Page 3622

The entire chamber went briefly dark, and when light returned, it looked and felt as though they had been transported to a completely different location.

It was a scene quite similar to the one that had just been on the screen--so similar, in fact, that Diego at first thought that it was simply the same one recreated--but as he looked further, he noticed different buildings and street markers, and the reddish sun was in a different position in the sky.

Ash and smoke choked the air, and it felt like Diego could actually smell them. The scent of blood and death hung thick here. An all too familiar scent.

Diego couldn’t help standing to his feet.

They had all been told about the illusive capabilities of Graves by Zeff, and indeed, Diego had even caught a few glimpses of it firsthand on the battlefield since then, too.

But this was still quite a new and different experience for him. An illusion this realistic? It boggled the mind.

“This is not an illusion,” arrived Graves’ disembodied voice from all around them, as if in response to the thought that had just been in Diego’s head. “This is a projection. A live feed, if you will. From one of the many townships on the outskirts of Denbohlt. This is what will soon become of the capital city, if action is not taken in its defense.”

That information made Diego look over the scene anew. A live feed, was it?

So that flaming pile of the rubble there was burning as they spoke? Those rotting corpses along the sundered roadside were still there, right now?

And even that lone child wandering the street in the distance, face smeared black with soot and grime...? Even that was...?

Unconsciously, Diego raised a hand forward and took a step toward the child.

“...Ah.”

A hummingbird appeared before the child, drawing his or her attention. And Diego watched as the child began to follow it.

“Not to worry,” said Graves. “I will guide her to a safe place.”

Diego didn’t know what to say.

The Lady Merlo certainly did, though. “Perhaps you could show us a live feed of Kuros. Or Zebul, perhaps. Or just about any of the major cities in eastern Sair, for that matter.”

“Alas, I cannot,” said Graves. “That is much too far. And the reason I am able to share this scene with you is because I am also in Denbohlt, actively monitoring things there, just as I am here.”

Page 3621

Graves cocked an eyebrow. “...Ettol, you say? That is the name of an Ancient Melmoorian trickster god.”

“Yeah, dude, my reaper may’ve mentioned a thing ‘r two about that,” said Leo. “But I’m more interested in the modern day. So have you ever heard of a psychic who goes by that name?”

“I’m afraid not,” said Graves. “But even if I had, what would you do with such information? Please tell me you do not intend to go after this person with some sort of plan.”

“Plans come later, daddy-o. Once the gatherin’ of intel is complete. Or further along, at least.”

“Mr. Leonardo. I may not be fully apprised of your circumstances, but I do know something of the dangers you’ve described. Please trust me when I say that if it happened once, it can absolutely happen a second time. This does not sound like someone you should pursue haphazardly. I implore you to be exceedingly cautious.”

“Ooh. If you’re the one saying that, then maybe this fellow is even scarier than I thought. ‘Preciate the warning, pal.”

The marshal’s gaze lingered on Leo for a few moments more before returning to the rest of the table.

Diego felt the whole room relax a little. Phew.

“Well,” said Graves, “with that out of the way, I’d like to return to what we were discussing before. Czacoa.”

“Still?” said Rayen Merlo. “I should think we have made ourselves quite clear by now.”

“You have,” said Graves. “But permit me this one last courtesy. Then I shall not trouble you with it again. Fair?”

The Lady Merlo glanced across the table and saw a few nods of affirmation before relenting and giving one of her own.

“Thank you,” said Graves. He stood and produced a pair of tablets from his overcoat, fiddling with them briefly before sliding them over to the people on his right and left, who happened to be Rider, one of Santos Zabat’s sons, and Delia, one of Evangelina Stroud’s daughters. “This footage was taken from Denbohlt just yesterday. I’m sure I don’t need to worry about your sensitivities, but even so, allow me to warn you: it is quite graphic.”

The tablets passed along the edges of the table, and soon enough, one of them reached Diego’s hands.

The scene unfolding on the screen was of a type that he’d witnessed before.

Razed buildings. Smote ground and smoldering piles of rubble. Smoke and ash filling the sky. Bodies littering the ground.

Diego passed it on to his grandmother.

“I well know the noble spirit of the Rainlords,” said Graves. “I know you all have within you that most valiant of instincts to intervene and protect the innocent. But I’m sure that mere video footage will not be enough to sway you. So allow me to create an even more vivid depiction of what is happening over there, right now.”

Page 3620

“Quit lookin’ at me like a deer in the headlights,” Leo went on. “It’s a simple enough question. I’m sure you’ve given it plenty of thought over the years, at some point or another. So just tell me, man. How do you feel about your current place in the world?”

All eyes fell upon Graves again, who apparently needed a few more moments to find his answer. “...I am feeling just fine about it. But thank you for your concern.”

“Oh. Yeah? That’s great, dude. Happy to hear that. So you’ve got yourself a nice little support system in the Vanguard, then?”

“Support system? Yes, I suppose I do.”

“Good, good. Glad to hear it. I’m tellin’ ya, man. Social isolation: it’s a silent killer. Even if it doesn’t threaten your life directly, it’ll mess with your head until you start thinkin’ crazy stuff, daddy-o. Real family unfriendly stuff, know what I’m sayin’?”

“...From the passion in your words, I’m guessing that you have been struggling with such difficult thoughts yourself. Perhaps until quite recently?”

“Yeah. Well. No. But also yeah. It’s been a complicated last few years for me, man. Simple, yet complicated. Much like myself, you might say! Heh!”

“Right...”

“Long story short: my mind got messed with by a powerful psychic.”

“Ah. I see...”

“Made me feel not quite myself for a good long while. And yet, in some ways, looking back on it all now, maybe it actually made me behave more like myself than ever before. Like it brought out the worst version of myself imaginable. That make sense?”

“I do believe I understand, yes.”

“Course ya do. Knew ya would. Knowledgeable guy like you. Knowledgeable psychic guy like you.”

Oh boy. Diego couldn’t help tensing up, and he could practically feel the rest of his kin at the table tensing up right alongside him.

Melchor Blackburn was the one to speak up. “Leo...”

“No, man, relax. I’m not tryin’ to pick a fight ‘r anythin’. But I figure, maybe this fella here might know a thing ‘r two about the other fella what messed with my noggin. ‘sbeen on my to-do list, findin’ out more about who did that to me.”

“I see,” reiterated Graves. “Yes, psychics can be quite the troublemakers. I assume this person has made it difficult for you to even remember much about them?”

“Sure has. But I did manage to learn the name Ettol. That mean anything to you?”