About a half hour ago . . .

Kiera POV

Once I'm out of sight from the party, bending the light is easy. The last thing I want to be is someone on my tail.

Rather not someone on my tail, but if I would rather trail someone without being seen. Denying people information is vital in all aspects in war. It's what spies are the best at doing so. Couple that with an ability to remain unseen and that's what makes me so perfect for the role.

There are, of course, going to be the very few Silvers who I will never approach. Illusionists don't exactly have an advantage against whispers, telkies, and maybe even elementals like Dahlia. The area of effect they have around themselves is too great a risk, their abilities meant more for burst damage rather than quick picks here and there. My greatest weapon might just be a gun or a knife rather than blinding people into oblivion. If they can't see me first, blinding them has no effect.

It's a different fighting style. Evgeny also adopted a similar way of combat, always looking to attack isolated targets with ease. It's more of getting in and out fast with minimal tracks and mistakes. But while I rely on the element of surprise, he doesn't. And what makes him so potent is his ability to target the back line with ease. Even Dahlia won't need the element of surprise to target the rear ends of a legion. She can just jump in and conjure a storm if she wanted . . . and yet she chooses not too.

Most other elementals I've fought against take advantage of the boundless material or energy they have. Their mana pool extends to infinity, or as much as their concentration can sustain. And most prefer to take control of an area, suffocating their opponent. It works well against me, a person who could be anywhere at any time. Taking risks is a huge risk in itself and sometimes is never worth it.

But Dahlia prefers to assassinate her targets quickly with precision and agility. She only needs one very powerful lightning bolt in order to take a person out. And it seems she's become very good at landing that skillshot. And while she could just jump in like I said, she might just need a couple bolts to take out a legion. It might drain her concentration but range is also key for her fighting tactics. She willl have enough time to rest, recover, and attack successively if she wishes.

Speaking of her, I'm growing more skeptical about that newblood as the days pass.

Of course I'm not the only one who has sights on her. It isn't exactly her fault, but people like Maven will no doubt try to collect her. To stay by the king's side if he wishes is both a death sentence and a blessing. She would be honoured above all and live on a knife's edge. Worst of all, Dahlia wouldn't be able to refuse the order even if she wanted.

It's a scary thought. It's also why I prefer to dip back into the shadows after my matches. It's almost like wearing dark purple in a crowd of black. Visible, yet also unseen.

But even if the order is decreed, I have no doubt that my friend can survive. With skills like hers, she'll accustom herself to palace life in no time. Her goal would also change: either retain favour, or die.

If I were in her position, I might choose the latter. It's a selfish thought, especially for a person like me who needs to give for her country. People in Montfort were always very nationalistic. If I choose to die on my own terms to escape a hell and not give back to my country, what will people think? What will the people commanding me think?

Maybe that's a sacrifice a spy makes. Maybe we lose the control over our lives from the start.

Still, I doubt Dahlia would want a position like that in the first place. Even if a royal decree came to our doorstep calling for her, she would refuse. And if Maven really admired her, he would know to give her the choice to accept or not. And as such, Maven will pursue her relentlessly. Retaining the king at an arm's length is a skill in itself too, giving you power over the most powerful man in the world. Perhaps courting his attention would be a better goal to pursue than blatantly accepting.

But there's always a chance that maybe I don't know how to read people properly. Maybe there's just more than meets the eye.

The less decorative features of the palace signal that I'm finally in the right-wing. They never put ornate objects where more Reds reside. We aren't worthy of being spoiled by gems and grandeur commonly seen in what I call "the Silver Wings". Dahlia should be near me, trailing behind quietly, perhaps deep in thought. But once I turn my head, she is nowhere to be found.

I once said that denying information is an important aspect of war. I'm being denied information as well to an extent. But from what I know, she left slightly earlier, taking the same exit I did. And if she isn't ahead of me, she must have taken a different route. Perhaps the Silver followed her. Evgeny might be a mean person, but at least he knows who to associate himself with. And watching them from afar isn't exactly a great way to mask your intent.

So this leaves me with two options: take a detour, or walk back to the dorm. I think I might have enough time to do both . . . and more without anyone suspecting anything.

With quick steps I change my direction, taking a stairwell up into the right-wing. It only takes a few more minutes for me to get up there before I arrive at my destination.

The office door of Ezra Provos welcomes me.

It's a friendship not many are aware of. Spies like to collect secrets and withhold information. We aren't meant to trust, not even other spies on our side. Information is only said when needed. And secrets . . . they're what we use to hold others in our grasp without fear or betrayal. And that is exactly what this is.

This secret could get me killed. Romantic relations between a two different sexes in Nortan military are highly discouraged by the harsh consequences surrounding them. Work with the other only when needed. And although this one has remained fairly platonic, it could be interpreted differently by outsiders who don't have the full picture.

All the more reason to keep this under the folds.

I knock. Three times actually. And he answers the door fairly quickly.

Ezra once told me he never liked to socialize, a fact evident through his interactions with others. I think it's just a little bit of shyness on his part. He's never been extremely talktative, even if he's alone or with crowds of people. I think part of being in the Silver world had shaped him as such. It's why his best friends are books and words written on a page. They will never criticize him no matter what. No wonder he's always holed up in that office of his. He tries to avoid human contact . . . with most at least.

"Kiera," he says, peeking outside his office door. He sports a formal white shirt, covered by a black, casual wool sweater outlined with threads of gold. And even in such dire circumstances, he has the strength to wear a shy smile. His hair is kept messy and unkempt, always in front of his eyes. Although our appearances in the moment clash, he still seems just as charming as he would normally be.

Charming. It's a hole I hope I don't fall into.

I smile back at him, trying to mirror his own. "Ezra."

"What can I do for you?" he asks, still hiding behind his door. His voice pauses for a second before looking down in embarassment. "I should have invited you in first."

"It's alright, you don't have to," I reply, an almost innocent expression on my face. It won't truly be if the intent isn't pure. "I actually just dropped by just to check in with you."

Although spies need to guard their feelings, showing the imitation of one for personal gain isn't frowned upon. The use of this method is debatable and usually leaves the subject in a broken state if it is exercised too much. Humanity and conscience are sacrificed in war and although I know this, I don't know if I could live with myself after hurting someone as pure as Ezra.

"Oh," Ezra's voice is quiet again as he watches me. His face flushes silver as he looks down again. "Thank you for your concern Kiera. There's . . . there's really no need to continuously check in on me as I am perfectly well. You'd be wasting your time."

"I wouldn't waste time if I came here on my own volition," I reply, puffing up my face like a cute chipmunk. "And besides, Lia was the one who wanted me to check in on you from time to time. I already run enough errands for her to arrive at your doorstep, arriving one more time wouldn't hurt."

He smiles and laughs quietly. "I'm hope she has not troubled you."

"She hasn't, and she won't," I say with a smile. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Please get an early night's rest."

"You as well," he replies with a soft smile. "Tonight must've been hard for you."

"Not as difficult as it may have been for you."

"Then it must have been easy."

"Perhaps," I reply. "I'll be on my way and if there's a message from Lia, I'll be sure to relay it over to you."

He nods quietly and makes a tiny bow. It catches me off guard before I return the courtesy. For a Silver to bow first before a Red? That it's unheard of in this strange land.

We bid each other good bye, before I have to walk back to the dorms. It isn't really walking at this point but rather me sprinting down the hallways once more. I skip down the stairwell in twos before finally ending up on ground floor.

Something in my mind brings me back to Ezra. He isn't that much of a threat in terms of importance but he still strikes me as a formiddable force. And although we are enemies on two different sides, we balance each other out. He's always in the shadows, preferring the fog of war where he waits, watches, and observes. I'm always in the light, manipulating it to defend and use it for good.

The rest of my trip to the dormitory is uneventful though I do turn my head to check if any one is tailing me. Thankfully none is. The biggest surprise happens at the end of my trip. Dahlia, who should be here by now, is not. I could look for her . . . or I could wait. Maybe something will help in this dorm.

I remove the phone in my pocket. It's been there the entire time, recording all the conversations at the dinner until now. I always have it on silent, a newly implemented feature on this prototype. It opens to reveal a singular text message from Reena, another operative. It reads:

Call me soon Swan. ASAP.

I roll my eyes. Every message I get from her is the same. The moment to do so now can be risky, but I'll just give her a satisfying status update and whatever morsels of information I have. It doesn't amount to much. No wonder Dahlia wants to climb ranks. It's dangerous but she'll be part of Maven's inner circle . . . and has the option to exert her influence. Clever, but suicidal if you ask me.

The phone begins to vibrate as the call begins. Only after two vibrations does Reena pick up. She must have been waiting for it regardless.

"Reena," I say, bringing the phone up to my ear. I can't risk having speaker on, "you texted me to call you ASAP?"

"Yes I did," my friend replies, her serene voice echoing through the electronic. The sound quality is terrible with tons of crackling. "What's your status update?"

"I'm good, I'm safe, no one expects a thing," I answer quickly. "And there hasn't been much information flow to the lower ranks. Maven's growing more secretive by the day."

"As we predicted," Reena says. "Just try to do better I guess."

"You think I'm not trying?"

"No, I definitely think you are," she replies sarcastically. "I'm stressed Kiera. Our superiors are getting more frustrated by the day. They'll retract you soon if this doesn't work-"

"I pushed for it, I can definitely make it work-"

"I have faith," Reena replies. "But you're having problem with consistent information flow and it's limiting the amount of moves we can make on the battlefield."

"I know, I'll do better," I reply, almost on the verge of tears. How can they expect this much from me? Was it because of the standard I set before?

"If you really have problem with information, maybe climbing the ranks to earn a place by Maven's side would be sufficient."

Reena's words send chills down my spine. "You want me to risk becoming compromised even more?"

"I never said you have to-"

"I'm not ready to become a long term mole in Maven's court."

"It's war Kiera. As if you'll even have a choice."

Right. As if I need to be reminded. It's a sacrifice of one's humanity and conscience.

I suppress a shiver. "Alright. I understand."

I'm surprised my voice doesn't quaver at all. Perhaps I've grown used to bottling my emotions up.

"Good," Reena says firmly. "I know you said that there was a banquet today. Send whatever information as soon as you can."

"Understood," I reply quietly. "I'll stay as safe as I can."

"I hope you can promise me on that."

"I'm not one to make promises unless I can keep them."

"Right," her voice crackles again from the phone. "I'll be logging off now. Remember your purpose there Kiera."

"Of course Reena, I say. My eyes fall on a shadow outside my door and panic soon sets in. "For Montfort and to free the people of Norta."

The audio in the phone crackles again. I don't know exactly what Reena says but I catch a few words, most likely a repeat of my own. I don't bother caring if I've hung up or not. If I'm found out by the wrong person-

The door opens revealing Dahlia, still in her uniform. I don't know where she was and who she might be reporting to.

I'm too late.


Present Day . . .

Dahlia POV

The distance between us feels larger, stretched by the silence that follows. Neither moves or even dares to breathe.

Kiera's hand moves over the phone, turning it invisible in the blink of an eye. It's rather small, easy for her to carry around without being seen. I wonder how long she's had that for and how long she's been carrying it around Whitefire. It's a rather efficient way to store intel compared to relying on an unreliable human brain.

It would probably be better if I didn't beat around the brush to find out why she has it in the first place. But first, the door must remain closed.

The door shuts behind me quietly, closing the one ticket into the outside world. That way if anything happens, no one would see. Both of our covers must remain over our heads if we want to get out of this situation alive. And even if the sound of a scream can penetrate through the walls, it's better cover than having an open door.

Both stand on opposite sides of the room, watching each other with hawk eyes.

No one dares to move.

So I make the first move.

"Kiera," I say calmly, "tell me, what were you doing?"

"It's not like I would tell you," she replies, a beam of light forming onto her hand. "What response were you expecting?"

I sigh, feigning boredom. "Either you tell me what you were doing or I'll tell His Majesty. An outcome that won't turn out well for the both of us."

"If it won't turn out well, why do it?" The ray grows stronger. "Why risk your life?"

"In this situation Kiera, if I did go to Maven for help and relay all the suspicious activity within our compound, we might both be taken into custody," I explain, walking forward. "Only then would you have your head ripped out by ruthless whispers, your secrets revealed down to the last bit within your mind . . . and just as dried flowers are thrown out after their time is up, you will follow, your body buried in an unnamed grave." I frown. "So much potential wasted for someone so young."

From such a close distance, I can see my friend shudder at the thought. Every soldier knows walking into battle could mean cutting their own life short. Yet they still choose to do it. For the sake of honor, glory, to protect . . . pick your poison. No matter how many soldiers run into war valiantly, no one is ever ready for death.

Kiera is no exception.

"Naturally I wouldn't want that for you," I say with a smile. "I can only warn you to be more careful in the future in case someone with different intentions sees just what I saw today."

A look of incredulity washes over her face. It doesn't surprise me. From her point of view, she views it as a loyal soldier to Maven sparing her life despite knowing her biggest secret. The beam in her life fades in an instant.

Understandable. I would feel the same way as her if I were in her shoes.

"From this moment onwards, we won't discuss what happened today," I say firmly. "Just pretend as though I don't know anything. Don't alert our other two roomies who aren't back yet."

"You won't tell anyone?" Kiera asks weakly. "You won't..."

"No," I reply. "There will be no strings attached . . . for now."

She merely breaths a sigh of relief.

We didn't speak after that. Even when Clara and Ally came back, the cold frigid environment didn't change. I guess she was shocked at my gesture to keep such an important secret away from the rest of the world.

I'll let Kiera sleep on my decision. After all, she will decide how things will play out from now onwards.


Evgeny POV

I never return on time unless there's a good reason why.

"Why are you back so late?" Leo's demanding voice rings through the room as soon as I enter. It almost reminds me of my parents and their own suffocating way of rules. And while this is so much different from home, the feeling won't change no matter what.

I turn to see my best friend lying on the bed, reading a book. He might not seem like an intellect, but he loves books just as much as I love building useless items. In short, a great lot of love for his hobby.

"You promised you'd be back on time," he says, still not looking away from the words. "And you lied."

I roll my eyes with a smile. "You always need to know where I am at all times. You really can't spare a few minutes without me?"

He sends me a glare, finally glancing up from his book. "It's been over an hour."

"Yeah? And?"

My friend sits up, placing the book on the side of the bed. "It was almost like you forgot about me."

I smile and take a seat beside him. "What do you mean 'I'll forget you' Leo," I reply pinching his cheek. It was like we were little boys again. "You know that will never ever happen."

"Well then," my friend says. "I want to know what you were doing in that hour you were gone."

I'd rather keep my mouth shut forever than tell him what I did. He'll explode, scolding me for fraternizing with someone like Dahlia. He'll find every excuse and reason to keep me away from her. It's like he won't allow me to get close to anything that allures me to the slightest. Except building cool objects.

I don't know what childish argument we'll get into this time, but it wouldn't be good.

Hie eyes narrow. "Was it because of Dahlia?"

And he's figured me out.

"I wouldn't even need to tell you," I say, waving a hand over his face. He follows it just fine. "You already have a mind reading ability."

"No, it's just because you never tell me your true thoughts about her." Leo lowers my hand and stares at me dead in the eye. "Besides, we're long-time brothers. Although not related by blood, we have a closer relationship with each other than anyone in our family. Naturally, reading you would become easy."

I just sigh. "Yes, of course."

"You don't need to tell me what you told her," Leo replies, diving back into his book. "Just stay safe out there m'kay?"

I can do nothing but nod my head. He's right of course. And who am I to disobey his advice when it makes so much sense?


Hiya guys, another chapter.

I haven't been sleeping well lately and I've just finished school which took a lot of my time and brainpower to even do. In all honestly, I got about 4 - 5 hours of sleep on average during the last two weeks when I had 5 culminating due. This chapter could use some work, but for now, I'll send it out because why not? In all honestly thought, I wish I made it longer T_T

Happy reading?