Valeriana followed Corvan closely as they trod through the warm sands of the Ash Canyons. Gavin's men were on patrol, searching for the escapee, so they had to tread carefully and avoid drawing attention to themselves.

"Where are we going?"

"The big tent."

"What do you mean by big tent?" She asked. "There are lots of big tent around here, in case you don't see."

"The biggest one, obviously." He said. "That's where the leader of this group resides. If you can't tell me where they are, I might as well ask him myself."

Valeriana unwittingly swallowed so hard it made a comical noise. Her eyes were wide with panic and fear at the thought of the impending confrontation between the two. She didn't realize she had closed her eyes and sighed so loud Corvan gave her a look of mild confusion.

"What?" He asked.

"Oh . . . nothing." She lied.

She didn't swear to Gavin she wouldn't tell Corvan. However, of course, if Corvan found out himself, that was out of her power. Valeriana wasn't in any position to intervene. Besides, this confrontation was something she looked forward too. A lot.

Secrets had to be kept to get the plotline moving.

Damn. She now could relate to Lord Aeron. That guy knew a lot of things he didn't tell anyone because he found them 'amusing'. Now that she knew what was happening, it was like a movie she was experiencing firsthand.

No wonder those bastards liked to play schemes like this.

"I don't want to turn into the next generation's Lord Aeron." She muttered, but then smiled.

"Valeriana." Corvan eyed her impatiently. "What are you doing?"

"Um . . . nothing. Nothing."

"I really cannot trust you."

"W-what do y-you mean?"

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her with him. They cut through the streets fast that her legs were barely able to keep up. Valeriana's heart made a leap for her throat and stuck itself up there. It hammered, as though trying to break free from her body. Her eyes were wild like a deer's as she stared up at Corvan. Did he find out? If he did, good lords . . .

They stopped within a small space between two buildings, cutting through one street to another. It provided shade from the sun and was a lot cooler place than anywhere else.

"You are absolutely scatterbrained when it comes to situations like this. I will not have you give away our presence, so do me a favor and stick close. I cannot have you getting lost, dimwit."

"Asshole, why call me a dimwit?" Valeriana huffed, offended by his name-calling.

"You do not recall how you started it?"

"I don't remember calling you anything since a while ago!"

"I'm talking about when we first met."

"What?" She put her hands on her hips, her voice in a whisper-yelling mode. "You're telling me I did the name-calling first? Bastard! You called me obstinate and stupid and a commoner, of course I'll call you a stuck-up, idiot prick! Don't turn the situation around!"

He put his finger on his lips and gave her a reprimanding glare, making her shut up. She hadn't realized her voice turned up higher at their argument. "We do not have the luxury of arguing right now."

"Really. You call arguing a luxury?"

"In situations like these, yes." He paused, looked around briefly, and checked out the immediate vicinity for their pursuers. "Stay here, I will need to enter alone."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Just do what I say and do not question it."

He was gone before she could complain, his lithe form cutting through the air so fast she barely noticed. Valeriana cursed mentally as she imagined the possible scenarios playing out with the confrontation. There were chances Corvan would recognize Gavin. She wasn't sure how things would turn out, but a burning village in the desert was the most likely.

"Dammit." She muttered. "He expects me to stay put here like a good girl?" Valeriana rolled her eyes. "I think he's forgetting I'm obstinate."

She launched forward and went after Corvan despite his warnings and started crossing towards the big tent. Valeriana acted so impulsively that she failed to see if there were any guards coming. Just in time, there were a couple of them rounding up from the corner and saw her.

"Halt!"

"Crap! Crap!" She shifted the direction her feet was facing and turned hot on her heels. She broke into a sprint towards the other direction and berated herself why she didn't listen. "Alright! I admit being stupid!"

It was better if she did not proceed to the big tent where the first-ranker entered. It would only cause trouble for Corvan. She did not want to hear him scolding her off endlessly for her recklessness and going against his wishes.

For the first time, she was regretting she did not listen.

The Ash Canyons resembled a maze-even the village itself. Having no idea where to go, she had taken countless turns and found herself leaning against a tall, rough wall that extended to the skies. The guards were coming and she could only brace herself, pressing her body against the wall so hard she heard something crack.

Her eyes widened at the sound. "Ooohhh crap." She tried to move. "Oooooh cra-aaahhh!"

The wall behind her collapsed and she fell right in.

-*-

Corvan had entered the tent he assumed the leader was in. He drew his sword in advance before he swept the flaps aside and stepped in. The room inside was dark in exception for a small lamp on top of a table. Looking up in alert, he saw a figure wrapped in elaborate workings of cloth, especially around his head, sitting calmly while writing on a journal of some sort.

"Welcome, young lord." He greeted, his voice possessing a hint of familiarity. "I have been waiting for you to arrive. I assume my people have not allowed you ease in passing?"

"So you are the leader of this band?"

He put down the quill he was writing with and turned to face the lord. "I play no music, if that's what you mean." He then chuckled.

"You very well know what I'm talking about." Corvan irately replied. "Where have you taken Avaro?"

"Calm yourself for now, Lord Corvan. The beast is all well and unharmed. I have him contained with ember crystals to prevent him from being too rambunctious." He replied. "Why do you not take a seat and let us talk?"

"I am not here to talk. My business here is to question you, possibly arrest you, for causing such ruckus in the kingdom. Why do you do what you do? Give me one word to explain."

Corvan could see the smile beneath the cloth, a pair of green eyes staring right into his.

"Justice."

"Nonsense." He said. "The end does not justify the means."

"Yet, what choice was I left with?" He stood from his seat and made his way over to the young lord, who stood rigidly at his doorstep. "You nobles lack action. I had to take things into my own hands."

"And thieving was the answer? Foolishness."

"You judge too quickly, young lord. I wonder if you will cut it as heir and future ruler with that attitude of yours."

"And who are you to judge?"

"As a citizen, aren't I enough of a judge to you, milord? Too many have been unhappy. In case you do not see, there are many people in this continent who barely have enough to survive, yet those rich and corrupt people are enjoying themselves living the high life. We only give back to the poor."

Corvan kept silent, deciding to hear out the side of this man.

"This system of governance we have is only an illusion." He continued. "It is hierarchy to give power to the privileged and deprive the unfortunate. To achieve justice is to do things that are uncanny and against this system. This is why I do what I do."

The first-ranker smirked. "An illusion, you say?" He asked. "Then do you plan on abolishing the hierarchy? What will be of the world then? Is it not chaos?"

Falcon had been unable to retort at the lord's rebuttal.

"You've done a lot of ruminations about your plans on justice, but you failed to see far ahead. Your near-sightedness will further cause the people of these lands." Now, it was Corvan's turn to laugh. "You have a lot of things in mind, but simply fairness and equality will not cut. There are many challenges to ruling as no system is ever perfect, but the inequality between the people are there for a reason." Corvan replied. "No one is equal."

"I beg to differ." Falcon interjected.

"We are all capable of different things in different levels, so you can expect the differences to outweigh one another. In turn, some people carry heavier responsibilities than the others. That's just how it works."

"No, it doesn't." The other man told him. "There is a choice. There is a choice to be different other than what you think is set for you. You set your limits to these skies when you are uncertain how far beyond are the things you cannot see."

"But few can really see." Corvan told him. "Not everyone can see. Some are not meant to. Their eyes are for other things. Some are meant to see farther beyond this world and some are meant to see what is already here. If you let yourself dream so far, you will lose sight of what already is in front of you. Yet, if you keep your feet rooted, there will never be change."

"That may be right, however-"

"We are creatures who try to helplessly find the balance to all things." He said. "We think to carry the world with our hands, but truth is we cannot do everything ourselves. The reason why we are not equal is because we are meant for different paths."

"And you plan on leaving those in need alone? Because they are not your equal?"

"I do not say I am greater." Corvan said. "I do not say they are less. I am saying that, to every system, there is a flaw that must be watched out for. Nothing is ever perfect."

"Your definition of equality. It is not the usual." Falcon creased his brows. "What do you mean by it?"

"Setting standards for a nation will deprive the people their chance to find themselves and aim higher. It is finding the balance that pushes people to their limits. This equality of yours is the illusion-the ideal state. Truth is, it is the standard that cannot be achieved. It is either we are better or worse at something."

Green eyes were wide in disbelief at the young lord's answer. It was few seconds later that Falcon started laughing in utter skepticism. "I have not expected something like that from you."

"My answer is never truly right and never truly wrong. This is just based on my principles. My concept of justice is different from yours."

"Yet, as expected, it is harsh and cruel." He said. "But I see progress. Your insight is better. That woman has done a lot of positive things to you, Lord Corvan. You should continue letting her stick around."

He was talking about Valeriana?

"I agree traditional methods are no longer working. The kingdom has ran quite a journey since its founding. The usual will no longer work on the present." Corvan told him.

"And you are saying?"

"Perhaps it is time for a change. And for this change, I will require your help-pursue the illusion that is equality to lessen the corruption within the government."

"I thought you did not believe in equality. Where did this sudden hypocrisy come from?"

"Equality is idealistic. But, I never said I wasn't willing to pursue it." Corvan pierced his weapon on the ground and let it stand beside him. "As I said, we are creatures who helplessly try to find the balance in all things. I am no exception."

"I have never seen this side of you." Falcon said.

"You spoke as if we have met before." He replied, giving the man a knowing look that caught him off-guard. "Before I came here, I observed the people in your village. I have not seen so many smiles. Although Farstead is such a wealthy city, very few are truly happy."

"That's because the happiest life is the simplest life."

"Define simple." The young lord answered. "Despite how good you think this sort of life is, it is never simpler than the life we already have. Are you not afraid that these people will suffer any moment? They are with you. Your sins will weigh on them as well. For they are your people."

Gavin, in the persona of Falcon, could relate. The young lord had improved so much since he was away. The wisdom he now possessed was incomprehensible to the man. It made him question his views somewhat. Prodigy as Corvan was, he had been narrow-minded, distant, and cold, even to his cousin. Who knew he kept so much inside him? There really is more to something than what it seems.

"That is that reason why I called your attention."

"This is truly foolish." The first-ranker commented.

"You cannot keep saying that."

"Yet, it is effective." Corvan paused. "Do you know why I left? Because I do not want to become my father. Nor become like any other leader who came before me."

A wall of silence stood between the two.

"You know, then."

"I am no fool, cousin." Corvan replied. "This very conversation gave you away."