Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Did you see how fast I was, Master? Did you? I was like, 'ZOOM! POW!' That stinky old mole didn't know what hit him!" Mir cackled as he zoomed around Evan's head, wings shimmering with magic. Evan ducked a wind blade with a loud yelp, pulling his wizard hat tight against his scalp.

"Mir, watch out! You might have tough dragon scales, but I just have regular skin!"

The young dragon landed on Evan's back, snickering. "Master, you're fine. I'd never hit you with magic, I swear! That'd be like hitting me with magic." Mir nuzzled Evan's ear, apology rippling down their bond despite the dragon's bravado. Evan shook his head, forgiving Mir without a word. His partner was excited! They'd saved a whole school full of fairies, and they had a play about them now! The name was a little unfortunate because Evan was not a crybaby, but it was their third big heroic deed! They were still novices, so it wasn't like the little kids knew who they were writing about yet. And! And, even better, the headmistress taught him some magic. It was a simple spell she said, one that would help him reach high places since he couldn't fly. He couldn't wait to get back to Ellinia and try it out! That place was a nightmare with all the vines, and teleporting was a little difficult when he couldn't see where he was going.

"Master, Master, let's race! Whoever kills the most monsters on the way back has to buy dinner, 321go!"

"What, Mir, wait–" Too late; Mir zoomed off with a playful roar, already attacking the evil eyes infesting the bridge. Evan rolled his eyes and ran right after him, determined to win the competition himself for once. 

He lost, of course. Mir could fly . Oh well, it didn't matter; Evan was buying dinner anyway, and his partner was happy. They were helping out the people of Victoria Island. Evan was making something of himself! He wasn't just going to be Utah's shy little brother anymore, doing all the chores his brother was too scared or lazy to do. He wasn't going to be a pig farmer, or a chicken farmer, or a potato farmer.

Evan was going to be a hero.

Chapter Text

"Here, take your hero."

Orchid shoved Evan's body into Athena's arms, scowling at him as she did. Athena sucked in a pained breath at the sudden weight, shifting him into a fireman's carry as he struggled weakly. She looked around, frowning. "Where's Mir?"

Orchid shrugged, eyes darting to the floor. "I can't do everything. I saved that dumb town, I didn't have enough power to bring the stupid lizard along too. It's not like it's going to matter anyway."

Evan struggled harder, trying and failing to push himself off of Athena's shoulder. She could hear him trying to speak, slurring his words incomprehensibly save for one: Mir. Her heart dropped into her stomach. "Why? Why doesn't it matter?"

"Because your boy hero is pumped full of so much Retoxin that he's either going to die or turn into a puppet," Orchid replied, rolling her eyes and looking at the sky now, "Gelimer never had an antidote. There's no miracle cure hidden on the ship. Even if he lives, there's not going to be much going on upstairs." She shifted on her feet, leaning back and forth, gaze skittering over Athena's shoulder. "It might even be a mercy to kill him now. Lotus was happy to be free of Gelimer's influence at the end."

"No." Athena spoke instantly, grip tightening on Evan's waist to keep him still. "Go get Mir. The Alliance will not give up on them. I will not give up on them. Whatever happens to them, they will be together. I'm sure Lotus was far happier that you were there with him than not."

Orchid recoiled as if struck, scowling again. "I–You–Ugh! Fine! I'll go get the dumb lizard, but you need to go now! Puny humans like you won't survive the impact. I'll bring him to that gaudy albatross you call an airship, so get going."

Athena fixed Orchid with a long look before nodding, turning towards the launch pad. Evan started squirming again, kicking and reaching out, but he was so sluggish it didn't do a thing. He started to keen as they got closer to the edge, straining over her shoulder.

"No, Mir… Mir! C'ba' Mir, ne'you! G'off! Mir!"

Athena's heart broke; Evan sounded so young. 'He's just a child. Goddess, what are we doing to send children to the front lines?' It brought her back to her own childhood, begging Mercedes to be allowed to join her in fighting the Black Mage. Once again she felt a swell of gratitude for her queen, who had had the wisdom and foresight to give her another, safer task with no less importance. Behind that gratitude loomed her own guilt; she was supposed to be a mentor for the adventurers in Henesys. Evan was one of hers, even if he never held a bow in his life. She still remembered the shy little boy who trailed after his brother at the park, who gushed about constellations to anyone who would listen and had such a kind heart. 'I failed you, Evan. You never should have been here. Not alone. Goddess, please let him pull through.'

Evan continued to struggle and cry out as Athena got closer to the edge, getting more desperate with every step. She tightened her grip on him, wincing as her own injuries made themselves known again. She tried to soothe him, but it did nothing in his state. "Just one more jump, Evan, then you can rest. Mir will be here soon."

"Nnn–no, no, Mir, I wa' Mir!" Evan squirmed. Athena steeled her heart, knowing she couldn't listen to his pleas. Orchid was right; they wouldn't survive a long jump, and the Lumiere wouldn't be able to stay so close for how long it would take to drag Mir out of the heart of Black Heaven. They would just have to trust that Orchid would keep her word.

Athena jumped. Evan screamed, voice cracking, and she would never forget the sheer desperate grief in his voice.

Evan passed out before they landed; Athena didn't know if that was a blessing or a curse. The Heroes came forward first, led by Luminous and the man who went by Shade. She shifted Evan into a princess carry, wincing as her arms protested. Just a little bit further.

"What happened to him? You were supposed to keep him safe, Pierce!" Luminous shouted, scowling. The globe of light behind his shoulder flared, purple inking its way through the heart. Shade trailed behind him, looking over Evan with concern written plainly on his face.

"Where's Mir?" Shade asked, stopping Luminous's rant before it could begin.

"Still on the ship. They were both badly hurt, so–"

"And you just left him?" Luminous shouted again, orb completely purple now. Shade held up a hand, his eyes boring into Athena's own. She squirmed under those eyes, not liking how this stranger could pin her in place without words.

"Leave her alone, Luminous!" Mercedes burst onto the scene, pulling Luminous aside and drawing his ire away from her subject. "Let her finish before you start berating her."

"Indeed," Athena muttered, shoving the irritation away. "As I was saying, both Evan and Mir were badly hurt in the confrontation with Gelimer. I had fallen beforehand, and had only just managed to return to the upper decks when Orchid appeared, carrying Evan with her. She informed me that Evan, and presumably Mir, had inhaled a lethal amount of Retoxin gas. While she had carried Evan to safety, she wasn't strong enough to carry Mir as well after stopping the bombs from falling on Edelstein. I told her to return for Mir and bring him here, and she agreed to do so. Black Heaven is falling fast; there was no time to go back."

Mercedes nodded, a pensive frown on her face. The three heroes shared a look, distrust plain on their faces. Athena agreed with them, but she refused to give up hope. Orchid was a tempestuous creature, but Athena had the feeling she wouldn't want her own efforts going to waste. If she bothered to save Evan, she would bother to save Mir. Athena had to believe that.

"I'd suggest," Athena started slowly, drawing the heroes' attention back, "that Phantom bring Evan to the infirmary."

Luminous made to protest and stopped, pale light starting to color his orb again. "That… is a wise decision, Athena. Here he is now."

Phantom strolled up to the set, light smile belying the anxiety tight in his shoulders. "I heard my name? Oh, no…"

Athena quickly pressed Evan into Phantom's arms, gritting her teeth as her knee popped. "Take him to the infirmary, please. I must make my report to the Alliance."

Phantom didn't even protest, simply turning on his heel and striding into the belly of the ship. Luminous followed after as well as Mercedes; Shade stayed behind, watching them go before returning his attention to Athena. "I'll go with you. Aran will want to hear of Evan's return."

Athena nodded, turning and starting to pick her way across the Lumiere's deck. She stumbled on the third step, leg buckling at last; Shade caught her and brought her up again. Embarrassment crept up her spine, but he seemed unruffled, simply slinging her arm over his shoulders. He said nothing; Athena was glad for his professionalism. The pair approached the helm, joining the leaders of the Alliance watching the massive airship slowly fall out of the sky. Neinheart turned first, frowning as he looked between them.

"Report."

Athena nodded, shifting away from Shade's grip to stand on her own two feet. She gave her report with clinical efficiency,pushing down her own distress to get the facts out clearly. She noted how the leaders reacted to the news. Cygnus covered her mouth, eyes tearing up. Neinheart looked grim and resigned to it, shoulders bowing under the weight of another life lost. Claudine tugged her hat down over her eyes, looking away in what Athena would almost call guilt.

Black Heaven struck the ground with a powerful crash; the Alliance soldiers cheered from the main deck. Athena's heart jumped into her throat. If the ship was down, then where…?

Mir hit the deck with a roar of pain, tumbling head over tail. He scrambled woozily to his feet as a streak of light darted off into the horizon, wings limp and dragging on the ground. Each step seemed to take every bit of will the dragon had in him, but he refused to stop moving, heading unerringly towards the infirmary where his master lay. Resistance soldiers crowded around him, helping him on his way; Athena spotted Belle and Blackjack steadying the young dragon as they went inside. Her heart twisted in her chest. Just children. When did we become cowards?

While Athena lamented, Cygnus came to a decision.

"I know how we can save them."

Evan dreamed.

He was flying above Maple World, sky free and clear, wind in his hair as he swooped through the clouds. He laughed brightly, feeling the stress and weight fall away from him as he ascended into the sky. The stars were in his grasp, if only he cared to reach for them.

…me b…

Evan turned, frowning as he tried to find the source of the whisper. The voice was familiar, but he couldn't remember who it was. He felt like he should, but thoughts ran like sand through his fingers. The sky and stars were so much more interesting. He looked up, reaching towards the ever twinkling pinpoints in the sky.

…'s fading…

Evan frowned. He was certain now; there was something he was forgetting. Something important. What was it? It was tempting to leave it–could it really be important if he didn't remember it? All he needed was the wide open sky and the stars above him. What else could matter?

…n't give up!

Give up? Evan wasn't giving up! He wouldn't! He… why would he give up? What would he be giving up? What… Why was he here, in the sky? Last he remembered, he'd been in a massive ship…

Fight, Evan!

"Master!"

Evan gasped, bolting upright in his bed. His heart beat a mile a minute in his chest as he struggled with the heavy blankets. He needed to go, Mir was still on that ship, he needed to find him and save him, he–

"Easy, Evan." Aran reached over, pushing the teen back down with one arm. Evan struggled, but even at his most desperate, he was no match for Aran's strength.

"Aran?" Evan's voice was scratchy; his throat was parched. He swallowed dryly, panic starting to boil in his chest. "Let me up, I need to find Mir. I won't leave him behind…"

Aran chuckled. "You're a good partner, kid. Look left."

"What…?" Evan turned his head, confusion plain on his face. He gasped again, panic evaporating into relief. Mir was curled up in a dragon sized bed, covered in colorful bandages and sleeping peacefully. He wasn't even hurt, Evan realized; there was no pain through their bond. He wasn't hurt either. He remembered being badly injured; the fight with Lotus had been the hardest in his life. Where was his broken arm? His ribs? The third degree burns on his forearms?

"What happened?" Evan asked quietly, gently tugging on Aran's arm so he could get up. She relented, leaning back in her chair as he crawled out of bed, joining Mir in his own. Evan wrapped his arms around Mir's neck, resting his cheek against the smooth scales. Mir was warm and very deeply asleep; he didn't even stir. His breaths were deep and even, soothing the spike of anxiety in Evan's chest.

"I don't know the specifics, but pretty much Cygnus used Shinsoo's Teardrop to heal you."

"What? But… wasn't that the last Seal Stone?" Evan didn't think his mouth could go any drier, but he was wrong.

Aran shrugged, leaning back in her chair. "Yeah. The Black Mage will be coming back completely now. Freud's seal is broken. We're going to have to train hard to meet him in battle again."

Evan swallowed guiltily. They spent the last Seal Stone on him? Why? He wasn't that important, not compared to a Seal Stone. Not the last Seal Stone! This wasn't like what happened with Maple Island, where it was a whole island of people who needed their homes and lives restored. He was just one person, just a farmer's kid! Him against the Black Mage? He hated to think it, but he didn't think he was worth it.

Aran hummed. "You're worth it, Evan."

Evan startled. "Wh-what?"

"You wear your emotions on your sleeve, you know? Even I can see how you feel about it, kid." Aran chuckled, then sobered, resting her elbows on her knees and her chin on her knuckles. "It's not about weighing one life against another. There are times to be tough and make the hard decisions, and there are times to show mercy. The Black Mage would have come back even with the Teardrop, kid. We'd just be delaying the inevitable. The way I see it, either we wait and let you and Mir die, or we do something and start the fight on our terms."

"But…" Evan sat up, back against Mir's side. "You could have had so much more time to prepare. There could have been something more important to use it on, like another attack, or more people, or–"

"We used it on you, Evan," Aran stated firmly, locking eyes with him. He swallowed and ducked his head. "And I, for one, don't regret it one single bit. You should never have been up there alone."

"But–"

"You shouldn't have!" Aran yelled, fists clenching. "I know you're capable, but you're not even twenty! You shouldn't be up here fighting! Even if you were, you shouldn't be on the front. You shouldn't be the tip of the spear."

"But…" Evan went on, rubbing Mir's neck under his thumb, "I'm Freud's successor, aren't I? If not me, then who?"

"Us?" Aran countered, disbelieving, "His friends? The Resistance, the Knights? There are plenty of people who should be shouldering that responsibility, Evan. I have no doubt you will lead one day,  but that day doesn't need to be today. Freud was a great man, but he was also a grown man. I don't remember much, but I remember that." Aran tensed, then relaxed, closing her eyes for a second or two. "I'm not going to pretend to be good at all this emotion stuff, kid, but I like to think I know something. You're doing fine, you know? You don't need to rush."

Evan disagreed, but he wisely kept his mouth shut. Aran was stubborn to a fault, and he really didn't want to bring out all his insecurities in an argument. He'd keep his thoughts to himself. He yawned, suddenly exhausted, making the older warrior chuckle.

"Here, have some water, then get some sleep. I'll tell the others you woke up. They'll be happy to hear it." Aran passed him a waterskin, getting up and stretching. She smiled wryly as Evan grabbed his pillow and blanket from the bed, heading for the door. She paused in the doorway, looking over her shoulder.

"I'm glad you're okay, Evan. It wouldn't be the same without you." Aran left after that, closing the door softly behind her.

Evan's face burned. He sipped his water and ignored the pressure behind his eyes, blinking it away until it was gone. He wasn't a little kid anymore. He fluffed his pillow, setting it on Mir's shoulder and laying down. Mir rumbled, wing extending out to blanket him as the dragon made himself comfortable again. Evan sighed heavily, eyes drooping as he listened to Mir's breathing even out again.

Don't worry, Master! I'll keep the gas at bay!

Mir beat his wings hard, gusts of magical wind blowing away the toxin in the air. Evan coughed, covering his face with his sleeve. If only he hadn't lost his gas mask in the fight with Lotus! He'd have to make this quick while Mir kept the poison back.

"Ha! You think I didn't prepare for that, boy? Unlike you, I've done my research!" Gelimer cackled as he tossed a bomb at them. It exploded as one of Mir's wind blades cleaved through it, coating them both in a sticky chemical sludge. Mir yelped as he fell to the ground, landing awkwardly on his wing. He roared in pain before whipping around to face Gelimer, fire glowing in his throat. The old man smirked smugly at them.

"Stop that."

Mir's jaw clicked shut. He blinked his eyes in shock, smoke curling out of his nose. Evan's stomach dropped.

Mir, fight! He's not your partner, I am! You don't listen to him!

Mir shook his head, snarling and pulling off the webbing. The gas blew back in, shimmering in the air. Evan blinked and shook his head. He had to end this. He was the only one who could. He raised his staff, wincing as his arm jostled. Just one incantation and it would be over. Just one.

"What's wrong, hero? Cat got your tongue?"

Evan scowled, inhaling to speak the words. He choked and started coughing, realizing too late Gelimer was goading him. The poison flooded his system without Mir to hold it back. He fell to his knees, gasping in pain. His head went fuzzy with it, stealing precious seconds away from him. He blinked and Edelstein was in front of him, bombs falling all around. Mir roared again, breathing hot flames, but they sputtered and died without air to fuel them. Gelimer laughed madly, hopping down and standing in front of the pair of them.

"Well, well. Look at you! The glorious hero! Just as gullible as you always were, aren't you, Evan?" He giggled again, focus on his victims, not his screen. "I remember you. You were such a useful asset. Strong, trusting, entirely naive… A shame Hiver didn't work to convert you. Shortsighted fool. The experiments I could have run with that dragon of yours! Do you know how hard it is to find a dragon in its infancy? Impossible, I tell you."

Mir growled, standing up again. Gelimer rolled his eyes and pulled out a bottle, holding it out so it caught the light. "Careful, now. This vial is very fragile. An antidote to Retoxin; I thought it useful to have just in case you tried to use it against me. You might be able to stand the poison, lizard, but that boy certainly can't."

Mir froze, chest rumbling angrily. Evan could feel the magic flowing sluggishly through their bond, trying to fight off the poison's influence. He grit his teeth. They had to stop Gelimer. If they didn't, no one else would, and if they didn't, he'd escape and do even worse. If this was what it came to…

Mir, get him.

But Master–

Get him!

Mir surged forward, wind giving him speed. He slammed into Gelimer, sending the man flying. The vial shattered on the ground; the old man lay still. Mir slumped down, panting hard. Evan struggled to his feet, gritting his teeth against the white hot pain in his arm. He limped forward, coughing and wincing at the metallic taste in his mouth. He had to make sure this time. If he didn't make sure and Gelimer escaped, whatever horrors he would visit on the world would be on Evan's shoulders.

"Ha!"

Gelimer swiped out with a metallic whip, toppling Evan onto his back. He cried out in pain as his ribs jerked with the impact, whiting out for another second or two before he came back to himself, adrenaline buzzing in his ears.

"Idiot boy! And here I thought I would make you beg for your cure," Gelimer panted out, standing up on wobbly feet and tossing the weapon on the ground. He started for an escape pod, limping slowly for the hatch while he taunted Evan mercilessly. "Well now you can just die here! It's too late for you and your pet, and there's nothing you can do to stop me by now. You can hardly move! Stupid boy, did you really think I'd topple over from one hit? I'm more prepared than that! And now you can watch while I fly away, and you can die there knowing you couldn't stop one old man from escaping. Ha! Hahahahahaha!"

Evan coughed and gasped, rolling over and getting to his feet. He leaned heavily on his staff, wiping the blood from his mouth. His eyes darted from the escape pod to Gelimer to Mir, mind calculating. Just one chance. Mir wouldn't like it, but it wasn't about what they liked anymore.

"You won't… Get away!" Evan shouted, voice raspy. Mir growled, gold eyes glowing yellow. Gelimer laughed louder.

"I can and will, little 'hero!' Goodbye, and good riddance!" Gelimer shut the escape pod door, turning away with another chortle. Evan grasped his staff tightly, pushing magic through his bond, giving Mir everything he had. With a loud cry, he pointed his staff forward, lightning crashing down on the pod. It fizzled against the metal, but Evan expected that. It was just a marker for the real hit to follow.

Crash!

Mir slammed into the pod, lightning crackling around his body. He turned and slammed into it again, then again, and again, each hit sending electricity coursing through the machine and man inside. Mir hovered above the pod for an instant before diving into it headfirst, shattering the glass and sending it flying. He stood and roared in victory, discharging the last of the electricity in his body in an eye-searing display.

Good job, Mir.

Gelimer wasn't laughing anymore.

Mir slumped down again, spent. Evan fell with him, staff clattering to the ground. He started coughing: deep, racking coughs that left him aching and woozy, barely able to take a shallow breath. The poison, he realized. He'd breathed in so much of it. His head was full of wool; he knew he needed to get out, but his limbs wouldn't listen to his brain. He couldn't move. He couldn't do anything.

"Hmph. That was my kill." A familiar voice spoke from behind him. Evan turned his head, blinking at Orchid as she surveyed the damage. "Still… You saved me the trouble of having to track him down. But I wanted to end his pathetic little life…  Ugh, stop looking at me like that. You're like a sad little bunny. …Ugh, fine. I don't want the Alliance sniffing around this place for you, anyway. Come on, hero."

Orchid lifted Evan up with ease. He started to struggle, reaching for Mir, who was trying and failing to get to his feet. Orchid looked over her shoulder at the dragon and sneered. "What, your pet? Oh, I'm sorry, your partner. You want him to go too?"

Evan nodded, hope a tiny flame in his heart. Orchid seemed to think about it before she smirked, eyes cold. "I never thought I'd have to learn how to be Orchid without Lotus. You can learn how to be Evan without Mir."

What? No, no, nononono, Mir!

"Mir!"

Evan woke with a gasp, body drenched with sweat. He threw the blankets off him, needing to get up, get out, he had to find Mir, he had to before the ship crashed, he–

Mir rumbled, soothing, sleepy calm flowing down the bond. He cracked one golden eye, sighing. "What, Master? I'm right here, you don't have to yell."

Evan turned and dove back against his dragon, hugging him tightly and hiding his face against his shoulder. Hot tears ran down his cheeks as he started to sob, squeezing Mir even tighter. "I-I thought I…"

Lost you.

Mir turned and rubbed his cheek against Evan's hair, wing coming in tightly over him. Evan could feel echoes of Mir's own worries and fears, distant and fading now that they were together. Mir never wavered as long as Evan was around, and now was no different.

"It's okay, Master."

Evan sniffled, refusing to let go as he cried. It was just him and Mir here, and for all they griped at each other and teased each other, he knew Mir would never judge him for crying all over him. It would be their secret.

Behind them, Phantom silently shut the door, frowning as he headed back down the hall.

Chapter Text

As a baby, Mir slept anywhere and everywhere. Evan would find him curled up in all kinds of places: A lump under his blankets, in his laundry, in his backpack, slung over his shoulder, curled up with Bulldog. His favorite place was on Evan's chest, where he slept every night without fail.

After his first growth spurt, Evan bought Mir his own bed. It sat at the bottom of his backpack, barely used save as an extra pillow when they were camped out on the road. Mir preferred Evan's bed, and he'd steal it in the mornings to laze in until they got up for the day.

When he grew again, Mir was too big to be sleeping on Evan anymore. He still tried, utterly convinced he could fit, and Evan let him most of the time, smothered under Mir's jaw across his chest. As long as he could breathe, it was fine. He liked the closeness anyway; by then he could hardly imagine sleeping apart.

Fully grown, Mir was the bed. It was only fair, Evan reasoned, so he happily curled up under Mir's wing, his old bed a fine and sturdy pillow between him and the scales, and fell asleep listening to the beat of his partner's heart.

Chapter Text

Evan nodded along as the Primacy explained their latest mission to him. The World Heart thrummed, sharpening his focus on the new task ahead. Mir rested by his side, his usually excitable demeanour dimmed as he paid rapt attention to catch anything Evan may have missed.

Evan paused for a moment as the Primacy explained why they wanted his help. "...You make a good point, but the High Flora know what I look like. They'll spot me right away. If I'm honest, I'm not sure how good I'd be for a stealth mission, especially if I have to retreat. I can't exactly smuggle Mir into the party too."

Mir snickered. "I can just wait outside, Master. If something goes wrong, I'll swoop right in to save you!"

Gob laughed from his hoverpad. "No need for frettin', critter! I've got a doodad that'll cloak ya in a holographic projection. It'll make ya look like someone else entirely! The tech's all Gob-original, so ain't no way even the best and brightest of the High Flora could see through it. A Transcendent might have a shot, but that ain't no concern since Darmoor ain't there. Keep in mind, though, it only changes your appearance. If you start fightin', someone might recognize your moves."

Evan stared flatly at Gob. "You think?" He drawled, sarcasm heavy on his tongue. Gob didn't seem to notice, affable as ever; Mir started snickering again.

"Point is, it's a sneakin' mission. Weasel in, get the info, and scram. Easy as pie."

Evan sighed. "Well, we better hope there's no fighting. You can hide Mir too, right?"

Gob nodded, hoverpad vibrating like he was offended at the question. "Of course! My technology's second to none! Need I remind you who built the ground you're walkin' on, mortal? My gadgets can handle one little dragon."

"Hey!" Mir bristled, wings flaring out to make himself look as big as possible. Evan heard someone–Kelly?--start laughing behind him. He let it go, soothing his partner through their link before crossing his arms to think. Should they go? It was risky, especially since they'd be leaving the Alliance in limbo to help the Primacy. Evan was certain Neinheart would jump at the chance for new information, though; ever since what had happened in Ereve, he'd been more obsessed with intel.

"Whether you want to come or not," Iker growled out, obviously annoyed, "you need to decide quickly. The banquet will begin soon."

We may not get another chance, Master, Mir murmured over their bond, settling again. Evan agreed; there weren't many opportunities to get into Aboris, from what his Grandis friends told him. Even more, he'd be able to learn about the Apostles when they weren't in battle. How they interacted with each other behind closed doors was just as important as information about their combat prowess.

"Okay," Evan said, straightening and uncrossing his arms. Mir stood as well, towering over them all. "We're in."

Ailene huffed a laugh. "You've got guts, Adversary."

Evan frowned at her. "My name is Evan."

Ailene laughed again while Gob started fiddling with who-knew-what. "And? You're the Adversary."

"And I was Evan first. Use my name, Ailene." Evan snapped back.

Khafdi stepped between them, holding out another gadget. "Take this communicator. We'll use it to stay in contact during the mission."

Evan took the communicator and stuffed it into his pouch for later. Kelly moved up into the huddle with a bright, cheery smile on her lips. Evan noticed it didn't quite hit her eyes, and he hoped she wouldn't worry too much about him.

"Good luck everyone! And remember to stay sneaky."

Iker turned on his heel, heading for the portal. "Time to move out."

The Primacy split off immediately on arrival; too suspicious, they said, to be seen together on entry. Evan privately wished one of them had at least given him directions or something. How was he supposed to know where to go? He'd never been here before, or studied any plans, or scouted things out with Mir from above. Speaking of Mir, his partner walked alongside him, wind magic lightening his steps so he didn't crack the tile or leave scratches behind. Evan chuckled nervously.

"Maybe we should have trimmed your claws."

Mir huffed. "I'm not a cat, Master!"

"Are you sure? You really like that laser pointer we got from Gob."

"That's hunting practice!"

Evan laughed, nerves dissipating. He still wasn't sure if their disguises were working, but at least they could make a quick and speedy escape if everything went pear-shaped.

"Don't worry. Everything's fine."

Evan jumped as a familiar drawl filled his ears. He looked around; how was Gob talking to him…? Oh, the communicator! The toad had messed with his earrings, he remembered now.

"The device, I mean. It's designed so wearers can see through the disguise. Now Imagine if you got hurt, didn't realize, and–"

Evan tuned out, sensing the toad was about to go on one of his tech rambles. He took in the garden for a moment, eyeing the crystal in the center (so obviously magical it made his hair stand on end) with interest. He wondered if Luminous would like a sample of it. Could he even get a sample of it? Maybe at the end, he'd try.

"Now isn't the time for a dissertation, Gob." Iker's gravelly voice cut through the noise, bringing Evan's focus back to the present. The toad played it off; silently Evan swore to make up an emergency to get out of whatever lecture the god had planned. He just didn't have a head for technology, not like some of his peers. He'd ask for the written notes for Checky, maybe.

"Point is," Evan tuned in again, World Heart pulsing, "you and your dragon look like whole different people now. Let me tell you it was a feat unto itself to get that thing to work like that, but I knew if you were gonna be on this mission, your dragon needed to be there too. You're a High Flora commoner, and he's a Nova, to accommodate for the wings and tail. Like I said, this gadget only changes your looks. I'd suggest Mir don't go wanderin' into any crowds while you blend into the wait staff. Just act natural–oh, oh, and uh, I couldn't do anythin' for your voice, so watch that too, both of you."

Evan nodded, then flushed as he remembered no one could see him. "Right. We'll be careful."

Khafdi's voice crackled in after, as calm and composed as ever. Evan was a little jealous of how well he kept his cool. "Stay focused and you should be fine. High Flora treat their servants like objects. They'll comment once or twice on Mir, but otherwise won't pay you any attention. The Apostles won't suspect a thing. Six will be attending the banquet: Havoc, Reina, Limbo, Ypsilon, Baldrix, and Ressa."

Evan frowned, tilting his head to the side. "Wait, who's Ressa?" He'd never heard of that apostle before.

"You don't know him?" Khafdi replied, surprise leaking into his voice. "Brown hair, unnerving smile? Not to mention a human of all things." Evan shook his head, wondering why it mattered that Ressa was human.

"I'm from Maple World, remember? Our intelligence in the Alliance is still struggling to recover after the attack on Ereve."

Evan could almost hear the shrug over comms. "Oh well, you'll meet him for yourself before long. Head toward the inner chamber; that's where the banquet proper is being held. …Good luck."

The comms cut after that. Evan sighed to himself. "This reminds me a lot of our early days in the Alliance, Mir."

Mir tilted his head. "Hmm? How so, Master?"

"Everyone forgetting I don't know what they know, and expecting me to learn it on the fly. This is a little bit worse than magic lessons, though." Evan walked on, turning the new information over in his head. Six of twelve apostles in attendance… He'd have to be more careful than usual. He could take one on, he'd proven that, but six? That was a death sentence.

The pair reached the inner chamber quickly enough. Evan shored up his shoulders, glancing at Mir before stepping inside. Just be natural. Phantom taught me how to speak like an aristocrat, so that will be enough to cover my voice. It's that or really lay on the farm voice, and I don't think Darmoor would hire anyone that rural. Now, where are the Apostles?

Evan scanned the room, cataloging each face he saw. Havoc was up by the buffet, staring down at the finger foods (what was the fancy word Phantom used? H'or d'oeuvres? The one was too many vowels, Evan knew that) with the same single minded intensity he'd had on the battlefield. Bladrix stood–er, hovered–a ways away from him, ghostly flames licking at the tablecloth.

Ypsilon and Reina had taken over another table; Ypsilon was swirling tea in a cup as they spoke. Even from this far away, Reina looked bored, but maybe she always looked like that. Limbo was back in a corner by himself, shifting around even as he sipped on a flute of champagne. If Evan had to guess, he didn't want to be here, and he didn't blame him. He wouldn't want to be anywhere near Darmoor after what happened at Carcion.

In the center of the room was a brown haired man, leaning against a wide staircase that connected the platforms of the room together. Ressa, Evan would guess, and he vowed to keep a close eye on him. He didn't believe that him being human was interesting like Khafdi did, but he wouldn't underestimate someone Darmoor chose to be an Apostle. He watched for a moment as the man flipped a coin in the air, catching it with an ease that spoke of years of practice.

Okay, I found them. Now how do I talk to them…?

"You there! With the slack jawed expression! Yes, both of you. Come here." An old man dressed in fine, sturdy clothing beckoned to them.

Evan suppressed the urge to jump; he hurried over to the man, fighting back his nerves. The World Heart purred, and his heart slowed at the calming presence. Mir followed, careful to keep his distance.

"Uh, me?" Evan questioned as he approached, wondering wildly if he'd been found out already. The Flora wasn't panicking, though, so it was probably fine.

The man ignored Evan's question, looking him up and down with squinting eyes. "I've never seen you two before. Are you new here? A Nova, too! My…"

Evan swallowed. "Uh, yes, we're new!"

The man squinted harder. "Are you certain? You look…" He paused; icy dread sped down Evan's spine as he prepared to run.

"...Like a perfect fit for the occasion! Even you, Nova! Whatever slum they dredged you out of, they certainly found some roses among the rubbish!" The man laughed boisterously at his own joke; Evan wondered if he should feel offended. He settled for relieved he hadn't been found out.

"Now then! There's much to be done, and two pairs of hands are better than one. Let's see… Ah, I have the perfect task for an interesting pair like you two."

"What is it?" Mir asked, head tilting. He spoke confidently, knowing that none of the Apostles even knew he could talk, let alone be able to recognize his voice.

"Cast your eyes across the room to the people there. No, not the servants. The real people! The Apostles! Take a good, long look. See how they ooze dissatisfaction? Speaking from experience, I can tell you those expressions do not bode well." A harrowed look twisted the man's features for a moment before he pushed himself to smile. "To be specific, if nothing is done to appease them, the entire imperial villa is at risk of being destroyed."

Evan choked. "What!?"

The man shushed him, glancing out over the room again. He leaned in closer, making both Evan and Mir lean in to hear him. "Now, you didn't hear it from me, but the Apostles don't get along with each other, you see. Phrased that way makes it seem far less dire than circumstances truly are, however."

Evan and Mir shared a look. It was a little surprising, but the more he thought about it, the more sense it made. The Demon had told him about the Black Mage's Commanders a few times, and how every meeting was fraught with petty backstabbing, pointed words, and power plays for the Black Mage's favor. Why would he assume Darmoor's were any different?

The man–the head servant, Evan realized belatedly–continued on, detailing each previous year's fight and casualties with a forced cheerfulness that belied the terrified desperation in his eyes. Evan felt a pang of sympathy for him; he was just doing his job, and he had to deal with the very lethal drama every year. No wonder he hadn't thought twice about new servants! Evan would bet he had trouble finding enough people to fill out the staff.

"Won't they get in big trouble for that?" Mir asked, curious.

"Under whose authority? Mine? Oh, no no no; there's only one man who could put a stop to it: His Majesty. Unfortunately, the God-King abhors banquets, so he's seldom present at these occasions."

Evan wondered why Darmoor was throwing them, then. It didn't sound like anyone was particularly happy with the arrangement.

"That doesn't mean we can let this villa be destroyed, especially now that she is the one tending the garden…" The head servant shivered. "We have to keep a close eye on the Apostles and protect the villa as best we can."

"By breaking up their fights?" Mir asked. The head servant stared blankly back at him.

"I can only imagine what kind of savagery the Nova pursue at their parties, but no. Stepping into a fight between Apostles is a quick way to bid your life farewell."

Evan blinked away his shock at the remark. He'd been to a Nova celebration. The worst that happened there was a drunken brawl over some of the Reclamation effort weapons Angelic Buster had signed, nothing like destroying a whole villa! That had been solved by her throwing an encore performance, anyway. Khafdi was right; the High Flora are really arrogant.

"What we can do is quickly relocate valuables so they aren't smashing in the fighting. It's a matter of damage control, really."

"Right…" Evan said quietly, sharing a look with Mir. This was turning out to be a bigger hassle than he thought already.

"First and foremost, we attempt to nip the buds of aggression before they can blossom."

Evan nodded, catching on. "So my job is to keep an eye on them and keep them happy?"

The man brightened. "Yes, exactly! Good, you have some brains between your ears after all."

Evan nodded again. He didn't much like this man's condescending nature and casual insults, but he was used to grinning and bearing it. He'd complain to Mir about it later.

"Now, you attend to the Apostles, and your friend will stay with me. He's novel, and I'm sure they'll fight over wanting him to serve them, so best not to tempt fate. I think with those wings of yours, you'll be perfect for helping Breumi with her cleaning. She's just over there, now off you go. Hurry now, both of you!"

Evan hurried off, frowning. Well, this was the best way to get close to the Apostles… but that man was really unpleasant the more he thought about him. He was definitely taking some of the magic crystal now. Time to get to work… He scanned the room again, catching sight of Reina's increasingly bored expression. Was it him, or was the room a little colder? I guess I have my first target. Remember, aristocratic.

Evan approached Reina, taking on his best impression of Phantom's smooth gait. He moved to the flower decorations, messing with the arrangements as he turned an ear towards the Apostle. It was tempting to attack her while her guard was down, but he knew better. The mission was more important than revenge for Cygnus.

Reina hissed out a pained wince. Evan kept his face smooth, wondering just what could have her in pain; their fight was too long ago for those wounds to still be bothering her. She turned and caught sight of him, approached with calm, measured steps.

"Servant."

Evan stood up, bowing like he'd seen a few of the other servants do, before waiting patiently for her command.

"Deliver this message to my adjutant, Lystor. 'I've received my orders and already set out. Remain here and keep an eye on things.' That is all." Reina turned and left without another word, slipping out of a side door and away from the banquet. Evan turned over her words in his head. Orders? What Orders? Maybe one of the others will let it slip?

Well, Reina wasn't a problem anymore. Evan would get a message to the Primacy and the Alliance to keep an eye on her movements if they could; if they could stop her from completing her mission, that would be another blow against Darmoor.

Who else to check on…? Ah. Limbo. Evan hardly wanted to get near the man, but the mission required it. Stalwartly, he picked up a platter of champagne flutes, approaching the corner where the nervous flora had sequestered himself. The man startled when he approached, then dabbed his forehead with a handkerchief in a bad attempt to play it off. Evan silently replaced his champagne with a fresh glass, wondering how such a man ever won the graces of Gerand Darmoor.

"You, servant!" Limbo said brusquely, voice wavering. He murmured to himself, then spoke up again. "His lordliness Gerand Darmoor won't be attending the banquet, Will he? Will he…?" The flora flushed and downed his champagne; Evan gave him another glass and pretended not to hear the anxious muttering.

"As far as I know." Evan answered. Too bad for Limbo he wasn't real staff. He paled considerably, champagne shaking in his grasp.

"What does that mean? Are you sure or not? Is this your way of letting me down gently?" Limbo wiped his face again, forehead already shining with more sweat; Even leaned very slightly away from him. "Oh I knew it; he's going to show up after all…"

Evan cleared his throat, remembering he was supposed to be calming the Apostles, not making them worse. "I apologize. I-"

Limbo scowled at him, suddenly enraged; Evan took a step back. "Bah, you're worse than useless! Get out of my sight!"

Evan left the platter of alcohol behind, quickly walking to another flower arrangement. He tilted his ear to Limbo's table, listening as the man muttered to himself. So his failure in Carcion was a big deal after all. Good. He sounds like he already has another mission, one he doesn't want to mess up. I'll have to tell Neinheart about it. A cornered animal is the most dangerous one.

Two Apostles down. Four to go. This isn't so bad. Maybe… Ypsilon next? It's a good thing Khali's not here. I don't think she'd be able to hold back. Evan could only imagine the bloodbath if Khali knew about this mission. He put her out of mind, watching Mir as he took up a duster and followed after the maid to another part of the hall. Oh no, chores for Mir. I hope he doesn't try to use his magic to cheat…

"If I'm not mistaken, you were speaking to Reina earlier, yes?" A smooth, cultured voice spoke right next to him. Evan jumped, glad his hands were empty as he whipped his head around and came face to face with Ypsilon.

He's observant. Evan thought, World Heart calling his focus to the fore. I'd better be careful. Mannerisms will get me found out.

"Where has she wandered off to?" Ypsilon asked, watching Evan with a bored sort of interest.

"She said she was leaving the banquet," Evan responded, seeing no reason to lie. His response seemed to surprise the flora, though his expression barely shifted.

"Alone?"

"Yes," Evan said with a nod. "She's having her adjutant, Lystor, stay here, though."

Ypsilon's eyes seemed to glitter, though his expression still didn't change. "Intriguing. Even if His Majesty is not in attendance, it's still exceptionally rude to be leaving so early. Perhaps something is the matter… Ah… The side effects. Very Intriguing."

Evan didn't like the noise Ypsilon made as he came to his conclusion; it reminded him far too much of Gelimer. Side effects? Side effects of what? Did something happen to Reina between Ereve and now? Why is he so invested? He sounds like he'd like to put her under a microscope and poke around.

Ypsilon seemed to remember Evan was there again. With a careless wave of his hand, he dismissed him and returned to his table, a coy smirk on his lips. Evan didn't shudder, but it was closer than he liked. I need a break. I can slip outside for a moment, then get back to checking on the Apostles. A few minutes wouldn't hurt.

Mir flew up to the ceiling, delicately wisping away a few bits of dust that have gotten into the corners. Breumi had taken one look at him and decided he was perfect for the job! He didn't know if he should be proud or insulted, so he decided to err on proud. He'd do a good job so the servants all liked him, and then maybe they'd tell him a few stories about the Apostles that could lend them some insights into them. It was a devious, masterful plan! Master was going to be so impressed with it when he told him about it later.

"How was the meeting?"

"Taking orders is taking orders. Doesn't really matter."

Mir cocked his head, hearing familiar voices underneath him. He glanced down, spying Havoc and the gray haired flora lady who worked with him. What was her name again? He didn't remember. He'd ask Evan about it later. For now, he settled in to listen, dusting away.

"Then you're in a surprisingly good mood, all things considered."

"I had my fun," Havoc responded, taking a bite of something before continuing on. "Given the kinda place I'm from, can't say I get what the big man's after with this plan of his. Whatever. Not my world, not my problem."

Wow. Havoc sounded a lot like the Goddess of Tynerum. Were all demons like that? The Demon–it was kinda weird to think of him like that–wasn't anything like that. He loved fighting, but he cared about Maple. Or maybe he cared because it was his world? Mir would have to ponder that.

"I'm… concerned about the mission." Mission? What mission?

"Don't worry. I'll get us the results we need. You can count on that." Havoc sounded very sure of himself. Mir didn't doubt him, and wasn't that scary to think about?

Another crunch; sounded like Havoc was done talking. Mir moved on across the ceiling, very pleased at what he'd learned.

Evan slipped back into the banquet hall feeling refreshed after a moment outside. Just a few more… He headed for the center of the room, intending to pick up another platter and make the rounds to find another Apostle to interact with. He paused as he picked up a tea service, feeling eyes on him. He turned, seeing Ressa staring at him, flipping his coin idly. A chill ran down his spine; he didn't like how the man was looking at him. Khafdi was right; his smile is unnerving. 

"Say, I don't recognize you. Whyever would that be, I wonder. Might you be…"

Evan straightened, knowing better than to show fear. Nerves, yes; fear, no.

"New help for this event? That'd be the most obvious answer, of course. It's not like I've memorized the face of every servant in the imperial villa." Ressa's grin widened as he chuckled; Evan only felt more nervous. He was doubly glad Mir was off cleaning now. Just stick with the story.

"So," Ressa went on, twining his coin through his fingers, "now that you're done with the other Apostles, it's my turn, I see. Not going to check on Havoc? I suppose he's content gorging himself on the food."

Evan did not panic, though it was very tempting. The World Heart thrummed, dulling his fear and sharpening his focus on the task at hand. Don't bother lying. Stick to the simple truth.

"Yes. The head servant asked me to keep an eye on the Apostles' moods. Lord Havoc seems to be in good spirits, so I'm leaving him be." Evan answered, feeling a familiar calm as the pressure built. Words were simply another arena of battle, and he would not lose.

Ressa's grin seemed almost mocking. "Oh good! And here I was thinking you were trying to spy on us." His smile sharpened as his voice dropped into a dangerous purr. "Not that it would matter if you were, by the way. Be it for the Primacy, the Alliance, or some other faction–none are worthy of Gerand Darmoor's attention. Save for the Adversary, perhaps."

But I am, Evan thought, remembering Darmoor's eyes on him so long ago. Ressa agreed, it seemed like.

"Even they don't have any hope of disrupting our plans." Ressa chuckled again; it sounded hollow to Evan's ears. "Isn't that right?"

Evan just stared, not trusting his tongue. The mood brightened again as Ressa leaned back–when had he gotten so close?

"Apologies. It's not like a common servant would know anything about that. Anyway, if you want to complete your circuit of the Apostles, you're still to visit Baldrix. You'll find him in the garden outside." Ressa flipped his coin again, shooing Evan away. "Go on now, shoo."

Evan walked away, leaving the tea service behind. He kept moving until he was out of sight, exhaling heavily. I don't like that man. I think he knows. Everything he said was too pointed for it to be a coincidence. Evan's gut said as much, and after his disastrous start to being a hero, he'd learned to trust when his gut said something was off. Does the Primacy have an information leak? Or does Ressa have some kind of magic that lets him see through my disguise? Or… is he so paranoid he really did memorize all the servants' faces? I'll have to let the Primacy know. They know him better. A fact that stung, since they hadn't shared that information with the Alliance, or with him. Trust takes time.

The last Apostle now. Baldrix.

Evan headed out to the garden, exhaling in relief once he was free of the tensions inside. He tugged lightly on his bond with Mir; it was best his partner got out of there before Ressa caught him. One servant could be explained as a random spy, but two? They'd be caught and shipped off to Darmoor before the main course!

Baldrix was very easy to spot. The man–ghost?-towered over everything around him. His flames crackled steadily; Evan wondered if they responded to his emotional state. He shook the thought away. Mission.

Evan approached steadily, waiting for Baldrix to notice him. It didn't take long for him to turn. "Oh? If you came to admire the garden, don't let my presence deter you. The banquet doesn't interest me much either."

I still can't get over his voice. Evan thought to himself. Either way, be careful. He's noticing me for more than getting him something.

"A garden like this is far more worthy of attention," Baldrix went on, turning out to look at the flowers. "Know this, though: the gardener is quite protective of her flowers. If you were to pick even one, there would be hell to pay." He said no more; Evan retreated with a bow, mind whirring away.

A gardener? One even the Apostles are wary of? Or indulge, at least. Interesting. Whoever it is must be important, too. Maybe I'll see her around.

Evan wandered back inside, dipping back towards the head servant to report on the Apostles' mood. One of the other guests flagged him down with calling him over. It was a blond flora with artfully shaggy hair and gray eyes. Evan repressed a sigh and went over, waiting for his request.

"You've been busy, Evan." A very familiar voice came out of the blond's mouth. Evan blinked in shock.

"You're–"

"Quiet. Did you forget? I told you 'we' would be coming too." Khafdi was as taciturn as ever. It was hard to reconcile his Primacy identity with this… aristocrat. Gob really did a good job with his devices.

Wait…

"You're not using a disguise, are you?" Evan asked quietly, sure his intuition was right. Khafdi smirked.

"Sharp. No, I'm not. This is my true form. Not all High Flora serve Gerand Darmoor; some of us see him for the dangerous tyrant he is."

Evan nodded; he could see that. "How did you recognize me, though?"

Khafdi shrugged one shoulder. "I'm the one who made sure the servant you're disguised as isn't here. If you weren't here, another of our comrades would be in your place. Between you and me, you're a far better actor than the rest. As for me, I planned on slipping in the whole time. Being a Flora has its perks." He gestured away, nodding to Evan. "Let's leave it here; we've been speaking too long. Slip away when you get the chance. We'll debrief later."

Evan did just that, making a show of grabbing Khafdi a drink before continuing on his way. He headed for the far side of the room, noticing Mir had made it out of the banquet room. He spotted Lystor looking around, lost, and suppressed the rage that flashed in his heart. Unfortunately, Lystor noticed him next, stopping him on his way out.

"Servant. A question. Where is Lady Reina?" Lystor spoke tersely, staring Evan down with a slight glare. Evan debated lying for a second, but decided against it; if he was compromised, any intelligence he gathered would be useless. Ressa was a wild card, but Reina would confirm it and raise security. That would only make intel missions harder for the Primacy and the Alliance. The truth it was.

"She told me to give you a message. She has received her orders and already set out."

Lystor blinked, frowning. "What? She left? Could it be…?" He focused on Evan again. "Was she well? No, never mind. I should be able to tell when I see her myself. Excuse me–"

"Actually," Evan interjected, ignoring the affronted glare, "there was a second part to her message. She asked that you remain here and keep an eye on things."

Lystor slumped like he'd been given the worst news of his life. "Did she really? I see…" He picked himself up again, seeming to remember he was representing Reina for the evening. He still frowned, eyebrows bunched up in concern. "Thank you for delivering my lady's orders. Dismissed."

Evan didn't linger; he left the banquet hall and went outside, relaxing as he hit the servant hallways. It was quiet here; he could take a break for a while before he needed to return and play servant again.

"Master! Here you are! Is everything okay?" Mir popped out of a room, moving to sit by Evan's side. Evan pat his neck, taking some comfort from his presence.

"I'm okay, Mir. Don't go back into the ballroom, okay? That sixth Apostle, Ressa… I think he knows I'm an impostor. If he spots you, I think it'll be too much. You're just cleaning, right?"

Mir nodded. "Breumi instructed me to clean all the corners I could reach, then take care of outside. I can stay out here until it's time. If you need me, I'll be there."

Evan smiled, instantly relieved. "Thanks Mir. I've got a few minutes. Want to learn what I found out?"

Mir perked. "Oh, oh, me first! I overheard Havoc, Master! Let me tell you all about it."