The airship's descent into Snezhnaya is quieter than I'd like.
A thick layer of snow blankets everything, as if the entire world's been wiped clean. Only the harsh winds remain, howling like distant ghosts.
I stand at the prow of the ship, watching the ever-encroaching storm. Everything's different. I can feel it in the way the crew glances at me when they think I'm not looking. The way Vira remains annoyingly silent at my side. Everyone knows the story of what happened in Sumeru. They just haven't said anything.
But they don't need to.
I know they're watching. Waiting for the next move.
When we land, the air is colder than a corpse.
The Citadel looms ahead, towering and silent. Soldiers line up to greet me, but not with the usual awe or fear. It's something else now—hesitation.
"You've returned, Lord Capitano," a familiar voice says. It's Arlecchino, stepping forward from the shadows.
I don't answer immediately. Instead, I study her. There's something about the way she looks at me today—sharp, focused. Like a cat circling its prey.
"You look… different," she observes. Her tone is light, but the words are weighted.
"I did what I had to do," I reply.
She tilts her head, like she's considering my words, then gives me a small smile—a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm sure you did." She steps closer, her boots crunching on the snow. "But the question is—did you do what weneeded you to do?"
There it is. The underlying tension.
I stare at her, allowing a cold silence to stretch between us.
Then Arlecchino steps back, eyes glinting with amusement. "Don't worry, Capitano. The Council is waiting for you. They'll want to hear all about your… unconventional methods." She emphasizes the word "unconventional" with a slight edge.
"Lead the way."
The walk through the Citadel feels colder than it should, even with the heat of the surrounding guards. I try not to let it show—let them think I'm unaffected. But I can feel it now, the weight of eyes on my back.
The grand hall opens, and the Harbingers are already assembled.
Pantalone, standing by the far side, eyes sharp and calculating. Pulcinella, as usual, hunched over his cane with that worn-out grin. And then Dottore, his eyes glimmering with some unknown calculation.
The room goes silent when I enter.
"Capitano," Pantalone begins, his voice smooth like polished stone, "we've been waiting for your return. Your mission… was more successful than expected. Though…" He pauses, eyes flicking to the others. "Some of your methods seem to have raised a few eyebrows."
I don't speak. I just stare at him, watching the play unfold.
Pulcinella chuckles. "The young Captain certainly has a mind of his own. A good thing, perhaps, but also… unpredictable." He eyes me with an almost paternal air, though it's hard to tell if it's approval or something darker.
Then Dottore speaks. His voice is cold, surgical. "We've received reports that you spared a rebel. A dangerous choice. If we wanted mercy, we wouldn't have sent the Fatui. What do you say to that?"
I let the silence stretch, just long enough to feel the tension swell. Then I speak, my voice low, but firm.
"I did what was necessary," I say, looking at each of them. "The Fatui are feared because of strength, not just brutality. If we lose sight of that, we lose everything."
I can feel their eyes on me—Pantalone's sharp, Pulcinella's amused, and Dottore's like a dissecting blade.
Arlecchino's eyes are different though. She's watching closely, her lips curving into a faint smile, as if she's waiting for the first real crack to form.
There's a moment where I think I've said too much. But then Dottore's sharp gaze flicks to the side, and he nods almost imperceptibly.
"You'll have to answer for this at the next council," he says, voice cutting through the air like a knife. "Until then, we have other matters."
I can feel it. The challenge. The sense that they're trying to figure me out, trying to read me.
"I will be ready," I respond, not missing a beat.
The meeting ends, and the room empties out, leaving me alone with Vira. She doesn't speak at first, but her presence is heavy beside me.
"Did you really think they wouldn't notice?" she asks finally.
I glance at her, my voice low. "What difference does it make?"
"You've shifted something, Capitano. Not just within yourself, but here." She gestures vaguely to the halls of the Citadel. "There's a ripple now. You can't control how far it goes. Sooner or later, they'll force your hand."
I let that sit between us for a moment, but I don't respond.
Instead, I turn away, heading deeper into the Citadel.
I can feel the walls closing in.