Becoming leader of the village was like being thrown off the deep end of a pool. I barely had time to surface before I was swept into an emergency council meeting. The villagers had come ready to air grievances and pitch their visions for the future.
Some things were easy to sort—like a gardening feud between two elders, or a noise complaint about one of the younger tinkerers building instruments. But things turned difficult quickly.
A small faction, emboldened by our victory over Hexa, argued for a return to a traditional Rotcastor way of life. They believed we could seize the power vacuum left by Hexa's death, especially now that Nox was within our walls. Without her return, there would be no clear heir to the lands Hexa had ruled.
Lyric, unsurprisingly, was their loudest voice.
"With Corrin as my vision aid, no one would touch us," she said sharply, eyes shining with conviction. "We wouldn't just survive—we'd thrive."
Priya, thankfully, backed me. "We need every fighter here when Hexa's loyalists come back for revenge."
"Maybe we should stop acting like victims," Lyric snapped, earning murmurs of agreement. "How long do we cower, waiting for death to come knocking?"
A soft breeze whispered across my back. I turned slightly—Nox had slipped into the circle, mostly hidden behind me.
"I still think we need to talk about Nox Quell," someone said, eyeing her. "She's valuable."
I felt Nox clutch at me in fear. Gently, I uncurled her arms and stepped forward with her.
"Ever since I could walk, I've been a Quell," she said, voice crackling with emotion. "I know what I am. And what Hexa was."
I knelt in front of her so we were eye to eye.
"Do you understand what awaits you if you go back?" I asked softly.
She nodded, slow and stiff. "I've always known."
"Then you need to hear this: the person who tried to kill you was one of Hexa's Castors."
Her eyes widened—first in disbelief, then in growing rage.
"My mother died in battle," she said numbly. "Hexa took me in like a sister."
"We don't know if she gave the order," I said gently. "Only that someone did."
"Hexa could be cruel," Nox whispered, shaking her head. "But she cared about me. She helped me when my brother died. When my mother—"
The rumors rose again in my thoughts. Had Hexa orchestrated those deaths?
"This is a lot to carry," I said. "But you have choices. You have the right to take the Quell crown—if that's what you want."
Nox tore away from me and ran back to the house before I could stop her.
"I'm sorry," I told the circle, standing.
Behind me, voices clashed—some rising in panic. Priya tried to restore order, but I was already moving.
I found Nox curled up inside, rocking herself in a tight ball. She looked so small.
"Why?" she choked out. "Why would they want me dead?"
"Because of who you are," I said, kneeling beside her. "Your strength scares them."
"I gave everything to my family," she sobbed. "And now my friends hate me too."
I pulled her into my arms, holding her the way I once held Vivid when nightmares clawed at her.
"You're strong, Nox Quell," I whispered. "And you have friends here. Me."
"Not all of them. They look at me like I'm poison," she said into my shoulder.
"That's because they only know you as a Quell. They haven't seen Nox yet."
"Is that why you saved me?" she asked.
I paused. "I saved you because I see you as a person. I see your soul—bright, growing. You could do good in this world."
"Train me," she said through a ragged breath. "Train me to be good like you."
I let out a soft laugh. "I'm not pure either." I saw Hexa's eyes again as she died.
"Do you have family?" Nox asked.
"I did," I said quietly. "I lost my little sister. Her name was Vivid."
"I'm sorry," she whispered, patting my back awkwardly. We pulled apart a little.
Then she reached out her hand. "I pledge to be your apprentice. Teach me how to be a good Codewright."
I smiled and took her hand. "Then I pledge to guide you, Nox Quell, on your journey."
"And I pledge to help you, Alis De Aura," she said with a shy smile, wiping the last of her tears. "Can I stay here, in your house? Everyone else looks at me like I'm a ghost."
"Of course," I said without hesitation.
I had time to smile down on her before a distant explosion rocked the house.