Chapter 16

After seeing their father and grandfather reduced to mere disembodied spirits, the Celestial Beasts fled in terror, scattering to the far corners of the universe. Balvor wept for her Rhuknor and Graymor, crying out with a mighty roar of anguish that shook the heavens. Graymor’s spirit vanished into the ether, but Rhuknor still retained some cognition on the physical plane. He gathered the survivors of the battle together, explaining that it was too dangerous for Primordial Dragons to remain in a universe that was too fragile for their presence. He declared that the affairs of the mortal realm should be left up to mortals to solve, and that the human race was now free to chart their own destiny in the universe. Balvor, bereft of her father and her mate, begged Rhuknor to turn her into a spirit as well so that she could at least join Graymor in his anguish and perhaps give him comfort. Rhuknor hesitantly agreed, and Balvor vanished, no longer a presence on the corporeal plane. As his consciousness faded from the physical plane, Rhuknor bequeathed the Orb of Destiny to Maranu with one stipulation. Maranu must never use the Orb for any reason whatsoever, or risk destroying himself and the universe. Furthermore, he must never use his powers as an Elemental for personal gain. The power of Elemency, Rhuknor explained, was meant to serve the people of Tarrus and ensure their survival, nothing more. Maranu took up the Orb, promising to hide it away where no one could ever misuse its power. And thus, humanity survived its second battle with a Primordial Dragon, but only barely.

“So all this time ... you were the Empress!” Torsha said in amazement.

“Technically not. Just the daughter of the late Emperor Hamashe. I was never officially sworn into office,” replied Éclair, slightly embarrassed.

The young Werewolf’s mouth hung open in astonishment. “And to think, I was kind of a jerk to you when we first met. If I treated you that way while you were still the Empress, I could’ve been beheaded or something.”

Éclair giggled. “We were both kind of jerks to each other, so I’ll forestall the capital punishment for now.”

“Who all knew about this?”

“Pretty much everyone on the team,” said Rachel, sounding a bit snarky.

Torsha growled slightly. “Why didn’t anybody think to tell me?”

“Because you weren’t officially a member of Squad 99. We couldn’t risk something like this getting out. You have any idea the trouble Chissler would cause if he knew the Fire Ministry was harboring the greatest political threat to his regime? Civil war would be the least of it.”

Torsha turned away and crossed her arms, her posture one of hurt.

Éclair rubbed Torsha’s shoulder. “Torsha, dear. I’m sorry no one told you. It’s not that we didn’t trust you, it’s just that the less people knew, the safer we all would be. If it means anything, I only recently confided in Ryan. Plus, no one ever told Kormal or Mozar. Although, given their apparent close ties to both Saria and my Godfather, I think they already knew.”

Torsha sighed and smiled at Éclair as she rubbed her wrist. “I get it, alright. And the fact that I’m here now ... well, maybe you can all start thinking about me more as part of the team too.”

Éclair took Torsha’s furry hand and squeezed it tenderly. “We already think of you as part of the team. You’re a member of this family whether you like it or not.”

As Torsha smiled brightly, Tork came up from behind looking pouty. “If it’s any consolation, my dear, no one bothered telling me when I first joined the Grim Team.”

Éclair wrinkled her nose. “I’m pretty sure Grafy told you.”

Tork cleared his throat. “Well, it was still not forthcoming in the beginning.”

As quiet chitchat and uncertain murmuring littered the room, Éclair noticed that Zand, Saria, Eramar, Hannah, and Kormal seemed to have reached a consensus as they nodded to each other. There seemed to be a familiarity among them that Éclair once ascribed only to her own teammates. What could these older Psionic Users have gone through to make them such a tightknit group? When Zand noticed her watching, he dismissed himself to come over and give Éclair another warm hug. She had to admit, she wouldn’t tire of getting hugs from her Godfather anytime soon. It almost felt like being an innocent child again, content in the protection of her guardian.

“You’re sure it’s alright if we begin now? I want you to be able to enjoy your friends on your birthday. Times are changing so that such enjoyments might become a luxury, so you should take every opportunity to relax with those you love when you can.”

Éclair shook her head and smiled up at Zand. “No. I can tell from the look on Saria’s face that something dire has happened. I know you wouldn’t show yourself to the whole squad unless it was absolutely necessary.”

Zand smiled as he combed a hand through Éclair’s hair. “I had originally intended to come to your birthday party discreetly and erase the memories of your teammates, but as the situation stands, it’s better that they be brought into the loop.”

Before Éclair could say anything more, she heard some loud stumbling outside. Then Ryan came bursting through the door breathing heavily. Éclair nearly ran to hug him out of instinct, but held herself back for two reasons. One, she was still quite cross that he had missed their birthday party. Two, she didn’t want to hurt Leon. Speaking of Leon, all conversations stopped as Leon and Ryan shared a strange look filled with tension. Then Ryan pointedly locked gazes with Éclair, and for a moment, she was transported back to that time and place when those red eyes had enraptured her completely. She tried to maintain her disapproving scowl as he approached, but it was difficult with him looking at her so tenderly.

Ryan approached and nodded at Zand, showing a certain familiarity that wasn’t there the last time Éclair saw the two together. This only confirmed to Éclair that Ryan was indeed taking secret lessons with Zand, something else that irritated her. Ryan smiled nervously, his hands going to his shirt. Éclair tried not to react when she saw him wearing the Dragon necklace she got for him, but her heart went aflutter all the same.

“I ... I got your present. Thank you.”

“You are welcome,” said Éclair, pursing her lips into a neutral expression. “Although, I was hoping to give it to you in person. You’ve been gone so much, everyone’s starting to take you for a hermit.”

Ryan chuckled. “Yeah, sorry about that. I ... I meant to come to the party, but I got held up.”

Éclair couldn’t help but notice Leon in her peripheral vision, but she refused to take her gaze from Ryan if for nothing else than to express her continued annoyance for his carelessness. “The party wasn’t just for us, but for the team. Ryan, we are a team, and that means we need to maintain our ties to each other ... even when things get difficult.”

Ryan nodded, his face going serious. It reminded her of how they would reach a resolution during the countless conversations they shared on Black Star. “You’re right. I’ve been busy, true. But everyone’s been busy. I’ll work harder to stay in touch with everybody.”

Ryan suddenly brought up something from his pocket, and Éclair tried not to gasp as her eyes went wide. It was an exquisite white crystal figurine of a swan, elegantly crafted by hand. Éclair used to collect animal figurines as a child, and swans were by far her favorite.

“Sorry I didn’t wrap it up in a nice box like you did with my present, but you know how hopeless I am when it comes to arts and crafts. I thought about putting it in a gift bag, but that felt too impersonal. Anyway, this reminded me of you ... because of your ice and the designs on your bow. I wanted to give it to you at the party. But ... you know...”

When Éclair just stood there stupidly staring at the beautiful gift, Ryan took her hand and enclosed her fingers around it. He shared a strange look with her Godfather, and then he was gone before she had the chance to react. As Éclair watched Ryan leave, she caught Leon studying her, and she had to lower her gaze.

How long? she thought to herself as she fingered Ryan’s present. How long will you keep torturing yourself and Leon with this ... this rampant infatuation? How long until you finally accept things as they are?

Ryan was soon swept up as the other attendees (Leon excluded) surrounded him. He was bombarded with well-meaning hugs and handshakes, already laughing and joking with everybody. Ryan was always like that. People just seemed to light up whenever he was around. Given how long it had been since they had all been together, Éclair could understand why everyone was anxious to see him.

Zand chuckled a bit as Ryan was up to his usual silly antics, already in a sort of arm-wrestling match with Grafael as they shook hands. “He reminds me of a dear old friend of mine. I remember that things always seemed brighter whenever he was around.”

The nostalgic look on Zand’s face almost prompted Éclair to ask about his old friend, but instead she asked, “You’ve been teaching Ryan in secret, haven’t you?”

Zand patted Éclair’s hand, smiling in that fond manner of his. Before he could answer, something seemed to catch his attention as he looked past her. Éclair followed his gaze as three newcomers came walking through the door. She wasn’t too surprised to see Thisy, but she was surprised to see Dr. Lanchester, Rachel’s father.

Andrew Lanchester was a pudgy man. Not overly fat, but definitely out of shape. He had a mop of messy black hair and a stubbled chin. He wore a white lab coat over a green shirt and green pants. Holographic images of green light danced across his glasses, and he always seemed to be working on a datapad wherever he went. His assistant droids buzzed around him as usual, chirping cheerfully. Éclair liked the man well enough, but he was a Pureskin, and one in the employ of the Tarrus Government, making him a possible spy for Chissler. Still, espionage seemed out of the paygrade for a man as benign as Andrew Lanchester.

“Dad!” exclaimed Rachel. “What the heck are you doing here at our super-secret, clandestine meeting with the fugitive Prime Minister?”

Ryan whistled and muttered, “And they say I have impulse control issues.”

Zand stepped forward between Rachel and her father. “He came at my request. Dr. Lanchester is an old acquaintance of mine, and a longtime sympathizer of the Ministries and the old regime of Tarrus which Chissler deposed.”

Rachel gawked at Zand and her father. “Dad, you work for an Anti-Ministry Government, but you’re a Ministry sympathizer?”

Dr. Lanchester gave that giddy little laugh of his as he bounded up to clasp Rachel’s hand. “Is that really so surprising, Little Bunny? I did marry an Elemental, after all. There are actually a lot of Pureskins in the government like me who feel that Chissler isn’t acting in the best interests of the Empire. His distrust of Elementals and the Monastery, our greatest military assets, borders on zealotry. They don’t speak out because Chissler has the media in his pocket and can ruin their reputations and livelihoods with a single call. But thanks to certain trends set into motion by you and your team, we can extrapolate that the day is coming when the pendulum will swing the other way. It’s already starting, as my good friend, Zanderius, will elaborate upon in this meeting.”

Rachel jerked back in surprise. “Good friend? You and the Prime Minister?”

“I should’ve guessed as much,” said Saria suddenly, sounding slightly peeved. “Zanderius was always fascinated by your work combining Elemency with conventional science. The two of you were as thick as thieves before he was branded a traitor by Chissler.” Saria directed a cold glare Zand’s way. “Still, would’ve been nice if someone had informed me, then I might not have assumed that my son-in-law was willingly working for a totalitarian.”

Zand just laughed nervously at Saria’s disapproval.

Rachel eyed her father suspiciously. “Just what have you been cooking up with the most powerful Elemental in the universe?”

Dr. Lanchester giggled, and his droids seemed to giggle with him. “Well, there is a project in the works. Many projects, actually, but one in particular that will be nothing less than earth-shattering when Zanderius and I unveil it at-”

A big, brown hand suddenly clapped Dr. Lanchester on the back, and the pudgy, little man yelped a bit in surprise. Thisimius gave Rachel and Dr. Lanchester an apologetic, if toothy, grin.

“Sorry to reign ya in, doc, but we best be keepin’ that little tidbit to ourselves until we ken if it’ll work or not. Besides that, we gotta finish that other project for Kormal first.”

Dr. Lanchester nodded enthusiastically. “Oh, yes! That reminds me. Master Sage, our findings for the experiment have been most illuminating. With the permission of you and your daughter, we would like to begin trial runs.”

Éclair’s attention was drawn to Kormal, whose black eyes seemed to be bubbling with emotion as he said, “On behalf of me and my beloved, permission granted ... and most thankfully so.”

Before Éclair could ask what was going on there, she noticed the third newcomer still standing at the threshold of the door. Zand seemed to notice too as he stepped up carefully. Mozar had yet to enter, instead watching the goings-on with that peculiar, somewhat threatening air of his. Torsha seemed to take particular interest as her ears perked in his direction.

Zanderius stepped in front of Mozar, and Éclair felt a palpable tension in the room as they regarded one another. Zand was all tranquillity as always, but Mozar almost seemed hostile as he glared at Zand with those golden-brown eyes, his claws carefully hidden within his cloak.

“Thank you for coming, my friend,” Zand said quietly.

“This one has no friends,” said Mozar in that growling voice of his. “You least of all. You lost that right the day that this one left this accursed Ministry behind.”

“And yet, despite your vehemence for me, you still came at my invitation. Though you will deny it, this gives me hope that we might make amends.”

Mozar growled as he lifted his chin. “This one is here for his own reasons. Nothing more. Some of the most powerful beings in the universe are gathered in this room. A bounty hunter should keep apprised of such potentially lucrative marks.”

Zand chuckled good-naturedly, his cool impossible to shake. “Of course, Mozar. Of course.”

Mozar cast a brief glance in Torsha’s direction as he heatedly stalked in. Zand moved to a podium in front of a row of chairs. One by one, people started taking their seats, prompting Éclair to follow suit. As she took her seat between Rachel and Leon, she noted that Ryan took a chair on the opposite side of the room. She carefully stashed his gift in her pocket, hoping Leon wouldn’t notice.

As she observed the attendees, she realized that Mozar wasn’t wrong in his comment. Some of the most influential figures in the Empire were indeed present. Saria Kaves, the Minister of Fire herself. Eramar Razor, a High Wielder from the Fire Council. Kormal, a powerful telepathic Sage. Hannah Lioness, High Priestess of the Monastery of Light. Thisimius, the most revered blacksmith on the planet. Dr. Lanchester, a prominent military scientist. Mozar, the most notorious bounty hunter in the universe. Zanderius Alastar, the Prime Minister of Elemency, hunted by the government for a supposed conspiracy against the crown. And, of course, the members of Squad 99, each having attained notoriety over the past three years given all the high-profile missions under their belt. And out of the infamous Grim Team, at least two Children of Destiny said to put their stamp on the universe. Éclair had to admit, that last part didn’t exactly thrill her.

I’m glad we’re doing this in the Council Chamber. The security systems guarding this room are on par with those in the Fire Minister’s office. If Chissler knew about the minds gathered here, he’d probably declare war against the Fire Ministry itself.

Éclair’s Godfather rested his hands upon the metallic podium as he looked about the room. He appeared like a scholarly professor about to give a lecture, and indeed, Éclair always had that image of him since early childhood.

Zand smiled in that grandfatherly manner of his as he said, “Good evening, my friends. Before we begin, there are two more guests that wish to attend.” Zand then turned his attention to Kormal. “With your permission, my friend. Kevla did ask.”

Éclair and a few others looked to Kormal in puzzlement as the Sage gave a reluctant nod. “Granted. You have chosen to trust these children with your secrets. I shall do the same. The veil over their memories regarding Kevla will be lifted.”

Éclair was just about to ask who Kevla was when a rush of images flooded into her. She ... she remembered. She remembered meeting the Sage girl on the Fallen’s ship. Kevla ... Kevla, the tragic, disembodied girl who had stowed away in Ryan’s psyche. Kevla, Kormal’s daughter. She had been invaluable during the attack on Galsin. It wasn’t a stretch to say that everyone on Squad 99 would be dead now if not for Kevla. Éclair flinched back in her seat. Judging from the similar reactions of many of the other members of Squad 99, most of them were having the same experience. Only Leon, Mozar, and Ryan showed no reaction.

Then Kevla was there. Somehow, she was there. She appeared to stand in the center of the aisle between two rows of seats. She was so close that Éclair could reach out and touch her.

Kevla appeared slightly older now than when Éclair first saw her. She was a small adolescent girl with long dreadlocks and gray skin. Like her father, she had two slits instead of a nose, and small holes on the side of her head instead of ears. Her forehead was slightly larger than a normal human’s, and her large eyes were pupilless and completely black. She wore a simple black sequin slip interlaced with sparkling white crystals that reflected the light. Since this was no doubt a telepathic projection, the illusionary effect of light refraction on her dress was all the more fascinating for Éclair.

Kevla gave a girlish curtsy, smiling brightly. “Hi, everyone. I feel like I know you all so well as I’ve watched you all from within my father’s psyche, but I’m afraid you might not know me that well. At least, not all of you.”

“Whether they know you or not, they should be grateful,” said Ryan with a surprising lack of irony. “You’ve saved all of us on more than one occasion. We owe you our lives.”

Kevla nodded briefly in Ryan’s direction before turning away. Éclair could’ve sworn that the little Sage girl was blushing.

As Kevla passed her by, Éclair instinctively reached out to touch her. Her hand passed right through Kevla’s arm as if she were a ghost. Kevla seemed to sense the act as she stopped to stare at Éclair.