"Ready?" Shaye asked, entering a defensive stance. Her palms were raised and ready to strike at a moment's notice. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, keeping light on her toes.

  I tilted my head, cracking the stiffness out of my neck. "I should be asking you."

  The Academy's winter break had barely started, and our trainers were taking full advantage of the extra time. Their intention? To push us saviours to our limits, then, push back those limits even further. While Shaye and I were waiting for Ashkan to arrive at the arena, we'd kept our blood circulating by sparring – no weapons, just fists and harmless spells.

  Shaye feigned a ruthless scowl. "I bid thee, do thy worst!"

  "If you insist." I lunged and shot my fist towards her face.

  She blocked, as I knew she would. I swung again, aiming for her abdomen. Again, she blocked me. We'd done this dance so many times, we were beginning to predict each other's moves. It was all about being able to anticipate what was coming next. Shaye's arm flashed in my vision as she aimed for my chest. I twisted sideways, the tips of her knuckles glancing off my shoulder. I grinned. She grinned back.

  Our fists were a blur. The air whistled with her every strike and parry, every punch and kick. We moved across the dirt floor, dancing around each other. My own magic manifested in the form of electricity, arcing between us like lightning. I made sure not to cast anything that wouldn't feel like a simple zap of static electricity, but Shaye yelped in surprise as a particularly strong spark jumped from me to her.

  I faltered. "Sorry!"

  "No, keep going!" She laughed. "This is a good learning experience."

  Our movements quickened. We were both too good at this, and now it was all about who could keep up the fastest, who could land a solid hit without the other dodging out of the way. It wasn't just about brute strength, but about speed. I ducked under Shaye's arm and jabbed upwards, catching her off guard. A small 'oomph' of shock escaped her lips. In response, she spun into a roundhouse kick, but I leaned back, out of her reach. I grabbed her ankle and used her own momentum against her, tugging her off balance. But she'd anticipated this and threw herself into an aerokinesis-assisted back handspring, wrenching her ankle from my grasp. The second she was on her feet, I launched a bolt of lightning at her. She deflected it with a shield spell and fired a gust of wind right back at me. I dug my heels into the ground, resisting the force. We both paused, lungs burning, grinning like idiots.

  "Having fun yet?" Shaye breathed, wiping sweat from her hairline.

  I shook my head. "We've barely begun."

  We circled each other, waiting for one of us to make the first move. After a few seconds, I darted towards her, faking a punch, then swept my right leg around to try to ambush her. She hopped backwards, avoiding the kick, but didn't anticipate my second strike. Her eyes widened. My left knee rammed into her chest. She stumbled, then righted herself. Before she could attack, I shot a beam of light at her feet.

  Shaye cursed and jumped out of the way. "Cheater!"

  "All's fair in war!" I called, grinning.

  Suddenly, I was yanked into the air by an invisible force. My stomach swooped. I tried to cast a counter-spell, but it was too late. My body flipped upside-down, hovering five feet off the ground. Dangling like a marionette on strings, my vision tilted and swam. I groaned.

  "How's the weather up there?" Shaye asked, her face focusing into view.

  I blinked. "Who's cheating now?!"

  She chuckled. "Use your brain! It's too late to counter the jinx, so how else are you going to get out of it?"

  My legs swung like pendulums, kicking nothing but air. I squinted at Shaye's outstretched palm, her fingers curled inwards. I could still feel my magic, simmering under the surface. There was a key to this puzzle. I just needed to be resourceful.

  Surveying my surroundings, it hit me. I could move my arm just enough to summon a golden lasso of light. As soon as I felt the rope form in my hand, I swung it at the closest barrel. The loop caught on the rim. I pulled, gritting my teeth as the jinx's magic resisted. It toppled over, and I wrenched it forward, sending it hurtling towards Shaye's legs.

  There was no time for her to react. The rolling barrel hit the back of her knees, and with a yelp, she careened backwards. The jinx released me, and I landed safely on my feet. Shaye was on the ground in a tangled mess of limbs and hair. I rushed over to her and held out my hand.

  "You okay?" I asked, a smile forming at the corner of my mouth.

  She took my hand and pulled herself up, brushing her leggings off. "I thought you were aiming for my head. You're getting better at thinking outside the box. I'm impressed."

  "Thanks. We probably shouldn't be using cheap tactics, though. Sorry. Let's keep going?"

  She nodded and raised her fists once more.

  We continued sparring, using more conventional techniques. Our arms and legs blurred, our boots digging into the dirt, leaving trails that resembled brushstrokes. Each time one of us managed to get in a good hit, the other would counter with a spell. I'd throw a bolt of electricity or light. She'd deflect it with a gust of wind, sending a flurry of dust and pebbles up into the air. Then, I'd duck a strike, and she'd roll to the side to avoid a kick.

  I had just weaved out of the path of her fist and was preparing to retaliate when the distant sound of the arena door closing caught my attention. I paused, and Shaye's gaze flickered towards the source of the noise as well. My focus wavered. I was definitely staring.

  Ashkan.

  He was walking down the steps of the arena, his head held high and his shoulders square. The sunlight filtering through the domed ceiling's glass panels illuminated his perpetually bedraggled hair. He was wearing his usual black joggers and combat boots, but instead of a typical t-shirt or long-sleeved top, he'd donned a form-fitting, navy tank top. I hated it, but I felt my breath catch in my throat. It wasn't even one of those thin, low-cut ones either – the kind that gym bros wore. It was literally just a tight t-shirt with the sleeves cut off. Nothing special. Except it was so...different. I was used to seeing Ash in baggy, oversized knit sweaters, or many layers, or a normal-fitting school uniform. Seeing him in a shirt that clung to him this way was something new. And I didn't like the way it was making my stomach feel. As if that wasn't bad enough, I could also see his new tattoo, which had fully healed by now. That was just salt in the wound; nothing but an annoying reminder of this little voice in my head that wouldn't shut up about–

  WHUMP!

  Shaye's heel connected with my abdomen. Air whooshed out of my lungs as I collapsed to the ground.

  "Oh, gods!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide. "I thought you saw that coming!"

  I choked as I tried to inhale and exhale at the same time.

  "Blimey, why is she on the floor?" Ashkan's voice was suddenly very close, and a shadow fell over me.

  Shaye's head appeared next to his. "Sorry, sorry, sorry! She must've phased out!"

  I sat up and wheezed, clutching my stomach. "Okay... I deserve that..."

  Ashkan snorted, offering me a hand. "Lost in the clouds, are we?"

  "I... Uh..." My face felt hot. I accepted his hand and allowed him to pull me up.

  He didn't let go right away. I stared at our interlocked hands, and my heart rate skyrocketed. Ugh, come on! Get a grip, Brielle!

  I tugged my hand out of his grasp and forced myself to look him in the eyes. "Thanks. You ready to start?"

  "Ready when you are," he replied, cracking his knuckles.

  We joined our trainers at the other side of the arena. As they discussed today's lesson, I couldn't help sneaking another glance at Ashkan. His hair wasn't quite long enough to tie up properly, so lately he'd started using bandanas as headbands to keep the strands out of his eyes. And today was one of those days. They kind of made him look like a pirate, but somehow, the style worked.

  I tore my gaze away, cursing myself. I hated this. Whatever it was. It was silly, and it made no sense. I'd never been the kind of girl who fawned over boys. First Luke, and now...? No, no. No. I did not like Ashkan the way I liked Luke. This was something else. This was just leftover emotions from his brush with death, left behind after our moment on that frozen beach. That was the only logical explanation. I wanted to keep learning about him, yes, but it's not like I wanted to date him. As if he'd ever think of me in that way. As if that'd ever go over well.

  But whatever this was, I needed to get my thoughts in order, because if this kept happening, he was going to find out, and I couldn't bear that. It would be like waving a big red flag in front of him. I needed to bury this. Fast.

  Kadia's voice broke through my reverie, loud and clear. "Brielle, attention!"

  My attention snapped forward. "Yes?"

  She stood before me, hands on her hips. "Have you heard a word I've said, or are you too busy daydreaming?"

  My cheeks grew warmer. "No, I heard you."

  "Oh, did you? So, what was it you're to do for this session?"

  I paused. In a complete daze, I'd missed everything she'd said. Clearing my throat, I suggested, "Er... Tactical...evasion? Or something like that."

  "Or something," she deadpanned.

  With a sigh, I apologized. "I'm sorry. ...I was distracted."

  Kadia pinched the bridge of her nose, shifting her weight. "Distraction can get you killed, remember? Now, we're having you practice weaving magic further into your combat, creating a more seamless flow of both spells and physical strikes. You want to limit standing idly as much as possible."

  "Right, got it," I muttered.

  The afternoon wore on. Being so incessantly sidetracked was not fun. As saviours, our work wasn't easy nor smooth sailing. But no matter how often I told myself that, no matter how hard I tried to focus, I couldn't help drifting off every so often. Every time I did, my frustration grew. The more I focused on not being distracted, the worse I became. Several times I found myself glancing over at Ashkan, who was practicing on the other side of the arena, locking myself into some weird, circular thought loop of both curiosity and unease. Really, it was quite like me to make things more complicated for myself than they needed to be. Driving myself in mental circles until I could salvage any glimmer of clarification.

  Pieces of the puzzle, fragments from conversations I had with Ashkan, snippets of his laugh and his smile and his jokes – I drew them all into my head and analyzed them. What it all meant and didn't mean. What it was and wasn't. I could almost reach out and touch the final realization, only for it to slip through my fingers at the last moment.

  It's not fair. Whatever is going on right now, it's not fair.

  I could banish that storm of questions soon enough while training. But afterwards, when I was showering and changing clothes, the thoughts crept back. I was alone with my questions. It was then that I was the most vulnerable. It was then that the theories grew louder and louder, and I was forced to confront them.

  Shaye returned her hairbrush to her satchel. "I hope I didn't kick you too hard earlier, Brielle. I'm really sorry."

  "You're fine," I laughed. "I'll survive. Don't worry."

  "If you say so." She shouldered her bag and gave me a small smile. "Great work today! I'll see you tomorrow."

  I nodded. "See you."

  Shaye exited the change room, leaving me to finish packing up my own things. I was almost done, my bag slung over my shoulder and my hand already on the doorknob, when I heard a knock. I opened the door and was faced with none other than the subject of my mental turmoil. Ashkan was leaning against the door frame, arms folded, hair damp.

  I blinked several times. "Um, hi?"

  Instead of answering, he lifted a hand in front of my face. Hanging from his fingers was a familiar leather cord with a gold signet ring strung onto it. A bright red glow emanated from the metal. The other hunters needed us. A distress signal... Another one? So soon?

  "You've got to be kidding..." I whispered. Rummaging through my bag, I found my own ring and slipped it on. It was buzzing the same shade of red.

  Ashkan lowered his hand, and I could hear the exhaustion in his voice. "Crime doesn't stop for the holidays."

  "We're not even a week into break," I sighed, running a hand through my just-washed hair. "Why are we so popular?"

  "It's 'cause we're the best," he joked. "So let's not keep 'em waiting. I'll walk home with my guards, and you let yours see you teleport away like usual. We'll meet in the square in ten minutes and answer the call together. How about it?"

  I bit my lip. "What if that's too long? What if the others go ahead without us?"

  "Nah, we can still catch up." He grinned at me and gave a slight wink. "It's you and me, after all, remember?"

  It was hard to argue with Ash when he was like this. But it was even harder not to return his grin. I didn't understand why he was having such an effect on me – and I certainly didn't like it – but he was.

  I shut my eyes, took a breath, and opened them again. "Okay. Sounds like a plan."

  He offered a two-fingered salute and a nod. "See you soon." It was said in a way that suggested we were going out for ice cream or something, not that we were about to genuinely risk our lives.

  Ashkan headed down the hall and disappeared around the corner, and I made my way towards the arena entrance, my ring casting an ominous red glow along the walls. I quickly covered it with my glove. As I was about to step out, a voice echoed in the corridor behind me.

  "Oh, Brielle!"

  I stopped in my tracks. Turning slowly, I found Kadia leaning against a side door, her arms crossed and her gaze knowing. She had this way of looking at me sometimes, like she was a thousand feet tall, like her eyes could see right into my head, into the depths of my very soul. She had an expression that said, 'You have a secret, don't you?' And it was an expression that never failed to make me shrink down to a third of my usual size.

  Kadia took a few steps towards me, stopping several feet away. "Well done today. I know not what matters were distracting you, but... Good work on pushing through that. Your determination to succeed is valuable in the pursuit of excellence."

  My shoulders slumped in relief. "Thanks. It, um, means a lot coming from you. Really."

  "Do try to get some sleep tonight," she urged, raising an eyebrow.

  I laughed nervously, feeling my cheeks flush. "Of course! Yeah, definitely. I'm wiped..."

  Her other eyebrow raised to join the other one, her eyes squinting a bit in amusement. "Mhm. Well then. Have a good evening."

  "You too."

  With a wave, she was gone, leaving me to stew in the implications of our conversation. What kind of person was I, lying to my own sister? Getting closely and dangerously involved with a secret organization that clashed directly with her employers? The guilt gnawed away at my heart. I needed to be careful. Kadia didn't deserve the stress I'd inevitably put on her if she ever found out about any of this.

  I shook my head. This is a problem for another night. For now, you have work to do.

  Ashkan was already in the square by the time I'd returned, so I walked up behind him, my boots making soft treading noises against the cobblestone. He spun around as I drew near.

  "All right?" he asked.

  I shrugged. "Just peachy."

  Whatever was going on with us, whatever weird, unexplainable, confusing feelings I might or might not have had, it didn't matter right now. I had to focus on the mission. So, the best solution I could come up with was to put some distance between us. Not too much. Just enough for me not to lose my concentration; just enough to prevent him from catching onto my odd behaviour. I had no choice but to shut it off. I'd figure the rest out later.

  We didn't speak another word as we walked across the square to the closest alleyway. It was narrower than most. When we reached the brick wall at the back, we each retrieved our rings. Ashkan's gaze met mine. I nodded.

  The world twisted. In an instant, the bustle and noise of the city faded, replaced by rushing air and rhythmic clunking. Just like last time, my clothing had been swapped, and my weapons were summoned and ready. I looked around. I'd been dropped onto the outside platform of a large train car, the last one of who-knows-how-many. A railing ran along the outer edge. The train itself was speeding along the rails, winding through a valley with hills on either side. The sun was low in the sky, casting the entire scene in an orange glow. It was raining lightly. I had no idea what country I was in. Ashkan was nowhere in sight – nobody was, for that matter.

  "Ash?" I called out, leaning over the railing. The train tracks were only a foot below, the ground flying by at an impossible rate. "Are you here?"

  No response.

  A chill ran down my spine. Had he teleported yet? Was his ring broken? Was the train moving too fast, and he'd fallen off?

  Before I could worry any longer, I was blinded by a flash of white light. Ashkan's form materialized before me. He stumbled from the momentum of his landing, and I reached out instinctively, catching him before he toppled over the railing.

  "Whoa, hey, hey!" I exclaimed.

  His arms wound around my torso, gripping my coat. "Bloody... Thank you. Thanks."

  We separated. Our eyes locked, and something jolted through me. "No worries. You okay?"

  "Yeah, yeah." He took in our surroundings. "Any sign of the others?"

  I shook my head. "None."

  He adjusted his brimmed hat. "We might have to jump into the fray. I'm sure the others are doing just fine, but it's best we get there as fast as we can."

  I turned to the door leading into the train car. "Agreed. Let's go."

  The inside of the car was filled with wooden crates. There wasn't a single speck of natural light – only dim lanterns were available. It was eerily silent, as if the train had been abandoned. Ashkan and I were crouched low, weapons drawn. We inched forward slowly, our eyes peeled for anything suspicious.

  "So far, so good," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "But that means nothing."

  "I'm not liking this," I breathed. "Where are the others?"

  "Maybe they're–"

  His sentence was cut off as a hand shot out from behind a giant crate and seized him by the collar, yanking him up.

  "Gotcha!" the owner of the hand exclaimed.

  "Wha–?! Hey!" Ashkan's axe was knocked to the floor as he was slammed into the wall, pinned against it.

  "Let him go!" a second voice hissed from behind me.

  I whirled around. Two figures stepped out from the shadows, and the first things I noticed were their black hats identical to ours, complete with a gold pin bearing the League's insignia. My heart soared with relief, and I lowered my blades. After a second or two, I recognized Blue's bright cerulean eyes through the semi-darkness. She was the one who'd demanded the other hunter to release Ashkan.

  "It's just us," the figure beside her assured, lifting his hat slightly. I honestly couldn't tell who he was.

  "Apologies, mate," the hunter holding Ashkan said, lowering him to the floor. "Thought you were someone else."

  Blue sighed, resting her head in her palm. "Pay attention, Trench. You're going to get us all killed."

  He tilted his head. "Uh, I'm Tabs."

  The other twin picked up Ashkan's axe and offered it back to him. "And I'm Trench. How many times until you get it straight, Blue?"

  Tabs snickered. "Yeah, as if it's not obvious? I part my hair on the left, and he parts his on the right."

  "Yeah. Unless I part it on the left," Trench countered, "and he parts it on the right. That's exactly what happened last week, in fact."

  His brother looked at him. "Wait, but then..."

  "You're both idiots," Blue snapped, cutting them off. "Grey, Deadbolt, nice to see you here. Sorry about these two. They're supposed to be helping, not causing trouble."

  "No harm done," Ashkan replied, brushing himself off.

  "Right, so," I began, "how can we help?"

  Blue explained, "We're in the province of Monvillonnesia in Opios right now, approaching the border shared with Noslux towards their province of Hethsaren. This is a cargo train. Most of the carriages are filled with crates, and in those crates are drugs, or weapons, or stolen goods. They're bound for the black market, which is becoming rampant in Hethsaren. Whatever money Inkbloods can make to fund their little cult, they will."

  "We're here to disrupt the supply line," Trench added. "If we can stop this shipment from getting through, we can slow their progress. It's a good thing you're both here, too. There's a lot to do."

  My brows furrowed. "I'm no criminal mastermind, but doesn't using a train to smuggle illegal goods sound, well... I don't know. Kind of stupid? It's not exactly inconspicuous."

  "It would be," Blue agreed, "if this wasn't a hijacked government train. Hethsaren is already expecting one tonight – just regular imports. What they don't know is that their 'imports' have been replaced by contraband. These Inkbloods are likely planning to just kill off the border imports officers at the station. If that's the case, no one would report the discrepancy, and by the time someone notices the lack of stock, these lowlifes would be long gone. We can't allow that. So, a local hunter who enjoys monitoring Opios' train schedules and paths noticed this one was deviating. They sent word to the League, and here we are. Since we might cross over the border, the international unit has been assigned to this."

  Ashkan crossed his arms. "Then how should we go about this? Stop the train? Derail it? Follow it to Noslux? What's the plan?"

  The twins exchanged a glance. "Well..." Tabs began, rubbing the back of his neck.

  "We haven't quite figured that out yet," Trench admitted.

  Blue sighed, shaking her head. "It's not that. Trains are dodgy locations for brawls. Limited space, moving parts, combustible fuel – all those are potential hazards. Not to mention we could easily get thrown off the train. So we have to be smart about this. If we want to win, we need to use the terrain to our advantage. We'll have to find a way to corner them and take them out without causing an explosion or crashing the train. But time is running thin."

  Tabs nodded. "I've already scouted every single car from the roof. I reckon there's about a dozen of 'em in here. Including Nulènne. I spotted her at the front."

  "Nulènne?" I asked.

  "An Inkblood," Trench answered. "One of their leaders. Real nasty troublemaker. You'll recognize her immediately. She's got a red streak in her hair."

  "Oh, and she's got a thing for fire," his brother chimed in.

  Ashkan and I shared a look.

  "Well, I've got a thing for blades," I said. "We'll see how it goes."

  Blue's eyes crinkled at the corners, like she was smiling. "I like your confidence, Grey. All right. Here's the plan: The twins will climb onto the roof and sweep the car from the front. You two will enter from the back and meet them in the middle. I'll help while also keeping watch from behind. We'll repeat the process. The further we move forward, the more of the train we clear. Be mindful of how you fight – there's no telling what exactly is in these crates. Gunpowder, oil, chemicals, alcohol – a simple misstep could spell disaster. If the train explodes with us inside, it's game over. For all of us. Got it?"

  I nodded.

  "Good. Now let's move. The border is fast approaching."

  With that, the twins headed out the back door and hoisted themselves onto the roof, while Ashkan and I moved towards the front. He opened the next door, and we slipped inside. The layout was the same as the previous carriage, the only difference being the sizes and locations of crates. I could hear the sounds of the train moving along the tracks mixed with the soft pattering of rain. We advanced, keeping low and moving slowly. It was almost silent, aside from our own breathing and the clunking of the train wheels. The only lights were the lanterns hanging from the ceiling.

  As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could faintly see a figure emerge from the back corner. They stood in front of a group of stacked crates. Ashkan and I froze. Their back was to us, and their hands were at their sides. There was no reaction to our presence, so Ashkan and I crept closer, careful not to disturb anything. We were mere feet away when the door slammed open in front of us.

  Swiftly and soundlessly, I felt Ashkan's arms enclose around me as he gripped my waist and dragged me down. We ducked behind the nearest pile of crates. I was sitting on the floor with my back pressed against his chest, his knees on either side of me, arms encircling my stomach. My cheeks were suddenly burning hot.

  "Look alive," a man's voice said. "We'll be at the border in twenty. Did you finish checking the back cars?"

  "They're clear," a second man replied. "Honestly, could we have asked for a better night? Not a single hiccup."

  The first man cracked his knuckles. "It's like our luck has turned around. Let's just finish off our targets at the station and dump the goods somewhere before they realize there's somethin' going on. Nulènne told me just to burn it once we're off the tracks."

  Their footsteps were growing louder. With a slight tug, Ashkan began to inch sideways, slowly pulling both of us farther into the shadows.

  "Ah, well," said the second voice, "maybe those Inkbloods in Lyalon can make do with our scraps. Y'think they'll actually be able to break Tarkus out?"

  We came to a stop against the outer wall.

  "Nah, not a chance," his companion snorted. "That man is as good as dead. Let his temper get the best of him. Good riddance. Too many hotheads, not enough people with common sense. That's why Nulènne was finally made a general – more brains than all the others combined."

  The second man hummed. "I think–"

  His words were cut short as the sharp thwip of an arrow echoed through the train car. There was a meaty grunt, then the heavy sound of a body falling to the floor. Ashkan held me tightly, locking me to his chest as we remained still and silent in our hiding spot. His fingers were curled around my wrists. It was making my heart beat far too fast.

  "You–!" the surviving Inkblood growled, only to be silenced by a second shot.

  Ashkan held his breath as we waited for another few moments. I couldn't help but be aware of every tiny movement. His grip loosened, and his thumbs subconsciously began to trace slow circles into the sides of my wrists.

  "You two still alive?" one of the twins called out.

  Ashkan exhaled, and the pressure left my body. "We're here," he responded, placing his hands on my shoulders to push me forward. I couldn't get up fast enough.

  "Well, I'd call that a successful ambush," Tabs remarked as he stepped through the front door. A slim crossbow was in his hands, and he walked over to a fallen body to pry the bolt from its skull. His brother entered behind him, rolling his shoulders as if he were stretching. Trench's weapon of choice was a sophisticated flintlock pistol... Probably not the best choice in this scenario.

  Blue opened the door behind us. "We're advancing, boys. Keep up."

  "Aye-aye, ma'am!" Trench replied.

  The twins each slit the throats of the two fresh Inkbloods with daggers, reducing them to decaying puddles of black sludge. It'd be a while before I got used to that sight. As the dark creatures melted away, the three hunters scanned the supplies, popping open and peeking into boxes, vials, chests, and sacks.

  Trench picked up what seemed to be a jug of ale and offered it to Tabs. "Nice one, eh?"

  He smirked, holstering his crossbow onto his back. "Oi! That looks pricey. No lootin'?"

  Blue cut in, "No looting. At least not yet. Everyone, focus."

  They grumbled in disappointment.

  The next two carriages were also filled with a majority of wooden boxes, some of which were stamped with official (forged) markings of the Noslux government. Others were marked with symbols I'd never seen before – presumably ones used by the Inkbloods or black market sellers. Most were tightly closed, sealed with tar or wax, though a few were left open to reveal typical illegal substances. Drugs. Counterfeit products. Weapons. Intoxicants. Nothing we weren't expecting.

  As we moved, there was a gradual increase in the amount of Inkbloods. There seemed to be three present in each car, stationed to keep watch. Each time, we managed to sneak up on one, dispatch the other, and take out the final one in a brief battle, all before any could raise the alarm and give the others a warning. Then, we'd sever their tattoos. The sight of blood and black gunk splattered on the floorboards triggered something dreadful and unexplainable in my stomach. Still, we pressed forward.

  Some five minutes later, Ashkan and I found ourselves traversing the seventh car, not too dissimilar from the others. On occasion, he would tap my shoulder and show me something, maybe a particularly dangerous contraband or an unusually foul cuss word scrawled onto the side of a crate. Once, I whispered a humorous comeback and could've sworn his shoulders shook in restrained laughter. For whatever reason, even while in the midst of a mission, this felt oddly informal. Almost fun.

  Every minute or so, Blue would appear behind us, moving to carry directions back and forth between us and the twins on the roof, and then to disappear once more. Otherwise, it was eerily silent.

  Abruptly, with a heavy bang, the door at the front of the train car opened, and I rolled behind a stack of crates just as an Inkblood soldier marched in. I turned my head slightly to see Ashkan duck behind a pile of heavy burlap sacks. We held our breath as the Inkblood glanced around, almost bored, muttering something about Nulènne's recklessness. His tone suggested he was not impressed. He didn't seem to have a single weapon on him. Unbelievably casual for someone smuggling illegal goods. He took a few steps further in, peeking into various boxes, then wandered off somewhere else. My fingers inched toward my dagger.

  I had to make a decision. From the position of his boots, the Inkblood would be reaching my crate any moment. Staying low, I shuffled backward slightly, making sure not to disturb anything. I flipped my blade in my hand and let it rest against my palm. The violet metal glinted in the lanternlight. I didn't want to do this. But I knew I might not have a choice.

  A few seconds later, the edge of his leg brushed against the side of the box, so close to me that I could see his shadow on the wooden floor right in front of my eyes. I took a deep breath, then sprang to my feet, putting all my force into motion. It only took one strike. An instant. My movements were practiced, precise, flawless. But now it just felt so viscerally different. An arm around the neck, then a fast, well-aimed puncture right at the base of the skull. Just like Kadia had taught me. I plunged my dagger in and heard a sickening squelch. The Inkblood let out a weak gasp, then crumpled to the floor the second I pulled away.

  My brain couldn't decide whether to stare or shut my eyes. I stood there, frozen. Every instinct was telling me to run. To escape. Get out. Leave. There was something very wrong with what I'd done. I'd just murdered a man. Except it wasn't a man. It was a shell; a creature. Some odd combination of the living and the dead. I'd helped to avenge the many lives the Inkbloods had taken. There was absolutely nothing wrong with that. So, then... Why did it feel so horrible?

  "Grey?" Ashkan was standing next to me. His hand found my arm and gave a gentle squeeze.

  I looked up, breaking from my trance, and met his eyes. "Ah. Sorry, I..."

  "Don't be," he murmured. "Are you okay?"

  I lowered my gaze to the corpse at our feet. No, I'm not okay. "...Yeah. Fine."

  Ash's eyes had a consoling spark to them. He nodded. Then, carefully kneeling down, he grasped the Inkblood's shoulders and rolled it onto its back. Its head lolled, revealing the empty expression – eyes unfocused, mouth agape. Nausea built in my stomach. After cutting its scarf away, Ashkan brought his hunting dagger up and sliced a deep line right across the thing's throat, splitting the mark in twain. The Inkblood began melting before my eyes, a rotting stain of inky sludge colouring the floor before evaporating into smoke. Now I had no doubt about it. That was no person.

  I put a hand on my forehead. "That really is awful."

  He straightened and patted me on the back, wiping his dagger on his sleeve. He kept his hand there for a moment longer than expected. "Hard to look at, but that's where the evil lies. Think of it like...a parasite infesting a body. You don't grieve for a body possessed by dark magic."

  As disturbing as it was, his words made sense. This being's corpse was not something to mourn. I looked away, unsure of what else to say or do. I just wanted to get this over with.

  "Deadbolt? Grey? Everything all right?" Blue poked her head in through the back door.

  Ashkan responded in a hushed tone, "We're good. We can move again."

  She strolled inside and looked us over. "You two seem a bit shaken." Her calm eyes were trained on me, so I felt the need to say something.

  I shrugged limply. "I'm– No. Not really."

  She gave an encouraging wink. "It's okay, doll. You did good. Keep your head up. We're almost there." And with that, she promptly turned and headed back the way she'd come, letting the door swing shut behind her.

  I exhaled, having apparently been holding my breath for some time. A cloud of apprehension and fear weighed on my ribs.

  But then, an assured, familiar voice was there right by my ear: "Hey. Eyes on me." Ashkan put both hands on my shoulders. The gesture felt so...comforting, and grounding.

  The cloud lifted. My entire being felt like it was being tied down, tethered to something real, keeping me from spiralling into complete panic. I met Ashkan's reassuring gaze. Those damn emerald beacons of silent courage.

  "Whatever happens," he spoke softly, "we face it together. Every fight. I've got you."

  I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came out. Any words would've somehow been the wrong thing to say. I knew I must've looked dumbfounded. Unnerved. Scared. Broken. His hands tightened on my shoulders, as if willing the grounding influence directly into my body. And for a moment, it seemed that might be possible. My heart slowed, and I nodded. He gave me a little shake before removing his hands. And just like that, my own stability had returned.

  "One last stretch," he added, and walked back to the front of the car.

  Steeling myself, I gripped my dagger and set my jaw. I moved to catch up, taking my place two or three steps behind him.

  Then, a gunshot cracked the silence. It echoed down through the narrow train corridor, making my eardrums ring, louder even than a thunderclap. I flinched and looked at the door ahead. My pulse started racing. The whole point of this plan was to be covert. Stealthy. Firearms would draw way too much attention. Besides, for all we knew, every third crate was filled with gunpowder. One stray bullet could set the entire train ablaze.

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  "What the hell is Trench thinking?" I hissed. "Just go ahead and be loud. Subtlety, who needs it?"

  "I don't know. That might've not been him," Ashkan muttered.

  Blue burst through the door at the back of the car, wild-eyed and out of breath. "Move!" she yelled, sprinting past us. "Go! Our cover's broken!"

  We needed no further confirmation. The two of us quickly followed her to the next car. Another gunshot resounded. This time, it was accompanied by shouting. Everyone seemed to have caught on to the fact that they were under attack. Noisily, Blue kicked open the door at the front of the next car, followed closely by Ashkan and I.

  We were greeted by a full-out uproar. Two Inkbloods already lay in puddles on the floor. In one corner, Tabs was in close combat with a third, and Trench was grappling with a fourth and fifth. The air was tense with shouts and the reverberations of metal as blades met. Blue dove straight into the fray, making her choice of a target immediately apparent as she slashed at a black-coated figure. Within seconds, the two were evenly matched. From then on, it was a whirlwind of fists, blades, bullets, and spells.

  To be honest, I'm not quite sure how I held my own for more than a few seconds. Everything happened so fast. There was hardly any time to think – only to react. Reflex took control of my movements. Some part of me must have accepted this. A shadow of reason passed through my mind, and my body complied. Almost autonomously.

  Alerted by the commotion, more Inkbloods flooded in from the next car. It seemed our days of taking them out quickly were finished. Soon, we were being flung against the wall, stumbling over the crates, tripping over uneven floorboards, and crashing to the ground as we struggled for the upper hand. The brawl went on. More and more Inkbloods poured in like ants, crawling in from the adjacent carriage, shoving their way through the door. I thrust one twinblade into the body of an Inkblood charging me. He fell, and I quickly pulled my sword free, glancing around the room for who was next. For a moment, my focus fell upon Ashkan, not too far off to my left. His movements were even faster than usual, his strikes much stronger, and his spells more strategic. I tried to match his pace, whirling my weapons in the hopes of forcing my enemies to a standstill.

  Blue's halberd swung menacingly as she twirled it in lethal arcs, keeping the cultists at bay with the broad blade. Lifting the polearm with ease, she spun it rapidly in one hand before slamming the blunt end into the face of a foe. Several feet away, Trench blocked a blow from an Inkblood's sabre. He grit his teeth, knocking his opponent's sword aside before shooting through the center of his chest. Tabs, meanwhile, was doing his best with his crossbow. It wasn't a good weapon for close combat, but he fired a few wickedly accurate shots at the Inkbloods grappling with Ashkan.

  Without warning, a bolt whistled past my shoulder, far too close for comfort. My whole body tensed, and I turned to see yet another wave of the damned undead marching down the centre of the car. Trench and Tabs simultaneously switched their aim to the fresh group of enemies while Blue retreated, stepping back so her shoulder brushed against mine. Ashkan fell into line on the other side of her, a bit more wide-eyed than I'd ever seen him before. With a small flick, my swords became engulfed in crackling electricity. Shimmering splinters of lightning flitted about the metal, and the currents traveled all the way up my arms, tingling with pent-up energy. Beside me, my companions had their own weapons readied. Ashkan's shield expanded in size with a shink.

  A horde of those dead-yet-not creatures were coming in fast, and I had only one directive. Protect.

  The first to reach me, a female Inkblood with a mace, aimed a diagonal hit at my head. Anticipating this, I dropped to my knee and ducked the blow. At the same time, I thrust my right sword up, angling the point to her throat. The silver pierced her skin and lodged itself deep into her neck. Pulling back sharply, I withdrew my weapon and watched the Inkblood collapse, her life force wasted in less than five seconds. The sight brought no triumphant satisfaction. Only disgust.

  Shouts, grunts, and the sounds of clanging metal carried on behind me. I turned around. We were winning. There were about ten bodies splayed everywhere, waiting to be melted. Bullet holes in crates and floorboards. Chunks of wood splintered off from when someone struck the wall. Glimmers of light flickered on and off as magic cast. We could finish this.

  Unfortunately, everyone was then thrown off balance by sudden inertia as the train shrieked, lurching sideways. Wheels screeched on metal. The floor tilted a few degrees. Carried by momentum, I tumbled into a stack of boxes, banging the side of my head, landing on my arm painfully. A searing white flashed across my vision. I blinked hard.

  "Blazes!"

  "Grey!"

  "Watch out!"

  Multiple voices rang out as I attempted to regain my bearings. I sucked in a breath through my teeth. The train was now level again, but the shrieking didn't let up. Grasping the edge of a box, I hauled myself upright. The door at the front swung wildly on its hinges. Beyond it, faint sunlight glinted. The train was slowing.

  Blue exclaimed, "No! Curses!" Her knuckles were white around the grip of her halberd. "We need to jump, now!"

  After eliminating the last Inkblood, Trench whirled around. "You are out of your bloomin' mind if you think we're jumping from this thing moving at breakneck pace!"

  She retorted with fire, "The coupling, damn it! They've uncoupled the front cars!"

  Tabs interrupted, "What about makin’ the rounds? We haven't sliced–"

  "FORGET ABOUT THE ROUNDS!"

  Blue swiftly moved to the open door, followed closely by Trench, Tabs, and Ashkan. She leaned precariously over the threshold and peered down the length of the train. I hurried to join them. The final four carriages were trundling quickly off toward the sunlit horizon. The gap was increasing by the second.

  "I guess we have to catch up," Trench said firmly.

  Blue didn't wait for his plan. She made her own. In one fluid motion, she climbed onto the roof of the car and took a step back before leaping to the next. Her aim was perfect, and her boots collided with the rooftop of the rear car with a thud. She crouched and reached out to secure her footing before calling back, "Come on! You lot've got this!"

  Fervently, the remaining four of us scrambled up to the roof. My hands and legs were shaking like a leaf, but I knew better than to second guess my balance. Half the battle was convincing my mind not to second-guess. The wind and rain battered us as we steadied ourselves on the uneven surface. The gap was now about ten feet across. Blue was shouting at us, but I couldn't discern what she was saying. The deafening clickety-clack-clack of the cars on the tracks consumed the very air itself.

  Trench set his jaw, flexed his arms, and backed up several paces before taking a running leap off the top of the car. The distance wasn't any trouble for him. He landed on the roof of the separated carriage right where Blue's outstretched arm met his. He clasped her hand, and she pulled him to safety. Tabs was next, with no less precision than the first two. He made the jump, landing heavily atop the final car, tucking into a roll to distribute his momentum. They were both gesturing encouragingly, beckoning for Ash and me to follow suit.

  "The whole train is speeding up!" Blue shouted over the rush of wind. "Hurry!"

  Ashkan nudged my arm. "Go. I'm right behind you."

  I reluctantly complied, knowing there was no time to argue. Using every inch of my courage and some aerokinesis, I took a running start and hurled myself into the open air. For a split second, I hung in suspense. Unending ascent. No speed. Absolutely nothing. Then, my feet slammed onto the roof of the last car. My knees nearly gave way. Blue and Tabs grabbed my arms to steady me on the rain-slicked metal. I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, but I was far from safe. I turned around just as Ashkan was getting ready to jump.

  The train was picking up even more speed, and the gap had widened farther. My heart nearly stopped when he launched himself into the air. He flew through the wind and rain, arms outstretched, but he was falling short. The air drag pushed him down. I scrambled to the edge of the roof, reaching out as far as my joints would allow. The train was pulling farther and farther away. I wasn't going to catch him. He was going to fall.

  The moment seemed to hang in stillness. My eyes were burning from the sting of the wind, but I refused to look away. I reached farther. Blue's arms wrapped around my torso, holding me down. As soon as I felt that, I leaned even further, desperately trying to catch him. I stretched every single one of my muscles to the limit, straining for his hand. It all felt hauntingly familiar.

  Finally, my hand grasped his, and I was dragged forward, nearly flying off the roof. Blue's arms tightened around me, yanking me backwards. Together, we pulled him up. The train lurched once more, and Ashkan and I collided on the rain-soaked metal. Our heads clunked together, and I heard him swear. But I didn't have words to describe how grateful I felt. The relief was overwhelming.

  "Got you," I said breathlessly. "Are you okay?"

  He looked dazed. "I'm fine. …Thanks." Carefully, we stood up.

  "All right, that was the most exciting thing we've done so far." Tabs was rubbing his shoulder, which must've taken the brunt of his fall. "I've half a mind to jump again, just for fun."

  "You can go on ahead. We'll meet you on the other side," Trench replied dryly, though there was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

  Blue sighed. "We'll have another hunter clean up that cargo. We need to finish this. I have a feeling our ride home is gonna be a bit bumpy."

  "No kidding. Let's go." Ashkan's eyes were cold. Determined.

  In a matter of seconds, we all clambered down into the car. We weren't safe, though. The remaining Inkbloods had a good idea of our location by then. It was only Nulènne left, alongside two additional cultists. The pair advanced to attack while the leader, curiously, fled farther up the train. I expected five versus two to be a cakewalk, but we'd lost the element of surprise. They were ready for us, and we were tired from fighting through the back.

  I blocked the first hit from my foe – an Inkblood man – with my right blade and sent the left jabbing at his chest. The strike was evaded, and it left an opening for him to land a punch to my jaw. The metallic tang of blood flooded my mouth. I stumbled back. The man pressed the attack, raising his sword above his head for an overhead slash. I threw myself to the side just in time, landing in a roll. The edge of the blade missed my back by inches, striking the ground with a shower of sparks. I leapt back to my feet.

  The cultist came in swinging. He was fast and powerful. A few of his hits slipped through, hitting me in the shoulder, chest, and head. The pain made it difficult to think. Thankfully, the battle soon came to an end as Blue drenched his face in scalding water, her palms steaming intensely. The skin bubbled and burned as the Inkblood let out an animalistic screech. With a shot from Trench, his body dropped lifelessly to the floor.

  I turned to see the remains of the other lackey melting away at Tabs' feet. His face was splattered with blood. So was Blue's halberd, and the others' weapons. My own twinblades were far from clean. They glistened in the lamplight. Red, brown, black... It was an unpleasant sight.

  "Nice work," Trench told his twin, slapping his shoulder in what was probably meant as an affectionate gesture. Tabs winced.

  Blue took a step towards him. She was frowning. "Are you all right?"

  He didn't answer. Instead, his gaze trailed down to his abdomen. I followed his stare, my heart stuttering at the cause of his silence. Blood soaked his shirt and vest, peeking through his overcoat. It had been torn through. Tabs raised a hand and gently touched the wound. His eyes widened as his fingers came back sticky.

  "Oh... I'm bleeding. This... This is a lot of blood." He spoke like he didn't quite believe it. "It... It really hurts now. Um... I can feel it..." He swayed.

  Blue was the first to his side, holding his arms, encouraging him to sit down. Ashkan hurried forward too, pushing back the layers of clothes to reveal the extent of the damage. The puncture in Tabs' gut was about two inches wide and deep. Blood was pooling around his skin and seeping down the side of his waist. Trench hovered nearby, unsure of what to do, face pale.

  Wordlessly, Blue retrieved a clean rag from the pouch around her waist. She dampened it from her fingers, pressed it against the injury, and held it there. Tabs groaned at the pressure, but she didn't budge. His eyes were fluttering as he began to slump against the wall. Ashkan grabbed a lantern, pulling the light close.

  "Can you hear me, mate?" His voice was urgent but gentle.

  Tabs mumbled an answer. "Yes..."

  "Try to keep breathing, all right?"

  He groaned, his brows knitted. "Hurts..."

  Snapping out of my shock, I rushed to his side as well. My knees thudded against the floorboards as I dropped. This young man looked so...defeated. I didn't know the twins very well, but they weren't much older than I was, and we were coworkers in a harrowing business. That meant something to me. He didn't deserve this. Nobody deserved this.

  "Hold on," I spoke up. "I can help." I tried to keep the urgency out of my tone, but my voice was quivering. Tabs needed a medic. Not a teenage healer. But maybe, just maybe, I could solve this. I wasn't incredibly skilled with my powers, and I couldn't bring a person back from death's door, but I was good at healing wounds. Good enough to be of some use, anyway.

  Blue nodded stiffly at me. Her expression was blank, but the slight downward tilt of her eyebrows said everything. "Please."

  I took a deep breath, trying to focus as best I could. The hole in his stomach looked pretty bad. My fingers hovered just above the bloodied cloth, and I slowly called up the familiar hum of energy in the base of my brain. It buzzed like a hive of bees, ready for a command. With a little extra nudge, the magic traveled down my spine and spread to my hands. Warm, golden light flickered on and off. I closed my eyes. I was acutely aware of everyone's attention on me. The pressure to perform was heavy on my shoulders. I needed to be enough. I had to.

  Trench leaned closer. "Don't die on me, brother. Do you hear me? Keep your eyes open." His voice cracked at the edges, like it was straining against the weight of something. "Keep talking. Anything. Just... Stay alive, damn it."

  Blue took a steadying breath. "It's okay. You'll be fine. We're all going to get out of this and laugh about it later, all right? Just a bit longer."

  My heart thudded like a drum in my chest. My eyes remained shut, focusing on the image of the wound underneath my hand. In the darkness behind my eyelids, all I saw were flashes of light and shapes and colours, like a whirlwind of paint splotches and textures. And as my hands tingled, I knew my powers were working. The process was slow, however. A wound like this would need time, and time was a commodity we didn't have.

  Tabs was whispering, "It tickles..."

  His twin chuckled nervously. "That means it's working. You'll be right as rain soon. We're nearly there."

  My head pounded as I willed the power to work faster. My heart beat painfully, like it was about to explode from my chest. I'd never tried to heal something this big. Never with this much force or intent. But I was doing it. I had to do it. It was taking everything I had.

  "There we go," Trench said. "Just breathe."

  A moment later, Blue pulled back the bloodied cloth to inspect the wound, and her voice was strained with relief. "It's closing." She turned to look at me, and there was gratitude in her eyes. "You're doing great, Grey. Keep going."

  The praise made my chest swell, but I tried to keep a straight face and just focus on my task. In the whirlwind of my mind's eye, the luminescence of the magic began to brighten. I knew that meant the wound was only slightly open. Just a little more...

  My concentration was promptly shattered as the sound of screeching metal rang out, echoing through the train car. Everyone looked to see a slender figure through the door in the front of the carriage, kneeling at the lock on the coupling between us. With a swift jerk, they broke the seal, and the metal gave way. The lock was separated, and the front cars were being pulled farther and farther away.

  "Are you joking? Again?!" Trench shouted angrily.

  Nulènne smiled smugly before rising to her feet. Her dark hair fluttered in the wind, a red streak falling into her face. She waved mockingly as the gap between us grew larger.

  "Hey! You bitch!" Blue bellowed after the leader. She jumped up, but as soon as she let go of Tabs' stomach, fresh blood seeped out. She let out a groan of frustration, then looked to Ashkan and me. "Hunters. Don't let her get away."

  My eyebrows shot up. "You want us to go? Right now?"

  Blue's expression was resolute as she adjusted the rag pressed against Tabs' side. "Trench and I have this under control. The wound's already almost gone. And he doesn't need to be on a train this fast, damn it. We can catch up after." She was fuming, but there was a desperation in her tone as well. "Just stop her. Don't let this train cross the border. I know you're capable. Go."

  Trench's mouth was set in a grim line, but he nodded his head at us in affirmation. Exchanging a nervous glance, Ashkan and I rose and took off through the carriage to the open doorway, emerging into the wind and rain once more. It was colder than before.

  The final car wasn't close, but it wasn't far, either. Nulènne was nowhere in sight. Ashkan and I stared down the metal between us and the other carriage, both knowing the risk that was ahead of us.

  He sighed and stretched his arms above his head. "I can't wait for a nice, warm cup of tea after this."

  With that, he took a running leap off the edge of the car and landed on his feet, vaulting over the platform's railing. I took a steadying breath, then did the same. The air tugged at my overcoat. A moment of suspension. Then, I was on the other side, clinging to the railing. My gloves were slick with rain. Ashkan grabbed my arm as I hauled myself over, and together, we burst through the door. The ground rumbled and quaked, threatening to knock us over with each jostle.

  Nulènne whipped around to face us as the door slammed shut behind me. "How lovely," she said, her tone saccharine sweet. "The heroes have finally caught up to me. It was so generous of you to follow. I do love it when my opponents give chase."

  Ashkan drew his axe and shield. "This is as far as you go. We can end this right here."

  Nulènne snorted in response. "As much as I would love to, I'm afraid that I cannot afford to spare the time to fight you. I've been sent here for one purpose only, and I intend to succeed. The rest is up to my dear, sweet subordinates."

  "They're dead," I retorted, though the words made my heart sink a bit. It sounded so harsh out of context.

  She sighed, shaking her head. "No matter. All I needed them for was to hold you off. They were well aware of the risks when they joined. Abysmal that they couldn't even manage that much. Such a disappointment. Such a waste. I'm sorry you're such a persistent pest."

  She's stalling, I thought to myself. And it's not hard to figure out why.

  "So, what'll it be, hunters?" Nulènne went on, examining her nails. "Shall I exterminate you both like the vermin you are, or will you step aside and let me be on my merry way? I'll even spare your little friends if you comply."

  I drew my own weapons. "No deal."

  She groaned. "Such a bore. But I'm in no mood to dally. If that's how you wish to play this game, then so be it. I've wasted too much time already."

  Nulènne brandished two serrated, curved swords. She was fast. A moment later, they were whirling towards my head. I dodged, and one of the blades narrowly missed my neck as it embedded itself into the wall behind me. Before I could regain my composure, Ashkan charged, aiming an overhead slash at her shoulder. The cult leader met it with a strike of her own, sending him back with the impact.

  I didn't wait. Clicking my twinblades together to form a glaive, I started jabbing at Nulènne's side. She dodged my strikes and Ashkan's at the last possible moment each time. And she never left herself open. Her movements were graceful and controlled. She was always on the defensive, and we weren't getting anywhere. I felt my heart start to sink. There was no way we could land a hit this way.

  Just then, the train car tilted slightly to the side as it hit another bump in the tracks. My footing was lost for only a moment, but that moment was enough for Nulènne's next strike to hit home. One of her swords nicked my upper chest and sliced clean through my shirt, in a spot not covered by my vest, cutting my skin. I jumped back to create distance, clutching the wound with my left hand. Pain shot through my senses. Warm blood trickled through my fingers.

  The next second, I found myself pinned to the wall, my glaive on the floor, as Nulènne's second blade pressed against my throat. My breath hitched. Ashkan started to charge, but Nulènne whirled to cast a wall of fire, keeping him back.

  She sighed. "I'd rather hoped you two would prove more interesting."

  I tried to summon something, anything, to push her away. A bolt of electricity, a flash of light, a burst of crystals. Nothing happened. I was spent from healing Tabs' injuries. I couldn't conjure much more than some sparkles. There was nothing I could do to get us out of this.

  Ashkan raised his axe. "If you hurt her again, I'll break you in two."

  "That's rather bold of you, considering your position." Nulènne grinned at me. "Do you hear that? It seems like you have yourself a loyal little pet. Isn't it darling how he thinks he can protect you? He's no different than all those fools who fall at our feet to beg for mercy." She pulled me forward only to slam me back again, the blade pressed more firmly against my neck.

  I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from making a sound, but I couldn't stop the panic that rose in my throat. She was stronger than she looked. It was becoming hard to breathe. I could feel the mounting pressure against my windpipe.

  Ashkan took a step towards the flame wall surrounding her and me. "Let her go!" He didn't even sound angry. Just determined.

  The cultist was about to say something, but just then, she grunted and looked down. A bolt had lodged itself through the armor covering her leg, blood blooming around it. Another thudded into her side. I didn't need to see where the bolts were coming from. I didn't have time to look, anyway. As soon as the pressure on my neck loosened, I knocked away Nulènne's sword, then punched her as hard as I could, my knuckles landing right on her nose with a satisfying crunch. I heard something pop as she cried out in pain. The flame wall vanished. I prepared for a follow-up attack, but Ashkan was already one step ahead.

  He lowered his crossbow from his eye. "I told you to let her go."

  His hand shot out, and with it, thorny vines and branches grew from the train's flooring, wrapping tightly around Nulènne. Ashkan pulled his arm back sharply, and she was dragged roughly to the front end of the train car.

  "Unhand me!" Nulènne screeched. Her voice was slightly nasally. The punch had done its work. "You insolent wretch!" The blood seeping down her face coated her teeth, giving them an eerie red sheen, similar to the streak in her hair. With some effort, she set the vines aflame, reducing her restraints to dust. Two arrows were still sticking out of her.

  Ashkan was unphased as he reloaded his crossbow. "Don't make me skewer your brain through your eye."

  She sneered at him as the branches shriveled and crumbled into ash. "It will be your brains spilling soon enough, mark my words."

  "It'd be so much easier if keeping them 'alive' so they can be imprisoned wasn't our first priority..." he sighed. "Let's just stop this train."

  Nulènne stumbled to her feet, still bleeding. "Not on your life!"

  She lunged towards us with her remaining blade drawn. He didn't have time to dodge. He barely even raised his shield. A fraction of a second too late, I realized she hadn't swiped with her sword. She was feinting. What she'd conjured in her fist was a scorching, writhing sphere of black fire. It headed straight for Ashkan's chest. Everything seemed to go in slow motion. He had mere seconds to act, maybe less.

  Ashkan didn't move. Why isn't he moving?! Panic flooded my veins, bringing with it a rush of adrenaline. Before I knew it, I was using the rest of my dwindling magic reserves to call up a burst of towering crystals. I didn't even know it was coming. It was desperate, hasty – rudimentary in design and force. But it was my power, coursing through my fingertips.

  I shielded my eyes as the crystals shattered into iridescent dust. "Ash!" The breath rushed out of my lungs.

  When I lowered my arm, the blast had missed its mark by an inch or two, and my crystal barrier had shattered. Ashkan's eyes were wide in shock. But he was still in one piece. He glanced down at his chest, as if to check. I think we both were thinking the same thing in that moment: There's a good chance that could've killed him.

  The cult leader took a shaky, shallow breath. She was hurt badly, but there was an angry spark in her eyes. A seething fire that wouldn't die down so easily. The way her expression was twisted gave me goosebumps. I took a few steps back to put distance between us. My arms ached from the blowback of my crystals, and my fingers still buzzed with the aftereffects of magic. I was almost empty, but I needed to keep my guard up. There was no telling what she was going to do next.

  Nulènne hissed through her teeth as she clutched her broken nose with one hand. "Filthy insects," she spat, "letting yourselves rely on such a primitive, unclean technique." She glanced at me with disgust, contempt dripping from her words.

  Ashkan perched his axe on his shoulder, his eyes never leaving his target. "I'd say the real problem is how you think you can get away with this."

  "And yet," Nulènne said with a mirthless laugh, "look at where that attitude has brought you."

  "All the way to your doorstep, ready to give you a well-deserved beating."

  She smirked. "How valiant. So noble. And you've almost made it this far...only for this to be as far as you go." Her smirk fell, her lips pursing in a frown. "A pity, really." She sounded bored again. "But it doesn't matter. This is over."

  I held my glaive tighter. "I'll say."

  With that, Ashkan and I charged forward, ready to finish this. As soon as he was in range, the leader conjured an arc of fire from her palm. He jumped aside, narrowly dodging the searing attack. She then swung with her blade, but Ashkan parried with his axe, locking the two in combat. I tried to circle around behind Nulènne and take the opening to strike, but she turned in a flurry of dark fabric. I only saw a flash of vermilion hair as her heel came at me.

  There wasn't time to think. I thrust my glaive upwards, bracing my weapon against her kick. Nulènne was lifted up and carried off her feet with the momentum. As she landed, she held her sword at her side and sent a blast of fire my way. I rolled out of range just as the flames burst, hitting the train car's back wall. Nulènne spun back to face Ashkan. She swung again and again, her blade clashing against the metal of his shield. She wasn't giving him a chance to breathe, much less retaliate.

  A surge of desperation filled me. Everything happened so quickly. An angry red haze took over, coating my every thought. Without much thought, I slapped my hand against the floor of the train car, the burning sensation under my skin igniting. Neon blue lightning raced towards Nulènne's feet like a serrated whip. Before she could dodge, it hit its mark, coursing through her entire body. Her shriek pierced the air, but I barely heard it. Anger and panic were the only things occupying my brain space. I was on autopilot. Blood rushed in my ears. A million different scenarios flashed through my mind, all of them ending with my own unmoving body. I needed to make sure that didn't happen. No matter what.

  Within seconds, Nulènne was pinned to the train's control board by jagged, crystal shards. Sparks zapped across her cracked, black armour. When I finally stopped, I felt the strain. My breathing was heavy; my heart beat quicker than the wind outside. Pain throbbed throughout my entire being.

  "Vermin," Nulènne's gravely voice croaked weakly. She was conscious, but barely. "Why you, filthy hunters... Wretched...brats..."

  "Give it a rest already," Ashkan muttered. "You've lost."

  My thoughts were swimming. Everything around me felt dulled. I watched as he sheathed his axe and stepped towards the giant lever sticking out of the floor. There was only a few feet of space between it and Nulènne's bleeding form. She didn't react when Ashkan yanked it down. Instead, she gave a feeble smile, her head hanging in resignation.

  The brakes let out a horrific, metallic wail as they started to grind against the wheels of the train. A thunderous screech shook the ground beneath us as we finally started to slow.

  As I stood there panting, Nulènne coughed up some blood. "The lord won't forgive this... You'll regret...this day for the rest...of your pathetic life." She struggled to move her mouth properly as she spoke. Over half of her torso was stained dark crimson. I didn't know exactly how much damage the lightning had done, but there was no doubt it had fried some of her internal organs. Or...whatever Inkbloods had inside them.

  Ashkan shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "Well, you can pass along my regards if you get the chance."

  I glared down at the leader's bloody figure. "If you know what's good for you, you won't try this again," I told her, my voice coming out hoarser than I'd meant.

  Her eyes, now bloodshot and half-lidded, bore into mine with unwavering hatred. "Oh, my dear hunter..." she breathed, "the war has just begun."

  Then, her hands, pinned by the wrists, reached out and began glowing black. Dark flames suddenly surrounded her. In a split second, the shards of crystal I'd conjured disintegrated, and the two arrows in her body dissolved into a wisp of smoke. Ashkan and I leapt away, startled. The fire was spreading to the ceiling and walls. The air grew hotter by the second. Sparks were raining down everywhere.

  The scent of smoke tickled my nose. I coughed and took a step back as black smog began billowing from the train's internal engine. There was a large crack in the glass of the front window. The lights on the control board started to blink and dim, and a loud whine echoed through the car. I heard a popping sound from the machinery. The entire vehicle jerked sharply, almost throwing me to the ground. The metal was starting to buckle.

  "Shit, shit!" I coughed as my vision was filled with black smoke. "Ash!" I covered my mouth with my hand and stumbled my way towards where I thought he was standing.

  "We have to get off the train!" His voice came from somewhere ahead.

  "Y-Yeah!" I replied. My throat stung. The smoke was getting worse. The fire was spreading fast. "What about Nulènne?! We didn't go through all this just to not slice her!"

  Even though the fire was burning hotter and higher, I could make out her silhouette, still slumped against the control panel. A split second later, the train's front windows burst into shards.

  "There's no time!" Ashkan yelled, his voice strained.

  Heat washed over us like a fiery blanket. The smoke was getting denser and darker. It was becoming impossible to breathe. My legs were weak and unsteady. I stumbled blindly through the thick, suffocating fumes. The ground lurched underneath my feet. Another loud popping sound rang in my ears.

  As I stared at Nulènne, her image blurry through the inferno, the angry red haze from before returned. She was our mission. We had to capture her. I needed to capture her. This whole thing would have been for nothing if we left her behind. She had to pay. And if she couldn't be imprisoned, she had to be exterminated. I'd already fled from Tarkus last time. I couldn't fail this time, too. I wouldn't leave without accomplishing what I came here for.

  My eyes darted towards the exit, then back to Nulènne.

  She had to pay. This couldn't be for nothing. I wouldn't leave here a failure.

  I took a step towards the leader, the burning embers of the train stinging my skin. Her neck was protected by a tall metal choker. I had to break through it first. The flames were hot on my heels, singing the edges of my clothes. My eyes stung.

  "Grey!" Ashkan called out.

  "Go!" I ordered him. "Get out of here! I'm right behind you!"

  "No! Agh– What are you doing?!"

  I couldn't respond. If I wasted any more time, I might lose my nerve. My drive. With all the strength left in my body, I enchanted my blade, then slammed it into her neck. The metal choker shattered instantly. The train creaked. Sparks flew. My vision was starting to blur. I couldn't breathe. The smoke was inescapable. But I couldn't stop. I had to make sure she wasn't coming back. Had to make sure she wouldn't hurt anyone else.

  In a burst of energy, I sliced, cutting a deep gash across her neck, across her tattoo. I had to make sure she was gone. The cut was deep. Blood, black and oozing, spilled out of her, pooling beneath her crumpled figure. The flames were starting to turn her clothes to soot. I'd done it. I'd finished the mission. One less monster to deal with.

  "BRIELLE!" Ashkan's shout snapped me out of it.

  I gasped and blinked hard, the spell on my glaive dissolving. A second later, something yanked me backwards, almost throwing me off my feet. Ashkan. He pulled me towards the back end of the train car, where the fire hadn't completely consumed the floor yet. The door swung open. A gust of wind and rain blew past.

  "We have to jump!"

  "W-What?!"

  He didn't repeat himself. We had no time. In an instant, he grabbed me and threw us both off the back of the train. My stomach plummeted as we began hurtling towards the ground, the train racing past us. I braced myself. I knew this was going to hurt.

  ...But the pain never came. Ashkan's arms were wrapped around me, and a moment later, mossy roots and vines sprouted from the earth. As we tumbled, they caught our fall and cushioned our landing. The vines continued to grow and extend, racing forward with the speed of the train as it rolled away, before finally pulling us to safety, as if they had minds of their own. We slowed down as we were gently carried towards the muddy grass beside the tracks. I rolled off the roots and onto the ground, leaving Ashkan to be wrapped up like a burrito in a cocoon of plant matter a few feet above the grass. One vine was still snaked around my wrist.

  Behind us, the locomotive burned devastatingly as it continued down the tracks. I could barely see it through the wall of smoke. The entire car had turned black as fire and sparks crackled within. My vision was hazy, both from the smoke and from my depleted energy. The strain on my body was taking its toll. My limbs felt like dead weight. I coughed, struggling to sit upright.

  Ashkan tore his way out of his green cocoon. "Hey! Are you okay?!" he asked urgently as he slid down the vines to the ground.

  I nodded. "Are you okay?"

  I didn't even register his relieved smile before he grabbed me and crushed me into a bear hug. I froze for a split second. My body was exhausted, so it took me a second to respond to his embrace. He held me so tightly, it felt like my spine would break in two.

  "That was an awfully reckless decision you just made." His voice was muffled.

  I pressed my face into his shoulder, hugging him back just as tightly. I hadn't realized how badly I needed that until it actually happened. "Well... You've made worse."

  Ashkan let go and laughed breathily. I smiled wearily at him. My smile soon turned into a grin, and I started to giggle. He joined me in laughing, and the two of us fell back onto the soft grass. It felt needed. Inappropriate, maybe, but...needed. The roots and vines tangled around us sprouted a handful of small, white flowers.

  I couldn't help but wonder, as our laughter petered off, what exactly I was laughing at. Was it relief that we survived? Or was it from the adrenaline that came with surviving? Maybe it was something else. Maybe it was a coping mechanism, so that we wouldn't have to think about the implications of what we'd just done. How I had just 'killed' one leader of a cult hellbent on murdering us.

  My head was still reeling from the sudden affection. I stared at Ash blankly, barely able to string a few thoughts together. My exhaustion was beginning to hit me like a ton of bricks. He lay there, breathing heavily, as his head lolled to one side, facing me. His eyes were half-closed, but there was still a sparkle to them. A tiny, genuine smile graced his face. My stomach turned to jelly. And to think, I thought I could actually make myself act coldly towards him.

  "Well... I'm glad we survived that." It sounded stupid even to me. But it was all I could think of saying.

  Ashkan chuckled and let his eyes close. "Me too," he mumbled. He paused for a moment, as if thinking. "That... That could have been a disaster."

  "To put it lightly." My words felt hollow. The adrenaline rush was definitely starting to subside. The reality of our situation was settling in.

  "Hey! HEY!" a voice shouted behind us. "HEY! Are you all right? What–? What happened here?!"

  I sat up to see a familiar figure running towards us. Blue. My eyes widened as relief flooded through me. Her boots pounded the ground as she approached, splashing up mud with every stride.

  She reached us and skidded to a halt, almost slipping on the wet grass. She fell to her knees beside me, pulled her pack off, and rummaged through it. "I have it! I have it, just... Eriterg, drink it!" She pulled out two small glass vials from a pouch, handing one to me and one to Ash.

  I wasted no time, immediately uncorking the bottle and downing the purplish liquid. Within seconds, it seemed that the world came into sharper focus, the sound around me seemed more acute, the colours more vibrant. My mind and body were buzzing with energy. I was still tired, sore, and bleeding, but I could function again.

  "Oh, thank the stars. Thank the gods. What happened?" Blue repeated herself. Her eyes flicked back and forth between us, wide with worry.

  Ashkan and I exchanged a glance.

  He rubbed his temple with his fingers. "How much detail do you want?"

  As Ash relayed everything that had happened to our fellow hunter, I got to work on healing his and my wounds. We were relatively unscathed, all things considered. No punctures or broken bones. Just some burns, scrapes, and bruises. The slash just below my collarbone wasn't anything to worry about. Neither was a cut on Ashkan's hand. We'd gotten pretty lucky.

  "I see," Blue breathed as Ash finished talking. She stared at the burning train, a conflicted expression on her face.

  "It wasn't an ideal outcome," I spoke up, "but we did what we could."

  She looked at me seriously. "Is Nulènne sliced?"

  I hesitated, then nodded. "There was no way we could've dragged her off the train, and no way for us to stay on that train without dying. We had no other choice."

  Blue let out a long sigh, then shook her head. "It's all right. I'm glad you're safe."

  "How are the twins? Is Tabs feeling better?" Ashkan asked.

  She nodded. "They're resting at an outpost nearby. Tabs is gonna be fine, thanks to Grey's quick healing. He just needs a good night's rest. You guys did great today."

  The three of us looked back to the now stopped train, a ball of black and red in the distance. The rain had lessened it slightly. We sat in silence for a while, watching the flames slowly dwindle and die.

  "So," Ashkan began, "how are we going to clean this up?"

  Blue crossed her arms. "I am going to report back to Perl, and they'll assign local hunters to take care of the investigation and the cleanup. You two are going to go straight home. Understood?"

  I was a little surprised. "Aren't we on the same level as you now? Shouldn't we be involved in the cleanup, too?"

  "You are on the same level. You're hunters, not interns. But the League spreads workload as evenly as possible. You've done more than your fair share today. Now, go home. Rest. Recuperate. You deserve it."

  "And you don't?" Ashkan raised an eyebrow.

  She smiled. "I have to write the report. You guys did the hardest part."

  "All right, fine. Thanks for looking out for us." He sighed and got to his feet. He then offered me a hand, which I took.

  Blue gave us a salute. "It's my job. I hope to see you guys around HQ."

  We said our goodbyes, and Ash and I left the scene. We walked a short way before using our rings to teleport back to Nelorismel.

  The frigid alleyway from earlier materialized before me. The sky was dark and clouded, and the cobblestone ground was muddy. The only lights around us came from a flickering lantern above a door and another one a few meters down the alley. I instantly felt better just being rid of my heavy gear and weapons. It felt so surreal now, as if I had imagined it. As if the last couple of hours hadn't even happened.

  "What a day," Ashkan remarked as he put his hood up.

  I felt an impulse to smile at his placidity. Instead, I sighed softly and ran a hand through my hair. "What a day..." I echoed, starting down the alley.

  He followed close behind. "Are you feeling better? Do you need any more potions? Or bandages, maybe?"

  I shook my head. "Thanks, but I'm okay. What about you?"

  He gave a casual shrug. "Nothing that will slow me down."

  The streets weren't as deserted as I expected them to be. Many of the windows around us were still lit, and some passersby were still out and about. I stuffed my hands in my pockets. I wasn't sure what to say, now that all was said and done. My mind was still replaying what had happened in that train. What we had done. What I had done. Everything in Emiarhia always moved so quickly. When I'd started this adventure in the summer, I never would've expected to end up here, having done what I did, where I was. At least not past the point of only fulfilling my saviour responsibilities. I mean, from there, I thought I'd just bow my head, follow instructions, do what needed to be done, and live out the rest of my life in relative obscurity. A story. That's all the situation was supposed to be. But that's not what the universe had planned for me. And this, this contract with the League, was different – it was my choice. I could've turned the opportunity down and stayed safely within my walls, but I didn't, because it gave me purpose. I just couldn't help questioning if I'd made the right decision.

  Ashkan gave a long, loud yawn beside me. He was always able to just fall right back into his typical demeanour. I envied him, to an extent.

  "Tired?" I asked him.

  He rubbed the back of his head. "Just a little. Are you? Did you want to head home?"

  "Not really..." I admitted. "But I should. It's pretty late."

  He looked down at me, studying my expression. "What's on your mind? Are you still shaken up?"

  I paused, then shook my head. "Not shaken up... Just...in thought?"

  "Oh. Anything specific? You can always talk to me," he added. His tone turned softer.

  Having still not figured out what exactly had changed in my feelings towards him, every instance of care or concern that he showed me almost made me irritated. Almost. It wasn't his fault. I knew that. It was just the awkwardness that came with having tried to be cold to him and now not being sure how to behave.

  "Um..." I began, then sighed. "Should we be doing this? Was this a good idea?"

  He blinked. "If you don't like being a hunter, you can always leave."

  "It's not that. I just... This is so much, and I feel like I haven't been handling it well. And I know we did the right thing, and this is the way it has to be, but..."

  "You did a great job today," he said with a frown.

  My fists clenched in frustration. "I feel like a murderer." I didn't realize that I'd said it until after the words had left my mouth.

  Ashkan stopped walking. "Huh?"

  I halted. "I mean... That's what they're going to say, right? They're going to call us murderers, not heroes. Inkbloods that don't get properly eliminated... I don't know how long they take to reanimate, but they sure look like regular corpses when they're not sliced. And from what I've gathered, the general population doesn't know that Inkbloods aren't people. To them, hunters are...killers. How is it justified?"

  "...I've never thought of it like that," he confessed. His eyes were wide.

  My cheeks went warm. "I... I know! And I'm not criticizing the League! It's just me... A thought I've had." I fidgeted and began to grow embarrassed.

  Ashkan pressed his lips together, brows furrowing before crossing his arms. "...Is that all?"

  I stiffened. "I guess so. It's kind of a lot."

  He remained quiet. A few seconds passed in the semi-darkness before he finally spoke up. "Quit, then."

  His words stung. "What?"

  "You've clearly already been through enough. So, quit. Tell Perl that it's too much, and you want out." He shrugged and continued walking down the street.

  A flash of annoyance ran through me, and I chased after him. "Is that really the advice you're gonna give?"

  "Yup." He brushed me off like it was nothing, just like that.

  This sudden, blunt attitude irked me, so I put myself in front of him, stopping him dead in his tracks. "Does this conversation mean nothing to you? My fears... They don't matter?"

  "They mean plenty to me," he said flatly. "Do you think I don't understand what you're feeling?"

  "Really?" I snapped. "With the way you act, it seems like you've never felt a shred of anxiety or fear in your life!"

  "We both know that's not true." His tone was stern, but he wasn't yelling. "I can tell you're conflicted, okay? But your best bet is to talk it out. Quit, if you really want to. No hard feelings. It's a valid choice."

  "Why would you want me to quit? I never said I wanted to."

  He shook his head. "I don't want you to quit. But you're missing the point."

  I threw my hands in the air. "And what's that?"

  He met my glare head-on, a coolness in his eyes. "There's a difference between feeling conflicted and seriously doubting your choices. Conflict is normal, Brie, but I'm not about to stand by and let you convince yourself you did something wrong. I've seen what that does to a person." He paused, giving me a searching look. "The way I see it is, if you wanted to quit, you would've already."

  The frustration I'd felt just a second ago disappeared into nothing. Ashkan's eyes softened as we held each other's gaze.

  He smiled slightly. "No regrets, remember?"

  "...You're right." I laughed quietly and hung my head. "Sorry."

  He placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "You know, if it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have become a hunter. Maybe this isn't what you'd planned for yourself. It's definitely not what I had in mind for my future, either. But... I've decided to keep doing what I believe in, no matter the outcome." He took a breath, and I looked back up to him. "If there's anyone I trust to be out there with me, it's you. So, give yourself some credit."

  My cheeks felt warm again. "You trust me?" I mumbled.

  "With my life, honestly."

  I could only give him a small smile in reply. His words made my stomach do flip-flops, and my thoughts felt muddled. I didn't know what had changed or when it'd changed. All I knew was that in this moment, the way I felt about him was...reshaping. But it was so unfamiliar that I couldn't even begin to describe it. All I knew was that I needed to be alone to sort myself out.

  We strolled silently side by side in the warm light of the lanterns that lit the city streets, eventually arriving in the market district. I'd gotten used to walking at Ashkan's side, but today I felt so acutely aware of the few inches of space between us that it was nearly maddening. I didn't understand what was happening to me. My posture felt tense. Every time our arms accidentally brushed each other, it was like my whole arm had caught on fire.

  I turned to him, intending to tell him that I needed to get going. But just as I did, I noticed him glance over in my direction and open his mouth to say something. We spoke in unison, interrupting each other.

  "Hey–!"

  "I think I'm gonna–"

  We both paused and exchanged a glance, then started laughing. Ashkan gestured for me to go ahead, but I shook my head, prompting him to talk.

  He held a finger in the air. "...Do you hear that?"

  I quieted and strained to listen. Sure enough, I could hear the melody of vibrant music, shouts, and raucous laughter floating through the air. As I tried to find the source of the sounds, my eyes landed on a familiar, lighted archway in the distance. The most popular tavern in Nelorismel, of course. The Roaring Witch.

  "A celebration?" Ashkan inquired as he stepped towards the building.

  I nodded slowly, my feet glued in place. "...I think so."

  He turned to look back at me with an almost expectant look on his face. It was dark in the town square; the only sources of illumination were the streetlamps and the radiance that spilled out from still-open businesses. With his hood up and hair falling over his face, Ashkan should've looked intimidating or sullen. Yet, all I could notice were his warm, green eyes, almost glittering in the dim light. I knew that I should've just excused myself and gone home. The day had been long and my whole body ached. But all at once, the thought of returning home to sit alone in the dark with only my tangled thoughts seemed a thousand times more undesirable. Maybe just one drink, I reasoned. And surely not for that long...

  Ashkan tilted his head questioningly.

  A light feeling filled my chest. "Okay. Let's go."

  He grinned, and we made our way over to the large brick building.