JULES

  "Hear me out?" Jules asked. "I already told you this was a mistake. We'll just be on our way." The girl approached him, and one of the few Etherealist warriors tried to stop her, but she brushed him off.

  "Step aside Max, or the High Priest will reprimand you personally. Now, why would the Raventrees send a group of…" She looked at Whiskers and an unconscious Katarina and scrutinized Jules' and Cyrus' faces, and Jules studied hers. I feel like I've seen her somewhere before. "Strangers to Whispering Pines without warning?"

  "Like I said, she didn't mean to."

  The girl smiled. Damn, I gave too much away. "Ah, so which one sent you, then? Odessa? Mira? Seraphina, perhaps?" Again, she looked at the Familiars. Jules fell silent. Not sure how much I should give away. Any advice? Rukia and Kaizen also remained quiet.

  "Yeah, one of them," Cyrus said. "But look, we really don't have time to—"

  "And why did she—whoever she is—send you with her emblem?" The girl waved her hand, and the Ryoku barrier and summoned weapons fizzled away. "Perhaps it was Fate who sent you here. Why don't you wake a walk back with me? We can have a," she glanced back to the prayer crowd, "private audience."

  Jules reached out to the others. No much of a choice, do we? They all agreed. "Fine. But we need a quiet place."

  The girl cut through the crowd just like a wedge and led them away, and Jules eyed the Etherealists as he passed by them. They left the clearing, and the group trailed behind them. Pinched in front and back, with nowhere to run to. The trail snaked through the woods until the outskirts of a small village came into sight. Small cottages laid scattered between trees, each pumping out tails of smoke to the heavens. Tons of cattle and other beasts of burden, both locked behind fences and roaming freely. Gardens spread out everywhere. Another trailhead caught his attention—it led off into a much denser woodland and sent a shiver down his spine.

  People walked all about the village, each with an Etherealist Faction crest somewhere on their clothing. Mostly all wearing the same type of clothes, and there are way more people here than I would have imagined could live in a village this size. Cyrus nudged his elbow in Jules' rib.

  "Must represent their station or something, the clothes," he said. "Heard they have some caste system."

  What Jules noticed most was the amount of villagers who prayed around the sick, the dying, and the dead. The only ones not lying around praying were Healers, who moved from group to group.

  May need to hire one of them for Kat, Jules thought to Cyrus.

  Dangerous idea.

  True, but at least it's an option.

  Everyone stopped to pay their respects to the girl when they passed; she didn't pay them much attention, as if parading strangers through their village and followed by a massive crowd were a normal event. And they're even going right back to prayer—

  "What is that?" Jules asked. He pointed at some black arches, carved of stone, near some of the dead.

  "I would think you would recognize a Teleportal when you saw one," she said. No, ours looked much different than that creepy thing. "We return our husks to the Ethereal Rift when we die."

  "What happened here, to all your people?"

  "In due time, in our private audience."

  "I thought this place was known for its medicinal herbs," Cyrus said.

  "It is. That is why we treat the sick here, directly next to the source." They continued on through Whispering Pines. Hardly anyone looks like they can fight here. The only ones that can are guarding her. "We care for our own until their dying breaths, when the medicine proves to be too ineffective."

  They arrived at the gate—fashioned in the red Shrine torii style—to a walled-off courtyard. Only the men that Jules and Cyrus had scuffled with followed her inside; the prayer group—and Jules and Cyrus—stayed outside. Jules saw a wide open space with a temple inside.

  "Please, if you'll follow me." The two boys glanced at each other. "We can have Healers tend to your friend, while you and I meet alone for a time."

  "If you'll give us a moment," Jules requested. "We need to discuss something."

  "Take your time." She walked further inside and gave them some space.

  "I don't like the idea of splitting up again," Jules whispered.

  "We don't have a choice. Our furry animals are suspicious enough."

  "Stay with Kat."

  "I need to find out why I'm here."

  "Cy!"

  "No. It's not some mistake that we came here. I'm supposed to find something here, I know it."

  "The last time you left Kat, this happened—"

  "Let the fool run amok." Jules balked at Whiskers.

  "Hey, watch it," Cyrus said.

  "Are you serious, Whiskers!?" Jules asked.

  "Rukia, Kaizen, and I will stay with Katarina. I've been watching the crowd. We can take them. Plus, you'll be right next door."

  "Sounds like a trap to me," Jules said.

  "Katarina is…dreaming things she should never see. I need to pry, and I don't want either of you entering her mind."

  "…What?"

  "Everything OK over there?" the girl called out.

  "Jules, I hate it here." That's a shock, Ruke. You usually love dangerous situations. Oh—maybe we're not in danger…?

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  "If we're gonna do this, you need to stay with Whiskers. You don't have to, but—"

  "No, it's fine," she said. "I'll stay by Whiskers' side." But not Kat's? Hmm, you two. Jules winked at her, but she tilted her head in confusion.

  "And I'm good to go on my own?" Cyrus asked.

  "As long as you stay close."

  "No promises."

  "Of course not. I'm getting tired of traveling with you."

  "I'm telling you, it's all—"

  "Yeah, whatever. Go do your side Quest again, but move Kat first." Jules turned away, and Cyrus grabbed his shoulder and whispered in his ear.

  "If the time is ever right, ask her about the Magi."

  "Right." Jules entered the gate and approached the girl. "So who exactly are you, and why'd you bring us here?"

  "Please, sit first." She guided him through sliding bamboo doors to a room inside the temple, and shut it behind them. One Rune, repeated over and over again, covered the walls. "These Silence Runes were installed long before they were made illegal. We have amnesty here in this ancient temple."

  "I see." Jules scanned the room. Tatami mat floors, a little altar in an alcove on the wall. A low table and no chairs, just cushions. A strange, humming box. Wonder what's inside of it?

  "My name is Anya Naqri." Anya fetched a tea set from the altar and laid it out on the low table, in a very particular manner. Not pouring any, yet. Jules noted another set of boxes sat beneath the altar. "So, what exactly are your ties to the Raventrees?"

  "I should ask the same of you."

  Anya adjusted a plate on the table. "You can lower your guard. My Guards are outside and can't hear us, even if I yell for help."

  "Are you sure I won't need to yell for help? You seem to be revered around here." And at such a young age.

  "I sense a strength in you. An unnatural one. I am certain I would not best you." She rotated Jules' empty tea cup slightly. I know I've seen you before. Could have been in my nightmares, if you're a Sin. Greed? Gluttony? Pride? Sloth is male. I don't want to risk seeing if you can Regenerate—That could end poorly. "I will ask one more time, who sent you, and why?" She reminded him of a certain artist he know, who demanded knowledge in exchange for knowledge.

  "Question for question. Deal?"

  "Yes, and now I've answered yours first, so answer mine."

  "Odessa sent us here. The why part is another question, I'm sure you'll understand."

  "I see you're keen on a tight negotiation. Proceed."

  "How do you know the Raventrees?"

  "They are Etherealists, though we are not Shinsorai." Hm, giving me extra information, but I think I'll hold back on mine for a time. "Why did Odessa send you here?"

  "I'm not sure. It was a mistake. Why do you trust the Raventrees so much?"

  "Jiro Raventree is a good Lord to the Shinsorai, and he has equally provided for us in our greatest times of need."

  "Oh, how?"

  "Ah ah, my turn. Where did she mean to send you?"

  "I think here." They stared each other down, and Jules cracked the first smile, and she returned one in kind. "But we had planned to go elsewhere in The Verdant Domain."

  "Jiro sent us provisions after we were blockaded." Not expanding on that one, are you? "Where else did you plan to go in The Verdant Domain?"

  "You are persistent." And perhaps I'm being an ass, but whatever. "Eldertree Enclave."

  Anya poured their tea. As the steam rose from his cup, Jules waited for her to drink first, which she did. Could be Truth Serum. I should ask a really tough question before drinking mine. He leaned in.

  "What's the biggest secret you know about the Raventrees?"

  "I know Jiro's daughter is Lust." I knew it! "And before you jump to conclusions, this is not Truth Serum."

  Jules' lack of a poker face fell flat. Well, you can't lie about that, right? Maybe this is why we're having a private audience. He took a spiteful sip of the tea. Fuck. Salvos Dammit.

  "How is the tea?" She winked.

  "Fucking delicious. I mean, wow. And thanks for the free question—Where have I seen you before?"

  "I do not know. Where have I seen you before?"

  Jules laughed. "Do you get newspapers out here?" Anya took another sip without responding. "Oh, right. Didn't mean to jump the line, but if you get newspapers, you'll see my face and a fat Bounty next to it in all of them. Why do you protect Lust?" You could sell her out for enough Ryoku to heal everyone here, ten times over.

  "I already told you, she is an Etherealist. Though she may not know it herself. Where are you from? I mean Faction-wise. You are clearly not Shinsorai."

  "I'm not apart of any Faction." Jules took another sip; it was so good he practically grunted out loud. Have a freebie for this immaculate brew."But I am from Coralith." Anya smiled and nodded her head in appreciation of the extra effort. "How old are you?"

  "Eighteen. You?"

  "Eighteen. We are of a similar age, so… Which one are you?"

  Anya took another sip. "Female."

  "That's not what I—"

  "Are you Wrath?"

  Jules' lip curled, and he set his tea cup down with a clank. "I don't like being called that, but you're not wrong to. I prefer Jules Tideshaper. Are you Greed?"

  "No." Shit. "Is the fox your Familiar, or the cat?"

  Which one are you? "Rukia the fox."

  Anya rose and fetched the other boxes near the altar. She opened it up and presented little tea cakes. Thought my arrival wasn't foretold? Those look fresh. Anya lifted one up to her mouth. Fuck, that looks delicious. Like too god, kinda feels like—

  "Are you Gluttony?"

  Anya's eyes widened. Her hand froze, with mouth wide open, cake inches from her face. She looked down at the snack, then down to her stomach. Pure anger spread across her face. "I am not a Sin." Anya slammed the entire piece into her mouth, chewed a few times, then swallowed loudly.

  "Uh… I didn't mean what you think I meant by that. I just…was sure you were a Sin. Are you a Virtue?"

  "No. Two questions for me. What are you searching for—" Anger returned to her face. No, much harsher this time. "And do. You know. Kazuma?"

  "You mean the Alter? No, not personally." Anya relaxed again.

  "I think we've built enough trust to proceed, yes? After you've answered my other question, that is."

  "We are looking for Lust—for Sera." Jules briefly explained the events of the day so far. "Now, proceed with what?"

  "You've seen the state of our village. We are a dying breed, and I am only one woman. We've been praying for a savior, and perhaps our Shinsorai friends delivered us one."

  "Trust me," Jules looked away, "I'm no savior. But what exactly happened here?"

  "Nothing. A decade-plus of isolation. After the Etherealists didn't pick a side in the 16th War of the Wastes, we paid the price, and the Elementalists blockaded us."

  The 16th War—eh? "Listen, I have my own mission."

  "The Etherealists are gathering back here from all over, because we are preparing for the war."

  "What war?"

  "The one that was set in motion today, in Shinsora."

  "That seems like a stretch. It was just another battle for a Sin—"

  "The Verdant Domain is going to war, Jules Tideshaper."

  "Against who? And for what, more Sins?"

  "I know not who, nor why. Coralith. Zephyria. Obsidia. The Church and the Iron zealots—any guess is as good as mine. And for what? We have 52 Shrines. 53 now, because Riftwatch Outpost just opened a new one recently. We have the Tree of Wishes, we have the Ethereal Rift, which we are sworn to guard—Ha! What good will we, a dying breed, do in that endeavor?"

  Jules took it all in silence.

  "The 17th War is coming," Anya continued. "And it will be The War to end all Wars. Players larger than either of us, that have too much at stake as the world turns to the Apocalypse."

  "I don't know what you expect me to do. I told you, I have another mission."

  "To start it?" The Apocalypse!?

  "No!" Jules snapped. He rose from his seat. "To stop it all."

  "Then we serve the same side!"

  "What's your part in all of this?" Jules demanded. "Why does everyone here worship you—revere you? And why are you keeping me here?"

  "I never set out to be. A leader. It was forced upon me at a young age." Yeah, I get the feeling. "Though not at birth, like you. Prophesies of Oracles come every so often in the Etherealists." That's good info for Cy. "I never had a choice."

  "I feel your pain, but that doesn't change my stance. My friends and I need to leave and find Lust."

  "I do like the calling, though. To help people, whether physically," her look made Jules uncomfortable, "or spiritually. We are a weak faction. Weak of body and mind, but not of spirit. I fulfill my role the best I can, and I feel we share that bond."

  You're damn right about the spirituality thing.

  "What's your calling, Jules Tideshaper?" To start the Apocalypse…

  "I defy my calling."

  "I see. But I still hold hope that I'm not mistaken about you, Jules." You still won't falter.

  "You hold loyalty to Lust, so I'll share this information with you. The Iron Maidens are hunting Sins and Virtues alike, in a secret sect called the Judas Priests. Back in Marina Veridia, they used a tool called the Black Sacrament, to mimic some unspeakable Soul magic."

  "I have foreseen such darkness overtaking us, overtaking all of The Verdant Domain. So if I help you reach Eldertree Enclave, will you help us?"

  Cyrus' words echoed in Jules' mind. "Anya, have you ever heard of the Magi?"

  One of the Etherealist Guards burst in—Jules was ready to strike him down, but Anya held up a hand. "What is it, Sebastian?"

  He glared at Jules, with scorn and disgust. "Your friend, boy. He's agreed to duel the High Priest."

  "He what!?"