“I can’t believe it!” Ashlynde slumped over Marenix, groaning, “I’ll be shoveling shit for the rest of my life!”


    She whined.


    “It’s not the worst outcome…at least you’re in a safe place, right?” Marenix tried to reassure her.


    The graduation had taken place. Their assignments had been chosen. Marenix was to serve in the research division, under his elder brother Lente. It was the expected outcome. Ashlynde however…


    “Civil duty…Hhhhhh…”


    To try to ease her pain, Marenix had recommended they pay a visit to a café, as was their usual custom. They were sitting at low tables on mats, on the tables were silver containers with spouts that contained that veritable liquid, spiced in in the way that Sidonia was known for. Other Nekomata and some human Sidonians were sitting around tables chatting as well; the café was meant for those of Ashlynde and his ilk, that was, apprentices and those on the lower rungs of the social hierarchy.


    Whilst Ashlynde took tepid sips and averted her eyes in disappointment, Marenix could hear clearly the grumblings of the other patrons…


    “There’s just no way…These quotas are crazy…We might not be Nekomata but we’re still Sidonians, sure, but that doesn’t mean we’re all miracle workers!”


    “Shush! You keep talking like that and the Inquisition will revoke your honorary Sidonian status…”


    “They can’t do that to us…Our families have both been integrated for generations! It’s all the new labor that’s been flooding into our borders that they should be going after…Who knows how many of them are spies and saboteurs…That’s why everyone seems so scared of Inquisitors now a days, they’re probably working overtime.”


    The mood was gloomy but cautiously optimistic that things would be better. Maybe Marenix shouldn’t have taken Ashlynde here if it was only going to sour her mood…Marenix looked to her with melancholy. This may be the last time they can spend a day together like this, and see each other face to face. Marenix reached out to touch Ashlynde’s head without thinking.


    “Wow! Is that Alisson Vi Nuam’s carriage?” Ashlynde suddenly jumped up, pointing out a window.


    “W-what?”


    Mare stared at the procession through the windows to their side, squinting. He didn’t have the time to form any thoughts or words.


    The middle carriage detonated, the glass before him shattered and his vision turned white.


    …


    “An attack?”


    Alisson mused. A horseman had ridden up beside their carriage and had reported in.


    “Yes, they seemed to have taken the secondary bait procession. There’s still no guarantee they haven’t also caught wind of your real route though…My lord, you need to stay low and keep your head down…”


    The guard warned. Alisson looked to Celis. This was certainly different. Everyone’s attitudes were far laxer than they should’ve been. They exhibited less shock and more annoyance than anything. Just how much had heresy spread throughout the Capital? That an attack would be expected and two feints be placed?


    “If this happened a year ago, the city would be on lockdown until the perpetrators found…”


    Alisson remarked.


    “Times have changed, and certain people seem to really want you dead, captain.” Daventdale replied. “Take us the tertiary route, just to be safe.” He called to the driver.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    “No.” Alisson shook his head. “Let me see the damage. Take us to the bait location.”


    “But captain-”


    “There is no bait more tantalizing than the real thing, no?” Alisson smiled.


    His smile faded and he sighed. “You leave home for a few days and look what a mess it becomes…”


    Per Alisson’s orders, they arrived at the road where the attack had taken place. Apparently a bomb had been placed in the road, and the middle carriage was destroyed. However, the carriage had been empty, and other than some minor damage to the city, no lives were lost. 51^st and garrison guards flocked the area, looking for any trace of the heretics whom attacked. Alisson stepped out of the carriage and surveyed the area alongside Celis.


    There had been two bait processions, one that was publicly announced and very large, and one that had only been whispered amongst the garrison, but was still marked with emblems of Nuam. The real procession was unmarked and a single carriage. It seemed the inquisitors wished to use Alisson’s return as a chance to attack the heretics. However, there wasn’t a trace of anyone suspicious; even with guards crowding the rooftops and roads, watching everything.


    A café had been caught in the blast; laid outside of it were a few who had been injured, among them a couple of apprentice-aged kids. Alisson knelt before them, frowning. They both seemed unconscious, and feverish. They had already been healed by garrison medics; however as healing spells were wont to do, the effects of the damage still lingered as phantom pain, their bodies believing they were still injured.


    Another of Rickard’s wrongful ideals of how to go about things…


    He used the telepathy spell on instinct so that only Celis could hear, and she nodded. He wasn’t sure anymore whether telepathy actually guaranteed a secure communication route, but it was better than speaking out in the open, at least hopefully.


    Do you think they know about what happened to him, to Rickard?


    Celis asked, and Alisson shook his head.


    I doubt news of his death has reached so far south so quickly. Their information network is good, but it’s not unreasonable…


    As Celis and him were discussing, a shy looking girl approached the two of them. She was dressed in black, with similar dark eyes and hair. She was older than the two apprentices, but not by much.


    “Celis, is that you?”


    She asked tepidly, and Celis eyed her for a moment, squinting.


    “Oda?” Celis tilted her head. “What are you doing here? It’s dangerous.”


    Oda averted her eyes. “When I heard Alisson was returning from a dangerous mission…I was scared his apprentice hadn’t made it.” She looked to Celis and smiled gingerly. “But it looks like my fears are unfounded. You’re as tough as I remember…There is something I wanted to talk to you about actually, in private…”


    Oda glanced at Alisson. Alisson shot a sharp glare at her and Celis, and bobbed his head in approval.


    Oda whisked Celis off into a secluded part of the road and spoke in a quieter voice, “Ukuri hasn’t been doing too well, she’s bedridden right now…”


    Celis found herself not caring as much as she thought she would, but Oda continued. “The apprentices of our graduation year are gathering for the traditional party, you know the one, right?”


    Celis nodded slowly as it came back to her. Traditionally, apprentices would gather in secret away from their masters and teachers as an informal send off, a real graduation from being kids. A tradition that had been passed down from generation to generation of apprentices.


    “You’re inviting me, is that it?”


    Oda slyly smiled at her. “Yes, you should come. You can see how all the other apprentices have grown, I’m sure a lot would want to spar with you, being Alisson Vi Nuam’s apprentice and all…you’re kind of a legend among the apprentices now…Most people thought you would die for sure.”


    Celis frowned. “Flattery doesn’t get you anywhere with me, don’t you remember?”


    Oda rolled her eyes. “Whatever, bed wetter. Be there. Afterwards, we can see Ukuri and bid her well.”


    Celis warily glanced at Alisson a ways away. “If I have the time…”


    Oda, smiling, promptly turned and skipped away. Celis stared at her as she walked back over to Alisson.


    “Celis, are you alright?” Alisson scoffed, his arms crossed. “You don’t seem too happy to have reunited with an old teammate.”


    “Yes…” Celis muttered. “Oda didn’t hug me.”


    Alisson watched as Celis developed a deep frown on her face, following Oda with her eyes. When Celis recounted the trivial things Oda had approached Celis for, it was certainly odd. Alisson had heard of the annual apprentice gathering when he himself was an apprentice, but he wasn’t nearly as sociable or popular to get invited.


    Alisson looked back across the damaged road and the injured before him. “I suppose there’s nothing we can do about any of this now.” He set his sights on the Rolaign, far off in the distance, at the heart of the city; Where Sidonia was. He sharpened his eyes and began to walk when one of the injured called his name,


    “A-Alisson Vi Nuam!?”


    A girl looked up to him, beaming a pair of sparkling red eyes at him, despite being bruised and dirtied. She began to try to get up to see him face to face, but Alisson moved his hand over her chest to stop her.


    “Get some rest, little one.” Alisson said, smiling gently.


    ****