Elisabeth’s heels clicked across the dark grey polished marble of her aunt’s company’s skyscraper: Arctar’s tallest skyscraper.

  Being summoned by Deborah was unusual. They lived together, yet her aunt had insisted she come to the office. That alone meant something serious; Deborah avoided heavy, work-related topics at home, preferring either pleasant relaxation or non-strenuous mockery.

  Elisabeth hated summons in any form, whether at home or in this towering monument of Deborah’s empire. Still…the office was slightly better. At least she was admired here. Deborah owned half of Arctar through her merchant conglomerate and had spent years crushing every soil-restoration initiative that threatened her business.

  As the niece of the city’s most ruthless merchant, Elisabeth enjoyed prestige, access, and the position of head of Arctar’s newspaper. People in the halls stepped aside for her, bowed their heads faintly, and whispered. As much as she despised Deborah, and as desperately as she wanted to rise on her own merit, Elisabeth was undeniably attached to the wealth and the reverence.

  So she walked proudly, heels clicking, earrings swaying, chin lifted.

  She stopped at the CEO’s door -Deborah’s office.

  “Yes.” Deborah’s voice floated from inside, calm and cold.

  Elisabeth entered confidently. Deborah sat at her desk, signing documents without looking up.

  “Close the door, dear, please.” she said sweetly, yet with that unmistakable authority she wielded like a blade.

  Deborah was a beautiful woman in her early forties: tall, elegant, long black hair half-pinned, face smooth and unreadable. Authority radiated from her in a way only a woman who had survived Arctar’s political and commercial arenas could manage. Pale skin, black eyes, features she shared with Elisabeth. Her velvet violet dress with a deep v neckline shimmered subtly under the office lights, matched by high violet heels. Delicate diamond and gold jewelry gleamed on her ears, collarbone and wrists.

  Most striking of all was the heavy golden ring on her right index finger, engraved with their family crest. She wore it deliberately; it was a declaration of lineage, dominance, and power.

  Elisabeth closed the door and stood before the desk. She burned inside -her aunt still hadn't looked at her- but she kept silent, fists tight at her sides. Deborah continued writing, turning a page with elegant slowness. Only after a long pause did she set aside the documents and finally lift her eyes. She smiled faintly, that usual, deceptive, gentle-looking smile that meant nothing good. She did not invite Elisabeth to sit.

  “I’ve summoned you today, dear,” Deborah began softly, “to congratulate you on your discovery regarding the nature of the Four Great Trees. Now, I don’t believe a word of those ‘virtue trees’, but it is entertaining to see masses flock to them as a result. I’ve heard the newspaper sales spiked sky-high too. This pleases me. Your previous articles brought no particular success, but now? Now all of Arctar is talking about you. You can consider this your breakthrough.”

  “Thank you, aunt.” Elisabeth breathed, heart swelling with pride.

  Deborah’s smile lingered. Too long.

  “However,” she said.

  The word dropped like a stone, and Elisabeth’s pride started dissolving instantly.

  “I can’t help but question what security measures you put in place after publishing such an article.”

  Elisabeth frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “A safeguard,” Deborah clarified mildly, “in case accusations fall upon you as a consequence.”

  “Why would they?” Elisabeth asked. She aimed for confidence, but her voice betrayed her, a slight fracture of unease. Deborah noticed it instantly.

  “Oh, dear,” Deborah sighed softly. “You don’t sincerely believe that question, do you? Only someone with a crystal-clear conscience and crystal-clear means of obtaining their information can ask it without sounding false.”

  She paused.

  “That book you based your article on… you didn’t find it discarded in a hallway or sitting openly in a public library, now did you?”

  Elisabeth didn’t answer. Her posture remained proud, but the color had drained from her face. Deborah smiled knowingly, faintly amused.

  “When one works in the shadows and uses underhanded methods to obtain what one desires, one must secure oneself or at the very least, divulge discoveries cautiously.” Deborah tilted her head. “From your reaction, and from my informers, you did neither.”

  Elisabeth swallowed. Her heartbeat quickened, her lips suddenly dry.

  “Such an idiotic mistake,” Deborah sighed, feigning sympathy. “I know David, dear. Far better than you do. He does not tolerate being made a fool of. He does not believe in mercy nor does he practice it.”

  She leaned back slightly.

  “He is brilliant. Ingenious. He wouldn’t be chairman of the Academy otherwise. Do you truly believe a man like that wouldn’t put two and two together after reading your article, especially when you so carelessly pointed toward yourself?”

  “I wasn’t explicit,” Elisabeth blurted. “I never said I was the one who found it! I kept it vague!”

  “Not vague enough,” Deborah replied calmly. “Your ambition leaked. You wanted the recognition. And David most certainly saw through it.”

  Elisabeth lowered her gaze, fighting the tremor creeping into her hands. She refused to let it show. Deborah observed her quietly, elbows resting on the desk, long fingers folding together. The family crest ring caught the light.

  What she said next stole Elisabeth’s breath.

  “If a scandal involving you breaks out,” Deborah spoke evenly, “I will disown you.”

  “W–what?” Elisabeth whispered.

  “I do not condemn underhanded methods,” Deborah continued. “I employ them myself. But allowing yourself to be exposed, humiliated, and dragging our family name through the mud because you failed to protect yourself?”

  Her eyes hardened. “That level of foolishness, I will never tolerate.”

  Elisabeth’s composure shattered. She leaned forward, palms trembling against the desk.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “Aunt, please-”

  “No.” Deborah cut her off. Her smile vanished entirely. “I've decided. Our name is what I value above all else. If it is tarnished because of you, I will not hesitate to cast you out.”

  Her voice was ice.

  “You will lose access to our wealth. Your position at the newspaper. Your prestige. Your social standing.” A brief pause. “You may as well consider yourself a beggar.”

  Elisabeth’s heart slammed against her ribs.

  “What… what if David doesn’t do anything?” she asked hoarsely.

  “Then you remain family,” Deborah said simply. “I will act only if a scandal erupts. Anything else does not concern me.”

  Elisabeth straightened, desperate. “Then I’ll fix it! I won’t let myself be targeted! Our name won’t be soiled!”

  “It had better not be,” Deborah said, black eyes fixed on her, chilling. “For your sake.”

  ----------------------------

  The Memorial was approaching rapidly, and people across Arctar were preparing, supplying themselves with candles and other light sources as it was tradition that on the Memorial Day, all electricity would be shut off in the city. This was a visual manifestation of mourning for those lost five hundred years ago. The only light that would remain on that day would come from dimmed streetlamps, casting a subdued glow, while shops, public facilities, and even the Academy itself would close. Naturally, the markets were crowded days in advance.

  Two days before the Memorial, the Academy Grounds felt almost deserted. Students, professors, and staff alike were scrambling to secure their supplies. The Nexus Auditorium with the Lumen Orb inside, had been shut down unusually early, by orders of David.

  The campus, normally bustling with activity, was now quieter than usual. Rosalyn, however, appreciated this melancholic atmosphere. She wandered the Academy's empty corridors, her footsteps echoing off the walls.

  As she lingered in the main hub under the grand glass dome, her eyes drifted up to the wisteria tree that grew indoors, boughs spilling under the dome. A faint smile played on her lips as she admired it in solitude.

  Finally, she stepped outside into the front yard, where the lush green grass seemed to vibrate under the fading light. In the distance, she spotted Victor. He was leaning against the trunk of a tree, a few meters away from the excavation site, arms crossed, posture tense, expression serious as usual, and left eye hidden. He was staring off ahead of himself.

  The excavation site stayed quiet right now, the machines having ceased their relentless boring, workers having left to also prepare for the upcoming Memorial. What remained was nothing but mounds and mounds of earth, abandoned diggers and cranes, and DIG THE DREAM banners flapping weakly in the wind.

  Rosalyn stopped, watching Victor from a distance. She hesitated. After their parting the evening of the Academy Archives' break in, they hadn’t spoken at all. Victor distanced himself entirely, avoiding everyone. They weren’t close in the first place, she had no reason to worry, no right to. Still, this was the man she had saved from the brink of death, the man she had never asked why he had jumped out of respect for his own comfort and privacy.

  Rosalyn glanced at him again. He was utterly still, distant, lost in thoughts.

  She closed her eyes and sighed. Was she feeling responsible for him somehow? She stepped forward, her boots making soft impressions in the grass. She walked slowly, deliberately taking heavier steps when nearing him, so that he would clearly hear her approach. She didn’t want to be jumped.

  And she wasn’t wrong to be cautious. As soon as Victor heard the sounds, his head snapped in her direction on instinct, like a wary animal. He froze when he saw it was her.

  “Hey,” Rosalyn greeted with a faint smile.

  “…Hey,” he answered after a beat, turning his gaze away from her and straight back at the excavation site in front of them. He seemed uneasy, in no mood for conversation, not like he ever was.

  “It’s calm today,” she tried.

  He didn’t answer, only offered a quiet grunt, his arms crossing imperceptibly tighter.

  “Would you have a beautiful thought for the occasion?”

  “…What?” he asked taken aback.

  “You think, dwell and analyze a lot in silence. I know how it is because I’m the same.”

  Nothing. Rosalyn continued.

  “I’ll go first. ‘Above the clouds, the sky is still blue.’”

  Still nothing. Victor didn’t move. Maybe he was considering it, maybe he was ignoring it. She couldn’t know. Even so, she stayed beside him.

  “Or here’s another: ‘Life is no more than a single night endured in a miserable inn.’” she added.

  That earned her a snort.

  “A very miserable one, yeah.” Victor said, his posture loosening slightly.

  She smiled. “Your turn.”

  He stayed silent for so long she thought he was going to turn her down. But then he spoke quietly, his voice grave.

  “‘It’s too late.’”

  Rosalyn froze for a heartbeat.

  “That’s…actually terrifying...” she remarked.

  “Terrifying.” he repeated “Stabs deeper than ‘It’s over.’”

  “Your thoughts are very grim.”

  “That’s the difference between you and me.”

  “Diversity is interesting and necessary though.”

  “You do realize we’re speaking about nothing, right?”

  “Just because the topic is vague doesn’t mean it’s nothing.”

  Victor snorted again. Rosalyn’s smile widened. He was getting more comfortable.

  “Why are you here?” he asked “Done preparing for the Memorial?”

  “Yes. You?”

  He hesitated.

  “I’m not going.”

  “I see…” Rosalyn replied, not pushing further “What a shame…”

  “It’s not like I’ll be missed.”

  “Of course not. We'll be mourning the dead, not the living.”

  That made him chuckle. He dropped his crossed arms and finally looked at her, his visible eye showing a faint crinkle of amusement.

  “Do you want me to go then?” he asked slightly teasingly.

  “Well yes, of course.”

  “Fine, I’ll go.” he said nonchalantly, turning his gaze away from her but giving her a sidelong glance.

  “You’re surprisingly easy to convince.” Rosalyn murmured, baffled.

  “You’re just a good convincer.”

  “How so? I only timidly said that I’d like you to attend.”

  “Not timidly,” Victor smirked, “but I’ll take it.”

  “Woah- no way, VICTOR?!” a loud male voice boomed from behind.

  They both turned. Bjorn was jogging toward them with a wide grin, his face radiating earnest joy and pleasant surprise.

  “Victor?! I knew it! I’d recognize that black coat anywhere! How are you doing, buddy?”

  Victor froze the instant he saw him. His pale face drained of color even further, blue eye widening, breathing turning shallow and uneaven. He stared at Bjorn as if Death itself were approaching him, scythe in hand. He didn’t move. He didn’t speak.

  Only when Bjorn attempted to sling an arm around his shoulder in a friendly greeting did Victor instantly react, violently shoving him away. Bjorn staggered back.

  Heart racing, Rosalyn’s looked from one man to the other. Both were tall and muscular, but Bjorn was a bit taller and far bulkier, built like a wrestler, while Victor’s strength showed in a more proportional, almost elegant way. Still, the force of his shove was so strong it nearly made Bjorn fall.

  Bjorn blinked in surprise, then laughed, shaking it off.

  “Still as strong as ever! And here I thought I could finally beat you! How about we spar as a reunion, huh? I’d welcome your feedback! You were always top of the Institute after all-”

  “Shut up!” Victor snapped, eye burning, chest heaving. Rosalyn took an instinctive step back, startled by the sudden shift.

  “Come on, don’t be like that! You suddenly vanished and then transferred out without saying anything. Isn’t it natural to be worried? We were buddies! And you know what happened to me back then! I needed emotional support when my Pa-”

  “SHUT UP!” Victor roared.

  Bjorn stopped short, stunned. Rosalyn stared, horrified.

  Victor was panting now, trembling, fists clenched, face twisted in fury.

  “Don’t talk to me. Don’t approach me. Don’t exist near me,” he hissed. “We don’t know each other. Got it?”

  And without letting either Bjorn or Rosalyn react, he strode away rapidly. He looked like he was escaping, his long coat flapping behind him reminiscing broken wings, and mirroring the broken wing of the hawk emblazoned on his back, fractured and dragging.

  Bjorn watched him disappear, then sighed and turned to Rosalyn.

  “Hey… sorry about that. I’m Bjorn, by the way, Victor’s old friend as you may have deduced by now…Or acquaintance, if he prefers.” He hesitated, then added, “Are you his girlfriend?”

  “No. Just a friend too… My name’s Rosalyn.”

  “Ah, that’s a relief then!” Bjorn laughed. “I actually thought he got mad at me for interrupting your date. I’m not really skilled or clued in when it comes to social stuff and courtesies.”

  “That’s alright,” Rosalyn replied softly. “I’m not really either.”

  “Sorry -were you scared by that scene?” Bjorn scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. “That guy’s always been kind of edgy, but man… that outburst was something else.”

  He whistled.

  “We were both students at the Military Institute, the one on the other end of the state. Quite a distance from here, huh?” He laughed lightly. “I was devastated when he suddenly transferred. And here of all places, and from the military training faculty, where he excelled, to the philosophy faculty. Never would’ve thought he’d choose brooding over fighting for a living.”

  “Are you a transfer student as well?”

  “Yep. Still in the good old military faculty, though. My Ma got a job in Arctar and I didn’t want to leave her alone, so I transferred. Wasn’t particularly attached to the Institute anyway.”

  “Welcome,” Rosalyn said with a small smile. “I hope you find your place here.”

  Suddenly, her phone vibrated. Rosalyn excused herself and checked. It was a message from Elisabeth: ‘Meet me at the entrance to Nexus. Now.’ No further explanation. Rosalyn frowned.

  “Sorry, I have to go. See you later.” she said to Bjorn.

  “Oh, uh, sure. No problem! Maybe we could, uh… go for a drink sometime?” he added clumsily.

  Rosalyn smiled and nodded, then left. She didn’t like the message. She was part of Group 47 though, and Elisabeth was still her teammate, so maybe it was important. Besides since she was already at the Academy today, she might as well deal with whatever this was now. Still, why meet in front of Nexus?

  Rosalyn arrived at the grand auditorium’s entrance. Nexus was closed, the hallway in front of it eerie in its emptiness. Elisabeth stood by the door, her usual confident expression firmly in place, but Rosalyn noticed her posture was more rigid and forced than usual.

  “You sure took your time, redhead.” Elisabeth couldn’t resist a jab. Rosalyn ignored it.

  “What do you need me for?”

  “I’ve been thinking… and I’ve realized that I’ve been unfair to you.”

  “To me?” Rosalyn asked, surprised.

  “Yes. So, in order to compensate, I am willing to transfer all the credit from the ancient book discovery about the Great Trees onto you. No need to thank me, this is only natural. After all, you saw the book; I only picked it up. Technically, you’re the true discoverer here, not me. And I never even asked if you wanted to be credited, how unfair, right? So there! Be happy! Your right’s been restored!” Elisabeth spoke fast, almost spilling her words.

  Rosalyn watched her silently.

  “Why the sudden change?” she asked.

  “What? Can’t a girl reflect on herself and try to make things right without everyone immediately eyeing her suspiciously? Huh?”

  “You were really eager to be the known as the finder of the book. You already released your article too. So even if you want to pass the credit to me now, people already know it was you.”

  “No! I was vague enough for them to be misled! Besides, I’ll make an official announcement anyway, stating that you’re the only and true discoverer!”

  “That’s a bit extreme… Aren’t you pushing this too much? I really don’t need the credit. You can honestly keep it if you want.”

  “Listen to me! You have to accept it!”

  “But why?”

  “B-because it’s the right thing to do, okay?” Elisabeth pressed, palms sweating.

  “…Did something happen?” Rosalyn asked after a beat.

  “Nothing! Okay fine, listen. I’m really going to get in trouble with my aunt if I claim to be the rightful finder. She’s a horrible and jealous woman. Hearing her niece achieved something? Unacceptable for her. So, because I want peace and quiet, I can’t accept the credit. Now you understand?”

  “Oh… yes, now I do.”

  “So… will you accept the credit for the discovery?” Elisabeth asked eagerly, eyes frantic, body faintly trembling.

  “Alright, I don’t mind.”

  Elisabeth exhaled in relief.

  “Good, redhead, good. You can actually be useful sometimes! Thanks, haha! Okay, I’m off now. Bye.”

  She walked off quickly. Rosalyn remained alone in front of the closed Nexus. For some reason, a chill of unease ran down her spine. And a thought crept in that, despite everything, she should not have accepted.