We spent the rest of the morning helping with simple tasks around the main communal area of the encampment. While Father Titus was the star of the show with his healing abilities, my role mainly involved gathering and fetching needed supplies. Unfortunately, I didn’t always have enough to hand out.

At one point, Roderick murmured, “Strange, I was certain he’d be here by now.”

“Who?”

“On old friend,” he replied uneasily. “He gathers second-hand goods from the Periphery and delivers them to us.”

I glanced toward the southern gate, but no one was approaching. “Would the guards let him through?” I asked.

Roderick nodded. “His weekly visits are a long-standing habit that likely assuages the city’s collective guilt. I’m not saying the items don’t help, mind you, but that is the extent of social grace we are afforded.”

“Hmm…”

Before I could consider possible reasons for the delay, Safir plunged downward from the sky with a screech, heading straight toward us. Captain Corwin held out his arm, and Safir landed on it after dropping a rolled-up scroll from his talons.

Wordlessly, Aleph retrieved the scroll from the ground and held it out to the Captain so he could read it.

“Roderick,” Corwin called after giving the scroll a glance. “We need a place where we may talk freely.”

We were soon escorted into Roderick’s private tent, with Fianna standing guard outside to ensure our privacy.

“Maintain order as best as you can,” Captain Corwin instructed without preamble. “My assistant will set up a perimeter.”

A perimeter for what?

And why is his assistant giving orders? Shouldn’t Corwin’s Lieutenant be acting in that capacity?

Come to think of it, I don’t think he has one.

Roderick, initially engrossed in the scroll, eventually slammed it down. “They knew that increased animus output from us hybrids was a blatant lie… for years?!” he exclaimed, his face darkening with anger.

Sounds like the article's discovery already happened… but isn’t the response too quick?

Corwin shook his head slowly. “We don’t yet know the identity of ‘they,’” he replied calmly, “but rest assured, we will—”

“No humans!” Roderick suddenly shouted before turning to me with visible shock. “You! You need to go now!”

Corwin intervened firmly, saying, “We must make the most of what little time we have. Fianna will take charge of maintaining order here, with hybrid and human soldiers under her command.”

Roderick kicked over the chair he had been previously sitting in. “Don’t you get it? I won’t be able to guarantee their safety once this gets out!”

“We knights are fully aware of the perils ever before us,” Corwin stated cooly as he straightened the chair for him. “Yet, it is vital for the people here to witness that we, humans and hybrids alike, share their sense of outrage. Moreover, the harsh truth is I lack the hybrid-only forces necessary to ensure your safety entirely. Nonetheless, I will see to it that those under my command are fully apprised of this situation.”

Aleph quickly read the scroll and swallowed audibly before passing it to Tetora. Tetora’s eyes widened, and he slapped it into my hand. As I suspected, it was a copy of the research article from before, but a hastily scribbled note from Relias appeared under the title.

Copies of this article have been raining down from the sky all over Chairo since midday. Inform their leader of this discovery and return without delay. Assistant Ezer is en route with a contingent to ensure your safe passage back.

Copies… raining down from the sky? That wasn’t part of the plan! The article was supposed to be discovered by someone with local authority, someone who hopefully was smart enough to take it up the chain, forcing the General Assembly to respond in a timely, controlled manner.

What exactly was Vernie up to?

No. She couldn't have done it. But... Nora?!

My noisy, internal monologue kept me from hearing the rest of the details discussed, but ultimately, Roderick angrily agreed to Corwin’s crisp commands.

“I will make sure they hear this from me first,” Roderick vowed bitterly. “I won’t be accused of hiding anything from them.”

Corwin nodded after blinking several times. “That seems the best course of action. We should depart; our escort is almost here.”

Roderick turned to me, warning, “They’ll be riots regardless. You better do something about all this!”

Me.

Why was it always my problem to fix?

I can’t do it alone…

“I will,” I answered with the fake firmness of a politician running for a position they didn’t understand.

The return to the High Temple was a harrowing ordeal fraught with turmoil. The knights of the Silver pressed in tightly, their shields forming mobile walls and roofs to protect us. We were pushed and jostled, our collective movements jerky and disorienting as we swayed in the storm of chaos. From what little I could see, the Periphery was in utter disarray; multiple fires burned and smoked on street corners, and more than a few stones were thrown our way. I had offered to help reinforce the protective silver aura surrounding our squad, but my assistance was firmly declined. Despite the presence of hybrids among us, their mixed lineage offered no sanctuary from the wrath of those who had reached their breaking point. Of course, it was nice to hear that at least some members of the public were as outraged as we were.

“What other lies has the church spread?” someone screamed.

“Let the hybrids in!” another shouted. “Enough is enough!”

To my dismay, however, there were also counter-protests.

“Just because they don’t make extra animus don’t mean they ain’t dangerous!”

“They have horns like demons!”

“Ban them! Ban them all!”

“Chairo is for humans!”

When we reached the portal to the Forums, I was so nauseated from the noise and smoke that I didn’t notice any difference after translocating. Of course, it was only marginally better there. A large company of Silver kept the path clear, but the shrieks and screams continued. On my way up to the temple steps, I noticed that I had crushed more than a few crumpled copies of the breaking news article under my feet.

Relias himself greeted us inside the doors. “You made it just in time. Come, you must all report to the General Assembly immediately.”

“Wait,” I objected. “Shouldn’t we talk about this first? We need to come up with an emergency communication plan that addresses—”

“There’s no time,” he replied sadly, shaking his head as he headed deeper into the Temple. “The situation has escalated. I’ve had to detain half a dozen for physical altercations already. We are due to reconvene in two minutes, and we need to move forward with your observations.”

Our observations.

“Don’t expect us to report on flowers and sunshine,” I threatened, keeping pace. “Relias, it’s even worse out there up close!”

“I know…” he agreed quietly. “That is why you must tell them now. Before they can delay any longer.”

I stopped to glance at Aleph and Tetora. “I think you guys should go first. Is that okay? In fact, I don’t think I should even go inside yet.”

“Dear One, that makes no sense,” Relias objected. “As soon as they see you, they—”

“Won’t pay attention to anyone else,” I finished. “That’s the problem. It can’t just be me telling them there’s a problem. They have to hear it from everybody!”

If others are allowed to speak up, they may be empowered to help fix it—you know, like people with more expertise on the matter than I have.

Relias bowed his head in agreement. “We’ll try it your way. Just be careful; not everyone believes you’re the true hero.”

I drew a deep, angry breath. “I don’t care what other people think—”

“I am very sorry,” he interrupted. “But in this case, it matters. One of those rats in there knows where your shield is, and we must get him to confess as soon as possible.”

Where my shield is?

Weren't they supposed to be presenting it to me soon?

“I thought you knew where—”

“It’s gone, replaced by a replica,” he said with an uncharacteristic hiss before shuddering. “The shield... that’s why… that’s why I’ve tolerated their antics for so long. But knowing it was all a lie... I can’t bear it any longer! If I don’t assert control soon… I fear I may be driven to desperate, even dishonorable, actions…”

We all stared at him, soaking up the stark reality of Relias’s deteriorated state. His eyes were deeply sunken, his brow ashen, and it was painfully clear that even a week of uninterrupted rest wouldn’t begin to wash away the fatigue that had settled into his features. Playing pacifist politics had certainly taken a physical toll on him, yet no rewards had been reaped.

“Some will call you an imposter,” he admitted after we gave him a few moments to regain his composure. “They have already heard from Emilia about ‘Project Hero’ earlier this morning, and many believe you are merely a reprint imposter yourself.”

“I’ll… keep that in mind,” I promised with a deflated sigh, tempering my rage with the idea that I could delay a little on their inevitable punishment. “And I’ll be ready to show them who I am out the gate, shield or no shield.”

Emmy said not to let them question my confidence.

Remember, there can be only one.

Relias turned to Aleph and Tetora. “My dear companions, may I call upon your testimony now? Let us set the stage for action.”

Aleph and Tetora nodded firmly. The trio then inhaled collectively, readying themselves for whatever awaited them in the assembly hall. After watching them enter, I quickly cataloged everything I wanted to share on my turn as I pulled off my cloak and wimple, making sure every inch of me appeared to be an authentic hero.

It would be quite the act, but I had to pull it off.

First, I’ll tell them that the hybrids in the encampment lack basic needs. Safety, security, food, water, sanitation services, clothes…

There are people in Chairo willing to help–the church also needs to help the helpers.

You must issue an official apology for all your misguided proclamations.

An internal investigation is also necessary; you have bad actors in the mix!

Tell Turri to stop enslaving hybrids. Punish those who don’t listen.

Support the Wastelands.

And while you’re at it, let’s evaluate how you’ve handled dark mages, hmm?

It would all be easy to say… but would they follow through?

As I pondered the difficulties of ensuring and monitoring systematic change, a roar shook the hallway.

Looks like it’s Tetora’s turn to talk.

The chamber suddenly fell quiet, save for Tetora’s punctuated orations. While I couldn’t make out what he was saying, I certainly knew how he was saying it. A few priests fled at one point, and I began to worry that, at this rate, we wouldn’t have a majority for any voting actions.

“We’re ready for you, Captain Lightbringer,” a voice eventually called from the doorway. It wasn’t Relias who spoke so heavily, but Father Thomas, his expression stern and inscrutable. “The General Assembly is prepared to hear your words.”

With a final, steadying breath, I nodded curtly, certain I was ready for almost anything.

If only that had been true.

Post Chapter Omake:

Nora: So, I was your first suspect?

Rachel: Well, I mean, papers raining down from the sky?

Nora: I’m going to remember this.

Rachel: As... a compliment?

Nora: No.

Rachel: Ahahaha...