In Nadira’s sanctuary, everyone turns to Fred as she exits the back room. Nadira stands there, watching everything, looking uneasy. Fred walks past Angel and Faith and points at the Nitobe Warrior in front of her.

“Eldre Koh. I remember you.”

Koh looks at her, surprised by her tone. “Why wouldn’t you? We’ve fought side by side, Old One. Although, your clothing seems odd to me. Are you trying to blend in with the humans?”

Angel steps forward now, remembering the figure from his scent a few weeks back. “Hi, Koh is it? I’m Angel. This is my friend Fred. Not Illyria.” He places his hand protectively on Fred’s arm. Faith notices, intervenes. “Illyria took Fred’s form and her memories. Back when Fred was dead.” Off the Nitobe’s confused looks, she pauses and shrugs. “It’s a long story.”

Confused, Koh thinks on this a moment. “Illyria never mentioned this, but I should have guessed. It is not unheard of for the Old Ones to possess a new vessel. But why your friend Fred is here instead of Illyria, I do not understand.”

Now, Nadira, green markings shining, approaches the newcomer. Addresses him by name, as if she’s known him for years. “Don’t you, Eldre Koh? You were there in the Deeper Well. When the new Seed blossomed and brought magic back to the world.”

Angel looks at the warrior. “Old Ones are too powerful to simply be destroyed. We think the Seed somehow hit the reset button on Illyria, and when that happened, Fred was reset too. Guesswork and conjecture, but that’s the theory we’re going with for now.”

Koh looks straight at them, the information seemingly all he wanted. He looks at Angel with anticipation on his lips, hope in his eyes. “Then Illyria has been reborn. Where is she?”

There’s silence for a brief moment, with Angel and Fred sharing a quick glance. Then, Fred looks at Koh. She extends her arms, points them at her chest, as if gesturing to within. “She’s here Koh. Inside me. We’re both trying to inhabit the same space. Separate but together.”

Koh presses further, walks slightly closer. He’s clearly desperate. “Can I speak to her? Please, it’s important that…”

But Fred shakes her head. She’s afraid that there’s nothing she can do. “I can’t. She could take over again. I don’t understand what happened to Illyria and me in the Deeper Well but it seems that the new Seed reset us. There’s me and there’s a God, and that’s scary.”

Eldre Koh hears her words and closes his mouth. He looks down at the floor sadly, prepared to accept his defeat. “Then all of my searching has been in vain. I’ve failed.”

Sensing the warrior’s pain, Nadira approaches him from behind, reaching out to place her hands on his shoulder. “Koh, my name is Nadira. Can you tell us why you were looking for Illyria? Maybe we can help, or at the very least, you might feel better unburdening yourself.”

Koh moves forward, avoiding her touch, but turns and looks her in the eye. He turns to Angel and Faith and sighs. “She has information that will help me complete my quest for vengeance. It’s not a pleasant tale, I’m afraid. It’s been so long since I’ve let myself remember. Maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s time I tell my story…”

And as they listen, Eldre Koh tells them of his life, his place as a warrior and the failure that haunts his every waking minute…

These memories are painful to me. I keep them locked away, thinking only of revenge.

The Nitobe have ever been warriors. But among us there is an elite fighting class: the Yataro. I remember the day that the priest offered me the fire to taste. I had been ready for some time.

For twelve years I walked the path of the warrior before I was worthy to taste the fire. It burned through my body, pain blending with power, it scorched my soul.

The Yataro ritual required that I take the long walk into the wilderness. Thirty days and thirty nights. The same fire that gave me strength also seared my mind.

I couldn’t stay around the rest of the townsfolk. Too much risk I might kill innocents while I was in the group of battle rage.

And rage, I did.

I took on all challengers, my life becoming a blur of blood and death.

Such was the final trial of the Yataro.

Me, raw, against the world.

The hours melted into days. Until finally, the fire had run its course. It would leave a mark that would stay with me forever, but the battle madness had faded.

And so I returned – only to find horror.

I ran home, dread filling my chest, hoping against hope. I’ve never told this story to another. When I try to remember, events are foggy. But one thing was clear: no one had been spared the tragedy.

The Overseer came. I did not know him, but he said he came from the capital. They had come themselves to the village to investigate and had arrived before me. They found none alive.

But they knew my name. They had looked at the temple records and had waited for me to return.

And then they claimed that it would not be the first time that a Yataro had succumbed to the madness of the flame.

I knew what he was saying, but I asked him to make it clear. I asked the Overseer to speak plainly. And I shall never forget his words:

“You are under arrest, Eldre Koh, for the slaughter of your town. You will be banished to a special dungeon in a foreign dimension, where you will be confined until the end of time.”

I told them I could not have done what they claimed. I could never hurt my own people, or my own family. NEVER!

But the Overseer claimed that the madness deprived me of my memories, of days, possibly weeks of time, lost.

I judged him a liar.

And he judged me guilty.

He also declared that the Yataro should be outlawed, the ancient order disbanded, it’s disciples all banished.

I resisted of course. But there were many. Too many.

Any Nitobe would want an honourable death. To die in battle. Doubly so for the Yataro. To remain eternally frozen in captivity, constantly reliving my shame was unbearable. Only nursing thoughts of revenge kept me sane. Someday, a year, or a hundred, or a thousand – perhaps some miracle would set me free.

And then, the miracle happened.

His voice is full of pain and fury as he completes his tale. “I was freed from my cell. The Slayer destroyed the Seed, ending the magic that powered my prison. But I was not free from my revenge. My family is dead. My order disbanded. Vengeance is all I have left. It’s been so many centuries, I sometimes wonder if I’m remembering… If I really…”

Nadira extends her hands to him again. She is warm, comforting. “I know a little something about revenge, Koh. And I don’t recommend it. If vengeance really is all you have, then it’s better to let it go and have nothing. That’s the closest to a clean slate we can get in this world.”

He turns to her sharply, a look of hurt on his face. “It’s not so simple. Vengeance is part of my code. My honour depends on it.” He puts his hands to his head, frustrated now. “But none of this matters. I was told Illyria had useful information. It’s why I sought her out. And now…” He walks towards Fred one last time, his arms outreached, his voice pleading. “Please. If I could just ask her… Or maybe one of your memories…”

Fred looks him in the eyes, her face full of regret. She wishes she could do more. “I can’t just dial Illyria up so you can talk to her. I’m sorry. I really am. I want to help you. Maybe in time, we can think of something.”

But Koh isn’t looking at her anymore. He’s already heading for the exit. His boots thud on the wooden floor. “I thought today would be… But no. I will go on searching.”

Angel calls after him, concerned, not just for the demon, but for the people he’ll meet around town. “Look, we just need time to figure this out. Are you sticking around Magic Town?”

He turns to Angel, briefly, as he exits. “Is there anywhere else to go?”

A few minutes after Eldre Koh has left the sanctuary, Angel immediately turns his attention back to Fred, holding her in his arms. “Look, don’t worry about that guy. Our priority is helping you. If it turns out we can do something for Koh along the way fine, but…”

He’s interrupted by a phone buzzing. It’s Faith’s. She takes a look at the caller’s name and barely turns to look at Angel as she explains. “I gotta jet, gang. Sorry.”

Angel turns to the Slayer, surprised. “What?”

Faith checks her phone, having answered the message, and is already half way through the door, clearly avoiding more talk. “Don’t worry about Koh. He’s serious about vengeance, but he’ll keep for now.” She ignores Angel completely, he realises. She’s only talking to Fred. ” The important thing is that you are back. I mean, yeah, we need to smooth out some of the wrinkles, but you’re back.”

Fred smiles at her. “Thanks, Faith.”

As she’s leaving, Angel comes towards her, talking quietly. “So you’re just taking off?”

Faith shrugs. “Duty calls.”

With his hand on head, Angel looks confused. “But I mean… Fred, Illyria… stuff.”

Faith turns to him completely now. “Angel, it’s good to see you. Seriously. But I didn’t come back to Magic Town to sidekick with you. I’ve got my own stuff to take care of. Your job right now is to look after Fred.”

He looks at the floor for a moment and nods to himself. “You’re right. But I haven’t seen you in a while. It would be nice to meet for a beer and exchange notes. There’s this place…”

Faith is once again heading through the exit. She’s even more eager now. “Rory’s. I know. Brandt showed me.”

“You’ve already been to Rory’s? And you know Brandt?”

“Goodbye, Angel. I’ll call you later.”

Slightly confused and concerned, Angel talks to himself quietly as Fred approaches. “Has she really been in town only one day?” As he notices Fred, he sees the look of worry on her face.

“Angel, I didn’t quite tell Koh the truth.” She stands now, embarrassed. “I do know who killed his family and had him imprisoned.”

Angel looks at her surprised. “Who?”

And then it’s Fred’s turn to look upset and saddened by her words. “Me.”

Elsewhere, after another minor patient temper tantrum, Zane Pharmaceutical boss Reese Zane is once again walking by Faith’s side. “Thanks, Faith. You got here just in time. With your guidance. we’ve been training our personnel for these situations, but…”

Faith chuckles back at her. “But there’s no substitute for a Slayer, huh?”

Reese sighs. “I won’t ask you again to think about joining us permanently. But think about it.”

As they walk through the storage facility that’s being set up, Faith notes the massive amount of materials coming into the warehouse. She turns to Reese, enquiring why there’s so much of it. Reese is quick to respond. A little too quick. “Once we’ve re-evaluated our needs, we decided to track down highly specialised equipment that can help us manipulate DNA. Very experimental and very expensive.”

The Slayer looks at her with suspicion. “Sounds like your ramping up the research. I though the focus was on helping the people around here.”

“Trust me Faith. Research and practical application go hand-in-hand. Drugs don’t get made without the testing and experimentation. It’s not like we’re dissecting people here.”

And as Reese Zane continues on her way, Faith thinks about those last three words, her face uneasy.

In the sanctuary, as Tricia brings them some hot tea, Fred sits across from Angel at a table. She’s flustered, her face confused, but she looks at Angel. She’s terrified.

“Fred, what to you mean ‘you’?”

Tricia has brought Fred something and she’s busy, trying to eat. “Well, Illyria. I can’t control which of Illyria’s memories come and go. But when they come, they’re very clear. Vivid and horrible.”

Angel stops her. “You’re tired. You’ve been through a lot. You don’t have to do this right now.”

The pair are stunned as Nadira, sitting on a different chair, speaks out, somewhat forcefully. “No. Let her tell it.”

Fred looks at Angel, nervous, but Nadira assures them both with a smile and a look. “Any friend of Angel’s is a friend of mine. Please. Go on.”

Fred closes her eyes for a moment, takes a deep breath, and opens her eyes. Slowly, she begins telling them what she remembers: “Illyria is a God…

And a God demands worshippers.

But the Nitobe were proud. Their code would not let them bend a knee to her. So Illyria had to instruct them.

Koh’s version of the story got one thing right. None were left alive. Not a man, woman or child.

Illyria feared nothing, but she wasn’t a fool. She didn’t want the Yataro to regroup and seek retribution.

She promised the overseer a powerful position in exchange for finding a scapegoat and disbanding the Yataro.

Koh was already locked away when his entire race was enslaved. He never knew that…”

“Who else? I am in charge of my destiny! Who can try to take that away? Who thinks they can…”

He’s not looking in the direction of the entrance and so he doesn’t see the fist. Doesn’t notice it at all, until it collides with his face and knocks him off balance, straight to the bar floor. Koh looks up, enraged.

Angel stands over him, his best diplomatic face showing. His hands are still clenched, ready to strike again. He turns to Koh. “You’ve had a disappointing day. I get it. You needed to blow off some steam. But how about we try talking now?”