The light flashed before their eyes once more as their bodies drifted into the air for a moment. A warm sensation enveloped them, and in an instant, their surroundings shifted once more. Tucker felt his feet hit the ground once more, and the chest landed softly beside him as he stood still. Unlike the grand gothic arches that covered the main platform, they were in a secluded area encased by stone walls with countless protection engravings—a sight that was far more common for prisoners.

  “What have you brought?” The custodian’s voice echoed through the area as the runes on the walls glowed. Their dark green robe that shrouded his entire body swayed with the breeze.

  “We’ve obtained a living mana capsule. One that the Avalon Empire created for some unknown purpose,” Blaire answered.

  “A mana capsule?” The custodian’s displeased voice filled the room. “Such a thing isn’t allowed on our premises.”

  Blaire bit his lip and released a deep sigh while shaking his head. “I know, but this is different. There’s a chance that this is a crucial part of the Empire’s plans.”

  “On what grounds?” The custodian glared at Blaire, but soon saw Alex standing there. “Is this something both of you can attest to?”

  “It is,” Alex replied.

  The custodian grumbled to himself. “To think two named watchmen would bring a damn bomb onto my premises. Never in my thirty years of service have I seen such a thing.” He cursed under his breath and signalled for the other custodians to notify their superiors. “And how would you like this… thing to be handled?”

  “Until we know what exactly we’re dealing with… we’ll leave it up to you,” Alex replied.

  “Very well. It’ll be placed in the prison.”

  Tucker frowned once he heard the custodian’s words, but soon dropped it when Blaire glared at him. It was as if Owl had predicted his next move. Yet he couldn’t do anything but stand there in silence, watching the custodians haul the chest away from them. Numerous talismans were placed on the surface as a safeguard of sorts. However, he couldn’t help but feel conflicted.

  “It’s already an exception that they’re sparing her life,” Blaire said with disdain. “Don’t push your fucking luck after your stunt earlier.”

  “I know. You don’t have to tell me.” Tucker stood his ground and kept his head up.

  “Good, then fuck off.” Blaire turned away from the rookie and walked down the hall.

  Seeing this, Alex patted Tucker on the shoulder. “Get some rest kid, I have to make a report to the administrators with Owl.”

  “Alright…” Tucker bitterly nodded and watched his two comrades walked further down the hall until their figures were no more.

  He knew he made a controversial choice, but whether it was right… that was another matter entirely. With quiet steps, Tucker moved in the opposite direction from the pair. Walking down the stone corridor that brought him back to the main area within the Order. His mind felt numb as he constantly battled with his own thoughts.

  Was saving the life of a child that he didn’t know worth burning the bridges he built?

  He closed his eyes, trying to shake off the sight of broken nails and the torn skin on her fingertips. She was a victim manifested from the Empire’s desire to win. Yet the child had to bear the price. It wasn’t right and the fact that his comrades' first thought was to kill her caused his heart to tremble. If he had tried to fight Blaire, he would have died without a doubt. But if the situation was different… if she was a living bomb and the runes inscribed on the chest were protection runes. Then would he be able to step aside? Or to make matters worse, what if it was someone he knew? Someone he cared about?

  Tucker took a deep breath to calm his racing heart. He knew that if it was someone he cared about, then he wouldn’t be able to step aside, but that didn’t mean others would understand. They would have to make a choice and the mere thought scared him. Tucker looked at his trembling hands. He wasn’t scared of dying, but instead making a decision he would regret.

  There had to be something he could have done differently.

  The rookie moved past the other watchman, carrying his battered body through the halls. His shadow flickered in and out with each step, passing by the numerous magic lanterns that illuminated the corridor. People were staring at him, but he didn’t care.

  “Tucker?”

  A voice drew his attention as he stared to the side. Tucker examined the watchman who walked out of the tavern area. His short, well-kept blonde hair that was pulled back and blue eyes stared at him from head to toe in bewilderment. “Damn what the hell happened to you?”

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  “Nothing worth mentioning Luka, the hell do you want?” Tucker asked.

  “Well, nothing really. I just saw you walking by and thought you needed a drink.” Luka shrugged his shoulders and waved at him to come in. “Maybe it’ll help get your mind off things.”

  Tucker stood still and sighed. He glanced at Luka and forced a smile. It had been a while since he saw another rookie from his group and from his brief encounter with them, he figured that he might as well share a drink or two. After all, once Blaire reported his actions to the administrators, there was no telling what he would be doing next.

  “I guess I can take you on that offer.” Tucker walked towards Luka, past the deserted wooden tables and seats that had been carefully polished. He soon noticed the empty seat with a filled glass of amber liquid shimmering in the dim light. “Is John joining us?”

  Luka showed a weak smile. “No, he… he passed away a day ago.”

  The news hit Tucker like a boulder crashing down on his chest, pressing down on his very soul. He didn’t know John very well except for the fact that he and Luka were best friends who were always together. Yet hearing that someone he knew had died in the line of duty carried a weight on his heart that he didn’t know existed.

  “I’m sorry to hear that… then is this for him?” Tucker asked.

  “It was.” Luka forced a small chuckle. “It’s my way of honoring him but please, feel free to sit.”

  Tucker lowered his hood and pulled down his half mask before sitting down. The wooden chair creaked as he tucked himself in. Noticing the subtle redness in his eyes that carried the weight of loss. It was the first time he heard someone had died in their Order since he joined and Tucker never imagined it would be someone so close. “He was a good man.”

  “Yeah, he…” Luka cleared his throat and held the filled glass of beer in his hands. “He actually wanted to get closer to you.”

  “To me?” Tucker raised a brow and smiled once Luka nodded. “I doubt it, many in our group didn’t like me to begin with, besides you two.”

  “It’s true, he always said you were easier to approach than the others.”

  “Really? How so?”

  “Well, you’re the type to have their heart on their sleeve for starters.”

  Tucker scoffed. “That’s not necessarily a good thing.”

  “I guess, but you’re doing one hell of a job now. When we were deployed to the frontlines, we kept hearing stories of your accomplishments.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah… we couldn’t believe it but when the other members were talking about you and Salamander, we realized it was true.” Luka carefully held the glass and stared at the stray reflections of their figures. “John constantly talked about how he wanted to run into you so that you two could catch up.”

  “I would have liked that.”

  “He would have been happy to hear that.” Luka stared at the reflection in the glass, gazing at the figure of a tanned man with short curly black hair and brown eyes. “But that’s enough out of me with that. What’s got you all messed up?”

  Tucker sat there, quietly reflecting on everything that happened. He still hadn’t processed the death of his colleague and didn’t know what to say. Yet as his gaze met Luka’s he opened his mouth. “I… just feel like I’m lost.”

  Luka stared at Tucker for a moment and nodded before taking a sip of his drink. “I guess this war has taken a toll on both of us.”

  “Yeah…” Tucker raised his hand to catch the attention of the bartender. Then gestured at the glass of beer meant for John and ordered another.

  “You know, you can just take that one.”

  “No… that one’s for John. I would at least like to toast his glass like the old times.”

  “Fair enough.” Luka watched as the bartender handed Tucker a full glass of beer and raised his glass. “To John.”

  “To John.”

  Under the soft glow of the candle lights surrounding the table. The two friends raised their glasses in a quiet, heartfelt toast. A gentle clink of their glasses echoed in the stillness of the tavern and for a moment, Tucker couldn’t help but wonder if he would be missed if he perished. Would anyone even care?

  He took a sip of the bittersweet drink with a weak smile. This was a tribute to a life that had left too soon and a sense of nostalgia lingered in his heart. Tucker didn’t know John that well, but his memories were still vivid in his mind. If he had to describe him in one word, it would be kind and it felt like the very room was steeped in the spirit of what had been lost. Back during their training days, they had grand dreams of becoming renowned members of the Order but now such a thing wasn’t possible. A dream that would never become a reality.

  “You know, I miss the days we spent training. When we were just goofing around and how the instructors would be pissed at us.” Tucker held the empty glass in his hands. “It seemed like it was just yesterday when we were all training.”

  “Yeah… it really doesn’t seem real, does it?” Luka asked.

  “It doesn’t and a part of me misses the way I viewed the world back then. Before I knew too much.”

  Luka glanced at Tucker before staring back at his glass. “Well, if John was here, he would lend an ear so if you want. I can listen.”

  “It won’t be pleasant.”

  “Typically, these conversations never are.”

  Tucker rolled the edge of the glass along the surface of the table. Then, with a soft clink, it landed flat on the surface. “We found a living mana capsule during our last mission.”

  “Like the things that turn people into bombs?”

  “Yeah, except luckily this one was just to store mana but that’s not the main issue.” Tucker closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “When we found the mana capsule, it was engraved onto the body of a young girl. A child that had endured whatever those bastards in the Empire did to her, yet when we found her… my comrades wanted to kill her.”

  “Then… what did you do?” Luka asked.

  “I stood in their way, with my hand on the hilt of my sword,” Tucker replied. “And looking back, I don’t regret it… but if the situation was a bit different, then I don’t know if what I did was right.”

  “Did you fight with your teammates?”

  “No, it never went that far, but it’s just that if it did. Then I—”

  “Then it’s fine. You were always someone that overanalyzed everything, but when it comes to necessity and morality, it’s hard to really put an opinion on it.” Luka gestured at the bartender to refill their drinks. “But at the end, if you look at the result. Is it something you are happy with?”

  Tucker kept silent and soon nodded. It wasn’t something he thought about too much, but needed to hear. Sometimes it was far too difficult to play out different scenarios in his head and instead it was more crucial to look at the results of his actions. There were things he could have done differently and ways he could improve, but focusing solely on himself wasn’t enough. If he had known Blaire better, understood where he came from, and actually talked to him, then maybe everything would have played out differently.