IRENE stormed out of the Council room, teeth clenched in anger, she felt like she hadn't vented nearly enough. Beside her, Moirai glided with her usual grace, a faint smile playing on her lips. The long, flowing gowns she wore always made it seem as though she floated rather than walked; a notion even Irene couldn't dismiss.
"Did you enjoy that?" Irene's tone was laced with authority, making it clear she was furious.
"Calm your nerves," Moirai replied.
Irene bit back a retort, knowing anything she said now would only make her seem petulant. She shook her head and glanced at Hevah, who walked silently beside them, his expression as unreadable and distant as ever. "What's on your mind?" she asked, seeking distraction from her rage.
"I'm contemplating the consequences of your actions," Hevah answered, "The Sages are not ones to be trifled with."
"What would you have had me do?" Irene snapped. "Let them torture my subordinate?"
The old man adjusted his glasses with a wry smile. "You hold no real sentiment for Helios; we both know he's far from honorable. I believe it was the influence of the superstitious woman that spurred you on."
Irene sighed at his familiar words. Hevah always referred to Moirai as the "superstitious woman," mocking her reliance on foresight. In contrast, Hevah was a man firmly rooted in the present, dismissing any divine messages from the diviner. His reasoning was always the same: "If the future is set in stone, then knowing it changes nothing. If it's mutable, then it's just a possibility; not worthy of concern."
Moirai glanced at Irene. "So do you believe I instigated you?" The woman asked.
Irene glanced at the diviner's face, and in that moment, she decided she wouldn't even bother answering the question herself. "Ag," she called to the Notary trailing behind her.
"Your Grace," came the feminine voice in response.
"What are the odds that I was manipulated by my diviner during the hearing?" she demanded, already catching Moirai rolling her eyes.
"I can provide the answer in percentage terms. I am not familiar with the concept of odds. I trust that is acceptable," the Notary replied.
"It is," Irene affirmed.
"There is a seventy-six percent chance you were manipulated today," the Notary stated.
Irene turned her gaze to Moirai, who raised her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, you caught me. All I did was amplify your anger, make it unbearable. I held you back multiple times when you were about to act because you weren't furious enough. The truth is, Helios needed someone to defend him without fear. The council will never find him innocent, and even if they did, innocence wouldn't be enough to save him."
Irene nodded. If she hadn't been utterly consumed by rage, she might have backed down, intimidated by the Admiral and the Council. But when she was angry enough, she had a habit of doing the most reckless things; and Moirai had counted on that. She sighed, saying nothing more. This was precisely why she kept these people close. Hevah was her logical advisor, the one who analyzed situations with a philosophical mindset.
Moirai represented superstition and cunning. She was a swindler in the past and was actually staged up for execution but Irene said she wanted her as a birthday gift. Her Notary; Ag represented a statistical mindset, she calculated everything based on probability and numbers. Although Irene was the Marshal, those three were the reason she was still alive today.
As they exited the palace grounds, a hooded figure suddenly broke into Irene's procession. Her two guards instantly reacted, pressing their swords to the intruder's neck. Irene turned, and a smile spread across her face as she recognized the person.
"Let him go," she commanded, her voice calm. The figure stepped forward, nodding respectfully to her companions before stopping in front of her, a cheeky grin on his lips.
"Take off the hood, idiot," Irene chuckled.
"Hello," the man greeted, pulling back the hood. "I didn't expect you on land. What happened, did the ocean boil over?" he teased, his tone mischievous.
"Avaron, enough!" Irene laughed. "I was called back on official duty," she replied, her expression softening.
"And you're leaving without saying hi to me?" Avaron asked, feigning offense. His white hair mirrored Irene's, but unlike her dark complexion, his skin was fairer. His eyes were gray, nearly transparent.
"What makes you think I even want to see you? Your existence means nothing to me," she retorted with a shrug, turning away.
"Ouch, that hurts," Avaron quipped, squinting playfully. "But it only makes me adore you more," he added, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Come on, Serenity wants to see you. She's leaving for the island today with new recruits."
Irene glanced at her crew. "Head back to the Retribution. I'll join you in an hour at most," she instructed. They nodded in unison as she turned to follow Avaron in another direction.
Avaron was a direct descendant of the God King; his great-grandson, to be exact. He and Irene had grown up together, and while they hadn't initially gotten along, over time, they grew closer, eventually developing romantic feelings for one another. Yet, their demanding roles left little room for anything more than fleeting moments together.
Irene served as the Marshal of the Western Hemisphere, while Avaron commanded the Eastern Hemisphere. It was pure chance that they both happened to be in Ashen Reach at the same time.
Irene gripped Avaron's hand, letting him lead her through the bustling city streets. They navigated through Ashen Reach's largest market, weaving between merchants and shoppers until they reached the Air Fortress.
The Air Fortress was a sprawling port, a marvel of engineering that stretched over twenty square miles. It buzzed with activity, as workers tended to the massive engines and machinery required for air travel; a mode of transportation that always scared the breath out of Irene.
Avaron guided her to a compartment where Serenity, her old friend, was busy at work. As they approached, Irene spotted her standing amidst a group of Marine recruits, delivering instructions with her usual blend of authority and charm. A smile spread across Irene's face; Serenity hadn't changed a bit since she'd last seen her three years ago.
With her hands clasped behind her back, Serenity's brunette hair was pulled into a neat ponytail as she addressed the recruits. "Consider today your first deployment. Remember, you volunteered for this; no one forced you. If you want out, now's your last chance!" The recruits remained silent, their resolve unshaken. "Your chances of survival on this trial have been calculated at ten percent. Survival is slim, Cryptid or not." She sighed, her gaze lifting to meet Irene's.
"Well then, welcome aboard," she said, gesturing for the recruits to board the aircraft.
Serenity left the recruits and strode over to Irene and Avaron. "What the hell are you two doing in Ashen Reach?" she asked, surprised. "Is something bad happening again?" The last time they had all been together like this was seven years ago, when someone had tried to annihilate the Sagittarium.
"I hope not," Irene replied, pulling her friend into a tight hug. "How have you been?"
Serenity rolled her eyes. "Like you care," she teased, then turned to Avaron. "Wait, are you two getting married?" she asked, her tone playful. Irene flushed instantly.
"No! Where did that come from?" Irene shot back, eyes wide. "Helios Charlemagne lost the *Silent Sorrows*, that's why I'm on land," she explained. "The Council summoned him for a hearing."
"Is he still alive?" Avaron and Serenity asked in unison.
"Yes, I saved his ass," Irene nodded.
"Why?" Avaron asked, his face twisting in disgust.
Irene chuckled. "Just because you don't like him doesn't mean he should die. Anyway, what brings you here?" she asked, changing the subject.
"The Admiral summoned me and my Narvachs. He wanted to interrogate them or something," Avaron explained.
"Both of them?" Irene inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, he's convinced Godblast is back on radar," Avaron confirmed, and Serenity's expression shifted.
"Godblast?" Serenity echoed.
Irene glanced between them. "Yeah, he's back. That's what destroyed the *Silent Sorrows*. Helios killed two of Godblast's crew, and your boss retaliated by wrecking a Celestial Grade ship," she explained, directing the last part to Serenity.
"He's not my boss anymore," Serenity corrected. "Anyway, I'm heading out. I'm on supervisor duty, again." She smiled as one of her partners, clad in full Marine gear and armed to the teeth, hurried over.
"It's time to move, Captain," the soldier said, and Serenity nodded.
"I'll see you guys again!" she shouted over the roar of the massive aircraft in front of them. The engine's hum intensified as powerful thrusters unleashed a gust of wind that shook the ground beneath them, even from nearly two kilometers away.
Irene hugged Serenity one last time, watching as she sprinted toward the colossal machine. The craft's thrusters roared louder as the hatch sealed shut. Moments later, it lifted off the ground with such force that Irene had to shut her eyes and brace herself. By the time she opened them again, the aircraft was already a speck in the sky, vanishing out of sight.