CYRUS

  Here we are, back in the belly of the beast.

  Cy, his friends, their former opponents—Arcanians and Guardians alike—and The Painter crossed through the repaired gates of Eldertree Enclave. With that trademark grin of his and a simple snap of his fingers, the Alter had reversed the damage done, and healed everyone. Except Kat, who's still slung on Jules' arm and won't stop glaring at The Painter. Jules is at least keeping them apart, though he also looks like he could kill him. Whiskers is certainly pushing his luck, getting that close.

  "See what you wanted to see?" Cy asked the Alter.

  "Not quite all." Guess you weren't going to see Kat use Inked Art this time around, but you got to see our Vessels in action. The Painter waved his arms across the stronghold. "But allow me to be the first to welcome you to Eldertree Enclave. We have much to discuss."

  Cy took in the sights as they walked to wherever The Painter led them. No point in asking with this one. Log buildings, made of the old growth of The Verdant Expanse forests, littered the town. Every structure boasted one of three Faction banners: the Guardians, the Arcanians, or the Nomads, of which there were few. Scattered about the town were crude wood sculptures, depicting some of the various woodland gods of old; Cy noticed there were few Merchants in the Enclave, and even fewer shops, and most sold weaponry and armor. Interesting. I could use that to my advantage, but the amounts of artillery—I wonder if this is normal business for them, or if they're preparing for something, like Anya kept alluding to.

  Get a grip on yourself, Cy. Jules' thoughts echoed in Cy's mind through Telepathy.

  Hate it or love it when it comes to his methods, Jules, but he's our best life-line right now.

  This bastard was in my dreams.

  Kat!? How'd you get in my mind?

  I'm working on a group chat, though I'm still working out some bugs, Jules noted.

  It seems to be working fine to me, eh?

  Cy, Jules, Envy, and Whiskers all yelped at the same time.

  "Get out of my head!" Envy shouted at The Painter.

  "Oh, I wasn't invited in? After all that time we spent together?" The Alter looked at Cy with that word. "Well, we're here, and can speak in private."

  Cy and company exchanged glances with each other, then followed their teacher into the Arcanians' headquarters. Similar to The Painter's art supply shop in Aquilantis, the building's inside defied the laws of physics and spread out much too widely. The Guardians and Arcanians that Cy'd had the extreme pleasure of meeting outside the town remained outside, but one Arcanian man awaited them inside.

  "So is this the new hideout you ran off to?" Jules asked. The Painter scoffed at his favorite pupil.

  "Please, I didn't set this place up—No, in fact, this little fortress inspired my own home."

  "This building has been here for centuries," the Arcanian said. "Wood Enchanted by the forest itself, and the Elders of long ago, it has prevailed against the test of time." Don't look at The Painter, don't look at The Painter…

  "And here I thought we'd have some privacy," Envy snapped.

  "So no one could see me strike you back, in self defense, eh? No. Argyle here is the Arcanian's Chief here in Eldertree Enclave. We will be working very closely with him in the coming days—"

  "Days? We don't have days," Jules said.

  "Why are we all here?" Cy chimed in before The Painter could respond and talk them in circles. "And how did you know about Lust? Are we here for our next phase of training, because now is a bad—" No, don't say that word. "Listen—Are you here to help us rescue her or not?" Cy glanced at Jules. You look shocked, maybe even proud of me?

  "Trust me," The Painter said. "I would love to get my hands on her. But I'm sorry for the mixup outside! I just wanted to see your Vessels in action, and see how you'd progressed through the Inked Arts since I last saw you. It's been a long time, and a lot has transpired."

  "A couple of weeks is not long enough," Envy said.

  "We were attacked in Aquilantis," Cy said. "Riiiight after you left."

  "You wound me, Cyrus. I was already gone, and I certainly didn't send the Maidens after you."

  "But you knew they were coming. Why'd you leave so fast?" If you were already gone, you couldn't have known who really attacked us. They hid that from the papers.

  "I told you—the game shifted, and I needed to adjust my strategy." What game, I wonder? And why come here? "I heard you botched Siren's Cove, eh? But perhaps not completely. Did you make a new friend?" Does he mean Maddie?

  "We made a few," Jules said. "But we lost one in Marina Veridia. Could have really used your help there."

  "Oh, I sent aid," The Painter said in a much deeper voice. "Anyway, speaking of Marina Veridia, I see you all fared well with your Vessel assignments. On top of that, you each went in alone—I'm so proud! Yes, Cy, I even count yours as a solo victory." Did Kat just literally growl?

  "Is Info Broker a Class?" Cy asked. "Because I'd like to know what happens in Shrines I've never been to."

  "Just need to read the papers to know what happened in Coralhaven, eh?" Jules' demeanor shifted entirely, and he drew more into himself. "You all have quite the growing Bounties, but I did not expect dining and dashing to be among your crimes—and multiple times at that."

  "We're short on time," Cy said. Shit.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  "We certainly are, Cyrus! I'm glad you remembered. You should be approaching 3rd Rank, now, correct? No? Hmph. Well, after your trip to the Aquilanti Fountain, Wrath, the stakes changed. I had to seek other knowledge, and then a massive—and I mean massive—problem fell into my lap."

  "Don't care." Envy snapped her fingers. "Get to it."

  "How have the Inked Arts been treating you, eh—Missie?"

  Cy furrowed his brows. He's fine calling Jules Wrath because everyone knows him. Guess he still wants to keep Kat's identity safe from Argyle. And that's probably why he didn't fight her earlier, either, so no one knows she's a Sin.

  "It's going well," Jules answered for her, when the silence grew too long. "Why are we here?"

  "You are truly an exceptional class. Now, my trip to The Verdant Domain, and that event I mentioned, brought me here."

  "Funny," Argyle the Arcanian Chief said. "I summoned you here yesterday when—"

  "When an old friend of mine here called in a debt. I've always been drawn to the Tree of Wishes, and I'm hoping this latest mission will lead me to it…"

  Argyle grunted. "Suppose we'll just leave it at that for now."

  "We've been hearing about this Tree a lot," Cy said. "Honestly, I thought it was all a fairy tale. How many wishes do you get?"

  The Painter glanced at Argyle, who rolled his eyes and shook his head. You two seem chummy. "A single one for life. Now, you've got your Vessels. Are you ready to move on to the next phase of training?"

  "Yes."

  "No."

  "Hell no."

  "You said you could help us find Lust," Jules said.

  "Eh? I just remember saying I could help in general." Jules and Envy walked toward the door. "The next phase of your training will be unlike the previous. No more death. Er—Not every day, at least." Jules grabbed the door handle. Surely he's bluffing. "I have trained you lot to be my operatives."

  "Yeah right," Envy said.

  "Cut the shit," Cy said. "How'd you know Lust was captured in the middle of everything in Shinsora?"

  "I see your training in patience isn't bearing fruit, Jules." Jules turned to face the Alter. "I told you in Aquilantis, you weren't the only Sin known to certain people. I've had an eye on Seraphina for some time, though she was protected, and I couldn't get close."

  "I'm beginning to relate," Envy said.

  "What about us?" Cy asked. "How did you know we were there?"

  "And what, you couldn't step in to help?" Jules asked. "You've been tracking us this entire time, just like in Aquilantis."

  "And in our minds," Envy added.

  "Children, eh?" The Painter asked Argyle. "I was practically a world away."

  "Answer the question now, or we walk," Cy said.

  "Real fond of you, this lot," Argyle said.

  "I have my fingers in multiple pots, at all times."

  "Ew. Gross."

  "Where is she!?" Jules pounded the door.

  "Ha! You've caught me. I don't know the answer to that."

  "OK, but what do you suspect?" Cy asked.

  "Sylvan Hollow is the natural choice. Convenient, to find myself here, so close by, eh?" Uh huh.

  "So you have some master plan to free her?" Cy asked.

  "Salvos, no! That's why I called you here, as my operatives."

  "Fuck you." Whoah Whiskers, get it. But now you've given yourself away to Argyle.

  "I promise that our goals will align—eventually—and yield results for your missions. But first, tell me about your time in Whispering Pines, and the Runes you three now possess."

  Cy showcased the Space Rune crest Odessa had lent him in Shinsora. "The Raventrees gave me this."

  "Did they? Hmm. That is much too dangerous for you now. We are tied together, Cyrus—So do. Not. Use it." Wow, that was pretty forceful, even for you. "I believe you received something in Coralhaven, Missie." Jules whipped his head around to Envy, who hesitated to answer.

  "Stylized Summon Rune," she said bluntly.

  "Can I see it?" Jules asked. Envy looked him up and down, but still handed him the crumpled up scrap paper. "Who gave you this?"

  "A Blacksmith, Jules." Jules gave the paper back to her, then stared at his feet. Wasn't your fault, man.

  "Wrath?"

  Jules glared at him, and the life returned to his eyes, though it looked mostly fueled by hatred. "An Etherealist gave me this. She seemed to know you."

  "What is it?" Envy asked. Kinda odd that you should care, Kat. You haven't even had time to see it yet.

  "It's mostly worthless," The Painter said.

  "Uh huh," Envy said.

  "To the general population." That familiar grin spread across The Painter's face. Pay attention to this one. "Hypothetically speaking, it might be able to unleash Arcanic powers, though…it is untested." Cy looked back and forth between the two. Something's going on. Kat mentioned he was in her nightmares…

  "Why do you seem to know everyone?" Cy asked.

  "Do I?"

  "Why are we always running into you—Or at least a piece of you, everywhere we go?"

  "Do you? I wasn't in Coralhaven. Nor was I in Lighthouse Point, Siren's Cove, Marina Veridia, Shinsora, Whispering Pines… We have only met twice, Cyrus. I told you, I am an info broker—"

  The Painter cut himself off. He shifted in his chair, at full attention now. His concentration shifted as well. He looked to the door, then toward a wall, though Cy suspected he looked outside of it. He's here, but he's not really here. What gives? I've never seen him like this, not even the morning of our Final Examination.

  Argyle spoke first. "Is he—"

  "It appears we must adjourn for the day, children." The Alter rose from his chair. "I will attend to you in the morning. Though we still have plenty of time together, you will depart by tomorrow evening."

  JULES

  Fear spread across his face and transitioned to sheer terror as their cast shadows rose from his feet up to his cowering face. They surrounded him and cut off his escape, pushing him into a literal corner. They'd hogtie his geriatric ass up if they could, to keep him from running away, but for now, their Ryoku Shields seemed to hold the ghost in place.

  "Time to spill the beans on the Seals and this Unlock Rune." Jules, Cyrus, Katarina, and Whiskers all hovered inches from his face. No one else was around except Rukia, and not even she would dare come to Kaizen's aid now. "And we know from Kat's nightmares that The Painter's been looking for it, too."

  "This guy," Kaizen said to Rukia. "Thinks he can crack me? Me!? I am the—"

  The angled Ryoku Shield snapped shut on Kaizen like a closing book.

  "Are the Seals tied to the Apocalypse?"

  "Wrong question, kiddo—" The shield snapped shut again.

  "How are the Seals tied to the Apocalypse?" Silence met another closing book. "How is my Seal tied to Wrath? The Magi? The others that Zeke mentioned?"

  SLAM! SLAM! SLAM! A lone bump raised from Kaizen's cheek, next to his bloodied and bruised face. He continued on with a swollen tongue.

  "I thaid I'd anther all your questionth after you unlock the Thound." The Ryoku Shields closed again, but this time Kaizen head-butted one side and cracked them. His wounds mysteriously vanished away. "I told your dad back when you were born—You can't hurt me. But good try!" Cyrus, Katarina, and Whiskers slowly backed off with creeped-out expressions.

  "Screw you! You worthless mentor piece of crap."

  "You all need to focus on Lust," Kaizen said.

  "We're trying to!"

  "Really? You seem pretty distracted to me."

  "You better not have been asleep when we were with The Painter, you—"

  "Lust first," Kaizen snapped. "Then find Greed." Jules paused. Greed? He's barely mentioned him before. Are you changing the subject to get me off your back…or are you steering me in the same direction as my questioning? It's always hard to tell with you.

  "We have no leads on Greed," Jules said. He reached out to Kaizen alone through Telepathy and blocked even Rukia from their thread. If you are Death, I don't want to Unlock my Seal—Or assemble the Sound, for that matter!

  "You need him, Jules. The next two pieces of the Sound will be much harder to attain." Kaizen glanced over at Rukia, who curled her tail up into herself. I really wish I had a different sensei that you. Kaizen winced. "You will take Rukia with you to the next Shrine."

  "What about you?" Jules snapped.

  "Not this one, kiddo." Of course not. At least I have Rukia, though. "Each step brings you closer to the truth, Jules. You will be ready for it when it comes."

  "Closer to the truth…and closer to the Apocalypse."

  Jules left them all to go sleep. That night, he had nightmares, not of his jail cell, but of an erupting volcano. At its mouth, he faced off against some dark demon. The fight was ending, he was losing—and then time rewound, and he fought some nine-tailed beast in a forest. When it finally ended, Jules wished he could return to his nightmares that ended in the jail cell. Nothing is worse than these…