Astra:

  Astra gently laid the sleeping Kael on a narrow bed. Then she crossed the shop and locked the door with the key Augs had told her about.

  He was probably still outside gathering information about the night's chaos.

  Good. His reputation as a half-mad herbalist would prevent anyone from breaking in, she thought.

  Moving behind the counter, she let her eyes adjust to the dim interior, being careful not to light more lamps than necessary. She gathered salves, bandages, and dried herbs. Everything she would need.

  When she returned to Kael, she carefully removed his blood-soaked shirt.

  Her breath caught.

  Bruises and cuts covered his upper body; fresh wounds layered over old scars. It was a map of battles written into his skin. She lingered for a moment, then pushed the thought away and began to work.

  She crushed herbs, mixed pastes, and applied them with practiced hands—one blend to ease pain and another to prevent inflammation. Hour after hour passed. She did not rest. She did not notice the night giving way to dawn.

  By the time the sun rose, her hair clung damply to her face. Her black eyes were dulled by exhaustion, and her movements were slower than she realized.

  The sound of a key turning made her flinch.

  Augs entered the shop and froze when he saw her and Kael. Understanding flickered across his face. Without a word, he locked the door again and crossed the room.

  He took in her state at once.

  His usual playful expression was gone.

  "Rest," he said quietly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'll take care of him."

  "I'm fine," Astra replied automatically. "I can keep going."

  Augs sighed and rubbed his eyes. "You're not. Even this shop can’t mask the exhaustion clinging to you.” He nodded toward Kael. “The news can wait.”

  Her shoulders finally sagged. She nodded slightly and moved to a chair against the wall. She curled one knee up and rested her head against it. The last thing she saw was Augs bending over Kael and inspecting his wounds with careful focus.

  Sleep took her instantly.

  When she woke up again, the light had shifted. It was evening.

  Startled by how much time had passed, she jolted upright and turned toward the bed.

  Kael was still unconscious. Clean bandages now wrapped his torso and legs.

  Relief loosened something in her chest.

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  Augs stood by a basin, washing his hands. He looked up as she approached; worry was etched deep into his features.

  "He pushed himself too far," he said quietly, glancing at Kael. "I stopped the worst of it. No lasting damage."

  He paused.

  "But he won't be leaving the Empire anytime soon."

  Astra sighed. She had already feared the answer.

  "How long?" she asked flatly.

  Augs shook his head. "A week. A month. Somewhere in that range.”

  Her eyes narrowed. "That's too long. We don't have that time. The king will stop at nothing now. He’ll hunt the rebels relentlessly, and he knows that we are among them.” She gestured toward Kael. "Too many people saw us with the sword inside the academy.”

  Augs exhaled slowly. "I know. But even if he wakes up, he won't be able to walk. Riding a horse would be impossible.” His voice lowered. "The pain would be unbearable."

  Astra swayed slightly as dizziness washed over her. She steadied herself against the table.

  "So that's it?" she asked quietly, her voice cracking despite her attempt to keep it steady.

  "Everything I worked for— Everything I bled for? Is it over?"

  Augs placed a hand on her shoulder, grounding her. “Not yet. Let’s wait until he wakes up. Maybe it’s not as bad as it looks. Maybe he just needs time.” He searched her face. "Take a bath. You'll think more clearly afterwards."

  After a moment, Astra nodded.

  She climbed the stairs to the small bathroom above the shop.

  When she returned, her hair was still damp, but the exhaustion had left her face. She was wearing a different black outfit—one that she had left there long ago for emergencies.

  She sat in the same chair where she had slept, her gaze fixed on Kael’s unmoving form. Augs knelt nearby, gathering the last of the herbs from the floor.

  She leaned forward.

  "No more avoiding it," Astra said, her voice once again cool and controlled. “Tell me. What happened to them?"

  Augs slowly straightened and met her gaze.

  "Bereos and Varen succeeded," he said. "They assassinated the prince. Bereos burned himself alive to hold back the knights. Varen killed the prince, but was cut down by the current commander of the Order.”

  His hands trembled slightly.

  "They say that during the fight, Varen laughed. Not a word. Just laughter."

  For a moment, grief, pride, and regret flickered across Astra’s face. Then it vanished.

  “So that part went according to plan,” she said quietly.

  Augs continued. "There were uprisings across the city. Everywhere except the noble districts. People turned on the knights and questioned their role as protectors." His expression shifted. "The king was publicly blamed for failing to prevent it."

  Astra’s gaze hardened. "If outrage alone could topple him, he would have fallen years ago." She shook her head. "People forget. He’ll give them something. A speech, a scapegoat and they’ll move on.”

  She straightened.

  "No, we're doing this the way we always planned."

  Her eyes locked onto Augs.

  “Now,” she said coldly. “Tell me what happened to the rest.”

  Augs sighed before meeting her gaze.

  "I've only heard rumors from inside the academy," he said slowly. "But it seems that two of the five were killed during their escape. One was captured. The remaining two are missing.” His expression tightened. "They must still be inside. No other escape has been recorded except yours.”

  Astra lowered her gaze and closed her eyes.

  She had known from the beginning that sacrifices would be necessary. That some of them would never make it out.

  Knowing that didn't make it hurt any less.

  “Do you know who is who?” she asked quietly.

  Augs shook his head in silence. Then, his eyes drifted back to Kael, and unease settled into his features.

  "What happened to you two?" he asked after a moment. "When I treated him, I could smell it—pain and grief—sealed behind something cold. Like a door slammed shut.”

  Astra followed his gaze. Her expression softened as she looked at Kael’s still form.

  She told Augs what had happened: About Zaros. About the fight. She told him about the moment Kael broke and closed himself off.

  Augs froze when she finished speaking.

  His aged eyes reddened and his jaw tightened as he looked at her. "It isn't fair," he said quietly.

  "What you've already endured at such a young age...it isn't fair."

  Astra smiled bitterly.

  For a while, neither of them spoke.

  They sat in a heavy, shared silence while, beyond the shop's walls, the empire began to tear itself apart—

  A storm gathering strength, indifferent to the lives already lost beneath it.