Infernal Lucile Spiderbane led us through the mass of Cinders gathered in the large cavern. Everyone was either eating, drinking, or resting. They were doing anything to enjoy the moment before tomorrow came. Despite the coziness of the caves under the Fourth Floor, we had to travel up to the harsh surface tomorrow and prepare to fight the Guardians.

  My nose was still adjusting to the cacophony of smells as we moved about the large room. The damp and earthy air mixed with the sweat of men and women, and the char of burnt meat. It was equal parts unbearable and pleasant. Large torches lined the room, burning with some thick, yellow, and green paste that the Cinders typically use on long expeditions—apparently, it’s harvested from mountain-sized trees on the far side of Mourne in the country Vecla.

  “Infernal!” A booming voice shook dust from the tunnel ceiling.

  A massive man barreled toward us, the jarring clank of chains against stone accompanying each step. I knew this approaching giant. My brother’s… ‘keeper’.

  Usiast thundered up to Spiderbane and saluted. The man was Blazeman rank like Bartholomew, but taller and broader than him. At ten feet tall, he was the largest human I'd ever seen. When we'd first met after the Mage Invasion, Silas had mistaken him for someone still in their Third Form transformation.

  Usiast was Veclan, like Laska and several other Cinders, but from a clan living at the base of their 'God Mountain'—a peak that stretched miles into the sky. Those born near it grew to gigantic sizes. After everything I'd seen at Baldred's Pillar, I was convinced that their ‘God Mountain’ was one of the other twelve Pillars.

  “Infernal, hurry! The lamb is ready, and Gortag and Gortug are about to take the first servings!”

  "What?" Spiderbane stomped her foot. "Over my dead body! The Infernal gets the best meat FIRST, those are the rules!" She sprinted past Usiast, dodging other Cinders as they moved about.

  The giant turned to follow, and a large metal coffin chained to his back lurched into view.

  My face dropped slightly. Every time I saw the coffin carried like that, I grew uneasy.

  Silas's hand found my shoulder. "I'm sure he's okay in there." He nodded toward the coffin shrinking into the distance as Usiast merged into the crowd.

  I forced a weak smile and kept walking.

  Do you think you dream when you're in a coma? Fern asked.

  I hope so. Otherwise, that would be torture, being stuck in the dark the whole time, unable to move your own body.

  Wowww that sounds really unimaginable! Fern's tone dripped sarcasm.

  Ah shit, my bad. I scratched my head and felt a little bit of heat flush my cheeks. You know I won’t give up on returning this body to yours, right?

  Yeah, yeah. I could practically hear Fern’s eyes rolling.

  The coffin held my brother—or what was left of him. The soul that took over Noah's body, controlled it like I did with Fern’s. It was a horrific fate that my brother was pulled into. The soul had renamed itself Noah Starbringer, but even then, I felt like it had yet to reveal its true name. In the five years since arriving to Mourne, the soul had learned and mastered all String Magic and its elements, became the Royal Magelord, and had murdered civilians during an attempted invasion at the Academy of Ash, where we Cinders were trained. But during our fight beneath the Academy, beyond the voice of the one who controlled him, I heard Noah's real voice. My brother was still alive inside. Trapped as the second soul behind golden eyes that weren’t his.

  Noah’s coma was thanks to Infernal Spiderbane. If she hadn’t done it, we would be dead. Lucile had poisoned him with her blood infusion, sending him into a deep sleep that had lasted longer than her poison should have allowed. Half the Cinders wanted him dead. They wanted his throat slit while he was vulnerable for the deaths he caused. Part of me understood. The soul controlling him was evil, no question.

  But I'd heard my brother calling for help. He was still alive. I couldn’t kill his body while he was stuck inside.

  Infernal Laska and Pyrarch Thorn, previously the headmaster, had decided to let him live on one condition: that I find a way to destroy the parasite soul that had stolen his body.

  Easier said than done, I had thought at the time, considering that’s exactly what Fern and I have been trying to solve for well over a year now. But the whole Twinsoul thing was confusing. Laska knew it, Pyrarch Thorn knew it, too. So, their condition was really just to calm down the other Cinders who wanted to slit Noah’s throat.

  Professor Pestil had taught Laska, Thorn, and me about how complicated twinsouls were as a whole, and how anything concerning souls and magic had been banned from research by all of Mourne’s governments. This made it nearly impossible to make any headway in the matter.

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  Who do you think the soul is? Fern tracked my thoughts as I stared after Usiast.

  Someone with evil plans. They were up to something with that invasion, I’m not sure what exactly. They took Noah five years ago, mastered every element of magic, and became Magelord, for what reason, though? Why Noah? My fists clenched.

  Maybe it has nothing to do with Noah at all. Maybe whoever controls him is utilizing the Twinsoul power itself, Fern said.

  Which is what exactly? I forced my fists to relax, breathing deep through my nose. That’s another mystery. I don’t understand, we pick up on things faster, is that it? Is it deeper than that? Clearly, whatever it is, this evil soul knows what it’s doing. We are lucky Lucile came when she did.

  As we got closer to the source of pleasantry, I finally saw the racks of roasting meat. I turned around to look at my friend’s reaction, and only then did I take in the amount of Cinders gathered all in one place. There were just over five hundred Expedition Members.

  It's like Odin's feast hall in Valhalla, I thought to Fern.

  Another Earth story?

  A great one.

  Oh! Is it like the one with the giant monkey and the woman on the building? He asked.

  I scratched my head. Yeah, this one's from a... different storyteller.

  We made our way toward the fire pits where cooks carved a slab of roasted lamb. Two massive, bald Cinders were drooling over the meat, trying to cut in line.

  "Back of the line," Lucile said flatly. "Or you won't be able to chew meat again."

  They scrambled away immediately.

  She turned to us, running a hand through her crimson hair. "Let this be a lesson—rank is the only thing keeping the Cinders organized. Disrespect it, and you'll be punished. Severely. That’s why we renamed all the ranks, took away the old names, and gave you all new, meaningful ranks.”

  We all nodded.

  "Good. Now feast. Fuel up, little Forgemen. Tomorrow we embark into the devil’s lair.” She smirked and grabbed two heavy plates of lamb.

  She’s a tough leader, I said to Fern.

  And powerful, too. She saved us from Noah and has reached the rank of Infernal, Fern replied. I think she can use Fourth Form too.

  We stepped forward as the line moved. First Bartholomew, then Waelid and Galina. Finally, it was my turn. The cook handed me a plate piled with lamb. It resembled gyro meat and was topped with green and orange herbs. Brown, fatty liquids were already pooling below the meat, making my mouth water instantly. I made my way through the crowds following Waelid and Galina, before we all settled around a large open table. One by one, we all sat down and began inhaling our food.

  "Hey, Erik?" Ruriel called out —the purple-haired former House Nin member. “I appreciate you and Waelid for the save. You know… on the boat.”

  “Um, excuse me?” Mel leaned over, looking offended. "Those two didn't do ALL the work. Who put that turtle to sleep? Who cut off the tentacles. Did they do all of that? No we helped to, Silas made those bombs.”

  “It’s ok Mel, calm down,” Silas said waving his hands at Mel.

  “What the hell is your problem, psycho?” Zenobia said. “All Rury said was thank you, and they DID do the bulk of the saving.”

  “Psh, Rury. Nice nickname,” Mel mocked.

  Sora stood up and rolled her eyes. “Silas may have made the bombs, but I'm the one who actually shot those bombs into its mouth. Name a better shot."

  “I was just trying to be polite,” Ruriel said flatly before bringing his water to his mouth.

  The table erupted into arguments—everyone claiming credit for the victory.

  “Hey! Hey, hey, hey, hey!” I stood up, clapping my hands together. Everyone quieted down. “It was a team effort, okay? We all contributed. It is always a team effort. That whole competing to see who’s the strongest or who did the most? We need to leave that behind. Every battle we’ve won, has been because we worked together. So we all deserve the credit.”

  The group stayed silent for a while before everyone returned to eating and having more private conversations. Across from me, I caught Rinka whispering to her twin, Sora.

  "I don't like this new tough attitude of yours."

  "We've been over this," Sora sighed. "I can't be timid anymore. Not after the invasion. Besides, why have YOU become more afraid?”

  “Well, the invasion taught me something, too. I don't want to be here."

  "Then why come?"

  "I... don't want to leave you alone."

  Sora's expression softened. “You don’t want to leave ME alone? Or YOU dont want to be alone? It doesn’t matter, just follow me and stay by my side." She took Rinka's hand and squeezed it tightly before letting go and returning to her food.

  The conversation turned to tomorrow's journey. Most were unsure what to expect; some, like Rinka, regretted their decision to come; and the hotheads, like Mel and Lucius, were eager.

  "Can't wait to show these veteran Cinders my Third Form," Mel boasted.

  “Will you stop bragging about it? How did someone as crazy as you quiet your mind so much to achieve it anyways?” Lucius asked, twisting his face into a wrinkled, angry scowl.

  “Someone’s clearly jealous,” Mel said.

  “You are a cocky little girl, who’s gonna get her unit killed one day?”

  “At least I’d be strong enough to even have a unit. Tell me, why did you, and frankly why did any of you come on the Expedition if you can’t use Third Form yet?” Mel asked, looking around the group.

  “Achieving level three wasn’t the condition to come,” Zenobia said, sipping her cup. “Willing and capable hands—that was the condition. We aren’t even going to be fighting.”

  Mel let out a puff of air. “Hmph, says you. I’m going to take down a Guardian myself.”

  “The 'badger' doesn’t know when to quit until it’s dead. She’s just going to do what she wants," Lucius scoffed.

  “You’re damn right I am, I’m the strongest here,” Mel said, jabbing her thumb at herself.

  Lucius laughed. “Surely you’re joking. Erik is clearly the strongest; he has the Twinsoul. Then Waelid and Galina for sure. Maybe then you would slide in nicely at fourth place.”

  “Did you just say I’m below green locks over there?” Waelid said, standing up, annoyed.

  “Oh, gods enough!” Galina shouted. The group got quiet, and people returned to their meals.

  "When we fight, stay out of my way,” Mel mumbled to Lucius.

  "Right back at you." He said.

  Sora eased Mel’s fury by offering her extra meat, which Mel devoured happily.

  We finished eating and laid out our sleeping rugs. The cavern was still echoing with noise, but slowly over the next hour, Cinders started to fall asleep, until only a few whispers could be heard at a time. The heavy meal and exhaustion from the fight and the ladder climb knocked us out quickly.

  That was the last night I would have a good rest, for a very long time.