The Killing of the High Priest Ashura by the Traitor Mage Fai Flowright

Every inch of gentleness in Kurogane’s face scrunched itself into irritation. It was a bit like watching a fruit dry in the sun, except at high speed. “Don’t make me hit you over the head,” he said.

“You already did!” Fai said, stifling a laugh when Kurogane cringed. He wondered if everyone living under the light of the sun grew up this earnest, or if fate had delivered three outliers at his doorstep so that he would know what looking at the stars felt like. A small mercy before the Shroud let in something Fai couldn’t fend off, maybe.