Nagan finished up taking care of Ravi's wing after taking care of Kint's. Aitor and Milora went ahead—they all stayed in the same tent anyway—once they were done with their own dragons. The next few days would be an odd one for them, after all, and he needed to take care of his squadron.

After the dragons arrived back, Colonel Warven informed him that he would be responsible for burning the shrouds of Carth and Gath during the memorial. Nagan had always been aware of these memorial services held for the soldiers, letting the fallen be sent away with honors, but it was never something he thought he would ever do. Not until he made the rank of lieutenant, at least.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a group of dragons flying toward them from the horizon. Nothing unusual considering the amount of Dragonmages stationed in the camp—usually the smaller or dragons not geared towards battles—but it was the glint of gold that caught his attention. Sainanak glided down with all the grace the lung dragons possessed. Three other dragons followed, but Nagan recognized none of them.

General Meixong is back? Ravi asked, also noticing the dragons in the sky.

Nagan shrugged, turning back to continue dressing Ravi's wing. Something flashed through his mind, some type of feeling or thought, but it was gone before he could identify what it was. "They're probably here for the memorial. Maybe they couldn't spare many officers, so they sent General Meixong back to conduct the ceremony."

Ravi hummed in agreement, lowering her head and resting it on her tail as she curled around herself further. All the while, she curled her wings back.

"Hey, I still need your wing out."

I thought you were done.

"You wish I was done. I want to get that slash near the base of your wing."

With a sigh, Ravi stretched out her wing, but only enough for Nagan to reach the scabbed skin. Nagan didn't object—he knew better not to, or else Ravi would just make it harder out of spite—and he quickly slathered on the ointment given to him by one of the dragon experts.

"There. You can curl up now."

Thank you. Ravi pulled her wing back, and she glanced back into the sky again. Sainanak and General Meixong just landed outside the wall. You should go see what's going on.

Nagan furrowed his brow. Why?

I don't know. I just think you should.

Well, that's not ominous at all, Nagan thought to himself. If his thoughts leaked into his and Ravi's mental connection, she didn't react.

"I probably shouldn't be disturbing the general like that," Nagan said out loud instead.

Then...go to the tack barn? Pretend you're polishing my saddle. General Meixong is bound to pass through there. Every time a page or servant offers to take it for them, they refuse and do it themself.

"How do you know that?"

Sainanak told me. She said Meixong doesn't like to risk incompetence.

Nagan snorted. "Yeah, that sounds like the general. But why do you want me to speak to them so bad?"

Ravi didn't reply right away, and she cast a cagey look at him. A premonition, I suppose.

"I mean...I suppose the polishing saddle idea could work." Nagan looked in the direction of the tack barn. "Alright, I'll be back."

Feel free to wake me up if I fall asleep. I want to know what's going on.

"Will do."

His stroll to the tack barn was uneventful. It was...strange, really. It was almost as if everything had gone back to normal. Two weeks had passed since the incident, and they were days away from the Turn of the Year. The memorial was to be held on the eve. Az's leg healed well, Milora and Aitor were able to laugh more often, and he could now lift his arm without wincing in pain. There were moments when he would find himself confronted with unwanted thoughts, serving as harsh reminders of what had happened. So he kept himself busy and his mind occupied, thinking about Professor Fai's question to him. He thought he had an answer for the professor now, but that would have to wait until his return.

Not paying attention to his surroundings, as he rounded the corner, he nearly collided with someone. He side-stepped at the last second while the other stopped in their tracks. It took him a moment to realize who it was.

"General Meixong!" He threw his arm up in a salute. "Sorry, I...wasn't paying attention to where I was going."

"I can see that."

An awkward pause stretched between them, and neither of them moved. Tucked beneath Meixong's arm was a lung dragon's saddle—similar to an amphithere's design like the one Nagan used since both of their dragons were more serpentine. But Nagan couldn't help but think their expression was more blank than usual, and for a brief moment, he thought they were upset with them. Ravi did mention they didn't like incompetence. General Meixong, however, spoke before he could apologize for getting in their way.

"Are you heading to the tack barn as well?"

"Um, y-yeah. To polish Ravi's saddle." Nagan cleared his throat, also suddenly remembering that Meixong possessed the uncanny ability to simply know what someone was doing. Perhaps this was a bad idea, and the general already knew why he was really here. "Would...you like me to carry that for you?"

General Meixong shook their head. "No need. Besides, you still have that injured shoulder."

"It's almost completely healed."

"Then let's not reverse the medics' hard work."

General Meixong then walked past him, nodding their head towards the barn as a silent command for him to follow. Maybe it was more like a request, but it felt like a command. Either way, Nagan complied and silently trailed behind.

"How are the others doing?" Meixong asked as they set the saddle on one of the tables meant for saddle repairs, one farther away from the others there. They grabbed a clean, dry cloth. "And Ravi's saddle is in pristine condition."

Nagan didn't attempt to continue with his narrative. "They're doing well. Az is finally allowed to walk around, and it was nice that Uncle—Specialist Arcolven was allowed to visit before returning to the front. You...had something to do with it, didn't you."

Meixong's lips twitched upwards. "Perhaps. What I do know, someone mentioned his son and ward were hurt, and he sent in a request for leave for a couple days. It didn't take long for someone to approve it."

Nagan gave them a small smile. "Thank you. It really helped Az when he was bedbound."

"I'm glad. I wish I could've gotten Milora and Aitor's parents here as well, but civilians aren't allowed within official encampments."

"I'm aware, but thank you for trying."

Nagan stepped to the side when Meixong finished wiping down the saddle, giving them room to move it to an empty space on the rack. Feeling the conversation coming to a close, Nagan decided to ask the question burning in his mind. It was now or never.

"General Meixong?"

They didn't turn around. "Hm?"

"Did Captain Fai have to stay behind while you conducted the memorial? You're here for the memorial, right?"

But General Meixong only continued adjusting the saddle. For a moment, Nagan thought they hadn't heard him, but as he prepared himself to ask again, they turned to face him. And Nagan felt the same, fleeting emotion he felt earlier, now identifiable: dread. Meixong only stared, their expression stony as ever.

Then it cracked. No longer did their face hold neutrality. It changed to something woeful and heartbreaking in the blink of an eye. Meixong swallowed hard before taking a deep breath.

"Fai is dead."