The Blue Reaper's chest heaved, his grip on the katana wavering.
Sister Jewel's smile never faltered. "It's clear you have no will left to fight. And if we wanted to harm you, you'd already be dead."
The Vice-Magister's light shield glowed softly, still raised between them.
Huey's eyes blazed behind his mask, but his arm trembled.
The burn from Peter's attack throbbed, and his mental capacity was dangerously low.
He lowered his blade slowly.
"Smart choice." Sister Jewel gestured to her companions, who relaxed their stances. "We don't approve of your methods Blue Reaper, but it seems we share a common problem."
"Which is?"
"Montez." She clasped her hands together. "Our sources say you've been hunting him. As have we, since the warehouse incident where our operatives died."
Huey's grip tightened on his katana. "What exactly are you offering? I already have access to most of your data, so I don't see how this partnership would benefit me."
"That so?" Sister Jewel tilted her head.
"Because from where I'm standing, the lone wolf approach is clearly taking its toll. You have unanswered questions, too many enemies and you're running on fumes."
She took a step closer.
"But if that doesn't persuade you, perhaps this will: the St. Helena massacre eight months ago. We've been tracking your activities, Reaper. Every operation they all link back to that event."
Huey went very still.
"St. Helena is our church. That hospital basement belonged to the Golden Chalice's medical wing. We have files, records, witness statements and everything you've been searching for, maybe much more." Her eyes were sharp despite her gentle smile.
"All we ask is cooperation. For this particular instance."
The silence stretched.
Then Huey spoke. "At the slightest indication of betrayal, I won't hesitate to....."
Sister Jewel's smile widened genuinely. "I'd expect nothing less."
Morning light filtered through the dorm window.
Huey sat on his bed, shirtless except for boxers, carefully unwrapping the bandage on his left arm. The burn from Peter's attack looked worse in daylight, angry red blisters running from wrist to elbow.
Calvin had already left for class.
Smart guy.
Huey pressed his fingers against the wound experimentally and immediately regretted it.
The partnership with the Golden Chalice presented new opportunities. Sister Jewel had access to the St. Helena recordsb and a lot of Information on what really happened eight months ago.
But could he trust them?
The door opened.
"Calvin, did you forget your—"
"AHHHHH!"
Alessia Cardoso stood in the doorway, eyes wide and hand frozen on the doorknob.
Huey dove behind the wardrobe.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
"I'M SORRY!" Alessia spun around, facing the hallway. "I didn't know you were....Calvin gave me his key and I thought....."
"GET OUT!"
"I'M LEAVING!"
She slammed the door.
Huey scrambled for clothes, pulling on pants and a shirt with fumbling fingers. His burn protested every movement.
And another knock came.
"Are you decent?"
"...Yeah."
Alessia entered again, keeping her eyes on the floor, her face flushed. "I am so, so sorry."
"How did you even get Calvin's key?"
"He gave it to me! Said I could grab something I left here last time." She finally looked up, adjusting her glasses nervously. Then her eyes caught on his arm. "Wait, what happened to your—"
"Nothing."
"That's not nothing, that's a second-degree burn." She moved closer before he could protest. "Let me see."
"Alessia..."
"Sit down. Please."
her tone made him comply, and he sat on the edge of his bed while she knelt beside him, examining the injury.
"You're not in class," Huey said, deflecting.
"Neither are you." She placed her hands gently over the burn. Her warm and golden pneuma was nothing like the destructive power most Topplers wielded.
The pain began to fade.
Huey's eyes widened. "You can heal with pneuma?"
"Picked up a few tricks from my mom. She was a medic." Alessia's concentration never wavered, her pneuma flowing steadily into his damaged tissue.
Huey realized with a start that he'd never asked about her family. He was terrible with people.
"Your mom taught you this?"
"Yeah. She and my dad—they weren't powerful Topplers, just had normal jobs and very normal lives." Alessia's voice softened. "It was great, until they got caught up in a scandal at the hospital where they worked. Politics, cover-ups, you know the usual. Unfortunately they didn't make it."
"I'm sorry."
"Thank you." She smiled slightly, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "My older brother took care of me after that. He's in his 3rd year here, law student. Pretty popular on campus."
"What's his name?"
"Alexis. Alexis Cardoso." She glanced up at him. "He's kind of like you, actually. Soft on the inside even though he doesn't show it. And he's Achusoi too."
Huey studied her face. "That's why you never looked at me the way others do. When I had you against the wall, there was no disgust in your eyes."
"Hard to hate someone for something that defines the person you love most." Alessia finished the healing and sat back. "Your arm should be fine in a few hours. Try not to get it burned again."
"I'll do my best."
She pulled out her phone, her expression shifting to a more serious one. "Speaking of things that aren't fine, have you been online lately?"
"No. Why?"
Alessia showed him the screen.
A campus forum post, hundreds of comments, all centered around one topic:
"CRESTLESS CROSS IN BED WITH CRIMINALS?"
The post detailed "evidence" that Huey had been working with Riva and Montez. That his knowledge during the field assessment was suspiciously detailed and that he'd somehow orchestrated turning them against each other for his own benefit.
Another thread linked him to the drug distribution on campus. Someone had taken photos showing the girl who headed this years art exhibition slipping Huey a piece of paper.
"Milo DiMarco," Huey said quietly.
"Who?"
"One of the combat students from the field assessment. Her sister Marco died during the attack and Milo blames me for it." He set the phone down. "She's probably the one who's been spreading these rumors."
"Huey, this is serious. The Arcanum Division could investigate....."
"Let them." His voice was flat. "It's not like I'm guilty of anything."
"But what about the other students? Your reputation—"
"What reputation?" Huey stood, walking to the window. "They never accepted me anyway, Alessia. I'm the curse of the House Cross. These rumors just give them permission to say out loud what they always thought."
"That's not fair."
"Doesn't really matter" He turned to face her. "Its how I've handled inequality and being alone my whole life. This changes nothing."
Alessia opened her mouth to argue, then closed it. She recognized that look in his eyes, the same one her brother got sometimes.
The look of someone who'd stopped expecting people to be kind.
"Okay," she said finally. "But if Milo escalates this beyond rumors, you'll tell me?"
"Why do you care so much?"
"Because somebody should." She headed for the door, then paused. "Oh, and Huey? You might want to actually attend class tomorrow. Skipping twice in a row is how you get academic probation."
The door clicked shut.
Huey stood alone in the room, staring at his healed arm.
Someone who'd stopped expecting people to be kind.
Was that really what he'd become?
Across campus, in a rarely-used bathroom on the third floor of the combat building, Milo DiMarco checked her appearance in the mirror one last time.
It was perfect and not a single hint of the rage and envy that simmered beneath.
She exited the bathroom.
A figure stood waiting, his back turned and wearing a cassock with lines marking his rank as a presbyter.
"You must really be serious about destroying Huegen Cross," the figure said without turning around. "Using your influence to spread convincing rumors."
"I'm doing everything necessary to eradicate that useless pig." Milo's voice was cold. "He killed my sister."
"Technically, Montez killed your sister."
"Cross had information. He could have stopped Riva before any of it happened. He chose not to." Her hands clenched into fists. "Marco died because of that coward who hides behind manipulation instead of fighting."
"And you want justice??."
"I want revenge."
The figure finally turned slightly, though their face remained in shadow. "The head of our group can help with that. But you'll need to follow the plan exactly."
"I understand."
"Good." A pause. "The plan requires you to do something... uncomfortable. Are you prepared to go further than rumors?"
Milo thought of Marco's face. Her twin and other half gone because of Cross stupid games.
"I'll do whatever it takes."
"Excellent." The figure produced a small vial filled with red liquid. "Then let's discuss your role in the upcoming demonstration."
Milo took the vial, her reflection in the bathroom mirror showing that her eyes held evil intentions.
Huey Cross would crumble,
And she'd make sure of it.