Ryuga keeps his pace casual while his mind races through the information he'd extracted.

  I used the assassin's identification to access an Agarian classified network on the library computer. When logged into his account, I was able to see the assassin’s text messages with the others in his team of subordinate amateurs. They shared coordinates and gave a time; they said three hours from now is when “Phase One” would start. This place, Ryuga thinks, looking down at an address he scribbled down on a piece of paper, is where I need to be by 6 PM. Peace negotiations. That's where Roy's parents would be.

  His hands stay steady, but his thoughts spin faster.

  Three hours. The location is... shit, that's at least a two-hour journey by normal transport. Maybe longer. I need to get there, figure out what they're planning, but how—

  Ryuga stops walking, thinking about his resources. He figures out how he can get there in time.

  Ryuga thinksI just need a reason. Something believable.

  Ryuga changes direction, heading back towards the library, speeding up to catch up to Roy.

  Up ahead, Ryuga sees his target. The woman holds Roy's hand as they walk and the boy chatters about something from his books.

  Ryuga jogs up, slightly out of breath. He makes it look urgent but not suspicious.

  "Roy! Excuse me, Ms.—" He looks at the aunt apologetically. "I'm sorry to bother you. Roy, I need to ask a huge favor."

  Roy tilts his head, interested. His aunt looks wary.

  "It's an emergency," Ryuga continues, letting real urgency bleed into his voice. "I just got word that my... my sister is sick. Really sick. She's in the border region, and I need to get there fast.” Ryuga looks up at Roy’s aunt, directing his cry for help to her. “Roy mentioned your family has horses, good ones. Could I please borrow one? Just for today? I'll pay, or—"

  Ryuga thinks.

  "We don't loan our horses to strangers," the aunt starts.

  Roy is watching Ryuga with those too-intelligent eyes. "You're lying about your sister."

  Ryuga's heart stops.

  "But you're not lying about the emergency," Roy continues. "Something bad is going to happen, isn't it?”

  Ryuga thinks, How does he—

  "Roy!" his aunt scolds. "Don't be rude."

  "It's okay," Roy says, still watching Ryuga. "He can use Windrunner. She's the fastest."

  "Roy, you can't just—"

  "Father would want us to help," Roy says simply. "When someone's desperate enough to ask a child for help, it's probably important."

  The aunt sighs. "Fine. But you're explaining this to your parents when they get back."

  Ryuga swallows. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

  Roy smiles - not his usual calculating smile, but something almost genuine. "Windrunner likes to pull left on long stretches. Don't fight her on it."

  Agarian Rebel Stronghold, One Hour Later

  Ryuga dismounts the horse, his legs burning from the ride. The compound looms ahead. It looks like a typical negotiation center.

  Ryuga still wears the rebel gear he stole earlier.

  He pushes through the entrance, moving fast but controlled. Guards stand everywhere. He keeps his head down, his stride purposeful.

  "I need to get to the—" he starts, approaching the checkpoint.

  A guard waves him through without looking up. "You're late. They already started positioning."

  "Right. Where—"

  "Third floor, observation deck. Hurry up, Commander Lin's been asking about stragglers."

  Ryuga doesn't question it. Just moves.

  Up the stairs. Down a corridor. Following the flow of other rebels in similar gear. No one stops him. No one questions.

  He reaches a door marked "AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY." Another guard opens it for him.

  "About time. Get in position,” the guard says, hurriedly waving him along.

  The room beyond stops him for a second.

  The set up presents tiered seating behind reinforced glass, surrounding a center stage like viewing seats at an ice-skating ring. Below, visible through the transparent barrier, is the negotiation chamber. A well-kept wooden table seats two chairs on each side.

  Roy's parents haven’t arrived yet. Rebel commanders set up, adjusting cameras.

  Ryuga takes a seat in the back row among other “observer” guards. They all wear the same gear. All here to watch.

  Ryuga thinks.

  Ryuga scans the room. The seats are filled, spectators watching like this negotiation is a movie. The glass that separates the rebels from the negotiation room is thick, bulletproof probably.

  Ryuga thinks.

  Then, he notices their glare. Two positions, elevated on opposite sides of the negotiation chamber.

  Ryuga can't see the people directly, but the angles are obvious once he knows what to look for.

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  Ryuga thinks.

  He focuses, listening. Past the murmurs of rebels around him. Past the shuffling below. To the alcoves.

  There. A slight movement. The adjustment of a rifle scope. The controlled breathing of a trained marksman.

  Ryuga locks onto the sound. Follows it to its exact. His ability reaches out to the one making the sound—

  A door opens below in the chamber. Roy's parents enter, escorted by rebel guards. They sit at the table, looking exhausted, but hopeful for the end of the war.

  Distracted, Ryuga forgot to listen for it, but he is certain his ability worked. The two snipers explode internally right when Ryuga used his element; Ryuga is certain of it.

  Ryuga exhales slowly. Steadies his breathing.

  Ryuga thinks. Ryuga thinks, slouching down in his seat and letting out a sigh of relief.

  The door below opens again. Minister Lin and Minister Tam enter, taking their seats across from Roy's parents.

  The negotiations begin.

  Agarian Rebel Stronghold, Peace Negotiations, 6:30 PM

  Ryuga watches Roy's parents - the King and Queen of the Phenoans - sit at a rough wooden table across from rebel commanders who used to serve them.

  The contrast is stark. The royals in their traveling cloaks, having come here in good faith. The rebels in military fatigues, weapons openly displayed. Between them, a treaty draft is placed down by the King, who wrote and brought this agreement himself.

  "We came without our full guard," the King says quietly. "As you requested. To show our sincerity."

  Minister Tam laughs. "Sincerity? You still think this is about sincerity?"

  The Queen begs out. "Tam, please. We've known each other for twenty years. Whatever grievances you have—"

  ? Ryuga thinks.

  "Grievances?" Minister Lin speaks up. “You paid us copper while you sat on gold. We raised your children while ours starved."

  "That's not—" the King starts.

  "But we're past that now," Lin continues, smiling coldly. "We have a kingdom. Agary values what you filthy Phenoans never did: the voice of the people."

  "Then why this war?" The Queen's voice breaks slightly. "If you have what you want, why continue killing? You’ve made your rebellious kingdom, but why go further? The border villages, the trade routes—"

  "Because you're weak," Tam says simply. "And weakness invites conquest. Agary understands this. You never did."

  The King pushes the treaty forward. "Please. Read it. Full autonomy for the disputed regions. Shared resources. Even recognition of your positions in Agarian government. No retribution for anyone who laid down arms."

  Ryuga watches the rebels exchange glances. They haven't even looked at the treaty.

  "You're offering us what we already took," Lin says. "How generous."

  "We're offering peace," the King insists. "How many more have to die? On both sides? It’s simply a slaughter on both sides. This war gains nothing—"

  "It gains us everything." Tam stands, begins pacing. "You see, Your Majesty, the royals of Agary have come up with a better offer: complete control of Phenoa. Once you're gone, that is."

  The room goes cold.

  "You're talking about regicide," the King says slowly. "Murdering people who came here under a peace banner. Even the people of Agary wouldn't—"

  "Our people want results. We'll give them results." Lin checks her timepiece. "Twenty minutes, then our forces on your side will attack the neutral zone. It will seem to your citizens as though a civil war has erupted. Agary will have no choice but to intervene."

  "Lin, please," the Queen begs. "Think about Roy. He adores you. What happens to him when—"

  "The little brat will learn what real power looks like," Lin snaps. "Not your weakness disguised as mercy."

  Ryuga's hands clench inside his gloves.

  Ryuga thinks.

  The King rises slowly. "If you do this, you'll destroy both kingdoms. The other nations won't stand for such a betrayal of diplomatic—"

  "The other nations will see a civil war," Tam interrupts. "An internal Phenoan matter. We've been very careful with the evidence."

  "I know you," the King says quietly, looking at Tam. "I know who you were. When your daughter was sick, we brought the royal physician. When your son needed schooling, we paid for it. This isn't you."

  For a moment, Tam hesitates. Then his face hardens. "That was your mistake. Thinking kindness creates loyalty. It just creates contempt."

  "You're wrong," the Queen says. "Kindness is what separates us from—"

  "From people like us?" Lin laughs. "Yes. It does. That's why you'll be dead, and we'll be ruling."

  "At least let us send our youngest son away," the Queen pleads. "He's just a baby. No threat to anyone—"

  "He's royal blood," Tam says flatly. "That's threat enough."

  The King stands up dramatically. "Then fight me. Single combat. If I win, my family goes free. If I lose—"

  "You've already lost." Lin signals to the guards. "Your Majesty's time is up."

  "Wait," the King says desperately. "Roy. You haven't mentioned Roy. What happens to him?"

  Lin and Tam exchange a look that makes Ryuga's blood run cold.

  "The boy stays alive," Lin says slowly. "For now. He needs to understand why his parents died. Needs to know his place in the new order. In the end, he is royal blood, so he will be executed soon enough. Now, however, he is necessary to act as a symbol for your weak nation. He will serve as “king,” and we will be taking care of him until his day of judgement arrives."

  "We're going to educate him," Tam intervenes. "About what happens to weakness."

  The King lunges forward, but rebels grab his arms. "If you hurt my son—"

  "You'll what?" Lin stands up, leaning towards him, putting a blade to his throat. "Threaten us from the grave?"

  "Please." The King isn't begging for himself. "He's eight years old. He's innocent. Whatever you think we've done, he hasn't—"

  "He's your son. That's enough."

  Ryuga watches the King's face crumble. The Queen has tears running down her face as she tightly holds on to her husband’s hand.

  "Can we..." the Queen's voice is barely a whisper. "Can we at least write him a letter? To Roy? Something for him to remember us—"

  "No." Lin's voice is flat. "He'll remember you as we choose. Weak fools who got themselves killed."

  Lin nods to the rebels.

  "Your Majesties," Tam says with mock formality. "Your reign ends now."

  The King straightens, finding dignity even now. He takes his wife's hand. "We forgive you," he says simply. "Both of you. May you find peace with what you've done."

  This seems to enrage Lin more than any threat could. "We don't need your forgiveness!"

  Ryuga thinks.

  Lin lunges at the King, striking the blade across the King's throat first. He falls, reaching for his wife.

  Ryuga thinks.

  "No!" The Queen screams, but there's nowhere to run.

  Tam approaches slowly, making her watch her husband bleed out. "This is mercy," he says with disgust. "Quicker than you filthy royals deserve."

  Three shots. The Queen crumples to the ground after her body goes limp.

  Ryuga stands frozen among the other rebels, forced to watch, to be part of this.

  The room goes quiet for a few minutes. The only sound that can be heard is the dripping of blood until the doors burst open. "Phenoan security forces are responding! We need to move!" a guard calls out.

  When the spectators and the rebel readers realize what is happening, they start evacuating. Ryuga moves with them because he has to, looking back at the bodies of two people who just wanted peace, who came here believing in humanity's better nature.

  Underground, Night, Present

  They're moving through the stronghold's underground tunnels when one of the rebels looks at Ryuga for too long.

  "Wait. You weren't with us at the warehouse briefing,” he says suspiciously, squinting his eyes to observe Ryuga closer. “Yeah, that’s right. I’ve seen you before,” the soldier adds.

  By this time, the rebel group has outrun the Phenoan forces, so the soldiers walking come to a halt to observe this commotion.

  "Yeah. Who the fuck are you?" Lin demands, stepping closer.

  The soldiers around, hearing their leader question this man, raise their guns and aim at it Ryuga.

  Ryuga's mind races through options.

  Ryuga’s mind races.

  "Check his face," Tam orders.

  Someone reaches for Ryuga's hood.

  Ryuga thinks.

  His hand reaches into his pocket, finding the time crystal.

  "He's reaching for something!" a guard calls out.

  "Kill him!" Tam yells.

  Gunfire erupts. Ryuga activates the crystal as bullets tear through the space where he should be—