Agadhi was the first to arrive. He glanced at them both—Olen seated behind his desk and Severance leaning against it—and then went to one of the two chairs placed against the wall and sat down. He didn't say a single word.

Somehow, that ramped up the tension by about a thousand times. Severance shifted until he was practically sitting on the desk. He gripped it tight with both hands. The silence felt like it would strangle him.

After Agadhi came Batin. He slipped into the room like a wraith, and it wasn't until he sat on the chair beside Agadhi that Severance noticed him. Batin was an unsettling man. One moment he'd blend into the shadows, and the next he'd be like a naked blade pressed to the throat.

Seated on the desk, Severance didn't move a muscle. He barely even breathed. He stared at the door, watching Agadhi and Batin within his peripheral vision. They didn't seem to be doing anything other than just relaxing in the chairs, but their presence still set him on edge.

Am I really going to do this?

He thought of Olen's warning. If he were smart, he'd log off right now before anything could happen. Then he thought of Rasin, of those warm dark eyes, the unfailing and sometimes brutal honesty of the man, and the way he rose, covered in blood, to fight once more.

Severance stayed silent.

He wondered if he'd throw up again when he logged off. Or maybe he'd end up stumbling like a drunk for a couple of days. That wasn't fun, but it wasn't anything too crazy. He could handle that. Surely it would be worth the major boost that Dhin had promised him. And the next time he ran into the Traders, or into Ervante, he might be able to do something useful.

Bian walked in, with Dhin at her heels. Bian was a striking woman that kept a stern visage, with her dark hair tied back and clothes that appeared rather dusty. A faint sheen of sweat glistened along her arms and face. Wherever Dhin had found her, she must have been working. Or sparring.

To Severance's surprise, Dhin wandered over to the desk and planted himself right beside him. It was a wordless show of support. Severance shared a grateful smile with him, one that Dhin readily returned.

"Thank you for coming," Olen said. He rose from his desk, then walked around to the front of it. This placed him near Dhin.

"Hn," Bian grunted. She gave Olen a cool stare. "This better be important."

"It is," Olen inclined his head. He gestured towards Severance and Dhin. "These two came to me with a proposal, and despite its danger, I have agreed."

"Oh?" Agadhi's voice revealed a hint of interest.

Bian, on the other hand, grew even more stern. "If Dhin's involved, then it's going to be trouble."

"Hey, come on," Dhin protested, but fell silent when Batin moved. The clansman merely lifted a long leg and crossed it over the other, while leaning ever so slightly forward. His gaze was like two burning stars.

"In the light of recent events," Olen continued after no one else elected to speak up, "we know that the Traders are making their move. They have made targets of many Outsiders, their intentions being either to recruit or eliminate potential threats. Severance is one such target, as you are aware. Ervante has already made contact. I think we can safely assume that they are aware of Severance's connection to us. Therefore—" here Olen gave an uncharacteristic sigh— "these two have approached me with the intention of increasing Severance's growth as quickly as possible."

"I see." Agadhi considered this. "Then your intention is for the three of us, who share similar Gifts, to bestow them upon Severance at once."

Startled, Severance couldn't help but give the Clan Head an awed stare. How did Agadhi figure that out so fast? Olen had barely said anything!

"That is correct."

"That's ridiculous," Bian said shortly. She cast a dark look at Dhin. "And this is your idea, isn't it? Why are you dragging Severance into your foolish quest for vengeance?"

Dhin stiffened. "That's not what—"

"Haven't you learned anything? This isn't a game where you can play with people's lives. We all want to see the Traders bleed for what they've done, but don't you dare drag him into this!" She stabbed a finger at Severance, all the while glowering at Dhin.

Dhin didn't flinch, although he flushed; his darker skin didn't show it much, but it was there.

"I'm not dragging him into anything," Dhin snapped. There was anger there, in his tight jaw and rigid spine, but also a deep hurt simmering behind it.

Severance saw it, clear as day, because he knew the feeling of being accused of something false when he was only trying to help. How many times had he been yelled at when he'd done nothing wrong? He couldn't even begin to count. That was why he understood that Dhin wasn't doing this for vengeance; he was doing this to help.

He slid off the desk. Anxiety and determination warred within him, yet his heart beat steadily, patiently, like it would keep doing so until the end of time.

"It's not for revenge," he quietly said. Bian didn't hear him at first, but Dhin sharply turned his head. The movement caught Bian's attention, and she paused, frowning.

Severance took the opportunity to repeat himself, louder, gaining a small amount of courage when he saw that every eye was upon him now, that every ear was listening. "It's because I can't do very much right now. I don't want..." his voice wavered a little, but he pressed on. "I don't want to see anyone else die. I know it's dangerous, but if you all can risk your lives every single day, then why can't I?"

No one spoke when he finished. They just merely looked at him, or in Dhin's case, stared. What, did he have something on his face? Was there a hole in his shirt? Blood on his boots? He didn't think he'd said anything weird.

A melodious chime announced a System announcement.

You have received a message from Awesome Dude. Would you like to Open Message?

Severance suppressed a loud huff, because of course the Shade would choose to message him now. It wasn't like he was in the middle of anything important right now. He ignored the message, as movement by the wall caught his attention.

It was Batin, deliberately unfolding himself from the chair. "How should we do this? One at a time?"

"No," Olen answered. "I think it'll have to be all at once."

"Batin!" Bian exclaimed. "Olen, you can't truly be considering this! It's-"

"The boy's choice," Batin smoothly interrupted. He showed the faintest hints of an approving smile as he went to stand near Severance. "Who are we to deny him this? He is one of us, no?"

Bian opened her mouth, then shut it because Agadhi also stood.

The clan Head merely murmured, "Indeed."

In that moment, Severance gained a new appreciation for both clansmen. They always came across as intimidating, powerful beings that stood high above him. Even approaching them was an uncomfortable prospect. But right now, they stood with him, supporting him without question. Just like Rasin had. Just like Dhin did.

And just as Fenn had and would have, if he were still here.

Severance didn't know how to express the amount of gratitude he felt. A mere thank-you didn't feel worthy enough to be uttered.

"Idiot men," Bian growled. She stalked over, grabbed the front of Severance's shirt, and yanked him down so she could glare in his face. Their noses were barely an inch apart.

His eyes widened, and nearly went cross-eyed as he tried to focus on her face.

"Listen," she said sternly. "I don't care what Dhin told you to make you think this is a good idea, nor do I care why you think this is a good idea, because it's not. But there's one thing I know for certain, and that men are incredibly reckless and stupid and once they make up their mind, it's nearly impossible to talk them out of it. So. If you don't come back, I will hunt you down and make you wish you'd never been born. Got it?"

You have received a message from Awesome Dude, the System reminded him. Would you like to Open Message?

Severance fought to keep his eyes on her face and not on the floating notification. He nodded fervently. "Got it."

"Good." She let him go and turned to Olen. "All right, mister. I don't like this one bit, but... tell us what to do."

"All of you will have to touch his arm," Olen came forward. He gestured to Severance. "Push up your sleeve, please. There's no need to touch the mark directly. With two Gifts, the connection's stable enough."

Severance did as he was asked, pushing the sleeve on his left arm up to the elbow. He held his bare forearm close to his body, tense with nerves. He wasn't sure what was going to happen next, and he was more than a little scared.

Maun's first Gift was still fresh in his mind.

"Severance," Olen addressed him directly. His calm manner was a soothing, but it was about as helpful as splashing a teaspoon of water on a campfire. "Like Maun, they possess a movement ability. At one time, they were all the same, but after several generations, each Branch has created variations of it. That's what makes this so dangerous; I don't know how those variations are going to interact."

"It'll be fine," Dhin said, confidence in every word. "Sev's got this."

"We shall see." Agadhi was the first to reach out. He wrapped long fingers around Severance's arm, just above the wrist. His grip was warm and steady.

Following his lead, Batin placed his hand just above Agadhi's. His touch was cool, light, yet there was a hint of barely contained strength, like he could crush Severance's bones if he wanted.

Severance fought the urge to pull away. He never liked being touched at the best of times, and this made him deeply uncomfortable.

Bian's hand felt different from the others. Her fingers were rough, calloused and strong, almost digging into his arm. Yet it was comforting, like she'd be there to yank him out of the water if he fell overboard.

Dhin had moved back to make room for the three Veiled Branch leaders. Now he circled around so Severance could see him between Agadhi and Batin's shoulders. He grinned. "See you later, Twiggy."

Before Severance could even scowl, the three Clan leaders started speaking. At first, it was a jumble, out of time with each other, but by the time they spoke the last word, they were in sync.

"From my bloodline, I gift you: Flow."

Severance braced himself the moment they started speaking. But there was nothing. Even after they finished, there was nothing.

There was only their fingers curled around his arm. Agadhi's, firm. Batin's, light. Bian's, strong. Behind them he saw Dhin's stupid little grin. Then-

Everything he sensed, everything he thought, everything he was abruptly blinked out of existence. And then, there truly was nothing.