of course it was you all along, Villain!¡± he shouted gleefully.


    ¡°You seem to have gained back some strength,¡± Saxon said in surprise.


    Raven crunched the paper up and tossed it over his shoulder before bending over and lifting one end of the bell. His back groaned in protest under the massive weight. With gritted teeth, Raven lifted the bell just enough to clear the height of the first step and place it on the edge. He then circled the bell and lifted the other end to place it fully on the stair.


    ¡°One step down,¡± Rue said.


    ¡°A thousand more to go,¡± he replied.


    Step by brutal step, Raven worked to deliver the bell to its final resting place. Bones creaked, muscles ripped, lungs burned. There could be no rest. No food. And no mistakes. Just one miscue, and the bell could tumble. The Tasks would be lost. It did not take long for Raven to realize he was running out of time. At the hour of his normal lunch break, he had only brought the bell up a third of the way.


    The pace had to surge. New urgency gave him a boost from a source he knew not, but was grateful for all the same. The next level came, and then another. The sun galloped across the sky, reckless in its pursuit of his failure. Raven pushed, clawed, and scrapped with the malicious bell. He even yelled at it, demanding its compliance before taking it up one more step. And then another. Rage, fear, and hope fueled his body with each step, only to be drained completely by the time he finished it. Legs and arms shook violently, and his back screamed in violent dissent.


    Day diminished to evening. The sun faded to orange. Only one level remained.


    The sight of his last staircase jolted through him. Raven beat his chest and yelled at the top of his lungs. He lifted the whole bell, setting the mighty instrument atop his thigh. He took one step and lifted it through gritted teeth, groaning mightily. Then another step. And another.


    He yelled again. ¡°I will do this!¡± Another step. ¡°I will do this!¡± One more.


    ¡°I will do this! I will do this! I WILL DO THIS!¡±


    The bell crashed onto the final platform and Raven fell beside it. Gasping and wheezing, he peered through half closed eyes at the setting sun.


    ¡°Raven!¡± Rue shouted frantically. ¡°You¡¯re almost done! You¡¯ve made it to the top! You just have to hang the bell!¡±


    Raven slowly got up, but he collapsed over the bell, gasping for air. The world spun in circles.


    ¡°Raven, get up. Oh, please get up! You are so close!¡±


    He slowly lifted himself. Placing his hands around the metal hook, Raven pulled, dragging the bell toward the small belfry, minuscule distances at a time. Another hook hung from the belfry, just next to his head.


    Raven tried to lift the bell. But he collapsed again. Darkness surrounded him. Rue¡¯s urging voice became far away. All strength was gone. Oblivion waited with outstretched arms, beckoning him into the mercy of slumber.


    ¡°Raven¡­¡±


    Something in the distance called out to him. Something gentle. He listened.


    ¡°Raven¡­ you¡­¡±


    This was not Rue. He searched the darkness, seeking this familiar voice.


    ¡°Raven¡­ you are my own. You are mine.¡±


    Raven opened his eyes.


    He stood.


    ¡°My own,¡± he whispered.


    With a tremendous groan, Raven lifted up the edge of the bell with one hand and picked it up by the hook with the other. The shredding of his muscles and senses shrieked as he slowly lifted the bell. Only a sliver of the sun remained in the sky. With all his remaining might, Raven heaved the white bell up, snagging the hook. He let go and raced to the edge of the tower. He found a long hammer propped against the wall. He took it and swung it against the bell.


    The victory gong blasted deep into the night. He rang it twice. Three times. He crumpled, falling on his back, spread eagle. The reverberations of the bell¡¯s toll rang for several minutes. Still heaving, Raven turned his head and watched as the sun¡¯s last light dipped below the horizon.


    ¡°Well done, Raven!¡± Rue said. ¡°I knew you could do it! I just knew it.¡±


    He nodded, but didn¡¯t respond for several minutes. Every breath burned like fire. It felt like his body was falling apart.


    It must have been an hour when he regained some clarity. When he did, he slowly got to his feet. The cooling air embraced his face with a gentle zephyr, and the realization finally reached him in that moment. The nightmare was over at last. After years of torment at the very prospect¡­ he was done.


    Noelle Rose Alexis Sevalier, Commander of the White Fleet, Princess of Zaliance¡­ would be his bride.


    ¡°You can use pandora now,¡± Rue reminded him as they looked out over the city. The lights of the metropolis began to twinkle in the growing night.


    ¡°Oh, trust me¡­ I know.¡±


    He took a step over the edge of the tower and plunged to the ground. Rue¡¯s power reached out, pushing against the terrain and slowing him to a gentle descent. Raven lightly touched down to the amazement of Saxon, who stood nearby.


    Someone stood beside him, a young man Raven knew. He had short close-cropped hair and wore the black-feathered clothing of the local gentility. A mixed look of contempt and amazement washed over him before quickly retreating to a guarded stare.


    Raven limped up to Saxon. Noelle¡¯s steward cleared his throat. ¡°Well done, lad. Very well done. You have achieved the impossible! The Tasks are completed. I bear witness to your achievement, as does Sir Quinn Adromen here. Fulfillment of the Tasks require two witnesses. He kindly volunteered as my second.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know who he is,¡± Raven said.


    ¡°So, this is the boy who would marry our princess?¡± Quinn said, folding his arms. ¡°I expected you to be taller.¡±


    ¡°I expected nothing about you.¡±


    Quinn fell silent, looking at him scornfully.


    Raven looked all around, searching for what he hoped would not appear. Saxon was about to speak when Raven held up his hand, indicating he required silence for a moment. He searched through the darkness, waiting¡­ but the man did not show himself. Breathing a small sigh of relief, he lowered his arm.


    Saxon cleared his throat and extended his hand, presenting Raven with a small black box. He opened it, revealing a set of orb earrings. They were identical to the pair Raven now wore, except they were purple. Raven removed his current green pair and replaced them with the shimmering symbol of his triumph.


    Saxon smiled and extended his hand to the shack. ¡°Your bride-to-be awaits.¡±


    Raven briefly looked at the hut in the distance before looking back at Saxon. He picked up his pack, which lay nearby, and slung it over his shoulder.


    ¡°No thanks.¡± He turned to leave.


    ¡°What?¡± Saxon stammered angrily. ¡°Where are you going? My lady awaits! She has been watching this entire time!¡±


    Raven stopped and turned back. ¡°I have pressing matters to attend to. She will have to wait.¡±


    ¡°How dare you!¡± Saxon raged. ¡°How dare you speak in such an uncouth manner. How could you think such a thing? This would be an embarrassment! A shame to Princess Noelle! You cannot do this. You must meet with her and formerly request her hand!¡±


    Raven¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Do you think I did all this out of love?¡±


    Saxon seethed, turning red. ¡°I knew it. I KNEW IT! You just wanted power. You cared nothing for the princess!¡±


    ¡°Careful how you speak to me,¡± he replied calmly. ¡°I will soon be your king.¡±


    Saxon opened his mouth to object, but he fell silent. His fists shook with rage.


    Quinn, however, seemed delighted. ¡°There are ways around this. You clearly don¡¯t know Princess Noelle. Do you honestly believe she would marry a scoundrel such as you?¡±


    ¡°She has no choice. The crown of Zaliance is mine.¡± Raven turned and headed back down the road. ¡°Until I next return, I bid you farewell¡­ good night, gentlemen.¡±


    Raven grimaced as he limped along.


    ¡°Saxon will understand in time,¡± Rue said. She sounded as depressed as he felt. ¡°The Titan must never know that you love her.¡±


    He nodded. ¡°The deed is done,¡± he whispered. ¡°Let¡¯s get our reward.¡±


    ¡°Oh yes! I nearly forgot!¡±


    It took an incredibly long time and several rest breaks for Raven to make his way back into the city. He could have used pandora to assist him, but something about the finality of the journey caused a desire to walk the hardest path right until the end. The Tasks were years in the making, after all. Taking the oldtown roads south, he finally arrived in Brak Burroughs, a village known for its access to astonishing hot springs as well as its deep ties to the black markets. Raven limped down the cobbled lanes, ignoring the stares of many walking the same roads. After hours of painful hobbling, he finally arrived at his destination, and his relief could not be measured.


    The inviting lights of Trelian Bath drew him inside, through the purple curtained doorway and across richly carpeted paths. The warm, bright entrance featured wood panel walls adorned with gorgeous paintings and large mirrors. Squeaky clean and refreshed patrons stared at him and plugged their noses, aghast as they passed by. But Raven paid them little mind. He came to a well-dressed man in a deep blue suit manning a wooden booth. Slick, black hair ran down to his shoulders and a thin mustache adorned a small, puckered mouth. A golden crest adorned the pocket of his suit. He held a long black baton, which he waved animatedly as he spoke to one of his customers.


    All that changed when he laid eyes on Raven.


    ¡°Master Raven!¡± he nearly shouted. Wide eyes quickly came to realization. He turned to the other person. ¡°I¡¯m very sorry sir. We¡¯ve just had a change in circumstance. It will have to be another day. So sorry.¡±


    The customer turned away disappointed, and the bath clerk approached Raven with wringing hands. ¡°Is now the time, Master Raven?¡±


    Raven nodded. ¡°The Task is done, Mr. Henry. I am here to receive what I requested.¡±


    ¡°Of course, sir! I should have known that strange bell toll was from your tower. Congratulations! Oh, and please call me James, sir. Yes, it shall be done right away.¡± He snapped his fingers, and one of his maids approached. She wore rich pink robes, and her hair was done up extravagantly with golden lace. ¡°Yvette, we must empty Trelian Bath. Alert the staff. Not a single customer shall remain.¡±


    She nodded and scurried off. In no time, the large bathhouse was emptying of confused former revelers in varying state of dampness and dress. However, they each received a full refund of whatever they had paid and were made to be on their way. Within the hour, Trelian Bath was emptied and twelve staff stood at attention beside James Henry, the master of the establishment.


    ¡°Trelian is at your disposal, Master Raven.¡±


    Raven smiled. ¡°I want everything, James.¡±


    He nodded, and they got to work. The largest hot spring bath was made available to him, a deep steaming pool formed out of the rock and open to the night air. Henry¡¯s male attendants helped Raven in, as he did not have the strength to get in himself.


    But once in the pool, his pain completely and utterly melted away. The perfectly heated water coaxed its way into every nook and cranny of his body, soothing and massaging his sore frame. A month of dirt, grime, sweat, and blood washed away. A soothing breeze ruffled the leaves of large trees in the garden surrounding the pool, and the calming chirps of crickets assured him of his solitude. He had been dreaming of this since the first night.


    He did not stay in the bath for long, because a greater pain still gnawed at him. He was given a soft, extravagant robe after getting out. Once dressed, he was helped to the largest room, a bed chamber fit for a king. The single immense bed featured soft, white linens and thick, smooth blankets. It would have been hard not to fall asleep were it not for the smells.


    On several nearby tables, platters of the finest foods Trelian could produce awaited. Tender steaks and decadent chops, vine-ripened berries and melons, buttered potatoes, baked casseroles, fresh breads and cakes, chocolates and ice cream, and more delectables side dishes than he could count. A violinist sat in one corner, serenading those in attendance.


    The attendants waited on Raven hand and foot with Henry orchestrating the ensemble cast with every wave of his baton. Raven consumed plate after plate of the delicious offerings, partaking of everything they had to offer. Attendants worked to massage his arms, legs and back. Henry called in the local doctor, who came at a moment¡¯s notice, and attended to Raven¡¯s many wounds with several incredible pandora. For hours, his needs were met in every single way. And finally, when he was satisfied and the doctor departed, he fell into a deep sleep. The attendants left him, and all was quiet.


    He slept for half a day. When he awoke, he was deeply sore, but in a much better way than he had been for the last month. Over the course of the next three days, Raven feasted on succulent meals and bathed in mineral-rich hot springs. In the mornings, he rested on verandas overlooking the city, sipping rich coffees and therapeutic teas. In the evenings, he was treated to calming musical performances from the city¡¯s best artists. And when he wasn¡¯t doing any of those things, he slept. He slept and slept and slept. With each meal, bath, and rest, he regained his senses and energy. No one besides the staff and musicians were allowed inside Trelian, and no one outside Trelian was told why.


    In the back of his mind, Roespeye itched at Raven. He needed to get back soon. But it was a small itch. His recovery was necessary, as there was still much to be done. And he trusted Valentine and Van to make progress in his stead.


    He intended to stay another few days, in fact. However, on the fourth day, Raven was awoken in startling fashion by James Henry opening the sliding door.


    ¡°Master Raven! I apologize for disturbing your slumber, but I have an urgent letter for your eyes only.¡±


    Raven sat up in the bed. ¡°From who?¡±


    ¡°Lord Slipfire, sir!¡±


    Raven took the letter and broke the seal. His shoulders slumped as he read the note from Arkh. He breathed deep, slowly swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He reread the letter, just to be certain before shaking his head despondently.


    ¡°Why so melancholy, Master Raven?¡± Henry asked.


    ¡°Ah, James¡­ forgive me. This is some truly unfortunate news. It seems it has arrived before reaching the ears of this great city. For that, I am grateful. I¡¯m afraid I must be on my way.¡±


    ¡°But your wounds are not yet fully healed, sir. What could cause such a change in your plans?¡±


    ¡°Do you know of Rapshuron?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course. A town just outside Reyk Mune. Famous for their fine garments and textiles.¡±


    ¡°It would seem the Titan paid a visit.¡±


    Henry gasped. ¡°Oh no! How many dead?¡±


    ¡°All of them¡­ he killed all of them.¡±


    Dread came over the man. ¡°Oh God! But¡­ that city is very large. Ten thousand people at least!¡±


    ¡°Gather my things, James. I must be off.¡±

 Chapter 31: Friend of the Devil

    Raven rode horseback to Reyk Roespeye, a journey burdened by the prolonged wait. When Mount Chappelle finally came into his view a week later, Raven felt a measure of relief to accompany steeled nerves. His anger for the Titan grew ten-fold over the course of his journey, a heart refilled to the brim with desires of killing him in the most satisfying ways. On behalf of his Tasks, vengeance had agreed to wait in the wings just once. It now demanded his full attention yet again.


    There would be no more waiting.


    Raven took the Durning Road, the far side passage up the mountain, where the Feather Giants nested, harboring their ill-gotten gains of ruby nectar behind black tar shells. The obsidian pods riddled the snowy crags, shining in dire warning to possible trespassers. To Raven¡¯s surprise, Fanny was waiting for him as he arrived at the Hardgone Gate, a wide, lantern-laden opening between the fortress walls of Roespeye.


    ¡°Van asked me to meet you here,¡± she said as he approached. ¡°I guess he was originally supposed to be the one to meet you here instead? He said Valentine was working on something big and needed his assistance. He didn¡¯t elaborate.¡±


    Raven nodded.


    There was a moment of silence.


    ¡°Did you have people in Rapshuron?¡± she asked quietly.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    She nodded sadly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Raven. I didn¡¯t, for which I am forever grateful, but many people I know did.¡±


    ¡°The Titan will suffer for his crimes.¡±


    ¡°You should know¡­ some people are blaming you. Because of your little announcement before you left.¡±


    ¡°What about you?¡±


    She sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m¡­ tired.¡± She furtively glanced left and right. ¡°It¡¯s like waiting on the edge of a war you knew had to come,¡± she said quietly. ¡°But dreaded all the same. Rapshuron just proves any of us can be next. We continue on with our lives, accepting this terrible reality. Your actions haven¡¯t altered that.¡±


    ¡°You speak wisdom.¡±


    She smiled. ¡°You look different. Really different.¡±


    ¡°I went through¡­ an ordeal.¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯re taller than me now.¡±


    He smirked, but didn¡¯t reply.


    ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s get out of the snow. You must be freezing.¡±


    Raven considered declining and heading straight to the Tetrapolis, but he was admittedly exhausted from the journey and a glass of Cherry Fizzy sounded too good to pass up. And he was glad he did. Fanny took Raven back to her quarters, where she immediately set up a game of chess at her table and gave him an empty cup to serve himself any drink from her wonderous pandora-powered dispenser.


    Raven settled in, letting the ice-cold drink bring him back to the present. They played a game in silence, which Raven won.


    As he set up the board for a second game, Fanny rubbed her neck in irritation and took her necklace out, taking it off and placing it on the table. The long, golden rod on the chain gleamed.


    ¡°Darn thing is so heavy,¡± she said. ¡°Have you had any luck in figuring out what this thing is?¡±


    Raven picked it up, examining it closely. ¡°I¡¯ve given it a lot of thought, but many of my best resources have come up short. I think we just need to open it.¡±


    ¡°Fat chance,¡± she replied, moving her first piece. ¡°Forir has the other one, and he won¡¯t even talk about it with me. Thinks the things are going to explode if we bring them together. He¡¯d laugh if I asked to use his piece to open them.¡±


    Raven hummed. ¡°I don¡¯t get the feeling Master Forir laughs at anything.¡±


    She chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re probably right.¡±


    He turned the gold rod over in his hands, shaking it. ¡°It feels empty.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re voicing my worst fear. That I¡¯ve been lugging this dumb thing around and it¡¯s got nothing inside.¡±


    ¡°Is that what Master Forir thinks?¡±


    She sighed, purveying the board. ¡°Dunno. From what I was told, these keys have been handed down to us for years. He may know as much as I do.¡±


    Raven set the necklace down. ¡°You seem¡­ melancholy.¡±


    She looked up at him. Slowly, she nodded. ¡°You do, too. But I guess I understand why.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s more than Rapshuron. I left someone in Zaliance. I did not wish to leave.¡±


    ¡°Explains the new earrings.¡± When he gave her a quizzical look, she smiled. ¡°Van told me about your ¡®tasks¡¯ when I asked where you¡¯d gone.¡±


    He frowned.


    She laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I pulled it out of him. Call it concern. I owe you a great debt for saving Valentine¡¯s life.¡± She placed her head in her hand. ¡°I left people, too. I went home to drink from my pool and to see my family. I missed them. I still do. And my grandfather is ailing. I doubt I will see him alive again.¡±


    ¡°You come from Reyk Saphioc, right?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°My people don¡¯t leave home very often. I¡¯m sure you knew that. Not a common trait. It¡¯s rare when I meet anyone else from Saphioc. No one from home ever visits.¡± She tapped the table lightly. ¡°It gets lonely.¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    As they continued to play, Raven observed his surroundings in a new light. Fanny¡¯s makeshift home in her office contained all the trappings of a single person. He was probably her only visitor in a while. Being a young teacher in a city far from home must be a difficult experience. He had wondered why she seemed keen to maintain a friendship with him and Van, despite being her students. Now he understood.


    ¡°Darn, you win again,¡± she said after Raven declared checkmate.


    He looked at her suspiciously, and she laughed. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to lose, I swear. Once you¡¯ve finished your schooling, we should go to the casino together. I bet you could win a lot of money off those suckers.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of winning¡­¡± Raven pulled out the mysterious Class Seven pandora she leant to him. ¡°I meant to ask you. This pandora. I¡¯m still researching it. You said you won it. Do you remember who you won this from?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes. What a scene that was.¡±


    ¡°Scene?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you saw how he acted when he lost his little ring.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­ you don¡¯t mean¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I won that pandora from Marcus Shrale.¡±


    Raven was stunned. He looked at the pandora, thoughts whirling. But before he could dwell on it further, there was a tremendous slam. They both looked to her door as Valentine burst inside, flushed and huffing for air.


    ¡°Raven, I found you!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°I did it!¡±


    ¡°Did what?¡±


    ¡°The books! In the Tetrapolis! I think I discovered Valius Shrale¡¯s secret!¡±


    .


    Raven bid the shocked Fanny Fyre a quick adieu before he was racing behind Valentine as she led him back to Shrale¡¯s secret room. Once there, she led him to the back of the sanctuary, where the old desk sat in the corner. A large amount of books sat on the desk in several columns. Van was waiting for them, also beaming at Valentine¡¯s apparent discovery.


    ¡°So, you did get back,¡± he said, shaking Raven¡¯s hand. ¡°Did Master Fyre find you?¡±


    Raven nodded.


    ¡°You look different.¡±


    ¡°I went through an ordeal,¡± Raven replied.


    ¡°So, I was told. Jack said the tower is impressive.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of Jack, I told him you would triple whatever you were going to pay him.¡±


    Van¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°What? Why?¡±


    Valentine clapped her hands, silencing them. ¡°You boys can talk business later.¡± She laid her hand on the stack of books upon the desk.


    ¡°You said you discovered the secret,¡± Raven replied, folding his arms. ¡°What do you mean? Is there a hidden message within?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. You¡¯ll have to be the one who makes that determination.¡± She took a book. ¡°While you were gone, I read more of these stupid books than I could possibly count. I grew frustrated, so I started approaching them from a different perspective. Valius Shrale definitely had an alternative purpose for these books, right? We agreed on that. So, it was a matter of discovering what that could be. Perhaps there was a code built within the manuscript. But the more I thought about it, the more unlikely it seemed. You can make a code out of anything.¡±


    Raven nodded. ¡°Only one book is needed to make a cipher.¡±


    ¡°Right. So, why write thousands of books? If we have complete faith that these books were never meant to be read by anyone other than him, then they exist here only to serve as an obstacle. Once I came to that conclusion, I stopped reading.¡± She produced Moon¡¯s Ark from her pocket and handed it to Raven. ¡°I stopped using this weeks ago.¡±


    ¡°I assume you discovered the obstacle. What was the purpose?¡± Raven asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But I know what was meant to be found.¡± She took the book and opened it. On the first page, Valius Shrale¡¯s ink signature cantered over the paper.


    ¡°The anomaly,¡± Raven said. ¡°The books with his signature instead of his insignia.¡±


    ¡°Not an anomaly,¡± she replied, waving her finger. ¡°These are the books that matter. All the rest of these blasted journals are a ruse, meant to distract. On this desk is every book that exists in the Tetrapolis with his signature. Van and I spent the last two weeks scouring the shelves for them. And every single one has a seemingly errant line running through the first page.¡±


    She picked up another book and showed them side by side.


    "Okay, I¡¯m following you. Definitely not a coincidence. But what is the significance?¡±


    She beamed at him and slowly brought the two books together. As the pages touched, the two drawn lines through the pages connected and began to glow.


    ¡°Holy Wild!¡± Raven exclaimed.


    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s my line!¡± Van said.


    ¡°It must be a seal!¡±


    ¡°That was my conclusion. But it¡¯s not just any seal!¡±


    She scurried over to the large circle on the ground beside the wall with the sky mural. Crouching, she lined up the book so that the open cover sat neatly on the metal rail forming Valius Shrale¡¯s insignia. Raven¡¯s eyebrows rose. The line ran perfectly in conjunction to the spot within his seal where she had placed it. She then placed the second book. It also fit, and the connected line commenced to glow once more.


    ¡°So, all these books line up to this giant form of his insignia on the ground?¡±


    ¡°Yes. But I did not complete it. I wanted you to be here in case¡­ something terrible happened as a result.¡±


    Raven looked her in the eyes. ¡°Well done, Valentine. You did it. This is definitely the answer.¡±


    Her smile was radiant. ¡°Hey, I just realized. You¡¯ve gotten taller. You¡¯re the same height as me now. When did that happen?¡±


    ¡°I went through an ordeal. Let¡¯s get this puzzle completed.¡±


    They immediately set to work. Valentine had placed the books in order on the desk, so it was quickly reassembled. A perfect reiteration of the triangle insignia of Valius Shrale. Once she had the last book in hand, she went to place it. But Van stopped her.


    ¡°Let me do it,¡± he said.


    She smiled and handed it to him. They stepped back while Van crouched just outside the circle. He gently placed the book in the last spot and then quickly backed away.


    The glow of the connected lines grew exponentially, bleeding off the pages and surrounding the circle in a halo of light. Three runes appeared in each of the corners, Pro, Sur, and Ken. A loud buzz accompanied the growing illumination. The seal then rose by some unknown force, lifting off the pages to leave them all blank. The trio raised their hands to shield their eyes from the immense light. But Raven couldn¡¯t help but stay his gaze.


    The seal of light once again moved, but this time, something new was created as the lines twisted in shape.


    ¡°It¡¯s taking on a new form!¡± Van shouted over the growing din. ¡°What is that?¡±


    Raven¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡±


    The refinished image rose to implant itself against the mural on the wall. The lines burned itself into the surface, and then the wall split down the middle and a doorway opened within. The light faded, and the once loud buzzing quieted to a sedated murmur. Raven, Van, and Valentine lowered their hands and slowly stepped forward. For several moments, they said nothing. All they could do was stare.


    ¡°Raven¡­¡± Valentine finally whispered in shock. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. What could this mean?¡±


    The image burned into the wall above the newly materialized doorway featured a pair of wings accompanied by a twisted halo. Raven produced Rue¡¯s pandora along with the mystery Class Seven pandora and held them up. The smoking image on the wall matched the pictures of both pandora perfectly.


    But the mystery pandora was a mystery no more.


    ¡°So¡­ it was you, all along,¡± Raven said.


    ¡°Who?¡± Van asked.


    Raven looked up at the wall. ¡°This is the true insignia of Valius Shrale. The triangle mark we knew before today was a misdirection, just like the Tetrapolis. And this¡­¡± He held up the Class Seven card. ¡°This is his pandora.¡±


    ¡°Holy Wild! You can¡¯t be serious! This whole time you had his actual soul?¡±


    ¡°Fanny just told me she had won this pandora from Marcus Shrale. This was his third treasure, the one missing from his pedestals. He had possessed his ancestor¡¯s very soul. We just never knew.¡±


    Van scratched his face. ¡°But¡­ I don¡¯t get it. What does any of this have to do with your Rue the Day pandora? Why does she have the same pandora design as Valius Shrale?¡±


    ¡°Raven,¡± Valentine said solemnly. She pointed to Rue¡¯s card. ¡°Who is that?¡±


    Raven looked upon the card with compassion, thumbing the edge of the powerful Class Eight.


    ¡°The people of our era call her the Sleeping Devil,¡± he replied. ¡°But I know her by her real name. Sheeharu Rendan. And she has been my friend for a long time.¡±

 Chapter 32: Soul Decoupling

    ¡°I feel like a dummy,¡± Van said. ¡°Sheeharu¡­ Rue¡­ I should have connected the dots a long time ago. Even so, why didn¡¯t you tell us?¡±


    Raven stood in the doorway of the newly discovered passage. White marble steps led up to some unknown destination. He held up the two pandora, staring hard at each of them. The words whispering in his ears, once sorrowful, were now a haunting dirge saturated with poison.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    Raven¡¯s brow furrowed. Valius Shrale¡­ what did you do?


    ¡°Raven?¡±


    Valentine¡¯s voice brought him back to the present.


    ¡°Are you ok?¡± she asked, coming beside him.


    After a moment, he nodded.


    Van placed a hand on the arching stone frame of the new doorway, marveling at Shrale¡¯s impressive manipulation of the Rail¡¯s artifact to form such places. ¡°So, again, I have to ask¡­¡± he said. ¡°Why did you never tell us Rue is the Sleeping Devil?¡±


    ¡°You never asked,¡± Raven answered.


    Van folded his arms. ¡°Very funny.¡±


    ¡°I suppose I should have said something. It has become practice to guard Rue¡¯s identify for most of my life. It¡¯s one thing for the Titan to know I possess a Class Eight pandora, which I desire him to know. It¡¯s another for him to understand who she really is. The Titan cannot break open the cocoon in which her body sleeps, though he has tried. And I would postulate that it frightens him. If there¡¯s something even his Remnant Aria cannot destroy, what else exists in this world that can deny him?¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± He didn¡¯t seem pacified by the answer but did not inquire further.


    Raven turned his attention back to the doorway. ¡°Let¡¯s proceed.¡±


    They climbed the stairway in silence. A chill filled the air suddenly, dry and heavy.


    ¡°Raven¡­ I know this place,¡± Rue whispered fearfully. ¡°I can feel it.¡±


    He nodded.


    At the top of the staircase, a spectacle awaited them. What Raven had first expected when they entered the doorway into the Tetrapolis he now found: a wizard¡¯s laboratory. Shrale¡¯s true study was a wonder matched only by the stark contrast of what they left behind. Light replaced the dull darkness, filling a wide circular space. Sheer glass made up half the curved walls and ceiling, somehow shimmering from blue and gold beyond, as if the room sat directly in the sun¡¯s light, instead of underground.


    Another desk sat on one side, large and bulky. The soft wood and worn spots on its open surfaces suggested actual use, unlike the decoy within the Tetrapolis. Raven could imagine Shrale spent many an hour seated at that desk, poring over his research and documents. Curiosities littered the rest of the laboratory. Models and statues, maps and globes, tubes and chambers, push-pin boards and bookshelves aplenty. Shrale must have spent all his time here, and Raven couldn¡¯t blame him.


    ¡°Wow, look at this!¡± Van exclaimed, looking through the glass wall near the desk.


    They joined him in looking out. A full quarter of the study wall looked down on Panka¡¯s very sanctuary. The flowing waterfall carried no noise, and the guardian of Roespeye was not present.


    ¡°Incredible,¡± Raven said. ¡°Shrale was secretly able to observe Panka within his own domicile. Panka obviously never knew.¡±


    ¡°But the entire place is stone, right?¡± Van rubbed a hand over the glass. ¡°How can he not see this?¡±


    ¡°I believe Shrale drew power from the artifact in the Rail to build this lab and the Tetrapolis.¡±


    ¡°That sphere in the main hall of the Rail?¡± Valentine asked.


    He nodded. ¡°Panka used it to create the Rail long ago. It contains vast power unrelated to Hydra and might perhaps be older than the guardians themselves. I¡¯m convinced Shrale was able to tap into its power without him knowing.¡±


    Just then, Panka drifted into sight, coming down the waterfall from near the source of his pool. A wicked grin splayed across his watery face, as if he just finished playing another prank. He drifted to and fro, oblivious to his three observers in Shrale¡¯s study.


    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Raven you better come look at this,¡± Van said.


    Raven and Valentine turned to find Van had wandered off. He now stood on the opposite side of the room, partially cordoned off by planters and tables and serving as a makeshift lounge. They joined him where he stood, gazing up at a wall filled with myriad papers affixed to the surface or chalk notes composed directly onto the surface of the wall.


    Valentine gasped. A ghastly silence permeated the three of them as they took it all in.


    The entirety of the mass group of research posted onto the wall centered on Sheeharu. Statistics on her growth, eating habits, study habits; sketches of her body in various poses of drawn examination; family genealogy; and so much more.


    It was the collection of an obsession, plastered over the wall like a madman. It became immediately evident that Rue was no apprentice to Shrale, as had been speculated. The child had been an experiment, poked and prodded, and no doubt hidden from her parents. And over and over, one phrase permeated the many notes and exhibits: Soul Decoupling.


    Soul Decoupling.


    Soul Decoupling.


    The phrase could only have one meaning.


    The nauseating truth sank deep into Raven¡¯s heart as he scowled at the display. He reached back and punched the wall in anger, leaving his fist sunk into an especially heinous sketch of Rue lying on an observation table.


    ¡°I knew it,¡± he rasped. ¡°I just¡­ KNEW IT. They called him a hero! They called him a damn HERO!¡±


    ¡°Shrale is the one who extracted Rue¡¯s soul all along?¡± Van said, aghast in disbelief. ¡°He was¡­ researching her for this! He obviously intended to do it for a while!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m okay, Raven,¡± Rue said. ¡°I don¡¯t have any memory of anything he did. I¡¯m okay, I promise.¡±


    ¡°Soul Decoupling, he calls it,¡± Raven said, sneering. ¡°Cold words for a cold monster.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Van scratched his head, bewildered. ¡°If he did this, why on earth did he sacrifice his life to save the city from Rue¡¯s attack afterward?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s obvious now,¡± Raven said. ¡°He didn¡¯t understand the consequences of his so-called ¡®Soul Decoupling.¡¯ Remember what Panka said? When the image of the Holy One is stripped of its spiritual nature, the body¡¯s Hydra is released without control. Shrale must have been ignorant of this until it was too late.¡±


    ¡°I thought Rue had no Hydra?¡±


    ¡°All people have Hydra. Each soul produces its own distinct energy, which is how pandora are formed in the first place. The vitality you gain drinking from your pool is a replenishment of your own spirit. But no outside Hydra could touch Rue. She is a well unto herself.¡±


    ¡°Raven, what other purposes could Shrale have used the artifact for besides building this place?¡± Valentine asked.


    He looked at her. She was thinking exactly what he was. He nodded, thankful for her level-headedness. Now was not the time to mourn what happened.


    ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯re here to find out,¡± he replied. ¡°Shrale would have brought her here to conduct his experiments away from Panka¡¯s protection. Rue was special as a human being because she was unaffected by Hydra in every way. It couldn¡¯t touch her. There must be a reason this special trait of hers was important to his experiments.¡±


    ¡°And if he couldn¡¯t use Hydra, he must have used the artifact¡¯s power to extract Rue¡¯s soul,¡± Valentine said. ¡°Which means, there must be a conduit in this study where he could draw from its power.¡±


    Raven exhaled in despondency. ¡°The power Shrale used to extract Rue¡¯s soul must have been tremendous. She would have suffered greatly.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I get it,¡± Van said, lifting up papers on the wall to look at others underneath. ¡°If he used the artifact¡¯s power to pull Rue¡¯s soul out, then we¡¯re gonna have to use it to put her soul back in.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. But the only way we can is to find his completed research. We reverse engineer the method. At the very least, Shrale¡¯s evil aids our cause in one way. Finding Shrale¡¯s study was originally supposed to serve the purpose of discovering how to free her from the amber cocoon he constructed. The method to actually restore her soul once the cocoon was broken was a separate obstacle. Now the two missions are one and the same.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re thinking he wrote down his method of Soul Decoupling?¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    ¡°I read thousands of Shrale¡¯s painstaking notebooks,¡± Valentine said. ¡°Records of the most mundane research that he nonetheless found necessary to document. He definitely would have scribed his far more important discoveries.¡±


    ¡°And we must find it,¡± Raven said. ¡°The fate of everything we hold dear in this world lies within those texts. Freeing Rue¡­ and restoring her soul. Let¡¯s spread out. Look for anything else related to Rue or Shrale¡¯s research. I will start with this wall. Valentine, go through the contents of his desk. Van, you look everywhere else.¡±


    They immediately set to work, energized by newfound motivation to overcome the villainy of Valius Shrale. Raven¡¯s anger grew as Shrale¡¯s voice emanated from his own pandora, now pathetic and hollow.


    I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m so¡­ sorry.


    They searched for hours. In every drawer and cubby. On every shelf and under every piece of furniture. They read every book, every page littering the walls, every scribbled note on every scrap of paper to be found. Much of it told the despicable story of the lengths Shrale went to in preparation for snatching Rue¡¯s soul. They learned he selected her because he speculated her resistance to Hydra indicated a high-level soul.


    ¡°Look here,¡± Valentine alerted the boys.


    Near Shrale¡¯s desk, she pulled down a large painting from one of the non-see-through walls. An immense seal had been drawn in pandora ink.


    ¡°That has to be the power conductor,¡± Raven said in awe. ¡°What a complex seal within a seal! Look at these criss-cross patterns here near the lower inner seal. It resembles the Seal of Draw, but it¡¯s much more elaborate. These are dangerous composites.¡±


    Valentine pointed. ¡°But Shrale erased the inner runes. Look. All of them are missing. How will we know which ones to use?¡±


    ¡°I should be able to figure it out. It will take time, but now that I have the design, the rest will be elementary.¡±


    They continued to search Shrale¡¯s study but there wasn¡¯t a trace of his actual methods. No information on Soul Decoupling, and not an iota referring to the amber cocoon in which Rue¡¯s body lay trapped.


    Raven finally sat at Shrale¡¯s desk, frustrated. Their path to Rue¡¯s salvation couldn¡¯t come to a dead end. Not now. Not when they had come so far. He slammed his fist on the desk.


    His eyebrows rose. ¡°Did you hear that?¡±


    Van and Valentine drew near. Raven rapped his knuckles on the desk.


    ¡°It¡¯s hollow!¡± Van exclaimed.


    They immediately pored over the surface of the desk, looking for some hidden drawer or switch. Finally, Raven found something. A knob near his knees where he sat. He gave it a twist and the top of the desk popped, leaving a thin opening. He grasped it and flung the false desktop away.


    As the heavy wooden board broke free from its hinges and clattered onto the floor, the trio drew closer. A dagger was embedded into the hidden surface of the desk, holding a hand-written letter in place. Raven immediately ripped the page free.


    If you are reading this, I commend you. I expect this letter shall never be found, but on the small chance some intrepid intellect should understand what I left behind, my hope is that this same intellect will pardon my terrible deeds, as they were performed in pursuit of knowledge.


    I am dying.


    Sheeharu Rendan¡¯s power was beyond my understanding. If the person reading this must know one thing, know this: I was a fool. Through my Soul Decoupling method, I extracted the young girl¡¯s soul from her body, forming the pandora. The experiment was a success, and yet¡­ I now regret everything. Not because of my looming death, which is certain. It was Sheeharu. Her face. Her expression when she finally realized I had used her. That I cared nothing for her. As she faded into the monster unconsciousness of her soulless body, it was only then that I realized what I had become.


    This small child¡­ she trusted me. One could say that I woke up in that moment.


    In my pride, I firmly believed I would quickly and easily restore her soul back. It was simply an experiment. Never had I intended to keep the pandora for myself. Even as I held an unimaginable Class Eight soul in my hands, which hers proved to be, I was confident such a prize would never sway me to forgo restoring her spirit and making her whole again.


    But something happened. Something I cannot explain and now will never have the opportunity to understand. Unrestrained power consumed Sheeharu¡¯s body and then unleashed upon the mountain. Terrible Hydra poured out from her, black and toxic. Before I could flee, the power touched me, and now it lingers like a poison on my body. I can feel its deathly fingers seeping into me, and there is nothing I can do. I would postulate that I have mere hours to live.


    I grow weak. The terror of my doom approaches.


    My only solace is that I was able to contain Sheeharu before she could destroy Nine Star. She lies dormant within the Chevron Chrysalis, and must never awaken, for the sake of my home. And now, my shame is complete, and I will die with this disgrace, for I can never let anyone else know what I have done.


    I commit now, this last selfish act. I will send Sheeharu¡¯s soul away to my benefactor, where she can be stored away in hiding until her release to the heavens, if that can ever come. I will close up my Tetrapolis. And I will scatter my Star Tome, lest anyone should desire to repeat my folly.


    I should destroy it. I should burn it. But I cannot. It is my life. My life¡¯s work in this place and in my beloved Star Tome. And so, I cast my wish to the fates: that one worthy of this knowledge should be the one to find it. If the intellect who now reads this letter was able to discover all I left behind, perhaps by some miracle, he will also pity my arrogance and find some measure of appreciation in my pursuit of the unknown.


    I go now to my sons. To die in regret. And to wish I had never met Sheeharu Rendan.


    Forgive me. Valius Shrale


    ¡°What a piece of trash,¡± Van said, folding his arms.


    Rue chuckled sadly. ¡°Thank you, Van,¡± she said, even though he couldn¡¯t hear her. ¡°I¡¯m so glad I don¡¯t remember anything he did to me.¡±


    ¡°The Star Tome,¡± Valentine reread. ¡°Raven¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Raven said, crumpling up the letter. ¡°Master Bastille¡¯s challenge. To restore the Star Tome.¡±


    ¡°Which means he knows something about it.¡±


    ¡°What do you think he means when he says, ¡°he scattered¡± it?¡± Van asked. ¡°Maybe his tome is multiple volumes, like his journals in the Tetrapolis?¡±


    ¡°Or maybe he split it up into sections?¡±


    Raven placed Shrale¡¯s pandora on the desk and stared hard at it.


    ¡°Talk to me,¡± he said to the pandora. ¡°Where is your tome?¡±


    The pandora grew quiet for the first time in months.


    He slammed his fist on the desk. ¡°Talk to me, Shrale!¡±


    A voiced suddenly shrieked from the pandora. ¡°NOOOOOOO!¡± A desperate cry of misery.


    The card then burst into flame, engulfing the desk in white hot fire. Van and Valentine backed away in shock, but Raven stood, staring angrily at the card. Fire licked up his robes and threatened to consume him.


    ¡°You pathetic coward!¡± he shouted.


    He slammed his fist on the pandora violently. The flames expelled and all became quiet again. Raven patted his robes down angrily.


    ¡°I need time to think,¡± he said, and he stormed out.


    Van and Valentine watched him go in surprise. It was several moments before they both realized they were alone.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Valentine said, blushing. ¡°I guess I understand his reaction, but now what?¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Van replied, holding his chin. Then he smiled, reached for the small of her back, and kissed her.


    ¡°Wait!¡± she said several kisses later, laughing. ¡°Not here, and not now. It¡¯s too weird. Not when we know what happened in this place.¡±


    ¡°Then where and when?¡±


    She lightly pecked his lips again, smiling. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty. Let¡¯s go to Chavana¡¯s.¡±


    He smirked. ¡°Again?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my favorite.¡±


    She took his hands and led him out of the Rail. Van was now familiar with the short walk from the school to Valentine¡¯s favorite caf¨¦ in the city. They had already frequented the bakery and coffee shop in the residential district several times during their brief time dating, and he loved every minute they spent there.


    The proprietor, Mr. Chavana, smiled as they strolled into the warm store, pink-faced from the cold. White flowers decorated yellow wallpapered walls, and whitewashed tables further brightened the pleasant escape from the chill.


    ¡°Back again so soon, Ms. Chessex?¡± he asked, eyes twinkling behind spectacles.


    ¡°Another long day of¡­ schoolwork,¡± she replied, winking at Van. ¡°Can I get my usual coffee with cream and sugar, Mr. Chavana?¡±


    ¡°Coming right up. Same black coffee for you, young sir?¡± he said, looking at Van.


    He nodded, and they sat at a table by a wide window overlooking the street. The coffee shop was normally much busier, but today, there was only one other customer in a nearby corner, a man hidden from view by an open newspaper.


    ¡°I guess the news about Rapshuron is keeping people home,¡± Van said.


    Valentine took his hands into hers. The warmth of her skin made him melt. Everything he ever wanted was now sitting across from him, looking at him with love in her eyes. Her beauty was beyond anything he could ever imagine, and he knew without a doubt that he would never be able to thank Raven enough for what he did to make this happen.


    Raven.


    Van immediately felt guilty. His friend was currently in the depths of gloom after their long day, but Van could barely focus on him. But then again¡­ something did bother him about what transpired.


    ¡°Knock, knock,¡± Valentine said. ¡°Is anyone home?¡±


    Van shook his head. ¡°Sorry Val. I got distracted.¡±


    ¡°What were you thinking about?¡± she asked as Mr. Chavana placed their coffees on their table. ¡°Talk to me.¡±


    ¡°Does it bother you that Raven didn¡¯t tell us about Rue? That he held the soul of the Sleeping Devil this whole time and we never knew?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Not at all?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m actually a little embarrassed I didn¡¯t figure it out sooner.¡± She blew on her coffee before taking a sip of the golden drink. ¡°How was Raven going to restore Rue¡¯s soul if he didn¡¯t have it to begin with? Like he said, we never asked.¡±


    He frowned. ¡°Even so¡­ it feels like he didn¡¯t trust us.¡±


    ¡°Should he?¡±


    ¡°I think so. Have we given him any reason not to? And then I have to wonder what other secrets he¡¯s hiding.¡±


    ¡°If you need to discover all Raven¡¯s secrets, I think you¡¯re going to be disappointed the rest of your life.¡±


    He nodded. ¡°You¡¯ve got me there.¡±


    ¡°I believe that Raven intends to use Sheeharu to kill the Titan.¡±


    Van spluttered into his coffee, and coughed. ¡°Shhh!¡± he said, wiping his chin while looking around. Mr. Chavana did not look up from behind his counter, and the man reading the newspaper didn¡¯t seem to hear what she said.


    Valentine sipped her coffee primly. ¡°Was it something I said?¡±


    ¡°But¡­ Raven said he wants to save Rue!¡± he whispered.


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t get me wrong,¡± she replied, lowering her voice. ¡°Raven says he will save Rue and restore her soul, and I believe he will. But does that mean he can¡¯t use her to kill the Titan before he does that? When she is this untamable ¡®monster?¡¯ Think about it. Maybe this incurable, poisonous attack that killed Valius Shrale can also somehow get through the Titan¡¯s supposedly unbreakable defense. Or maybe the reason her cocoon can¡¯t be cracked leads Raven to believe she¡¯s strong enough to counter Remnant Aria!¡±


    ¡°Holy Wild¡­ I didn¡¯t even think about that.¡±


    ¡°Look, I¡¯ve come to accept one thing. Raven is here to end this world of pandora, and he¡¯s the only one equipped to do it. And I believe he will use any and all means to see the Titan dead, even if it means doing things others might find questionable or even abhorrent. No means are beyond the end for him. I¡¯ve come to accept it, and I¡¯m not going to question him, because I want the same thing. I would do anything to see the end of pandora. Even give my life.¡±


    She squeezed his hands sincerely.


    Van squeezed back. He shook his head ruefully before smiling. ¡°I¡¯ll die before I ever let you die.¡±


    She smiled and leaned in over the table to kiss him.


    A throat clearing interrupted their reverie, and they looked up in shock.


    Master Cooley stood right beside their table, having appeared seemingly out of nowhere. A rolled-up newspaper sat snug under his arm.


    ¡°May I give you two students of mine a piece of friendly advice?¡± he said, placing a nice top hat on his head.


    ¡°Um¡­ yes, sir,¡± Van managed to reply.


    The Economics teacher leaned in. ¡°If you¡¯re going to have conversations about the destruction of pandora and the murder of the Titan, perhaps you should hold them¡­ in more private settings?¡±


    They gulped in unison. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± they said together.


    Master Cooley made to leave, but then he stopped and backed up to look at them again. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not saying don¡¯t have them.¡±


    Van and Valentine looked at each other in shock before looking back up at him.


    He smiled a bit, nodded, and strode out the door.

 Chapter 33: The Scattered Tome

    The cathedral of Domi Roespeye didn¡¯t hold the same place in Raven¡¯s heart as the church of his adopted homeland. Where the hand-built brick dwelling of the Holy One embraced the visiting worshiper in quiet peace, a humble, warm respite deep in the slums of Surlance. Nor did it equal the majestic wonder of Domi Zaliance, the epicenter of Fallowreyk¡¯s religious zealots.


    Even so, Roespeye¡¯s holy place possessed merit in the beholder¡¯s eye. On occasion, during a pause in his reading of the Texts, Raven would look up from where he sat in the empty pew and marvel at the ceiling. Carved wooden beams interweaved with each other in a crisscross pattern, rich in color and engraved with leaves, flowers and stars. Eight wooden columns supported the vaulted ceiling, each carved to appear as elden tree trunks and suggesting to the imagination flourishing treetops just out of view above the church ceilings.


    The cathedral was empty, as the services had long been over for the day. Raven was able to take in his surroundings in solitude, as he desired. To read, to dwell, to pray, and to think. An escape from the whispered truth growing little by little in his mind: that he was running out of time.


    ¡°Our new quarry approaches,¡± Rue said.


    He looked up just as Master Bartholomew Bastille entered the sanctuary through a door near the front dais. He passed to and fro rapidly, carrying books, putting out candles, and attending to general upkeep duties of the church, as he did every Holy Day after services ended.


    Master Bastille couldn¡¯t have been more ordinary in Raven¡¯s eyes. At best, he possessed a very dull personality. On the other hand, Bastille was a straightforward man, true to his word and incredibly uninterested in anything that would promote himself or stroke his ego. He found value only in his work as a priest and teacher. As such, Raven found little reward in provoking him during his classes to elicit a response. Slow and steady had been the path he elected in order to learn what the Star Tome was ¨C observation alone. But time was suddenly no longer on Raven¡¯s side. He had to learn what Master Bastille knew about Shrale¡¯s spellbook.


    It took some time for Bastille to notice him sitting in the pew. When he did, he stopped in his work and considered him carefully. Raven disregarded him, continuing on in his reading. But Master Bastille came up to him. As he did, he noted the bag of donuts Raven had placed on the pew beside him.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be eating in here,¡± he said reproachfully.


    Raven didn¡¯t look up. ¡°If I put away my snack, will it evidence my piousness?¡±


    Bastille frowned. He sat in the pew in front of Raven¡¯s and took off his wide-brimmed hat, placing it in his lap as he sat sideways to look at his student.


    ¡°You know, I have to say. I don¡¯t understand you, Whitesong. With the exception of some leaves of absence, you are here every Holy Day. But you avoid services in the morning. And based on your performance in my classes, you¡¯ve clearly memorized the Holy Texts and possess a great understanding of what is written; yet you mock the masters attempting to give the same education to others. You¡¯re known city-wide for your cruelty, your anger, a sharp tongue and a bitter countenance.¡±


    ¡°Is there a question there?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to understand. Believe it or not, some of Nine Star¡¯s professors desire the best for their students. If you are zealous for the Holy One, why do you avoid services and only come when the house is empty?¡±


    ¡°Should my zeal for the house be so great when a snake is set up in the place of honor?¡± Raven looked past him, and Bastille followed his gaze.


    At the side of the dais, just beside the priest¡¯s lectern, a golden statue of the Titan had been erected. The massive sculpture featured the Titan in idealized form, holding a copy of the Holy Texts in one hand and his scepter in the other.


    Bastille sighed. ¡°The Titan¡¯s Law requires it in every place of worship.¡±


    ¡°Laws can be broken.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes? And what then? The Titan comes with his Horde, kills me in a spectacle, and places a wiser man in my place, one who chooses to ignore the craven image. Or maybe the Titan burns the Holy One¡¯s house to the ground, and no one has a place to gather at all. Which is it?¡±


    Raven turned a page. ¡°You constrain the Holy One within four walls of wood and stone. Is it a wonder the flock strays? Let me ask you a question now. As you preach each week, do you watch the eyes of all those in your congregation? I would bet you do. And I would also bet that you observe their¡­ wanderings. Those small flickers to the image of the Titan. Do you wonder how long it takes? When those small glances become long stares into the eyes of the master they may one day long for?¡±


    Bastille looked down sadly.


    ¡°The Titan sets up his image in every church in Fallowreyk,¡± Raven continued, ¡°Yet he allows his subjects to still freely worship the Holy One. Why is that? I can tell you, although I am sure you already know. He knows one day all will worship him instead. Through love and fear, through the long passage of time he never suffers. Those who attend will always have the stark golden reminder of who rules the land right in front of their eyes. The Titan knows¡­ all too well. In time, people will begin to believe he and God are one and the same.¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°I do know all this,¡± Bastille replied quietly. ¡°But no option remains. What would you do in my place?¡±


    ¡°I would never be a priest,¡± Raven replied wryly.


    Bastille chuckled. He adjusted his spectacles and looked up to the ceiling. ¡°What a world we live in. I praise the Holy One, that I should see such times. Though I make mistakes, I endure in humility. Perhaps one day you¡¯ll find the answer I don¡¯t have.¡±


    He got up to leave. Raven¡¯s mind scrambled for something to say, but then Bastille stopped and turned back.


    ¡°You know, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been curious about. The scar¡­ on the back of your head. Why were you branded in such a way?¡±


    ¡°A gift from the Titan,¡± Raven replied.


    ¡°Oh¡­ so you have a more personal history with the ruler. I guess that would explain the exceptional malice toward him. So then, do you have a pool, or do you not?¡±


    ¡°Are you asking for my personal welfare, or has curiosity simply got the best of you, Master Bastille?¡±


    ¡°Curiosity. You can use Hydra, but you never drink from a pool, from what I understand. You can be many things, but I don¡¯t believe you are a liar. So, how can this be?¡±


    ¡°Is this curiosity what led you to require the restoration of the Star Tome as your challenge under the Vark Ilias?¡±


    Raven briefly flickered his gaze up at the man. Bastille¡¯s eyebrows were sky high.


    The man sat back down. ¡°So, you do know the challenges.¡± He was flabbergasted. ¡°The other masters have been saying it, but I didn¡¯t quite believe them. How did you discover what we wrote down?¡±


    Raven smirked. ¡°That curiosity again.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am very curious now. I should be happy if you could somehow restore the Star Tome.¡±


    ¡°And why is that? Does Valius Shrale possess an admirer in Nine Star¡¯s religion master?¡±


    ¡°Well, no. The man was a hero, no doubt. But his Tome was said to contain spectacular discoveries.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m rather surprised. What would a man of God do with such power?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about the power,¡± Bastille answered defensively. ¡°Even so¡­¡±


    Raven nodded knowingly. ¡°The truth of your heart speaks now, Master Bastille. You loathe the Titan as much as anyone. Would you be the savior of Fallowreyk if only you could find Shrale¡¯s tome?¡±


    He looked at Raven in surprise. For a long time, he didn¡¯t reply. Rather, he reflected, staring back up at the church ceiling.


    Finally, he answered. ¡°No.¡± He smiled. ¡°That is not my destiny. Even so¡­ I think some measure of me wanted to be the one to finally restore the tome. They just float around, after all.  Right in front of us day after day.¡±


    Raven tilted his head in confusion. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°The pages¡­¡± he replied matter-of-factly. ¡°You know¡­ of the Star Tome. They just flitter around, begging to be plucked. But try as we might, no one has been able to put them all together. Believe it or not, despite how impossible my challenge might appear on the surface, some part of me was hoping you might be able to figure it out.¡±


    It took a moment for Raven to understand what he was talking about, but when he did, he closed his eyes, exhaling mightily.


    The answer was right in front of me.


    ¡°Please excuse me, Master Bastille. I have to be going.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay,¡± he said in surprise, getting back up. But as Raven walked away, he called out after him. ¡°Raven Whitesong, blessings be upon you. In whatever endeavors you take. May the Holy One guide your path.¡±


    Raven waved his arm as he quickly exited the church. Then he burst into a sprint, but his legs couldn¡¯t carry him fast enough to his new destination.


    *                 *                 *


    ¡°Uh, Raven?¡±


    Van tapped Raven¡¯s shoulder, but his friend didn¡¯t budge. He sat on the floor in front of the seven podiums inside the Ilias Drome, staring straight ahead, hands in his lap in Grand Harmony.


    ¡°We¡¯re starting to get a little worried, bud,¡± Van spoke up again. ¡°You mind finally telling me why you¡¯ve been sitting in here for three days straight?¡±


    Raven didn¡¯t reply. His eyes drifted to and fro, watchful. The skittering pieces of parchment danced about the huge space, appearing almost mischievous in their whirling and twirling across the floor. Some befuddling sorcery enchanted the pages, preventing them from being read, even when they remained still.


    Finally, he exhaled, and got up. He stretched his legs and rubbed his thighs and realized in that moment just how hungry and thirsty he was.


    ¡°Has it really been three days?¡± he asked hoarsely. ¡°I lost track of time.¡±


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°Yes and no.¡± He waved his hand. ¡°This is the Star Tome.¡±


    Van¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Really?¡±


    He tried to pick up one of the pages, but it scurried away. He then tried to swoop his arms around and gather up a bunch, but he couldn¡¯t even lay a finger on one. They blasted about, refusing to be captured.


    ¡°How do we get them?¡± he asked in frustration, giving up pursuit.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Raven replied. ¡°I¡¯ve already tried every method I could imagine. But there is a clue. If you look closely, you¡¯ll notice there is one bit of every page that can be read.¡±


    Van looked down, inspecting some of the pages that weren¡¯t moving. The entire surface of each sheet of paper was blurry in his vision except for one corner.


    ¡°Page numbers?¡±


    Raven nodded. ¡°Each page is numbered. I¡¯ve spent the last three days accounting for them. The largest number is nine-hundred and sixty-seven. It could very well be the last page of the Star Tome.¡±


    ¡°So how is that a clue?¡±


    ¡°Because as of now, I cannot account for two pages. Page three-hundred and fourteen, and page nine-hundred and thirty. I have counted each page at least ten times in their endless journey encircling this place. I would bet one page is his detailed instruction of Soul Decoupling, and the other is his method of forming the Chevron Chrysalis.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s what you were doing. You¡¯re thinking if we find the missing pages and bring them here, the tome will restore itself.¡±


    Raven tapped his nose.


    Van sighed. ¡°So Shrale separated the pages and hid them somewhere. He didn¡¯t want to make this easy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the best we have to go on.¡±


    ¡°What do we do now?¡±


    ¡°Shrale had only hours to live when he wrote that letter in his study. I would guess he didn¡¯t have time to think of something clever beyond this little bit of sorcery we have before us. It¡¯s most likely a pandora at work. He must have given the vital pages to someone he trusted to keep them safe.¡±


    Van snapped his fingers. ¡°His sons. He even said he was going to spend his last hours with them in the letter.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. We need to know who they were. And I can think of only one place to look first.¡±


    Van snickered. ¡°Looks like we need to pay our friend Marcus Shrale a visit!¡±

 Chapter 34: A Man of the Blade

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, the man is gone,¡± Van repeated.


    Raven stared angrily up at Marcus Shrale¡¯s abandoned shanty. The bitter chill running through Supenheil frosted the few window panes remaining, and icicles extended cruel spines all along the makeshift roof. Van had just finished reconnoitering inside, but the owner of the hut was nowhere to be found. And it looked like Shrale had been gone for some time.


    ¡°Most of his stuff is still inside, though, so he could come back. What do you want to do?¡± Van asked, putting his hands in his pockets.


    ¡°We have to find him.¡±


    ¡°Do you think he might have the lost pages to the Star Tome? He did have two other priceless treasures related to Valius. And wasn¡¯t there a third?¡±


    ¡°When I was spying on him, night after night, I went through every scrap of paper he possessed. The third object under the glass cloche was some kind of statue, but nothing of note upon inspection. It would be highly unlikely Marcus ever had the pages. If he did, he would have restored the tome long ago.¡±


    ¡°But you still want to find him now?¡±


    ¡°Unless you know a better source to research Valius Shrale¡¯s genealogy?¡±


    ¡°I might, but it will take some time. We could try City Hall, but they¡¯re notoriously stingy with their documents.¡± Van looked up. ¡°It¡¯s nearly nightfall. We won¡¯t have a chance tonight.¡±


    Raven growled under his breath. ¡°It¡¯s one impediment after another. We¡¯re running short on time. Let¡¯s check the casino. If there¡¯s one thing I¡¯m sure of, Marcus will have the Shrale heritage memorized.¡±


    They turned to leave, but stopped abruptly.


    At the end of the wide, makeshift road, a large man stood alone among the snow drifts and paupers¡¯ tents, watching them. The vagrant residents had somehow vanished without their knowledge, leaving them alone. Cruel eyes focused, and a square jaw clenched when his gaze met Raven¡¯s. Black tendrils of hair drifted in the frigid wind, a gale affecting him little. A large bag was slung over his back, filled with all manner of long objects, some metal, some stone, and some others unidentifiable. One of his immense exposed arms reached for a sword inside the sack, and he drew it ¨C an ebony spike lined with jagged teeth and casting a vile green pale against the snow.


    After a silent standoff, Raven finally sniffed. ¡°And who is this?¡±


    He turned to look at Van, but was surprised to see he had disappeared. He turned in place, looking everywhere, but his partner was instantly gone without a trace. Not even a sound had betrayed his abrupt retreat.


    Raven grimaced. You¡¯ve been hiding secrets from me, Vanyard von Sephim.


    He returned his focus to the mysterious foe.


    ¡°Seems you¡¯re ignorant to your friend¡¯s cowardice,¡± the man said. His deep voice carried malice on the wind. He pointed his sword at Raven. ¡°You should have picked better associates.¡±


    Raven¡¯s eyes narrowed ruthlessly. ¡°And you should heed your own advice. Approaching me in such a way¡­ it would seem you have befriended Death.¡±


    Without warning, the man exploded into a bursting sprint. Powerful strides brought him before Raven in a moment. He brought his sword high to strike him down. An explosion crashed into the night, knocking the villain back. Rue drifted out from Raven¡¯s sleeve to float between them. She had easily blocked the blow. Yet despite the pulsating force emanating from her pandora, the man stood strong against the wave of gravitational push, pressing against it with a roar. He drove his sword into the ground, holding himself in place. He smiled evilly, pulling on his sword to inch closer.


    Raven tilted his head. Twelve sets of black wings materialized behind his back, combining to form two larger sets. Rue¡¯s power increased, surging from her now blinding pandora. The enemy held onto his sword, but he grimaced as he was slowly driven back, his sword trailing a large gash as he slid back down the road. When he had been returned to his original location, Raven relented, snatching Rue from the air with two fingers. The wings dissipated, and he calmly replaced her back inside his robes.


    ¡°You mistake me for prey, little son of Mune,¡± Raven said scathingly. ¡°And on the worst of nights. I¡¯ve been itching to hurt someone today. Are you gifting me an opportunity?¡±


    The man picked up his sword. ¡°You¡¯re quite a runt for someone who masquerades as a champion,¡± he grunted. ¡°Without that pandora, you¡¯re nothin¡¯ and I¡¯m gonna make sure you understand that before you die.¡±


    Raven regarded the sudden appearance of this would-be assassin with vague interest. He withstood an attack from Rue, however, so there was no denying his strength. There was little chance the Titan would send a mercenary to do his dirty work, but many others longed to see him dead.


    ¡°Am I to know your name before my untimely death?¡± he asked, clasping his sleeved hands together.


    ¡°You hurt my little brother. I¡¯m gonna hurt you worse. My name is Soren Davies, and I am your death sentence.¡±


    Raven smiled wickedly. ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s what this is. The deadbeat Khern Davies has a kind-hearted big brother. I¡¯m sure he was looking forward to school, wasn¡¯t he? Before I broke every bone in his body. Perhaps next year¡­ after he learns how to walk again.¡±


    Davies pointed his sword again, unaffected by Raven¡¯s words. ¡°Pick your weapons. I don¡¯t care which.¡±


    Raven raised his arm to the side, holding out another pandora. ¡°I think I¡¯ll use the sword.¡±


    The pandora Deep View slipped out of his hand to float. Raven touched the card with the starry night sky design, and it grew in size until it became a door. Raven grasped for the handle that formed and hurled the door open. The ethereal purple screen shivered from the chill wind, but remained unbroken. A shadowy void lay beyond.


    ¡°Bart¨®n!¡±


    The pandora entity butler appeared on the other side of the screen in a moment, standing inside the murky, shapeless space. He bowed curtly. ¡°What is your desire, Lord Whitesong?¡±


    ¡°My sword,¡± Raven replied.


    Bart¨®n reached across his chest and parted his suit jacket to the side and then pulled his undershirt open, revealing his ashen chest. A slit appeared right down the middle, and two panels opened wide like a doorway. But instead of human bones and innards, a single black handle lay inside empty space. Bart¨®n pulled the long object out and closed the doors to his chest. He tossed the black rod through the View, which Raven caught.


    The gray-hued entity bowed again. ¡°This will be your fifth use of the Zenkanite Tompotsuu, Lord Whitesong. Three uses remain.¡±


    ¡°This may seem like a trivial time to use it, Bart¨®n¡­¡± Raven held up the long rod. ¡°But my lust for vengeance has encountered a convenient outlet.¡±


    ¡°Very good, sir.¡±


    The door to Deep View closed, and the pandora shrunk and returned to Raven.


    ¡°Raven¡­¡± Rue suddenly spoke up after being strangely quiet. ¡°Please, can you defeat him quickly? I¡­ don¡¯t want any more violence.¡±


    Before he could respond, Davies sniffed in contempt and said, ¡°A swordfight¡­ against me? Will you fight me with sticks?¡±


    Raven twisted the simple-looking rod around in his hand. Near the end that he held, the rod parted in two directions to form a rectangular space serving as a makeshift cross guard before reforming again and extending about five spans long. He held up the crude sword so that he framed Davies in his sight within the formed space.


    ¡°Approach at your peril.¡±


    Davies again burst into a sprint toward Raven. He swung his sword mightily, and Raven countered. The wind burst into a frenzy at the clash, sending snowflakes whirling. Davies¡¯ eyes widened in shock as he struggled to drive his sword down. Raven held his own sword firm, barely moving.


    ¡°¡®Uh oh!¡¯ he thinks to himself!¡± Raven smiled sinisterly, pushing the much bigger man back inch by inch. ¡°What is happening? How can this be real?¡±


    Raven pushed him away and then struck back. Davies barely countered in time. Raven attacked again and again, blazing fast. Not a scratch was made on his rod as it clashed repeatedly against Davies¡¯ sharp blade. Effortlessly, Raven sliced and parried, attacked and then withdrew. With each strike, realization spilled across Davies¡¯ that Raven was not the amateur he had assumed.


    ¡°How can this boy be a better swordfighter than me, you must be thinking,¡± Raven continued, striking effortlessly at Davies¡¯ defenses. ¡°Someone who trained his whole life with the sword? Me! A man of the blade. A man of Mune! It¡¯s impossible!¡±


    Raven¡¯s edgeless sword streaked by the opponent¡¯s blade and landed a hard blow on Davies¡¯ shoulder, knocking him back. He struck again, catching his torso, then his arm, and finally his thigh. Each blow caused his foe to grunt in surprise and pain, but no blood was drawn. Finally, Raven sliced his rod across, quick as lightning. Davies¡¯ mighty sword slipped from his grasp and burst into pieces. But the pieces did not fall. Rather, they evaporated into white wisps of ghostly effervescence. The luminescent balls floated for a moment before rushing to Soren Davies and sinking into his body.


    Davies retreated, grasping his shoulder and breathing heavily. Shock and concern littered his expression.


    Raven breathed deep, holding his rod up. ¡°Next.¡±


    ¡°What the hell are you?¡± Davies grunted.


    ¡°Your superior.¡±


    ¡°You are Munian, then. Khern said you were from Surlance!¡±


    ¡°I am not Munian.¡±


    ¡°Liar! You liar! Who would train an outsider in our ways? Especially a dog from Surlance?¡±


    ¡°A fine question. And you shall have an answer: I trained under the greatest swordsman to ever live.¡± Raven pointed his Zenkanite. ¡°If anyone in this place is an outsider, it is you. Or have you forgotten? Mune loves strength.¡±


    Davies roared in fury at his statement. He reached into his bag and withdrew a long metal rod. The material began to glow white-hot and then transformed in his grasp. The rod melded, like floating liquid, into a long, sinister sword. In moments, the transformation was magically competed. The blade glowed red, replete with emeralds lining the flat. The handle appeared as a serpent¡¯s head.


    Raven tilted his head. ¡°Oh? Was that titanium? A Class Four material? I bet you were saving that. Once upon a time, I never used to tire of watching a Munian use his gift to transform mere objects into mighty blades. But now¡­ seeing you in such a state¡­ it¡¯s not so impressive.¡± He laughed out loud. ¡°You give a bad name to your people.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    ¡°Please Raven¡­¡± Rue pleaded once more. ¡°Please just beat him quickly? Okay?¡±


    Raven barely heard her as Davies charged with another roar, eyes alight with new rage. His red sword blazed hot, sizzling as it struck through the snowfall. But Raven countered with ease, smiling like a devil as he blocked and immediately went back on the offensive. The power behind Davies¡¯ attacks had been amplified by his upgraded sword, but still he was no match for Raven¡¯s prowess. Within minutes, Raven again struck his foe three times before bashing the new sword to pieces with his rod. And again, the pieces melted into wisps retreating into Davies¡¯ body.


    Davies withdrew, but he was alight with fury now. He produced another shaft from his bag, and Raven recognized it immediately. His smile faded as a new sword formed in the man¡¯s hand.


    Chicoree wood? He can wield a Class Five material? I haven¡¯t seen this since¡­


    But Davies gave Raven no further time to ponder, immediately attacking with a long rapier, ice blue and humming. Raven parried, but the newfound power behind the blow had doubled. Davies¡¯ strength and speed had been amplified, as his soul meshed with the newly formed weapon.


    Raven suddenly found himself in a tight duel, driven back by incredible blows and heightened speed. Only through his training did he maneuver himself away from a disadvantaged state. After several exchanges, Raven struck hard and fast, slicing his rod down and striking Davies¡¯ wrist. His foe didn¡¯t drop his weapon, but Raven used the opening to cast the enemy sword aside with a mighty strike. Three more strikes followed, pummeling the man¡¯s chest in quick succession before one final lunge.


    Davies sailed through the air with a painful shout, landing hard. He gasped, struggling to get up. Murder filled his expression as he grit his teeth. He finally got to his feet and stared at Raven with loathing.


    Raven brought up his rod once again, inviting him for more but assuming the exchange would be the last Davies invited. The silence of their stare-down was broken by the caw of a snow crow. Several dozen of the birds lined the darkened shanties and barren trees of Supenheil, watching as if to bear witness to Raven¡¯s victory.


    Davies briefly glanced at his Class Five sword. He seemed to come to some sort of resolution before dropping it. The sword melted as if made from the snow on which it fell, and the spirit returned to him. He then reached for his belt and withdraw a small box tucked inside. Opening it, a yellow glow immediately enveloped his face. He plucked a small, golden jewel from it and tossed the box inside.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you,¡± he rasped. ¡°No matter the cost.¡±


    Raven¡¯s eyes widened in shock. A Wickerstone!


    Before he could do anything else, a quivering blast ignited from Soren Davies. The golden stone in his hand burst with light, expanding as it became a fearsome new sword. A silver blade, clear as a mirror, extended forth. White wings formed a lustrous crossguard to sit on a gilded handle.


    As Davies gripped the new sword, the shine of his weapon surged through his entire being. He breathed deep, and his rigor faded. But the wind flurry caused a hurricane force to swirl up and down the street.


    Raven was stunned at the sight, but before he could react further, the man suddenly snapped, surging toward Raven with wild, newfound speed. In a moment, like lightning, he blazed a direct strike. Raven tried to counter, but it was too fast. The sword glanced off his rod and tore through the side of his face, launching him into the air as it did.


    Raven hit the ground with a thunderous plume of snow. He gasped as the wind was knocked out of him. He slid for several spans before coming to a painful stop. Warm fluid streamed down his neck. He quickly sat up, still grasping his own weapon tightly. The world spun in circles. Heaving, he touched his face, shaking from the tremendous pain. A deep gash had been sliced across the left side of his face, so deep he could feel his own bone. And the top half of his ear had been cut clean off.


    Davies roared in mirth. ¡°How does it feel, little son of Surlance?¡± He held up his mighty sword, exulting in its majesty. ¡°My day has finally come. Your death heralds my arrival!¡±


    Raven stood. Anger bubbled to the surface as his mind raced. How could this fiend wield a Wickerstone? To be able to successfully manipulate a Class Seven material like that¡­ it could only mean one thing.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Rue suddenly shouted pleadingly. ¡°Wait, Raven. Please. Don¡¯t look! Don¡¯t look at him!¡±


    He ignored her, grasping his face. Concentrating, his eyes focused on Davies. The green of his irises disappeared, turned red with a purple halo. And when they did, the winter night transformed into a world of light and shadow, swirling about with the wind. In the distance, Soren Davies stood, appearing as a being of pure light. At the center of the mass of human-shaped Hydra, Raven spotted his Mantra. His jaw dropped as he beheld the form of his very soul. Eight shards of light surrounded a mighty shield with a depiction of an eye. The shards slowly rotated around the blinding shield, churning with immense energy.


    Raven shook his head, and the green of his eyes returned. The snowy town of Supenheil returned, along with the normal form of his enemy. Soren stood at the ready, uncertain by what he had just seen.


    Raven produced Rue from his robes, glaring at Davies with pure wrath.


    ¡°Please, Raven,¡± Rue cried. ¡°Oh, I beg of you! Please don¡¯t kill him!¡±


    ¡°You knew all along,¡± he said angrily.


    ¡°Raven¡­ you don¡¯t have to kill him! You have a choice!¡±


    ¡°You are wrong.¡±


    He placed Rue inside the empty rectangular space within his rod. She fit perfectly, and the moment she was placed, Raven¡¯s Zenkanite Tompotsuu surged with intense light. The simple rod gained its own new form. Rue wept as the power of her pandora surged through his artifact, igniting in black fire. The dull end sharpened into a wicked blade, growing in mighty strength. A torrential wind hurtled into the night, blasting abandoned tents, sending snow crows fleeing, and snuffing out campfires. Supenheil was consumed in the dark, screeching hurricane of Rue¡¯s amplified power.


    Davies approached again, pushing against the force, but before he took even two steps, black hands of fire reached out from Raven¡¯s sword and snatched him up. Davies screamed, dropping his weapon. Raven floated off the ground, lifting his enemy up with him. He raised a hand, and the appendages of fire slammed Davies to the ground, pushing him with torrential force. The snow in the area burst into steam. A tornado of shrieking wind surrounded them. There Davies remained, slowly crushed by Rue¡¯s clout.


    ¡°Oh, Raven, please¡­¡± Rue sobbed. ¡°Don¡¯t make me kill him. Please show him mercy.¡±


    Raven shook tremendously, overcome with fear and anger. A crater formed in the ground as he increased the force against him.


    ¡°He has a Class Eight soul, Rue! A Class Eight!¡± A tear fell down his cheek as he shook. ¡°The Titan will find him! I know you understand this! He will find him and turn him into a weapon against the world! People will suffer on account of him. People will die! I can¡¯t let that happen. I have to kill him!¡±


    ¡°I am a Class Eight, too! If I were still alive¡­ would you kill me also?¡±


    Raven grit his teeth, ashamed and tormented. Soren Davies¡¯ cries of pain faded as he fell unconscious. His body was moments from being crushed to death. Raven groaned in hatred and frustration, aching to drive him through and end it.


    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­¡± he gasped. ¡°I can¡¯t let the Titan have him¡­¡±


    ¡°This world is full of terrible things, Raven,¡± Rue said with sudden calm. Her soul reached out so tangibly, he could almost feel her hand on his face. ¡°And there will always be new ways people hurt each other. The Titan is no different. But you can be.¡±


    Raven put a hand on his face, squeezing. So many faces of so many dead people flashed before his eyes. People he once cared about. People he had promised to protect. He raised his sword high.


    ¡°Don¡¯t become the villain you are trying to defeat. Let him go. You are a good man.


    ¡°Let him go.¡±


    Raven shouted in rage and sadness.


    Then, he relented.


    The hands of flame receded, returning to Raven¡¯s sword. The wind died. He floated back to the ground and hung his head. Wisps of smoke issued from Davies¡¯ body, but he remained alive. His once magnificent sword faded to ether.


    Raven stood in silence for a long while, looking down at his fallen foe tiredly.


    ¡°One day¡­ the Titan will find this man,¡± he finally said. ¡°He will find Soren Davies. He will find him, and he will kill him and turn his soul into a devastating pandora. It¡¯s just a matter of time.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps. But what you did was right,¡± Rue replied comfortingly. ¡°Tonight, you proved your worth. And that worth will shine in the final days.¡±


    He nodded. But anger and sadness still afflicted him. Would the soul of Soren Davies one day become a weapon as strong as Rue? Perhaps stronger? And more importantly¡­ would it lead to the failure of his vengeance?


    ¡°Raven Whitesong.¡±


    He looked up. Standing some distance away was Sarratica Lively. Raven hadn¡¯t sensed her presence, and it seemed Rue hadn¡¯t either. She slowly approached, still holding the jade mask to her face. For a few moments, they looked down at Soren Davies together in silence.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Raven finally asked.


    ¡°I have been watching you.¡±


    ¡°So, it would seem. Why?¡±


    ¡°You need medical attention. You may not even be able to feel it, but your face is tremendously injured.¡±


    ¡°Pay it no attention,¡± he replied. ¡°What is it you want from me?¡±


    ¡°What transpired just now has convinced us.¡±


    ¡°Who is ¡®us¡¯ and what have you been convinced of?¡±


    ¡°Meet me in front of the Morborium in the market district in two hours, and I will tell you. Do not concern yourself further regarding this man.¡± She gestured to Davies. ¡°I will see that he gets immediate medical attention. I know how to make sure he receives it without anyone discovering his true nature. You would agree we must keep it a secret as long as possible.¡±


    Raven looked at her guardedly. Who are you really, Sarratica?


    But she left without saying another word, hastily departing the makeshift settlement and disappearing into the night.


    ¡°Woah, what happened?¡±


    Raven turned to now find Van approaching, huffing as he ran up to meet him. He looked down at Davies and then to Raven¡¯s face.


    ¡°Holy Wild! Your face! You¡¯re covered in blood. Are you alrigh¡ª?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been spying on me,¡± Raven cut him off harshly.


    Van backed up a step in surprise. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Cut the crap. You¡¯re able to disappear at whim. And this time I felt you do it, even when I didn¡¯t see it. And you¡¯ve been using this ability, whatever it is, to spy on me. I want to know how you¡¯re doing it. Tell me the truth, or we¡¯re through!¡±


    Van¡¯s face transformed from shock into guarded wariness. He stood in silence for a few moments as Raven stared him down.


    ¡°I¡­¡± He started to answer, but then he stopped. Raven stared daggers at him.


    He exhaled, seeming to come to some sort of decision. Then, a tremendous roar suddenly filled the night air. Blue fire erupted around Van, and an apparition leaped out of the ground, charging into him. The specter formed a huge leopard that snatched Van by the arm with his teeth and pulled him down. In a single moment, Van was dragged into the ground and disappeared. This all happened within mere moments, leaving Raven stunned. There was no hole or crevice left behind. He whirled in place, but Van was gone. It was as if he had been spirited away.


    Then, the apparition of blue fire appeared some distance away, leaping out of the ground like a spirit and dragging Van along with him. In a wide arc, the giant cat plummeted back down to the ground and then disappeared again, taking Van with it. But this time, there was no accompanying roar or any other sound. If Raven hadn¡¯t seen it with his own eyes, he would never have known it happened. Over and over, this phantasm of fire leaped in and out of vision in profound silence, dancing around Raven whilst dragging Van along for the ride.


    Finally, with one last leap, the giant cat freed Van, dropping him to the ground before diving effortlessly into the earth one last time. Raven¡¯s eyebrow rose as Van shook his jacket and then ran a hand through his wind-blown hair, completely unharmed. He produced a pandora from his jacket, one Raven had never seen before. A picture of a crouching leopard decorated the card.


    ¡°That was how,¡± Van said simply.


    Raven regarded him coolly. ¡°A Class Four.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s how I get around sometimes.¡±


    ¡°And it¡¯s how you¡¯ve been spying on me.¡±


    Van didn¡¯t reply, but he didn¡¯t shy away either.


    ¡°So, you don¡¯t deny it?¡± Raven said. ¡°It was you I felt on my way to the Gold Lecher¡¯s place, wasn¡¯t it? And in the courtyard before I left for Reyk Zaliance? I assume there have been other times.¡±


    ¡°If you expect you instantly gained my full trust the day we met, then you made a mistake,¡± he replied. ¡°The fact is, I¡¯ve never fully trusted you. I just keep my cards close to my chest¡­ in a manner of speaking.¡±


    Raven sniffed. ¡°I can respect that. So, who is this?¡±


    He held up the pandora. ¡°I call it ¡®Cast Off Tommy.¡¯ It¡¯s the soul of an old friend from school. Tommy Updike. He, uh¡­ well, he died a long time ago, and his pandora was sold to some wealthy people. Long story short, I filched it from them. I didn¡¯t want my friend serving some snooty rich family. But after understanding what he could do, I¡¯ve been using the power ever since to spy and gain information. It¡¯s the main reason I¡¯m the best at what I do.¡±


    ¡°How does it work?¡±


    ¡°It can carry me to any place within shadow. And as you saw, it can even jump from shadow to shadow, carrying me along invisibly and quietly. I can see and hear beyond the hiding place, like I have eyes and ears in the surface of wherever I am, and I¡¯m completely hidden. At least I thought I was. You¡¯re the first person who¡¯s ever detected me. I guess I should be glad I¡¯m now aware it¡¯s possible.¡±


    ¡°Interesting. Seems an incredible gift. So, are you saying you trust me now?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can say that. I¡¯m still a little sore you didn¡¯t tell us about Rue, but¡­¡± He looked askance at Davies. ¡°Maybe, I gained a little insight into who you really are tonight. I don¡¯t dislike what I saw.¡±


    Raven smiled a little, and nodded.


    ¡°So¡­¡± Van cleared his throat. ¡°This little friendship huddle we have going on right now is fine and dandy, but Raven, you need to take a look at your face. It is really messed up. You are covered in blood. Your ear is half gone! Can you not feel it?¡±


    ¡°I will be fine. We have to get going.¡±


    ¡°To the Morborium?¡±


    Raven leered at him. ¡°So, you heard that too?¡± He smirked and shook his head. ¡°Yes, Sarratica pointed us to the Morborium, but I assume she is actually directing us to that store on the other side of the street.¡±


    ¡°Oh, the one Barkley Chessex told us about!¡± Van snapped his fingers. ¡°Master Cooley¡¯s secret meeting place of some sort, right?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°It must be. They both wear the same rings. I want to hear what Sarratica wants. It sounds important, and we¡¯re due for a reversal of fortunes. On the way, you can tell me everything you know about her.¡±


    ¡°What about him?¡± Van pointed to Davies. He remained unconscious in the crater.


    ¡°Rue saved me from killing him. But that doesn¡¯t mean I have to coddle him. We¡¯ll leave him to Sarratica¡¯s devices. Let¡¯s go.¡±

 Chapter 35: The Pandora Society

    Now late into the night, Raven and Van found the market district empty. Barrels lining the cold street once brimming with warm fire were now dark, still smoking as the last cinders gave up their remaining heat for the night. They located the haunting presence of the Morborium and then crossed the street to the unassuming antique shop. Raven immediately spotted the mark of four hexagons burned onto the doorpost.


    To their surprise, Valentine was waiting in front of the seemingly deserted shop.


    ¡°Val, what are you doing here?¡± Van asked in shock.


    ¡°I was given an urgent message from Master Cooley to meet here,¡± she replied. She then gasped. ¡°Raven, what happened to your face?¡±


    She ran up to them, inspecting his wound. He tried to pull away, but she wasn¡¯t having it.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. Just a scuffle,¡± he finally said.


    ¡°A scuffle indeed,¡± a voice replied.


    They turning to find Sarratica Lively and Master Finitum Cooley standing in the now open doorway of the shop. Inside was dark. Raven immediately looked down at their hands. They both wore gold rings with the four ruby hexagons.


    ¡°Young man, that wound will get severely infected if not dealt with properly,¡± Cooley said, taking off his top hat.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± he replied. ¡°Please explain why we are here.¡±


    ¡°Oh, for heaven¡¯s sake, stop being stupid,¡± Valentine reprimanded. ¡°Master Cooley, do you have provisions for treating this?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we do. Please come inside, both of you. We have a very important proposition to discuss. You can treat the wound while you listen to what we have to say.¡±


    ¡°Hey, what about me?¡± Van asked, indignant.


    ¡°You¡¯re not invited,¡± Sarratica replied irritably.


    ¡°Why? Because I¡¯m not wealthy?¡±


    ¡°No. Because you are a Thimble,¡± Cooley replied.


    ¡°Oh¡­ okay, well that¡¯s fair.¡± He folded his arms in disappointment.


    Cooley spread his arm toward the door, and Raven and Valentine walked inside the shop. Cooley turned to shut the door, but then he stopped and looked at Van, standing alone in the snowy street.


    ¡°Oh, and don¡¯t try to use your pandora to sneak inside. This place is protected from such abilities. Let¡¯s just say you would not be rewarded for such an attempt.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to do that!¡± he replied.


    Master Cooley shut the door.


    Van frowned. ¡°I was absolutely going to do that.¡±


    Raven and Valentine were led down a darkened hall and into a separate room near the back of the shop. Upon crossing the threshold, they were greeted with dim, but pleasant light. A group of eight high-backed chairs were situated in a circle in the well-furnished den. Four of the opulent chairs were occupied. Master Cooley placed his hat on a nearby coat rack and took a seat in one of the empty chairs. Sarratica immediately vacated the room through another door.


    Raven¡¯s attention was immediately drawn to the person seated at the far end of the circle. A mischievous grin crossed the lips of Piper Redtune as their eyes met.


    ¡°We meet again-nanana,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking forward to this all week, Raven. Please take a seat.¡±


    The large chair dwarfed her small frame, making her look more like a little girl than ever. Beside her sat Tellius, purple eyes gleaming and appearing just as stern as the day they first met. Valentine looked at Raven in surprise at the revelation they knew each other, but she said nothing.


    Seated on Piper¡¯s right was another masked person. Like Sarratica, she wore bulky black robes and held a mask to her face by way of a long stick, but her mask was gold, rather than jade. Beside her sat a man Raven vaguely recognized, but couldn¡¯t place. He was wispy and heavily tanned by the sun, with a large black mustache, and three peculiar moles on his right cheek. He wore a fine black suit of satin and carried a cane. He briefly looked at Raven guardedly before redirecting his gaze. Raven noticed all those in attendance wore the same ring bearing the four hexagons.


    A silence permeated the group as they all regarded the new guests. Raven sat in one of the chairs, folding his hands together. Valentine was about to sit in the chair next to him when Sarratica returned with a medical kit. She handed it to Valentine and then sat in the remaining open seat. Valentine knelt beside Raven¡¯s chair, opening the kit and finding a needle, silk thread, and a bottle of clear alcohol among other provisions. She went to work closing up Raven¡¯s facial wound the best she could. He never flinched during the process, but several of those in attendance squirmed at Valentine¡¯s work on his face.


    In the silence, Raven took in his surroundings with interest. He recognized most of the furnishings, because they were the same as those that had been inside the remote domicile in the woods where Raven and Van first met Piper and Tellius. They must have been the same. Raven could not feel the presence of Van¡¯s pandora, even though he was sure Van would have tried to get in by now. If this place truly could prevent the work of pandora, what else was it hiding?


    ¡°What happened to cause such a laceration-nanana?¡± Piper finally spoke up. She seemed the least affected by Valentine¡¯s work; only curiosity filled her expression.


    ¡°I made a mistake in an otherwise routine confrontation,¡± Raven replied.


    ¡°Confrontations are routine for you?¡± the woman with the gold mask asked. Her voice was lighter and sweeter than Sarratica¡¯s.


    Master Cooley chuckled. ¡°You have no idea.¡±


    Valentine finished her work and closed up the medical kit. ¡°You¡¯re going to have a nasty scar, but the cut was clean. You should heal in time, if you look after it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he replied as she took her seat.


    Piper smiled. ¡°I am glad it did not ruin your new jewels-nanana. I see the earrings you wear are now purple. So, you completed the Tasks of Yearning.¡±


    ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°How remarkable-nanana. Ladies and Gentlemen, you are now in the presence of the future king of Zaliance.¡±


    The others in the room looked at Raven in shock. He made no reply.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Master Cooley said, confounded. ¡°That¡¯s certainly a revelation not anticipated by this group.¡±


    ¡°And what is this group?¡± Valentine asked. ¡°Why are we here, Master Cooley?¡±


    ¡°We are not yet prepared to divulge that information,¡± the man in the silk suit answered tersely.


    ¡°Now, now,¡± Piper said quickly. ¡°This isn¡¯t the time to be disagreeable-nanana. We all agreed to extend them the invitation.¡±


    ¡°Forgive the impoliteness,¡± Cooley said to Raven and Valentine. ¡°Let us first make introductions. Piper Redtune and Tellius of Riverren. My close associate, Sarratica Lively. Her sister, the person holding the similar gold mask, is Harmony Skybow. And lastly, Mr. Blake Vanguard.¡± He motioned to the man in the silk suit.


    Raven again looked the man up squarely. He didn¡¯t recognize the name. Harmony Skybow bore all resemblance to her sister. Calculating gaze behind her mask and a confident stature. The group of six people looking at him collectively formed a potent group, piquing Raven¡¯s interest.


    ¡°I am sure you have many questions,¡± Cooley resumed. ¡°But before we continue, we have some questions of our own, if you will humor us. As you have probably already surmised, our society is quite confidential. Quite¡­ forbidden. By the Titan¡¯s Law anyway. We are simply taking every precaution.¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Valentine looked at Raven. He returned her gaze, before nodding. ¡°Continue,¡± he replied.


    ¡°I have had abundant time to observe these two students of mine in the past year, so I will begin. Can you give me your personal assessment of your time at Nine Star Academy so far?¡±


    Valentine¡¯s eyes narrowed harshly. ¡°Forgive my callousness, Master Cooley, but what kind of question is that? You have dragged us here in the middle of the night, claiming to be part of a society engaging in illicit activity, and the first thing you want to know is how I¡¯ve liked school?¡±


    Piper snorted in a quiet chuckle, while several others frowned at her response. Cooley made no response.


    ¡°My body of work at Nine Star requires no assessment,¡± she continued. ¡°Save for Raven, I have the best grades among my peers. But that¡¯s not what you are asking. So, what is it that you really want to know?¡±


    ¡°Why do you invite the wrath of the Titan to our doorstep?¡± Vanguard asked suddenly to Raven directly.


    Raven tilted his head, propping his head against his knuckle. ¡°Why should I tell any of you?¡±


    ¡°Last time we met, you said it was your life¡¯s work to destroy the Titan,¡± Piper replied, now more serious. ¡°But your purpose in Roespeye is more specific. You are looking for something-nanana. As a group, we have not been able to ascertain what that is. It¡¯s quite perplexing. But your arrival at Nine Star and subsequent partnership with Vanyard von Sephim and Ms. Chessex has caused a stir within our ranks. We could not ignore it-nanana.¡±


    ¡°As Valentine asked moments ago, who is we?¡±


    The members of the society all silently looked back and forth amongst themselves.


    ¡°Good grief, let¡¯s make a decision,¡± Tellius finally spoke up, aggravated. ¡°We all want this. Let¡¯s stop being afraid for once.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want this,¡± Vanguard snapped back. ¡°They¡¯re going to get us all killed. And then what will we have accomplished?¡±


    ¡°The same thing that we have accomplished in the last fifty years,¡± Sarratica replied. ¡°Nothing.¡±


    ¡°I concur,¡± Harmony said.


    Vanguard¡¯s shoulders slumped and he became silent.


    Master Cooley folded his hands together in his lap. ¡°Raven and Valentine, do you truly desire to destroy our system of pandora?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Valentine replied.


    Raven smirked. Ah¡­ so that¡¯s what this is.


    Cooley took Raven¡¯s smile as acquiescence. ¡°As you have heard, your sudden presence in Roespeye has been a matter of constant debate among the members of our society. And tonight, we have made our existence known in order to officially extend an invitation to membership.


    ¡°This is the Pandora Society, a group of extraordinary, well-connected individuals¡­ and myself¡­ whose sole function and desire is to eradicate the use of souls as materialistic devices. Through surveilled observation of your discussions, both private and public, we have known about your shared desire for some time.¡±


    ¡°The destruction of pandora requires the death of the Titan,¡± Raven replied. ¡°Surely you understand this.¡±


    ¡°Of course. The goal is one and the same.¡±


    Valentine sniffed in suspicion. ¡°While the purpose behind Raven¡¯s invitation is obvious, I can only assume I have been invited because of my wealth and the prestige of my family.¡±


    ¡°You assume wrong, young one,¡± Harmony replied. ¡°We are not interested in your money. We are interested in you. Your passion, your connections, your name.¡±


    ¡°Meaning my father and the rest of the Chessex family.¡±


    ¡°Wary, this one,¡± Tellius said approvingly.


    ¡°You¡¯re not the first group to ask for my influence.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got it all wrong, both of you,¡± Piper said. ¡°This is not a silly club. You must understand-nanana. Every person in this room risks death daily to associate like this, because each of us would give our own life to see the end of pandora. It is our sole function, our life¡¯s mission.¡±


    Cooley nodded. ¡°You see, while we have great skill and desire to complete the task, still we have become stagnant. Little progress has been made to discover the secret to destroying the Titan. His power is beyond us. So, here we have arrived. We are seeking new members. New insights and perspectives.¡±


    ¡°Fresh blood,¡± Raven said.


    ¡°We are risking our lives in order to declare our cause is not in vain. And so, when not just one, but two incredible prospects presented themselves at our doorstep, it became obvious to at least the majority of us that we had to act and take a chance.¡±


    Vanguard groaned quietly.


    ¡°There¡¯s a problem,¡± Raven said. ¡°You haven¡¯t given me any reason to join you. What benefit is this society to me? I have walked my own path to the destruction of pandora. In doing so, I have suffered the cruel pains of this world in ways most of you might never know. I took hold of my own destiny to kill the Titan, traversing the deepest hells of Fallowreyk to obtain information the Titan has desperately tried to snuff from existence. All of this I have already accomplished without your assistance.¡±


    ¡°And I have tied my fate to Raven¡¯s for those very reasons,¡± Valentine added. ¡°My name is not something to be bartered.¡±


    ¡°What could you offer us?¡± he finished.


    ¡°Please, Raven. And Valentine,¡± Piper said, holding up her hand. ¡°Give us a chance to speak-nanana. Let us convince you. We have plenty to offer. Or am I mistaken in believing that you have thus far listened to us because you, too, have remaining questions with no answers?¡±


    Raven regarded them in silent contemplation. The timing of this meeting was curious, and his natural distrust sounded alarms in his mind. On the other hand, the group hadn¡¯t actually made any demands of him, at least not yet. It seemed on the surface to be the possible change in fortune he needed. Was this a sign from the Holy One? He was tempted to ask Rue¡¯s thoughts on the matter, but he knew Piper would be able to hear her voice.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hear what they have to say, Raven,¡± Valentine finally said.


    He nodded. ¡°Very well.¡±


    Master Cooley exhaled mightily and seemed rejuvenated. ¡°Thank you. Well then, where shall we start? To begin with the most potent offering, we are not just a group of individuals. We also possess incredible archives of information ourselves. Forbidden books, aged texts, cartographs and genealogies. More volumes than a person could read in a lifetime. Most of them held for the purpose to use against the mad ruler.¡±


    Vanguard groaned. ¡°Fini, why did we need to tell him that?¡±


    ¡°In order to gain trust, we must give it.¡±


    ¡°The boy uses pandora! He uses the very things we have sworn to abhor and destroy! He possesses dozens of them! How can we invite him to join our cause if he doesn¡¯t believe in the mission?¡±


    ¡°You mentioned genealogies,¡± Raven said to Master Cooley, ignoring Vanguard. ¡°Whose genealogies?¡±


    ¡°Something about that sparks your interest?¡± Sarratica asked with a smile. ¡°We possess incredible historical references, going back hundreds of generations. And for every existing Reyk.¡±


    ¡°But we possess so much more-nanana,¡± Piper explained. ¡°Artifacts, priceless treasures, and more. And as my dear friend Finitum already stated, we are all well-connected across all of Fallowreyk. For decades, we have carefully and diligently been seeking for ways to kill the Titan-nanana. Gathering up intelligence in this hive. Because we know, like you, that his death will lead to the end of all pandora. We desire it with all our hearts. For the friends and family we have lost. And for those we have yet to lose.¡±


    ¡°The Pandora Society recognizes your great power, Raven Whitesong,¡± Harmony said. ¡°And Valentine Chessex, we believe you would be the perfect addition to carry on the legacy and efforts of our society. Your leadership qualities are unparalleled. Though we may not all look it, most of us are quite advanced in years.¡±


    ¡°A youth movement,¡± Raven quipped.


    ¡°We understand that it may never be our destiny to destroy the Titan. But perhaps, by the mercy of the Holy One, we can equip the ones who possess that destiny.¡±


    ¡°What would you require of us?¡± Valentine asked.


    ¡°Your suspicions are wise and warranted,¡± Master Cooley said. ¡°We understand that we must prove our worth. And we can do that this very night, if you so desire. All we ask is your official acceptance. In so doing, we would demand your loyalty.¡±


    ¡°But don¡¯t get it wrong,¡± Piper quickly interjected. ¡°We are not some authoritative body-nanana. We are neither soldiers nor taskmasters. We are friends, loyal to each other and bound in passion to the cause. And to Fallowreyk. Each of us has been deeply affected by the cries of those locked within the vile pandora. We all understand its evil. It connects and drives us-nanana. Only this matters. And it is why we are able to do hard things and request hard things from each other. Through our great wish, we have desired to be loyal and look out for one another. It is the essence of the Pandora Society.¡±


    Raven watched as the rest of the society members nodded in approval. He could see the determination and sincerity in their countenance.


    ¡°Do you know where the missing pages of the Star Tome are?¡± he asked suddenly to the group.


    The members collectively were puzzled, looking at each other before shaking their heads. Raven frowned, but wasn¡¯t surprised. Even so, their powerful overture was tempting, but laced with danger. His own scheme had seemed sufficient until recently, but the puzzle of Valius Shrale¡¯s Star Tome was currently at a dead end. The fact that he had never heard of the Pandora Society impressed Raven more than anything. Should he ask for time to think about it?


    ¡°Do we have any time?¡± Rue piped in.


    He looked at Valentine. She returned his gaze and then made a curious gesture with her hands. It was as if she was unfolding a piece of paper. He quickly understood after she did it a second time.


    Clever. Kill two birds with one stone.


    ¡°Very well. We will join,¡± Raven said. ¡°Under two conditions.¡±


    The members of the Pandora Society perked up. ¡°What are they?¡± Cooley asked.


    ¡°First, you will not ask us of anything until after the school term ends. Schemes are currently in motion that cannot be undone. You can rest assured knowing they are utterly in service to the same mission of the Pandora Society. But Valentine and I must focus on preparing for victory in the challenges to which I committed according to the Vark Ilias.¡±


    ¡°Seems reasonable. What is your second condition?¡±


    ¡°You tell me what your own challenge is, Master Cooley, and the challenges of the other masters.¡±


    The economics professor laughed a curious laugh, harsh in the throat as if he rarely did such a thing. His expression filled with merriment. ¡°So, you didn¡¯t know all of the challenges after all.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not asking for a pass. I just want to know what they are.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know the others. But I am willing to tell you mine.¡±


    ¡°That will do.¡±


    The professor clapped his thighs. ¡°Very well. We accept.¡±


    His students leaned forward. ¡°What is your challenge under the Vark Ilias?¡± Raven asked.


    ¡°My challenge to you was that you give up your Class Eight pandora. Release it from your control, by your own volition.¡±


    Raven¡¯s eyebrows rose in surprise. It was the last thing he had expected. Master Cooley sat in his chair confidently, looking at his students as if expecting them to be angry. But Raven was not angry.


    No¡­ he was happy. If there had been any doubt about the tenacity and trustworthiness of the Pandora Society, it was gone. Master Cooley could have asked Raven to do anything when he wrote down his challenge, but he chose to take even the smallest opportunity to perhaps save one more soul from the fate he detested. Besides the death of the Titan, there was nothing Raven desired more than to free Rue from her pandora. And if all went according to plan, with the help of these new comrades, she would soon see the light of day once more.

 Chapter 36: The Sea of Ennenteley

    The members of the Pandora Society greeted their new members warmly after official induction, and even Blake Vanguard shook their hands and congratulated them. Raven observed a sense of relief at their acceptance, as if the decision to incorporate them involved a true matter of life or death, as they stated.


    ¡°Master Cooley,¡± Valentine said. ¡°Can you show us the resources of the Pandora Society that you claimed to possess?¡±


    Their professor smiled kindly. ¡°So soon? It¡¯s past midnight. Would you not prefer to be shown everything in the morning?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Raven and Valentine replied in unison.


    Cooley held up his hands. ¡°Very well. I shall give you the full tour, as promised.¡±


    He said final goodbyes to the other members of the society as they made preparations to leave. Piper patted Raven on the back with a wink, and enthusiastically shook Valentine¡¯s hand.


    In the commotion of the goodbyes, Raven couldn¡¯t help but notice Harmony Skybow was staring at him, eyes curiously wide behind her golden mask. When he returned her gaze, she approached. Now that they were standing, her height proved imposing. But instead of speaking, she slowly let down her mask.


    He was too shocked to respond to the sudden action. She was lovely. Fair skin, a  small nose, and a gentle smile. Two gray marks adorned her cheeks, one on each side. They resembled human eyes, surrounded by streaking rays. She did not say anything. Instead, she reached around Raven and pulled him into an embrace.


    Normally, Raven would have rejected such contact, full of suspicion and warning, but there was something about this woman¡¯s touch that lulled his instincts. The warmth of her embrace soothed his spirit immediately, and he found himself hugging her back and placing his head on her chest. Such incredible tenderness and feeling seeped deep into him, like coming home.


    ¡°Your color is radiant,¡± she said, finally letting him go.


    Raven blinked rapidly, returning to his senses. She smiled. Replacing her mask, she turned and left the now nearly empty room.


    ¡°What was that about?¡± Valentine asked in shock as Master Cooley watched on.


    ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know,¡± Raven struggled to reply. He strangely already missed the embrace.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen Harmony do that before,¡± Cooley said.


    ¡°Who is she?¡±


    ¡°Harmony and her sister have been members of our society long before I joined. Together with Piper, they laid the groundwork.¡±


    Raven stood in silence, attempting to understand what just occurred. Finally, he turned to Valentine and Master Cooley. ¡°A question for a different day. There is work to do.¡±


    Master Cooley nodded, donning his hat and grimacing. ¡°Follow me.¡±


    What at first appeared to be a small, unassuming antique store proved to be the mere entrance to a vast underground cavern. Cooley led his students down a stairway hidden beneath a false floor panel in the back of the faux shop. Stone steps drove deep underground, pockmarked by perhaps centuries of dripping water. Master Cooley led the way by the light of a primitive fire torch, something Raven had only ever read about in fiction stories. A true contrast to a world dependent on pandora to light the way.


    Uniform sculptures resembling clear blue icicles formed handrails, sparkling in the light. The slick steps soon gave way to a drier passage. It became quite cramped. In fact, Raven was sure it was shrinking. But in short time, the hall expanded to a wide space guarded by massive red doors. Pictures of masks gilded the entrance, mirroring those donned by Sarratica and Harmony.


    ¡°Something is here,¡± Rue said.


    Master Cooley used his torch to light four others mounted on the stone walls. In the new light, an astonishing specter was revealed. A massive black blob of substance covering the mantle of the door oozed down to the ground, accompanied by sickening squishes. The mass rose up, forming a sleek panther with golden eyes.


    ¡°What is that?¡± Valentine shouted in alarm.


    ¡°Do not be frightened,¡± Master Cooley said. ¡°This is one of our many safeguards. A Devilank. One of the old-world sentinels.¡±


    The plasma-like cat shifted toward Raven, its footfalls sloshing along the way. Raven remained calm but held Rue ready to react to any threat. The creature sniffed him heavily. ¡°There is a destiny about this one,¡± it whispered darkly as it padded around him. ¡°It smells of¡­ danger.¡±


    ¡°They are new members,¡± Cooley replied.


    ¡°The children do not bare the insignia, Finitum.¡±


    ¡°I was getting to that!¡± Master Cooley reached into his suit pocket and produced two rings identical to the one we wore. He reached out so the strange cat ghoul could smell them. ¡°Harmony gave them to me this evening,¡± Cooley continued.


    The globular apparition seemed placated. The panther shape melted back into a mass of ooze and faded into the stone floor, disappearing.


    ¡°A little warning would have been nice,¡± Valentine finally said, shuddering. ¡°I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s how you got your nickname.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I apologize,¡± Cooley replied. ¡°It¡¯s been several years since I brought down a new member to our society.¡± He handed Raven and Valentine each a ring. ¡°The doors to our vault can only be opened by two members. One will never be enough. The rings are the keys.¡±


    He placed his fist against one of the pictural masks on the giant doors. Valentine donned her new ring and copied his action on the other mask. When her ring touched the surface of the door, a loud click echoed down the chamber hall. Master Cooley and Valentine stepped back as the double doors parted with a riotous creak.


    Sparkling light flooded the doorway. The cavern opened wide, grand in height and depth. Millions of clear blue stalactites and stalagmites, perfectly formed in every way, shaped rolling waves deep into the cave. The ocean of beautiful thorns shimmered in radiance worthy of kings.


    ¡°What is this place?¡± Valentine asked in awe, turning in circles as they walked inside.


    ¡°Our secret sanctuary, the Sea of Ennenteley,¡± Master Cooley replied, just as in awe. ¡°Yes. It never gets old.¡±


    While Master Cooley and Valentine marveled, Raven scanned his closer surroundings. The sparkling stalagmites formed the entries of winding pathways in various places. For many of them, he could spy the destinations, as the paths rose, or the stalagmites were short enough. Some paths led to what appeared to be subcavernous rooms. Others ended more abruptly, wide clearings with pedestals featuring foreign items. Were they treasures? Weapons? He had a million questions about this place, but only one was important right now.


    ¡°You said the Pandora Society possessed resources relating to genealogies,¡± he said, causing Valentine and Master Cooley to turn their attention.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. But don¡¯t you want to look around some more? There is so much wonder to behold here. It¡¯s not very often I get to show it off.¡±


    ¡°Time is of the essence. We need all possible information the Society holds on the Shrale family. Specifically, the line of Valius Shrale.¡±


    He sighed. ¡°Very well. Follow me.¡±


    Raven and Valentine were led down one of the narrow offshoot paths through the forest of crystalline spires. The glassy surfaces reflected a thousand versions of themselves as they meandered down the path and into another cave. The short hallway led to a wide room full of dusty bookshelves. Each were loaded with books, scrolls, old candles, and glass lamps, all covered in mossy spiderwebs.


    Cooley lit nearby lamps while Valentine cleared off a nearby table. She found some blank parchment and old inkwells with feather pens and set up shop while Raven perused the old titles. Many were titled in written languages with which Raven was not familiar.


    ¡°Do you really keep comparatively current genealogical information in this place?¡± he asked Master Cooley, who was rifling through some scrolls nearby. ¡°Seems this room hasn¡¯t been visited in ages.¡±


    ¡°You will find most of the chambers resemble what you see here. While the Pandora Society accumulates relics, texts and other valuable stores, they become just that: stored objects. You could say we have lost our way a little. We don¡¯t know how to effectively use it. Of course, the sheer breadth of what Sarratica, Harmony and Piper have assembled can be overwhelming. There are hundreds of other chambers just like this one. Did you ever see such a collection of written words?¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Raven and Valentine glanced at each other.


    ¡°As for current genealogies,¡± Master Cooley continued. ¡°No, we don¡¯t generally gather things that can be found at City Hall. However¡­¡± He grunted as he picked up a large stack of unraveled scrolls and lugged them to the table. ¡°In the case of persons of interest, I make the effort. And very few are of higher interest than the great hero of our city.¡±


    Cooley splayed relevant documents over the entire table. Raven immediately keyed in on a family tree, pulling it free from the stack. ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± he exclaimed.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Cooley said. ¡°This family tree starts with the Shrale patriarch, Edward, going back to their exodus from Reyk Provote.¡±


    ¡°The Shrales were one of the old families displaced during the Turntide Wars?¡± Valentine asked in surprise.


    ¡°The Shrale lineage is Roespeyan, but Edward Shrale lived in Provote during those times. As I understand it, his family left along with the other peoples evicted during those dark times.¡±


    ¡°Here is Valius,¡± Raven said, pointing to a small box near the bottom of the tree. His expression fell. ¡°Oh no¡­¡±


    Branching from Valius were ten separate offshoots. And from those ten branches, many more reached down to the end of the scroll.


    ¡°Valius had ten children!¡± Valentine exclaimed, aghast. ¡°And look at all the grandchildren! The Shrales bred like rabbits.¡±


    Raven slumped in his seat. The Shrale family tree under Valius was enormous. How would they determine which son he might have given the lost pages to?


    Valentine was not deterred. ¡°Master Cooley, what else does the Society have on Valius Shrale and his children? Anything biographical? We need any and all information.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get to work right away. Without prying too much, is there anything I should be looking for?¡±


    ¡°We want to know who his favorite was,¡± Raven said, smiling ruefully.


    Their teacher left them to retrieve what else he could find. Valentine sifted through all the material, leaning in with interest. Raven remained sitting in rumination.


    Ten children¡­


    Ten children and a couple hundred heirs. Doubtful all of them remained in Roespeye over the years. Trying to trace down the one person Valius trusted with his precious Star Tome would be a giant undertaking. Even if they were to discover which son Valius gave the pages to, what then? It¡¯s been a hundred years since the day he died. Where would the pages be now, if they still existed?


    ¡°I know what you are thinking,¡± Valentine said.


    He breathed deep and nodded.


    ¡°I can do it, Raven. I¡¯ll sort through everything.¡±


    ¡°Our time is too valuable. The challenges are in two months. We need a new scheme.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t stop though, can we? Something could be learned here.¡±


    ¡°No doubt. But it¡¯s clear what has been gathered is a hodge podge of old and rare documents over the long course of Fallowreyk¡¯s history. Master Cooley might have some insight on where to look, but it would probably take a good year or two to organize all the information the Society has gathered.¡± He shook his head. ¡°What the Titan wouldn¡¯t give to find this place. He would burn it to ash.¡±


    ¡°What is our approach then?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s role play. I¡¯m Valius.¡±


    She smiled. ¡°Okay. You¡¯ve just been struck by Sheeharu¡¯s poison. Somehow you know you are going to die in hours. What is your first thought?¡±


    ¡°Well, we know that he wanted to preserve his discoveries. His life¡¯s work. He said he couldn¡¯t bear to destroy it.¡± Raven placed his arms on the desk, visualizing Valius¡¯ mental state. ¡°So, I¡¯m in my workshop, panicking and dying. I decide to scatter my tome. I rip the pages out and cast some sort of magic on them. Could be a pandora, or a seal. Maybe something else. But then I save the two most important pages. What do I do with them?¡±


    ¡°If you wanted to preserve the knowledge, you¡¯d have to keep them safe. We assumed he would give them to one of his sons. Is there a reason to believe he would give them to someone else? A friend perhaps? In his letter, he said he would cast his wish to the fates.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­ the letter.¡±


    ¡°What about it?¡±


    Raven stood. ¡°The letter! That¡¯s what we missed. Why did he write that letter in his study?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ I don¡¯t know. It was written to nobody.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ it was written to the person who would find it!¡± Raven pulled out the letter and together they read it again.


    And so, I cast my wish to the fates: that one worthy of this knowledge should be the one to find it.


    ¡°So, Valius left the pages for someone to find. Someone he deemed worthy,¡± Raven said. ¡°And only that person would be able to restore the tome.¡±


    ¡°Who? Remember, he still didn¡¯t have much time. Mere hours to think of a solution. It probably wasn¡¯t elegant and well-hidden like his study.¡±


    Raven sat back down. ¡°We¡¯re missing something vital. A starting place.¡±


    ¡°Then maybe we shouldn¡¯t be looking only for family. Maybe we should be looking for companions or colleagues. A place of safety. Where would he have gone to hide something?¡±


    ¡°Something only a person reading that letter could find.¡±


    Valentine clapped her hands. ¡°Yes! Only something we could find.¡±


    They read the letter again.


    ¡°It could be something lost to time,¡± Raven said, frowning. ¡°A marker we never knew about. Or a relationship he possessed. I have a hard time believing he buried them or put them somewhere truly hidden.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because the rest of his tome is out in the open. Begging someone to figure this out. No, if the pages still exist, they must be available. Hiding in plain sight. As he said in his letter, he left something behind. It¡¯s not the pages we should be looking for.¡±


    They spent another hour reading through the documents available until Master Cooley returned, lugging an armful of dusty books. He dropped them in a heap on a table. ¡°Well, this is a start,¡± he said ruefully. ¡°I can keep looking.¡±


    ¡°Master Cooley, we¡¯re ready for that tour of the Sea of Ennenteley,¡± Raven said.


    His eyebrows rose. ¡°Really? Already done?¡±


    ¡°Not quite,¡± Valentine replied. ¡°Um, you could say we¡¯re taking a break to reorganize our thoughts.¡±


    ¡°Delightful.¡± He patted his shirt, as if looking for something he couldn¡¯t find. ¡°Well¡­ follow me!¡±


    The glittery cavern proved far more vast than Raven had first contemplated. The cave became something of an endless tunnel the deeper they traveled, as no end ever presented itself. Master Cooley explained no one really knew how deep the Sea went, and anybody who had tried to discover the culmination eventually turned back for fear of getting lost.


    Even so, Cooley led them a fair distance into the gullet of the immense cave. The treasures of the society were placed in convenient locations so as not to disrupt any of the natural wonder of the cave. Where openings among the multitude of spikes existed, there treasures were stored. And for the first time, Raven was truly impressed, for the Pandora Society truly did possess some amazing assets. Artifacts, high class materials, priceless antiquities, religious relics, and valuable gems. A single possessor of the items would be wealthier than the Titan. Yet despite the usefulness of the possessions, a vast majority of the items sat in dust, having not been touched in perhaps years. They sat on pedestals or in chests, lost to the annals of the world.


    After several hours of touring the cave, Master Cooley led them to yet another expanse. Five pedestals sat in a semicircle clearing, bearing yet another accumulation of valuable treasure. He was having a grand time explaining the history of the items, how they had been acquired, and the lengths to which each of the society¡¯s members had gone to keep each out of the hands of the Titan. The only thing he took more pride in was the fact not a single pandora sat among them.


    Valentine gasped when her gaze fell on one of the items.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Raven asked.


    She stood before the middle pedestal. On the gray pillar sat a strange, sleek black object. The small two-pronged piece resembled a black tuning fork with a very short handle. The material appeared coal-like with a strange luster.


    ¡°Depths of Thine Spirit,¡± she whispered. She turned to Master Cooley in shock. ¡°Where did you get this?¡±


    ¡°That is one of our very original treasures stored here by Harmony and Sarratica,¡± he replied. ¡°It¡¯s strange that you should react in such a way. It¡¯s one of the few things I know nothing about. They told me long ago it was best I didn¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°I thought the Depths was a myth,¡± Raven said. ¡°A Lamgard folly.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no folly,¡± she replied. She reached out and delicately fingered the dusty surface. ¡°It¡¯s one of Lamgard¡¯s greatest secrets. I can¡¯t believe you have one. So few remain in existence.¡±


    ¡°Is it an artifact?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she replied breathlessly. ¡°It¡¯s a crafted relic of Rumail! A powerful one. Raven¡­ this could be what we need!¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°This is just half of a true Depths of Thine Spirit. Combined with another, they allow the user to speak to spirits!¡±


    ¡°Spirits,¡± Cooley repeated disapprovingly. ¡°You mean pandora.¡±


    She nodded. ¡°But it¡¯s not just a conversation. Within the Depths, you can meet the spirit, face to face. The body is animated within the sphere of its power. But you need two halves. Rumail crafted them in such a way so that no single possessor could wield it. It required cooperation for the good of the homeland.¡±


    She gave Raven a knowing look, and he understood immediately. They could use this tool to appeal to Valius Shrale. The man thus far refused to communicate with Raven, but perhaps a greater plea could be made looking the man in the eyes.


    ¡°You said we need another half. Do you know where we could get one?¡±


    ¡°My family has one. Only a Lamgardian can use the Depths. It would have to be me. And it will be risky. I know the method, but I¡¯ve never used it before, and it¡¯s an unstable ritual. My father keeps ours very well protected. He would never let me have it. So, I¡¯ll have to¡­ um, well I¡¯ll have to ¡®borrow¡¯ it, if you follow me.¡±


    ¡°Hold on,¡± Cooley objected. ¡°This sounds dangerous. I¡¯m not sure what designs you two might have, but I don¡¯t think we can use this.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Valentine objected angrily. ¡°Who cares if it¡¯s dangerous? We have to use it! This could be the answer we have been looking for! A key in our plan to finally be rid of the Titan!¡±


    He stepped back in surprise. ¡°Really? How?¡±


    She looked at Raven. He marveled at her tremendous courage. ¡°Without going into great detail,¡± he finally replied, ¡°we possess a pandora who has information vitally important to the success of our scheme. If we were able to extract the information from him¡­ it could be a turning point in our war against the mad ruler.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Cooley said.


    ¡°Oh, for heaven¡¯s sake,¡± Valentine grumbled. ¡°Look around, sir! Look at all these tremendous resources gathering dust. We should be using them!¡±


    He frowned in shame but did not reply.


    She sighed. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t want to look back, Master Cooley. I don¡¯t want to look back in fear and regret. The Titan¡­ he massacred so much of my family in Lamgard. Dearest Barkley, a man you respected greatly. A wonderful uncle and beloved aunt, and many friends I knew my whole life. He killed them without mercy. And my siblings reside in my own pockets right now as pandora, waiting for the freedom I can¡¯t give them until they serve their so-called purpose. You said Raven and I were invited into the Pandora Society because you all became tired of waiting and doing nothing. Well now is the time to act! Here and now, we can make a decision to take a step forward. To seize this small chance and change the fates of so many. I can do this. Please¡­ let me try.¡±


    He considered his two students for a moment, mired in silent self-debate. ¡°I suppose I could appeal to the Society,¡± he finally said. Valentine beamed. ¡°But it¡¯s ultimately up to Sarratica and Harmony,¡± he finished. ¡°We will need their blessing.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll take that chance,¡± Raven said. ¡°Valentine, how quickly can you obtain the relic?¡±


    ¡°I can leave now. I needed to make for home soon anyway to drink from my pool. It won¡¯t be suspicious. Once I have it, I¡¯ll come back straight away on some made-up emergency. If all goes well, I can be back in twelve days.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s return to the surface. I recommend you get some sleep before your departure. Time is of the essence, but there¡¯s no use in killing yourself to save a day on a long journey home and back. Van and I can continue our research on this end until your return.¡±


    She smiled. ¡°Very well. I will sleep. But I¡¯m still going to find a way to make it back under twelve days.¡±

 Chapter 37: Glorious Pinnacle

    Four quarterly windows divided Nine Star¡¯s academic year. Within those windows, an enrolled student possessed flexibility in enrolling for their Epo and Suna classes for each of the seven required subjects.


    Raven chose to save Battle and War Tactics Suna for the last quarter, and Van did likewise. While Van still had five Suna classes remaining in order to graduate, Raven had only two, and Valentine just one. Before she left for Lamgard, she communicated with Master Bastille and received approval to start her Religion Suna class late and make up the work.


    After seeing Valentine off in the morning, Raven and Van attended their morning class for Master Forir¡¯s Battle and War study. Forir¡¯s Epo class focused on battle basics. The use of pandora, the use of seals, and the study of military tactics and the differences between the armed forces of each Reyk within the country. Battle and War Tactics Suna expanded on the foundations laid, delving into worldwide politics, Fallowreyk¡¯s external allies and enemies, extended pandora and seal duel tactics and strategies, and more.


    Throughout the learning, Raven couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. He had been certain there was nothing taught at Nine Star that would be new to him, but Forir¡¯s Suna class proved to be the exception. His prowess in advanced battle theory was exceptional, both in substance and form. The bushy-browed professor still disallowed Raven from taking any part in the practical guidance portion of his class that he provided the other students, but it mattered little. Raven obtained some measure of learning during his class, and he was glad for it.


    Unfortunately, the status quo remained the same. Raven still didn¡¯t know what Master Forir¡¯s challenge was, the last unknown. The man possessed an endless supply of caution; no chinks existed in his armor. And his curious cardinal never left the man¡¯s shoulders when Raven was present, staring in such a peculiar manner. While Raven now held an incredible trump card up his sleeve, thanks to his recent trip to Zaliance, he wanted to wait a little longer to use it. He was certain the timing of its use would be critical.


    Raven sat at his desk, as usual, while the rest of the students were busy practicing melee weapon stances at Forir¡¯s command. Van looked especially clunky, and Forir was letting him know it. The bird on his shoulder increased its shrill, seeming to reprimand Van as well. In the midst of the clamor of practicing students, Raven became distracted when one of the wide iron doors opened. A person donning a heavy cloak and hood entered and quietly creeped along the wall. He scurried across the wide-domed room, making his way past the painted portraits of the former masters, and quickly escaped through another wide door, which led to Master Forir¡¯s study.


    Forir, of course, had taken immediate notice of the mysterious visitor and watched him the whole way. His eyebrows furrowed into what Raven could only surmise was an angry glare, if only he could see the man¡¯s full face behind his collar.


    ¡°Students, that shall conclude our day,¡± he announced. ¡°Continue with your practice at home, for there will be a test on what you learned in the next session.¡±


    As his students groaned, he immediately made for the office door, entering his study and closing the door behind him.


    ¡°What do you think that was about?¡± Van asked, huffing and dripping sweat.


    ¡°No idea. I couldn¡¯t see the person¡¯s face,¡± Raven replied.


    ¡°We¡¯re done a little early, at least.¡±


    ¡°More time to search for information on the Star Tome and the Shrale family.¡±


    ¡°You really have a one-track mind. Can¡¯t we get lunch at the cafeteria first?¡±


    ¡°Very well. But let¡¯s take it to my room. I can work on something else while we take a break.¡±


    A slam interrupted their conversation. The door to Forir¡¯s study flew open and Master Forir emerged, holding Marcus Shrale by the scruff of his robes. He dragged the man out forcefully.


    Raven smiled. Marcus! The timing couldn¡¯t have been more perfect.


    ¡°Please, Selim!¡± Marcus blubbered, grasping the teacher¡¯s clothes desperately. ¡°You must give it back to me! It¡¯s mine! I am the true heir! You know this! You know it¡¯s mine.¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯ve told you once, I¡¯ve told you a hundred times,¡± Forir answered angrily, pushing him away. ¡°It was never yours, and it never will be.¡± His cardinal flew circles around Marcus¡¯s head, chirping angrily.


    ¡°PLEASE!¡± Marcus cried, grabbing him again and sinking to his knees. ¡°I¡¯m the heir! It¡¯s my birthright!¡±


    ¡°Enough! Leave my tower, or I¡¯ll throw you out, Marcus.¡±


    He looked up to realize Raven and Van stood nearby. Van¡¯s mouth hung agape with wild amusement at their exchange.


    Forir cleared his throat and pushed Marcus away again. ¡°Good day.¡± He and his bird returned to his study and slammed the door shut, causing one of the paintings of the former masters to drop off its golden hook.


    ¡°Back in town, eh Marcus?¡± Van called out. In the huge domed room, now devoid of students, his voice blared.


    Shrale sniffled and stood back up. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± he snarled. His pandora eye looked around wildly. He was as rattled as a mouse in a cage.


    ¡°Looking for you actually,¡± Raven said, approaching.


    ¡°Me?¡± he rasped, wiping his tears away. ¡°Why? So, you can steal from me again?¡±


    Raven tilted his head in confusion.


    ¡°Don¡¯t deny it!¡± he shouted. ¡°I know you¡¯re in league with Fanny! I know you have my precious heirlooms!¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t make you gamble them away.¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± New tears sprang to his eyes. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that? You think I don¡¯t know what I did?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re only borrowing them from Fanny because we have a supreme appreciation for Valius Shrale¡¯s wonderous deeds,¡± Raven lied. ¡°In fact, we want to talk with you more about him. About his amazing life. We were even hoping you could help us document everything you know about him and his family in order to write a biography.¡±


    ¡°YOU LIAR!¡± he nearly screamed. ¡°You¡¯re all in on it! To keep me from what is mine! I am the true heir! ME!¡±


    Raven was puzzled why he kept up this claim of being his true heir. Now knowing Valius had many children and grandchildren, this seemed outlandish. But before he could say anything else, Marcus pointed at him and began backing away.


    ¡°Listen to me, you little brat! I will never talk to you again! Ever! Not until you give me back my treasures.¡± He descended into wailing madness again and fled from the tower.


    ¡°That man is a loon,¡± Van commented after watching him go.


    Raven tsked. ¡°He¡¯s certainly more unstable than ever. I don¡¯t think I¡¯d be able to get anything out him, even if I forced it.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here. I¡¯m starving.¡±


    The duo braved a particularly blustery snowless blizzard to make the cafeteria detour. Van packaged up a chicken sandwich and some roasted potatoes. Raven cut a large wedge of strawberry cake and pocketed a bag of assorted cookies. They then hurried back to Raven¡¯s room in Panka¡¯s Tower. Raven used Glass Blower to warm the wide space, and they settled in.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    After poring over records obtained from the Pandora Society all night, Raven didn¡¯t think he would garner anything new from them. It seemed evident that in order to discover a clue on the whereabouts of the Star Tome, they would need to seek out actual living descendants of Valius Shrale. Since Marcus wouldn¡¯t provide any help, it was educated guesswork where to start. Even so, Raven pondered over the man¡¯s continued claim to be Valius¡¯ ¡°true heir¡± and didn¡¯t want to discount any possible evidence. He would start with Marcus¡¯s immediate line to Valius.


    But that could wait until the morning. In the meantime, Raven returned to the obstacle of the challenges from the masters under the Vark Ilias. Mere weeks now separated Raven from his required confrontation. He rearranged the seven sheets on his pushpin board, aligning them with all the information he had previously gained. He sat in his chair and ate his lunch while studying the board, searching for something previously unrealized in order to discover the last challenge. Master Forir¡¯s sheet of paper still hung blank on the board.


    A scratching noise distracted him, and he turned to find Van pecking at the coffin propped up against the wall.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t do that.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you finally tell me what¡¯s inside? I¡¯m dying to know.¡±


    ¡°Some things are better left unspoken.¡±


    ¡°Is it the scarecrow? I still remember that weird scarecrow with the giant purple flower on its chest. Did you put it inside here?¡± Van put his ear to the coffin door. ¡°You can tell me. I can keep a secret. Are you making something?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll need to trust me when I say there¡¯s nothing in the container pertaining to anything we are doing. And there is no way to open it or get inside, which I would bet¡­¡± Raven leered at him. ¡°¡­you have already attempted with your special spying pandora.¡±


    Van smiled sheepishly. He abandoned his attempt to open the coffin and rolled onto Raven¡¯s bed with a short leap, kicking his feet up and attacking his sandwich. Raven returned to his meditation of his board, but of course, Van couldn¡¯t stay quiet for long.


    ¡°So, explain something to me,¡± he said between bites. ¡°Now that we¡¯re almost a year into our little caper, I¡¯m a little confused. When you first challenged the masters, and then made it your mission to discover each of the challenges ahead of time¡­ I didn¡¯t really bother to ask why we were doing it. But now¡­¡±


    ¡°But now?¡± Raven repeated when Van paused.


    ¡°Well¡­ why do you care? What do the actual challenges have to do with anything? There¡¯s no connection to killing the Titan that is apparent to me.¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡± Raven looked up at his board. He breathed deeply as vivid memories came flooding back.


    ¡°I barely remember my parents,¡± he finally said. ¡°My earliest memories are from the orphanage in Surlance, which I called home. It was a drab, rundown building deep in the south slums of the city, but the other children and I were well cared for. The orphanage was overseen by an incredible man. Ralf¨¦o Tunick. He was a mentor and very much like a father to me. I loved him. Very few people have had an impact on my life that comes close to his influence.


    ¡°Ralf¨¦o loved other people like no one else I¡¯ve ever met. Besides full-time work at the orphanage, he pastored and counseled the church and city leaders, and served in the community at large. He sacrificed his whole being in devotion to the Holy One and the common man. And he was something of a celebrity in Surlance, somebody to aspire to.


    ¡°Now, in Surlance there are certain local traditions. One of those is called ¡®the Five Candles.¡¯ Have you heard of that?¡±


    Van shook his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s a series of immense achievements recognized by the city. Accomplishing just one of the ¡®candles¡¯ as they are called, wins you a medal of pure gold, which is an incredible award in a city as poor as Surlance. But to get all five candles is considered nearly impossible, costing a lifetime of dedication. No one had ever done it. And it was Ralf¨¦o¡¯s greatest personal desire.¡±


    ¡°What are they?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°The first candle is to save the city from a great disaster. The second is to create or invent something that transforms the city forever. The third is to dedicate five thousand full days in service to the church. The fourth is to climb to the summit of Mount Chappelle and hang a lantern on the Darish Hook, and then oversee the continuous burning of the flame for five days and five nights. Finally, the fifth candle is earned by making twenty separate pilgrimages alone to the Deep Pool in Reyk Provote.¡±


    ¡°Woah. Those sound impossible.¡±


    ¡°When I first came to know Ralf¨¦o, he had already earned four of the candles.¡±


    Van¡¯s eyes bugged, and he sat up in the bed. ¡°Four?¡±


    Raven nodded. ¡°It was said when he received his first candle, the whole city celebrated, for a singular candle was rarely granted. He had discovered a monstrous design failure in the Pellymine Dam and fixed it just in time, preventing the complete destruction of half of the city. Many years later, he gained a second candle, and again the city celebrated his achievement. But when he gained his third, he became a city-wide hero. No one had received three candles in several generations. A decade later, the church recognized his five thousandth day of dedication in service to the Holy One. The celebration Reyk Surlance held for Ralf¨¦o that week is something of legend. People in the city still talk about it, and there was an abnormally large number of babies born nine months later.¡±


    Raven smiled as Van laughed. ¡°Those children are now referred to as the ¡®Ralphie Generation.¡¯ I wish I could have seen the festival held in his honor. Ralf¨¦o could do no wrong.¡±


    ¡°So, did Ralf¨¦o get his fifth candle?¡± Van asked, riveted by the story.


    ¡°Officially? Yes.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°I was something of an informal apprentice to Ralf¨¦o when he was nearing the accomplishment of his final candle. I was just a child, of course, but he recognized my skill and my eagerness to learn from him. He¡¯d made nineteen pilgrimages to Provote in his lifetime, and he had his twentieth all planned out. He was quite advanced in years by this time, but still plenty strong.


    ¡°He departed in the spring of my eleventh year. The journey normally takes about a month. While he was gone, the city of Surlance prepared for a celebration unheard of in Fallowreyk. All the people collectively joined as one for a movement to commemorate this man they adored. And on the day of Ralf¨¦o¡¯s anticipated return, the city was temporarily transformed, adorned with banners and all sorts of anticipated merriment. It was like the welcoming of a great king. And half the city waited by the city gates, watching for him on the horizon. When he finally appeared, the cheer was so deafening, it was hard to hear anything else.¡±


    Raven¡¯s face slowly transformed from pride to grief. ¡°That was when the Titan appeared.¡±


    Van¡¯s expression plummeted. ¡°He killed him?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°He never even reached the city gate.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Raven paused to calm his heart, folding his hands together. He took a deep breath.


    ¡°The Titan is obsessed with a concept he calls the Glorious Pinnacle,¡± he finally said. ¡°He believes so strongly that an extraordinary person¡¯s soul enhances with age and accomplishment. And that a Class Ten soul can only be discovered when killing someone at the pinnacle of his life, as the class of his soul is ¡®earned.¡¯ He is always searching. Testing when to kill people. Different ages, different accomplishments. Looking for the next Class Ten pandora to add to his crown. Watching special people in Fallowreyk and waiting for that time to come.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s why he came for Barkley that day.¡±


    ¡°Yes. The Titan didn¡¯t come for Ralf¨¦o after his first candle. Or his second or third or fourth. He waited. He waited until my mentor reached his greatest achievement, and then he struck him down in cold blood for the whole of Surlance to see. And while he didn¡¯t get the Class Ten he wanted, the Titan still gained something purposeful that day. He always does.¡±


    ¡°What did he gain?¡±


    ¡°Renewed fear.¡±


    Van fell silent, looking down at his lap.


    ¡°My challenges to the masters hold one purpose,¡± Raven concluded. ¡°To lure the Titan to Roespeye. To draw his gaze and keep it fixed on me. And I can tell you from experience: he won¡¯t appear if I lose even one challenge. To Master Forir, or Smith, or any of them. I must win them all. The Titan is careful and cunning, constantly suspicious of a trap, but unable to resist the greatest of chances to gain what he lusts for the most. My task is impossible; thus, to accomplish it indicates to him my soul is exceptional.¡±


    ¡°I get it now,¡± Van said nodding. ¡°I suppose maybe I always knew this about him, but never stopped to ponder it. We live in a world where we accept the reality of his periodic evil. Content to believe the ruler won¡¯t come for you¡­ as long as you keep your head down.¡± He shook his head. ¡°So, what happened after Ralf¨¦o was murdered?¡±


    ¡°I made the foolish decision to attack.¡±


    Van¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°You attacked the Titan?¡±


    ¡°I did. I was a child who just watched the brutal murder of the only person I¡¯d ever loved. I acted rashly, and¡­ the Titan made me pay for it. I still remember that day so vividly. As others fled all around me, I rushed at him in blind rage with a small dagger. No plan. No scheme. Just rage.¡±


    Raven held up his arm with his hand out. ¡°He grabbed me by the neck. His¡­ stench was unforgettable. Through tears, I could barely make out his vile grin as he held me and squeezed. But before I could pass out, he dropped me and then slammed my face into the dirt. I was looking directly into Ralf¨¦o¡¯s soulless eyes. The Titan took my knife, laughing. He must have known somehow that I didn¡¯t have a pool, because he used it to carve the symbol of the Rogue into my scalp. I still remember how much I screamed. The pain was¡­ extraordinary.¡±


    Van stood and walked behind Raven, so that he could not see his face. Raven let him find his composure.


    ¡°He disappeared immediately, leaving me where I laid,¡± Raven concluded his story. ¡°Never said a word. I¡­ had nowhere else to go after that. I couldn¡¯t bear to return to Surlance. So, I left. I made for Zaliance, where I stayed for some time. But that¡¯s a story for a different day.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± Van replied, standing by the window. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°It was a long time ago. Vengeance is now my cause. The next time I face the Thief of Life, I will be prepared.¡±


    At that moment, a snow crow appeared on the ledge of the window beside Van and cawed. Its beak held a small slip of paper. Van wiped his eyes and took the paper. The bird flew off, and Van read the note. A sort of resolution came over him as he did so.


    He looked up at Raven. ¡°You¡¯re rich, right? Like¡­ super rich?¡±


    ¡°I guess you could say that. Why?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something I need to show you. Something I¡¯ve never showed anyone.¡±

 Chapter 38: The Lair of the Thimbles

    Early the next morning, Raven was awoken by Van in a hushed voice. He moved like a shadow, as if danger crept around every corner. He waited for Raven to get dressed, and then they departed into the bitter cold night. The wind held a fierce stranglehold on the school courtyard, threatening to drive them back. The ferocity beckoned the call of winter.


    Van slowly pressed into the onslaught, making for Tower Four. The westernmost clock tower of Nine Star Academy was the only building Raven had never entered. None of the masters held classes there, and the doors remained perpetually locked. Van led Raven around to the back of the immense structure, where the wind broke asunder, led down a cliffside. Their hearing returned, released from the torture of the howling gales.


    At the base of the tower, a man stood on patrol, clutching to his heavy coats and shivering. They approached, and Raven recognized Simon LeGee, the old coachman. Upon seeing Raven, all remaining color once again drained from his face.


    He waved his arm in a peculiar, panicked manner, and Raven realized he was giving a sign. He looked up to find a metallic elevator being lowered via a rope pulley system attached to the side of the tower, high up near the level of the giant pendulum bob. When it reached ground level, Van turned to Simon.


    ¡°Is everybody here?¡± he asked.


    Simon nodded. ¡°All accounted for. Goodbye.¡±


    He left without another word. Raven followed Van into the lift and closed the makeshift gate. Immediately, they were lifted off the ground. As they rose higher, Raven spied the barest hint of daybreak to the east. The ascent slowed to a crawl, accompanied by the screech of the pulley wheel. A small door had been opened in the face of the tower, just wide enough for them to slip through.


    Raven had no idea what Van wanted to show him; however, the spectacle to which he was greeted proved most unexpected. Criss-crossing wood beams, giant gears, and other clockwork mechanisms filled the wide expanse of the tower top, clicking and clacking as the pendulum undulated back and forth and the great clock ticked off the seconds with its pleasant, subdued gong.


    People filled every standing station within. Young, old, mostly men but some women, people from every Reyk¡­ an incredible, variegated swath of Fallowreyk¡¯s denizens. But they were all dressed similar, in fact very closely resembling Van¡¯s daily preferred wardrobe. Browns, beiges, and blacks; coats with numerous pockets; cloaks and scarves. But the most immediate observation was the collective group¡¯s quietude. What must have been at least two hundred people, some perched perilously high up, said nothing and made no other sound as Van and Raven came forward. They simply stared at them guardedly, mostly at Raven.


    ¡°I always forget what a happy lot you all are,¡± Van quipped, breaking the dreadful hush. ¡°Did you enjoy my letter? I put a lot of thought into it, but mailing out two hundred letters is a task. Tough to add personal touches.¡±


    ¡°Can it, Van,¡± a girl nearby said with a grim expression. She had short black hair and looked quite young. ¡°What are we doing here? And who is he?¡±


    ¡°Sheesh,¡± Van said comically. ¡°Can¡¯t your leader even get some small talk in before we move on to business?¡±


    Leader? Raven thought. But he remained silent.


    ¡°Little Sister is right,¡± a large Munian asked from the nearest rafter. He crouched, deadly serious. ¡°We need an explanation now, Van. Most of us have come a long way.¡±


    Van raised his hands. ¡°Now, now. Calm down. You don¡¯t honestly think I would have called all the Thimbles together if it wasn¡¯t absolutely important, do you? Give me a little credit.¡±


    Raven¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re their leader?¡± he asked aloud. ¡°You lead the Thimbles?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± he replied proudly.


    ¡°You?¡± he repeated.


    His shoulders slumped. ¡°A little more confidence would be appreciated,¡± he lamented.


    ¡°You¡¯ve only been our leader for a year,¡± Little Sister replied harshly. ¡°That can change.¡±


    ¡°Now now, Sis. I¡¯m not lying. This is really important.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me Sis. Who is this?¡±


    Van spread his hand toward Raven. ¡°This¡­ is our new client.¡±


    All eyes focused on Raven again.


    ¡°Come again?¡± Raven whispered out of the side of his mouth.


    Van laughed nervously.


    Little Sister¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°One client? Why would all of us need to meet in the Roespeye lair for that?¡±


    ¡°Because he¡¯s hiring all of you.¡±


    ¡°I am?¡± Raven whispered again.


    Another nervous laugh from Van.


    But now the wary looks from the Thimbles turned to expressions of honest curiosity. A few came closer and began asking Van questions. It dawned on Raven what Van was aiming for. He shook his head, smirking. If he had known Van actually led the particularly well-respected information brokers known collectively as the Thimbles, he would have asked for this sooner.


    A strange sense of pride came over him as he watched Van jovially joke around one-sidedly with the ill-amused girl called Little Sister. When Raven had first arrived in Roespeye nearly a year ago, he possessed an early shortlist of potential partners that he knew lived in the city and would be enrolled in the school, but Van constantly surprised him with his savvy, his developing courage, and his particularly exceptional groundedness. Raven now felt fortunate Van happened to be the first person on his list he encountered in Roespeye.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t luck,¡± Rue reminded him.


    ¡°You are right, Rue. It was providence, wasn¡¯t it.¡±


    Another Thimble came forward. He was masked over the mouth and nose, but a shock of white hair betrayed his advanced years. A pandora hung like earrings from each of his ears. ¡°How can we be sure he can afford our services?¡± he grunted.


    ¡°I can vouch for him, Josiah,¡± a voice called from among the group.


    Another man stepped forward. Raven smiled in amusement when Jack Storne entered the inner circle of the gathering. He tipped his flat cap and extended his hand, which Raven shook.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    ¡°Well, you don¡¯t smell bad at all now!¡± Jack joked. ¡°But holy wild, what happened to your face?¡±


    His smile washed away. ¡°You make it sound like I smelled bad my entire life up until now,¡± he countered.


    ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t think I will ever forget that stench.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s this now?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°Never mind,¡± Raven replied quickly, giving Jack a harsh look.


    ¡°I can vouch this kid is loaded,¡± Jack said for all to hear. ¡°He tripled my pay when I got him the info he wanted in Zaliance.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ Raven,¡± Van said uneasily. ¡°You want to employ all my boys, right?¡±


    Little Sister stomped on his foot. ¡°And girls,¡± he quickly corrected, wincing.


    Raven looked around at all the staring Thimbles. This opportunity would definitely not go to waste.


    ¡°I am searching for the two missing pages of the Star Tome, the accumulated knowledge of Valius Shrale. We believe the pages were probably passed down from Valius Shrale to one of his ten sons. We are not entirely certain, but we have nothing else to go on at the moment. I do believe the pages are somewhere in Roespeye, and thus the search should be focused in the city. I will fund each person¡¯s search at a rate of fifty crowns a day. The person who provides the pages or the information that leads me to them¡­ ten thousand crowns.¡±


    The reaction was immediate.


    ¡°Fifty crowns a day?¡± Little Sister repeated, dumbfounded. ¡°That¡¯s more than I make in a month.¡±


    ¡°And ten thousand crowns to the winner of this job?¡± Josiah asked. ¡°That¡¯s my retirement. You can really afford that?¡±


    Jack leaned in to whisper in his ear.


    ¡°The future king of Zaliance?¡± Josiah shouted in shock.


    Raven shook his head. ¡°I should have known you¡¯d be spying on me that night I completed the Tasks.¡±


    He shrugged with an awkward smile. ¡°I was curious.¡±


    Raven produced Rue, holding the pandora up for all to see. ¡°Consider this Class Eight pandora as proof of my ability to fund this venture.¡±


    Excitement spread, and the formerly dire crowd of Thimbles now began to congregate, chatting animatedly. What once had appeared as a hostile group of strangers now looked like family, headed by the strangest young leader of them all. Van looked like a proud father, beaming from ear to ear.


    ¡°Does Valentine know about this?¡± Raven asked him.


    Van gave a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°She knows I deal information. But no¡­ not yet.¡±


    ¡°I get it. You¡¯re the leader of the most well-known intelligence-gathering organization in Fallowreyk. A major player. That can be dangerous. You¡¯ve kept the secret well.¡±


    ¡°Eventually I will tell her. Just need to pick the right time.¡±


    ¡°So why tell me?¡±


    His comical expression transformed into dutiful sadness. ¡°My dad just died.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ sorry to hear that. But I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°Our mission¡­ well, it¡¯s forced me to face my fears. To recognize what I really believe and the path I need to make for myself. When my dad was close to his final minutes, my mom was ready to call in the Provotian cleric. To be ready so my dad¡¯s soul could be turned into a pandora and sold for money. Believe it or not, even being the leader of the Thimbles doesn¡¯t pay well if I want to keep my boys happy.¡±


    ¡°So, what happened?¡±


    ¡°I convinced her not to do it. To let him go. It was hard. My mom¡­ she hasn¡¯t been able to understand. This idea. It¡¯s so ingrained in us. A poison disguised as honor. I¡¯ve spent a lot of time thinking about it. Watching you and Val¡­ and how you reject the notion. It took a while, but I began to believe as you do. That this has to end. It started with my own decision. And once I made it, well, I guess you could say my borrowed cause became adopted. I truly wanted to do anything I could to make sure we succeeded.¡±


    ¡°This is a monumental resource. I am elated to utilize it. Hope renews as dusk draws near.¡±


    ¡°So, now what?¡±


    ¡°We continue to look for the pages.¡± Raven looked askance at the Van¡¯s Thimbles who slowly started to disperse, eager to begin the hunt. ¡°We keep seeking out Shrale¡¯s ancestors and other known associates for clues and reading any materials gathered. And we check in with your Thimbles daily. Valentine returns in a little over a week. Hopefully, we find the pages by then, but if not, perhaps talking to Valius Shrale directly will yield results.¡±


    If only it were that easy.


    ¡°You cannot use it,¡± Sarratica said simply.


    Valentine¡¯s tired, smudged face dropped with dismay as she held out the second half of the Depths of Thine Spirit. Raven frowned deeply. Caked in dust and sweat, Valentine had quite obviously pushed herself to the brink to steal her family¡¯s treasure and return to Roespeye at breakneck speed. She had achieved a colossal, dangerous ask for the cause.


    Less than ten days had passed since her departure. The search by the Thimbles, while productive, had not produced the ultimate prize. Each day flew by as they searched, a recurrent warning of impending failure. So, when Valentine arrived in the city, disheveled and exhausted, they were elated to return to the Sea of Ennenteley and use the Depths right away. However, Sarratica and Harmony were waiting for them in front of the pedestal, as if they knew the whole time they would arrive at that very hour.


    ¡°What?¡± Valentine finally protested after the initial shock wore away. ¡°Why can¡¯t we use it?¡±


    Harmony smiled sweetly. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous.¡±


    Sarratica looked straight at Raven. ¡°You should have known what we would say.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at him!¡± Valentine shot back angrily. ¡°You look at me. I knew full well the use of the Depths was a dangerous prospect. I still want to use it.¡±


    ¡°The odds of failure are too high. Just the slightest misstep in the ritual process and it would cost you your life. I am hopeful that this is simply a matter of you not informing your partner of the true risks.¡±


    Valentine seethed, but did not reply.


    Harmony nodded. ¡°We thought so. Because I am sure that if Raven knew the likelihood of your death was actually quite high, he would have protested mightily.¡±


    ¡°Putting words in my mouth?¡± Raven asked.


    ¡°We understand your hostile reaction,¡± Sarratica said. ¡°Even so, we must stand firm in this decision. We do not sacrifice the lives of our members for the cause. It goes against everything the Holy One commands.¡±


    ¡°But we¡¯re running out of time!¡± Valentine lamented. ¡°I can do this!¡±


    ¡°You may not understand our reasoning,¡± Harmony finished. ¡°But we believe your life is more valuable. We will not sway in our decision.¡±


    Raven bit his lip and turned away. A bead of sweat ran down his face as his mind raced.


    ¡°I know what you are thinking,¡± Rue said.


    A shudder went through him. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to avoid it this whole time. But¡­ we have to find the Star Tome, Rue.¡±


    ¡°If you were ever going to do it¡­ now is the time.¡±


    He grimaced. Damn.


    He turned back to the women. ¡°What if I could stabilize the ritual?¡±


    Sarratica and Harmony looked at each other. ¡°How?¡± Sarratica asked.


    ¡°Using a seal.¡±


    ¡°No such seal exists.¡±


    ¡°What if it did?¡±


    She fell silent in contemplation.


    ¡°You are nervous about something,¡± Harmony said. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°The cost is steep¡­ something only I can pay. But I can do it. If so, will you allow Valentine to use the Depths?¡±


    ¡°By steep, you mean dangerous. So, you would trade peril to her life for peril to your own?¡± Sarratica replied, displeased. ¡°Nothing is resolved. We still refuse.¡±


    Valentine shook her head angrily. ¡°Nothing but fear drives this so-called ¡®society.¡¯ Why did we even come here?¡±


    ¡°You say you need to speak to a soul directly. That this will aid in your plans against the Titan. How? Tell us now if we should be so swayed.¡±


    ¡°Do you request honesty or do you desire wisdom?¡± Raven asked. ¡°If you want the truth, then our quest is not a direct pursuit of the Titan¡¯s death¡­ he is simply the victim of my scheme. Make no mistake. The day draws near when I shall kill him by my own hands. But for now, nothing else matters as long as his eyes remain fixed on me.¡±


    ¡°And if we desire wisdom?¡±


    ¡°There are only two kinds of people in this world I identify. Those who will aid in the great cause, and those who will not. History will remember us for only this. Valius Shrale, the soul inside the pandora to whom we wish to speak, possesses information vitally important: a singular salvation for my dear friend trapped within the most wicked of pandora. But not just a friend; a soul who might bring about Fallowreyk¡¯s very deliverance. She is the key to everything. Wisdom is this: at this moment, you stand as an obstacle, at the precipice of disaster you neither see nor comprehend. Yet, something lingers within the recesses of your minds. Something potent. You can feel it, and that is why we are here. You¡¯re looking for an excuse to aid us without sacrificing your character. You must recognize our desires are the same, if only you would acknowledge it. Put an end to your fear and make straight our path. No one will die except our collective adversary.¡±


    Harmony looked straight into Raven¡¯s eyes. Again, her gaze penetrated him, powerful in its depths, yet warm as the summer. Then, she smiled.


    ¡°Now I know who you are¡­ I just didn¡¯t recognize you.¡±


    He tilted his head at her strange statement but didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°If you can prove the ritual¡¯s dangers can be averted, you may use our half of the Depths.¡±


    He and Valentine breathed deeply. It was the best they could ask for.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be able to obtain the seal for another eight days,¡± Raven said. ¡°Can you be ready to assist in the use of the relic the moment I have it?¡±


    The two sisters nodded. ¡°We will be ready.¡±

 Chapter 39: The Flying Dim Castle of the Seal Master

    The wicked winter of Mount Chappelle returned.


    Carried in the biting cold jowls of its wind, the grim warning of defeat howled against the mountainside. Valentine and Van huddled together, blasted by the torrential wind. On the peak of the mountain, they had expected a stunning view, but despite the immense vantage from the summit, they could see almost nothing.


    ¡°This is nuts!¡± Van shouted over the whistling din. He scraped away the icicles forming on his eyebrows. ¡°How are we supposed to see anything in this storm?¡±


    ¡°Raven says we¡¯ll know it when we see it!¡± Valentine shouted back. ¡°This is our only chance!¡±


    She turned to him and hugged him close. They each peered through a pair of large binoculars, looking over each other¡¯s shoulders to scan the sky. But all they saw was white.


    ¡°I know what the castle looks like,¡± he said into her ear, holding her close. ¡°But there¡¯s just no way. I can¡¯t even see the mountain we¡¯re standing on.¡±


    Raven stood on the edge of another snowy bluff nearby. He scoured the blustery skies with the naked eye, searching everywhere.


    Come on, you miserable dog! Where are you?


    He grimaced, wondering if he needed to take more drastic steps. Soon, visibility would be nonexistent, and the Seal Master wouldn¡¯t make another pass on Roespeye for months. He heard the crunching steps of his friends behind him and turned.


    ¡°Raven, we¡¯ve been looking for three hours!¡± Van shouted. The wind nearly drowned his voice out. ¡°The storm is getting worse! What do we do?¡±


    Raven suddenly pointed past them in jubilation. ¡°There!¡±


    They followed his direction. Immediately, they spotted it. Despite the heavy snow and sleet, the Flying Dim Castle came thundering through the clouds, enormous in appearance from such a height. Steel turrets and towers hummed, banged, shrieked and whistled while two long silver wings flapped powerfully against the storm, keeping the formidable, makeshift palace perpetually in flight.


    They took in the sight in awe for a few moments before the reality of the extreme cold set back in.


    ¡°I thought the Seal Master was a fiend!¡± Valentine shouted. ¡°Are you really sure about this, Raven?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°It has to be done!¡±


    She reached into her thick jacket pocket and produced one of her pandora, carefully handing it to him.


    ¡°Get yourself to the Sea, Valentine!¡± he shouted. ¡°Make sure Sarratica and Harmony are ready for us! Van, have your Thimbles on standby! Pray that today is the day we find the Star Tome!¡±


    Wings of light appeared on his back as he activated her pandora. He jumped out of the snow and began to float above the ground. The gales shifted him back and forth, but he remained steady. Van and Valentine hastened for the path back down the mountain. Looking up, Raven took flight, making as straight of a line as he could manage toward the flying castle.


    Raven flew like an eagle, bursting through the gales. He encircled the mighty fortress, careful in his approach. The castle loomed large as he drew closer, intimidating in its presence. The cacophony of noise, screeching metal and flapping wings, served as a warning for trespassers, but Valentine¡¯s incredible pandora allowed him free flight through the sky, able to divert at a moment¡¯s notice.


    He willed himself closer when he spotted the small entrance ramp near the back of the citadel. Steadying himself, he dropped onto the ascending, rickety ramp. Wind blasted his robes into a flurry, threatening to knock him back off. He quickly climbed, clinging to a rail, and entered the castle through a small, makeshift open doorway. The wings of light dispersed, and he stood alone in a suddenly quiet hall. Rusted metal panels and rivets made up a long hallway with no other entrances or exits except one, at the very end. A singular door.


    He stood in place for a long time, staring at his destination in silent dread.


    The chill of the storm fled as sweat formed on his face. The reality of what he was about to do hit him hard. He feared very little in this life, but he had known the day might come when he would need to make this sacrifice. Anxiety set in with extreme force as his thoughts rabidly searched for some alternative. But none presented themselves. Now it came to this.


    He beat his chest. I can do this.


    But he didn¡¯t move. His legs felt like lead. His breathing labored. Eyes grew wide as sweat poured down his neck.


    He beat his chest again. I can do this.


    ¡°You can do this, Raven,¡± Rue said.


    I can do this. He took a step. Then another. His heart felt like it would beat out of his chest. Hands felt clammy, but his face burned.


    Brave like Arkh. Be brave like Arkh. I can do this. I can do this!


    Over and over he beat his chest as the door drew near. Finally, he stood before it, and he stopped. His heart was beating so fast, it hurt. He breathed deep, forcing himself to calm down. He reached for the doorknob, but his hand was shaking. He took hold of it with his other hand.


    He put a hand to his face. His heartbeat slowed.


    I have to do this.


    He opened the door.


    ¡°I saw you on the mountain,¡± a familiar, vile voice said with amused delight. It echoed deeply in the dim chamber.


    Raven¡¯s eyes narrowed in loathing. He said nothing. Though he could not see the Seal Master, he was there all the same.


    ¡°I saw you in the hall. I saw you at my door.¡±


    Raven entered a wide circular room and closed the door. Within the rusted inner belly of the castle, only a round table and two chairs were situated. A thick, painted white ring encircled the unbroken wall, on which seals of myriad design and purpose had been drawn. Each of them Raven recognized, aware of the severe protection offered to their artist and his palace. Incredibly complex, beautiful, and cruel designs waiting for a visitor¡¯s single misstep. Like loaded traps they waited, inky black webs of misfortune. On the other side of the room, a pandora was embedded into the wall. The Class Six card featured a stone castle on its surface, and glowing black veins ran from its edges to penetrate the rusty walls in all directions, pulsing every now and again.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    The twang of metallic wires echoed, and Raven looked up. A man descended from a wide hole in the ceiling, lowered by cables. The twisted cables ran from a large leather backpack strapped closely to his body.


    The thick cords acted like arms, grasping to the table and walls like a multitude of limbs. They gently placed the man in the chair on the opposite side of the table. Gentry Magnus smiled imperiously, folding his hands while the metallic appendages wriggled all about him like an active spider. The antagonist known throughout Fallowreyk as the Seal Master extended his hand, indicating for Raven to sit.


    Raven steeled himself and sat in the wide chair of metal opposite him, observing the rat he¡¯d long wished he would never have to speak to again. Gentry¡¯s thick black hair was tousled and greasy, as if made from dried oil. He wore a leather tunic and greaves, drenched in a black, slimy substance. A stack of pandora pens protruded from his chest pocket. Steel claws covered each of his fingers, clicking and clanging as he moved them, and a wicked shard of metal was embedded into the side of his neck. The Eagle Dawn Banner of Zaliance embellished the surface of the relic.


    ¡°The boy who would be king has returned,¡± Gentry finally said with amusement, tapping his clawed fingers on the surface of the table. ¡°When last we spoke, I believe you said it would be the last time.¡±


    ¡°When last we spoke, you were bleeding from the neck and wishing you hadn¡¯t goaded me,¡± Raven replied darkly.


    Gentry¡¯s amusement faded. He tugged at the shard in his neck uncomfortably. ¡°Yes¡­ well. As you can see, I¡¯m not dead. Princess Noelle¡¯s commands have been obeyed to the fullest.¡±


    ¡°The ¡®fullest¡¯ you say.¡±


    ¡°Are you here to finally remove this?¡±


    ¡°Noelle struck you with the Shine Dagger. Only she can remove it. You know this as well as I.¡±


    He sighed, standing up. He slowly walked around the table, dragging his claws along the surface of the table as he did. The low screech grated, but Raven didn¡¯t react. With each step the man took, his mangled shoes squished as if soaked. An inky substance leaked from his tunic, leaving a dotted trail behind him.


    ¡°So then, the status quo remains,¡± he said, passing behind Raven and continuing to orbit the table. ¡°I do not speak your name to the Titan, and in exchange, my life is spared from Princess Noelle¡¯s wrath. If this is the case, why have you returned to my castle? I was under the distinct impression we both agreed we never wanted to meet again.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still in service to the Titan,¡± Raven said with contempt. ¡°You should fear something greater than death.¡±


    ¡°Ah yes. More preaching,¡± he replied callously. ¡°The Titan has granted my every wish in life. He extends the life of my beloved pandora.¡± Gentry lovingly placed a hand on the pandora embedded into the wall. ¡°My greatest joy. Solitude in the skies forever.¡±


    He touched a nearby seal on the wall. A thump preceded a screech as the walls all around them gave way, lifting up. The wide blue skies opened up all around them, a panoramic view of Fallowreyk¡¯s majesty. But no wind blasted through, and no snow chilled their bones. Protected from the elements, it served as a makeshift observation deck of the heavens. The view was fantastic, but Raven sniffed in contempt. Gentry frowned at his response. The walls descended again, closing up around them and leaving them back in the rusted, dim prison cell.


    ¡°It¡¯s all wasted on you. Why should I fear the Titan?¡± he asked. ¡°I am his humble servant, and he grants me peace merely in exchange for loyalty.¡±


    ¡°Loyalty is a particularly interesting word choice,¡± Raven replied. ¡°I wonder what he would do if he ever discovered all the secrets you keep from him.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t keep anything from the ruler!¡± Gentry snarled. ¡°Nothing except¡­ you. And only because of this blasted thing.¡± He pointed to the dagger in his neck. ¡°I do not fear him as you do. I use the word loyalty. Yes! Because that¡¯s what he wants. If that keeps me in the sky, well¡­¡± He sat back in his chair and kicked his feet up, smiling. ¡°All the better.¡±


    Raven glowered at him. ¡°He keeps you around because of your seals.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± he conceded. ¡°It¡¯s the only reason he summons me these days. But then he refreshes the life of my pandora and sends me on my way. He recognizes the value in my art. You and me¡­ we¡¯re the last of a dying breed, Whitesong. No one uses seals anymore ¨C the ancient knowledge is fading. Pandora are the ultimate power of the land.¡±


    ¡°Which is what the Titan wants. Pandora are a curse. Seals are divine. He may not tell you, but he reviles seals and seeks to purge their existence, even as he uses them. Their holiness exposes his darkness.¡±


    ¡°Holy indeed,¡± Gentry mocked. ¡°If there¡¯s one thing I¡¯ve learned in my long years of developing new seals, there is nothing ¡®holy¡¯ or ¡®perfect¡¯ or any other description of their ilk! Seals are¡­¡± He grasped at air as if trying to snatch a thought from it. ¡°They are incomplete! They are difficult, cumbersome, unwieldly. Loaded with danger and laced with despair.¡±


    He paused, exhaling, and shook his head. ¡°I have spent my long life learning everything about seals, and I have only come to one conclusion. Seals are not holy. They are just as imperfect as pandora or relics or anything else.¡±


    ¡°I did not come to hear you mock the Holy One.¡±


    ¡°Your attitude speaks the truth!¡± He slapped the table. ¡°Deny it, but you know exactly what I¡¯m talking about. Except for me, no one knows more about seals than you and Noelle. Lingering in the depths of your mind, even in your studies of your God, you know it to be true.¡±


    Raven remained silent. He indeed understood what Gentry implied, but refused to speak on it. Something in the nature of seals remained misunderstood, as if an important element was missing. It suggested, as he claimed, that the nine holy runes were not sufficient. But to admit such a thing would be to suggest fallacy in the Holy One¡¯s designs. He would never tolerate such a thing.


    ¡°I take your sudden silence as a sign we get down to business,¡± Gentry said, sitting up and placing his hands on the table. The wriggle of the cables from his pack increased, as if they sensed prey. ¡°Why are you here, Whitesong? I can guess, but I want to hear those sweet words from your own mouth.¡±


    Sweat slowly resurfaced to Raven¡¯s neck. ¡°I need a seal,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Yes, of course. And¡­ which one is that? As you know, I have discovered so many.¡±


    ¡°You know which.¡±


    The Seal Master smiled as if his birthday had just come. ¡°Yes, yes. You have been after it for quite some time, haven¡¯t you? Let¡¯s see now. In the past, you¡¯ve offered gold and prestige in exchange for the Seal of Spirit. You¡¯ve offered your own discovered seals in trade. You even once offered me pandora, which must have been absolutely grotesque to you. I certainly enjoyed watching you do it.¡±


    Raven didn¡¯t reply. His heart hammered in his chest.


    ¡°And I turned them all down,¡± Gentry continued. ¡°One by one. So then¡­¡± One of the cable extensions reached down and grabbed the table, slowly sliding it to the side with a screech.


    ¡°You must be offering something else.¡± He stood. ¡°Something I want. Is it Rue the Day?¡±


    ¡°Never,¡± he replied scathingly.


    Gentry approached, dripping in inky goo. He mocked counting his bladed fingers. ¡°It¡¯s not Rue the Day. And you can¡¯t remove the Shine Dagger. It seems you¡¯ve run out of things with which to tempt me. Unless¡­¡±


    Raven¡¯s remained silent as the villain now stood over him, but sweat dripped down his face and his breathing labored.


    Gentry smiled wickedly. ¡°Raven Whitesong¡­ have you truly come to offer the thing I¡¯ve wanted most? The thing you promised I would never have?¡± He laughed in delight. ¡°You must be truly desperate.¡±


    Again no reply. Raven closed his eyes.


    His adversary considered him in entertained silence for a moment. But then clarity overtook him. ¡°The Eyes of Shallonigh,¡± he whispered, deep with desire. ¡°The unmatchable gift to see another man¡¯s soul. You know how much I have yearned for this. Are you truly offering them?¡±


    Raven opened his eyes again. ¡°You can have one,¡± he replied hoarsely.


    Gentry Magnus remained still as he stared straight into Raven¡¯s eyes, searching them with interest.


    ¡°I am¡­ utterly confounded. What has caused this radical change? What could you be after? The value must be immeasurable.¡± He folded his clawed hands together. ¡°The Titan would obliterate all of Fallowreyk hunting for you if he knew these eyes existed. A power to slake the thirst of his unrest. And yet you offer me the rarest gift in the whole world¡­ something only you have possessed in perhaps generations. The ultimate insurance against the ruler¡¯s wrath¡­ for nothing more than a seal.¡±


    ¡°Do we have a deal?¡± Raven replied.


    ¡°I want both eyes.¡±


    ¡°This will be the only chance you ever get, Magnus. It¡¯s one of my eyes or nothing. In exchange for your Seal of Spirit.¡±


    Raven looked up. His emerald eyes turned red with a purple halo around each, casting fiery light across his face.


    ¡°What is your answer?¡± he asked.


    Gentry looked down at him inquisitively. Then a wicked smile streaked across his face. Two of his cables lashed forward, grabbing Raven¡¯s head and squeezing tight. They pressed him against the seat of his chair, holding him still. Gentry grabbed Raven¡¯s head, gripping his scalp. A third cable came forth, pointed straight at Raven¡¯s right eye.


    ¡°This is agreeable,¡± he said, laughing.


    Raven squeezed the armrests, and his heart pounded. He grit his teeth, chest heaving.


    God¡­ give me strength!


    But when the metal spike plunged into his skull, he could not suppress his scream.

 Chapter 40: Depths of Thine Spirit

    Raven somehow managed to navigate back to the earth to land in front of the Morborium. The bitter cold whistled something fierce as the mountain gusts whipped through the street. He leaned against the black metal gate, exhausted.


    Valentine was waiting for him across the street. She gasped when he faced her. The right side of his face was caked in blood, and deep cuts littered his scalp. He cupped a hand tightly over that side of his face and slumped in fatigue. She had never seen him so weak.


    Rushing forward, she tore a strip of cloth from her coat and pushed his hand away to help bandage him. But when she saw the brutal wound around his missing eye, she gasped again, covering her mouth with her hand.


    ¡°Raven¡­ what did you do?¡± she whispered, tears springing to her eyes. She swiftly wrapped the makeshift bandage around his head, covering up his wound the best she could.


    ¡°There¡¯s no time to explain,¡± he replied. ¡°I have the seal.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± she demanded. ¡°I need to know. Why did you do this?¡±


    He looked at her softly. ¡°Because the sisters were right. They were right.¡± He bowed his head, handing her back her pandora. ¡°If there was a chance you could die without this seal¡­ I couldn¡¯t accept such a thing.¡±


    Valentine embraced him, weeping. They stood for a long while in the increasing snowfall, resting on each other. Finally, she pulled back, but kept her hands on his arms.


    ¡°I see you, Raven! I see your heart. I see your heart for the world. But you are important to the world, too! And to me. For more than your mission.¡± She placed a hand over his heart. ¡°You are more than a scheme.¡±


    He looked at her wearily, but managed a smile. He nodded and put his own hand over her heart.


    ¡°Let¡¯s find that tome.¡±


    In the depths of the Sea of Ennenteley, Sarratica and Harmony waited. At a wide juncture among the shimmering thorns, an extensive space had been cleared. The sisters had procured white panels of wood seamlessly fit together to form a wide, pure surface for the creation of a seal.


    ¡°This is perfect!¡± Valentine exclaimed.


    Sarratica and Harmony approached Raven, taking in his new appearance with concern. But then a visible discernment came into Sarratica¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Very clever,¡± she said. ¡°Even so, it must have been dreadful.¡±


    ¡°It was quite painful,¡± Raven replied. ¡°But I have the seal.¡± He produced a rolled sheet of brown paper from his robes and handed it to her.


    She unraveled it, and together with her sister, they examined the complex seal formation. It didn¡¯t take long for them to begin marveling at what they were looking at. Raven was equally astonished they understood its nuance. More and more, he was filled with desire to know more about this incredible, mysterious duo. If only there was more time.


    ¡°This seal is unlike anything I¡¯ve ever seen,¡± Sarratica said. ¡°The inner seal¡¯s hexagon formation is radical with its use of curved borders. Who came up with this?¡±


    ¡°The Seal Master,¡± Raven replied. ¡°The use of Ken runes to stabilize the outer seal off the edges is something I¡¯ve never seen before. I understand now why he never wanted to give it up. His discovery of this method has opened up new avenues of exploration in seal creation theory.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like that man,¡± Harmony said disapprovingly.


    ¡°What¡¯s done is done. I know this seal works because I¡¯ve seen what it can do. It acts as protection from otherwise harmful effects caused by the use of Hydra. Can we proceed?¡±


    She reached out and placed a hand over his bandaged eye. Her warmth was electric, and Raven found himself wanting another hug from her. But she let go and nodded.


    ¡°Yes, you can use the Depths,¡± she said, handing Valentine the black object. ¡°But please be careful.¡±


    Raven got to work, producing a seal on the white surface with his pandora pen.


    ¡°It looks like you¡¯re making some changes,¡± Sarratica said, watching him work. It was hard to discern her facial expressions behind the mask, but he imagined she disapproved.


    ¡°Yes, I am adding an overlay,¡± Raven said, finishing up the seal and looking it over. He produced Moon¡¯s Ark and placed the pandora in a specially slotted space within the seal. ¡°This pandora will document Valentine¡¯s encounter with Valius Shrale. Once it is complete, we can revisit what occurred any time we please as a vision.¡±


    ¡°Brilliant,¡± she admitted.


    He turned to the sisters. ¡°Can Valentine and I have a moment alone?¡±


    They acquiesced and gave them space. Raven stood with Valentine in the midst of the seal, careful not to step on any runes or lines.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to be direct,¡± he said to her. ¡°This is probably the last chance we have to obtain Shrale¡¯s tome. If we don¡¯t¡­ all may be lost. We could appeal to the Pandora Society directly, but the time for the challenges is almost here. Van¡¯s Thimbles have gathered up all the information they could, so I am hopeful their collective intelligence will be able to bridge the gap between Shrale¡¯s one-hundred-year-old memory and what is available to us now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m nervous,¡± Valentine confessed. ¡°Not about using the Depths. But what can I say to the man to convince him to give us the location of the pages?¡±


    ¡°Outside of my beloved, you are the most forthright person I¡¯ve ever known,¡± he replied. ¡°Speak openly and honestly to him. Shrale¡¯s soul remains in the depths of despair over his disparately degraded acts against Rue. If he is convinced we will save her, he should be eager to finally escape his own grief.¡±


    He handed her Valius Shrale¡¯s pandora. ¡°We place Fallowreyk¡¯s justice in your hands, Valentine Chessex. I know you can do this.¡±


    She nodded in determination. He departed from the seal and joined Harmony and Sarratica to observe. Valentine breathed deep and took the two halves of the Depths of Thine Spirit. The forked metallic objects featured grooves which allowed her to cross them together and hold them in place. When she did, a luminescent orb of light appeared above the completed relic, glowing softly. She took Shrale¡¯s pandora and raised it above the orb.


    With a shake of her head, she sighed. ¡°My father is going to be so mad at me for this.¡±


    She inserted the pandora into the sphere of light, where it remained floating within, basking in its glow. Then she retook hold of the other handle. When she did, mirage-like images appeared within the seal, crystalizing into two distinct forms. In moments, two reflections of Valentine appeared, facing each other in a triangle formation.


    Raven immediately understood. One of the two Valentine clones bore deep scars on her face, arms and legs.


    ¡°Valentine Mind, Sword, and Shield ¨C the spiritual personas split into tangible form by the Depths,¡± he said, folding his arms.


    ¡°Dividing so that one may conquer,¡± Harmony said. ¡°Only a Lamgardian could survive this ritual in the physical world.¡±


    Valentine Sword lifted her hand to touch Shrale¡¯s pandora within the orb of light.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Valentine Shield protested. ¡°You must let me go this time.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Sword answered firmly. ¡°I will protect you both.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve always protected us,¡± she replied back, shedding a tear and touching her hand. ¡°And you bear the scars to prove it. Please let me go this time. It¡¯s my turn to protect you.¡±


    Valentine Sword¡¯s eyes widened a bit at her display of affection. Finally, she smiled. ¡°Thank you, Shield.¡± But then she reached out and touched the pandora. ¡°But I cannot allow it. You will be safe!¡±


    All went dark.


    Valentine Sword opened her eyes.


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    The first light came from the stars. In and through the deep darkness, millions of stars provided the smallest of glittery particles of illumination. The second light then grabbed her attention. A band of white-hot runes streaked across the horizon, forming a basis for her vision.


    Was she outside? Inside? She could not perceive her surroundings. She knew she was standing on something solid, but other than that, she recognized nothing. She followed the path of the band with her eyes, turning in place. A third light soon came into focus. A cone of light descended from an unknown place to dimly illuminate a large object. What it was, Valentine could not tell¡­ at first.


    But as she drew closer, details provided frightening clarity. A man was pinioned to something metal, like a beam. But the shape was not clear because something else obscured it. She could only liken it to a giant worm, bulbous and slimy, covering up most of the man¡¯s body and slinking up and around the metallic supports to which the man¡¯s arms were fastened.


    She stood aghast at the sight of what could only be compared to a torturous encounter with a monster. The vision was complete when she looked upon the man¡¯s face. The visage was recognizable, though not easily. But after remembering why she was here, she realized it could only be Valius Shrale. The man who appeared so dignified in his paintings and statues was now a shriveled thing, with wispy thinning hair and a mangled goatee. And he was crying, tears streaming steadily down his face. Valentine immediately noticed the deep burn mark on his forehead, in the distinct shape of a human eye with a star for a pupil.


    Valius was not only crying, however. He spoke something, faintly. She ventured closer, stepping into the cone of light. And when she did, she discerned his words.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± he lamented over and over.


    It was just as Raven described. Valentine was flabbergasted by the scene. The slimy worm-like entity wriggled and undulated in place, wrapping up its prisoner with aggressive attachment. Was this what all souls endured within pandora? She immediately thought of her brother and sister, currently sitting in her pocket. Her anger flared at the thought.


    ¡°Valius Shrale,¡± she said.


    Upon hearing her voice, Valius¡¯s eyes opened in surprise. He blinked rapidly, as if he¡¯d not opened them in a long time, searching through the haze of his bleariness. But when sight was finally restored, he looked upon Valentine in wonder.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± he asked, attempting to adjust his position but ultimately failing to do so.


    ¡°My name is Valentine Chessex.¡±


    He examined her head to toe. ¡°A Chessex¡­ one of the old families of Lamgard. Which explains your presence. You must have utilized the ancient relic called the Depths of Thine Spirit to appear within the complex of my prison.¡± He looked left and right. ¡°The monstrous spirits ever tormenting me appear to have been mostly banished. The ring of runes encircling me are a new phenomenon. Hmm¡­ no doubt the result of some seal intended to protect your psyche from them. Very interesting. Although¡­¡± He looked up. ¡°¡­I would postulate the seal will not hold them for very long.¡±


    ¡°Your assessment lives up to your reputation,¡± Valentine replied.


    The man¡¯s clarity seemed to replace his sorrow for the moment. She couldn¡¯t help but compare him to Raven. Calculating and straight to the point. The similarity was truly uncanny.


    ¡°With each passing second, my comprehension returns. I have heard voices in my dreams¡­ one of which I deemed very powerful. It was not yours.¡±


    Valentine repressed the desire to scowl. ¡°I am the one who interpreted the clues in your Tetropolis and discovered your study.¡±


    His gray eyebrows rose. ¡°Truly? Then I understand your presence. You wish to pry the location of the missing pages of my Star Tome from me.¡±


    ¡°Such a conclusion is a given,¡± she replied. ¡°But I wonder if you understand the reason. I would guess you don¡¯t.¡±


    For the first time, Valius appeared uncertain. He evaluated her presence curiously, seeming to see her for the first time. In that moment, the ground shook and she turned. Monstrous black worms similar to the one incarcerating Valius appeared on the horizon, just beyond the rune barrier. Hundreds of them appeared, eyes glowing green, surrounding the dome of protection and growing. The creatures pounded their bodies against some invisible barrier.


    ¡°Not much time,¡± Valius said tiredly. ¡°Even a seal of great clout cannot contend against the malicious nature of pandora. I shall be relegated to condemnation once more, as I continue to deserve.¡±


    Valentine stared at him coldly. ¡°When you snatched Sheeharu¡¯s soul, dooming her to this same agony, was it regret for her life that you ruined, or your own?¡±


    ¡°Stop, please stop,¡± he lamented, struggling against his slimy captor. ¡°I believe you already. If you found my letter, then you should also acknowledge my immense grief. I have lived with this every minute of my miserable existence within the pandora.¡±


    ¡°Your grief means nothing. Do you comprehend it has been a hundred years since your death? Even now, Sheeharu remains within your Chrysalis. Everyone she knew, all of her family¡­ they are long dead. Because of you, she lost everything. Yet she remains, waiting for someone to rescue her. Alone in this pit of darkness within her pandora.¡±


    ¡°A hundred years?¡± he repeated incredulously. ¡°Has it truly been so long?¡±


    More worms appeared on the horizon, stacking on top of each other. The banging against the barrier increased in sound and clout. The runes of light started to crack.


    Valentine tsked. She was not afraid, but time was of the essence now. ¡°Unlike you, Sheeharu has not sunk into despair,¡± she said, folding her arms. ¡°She waits for her salvation, even now. You know this. You have felt her hope this past year, because I hold her pandora. You can feel the presence of your victim.¡±


    Tears ran down the man¡¯s face again. ¡°I¡­ I was so¡­ you just don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°Help me understand. Help me save her.¡±


    ¡°Is that why you want my tome?¡±


    ¡°It is!¡±


    He looked around again, nervously. ¡°I found something,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Something I shouldn¡¯t have. I considered it my greatest discovery at the time, but now I realize it was ultimately my doom.¡±


    ¡°What did you discover?¡±


    ¡°I dare not reveal it. My mind¡­ my mind deserted me. My sanity abandoned me! Only after my death did I truly understand. This thing I discovered¡­ it infiltrated my being and leached out of me. I wasn¡¯t¡­ worthy of it.¡± Valius shook his head. ¡°Only after I performed my cruel act on Sheeharu did I understand what I had become. I knew then that my discovery should be destroyed. But¡­ I just couldn¡¯t do it. The world would lose something utterly precious!¡±


    Shame filled the man¡¯s face. ¡°So, I left it for someone else, a trusted friend. Implicit instructions on how to restore my tome. But only someone greater than me could find it. Lest they also go mad and destroy the whole world.¡±


    ¡°Excuses!¡± Valentine shot back. ¡°You banished Rue to hell! You just want to shift blame. Admit it! When she became the monster that was destroying the city, you could have replaced her soul that very hour. But you didn¡¯t! You fled and sealed her up in that cocoon instead, because you didn¡¯t want anyone to know what you did! She would have told the truth about you!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your forgiveness of my wicked deeds!¡± he shouted, shutting his eyes. New tears streamed forth. ¡°But I know what happened! Madness enveloped me because of my discovery. Like a plague, it utterly consumed me! I never wanted to hurt Sheeharu. She was my student. But yes, I doomed her! Is that what you wanted to hear?¡±


    ¡°I want to hear you will help save her life!¡± she shouted back, furious.


    ¡°It would be a worse deed to allow the madness that consumed me to happen to anyone else. You cannot have the tome if you haven¡¯t discovered it by now. The worthy must be proven! So just leave me be.¡±


    The wall of deadly worms now covered the entirety of the dome. The sounds of their bashing against the seal grew to a crescendo.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a hundred years, Valius,¡± she said quickly. ¡°Whatever you left behind is gone. Don¡¯t you think if anyone would have discovered the clues you intended, it would have been me?¡±


    He looked uncertain. ¡°The Wall of Tanemborg is all I will say.¡±


    ¡°The Wall of Tanemborg was destroyed,¡± she replied. ¡°Some twenty years ago, as part of an expansion of the city.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± he said, incredulous. The banging became riotous. ¡°It¡¯s truly gone?¡±


    ¡°Just tell me where the pages are, Valius! Think of Sheeharu. End this charade and redeem yourself!¡±


    A blast exploded and they looked up. The dome of protection from Raven¡¯s seal burst, and a flood of huge, black worms came crashing down all around them. Valentine covered her head as the wet creatures poured in waves. She pushed and scrapped ferociously, but the obnoxious creatures swarmed, devilish in their persistence.


    ¡°Tell me, Valius! Tell me where the pages are!¡± she shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t you understand? This is your last chance to make this right! Save your student! Save your soul!¡±


    She dove through the wet, putrid pile of creatures, grabbing Valius by his exposed leg and pulling herself through. She just barely made out his face through the obstacles all around them.


    ¡°Give me your answer!¡± she demanded.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± He clenched his teeth. ¡°They were given to the Professor! My friend, the Black Rabbit!¡±


    ¡°Who is that?¡¯ she shouted.


    But before she could demand more, she was viciously yanked back. She lost grip of Valius¡¯s leg. Huge worms piled onto her, suffocating her. She tried to push them away, but there was no space anywhere. The leeches consumed her. She tried to scream, but the creatures filled her lungs when she opened her mouth. Her vision faded, and the lights went out.


    Raven rushed forward when Valentine¡¯s duplicates disappeared and she collapsed in a heap. He pushed the Depths away and propped her head up, checking her pulse.


    ¡°She¡¯s breathing,¡± Sarratica said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said, feeling her head. ¡°She seems to be okay.¡±


    He retrieved Moon¡¯s Ark and Shrale¡¯s pandora and then picked her up, carrying her in his arms. He used his feet to smudge the seal, rendering it dead.


    ¡°Where can I take Valentine to recover?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Leave her. We will see she is taken care of. We know time is of the essence.¡±


    ¡°I will not leave Valentine here. Can you lead me to a proper bed?¡±


    Harmony smiled. ¡°This way.¡±


    The sisters led him out of the Sea and back up to the entrance. A side door within the fake storefront led to a small office. A comfortable-looking couch sat at the end. Raven carefully laid Valentine down, checking her vital signs once more.


    When he was sure she was stable, he took Moon¡¯s Ark and placed it against his eye. The vision of Valentine¡¯s encounter came rushing to his vision. He couldn¡¯t have been more shocked by the state in which Valius Shrale¡¯s soul existed.


    ¡°Rue¡­¡± he said sadly. ¡°Is this terrible environment what you also endure? What are those¡­ dark creatures?¡±


    ¡°I never wanted you to know,¡± she replied. ¡°The slimy bugs are ever present¡­ trapping me and holding me to my loneliness. I loathe them.¡±


    ¡°The Black Rabbit,¡± he said. ¡°Sarratica, Harmony¡­ does that name mean anything to you? Or the Professor?¡±


    The women looked at each other in confusion before shaking their heads.


    ¡°What about you, Rue?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Sorry, Raven.¡±


    He grit his teeth angrily. ¡°Even in the end, Shrale refused to redeem himself properly. But at least we have something to go on.¡±


    He put a hand on Valentine¡¯s forehead. ¡°Well done, Val.¡± He turned back to the sisters. ¡°When she wakes up, tell her to wait for me in my room. I will find her.¡±


    ¡°She needs rest,¡± Sarratica protested.


    ¡°Try and prevent her from attempting to join me. See how that works out for you.¡±


    She frowned. ¡°Very well. Is there anything else we can do?¡±


    He grimaced. ¡°I have to find this ¡®Black Rabbit¡¯ ¨C Van is now my last hope. Van and his merry band of Thimbles.¡±

 Chapter 41: The Heir

    Hundreds of puffs of warm breath against the frigid night air drifted up into the bright lamplights inside the belfry of Tower Four. The silence within the lair of the Thimbles sent a shudder up Raven¡¯s back. He looked all around, waiting for someone to raise their hand, to claim success¡­ to do anything. But Van¡¯s faithful associates stood in ghastly, uncomfortable stillness.


    ¡°Nothing?¡± Van said in shock. ¡°The Black Rabbit rings no bells to any of you? What about ¡®the Professor¡¯ as it relates to anything to do with the Shrale family?¡±


    Two hundred Thimbles remained silent, looking around as if expecting someone else to have the answer. Raven frowned and closed his eyes, searching his mind for something else he¡¯d overlooked. The disappointment was overwhelming.


    Months of searching, blood, sweat, and tears¡­ now at a seeming dead end. Could it really be? If two hundred sets of eyes and ears poring over every nook and cranny in Roespeye wasn¡¯t enough, where else could he look? Should he ask Valentine to try the Depths again? Should he bring in the Pandora Society on the chance they know something about this Black Rabbit person? Maybe this was all a terrible ruse by Valius to throw him off the trail completely!


    Mere days remained until the challenges. What rock was left to be overturned? What clue remained untouched? The lost pages of Shrale¡¯s tome never seemed further from reach.


    He could hear Rue whispering prayers for him in the recesses of his hearing and was just beginning to think it was a very good idea when the sound of the elevator lift caused him to turn. After a minute, Jack Storne entered the lair, huffing and puffing for air.


    ¡°Sorry I¡¯m late!¡± he wheezed, pulling off his flat cap and wiping cold sweat off his forehead. ¡°I lost track of the time. What did I miss?¡±


    He put a hand on Raven¡¯s shoulder, but when he saw his face, he immediately retracted it. ¡°What on earth?¡± he shouted, aghast. ¡°What happened to your face?¡±


    Raven scowled with his lone eye. ¡°Don¡¯t concern yourself.¡±


    ¡°How do you keep hurting yourself? Van, back me up. It¡¯s self-mutilation, isn¡¯t it? He has to like this or something.¡±


    Van snickered in spite of the situation, and Raven leered at him.


    ¡°The Black Rabbit,¡± Raven said. ¡°Does that name mean anything to you?¡±


    ¡°The Black Rabbit?¡± Jack repeated, scratching his head before replacing his cap. ¡°The Black Rabbit, the Black Rabbit¡­ oh!¡±


    Two hundred heads snapped to face him. He recoiled in shock.


    ¡°You know something?¡± Raven asked quickly.


    ¡°Uh¡­ well, yeah! I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s much, but I remember seeing something about a black rabbit.¡±


    Two hundred groans immediately issued from the rest of the Thimbles.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe Jack is gonna win the ten thousand crowns!¡± Little Sister grumbled.


    ¡°This is a set-up!¡± another Thimble complained.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Van said, half angrily. ¡°Did you not all get paid incredibly well the last few weeks?¡±


    Two hundred reluctant nods and mumbled yesses issued in reply.


    ¡°Tell me what you know,¡± Raven said, facing Jack. His heart beat wildly at the sudden turn of events. ¡°Quickly now!¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s kind of hard to describe. I think I need to show you. But it¡¯s close by! Tower Eight.¡±


    ¡°Here in Nine Star Academy? That¡¯s Master Forir¡¯s tower.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s pretty late right now, though. It¡¯s probably locked shut.¡±


    Van grabbed both Jack and Raven by their shoulders. ¡°Let¡¯s not dilly dally,¡± he said with a smile.


    What happened next Raven could never have anticipated. A blue beast of fire suddenly appeared like a ghost, lighting up the shadowy bell tower. The creature leaped, snatching his arm between flame-licked teeth. Van and Jack were also snatched up and together they were dragged to the ground with a great tackle. But they never hit the floor.


    Swirling lights and sounds consumed his senses as he felt the incredible sensation of rushing speed. It was as if he¡¯d been transported to a hypnotic, whirling two-dimensional plane. Everything looked flat, but they moved too fast to focus. The beast hurdled into the strange horizon, dragging them all along at break-neck speed. Jack screamed, holding onto his hat for dear life.


    There was no pain, but the constant swirling motion made Raven sick. Somehow, he understood what was happening. They were inside the floor! Van¡¯s pandora, Cast Off Tommy, had melded them within the dim surfaces of the wooden rafters, like a shadow of eyes ever observing the outside world from a flat plane. They careened through dark space, twisting and turning. The great blue cat charged toward the exit and then leaped.


    They popped out of the surface, reanimated into three-dimensional form. Cold blasted their faces. The leopard had leaped right over the edge of the tower! The great cat plummeted to the ground. Jack hollered in terror as they fell, and Raven felt like joining him. But instead of ground impact, they instead merged once again, painlessly returned to the two-dimensional plane. The cat bounded and pranced between the two planes, surging back to Nine Star¡¯s Courtyard while dragging them all helplessly behind. In the blurred haze, Raven was able to glimpse Forir¡¯s tower among the strange visions, and he somehow recognized when they passed under the locked doors with ease.


    The leopard made one final leap out of the ground, releasing his hold of the three passengers by its brute grip. Van landed on his feet. Raven landed on his butt. Jack landed on his head. The blue beast retreated without a sound.


    ¡°Ow, ow, ow!¡± Jack shouted, rolling across the floor.


    ¡°Shh!¡± Van reprimanded comically. ¡°Master Forir might still be here.¡±


    Raven felt both exhilarated and angry. ¡°You could have given us warning,¡± he said, taking Van¡¯s extended hand and getting back to his feet. ¡°That was absolutely wild.¡±


    Jack winced as he joined them, looking green. ¡°I feel sick. If I wasn¡¯t so excited about getting ten thousand crowns, I¡¯d be pretty upset myself.¡±


    Raven smirked. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that. We¡¯re in Forir¡¯s tower. Now what?¡±


    He stopped himself from throwing up. ¡°It¡¯s over there,¡± he burped.


    He pointed to the wall near the door leading to Forir¡¯s study. Only one small pandora light existed, placed above the doorframe to provide illumination to the deep domed theater at night, but it was enough to see what he was pointing at. Along the wall beside Forir¡¯s door were rows of paintings of the former Battle and War Tactics masters in Nine Star Academy history. They approached, and Jack scurried to one on the bottom row.


    ¡°I was in here a week ago, because I understood the Shrales go way back in Roespeye,¡± he said. ¡°Turns out some were teachers. A lot of them. I came in here looking for information, hoping I could talk to Selim Forir¡­¡±


    He trailed off, looking confused. ¡°Wait¡­ Selim Forir. Now that I think about it, isn¡¯t he the brother of that man that got murdered in Zaliance? The one you were looking into?¡±


    ¡°And here I stood, thinking I was about to be amazed by your memory,¡± Raven replied in amusement.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± he replied, irritated. ¡°Anyway, there are four Shrales who taught Battle and War Tactics in the past.¡±


    ¡°I know all this.¡±


    ¡°Even I know that,¡± Van quipped. ¡°We¡¯ve read enough history on the Shrales to fill a hundred books.¡±


    ¡°Well, maybe you two should be just a bit more observant then. Because when I perused these little pictures here, I caught a glimpse of this!¡±


    He pointed to the painting next to him. The nameplate on the frame read ¡°Diggory Vampton.¡± The portrait portrayed a dignified man, similar in stature to Valius. Black hair sat slicked against his head, trailing down to a ruffled black collar. An incredibly large nose and pale, oily skin did not accomplish enough to shake the poise and grace in his countenance.


    ¡°I know Vampton,¡± Raven said. ¡°He was Master at Nine Star during Shrale¡¯s time.¡±


    ¡°Look where I¡¯m pointing!¡± Jack half growled.


    They peered even closer. A small pin had been affixed to the man¡¯s petticoat in the painting, lying under the shadow of his high collar. The insignia of a black rabbit was now unmistakable.


    ¡°Holy Wild,¡± Van said.


    ¡°The Black Rabbit,¡± Raven whispered. ¡°This has to be him!¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s not a Shrale.¡±


    ¡°Valius told Valentine he gave it to a friend. This fits.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ does this help? Did I win?¡± Jack asked.


    ¡°This is an immense discovery, but I still don¡¯t have the pages. Do you know anything about this man?¡±


    Jack reached into his pocket and produced his notebook. He shuffled through the pages while Van perused the paintings.


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember reading anything about this guy,¡± Jack finally admitted. ¡°But then again, I wasn¡¯t looking for anything on him. I just noticed the pin. Didn¡¯t think nothing of it at the time.¡±


    Raven¡¯s mind churned with next steps. If Vampton was given the precious instructions to find the missing pages of the Star Tome, then his heirs might still have them. He could only hope they still lived in Roespeye.


    Two loud thuds interrupted his thoughts. He turned to find Van looking apologetic. The paintings on the left and right of Vampton¡¯s portrait had fallen off their hooks. The frame of one sat broken in pieces.


    ¡°Oops.¡±


    Raven shook his head. ¡°You always have to touch things, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Well, you might be thanking me. Look at this!¡±


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    He put his hand on Vampton¡¯s picture frame. It didn¡¯t budge. He touched a few others and they all swayed on their hooks. Then he touched Vampton¡¯s again. The picture didn¡¯t move at all.


    ¡°And now that I think of it,¡± he said. ¡°The pin in the picture looks a little weird doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    He reached out and pressed a finger onto the canvas. The circular pin suddenly gave way, like a button. There was a click, and a large section of the wall gave way with a splitting crunch. Grating screeches echoed in the chamber as the wall moved back on its own, and then shifted to the side, opening up a hidden chamber.


    ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± Raven exclaimed.


    The revealed chamber was small and empty. A near identical portrait of Diggory Vampton hung on the far wall, covered in dust. There were just two differences. A pair of pandora were affixed to the top of the frame. One card featured two fork-tongued lizards while the other pictured an ornate lantern. Both cards were ghostly white ¨C very near heavenly retirement. The second difference was the pin. The man still wore one in the painting, but instead of a rabbit, a seven-pointed star was pictured.


    ¡°Another painting?¡± Van said in confusion, holding up a light pandora to grant illumination.


    ¡°Not just a painting,¡± Raven replied. ¡°A true work of art.¡±


    ¡°I appreciate that,¡± a voice replied.


    Jack and Van whirled, expecting someone behind them. But no one was there. They turned back and noticed Raven had come face to face with the painting. When they joined him, they quickly realized what he was staring at so intently. The man in the picture was looking back at them.


    ¡°Long ago, I had come to accept that no one would find me and provide me what was required,¡± Diggory said, looking both relieved and unnerved by their presence. The painted lines swirled and flowed as he moved within the picture. ¡°As you can see, very little time remains until my pandora becomes utterly spent.¡±


    ¡°You set all this up?¡± Raven asked. ¡°Tell me why. Although I am sure I know the answer.¡±


    ¡°My dear colleague Valius Shrale died protecting something of utmost importance,¡± the genteel man replied. ¡°With his dying hours, he bestowed upon me explicit instructions for the protection and the potential granting of his Star Tome to his true heir, someone worthy of it.¡±


    ¡°And that is why we are here.¡±


    Diggory nodded, sighing tiredly. ¡°I knew it was important to my friend. He told me very little except how the tome should be protected. He prepared a test for the one worthy of the pages. The test would lead to me.¡±


    ¡°The Black Rabbit.¡±


    He nodded. ¡°A title I used to loath but came to appreciate later in life. After Valius passed, I waited for so many years. He told me someone might come, but he doubted it. When my own final days drew near, I felt a firm conviction to carry out his wishes beyond my own final days. With my special pandora, I was able to carry on like this¡­ oh dear.¡±


    The paint around the edges of the picture started to ooze, dripping down the canvas.


    ¡°This conversation hastens the retirement of my pandora, I¡¯m afraid,¡± he said. ¡°We must speak quickly.¡±


    ¡°Where are the two missing pages of the Star Tome?¡± Raven asked directly.


    ¡°That you should know exactly two pages are missing speaks to your worthiness. But I must follow Valius¡¯s instructions to the letter. What is the password he left for you to find? Speak it to me now.¡±


    Raven shrugged. ¡°I have no idea. The clues he left behind were long destroyed. It has been a hundred years since his death. So, we went to him directly, speaking with his pandora, which I now hold.¡± He held up the Class Seven pandora for Diggory to see.


    ¡°Oh, my dear friend,¡± the painted man lamented. ¡°Still nowhere near retirement. Have you truly cut yourself off from the world? How I wish you would have told me what horrible thing you did so I could have comforted you in your last hour.¡±


    ¡°His shame is what brings us here. We are desperately trying to reverse the curse he bestowed on Roespeye.¡±


    Diggory¡¯s face fell in anguish. As the paint further dripped down his canvas, threatening to erase him, conflicting emotions splayed across his face while the watchers waited with bated breath.


    Finally, he replied with sad dignity. ¡°You are the second person to have circumvented Valius¡¯s clear instructions and come to me with no answer. I cannot tell you where the pages are. His instructions were clear. If you are unable to tell me the words of passage he required, your search is at an end. I am sorry.¡±


    He looked around as more paint flowed down all around him. The two pandora attached to his frame were now milky white.


    ¡°It would seem my time is up.¡±


    Raven scowled, but he did not reply. A second person?


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me!¡± Van shouted. ¡°Do you know what we¡¯ve been through to get here?¡±


    ¡°I can only imagine. But there is nothing you can say to convince me. I am resolved.¡±


    Van seethed. ¡°Before you go, you should at least know¡­ Valius Shrale murdered a kid!¡±


    Diggory looked at him in shock.


    ¡°Worse than that, actually. He ripped the soul out of her and turned her into the Sleeping Devil! His act destroyed Reyk Roespeye! Is that what you¡¯re actually protecting?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you,¡± he replied with a shaking voice.


    Raven stared at him darkly. ¡°Yes, you do. But it matters not, because as you said, your time is up. Die knowing you protected a monster for a hundred years.¡±


    Before the man could reply, a swath of paint ran down his face. He stopped talking, and the two pandora melted away into starlight particles that quickly faded into the darkness.


    Van punched the wet canvas, tearing a hole through it. ¡°Now what do we do?¡± he asked desperately.


    Raven smiled triumphantly. ¡°He gave me everything I needed.¡±


    ¡°What? What do you mean?¡±


    Instead of answering, he produced a small sheet of paper from his pocket and a pandora pen. He used the wall to write a quick message. Folding it up, he handed it to Jack.


    ¡°You¡¯ve earned your ten thousand crowns, Jack.¡±


    ¡°I did?¡±


    ¡°Make your way to Reyk Zaliance. Follow those instructions perfectly, and you¡¯ll be well rewarded.¡±


    ¡°Wow, I was not expecting this after that exchange. What an entirely bizarre series of events. But this is fantastic news! Will do!¡± He looked all around, puzzled. ¡°Now uh¡­ how do we get out of here?¡±


    Raven looked at his friend. ¡°Van, take us to Marcus Shrale as quickly as possible. You can drop Mr. Storne off on the way.¡±


    Van smiled jubilantly, grabbing his shoulder and then Jack¡¯s.


    ¡°Oh no!¡± Jack protested.


    But before he could do anything else, the blue leopard ignited, leaping out of the ground and crashing into them. They were snared by his jaws and dragged back into the floor. The cat careened through shadow, pulling them under the doorway once more and out into the frigid night. The beast leaped, pulling them up with it, but at the height of its arch, it let Jack go.


    Raven normally would have laughed watching him land on his back, but the sensation of Van¡¯s pandora was still far too stomach-turning. The cat leaped and zoomed through the dark night. With concentration, Raven was able to make some semblance of the world that flurried by. When they reached the streets of Roespeye, he saw the light of lanterns the cat deftly avoided. When they reached the Black Side Tunnel, he could make out the suddenly steep mountainside, and the boulders, trees, and snow mounds over which they rapidly traversed. And when they entered Supenheil, the flickering lights and snow-covered huts and tents passed in a blur.


    In short time, the leopard bounded out of the snowy ground one last time, releasing Raven and Van from its grip. This time, they both landed on their feet. The blue blur vanished in moments. Raven shook his head, allowing time for the spinning world to right itself.


    ¡°So why are we here?¡± Van asked, staring up at Marcus Shrale¡¯s hut.


    ¡°Diggory Vampton gave away the whole thing. Did you see the pin? And his pandora?¡±


    ¡°Uhhh¡­¡±


    ¡°His pandora featured a familiar lizard design. And the pin showcased a peculiar star. I¡¯d seen both before¡­ on the same object.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Van snapped his fingers. ¡°Marcus¡¯s third treasure in the bell glass! I remember. It had initials on it.¡±


    ¡°D.V.¡±


    ¡°Diggory Vampton! Holy Wild! But how do you connect finding the instructions to that? It¡¯s just a statue, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Raven climbed the steps to the hut. ¡°Maybe, but that doesn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s what Diggory said. ¡®True heir.¡¯ He said Valius wanted to give the pages to his true heir.¡±


    ¡°I got it! That¡¯s what Marcus has been prattling on about endlessly! Brilliant! So, Marcus must have the instructions somehow. Does he have the missing pages to the Star Tome, too?¡±


    Raven kicked the front door, smashing it open. His eye narrowed as he scanned the darkness. ¡°He wishes.¡±


    He stormed inside, making for the stairs to the second floor landing. Marcus appeared at the top of the staircase, sleepy and bewildered. When he laid eyes on Raven marching straight for him, he panicked with a shriek, retreating. Raven and Van quickly followed, bounding up the stairs.


    ¡°GET AWAY FROM ME!¡±


    They found him huddled in the far corner of the ornate room, clutching to his Facker Chest. Tears streamed from his eye as we wept in terror. Raven slowly approached, gaze alight with deadly rage, like the devil come to claim his soul.


    ¡°I want the pages to the Star Tome, Marcus,¡± he said darkly. ¡°I will have them.¡±


    ¡°NO!¡± he shouted, clutching to the chest. ¡°I am the true heir! ME!¡±


    ¡°You are NOT the heir!¡± Raven roared. ¡°I AM THE HEIR! And I will not be hindered one more second!¡± He grabbed Marcus by his tattered robes. ¡°Valius didn¡¯t leave your family the Star Tome because he knew they weren¡¯t worthy of it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wrong!¡±


    He shook him. ¡°Would the true heir gamble precious heirlooms away? You have never been worthy!¡±


    Marcus wailed in bitter sadness. ¡°I hate you! I HATE YOU! Who are you? Some spirit sent to torment me? All I ever wanted was the tome! It¡¯s my birthright! You can¡¯t take this from me! It¡¯s all I have left now. This is all I am! AND YOU¡¯VE TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM ME!¡±


    Raven dropped him and Marcus retreated back to his corner, weeping all the more.


    ¡°Marcus¡­¡± Raven now said gently.


    The man looked up at him, reducing his cries to sniffling.


    ¡°You know what Valius did, don¡¯t you?¡±


    He wiped his eye, looking down. ¡°Yes,¡± he replied quietly.


    ¡°And can you fix it? Can you save Sheeharu Rendan and undo his evil act?¡±


    He sat silently, swallowing hard. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you do.¡± Raven reached inside his robes and produced Valius Shrale¡¯s pandora and his insignia ring. ¡°You are not the heir. And you cannot withstand the madness Valius warned about. You know this. But I can give you back your legacy. In exchange for hope and in exchange for mercy, I offer these back to you.¡±


    Marcus stared in wonder, slowly getting up. ¡°You would give my treasures back to me?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Like you¡­ I have been looking for something precious, something righteous. Do not let Valius¡¯s madness become your own. Give me the way to find the pages. In doing so, you will redeem your wayward ancestor¡¯s legacy and become a true hero in Shrale lore. And you would help me save my friend. Please, Marcus.¡±


    Marcus wiped his face with his sleeve, looking upon the objects in Raven¡¯s hands in wonder and desire. For several moments, the trio stood in silence as the desperate man wavered to and fro in observable confliction.


    Finally, he picked up the Facker Chest. With a grimace, he placed his hand on the clasp. When he did, the top popped open. The marble statuette of the lizard with a flicking forked tongue lay inside. He pulled it out and placed it on his desk.


    ¡°I discovered the secret in Uncle Diggory¡¯s statue when I was a child. Purely accidental. Later, when he passed away¡­ I made sure to take it from his study before anyone noticed. Ever since, I¡¯ve been trying to restore the Star Tome.¡± He issued a deep sigh of relief and acceptance. ¡°But you are right. I¡¯ll never be able to read it. I just¡­ wanted to restore my family honor before anyone found out what Valius did. So, if you will keep quiet about his crimes, I accept your trade.¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    Marcus placed a finger on the curled tail of the lizard, pressing down. When he did, a hidden compartment sprang open at the base. A severely yellowed letter lay inside. He picked it up and handed it to Raven and then took back his precious heirlooms. Joy unrivaled spread over the man¡¯s face.


    Raven quickly opened the letter, heart pounding. Van joined him and together they read.


    Professor Vampton,


    My friend, how I wish we could share one last brew together, as is our choice leisure, but time is of the essence. I write to you now in a desperate hour of need. My death draws near, so I must task you with a dying request. Please do not deny me, as I fear the world might unravel if my instructions are not followed.


    I place in your care these two pages of my Star Tome. I have isolated them because they contain within them despair. Please do not read them, as you may not survive what produced my own doom. Forgive me for not destroying them, and I would not fault you if you did so, but I could not bear the thought, as the discovery is as massive as it is dangerous. My soul, blighted as it may be, has told me our era may need my happenstance discovery one day, a salvation against darkness, for indeed the miracle is in its light. But it is unfathomable to me that anyone but the finest soul in Fallowreyk could ever hold such a thing and maintain a sound mind.


    Therefore, I would ask of you this. One day, one who is worthy may come to you. My true heir, one not currently found within my own lineage. He will say to you ¡°Ten is Completion.¡± I have left designs for my heir to find these words of worth. Only the one who says these words to you should be given the page you keep. And I say ¡®page¡¯ because I must also task you with a second commission. The pages I have torn from my Star Tome are contained within the two golden rods my messenger has just handed you. They are, in fact, keys. Relics of a time lost to history. They must be combined to open and retrieve both pages.


    Give one of these keys to Master Braven, our dear friend and Mathematics professor. Tell him nothing except that he is to keep the key with him and to keep it safe. Express the dire nature of his acceptance but tell him nothing more except that the key should be passed down to the next Mathematics professor after him. If he knows these are my instructions, he will follow them. In doing this, the pages shall remain in Roespeye always, but safe from harm or exposure. And thus, the resolve of my heir will be further tested, as he should obtain the second page through his own devices. Only brought together will my Star Tome unify.


    The pages went on for some paragraphs more, but Raven stopped reading. He couldn¡¯t. His whole body tingled in shock.


    ¡°The keys,¡± Van repeated, flabbergasted. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious. Fanny¡¯s necklace? She had one of the pages this whole time! But, that means¡­¡±


    Raven looked at him and then Marcus.


    ¡°Marcus¡­ who has the other key besides Fanny?¡±


    ¡°I think you already know,¡± he said sadly. ¡°Diggory¡¯s key was passed down to the current Battle and War Tactics master. Selim Forir.¡±

 Chapter 42: Tactics of War

    No longer running on a constant adrenaline high, fatigue finally set in, reducing Raven to severe weakness. With the help of pandora, he slowly recovered from his encounter with the Seal Master, but the devastating injury sapped his energy to the point of exhaustion. Even so, he couldn¡¯t sleep a wink.


    The morning after the revelation in Supenheil, Raven sought out Master Forir, but he was not in his office. Frustrated, he knew he would have to wait until the next day, which was the last day of his schooling period at Nine Star and the final examination for Battle Suna. In the meantime, he sought out Fanny. While frustrated that he gave away her treasures to Marcus, she was able to accept his explanation of dire necessity, and she was happy he finally discovered the secret of her key necklace.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you the key if you can get the other one from Selim,¡± she had said over breakfast with him in the cafeteria. ¡°But that¡¯s a big if. I¡¯d rather wait until then. I don¡¯t want him disapproving of me more than he already is. Giant pain in the butt.¡±


    Secure in her assurance, he returned to his room to attempt sleep once more, but the day and night both passed restless. He prepared for his encounter with Forir early in the morning, dressing his wound and replacing torn linen strips with a fitted black shroud he fashioned. The partial mask covered his eye and held a patch more securely in place over his empty eye socket.


    He waited in front of the door to Tower Eight, enduring the blasting wind and bitter cold with ease thanks to Glass Blower sitting warm against his chest. He ignored weariness. He ignored hunger. All that mattered was the last page of the Star Tome Master Forir held, and he would have it no matter what.


    When finally Master Forir arrived to open the doors to his tower, he stopped and considered Raven carefully, eyes furrowed just above the high lining of his collar. The cardinal sitting on his shoulder matched the look of its owner, suspicious. Raven was sure he even heard the animal growl.


    ¡°I have something important I need to discuss with you,¡± he said.


    Forir said nothing for a moment, instead folding his arms behind his back. ¡°Will it explain why the paintings of former masters were found broken on the floor last night?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Our conversation shall be delayed until after the final exam and all the students have gone.¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    Master Forir¡¯s exam proved as tough as expected. While Raven was confident he made no mistakes during the written portion, it was amusing watching Van nearly tear his hair out in frustration as he worked through the complicated questions. He did much better in the practical portion of the exam, which required drawing up a series of successful seals. Raven was given an automatic pass, consistent with Forir¡¯s policy on him.


    The minutes passed like hours as he waited for the final class to be over. Raven drummed his fingers on his desk impatiently as each student took the second portion of the exam one at a time. When finally it was all over, however, Raven felt an unexpected measure of melancholy. His first and only experience of schooling was over, just like that. The other students celebrated with hurrahs and sighs of relief, but he felt none of those things. It was only then that he realized he¡¯d been so busy, focused on his mission, such feelings were impossible. He wished he¡¯d stopped to smell the flowers just a little more.


    The feeling was fleeting, and when Master Forir shut the doors to his classroom, leaving only he and Van in the domed amphitheater, Raven came back to the present. He stood, facing his quarry.


    ¡°Now,¡± Forir said, folding his arms behind him again. ¡°What is it you wanted to discuss?¡±


    ¡°I discovered the identity of your brother¡¯s killer.¡±


    The man¡¯s guarded stare became even more hardened, something Raven did not anticipate. He had been sure the teacher would be eager to finally have the chance to avenge his brother¡¯s killer. Raven¡¯s guard immediately came up, thoughts racing.


    ¡°Have you now?¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°And who is it?¡±


    ¡°Forgive me, Master Forir. But I went through incredible pains to discover the murderer¡¯s identity.¡±


    Forir shook his head and sighed. ¡°You want something in exchange.¡±


    ¡°Is the information you¡¯ve been seeking not worth a price?¡±


    ¡°And what is your cost?¡±


    ¡°You carry something on your person. A golden key. I will tell you everything I know about your brother¡¯s death if¡ª¡±


    ¡°Let me be very clear to you, Raven Whitesong,¡± Forir cut him off. ¡°You will never have the Star Tome.¡±


    Raven¡¯s eye widened in shock. A chill ran up his spine.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look so surprised,¡± Forir continued, slowly approaching his students. ¡°The circumstances are clear. Last night, someone opened the hidden chamber I had once long ago discovered. Someone spoke to Master Diggory in the portrait, who possessed information to give about the Star Tome. And now you¡¯ve come, seeking the page I hold.¡±


    Raven¡¯s eye narrowed. ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing.¡±


    ¡°I am quite certain I know exactly what I¡¯m doing.¡± His cardinal chirped shrilly at Raven. ¡°You are a liar, a manipulator, both a whelp and a menace. Your path of destruction has left a long trail in this city, and because of your stunt with the challenges to the masters, you may have invoked wrath the Titan has never before unleashed upon any city. A boy with reckless disregard for life, for morals, and for the Holy One he profanes with his own actions. Of course you would desire the Star Tome, a volume filled with new deadly mechanisms with which you can further inflict misery upon Fallowreyk¡¯s people. I would never let such a thing occur.¡±


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    There was a long silence as they stared each other down. When Forir was satisfied with his reaction, he made to leave. But as his hand grasped the door handle, a deadly smirk splayed across Raven¡¯s face.


    ¡°You should know Seliph died a coward.¡±


    Forir stopped. Van inhaled sharply.


    ¡°Crying for help, sobbing actually,¡± Raven continued. ¡°I just wanted his contraband, but I couldn¡¯t stand his weakness. So, I cut him down. It was¡­ satisfying to be honest.¡±


    The Master whirled, eyes alight with fury. His cardinal chirruped angrily.


    ¡°More lies,¡± he said severely.


    ¡°The amusing part wasn¡¯t how he died, though,¡± Raven continued. ¡°You should be happy I killed him quickly. No, what fascinated me was how long I had to rummage through his things. No one came running at his scream in terror. No one called for help or ran to get the authorities to assist him. No one. He was completely¡­ alone. No friends to speak of. No other family. Of course, he did say your name. He wanted his big brother to come save him.¡±


    Forir slowly came back, shaking with rage.


    ¡°That¡¯s the moment I killed him¡­ when he needed you. But where were you?¡±


    The professor stood over Raven, face burning crimson.


    ¡°You were here in Roespeye,¡± Raven finished, smiling further. ¡°Disapproving big brother. Aren¡¯t you glad he never knew how much you were disappointed in him? Or wait¡­ did he know¡­? Ah, that must be it. He did know. The shame he must have died with was probably unbearable, realizing he never received your forgiveness.¡±


    ¡°Dispense with your deceptions,¡± Forir nearly spat. ¡°You aren¡¯t my brother¡¯s killer. I won¡¯t hear any more of it.¡±


    ¡°Very well. We¡¯ll be on our way. I have things to do in town anyway. I need to sell my stock of¡­¡± He looked straight into Forir¡¯s eyes. ¡°Vitronite.¡±


    Murderous rage came over the man. He lifted his arms as if to strangle him.


    Raven stood unflinching, smiling wickedly. ¡°Are you going to attack your student, Master Forir? I can¡¯t imagine Panka would take too kindly to such an act.¡±


    ¡°You think he would protect you over me?¡± he said.


    ¡°Of course. I did the world a favor ridding it of your sad-sack brother. I¡¯m sure he approves. Why do you think he keeps protecting me? Seliph deserved to die.¡±


    Forir lowered his arms, staring menacingly. ¡°You have no one to blame for what I¡¯m going to do to you. The day of our duel draws near, and I will have you begging for mercy. Make no mistake, I will kill you. Now get out of my sight!¡±


    Raven sniffed in amusement. He folded his hands together and made a leisurely exit, Van following close behind. But when they were back outside, his smile washed away into a glare.


    ¡°What the hell just happened in there?¡± Van asked. ¡°You didn¡¯t kill his brother! Why did you say you did?¡±


    ¡°These are tactics of war, Van. We have confirmed the last unknown challenge. Master Forir¡¯s task under the Vark is indeed a duel.¡±


    ¡°But now he wants to kill you! And I don¡¯t blame him. How on earth will you get his key now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m taking a gamble, but it¡¯s the only shot I¡¯ve got. Now it¡¯s time to prepare. The challenges shall take place in three days. Please go alert Master Czeslaw for me.¡±


    ¡°Why? Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°I must make my preparations. The final hour draws near.¡±


    Van hurried off to his new destination while Raven made for the Sleeping Devil¡¯s Courtyard. Once alone, he placed a hand on the amber cocoon holding Rue¡¯s body.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± Rue said. ¡°Will we make it?¡±


    Raven nodded. ¡°Three days. Just three more days, and then everything we¡¯ve prepared¡­ all that we waited so many years for, will finally come to fruition. I won¡¯t let anyone come between us and our victory.¡±


    ¡°You seem nervous. You can¡¯t hide your feelings from me, you know. What is bothering you?¡±


    He breathed deep. ¡°Master Forir is strong. I have both seen and felt his soul. But there¡¯s something more. Something hidden. When he revealed his challenge would be a duel¡­ it seemed too easy. As if he wanted me to know.¡±


    ¡°Do you think he lied?¡±


    He grimaced. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But we have no other options but to prepare for it. That just leaves one thing left to do.¡±


    Making for the secret passage into Rail Roespeye, he followed the winding tunnels until he once again came upon the entrance to Panka¡¯s sanctuary. Standing before the two paintings, he pointed to the purple banana in one, and the cat running with the dogs in the other.


    The horse riders in the painting galloped down the hill, and the wall separated. He stepped inside as the sound of crashing waters filled his hearing. Descending the staircase of Panka¡¯s sanctuary until about half-way to the dark abyss, Raven took a seat on one of the steps. He folded his legs and placed his hands in Grand Harmony. He would wait all day if he had to.


    But he didn¡¯t have to wait even a minute. Dense rain suddenly poured over him, immediately soaking him to the bone. He looked up to find Panka floating above him, generating a small rain cloud with his trident and looking particularly impish. He cackled, causing his long, gray beard to shudder. He floated down to Raven¡¯s eye level.


    ¡°You look a little wet,¡± he said, cackling again.


    Raven smirked, shaking his head. ¡°Of all the guardians I¡¯ve met, I am certain you are the strangest.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯ve met Darnis Lots, I can¡¯t believe you think that¡¯s true.¡±


    Raven smiled, continuing to sit under his personal rain cloud. ¡°It would seem my time here is almost up. I hope it¡¯s been entertaining.¡±


    ¡°To the fullest. What an incredible year! The boisterous escapades you, Van and Valentine got up to were incredibly fun to watch!¡± The guardian¡¯s smile became a worried look. ¡°Even so¡­ I am quite anxious now.¡±


    Raven hummed. ¡°Understandable. I¡¯ve done everything I can to lure the Titan here. I made no intimation of any other cause.¡±


    ¡°The Titan has destroyed Reyks before. He will do it again.¡±


    ¡°These other Reyks¡­ you¡¯ve mentioned them previously. Tell me, do I hail from one of these lost cities?¡±


    Panka grinned. ¡°You¡¯ll have to discover that on your own. But you have guides. You just don¡¯t know it yet.¡±


    With a grunt, Raven stood. The cool water felt good against his aching body, so he remained in the rain. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you have anything to fear. If all goes according to plan, the humiliation I inflict upon the Titan in three days will be your greatest memory. But he should also be distracted from his rage. I¡¯ll see to it.¡±


    Reospeye¡¯s guardian rubbed his beard thoughtfully. ¡°Selim is still in your way.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t intervene in your challenges. The Vark Ilias forbids it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not demanding you interfere. I¡¯m just asking for a little help. When we first met, I asked for two things in exchange for my efforts to save Sheeharu. Now I¡¯m coming to collect.¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t saved her yet!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s dispense with the games. You and I both know what¡¯s at stake, Panka. I can restore Sheeharu¡¯s life. Finally! We both want this. We both need her.¡± He produced Rue the Day, showing him the pandora. ¡°Sometimes, schemes need partners. And Rue has been my partner for so long. But she deserves her life back, and I am willing to let her go. If the time comes, will you help us?¡±


    Panka took her pandora, sighing heavily. ¡°Oh, little one¡­ how I have missed you. But we won¡¯t really have her back, will we?¡±


    Raven closed his eyes as a measure of sadness came over him. ¡°No. All three of us knew the consequences. She is ready, and so am I.¡±


    He was astonished. ¡°You really are prepared to die for her, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s one thing I¡¯ve come to understand, something that doesn¡¯t come so readily to others, it is knowing my death would mean something. Opportunity. A single chance to finally destroy the Titan.¡± He stepped out of the rainfall and raised a hand. ¡°Perhaps a long life of experience would have garnered a different solution, but for now, I have only this one scheme. I must be successful. I will be successful. And no one, not even Selim Forir, will stand in my way.¡±

 Chapter 43: A Scheme of Folly

    The last three days in Nine Star passed rather uneventfully, but a terrible dread fell over Roespeye. The announcement of the day of Raven¡¯s challenges brought with it despair and a partial exodus. Thousands fled, unwilling to tempt fate should the Titan arrive to bear witness to Raven¡¯s deeds and then inflict terrible judgment on the city due to his perceived reckless bluster.


    Such a response had been factored into Raven¡¯s schemes. As Panka voiced, the Titan maimed and destroyed on a whim, and destroying cities, even large ones, wasn¡¯t beyond his conscience. The fewer people in the city, the better. Even so, Van and Valentine stayed by his side, despite their parents¡¯ objections. Privately, Raven had wished they also fled to safety, but he knew it would be useless. If by chance the Titan set his eyes on them as a result of their association, no safe haven existed.


    And as the day of his reckoning drew near, he was glad to be with them, as the days became lonely. Raven, while avoided by the citizenry before, was now treated as pariah. This was as intended, but it would have been quite burdensome without the companionship.


    ¡°Do you really think the Titan will come to Roespeye?¡± Valentine asked, looking out the window. She dusted off piles of snow from the stone windowsill and leaned over, but high above the cone of snow ever-drifting to Panka¡¯s well, there was nothing to see.


    ¡°He will come,¡± Raven replied, standing before his push-pin board and staring at the seven sheets of paper. They hung as monuments, documenting not just the challenges from the masters of Nine Star Academy under the Vark Ilias, but his last obstacle to victory.


    ¡°When he does, what do you want us to do?¡± Van asked. He had his ear pressed against the coffin leaning up against the wall. The pandora with the clock design sealing the box up was now ashen, almost white.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t touch that,¡± Raven chided. ¡°And there is only one thing I will ask of you tomorrow. The task I require will take place after challenge number four. At that time, I should be able to hand you detailed instructions; your achievement will be crucial to our victory. After the task is complete¡­¡± He turned to face them. ¡°You should flee the city, as far as you can travel. Do not return until you receive word the city is safe again.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave you,¡± Valentine said with conviction.


    ¡°You must. The Titan kills with purpose, but he also cares little about collateral damage. If all goes according to my schemes, your presence will be nothing more than a gamble of your own lives.¡±


    ¡°I assume you won¡¯t be attending the end-of-term school ball tonight?¡± Van asked. ¡°It¡¯s expected to be sparse for obvious reasons, but the masters insisted against postponing the tradition.¡±


    ¡°No, I won¡¯t be attending. My presence would just ruin it. But I understand you both are looking forward to the event. Have fun and don¡¯t get into trouble.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Dad,¡± Van quipped with a roll of his eyes.


    They laughed, and Valentine squeezed Van, holding him tight. Raven watched them in amusement.


    ¡°In the end, aren¡¯t you glad Van asked you to help him win Valentine¡¯s affections?¡± Rue asked. He could sense her smile.


    ¡°I thought it was very stupid at the time,¡± he replied. ¡°But I suppose I am.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Valentine asked.


    ¡°Nothing.¡± He shook his head, smirking. ¡°It¡¯s getting late. You two should get going if you want to make the event on time. Meet me tomorrow morning at Domi Roespeye. Eight o¡¯clock.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Dad!¡± Van replied as they turned to leave.


    ¡°It was funnier the first time,¡± Valentine said right before she closed the door behind them.


    He stood watching the door in silence. Quiet never felt so desolate.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Rue asked.


    ¡°I hope they won¡¯t be angry with me after tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°One day, they will understand.¡±


    ¡°Was I a good friend to them? I hope I was. I¡¯m a grumpy, sour person, but I really do like them.¡±


    ¡°You were a good friend.¡±


    He nodded.


    ¡°You should get your sleep, Raven.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I really should. A good, long rest.¡± He looked around, taking a deep breath. ¡°And when I open my eyes again, I hope to see something new.¡±


    Early in the morning, Domi Roespeye was empty, but the church of the Mountain City possessed a fullness of spirit and comfort. Raven lay bowed before the Chancel with his face low to the ground. He clasped his hands together in fervent prayer. The Holy One felt near to him, a soothing presence. Severe darkness surrounded his soul, but in this place, he felt a measure of assurance and calm.


    All his thoughts and all his efforts for six years had been for this day and this day alone. In truth, his whole life had been spent in preparation for the undertaking now waiting for him. Dwelling on his destiny¡¯s end, he felt further comforted. Despite so many severe obstacles, he still arrived at the intended day of all his schemes. And through faith, he would see the final task done.


    It was an hour before he heard another sound, a throat clearing. He slowly raised his head and got up. Van and Valentine stood behind him. Valentine wore something new, a feminine version of Van¡¯s Thimble attire. A black vest with clasps and pockets, brown arm sleeves and knee-high boots, accompanied by a thick canvas scarf and cloak.


    ¡°It suits you,¡± Raven said.


    ¡°I was made a Thimble today,¡± she said proudly.


    ¡°Van finally told you everything, did he?¡±


    She looked at Van indignantly. ¡°Raven knew you were the leader of the Thimbles before I did?¡±


    Van laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head. ¡°I told you right after I told him. I swear.¡±


    ¡°Did you drink from your pool this morning?¡± Raven asked Van quickly.


    ¡°I did. Get it over with. This is the last time, right?¡±


    ¡°Wait, take some of my Hydra, too,¡± Valentine said. ¡°I¡­ want to contribute.¡±


    Raven nodded and placed two fingers each against their chests. As Hydra slowly siphoned from their bodies, his nearly gray eyes became shining green once more.


    ¡°No matter what happens, I want to thank you both for your contributions. They have been tremendous,¡± Raven said. ¡°There¡¯s just one more thing to do.¡±


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    His friends nodded solemnly. Together, they surrounded the golden image of the Titan beside the dais and with a great heaving push, they toppled the repulsive idol. The crash boomed through hall, echoing for several seconds. When quiet returned, Raven wiped his hands emphatically.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to finish the job. But before I do¡­¡± His eyes twinkled mischievously. ¡°Valentine, you¡¯ve given me an idea.¡±


    Master Alabanie Smith laid his head on the surface of his podium. Clammy skin stuck to the surface, glued by the sweat trickling down his face. His body existed in a state of shuddering fear. Likewise, his six colleagues sat at their podiums within the Ilias Drome, mired in silent dread.


    ¡°I can¡¯t handle this,¡± Master Turngood finally lamented. The Pandora professor got off his seat and paced for the dozenth time. ¡°The Titan could come. My God, he could be here right now!¡±


    ¡°Get a hold of yourself, Simeon,¡± Rook Czeslaw growled. The bearded history teacher frowned, folding his massive hands together. ¡°You still represent Nine Star Academy. Have some dignity!¡±


    ¡°Hang your dignity!¡± he shot back. ¡°Why didn¡¯t we do something about this before now? We should have made that brat disappear months ago! We¡¯re all going to die!¡±


    Fanny Fyre rolled her eyes.


    Turngood¡¯s harried expression filled with anger. ¡°You should be more scared than anyone, Fanny! You think the Titan won¡¯t know you¡¯ve been fraternizing with this boy who loudly boasts about one day killing him? He will definitely know! You¡¯re probably already dead and you don¡¯t even realize it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, shut up,¡± she said before biting her lip.


    ¡°You just make sure you stand as far away from me as possible! I don¡¯t want the ruler to think I¡¯m a sympathizer in any way. I wash my hands of this whole matter.¡±


    ¡°Our challenges to him were impossible,¡± Czeslaw said. ¡°Absolutely impossible. If the kid doesn¡¯t pass every single one, maybe the Titan won¡¯t punish us. All we can do is hope.¡±


    ¡°But Whitesong somehow learned what we all wrote!¡± Smith complained, lifting his head. ¡°How did he do it? He¡¯s had a year to prepare!¡±


    ¡°There is at least one challenge he definitely won¡¯t succeed in,¡± Master Forir said. The other masters quieted in respect. He looked at Fanny, eyes furrowed into a dark glare. ¡°As long as we stick together against Whitesong¡¯s folly, we shall succeed in foiling his terrible plans.¡±


    She didn¡¯t respond, but he pressed. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you, Fanny.¡±


    Glaring back at him, she said ¡°Don¡¯t you dare order me around, Selim!¡±


    ¡°Your actions have been stupid,¡± Czeslaw said. ¡°He¡¯s right to confront you. We all know you¡¯ve been helping Whitesong with all his scheming. I was ready to reject his application to our school a year ago, but you had to enroll him.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything wrong. Raven saved Valentine Chessex¡¯s life, and that¡¯s all I needed to understand he isn¡¯t the villain you all make him out to be.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of Ms. Chessex, now she¡¯s a follower of that demon! Was she really saved?¡±


    She was about to retort before Master Cooley cleared his throat. ¡°This arguing will get us nowhere,¡± he said with rare firmness. ¡°What¡¯s done is done. We must fulfill our obligation under the Vark Ilias, and nothing more. The ruler has been given no reason to harm any of us. Our fate is with the Holy One now as it always has been.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    The creak of the double doors opening interrupted Czeslaw.


    Raven pushed the doors aside with Van and Valentine in step behind him. A burst of wind careened through the Ilias Drome, scattering the pages of the Star Tome in huge gusts. Dozens of pandora surrounded Raven, rotating at a wild pace. In place of his robes, he wore a long, black overcoat with purple flames crawling up the left side. His earrings were replaced with small, black hoops.


    He approached the seven masters with a deadly smirk. Faster and faster the pandora spun until finally they collected into a pocket of his coat, leaving only Rue the Day to hover above his outstretched hand, slowly rotating in place. The pandora shined like the sun, causing his quarry to shield their eyes.


    ¡°My day has come,¡± he said. Van placed his hands in his pockets while Valentine held her arms.


    The light faded, and Rue joined the other pandora in his pocket. The masters stared at him from their podiums. The differences between them were profound. Turngood and Smith were sweating buckets. Both anxiety and excitement filled Fanny¡¯s countenance. Czeslaw and Forir stared furious daggers at him. Bastille prayed in silence while Cooley sat calm as ever.


    Raven raised his hand, pointing a finger. ¡°I have come¡­ to fulfill my challenge.¡±


    A dry drenching of black rain preceded the return of the great wooden beam stretching down from the darkness above them. At the end of the beam, the four previously ivory busts of eagles were now shining gold in color. From one of the beaks, a copper sphere popped out, floating to Fanny who grabbed it.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with,¡± Czeslaw growled.


    ¡°I control the order of the challenges,¡± Raven said. ¡°And remember my terms. If I am victorious in all seven challenges, you shall formerly honor me as the greatest student in Nine Star history.¡± He pointed to the Seals master. ¡°Let¡¯s start with the easiest contest. Challenge Number One will be Master Smith¡¯s challenge of a game of seals.¡±


    The copper sphere sprang loose from Fanny¡¯s grip and opened. A slip of paper floated out from it, igniting in fire. Words written in pure flame formed in midair.


    ¡°Defeat me in a game of seals¡±


    Raven smirked as Smith shuddered. Czeslaw produced his pandora with the image of a spear. In a flash of light, a gigantic soldier of stone materialized. Great crashing footsteps turned the soldier aside where a large table sat against the wall. Frolicking pages whisked this way and that to avoid the stone creature¡¯s mighty steps. The hulking pandora entity picked the table up with ease, bringing it back before the podiums. Once the task was done, the stone soldier faded to ether, power returning to its home.


    The two foes took opposite ends of the table, pandora pens at the ready. The seals table provided for the match was gorgeous, inlaid with gold and silver, a true professional¡¯s tabletop. A pandora lay situated on the surface of the gaming area, featuring a lagoon paradise.


    The other masters sat in observation from their podiums while Van and Valentine watched from the other side. But every so often, they looked around, and Raven couldn¡¯t blame them, because he wondered the same thing himself.


    Did the Titan come? Was he here, watching from his personal shadows?


    ¡°Tournament rules?¡± Raven asked Smith, fanning his face with his pandora.


    ¡°Y-yes,¡± Smith answered. He touched the pandora, and the tabletop transformed into a sleek luminated surface perfect for the game. ¡°I insist one of my colleagues act as judge.¡±


    ¡°Pick whoever you like.¡±


    Smith glanced at Master Turngood who nodded. Raven and Smith performed the Opening X, and the game commenced.


    In less than five minutes, the game was over.


    Smith fell to his knees in shock as Raven declared victory, five seals to nothing. When he did, the chime of Funny Tower rang with an ear-splitting gong. Panka formally declared Raven¡¯s victory.


    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ this¡­¡± Smith blubbered.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t think I would waste any more time on you, did you?¡± Raven asked darkly. He pointed to Fanny. ¡°Challenge Number Two: a game of Parchen.¡±


    Smith retreated, red-faced and sweating buckets, while Fanny stepped up to the table. A slip of paper emerged from the copper sphere in her hands and ignited.


    ¡°Beat me in a game of Parchen¡±


    She smiled at Raven, touching the pandora on the table. When she did, the table¡¯s surface transformed once again, this time creating a perfect grid for Parchen, with special slots for all the cards that emerged from the liquid-transforming surface.


    Raven focused as he began to pick his move cards. While he wanted to trust Fanny, he never had any intention to come unprepared. Ever since their discovery of her skill at the casino, he had been practicing the game of Parchen in his spare time. He felt ready, but all his nerves steeled him for any and all unpredictable turns of event. Her brilliant mind could not be underestimated or taken for granted.


    ¡°Will you give me the key around your neck if I win, Master Fyre?¡± he asked.


    Fanny didn¡¯t look up as she picked through the move cards, looking flustered and frustrated. ¡°Maybe,¡± she said.


    Forir¡¯s scowl increased, but he said nothing.


    The game commenced, with Raven making the first move. He waited for Fanny¡¯s response, but in little time, all concern disappeared. She fumbled, growled and struggled, and Raven won the game quicker even than the first challenge. Panka rang Funny Tower¡¯s gong, causing the walls to shake and shudder. When the din faded, Fanny stepped aside from the table, smiling clumsily.


    ¡°Boy, I am just not very good at this game,¡± she said loudly. ¡°Maybe I need to rethink my life¡¯s pursuits.¡±


    He smirked and shook his head.


    ¡°I have to maintain my reputation, don¡¯t I?¡± she said quietly after approaching him.


    He was about to reply, but words abandoned him when Fanny kissed his cheek.


    ¡°Good luck,¡± she said with a mischievous grin.


    She began walking back to her podium when she saw Forir was still looking at her. His face burned with wrath at her actions, and his cardinal issued a single, angry chirp. She sneered back with her own impetuous anger.


    ¡°Raven!¡± she shouted.


    He turned to her. She produced the long, golden cylinder from around her neck and tossed it to him, her gaze never leaving Forir¡¯s. He caught it in one smooth motion.


    ¡°I believe in who you are, Raven Whitesong,¡± she announced. ¡°You will kill the Titan. Rid us of his evil forever!¡±


    Her colleagues gasped. Raven held up the key for Forir to see. The time for their duel had come.

 Chapter 44: Vengeance Awaken!

    Raven and Forir faced off in Nine Star Courtyard, an empty colosseum to accommodate their conflict. The normally pleasant chimes of the nine towers felt hollow now, ringing only for their ears in the great expanse. The sky-high buildings served as solemn witness now to the fate of Fallowreyk. Panka¡¯s chime worked overtime in its chaotic composition against the other finely timed gongs, heightened significance for only a few listeners. For several moments, the two enemies faced each other in silence, coats drifting on the strong northern breeze. Heavy snowfall produced a thick cone this day, siphoned quietly to the rooftop of Panka¡¯s well.


    ¡°Are you truly my brother¡¯s killer?¡± Forir finally asked. ¡°The truth¡­ once and for all.¡±


    The mouths of the other masters gaped as their focus turned to Raven.


    Raven¡¯s eye narrowed cruelly. ¡°Still focused on that useless thug? This duel will be short work if you can¡¯t even concentrate.¡±


    Forir glared and his cardinal shrilled at him. ¡°Flee for now,¡± he said to the bird on his shoulder. The cardinal gave Raven one last angry stare before flying off. ¡°Fanny, the challenge,¡± he ordered.


    She lifted the golden sphere. A slip of paper drifted out of the orb, but instead of igniting on fire, only a portion burned away. Words of flame then appeared in the space between them.


    ¡°A pandora duel¡±


    ¡°Select five pandora with which to battle¡±


    Raven sniffed and quickly produced his pandora. Along with Rue, he held Glass Blower, Wind Ruby, Free Regions, and his pandora pen.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Rue said. ¡°Something is wrong.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just¡­ something doesn¡¯t feel right. I don¡¯t think you should use me in this fight.¡±


    He looked up at the floating piece of paper with Forir¡¯s challenge written on the other side. It was indeed strange the paper burned, but not completely like the two before it. Did Forir have a trick up his sleeve?


    ¡°I need you, Rue,¡± he finally said. ¡°You will ensure our victory.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± she said shakily. ¡°Please be careful.¡±


    Raven released his grip, leaving his five pandora to float in the air before him.


    Forir also produced four pandora along with a pandora pen. The Class of each of them paled in comparison to the might of the weapons he¡¯d selected. He was about to say something when suddenly more words of fire appeared ¨C a third instruction. Raven¡¯s eye widened in shock at the sight.


    ¡°The duelists shall switch pandora¡±


    A chill ran through him as Forir lowered his head so Raven could see his ominous smile, the first time he¡¯d ever seen his full face. A deep, terrible scar ran across his chin.


    ¡°When you so cavalierly boasted about your Class Eight pandora,¡± he said, ¡°and paraded its power about town all year, I knew I had sealed your defeat from the very first day. But I could not have imagined I would have the opportunity to avenge my brother with it. Or¡­ will you give up and flee like a coward now?¡±


    ¡°Raven, what do we do?¡± Rue asked fearfully.


    Raven folded his arms, glaring and wishing he had listened to her premonition. The creeping warning of doom crawled up his neck, cautioning disaster. The task at hand, previously an impediment, now felt like a razor¡¯s edge upon his own neck.


    He tsked. ¡°We endure it,¡± he replied quietly. ¡°Remember our training, Rue.¡±


    With a wave of his hand, his pandora drifted toward his foe. Likewise, Forir sent off his own pandora. When they arrived, Forir snatched Rue out of the air, holding her up for Raven to see.


    For the first time in years, Raven did not have Rue with him. His glare at Forir grew fiercer, anger further welling up within, but he turned his attention to his new unknown weapons. A Class One pandora pen, three Class Two pandora, and one Class Five. He sat on the ground, cross-legged, and the floating pandora lowered to his eye level.


    The duel had now begun.


    Raven tapped the Class Five card. It slowly rotated once before shining. The picture featured a humanoid shape, but nothing more specific. However, upon touching the pandora, he gained insight into its abilities. This soul could produce a pandora entity for specific tasks, like Bart¨®n, but seemingly much less complex.


    As he studied his new pandora, Forir did likewise. Raven¡¯s gaze flickered to his former teacher every now and again. Fleeting thoughts came to him, wondering what it would have been like to know him and learn from him under different circumstances. But there was no use focusing on what might have been.


    Upon completion of analyzing the assets at his disposal, he placed his hands in Grand Harmony, closing his eye. The other pandora were common: an earthen pandora, an electricity pandora, and an armory pandora. Forir had given him real tools to use in battle, which spoke further of his character. He wanted to win, to avenge his brother, but he desired a righteous victory. Even so, these pandora did not contend with the clout of his own weapons now at the bidding of his foe. On pure force, Raven could not compete with Selim Forir.


    Attaining victory now required the greatest scheme.


    He slowly got back up, collecting four of the pandora with his left hand and the pandora pen with his right. Forir faced him at the ready, mirroring his actions in collecting the pandora before lifting a hand to shoo the witnesses back. The masters along with Van and Valentine obliged, retreating to the edge of the courtyard.


    ¡°Attack at your whim,¡± Forir said. ¡°Your death will be painful.¡±


    ¡°We shall let Panka decide the start,¡± he replied.


    They stood poised at the ready, twenty spans apart. But it didn¡¯t take long for Raven to realize asking Panka to decide the start of the duel may have been a mistake, because the silence drew long. If the tension of the moment wasn¡¯t so great, he would have sighed.


    Always the trickster.


    Van called out after the moment dragged out even further: ¡°You want me to just say ¡®go?¡¯¡±


    Panka¡¯s gong immediately clashed into the winter air.


    Raven whipped his hands forward, spreading out the pandora. Forir did the same.


    ¡°Raven, watch out!¡± Rue screamed.


    Her pandora burst with light, igniting in gravitational burst crashing into his body and launching him through the air. He tumbled across the courtyard in crashing bounces before skidding to a stop.


    Forir held up Rue like a shield, approaching, but stopped short in surprise. Raven quickly recovered from the assault, jumping to his feet. His entire body was coated in thick armor of mud, like brown mail. He raised his pandora pen. At his command, a seal was instantly drawn onto the ground, jetting ink pulsing into the stone with precision ¨C the Seal of Waves. The earth pandora streaked to the center and Raven snapped his fingers.


    A wall of earth and mud exploded from the pandora, enhanced by the seal. The earth formed a wall ten spans high. He pushed his hand through the air. The mud wall rushed toward Forir, threatening to consume him. Forir raised Rue, and the wall exploded into bits, flecking him in the slimy mixture but otherwise causing no harm.


    Again and again, Raven snapped his fingers, sending furious earthen waves at him. Rue protected Forir in totality. As Raven attacked, Forir flicked his own pandora pen, drawing up a flotation seal near the ground. He then expertly formed three enhancement seals within, a seal within a seal. Wind Ruby ignited, and three red cords emerged from the surface of the pandora, whizzing around in tight circles underneath the seal and blasting mighty gales. Forir stepped on it, and the red cords erupted with boosted power, launching him into the air and out of range from Raven¡¯s relentless attack.


    Raven looked up, frowning as his foe stared down at him while floating on the makeshift flying apparatus. He¡¯s perceived my pandora¡¯s strengths. Coupled with his skill in seals, he¡¯s already proving to be a monster.


    He touched the armory pandora. A silver sword emerged from the surface, which he snatched and drove into the ground. Three more swords emerged from the pandora, which he tossed into the air. They drove into the ground at some distance to form a square area. He tapped the Class Five entity pandora. An ashen, globular being emerged from the pandora with a flash, standing upright. It took on a human form, but just barely, with bulbous, fingerless hands, and a fluid body.


    Forir was drawing up a seal of his own in midair. Raven moved swiftly. He drew up a seal on the back of the pandora entity, the Seal of Mind¡¯s Eye. He directed his earthen pandora to lay in the middle of the seal. He then drew a seal around the sword embedded into the ground. The Seal of Solidification with a Seal of Growth inlay. He dashed to the other four swords, drawing up identical seals.


    Forir completed his seal and burst forward, soaring speedily on his floating apparatus.


    ¡°Too slow!¡± Raven shouted with a smile, grasping the handle of the last sword.


    The ground rumbled as the stonework around the four swords exploded. Dirt and stone cascaded from the opening to form massive pillars. More and more earth towered high into the air, forming a mighty castle to enclose the pandora entity inside. The top spires reached so high, they broached Panka¡¯s cone of snow. A makeshift door slammed shut, and a lock clicked.


    Forir opened his hand, zooming past Raven.


    ¡°I¡¯m attacking!¡± Rue screamed.


    Pulses exploded from her card. The attack launched Raven though the air again. The close encounter blasted his dirt armor to dust, and he landed with a skidding thud some fifty spans away. He felt his shoulder and several ribs crack, but he managed to roll onto his feet and dash away.


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    Raven grunted from the fresh pain. Damn. He¡¯s only using a Seal of Minor Enhancement in conjunction with Rue. Anything stronger and he¡¯d just kill himself. He knew that immediately. He truly is a master of war. To already understand the limitations of using seals in pairing with Rue is impressive.


    Forir chose not to give chase. He instead directed Rue toward the vast castle. She blasted immense power into the newly constructed citadel, but the earth walls held strong, despite creaking and groaning against her pressure. While he remained distracted, Raven drew up a Seal of Restoration on the ground and stepped inside. Blue sparkles surrounded him, followed by a soft green aura. In exchange for Hydra, his more serious wounds healed within the seal, but he left the superficial wounds alone.


    Forir was looking at Rue¡¯s pandora strangely. A decision seemed to come over the man, as her pandora began to rotate around him instead of float in front of him. He abandoned his attempt to destroy Raven¡¯s mysterious castle, instead flying over to Panka¡¯s well and collecting water from the rainfall to drink from cupped hands.


    Raven frowned before exhaling mightily. As a citizen of Roespeye, Forir could refresh his Hydra whenever he wanted. Within the haven of his home city, no limit existed to the number of seals he could utilize.


    Meanwhile I¡¯ve already used about half my Hydra, he thought, huffing. Using so many seals at one time was never the original plan. I have to get this to the final act as quickly as possible. It seems he¡¯s already figured out Rue can warn me when she¡¯s about to attack. If not for our dedication to training for this exact scenario, I¡¯d probably be dead by now. I¡¯ve been able to escape her worst damage. Comprehending the liability, he will use her as an absolute defensive blockade, instead of for direct attacks. It¡¯s what I would do.


    Forir approached, steadily floating mid-air on his platform. He folded his arms imperiously as Rue revolved around him.


    ¡°You look a little tired,¡± he said.


    ¡°And you look a little disappointed. Is Rue not what you were hoping for?¡±


    ¡°After I¡¯ve defeated you and buried your corpse in an unmarked grave,¡± he said. ¡°I think I will sell this useful little pandora I¡¯ve gained. That¡¯s all she¡¯s good for after all.¡±


    Raven smirked. ¡°Is this your attempt to hurt me, Master Forir? As if I haven¡¯t traveled through hell already. But your efforts are cruel and malicious. Not exactly something you ever taught us in class. I approve. It seems I¡¯ve woken something dark within you. I wonder if you know what that is.¡±


    His thick eyebrows furrowed in wrath. Glass Blower¡¯s pandora ignited. The wind whistling from the red cords whizzing underneath him caught fire, blasting wreaths of flame in all directions.


    Raven huffed, shaking his head ruefully. This man is definitely a problem.


    He drew up a seal on the ground, but Forir surged forward, forcing Raven to flee. The professor paused over Raven¡¯s drawn seal, allowing the wind and fire to blast the drawn lines away. Raven attempted the process again, but Forir pursued relentlessly, refusing to let him draw any more seals. Steadily, he drew closer, erasing all his seal attempts while using Wind Ruby and Glass Blower in conjunction to blast ropes of fire at him.


    There was no choice but to buy some time. Tapping his earth pandora, Raven spread his hands wide. Walls of dirt and stone erupted from the pandora to surround him in a small dome. Forir approached, blasting it with fire, but the protection held firm. He snapped his fingers and Rue took front and center. A bomb of force exploded from her card, blasting the dome to bits.


    But Raven wasn¡¯t there. Instead, the parts of a shattered pandora entity lay inside, partially covering up a drawn seal.


    Forir tsked. ¡°Seal of Substitution,¡± he said.


    He looked around, quickly spotting Raven now standing on the other side of the courtyard with his hand placed on a seal drawn onto a wall of the immense castle he had earlier constructed. Forir burst toward him in pursuit.


    Raven heaved for breath, sweating and exhausted. The emerald color of his lone eye became drab. The Seal of Substitution required an incredible amount of Hydra. But he smiled triumphantly as Forir careened toward him. Before he could attack, the castle¡¯s foundations burst, and the walls of hardened earth exploded all around them. A roar preceded a monster emerging from the sanctuary. The pandora entity Raven originally produced at the start of their duel now towered hundreds of spans high, enhanced by his special seals. A new mouth lined with jagged teeth opened in another barbaric howl.


    Forir¡¯s eyes widened in shock at the giant. He quickly fled, but the clay monster roared, pursuing him like a rabid beast. Forir brought Rue up before him, but the entity swung its mighty arm, striking him and knocking him through the air. Raven observed with interest as the professor expertly corrected his disorientation, restoring himself upright. But the beast pursued him relentlessly, chasing him around the courtyard with great crashing footsteps.


    Raven was given mere seconds to reassess. The other masters along with Van and Valentine had retreated inside the Ilias Drome, leaving him without a potential source for fresh Hydra. Luckily, it seemed his foe had not perceived the strengths of his other pandora, Free Regions. Given what was available, Raven had one shot to defeat Forir.


    He quickly drew up three seals to float in midair. Seals of Major Enhancement. He flicked his hand and they twisted to face each other in a tringle formation. He then drew up another seal to serve as a base underneath them. He directed the electrical pandora and armory pandora to sit in the middle of the formation. Electrical clout ignited from within, churning with ear-splitting energy. As his seals activated, his eye lost all trace of green, now fully gray. He pointed to Master Forir.


    The cage of blinding clout moved on its own, veering behind the colossus still recklessly pursuing Forir. The professor zoomed this way and that on his apparatus, fire and wind blasting away as he attempted to escape, but the giant entity stayed on his trail, flailing arms wildly, crashing into the ground with each miss, and roaring like a sick animal. Forir used Rue effectively, blasting swinging arms to smithereens before they could land hits, but the pandora entity¡¯s limbs would only regenerate.


    Finally, it seemed Forir had gained advantageous positioning, zooming behind the beast and bringing Rue to point at the creature¡¯s head. A thundering crack suddenly split the air, and a bolt of searing electricity caught Forir in the shoulder. He yelled in pain, zooming away. A silver knife was embedded into his arm. He wrenched it out with a grunt.


    The luminescent box of Raven¡¯s design pursued, followed by his giant. Together, they attacked him from every angle. Lightning cracked every few seconds, guided in straight shots by shooting knives from the armory pandora. The precise strikes scorched the stone of the courtyard with every miss, and drew shouts of pain from Forir with every hit. Against such energy-charged strikes, Rue was useless.


    In desperation, Forir launching himself high into the air, through the cone of snow. The cage of lightning pursued him on its own. Lightning crashed over and over, searing the ground with scorch marks in all directions. The giant huffed and puffed, waiting impatiently for its target to return.


    Finally, Forir crashed back through the cone of Panka¡¯s snow, still heavily pursued by the cage of lightning. Littered with snow, burns and trickling blood, he desperately veered through the courtyard as he grasped his arm, struggling to gain separation. Wind Ruby blasted away with its greatest power, but not fast enough. Raven¡¯s giant finally caught him with a swing of its arm, pummeling Forir to the ground.


    The man gasped. With a grunt, he fell unconscious.


    The new silence was deafening. Raven exhaled. Having watched from afar, he slowly limped forward. His Hydra was utterly spent. The seal cage holding the electrical and armory pandora returned to him, hovering near his head. The earth colossus remained docile, standing watchful over Forir and growling.


    Raven came beside his former teacher, still heaving in exhaustion. He waited for Panka¡¯s victory gong to sound, but none issued forth. A chill ran up his spine, and his head snapped up.


    ¡°RAVEN, WATCH OUT!¡±


    Forir suddenly charged through the cone of snow above, roaring in rage. Rue exploded with force, and bursts of fire ignited around Raven¡¯s colossus. The giant being exploded to bits, and Raven hurtled through the air. Pure agony enveloped him as he bounced and skidded over and over. With every impact, new bones snapped, skin seared, and blood drained.


    Finally, he rolled to a stop, landing hard on his back. He groaned, turning his head painfully to watch Forir calmly step off his apparatus and stand next to the fallen clone of himself. The image of the broken professor on the ground faded, and Forir smiled, holding up Free Regions.


    ¡°For all your creativity, and all your intelligence¡­ you still managed to convince yourself I planned for nothing,¡± the master said. ¡°I believe I heard you call this ¡®Free Regions¡¯, yes?¡±


    Raven issued a weak cough, disoriented and shaky. He couldn¡¯t move. His gray eye was nearly white now.


    ¡°Allows for projections,¡± Forir continued. ¡°Out of sight above the snow, it was quite easy to create a projection of myself and hide away in safety from your attacks. A truly valuable and unique pandora. I think I will keep all these pandora I¡¯ve taken from you. Spoils of war. You should remember that from my lessons.¡±


    He hobbled to Panka¡¯s well. With an almost salacious smile of satisfaction, Forir drank deeply of the falling water. Hydra restored, he took a long breath and turned back to his fallen quarry. He limped toward Raven, arms folded behind his back. Rue still rotated around him in silent protection.


    ¡°And now¡­ my final lesson. Revenge,¡± Forir said. The normal calm abandoned him as he looked down at his broken foe with emphatic triumph. ¡°I will treat you the same as you treated my little brother. Your wickedness ends here. Let the annals of Roespeye record my victory.¡±


    Raven coughed again, wincing.


    Forir took Rue into his hand, pointing her at his prey. Powerful pressure built as Forir¡¯s wrath poured into her, ready to annihilate.


    Raven frowned. ¡°Any time now, Panka,¡± he managed to say.


    A voice whispered in his hearing. You had better deliver.


    Panka¡¯s well exploded. The wooden roof blasted away, and a massive pillar of water surged from the pool. Forir turned in shock as the water arched and crashed onto Raven. The professor backed away in shock as Raven¡¯s body was completely consumed in the pillar.


    ¡°This can¡¯t be!¡± he shouted in anger and fear. ¡°Panka would give Hydra to him? An outsider? WHY?¡±


    The waters finally ceased, and Raven emerged standing, eye alight with vivid green rage. Snow cascaded all around them, no longer siphoned to the well. Forir backed away in fear, bringing Rue up to protect him. But Raven raised his arm high, and the lightning pandora flew up into the air above them.


    ¡°That won¡¯t be enough to defeat me!¡± Forir yelled.


    ¡°For all your creativity, and all your intelligence, you still managed to convince yourself I planned for nothing. Look around you, Selim.¡±


    Master Forir scanned his surroundings, and when he realized what Raven had done, he fell to his knees in shock. The many scorch marks all around the courtyard from Raven¡¯s previous lightning attacks were not scattered and random.


    They formed a perfect new seal. And he stood right in the middle of it.


    ¡°Seal of Great Enhancement,¡± he whispered in disbelief.


    Raven stepped on the outer edge of the seal and snapped his fingers. The seal ignited in blinding blue light. A searing bolt of lightning struck Forir, blasting an ear-splitting shriek, followed by a boom. Dust and earth plumed into the air as stone shattered. The earth rumbled, and the gongs of the towers all rang in scattered disarray from the quake.


    It felt an eternity when all finally settled. The snowfall steadily reigned in the smoke and debris. And when quiet ultimately returned, Raven approached his battered foe in timid, painful steps. His entire body felt broken.


    Forir lay spread eagle on the ground, gasping for air. Smoke and ember wisped from his burnt figure. Flames consuming his robes slowly died in the falling snow, reduced to embers. As Raven stood over his mangled form, Panka¡¯s victory bell rang out into the cold heavens.


    Rue and the rest of Raven¡¯s pandora quickly returned to him. Forir¡¯s pandora fell to the ground.


    ¡°You think sparing my life changes anything?¡± Forir rasped defiantly. ¡°You will never have the Star Tome. Never. Kill me now or I will have my revenge one day. I swear it.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t kill your brother,¡± Raven replied.


    Forir¡¯s eyes widened in shock, but he said nothing.


    ¡°Of course, you knew this¡­ didn¡¯t you, Master Forir?¡± he continued.


    Forir remained silent, choosing to look up into the gray skies. His anger faded to exhaustion.


    ¡°You knew from the moment I said it that I didn¡¯t murder him. It was a ridiculous claim to begin with. So then, what is the truth?¡± He held up a fist. ¡°You desperately desired an outlet for the bubbling rage tucked away in your heart. The vengeance you deserted, yet still harbored somewhere deep inside. I simply returned to you a noble wrath. What made you abandon it? Perhaps fear of the Titan? Concern for your reputation? I don¡¯t know¡­ and I don¡¯t care. But vengeance is never truly forgotten, is it?¡±


    The master breathed deep. ¡°Know your enemy,¡± he managed to whisper. ¡°It seems you paid attention in my class.¡±


    ¡°Now you understand your true desire. It was the only way I could communicate with you in this dark hour. You and I are not so unalike, Master Forir. I seek vengeance against the one who murdered my loved ones. So many loved ones. And I will have that vengeance.¡±


    He produced a folded slip of paper from his pocket and held it up. ¡°The identity of your brother¡¯s true killer, whom I did discover after many pains. This is my ability. This is the truth. I now offer you a chance for genuine retribution, in exchange to the path for mine. What is your answer?¡±


    He waited with bated breath, heart pounding. Absolutely everything hinged on Forir¡¯s decision. The Battle and War Tactics master continued to look up into the drab sky tiredly. Finally, with all the energy he could muster, he raised his hand. He held it there for several moments in silence. Then, his cardinal came flying to land on his outstretched finger.


    Raven watched in concern and then amazement as the bird chirped once before transfiguring. The bird¡¯s body stiffened and then melted. A small golden rod appeared from within, with a pandora tightly wrapped around it. It fell into Forir¡¯s hand. He unwrapped the Class Four pandora, which featured a cardinal on its surface.


    ¡°Well done, my friend,¡± he whispered. He looked at Raven. ¡°Tell me¡­ is revenge really worth anything?¡±


    Raven folded his arms. ¡°If it¡¯s just for yourself? No. But¡­¡± He looked up into the sky. ¡°If the pursuit exists for others¡­ suddenly my soul can sing.¡±


    ¡°You truly are the strangest student Nine Star has ever known.¡±


    He held up the golden key. Raven took the cylinder, shaking his head with a smirk.


    ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m the greatest student Nine Star has ever known. Keep your eyes open, Master Forir, because I¡¯m about to prove it.¡±