Emma rushed over first thing the next morning, demanding I tell her about everything that happened. Police were investigating an attack at Carver Street Park yesterday, description of the attacker was a young blonde male in a long black coat, armed with a sword and bow of various different descriptions. Witness accounts all sounded so sure in what had been seen, but there were no bodies to confirm the attack, and luckily, no one had gotten anything on film. So far, the event was being chalked up to mass hysteria.

Despite not having had my picture taken, I worried over it constantly. There was no doubt that AAAAA could have heard of it, and recognized it for what it was. He knows I’m out there, even if he doesn’t know it was me. I didn’t stop worrying until Emma and Camilla dragged me into practice, while Briar did his best to research the gem thing I brought back yesterday. Practice was helpful, and mind numbing. I was trying to focus on countering attacks and staying on my feet, as I kept fumbling the last few days. It was late when all four of us sat down at the table to eat and go over a new game plan.

“So, what’d you find about that gem?” Camilla asked Briar over her food, Emma had just finished telling him how training went, and what we did after.

“It’s an ornament, I believe.” He answered, “It belongs with another piece.”

“What piece? What’s it for?” I asked this time.

“A rod, of some kind. The gem fits on the very top, if what I’ve found so far is correct. Nothing has gone into what it does, though.”

“Does Jett know anything?” Emma asked, and I pulled him out from his satchel.

“I dunno. Maybe. The rod sounds familiar.” He grunted, it was hard to get him to talk about the past. “Do you know who it belonged to?”

I repeated what he said for the others, Briar nodded shortly after.

“Nee-am?” Briar squinted, like he was struggling remembering it. “The witch. She made countless other artifacts, so it was hers if I had to guess.” Suddenly Jett was essentially hacking.

“UGH. Niamh. That—witch.” He yelled and hissed, and I got the idea that he meant something else entirely when he called her a witch.

“Uh… Jett called her Nee-av. Then called her a witch- but not like in a happy tone.” I explained concernedly.

“No. Not happy. Not happy at all.” He muttered as Briar began asking.

“Does that mean he knows of it? Of her?”

“Ugh. Yeah. I remember now. It’s the ‘Blessed Scepter’ or some bullshit. We need to find it, it’s no good for us if they get it.” He spoke quickly, determined to get the information out. I explained his words, and as soon as Briar finished eating he was up and hitting the books again, so to speak. Emma and I tried to help, but Camilla forced us both to step away.

“You two had a long day. Rest. We’ll sort this tomorrow.” She backed us both out of the living room and into the hallway, and shut us out. Emma and I were left standing in the dark. I laughed awkwardly.

“Well, guess it's that time.”

“Yeah, I should probably head back soon anyway. My roommates don’t like when I get back after midnight.” She sighed.

“Oh, hah, yeah sorry to keep you then…” I still felt bad for getting her dragged into all this.

“No, I want to help. Besides, aside from the threat of death looming over our heads, it’s kind of been kind of fun.” She swung her bag up onto her shoulder. I laughed lightly.

“Well, at least there’s that.” I looked down at my feet for a second, then back up to her. “Thank you. By the way. You don’t have to help me like this, but you do. It means a lot.”

“You’re welcome. Thank you for making an effort, even though it's scary.” She smiled, and I stepped in to give her a hug. It might have caught her slightly off guard, but she returned it happily. When we separated, I offered a slight smile and bid her goodnight, she was slow to let go. I turned to go to my room after, and shut my door before getting ready for bed.

“Wow, Fin.” Jett said as I began putting on my pajamas.

“What?”

“You’re oblivious, aren’t you?” He asked me, I couldn’t help but feel like I missed something.

“What do you mean?” I got my sleep shirt on, and I picked him up while setting his satchel down where my other bags sat.

“Or you really don’t like her like that.” He said, and I straightened, and looked at the sword in my palm, daring him to continue. “maybe you’re just into men.”

I sputtered, and quickly looked around the room for somewhere to hide him from my sight. I ended up dropping him into my backpack. I hoped absently that I did this before my cheeks could tinge red.

“How did you even get from point A to point B? People can be straight and friends with someone without wanting to be with them!” I yelled at him in a demanding tone.

“You didn’t deny it.” He commented, and I responded by kicking my backpack shut and it fell onto its back.

“Hey! Okay, fine! Forget I said anything. Just get me out of here!” He started yelling, and I ignored him. I stomped back over to my bed. “Fin? Finlay? Are you going to bed? Come on, put me back on the display.”

I continued to ignore him, I faced the wall and acted like I was going to sleep.

“Ugh. I don’t even see the big deal anyway.” Jett complained, then finally, fell silent enough for me to sleep.

Which was easier said than done, apparently. I kept having this vague feeling of danger, and I tossed and turned throughout the night. I finally managed to get some sleep and was tossed back into my nightly dream. Nothing changed since the last time, he was still humming at the edge of that cliff. I was still standing still, frozen in place. I breathed a sigh, and the man’s head twitched for a millisecond. Then I found myself awake, more tears in the corner of my eyes. I got up with a sigh, and sat there staring at the wall for a while.

I got up, and got dressed without saying anything. Jett was quiet as well, I took a step toward the display case before I remembered I had thrown him in my bag last night. I fetched the satchel, and then him.

“Sorry.” I said, feeling a little bad about leaving him there all night.

“Whatever.” He responded, “Don’t do it again.”

Now I rolled my eyes, and I turned to go out the door and into the kitchen. No one was there yet, Briar must still be asleep. I decided to grab my phone to check the time before going downstairs to see if Camille had already begun working. I found her behind the counter, she was on the phone with someone.

“No. Yes. I understand, I can pay it.” She glanced at me, and held up a finger to signal for silence. “Yes. When can I pick up?... Now?” She glanced at the clock on the wall.

“Yeah, that’s fine. I can make that. Yes. I’m on my way.” She hung up, and stepped back from the counter.

“What was that?” I asked.

“An associate of mine is offering some goods I want. I’m gonna go get them, you stay here and watch the shop.” She went past me to grab her hood from behind the curtain.

“Associate? Mystery goods? Could you possibly sound any shadier?” I asked her, she rolled her eyes as she shrugged on her coat.

“I wouldn’t exactly call him a friend, and I don’t want to discuss the goods here. I’ll show you later. Bye.” And she disappeared behind the employee exit door. I sighed and went to stand at the counter.

“We should be looking for the rest of the artifact.” Jett said after a while.

“I know.”

“Not standing behind a counter.” He added, like it made a difference.

“I know.” I said again.

“So close up, go upstairs and find out what Briar knows.” He tried to tell me what to do.

“No, we’re letting the old man sleep. He stayed up late finding out what he could for us.” I responded coolly.

“Hmph.”

After a while, I could hear shuffling about upstairs, and Jett immediately began pestering me again.

“Oh my god, fine. If you stop bugging me about it.” I snapped. We still hadn’t had any customers yet anyway. After I locked up and flipped the break sign, I went upstairs to find Briar making himself his morning cup of tea.

“Morning, Briar.”

“Oh, good morning Finlay. I hope you slept well?” He turned from his teacup at the counter. I shrugged.

“I slept alright.” I went up to the pantry, realizing I never had breakfast.

“Stop with the pleasantries and ask already!” Jett complained again. I glared at the satchel on my hip, and spitefully, I started getting ingredients from around the kitchen.

“You want me to make you breakfast, Briar?” I asked with my back to the room.

“Are you kidding me Fin?” He groaned, and I felt somewhat satisfied with my revenge so far.

“Oh, would you? I would appreciate that, thank you Finlay.” The old man sounded pleased, sitting at his spot at the table now. I was more than happy to make us breakfast, despite just doing it to annoy Jett, so I went ahead and got to work and pointedly ignored all of Jett’s attempts to make me annoy Briar so early in the morning. I was more than thoroughly annoyed by the time we were finished eating our breakfast, and I allowed Briar to take the dishes from me to wash.

“Alright, Jett’s been harassing me to find out if you learned anything about the ‘Blessed Scepter’ or whatever?” I finally said, to Jett’s immense relief.

“Ah, is that so?” Briar asked, as he finished washing. He turned to me while drying his hands. “Yes, I have. It’s a ‘Blessing Scepter’ there used to be more, but this one is the only one left. It was a tool that AAAAA supposedly stole and used in order to transfer his energy onto objects. The effects would be that he ‘blessed’ those who came in contact with the object into becoming corrupted. Simple, maybe, but in today’s world it would corrupt hundreds in a day by merely touching a door handle to any major business. From there it would only spread.”

“Uh, why was it so hard to find stuff on that? Don’t you think it would be like, all over the place?” I paled at the idea, and Briar shrugged.

“It wasn’t all that useful back then, most kept to themselves, and there were less people concentrated into one area.” He explained his theory, and I sagged back into my seat.

“Great, and now we’ve gotta find it.”

“Oh, no worries, I already have a lead.” He said. My head shot up, and he continued. “I haven’t narrowed down it’s exact location yet, but when I do, we will be sending both you and Camilla to retrieve it. I’ll let you know when I have specifics. For now, though, you should get back to your day.”

“Tell him to hurry.” Jett said, and I ignored him again. Instead standing up, and starting to head back downstairs.

“Thanks Briar.” I called as I exited the room. “Look, Jett, I know you’re eager to find this thing, I am too.”

“Then-” He started, but I cut him off as I started going down the stairs.

“-But. Camilla and Briar are doing everything they can. They’re dedicating their lives to this crap and they don’t even have to. We should be thankful for the help as it is, and not be pushing them. If they get worn out then it’s just going to make it worse for everyone.” I said that last sentence mostly to put it into Jett’s words, I felt bad about pushing Briar too far. I couldn’t imagine it was easy doing all this research all of the time. Jett seemed to finally resign as I made it back to the door to open back up. Camilla happened to walk back in around that time.