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*****

"Warton!"

The Inquisitor stumbled through the door, gasping for breath and with blood seeping from all over his body. His thick power armour was shattered in places revealing where flesh and machine merged together. Circuitry sparked and died, burning skin where it was close enough. Warton's mechanical eye had been torn from its socket, leaving a bleeding, gaping wound of nothingness.

Harm caught the man, barely managing to keep the Inquisitor's enormous weight up. A thunderous roar erupted from the hallway beyond and two demons sprang from the shadows. Roran sprang into action, leaping past Warton and embedding an arrow into the skull of one demon. His blade was quickly out, spinning around and tearing the head of the other demon from its shoulders in one swoop.

They both dragged Warton into the hanger before the demons could explode.

Setting down the Inquisitor on the wall, Harm appraised the punishment the man had taken. Whatever could be said about Warton, he fought hard. His entire body was ripped to shreds and whatever was keeping him alive was not his body. The power armour could sustain him, maintaining vital organs for a long duration but even that was heavily damaged and barely working. Demonic corruption could not hold an Inquisitor's soul due to the power armour's enchantments and an Inquisitor's mentality but that did not stop the demons from trying.

"Hold on, Inquisitor," Harm said, lifting Firefeather. "I'll get you back up. Just give me a moment."

The Inquisitor's hand lashed out, seizing Harm's wrist and pulling him down. "Do not waste time on me, Chronos. Novallier is at the bridge and still in danger! I will only hinder you!"

"Let me heal you, at least."

Warton let out a bitter laugh. "Can your magic repair damaged armour? The failing of the Inquisition is that we are more machine than man. The machine may survive without the flesh but without the machine, the flesh will wither. My armour is gone. Fix my body and patch the bleeding as you wish, Chronomancer, but without my armour, I will perish."

The truth in the man's words forced a dark pang of regret in Harm's heart. It was hard to despise a man who lay dying in front of him when all that man did was follow the stipulations of his job to the letter.

"Waste not your efforts on this blind fool, Chronos." Warton's one good eye swivelled towards Roran and then Yulanda. "You surround yourself with noble creatures, Chronos. I refused to see that a man can be defined by the company he keeps."

"I wouldn't bet my money on that," Harm laughed softly, resting a hand on the Inquisitor's shoulder. "I've got a homosexual Tigris with a violent and spiteful streak who can be a rather mean drunk. Also, I've got a rebellious teenager with no regard for law and order."

"And you are the manipulative, millennium-old Chronomancer who has a played the heartstrings of an entire world for his entertainment." Warton laughed, his words fading into a soft wheeze. "Not to mention a penchant for random explosions."

"Nothing is random with me."

"I learned that all too late." Warton sighed softly, resting his head against the wall. "For what it is worth, Chronos... I am sorry. I feel... I feel that we would have rooted out this evil earlier and prevented all this had we been on... better terms." With the last ounce of his strength, Warton reached into a compartment at his thigh and pulled out a golden chain attached to a decorated, metal bar. "This is yours, Chronomancer..."

Harm seized the man's hand, squeezing it tightly through the thick gauntlet and wrapping it tightly around Timekeeper. "Don't let regret hold you especially now in the last moments of life. Accept your choices and bear them with pride. What is done is done and turning back the clock will not cleanse your soul of the consequences of your actions."

Warton's eye closed. "Sweet words... Where did you hear them...?"

"Me. They were meant for a friend."

Warton just laughed softly... and that was the last noise from his mouth.

Harm rose, straightening himself and taking Timekeeper with him. He murmured a quiet prayer for the Inquisitor's soul before turning towards both Yulanda and Roran.

No words needed to be said.

Together, the three sprang into the corrupted hallway and charged towards the bridge.

*****

The Sunspot's bridge was a miniature throne room. A long, wide corridor unfolded in front of them. Large, squat consoles were arranged like pews along a central aisle. Towering effigies of the Sun Goddess flanked the central aisle while the proud visage of the Brave Famer stood between them, burning sword raised. At the very end of the hallway was a raised dais where a high-backed throne sat. The corruption left the bridge untouched, strangely, but perhaps it was better to say that demonic corruption did not touch it.

Standing in front of the throne, blade in hand and a swarm of silver butterflies floating around him...

... stood Valk.

At his feet, desperately trying to crawl away but with the Draconis' foot firmly on his back was the Apex Clericus Solis, Novallier.

"Father!" Yulanda screamed.

Father saw daughter and a flash of fear crossed the man's wide, pained eyes. "Run!" Novallier shouted.

Roran strode forward ahead of the group. "Valk! What are you doing!?"

The Draconis scowled and pressed his food hard against Novallier's spine, causing the man to cry out in agony. "I am bringing freedom to non-humans!"

"By killing the Apex Clericus Solis!? I thought you wanted to do this peacefully? I thought you wanted to negotiate the terms of peace!"

Valk spat and swung Alliance through the air. The silver butterflies around him hung in the air, turning ominously towards the trio while emitting their soft chirping noises. "How can we talk of peace and equality when these humans continue to see themselves as superior to us!? There were at least three hundred non-humans on board this ship alone and do you know what I saw!?"

On some unspoken command, the butterflies spread out to each of the consoles. Light danced above each, forming semi-solid planes of light with dancing images. Even from a distance, Harm could make out the countless non-humans being trampled by their human 'superiors'. No doubt the non-humans were the servants of the dignitaries and when it came to a choice between life and possible death while saving your servants, it was clear what the nobles chose. He could not deny that he was horrified when he spied several Custodia Puria gunning down non-humans scrambling to get to an escape pod and hurling their bodies at the demons to slow down their progress for the nobility.

A screen halfway down the aisle showed even non-human nobles being shoved aside as humans took their seats on the escape pods. In the face of danger, it was clear who would be thrown to the wolves and who would attempt escape.

"What kind of Goddess would allow this kind of injustice!?" Valk shouted. There were tears in his eyes. "I tried to save them... I truly did but when I came to a pod myself, several Puria held me back and demanded that I make way for humans! Even though I held Alliance, they would not grant me escape!"

He growled, eyes falling on Valk who lay at his feet. "This world... This world is corrupt. Not by demons but by the blackened taint of humanity."

"And what will killing Novallier do?" Roran demanded. While he stood strong, his eyes were still darting to the screens. His paws were tightening into hard fists and he started shaking. "How will slaying him prove non-humans deserve equality?"

"It won't," the Draconis growled. He spread his wings ominously. The butterflies sprang from their consoles and another display of semi-solid light appeared around the throne. Harm realised Valk had begun to broadcast his words. Valk's face appeared across all the screens. "Incendius will be a haven to non-humans. Novallier has alienated the Custodia Lupus and Custodia Vampiri in his obsession to preserve the cruel human supremacist agenda of his rule! We will unite with them and all other non-humans across the Stations!" He dug his heel into Novallier's spine, causing the Apex Clericus Solis to cry in agony. "The Burning Rebellion will continue and true to its name, we will burn Incendius until every last human is purged from its lands!"

He reached down, seizing Novallier by the cuff and lifting him in front of the screen for all to see. "Listen well now, Incendius! Non-humans shall rise! Listen, all of Tower Thirteen! Let this mark the end of the Church's tyranny against our kind! The Mother Goddess created us all equal! It is time we were treated as such!"

Valk lifted Alliance, its blade pressed against Novallier's throat. "It is time our voices were heard! It is time we gave our answer to the injustice that has befallen our kind!" He leaned close to Novallier's ears. "Any last words?"

Harm turned his head towards Valk, grinning broadly as their noses touched. It took a moment for the Draconis to realise that Novallier was no longer in his grasp and instead there was the Wulfun. "Yeah... Did you know Incendians don't have television? In fact, they have no way of receiving the broadcast you just sent. This functionality was built for the upper Stations."

Harm flicked Valk's nose playfully. "You certainly did your research. Just not enough." The Chronomancer placed his feet against Valk's chest and kicked, sending the Draconis tumbling down the dais. As he rolled to a stand, he turned to where Roran, Yulanda and Novallier stood.

"Get him out of here!" he shouted. A thousand silver butterflies suddenly swarmed him, slicing into his flesh with their bladed wings. Lifting Firefeather, he shouted, "Let none pass through heaven's gates, Firefeather!"

Pillars of flame cascaded down from the ceiling and surrounded him. The blast blew away the butterflies and gave him room to move. He hurled himself through the flames, untouched by the fires and rushed down the aisle towards the other three. Roran brought up the rear, bow at the ready while Yulanda was ushering her father through the door.

There was a thunderous boom and suddenly, Valk was in front of him.

"Huh... You can use Velocity," Harm grunted. "A Paladin's first mode of transport. Impressive."

"I've had Alliance for years, Chronos. Do not think I have wasted that time idly." Silver butterflies coalesced around Harm, blocking his vision and slicing into his flesh. Valk vanished again with a deafening boom. Before Harm could freeze time, he heard Valk shout, "For freedom!"

Then he heard Yulanda scream.

Harm let out a frustrated roar and swung Firefeather through the air. A trail of fire erupted from the blade, brushing aside the butterflies. In the moment where he could see through the veil of blood and silver wings, he saw Novallier hunched over Valk's sword, heart punctured by the blade. The Draconis brutally swung his blade upwards, tearing through the Apex Clericus Solis' chest with ease. He spun and cut through spine and muscle, taking Novallier's head right off his shoulders.

Desperation flooded the Wulfun. Time was of the essence. He could still reverse time and bring Novallier back to life if he just could get to him in time. Harm hurled himself through the curtain of butterflies but the little, silvery insects were surprisingly strong. They formed a bladed blanket that wrapped around him and hurled him back into the throne with a mighty crash. He shattered the stonework, gasping in pain as sharp pieces of debris embedded deep into his back.

Unwilling to surrender, he scrambled to his feet only for several butterflies to dive right through his chest and pierce his own spine. The pain was unimaginable and his vision blurred from the loss of blood. The entire lower half of his body went limp and his face slammed hard against the steel floor. The butterflies curled around his neck, digging their wings into his throat. Just when he thought he would be a head shorter, the silver weapons pulled him up into the air, hoisting him up above the bridge to see.

"No!" Yulanda cried, her horrified eyes on her father's limp, bloodied body. She unfurled her Valour_. "I am free, Sun Dancer!"_ White flames erupted around the whip and she cracked it threateningly. "You will pay, Valk!"

She cracked the flaming edge at Valk's face but a screen of white butterflies barred her whip's path, slapping harmlessly against the wall.

"Oh no, not I," Valk said, his voice low and deadly. "I have paid my price. I lost my loved one to the cruelty of your father's rule. Now you have too. Now you will take my warning to the people of Incendius. They will have a day to evacuate this Station of you human filth. Then I will begin burning!"

"Your warning will go to your grave!" Yulanda shouted, thrusting her hand forward. "Augue!"

A ball of flame launched from her palm and Valk stood idly as his butterflies wrapped around him in a defensive wall. The fireball slammed harmlessly against his butterflies.

"It is futile," Valk warned, his butterflies starting to peel away. "A Valour you may have but I am far more-"

Crack!

The Draconis' words were caught in his mouth. In the moment that his butterflies gave way to his words, Yulanda had lashed out. Her whip, under her full control, slipped through his defences, curling around the butterflies and struck him across the face, leaving a bloody gash running down Valk's muzzle.

Harm grunted, knowing full well where this would lead. His strength was slowly returning to him and he could move his toes again but he was recovering far too slowly. An idea sprang to mind and he gripped Firefeather tightly. At the same time, he picked up Timekeeper and unfurled it.

"Cauterise their wounds, Firefeather," he choked.

"A bad move," Valk snarled. "If you will not take my message, then I shall bring it to Incendius myself with your and your father's body as my rallying banner!" He pointed ominously at Yulanda and his butterflies hurled themselves at her.

"No!"

Roran threw himself at Valk, pulling himself from his paralysis of inaction and swinging his blade at the man he once loved. Valk's fierce, merciless eyes narrowed and half of his butterflies swept towards the Tigris. Roran nimbly slid across the ground, sliding underneath the wave of silver before he rose back up and had his blade pointed directly at Valk's throat.

The Draconis stared at him with violent eyes. The butterflies were just inches away from Yulanda, held in space by Valk's shock.

"You would draw your blade against me?" Valk asked. "We were the best of friends, Roran. You and I lived most of our lives together. I am fighting for your freedom."

"I would prefer a freedom based on friendship and commonality than blood!" Roran shook his head, tears forming in his eyes. "You are not the friend that I cared for with all my heart! You are a monster swept up in your own sense of justice that you cannot see what you have become!"

Valk swung his blade, knocking Roran's aside and sending it skittering across the floor. "I knew full well who I was when I started this campaign. I knew what I wanted! I wanted to get revenge for Lusia's death! That peace, that unity that I preached? It was all a lie! This was all to get blood for blood!"

Roran was perplexed, barely able to shout, "What!?"

"Who do you think called the Caecus Sorores to have me killed?"

Even Harm was surprised at that.

"You called a hit on yourself!?" Roran bellowed.

"It was to cast a negative light on the Church," Valk answered calmly. "Who else would have me killed but the Church? I entrusted my Estuans Oculus to see me defended but in the end, it was just another Church lackey who saved me!" His eyes widened, a scowl on his face. "In fact... You were never truly loyal to me were you? You failed my mission to kidnap Yulanda and Tynvandar. You failed to determine the Dawn's Champion's identity! Then you failed to protect me! Instead you were chasing that dog!"

Valk gestured at where Harm hung...

... or where he should have hung.

Harm pressed Timekeeper against Valk's throat and the Draconis turned to him, eyes wide.

"How did you escape? I would have sensed it!"

"Timekeeper emits a field around it that forces all things within its area of effect to adhere to the user's rate of time," Harm answered grimly, fully healed. "I just accelerated my own rate of time and healed myself with Firefeather. To the rest of you, I still looked like I was injured because past that field, I still appeared helpless."

Harm's eyes went to Roran and he gave the Tigris a sly wink. "And Roran was loyal to you. He loved you more than you could ever imagine. Too bad for him you don't deserve that love."

"And you do?"

"I doubt it. After all, I am about to kill his first love! That's just downright dirty."

Harm swung his blade. Valk brought up his sword, blocking the blow that sent him reeling. His butterflies quickly swept in around him, forming a defensive veil.

"Rise forth, Firefeather!" Harm swung Firefeather through the air, pillars of flame launching from the ground and rushing towards Valk. Even as the butterflies defended him from the brunt of the attack, the fire still heated the metallic insects and in a moment...

"Ah!" the Draconis shouted, leaping away from the fire with his butterflies turning a bright red.

With Firefeather in one hand and Timekeeper in the other, Harm readied himself. "Incendius is flawed, have no doubt," he said. "Tower Thirteen has room for improvement but war is not the way to usher in change. You may win Incendius but you will have lost all of Tower Thirteen!"

"So you say!" Valk roared. He ducked as a crack of a fiery whip bit into the air above his head. "But I will raise an army! I will purge all of Tower Thirteen of the human supremacists!" He scrambled behind one of the consoles. Several arrowed peppered his path.

"Then what will you do with the humans!?" Yulanda demanded, swinging her whip. The flaming length bit right through the console, leaving Valk exposed. "Will you kill them like you did my father!?"

"Non-humans will rule!"

"What happened to the Mother Goddess making us all equal!?" Roran roared, unleashing a string of arrows. "What happened to equality!?"

"Equal we were made but clearly one has grown superior to another!" Valk suddenly stood, his butterflies wrapping around him once more. Harm readied another volley of fire when Valk shouted, "All of you shall die! Break the confines of the cocoon, Alliance!"

Harm's flesh prickled and his fur stood on end. The air sizzled with deep, ancient magic. Such power demanded reverence and even he found it hard not to fall to his knees and bow in respect. However, the fear in his heart pushed through the reverence and dive behind a console. A blinding flash of light dazed even him and the chirping noise grew louder.

He dared a peek over the console, fearing what he might find.

True to his suspicions, Valk hovered in the air in glistening silver and black armour, covered from head to toe. Boots that clasped around his ankles allowed for maximum mobility, leading to shin guards and chainmail pants that ensured he was protected but without hindering his flexibility. A cuirass shaped like a butterfly folding its wings against his chest protected his torso and led into twin butterflies that formed his pauldrons. His arms were strangely left undefended but in his left he hovered a disc of glowing light that acted like a shield. His left held the full, unbroken Alliance, the enormous sword bigger than Harm had remembered. On Valk's back sat his naturally webbed wings but above and below were a second and third pair of feathery wings that emitted a soft, frightening glow. Valk's entire head was concealed by a full helm, his horns poking out from the designated slots and a butterfly visor giving a faint view of his eyes.

"What!?" Yulanda cried. "Secundus vero! How could you activate Drive Mode!?"

Valk's voice came out sounding distance and holding a ring of the divine, like every syllable rang within their very souls. "I never said I could not."

Harm recalled the moment he had asked Valk if the secundus vero was within his reach. Valk had replied with 'I never received proper Paladin training. It's a miracle I could activate my Valour at all!'. It was far from a true confirmation or a true rejection.

"That sneaky..." he grunted, rising to his feet and readying both his blades. "Yulanda! Be careful!"

She gave him a firm nod and stepped away from the hovering Valk. Roran's arrows soared through the air. Valk - showing speed he had never displayed before - brought up the disc of light hovering against his left forearm and blocked the arrows with ease.

"I am filled with the Mother Goddess' power! How can I not be just and true? My path is righteous and I shall bring punishment to those who would see us oppressed!"

The disc of light suddenly splintered, forming his trademark silver butterflies. They bolted straight towards Yulanda. Harm tried to cry out a warning but the butterflies were far too fast. He seized control of time but even then, he was too late. The butterflies ploughed straight through Yulanda's belly, cutting through flesh with even more frightening ease. They brutally ripped through her torso, shooting out of her mouth. Her entire body shuddered and shook in a terrible danse macabre. When the last butterfly left her lips, her body dropped to the ground with a sickening splat. Her eyes were left wide open, filled with shock and terror.

"Yulanda!" Roran cried. Rage filled his eyes and he brought his arrows once more to the fray. "You're a monster, Valk! No Goddess would ever bless a beast like you!"

"Then may she have mercy on your soul."

The butterflies came rushing towards Roran -

Harm sprang into action, finishing his spell intended to save Yulanda and stopping time. He instantly appeared in front of Roran as he let time resume. Lifting Firefeather, he shouted, "Fly, Firefeather!" Fiery, feathered wings sprang from his back and wrapped around him, blocking the silver butterflies with ease. As they unfurled, they brushed aside the magical constructs, sending them skittering to the ground.

He was ready when Valk rushed towards him, their blades clashed. Drive Mode made any Paladin supernaturally strong and he was forced to cross both his blades just to keep Valk at bay. However, as the Draconis focused on him, that gave time for Roran to leap over him and land securely on Valk's back. The Tigris unleashed a volley of his arrows from point blank range. The enchanted arrows bit deep into the holy armour.

A roar of agony escaped from Valk as he twisted to the left and the right, knocking Roran aside. In that moment, however, his blade was not pushing pressure on Harm. The Wulfun pounced, slipping past the Draconis and sweeping Firefeather wide. The serrated 'wing' of the blade ripped right through Valk's armour, drawing blood.

Harm and Roran both spun back around, the Tigris with his bow and Wulfun with his two blades.

They exchanged glances.

Some unspoken piece of communication passed between them.

"I will not fall to you!" Valk roared. His silver butterflies sprang from the air and bolted for the duo.

Harm straightened and swept both Firefeather and Timekeeper through the air. The air wavered like a heatwave had passed through. The butterflies slowed their charge though Harm's feathered wings moulted all their featheres at a lightning pace. Red plumes slammed into each of the butterflies and some even embedded themselves into Valk's open wounds.

The Chronomancer embedded Timekeeper into the ground. He lifted his spare paw...

... and snapped his fingers.

Boom!

Hundreds of small explosions rang out in the bridge. Each of his feathers burst into flame and Valk was sent to the ground as his wounds were torn open by fire. His butterflies were hurled into the far corners of the bridge.

Roran bolted past Harm just as the Wulfun picked up Timekeeper and handed it to the Tigris. Even though the rest of the bridge crawled to a slow, Roran was unaffected as he held the Chronomancer's blade firmly between his teeth. The Tigris peppered Valk with arrows even as the Draconis slowly descended from the air. When the last of his arrows was expended, Roran folded Timekeeper, giving Harm the signal to release Time from his grip.

Valk violently shook in the air as the arrows finally caught up with him. About twenty enchanted projectiles struck him at the same time. The force of the blow sent him crashing through a console, sending sparks and debris scattering everywhere.

A thunderous roar shook the bridge. Valk's glowing wings sprang into the air and he vaulted back into a position of power.

"I -"

He never got to finish.

In that moment, Harm slammed into him, paw against his face. The Wulfun caused both of them to crash back against the ground hard. Harm drove his knee against Valk's exposed, wounded side, bringing a burst of pain from the Draconis' muzzle. He flung himself away from Valk and spun, holding Firefeather outstretched behind him.

"Rise forth, Firefeather!" He swung the blade in a sweeping uppercut, pillars of flame launching from the ground and rushing towards a dazed Valk. The Draconis was readily consumed by the fire, being hurled into the air by the sheer force of the rush of flames.

From the corner of his eye, he spied Roran scrambling up the side of the Sun Goddess status. The Tigris hurled himself off one of the beautifully crafted visages, Timekeeper in one paw and his own enchanted blade in the other. The two swords bit deep into Valk's flesh, driving right through armour and muscle. The agonising scream that ripped from Valk's throat was bordering on unholy.

The Draconis was hurled to the ground, striking the the metal floor hard and spraying blood all over the polished surface. Surprisingly, after all the punishment, Valk still had the strength to rise and emit a long, pained growl.

"I am chosen! I will lead non-humans to salvation!"

WHAM!

Harm drove his foot straight into Valk's spine. Armour cracked beneath the Wulfun's feet. As Valk toppled back to the ground, he seized one of the glowing wings and vaulted off the falling Draconis. The tearing of muscle and sinew ripped through the entire bridge, somehow drowning out Valk's agonised scream.

The Chronomancer stopped ten feet away from Valk, sensing the Draconis rising even after losing so much blood, having his body torn through all that armour and having a wing torn right off. He spun and hurled the limp wing at Valk. A wet slap struck a draconic muzzle and through the glowing feathers, Harm could see the look of surprise beneath that butterfly visor.

That surprise did not last long.

Roran came rushing past, Timekeeper slicing right through another one of Valk's wings. As he passed the Draconis, he hurled his enchanted blade high into the air, well past Valk. The Tigris came to stop beside Harm.

The two exchanged one meaningful nod.

Then, in perfect unison, they both charged at the dazed Valk, closing the ten feet between them.

The Draconis' eyes caught sight of them.

Nine feet...

Valk lifted Alliance to block...

Eight feet... seven...

He looked read to receive their blows... Then...

Six... five... four...

A strange expression crossed Valk's eyes... Like he was somewhere else.

Three...

Valk's muzzle hung open for the briefest of moments.

Two...

Then a smile crossed his features.

One...

Harm and Roran both spun around at the last moment, driving their swords backwards between their arms and sides. Firefeather and Timekeeper drove straight into Valk's chest. They both felt the Draconis shudder as metal tore into flesh. At the same time, the duo twisted their blades, causing irreparable damage. The strike caused Valk's head to swing back, his eyes to the sky and his last breath leaving through his gaping jaw.

As a final blow...

Roran's blade came down...

It plunged down Valk's throat, plunging through flesh and bone, embedding itself into the ground and forcing Valk's body into a twisted, unnatural arc. Whatever last fragments of life Valk may have had faded as his blood flooded the ground.

Harm pulled Firefeather from the fallen would-be-Paladin, letting out a ragged sigh.

Beside him, Roran had his head bowed as he slowly pulled the sword from his best friend and first love. A tear rolled down Roran's cheek. A soft shudder followed shortly afterwards.

Acting purely on instinct, Harm gently cupped the Tigris' cheek and brushed his tongue against the tear, wiping it away. His paw was gently gripped by the Tigris' strong, broad paw. Soft, blue eyes mixed with tears met his...

... and they shared a smile.

"What do you say we get out of here?" Harm suggested.

Roran let out a soft laugh. "You wouldn't believe how long I've waited for you to say that."

"Two weeks?"

The Tigris' features fell for a moment as he realised just short their relationship had been.

"But you should remember," Harm said, smiling coyly, "a single second can be an eternity to a Chronomancer."

*****

In the far distance, the Phoenix Memorial was alight with the candles of so many mourners.

With the deaths of so many people on the five ships that had escorted the Sun Spot and the death of their own Apex Clericus Solis, all of Incendius was in a state of mourning. The entire horizon was filled with candlelight as Incendians from all over the Station - be they human, non-human, Vampiri or Lupus - gathered at the Phoenix Memorial to add the names of those that had died during the Burning Rebellion to the plaque. With the Sun Spire set far in the north, the image was haunting and painful. Sol Surgere was sung, its words and tones hanging in the air, joined by countless voices, tainted with sorrow.

Harm commended himself lightly to have stood so close to the Memorial's plaque when he Time Locked the area. That meant - with Timekeeper active - the plaque remained untouched and new names could be added.

Still, that moment of pride faded as he considered the power vacuum left with Novallier and Yulanda's death. He had excused himself from the political discussion on who should rule next. Tynvandar was the natural choice but a child of eight years was hardly a fitting candidate to rule an entire Station. Without any other family, a regent would have to be chosen... but who was the question that hung over everyone's heads.

Many had insisted Harm take up the mantle and some nobles had even dared to beseech Lumire, Harm's brother and Propheticus Primoris, to force the Wulfun to take the job. Lumire had responded politely but sternly.

No.

The Chronomancer wasn't sure if that was a compliment on Lumire's need for him to be free and unshackled so he could do what no other in the Church dared or an observation on just how much trust the Propheticus Primoris placed on the Last Chronomancer.

Whatever the case, Incendius would undergo change.

What that change was... He could only guess and react when it came.

A soft knock came and Harm pulled away from the railings of Clockwork's clock tower. As he turned, he was surprised to find Roran striding over to him, dressed in some rather good looking, expensive clothing. A ruby-studded vest covered his impressive chest over a white, pressed shirt with a frilly collar and similarly frilly wrists. A pair of new brown leather pants showed off his thick thighs very well.

"What's the occasion?" Harm asked. "And where's that arrow that would pierce my chest dangerously close to my heart?"

The Tigris laughed and gave Harm a mocking bow. "You are looking at the new regent to the Apex Clericus Solis."

"You?" Harm replied, not bothering to hide his disbelief. "You have no idea how to handle politics or politicians. I doubt sticking people with your sword will solve everyone's problems."

"Depends on the sword."

To his surprise, Roran pulled out a ruby blade with a jet-black handle and the golden insignia of the Church of the Tower embedded in the pommel.

"A Valour?"

"Sunrise," came the Tigris' answer, pride rising from his chest. "A few days back, when I was asked to review the scene of the battle while you mysteriously disappeared..."

"You forget I'm still a teacher. I have about a month of paperwork to go through."

Ignoring the comment, Roran said, "When I picked up my sword from where it lay in Valk, I was surprised to find it had changed. The Clericus Solis on the site immediately identified it as a Valour. My Valour. Sunrise."

Harm crossed his arms against his chest, smiling brightly. "Colour me surprised. It seems the Mother Goddess has plans for you yet."

"Seems so." Roran shrugged and tucked the Valour away. "Anyway, the nobles decided that one guided by the Mother Goddess and who helped save the world is fitting to be the Apex Clericus Solis' regent."

"You did kill Gardon," Harm said grinning brightly. "Not to mention that you stopped Valk from bringing ruin to the rest of the world. Let's also not forget that while Valk's message never reached the ears of the Incendian people, the feelings are the same. But with you standing beside Tynvandar, a member of Valk's Estuans Oculus, you share their perspective and can help usher in the change this world so sorely needs."

The Tigris offered him an exasperated smile. "You planned this, didn't you? This is how you wanted things to turn out, isn't it?"

Harm's smile faded and he shook his head sadly. "No. I never wanted Yulanda or Novallier to die. That Tynvandar must live without his big sister or his father is sad. I am merely reacting; pointing out the good things to come from your appointment." His expression grew grim. "And warning you not to lose yourself in the cloud of political anarchy that is to follow. A power vacuum has still been left and many will seek to influence Tynvandar's thoughts. You need to make sure that the future Apex Clericus Solis isn't as afraid of change as Novallier, not as vengeful as Valk and not as radical as Gardon."

"How about as sly and manipulative as you?"

"Definitely not that. I'd rather not have any more competition." Harm turned and rested his weight on the railings, peering out into the distance. "Aria really outdid herself this time. The Incendian nobles are a little annoyed that she gifted a notorious pirate with four capital ships but what can you do after Aureas really saved our hides? Not to mention how she freed Yulanda..."

"Maybe I should watch out for her more than you?" Roran laughed. The Tigris shook his head and wrapped an arm around Harm's waist. "I suppose our new lives start now."

Harm gently grasped Roran's paw and pulled it away but he still held it tight. "Indeed it does. We have our responsibilities. We have our time limits. Mine, longer than yours."

Roran gave him a sad smile. "I understand." Then he broke into a bright smile, still tainted by sadness but still enough to break the gloom of the mourning sea of fire in the distance. "Do you remember that time in the alleyway when I asked you why you were doing what you were doing?"

"How could I forget?"

"And you told me that I should follow you to find the answer?"

"And you followed me like a love sick puppy."

Roran laughed softly. His eyes shone. "I think I finally have the answer."

Harm raised his eyebrows. "Oh? So why is it that I do what I do?"

Roran leaned forward, pressing his lips lightly against Harm's. The moment... Magical. Harm was tempted to hold them both in that moment for eternity but his duty, his responsibilities all held him back. Still, that did not stop him from holding Roran tight and relishing the moment. When the Tigris finally pulled away, he fought back the emptiness and the tears.

"It is to make a memory," Roran answered smiling brightly. "It is to make sure that through eternity, you have something to carry with you into the uncertain future."

Harm had no words to say.

Instead, a gentle trickle of warmth touched his cheeks and they both turned north. The glow of the Sun Spire began to touch them.

A smile came across his lips.

"The future is uncertain," he admitted. "But there is one thing I am sure of despite that."

Roran nodded firmly.

"The sun will rise."

_ _

I'm not claiming divinity. I've never claimed purity of soul.

I've never claimed to have the answers to life.

I only put out songs and answer questions as honestly as I can.

But I still believe in peace, love and understanding

• John Lennon

_ _

The Burning Rebellion: For the Answer