Chapter 19: The Innocent Great Sage

The secret tunnel did, in fact, lead outside.

I had been expecting something more dramatic.

Maybe a hidden cave beneath the castle walls.

An abandoned ruin.

A magical door disguised as a statue.

Possibly a skeleton clutching a warning note saying, TURN BACK, FOOL.

Instead, we emerged from behind a narrow stone panel built into the outer side of the castle grounds.

Very practical.

Almost disappointing.

Zeria stepped out first.

The moment sunlight touched her face, she inhaled deeply like a prisoner experiencing freedom after twenty years behind bars.

Which was a little dramatic considering she lived inside a palace large enough to qualify as its own weather region.

Still, her excitement was genuine.

She looked left.

Then right.

Nobody.

The passage opened onto a quiet strip of ground between one section of the castle wall and a thick line of trees and ornamental shrubs. The main roads were hidden beyond another stone structure, and apparently this little corner had been carefully selected for one purpose.

Sneaking.

The Great Sage of Inizio had an established escape route.

I was starting to suspect Zeria had significantly more experience being a terrible influence than her innocent face advertised.

She reached for the stone panel behind us.

It rolled shut with surprising smoothness.

The wall became ordinary again.

No obvious doorway.

No handle.

Nothing.

I stared at it.

"That's concerningly well designed."

Zeria smiled proudly.

"I know."

"You've used this before."

She froze for half a second.

"No."

"Liar."

"I have never lied."

"You just did it while looking directly at me."

She turned away.

"Come on."

"Excellent defense."

She hurried toward a crack between two sections of the exterior wall.

Hidden inside was a small wooden crate.

Not chest.

Not treasure box.

Crate.

Zeria crouched and pulled it open.

Inside were several folded pieces of dark cloth.

She grabbed one and threw it at me.

I caught it against my chest.

A hooded cloak.

Plain brown fabric.

Cheap.

Unremarkable.

Exactly the kind of thing someone wore when they did not want people remembering them.

I looked at her.

"You keep disguises hidden outside the royal palace."

Zeria lifted another cloak.

"Extra disguises."

"That correction made this worse."

She slipped hers over her flowered dress.

The hood came up.

Golden hair disappeared beneath the cloth.

Her Lionkin ears were hidden too.

Her face remained visible, but shadow from the hood softened the details enough that someone passing casually might not immediately recognize one of the most politically valuable women in the kingdom.

I put mine on.

The cloak covered most of my expensive clothing.

Fantastic.

Nemris had spent an alarming amount of energy turning me into acceptable royal decoration, and less than an hour later I was hiding the entire outfit beneath peasant camouflage while assisting her best friend in escaping.

If Nemris found out, I was going to become a historical footnote.

Caled Morningwood.

Cause of death: poor influence on government officials.

Zeria adjusted her hood.

"How do I look?"

"Like someone preparing to commit a small crime."

She brightened.

"Perfect."

"That was not praise."

She ignored that.

I looked around the empty area.

"So where exactly are we going, Zeria?"

She immediately spun toward me.

One finger rose.

"No."

I blinked.

"No where?"

"No Zeria."

"That is your name."

"Not outside."

She leaned slightly closer.

"You cannot call me that while we're in the city."

"Fair."

If someone heard Zeria and looked over, the disguise might become roughly as effective as hiding behind a window.

"What should I call you?"

The mischievous little smile returned.

The one that made me immediately suspicious of all nearby decisions.

"Big Sister."

I stared at her.

She stared back.

Her smile became wider.

"You planned this."

"Of course not."

"You absolutely did."

"I simply need another name."

"And somehow the safest possible disguise is making me publicly acknowledge your two-year age advantage."

She put both hands behind her back.

"Exactly."

"I hate how pleased you look."

"Say it."

"No."

"Little Brother."

"Don't weaponize that."

She giggled.

I sighed.

The things I endured for women.

Heroism had many forms.

"So where are we going, Big Sister?"

Zeria's entire face lit up.

The satisfaction was immediate.

Apparently I had just handed a child permission to stay awake past bedtime.

"Good."

"I regret everything."

She grabbed my hand.

"This way, Little Brother."

"That's going to become annoying quickly."

"It already sounds natural."

"It sounds like you've been waiting all morning."

She started pulling me toward the street.

Then, without even slowing, she added, "Also, I forgot to bring money."

I stared at the back of her hood.

"What?"

"You'll pay."

I stopped walking.

Zeria's arm stretched as she continued one step before noticing resistance.

She looked back.

I pointed toward myself.

"So I am not only helping the Great Sage sneak out of the castle, I am financing the escape."

"You have gold."

"I have gold because you gave me gold."

"Exactly."

I stared.

She smiled.

This was financial laundering through friendship.

Brilliant.

"You're paying me with royal money so I can spend royal money buying you forbidden street food."

"Yes."

"Do you hear how criminal that sounds?"

"No."

"That concerns me more."

She tugged my hand.

"Come on."

I let her pull me.

Her fingers stayed wrapped around mine.

Small.

Warm.

Soft.

And trusting.

That part kept bothering me.

Not unpleasantly.

Just strangely.

Zeria knew what I was.

She understood the political disaster my existence could potentially cause.

She knew I was hiding things.

She knew I had arrived through circumstances nobody understood.

And despite all of that, she had decided I was the perfect person to accompany her outside without guards.

Alone.

In disguise.

That was either profound insight or terrible judgment.

Possibly both.

I looked at her from behind as she happily led me toward the city.

Did she genuinely understand what kind of man she was alone with?

Probably not.

Zeria could discuss ancient humanity, divine visions, international instability, and royal politics like someone rearranging pieces on a chessboard.

But suggest something mildly sexual?

Her brain packed a suitcase and left town.

An innocent genius.

A dangerous combination.

Mostly for me.

We reached a busy street.

Immediately, Zeria changed.

Not dramatically.

She lowered her head slightly.

Kept her hood forward.

Stayed close to me.

Still excited, though.

Extremely excited.

I could practically feel her vibrating beside me.

The capital had already been lively earlier.

At midday, it was worse.

Or better.

Depends how much you enjoyed crowds.

Merchants shouted from beneath awnings.

Carriages rolled over stone streets.

Children ran between adults with the confidence of people who had not yet discovered traffic-related consequences.

The smell of cooked food drifted everywhere.

Bread.

Spices.

Roasted meat.

Sweet fruit.

Smoke.

Zeria inhaled.

Her eyes widened.

"There."

She pulled me toward a row of food stalls.

"Which one?"

"All of them."

I laughed.

"Now you're speaking my language."

We began with monster meat skewers.

A merchant turned strips of dark-red meat over a charcoal grill while fat hissed against the coals.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Razorfang."

I looked at Zeria.

"Is that an animal or a warning?"

She shrugged.

"Both."

"Excellent."

I bought several.

Zeria accepted hers with both hands.

Then immediately took a bite.

I watched.

She chewed.

Her blue eyes closed.

A happy little sound escaped her.

I raised an eyebrow.

"That good?"

She nodded quickly.

"You've never had Razorfang from here?"

"I have."

"So why are you reacting like you've just discovered flavor?"

"Because palace cooks ruin it."

I looked at the skewer.

"How?"

"They make everything too elegant."

"Tragic."

"They cut the meat evenly, use expensive spices, and remove all the burned parts."

I stared.

"The monsters."

"What?"

"Royalty really does suffer."

She nudged me.

I laughed.

We kept eating as we walked.

Then she found fried monster claws.

I did not ask what monster.

Sometimes mystery preserved appetite.

Zeria ate them happily.

Then something wrapped in leaves and filled with minced meat.

Then a sweet pastry shaped like a lion.

She bit the head off first.

I watched.

"Disturbing symbolism."

"What?"

"Nothing, Big Sister."

She smiled instantly at the title.

Manipulative little menace.

For someone who looked like she should survive primarily on flower petals and afternoon tea, Zeria had no hesitation whatsoever around suspicious street food.

Grease on paper?

Eat it.

Monster organ cooked over questionable flame?

Try it.

Bright purple sauce bubbling inside a clay pot?

Apparently delicious.

At one point I watched her inspect a fried strip of something with visible spikes.

"You're eating that?"

"Yes."

"It has defensive architecture."

She bit it.

Crunch.

I winced.

Zeria grinned.

"Good."

"Your survival instincts are fascinating."

Lunch eventually became wandering.

Wandering became more eating.

And more eating somehow became gambling.

Because apparently spending one afternoon with Zeria was like following a cheerful butterfly directly into financial misconduct.

She pulled me through a public park.

At first, I assumed she liked the scenery.

Reasonable.

Trees.

Flowers.

Families.

A fountain.

Then she kept walking.

Straight through.

Toward a narrow alley at the far side.

I looked at her.

"Big Sister."

"Yes?"

"The park is behind us."

"I know."

"So you're not taking me to the park."

"No."

"Good talk."

The alley became darker.

Buildings leaned over both sides.

Laundry hung between upper windows.

At the end stood another guarded doorway.

A suspicious man waited beside it.

I stopped.

Zeria kept pulling.

I looked at the entrance.

Then at her.

Then back at the entrance.

"No."

"What?"

"This is familiar."

She smiled.

"You've been here?"

"Not this exact location."

I pointed.

"But dark alley, questionable guard, underground entertainment? Apparently the capital has a hobby."

The guard looked at us.

"Entry fee."

Of course.

I paid.

Again.

My relationship with underground venues was becoming financially abusive.

We entered.

Stairs descended.

Noise reached us.

Not shouting the same way the cage arena had been.

Different.

Roaring.

Animal roars.

People cheering.

The chamber below was wider than the fighting arena from last night.

Instead of one cage, several fenced fighting pits occupied the center.

Spectators crowded around them.

Handlers stood near gates holding chains, staffs, hooks, and magical restraints.

Inside the nearest pit, two monsters circled each other.

Actual monsters.

No Beastkin fighters.

No people.

Just creatures.

A wolf-like animal with black scales along its spine faced a huge insect covered in green shell plates.

I looked around.

"Monster fights."

Zeria nodded enthusiastically.

"Monster tamers bring trained creatures here."

"And the government allows this?"

"Yes."

I stared.

"This is the second underground fighting establishment I've visited since arriving."

She stopped.

"Second?"

I realized what I had said.

Zeria slowly turned toward me.

"Caled."

"Yes?"

"What was the first?"

"Different story."

"What kind?"

"Less monsters."

"More people?"

"Possibly."

She narrowed her eyes.

I smiled.

"Focus on today."

Zeria looked deeply interested in investigating later.

I pointed around.

"I'm surprised these places aren't raided."

"They aren't illegal."

"What?"

"Discouraged."

I blinked.

"Discouraged."

"Yes."

"So the kingdom's official stance is: please don't, but if you do, pay taxes."

"High taxes."

I nodded.

"Government. Beautiful consistency across worlds."

We approached another pit.

Two monsters were being prepared.

One was a large hound with dark-red fur and glowing orange cracks running along its legs and chest.

Heat radiated from its body.

The other looked like a horned lizard covered in pale armor plates.

Zeria's expression changed.

Only briefly.

Her playful excitement became focused.

Her blue eyes sharpened.

Something subtle passed through them.

Magic.

I felt the technique the instant she used it.

Information seemed to gather around the monsters.

Strength.

Speed.

Endurance.

Magic.

Abilities.

Weaknesses.

An appraisal skill.

Useful.

Extremely useful.

Zeria blinked.

Then pointed toward the hound.

"Bet on the Fire Hound."

I looked at her.

"Confident?"

"Very."

"How confident?"

She smiled.

"Spend a lot."

That was all the financial advice I needed.

When the Great Sage who could literally inspect combat capabilities told you where to gamble, responsible budgeting became cowardice.

I approached the betting table.

"Fire Hound."

The bookmaker waited.

"How much?"

I placed down enough gold to make his eyebrows rise.

Zeria watched from behind me.

The bookmaker looked at her.

Then at me.

"You sure?"

"Absolutely."

He shrugged.

"Your funeral."

"People say that to me surprisingly often."

We took our place near the pit.

The monsters entered.

A bell rang.

The horned lizard attacked first.

Fast.

It charged with its head lowered.

The Fire Hound jumped aside.

Flames erupted beneath its paws.

The audience screamed.

Zeria bounced once.

"Come on!"

I looked at her.

The Great Sage of Inizio, respected adviser to kings, currently yelling encouragement at a dog made of fire while wearing a cheap cloak to avoid detection.

Perfect.

The battle grew violent quickly.

The lizard's armored body protected it from direct bites.

The Fire Hound adapted.

It stopped targeting the body.

Instead, it circled.

Burned the ground.

Forced the lizard to turn repeatedly.

The crowd shouted.

Zeria gripped my sleeve.

"There!"

The Fire Hound lunged.

Its jaws closed around one unprotected section near the lizard's throat.

Fire erupted.

The lizard collapsed.

The bell rang.

Zeria jumped.

"We won!"

She jumped higher than expected.

Her foot landed badly.

Her body tilted sideways.

I moved instinctively.

My hands caught her hips.

Zeria stopped falling.

And suddenly we were extremely close.

Very.

Her hands had landed against my shoulders.

My grip remained around her waist.

Our faces were separated by barely anything.

Her hood had fallen slightly backward.

Golden hair escaped around her cheeks.

She smiled.

Purely.

Brightly.

"We won."

Her breath touched my face.

I looked at her.

Really looked.

No throne.

No knights.

No political title.

No Great Sage.

Just Zeria.

Blue eyes.

Happy smile.

Soft cheeks slightly pink from excitement.

"Yeah," I said.

"We did."

My voice came out quieter than expected.

Something changed in her expression.

Not much.

Awareness.

For the first time, Zeria seemed to notice exactly where my hands were.

Exactly how close our bodies had become.

Exactly how little distance existed between our faces.

Her smile faltered.

Not disappearing.

Just becoming nervous.

Color slowly spread across her cheeks.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

I did not move.

Neither did she.

Then Zeria cleared her throat.

She stepped backward.

My hands released her.

Her cheerful smile returned.

Forced slightly.

"Go collect the winnings."

I watched her.

She looked toward the pit instead of me.

"Right."

I collected the money.

A substantial amount.

Beautiful.

The Great Sage was now officially profitable.

When I returned, Zeria was waiting near the exit.

We left together.

Outside, sunlight had begun turning warmer.

Afternoon was moving toward evening.

I noticed something almost immediately.

Zeria did not take my hand.

Before the monster arena, she had grabbed me every thirty seconds like I was luggage likely to wander away.

Now?

Nothing.

She walked beside me with both hands near her chest.

Twice, I saw one hand begin moving toward mine.

Then stop.

The second time, her fingers were only centimeters away before she pulled them back.

Oh.

She had become aware.

That was adorable.

I decided not to torture her.

Immediately.

I waited several minutes first.

"Something wrong, Big Sister?"

Zeria looked up.

Briefly.

Our eyes met.

Then hers fled toward a merchant stall.

"No."

"Sure?"

"Yes."

"Your hand disagrees."

She looked down at it.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Her cheeks became slightly pink again.

I smiled.

Dangerous territory.

Zeria suddenly pointed ahead.

"Let's watch the sunset."

"Smooth subject change."

"I know somewhere good."

She began walking faster.

I followed.

We moved through several districts.

Along the way, I noticed knights.

More than normal.

Pairs stopped at intersections.

Others questioned shopkeepers.

Several looked beneath awnings and inside public courtyards.

Royal insignias.

Searching.

For her.

Of course.

Nemris had realized the Great Sage was missing.

Somewhere in the castle, a golden-haired Lord Commander was probably organizing enough manpower to invade the concept of free time.

I glanced toward Zeria.

She pretended not to notice.

"Your babysitters look busy."

"They're not babysitters."

"National search party, then."

"Keep walking."

We eventually reached a high district near the inner wall.

A broad stone overlook faced west.

The capital spread below us.

Roofs.

Towers.

Markets.

Walls.

Beyond them, fields and forests rolled toward the horizon.

The sun had begun sinking.

Orange and gold filled the sky.

Clouds caught the light, their undersides glowing pink and crimson.

The entire city softened beneath it.

We stood beside the stone railing.

For once, Zeria became quiet.

I watched the horizon.

Beautiful.

Actually beautiful.

Different world.

Different sky.

Different everything.

Still, sunsets apparently remained committed to showing off everywhere.

After a while, I looked toward Zeria.

She wasn't watching the sunset.

She was watching me.

One hand rested lightly against her chest.

Her expression looked thoughtful.

Almost confused.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Last I checked, I'm not the sun."

Zeria blinked.

Then quickly looked toward the horizon.

She gave a small giggle.

A little forced.

"I was just looking because you seemed very focused."

"Ah."

I turned back toward the sunset.

"Fair."

I let her keep the excuse.

The sun disappeared slowly.

Gold turned orange.

Orange deepened into red.

Then purple began creeping across the sky.

When the last bright edge vanished behind the horizon, Zeria exhaled.

"We should go."

"Before Nemris declares martial law?"

"Probably."

We returned through the city.

The search appeared to be getting worse.

We avoided several knights.

Zeria knew side roads surprisingly well.

Eventually we reached the hidden entrance near the castle wall.

She opened the stone panel.

We slipped inside.

The dry tunnel carried us back beneath the grounds.

When we emerged into the garden, the palace looked exactly as we had left it.

Which was unfair.

I felt like I had helped commit approximately seven small crimes.

Zeria carefully closed the hidden entrance.

Then turned toward me.

The last light of evening touched the garden.

Flowers shifted in a soft breeze.

Somewhere inside the palace, footsteps echoed faintly.

Zeria stood near the main garden entrance.

"That was fun."

Her smile was gentler now.

"Very."

"We should do it again."

"If destiny and your security detail allow."

She tilted her head.

"If we get another chance."

Something about the phrase changed her expression.

A little sadness appeared.

Not dramatic.

Just a small shadow.

"If we get another chance," she repeated.

I looked at her.

My future in Inizio was uncertain.

I had agreed to work here.

Temporarily.

Everyone knew that.

Eventually, I planned to leave.

Travel.

Search.

Find answers.

Zeria knew it too.

She raised one hand.

"Come closer."

Suspicious.

I stepped toward her anyway.

"How close?"

"Closer."

I moved again.

Her cheeks started turning red.

Oh.

Interesting.

She looked around.

Nobody.

Then at me.

"I want to tell you something."

"A secret?"

"Yes."

"I seem to collect those."

She gestured with one finger.

"Lean down."

I did.

Her height required assistance from gravity.

I lowered my head toward her.

Zeria moved closer.

I expected a whisper.

Instead, I heard her breathing.

Fast.

Heavy enough that I could tell she was nervous.

"Big Sister?"

"Quiet."

Her face moved.

Then soft lips touched my cheek.

Brief.

Warm.

Gone almost immediately.

I straightened.

Zeria stepped back.

Her entire face was red.

Not slightly.

Completely.

She smiled shyly.

"That was embarrassing."

Something inside me broke.

Not emotionally.

Restraint.

The fragile little fence keeping Caled Morningwood from behaving like Caled Morningwood.

I reached for her hips.

Gently.

Zeria's eyes widened as I pulled her closer.

She had enough time to realize what I was doing.

Enough time to step away if she wanted.

She did not.

I leaned down.

And kissed her.

Softly.

No hunger.

No teasing.

Just lips against lips.

Zeria froze.

Her lips were incredibly soft.

And trembling.

That told me everything.

She had initiated the cheek kiss.

But this?

New territory.

So I kept it gentle.

A few quiet seconds.

Nothing more.

Then I slowly pulled away.

Her eyes remained closed for half a heartbeat after the kiss ended.

When they opened, her entire face was crimson.

Her lips parted slightly.

No words came.

I smiled.

"See you around, Big Sister."

Her eyes focused on me.

"Now go before Nemris finds out we disappeared together and decides my body would improve the castle garden as fertilizer."

Zeria nodded slowly.

"See you around."

Then she turned.

Walked several steps.

Almost tripped over absolutely nothing.

Recovered.

And hurried toward the palace.

By the time she reached the doors, the bounce had returned to her steps.

She looked back once.

That sweet, innocent smile appeared again.

Then she disappeared inside.

I stood alone in the garden.

Watching after her.

Well.

That had happened.

The innocent Great Sage.

•••••

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