During a calm Capricorn morning, I decided to spend time with Mother, as I was free until the late afternoon, and Judge Drace had miraculously let me retreat for a few hours at the Rienna apartment.

When I got there around dawn, my mother was asleep. I sat silently by her side, deeply thinking about the last remarks the doctors told her. We had visited a professor of medicine a few days ago, who gave us unexpected hope to make her condition better: a medical operation, consisting of a series of surgeries and laser therapy, among other sophisticated steps. Since the cost was indecently huge – even for an imperial Judge –, I had discussed Mother's case with both a pulmonologist and a neurologist, giving them the latest reports and analyses, and both were formal: my mother's situation was severe, its cure was still unknown, and the only way to lessen her pain was that precise operation. The only way to save my mother was to find 1,300,000 gil.

Feather House, the only clinic in Archades that performed that act, was asking the full payment in order to book a slot and just talk with the surgeons and radiologists. Leaving my pride aside, I begged them several times, stating the poor Linda was weaker and weaker, needing the operation urgently, and that I could pay a small part in advance and secure a loan for the rest, but nobody paid attention to my pleas.

With that unfortunate situation in mind, I looked at my mother's face as she rested in peaceful slumber, enjoying the absence of suffering that came with unconsciousness. Giving up was out of the question, but I felt that even if I starved and stopped spending the few gil I gave at shops and seed sellers, the saved amount would be ridiculously insufficient compared to the operation's price.

I looked at the living room's clock – it was seven. I had to be up and running at ten at the Akademy. I wish I could wake Mother up to ask for her state, but the cleverest and kindest thing to do for the moment was let her rest as much as possible.

'Gabranth…' she suddenly said.

'Mother! Good morning. I shall cook breakfast.'

I helped her go to the bathroom with great difficulty, and went to the kitchen. I then served hot tea with her favorite pancakes and jam, and smiled as she ate with the little appetite sickness left her.

'I'm sorry. I must go soon', I said. 'I'll ask Thembeka to stay in my place, at least until noon.'

She probably tried to reply something like "No, my son, this is not necessary", but she perfectly knew she could fall or have a crisis at any time. Therefore, she sighed and we finished our meal in silence.

'You are very brave, my son, she said after I was done with the dishes. Working at random hours of the night and day is no easy matter.'

'Well, I am Drace's dömavän, and even Lord Larsa's counselor now, for what it looks. I must be an example for my subordinates and whoever heard of the "100% Judge"', I added with a laugh.

'I am so glad that… ah!'

'Mother, what's wrong?' I cried in horror.

Linda almost fell on the floor, although she was still sitting on the sofa. She put her weight on the edge and looked like she was about to throw up.

'It… it hurts', she said, her face twisted by shame and extreme pain.

'St… stay here! I'll ask…'

'Don't ask… anyone. It is my fate to end my life in these conditions. Ah!'

'Do not speak! Consider the health the gods gave you and think only of saving it. You still believe in them, don't you? One of our neighbors is a white mage. He will…'

'You have heard the professor as… well as I did…' she panted as I rushed to lift her shoulders. 'There is… nothing to be done… no cure exists…'

If only I had those damned 1,300,000 gil! Why did this country only consider the well-born people? Why was there no way to help poorer citizens, despite their intense diseases and helpless state?

As if the situation wasn't frustrating enough, I left my mother as soon as Thembeka arrived by her side. There was no way I could leave my responsibilities as a Judge of the Empire. I entered the Akademy and wore my armor with no wish to supervise the trainings for the upcoming campaign – one of the few I was sent to, spending most of the month in courts, the Akademy, and the Palace.

After the last soldier had left the space, I bent over and felt like crying. My work wasn't done, I had to go to the Twenty-Sixth and listen to whatever Judge Drace decided to entrust me with for the rest of the day. I joined her in the little antechamber, which never looked so unwelcoming.

'And that is the file you must prepare for next week', she concluded after a speech I wasn't focused on.

'Very well, my Lady.'

She observed me for a second, and then sighed. It was always strange to see her and the other Judge Magisters in armor while I hadn't the right to wear mine.

'Now tell me', she suddenly said in a severe tone.

'T… tell what?'

She stood up, sighed again and declared:

'There is something troubling your mind right now. We Magisters are taught to read suspects' intents at first glance. Sentia was particularly good at it… So tell me now. It is not lawful for an imperial Judge to avoid being fully committed to serving the country, even a single moment, and especially if they are so close to House Solidor.'

I looked at her in plain despair. What did I have to do? Answering her question would make me appear as weak and traitorous to my duties. Refusing would certainly break her trust and make her consider me even more as a foreign suspect.

'Drace…' I began, forgetting all sense of etiquette.

When I realized it, my eyes changed to terror, but she didn't seem annoyed a single bit. Her face became even… friendly.

I gathered my breath; thought of any other way to do it… then said it all. I told her about my mother's state, about how much she meant to me, about how our relationship strengthened since we moved to Archades – almost disclosing the provenance –, and about our hopeless mindset.

'I am sorry, my Lady, I added in the end. I know I mustn't focus on anything else than serving and protecting my Judge Magister, but she is the most important and only person I have left in my private life. I guess… I guess I can never become Judge Magister myself, because I could never detach myself from my obligations as a son.'

She still looked friendly, but absolutely not emotional.

'I… I wish I could find the operation's cost immediately, so I can put my concerns aside and this will stop being a topic – at least for a while. But do not get confused: I am aware the Sixth has nothing to do with this issue; I will therefore leave my personal problems at home and get back to my seriousness soon. I… just need time. Forgive me.'

'How much is the operation's price?'

'It is…'

Even in front of a Judge Magister, certainly much richer than me considering her mandatory sacrifices and key function, saying the amount out loud felt improper.

'1,300,000 gil.'

— 130 bricks, huh? I see. Feather House, no doubt?

How was she aware?

'Y… Yes, my Lady.'

She caressed her chin for ten seconds then left to the door:

'Wait here. I shall return very soon.'

Alone in the entrance of Drace's apartments, I never felt so insecure. Darkness was very close, covering me completely, much more than the first time I was invited in there. The silence was scary. I was thirsty and hungry, for my mother's health let me neither time nor desire to take care of my own. My brain had stopped. Nothing existed anymore. The situation would never sort itself out. Magic only existed on the battlefield. I had overcome many hurdles, but that one was too solid. That one was impossible to tackle. I clearly lacked the strength; my feats were nothing at that moment. I was useless, an undesired empty shell, and had been so since the days in Landis. It couldn't be helped. It was the end.

How much time had passed until Drace came back, rushing inside like an angry teenager? It seemed very long and very short at once.

'Listen, you should go to Feather House just after your office work. If you wait tomorrow, the delay will be very long, as some people will come for surgeries and have priority over your mother. If you come before them with this, they will gather the medical team and set things quickly.'

This?

She handed me a light green envelope, which wasn't sealed.

'Keep it well hidden, amidst papers or something, in a closed bag always held in front of you. Anyone knowing you own this will show no quarter.'

'Wh… what is this, my Lady?'

'Look for yourself. Zargabaath never leaves an opportunity to appear munificent… we are lucky to have such a man close by, despite his irritating manners.'

I opened the envelope and took a small rectangular paper out. It was a cheque. Of 1,300,000 gil. Ignoring my sudden stupor, I exclaimed:

'This is no Archadian cheque. They are white and red. This one has green clouds, and features a manured-tailed godwit in the background, one of the strongest migrating birds.'

Drace smiled.

'I see you are a good scholar in all fields. This payment method indeed is green-colored, and nothing like the classic imperial cheques. Rest assured: this can be exchanged for actual money as well; and if there is a business that is familiar with it, it's Feather House. Just give it to them; they will understand.'

I lowered my eyes to the piece of paper again. It was indeed belonging to "Judge Zargabaath", with a rather beautiful handwritten signature. How could what she said be true? However, a Judge Magister had no reason to lie. I stayed silent for a moment.

'What say you, Gabranth?'

I understood now the systematic bonuses given to all members of the Ninth. Just what was the extent of this man's wealth? I finally said, in a trembling voice:

'You have my thanks. Both of you. Was the matter related to anything else than my mother, I would not consent to such immense help.'

'I know', she smiled – having uttered her favorite sentence. 'And it is precisely why I decided to make this gesture.'