The Thirteenth Sign

After storming out of the Earth Dominion, Celeste decided to meet someone whom she hadn't met for some time.

She had never thought of herself as someone who needed others to survive.

She had spent most of her life navigating the Air Dominion on her own, separated from her family by the laws of the Celestial Order, learning to exist in a world where personal bonds meant nothing compared to duty. But after the last twenty-four hours—after discovering the truth about the Thirteenth Sign, after her mother refused to help her—she was starting to realize just how alone she truly was.

And she hated it.

The thought curled bitterly in her chest as she made her way toward the Grand Conflux, the only neutral meeting ground between factions. If there was anyone left she could turn to, it was her best friend.

She went to the Grand Conflux to meet her best friend. It was neither controlled by the Order nor ruled by any single faction, which meant it was one of the only places where someone like Celeste—an Aquarium noble marked for death—could meet with a Cancerian healer without drawing immediate suspicion.

But even here, she wasn't safe.

Her presence was already earning wary glances from passing diplomats and enforcers, their expressions shifting between curiosity and quiet recognition. Word traveled fast in Aetherion.

If the wrong person realized who she was and what she had done, she wouldn't make it out of the Conflux alive.

She exhaled sharply, forcing herself to stay calm.

Raenys was supposed to meet her here. She just had to find her first.

...

"Celeste, over here."

The familiar voice pulled her attention to the far side of the Conflux, where Raenys Callisten stood beneath the shade of an arched walkway, arms crossed over her chest.

Raenys had always been the type to draw attention effortlessly—tall and composed, her dark auburn hair pulled into an elegant braid, her emerald-green eyes sharp with intelligence. She was dressed in the flowing white robes of a high-ranked Cancerian healer, a symbol of her authority in the Water Dominion's medical division.

And right now, she did not look happy to see Celeste.

Celeste approached quickly. "I appreciate you coming."

"What were you thinking?" Raenys cut in, her tone low but urgent. "You're supposed to be keeping your head down, not throwing yourself into the most dangerous conspiracy in Aetherion's history."

Celeste stiffened. "I see you've heard."

Raenys sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. "Of course, I've heard. The Order has locked down entire sections of the Archives. I had to pull rank just to access the medical wing without suspicion." She narrowed her eyes. "Do you have any idea how much danger you're in?"

Celeste clenched her jaw. "I don't have a choice, Raenys. They're going to kill me anyway. At least this way, I have a chance to fight back."

Raenys shook her head, something like frustration flashing across her face. "You're impossible."

"That's why you like me."

"That's why you're going to get yourself executed."

Celeste exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "Look, I didn't come here for a lecture. I just—I just needed to talk to someone who doesn't want me dead."

Raenys studied her for a long moment, then sighed again, softer this time. "Celeste…" Her voice lost some of its sharpness. "You know I'll support whatever you choose. But this?" She hesitated. "There's no way to win against the Order. They don't make mistakes. They don't leave loose ends."

Celeste met her gaze. "Then I guess I'll have to be the first."

Raenys let out a quiet, disbelieving laugh. "You're an idiot."

"An idiot with a plan," Celeste corrected, crossing her arms.

Raenys arched a brow. "That's debatable."

Celeste almost smiled—almost. But the moment was cut short by the sudden shift in atmosphere around them.

A ripple of tension, quiet but undeniable.

Raenys stiffened slightly. "What is it?"

Celeste didn't have to answer because she already knew.

There were Footsteps. Slow, measured, and deliberate footsteps.

Celeste turned, and Kieran was walking toward them.

He looked the same as he always did—dark uniform, expression unreadable, and black-gloved hands resting casually at his sides. But there was something in the way he moved, the way the crowd unconsciously shifted out of his path, that sent a chill through Celeste's spine.

People feared him, and they were right to.

Raenys inhaled sharply beside her. "What in the name of the Twelve is he doing here?"

Celeste swallowed hard. "I don't know."

Kieran stopped a few steps away, tilting his head slightly, eyes flicking between the two of them before settling on Celeste.

"You're getting predictable, little Aquarium," he murmured.

Raenys took an instinctive step back. "You know him?"

Celeste sighed. "It's complicated."

Kieran's lips twitched. "Not really."

Raenys stared at Celeste, then back at Kieran, then back at Celeste. "Wait." She narrowed her eyes. "Are you two—"

"No," Celeste said quickly.

"Absolutely not," Kieran said at the same time.

Raenys hummed, unconvinced.

Kieran ignored her, focusing on Celeste again. "You shouldn't be here."

"You keep saying that," Celeste muttered, "and yet, I'm still alive."

"For now."

Raenys made a strangled noise. "Okay, I have a lot of questions."

Kieran turned his gaze to her for the first time, and Raenys immediately shut up.

Celeste sighed. "Don't mind him. He just likes to intimidate people."

Kieran smiled faintly. "It works."

Raenys swallowed. "Yeah. No kidding."

Celeste crossed her arms. "What do you want, Kieran?"

He tilted his head slightly. "A conversation. In private."

Celeste's pulse skipped. "Why?"

Kieran didn't answer immediately. His gaze flickered to Raenys, then back to Celeste.

"Because you have something that belongs to me," he murmured.

Celeste's breath caught. The keycard.

She clenched her jaw. "And if I refuse?"

Kieran exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "You won't."

Before she could react, he stepped forward, wrapped his gloved fingers around her wrist, and pulled her toward him.

"Hey!"

"Don't struggle," he muttered, voice low enough for only her to hear. "Unless you want to make a scene."

Celeste's heart pounded.

Raenys was staring in shock. "Are you seeing this?"

Kieran sighed, as if already exhausted. "She'll be fine, Healer. Try not to worry too much."

Raenys blinked, then frowned. "You're kidnapping my best friend, and you want me to stay calm?"

"Yes."

"Are you insane?"

Kieran smirked. "Depends on who you ask."

Celeste groaned. "Raenys, I'll be fine. Just... Stay out of trouble, okay?"

Raenys huffed, crossing her arms. "No promises."

Kieran tugged Celeste forward. "Come on, Aquarium. We have a lot to talk about."

And then, before she could say another word, he led her away into the city.