The gentle rocking of the ship did little to quiet the storm in Kitana's mind. The events at the auction house still burned in her memory—the girl's eyes, the burst of divine energy, the panicked screams as the ground trembled beneath them. Kitana had witnessed countless horrors in her lifetime, but something about that moment unsettled her more than she cared to admit.
Near the ship's railing, the girl sat in silence. "My name is Moira... I thought you should know," she said, her gaze fixed on the open sea. She didn't look at them. The wind stirred her white hair, but she hardly seemed to notice.
Kitana studied her for a moment before finally speaking. "I'm Kitana, and this is Lucian." She hesitated, then asked, "You said you don't know what happened back there, but something awakened in you."
Moira's fingers tightened around the fabric of her sleeves. "It wasn't just something," she murmured. "I think... I have part of an angel's power."
Lucian, who had been casually inspecting his dagger, let out a sharp laugh. "An angel's power? Sure, why not? We haven't had enough surprises."
Kitana ignored him. Instead, she focused on Moira, searching her face for any sign of doubt. But the girl looked as confused as they were. "What do you mean, 'part of an angel's power'?"
"I don't know." Moira swallowed hard. "I was just... there. And suddenly, something inside me cracked open. It felt like I was being torn apart and rebuilt at the same time. I didn't control it. It just—happened." She hesitated, then whispered, "...just like that time."
Lucian leaned against the railing. "Great. Another person with uncontrollable power. One wasn't enough. That always goes well."
Kitana shot him a glare. "Helpful."
He shrugged. "Just saying, we're probably taking on more than we can handle."
Moira ignored him and turned to Kitana. "But you," she said, her expression narrowing slightly. "You said something earlier, right before everything exploded. You yelled that I was a girl, not an angel. That we were getting out of there."
Kitana nodded. "And?"
Moira hesitated. "How did you know?"
Kitana frowned. "Know what?"
"That I wasn't an angel. That I was... human."
Silence hung between them. Kitana exhaled, rubbing the bridge of her nose before finally deciding to speak.
"Because," she said slowly, "I saw your memories."
Lucian straightened. "Wait. What?"
Moira's breath caught. "You saw—?"
Kitana nodded, crossing her arms. "I don't know how, but when I looked at you in that cage, I saw everything. Your past, your life—it was like I was living it."
Lucian frowned. "That's not normal."
Moira paled. "What did you see?"
Kitana hesitated. How much should she reveal? The images had been painful—shadows and broken fragments of a life Moira probably wanted to forget. But the strongest emotion had been loss. So much loss.
"I saw enough to know that you've been through hell," Kitana finally said. "That you lost something. Someone."
Moira's hands clenched into fists, her knuckles turning white. "You shouldn't have seen that."
Kitana's voice softened. "I didn't do it on purpose."
Lucian sighed. "First, she's got angel powers. Now you're reading minds? Fantastic. What's next? Demons too?"
Kitana shot him a sharp look, making him flinch. "Sorry... I didn't mean it like that."
"We'll figure it out later," Kitana said, her eyes flicking to the fresh blood staining Moira's sleeve. "Right now, we need to get to the capital. You're still bleeding."
Moira stiffened. "It's not important."
Kitana scowled. "It is."
Lucian smirked. "You should know by now—there's no arguing with her."
Kitana ignored him and stood. "We leave at dawn."
The journey to the capital stretched on, the days bleeding into one another as they traveled by ship, then on horseback when they reached the mainland. With each passing day, Kitana felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on her. There was something about Moira that unsettled her—something off. Her newfound powers were both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
Kitana had seen power like that before. Not pure, not like her own, but just as dangerous. And she knew better than anyone what it could do to a person.
She just hoped Moira wouldn't have to learn the hard way.
They traveled through rolling hills, past dense forests where the trees whispered secrets of old. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, but it was the silence that unnerved Kitana the most. For hours, no one spoke. Only when they stopped at their campsites did Moira finally break the quiet with hesitant questions, her voice still tinged with the uncertainty of her newfound abilities.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon in a blaze of orange and red, Kitana settled beside Moira by the campfire, her back resting against a boulder. Lucian sat across from them, cleaning his dagger, his usual cocky grin absent. Moira sat quietly, staring into the flames, her white hair glowing in the firelight.
Kitana broke the silence. "What happened back at the auction house? What do you remember?"
Moira blinked, her lips trembling slightly. "I remember… a voice. It was calling to me, but it wasn't my own. Then there was so much light. And the pain. I felt like I was being torn apart." She hesitated, her fingers clenching her cloak. "It was the same voice that burned my eyes years ago."
Kitana frowned. "Could it have been the angel's power?"
Moira shook her head, the sorrow in her eyes deepening. "I don't know. But it felt like I was being reborn. Like something inside me was… awakening."
Lucian chuckled from across the fire. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, that 'awakening' didn't do much for the rest of us. My ears are still ringing."
Kitana ignored him, focusing on Moira. "You didn't control it?"
Moira shook her head. "It just happened. Like it was always there, waiting."
Kitana felt a pang of empathy. She knew what it was like to be at the mercy of a power she didn't understand. She had spent weeks learning to control her own, only to find herself constantly battling her own instincts.
The night stretched on in silence. Eventually, Kitana lay down, staring at the dark sky, but sleep didn't come easily. Her thoughts kept circling back to Moira. What was the girl truly capable of? And what did it mean for the group—for her?
After days of travel, they finally arrived at the capital of Khipia. The city loomed ahead, its towering stone buildings rising high above the horizon, their jagged silhouettes cutting against the sky like teeth. The streets teemed with life—a chaotic blend of merchants shouting their wares, soldiers marching in rigid patrols, and civilians hurrying about their business.
Kitana felt a pang of unease as they entered the city. She pulled her hood lower, shielding her face. The sheer volume of noise was overwhelming, the air thick with tension. Her eyes swept over the crowd, instincts sharp. Lucian, ever at ease, seemed to revel in the chaos, while Moira clung close to Kitana, her white hair a beacon in the sea of people. Blind to the bustling streets around her, she gripped Kitana's arm tightly, relying on her for guidance.
Lucian stretched, grinning as he broke the silence. "Now, we head to the information guild."
Kitana raised an eyebrow. "The what?"
"The Whuxg Guild," Lucian said with a wink. "Best reputation, reliable sources."
Kitana narrowed her eyes. "And how exactly do you know that?"
Lucian smirked. "I do my research."
Moira glanced between them, still adjusting to their dynamic. "Are we not going to question that?"
Kitana exhaled, rubbing her temples. "Later."
Lucian grinned. "Oh, come on. You don't trust me?" He leaned in slightly, his tone teasing. "Don't forget—I saved you."
Kitana shot him a look. "Let's go before I change my mind."
The Whuxg Guild stood near the heart of the city, nestled between lavish mansions and high-end establishments. Its grand marble entrance gleamed under the midday sun, but inside, the atmosphere was eerily quiet. Velvet drapes lined the hall, chandeliers glittering like stars above polished marble floors.
A man in a deep blue coat stood at the front desk, his sharp gaze assessing them with detached scrutiny. His posture and cold composure suggested he had seen far more than he let on.
"Welcome to the Whuxg Guild," he greeted smoothly, his tone polite yet distant. "How may we assist you?"
Kitana glanced at Lucian, who offered her a small, knowing nod. Turning back to the guild worker, she met his gaze steadily.
"We need information."
The man smiled—a thin, professional curve of the lips, devoid of warmth. "And do you think have the coin for it?"