To Fly the Soaring Tides

My little sister was weeping over me, and I couldn't do anything about it. I couldn't even move my arms. I didn't know how I still lived in this state but it felt cruel to be spared yet rendered useless. I vaguely recognized the man that did it to me as he came closer. His fists were known to break anything.

"Midnight…" She squeezed my hand and tried telling me to save my energy, but I couldn't let her get hurt too. "Behind you—"

I coughed up blood and Midnight wiped my face off with her sleeve. "Don't worry, Sis. I'm right here." I watched in horror as the man silently approached, but he gave himself away with a laugh.

"Ember, isn't it? I don't remember you being a mage." Midnight seethed as her head turned away. "Let this be a lesson in arrogance—"

"Shut up." A dagger materialized through his skull, and he slumped over. Midnight spit on his body as it hit the ground. "Lesson, my ass. I should have done that the moment you appeared."

All I could do was stare at her in disbelief. My little sister had really grown up from that hapless young woman I found.

"Midnight, what do you think you're doing?" Benobal roared, "This is betrayal!"

"This is your fault." She stood facing the Madam, fists clenched. Her blades wove in and out of space as if she didn't know what to do with them. "You made me choose. You wouldn't even hear her out, and now look at her. After everything she's done for you!"

Another mage appeared and a dagger was held to his neck upon entry.

"Whoa, whoa, what the hell is this?!" He cried, stumbling back into another blade's point.

Benobal ground her teeth and shouted at the mage Brent who appeared earlier, "Well, don't just stand there! Do something!"

"Are you crazy? Midnight will kill me! I didn't sign up for this." He threw down his staff and sat down in a nearby chair. "Count me out."

"Useless! You're all useless!" More mages appeared as her rings went dim. Some of which were women under Midnight's command on any other day. Her blades started to hesitate as her friends from Oasis began to outnumber the harem. "All of you. Midnight has turned traitor. Kill her and all her friends!"

Nobody moved, mostly staring at the blown out half of the room and ship-sized block of gold sticking out the side. They looked between Benobal and Midnight in shock, completely unclear of the situation before them.

Dammit. Why can't I move? My body felt hot, like a flame was burning inside me with nowhere to escape, but now it was slowly seeping out. I just need to do something. I can stop this. No one else needs to get hurt. It wasn't supposed to go this way.

A young woman spoke up to break the silence, "Midnight… That's not true, right?"

"Of course not! The old bag just won't listen. And look!" She took a step to the side, "Look what she did to Ember!"

A few of them gasped but I was too weary to recognize any faces from here. Their cries didn't exactly make me feel better. This was not the glorious reunion I envisioned. And I certainly didn't want Benobal's floor to be my deathbed.

I refuse. I can't die here. Cira wouldn't go out like this. I already felt weaker, and a cold started to take the fires place deep inside my chest. Somehow, I could still feel the flames as they drifted away. All of my dreams, my hopes, and my very will still furled within them.

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"My gods… Ember." The voice of someone I must know trembled as it got closer. "I'll go get the priestess."

"What is wrong with all of you?" Benobal's frustration was a sweet song in my final moments. "Anyone who isn't a traitor, attack them, now!"

"Hang on just a minute." One man's voice slowed the clinking of weapons, "I'm only here for the money, but I have standards. Half your top girls are crying over the mangled body of another one of your girls. Darius Penumbra is dead on the floor with your head of security's knife through his skull. Then there's a whole gaggle of angry women behind a barrier. I'm not moving until I know what's going on."

"Yeah, I'm not fighting Midnight without a good reason." The other girls started to chime in for support of a cease fire.

"Yeah, I'm out. I don't do politics." Another mercenary promptly disappeared.

"Um, sorry to interrupt." Little rock cut in with a strained voice. "I really need to set this down somewhere. I can't hold it much longer!"

If that block of gold fell it would be catastrophic.

"Put it away!" Benobal spat, "I don't want it!"

"I… I can't. The ring broke." She really sounded frantic now, "I-I'm setting it down! It's goin' down!"

"Wisteria," Midnight called to one of her subordinates, "Get down there and move everyone out of the way."

"Yes ma'am!" I heard a gust of wind and figured she was gone.

"You idiots saw that gold, right?!" Benobal was furious, stamping around the floor yelling at the few still on her side, "We'll split it after this is over. Just kill them!"

I could feel them hesitating. They were torn between an unlikely battle, betraying their boss or their friends. But gold lit a fire in people's hearts. It was more than just greed, but a primal urge to live beyond mere survival. To distance oneself as far away from it as possible. Benobal offered enough money that they could buy their own islands and die of old age on a bed of gold.

Greedy bat she was, it was a little surprising she didn't even consider taking the money.

It doesn't matter the reasoning. Even some who turned sides on arrival are hesitating. This could be bad.

I could feel their souls ignite, blinded with promise of a better tomorrow. While their emotions burned too, that didn't matter when it came down to it. I couldn't even blame them if they turned on us. That was just life. The flames of self-preservation would always be brighter.

But I can't let it all burn down here. I will offer Oasis to Cira, but it was not meant to be in conquest. That would sully everything she stands for.

My sisters in the Harem burned with indignant rage that I'd been reduced to this state, and that negotiations had come to this. While the mercenaries trembled with greed, or perhaps ambition. The girls summoned here all fought an inner battle about what was right and what was wise.

Benobal herself was full of tumult. In over her head, and she let this get all out of hand. That grumpy old hag always did have a short temper.

I can feel them all. Save for Benobal, their souls all burn so bright. So, what about mine? It dwindles, and I can feel it all around. Brushing by the others like a gentle breeze. I must not let it die. Kindle the flame. Let it burn the aether, and anything else it needs. Rise. A pyre of my last will.

The darkening world was filled with bright, smoldering flames. Deeper than any crimson I had ever laid eyes on. As they rose, so too did I, until I was staring down at Benobal.

She, like everyone else aside from the harem, was rolling on the floor in a panic, shaking off the sudden flames.

"Don't worry, Midnight." She looked up at me in shock, fresh tears flowing from her face as she took me in. I'm sure I was a bloody mess, "My flames don't burn indiscriminately."

I let everyone take a moment to realize they weren't really burning, then Benobal stared at me like some kind of monster.

"You—what the hell are you?" She was truly shaken. I had reduced this woman into a state I had never seen her in before. It didn't feel great, but I lacked the time to care. That much I could feel with certainty.

"Enough." The flames surged, bursting into the air above the tower, "This is the chance you always wanted, Benobal. To claim your own sky—fully independent and under your rule. No more Gandeux oversight. No more taxes. Hell, start taxing them. We both know they won't go to war with Oasis."

"But they could come and take it, you insolent child!" No one seemed to want to get involved as we argued. "You know they can. They always could, and that day grows closer every day."

"Not anymore, they won't." I was starting to feel weak, but I couldn't let the flames die yet, "Take the gold, Benobal. It's a good deal. Protection, wealth, and true independence."

She stared at me aghast, fists clenched before finally she threw her chair onto the ground, "Goddammit, fine! I'll take the deal, just stop burning everything! What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"Good. Then await our return." Having accomplished our goal, I let the flames die down and everything turned black.