THE bonfire was spectacular, as always.

Lily was happy to see everyone looking so much happier than was usual now—even Iressa smiled. Arlo had even hired a band, so there was lively music. She'd danced with Venix, Arlo and Adrian, and even a few other men who'd asked her.

As the dance ended, she stepped away from her partner with a smile, walking towards Vena and Iressa. She reached them just as the next song began.

"You're having fun!" Vena yelled, grinning.

Lily could still barely hear her voice over the music. "I am! Why don't you dance?"

Vena shrugged sheepishly, her face illuminated soft orange in the flames. "Can't! Two left feet!"

Lily laughed, turning to Iressa, who was grinning. "What's that?" She asked, pointing at Iressa's cup.

"Try it!" Iressa said, pushing the cup into Lily's hands.

It was a glimmering, maroon liquid, looking almost like blood. Lily shrugged and took a sip, the sweet yet spicy taste engulfing her tongue. "It's good!" She yelled, passing it back to Iressa.

"Let's go over there!" Vena yelled, gesturing to a more secluded area, where they'd be able to talk in peace. Lily nodded and followed her, the music fading behind them.

"That's a relief." Vena sighed as they reached. "My throat was getting sore with all that shouting."

Iressa nodded. "Mine as well."

"I'm glad Arlo held a bonfire," Lily murmured, studying the still-dancing group I the distance. "We needed it."

"We did," Vena said, giving her a smile. She looked at the dancers again and grinned. "Ven and Ada are enjoying themselves, it seems. Look!"

Lily turned and laughed. It was a slower song now, and Venix had taken Ada as his partner. The two were swaying slowly, their foreheads nearly brushing.

"How much time do you think it'll take them to admit their feelings?" Vena said, laughing.

"They seem oblivious," Lily said, twisting her lips. "But I think it'll be soon. What do you think, Iri?" She turned to Iressa, who was still looking at them. "Iri?"

Iressa started, turning to them. "I—I think soon."

Lily locked eyes with her, seeing the pain and torment beneath Iressa's happy façade. She nodded, smiling gently. "Vena, you?"

"I don't know, my brother can be very dull in these sorts of things," Vena said, shrugging.

"I wonder how Adrian will take it," Lily said, grinning as she imagined Ada's overprotective brother's reaction.

"Oh, by the way," Vena said, arching an eyebrow. "You and Adrian?"

Lily blushed. "What? No, it's nothing like that."

"We saw you dancing. You seemed pretty close," Vena said, grinning. Even Iressa looked at Lily expectantly.

Lily shook her head. "We're just friends. We both love other people."

Iressa tilted her head to the side. "Tell us about your husband." Her question was gentle, and Lily knew she could avoid answering if she didn't want to.

She sighed. "Hosun was... well, he was the most dutiful man you could ever meet. He had a lot of responsibilities, but he always had time for me. We were a team. Hosun and Jade."

"Jade?" Iressa asked, arching an eyebrow. Realization seemed to come over her a moment later.

Lily nodded. "Technically, I'm Jade-Lily. Arlo just asked if he could call me Lily when he met me, so now everyone knows me as Lily."

"Your husband sounds wonderful," Iressa said, smiling.

Lily shrugged, feeling the familiar, dull heartache at thinking of Hosun. "He was. He nearly left Tsuchengko when I was exiled."

"What happened?" Vena asked her eyebrows furrowing.

Lily gave her a wry smile. "I didn't let him, of course. He was the General. He couldn't leave, not even for me."

"So, now he's there. And you're here?" Vena asked.

Lily nodded. "By law, we're not married anymore. But there will never be anyone else for me."

"I wish someone would love me like that," Vena said, gazing at the dancers again, flames flickering in her eyes.

"One day, someone will," Lily said, nodding. "And you'll be happy for the rest of your life, knowing that you've been loved. And that you've loved. Even if you're separated."

"Sometimes, I forget you're married," Iressa said, with a sort of quiet laugh. "Makes you seem old. You're not that much older than us, though."

Lily smiled. "We get married young in Tsuchengko. My little sister might be married right now."

"What's her name?" Iressa asked.

"Jasmine. You'd like her," Lily said. "She's very bright. She's always wanted to fight. I think she'd like it here."

"Maybe, someday, we can meet her. And you can meet your husband," Vena said.

Lily sighed. "Maybe someday."

"Why are you all standing here?"

They turned to see Venix and Ada running towards them, faces flushed and happy in the firelight.

"Come dance!" Ada said, grasping Lily's hand and Iressa's. Venix caught his sister and they pulled them along to the dance floor.

Lily laughed as a quick song started up again, and despite how much her feet hurt, danced well into the night.

***

THE days passed without the Gongjensu summoning Lily.

While she wasn't necessarily unhappy about this, it did put something of a block in her spying duties.

She immersed herself in training instead—Colonel Ulima was pushing them harder, faster, as though any moment there could be an attack. And there could be.

Lily was coming home more and more exhausted after training and patrolling, but she could also see how much stronger she was becoming. Perhaps one day she'd be able to pull herself out of the hollow where she met with the Gongjensu herself.

"Lily!" Vena said, walking towards her, just as they were walking home from patrolling. "I know you were sick last time, but would you like to spend the night with me today? Ada and Iri will be there, and we can always kick Venix out."

Lily laughed. "Yes. I'll come. But I'll eat an early dinner at my place, then come."

Vena nodded. "Alright. See you soon."

Lily waved to Vena and continued on her walk back home. Her legs felt like jelly after the morning's exercises, and she was looking forward to lying on her bed for about an hour.

She opened the door and walked straight to her bedroom—only to see Adrian sitting on her bed.

She exhaled. "You have to stop doing that."

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "You were the one who gave me a key."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "That was only for urgent news, not popping in to scare me everyday."

Adrian shrugged. Lily furrowed her eyebrows, taking in his solemn face. He was here on business.

"What's wrong?"

Adrian's jaw tightened. "Have the Gongjensu contacted you recently?"

Lily shook her head, biting her lower lip. Where was this going?

"Well, I've heard rumors that someone important is coming. Here."

"Important? Like more important than the Commanders?" Lily asked, pressing her lips together.

Adrian gave her a sharp nod. "It's only a rumor, but I have a feeling it's true. The Commanders have been acting strange as of late."

"So, someone more influential than the Commanders here," Lily said, nodding. "Like a leader? Of the Gongjensu? One of the four that you told me about."

Adrian glanced at his hands. "I'm not sure. It's possible. But this means that we all have to be on high alert."

"But—why would anyone important come here?" Lily asked, twisting her lips. She put her daggers on the bedside table, waiting for his answer.

Adrian ran his hands through his hair. "I don't know. No one's telling me anything."

Lily took her clothes and went to change in the bathroom. "They wouldn't need a leader for an attack." Her voice was muffled through the bathroom door, but Adrian could hear her just fine.

"No, they wouldn't. Do you think it has to do with you?"

"With me?" Lily said, coming out in fresh, simple clothes. "They've already talked to me, I think they trust me now. At least, they rely on me to get information from Arianna."

Adrian nodded. Lily noticed, for the first time, now tired he looked. She sighed. "Adrian, you should get some rest. Stop worrying for a moment."

He shook his head, his face conflicted. "I—I just feel like I'm missing something. Something's not right, I can feel it."

Lily sat down beside him. "I trust your instinct, but we can't figure out anything right now. I can go and talk to Madela, if you want."

"No, she doesn't know much. I've already tried that." He sighed. "You're right, there's nothing I can do right now."

"In that case," Lily said, standing up. "Dinner?"

He raised an eyebrow. "This early?"

Lily gave him a flat look. "No, I still have to cook. But I'm spending the night at Vena's."

He nodded, some of the tension from his face disappearing. "Fine. But let me cook today. I owe you lots of meals anyway."

Lily chuckled, shrugging. "If you insist. Wash your hands first, though." She walked to the kitchen and sat on a chair.

He rolled his eyes, shrugging off his jacket and dropping it on another chair. "I know, Lily."

Lily watched as he lit a fire and chopped some vegetables. She'd let him make whatever he wanted.

"Ulima's been intense these days, hasn't she?" Adrian said, glancing back at her.

Lily sighed, the words bringing back her tiredness. "Very. The attack has made her more tense."

"She doesn't like your batch much, does she?"

Lily scoffed. "Not at all."

She could see Adrian grinning. "I'll tell you a secret—Colonel Ulima's only harsh with the ones she thinks have potential. She pushes you to become better."

Lily pursed her lips. "So, she thinks all of us have potential?"

Adrian hummed in agreement.

"I'll have to tell the others," she said, raising her eyebrows. This was news indeed.

They stayed silent as Adrian finished cooking. He sat opposite her as he waited for the pot to boil.

Lily watched him as he looked at the pot. She was growing to care for Adrian. It was good to have someone who knew what it was to lose the person you loved the most. He understood her, being in the Gongjensu and being alone.

For that, Lily was grateful.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "Do I have something on my face?"

Lily shook her head, blushing slightly. "I was just thinking—I'm lucky to have you."

Adrian faced her fully, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Lucky how?"

Lily shrugged. "You understand me. How it feels being a spy, and because we both lost people."

His features became more serious as he nodded. "I'm lucky to have you too. You understand me. After her death, no one truly understood. No one my age."

"That does make a difference," Lily murmured.

He sighed. "You do. I don't know if I'll ever love someone else, but you understand the pain."

Lily bit her lip. "I can't love anyone else. Hosun is my only."

He gave her a sad little smile. "Laya was my only."

She smiled at him. "You're a good friend, Adrian."

He smiled back before standing up and walking to the pot.

"So are you, Lily."

I had writer's block before this chapter, so I'm glad I pushed something out. I apologize if this seems rushed and unconnected, the writer's block was the reason for that.

On another note, I love Adrian. You might ship them, but they're just friends. Sometimes those bonds are very important too, and that's something I'd like to highlight. Friendship and understanding are as important as romantic love, and it was important to me that Lily found those in Arrian. Your views?

So, that was a rather long author's note. I'll see you next week! And: Don't forget to:

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And thanks for reading! :)