Elise walked toward the river, her burden in hand. The delivery request had come from Coralline. Apparently, Azura had just received some retribution from the purge event. Serves her right. Gerald's soft fur had been cut short! She missed running her fingers through its long lengths.

A miserable groan came from the river as she drew closer. There in the middle was Azura, only her head above the water. Next to a large tree lay her clothes, or what was left of them. She'd torn them to shreds. Luckily, she wasn't wearing her dragon hide armor at the time. It'd be a shame to destroy such a masterpiece.

"You doing okay?" Elise asked. It was hard to stay mad when her sister looked so miserable. She sat down, putting the clothes next to her.

"Yeah…I guess I had that coming."

Elise didn't say anything, as it would either be a lie or something that might get her a head thwack. She'd discovered early on during her stay here that Azura and the others were very generous where those were concerned.

"I'm all better now. Whatever Hamal had used washed away pretty easily."

"How do you know it was him?" She had no doubt Azura was right. Hamal looked rather funny with almost all his fur gone, although it was already growing back at an astonishing pace.

"It wasn't Gerald. He's too nice. Gwen would've just punched me. I can't imagine it was Tabatha. So that leaves Hamal."

"Look on the bright side. There are four more cultivators like you now. They have you to thank for that. They'll get over it."

"I guess," Azura muttered.

"Your mother asked me to get you. Lunch is almost ready. It's fish with mushrooms."

That statement did what none of her words could. Instantly, Azura's mood brightened so much that if she produced actual light, Elise would have been permanently blinded.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?!" Azura leaped out of the water, landing nearby. Elise got an eyeful before turning around, cheeks flushing. Damn kin and their casual nudity.

"Let's go!" Azura cheered as she quickly marched past, already dressed.

"Wait up!" Elise said, jogging slightly.

"Fish waits for no kin."

Together, they made their way through Azure's Rest. What had been little more than a hamlet a year ago had expanded to the size of a small town. All around, Elise saw kin going about their duties and, of course, cultivating, always cultivating. She would do the same, but Coralline asked her to fetch her sister. Their fast march was reduced to a crawl as kin approached, greeting her sister. Most even offer her a few kind words. It was… nice. The kin community was incredibly close. That was when she saw him. A deer-kin was staring rather intently at Azura. Well, many were, but this one felt… different. It was more intense.

Before she was sure, a group of chatty crow-kin blocked her view. When she looked back, the deer-kin was gone. It was probably her imagination. That or the kin wanted to talk to Azura about their advancement. The four new liquid cultivators had everyone excited. The strange kin was soon out of her mind as they neared home. Home… It wasn't as grand as her father's manse back in Deepmere. It was more like a small homestead, but it had become home this past year. She was happy here. Happier than she'd ever been back with her grandfather and parents. Coralline had even insisted that she call her mother. It was still hard for her. Sometimes she missed her own mother.

"Come on in, the food's almost ready!" Coralline called from above. Elise looked up at her home. The house was built into one of the largest trees resting above Coralline's healing clinic. Her inner child wanted to squeal with glee each time she looked at the massive structure. She was literally living in a treehouse.

"Ah, my favorite daughter returns!" Coralline said, sweeping Elise up in a hug as soon as they entered the clinic. She turned to Azura. "Oh, and you too."

"Mom!"

"Hmm? Sorry, I couldn't hear you. Perhaps it was your super advanced cultivation technique blocking all sound."

Coralline tapped her chin. "Yup. That must be it. From your expression, I can tell you aren't hungry. I guess it'll just be us eating today. Too bad. I slathered the fish with wild honey, too."

"Mom!" Azura cried. She appeared ready to follow her voice as water built up in her eyes.

"Hmm, I can't hear you. Come along, Elise, let us feast." She grabbed Elise by the shoulder. She could only shrug at Azura as Coralline started to lead her away.

"Alright, I'm sorry!" Azura wailed. "I shouldn't have left. I panicked."

Coralline stopped turning back toward her daughter as she crossed her arms. Elise decided to play along, crossing her arms as well.

"Do you think she's learned her lesson?" Coralline asked her.

"Hmm, maybe. Perhaps she should only have a 'small' portion of fish," Elise said, drawing out the word small.

"Have mercy," Azura said, dropping to her knees, her ears limp, hands clasped before her.

"Oh, alright," Coralline said with a huff. Instantly, Azura was back on her feet. All traces of her sadness vanished.

"I guess I messed up, huh?" Azura asked.

"Yup," Coralline agreed. "It'll be fine. Everyone is too excited to have new liquid cultivators to care that much. However, we'll set up cleaning stations for the next group."

"Good idea," Azura said as they walked through the clinic toward their next staircase.

"Umm, why is she here?" Azura asked.

Elise followed her sister's gaze to see a human woman sprawled out on one of the sickbeds. She looked vaguely familiar.

"Fatania needs her to get some information."

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"Okay… but why is she here?"

"Oh. She got too drunk to talk, so we dragged her here. We need to confirm what that deer-kin told us."

Deer-kin… Again, that brought up the weird kin that was watching them. Elise was about to bring it up, even if it seemed pointless when the woman farted loudly. The sudden noise did what their talking hadn't and seemed to rouse her. She opened and closed her mouth loudly before belching.

"Ugh," she moaned, then opened her eyes.

***

Brianna had a massive migraine. An intrusive light from somewhere made her instantly close her eyes as her pain doubled.

"Ow." She tried to move, but her entire body felt like a horse had trampled her. At least it appeared she got home safely. Perhaps she had a little too much to drink last night.

"Hey, wake up!" A voice thundered. The sound wasn't that loud, but somehow bounced around in her head, tripling in volume. Damn. Did she sleep in someone else's bed again? She hoped this person didn't have an angry wife like the last one.

"Not so loud," Brianna moaned.

"Gods below, I'm not missing dinner for this," the voice complained.

"I'll stay," a new softer voice said.

"Are you sure, Elise? We can just leave her. She won't go anywhere," the first voice said again.

"I'm okay. I ate earlier. I'm not very hungry."

"At least one of my daughters is responsible," a third voice added.

"I'm responsible! I don't want the fish you prepared to get cold."

"Uh-huh," the third voice said, growing distant as the pair continued to bicker. Brianna tuned them out. Perhaps she could go back to bed…

"You alright?" The soft voice asked.

Ugh. Why won't they let me sleep? Brianna thought bitterly. Cautiously, she opened her eyes, shielding them with her hand. Brianna was indeed in an unfamiliar place. Very unfamiliar with a style she hadn't seen before. That wasn't good. Then again, if she somehow got herself away from Deepmere, would that be a bad thing?

"Do you want some water?" The soft voice asked. Brianna turned to see a young woman with long blue hair looking at her. Brianna thought she looked familiar, but didn't really care. She instead focused on the water, realizing only now how parched she was. With the eagerness of a sailor on shore leave, she snatched the glass, guzzling down the liquid. It was almost better than ale. She coughed from drinking too fast. Regardless, it had the desired effect. Her mind cleared, and she was able to think at last.

"Thanks…" Brianna muttered, sitting up. "Where am I?"

"Uh…" The woman trailed off before shrugging. "You're in Azure's Rest."

"Where? I've never heard of it."

"That's because it's secret. About time you woke up. I was going to have Azura smack you around if you weren't," A female rat-kin said, entering the home. Brianna's blood went cold.

"Welcome, Mother Fatania," the human woman said, bowing.

"So, you're her? Azura's informant."

Oh shit… Brianna thought. She involuntarily worked for the Magebane. Brianna had initially encountered the Magebane before she was the Magebane during a rather stupid trip she made into the mana forest. She'd been saved from a nasty mana beast attack and had to offer the Magebane a favor. She had collected just a week later. Now, she was a servant to the powerful kin.

"My children's descriptions of you seem very accurate. Including your recent… indulgences."

Brianna's alarm, already at a 5, immediately jumped to 8. Children. She must be the leader of the rat-kin. She'd mainly been dealing with various rat-kin over the years. Each of them had referred to someone as the "big rat." She thought it was the Magebane, but now she knew it was different. This kin was dangerous in a way the Magebane wasn't. Brianna could easily imagine this kin plotting the downfall of nations.

"Oh, she's awake now?" A white cat-kin said, walking towards her. Brianna's heart nearly stopped. Following behind the cat-kin was her. The Magebane… She held a plate with a large piece of fish on it. The Magebane watched her with little interest as she shoveled large forkfuls into her mouth. Gods above… Was she going to get out of here alive? Did they want to squeeze the last bit of information out of her before they killed and ate her?

"Is she lucid? That is the better question," Mother Fatania said. "I was just going to start questioning her. Do either of you have anything to ask?"

The white cat-kin shook her head. The Magebane swallowed what seemed to be a physics-defying amount of food before shaking her head a little. She then promptly compacted even more fish into her mouth. Mother Fatania gazed deeply into her eyes. Brianna felt like a tiny bug beneath that piercing gaze.

"What do you know about the elves and Dageth leaving…"

***

Brianna stumbled out of the house and nearly toppled off the stairs before a hand steadied her.

"Watch out!" The human called as she hauled the other woman back.

A bit late for that, Brianna thought sourly, which matched both her mood and her stomach. At least she was confident she would live through this. Tomorrow was another matter. She had told the intense rat-kin everything she knew. She had regurgitated all the rumors and facts she'd heard, promptly followed by the contents of her stomach. Now, she wanted nothing more than to get out of here.

"Thanks…" Brianna muttered and regarded the human for the first time. Why did she look so familiar? Brianna thought about asking, but then stopped. She didn't care. That seemed to be her general attitude lately. It was hard to care with the mists nearby and the leadership doing nothing, worthless nobles.

"I didn't get a chance to introduce myself earlier. I'm Elise Coldwell."

It took nearly 30 seconds for the impact of that name to register with her.

"You're Lord Tarwin's granddaughter…"

"Yeah, I'm aware."

"Er, I mean, I've met you briefly before. I thought you died."

"What?" Elise gave her a confused look.

"There was an announcement that the kin took you hostage. Everyone assumed you were dead."

"WHAT!? THAT'S ABSURD!"

Brianna hesitated, looking around to be sure they were relatively alone. She could see a rat-kin making eye contact with her down below. It must be her escort back. Brianna lowered her voice before whispering back.

"Then what are you doing here? Are you safe? I can try to get word to your grandfather."

Her words didn't appear to offer any comfort. Instead, they seemed to be making her angrier and angrier. Perhaps her time as a hostage had worn her down.

"My GRANDFATHER knows exactly where I am. I sent him several letters, along with the ones I sent to my mother. I told both of them I'm staying with my sister."

"Your sister?"

"Azura. She's my half-sister."

Brianna stumbled. This time, Elise didn't manage to catch her. She had an extended tumble down the wide stairs before crashing at the bottom. The pain was welcome. It helped to soften the blow of what she had just heard as she lay in a heap. At that moment, many rumors converged. The slayer of mages, the Azure Magebane, was the granddaughter of one of the leaders of Deepmere, Lord Tarwin. Gods above, no wonder he did what he could to keep such rumors secret. Brianna did not doubt that the nobles knew. That was why the Coldwell house was in decline.

"Are you okay!?" Elise shouted, reaching her prone figure.

"Fine," Brianna muttered, getting to her feet. A glance showed the rat-kin strolling toward her. The kin was utterly unconcerned. A look around showed why. Kin were everywhere. She had much less of a chance of running away than a fish had to escape a barrel.

"Are you hungry? We could get some food before you leave."

"Hungry? I'd rather not say another minute with these savages," Brianna scoffed.

"Hey!" Elise huffed, stamping her foot. "That's rude!"

"What do you expect? They make me spy for them. Do you know what it's like to be forced to do something you don't want to do?" Brianna growled.

Elise just looked at her for a long moment. "No. But considering you helped to enslave many of the kin here, I bet they do."

The words caused Brianna's worldview to shake, nearly sending her to her knees. Somehow, she'd never thought of it like that. The fact that she could be in the same position as the kin in Deepmere was a terrifying thought.

Elise had no mercy as she went on. "At least you have your freedom, other than providing some information. I bet most kin don't have such luxuries."

Brianna said nothing. What could she say? She turned around and stormed off, leaving Elise behind as she approached the rat-kin.

"Your boss is done with me. I want to go home." She needed a drink…

Elise watched the only other human leave Azure's Rest. She'd forgotten how it was beyond the village. This wasn't some minor feud between the kin and the mages of Deepmere. The humans and elves had conquered this land from the kin and dwarves over a century ago. The hatred on both sides was deep. Was there any chance of peace with the kin returning to power? Even now, with the mists approaching, the mages refused to seek help from cultivators, and they did the same. How could they ever stand against their foes if they couldn't even work together?

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