Guinevere took a very long time to stop laughing. It was all so ridiculous! They’d just overthrown a wicked queen, destroyed her entire palace, essentially liberated an entire kingdom… and they all looked outrageous, with dust and dirt and debris clinging to their clothes, faces, and hair, and their hair in wildly outrageous configurations thanks to water and rushing wind and a hearty tumble through the grass to top it all off. Guinevere herself was also aching from countless bruises, probably a cracked rib or two, and her wrapped, injured hand was screaming in pain, and yet…
She was laughing!
This grand, heroic finale had none of the hallmarks of the knightly romances or fantasy epics she loved to read. They hadn’t capped off their victory in dramatic, attractive poses, their hair perfectly coiffed, their clothes neat and tidy, with perhaps just one or two strategically placed scrapes or tears just to look cool without breaking the illusion of beautiful heroic triumph. Heroism, after all, could not exist without beauty.
Or so the stories would have people believe.
The four of them — and even their animal companions, poor Ava and Flynn were sneezing and rolling around and shaking madly, trying to clear off the dust and dirt that had coated them so thoroughly, and even Akko, though he’d had the shelter of Sheena’s layered shirts, was up on her shoulder rubbing at his face — had all the looks of gutter urchins, street rats who hadn’t bathed in weeks. It was too much! All any of them could do was laugh — laugh at the absurdity of it all, but also…
Laugh in triumph.
They’d done it! The Queen-Pretender’s palace had been shattered by Guinevere’s glyph arte, and Saoirse herself had fallen to her doom thanks to a timely intervention by Flynn. And such a triumph was a much-needed release of tension after…
After…
Guinevere tried to ignore the shiver that ran down her spine. The torments of the Mirror would live with her long after the day was done, despite their victory. And not just her own. She’d felt the fear, the heartache, the conflict, within Tobias, Alice, and Sheena. She’d sometimes even heard their voices, heard the conversations with their reflections and the memories the Mirror took them into. She hadn’t been able to see their plights, but she’d been connected to them, exposed to their vulnerabilities, in ways that felt like an invasion. And that meant they had also been exposed to her own frailties and fears and desperate hopes.
But as their laughter began to fade, and they each looked at each other, Guinevere didn’t see in any of the eyes that gazed back at her fear, or awkward understanding, or pity.
She just saw, in each of her companions, a new bond forged.
We were thrown together by happenstance. At times, we didn’t want to be together — I know I certainly wanted to get out on my own as soon as possible.
But in the end, it’s because of all of us being thrown together that this was possible. And now, we share an experience that words can never properly capture, a story that lives in our hearts in a way it can never live in anyone else’s. We did this together. We lived it, and live beyond it, together.
That’s… strangely beautiful.
And in that moment, looking at each of them — the one she’d thought a Knight-Pretender who turned out to be the genuine article, the child she’d found so annoying and ridiculous at first now oddly endearing, and the composed Sword Dancer who’d shown surprising kindness to her and now let the composure fall away to reveal joyful warmth — she came to a startling realization.
I don’t want to part with them.
Alice was the first to her feet, hopping up and dusting off her dress. “Well, that’s that, done and dusted,” she said, looking over at the shattered palace that was still slowly sinking into the dark scar that had opened up in the earth. She shuddered, for a moment, such a brief movement that Guinevere wondered if she’d imagined it. “What comes next?”
“Elysia, I thought,” Guinevere said. She started to stand, but when Ava padded over to her, still dusty and looking rather forlorn, she instead unslung her rucksack and reached in for Ava’s brush and started helping her get clean and tidy once more. She did her best not to use her injured hand; it really was hurting her a lot, now.
“And for that, we need…” Tobias started, but as he stood and turned away from the palace, he trailed off. “Oh,” he said softly, eyes widening slightly, glittering excitedly. “He’s… here early.” Flynn, looking like he rather enjoyed being a bit dirty and disheveled, looked where Tobias was looking, and his tail started wagging with undisguised enthusiasm.
Guinevere squinted at the horizon in the direction Tobias was looking, and after a moment she could see, coming down the red-brick road, a large group of people. It took several more moments for her to make out the white-and-gold coats they wore, shining in the sunlight. There must be over a hundred of them, and as they came even closer, there was no doubting it: approaching them now was an entire battalion of Knights Lirica, the most renowned Knights of all the Knightly Orders, whose highest commanders also oversaw the operations of the other Knightly Orders.
“Your friend’s here?” Alice asked. “He really pulled through then, didn’t he?”
“Yeah,” Tobias said, and there was no mistaking the smile on his face. It was the same smile that came to Guinevere’s face when she was about to see Rosalie again — the joy of a reunion with one’s very best friend.
“Which one is he?” Alice asked, plopping down her trunk and then hopping on top of it, scanning the nearing Knights. They were still such a distance off that there was no way to make out any one individual apart from the rest.
But that soon changed. It became clear that there was one Knight at the lead of the battalion, very tall, with striking fire-red hair. A big black dog trotted along beside him.
“You’re not going to run to greet him?” Alice asked.
“He needs to get here, where he can see what’s become of the palace,” Tobias said. He ran his fingers through his hair, then looked at his dust-coated hand, and rolled his eyes before letting that hand fall to his side, leaving his lost-cause hair alone.
“Although the timing of their arrival is suggestive,” Sheena said. She strode to Tobias’ side, casting him a look.
“We could have just let them handle things,” Tobias said with a sigh.
“Don’t be like that!” Alice said. “Our way was far more dramatic than anything they would have accomplished. And we didn’t know when they’d be here. Besides, a larger battle would have come with sacrifice. That battalion wouldn’t have defeated Saoirse without losing a few in the ensuing conflict.”
“Let’s forget the what-ifs,” Tobias said with a shrug. “We did it.” He looked back at each of them, smiling.
“We did,” Guinevere said, beaming.
The battalion of Knights was all abuzz with murmuring and muttering as they approached, each of them clearly amazed — and confused — by what had become of the palace. The red-haired Knight at the lead signaled for them to halt, then continued on alone for several paces, finally coming to a stop just six feet away from Tobias. The black dog at his side was a lovely, adorable creature, with floppy ears, bright, expressive eyes, and blue-silver streaks running through the fur atop his head. He was probably a third bigger than Ava, and easily twice Flynn’s size, nearly coming up to the Knight’s hip, and the Knight was well over six feet tall.
Tall and lean, the redhead had deep blue eyes that one could lose themselves in, and a warm, gentle smile. His white-and-gold coat was emblazoned not just with the crest of the Knights Lirica — crossed swords styled like a treble and bass clef, over a shield inlaid with musical notes — but also the three linked whole notes that marked him as a Knight Commander. Surprising, considering his age — he didn’t look a day older than Guinevere’s twenty-five years. Around his shoulders was a lightweight blue scarf, draped loosely with its long end coming down behind him and catching the wind, like a narrow cape. At his hip was sheathed a long sword in a white-and-gold scabbard, but while its hilt was clearly sized for two-handed use, rather than an open crossguard, it was slender, and had an elegant handguard like that of a rapier.
The Knight Commander looked beyond their group, at the ruined palace, and raised an eyebrow. “I was under the impression you were in need of assistance,” he said, his warm, gentle voice matching his smile. Guinevere was surprised by his accent — not that of the Leucen Kingdom, where the Knights Lirica were headquartered, but the more uncultured, straightforward accent of Westgard or the Cyril Republic, and underneath a hint of light, lilting Wonderian.
Rather like Tobias.
“Yes, uh… plans changed,” Tobias said, somewhat sheepishly.
“I see that,” the redhead said. He chuckled. “Why am I not surprised?”
The redhead turned his gaze on Tobias, and for a moment the two just looked at each other, taking in this moment.
And then Tobias surprised Guinevere as he lunged forward and wrapped the redhead up in a joyous embrace. “It’s wonderful to see you again, Elliot!” he said, and Guinevere could hear the boyish grin in his voice.
“The feeling is mutual,” Elliot said, hugging him back. “And not just on my part.”
While the pair embraced, the Knights under Elliot’s command were speaking in hushed murmurings, many of them casting shocked and awed glances at Tobias in particular. Guinevere heard faintly several of them, things like: “That’s Obsidian, isn’t it?” “He’s real?” “Do you think all the stories about him are true?”
But Elliot wasn’t talking about his fellow Knights. He and Tobias stepped back from each other, and the dog at Elliot’s side stepped up to Tobias, not only his tail wagging but his whole rear end wiggling joyously.
“Hello, Hector,” Tobias said, taking a knee and rubbing the dog’s face with both hands. “How is the world’s most lovable glutton?” At this, Hector planted both front paws on Tobias’ raised knee and started licking his face all over. Tobias laughed, petting Hector happily.
“Careful,” Elliot said, though he was smirking. “He’ll do that forever unless you make him stop.”
“Oh, I know,” Tobias said. “Don’t I, Hector?” He pulled back, and Hector tried to follow his face with his own, even as Tobias gently pushed him back. “There’ll be time for more of that later, don’t you worry. Now come on, Hector, sit.” Hector sat immediately, and then came to rigid attention as Tobias fished in his belt pouch for a crunchy dog treat. “Salute!” Hector gave a very soft wuff and then raised one paw to his shoulder height. “Good boy!” Tobias said, grinning as he gave Hector the treat, which Hector accepted by nearly taking Tobias’ entire hand in his huge mouth, though he caused Tobias no harm as he pulled back, happily munching on the treat.
Flynn, meanwhile, was interested in Elliot, not treats. Still dusty and windswept, he was walking excited circles around Elliot, sniffing his legs and feet. Elliot laughed and knelt down to pet Flynn all over, completely unbothered by the dust and grime that clung to his hands as a result. “And you’re as friendly as ever, aren’t you, Flynn?” he asked. “Though looking a bit the worse for wear since last I saw you. What’s Tobias done to you this time, hmm?” Flynn suddenly leapt up and lightly pawed Elliot’s face, just once, before taking a step back and sitting. Elliot burst out laughing. “All right, okay, there’s no need to be offended. You know I’m just teasing.” He stood up. “I’m surprised to see you traveling accompanied by more than your faithful friend, though…” He trailed off as he laid eyes on Guinevere.
And Guinevere blinked stupidly back at him, for a moment, before a spike of fear thrust into her heart.
He knows!
She was dirty, dingy, in rather plain adventuring attire, without any makeup on, yet somehow Elliot had recognized her as the Promised Queen at a single glance. And if he knew… with a whole battalion of Knights Lirica behind him…
Is he going to take me home?
“There’s quite a story, and you know you’ll hear it eventually,” Tobias said, standing up and stepping aside — right between Elliot and Guinevere. There was the slightest edge in his voice, the tiniest tension in the set of his shoulders.
“Yes, I know,” Elliot said, and just smiled, meeting Tobias’ gaze. An understanding passed between them, a conversation without words.
“And apparently Tobias is not inclined to introduce us,” Alice said, hopping down from her trunk and walking right up to Elliot and sticking out her hand. “I’m Alice. Tobias is my Knight-Protector.”
“Alice?” Elliot asked, shaking the offered hand — he had to bend down slightly to do so. “And Tobias is… ah, I see. No wonder.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Tobias asked as Elliot chuckled.
“Oh, I’ve heard a bit about her former Knight-Protectors,” Elliot said. He looked down at Alice. “You have high standards.”
“Which is why it’s ‘no wonder’ I’ve settled on Tobias,” Alice said, smirking. “That’s what you meant, isn’t it?”
“Precisely,” Elliot said.
“And now I’m the one who’s lost,” Tobias said, sighing. Meanwhile, Flynn and Hector were happily greeting each other. Flynn stood up on his hind legs to bat at Hector’s face several times, before the big fluffy black dog finally took the hint and the pair took off, running circles around the group, often catching each other and rolling around in a heap before disentangling and racing off once more. Ava watched them with rapt attention, tail high in a sign that Guinevere knew as a desire to play as well.
“Anyway,” Tobias said, shaking his head. He introduced Sheena, and as she and Elliot were getting acquainted, Tobias looked at Guinevere, a question in his eyes.
“I’m… Gina,” Guinevere said, when the time came to introduce herself. She shook Elliot’s hand — he had a strong but gentle grip, and a very warm touch. “Knight Commander at your age? That’s very impressive.”
“Thank you,” Elliot said, beaming. “I try my hardest to be worthy of the title.” He knelt down to greet Ava. “And goodness, aren’t you beautiful. What’s your name?”
“It’s… Anna,” Guinevere said, and found her tension dissipating as Elliot cheerfully greeted her dog, shook her paw once, stroked her face, and then stood. He caught Ava’s body language too, and looked aside at the rambunctious play of Hector and Flynn.
“I’m sure they wouldn’t mind a third playmate,” Elliot said. “If you’re up for it. They’ve been friends since they were pups, so they have a certain way of playing. But they’re always open to new friends.”
At this, Ava looked up at Guinevere. Guinevere’s heart skipped a beat, realizing that, for this one moment, she could understand Ava just as well as Tobias could always understand Flynn. “You don’t need my permission,” she said with a laugh. “And if they’re too rough with you, don’t let them get away with it. Make sure they treat you properly.”
Ava wagged her tail once, and then bounded off to the racing, wrestling canines.
“Your secret’s safe with me,” Elliot whispered, giving Guinevere a conspiratorial smirk. “No one’s here to take you home, Your Majesty, I promise you that. But we’ll go with Gina around my Knights, shall we?”
Guinevere’s heart nearly stopped, for a moment. “Y-yes,” she said, nodding once. She wouldn’t thank him — she found it rather rude that he called out her ruse so brazenly — but a part of her was grateful for his choice.
“The Queen of Hearts is defeated, then?” Elliot asked Tobias.
“Her Mirror is shattered, and her palace is destroyed,” Tobias said. “The card soldiers should be going inert, though it will probably take a few hours for those in the farthest reaches to fully shut down. As for Saoirse…” He cast a grim look back at the palace. “She fell. But I won’t trust she’s dead unless someone can find her body.”
“Me neither,” Elliot said. He turned back to his battalion, who were all, despite being awed by the collapse of the palace, still remaining in formation and patiently awaiting their Commander’s address. “Florina!” he called out. “Kent!”
Two Knights stepped out from the formation — a young woman who, while slight of stature, had a composed and dignified bearing, and a clean-cut man who looked to be in his early thirties, tall with perfect posture, everything about his face and poise radiating reliability.
“I’m counting on the two of you to run the show,” Elliot said. “Florina, have the fliers call their mounts and lead them on a perimeter sweep. Make sure everyone knows that the Queen of Hearts is no more, that they are free, and eliminate any card soldiers that have yet to fully shut down. Make sure they’re safe. Kent, set up a command post on that plateau over there, and begin organizing the usual coordination crew to ensure that the people transition safely and easily from Saoirse’s tyranny to something befitting a free region of Wonderia. Figure out who they trust most to lead them and help them find a way forward. And put together a squad of delvers to begin scoping out the palace’s ruins and see what we can do to ensure that Saoirse really is dead — and if not, to take her into custody and see her face justice for her crimes in a Wonderian court. Go forth!” He snapped a salute, his right fist to his left breast, and his two lieutenants returned the salute and then dashed off to call out orders, the small Florina having a surprisingly strong, carrying voice.
“They’re as reliable as they come,” Elliot said with a smile, turning back to Tobias. “I’ll have to stay for a little while to coordinate, but once things are stable, I can join you.”
Tobias blinked twice, silent for a full three seconds. “Join us?” he finally asked.
“Your message had rather serendipitous timing,” Elliot said. “I was just getting ready to come to Wonderian and find you. I’ve exhausted all leads in Albia, and everything I’ve learned points to Wonderia. It’s time we moved forward together.”
“But what about Ninian?” Tobias asked.
Elliot smiled and looked back, where Knights were dispersing under the orders of his lieutenants. Striding gracefully through the milling crowd was a woman like none Guinevere had ever seen. She was grace and elegance personified, clad in a pale blue gown like the dawn captured in silken layers, a white shawl draped across her shoulders capturing and softening the sunlight in a gentle glow that accentuated her fair, serene complexion. Her hair was cyan, long and layered, with circular ornaments engraved with flower patterns braided into it. She wore a pair of silver earrings from which dangled white feathers. She wore several bracelets on each wrist, and each of her ankles were adorned with a silver anklet. She wore no shoes.
So much about her radiated grace and serenity, but her eyes were full of undisguised curiosity, an almost childish interest in everything around her, and even as she approached Elliot, she was looking all around, taking in everything she saw with wide-eyed wonder.
“She… came with you?” Tobias asked, looking dumbstruck. “But are you sure this is —”
Ninian tilted her head slightly to one side, and spoke. Or, rather, sang. Guinevere’s heart burst with awe at the music that came from the woman’s lips, a melody of beauty beyond compare, like a song from the heavens brought to the earth, too great a gift for mere mortals to receive. She didn’t understand the words, but she knew the language, and her heart skipped a beat.
Elysian. She’s singing in Elysian.
It was only a short phrase, and when Ninian had finished singing, Guinevere felt a disappointment settle over her, a longing to hear that voice again.
“Of… course,” Tobias said, bowing his head. “I know that —”
“You’re just like me!” Alice cried, beaming with delight as she raced right up to Ninian and gazed up at her with those big blue eyes of hers. “Tobias is my Knight-Protector, as Elliot is yours. They can’t rightly go anywhere without us, can they? It just wouldn’t be proper.”
Ninian laughed at that, and tears of joy stung Guinevere’s eyes at the sound. She looked from Tobias to Alice and back, and almost wanted to scream at them. How could they be so unaffected by the marvelous beauty before them?
And Ninian sang again, and it flooded through her, filling her heart with a hope like none she’d ever known. But once the song ended, Guinevere’s heart nearly stopped. Ninian was looking straight at her! Understanding dawned in those curious silver eyes, and Ninian strode right up to Guinevere and, eliciting a gasp from Guinevere, placed her hands on either side of her face. Ninian closed her eyes, and Guinevere felt compelled to do the same. Her touch was warm and gentle, and the short melody she hummed carried with it a lightness, a kindness…
And when Ninian let go of Guinevere’s face, and Guinevere opened her eyes, a change had come over her. She felt… normal. Like she had before hearing Ninian sing. When Ninian sang again, there was still a cry in Guinevere’s heart, a wonder at the beauty and depth of this voice and this language, and yet… she was no longer overwhelmed.
“I’m sorry,” Elliot said. “I should have realized.”
Ninian merely smiled, singing just a few words, a few notes.
“Thank you,” Elliot said, nodding.
“What… just happened?” Guinevere asked.
“Her voice has that effect on people at first hearing,” Tobias said. “It’s how true Elysian should affect us, but it’s also not very conducive to everyday living and interacting. So she did what she’s done to me in the past, and to Elliot. She harmonized your heart with hers.”
“She… what?” Guinevere asked, blinking. “With just a touch, and a brief song, she… wait.” She looked at Sheena, who didn’t seem overwhelmed, and Ninian hadn’t done the same for. “Have you experienced this before?”
“I have not,” Sheena said, looking puzzled.
“But you didn’t need her to harmonize your heart to hers,” Elliot said, clearly surprised.
“Perhaps some people are just naturally harmonized to her heart,” Alice said, smiling.
“Perhaps,” Elliot said. “If there are, you’d be the first I’ve met.”
“But the way it affected me was because of… true Elysian?” Guinevere asked. She stared at Ninian, and Ninian laughed softly.
“More introductions are in order, of course,” Elliot said. “Everyone, this is Ninian. I have served as her Knight-Protector for eight years. As for who she is, where she comes from, well, I’m sure you all have a great many questions. And I… don’t have many answers. All I can tell you is what she’s told us. Firstly, she only speaks true Elysian. But she understands all languages fluently, so speak to her in whatever way is comfortable to you. If you need help understanding her, both I and Tobias can translate — as much as true Elysian can be translated. And it seems Alice here understands her just fine, as well.”
“I’m well-versed in Elysian,” Alice said, nodding, looking awfully proud of herself. “So for translating, yes, I can help too, as much as Elysian can be translated. It’s only really true when it’s sung, after all.”
“Oh,” Guinevere said, feeling rather silly. She’d had so little exposure to Elysian in her studies that she’d forgotten things, but now a very important fact of the Elysian language came back to her: in Elysian, whatever was spoken was always true — as long as it was set to music. While the words could be spoken like any ordinary language, when spoken without music, they became like a half-language, and it was possible for the speaker to lie in that case.
But Guinevere had heard Elysian sung before. She knew hymns in Elysian, and the Canticos was originally written in Elysian and set to music, so she knew the Song of the Promise in original Elysian almost by heart. And not once had “true Elysian” struck her to the core like Ninian’s singing had.
Is she… but she can’t be. Can she? The people of Elysia, they’ve…
…never been described. Even Elysia itself is rarely described in texts, most just talking about it in vague terms of wonder and beauty and magnificence, primarily highlighting its role in history and its wish-granting power.
But she can’t be from Elysia. The Elysians are all sealed or lost with Elysia itself.
…aren’t they?
“So what’s the story here?” Alice asked. “Clearly you and Tobias both know Ninian.”
“We both met her on the same day,” Elliot said, his expression darkening just the slightest bit. “A band of evildoers had taken her as their prisoner. Tobias and I rescued her.”
“And yet only you are her Knight-Protector,” Alice said. “So there’s much more to the story.”
“There is,” Elliot said. He met Alice’s gaze, matched her smile.
“Elliot was the hero,” Tobias said with a shrug. “I just helped get us in the door.”
“And?” Alice asked.
Tobias shrugged again, but said nothing. Elliot just smiled.
Finally, Alice, realizing she wasn’t getting further on that topic, changed the subject. “So you and Tobias have been friends for eight years?” she asked. “Or longer? That was quite the joyous reunion.”
“Longer,” Elliot said, and chuckled at the quick glance Tobias sent him. “It’s not like it’s a secret, is it? We’ve been friends for fifteen years. We’ve been spending a great deal of time apart lately, but that’s about to change.”
“You mentioned leads, and moving forward together,” Sheena said. “Have you and Tobias been investigating something?”
“Yes,” Tobias said, though he seemed reluctant even to say that much. Guinevere suppressed a sigh. After all they’d just been through, was he still trying to keep so much of himself a secret? It seemed she wouldn’t figure him out for a long time yet.
“Surely they know at least a little about your past?” Elliot asked, cocking his head to the side.
“They know about my parents,” Tobias said. There was something more there, but it passed between the two Knights in just a look.
“All right,” Elliot said, nodding. He addressed the others. “The boy who killed Tobias’ parents — he was our friend. That betrayal cut deeper than I can find words for. But we found out that, the entire time we thought he was our friend, he was really on a mission to get close to us. He would have killed us, too, if we hadn’t managed to escape.” At the moment, the three dogs came racing over, all pants and tail-wags and ruffled fur and exhausted joy. Elliot knelt down, petting both Hector and Flynn, and gestured to Flynn’s side, where the edge of the scar across his tummy could be seen. “It was Flynn who made it all possible.”
“We found out that the friend who betrayed us was actually an agent of an assassin guild,” Tobias said darkly. “Auge Gerecht. They claim to be the ‘eyes of justice.’ What a farce.” He shook his head, looking disgusted. “They serve only their own idea of justice, which is all embedded in a manifesto too convoluted and ridiculous for me to repeat.”
“But it’s all just a veil for their true aim,” Elliot said, “which is to kill whoever they hate, for whatever reason they wish. They definitely aren’t about justice, not true justice. Auge Gerecht finds their members by abducting very young children, sometimes even babies, whose parents have died suddenly — and sometimes by orphaning those children themselves — and training them in all the ways of their killer’s cult from as young an age as possible.”
“And they came after you and Tobias,” Alice said. “But why?”
“That’s what we want to know,” Tobias said. “We’ve spent… a long time investigating them. We’ve learned that Auge Gerecht is sponsored by some other organization, often taking their orders from them. I’ve been tracking down leads across Wonderia, while Elliot’s been doing the same in Albia.”
“And I’ve run out of leads,” Elliot said. “But my latest gives us a major clue. The ones Auge Gerecht answer to are a group that I still don’t know the name of, but I’m sure we both know someone who can make sense of this.” He reached into his coat’s pocket and withdrew a black piece of paper. Even when he unfolded it, it was small, easily fitting in the palm of his hand. But on that paper…
Guinevere’s eyes widened. She heard the tiniest of gasps from Alice, and saw Sheena and Tobias staring with equal surprise.
On the paper was drawn a black butterfly.
“You’ve all seen this symbol before?” Elliot asked.
“Not a symbol,” Sheena said. “In the Mirror… there was a black butterfly. It seems I wasn’t the only one who saw it.”
“No,” Guinevere said, puzzling over this new clue. “But then… I thought that was part of the Mirror.”
“I wondered,” Tobias murmured, staring at the paper. “But Elliot… we’ve seen that symbol before. We already knew the black butterfly was their emblem. And that’s never led us anywhere.”
“Yes,” Elliot said. “But the butterfly is only part of it. Look here. If you apply just a bit of heat directly to the paper…” He pressed his thumb against the center of the butterfly and held it there for several moments. When he pulled it back, there was a symbol glowing crimson in the center of the butterfly, like the letter Z with a hooked line drawn vertically through the center, and two curved hooks floating off each side. “We’ve never seen that before. I asked several prominent symbologists and linguists throughout Albia, and none of them could make sense of it.”
Tobias nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes. “But we know who can,” he murmured. “The Librarian.”
And Alice gasped again, only this time with delight. “We’re going to the Library?” she asked. “Really truly?”
“I’d already planned on going there once we were free of this place,” Tobias said. “I have some clues of my own I need the Librarian’s help with.” He looked at Elliot, and there was an almost-smile on his face, but uncertainty in his eyes. Curious. “It looks like we’re going together.”
“Well… more like I’ll meet you there,” Elliot said, letting out a sigh. He looked around at his Knights, who were very efficiently going about their business. “They’re dependable. Some of the very best in the Order. But it’s still my responsibility to ensure the beginning of the investigation and transition goes smoothly. And…” he turned a darker gaze on the ruined palace, “I’d like to see for myself whether Saoirse is dead or not.”
“You don’t want to help out, Tobias?” Alice asked.
“This… isn’t exactly my area,” Tobias said, looking at the various squads of the battalion in action.
Ninian laughed, singing a longer phrase than Guinevere had heard so far, and both Elliot and Alice laughed in response.
“So he’s really just a shy boy, is he?” Alice asked, smirking up at Tobias.
“That’s not what she said,” Tobias said, frowning.
“But it’s what she meant,” Alice said, giggling.
“Why do you think he joined the Knights Jouerve?” Elliot asked, shrugging. “They all like working alone.”
“We work in teams when the need arises,” Tobias said, shooting a glare at Elliot — which only made Elliot laugh. “Anyway, how’d you come across that clue to begin with? I’m guessing one of them didn’t just leave it in your office for you to find at your leisure.”
“No, they didn’t,” Elliot said gravely.
Ninian sang, and it was a more mournful tone than any previous song. Despite what Ninian had done to help Guinevere, she still felt a shock of grief in her heart, and it was hard to hold back the tears.
“They…” Tobias started, his voice taut, his wide eyes full of shocked sorrow.
“What happened?” Guinevere asked.
“They set fire to Saint Gloriana Primary School,” Alice said in a hushed voice. “That paper… was posted over the front door.”
“Gloriana?!?” Guinevere cried. She knew children who attended that school, and teachers who taught there! “How bad was it? Was anyone killed?”
“The headmaster died,” Elliot said, bowing his head. “He refused to leave until he’d gotten everyone else out. And he succeeded. No one else died, but ten students and three teachers were hospitalized. They’re expected to make a full recovery, but… well.”
They were all silent for a long moment. Tobias turned on his heel and walked away, Flynn following after him. Guinevere watched him, the tension in his shoulders, the heaviness of his steps. And she remembered the battle at the Fourth, remembered Tobias yelling out in panicked desperation when he’d seen card soldiers about to set fire to a house full of people. And she’d heard fire in the Mirror, felt Tobias’ terror at it, felt a part of his heart that he fought so hard to hide from the world.
“This is what they do,” Elliot said, clutching the black paper tightly. “We still don’t have a name for them. Not yet. But whoever they are… they live to spread chaos and terror. It’s no wonder they sponsor Auge Gerecht.”
“Is there another name for Auge Gerecht?” Sheena asked. There was something strange in her voice, as if she was trying to make herself sound merely curious, trying to hide some deeper desire.
“Another…” Elliot started, puzzling over that for a moment. Then he looked up, realization in his eyes. “Taigi no Me.”
There was a flash in Sheena’s eyes, mingled anger, grief, and fierce determination that shocked Guinevere, like a bolt of lightning tearing through a clear night sky. She had one hand on her katana’s hilt, gripping it so tightly that her knuckles went white. She turned and strode after Tobias. A moment later, Alice followed, and Guinevere with her.
“Tobias,” Sheena said, and Tobias waited a beat before turning to face her. There was the slightest hint of something in his eyes… had he been on the edge of tears? “The assassin guild that slew your parents — they are also responsible for my mother’s death.”
“What?” Tobias asked, breathless.
“Haruo’s Sword Dancers were made aware of them many years ago,” Sheena said. “A few children had gone missing from Taiyoushi, at strange intervals. For a long time, my mother was investigating the cause — parents slain, but their children mysteriously vanished. When she finally discovered the guild behind it, she put together a team of our very best, and hunted them down. They won many victories, completely eradicating three of Taigi no Me’s guild houses. But when they finally found their headquarters… things went differently. Though they slew many, they were outmatched. My mother, she… she gave her life so that the other Dancers could return and tell of what had happened.”
Tobias’ eyes widened. “And they put together a larger squad to go back and wipe out their headquarters,” he said.
Sheena nodded. “But the killers had moved by then,” she said. “They’ve disappeared.”
“And no one’s been able to find them since,” Tobias said.
“If you are hunting them,” Sheena said, “then let me help you. We cannot let this stand. They’ve hurt too many close to us, and they’ll continue it under this mysterious organization.”
“Of course he’ll let you help!” Alice said. “We’re traveling together to Elysia already, aren’t we? If Tobias and you both aim to eliminate these killers, then you’ll have Guinevere and I to count on as well. Won’t they?” She looked at Guinevere at that last question.
And Guinevere hesitated.
I… just need to go to Elysia. Hunting down assassins, dealing with shadowy cults and criminal enterprises… it’s all beyond me. It’s not what I want. Nor what I need. And I doubt I’m at all qualified to help.
But…
She looked down at Ava, who was gazing back up at her. There was so much in Ava’s poise, expression, and movements that Guinevere couldn’t read. She didn’t know her dog like Tobias and Elliot knew theirs. But Ava’s calmness anchored her, steadied her thoughts, and cleared away the doubts and distractions.
It’s not about any of that, is it?
What do you want to do, Guinevere? Who do you want to be?
“My first aim is Elysia,” Guinevere said, addressing Tobias and Sheena. “But… if there are times along this journey where leads point us towards these killers, then, as far as my skills can be useful… I offer you my assistance.”
“Elysia is first,” Tobias said, and looking at Sheena, received an immediate, enthusiastic nod. “And we won’t do anything that puts either of you in serious danger. Guinevere, you’re too important to risk your life rashly. And Alice, I’m meant to protect you. But if we find real leads to help us find and eliminate Auge Gerecht, and especially this mysterious group sponsoring them, we’ll have to act.”
“I know you can keep me safe, even in the jaws of death,” Alice said, beaming up at him.
They returned to Elliot and Ninian, agreeing to go on ahead and reunite at the Library.
“Stay safe,” Elliot said. “Saoirse’s dominion was a dangerous place, and while much of Wonderia is far safer than these lands were under her reign, there are still dangers out there. But you’ve got Tobias. I’m not sure anyone knows Wonderia better than he does.”
“Plenty do,” Tobias said, frowning at Elliot’s smile. “I learned from them.” His expression softened when Hector wandered up to him and headbutted him in the hip. Tobias knelt down and petted Hector’s face all over. “Don’t you worry. We’ll see each other again real soon. You and Flynn can play again at the Library, okay?” At this, Hector gave Tobias a deluge of face-kisses, and Tobias laughed his boyish laugh.
“Don’t hog him to yourself!” Alice said, coming over and excitedly petting Hector. Hector, all rear-end wiggles, licked her all over, and she burst out laughing.
They started off, then, Tobias and Alice and Flynn all joyful enthusiasm. Even Sheena had brightened a bit, having petted Hector herself and introduced him to Akko before leaving.
But something was still tickling the back of Guinevere’s mind. She hung back in the group, and after a few paces looked back.
Elliot…
There was something, wasn’t there? Something…
Her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened.
Could he…
She rushed back to Elliot, who was just starting off with Ninian and Hector towards the command tent Kent had set up. “What is it?” he asked when Guinevere caught up to him.
“You had a brother,” Guinevere said, staring up at him, searching his face.
Elliot hesitated, just for a beat, but the look on his face told the answer before he spoke it. “Yes,” he said. His smile returned, but there was a sadness in it. “Of course you’d know about that.”
Guinevere nodded. “Artorius, he… he wrote about him,” she said. “He said Eliwood was his best friend.”
“He was,” Elliot said.
Guinevere looked back, to where Tobias and the others were waiting, far enough away that they wouldn’t hear this conversation. “Eliwood… died that day,” she said. “Didn’t he?”
“Yes,” Elliot said, his voice soft, haunted by the past.
“What if… what if you found out he was still alive out there somewhere?” Guinevere asked. She couldn’t pull her eyes from Tobias. “What if… he’d been alive, all this time, and never told you?”
“I’d celebrate,” Elliot said, and Guinevere turned back to see him smiling broadly — with tears shining in his eyes. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wished he was still alive. Or that… I’d died in his place.” He sighed, looking away from Guinevere, out towards the horizon. “If he really was alive all these years, and hadn’t told me, I’d have plenty of questions. But mostly… I’d just be happy to see him again.” He looked back at Guinevere. “I know what you believe.”
“And?” Guinevere asked. She couldn’t keep the challenge out of her voice.
There was a long pause, and she hung on every second of that silence, waiting with bated breath for his answer.
But it wasn’t Elliot who answered her. It was Ninian. She sang, and there was a lightness, a hope to it, that warmed and eased Guinevere’s heart.
Elliot bowed his head, smiling. “I couldn’t have said it better myself,” he said. “ ‘Your hope is a gift. Hold fast to it, no matter how the world may try to crush it.’ ”
Guinevere stared at Elliot several moments longer, waiting for anything more. But he was not forthcoming. And then Kent was striding towards him, hailing him. Guinevere bid him and Ninian farewell, and started back towards Tobias, Alice, and Sheena.
Hold fast to hope…
No matter what. Yes, I can do that.