"Sir-" Alarion began.

"Stop," Williams cut him off with a dismissive wave. "This is neither a request, nor an offer. It is an order. The fight ahead of us is as much a battle of public opinion as it is one of martial prowess. You are to be my weapon, the sword the Empire wields against lies and traitors. If we work together, I believe you can save more lives with your image than you did with your blade."

Alarion considered the words, probing them for obvious faults. Williams' motives were blatantly self-serving, but they were also genuine. He wanted to be seen as the man who saved Ashad from the brink of ruin. But to do that, he would actually have to save Ashad.

Their motivations were aligned. Alarion's only problem was with his methods.

"I should not be the face of this," Alarion said at last. "Bergman is local. Kali was the officer in charge-"

Williams shook his head. "Bergman is a stuttering mess. Kali is Godborn. Both swore that you struck the killing blow. That you were the one who located the Bones' hidden lair. Speaking frankly, neither is anywhere near as photogenic."

Alarion raised an eyebrow.

"We play the hand we are dealt," the general replied. "Your appearance, your history, your actions. Even your injuries. All of it paints the exact picture we need the public to see."

With his noble arguments so deftly parried, Alarion fell back on honesty.

"I am not good with people."

"You will learn," Williams told him. "I will be in Vitria for at least a month, more likely two. This should give you more than enough time to regain your strength and conduct some mock interviews with Lily."

"Lily?"

"An agent from the publicity bureau. She has been assigned to the 238th to manage public perception generally, and your media appearances specifically. A nice woman by all accounts, if a little intense. You will like her."

A publicist? This was getting worse by the moment.

"We will conduct your first interview once I return. It will be broadcast back to Vitria and across the Empire. After that, we are considering several options for print, and you will have a journalist embedded with your new unit as it is formed," Williams said. "If all goes well, you will have the fall to muster the new company, and the winter to train it into something cohesive."

"And then?" Alarion asked warily.

"You will be very publicly tasked with subjugation." There was a touch of annoyance in Williams' voice, as if he were insulted that Alarion had even asked. "You may be given ceremonial tasks if there are no fiends available to fight, but you have my word that I will not use your company to enforce the occupation."

The promise seemed magnanimous, but Alarion knew better. Williams needed Alarion. More than that, he needed Alarion to behave. The last thing the general wanted was to make Alarion the face of the Auxilia, only to have him violate orders.

Alarion had leverage.

"I want to pick my own soldiers," Alarion said.

"Some of them."

"Most of them," he countered. "Bergman and Kali are nonnegotiable."

"You haggle like a Vitrian," Williams scoffed. "They were already a necessary part of the company. What else?"

"I do not want a Vitrian officer."

"Out of the question," Williams said, shaking his head.

"Someone other than Elazi, then."

This time, Williams laughed outright.

"The Captain has been recalled to Vitria to stand trial for the botched cordon," he explained. "I suspect his punishment will be light, given the outcome, but you will not see him again. Frankly, I feel as though I should apologize for inflicting him upon you in the first place. He had a strong reputation as a logistician, which made me believe him suitable for managing a simple encirclement, but clearly I was mistaken."

"Will you be managing us directly?"

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"Hardly. I have nowhere near the time, especially with my coming promotion."

Alarion tilted his head. "Promotion?"

"By grace and selection, and a sudden lack of qualified alternatives, I am soon to be the newly installed provisional governor of Ashad. For which I will either thank or blame you."

"Why would you-"

"Do you know how many provisional governors Ashad has had?" Williams asked.

Alarion shook his head.

"Seven. Do you know how many would be typical?"

"Less than that?"

"One. Imuria had two, and it was quite the scandal. Ashad has had five who have died, and two who resigned in disgrace. It is concerning company to be in."

"Then why take the position?" Alarion asked.

"Ambition and obligation," Williams answered like a mantra.

"Mm," Alarion replied, his mood soured by a dismal memory. He opened his mouth to say more, then stammered as a woman walked past the open door of his room.

For just a moment, he mistook her for Sierra. Resemblance was there, similar height and weight with the same raven-black hair, but it wasn't her. It obviously wasn't her.

Sierra was dead.

"Are you alright?"

"I just need more rest," Alarion told him.

"Understandable," Williams nodded. "We can speak more on my return, and my equerry will be able to reach me even in Vitria if you have pressing matters. It may not mean much from me, but I am glad you survived."

"Thank you, sir."

"I do have something for you, before I go." Williams extended his left arm out to the side, and Alarion watched in fascination as it disappeared into a shimmering portal. When he withdrew the arm, a box came with it. "Giving a gift to a subordinate would not be proper, but I am happy to be the one giving you this."

Williams stepped forward and placed the box on Alarion's lap. It was heavier than any quest box Alarion had known, as if the item inside carried not just value, but metaphysical weight. The top of the box was engraved with a depiction of Bergman and Alarion carving away flesh to gain access to the true heart. Agony marked their faces, Alarion's wounds etched in vivid detail as they struggled toward victory.

Ancient Loot Box

Description: An Ancient reward granted to Orphan of the Vitrian Auxilia for looting [True Heart – UCL 368]. The value of this reward has been increased due to the expenditure of [Unrealized Opportunity].

Would you like to open this box? Yes/No?

"I can leave you with it, if you wish. But if you will forgive an old man his curiosity, I have been dying to know what the System felt was an appropriate reward for such an ordeal."

Alarion said nothing, and Williams took his silence for acceptance. His mouth was dry, his injured heart beating heavily in his chest. Looting had been the last thing on his mind during those final moments against the true heart, but there were some perks to being single-minded.

He held his breath and selected yes.

A jolt of energy erupted from the box, like a static shock that lasted far too long. A wave of Magic came next, which was all the more surprising given that Alarion hadn't even been focusing with his [Unraveller's Sense]. Whatever changes had occurred with the epiphany, the most immediately noticeable was that he could now passively sense mana.

The lid of the box opened silently and slid away at a touch of Alarion's fingers. He gingerly set it aside and reached into the box to find a silver ring with three rubies embedded along the band.

Alarion's Refusal [Ancient]

Description: A silver ring with three flush-set rubies glowing with internal light. The words "I won't take your orders" are inscribed along the inside of the band.

Requirements: This item can only be used by Alarion, Orphan of the Vitrian Auxilia.

Attunement Cost: 42 points.

Type: Ring

Enchantment: Reduce all damage received from outside sources by 5%. Once per day, the user may reject a condition inflicted on them by an outside source (such as Geas, Poison, Curse, Paralysis, Fear, limb loss, etc.), so long as the source is no more than one rank higher than the user. Conditions rejected in this fashion are removed entirely. Any damage resulting from the condition is healed, as are conditions caused by the rejected condition, such as blood loss. The user becomes immune to that condition for the next twenty-four hours.

If the source is more than one rank higher than the user, the user will be given the option to spend one or more rubies to empower the ring to overcome the difference in rank at a 2:1 ratio. For example, a rank I user could reject a condition imposed by a rank IV by spending one ruby, but would need to spend two to overcome a rank V condition.

Ability Bonuses: +28 END.

"An incredible item, though I am not fond of the message it is conveying," Williams said, turning the ring over in his hand before handing it back. "I trust you will not take it to heart."

"Mm," Alarion replied in a tone that left Williams unconvinced.

Rather than take offense, the older man gave a rueful sigh and started toward the door. His hand was on the frame when a thought occurred, and he glanced back at Alarion.

"I nearly forgot," Williams said. "Sergeant Kali informed me that you are in possession of most of the material recovered from Shae-Yomag. Is that correct?"

"It is," Alarion confirmed. "The Sergeant had me pass along the most significant documents before we entered the boil, but I still have a large number of journals, maps, and other documents with my familiar."

"And the coded journals recovered from the villagers?" Williams dug into a pocket of his uniform and produced a small notepad. He flipped through it, then asked, "Specialist Bergman reported one hundred and ninety-six were taken into custody."

"If that is what he says," Alarion said.

"And you still have them?"

"Of course, sir."

"Splendid. The Watch has been terribly interested in these documents. I will alert them that you have regained consciousness. I would expect them shortly, and I expect you to cooperate with any and all inquiries. Is that understood?"

"Of course, sir."

"Good man," Williams said, all smiles once again. He tipped his head and left, closing the door behind him.

Leaving Alarion to wonder why Bergman had lied about the one hundred and ninety-seven books they'd recovered, and whether he should play along.

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