I slipped my shoes on as I stepped outside. The warm air of Seva welcomed me with open arms.

I walked through the crowded market and smiled at the familiar faces. I wasn't a defensive magi, if we were attacked I would have no choice but to run.

For now, I had work to do at home. I had to make sure people would be safe when I left.

Cassius wasn't defensive either but he was almost always with Irina.

They had passed through here about an hour ago. They hadn't found the Stone of Celeste in the palace but they had taken a prisoner.

They brought her to me to keep her asleep for a while. Most people in Kalheim didn't know their way around the lands outside of it.

If they kept her asleep they wouldn't have to worry about her running away. There was no way she'd be able to find her way to Kalheim on her own.

They told me they were heading for Sifa. I would probably head in that direction soon, Veya would need all the help she could get.

The council members before us used to have weekly meetings, but it took too long for us to all move to an area. Mari had figured out how to make a mind link a few years back. We used that for communications before the Map magic went away.

I suppose that was why the council before us always met in person.

Cassius and Irina were really the only ones who moved around.

Veya almost never left Sifa, Caspian occasionally left Manthe, but never to visit another council member. He would drop in if he was in the area but he kept to himself. Finnick and I only moved if there was a sickness that couldn't be handled by normal Cures or Plagues. Javus moved sometimes, but he had his hands full making sure the crown didn't try to take any more land.

His father was the council member before him and he had died in the battle where Kalheim took the land that used to be Gevan. Now there was a military base there. Javus took care of any soldier that tried to step a toe out of their land.

And Mari lived in a small village on the border of Shena. She only traveled for trading purposes. If she had something she wanted one of us to know she would just break into our heads.

If you thought about it, none of us really knew each other. We occasionally chatted over Mari's mind link.

By that I mean Irina and Cassius used it all the time and Caspian or Veya would tell them to shut up when it got annoying. I would occasionally join in the conversation or chat with Finnick if there was a bad sickness or plague going around but other than that there was nothing.

Irina and Cassius were the only ones who could be considered friends.

The council members before them were married and had died together. Cassius and Irina were chosen on the same day and they trained together. But they still had an insane bond that seemed to go beyond years of training.

We hadn't looked into it much though. Everyone just agreed it was a little strange and moved on.

I grabbed a sevelfruit from a cart as I went by. Nobody would let me pay for things here.

I used to try and sneak coins into their baskets but apparently, the people here kept pristine records. If they found one extra coin they saw it as a gift from the founders, and they gave it to me.

Plus a few extra coins to thank the founders for giving them a gift.

I didn't really understand, but it was probably because I knew it was me paying for food instead of a gift from Ahyrex. I could see myself doing the same thing before I was given my council seat.

The Cure before me was named Helseva, I worshiped her like a goddess. She was the kindest woman I had ever met and she had saved many people from this village. Her power knew no limits.

Some days I swore she was a reincarnation of Ahyrex himself.

I had never seen another Cure act like her. She pulled her magic straight from the earth itself. She unknowingly taught me how to use my magic.

I suppose that's why I inherited her title and power.

I was suddenly pulled out of my thoughts as I watched a single horse and rider run through the river.

The bridge was right beside them, so why had they gone through the river.

The rider called out to me, it was a man's voice. "Chena! They've taken Calla."

The man made his way to the center of the market. He was drenched in water and sweat and he was still catching his breath. "They started in Shena, then they took the Vaspian River. Reka was theirs in seconds. The Spirits in Calla put up a fight but the soldiers were coming at them from both ends. There wasn't anything we could do. You need to get the Dagger and get out of her. Now."

I stared at him. I could barely form words. "You don't mean Kalheim."

He nodded. "I think they figured out what the artifacts do, you need to go now. They move fast."

I turned on my heels and ran towards the temple. This wasn't supposed to happen. I couldn't get anyone out.

I almost ripped the doors off of the temple. I almost cut myself on the dagger as I slipped it into my waistband.

I made a beeline for the stables. I had no chance of getting out of here without a horse.

Kaltain was waiting for me with a horse. "He's bitchy but he's the fastest we have." He handed me the reigns.

I managed to mutter a thank you. I was planning on getting my horse but it was better if I had a faster one. She was getting old anyway, I couldn't risk anything going wrong now.

I hoisted myself onto the back of the horse. "What's his name?"

It was a stupid question but I might need to know later. Sometimes screaming a horse's name made them move faster.

He gave me a small smile. "Tevan."

I would've laughed if I wasn't so stressed. Tevan was the name of his older brother and he was indeed bitchy."

Ms. Raleigh ran up to me with a bag. She was the first vendor to insist my food was free."Food that will keep, water, medical supplies, and some warmer clothes in case Sifa is still an ice cube." She gave me a warm smile.

"Thank you. Stay alive, keep the children safe." I squeezed her hand as she handed me the bag.

She nodded and squeezed it back. "Godspeed Chena."

I nodded once at her as I took off. I didn't turn back until I had crossed the river.

When I looked back my home was in flames.

...

<3