Weakness destroyed her mother. But the Guard did not break Calira. It hardened her until breaking was no longer possible. Thalmyr taught Calira that survival belongs to the people willing to continue functioning.
“Call it collateral,” she finally answers.
Ronyn’s expression shifts in a way Calira recognizes immediately. Not fear. The discomfort people feel when confronted with what survival actually costs.
A growl tears from Jax’s throat. “Loss of life is not collateral,Commander,” she spits the title, “it is atrocity. Murder. Genocide of a people.”
Calira does not react. “It stops a much larger tragedy.”
Jax and Ronyn exchange a look that says they don’t buy it. Calira doesn’t care. Doesn’t care what they believe, what they think, what they assume to know. She cares about results. Outcomes.
And perhaps, she can use them to further Dravara’s agenda.
Finally, she looks at Vren. “You tell them.”
The Melder steps forward, huffing an exhausted exhale. “Well that was entertaining,” he grouses sarcastically.
“The Melders are soulbound to the Dravari royals. Our role is to protect Virellin Castle and the royals who occupy it at any cost. It’s in our blood. Our bones. It’s who we are. An instinct we can’t deny,” Vren explains, his words precise, certain. “And when the realms started to fail, and the dragons no longer took to the skies, Thalmyr decided to take matters into his own hands—to protect the kingdom.”
Ronyn nods slowly, taking it in, trying to sift through truth and lies.
Jax shakes her head. “Thalmyr’s family are the ones who had the witches trap your kind in mortal skin. This is bullshit.”
Calira stays silent.
Vren holds up a hand to stop Jax, his thick, dark brows knitted in frustration already. “If you’ll let me explain…”
Reluctantly, she nods.
“The Luriansdidtrap the Melders. And Thalmyr wants to change that.”
Ronyn stares ahead, desperately trying to grasp the evolving truth.
“But the witches will not remove the spell. So, Thalmyr developed a contingency,” Vren explains, every word slow, carefully chosen.
Ronyn nods, realization landing, like puzzle pieces finally coming together to form a complete picture.
“The Barrier,” Ronyn breathes in recognition.
Vren nods. “Exactly. He created The Lightborne Barrier. But he couldn’t hold it—not for long. So he needed something that would hold it in place. Something strong that could freeze magic in place,” Vren says.
Jax does not take her eyes off Vren. Ronyn’s eyes dart around the space like he’s trawling through memories that might explain this.
Vren sucks in a steadying breath.
“Our blood,” he says, and the words drop like a guillotine.
Jax throws her hands in the air, pacing across the space, breath rising and falling in undisciplined rhythm.Too emotional.
“He takes theirblood?He bleeds them dry to protect his own home?” she hisses the words like an accusation.
And Calira has had enough. Enough of the moral righteousness of people who do not understand the truth.
“They agreed to the sacrifice to protect the truth of Dravara!” she snaps.
Vren takes another step forward—a step in front of Calira.
“We willingly sacrifice a Melder every month to hold The Barrier. If we refuse, Virellin falls. If we comply, we slowly disappear. We’re doing it for the Rightful Queen,” he says, patriotism lacing every word.
