Thoughts rattled around in Emma’s brain while she sat against the balcony in one of the towers of the Citadel. She had wandered the halls for a long while before ending up here, where she looked out over the Realm before slumping down to the floor holding back tears.

Shade would always say she had to get used to fighting with a real sword despite training with the wooden one. Now that they were at the military camp in Berlin, they used the time while waiting for the others to organise the operation to attack the Nazi bunker to train. And Scarlett did feel the difference between the fake sword and the real one now she was twirling it through her fingers and sparring with Shade’s black sword.

Hanson dismissed his men to continue their patrol while escorting the High-Princess back to the capitol. They rode through the night so what happened in the Ferrias Plains would not linger in their minds.

The group was quiet when they returned to the Realm, stepping off the platform once David cast the teleportation spell. Ramous and Karen were waiting for them when they returned, stepping forward to see the downcast looks on their faces. “How did it go?” Karen asked.

The mortals followed them along the cliff before climbing down a narrow path to join up with the mages. This small band were made up of familiar faces, including Hanks, Henry and Luke. The three men looked very unimpressed with the five of them, who shuffled out of the canyon towards them caked in dirt and blood. Emma was walking slower than the others, leaning against David for support.

Space folds around them and they appear inside a cave where it’s dark and dry. Immediately, Hanson and Brunhilde step forward and summon balls of light from the tips of their wands to illuminate the jump site. “All clear” the captain declares after checking the area.

Valerius was waiting for them in the War Room when Emma arrived with Karen. “I was just about to send for you” he told his daughter in surprise. “Where have you been?”

That evening, Emma is tossing and turning in her bed. The nightlight is off. She is no longer afraid of the dark. And ever since Lector’s voice faded into the back of her mind, she hasn’t had to suffer those bad dreams that would traumatise her. The therapy her father arranged helped. Talking to him about it helped more. But that wasn’t what was keeping her up tonight.

The opaque bag was ripped off the scouts head, allowing him to see once more. He squinted his eyes at the huge lamp shining in his face blinding him. His hands were tied behind his back and he was sitting on a stool in a dark enclosed space. Three figures stood around him, their features obscured by sharp shadows from the solitary light source. The mage remained stoic as he squinted through the light.

The remains of their forces limped back to base to celebrate. Rescue crews were sent to the shoreline in case any of the pilots or wounded made it out of the infested waters. Nobody was holding out hope, but they kept vigilant. Any survivors were to be brought in for treatment. Any insurgents were to be reported and brought in for questioning. So far, the mutations had gotten them all.

Emma followed the professor on their tour of the Conclave, marvelling at everything she saw. It was like stepping into another realm, completely contradicting everything she was led to believe about the Conclave. She peered over the balcony to watch the children play in a smaller courtyard where another class was being taught.

Balthazar’s spell teleported the group into an open space safely on land. They crashed onto the ground and landed in an array of poses, some more prepared than others. The trained and experienced mages found their footing and landed in a crouch, while the rest stumbled onto the grass getting the wind knocked out of them. “Apologies for the landing” Balthazar said, brushing himself off once he rose to his feet.

The mortals peeled back as the fleet forged ahead, pushing towards the shoreline. The mages all breathed a sigh of relief, believing the battle was over. But then they heard the rumbling engine above their heads.

Everyone instinctively dove to the floor when the metal contraptions rocketed past the ship. The Embezzler rattled and shook as air currents buffeted them. The frigates escorting them veered out of the path, swaying violently as the sails fluttered. The crew leapt into action on all the ships to keep them steady. They reoriented themselves in seconds. Nobody was injured. Everybody was startled, however.

The mess was the most elegant room on the Embezzler. It needed to be because this was where the royal family would entertain guests who travel with them. These guests could include delegates from neighbouring districts, politicians, or even leaders of sovereign states.

With the new allied forces scattered around the world, finding suitable staging areas for operations was difficult. Luckily a military fortification in Ukraine had survived most of the apocalypse thanks to intervention from Russian soldiers. In another time and place, an invasion from mother Russia would’ve been considered an act of war. But when the mutations overran the cities, the civilians welcomed the troops with reverence. The Russian military now had a strategic locati

They sat at the table in their kimono garb, the silence hanging in the air while they ate. Scarlett didn’t have much of an appetite and just pushed her food around with her fork. Shade looked at her from across the table, his dark hair hanging over his eye. He sighed. “What?” he asked.

The Realm disappeared over the horizon as they entered the open ocean. They were still a few hours out from the Storm-Line, so everyone milled about on deck watching the blue sky while they still could.

They sat in the courtyard on their mats, looking out over the valley with their eyes closed. It was midday and the cool breeze was blowing through their hair.

The two captains arrived at the General’s office one after the other. The door was closed and there was no answer when Shaw knocked. He must be unavailable , she guessed. But she was instructed to report here on this hour, so she waited. She was surprised when Clark arrived, receiving the same instructions.