I often found myself sitting on the side lines as the others around me went about their lives. A silent observer.


    Amelia told me I’m too stoic and need to lighten up. Well, what she had actually told me was to take the stick out of my ass. But I found it easier to lead by removing myself from the others. I took my position of Team Leader very seriously, and I know Mr. Pendragon would want me to. I found myself in a predicament, looking at the group of them sharing stories and enjoying their food in the mess hall. As usual, I sat by myself, going over the inventory numbers of our supplies and gear. I also liked to plot out our next missions and training sessions. I normally didn''t take my meals in the mess hall, but something had changed that drew my attention.


    “Hey, why are you sitting by yourself?” Kalysta sat down beside me with a salad and I flinched.


    “You startled me.” I grasped desperately at my composure and stoic nature, but it seemed to be in short supply around her.


    “I noticed.” She hardly missed a beat. “So are you gonna tell me why you’re sitting over here all by yourself when your whole team is over there chatting up a storm?”


    “I’m...doing paperwork.” I said plainly. I had hoped if I continued to stare at my lists and numbers that she would go away. I couldn''t risk distractions...


    She grabbed my chin and pulled my head up. Her eyes, like large emeralds, bore into my soul and I found I couldn''t look away.


    “It’s rude to not look at someone when they speak to you.” She said sternly. Her face was hard to read and I couldn''t tell if she was being playful or if she was mad at me.


    “I’m sorry, I just have a lot on my mind." I lied.


    “How’s your head?” Her face softened.


    “It throbs from time to time, but I’ll live.” I reached up to where she had cracked my skull.


    “You keep saying that you’ll live. While I appreciate your optimism, Mr. Team Leader, each day is not guaranteed. And from your friends tales of mummies and goblins, I think your line of work should speak for itself on the matter.” She leaned back and smirked at me. I couldn''t help but crack a smile.


    “I’m a leader. It’s my responsibility to tell everyone it’s going to be okay even when it isn’t.” I told her. I was constantly pushing the team and myself to be better.


    “Yes, but you don’t have to lie to yourself. I feel like you say things to convince yourself rather than the others. Just an observation.” She casually took a French fry from my plate, ignoring her salad.


    “I do what I must for the team. You’ll get used to it. We all make sacrifices for each other. For the Order.” I told her.


    She made a facial expression that rubbed me the wrong way. Somewhere between indignation and a sneer.


    “Like you sacrificed going on that mission to stay and train me? You purposely distance yourself from them at every chance you get. They’ve already started getting used to you not being around.” She said, pointing at the group cheerfully talking amongst each other. Even Tadashi, who was normally quiet seemed to be enjoying himself. I tried not to take the observations personally. She was new, she didn''t know how things were yet.


    “That’s just how they are. Orion and Amelia are more than capable of taking charge while I deal with stuff here.” I could feel my eyes narrow.


    “Stuff that Anders should be here doing, no?” Kalysta reached for another French fry and I batted her hand.


    “Mr. Pendragon is out on business for the Order. He’ll return when he can.” I told her. Her disrespect started to grate on me and I stood up and gathered my paperwork. She placed her hand on mine and suddenly I was trapped in those eyes again. Hesitation is a terrifying feeling for a warrior. You know that any moment spent unsure could mean defeat. I''m conflicted about the way she makes me feel, but I sit back down.


    “I don’t mean to make you doubt yourself. I certainly don’t mean to make you doubt your chain of command either.” She said quietly and I believed her. Kalysta wasn''t used to working with a team, as far as I knew, and adjusting to the way the Cathedral ran could be jarring for new people. I thought, perhaps she was projecting her own insecurities onto me. I looked to the group and then back at Kalysta. She smiled softly and shrugged, as if to apologize. Looking away from her was hard, but the inventory sheet caught my eye.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    “Hey, you ever see the Disney movie Aladdin?” I asked, changing the subject. My face must have turned red because the grin on her face was telling.


    “I have." She replied.


    ~*~


    “Are you sure this is a good idea? I’ve never used anything like this before.” She said staring at the floating rug in front of us. The night air was crisp and refreshing.


    “Me either. I just noticed this came in on the last mission. I’ve always wanted to try one out.” I patted the magic carpet and hopped onto it. To my surprise, it held my weight. I sighed in relief and offered her my hand. She hesitantly accepted and sat down beside me.


    “How do we make it go?” She asked, looking around, as if a steering wheel might popup. It was a fairly innocent assumption for someone new to this world of ours. I grabbed ahold of the front of the carpet and pulled back. We flew off the roof of the Cathedral, both screaming as we plummeted toward the lawn. Maybe it had just been me screaming.


    I pulled back sharply and the carpet peeled up at the last minute, ascending into the cityscape. Kalysta hadn''t stopped laughing the whole time. She clung to me for dear life, but at least she was having fun. Once I got the hang of the controls, we coasted between office buildings, flying high enough that the cars hopefully wouldn''t notice, but low enough to not be killed by an airplane. She kept looking at me with those eyes and I couldn''t help but feel warm around her. She laid her head on my shoulder and let out a big sigh. I opened my mouth to speak, but she cut me off.


    “If you start singing A Whole New World, I’m gonna shove you off.” She laughed.


    I looked down to the flashing lights of the traffic below.


    “I’ve survived worse.” I said with a shrug and a cocky smirk.


    “I don’t believe you.” She shoved me, gently, and I shrieked. We both had a good laugh after that. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something zip passed us. I turned back to look as some guy plummeted from the top of a hospital and hit the ground.


    “Oh Gods.” I turned the carpet around and pointed him out to Kalysta. To my surprise, she didn''t flinch.


    “Is there anything we can do?” She asked.


    “If he isn’t dead already maybe. I carry some Ambrosia in my pocket just in case something happens to any of us.” The magical ''fruit of the Gods'' was an emergency cure-all that the Order of Vigilance liked to use in the field. A small bite of the golden fruit was enough to cure horrible poisons and close gushing wounds. I had hoped that it might be able to help this person, but the chances were slim. I looked to Kalysta, as if to ask if we should bother and she nodded towards the hospital. I turned the carpet around sharply and aimed to land in an alleyway, where no one would see the flying rug.


    "Hey, are you alright?" I asked the crumpled heap on the ground. Kalysta moved beside his body and felt for a pulse.


    "He''s still alive, quick, do something." She motioned for me to come closer. I pulled the small golden berry-like fruit out of my cargo shorts and leaned over the guy.


    "This is ambrosia, if you eat this it might save your life." I told the guy. He looked like he had just exited a My Chemical Romance concert; all black clothing, chains hanging from his ripped jeans. His oversized black hoodie had flipped up, revealing bandages wrapped around his abdomen. I was surprised that no one else along the street had stopped, but Toronto was just like that. I force the ambrosia into his mouth.


    "How do you feel?" Kalysta asked, trying to move him into the recovery position.


    "Peachy." The emo kid croaked.


    "I''m going to have to reset some of your broken bones." I told him. "I''m Erik and this is Kalysta."


    "Nice to meet you. I''m Dyson." He grunted as we rolled him over. It appeared the ambrosia was doing its work quickly.


    "I''m going to need to reposition your legs." I warned him, as I gripped tightly and force his bent limbs back into place.


    "Whoa, are you a licensed professional or are you just getting frisky?" He quipped. I rolled my eyes.


    "You''re not out of the woods yet man, there is still a chance that the ambrosia could kill you even after it heals you." I told him, and his face went white. He seemed to stare passed me.


    "You don''t happen to see the weird little girl with the red eyes standing behind you, do you?" He asks. Kalysta and I both turn to look, but no one is there.


    "You may be hallucinating." Kalysta tells him. He chuckles to himself and puts his head back on the ground.


    "Tell me if anything else feels out of place." I asked, trying to keep him focused. He moved his newly relocated arms around his body before grabbing his groin.


    "Feeling a little light in the pants chief, you steal some for yourself?" He said. I could feel my face turn red. Kalysta giggled and I suddenly felt like we should have just left him alone.


    "We should take him back to the Cathedral." Kalysta said. Before I could protest, the guy spoke up.


    "Cathedral? Are you guys with the Order? What a coincidence I was just heading there myself. Took the shortcut down." He sat up and his body made an awful crunching sound. I looked him up and down again, astounded. How did he know about the Order?


    I was even more astounded when he stood up and started to limp down the road. He turned back to look over his shoulder.


    "You guys coming or what?"