The mourning tide had at once receded a while after the incident with Ryosai and the mysterious ghost that had faded without a trace. It had vanished just as suddenly as it had begun appearing around the city and cursing nightwalkers with its eerie weeping. With winter’s end barely in sight, spring’s light didn’t seem as distant as it once was. And so time marched on.

  On one of Reville’s many street corners, there was an old, gaunt tree. Like a grotesque, boney hand, it hung over the quaint area. Crooked shadows were cast by its creaking limbs, coating the dark-skinned woman sitting under it in black zig-zagging lines. As the pitiful wind shook them, the shadows followed their erratic dance. It was a nice, slightly overcast day. White, fluffy battleships swam at a snail’s pace across the sky along with the actual airships that outpaced them by miles. Streaks of blue and gray.

  Ma’at took a sip from the coffee laid out across her palm. Its heat warmed her cold hands. The cafe down the road had let her take it outside as long as she returned the cup when she was done. She was simply enjoying the invigorating drink while soaking up the scenery. It was only early in the morning when she could have that kind of silence. Contemplative, relaxing, quiet.

  “Ma’at~!” a free-spirited voice called out, slightly startling her.

  She turned her head, her dark hair ebbing and flowing with the movement and a tiny gust that blew past. It was a woman with beautiful eyes wearing an equally beautiful raincoat. She turned back to her drink to take a sip and ignored the ‘stranger’ heading in her direction. At least, she hoped it was just a lookalike.

  “What did I say about ignoring me, hm?” Sato revealed her umbrella seemingly out of nowhere and started to raise it. An attack?

  Sensing a sudden violent aura bursting from her, Ma’at quickly drew her attention back to the oddly-garbed girl. She winced and held her free hand up to block whatever was heading her way. “Ack!”

  But no such attack came. The Maiden walked past her colleague briskly and elegantly took a seat on the bench next to her. “Why is your hand up like that? Is that some new gesture for saying hi? Or…” Air escaped her lungs in a gasp. “Or, is it a secret handshake!? I’ve always wanted to have a secret handshake with friends! Tien always says she’s too busy to practice one, though…” She gloomily mumbled the last part, leaning her umbrella against the other side of the bench.

  Ma’at returned her hand to the porcelain cup. Waves of calming heat radiated throughout her fingers and palms. “Uh… no. I thought you were going to hit me.”

  “Hit you?”

  “Again,” she said simply, taking another sip of coffee.

  “Again?” Sato paused as if in deep, ponderous thought. It was clearly feigned, almost theatrically so. “When have I ever hit you? You know, a beautiful maiden such as myself can’t go around hitting bystanders. People would think I’m some weird, brutish woman.”

  Ma’at stared at her in disbelief. “Then they would have the right idea.”

  “Is that so? I know a certain Sirithisian much gruffer than I am. Some may say she doesn’t have a feminine bone in her body.”

  Ma’at narrowed her eyes. Hazel light almost seemed to shine from them as she did so. “Yeah? And who are they, these ‘some’ people?”

  “I’m not at liberty to say. I simply have the courage to speak on their behalf.”

  “I don’t think there’s anything courageous about what you’re saying, actually. If anything, it’s risky.”

  “The courage to take risks! Wouldn’t you say stupidity and risk-taking aren’t so far from street-smarts and courage?”

  “No. There’s a world of difference between a stupid courageous person and a smart courageous person.”

  “Right. I would be the latter, then.”

  “I don’t think so,” Ma’at mused, smirking. “For example, let’s say an annoying, raincoat-wearing weirdo attempted to save a cool-headed mercenary from an old fart in a cape one day. Sure, she helped her in the end, but she also made an embarrassing blunder from the start. She told everyone her name and who she worked for, people who’d hunt her down if they survived. Does that sound like a smart, courageous person to you?”

  “Yes!” Sato announced, planting her hands on both sides of her and pushing closer to Ma’at. “Because she was so smart that she knew it wouldn’t matter. See? Checkmate.” She cocked her head with a satisfied smile, her eyes glimmering like two polished dinner plates.

  “You can’t just say ‘checkmate’ like you’ve won the argument, that’s not how that works.”

  “Who says? In terms of chess, I’d say I easily took your queen and won the match. Metaphorically, of course.”

  “Have you… ever played chess before?”

  “No, why?”

  Ma’at opened her mouth to retort, but no words came out. Surprising even herself, she erupted in a restrained fit of laughter. Her cup nearly spilled as she giggled, her body seizing.

  Sato joined her, realizing the ridiculousness of the conversation.

  After a minute of laughing, they both finally calmed down and their voices receded back into the silent air. The leafless tree above creaked as another gust blew by.

  Ma’at took another sip, gazing at Sato with a twinge of worry in her heart. She thought she would’ve sunk into a deep, deep depression since the incident. She had imagined her bedridden for a month, maybe two. Sick with grieving delirium. But, perhaps she didn’t have to worry so much. If the Maiden could laugh so soon after a traumatizing event such as that, then maybe there was indeed nothing to worry about.

  “This is a nice place, isn’t it?” Sato looked up at the tree and the sky through the branches, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. “Couldn’t sleep again?”

  For an instant, Ma’at stared daggers at the woman and became defensive. But, as soon as the feeling came, it passed. She calmed herself. “No. Wasn’t a nightmare, though. Haven’t had one in quite a while. I just can’t seem to sleep in anymore because of the ones I’ve already had.”

  Sato fell silent again for some time, then spoke up as if something on her mind couldn’t be restrained any longer. “Ma’at, what do you think of it all? Of Paracosms and Enigmas. Of the world.”

  “What do you mean?” She took another sip of coffee. With each one, it was getting more and more bitter as she reached the bottom. It was almost gone.

  “I don’t know… After everything we’ve been through with Rosaline and Ryosai, I started to wonder if they really are any different.”

  “What are?”

  “The internal and the external. The internal and the external world. The world we occupy, and the worlds inside our heads. How are they any different? Where’s the barrier between them?”

  “The barrier…? Well, one is physical and the other’s cognitive, right? Then, the barrier would be reality.”

  “That’s exactly what I mean, though.” Sato held up her pointer finger, her eyes dimming with the lengthening shade. “What if there is no barrier? We’ve already seen reality crumple and fold in on itself when someone succumbs to a breakdown. Or, in that phantom’s case… just a collection of vivid memories. Where’s the throughline? Say an extreme breakdown happens, one of horrifying proportions, and no one is there to stop it from absorbing everything in its wake. How would we define it then? Wouldn’t it no longer be an Inner World, but a part of the real one? Like a new island appearing on a map.”

  “No longer an Inner World…” Ma’at stared, stunned, then snapped out of it. “You really have thought this through.”

  “Not really. I couldn’t come to any solid answer myself. That’s why I was wondering how you saw it. The theory, I mean.”

  “Hmph. Maybe you’re right. Maybe reality is no different from the chaos in our minds. If anything, it’s even more of a mess with everyone living in the same space. But, then, wouldn’t the difference between the two be that only one person can exist at the birth of a Paracosm? And that the real world has always had countless people in it by comparison?”

  “I don’t follow…” Sato eked out, lost in Ma’at’s words.

  “I mean,” she continued, “that the world can exist without us. The planet will keep spinning whether or not we’re living on it. But Inner Worlds are different. They can only exist so long as the creator, or, at least the original person linked to them, are alive. Isn’t that the core difference between them? The internal and the external.”

  “I see,” Sato said quietly. “Then, what if the world is one and we don’t know it? A Paracosm, I mean. What if the ‘real’ world is one big Paracosm that got out of hand, like I said?”

  “Then… there would have to be someone linked to it. I’d have to doubt there is a single humanoid mind that could handle that. Wouldn’t they turn into an Enigma before it spread that far?”

  “Hmm… you’re not wrong.”

  “Besides, that’s impossible. This doesn’t feel like a Paracosm, you know? Everything is as it should be. And… it would be pretty scary to be a figment of someone else’s imagination. If they died, then we and everything around us would die too.”

  “Right…” Sato paused again, a sad look appearing on her face for a few seconds. Suddenly, she shook her head and smiled at Ma’at. “A-Anyway… thanks for humoring me. I guess I tend to overthink things.”

  “It would have been weirder for me to shoot down your theory. I only know bits and pieces, but I don’t think it’s such a crazy thought. From what I’ve seen of magic… what it can do…” Ma’at mumbled, then realized what she was saying and stopped her own sentence short. “Mm. There’s no theory unworthy of acknowledgment, I guess,” she summarized.

  “‘There’s no theory unworthy of acknowledgment’, hm? Did someone say that?”

  “It’s… something Camelia used to say. Usually whenever I said something stupid. I suppose I ended up being right sometimes, though.” Ma’at let out a short chuckle. “So, why are you here, anyway?”

  “That’s a bit rude. It sounds like you don’t want me here,” Sato replied, half-pouting.

  “Eh, I don’t care either way.” Taking one last sip from it, Ma’at finally finished her coffee and slipped the empty cup into her bag. “Where’s Tien?”

  “Doing the paperwork, as always. I swear, she’s always so busy. As for why I’m here, well, it’s kinda related.”

  “Related?”

  “I thought we could lessen the load a bit. We had about a dozen random jobs come in the other day, so I accepted them for us. We could get ‘em all done and then help Tien with the remaining stuff.”

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Us? We? Don’t tell me…”

  “Look, I’m not a huge fan of work, either. But I am a fan of Tien. She’s my best friend! I can’t leave her to combat that mountain of folders and charts all by herself! I have the courage to help my friend.”

  “Not this again,” Ma’at rolled her eyes and sighed. “Fine, fine. Not like I have much of a choice. It’s my job, after all. A merc’s a merc.”

  “That’s right, Ma’aty. A merc’s a merc.”

  “Ma’aty…? Never call me that again.”

  Sato deflated, yet her eyes shined. They had escaped the shade and were subject to the clean rays of the sun shining down from the blue heavens. “Yeah, you’re right. Sorry. I’ve been thinking of nicknames for you since autumn, but your name doesn’t really work with any of them…”

  “Isn’t ‘Ma’at’ short enough? And why are you thinking up nicknames for me in your spare time!?”

  “Yes, it is. And we’re friends, that’s why! I need something unique to call you. A name no one else uses.”

  Ma’at scratched the back of her head. “Y’know, I really don’t understand you at all sometimes.”

  “Hehe. Right back at you,” Sato said with a wink.

  It was a stupid gesture, something to throw her off. That’s what Ma’at thought.

  “Well… the first job on the agenda is…”

  Ma’at waited for her to finish, steeped in dread for what horrible chore awaited them at the start of a very long list Sato fished out of her pockets.

  “...saving a cat from a tree!” she exclaimed. After a second of utter silence, she read the crumpled paper again. And again. And again. After confirming that she had indeed read what she thought she read, she nodded in solemn acceptance. “Well, that’s that.”

  “What exactly are they paying for that?”

  “It says,” she scanned the paper for the hundredth time, “that the client is prepared to pay a total of… 14 Kin. Apparently that’s their life savings.”

  “So our client is an 8 year old?” Ma’at replied sternly. She didn’t even try to hide the annoyance in her voice.

  “Perhaps.”

  “No, not ‘perhaps’, they must be a kid!”

  “They don’t have to be. You’re assuming things. You’re an assumer.” Sato pointed at her colleague as if she were fingering a murder suspect. “Maybe it’s a very unlucky person. Maybe a homeless person?”

  “True, and maybe you’re actually an idiot?” Ma’at snapped.

  “I’m just covering all our bases. For your information, yes, it probably is a child. I met with a few of these clients, though I can’t remember which belonged to which. But one of them was definitely a child.”

  “You met with them and you’re still doubting that it’s a kid!?”

  “Not doubting, Ma’at. I’m simply thinking about things in a myriad of ways. Isn’t that what separates the good detectives from the bad?”

  “We’re not detectives. We just happen to be mercenaries who end up solving murders for those lazy Union jackasses.”

  “Tomato, tomato.” Sato, sensing the rising anger in Ma’at, decided to get things moving lest she end up a murder victim herself. “Okay, then. Child or not-”

  “Child,” Ma’at corrected.

  “Okay. The ‘child’ reported that their cat had gone missing a few days back. Evidently, it was spotted by an old man the other day. He said that it was stuck in a tree at the far end of Halei Street.”

  “Halei Street? Then we’re already-”

  Just then, Ma’at’s response was cut short by a sudden cry from above. A croaky meow let out from the crooked tree casting shadows across the area. Their eyes widened and they peered upwards in surprise to see an old, dirty orange cat balancing on one of the branches.

  “It was right above us the whole time?”

  “That seems to be the case, yes.” The Maiden of the Rain raised her umbrella blade aloft and pointed its sharpened end at the cat’s position.

  “What are you doing?” Ma’at asked, fearful of her strange colleague’s intentions.

  “What it looks like. I’m going to knock it off that branch,” Sato replied promptly.

  “What if you hurt it?”

  “I won’t. Besides, cats always land on their feet, right? He should be fine if I mess up.”

  “Just because they always land on their feet doesn’t mean they can survive a drop from any height.”

  “I didn’t say that,” Sato reproached. “But the tree is only a dozen or so feet high. He’ll be fine. I’m sure of it.”

  Ma’at turned back around and examined the great, gangly plant more closely. It was quite tall, taller than one would guess upon first glance. “Why don’t we just climb up there and nab it? It’d be safer than whatever inane plan you have in mind.”

  “Because… it’d be a pain.”

  “Wow… this person’s annoying,” Ma’at said aloud as if she were talking to a bystander, but no one was around.

  “Well, like I said, it’s tall. So, here’s my plan…” Sato carried on and ignored the snide comment from her colleague. They spoke in whispers for a minute or two, then leaned away from one another again.

  “Alright. But if the cat dies, it’s on you. As soon as that furball splatters on the ground, I’ll be ten miles away from here. Got it?”

  “It won’t!” Sato assured. “But, yes. On the infinitesimally microscopic chance of that happening, you can run as far as you want. I won’t stop you.”

  With an agreeing nod from Ma’at, the two women put the plan into action. The Sirithisian threw one of her noctite blades up toward the limb connecting to the branch the cat was sitting on. It flew in circles, the afterimages making it appear like a razor-sharp disc, and sliced directly through the tree branch.

  The cat let out another frightened screech as it fell with the branch and began to plummet down to the earth below. Its vibrant fur was pushed upward as the cushion of air it fell through enveloped it, attempted to slow it, and failed. The cat’s momentum was already too much. The fall had to be stopped by an outside force.

  Luckily, Sato had indeed planned that far ahead. With her umbrella already trained on the cat’s falling form, she took a step forward and planted that foot to the ground. A rush of air and forming water droplets sprung forth from beneath her. Most of them came together in a conflux of sloshing rain across her weapon, readying whatever magic she needed to save the doomed feline. Her eyes glowed, and with them, the coalesced deluge erupted from the umbrella blade and shot straight toward the tree in an unstoppable torrent.

  Right before it hit the trunk, however, the cat fell into the torrent’s way. But the water did not harm it. Instantaneously, it formed an opaline capsule around the creature, much like an oversized bubble. Unlike a normal bubble, most of the capsule contained water. Of course, an air bubble was left around the cat’s head to keep it from drowning. As soon as it was caught, its speed slowed, and it drifted pleasantly to the bottom without injury.

  “Wow. You really did it.” Ma’at was truly awed. No trace of sarcasm could be found in her words nor a sardonic grin on her face. “It always amazes me how much you can do with that power.”

  “Really? You think I’m amazing?” Sato said, her lips turning into a wry smile.

  “Heh. I wouldn’t go that far.”

  Pop!

  A loud yet satisfying sound emanated from the cradled pet. As the bubble descended to the floor, it came upon a sharp rock. It popped, releasing both the sealed water and the cat at the same time. Naturally, everything but its head was completely soaked and matted down. It meowed sadly in response to a sudden rush of cold wind.

  “Ah. Whoops.” Sato ran to the cat’s aid, taking off her coat and wrapping it like a baby. She even held it in her arms like one. “There ya go. All warm and snuggly, huh?”

  The cat hissed at her, though it could do nothing else as it was restrained by the Maiden’s grip and the tight raincoat shackling its legs.

  Ma’at laughed to herself. It was a sorry sight.

  “Okay. Let’s return it to the client.”

  Some time passed. Ma’at and Sato eventually tracked down the client’s address. It was on the corner of the central district in plain view of any tourists making their way into Reville through the city’s imposing bronze gates. The cat was owned by a red-headed woman, the same that had looked down from the balcony above and across from the fountain down at Ma’at way back when.

  “I thank you both, dearly. My name is Veronica.” She held out a hand to the Vroque women. Her eyes glowed emerald like two jade stones illuminated by a full moon.

  They both took turns giving her a soft handshake.

  Veronica looked at her cat with pursed lips and shook her head. “I’m sorry if she gave you any trouble. She was a stray I had taken in a few months back, but it seems she still loves to roam about the city as if she’s feral.” She procured a handful of engraved coins and handed them to Sato. “Here’s what I offered and a little more.”

  “That is… too much, my lady.” A housemaiden spoke up from the corner of the room, a grayed duster in her hand. It seemed as though the red-headed woman was quite affluent, though one could have guessed from the lavish interior of the home.

  “Hush, now. It is exactly as they are owed. I personally believe that if actions are just and kind, they deserve riches equal to their generosity. Wouldn’t you both agree?”

  “Mm. Can’t disagree with that,” Ma’at replied in earnest.

  Sato nodded. “Thank you. This will help us out more than you can imagine. We’ve already come a long way since last year.”

  “Ah, yes. You are both mercenaries of Vroque, correct?”

  “Yes,” they answered simultaneously.

  “Mhm. Well, you have my blessing to rise in the ranks of Reville. Not that it counts for much.” Veronica checked her face in a nearby mirror, prodding at her own rosy cheeks. “They use Classes to distinguish worth in this city, do they not?”

  “Yes, mistress. Every person, office, and otherwise have designated Classes ranging from A to F. The whole of Vroque Company and Firm are currently ranked as Class C.” The maid answered her quickly and without fault in her sentences even as she worked to clean the room.

  “Right, that was it. Noble or not, it doesn’t matter. No one is allowed to make great changes in this city without jurisdiction from someone within the Enlightened Towers.”

  “Pardon me, but have you been inside the Enlightened Towers before?” Sato asked.

  “I have. But trust me when I say they aren’t nearly as heavenly as they sound. That isn’t to say that they aren’t glamorous, no, not at all. Quite the contrary. But wealthy folks such as myself, and those richer than I, are still in a battlefield of our own. Our own making. It may not be as bloody and cutthroat as what you two are used to, but it is just as unforgiving. One wrong step and we could have the rug pulled out from under us. It isn’t a fair game, but what is in this world? One must have an iron will to survive.” She looked the two women in the eyes once more. “But to help me and my dear cat is totally unlike any mercenaries I’ve come to know. Especially Beatrice… that cruel, conniving, strange, selfish piece of-”

  “Mistress!” the handmaiden chastised.

  Veronica cleared her throat. “Forgive me. Surely you don’t wish to continue listening to my political rants and ravings. Enjoy your earnings! Perhaps I will call on Vroque again if I find myself in need of your services a second time. Good day to you both.”

  After leaving the noblewoman’s illustrious abode, they continued on tackling odd jobs across the city. For one, they were asked to help run a fruit stand while the shopkeep was gone. For the next, they were tasked with cleaning a subsection of the Grand Sewers of Cytique. For another, they helped take care of an elderly woman sick in bed. For yet another, they aided a blacksmith in crafting new arms to equip the Union knights and soldiers with. On and on these uncommon jobs came and went until the day was almost out. Dusk had begun to shroud Reville in forlorn, sunset-orange shadows. It was all coming to a close. They walked down the street, their office close at hand.

  It had been dead silent as they returned home when Sato suddenly said, “Thank you, Ma’at.”

  Ma’at tugged at her heavy bag loaded with their earnings for the day. “Don’t mention it. Work is work, but I feel like we really helped build rapport with the locals. And, well… we made a lot of money.” She whispered the last bit just in case there were any second-rate thugs waiting to jump them for all they had. Of course, there weren’t any.

  Sato chuckled, her hands behind her back. She anxiously pulled at her fingers. “I… didn’t mean the jobs. Though, I am thankful for that. I’m sure Tien is ecstatic, too! But…” She paused, then stopped altogether.

  Ma’at stopped as well, meeting the Maiden’s sullen stare.

  “I meant… Thank you for being with me all day today. And for… cheering me up this morning. I didn’t know if I was being a burden or not, so I-”

  “Sato.” The Sirithisian became very serious. She was as still as a stone statue. “You’re never… You will never be a burden to us. To me or Tien. Got that?”

  The dark hues in Sato’s starry eyes lightened into their usual violet constellations. No longer did they seem like two rainswept windows. Now, they appeared as beautiful and ephemeral as the Night of Falling Stars she had viewed before she died. Her red lips curved into a childlike, gleeful smile as if she were reminiscing on a memory of Shino. “Mhm,” she said and nodded, faint traces of tears forming in her eyes. Nothing but traces. “I’m glad I met you, Ma’at.”

  The Swordstress felt something akin to a flutter in her chest, as if the butterfly tattoo on Sato’s neck had come to life and attached itself to her heart. “I-I… M-Me…” she stuttered. “R-Right. Whatever the case, it’s nice to see you happy… I suppose.” She let out a stunted, awkward cough. “Anyway, let’s get back before they get worried.”

  “...and that’s why we’ve accepted the contract! We can finally-” The Writer stopped himself as Ma’at and Sato entered the room. “There you two are! Wow,” he said as he saw the bulging bags and pouches strewn across their bodies. “You’ve both been busy, it seems. You’re bursting at the seams! Haha.”

  “We’ve just been doing some odd jobs around Reville, this and that.” Ma’at started to lay down their earnings on the coffee table by the couches.

  “Grand. You’re just in time! I was just telling Tien here some great news.”

  “What is it?” Sato inquired, hope in her voice.

  “We’ve finally made enough,” Tien chimed.

  “Made enough? Enough what?” Ma’at asked.

  “Enough for us to start taking contracts across the world!” the Writer answered. “And better yet, we’ve already gotten one lined up. Tomorrow, you three will embark on a trip across the continent on one of Reville’s most prized airships!”