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“Thank you, Lorissa,” Marcela said.
Lorissa smiled. “Not at all. Vivienne should be arriving shortly. It’s almost midday here in Elenvine.”
It had been a month since Marcela had breathed the fresh air of Alvaron. With the warlock stronghold captured, their duties were finally relaxed, and today Marcela would do something she had been looking forward to for a long time. Lorissa had portalled them back to Elenvine, just the two of them along with Amy, Mav’s sister. Today they would be reunited.
It had been a long week. Each of the captured children had undergone a strenuous interrogation period where the priests of the Pantheon checked them for signs of corruption and heresy. There was nothing Marcela could do to prevent it. The warlocks were simply too dangerous.
“Are you nervous?” Marcela asked Amy.
Amy shot her a sideways look. Suspicious. Guarded. Seeing Elenvine again had grounded her a little, but it hadn’t softened her. Of the children they had rescued, none had come out untraumatised. Amy had not been imprisoned as long as some, but that didn’t mean she had come out untouched. At least she didn’t seem to believe the warlocks’ lies anymore. That alone had earned her a little trust.
Still, she had only been allowed to return because Marcela had insisted on escorting her personally. The higher-ups feared the warlocks and demons might still have plans in motion, that the rescued children could be used as pawns.
“Nervous?” Amy scoffed. “Why would I be nervous? Mav’s my brother.”
Marcela shrugged lightly. “I don’t know. It’s a big change. Maybe excited is a better word.”
Amy snorted. “For a few months I was fed proper meals and had a roof that didn’t leak. Now I’m back to Elenvine, where I’ve got nothing. Does it sound exciting to you?”
“Things are different now,” Lorissa said warmly.
Amy rolled her eyes. “So you say.”
“You’ll see,” Marcela said confidently. “There’s a place for you, if you want it.”
Amy folded her arms. “Yeah? What’s it to you? Why you so eager to help me?”
Marcela’s smile twitched, but she held it. “You don’t think I want to help children?”
“Don’t give me that horse shit,” Amy snapped. “There’s plenty of kids in Elenvine that need help. I’ve watched many starve. Nobody helped them before. Why do you care now?” She looked at Marcela as if she’d won something. “I’ll know if you’re lying.”
Marcela sighed. “I really do want to help you, but if you must know, I made a promise to a friend to help Mav find his sister. To find you.”
Amy’s expression flickered at Mav’s name, but she masked it quickly. “And why’s this friend care?”
“Because he’s kind,” Marcela said. “And because he’s been where you are.”
“Yeah?” she muttered. “Well, I didn’t ask for help.”
There had been a few conversations like this. Marcela had known stubborn teenagers, but Amy possessed a dangerous combination of pride and disdain for anyone that came from wealth. Marcela couldn’t blame her, but that didn’t make her any less difficult.
She only hoped that with time, her new reality would set in.
Vivienne and Mav were already waiting when they arrived. Marcela stopped in her tracks, but it was not the two that caught her off guard. They waited before the newly erected statues of Hump, Bud, Dylon, Celaine, and Emilia. The five of them stood together at the centre of the plaza, determined looks on their faces, weapons in hand.
“I thought you’d like to see,” Lorissa said.
“When did they finish it?”
“The unveiling was a few days ago.”
“I see. And how are you?”
Lorissa gave her a smile. “I’m alright.”
Mava and Vivienne stared up at the statues, talking to each other as the crowds strode past. They hadn’t noticed them yet, but Amy had. She’d come to a stop and stared at Mav with wide eyes. For a long few seconds, she didn’t move. Then the hard outer shell disintegrated. Her face crumbled. She rushed forward.
“Mav!”
The boy turned at the sound of her voice, eyes wide. His mouth fell open, then he sprinted straight for her, barrelling through the passing crowd.
“Amy!”
The two caught each other in a tight hug.
“I knew you would come back,” Mav said. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me. So much has happened. A wizard found me, and then I went to a fancy sword school, and then another wizard started teaching me magic but I’m not really getting it.”
Amy laughed, tears in her eyes. “You’ll have to tell me all about it.”
Marcela smiled. All that effort—all the annoying teenager moments—had been worth it. She saw that same smile reflected on Lorrisa and Vivienne’s faces. Marcela opted to give the brother and sister some time and approached Vivienne.
“It’s good to see you both,” Vivienne said. She brought Lorissa into a hug, then gave a bow of her head to Marcela. “You both look well.”
“Being here today is the best I’ve felt in a long time,” Marcela said. “It’s good to be home. What do you make of the statues?”
Beneath each of the figures was a title:
DYLAN THE DRUID OF KRIOCCELAINE, THE HUNTRESS OF OWALYNHUMPHREY WOODROW, THE WHITE FLAMEEMILIA RIKE OF ELENVINE, TRANSCENDENT BLADEROBERT OF BLACKTHORNE, KNIGHT OF KELISIA
Vivienne scrunched her nose. “Pompous Dylan never looked this heroic, and Hump was certainly not that tall. I can imagine just how smug he’ll be at that.”
Lorissa laughed. “Dylan will fall over with embarrassment when he sees the face they gave him.”
Marcela smiled. “I think they look rather splendid. They’ve captured both Celaine and Emilia’s beauty, and the dashing heroism of Robert.”
Vivienne sighed and glanced back at each of their faces. “I jest. I have to admit, it’s good to see them, even if it’s only their visage.”
“You must miss them dearly,” Marcela said. She had come to be fond of the entire group. Fond friends, but she did not know them like Lorissa and Vivienne. Even now she could see the worry in them both.
Lorissa stood before Dylan’s statue. “Sometimes I come here just to look at him.”
“As do I, dear,” Vivienne said.
“I can hardly believe it’s only been three months,” Lorissa said softly, her hand going to Dylan’s. “It feels like far longer.”
“How goes our progress with the abyss?” Marcela asked.
“As our understanding grows, my certainty of their survival only increases,” Vivienne said. “There is far more beyond the veil than we realised.”
“More?” Marcela said. “I thought it was nothingness.”
“I have seen them,” Lorissa said. “There are places beyond the veil. Little pieces of life floating through the darkness.”
“And we can find these places?” Marcela asked.
“You really think so?” Marcela asked.
“Do you remember Graham Fitcher?” Vivienne asked.
“One of my mother’s researchers. Of course.”
Graham had played the key role in producing a method to track down warlocks by the black stones that they carried.
Vivienne nodded. “He’s here in Elenvine to assist with our research into the abyss, specifically, mapping the astral fragments closest to us. Progress has been quick. We’ve been able to access the abyss through the gateways to the Remnant Realm. Now it’s a matter of accessing the correct location with intention. It’s a field of expertise known as Astral Cartography, and one pioneered by a warlock here in Elenvine.”
“Wizard Menos,” Lorissa added. “The one Dylan and everyone took on to rescue one of the academy professors.”
Marcela nodded eagerly. “I remember.” She looked at Lorissa. “But you didn’t tell me you had already crossed over.”
“Not fully,” Lorissa said. “I have seen into the abyss. As a Chosen of Vesta, we’ve been relied on to test many of the astral coordinates. Natalie has stepped onto an astral fragment briefly, but the rift didn’t remain stable long enough for her to make much of it.”
“The rifts will still take some time,” Vivienne said. “Our ability to open them to the right location is moving quickly, but astral fragments are constantly in motion. Sustaining a rift is far more challenging.”
“Can we do it?”
“Oh yes. Challenging, but far from impossible.” There was an eagerness to Vivienne’s voice. “Progress is already being made, Marcela! Now that the warlock stronghold has been defeated, it won’t be long until you are taking your first steps into the abyss.”
Marcela couldn’t help but smile. For the first time in a while, she felt like moral was coming back. “How will we find them once we’re in?”
“The Path to Heaven,” Vivienne said. “I am certain Hump will lead them there.”
Marcela’s smile fell. “Good. Then we only need to beat everyone else there first.”
She turned around as Mav and Amy came over, Mav practically dragging his sister by the arm.
“Amy, this is Master Vivi,” Mav said. “She’s been teaching me magic.”
Amy was taller than Vivienne, but right now she seemed suddenly timid. “Hi.”
Vivienne smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Amy. My name is Vivienne. If you are willing, I’ve arranged for you to stay in my own accommodation along with your brother. You will have a bed and food provided while we figure out what you want to do from here.”
Marcela immediately recognised the way Amy went on guard. “And why should I go with you?”
“Master Vivi is great,” Mav said. He pointed excitedly at the statues. “She taught all of them. Well… not really Emilia. But she helped train the others, and now she’s training me too. You’ll train Amy as well, right?”
“If she wishes it and has the talent.”
Mav beamed. “Maybe we’ll get statues too one day. And there’s hot food, water whenever you want it straight from the wall. Oh! And hot baths, Amy. Like steaming hot.” He took Amy’s hand. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
Mav was already leading his sister away. Vivienne glanced at Marcela, tiredness in her eyes.
“Good luck,” Marcela said. “You’re going to need it.”
Together, she and Lorissa watched them go.
“How dangerous is this stuff in the abyss?” Marcela asked.
“I don’t mind it,” Lorissa said. “Wizard Aldric needs someone to gather information, and I’m the obvious choice for it.”
Marcela gave her a look. “He has you spying on the research project.”
“I wouldn’t phrase it like that,” Lorissa said. “But in a way, yes. There isn’t much choice. Nobody else thinks Dylan is still alive. He’s obsessed with getting Hump back.”
Marcela frowned. She knew some of Hump’s secrets, but she was confident he still had many more to share. Wizard Aldric’s interest clearly stemmed from his spellbook, but the implications of it were beyond her.
“Do you know something?” Lorissa asked.
Marcela met her eyes, considering her answer carefully, then nodded.
“But you can’t say.”
Marcela nodded again. “I’m sorry, but it’s not my secret to tell.”
Lorissa let out an exasperated sigh. “Dylan was always the same. Maybe if they’d told me what was going on they wouldn’t be in this mess.”
Marcela chuckled. “Wherever they’re lost, they’d be far better off with you by their side.”
“Exactly!”
There was a pause between them. The silence lulled, before Marcela asked a question that had been on her mind. “You’re really sure that they’re alive, aren’t you?”
Lorissa nodded. “I’m sure of it. If nothing else, the gods wouldn’t let the saviours of Elenvine by lost to the abyss.”
“Hump wouldn’t agree to that.”
“Hump is a disagreeable little man that drags my Dylan into messes he shouldn’t be a part of.”
Marcela raised her eyebrows.
“Sorry,” Lorissa said. “But he makes me angry.”
“I know you’ve only ever seen the reckless side of him,” Marcela said. “Don’t worry, I get it. But it’s that side of him that saved Elenvine and Sheercliff before that. If they survive this, I’m willing to bet it will play its role there too.”
“You still have doubts?” Lorissa asked.
Marcela looked up at the statue of each of them, thinking for a moment. “So much has gone wrong. So much has been lost. Yet finally, things seem to be turning around. I don’t dare hope for too much. Right now, the most I can do is take each little victory as they come. The stronghold is finally captured, Mav has his sister back, and I’ve fulfilled a promise.”
Lorissa smiled at her. “Sounds like it’s time to celebrate.”
Marcela beamed back. “Let’s go back for everyone else first. Len gets mad enough whenever I’m called home for command meetings. If he finds out we went out for dinner without him I’m not sure I’d ever hear the end of it.”