Page 64 of A Liar's Twisted Tongue

“You don’t have to say it every time I wake up,” he says groggily. “It was my decision.”

“One you would not have made without my meddling.”

“You know how I feel about your actions as of late,” he mumbles. “But a weapon? That’s bigger than us. A little pain for future peace is warranted.”

I look down. I do not want him to be able to read what must be clear: this isn’t about peace. Not for me.

“Yeah,” I say. “I won’t let you get hurt again though.”

“It’s not up to you.” He tries to sit up with a groan and fails. “It’s not everyone else’s job to make sure I’m alright.” Azaire lays back down and pulls his dark-blue beanie over his eyes.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Wendy,” he mumbles. “I think…” he sits up again, uncovering his eyes. “I don’t know… I mean, the thing about her is that she feels everything, you know?”

“No, I don’t. Perhaps start at the beginning?” I offer with a smile.

“When I first woke up from…” he waves his hands around his body, “you know, she said that ‘whatever this is has to end here.’ And that she ‘doesn’t know how to do this’.”

“Doesn’t know how to feel?” I offer, considering how he began this confusing conversation.

“I think.” He tugs at his beanie. “She didn’t take it well in uh,” Azaire clears his throat, “in class.” I clench my jaw. “This was a lot worse than that. What I was saying before, about the feeling everything, she can’t turn off her empathy like the rest of them. I think me being hurt scared her, but I want her to know that I’m okay because of her.”

I see now. I’ve heard of the Eunoia who cannot turn off their powers of empathy. Those who are not Eunoia write about it as if it’s a gift they take for granted. Those who are Eunoia write about it as if it’s a curse they wouldn’t wish upon their least favorite person.

Least favorite, because the Eunoia refuse to hate.

“I want to help get rid of this thing,” Azaire says with conviction.

“Before it’s used to cause more damage than we all can take.”

“Alright,” I say. “We’ll destroy it. Together.”

* * *

Four days later, Wendy is outside the combat room when I exit from my morning training with Yuki. I asked Azaire to talk to her for me and persuade her to find any information she could on her mom, Isa, and the Arcanes. He convinced her, all right.

I knew I shouldn’t have asked him, and I knew I needed answers more.

Though she doesn’t look at me when I exit. Her eyes lock inside the room, specifically on the opened armory in the back. This could be her first time seeing the weapons. They don’t let the Eunoia in combat class.

“What’d you find?” I ask her, wiping the sweat from my forehead.

“Not here.” Her eyes don’t stray from the armory. “Are those all the weapons you guys have?”

“Not even close. Why?” We must need weapons for something.

“No reason.” She shakes her head and finally looks at me. “Let’s go.”

I take a step and she follows, heading to the nearest exit when she grabs my arm. “We can’t go past the barrier.”

They’re here.

“What happened?” I ask.

“A pernipe. I killed it.”

What in Sulva’s name is happening? One of Eunoia’s greater corenths on Visnatus. Yet, it makes me a little giddy. Too excited to not be considered maniacal. A greater corenth here means the puzzle is coming to me. So too will answers.

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