Moonlark Turned Evil

Special Chapter 2: Hallway Chatter

Alvar turned the corner, uncomfortably moving past the other cloaked members of the Neverseen.

It'd been less than a week since he joined the rebel organization—a short enough time that he had zero friends. It didn't help that some people found it hard to trust him, not just because he was a new recruit, but because of his name.

Vacker.

He'd always hated it, that title, that status, the word that was and would forever be part of his name. The thing that made everyone think he was some kind of amazing, faultless person. The very reason he'd joined the Neverseen.

And even here, in an underground organization, it was following him, towering over him, telling him, You can't run.

"Are you all alone?" a voice said.

A girl fell into step beside him—probably tall for her age, but only coming up to his shoulders, with long blonde hair flowing freely down her back. Her eyes were brown, flecked with gold, and Alvar was sure he'd never seen a pair of eyes more beautiful.

Which was why it took him a moment to realize—

"A-Ales?" he stammered.

The girl smiled. "I do go by that name sometimes. But please, just call me Sophie."

"Alvar," he said, recovering from his shock. "I'm Alvar Vacker."

To his surprise, she didn't react. Didn't frown. Didn't insult him. Didn't make up some sort of excuse and leave.

"How long has it been since you swore fealty?" she asked. Her smile was still there.

Either she was good at acting, or she really didn't care.

"About a week," he muttered.

"Makes sense."

A few people glanced between the two of them, obviously wondering what business Ales had with him.

"How come . . ." Alvar started, but he awkwardly cut the sentence off, realizing how stupid his question was.

Sophie cocked her head curiously. "Go ahead. I won't chop your head off or anything."

"Good, because that's totally what I was worried about," he said sarcastically, smirking.

She grinned. "It has something to do with your name, right? You looked confused when I smiled."

"Wow." How did she know that? Was it just observation? Or did she read his mind? "Yeah, you're right?"

"Is there something about your name that's strange?"

"You really don't know?" he asked.

She shook her head. "I barely know anything about the Lost Cities."

"The Vackers," Alvar said. "They're . . . they're the family that's most loyal to the Council."

"Huh."

They turned right.

"You're not going to walk away?"

"Why would I?" she said. "You seem like a nice person. In fact, would you like to join my Guild?"

Alvar's jaw pretty much dropped to the floor.

Sophie laughed at his reaction. "Did you think I was some kind of evil assassin or something?"

"No, not at all," he was quick to say.

But honestly, he'd expected her to be one. Tales of 'The Neverseen's Sword' and 'Brown Eyes at Midnight' had reached his ears, even when he was sheltered within Everglen's gleaming gates.

After he'd joined the Neverseen, he'd heard stories about how she was a skilled fighter and had a perfect mission track record, how she'd been sent on suicidal missions and had come back alive.

It was amazing to think she'd only joined the Neverseen last year.

To put it simply, he hadn't expected Ales to be a young girl with a charming smile who was the first person to hear his last name and be completely indifferent.

Sophie glanced towards the door that led towards the girls' dorms. "I'll catch you later, Alvar!" she said, and with a wave and a flash of golden hair, she was gone.

'The kind are gentle,' he remembered, 'and the strong are cold.' Yet she seems to be both strong and gentle.

That was the first time Alvar Vacker met Sophie Foster.