《Insatiable Freedom》 Prologue: The Same but Different Prologue The breeze that swept through the streets at this time of night always seemed colder than usual, somehow. Without the glow of their lantern, there would be nothing much to see other than the shadows cast by the buildings that stretched alongside them. Despite the cold, barren place they were walking through, this walk made Wysteria feel warm. "You better keep moving," the man behind her grunted. "No funny business this time, or I''ll cut off one of your toes." Her escort, Till, nudged her with the end of the stick that the lantern hung on. Wysteria ignored it and stayed in place, planted on the cobblestones, head tilted up towards the sky. Between the tall buildings, the clear sky was like a blanket over her face. She got lost in the way the stars twinkled as she looked at them, stripping her surroundings from her view, getting lost in the cloudless sky above. Every time she looked at the sky, it felt different. Some days, her heart would ache at her desire to know what lies beyond the emptiness she could see. Other times, she quietly wished that it would just come crashing down, to eliminate all the pain and suffering she knew that there was. Till huffed, every word emphasised with a growl. "I said, let''s go. You cause enough trouble as it is, the Master won''t be happy if you''re late." Wysteria laughed, solemnly. "I doubt he''d be happy if I was on time," she said, her hair shifting in the wind. "Let me stay out just a while longer, I heard there would be a meteor shower tonight. Why not let me see it?" This time, it was Till''s turn to laugh. Only, it was a cruel, dry laughter. "You sound like a spoiled brat. What right do you have to request that? Let''s not forget who you really are, Wysteria. You''re nothing but a washed up Lord-" The rest of his words didn''t leave his lips, before Wysteria yanked the lantern stick closer and snapped her forehead into Till''s. Though, since he was a head taller than her, she only managed to reach his nose. But with the force of her attack, Till''s nose cracked under the pressure and blood began to trickle from his nostrils. Bent in an awkward position, Till stumbled back, clutching his face. Tears started to well in his blood-shot eyes, before his dark pupils regained focus and shot towards the ''lady'' he had been charged with guarding. Though Till was dedicated to his job and proud of his role as the Master''s sentry, he cursed at his luck for getting such an assignment. She was, without a doubt, the furthest thing from a lady Till had ever met. He didn''t understand why the Master even bothered to indulge in the whims of such an arrogant creature, to let her wander at night and do as she pleased. In Till''s eyes, she was nothing more than a waste of resources that should be executed. Till didn''t know enough to be sure, but there had been rumours of Wysteria''s connection with the Master whispered all over the Estate. Even more so now that the Master had taken her in, if being taken in meant being locked in an empty Crystal Spire. To Till, it was obvious that it was meant to be her prison. The Spire used to be filled with treasures and gold; a warehouse for the kingdom''s spoils of war and adventure. When Wysteria arrived with the Master, the Spire''s vaulted peak, which once stored the Master''s most prized possessions, was emptied to accommodate the annoying brat. It had been a pain to move, especially for Till, who''s quiet nights had now been replaced with baby-sitting duty. With deeply furrowed eyebrows and a tight scowl, Till tried to speak without hurting himself too much. "You dirty rat. You''ll regret that. Wait until the Master hears about this." But his words fell on deaf ears, or rather, no ears at all, as Wysteria turned around and pushed off into a full sprint down the street. She was out of sight before Till had a chance to chase after her, turning down winding alleyways and around heaps of trash until she felt safe enough to slow down. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Skidding around the junk heap outside of a blacksmith''s, Wysteria''s leg scraped against a few pieces of sharp metal that were dangerously jutting out from a scrapped product. The pain caught up with her as she squatted behind it, listening out of Till while she checked out the immense pain that erupted from her leg. "I don''t have time for this..." Wysteria said, wincing as she ripped off part of her skirt. Frantically, she wrapped up the bleeding gash and tied it off, wobbling back onto her feet. From where she was, she could hear Till scream in frustration. "Wherever the hell you are, you better stop playing and come out!" He then continued to string as many curse words as he could at her, some that even she thought were quite creative. Despite how much Wysteria wanted to retort, she kept quiet and crept further backwards, further into the poorly lit alley. From memory, she knew that most dead ends had a ladder that would bring her up to the top of the building, and, after feeling around in the dark for a moment, that''s exactly what she found. Now, reassured with how far Till sounded, she crawled up the ladder as quickly as she could. Every time her leg hit the bar, Wysteria bit her lip, but she didn''t stop until she reached the roof. The taste of metal soaked her tongue as she climbed, feeling the metal creak under her weight. The wind whipped furiously up here, not blocked or channelled by the concrete buildings below. Wysteria took a deep breath in as she walked towards the edge to sit, her legs swinging into the vast space. As she laid down, her back nipped by the chill of the cold ground, Wysteria released her breath with a long sigh. "How did we get here?" She wondered out loud, her question unwillingly carried away by the breeze. "I believe you knocked your guard in the head and climbed up here." A voice behind her said, coldly. Wysteria didn''t move, recognising who it was instantly. "Just let me stay here, Shen. I''m not running away. I just wanted to lie under the stars. It''s been forever since I''ve felt the wind like this against my skin." "No. It''s cold. Get up." Shen almost took a step closer, but stopped himself. Instead, he straightened his silver robes and narrowed his eyes when Wysteria laughed. "Cold?" She giggled. "Nothing is colder than being inside that Spire. This is barely a summer''s breeze." "Wysteria, you will get up now. We''re going back." "And, if I say no?" Wysteria asked, a cheeky smile on her face. The kind that Shen so desperately wanted to hate. The kind that riled up the hatred in his heart so much. It was the kind that tipped Shen over the edge, forcing him to burst out. "You will come now." Shen said, biting his words sharply. As he spoke, wisps of silver and emerald energy flowed from his fingers, curling around his wrists. They stretched out from him and wrapped around Wysteria''s body, pulling her up from the ground. It turned her to face him, her feet dangling a short distance above the stones. Wysteria stared at Shen, her purple eyes glowing from the light of his energy, reflecting the colour of dark clouds on a stormy day. His gaze, disconnected and tired, stared back. Then, Wysteria''s gaze softened. "Shen, we both know how this will end. There is no choice here. Please, just let me go." Wysteria whispered, her voice cracking towards the end of her plea, but her smile was still there. The man''s pupils darkened. "There is a choice. You will just pick the wrong one, like you did before. But I will not." Shen walked towards Wysteria and stopped in front of her, his nose almost touching hers. He curled his fingers around her chin, his eyes searching hers for some kind of answer, any kind of answer. But, as always, they hid her secrets behind an impenetrable veil. Wysteria sighed. "This is quite a familiar situation, isn''t it? Except, back then, I remember being in your shoes, and you mine." As she spoke, she leaned her head forward and let her forehead touch his. The motion made Shen''s eyes widen, but he didn''t move. "What choice will you make, then?" The breathlessness of her voice made Shen''s skin crawl. Or perhaps, it was what she was asking that unsettled him. But, in that moment, his instincts snapped him out of it and Shen took a step back. "You forfeited that concern a long time ago." Shen said, his jaw clenched. "All you have to know is that you''re coming with me. Right now. Let''s go." He waved his hand around the both of them, easily conjuring a teleportation rune that whisked them from their place on the roof, to within the barren walls of the Crystal Spire. As they disappeared from under the clear night''s sky, Wysteria closed her eyes and let a tear roll down her cheek 1. The Dragon 1. The Dragon On the 79th Face of the Estate, hidden between the Faces lies a home. Suspended high off the ground and secured by carbon vines within the canopies of a cluster of monstrously tall trees, Wysteria Restella was lying asleep, seemingly peacefully, in a nest of warm furs and feathers. The home, built of thatched pods that grew out from the trees and connected to each other by swinging bridges, was so high above the ground that one could not even see the ground when peering down. It was spacious and tranquil, and numbingly quieter than she was used to. And, upon waking, Wysteria had almost forgotten where she was. With a few hours sleep, she had shed the obligations of climbing the Estate from her shoulders, as if she had never stepped foot inside the infinitely-sized construction. Before reality came crashing down on her as she knew it must, she felt free. The feeling, however, was short lived as the dream that she had just awoken from came flooding into her mind. Waves of emotion swelled through her body as she remembered the details of what had happened. The challenge that had led her to this point, the people she had come with, the solitude and task she now found herself with. The original challenge itself hadn''t been too difficult, compared to the ones they had passed before, but their issue hadn''t been with the challenge, it had been with the Architect of the Face himself. * "Tell me again, exactly how is it our problem that you lost the artefact? We handed it in on time, and now you''re saying we can''t pass?" Wysteria asked, shaking her head. The Architect, Imonso''s eyes bulged, his face going red. "Insolence! The challenge was simple: bring the artefact to me and you all can pass. Do you see it anywhere? What possible reason would I have to let you pass?" Yela, the muscular giant of the group, kissed her teeth in annoyance. "We gave. You lost." Imonso laughed, the tendrils that hung from his chin shaking wildly. "You must be an idiot. You all must be idiots if you think this should count." He stroked the tendrils down, a smirk on his face. "I am, however, feeling generous today, so I will give you the opportunity to rectify the situation. Find me another, and I will let you pass." Rynara sniffled, burying her face in Sion''s neck. "I didn''t lose it, Sion, I didn''t. You believe me, don''t you?" She tightened her arms around the sniper''s waist in worry, and sighed in relief when she felt Sion pat her head. "I believe you. There''s no way we lost it." Sion said, his teeth clenched. "It must have been you." Pointing at Imonso with narrowed eyes, Sion continued. "Rynara doesn''t forget anything. Either you misplaced it, or you''re doing this for another." Imonso coughed. "I can''t believe this. You are accusing me! Of greed, no less. You know, as well as I, that we Architects have rules. We have a standard to uphold. This is absurd." "This is absurd," Wysteria chimed in. Sitting on one of the boulders they had rolled out of the now collapsed cave, she lifted her head from where it was resting in her hand and jumped down. "We should never have doubted your honour as an Architect. We will find you another. Though, it is beyond the time you dedicated. I do hope that is alright?" The Architect straightened up as Wysteria walked closer. Her skirt, made of such a flimsy material that he was sure leaping the way she did would allow him to accidentally see a flash of skin underneath, billowed in the wind without revealing anything, like magic. As an Architect, he was used to seeing all kinds, but Wysteria was a sight to behold. Her wistless onyx hair that curled around her face and down her back, tied behind with a white ribbon, framed the porcelain face of a doll. As her team of five arrived on the shores of the 79th Face, Imonso was ready to turn away another boring group of hopeless hopefuls. After the centuries he had endured, watching and testing beings of all kinds, he had learned to have little expectations. They usually failed, and he was happy to bid them farewell as they descended back down to whatever Face they felt most comfortable staying on. This was his Face, and he ruled the way he wanted to. But this group was different. Their leader was different. Gentle. Thoughtful. She had brought him a gift from the Face below, a gem that shined a million colours in the light. It was a small little thing, but Imonso''s heart almost melted when she gave it to him. It was the first present he had received in a very long time. "Wysteria," he cleared his throat. "Like I said, I am feeling generous, and will give you one more chance. Do not let me down. You have until sun-up." He said, before disappearing in a cloud of sand. "Why''d you let that booger get away, Wyst? You know we gave it to him, he''s just trying to make us fail." Sion huffed, trying to console the now crying eidetiker in his arms. Wysteria gave Rynara a gentle pat on the head, giving them all a warm smile. "We have to abide by the rules, Si, or we''ll never get any further. Now, do you want to hear my plan or should we just go back down and admit defeat?" "Plan?" Yela grunted, leaning closer. Wysteria sat down, her skirt spilling over the sandy beach that covered the 79th Face. "We know he took it, so we''ll take it back. Simple, isn''t it?" Sion snorted. "That''s your plan? Might as well pack up and leave now. How are we going to steal something from the Architect? On his Face? Where would we even start?" Rynara lifted her head, eyes wide and blinking. "Well, I think I know where he keeps his stuff. I saw something over there that doesn''t seem to fit in with the rest, but I couldn''t guess what it was." Wysteria gave her a thumbs up, and smiled when she saw Rynara beam back. "See. We''re smart, strong, and motivated. What can''t we do?" Sion rolled his eyes, his fingers caught in Rynara''s hair. "You always say that." "And, am I ever wrong?" Wysteria retorted, as she fell back into the sand. The sand stretched off far into the distance, and the shimmering sea blurred into the orange-hued sky. Other than the mountain they had emerged from and the rocks that they had found the artefact in, the beach was barren and empty. The sea, though it glistened as it ebbed and flowed against the shore, was also quiet and devoid of life. It hadn''t sounded like a difficult challenge, but Wysteria should have expected things to go awry. For the 79th Face, a simple find-and-collect mission was bound to have its obstacles. Even if the collection part hadn''t been as easy as described, it had been easy enough. They had been through worse. "Only when you''re playing cards. Then, you''re always wrong." A deeper voice approached from behind, and the group turned to greet Holison, the last member of their party. "Tell me you found something, Hols." Wysteria moaned. "You can degrade my card skills however much you want, if you have good news." The group sat in a circle, knees touching, and put their heads close. Since this was the Architect''s domain, it was better to be cautious of how much they gave away. "I went back down to the 70th''s, and apparently they''ve been getting serious complaints about this guy for a while now. Not many Passers make it to the 80th, so it''s been worrying them." Holison said in a hushed voice. "We have the Architect''s permission to do something about it." "Something?" Rynara piped up. "Like what?" The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Sion pinched her cheek jokingly, leaving his hand on her knee. "Like take him out, Ry." "How?" Yela asked, her huge frame leaning on fists as her elbows sank into the sand. "Trap?" Holison rummaged for something in his pockets, nodding at Yela''s question. "Delisa said we can''t kill him unless we want to get booted down to the 1st Face, so we need to catch him with this." He pulled out a coiled string, made from gold and silver thread, and held it in his palm. "She said something about being really careful, otherwise we''d get stuck with him for such a long time, we''d wish we were back on 1st." In his hand, the thin little string seemed harmless. It definitely did not seem like it was capable of holding down an Architect, but none of them had seen enough to know of weapons that worked against them. The ones they were given or had bought didn''t have any effect, or so they had heard. Passers that went against Architects never had good stories to tell, mostly because they were either thrown out of the Estate or forced to stay on one of the lower Faces, unable to leave. Those that scampered their way up were too busy focusing on their own challenges to bother with the sob stories of rebellious individuals. Wysteria picked up the threaded band, weighing it cautiously. "Did she say how to use it?" "As long as it''s put on a part of his body, it should work." Holison scratched his chin. "Question is, how do we do that? I''m sure he''ll know what it is before we even get the chance." He was right. The gold and silver band emitted an aura that pulsed with energy, making it obvious that it wasn''t a simple accessory. Imonso would need a reason to put it on, or he''d know what they were planning. "Well," Wysteria said, yawning as she stretched. "We still need to get him something as bait. Is anyone up for another swim, or are we checking out whatever Ry found?" Rynara rubbed her eyes and nodded in the direction behind Yela. "It''s over there, by the line between the sea and sand." Following her gaze, Sion squinted. "I don''t see anything, Ry. Where?" Rynara stood up, pulling Sion up with a grunt as she struggled. "Over there," she whispered. "Between the sand and water. A glimmer that doesn''t look right." Everyone stood up and faced the direction Rynara had failed to inconspicuously point to. It was better to be cautious, they knew, but it was unlikely that Imonso had surveillance everywhere. As an Architect, they were primarily in charge of challenges, but also had other matters to attend to. For all they knew, Imonso could be taking a nap, which would make their plans that much easier. As they followed Rynara, who was pulling on Sion''s arm, Wysteria looked out at the orange-yolk sun as it dissolved into the horizon. The salty sea air washed over her face, travelling through the slits of her sleeves, causing her hair to tickle her skin. Holison slowed down as he walked beside her, watching her, breathing her in. "Soon," he whispered. "We''ll reach the top. Together. Trust us, Wyst." The smile on Wysteria''s face was bitter and forced, but Holison saw it as a smile nevertheless. She didn''t say a word, just giving him a nod before running off to catch up with the others. * The sun was just starting to filter through the leaves as Wysteria finished breakfast. The last vague flashes of her memory disappearing into the rays of the morning sun as she stepped out. A handful of berries and a few strips of mushroom-bark was all she had time for, before the sound of a gong echoed through the forest, letting her know that Imonso was ready to start the day. It was the first day of their deal, the reason she was now alone, trapped in this tangle of earth. Wysteria sighed as she untied her hair, letting it flow over her shoulders. She began to make her way towards the largest pod in the wooden structure, leaping with help from one vine to the next, careful not to miss a step or else plummet to her death. "Sleep well, my dear?" Imonso said, his voice drifting from the entrance. As Wysteria approached, she noticed him standing in front of the open arch, and an unfamiliar figure leaning against it. "As well as expected, Imonso. And, your friend here?" Imonso looked back. "Ah, yes. Well, I don''t want to say I don''t trust you, but she''s here as a guarantee. Two heads are better than one, as they say." The figure stepped out from the shadows of the arch, and stood next to Imonso. Almost a head taller than the both of them, this woman was built like dried meat; her limbs long and taut, wrapped in muscles. Her hair was short and loose, as if she had cut it with a blade in a hurry. She raised her arm, waving her fingers at Wysteria. "I''m Minth." The woman said, in an unremarkably monotone voice. "Imon said he needed some help, and I owe him a favour. Try not to get on my bad side, and you won''t even know I''m here." Wysteria waved back. "I''m Wyst. Any idea what we''re dealing with?" Minth shook her head, as Imonso gestured for them to enter. The pod was empty, except for crystals that circled a large, white-silver box that was wrapped in a black chain. From each link hung a small pendant, the size of a coin. Wysteria knew them to be restraining tokens, but had never seen so many for one beast before. "Must be one hell of a treasure you''ve got here, Imonso." Wysteria said, walking up to the box. When she walked past the crystals, a pulse of light beamed, then dissipated. Whatever was in the box must be dangerous, for even an Architect to place so many kinds of wards to keep it inside. "One of the grandest. Nothing but the best for the Founder." Imonso said, grinning arrogantly. Wysteria couldn''t help but scoff at the comment. "Easy, now, there''s no need to be so eager. I''m sure the Founder would be just as happy with a feather, if it was from you." Imonso''s face flushed, unsure of how to respond as she winked at him. "Yes, well... Better let you get to work. You have one month to complete your task. Do you remember what I require?" Wysteria rubbed the back of her neck, before lacing her fingers together and cracking her wrists. "I''m sure you''ll tell me again." "You are to tame this creature for the Founder." Imonso said, clearing his throat. "To do so, first, make the creature speak our language. It would be a bother if it could not understand us. Once you have completed that, I will tell you the next requirement." "And, how many requirements do you have? Better say it now, with a witness, so you don''t falsely add to my indenture." Wysteria said, letting the tokens slip through her fingers. As she touched them, a low rumble shook from the box, surprising them all. However many requirements he had, Wysteria knew it was already going to be difficult. Despite being trapped in a lockbox made of precious material, chained with black ore and wrapped in enchanted tokens, the beast inside was still capable of sensing her presence. Imonso coughed. "Three requirements. Once those are complete, and the beast is loyal to the Founder and to the Estate, you can go straight to the 90th Face. If you can''t-" Wysteria jumped in, not waiting for him to finish his sentence. "There''s no need. This, I can do." She waved her hand, not taking her eyes off the box. "You must be busy, right? I''m sure you won''t want to just sit around and watch." "On the contrary, I''d love to see you open it. The chains and tokens were crafted by the most sought after blacksmiths, the Founder''s personal friends. There''s no way you can open it without me." Imonso smirked. But, Wysteria wasn''t listening anymore. Her focus had been sucked into the box, her eyes drifting over as much as she could see. As she scanned the tokens, she noticed one that looked a little different to the others. Dimmer, less polished. She grabbed it between two fingers and yanked it off. With a snap, the rest of the tokens fell from the chain and scattered across the ground, some falling through the gaps of the branches. Both onlookers made a sound as the box started to shake. Minth, looking impressed, took a step closer towards the box and nodded at Wysteria. Imonso, on the other hand, took two steps back. The chains started to rattle against the box, humming violently because of the energy that seemed to be bursting from inside. Despite the suppressing tokens being released, the beast was still unable to escape until the chain was broken. Minth put a hand on Wysteria''s shoulder and pushed her back. "Let me handle this." She said, as she swung the scimitar from her hip and slammed it onto the box. When her blade made contact with the white-silver, the pod shook like a leaf. From the centre of the lid, cracks broke through the barrier that separated the beast from the outside world, and even the air quivered. In that split-second, Wysteria kicked Minth''s legs out from under her and dropped to the floor as well, narrowly missing the immense force of energy that erupted from the box. Light spilled out and immediately concentrated into a single beam, tearing a hole straight through the pod ceiling and the canopies above. "That''s enough of that." Imonso said, clapping his hands. On the first clap, the beam dissipated, clearing the pod of scattered debris. Bits of twigs and leaves rained down on top of them, as they started to get to their feet. On the second clap, a figure floated through the hole. Bound by a dull aura and struggling furiously, the beast hung there, suspended above the now shattered box. His bloodshot eyes tensed into slits, showing only a sliver of bright purple. Although he had a human form, a stripe of skin on his arms and legs were covered in scales, shimmering in a violet hue. From his chin and upper lip dangled a long, pale beard that thinned at its end, nearly the full length of his body. His hair, twice as long. He had appeared in front of them, naked, but none of the women batted an eye. Instead, Wysteria couldn''t take her eyes off his face. Sharp features that pulled into two antlers at the top of his forehead. He had a beauty that Wysteria had never seen before, despite being distressed and angry. Over the years, she had seen many people and creatures, but this was the first time she had ever laid eyes on a dragon. 2. The 79th Face 2. The 79th Face Wysteria didn''t know much about dragons. She had seen them in books, watched them in movies, but had never come across one until now. Here, on the 79th Face, Wysteria was staring at a helpless, yet terrifying being. "How come you''re not training him, Imonso? You''re definitely strong enough." Wysteria wondered out loud. Imonso chuckled, brushing a leaf off his shoulder. "As much fun as that sounds, I am rather busy. Besides, dragons and kraken tend not to get on so well, and I would rather not have to deal with the thing." Wysteria nodded, her gaze never leaving the dragon. She took a step closer, and his head jerked in her direction. Blood encased purple orbs stared back at her, filled with rage, but the magic Imonso had wrapped him in seemed strong enough to keep him from thrashing about. His mouth was curled into a vicious snarl. Minth leaned against her blade, a hand under her chin. "Where''d you find him?" "That is unimportant." Imonso said, turning to leave. "All you have to do is make sure he speaks by the time I come back. Don''t worry yourselves about anything else." He turned to Wysteria, his hand curled into a fist. "Good luck." A sudden gust of wind swept through the pod, swirling around the Architect, before both disappeared in a blink. Wysteria looked at Minth, a smile curled on her lips. "Any ideas?" Wysteria asked, taking a few steps back. The dragon, still floating in the air, glared at her with menace. It was a look that chilled Wysteria to the bone, but her smile never faltered. A challenge, no matter how seemingly difficult, was still a challenge. And, if she wanted to catch up to her friends, she would have to solve it. "Take a crack at it first, I''m starving. Can''t do good work on an empty stomach. Find me when you''re bored." Minth yawned and swung on her heels, turning towards the bridge. Wysteria opened her mouth, but thought against making her stay, and looked at the dragon instead. His eyes, still glistening with fury, were truly a sight to behold. Like precious gems, cut from a milky-white mountain, she had a hard time looking away. "You''re in a terrible position, dragon." Wysteria sighed, crouching on the ground. "But, it could be worse. All you have to do is speak, and things might be over before you know it." Whether he understood her or not, Wysteria couldn''t tell. He just continued to glare at her, his limbs struggling against the magic that bound him as he watched her pick up the tokens that had scattered around the box. She ran her fingers over them, collecting as many as she could in her hand. If they were made to subdue a dragon, they''d fetch good money once she was free. As she knelt there, her mind wandered to her friends. Holison was usually the one in charge of their funds; always reminding them to look out for any of value. He and Rynara were the best at bartering. Despite how shy Rynara usually was, when it came to money, she never took no for an answer. Especially with Sion and Yela behind her, that woman could sell a feather to a bird. The thought made her heart clench, but she shook it away before the feeling took hold. "Look, I know you''re not happy with this, dragon. I wouldn''t be either. This prison must feel so small compared to the open skies you''re used to." Wysteria said, getting to her feet. "It feels small to me too..." The dragon''s body shook even harder, appearing to disagree with Wysteria with a passion. Frosty air swirled around him, dust catching the sunlight, and Wysteria felt the atmosphere shift. Even with the magic wrapped around him, she could feel his energy tearing at the seams, desperate for a way out. A release into the freedom he had been ripped from. The air around her started to crackle and pop, immediately chilling her to the core. It took her a while to realise that it was the dragon''s doing, and she was taken aback by just how powerful he was, to be able to exude such an aura, despite being restrained. If they had just been regular chains, she assumed they would have cracked by now, from the chill alone. "I applaud your confidence, dragon, but you''re not going anywhere. This is Imonso''s Face. That guy who trapped you here, he created this place. You might have been powerful on another level, but you''re nothing here." Wysteria sighed, swinging her body around wistfully, before muttering to herself. "I know, I''ve already tried..." Frost flitted through the air, causing partially formed snowflakes to dance in the wind. A glint of light caught Wysteria''s attention and she found herself focusing on the intricate webbings of the snowflake as it shifted and stretched into thin shards of ice. A shocked gasp escaped her lips as she dropped to the ground, narrowly missing the shard cut through the air towards her. "Dragon, that was not a good idea." Wysteria huffed, looking up from the floor. "I haven''t even done anything to you. What, is my conversation not good enough?" Another silent answer rolled by as more shards began to appear, iridescent thorns all turning in the air to point at the woman. Alarming wide eyes stared at the dragon, before turning to focus on what was behind him instead. "Minth!" Wysteria shouted, causing the dragon to falter. "How was your nap? Good dreams?" Minth stood behind the dragon and cracked her knuckles, lacing them in front of her. She squinted at Wysteria, unsure of whether to answer her question or just attack. The dragon craned his head to look around too, snarling and baring his teeth at her, unphased by how she pulled him closer to the ground and raised her fist. "It was alright." Minth said nonchalantly. When she answered, she pulled her muscular arm down in a swing and snapped her fists into the side of the dragon''s head, her fist making a direct impact with his temple. Wysteria winced as the dragon''s body jerked from the impact, slumping down. His eyes fluttered before shutting completely, clearly fighting hard not to succumb to the unconsciousness that had already taken him once before. When the dragon''s eyes closed, the ice shards melted and dripped onto the ground. "That wasn''t very nice. I was getting somewhere." Wysteria huffed, hopping up to her feet. Minth snorted. "From where I was standing, looked like you were about to get turned into shaved ice. No thanks necessary." "How do you know that wasn''t my plan? As if a little ice could take me down, I''m offended." Wysteria kissed her teeth, shaking her head. "How am I supposed to make him talk if he doesn''t trust me? Trust the process, Riz, I know what I''m doing." "Look, I could care less about his trust. That''s your business." Minth said, heading back to the door. "I just told Imon that I''d keep you safe. That means protecting you from danger, which is what I just did. You''re welcome." Minth, not even waiting for a reply, sauntered back through the door and disappeared around the corner. Wysteria sat there with her mouth open, scoffing as Minth left the room. She muttered something to herself, but the words barely formed any real meaning before a groan caught her attention. She knelt beside the dragon, thinking about reaching out to him, but then leaving her hands by her side. "Are you alright?" Wysteria asked, concerned. It looked like Minth hadn''t used all her power, but she could already see a bump forming on the dragon''s head. Groggily, the dragon reached up and rubbed what he could from within his restraints. Wysteria''s eyes followed him, pity in her expression, and the dragon''s shoulders tensed under her gaze. His entire body turned to stone when Wysteria reached for his face, caressing her fingers over his cheek as she bit her inner cheek. Her eyes, though looking at the dragon, were glazed over. "I just want you to know that, given the chance, I wouldn''t keep you here." She said, dropping her hand from his face and reaching for the energy that bound the dragon''s hands together. As Wysteria tugged at it, the energy flickered and sizzled under her touch. Then, wisps of smoke started to plume from her fingers, and from under his long eyelashes, the dragon saw Wysteria wince. His fingers twitched in her direction, but he did nothing more than watch as she pulled the threads of energy apart, one by one. When the last thread was exposed, Wysteria smiled at the dragon. Genuine or not, the dragon only bared his teeth at her in another low snarl. This seemed to make Wysteria''s smile widen even more. "Dragon''s must have thick skin." Wysteria said, laughing as she sliced through the last thread with her nail. "You''d do well to protect it, or someone may come trying to skin you." In the instant that the thread was severed, the dragon seemed to pull all the air from the pod in through his nostrils in one breath. Even Wysteria felt light headed, but she kept herself conscious through regulating the air around her manually. It was a useful skill that she was glad to have learnt early, otherwise she''d already be face-first on the floor. The dragon narrowed his eyes at her, surprised by her tenacity, but ignored her once he started walking towards the door. With a newfound weight in his step, he shook the pod as he moved closer to his freedom. Only, it didn''t seem to let him get any closer. Though he was placing one foot in front of the other, the door never got any closer. Even Wysteria stood in the same place, despite having walked past her a while ago. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. "I said I would if I could, dragon." Wysteria said, picking at her nails with disinterest. "You''re no longer unable to move, but you are still trapped here. It''s Imonso''s ward, after all." She pointed at the crystals around him, shrugging her shoulders. Despite being told of the looping ward Imonso had placed, the dragon didn''t give up his attempts at freedom. He tried to run, transform, even punch the ground, but everything seemed to pull from his reach the moment he approached it with aggression. It was a cruel joke, one that had him curled up in the middle of the room after tirelessly failing over and over, again and again. Wysteria sighed as she walked to him, dropping to the floor herself and crossing her legs. "Now do you believe me? If you were the type to accept your situation, maybe you would have saved a lot of time." The dragon shot his eyes at her, lips curled. Wysteria put her hands up jokingly. "Relax. I only want to help." She said. "You''ve been dealt a difficult hand, and I for one hate when people abuse their power. Here." From within a sudden shimmer of purple energy, Wysteria pulled out a bundle of green and silver cloth and held it out for the dragon, who just stared at her unblinking. Wysteria smiled, before getting up and unravelling the wide-sleeved robes in front of herself. The dragon''s eyes left hers to take in the robes, unable to resist the impressed smile that pulled at the corners of his mouth. "I don''t know if dragons get cold or embarrassed." Wysteria wondered out loud as she got closer to him. "But, maybe you''d feel better with some clothes?" Then, with speed quicker than the dragon could react to, Wysteria wrapped the robes around him. The moment her hands touched his shoulders, a jolt of lightning singed her fingers. Jumping back from the shock, Wysteria chuckled and rubbed her hands together. "Not even a thank you, huh? You''re arrogant, that''s for sure." She said, smiling at him as she winked. "No wonder I like you so much." The dragon''s cheeks flushed at Wysteria''s words, averting his gaze from hers. He had found himself staring at her smile a little too long, and was quick to scold himself for falling for her tricks. This was no doubt her plan, to make him lower his guard, yet he couldn''t help being enamoured by her smile. As the thought trickled into his mind, the dragon aggressively shook his head to knock them out. "Are you alright?" Wysteria asked, looking worried. Her eyes wider than he had seen them before, her irises glowing more vibrantly. The dragon huffed and looked away, hugging his legs closer to his chest. He heard Wysteria sigh as she got up, and fought hard not to turn to look at her again. "Well, this was fun, but I''m getting tired." Unable to contain the yawn that escaped, Wysteria stretched her arms and turned on her heels. "I''ll be back tomorrow. Sleep well." A familiar purple glimmer suddenly billowed in front of the dragon, causing him to jump in surprise. But, as he watched it dissipate, a folded mattress and pillow were left in its wake. He looked around and, noticing that Wysteria had disappeared, set his bed up in the centre of the pod. The sheets were silky and soft, chilled to the touch, and elicited a deep yawn from the dragon that probably echoed throughout the whole forest. As he lay his head against the pillow, his mind was whisked away from the prison of his body, to an endless sea of clouds. * "...your plan? I hate to step on your toes here, princess, but there''s only one plan that works. Beat him until he begs for mercy." Minth''s voice drifted in through the door, waking the dragon. Wysteria laughed. "And if he bites off his tongue, he will never speak. How is it that barbarians always underestimate the power of will?" Minth growled at her. "Barbarian?" "Oh, don''t get offended, it''s true. You''re from the outer ring, aren''t you?" Wysteria said, munching on some leaves she had picked on the way. The outer ring was one of the further surrounding areas of the Estate, between the building and the outskirts. Known for their blatant disregard for law and order, it bred those with a violent and aggressive mind; quick to fight and difficult to reason with. Of course, there were exceptions. Those that displayed both logic and strength from the outer ring had undoubtedly climbed the Estate quickly, with little to stand in their way. Wysteria called those from the outer ring ''barbarians'' because of their brute force and show of strength that they never failed to call upon, even in the smallest of situations. It also didn''t help that the majority of them had a one-track mind that was difficult to sway. Wysteria had only met a few barbarians over the years and Faces, but she was always glad to see them. They were always great at drawing attention towards themselves. "How did you know?" Minth huffed, snatching a few leaves from Wysteria''s hand and shoving them in her mouth. "You from there too? You look a little too... small to be though." "Aren''t all of you from the outer ring?" Wysteria asked, ignoring her question. "I''ve met a few and you all have an air about you. Makes it hard to ignore." Minth blinked at her, nostrils starting to flare. "Are you saying I smell?" Wysteria laughed, shaking her head. "No, not like that. I meant your aura. Your intensity can be felt a mile away, and not just by me, I''m sure. You''re tough, so I''m just curious how come you''re helping out an Architect instead of climbing." The sound of chewing stopped as Minth pondered the question herself. "It isn''t because I like the guy." She finally said. "I owed him a debt and he cashed it in. It happened a while ago, when he was still on the 24th Face." Wysteria turned her head in shock. "I''m sorry, what? Imonso used to be on the 24th Face?" "You didn''t know?" Minth asked, smirking as she chewed. "Architects move all the time. Some up, some down. Depends on what they''ve done. Same as us, really." "How far did you get?" Wysteria asked. "99th. Imonso called me just as my team and I finished the challenge. Talk about bad timing." Minth spat out the leaves and sighed, watching the wad tumble through the air. "I heard the 100th Face is another city, so I''m not worried about them leaving too soon, but it''s a little boring here babysitting." Pulling a face at Minth, Wysteria threw a leaf at her. "Think of it as a holiday. A work holiday, where the most you have to do is sleep in a tree and see me everyday. It''s not so bad, is it?" Minth laughed. "It''s not terrible, no. I would rather be elsewhere though, so if you could hurry up with the dragon, I''d appreciate it." "How much would your appreciation cost?" Wysteria asked. Minth looked at her curiously. "What do you mean?" "If I expedite things, finish up in say five days..." Wysteria drawled. "Will you take me to the 100th Face?" "While that''s not half a bad bargain, bringing you to the 100th Face might not be as easy as you think." Minth started to say. "You''d have to pass the 99th challenge, even with an escort. It''s not easy." Wysteria grinned at her. "I wouldn''t worry, I haven''t failed a challenge yet. And, you passed it, so I''m sure it couldn''t have been that hard." They both laughed, oblivious to the stirring dragon behind them. Though he didn''t understand much of what they were saying, he understood a lot more than when he had first woken up. There were words he couldn''t really grasp, but with context, it was getting easier to decipher what they were saying. What he understood from that conversation, however, only made the dragon more confused. Wysteria was kind to him, or at least, that''s what it seemed like. Perhaps, he thought she was because he wanted her to be. Because he needed someone to be. "Morning, dragon." Wysteria said, her face appearing in front of the dragon''s. A bright smile meeting a frightened open mouth. "How''d you sleep?" Wysteria waited for his response, as if she had been talking to him the entire time. Unfortunately, no words left his mouth, no matter how long she waited. Sighing dejectedly, Wysteria got up and stretched. "Well, I slept terribly. Thanks for asking. I figured it might be because I feel guilty that you haven''t actually eaten anything since... a while ago." Wysteria said, reaching to place a picnic basket in front of him. "So, here''s a little something." Plates of fruits and meats were pulled out from the basket and laid out on the ground, alongside loaves of bread and jars of honey. From the corner of her eye, Wysteria noticed the dragon''s eye twitch at the food, and smiled. As she continued to pull food out, the dragon''s eyes widened at the amount and variety it held. Buns, wrapped dumplings, even a steaming bowl of rice were spread out in front of him, reminding him of the feasts he used to have. The memory was fortunately chased away by the resonant growl of his stomach, so loud that even Wysteria giggled. She pointed to the corner of her mouth, then to him, and the dragon quickly realised that he had been drooling at the sight and smell of everything. "Don''t be shy, it''s all for you." Wysteria said. "Dig in." As the dragon''s hand went out to lift a bowl of soup, he hesitated. Wysteria noticed, shaking her head as she too picked up the bowl and took a long sip of its cloudy liquid. "It''s wise of you to be cautious, dragon. But, like I said, I won''t harm you. I might eat all of this before you even get a taste though." Wysteria said, teasingly. He waited to see if she had any reaction to the food, before swiping the bowl from her hands, downing it in one gulp. The sweet savoury flavour warmed his belly, making him even hungrier. It didn''t take long before the dragon had both claws holding a piece of food, happily eating everything that Wysteria had prepared. "Take your time, it''s not going anywhere." Wysteria laughed, chewing on more leaves. These were different this time, mintier. "Do dragons even get stomach aches?" As expected, there was no response, only the grunts of a busy eater. Wysteria shook her head with a smile, and sat back against the chest, watching the dragon eat. It made her hungry too, but she let him eat as much as he wanted. Maybe there''d be leftovers that she could finish up. However, to no one''s surprise, the dragon finished every morsel she brought. Every plate licked clean, every grain out of sight. Wysteria was impressed but her stomach cried out at the sight. She chewed on more leaves as she cleared everything away, waving her hand over the basket and watching it disappear in a shimmer of purple. Wysteria leaned forward on her elbows. "So? How was everything?" The dragon looked at her, fingers in his mouth, and smiled. It was the first time the corners of his lips had turned upwards, and Wysteria was blown away. She had wondered how he would look with a smile, but seeing it in actuality was almost too good. Glossy lips from the oils of the food, two dimples on either cheek. It was a smile that swept the words in her mind away and replaced them with stars, and Wysteria had to shake her head to snap out of it. "Uh- so, good, I take it?" Wysteria stuttered, catching herself. "I''m glad. You deserve to be treated better, dragon." "Shen." Wysteria looked at the dragon blankly and tipped her head to one side. She blinked a few times, silently wondering if it had been a trick of the forest creatures that mimicked voices. It seemed highly unlikely that the dragon, who had been so against speaking earlier, was saying something to her now. Even she had not expected her food to be such a success. In the weighty pause that followed, the smile that had appeared on the dragon''s face quickly slid off, and he turned to fiddle with the threads on his robes instead. "Shen?" Wysteria repeated. The dragon faced her again, nodding as he spoke. "My name. Shen." He rubbed his neck, smiling a shy little smile. "Thank you for the food." 3. An Understanding 3. An Understanding "Here." Wysteria chimed, and passed Shen the book that suddenly appeared in her hands. "The Estate handbook. It''s got some history in it, and you can use it to learn more vocabulary." Shen nodded and flipped through the pages, scanning every line. It had been several days since he first spoke to Wysteria, but his language skills were improving much faster than she had expected. She had started by pointing out parts of the room they were in and having him repeat them after her, but they quickly ran out of new things to dictate, so Wysteria conjured the handbook that all Passers are given when they arrive at the 1st Face. Looking at the handbook had brought Wysteria back to the first day she had set foot on the Estate, and reminded her of how intimidated she had been. Not only by the building itself, but even the number of participants that had arrived had been overwhelming. When she, along with some hundreds of others that had amassed from the underground, arrived at the 1st Face, she was already looking for an exit. Unfortunately for her, not a single one was in sight. Instead, bright milky-blue skies blinded Wysteria when she first arrived. It stretched out in front of her, painting the majority of what she could see in wisps of white and candy-blue. The intensity of the sky was almost enough to distract Wysteria from the commotion that had begun to stir within the others around her, but her attention was pulled away by a book that had fallen in front of her, hitting the ground with a soft thud. And then by the numerous other books that also thudded down around her. "Do you know how many floors there are?" Shen asked, his eyes still glued to the handbook. Then, both eyes rolled up to where Wysteria was sitting, and Shen cleared his throat. "Oh!" Wysteria jumped, smiling sheepishly. "What? Did you say something?" Shen snorted and asked again, turning his attention back to the words in front of him. "And, how many have even made it up there? Do they come back down?" Wysteria curled her lips in and pulled a thoughtful face. "I''ve never reached the top but I assume there''s around a thousand Faces all together, although don''t quote me on that." She said as she leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. "People go up and come down all the time. It''s pretty easy, once you know where the gate is." "Do you want to get to the top?" Shen asked offhandedly. "It would be an accomplishment, that''s for sure." Wysteria chuckled. "I don''t really have any big, fulfilling reason to though. I just want to help my friends get there. Better up here than elsewhere." "The friends that left you?" Shen quipped. Wysteria shook her head. "They didn''t leave me, I told them to go. Staying here wouldn''t have helped anyone. Besides, it''s not like I needed any help. You''re not that intimidating." It took a moment for Shen to process the last part of what she said, but once he did, he turned to her with a mildly irritated expression. "You''re not that intimidating." He repeated, mockingly. Wysteria gasped, seemingly hurt, before falling into a heap of laughter. It had caught Shen off-guard, to say the least. Her cheeks flushed as she giggled breathlessly, and Shen couldn''t help but stare at the woman. His vision was entirely captured by the rosy hue that blossomed across her face, his attention focused on the way the air occasionally got trapped in between her nose and mouth, forcing out shocking little snorts that he found himself finding cute. When Wysteria''s laughter had tapered off, Shen found himself hiding behind the pages of the handbook. He would look at her all day if he could, instead of squinting at squiggles on a page. She had a face that made him search for something in her expression, either a secret smile or a hidden scowl. It was such a contrast from how he had seen her before, and Shen was immediately conflicted by the acknowledgement of his newfound feelings. In the years that Shen had been alive, he had never found himself thinking about someone as he did about Wysteria. He didn''t have anything to compare it to, which made categorising his emotions all the more difficult. Shen knew he shouldn''t trust her; she was, after all, seemingly friendly with the one that captured him. But, since being released from the box, she had only been kind to him. Unlike that brute of a woman, who happily knocked him out whenever she could. "Minth''s actually not that bad. To me, at least. She might have a thing against dragons?" Wysteria shrugged, giving Shen another smile. "Don''t worry, she won''t hurt you again. I''d stop her." This time, Shen laughed. "She is very strong. Are you also very strong?" "Stronger than her, that''s for sure." Wysteria huffed, acting offended. "Stronger than you too, probably." "At full strength, I could knock you down with a sneeze." Shen said instantly. Waving her hand in front of her face, Wysteria laughed. "It was a joke. I know you''d be much stronger than me, if it weren''t for all this." She said, gesturing to his prison. "But, here we are. So, I''ll protect you." The words made Shen''s cheeks flush. In all his years alive, this was the first time he had ever heard someone say that to him. It could be attributed to the fact that he had been alone for a number of years and therefore had no one around him to say those things. Or, perhaps it was because the words were coming from someone who appeared so much weaker than him. The thought of her defending him made Shen''s stomach flip. "Are you alright, Shen?" Wysteria''s voice cut through Shen''s inner thoughts, her face suddenly appearing in front of his. "You seem a bit red. Are you warm?" Her hand reached to his forehead, although never reaching it as Shen grabbed her wrist before she could touch him. "It''s nothing." Shen said, his lips tight. Wysteria gave him a funny look, but withdrew her hand from his grasp. As she did so, a purple glimmer appeared from her palm, materialising a chess board in front of them. The pieces stood there in two neat lines on either side of the board, the blacks in front of her and the whites in front of him. "Do you know how to play?" Wysteria asked. * Thinking about Wysteria made Minth laugh, more than she''d like to admit. There was something about her confidence, her light-hearted tone, that made Minth want to keep talking to her about even the smallest of things. She reminded her of herself, Minth had discovered, and found herself wondering what it was like to be her friend. It would be a lie to say that Minth didn''t miss her own friends. They had climbed together for as long as she could remember, and this was the first time they had ever been apart for this long. She knew it was worth it, but Minth couldn''t help but pout as she kicked around the leaves on the forest floor. Despite how high up the pods seemed to be, it took Minth no time at all to reach the ground. The illusion, she discovered, worked from both ends, as Minth tipped her head up to barely make out the faint outline of the pod she had jumped out of getting smaller and smaller. It was, Minth considered, a clever way to deter vertigo-ridden pests from venturing down to the forest floor. Luckily for Minth, she enjoyed heights. She had never been afraid of swinging down from any distance, and excitedly sought after the feeling of one''s stomach rising to their throats. It was probably a side-effect of being from the outer ring, a characteristic of the barbarians, as Wysteria had called her. At that thought, Minth lifted her arm and sniffed her clothes, nodding proudly to herself for her lack of bad odour. From the corner of her eye, a movement caught Minth''s attention, and she dropped her arms to the hilt of her blade. The bushes in front of her rustled against the breeze, shaking the vibrant green leaves unnaturally as Minth lifted her scimitar above her shoulder. She crept towards it, quietly, one foot on the heel of the next, holding her breath. In one swift motion, Minth pulled apart the clusters of branches with one hand, her other poised and ready to strike Though, the strike never came. Instead of a threat, Minth found herself facing a small, furry creature, who had been digging up the pale green tops of mushrooms that hid beneath the soil. The creature scurried away at the commotion, gliding up a nearby tree with ease. Minth watched it as it ran away and sheathed her scimitar once again. "Not hungry?" A voice called out. Minth twisted around, tense and anticipating. The voice appeared to be without body, since there was no one within sight, and Minth shifted her eyes in as many directions as she could. "I''m vegetarian." She called out, hoping to pinpoint the voice from their response. But, the voice didn''t respond. Instead, Minth heard a thump behind her as the body of the furry creature fell at her feet. Lifeless and still, its amber fur was matted with rusty splotches of blood that dripped from its neck, highlighting the fact that the creature was now without a head. Minth spat on the floor and kicked the body away. "Like I said, I''m vegetarian." Minth said, letting out a sarcastic laugh. To Minth''s surprise, the voice replied. "Vegetables can''t be good for you. No, a growing girl like you needs meat to get stronger." The words drifted to Minth with the breeze, making its source impossible to locate. It felt like the voice was coming from everywhere, all at once. "If you come out, we can put that to the test." Minth challenged, relaxing her shoulders slightly. She had not expected to meet anyone while she was down here, but the secrets of the Estate were impetuous and infinite, so she embraced the fact with open arms. There must be some reason for someone to be down here, and Minth was more than happy to find out what that reason was. After all, knowledge was just as useful as strength. "You cannot possibly beat me." The voice laughed, amusement curling in his words. "Although, I admire your courage." As the voice spoke, Minth heard each word get heavier. The weight that came behind them led her eyes in a particular direction as they scanned across the visually empty forest, towards a tree trunk to the side that appeared to have grown more outwards instead of up. Its thick, gnarled roots spread out wildly, twisting around the smaller saplings and vegetation around it. Minth silently crept towards it, her lower lip in between her teeth. Her footsteps were muted by the deliberate steps she was taking on the soil, and she peeked around the tree thinking herself to have been quite the sneak. That was, until she realised that nothing was there. "You''re not as quiet as you think you are, dear." The voice said from behind her. Spinning around, Minth lifted her blade, only to have it swing out of her grip and pierce into an adjacent tree. Her eyes darted to it, then to the source of the voice that now stood directly in front of her. He was the same height as her, although slightly hunched, and wore a neat cigarette-grey suit that made him look even slimmer than he was. His slicked back hair and earrings suggested to Minth that he dressed to impress, which was already uncommon in the Estate since Passers were usually more worried about surviving than how they looked. Minth couldn''t help thinking that if it wasn''t for that sewn-closed eye, she would have found this man to be quite handsome. "And, here I thought I was being just quiet enough." Minth scoffed. Without blinking, she pulled a hidden blade from her waistband and let the tip of its serrated edge hover a thread''s distance away from the man''s chest. "How else was I supposed to lure you out?" This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. The man paused. Then, looked down at the blade pointed at him, and pulled back laughing. "Alright, you win. You''re very fast." He finally said, his words coloured impressed. Minth took a half-step back and recalled her scimitar to her hand, tucking the smaller blade away. "Who are you?" She asked, tapping the ground with the pointed end. "Armand Rose, my dear. And, what might your name be?" He put his hand to his chest and bowed. Minth couldn''t tell if it was out of politeness or mockery. "Minth." She put her fingers to her chin, thoughtfully. "Rose? You''re a Lord then, I take it?" A smile curled the ends of Armand''s lips. "Ah, my reputation precedes me." "I don''t know what kind of reputation you have." Minth snorted. "But, I know that Lords have a flower name, so it''s easy maths." Armand chuckled at the observation. "Very astute. I suppose I should be grateful you don''t know about me." He leaned in and continued, in a whisper. "I wonder if I should change that?" The instant Armand moved closer, Minth retracted. "Are all Lords this comfortable with invading personal space?" She asked, gripping the hilt of her blade tighter. "Why are you here?" Where others may have been offended by the way Minth reacted, Armand just stood up straighter and straightened his collar. "As it just so happens, I was looking for you. Those trees seem like a loathsome climb. How lucky for me that you came down." "What can I do for you, then?" There was curiosity laced in Minth''s voice, but she maintained her cautious approach towards the strangely well-dressed man. It was easy to keep her attention on him; she couldn''t take her eyes off his pristine suit, and wondered how there could be not a single dirt stain in sight. "The better question may be, what can we do for you?" Armand hummed, smiling a crooked smile. "We heard about your brother. Such a shame that he was put away. And, so far down at that." The mention of Minth''s brother made her stiff. "What do you know about my brother?" She said through her teeth. "That he''s here, among other things. Although where, I''m sure you have no clue." Armand inspected his red-painted nails uninterestedly. "Would you like to know?" He asked, teasingly. Minth looked at him with a sceptical gaze. "What''s the catch?" Armand gasped, feigning hurt. "No catch, dear. My only concern was letting an innocent man rot away in a keyless prison. It''s about time someone got him out." "How come you haven''t yet?" Minth retorted. She could feel the metal against her palm get hot, but she didn''t loosen her grip. "Oh, I am a courageous man, but I don''t need insubordination to be my downfall. No, it wouldn''t be impactful if I did it." Armand looked at Minth, eyes squinted. "But, if you did, wouldn''t that just be sensational? So much emotion, so much hope. It would be in the news for weeks!" Minth''s eyes almost rolled out of her head. Despite not wanting to waste another breath continuing their conversation, Minth had been walking around for hours, unsure of what she was even looking for. It wouldn''t hurt to get a lead, she thought, even if it was coming from an overly enthusiastic Lord. "Where is he, then?" Minth asked, stepping closer. Her approach was mirrored by Armand and they stood almost a breath apart, a fire lit behind both pairs of eyes as they took each other in. Where Minth had been thrown off by the mention of the brother she had not heard about in so long, she was also curious to know who this man was. She wondered why freeing her brother was so important, especially to this man who had come all the way to Imonso''s neck of the woods. Breaking the silence, Minth wondered out loud. "Did you and my brother have a thing?" The question made Armand pull back and let out another string of chuckles. "He wishes we had a thing, dear. No, I am merely facilitating the rightful removal of a decent person. Something the upper Faces find themselves lacking in these days." He sighed, pulling a hand through his slick hair. The dejected look on Armand''s face left as quickly as it came, but Minth didn''t notice. She only found herself wondering if he paid someone to clean his suit, or if he took up the responsibility himself. "Are you a decent person?" Minth asked instead. "As decent as they come, my lady." He replied, the answer rolling off Armand''s tongue like honey. "Then tell me why you''re interested in my brother." Armand smirked at Minth, who only narrowed her eyes in response. "Who wouldn''t be interested in one of the Primaries? They are but the first to have climbed this treacherous construction." He tugged at his sleeves, shifting from one foot to the next. "Surely, you know of his reputation?" "Only that he''s never come home." Minth said, her vision blurring at the thought of her family on the outer ring. "It wasn''t until I entered the Estate that I found out he was here." "And, you''re here to free him. How admirable. I''m sure your parents must be proud." Minth scoffed. "Who said I was here to free him?" Armand''s eyes widened in surprise. "You''re not?" "My answer depends on who I''m talking to." She answered, before turning away from Armand to walk in the opposite direction. "If you tell me where he is, you can see for yourself what I''m here to do." The proposal bounced around in Armand''s mind for a while as he picked up his speed to match Minth''s. "You are... more interesting than I was led to believe." He mused. "I don''t see why not. Here''s my first hint, you''re going in the wrong direction." Minth turned on her heels instantly, and Armand, who had been following her quite closely, jumped at the sight of her face so near to his. Her bold features were so rarely seen on the upper Faces, Armand didn''t notice how long he had been staring at her until she furrowed her eyebrows in what he could only describe as annoyance. "Are you actually here to stand in my way?" Minth asked, side-stepping the man. Armand thought about the question, then responded. "...No?" But, Minth was already too far away from him to hear. And, by the time Armand had caught back up to her, it was clear that she didn''t care about the answer. Determination was etched into her face like a sculpture, and her feet moved swiftly, one in front of the other. Leaves kicked around them, almost as if they recognised her urgency and were forming a path. "Were you and your brother close?" Armand called out suddenly. Minth slowed at the question, but kept looking ahead. "Not really. We- my parents just worry about him. He used to send souvenirs from each Face he visited, but for the last few years we only received money." "Is getting money not good?" "Of course money is good." Minth said, snorting. "It was just... off." Armand nodded. "Do you think he''ll be happy to see you?" He asked. That''s when Minth stopped. She turned to him with hints of rage bubbling beneath her skin. "What do you mean? Why wouldn''t he?" "Oh! I didn''t mean it offensively." Armand stumbled, attempting to diffuse the situation. "I just wonder if he wants to be saved." "Weren''t you the one raving about his innocence?" Minth rebutted. "Why wouldn''t an innocent man want to be freed?" There was silence for a moment, as Armand curled his tongue inside his mouth, trying to find the right words. It didn''t help that Minth was glaring at him, her red-speckled eyes glowing with anticipation as she waited for him to answer. There was, after all, only so much he was allowed to divulge. "Innocence, my dear, is subjective. We believe his imprisonment to have been a gross mismanagement of authority, but he might not. What if-" "What if he''s there voluntarily?" Minth whispered, her eyes wavering. She clenched her fists and considered what Armand was suggesting. Minth didn''t know her brother well enough to claim to know how he felt. She only knew how her parents felt, and how desperate they were to know that he was alright. Desperate enough to send their daughter after him, even if that meant never seeing her again either. The more she thought about it, the angrier Minth got. "That arrogance is none of my business." She said, finally. "I was tasked with finding him, to make sure he''s alive or find out if he''s dead. I could care less about his happiness." Armand blinked once, and then again. On the third blink, a smug grin appeared on his face, stretching from ear to ear. He seemed pleased with Minth''s response, and his shoulders relaxed as he began to walk in yet another direction. He turned to the woman, who had started to get annoyed at the realisation that Armand had been pulling her leg for some time now, and gestured at her to follow him. * "I don''t understand." Shen huffed, his tone similar to a child''s who was just told that fire wasn''t only pretty, but dangerous. "Where does it go?" They were discussing the conjuring up of food, board games and other miscellaneous items that Wysteria was capable of. Shen was having a difficult time wrapping his head around the fact that Wysteria had the seemingly magical ability to open a space into another dimension to store things. "You don''t believe that, but you can fly? Create sharp little ice needles from the air?" Wysteria tipped her head back, laughing. "I heard you can do all sorts." "But, that''s different. We are born with that. " Shen said, pouting. "When you entered here, you could just do it?" Wysteria wiped a tear from her eye. It was amusing to hear the clueless tone on the brooding face of an ancient dragon, something she had not even heard stories of. It made sense that he wouldn''t understand; he had told her of his solitude, carelessly spending his days on the peaks of some mountain in the outer ring, isolated from the rest of the world. He had not foreseen outliving his species, so he had not considered the need to worry about them as they failed to return home from their adventures. At one point, he thought they all left because they got tired of him. But, after the first hundred years, he got over it. When he stopped telling his story, Wysteria found herself encouraging him to speak more. She was fascinated by him. By the way he spoke about the smallest of details with the utmost enthusiasm, as if they were what gave his life meaning. It was refreshing to talk to someone who looked at a moment in slow-motion, picking out every quirk they saw or felt, instead of other Passers who only seemed to look ahead. Soon, she found herself getting lost in his voice. Of course, there were some conversations that were just too funny a sight to miss, like this one. The more she talked to him, the more she wished for their background to melt away, for the earthy colours around them to swirl into themselves and blend into nothingness. For the conditions of their meeting to just disappear. She wished they had met somewhere else, without the pressures of their reality weighing heavily on them like a chain. Though Imonso had not told her explicitly, it was obvious where Shen''s life would go from here. Anything the Founder laid eyes on became his, and Shen would be no exception. Dragons, however, were known for their sly and cunning natures, and the Founder knew better than to take in an unruly beast, so Imonso was given the arduous task of breaking the dragon''s spirit. Then, Imonso had ungratiously given that task to her. In the hours that they spent together, playing games and discussing their lives, Wysteria had forgotten about her mission. Enamoured by his confident na?vet¨¦, she learned more about herself through their conversation. Questions of why she was doing what she was doing were answered, and Wysteria found her reality crashing down on her once again. "What''s so special about dragons, anyway?" She asked as she played with the stems of the berries she had brought. "What''s not special about them?" Shen replied, shooting her a cocky smile. "I''ll tell you if you tell me where all that magic comes from." Wysteria sighed, but happily indulged him with the rules of the Estate. "It''s called nuclear energy, and it''s given by the Face." "Face? This place?" Wysteria nodded. "The Face itself gives out energy. Nucleus can either be earned through challenges, or given." "What, you can ask for it?" Shen scratched his head, confused by the notion. "Sure. Some people ask. Although, not all that ask are rewarded." Wysteria popped another piece of fruit in her mouth as she continued. "Depends on how the Face is feeling. But everyone gets a pocket to put things in when they arrive, since bringing stuff through Faces isn''t possible." Shen also took a piece of fruit and chewed it thoughtfully. "How do you travel through Faces?" He asked. "Hey." Wysteria pointed at him, eyes squinted. "I thought it was your turn to answer a question? Tell me, what''s so special about dragons?" Shen put one finger up. "One, dragons can fly." He put another up. "Two, our scales can cure all sickness." Then, he stuck out his thumb and winked. "Three, we''re incredibly handsome." Melodic laughter filled the pod, and Shen smiled at the sight. He had noticed that she had been deep in thought, her eyebrows furrowed and forehead starting to crinkle, and was pleased with himself for bringing her out of it. Shen wondered if she''d tell him what she was thinking about, if he asked. But before he could, Wysteria started answering the question he had asked, by asking a question in return. "How is it that your language skills have improved so much, and yet I know it''s not because you read the handbook? You would have read the part about finding openings." She laughed as she conjured the thin paperback, waving it next to her. "I guess dragons aren''t known for their intelligence." A leaf then blew through the open arches of the pod, swirling through the air between them. It flipped and twisted in and out of the room so comically, Wysteria''s eyes stayed glued to it as did its little dance and disappeared once again into the rustling trees around them. Shen had noticed the leaf too, but he felt the vibrations in the floor first. Deep under the intertwined bark and roots of the tree they were atop of, the earth grumbled. There was an unsettling novelty to the feeling that Shen was unfamiliar with, but he knew that something was going to happen and braced himself for it. Wysteria looked at him as he got to his feet, eyes wide with curiosity. "What''s wrong?" She asked, standing up as well. When Shen opened his mouth to reply, he found that he couldn''t. Instead, the air was sucked out as his body hurdled into the branch-woven ceiling of the pod. Wysteria''s body did the same, as both of them, and everything inside, jolted upwards instantly. Wysteria, having been hit with the edge of the chess board, recalled all her items amidst the sudden change of gravity and looked for Shen. She had found him not far away and in the same predicament as her. It seemed as though flying didn''t help much against the relentless push of the forces. Wysteria looked through the window and, in only seeing random blurred shapes as they sped by, wondered why the tree was moving up so quickly.