After spending time to assure Nora that thought suppression isn’t easy, especially under duress, and that her attempts at thought distraction had probably protected even more sensitive information from leaking, we made our way to the private courtyard where Relias had asked to meet.

  It was enclosed by tall, unpolished timbers reinforced with bejeweled steel and gold bands, with its back wall forming the final barrier to the wastelands beyond. Small bits of sandy gravel crunched underfoot as we stepped inside, weaving past training dummies in various states of destruction. Some were missing a limb or head, while others were little more than splintered stumps. A wooden walkway lined the inner perimeter, raised high enough for a sentry to peer over the outer wall, though for now, the courtyard was otherwise empty save for one figure.

  Holy Sage Relias sat, eyes closed, at the precise center of half a dozen concentric circles, their blazing gold light pulsing in steady waves, rising and falling like a heartbeat. The glow bathed his robes, spilling into his hair until his fine blonde strands seemed to burn with holy fire. Sprinkled in front of him across a wooden board were small crumbles of Ereborite.

  “Looks like the dirt’s still just dirt,” Nora called roughly, her voice betraying her previous tears.

  “Indeed. No matter how hard I try, I am unable to manipulate them.” Relias replied, his eyes opening slowly. “It is quite fascinating.”

  On closer inspection, the dark particles were just that—tiny specks of blackened earth. Yet, rather than reflecting light, they seemed to absorb it, casting faint, shifting shadows around themselves. As a result, it was difficult to judge their true mass.

  “They’re resistant to amity!” Nora gasped. “I’ll just—” She hesitated, then glanced at Relias, her tearful eyes silently pleading for permission.

  Relias inclined his head. “Please, go ahead. I was just about to ask for your expertise on this matter.”

  Nora wiggled her fingers at the particles, but nothing happened. Frowning, she discarded her staff, yet even that made no difference. The pebbles remained stubbornly still, even as the air around them flickered between a dark purple and bright gold.

  Relias nodded as if he had anticipated as much, then turned to me with a rather solemn expression. “Dear One, if you are willing, I would have you lay your hand upon these particles and discern what dark truths they may reveal.”

  I half-shrugged and picked up the largest black nugget, which was still relatively tiny. Rolling it between my thumb and index finger revealed nothing out of the ordinary.

  “I would ask you to touch your sword to it,” Relias instructed.

  After tossing the pebble to the ground, I poked it with my aura-infused blade. “No reaction.”

  “An ore that resists both Amity and Animus…” Relias murmured, gathering up the other small stones. “No wonder Procul sought to secure it.”

  On impulse, I picked up my nugget of Ereborite and sniffed it, earning myself a weird look from them both.

  Huh. For some reason, I thought it would have a particularly foul odor. But I don't smell anything at all.

  “Too bad we don’t have enough to make anything significant out of it,” Nora said as I handed it to her. “Its potential applications are wild! Hmm… I wonder…”

  She picked up a larger, ordinary rock with her other hand and focused. For a moment, its surface shimmered. Then it crumbled into a fine sand, sifting through her fingers.

  “Aw rats. I don’t think I know enough about it to transmute other materials into it. Or maybe its ideal form can’t be replicated due to its intrinsic nature.” Nora shook the sand off her hand. “A shame either way.”

  As she moved to pass the Ereborite pebble to Relias, he lifted a hand to stop her. “I would suggest you keep that piece. Mayhap with time, further understanding will come to you—if your first hypothesis proves true.”

  Uh… how does one get to know a rock, anyway?

  “What about the rest of it?” I asked, gathering up some of the larger fragments.

  Relias swept up the finer dust with a piece of parchment, rolling it carefully before tipping the particles into a glass vial. “I will send these to Chairo along with a summary of our findings. Mayhap Captain Corwin will uncover additional stores during his investigations.” He inclined his head to Nora and me. “I am most grateful for your insights on this matter. My apologies for imposing upon you yet again, but there remain a few lingering threads that must be addressed before we resume our journey.”

  I guess he has his own list of side quests.

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  “The ball of holy flames you unleashed in the Mistress’s sanctum was quite impressive,” Relias continued. “Do you think you could replicate the circumstances that allowed you to call upon it again?”

  “Oh…”

  “Maybe aim it away from the rest of the fort,” Nora suggested. “An outer wall is repairable, but bringing down the whole structure might make people a little surly.” She flashed me a weak grin. “At least that’s what seems to happen when I do it.”

  “I shall leave these magic circles in place,” Relias said in a serious tone. “I would not cause our hosts any unnecessary duress. However, I think ultimately, a scenario of destruction will not recurr.” He looked at me expectantly, a slight grin forming. “It is no secret that the sword reacts to your will, Dear One. But sometimes… it can be quite stubborn, especially if you try to deceive it.”

  Bewildered by his words, I considered what I had felt back then as I looked at my sword. Anger? Rage. Same thing?

  “Well, I’m really angry, Will,” I stated for the communal record. “You can sense it, right?”

  The sword didn’t respond, not even the faintest shimmer of light.

  What, don’t you believe me?

  Nothing.

  I have every right to be angry! Look at the mess I’m in!

  The sword suddenly felt heavier in my grip, almost cold.

  You want to know who I’m mad at?

  My jaw tightened.

  Well, the truth is… the truth is… I’m mad at everyone! Okay?! Everyone! My so-called friends, the demons I’m supposed to destroy, even the Goddess herself. How’s that truth for you, huh?! It feels like everyone’s my enemy!

  A hesitant flicker of gold fire licked up the sides of the blade. Desperate to get it to do something, anything, I swung at one of the training dummies. The fire flared, sputtered, and burned out before leaving the tip.

  I nearly burst into tears. “Why won’t it cooperate?!” I shouted.

  “I believe your anger is unfocused,” Relias noted, his hand settling lightly on my shoulder. “Or perhaps it is focused on something the sword would never attack.”

  I stared at the dimly shining blade, then at Relias, who wore his concerns in his furrowed brow.

  Damnit, you both got me.

  My grip tightened around the hilt. “I’m mostly angry at myself,” I admitted, the words scraping at my throat. “For letting everyone lose their faith and trust in me. That’s why my attack was so weak.”

  “Not everyone’s lost faith and trust in you,” Nora objected. “We’re both still here, aren’t we?”

  Relias nodded. “And let us not forget those who stand with us, both here and in Chairo. They are those who hope for our victorious return.”

  Nora’s eyes brightened, and she clenched her fists. “In Chairo? Even people far away can influence Rae’s powers here?!”

  Relias smiled, a glint of satisfaction flickering in his gaze. “Yes, to a certain extent. Those closest to her, both in proximity and in spirit, have the greatest influence, but…” He leaned in slightly. “I must confess, Chosen One, that I have taken measures to reinforce your standing.”

  I blinked. “How does one do that, exactly?”

  “You are wearing the locket that Emmy and Prince Mito gave you,” he replied. “They mentioned in passing that I had blessed it, but perhaps seeing the ceremony for yourself will bring clarity.”

  The light from the magic circles around us flickered, shifting into ghostly forms, faint echoes of those I had left behind in Chairo. Father Irijah and Vicar Thomas took shape beside a pale duplicate of Relias, who held the open locket in his hands. More figures gathered farther back, their features indistinct in the ethereal glow.

  Relias’s voice resonated from his illusion, steady and solemn. “I call upon those gathered before us, ever grateful for your unwavering faith in the Goddess Euphridia and her Chosen One. Know that the path of the Hero is one of glory but also hardship, with burdens no mortal should shoulder alone. Though we may not walk beside her, we offer our prayers that she may find strength and guidance in times of darkness. Let those who are willing impart their hopes upon this blessed jewel, that their words may bring solace in the darkest of hours.”

  A pale shape stepped forward, its hands closing around the locket as its features sharpened into focus. Emmy’s familiar grin, bright and full of self-assured confidence, flickered to life.

  “I know you can do anything, Raelynn Lightbringer!” she declared, her voice ringing clear despite the illusion. “So, hold your head high and bow to no one!”

  Prince Mito was next, with an undeniable smirk on his face. “I cannot fathom what you will encounter, but I know your light will shine through it.” His shade leaned into the jewel as it whispered, “Upon your triumphant return, I shall ensure an entire day dedicated to desserts in your honor. Even you won’t object to that, now will you?”

  A startled sniffle escaped me, only to be chased by a quiet laugh.

  One by one, more figures stepped forward, their words blurring together in a tide of encouragement. Wishes for strength, faith, and victory poured into the jewel, glowing brighter with each voice added.

  People are counting on me… To do the right thing.

  “Okay, okay, I get it,” I muttered at one point, rubbing at my eyes. “Any more of this, and I’ll start crying.”

  Once again, I turned my gaze onto the Will of Euphridia.

  Alright, Will. None of this dissolves my anger, but it does help me to put it into perspective. I’m angry at myself because I still haven’t found the truth at the heart of everything I’ve done. But I’m no longer afraid to confront it. Because if I wasn’t coerced into finalizing that contract, then I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I expected better than all of this as a result.

  The blade flared with blinding light. I stabbed the sword forward, and a ball of energy shot out, heedless of the magic circles meant to contain it. It crackled and passed harmlessly through the training dummies, streaking past the outer wooden wall.

  Nora was the first to scramble up the walkway, stretching herself over the edge. “It’s still going!” she crowed in delight. “Come look!”

  Still confused, I followed Relias up the stairs. “When will it stop?”

  “When it encounters an untruth—such as an illusion cast by a demon,” he replied, his gaze following the energy’s path through the Wastelands with satisfaction. “With this, our way forward will be exactly that.”

  So that was it. I needed to face my own truth, accept that I will make mistakes, and still move forward anyway.

  It’s not like I didn’t know that to begin with. I just didn’t want to admit how much my judgment could let me down.

  “I… need to discuss something important with you,” a hesitant voice called out in my mind.

  Raelana? Raelana Demonslayer?!

  A cold, dread-filled pulse crawled along my spine as I recognized my immediate predecessor.

  “Not now. Tonight. Make sure you sleep alone.”

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