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You remember their voices, their smiles, watching them fade away. You don't remember an otherworldly legacy. Did they not know it themselves, or did they never tell you?

Alvis is shocked enough that you're sure he hasn't dismissed Min's claims out of hand—he thinks this is possible. And since he's a magical scholar and Min can detect truth and lies, there doesn't seem to be much room left to argue the facts of the situation, though your own feelings are a different matter.

While you're still struggling through your own thoughts on the matter, Alvis and Min are clearly waiting for more of a verbal response from you. Considering that they've spent the whole day fighting over demons and lies already, you imagine what you say will make an impact.

"And why is it that we're having this conversation now?" you ask, narrowing your eyes at Min.

"What?" Min blinks. "Jun, you figured it out yourself."

"You're still the one framing the conversation, aren't you?" you say. "Now you can get me believing whatever you like."

"You know I wouldn't lie to you," Min objects.

"I don't think you ever said you couldn't lie yourself," you say. "And you'd hardly have to, to get me on your side, would you? Look at Meredith. Look at your song. You only ever say what needs saying."

Min goes quiet, staring into the campfire. "As ever, what interests me is the truth," they say at last. "If you believe I'm trying to mislead you, perhaps it's better we don't discuss the matter at all."

Dreaming of black tendrils twining their way around your neck, you pass a restless night.

Next

The rest of your journey passes mostly uneventfully, aside from your ever-present admirers on the road, and you find yourself back in Archa a few days later. The guards at the gate to the city are clearly pleased to admit you, relieved to have their heroes in the city once more.

It isn't until you notice the unusual midday crowds lining the streets that you realize you've forgotten something. Three years ago, Alvis originally planned your journey so that you'd pretend to seal the portal on the day of the Warden's Festival, the anniversary of when Ilias the Realm-Warden shut it for the first time. But you couldn't quite keep to that schedule, and the day ended up falling between the omens in Pasema and Elith.

Specifically, four days after the omen in Pasema, and even more specifically, today. You've returned to a city celebrating the demons' downfall and praising the man who shut them away. The demons Min would have you believe are benevolent and the man Meredith insists is a traitor. The same demons you apparently have to thank for your power, who might have loved one of your ancestors in some bygone age.

"Well," Alvis says, watching an enormous black puppet float down the street on stilts, black fabric twirling behind it, no doubt being carried to some public stage to represent a demon in one of the many dramas about Ilias's accomplishments. "That's…thematic."

Next

Fortunately, you don't need to fight the crowds for too long, because a complement of the royal guard arrives to escort you after only a few steps into the city. Princess Despina must have anticipated your arrival.

Min's presence elicits some surprise—and recognition, from a pair of guards who've apparently been to several of their performances—but they're pleasantly insistent that Princess Despina will want to speak to them as well, and the guards come around quickly enough.

"They're not wrong, if I understand the princess correctly," Alvis mutters in an undertone while Min obligingly plucks out a well-known ballad for their admirers. "And that gift of theirs is…useful enough, for a conversation like this."

Alvis smirks, apparently satisfied with whatever he sees in your expression.

In the park across the street from the palace gates, you catch a glimpse of a crowd gathered around a man you're almost certain is Chancellor Aton. He's giving some kind of speech that seems to have more to do with praising the Academy's name than Ilias's, but the guards usher you toward the palace doors before you can catch more than a few words.

Just outside the great hall, Letha is pacing anxiously, tracing her sword hilt with her fingers. She stops and comes to attention just as the guards deposit you in front of her and turn to go.

She runs up to you, an anxious look on her face. "Jun! We heard about Pasema—that thing didn't hurt you, did it?"

Before you can respond, her gaze strays to Alvis, who's leaning against the wall behind you, a cool expression on his face. She straightens. "Oh. Alvis. I imagine Jun's told you—um, if you have…questions about Despina, I can explain. Once we're somewhere private."

"I don't think there's much to explain, is there?" Alvis says, a tightness to his voice. "You made a promise and you broke it. I'm not confused."

"Alvis, I wasn't going to—" Letha breaks off, casting a glance at the retreating guards.

"You've made it very clear what you are and aren't going to do." Alvis pushes himself off the wall and starts walking away from the great hall. "You said something about going somewhere private? Jun and I have some things to say to you."

Letha starts to turn down the hall toward Princess Despina's private quarters, then catches sight of Min, who's still waiting patiently behind you. "Oh, ah—sorry, I didn't see you there." Though Letha looks startled, her eyes widen in recognition. "You're the singer from Sienha, aren't you? Despina's been meaning to invite you to perform here."

"I wouldn't recommend it, unless they've expanded their repertoire since the last performance we saw," Alvis calls over his shoulder. "We really do have things to talk about, Letha. Min's part of it. You'll want to bring them along."

"All right," Letha says, giving a final cautious look at Min as she walks toward the door at the end of the hall. She pauses for a moment. "So, just to be sure I understand, I'm not allowed to tell the truth to my betrothed, but it's fine for you to tell a…random musician?"

"It's amazing how long it's taking you to get us somewhere where we can talk in private," Alvis says between clenched teeth.

Min falls into step beside you, cheerful as ever. "Does Alvis believe I only know one song?" they remark.

Next