Extra Chapter: Amalie's Return

Jun tapped his foot against the cobbled stone. Tarron remained behind him, a steady, calm presence. Jun straightened and then stared out. Amalie was returning on that ship. It glided across the waters, never rocking. Her figure was easily seen atop the deck. As their eyes met, she raised her hand in the air, greeting them. Jun didn’t bother to respond. Mei however, waved enthusiastically.

“It’ll be nice to have her back.”

“Ya.” Jun breathed in deep. The salty air was invigorating, just like before. Mei’s hand froze, catching his attention.

“Who is that beside her?” she asked. His eyes darted out. Bernard? Lira? The last year away from them couldn’t dull the memory of their faces.

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Amalie folded her arms, her ears burning as Arnold began his report.

“Just get to the point.” She huffed, forcing him away from his adulations.

‘I can see Jun and Mei at the dock, along with a whole host of ‘guests’. However…’ his pause made her stomach sink. ‘Only Mei seems to have her artifact with her.’

Amalie closed her eyes, grunting a groan. She pounded her first onto the rail. That idiot.

The two guests at her side reacted to her outburst, one with a shiver and the other, a sigh. She composed herself, eyes staring at Jun as the ship came to port. As the ropes were cast, anchoring the ship, she leaned over the railing. With a push, she hopped the rail and angled herself to land on the dock. As her feet met the ground, she let her legs give and rolled, softening the impact. In a split second she was up again and dashed off. Her eyes barely caught Jun’s stiffened, wide-eyed reaction. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she jumped onto the roof tops and appeared in front of him. With no spare thought, she grabbed his left hand and then closed her eyes. It was ringless. She frowned, opening her eyes and standing tall. Jun shrunk from her.

“You have a lot to answer, Jun.” She growled. Her eyes darted, catching sight of several Jinshari spies around. They bristled as she stood there, hands shifting subtly for hidden weapons. Were they really going to take her on in broad daylight? Mei’s hand shifted behind her back and the spies stopped, stilling. A few looked to one another in confusion. Amalie looked to the two with a raised brow. Mei rolled her eyes while Jun’s shoulders dropped, his eyes closing.

‘Don’t forget your guests, Amalie dear.’ Arnold piped up. Jun looked to the space beside her and Amalie felt her own gaze shift there. Seeing nothing, she looked back to the ship as an older man helped a young woman down the gangplank. The girl rushed towards them and Amalie sighed as she waited, eyes watching Mei and Jun’s reactions. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust them, but she needed confirmation.

“Young Lord!” The woman shouted, arms outstretched as tears appeared, her smile wide. Jun’s neck tensed as he sidestepped the hug. He looked to Amalie.

“You brought her?” Jun’s brows pinched upward as he cast a gaze to Amalie, ignoring the girl who had charged and now lay strewn on the ground.

“How rude, my Lord.”

Her plight was cut short by the rambunctious laughter of the older man.

“Master!” Mei was the one who shouted as she threw a dagger at the old man. Her eyes sparkled as she charged. The old man blocked the dagger with a small buckler before meeting her head on. Jun sighed, shoulders slumped.

“And he’s here too. Just what is going on?”

As Amalie was about to speak, Lira, the young woman hopped up.

“We’re glad you- ack! Watch out!” she tackled Jun as soon as her eyes met the Jinshari. Mei flew over in an instance.

“Quit it! They’re on our side.” She yanked Lira off Jun who was shaking his head. Amalie controlled her laughter, refusing to let it show in such a public manner. Her eyes however remained steady as the group reunited. It was no less chaotic than she imagined and it was clear they knew one another.

Amalie sighed. Jun seemed to truly relax around them, something that she never had seen in the year since they had met. It brought a small smile to her eyes before she shook off the feeling, settling into business. With deft hands, she grabbed Lira’s collar and yanked her upright, freeing Jun. She then helped him to rise, noting how much simpler of an aura he put off. As she guided them to her estate, a place they could more freely exchange information, she kept looking at him as they walked.

‘He is free, yet also not.’ Arnold’s remark mirrored her own. The soft whisper didn’t go unnoticed, but Jun only cast a simple glance their way. Amalie shook her head, her heart pricked just a bit. The poor boy.

She brought them to her office, eyes catching sight of the Jinshari who now stood guard at the perimeter.

As the group settled into chairs, Jun shifted away from Lira as she tried to attend to him.

“He’s been out of your care for a year now, give him a bit of space.” Bernard, the old man, huffed. Lira complained, but Jun shifted away once more, head bowing to his master.

“It’s good to see you both again. But…. Why-“

“Are we here? It’s simple really.” Lira jumped on the chance to answer.

“First, Jun. Are you feeling well?” Amalie coughed, drawing the conversation away. Lira’s wide eyes glanced to Amalie then Jun. He rested his chin on his propped arm.

“As well as one could expect. Do you want to start there?”

She nodded ever so slightly. Jun’s brows furrowed as he glanced to the two guests. That, at least hadn’t changed.

“You’ll need the allies,” Amalie prompted. He closed his eyes, letting out a gusty sigh.

“I’m aware.”

Lira was about to protest but Mei sent her a withering glare.

“You better just shut up this time.” Her warning surprised Amalie, though she kept her face neutral. Those two really hadn’t told anyone, not even from their own faction. The constant vigil and control they faced made her shudder.

“First off, Mei and I are Alinta. I would assume you understand what that means, Master. If Lira needs more details she can ask you for them. And...” His eyes swept the room. “I am currently without my artifact.”

‘You better have a good reason for that.’ Arnold’s voice came in. Amalie coughed, forcing him to be quiet. There were two who wouldn’t be able to hear him anyway.

“Your reason?” she probed.

Mei sent another harsh glare to Lira before answering. “He gave it to mother.”

Jun pinched the bridge of his nose. “And that is something we should explain to you two.” His eyes fell to Lira and Bernard who squared up, their gazes constant as they listened. Jun partially explained, though he seemed to leave it to Mei on many points. The details of his relation to Mei as her father made Lira’s face pale as she covered her mouth, eyes squeezing tight. Amalie’s brow raised. Perhaps all those endless teases of the two had been more direct than she had initially thought. The realization that the girl had supported that sort of ‘marriage’ unintentionally was not a pleasant revelation. Bernard remained calm, thoughtful.

“I assume…” Amalie drew the conversation in before Lira could drag it down with her questions. That girl, she had decided did not think enough before she spoke, and there wasn’t much time. “That she still hates you.”

Jun’s fist clenched as he averted his eyes.

“I may not agree with the choice, but what’s done is done,” Amalie brought her hands to her chin, resting elbows on the table. “Knowing you, you likely found out how to mitigate the problems. Though, we will need to solve…” Her eyes narrowed as she looked to the threads on his uniform. Her hands fell as a brow shot up, eyes wide. “Jun. Have you?” She rubbed at her eyes and then reached towards her whip. Arnold needed no prompting and produced a sacred ember. As she crossed the room, Jun relaxed, holding his hand out to take it from her. As soon as she passed it to him, the flame remained the white color she had dyed it with. Amalie watched, waiting to see anything. When the flames stayed white, Bernard and Mei rose up, their words breaking the tense silence.

Amalie processed this revelation, forcing herself to stay upright. She focused on her steps, making them glide as she made her way back to her chair. Jun rose and brought the forgotten ember to her desk.

“Boy, you are full of surprises. I was gone for just over three months and you pull all this.”

Jun scratched at his cheek then looked to the window. Amalie closed her eyes.

“And the reason they are following you and Mei?”

“We took out the leaders and wiped out the loyalists. The remainder are mostly from my family, the Kasai, and have sworn fealty. It’s been nice.” Mei shrugged. Amalie felt her jaw work at this.

Jun once again chided her for explaining without giving context. As he shared about the mine, the field trip and what they learned, Amalie noticed Bernard and Lira shift, their expressions changing and glancing at one another.

“Well, that does collaborate with a few things I learned.” Amalie sighed. Jun’s head tilted ever so slightly as Amalie nodded to Bernard.

“Well, Jun. The Matriarch is on the move. Since you left, your faction rallied against her. This past year resulted in a civil war of sorts.”

“And?” Mei spoke up.

“Well. We lost. If not for Amalie’s help near the border we would all be wiped out.”

Jun’s intake of breath was slow, deep. “Is that why you brought them here?”

“Them, and the others who I managed to save.” Amalie nodded. “With enough testimony, I planned to have them remain on the island and start learning here at the academy.”

Jun stiffened then looked out the window.

“I see then. So it’s begun.” His eyes found hers again. “The Silver Flame says to thank you.”

Amalie gave a simple smile before the other two began their barrage of questions. Amalie thoughts directed her eyes to her window as Jun and Mei tried to answer. One year. She had done her best for one year. Now, she doubted she would be able to hide Jun’s situation and frankly, she didn’t believe they needed to anymore. She shook her head. A white, artifact-less Alinta prophet healer. How would the other White Flames respond? As she thought on this, a small smirk began to grow. This next year would be quite the adventure.