After the momentary shock of the tau’s visit to the ship wore off, Leon sprang out of bed, pulling the pearls in his hand into his soul realm. He then set about waking everyone up as quickly as he could and getting the ship secured.

He didn’t seriously think that the tau was a threat, given its power and the fact that it seemed to have done them no harm despite apparently having the opportunity to do so, but he needed to make sure. He’d let their security be quite lax on their sojourn along the coast, trusting in the security of the Ilian Empire, and this whole event freaked him out more than a little bit.

Once he was sure that his family and retinue were safe, however, he slowed down and let himself process what had just happened. The dreams he’d had with the priest from the village were only half-remembered, but what he did recall was vivid. Himself, practically a god, reigning at the top of the universe. Everyone and everything was at his beck and call, and he’d rebuilt the Thunderbird Clan.

That much he didn’t pay much mind to, for the moment. Instead, he remembered his faceless mother, and the children he’d had with Elise, Maia, and Valeria. He couldn’t remember their faces, either—assuming his dream had even conjured them in the first place. But he couldn’t help but feel some type of loss, as if the tau had given him a taste of something incredible, only to snatch it away.

He and the rest of his party sat in the single-room quarterdeck, quiet and rather restless as Leon and his lovers alternatively stared at each other, or at nothing in particular. Given the tau’s parting words, Leon could assume that he wasn’t alone in having their dreams messed with, but for the time being, none of them wanted to say much until they had some true privacy. And that would likely have to wait until they reached Occulara.

So, pulling himself back to the present, Leon took out both pearls that the tau had given him.

“So, we have these, now…” he said nonchalantly. “A tau visited us in the night and gave them to me.”

“Wait, what?” Gaius asked, speaking for everyone else. “We’ve been looking for one of these things for the past month, and one just… showed up and gave you what we were seeking?”

“That about sums it up, yes,” Leon replied seriously. “I think it was a lot more sapient than we gave it credit for. A lot more powerful, too. I think that priest we spoke with a few hours ago was the tau, only in human form; it’s an Ascended Beast.”

“Oh…” Gaius replied, looking just a little bit overwhelmed. For that, Leon couldn’t blame him. He had certainly been making his peace with the idea that this quest had been impossible and that they would return to Occulara in defeat, and he knew that the rest of his retinue had been feeling that way for a while, now, even if they weren’t actively saying so.

“Then… that means that we’ll be able to join Heaven’s Eye?” Anna asked, her tone a mix of hopeful and apprehensive.

Leon frowned, knowing the choice that the tau had presented him with. “… It would seem so…”

A moment of silence passed, broken only when Alix let out a deep breath and declared, “Well, at least this trip wasn’t a failure!”

It was hardly a joke, but most everyone else burst out laughing, letting out their pent-up frustrations as Leon sat holding both tau pearls for them all to see.

When they quieted down, Helen asked Leon, “What are you going to do with the other pearl? I mean, I’m assuming you’re only going to give one of them to the Director…”

Leon could see the way her eyes seemed drawn to the glowing pearl, and he almost instinctively pulled it back into his soul realm. Both pearls that the tau had given him were tremendously powerful, but the one that glowed like a star was by far the more special. He guessed that the myths about the things having many mystical properties were true, if the things he could sense from the star-pearl weren’t some kind of trick.

“The tau… recommended that I give this one to the Director,” Leon said as he indicated the duller pearl. “I have to admit, the idea is tempting. But…”

“You’re afraid it’s some kind of trick?” Elise asked as she set a hand on his arm.

Leon nodded. “After all of this, I think that my initial impression of the Director is correct. He didn’t send us out here on a hopeless quest. The real question, though, is what the quest actually was. Now, assuming that my senses weren’t lying to me and that tau was real, and it was really an Ascended Beast, then that would probably mean that the Director knows about their existence and wanted one of their legendary pearls. The tau seemed to think that the Director wouldn’t know the difference between these two pearls, though…”

Marcus asked, “But how would the tau know that? Unless it’s familiar with the Director personally?”

Leon grimaced. “That’s my fear. Whether or not the tau was real doesn’t really matter, I suppose. The problem is that it gave me two pearls and told me to only give the weaker one to the Director. There seems to be a straightforward answer here: follow its recommendation and give the Director the lesser pearl. But let’s say this is all some kind of elaborate test, and the ‘tau’ was fake and conjured by someone on the Director’s payroll. Maybe what the Director actually wants to see is whether or not I give him the ‘real’ pearl.”

“You think that if you show up with the lesser pearl, he’ll know you aren’t loyal, or something?” Alcander asked. “And that he’d consider this a failure and use it as an excuse to not bring you into Heaven’s Eye?”

“Exactly,” Leon answered.

Silence once more settled over the group, until Valeria whispered, “Would that be a bad thing, though? Not joining Heaven’s Eye?”

Everyone looked to her, most with surprised expressions. However, Leon was a little more contemplative, and he seriously answered, “I suppose not. We have a plan for our own growth and for setting up means of financial support. We’re not exactly going to starve, no matter what happens. But the loss of support from Heaven’s Eye would seriously slow down my plans. I want that support, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if we don’t get it.”

“Then why not take the risk?” she asked. “Give the Director the lesser pearl. Neither’s exactly fake, are they?”

“I don’t think so,” Leon said as he curled his fingers around the star-pearl, letting its magic slip past his skin and into his body. It was warm, calming, and powerful. He could do great things with it, if he wanted. He intended to spend the journey back to Occulara thoroughly examining it for any sign that it was fake, but for the moment, all of his senses were telling him that it was real.

“Then why not just give the Director the lesser pearl? If we can live without Heaven’s Eye, then why not try for both the pearl and the guild?”

“Is the pearl worth the guild, though?” Marcus wondered. “If we lose the guild for that pearl, is that a good tradeoff?” The man stared at Leon almost accusingly, and Leon could read the unspoken question in his eyes. With Heaven’s Eye, Leon would much more easily guarantee the futures of his retainers. In fact, they’d signed on with him partly because of his intention to join Heaven’s Eye, with some of the guild’s resources flowing through him to them. If he were to choose the pearl over those resources, then he could see how, in effect, it might mean he was choosing himself and the gains he could make with the pearl over the rest of his retinue.

“No matter what happens, Marcus, I’m going to stay true to my responsibilities,” Leon seriously stated. “Having greater freedom might mean we’ll be a little lean for the next few years, but it would also give us greater freedom to move around. Don’t forget that there are other means of resource acquisition out here, too.”

Marcus’ accusatory look softened, and he leaned back in his seat. Leon had told his retinue about his Thunderbird lineage and what they might find down in the Empires, so it wasn’t like they were banking entirely on Heaven’s Eye.

“I feel comfortable leaving the decision up to you,” Anshu intoned. From the way that Elise and Maia took Leon’s arms, he could tell that they agreed.

“So do I,” Valeria replied.

“I would prefer that you keep that bright pearl,” Helen said, “but the decision is yours to make.”

“Getting into Heaven’s Eye is more important for me,” Anna said. “I would hope that you do what you can to ensure that we’re brought into their fold. But you’re leading us, and I’ll stay true to my contract and follow you whatever decision you make.”

The green-haired woman’s eyes narrowed, and Leon could feel a hint of killing intent in her aura. She had some kind of business with Heaven’s Eye, that much he could feel, but for the moment, it was just another thing he’d have to bring up later.

“I agree with Anna,” Marcus replied. “Your decision, just… keep us in mind.”

Alcander didn’t say anything more, but he nodded in agreement.

“I’m with you, no matter what!” Alix declared, and Leon smiled in appreciation. “Besides, ** the Director, this whole quest he gave us was horse** from the beginning!”

“I feel the same,” Gaius whispered. “Give the Director the lesser pearl. It’s what he wants, anyway, and we don’t need to go above and beyond for someone who treats us like this.”

Leon sighed, and pulled the pearls into his soul realm. It seemed that it was truly his decision to make, but it appeared that if it were a vote, his people would definitely fall more on one side than the other.

‘Being a leader means making the hard decisions,’ Leon thought. ‘Time to do so.’

Leon took a deep breath, mulled the problem over in his head just a little bit longer, and then settled on a course of action. And then, with a grave tone, he announced it to his party.

—

Loen stood in the Director’s office, once more staring at the man wreathed in shadow sitting behind the desk. With an almost exaggerated flourish to match the huge grin on his face, he pulled the duller pearl out of his soul realm.

The Director didn’t immediately react, but Leon could feel his attention on the pearl in his hand.

After a long moment, the pearl rose out of his hand seemingly on its own accord and flew toward the Director. Leon was startled for a moment, but he made no moves to stop it. The Director held out his hand and caught the pearl and examined it much closer.

“Disappointing,” he said, and Leon’s heart dropped for a second. For just that brief moment, he thought that all of this had just been a test and that the Director was waiting to see if he’d return the star-pearl or not, but fortunately, the Director then murmured, “This one lacks the purest powers of the tau…”

Leon controlled his expression, letting his grin slowly drop in favor of something sterner and more severe. “I got you the pearl you asked for,” he said, not flinching at all when the Director’s attention fell back around him. “Are we going to talk business now, or are you going to jerk me around some more?”

The Director chuckled, and the pearl vanished in a flash of light. “Very well,” he said. “You did exactly what I asked of you and procured a tau pearl for me. It’s not entirely what I’d hoped for, but it’s what I asked. So, let’s talk.”

Leon let a sliver of relief pass through his mind, and then got his head back into the game. Mostly, he was relieved that the Director didn’t seem at all interested in the details of his quest, oddly enough. He’d thought that if the Director was so interested in the tau, or at least their pearls, then he would’ve grilled Leon on about his quest, but it seemed the result was all he cared about.

“What do you want, Leon Raime? What do you expect out of this arrangement?”

Leon didn’t even need a moment to think. “I have some goals, so this arrangement won’t be in perpetuity. I’ll also need a fair amount of autonomy.”

“Both come with costs,” the Director pointed out. “Those who are less committed are compensated significantly less.”

“I’m aware of that,” Leon replied. “But I don’t want you to doubt my commitment. I’m committed, at least for a few decades.”

“I don’t deal in such vague language; give me a number.”

“Fifty years,” Leon immediately responded.

“A fair amount of time. What are you hoping to accomplish in those fifty years?”

“A few personal things of mine,” Leon explained. “I’m an enchanter, and I would like to expand my skills. I also want to learn the art of blacksmithing. If tutors could be provided for both, I would certainly be grateful.”

The Director nodded slightly. “A thing easily accomplished. But I have to wonder just how much free time you think you’ll have under my watch.”

“How many problems need an eighth-tier mage to solve them?”

“I think the answer might surprise you, young man,” the Director replied.

Leon shrugged. “Let’s say that you hire me as one of your Hands. Or Eyes. Or whatever. What would you expect of me?”

“I would expect you to carry out my instructions to the best of your abilities,” the Director replied. “You would answer to none but me. Not to any of the Emperors, not to any of their representatives. To me.”

Leon smiled and nodded. “How about more specifics?”

The Director’s face, still obscured by shadow, bent in an almost imperceptible way that made him look like he was smiling. “I would want you to move certain hazardous or otherwise sensitive material from one place to another. I would need you to represent me in places I cannot be. I would need you to protect Heaven’s Eye’s interests from those who would besmirch our reputation, even if those would come from within…”

“I can certainly do all of that,” Leon said. He stood there, in front of the Director’s desk, waiting for the man to speak again, and he had to wait a fair amount of time.

Several seconds after it had grown awkward, the Director finally said, “We can discuss the specifics later, but for now, I will tentatively take you on, in a provisional capacity. For the time being, see to your accommodations. I’ll summon you back here in a weeks’ time.”

Understanding that to be a dismissal, Leon nodded and started making his way back to the office door. Just as he came within a few steps of it, though the Director called out from behind, “By the way, Leon Raime, do you remember a man named Talal?”

Leon turned back around and replied, “I do.” He didn’t elaborate, nor did it seem the Director even needed it.

“I understand that he was quite rude to you.”

Leon shrugged. “Nothing I can’t handle. Not like I haven’t had people be rude to me before.”

The Director said, “He did not uphold the standards I expect of those in his position. He has been demoted and reassigned.” The Director then leaned forward, his face falling out of the darkness that wreathed it, revealing his handsome, if aged features. His face was still quite full despite his age, though there were lines around his mouth and in the corners of his eyes. His hair was entirely gray, cut aesthetically short. His eyes glimmered a bright yellow, looking almost as golden Leon’s own. With a smile, the Director continued, “I’ve made him your personal assistant.”

As if on cue, the Director’s door opened of its own accord, and Leon saw standing several paces outside of it, Talal, though the Samarid looked remarkably different compared to the last time Leon had seen him. Instead of the doughy, oily man with the arrogant attitude, Talal seemed almost like a beaten dog. His dark skin was ashy, like he was severely dehydrated; his eyes were downcast; and all of the excess weight he’d carried back in Akhmim had been shed. He was still recognizable, but he was clearly a completely different man: meeker, more subservient, almost terrified.

“Leave most of the logistical problems to him; he’ll ensure you stay in contact with my office, and he can help you find a home for your family and friends,” the Director said. “He can help with much more, too. He’ll be compensated by Heaven’s Eye, so don’t worry about that, either. Feel free to run him ragged, he could use the exercise.”

The Director said no more, and with only one backward glance that confirmed the man had leaned back in his chair and let his face be obscured again, Leon took those last few steps and left the Director’s office.

As the door closed behind him, Leon paused for just a moment to collect himself. Internally, he celebrated, the tau’s star-pearl sitting comfortably in his soul realm, and his position in Heaven’s Eye apparently secured. He’d need to wait a week to find out more, but for the moment, it seemed that his gamble had paid off.

But he didn’t let his celebration reach his features, which he kept as stoic as he could. After Leon finished collecting himself, he turned his gaze to Talal. “Let’s go, then,” he ordered the Samarid, and without a word, Talal escorted him out of the Hexagon.