Chapter 30: Caden

　　Caden`s restless aura filled the dim underground hovel, his steps echoing against its rugged walls. He kicked a crate in anger and spilled its contents onto the floor. Solaris lingered nearby, his eyes darting around the room to avoid Caden`s gaze.

　　"She doesn`t get it," Caden`s voice was frustrated. "It`s not like I`m working with Elena because I enjoy her company. She and I just happen to share the same goal. What`s so wrong with that?" He paused, seeking answers in Solaris`s response.

　　"Are you going to go after her?"

　　Should he? Yes, probably. He was just kissing her moments ago. What a moment that was, igniting his senses and leaving him breathless. She was like fire and ice all at once, making him feel happy and sad at the same time.

　　"I don`t think I should ask her to stay if she really wants to leave."

　　"Good point," Solaris said swiftly. "Well, I`ll be off now and, uh, hopefully not uncover any more bickering couples this evening." He turned to go.

　　A couple? Is that what we are? The question lingered in his mind.

　　"Wait," he said.

　　Solaris sighed in reluctance and reversed his steps. "What."

　　"I need your help coming up with a plan. I am going to find Luna, but I need to explain to her that I`m not trying to work for Elena. I`m trying to work with her. I`m not a puppet."

　　He crossed his arms. "And you need my help because?"

　　"You`re a smart man," Caden said. "I trust you."

　　"Really? Last I heard, you were quite unhappy with me." He laughed softly and adjusted the bag on his shoulder.

　　"I know, and I`m sorry," Caden said, sitting on the sofa. "But I just need to think. . . how can we get past Elena`s compulsion? It`s the only fail-safe we can get."

　　Solaris looked unhappy. "If you go up against her, you won`t win."

　　"On top of that, Darian can also compel me. He had been doing so since I was a child. I never even noticed it." He put his hands on his head. "What am I going to do?"

　　"Look, kid," Solaris said. "You messed up. You`ve been selfish, and I know you want to be better, but I don`t think I can help you with anything. Let`s just do this job and go home, okay? We can both use that money to disappear." He paused, turning to leave, but momentarily halted. "But," he said. "My friend, Darwin, an old Aberrant. . . he discovered how to compel people and ended up using the magic to defeat Cassian. So, there is certainly a trick to it."

　　With that, Solaris left the hovel, leaving Caden all alone. The truth of his words cut deep; he had been selfish and caused trouble for others while only focusing on himself. He was still doing it, too&

　　He closed his eyes and tried to remember every single time Elena had used her powers. There had to be something he was missing. Some reason she could compel him now. She claimed she had tortured his father. . . did he not even care about that? Was bringing back the Sun so important that he no longer cared about anything?

　　The Shard of Sin has a way of loosening human bonds. The Defiant Flame spoke to him. Was he being compelled by the Crown himself? Did this all happen because he put it on all those years ago?

　　"If I put on the Crown again, I can break the curse. But there must be a way to beat her compulsion. I`m afraid Luna is right, that she has some ulterior motive we don`t know about. . ." He paused. "Is there another way to break the curse? Must I sacrifice everyone I love and become something malevolent to protect the world?"

　　Think back, said the Defiant Flame. When was the first time you ever saw her use her abilities?

　　"With Kaelea."

　　Then, you have all the answers you seek.

　　He sighed as his frustration peaked. The Defiant Flame roared with laughter in his mind. Elena`s magic had been most often directed at Luna. Still, he saw it on Erodan, Felisha, and many others. But why didn`t it work on him? What was he missing? It wasn`t until his father was hurt. . .

　　"Arkell," Caden said to nobody. "It must be Arkell. . . my last name."

　　He stood up.

　　Oh? Has the small Pyromancer finally understood? The Defiant Flame taunted.

　　"My last name. . . it was changed after Mom left," he said. "I never even thought about that before. . ."

　　It was such a long time ago he`d barely had time to think of the incident. It meant nothing to him in his quest for revenge.

　　He recalled something very distinct at the very first meeting.

　　"What`s your name?" Elena had asked.

　　"Kaelea."

　　"Surname?"

　　"Delwara."

　　She couldn`t compel Kaelea until after she knew her last name. She specifically asked for it. And she can`t compel Solaris or Ferris. She can`t compel those whose names she does not know. Even at the speech, she could only use her magic on a few people, not the entire crowd. He had initially thought it was because of Heat issues, but no, she simply was unable to.

　　"By the Crown. . ." Caden thought as horror suddenly struck him. "The registry. . . of the knights. That`s why she wanted it. I just gave her the ultimate weapon against the Order."

　　The Defiant Flame cackled in his mind as the corner of his vision bled crimson. Looks like you finally figured it out.

　　He bolted up the steps and ripped at the Flame. It allowed him to gather Heat and pulse it through his veins. The magic erupted around him as he burst through the hovel and teleported himself into the sky. He glanced around everywhere before landing on a rooftop. He scanned the entire city, all while his magic lit up the world around him. He needed to find Luna.

　　God, I`m such an idiot! I kissed the girl but never asked her last name? Flame me!

　　The laughter in his mind grew louder.

　　If I just learn Elena`s last name, I can compel her. I can rip the memory of Luna and I`s last name from her mind. I can force her to forget, and then she can`t compel either of us.

　　"Indeed," said the Flame, using his voice. "We could compel her, and she could wear the Crown instead."

　　Caden swallowed, then killed all his magic. It had never spoken through him like that. A harbinger of change, perhaps, as Burnout returned. Ever since he killed Vance, his Defiant Flame had become bolder and stronger. Why?

　　"Luna," he whispered. "Where have you gone?"

　　* * *

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　　Caden scoured the city for what felt like an eternity before eventually finding himself back at the southern wall. Once he was perched atop one of the battlements, he cast his gaze across the city, hoping to spot Luna brooding on top of one of the buildings nearby. This was where she had saved him, where she had kissed him. Unbelievably, a girl like that had kissed him. How the hell did that happen?

　　Of course, he liked her, perhaps for longer than he was willing to admit. Still, the intensity of that kiss was greater than any Pyromantic spell. She was bliss and sorrow wrapped up in a tiny, ferocious package.

　　Did she already leave? It would be alright if she had - yet he wanted to say goodbye.

　　You just want Elena`s last name; don`t play yourself a fool and believe you harbor feelings for her.

　　A chill ran down his spine as he paced back and forth. Something was off. He kept looking over his shoulder. It was like he was being haunted.

　　"I thought I`d find you here," a voice spoke.

　　Caden whirled around, and Elena leaned casually against one of the battlements. This was the worst possible situation he could be in now, with no defense against her compulsion.

　　You have plenty of ways to counter her. Said the Flame.

　　"How`d it go? Did she leave without a fight?"

　　Caden forced himself to remain composed. Yet, what the Flame did next was perhaps the most peculiar thing he`d ever experienced. Driven by either instinct or panic, he extended a red line of compulsion and connected it to himself.

　　After all, he did know his own name, right?

　　Feel nothing, he and the Flame spoke at the same time.

　　And suddenly, his heart vanished.

　　"She never showed," he said.

　　Elena took a few steps closer, hands tucked behind her back. Her gaze drifted beyond the wall`s edge and toward the distant mountains. "As expected, I imagine she`s long gone," she said. "Return to the barracks for now and await tomorrow`s mission. I have many plans to change. With her gone, we have a few missing pieces to recalculate."

　　Elena`s eyes twitched slightly as she scratched her face, forcing a strained smile.

　　Caden felt her push and pull on his emotions with her compulsion, and yet, nothing happened. His own compulsion that his Flame had put on him provided some kind of barrier against her influence. Could this counteract her power?

　　"Who was she?" He asked. "Someone close to you?"

　　"She was the only good thing I had left, and I ruined her."

　　He frowned. "Did you try apologizing?"

　　Silence hung heavily in the air. "She would never forgive me."

　　Caden drew his lips into a thin line. "If you say so."

　　"Go on, I`ll see you tomorrow."

　　Caden struggled to devise new questions. He wanted to coax a last name from her, but he had no good ideas. With a leap, he dashed into the air and vanished into flames.

　　If he was immune to Elena`s compulsion by pushing on his own emotions - even just until tomorrow - the emptiness he must endure was a price well paid.

　　* * *

　　Several hours later, Caden found himself back at barracks four. He would resume his search for Luna after the Sun returns.

　　If you find a way to elude the Crown, said the Flame, taunting him with thoughts of failure. If it was to save the world, he would make that sacrifice. The world comes before everything, even his loved ones.

　　Now, he stood on the palace blacktop, a short distance away from three of the four Crusaders. Darian had not shown up yet. In other circumstances, he thought he might be anxious. Not only was he with his companions, but they were in broad daylight in front of the knights with the Crusaders around. Yet Caden found himself completely calm and collected.

　　Elena and Solaris stood next to him, watching as Erodan and a few of his men approached the Crusaders for their meeting of peace. Dozens of red lines ripped through the air - originating from Elena and transferring to every single person there, save the Crusaders and Solaris.

　　If she had this much power, why do anything but steal the registry? Perhaps she wanted to help the city after all. Caden thought. Her motives were odd, but maybe this was not something she`d originally planned. Without Luna, everything changed.

　　Burnout would forsake her eventually, so they would need to be quick. On top of that, Elena did not look like her usual self. She was. . . shaking and fidgety, throwing her head around at the slightest movement.

　　"You two," she called out to a pair of knights. "Bring me and my companions into the palace immediately. We`re starting."

　　They obeyed. Solaris, Caden, and Elena left Erodan to handle the Crusaders. It should work as they had hoped - and allow him to enter the palace without worry.

　　After they arrived at the double staircase, Elena ordered everyone out of the palace. A moment later, Lady Felisha came in front of the rosewood doors that led to Cerise Hall.

　　"Did you do what I asked?" Elena said quickly. She was shaking and kept pulling down her shirt or adjusting her tie. This girl was obviously fighting horrible Burnout.

　　"I could not discern the technology within the door. Not even my Frost Sigil could open it. However, I did find a more brutish way into the tower if you would prefer that option. I assume you have the library`s location?"

　　"Don`t ask about that!" Elena snapped, putting her hands on her head.

　　Caden watched the red line pulse with Heat, rippling out from Elena and piercing Felisha. "Just show us the way," he interjected.

　　She nodded, locking her gaze with his. He detected a hint of sadness in her eyes as if she`d not slept in days. Something had happened, although he didn`t care to discover what.

　　She led them up the double staircase near the palace entrance and ascended another flight to the third floor. Climbing further, they took another flight of stairs, the corridor adorned with opulent chambers bearing intricate artworks, leading them to a monumental double door. Swinging it open, she unveiled a small balcony that rested at the back of the palace - above the slanted roof. It had a few tables and chairs, but it was positioned, oddly, directly over the rest of the palace roof. In front of them lay the tower that stretched tall, piercing the red-hued clouds above.

　　"This is where some of the servants come through to fix up the roof," Felisha said, gesturing down below. "It`s right near the central spire, but we can`t just blast it open. So," she pointed skyward. "Up there, about 100 feet, is a window. You can just barely see it."

　　Caden glanced up, confirming her statement.

　　"Should someone climb up there and drop down a rope, entry would be relatively easy. I verified this position from the blacktop so the Crusaders won`t catch us." She uncovered a small panel on the floor, revealing coils of rope. "It`s quite barbaric, but it`s the best I could devise, given the last-minute alterations to the plan."

　　"What alterations?" Caden asked.

　　"The girl," Elena said quickly, "who left the city this morning. . . she was supposed to be here to open a door for us - but instead I let her go."

　　Just like Isabel, Caden thought, Luna could have accessed that door from Cerise Hall.

　　"Caden, go," Elena said, gesturing upward.

　　"Excuse me?"

　　"You replaced her. Go."

　　"I did?" Caden asked. His voice sounded confused, yet he didn`t care at all. He couldn`t just obey without hesitation, or Elena would suspect he had destroyed himself.

　　She`d made multiple rash decisions the day of the job. Something terrible would happen when they got up there, and he just wasn`t sure what it was.

　　After some hesitation, Caden relented, abandoning Solaris, Felisha, and Elena on the balcony. He lifted the rope from the ground and leaped into the air. He vanished into flames and appeared higher. He clung to the wall`s surface and melted the rock with her Pyromancy to carve handholds. The window was still quite away.

　　The ascent was easier than he expected. He reached the window, shattered it with his elbow, and tumbled inside. He still felt empty; he was a ghost. As he got to his feet, he glanced out the window and dropped the rope below.

　　The tower`s interior was dominated by an enormous spiral staircase, blackened and dusty. Adjacent to the window was a flat surface with a railing and a staircase attached at both ends, leading up and down. Next to him, a portion of the tower branched off into an adjacent room blocked by a substantial steel door. The vaults, perhaps?

　　He held the rope taut, bracing himself, and planted his feet as each of his companions began their ascent. Solaris, Elena, and Felisha entered the tower one by one. Absolutely nothing went wrong, of course, because Elena was compelling everyone in sight. She had completely destroyed the human consciousness and made it her plaything.

　　Am I to become the Crown? Caden thought, glancing upward toward the top of the tower. Is that my curse to bear?

　　Yes, said the Defiant Flame. It is.

　　Elena opened the imposing steel door, which swung open to reveal a room full of flint marks.

　　"Solaris, you`re up," she said.

　　The man walked in, and Elena quickly shut the door and welded it shut.

　　"Hey!" Solaris exclaimed. "What the hell is going on?" His pleas were drowned out by the banging on the door.

　　"Pick up your shit Solaris," said Elena, "We`ll come get you when we`re done. We cannot have you interfere."

　　Solaris began to melt through the door.

　　Elena turned to Felisha. "Keep him in there."

　　"Why?"

　　"Just do as I say!" Elena snarled, and the red line pulsed with Heat.

　　Felisha jumped, approaching the door with no will of her own. She took a deep breath and released a ring of ice from her hands. She conjured it with some kind of magic. It was like Pyromancy but frozen.

　　"What magic is that?" Caden asked as Elena ushered him up the stairs.

　　"Felisha is one of a kind," Elena said. "She holds magic yet does not suffer from the curse of madness."

　　He said nothing more and followed Elena, ascending the tower of Belmire.

　　This is for Isabel, he told himself. For Isabel. . .

　　The top room of the palace was cloaked in ash, walls stained black, and within stood one of the most magnificent structures he had ever witnessed. Paintings adorned the walls, and open chests were scattered about, overflowing with treasure.

　　The Crown is quite known for his Greed. . . said the Flame, dancing in his mind.

　　The Throne was placed in the back of the room. It seemed to be made from black wood - although it did not look scorched. It was sizable enough to hold three individuals, and the artifact - the Crown that beckoned him - rested in its vacant space. This was the summit, the zenith, the end of the year`s journey.

　　And Caden was about to sacrifice everything he loved in exchange for the world`s salvation.

　　Elena threw open the balcony doors, flooding the room with a brilliant white light. He shielded his eyes against its intensity and moved toward Elena. Gradually, his eyes readjusted to the brilliance of the Sun that rested overhead. It illuminated everything, even the blood-red clouds that were now below them. It would give everyone heat and light for free. It was real.

　　"Ready?" she asked. "To break the curse?"