Yet again, I found that I completely understood how Arken saw the world.
“Sometimes being here makes me feel like I spent the last twenty-two years of my life in ignorance. Asleep, even. And now, it’s like I’m finally waking up,” she said. “From a very dull dream, I might add.”
I laughed gently.
“I’m not sure that feeling ever truly goes away,” I said. “I’m not even in active study anymore, and the absolute depth ofknowledge stored within these walls still knocks me on my ass sometimes.”
“Glad to hearsomethingcan knock you on your ass sometimes, Captain,” she teased, her spirits clearly lifting.
“You’d be surprised,” I said. Sophrosyne wasn’t the only thing knocking me off my feet as of late.
“So I assume you used to study here, too?”
I rolled up my left sleeve, showing her my wrist where the Seed of Creation was still visible, marred by a few light scars and scratches.
“I studied for about a year or so before I decided to join the guard,” I explained. “Prior to that, I had been trying to follow in my brother’s footsteps, focusing on politics.”
I could taste the regret on my tongue the moment those words passed my lips. I really needed to be more careful around her, godsdamnit.
“You have a brother?”
“Had.”
I didn’t like using that clipped, brusque tone with her, but this was a hard line for me.
“Oh. I’m so sorry,” she said softly, assuming the worst.
“He’s not dead,” I replied quietly. I wasn’t about to let this conversation go much further, but I could give her the bare minimum explanation. “We’re just not close. Not anymore. I’m essentially dead to him. We haven’t spoken in years.”
Her brow furrowed. I could see the curiosity, the blend of analytical and emotional calculations happening behind her eyes as she tried to imagine what could have caused such a deep cut in a bond like brotherhood. I sighed heavily.
“I know you’re about to ask me why, or what happened, and I promise that it’s nothing against you, but I really don’t wanna go there, Ark,” I said.
The concern cleared from her face almost immediately as she nodded.
“That’s alright,” she said. “I understand.”
I exhaled, feeling relieved. This wasn’t the first time that I had slipped up around her—aroundArken, of all people—an inherently curious woman. But she never used it as an excuse to dig any deeper, never pressed me for details. She always seemed to respect my boundaries without question. Somehow, that made me want to give her just a little bit more. A small token of my appreciation.
“Ultimately, I joined the Guard because I love this city. I love Pyrhhas and Atlas, but Sophrosyne in particular… I’ve always loved it here. The people, the vibrancy, the ideals—they’re all worth defending. I wanted to do something meaningful with my life, and I’m proud of the path I chose and how hard I worked to get here. I don’t take pride in a lot of shit, but this is one of the few things that I really, really do.”
She was quiet for a moment as we kept walking, quickly approaching the cluster of private apartments where she lived. Instead of accepting the free housing offered by the Studium, Arken had inherited her mentor’s old studio. Not that I should know that, but I’d pocketed more than a few details from her file when I’d gone searching for her aetheric signature.
“Thank you, Kieran,” she said softly.
It was like sheknewthat wasn’t something I’d ever told anyone else. But I had to ask. “For what?”
“For giving a shit. Protecting what you love. And for being an excellent tour guide, sneaking me places where I’m not supposed to be without getting me tossed in a jail cell again.”
I laughed, appreciating that last addition.
“Getting tossed in a jail cell costs extra, actually. The first time is free, but after that it’s more of an add-on package to my services,” I replied.
She smirked. “I didn’t realize I was being charged for yourservicesin the first place. Am I running up a tab as we speak?”
“Nah, you can keep your Lyra. You pay for my tour guide services by putting up with me in the first place.”
“You also still owe me a lesson in conjuring a better mail sprite,” she reminded me.