'Please hold back your questions to her', he anticipated. 'She was his friend but has refused to talk about him ever since he left. She came here several times to threaten me so I stay quiet.'

The dilemma was so frustrating, but I had to obey. Risking my position for a mystery, as big for Archadia as it seemed, was not the best option at that moment.

'Thank you for warning me. Do you remember Judge Larse's way of fighting? What made them stand out compared to the others?'

That was, in reality, the only question that mattered.

'Yes I do. Most Magisters specialize in a single fighting job, two at most. But Judge Larse was impressive. He did not completely master all of them – for example, Bergan was a better Knight than him – but he had a very high level in 4 jobs, and his versatility, even in pure physical combat, earned our respect.'

'Which were the 4 jobs?'

'Knight, obviously. Shikari. Bushi – like my old friend. And the one he excelled in the most: Black Mage.'

'So the previous leader of the Order was a Black Mage?'

'Yes, Gabranth. One who knew how to utilize a spell in the right moment, order his troops to set off according to the enemy's move, protect them with feral counter-attacks at every pre-emptive strike – more often that I, I'm afraid, did –, quickly weaken a sly opponent with a dagger, wearying another with his katana and ninja blade thanks to impressive energy and skill, and finish everyone left with a killing greatsword blow followed by a prepared Quickening. In the 669 global tournament, before I joined, he became the first fighter – and only one, to this date – to win two sessions.'

'Melee combat and magic.'

Silly me – I should have read the magic part. How long could the battle royal have lasted? Ten minutes?

'Precisely, Gabranth. A single one of these sessions is absolutely draining – I've attempted a few. Even after they give you phoenix downs, potions, cure spells, food and water, the last thing you want to do is fight again. And my noble Magister stood up… and did it, and won. I was not glad at leaving Masayuki for the army, but today my greatest pride is having served that legend. His bravery and tough will will be missed for decades to come.'

I always appreciated how dömavänner talked about their Magister. Bitterness held no place in their speech, even if the Magister was dead, and visibly not easy to deal with.

'I am glad you are still among us, Judge Dandun', I said.

'Please do not call me that way', he laughed. 'I purposely asked the Order for a position which would never involve battle. Being here in this office, for validation tasks… is fitting for the old man that I am. Even earlier, when my body could still fight, my spirit could not. Serving Judge Larse was, by far, the hardest thing I have done in my life. And while some unreal things last a minute, this one lasted five years. You understand – it's difficult. Doctors told me I am a victim of post-traumatic stress. I prefer leaving war to others. And even if I hadn't had that battlefield apprehension, I didn't want to serve any other than Judge Larse. No matter what he made me go into, I am attached to him forever and will keep him in my mind until the day I die.'

I lowered my head.

'That… That is certainly a strong link. Higher than what can be regularly found between Magister and dömavän.'

'There are dömavänner who suffered more than me. Much more, if you want my opinion', Dandun said.

I raised a curious look.

'Why, my charge, as hard as it was', he continued, 'was but protecting a single person. However, a dömavän whose Magister himself has to protect someone… someone important… has double the charge, and double the pain.'

'A Judge Magister with a similar mission?'

'Yes. His Excellency the Emperor never leaves the Palace; but some very important members of his family or senators might. And the crucial one to keep alive, according to the imperial policy, was the Emperor's wife.'

It made sense.

'I know Judge Zecht was in charge of protecting Lady Ephedrine, and Judge Zargabaath of Empress Sentia.'

'That is true. I did my statistics. When a Magister is also an official guard, his dömavän never lasts more than three years. Never. Many of those who tried could not endure the pressure more than a few months, or even a few weeks; and for almost all of them it was the last position in the army. It was a massacre. If the lady was harmed, the Magister was harmed; therefore it was somehow the dömavän's responsibility… and consequences were politically huge. While if the Magister himself was harmed, they were even more directly held responsible. These two's last dömavänner, who had to witness the ladies' deaths, had it the worst. I met them a few years after the tragedies, and both were also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress, and advised not to wear an armor ever again. Umgodi in particular was completely broken after Lady Sentia's passing. Keeping Zargabaath alive was no easy matter, from what he told me.'

'Then… I know your job was not the same but… you wouldn't have mentioned them, had your task been much easier. So, Lord Dandun, why not leave the army altogether?'

'I cannot.'

His smile, at that moment, made him another man. He was fully embracing his condition.

'This is my location. My address. My home. I have built so many memories over the years, that my heart aches at the idea of giving up even more than at pursuing pacific fights at the very place I was wounded. I never thought I would enjoy any other life than the one I had alongside Masayuki; and here I am, clinging to it and smiling at the past successes. And who knows? Maybe Judge Larse will reappear, and we'll settle things for good.'

His hopefulness made me speechless.

'Isn't this life worth living, Judge Gabranth?'

'It certainly is, but you must consider your end of career. With all the feats you've done, and being a former dömavän, you could aim at so much more than this office.'

He blinked:

'Money? Fame? Praise? This is not what I'm looking for, young one. Especially now. I was the Cursed Samurai's companion for years; I'm a man of the shadows before anything else. What are your current charges, Gabranth?'

'Judge. Dömavän of the Sixth Division. Training coordinator. Fleet supervisor. Archadia's Supreme Court's Chief Justice.'

He couldn't help interrupting me at that point, squinting at my wrinkle-free face:

'So… So they… Chose you? Already?'

'Yes. And… well… I also try to guide Lord Larsa on some matters, when I have time, in the Thirteenth.'

Dandun took some time to recollect his senses, then he crossed his arms.

'That's just what I thought. Judge Drace chose a brilliant man by her side. I'm proud of her choice. You will go far. However, as I said, my case now is different – I do not have as much yet to live and only wish for calmness. Moreover, there is another reason I'm kept hidden in this floor.'

I dreaded to know the answer.

'Well… Why, Lord Zargabaath is right. There is too much at stake to risk this. So I agreed to stay in the Order and, despite my socializing nature, avoid talking to gentle people like you – which is why you likely had difficulty finding me.'

'Why does Judge Zargabaath dislike you?'

My question came as a piercing blow.

'I… Pardon me? I never said anything of the sort.'

'You did not, Dandun, but it is obvious to me. You have never been Judge Magister; therefore you were out of most state secrets. There is probably a part of protecting you and allowing you to live on your memories in the army, but the reason why he locks you here is also personal. Did Masayuki did anything that could displease him after you joined the Order?'

His eyes were bewildered. Horrified. Pleading.

'I… It…'

The sun was exiting the room more and more.

'He… Masayuki, my friend…'

Was no angel, by all odds.

'… Was a mercenary. Since the age he could hold a sword. For personal reasons. And he will probably die as one. But he was a friend of Lord Zargabaath's. A very dear one. They went through hell together. He never committed anything that could go against his interests. And, once he became Judge Magister, Zargabaath never denounced him, and cancelled any charge that could be brought against him. Such was the "deal".'

Deal, huh? Lord Zargabaath's sense of justice was getting more interesting every day.

'Very well', I said. 'But, with Masayuki being a secret mercenary, could it be that he dealt, at least at some point, with the ones called Urban Units?'

'Urban Units!?'

Once again the horrified look.

'Urban Units', I explained, 'are specialized mercenaries hired by a few families of the capital; they are very skilled and capable of…'

'Enough. I know who they are.'

According to Lord Zargabaath, he could not know about the Mighties. Then why this reaction? He seemed frustrated, angry, disgusted.

'They tried to hire us several times, and kept making attempts with Masayuki separately. His peculiar abilities interested them a lot. But none of us ever accepted the offer.'

'Do you remember which livery color they wore?'

'Nay, my dear. Oh, well, I don't remember there was one color in particular. There were all sorts of bright colors.'

'Green, yellow, red and blue?'

'Aye. Didn't see the green much, though.'

House Feynis had more than enough loud exterminators to rely on Urban Units.

'And they never told us who the employers are. However…'

His voice shuddered.

'… my wife works for Urban Units. And if there is a reason why Judge Zargabaath does not love me, this is it.'

'Did Urban Units harm him in the past?'

'They did. A lot.'

So I was not the only victim. I wondered what they gently destroyed, for that man who looked so strong and so influent.

'He's kept an eye on me ever since I met my wife', Dandun continued. 'My wife was in the army.'

'Marriage and intimate relationships are allowed for elements of Judge rank or lower', I immediately retorted. 'We are considered regular citizens in that regard.'

'That is true, but… Maybe he was afraid I would speak too much, having a reliable person at home. And my wife is reliable, she really is. No one paid attention to my downfall after Judge Larse vanished. But some time later, she did, and became the only sincere person I knew back then. Today she works in some Urban Units. She tells me naught about her job, and I tell her naught about mine. Maybe Zargabaath cannot grasp such healthy balance, because, as Judge Magister, he could never get married – which is truly a shame, if you ask me; for a man of such manners, culture, trust, and generosity screams for affection.'

'Which Urban Units does your wife work for? Which color is her uniform?'

There, Dandun stood up, closed his eyes and joined his hands:

'I'm begging you, Judge Gabranth. I have my wife and four children. Their safety is my daily obsession. Please.'

'It is alright, Lord Dandun. I shall not ask any more questions.'

His eyes widened, as he let out an enormous sigh.

'Judge Bergan is very grateful of your work with Judge Magister Larse. He believes it was precious for the whole Empire.'

And instantly, the old man went from that renewed initial anxiety to a smile so big that it turned into a laugh.

'The past always catches up in the least expected ways! You have my deep thanks, Gabranth. May the winds lead you where you want to go.'

They will. Oh yes, they will.

'Gabranth! What is this?'

It was always a fun time hearing my mother calling her own maiden name.

'Here I come.'

I arrived at my room, which she was meticulously trying to tidy, and saw… I had almost forgotten it, by dint of denying all it could imply. Highway Star. Vicky's sword.