(Alnilam)

Last night, when Saiph told me what had happened, it disturbed my peace, and I felt responsible. They are still young and have a long way to go in learning the skills to fight the monsters which plague our world.

Even though such experiences are necessary for them to grow and learn, Chitterings are malicious creatures and only professionals can handle them. Throughout my years as a trainee and than an enforcer, I had never encountered a Chittering but read in detail about them.

My mother visited us, knowing Mintaka had been harmed, after Saiph informed her of what had happened.

Being her personal guard he reported every tiny detail to her.

Although she always loves us equally, I know Mintaka is her favourite among us three brothers. Mintaka doesn’t agree with our assumptions. Alnitak is the one who loves our mother the most; Mama’s boy he is.

She appeared worried and we had to calm her down, letting her know that Mintaka was safe and how Amaia helped him gain consciousness.

She insisted we visit her for dinner on the weekend and bring Kacir, Rahria and Amaia along. I knew this was just an excuse, she wished to see and meet Amaia after hearing about her. Saiph must have told her that she was getting close to Alnitak.

My parents also hold a soft spot for Guild Leo. My grandfather and father had been in the same guild, followed by me and now my brothers. So our family legacy continues.

Earlier yesterday, the crescent tattoo on my forehead prickled, letting me know there were a few non-registered magic users performing magic.

The part of the initiation ceremony in becoming an Enforcer includes getting the charmed crescent tattoo which informs us of the unregistered magic users and their precise locations. The nearest Enforcers can head over to the place and check them out.

In our case, I had Jamina so we always travelled faster. The situation we found was more complex than I had imagined, and it involved children, so I had to take days off and sort it out. Two other Enforcers decided to stay behind so we could return and arrange our substitutes. A few members of the Dread Army always come to collect reports after such an incident, and I am still due one on Amaia.

Thankfully, when Saiph came to inform me about the Chittering’s attack, I knew he would be perfect as my replacement, and he agreed after speaking to our mother.

"Amaia wasn’t affected by the Chittering like the others. She watched me take it on and never closed her eyes. That’s odd for a simple human," Saiph said with a hint of curiosity in his words. I am leaving my office to head over to my session and Saiph joins me.

Fae possesses a natural affinity against creatures born of darkness and nightmares. It’s because of their internal light. I just hope Saiph doesn’t connect the dots and begin to question.

"Not only is she mentally strong she is also tenacious, it must be because of that." I take the answer in a different direction.

"She held Mintaka to herself, shielding him, bringing him out of the nightmare. You believe a mere human can achieve that?" He asks suspiciously with his right brow raised.

I can’t have him digging into Amaia, he can’t know, or he will inform my mother. That’s not what concerns me. It’s my father who worries me. Mama will speak to my father and he will expel Amaia or hand her over to the Dread Army. He has, on occasion, given free rein to the Dread Army because of his aversion to the Fae kind. There have been instances involving Fae which have made him bitter.

"Humans are more resilient than we give them credit for. I have run a background check on her. Don’t go thinking too deeply into this," I tell him flatly, trying to close the discussion.

Saiph is smart and ruthless. He is two years older than me and grew up with our family from a young age. Being the son of my mother’s personal maid, he has always been around.

Our mother mostly had him accompany us so we wouldn’t get hurt or into trouble. But he always told on us, never kept any of our mischief secret. I was punished more because of him than by anyone else. And yet he was like an elder brother.

"Believe it or not but there is more to her than meets the eye," he calmly says as we enter the library.

I will have to speak to Amaia before leaving. She has to be extra vigilant in her training with Saiph.

Five of them have gathered in the library, and Mintaka still appears slightly shaken from the experience. I know why he was affected most among them. Amaia is calm, and she sits with Mintaka, making small talk and ensuring he is alright.

She cares, how much of it is fake and how genuine, I can’t decipher anymore.

I inform them that after having this session, I am going to leave.

Once the session begins and I ask about the Chittering, Amaia enthusiastically raises her hand at my question.

"Yes, Amaia," I calmly say. That hostility I felt towards her has diminished only to be replaced by this unimaginable attraction. Keeping my eyes off her when she is in the room is a mammoth task and I usually fail.

"Chitterings are born from people’s hatred, fear and jealousy. Especially after the apocalypse, people remain in fear so more Chitterings are born."

She knows her stuff. I point towards her and proudly say, "Five points to Guild Leo and that’s correct." She beams at me and I find it difficult to peel my gaze off her.

My magic becomes restless again and I have to warn it.

’We are in a room full of people, don’t do anything stupid which will expose her by any means.’

With a deep breath, I begin to pace all around them while starting my lecture. "A Chittering is not born of flesh, but from the coagulated fear and bitter hatred left in the wake of cruelty. They are phantoms given form, woven from whispered and acted malice, cold and forgotten dread."

Saiph takes a step back, leaning against the far corner of the empty table but he listens in.

"Usually, they dwell in the places people shun: abandoned houses and the deep, suffocating silence of forgotten caves. There, in the perpetual cold and dark, their forms solidify, waiting in the shadows, they wait for their prey, which might wander in their vicinity. They don’t live in cities, or warmer continents and they are certainly not native to Orion." I pause and observe, some are just listening while others are taking notes including Amaia.

Only Rigel is missing. He had informed me last night that he needed a few days’ break because his bloodlust had been acting up, along with the signed parchment from the headmaster and his guildmaster. I had no other option but to oblige, so he was missing.

"The next question is, how to defeat a Chittering? Any volunteers?"