James leaned against his anvil, breath coming in spurts and puffs. He slammed his fist down on the warm metal, the pain vibrating up his arm. Max jumped at the sudden sound, closing the gap between them.
"At least you got her attention," Max said, taking a bite of his sandwich.
"Did I? Felt like I was getting scolded." James' stomach growled as he went to retrieve the sword.
"She didn't say we couldn't leave. Just that we may not like what we find." Max wiggled his eyebrows. "We should probably get some supplies."
James let out a groan. Supplies meant going to town, and town meant dealing with people who thought him a monster.
Dust motes caught the light streaming through the canopy of leaves. Each heavy step of his boots sent more to dance in the glow. The thick ancient oaks' branches reached up to shield them from the harsh summer sun. James was thankful for the cool breeze that blew over the river, bringing the smell of bark and foliage. His gut tied itself in greater knots the closer they drew to Oakwood.
"Ease up, ya. We ain't goin' to a funeral." Max socked James in the arm. "Just got ta get da ball rolling."
"Yea, got to save your sister." James perked up at Max's words. If I save her, the town will see I saved them and that I'm not a monster.
Oakwood was a cacophony as they approached. The town was growing, rebuilding, and becoming stronger. There was nonstop rhythmic hammering, children playing, and the endless drone of animals and conversations. James' body tensed at the sounds, at the hateful gazes coming, but the open iron gates welcomed him as they did all who came to Oakwood.
James could barely recognize the town from that of a year ago. Soldiers in white coats and steel helmets with pike trailing ribbons in the air as they patrolled the streets. Gone was most of the muck and grime, replaced with even stones and oil lamps. No longer was the Master's mansion, with its gaudy colors and menacing gargoyles, the tallest building in town. The Imperium of Light temple now towered tall over the town, its white pillars and gold dome gleaming in the sun. James needed to shield his eyes to look at the golden statue that stood proudly atop the building— Regillius, Lord of Light, spear pointing to the sky.
Someone stood there, one arm causally wrapped around Regillius's leg. They seemed to be searching the Master mansion, free hand shielding their eyes. James blinked away tears, trying to force his eyes to make out more details, but when he opened them again, the figure was gone, uncertainty about what he had seen falling onto him.
"Hey, did you see that?" James elbowed Max in the side, pointing up towards the statue.
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"See what? Da eye sore of a stature?" Max shielded his eyes before looking away. "Nothing new, still as awful as ever."
"Someone was up there, and it looked like they were looking at the Master's place." James kept his voice down, trying not to draw attention as they walked.
"Why?" Max grabbed a pear from a nearby merchant cart and tossed a coin into the jar to pay for it. "We both know nobodies in there."
Max stopped and leaned against the stone wall. The smell of baking bread wafted over them. James's stomach growled again. This time, he didn't ignore it and backtracked to buy himself a pear.
"Good, right?" Max tossed the core to the side, and James rolled his eyes. The fruit was fantastic, the taste lingering on his tongue. "So what if someone is snooping? Master's gone. He took da older kids and vanished."
"I don't know. Doesn't it bother you that no one talks about him leaving? It's like they all have forgotten it." James tossed his core, mind racing.
"Guess not, when I think about it..." Max's words trailed off, his eyes slightly unfocused before snapping back to James. "Doesn't matter. We got things to do."
"Like that." James pointed at Max's chest. "Like what just happened to you."
"Whatcha talking about? Come on, James, we gotta be getting supplies." Max turned to walk away with a shake of his head, but James caught his arm.
"Max, focus, please. Think about the Master's place. Think." James pushed his friend, hoping it would snap him out of whatever this was.
"Heya, whatcha do that for." Max pushed him back. His feet shifted into a defensive stance.
"Max..." James tried to grab his friend's arms, but Max dodged out of the way. "Max, stop. I'm not trying to fight you."
"Hella way of showing it." Max took a step back but lowered his hands. "Come on, let's get to it."
"No, I'm going to the mansion. I'm going to see what's going on." James turned and sprinted down the nearest ally, praying Max would follow.
A fist caught him under the ear, sending James sprawling to the ground. He came up on the balls of his feet, fists up. A figure stepped out of the dark, her black leathers blending into the shadows, her too-large sword strapped across her back, and strands of her blond hair dancing in the breeze.
James felt the tension ease out of him, a wide grin stretching across his face. His heart skipped a beat, and he could feel his cheeks grow warm.
"Did you miss me, Silver?" Nera's eyes met his, a cocky grin on her lips and a playful tone in her voice, but something was wrong. James could hear the wet wheeze of her breathing and see the rigid way she held herself. Before he could move, she slumped against the alley wall, one hand catching herself before she fell. "Shit, this wasn't how I wanted this to go."
Nera collapsed, and James ran to her. Her white eyes rolled back into her head, blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and her body convulsed uncontrollably.
"Nera," the word was half prayer, half desperate call for help. James pushed his magic into her, weak as it was during the day. Soft tendrils of silverly light curled from his fingers like smoke and sank into her. James balked at what his magic found. Nera's wounds were many— a cut here, a broken rib there, too many bruises to count. But the worst was the bruise to her brain; he poured his magic all he had, the well inside him emptying like a burst dam. He could see it working. She stopped convulsing as the swelling in her skull went down, and the gaping wound in her side that had barely missed her heart stopped pouring blood onto the stones. She focused on him as she put one hand to his cheek and smiled.
"I knew you could save me," Nera said, her hand going slack and falling away from his face, wet, sticky blood still clinging to his cheek.
"Max, I need you," James screamed, a tearing sensation in his throat. "Max."
"James, where are you?" Max screamed, and James could hear Max's panicked footfalls against the stone. He skidded to a halt next to James. "Is she?"
"No, I have brought her back from the edge, but Max, who could've done this?" James looked up at his friend Nera's head resting in his lap.
"I don't know, James." Heavy footsteps echoed up the small alley. A hulking cloaked figure stepped out to face them. Broad across the shoulders, the man seemed more boulder than human, and over one shoulder casually rested Bow-Breaker.
"I did. Vessel of the moon." Said the man, throwing back his hood and revealing eyes that glowed a deep grey, the color of morning fog. "And I've come to kill you."