Chapter 30 - Epicenter (Patreon)

Gai Regal? What kind of asshole name is that?

“Lex, be nice,” chided Gai. His eyes drooped childishly, and his tone was laced with annoyance. “She’s bleeding a little bit. We don’t want that, and she’s already got a wound on her face. Ease up a little.”

“Oops. My bad.” Lex pulled the blade away from my throat. “Everyone suddenly surrounding us scared me.”

“Oh, it scared me, too.” Gai glanced around the room. Guards completely surrounded Lex, him, and me. There was no escape. “But you can see where they’re coming from. Two potentially dangerous people broke into their dwellings after a day full of murders and demons. I’d be on edge in their shoes.”

“Who are you?” asked Christopher. He had his codex out and stood a few steps behind me with his men at his rear. By comparison, Baron Thorpe was surrounded by men a good distance away from everyone. 

“I told you! Gai Regal.” He gestured at Christopher, then bowed. “At your service, Your Highness.”

“If you are, you’ll do as I say. Release Yen, put your hands above your heads, and surrender.”

“Merely words, Your Highness,” rebuked Gai, standing up straight. He placed his dagger into his codex and lifted his hands in a sign of peace, though he still stood on the massive table in the middle of the room. “I mean you no harm, nor harm to anyone in this room. Everyone who deserved to die is already gone.”

That’s basically admitting he’s the one who killed those four people. I thought. He must be insane or confident.

“As for why I’m here, I come seeking opportunity.” Gai gestured at me. “And where else than Sandy Branch, the most important place in Zalevet. Perhaps the world!”

I gritted my teeth. “Yeah, that feels like a lie.”

“My apologies. It’s not. We only mean to set everyone on an even playing field before the fun begins.” Gai gestured to Baron Thorpe. “To start with, I am the one who killed your men.”

Just like that, what was assumed was admitted. The tension in the room deepened to incomprehensible levels. 

“Before we let our tempers flare, there was a reason for that,” said Gai. He put up his hands to calm the room, and his voice sounded softer, like he was talking to someone he loved. “They betrayed you.”

The guards started screaming.

“You lie!”

“Murderer!”

“Give the order, My Lord!”

Baron Thorpe raised his hands to quiet the madness. “Cease your squabbling!” And they did. “You are bold to admit such a thing,” he said to Gai. “Or foolish.”

“I tend to avoid foolish, pointless things. Tend not to act unless I’m certain I’ll win. So, thank you for your concern, but I have proof.” He pulled out four codex sheets and held them in his hand. “Do you mind? I don’t bite.”

Baron Thorpe gestured to one of his guards and nodded. The guard crossed the room and stood before Gai. Gai kindly handed the guard the sheets, stepped back, and lifted his hands to show he’d do nothing else. The guard, his eyes never leaving Gai, backed away and returned to the Baron. He glanced at the sheets for a moment, gritted his teeth, and handed them to the Baron.

There was one thing about a codex that was universally known: they do not contain lies. They can’t.

The codex presents the information within itself as accurately as possible, which has made it the perfect negotiation tool. Unsure of a product’s quality? A person’s writing? The average price of something? Put it in a codex. There were caveats, of course, but a codex page could generally be trusted, regardless of the source. 

“Stand down,” ordered Baron Thorpe after reading the pages. They must have validated Gai Regal’s story.

Muttering, the guards did as they were told. Disbelief and curiosity rang through them as they wondered what the four people who’d died had done.

“Camden has deep pockets, and you should know better than anyone that there is discontent in the East on how to move forward with your little revolution,” mentioned Gai Regal. “It shouldn’t be surprising. When you can imagine your family being caught up in a war, your allegiances tend to sway. Death always brings the best out of people.”

“If that’s true, why did you handle it like this?” I complained.

“I have everyone in one room looking at me, paying attention to me, hanging on every word, don’t I?” Gai said dramatically. “Would you all have met with me if I did this another way? Begged for an audience, having come out of nowhere? Of course not. Besides, something like this leaves more of an impact, wouldn’t you say? None of you will ever forget me. Nor should you.” He gestured to the Baron, Christopher, and then to me. “This evens the playing field and puts three very important people before me. The Fallen Prince. The Power-Hungry Baron!” He looked at me, his gaze all-consuming. “The Black Horned Guardian.”

“Stupid name,” I muttered. 

“But easy to remember,” said Lex. “And descriptive.”

“Enough to follow to rumor mill to where you live,” added Gai. “More people will come. I’m just happy we’re the first.”

“Yaaaaay…” I droned. “What do you want?”

Gai flicked his head up.

Lex’s blade left my throat. She stepped back a few steps, hands raised, then put them behind her back.

It finally gave me a good look at her. She was a little taller than me, very blonde, very toned, and had cold, violet eyes. Her dark clothing looked murky, like the material had been dipped in ash and paint. If I didn’t focus on her, it played tricks on my eyes, helping her to blend into the background.

“We’re holding no one hostage, and we’ve ridded you of four annoyances that would have bit you in the ass,” said Gai. His tone was loud and directed throughout the room. “In other words, we come in peace.” It sounded like a joke. “May we have a moment of your time?”

No one spoke, so I cautiously said, “Please.”

Gai smiled, all cheerful and shit. “I represent an interested group that has recently undergone some, hmm, leadership changes.”

“Who?”

“The Dark Market,” said Gai.

“Ah.” My mana marks glowed with raw power as I pointed my hands at Lex and Gai. “Thank you for the information.” Fire licked across my hands. “Negotiations are over.”

“Like I said, it’s under new management. We’re rebranding, looking for new names and markets,” joked Gai. “Honest. It’s run by an honest gentleman named Tycho, who—”

“Is a fucking criminal,” interrupted Baron Thorpe, showing an unusual amount of emotion. “A terrorist! A war monger!”

“Oh? Do you think so? Were you friends with the old owners of the Dark Market? Have some investments fall through?” Gai looked very serious. “I’m curious to know.”

“Tycho sowed chaos in Port Prosper for months!” shouted Baron Thorpe. “Corpses in the streets, buildings blown to pieces, and citizens screaming for it all to stop! And that was after selling his little army around the war, stoking conflict everywhere he went for money!”

“And now that’s all over with, and the citizens of your lovely city can finally know true peace.” Gai’s expression was unnaturally cold, given what little I’ve seen of him thus far. “Free of an organization living in their midst that perpetuated slavery, murder, and drug trafficking throughout Zalevet.”

The Baron was still seething, but he didn’t say anything. 

Gai rocked back into his cocky attitude. He pointed between me and Christopher. “I actually have a gift for you both, if you’ll have it.”

Without waiting for us to respond, Gai opened his codex and ripped out a piece of paper. He swiped it in front of him like a fan, and a head flew out, hit the floor, and rolled until it was the central focus of everyone in the room. 

Rook.

It was the face of the man I’d fought so many years ago. If not for him, I could have still hidden my horns and lived a somewhat normal life. We fought to the death, and both of us barely got away. Now, without any effort or input on my part, the man who changed my life was dead in front of me, for who knows how long.

I couldn’t help but feel numb.

The guards around us, however, didn’t know who the figure was and only saw the head.

A line of codexes flashed out.

“Can’t have that.” Gai’s marks and eyes glowed, and he snapped his fingers. 

There was a weird sensation in my stomach. Everyone in the room reflexively flinched. 

The flames on my arms disappeared, and the color in my marks faded to black tattoos.

All the codexes disappeared into particles, even Christopher’s.

What?

I tried charging my mana again, but nothing happened.

My gaze immediately darted to Gai’s fifth band. Is he…stopping us from using mana?

“I see some of you have been glancing at my thumb.” Gai lifted his hand so the whole room could see it. “Having trouble using mana? Vexing. Hopefully, it doesn’t last long.”

It said a lot about the situation that no one had mentioned his fifth band prior.

The room collectively tensed at the implications of Gai’s ability.

“You got me!” Gai raised both his hands, grinning. “It’s me! Don’t worry. I can turn your mana back on whenever I want. Just seemed best to limit the amount of potential violence in the room.” He gestured at Lex. “But you are, of course, free to try your luck still, if you have absolute confidence in your raw martial abilities.”

“As long as you’re offering.” I ran forward, unaided by mana, right at Lex. I didn’t even want Gai. I just wanted to test a few things.

Lex didn’t even flinch. She moved to intercept me, blade in hand, a cold expression on her face.

I didn’t have a weapon on me, and knives were better than fists one hundred percent of the time. 

But I had a theory I was working through.

Lex took a jab at me with the blade. The attack wasn’t meant to hurt or maim. She totally expected me to dodge it.

I didn’t.

Instead, I slammed my hand right through the blade until it sank through the other side of my palm. 

Lex visibly recoiled, as did Gai. 

Christopher let out a shout.

I had a deranged smile on my face.

The fingers on my pierced hand latched around Lex’s palm. Taking advantage of her momentary surprise, I pushed my weight forward and pressed forward with my right leg, attempting to hook her heel and bring Lex down.

Lex saw through this and stepped out of range, shifting her weight.

Swiftly, while she no longer had full balance, I focused entirely on her hand with the knife. I tucked closer, strained her wrist, and pulled the dagger free from her.

I heard Lex let out a dissatisfied grunt.

I quickly pulled the knife out of my hands and slashed at the woman’s face. She dodged most of it, but the tip still grazed her.

My eyes followed the cut as we both took some paces back from her. 

Not healing. I noted.

My hand was throbbing. It wasn’t healing either, and the pain wasn’t numbing at all.

Mana isn’t working in this way either. No matter the degree, we’re all unable to use our mana. Even his ally. So it’s a range thing. Then, does that apply to the caster, too?

Quickly, I twisted my wrist and flashed it in Gai’s direction. The blade passed his neck. A thin, red line opened there as a cut formed.

The knife hit the wall and clattered to the ground, narrowly missing one of the Baron’s guards. 

My eyes were trained on Gai’s cut.

It isn’t healing either.

A knowing smile formed on my face as I stared, unblinking, right into Gai’s eyes.

He chuckled nervously. “You’re perfect.” He hopped off the table and walked toward me, completely unafraid. “Beyond expectations.”

I tensed, ready to fight.

Gai knelt down before me and offered me his hand. “I yield. You win. We offer our services to you for free while we remain in Sandy Branch.”

I flinched. 

Christopher darted forward and got in-between us.

Gai motioned for Lex to relax as soon as Christopher moved. It was likely the only thing keeping me and Lex from coming to blows again.

Lex puffed out here cheeks and looked away, almost disappointed. And bored.

Gai tilted his head until he peeked around Christopher and looked at me again. “You don’t have to listen to him anymore, by the way. Consider it an added favor.”

“She doesn’t—” Christopher began.

“I heard you were branded with a Mark of Enslavement,” said Gai, cutting Christopher off. “My ability works on all forms of magic. Including Runes, and especially weak ones like that.”

He said it just loud enough so that everyone in the room could hear. Lex didn’t look surprised by his words. It made me think that Gai was telling the truth about his abilities.

Everyone’s eyes were on me. Even Christopher peeked back at me, though he already knew the fate of my mark.

No one else was privy to that information, though.

What they thought was one thing: she’s unchained.

Suddenly, the hostility in the room turned toward me.

“Get away from her, Your Highness!” some shouted.

“Someone get him!”

“Protect the Prince! Protect the Baron!”

My stomach lurched. They weren’t even waiting to confirm. That’s how scared they were of me. Of my horns.

Christopher turned around and grabbed my shoulders, pulling me close. “Enough!”

Everyone in the room stopped.

“You all know nothing! She will not harm us, mark or not! I trust her! I always have, and I always will!” He looked at me. “She is not a monster. Never had been, and never will be.”

I stared at Christopher, my heart pulsing and my face warming at his bravado.

“You all would trust the word of this scoundrel?!” shouted Baron Thorpe at the top of his lungs, reinforcing Christopher. His support stunned me to the point where I couldn’t help but stare at him. 

“Show us her mark!” shouted one of the guards.

“She helped us, though,” muttered one.

“The people trust her,” said another. “So does the prince.”

The room split in half. It felt like a civil war would break out at any second.

“SILENCE!” Baron Thorpe bellowed, pissed at the insubordination. “You are soldiers! Act like it! If I hear one more outburst, men will hang!”

That did the trick.

Why is he helping me? I wondered. Or is he afraid?

My attention shifted back to Gai. There was nothing I could say or do to improve things. It was best to finish this ordeal and either kill or capture this man. “Why would you help me?” I moved until I was beside Christopher. 

“It’s an investment,” answered Gai.

“In what?”

“As I said, you’re the most important person in the country. Me and everyone else in the group–”

“WE NEED TO SEE THE MARK!” shouted a brave, foolish soldier lost in the crowd.

The rest screamed their agreement in unison.

Baron Thorpe stared listlessly at his men. They didn’t bother listening to him. Fear of me had overwhelmed their training.

It was something that only I could handle at that point.

“And what would that do for you?!” I peeled away from Lex, Gai, and Christopher to circle the room. Blood dripped from my hand to the floor. “What could any of you do if I were truly a monster?”

The guards froze. 

“You don’t have your mana right now,” uttered one unnamed guard from the crowd.

“I promise I’ll return hers, and only hers, if something happens,” Gai told the crowd. “I want her. I don’t need any of you.”

That shut everyone up. 

Without confirming the continued existence of my mark, I whipped back to Gai. I was getting angry. Very angry. It translated into curtness and resolve. It didn’t help that my hand was throbbing, leaving a trail of blood on the floor with every step. 

Lex glanced at the blood. Her gaze flicked to my face. She looked almost impressed, but it was hard to tell. Her face was emotionless and analytical.

“She’s earned more than suspicion, hasn’t she?” said Christopher to the crowd. His eyes scanned the room. “How many of you would have died if she’d not killed the demons?”

“Oh, a lot,” Gai answered for them. “The Baron mostly brought new recruits in case things went bad. Explains the insubordination and incompetence, no? Jerome was supposed to be his ‘save me’ soldier.” He peeked at the Baron. “Hurts when those closest to you betray you, hm?” He glanced between me and Christopher. “Makes you wonder what kind of man loses the faith of his most loyal soldiers.”

“That’s enough!” shouted the Baron.

“My apologies,” Gai said sarcastically. “The truth needn’t pass my lips for another second.” He bowed. “As you were.”

I could almost hear Baron Thorpe grinding his teeth.

“I’ve never met you before. You’re clearly a little insane based on how you’ve handled this entire situation,” I told Gai, switching his attention back to me. “But one of you has an Epiphany band, and the other double rings on all her fingers. I’m curious why I’d matter to you at all.”

“You may not know this, but in the adventuring community, you are quite famous. Even guild locations in the Broken Bits and Brosnock talk about you,” began Gai.

I raised an eyebrow. “They do?” I knew there were rumors about me, but ’famous’ seemed like a stretch.

“You’ve saved a lot of lives,” he continued. “It’s changing the conversation around your people, the archdevils. Most have never met one before. All they know is that they’re powerful and evil. But you’re getting rid of the ‘evil’ factor and influencing the minds of the masses.” He tapped his temple. “That in and of itself is priceless.”

I’d heard rumors saying the same thing, but not in such a specific way.

Am I really making that kind of impact?

“Yes,” said Gai.

I flinched.

“Can’t read minds. Your face was just very expressive.”

“R-Right.”

“So, what benefit do we give you? What do we provide? Why are we here?” Gai began to walk around me in a circle, which made everyone in the room anxious and absolutely pissed Christopher off. “Information, connections, and opportunity. The other two will come later, as the information matters.”

Lex’s eyes tracked Gai carefully. She was synchronizing with him. If anything happened, she’d move before anyone else.

I said nothing, opting to cross my arms over my chest and stare at Gai.

“As a holder of information, I can present you with brief glimpses into the future based on what I know. Options, if you will,” Gai smiled. “Your first option is the Baron. He came here to present a unified Western front—ready and willing to fight the East if needed, and strip some power away from the King and Camden.” Gai spread his arms slowly as he gestured toward the Baron. “Yet he had spies in his ranks. There’s infighting in the Western Nobility. The Baron’s on the majority side, because obviously he wouldn’t back a loser, but enough factions are causing a stink that there’s no definite cohesion.”

A few of the Baron’s guards shifted uneasily. One turned to whisper something, only to be elbowed silently by a colleague.

Baron Thorpe’s eyes were trained in Gai Regal, furious, but he didn’t try to stop him or order his guards to interfere. There was too much uncertainty. From his perspective, there was an Elementalist—a person with two bands on every finger, acting as a bodyguard for Gai. Gai had an Epiphany that let him shut off mana. And there was me and the uncertainty around my mark. It was better for him to wait and see than to cause a fuss that might end in the death of everyone in the room. Or, at least, that’s what I assumed he was thinking.

I expected Christopher to be more outspoken and bombastic, given I was the subject matter, but he’d spent years dodging assassins and living with politicians. He has a better head on his shoulders than I do. He probably wouldn’t have jabbed a blade through his hand just to win a fight and test a theory—a theory that ended up being correct. When Gai shuts mana off, he does it for everyone, including himself.

So the Western coalition is full of bitching and complaining. I summarized. Not surprising at all.

“Did you think a Prince and a beautiful Archdevil would be enough to rally everyone into complacent submission?” uttered Gai, his gaze on Baron Thorpe.

The Baron said nothing. His fingers tapped in a slow rhythm against his leg. His jaw was clenched, and the vein in his temple twitched.

“The second option is to go East and fight in Camden. You can help His Highness rise to the throne, or you can abandon him for someone else if you prefer,” continued Gai. His hands clasped behind his back, and he walked around us in a rhythmic, dance-like pattern. “But then you’ll be working for the same people who have structured society around hating devils. In the end, you’ll die a tool.”

“That’s not happening,” I said sharply.

“Didn’t think so,” replied Gai. “But I had to lay it out. Information is important, regardless.” He glanced at Christopher, who looked deeply, profoundly annoyed. “You’ve been awfully quiet, Your Highness. Don’t like her options?”

“I don’t like who’s delivering them,” said Christopher curtly.

Gai laughed. “I’m sure you don’t!” He cleared his throat and focused solely on me as he continued. “You could stay here,” he said, voice lowering, “But that’d also be tricky.

“What do you mean, tricky?” I interrupted.

“We’ve made this place safe. It’s grown. It’s strong,” added Christopher.

Gai smiled. “Sure. But safety’s a myth once people know where to find you,” he rebuked. “Other countries have become aware of you, and there does happen to be a giant country to the North that thinks devils, especially your mind, don’t deserve to exist. They may even cross national boundaries just to kill yah,” said Gai. “And they have a few yellow-eyed freaks that’d turn this town into a shit smear on a map, if they wanted.”

Gasps broke out. Someone cursed under their breath. Even the walls felt tighter.

Gai paused, letting the silence settle before adding casually: “The Voiced...”

The Voiced. The Gods’ little gifts to the world. Yellow eyes. Limitless power.

A chill swept the room like wind through broken glass.

White eyes were the highest obtainable mana level a person could hope to achieve through awakenings or training.

But there was one level above them.

The Chosen. Those granted power by the Gods themselves, as there seemed to be no other explanation.

The Voiced were gifted yellowed eyes, but—

“But your people will get here before that,” said Gai, eye flicking toward me again.

My throat dried. “My…what?”

“Oh? I’m telling you so many fun things for free.” Gai stopped near me. He twirled some strands of my hair in his fingers, slow and deliberate. “You’re welcome.”

A chill ran up my arm. I tensed, which made Lex twitch like she was ready to lunge at me.

Christopher knocked Gai’s hand away.

Gai reeled back, smiling. “Hahaha! So impulsive when it comes to her. Why is that?”  He sneered. His gaze tilted back to me. “An archdevil from Paradise is currently docked in Camden on a diplomatic world tour. Suspicious timing, don’t you think?”

I started to sweat. Christopher stiffened. Baron Thorpe stared wide-eyed at Gai.

“Is that true?” whispered the Baron.

Gai turned to the Baron with a serious expression. “Yes.”

“Give us back our mana,” ordered Baron Thorpe. “Please.

“Of course.” Gai snapped his fingers, and the weird feeling in my body disappeared. I could mold mana again.

Baron Thorpe’s eyes drifted to Christopher. “It appears a decision has been made for you.” He then turned to me. His eyes were distant, as if he were trying to divine my future. “May the Gods be with you both.” His eyes half-closed as he glanced at the ground. “May they be with us all.”

His words chilled my spine.

“We’re leaving,” the Baron told his guards. His head snapped up, and he clapped. Without waiting for another word, he stormed from the room.

Christopher and I stared after him, shocked.

“Guess that’s one deal off the table. Not surprising,” said Gai. “Shitty deal anyways.”

“How do you know all this?” asked Christopher. The knowledge of another archdevil that had lived in Paradise its entire life clearly troubled him.

“We took over the Dark Markets’ networks and layered them with our own. There’s not much we don’t know.”

“Then tell us,” I asked. “Please.”

Nearly every single guard of the Baron’s had left the room. The only ones left inside were me, Gai, Christopher, Lex, and the small number of guards we’d also brought with us.

“His name is Edwin Syn, based on what little I could find. Apparently, he has a role with the HellKnights. That’s about all the personal info I could dig up on him,” said Gai. He wasn’t joking anymore either. No one was. The entire tone of the conversation shifted. That’s how serious things were.

“Edwin Syn,” I repeated.

“He reached the Broken Bits a few months back. From there, his ship charted a path to Camden. If I had to guess, he’s looking for you.”

I flinched. “Why?”

“Archdevils don’t leave Paradise,” muttered Christopher.

Lex shook her head in agreement.

“None of them have left that island in centuries, but now one has. What’s the outstanding factor?” Gai pointed a finger right at me. “Guess.”

I paled.

“So he’s going to come this way eventually. Only a matter of time. You can try to flee or stand your ground. Who knows? Edwin Syn hasn’t destroyed any villages or killed thousands of people yet. Maybe we’ve all been indoctrinated by the Pantheon into thinking Archdevils are bad when they’re just devils with horns. Which basically makes them people.”

Basically makes them people?

In all my time in this world, that was the first time I’d ever heard someone speak like that before.

“Did you never think this would happen?” wondered Lex.

I’d be lying if I said no. It was something I dwelled on every day, more so since it came out that I was an archdevil under a Prince in Zalevet. But I thought I’d have more time. Paradise didn’t interact with the world. That’s what I knew. I thought maybe, some day in the future, decades later, maybe someone would come. But so quick? No. I thought about it, but didn’t take the idea seriously.

Yet another mistake to add to the list. Always make sure people trying to kill you are dead, and assume the worst so you’re never surprised.

But I didn’t say anything, prompting Gai to speak instead.

“The people see you as a Guardian. We see it too. That’s why Tycho sent us here. He sees you, this town, what will happen to it, as a critical event for the country, if not the world. Consider us at your disposal, Yennifer.” Gai smiled and walked past us with Lex on his heels. “Mind if we take over the Baron’s rooms? They’re leaving anyway, and we plan to be here a while.”

Christopher and I stared after the two of them as they walked away.

-----

•

-----

I watched the Baron’s group exit town from the roof of Beginner’s Rest.

They didn’t even wait until morning. I noted, glancing toward the horizon where the setting sun stained the sky orange. After everything that happened, it felt so pointless. My gaze drifted away, unfocused. All because of my people—whatever that meant.

A part of me was excited. The chance to meet another archdevil stirred something deep inside me. I had questions, endless questions, and the faint hope that someone like me might have answers.

But the rational part of me, the part concerned with survival and autonomy, wasn’t so hopeful. I was afraid. Afraid of being taken, of being punished, of people dying because I existed. If archdevils suppressed their feelings like I had as a child, then there was every chance something would go wrong. But maybe that meant they could be reasoned with too—if logic was all they responded to.

What about me? Would they notice I was different? Was I supposed to be this way?

Throughout my childhood, something within me resisted strong emotions. The only feelings that made it through were selfish ones—desire, want, obsession. If something benefited me, I clung to it, needed it. But I never understood people. I didn’t feel for them. Without fragments of my past life bleeding through, I probably wouldn’t have even known something was missing.

Too many things were changing. Being an archdevil couldn’t have been random. Eve could say whatever she wanted—I didn’t believe her. It was too convenient, too orchestrated. I rationalized. I had memories of another life and was born into a world that hated me from the moment I opened my eyes. That wasn’t a coincidence. It couldn’t be.

The world was coming to me. I hadn’t left Sandy Branch, and yet, everything kept converging toward it. It felt like I had a target painted on me. Something bigger was at work. I just didn’t know what it was.

“Thinking about something? Had a busy day?” Gai’s voice broke my thoughts as he plopped down beside me.

He hadn’t changed—still dressed in black, still smug. His tan skin and bright orange eyes gleamed in the dimming light like a predator.

“Shouldn’t I be?” I leaned my cheek on my knee, not looking at him.

“It’d be weird if you weren’t,” he said, smiling.

“You do seem like an expert on what’s weird.”

“Theatrics are my strong suit,” Gai said with mock pride. “Believe it or not, I used to be a shy, moody little brat.”

“Hard to believe.”

He lifted his hand, rotating it to show the band on his thumb. “Getting this changed everything.”

I stared at the Epiphany band. He wanted me to ask about it. I could tell. But I didn’t. I wouldn’t play his games, and what I wanted mattered more.

“What’s the real reason you’re here?” I asked instead.

He blinked twice, then looked away. “What do you mean?”

“I tend not to be too trustful these days. You said what you said in front of the others, but we’re alone now, staring at the stars. Just us.” I shifted, curling up with my arms around my knees, chin resting in the space between. Only my eyes watched him through strands of messy black hair. “Go on. Indulge me.”

Gai sighed. He leaned back on his palms, legs stretched out, and stared at the sky. “The Dark Market killed my parents.”

I stayed quiet.

“One was murdered. One overdosed. I was just angry. All I wanted was to hurt someone. Kill someone.” He rolled his neck like he could shake the memory loose. “My sister saved me. She kept me from crossing the line. She was my conscience.”

I rested my head on my arm, still watching.

“We were kids. I was the older one, so I stole to feed us. When I finally awakened to my mana, my eyes were orange. Gangs tried to get me to join, but I built up my own rep instead. Eventually, the Dark Market tried to recruit me.” His eyes were distant for a moment. “First people I ever killed.” His voice sharpened. “They took revenge. Not on me. On my sister. That’s when I had the Epiphany. Met Tycho. Rebelled against this world.”

“So your life’s been driven by revenge.”

“Forced to be,” Gai corrected. “Didn’t choose it.”

He kept talking, letting the story roll. How he became the best fighter in Tycho’s crew. How they specialized in diversified intelligence sources rather than raw, human-based manpower. How they believed in one thing above all else: unity.

“Doesn’t matter if you’re human or a devil. People treated like trash stay trash unless they band together. And once trash starts moving as one, it becomes a threat.”

“You’re very philosophical.”

“I’m trying to sell you something. ‘Course I am.”

“Then this isn’t the real you?”

“Me? I’m fun. Charming. Hilarious. People love me. You’ll see.”

“I don’t know why you’d invest when an impending doom is descending on this town.”

“You mean Edwin Syn?”

“Obviously.”

Gai shrugged. “Who says we need to be enemies?”

“But—”

“We’re on your side, Yennifer. Whether you want us to be or not.”

“That’s stupid.”

“Maybe. But something’s pulling the world toward you. We’re willing to bet on it and see where it takes us.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re a legend already. An archdevil who saves people, lives among humans, has white eyes, and ties to Zalevet’s royalty. I’m betting on that.”

“You? Or Tycho?”

“Tycho approved this. But it was my idea.”

“Then tell me. What’s the real reason?”

He raised his thumb again. “This. My Epiphany.”

I groaned. “Fine. How did you get it?”

“My sister. It’s why I brought up my past. Without it, I can’t answer your question.” His voice softened. “I lost everything I believed in. When I found a new purpose, I blacked out.” It was a vague, non-answer that almost made me angry. “Woke up in an endless sky.”

I sat up. Endless sky?

“There was no land or platform. Just sky in every direction. It was bright, but no sun. I felt... peace.”

Not like my cage, then.

“And that’s where I met a Goddess.”

“A Goddess?”

Gai nodded. “She smiled. Said I’d been Chosen. That my beliefs had power. That the Gods were touching me. She touched my face, and everything I’d become crystallized into one word.”

“Which was?”

“Chaos.”

“You believe in chaos.”

“More than anything. Order kills freedom. Chaos is born from choice. And choice leads to truth.”

“Ah. So you are insane.”

“That’s what everyone says.”

“And your power?”

“I suppress mana around me.” Gai smiled. “What better way to sow chaos than to steal the power everyone relies on to fight and live their lives? Even the playing field.”

“Funny. I probably could have still killed you and Lex even when you did that,” I mentioned, pointing to the already-healed wound I’d given his neck.

“Which is exactly why I feel good being here. You’re impressive. No one would do what you did the way you did.” He leaned in. We were nearly nose-to-nose. “It’s good to know we’re not wasting our time on someone weak.”

“Is this supposed to be flirting?” I joked.

“No, you’re not my type. I go for mentally ill redheads.”

“Charming.”

I let my thoughts drift. His story was a lot. But what stuck with me wasn’t Gai. It was the sky. Why do I always end up in a cage? What makes Eve so different from the Goddess Gai met?

“Does she like us now?” Lex asked, suddenly behind us.

I jumped. She was silent—scarily so. Her marks glowed violet. Wind tugged at my clothes.

“Not yet,” Gai answered.

“Then can we go home?” Lex whined. She looked absolutely bored.

“Not until after the archdevil comes here.”

“Whatever.” Lex looked at me. I was staring at her. “Yes, I’m using wind.”

“How? You were so quiet.”

“Not telling you.”

“Does it have to do with your bands?” I stood, intrigued. “My old teacher had an extra band, but she never got around to telling me how she go it.”

“And I won’t be either.”

“But aren’t you supposed to help me?” I showed my hands. “Mastery in Heavenly and Warring. White eyes. No extra brands. I’m called a prodigy. So why—”

“Well, I’m not needed,” Gai cut in. “Thanks for being a team player, Lex. Seal the deal.” He jumped off the roof after winking at the two of us.

Lex stared after him. I stepped in front of her, blocking her gaze until all she saw was me.

“Forget him. Let’s be friends, Alexandria. Or do you prefer Lexi?”

She recoiled. “Don’t call me that.”

“Which? Alexandria or Lexi?”

“Lexi.”

“So... Alexandria?”

Lex frowned. Her first real expression. “No. It’s Alexander.”

I blinked. “Alexander?”

“My father wanted a boy.”

“Oh.”

It got awkward.

“Just Lex. Only Lex,” she stressed. “Not Lexi. Not Alexander.”

“Lex it is.”

“Great.” She stepped back. “Bye.”

“Wait! You haven’t told me—”

She vanished. Wind-assisted flight propelled her into the darkness around us.

Another Tart. I thought. You’ll tell me one day. You won’t have a choice.

Satisfied, I dropped into Beginner’s Rest. Talking to them helped. They were weird. But it made me feel normal. I didn’t get that often.

I slipped into Christopher’s room. He was talking to Atticus.

“They’ve left. We confirmed it,” said Atticus.

“So I saw.”

Silence.

“What do we do now?”

“Let’s wait until morning. Rest. Eat. Then we plan,” said Christopher.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Without spotting me, Atticus left. I approached Christopher from behind. He sat at his desk, candlelight flickering. His fingers ran through his long blond hair, restless.

I leaned down, rested my chin on his shoulder.

He didn’t flinch. Just reached up and gently rubbed my head.

We sat in silence.