Angin shot his student a glare but followed the command with a moan. Rya guided them around the manta ray, deep in slumber. At the other side of the platform, the said result of its problems soiled the floor. Two Janloon children, a boy and girl, tried their best to shovel the excrements into a hovering wheelbarrow attached to a balloon. But as both had yet to reach ten, they struggled with their task, finding no joy in it.
They were Rya's children. A blind man would have seen the resemblance. Rya whistled, waving them away. The two children beamed, running away giggling. "Careful," Rya called after them. "And don't play near the new mothers. They will kill you."
She sighed, her children dashing away on a bridge. "That's what I get for giving a free hand."
Angin grunted, finding the statement amusing. "She's Shae's mother, as well," Angin said, noticing Liron's look.
Rya picked up the shovels her children left behind. They had a nice reek to them. "She's where she wants to be," she simply said, handing the shovels to Angin and Liron. "As are you, I figure."
The Alchemist took it, sneering at the shit. If one drop had hit his shoes, he might have fainted. Liron grabbed his and went to work. Rya watched him, nodding her approval. One glance at Angin forced him to join his student. Studying and fighting had formed a fine rebel out of him, but not a good shovel boy. Despite his readiness to face danger head-on, Angin hadn't worked any pleb work. Liron outpaced his master with ease, moving twice as fast as he.
As they did their thankless labor, Angin and Rya chatted, catching up. Liron listened to the conversation, two questions burning on his tongue. Rya noticed that, reading him like an open book.
"You have something to ask. Go ahead."
Her tone and posture resembled those of a hardened smith at Eisenrahm's forge. Someone who knew the stress and drill of hard work, enduring day in and day out. "Ehr… your tat… tattoos. Angin said they show your family and what you have done for Janloo. You are mostly… like dancing…"
Rya grew distant, smiling. "Well, I didn't always used to be down here, Liron. I once worked as a dancer. As my mother and her mother. I still would have if my husband hadn't brought shame on me. He tried to sell secrets of our manta ray to someone in the Empire. He got executed by Liuh himself, and I was ordered to repay my debt down here."
"Your debt?" Liron asked. "But your husband was the greedy fuck… ehr, sorry… I didn't"
"No, it's all good. He was a greedy fuck. On Janloo, we are all part of the same family. We all have responsibilities. Liuh is a gentle man, but he needs to protect our family. So, he executes all traitors. And it was my responsibility to know that my late husband was such a traitor. For failing my responsibility, I was punished."
Angin said nothing, sharpening the ground with the shovel, leaving behind a mark. "Careful," Rya said. She sighed. "I know, it might not seem just to you, but this is how Janloo works. They were right. I failed our family, and so I need to work down here."
"And when can you return to dancing?" Liron asked.
Rya scoffed. "That hawk has fled. You might have noticed I'm not a nimble creature anymore. I have a few years still to go, but my body won't move like it used to. No, my place is now down here."
Liron recalled the confrontation between Angin and Siu, speaking without thinking. "Is that why Shae left?"
Angin eyed Liron but said nothing. Rya was taken aback. "Partly… yes. She… disagrees with how Janloo operates. She thinks we are too greedy and shackled to tradition. Foolish girl doesn't realize that we wouldn't be alive without them."
"Why did you let her go?" Liron asked. "Siu said that she's the wind under the hawk's wing. Sounds really important."
"It is," Rya admitted. "You are rather straightforward."
Liron recognized his tongue had led the way without conversing with his brain. "Fuck, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have just asked…"
"No, it's fine. I like that. Well, yes. I could have forbidden her leaving when Angin advised her to become part of the Resistance and the Frederick-Tolbert-University."
"I wouldn't say I advised her," Angin intervened.
"No, you told her it would be fucking stupid to stay."
Angin pointed at her. "Exactly. And I was right. A wizard? Here? Pah!"
Rya chuckled, slight and short. "I could have said no, demanding her to stay. She would have, I'm sure of it. She… also found it unjust that I was not allowed to dance anymore. We love our celebrations, Liron. We are trading people, yes, but we are also dancing and singing people. My Shae can dance like no other."
Rya pointed at the lion on her cheek. "She had inherited the wind lion costume. A great honor among our people. Only the finest are allowed to use it and perform the divine dances to Harras Himself."
Liron jerked up at that. "Wait… you believe in Harras? But I thought that only the Empire does."
Angin shook his head, slapping shit into a wheelbarrow. "Nope. Most of Ekon does, Liron."
"Why?"
Angin and Rya stared at him. "Liron, you did see what Adenius and any Warpriest can do. Where do you think their powers come from?"
"Oh. Ehr… I just… thought Harras might have been another lie by the Empire and their powers come from somewhere else."
"No. The Empire does lie about Harras, and our heavenly father seems to be a fucking asshole if you're asking me."
"Careful," Rya said.
Angin raised his right hand, his left holding the shovel's handle. "All records from before the Empire describe Harras actively influencing the happenings on Ekon. No idea where he went, but the Sacred Houses' Gifts and the Empire's abilities must come from him. But no one knows what exactly has happened to him. The Empire has ensured to bury the truth in lies."
Liron knew the official story like all children of the Empire did. Harras' Last Dawn ended with the blessing of the fathers of the Sacred Houses, each receiving their Gift by drinking Harras' divine blood. Since then, Harras had retreated, recovering from the ones who betrayed him. Angin had called them the Council of Ekon.
"I, for my part, still have some faith," Rya said. "I don't know where He is, but I know that He is. Your Empire claims to be the only children of Harras, but this isn't true. Don't let them tell you who Harras is and how you have to believe in him. You can have your faith, Liron."
"Or you could pray to Solia. She is the better choice."
Rya rolled her eyes. Liron pondered what was said. These last weeks didn't allow for any reflection on his faith. Did he still believe in a greater power? The Empire utilized something they claimed to be divine. Perhaps it was. Perhaps Harras was on their side, gifting them whatever they needed. Or, perhaps Rya was right, and Harras was not with the Empire but with all of humanity. Liron didn't need to pray to Harras. He could worship Solia. Or…
"I could also pray to Drom," Liron said, keeping his voice dry and matter-of-fact.
Angin paused, stopping midswing, shit dropping over his shovel. Rya frowned, growing tense. "I guess," she said, "you could. Or…"
"Or you could pray to this," Angin said, nudging towards the shit in the wheelbarrow. "Don't even joke about this. Drom was a cruel fucker. All records point to that. The Empire will claim you are his Scion. Don't prove them right."
"All right, fine," Liron said. "I was just joking. No… I was jesting."
"Solia be blessed, you are enriching your vocabulary," Angin said. "Here is another word you might not know. It's called 'move your sorry ass and help me shovel shit'!"
Liron listened to his master's command. Rya cleared her throat, rubbing her neck. "Well, we've gotten off track. What I wanted to say is that my Shae wanted to become a dancer as well. But after my punishment and Siu's insistence for her to become a Wizard, she had enough. She has several grievances with our family, but she will tell you them herself, I'm sure of it.
"I believe in tradition, Liron, and in keeping in line. I'm a Janloon, after all. But I'm also a mother. And I know it would bring nothing but resentment if I forced a life on her she didn't want. I'm not happy she decided to join the Resistance and visit the University, but I do hope she finds some happiness out there. Perhaps she might return to me one day after she has seen and done enough. If Harras wills so."
"Siu was right about one thing, though," Angin said. "She's the wind. You can't capture it. You may try, but all you will attract is a storm coming your way."
Rya nodded, smiling. "Well said, Angin. Well said."
They finished shoveling the excrement away, Angin sighing in relief as the duty was done. "Dreadful business," he said. "Say, Rya, if the moment does not suit you, we can come another time."
Rya ran her hand over the manta rays' scale, the giant chirping, refusing to move. "Yeah, I don't think I can show you much today. Come back in the next few days. Then our sleeping beauty should do better."
Liron placed the shovels next to the wheelbarrow. Rya stepped up next to him, handing him a glass of water. She had a little area equipped with refreshments. "Thank you, Liron. Could you please do me a favor?"
Liron inhaled the water, wiping his mouth clean. "Sure."
"When you're in Sannara, keep an eye on Shae. She's no soft flower, but she has a tendency to be stuck in her head and become lonely. Just make sure she is fine."
Liron saluted. "I will force a Nexus on her so she can talk to you, if need be."
Rya lit up, her stone-cold facade fading. "Thank you, Liron. We've heard many stories about you here in Janloo. The vision, the dreams. Many feared you to be a monster. A savage that would bring nothing but death and devastation to Ekon. I don't think so. I think you are a good kid."
Kind words spoken by someone give them a deeper weight. One had to earn them.
Liron smiled.
…
"Can Shae teach me Magic?" Liron asked.
They had taken a balloon back to Sira-Do, landing at the outer rims. They strolled back to their housing, enjoying the fields of gold and green.
"Better than Jean?" Angin asked.
"Y… yeah."
"Fuck yes. Jean is a special but difficult boy, I know. But let me warn you. Shae can be… intense. She will help you get better through sparring, and she doesn't hold back. And it pains me to compliment a WIzard, but she's excellent with her Conduit and Magic. But I think Wran will be a better choice for a teacher."
"Because he's an Archmage?"
"Solia, no," Angin laughed. "On his own, Wran is a horrible teacher. No, you two have the same Conduit. A knife. It might give you ideas on how to further evolve your Conduit and what Concept to pick by seeing him. Though it won't be a pretty sight, I can tell you that."
Liron had another question as two familiar figures crossed their paths.
"Ah, there ye are, me friends," Ragner greeted them, slapping both on their shoulders. They nearly dropped to their knees.
Jean accompanied Ragner, wearing glasses with blackened lenses. He nodded at them, having no other word for them. Jean appeared more relaxed than before. Still as stiff as if he was carrying a stick up his ass, but he had a faint smile with him.
"Have ye explored the isles?" Ragner asked.
"Aye," Angin said. "But I don't know if you will be able to. Your legs will break right through the bridge."
"Then I take a balloon or kite."
"They strings will tear before they get you off the ground."
Ragner chuckled, turning to Liron. "Laddie, I'd love to chat with ye, but ye have places to be."
"What do you mean?" Liron asked.
"Yer sister. She's awake and asked for ye."