Avery stood at Gate number one hundred twenty, on Planet Four, for five minutes. As many years as he had spent in exile there.

  He exhaled.

  Then he crossed the Gate, and as a free man he entered the former territory of Shadows, now officially a district of the New Empire.

  He took a breath.

  New air. New path. New future.

  A new life?

  He took two steps to the side so as not to disturb the others. Then he closed his eyes and listened.

  Shadows. The first thing, somewhere in the distance, was loud laughter. Like the last time he had been here at Luna’s wedding. Laughter; people were laughing here. Despite this, it was quiet. Hardly anyone was working that late. Music was playing somewhere. Luna said that there were many places here where people either listened to the music or danced to it.

  … Other sounds, fascinating, were from the small shops and stalls open in the evening. Luna also talked about that, getting a little dreamy whenever she did. Food. The sizzle of fried items, the sweet aroma of doughnuts—he thought it had been this kind of sweet pastry, mixed with the smell of something a little fishy, a little something else, but watery—sea smells.

  Avery breathed, reveling in it.

  Freedom… he opened his eyes.

  The plan was outlined; everything was set. He had a month to look around the area and go sightseeing. Luna had already organized his time. Then, he was to have around six trial months under Si’s supervision.

  Interesting.

  Did Si want to observe him before introducing him to his partner?

  It seemed so.

  Who was this partner that Shadows Lord personally took care of?

  Avery thought about the message he received and figured that it had to be someone older. Knowledgeable but with limitations? Certainly, someone older. Especially the mention of rigor training directed him into this thinking—older Shadows were known for this kind of approach.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Of no problem. Avery couldn’t wait.

  Shadows.

  The message he got was both surprising and expected. Avery knew he had been seen. But he had awaited some kind of punishment—an interrogation, perhaps? At least, he had expected a difficult conversation.

  The new Leader was already known for the fact that if an order was given, it had to be obeyed. Avery did not comply—he was beyond the barriers. Not only that, but he had seen too much as well.

  This message, an offer of, what—a job? It was intriguing.

  Something was going on there.

  Politics. But. Shadows, perfect.

  This was what Avery wanted; he had been heading in this direction either way.

  The last press conference with the Leader confirmed this path in his career. The Leader… if Avery hadn’t seen it, he wouldn’t have noticed. But he saw, so he noticed.

  The Leader had no idea what had happened on the planets. He had general knowledge, but he didn’t know the details. He answered questions, brushed them off, and circled around them.

  People and reporters didn’t notice. The Leader was confident and decisive; he immediately presented his plan for the future. Avery gave it back to him; the Leader knew how to organize and how to rule the crowd as well. That was fine.

  But he didn’t know what had happened; he really didn’t.

  Avery knew who was aware. Shadows Lord—he knew because he was there. At the conference, he stood behind the Leader; he was also asked questions. Si answered very modestly and smiled.

  … Here was an interesting fact. The Leader never smiled. But Shadows Lord smiled.

  At the press conference regarding the epidemics, Shadows Lord smiled apologetically. Then he said that Shadows helped because artificial energy dominated the planets, and the collision of natural energy with Crystalers was a known fact, so the Leader couldn’t send anyone else there.

  Of course, everyone nodded and forgot to ask what exactly Shadows did. And why did they forget? Because Shadows Lord immediately mentioned something about his wife… as soon as he mentioned Luna, well, his wife, it started right away. Attention completely averted; here, Avery grimaced when he remembered it.

  Gossip, these reporters needed gossip.

  They were asking what was wrong with Shadows Lord’s wife. They knew she was attacked; everyone heard that those mutated animals hurt her. They started to ask many questions about her, including even her recent haircut. How was this connected?

  Shadows Lord handled it beautifully. He said a few words about Luna, but immediately went on to discuss the victims and their families—other wives, other husbands, children.

  People at the end were massively taking out tissues to wipe their tears. Shadows Lord was good—the reporters loved him.

  The Leader controlled the crowd. Shadows Lord charmed the crowd.

  Avery took another breath.

  His future looked promising.

  He had no family; he saw it like this. No relations. He could focus on his career fully.

  Working with Shadows, being a part of their community, and being hired in their well-known guards’ team? Shadows Lord personally overseeing his trial months? Could it get any better?

  Avery smiled.