The next day, Jason woke up to the early light of the sun from the dream that chased him down every night.

The girl with the auburn hair, lying face down on the starstone. The silver dress that caught the light of the auroras. Ella, transformed and Manifested, standing between him and saving her. He kept calling her, but his powers refused to work. He was trapped in the binds of Ella's spirit magic. Always trapped, always reaching, screaming the girl's name--

He stepped out of bed and pulled his covers back. He greeted Sae and got dressed. He checked on the flower still resting by his window and attended to its needs. He had breakfast in the kitchen alone, taking note that his mother had never returned home last night, and it was that disruption to his usual routine that made everything come crashing down.

As he placed his plate in the sink, he closed his eyes.

Last night. It all seemed like a bad dream. His experiences as a Luminary always seemed somewhat disconnected from his real life, like the persona he adopted wasn't entirely his own to claim, but last night had been something else entirely. It felt fuzzy and vague, yet he could recall every detail with perfect clarity.

They had saved Ella Spiritcaller. As far as he understood, that meant the vision that had haunted his nightmares had been averted. Perhaps now, he could find closure and move on to the next thing that would wake him up in a cold sweat.

Jason returned to his room and closed the door quietly, finding Sae sitting by the window, gazing out into the sun, slowly climbing across the sky.

"I didn't imagine last night, did I?" asked Jason softly, his fingers tracing the edge of the starstone amulet he'd carried with him since receiving it. It hadn't changed. No power emanated from it. No otherworldly voice spoke to him. It just continued to hang on its chain around his neck as it always did, yet taking it off, the thought of leaving it behind, still felt wrong.

Sae turned around with a hop, tilting his head to the side. "You did not."

"And is Banshee well?"

Sae hesitated before be replied. "Yes, Banshee is fine, as far as I'm aware."

There was something in the way that Sae said her name that made Jason suspicious there was something else Sae wasn't telling him. "Is there a reason you think she might not be?"

"No, not for her," said Sae. "Banshee is still a Luminary."

Once again, there was the odd note in the Ascended's voice, but when Jason asked again, Sae simply deflected the question, saying that Jason had his answer. Jason scratched the top of Sae's head in an apology, watching him closely. He believed Sae about Banshee, but it was more than a little obvious that the Ascended was hiding something.

Still, given last night, Jason wasn't particularly feeling in the mood to concern himself with the world. If Banshee was well, everything else could wait. He needed a day to sort out his own civilian life--and it was with that thought that he picked up his Liaiser from the side table.

His heart was in his mouth as he tapped the screen. It flashed.

[1 new message - Ariel Cloudspeaker]

Jason pressed the top of the Liaiser to his forehead, breathing a prayer of thanks to Skypillar that she'd answered him before reading the message. He went over it several times, ensuring he had it memorised before he pocketed the phone and left the house.

His stride had purpose as he approached the Gleamer and placed his bag and violin case in the sidecar beside the second helmet. He lifted his eyes from the sight of it and strapped on his own helmet. He had a few things he needed to do before temple work began for the day and not enough time, but that wasn't going to stop him from trying.

*+*+*+*

Jason completed his errands with more success than he could have hoped for, and despite his late arrival to the temple grounds, no one seemed to have noticed his absence.

He walked into the performance hall where the group was gathered with his head held high, preparing his excuses for another one of his mother's lectures but she was nowhere to be seen. True to her word, neither was Olivia, and Jason tried telling himself that she would arrive later after her appointment at the doctors.

He became all too aware of the strange, silent feeling hanging over the group as he moved deeper inside the hall. Everyone went about their work with their heads down, speaking in low, hushed voices that hummed through the air. Jason's first thought was that word of last night's events had spread around the temple. He checked his knowledge of them, ensuring he wouldn't reveal anything he wasn't supposed to know in conversation.

"Jason?"

He turned around to find a few of the group approaching him, their faces wary.

His anxiety dialled up a notch. "Yes?"

"We were wondering if perhaps you had any additional information as to why the High Speakers seem so on edge?" asked someone. Chosen name Spiritwalker, if he remembered correctly. "We don't mean to pry, but the High Shadowspeaker's absence is unusual and we wished to know if there is anything we should be concerned about."

Jason's voice was steady when he replied. "If you mean the situation last night, there is nothing further to be concerned from it. The Manifested involved were cleansed."

"No, not that," said Spiritwalker. "The full details of last night about the fight between the Luminaries and Ella were released earlier today. Unless it's something related to that we might be unaware of?"

That caught his curiosity. "I've been running errands for the High Shadowspeaker all morning and am uncertain of what you refer to. May I inquire as to what specifically you're asking about?"

Spiritwalker bit their lip and, after a glance back at the two behind them, shrugged. "It's not so much a specific incident as the feeling that surrounds them. Like when a storm is coming, the air is stirred or the chill a Manifested can bring. The High Speakers have been gathering and had several people running on errands they aren't allowed to speak of. There's whispers that something else happened last night coming out from the outer Kaladrel district, but nothing seems certain."

"Ah, I see," said Jason, suppressing his own confusion. Kaladrel? That was on the opposite side of the city to where they'd fought Ella. "I'm afraid that I'm unable to answer your questions at this time with confidence. I apologise."

"There's nothing to apologise for," said Spiritwalker. "May Skypillar be with you."

"And with you," said Jason.

Hours passed in which Aurelia made no appearance. In her absence, Jason took control of the group, ensuring their progress was moving steadily forward. The whole time he worked the conversations, attempting to scavenge any minute details about this supposed incident that had the High Speakers worried.

He didn't get much. Most people seemed to think it was to do with the organisation of Andrew's funeral. It was rare that a Luminary received a funeral, but when they did, the temple honoured them--even an ex-Luminary like Andrew. It was evident to Jason that preparations were being made for this afternoon, and when a Speaker entered the room at one point to announce the fact, it was no surprise to him.

"The funeral ceremony for Andrew Swiftguide, the once-Luminary Centaur, will be held in the central temple grounds, commencing with the auroras. Your attendance in honouring his passing would be greatly appreciated."

When lunch came, Jason found himself growing anxious.

Olivia was still nowhere to be seen. The few words he'd exchanged with Ariel had done nothing to allay his doubts, either. According to her, Olivia wasn't feeling well and her parents wanted to let her rest. Ariel seemed sincere enough, but the back of Jason's mind wouldn't stop telling him that Olivia was simply avoiding him.

That feeling only grew as the afternoon dragged by. Second by second, minute by minute, his certainty that she wasn't coming grew. Among conversations with Naomi and several others, Jason's thought were elsewhere. Wondering whether Olivia would simply slam the door in his face if he arrived at her house.

It was near the end of the session that Taylor approached him.

Her words were gentle, her touch soft on his arm as she caught him alone in a quiet moment. "Jason, is everything okay?"

It wasn't. He wasn't. Nothing was, in either of his identities. "I'm well, Taylor. Yourself?"

Taylor's brow creased. "You can talk to me, you know. About anything that might be troubling you. I haven't seen you this on edge even when your mother was attacked at the Starlight Hall. Do you know something?"

Jason simply gave her a smile and took her hand. "I know many things, but none of which I wish to burden you with. I thank you for your concern, however."

A moment passed before Taylor gave the slightest incline of her head, unwilling to push him. "As you wish, Jason. My offer will remain, however. Whatever you might need me for, I'm here to support you as your partner. Shall I help you clear up before we leave?"

*+*+*+*

Jason stood alone at the central temple grounds.

Twilight had fallen and a crowd of hundreds had gathered, awaiting the auroras that would signal the start of the funeral. There would be no Speaking ceremony tonight. Instead, the High Speakers would raise their voices to Skypillar and tell their guardian that one of its chosen had fallen. They would ask Skypillar's blessing for Andrew's soul, and afterwards, his body would be taken to the chambers of fire and his ashes later scattered over the Celestial's Eye lake.

It was custom for a fallen Luminary's funeral to be attended by those still active, but tonight, all six were absent. His civilian identity was expected to be here. DragonFae was still recovering and Golem watching over her. Harpy and Wyvern were absent, but it was Banshee's that surprised him the most. He'd been certain that she would have been here no matter what, watching over Andrew as the living farewelled him.

Jason cast his gaze to the rooftop shadows, wondering if she was among them.

The auroras blossomed, and with them, the Speakers began.

As Andrew's body was brought out in the opaque starstone casket and hymns swirled through the night, Jason tried to tell himself that there was no point dwelling on the past, what more he could have done. Not in this way, where the guilt threatened to drag him under. He clung to his own words, listening to the soft cries of Andrew's sister, of his mother and father as they tried to find some piece of closure.

When the Speakers spoke of his sacrifice and duty and honour, Jason told himself something different--that this would remind him of why he was a Luminary. Every time he needed a little more strength, a little more courage, he would find it here. Not from glory or honour or duty, but to protect innocents from the Other's grasp.

The ceremony lasted as long as the auroras, after which the Speakers allowed others outside of Andrew's family to approach his casket and say their farewells. Given the state of his body, the casket remained closed.

Jason, after one, final look at the scene to etch it into his memory, left it behind for the temple halls.

He returned to the performance hall, now empty and silent, not bothering to turn on the lights. His footsteps echoed across the room and bounced off the walls, and on impulse, he reached for his violin. He brought the bow across the strings in a slow, mournful arc that promised a song yet could never deliver. It trembled through the air, fading out far too quickly, never reaching its peak. He followed it with a second and a third, but like the first, he couldn't turn them into something.

The notes sat alone on his violin until a quiet, restrained voice gave them company.

"Ja... Frostsong?"

Jason lowered his bow and turned, violin still perched on his shoulder to see Olivia standing in the doorway on the far side of the room, the same one from which he'd entered.

"Olivia," he said, placing his violin on the bench beside him.

"I thought you were calling me Shadowheart," she said.

They were so far apart. The room had never felt so big, so dark. Light from outside fell across the floor and cast shadows across her face. Her folded arms were pressed close to her body and her eyes, so carefully watching him, so usually full of spark no matter how many times he'd pushed her away, were dull and lifeless.

Her folded arms were pressed close to her body, but it was her eyes that marked the break between them. No matter how many times he'd pushed her away before, there'd been a spark in them. Now, she watched him with a wary, dull gaze that wouldn't trust him in a million lifetimes.

The words Jason had so carefully planned dried up in his throat. He'd gone over them in his head, refining their message, ensuring his meaning was not lost within them, but here, facing her, they no longer seemed enough.

Realising she was still waiting for a reply, Jason cleared his throat. "I... didn't think you'd be coming to the temple today."

"I attended the funeral," she said shortly. Her arms hugged her waist a little tighter. "I wasn't planning on speaking to you, but Ariel said you had something to say to me."

"I... I did," said Jason.

He needed to close the distance between them. To fix this gaping void she was using as protection.

He had no idea how.

"And what, you don't now?" said Olivia.

"No, I do," said Jason. "I do have something to say to you."

She didn't move from her place in the doorway. "Then hurry up, because I want to go home."

A thousand excuses carefully crafted over the course of the day rose to his tongue. He opened his mouth to voice them, to say he'd misunderstood her situation, that she should have told him, that he would have made an exception given her circumstances. Even when she rejected them, he could tell himself that he'd tried to make things right--but he'd know. He'd know that not one of those reasons were going to be enough.

So instead, he said two words that hadn't occurred to him before.

"I'm sorry."

Olivia shifted. "I didn't think you'd have anything to be sorry for."

"If I thought that, I'd be seriously mistaken," said Jason. "I treated you poorly. I have no excuse for the way I've acted towards you since becoming your guide, and I have nothing to repay you for it but by most sincere apologies."

She snorted. "What, do you feel that sorry for me after seeing what happened at the competition? I don't need your pity, Jason Frostsong."

"You don't have it," said Jason, finding himself stepping towards her as she turned to leave. She twisted around at the sound of his footsteps, her eyes flicking to his outstretched hand and hesitated in the doorway. "I don't pity you at all."

Her eyes narrowed. "Then why have you suddenly decided I'm worth speaking to again?"

"Because you made it blindingly clear that I misjudged you," said Jason, dropping his hand back to his side. "I suspected that you had another motive, that you were using my position as your guide for your own purposes."

"And what, now you've figured out that I haven't, you just expect me to miraculously forgive you?"

"No," said Jason. His gaze dropped to where the remnants of light outside filtered across the floor. "I don't. I wouldn't, in your position. My sanity often depends on never giving people second chances. It just gives them another way to exploit you."

Her silence was heavy on his shoulders as it stretched.

And then, Olivia stepped back inside the room and faced her shoulders towards him.

Her fingers still lingered on the doorframe as she said, "And do you plan on exploiting me, Frostsong?"

"No."

The silence that followed his voice wasn't quite as heavy as the last one had been. It felt softer and less likely to slice him in two if she left him to bear it.

"You never answered my question," she said at last. "You didn't seem to hate me that first day, when you picked me up from the storm, but after that... what changed? Why did you think I was trying to use you for something?"

This time, it was Jason's turn to hesitate in his reply.

"My fear of storms is something that only three people know, including yourself," said Jason in an uncertain voice. "But barely an hour after I told you, my brother sent me a message implying he now knew. I'd seen you speaking with him and he implied that he'd been getting to know you, and I assumed the worst."

He couldn't bring himself to look at her, but he could imagine her face.

"And that was all it took for you to supposedly figure me out?" she said. "That was literally it?"

Jason shrugged. "You wouldn't have been the first person attempting to use my brother to gain my mother's favour."

"But... it's a normal fear, Jason," said Olivia, her fingers leaving the edge of the doorway as she took a few tentative steps towards him. "I know heaps of people that don't like storms. Ericka isn't a fan of them. She usually blasts music so she can't hear the thunder." She paused. "I didn't tell Regan either, by the way. Ariel said that you didn't seem happy when she asked you to go out and pick me up, and I said that I wouldn't want to pick me up either if I were scared of storms. I think Regan overheard."

"Ah," said Jason. The simplest explanation, and the one he should have suspected all along. Regan, once again making his life a living hell in any way he could. Regan, who'd gone out of his way to tell Jason about Olivia's 'faked' seizures. "I see."

"I didn't know it wasn't something I was supposed to keep secret," said Olivia. "I wouldn't have said anything if I'd known. I'm guessing you and Regan don't exactly get along, do you?"

"That we don't get along is putting it lightly," said Jason. "Some days he seems to thrive off his attempts to ensure my misery."

"That sucks," said Olivia. "Me and my sister don't really see each other a lot, but we still love each other. I'd still help her out if she asked for it, even if we don't really see eye-to-eye on everything."

"You have a sister?"

"Older," said Olivia. "She doesn't live in our district though. She moved out years ago. After what happened, our parents, they..." Jason's gaze was drawn up to hers. Her eyes were still wary, but no longer were they dull. There was hope there--hope and... something else. "Do you know how my seizures started?"

"I don't."

Olivia bit her lip. "When I was twelve, I was on the way home from school with my sister when a Manifested appeared. I don't really remember a whole lot of the day, but from what I've heard, I was alone when Nymph showed up to fight the Manifested."

Jason knew Nymph. She'd been one of the Luminaries that barely lasted a year before the Serpent made them Dark. Nymph had been one of the luckier ones, escaping with both her life and her identity still a secret. Her partner, Sprite, hadn't been as lucky. He'd been revealed to the world and hadn't coped well with it since.

Olivia continued, her fingers touching the back of her head through her hair. "Somewhere along the line, one of her abilities went wrong and hit me instead of the Manifested. I spent the next few weeks in the hospital recovering, but it left me with the seizures. The doctors were all just kind of amazed, saying that with a head injury like mine, I should have still been struggling to walk, that Skypillar had blessed me. My parents didn't really agree with that. They weren't keen on the whole Luminary-temple thing after that, something that my sister disagreed with but they blamed her for leaving me alone at all."

Finding guilt at his own Luminary failure last night, Jason couldn't help his next question.

"Do you blame Nymph for what happened?" he asked.

"Not anymore," said Olivia. "I used to think it was her fault, but what's the point in being angry at her? I doubt she intended for anything bad to happen. She was probably doing her best trying to protect me." She chewed on the edge of her lip, her thoughts somewhere else. "I think sometimes we forget that Luminaries are people, just like us. They make mistakes, but what's important is that they're trying." Olivia looked up at him, almost for confirmation. "Right?"

"Right," said Jason.

The distance between them had closed. No longer did they stand at doorway and wall, but instead a metre apart in the space that had previously separated them.

"Tell you what," said Olivia. "Since you trusted me with your fear, I'll trust you with mine." She inhaled long and slow through her nose. "I'm terrified of my own body. I'm terrified of the way it can shut me down for no real reason and how little control I seem to have over it some days."

"My fear must seem rather silly to you from that perspective."

"It doesn't," said Olivia with a small laugh. "I mean, how ridiculous is being afraid of your own body? At least lightning can do some damage. Myself... sometimes it feels like it's my fault if something happens. And now, with the medication switch again..."

She squeezed her eyes shut, her fingers digging into her arms, folded and pushed tight against her stomach.

"Is money the only reason why you've needed to switch?" asked Jason.

"Yes," said Olivia quietly. "It's why I was at the rollerblade competition at all. That money would have paid for this month's and given me time to figure out the next. Doesn't really matter now though. We already changed the prescription over this morning."

"If you had the money, could you change it back?"

Olivia's eyes met his with caution of a different kind. "I think so. I don't start the new ones until tomorrow. Why?"

"Well it seems to me," said Jason, attempting to keep his voice casual. "The prime reason that you are unable to earn money towards your medication this month is due to your temple duties. Correct?"

Olivia tilted her head. "Maybe, I mean, I usually just help at the restaurant and save my parents money, but the temple duties don't really help with that, no."

Jason gave her a small smile. "As your guide, I'm responsible for your well being while you undergo your temple duties. As such, I believe your usual medication is paramount to performing your duties to the best of your ability. Would you object if I were to secure payment from the temple to assist with any bills you may have?"

"I don't want your pity," said Olivia with a frown.

"If anything, you can consider it pay," said Jason. "You're the only one in the performance who is not receiving any. Temple regulations state that during the festival period, anyone wishing to participate in temple duties may ask for compensation to help cover any expenses they may have. Since your ability to earn your own income to cover the cost of your medication is compromised, I'm certain the High Shadowspeaker would be more than happy to assist you."

Seeing the expression on Olivia's face, Jason's smile grew a little more.

"I wouldn't feel bad about taking money from the temple, either," said Jason. "They definitely have enough to go around. A few hundred won't be missed."

"Are... are you sure?" she said after a minute. "I don't really want to go asking for handouts or anything. I can survive without my usual medication, but if it's possible..." She swallowed. "That... that would help a lot."

"Consider it done," said Jason with the gentle incline of his head.

When she next looked at him, Olivia's eyes were shining.

"I don't think you're the only one who should be saying sorry today," she said. "I'm sorry for getting you in trouble with your mum before when I wasn't at the Offerings. And I'm sorry for sneaking off and not telling you about the rollerblading competition. I should have, but I didn't think you'd let me go and I needed to try. I thought it was easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, and after you kind of sent Cryo after me... I'll admit I was angry."

"I'm sorry about that too," said Jason. "Given several pieces of information I'd come across and the situation with Ella's Manifestation, it wasn't something I could turn a blind eye to. I will admit that my own misgivings about your character may have influenced my decision to tell Cryo what I did, however."

Olivia sighed. "Next time, you might want to tell Cryo to be a little more subtle with the whole questioning thing. It was about as obvious as a starstone brick to the face. If I had been working with Ella or whatever you thought, it wouldn't have been hard to make something up." She blew a piece of hair off her face. "Do you know Cryo well?"

"Somewhat," said Jason. "As the son of a High Speaker, I have more contact with him than most, and with my chosen name being of his Aspect, I often sought his guidance on things."

Olivia sucked on the inside of her cheek. "Fair enough. I really am sorry about any trouble I caused with your mum, by the way."

"It was easily avoided," said Jason. "I simply told her that you had a seizure and were feeling unwell, so for your benefit, I cut your temple work short for the day."

"Wait," said Olivia. "Does that mean you lied to a High Speaker for me?"

"Indeed it does," said Jason. "But I suggest in future that if you wish to run off, you tell me in advance so I can ensure I have a solid excuse for your absence."

Olivia lifted a hand, pointing a single finger at him.

"Who are you and what have you done with Jason Frostsong?"

Jason raised an eyebrow. "I could bring back the one you're used to, if you'd prefer?"

"Nope, this one is good!" said Olivia, throwing both her hands in the air. "No complaints here! It's a whole lot nicer actually being able to talk to you, Frostsong." She pursed her lips. "Do I still have to call you Frostsong, or is Jason acceptable now you don't hate me anymore?"

"I thought you might have been more inclined to call me a variety of other names, but if Jason is what you'd rather, you'll hear no complaints from myself."

Olivia smirked. "You're going to regret that. I'm good at coming up with nicknames."

"Somehow, I doubt it'll be the worst I get," said Jason. He walked back to where his bag sat, retrieving the pouch he'd been carrying since this morning. "It occurred to me that I had another debt to pay you, in addition to an apology. I hope you'll accept it."

He held the pouch, which Olivia took. With a curious look she pulled at the drawstrings and peered inside.

She pulled out the bundle of snow cookies first. "Ten?! How much did--"

"Call it interest," he said. "I ruined three for you, and the best package deal on them was ten."

"We'll go halvsies," she said with a note of finality. "Five each. No arguments."

Then she pulled out the second object from the pouch.

A glasses case.

"Jason," Olivia said before she'd opened it. "You do remember how I said that I don't want your pity, right?"

"It's not pity," said Jason. "Your glasses were broken because of my mistake. I'd have replaced them for anyone else."

"Only after you decided you didn't hate me."

"I... didn't realise you didn't have a spare pair, at the time," said Jason. "I thought you'd broken them on purpose to maintain my attention and give you a further excuse to interact with me."

"I'm almost honoured at how much credit you were giving me about the whole thing," Olivia said with a smirk. "Let me guess. You thought that I'd run into you and stepped on my glasses on purpose, then managed to get myself caught in the Starlight Hall by your mother, who'd then pair me with you, who i could then use to advance my own sneaky agenda within the temple?"

He refused to admit how ridiculous it sounded from her mouth. "More or less. It wouldn't be the most elaborate scheme I'd been involved in."

Olivia just shook her head. "Frostsong, I don't think I could be that sneaky if I tried."

"I realise that now," said Jason. "You're about as up front as they come. It's no wonder you couldn't keep my secret about storms for more than two seconds."

"I'll have you know that I'm excellent at keeping a secret when I know it's a secret."

Olivia placed the snow cookies back in the pouch and looped the drawstring over her wrist.

She opened the case.

"Jason." Her eyes didn't leave the interior. "What did you do."

"Are they the wrong measurement or lense?" he asked. "I asked Ariel for details, but if she was mistaken, I could--"

"The frame is starstone!" screeched Olivia. "Do you have any idea how much those cost?"

"Well, yes. I did buy them."

"I can't accept these," said Olivia. "I can't. They're way too expensive. I don't need these, just the basic ones are fine."

Jason plucked the glasses from their case. "I figured they were worth the investment. You're done growing, and if these frames break, the starstone will heal with the auroras. The starstone will also help protect the lenses from any damage you might inflict by dropping them."

"I can't--"

He opened up the arms of the starstone frame. "At least try them on."

Olivia continued to stare at him, so he took the liberty of sliding her current pair of glasses off her face. He folded the damaged frame and placed them in the case in her hands, then, with one hand on either side of the starstone glasses, slid them over her face.

He missed one of her ears, but after a quick readjustment, they sat perfectly.

Olivia just blinked at him.

"Are... are they okay?" asked Jason, suddenly unsure of himself.

She didn't reply with words.

Instead, she leapt forward and hugged him so hard that after a few seconds, he was having trouble breathing.

"Thank you, Jason," she said against his shoulder. She pulled away, still holding him by the arms. "You really didn't have to."

"No, but I wanted to," he said. "I also wanted to know if you'd be willing to have a fresh start between us. I would completely understand if you were against the idea, however."

Olivia stepped away, one side of her mouth curled up into a smile as she stuck her hand out to him.

"I'm Olivia Shadowheart. Pleased to meet you, mister...?"

"Jason Frostsong," he said, grabbing her hand in a firm handshake. "I'll be your guide for the remainder of your temple duties. I hear your last one didn't exactly live up to expectations."

Olivia waved a hand. "Pfft. Don't even know who you're talking about. This is my first day and you're going to have to tell me everything. I hear there's an introductory lecture you absolutely love listening to?"

Jason smirked. "Indeed there is. I'll be sure to give you the full version of it, Olivia. All two hours of it."

"It's really that long?"

"Quite."

"In that case, how about we stick to the bare details. I like lectures better when they're summed up. Less chance of falling asleep."

"And we wouldn't want you falling asleep on your first day of temple duties, would we?"

Olivia touched two fingers to her forehead. "No sir!

Jason smiled. "Friends?"

"Usually, friends don't have to ask if they're friends, Frostsong," said Olivia. She winked. "Let's consider you on probation. As long as you don't catch onto my super sneaky, convoluted plots that have like, a two percent chance of working out the way I want them to and we're good."

"It wasn't that convoluted," said Jason. "I'll have to tell you about the things some other people have tried. For example, there was a girl named Laeril Frostwalker that--"

Jason cut off as both he and Olivia jumped out of their skins when a second door to the room swung open and the lights were flicked on, their brilliance blinding to eyes well adjusted to the shadows. Jason didn't know who he was expecting to see, but it wasn't a group of Speakers, all dressed in the colours of Harpy.

They were beyond frantic.

Jason strode up to them, realising that whatever the source of the High Speaker's unease earlier in the day, these Speakers knew the reason.

"Is something wrong?" asked Jason.

He thought he'd been ignored at first, but one of the Speakers waved his hand in Jason's direction and another one broke away towards him. The Speaker's mouth was set in a grim line, their Liaiser clutched in a white-knuckled hand.

"It's just been confirmed," said the Speaker. "Harpy and Wyvern have gone Dark."

*+*+*+*

A/N - And with that, book 1 of ShadowSong is complete~! Next week will just be a super short interlude so I can get my plot sorted and launch straight into book 2 the following week ;D 

ARE WE HYPE? COMMENT. VOTE. COOKIES. seriously I'd love to know what you guys think of book 1 *_*

LOVE YOU GUYS <3 

Art by 46Kibahime - 'Forgiveness'