Tsuki knelt next to Byana’s body, punctured and hollow now. The woman had apologized and regretted her allegiances. Others might not forgive her—seeing only the destruction she had caused in the heat of Memento’s victory.

  Tsuki could understand the woman all too well.

  She grabbed a nearby cloth and sprawled it gently across Byana’s corpse. The stalker’s eyes remained open—solemn and empty. Tsuki paused, studying them for a moment longer before lowering the eyelids with her fingers.

  “Rest,” she murmured quietly, pulling the cloth over the woman’s face. Tsuki lowered her head, then felt a hand on her shoulder. There stood Azumi, offering a quiet smile.

  Tsuki raised to her feet, returning the smile—until something caught her eye. Across the battlefield, Doji remained active—beaten into the ground and toying with death—but alive nonetheless.

  Rin already stood above him, hammer resting on the ground as she leaned forward onto it.

  “Oh, Doji… you have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this. No idea AT ALL!” Rin shouted.

  Tsuki and the rest of Memento forces surrounded the man—struggling with his breaths. His arm was crooked, broken at the shoulder joint. His face was raised at the girl in disgust.

  “And you’ve no idea how little I’ve cared to see your face again,” he scowled. “Your pink hair had a way of pissing me off.”

  Rin didn’t flinch, in fact, her smile widened a bit.

  “Don’t have much of a choice now, do you? Now, care to explain yourself? After all this time?”

  Doji chuckled lightly to himself. “I’ve no words for you.”

  Tsuki approached with her brows lowered. “Then we’ve no further need for you.”

  He turned his head in annoyance, lips pursed. Rin lowered to a knee, grasping his collar with a fist.

  “Speak, rat.”

  Another chuckle escaped, before spitting blood to the side. “Fine. You want the truth? You’ll get it.”

  A brief pause as he coughed. “But you won’t like it—and it won’t matter. War will be over soon anyways.”

  “Quit your games, Doji, and talk.”

  “Igumi wasn’t defended the best it could’ve been,” he started slowly. “Didn’t you notice? The top stalkers weren’t present. What, you thought that was a coincidence?”

  Distant groans from injured men plagued the battlefield. Distant, dying flames streaked in red kept the scars of battle visible. But all eyes remained on Doji, his crushed arm loosely dangling at his side along with his broken legs. Even then, the snarky smile didn’t fade.

  “He’s being hunted…”

  That caught the squads off guard. Tsuki dropped low, eyes focused.

  Doji’s smile widened slowly.

  “The Ghost.”

  The words landed like a stone in water. The surrounding soldiers shifted uneasily.

  He shuffled upward like he was trying to get comfortable, but Rin put her hammer on his hand with a scowl.

  “Igumi’s just the stepping stone… don’t you understand? My brother will soon get what he wants! You’re all no better than cattle!”

  Brother?

  “What’re you talking about?” Tsuki asked flatly, her expression unyielding. Doji’s face lit up at the question.

  “You mean,.. you don’t know? The REAL reason for the war?”

  His head fell backwards in a laugh. “Wow. I really overestimated Memento. Path—e—tic.”

  Rin raised her hammer in anxiety, ready to lower its weight onto the traitor again. Neko put a hand out in front to prevent it. He stepped forward, his jester hat bouncing at the top of his head. Memento’s army eagerly awaited answers.

  Neko fixed his gloves, pulling them tighter around his hand. At his waist sat an extremely skinny sword. Silly looking, but deadly in action. Jackbox had been kind that day.

  He swung the blade forward, aimed at Doji’s neck. “Explain, traitor. Before the jester ends you.”

  Doji raised a single arm in retreat—his other flopped on the ground.

  “Memento was never the threat. YOU—all of you, were never the targets.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  His words were spoken in a quiet venom, sinking into the brains of all that listened.

  “If the APC wanted to end Memento at any time, you really think we couldn't have? We had seven districts under our direct rule. More than ten times the men, with more ability users… c’mon, use logic… I know even rebels like you are capable of such feats.”

  Tsuki raised her voice. “So what did they really want? What was the goal? Why was I raised to obey every order—even inhumane acts of murder and theft? What was it for, Doji?”

  Anger perked up within Tsuki. Her fists clenched into balled fists, and her irises burned with the flames of fury.

  “Him,” Doji said slowly, blood beginning to drip from his mouth. “The rogue operative. The Final Sephoran prophecy… it was all to lure that purple eyed freak out of hiding. Every action. Every battle played a part.”

  Murmurs followed within the army. Tsuki stepped back in disbelief. The others were equally shocked.

  “The reports before the Persetta Raids held truth. Chaze was in Galion before—to lure Tona from Persetta.”

  Geo’s eyes widened.

  “…Tona?”

  “Our plan was to break him,” Doji continued, savoring the moment. “Everything he loved—everything he cherished. We even sent his parents there to drive him insane… and now—he can’t sleep in peace. Every meal comes with a side of higher tiered stalkers itching for his head. Lord Chaze hunts.”

  Geo stuttered. “You—you’re lying!”

  “What would I lie about, boy? My life is over. Hoshuro has won! Rinisas will be avenged, and Alden will unite under a single banner once and for all! Memento will be squashed when the Ghost is dead and my brother gets serious with your little organization!”

  His laughter echoed across the district. Civilians watched from the shadows—behind buildings and through shuttered windows.

  “You mentioned a prophecy,” Hatori raised his voice. “What is it?”

  A laugh died before it escaped his lips. Doji spit blood out at the ground.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know? You’ll have to figure that one out yourself.”

  Crimson streamed from his mouth in thin lines.

  His smile finally faded.

  “Finish it, brother,” he said calmly as his face dimmed. His eyes drifted upward toward the sky, watching the sunlight push through the broken clouds.

  For the first time since they had captured him—he looked tired. His breath left him in one final exhale.

  And then he fell still.

  Rin kneeled down, and shook his body—ensuring he was dead. Judgment and Viper stood behind left with more questions than answers.

  “How… how do we figure that out on our own? I’ve never once heard of a prophecy in Alden—let alone this Final Sephoran…” Geo muttered.

  Tsuki looked around, the squad left confused and unsure. After a long moment, Danzo stepped forward.

  “Back in Riche, Knoxx told me something. Mentioned something he called ‘The Alden Chronicles’ that are here in Igumi.”

  “The Alden Chronicles?” Neko asked, head tilting. Makoro rubbed his chin, with Enzumaki following suit, hanging on the brute’s back.

  “Correct… he said that they were the reason Igumi was normally so defended. Though, it seems a certain someone is drawing their attention away now.”

  Tsuki looked around at the beautiful architecture of the district. Large oaks topped with soft pink leaves rested against the roofs of houses. The paths—though now damaged from battle—remained pristine and unique. Koi ponds lay along the sidewalk, with tiny wooden bridges to cross. Tsuki could see the citizens eyeing them—hesitant to come out.

  “Then…” she started. “How do we find these Chronicles? We’ve got nothing else to go on.”

  A voice cut through the air—loud, but hospitable. An older woman stepped forward, with gray, curly hair.

  “Memento! We’ve awaited you… for so many years!”

  Danzo’s voice caught in his throat. “Waited… for us?”

  The woman nodded, a little more sure now. Her wrinkled cheeks gave way to a warm smile, one that told Memento it was safe now.

  Geo raised a brow. “But we had heard Igumi wasn’t fond of our rebellion, and fiercely loyal to the APC?”

  “We were loyal through force. But every citizen here knew when the moment came, we’d support Memento in secret.”

  Azumi’s eyes lowered to the ground—the haunting realization that she had been wrong. From the shadows, citizens stepped forward nervously.

  The woman continued. “In fact, my people were anxious about whether you’d accept our help. We’d been under the foot of the APC for far too long—licking their boots and suppressing our culture for survival.”

  Another spoke, this time a middle-aged man dressed in a traditional garb. It was a sky-blue, with tiny clouds for design.

  “Some of our own left to join years ago, but that was the last time we could aid. The white coated bastards in the APC controlled everything. We’ve been restricted of our traditions, our way, and a normal life. But you… you have given us a chance to return to that.”

  More citizens entered the scene, with growing confidence. They all bowed as they stepped out, each with a smile and gratefulness. Behind them all, the portal had long since disappeared, and the APC army with it.

  Danzo raised a fist into the air. “Igumi is freed!” he said in a proud shout.

  Memento all cheered in response, throwing fists in celebration. The citizens followed suit.

  “Now, with that said. All units, grab some rest. We’ve got time before next orders. Today was a milestone, and that much closer to the APC’s downfall!”

  They all grunted in unison, before scattering their own ways. Tsuki and Judgment remained alongside Danzo. The older woman approached once more, looking at Tsuki.

  “Excuse my eavesdropping, ma’am,” she said cheerfully. “But I overheard your discussion with that APC scoundrel earlier.”

  “Ah, yeah. We’re searching for a couple things—”

  “The Alden Chronicles, right?” the woman interrupted. Tsuki hesitantly nodded.

  “Good. Well, you’ll be pleased to learn that they lie here in Igumi, in the Archives. A hidden place, been restricted access for years—since the council took over.”

  Tsuki’s eyes widened. Geo’s smile grew wide, and fistbumped Hatori. Azumi crossed her arms with a smirk.

  “And if I may ask,” Danzo said, stepping forward. “How do we get to these Archives?”

  The woman nodded politely. “There is a man who has long served the chambers. He’s the only way in—there was only one set of keys crafted. His name is Seruko—come, I’ll take you to him.”

  “Thank you,” Danzo replied. He motioned to Hajima—behind them—to take charge while he was gone. Together, Tsuki, Judgment and Danzo followed the elderly woman down the streets of Igumi. They passed countless shops and stands, and countless pink-oaks with overhanging leaves. Lanterns hung from the branches, and glowed a mesmerizing red.

  Beneath the architecture and cultural beauty, the answers to a drawn-out war lay waiting to be rediscovered.