The Heavens Shall Fall

When the sparring had ended, Baun was carried off toward the medicinal baths by other Wardens. He was barely half-conscious, blood staining his front end thanks to a broken nose and a torn brow. But the true injury was on his side, which looked more purple than ripe plum. Nothing permanent, but... he would feel it, even after the bath healed him. Of course, there were a few who were clapping when it ended, finding the event pretty entertaining, but not Kira... She now stood still, her arms crossed, mostly looking at Varren.

She didn't blame Siu, as she knew he held back, and not just a little. If he wanted, she was sure he could finish Baun off, for good, cripple him enough that he would never cultivate again... Which also meant that Siu was just the person she felt him to be while sparring. If one thing she was sure of was that matches like the one they had could and would show people's true natures, because it never lied to her. Or... did it now? Suddenly, she was a bit unsure, because she didn't take Varren to be such a snake...

Was he this good? A professional actor? Her gaze shifted to him once again, debating if he was indeed able to mislead her... or was there something else...? Whichever it was, she was determined to get to the bottom of it. What further made her nose tingle was that...

"Follow me," Varren said, suddenly beginning to lead her away, interrupting her thoughts.

"...?" She looked towards Siu, who was slowly exiting the field too, heading in a different direction, accompanied by his pets, and seeing that Varren wasn't about to lead her to him... Her suspicion rose again. Taking a deep breath, she simply nodded and began walking after Varren, but keeping herself at an arm's length, warning him. “I'm watching you.”

As they passed by the others, heading towards the kitchen, turning off the path and heading up the stone steps, she already knew where they were going. But that didn't mean she was going to lower her guard, as she kept watching Varren's body, waiting for the smallest shift in his shoulders, maybe a momentary turn of his head, or a sudden pause in his steps... any sign for an attack. However, it never happened.

“Are you always this quiet?” Kira asked, "You weren't like this the last time."

“Sorry," Varren said with a sigh, "I was thinking...”

“About what? Where is the best place to send me into a coma?”

"What?" Varren flinched, looking at her in shock, "Why would I? I was debating whether you’re going to hit me or not...”

"That's my line!" Kira snorted, hiding a smile, trying to stay grim, yet deep within, she felt that there had to be an explanation for this, “Hmph! We can still do it... It depends on...”

“On?”

“On how stupid you turn out to be.” She snorted, eyeing him just the same, clearly testing his reaction.

"I was stupid in the past," He shrugged, "That's why I'm in my current position... You'll see, trust me."

"I trusted you," she answered honestly, "But now I can't. So, I hope it is a valid explanation and not just some wishy-washy nonsensical tale that you are thinking up right now."

As she said it, the Spirit Wardens’ tower came into view just ahead of them. As they walked in, some of their people were moving in and out freely, their voices overlapping as they picked up jobs from the massive notice board on the bottom floor, which always had some of the best assignments, thanks to the twins' efforts. Some thought it was unfair, that it was... against the rules, despite no Elder stepping in to stop them. Without thinking about it, Kira’s posture relaxed slightly, feeling that they were on their own, home turf, so Varren couldn't ambush her anymore. Apparently... Her senses were right. But then...? What was going on?

"Haaah..." She exhaled quietly as they entered the tower. “Don’t mess this up,” she muttered under her breath. "I liked your vibe..."

Varren didn’t respond to that, but his ears did get a bit redder than usual. However, it was not the time to misunderstand anything, doubly so, considering Kira's sharp eyes, so instead of dwelling on her words, he led her up the tower's topmost floor.

“Where are we going?”

"Up."

She didn’t like that answer, but she followed, right until they came across... Neya. They found her where the Wardens' core members usually held their meetings, seated at a low table, flipping through a catalog with a brush in hand, going over some of the CC they earned from simply processing the hunted beasts of the Ember Circle and their own members. It was more lucrative than any of them ever believed it could be. When the two entered, her eyes flicked up, blinking at them curiously, her face going into a kind smile.

"Varren?" She asked, noticing his posture, his different nervousness, and Kira's tense stance. "And..." She blushed a little because she didn't remember the girl's name at all.

"Kira." She said, cupping her hands.

“What happened?” Neya asked, looking between the two, "Trouble? Between you two...? Or... It is not Siu, is it?"

"No, no," Varren stepped forward, but then fell silent, not knowing how to explain, so he just blurted it out, "It's... Kira thinks I am bullying Baun."

There was a long pause as both Kira and Neya looked at him, their mouths opening slightly for different reasons, but then, Neya simply giggled, looking back and forth between the two with a relieved sigh. For a moment, she was afraid something else had happened.

"Oh boy..." She started, holding down a chuckle again, "Do close the door, and sit. Apparently, some of us have good eyes, hm?"

"So we all bully Baun?" Kira asked, feeling a bit confused now... What the hell was going on?! Taking a seat, she didn’t relax because now she was indeed confused... And that was enough to be on her guard again. Slowly, her eyes moved between them, trying to read their expressions. “If this turns into something stupid,” she said with a groan, rubbing her hands together, “I’m not holding back! I will quit, and I want my money back, too!”

“No one asked you to take it lying down,” Neya replied, trying to soothe her, "But it's not what you think it is."

“Am I wrong?" Kira groaned, getting angry, "Or is this some kind of confusion spell? Please, speak plainly already! I'm a simple girl. I hit things and learn from them. I hate this circle-talk, going nowhere!”

“I am a spy,” Varren suddenly stated again, but this time, Kira knew it wasn't a joke, and it wasn't one even back at the fence.

“You are... what? Say that again!” She looked at Varren, her expression disgusted, because she knew it wasn't a lie.

“I am a spy,” Varren repeated, feeling surprisingly calm while facing her. “Placed here by the Stone Ward. That's the truth.”

The room went still for a moment, then he saw Kira’s hand twitch once, then twice, thrice; she almost attacked him, he was sure of it, holding herself back, just barely.

“…you’re dead.” She whispered coldly, and before she could blow, Neya's voice cooled her down like pouring iced water on her.

"Why do you think he dares to say it so loudly in front of me?"

"Ahm..." Kira froze mid-motion, suddenly blinking her eyes, looking back and forth between the two, "You... know, that's... why."

“Of course, we know that Varren is a spy,” Neya said, still smiling, standing up and beginning to make some tea, “Every one of us knows, because Varren came to us from the start, telling us everything.”

"And..." Kira’s jaw pressed together, trying not to hiss, "He is still working with us...?!"

"Of course!" Neya continued, keeping up her smile, suddenly feeling very motivated to solve this issue for Siu without ever bothering him. "He asked us for help because Stone Ward is blackmailing him to do this. Now, he is telling us everything and helping us, and we are helping him. Otherwise, we wouldn't know about the rest of the spies they planted in our ranks, and we wouldn't have a chance of countering them."

"What?!" Kira flinched, shooting to her feet, then slowly sitting back down as Neya put the teacups before the two.

“The Stone Ward leadership had embedded agents into the Spirit Wardens since the start,” Varren said, thanking Neya for the tea, picking it up. “Not one. Not two. Multiple... I was simply the first.”

“…Baun…” Kira muttered. Suddenly, everything started clicking for her.

“Yes.” They answered in unison.

"So... Siu held back because he knew Baun was a spy and..." She mumbled to herself, biting onto her thumb, "He doesn't want to reveal, no... He is hoping to show a certain side of himself!"

“You indeed have a sharp eye and mind,” Varren said with awe, “If we tried to hide it, you’d push, and you could expose everything without realizing it.” Then he turned towards Neya, looking apologetic as he continued, "That's why I thought it's best if we told her everything."

"It can't be helped," Neya agreed, also surprised how quickly Kira had solved the 'issue,' "And I don't think Kira would now interfere with it."

"I won't but... Damn! I hate Stone Ward!" She said angrily, picking up the teacup and emptying it with one swing, "Hmph! I thought Baun was just simply arrogant and stupid, but a spy?! Oh come on! Why didn't he come forward? Is he that badly blackmailed? Could we help him?"

"I don't think he is even blackmailed by them," Varren added before Neya could speak up, "I think he is a Stone Ward member, but it is just my personal thought."

"He has debt," Neya muttered, recalling the papers Lorean had brought over in the past, "But that doesn't mean he likes us. Anyway, the thing is, we are setting up a trap for Stone Ward, and please, make sure you don't ruin that, Kira."

"Of course not." She said, nodding heavily, "I hate people who are so... hmph! Evil! But if they come forward... would we... help them?"

"No." Neya shook her head, "Siu had already decided that even if they do come forth, it's too late. We waited enough, and the only one who did it was Varren. Do you remember some of the postings?"

"Huh?" Kira asked, furrowing her brows, and it was Varren who explained.

"We always put up slips that offered help if you are being... squeezed."

"Oh, those!" She nodded, crossing her arms, "I thought they were some kind of inner reward things. I thought it's awesome and all... Sooo..." She looked at them, waiting for them to confirm what she was thinking of.

"They were the bait to bring them forward and turn them, but they never took it, so we stopped posting those." Neya finished, shaking her head, "We tried, and we can't just go to them directly, that could ruin everything. So, there are no more chances, and we keep a close eye on them all."

"Haaah... I see..." Kira muttered after letting out a long sigh, deflating a little, "So," she then sat back up straight, "What can I do to help?"

"The best solution would be if you do nothing," Neya said in the end, thinking it through, "We don't want them to start suspecting things or do something we won't know about and catch us in a bad spot."

"Ugh... But now I know, and I want to be part of it!" She moaned, her hands fidgeting, clearly restless, "We can't just let those bastardly spies roam around freely!" Just as she finished it, her head snapped towards Varren, "Sorry, you are the exception."

"No offense taken," He chuckled, raising his hands, "It's fine."

"I will talk with Siu," Neya said in the end, smiling again, "We may think of something, but until then, can you work with Varren?"

"With me?" He asked suddenly, but Kira was louder.

"Sure! This will be fun!"

"Fun?" Varren muttered, getting a bit unsure, "I just hope they don't take this the wrong way..."

"I don't think so," Neya answered while standing up, "We will think of something. For now, please act as usual. It will be up to Stone Ward to decide what comes next. But we will be ready!"

"If it is a brawl, like it was in the forest," Kira grinned, cracking her knuckles, "Count me in! I was angry that I missed it... Such an intense, live training! The next time it happens, I have to be there."

"You are a battle maniac..." Varren muttered, but of course, Kira had heard him well, and she just turned towards him, grinning.

"Damn right you are!"