SORA

As blade clashes against blade, I come to realize that Aikaterina is clearly holding back, but then again, so am I.

"What do you want with us?" I ask as Kat and I try to push each other back and forth, our blades connected.

"Carmin wants the stone," Kat says, frowning. "I don't want him to get it, but..."

"But you can't easily or obviously go against your team all by yourself," I finish for her, and the knowing look in Kat's eyes says I've got it right.

No matter how strong and how calculating Kat may be alone, she'd be outnumbered and surrounded by four skilled Arias, and I don't even know if she fully knows how to use Sloth yet. Her dragon slayer abilities and skills gained over time would certainly be helpful, but I don't know how helpful against them.

"I know that it wasn't you, you know," Kat adds softly after a few moments, nearly making my hold against her falter. "I know that you didn't kill him."

"You do?" My breath hitches.

I had hoped she knew the truth about Raciel, but hearing it from her somehow makes the crushing guilt in my chest just a little less crushing. Still crushing, nonetheless, but...

"Yeah," Kat smiles sadly. "I know what happened. I don't blame you for it. You shouldn't either, Sora. You were one of the people who effectively helped him. He really cared about you, and I know you really cared about him too."

"Kat! What're you doing?" The woman with white hair shouts from the rooftops as she runs around. "Stop stalling!"

"Sorry," Kat mutters to me quickly before she goes back to attacking me with more purpose.

"Don't be," I grin, teal and green bursts of energy colliding as we fight. "Think of it as training practice."

Kat grins at me in return and she gives me a small nod before she jumps up and kicks herself off of my blade into a backflip and then swings her greatsword in an arc motion once she's facing me. I dodge her strike by whirling off to the side and countering with one of my own in return, my blade lighting up in a column of green flames.

"Halt!"

Kat barely has time to move out of the way of my strike just before everything begins to move in slow motion. My eyes widen as I try to look in the direction of the castle to see a group of horses riding towards us, a woman in tall brown riding boots over top of white skinny jeans and a flowing blue top with a brown vest and long blonde hair in a braid and blue eyes sitting on top of a white horse leading the group. My eyes flicker to the choker around her neck and it's then that I notice the runestone hidden in the emblem.

"Such children," the woman sighs. "Come, let's take this mess to the castle. I'd like to have a word with all of you."

"Major, is that the best idea?" One of the soldiers asks.

"It'll be fine," the woman waves, her eyes lingering on the woman with blue hair for a little too long. "Let us return."

Once the soldiers are off their horses and have all of us apprehended, the slowed time affecting those of us who were fighting goes back to normal. As we're escorted to the castle, I glance around at my surroundings and manage to see Clea, Kit, and Shae watching us from the sidelines. Meeting Clea's eyes, I hope she understands the meaning behind my hopeful expression that's telling her and the others to stay far from the castle and go meet with Akari and them for help. Somehow, though, I feel as if those three will take matters into their own hands.

***

The inside of Aurora's castle is as magnificent as I thought it to be, but it also feels more homey than I would've expected it to. Just inside the main entrance, there's a circular wooden table with a white vase of red roses, a warmly lit chandelier hanging over the table. Beyond the table, a grand wooden staircase matching the shade of the wooden floors leads upstairs. The soldiers lead us off to the left and beyond a ball room, warmly lit lights lining the hallways, as well as some more tables with vases of roses, and into a dining hall.

The dining hall has several paintings and photographs lining the back wall, a large wooden table with eight chairs on each side and one at each end, a large maroon rug that lies underneath the table, and more tables with roses in the back corners of the room. Above the table lies a chandelier similar to the one from the entrance hall.

"Sit," the strategist waves a hand as she heads to the far end of the table and the soldiers uncuff us.

I rub at my wrists once the cuffs are removed before I sit down at one of the chairs at the table, Gambit, Sekai, Merrick, Isabella, and I taking one side of the table while the other team with Kat takes the other side of the table. The soldiers back away, some leaving to return to their other duties and some staying around to keep guard of their commander.

"Now," the strategist leans her elbows on the table and clasps her hands together, her chin resting on her hands. "Explain to me what exactly you were doing causing a scene in my courtyard?"

"We wanted to speak with you," I start. "At least, speaking on behalf of my friends and I. I can't say the same for the others."

"We also wanted to speak with you," the white haired woman says.

"An interesting way of gaining my attention," the strategist raises a brow. "Now, would you kindly explain what made you think attacking each other in broad daylight in a crowded square would make you be received well? And just who are all of you, anyway?"

"My name is Aikaterina Libelle," Kat says as she stands up. "I used to only be a dragon slayer up until a few weeks ago when I became a member of the Aria Dispatch Team, ran by Aria Academy, after becoming the new Sloth. We came here with the hopes of convincing you to help us."

"You mean you came here with the hopes of getting me to give you the stone," the strategist corrects and Kat winces before she sits back down in her chair. "I'm assuming the rest of you also came here for that very same reason."

"If I may," Gambit says and stands, "I'm Gambit Lychn, the current Greed. I have excommunicated myself from Aria Academy, as have all of my friends you see sitting before you. We came to warn you about Carmin and his actions. Carmin isn't in his right mind. I don't think he has been in a long time. He'll stop at nothing to eradicate Wrath permanently, and if you're as wise as I believe you to be, you'll realize that cannot happen."

"Isn't in his right mind?" The white haired woman scoffs from the other side of the table, her blue eyes cold. "You're the ones not in your right minds. Don't you realize—"

"Enough!" Isabella shouts and stands up, clutching her hands to her chest, surprising all of us, her eyes hazel pained. "If you can't see that Carmin is hurting innocent people to gain what he wants, then you're the blind ones. Carmin murdered my mother in cold blood simply because she couldn't and wouldn't give him what he needed. Don't you...can't you see how wrong that is?"

"I see...." the strategist tails off in thought, and the white haired woman glances away with a conflicted expression. "I believe I see what's going on here. Before we continue any further, would you all introduce yourselves individually?"

"Isabella Lockwood, current Chastity, ma'am," Isabella says, her eyes locking firmly with the commander's before she sits down.

"Merrick Milan-Mercer, current Lust," Merrick stands and almost goes to tip his hat before he remembers he's no longer wearing his fedora.

"Sora Aisawa, current Wrath," I say and clear my throat as I stand, shifting around uncomfortably under the gazes of the dispatch team before I sit back down.

"Gambit Lychn, current Greed, past shrine maiden for Elvenowl," Gambit re-introduces herself.

"Sekai Ward," Sekai says. "Previous guardian to Gambit when she was a shrine maiden, current acting guardian of Greed."

"Aikaterina Libelle," Aikaterina introduces herself again, "dragon slayer, current Sloth, member of the Aria Dispatch Team."

"Layla Le'Blanc," the white haired woman introduces herself, "member of the Aria Dispatch Team, long range specialist and also close combat specialist."

"Dean Mathers," the brunette winks and tips his hat, "also a member of the Aria Dispatch Team, alchemy specialist."

"Sapphire Seraphim," the blue haired woman I originally fought introduces herself, "Aria Dispatch Team member, close combat specialist, strategist."

"What about heiress, Miss Seraphim?" The strategist asks, raising a brow in surprise.

"I am no longer associated with the kingdom warring with yours, Miss Greyflame," Sapphire says cooly. "I forfeited my position as heiress to the throne when I left."

"That seems rather unfair," Miss Greyflame, the strategist, says.

"Unfair may it be, it is what it is," Sapphire says calmly, as if unphased by the situation at all.

"Right," the blonde with a long ponytail clears her throat, drawing the attention to her. "Well, I'm Penelope Andres, long range specialist, close combat specialist, prior shrine maiden, member of the Aria Task Force."

"Penelope Andres," Gambit's breath hitches, drawing Penelope's attention. "Why didn't I notice before? You were one of the recurring winners during the tournaments. I noticed you before that because your application to the academy stated you were a shrine maiden at Elvenowl."

"Well, yes," Penelope's green eyes blink in surprise. "I used to be a shrine maiden two years ago until I was recruited for Aria."

"Interesting..." Miss Greyflame hums before she stands up, pressing her hands against the table. "I'd like to cordially invite all of you to our gala that's coming up. From there, I can figure out what's best to do moving forward. And, I'm assuming most of you know who I am, but if you don't— I'm Major Cordelia Greyflame, strategist for the kingdom of Aurora. That being said, all of you are welcome to stay here until the night of the gala, which will be held tomorrow."

"Excuse me for asking, Miss— I mean, Cordelia," Layla starts, "but how could a gala possibly help you decide anything?"

"You can learn a lot from watching people, especially in their most open and also their most guarded moments," Cordelia says, her blue eyes flashing intelligently. "Trust me when I say, I'll find everything I need to know. Oh, and Sora?"

"Yes, ma'am?" I furrow my eyebrows expectantly.

"You can tell your friends who just tried sneaking in the back that they're free to join as well," Cordelia says with a small knowing smile, amusement in her eyes. "I appreciate that they got my civilians out of danger before somebody accidentally got hurt."

"R—right..." I trail off with a sigh, realizing Clea and the others must have tried to come rescue us themselves, but what I don't know is how Cordelia knew that without moving from this spot or anyone telling her.

Cordelia motions for the soldiers to show us around the castle, everyone slowly shuffling out of the room in the process.

"Oh, and Sora?" Cordelia calls out once I'm nearly out the door, making me flinch and turn back in her direction. "Not you. I'd like to have a...word with you."

"Right," I clear my throat, wondering what I'm about to walk into. "Of course."