The next morning, at dawn, the camp was still and quiet.
Rhea lay fast asleep in the tent. Beside her, Ayumu's bedroll was empty.
Ayumu was peeking out of the tent flap, her golden eyes darting left and right like a cautious squirrel. The coast seemed clear. The camp was still. No one was watching.
Slowly, she began to crawl out of the tent.
Her hands pressed against the damp grass. Her knees barely made a sound. She was almost free—
"Where is it that you are going, Ayumu?"
Ayumu flinched so hard she nearly face-planted into the mud.
She looked to her left. There, sitting against a tree with his arms crossed and his red eyes gleaming in the soft morning light, was Kaiser.
He had not slept.
He had stayed up all night, positioned by the ladies' tent, on guard. He had known that Ayumu would try to disappear again at first light. And he had been right.
Ayumu's smile was weak. "Lord Kaiser…"
"Just Kaiser," he corrected.
"Yes, umm… Kaiser…" She fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve. "I am just going to collect some berries?" She smiled. It wasn't a lie, white magis could not lie. But it was not the whole truth either.
Kaiser's expression did not change. "And after you pick the berries, you would run off and disappear." He rose to his feet, brushing the dew from his clothes. "Not a chance... Do it, Rhea."
Ayumu blinked, confused. Do what?
Before she could react, Rhea emerged from behind her—fully awake, fully dressed, and holding a massive linen sack. She had been in on the plan the whole time.
With a swift, practiced motion, Rhea shoved the sack over Ayumu's head and engulfed her entire body in the thick fabric.
Ayumu flailed wildly, her muffled voice rising in protest. "No! This is unjust! Rhea and Kaiser are so mean!"
Rhea held the sack closed, grinning. "Sorry, Ayumu. But you left us no choice."
Levain shuffled toward them, still half-asleep, rubbing his eyes. He was aware of the plan, but he felt compelled to offer an alternative.
"Could we not just bind her legs and feet?" he asked, yawning. "It would be more humane."
Drobar emerged from his own tent, adjusting his sword belt. He gave Levain a flat look. "Do you think a piece of rope can contain such a troublemaker white magis?"
Levain considered this. "…You are right."
Kaiser strode past them, his voice carrying the finality of command. "Let us head back to the palace. I will go ahead with Ayumu. You all can take the carriage."
The others immediately began to protest and booing.
"No fair!"
"Why does he get to go ahead?"
"I want to ride Azhdar too!"
Kaiser's red eyes narrowed. "Azhdar can only fit two people on its back, unless you want to ride in Azhdar's talons instead?"
A heavy silence fell over the group.
One by one looked away after realising they dont want to de a dangling piece of meat in the air
Drobar cleared his throat. "The carriage sounds fine. Very comfortable."
Levain nodded vigorously. "Carriage is good. Carriage is excellent. Carriage has wheels."
Rhea simply turned and began walking toward the carriage, her pace brisk.
Kaiser glanced at the sack, where Ayumu had gone still—perhaps resigned, perhaps plotting her next escape. He sighed.
"Let us go, Ayumu."
He carried Ayumu over his shoulder and half of Ayumus body was dangling down behind his back. Then a muffled voice came from inside the sack. "Kaiser is a very mean person."
He just smiled.
-----------------------------------------------
Back at the palace, the roar of Azhdar echoed across the courtyards, sending servants scattering and guards snapping to attention.
Emperor Visil stepped out onto the balcony of his office, his dark robes billowing in the morning breeze. He watched as the great wyvern descended into the courtyard below, its massive wings stirring up dust and debris. On its back, Kaiser sat tall and composed—and slung over his shoulder was a large, squirming sack.
Visil's brow furrowed.
What in the name of the empire is Kaiser carrying?
He turned and strode back into his office, settling into his chair with practiced authority. Moments later, the door opened, and Kaiser entered—the sack still over his shoulder, its contents shifting and mumbling.
Kaiser stopped before the emperor's desk and lowered the sack to the floor.
"Your Majesty," he said, his voice flat and formal, "I present to you the escaped fugitive."
He unfolded the sack.
Ayumu's head popped out—her white hair a wild, static-riddled mess, her cheeks flushed, her golden eyes blinking in the sudden light. She looked distinctly unhappy.
Visil stared at his sister.
Her hair was sticking up in every direction. A leaf was tangled near her ear. She looked like she had been dragged through a hedge backward.
He almost laughed.
But he was the emperor. He had a reputation to maintain. He cleared his throat and arranged his features into something appropriately stern.
"Lord Kaiser," he said, his voice carefully controlled, "do you not think you could have treated the royal advisor in a better way than shoving her into a sack and carrying her like a bag of rice?"
Kaiser's expression did not waver. "Your Majesty, this was the only way to ensure she would not escape. She made her way all the way to Mimos Lake to 'help' with the flooding issue."
Visil's eyes narrowed.
Mimos Lake? That is hours away. How had she even gotten there? What were the guards doing? What was the point of house arrest if she could just—
He stopped himself before his thoughts spiraled.
Ayumu, meanwhile, had begun to shrink under his gaze. She looked down at the floor, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the sack. She could feel her brother's anger radiating from across the room.
Visil leaned forward. "What happened?"
Kaiser recounted the events—the dam, the beavers, the negotiations, Drobar's explosive solution, the flood, and Ayumu's role in solving the crisis.
Visil listened in silence.
A vein beside his neck began to throb.
Again. Again she had created trouble for others. But at the same time, she had solved the problem herself. The empire owed her gratitude. Yet she was under house arrest. She had disobeyed a direct order. Again.
Ayumu remained silent throughout the entire explanation, her eyes fixed on the floor, her shoulders tense. She was bracing herself for the judgment to come.
But then Kaiser spoke.
"Your Majesty." His voice was measured. "I am aware that Lady Ayumu has repeatedly acted against your will."
Ayumu squeezed her eyes shut. Here it comes.
Kaiser continued, "But it is because of Lady Ayumu that lives have been saved and problems of the empire have been solved. One by one, she has made great contributions to this Empire. And we do owe her our lives."
Ayumu's eyes flew open.
She shot a bewildered look at Kaiser—her mouth slightly open, her head tilted.
Kaiser's lips curved—just barely, almost imperceptibly.
"There will be no better royal advisor than her." He turned to face the emperor fully. "As minister of security of this empire, I hope that you will withdraw the house arrest decree, Your Majesty."
Visil's expression soured. "And why should I do that?"
Kaiser's red eyes were steady. "Because I fear it would be far worse if she were held any longer."
Visil considered this.
If Ayumu was locked in her room, she would definitely find a way out. She always did. And if she escaped again, she might disappear for months—off on another adventure, leaving a trail of chaos and letters behind.
Perhaps it was better to let her be busy. Let her resume work as the royal advisor. At least then, he would know where she was.
Visil exhaled slowly. "You have made your point, Lord Kaiser."
He sat back in his chair.
"I hereby lift the house arrest on Lady Ayumu Velmiar."
Ayumu shot to her feet. Forgetting the sack and her tangled hair. She practically vibrated with excitement.
"HOWEVER—"
Visil's voice cut through the air like a whip. He pointed a finger at Ayumu.
"You shall not be assigned to any out-of-palace duties for two weeks. Do you understand, Ayumu?"
Ayumu's excitement deflated. Her shoulders sagged. A small whimper escaped her lips.
"…Yes, Your Majesty."
She looked like a puppy who had been told it could not go outside.
Visil almost felt sorry for her.