Kelvanya led Kian to his room. A room she wanted to see inside. Hartmar followed them, knowing what he meant to her.Knowing that she would now look to him for support.That did mean she would slowly lose her devotion.Without him, the most devoted one of them all. Hartmar knew about the pair for only a few months.Before branching off from the main group.Both had the same reason for joining. The only reason Hartmar found his place with them was normalcy. How different it all had been in the beginning.They reached the room where Kian would be staying. Kelvanya opened the door with a key. After that, she gave it to Kian.Kian entered; Hartmar and Kelvanya stood in front of the door. He closed it softly. ’Give Kian some time to adjust.We did take him here by force.’ Hartmar wanted to put his hand on Kelvanya’s shoulder. Made impossible by the cane he held in his only arm.Kelvanya began walking away without a sound. She kept her face out of sight of Hartmar’s gaze.

  Inside the room, Kian locked the door as fast as he could.Leaving the key in its place.He walked back, grabbing his head.He wanted to scream but knew he couldn’t; they might be listening.Heiron. What monster believes in his own righteousness? He is trying to bring the gods down. No one can win that fight. What fury would the gods unleash on the earth itself? He dares to believe that he can win. That the gods were weaker than ever. There is no way out other than to... Kian looked out onto the courtyard. It was green. The trees were swaying in the wind. It looked peaceful. How would that look after his ritual? Working with himwas, for now, the only way to stay alive.Maybe there was something to learn from that ritual. Kian tried his best to gather his thoughts. Maybe there was even something in this room that could help.He began searching through the drawers. Until a voice sounded behind him. ’They already cleaned everything.’

  Kian turned around to see who was talking. It was that creep. That man with the red-painted smile.Kian’s heart beat harder.He looked around, searching for anything that could be used as a weapon.

  ’Boy, don’t do that;you make me itch inside. Just be calm. Not only in your mind, but also in your body.’The Red Smile said, pointing at Kian’s heart. ‘I am here to help.’

  Kian interrupted him with nervous laughter. He felt himself slowly losing control over his body, as if something was invading it.This feeling felt unnatural.He tried to calm himself down.He wants to help, he said to himself.Hoping that would help him keep calm. The Red Smile looked at Kian. With a deep sigh, he continued talking. ’The man who lay herewas a man respected by us all.The one who kept everyone together.With that said, it was lucky that he died then.Have you seen how Hartmar and Kelvanya look at you?They look at you as if you are treasured. I can understand where they are coming from. Innocence needs to be protected, right?’He sounded off.There was no telling whether there was truth or lies in it. It seemed like he was twisting his own words,and his voice was unreadable.All living things have a voice,why doesn’t he?

  As if the Red Smile could read Kian. He kept silent, waiting for a response. It took too long for an answer to come. The Red Smile moved to the only window of the room. ’If you’re ready, sweet little boy,then I will be waiting.’He let himself fall from the window. Disappearing in the fall.Kian could not even react to his fall,only his words were clinging in his headlike a serpent choking out its prey.

  Hartmar and Kelvanya went down the stairs. ‘I get how you feel, but Kian needs time.’

  Kelvanya didn’t answer. ’Maybe later you can go inside the room; I know that they didn’t let you in.I don’t know why;I understand that it hurts not to say goodbye.’Hartmar took a small break;his words started to stammer.‘At least you had something to try to say goodbye to.’

  Kelvanya still couldn’t say anything. She stopped at the door, forcing Hartmar to stop as well. ‘I will be leaving.’

  Hartmar looked at her with understanding. ‘Old wounds reopened.’ He muttered, just letting his thoughts surface. Or at least trying to make them known.Kelvanya went into her room, closing the door behind her Hartmar left her alone. He went down the stairs, went outside, and walked over to one of the corners of the wall. Looking for a place to stand in the shadows. All this time hiding in the open and observing other people. He laughed a little at the thought. Now it was happening on its own.

  He looked over the grounds, seeing cloaked figures working at the wall. It was silent inside. Before he left, they were busy constructing the interior. Would this be it?Do they call this their capital for when it all begins?It took a while for him to remind himselfthat it was Heiron’s intentionto leave this plane and stand one higher.To finally help the deserving men the gods denied.

  Hartmar tried to shake it off. What Heiron said. Even if it were true. How could a man forget seeing his comrades and the actions they committed against othersand still have faith in their leader?Seeing the places they left desolateafter knowing all the people there. How many he didn’t even know yet.Hartmar looked up at the tower. His one good eye twitching.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  ‘The kid is not doing great, mate.’ A voice sounded from behind Hartmar.

  Hartmar didn’t turn around; he didn’t even need to look to know who it was. ’Why is that Red Smile? Did you do anything?’ Hartmar put his cane by his side as he spoke with quiet anger.

  The Red Smile walked beside him. ’Not yet. He’s not ready for what will happen yet. Heiron will fall here. I need the boy not to be at his side when that happens.’Hartmar turned to him. ’All those words you say,yet you are always hiding like a coward. You can most likely guess.I truly wonder what is underneath that mask. A rat, a snake, a vulture.’

  The Red Smile acknowledged it. ‘Depends on what needs to happen, my friend.’

  Hartmar looked at him. How could he call someone a friend?How dare he. Hartmar took one step toward him. The Red Smile turned to face him. Hartmar could feel his rage swelling. This time there was no fear of the unknown,only hatred for the secrets it kept.Not this time. Not today. He took a deep breath, taking in the aroma of nature. ‘Till next time.’ Hartmar said as he began walking away. Instead of staying inside of these walls, maybe it would be best to take a walk. The Red Smile answered. ‘Till tonight.’ Then he went back into the shadows. Disappearing as if he had never been there to begin with.

  Hartmar took his walk outside. Even then, he would not be safe from the reach of the other Judgement Executioners.With that, he put more distance between himself and them. Away from it all. The time he finally returnedwas when the sun began to disappear.The guards in front of the gate doubled.Inside, it was even worse. Multiple fire pits were spread out,still kept away from the wooden buildings. All of the members in the immediate vicinity were everywhere. All of them looked as if they were holding weapons or concealing them on their bodies.

  Heiron stood on his balcony looking down into the courtyard. He saw Hartmar enter the keep. Hartmar looked up at him while walking toward the tower.Before turning his focus toward Heiron’s office All the others would probably be there, waiting for Hartmar to show up.As he went up he thought about rebelling right then and there. Would that even make a difference?No, not when alone.Kelvanya was close; even Red Smile was prepared for it, just not right now. Better to do the same. Maybe Heiron would keep his promise and be smart about it as well. Hartmar opened the door, seeing all the other Judgement Executioners in a circle around Heiron and Kian. Those two stood in the middle of the room, inside a purple-painted pentagram.Heiron pointed to Hartmar’s position. Hartmar stood there. Now, for the second time, they were going to perform the ritual.

  Heiron began with slow mumbling that turned into chanting, sounding like throat singing.Kian wanted to say something,but when his mouth opened, nothing came out, as if his words had never existed.The pentagram lit up. Filling the tower with a purple hue.

  The night sky seemed to part,turning into a bright golden light that Heiron created from his own body. Kian was struck by the light, as if lightning pierced through the roof and into his body like a spear.The hum Heiron sang became the light’s thunder. All the candles in the room were blown out by it.The Judgement Executioners took prayer-like stances,if they were able,and began chanting with Heiron. All their beliefs, all their will, their wishes made real if this succeeded, and they let it be known how badly they wanted it to be true.Only Red Smile embodied uncertainty in this song, his mask never leaving his face.The golden light gathered like a sun around Heiron, lifting him into the air.Heiron opened his arms as if welcoming the light into his body. As the light entered Heiron’s body, it left Kian’s. Kian could not keep his mouth shut. It was as if a creature were forcing its way out. Like a gag reflex when swallowing something wrong. As Heiron rose higher, Kian began to drop to his knees,trying to remain upright,as if a massive weight were pushing him into the ground.The Judgement Executioners looked at Heiron, at the golden light enveloping him. The only thing Kian could see was darkness.

  The golden light changed its colors. It became a swirling rainbow; its colors constantly shifting.They had never seen such beauty in their lives. Even the doubting Judgement Executioners felt some trust return.Their reason for joining returned, if only for a moment.They all knelt. While Kian lay on the ground, convulsing.

  Hartmar finally tore his gaze from the light and looked at the boy. His one good eye widened. Then he noticed Kelvanya behind the boy, her gaze also fixed on the child. They looked at each other for a second.

  Suddenly the light became red. From red, it compressed inward, slowly turning into darkness. Heiron’s hymn stopped.It turned into screaming as the light forced itself into the mask. Heiron made a movement, and with it, the red-darkened light exploded. Blowing the Judgement Executioners off their feet and onto the ground. Only Frugin remained standing after the blast, though he was still pressed against the wall.

  Heiron dropped to the ground. The floor creaked. Tyrilda was the first to rise again.It was Sventerlo who took the first actionas the night sky slowly returned. ’Everyone leave now!’ He demandedas he put himself between Heiron and the others, creating a circle of fire so the others could not see Heiron. ’In a few days, we will begin anew. Each time, we are getting closer.You saw for yourselves what happened today.’He said as the Judgement Executioners got back to their feet. For now, there was nothing to be done; they left the room one by one. Hartmar and Kelvanya lifted Kian’s body,which was no longer moving. The last to leave was the Red Smile, looking at the fire Sventerlo had created.’Don’t burn this tower down, mate. I still need a room.’ He said before leaving with a laugh.