In Judaylif, capital of Nethus:

  Keleis stood behind a raised platform, watching carefully as Oren stood atop it.

  This was the next planned move that Oren had come up with.

  A sizable number of people were watching him as he spoke. Now that the rumours of vulnerability and the hysteria along with them had spread, Oren had his window to make a strike against Lord Achiel.

  “I feel concern for the wellbeing of this country and its people, whom I regard as my kin. Because of this, as I myself am an Aether user and more than capable of handling my own, I have decided to dedicate myself wholly to the war effort, and to forgo the protection of a team of bodyguards. I have sent the team back to Lord Achiel, so that he may better use their resources, and I hope others will do the same.”

  The gathered crowd cheered, lauding Oren. He evidently held a well-regarded place in the people's hearts, and this action only affirmed that.

  Here was the heir to the throne speaking to the common man, recognizing them as his equals, siblings in arms, and doing his best to protect them.

  It's no small wonder, Keleis thought, that they so love him. He knows how to best make an appeal to their hearts, and better yet, he seems to actually mean everything he says.

  Oren descended the steps of the stage, smiling at the crowd, and they surged forward to meet him.

  He shook hands with people, speaking to any who wanted to give him their appreciation, and acted as if each of their words was worth a kingdom.

  He will make a good king. I'll just have to make sure we get Achiel out of the way.

  A man climbed onto a roof only a short distance away from where Keleis was crouched, unseen.

  He raised a crossbow, aiming the weapon made for ease of use at the heir to the throne.

  Oren could very easily survive the bolt, but the risk of an innocent being caught in the crossfire and the interruption it would cause necessitated Keleis’ intervention.

  She leapt silently over to the other roof, and stepped up behind the would-be assassin.

  He raised the crossbow, and she forced the crossbow downwards, shoving it out of his hands.

  He turned in surprise, and she took hold of his collar, before flinging him sideways against a heavy chimney, stunning him.

  Dropping down from the roof, still holding the man, she dropped him at the feet of a pair of guards who were watching the organizing carefully.

  She leapt back up to her first vantage point, turning to see Oren laughing at a joke together with a group of tradesmen.

  She continued her watch for the rest of the gathering, but nothing out of order happened, and eventually Oren excused himself from the crowds.

  He began to leave, and Keleis turned as well, passing by the group of bodyguards that had ostensibly guarded Oren earlier.

  They had, of course, tried to interrupt Oren when he began to speak. Keleis had simply taken them aside and told them that, unfortunately, they would not be able to interrupt due to the rope that would subsequently be tied around them.

  She shadowed Oren as he returned to the military center, ensuring that there were no threats.

  The walk happened uneventfully, and Oren stepped up to the building. He walked inside, and Keleis dropped into the street, entering the building herself.

  Quickly catching up to Oren, she walked side by side with him through the halls.

  “How are the bodyguards?” Oren asked, not missing a step.

  “Fine. I'm sure they'll figure out how to untie themselves any time now.”

  He smiled. “Good work.”

  They rounded a corner, and he continued.

  “I think the speech went well. The people seemed to appreciate it, and I have no doubt that they will begin to put pressure on Achiel.”

  “Then what's our move?” Keleis asked.

  “Ireul has been using his considerable resources as the commander of the Defense military section to locate one of Nethus’ most notorious criminals. She happens to be very close nearby, and if we were to either capture or kill her ourselves, our regard would become greater still.”

  He stopped by a door, and opened it.

  The two stepped into the room, and were greeted by Ireul, the man who had first shown Keleis around her new home as a soldier.

  “Oren.” Ireul said, turning. “I trust the speech went well?”

  “Yes. It was a good enough reception to my message that this is still the best move.”

  “That is good to hear.” Ireul said. Holding out a paper to Oren, he resumed. “This is a map of the village she's hiding out in as of now. The building she occupies is marked.”

  Oren took the paper, looking closely at it.

  “Restad… that's only a journey of an hour or two for an Aether user.” Oren said, thinking.

  “Going tonight would be best.” Keleis said.

  “You are correct.” Ireul said. “The outlaw tends to move often, so this will only apply for a short while. However,” he said, turning to Oren. “You are not to go, my lord.”

  “What?” Oren said, confused.

  “Your presence is required tonight, my Lord. At the anniversary celebration of Lord Elidis’ marriage. He will see it as a grave slight if you do not attend.”

  “I suppose I am expected to play along.” Oren said. He sighed. “I was anticipating true freedom for the first time in years. Next time, then.” he said, handing the paper to Keleis. “Mark my words, by this time next week I shall no longer be shackled by these impositions.”

  “You can deal with a mission like this alone?” Ireul asked Keleis.

  “I can handle myself.” She replied.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  He studied her, then nodded. “I believe that you are more than a capable soldier. However, this is dangerous. As a precaution, I'll send reinforcements.”

  “There are others involved?” Oren asked.

  “Just one.” Ireul said. “And he isn't likely to tell anyone else.”

  Keleis tucked the paper away, and spoke. “I'll either win the fight or survive until reinforcements arrive. Regardless, my method of approaching it won't change.”

  “Well, then.” Oren said. “I hope you enjoy your evening more than I will mine. Excuse me.” He turned to leave. “I have a party to prepare for.”

  He left the room, and no sooner had the footsteps faded when Ireul's face hardened and he turned to Keleis.

  “Keleis.” He said, voice low. “Oren trusts you. He believes in you. Belief like his is hard to come by. His trust is absolute, if he deems you worthy of it. Do not betray that trust.”

  “I would not.” She said, surprised.

  “Good. If you ever do, know that you will die. I am not like Oren. I am objective and distrustful. He is naive, and perhaps even a little enamored with you.”

  “I-”

  “It doesn't matter what you think. Just remember. You may see this as a threat. Well, I am not above threats. I do not mask them. Allow me to make it clear. If you continue to be worthy of his trust, we can work together.” His voice dropped an octave. “And if you do not, I will personally kill you.”

  He left the room, and Keleis stood there, taken aback, for a while, until she came back to her senses.

  She took the paper again, looking closely at her next work.

  * * * * *

  Keleis clung to the edge of a roof with one hand, flattening her silhouette against the building's to keep from being seen.

  She watched the home that was marked on the map, having a clear viewpoint of it.

  Nothing had moved for more than half an hour, besides a pigeon roosting on the roof and a pair of rats scurrying in the alley below.

  She dropped into the alley, and stepped up close to the target, looking into a window.

  The room was empty besides ornate furnishing, with no hint of any people near, so she snuck sideways and opened the door.

  Inside, at a casual glance, she found nothing more informative, so she looked closer at the room.

  She found nothing until she noticed a trapdoor, partially hidden in the darkest corner of the room.

  She brushed past a lamp, and reached down to open the trapdoor.

  It opened fairly easily, and led down into a dark corridor. She dropped down into the corridor, and began creeping along the hallway.

  Hearing a muffled voice ahead, she carefully moved up to the first door, and, seeing that it was slightly ajar, peered in.

  She saw a woman, dressed in the clothing of a housekeeper, tied around a pillar, trying to break the bonds and flee.

  Further inside, there was another woman, holding a butcher's knife. She was talking and laughing to herself, stealing occasional glances at the housekeeper.

  Eventually, she reached the conclusion of her words, and turned towards the housekeeper, smiling.

  The housekeeper strained against her bonds, frantically trying to escape as the woman with the knife drew closer.

  Every footstep echoed throughout the room, and the woman stepped close, before raising the knife.

  She lay it on the housekeeper’s wrist, trapped on the pillar.

  Just before she was about to slice, Keleis interfered, lashing out, and the knife clattered onto the stone floor.

  The woman jumped backward in surprise, turning, and, seeing Keleis, smiled in anticipation as Keleis drew her folding knife.

  Tears ran down the housekeeper’s cheeks as Keleis placed herself in between the innocent and the , and the two killers with different causes faced each other.

  The woman pointed a finger at the knife, and a thin river of clay moved from her finger and encircled the hilt. It rose into the air, and she took it from the clay as the clay dissipated.

  Keleis attacked, trying to force the woman away from the innocent, and the countered, blocking every strike as she walked backwards.

  Keleis stabbed, then grabbed hold of the killer’s arm and pulled her closer to attempt a stab.

  The woman caught Keleis’ wrist, and drew her free hand back, before delivering a devastating blow to Keleis’ body.

  Keleis broke through the wooden ceiling, tumbling backward, and the jumped upward, chasing her.

  Keleis dodged the next slash, and attacked in return, but the blocked the attack, and Keleis retreated.

  This isn’t good. She’s stronger than me, and close in speed. I can’t win this directly.

  She dodged backwards. I’ll just have to take this outside of the house, and hope the reinforcement arrives soon.

  Turning, she leapt forward, breaking the window with her outstretched arm as she moved midair, before the rest of her followed, and she landed on the street outside.

  As she fell, she raised her hand, and the hand of the King of Limbs formed, holding it. As the rest of his body began to manifest, he threw Keleis upward, throwing her above the houses.

  She landed atop a roof, and the King turned to face the as she leapt out of the window.

  The killer turned to look at the King, and smiled. “What a beautiful ability. Finally. It’s been so long. Someone worth killing. I’ve been waiting for this for months.”

  She held out her empty hand, and clay began to drain from the dirt. It formed into a ball, hovering above her free hand.

  “Mine is much more boring.” She said, “Still, it can be useful when you’re thinking of having a suffocation.”

  Keleis watched closely as the woman continued speaking, speaking more for herself than for her opponent, but speaking so familiarly that, were the context removed from the words, someone might mistake the two for good friends meeting at last.

  Suddenly, the killer halted, and turned, before jumping upward. The King of Limbs moved to intercept her, blocking her path to the roofs, and Keleis leapt, wanting to assist him.

  The clay ball shot outward at an immense speed, interrupting Keleis, and it launched her backward.

  The killer attacked the King, not allowing him a moment of rest.

  In this restrictive location, the King’s ability to become a colossus was of little use. At his maximum size, he would not be able to stand freely without crushing the buildings, so his strength was limited.

  Because of that, he was very quickly becoming overwhelmed, and Keleis was unable to come to his aid.

  Breaking past his guard, the killer launched the King backward into a building, and then jumped upward at Keleis.

  Keleis barely managed to block, but the clay, a difficult thing to fend off already without a distraction, encircled her neck.

  The King tried to save her as the clay tightened, lifting her upward, but the killer caught him midair, forcing him back to the ground, and Keleis struggled to escape the clay.

  Her vision darkened, and she nearly slipped into unconsciousness, but suddenly she heard a loud impact as if something wooden had collided with a person’s body.

  The pressure abated, and she fell to her knees, vision beginning to clear.

  Standing in front of her, staff extended in the ending position of a strike, was a man in a gray cloak.

  Keleis pushed herself upward, and managed to stand.

  The man turned towards her, and spoke. “Thankfully you’re alive. Ireul would have my head if you had died.”

  Seeing his face, Keleis’ eyes widened in recognition. “You… I remember you. You’re that bandit leader.”

  “My name is Barodel, but yes. I was that bandit leader. Ireul was finally done interrogating me, but that doesn’t mean he was done with me. I had to come save you, at his personal order, and I’m not about to disobey the man who can track me down wherever I go and kill me as if I were a fly.”

  The killer stood, and faced the two, as the King shook itself, and leapt up to the roof.

  “One unawakened, no matter how beautiful an ability, is no interesting fight. But two unawakened, both at the pinnacle of their power before they awaken, and the spirit of one of said fighters? That can be interesting.”

  The woman jumped up to the roof as well, and rushed Barodel, the one who had landed a blow on her.

  He sidestepped, and a second body formed as he moved. The body threw a punch at the killer, and she dodged the strike, her knife cutting deeply into the body.

  The body succumbed to its wounds, vanishing, but several more were already formed, and they attacked the killer all at once.

  The woman cut through them, and turned to punch the next attacker behind her.

  Her fist stopped, caught by the King. His immense physical strength, beyond the strength of either his wielder or Barodel’s, was something she did not expect, and, held in place for only a moment, she was unable to escape from the harsh impact of a staff against the back of her legs.

  She stumbled, and Keleis struck the killer’s stomach, digging her fist into it.

  Barodel replicated, forming the full six bodies, and all of him, Keleis, and the King attacked the killer at once, not allowing her a moment to recover.

  She shoved around her with a burst of clay, and then jumped backward.

  She shoved the clay towards Keleis and the King, occupying them for only a moment, but long enough for what she wanted. Taking advantage of the moment, she dashed forward and attacked Barodel.

  Realizing the secret of the body Barodel held back, she ran forward, dodging every attack that his bodies threw at her. She ignored them, going only for the one hanging back, holding the staff.

  Slipping past his guard, the knife sank deep into his side, and the woman smiled.

  Barodel’s gaze looked directly into her eyes, before he grinned widely, understanding something she did not.

  Suddenly, a fist collided with her cheek, impacting her hard enough to launch her backward, and the true body, which, feigning being a fake, had so utterly fooled her, picked up the staff.

  When Keleis had beaten him, he had fully realized his vulnerability. Knowing how weak he truly was, he decided to take advantage of that, and had made a decoy, playing at trying to escape and fight without risk, while truly throwing himself without heed for safety at the killer.

  The killer turned to attack again, but failed to notice Keleis, who, having escaped the clay, latched onto her.

  Unable to move in time, the killer could not dodge the King’s punch, and she hurtled forward, before meeting a vicious downward swing of Barodel’s staff that he put all of his strength into.

  She slammed into the ground, immediately unresponsive, and Barodel rapped her head to ensure her unconsciousness.

  Keleis flipped her knife closed, and the King faded into the night sky.

  “You’ve gotten better.” She said, turning to Barodel.

  “Thank you, but I still don't like you much. After all, you almost killed me.” Barodel said.

  Keleis shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, as long as your dislike of me doesn’t compromise anything in the future.”

  Barodel picked up the unconscious killer, and Keleis jumped down to the street.

  “I have someone I should help.” Keleis said, remembering the housekeeper. “She’ll probably appreciate it. She’s been through enough.”

  She walked into the house again, and dropped through the hole in the floor that her hurtling body had caused.

  Turning, she saw the housekeeper, still trapped on the pillar, and the housekeeper looked up.

  Hope shone in her eyes, and Keleis stepped forward, drawing her knife.

  The housekeeper, not regarding how logically she knew Keleis’ intentions, flinched as the knife drew close, before it severed the ties keeping her trapped on the pillar.

  Falling down, the housekeeper reached up, pulling down the gag, and she sobbed, holding Keleis’ legs.

  “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” She repeated, voice soft.

  Unknowing on how to respond, Keleis stood there as the woman, grateful, and with the aftereffects of fear, cried.