The table in the room where Mr. Rosewall was residing was quite rge for a bedroom. Gathering around it were I, Varis, my father, Isa, Terry, and Erianna. We sat in tall, comfy chairs, my feet barely able to touch the ground. I was beside Varis, and my father, who sat on one edge of the table opposite Mr. Rosewall. Across from me sat Isa, next to her, Erianna.

  Just like the walk here, the serelli looked exhausted. Her eyes looked as if they themselves carried their own bags. Her tail flicked frantically behind her, while her fingers drummed rhythmically on the table. Erianna, beside her, fixed her cloak and suit and occasionally shot a gnce my way, which I quickly diverted from and looked to my father, who appeared anxious. Yet when our eyes met, his expression shifted suddenly into a pleasant smile.

  This period of awkward silence continued for only a few moments as Terry got comfortable in his seat and cleared his throat. He then reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small notepad, not too different from my own. He then procured a fountain pen from the same coat pocket and began scribbling something in the pad, and to my amused surprise, he tore the page from the pad and tossed it into the air, where it then became engulfed in ether fire.

  Varis, having seen that as well, gasped and beamed happily as Mr. Rosewall smirked and nodded toward us. “I’ve just made a request to my aid to bring us up some kohi.”

  Isa sighed with relief. “Thank the gods,” she said, stifling a yawn.

  My eyes widened at this. Coffee? Did someone just say coffee? My ears wiggled, and I looked to my father. “Father, can I have a cup?” I asked.

  Varis grimaced. “How can you drink that stuff? It’s so… punchy.” He stuck his tongue out.

  My father chuckled and nodded. “You can have a cup, but just one.” He held up a finger to me and tusseled Varis’s hair.

  Isa smiled sleepily at my brother. “It isn’t just any kohi, Varis.” She leaned in a little and winked. “It’s rich people’s kohi.”

  Varis blinked. “Rich people?”

  Terry snorted from his end and shook his head. “Gods, I wish,” he said. “As, I shoudn’t get your hopes up, but all we have is a supply from a small vendor who sheltered with us.”

  “Shush.” Isa snapped as Varis stuck his nose in the air at that, her ploy now ruined.

  Terry blinked and blushed, now realizing what he had done. “Oh, uh, my apologies.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, it should be here in only a few minutes. Now then,” he looked to my father. “How’re you all settled in?”

  “As best as we can be,” Father said. He gnced around the room. “It’s odd, being back in this pce, it feels like a life time. Not to mention, there’s so many people in here now too.”

  Isa nodded, folded her arms, and leaned back in her chair. “Last I remember… it was only me, you, Cailynn, and…”

  “Cyrus,” Father finished with a nod. “If Cailynn could see this now, she’d be going off like an army’s quartermaster.” He chuckled, then trailed off. “I can’t wait to tell her about this, and…” He looked to me. “About you.” He smiled.

  “Slyran,” Isa said softly, “We will find a way to wake her up.”

  Father said nothing; he didn’t even look at her, his eyes still on me. I noticed his jaw set, and for a few moments, he stayed that way, frozen, before finally nodding. “I know,” he said, voice hoarse.

  “With my help, I’m sure we can work something out,” Terry’s confidence radiated from his side.

  “Excuse me?” My father perked up and looked to him, and my jaw dropped.

  The rge businessman smiled, his bushy moustache twirling upwards as he leaned onto the table. His elbows rested, rge fingers ced together. “You heard me, did you not?” He asked. “Or is my accent too thick?”

  Father shook his head. “N-No, I heard you, but… why? Surely…” He licked his lips. “Surely a man of your stature, Mr. Rosewall, has more important things to do.”

  Terry snorted, shook his head, and dashed my father’s words to the side. “Bah. My work here is done, Mr. Ashflow.” His smile broadened, and his eyes twinkled. “You and your family’s arrival st night, as much as I hate to say it, was a miracle.” He looked at me. “You saved much of my workforce, Luna, and you defended them from those who wished to tear everything down.”

  I defted slightly at his words. I wanted to counter them, to admit that I, in fact, did not stop the Prophet. Yet, I held my tongue and nodded.

  “Because of that,” Terry continued. “We were able to just barely finish the generator in time when the Frostwind hit.” He took a breath. “I’ll admit that the generator wasn’t fully ready to prevent much of the damages caused by the storm, but because of it, many, many lives were saved. And more now that we are also taking shelter here.” He gestured to the room. “Inside this… Cabin tower I heard you call it?” He looked at me and winked.

  Erianna huffed. “We’re inside a Vault of Arcanum, a property of the Concillium.” She side-eyed my family. “Property that was stolen.”

  Varis stuck his tongue out at her as Terry waved Erianna away. “Bah, who cares about who owns what. The point of the matter, Erianna.” He side-eyed her. “Is that without this child and her family, things would’ve gone far, far worse. Not only did they save my employees, they very well may have saved me. All of our lives were in danger.”

  Erianna sighed. “Perhaps. For that, I will admit I am grateful.”

  “You could’ve tried to help as well!” Varis spat, and my father and Isa hissed at him.

  Erianna gred at him. “As I said, boy, I am under strict regutions–”

  “Calm, Lady Archon, calm.” Terry cooed. “We are not here to argue. In fact, quite the opposite, really.” He said, just as a knock came from the door.

  Isa stood up from the table. “I’ll go get that,” she said as Rosewall nodded.

  As Isa moved to the far end of the room to answer the door. I shifted anxiously in my seat under Erianna’s lingering gaze. Having taken note of this, I watched as my father arched a brow and looked at the mage.

  “Is there something about my daughter that fascinates you, Lady Archon?” He asked, pcing sarcastic emphasis on her title.

  Erianna tore her eyes away from me and looked to him. Despite my father’s tone, she smiled at him pleasantly. “There’s much about your daughter that fascinates me, constable.” She leaned back in her chair and rolled her shoulders, her hands gently resting on her p. “In fact, I’m curious to know how such a young girl as herself came in touch with the arcane arts.” She looked at me. “Luna, when were you first touched by the source?”

  My father scowled. “That isn’t of your–” He started by holding up a hand.

  “It’s okay, Papa,” I said as the rattling of the cart could be heard behind me.

  A second ter, I saw Isa and the gentleman, Mr. Gradni, come into view, pushing a metal cart cluttered with delicate cups and a steaming pot of beautifully roasted coffee. Or kohi, as it seemed to be called, yet the smell and taste were almost indistinguishable, at least from what I could remember.

  Shaking my head away from the distractingly tantalizing sight and smell. I looked to Erianna as Isa and Gradni handed out the hot drinks. “Not that long ago,” I said, “In fact, it was… around my birthday six months ago, I think?”

  “Five months,” My father corrected me, and I spun around, shocked.

  “What?!” I gawked, and he nodded.

  “It doesn’t feel like it’s been five months!” Varis said, equally as stunned as I.

  “I know,” He said solemnly. “A lot has happened.”

  “Our perception of time is certainly something to be had,” Erianna said softly. “But, what you say isn’t entirely unfounded.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked as Isa set a warm cup before me, which I grabbed without wasting a moment.

  Erianna took the cup offered to her and sipped it gently. “Those with wells woven intricately within the pattern are prone to showing early signs of being able to manipute the weave.” She smiled. “However, not normally to the degree that you can.”

  I nodded. “Which you’ve stated multiple times, yes.” I took a sip of my kohi, and immediately my senses fred as the hot, slightly bitter liquid spshed over my tongue. I nearly groaned with satisfaction as I sat back, taking a much longer drink than I anticipated.

  “Hold on now, love,” Father said and reached over to tap my shoulder. “Don’t go chugging it.” He chuckled. “You’ll be up for ours bouncing all over the pce.”

  Isa giggled as she retook her seat and grabbed her cup. “Slyran, let her, I think she’s deserved it.”

  I sighed as I leaned forward and pced my half cup of kohi on the table, and smiled widely at my father. “I never thought I’d have this ever again,” I said, nearly tearing up with joy.

  Father snickered and reached out with his thumb and wiped the corner of my lip, making me yelp and pull away. “You certainly are my child,” he said with a satisfied nod.

  Varis harumphed. “You all are gross. That stuff tastes like mud.” He puffed his cheeks.

  “You sure you don’t want to give it a second shot?” Isa offered again, and Varis shook his head, his mop of hair filing back and forth.

  Father took a drink from his cup and set it down. “While this talk of magic is good and all, we can save that for ter.” He eyed Mr. Rosewall. “So, you say your work here is done? How is it that you want to help my family?”

  Terry sipped the drink that was given to him by Mr. Gradni. He looked at the man, dismissed him with a wave, and the other bowed and turned to leave. He then looked to my father and smiled pleasantly.

  “By giving you an offer,” He said simply. “As payment for your unprompted assistance. I am willing to offer your family the opportunity to depart from Heinmarr alongside me. This is an offer had granted all of my employees, you see. And while you aren’t formally employed under me, your help more than makes up for it.” He nodded and rested his hands on the table.

  My father’s eyes widened, and he looked to me, then Varis, and finally Isa, who didn’t seem as surprised by this. Judging by how we found her with Terry, she probably already knew about this.

  “Uh,” I found myself muttering stupidly, and I cleared my throat. “That’s… That’s really kind of you, Mr. Rosewall,” I said.

  “Mighty kind of you,” My father agreed.

  “Where would you take us, and momma?” Varis asked.

  Terry smiled at this and looked to us with a twinkle in his eyes. “I would take you to my homend,” he said, gesturing with an open palm. “To Iona.”

  We were dumbstruck; both my father and I reared back a bit and exchanged a gnce. After a moment, he looked to Terry and said, “Iona, M-Mr. Rosewall, th-that’s… That’s kind of you, but… Th-that’s so far.”

  “Is it?” Terry asked with an arched brow. “Wouldn’t you like to have you and your family as far away from this catastrophe as possible?”

  My father gulped and nodded. “Yes but…” He licked his lips. “The cost–”

  “Bah, nevermind the cost!” Terry ughed and dismissed him with a wave of the hand. “Do you forget who you’re speaking to, Mr. Ashflow?” Terry puffed his chest and pced a hand on it. “Terry Rosewall, I am. Wealthiest man in all of Iona. Money to me is nothing, as a matter of fact, I have so much of it I hardly know what to spend it on! So allow me to return your kindness with my own.” He bowed in his seat. “I can ferry your family across the Westriden Ocean, around the treacherous Thing, through the Veiled Mists, and finally the Eastern Coasts of Iona where the roots of civilization mingle with that of the Fae. The eastnds are a beautiful sight to behold.” He hummed, and I noticed Isa rolling her eyes heavily at that.

  “That’s…” My father sank back into his chair, and Varis and I had to reach over to stop him from sliding off onto the floor as he ughed with visible relief, like an immense weight was taken off of him. “That’s wonderful!” He excimed, catching himself and sitting upright.

  Terry beamed at this. “That’s not all,” the man said, “Not only can I get you across the waters, but I can keep you under my care if you’d so like. I own many businesses, you see, I can see to it that your wife, Mr. Asfhlow, is treated with the utmost care, and well, my foundation… With the assistance of Lady Archon,” he side-eyed Erianna. “Can make sure that your children are housed and schooled.”

  Father sputtered. “Wa-wait wait now–” Terry wagged a finger at him.

  “Please, Mr. Ashflow, it’s the best I can offer, and remember, I am offering my employees these same benefits. So please, do not think I am offering you special treatment.” He smiled and fell silent for a moment as his eyes wandered over to me. He then pyfully shrugged. “Okay,” He winked. “Maybe a little, but you are not the only ones who are being treated well here.” I blushed and squirmed in my seat as M. Rosewall chuckled and spared me his gaze as he looked at my father. “Please, accept this offer. Allow me to return the favor by allowing you safe passage away from this tragedy.”

  My father gulped and looked at each of us. When his eyes nded on me, I saw no harm in nodding. The offer was far better than what I’ve been given recently. Mr. Bxen, for all he seemed to know and could potentially offer, was, in fact, rather suspicious, given what I’ve learned from my parents and Isa. It was clear he merely wanted to use me for whatever goal he had, unlike Mr. Rosewall, who genuinely seemed like he wanted to help. Though he was a man of business, I couldn’t entirely rule out the idea that he may be working towards something of his own accord. Yet we were at a crossroads, with three roads id out before us.

  Either I accept the sketchy Mr. Bxen’s offer of going with him to wherever this Sovereign Right can house us. Or, we travel to Iona with Mr. Rosewall and his company, and finally, my family and I go on our own. To where? I had no idea.

  So, I went with my gut. I wanted to go to Iona. The nd where my mother and father originally wanted to send me off, all those months ago, by myself. It’s funny now that I think about it. I hated the idea of being sent there because I’d been separated from all of them. Yet, here we were now, being offered tickets to go together, albeit under the circumstances of avoiding an invading army.

  My father took a deep breath after seeing my nod, a gesture both my brother and Isa replicated. “It’s settled then.” He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply once more, releasing it slowly. He looked to Terry. “We’ll come with you to Iona.”

  “Under the light of the red moon, they will come. Collectors seeking what they believe is due. From the light, they will step forward, searching not for treasures, but for you. They will look for anyone they can find and take those who resist. No one will be safe, negotiations will be futile, fighting will seem pointless, but it will be all you can do…” - Unnamed Kazoran scripture

  ImmortanJoJo