Gordon sat at his desk, looking up at Eva, who had just entered his office. “I made your request for the null guardian," he said, noticing a flicker of excitement move across her face.


    “Thank you,” she said, stepping forward.


    “Do you trust him?” he asked.


    She was taken aback. “Trey? He’s very competent. I believe he’s top of his class. We’re taking the teleporter to Heavenfalls, though, there won’t be any danger.”


    “I wasn’t referring to his guardian abilities. He miraculously kept Professor Adams alive in that shitshow they got into in Koljun.” He paused, stroking his beard. “Marvin’s been lying to us. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.”


    “You think there’s more he’s hiding from us?”


    Gordon nodded, his expression turning grim. “I know it. My divination magic has shown me Marvin sneaking the mind mage onto campus, along with a null guardian, who I’m assuming is Trey.”


    Eva’s eyebrows raised.


    “He probably knows who the mind mage is,” Gordon said with a frown. “He went to Goltenberg a few weeks ago, I wonder if that is where they are hiding. I hate to do this during your Analune Festival, but I need you to get information out of him.”


    “How?”


    Gordon snorted. “You''re a pretty girl and he’s an eighteen-year-old boy. It’ll be easier than you think. Marvin wouldn’t appreciate it, but if you can’t get anything out of him, I’ll use mind magic when you return.”


    “What if I know—I mean—what if I discover something?”


    “If you uncover the identity of the mind mage,” he said in a serious tone, “inform me right away. We must catch them by surprise. Mind mages are incredibly dangerous and difficult to capture.”


    “What if the mind mage is on Professor Kalo’s side? Wouldn’t that be good?”


    Gordon shook his head. “Marvin is a powerful mage, but he’s terrible at picking allies. The mess in Koljun happened because he trusted a bounty hunter. No, Marvin’s judgment of mind mages is unreliable. I will not let history repeat itself.” His face darkened for a moment before he glanced back at his elven prodigy.


    “I need to run to a meeting with the Duke of Greshlem to discuss increasing the vigilance of the city guard,” Gordon said. “I must be going now, but your guardian should be showing up soon. Enjoy your festival!” He rose, strapped his sabre on, and retrieved his bag. On his way out the door, he shouted over his shoulder. “And don’t miss too much school!”


    ***


    Trey took a detour by Marvin’s office, hoping to warn him before surrendering himself into the headmaster’s clutches. However, upon arriving, he discovered the suite in the Arc was empty. With a resigned sigh, he began the trek to the Spire, his feet dragging the whole way.


    Climbing the many flights of stairs, he paused in front of the office door, wondering what awaited him behind it. He had even cheated, peeking into Jeffers mind searching for a clue, but the head guardian’s orders had been too simple, not offering anything useful to a mind mage. He gripped the straps on the bundle of armor he carried on his back, reminding him that it was there.


    Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. After a moment, it swung open. He blinked, confused at what he was seeing. “Hi, Eva.”


    “Fancy seeing you here,” the elf said.


    “Uh… is the headmaster here?” Trey asked, trying to glance past Eva, not daring to hope he could be so lucky.


    “I could fetch him real quick if you would prefer?” she replied with a straight face.


    “No, that’s okay,” he hastily answered.


    A smirk broke across Eva’s face. “Good, because he’s actually at a meeting in Greshelm.”


    He shot her a mock scowl. “Do you enjoy using me as entertainment?”


    She smiled pleasantly at him. “Yes. Now come on. I’m taking you to Heavenfalls.”


    “I’m escorting you,” he corrected her. “I should get my armor on.”


    Eva looked at him and shrugged. “You might want to hurry, then. The Grand Oracle could return at any moment.”


    Trey snorted and shook his head playfully at the elf. “Am I going to regret going with you?”


    The elven mage flashed him an innocent smile. “Of course not. Heavenfalls is the best place in all of Arestia.”


    After suiting up, Trey followed the nimble elf down the stairs, giving Trey a taste of the physical training he thought he had skipped.


    “Are we expecting danger?” he asked, still feeling like he was missing many details.


    She began shaking her head, but then she stopped herself. “Well, you never know what might be out there. You’ll want to stay close to me.”


    Eva led them off campus to the teleporter, where she paid the attendant. They stepped onto the platform with the light mage, and the casting commenced. Just as the runes began to glow around them, Trey caught a glimpse of a figure lurking in the shadows of a nearby building. An intrusive thought flickered by, his stomach tightening—but before he could process the unease, the world shifted around them. Greshelm was swiftly replaced by a breathtaking panorama that greeted them at the other end of the teleportation spell.


    Towering mountain peaks with forested alcoves decorating the cliffs battled against the clouds for a place in the sky. Streams of crystalline water cascaded down the mountainsides, falling to where they flowed into rivers, carving out lush green valleys. Quaint hamlets blended in with the trees, with paths that wound back and forth as they climbed the slopes. Trey was used to the forests of Lovarn. The sight in front of him belonged in a different world.


    Eva looked at Trey’s expression with unrestrained joy. “Welcome to Heavenfalls!”


    “Wow,” was all Trey could respond with, his eyes still darting every which way.


    “The Analune Festival starts today,” she said, pulling him off the platform. “I’m so excited!”


    “What is the Analune Festival?” Trey asked, guessing that’s precisely what she wanted him to do.


    “The Analune is a stunning natural light phenomenon that occurs just one night a year,” she explained enthusiastically. “The festival lasts for two days, with the Analune in between. There will be lots of food, of course. And I’ll have to show you Zopal Falls”


    The pair continued their walk, heading closer to the base of the mountains.


    “Just so you don’t get freaked out,” Eva said, “I should warn you that I have three moms.”The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Trey’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. He cast a brief, discreet glance between her legs, trying to determine if she was packing anything ‘extra.’ The horrified look on the elf’s face informed him that he had been caught.


    “No!!! Not like that! I have a dad, too! Why would you… Ugh! Nevermind!”


    Trey’s face reddened. “Sorry,” he mumbled.


    The elven girl huffed. “There was a famous battle during the Burning Covenant that tragically cost many lives, including most of the enclave’s male population. Eventually, the newer generations will even out again, but the men of Heavenfalls had to take on multiple wives.”


    “Oh,” Trey said. “That makes sense.” Given his recent activities with Nora and Skye, he was certain he would be just fine with Eva’s family situation.


    “Eva!” a white-haired elf called from a distance. “You made it!”


    “I also have a lot of siblings,” Eva added. “You’re about to meet the loudest one.”


    “Viessa!” she called out. “You know I’d never missed the Analune!”


    Viessa sprinted toward them, with speed that Trey realized was enhanced by magic.


    “Do you have light magic in the family?” he asked.


    “Her maternal grandfather,” Eva replied.


    Viessa came flying in with outstretched arms, nearly tackling Eva with sheer enthusiasm. “I missed you so much! Why is there a boy with you? Oh, you should see the pie I’m making. Do you have a boyfriend?”


    Eva’s cheeks colored a deep red. “Viessa, look at his armor. He’s clearly a null guardian. He’s escorting me. Nothing more.”


    “You’ve never had an escort be—”


    “What kind of pie are you making?” Eva interjected.


    Trey tailed behind the two elven sisters, traveling to a nearby hamlet nestled in a grove of trees. They mostly ignored him, though Viessa would occasionally sneak a peek over her shoulder.


    They arrived at the hamlet, where Trey was introduced to more of Eva’s family, each member greeting him with warmth and enthusiasm. After a brief tour, he was shown to a guest cabin, and he was pleasantly surprised by the cozy accommodations.


    He tried to participate in the feast preparations but quickly drowned in the bustle as he failed to keep up with the scurrying elves. Realizing he was more of an obstacle than a helper, he decided to practice his combat drills. He found a downed tree and used the trunk to challenge his balance as he worked through the motions with his sword.


    After a while, he noticed Viessa watching him. “You’re really a guardian, huh?”


    Trey chortled. “Disappointed?”


    “Maybe,” she said with a sly smile. “I was hoping Eva finally found a boy.”


    “Maybe she did,” he said, returning her sly smile. “You should ask her about our date.”


    Viessa’s eyes widened. “Date?!” She turned and sprinted back into the hamlet. “Eva!”


    Eva stomped over to him after a few minutes. “Did you tell Viessa about our date?”


    Trey put on his most innocent face. “Which one is Viessa again?”


    Eva feigned a scowl. “I don’t need mind magic to know that you’re guilty. Come on, the feast is about to start.”


    Trey put his sword away and followed Eva back to the hamlet, where he discovered that the ‘feast’ was less a formal dinner and more of a chaotic celebration of food, drinks, and music. The hamlet’s square was decorated with fabric banners and colorful lanterns. The elves were likewise dressed in extravagant garments. He was not shy about grabbing a plate of food and a mug of ale as he watched the festivities.


    As the night wore on, Eva’s father climbed atop a table. “Thank you all for an incredible feast,” he said in an elevated voice. “May the enclave be blessed with another year of prosperity. Let’s get ready to watch the Analune!”


    After the announcement, there was a mass exodus from the hamlet to a mountain meadow.


    Trey nestled into Eva’s quilt, looking up at the evening sky. As the last of the twilight dimmed, a celestial performance softly materialized. Vertical streaks of green, magenta, and golden light shimmered in the sky, giving the illusion that they were falling to the earth. As the starry backdrop of the show grew darker, the lights only shined brighter.


    Trey’s gaze was enraptured with the heavens falling when he felt something brush delicately against his hand. The corners of his lips curled into a smile as he opened his fingers and grasped at the coy elf’s hand. The two lay there amidst a sea of spectating elves, enjoying each other’s closeness as they witnessed the Analune.


    ***


    Trey awoke to Eva pounding on the guest cabin’s door. “Wake up! We’re going to Zopal Falls.”


    He rolled out of bed and shuffled over to the door. Opening the door, he shielded his eyes from the morning sun. “Why are we up so early?”


    Eva snorted. “You already missed breakfast. Does one late night turn you into a hungover dwarf?”


    He was up late the previous night, too, but he wasn’t about to fill Eva in on those details. “I didn’t know dwarves could get hangovers.”


    “They don’t really,” she replied. “It’s more of a… elven saying.”


    “So, we’re heading out?”


    The elf nodded.


    Trey turned to grab his armor.


    “You don’t have to wear that,” she suggested. “We’re not going that far and these mountains are perfectly safe.”


    Trey eyed the onyx steel breastplate, tempted to leave the extra weight behind. Yet, the memory of the shadowy figure in Greshelm still lingered in his mind, leaving him with a sense of unease. He shook his head, a small, firm gesture. “I’m wearing it. Just in case.”


    Eva shrugged. “I suppose I should be glad you’re taking my safety so seriously.”


    “I’m hoping to earn some preferential treatment when I get injured in my capture-the-flag matches,” he joked while putting on his armor. Eva strode over, helping him tighten the straps.


    “This seems like such a chore,” she commented. “It’s so much easier being a mage.” She turned to hide the mischievous smile on her face.


    Trey ignored her jest, and instead, placed his helmet on his head and stepped out of the cabin. “Where to?” he asked Eva, who had followed him out.


    She pointed in a direction and the pair started their trek. They passed by several other houses before turning onto a trail. A crisp, pine-scented breeze accompanied them, enhancing their peaceful venture into the forested canyon. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the ground.


    Eva watched as he hiked in his armor. “You certainly are committed to whatever ruse you’re trying to pull off.”


    Trey laughed. “Not as committed as you are to turning me into a mind mage.”


    “Wait up!” a voice called from behind them, interrupting their banter. “I’m coming!


    “Viessa!” Eva exclaimed after spinning around. “What are you doing?”


    “I just told you,” she said, panting as she caught up to them. “I’m coming. What? Did the two of you want to go to the most romantic waterfall in Arestia alone?”


    Eva glared at the younger elf. “Don’t you have magic to practice or something?”


    “I can practice on the way,” Viessa assured her fuming sister. “I’ve got another year before I head to Windrake. Not everyone can get in when they’re sixteen.”


    An awkward silence prevailed over the group for a few minutes, but the talkative Viessa eventually wormed her way into a conversation with Eva.


    It didn’t even take an hour for Trey to hear the distant rush of water. The last leg of their journey was short, the path hugging the base of a cliff as they neared the roar of the waterfall. Soon, the trio was presented with a majestic sight. From the top of the cliff, water tumbled gracefully over the rugged rocks, creating a glistening veil that sparkled in the sunlight before splashing into a crystal-clear pool below. From there, it flowed lazily into a river, picking up speed as it traveled down the jagged mountain gulch.


    “Isn’t it beautiful?” Eva asked, excitedly gauging Trey’s reaction.


    Trey, meanwhile, angled his neck back, trying to catch a glimpse of the cliff’s apex, his eyes wide with wonder.


    “I’ve never been able to convince Eva to go skinny dipping,” Viessa said abruptly. “Maybe you should try to persuade her, Trey.”


    “Viessa!” Eva scolded her younger sister. “Keep the conversation appropriate.”


    “Or what? Trey will spank me?”


    Viessa yelped as a shove sent her flying. Eva wore a satisfied grin as a loud splash rippled through the pool.


    “Unicorn piss!” Viessa cried. “The water is freezing!”


    Trey and Eva lounged at the base of the waterfall, while Viessa shivered, trying to soak in as much sun as she could. After an hour of relaxing in the serene sanctuary, they began heading back.


    Viessa’s earlier plunge did not deter her from pestering Eva’s escort. “So, Trey, when are you going to take Eva on another—”


    “Hold up,” Trey said, cutting her short. His arm shot defensively across Eva while his eyes scanned the surrounding forest with a sudden intensity.


    A confused Viessa looked around, then burst out laughing. “You’re just trying to get handsy with my sister. Nice try, but there’s no danger this close to the enclave.”


    Viessa’s teasing did nothing to ease his vigilance. Eva blushed, but Trey kept his arm protectively over her, his gaze growing more guarded.


    Viessa rolled her eyes. “Look at the big, strong guardian taking care of the damsel in dist—”


    Trey sternly held up his other hand, silencing the chatty elf. Scrutinizing shifting shadows in the brush, his eyes widened a split-second before the forest erupted in chaos. “Get down!”