“And then you went to the military academy?”


    ”Yes Elan, then I was on my way…..


    It took me six weeks to get to the academy, I followed the mountain range, traded with fishermen who would scale the mountain. I had become good at trapping and I was more willing to trade with some smoked and dried meat, for their fatty fish, than part with my coin. This was increasingly harder to negotiate the closer to the capitol of Shea I got.


    More frequently I walked through villages and more frequently the longer it took to get through them, until I had to admit I had arrived. The academy stood on a hill of white stone speckled quartz, its walls a patchwork of grey, polished with shimmering crystal, veined with lighter stone throughout. The academy, its square stocky structure about seven village huts high, by estimation, was situated in a large courtyard. It was straight ahead, I could see through the bars of the gate, anchored down by the stone port and a wall that wrapped around and out of site. Guarding its secrets. Behind the academy, Bridges arched like spider silk exploding over the tallest mountain behind, towers and spires shooting up into the sky. How could a mountain seem so airy and light? over the little chasm separating the academy from the city, people were walking to and fro across these many bridges, a multitude of moving colours. Going in and out from the military gate by contrast, only pale blue. A reminder that while the noble elite mingled freely between both, only the chosen—or the brave—entered the academy’s Iron bars. And only technocrats lived in towers, I figured.


    My footsteps echoed on the white stone path leading to the gates. Ahead, cadets moved in clusters, their crisp uniforms and crests—some etched with family emblems, others bearing the academy’s plain sigil stood out the closer I got, not because of my peculiar wear, no, I was travel worn and dirty. I might have smelled a bit too I realised, I abruptly turned around, embarrassed, I needed a wash and a plan if I was to gain entry.


    I found an Inn for the night, after finding somewhere to sell everything that was not dear to me, or useful. I haggled like I was dealing with old Tanja herself. I buried my largest travel bag later in the wood nearby, half a days walk, my legs thought it nothing to me now. I had oiled it in for protection, kept my traps, one good knife, sleeping tarp and string and kissed it goodbye, a security blanket of sorts. I packed the earth down, tossed over a few leaves and walked back to the inn With the rest of my belongings and a heavy money pouch. Filthy, I explained to the innkeeper I had run away from home, he believed me, that I needed a wash, he nodded, that I needed some simple clothes, if he could acquire some? He paused, I explained I would have hard dealings looking as I was and that I could hardly get dressed in dirty clothes again and that I would pay for it all, including the one night and food. I stupidly put my money on the counter.


    he sighed. “Half” he said.


    I learned later he was a kind man, and I had over estimated the prices, this was the capital.


    He sent a maid up to trim my hair and wash it. Simple clothes were left on a chair for me to dress inn. I kept my boots. Polished, I thought no one would notice and this soft foppish thing could hardly be called footwear, whatever the style. But I was not ungrateful, I put them in my little satchel.


    Simplicity would be my disguise. I was going to fake being a noble to gain entry as a cadet. I was young and afraid of rejection. It was possible to gain entry as a commoner but haste makes waste also in thought. I started my elaborate plan with what every scam artist starts out with, pen and paper. I imagined my father, but more regal and hard, high and mighty, and started to write one sentence: My daughter thinks she can survive the academy, prove her wrong.


    I smeared some more ink on my father’s crest and stamped it on the bottom of the sheet. The imprint it left was satisfying. I folded it and sealed it with a little wax and a prayer. I would obviously not hand over something so negative, willingly and logically nobility would not want their daughters to attend, it made sense.


    I nodded to myself, satisfied, plan in motion, simplicity itself and went to bed after a final check of my things. I twisted my timer so I could wake before sunrise and I slept wonderfully.


    Too well I slept, the timer mute and no bell had I heard. The maid woke me with a “miss? It’s time for you to go home now don’t you think?” I got out quickly, I was already packed, I dressed faster than ever and took my moodiness and embarrassment to find breakfast.


    This was just like going to the Mines I told myself. I needed to eat. But I needed to eat like a lady. Shit, my plan was already unraveling. Pretending was hard, I ate slowly, like someone with half an addled mind, in my pursuit of imitating a posh woman I had seen with her bowl of soup. She tilted her plate gently away, and scooped her spoon from herself not towards, she tipped the spoon gently into her mouth, she did not slurp and she tapped her mouth with a cloth. No sleeve. She did not wipe her mouth, ever. I looked like I had never eaten before, and I felt like it too, hunger growling to consume. I abandoned the project for later, after a bemused smile from a fellow guest. I stalked off to the academy gates. It was go time.


    Not feeling myself I got to the entrance.


    This is no place for hesitation,” I whispered to myself. I clutched the rough strap of my satchel. It contained everything to me now: necessities, a handful of coins, a few blank parchments, my timer, slippers I still could not call shoes, fit for nothing and, hidden beneath the lining, my father’s crest.


    Simple shirt. Clean heir in a bun, at the nape of my neck, plain grey trousers, a bit tight on my waist, with the belt I had used on my miners clothes. Solid shoes that grounded me and my necklace gently humming to me on my collar bone.


    I wiped my hands on my pockets, shoulders square and approached the guard at the gate.


    I was no longer Elana, I was Sari. A noble runaway. And the academy would believe her.


    “You’re standing in my way.”


    Her voice sounded bored and bothered. I blinked and looked back to see a girl with green eyes and a golden braid. She was beautiful. Her uniform was immaculate, the crest on her shoulder, unmistakable, but no cloak like the soldiers. Blue, a cadet.


    “I—I didn’t mean to,” I stammered, stepping aside.


    The girl’s eyes narrowed, her gaze sweeping over me with a mix of suspicion and slight disdain. “Sari” I said my name.


    “A lesser house, I presume?”


    I nodded, being any type of noble at this point was a win.


    “Hmm. Well keep up and don’t stare, it is the last day of entry” she glanced at my pendant. “Some of us have real legacies to uphold, so don’t get in my way.” She walked passed the gates into the courtyard and stopped. Maybe curiosity got the best of her, who knows. She waited. Just looking.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Being watched did not make things easier. I got to the check in, the first guard just thumbed his hand in the right direction behind him, behind the wall, just to the right, on the inside of the gate. A simple counter, a table really, barely a plank and two guards.


    They both looked imposing, but I had just met one girl, surely there were more?


    “Name?”


    “Sari”


    “Full name”


    “Sari” I stuttered and handed him the letter quickly before any more questions.


    He cracked it open and paused. He read it three times, if his eyes were anything to go by and by the fourth run through his friend said “what have you got there?” he angled the paper toward him. The second one paused whistled suddenly. Calling over another man. A third, scarred, grizzled man stomped over. Snatched the letter and read in one cool calculating thought. A man absorbed. He looked at me then, boots and hands and then walked over to the table fishing out a brass cilinder and stamped the paper. “ stamp it” he said to the others.


    They took out theirs and stamped it. A third whistle, higher this time. And a black bird shot out, it took the paper, cocked its head at me with a little beady eye and cawed. Questioningly? It then flew off. The guards looked at the grizzled man and he looked at me and I couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes so I looked at the girl. Her face utter disbelief.


    Then I heard the first man shout: “Commoners quarters! Follow the wall, reception at building three!” The girls face turned to subtle haughtiness. Ooooh that was the true high and mighty look. Not over the top at all, something in the eyes. Too familiar, I didn’t like it at all.


    She had regained her composure and gestured, a little shooing motion with her hand, as if to say, off you go then. The other guards packed up their table and left, the grizzled man shut the gate. I turned to go before my success was ripped from me. Then a little chime went off from my satchel. Shoot I thought, did nobles bother with timers?


    “Interesting” I heard him say to my back, I hurried off not looking back. I had wound the timer late at night I realised, too late, it put this morning, fourth bell, just after sun up. I was an idiot.


    Had I looked back however, I would have seen, that he was not looking at me at all, but slightly surprised at his own brass timer.


    I was talking to myself in a steady stream when I got to the reception hall and another cadet, a wiry boy with a scar cutting across one eyebrow, a tiny cut of nose missing, leaned closer and whispered “What do you mean, who was that girl?” a little imitation of my own words.


    “I am Deven, by the way,” he resumed normally “first day as well?” he smiled.


    “ I don’t know” I said. But I smiled as well, put at ease.


    “Probably Maren” he whispered, with a hand of secrecy “gold hair, yes?”


    I nodded, Maren I would remember.


    “Top cadet from the noble class. You don’t want to get on her bad side, she makes a lasting impact.” He touched his own arm then, an absent minded gesture and straightened the bottom of his shirt.


    A que was forming behind us, I caught snippets of “north gate” and “Southgate” etc. and guessed this was one large square garrison. The imposing block of the academy was its center. “I’m Sari”, I said. But before any further introduction on my part could be made a soldier came down the line. And stood right in front of me.


    His voice boomed out “You will remember your place in this line! The person behind you is your partner! inside you will find individual closets with your key. Do not lose it, or you will lose your things! Four to a room and one Bathroom. Tomorrow you will line up here again, before the sun hits your heads over that wall” he pointed and I noted it, west wall. “ I will not repeat myself, is that clear.” There was a pause “ I said is that clear!!”


    Everyone stomped once on the cobblestones, it echoed off the walls along with my high pitched “yes.” Oh I hated myself then. Several leaned out to look. The soldier stared at me.


    “Tomorrow you will get your uniforms, your orientation and Your breakfast.” He continued, he was still looking at me on the final shout. His cheeks tinted pink from the effort. “Dismissed!”


    We all filed inn around him, Deven found his closet next to mine and took the lower bunk. We put away our things and then waited. The two other boys left immediately after. I didn’t know what to do, it felt like a test.


    Deven a bit bolder, said “well, no rule spoken is no rule broken, care to join me to the sparring quadrant I spied earlier?.” “Emmm, ok” I said. It was not exactly hidden. It felt like a bad idea, but I went with it, I needed to fit in.”


    The short gates whispered open, they were waist high, more for show it seemed, this is a sparing ring it said, outside was safety, inside you get what you get. Deven and I stepped through, the air heavy with the hum of magic and machinery. It needed no introduction.This courtyard was alive with motion: cadets sparring in rings of metal and gears laid into the stone, gem powered and rotating slowly, instructors bellowing commands, blackbirds zipping overhead, carrying messages to and fro. The air heavy with sweat and that unmistakable hum of crystals. It was so loud I was surprised I hadn’t heard it like this from the start.


    Deven suggested warming up, I could not agree more, I felt out of place. While stretching he asked “do you know how to handle a sword?”


    “No, not really” I said, before he could say anymore a sweet voice cut in.


    “I think I’ll give her a lesson first” it was Maren. “She needs the basics, yes? to find her place” it was not a question, all with a slight arch of the brow and that look again.


    “I think, I’ll just go with Dev” I said.


    “suit yourself, little daddy’s girl” the taunt worked.


    “fine, I snapped.” If she wanted a sparing match I would give her one, I had the time. Dev stepped over and picked up a little red bat. Maren picked up a smooth wooden sword. I copied. She found a ring, I stepped in.


    And it was like stepping into a bubble. It covered you with a hum. A vibrating field that tingled to the touch. “Ready” I heard Devs voice. My pulse quickened. I matched Maren’s stance. “Match” he shouted. She was fast. This was no lesson.


    Her sword flicked my elbow. “Point” we squared off. “Match” Deven said. She flicked my chin. “Point” this repeated itself. And lastly she swung hard, edged into my ribcage and I felt my body harmonise with the field. “Point!”


    she jumped back now. Weary, I was winded and she was sweating, but she had felt how solid I was on the last blow, she had had her fun and was backing out. But not without some ofhanded comment about being tucked in at night.


    “Finished so soon” I said, she curdled.


    I was hurting and not just physically. She stepped in and as Dev said “match” I sprung. All Mining grit. My sword was my pickaxe and I swung it down and she blocked it, I stepped in and swung again. She blocked it, bracing both hands against her sword. She was slower now, tired. She had fight but less stamina than me, I was a miner! Then I found my tune, that old rhythm and that heavy mountain pressing down. Crack, crack, crack, I felt the hum build in my chest and I brought my last swing down hard. her sword splintered in two and the last crack was across her head. “Point!” she was still standing. Furious.


    Her arms pulled in tight with pain, green eyes never leaving mine.


    Dev jumped inn. Waving his bat “Winner, point, and match to Maren!” Maren turned, placed a hand delicately on her head and walked off. Her golden hair a little crimson.


    We cleared off quickly after that and I sequestered myself on my top bunk. Dev sat reading on his. Eventually he spoke up to me. “I have a nickname now, hmm, Dev” he sounded out his nick. I could hear the smile in his voice. He liked the nickname I had given him and that’s how I knew I had found a friend.


    Later that evening, I went out the reception doorway and sat on the step with my fat’rs pipe and tobacco tin. I packed it. Lighting it with a little cheap crystal I had bartered for the occasion. A little victory pipe was due, I had made it inn. The aroma was good. The smoke of home. I pushed the embers down gently with the flat end of crystals case, that they were put in for ease of use and puffed a little more. It was not my first smoke. Walking past, half a pipe later, was that silver haired commander, the air around him was unmistakable.


    He came over.“Not many ladies smoke these days” he said. It was an honest observation. I puffed a little smoke in answer.


    I took a guess and offered him my tin. He accepted, fished out his own pipe and took a few good pinches. He took a curious little sniff at the tin then and said “ah, you have the good stuff, very good” shutting the lid, handing it back it back and lighting up his initial cloud. It was a content moment. His smoke caught up with my own little stream in the wind still moment, floating toward the stars, bright in a navy sky.


    Smiling at me from around his pipe, he gave me a slow and polite nod as he walked off again. No words were needed. I went to bed relaxed. I wound my timer half way this time and tucked it against my ear.