"Now," Syrce's voice was hoarse with rage, "the last of my father's killers will die."

Her eyes crackled with energy even though her ethereal form was gone.

"No!" Noble flew between the Saint and her cohort leader.

Syrce unsheathed her sword. "Step aside, Bel, and I will forget you ever defended a murderer."

"Don't hurt him." Noble held up her empty hands. "This man never met your father and had nothing to do with what happened to him!"

The Transcendent looked at her incredulously. "A likely story!"

"It is true! I only met those people a few days ago. They said they needed me for a job." Roan bowed his head. "I am most sorry for your loss."

"Sorry?! My foot!" Syrce scoffed. "He is an imperialist, Bel! Do not be taken in by his winsome smile."

"Indeed, he is not, My Lady," Flint pointed to the man's breastplate. "His armor is a different design, and he wears no red."

Roan touched the cloth at his neck, "Blue is more my color. My wife says it matches my eyes."

"Your…wife?" The Saint stopped her forward march.

Noble laid her hand on Roan's shoulder.

"This is one of the people I lost. Please do not take him from me a second time."

"He is your friend?" Syrce's expression softened for a moment before hardening again. "No, I won't believe it. You allowed that monster to take Bel hostage!"

"He saved me," Noble smiled at the straw-haired man. "Roan stabbed the captain so that none of us would be harmed."

"But your neck!" The Saint had made Stratos's death extra painful for that slight.

"It's all healed." Pulling aside the hood of her cloak, Noble showed the smooth skin.

Syrce had no answer to that, and Child of Promise took the pause as an invitation to continue.

"You said before that you decide quickly about people and judge them well. Your decision was clouded by assumptions that were false. So I ask you to look at him with fresh eyes and use that sense of yours to see him… I mean, really see him. Please." Noble held her breath.

The next moments would be crucial.

It took everything in the floating Master to resist sending the appropriate emotion. If the Saint felt any manipulation, things could go sideways very fast.

"You are sure he is your friend?" Syrce stepped forward, staring deep into Roan's eyes.

He smiled gently. "I have known Bel and Flint for years. I would never have spent time with those men if I knew their true nature."

"The Imperialists—you said they wanted you for a job." Syrce tilted up her chin. "What are your powers?"

"I harness lightning, ma'am." Roan allowed a small spark to leap between his fingers.

"That does explain a few things…" the Saint mused.

Roan lowered his palm. "If I may…"

"You may not! I've come to my decision, and no one can change my mind."

Flint, Bel, and Roan grew tense. Whatever happened, they were in this together.

Syrce pursed her lips with a decisive nod.

"I have decided that I believe you for two very convincing reasons. One of them is that you called Titus by his nickname 'Flint,' and he didn't even bat an eye or look confused. With that in mind, I will not discount the testimony of my dearest friend and my third-in-command. You really are their long-lost friend!"

"I am," Roan felt all the tension leave his body. "My name is Roan. I hope in time I might be considered among your friends as well."

"I am Syrce, but you already know that. Sorry for almost obliterating you," Syrce lowered her blade, "Oh, and for imagining your limbs being slowly mangled and torn one by one until you begged for death."

"Apology accepted," Roan's smile became strained.

"In my defense, I wouldn't have done the latter…probably. It's just, you can never be too careful when the Empire is involved. It is a cancer that must be totally cut out." The Saint sheathed her sword.

"On that we can all agree." Flint wiped the sweat from his brow.

"One final question, Roan, friend of Bel. Are you a Remnant?" Syrce squinted.

Roan furrowed his brow.

"A wh—"

"He loves peace, as I do." Child of Promise patted the Saint's arm gently.

"As any sane person should!" Roan dipped his head. "Thank you for your faith in me, Lady Syrce. But I do want to make one thing clear. I did not like Bel putting herself in harm's way any more than you did. I would have traded places with her in a heartbeat. Flint can confirm that—"

"What?" Syrce whirled on her floating friend, taking her firmly by the shoulders. "You got caught by that maniac on purpose? Are you crazy?!"

Noble shot her cohort leader a long-suffering glance. She had just gotten him out of trouble, and now he had gotten her into some. Flint coughed.

"She did it to keep us safe—to keep you safe, My Lady."

Noble's mouth dropped open. Had Flint really come to her defense?!

"Is that true?!" Syrce gasped.

"Well…"

The Saint caught her counterpart up in a crushing hug.

"Oh, Bel! I could never stay mad at you. You wanted to keep me from getting harmed even though he could have squashed your head like a grape!"

"When you put it like that…" Noble wheezed as the air was pressed from her lungs.

"There is no other way to put it. Now don't do it again!" Syrce squeezed.

"I won't be able to if you kill me with this hug!" Child of Promise squirmed.

"What? Oh!" The Saint released her. "I have been told I can be a little enthusiastic."

'You don't say…' Flint wisely kept the comment quiet, making Noble stifle her grin.

The man hadn't said it to amuse her anyway. He was annoyed.

"What's wrong?" The floating Master asked when she finally got her face to cooperate.

Flint looked between Noble and Roan. His frustration deepened. "Really? It's not bothering either one of you?"

The other two Masters exchanged glances.

"Lady Syrce said there were two reasons that she believed Roan, but then only gave—" Flint released an exasperated sigh. "No curiosity. What's wrong with you people? Fine, I will ask myself." Clearing his throat, he addressed the curious Saint. "My Lady, what is the second reason you chose to believe Roan?"

"Oh, that's easy. It has to do with his power." Syrce's smile widened. "You are very lucky that we arrived when we did. I hate to think what would have happened if we had waited a couple of more minutes."

Roan shifted uncomfortably. "I don't understand."

"There is a reason Stratos was willing to abandon his men but still wanted you. Here, it is easier if I show you."

Following the Saint into the passage, the group turned into the mountain. The walls became smooth and even, looking more like the armored basements in the NQSC than the inside of a cave.

About the time that Noble felt like she might be crushed by the amount of dirt looming over her head, the passage opened into a colossal cavern.

Her eyes opened wide at what she saw.

Seeing the others' reactions, Syrce nodded. "Stratos knew he needed a conduit for the power. Roan was his sacrifice."