He’ll have witnesses. Compassion’s wounded gaze as she tells the public that I am out of control, attacking unprovoked the hand that reached out to help me.
I move into an attack form anyway.
If I can’t win without making this into a battle, then a battle it will be.
Because this I learned long ago:
Some things are worth doing, even if it costs.
“Stand down,” I tell Mujin in a soft, deadly voice.
Chapter 12
“No.”It’sErayawhoresponds. “The sage needs to come with us.”
There’s no trace of uncertainty in her gaze now.
Of course not; she believes she’s helping. Her Compassion takes strength from that.
“Whatever you may think of us, it’s for his own good, and the good of everyone around him,” she says firmly.
“No,” I echo her. “It is not. He is also free to make his own choices, as all of us should be, and is not a danger to anyone.”
As long as I keep working with him.
As long as I hold that space, because he can’t yet.
That’s the problem with being a sage, isn’t it? It’s never just about me.
I don’t particularly want to sacrifice my peace for the sake of someone else.
But I also won’t know real peace, knowing I didn’t defend someone when I had the power to.
I don’t know what freedom looks like.
But it’s definitely not standing idle while someone else’s is taken away, hoping I won’t be next.
If I have to become their bogeyman after all...
So be it.
“And Eraya,” I say. “Learned Mujin. I let the priests go because I didn’twantto return to the mass murder I was trained to commit. But that doesn’t mean I’m not willing and able to kill you all if that’s what it takes to ensure our freedom.”
I’m tired from flying this morning, from the work I did to make that happen, and working the ice.
But my wrath burns strongly.
I may be in a bad way after this.
But I can dig deep enough to defeat every last one of them if I have to.
Even if it feels like losing.
The priests take their cue, moving into an attack formation with Mujin directing them from the back.
Coward.
Meanwhile Eraya strides back to the front without hesitation and assumes her own form.
