“On this day, death belongs to the enemy!” voiced a Tyroviv.

  A large cheer followed those words and filled an entire room.

  Filled from corner to corner, many folks in cloaks raised a hand in celebration. Their conflict near Sononcoly had concluded hours ago.

  Through it all, the Cosondera showed once more why they were at the forefront of Sentar’i affairs. With their victory, all the participants returned to Comi for festivities and merriment.

  Nature helped celebrate the moment with a rainstorm.

  It did absolutely little to dampen their spirits and they brought their jollity indoors.

  The Comi harbor reopened but on a partial basis, reserved for those who contributed at Sononcoly, and any Yerp handy enough to handle run-of-the-mill tasks.

  One building contained many jovial Sentar’i cloaked in blue or black and they stuffed one room from practically corner to corner.

  Tyrovivs in masks were allowed to show their faces and each displayed a bright smile.

  Seated next to one another on benched tables, they were all provided with a smorgasbord of roasts, seafood, fruits, cheeses, vegetables, and any beverage they desired.

  Also among the celebrants were the Shanli menders.

  For their efforts, they too had a seat at the party and the ladies in green and white partook in equal jubilation as their cloaked counterparts.

  Within this large room filled with laughter and shouts of amusement stepped a lone Cosondere. He immediately stepped out.

  Every room Quin entered was too occupied for his liking. Never had he been involved in such a large party and usually, he’d make sure to stay out of it.

  Just like everyone else, he sported a smile. If he could find a less crowded space, it’d grow wider. So far, such a space could only be found outside.

  Much less bright and much less warm, raindrops littered the dark roads. Lanterns lined up the streets and they served as guides to other parties in other buildings.

  Quin felt much better with the cool air up against his face and skin. He allowed his hair to get wet under the summer rain, but only for a moment before he pulled his hood up.

  Petrichor traveled up his nose although the assortment of appetizing aromas reached the olfactory too.

  Evening had barely begun but darkness dominated the scene. Within the district, only a few buildings showed any light, the sources of triumphal gatherings.

  Aside from that, the roads remained as empty as the day prior. Only the consistent sounds of water against earth filled his ears.

  That, and the occasional splash in the distance. As Quin stepped further out onto the road, a series of footsteps splashed closer to him.

  He turned to the source of the noise when an umbrella suddenly hovered over him.

  A figure bundled in some burlap material hunched over beside Quin, a lantern in one hand, the umbrella’s handle in the other.

  “Excuse me sir,” huffed the concealed servant. “I just finished escorting someone to another building.”

  In addition to all the chores indoors, the Yerps were also tasked with guidance for any reveler who traveled from party to party.

  The less fortunate had to stand out in the elements and ensure no Sentar’i reached their destination completely soaked.

  “You didn’t have to rush,” Quin replied with open concern across his face. “It’s just a little rain.”

  As much as they tried to keep him dry, the sight of these damped Yerps dampened Quin’s mood.

  He couldn’t help but feel bad for their predicament though they likely preferred that than the set of circumstances he just underwent.

  Quin followed the trail of lanterns with his Yerp aide until he reached the next building. The Yerp took his leave once they made it to the doors and Quin could only hope the rooms weren’t filled to the walls.

  As he entered, he noticed a much less cluttered foyer, a good sign. There, two lady Yerps welcomed and guided Quin through a small narrow hall.

  They walked through the small glowing pockets of candlelit lamps until one of them opened a large door into another banquet room.

  A group of Tyrovivs at the end all turned their heads and in turn, Quin spun his away. It lasted for a second before they went back to their activity. On the other end, more Tyrovivs were seated where they mostly kept to themselves.

  Among them sat Onyl at a bench to herself. Her staff occupied her time when she saw Quin.

  “I’ve been looking all over for you guys,” he mentioned as he sat himself in front of her. “Is Conon here too?”

  “He is off somewhere else,” Onyl answered before she reexamined her staff. “Perhaps some tavern, I do not know.”

  “Oh.” A few seconds passed by with no word from the two of them.

  Quin looked over at the group by the end. Several uncloaked Tyrovivs formed a circle with all of them past arm’s length of one another. There, they played some game that involved a ball.

  All the Tyrovivs stood as straight as an arrow while the ball traveled up in the air. The only time any of them moved was when the ball fell inches away to the floor.

  They would use their feet to knock it back up, and then they would all stand like statues again until it neared the floor once more.

  It seemed like the game tested reflexes as the Tyrovivs only had mere seconds to act.

  The ball fell in between two Tyrovivs and they both went for it. Their feet got in each other’s way and the ball bounced harmlessly across the deck.

  Playful groans and laughter followed after. It actually looked like fun to Quin.

  Onyl had no time for games. She placed her staff down on the table before she gave a long look at Quin.

  Quin displayed a blank expression as he waited for any word. Was she actually mad, he wondered.

  “So,” she started. “About that red aura.”

  “Oh. I thought something else was on your mind.”

  “A lot of things are on my mind. Right now, I want to know more about this power you have. You said you would tell me, now is the time.”

  “Oh, uh well-”

  Onyl’s thick brows lowered. “Don’t ‘uh well’ me Quin. I saw it. You did it. How?”

  “I can’t control it. I can’t just use it whenever I want, if that’s what you’re thinking. It’s still new to me.”

  “Who else knows about it?”

  “Outside of you and possibly Ner. Fyful, maybe the Aerviv. Though he hasn’t seen it.”

  Onyl made a small gasp in response as her eyes opened wider. She slightly turned away and looked into her head.

  The doors opened and a couple of Shanli menders entered the room. The Tyrovivs turned their attention to the ladies before they went into a long and loud cheer.

  “To the Shanli for all their work!” one of them shouted. A louder cheer ensued.

  The ladies smiled and waved as they entered into the room. Onyl looked on for another second before her attention snapped back to Quin.

  “Is...is it curse arts?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t think it is. Wouldn’t something bad happen? Wouldn’t the Shanli noticed?”

  “Hmm. You might be right.” Onyl stewed on her thoughts some more. “Well some things are starting to make some sense now. Maybe the Aerviv knows more.”

  The conversation paused when the ball rolled up under their table. Onyl used her staff to dig it out, then she tapped it back over to the crowd.

  “Why don’t you come join us Onyl?” asked one of the Tyrovivs with a beckon. “We can make room for more people. I’m sure you’d have a great deal of fun being involved, right?”

  With her patented scowl, she enunciated, “No.”

  The group looked on for a second before they returned to their game. A few more seconds went by when Quin stood up from his seat.

  “Well I better look for Conon and see how he’s doing. Are you going to be here the whole time?”

  “I would not be here at all if it were not raining. I hate the rain.”

  “But it rains all the time.”

  “Do not remind me.”

  Quin nodded as he began to take his leave. The last bit of their talk floated in his head. How much does the Aerviv know, he thought. Was it possible he knew about Quin’s aura the whole time?

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  “Quin,” he heard as he neared the door. He turned to see Onyl on her feet, eyes right on him.

  “About earlier today, I just want to say thank you. Who knows where we would have been had you not arrived.

  “You really saved us back there. If you still have any doubts about your abilities, put them away.” She sat herself back down but her eyes kept to Quin. “You will do just fine.”

  Quin smiled. “Thanks Onyl. I’d do it again. We are a team after all.”

  A grin showed up on Onyl’s face before she tended back to her staff. Quin stepped out back into the hall, back into the vestibule, back into the rain.

  The scene changed little as water ran rampant across town. Quin looked over at the colony of towers. The lights and activity in the distance made him wonder how the local Sentar’i.

  What were their thoughts about today’s events? Were they more appreciative of the Cosondera? Less?

  Another Yerp arrived with an umbrella and guided Quin to another building. Once inside, a one-two combo of bass and booze hit his senses.

  A large crowd of Tyrovivs took over the center of a tavern. By far the brightest place Quin had seen yet, just the corners were left out of the light.

  Every seat made way for their singing or hollering though it seemed to have ended. Quin would have turned back had Conon not spotted him out of the crowd.

  “QUIINNN!! Git ova here y’bastid!” Conon called.

  Quin slowly approached the center before Conon rushed in and rushed him along. Thankfully, the crowd began to disperse, most lined up at the bars.

  “Brotha, I heard ‘bout what you did back there. Bossman made it seem like yer gone, but you came ‘n ‘n’ saved the day! You ain’t no new guy no more afta that!”

  “I’m glad you’re doing okay. You looked pretty bad earlier.”

  Conon stared at Quin tensely before he bellowed with a series of chuckles.

  “Tha’s what I sed to you ‘n the beginnin’, now the foot’s ‘n the otha shoe. You’ve grown before my eyes Quin. Les celebrate the moment! Oy, my teammate need’sa glass ova’ere!”

  “Oh no, I’m fine. I just wanted to know how you’re doing.”

  “Always a team guy. I don’ care what Bossman says, yer part’ve the team now. You let me talk to him, I’ll fix him. Oy! A cheer fer my partna ova’ere! He jus’ got outa the Pit, now he’s outa the fir’!”

  Cheers and laughs roared across the room.

  “Welcome to the Cosondera!” a voice yelled. “Least you got that out of the way!” More laughs followed.

  Quin raised an arm to his head and wave it off. Many of them moved on anyway, all except one who gave him a suspicious look.

  A Tyroviv with a long black goatee and hair that fell to his shoulders. His long gaze put Quin on alert.

  “Wait, wait, wait! I’ve seen you before,” the Tyroviv mentioned as he moved closer. “The Sexené festival at Sirqu. You destroyed some statue that day. That wasn’t even two months ago! How are you here, as a Cosondere?!”

  “Oh, uh what?” Quin looked around the tavern with hopes no one listened. Those hopes were quickly dashed.

  “Hey everyone! This guy over here’s an imposter! He’s not even supposed to be here!”

  More people turned over to the commotion. Quin took a few steps back until Conon kept him in place with a reassuring arm.

  “Lychon, whatchu gettin’ at?” his teammate asked. “He’s been wit’ me on a mission this whole time!”

  “Madness! He wasn’t a Cosondere during the festival, there’s no way he would even be here right now! He’s pretending to be one of us! Trying to get a share of glory that’s not his!”

  “Lychon, this man was up on that mountain along wit’ us today. He put his life on the line like the rest of us. I wouldn’t even be here if he didn’t stick his neck out to save my ass. ‘Pretendin’ to be one of us’. Lychon, he is one of us!”

  The crowd cheered in unison. Quin appreciated Conon’s defense but as he looked, he saw more and more people discard their smiles in exchange for frowns and scowls.

  He quickly discovered they weren’t directed at him.

  “This is why no one will miss you when you’re out Lychon!” screamed a male Tyroviv. “We’re supposed to be having a good time, and you have to be worst than the rain!”

  “I know what I saw! I remember that hair! Even if he was a Cosondere, he’d still be in the Pit.”

  “Clean your ears Lychon! Conon just said he got out of the Pit.” voiced a female Tyroviv.

  To this, the crowd shouted in affirmation. A clamor of different screams filled the room as Quin tried to detach himself from the angry circle.

  He looked over at Conon who tilted his head to the side. Quin received the message.

  He backed up until he reached the door then made a hasty exit.

  The cool air outside helped soothe his anxiety. The rain had finally let up and Quin could traverse freely without a Yerp to keep him dry at their expense.

  The district looked as empty as it did the day prior, but that would probably change from the next day onward.

  For now, Quin still had the roads to himself. They felt mushy under his boots, his footsteps the most prevalent sound aside from some light voices in the distance.

  “Tyroviv Quin!” he heard out of the blue. In his flinch, he turned in direction of the voice. It came from a man shrouded in blue.

  Ythan gave a stern stare as he beckoned Quin over. The Tyroviv answered at once. Completely unsure what to expect, he kept silent as he approached his boss.

  “Follow me,” was all the blue cloak told him as he walked into a modest building.

  Quin tailed after his captain through a narrow corridor until they reached a small room.

  The only furniture he saw was a small desk with a lamp on top. Despite the small glow, it still filled most of the room and made the scene more snug.

  He also saw multiple Neravivs, a few Tyrovivs with blue bandannas as well as a handful of the Shanli. Hunched together, they all kept to a murmur when Axerick entered from the other end.

  Silence filled the room as everyone stood straight before the Deraviv. He stopped beside the desk and made a light nod. The tense air instantly disappeared.

  “I planned to save this for tomorrow, but I’ll bring it up now, well done everyone.

  “It wasn’t an easy task for any of us, yet we all did our jobs. Efficiently. Admirably. With minimum mistakes and no disasters. It speaks well of our expertise and acumen.

  “Before I get started, I want to thank some people in particular for their efforts this day. First, I’d like to thank Lady Isnani of the Shanli.”

  The group applauded an older lady in green and white. She walked up to the Deraviv and kept a stoic face in front of the cheers.

  “As the lead mender, it was her coordination that swiftly brought the other menders here on such short notice.

  “Her organization of the Shanli on Sononcoly played a big role in keeping so many of us alive and in the fight. Another applause for the Lady.”

  The room complied and an assortment of claps began anew. Axerick waited until it died down to continue.

  “Next I want to thank Ner. Sonsim for her job here in the city during our absence.”

  A blue cloak in a red bandanna rode a wave of cheers to the front. She moved her black hair aside as she turned to meet the crowd. She grinned from ear to ear.

  “After the misfortune of last night, the last thing we needed was a city in tatters while we were off to battle. Ner. Sonsim kept Comi safe, and free from harm even with a short staff on hand.

  “Her vigilance today is the reason Comi remained orderly and intact. Let’s hear it.”

  The Neraviv nodded with a smile as claps reverberated through the room. The crowd soon waited for Axerick’s next words.

  “Finally and most of all, a huge commendation to Ner. Fyful for his triumph in Sononcoly.”

  The crowd held their applause for a good second until Quin started it off with his own set of claps.

  Everyone else soon followed suit. Ythan walked to the front and displayed his default dour expression.

  “It’s no secret what this man had been through over the weeks and months, but Ner. Fyful stepped up in a big way, challenging the very leader of the opposing forces.

  “We understood their leader was a dangerous and desperate man, but that was no concern for Ner. Fyful.

  “Thanks to him and his hard won battle, it punctuated our complete victory. Never again will the Black Nails pose a threat, and we all owe it to Ner. Fyful. Huge cheer for the Neraviv.”

  “Wait!” Ythan halted. His eyes went to Quin. “This wasn’t a solo effort. It was because of the Cosondera on my team that victory happened at all and one Cosondere in particular, Tyroviv Quin.”

  Quin’s jaw would have dropped to the floor, he couldn’t believe what ears heard.

  “Admittedly, he’s not the first person I’d pick for my team,” the blue cloak continued. “But he was assigned to me for a reason. And even though I don’t quite know what that reason is, I know now it was still a good one.

  “He had as much of a role in the victory as I. If I am to receive acclaim...then so should he.”

  The room went quiet. The crowd looked at Axerick, Quin looked at Ythan. The two made brief eye contact before the blue cloak quickly severed it.

  The Deraviv considered Ythan’s words. “If that’s your wish, then very well. A cheer for Tyroviv Quin as well. Congratulations to your hard work and endeavors. The Cosondera are grateful to have you in our ranks.”

  A round of ovation ensued. The room cheered for Quin. Cosondera and Shanli alike gave their applause, even Ythan clapped for the young man.

  The hard work, the trials, the setbacks, the efforts. It all led to this.

  If the whole thing was some test then the room made it clear, Quin passed with flying colors. After weeks of uncertainty and doubt, his journey concluded with approval.

  He had done it. He proved his worth. Accepted by his team, his boss, and now the Cosondera as a whole, Quin no longer felt like an outsider that looked in. He. Was. In.

  Most of all, he proved it to himself. He proved he had what it took after all. A great burden evaporated from his shoulders. He now knew officially, there was a place for him.

  An arduous path still laid ahead, but moments like this solidified his drive, his goals, his purpose.

  Quin could confidently look ahead, assured he had the tools to take on any challenge, and assured that he’d find more tools along the way.

  At the moment though, Quin confidently looked down. In addition to the cheers, everyone gave him their full attention.

  As he basked in the adulation and acclaim, Quin more than anything wanted to step out and move on.