Salty breeze. Screaming gulls. Breaking waves.


    Nannadestood on the bow of theVigilantiaand looked to the distance. Aftersixdays of voyage, they finally arrived in the vicinity ofStakkarun. The ocean betweenAckaromandBotrelandtwas windy and temperate, occasionally blowing icy air to the shoes of northernAckarom. They had weathered the sea quite well, not just because ofNannade''sspiritual aid. She was unfamiliar with the needs and dangers of sailing, but she had brought then a constant breeze, which was enough for such a short voyage.


    The island rose quickly, its central mountainmassdisappearing in the haze and clouds and leaving little level land on the shore. The weather looked especially grey, even for autumn.


    The ship was navigated into a small bay, shielded by rocky cliffs from both weather and sight. It seemed empty and wild, but as they got closer, they penetrated an illusion spell and a tent camp was revealed, standing amidst a small assortment of huts and houses, some of them with scorch marks or even burned to the ground.


    They were welcomed by a tall, blonde man. He saluted to SeeAndronicusand showed them to the command tent. The stewarding lieutenants excused themselves as the team entered.


    AndronicusandIonnawere given updated reports by the tall blonde man, who looked an awfully lot likeIonna.They even wore similar equipment, that of a scout, although the man’s brooch showed him to be of a much higher rank.


    Nannadehad been given instructions. She would be accompanying – or how they had called it “attached to” – the scout squad commanded byIonna, to go ahead of all else. Shortly after them would come the vanguard, led into the field by ProfessorAlivor, and followed by the two standard squads, led bySerAndronicus. All in all, more than fifty men. The last squad, led bythe tall man, would stay at the bridgehead and keep the opportunity to retreat open.


    The man''s name was Silva us and he was thescoutsmasterof the OrdoMilitaris, and indeedIonna''syounger brother. He was rather approachable and quickly recognizedNannade’sexpertise.He askedNannadeto see her equipment, and when he saw, he insisted she take on a spear from the armoury.


    “We’ll shorten shaft a bit for you.”Ionnasaid while handing her a spear in the armoury on the ship. Behind herNannadecould see a row of bows leaning in their stand.


    “Oh, I think a bow would serve me well, too.”Nannadesaid. Itwereonlyflatbows, nothing like her recurve bow back at home, but it had been a while and she’d even settle for a cumbersome longbow. She took and stringedone.Ionnawas impressedby her strength to easily string a bow made for male human soldiers.


    She held the bow and plucked the string, just a little.


    BWENG.


    She welcomed the sound. Like the first note to an old, familiar tune. She drew the string all the way back, right next to her ear. Its strain, like inhaling just before a mighty yell. She let it go.


    TFWAENG.


    This was the first beat to the melody.


    “How I have missed this.”


    Ionnachortled. “So melodramatic. You have experience with the bow?”


    “I’ve been training for five years now. Got my own bow when I was twelve. But never felled anyone with it. A bit of hunting, that’s it.”


    “Well we got an archery target outside of you’re feeling rusty.”Ionnasaid with a wink.


    They went outside to a tree with a wooden plate hanging from ropes.


    “A weak hit won’tdo,the arrow needs to hit at full speed or the board will just swing out of the way.”


    “I think it''ll do.”Nannadesaid andnockedher first arrow. She drew the string back, inhaled, held, felt the strength of the wood and sinew, let loose.


    The arrow cut through the air and with a loudTHWOCK, hit the target, making it swing back and forth. As it came to a standstill, both of them watched and saw; the arrow was cleanly in the centre.


    “Not bad for a first shot, but let’s try that again.”Ionnaaid.


    Nannadeagain nocked, drew back, inhaled, held, felt, let loose.


    THWOCK.


    Clean in the centre, barely half an inch from the first.


    Ionnanodded respectfully. “Excellent for a second shot. How about a third?”


    Nannadedecided to up the stakes. “How about a ninth?”Nannadeasked.


    Ionnadid not know what she was getting at, but she had already shouldered the bow and gotten to drawing in her palm-book. She still remembered the construction, but her hand drew a few ugly lines. Never mind, she could make it work.


    Made curious by the sounds, Silvanus had arrived as well, he saw what was going on.“Soyou’re instructing the girl?And you’re even making her take notes?!”


    “Noyou idiot, she’s drawing magic. She’s a witch after all.”Ionnastepped closer to peek overNannade''sshoulder.


    “Witch’s apprentice, but close. This will be my last test.”Nannadecorrectedher.


    The spell was ready.


    She pricked the paper onto the claw of her left index, then she drew the bow. As the paper was in front of the arrow’s tip, she snapped her fingers.


    The paper went up in flames and in its stead, a whirling golden ring appeared in the air. She adjusted her aim and let the arrow loose through the ring.


    THWTHWTHWOCK.


    Three arrows pelted the target. Four missed. Six arrows disappeared. One remained, less than an inch from the centre.


    Both siblings were still processing what just happened.


    “DAMN! That was UGLY! I should havedrawnthat better.”


    “I don’t think anyone at the receiving end of this cares.”Ionnasaid while her brother was in awe.


    ButNannaderemained unfulfilled by her performance.


    She went to pick up the arrows and brought them back. She got a quiver to put on her hip.With a smile, she inspectedher new gear. Maybe she could keep this one. Her recurve bow back home might be better suited and of a higher make than this one, but she was a farwayfrom home.


    The day went on rather eventless.Nannadesat on a log and wrotedown as many spells for the upcomingmissionas possible. Spells toscryinto the distance, spells to conceal beneath twigs and leaves, spells to pelt her opponents with arrows numerous and strong, spells to heal grievous wounds quickly.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    She had worn her crayon down to a nub again and looked for a replacement, whenOlybriuswalked by.


    “Do you know if they have infused crayons for replacements?”


    “Oh, I guess you can take my replacements, I''ll get new ones before tomorrow anyway.” He rummaged through his pouch and handed her two. “What are you writing down?”


    He sat down next to her and looked at her palm-book.


    “Oh, this is just something for stitching up a wound.”


    He seemed impressed. “Life-transmutation is a tricky thing, and...” He hesitated and looked at her spell closer. He obviously had problems understanding the freeform structure. “Andyou... Is that blood magic?” he finally brought forth and pointed to a certain part of her spell.


    Nannaderealized she might have revealed too much. “Well, how else are you going to close a wound?”


    “Haven’t you learned in your Axiomata how dangerous that is?!” He gave her a concerned stare.


    “I learned it under close tutelage by an experienced healer. I guess we do things different inSturreland.” Nervously she put on a smile and ducked her head in.


    “Well, I hope you know what you’re doing.”


    “Can I ask, what’s the Axiomata?”


    He furrowed his brow. “Do they not have Axiomata inSturreland?”


    Nannadefelt as if she had said something wrong and noticed she hadducked her head in. “I don''t know. I kind of grew up in a hut in the forest. I was trained and taught by two people.”


    Olybriusprocessed that for a moment. “Soyou never went to school?”


    “Well, once, to introduce me to the townsfolk. I know their schooling isn’t as good as the city''s. It’s only every other day.”


    “That sounds like the free program by the universities. But if the parents can pay, they visit schoolbetween seven and nineteen years old.I guess you don’t knowPrimum,SecundumandTertiumthen either?”


    “Oh, I know that. I should be doing the last year of mySecundumright now, and my Tertium from seventeen to nineteen. But what’s Axiomata?”


    “Well you see, children that are to be taught in magic can begin their Axiomata when they start theirSecundum. There they are taught the basics of the natural laws concerning magic as well as the university''s laws that govern the use of magic. If they manage to do it, they get a token by the university, like a pendant, to cast magic as long as they’re within the city. But only basic stuff, like lighting candles or cleaning clothes, you know.”


    “Huh.”Nannadethought about the life of a city school child. She realized how odd her life was in relation to other children, even those with magic gifts.


    He shook his head. “Now I know why you’re so far ahead on some stuff.”


    “I guess my teachers are very “result-oriented” and don’t waste much time on needless basics.”


    “What is that supposed to mean?”


    “They preferred very drastic methods to accelerate my learning after... I came from a sort of dark place and suffered from neglect and entered their care when I was nine.SoI had to catch up a lot.”


    He raised his eyebrows. “You caught up well, I have to say.”


    “Thanks, but I think it hasn’t all been good. You see, how should I put it?For example, they gave me some brew to accelerate my growth and it might have kind of made me... more human, if you get what I mean.”


    He shook his head with furrowed brow.


    “I am not typicalcrolachan. Humans usually can’t tell, and I never met othercrolachansuntilIeftSturrelandthis year, so I never knew how different I was. One of thecrolachanmen on the ship called me “lanky and sinewy” and...” She just now noticed what she had been rambling about. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to bother you with my insecure-girl talk.”


    He put his hand on her shoulder again, like he did on theVigilantia. “Nannade, you are under no obligation to fit in with everyone. Especially since you’re destined for something higher, you have a gift and to let yourself get held back by those that will never understand your worldwill only bring you pain. Don’t look back.”


    She had to blink once or twice before she had truly understood what he had said. “Thank you. I think I just want to not be seen as something broken anymore, as something that needs to be fixed.”


    “I won’t presume to know what broke you, but I know that people can’t be “fixed”. They can only heal, by themselves; and the best other people can do is be there for them. It doesn’t sound like your teachers have your best interests in mind, but I hope you either have or find someone who can help you heal.”


    She put her hand on his to remove it from her shoulder, but for a moment, she stopped. It feltniceand warm. She had to detach from him andturn around for a while. “I guess I’ll get some stuff done and talk toIonna. See you.”


    “Yes.” He sounded guilty for some reason.


    She just went toIonnato confirm their departure early the next morning, before everyone else. Then she sat in her tent, which she shared with the Professor and made a few more stitches to her project, hoping to clear her head. She noticed a certain gaze on her the entire time.


    “What is it,Aaka?” She finally asked her observer, whose presence she tended to forget more and more recently.


    “I hope you don’t think that Purple Paw and Elissa mean you ill.”


    “What are you, my confessor?”


    “No, I just want to warn you that resentment can grow. I’m not saying you shouldn’t listen to that boy, but don’t let yourself get driven by spite and defiance... again!”


    “Don’t worry, I fully intent to return to Purple Paw and continue my training. I just want to be able to see it from someone else’s perspective for once.”


    Aakadid not answer to that, but she was no longer in the jar whenNannadeleft the tent.


    Night fell and the platoon gathered around several campfires.Nannadesat next toOlybriusagain. She had noticed that she had started to see him more like a mature boy than a young man. The robe and his stiff posture had somehow made her believe he was beyond childish things and insecurities.


    Theyhad been eating side by side in relative silence whenOlybriusspoke up. “Say, can I ask you what it is that you were stitching for so long on the ship?”


    “It’s a charm for a certain spirit, so I can bind it into it.” She told him. Not entirely wrong.


    “Do spirits like being bound into objects?” he asked, with a cute boyish curiosity thatNannadeknew from somewhere.


    “In the end we can’t command spirits, only make contracts with them.Soit’s up to the spirit whether it enters.”


    “I heard that before, that mediums often have to trick daemons or they get tricked by them.”


    “Yes, spirits are a dangerous lot. They offer you one thing and take everything else.”


    “Is it that dangerous to deal with them?”


    She had to think how to describe it. “You know that the arcane has its rules that need to be studied for years to apply on a basic level. But the mystic is as easy as speaking a single word, but that also means the wrong word can allow the other one, the spirit, to do as they see fit. A wish for a growing garden can easily lead to choking vines swallowing your entire house. The only way is speaking clearly, knowing all the words, and being aware of what entity you are dealing with.”


    Olybriussucked up her every word. “Can you show me?”


    “Show you what?”


    “A spirit.”


    “Eeer...” she really wanted to say yes. “... Non-mediums cannot perceive them without a very longattunementguided and enforced by self-discipline. Followers of a faith study their religion for years in order to be able to perceive a tiny sliver of their god. Priests are those few that managed.”


    He seemeddobe not deterred. “But can you show me what they can do?”


    Nannadehad to think for a moment. “I guess I can look at the edge of the concealment spell for a spirit...”


    She looked around. She found an empty cup and carefully put a burning ember inside. Then she returned toOlybriusand beckoned him to follow her.


    At the edge of the concealment spell, behind some bushes and rocks, they sat down andNannadestarted to whisper runic words. It would be hard to find an elemental spirit in such a distant, unknown land, but sure enough, a sprite showed up, born from the warmth of the ember.


    “I found one!” she said with a smile of success.


    “A spirit, it is here?”


    “No, a sprite.”


    “What are those?”


    “If spirits are minds without bodies, sprites are thoughts without minds. A seed from which a new spirit can form.”


    “And can it do something for us?”


    “Only one thing:”Nannadeleaned closer to the cup and the sprite within and whispered a single runic word. “Burn!”


    The ember turned into a brightly burning flame, shooting high out of the cup.NannadeandOlybriusleaned back at first, but then got closer, observing as the flame consumed the entire ember, reducing it down to ashes within a few moments. As the flame died down,Nannadecould seeOlybriusamazed face behind it. He raised his gaze from the cup to her eyes. She looked intoloam-browneyes and he intoherspring-greeneyes longerthan any time before. Today, his eyes were notcold or shy. Today, in that moment, they were hungry. She saw her own reflection in them. Were her eyes hungry too? She feltso.


    She dropped the cup and put her hands to his face.