ALKO'S SECRET

The stars sprinkled across the deep blue skies as Leah and Volker hung out beside the River Thames, the sac of auction items lying on the ground. Leah played stone skipping while Volker chilled on the bench in his usual casual demeanor.

"Where is he, for fuck sake!? His time management is so shit!" Leah exclaimed, her frustration evident in her voice.

"Didn't he say he was going to be here in 20 minutes?" Volker replied, unperturbed.

"Yeah, he did, about an hour ago," Leah grumbled.

Volker chuckled, shaking his head at their leader's perpetual tardiness.

Suddenly, a portal opened, and out walked Shepherd, his identity typically concealed behind his black cloak and sheep mask.

"Look who decided to show up," Leah remarked sarcastically as Shepherd approached.

"Sorry, I'm late; I was just finishing up my latest chapter," Shepherd apologized, his voice muffled by the mask.

"Uh-huh," Leah responded skeptically, handing over the sac of auction items to him.

"Thanks; I knew I could count on you two," Shepherd said appreciatively as he took the sac.

But Leah wasn't finished yet. She jogged over to him and reached into the bag, pulling out the glittering Oppenheimer blue diamond ring with a smile.

"I'm keeping this. You can sell the rest," she declared, her tone firm.

Shepherd sighed, resigned to her stubbornness.

"Volker, is there anything you want from here?" Shepherd asked, turning to Volker.

"I'm good," Volker replied with a nonchalant shrug.

"I'll be on my way now. You two make a good team; the strong bond you have is the bond I want all Fiend hosts to have with each other. Bonds like that could do so much for the movement. Sadly, many of us choose to bond with the wrong people," Shepherd commented, his voice tinged with regret.

Leah chuckled, understanding his implication.

"By 'wrong people' you mean non-Fiend hosts, right?" she teased.

"Precisely," Shepherd confirmed, nodding.

"Never make that mistake. It'll hold you back. Living life with nothing holding you back is what I call…real freedom," Shepherd advised before disappearing into his portal.

Leah stared into the distance, pondering over his words.

"Real freedom, huh?" she mused, the weight of his words lingering in the air.

---------------------------------------------

The office undergoes an overhaul as Bevan packs his belongings in a box following his sudden resignation. Valeria walks in with haste, concern etched on her face.

"Bevan...are you sure about this?" Valeria asks, her voice tinged with worry.

Bevan continues to pack his stuff, grabbing a textbook from under his desk.

"Valeria, we've spoken about this," Bevan replies, his tone resolute.

"I know... I just can't believe you're actually doing this. These kids look up to you, Bevan. What am I supposed to tell them?" Valeria's concern deepens.

"They look up to you too, Valeria. They'll be fine," Bevan reassures her.

"Bevan, I'm not you. I'm not a Britannus Kingdom icon like you are. I can never replace you. The respect they have for you isn't the same respect they have for me. Forget respect, I can't teach them like you can. Bevan, you are quite literally the strongest Dove host in the kingdom. There's no one better to lead the next generation than you. Do you understand how much of an effect this can have on the future of our kingdom?" Valeria's words are filled with desperation.

Bevan pauses, feeling the weight of her words. He puts a hand on her shoulder, his expression softening.

"Valeria. I wouldn't have taken this decision if I didn't know who I was leaving this in the hands of. I trust you to take over with little to no effort. Stop downplaying yourself," Bevan reassures her, his voice gentle yet firm.

"But Bevan..." Valeria starts to protest, her worry still evident.

"I'm sorry, Valeria. This is something only I can do. It's my responsibility. I need to find them, and I won't stop until I do," Bevan says with determination.

He chucks the last of his belongings in his box and heads for the exit, Valeria watching him with a mix of sadness and understanding.

"And how are you going to do that?" Valeria calls after him, her voice filled with concern.

Bevan pauses, his expression unreadable for a moment.

"I'll hunt them down," he says resolutely before resuming his leave, leaving Valeria to ponder his words.

Bevan strides through the hall, his former students casting sorrowful glances as he passes. Murmurs of concern ripple through the crowd, a quiet undercurrent of uncertainty.

"Is he really leaving?" whispers one student to another.

"That's the word. Hard to believe, isn't it?" comes the reply.

"What about Miss Valeria? Will she be taking over permanently?" another student asks.

Seeping disappointment colors the response. "Looks like it. That sucks, Bevan's way better."

Bevan sighs, the weight of their words heavy on his shoulders as he makes his way to the exit. Outside, Yohan stands against a pillar, his gaze sharp and unyielding.

Bevan meets his stare briefly, then continues forward, but Yohan's voice cuts through the air, calm yet cutting.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Yohan says, his tone laced with challenge.

Bevan halts, Yohan's words echoing in the space between them.

"Abandoning your students for a wild chase after a kid who might not even be alive... and a Fiend host," Yohan continues, his voice steady. "I hope it's worth it... for your sake. Guilt's a heavy burden, no matter how you dress it up."

With a push, Yohan straightens and heads back towards the hall, his farewell carrying layers of sincerity and skepticism.

"Good luck, Bevan," he calls over his shoulder.

Bevan stands for a moment, grappling with Yohan's parting words. With a determined exhale, he moves forward, resolved to follow his chosen path despite the doubts that linger.

Alko's Kroeg Van Liefde bar sat empty, the only patron a dispirited Alko surrounded by a collection of 15 empty beer bottles. As he raised another to his lips, hoping to add it to the lineup, Udo entered the solace bar with quiet footsteps.

"You good?" Udo asked, his tone soft.

Alko chuckled bitterly. "Nah."

Udo glanced at the empty bottles. "Is... this what you do when you're sad?"

Alko sighed, the weight of his mood palpable. "I guess you could say that."

"Are you trying to get drunk?" Udo inquired, his concern evident.

"I can't get drunk, Udo," Alko admitted, matter-of-factly. "When I overcame my alcoholism, my Dove reward was to never be able to get drunk again, no matter how much I drink."

Udo's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Oh. Then what's the point of drinking?"

"I like the taste," Alko replied simply.

Udo wrinkled his nose. "Oh. Yuck."

"What do you want, Udo?" Alko asked, turning his attention to his comrade.

Taking a seat opposite Alko, Udo shifted to a more serious tone. "I'm actually here to apologize. Back there, when we sensed the Fiend vibration... I gave up. I let fear take control, and I nearly held you back. I let the squad down, and I'm sorry for that."

Alko paused, considering Udo's words. He reached for another beer bottle and deftly popped it open with his fingers.

"It's okay, Udo," Alko responded, his voice tempered. "We all have fears we're battling. It's about how we deal with them."

Udo leaned in, his curiosity piqued. "Are there any fears you're battling right now?"

Alko hesitated, the bottle inches from his mouth, before he took a swig. "I'd rather not speak on that."

"Do those fears have anything to do with what happened... that night?" Udo pressed gently.

Alko paused, then took a deep drink, a shield against unwelcome inquiries. "I'd rather not speak on that," he finally said, his tone evasive.

Udo leaned closer, his voice a whisper in the quiet room. "Alko. What did you see?" His gaze locked on Alko's distant expression, searching for answers.

Alko remained silent, his eyes fixed on a point far beyond the room's confines, lost in memories he wished to bury. Udo persisted, seeking clarity amidst the fog of Alko's reluctance.

"I know her," Alko confessed finally, his admission heavy with unspoken implications.

"Know... who?" Udo's eyes widened, his mind racing to grasp the significance of Alko's revelation.

"Know... who?" Udo asked, concern etched across his face.

Alko let out a heavy sigh, grappling with the gravity of his revelation.

"The Herd members, I know one of them," Alko admitted, his voice hushed but filled with certainty.

Udo's eyes widened in shock, the revelation sinking in as the significance of Alko's words settled between them in the quiet bar.