Chapter 12: Leverage and Loyalties

Rion stormed into the small, dimly lit office of his superior, Fin Valtheris, his face flushed with anger. His fists were clenched at his sides, and the door slammed shut behind him with an almost deafening thud. Rion’s breath was shallow, his frustration boiling over. He had been holding this in for weeks, but now it had reached its breaking point.

Valtheris, as always, was calm, his sharp features betraying little emotion as he looked up from his desk. He was sitting comfortably, a glass of amber liquid in his hand, seemingly unfazed by Rion’s outburst. Valtheris was a man who never rushed, who never acted impulsively. He was used to having control, and he had no intention of losing it now.

"Rion," Valtheris said, his voice low and measured. "What can I do for you?"

"You’ve gone too far this time," Rion shot back, his voice thick with frustration. "You fired Calen. You fired him!"

Valtheris raised an eyebrow, unfazed by Rion’s outburst. He set the glass down on the table slowly and stood up, walking to the window with deliberate calmness. "I did what was necessary."

Rion’s anger flared even hotter. "Necessary? Do you even hear yourself? He didn’t do anything wrong! Nothing! It was your mess, not his!" His voice cracked, betraying the pain he felt for his friend, his partner. Calen had been more than just a colleague to Rion—he had been a brother. They had faced the worst together. And to see Valtheris throw him away so easily… it sickened him.

Valtheris turned to face him, his expression now one of cool calculation. "I’m aware that Calen wasn’t directly responsible for the water issue. But the consequences are what matter. He made a mistake, and that cost us." His gaze hardened. "I’m not in the business of sentiment, Rion. I’m in the business of results."

"You’re ridiculous," Rion spat, stepping closer to the desk. "You could’ve handled it differently. But you couldn’t even give him the chance to redeem himself. You left him out in the cold, and you know it. He’s your best goddamn operator. You think I’m going to just sit by and watch you destroy him like this? I won’t. I won’t."

There was a brief silence, and Valtheris, for the first time, showed a flicker of annoyance. He didn’t like being questioned, especially not by someone like Rion. But he had to admit, the loyalty Rion showed toward Calen was admirable. He sighed, his voice dropping to a tone that was almost condescending. "What would you have me do? Calen is too valuable to let go of, yes, but you know better than anyone, Rion, that if we let personal attachments get in the way, we’ll all be consumed by them." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "You know what’s at stake."

Rion didn’t back down. He met Valtheris’s gaze, unwavering. "I know exactly what’s at stake, Fin. And that’s why I’m telling you—if you don’t bring Calen back, I’ll walk. I’ll leave, just like that. I won’t work for someone who destroys their own team over nothing."

Valtheris stared at him for a long moment, weighing his options. Rion had always been loyal, but there was a limit to everything. If he lost Rion as well, the consequences could be even worse. "Fine," he said, his voice calm once more. "I’ll bring him back. But there’s a condition."

Rion crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. "What condition?"

"I need you to keep an eye on him," Valtheris replied. "You’ll shadow him, figure out exactly what happened the night of the festival. The truth is buried somewhere, Rion, and I need you to dig it out. Find out who’s lying, and why. You can’t let this go until you have answers."

Rion hesitated, but only for a moment. "So, you’re using me to fix your mess. Got it. But let me make one thing clear, Fin," Rion’s tone turned sharp, dangerous even. "If I find nothing—or if I feel like I’m being played—I’ll be the first to expose all your little dirty secrets. The ones you’re so careful to keep hidden from the higher-ups. You know I know them, and you know I’m not afraid to speak my mind. Don’t think I won’t use that leverage."

Valtheris’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t show the slightest sign of fear. He was used to being in control. "You won’t find anything you can use, Rion. But you have your task. I trust you’ll complete it."

Rion’s gaze held Valtheris’s for a moment longer, and then, without another word, he turned and walked out of the office, slamming the door behind him. Valtheris remained where he stood, his expression unreadable, his mind already shifting back to the larger scheme.

Calen was back in the fold, for now. But Rion was right—if he didn’t find out the truth soon, there would be consequences, for more than just Calen.

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As Calen approached his house, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The streets were quiet, too quiet. He glanced up at his window and froze for a moment. From inside, faint but unmistakable, came the sound of a piano. The hauntingly beautiful melody drifted out into the street, capturing his attention.

He hesitated, standing there for a moment, the music wrapping itself around him, pulling him toward the door. He knew that sound—it had always been the music of his youth. His grandfather’s love for it had been passed down to him, even though he himself had never quite had the ability to master the piano. Yet, the melodies never failed to stir something deep inside him.

With a mixture of curiosity and anticipation, he opened the door and stepped inside. The sight before him stopped him in his tracks. There, sitting at the piano, was Livra. Her presence was ethereal, her body flowing with the music as her fingers danced along the keys. She was semi-dressed, her hair cascading around her face, her movements graceful and almost otherworldly. She didn’t notice him at first, completely absorbed in the music she was creating.

Calen stood frozen in place, watching her, unable to look away. Her passion for the music was undeniable, and the way she seemed to become one with the sound—it was beautiful. He stayed there in the doorway, waiting for the song to end, until the final note hung in the air.

When the music stopped, Livra looked up, her eyes meeting his. She froze for a moment, clearly surprised to see him standing there, but then a smile tugged at her lips.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—” she began, standing up from the piano.

“No, it’s fine,” Calen replied, his voice softer than he expected. He took a step closer, still in awe. “That was... incredible.”

Livra chuckled lightly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I wasn’t really expecting to be so... caught up in it,” she said with a hint of embarrassment. “I was actually trying to focus on some drawings earlier, but I couldn’t quite capture what I wanted. Frustrated, I ended up searching around your storage closet, and I found this old piano. It still works perfectly, and well...” She shrugged. “I guess I got lost in it.”Livra said with a soft laugh, standing up from the piano.

Calen, still standing in the doorway, let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He walked toward the piano slowly, captivated by the way Livra had become so immersed in the music. He never would’ve imagined her playing, but there was something about the way she connected with it, as though the piano was an extension of her own soul.

Livra looked at him with a raised brow. “I didn’t know you played,” she remarked, her voice curious.

Calen chuckled, moving to stand next to the piano. He placed a hand lightly on the keys, almost as if testing them. “I play a little,” he said, his tone modest but playful. “Though, what I do is more like... touching the piano physically rather than actually playing it.” He gave her a grin, fingers resting on the black-and-white keys. “I wouldn’t call it music, more like a bad attempt at it. My grandfather was a composer, though. He had the talent. I just... didn’t inherit it, I guess.”

Livra leaned in a little closer, studying him. “Well, maybe I can teach you,” she said with a teasing smile. “You never know. It could be fun to show you a thing or two.”

Calen raised an eyebrow and glanced at her. “Oh really?” he said, his grin widening. “You think you can teach me?”

“I’m not saying I’m a virtuoso,” Livra teased, giving a shrug. “But I can give you a few pointers. It’s not about talent all the time, you know. It’s about feeling the music.”

He chuckled. “Feeling the music, huh? Alright, I’m game.” He sat down next to her on the piano bench, their shoulders brushing lightly as they positioned themselves comfortably.

Just as Livra was about to show him something on the keys, the communicator in Calen’s pocket vibrated. He sighed, reaching into his coat to pull it out.

“Perfect timing,” he muttered to himself before answering the call.

It was Rion.

“I’ve got good news, my friend,” Rion’s voice came through the device, full of excitement. “I managed to convince Valtheris. You’re getting your job back, Calen. You’ll be reinstated!”

Calen’s face lit up, and he glanced at Livra, whose expression shifted subtly at the news.

“That’s amazing,” Calen said, his tone a mix of relief and gratitude. “I thought that was done for good. You really pulled that off?”

“Had to work some magic,” Rion replied with a chuckle. “But you’re back in the game now. No more unemployment.”

Calen leaned back, letting the weight of the news sink in. “I can’t believe it. Thank you, Rion. I owe you one.”

Livra watched him closely, her lips pressed together as if considering something, but her voice was quiet when she spoke. “So... everything’s back to normal then?” she asked, her tone hesitant.

Calen nodded, still absorbing the shift in his fortunes. “Yeah, looks like it. I’m heading back to work, and everything will start falling into place again.”

Livra's gaze softened, but she didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she simply nodded, her fingers brushing the edge of the piano keys with a faint, distant look in her eyes.