Using the metal poker to shuffle the embers and fire around, I wondered if I was breaking a rule.

“Many, maybe…” I whispered as I pushed the scroll deeper into the fire. I was kneeling in front of the fireplace inside the mansio, with a box of scrolls and books next to me waiting their turn to feed the flames. The scroll I’d just placed into the fire was one of the bigger ones, having to be put in at an angle into the fireplace thanks to its size. I also kept having to adjust it, as to keep it or its smoldering pieces from rolling out.

It, like the dozens I’d burnt before it, gave off an odd colored flame as it burnt. It sizzled and glowed a bit blue as it turned into white ash, and that ash was growing into such a large pile that I knew soon I’d have to put the fire out and scoop them out before I’d be able to burn more. Which was a tad concerning, since I still had two whole boxes to destroy.

At least they didn’t make an odd smell or anything, and the smoke they gave off was the pretty normal too… I wonder what gave it the odd colored flame, though? The ink? The paper? Vim would know, but even if he was here to ask I’d be afraid to.

“Hey Vim, why do Celine’s prophecies burn a weird color?” I asked myself, feeling ridiculous as I did. I could only imagine the look on his face!

Not that he’d be ashamed or angry at me, no. At least, not immediately. He’d likely grin like a fool upon hearing, or seeing, me do this… but then after a few moments, after his initial joy ran its course he’d realize why I was burning them… and then he’d likely give me a look that broke my heart.

I sighed as the end wooden piece of the scroll became visible. The piece that the scroll itself got wrapped around. It crackled a bit as it started to split from the heat, growing hot and red inside.

Odds are I was burning things that were as old, if not older, than me. I really didn’t like doing such things, even if it was needed, but I knew better than to risk the alternative.

Merit had found the hidden stairwell, one that had likely been hidden for centuries, but I knew better than to think it’d remain so forever. Especially now that Merit had opened it and we’d gone in and out of it so many times. There was little doubt if I left the prophecies there in that room, someone would eventually happen upon it. Either someone would notice the shuffling of air and dust, stuff that had long since settled being disturbed thanks to the shelf itself having been moved, or even just by finding it thanks to a remnant of Merit’s smell or something.

I couldn’t risk it. I had no doubt that those like Light and the Chronicler knew the details of them, maybe even more than I wanted to admit, but they weren’t the only people here in the Cathedral.

The scroll’s wooden piece popped, becoming a splintered remnant of what it once was. I moved it around a bit with the metal poker, getting it better situated in the fire.

Yes, I’d just be able to burn a couple more then I’ll need to put the fire out and gather up the ashes. They were starting to stop airflow they were stacked so high.

Not too big a deal. Our departure had been pushed back a day, so I had time to do this… I just hope I didn’t get caught while doing so.

I had thought of taking them out of the Cathedral, or maybe burning them underground in the tombs, but I didn’t want to risk either. Taking boxes of books and scrolls out of the Cathedral would draw attention, the kind that would just cause problems. And starting fires, even a contained one, down below worried me. The air down there was strange, still and thick. Something told me if I lit a fire down there I’d quickly be caught, drawing people by the smell and smoke.

Here though? The mansio leaking strong smoke from its chimney was not odd at all. Plus my bringing boxes in and out of here wasn’t odd either, since I was helping Randle and the rest ready to move.

As long as no one walked in, at least…

I glanced behind me, past the table and entry and to the entry door. It was shut, as was the gate that laid behind it, but I knew better than to think it would be for long. The Cathedral has always been slightly busy, and it was even more so right now. The Chronicler and the rest were very active, all of them expecting hundreds of new members showing up at any time with Vim succeeding in saving the ship. Then there were those like Fizz who would show up just to spend time with me…

Glancing at the two boxes left that were openly sitting in the middle of the room, I decided to take precautions. The scroll was burnt enough now that it didn’t need to be tended, so I abandoned the fire and went ahead and carried the boxes upstairs to my room. I’d let the fire die out and clean it, so I could burn the rest without interruption later tonight.

I placed them beside the dresser in my room, and placed my large overcoat cloak upon it. It had been warming up lately, and I didn’t plan on going out of the Cathedral until we left Telmik so it worked great.

Smiling gently down at the boxes half hidden by the coat, I found my eyes drifting to the mirror standing in the corner. I’d already spent several hours staring at it, so had no plans to do so again, but…

Yes. I looked tired. Exhausted. I didn’t have dark circles under my eyes, but I almost looked like I should have them from the way the rest of me looked. My shoulders were slumped, my eyes heavy, my tail a tad too stiff in the way it hung in the air… Even my ears were drooping a little.

I wasn’t outright tired. Although I’d been busy lately, I wasn’t exhausted or anything. So I knew why I looked, and felt, so disheveled.

It was a combination of things. First and foremost the obvious, the prophecies Merit and I had found and read concerning me. But the other part of it was… something likely only I knew in the whole world. Odds are not even Vim knew how I felt during moments like this.

I missed Vim and wished he was here.

I always did, of course, when we were separated. Even when we were together, when I was off doing something else or he was busy, I always found myself wishing he wasn’t. Even when only separated for a few hours I always felt a part of me wish we weren’t. But lately these feelings have been getting worse. I felt… like I was longing for something. I wasn’t really lonely, most likely thanks to my being surrounded by friends and family, but at the same time I was. When I had first got here I had wanted a night alone, to sleep alone, and now I didn’t even want to consider it. I had even convinced Angie to sleep with me the other night, even though she herself didn’t care much for such skinship. I didn’t want to be alone.

The obvious reason was right next to me. In the boxes I’d just hid. In the fire down below, in the pile of ashes… but I wasn’t able to fully blame Celine’s written words on my strange longing. After all I’d started to notice this feeling long before I’d known of them. Even before life had gotten too hectic, back before I’d even known of Light or any of this stuff, I had felt weird when Vim and I had spent time apart. And every time since it’s gotten worse.

Recently I’d come to see him as my home. Where I belonged. Because that was how I felt when he wasn’t near me, I felt as if I was somewhere I shouldn’t be.

Without him I was missing a piece of me. And it felt terrible to think so, because I knew his reasons for being apart were just and sound.

Vim was saving lives. Hundreds of them. Righting wrongs, and stopping terrible futures. I shouldn’t be so possessive. I shouldn’t act like this. It was an insult to all that we were… and was against our agreement, too.

He had made it very clear, and has all this time, that he’d put the Society over me. Even if he didn’t want to. He had told me I’d have to accept that fact.

Yet here I was. Wishing he was here instead of saving hundreds of souls. And the worst part was it wasn’t as if my life was in danger, or I was having great difficulty. My heart was simply in disarray.

It wasn’t even like I wanted, or needed, to talk to him about what was happening. I probably could and would never talk to him about the prophecies, ever, but I’d still like to talk to him. I bet just a few minutes with him would have calmed me down, even if all we talked about was the weather or something silly and simple.

And that fact was bothering me more right now than the prophecies were.

I actually felt, at this moment, that a handful of minutes with Vim… talking about insignificant things, was worth more than saving that ship.

Who was I to think six hundred souls were less important than my comfort…? The fact I felt this way made me want to throw up again.

Of course I didn’t actually think my comfort was more important than their lives… but I couldn’t deny what my heart felt. I desired Vim’s presence. I wanted to hear his voice, to see his smile and to smell his scent in the air. And I couldn’t have those things with him away from me.

I didn’t want to be selfish. I loved it when Vim helped people. But at the same time… I couldn’t deny what my heart wanted. And it wanted him.

Was it the heart, maybe…? Vim had said it’d change me. Make me like Landi. Colder. Less compassionate. But had I not had these feelings long before absorbing it? Though maybe, like Vim said it would, it had simply amplified them. Making them stronger and more potent…

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They worried me, but at least I was able to recognize them and chastise my own self still. Would I get worse though? Maybe I should start paying more attention to even the smallest of feelings and thoughts…? Even the subconscious ones? As to keep check on my own self, on my morals and ethics as to ensure I didn’t stray too far from who I was…?

Possibly. But right now I had to bottle up the feeling gnawing at my tail. Before I started to cry.

“I should have gone with him…” I whispered at myself in the mirror, and then I heard metal clang.

Stepping to the window, I smiled softly as I watched Mapple walk into the small courtyard. My smile died a bit as I watched two people follow her through the metal gate, and then Mapple shut it behind them.

I didn’t recognize them. They both had hats on, so I couldn’t see their faces from this angle on the second floor, but I could tell by their builds and strides I’d never met them before. Were they human…? They weren’t wearing the robes commonly found here in the Cathedral but instead were wearing stuff not too unalike what Vim and I wore. Leather bounded cotton, made not just for comfort but for use.

A little glad for the distraction and for my choice in hiding the prophecies away as I had, I went ahead and left my room. By the time I made it downstairs Mapple had already opened the front door, letting herself in.

“Hey Renn!” Mapple greeted me with a smile, one that was becoming very common to see upon her. I was still a tad unsure of the woman myself, but I was glad all the same to see her so relaxed around me finally. Though that might just be because Vim wasn’t here.

“Mapple…” I greeted her back, and turned to smile at the two who joined her inside. They were a man and a woman, and as the man shut the door behind them I… was… A little stunned as I stared at two people who may as well be the same person, I couldn’t help but grin. “And you two must be the twins I’ve heard about,” I said to the two.

They were splitting images of one another…! I wonder if this was what the whisker babies will grow into one day?

“Weird aren’t they?” Mapple teased.

The woman stepped forward first, extending a hand as she did. “I’m the better half. My name is Coin, I’m glad to finally meet you Renn,” Coin said as I took her hand to shake it.

“I’m Ledger. The better, better half,” Ledger then introduced himself and extended his hand as well, nearly pushing his sister’s arm and hand out of the way as to grab mine in the process.

“Coin, Ledger, it’s nice to meet you two. I’ve heard we’ve been missing one another for years lately, always a few weeks off from seeing one another,” I said as I shook the brother’s hand.

They both had firm and hard hands. Hands that told me they either worked hard, laboriously, or it was related to their bloodline. I didn’t see anything obvious upon them, at least visibly, to tell me what they were… but they did both smell kind of like mud. It was a faint scent, enough to make me think that maybe they’d walked through mud recently but both of their boots were spotless. That muddy smell was from they themselves.

“So we have! But it’s common with Vim being taken into consideration… which speaking of, congratulations on reeling him in! Thanks to you I won quite a nice bet with my idiot brother!” Coin said as she pushed Ledger back a bit as our hands separated, as if to keep him from speaking directly with me. She even made Mapple take a few steps back, as to not get bumped into by her brother who huffed and fought with her for a moment as she did. The front area of the house was a tad too small for them to be roughhousing the way they were, Ledger had almost bumped into the small table that had the book of visitor’s names on it.

My name by itself, again, made me sad so I tried not to look at it.

“Bet…?” I asked as I watched the two push against one another. They both had smiles, but it sounded and looked like they were actually pushing with a lot of force. Enough to hurt if not careful.

“We had a bet on when you’d show up, he now has to handle all ledger work for five years for me, so thanks for that!” Coin said with a huge grin.

Oh my… I wasn’t sure what to be bothered over more, the five years they’d bet on me or the fact she had so blatantly spoken of what I was in the process of burning out of existence… The fact I had meant to be here a long time ago. Plus how funny they’d bet his namesake!

Glancing at Mapple, I found her gently smiling at us. She looked like she was amused, but didn’t want to be involved. A typical look on her.

“Well… I’m sorry, Ledger,” I said.

“I’ll ask Vim for compensation later,” he said.

I couldn’t help it, I laughed and nodded. He sounded serious…!

Coin again pushed her brother away, and this time he didn’t fight back much. He was pushed back a bit, towards the door behind her, as she stepped forward again. I stood up a bit straighter, since she was a bit taller than me and now real close.

“We have to leave again in a bit, but I’ve come to ask for permission to visit you up north!” Coin said quickly, as if afraid her brother would interrupt her or something.

“Hm…? Of course you can,” I said. Why were so many people asking for permission for such a thing? It was going to be a full-fledged Society location, so…

Coin smiled at that and nodded. “Sweet…! I’ll bring gifts, better ones than that idiot for sure!”

“Hey!” Ledger complained.

Gifts…? “You don’t need to bring anything, just yourselves. I’d enjoy getting to know the both of you, not many in our Society travel around like you do so I’d love to hear your stories,” I said.

“Hers is stupid, ignore hers!” Ledger said as he grabbed his sister by the back of her shirt and pulled her backward. She made a noise as they swapped places, with the brother now standing before me and the sister groaning from behind him.

Gosh they were adorable! Though they seemed at ends with one another, there was no denying it was done with good vibes and graces. There was no way they’d have stuck together for so many years otherwise!

It was nothing compared to the kind of relationship I once had with my own siblings… or from what I’d heard and been told, Lilly’s children. They too had strife, to the point they even occasionally came to blows.

Wonder where such differences came from. Was it the upbringing? The home itself? Had my siblings hated me because my own parents had, or had it been something deeper? And if it was something that could be influenced… could I ensure my own kids didn’t end up like me?

I hoped my children would have a good relationship with one another too.

“You two have to leave, hurry up,” Mapple then said, sounding annoyed.

The brother perked up, realizing she was right, and then nodded. “Sorry. We’ve been so busy thanks to all the new members showing up…” Ledger apologized as Coin rounded him, but didn’t push him aside or he her as they went to stand beside one another.

She too nodded and smiled at me. “In a month or so I should be able to come visit you up north, Renn. We’ll get to know each other then!” she said.

“Yeah…! I’m looking forward to it,” I agreed.

The two then glanced at each other, then looked to Mapple. “Thanks for helping us find her, Mapple,” they both then said in unison.

My tail squirmed at the sound of both of their voices perfectly syncing together. Not only had their words been the same, they had spoken so fluidly and similarly it had almost sounded as if a single person had spoken. It made me doubt my own ears.

“Hm. Travel safe,” Mapple said simply.

The two nodded then looked back at me. “Later, Renn!” they said together.

“Bye… Safe travels…” I waved them goodbye as they both turned and left. Once they were out the door, and Ledger had shut it behind him, I heard them whispering happily as they left the courtyard and went to the metal gate. They spoke about how I was pretty, far prettier than they had expected.

Although a little embarrassing to hear them say so, and do so in such a serious way, I was kind of used to it.

“They seem nice,” I said to Mapple as I heard the gate open and then shut.

“They’re idiots. But they are kind, yes,” Mapple said.

Idiots…? Maybe playful and a little childish, but I’d not go so far as to say that… after all didn’t they operate a large trading route for the Society? Like, one that involved many ships and stuff? They were basically a Brandy then weren’t they?

“Did they just arrive?” I asked. Not even Vim came and went that fast.

Mapple nodded. “Few hours ago. They need to head to Nevi real quick, then to Lumen. They’re always busy.”

“Makes me feel lazy, since I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and busy but at least I get to spend a few days in the same bed,” I said.

“Hm… by the way were you burning something? The house smells kind of funny,” Mapple asked as she glanced around, likely to the fireplace. It was out now, though the remnants of all the ashes were rather visible.

“I was just burning some stuff that I don’t want to carry around anymore. We have several wagons ready, but they’re all stuffed full… so,” I said with a shrug, playing it off as something not that important.

“Should have told me, I’d have done it for you,” Mapple said.

A little stunned by her quick, and simple offer, I smiled and nodded. “Thanks… Would you like to have something to drink or eat?” I asked. It was about lunch time.

Mapple frowned at that, but after a moment of pondering she shook her head. “I have to go prepare Aunt’s lunch… maybe next time.”

Hm… “Are you going to have lunch with her?” I asked.

“Auntie…? I guess so?”

“Will you two be alone?”

Mapple’s frown shifted a little. “Yes… want to join us?”

I nodded slowly. “Would that be okay…?”

“Why wouldn’t it?” Mapple asked.

“You just seemed a tad off just now, and the way you asked made me feel like I shouldn’t do it,” I said.

Mapple flinched. “Sorry… I just know you don’t care much for her or the rest, so was just…” Mapple went quiet as she shrugged.

Ah. Right… “I don’t dislike her, Mapple… Chronicler has never been anything but kind to me. I just don’t like it when people try to manipulate me, or withhold secrets from me,” I said as I stepped away. I headed for the stairwell and pointed upward. “I’ll get ready and join you, one moment.”

She nodded gently at me, but right before I reached the stairs I paused and glanced back at her.

“By the way… did you decide?” I asked.

She stood up straighter and blinked at me. “Decide…?”

“When do you plan to join us up north?”

She blinked again. “I… can’t. Not until I retire.”

“When will that be?” I asked.

“Once my replacement comes. I think they’re supposed to be on the third ship…? But I don’t know.”

Oh… someone from the other continent. So she was waiting for someone else to take her position, whatever her position was… I wonder what she actually did, anyway? Half the time she seemed like she was just some kind of maid or servant, yet sometimes was sent off on important duties… “Well, maybe that won’t be too long from now, since they’re showing up earlier!” I said as I then went upstairs.

As I climbed the stairs, I heard Mapple whisper something under her breath. Something I knew she had not meant for me to hear.

“I can only hope.”

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