A small flame flickered, a faint glow radiating from his palm. Beads of sweat dripped from his brow. The light couldn't hold. It felt heavy and weak, so small as he forced every bit of magical energy he had within him to keep it bright. Just a bit longer and...the light extinguished. 

"You're getting better," Nadia smiled, her cheek resting on folded arms over his desk as she watched. Lifting herself, the dim look in his eyes saddened her. "Hey, you're making progress, Em." 

She reached her hand out, but Emery pulled away. Glaring, his palm stung from his efforts, yet he had nothing to show for it. "It's not enough. I can't fight in a war armed with a candle."

Understanding, she leaned back in her chair. 

His fingers curled over in his palm. "Shouldn't you be with Monroe? He's training with a new division."

Groaning, Nadia stretched her arms out over the desk. "Yeah, I know. But he has plenty of Healers already. Besides, he usually likes to save me for real battles."

It wasn't unusual to see the dark circles under her eyes. Nor her pale skin white as snow from sleepless nights and days gone without the sun. Once she had become one of the Vazeer Healers, she grew far more lethargic. 

"You're okay?" Emery asked. He grew concerned for his older twin, having already witnessed her fall between patients and sleeping for days, weeks, at a time to recover. It was one of the things that Emery really admired about the woman. At the same time, he criticized it. Work was her life and her duty. Carpathia would have fallen ill without her magic, and she knew that. Unfortunately, everyone else did, too. 

Smiling at him, Nadia nodded. "Of course, little brother." She said; though he towered over her by a good foot and a half. His height was at least one of the better qualities he'd inherited from their father. 

"Don't overdo it."

"Right, I should be as lax as you," she teased, her eyes floating between mountain ranges of books in his small sleeping quarters. 

He scowled. "This is different."

"How so? I'm trying to be useful to my country just like you." 

Yeah, except I really am useless, he thought bitterly. The Kingdom wouldn't scatter to cure the sick or heal the wounded if Emery passed out for a few days. No one relied on him as the Kingdom did on Nadia. Without her, they would have already lost the war with Litis. She at least evened the playing field, quickly sending soldiers back into battle in record numbers. Which appeared to be the only upper hand Carpathia had against Litis.

He opened his mouth to speak, but they were soon interrupted by a pounding at his door. Sighing, he rolled his neck back. "Yes?"

"Is Vazeer Nadia Adkin with you?" 

Nadia sighed. "I am. You may enter."  

A short man walked inside. His uniform fit perfectly around his slim shoulders, the insignia of the fourth division displayed on his left shoulder. New, it would seem, as he stood rigidly in the doorframe. Voice trembling, he said, "Vazeer Klavier Arx has summoned you."

"Master Arx?"

"Yes." He squeaked, "In the medical ward."

Understanding, Nadia pursed her lips. "Ah, right. Well," she turned to Emery, "back to work, I guess. Are you going to continue practicing?"

"No. That's probably enough for one day."

Nadia pulled at his sleeve, her voice low enough for her brother to hear, "Come with me."

"What? Why?"

"We never get to see each other, and I miss you." Her hands trembled. "Please?"

He took a moment to consider this, then got to his feet. "Alright. Let's go." 

The pair were quiet as they walked the length of the short hallway. The wing Emery lived in was an older part of the castle. Small and near the servant's quarters. It was his choice as he felt most comfortable there. As an added bonus, it was near the Archiver's Library, where Emery spent most of his days, reading all there was to know about magic. 

Arthur had been the archiver at the time, documenting Carpathia's occult practices and history. Emery smiled as they passed the library, reminiscing on those beautiful days.

"When was the Vazeer Military Division established?" He remembered Arthur asking. They sat across from each other in the library alone. Arthur wore his usual devilish smile, testing Emery.

"1754," Emery replied.

Grin growing wider, Arthur shook his head. "Sorry. 1746." He leaned in to scoop up the last brownie.

Placing his hand on Arthur's tattooed wrist, they paused. "1746 was the date they formed. They weren't officially recognized by the King until after the Ezterrian Rebellion," Emery smiled back, a cock of his brow.

A twitch was barely noticeable at the corner of Arthur's lip. He leaned back and looked through his books. It took no time at all to find what he was looking for. Despite the thousands of books lining the shelves, Arthur knew this place better than the back of his hand. He let the text marinate in his brain before saying, "You're right."

"Of course I am. But I love you, so you can have half of my brownie."

Arthur laughed, taking the whole thing.

He recalled his time with Arthur fondly. An intelligent young man, Emery admired everything about him. But once the indenture was finally paid, Arthur got on the first train to Ezterra. 

"Emery," Nadia tugged at his shirt sleeve. 

He opened his eyes to see the infirmaries' large doors. Guards from the third and fourth division stood at attention, bowing to the pair. Of course, Emery knew they meant this gesture for his sister, a Vazeer.

When the doors opened, Emery was struck by a horrid smell. A violent mix of bile and iron. Healers were gathered around a table; magic lights radiated greens and golds as drops of crimson hit the marble floor.

Once Arx caught sight of them, he frowned at Emery. Usually, he would disapprove of Emery being there, demanding to know why he wasn't training with the first division. But when his eyes met Nadia, he let the matter go. 

Snapping his fingers, he ordered her to his side. "Heal him."

Nadia stepped in closer. The man on the table wore black clothes, damp with blood. She recognized his skin tone and dark hair as Ezterrian. But why had Arx just ordered her to heal him? She couldn't see his wrist, so it was impossible to confirm if he was an indentured servant. Still, any Ezterrian caught stealing was immediately sentenced to death - no trial.

Healing him went against Carpathian laws.