Kitty of Loafing

Yemoja stood up and approached him. She accepted the bundle, perplexed at its size. Before she could ask Flea what happened, Flea told her how he overheard Koray and Nisha talking outside the door so he decided to take everything that could inform them of the eclipse as well as the bracelet.

"Thank you, Flea," Yemoja said with a smile. "Were you able to find out if Koray intends to find the keep?"

Flea replied, "Yeah, he won't be poking around. You and Ylenia are safe."

Yemoja regarded Flea's confidence silently and nodded. Changing the subject, she remarked that she and Ylenia had settled into one of the unused storerooms for the time being and Ylenia was currently resting from her ordeal.

"Speaking of Ylenia… I have to ask," Flea said. "Why did you do it? Why did you risk your life and leave everything behind for her?"

Yemoja smiled softly and answered, "For the same reason you ended up here… Love."

Flea said nothing. He had confided in Yemoja some time ago the truth regarding the events that lead to his unintended trip through time; how he had risked his life to save Glenn because he had feelings for him. Yemoja had been oddly supportive of his crush, but now that Yemoja had made the comparison between her situation and his, her support made sense.

"But what about the village?" Flea asked, breaking the silence. "Don't they need your spiritual guidance or whatever?"

Yemoja got a pensive look on her face and said, "They have Nisha and the other priestesses… But the truth is, the village's future needs more than spiritual guidance."

Flea raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Enharsha has been hidden for ages… We used to live beyond the cavern although we have no record of when we retreated to its safety," Yemoja explained. "Presumably the constant threat of humans and Daemon drove us to seek shelter and hide. However, within the cavern, our numbers have slowly dwindled over the generations."

She took a breath and continued, "The Great Fire seems to have seen to it that we do not grow beyond the cavern… but in doing so, we have become stagnant… Let me ask you this, how many births do you think I have blessed since we've met?"

"I dunno…. Lots?" Flea didn't want to guess a random number but he assumed every family would've been trying to have children as much as possible. That was certainly the expectation in his era.

"Try three," Yemoja answered. "And not for a lack of anyone trying… I tried to speak to both Ilkay and Koray about the matter, but they don't see it as a problem. Of course, they wouldn't since two of those births was Koray's daughter and recently a son… and the third was Nisha's daughter last year."

Yemoja sighed heavily. "Despite that, it feels like it takes young couples far too long to make their families… and some families' bloodlines have already intertwined in previous generations."

Seeing Flea's furrowed brow, Yemoja apologized and told Flea she was merely venting. She told him that she didn't expect him to do anything about it or provide any insight, although Flea could sense she wanted to ask him if he knew anything of her peoples' fate.

Flea did not know what fate awaited her village, only that he had never met a Therian before coming to this era. The Kotengu somehow survived to his era, so maybe there was hope that the Therian had simply avoided being recruited by Ozzie and were safe somewhere else.

The tense mood was interrupted by Yemoja letting out a soft sigh. She smiled softly and thanked Flea once more for helping her. After she declaring she was going to help Zarya in the kitchen, Yemoja departed.

Flea found himself lingering in the room. He looked around at the various charts and scrolls. It suddenly dawned on him that the eclipse would be during this year's solstice. Only two more months and he and Zarya would leave this era.

As Flea turned to leave, Ylenia entered the room. She was mid-sentence, clearly hoping to speak to Yemoja, when she stopped speaking and glared at Flea.

Flea saw the way Ylenia glowered at him and knew immediately that she held him with great animosity. He didn't have to ask Ylenia what her problem was, he knew that she blamed him and Zarya for Umbria's exile from the village. He should have said nothing or simply told Ylenia where Yemoja was. Instead, Flea spoke without thinking.

"Look, I won't ask you why you wanted stay in that place but seems like it kind of sucked," Flea remarked. "I mean, why did you want to stay in the same village as that psychotic bird that wanted you and your daughter dead?"

"Because until you showed up, everything was fine," Ylenia growled.

Flea glared at Ylenia. Feeling defensive, he snapped back, "Well, excuse me for falling on your damned doorstep! Do you think I wanted to get lost in this era?! Don't go blaming me for your kid getting herself exiled or Koray's despotic bullshit!"

Ylenia bared her fangs as she snarled, "We were happy-"

"Maybe you were, but Umbria hated it. She only put up with it for your sake," Flea interrupted. His voice rose in volume and pitch as he continued, practically ranting. "I can see why she hated it! Being constantly reminded how she's different from everyone else! Feeling like an outsider in her own home!! Told the outside world is too dangerous when that danger is going to find you anyways!!"

Ylenia got the sense that Flea was talking about himself more than Umbria the way he was getting worked up. She knew a little about him since Yemoja had told her that Flea was a troubled soul with a harsh past.

An awkward silence passed between the two before Flea huffed and said, "It's just- Why didn't you leave with her when it happened?"

"I was afraid," Ylenia replied. "The village was safe… Yemoja and I, we- I was torn between following Umbria and being there for Yemoja."

Flea sighed. With Yemoja's confession, he knew what Ylenia's excuse was. She and Yemoja had each other, no doubt brought together by their mutual losses, and Ylenia found herself afraid to lose that as much as she feared for Umbria. While he didn't really understand why she chose Yemoja over her own child, Flea understood why she was conflicted.

"You know… With Zarya's enchantment, you and Yemoja could go to the town where Umbria lives… or there’s wherever her father took the rest of your kind," Flea suddenly said, glancing over his shoulder. Seeing the surprised look in Ylenia's eyes, he told her Umbria had told him and Zarya everything when she was exiled. Turning back to face Ylenia, he asked her why she hadn't gone there herself or gone back to her village after her husband's death.

"My husband and I had already evacuated nearly everyone… He and I wanted to go," she answered in a low voice. "But I became so ill when I was pregnant with Umbria, the journey would have killed us both… Then Umbria was so frail when she was born. You cannot possibly understand what it was like to hold such a tiny life in your arms and wonder if she would see the next day. It was only when we were sure she was getting stronger did we promise ourselves we would travel one last time when the weather and currents permitted it."

"So why didn't you go to the archipelago after Umbria's father was killed?" Flea asked.

Ylenia looked down and sighed. "The humans located and burned down what was left of my village. I could not possibly trust anyone to take me and Umbria to the archipelago…. So I fled south into the forests until I met Yemoja."

Flea said nothing. He could understand her distrust of humans when they killed her husband and any of her kind they found. He again wondered why no Therian were in the Mystic army… and began to wonder if he had always been meant to get lost in this era, setting the scene for their departure from these lands.

"What about now? If you and Yemoja don't feel safe in this region even with disguises, there's always the archipelago," Flea suggested. Within the same breath, he silently wondered why he cared at all to suggest she seek safety. "You could be hidden from the world again."

"But what do I know?" He said, throwing up his hands defensively. "I'm just the asshole from the future…"

Ylenia said nothing in response, her brow was furrowed and she didn't look Flea in the eyes. Finally, she murmured, "I know that Yemoja will want to stay until the eclipse of this solstice so she can be assured that you and Zarya succeed or not in your quest…. but I will bring up what you said."

Flea nodded. He sighed and told Ylenia that Yemoja was in the kitchen with Zarya, adding that he was going to go rest if anyone asked where he went. With nothing more to say to Ylenia, Flea teleported to his room and flopped backwards onto his bed. He stared at the ceiling, his mind feeling foggy with exhaustion. Not only had he used a lot of magic in the last half-hour, he had dealt with the emotional drama of others and just wanted to be alone to recuperate.

When Zarya came to tell him that lunch was ready, she found Flea asleep, feet dangling off the bed. After moving him to a more comfortable position, Zarya smiled and left the sleeping Daemon to rest as long as he needed.

~o~

The next day at breakfast, Zarya cheerfully asked Ylenia about visiting Umbria. She pointed out that Yemoja could 'change her look' so she and Ylenia could go to town. Ylenia seemed taken back by the suggestion and questioned if Umbria would even want to see her after this long.

Flea looked up from his meal. He really didn't care what Ylenia wanted to do as long as she wasn't moping around or yelling at him. He sighed and said that Umbria had stuck to a story that she had merely been separated from Ylenia, always holding out hope that someday Ylenia would make the choice to come live in town with her.

"We couldn't possibly just show up," Ylenia said, still apprehensive. "What would I even say to Umbria?"

"All I need to do is go talk to Umbria and Roshan, say that Zarya and I encountered you two hiking through the forest from the east," Flea said. "You can tell them whatever you want about where you've been all this time."

Ylenia quietly considered Flea's words. As she tried to make a decision, Flea told her there was one more thing she should know.

"At my suggestion, Umbria told Roshan that you were a Daemon but that her father was a Therian," he said. "So far no one else in town knows this as Roshan has proven to be exceedingly trustworthy and vowed to Umbria to keep her secret."

Ylenia and Yemoja shared a surprised expression. Yemoja asked him why he had suggested such a risky thing to which Flea explained bluntly what he had told Umbria about his thoughts on the risks of her having a child given her mixed lineage and considering how she would explain a baby not looking Daemon. He added that Umbria and Roshan were lucky their kid looked normal.

"Can she come here?" Ylenia asked after a moment of silence, sounding apprehensive. "Could you use your sorcery to bring her to the keep?"

Flea replied, "No, because she's with child again and I'm not about to make a pregnant person walk all this way nor am I about to mess around teleporting someone in that state. Further more, her current kid is a handful and I don't need a toddler running amok around here."

Ylenia let out a breath. She looked to Yemoja and asked her if she was okay with going to Umbria. When Yemoja affirmed that she was, Ylenia looked to Flea and asked him to take her and Yemoja to see Umbria.

~O~

With Yemoja and Ylenia disguised and filled in on the lie that he and Umbria shared about being family, Flea and Zarya took her and Ylenia to the edge of the forest. Just beyond the meadow, Yemoja could see rows and rows of apple trees and beyond the orchard, Yemoja could see the roof of a building and more buildings in the distance. She had never seen the sky meet the land before, so accustomed to living in the forest that to see the horizon was almost overwhelming. Gripping Ylenia's hand, she let out a gasp and murmured a prayer to the Great Fire.

Flea immediately picked up on Yemoja's reaction and asked her if she was okay. Still holding Ylenia's hand, Yemoja reassured him and Ylenia that she would be fine.

"In all my years, I never dared to stray from the forest… I've never seen so much sky or open land before," she said, her voice tinted with awe.

Ylenia gently squeezed her hand and told her that this was nothing compared to the sea.

"Zarya and I will take you to Umbria when you're ready," Flea said.

After a moment or so of taking in the sight, Yemoja told Flea she was ready. He teleported them to the edge of the orchard and asked them to wait with Zarya while he went to fetch Umbria.

Teleporting to the house, Flea found Roshan and Umbria in the midst of their morning chores with their toddler attempting to climb up the ladder and Roshan preventing his son from escaping up into the loft. When Flea announced his arrival, Umbria and Roshan were quite surprised to see Flea at the doorway.

"Flynn! What brings you here?" Roshan asked as he carried his son away from the ladder.

"Your folks aren't around, are they?" Flea asked.

"Naw, Ma and Pa are at the market… Why?" Roshan asked.

Looking at Umbria, Flea said, "Your mother just showed up at the keep with a friend she met to the east. I brought them to the orchard and told them to wait while I got you."

Umbria looked to Roshan and asked him to keep on eye on their son for just a moment before she charged over to Flea and practically dragged him by his arm outside.

"You called me insane all those years ago for bringing Roshan to the keep but you brought Yemoja here?!" she hissed in a loud whisper.

"It's fine, Zarya made an enchantment for her. She looks like a Daemon right now," Flea quietly snapped back, more offended that Umbria had been rough with him than at her sharp words. "Trust me, but if you're that worried, come with me by yourself before you introduce Roshan and Kamir."

Umbria looked surprised at Flea's claim that Yemoja was disguised. She had known for years that Yemoja was unable to copy hers and her mother's magic. She wondered how Zarya had achieved the seemingly impossible, but decided she would ask later.

"I trust you," she said. "But maybe I should see them alone first so we can get our story straight."

~o~O~o~

Flea walked with Umbria through the orchard, giving her the story of what had happened in the village and why Yemoja and her mother no longer lived there. Umbria fumed at the knowledge that Koray hadn't been satisfied with her exile. She looked to Flea and asked him if he thought Koray had been responsible for his father's death.

"Oh, no doubt about it," Flea replied.

Then Umbria asked him why he hadn't told her about Yemoja being able to disguise herself like them. Flea shrugged and pointed out there never really was a need or chance to discuss it before, adding that it had only happened recently. Reaching the edge of the orchard, Flea spied Zarya flapping her hands and humming. He called out that it was just him and Umbria.

Umbria's eyes locked in on the Daemon woman standing by Zarya. Seeing the familiar periwinkle robes and the way the woman stood, Umbria realized that she was Yemoja in disguise. Getting a good look at her, Umbria realized that Yemoja's disguise reflected her true self in her eyes still being cyan-blue and in having dark skin with pale spots on her face and arms that mirrored where her spots were in her true form.

Seeing Umbria, Yemoja turned to speak to someone behind the tree and coax them out. Ylenia, disguised as a Daemon woman with tanned skin and black-and-silver hair, bearing the same amber and blue eyes as Umbria, cautiously emerged from behind the tree.

"Yemoja? Mother?" Umbria hurried past Flea as Yemoja and Ylenia approached.

Walking over to Zarya, Flea stood back and watched Ylenia and Umbria each cautiously approach each other before mother and daughter embraced each other tightly. Ylenia's words were muffled in her daughter's hair as she wept tears of joy and apologized for not following her.

He and Zarya silently watched as Umbria expressed astonishment over Yemoja's new look, hearing Yemoja's praise for Zarya's gift. They spoke of how to explain the situation to Roshan. Just as they seemed to be settled on a story, a small voice wailed from beyond the orchard.

"Maaamaaa! Mama! Mama!"

Roshan came up the path with a flailing toddler in his arms, shouting an apology over their son's cries for Umbria. Umbria asked Ylenia and Yemoja to wait a moment before hurrying to Roshan and taking their son into her arms.

Soothing and hushing her son, Umbria calmed the young toddler and brought him over to Ylenia. She beamed as she held him close and said to him, "Kamir, this is your grandmother. My mama."

Ylenia was speechless. She let out a small gasp of joy. Tears welling up in her eyes, she spoke barely above a whisper as she remarked that the child had been named after Umbria's father. Umbria nodded and smiled at her mother.

Roshan approached Flea, catching his breath after dealing with Kamir's tantrum. He smiled and invited them all to the house for a meal so they could rest and relax for a bit. When Flea pointedly asked what was to be done about his parents, Roshan assured Flea that he would side with Umbria and ensure his parents were good hosts.

"Since I've taken over most of the affairs of the brewery and Umbria and I 'provided' a son to the family line, Ma and Pa have been more respectful of my way of things," Roshan replied. "Don't worry about them."

~o~O~o~

True to Roshan's word, the moment his mother tried to voice displeasure at the sudden arrival of Flea, Zarya and more strangers, Roshan declared that he was not going to turn away his wife's friends and family. He asserted that he was going to be a good host and provide them with a meal and told his parents if they had a problem, they could go visit their friends in town and be out for the day.

To Flea's surprise, Roshan's parents stayed and were amiable towards Ylenia and Yemoja. They still eyed him and Zarya with a gaze that told Flea that they still harbored distrust towards them for being so different. As the visit went on, Flea found himself impressed by Yemoja's ability and willingness to lie about her origins.

In artfully crafted half-truths, Yemoja spoke of being from the 'far east' and that she had encountered Ylenia lost in the forest. They had lived in a quiet village beyond the mountains (as opposed to inside one right next-door) until a Kotengu clan drove them away. She readily described what a Kotengu was to Roshan and his parents, saying that up until recently, Kotengu and Daemon had lived in harmony in her lands.

By the end of the visit, Yemoja and Ylenia had a quiet and brief discussion outside the house. Yemoja still felt unsure of being around so many Daemon when she had no way of knowing how long the stones Zarya had enchanted would hold the spell. Ylenia, while reluctant to see Yemoja leave, accepted that Yemoja wanted to return to the keep with Flea and Zarya. She promised to come visit in the morning but she wanted to spend the night and get to know Umbria's new family and her grandson.

Koray looked to her and said, "Ylenia is guilty of poisoning my father."

"What proof do you have of such an outrageous claim?" demanded Yemoja.

Koray produced a small wooden box carved with symbols of the sea and stained blue, a belonging of Ylenia's, and opened it to reveal some vibrant red berries and dried bark. He declared that his sister confirmed the berries and bark belonged to the yew trees out in the forest. Turning to speak to the growing crowd, Koray declared that Ylenia must have resented his father's choice to exile her daughter and plotted to poison him slowly over the years so no one would suspect her.

"Except she took it too far this time," he said coldly. "My father has suddenly become deathly ill after the morning meal and Nisha is doing everything she can to heal him."

Yemoja looked at Ylenia, then to Koray. She did her best to stay calm. Nothing about this felt right. She knew Ylenia would never harm another soul, but the box Koray held in his hand did indeed belonged to Ylenia. It was one of the few possessions she had brought with her during her journey from the northeastern coast. The question of how Koray got a hold of the box lingered in Yemoja's mind.

"I know Ylenia, she would never harm your father," Yemoja argued. "There must be some other explanation."

"She has deceived you as she has done this whole village for years," Koray retorted. He proceeded to argue that Ylenia presumably had charm magic as well as her 'deceptive' shapeshifting sorcery. He asserted that she had deceived them all and he was no longer going to fall for her tricks. The crowd murmured, voicing that Koray had a point.

"Even if you are correct, you cannot just pass judgment without a trial," Yemoja argued.

"As acting Elder, I will do what I must for the safety of the community," Koray countered. "She will be detained until I determine a fitting punishment."

Yemoja exchanged a helpless look with Ylenia. She wanted to tell Koray to leave Ylenia alone, but she had a duty as the High Priestess to help maintain order within the village. She told herself she would find proof of Ylenia's innocence before Koray could pass judgment any further.

"Koray!"

Everyone looked to see Nisha, Koray's older sister, running to him with tears in her eyes. She was followed closely by their younger brother, Tuncay. Both looked devastated.

"Father is- He's-," Nisha's voice was choked up and shaking. "I-I did everything I could- I'm-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…." Koray stared at Nisha, seemingly shocked as she broke into sobs. Tuncay sadly confirmed that their father had died, softly saying he just stopped breathing and won't wake up. Koray embraced his siblings and promised them that he would take care of everything. After a brief embrace, Koray stepped away from Nisha and Tuncay.

Turning to the Kotengu who had Ylenia restrained, he coldly declared, "Take her to the cenote."

"Koray, you can't-" Yemoja protested. A few more Kotengu blocked her path. Koray didn't even bother to look back as he declared, "I will do what is necessary to keep this village safe. She's already claimed my father's life. I will now allow anyone else to endure such a loss."

As Yemoja was held back, Ylenia was dragged off to the back tunnels of the cavern that led to the deepest parts of the cave where a cenote was located. Cut off from the rest of the world, the place was regarded as the passage to the underworld where sinners would be sentenced to death by drowning, just like those who had turned their back on the Great Fire and caused the sky islands to fall.

Yemoja's heart raced. She couldn't lose another loved one. Not again. Letting out a roar, Yemoja summoned lightning to her fists, causing the two Kotengu holding her back to let go before she could shock them. She ran forward and grabbed Koray by the shoulder. She let just enough electricity surge forward to stun the young Kotengu but not seriously harm him.

As Koray collapsed to the ground, Yemoja hurried over to Ylenia and stunned the two Kotengu holding her. Dissipating the rest of the lightning, Yemoja grabbed Ylenia and pulled her along as they both ran towards the tunnel that led to the forest. Surprised at Yemoja's outburst and betrayal, no one dared make a move to stop her.

There was no time to hurry to either home to retrieve any belongings, the only option was to flee through the tunnel into the forest. They ran as fast as they could through the tunnel, illuminated by crystalline sconces.

Outside the protective shield of the village's cavern, Yemoja and Ylenia found themselves in the pouring rain. Despite the wind and rain, Yemoja kept a tight grip on Ylenia's hand and pulled her along as they ran into the storm.

When Yemoja was certain they were not being pursued, she came to a stop under a tree and turned to Ylenia. Ylenia looked absolutely shocked, her eyes wide with fear. Yemoja embraced her tightly, then held her face in her hands as she told Ylenia that everything would be okay.

Looking in the direction of the keep, Yemoja said, "We will be safe at the keep with Flea and Zarya. Let's hurry."

~o~O~o~

The sudden late spring squall left Flea and Zeal with not a lot to do besides studying and training. To their surprise, the kitchen door suddenly swung open and Flea and Zarya looked over to see Yemoja standing at the door, soaking wet. It took Flea a second to realize she wasn't alone. Standing beside Yemoja was Ylenia, who was just as drenched. Yemoja had an arm around her as she led them both into the room.

"I apologize for the intrusion," Yemoja breathed. "The village is no longer safe for us."

Zarya quickly teleported away and reappeared with a bundle of blankets in her arms. She offered them to Yemoja and Ylenia before hurrying over to the kettle over the hearth, declaring that they needed hot tea to warm up.

"What the hell happened?" asked Flea.

Yemoja guided Ylenia over to the hearth so they could sit down and warm up. She sighed and explained the situation; how Koray accused Ylenia of murdering his father by slowly poisoning him and how Koray was quick to attempt to execute her. Accepting the cup of tea from Zarya, Yemoja told Flea that she attacked Koray and rescued Ylenia before they fled to the keep.

Flea frowned and asked Yemoja if she thought Koray would come to the keep. Yemoja shook her head and expressed doubt simply because he would be busy trying to keep control over the village after her betrayal. Besides which, no one else knew exactly how to locate the keep quickly, the knowledge of its location not being worthy of noting for the majority of the village.

"While it is true I was upset with Ilkay's punishment of my daughter, I would never have done him any harm," Ylenia finally spoke. "Koray must have been poisoning his own father, but I cannot understand why he would do such a thing or why put the blame on me."

"Simple, he wanted to be in charge and you were an easy scapegoat," Flea stated flatly. "I knew of others just like him in my era. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if I actually know a descendant or two personally. One Kotengu in particular is coming to mind, but that's irrelevant at the moment."

Flea reiterated that, for his own piece of mind, he needed to make sure that Koray wasn't going to send anyone to deal with them. He expected Yemoja to tell him to calm down but instead Yemoja asked him to retrieve some items from her room if he was going to go spy on the village.

"What could be so important I need to sneak into your room?" Flea asked.

"In my haste to save Ylenia, I forgot a wooden bracelet I had received from my husband when we were young and courting. I had inlaid the stones Zarya enchanted into it…. and if there was ever a time to need the stones, it would be now," Yemoja answered, removing her medallion and offering it to Flea. "Given the growing concerns I had regarding Koray, I have been warding my room against outsiders, so you will need my medallion to pass the warding spell. The bracelet will be in a small wooden box on the shelf by my personal altar."

Flea nodded. He accepted Yemoja's medallion and slipped it on. After Yemoja thanked him, Flea promised he would be quick before he teleported away.

~o~O~o~

Flea arrived at the cavern's entrance and teleported to the village temple, reappearing in Yemoja's room. He immediately spied the altar and the small statue of petrified wood, polished and carved to depict a symbol that greatly resembled the symbol on Zarya's silver charm surrounded by what was either fires or flowers, it was hard to say. There were shelves on either side of the altar which held many scrolls and a couple wooden boxes. As Flea approached the shelves, he heard voices on the other side of the door.

It sounded like Koray was telling someone to undo the ward. Another voice, meek and feminine, stammered that they would dispel the ward but it would take time. There was a pause, then Flea heard Koray sigh. Curious, Flea moved closer to the door.

"Just do what you can, dear sister," Koray said. "I fear that Yemoja was aiding Ylenia in hurting our father, given her eagerness to hurt me and run away with that murderer. Her actions alone are proof of it, but if there are any more answers to be found, I would appreciate them."

There was a pause before Koray apologized to his sister and added that he regretted not dealing with 'that soulless human and her deceitful Daemon' when he first met them. Maybe then, he said with false worry, Yemoja wouldn't have been corrupted. Wishing his sister luck, Koray said he would go address the village and ease their worries.

Looking around the room, Flea decided, in addition to finding Yemoja's bracelet, that he would take anything to do with the eclipse if there was any scrolls or other evidence. After all, they didn't need anyone poking around and sabotaging the ritual. Flea thought an apology to Yemoja and proceeded to quietly ransack her room.

He found, besides the bracelet he was sent to look for, what looked like a small knife or dagger in the same box, a few scrolls pertaining to the eclipse and stars, and the recipe for a few medicines like the salve Yemoja kept giving him. Spying Yemoja's cloak, he threw it onto the bed and put everything on it before tying the cloak up like a bundle.

The faint hum of magic still hung in the air, hinting to Flea that Koray's sister had yet to dispel the ward. He felt like he still had time to make sure Koray wasn't going to do anything to hurt Zarya or Yemoja. After teleporting to the bell tower, Flea hid the bundle and then shapeshifted into a bat before going over to the Elder's Hall.

From his vantage point, he could see the whole village, safely shielded from the rains outside. Nothing particularly noteworthy, but what caught his attention was the crowd gathering in the center of the village.

Still in bat form, Flea flew up and hid in the shadows of the awning of the roof to see what was going on. He spied Koray telling the crowd that their esteemed High Priestess had defied the laws of their people and consorted with Ciemra and a human. Flea had no idea what a “Ciemra” was but he was more than certain that Koray was talking about Ylenia and Zarya. He heard the crowd chatter loudly, expressing doubt even as some had witnessed Yemoja's actions.

Koray called out to the crowd, “Yemoja was deceived by the human girl, tricked into betraying us. We all know how the Emissaries were deceived by a demon disguised as one of their own. The girl was clearly a demon in disguise sent to corrupt our beloved High Priestess. How else could a seemingly harmless human child wield magic long since denied to her kind?"

The crowd quietly clamored and whispered among themselves. Flea couldn’t hear any words clearly, but it was obvious that Koray had made a compelling argument to the villagers. He silently scoffed at how gullible they were. Someone called out, asking Koray if the village was safe since Yemoja and Ylenia had fled to the outside. What if Ylenia led strangers to their village?

Koray held up his hands to signal the crowd to calm. Once the crowd was quiet, Koray declared that he and a handful of hunters would do whatever it took to locate the human's hideout and ensure the safety of the village, even if that meant sending Yemoja's soul to the Great Fire for judgment. He expressed sorrow that it had come to this outcome, but Flea knew by the way he spoke and acted, Koray was lying through his beak about his feelings on the matter.

Feeling a bit fed-up with Koray's whole deal, Flea decided in that moment, since Koray believed in demons, he would give him one. While still a bat, he flew up and found an atrium in the middle of the building. Flea got an idea in the heat of the moment. It was a terribly petty idea and Flea was feeling petty. As he landed, Flea shifted his form to that of Yemoja. He reasoned that she was already seen as the enemy so he Quietly, he peered inside the rooms that lined the atrium. One side seemed to be the storerooms and the kitchen, the other side appeared to be the bedrooms. Within the first room, Flea found a still form laying on the bed. Upon closer inspection, Flea saw that it was the body of who he assumed was Koray's father. A simply cloth covered the body and while Flea did not want to disrespect the dead, but he peered under the cloth to get a look at the father of the Kotengu who sought to hurt him.

After getting a good look at the body and covering Ilkay back up, Flea, all the while still in Yemoja's form, moved back to the atrium just as Koray entered from the main hall.

"Yemoja?! How did you get in here, you bitch?!" Koray shouted.

Flea grinned and shifted his form to Ilkay's as he spoke. Not knowing how Ilkay had sounded in life, Flea spoke in his own voice, "Is that any way to speak to your father?"

Koray's eyes went wide with horror and he shouted out, "How dare you take his form, you demon! The Great Fire will see you burn to ashes for this insult!"

Flea laughed and shifted his form once more. This time he took on the appearance of his Void Mage form, although he made a few embellishments to his outfit and look to make himself look a bit more scary with sharper fangs and pitch-black eyes with pupils of malevolent light. He even game himself horns like Ozzie had done with his illusions.

"I can appear as anything or anyone I want," Flea declared proudly. He waved a hand and summoned his starry abyss illusion. He smirked when Koray jolted as if expecting to fall but found himself still on solid ground he couldn't see. "Maybe you should be more concerned with monsters who are real than some god you can’t see or hear."

Smiling wickedly, Flea said, "I heard every word of your plan, so let me be perfectly clear. Harm a single hair on either Yemoja or Zarya and your family and descendants will pay a thousandfold for your actions."

"You wouldn't-"

"Oh, but I can and would… I know that I have met your bloodline now that you've shown your true face," Flea interrupted. "As long as Zarya and I live in this era, I will make it my personal mission to ensure you never know peace. Any villager, any animal… It might be me checking up on you to make sure you are being a good little crow and staying away from my friends. Remember that."

And with that, Flea dropped the illusion and shifted into the form of a large raven and flew up and out of the atrium. Up in the air, Flea looked down to see three Kotengu hurry over to a still stunned Koray. A mother carrying a toddler followed by an older child… Flea half-wondered how the three were related to Koray but decided it didn't matter. He had made his point and planted the seeds of paranoia in Koray.

~o~O~o~

Umbria stayed behind to take care of the baby and there were many chores to take care of at the house. Meanwhile, Roshan and the leatherworker talked while Flea and Zarya waited by the wagon. Flea could see the leatherworker was not happy to see him or Zarya and was frustrated by Roshan's continued trust of them. Roshan and the leatherworker continued to debate back and forth about the matter and humoring Zarya's request. Eventually the discussion ended with Roshan bribing the leatherworker with a barrel of lambic if he'd give Zarya's request a chance.

After Roshan gestured for her to come over, Zarya thanked the leatherworker and showed her the bracer on her arm, explaining that it was her father's and she wanted a matching one if he could make one.

Seeing the blue gem on Zarya's bracer, the leatherworker looked at Roshan and said, "What exactly are you trying to get me involved in?"

"It's a shield," Zarya chimed in.

The leatherworker eyed Zarya suspiciously and said, "What about the other stone?"

Zarya bit her lip slightly, so subtle that only Flea seemed to notice her nervousness, and replied it was another shield. Despite Zarya's lie, the leatherworker threw up his hands and declared he wasn't going to help, no matter how much lambic was promised.

Roshan apologized and agreed. He looked at Flea and said, "You didn't mention the bracer was enchanted, Flynn… Only nobility are allowed to possess enchantments like that."

"Well, it was her father's bracer so maybe she's nobility," Flea countered. Privately, he wondered why Esen had never mentioned such a law to them when Zarya showed off the shield. Maybe Esen had presumed that Zarya was connected to some nobility or had forgotten to tell them the local laws.

"And if she was found wandering the cursed woods by you, then her and her family's clearly been deposed," the leatherworker replied. "I ain't getting involved in any illegal and or foreign affairs. Sorry but no. She can find some other fool to help her."

Roshan apologized to the leatherworker for wasting his time, promising him the barrel of lambic anyway for his troubles and asking him not to report Zarya to the barony. The leatherworker agreed to the bribe, saying he didn't want trouble from either the authorities or Zarya.

Roshan nodded and asked Zarya and Flea to come back to the wagon so they could go back to the brewery. On the way back, Roshan explained that the town was dealing with enough troubles ever since the runaway daughter of Baron Demir had humiliated her family with her stunt. Taxes had been raised and while no one was in any danger, there was a sense of keeping your head low and staying out of trouble as of late.

"I know you meant nothing by breaking the law, you didn't know," Roshan said. "I won't go reporting you but I'd advise you don't wave around that enchantment, especially around us. Umbria and I got our family to think about, you know? You're lucky I was able to bribe Drusus just now."

Flea took note of the leatherworker's name. He could see Zarya was pouting and being very unhappy about the situation. Voicing that he understood Roshan, Flea looked to Zarya and asked her if she understood. An awkward moment of silence passed before Zarya grumbled that she understood. After a brief hello and goodbye to Umbria, Zarya teleported away to the keep. Flea stuck around for a moment longer to reassure Roshan and Umbria that he'd make sure Zarya didn't cause any trouble before he also went back to the keep.

~o~O~o~

Back at the keep, Flea told Zarya that he'd go back and speak to Drusus again to talk some sense into him. He promised her that he wouldn't hurt or scare Drusus either, saying he could be very persuasive when he needed to be. Zarya looked thoughtfully at Flea. She really wanted this bracer made but it was clear that it was against the rules of the town so she wondered what Flea was going to do to change Drusus's mind.

Flea held out his hand and asked for the shield-bracer and her sword-stone so he could get Drusus to craft her the new bracer. Zarya, determined to get a new bracer, handed the stone and shield-bracer without further hesitation.

After getting the bracer and stone from Zarya, Flea teleported to his room first and looked at the two dresses Esen had gifted him. While he had kept dressing effeminately, he hadn't touched the dresses since Esen had left, feeling guilty for keeping them given the circumstances of Esen's departure.

If nobles were the only ones allowed to commission enchantments, then he'd look as noble as he could before using his magical talents to coerce Drusus to make a bracer for Zarya.

He shifted his appearance slightly to give himself a slightly more rosy hue to his skin and slightly more vibrant hair done up in a high braided ponytail before he changed his clothes and put on the other dress Esen had ever gifted him. Finally, Flea carefully applied the makeup as he looked in the handheld mirror, taking time to memorize his current appearance for future reference.

Adding the finishing touches to his eyeliner, Flea teleported to the forest's edge since he had to carry Zarya's belongings. From there, he teleported to the side of town where Drusus's shop was located. Flea was grateful the shop was on the edge of town and the road to the shop was empty so where would be no witnesses to his plan.

Using his magic to levitate so he would not drag his dress through the mud, Flea floated over to the shop and called out in a voice mimicking Esen's true voice, "Hello? Are you open?"

Drusus stepped out and eyed Flea suspiciously. Flea knew that the Daemon didn't recognize him, but obviously a strange woman appearing out of nowhere was something to be wary of. Flea smiled regardless of the Drusus's suspicion and floated over. This was an act that Flea had committed countless times before in the name of Ozzie's war efforts and in his own schemes to get what he wanted when simply lying wasn't enough.

Drawing upon his magic, Flea cast a charm spell as he gazed longingly into the Drusus's eyes. His voice had an ethereal quality to it as he spoke, asking the Daemon if he could help with a simple request. Showing Drusus Zarya's bracer, Flea smiled and asked if he was able to make an exact replica.

Enthralled by Flea's magic, Drusus nodded and told him that he could, except for the metal part. He assured the local smith could probably help with that task.

Flea smiled and said that it wouldn't be a problem. He continued to pour magic into the charm spell to sustain it as he asked once more for Drusus to make the bracer. Drusus nodded and promised he could get it done by late afternoon if he started right away. Flea beamed and thanked him, his voice lilting and praising.

Influenced by Flea's magic, Drusus set to work on the bracer. Under the thrall of the spell, Flea's request seemed harmless. After all, a lovely noble lady was asking for help, not the strange wild mage and her even stranger guardian from the forest.

Flea stood back and watched his work while continuing the charm spell. As he continued the spell, Flea felt a slight pang of guilt for manipulating Drusus. He knew what he was endangering Drusus by forcing him to make the bracer against his will, but Flea quickly argued to himself that he had to do whatever was necessary to help Zarya and make sure she wasn't the one that made a rash decision. She wasn't used to manipulating others, but Flea was an expert on the skill. Knowing this, Flea decided it was his job to play the criminal as he had once done ages ago and spare what innocence Zarya still possessed.

A few hours passed as Flea subtly manipulated the worker. The effort was draining on his magic and towards the end of the day, Flea worried he'd run out of magic and be left with an unfinished bracer and no way to properly escape. However, Drusus turned to him with a bracer nearly identical to the one Zarya said her father had crafted. The only part that was missing was the metal framework, but that would have to be another day.

Flea hid his exhaustion well as he thanked Drusus for his work before casting a sleep spell on the Daemon and teleporting away to the town's edge. From there, he slipped the two bracers on to carry them before he shifted to the form of a crow and flew back to the keep.

Arriving back at the keep, Flea felt beyond exhausted. He flew to his room where he managed to shift back to his preferred appearance with the bracers still on his forearms. Laying on the bed, Flea caught his breath. He didn't feel completely out of magic but he was exhausted. His body felt cold and heavy for several minutes before he found the energy to get up and remove the bracers. Deciding to hang onto the bracers until he could get the new one finished, Flea put them on the small table near his bed.

Then he went to seek Zarya so he could tell her it would be a day or so before the bracer was done, knowing it would take just as much magic and time to coerce the blacksmith the next day. Flea made his way to the kitchen and found Zarya preparing supper and singing to herself. He explained, omitting his methods, that the bracer would take a couple of days to make because he also needed to talk to the blacksmith but he promised he'd get the bracer made for her.

Zarya seemed satisfied with his story and thanked Flea for helping her.

The next day, early in the morning, Flea went to repeat the same song and dance with the blacksmith. When he arrived in his disguise, the blacksmith seemed apprehensive of him until Flea cast his charm spell. Flea showed the smith the original bracer and Zarya's enchanted stone, requesting that he create the metal fitting for the leather one he had Drusus craft. The blacksmith agreed, influenced by Flea's spell.

As the blackmith worked, it was clear he was a more gregarious individual than Drusus as he talked to Flea the whole time. He made mention that his apron and gloves had gone missing for a day or so before mysteriously reappearing in his locked shop the morning before. Flea knew full well the cause of the mystery but said nothing. As the blacksmith worked, Flea maintained his spell and kept an eye out for any possible witnesses. As it was with the leatherwork shop, the blacksmith's shop was on the far edge of town, presumably due to the danger of the forge so Flea had nothing to truly worry about.

Given the size of the fitting, it didn't take as long as Flea thought. It certainly helped that the blacksmith already had some iron ready for smithing. Even so, it took the entire day for Flea to get his request fulfilled.

Several hours later and nearly out of magic, Flea had a finished copy of Zarya's first bracer with the new stone fitted in its iron frame. As before, he thanked the blacksmith before casting a sleep spell on the Daemon so he could slip way unseen.

This time, traveling home took longer. Two days in a row of pushing his magic to its limits was taxing.

When Flea teleported to the forest's edge, he felt cold and there was a numbness to his fingertips. Carefully and slowly, Flea used just enough magic to shift out of his disguised appearance, but remained in his dress. Now the numbness was creeping up his arms and his legs felt weak. Knowing any further magic might make him powerless and unable to defend himself, Flea chose to slowly walk home the rest of the way so his magic could recover. It was practically nightfall by the time he reached the clearing and saw the keep beyond the trees. During this time, his magic had renewed but even then, Flea knew he wanted to take a break from sorcery for a day.

As he hoped he hadn't worried Zarya (and that she had kept out of trouble in his absence), Flea heard Yemoja call out to him. He looked to see her approach him from the edge of the clearing.

"Should I ask what you are doing out here?" Yemoja asked, sounding amused.

"Just getting some fresh air," Flea lied. Seeing Yemoja's silently judgemental expression, he sighed and said, "Zarya made a stone to summon her sword, but the locals wouldn't help make a bracer for her to carry it… I used sorcery to trick them into helping anyways."

"In what way?" Yemoja asked, approaching Flea and indicating he should follow her to the keep.

Flea hesitated answering. He felt both a bit ashamed that he had manipulated the two Daemon but also felt that it was their own fault for not just helping in the first place. Finally, he confessed that he knew a spell to charm people into doing what he wanted. He hadn't used it since being in the war, but he felt like he had no choice if Zarya was to get what she needed.

"I only told her that I could be very persuasive," Flea continued. "I'd rather she not know the truth. I don't want to teach her that kind of magic."

Yemoja nodded sagely. She agreed to keep Flea's secret, noting that she also wanted to preserve Zarya's innocence as much as she could. She remarked this was one of those rare occasions when a parent or guardian should shield the one they are guiding from a truth that will not help them.

Entering the keep, Flea slipped the bracers off his arms and called out to Zarya that he was back. Zarya emerged from the study. She immediately asked him why he was gone so long.

Flea sighed, tired from the day, and told her that the bracer had taken longer than expected. He apologized for taking so long as he offered her the bracers. Zarya accepted the bracers and smiled, thanking Flea for helping her. She then asked if he was hungry. Flea smiled weakly and nodded, realizing he hadn't eaten or drank anything all day.

Hopeful of her work, Zarya handed one of the stones to Flea and asked him to 'change back', so she could be sure the spell worked on an non-enchanted person. Flea frowned at the idea of assuming his true appearance but he knew it was necessary to ensure Zarya's efforts would work.

After shifting back to his original appearance, Flea asked Zarya for the next step. Zarya told him to rub the stone on his hand. Flea felt like such a step seemed too simple but he obliged. The familiar chilling sensation of his shapeshifting washed over him and Flea looked down to see his form seemed to be unchanged. Before he could say anything, Zarya handed him his mirror.

His dusty-rose hair was now reddish-black and his ears were rounded, just like a human's would be. Opening his mouth to examine his teeth, Flea noted the lack of fangs. His eyes were still a dark maroon color, perhaps dark brown in the right lighting. The stone, however, had kept him female in appearance.

"Change back the same way," Zarya declared.

Flea nodded and rubbed the stone again. The shadowy magic of his spell washed over him and he was back to his original form. He handed the stone back to Zarya and accepted a second stone she abruptly offered.

"This is so Yemi can be a Daemon too," Zarya explained.

Flea eyed the stone. He was skeptical that it would change his appearance much since he was already a Daemon but he had promised Zarya he'd give her experiment a try. As it was with the first stone, Flea felt the effects of his spell and it seemed as if he was unchanged. A quick check in the mirror showed a form similar to the human one but with dark crimson hair, pointed ears, and wine-red eyes.

After undoing the enchantment of the stone, Flea shifted back to his preferred appearance. He smiled at Zarya who was flapping her hands excitedly and bouncing in place.

"Feeling proud of yourself, huh?" he asked with a slight grin.

Zarya nodded affirmatively. Flea smiled but was quick to remind Zarya that they still needed to make sure the stones would work for Yemoja. Zarya nodded. Flea had a point but the fact the stones worked for him gave her hope.

~o~O~o~

Zarya could barely contain her excitement when Yemoja was able to visit. She wasted no time fetching the stones and bringing them to Yemoja. Before Yemoja could ask, Zarya explained the function of the stones, showing Yemoja the runes on each stone and practically shoving them into her hands.

"Just like Ylenia, Umbria and Flea," she declared proudly.

Yemoja smiled. Looking at the etched gemstones in her hands, she asked, "And if I want to be myself?"

"Rub the stone you used again," Zarya answered. "Off and on. Really easy."

Yemoja let out a breath. Her heart was racing with anticipation and fear as she looked at the blue stones in her hands. Zarya seemed confident that her efforts would work. Flea voiced that the stones had worked for him, but his assurances did little to ease Yemoja's nervousness. She held the stones in her hands for what felt like forever before she offered a silent prayer to the Great Fire and rubbed one of the gemstones between her finger and thumb.

She shivered as the magic took hold. It felt like she was standing in the middle of a winter night. Then, she felt a gentle breeze, but it was different. She felt a hand gently take hers into theirs and she opened her eyes to see Zarya beaming brightly.

"How does Yemi feel?" Zarya asked.

Looking down at her hands, Yemoja was speechless as she looked at the rich brown colored skin that replaced her white fur. Turning her arm slightly, Yemoja could see paler splotches on her skin that mirrored where the spots on her arms would be. She reached up to touch her own face. It was strange not to feel fur or whiskers. Even her ears felt foreign to her, now simple rounded ears like Zarya had once possessed.

Flea stepped forward and offered her his mirror. Yemoja cautiously took it into her hand and lifted up to see her face. Her eyes were still cyan-blue, but her face was the same color as her arms and dappled with more pale splotches that mirrored where her spots would be. Her hair was black, peppered and streaked snowy-white, still plaited in braids.

Yemoja let out a soft chuckle and lowered the mirror. She smiled and said, "It feels strange… Almost unreal."

The moment of truth. Yemoja closed her eyes and rubbed the rune on its surface once more to dispel the enchantment. She felt a the same cold sensation came over her and when Yemoja opened her eyes, she was back to her true self.

Yemoja nearly dropped the stones as Zarya leapt to hug her, proud that her efforts had worked and happy for Yemoja. Then she asked Yemoja to try the other stone. Yemoja found having pointed ears and being Daemon as strange as being human. The subtle difference of the Daemon form was that her hair and skin-tone had a cooler hue to them, but was otherwise identical.

Changing back to her true form once more, Yemoja thanked Zarya for the gifts. Zarya happily declared that Yemoja was welcome before remarking that they needed a way to carry the stones so Yemoja didn't drop them. Yemoja examined the small blue gems and smiled. She assured Zarya she might have a solution to the problem before handing them back and asking Zarya to keep them safe for the time being.

~o~O~o~

While Zarya waited for Yemoja's next visit, she turned her focus back on the original reason she had set out to learn enchantments. Now that she had figured out what it took to enchant a stone with a specific spell, she had a better idea of how to approach her problem of creating a sword summoning spell.

As it was with the shield enchantment, any attempt to draw the runes in the air caused the magic to disperse and the spell to fail. Zarya realized that it wasn't as simple as commanding the magic to 'make a sword' or summon the one she already owned. The rune for sword was too vague to work on its own.

Zarya knew she would have no choice but to use the stones that remained. She read through the handful of Melchior's books once more in search of a solution. Clearly there was something she had missed before.

It would be a couple weeks after Esen's departure when Zarya found a solution. After reading the books again, she found a paragraph on infusing metal with dreamstone to strengthen an enchantment on an object. She looked over at the small collection of dreamstones. Some were too small to use for enchantments on their own but maybe if she crushed them into a powder, the combined amount would be enough.

The next morning, Zarya set to work creating a forge. Flea emerged from his room to see her arranging stones in a pile and asked her what she was doing, noting they already had a hearth in the kitchen and fireplaces in their rooms.

"I'm making a forge," Zarya answered.

Flea eyed the pile of rocks and asked Zarya why she was making a forge. Zarya replied that it was for her sword and that she didn't want to bother the smith in town.

"Do you know anything about blacksmithing?" Flea asked, still skeptical of Zarya's actions.

Zarya nodded. She happily declared that her 'Papa Taban' and her mom knew about using a forge and that she had watched them use one from a safe distance before. She added that she had read 'Grandpa Mel's books' and that he was also a blacksmith so she trusted his advice.

"I feel like watching someone do something or reading about it is a bit different from actually doing it yourself," Flea remarked. "Your grandfathers and your mom have had years of experience…"

"Grandpa Mel is a family friend," Zarya declared in that tone that told Flea she was reciting a sentence taught to her.

"My point still stands," Flea retorted.

Zarya nodded, but continued in her task. She understood enough that a forge was basically a very hot fire that could melt metal. She didn't want the sword to melt but if she could heat it up the blade until it glowed, she could mix in some powdered dreamstone and infuse the metal with the stone's properties. Or at least that's what Melchior's book said.

Once the forge was created, Flea asked Zarya what her plan was. Zarya told Flea she was going to add dreamstone to the blade.

"Aren't you going to need blacksmithing tools, like a hammer or something?" Flea asked. He had no idea how blacksmithing worked beyond hitting hot metal with a hammer.

Zarya opened a bundle to reveal some tarnished blacksmithing tools before clarifying she found them in the ruins before Flea could question if she had 'borrowed' them from town. Flea watched as Zarya slipped on some leather gloves and apron. When he commented that he was surprised leather had lasted in the ruins, Zarya cheerfully declared she had borrowed those items from town.

"I'll return them when I'm done," she said reassuringly.

Flea thought to scold Zarya for 'borrowing' the local blacksmith's belongings but he knew this was his doing. He had been the one to tell her that stealing when needed was okay, so it was no wonder that Zarya had followed his example. So instead of lecturing Zarya about not stealing, he smirked and told her he'd remind her to return them later.

~o~O~o~

To Zarya's credit, she had made a decent forge. Having already engraved the runes into the blade, she heated the sword in the glowing embers and stones until it was white-hot. She took the mortar filled with powdered unrefined dreamstone and dusted the blade with the fine red dust. The dust melted and filled in the grooves of the etching Zarya had done to the blade.

As she focused on her goal of creating a stone that would summon her sword, Zarya focused on letting her own magic flow from her into the sword and into the refined dreamstone she held in her hand against the hilt. She wasn't sure what would happen, but she made it her current dream to make this enchantment, to make the gemstone summon her sword just like her father's shield. If she could invent an enchantment, she knew that she would open the Gate.

The stone began to feel warm, like sunshine on her skin during a hot summer's day. The stone and the blade began to glow, softly at first but it quickly became blinding. Flea and Zarya had to close their eyes to shield them from the light coming from the gemstone. When the light faded away, Flea was the first to open his eyes.

"Where did the sword go?" Flea asked. All he saw in Zarya's hand was the blue stone, etched with runes.

Zarya opened her eyes and stared at the blue stone in her hand. There was a warmth to the stone and she felt a sort of tingling sensation, not unlike the warm and tingling feeling of her dad's shield when she held her fingers just above the gem's surface.

Curious if she had succeeded, Zarya gave the stone a quick swipe as she would with her father's bracer. A trail of white fire and shadows that almost looked like a bird emerged from the stone and manifested the sword in her hand. It looked different from before, its blade was now more like the sabre that Esen used, yet its guard and hilt remained in the same style although it appeared the metal and fabric had changed in color. Zarya examined the sword closely and noticed the guard of the blade was now a white gold-like metal, embossed with stars whereas it had been previously been more brass-like and embossed with swallows. The hilt's grip was now more of a deep purple rather than a burgundy-red as well.

Flea jumped back as Zarya began bouncing in place and accidentally waving her sword around, overcome with joy that she had succeeded. Zarya swiped the stone again and the sword vanished into the trail of white fire and shadows which was drawn back into the stone. Resuming her bouncing and happy sounds, Zarya proudly declared, "I did it!"

Zarya repeated the words several times, elated that she had created such a special enchantment. Her joyous thoughts turned to Esen and how-

She stopped bouncing and gazed sadly at the gemstone. Flea noticed her expression had suddenly softened, looking almost pensive, and asked her what was wrong.

"Esen would've loved to see this…"

Flea sighed, sharing the somber mood with Zarya, and nodded. He smiled weakly and said, "Yeah… He would've loved this..."

Clearing his throat, he asked Zarya what she had planned next. Zarya looked at the stone in her hand. She didn't want to have it loose in her pockets or have to carry the stone in her hand to summon the blade. She knew she would need to make another bracer and voiced this to Flea who told her he had no idea how to make such a thing.

"Maybe Roshan?" Zarya asked.

Flea shook his head and replied, "His family makes beer and ciders… but maybe he knows who can help in town."

Zarya nodded. She took off the apron and gloves before declaring she was going to return the items and go ask Roshan for help. Before Flea could say anything, Zarya had already teleported away.

~o~O~o~

Flying over the forest as a crow towards the manor, Flea did not see or hear any sort of search party, which struck him as a bit unusual. He would have thought that Esen's father or brothers would have wanted to hunt Esen down at dawn's first light if not during the night.

Flea reached the manor and found a small number of armored Daemon waiting with wagons and carts at the gate. The flag was different from the insignia he had seen in the manor. He flew over the walls and to the opening in the roof for the the hearth's smoke to escape. Landing on the rafters of the main hall, Flea sat and watched as a Daemon in armor approached the throne. He was flanked by what Flea assumed to be bodyguards. Flea looked and saw standing in front of an empty throne was the Daemon that had dueled Esen.

From the rafters, Flea had a better look at the nobleman than he had from the tavern during the tournament. There was no doubt to Flea that this Daemon was Esen's kin. Esen's brother was dressed in a more luxurious version of the clothing that Esen would wear, his hair hidden by a silken head-wrap. He had the same lavender-blue skin and indigo eyes. His arms were crossed and he had the same piercing stare as-

Flea felt an uncomfortably jarring sense of realization. Even after five years, Flea could not forget that unsettlingly calm but intimidating demeanor that Slash had always carried. In hindsight, Flea realized that Esen had always had that same intensity and focus, but the familiarity hadn't clicked because Esen was so warm and kind towards him.

At least until Flea and Zarya had betrayed his trust and lost it forever.

Pushing past the ill-inducing feeling of this epiphany, Flea focused on the conversation going on below him.

"Where is your father?" asked the visiting Daemon.

"My apologies, Baron Ghazi, there was-" the Daemon in front of the throne began to speak.

"Answer the question, Shahin. I am short on patience and have no time for excuses," Baron Ghazi declared firmly. "I was expecting to speak to your father before taking Esma home as my wife."

"Esma is gone," Shahin answered. "She attacked my father and brother, leaving them seriously wounded. My father is currently unable to rule so he appointed me as regent for now."

"You expect me to believe your little sister, whom your parents claimed to be a delicate flower, bested your father and younger brother in combat?" Baron Ghazi asked, soundly incredulous yet eerily calm.

Shahin admitted it sounded like madness. He explained that a mysterious swordsman had come from the direction of Esma's room and while the guards and servants tended to his father and brother, he had hurried to his sister's room to see if she was safe. He found the room empty, her wardrobe thrown open. A hidden compartment found in the wardrobe held a whetstone, small vial of oil used for caring for swords and few other items, apparent evidence that Esma had led a secret life as the swordsman that had participated in local tournaments before stopping after being caught using wind magic.

"All signs point to Esma being the swordsman," Shahin concluded. "We will find her and bring her back, I swear to you."

"Your family's word is weak at best given the current circumstances," Baron Ghazi replied. "I need more than your word… and honestly? I can forge better alliances than this one. The agreement to marry your sister was between my father and yours… Given that my father fell in battle against the self-righteous humans of Guardia and yours may be on death's door from the sounds of it…. I feel no need to maintain any agreement with a family so weak and foolish they were deceived by a woman."

Shahin said nothing. Flea wondered what he was thinking, but if he had to guess, Esen's brother was embarrassed that the entire family, himself included, had been clueless about Esen's activities. Flea also wondered what this 'Baron Ghazi' was going to do. He didn't seem too concerned beyond being inconvenienced.

"Now… Since I have traveled all this way, I will be taking the dowery, bride or no bride," Baron Ghazi continued.

Flea didn't really want to stick around to learn about the politics or laws of the land, but now he was curious to see how Esen's brother would react to such a demand. When Shahin hesitated to agree, Baron Ghazi reminded him of the law; any failure to uphold a treaty resulted in hefty fines and nullification of any previous agreements.

"If I have to, I will seek arbitration or take what I am owed by force," Baron Ghazi declared. "However… you seem like a reasonable young man. I think we can both agree it would be wise for your family to hand over the dowery… Maybe then perhaps I will consider continuing to allow your family access to our ports."

Again, Shahin hesitated. Baron Ghazi asked him if he was the regent for the manor or not. Shahin nodded and cleared his throat before finally agreeing to Baron Ghazi's terms. He turned to the nearby guards and servants and instructed them to fetch the dowery from the treasury.

Flea could tell even from the rafters that Shahin was embarrassed and angry behind the polite facade he put forth to Baron Ghazi. Once the servants had returned with several chests no doubt containing a multitude of coins and jewelry and other items of great wealth that were meant to help start Esen's new life as Baron Ghazi's wife, Baron Ghazi gestured for some of his guards to take the chests and items from the servants.

"I will send more guards to retrieve the rest," Baron Ghazi said sternly as he turned and departed with the dowery that had been provided.

The main door shut with a heavy thud and now that he was no longer in Baron Ghazi's presence, Shahin tore off his headdress in a fury and threw it down. He cursed his family's ill-fated luck and let out a sigh as he stared angrily forward.

A guard cautiously asked if they were going to pursue Esma to which Shahin replied that there was no point. Either she was currently some beast's meal or she had gotten her selfish freedom and on the slim chance she was able to be retrieved and be brought back, Baron Ghazi no longer cared to take her as a bride. He concluded that there was no way his family was going to recover from the shame of what happened once the other families found out.

Flea, satisfied that there would be no search parties, departed and returned to the keep. He told Zarya what he had seen and heard. While he felt they were safe for now, Flea suggested they stay vigilant for a few days at least.

~o~O~o~

A day passed and no one came to the keep, much to Flea's relief. Eventually Flea went to the edge of the orchard to meet with Roshan and Umbria to pick up supplies. He put on his best acting face, knowing he would have to feign ignorance regarding what had transpired in the manor.

Seeing Roshan approach, Flea greeted him and asked how Umbria and their baby were doing. Roshan smiled and replied that they were well, adding that the baby was sleeping at the moment after keeping Umbria up all night.

"How's everything in the keep?" asked Roshan.

"Everything's fine… Is something wrong?" Flea asked. He asked partly because he could see a glint of worry in Roshan's eyes but also he was curious how much the town knew of what had happened.

Roshan crossed his arms and replied that there had apparently been an incident at the Baron's manor. A neighboring noble had come to the manor and was currently camped outside the gate, with some of the soldiers coming to town and throwing around their clout.

"Jeanette managed to find out a little bit from the visiting soldiers who came to the tavern for a drink," he said. "From what she heard, apparently Baron Demir had a daughter, which is news to the town because we never saw her when the family made its appearances, but in any case, she was to be wed to Baron Ghazi from the northwestern region. However, the daughter apparently fled the manor the night before he arrived and no one has found her yet."

"You didn't happen to get any visitors to the keep, did you?" he asked. "Or hear anything odd in the forest?"

Flea shook his head and assured Roshan that it had just been him and Zarya at the keep. He lied and promised that if anyone did come to the keep, he'd tell him and Umbria. He thanked Roshan for the supplies and told him that he would pass on any greetings to Zarya as well before he accepted the rucksack.

"Before I go, why aren't you more worried about this new noble?" asked Flea.

"Jeanette told me the soldiers are weary from fighting the humans from Guardia and would just like to go home," Roshan answered. "They only came this way because of the whole arranged marriage thing. She heard rumors that Baron Ghazi is a harsh but fair Daemon who intends to depart for home by dawn tomorrow so there shouldn't be any trouble."

Flea knew full well that this was true, but said nothing of witnessing the exchange between Shahin and Baron Ghazi. He nodded and wished Roshan well before teleporting away.

There, away from any possible eavesdroppers or prying eyes, Umbria told the altered truth about her heritage as Flea had suggested. She showed Roshan what she really looked like, saying she only could change her appearance a little bit to look more Daemon and apologized for lying.

To Umbria's surprise, Roshan accepted her despite her half-Therian heritage just as her father had accepted her mother despite the fact she was a Therian. Umbria was stunned and asked him why he accepted her despite being a half-blood Daemon. She asked him wasn't it true that the Daemon hated Beastfolk to which Roshan said that he had only ever heard rumors from his parents who heard rumors from their parents and so on, so what was the point in hating something he had never personally had a reason to hate.

He knew her and she clearly was nothing like the generations old rumors claimed. She was the love of his life and that's all that mattered.

Of course, just as it was with her mother and father, Roshan and Umbria kept the truth a secret from the rest of the town. Umbria looked Daemon and that was enough for everyone else not to pry into her past.

Despite that deep, dark secret, Umbria felt safe, happy and accepted. The townsfolk loved her singing and treated her kindly, a far cry from the ostracizing ways of the village.

Roshan told her he would marry her in a heartbeat but it took time to convince his family to bless such a thing.

And so, a few years after she moved to the town, Umbria and Roshan finally planned to be wed. Umbria went to the keep on her own to invite Flea and Zarya but also to ask Flea to pass on an invitation to her mother through Yemoja. She conceded to Flea she didn't expect any of them to come, especially her mother, but she held out a sliver of hope that her mom would attend in secret. Flea replied that he and Zarya would consider coming to at least congratulate them, but reminded Umbria of Zarya's issue with magical crowds and the general distrust the town had towards Zarya and him. Even as he made no promise that he or Zarya would attend, Flea promised to pass the message to Yemoja so she could tell Ylenia.

The blessed day came and it was the happiest day of Umbria's life. She had worked hard to make her own wedding dress with the help of Roshan's mother and Jeanette. Roshan and her were dressed the best they had ever been. Wearing a veil over her face, Umbria walked herself to the altar in the church since she had no family present.

The priest asked for them to repeat sacred vows as he gently wrapped a woolen cord around both their hands, binding them together as a symbol of their commitment to each other.

While Umbria gazed into Roshan's eyes the entire ceremony, before and after she glanced around to see if she could see any sign that her mother had come in secret. She did see Zarya and Flea when she and Roshan exited the church.

The two of them were away from the crowd. Umbria could see that Flea was still dressing effeminately and growing his hair out. Zarya was wearing her usual outfit as well as a white cloak clasped with a golden medallion with a star on it. When Umbria spied them, Flea nodded affirmatively and Zarya smiled before she waved at her and Roshan and teleported away. Flea stuck around for a moment longer before also teleporting away.

~o~

When she and Roshan returned to his home after the ceremony and feast, she spied a small, periwinkle colored bundle on the table. Within the soft cloth was a pendant made of a semi-clear white crystal and cedar-bark cord. Umbria recognized the stone as 'piatra soarelui', a special gemstone her mother had received from her father.

"I'm sorry for intruding unexpectedly," Esen sighed wearily. Suddenly, Esen remembered the beastfolk he had seen Flea fighting in the courtyard. He tried to sit up only for his heart to race and remind him to take things slow.

"Wait! There was- D-did I see you fighting some sort of beast?" he asked, suddenly remembering what he had seen as he entered the courtyard.

Flea, unsure of how to answer, stumbled over his words to try and excuse what Esen might've seen.

"Yemi is not a beast!" Zarya said with a pout. "Yemi is our friend."

Esen looked at Zarya with a perplexed expression and asked, "Yemi?"

"It's her special name for me. My name is Yemoja," Yemoja clarified, coming into view. "So, you are Esen. I've heard great things about you from Flea and Zarya."

Before Esen could say anything, Yemoja suggested that Zarya and Flea focus on helping him. Flea nodded. He looked at Esen and asked him if he felt like he could stand. Esen nodded shakily. With Zarya and Flea's help, Esen carefully stood up. Yemoja stayed back, her hands at her sides to show she was unarmed and had no intention of harming Esen. Esen leaned on Flea slightly, still feeling a bit uneasy.

"Flea, why is there a beastfolk here?" he asked, still out of breath and eyeing Yemoja with suspicion.

"It's a long story," Flea replied. "Come on, let's go to the kitchen and I'll explain."

~o~O~o~ Once Esen was seated, Flea told him he'd be right back. He went back out and told Yemoja it might be best if she left so he could try to explain things to Esen. When Yemoja asked Flea if he intended to tell Esen the truth, Flea sighed and confessed that he wasn't sure.

"It might be time for some of the truth if you've been evading it," Yemoja advised.

Flea nodded slightly and wished Yemoja safe travels before returning to the kitchen where Zarya was pouring Esen a cup of tea. Esen still looked haggard as he sat at the table. Flea sat down next to him and let out a small sigh.

"Look, I can explain why Yemoja was here but first, I have to ask again… Why did you come to the keep in the middle of the night?" Flea asked calmly. "What happened?"

Esen avoided Flea's gaze as he told his story; that not long after Flea had departed and he had changed back into his dress, his father barged into his room and assaulted him before declaring he was to be married off in the morning. Esen was strangely cold and detached as he spoke, calmly talking about attacking his father and brother before running away while his family dealt with the aftermath of his escape.

"Aren't you worried that you were followed?" Flea asked, trying to hint at the severity of Esen's actions.

"I ensured my father and my brothers could not pursue me," Esen replied firmly.

"Yeah but-" Flea began to speak, still worried about the vagueness of Esen's words.

"I took care of the matter," Esen asserted once more, a coldness to his voice that Flea had never heard from him before yet it pricked at the back of his mind as if he had heard it from someone else in the past.

"Besides which, I ran some distance through a creek to throw off the trail even if the guards manage to rally and use my father's hounds to hunt me down," Esen concluded.

Flea decided not to press for more information. He sat there, taking in Esen's tale before the young Daemon pointedly demanded that he explain the presence of a savage beastfolk, asking Flea if she was truly a friend and how long had he know her.

"Firstly, her people prefer the term 'Therian'… Secondly. Yemoja is the opposite of savage," Flea stated. "She's nothing like the rumors the townsfolk hold towards her kind. Her people are reclusive and fear us Daemon as much as our kind fears them. As for how and when we met…"

Flea did his best to explain how they met Yemoja, omitting the fact that their meeting had been motivated by time-travel and a quest to return to the future. He twisted the truth, giving Zarya a look to silently remind her not to correct his lie. Flea also chose to omit that it was also where Umbria was from.

"Yemoja's really kind, practically motherly," Flea said. "Zarya's very fond of her and she's been a very supportive friend to us."

"Why haven't I seen her before?" Esen demanded. "Why didn't you tell me about her?"

"She only visits at night after you've gone home… and we were afraid of how you might react since everyone seems to hate her kind," Flea answered. "I'm sorry."

Esen said nothing. He felt hurt that Flea and Zarya didn't trust him to keep a level head about their Therian friend. Yes, he was alarmed at first that Yemoja was present, but she made no move to attack him while he was hurt so Esen believed Flea's claim that she was no threat.

"Since I cannot return home, we should depart in the at dawn's first light," Esen declared, changing the subject. "I know I said I was fine with staying at the manor for a bit longer but now-"

"We can't leave," Flea blurted, cutting off Esen.

"Not now of course. I need to recover my magic and it's far too dark for safe travels," Esen replied, taken back by Flea's interruption. "But in the morning-"

Flea interrupted Esen again. "I meant Zarya and I need to stay here."

Esen stared at Flea, his mouth hung open briefly before he said, "What?"

"We can't leave the keep," Flea repeated.

Esen stared at Flea in disbelief, then shouted, "Why?! What could possibly keep you two here in this decrepit old keep?!"

Flea began to attempt an explanation. "I-Well… Zarya and I-"

Esen huffed and said, his voice raised, "Flea, I can fund our travel and we can get out of this place! Yemi or Yemoja, whatever her name is can come too, I suppose! Why don't you want to go with me and get out of here?"

Flea hesitated to answer. The real reason he and Zarya wouldn't leave the keep would sound insane. Flea knew, continued lies or the truth at last, Esen would be angry with him. The silence hung in the air as Esen glared at Flea and waited for an answer.

"We can't go because we're from the future," Zarya blurted out.

"The future," Esen repeated incredulously. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that?"

"It's true," Zarya asserted. "A Time Gate sent us here by accident. We're waiting for an eclipse so I can reopen the Gate."

"Do you think me a fool to believe something so farfetched?!" Esen snapped, a gust of wind from his magic aiding his quick ascent to a standing position. "What proof do you possess to convince me of such a tale?!"

Zarya said nothing. Any proof she had would reveal that she was once human. Esen, once a kind and patient friend, seemed very scary in this moment. She had never seen him angry before and she had no idea how to react beyond staying quiet.

"Esen, calm down," Flea said, moving to shield Zarya from Esen's growing fury. "Isn't our appearance or even our accents proof enough? You said it yourself once that you'd never met Daemon like us before."

Esen huffed. He practically snarled at Flea, "I did say that and you refused to answer the question! I lied to myself and ignored the signs you were hiding something from me."

"I'm sorry, but we-we never had any intention to leave the keep," Flea confessed. "We just didn't kn-"

Esen, already upset about the trauma he had suffered to reach the keep, became enraged. "If you two had no intention of traveling with me this entire time, why didn't you just say so?!"

Flea replied defensively, "You said it yourself that you were fine with staying here! You never brought it up again until now!"

"Because you let me assume that we'd travel the world together someday," Esen angrily lamented. "You led me on all these years! You know what the worse part is?! I truly believed that we were friends! That we had a future together! You used me!"

"We didn't-" Flea began to speak, only for Esen to punch him in the face and then push him with enough force to make him fall backwards over the chair behind him and crash to the floor.

"Enough!" Esen shouted. "I've had it with your lies!"

He raised his fist, ready to strike Flea again in a flash of rage, but he found himself held back. To his surprise, Zarya had teleported behind him and now held him back, her arms locked around his to prevent him from pummeling Flea. He struggled to free himself but Zarya's grip was steadfast. He had forgotten she was stronger than she looked.

"Stop it, Esen," she said firmly. "No hitting."

Flea was still on the floor, shielding himself in anticipation of being attacked and breathing heavily. Esen looked down at Flea's cowering form and scoffed. He muttered an assurance to Zarya that he wouldn't attack Flea and Zarya let him go.

"You can keep the dresses I gave you. I don't want them," Esen muttered. Without another word, he stormed out, quite literally as the winds conjured by both his need to exit quickly and to vent his anger. Once outside, the winds lessened and Esen sighed heavily and focused on trying to calm his heart before he passed out again. He could hear Zarya fussing over Flea and Flea promising her that he was okay. Esen scoffed and walked over to his rucksack which laid in the middle of the courtyard. He would leave now before he could endure anymore of Flea and Zarya's lies.

"They truly and honestly regard you as a close friend."

Esen looked to see Yemoja standing across the courtyard, near the postern. Yemoja made no move towards Esen, only gazing sadly at him. She spoke softly, a warmth to her voice that Esen had only ever heard from Zarya.

"I know they withheld their reasons for staying here, but they honestly see you as a friend," she said. "Zarya would talk about how patient and intelligent you were and Flea spoke fondly of you as someone who helped him realize a part of himself he hadn't realize existed until he met someone like you."

Esen said nothing as Yemoja continued to speak, suggesting that he stay the night in spite of recent events or how he might feel about Flea and Zarya.

"Why should I listen to a beast like you?" Esen growled.

"For one, you still look to be in poor health," Yemoja noted. "And the woods hold Dorokui that would prey upon you in your current state."

Esen glared slightly at Yemoja, but the magical winds around him lessened more. He knew Yemoja was right. He felt ill and he was in no shape to fight anyone or anything. As much as he wanted to depart immediately and never see Flea or Zarya again, it would be wiser to stay the night and rest.

Yemoja urged him once more to consider spending the night at the keep to rest, adding that she would be departing back to her home shortly so he had no need to worry about her presence if that was the reason he didn't want to stay.

"I will not tell you to forgive Flea or Zarya but please give them a chance to explain themselves," she concluded as she walked the perimeter of the courtyard to the kitchen door and entered the building. Esen could hear Flea reassuring her and Zarya that he was okay. Moments later, she came back out, bowed slightly to Esen and made her way back to the postern and departed.

Esen stood by and watched as Yemoja departed before he picked up his belongings. The door creaked open behind him. Spying Flea out of the corner of his eye, he coldly said, "Your friend said I should stay the night. If I wasn't nearly out of magic, I would honestly disregard her advice."

"I'm sorry, Esen," Flea said as sincerely as he could. "You-You can have my room. I'll just sleep in the storeroom or the kitchen…"

A moment passed between the two of them before Flea sighed and said, "I should have told you the truth sooner… about everything."

Esen scoffed. After a moment, he looked at Flea, eyes glistening with restrained emotion. "Was anything you told me true?"

"Some of it… I really am from South Zenan and I was born a girl just like you," Flea replied. "But I was afraid to tell you the whole truth about being from the future and Zarya followed my lead. Please don't hate her for my mistakes."

"You obviously told truth to that beastfolk you're both fond of," Esen snapped, turning to face Flea. "Didn't you trust me as well?"

Flea let out a heavy sigh and said, "I do trust you, Esen… It's just- You have to understand, we have no physical proof we're from the future besides who we are. I've been scared that we'd change history. Zarya only told Yemoja because she didn't know any better back then. Since then, we've tried our best to avoid interacting with the world so we don't affect our lives back in our times."

"But you meddled in mine, used me to teach Zarya how to use a sword…. let me gift you things when you had every intention of abandoning me," Esen argued back.

"Would you have still helped us if we told you the truth?" Flea asked softly.

Esen's expression softened, his anger giving way to betrayed sorrow. "You never gave me that chance."

Flea looked down, let out a breath, and murmured that his room was the door to the left up the stairs. He quietly watched Esen walked up the stone stairs and into the halls leading to the bedrooms. A moment later, Zarya stepped out and meekly stated that Esen was mad.

"Maybe he'll calm down by the morning, but I really messed up here," Flea said, taking all of the blame. "I'm not sure if Esen's going to ever forgive us."

Zarya frowned. She really did like Esen and maybe they should have told him the truth earlier, but she understood that the damage had been done. All they could do now was wait and hope Esen would forgive them. As Zarya stood there, Flea told her that he was going to shapeshift to something that could sleep on the floor and bid her goodnight before teleporting away, presumably to the study or the kitchen. Zarya stood in the courtyard for a brief moment more before going to her own room. She knew that Flea was right that Esen needed some space alone for the night to calm down. She'd be sure to get up early and make him some breakfast to help him feel better.

~o~O~o~

Esen woke up in the predawn hours. He looked out the window to see the faint gray of the night fading away, but a few stars remained. His magic felt renewed and he had slept decently despite the stress of the night before. Still, his anger towards Flea and Zarya had not fully abated. He still felt used and betrayed by their deception. Years of friendship built upon lies… and now they had the audacity to excuse their disinterest in him with an absurd tale of time travel they had no proof of?

His life as Esma was over… and his life as Esen could no longer involve Flea and Zarya. Even if they had changed their minds and wanted to leave with him, Esen no longer wanted them. Quietly, Esen got out of bed and put on his boots. Then, he tied his sword to his belt and affixed his buckler to his arm before he picked up his rucksack and headed for the door. He opened the door to see Zarya standing in front of the door with a tray of food. She gazed at him solemnly and murmured a good morning, adding that she had made him breakfast before offering a plate of eggs, toasted bread and a sliced apple with a cup of tea.

Esen took the food from Zarya and closed the door. Zarya frowned and walked over to the stairs and sat down. She wanted to talk to Esen and apologize more for upsetting him, but Flea told her that sometimes it took a long time for someone to forgive others. She started humming to herself, a calm song her father had taught her.

Several minutes later, the door creaked open. Zarya stopped humming and stood up, turning to face Esen, she asked him to stay. She apologized for not telling him about being from the future, explaining that she had arrived with very few belongings after a magical accident when she was younger. She admitted that she couldn't prove her story at the moment, but she did know there would be an eclipse coming in the near future that would help her reopen the portal that brought her to this time.

"I still don't believe you," Esen replied tersely. "You lied this entire time about your pasts and led me on, why should I believe anything you tell me now?"

Zarya frowned. Esen had a good point, but she felt like she and Flea hadn't lied about everything, just some things that didn't seem like it would hurt to lie about. They had never meant to hurt Esen, but he had been wounded deeply by their dishonesty.

Esen huffed, taking Zarya's silence as acceptance of his words, and said, "As far as your plea for me to remain here, I've already made up my mind and I'm leaving now."

"Before you say goodbye… Can I give you more food? Please?" Zarya pleaded.

Esen sighed, knowing he had no food packed in his rucksack and he knew nothing of foraging or hunting. Begrudgingly, he agreed to stock his bag before he departed.

"I only need provisions for a few days," Esen stated, following Zarya into the kitchen. "The next nearest town is only a couple days away."

Nodding in understanding, Zarya quickly gathered enough bread, cheese, apples and some roasted nuts to give Esen some food for a few days onto a cloth which she carefully tied into a bundle. She also grabbed a waterskin that Flea had stolen ages ago when they had first journeyed in search of humans and filled it with water.

"Thank you for being patient with me," Zarya said, handing the bundle and waterskin to Esen. "And teaching me swordplay. I really had fun."

Esen wordlessly took the bundle and waterskin and put them in the rucksack. Zarya sounded sincere yet Esen still doubted her. He remembered Yemoja's words, wondering if they were also a convenient lie. He expected Zarya to beg him more to stay but instead, she suggested he tell Flea goodbye.

"Thank you for helping Flea be happy," Zarya added. "Goodbye, Esen. Until next time?"

Esen frowned. He wanted to hate Flea and Zarya, hurt them by leaving without a word, but Zarya had prevented that with her last act of kindness. Instead of hatred, all he could find now in his heart was a sense of mourning.

"Zarya…. These years of teaching you were wonderful and helping Flea embrace himself brought me joy as well, but now that joy is tainted by the knowledge you and Flea lied to me about your intentions from the very beginning… I cannot trust either of you anymore," Esen said calmly. "Farewell."

The gray of predawn was fading fast as the stars vanished and the glow of morning filled the sky. Without another word, Esen left the kitchen and walked through the postern and out of the keep. Zarya stood there in the doorway of the kitchen, wondering if she should find Flea and wake him up or not so he could tell Esen goodbye.

~o~O~o~

One evening in early autumn, after Flea had left and Esen had gone through the routine of hiding his gear and cleaning up, the young noble stood in front of the mirror to finish adjusting his wimple when his bedroom door swung violently open. Esen froze, seeing his father behind him in the reflection of his mirror. The fact that he had nearly been caught dressed as the swordsman his father still sought to 'make an example of' was not lost on him.

“Feeling weak again, Esma?” Baron Demir asked derisively.

Esen turned to face his father. Before he could answer his father's question, his father slapped him across the face with enough force to make him stagger. As Esen held his cheek and stared at him father wide-eyed and speechless, Baron Demir declared, “That useless Naga tells me that yet again you claimed to be feeling too ill to attend supper and needed bed-rest. Yet here I see you standing perfectly fine and gazing into the mirror like a vain harlot.”

"I was-" Esen began to speak only to be pulled violently away from the mirror and thrown against his bed where he fell to the floor.

"Clearly you're faking this weak heart if you are able to stand," he snarled. "Get up."

Esen tried to move slowly as to not aggravate his heart which was pounding erratically with fear, but his father had no patience for caution. Esen found himself violently pulled to his feet as his father bellowed at him to stand. Breaking out in a cold sweat, Esen fought against the urge to faint, but could feel his heart pounding and his consciousness slipping.

"Pathetic. Maybe you are weak after all. You can just stay in here in your room until your fiance arrives tomorrow at dawn and I can finally be rid of you," Demir growled, pushing Esen away.

Muttering to himself, Demir turned and slammed the door shut behind him as Esen managed to collapse onto the bed before he passed out.

~o~

When he regained consciousness, Esen didn't dare move for fear that his father had returned. After several moments of silence, Esen found the courage to get up. Cautiously, using his magic to help, Esen sat up and saw that he was alone. Looking out the window, he saw it was getting dark outside. Carefully, he stood up and walked over to the mirror to see a visible slap mark and bruising on his cheek. Knowing his father was serious about sending him away, Esen decided that he couldn't stay at the manor any longer.

"Guess my time as Lady Esma is over," he murmured.

Esen took his sword and buckler out of their hiding place. He had gone over the plan a million times in his mind with varying factors considered. Most of them involved sneaking off in the middle of the night after raiding the pantry, but he knew it would be too risky.

After changing back to his swordsman clothes, Esen packed his bucklers and a second change of men's clothes he had hidden away and his jewelry into a rucksack, making sure to grab the coin he had earned in tournaments as well. Next, he secured his scabbard to his belt. After slinging his rucksack over his shoulder, Esen walked over to the door and took a deep breath.

There was no going back once things were set in motion. Strengthening his resolve, Esen pulled his scarf around his face to hide it and reached for the door handle. Upon opening the door, Esen used his magic to hurry down the corridor to the main hall of the manor. If he could just get to the main doors and out into the courtyard, Esen would be able to get to the gatehouse and escape without much trouble, but the trouble would be evading his family as he could not be certain that they had retired for the evening until he got to the hall.

Rounding the corner, Esen found himself face to face with his father and two older brothers. The moment of silence was brief, but felt like it lasted ages.

"Intruder!" Baron Demir finally shouted, drawing his sword. "Guards!"

While he seemed to possess no outward skill in the arcane, Esen could turn his innate sorcery outward and conjure strong winds instead of enhancing his speed and agility. Creating a gust of wind, he pushed his father and brothers back. Esen felt a renewed surge of rage towards his father for all the abuse and neglect he had suffered. He would ensure his family could not follow him in his escape.

In the small window of safety he created with his winds, Esen rushed forward, unsheathing his sword and swung the blade, cutting into his father's arm before stepping forward and grabbing the surprised Daemon by his tunic. In another burst of wind magic, Esen turned and threw his father into the wall where Baron Demir slammed with enough force that he fell and lay limp against the stone wall.

While the older of his two brothers stayed back, Esen's second eldest brother sought to attack him and avenge his father. Esen parried his strike and sliced him across the leg before summoning another gust of wind to knock him into his other brother.

Pushing his magic to its limits, Esen ran past his brothers before they could react. He hurried down the hall, then down the stairs through the manor to the front door. Servants who were attending to their duties stayed back, too fearful or weak to do anything. Any guards that did approach Esen were too slow to evade his blade. Esen struck a few, but didn't linger to see if the blows had been fatal.

Exiting the manor and seeing the gates were closed, Esen made a break for the guardhouse and ran in, pushing the startled gatekeepers out of the way so he could run up the stairs to the watchtower. At the top, Esen used another burst of magic to land safely on the other side.

Esen’s chest felt like it was on fire as he ran through the vineyard and into the wheat fields. Past the wheat, Esen reached the fallow fields that bordered the forest. He kept running, pushing his magic to keep him going against the cries of his heart to take it easy.

Deep into the forest, he found a small and shallow river. He ran straight into it, hoping to hide his trail from any pursuers, although he had not heard any hounds at his back nor anyone call to chase him down.