Saija was sitting on the brick barrier outlining the Vaile Estate, leaning against the polished black gate that sat on top of it.

The morning sun had started to rise, casting a golden glow on the sparkling sidewalk. As the group began to arrive, she gave them each a quick glance and a small smile before retreating back into today's paper.

Today's biggest scoop about the upcoming Septentrion was that market vendors and auctioneers in Coveth had been scrambling to lock up their most prized goods from the sector's, and perhaps the empire's, most infamous network of thieves.

They called themselves The Crows, always replacing their acquired possessions with a shiny black pin in the shape of their mascot- an omen of their ever-lingering presence.

The authorities had little help to offer, and even less hope, against the skilled criminals who seemed to vanish into thin air after every heist.

How Saija loathed the act of thievery. No amount of manipulation, back-stabbing, or betrayal could ever compare to the act of taking something from someone outright. At least with the others, you had to have some mental preparation and intelligence to do so- not that she was condoning any of it.

Thievery, at its core, was about exploiting the weakness of others for their own monetary gain. It was vile. And no one in their group knew it better than Evrin, who had his own way of slipping in and out of places unnoticed, leaving behind nothing but a faint trace of his presence.

Oh yes, she had her speculations.

Speak of the devil.

"Wow, not even letting her best friend through the gates? Harsh."

The sound of Evrin's voice, smooth as ever and dripping with mischief, made Saija's fingernails dig into the side of the newspaper. She folded it with a snap and tossed it into her lap, glaring at him.

"Actually, she left me out here to keep your sticky fingers from slipping in." Her words were sharp, but she knew better than to sound too smug. She wasn't sure which irritated her more: his presence or the fact that she knew he could get past her if he really wanted to.

Evrin's sly grin stretched wider as he strolled closer, his eyes flicking over the estate, then back to her. His gaze was predatory, like he was mentally assessing every weak point in the estate's defenses, even as he toyed with her.

"Believe me, if I really wanted in, it'd take a lot more than a second-rate guard dog like you to stop me."

She clenched her jaw, cursing herself for having no immediate retort. She crossed her arms over her chest, mimicking his posture, but her heart was racing. The nerve of him.

"Besides," he continued, his dark eyes briefly glancing over her outfit, taking in the slightly wrinkled but still neat jacket she'd thrown on for the occasion, "you'd look more out of place than I would."

It stung, more than she wanted to admit. She could still feel the heat creeping up her neck, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing it. Her cheeks burned, but she didn't flinch.

"Good thing I don't need to stop you," she bit back, her voice laced with sarcasm. "You'd trip over your own ego before you made it to the door."

Before either of them could speak again, a voice interrupted them.

"Geeesh, and I thought I wasn't a morning person," Cassian drawled, yawning as he strolled up to the group.

"Honestly, it's like watching two cats fight over the last bit of sunlight." Nadia added, sipping from a steaming cup.

Saija shot a glare at both of them, but it lacked her usual bite. She was still too worked up from her exchange with Evrin, and the worst part? He still hadn't taken his eyes off her. His gaze burned, smug and unrelenting, like he'd won some invisible battle she didn't even know they were fighting.

Nadia raised an eyebrow at the two of them but didn't press further. Instead, she reached into her bag with a dramatic sigh. "I was saving this for the trip, but clearly, we need some peace offerings before we get there." She pulled out a small loaf of bread and began tearing it into slices.

"Cinnamon bread," she announced cheerfully, holding a piece out to Saija. "Never fails to brighten my mood."

Saija hesitated for a moment, still fuming, but Nadia's chipper tone- and the faint, warm aroma of cinnamon sugar- wore her down. She accepted the slice with a faint smile and took a tentative bite.

Evrin, meanwhile, reluctantly took a piece, his smirk fading as he finally shifted his gaze away from Saija.

Nadia was right. The sweet bread melted on Saija's tongue, the cinnamon sugar coating her lips with a warmth that spread through her chest. Her shoulders sagged as she let out a quiet sigh.

"That-"

"Is absolutely mouthwatering." Adonis interrupted, his voice rich with exaggerated praise. He swiped another piece of bread, popping it into his mouth with a satisfied hum before turning his attention to Nadia.

He inclined his head toward her in a way that was both playful and charming, his brown eyes sparkling in the morning sun. "Could you come to my home and deliver this once a week? Or perhaps I could just pay you a visit instead, watch the magic happen up close."

Nadia flushed, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of pink as she quickly tucked the container back into her bag. She didn't meet his gaze, but her soft smile gave away her flustered delight.

Saija rolled her eyes, but the corners of her lips twitched in spite of herself. The cinnamon bread worked its magic, the tension from earlier dissipating- though not entirely. Evrin's lingering smirk and the way his gaze flickered back to her made sure of that.

The sound of the gate creaking open drew everyone's attention, effectively silencing the chatter among them. Medora emerged, her polished boots clicking against the cobblestones as she descended the steps to the sidewalk with practiced grace. At the sight of her, Saija coiled back against the gate.

Behind Medora, a butler in sharp attire carried a neatly packed satchel, which he handed off to her with a curt nod. Medora accepted it briskly before turning to the group as the gate locked behind her. "Ready?" She asked, flashing an enticingly bright smile, though her eyes remained slightly avoidant.

Saija couldn't help but wonder what Medora had told her parents to explain today's outing.

A strange silence settled over the group, one that made Saija acutely aware of every shift and glance. For some reason, silence always made her feel like everyone was watching her, or thinking things they wouldn't say aloud.

She ducked her head as they began to walk, Medora and Cassian taking the lead while Adonis and Nadia chatted behind them. That left Saija sandwiched in the middle, with Kane and Evrin bringing up the rear, which was both comforting and terrifying.

They boarded the train bound for the edge of Icarra, and Kane slid into the seat next to Saija, his lanky limbs taking up more space than necessary.

He leaned slightly toward her, lowering his voice. "So? What've you got for me?"

Saija raised an eyebrow. "You mean, have I come up with a miracle to save your scholarship?"

Kane frowned, his jaw tightening. "You said you'd help, didnt you?"

Saija smirked, sliding her notebook from her tote. "Relax. I've got a few things written up. You're not going to like all of them, though."

He shrugged, leaning back into his seat. "Try me. At this point, I don't have much of an option."

"Alright. Option one: volunteer at one of the Savoren food distribution centers. You'd look all noble and selfless handing out rations to families."

Kane grimaced. "Sympathy points? That's what you're going for?"

Saija chuckled despite his serious expression. "Call it what you want, but everyone loves a redemption arc."

"Next."

"Fine." Saija flipped a page in her notebook. "Option two: you donate your next winnings to a charity. Use the skills you already have to raise funds for, I don't know, repairing infrastructure in Lethe. Something practical."

Kane tilted his head, considering it. "That's... not terrible. What else?"

"Option three: you partner with someone like Medora, Nadia, or Adonis and host a public event for the festival. Community bonding and- you know, 'unity' and all that."

Kane rolled his eyes. "Not likely. Do you really think people see me as someone to bond with?"

"That's the point. You show them you're not just a hothead who throws punches. You've got charm- well, sort of. Use it."

Kane glanced over her shoulder at the notebook, his brow furrowing in thought. "I'll think about it. But no public speeches."

Saija pretended to jot something down, a playful grin tugging at her lips. "Noted. I'll just put you down for 'brooding silently in the corner.' Very marketable."

Kane's laugh came unexpectedly, a short, low sound that almost made her forget how serious he'd been moments before.

The train shuddered to a halt, and Kane shifted to stand, looking at her with a smile that wasn't his usual smirk or mask of indifference. It was... grateful. "Thanks, by the way."

Saija blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. She wasn't sure why, but it made her chest tighten slightly, as if she'd done something far more important than jot down a few ideas.

"Oh, it's no problem," she said quickly, averting her gaze and tucking an annoying strand of hair behind her ear.

The group exited the train to the outskirts of Icarra, the crisp air carrying the faint scent of damp earth and the whisper of the forest ahead.

Medora turned to face the rest of the group as the train rumbled away behind them. Saija tried to ignore the lingering stares of the other passengers for getting off at the entrance to a long-abandoned trail. Everyone knew where it led.

At best, if they didn't return, maybe someone on that train would know where to look.

Saija pulled her jacket tighter across her waist as Medora's voice broke the heavy silence.

"Alright," Medora began, her tone crisp and deliberate. "I believe Nadia and Cassian have been working on something?"

Nadia perked up, adjusting her bag with an awkward smile. "Oh, nothing too exciting- just piecing together ancient warnings and whispers of doom, you know, the usual."

While Saija appreciated the attempt to lighten the mood, the rest of the group didn't seem to find Nadia's words either comforting or amusing.

Cassian snorted, crossing his arms. "What she means is: stick together. If someone gets too close to the Veil and it starts... pulling at them, we have to act fast. No wandering off, no playing hero. Got it?"

Evrin raised a brow, his expression unreadable. "Do you really think this place has some sort of 'evil ancient magic' tied to it? Or are these just stories to scare people away."

Cassian turned to face him, his voice low and unamused. "If you want to believe there's no reason they don't even send anyone from the Legion to guard this place, then be my guest. Lead the way."

Evrin chuckled, clapping Kane on the back with an exaggerated grin. "No thanks. Someone's gotta keep this guy in check." His wink made Kane's fists clench at his sides.

Cassian rolled his eyes, but Nadia pressed on. "If there's a force powerful enough to keep us all under this curse, then the source of it must be even stronger. Like I said before, anyone who's gone to the temple has either disappeared into the Veil or gone mad."

Saija's stomach churned. She dipped her head, the memories of home creeping back uninvited. She'd heard the stories, but some were too close to ignore.

Her neighbor had tried to resist the curse once, determined to live without giving into envy at all. The doctors had carried her mangled body out of her home after she'd clawed at her own face, her muffled screams still ringing in Saija's ears.

And then there was the man from Lethe. He'd tried to fight his sin too- overworking himself to an early grave within a year.

The curse doesn't just weaken you, she thought grimly. It thrives on extremes.

Cassian let his bag drop from his shoulders and turned to begin walking down the trail. Medora walked briskly to catch up, and the rest of them followed suit.

"The temple's falling apart." Cassian began, "Half the place is crumbling, and the other half's unstable. One wrong step, and we could end up buried under rubble—or worse." He held up his bag, and Saija couldn't help but notice Medora's unwavering gaze. "We'll need to be prepared. Rope, flashlights, first aid- basic stuff, are all in here. And if things go south, we'll need to know our way out."

Medora's lips curved into a faint smile. "You've been thorough," she said simply.

The gravel crunched beneath their shoes as the group climbed higher into the mountainous terrain. Jagged rocks lined the trail, and a sharp wind carried the scent of pine and earth. Saija's legs ached, and her breath came faster every few minutes. She had no clue how much time had passed, but it felt like they were getting nowhere.

She eyed the rest of the group, gauging their comfort against her own. To her dismay, they all seemed fine. Medora and Cassian were huddled over a sheet of paper, Nadia and Adonis had pulled the cinnamon loaf back out, and Kane and Evrin-

"You don't have to help him, you know."

Evrin's voice slithered into her thoughts, making her jaw clench. Just what she needed: a conversation while she could barely breathe.

She refused to look in his direction. "What?"

"It's a shot in the dark anyway. You'd be risking your own reputation just to fix his."

Saija's brow furrowed. "Some of us actually enjoy helping others," she snapped. "Not that you'd understand. There's not a selfless bone in your body."

She paused, her breath hitching. "Wait. How do you-"

The faintest laugh escaped him, and she turned just in time to see him pull something from his pocket. Her stomach dropped as he began flipping through her notebook.

"Give that back!" she yelled, swatting it his arms as he held the notebook higher.

"Relax," he said, his voice maddeningly calm. "I'm only making sure you haven't written anything terrible about me in this thing."

Her face burned as she tried to snatch it back, but he held it just out of reach, flipping through the pages with infuriating ease.

"Please," she scoffed, giving up the attempt and crossing her arms. "You wouldn't be newsworthy enough if you were found dead in the streets."

Evrin laughed again, finally handing the notebook back. She snatched it from his hands with a glare and stormed ahead, her cheeks flaming.

Nadia turned, raising an eyebrow at Evrin. "What did you do this time?"

Evrin shrugged, a smirk tugging at his lips.

The trail narrowed as they ascended, and the dense foliage thinned to reveal jagged rock formations towering around them. Leafless trees and browning grass scattered around. The sunlight, warm and golden at the base of the mountain had faded into a cold, pale light as the rocks eventually formed a cove.

Saija tightened her grip on her notebook, her earlier irritation was slowly giving way to unease. The air felt heavier here, and it had gotten significantly colder. There wasn't even a breeze passing through the cove. It was as though the mountain itself was holding its breath.

Cassian stopped abruptly at the entrance to the cove, raising a hand. "Feel that?" He asked, his voice quiet..

Nadia furrowed her brow, rubbing her hands over her arms. "The temperature dropped like 20 degrees," she muttered, her usual cheerful tone subdued.

"It's not just the cold," Kane said, his voice unusually stoic. He glanced toward the path ahead. "It's...something else. Like we're being watched."

Medora looked around nervously but forced a confident smile. "It's probably just the altitude. Or the wind."

"It's not the wind," Evrin said, his tone sharp. "Listen."

The group fell silent, and for a moment, there was nothing. Then, faintly, a sound drifted through the air—low, almost intangible whispers, like voices speaking just out of earshot.

"You've seen what they hide from you."

Saija barely caught it. Like it could have been a rustle of leaves- if there had been any wind to stir them.

"It's yours for the taking."

Her breath caught in her throat, and her heart began to pound. She froze. The words felt like they had been spoken directly into her ear, as though the voice knew her.

"Tell me someone else hears that," she said, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to sound calm.

The group turned to her, confusion etched on their faces. Their blank expressions told her everything: they hadn't heard it.

-

MERRY CHRISTMAS! A nice long chapter just in time for the holidays. I hope you enjoyed:) As a gift, the next chapter will introduce a new POV! Who do you think it'll be...?👀