Loren took Seiren home a few days later, still bright-eyed and glamorous despite the long day at the hospital. She smiled when she spotted the red amulet around Seiren's neck.

"You went and retrieved her, then?"

"Well..." Seiren became quite interested in one of the painted teapots on Loren's shelf at the back of the main room. The old pictures of Loren, Rowan, and Rowan's siblings sat along the shelves.

Loren's sharp eyes honed in on the hesitation. Seiren almost expected a lecture on being honest and being reminded once again she was a terrible liar – but Loren got up and made another cup of tea instead, allowing Seiren to churn over the words in her head before deciding what to say. She told Loren about the visit from the injured king's mage, who returned Madeleine without apparently demanding anything in exchange, who essentially told her not to meddle – at least, that was how Seiren interpreted as 'playing the game' as he'd suggested.

Loren's brows furrowed. Lines were growing across her forehead despite her young age.

"And you've never met this mage before?"

Seiren shook her head. "I studied the faces and backgrounds of every state mage in the registry before I graduated King's, figuring it'll be to my advantage, but nobody had a burn as horrific as his. But it's new, so..."

"A burn, huh."

"The king's mages, though, they're not on the registry. Perhaps there was one with a horrible injury. I wouldn't know. He... he knew my mother."

"Oh?" Loren didn't seem that surprised. "There are only five of them ever at any one time. I'm not that surprised."

"And who fills her spot now? Now that she's... dead." The word got stuck in her throat.

"I don't think there was one. The king's mages have been functioning as a foursome for the past six years. Not that we ever see them." Loren placed her cup on the table and watched Seiren out of the corner of her grey eyes. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"They're after the mage who tried to kill me. But why aren't there any warrants or arrest posters? Surely every pairs of eyes in Karma is better than just the four of them."

"That's the question, isn't it?"

"You know something."

Loren grinned. "Not much, but something smells fishy for sure. Kommora's looking into it. And anything Kommora's interested in, you can guarantee it's interesting and probably a little bit treasonous."

"Kommora Haigh?" She was renowned for being manipulative and cold-hearted, and had been brought forward for more magical trials than any other state mage, but had always managed to manipulate herself out of any major sentences. Seiren wondered why the woman had come to Danaway after her kidnap – maybe it had something to do with recent events. She had certainly been careful to not let slip even a semblance of a hint to Seiren that day.

"The old bat's been trying to overthrow the autocracy ever since the role of king's mages was established. She never liked the secrecy or supremacy the king's mages held. She thought magic should be for the people and to further the welfare of the country, but sometimes Pollin seems to think otherwise."

She sounds so casual about treason. Madeleine sounded as unsure as Seiren whether she should be amused or horrified.

"Kommora is a good person," Loren added, seeing Seiren's face. "Karma is in a bad place at the moment. Too many people are suffering, especially where we clash with Hanna. Pollin's cutting funding to places torn by war. Hospitals are being shut down so the doctors and nurses are stretched even thinner. Many of my colleagues have had enough and quit their professions. The supporting communities are told to cease their activities or risk being penalised. You've seen Danaway perish in just a few years. A few other cities have vanished, too. Kommora thinks fairly soon Pollin will draft in state mages to fight for them again. The lack of healthcare to support the wounded in the war will be good ammunition to motivate state mages to enrol, and convince the people that it's a good decision, a necessary decision. Their resentment will be the push over the edge to get all the state mages to agree."

"But..." Seiren reeled at the thought. "Magic as a weapon of war...!"

"Deadly, yes. It's inevitable, though, don't you think? Chaos magic heals, but its potential isn't even known yet – and nobody else can do it but me. Burst magic, rune magic, flash magic – they're all to do with energy. Imagine how many cities can be brought to their knees, people massacred, all without losing many men on our side. State mages are already under the umbrella of the military even if we do not have specific military duties or alliances with the soldiers outside of the military mages. We swore an oath to work for the welfare of our countrymen; wouldn't that extend to circumstances when our national security is breached?"

Seiren's stomach churned. The thought of using magic to kill instead of aid was sickening.

Humans are such destructive creatures, said Madeleine, equally disgusted.

"Just be careful in the meantime, Seiren. We're living in uncertain times. Especially after what happened this week, with these rogue mages."

Seiren touched her abdomen. The wound had healed until just a small, thin scar remained. Her energy returned and everything was back to normal.

"I suspect you'll get a military escort soon, like the rest of the state mages. The security is amped, but we're up against mages here. I don't think normal weapons, even if they're runed, can offer much protection."

Loren squeezed Seiren's shoulder before retreating to her bedroom. Seiren drank the last of her tea, mulling over what she said. Madeleine hummed, also deep in thought.

She said we're up against mages. There's more than one, Seiren. Be careful.

****

"I have to admit I've never taught anyone chaos magic before."

Seiren looked up. Loren chewed her lip, tapping her fingers on the table. They'd cleared it of the remains of breakfast. A fast asleep fat cat lay belly-up in the centre spot of sun, its thick fur rising and falling with each breath. Little pink toe pads twitched from time to time.

"Everything in the notes—" Loren gestured at the pile of notes on the seat beside her. "—was compiled from field results. There was nobody else who could heal those injuries and I did what I could. That was my practice and also my work. I can't really unleash you onto my patients to teach you; that's not ethical. I'll have to do a smaller scale."

"With a cat?" That didn't sound any more ethical.

Maybe we could use a death row inmate instead, Madeleine said, but the jeer was half-hearted. The wound had healed and the sisters were closer than ever before.

"This is Bonsie. She's the hospital's cat."

"You want me to heal a cat."

"Bonsie's very amiable so I'm sure she'll tolerate your attempts."

"You're going to cut her so I can heal her?" Seiren ogled.

"Yes." Loren chuckled. "Rowan made that same face! You're both big softies, really, on the inside, aren't you?"

Seiren scowled at the comparison. She wanted nothing more to do with that midget.

"And both equally loath to be told of their good qualities!"

Loren rubbed the fat cat's fluffy belly. It stretched and purred, but didn't even open its eyes.

"Bonsie will be fine. I'll administer some anaesthetic to her so she's nice and numb. She likes to stay still, so she's a prime candidate for you to practise on, I think."

"You think."

"I've never done this before, all right? I've not taught chaos magic before and I don't intend to. Not when I still don't know its boundaries. But with Madeleine... I thought it would be helpful in your quest. You've got a good moral compass. Madeleine will keep you right, too."

She's read you right through, eh.

Seiren's cheeks turned pink. Loren took her hands and held them. Light glowed between her fingertips, spreading to Seiren. It was warm, soothing, like a hot bubble bath, with none of the shuddering explosions of energy threatening to escape like with burst magic or the pulsating potential in rune magic.

"Remember, chaos magic is equal exchange. Can you feel your natural energy through this?"

Seiren closed her eyes. Her whole body was warm and fuzzy. The energy inside ebbed and flowed with gentle caresses against her soul. Madeleine also closed her eyes, floating amongst the energy.

"Chaos magic utilises that natural energy within everyone. Meditation allows you to empty your mind and fully engage with it, but the more you use it the easier you can find it without taking so much time. My father wasn't a mage, but he liked to use this kind of meditation to feel one with himself. He taught me this from a young age. It also made my magic stronger because I understand myself." Loren took several even breaths in and out. "So when you're using it, align it with Bonsie's natural energy when I give her a nick, and encourage her own energy to heal. Don't force it like you do with burst magic, and certainly don't try to tell it what to do like in rune magic. Control is so important with those two types, but chaos magic is more natural. Thinking positive thoughts usually helps."

Seiren's eyes fluttered open. The glow had reached her elbows. "Why positive thoughts?"

"Chaos seems to thrive with heightened emotions. Burst magic needs a still mind; chaos seems to be the opposite. I suggest positive thoughts because usually people get carried away with negative thoughts and those are too easy to come by. There's not enough positivity in the world, and you certainly don't want flash magic to be involved..."

Seiren remembered reading about flash magic. She released her grip. The theory behind that was great control over one's emotions, powered by one surge of great emotion. It was usually favoured by mages who were more calculated in combat and lack empathy, and the emotion was usually hatred or revenge, magnifying the flood of destructive energy unique to every user.

Tahir Portendorfer's sadistic features came to her mind's eye. She shook her head, focusing on Loren again. Loren had a soft smile on her face, nestled in one hand with her elbow propped on the table surface. Seiren had no idea how she could still look so glamorous with her thick blonde hair tied back and lack of sleep evident in the bags below her eyes.

"I know you've been through a lot, Seiren, but know that not the entire world is against you." Loren seemed to spot the disdain Seiren instinctively felt. "I know, I know – what do I know, right? But I've been there. I lost my parents quite young, too. I thought I was all alone in the world. Rowan and I were friends, but he came from a prestigious military family – they wouldn't have anything to do with an orphan girl with no links to magic."

"Then how did...?"

"Kommora Haigh. She funded my studies through King's."

Seiren cast her mind back to the grumpy-faced woman with the permanent scowl. She couldn't even imagine her holding the door open for someone, let alone fund an orphan through expensive King's. "That old hag?"

"I know, right? I owe her everything. She didn't know me from chalk, but when she heard about my difficulties she just swooped in and paid for everything. She wasn't the friendliest, mind – I don't think she has the capacity to even be gracious, let alone friendly – but she saved my life. I'm here today because of her and nothing else." Loren gave a small, content sigh. "What I mean to say is there are good people out there. And it can be from the least expected places. I know your experience so far has been pretty terrible—"

Seiren snorted.

"—But don't give up just yet. The world is a big place." Loren's eyes glimmered. "Now, let me anaesthetise Bonsie here so she stays nice and numb from the waist down and we get some practising."

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