Jackal Among Snakes

“Sometimes, you learn just enough to entice you. Then, you push a little deeper, not knowing what you’ll find. It’s a treacherous journey, the unknown. You either find nothing… or you find misery.” Dario managed to look up at Melanie. “You learn a little too much, and the façade starts to fade away. All your happiness is flavored with bile, because it all feels so small in comparison to the grandeur of what you’ve learned.”

Melanie shook her head. “That doesn’t answer my question.”

“You asked me if it was worth it, what I’ve done.” Dario exhaled. “It was never about it being ‘worth it.’ I knew the truth, and all the misery it brought. Things fell apart around me, and all my joy died. It was a buzzing in the back of my mind. It was as though I knew a poisonous spider lurked near my bed, yet not where. I had to act.”

“I suppose I know what you mean.” Melanie kept her eyes focused on Dario—even with him broken and battered, she didn’t underestimate this man for a second. “Knew a happy couple, married for twenty years. Then, the husband confessed he cheated when they were engaged. Twenty years of a good bond fell apart all because someone learned something they couldn’t forget. I always did wonder if ignorance would’ve served that woman best.”

“Hm. Hard to say.”

A silence stretched out between the two of them. Melanie sighed after a while. “You’re a lot like Argrave, in a way. Lots of self-importance.”

“Self-importance?”

“Well, yeah. Thinking that you’re the only one who can save the world, that sort of thing. You both have your reasons, I guess, but you took drastically different paths with your savior complex. Difference between you… Argrave has people backing him up. Your only ally abandoned you the moment it became problematic for them. Castro trusted Argrave enough to give his life for his cause. Do you see the difference?”

Dario didn’t dispute that.

“If know them, here’s what’ll happen. Argrave and Anneliese will try and convince you to come to their side, spill the beans. I’d advise that you do. If you’re honest, if you try and turn a new leaf… if you rely on someone besides some bastards that’d ruin your life and then abandon you, the royal couple might have your back, too,” Melanie ended hopefully.

“If not?”

“If not, I’m pretty sure they’ll give you to the Alchemist.” Melanie crossed her legs as the idea made her uncomfortable. “He’ll think of half a thousand measures to get what he needs from you. Even if they don’t work like you seem to think, I can guarantee they’ll be a lot worse than whatever secrets made you depressed enough to hurt yourself this badly.”

“I would never—”

through to stop that, it has to mean something. You want to know why your patron—if you can call them that—walked away? Because it doesn’t matter even if you don’t stay silent. We’re near the truth. If you’re so tickled about the fate of the universe, or whatever stupid reason you’d hurt yourself like this, then work with us!” Melanie’s last words were emotional, causing Dario to lift his head to

stare-off—her green eyes meeting his bloodshot red. Dario was the first to break his gaze to lay his head upon the cavern floor, and Melanie shook

or perhaps the Alchemist, would chase after me while Argrave returned as quickly as he could. And now that you’re divided, Mozzahr is going to try

Dario with

sanctuary. Mozzahr… they had me talk to him days prior, give him some information to position himself to take Sophia upon Argrave’s return with her in tow. The ordeal still

flattered they thought him tougher than Mozzahr,” Melanie said, urgency making her speak quickly. “Please, give me more information.

again, fixed Melanie with eyes filled with bitter resolve. “Listen closely. I can’t say if

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Sophia the city as anyone else might’ve entered it. He held her hand as they walked. Here, at least, he was certain the people could be trusted. He sent Orion ahead to speak to Elenore, and the Alchemist had returned to his

seemed to hasten a little. They came out of the tunnel, and Sophia

Home. New for

her for a long while yet… if not her whole life. And that was not even mentioning the traumatic flight she’d just had to endure. Argrave wished that he could show her nothing but kindness henceforth, but the dark shadow of what she really was hung over that. Hers had not been a normal childhood, and given her connection to Gerechtigkeit, Argrave could not promise to

have my word on that. We can work out all the details later,” Argrave told her, half to

asked. “I don’t want anybody to

just agree to that and move on, but that little thing that made people feel bad about lying pricked at Argrave—he thought it was called a ‘conscience,’ but he was certain he’d killed that a long time ago. In the time

get hurt because of you,” Argrave

Castro did,” Sophia countered meekly

What he did, he did because he

after death. That you die,

added, then

Argrave, deep in thought, and then shook her head. To his relief, she didn’t

Argrave nodded. “I could

can’t