Jail Cell

Alba leads Callidus into a small office with a single holding cell, Stella following right behind them. Alba clicks the other cuff around Callidus’ free wrist as she ushers him into the cell and shuts the door behind him.

“Yeah, Sis, this feels beyond excessive! Surely it looks worse to have you parading me around the streets in chains than anything that I could do by myself!”

“Something like reputation matters far less than justice!”

“Whatever!” Callidus beckons Stella over. “So why do you need me to get rid of this thing?”

“I can’t say.”

“Wow, that dire? I wanted to show it to Mr. Mitis, but I guess not then.”

“What did you steal?” Alba walks up behind Stella.

“Yes, hand it over. It’s evidence.” Callidus sighs and turns.

“Alright. Ms. Sidus, there should be a ring somewhere in my pocket.” Stella retrieves it easily and hands the small, unadorned ring to Alba. Alba holds up the ring, bewildered by it.

“What’s wrong with this ring? It’s uneasy, even sinister.”

“See, you would’ve stolen it too!”

“I don’t steal, Callidus.”

“Yeah, well, do you at least understand why I needed to steal it so bad?”

“No, not really.”

“Alright. I was helping this old man find the monastery, and when I was helping him down some stairs, I had him fall so I could feel around for anything I could steal—” Both Alba and Stella give him a look. “Fine, this is serious, I suppose. I thought that old man, Marisk, was plotting something. He’s targeting a little girl, for one thing. So I wanted to steal something off of him to try and figure something out, or get in his way, or something. And there’s no way it would’ve been safe to leave that ring with him.”

“If there’s somebody dangerous in the city—”

“Don’t know anything else about him.”

“Alright.” Alba turns towards Stella. “Before I begin questioning you, Stella, is it okay for you to remain here?”

“?”

“I can’t imagine that the head priest wants his daughter hanging out in the holding cell for some hooligan.”

“Callidus isn’t a hooligan.”

“Though he appears as one, certainly. Is it okay?”

“Ah, well…” Stella lowers her head and goes quiet. Callidus grabs the bars of the cell and answers for her.

“It’s perfectly fine, don’t bother worrying and just let her stay.”

“Very well. Stella, how did you know Callidus had stolen something?”

“I—” as she tries to explain her prophecy, Stella feels the familiar sensation of her throat simply coming to a stop instead of making any noise. “—just did. I can’t explain further.”

“You don’t need to defend him, Stella.”

“That’s not it.”

“So it really was just a guess? Callidus, how often are you stealing things for—”

“That’s not it either!”

“Then what is it?”

“I’ll answer for her. She can’t answer. She must have seen a future where I died because Marisk wanted that ring back. It’s weird it showed up though.”

“Weird?”

“Well, not that it matters to you people, but…” Callidus looks at Stella. She seems nervous as Callidus speaks. “I decided that I don’t want you to know. It’s my little secret.”

“Fine. Keep your secrets.”

“Have you found anything out about that ring?”

“No, nothing. It must be an incredible work. I graduated at the top of my class from the most prestigious institution for learning magic in the world, but even I can’t tell anything about it. I can’t imagine what sort of monster might have made this.”

“That’s why I want somebody else to look at it. Somebody who knows a whole lot about being malicious.” Stella corrects him.

“You shouldn’t talk about him like that.”

“Unfortunately, I cannot let an outsider investigate this. Nor can I let it be taken out of my custody. Not until I’ve reported all of this to a superior. I can’t let you out until then either, Callidus.”

“Well there go our plans, Ms. Sidus.” Alba grimaces.

“I really am sorry for that. I’ll find a way to make it up to you two someday, I promise. But, for the time being, you can leave for today, Stella.”

“No. I’ll stay with Callidus. At least for a little longer.” Alba is shocked that these rumors of all the ones she’s heard are the ones that seem to be true.

“Well, it’s not like there was ever any promise though.”

“Eh?” As Alba realizes that this means Stella lied, Callidus starts laughing. “Why would you lie?! What’s the point of lying?!” Rather than mad or stern, Alba’s outburst is petulant, like a child upset that they’ve been tricked into something. Stella is ashamed of herself and can say nothing in return.

“Of course she lied, you were making terrible, terrible threats against me. It’s just her good nature. Really, with how poor she is at lying, it’s your fault it worked.”

“I just wanted you to come home for a while!”

“And she was protecting me from that, and I am very thankful!”

“Why are you telling people about it?! Whenever you reflect poorly on the family it gets worse!”

“She’s known me longer than you so of course she knows! Cover-ups won’t work if I don’t play along! And Ms. Sidus is the one I won’t lie to!”

“Can you think about your position for once!”

“I don’t give a damn how people think of me! I really don’t give a damn how they think of you!” Stella forces her way between the two of them.

“Stop fighting! And stop goading each other to fight! Now isn’t the time!”

“You’re right. Sorry, Ms. Sidus. If I’ll be stuck here for a while, can you bring Mr. Mitis here?”

“Alright. I’ll be back soon. No fighting.” She goes off with a light heart, happy with the mission entrusted to her.

“Callidus, why did you send her away? I already said that I can’t let anybody investigate the ring.”

“I’m sure he’d find a way to do it even if you tried to stop him. And he’s strong, so having him in the know would be great, if we can get him to help out.”

“That’s not it at all.”

“Oh, so it’s only the obvious lies you fall for.”

“Answer me, Callidus.”

“You already know the answer, don’t you, Sis?” Alba says nothing and keeps looking at him. “Do you really think I’m wrong? Isn’t it obvious that this is the right choice? If she saw me die because of the damn ring, then I’d rather leave it at that. Of course it’s better if I died here alone instead of with her.”