- K A L I - A L I -

     The bustle of the nightlife buzzes around the three of us as I adjust my hoodie. The others walk in front of me, giving me a shield of sorts to prevent being recognized. Compared to the anxiety of my earlier excursions, this is nice. It's still surreal, just... for different reasons this time.

     I'd tried to slap myself out of a dream multiple times today, but I'm still awake. Suri is back. After almost a decade, he's right here, in the flesh. The necklace dangling from my neck had been the only reminder I had of him, and now he's shielding my face from the city's prying eyes.

     Oh, and we have a soldier escort now. Could not have predicted that. Adara walks next to Suri, draped in a shawl to hide the giant rifle she has strapped to her back. I'm not sure what to make of her; I don't have a bad feeling about her, but I haven't met many soldiers. Most of the ones I've actually talked to have been my father's top generals whenever they come to the palace or court. Our country has a strong military, but even they've been concerned with recent events.

     Mine, namely.

     I'm shocked, more than anything. I thought I would have to go on some long quest through the Middle East to find Suri. I was prepared to do it, too. When I decide to risk everything, he runs into me before I've even left the capital - literally. Life really has thrown every possible curveball at me recently - some kinder than others.

     "It's more vibrant than I expected," Adara mentions quietly, looking around the city street. Little restaurants sit filled on the edges, laughs filling the air as people enjoy their nighttime festivities. 

     "What did you expect?" Suri chuckles, glancing around with his head on a swivel. He didn't use to be like that - maybe it's a habit he picked up over the years.

     "More chaos," Adara responds quickly, her face failing to find a smile. "I thought this place was on the brink of war."

     "It is," I sigh, Suri glancing back with a bit of surprise in his expression. "People would just rather forget about it for their night on the town."

     Adara shrugs, maintaining the pace. "That's right."

     Little bits of wind swipe at us between the buildings as we open into a main street. To our right, the coastal areas - boardwalk, shops, ports, and the downtown district. The three of us turn left, veering upward towards the royal palace. I can't imagine how Shuma will react to seeing Suri this soon, given how much has happened in the last week. I have the weight of my past on my shoulders, while he has the weight of a nation's future on his.

     I'd rather not compare.

     "Been a while since I've been up this way," Suri mumbles, taking a deep breath as we step closer and closer. 

     "The place hasn't changed much," I joke, earning a quiet chuckle from Suri. 

     "The building, anyway," he clarifies, and I nod in agreement. 

     "So, how are we getting in?" Adara chimes in, surveying the palace as we step onto the street opposite it.

     "Follow me," I smirk, taking the lead and making my way towards the gate I'd escaped through on my hunt for the lockbox. I press on one edge of a brick, which I'd learned messes up the gate latch over the years. My eyes dart up, glancing through the small courtyard at the second-story ledge, where the guards are usually stationed. None stood there, though, earning a double-take from me. The guards aren't the greatest, sure... but where are they?

     My head darts around as I step through, holding my hand on that spot of brick as the others step in quietly. After Adara sneaks through, I let go of my hand and slowly push the gate shut, sealing with only a minor squeal. My mind freezes as I realize I don't even hear the movement of guards inside. This is the one blind spot in a heavily patrolled area.

     "What's wrong?" Adara asks in a hushed tone as she studies my expression with diligence. My body must've told on me.

     "Not sure where the guards are," I whisper, the three of us sticking to the edge of the courtyard in the shadows of trees. She tilts her head curiously, nodding in acknowledgment. 

     "Maybe a shift change?" Suri suggests with a shrug. Maybe... but I'd lost track of time, and normally, it wouldn't matter anyway.

     "Keep your heads on swivels," I say, stepping forward through the plant growth and towards a ledge into the central courtyard. My legs volunteer me first as they straddle the wall before landing quietly on the other side. I look around; the courtyard is the same as I remember it. Again, though... no guards.

     Adara lands silently behind me, her right hand hovering around her holster on alert. Part of me is calm to be home again, but the rest of me stands at guard like her. Hopefully, Shuma doesn't ask how we got in... that'd be an awkward conversation. 

     Suri is anything but silent as he loses his footing, tumbling to the ground. Adara and I turn around, watching him quickly pick himself off the ground with a grimace painted on his face. "That's really tall," he grunts, standing up and dusting his pants off. Adara and I smile, managing to hold back laughs as he jumps forward and joins us again.

     I fish through my pocket, pulling out the Compass Shuma gave me. I stare at the ornate shapes of it for a moment as the other two lean in. They look surprised as I move it around, watching the needle pivot - always towards the vault side of the palace.

     "He gave you the Compass," Suri murmurs, a smile breaking out on his face. "It's beautiful."

     "How does that work?" Adara staggers, awestruck.

     "Points to the Kamar," I respond swiftly, walking forward as it guides me to the vault. "Shuma is gonna be-"

     I stagger backward and gasp as I turn the corner and see the body of a palace guard sprawled across the floor, blood splattered behind him, and his weapon a few feet away. Suri stutter-steps, nearly falling back into a support post. I look away for a moment, my heart rate shooting through the roof as the image burns into my brain.

     What the fuck?!

     Adara steps forward, and I see something I haven't seen from her yet - fear. She kneels in front of the body, eyes wide as she hovers her hand over a slashed wound on the front of the man's - 

     Hold on.

     The slash had seemingly pierced the man's body armor, and it had been torn open. The edges appear frayed and droopy, almost as if they had been melted. It runs across his chest, clearly deep enough to kill. I turn around again, nearly about to throw up as a strange smell wafts from the corpse.

     "What the hell?" I whisper in panic, looking around the courtyard for a culprit and finding only the dancing of torchfire. I look back at Adara, an indistinguishable look on her face. The fear had morphed into... concern? Deep thought? No... resolution.

     "This is an acid wound," Adara mumbles, ditching the shawl and whipping her rifle forward. The bolt flies back and then forward as she braces it against her chest.

     "How?" Suri asks, bewildered at the scene like I am. Adara looks up, determination etched into her eyes.

     "An acid-laced blade," she states flatly but quietly. Suri and I's eyes widen in horror as Adara stands up. "From someone I used to be on the same side as." 

     "Maelstrom is here."