Chapter Sixty-Seven: Saint Amelia

    The plateau lift belched steam as its massive gears turned, carrying Serena and Amelia towards the lowlands. Stretched across the horizon before them were the developing lands of towns and farming communities. Serena had been gone from Asamaywa for only a year, but even in such a short amount of time, the amount of industry that had sprung up was astonishing.

    While the sight of the beautiful lowlands, bathed in blue hues from the enormous moon above, along with skies striated with travelling transports and military ships, would normally have Amelia asking a hundred questions while squealing about how amazing everything was...

    For now, she was quiet. Both of them were.

    “You understand why he wanted you to come with me?” Serena asked.

    “...Yeah,” Amelia replied, her voice quiet under her rainhat. They were both wearing hats and coats to cover their uniforms. This wasn’t a time to be visible or flashy.

    “Keep it... discreet.”

    “I will,” Amelia replied.

    “And you can’t just help everyone, remember? You might want to, but it’ll cause untold problems and-”

    “Yes, alright!” Amelia tutted. “You don’t have to tell me everything!”

    “Sorry,” Serena said. “I’m just... tense.”

    “So am I.”

    Serena wanted to discuss the Lord Guardian with Amelia, but the time and place felt inappropriate. So, with Serena mentally vowing to conduct a thorough cheek-pulling session later, they rode in silence down towards the lowlands.

    Stepping off, she was treated to what could best be described as disorderly order. A bustling market, targeting the travellers moving to and from the train station, produced a symphony of sounds as stall owners fought with their voices to catch the attention of passersby. People were well dressed, and she saw happy smiles on the faces of many.

    She could see half a dozen guards and station employees maintaining order and keeping the lift queues moving. She saw people clambering on the rooftops, placing wooden sheets over the tiles to prevent damage from the incoming moon rain. The storefronts were also boarding up their glass and paper windows. The trains would stop soon, and air traffic would shut down for the night.

    “Come on, come on, keep it moving!”

    “No ma’am, the last train to Nachon left half an hour ago.”

    “Speak to us if you need shelter tonight! Don’t get caught out! Cheapest rates!”

    “Papa, the moon’s so big! Catch a big crystal for me!”

    They turned off the main street and headed toward the orphanage. The first few streets they passed were lit with aetherlights, with clean cobblestone pathing. However, as they continued, the amount of people walking became fewer and fewer. The streets became narrower, and aetherlights no longer lit their way. Here, the building style started to change; the homes relied heavily on jettying to maximise floor space on their upper floors. In fact, after walking further into Asamaywa’s shadow, the jettying became so egregious that the upper floors of each side of the street were less than an arm''s length apart. Not only did this invoke a strange sense of being trapped, but it limited the amount of sunlight reaching the ground.

    “Huge fire hazard...” Amelia muttered, looking up.

    “This doesn’t seem so bad,” Serena intoned. Looking around, she didn’t see anything that couldn’t be found in the less affluent districts in the city above. The streets looked like they were still swept occasionally.

    She soon came to regret those words.

    As they walked deeper, a change occurred. With the light barely reaching the ground, it was as if the world was slowly rotting away. Shop windows no longer used glass, and many were boarded up with wooden planks. The cobblestone paths gave way to gravel and dirt and the drainage channels on the sides of roads were filled with debris, looking like they hadn’t been cleaned in months.

    They didn’t see a single guard patrol.

    The atmosphere became ever more sullen. People stopped smiling or nodding as they passed; instead, they hurried past, casting wary looks. Although Serena’s and Amelia’s raincoats - borrowed from the Old Guard’s Headquarters - had plenty of signs of wear and tear, they were still noticeably better maintained than the patchwork clothing worn by the few residents they saw.

    Beggars started appearing in most corners, their eyes devoid of any spark of life. More than a few had the shakes - a symptom of Dust addiction. They were seemingly content to rot away with the rest of the world. No, not the world. Slums. These were the slums. Where was the energy? It was winter, sure, but even in the poorer parts of Asamaywa, the winter markets would continue throughout the season, only stopping if they were truly snowed in.

    They turned a corner to see a man being beaten by two others. His assailants were using their fists but carried crude bludgeons on their waists. Serena couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Where were the guards?

    “You there!” she shouted, striding down the alley. The two thugs stopped their assault, letting their victim fall into a crumpled heap where he lay shaking and unconscious. “On whose authority are you punishing this man?” She narrowed her eyes, glaring at the men.

    “Authority?” one of the men questioned, his head tilting.

    “This ‘ere is Marlos’s turf,” the other snarled, jabbing his finger to the floor. “Don’t stick yer pretty nose into our business, ladies.” He peered forward so he could see their faces better. “Oh! Yeh are pretty. Look at yer eyes! Born proper, were we?” He bent back up, tapping his bludgeon with a finger. “Highborn women like yeh should be careful. Why don’t yeh come with us ‘ere? We-”

    Before Serena could break the thug''s hands, Amelia fired off two spells, causing the men to collapse into a magic-induced sleep. Her girlfriend looked at her and shrugged.

    “Sorry,” Amelia said. “Did you want to speak to them?”

    “...No,” Serena eventually answered. This wasn’t the right time for her to run about clearing out criminal gangs. While she had certain legal rights to do so, as a Speaker and a fully-sanctioned Cascadian Lord, it was considered offensive to do too much without consulting the lord responsible for the area.

    “Hello, I’m going to take your pain away, okay?” Amelia bent down. A tiny thread of golden light with dancing flecks of blue reached out from Amelia and entered the shivering, bloody man.

    She’s much better at control now.

    The man’s cuts and bruises healed, leaving only dried blood on his body and clothes. Amelia’s magic took care of that, too. The man slowly stood, touching his clean body in disbelief.

    “I... Who...” the man stuttered, his face full of confusion.

    “I suggest you leave,” Serena commanded. The man took a few hesitant steps back before turning and running down the road, his now immaculate patchwork clothing standing out against the dirt and grime of everything else.

    “I don’t like this place,” Amelia mumbled. “It feels... oppressive.” She shuddered, rubbing her arms. “Should we do something?”

    “Can’t just heal the entire slums,” Serena said, looking around. “This is beyond a quick fix. I’ll have to report this to Greatlord Oshiro. The conditions here are worse than I thought.”

    The residents thought they were subtle, but their attempts at hiding were no challenge for her aura-enhanced perception. They spied on them through little cracks in the doors and walls. When Serena made eye contact, they hurried away. She shook her head, saying, “Let’s go; we must have taken a wrong turn.”

    “What about these guys?” Amelia poked one of the thugs with her foot.

    Serena dragged them into a side alley and had Amelia release the sleep spell. It was cold, and they risked frostbite or worse if they stayed asleep. They would wake up in a few minutes confused, but other than that, no harm would come to them.

    Although, perhaps some should.

    Continuing, they eventually came across a guard patrol. Although the guards seemed less interested in patrolling and more interested in chatting with each other, drinking alcohol from a flask. Their uniforms were mostly clean, but worn haphazardly. As if they didn’t value the duty that came with a uniform.

    “You there!” Serena called. She strode towards them, slightly releasing her control over her red aura, allowing it to be easily visible. The guards reflexively placed their hands on their swords, but as she approached and her red aura became clear, their eyes took on a tinge of fear and awe. She gave them a quick description of the orphanage. “It should be nearby. Do you know it?”

    “...Aye, we know it,” one of the guards eventually answered, his voice hesitant. “A squad was sent there earlier. Who are you?”

    “Speaker Halen. I have business at the orphanage. Orders from my Lord Superior. Take us there.” At her words, the guard''s eyes widened at the word Speaker.

    “Wh-”

    “Tsk!” She clicked her tongue. Where was the discipline? “Do you talk back to all your superiors, man?”

    “The Captain needs-”

    “I’ll have the Captain before an Imperial Court for failing to maintain discipline amongst his guards!” Now, she was really channelling her captain persona.

    Soon to be her commodore persona!

    Her threats worked, and the guard’s insubordination ceased. They lead them through the narrow, dark streets, casting the occasional glances at her and sometimes towards Amelia. With the rainhat, Amelia’s golden hair was hidden, and they wouldn’t necessarily assume she was a human. Demon horns came in all shapes and sizes. They would likely have assumed hers weren’t large enough to poke through the rainhat.

    The darkness lifted as they entered an open space, where half a dozen stalls circled a long-defunct fountain. A few guards lingered around the square, and she even saw a gaggle of children running through with sticks, rolling wooden hoops. Despite the cold weather and their thin clothes, they were laughing. They looked skinny but not malnourished.

    Still, it didn’t give her much hope.

    “That there is the guardhouse, S-Speaker Halen.” The guard pointed at one end of the square, where a large building stood, one of the few around with sweeping roofs and decorative inlays. “It’s where the Captain''s office resides. Are... you sure you don’t want to meet him? I-”

    “The orphanage,” Serena reiterated.

    “...Yes.”

    From the guards she’d seen, not one of them was capable of aura. She knew the demands of the war had pulled aether-users from their positions into more suitable tasks, but to think an entire area like this would be stripped of guards capable of actually fighting. What would they do if they encountered an ochimusha?

    As they exited the square, Serena asked, “Why is the rubbish left to pile up?”

    “There’s no money,” the guard answered.

    “I see.”

    After turning a few corners, they reached their destination. It was just as Noburu described. The orphanage was a dilapidated building with a patchy roof and broken windows. It sat at the end of the street, with a wall extruding from it that enclosed some private space. Perhaps a garden. Smoke billowed from its chimney, and a bored-looking guard leaned in the entranceway.

    “Oh! Okay!” Amelia''s eyes widened. “Will he... obey me?”

    “Probably not,” Serena admitted. “But he has no right of refusal. Use whatever means you want to make him comply.”

    “Right!” Amelia nodded, punching her open hand with the other. Her face was deadly serious. “I’ll be right back!” She turned and began to move out before swivelling around and asking. “And then, I can... you know?” She gestured to Kiku and the children.

    “Of course.” Serena smiled.

    “Mmm! I’ll be a minute!” Amelia vanished, only to return a moment later. “Uh, do I need to inform them of their charges?”

    “Don’t worry about that,” Serena replied, glancing towards the guards. “You’re only detaining them. Charges will come later.” At her words, the guards’ jaws clenched.

    “Understood!” Amelia gave a quick bow and vanished once more. While keeping her perception open to Amelia’s outside antics, Serena snapped her head towards the guard called Yasuji.

    Wait a minute, wasn’t Yasuji the one Noburu was worried about harming Kiku?

    Had Serena arrived just in time?

    She eyed Yasuji. “This... destruction,” she waved her hand around, gesturing to the destroyed furniture. “Your doing, I presume? Why have you destroyed what little these people have? They clearly have no valuables.”

    “T-they are thieves!” Yasuji spluttered, his attitude suddenly changing after hearing Amelia be referred to as both a Speaker and a Lord-Prospect. What would he be thinking? Perhaps he was wondering who Serena was to be able to command Amelia to go and detain his captain.

    “Thieves?” Serena asked, raising an eyebrow. “What thieving do you think this girl can do? She can barely walk, isn’t that right?”

    “No, I mean, look at this!”

    Serena’s attention was directed to a winter coat the occupants had apparently stashed away. It was the kind of cloak you could find anywhere in the city shops if you were on a budget. Yasuji tried to argue this was stolen, but Serena was having none of it.

    “It’s her brother!” Yasuji hastily changed his approach. “You’ve interrogated him, right? Then you know what kind of man he is! It’s not just him!” He cast a finger towards the four children. “They’re fingersmiths! They’ll slip a purse from your person the moment you look away! They-”

    A flurry of protests erupted from the children.

    “Liar!”

    “You steal from us!”

    “Tell her, Kiku!”

    “It’s.. it’s true!” Kiku exclaimed. “We pay him money for protection, but he always asks for more and more! He always threatened to turn this place over and take anything of value, and that’s what he was doing! He’s destroyed everything! He said if Noburu didn’t return, he would take me to bed and-”

    “Stupid girl!” Rage blossomed again in Yasuji’s face, spittle flying everywhere. He stepped forward, raising his hand to strike her. Serena’s eyes widened. What was he trying to do!? Knock her head off!?

    Serena manifested her aura, blossoming it into a bright orange.

    It was more than enough to intercept the strike with her hand, snapping Yasuji’s arm before he realised she’d even moved. It wasn’t a clean break, either. Letting her subdued anger come forth, she crushed his bones as she snapped them. He would never use that arm again. He’d probably need it amputated.

    Unless Amelia healed him, which she sincerely hoped she wouldn’t.

    She kicked Yasuji across the room, where he collided with the broken dining table, collapsing into a heap next to his stunned colleagues. Amazingly, he wasn’t unconscious. Instead, he threw up before clutching his arm with a face of agony.

    “Ah... ah...”

    “If you scream, I’ll break the other one.” Serena walked over to him and then spat on him. It was an action she’d only done a few times in her life and one she’d never do in proper company, reserved only for when she wanted to establish her utter distaste for someone. “You two,” she glared at Keishi and Ikki, their faces white. “Take him outside. Under my authority and rights granted to me by Imperial Law, I, Lord Halen, am detaining the three of you.” She raised her voice slightly. “Amelia, I’m coming out!”

    “I heard! I’m almost done!” came the reply, easily picked up by Serena’s enhanced perception.

    Serena removed her rainhat and coat, revealing the immaculate black and gold officer uniform underneath. She wasn’t sure how, but when the guards saw the uniform, even more blood drained from their faces. Yasuji had gone from being as red as the red moon to as white as the white one. Even the children couldn’t resist uttering their surprise.

    “Whoa...!”

    “She’s glowing orange!

    “That’s aura, Reo! Remember I told you about it!”

    “So pretty!”

    She led the men outside to find Amelia dragging an unconscious body into a line of a dozen others. It looked like they’d tried to resist Amelia’s detention, but her magic had put them to sleep before they could achieve anything.

    “Hello!” she chirped. “That one’s the Captain,” she said, pointing towards one of the sleeping demons. “Those are the two that came with us, that one is the guard who was at the door, and... the rest are men the Captain brought with him!”

    “Quite the collection,” Serena nodded, turning towards the three guards. “Sit down,” she ordered.

    They hastily obeyed.

    “Mind adding these three to your collection?” Serena asked.

    “Mmm, mmm!”

    Amelia put the three men to sleep and then warded the area so no one could interfere. They returned to the destroyed room to find the four children crowded around Kiku, fussing over her. They backed off a little when they entered, their eyes wary.

    But not hostile.

    Serena didn’t have time to say anything before Amelia pushed past her, practically falling to Kiku’s side as she grabbed the demon''s hands and spluttered, “Hello! I’m Amelia! It’s nice to meet you!”

    “It’s...” Kiku looked confused. “Nice to meet you, but...” she pulled her hands away. “I’m so dirty, and I don’t want to make you unwell, umm, Lord-Prospect...? Are you crying?”

    “No!” Amelia replied as tears bubbled up and fell down her cheek. “Never mind that I can’t get ill anyway! How long have you had your condition?”

    “Almost... four years, Lord-Prospect,” Kiku smiled weakly. “I don’t know what it is, but I can’t walk very far, so I stay in this room.”

    “Four... four years?” Amelia echoed. She wiped her tears and, in the process, knocked her hat off, revealing her golden hair that seemed to shine in the drab and dreary room. No, her hair was actually shining. Amelia was spooling her magic up. “I used to be ill for so long as well. I couldn’t move at all some days, and I cried so many tears at how unfair it was! I can see you’re a beautiful demon with a beautiful soul...” Amelia sniffed. “It’s not fair this happened to you!” Amelia sniffed again as more tears were pouring from her eyes.

    Kiku started crying, yet she was also smiling. She gave a weak laugh and thanked Amelia.

    Tsk! Even Serena felt something in her eyes. She turned away to dab her face discreetly. As she did, she heard the children squeal in excitement.

    “She’s shining!”

    “Is it aura!?”

    “She doesn’t have horns!”

    “K-kiku! It’s the human healer I told you about! It is, isn’t it!? She’s come for you!”

    “That’s right,” Amelia blubbered. “I’m that healer, and I’m going to make you all better!” She reached forward and pulled Kiku into a hug. “I’m going to make everyone better! Can I do that for you, Kiku? Please?”

    From over Amelia’s shoulder, tears flowed freely down Kiku’s face. “Yes,” she croaked, her voice weak. “Please fix me. I want-” She choked up with emotion, unable to continue.

    Amelia just kept crying, and as she did, she glowed even more. The room was filled with golden light. The children cheered and threw themselves into the hug, wrapping their arms around both Kiku and Amelia.

    Wait a minute...

    How much aether was she cycling right now!?

    Serena thought Kiku was being healed, but Amelia hadn’t activated the spell yet! All this glowing was just from her spell formation! How much aether was she putting into it!?

    “Amelia!” Serena called. “Discreetly, remember!?”

    “I... I can’t do this discreetly!” Amelia cried out. “And I don’t want to! I can’t stop it!”

    Serena hurried into a position where she could see Amelia’s face better. “No, really!” she stressed. “Keep it down! Think of the problems this might cause!” She could tell already this was going to be at least a magnitude more powerful than the healing Amelia cast when she covered the entirety of the Vengeance.

    “I’ll fix those problems as well!” Amelia cried, sniffing heavily. She opened her eyes. Gone were her crimson pupils, instead they shone a bright golden blue, with raw aether misting off them. It was as if she’d Spoken a Word!

    “Third-circle,” Amelia spoke.

    Serena sent a quick prayer to the Empress.

    “Divine Healing of Aseco.”

    With that, Amelia’s magic activated.