A dark horse trotted beside Kaya. All day it had been full of energy. Kaya hated that horse.

Six hours ago, when they had set off, Kaya had thought she was fit. Now her feet hurt and she missed the palace. Rather ironic that after being desperate to leave for so long, she would give anything to be within those walls.

The Chèr had tried to sell the pilgrimage as something spiritual and a chance to think. That was far from the truth for several reasons. Firstly, Kaya was running out of time. She knew that a war declaration would follow the pilgrimage, so she now had to hurry to find the murderer within the next two weeks. Secondly, a Leere was standing beside her. No matter whether they had hearts or not, Kaya still required a great amount of self-control in order not to punch one. Lastly-and this was the greatest distraction-it was loud.

In light of all the recent cases of various Eseterrians dying, being gravely injured or almost having their sisters almost get poisoned, the Chèr and Sutoku had set themselves the task of trying to keep the pilgrimage dates a secret from anyone. Whether that had succeeded or not, civilians didn't care. They'd see the group walking down the path and begin trailing them.

The noise wasn't actually Kaya's biggest problem with the pilgrims, it was how they put her on edge. She kept thinking she saw Ahmya or the man that had stabbed Arcane. She knew it was completely ridiculous since the former was on several wanted posters for the off-chance that she decided to return and the latter had managed to commit suicide in his cell. Regardless, Kaya found herself sticking to Zazhil Feyer.

Eztli had refused to come along. Kaya had been hopeful they'd finally get the chance to get to know each other properly, but it seemed not. There was something about the chef, their eyes were bitter like coffee and sometimes they stopped mid-laugh like a twig snapping. Kaya wanted to understand them further and the trip seemed a good chance to do so but Eztli insisted that while they liked Kaya as a person, they refused to participate in anything religious.

'It's not like I appreciate this religious dribble. Come with me, we can make fun of it in the evenings,' Kaya had begged.

As if they'd lost all control, Eztli had thrown the bowl they'd been pouring ingredients into. 'No!' Their fist had clenched and they had taken a deep breath, attempting to regain control. Then they had explained, 'It's not just that. I don't want to leave Liara and Akia.'

Maybe it was for the best. They were forbidden from talking during the journey. Most of their fellow pilgrims showed their support by remaining silent themselves, but some of the guards and locals had begun to loudly chatter amongst themselves. Occasionally, the Chèr would send disapproving glares their way but with no success.

Fortunately they had timed their journey well. The warmer days of spring had arrived, when the sun shining on your skin made it feel several degrees warmer than it actually was. The snow had cleared, replaced by mud. Kaya didn't mind the traces it left on her shoes, they were only walking boots, after all. Being dirty and comfortable were their two purposes.

In spite of the blue sky, the travelers were wary. It wasn't uncommon for snow to fall after spring took hold. They'd been told to pack only what they could carry, so many had furs on over their outfit, causing them to sweat. Kaya had stuck with her signature tank top against everyone's advice. Maybe she'd have to join Arcane in the carriage if a blizzard struck.

More hours passed. Kaya could feel the blisters starting to form on her feet in spite of the thick socks and high quality boots. She tread lightly, sharply inhaling when she pressed into one of the blisters. Looking at Emilee and Merari's pained expressions, she wasn't the only one. Even the Chèr was starting to droop a bit. At his side, Hjalmar perkily marched along. Kaya supposed he'd got used to walking while invading Soustren at the end of the war.

The blue sky developed reddish tints and streaks of the sun's final rays streamed through the sky. Already, some of the pilgrims had left to return home. Kaya wondered what the others expected to do. Surely nobody would camp outside at night in Cines, they'd freeze to death.

A large building appeared ahead of them. As they drew closer, Kaya could make out the windows in the stone walls. They were diamond shaped, which meant it was an Esprian order. She felt both proud and irritated that she knew that. Those feelings were nothing compared to the relief she felt. They'd reached their home for the night. Soon, she'd be free from this torture. That was, until the sun rose again.

A stout woman in black opened the door. Her features were stark but her eyes glistened.

'We welcome you. We've set the table for a farmer's meal down there.' She pointed over to her left. 'I'm afraid we won't be joining you. The Leere are currently fasting. It's a new moon, you see.'

An icy sensation spread through Kaya's body as realisation set in. This wasn't just any religious order, this place was full of Leere. But how? She'd thought there were only seven. Fears leapt through her mind. Was it possible that they were training more Leere? Sutoku kept going on about war, was it possible this was Cines' next weapon? An army of Leere to rob the enemies of their powers?

'Thank you, Theyva. How's retirement treating you?' The Chèr bowed respectfully. For some reason, that made Arcane roll her eyes.

'Oh, I wouldn't really call training the potential future Leere retirement. Speaking of which, I was hoping you'd have time to supervise examinations tomorrow morning. I have a few candidates I think aren't cut out for this life,' she explained.

'Of course.'

Theyva glanced over to the door. 'Should we provide them with tents?'

'No. Give them no encouragement, I don't care if they freeze their socks off.'

In the course of the evening, it became clear that she was more empathic than he was. One by one, tents appeared outside. Kaya watched them through the window after dinner, rubbing her hands together nervously. Sabrina approached her and tapped her shoulder.

'Come away. You're just making yourself nervous.'

'This place gives me the creeps,' she scowled. The others were sat with a Leere who was telling them various stories. Kaya had to take careful breaths to ground herself.

Sabrina frowned. 'Come and join the conversation. A distraction will do you some good.'

Talking to a Leere was the furthest thing from a distraction. Kaya couldn't believe that the Chèr had been so insensitive. He hadn't even warned her. Then again, that would have resulted in her refusing to come, so she supposed it had been a calculated move. She hated him for it.

Sabrina essentially pushed her towards the others, who glanced up. Still sulking, Kaya collapsed on the sofa next to Sabrina. The Rindea's antler was uncomfortably close to her face.

'It's said this is the site where Leere were recognised as having been assigned a divine task. Once upon a time, they were hunted by Forti because their powers were seen as a curse.'

'But shouldn't the Forti have been the ones being hunted according to the sacred texts?' queried Emilee.

'Of course. Parvi had hunted down the Forti at first, killing anybody with powers. However, without Leere, it was hard to detect them, so some remained hidden. Even if they swore never to use their powers, many passed unnatural gifts onto their children. These children weren't always as peaceful and turned violent. It became harder and harder to oppose the Forti, so Parvi began to submit to them.'

Kaya felt sick. The sombreness in the Leere's voice showed that Parvi letting Forti live in peace was meant to be a bad thing. She thought they should be killed for powers they had no control over.

'The Forti began to spread an agenda of having been blessed by the spirits, so when Leere began to appear, they were hunted and killed. Guides to how to murder a Leere without losing your power were created. We have some in our library... They're horrific.'

Maybe Kaya would have to pay a visit to the library. Emilee shot her a concerned look upon noticing her dark grin.

'The Leere had to hide away. Many Parvi were too scared of the Forti's powers to harbour them, so they created a sanctuary here. And then... Well, Ellux took control of their leader's body and explained to them the purpose of their power.'

Why couldn't Kaya breathe? Her lungs wouldn't expand properly. She felt like somebody had placed a brick on her chest. Her hands were clammy too. She couldn't stay her, she couldn't listen to anymore of this. She got up and left.

Once she was outside the room, she ran through the corridor. She only managed one right turn before her body abandoned her. Her legs gave way and she collapsed to the floor, burying her face behind her hands.

'Come on, Kaya. It's alright.'

She knew that voice. She gulped and moved her hands aside. Wolf's eyes met her. Thaia crouched before her, her hair hanging in thick, bushy braids. Behind her was the horrible wooden shed that had become Kaya's home.

'You grew hysterical. You almost hurt your good friend here.'

Ahyma looked at her reproachfully.

'I'm sorry,' Kaya whispered. She repeated it over and over, pleading for Ahmya's forgiveness. She lifted her hand, grabbing Ahyma's cloak in a desperate attempt to get the shadow manipulator's expression to soften. Yet when she lifted her hand, all she saw was bright red blood pooling out of it.

A hand pressed to her temples and her head exploded. She felt as if Thaia were slicing up her brains with a meat cleaver.

'Kaya.'

No. She couldn't let her mind be controlled again. She fought to remember all she'd been through, each time Ahmya had slipped or she'd tried to escape. Trying to remember just sent spikes through her brain. A thousand needles stabbed at each side of her head.

'Kaya.'

It wasn't Thaia's voice. It was a man's. Adrastos? It couldn't been, his voice was suffering from the effects of puberty. His blond friend? Kaya struggled to piece it together.

'It isn't real. Your brain is tricking you.'

This must be some kind of game. Another attempt to make her forget. A hand gripped her wrist and her reality blurred. The pain in her head vanished. Kaya readied herself to see Thaia, but opened her eyes to new surroundings. She knew those brown eyes. That light brown skin.

The Chèr.

Kaya hit him.

'Welcome back,' he muttered.

'How could you bring me here?' Her voice was less aggressive than she would have liked. The tears clouded her voice, so she swallowed and tried again, this time with more success. 'You know how I feel about Leere.'

'Yes, I do and you're not the only one that hates being here, but you saw the path. There was no other building for miles.' He sighed. 'I know it's hard, but they're people too, Kaya.'

'You didn't make Arcane befriend the person that stabbed her!'

'That's different.'

'Is it? I don't see how? You bring me to a place crawling with Leere and then you let that woman go on about how Forti are wrong and how thank goodness Ellux possessed that one person.'

'Look, Kaya...' His eyes flashed green and he gulped.

Kaya stared, the shock weakening her anger for a moment. 'You... You had a power.'

'I did. The Leere took it away. I'd say it ranks as one of the worst three days of my life,' he said. 'Afterwards, my dad sent me here. He thought surrounding me with Leere would redeem me in the eyes of the spirits. I was terrified every night, convinced they were going to do something to me again. I didn't know what, they'd already taken my power...

'When I was sent home, I couldn't handle being near Leere. They made me twitchy. I'd have to excuse myself and then hide in my room because I was having a flashback. I wanted every Leere to suffer for what they'd done to me.'

Kaya stretched her hands, staring at the palms. She knew what it was like to spend every minute plotting revenge. She knew what it was to want to strip everything away from somebody like they'd done to you.

'Years passed. As the son of the Chèr, even if he hides you away, you can't help but see Leere. So slowly I had to learn to try to forgive them. It's hard. It took years and I'm not saying you have to do it in a day. But the first step is willingness.'

'Why should I forgive them? They've done nothing for me, nothing!'

The Chèr sighed. 'I know. They've taken more than they've given, especially with you.'

'More than they've given? All they do is destroy lives! Sure, Fleya regretted killing my dad, but none of them mind stealing powers.'

'When they stole my power, they gave me insight, Kaya. No other Chèr has ever had their power stripped away because it's treated as proof that they're not holy enough or some crap like that. I've managed to keep it hidden and have become Chèr.'

'I don't get how this helps you at all apart from bragging rights.'

'Other Chèrs accept things staying the way they are because they don't know what it is to lose a power. They just hear the spirits request it and decide its the right thing to do. They never think about the fact that spirits can make mistakes too. I know what it is to lose the power and can stand to talk to Leere because I know that one day, I'll destroy those customs. When Sutoku is king, we'll reintroduce magic.'

She knew he'd already said that, but his wording was more enticing this time. The idea of talking to Leere while knowing what was coming felt bearable.

'And Kaya... There's a Leere in the palace that I assign to most leads, especially when we're talking about powerful magic. Her gift doesn't destroy powers. It's like putting them in a box. She stores them inside her and can give them to others.' He paused, then smiled. 'She can give you fire powers, Kaya.'

Kaya's eyes widened. Her mind couldn't form a thought. The idea of her getting her power back sounded impossible.

The Chèr didn't make her go back inside. Kaya went to bed early and lay facing the darkly painted wall. It was old, older than a corrupt organisation should ever live to be. But Kaya would strip it down, she promised herself that. One day, the building would be destroyed and Kaya would know her father was watching from the afterlife. Would he be proud? She didn't know, but justice would be served. Wasn't that be enough?