The next day came quicker than I wanted.
I had enjoyed the previous night far too well. My discussion with Chief Asuquo had been incredibly insightful, something I reflected on deeply. But beyond that, the food was nothing short of fulfilling. I ate to my belly's content. The energy supply? Impressive. The streets stayed bright all through the night, not a single flicker. I'd seen a few patrols walking around too. Madarikans, I suspected, though oddly enough, during the day, I hadn't seen a single one. Not even within the Chief's palace. Just his palace guards and the usual house staff.
Were they truly this secure that they didn't need Madarikans out in the open?
It was more unsettling than comforting. Seeing a village thrive this well gave me a bad feeling I couldn't quite shake.
When morning came, I got up and decided to resume my investigation. The best way was to meet the villagers, observe, casually. So I went from house to house, just checking in like there was nothing unusual about it. Asked general questions. Health. Well-being. Illnesses?
They all said the same thing, no one had fallen sick in months. In fact, most couldn't even remember the last time anyone got ill.
Now things were looking too heavenly.
What was really going on here?
I learned that even neighboring villages came to Ediba for treatment. Some visited just to spend a few days. Apparently, Ediba had become a local tourist hub. A place people came to breathe to escape. And I could see why. There was something about this place that soothed the nerves. Some came for healing. Others came for no reason at all, just to exist here.
And honestly, who could blame them?
The outside world was chaos. But here? It felt like peace had put down roots and was growing without restraint.
I was even beginning to wonder if I'd ever want to leave.
I chuckled at myself for even thinking that.
Just as I turned a corner during my patrol, I saw someone I didn't expect—but was genuinely glad to see.
Major Alero Tari.
A Major from the Tari family. She had been part of the contract at the Central Confluence a few months ago. I remembered her well. But she wasn't alone. Walking beside her was a much younger girl, clearly a Lesser Hand.
After she noticed me, we moved toward each other and exchanged greetings. Then she introduced the girl beside her.
"Lesser Hand Zara Tari," she said.
Zara looked very young. Possibly still in her teens. But there was something about her face that felt oddly familiar. I couldn't place it. Alero explained that Zara was newly inducted, and that Mother Tari herself had brought her in.
Fascinating. For a Lesser Hand to be handpicked by the Mother? That was rare. Must have meant something.
Zara, on the other hand, didn't look like she felt special. I couldn't tell if she was even happy to be alive. Her body was here, but her mind? Somewhere far off. Distant. Detached.
Troubled, perhaps.
And that's when it hit me.
It wasn't just her appearance that seemed familiar. It was her aura, the way she held herself. The silence. The heaviness. Like someone I'd met recently.
But who?
Why was the name escaping me now?
I narrowed my eyes, trying to remember… but nothing came.
Oh well. Maybe there was no connection at all. Maybe my mind was just playing tricks on me.
Alero asked me why I was here.
I told her I came to attend the function, my Master was close friends with the Chief, so I was here to represent him.
Then I asked her the same.
She said she was just sightseeing, like everyone else who had been trooping in lately.But I could tell there was more to it.I didn't press.
I asked what her family thought about Sekara. Whether they supported it.
She gave me a careful, neutral response.
"They don't support it… but they can't openly oppose it either. The people have seen what Sekara has done for Ediba, how much good it's brought. Not even the King can come out and stand against it. Doing so would make it seem like you're against the people's progress."
She paused briefly, then added,"As long as it doesn't come from a divine family or the Royal Council, no one will object. But if the situation calls for it… the Tari family will take a stand."
That made sense.
In truth, nothing was more important than perception.How the people viewed the royals… or the divines… sometimes mattered more than the actual work we did.I hated to admit that.But it was the truth.
The topic shifted.We found ourselves talking about Idris.
How disheartening his death had been, especially considering how we had all gathered to save the Confluence.And yet, no one could save him in his own time of need.
That was the life of a Divine.We saved humans.But sometimes… even Divines needed saving.
And when that moment came?
There was usually no one there.Because if we couldn't save ourselves… who could?
I asked if she would be attending the function tomorrow.
She shook her head.They'd only be in the village for a short while before heading out again.
Since that was the case, I told her I'd leave them to whatever their mission was while I focused on mine.
We exchanged parting words and went our separate ways.
It was good seeing another Divine from another family, alive and well.Especially one I had once shared a contract with.