The torch sailed through the air, and Neska evaluated three scenarios in her head in a split second.

  She could do nothing. The villagers would die, burned to death. Her group would be safe, though she worried about the others' reactions.

  She could attempt to free the villagers, likely sparking a conflict between her group and the Seekers with zero planning. More people would likely die, including her and the others, and that was unacceptable.

  Or she could take a third option. The only one that had a shot at a better outcome.

  Compulsive training paid off for her today. Her snap-reaction flick of a [Mana Bolt] sped through the air. The projectile struck the torch mid-flight, deflecting it away from the kindling and oils soaked into the wood. It rolled to a stop along the cobblestone in the middle of the village center.

  All weapons were drawn in that split second, but Seeker Ortholo put a hand up in restraint. Surprisingly. “Halt.” He turned around, eyes narrowed behind the mask, and he knelt to face her. “You dare to interfere?”

  I dare. She flicked out her tongue at him, tasting metal and sweat. But not that sour scent she'd observed from Marikand's men. None of these men exhibited that strange quirk, nor did they twitch. They were human.

  It was little consolation, however. The woman behind Ortholo continued to plead she didn’t know where the Awakened were, and they’d done nothing wrong. The Seeker was fixated on Neska. “That was not a monster ability. What are you?”

  “Don’t answer him.” Juni’s voice has a primal snarl, a surprising ferocity given her smaller stature. “You really were going to burn these people alive. What’s the difference between you and the monsters?!”

  “We kill with purpose. The monsters do not.” Ortholo tapped the mask on his face, and Neska saw a shift of dark eyes behind the slits. “But you are new. Unrealized. A risk.”

  I wish you could hear me. I wish you could know what I think of your people. Twice in as many times, you have pushed people to the brink. She gazed unblinkingly at the Seeker, ignoring the tense standoff between her group and the others. My mind is reconstructing from a past life, and what I have learned, what I have seen, is that the Seekers are dangerous, even without infiltrators.

  The Seeker tilted his head, laughing softly. “I do wonder what you are thinking. A shame, I didn’t have a telepath with my team. But I can read the intent of your eyes. You don’t like me that much.”

  No, Seeker. You’ve been very helpful, actually. Now I know exactly what the Seekers do. And it’s not the same thing as what they say they do.

  Ragnir stepped in, weapon stowed. “Seekers. Disperse. You will not administer extrajudicial punishment to these villagers without due process. I follow the same laws as you, and killing these three without trial or damning proof is not punishment, it's a lynch mob.”

  Ragnir’s voice got his attention. Ortholo dusted off his knee before regarding the Sergeant. “Or you’ll what, if I were to refuse? You should do your math, soldier.”

  “I have.” He took one step to Juriks’ side and stomped on the lit torch, snuffing out the flames. “You’ll depart because I'm right and you don’t have extenuating proof, other than a ‘confession.’ Am I correct? Where is this ‘confessor’ you speak of?”

  The seeker’s gaze drifted to the burning building, the flames slowly fading as the material burned out. “Additional proof would need to be…acquired, to corroborate the claims.” His words were slower, halting almost.

  The seeker tilted his head in curiosity, eyes little more than narrow slits behind the mask. “Ragnir. I won’t forget your face. Nor the rest of you.” He peered at Neska again, hand drifting to his weapon. “And you, serpent…I’ve got little doubt you’ll attract the wrong kind of attention soon enough. Brother Seekers, we will depart.”

  “Sir?”

  “We’ve got another Awakened to track down. One who has…abandoned their duty to their former kin.” The seeker was already on the move, and weapons slowly disappeared into sheaths and belt loops before the Seeker turned to address the group. “I expect to run into you at the Academy. I suggest you head there with all due haste.”

  No one dared to move as the Seekers withdrew, mounting up on their horses stationed nearby. It wasn’t until the horses charged down the path north, and the hoofbeats faded into the distance, that Neska let out a sigh of relief.

  Too close. She loosened her grasp on the roots that would have ensnared the Seekers and felt the mana dissipate back into the ground, a cold trickle seeping along her sides. Jurik was already in motion, cutting down the bound villagers without a single word.

  “Hadley.” Ragnir let out a calm breath as he faced their scout, looking irritated. “Don’t ever draw your weapon like that again.”

  She kept her face calm and barely nodded before Ragnir faced the team. “From now on? Stay out of the Seeker’s way. Neska, that includes you.”

  Juni protested with a disgusted sound. “We’re not going to talk about–”

  Ragnir gave a gentle wave of his hand. “No. We are not going to discuss this in front of this audience.” Ragnir stowed his weapon, then took his cloak and offered it to the woman still sobbing, clutching her chest tightly and shivering. “You alright?”

  “T-they…Thank you,” she burst out, looking at Neska, the fear gone from her eyes. “N-not all the monsters are bad. He was wrong.”

  Ragnir slung the cloak over her and pointed at a gaunt man who had stood by. “Get her cleaned up and out of the village. The same goes for the other two. The Seekers will be back. I don’t believe they should be here when they return."

  The man spat on the ground, giving Ragnir a hardened glare. “Don’t think I will, or it’ll be us on the pyre next. Or all of us.”

  “No, he’s correct. They need to leave immediately.” Jurik spoke up, a simmering anger still ignited in his face when he looked at the northern road. He pointed at a villager. “How did this come to be?”

  The woman, no more than a teen with dark hair, trembled. “T-there was a rumor that the family was keeping an Awakened hidden. Never saw it, of course. But the town drunk and a couple of other people saw a serpent. Big. Ten, twelve feet long. Then it’d vanish before their eyes.”

  “Coloration, any particular features?” Jurik pressed.

  “Blue scales. Big hood on its head, or so they said. But it was always at night. Never any signs,” the girl said, clutching her hem tightly. “I-I could see how they might mistake your friend over there a bit.”

  “Unusual. That sounds like a mirage serpent, Second tier. But the families didn’t–” Jurik sighed. “Ragnir, we should keep moving.”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “Not going to address the Seekers–” Hadley started to call out again, but Jurik motioned for her to wait.

  “Not here. We’ll talk on the road,” he said, a measure of calm returning.

  Even though Neska felt like she’d done the right thing, and no one was hurt, it still felt like she’d done something wrong.

  Neska could see from Ragnir's rigid posture and clenched jaw that all was not well once they had gotten underway. He motioned for the wagon and the others to stop.

  “I’m going to say this plainly. Steer clear of the Seekers, everyone. Hadley, don’t make a provocative move like that again, or I’ll send you straight to the frontlines where there are plenty of real monsters to kill.”

  “Yes, sir. ‘Real’ monsters are the foes.” Ragnir gave her a knowing glare, but judging by the smirk on her face when he finished and turned to the others, that might have been doing her a favor, Neska reasoned. She didn’t escape a scolding either.

  “Neska,” Ragnir said from the horse adjacent to the wagon, “You could have badly miscalculated that. Seekers have powers and higher class tiers than you or I. They have the kingdom's backing to do what is necessary to attain victory. They don’t look too closely if Awakened are killed away from the battles with the horde up north.”

  {I still stand by what I did. The girl would have died. Burned to death.} Her tail almost shook as she wrote out the angry words. {Would you have stood there and watched her die?}

  He averted his gaze toward the side. She knew what answer the soldier in him would give. It was not the same answer a rational person would give. "My orders are to get you to the academy alive." His tone remained calm after reading her note. “That is the mission entrusted to me. Don't make it harder.”

  Her tail did shake with barely controlled fury as she wrote her response.

  {Coward. Your mission is to protect lives. Or do some matter more than others?}

  The soldier was stoic. But not nearly as stoic as Jurik, who read on silently, saying nothing. "They aren't all like this," Ragnir said, slowly, the words feeling almost forced. As if he didn't want to admit he despised what had occurred. "Gods, we don't need more enemies in this world."

  “They maintain order and hunt down dangerous, high-tier monsters. Ones that govern the others,” Jurik reasoned. “Though, as I have mentioned only to a few, one of the Seekers who attacked Risha–and by proximity, Neska- had multiple mimicoids in their midst. And I highly question the means by which Neska was Awakened, or why they attacked her. Risha must have been a powerful witch in hiding. But why? The Awakened typically reconstitute shortly after procedure, not almost…how long?”

  {Awake a year, but missing memories. Risha only revealed more in the days leading up to the attack.} Jurik gazed at the answer, face still wearing subdued concern.

  “This is just...fun.” Hadley pointed to Neska. “You’re saying that…monsters are imitating the Seekers, now? That’s not possible. It’s their job to kill monsters. Not be the monsters.”

  “Shouldn't this be a foregone conclusion?” Juni asked, her tail winding gently.

  “Which part? The Seekers are monsters, or the Seekers are monsters?" Juni looked at her, confused. "Never mind."

  Subtle, Hadley. Neska let out a soft approving hiss.

  “Neska, do you have names of any of them?” Ragnir inquired and waited for her to finish writing.

  {One. Serpent mask, made of metal. Tasted…of blood and sourness.} The others looked at each other in confusion. {My tongue. I taste scents. His was…wrong. But all are dead. I think. Risha killed them.} Neska still wasn't sure he was actually dead, and presumed he was not, and likely to be even more deadset on killing her. She didn't mention the name to test out Ragnir's response.

  The soldier's expression darkened, and he let out a hissing exhale. "Fuuuuuuck."

  Jurik raised a brow at that. "I presume that reaction is well warranted? I know there's a hierarchy within the seekers, something to do with the uniforms or the masks. I haven't worked with them much."

  "I wish you had all mentioned it sooner. Damn it, Krevan," he sighed. "Probably didn't want to worry me. But I'm still worried. That damn serpent helmet means whoever they were, they were one of the top Seekers or leading a sizable division of men. There are a few above them at the Crimson Citadel. Similarly, Ortholo had that wolf-shaped helmet. I don't think they're ornamental helmets, either. But, what about Risha?"

  “Risha was an Academy member. But I don’t know her precise function. I don't believe I met her,” Jurik explained. “She must have been powerful and knowledgeable to bring Neska's soul back. But…”

  {At the cost of her life.} Neska finished the line with her tail, the tip of the implement resting on the paper. She took a chance. {Watch out for Marikand. I doubt Risha finished him.}

  “Which is why we need to make all due speed. Felix is aware of her,” Hadley pointed out. “One more reason for me to kill him,” she muttered a few seconds later.

  They rode in relative silence for a few hours. Along the way, more small villages began to crop up. The land levelled off, and the trees and rocky terrain had given way to broad fields. Some of which appeared to have men and women cutting the plants, digging trenches, or taking a breather to wipe the sweat from their bodies.

  A few waved at them–a gesture Juni indicated should have been friendly. But when they saw the two of them, their waves faltered, and their eyes went empty.

  She pondered whether it was because they were Awakened? Did they not believe that they had a common enemy? She didn’t get an answer as they faded from view along the winding road and the slight incline of rolling hills.

  “We’re almost there.” Ragnir broke the relative quiet with the announcement and pointed forward, a confident smile creasing his face for the first time since running into the Seekers. “Look ahead. The Academy of the Awakened.”

  Neska peered over the sides of the wagon and saw stone spires rising in the distance, at the base of a valley. A river ran through the lowlands, with intermittent trees and shrubs dotting the landscape. What was even more noteworthy was the sprawling construct of stone, steel, and glass that resided along a cliff, rising above the valley. The sprawling buildings formed a hexagonal shape of a large, gray and dull tan wall, with towers of grey slate tile and more brickwork at each corner.

  Inside the wall, a small city sprawled out over the area Neska couldn’t see at this distance, but she presumed it was filled with people, judging by the wafting smoke, and bright lights turning on as the sun dipped below the mountains at their backs.

  Even at this distance…it matched her memory. She’d been here. How long ago? She didn’t know. But she intended to find out.

  Jurik boosted Juni up to his shoulder, and she clung to him tightly. “It’s…it’s greater than you described,” she whispered, her eyes glinting, one paw going to her snout.

  A faint smirk creased his weathered face. “Told you it was special. I’ve been here several times before. You aren’t the first I’ve brought here with prospective hopes. I hope the inn still serves that mutton pie they had last time. It's been a while.”

  “How long?” Hadley asked, now looking on with interest at the fortifications and the city within.

  “Three years, maybe?” he gripped the wagon's side gently, pointing forward as the wagon descended into a dense forest that separated them from the academy. “This area–the woods, the plains, the rocky terrain–it’s an ideal training site. Lots of variability in conditions to prepare the Awakened. And it's well defended.”

  Ragnir had gone quiet after the woods grew thick around them, and he kept glancing left and right. His horse also seemed to falter slightly. “I’ve been through these woods. I don't like it. This stretch of growth goes all the way to the north, to the skirmish line. Monsters have tried to skip through it before. There’s something in the trees that makes peering into them difficult for scrying teams,” he said, his facial muscles tensed, and he narrowed his eyes forward. “I haven’t seen a patrol yet since we departed the village.”

  “Seekers?” Juni asked, her tail twitching rapidly as she spoke.

  “No. Regular army men. A sizable garrison is here to train with the Awakened. Or study them, watch how they fight. The capital is due south along the river, not far from here, maybe a day’s ride or so. Rivilat is the academy and the town at the base of the plateau."

  He called out to the riders ahead of him. “Stick close. I think it’s maybe an hour or two through here, if I recall.”

  Neska jotted a quick note to Juni. {Bad feeling. Something is watching us.} The mousegirl twitched as she read the note, and tugged on Jurik’s tunic to get his attention.

  “Jurik, my sense of danger has been going off ever since we left the village. It got worse the second we descended into the valley,” she whispered.

  “Ragnir, could we break the horses into a jog?” Jurik asked as he tapped his blade in its scabbard.

  “No. The road isn’t so great here, and the forest has been getting more wild.” Tree roots snaked across the road here and there, little bumps the wagon was jostled by as they went over them.

  Hadley peered out and pointed forward. “Ragnir, something ahead. Looks like a wagon,” she said, peering out over a bend in the road. She’d already pulled her bow out, and a short blade remained tucked at her side.

  Except this wagon was overturned. And there were large, unmoving objects on the road, in the rapidly dimming light. Neska peered forward, trying to see what it was in front of them, and let her gaze go unfocused, trying to use her thermal sense to differentiate.

  What she saw made her go stiff, and she scribbled a note to Juni. Her eyes widened as she read it.

  {Someone forgot bodies are supposed to go all the way into the ground. Brace yourselves.}

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