Reia- A Novella (COMPLETE)

Chapter 5

The Glass Wing had been defeated. The Four, with their newfound powers, ambushed the attackers miles south of the city, effectively obliterating their invasion forces without much trouble. The remaining members of the rebellion had scattered into the wilderness, and Silaro Rezona had been captured. No civilian deaths were reported, and the city was, once again, safe. Even Marfa's old experimentation injury had faded into nothingness. Reia was in a time of euphoric happiness- everything had gone according to plan. Everything... except one thing.

"I still don't know what went wrong with that word string," Marfa said nervously, pacing in the lab.

"What do you mean went wrong?" Morai said, sitting on one of the tables. "Okay, it wasn't exactly what we expected, but it worked! The Four have their powers- the Glass Wing is gone! We're heroes, Marfa. We should be out celebrating! What exactly did you call me here for anyway?"

"We have to figure out what happened," Marfa said nervously, opening the book again.

"Marfa, I have plans for tonight. Hazira is waiting for me," Morai said, in a meaningful tone.

"Go chase your girl if you want, boy," Marfa snapped. "I thought I could get your help here."

"You can!" Morai said. "Just, please, not tonight. Why are you so worried about this?"

"Because everything goes according to plan when I'm in charge," Marfa said urgently, running his hands over his head. "And I was in charge, but something didn't go according to plan. I don't like it."

"We can worry about it later, can't we?" Morai asked gently.

"Go on, Morai," Marfa snarled, leaning over the book. "Don't let reality keep you here."

"Marfa, now that's hardly fair-"

"Are you stupid? That means get out!" Marfa shouted, shooing Morai out the door.

The door slammed aggressively behind the apprentice. He froze in the hallway, alarmed. He'd never been shoved out of Marfa's lab before. How strange- Marfa must have been truly bothered to be so tense.

But it wasn't Morai's business. What danger was left? Any questions could be answered in their own time; until then, Morai had a date to attend.

"I'm so glad all that's over," Hazira said happily, twirling her fork. She and Morai were sitting in an elegant restaurant in downtown Reia.

"Me too," Morai agreed, enjoying the ambiance. There was light music, dim lights- everything was perfect, and wonderfully romantic. And he was a hero! Morai Paira and Voro Marfa had saved the day. He grinned to himself, feeling more confident than he ever had.

"What are you smiling about?" Hazira laughed.

"Just... nothing," Morai shrugged, laughing to himself. "I'm... really happy that everything turned out alright."

"The Four seem thrilled with your services, as well," Hazira added, raising her glass to him.

"Yeah..." Morai trailed off, thinking about the experiment. "Even though... you know."

Hazira shrugged, smiling. She set her glass down. "Well, right. That. Do you know what happened? Was... that even supposed to happen?"

"No," Morai said, genuinely confused. "The Four... they should have just ended up in the same place, the same... uh, way, but they didn't. Everything was wrong- and yet, still somehow according to plan. I can't even put it into words how confusing this is."

"I bet Marfa's working on it."

"Working on it?" Morai scoffed. "He's obsessing over it. He kicked me out of his lab earlier."

"What? Kicked you out of his lab?"

"He didn't think I was taking this seriously enough, and when I told him I had to meet you here, he didn't take kindly to that."

"Maybe there's a reason," Hazira suggested, putting down her fork. She looked concerned. "If Marfa's worried about this..."

"I don't think he's worried, I think he's just confused. He's used to things going his way, but this time they didn't," Morai explained, furrowing his brow. "It's all fine. Why is everyone being so paranoid?"

"My apologies," Hazira smiled and gave him a meaningful look.

Morai realized that he'd called his girlfriend paranoid. "I-I didn't mean it like that."

"I know you didn't. Don't worry about it, Morai," Hazira grinned.

Morai stared into his food, red-faced. I'm such an idiot, he thought, mentally kicking himself.

Just then, a woman walked out into the middle of the restaurant. "Excuse me, everyone? You should know- there's been an order announced by the Four," she said, holding up an electronic tablet, from which she read, "'All Reian residents and visitors are to be out of public spaces and indoors before sundown this evening, and every evening thereafter. All civilians are required to stay indoors until dawn. Failure to comply will result in immediate arrest and questioning regarding illicit activities. Speak to your neighborhood guard officer for more details.'"

The restaurant immediately filled with concerned buzz.

"Huh?" Morai said, looking at Hazira, who was just as confused.

She spoke up, asking the manager, "What's wrong? Why are they doing this?"

The woman looked at her tablet again. "Apparently they're concerned about members of the Glass Wing hiding out and planning to get Silaro Rezona out of prison?" she said, shaking her head. "I thought the Glass Wing was finished!"

"So did I," Hazira gasped. "They couldn't really still be out there, could they?"

"What good is some curfew going to do?" Morai muttered. "If the Four are worried, why wouldn't they... I don't know, take real action...? Hm."

"Morai?" Hazira said, glancing through the curtained window. "It's getting to be near dark now. If we're going to be at my place for the night, we really ought to get going."

Hazira's apartment was on the opposite side of city, and with new people rushing to get home earlier than usual, there was bound to be crowds.

"Let's go, then," Morai said grimly. He stood up, leaving money on the table, and walked out of the restaurant with Hazira.

"How am I supposed to get to work on time if I can't leave until the sun is up?" Hazira asked as they walked down the sidewalk. "This is crazy. The Glass Wing... they're just ruining everything."

"I wish I could talk to the Four," Morai sighed. "I want to hear their justification for this."

"Well, there's one justification," Hazira said, pointing at a sign over the street. "But it doesn't make any sense to me."

A news bulletin read that as many as 15,000 Glass Wing Members could still be hiding in Reia. They could be anyone, anyone.

"Where'd they get those numbers, hm?" Hazira asked, looking up at Morai. Sarcasm snuck into her voice. "Did they hold a survey?"

"Huh," Morai said in a low voice. "Let's get to your house, quick."