Siurad awoke in a dimly lit room. He winced, every muscle in his body screaming in protest as he sat up. He looked around the room, and then his heart completely stopped.
In the corner of the room, sitting perfectly still on a large wooden crate, was Steve. His empty eye sockets were focused intensely on Siurad.
“Oh, hey. Hi, buddy,” Siurad said nervously. “What, uh... what are you doing here?”
Click.
Shit, is he still mad? Siurad thought to himself.
“Obi,” he said out loud. “What's up with Steve?”
‘...HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT YOUR WELL-BEING. HE FEARED HE WENT TOO FAR.’
Siurad sighed in relief. “What? No, man, we're good. No worries, takes two to tango.”
Clack.
Steve tilted his head. He stood up from the crate and walked over, stopping just a few inches away from the edge of the mattress. The behemoth leaned over Siurad, his massive shadow swallowing the bed entirely.
Siurad whistled nervously. “Man, you're… you're a big boy, Steve.”
‘...YOU DID NOT REALIZE THAT WHEN YOU LET HIM DESTROY YOUR FEW REMAINING BRAIN CELLS?’
“Ha, good one, Obi. Anywho, Steve, I'm well. Thanks for checking.”
Steve looked Siurad up and down, as if verifying the healing magic had actually taken hold.
Clack.
Satisfied, he turned and returned to his spot on the crate in the corner.
Obi, this is fucking creepy, Siurad thought.
‘...IS FEAR THE ONLY EMOTION YOU POSSESS?’
It wasn't a question. Siurad just stared off at the ceiling.
Fuck you, Obi. Where are Yona and Alexander?
‘...THE PRIEST IS SLEEPING. YOU HAVE MADE HIM WORK A LOT. THE FOX IS LEARNING ABOUT HR.’
“How long was I out?” Siurad asked aloud.
Steve clicked.
Clack.
’...TOO LONG,’ Obi translated.
“You are really great at answers that answer nothing,” Siurad muttered, rubbing his sore jaw. “Was he always like this back then?”
Steve clicked.
“I'm assuming that's a yeah. So, you've been an asshole forever, huh, Obi?”
‘...HE DOES NOT MEAN THAT.’
“Sure. Seriously, how long have I been out, though?”
‘...A FEW HOURS.’
“A few hours,” Siurad repeated. “Not too shabby.”
“If a few means sixteen, then you're right,” Yona said, leaning against the doorway.
“What? For real?”
“Yeah. Use your brain next time. You really scared us. And Alexander stayed up all night with you.”
“I figured he was around; I still feel the heat.”
“You took way too much damage. He couldn't fix you in one go. Move smarter.”
Steve slouched his massive shoulders guiltily.
‘...SMARTER IS NOT IN HIS DNA.’
“HA! Good one, Obi.” Siurad exaggerated a clap, then looked over at Steve. “Hey, man, this ain't on you. Seriously. You just made me way better. Now I know how far I can push myself, and we did it in a safe environment. I was ninety-two percent sure you wouldn't kill me.”
‘...NINETY-TWO PERCENT?’
“You can never be too careful. So, Yona, how's this HR thing coming along?”
“We can make audits legally binding now!” she grinned.
“On whose authority?”
“Ours.”
“Isn't that just how we were stealing shit before?”
“Auditing!” Yona corrected sharply. “And no. Since the Authority used to be... well, is a government, it actually has some backing to it now.”
“I'm not sure that's how it works.”
“Apparently, you don't know how bones, organs, or brains work, either.”
“Where's Vex?”
“He'll be up in a minute. He was doing a few of the last interviews.”
“Okay. How can a brother get some food? I'm starving.”
Yona smirked. “I'm surprised you're hungry. Alexander was feeding you carrot stew while you slept.”
Siurad froze. He turned his head slowly in her direction.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Pure, unadulterated dread crept across his face.
“I'm just messing with you.”
“Damn it, Yona. Once we get up and running, I'm banning carrots and arresting Dale.”
“Relax, big guy. Look, I'm heading back out. I have to meet with Gresha and go over this big-ass file. You try to get some rest, alright?”
“Sure thing. Thanks for checking on me.”
“No worries. Watch over him, King Spooky.” Yona turned and gave Steve a playful pat on the skull before walking down the hallway.
Siurad let out a long breath, staring at the empty doorway. “Strange little family we have, isn't it, Obi?”
There was a long silence.
‘...INDEED.’
Siurad chatted with Steve and Obi for several hours before he finally drifted back to sleep.
He dreamed of a giant feast. Yona was there, burning the food. Alexander and Gresha were there, being snobby about the drinks. Siurad and Almere sat around drinking ale and discussing the future. Little Mara and the flock ran around a grand hall, playing games, laughing, and telling jokes like regular children. Even Zeus was present, holding an axe for some reason. It all felt so vividly real. And above them all, a massive darkness hovered over the room. Only, the darkness did not strike fear, it felt safe.
Siurad awoke to the exact opposite of safety.
He felt an ominous presence staring him down. He peeked one eye open, fully expecting to see Steve sitting in the corner again.
Instead, he saw Vex standing over him, Rune sleeping at his feet, and a furious-looking Alexander standing right next to the lich.
“You are awake?” Alexander said, absolutely no hint of warmth in his voice.
“Hey, man. Yona told me what you did. Thanks for the heals, I feel great.”
“That is a lie.”
“Well, no, I don't feel great, but I feel much better. What's wrong? Did something happen?”
Vex, who had not spoken at this point, went to take a seat on the crate where Steve had been sitting earlier. He crossed his long legs and leaned back against the wall, watching the two of them intently.
“Was he that nosy back in the day?” Siurad muttered.
‘...THAT IS NEW.’
Alexander pointed a shaking finger squarely in Siurad's face. “Do you have any idea how much of you I had to heal?”
“A lot?”
“You are not invincible, Siurad. Do you think having a healer makes you invincible?”
“No. Where is all this coming from? Just a few days ago you taught me how all this works. What's the problem?”
“The problem is I have found myself inside a circle…no, excuse me, correction, Siurad,” Alexander said, his voice getting higher and tighter. “I have put people inside my circle who fundamentally don't understand how care and well-being work! You worried me, you worried Yona, you worried Rune and Steve! You obviously think your life is a joke!”
“You are overreacting, Saint.”
“You are underreacting! Do you understand the gravity of the situation? Did you read anything? Literally anything? About the Authority? About this world? Have you seen Vex's assessment?! It's you, exactly!”
“So Vex is good at assessing. What's the problem?”
“The problem is you are terrifyingly strong and incredibly stupid! That's a horrible mixture!”
“I knew he wouldn't kill me,” Siurad argued, pushing himself up on his elbows. “It was a controlled environment.”
“Yona told me you were playing what you call a 'game' before you came here.”
The words landed flat in the quiet room. Siurad felt the heavy accusation beneath them.
“I was.”
“Where you are from, games are fake worlds. Do you think this is fake? Do you believe we aren't real?” His voice cracked.
Siurad opened his mouth to speak but couldn't find the words.
“I don't think you are fa—”
Alexander violently pulled the covers off Siurad, exposing his bare chest. He had several massive, deep purple bruises covering his torso, a stark and ugly contrast against his ebony skin.
“You heal fast, thank Obi for that. But you didn't look like this before. You were bleeding everywhere. You had broken bones, internal hemorrhaging.” Alexander's voice trailed off, losing its heat but none of its intensity. “One day you may take damage that I can't heal, Siurad. And then what?”
“Look, I… I… I wasn't thinking clearly.”
“Obviously!”
“Can we not do this right now?”
“When should we?”
“I don't know, just not now.”
“No, you are going to listen to me,” Alexander demanded, standing tall. “If you want to go out there and nearly kill yourself for entertainment, be my guest. But I won't heal you for fun. Your life is worth more than you know. I will not contribute to you squandering it away for something stupid.”
Siurad stared at the priest, properly chastised. “I won't do it again. I promise.”
“Excellent,” Vex said from the corner.
Both men jumped slightly, looking over at him.
“What?” Siurad asked.
Vex tapped one skeletal finger thoughtfully against his temple. “This reminds me of the old days.”
Alexander's expression somehow became even less pleased. “Were they all this stupid?”
Vex considered it for a moment. “Frequently.” Then he rose gracefully to his feet. “Fortunately, emotional development was not the only item on today's schedule. The work begins now.”
“What kind of work?” Siurad asked, gesturing to himself. “In case you haven't noticed, I'm somewhat out of commission.”
“Ha. Do you think just because someone is hurt, bleeding, missing a limb, or nearly dying that work stops? We'd never get anything done that way.”
Alexander turned his head, looking horrified.
“By the Light, my circle is…” he muttered, trailing off as he stared at the ceiling.
“So, my assessment,” Siurad interrupted, refocusing on the lich. “You going full Wikipedia on me, or Cliff notes?”
“I do not 'Wiki' or 'Cliff,' but context tells me you are wondering if I will speak in detail or briefly. Briefly, my dear boy. Most of what was observed is highly irrelevant for you to know. But a few excerpts for your pleasure.” Vex smiled.
Siurad sighed, leaning his head back. “Here we go.”
“Subject repeatedly mistakes continued consciousness for tactical success. I rather like that one,” Vex added proudly. “Subject shows infantile use of the Void.”
‘...FINALLY, SOMEONE ELSE NOTICES.’
Fuck you, Obi, Siurad thought.
“Subject has exceptional close-quarters combat performance.”
Siurad smiled. “Not all bad. We're getting somewhere.”
“Subject is lying in bed, happy about what he perceives as a compliment buried under a mountain of negative critique.”
“I don't think you actually wrote that down.”
“You have a few more hours of resting, Siurad,” Vex said, closing his ledger. “Then, you are going to learn basic,and I do mean basic, competence in utilizing the Void effectively. You will learn administration. You will train with Steve and Julia.”
“Here you go bossing us around again.”
“Precisely. And you will listen, because the Authority requires it. We require your improvement, and we require you alive. You are the Heir, after all.”
“Great,” Siurad sighed.
“We will leave you to sulk,” Vex said, turning toward the door. “Yona and I have an interview to conduct. And George has returned; he would like to speak to you when you recover.”
“The guy who pulled a knife on me?”
“The man you, Yona, and Rune accosted, yes.”
Siurad pinched the bridge of his nose. “Great. I can't wait to talk to him.” He flopped back onto his pillows and let his eyes close.
In another section of the compound several hours later, Yona sat behind a heavy wooden desk. Internally, she was disgusted with herself.
I'm a pencil pusher. Ugh, she thought.
‘...THIS ROLE SUITS YOUR GREEDY NATURE PERFECTLY.’
“I'm not greedy, I just like nice things,” she countered aloud.
‘...THEN WHY HAVE YOU STOLEN SO MANY SPOONS?’
Yona smirked. Before she could reply, the door opened and Vex glided in. Surveying the room, he took in the smirking fox and the large, neatly organized stack of papers sitting in the center of the desk.
“Vexy,” she said, genuinely excited to be doing something she didn't consider boring.
“I trust you have read the material?”
“Yeah, smooth sailing from here. Ask a few questions, he stays or leaves, I file a few papers.”
“Well, that is certainly a condensed version,” Vex said as he walked over, gracefully taking a seat next to her. “He has had trouble adjusting.”
“I'm sure he'll be fine. I'll smooth it over for you, no big deal.”
There was a heavy knock at the door. Amadeo entered, looking like a man who had seen much better days. His hair was a disheveled mess. His usually clean-shaven face sported a rough stubble that advertised what he had previously eaten for dinner, and his shirt was a wrinkled, sweat-stained disaster.
“Vex,” he said with a stiff nod. Walking in, his eyes swept instantly to Yona. He stopped dead in his tracks, a look of profound resignation creeping across his face.
“Welcome,” Vex replied calmly.
“She's going to sit in for this?”
“Don't mind me,” Yona smiled thinly. “I'm just running administerial duties.”
“Administerial? Vex, you couldn't possibly be serious.”
“I am. Please, sit.”
Yona cleared her throat loudly. “So, have you gone over the proposal?”
“You don't expect me to have this conversation with… this?” Amadeo asked, gesturing vaguely toward Yona.
Yona's eyebrow twitched. “Your service here has been exceptional, and the Authority would love to extend an invitation for you to stay. Your…” Yona looked down at the paper, forcing the words through her teeth, “dedication and attention to detail has been invaluable.”
“My dedication? What would you know of dedication? Are you not a self-proclaimed mercenary?”
“Right now, I simply manage personnel for the Obsidian Authority, of which you currently have a chance to be a part,” she said with a sickeningly sweet smile. “Tell me, will you be staying? I would love to train you.”
“Train me? I have been serving the will of Peronin since before you were born.”
“Sadly, we no longer associate with Veronin.”
“Peronin! You insolent—”
“Amadeo,” Vex chimed in from beside Yona, his voice a quiet command.
Amadeo looked at Vex, his eyes dropping down to stare blankly at the neat stacks of paper on the table. “Was this all a lie?”
“Yes.”
“You used me?”
“I did.”
“And you have the audacity to ask me to stay?”
“You are valued.”
“Valued?!”
“That is correct. You are fastidious in your approach to research and discernment. You have always had an eye for the unique.”
“You cannot speak of value with this child at the helm, this charade of an empire you are building, and this—” Amadeo took a ragged, deep breath. “I will not be staying.”
“Very well,” Vex said.
Yona slid over a document titled Severance. “Please sign here. You will be truly missed. This will ensure you are well-equipped and funded on your trip. I hope your journey bears fruit.”
Amadeo laughed, a deep, guttural bark that resonated from deep within his chest.
“Is that it? Very well? Two decades of dedication. Two decades of lies, and very well is all I get?”
He turned his bloodshot eyes to Yona. “He is a monster. When he has used you for all he can, he will make sure you are nothing more than dust. Then he will send you on your way with coin and a very well.” He laughed again, a broken sound. “Still just another tool on the shelf.”
Vex just stared at the man. His expression remained entirely unchanged.
“Don't look at me like that. Don't you pity me! I pity you!”
“Alright now,” Yona said, dropping the customer-service voice. “I believe this meeting has concluded. Please exit.”
Amadeo ignored her, leaning heavily over the desk toward the lich. “When your new master asks you to kneel, will you obey? Will you betray them as well?”
Vex just stared, his emerald eyes unwavering.
“Answer me!”
“Take your money and go,” Yona said. The sickly-sweet customer service voice was gone, replaced by the flat, dead tone of a mercenary who was out of patience.
“Money?” Amadeo stood up so fast his chair clattered against the stone floor. The veins in his neck strained against his sweat-soaked collar. “You think this is about coin? I have spent my entire life in service of Peronin. In service of you, Vex! Answer me, you coward. You owe me!”
Amadeo yelled, his voice cracking. “Answer me! Did I mean anything to you?!”
For a fraction of a second, the emerald flames in Vex’s eyes dimmed.
“You are a dear friend, Amadeo.”
“Liar!” Amadeo screamed, spittle flying from his lips. “Friends don't deceive each other for a fantasy! What you had is dead! It has been dead for three thousand years, and it is not returning! Why would you ruin everything we built?” He choked out a ragged, pathetic sob, his hands trembling on the edge of the desk.
Yona’s amber eyes softened. Despite the man being a fanatical cultist, she actually felt a pang of pity for him. He was just a middle manager whose entire universe had been pulled out from under him.
“Please, just sit down,” Yona offered quietly.
“Amadeo, if I may be forward with you,” Vex said, his voice as smooth and calm as still water. “Your work here is greatly appreciated, and I genuinely wish for you to stay. However, I will not force you to remain. One's love for family has no bounds. I hope you will one day understand.”
The words settled over the room. Yona watched as the realization pierced through Amadeo’s grief like a physical blade. He looked at Vex, then at Yona, finally understanding the depth of the insult. Vex was throwing away twenty years of Amadeo’s absolute devotion to play house with a street thief and a bouncer.
“Family?” Amadeo whispered.
He snapped.
Lunging across the desk, Amadeo grabbed a heavy, brass-bound ledger and hurled it directly at the lich’s skull.
Yona reacted on pure instinct. In a blur of motion, she batted the heavy book out of the air. Before it even hit the floor, she had vaulted the desk, drawn a dagger, and pinned Amadeo hard against the stone wall. The razor-sharp edge of her blade pressed a microscopic indent into the skin of his throat.
“Please,” Yona whispered, her eyes deadlocked on his. “Just go.”
“Or what?” Amadeo spat, tears tracking through the grime on his cheeks.
“Release him,” Vex said. The lich hadn't even flinched when the book was thrown. His voice maintained the exact same clinical, administrative tone it had held all evening.
Yona hesitated, then slowly lowered her blade and stepped back.
“I'm leaving,” Amadeo said. He straightened his ruined collar with shaking hands, “But I want you to hear it once from someone who is not afraid of you.”
“Amadeo,” Vex warned softly.
“Twenty years.” He wasn't shouting now. “I have buried people for you. I have lied to recruits for you. I did all of it because you told me there was something on the other side of it, and I believed you.”
Vex straightened.
“And then a boy walks through the gate wearing a piece of jewelry, and you fold. You fold, Vex. Twenty years and one ring.” Amadeo laughed, a hollow sound emerged. “Do you know what I think? I think you are old, and you are tired. You found a rock that talks, and you have decided it is the thing you lost, because the alternative is admitting the thing you lost is gone.”
“That is enough,” Vex said. The temperature in the room seemed to plummet.
“It's a stone.” Amadeo's voice cracked wide open, tears spilling through the grime on his cheeks. “It's a stone, and you have named it after a corpse! You are asking these people to kneel to a corpse's name, and I loved you, so I am telling you—”
Vex sighed. It sounded like dry leaves scraping across a tomb.
He raised a single, skeletal finger.
A sickly, suffocating green haze blossomed at the tip of his bone.
Amadeo simply stopped speaking. His eyes bulged in sudden, incomprehensible terror. Thick, black blood began to weep instantly from the corners of his eyes and nose. He didn't even have the breath to scream before he dropped like a stone.
By the time his body hit the floor, his skin was already withering, drawing tight against his bones and turning into a dry, flaky husk. All the moisture, all the life, had been violently evicted from his body in a fraction of a second.
The room fell deathly silent, save for the soft rustle of Amadeo's crumbling clothes.
Yona stared at the desiccated corpse on her office floor. She slowly turned her head to look at Vex.
“What the fuck was that?!” she gasped.
Vex calmly picked up a quill, adjusted his cuffs, and pulled the next piece of parchment toward him.
“I warned him.”