ã€ŠTears of Duskã€‹


 1 - From the End to the Beginning

    After some minutes of walking deeper and deeper in the dark cavern, Isyd Wybrany decided to turn back. He had done enough scouting to see that the way ahead was safe and that the [Taint] in the air was kept at a minimal. His companions would be able to survive it.

    The only light present in the cave was the one Isyd held in his hand, a Lightsphere that was like a sun in the oppressive darkness all around him. Thanks to its light, Isyd was able to make out the stairs carved in the very stone ahead of him. Like everything else in the cavern, it was overgrown with tendrils of vegetation, weird plants of a dark purple colour and green flower petals that seemed to be withered until someone approached them closely and they trembled and opened at the touch. The whole cavern had an alien feel to it, but Isyd had come to expect it by now; everything that was touched by the Obcys felt otherworldly and wrong.

    The air around Isyd trembled and a white figure appeared above his right shoulder. It was a young woman with long straight hair and a curious expression on her face. As one could expect of a ghost, she was floating a few inches above the floor and was somewhat transparent. She was barely visible in the dimness of the cave.

    ¡°Are you done yet, Isyd? Can we go already? I don¡¯t like this place¡­¡± the woman said plaintively.

    ¡°We¡¯re almost done, Naeht.¡± the young man answered her with the calmness of a parent talking to a child. Despite looking like an adult, Naeht tended to act more like a teenager most of the time. Right now, she was pouting at Isyd.

    ¡°You always say that! I thought we were ¡®almost done¡¯ three weeks ago!¡±

    ¡°The Battle of Waving Plains was our last battle against the enemy forces, but as I explained to you before, we still have to make sure that we end the War once and for all. It is here that the Queen of the Dusk came to hide to heal her wounds. We must kill her while she¡¯s still weak and alone. Only then will we be able to go home, Naeht.¡±

    To go home. This was the goal and dream of Isyd and his companions, but they all knew deep down that it was an illusion. They had no home to go to. The War was won, but the cost had been too high; mankind was on its knees and Ziemia was left barren from all the fighting. The War that had opposed the Humans against the Obcys had lasted thirty-five years in total. Thirty-five years since the Rifts had opened between the two Worlds. Thirty-five years since the armies of Obcys had come pouring out of the Rifts from the Elseworld into Ziemia. Thirty-five years of conflicts between the Holy Alliance of Humans against the Obcys race, creatures of the dark, deform and monstrous and mindless. Thirty-five years of horrors, violence and carnage, and the results were deplorable.

    It was estimated that as high as eighty percent of mankind had been decimated by the War or its consequences. The survivors now lived in small patches across the lands or under the Holy Banner, the last bastion of humanity. In addition to that, sixty percent of Ziemia was deemed forever destroyed ¡ª either sunk beneath the waves, ravaged by non-stopping volcanoes, touched by the [Taint] brought by the Obcys or simply cursed by powerful [Spells] still active even decades after the Artysta who cast them passed away.

    Three weeks ago, the Holy Alliance of Humans had led its last battle. The earth had quaked, thunder had fallen, and hundreds of men bled as they fought to crush the last nest of Obcys. The Battle of Waving Plains was a victory for the human forces, the final victory that they needed. The Rifts were closed, the Obcys were no-more. The only thing left to do was to destroy She who was at the head of it all, She who they call the Queen of the Dusk, the last Queen of the Obcys.

    Then, Isyd would be able to rest, at last. No matter the lasting consequences of the War, Isyd had at least the comfort that they had exterminated all the Obcys scums. This, in his mind, made everything else worth it.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go back,¡± he said to Naeht, still hovering above his shoulder.

    His boots squeaked on the dirty floor as he turned back and he kept his Lightsphere toward the ground to make sure that he did not trip on an overgrowing branch or protruding stone. The cavern was a complex arrangement of small, round caves that served as nodes from which departed several narrow hallways. Thankfully, Isyd had memorized the way back but even without that, Isyd could almost have retraced his steps just by following the sensation of decreasing [Taint] on his skin. It led him back to his companions.

    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Isyd announced as he turned off his Lightsphere and approached the gathering.

    A [Spell: Light Ball] had been cast in their midst and illuminated the four other people who had accompanied Isyd into this network of caves. The two who were kneeling to the ball of light were the twins Edmyn and Felyn. Against the wall stood guard a giant in plated armour, a bearded, bald man called Wolteh and further in the shadows sat the lean figure of the Great Artyst Kazian. All four of them were part of the Twelve Holy Generals, the leaders of mankind during the War. The Holy Generals had been the only beacon of hope for many people and had stood out like blazing suns amidst the darkness of the Obcys¡¯ invasion. Now, those four had sworn a vow to see the War to an end by killing the Queen of the Dusk.

    ¡°You are back so soon, Isyd!¡± Wolteh said with his booming voice.

    Wolteh Yaruur was the largest man Isyd had ever seen in his life. In any gathering, the man stood at least two heads above anyone else and his arms were as thick as Isyd was large. This physic was only to contrast with the warm heart of Wolteh who always had a smile and a joke to lift the moods of his troops. For that, his men called him General Wolteh, The Laughing Titan.

    Isyd smiled at his friend.

    ¡°I did not want to stray too far, Wolteh. The way ahead is safe.¡± Isyd turned to Edmyn. ¡°Are you doing better Edmyn?¡±

    The man gave him a small smile. ¡°I am doing alright, don¡¯t worry. I can continue.¡±

    ¡°We do not know what awaits us ahead, Ed,¡± his sister said at his side. ¡°It is best you stay here if you¡¯re too hurt.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Sis. ¡®Tis but a scratch, I¡¯ve known worse.¡±

    Edwyn had been injured by some nasty instance of [Taint] during the Battle of Waving Plains; his head was wrapped in several layers of bandages with a red splotch where an Obcys had bit his right ear off. The bleeding had stopped, but the [Taint] prevented proper magical healing of the wound, despite Isyd''s best efforts. Felyn was right to be worried about her brother, but at the same time, Isyd was confident that such a wound was far from enough to kill Edwyn. They both were famous and hardened warriors whose names were whispered with awe; everyone had heard at least once of the tales of Edwyn Sunchosen and Felyn Moonblessed, as people came to call them.

    Finally, there was the Great Artyst Kazian of the Winds, the most powerful Artyst alive. The old man was draped in the traditional robe of those who dedicated their lives to the pursuit of the Arts. His stern face was angled at Isyd and, as per usual, he did not seem happy to see him there.

    ¡°I shall always be amazed by your ability to withstand the [Taint] without consequences while greater men than you succumb to the vileness in a matter of hours¡­¡± the Great Artyst drawled sarcastically. ¡°How do you explain such a thing, young man?¡±

    Isyd gave the geezer a tired look. It was not the first time the old man had asked him about his abilities, but he was usually more subtle about it. Plus, it wasn¡¯t like Kazian did not know how Isyd could do what he could; all the Holy Generals knew, in a roundabout way. Without knowing the details, they were aware that Isyd was different from the rest of them.

    They could guess what the Obcys had done to him.

    They had seen his body without his clothes and they had heard the rumours of the horrors the Obcys used to subject the humans to once they caught them at the beginning of the War. This was enough for them to put two and two together and move on without asking too many questions. Apparently, Kazian did not have this decency.

    As usual, when he was forced to think about his past, Isyd¡¯s skin started to feel itchy under his bandages and he readjusted the gloves on his hands. He had decided to ignore Kazian¡¯s rude question, but apparently, the Great Artyst was not done with him.

    ¡°You must have great talent to have survived through the War, at the frontlines no less! Tell me once more for I seem to have forgotten: which Academy did you go to, young man?¡±

    This again was a rude question. It was judged impolite to ask people about their life before the War. And this time again, Kazian surely knew the answer. This time, however, Isyd humoured him.

    ¡°I did not attend any Academy, Wise One,¡± Isyd answered.

    ¡°No Academy training? And yet I¡¯ve seen you using the Arts with familiarity¡­ Are you sure you¡¯re not lying to this old man?¡±

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    ¡°I failed to show up on the registration day of the Academy. I was too afraid to go through it. Instead, I apprenticed as an assistant Craftsman. This is where I learned all I know about the Arts, in addition to the time spent on the frontlines amidst genius Artysta such as you, Wise One. You were a great source of inspiration in what and what not to do, in how and how not to act¡­¡±

    The old geezer did not miss the veiled insult. Isyd could hear Edmyn laugh under his breath behind him. Kazian was about to say something more, but Felyn interrupted him.

    ¡°Leave the man alone, Kazian. Enough of this chit-chat already, I say we continue our quest. I¡¯m looking forward to going back home already.¡±

    ¡°Home? What do you think you will find there?¡± Kazian snapped. ¡°The earth is scorched, the waters are poisoned, the sky is covered by ashclouds and it has been years since anyone has seen the Sun. Even if we go back home, there will be still a lot for us to do.¡±

    ¡°More reasons for us to hurry instead of talking then, don¡¯t you think Kazian?¡± Felyn said.

    They picked up their things and resumed their progression deeper inside the cavern; Isyd walked at the front with the [Spell: Light Ball] levitating in front of him, followed by the twins then the Great Artyst and finally Wolteh at the rear. Nobody was talking. The Holy Generals were experienced soldiers and they were well aware of being in enemy territory. They were ready to react at the smallest sign of an attack. Isyd... Well, Isyd was more relaxed than them. He could feel the [Taint] growing stronger, but nothing that betrayed the presence of Obcys.

    After long hours, the troop finally emerged into a wide grotto. This cave was so large that it was hard to believe that they were still deep beneath the earth. Plus, this cave was illuminated. The walls and the ground were entirely covered by some sort of ivy plants on which grew small buds of fluorescent green. Against the darkness of the cave, it almost appeared like a starry night sky, as none of them had seen for years. In the centre of the cave was a distorted tree that had obviously been tainted by the [Taint] given its purple bark, its fallen leaves, and how twisted and wrong it looked. From the branches hang something, an unmoving black shape, slick and oily. The body was covered in a kind of carapace that bore signs of blade injuries. The limbs were limped by the side and the head was only discernible by those gemstones that served as eyes.

    Isyd took in a shaky breath. He could have recognized the Queen of the Dusk anywhere. His companions had come to the same conclusion because they silently fanned out behind him as they drew their weapons.

    ¡°It is her,¡± Edmyn said. ¡°You all know what to do.¡±

    Isyd nodded but was distracted. Something was wrong. In the presence of the Queen of the Obcys, the [Taint] should have been way higher. Yet it wasn''t. How could this be?

    ¡°Let¡¯s end this!¡± Kazian said at his side. He brandished his staff and called out. ¡°[Hex: Communion of the Minds]!¡±

    A circle of light appeared around the heads of all the Holy Generals, everyone but Isyd.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Isyd began, but it was too late. As soon as all their minds were connected by the magical spell, speaking was no longer necessary for any of them. They were dedicated to their mission. Like one man, the four Holy Generals attacked the Queen of the Dusk at once.

    Felyn Moonblessed was the first to reach her. The winds swirled around her and her blade shone with a silver light as she thrust forward.

    ¡°[Hex: Heavenly Needle]!¡±

    Her brother was right behind her. His palms were opened as she rushed at the enemy.

    ¡°[Hex: Whips of the Damned]!¡± he called and two whips of flames spawned in his hands as he brought them down on the Queen.

    Their combined attacks touched the Queen of the Dusk without giving her a chance of evading. The carapace cracked against the Windblade and hissed at the touch of the flames.

    Then, nothing else happened.

    The Queen did not resist nor cry from the pain. Her body dangled on the branches and then settled back. Silence fell between all of them. By then, Kazian, Wolteh and Isyd had caught up with the twins who stared at their sworn enemy in confusion.

    ¡°Why is she not doing anything?¡±

    Kazian approached closer but carefully. He stabbed at the unmoving body with two [Spells], then stepped back.

    ¡°She¡¯s already dead,¡± the Great Artyst said.

    ¡°Well, all the better. I didn¡¯t want to fight anyway!¡± Wolteh said.

    ¡°Did she succumb to her injuries?¡± Edmyn asked.

    ¡°It would be the logical conclusion,¡± Kazian said.

    ¡°It is not the case,¡± Isyd intervened.

    He had also approached closer to the corpse of the Queen and was examining it attentively. Of them all, Isyd was the one most familiar with the Obcys. It was the reason he¡¯d been chosen to accompany the Holy Generals in the first place. The carapace of the Queen did bear marks of her injuries but her green blood seemed to have clogged them all. It shouldn¡¯t have been able to kill her. His eyes finally landed on the lower part of her body and his breath caught.

    The Queen of the Dusk had been impaled by a thick branch of the tree. It had gutted her through and through and the dark bark was still wet with the Obcys blood. Isyd showed it to his companions.

    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Felyn said. ¡°What happened to her?¡±

    ¡°I do not know,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I-¡±

    He stopped midsentence as he felt his skin itched beneath his bandages. He knew this sensation all too well.

    It was the [Taint].

    ¡°Watch out!¡± he shouted.

    He was too late. The [Taint] exploded from the tree in the form of a black wind that knocked them back a dozen of meters away. It was more [Taint] than Isyd had ever felt in all his life and the vileness took his breath away. Still, he was the first to get back up. He turned to check on his companions and his eyes first landed on Kazian. As expected, the [Taint] had broken the [Hex: Communion of the Minds] and had left the Great Artyst unconscious. Artysta were more sensitive to the [Taint] than anyone else, and at this level of concentration, it was highly possible that Kazian had been killed on the spot. A moan on his right attracted Isyd¡¯s attention.

    It was Felyn Moonblessed.

    She stood there, shocked and looking down. As Isyd followed her gaze, his face paled. A branch almost as thick as her chest was wide had pierced her through. The branch was still wiggling like the dark tentacle of a monster. Felyn tried to speak but she only spat out a mouthful of blood.

    No... Isyd thought. Please God, no... Not again.

    Isyd tried to go toward her, to help her, but he turned just in time to see another branch of the tree falling toward him, about to smash him like an insect. He was about to cast a [Spell] when Wolteh appeared out of nowhere and stopped it with his bare hands in a giant CRACK.

    ¡°Go! Kill it!¡± Wolteh roared at him through gritted teeth as he fought to restrain the wiggling branch.

    Isyd spun, grabbed the fallen sword of Felyn and charged toward the Queen of the Dusk. Dark tentacles tried to snatch him, but he was too fast and dodged them with ease.

    ¡°[Hex: Heavenly Needle]!¡± he shouted. Like for Felyn, the air swirled faster around him and focused on the shining blade. With all the anger and resentment of the past thirty-five years, Isyd thrust forward.

    The spear of wind crashed into the corpse of the Queen. Her carapace shattered, spraying bits of it and green blood everywhere. The sword dove until the hilt inside the Obcys. Her gemstone eyes burst with light and Isyd could a chilling laugh all around him.

    The trunk of the [Tainted] tree split in the middle and Isyd felt himself falling forward inside of it.

    He was blinded by a green light and the skin under his bandages was burning him.

    Isyd fell and fell and fell for a long, long time.

    <hr>

    When he opened his eyes again, he was in a bed.

    He must have slept for a full day at least because he felt abnormally groggy. His mind immediately went back to the fight against the Queen of the Dusk. What had happened there?

    What about Edmyn? Felyn? Kazian and Wolteh... I must make sure they¡¯re alright!

    Isyd threw back his bedcovers and thanked God that he was already dressed. He stopped as he saw Naeht standing there, a confused expression on her ghostly face.

    ¡°Naeht! Do you know how the others are doing?¡±

    ¡°Isyd... Something is wrong...¡± she whispered distractedly.

    ¡°Naeht, I don¡¯t have time for¡ª¡±

    Isyd stopped, finally noticing his surroundings. He was in a small room made out of wood. This was weird. After the beginning of the War and all the forests going out in flames, wood had become somewhat a valuable resource. No one would build a house out of it.

    ¡°Naeht, where are we?¡± he asked, his voice suddenly dry.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know... Something is wrong, I can feel it...¡±

    Isyd approached the window and what he saw made him fall back on his ass. The sky... It was blue! The Sun was not hidden by ashclouds. The outside was vibrant with colours and people strolling in the streets of the large city. Children were playing outside and horse-pulled cars going around. It was not something Isyd had seen since before the War. Even worse, Isyd had recognized the city at a glance.

    I-It can¡¯t be...

    He rushed back to his feet, tripped in his haste, then finally reached the door. Slamming it open, he found a newspaper at the doorstep of his room. He took it with a trembling hand and unfolded it then let it fall on the ground after reading the front page.

    ¡°Isyd, I¡¯m scared,¡± Naeht said to his ears. ¡°Please, tell me where we are...¡±

    Isyd turned to her with a blank stare. ¡°We are in Vilriver, the city of my youth.¡±

    Only, Vilriver had been destroyed when the Rifts had opened thirty-five years ago. None of this made sense, and yet...

    ¡°We are in Vilriver, decades before the War has even started.¡±

 2 - Between Laughs and Tears

    Isyd was seating on his bed, eyes closed.

    This couldn¡¯t be real.

    His first idea was that he was under a powerful Illusion [Hex], but he dismissed the idea quickly enough. Isyd was the only one who could see and hear Naeht and there was no way that whoever cast this [Hex] could have known to include her as well. It could be possible however that his surroundings and his sensations of it were not an outside creation but an inside one and that he was in fact imprisoned in his own mind. After all, Isyd knew that he was weaker than most to that kind of [Spells]¡­

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s an easy way to know for sure¡­¡±

    He reached down to his boots where a short, sheathed knife was strapped against his leg. He drew out the shiny blade in one hand and put his other hand flat on the bed. No matter how powerful the Illusion [Hex], they were all susceptible to being broken by powerful sensations, specifically the painful ones¡­

    Without an instant of hesitation, Isyd drew a gash on the back of his left hand.

    Nothing changed around him.

    Drops of his dark blood stained the bedcovers and Isyd let out a sigh of frustration.

    ¡°Isyd, why are you hurting yourself?¡± Naeht asked him, worried.

    ¡°I had to make sure we weren¡¯t under a [Spell]¡­¡±

    ¡°Is it really the past, Isyd?¡±

    Isyd did not answer her. For a brief instant, he considered the idea that everything could have been a dream. The Rifts, the Obcys, the War, the deaths, all the life he remembered living past this instant in this inn of Vilriver, maybe he had dreamed it all and had only just woken up. However, his eyes landed on his new injury and Isyd realized that it wasn¡¯t the case. His blood was darker than any human blood had the right to be. This meant that he had truly lived all of those events. His left hand touched the bandages that he could feel under his tunic, which covered the right part of his chest and the entirety of his right arm. Those bandages were the proof that he still bore the scars of what the Obcys had done to him.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°If we really had rewound time, you wouldn¡¯t be here with me Naeht. And I would be my younger self, not with the scars. It is not that we rewound time so much that my present self was physically transported years before the War even started. For one thing, I remember everything¡­¡±

    Isyd put his head in his hands.

    He remembered his entire life. It had truly happened, he had lived through it. And yet here he was once again in Vilriver.

    ¡°Isyd¡­?¡± Naeht asked timidly.

    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­I-I can¡¯t l-live through it once again¡­¡± His voice was shaking, the air seemed to stick in his throat, choking him. ¡°Not again¡­ God, please¡­ I-I can¡¯t do it all over again¡­¡±

    ¡°Isyd¡­¡±

    ¡°Why me? What kind of sick game is this? Is what I¡¯ve been through not enough? Am I to live through all of it again? They¡¯ll come, I know they will! God, this has to be a joke, right? ¡®Tis has to be a jest!¡±

    Laughter shook his entire body. He laughed and laughed and laughed. He laughed more than he could ever remember. He laughed until he thought he would never stop laughing. He laughed at the thought of everything that was to come in the future.

    ¡°Isyd¡­Isyd, why are you crying?¡±

    Shaken by the hiccups, Isyd did not even bother to wipe the streams of tears on his face. Isyd did not know how long he spent laughing and crying at the same time. When it finally stops, he realized that he was thinking clearer. Naeht was standing in front of him, a frown of worry on her beautiful face. Isyd wished he could reach for her and pat her head to reassure her, but she was intangible even for him.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Naeht,¡± Isyd told her as he got up from the bed. ¡°I just needed this moment to take it in. It¡¯s going to be alright.¡±

    ¡°Is it?¡±

    Promise me, Isyd¡­ you must save them¡­ Promise me¡­ A woman¡¯s voice, tired and pleading.

    ¡°Yes, I promise.¡± He gave her a wide smile, then took a long look at the room they were in. ¡°We were brought back in time, Naeht. I don¡¯t know how, I don¡¯t know why, but the fact of the matter is that we¡¯re here now in Vilriver, years before the Rifts opened. I assume that it will happen this time as well, but this time we will be prepared. I am here with the knowledge of my previous life, and I swear that I will not let things repeat themselves. We have a few years ahead of us and we will use them to find a way to prevent the War to happen in the first place. I will save this world, Naeht. No matter the cost.¡±

    Naeht took on a pensive look. She flew one way then the other, to finally come back around in front of him.

    ¡°It is going to be difficult, I think. Do you have an idea on how we go about saving the world in the first place, Isyd?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. First, we need to go to school!¡±

 3 - The Academy of Holy Vigour

    Vilriver was exactly like Isyd remembered it to be: full of life. The streets rang with the noise of horse hooves and cartwheels clicketing on the pavement, merchants hailing passers-by to buy their products and a crowd of people going on their daily business. It was the middle of autumn and the air was dry and salty on the tongue. Everything was the same. And somehow, everything was different.

    Vilriver had not changed, but Isyd had. Drastically.

    Back in the Old Ziemia, when he had first arrived in Vilriver, he had been a timid youth of fourteen years old who had used all his funds to pay himself a trip to the city to try his chance at entering the Academy. In the end, he¡¯d been too much of a coward to even attempt the entrance examination and had instead applied to become a clockmaker apprentice.

    Now, Isyd was older, much older. And he¡¯d been changed by the War in more ways than one.

    He took a first step outside of the inn he spent the nights in and was immediately blinded by the afternoon sun. Had the Sun always been so bright, so warm? The memory of it had slowly faded after it had permanently been covered by ashclouds. Isyd could not help but smile at feeling the direct heat of the Sun on his skin. He had a hard time stopping himself from staring right at the blinding light.

    ¡°There are so many people, Isyd!¡± Naeht exclaimed next to him. ¡°It¡¯s like we¡¯re back in the Holy Bastion!¡±

    She flew right past him and observed the people rushing about with curious interest.

    Isyd was more hesitant at taking the next step. He¡¯d never been good with crowds, to begin with, but the time spent in the War had made that even worse. The noise of a crowd was too much similar to the sound of a battlefield. Even when he stayed in the Holy Bastion, the last city of mankind back in the Old Ziemia, Isyd had remained apart from people, preferring the comfort of his room or the stables.

    He wasn¡¯t used to seeing so many people moving around him anymore, but he had to remind himself that Vilriver was a vibrant city and an important trading hub. He would have to get used to it, one way or another if he wanted to get anything done.

    Isyd took a large breath and began walking.

    Fortunately, he still remembered vaguely the layout of the city since he had spent a couple of years here. Memories flowed back to him at each corner of a street, at each familiar shopfront or monument. It was a good thing because it meant that Isyd did not need to ask around to find his way to his destination.

    By squinting his eyes, Isyd could already perceive the outlines of the towers of the Academy of Holy Vigour. This was where he was heading to. If his memories served him right, the entrance examination had to close up tomorrow. Isyd meant to pass the exam on this very day.

    The Academy was by far the most impressive building of Vilriver. Its three towers were visible from anywhere in the city and people came from all around the country for the possibility to study between its old, grey stones. The Academy was a complex of several dozen buildings that served as housings for the students and teaching grounds for the divisions such as Humanities, Philosophy, Theology and, most importantly, the Holy Arts, or simply Arts for short. The latter was the one Isyd was applying for.

    For what it offered, the entrance was quite normal. It was a simple archway, flanked on both sides by a statue that each held one symbol of the two Crowns. On the archway was carved the motto of the Academy of Holy Vigour: ¡°First the acorn, then the forest.¡±

    Isyd was not the only one entering the Academy; he saw many people rushing past the statues and he decided to follow after them. The archway led to a courtyard where a crowd of applicants was waiting. Contrary to what could be expected, not all of them were young. In fact, the age range was quite varied. In the queue ahead of him, Isyd caught a glance of two middle-aged women and at least seven men who looked past their forties, and a handful even older. They presented long beards, white hair or none at all, some standing tall and proud while others looked tired after having travelled so long and so far to stand on the grounds of the school.

    Still, the majority of the people present fell on the younger side. Boys and girls, some barely entering their teenage years, full of energy and excitement and with the confidence of youth glowing in their eyes. In the case of Isyd¡­ well, Isyd had returned with his old body, after thirty-five years of War. But the thing was that Isyd had not aged that much since his twenties when the Rifts had first opened, a consequence of what the Obcys had done to him. This meant that despite being older by three decades at least, Isyd still looked like a young man freshly out of school. In truth, it did not really matter because in the end everyone was allowed to enter the Academy, no matter their age, gender, birthplace or social status.

    The waiting queue was long but was progressing quite fast. At the end of it stood three men who wore the uniform of the Academy and had to be senior students. When the turn had come, they directed the applicant in front of a wall upon which a [Arcane] three meters wide had been carved. A [Arcane] was a [Spell] that had been drawn or etched on a physical object to extend its duration in time and this one specifically represented seven concentric circles interlinked with spirals that sprung from the centre.

    As Isyd was approaching the head of the queue, he had a better view of the testing ground. The applicant, a young girl with a smug expression on her face was asked to put her palm against the base of the wall and to wait. A few seconds passed then suddenly a white light sparked at the most inner circle and flowed outward until it reached and filled the second level of etching. Some whisps of light even made it to the third level, but not enough to fill that circle entirely.

    ¡°1st Opening!¡± the examiner called out. He inscribed something on the board he held and pointed to the backdoor that led inside the Academy.

    ¡°What does this [Arcane] do, Isyd?¡± Naeht asked next to him. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen that one before.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s one they use to test people¡¯s Grace. You have to be of the 1st Opening at least to be accepted as a Pupil of the Academy.¡±

    ¡°Only the 1st? Well, that will be super easy for you, barely an inconvenience!¡±

    Isyd smiled but said nothing. The next candidate was an older man with short hair and a scrawny beard. He put his hand against the wall and the inner circle of the [Arcane] lit up. The light then flowed to the second circle, but not nearly enough to fill it entirely. The man tried to put more force into the wall, but this did not help at all; he wasn¡¯t of the 1st Opening, and there was nothing he could do for now to change that. The man was redirected by the examiner to the exit door of the courtyard.

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    Next was Isyd. He approached the wall and could finally examine it with more care. Up close, he noticed that the grooves of the etching had been filled with a transparent resin that looked like molten glass.

    Resin of freywood, I assume. That would explain the sensitivity... That specific resin had been known to be reactive to Grace stimulation. But the [Arcane] was more than simply the resin and the circles. Isyd noticed the smaller [Spells] that had been etched alongside the grooves. This testing [Arcane] was actually a complex [Hex] that had been carefully designed and calibrated as any other measuring instrument had to be.

    ¡°Others are waiting, young man. Please, proceed with the test,¡± said the examinator who was getting impatient.

    Isyd put his left hand on the stone and waited. At once he felt the effects of the [Arcane]: the sweet taste on his tongue and the jitters in his belly as the Grace was forced through him and sucked into the [Spell]. The inner circle lit up immediately followed by the second circle. The light filled that level perfectly, nothing more, nothing less.

    ¡°1st Opening! Follow the attendee inside the Academy, please. The enrolment steps will be explained to you. Next!¡±

    Isyd nodded and followed the young woman who was waving at him and smiling. She also wore the Academy uniform, white and red. At his side, he noticed Naeht who was outraged.

    ¡°Isyd! The [Arcane] got it wrong! You¡¯re not of the 1st Opening! You have to tell them!¡±

    ¡°Calm down, Naeht,¡± he whispered to her. ¡°The [Arcane] worked perfectly. I just did it on purpose.¡±

    ¡°Why so? What are you planning, Isyd?¡±

    ¡°Nothing for now. I just don¡¯t want to attract attention, that¡¯s all.¡±

    She threw him a suspicious glance and started pouting.

    ¡°Good afternoon and congrats on the application!¡± the woman said when he reached her. ¡°3rd Year and 3rd Opening, Klara Utro, here to guide you through your first days in the Academy. What¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Isyd Wybrany.¡± He shook the hand she offered him.

    ¡°Well, Isyd, welcome to the Academy of Holy Vigour! You are now a Pupil of the Academy for the upcoming year. Before we begin, I have to hand you this.¡±

    She gave him a gilded broach that was a single ¡°V¡± within one circle. Isyd noticed that she also had one pinned on her uniform, only the ¡°V¡± was within three tight circles.

    ¡°This broach is the sign that you are a Pupil of the 1st Opening. Every new Pupil is assigned to a Tutor of the Arts for the entire duration of their scholarship and you are the last of Tutor Milwyk. I¡¯ll present you to his room a bit later, but first, we must make sure that you are well accommodated. Do you have any belongings to take care of?¡±

    Isyd had left the inn with everything he owned in his bag. There wasn¡¯t much in it to begin with: a set of tunic, pants and socks, a wrapped blanket, a pouch of coins and a small knife.

    ¡°I have everything here already,¡± Isyd said. ¡°But I don¡¯t have enough money to pay for a room¡­¡±

    Klara smiled. ¡°To pay? No, there¡¯s no need for that at the beginning. The Common Dorms are free to all Pupils. You¡¯d be fine there.¡± She looked at her wristwatch. ¡°Since you arrived here a bit late, we won¡¯t be able to visit all the Academy today. I still have a little bit of free time though, so is there something specific you wanna see before I leave you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯d like to know where the library is.¡±

    ¡°The Library? Really? Okay¡­You know, usually, new Pupils ask to see the classes or the restaurants or the swimming pool, but sure, why not¡­ Follow me, we¡¯ll take the path outside, it¡¯s faster that way.¡±

    They went out back to the courtyard where people were still being tested. There were still half a hundred applicants but the queue was dwindling as the afternoon was ending. Klara led Isyd across a sports field and through some canteens. She used this opportunity to point to him where the Common Dorms were as well as the eating place for its residents. The Library was one of the central buildings around which the rest of the Academy had been built, but instead of going through the front door, Klara sneaked them in through a service door.

    ¡°Here we are, the Library. There¡¯s probably a book about everything and everyone given how big it is.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration. When the Rifts had opened, many cities had been destroyed and much of the knowledge stored in them had been gone forever. With all resources becoming scarcer and scarcer, books quickly became something rare and valuable in the hands of interested people. In the later years of the War, there had been an effort of safekeeping made as all the books that could be salvaged were declared under the jurisdiction and protection of the Holy Banner.

    But the library of the Holy Banner paled in comparison to what Isyd was now gazing at. Walls upon walls of bookshelves in every direction, reaching as high as the ceiling would allow it ¡ª a ceiling that was made entirely out of glass and let the light of the twilight sun pour into the room. There were long tables for Pupils to seat and work and ottomans next to hearths for more comfortable reading. Klara explained to Isyd how the Library was first divided into broad subjects such as Natural Sciences, History or Theology, then further split into more precise categories such as Biology, Astronomy or Alchemy, then finally sorted out in alphabetical order with the names of the authors. Pupils were free to borrow most of the books present so long as they notified the Librarians beforehand.

    ¡°It¡¯s mostly empty now because the classes have yet to start,¡± Klara said. She turned to him with a curious look. ¡°So, that¡¯s all you want me to show you for today?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I will stay here for a bit before going to my room. Don¡¯t worry for me, I remember the way out.¡±

    ¡°Okay... Well, you know what? Let¡¯s meet up here tomorrow so I can give you a proper tour. Eighth Hour, how does that sound?¡±

    They agreed on it, shook hands, and Klara left the Library. Naeht perked up next to Isyd; she was done sulking for now.

    ¡°I have never seen so many books before...¡±

    ¡°It is impressive indeed.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like when you¡¯re secretive like that, Isyd! Just tell me what you¡¯re planning, I wanna know! Why are you pretending that you are of the 1st Opening? It¡¯s not like you need to learn everything from the start!¡±

    Isyd smirked. ¡°Actually, I do. Everything I know about the Holy Arts, I learned it on the fly at the frontline of the War. Do you know what¡¯s the main difference between me and someone like Great Artyst Kazian? Fundamental knowledge. The foundations of my Arts are weak and unstable and consequently, everything that I have learned afterwards is as well. Experience is fine and all, but it can only take you so far and you will eventually reach your limits without knowing how to surpass them. This is one of the reasons why we¡¯re here, Naeht: I plan to study the Arts properly this time. With a strong base, I can raise my knowledge even higher than before.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see... So, you plan to become a Great Artyst like the old Kazian?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the direction I¡¯m heading for right now, but that¡¯s not all. The other reason why I became a Pupil is this specifically.¡± He waved at the Library all around them. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of knowledge stored in this place, knowledge that was lost because of the War. We have a new opportunity now, and I wonder what we could learn. What happened to us? How did we go back in time? What can we learn to prepare for the War? Was there mention of the Obcys in the past a long time ago in History? More recently? What about the Rifts? What were they specifically? So many questions...¡±

    Naeht¡¯s eyes were now wide. She approached a bookshelf and tried to touch a book with her ethereal hands; her hand went through it as usual. ¡°So many questions...¡± she repeated in awe. ¡°There is so much for us to do, Isyd. To prepare before the War... Do you really think we can do it, Isyd?¡±

    ¡°It is not a matter of ¡®can¡¯, Naeht. It never was. We will do it. There¡¯s no other alternative. Now, let us see what we can learn about time travel shall we...¡±

 4 - Blessed By the Grace

    Days later, Isyd was still cooped up in a far corner of the Library. Stacks of books surrounded the table he had made into his own, hiding him from the outside world. Isyd had spent the majority of his time in the Library, leaving only to grab a quick sandwich to eat, wash in the common baths and attend the couples of classes he had.

    Librarians would leave him there late at night and find him back at the same place when dawn came. Worried, a couple of them had approached this strange young man who was drowning under piles upon piles of books and who was often caught talking to himself. Isyd was conscious of the weird looks he got, but he didn¡¯t care much for them. He was immersed in his research. The Library had indeed an extensive collection of information and Isyd had realized that there was no way for him to go through all of it, even in several lifetimes. Still, he did his best.

    He closed the book he was reading and sighed and crossed out words from his notes.

    ¡°Still no luck?¡± Naeht asked. She was floating upside down above the table, her ghostly hair ruffled by an invisible breeze.

    ¡°The book just confirms what others have already been saying,¡± Isyd said as he put the book back into its dedicated pile. ¡°The flow of time is said to be immutable to the mortal¡¯s touch. Whether you look at it from a theological, philosophical or scientific perspective, they all eventually come to this conclusion. One can only travel in time forward and only one second at a time. Anything else like rewinding time, foreseeing or even peering into the past is impossible because it would break too many fundamental rules of our universe such as the rule of Causality or the 2nd Law of the Arts¡­¡±

    ¡°But Isyd, didn¡¯t we already know that? I remember the old Kazian discussing once an ancient idea of going back in time before the Obcys attacked? They had also said back then that it was impossible.¡±

    ¡°I had to make sure, Naeht. Great Artyst Kazian knew many things, but he did not know everything. Plus, I remember hearing stories about Artysta of a sufficiently high Opening who were able to cast world-shattering [Hex], able to alter reality on a fundamental level. I guess you don¡¯t learn this kind of thing from books¡­¡±

    ¡°So, we still don¡¯t know how we came back here?¡±

    ¡°No, we still don¡¯t know¡­¡± Isyd had often reimagined the moment he had attacked the Queen of the Dusk in hope of understanding what had exactly happened, but he couldn¡¯t recall anything past the blinding light.

    His eyes landed on the list of books and papers at his side. Full-fledge novels, collections of essays, scientific reports and theological treaties, Isyd had skimmed through all of them in hope of finding anything that could point him in the right direction. The most conclusive thing he had found was the ancient stories of the Promised, men and women who had entered the Covenant with God and had dreamed of future events right before they happened.

    ¡°What do we do now, Isyd?¡±

    ¡°We keep on looking. I say we let this idea rest for now and report our attention to our other questions. I just read a passage that was discussing the possibilities of other worlds, different to ours and aliens. Maybe we could learn something about the Elseworlds and the Rifts¡­¡±

    Isyd stopped himself as he perceived someone approaching this corner of the Library. He had chosen this part of the room specifically because it was out of the way. There were fewer chances of people bothering him or overhearing him talking to Naeht. Yet those steps were heading purposefully in his direction.

    Isyd straightened up on his chair. An old man appeared around the table, smiling in his direction.

    "I knew I would find you here, Young Isyd. The day Graces you.¡±

    ¡°The day Graces you, Tutor Milwyk,¡± Isyd rose and bowed his head in respect to his teacher.

    It wasn¡¯t the first time he met Tutor Milwyk. He had been introduced to the old man the second day here in the Academy and he already assisted his classes. Tutor Milwyk was the perfect picture people had when they thought of a Great Artyst: clad in a crimson robe, his pale skin was wrinkled by age and his unruly hair looked like silver woven into silk. Pale, blue eyes observed him behind half-moon glasses perched on a long, pointy nose.

    ¡°I am pleased to see you in the Library today as well. I hear it is a common occurrence. It is not often we see Pupils so dedicated.¡±

    ¡°I just don¡¯t want to waste the opportunity I was given. The Library is a great source of information and knowledge.¡±

    ¡°It is indeed a gift that I had to learn to appreciate,¡± the Tutor reached for a book at the top of a pile and sit down at the table.

    Isyd watched him do so with a puzzled expression. He had expected his teacher to salute him and then go on with his day, but apparently, Tutor Milwyk had a reason to stick around. Isyd sat down as well and did his best to ignore Naeht making faces at the old man.

    ¡°¡®The Branches of Time: Collections of philosophical essays about the concept of time and its relation to human cultures.¡¯ I see you do not restrain yourself to easy subjects. Are you interested in philosophy, Young Isyd?¡±

    ¡°Not particularly, Tutor. I just happened to stumble into this book and I fancied the title.¡±

    ¡°Still, this book must not have been easy to read. Did you have a prior education before coming here per chance?¡±

    ¡°I did not, Tutor. Like any child of my village, I learned to read with the Red Priestesses until my teenage years. This is the extent of the education I have received.¡±

    ¡°It is not uncommon among those of the 1st Opening. Still, I can see that you are a curious and motivated Pupil, so I don¡¯t foresee any difficulties for you. The Academy will be there to support you and nurture your talent. Have you already decided which Ring you wish to join?¡±

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°I did not consider joining any Ring, Tutor.¡±

    This truly surprised Tutor Milwyk. His thin eyebrows rose to almost touching his hair.

    ¡°Is that so? Why such a decision, Young Isyd? It is your first time in the Academy, so you may not know this yet, but the Rings are important institutions in our schools. Rings are associations formed and organized entirely by Pupils. They are places where they can gather around with other Pupils who share their same goals and interests and who are willing to help each other. Often, I have heard Rings described by Pupils as their second family and I can tell you by experience, Young Isyd, that your life in the Academy can only benefit from being part of one.¡±

    ¡°This was explained to me, Tutor. I just don¡¯t see the need for me to join one. I found I work better by myself.¡±

    The teacher did not seem convinced as expressed by the thin line of his lips. ¡°Collaboration with other Pupils is also an important skill taught here in the Academy. I can assure you that it will be harder to find scholarly success all by yourself. One of the many advantages of the Rings is the older Pupils who are willing to help you when you find yourself in difficulties with your studies. Their help will often be more valuable than one of a teacher.¡±

    ¡°I guess I will then consider it once the need arises, Tutor. For now, this method of mine appears to work.¡±

    Tutor Milwyk sighed and rose, readjusting his glasses on his nose. ¡°The choice is in the end always yours. As your assigned Tutor, I am supposed to offer you my guidance, thus I will ask you again in some time and hope that you would have reconsidered by then. Still, I appreciated our little talk, Young Isyd, and wish you a pleasant evening.¡±

    Isyd thanked his teacher and bowed his head as the old man left. Once more alone, he let out a sigh.

    ¡°He did ask a lot of questions...¡± Naeht felt necessary to remark.

    ¡°I guess he does that with all his Pupils, trying to learn more about them. Something about being a responsible teacher and all that... Anyway, let us leave as well.¡±

    ¡°Are you hungry, Isyd? I overheard the kids talking two sections from here. They say that the chicken stew of tonight will be very good.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not really hungry right now. I was rather thinking of going for a run, taking a bath and washing my uniform.¡±

    They were now stepping out of the Library. Isyd did not bother putting back the books he read since he intended to come back later tonight. The Librarians knew that by now and left his table as it was so as not to disturb anything.

    The hallways around the Library were quite empty around this time of the day which suited Isyd perfectly. Most Pupils were already participating in the several evening activities that could be enjoyed within the Academic grounds.

    Just in front of him, coming down from staircases, Isyd heard voices arguing.

    ¡°¡­ It is an opportunity we¡¯re offering you, can¡¯t you see it? The Ring of Crimson Gold! It¡¯s the number one Ring of the Academy! What are you hesitating about?¡±

    The loud voice belonged to a strong young man with small, dark eyes, curly brown hair and a youthful beard. He had his arm lazily thrown over a lanky fellow with white-blond hair and an even whiter skin. His appearance was striking in an uncanny way. The albino boy had his eyes downcast and appeared uneasy under the attention. Isyd gave them one glance and noticed the pin on their uniform: they were Pupils of the 1st Opening.

    ¡°Just imagine the prestige you¡¯ll get from the get-go. Everyone will envy you! All the new Pupils want to join the Crimson Gold!¡±¡ª the strong youth finally noticed Isyd passing by and hailed him¡ª ¡°You! Tell him how it is. Don¡¯t you wish you could also join us?¡±

    Isyd walked around the two Pupils without answering.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m talking to you! Are you deaf or something?¡±

    Isyd stopped and turned. ¡°Me?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, you! Who else, the walls? So, you do agree with me, right? Joining the Crimson Gold is the best thing that can happen to you, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡±

    The youth did not seem to like Isyd¡¯s attitude. He took a menacing step in his direction. ¡°Are you trying to be funny, per chance?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Then, what kind of Pupil are you? You¡¯re telling me you never heard of us? What about this then?¡± The youth drew back his sleeve and exposed a golden bracelet shaped in undulating flames.

    ¡°First time seeing it,¡± Isyd said.

    Anger flashed in the eyes of the young man as he took the measure of Isyd. He took another menacing step forward and grinned mockingly.

    ¡°I guess you¡¯re not part of the lucky ones then. Poor lucky fellow... The Ring of Crimson Gold is the most prestigious of the Academy, they¡¯ve been at the top for the past fifty years! Therefore, they are only interested in recruiting people who are worth their time, people who have the potential to reach great heights. People who are Blessed by the Grace. It explains why they didn¡¯t bother with a peasant like you, I guess. They have the eyes to see where the true talent really lies¡­¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    ¡°I hope you do. The name is Olav of House Kazkan, 1st Year and 1st Opening. I don¡¯t expect to hang out with the likes of you in the future, but I thought you should know the names of your betters¡­¡±

    Isyd shrugged. ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯ll probably forget it to be honest.¡±

    Olav¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°You¡¯re the real jester, aren¡¯t you? Maybe I should show you a little something. Nobody would blame me if I disciplined an insolent peasant, right¡­¡±

    Before he could do anything, however, a voice arose from the top of the stairs. ¡°My, isn¡¯t it a pleasure to see my Pupils already befriending one another! I hope I am not interrupting anything.¡±

    They all turned to see Tutor Milwyk who was smiling down at them. Olav turned toward their teacher a wide smile on his lips.

    ¡°The day Graces you, Tutor Milwyk,¡± he said, all traces of hostility gone from his voice. ¡°I was just making acquaintances of my fellow Pupils. We did not often have the chance after the classes, you see.¡±

    ¡°Oh yes! Delightful! I do think it is important for students to form bonds during their time at the Academy. Please, do not let me bother you longer. Enjoy your evenings, young men!¡±

    The teacher disappeared back up the stairs after waving his frail hand at them.

    Once he was gone, Olav turned back and leered at Isyd. ¡°You won¡¯t be that lucky next time, Peasant. Out of my way¡­¡±

    He passed Isyd by, bumping against his shoulder.

    Isyd simply watched him go with a smirk on his lips. The other boy had already taken his leave before Tutor Milwyk had appeared.

    Isyd turned to Naeht who was coming back after wandering off. ¡°You know what? I think I¡¯m quite hungry actually!¡±

 5 - Lessons on the Holy Arts

    ¡°After two weeks in the Academy, I hope that you are all now familiar with the school rhythm and well on your way to becoming excellent Pupils,¡± said Tutor Milwyk.

    Despite his age, his voice was still strong enough to be clearly heard across the auditorium. There were twenty or so Pupils present in his class, scattered across the room in groups of two or three. Isyd, as per usual, sat alone in the back of the room next to the window. It was a spot he particularly liked for the light and warmth of the sun.

    Chin resting on the palm of his hand, he listened to the lecture of Tutor Milwyk distractedly. The course of Arts: Basic Applications was one of the most important ones within his cursus, but Tutor Milwyk had a habit to go on and on about other topics instead of sticking to teaching his class.

    ¡°Anyway, let us move on to the class, shall we,¡± the old Artyst was saying. ¡°But before I begin, I must make sure that the introduction lessons we¡¯ve been through those past weeks have not been for nothing. Let¡¯s see¡­ Young Leslya, could you enunciate the First Law of the Arts?¡±

    In the front row, a young girl with braided, blond hair stood up. ¡°Yes, Tutor. The First Law is the Law of Ubiquity: ¡°Everything is naturally imbued with the Holy Grace. It can never be created nor destroyed, only altered through the Holy Arts.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Young Leslya. Hmm¡­ Young Raval, are the Holy Arts the only mechanism by which the Holy Grace can be altered?¡±

    A young man, that did not appear that ¡°young¡± after a closer look, stood up. ¡°No¡­ er¡­ Some natural processes can also alter the Holy Grace, I think¡­¡±

    Tutor Milwyk gave him an encouraging smile. ¡°Would you kindly give us some examples of which natural processes?¡±

    Raval shifted on his feet, unable to come up with one.

    ¡°That¡¯s alright, Young Raval, thank you,¡± Tutor Milwyk finally said. ¡°Young Marihan, perhaps you have examples to propose.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Tutor,¡± a tanned youth answered. ¡°One of those processes is the Graced Osmosis by which humans naturally absorb the ambient Grace in the air and release their own as well.¡±

    ¡°Excellent! Young Boshena, does the Graced Osmosis only occur in humans?¡±

    ¡°I do not know, Tutor Milwyk.¡±

    ¡°Well, the answer is no. The Graced Osmosis occurs with every living organism such as animals or plants. Moving on from the First Law, we arrive at the Second. Young Jadwia, would you so kind as to state it?¡±

    A tiny girl stood up not far from where Isyd sat. ¡°Yes, Tutor. The Second Law of the Arts is the Law of Decay: ¡°All elements of the Arts, once imbued by the Grace, progress inevitably toward dissipation. Thus, no [Spell] can last forever.¡±

    ¡°Very well said, Young Jadwia. Young Letchen, do you have examples in mind of the Second Law being in applications?¡±

    ¡°Er¡­ Isn¡¯t that the reason why we use [Arcane]? Once the [Spells] are written physically, they last longer.¡±

    ¡°Would it be possible to write thus an [Arcane] that makes a [Spell] last forever?¡±

    Letchen hesitated for an instant, searching for the trap in the question. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s possible¡­ It would break the Second Law and the Law of the Arts are unbreakable.¡±

    Tutor Milwyk gave him an appreciating nod. ¡°Indeed, indeed. Calculations say that it is feasible in theory, but the reality is something else entirely¡­ Well, all of this is good, but I feel necessary to ask the fundamental question, the question I should have perhaps started with. Young Isyd, could you explain to us what is the Holy Grace? The definition of Great Artyst Winfhry should do.¡±

    Isyd stood up, but before he could give an answer, another voice rose in the auditorium.

    ¡°Excuse me, Tutor Milwyk, but could we move on to more interesting things already. I was told that at the Academy I would master the Arts, not learn things a toddler should know!¡±

    The voice belonged to Olav Kazkan ¡ª Isyd had not forgotten the boy¡¯s name after all! He was seated near the front row, surrounded by his friends who followed dutifully everywhere he went and nodded to everything he said.

    Tutor Milwyk seemed not to be annoyed by the rude interruption and turned toward Olav with a kind, elderly smile. ¡°I do understand your eagerness, Young Olav, and I am pleased to see it. However, I sincerely believe that my courses regarding the basics of the Arts are necessary. The purpose of the Academy is to teach you the Arts so that you can elevate yourself to greater heights with your knowledge as building blocks. However, no matter how high you go, if the foundations are not solid, everything can and will eventually come crashing down.

    ¡°That being said, I hear your complaints, Young Olav, and I agree with you. It is time for us to move on to more serious topics. Remember, any Pupil is free to seek me and ask me questions if one of the subjects discussed in the previous classes is unclear. I would gladly go with you through your notes and check them out. Now¡­ let us begin.¡±

    The old man approached the blackboard behind him and scribbled ¡°The Third Law of the Arts¡± wide enough for the whole room to see. He used his cane as a pointing stick and tapped the board.

    ¡°This will be the cornerstone of this class. While the two previous Laws described the rules behind the functioning of the Arts, the Third Law informs us how to apply the Arts. Once again, I will go with the definition of Great Artyst Winfhry. The Third Law is the Law of Hierarchy: ¡®Every [Spell] can be broken down into its composing [Spells] which themselves can be broken down further until what is left are the Commands.¡¯ It is a mouthful and I do not expect all of you to understand immediately the implication of this Law, so I shall demonstrate.¡±

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Tutor Milwyk extended his cane and drew a circle in the air. Blue light followed the movement and formed a circle in which the [Spell] appeared. It flashed once then appeared a spear made entirely out of pure ice. Tutor Milwyk caught it mid-air and showed it to his students for all to see.

    ¡°This is a simple [Spell] called [Ice Spear],¡± he said. ¡°I drew the [Spell] but it may have been too fast for most of you to see it. We will use it as an example and deconstruct it together. First, I must talk about the Classical Essences by which the Grace can express itself. Those are Fire, Air, Water and Earth. Most [Spells] will express themselves in the form of a combination of those Essences. In our case, the [Ice Spear] is Water, thus it will be the main Essence of the [Spell].¡±

    With chalk, he drew a triangle upside down, the symbol of the Water Essence, then added two concentric circles around it. ¡°Now let us talk about the Commands: those are the most basic powers by which you can interact with the Holy Grace. Every [Spell] you have seen, no matter how easy or complex, was simply the combination of those Commands. They are the words, the [Spells] are the phrases and the Arts is the language. The Commands you need to know are [STORE], [ADD], [SUBSTRACT], [RELEASE] and [SHAPE]. I believe that those names are self-explanatory regarding their effects on the Grace. Each Command has a symbol and it is as much the geometric arrangement of the symbols as the Grace that make [Spells] possible.

    ¡°Keeping the Commands in mind, we can return to the [Ice Spear] and dissect it further. The Water Essence is the cornerstone of the [Spell] thus it stands in the centre. Then we need to gather the Holy Grace that will fuel the [Spell], thus I draw the Command [STORE] around the triangle; it is the two circles you see there. The [STORE] will concentrate the Grace in the centre. From that point, it must be transformed into the Water Essence, thus I draw the Command [SHAPE] going from the centre to the corners of the triangle. As you can see, the symbol of [SHAPE] is a straight line ending in a U-shape. Now that we have water, we must turn it into ice. This is done with the Command [SUBSTRACT]; we will remove heat from the water until it turns solid. Pay attention, the symbols for [SUBSTRACT] and [ADD] are quite similar and a mistake is quickly made! Both Commands are invoked with the drawing of an arc of a circle, but the [SUBSTRACT] is oriented outward while the [ADD] is oriented toward the centre. In our case, the [SUBSTRACT] will only touch the edges of the [STORE] circle. We still need to specify what to [SUBSTRACT]. We will do so by drawing a line at each corner of the triangle to make appear three smaller triangles; they are the symbol of the Fire Essence and represent in our case the heat removed. Congratulations, you just materialized ice. But [Ice Spear] is not quite complete, we still need to transform this ice into a spear. Again, we will use the Command [SHAPE] for this; the same symbol but smaller and drawn from the tips of the large triangle and going along its sides. Perfect! Finally, the ice is shaped into a spear. All that is left to do is to make it appear or in other words [RELEASE] it from the [Spell] into a physical form. The symbol of the [RELEASE] Command is a darkened circle and a straight line. One could be enough, but we draw six of them to form a hexagon for the sake of Balance. There, you have it! [Ice Spear]!¡±

    All the Pupils were frantically trying to copy and take notes from the drawing in a religious silence. Isyd just watched attentively. It was an easy [Spell] that most people were familiar with. If not the [Ice Spear] specifically, they knew at least a variant of it that followed the same Command Logic. Personally, he wouldn¡¯t have drawn that Spell that way. It had good Balance and was geometrically sound, but it made it more difficult to memorize. In battle, you didn¡¯t have the time to remember precisely what a [Spell] looked like, you just reached for whatever came to your mind. In that sense, the simpler the [Spell], the better it was.

    ¡°Now it is time for the question!¡± Tutor Milwyk said. ¡°Young Boshena?¡±

    ¡°Excuse me, Tutor, but isn¡¯t this [Ice Spear] a [Hex] instead of a [Spell]?¡±

    The old man¡¯s smile was wide. ¡°Good question, Young Boshena! You are entirely correct and I congratulate you for noticing. Indeed, [Ice Spear] would be classified as [Hex] composed of two [Spells]: the first is to materialize ice and the second to shape this ice into a spear. Conventions want us to name anything that is the combination of more than one [Spell] as a [Hex], but you can still use the two words interchangeably. I have now a question of my own: does anyone know how we call the process of combining [Spells] into [Hexes]? Young Kondrad, maybe?¡±

    "I believe we call it Meshing, Tutor,¡± a dark-haired youth answered.

    ¡°That is correct! In the same way, gears are meshed together to drive complex mechanisms, you will Mesh [Spells] together into more powerful [Hexes]. Any other questions? Yes, Young Tatyana?¡±

    ¡°How is it possible to cast quick [Spells] if they demanded so much precision in their drawings?¡±

    ¡°Great question! The easy answer would be experience, but the real answer is something called the Idpulse. It¡¯s a fancy expression to describe the unconscious way by which the Grace will express itself through you. The Idpulse is a force of its own in each Artysta and only grows stronger as you get more and more experienced. As you have seen in my first casting of the [Ice Spear], I do not need to draw the entire [Spell] but only the outline of it. It is because I am so familiar with the [Spell] that as I was casting it, the Grace flowing through me knew intuitively what I wanted and took shape on its own.¡±

    The girl named Boshena rose her hand again. ¡°Does it mean that it is possible to cast a [Spell] without having to draw it?¡±

    ¡°It is possible indeed, but extremely hard. It demands familiarity and experience that only a few possess. It took me around a decade for the Idpulse of [Ice Spear] to get to this point.¡±

    ¡°How do we improve this Idpulse, Tutor?¡± the man named Raval asked.

    ¡°We will discuss it more in the future classes, but I can tell you that most of it comes down to practice. It is often compared to muscle memory: the more you cast a [Spell] the more you get familiar with its shape, with its feels, with the intricacies of the Grace for this particular combination of Commands. You will tweak and adjust the [Spell] to your personal preference, either consciously or unconsciously, until it fits you best and then one day, you will realize that you can cast it without even lifting a finger.¡±

    A wave of excited whispers spread through the crowd of Pupils. Casting a [Spell] without doing anything? Now, that was a thing of legend!

    ¡°Any more questions?¡± Tutor Milwyk said. ¡°No? Well, you can still come to me later on if needs be. For now, I think that it is time for us to practice what we just learned. It will help you familiarize yourself with the Commands. Let us see¡­ Young Isyd, would you be so kind to come in front of the class and try to perform the [Spell]?¡±

    Isyd got up and headed to the professor¡¯s rostrum.

    ¡°Maybe another Pupil can come as well¡­ Any volunteer? Oh, yes, Young Olav, you seem eager! Please come as well. Two Pupils are better than one; it will offer a nice comparison for us to discuss. Since you all passed the examination, it is assumed that you are all able to sense and channel the Grace. I will ask you to cast a [Spell]. The best would be the [Ice Spear], but any other [Spell] of the same level should do. Do not fear to fail, you are all here to learn and any mistakes you can make is an opportunity to grow.¡±

    Isyd nodded. This should be easy enough. He was about to cast the [Spell] when Olav stepped in front of him and gave him a sardonic smile.

    ¡°Nice opportunity to show you the difference between the two of us, Peasant!¡± the boy said for only Isyd to hear.

    Isyd rose an eyebrow and his lips twitched.

    Well, he wasn¡¯t one to refuse a challenge¡­

 6 - Balance, Concentration and Visualization

    Isyd stood in front of the whole class and glanced around. He counted thirteen Pupils, himself and Olav excluded. It wasn¡¯t a crowd per se, but it still made Isyd uncomfortable to have all those eyes focused on him.

    He tried to ignore the tension in his neck and turned his attention to Olav instead. The young man had a smug expression on his face and Isyd had to admit that he did look quite respectable and proud in his crisp uniform. His sleeves were rolled up and exposed the bracelet of the Crimson Gold Ring. Olav pulled a wand out of the inner pocket of his coat.

    ¡°There¡¯s no objection at me using my wand I hope, Tutor?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely none! You are invited to use one as well, Young Isyd.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t use wands,¡± Isyd said.

    Tutor Milwyk took a few steps back to let them the full room of the podium. ¡°Remember the sequence of Commands and try to Visualize your final [Spell]! It is okay if you do not get it the first time.¡±

    ¡°Worry not, Tutor Milwyk! My name would not be Olav Kazkan if I could not achieve such a simple [Spell] on a first try!¡±

    Olav stepped forward and brandished his wand. The class was silent and all the eyes were turned toward him. The young man seemed to appreciate the attention.

    At the tip of his wand, a blue light suddenly appeared and Olav began casting the [Spell]. First, the Water triangle, followed by the [STORE] circles, the [SHAPE], the [SUBSTRACT], the Fire triangle, then another [SHAPE] and finally the [RELEASE]. Olav moved his wand slowly and carefully, leaving the blue shimmer in the air as if he was painting on a canvas.

    ¡°[ICE SPEAR]!¡± Olav called out and gave a final tap with his wand, setting the light briefly ablaze.

    Isyd could hear the collectively held breath of the other Pupils when the [Spell] shone¡­

    And a cube of cloudy ice thirty centimetres wide appeared out of thin air and landed in front of him.

    There was a brief moment of silence as everyone stared at the result of the [Spell], then a Pupil in the back gave a hesitant clapping that was picked up half-heartedly by the rest of the class. Behind him, Isyd could hear Naeht laughing herself silly and he felt a smile at the edge of his lips.

    Olav gave his classmates an awkward smile and a slight bow.

    ¡°It is an excellent first attempt, Young Olav! Your execution of the Commands was really good and you managed to materialize something on your first try. Few Pupils could claim the same, so you should be proud!¡±

    Truth be told, Isyd was also impressed. Like Tutor Milwyk, he hadn¡¯t expected Olav to succeed to make anything. The fact that the [Spell] had produced at least a cube of ice proved that Olav was familiar with the Arts, despite being only of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening. The young man probably had manipulated various [Arcanes] before, and perhaps knew one or two [Spells]. It would certainly explain his overconfidence. But there was a difference between casting a [Spell] learned by heart and casting an unknown [Spell] on the fly.

    ¡°Before I guide you on your next steps to improve,¡± Tutor Milwyk continued, ¡°we should first see Young Isyd¡¯s attempt.¡±

    Isyd stepped forward and met his teacher¡¯s curious, watchful eyes.

    I should not show off too much too soon¡­

    Where Olav used his wand, Isyd simply used the tip of his left index. Sweetness filled his mouth and jitters birthed in his belly, familiar sensations as he concentrated the Grace. The blue glow appeared on his finger, and with crisp and efficient movements, he cast the [Spell] exactly as Tutor Milwyk had.

    ¡°[ICE SPEAR].¡±

    The [Spell] shone and a spear of clear ice fell between Isyd¡¯s extended hands. The haft was two meters long, the two-sided blade was twenty centimetres and its sharp edges shone dangerously.

    Gasps of awe erupted around the room and genuine claps ensued.

    ¡°He did it first try!¡±

    ¡°¡­the ice is so clear!¡±

    ¡°He did it so fast as well!¡±

    Naeht approached Isyd from behind. ¡°It¡¯s funny how they¡¯re so excited from such a simple [Spell].¡±

    Isyd shrugged discretely and let his ungloved hand run along the cold surface of sculpted ice. He could have materialized the spear without casting the [Spell], but it would have raised too many questions.

    ¡°This is truly impressive, Young Isyd!¡± Tutor Milwyk said, eyes sparkling with excitement. ¡°Your execution was nearly flawless and your [Spell] was as successful as we could hope. I¡¯m glad to have such promising talents as my Pupils! Before the others try as well, I want to discuss briefly the difference in results between Young Olav¡¯s and Young Isyd¡¯s [Spells]. They both cast the [Ice Spear], but only Young Isyd succeeded. How is it possible? Can you answer, Young Isyd?¡±

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°I assume that Olav here failed to Visualize the [Spell] properly and that¡¯s why he got an ice cube instead of a spear.¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Tutor Milwyk turned toward the rest of his class. ¡°There are three reasons why a [Spell] can fail or go wrong: the Balance, the Concentration and the Visualization. The Balance describes how the Commands are arranged geometrically relative to each other. It turns out that there are correct and incorrect ways to go about it, ways of maximizing the circulation of the Grace through your [Spell]. Throughout the year, you will learn about those optimized configurations. Poor Balance results in a [Spell] of poor quality, like ice not fully solid or a weak, smoky fire.

    ¡°The second reason that can cause failure is the Concentration. It describes the amount of Grace that is gathered for the [Spell] to function. Often, poor Concentration makes the [Spells] impossible to even be cast. It is caused either by a lack of focus from the Artyst or by trying to cast a [Spell] superior to one¡¯s Opening. As you become more experienced, Concentration faults should happen less and less as gathering Grace becomes more and more trivial.

    ¡°Finally, the last cause can be Visualization. Notice that to form the [Ice Spear], no Commands explicitly tell which form the ice must take, but only that it has to be [SHAPED] someway. How do we make sure that we materialize a spear instead of a cube? Well, the Artyst must have a clear picture in their mind of what they want to achieve. Only then the Grace will know which shape to assume. As Young Isyd has well hypothesized, Young Olav could not perfectly Visualize the Ice Spear. It goes back to the Idpulse we talked about earlier. As you become a more experienced Artyst, Visualization will become instinctive. Now, I¡¯d invite all of you to come down here and practice the [Spell]. Come on, there¡¯s enough room for everyone.¡±

    The Pupils left their seats and headed for the rostrum. Tutor Milwyk turned to Isyd.

    ¡°Would you mind if others can touch your [Ice Spear]? I think it would help their Visualization.¡±

    Isyd handed the spear and took a step back. The Pupils gathered around the ice weapon, touching it eagerly to get a better feel of it. The only exception was Olav, who stood up in the middle of the puddle formed from his ice cube melting. He was looking daggers at Isyd, but Isyd did not meet his eyes. After his spear had made its round, he retreated it, leant against the blackboard and observed the rest of the Pupils.

    Spread out a few feet apart from each other, many were trying to cast their own [Spells]. The results were mixed: here and there, Isyd caught sight of bluish lights, puffs of mist or snow and the eventual piece of ice crystals being materialized. Often the [Spells] the Pupils were in the process of casting would vanish as they were being drawn due to lack of Concentration. Isyd wasn¡¯t surprised: the Arts was so much more than simply waving a wand around and hoping for magic to happen.

    Regarding Pupils of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening, he and Olav were the exceptions.

    Isyd¡¯s attention went back to the young noble. Olav had been trying to cast the [Ice Spear] and he had just managed to materialize it. The spear was short and awkwardly balanced between the haft and the blade¡ª closer to a long knife and crude of making¡ª, but it was impressive, nonetheless. Other Pupils flocked around him, asking him for advice and to touch the spear.

    Olav had found back his smug expression now that he had succeeded and was standing proud. He noticed Isyd staying in the background and his eyes shone with poison.

    ¡°Hey, Peasant! Want to try which of our spears is the best?¡±

    Isyd shook his head negatively, somewhat distracted by Naeht who was flying around the man¡¯s head. Still, Olav approached him.

    ¡°Come on, we both know you¡¯ve been lucky to make it first try. Let¡¯s see what your spear is truly worth! Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re scared? It will be fun!¡±

    Olav was about his height, so Isyd stared at the man straight in his eyes. He saw the mockery, the arrogance and the smugness. And behind all of it, Isyd saw the malice.

    He sensed the danger before seeing it and his body moved on his own.

    Pretending nonchalance, Olav had brandished his spear and was aiming for Isyd¡¯s left thigh. Swift like an eagle, Isyd swatted the weapon away with his own then spun it for a counterattack.

    Olav¡¯s spear shattered like glass upon the impact. The young man stood there, dumbfounded. His eyes were fixed on the ice blade angled a few inches from his throat.

    Silence filled the classroom, all the Pupils had turned to them.

    Isyd held his spear in two hands, in a fighting stance. Sensing the eyes of everyone around him, he relaxed visibly and let out a feigned laugh and smiled. ¡°Well, I guess it shows that my spear was the strongest, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    He stepped back and leant nonchalantly on his spear. Olav let out an imperceptible sigh of relief, but his eyes were still wide from terror. Tutor Milwyk approached them, his eyes darting back and forth between Isyd and Olav, but he was still smiling.

    ¡°It was a great initiative to test which of the two [Spells] was the strongest,¡± the Tutor said. ¡°It touches on something I wanted to discuss in our next class, but I guess there¡¯s no harm for me to mention it now. Pupils, I have a question! Let us imagine we put the [Ice Spear] of Young Isyd in a cold room, could we hope to keep it there forever? Yes, Young Boshena!¡±

    ¡°The answer is no, Tutor,¡± the girl said. ¡°Otherwise, it would contradict the Second Law of the Arts.¡±

    ¡°Correct answer, Young Boshena! No matter how good is the [Spell], no matter how appropriate are the conditions surrounding it, the [Ice Spear] will start to decay. The rate of this decay is something that can be calculated and can be influenced, but this will be the subject of our next lectures. For now, notice that even this flawless [Ice Spear] is starting to decay.¡±

    Tutor Milwyk pointed on Isyd¡¯s spear the part of the haft that showed a long crack along its length. The ice there had not melted so much that it had ¡°evaporated¡±. Tutor Milwyk gave an exciting look to Isyd and readjusted his glasses on his pointed nose.

    ¡°Now that your [Ice Spear] is decaying, what would you do to solve that problem, Young Isyd?¡±

    Isyd eyed his Tutor, gauging the question. Again, he could feel the eyes of the other Pupils on him.

    In the end, Isyd shrugged and smiled.

    ¡°I¡¯d simply make another one, Tutor.¡±

    Isyd¡¯s hand flew in the air, casting the [Spell] even faster than the first time. The second spear landed in his right hand amidst the murmurs of awe of his classmates.

    Not hiding his pleasure, Tutor Milwyk gave Isyd a sly grin and nodded. ¡°Truly promising¡­ I look forward to seeing you in my next lecture, Young One!¡±

 7 - Remembering for a Night

    The Common Dorms of the Academy were nothing to sneeze at. All the Pupils who enrolled had the right to one bunk as well as a small chest to put in their belongings. The rooms could house ten beds and there were forty of those rooms, unevenly divided in favour of the men.

    It was in the Common Dorms that Isyd had ended up after enrolling. Isyd did not mind it at all. After all, he had spent the nights in far worse places than a crowded dormitory. The fact that he had a bed of his own was more luxurious than what he could have hoped for. And even if he hadn¡¯t liked it, Isyd did not have much choice.

    The fact of the matter was that Isyd was broke.

    Back in Old Ziemia, Isyd had not been the kind of owning anything. It was a consequence of living at the frontline of the War; when you could be attacked at any instant by the enemy, you quickly learned that the less you carried, the faster you could run. It was a simple matter of survival. This meant that all Isyd had carried with him were an extra set of tunic, his cloak and his knife. And it was the only items he¡¯d been sent back in time with. No money, no food and nothing to truly get by with. Fortunately, the Academy provided shelter and a free meal once a day, so Isyd did not starve to death, but he was worried about how long he could continue like this. Living like a pauper was not a first for him, but he¡¯d rather focus his attention and energy on preparing for the War with the Obcys, instead of worrying about money.

    Isyd had to find a solution and he was thinking about it as he entered his room in the Common Dorms. The classes had been over for a couple of hours now and the dormitory was empty. It wasn¡¯t surprising; Isyd had learned that most Pupils preferred spending their time everywhere else than in the Commons since there wasn''t much to do here if not sleeping.

    Isyd approached his bunk and pulled from underneath it his chest. Naeht was seated on his bed, ghostly and ethereal.

    ¡°Are you going to the Thermae, Isyd?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Not now. There will be too many people around this time, I think.¡±

    ¡°So, what are we doing here? We spend all our time in the Library usually, at least until it closes.¡±

    ¡°I was actually thinking of going outside tonight. You¡¯re down?¡±

    Her face lit up with excitement and she spiralled up in the air. ¡°Really? You¡¯re not joking? Yes! I¡¯m so happy! I so wanted to visit the city actually!¡±

    Isyd¡¯s smiled. He¡¯d forgotten that Naeht had never seen a city like Vilriver before. The only thing similar she¡¯d ever experienced was the Holy Bastion, which was more like a castle than anything else.

    ¡°So where are we going exactly?¡± she chirped.

    ¡°I was thinking of strolling a bit at the beginning. There¡¯s also a place in the Outside I want to drop by.¡±

    She tilted her head to one side. ¡°What¡¯s the ¡®Outside¡¯?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s how we call the area across the River. You see, at the border of Vilriver, the River fork in two before joining back downstream. It forms a kind of small island inside the borders of the city on which the City Hall and the Academy were built. We call this islet the Inside while the rest of the area is called the Outside.¡±

    She let out an oooh of understanding. Isyd reached down for his cloak and unfolded it. With his knife, it was probably the only thing of value he ever owned. It wasn¡¯t any type of cloak but a darkveil, the type of cloak worn by the Rangers of the Black Forest far in the west. The fibre, strong and light, was black but had not been dyed. The cloak kept warm and served as an excellent camouflage in the forest. Or the city for that matter.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said to Naeht and together they headed out. On their way out, they met many Pupils of various Openings also leaving the Academy grounds for the time of an evening. Outside of the time reserved for their classes, Pupils were free to explore Vilriver. There were only two things they had to be wary of. The first was that the doors closed at the 22<sup>nd</sup> Hour and all Pupils were expected to be back by then. The second was that as Pupils, their actions outside represented the Academy as a whole. Tutors were known to be quite severe with the students who tarnished the reputation of the Academy ¡ª expulsion being the least severe of punishments.

    Outside, the sun had long gone past the horizon. The streets in this part of the city were crowded and Lightspheres illuminated the pavements. The Inside was the fanciest neighbourhood of Vilriver and the expensive houses and office buildings demonstrated it. Still, Isyd did not bother wandering around; he walked at a brisk pace, Naeht hovering above his shoulder. Soon, they crossed the Amber Bridge to get into the Outside.

    Isyd had thrown his darkveil over his shoulders. He hadn¡¯t bothered changing out of his uniform since he didn¡¯t have any other decent clothes to wear.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think your uniform is too bright?¡± Naeht pointed out. ¡°Even with your darkveil, it is easy to spot you.¡±

    ¡°I know, but it is either this or my drags from the War. You know I have no money to buy clothes.¡±

    ¡°I was thinking about it actually¡­ You know what we should do? Find you a job!¡±

    Isyd smirked. ¡°Oh, really? Did you come up with any brilliant idea?¡±

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s surely something you can do and that can earn you some money. You¡¯re the best Artyst I know after all!¡±

    "You don¡¯t know a lot of Artysta, Naeht.¡±

    She stuck out her tongue at him.

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    ¡°I can¡¯t work as an Artysta, anyway,¡± Isyd said. ¡°Not now at least. Officially, I¡¯m still of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening. Only Pupils of the 4<sup>th</sup> Opening can practice the Arts in exchange for money. If the Academy was to learn of it, I risk far worse than expulsion.¡±

    ¡°Well, it wouldn¡¯t have been a problem if you did not cheat at the entrance exam!¡±

    Isyd slowed down his pace and took his time to admire the view across the riverbank. They were walking on a causeway along the embankment, a popular place to stroll or sit down. There was a light smog above the darkness of the River which made the Inside appear like a mirage. From where they stood, they could still see the towers of the Academy and the fuzzy outlines of the City Hall. The Lightspheres appeared as wavering dots of light, like blinking stars in a night sky.

    ¡°It is as beautiful as you described it, Isyd,¡± Naeht whispered.

    Isyd agreed. During his youth in Vilriver, this spot had been one of his favourite places. He would often end up here and sit down and stare at the Academy, this place he¡¯d dreamt to enter. For an instant, it was as if he was back there again. Isyd closed his eyes and remembered. The salty smell of the river, the flow of the boats on its waters, and the sounds of sailors enjoying their drinks with songs and laughter. It had been so long ago¡­ and now that he was here again, Isyd realized how much he¡¯d missed it.

    He opened his eyes, reconnecting with the present. It felt good to reminisce, to remember when things were different. Before the War. Before the Obcys. Before his infliction. His right arm twitched underneath his bandages and Isyd flexed his gloved fingers.

    Yes¡­ it was good to remember for a moment, in order not to forget why he was present here now.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Naeht,¡± he hailed her. ¡°We still have somewhere to go.¡±

    He followed down one of the streets that led away from the riverbank, avoiding the crowd of people who were also strolling on the causeway.

    ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me where we¡¯re going exactly, Isyd¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, talking of jobs¡­ did I ever tell you what I used to do in Vilriver back in the Old Ziemia?¡±

    She tilted her head to one side. ¡°Hmm¡­ you mentioned that you were an assistant of some kind to a Craftsman. Weren¡¯t you making watches or something?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s about it. I was very lucky to find him. Since I couldn¡¯t join the Academy, I had not many options. My Master was a clockmaker and had already two apprentices, but they were getting older and he needed someone for the more menial tasks. That¡¯s where I first learned the Arts or at least a more practical and simplified aspect of it.¡±

    ¡°So, this is where we¡¯re heading back now. You want to say hello to this Master of yours?¡±

    ¡°Actually no. There would be no point to it, he wouldn¡¯t recognize me. Instead, if my memory serves me right, it is around this time that a friend of my Master would pass away. He was a pawnbroker and at his death, my Master was put in charge of sorting out his belongings stored in an old attic. He sold many of those things, but he also gave me a broken toy as a gift.¡±

    ¡°I still don¡¯t know how that has anything to do with us, Isyd.¡±

    ¡°The attic is where we¡¯re going Naeht. I¡¯m going to get my weapon.¡±

    Naeht¡¯s eyes went wide and she gasped. ¡°Your weapon? You don¡¯t mean¡­ the Whitewater Staff?¡±

    Isyd could not help but roll his eyes. ¡°This is such a silly name people gave it¡­ You shouldn¡¯t believe all the stories you overheard from Wolteh and the others, Naeht. They liked to overblow things.¡±

    ¡°Still, this is awesome! Your staff was legendary, almost as famous as the Moonlight Rapier of Felyn! It was such a pity you broke it before I could see it in truth.¡±

    ¡°I did not break it! I just happened to¡ª you know what? Never mind, it doesn¡¯t matter anymore. We¡¯ve arrived anyway.¡±

    Their steps led them to a narrow alleyway away from the commercial street they¡¯d been following. Away from the lights of the Lightspheres, the back street between two shops was shrouded in darkness. The place was familiar to Isyd however since the path had been a shortcut he¡¯d often followed to get to his job.

    With a flick of his left hand, he cast a [Light Ball] the size of an apple and held it overhead to see the metal rod where the [Lightsphere] should have hung if someone had bothered maintaining. Isyd nodded and dismissed his [Spell].

    He took a few steps back, jumped against one wall then leapt toward the streetlamp. He caught it with two arms and heaved himself on it. The physical effort did not seem to bother him and neither did the height. He turned his attention to a windowsill whose window was left ajar. Isyd swung it open and stepped inside the dark room.

    The smell of dust and trapped air almost made him sneeze. Again, Isyd cast a [Light Ball], much bigger this time as to lit up the entire room. He¡¯d called it an attic, but it was actually just a room on the second floor that devolved into a storage dump by the late owner. Bags full of unsold merchandise laid open. The content was quite miscellaneous: from knick-knacks, jewellery and trinkets to proper [Arcanes].

    ¡°Tell me, Isyd, if you take your staff here, wouldn¡¯t it consider stealing?¡± Naeht asked as she saw begin to rummage through the bags.

    Isyd stopped in his search and looked at her. ¡°Well, the staff was given to me eventually, but it was back in Old Ziemia¡­ I guess, you could consider it stealing¡­ but I¡¯m just taking my staff, nothing else.¡± He paused, thinking. ¡°Do we actually care either way?¡±

    ¡°No, not really!¡± Naeht giggled. ¡°I just wanted to make sure, that¡¯s all! So, what¡¯s in there?¡±

    ¡°Many things. A lot of necklaces and rings. A few wristwatches. A few broken [Arcanes] like a handwarmer, a portable [Lightsphere], there¡¯s even a wand. There¡¯s also a lot of letters and pens and¡ª¡±

    Isyd stopped when his eyes landed on a familiar shape he had not seen in years. With a trembling hand, he reached for it and pulled it out of the heap. Naeht approached him and looked over his shoulder.

    ¡°So, it was truly golden like they told in the stories¡­¡± she whispered in awe.

    ¡°It¡¯s not gold, it¡¯s ochre,¡± Isyd said, his voice tight. ¡°Ochre is the natural colour of resswood.¡±

    Apart from its odd colours, the Whitewater Staff looked nothing special. One meter in length and five centimetres in diameter, it just looked like a stick with paint on it.

    Yet, Isyd held it in his palm as if it was truly made out of solid gold.

    ¡°Come on, Isyd, show me what it can do! Use it!¡± Naeht urged him.

    ¡°I can¡¯t Naeht. It is broken. We must first find a way to¡ª¡±

    Isyd¡¯s head whirled toward the door at the other side of the room. His senses had perked up. Someone was approaching. From the stairs by the sounds of it and they were already at the door. For the fraction of a second, he thought of escaping through where he came from, but he couldn¡¯t. The window was too far, the whole room was still a mess.

    At that moment, Isyd cursed himself for not taking off his Academic uniform. He didn¡¯t know what was the punishment for a Pupil caught stealing, but he could guess it wasn¡¯t anything good.

 8 - The Whitewater Staff

    Isyd reeled into action. Sharpened by years of experience, his mind immediately split into two. The first half assessed the situation at hand and thought about a solution on the fly. The second half let the Idpulse take over: it gathered the Grace and executed the [Spells] at the same time Isyd came up with them.

    Isyd stretched his gloved hand. To prevent the door from moving inward, he called forth a wall of Wind that slammed it down. From the tip of his finger, greying lights executed the necessary Command, too fast for the naked eye to see, and the wooden door creaked due to the added pressure. On the other side, they could hear someone struggling against the handle and putting their weight against it to make it budge.

    The [Wind Wall] was however only a temporary measure, it was dwindling already. Isyd had to stop the person from entering at all, at least until he got out of here. Isyd¡¯s focus switched to the keyhole. Something to clog it and prevent the door to be unlocked... Isyd pointed at the keyhole and quickly cast [Ice] inside of it and around the handle. Finally, for good measure, he aimed a new [Wind Wall] to replace the first one.

    ¡°Goddammit! That blasted door is jammed!¡± said the voice from the outside.

    ¡°How come? We came here yesterday and it was fine,¡± another voice said.

    ¡°How would I know? Something must have gotten into the keyhole, I can¡¯t put the key in! Here, try.¡±

    As Isyd was putting the room back as he had found it, he overheard them struggling two minutes more, before they finally gave up and decided to come back tomorrow to see with the light of the day what was wrong. Isyd let a sigh of relief as he heard them retreating down the stairs. His ice had held. He hadn¡¯t been confident it would since he had cast the [Spell] in such a hurry, not caring for Balance, Concentration or Visualization.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Isyd,¡± Naeht said. ¡°I should have seen them approaching...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, Naeht! I should also have felt them coming sooner. I guess it¡¯ll teach us not to get distracted.¡±

    ¡°What do we do now?¡±

    ¡°We go back to the Academy. We got what we came here for, after all.¡±

    He held the Whitewater Staff in his hand and went out by the window.

    They still had half an hour to get back to the Academy before its doors closed and they were forced to spend the night outside. Isyd readjusted his cloak over his shoulders and began walking.

    ¡°You know, Isyd, I really thought that the Whitewater Staff would be more... impressive,¡± Naeht drawled. ¡°It just looks like any other staff, to be honest.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because it is like any other staff. It¡¯s a palcat meant for the palcaty, which is a traditional stick fighting sport. People would often use palcat when training for swordfights.¡±

    ¡°Then what¡¯s so special about it if it¡¯s just a training tool?¡±

    Isyd seemed to think about it for a second. ¡°Mainly two things I would say. The first is that this palcat was in fact modified into an [Arcane] of high level; I''ll show you later the [Spells] carved on its surface. That is some impressive work and to this day, I¡¯m not sure why and how someone managed to do it. The second thing is the material the palcat is made of. It¡¯s not any type of wood.¡±

    ¡°The colour is beautiful, I¡¯ll give you that...¡±

    Isyd rolled his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s resswood! It¡¯s a rare kind of tree only found on cliffs far in the East. The ochre colour comes from the iron present in the ground that the tree absorbs as it grows. The iron makes resswood the strongest wood there is, and one of the most expensive as well.¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s so precious, how come it ended up in that attic?¡±

    ¡°It is broken. I guess the previous owner did not know what to do with it...¡±

    Naeht let out an afflicted sigh. ¡°I was so looking forward to seeing the Whitewater Staff in action...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, I¡¯ll find a way to repair it soon enough.¡±

    ¡°It should be easy since you already did once in Old Ziemia, no?¡±

    ¡°Well... to be totally honest with you, I''m not the one who repaired my palcat back then. You have to understand I was fourteen when I received it. At that time, I didn¡¯t even know it was an [Arcane] or that it was broken, to begin with. It¡¯s only years after the War that a Great Artyst from the Capital fixed it for me.¡±

    ¡°And you think you could fix it now on your own?¡±

    Isyd shrugged. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t really be difficult, I think. Surely, we¡¯ll find something about it in the Library.¡±

    As they talked, they walked back to the Academy. The bells had chimed the 21<sup>st</sup> Hour some time ago already, and Isyd was half worried to have the doors closed in front of him. Spending the night in the streets of Vilriver wasn¡¯t something to look forward to, as Isyd knew first-hand. Thankfully, they made it in the nick of time and entered the Academy by the Western Gate instead of the Southern Gate through which they had left. The Southern Gate was the main entrance to the Academy; it was where the entrance examination had taken place and it led immediately to the Great Hall. The Western Gate on the other hand was more discrete. It opened on the Fields and led back through a long, sinuous path to the Hall.

    Isyd had learned on his first week here that the Fields was the name given by the Pupils to the large extent of lands that surrounded the Academy. Despite what the name suggested, the Fields were not simply hectares of empty, flat lands, but instead, they were home to all the outdoors activities such as horse riding, sports competitions and duels. For that matter, a significant part of the Fields was actually wooded. The Fields was a place where the Pupils were free to wander, relax and practice the Arts without worrying about breaking anything. Indeed, Isyd had noticed that most of the Academy was protected by Wards, a specific kind of protective [Arcanes], to prevent accidents to occur within the school walls. The Library, for instance, counted a dozen of [Arcanes] on its first floor that were set up to detect and snuff out any beginning of a fire. The Wards were activated when too much Grace was dangerously concentrated at one place, which was often a sign of a [Spell] that had gone wrong.

    Isyd and Naeht were trotting up the incline on one of the isolated paths across the Fields to the Academy. Isyd intended to go to the Thermae before resuming some reading he had left off. Suddenly, his senses perked up as he walked around a corner. Someone was using the Arts.

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    A few paces off from the dirt path, a young woman stood rigidly, eyes closed and palms opened in front of her. She was wearing the Academic uniform, her long, sandy hair was tied and she seemed to be in intense concentration. Surprisingly, chunks of broken ice laid all around her, and Isyd soon understood why. A bluish light sparked at the end of the Pupils and she began to draw a [Spell] in the air: Water Essence, [STORE], [SHAPE], [SUBSTRACT], Fire Essence, another [SHAPE] and finally a [RELEASE].

    Isyd immediately guessed what kind of [Spell] the girl was casting and wasn¡¯t surprised to see her mutter the words [Ice Spear] as the ice formed out of thin air. The ice was cloudy and thick in diameter, looking less like an actual spear and more like a log. The surface was rough and presented cracks from which water seeped out. The ice crashed to the ground in a violent CRACK and Isyd saw the girl¡¯s shoulders slump.

    He turned as he felt someone emerging from the shades. He recognized the young man by his striking appearance: curly, white-blond hair and skin paler than most.

    ¡°Grace.¡± he saluted.

    ¡°Grace,¡± Isyd returned. He expected the man to continue on his way, but instead, he remained where he stood, two paces from Isyd, observing the woman Pupil trying to cast a new [Ice Spear].

    ¡°You know, she¡¯s been doing this for one week now,¡± he suddenly said. His voice was soft and without inflexions. ¡°It had seemed so easy when you and Olav Kazkan had done it in front of the class...¡±

    ¡°We were lucky,¡± Isyd said noncommittally.

    ¡°Luck? It seemed to me it was more like skill. Your name is Isyd Wybrany, right? People think that you are a noble like Olav Kazkan, only from a foreign land.¡±

    ¡°Are you asking me if it is true?¡±

    The youth shrugged, not meeting his gaze. Isyd barely stopped himself from smiling.

    ¡°I¡¯m no noble,¡± he said. ¡°I come from a village near Hojny, two weeks of travel south from Vilriver.¡±

    This wasn¡¯t entirely a lie; it was truly where Isyd was from. The fact that he hadn¡¯t been back there for several decades, wasn¡¯t something he cared to mention now.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re not the lost son of a duke from the West or retainer of the Emperor at the East?¡±

    ¡°I am afraid I¡¯m not. Wish I was, it would make many things easier... Sorry to disappoint the rumour.¡±

    ¡°A pity.¡± The boy let the silence stretch for a few seconds. ¡°By the way, my name is Kewin Udachur, 1<sup>st</sup> Year and 1<sup>st</sup> Opening. I would have introduced myself earlier, but I never get the chance to see you.¡±

    ¡°I spend a lot of time in the Library.¡±

    ¡°So I have heard today. Is it also where you sleep? I know that we share the same Dorm but I never saw you use your bed.¡±

    Isyd gave the young man a curious look, trying to guess the intentions behind the interrogation. The boy seemed genuinely curious, but his shyness carried on in the evasive way he asked the questions.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need much sleep. I¡¯m an early riser, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Kewin did not seem convinced, but Isyd didn¡¯t really care enough to come up with a better lie. ¡°I see...¡±

    They turned back their attention to the young woman. She had still not noticed them observing her, a testimony of how concentrated she was. Her attempt this time was slightly more successful: the ice was correctly shaped and resembled more a spear than a trunk. Unfortunately, it still presented many defects, too many to be considered a proper [Spell].

    ¡°Her name is Jadwia and she is also in our class with Tutor Milwyk. She¡¯s really dedicated. Every night, she¡¯d find somewhere out of the way here in the Fields and practice what Tutor showed us.¡± Kewin suddenly stopped and colour rose to his face when he realized how he sounded. ¡°I¡¯m not stalking her or anything, I swear! I¡¯m just¡­ I just come down here often also to practice and I often see her! I don¡¯t want to bother her¡­ or anyone for that matter¡­¡±

    Isyd and Naeht exchanged a look and Isyd smirked. The young man looked like a nice guy if only a bit awkward at times. ¡°I see¡­ Well, it was nice meeting you, Kewin Udachur, but I think I¡¯m gonna go. Keep up the good work.¡±

    Kewin mumbled a goodbye and Isyd resumed his walk towards the Thermae. Apart from the Library, it was probably his favourite place in the Academy. The Thermae was a complex of baths free to use for all Pupils and Tutors. At this time of the day, Isyd hoped he would find them empty, or at least near enough to allow him to relax.

    The Thermae housed several thermal baths to offer a large number of choices. Depending on the mood or the need, one could decide to relax in the warmth of the indoor pools heated by impressive heating [Arcanes] or instead, soak in mineral waters pumped from a nearby spring. There were swimming pools as well as saunas and cold chambers. It was even possible to hire the services of a masseur at certain times of the day. Pupils were invited to enjoy the services of the Thermae in a conscious effort for hygiene and social mingling.

    Going to the thermal baths had rapidly become a habit for Isyd, though usually, he went there after having exercised to wash off the sweat and relax his sore muscles. He didn¡¯t have the money to rent a private bath, so he had to contend with the public pool. That was the reason why he showed up only later after sunset, sometimes as late ¡ª or early depending on the perspective ¡ª as the 2<sup>nd</sup> or 3<sup>rd</sup> Hour.

    He entered the building with its white columns of marble and mosaic tiles and quickly undressed in the cloakroom, making sure that there were no one around. He could overhear the noise of people already in the baths, but they were few and the bath was vast enough for them not to notice him as he entered. Isyd had estimated that the public pool could welcome 200 000 persons at once and there would still be room enough for everyone to feel at ease.

    As he was about to enter the showers, Isyd caught sight of his reflection. His hair, shoulder-length, was dark with a single lock white as snow that he put behind his ear. His clean-shaven face presented sharp features, almost bony, with a pronounced nose, high cheekbones and dark brown eyes. Isyd could have looked like any normal man of his age if it wasn¡¯t for his body. It was covered in past injuries: three, parallel, jagged scars ran on his left flank, a long scar followed the curve of his right thigh, his left chest and his back presented signs of burned tissues and below a faded cut on his stomach were the remnants of a gut wound eerily circular.

    And it was without mentioning his right arm, tightly and fully wrapped in white bandages from the very tip of his fingers to his right shoulder. This was the worst scar of them all for it was on this arm that Isyd carried the [Taint], the vileness of the Obcys.

    Thankfully, his right arm was sealed to prevent the [Taint] from killing him or spreading to others. This was the purpose of the bandages in the first place. They weren¡¯t ordinary bands of gauze but precious tissues that Isyd had turned into [Arcanes] by means of complex [Hexes] woven within the fabric. It explained the unusual characteristics of bandages such as always remaining dried even when he fully submerged himself in water, or remaining clean no matter the circumstances. After all these years, Isyd had gotten used to his affliction, but it was in those moments when he laid his eyes on his naked body that he was reminded of how thin of a line he was walking.

    A line between survival and death, with only a few pieces of cloth as a safeguard.

    As usual, Isyd felt his skin twitch under his bandages every time he pondered too much about it. He entered the shower for a quick rinse and to wash off the dirtiness of the day, before entering the bath properly.

    He let out a deep sigh of relief as he let himself sink deeper within the deep, therapeutic waters. This hit the spot every single time. He closed his eyes and let his mind wander off from painful thoughts of the Obcys and the War.

    Naeht, who had run away previously to make sure that no one was observing Isyd too closely, came back to his side. She smiled at seeing her friend so relaxed. She put herself in the waters next to him, pretending that she could also feel its effects. After long minutes of silence, she finally decided to ask a question she¡¯d been wondering after their little adventure of the night.

    ¡°So¡­ the Whitewater Staff¡­¡± she said, dreamily. ¡°Tell me, Isyd, did you really split a river in two with your Staff like Wolteh said you did?¡±

    Isyd, still eyes closed, smiled and remembered a time long ago, in another world.

    ¡°Well, I guess I can tell you a bit about it. Be warned, Naeht, the truth was in fact even crazier than Wolteh made it out to be¡­¡±

 9 - To Join a Ring

    Three days later, Isyd was seated in his corner of the Library, as per usual, and was losing hope that he would come up with anything. Naeht was floating next to him, a smirk on her lips at seeing him losing patience.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who was so confident you could fix the Staff?¡± she taunted him.

    Isyd gave her a scathing look. ¡°Well, obviously I was wrong! This stupid piece of wood is trickier than I first assumed!¡±

    In front of them laid the palcat in question, the Whitewater Staff. Its ochre colour appeared a bit faded with the light of the twilight sun coming through from the glass dome roof. The palcat looked as if it was actually composed of three distinct parts: a long, central piece with two smaller ones affixed at each extremity. It was only after a closer look that one noticed the [Spells] that had been carved on the surface, almost invisible with a naked eye. Hundreds of circles, lines and other geometrical shapes had been Meshed together to transform the simple wooden stick into a powerful [Arcane].

    The only problem was this [Arcane] was broken. Isyd would have begun to believe it was impossible to repair it if it weren¡¯t for the fact that he had already been done once.

    Isyd sighed and looked down at the scrap papers spread out in front of him. He had tried to redraw the [Hexes] of the palcat to better understand where the problem was. Unfortunately, he soon realized that even that was difficult since the carvings were so small and meticulous. It had rapidly turned into a guessing game more than anything.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you find anything in all those books you pulled out?¡± Naeht asked him.

    ¡°Not what I was looking for or expecting¡­ Surprisingly, there¡¯s very little information regarding the repair of [Arcanes]. They all assume that those who read the book already know the problem they¡¯re dealing with and just indicate the easiest way of fixing it. In our case, the problem is that I do not know what the problem even is.¡±

    He picked up his palcat in his ungloved hand and played with it distractedly. ¡°I ran a few tests already,¡± Isyd said, ¡°to try to find the source of the issue. The resswood is still Grace sensitive and I can sense the Grace flowing through it, so the material is not the problem. The problem is that the Grace seems to dissipate after rushing inside the Staff, which leads me to believe that there is an issue with either the Meshing as a whole or a specific [Spell]. There¡¯s a point of broken Balance somewhere that ends up sucking all the Grace and leaks it before we can do anything useful with it. I can¡¯t find that leak and there¡¯s nothing in those damn books that can help me!¡±

    Isyd had tried to decipher the [Spells] carvings in the hope to find where the Balance could have been breaking. With a bit of deduction and logic, he could make out most of the [Hexes] that were used but trying to understand the Meshing without a guide provided by the Artyst who drew it was maddening. It was the equivalent of looking at a complete painting and wondering which brush of paint had been the first to be put on the canvas.

    Suddenly, Isyd put his staff on a chair next to him below the table and opened several books on a random page to cover all his diagrams and drawings. A couple of seconds later, a familiar head stepped around a row of bookshelves and walked in his direction.

    ¡°So, it is true that you spend all your time in the Library¡­¡± the small woman drawled when she reached his table. Her short, blond hair appeared frazzled and her wide, blue eyes sparkled as usual.

    ¡°Grace, Senior Klara,¡± Isyd saluted her.

    ¡°I told you to drop the formalities already, Isyd Wybrany. You¡¯re making me feel awkward. You call me Klara and I call you Isyd, how does that sound?¡±

    ¡°It sounds good to me.¡±

    Isyd had met Klara Utro more than once in the weeks following his enrolment in the Academy. As his Senior, it was her moral duty to make sure that he was well acclimated with his life as a new Pupil. She had quickly learned that Isyd was more the solitary type and didn¡¯t like to be pampered.

    Isyd¡¯s eyes went to the person who stood just behind Klara, a young man of dark hair, large ears and a stern look.

    ¡°Isyd, I present you a friend of mine: Vasyl Amalb. Vasyl, this is Isyd Wybrany.¡±

    The man offered a hand. ¡°5<sup>th</sup> Year and 3<sup>rd</sup> Opening, Vasyl Amalb, nice to meet you.¡±

    ¡°1<sup>st</sup> Year and 1<sup>st</sup> Opening, Isyd Wybrany, nice to meet you too.¡± Isyd shook his hand.

    ¡°That¡¯s the Junior I was telling you about, Vasyl,¡± Klara said. ¡°You probably heard about him in your Ring as well, I guess.¡± She turned a mocking grin to Isyd. ¡°You won¡¯t believe this: there¡¯s talk around in all the Rings about a Junior, a talented 1<sup>st</sup> Year who caught the eye of Tutor Milwyk in the matter of a month and who, most importantly, is still Ringless!¡±

    Isyd shrugged. ¡°No idea who you¡¯re talking about.¡±

    ¡°Oh, really? And surely, you have no idea either of why I am here, hmm?¡±

    ¡°Nope. Please, do tell.¡±

    Klara drew a chair and slumped in it. ¡°Well, I just walked from a long talk with Tutor Milwyk. He wanted to talk to me about a certain Junior of mine, you see¡­¡±

    Isyd narrowed his eyes suspiciously. ¡°He wants you to convince me to join a Ring, doesn¡¯t he?¡±

    Klara flashed him a brilliant smile. ¡°He wants me to try my best shot at it!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested as I already told you when you first asked me.¡±

    ¡°I had asked you this a few days after you enrolled. Now that you got used to the Academy, I was hoping your answer would have changed¡­¡±

    ¡°It didn¡¯t.¡±

    Klara¡¯s grin grew more voracious. She was clearly enjoying this back-and-forth. She seemed to take the stubborn refusal of Isyd as a personal challenge and was ready to see who of the two would yield first. ¡°Is there a specific reason for this refusal?¡±

    ¡°I work better alone and I¡¯m not really interested in socializing.¡±

    ¡°Have you considered you could benefit from joining a Ring?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not worth the hassle, I think.¡±

    ¡°I think it is worth it! Think about it! Some Rings have Tutors assigned to them that can sponsor you and take you under their wings. This kind of thing is important if you have enrolled in the Academy to learn a specific skill. Some Rings like the Crimson Gold or the Faded Jade have renown even outside of these walls; they can open many doors for you in the future.¡±

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    ¡°And which Ring do you belong to, Klara?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m part of the Cerulean Feathers, a Ring that focuses on research for advanced applications of the Arts with Tutor Milwyk as a sponsor. If you¡¯re interested, I can drop a word for you¡­¡±

    ¡°If I decide to form a Ring with me as the sole member, would you leave me alone?¡±

    Klara chuckled. ¡°Nice try, but it¡¯s not as simple as that. There are a few requirements before forming your own Ring, the least of which is that it must have at least three active members. Plus, you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Is that an attempt to redraw the VonSee Diagram?¡± Vasyl interrupted.

    He was pointing at a drawing that stuck out from underneath an open book. Isyd considered briefly pretending ignorance but decided not to bother.

    ¡°An ¡®attempt¡¯ is the correct word,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I think I failed at the Fourth Repetition.¡±

    ¡°What are guys talking about?¡± Klara said.

    Vasyl picked the paper and laid it out in the open to have a better look. ¡°The VonSee Diagram consists of a repeating of specific [Hexes] that allow checking for the Grace resistivity of an [Arcane]. It is often used as a tool for troubleshooting when manipulating [Arcanes].¡±

    Klara threw a curious look at Isyd. ¡°Interesting... I don¡¯t remember it being part of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening cursus. Why were you working on that?¡±

    ¡°I had a problem with an [Arcane] and was trying to fix it,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°On your own?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re drawing is almost correct,¡± Vasyl interrupted, ¡°but there¡¯s indeed an issue with the Fourth Repetition. Your [SUBSTRACT] arcs have to fall on the vertexes of the hexagon inscribed within the [STORE] of the Third Repetition. Yours are off by a matter of a few degrees, I think.¡±

    Isyd frowned. ¡°It wasn¡¯t mentioned anywhere.¡±

    ¡°The Diagram follows the VonSee geometric series after all, the authors would assume it to be a forgone conclusion.¡±

    ¡°I see...¡±

    ¡°It is still a good work,¡± Vasyl reassured him. ¡°I¡¯m actually impressed! It took me two years before I could draw it properly, and I was already taking those classes. Are you actually interested in studying the [Arcanes] in the upcoming semesters?¡±

    ¡°Not particularly,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I was just looking for a way to repair my [Arcane].¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the kind of personal project that even a Pupil 4<sup>th</sup> Opening would be hesitant to start, let alone one of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening,¡± Klara said. ¡°Do you have this [Arcane] here with you? Vasyl may be able to help you.¡±

    Isyd turned an inquisitive look at the young man who shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m a member of the Hammer Ring,¡± he explained. ¡°We focus on [Arcanes] study and I work in the Atelier where we create, improve or repair [Arcanes].¡±

    Isyd hesitated for a matter of a few seconds, before reaching below the table and pulling out his palcat. The Pupils¡¯ eyes went wide as they recognized the wood it was made of.

    ¡°Good Grace! Resswood, really? Where did you get that from?¡±

    ¡°It was a gift my father received after helping a nobleman,¡± Isyd said. The lie came to him easily, he didn''t even bat an eye. ¡°I guess it was always broken because my father didn¡¯t know what to do with it and gave it to me before he died.¡±

    ¡°Can I?¡± Vasyl asked. Isyd handed him the weapon and he began observing the carvings.

    ¡°This is quite the expensive material just to play palcaty¡­¡± Klara drawled. ¡°Do you know what kind of [Arcane] it is?¡±

    ¡°Something to with the Water Essence from what I could gather,¡± Isyd said evasively. He also fished out the rest of the papers he spent the past days on; drawings and sketches trying to copy what he could discern on his staff.

    ¡°This is some impressive work,¡± Vasyl finally declared after two minutes of careful inspections. ¡°For one thing, this is not any palcat, but a powerful weapon. From a first glance, I can only say that it is at least of the 7<sup>th</sup> Opening, if not more given how intricate some of those Meshings are.¡±

    ¡°7<sup>th</sup>! Wow, that¡¯s the real deal!¡± Klara scoffed. Isyd said nothing but exchanged a careful look with Naeht who floated there, silently and observing.

    ¡°Yeah, and it¡¯s probably even higher than that,¡± Vasyl continued. ¡°I can feel that it is broken though: sink points and inefficiency faults somewhere in the Meshing that causes the Grace to dissipate. I wouldn¡¯t even know where to start to repair such a thing. And you won¡¯t either, Isyd Wybrany. It would demand a mastery of the [Arcanes] that cannot simply be self-taught in books.¡±

    ¡°It was arrogant to ever consider it, Isyd,¡± Klara added. ¡°[Arcanes] are too dangerous to be trifled with if you do not know what you¡¯re dealing with.¡±

    Isyd sighed and nodded. He had begun to suspect as much anyway. ¡°Still, I really want to repair it. It¡¯s an important object for me. A last gift¡­ if you know what I mean¡­¡±

    Vasyl scratched the beginning of stubble on his chin. ¡°Well, we are at the Academy after all so I¡¯m sure there¡¯s something we can do¡­ For one thing, Tutor Hidrss could certainly help.¡±

    This wasn¡¯t a teacher that Isyd had. ¡°What class is he teaching?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Tutor Hidrss is the Master of the Arcanic Arts and is in charge of the Atelier,¡± Klara said.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s the Atelier you guys have been mentioning¡­¡±

    This time, it was Vasyl who explained. ¡°The Atelier is the centre of the Arcanic Arts of the Academy. It¡¯s the isolated, old building you see behind the swimming pools across the Fields. It is in there that the best of work concerning the [Arcanes] is done in the Commonwealth. We study the [Arcanes] in-depth, trying to better understand and harness the power of [Spells] in their physical forms. For a certain cost, we can also offer our services: either to create an [Arcane] for a specific purpose or repair and improve already existing ones.¡±

    Isyd nodded. Now that he mentioned it, he did recall hearing about something similar back in Old Ziemia. ¡°Well, I guess that settles it, then. I¡¯ll have to drop by the Atelier and see what can be done for my palcat.¡±

    Klara and Vasyl exchanged a look. The woman suddenly burst into laughter and the man smiled at Isyd as if he¡¯d just said something really stupid.

    ¡°What?¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°You can certainly not enter the Atelier, Isyd,¡± Klara managed to say between two laughs. ¡°The Atelier is strictly forbidden to the Pupils of the 1<sup>st</sup> Year or of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening. The interdiction is personally enforced by Tutor Hidrss. Trust me, you do not want to cross Tutor Hidrss.¡±

    ¡°What? Surely, I can discuss with him and arrange something¡­¡±

    Klara¡¯s laughter redoubled and she almost fell off her chair. Vasyl gave him an apologetic smile.

    ¡°One does not ¡®discuss¡¯ with Tutor Hidrss, Isyd Wybrany,¡± he explained.

    ¡°Try to ¡®discuss¡¯ with Great Artyst Dmitri Ivanovitch Hidrss and it will be unfortunately the last thing you will do in this Academy,¡± Klara said as she was getting up and gathering her things. The bell for the 18<sup>th</sup> Hour had just chimed in. ¡°Anyway, we have to leave you, Isyd. I appreciated our talk and I hope you¡¯d consider what we spoke about¡­¡±

    ¡°Wait! So, you¡¯re telling me that I have to wait to be of the 2<sup>nd</sup> Opening before I can get my palcat fixed.¡±

    ¡°You could send a Senior in your place, I guess,¡± Vasyl said. ¡°Just know that Tutor Hidrss actively despises the 1<sup>st</sup> Year and the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening Pupils. It¡¯s your best interest not to get near the Atelier.¡±

    ¡°Bloody Grace! That¡¯s stupid!¡± Isyd growled, exasperated.

    Klara¡¯s eyes suddenly went wide with excitement and she leapt forward. ¡°Wait, I have an idea. There¡¯s actually one way for you to meet Tutor Hidrss even as a 1<sup>st</sup> Year!¡±

    ¡°Really? Please, do tell!¡±

    She gave him a cunning smile. ¡°Join the Ring of which he is the sponsor!¡±

    With those final she whirled on her heels and left with Vasyl at her side, leaving behind Naeht who was chuckling herself silly at the irony of it all and Isyd who was shaking his in dismayed disbelief.

 10 - What Makes an Artyst

    ¡°Today, as promised, is the day of the competition!¡± Tutor Milwyk announced to his class.

    The Pupils stood in a semi-circle on the rostrum of their classroom. Fifteen of them, all of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening and as it was his habit, Isyd held himself in retreat from the others, arms crossed, watching and waiting.

    ¡°The past weeks have been spent learning and practising the fundamentals of [Spells] and casting,¡± Tutor Milwyk continued. ¡°As I had announced, after a month¡¯s time, we would hold a friendly competition among ourselves to see and appreciate the progress that had been accomplished. Today is the day! The competition will consist of four parts. For the first test, you are asked to cast a [Spell] similar to those we have practised during the lectures. In my eyes, this is the only test that truly matters. What we measure today is your ability to cast a [Spell], the rest of the competition is just bonuses to make the day more interesting. Any questions? No one? Well, then I guess we can begin then!¡±

    Tutor Milwyk walked amidst his Pupils and began distributing a piece of paper folded in two. ¡°Written here is the object you will try to cast with an [Ice Spell],¡± the professor explained. ¡°Worry not, they are all everyday objects and should theoretically be easier to materialize than the [Ice Spear] we practised with.¡±

    Last in the line, Isyd finally received his paper and opened it to read his assignment. In cursive was written a single word: ¡°fork¡±. Isyd threw a glance at the other Pupils. Some were shifting on their feet nervously, others stood stiffly and sternly stared at their papers and Olav and his three friends that followed him everywhere appeared bored out of their minds. Isyd noticed distractedly that only Olav and another girl¡ª Jadwia, he thought her name was¡ª were actually using wands for their casting.

    ¡°Alright, let us begin!¡± Tutor Milwyk called. ¡°Remember the three important things when it comes to casting a [Spell]: Balance, Concentration and Visualization! Begin!¡±

    Isyd raised his hand. The only thing he had to watch for was not to cast the [Spell] too quickly. He would have a hard time explaining how someone of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening could have such a developed Idpulse. Still, the casting was trivial for such a simple [Spell] and his finger swiftly sketched the Commands in the air.

    ¡°[Ice],¡± he whispered. The [Spell] flickered and a small fork sculpted in clear ice fell in his hand.

    It took some Pupils several attempts but after three minutes, Tutor Milwyk called for the end.

    ¡°Alright! Those who have successfully cast their [Spell], please step forward.¡±

    Out of the fifteen, nine Pupils stepped forward and showed the result of their [Spell]. Similar to his fork, there was a knife, a spoon, a glass, a sphere, a frame, a ring, a die and finally a bottle. Only nine successes, which was less than Isyd expected for such an easy exercise.

    ¡°Young Letchen, Young Olav, Young Dymtr, Young Bohdan, Young Boshena, Young Lujan, Young Kewin, Young Jadwia and Young Isyd, I congratulate you on your progress! The rest of you do not get discouraged too soon, it is still early in the semester and you will have all the time to catch up. Please, come to me after the competition so that we can organize and see where your difficulties are. Shall we continue with the rest of the test?¡±

    ¡°Make it more difficult, Tutor,¡± Olav said. ¡°I¡¯d like to be at least challenged...¡±

    Letchen, Dymtr and Bohdan snickered, the girl Boshena rolled her eyes and Kewin Udachur threw an awkward glance in Isyd¡¯s direction.

    ¡°Well, challenged you shall be, Young Olav,¡± Tutor Milwyk said. ¡°The three next tests respectively focus on the Visualization, the Concentration and the Balance.¡± He extended his staff and swiftly cast an [Ice Spell]. In a cloud of mist appeared the sculpture of a cat about to pounce. The details were astounding, from the whiskers on the nose to the tensed muscles of the hindlegs. Isyd had to admit that it was impressive¡ª he wasn¡¯t even sure he could do something as detailed.

    ¡°It is hard to cast something into existence, even more so when it is something you are not familiar with. It demands a level of imagination and a flexibility of mind that normal people do not possess. How are you to cast a [Spell] you¡¯ve only seen in books? How are you to develop a [Hex] that has never been created before? This is why Visualization is so important for an Artyst and this is what we¡¯re going to test now. I ask you to recreate this [Ice Sculpture] as faithfully as possible. You are allowed to touch, feel, and observe it as closely as possible to help form the picture in your mind. Please, proceed.¡±

    The Pupils timidly approached the sculpture, reaching for it and grazing at the curves and edges. Isyd was the last to touch it. Surprisingly, he took off the glove of his right hand, revealing his bandaged fingers. He couldn¡¯t sense the cold of the ice, but it wasn¡¯t what he was looking for anyway. Isyd briefly closed his eyes as his hand touched the sculpture.

    There it was. The faint rhythm of the Grace. Isyd did not know how else to describe it. Few people knew that the Grace emitted a certain kind of noise, a thrumming that could not be perceived by normal hearing but that was always present. Some Artysta had theorized that it was a direct consequence of the First Law of the Arts, but it was a phenomenon difficult to study. Only a few people could perceive the Song of the Grace, usually Artysta of very high Openings with an extreme Grace sensitivity. Isyd had never studied any of it. He¡¯d learned about the Song of the Grace by trials and errors. He¡¯d learned to listen to what the Song told him, to interpret the different tones and rhythms. It turns out that Commands had a way of changing the Song ever so slightly depending on how they were arranged and the role they played in the overall [Spell]. By listening attentively, Isyd was able to deconstruct a [Spell] and analyse how it was made in terms of Balance, Concentration but also Visualization.

    It wasn¡¯t an exact science. Listening to the Song didn¡¯t help Isyd in repairing his palcat for instance. But for simpler construction such as this [Ice Spell], it was relatively straightforward.

    Isyd opened his eyes and stepped back, refitting his glove. The picture he had now in his mind was a close approximation to what Tutor Milwyk had Visualized before casting the [Spell]. His mouth felt the sweet taste of Grace being gathered and his fingers began sketching the [Ice Spell] in the air, similar to the one he used to materialize the fork of ice.

    Isyd heard gasps coming from the Pupils who stood on the side-line. The sculpture Isyd had made was exactly similar to the original.

    ¡°Impressive, Young Isyd!¡± Tutor Milwyk exclaimed. ¡°I did not expect anything less of you!¡±

    Isyd glanced around at what the others were doing. Kewin Udachur was also finished. He¡¯d materialize a cat who was three times smaller than the original. It did have the correct posture, but the front legs were oddly too long and the cat was missing a bit of its tail. Isyd could see that the young man was hesitating by trying to cast a new [Spell] and risking a worse result or simply accepting what he already had.

    ¡°Young Kewin, your result is more than acceptable. I¡¯m glad to see so much young talent!¡± Tutor Milwyk reassured him. ¡°Impressive work as well, Young Jadwia and Young Olav.¡±

    Their sculpture was also correct enough to pass, but there was always something slightly off. For the girl Jadwia, the cat was missing details when it comes to its face as if someone had forgotten to sculpt the eyes and nose and whiskers, while Olav¡¯s cat was oddly shaped in terms of proportion. In the end, the Pupils Dymtr and Letchen also managed to pass after two successive attempts.

    ¡°Young Boshena, Young Lucjan and Young Bohdan, please join your classmates in the back. Do not be discouraged by this, Visualization is one of the hardest skills you can learn as an Artyst and the Academy shall help you refine the skill. Now, let¡¯s move on to the second test: Concentration. An Artyst must learn the art of consistency. In your career, you may find yourself in tense situations demanding you to cast [Spells] after [Spells], again and again. Thus, you must make sure that you will not falter after the third or fourth attempt due to a lack of Concentration. For this task, I ask you to cast with an [Ice Spell] five items in quick succession and in this order: a sphere, a cube, a tetrahedron, a square pyramid and an octahedron.¡±

    ¡°A tetrahedron? What¡¯s that?¡± Letchen asked.

    ¡°A pyramid with a triangular base,¡± Boshena grumbled in the back. ¡°You would know if you attended the class of Geometry Fundamentals¡­¡±

    Letchen smirked and shrugged. ¡°What¡¯s the point? I passed the test and you didn¡¯t, right?¡±

    The young woman threw him a murderous look and crossed her arms.

    ¡°And an octahedron is two square pyramids connected by their base to form an eight-faced polyhedron.¡± Tutor Milwyk added. ¡°You have less than a minute to cast the five objects so you cannot take your sweet time to gather the Grace. Be efficient! We shall begin with Young Dymtr. Please proceed!¡±

    The young man had long, dark hair and brown eyes. Tutor Milwyk pulled out of his robe an hourglass and flipped it the moment Dymtr began casting. The first [Ice Spell] was successful, but he struggled on the second one and began panicking. The light at the tip of his finger began flickering in and out as he tried to outline the Commands and eventually, the whole [Spell] collapsed before he could cast it and the time ran out.

    ¡°It was a decent attempt, Young Dymtr. Do not be disheartened! It is well-known among us teachers that Concentration is the bane of the Pupils of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening. You will have all the time to improve. Young Letchen, please proceed.¡±

    Letchen¡¯s attempt played out similarly to Dymtr: a successful cast sphere, but the moment he tried to gather Grace to for the second [Ice Spell], his Concentration faltered. He was about to finalize it when his time ran out. Frustrated, the boy let out a curse and stepped back as Tutor Milwyk called for Olav Kazkan.

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    The young noble appeared as smug and confident as he always was. At the mark of Tutor Milwyk, he began casting the [Ice Spells]. Isyd observed him go through the different geometrical shapes one after the other, and for a moment he thought that Olav would succeed. However, after the tetrahedron, Isyd noticed his movements slowing down as he drew and the light at the tip of his wand grew dull; Olav¡¯s Concentration was weaning. By the end, his face was so tense you could hear his teeth grinding and his hand holding the wand was trembling under the effort. Olav Kazkan managed to cast the square pyramid in a final burst, but then his time ran out.

    ¡°That¡¯s a stupid test!¡± Olav spat. ¡°It proves nothing! I have no time to waste in silly games!¡±

    ¡°It is in those small games that one learns the foundations of the Arts,¡± Tutor Milwyk said calmly. ¡°Believe me, as you progress in your studies, you¡¯ll be grateful to have practised the basics again and again. It is only with a strong foundation that the greatest heights can be reached.¡±

    Well, doesn¡¯t that sound familiar¡­ Isyd threw a mocking grin in Naeht¡¯s direction who huffed and rolled her eyes at him.

    Olav Kazkan was about to give a scathing retort to his teacher but then appeared to regain control of himself. He shrugged, muttered something under his breath and join Letchen and Dymtr in the back.

    ¡°Young Kewin, please proceed!¡¯¡±

    The albino was startled at hearing his name, even though it was obvious he was to be the next. He did not appear confident in the least, standing there awkward and his eyes darting here and there. Therefore, Isyd was pleasantly surprised when he saw the boy perform the [Ice Spells], as well as Olav had done a minute ago. His Concentration had lapsed slightly when making the cube, but he¡¯d pushed on and recovered. When all believed he would succeed in the task, he began struggling at Concentrating on the last item, the octahedron. His [Spell] collapsed twice and he was about to try for a third time when his time ran out.

    Kewin Udachur let out a sigh of relief and a small smile as Tutor Milwyk complimented him. The boy appeared at least content with his attempt and proud he made it this far.

    ¡°He¡¯s really not bad!¡± Naeht drawled at Isyd¡¯s ear as she watched him move to the back of the class. ¡°For a beginner that is!¡±

    Isyd nodded but said nothing, his attention was ported to Jadwia as she was about to start her demonstration. The serious look on her face made it seems she was about to attend a trial for her life instead of a friendly competition between classmates. Tutor Milwyk gave her the signal, but to the surprise of everyone, Jadwia did not begin casting. Instead, she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. She remained there, wand raised and immobile for the first ten seconds of her timer. Then, suddenly, her eyes snapped back open and her wand flew in the air, drawing the [Ice Spells] one after the other, not missing a bit. The class watched with bated breath as the sphere, then the cube, the tetrahedron and the square pyramid and finally the octahedron materialized out of ice.

    ¡°Remarkable demonstration, Young Jadwia!¡± Tutor Milwyk exclaimed. ¡°This is proof of great talent and dedication! You should be proud.¡±

    The girl was breathing heavily as if she had just run out a flight of stairs, but her smile was wide and proud indeed.

    ¡°Young Isyd, at last, please proceed.¡±

    Everyone¡¯s eyes were on him, curious to see how the ¡°prodigy¡± of their class would fare.

    Isyd did not bother with any embellishment. He raised his hand and cast the [Ice Spells] one after the other, calmly, methodically, effortlessly. The five geometrical shapes materialized in front of him and he was done before his time had reached the halfway point.

    ¡°Impressive as always, Young Isyd. Your talent ceases not to amaze me! There we have it: Young Isyd and Young Jadwia have proved their mastery of Visualization and Concentration. The last task revolves around Balance. In this class, I demonstrated the [Ice Spear] and the Commands that compose it. But this was just one way of constructing an [Ice Spell]. The 3<sup>rd</sup> Law of the Arts teaches us that there are theoretically infinite ways to rearrange the Commands to achieve the same goal. Artysta must learn versatility and efficiency while exploring the different expressions of the Arts. Your last task, Young Jadwia and Young Isyd, is but a simple one: rearrange the [Ice Spear] as to need only one Fire Essence instead of the original three.¡±

    Jadwia paled next to Isyd. She rose a timid hand. ¡°Can we¡­ practice it before casting the [Spell]?¡±

    ¡°Definitely. In fact, I invite you to use the blackboard as much as you¡¯d like to get a feel of the Balance of your [Spell] before casting it for real.¡±

    She rushed to the blackboard, grab a piece of chalk in passing and began sketching the different Commands. Isyd watched her, curious. Her movements were fast, almost frantic as she drew circles after circles, triangles after triangles, but in the end, she always ended up back to the original [Ice Spell] Tutor Milwyk had thaught them.

    Feeling Isyd¡¯s gaze on her neck, Jadwia whirled in his direction.

    ¡°What? Are you waiting for me to give you the answer?¡± she snapped.

    ¡°No. I already found it,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I¡¯m just curious to see what you¡¯re gonna come up with.¡±

    Colour rose on Jadwia¡¯s cheeks and Isyd realized belatedly that his words had come out as condescending.

    ¡°Just you wait¡­¡± she growled and she went back to her drawings.

    Several minutes passed but in the end, she couldn¡¯t come up with another [Spell] that did not involve at least three Fire Essences. The Balance seemed to evade her and she was growing more frustrated as time passed.

    ¡°Time has passed, now it is time for your attempts, Young Jadwia, Young Isyd,¡± Tutor Milwyk finally called. ¡°Even if it is not successful, I want you to know that I am incredibly glad of the progress done. Now, please proceed, Young Jadwia.¡±

    Jadwia stepped forward and grimaced as she moved her wand and cast her [Spell].

    ¡°[Ice Spear]!¡±

    A perfect spear appeared in her hand, similar in all points to the one Tutor Milwyk had used as a demonstration.

    ¡°Your [Ice Spell] is near flawless, Young Jadwia, but I¡¯m afraid that you cast the same [Spell] as I did, with the three Fire Essences¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn''t come up with anything, Tutor¡­¡±

    ¡°No need to be sorry, Young Jadwia. Be proud of the progress you made so far and excited for the progress you will make in the future. Young Isyd, it is your turn to demonstrate.¡±

    Isyd gathered Grace and began casting. He started the same way he would have done for the original [Ice Spell]: a large circle for the [STORE] and an inscribed triangle point down for the Water Essence. He then added the single Fire Essence as another triangle point up inside of the Water Essence. Around each of the points of the Fire Essence, he added the [SUBSTRACT] arcs to remove the heat and create the ice. The ice was then [SHAPED] from the tips of the Fire Triangle to the centre where it was [RELEASED] out of the [STORE] circle by intersecting with the vertexes of the Water Triangle.

    ¡°[Ice Spear],¡± Isyd whispered. The [SPELL] flashed and the weapon appeared in front of him.

    The Pupils clapped and Tutor Milwyk gave him an appreciative nod. ¡°It seems to me you are Blessed by the Grace, Young Isyd Wybrany. The Balance of your [Spell] speaks of a good understanding of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Law. I can only congratulate you!¡±

    Jadwia raised a hand. ¡°Were there flaws in the Balance of my [Spell], Tutor?¡±

    ¡°No, there weren¡¯t. As I have said, it was near flawless.¡±

    ¡°So, doesn¡¯t that mean I also succeed in terms of Balance?¡±

    ¡°Studying a [Spell] by heart does not mean that you understood the Balance behind it,¡± Isyd intervened.

    Jadwia turned to face him. ¡°How do we know that you didn¡¯t your [Ice Spell] by heart as well?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°So you say, but you have no way of proving it. You may well have found that [Spell] in a book in the Library¡­ It still doesn¡¯t mean that you have a better understanding of the Balance than I.¡±

    ¡°I do understand it better.¡±

    Jadwia flushed red at Isyd¡¯s matter-of-fact tone. Before she could retort, however, Isyd extended his hand and began drawing a [Ice Spell], slow enough so that she could see the Commands as they appeared. The Balance was different to Tutor Milwyk¡¯s or the one he¡¯d just cast; the two Essence Triangles were now facing each other and intersecting at their point. The [Spell] flashed once and a spear of ice appeared. Isyd let it clatter on the ground as he was busy writing another [Ice Spell].

    Then another one.

    And another one again. Wordlessly, staring straight at Jadwia, Isyd cast five [Ice Spells] one after the other, each different from the previous one in terms of Balance.

    As the fifth [Ice Spear] fell on the floor, Isyd let down his arm. ¡°I could continue, but I think I proved my point,¡± he said.

    Silence had fallen on the classroom like a heavy veil.

    ¡°I¡­ You¡­¡± Jadwia began, wide-eyed.

    ¡°You wonder why you should bother to learn more than one form of a [Spell]?¡± Isyd interrupted her. ¡°Because it will make you a more complete Artyst, that is why. Artysta must learn to be versatile in their practice of the [Spells] instead of being restricted by them. The real world is so much harsher than the comfort of the classroom, but it is in the real world that you will have to practice the Arts.

    ¡°Know that in the Marshlands, the air is too damp to Concentrate enough of the Fire Essence to fuel three Fire Triangles, let alone one. What will you do then? Know that in the dry air of an ongoing wildfire, it is too hard to Concentrate any significant amount of the Water Essence. What will you do then? Know that in a life-or-death situation, the mind panics and often you will forget all the [Spells] you so carefully memorized. What will you do then?

    ¡°You will adapt! This is what you must learn to do. What makes an Artyst is so much more than the sums of the [Spells] they studied, the books they¡¯ve read. It is their ability to use the Arts to their full capacity, with ease and flexibility. Do not simply study a [Spell], but the logic behind its Balance.¡±

    Isyd let his voice fall. He had not meant to speak that much and so vehemently, but¡­ well, the attitude of his classmates reminded him too much of what he¡¯d seen at the beginning of the War. Artysta who were too proud and confident of their abilities, who refuse to learn or change their ways, have always been the first to die.

    Tutor Milwyk cleared his throat. ¡°Very well said, Young Isyd¡­ I would not have said it differently. Please, remember that you are all here in the Academy to learn and improve in the Arts. Do not see today as a dooming defeat, but rather the first markings of the path you must now follow. Young Isyd here is already well on his way and I hope that you will all try to emulate him as much as possible.¡±

    Several ¡°Yes, Tutor!¡± came up in a mumbled noise as the 11<sup>th</sup> Hour bell chimed in, dismissing the class.

    Isyd tried to meet Jadwia¡¯s eyes, but she kept them downcast, chastised and face flushed. A part of him wanted to apologise to her, but he feared coming off even ruder than he already did.

    In the end, Isyd decided to leave the classroom first, not meeting the eyes of his fellow classmates.

    Thus, Isyd failed to notice Olav¡¯s poisonous glare aimed in his direction.

 11 - A Stolen Knife

    On the afternoon of the following day, Isyd walked back to the Common Dorms after a stroll in the Fields. His class of History I had finished early and he had used the time to exercise. The weather was warming up, but Isyd still enjoyed walking clad in the warmth of his darkveil; it gave him a sense of comfort like few things could still do. His palcat remained in the inner folds of his cloak just in case he would come up with an idea on how to fix it or would want to study it further. More importantly, it was a matter of habit ¨C always having his weapon at arm¡¯s reach ¨C that he never lost even after breaking his staff.

    Despite the time of the day, his Dorms were abnormally agitated. Pupils stood around his bunks and after making his way through, Isyd soon found why. His bed had been defiled. His set of extra clothes laid there as a torn, damp mess on his sleeping pillow. His mattress had been eviscerated with a blade in such a way to spell out the word ¡°PEASANT¡±. Isyd assessed the damages, calm and expressionless. He turned to the other Pupils in the room, but they all avoided his gaze and pretended to go on their business.

    ¡°I know who did it,¡± a voice said behind him.

    Isyd turned and met Kewin Udachur.

    ¡°Olav Kazkan?¡± Isyd advanced.

    Kewin nodded. ¡°He didn¡¯t do it personally though. There were three other Pupils who aren¡¯t in our class with him. They¡¯re the ones who destroyed the bed. Olav was just standing on the doorstep, smiling and preventing anyone from entering the room while they were busy. I tried to get in, but¡­ well¡­¡±

    He rubbed at his chest as if it was bruised. Isyd was surprised. He could guess that Kewin had tried to intervene, which was more than many others would have dared when facing someone as dominant as Olav Kazkan.

    ¡°People just let him walk in here and didn¡¯t say a thing, I see¡­¡±

    Kewin gave him a sheepish look. ¡°He has as much right as any Pupil to walk in the Dorms, I guess. Plus, he is a Kazkan¡­¡±

    ¡°His family is that important?¡±

    ¡°Important?¡± Kewin looked at him as if he was daft. ¡°The Kazkan own the barony of Vilriver. His father is the baron and a big donator! How did you not know that?¡±

    ¡°I was never really interested in who war ruling Vilriver, to be honest. I¡¯m a simple guy.¡±

    ¡°Simple, huh? How did you get Olav Kazkan to hate you then?¡±

    Isyd shrugged. ¡°The noble little boy can¡¯t suffer someone who does not immediately bow his head in front of him. Also, I am better at him in the Arts.¡±

    ¡°Having a noble as an enemy is never a good thing¡­¡± Kewin sighed.

    Isyd ignored him and reached down for his damp clothes, searching for things he could salvage. Unfortunately, Olav and his cronies had been thorough: his tunic had been ripped along the mends and the fabric would never have been the same after such treatment anyway. Isyd didn¡¯t feel particularly sad for the mattress since he¡¯d never used it. He reached underneath the bunk for his chest. Unsurprisingly, the simplistic lock had been forced open. Except for his set of clothes, there had been nothing to destroy. Isyd had no money to his name and nothing precious except for his darkveil, his Whitewater Staff and¡­

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    ¡­and his knife!

    Panic hit Isyd like a hammer and he began scrambling frantically inside of his chest to find his knife. He couldn¡¯t find it.

    Olav had stolen his knife.

    From a painful corner of his memory came a voice. A woman¡¯s voice, tired and pleading.

    Promise me, Isyd¡­

    ¡°I promise¡­¡± Isyd whispered in a choked breath.

    Kewin approached where Isyd was crouching. ¡°Hmm¡­ Did you say something? I couldn¡¯t h¡ª¡±

    Kewin suddenly stumbled three steps back, eyes wide. Whatever he¡¯d seen written on Isyd¡¯s face in that instant awoke in him a profound sense of danger.

    The air had suddenly become drier and heavy. Isyd stood there in front of his broken chest, immobile and staring without seeing. The skin of his right arm twitched, a dark fog had covered his vision and his chest felt heavy. Heavy with the weight of a hundred pains. The weight of a single promise.

    ¡°Isyd,¡± Naeht whispered to his ear, worried, ¡°you must calm yourself.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m calm,¡± he let out through gritted teeth.

    ¡°You mustn¡¯t lose control. Not here, not now.¡±

    ¡°I know¡­¡± Isyd closed his eyes and breathed out deeply. His tensed shoulders slowly relaxed and the weight on his chest faded away in the background where it usually remained. ¡°I know.¡±

    There. He was in control of himself again. He turned to face Kewin. ¡°Do you know when they did this?¡±

    ¡°They came here after the History I class.¡±

    ¡°And do you know where Olav Kazkan sleeps?¡±

    Kewin narrowed his eyes, suspicious. ¡°What are you thinking of doing, Isyd Wybrany?¡±

    ¡°I do not know yet, but Kazkan stole something precious and I will have it back.¡±

    ¡°If you attack him one way or another, you will lose. He will just have to feign ignorance about what happened to your bed and people will believe him because he¡¯s a Kazkan. You will appear as the aggressor.¡±

    Isyd paused a moment, thinking. ¡°To be honest, I do not care about what he did today. All I want is to get back what he took from me. I¡¯m more than willing to let the rest slide.¡±

    ¡°Well, I heard that Kazkan often goes back home after the classes. He lives in his family mansion on the Inside, near the City Hall.¡±

    ¡°I guess breaking in is out of option, then¡­¡±

    ¡°B-Breaking in?¡± Kewin croaked.

    ¡°I¡¯m joking.¡± Half-joking, actually. ¡°It is still early in the afternoon. I bet the boy is drinking somewhere, so proud of what he did.¡±

    ¡°¡®Boy¡¯? Why do you call Olav Kazkan ¡®boy¡¯? You don¡¯t seem that much older than him.¡±

    That was true. In terms of physical appearance, Olav Kazkan and Isyd did not look that much different. Recently, as he got used to this life, Isyd tended to forget how old he actually was compared to all the Pupils who surrounded him.

    ¡°I call him ¡®boy¡¯ because he¡¯s acting like a jealous, stupid kid,¡± he lied. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll look for him. Thank you for your help, Kewin Udachur.¡±

    Kewin was about to say something when a voice came from the doorstep.

    ¡°Is the Pupil Isyd Wybrany here?¡± A teenage boy called out. ¡°Isyd Wybrany?¡±

    ¡°Here!¡± Isyd answered with a wave.

    ¡°Tutor Milwyk is summoning you,¡± the boy said. ¡°As soon as possible.¡±

    Isyd exchanged with Kewin.

    ¡°Bad timing¡­¡± Kewin said. ¡°I will let you know if Olav comes back around here.¡±

    Isyd nodded and thanked him. He sighed and then stepped out of the room after the errand boy.

 12 - An Exchange of Favours

    ¡°So¡­ what are you gonna do to the boy?¡± Naeht asked as they walked down the hallways of the Academy to Tutor Milwyk¡¯s office.

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking about it,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to create problems but at the same time, I don¡¯t want to be a pushover.¡±

    ¡°You know, I¡¯m starting to think that all of this would be easier if you hadn¡¯t lied about your Opening at the entrance exam. No one here would dare to attack you if they knew how powerful you actually were¡­¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be sure about that, Naeht. ¡°Power in any form attracts the worst kind of people. I do not need the attention, or at least not now. Plus, there is more than one reason why I decided to pretend I was of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening.¡±

    ¡°Oh, really? And what are those reasons?¡±

    ¡°Well, for one thing, Pupils of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Opening and higher have responsibilities regarding the Academy. They must act as guides and seniors to the Pupils of the 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> Opening and assist the Tutors when they require it. Just look at how often Klara Utro was on my back during the first week. That¡¯s the kind of job expected of her. Another thing is that the higher Opening you are, the more of a rarity you become. Let¡¯s say, for instance, I presented myself as of the 7<sup>th</sup> Opening and insisted to study at the Academy. Then, people would have demanded to know where I was from. Nobody can grow higher than the 3<sup>rd</sup> Opening without any kind of training in the Arts, so they would have asked who taught me, and which Academy I attended in the past. They would want to know about my parents, my childhood, my hometown and so on¡­ What would I do if they discover that Isyd Wybrany is supposed to be an orphan of thirteen years old instead of a young man of twenty-two? What would I do if they become too curious and begin asking questions about my right arm? Too much attention is not something that we want Naeht, trust me.¡±

    ¡°But the fact is that you are attracting attention. Since they can¡¯t see me, I can listen to their conversations and believe me; Pupils of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening know about you. You are not part of any Ring, you are good at all the classes, you spend all your free time alone and in the Library and you have grave burns on your right arm ¨C or so they say. Despite what you¡¯re saying, Isyd, you are not the perfect image of discretion you think you are!¡±

    Isyd smirked. ¡°Being entirely invisible wasn¡¯t the point either. I¡¯m walking a thin edge between perking the interest and gathering too much attention. Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t plan to remain of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening for too long. I just want for my ¡°growth¡± in the Academy to appear at least plausible.¡±

    ¡°Still, imagine what we could do to Olav Kazkan if we didn¡¯t have to pretend¡­¡± Naeht sighed dreamily.

    ¡°We must remember that he is just a child. He¡¯s a prick, but a child nonetheless. I¡¯m not gonna bully a kid.¡±

    ¡°But he is the bully! He started it, you didn¡¯t do anything. Also, he¡¯s not that much of a child either. He looks like a young man to me, probably seventeen or eighteen.¡±

    ¡°Still too young to make this remotely fair.¡±

    Silence fell back between them as they walked by busy hallways and made their way through the crowd of Pupils finishing their afternoon class.

    ¡°Yet, he stole your knife¡­¡± Naeht finally said, in a heavy tone.

    ¡°Yet he stole my knife.¡± Isyd nodded. ¡°He will pay for this. This, I assure you.¡±

    They had arrived in front of Tutor Milwyk¡¯s room. The errand boy waved them goodbye and rushed back to where he came from, leaving Isyd alone in front of the door of heavy dark oak. He knocked once and announced his name to the door. A heartbeat later it pivoted to let him through.

    It wasn¡¯t the first time Isyd stepped into that room, he had done so the day after the registration to present himself to the man who would become his main Tutor for the upcoming semester. The room had not changed one bit, and Isyd was sure of it the moment he walked the threshold. For a reason he hadn¡¯t identified yet, Tutor Milwyk¡¯s study had an abnormal concentration of Grace. It sang in Isyd¡¯s ear and perked up his senses. Naeht next to him appeared more vibrant and tangible and in certain turns of the light, one could almost believe she was physically there with him. Isyd breathed in the saturated air and enjoyed the energy it spread throughout his body.

    ¡°The day Graces you, Young Isyd! I was expecting you!¡± The voice of Tutor Milwyk came from the back of the study. The room was shaped like a T, with the door opening in the main corridor where bookshelves spread along the walls. Lightspheres burned like small suns from the chandeliers where they hang. Isyd followed the sound of the voice and turned left at the intersection. Behind an imposing desk sat Tutor Milwyk. From his back poured the sunlight while next to him, pieces of paper with scribbles on them floated in the air as if they¡¯d been pinned to an invisible blackboard. It was in fact not that far from the truth since Isyd could perceive the air had been [SHAPED] into a solid matter, but he couldn¡¯t see where was the [Spell] or the [Arcane] responsible for it. Along the notes, there were also words and sentences as well as beginnings of [Hexes]written in a glowing blue that floated to the rhythm of the airflow within the room.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    Isyd took all of this in and refrained from smiling too openly despite being internally amused. This kind of weird use of the Arts all around was exactly how he would have imagined the study room of a Great Artysta such as Tutor Milwyk. The professor pointed him to a chair, and Isyd sat down.

    ¡°I hope you had a good day, Young Isyd! I called you here to felicitate you personally for your win in yesterday¡¯s competition. I think I repeat myself by saying that I¡¯m impressed by your accomplishments.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Tutor Milwyk. It¡¯s all thanks to your guidance.¡±

    ¡°Allow me to doubt that. It¡¯s been decades since I last met someone as Blessed by the Grace as you seem to be. Sometimes I even doubt that you are truly of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening as the entrance exam made you to be.¡±

    Isyd simply smiled. ¡°This reassures me regarding the next semester then.¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes! By then we can hope that you would have reached the 2<sup>nd</sup> Opening at the very least! I will follow your rise in the Academy with great attention. This ties into the other reason why I called you here. You see, I want to make sure that your win of yesterday motivates you and the rest of your classmates even further and I think that the best way would be by a gift. Thus, I thought of granting you a personal favour of your choosing, as long as it is within my means as a Tutor.¡±

    Isyd¡¯s eyes widened. That¡¯s the first time he was hearing of such a thing for an unofficial competition such as yesterday was. A favour from a Tutor? This had great weight in the Academy¡­ By recency bias, his mind immediately went on Olav and Isyd considered snitching on him to Tutor Milwyk. He stopped himself right in time as Kewin¡¯s words came back to him. The Kazkan was an important family and even with the support of Tutor Milwyk, he wasn¡¯t sure he had anything to gain by making this fight public. So far, Olav¡¯s enmity was only known by the Pupils and it may be best to keep it that way for the long run.

    ¡°If you cannot come up with anything right now, I can give you time to think,¡± Tutor Milwyk reassured him.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I found something.¡±

    ¡°Let me hear, then, Young Isyd.¡±

    ¡°I want to access the Atelier.¡±

    There was a moment of silence in which Tutor Milwyk stared blankly at Isyd. Then, the old man began to laugh heartily. Isyd narrowed his eyes. That¡¯s the second time people laughed as he mentioned attending the Atelier, and he wasn¡¯t sure he liked it.

    ¡°Entering the Atelier is impossible as a Pupil of the 1<sup>st</sup> Year or Opening,¡± Tutor Milwyk said after his bout of laughter had passed.

    ¡°So, I was told. But I was hoping to find a way around the interdiction. I didn¡¯t think it would be beyond your means as a Tutor.¡±

    ¡°It may as well be. The Atelier is the domain of Tutor Hidrss. Here in the Academy, each Tutor tries to remain within the boundaries of their own field. I would be gravely overstepping my boundaries if I intervened in any way on the matters of the Atelier.¡±

    Isyd sighed. Well, he hadn¡¯t hoped for much anyway. Tutor Milwyk did not fail to notice his disappointment.

    ¡°I would advise you to think of another favour, but if it is really what you wish for¡­ well, I can surely try something. Keep in mind that I cannot promise you any success.¡±

    ¡°I would be extremely grateful for your help, Tutor!¡± Isyd heartily said.

    ¡°Aye, aye¡­ This favour you asked me is quite the daunting one, Young Isyd. Significantly more than I anticipated¡± ¨C he took off his half-moon glasses and began cleaning them ¨C ¡°and I have half a mind of asking a small favour in return, just to even the balance¡­¡±

    ¡°I have nothing against mutual help,¡± Isyd said. At the point where he was, Isyd was ready to do anything that would increase his chance to get into that blasted Atelier.

    Tutor Milwyk¡¯s gaze turned shrewd. ¡°Yesterday night, Young Jadwia came to ask for guidance regarding her failure at the Balance test. She is talented and motivated to improve, as I think you may already know. I suspect she will come back to me with more questions. I would like you to be the one answering them.¡±

    ¡°You want me to teach her?¡± Isyd asked, incredulous.

    ¡°Who better than a fellow Pupil to understand her difficulties and guide her? It is only because I have confidence in your skills that I can ask this of you, Young Isyd. If there are any questions you are unable or not confident enough to answer, send her back to me. Still, I think that you two have much to gain from a studying partnership¡­¡±

    A studying partnership, eh? Isyd was not fooled. This was only the latest attempt of Tutor Milwyk trying to make him socialize more and join a Ring. Isyd¡¯s first instinct was to refuse; he pretended to be of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening specifically because he wanted to avoid such responsibilities.

    But on the other hand¡­ Isyd recalled the young woman practising alone in the Fields late at the night. Tutor Milwyk was right: the girl was nothing but dedicated. After all, one would argue that she was supposed the real winner of the competition given Isyd¡¯s special circumstances. Inside the inner pocket of his darkveil, Isyd felt the weight of his palcat and he nodded.

    ¡°Alright. You try to make me enter the Atelier and in exchange, I help Jadwia.¡±

    Tutor Milwyk gave him a wide smile and his eyes sparkled. Taking his leave, Isyd could shake off the feeling that he just got played.

 13 - Illusion of Peace

    As Isyd was walking down the hallway, Kewin Udachur ran up to him, breathless.

    ¡°Is everything alright?¡± he asked.

    Isyd gave him a curious look.

    ¡°With Tutor Milwyk, I mean,¡± Kewin clarified.

    ¡°Oh, yeah! He just wanted to talk to me about the competition.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see. By the way, when you were gone, I found Olav and his friends who destroyed your bed. They had left the Academy for a while and they just come back.¡±

    ¡°Perfect. I need to talk to them.¡±

    Kewin shuffled on his feet, hesitant. ¡°Hmm¡­ I overheard them as they were talking. The two other boys were bragging that they possibly made a lot of money by selling¡­ that is¡­ I think they sold what they stole from you¡­¡±

    Isyd felt going cold inside. His precious knife. Her last gift. Stolen and sold.

    He noticed on the edge of his vision Naeht approaching him, a worried expression on her face. Isyd blinked, composing himself. He was in control. He had to be.

    ¡°Where are those boys right now?¡± he asked.

    ¡°In the Second Canteen, the last time I saw them.¡± Kewin paused. ¡°Are you gonna confront them?¡±

    Isyd did not answer immediately. He peered at the outside window, looking at how far down the sun was. ¡°I could go after them right now, but they don¡¯t have what I want anymore. It would be a loss of time. I¡¯d rather go after my stuff. Anyway, thanks for your help, Kewin Udachur. I won¡¯t bother you any longer with this.¡±

    A slow blush rose in Kewin¡¯s neck. ¡°It¡¯s not a bother at all! Actually, I was hoping I could stick around and see the end of this¡­ You know, like¡­ if it¡¯s not a problem for you, that is¡­¡±

    Isyd stared at this young man who was one head taller than him and of strong build but was as shy and blushed as often as a maiden. Something in Kewin Udachur reminded Isyd of a younger Wolteh.

    Isyd smiled. ¡°Sure! I¡¯m glad for your help. Let¡¯s go, then.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ How do we know where to go? They could have sold it anywhere.¡±

    ¡°Actually, they couldn¡¯t.¡± Isyd began walking, and Kewin followed next to him. They stole my knife, but my knife is not any kind of knife. Are you familiar with Inian Steel?¡±

    Kewin shook his head negatively.

    ¡°It¡¯s a special type of steel that is only used for weapons,¡± Isyd explained. ¡°It is difficult to make which makes it precious and rare. So rare in fact that Inian blades are followed with attention, in case of theft or counterfeiting. No ?respectable merchant would buy an Inian blade without making sure that it was acquired by legitimate means. Being caught with a stolen Inian blade, even if one is not the thief is a grave crime.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ so how did they manage to sell it, then?¡±

    Isyd shrugged. ¡°They just had to find any disreputable merchant who is willing to not look too closely and ask questions. There are a few of those in Vilriver if you know where to find them. I do remember of a few of them in the ?Outside.¡±

    They continued in silence until they had reached the gates of the Academy.

    Finally, Kewin had gathered enough courage to ask the questions that burned his lips. ¡°So, if those Inian blades are so hard to come by, how did you get one?¡±

    Isyd smirked. He had expected the question. ¡°It was a gift. The story behind it is quite long¡­ and for another time. Anyway, are you familiar with the Outside per chance?¡±

    Kewin was, which made their search easier. They split up, each one visiting pawnshops they were familiar with in the sketchier part of the city. It took them a little bit less than two hours, but in the end, they managed to find the?shop in question in a dark alleyway. Grime lined the walls of the houses that were crumbling and a strong smell of rotting meat floated in the air. The pawnshop was situated between a tavern and a dubious drugstore. Isyd entered first, tingling in passing the bell attached to the door.

    Inside, behind dirty glass panes were displayed the merchandise: swords and jewel-encrusted daggers, necklaces and rings, wooden and porcelain statues and even a few [Arcanes]. One look around was enough for Isyd to determine that his knife wasn¡¯t displayed. Not surprising given how valuable it was. He approached the counter, Kewin on his heels but more hesitant and skittish.

    The owner was a large man with long, oily dark hair, a crooked nose and missing his front teeth. He saw the two Pupils with their fresh uniforms approaching and gave them a dull look.

    ¡°How can I help ya?¡± the shop owner drawled.

    ¡°Did Pupils of the Academy come here to sell you something?¡± Isyd asked.

    ¡°Mayhap¡­ What is it to you?¡±

    ¡°They sold you something that they stole from me.¡±

    ¡°Did they now¡­¡±

    The man was definitively not interested in Isyd¡¯s story as demonstrated by his tired look.

    Isyd tried another angle. ¡°Could I have a look at what they sold you?¡±

    ¡°Are you interested in buying the knife?¡±

    Well, that confirmed that here was indeed the place where his knife was. ¡°It is precious to me,¡± Isyd said.

    The man growled, then reach for something underneath the counter. He pulled out a sheathed knife of sober design. The leather sheathe was undecorated and the hilt was dark and showed signs of usage. Quick like a snake, Isyd¡¯s arm whipped out in front of him and snatched the knife.

    ¡°Oi!¡± the shop owner cried out. ¡°Give it back, ya fiend!¡±

    Isyd ignored him. He held his knife with his right hand and with the left unsheathed it, revealing the blade underneath.

    ¡°Wow¡­¡± Kewin let out over Isyd¡¯s shoulder.

    This was the usual reaction when Inian steel was seen for the first time. The cross-guard was curved and thin from which the blade extended. It was double-edged and straight and shone with the light of polished steel. More importantly, what was truly mesmerizing about it was the waveforms that appeared on its surface. They spawned from the guard and spread to the tip in a random pattern. It was no paint or carving or decoration, but an inherent property of the metal that was used for the crafting of the blade.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    Isyd sheathed back his knife, reassured that it had not suffered any visible damage. He handed it back to the shop owner, who was watching him with furious eyes.

    ¡°This is my knife,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I assume you know the nature of it.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know no¡¯ing!¡± the pawnbroker denied. ¡°Ya wanna buy it or nah?¡±

    ¡°How much?¡±

    ¡°5 Golds.¡±

    Kewin started coughing as if he swallowed something the wrong way. Isyd did not even blink. He looked the man straight in the eyes.

    ¡°I am no fool. Try again.¡±

    ¡°4 Golds and 6 Silvers, I ain¡¯t going lower!¡±

    ¡°You bought this for no more than 2 Golds, I assume. And you went that high only because you knew this was Inian steel. I¡¯m the true owner of the knife and I¡¯ll have it back. While you¡¯re trying to swindle me, you should remember what would happen to your little shop if the authorities learned that you owned a stolen piece of Inian steel. Surely, the Merchant Guild would not be happy¡­¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t ya the one who tries to swindle me? I bought this sword and it ain¡¯t no business of I how it got here!! I ain¡¯t give it to ya free, even if ya say it¡¯s yours! So, either ya buy it or ya bugger off!¡±

    Isyd narrowed his eyes as the shop owner put his knife back under his counter. He sighed and took a long look around the place. When his eyes landed back on the counter, they were determined.

    ¡°How much did you pay them? And do not lie this time.¡±

    Something in Isyd¡¯s voice made the pawnbroker take a small step back. ¡°1 Gold, 8 Silvers, 3 Coppers and a Quarter.¡±

    Isyd made the calculation in his head. It may as well be a king¡¯s hoard given how penniless Isyd was.

    ¡°There¡¯s an interest rate, isn¡¯t there? How much is it?¡±

    ¡°An interest? What are ya¡ª¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a pawnshop. Of course, you gave them an interest. An increase on the loan within a certain time limit. So, what¡¯s the interest and what is the time limit?¡±

    ¡°1 Gold, 10 Silvers for the first week, 11 Silvers for the second week and 2 Golds for the third,¡± the man growled out reluctantly.

    Three weeks¡­ I¡¯m not even certain it will be enough, Isyd thought.

    He turned and made a sign to Kewin that they were leaving. They walked in silence until they were quite a few paces away from the shop. Isyd was lost in his thoughts, Kewin was looking at him with a curious expression.

    ¡°So¡­ what are we going to do now?¡± he finally asked as they made their way through the busy streets of the Outside toward the Academy.

    ¡°Somehow, I have to find the money to pay back the bail. 1 Gold and 10 Silvers.¡±

    ¡°I only have 7 Silvers to spare¡­¡±

    Isyd gave him a confused look. ¡°I¡¯m not going to take your money! Your kindness is appreciated but that would be too much. Plus, I¡¯m sure you need those Silvers for this semester.¡±

    Isyd saw in Kewin¡¯s eyes that it was true. The young man tried to change the subject. ¡°Isn¡¯t it weird that Olav wanted to sell your knife? He¡¯s a noble, I don¡¯t think he needs money.¡±

    ¡°Probably so that I can¡¯t accuse him of theft,¡± Isyd said. ¡°He probably didn¡¯t want to deal with proving that he was the owner of an Inian blade, but he recognized its value and didn¡¯t want to throw it out. I guess selling it was the best he could think of in such a short amount of time.¡±

    ¡°I see. Do you have an idea on how you are going to find the money?¡±

    ¡°No, but finding Olav Kazkan and his friends would be a good beginning. After they do have the money they earned from selling my knife.¡±

    ¡°If you attack them to take back the money, it would be considered as racketing¡­¡±

    Isyd said nothing.

    ¡°You are not really thinking of attacking them, are you¡­?¡±

    ¡°I hope it won¡¯t come to that.¡± Something in Kewin¡¯s voice had perked Isyd¡¯s attention. ¡°Is there a problem?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ well, I¡¯m not a fan of violence, in general¡­ I don¡¯t like fighting, that¡¯s all¡­¡±

    At that point, Isyd could not even say he was surprised. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if push comes to shove, I don¡¯t want you to get involved.¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay¡­¡±

    They had crossed the Emerald Bridge and the Western Gate was in sight.

    ¡°I remember now that one of Olav¡¯s friends was of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Opening¡­¡± Kewin said.

    ¡°So what?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ just to say that it may not be the best idea to confront them¡­¡±

    Isyd smirked. ¡°It should be okay. Don¡¯t worry about it, and most importantly, do not intervene in any way. I¡¯ll handle it.¡±

    Isyd was most preoccupied with finding the money to buy his knife. Even if he managed to gather all the coins Olav and his friends had earned from the sale, he would still be missing 1 Silver, 6 Coppers and 3 Quarters to pay for the interest. That was a fortune and he had no idea how to obtain it. Plus, he was pressed by the time; the last thing he wanted was to see the interest increase or the pawnbroker attract attention to the fact that he now owned an Inian blade. This Olav Kazkan was more trouble than Isyd had anticipated.

    Isyd had become careless. He¡¯d been fooled by the illusion of peace and safety granted by the Academy. Now he paid the heavy price.

    ¡°Er¡­ Isyd? I think I found the boy,¡± Naeht suddenly said in his ear.

    She was pointing straight ahead. Isyd followed her gaze up the Fields and indeed, there stood Olav Kazkan. He was hanging out with four of his friends, two of them matching the descriptions of Olav¡¯s accomplices according to Kewin.

    From the corner of his eye, Isyd saw Kewin grimacing when he also noticed Olav¡¯s presence. Isyd did not hesitate and ran up the incline. He stopped a few paces from the gathering.

    Olav ignored him for a few seconds, but when he saw that Isyd wasn¡¯t budging, he finally turned to him.

    ¡°What do you want, Peasant?¡± he said with a mocking smirk.

    ¡°You caused me more trouble than you are worth, Kazkan,¡± Isyd said calmly. ¡°You stole something from me.¡±

    ¡°Bold claim! A thief calls another a thief!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guilty of no theft. The same couldn¡¯t be said of you.¡±

    ¡°No theft? How do you explain the Inian knife in your possession, then? The day a peasant like you would own an Inian blade would be the day the Crowns would break apart!¡±

    His friends snickered around him. Isyd observed them in turn: three boys, two of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening, the last of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Opening and a girl of the 2<sup>nd</sup> Opening. The girl and another boy displayed signs of being part of a Ring, but Isyd didn¡¯t recognize them. He turned back to Olav.

    ¡°The knife was mine. By knowing about its existence, you all but confessed that you were responsible for the theft. What is that you want in exchange for returning my knife?¡±

    Olav scoffed. ¡°What a peasant like you could give me that I do not yet own? I feel like I¡¯m losing something precious by simply talking to you.¡±

    ¡°Is it not the noble way to expose your grievances to the individual? What does it say of the Kazkans if you¡¯d rather steal from me instead of facing me?¡±

    Steel sharpened Olav¡¯s gaze and he clenched his jaw. His friends got up and stood taller and closer. The mood had suddenly shifted from laughter to something more dangerous, more threatening.

    ¡°I have seen enough of you, Peasant,¡± Olav spat. ¡°You¡¯ll have nothing of me. Bugger off!¡±

    ¡°Give me back my knife, and we can both forget that anything has happened today.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear him? He told you to bugger off!¡± one of Olav¡¯s friends said. He had short blond hair and a wide mouth that turned into a crooked smile.

    Isyd didn¡¯t even glance at the man. His gaze was matching Olav¡¯s.

    The blond man took a step toward Isyd, menacing. Isyd turned to him. ¡°Do not touch me,¡± he let out in a low warning.

    The blond man scoffed at the threat. He extended his arm as to shove Isyd at the shoulder out of the way.

    He didn¡¯t get to touch Isyd.

    Swift like an eel, Isyd swept his arm away and kicked the man¡¯s feet under him, sending him to the ground, headfirst.

    It had happened in an instant and everyone gasped all around. The commotion had gathered a crowd.

    Isyd turned back to Olav, unfazed by the menacing gaze and the wands that were now pointed at him.

    ¡°Give me back my knife,¡± Isyd calmly repeated.

 14 - Honour Among Thieves

    All the Pupils in the vicinity had stopped to witness the sudden confrontation. The Fields was no stranger to Arts Duels, but they were usually premeditated and officially organized.

    ¡°This does not need to escalate further, Kazkan. Get me back my knife and I will simply walk away. I¡¯d accept the coins you gained from the sale or an item of similar value that I can exchange for my knife.¡±

    Colours rose in Olav¡¯s face. He wasn¡¯t used to being talked down to and certainly not by someone he judged as his inferior. Isyd could see the calculations going through Olav¡¯s mind. On one hand, Olav had witnessed first-hand Isyd¡¯s talents and he knew in his heart of hearts that he was outclassed in terms of skills. On the other hand, there were only Isyd and Kewin, both 1<sup>st</sup> Year and of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening, whereas he had four of his friends here, all of them of a higher Opening.

    This seems to decide Olav because he pulled out his wand and gave Isyd a predatory smile.

    ¡°I owe you nothing, Peasant. Leave before you get hurt for good.¡±

    The boy Isyd had sent to the ground had gotten back up and was fuming with anger. Without waiting for Olav¡¯s signals, he pointed his wand and began casting.

    ¡°[Fire Ball]!¡±

    Isyd leapt back to avoid the ball of flames as big as his head to hit him. The casting of the [Spell] had been fast, but Isyd had anticipated the attack by feeling the Grace being gathered and listening to its Song.

    Isyd turned to Kewin. ¡°Go away and do not interfere!¡± he said sharply.

    He had no time to check if the boy obeyed him; his attention was drawn to Olav¡¯s friends who were all casting [Spells]. The girl of 2<sup>nd</sup> Opening was the first to finish.

    ¡°[Hail]!¡± she shouted. From the air, a dozen balls of ice and snow materialized and flew in Isyd¡¯s direction. The aim was haphazardly and Isyd ducted to avoid the projectiles.

    Isyd needed a weapon. He felt the weight of his palcat in the folds of his darkveil, but he didn¡¯t want to risk breaking it further. He extended his right hand and without bothering to draw the [Commands], he cast an [Ice Spell].

    A long staff made out of ice, similar to his palcat but twice longer, appeared in his palm. Isyd rushed forward, heading for the girl first.

    Her eyes went wide as she saw him run in her direction and the new [Spell] she was casting fizzled out in a moment of instinctive panic. Isyd did not let this chance go amiss.

    He swung his ice staff and slammed it on her stretched hand holding the wand. The girl yelped in pain and dropped it. Isyd followed with a low blow aimed at her knees and swept her off her feet. His senses perked up at that instant and he jumped sideways to avoid another [Fire Ball] that had been thrown at his back. Nimble and swift, he dodged a second one and ran down his assailants. He slammed the butt of his staff upward in one guy¡¯s chin then spun on one heel and kick the second one hard in the guts. This sent the boy on his knees, moaning, and Isyd kicked his wand out of his reach.

    ¡°[Fire Ring]!¡±

    Isyd ducked just as flames hurled above his head. The [Spell] had come from his left. Isyd dashed at the boy of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Opening, dodged another attack by rolling on the ground and as he got back up, threw a handful of dirt in the boy¡¯s face. Momentarily blinded, he couldn¡¯t dodge the sweep of Isyd¡¯s staff that knocked him out. As he had done for the rest of them, Isyd reached down and disarmed him.

    Finally, he turned toward Olav who stared at him furiously. The young noble pointed his wand and shouted. ¡°[Burn]!¡±

    A jet of bright flames erupted from the tip of the wand. Isyd threw himself in extremis on the side, feeling the heat of the fire licking at his heels. He¡¯d been taken by surprise. Olav had not been required to cast any [Commands] which meant that his Idpulse with this [Spell] was high.

    Case in point, Olav aimed his wand and effortlessly called once more for the jet of flames. Out of options, Isyd extended his arm and gathered Grace.

    ¡°[Deflect]!¡±

    A wall of Wind burst in front of Isyd and deflected the flames in two the same way a stone split a stream. Isyd had tried not to use the Arts, but Olav did not leave in him any choice. With his finger, he began casting: the Grace ?was [STORED] then twice [SHAPED], first into Wind then into the [Spell] itself before finally being [RELEASED].

    ¡°[Pierce]!¡±

    With an accuracy honed by experience, Isyd aimed at the centre of Olav¡¯s jet of flames. A gust of wind, thin and precise like a needle, pierced through the fire and knocked the wand out of Olav¡¯s hand. It spiralled in the air before landing three paces behind him, leaving the young noble defenceless. He stared at his naked hand dumbfounded and trying to make sense of what had just happened.

    Isyd discarded his ice staff and slowly walk toward him. Olav took a hesitant step backwards, his face a mask of fear and uncertainty. His eyes suddenly moved on something behind him and Isyd spun just in time to see another [Fire Ball] racing towards him. Without thinking, Isyd cast one of his own and the two balls of flames exploded on contact, reducing the grass underneath into ashes. The boy of 3<sup>rd</sup> Opening had gotten back up on shaky legs and managed to launch the [Spell] even without his wand.

    ¡°[Wind Swipe],¡± Isyd called out and a gust of wind raced across the space between them and knocked his legs under him.

    Isyd turned back to face Olav. His eyes were dark and cold and sent chills down the boy¡¯s spine. ¡°Stay away, y-you peasant!¡± he shouted. ¡°D-don¡¯t you know who I am? I am Kazkan, damn you!¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have touched my knife, Kazkan. You demanded this.¡±

    Isyd was about to cast another [Spell] when his senses perked up. Suddenly, he lost his footing and felt the earth sink beneath him. Only his sharp reflexes allowed him to jump back before it swallowed him. The dirt had turned into quicksand out of nowhere, but Isyd had no time to think since a Wind attack was rushing on him from his left.

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    ¡°[Deflect]!¡±

    The wall of Wind clashed with the [Wind Spell] and both exploded in a resounding WHOOSH! Isyd extended his hand to launch an attack of his own, but the dirt at his feet seemed to come alive. Like a snake, wet clay wrapped around his legs, arms and chest, then turn solid a fraction of a second later. Isyd¡¯s body was entirely immobilized except for his head.

    From the crowd that had gathered, a young man stepped out. Tall and handsome, it was as if the Academy uniform had been designed with him in mind. His long, golden curls were warm and radiant under the afternoon sunshine, his blue eyes were cold and disdainful as he assessed the scene in front of him. On his chest, Isyd noticed the insignia that marked him as a Pupil of the 6<sup>th</sup> Opening, the gilded bracelet of flames that marked him as a member of the Crimson Gold, but most importantly Isyd saw the raised wand pointed in his direction.

    ¡°Despite what many Pupils may think, the Fields is not a lawless zone¡­¡± the young man said in a soothing voice. ¡°Do you not know that Duels are prohibited outside of the assigned time and area? Your attitudes are unseemly, Juniors¡­¡±

    Olav was the first to respond. ¡°Senior Lwieserce! You must understand, this Peasant attacked me and my friends for no reason. We were simply defending ourselves¡­¡±

    Lwieserce gave the boy a disdainful look. ¡°And what a job you did, Young Kazkan. How can you claim to be part of the Crimson Gold while being humiliated as such by one of your peers? How far have we fallen¡­¡±

    Olav Kazkan blushed bright red and lowered his head. ¡°He took us by surprise, Senior¡­¡±

    ¡°My attack was not unjustified,¡± Isyd said loud and clear to grab everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°I came to take back what was stolen from me. Olav Kazkan had admitted to the thief but¡ª¡±

    Suddenly, the clay snaring Isyd constricted further around his windpipe, choking him. He growled in pain, but now he couldn¡¯t even move his head anymore.

    ¡°I do not remember allowing you to speak, Young One¡­¡±

    Isyd met the cold gaze of Lwieserce. I see¡­ That¡¯s how you guys are playing it¡­

    With a bit of effort, Isyd managed to wiggle his fingers ever so slightly as to touch the solid stone that was immobilizing him. It would have been easy to break it off had it been natural clay, but it wasn¡¯t. Still, Isyd had listened to the Song of the Grace as the [Spell] was cast and he had now an intuitive understanding of how it worked.

    From the tip of his fingers, Isyd gathered Grace and infused the stone with Water Essence. There was a bit of resistance, followed by some tremors in the [Spell], then all at once, it resumed a liquid state of mud and collapsed all around him, freeing him. Murmurs of wonder and excitement spread in the crowd: a Pupil of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening had managed to break the [Spell] of a Pupil of the 6<sup>th</sup>.

    Isyd stepped out of the pond of mud, not breaking eye contact with Lwieserce.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t allow me to speak, but I will speak all the same. Olav Kazkan stole something precious for me and sold it away for a quick buck. I came here to hold him accountable!¡±

    ¡°Lies!¡± Olav shouted.

    ¡°You pretend innocence now? Has House Kazkan no shame?¡±

    ¡°Silence.¡±

    The voice of Lwieserce was soft but demanded obeyance. Silence fell on the crowd like a lead blanket.

    ¡°What is your name, Young One?¡±

    ¡°Isyd Wybrany, 1<sup>st</sup> Year and 1<sup>st</sup> Opening.¡±

    ¡°Your accusations are serious ones, Junior Wybrany. You are accusing one of your fellow Pupils of theft¡­ But have you discussed it with one of your Tutors? Your Senior Pupils, perhaps? Have you explored the recourses offered by the Academy for such situations? Do you even have proofs to advance? From my understanding, you simply rushed here and attacked Junior Kazkan, trying to make justice for yourself, by yourself. This is not the way, Junior Wybrany¡­ The Academy does not tolerate barbarians within their walls.¡±

    Isyd clenched his fists. ¡°Olav Kazkan left me no recourse but for this one. He arranged the theft in such a way that I felt pressured by time to see the matter resolved as soon as possible. This is why I didn¡¯t reach out for the Tutors¡¯ help immediately. Why didn¡¯t I ask for my Seniors¡¯ help? Because I am Ringless, a well-known fact by Kazkan. I suspect this to be the reason why he attacked me in the first place. What does it say of the Crimson Gold that their younger members are nothing more than bullies? Your disregard for my case shows me that his attitude is not that far removed from his Seniors¡­ Am I currently witnessing honour among thieves?¡±

    For a long minute, Lwieserce stared at this Young Pupil who had just insulted him in all the ways but directly. A corner of his lips finally turned upward and he shook his head.

    ¡°Your heart thrums with Vigour, Junior Wybrany,¡± he said in a low, amused voice. ¡°This a quality that we wish to cultivate here at the Academy. For this reason, I will let today¡¯s incident slide. I will not report on your actions or your¡­ questionable words. It would be unseemly of me to discipline a Pupil of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening¡­¡±

    He turned to face Olav and his friends that slowly gathered around him. His voice turned harsher. ¡°The spectacle is over! I will kindly ask for everyone to disperse. Junior Kazkan, you and I have words to share, I believe¡­¡±

    Olav Kazkan paled but nodded. The crowd scattered at the Lwieserce orders. Not everyone was as crazy as Isyd to confront someone of his rank.

    Isyd kept on staring at the retreating back of Lwieserce until he saw him go back inside the Academy. He heard Kewin approaching him. His eyes were wide and his breath came out quick.

    ¡°Good Grace! That was crazy! How in the world did you do that?¡±

    ¡°Do what?¡±

    ¡°You won in one versus five! There was one guy in the 3<sup>rd</sup> Opening in their midst! And you almost didn¡¯t use any [Spells]! You were so fast and strong! One second you were here, the second later you were there, hitting them and dodging them as if you knew what they were casting before they were even done! And then¡­ and then Senior Lwieserce came in and he snared you but then you broke his [Spell] and then¡­¡±

    Kewin seemed to calm himself as he spoke. Isyd had not moved from where he stood, eyes in the distance.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ er¡­ I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t help you¡­ It¡¯s just that¡­ well, it¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t want to, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°I asked you not to intervene, didn¡¯t I?¡± Isyd cut him. ¡°I knew what I was doing and you helped me by not jumping in. Please, do not apologize for anything, Kewin Udachur. In fact, I feel like I should be thanking quite a lot for the help you provided me today.¡±

    Kewin blushed. ¡°I-it was nothing! I¡¯m glad I could help in any way¡­¡±

    Silence stretched for a minute between the two of them before Kewin broke it again.

    ¡°We couldn¡¯t recover your knife¡­ All of this was for nothing in the end, wasn¡¯t it¡­?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t exactly say that¡­¡±

    Isyd pulled out of his darkveil two leather pouches that clanged with the coins they contained.

    Kewin¡¯s eyes went wide and he took a step back. ¡°No way¡­ How? When?¡±

    Isyd¡¯s smile was wicked. ¡°They should think better than simply leaving it hanging at their waist, after all¡­¡±

    ¡°Y-you stole from them!¡±

    ¡°I did. The same way they stole from me. Let today be a lesson for you, Kewin Udachur. There is no honour among thieves!¡±

 15 - Extracurricular Lessons

    A few days later, Isyd was seated in a corner of the upper floors of the Library. It was early in the morning and there were few Pupils present. This section of the Library was relatively out of the way for people to forget about it. ?This was perfectly what Isyd had been looking for after his usual spot had been overrun by curious onlookers.

    His confrontation with Olav Kazkan had made the rounds of the Academy; now everyone knew about the Pupil of 1<sup>st</sup> Opening who had defied his senior of 6<sup>th</sup> Opening. It wasn¡¯t a story of incredible bravery as it would lead you to believe. Instead, the rumours talked about a young pup too stupid to know better and the magnanimous Lwieserce who could have roasted him on the spot but instead decided to spare him out of pity.

    Still, people had come to take a look at him, just to make sure if what was being said was true. Isyd knew that he was the main person responsible for it, but he could have done without the attention at this moment. More specifically, he could have done without the onslaught of demands for him to join a Ring. Hours after hours, Pupils came to him to drop a word or two of the Ring they were part of. They handed him pamphlets or offered to buy him a drink. It had become so bad, that Isyd had not gone to any class yesterday.

    He had used this time to think. He still needed to find 1 Gold and 11 Silver by the end of this week to have back his knife, or 2 Gold by the next. From the coin pouches he stole, he only managed to gather 3 Silvers and 11 Coppers. It was nothing to sneeze at, even more so knowing that Isyd had started with not even a coin to his name. Still, it meant that he had to find a way to make money and quickly. Despite his initial reservation, Isyd was starting to consider Naeht¡¯s option of selling off his talents as an Artysta. He just had to make sure that the Academy could not trace it back to him¡­

    He told so to Naeht and she glowed with joy.

    ¡°Finally!¡±, she exclaimed. ¡°Maybe all those hours spent here reading about how to repair an [Arcane] will turn useful!¡±

    ¡°It is useful. I¡¯m studying this so I can repair my palcat!¡±

    ¡°And have you made any progress?¡±

    Isyd scratched his head. ¡°Well¡­ I can now draw the VonSee Diagram perfectly. Thanks to it, I have localized two fault points in the Meshing: one of the 7<sup>th</sup> and one of the 6<sup>th</sup> Opening. The faults of smaller Openings are harder to spot, but I suspect they are more numerous. I also have to figure out what to do after finding them¡­¡±

    ¡°Not a lot of progress then!¡±

    Isyd rolled his eyes and wrapped his darkveil more tightly around him. He had taken now for a habit to always have it on him, that and his palcat. After what had happened to his knife, he was no longer letting his guard down ?even within the walls of the Academy.

    He turned his head when his senses perked up on a now familiar presence approaching. Indeed, a few seconds later, the whiter-than-white head of Kewin Udachur peered around a row of bookshelves. His eyes widened when he saw Isyd standing near the window and he let out a sigh of relief. Kewin gestured for someone behind him and then walked closer. On his heels, appeared the figure of Jadwia.

    ¡°Grace,¡± Isyd saluted them as they approached.

    ¡°Grace!¡± Kewin said. ¡°You are not easy to find. I knew you were in the Library, but the Library is much bigger than it appears¡­¡±

    ¡°Grace,¡± Jadwia simply said, avoiding Isyd¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°You were looking for me?¡± Isyd asked.

    ¡°Actually, Jadwia was,¡± Kewin said. ¡°She was asking for you in the Dorms.¡±

    ¡°I was¡­ Hmm¡­ Tutor Milwyk said that I¡­ should come to you if I had any questions,¡± she said, still not meeting his gaze directly and colour rising in her cheeks. ¡°So that¡¯s why I¡¯m here.¡±

    From the little he had seen, Isyd had never imagined the girl to be so bashful; she seemed as shy as Kewin was. He then recalled how harsh his words had sounded after their class competition and he felt immediately bad. Her pride had been hurt, but she still had decided to swallow it to ask for his help. It said a lot about her character.

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll be happy to help,¡± Isyd said. He closed the books he had opened on the tables as to make room for them. ¡°Have a seat.¡±

    Jadwia did so while Kewin took a few, hesitant steps back. ¡°Well, I leave you guys to it, then¡­¡±

    ¡°You can join us as well. I can also answer your questions if you have any. See it as thanks for helping me with Olav¡¯s situation.¡±

    Kewin hesitated one second, then finally sat next to Jadwia.

    ¡°So, what did you want to talk about?¡± Isyd asked.

    Jadwia pulled from her satchel a pile of papers that she laid in front of him. ¡°I was practising Balance. After a few days, I managed to come up with a satisfying [Spell] Balance-wise, but when I tried it, the ice was of lesser quality. It wasn¡¯t that cold and quite brittle as well, compared to the [Ice Spell] of Tutor Milwyk¡­ or yours. So, I wanted to know if my Balance was wrong somehow, or if the issue is more regarding Concentration or Visualization.¡±

    Isyd glanced down at the sketches. One could clearly see the different iterations Jadwia had gone through before arriving at a correct [Ice Spell].

    ¡°Your Balance is sound,¡± Isyd finally said after careful examination. ¡°But it has issues and that¡¯s why your [Spell] is of lesser quality.¡±

    ¡°You just said it was sound. What are the problems then?¡±

    ¡°It is too cluttered. There are too many symmetries and repetitions.¡± With his finger, Isyd followed the [SUBSTRACT] arcs and the [RELEASE] lines.

    Jadwia frowned. ¡°Tutor Milwyk¡¯s [Spell] also has a lot of repetition. He¡¯s the one who told me that repetition and symmetries improved Balance!¡±

    ¡°It is not always a good thing. Too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing. It is the case for your [Spell].¡±

    Jadwia frowned only deepened as she stared at her [Spell]. Isyd grabbed a blank piece of paper and a pencil.

    ¡°Alright. Let me try to explain it differently then. The reason why Tutor Milwyk advocates for repetition is the same way why a stool has three legs instead of one; you could have a single-legged stool, but it will make it harder for anyone to sit on it and find a Balance. Add three more legs and it is immediately more stable, the Balance is now all but assured.

    ¡°However, you must also understand what¡¯s truly happening when you are casting a [Spell]. You are human and you will make mistakes, mistakes that will appear in your [Spell]. A slight offset between two points, two angles that are not entirely equal, two lines not precisely parallel¡­ it¡¯s just a natural thing, and there¡¯s nothing you can do about it. Now, by adding more repetitions, you are essentially multiplying the probabilities for those mistakes to appear. It can come a moment when there are so many of those mistakes that they make the [Spell] weaker even though the Balance is sound.¡±

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    ¡°Is that what¡¯s happening to her [Spell]? The presence of too many mistakes?¡± Kewin said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so no. I think of the problem as a mix of Concentration and Balance. You should imagine the Grace as a stream meant to run a watermill. The Commands are the canals that direct the flow, your [Spell] is the turning of the mill. The more canals there are, or in other words, the more Commands you use, the less flow ¨C or Grace ¨C is available to achieve your goal. This isn¡¯t a problem for Artysta of higher Openings, since they can increase their Concentration ¨C that is, the initial amount of Grace available for a [Spell] ¨C to factor in the losses incurred by high numbers of Commands. Does that make sense to you now?¡±

    Kewin slowly nodded, but Jadwia seemed to have a harder time. Her eyes observed the explicative drawings of Isyd as if they were written in a foreign alphabet.

    ¡°But¡­ Tutor Milwyk told me to add more repetitions¡­¡±

    ¡°As I explained to you, he says so in an attempt to teach from very early on the importance of redundancy. It is something that becomes crucial when working with [Hexes] of 4<sup>th</sup> Opening or higher. Going back to the explanation with the natural mistakes that occur when drawing a [Spell], if your [Spell] only needs of a single Fire Essence to function, but you drew six of them, you basically assured that your [Spell] would work in most cases, even if badly drawn.¡±

    ¡°But they never said that in the books¡­¡± Jadwia gave him an uncertain look as if she hesitated to believe his explanation.¡±

    Isyd sighed. ¡°It is mentioned briefly, but again it is only for [Spells] of the 4<sup>th</sup> Opening or higher. The [Ice Spell] is of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening, which is why they didn¡¯t bother mentioning it in the sections you read.¡±

    Jadwia¡¯s shoulders slumped and she shook her head, defeated. ¡°How was I to know¡­¡±

    ¡°With practice,¡± Isyd said. ¡°You would have come to this conclusion on your own with enough time and practice. You will see that a lot of the Arts are like that. Not everything is known, and not everything will be explained to you. The Arts are a complex, evolving field of research and everyone is on the path of learning, only at different points on it. Do not lose heart.¡±

    The girl nodded sombrely and reached for her papers. Isyd put his hand on them to stop her.

    ¡°There is another reason why your [Spell] is not suitable. It is its unnecessary complexity. In a time of crisis, a simple [Spell] is always preferred as it is easier to remember and draw it on the spot.¡±

    ¡°In a time of crisis¡­ What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°In a fight for instance. You don¡¯t have the luxury of recalling whether your [Spell] had eleven or twelve [SHAPE] Commands. If one is enough, then one you should cast, because it is faster and simpler.¡±

    Jadwia rose a single eyebrow. ¡°Fine, but I do not intend to join the army or participate in Duels. I don¡¯t plan on defying a Senior of the 6<sup>th</sup> Opening if this is what you fear¡­¡±

    Kewin next to her was nodding vehemently.

    ¡°I do not learn the Arts to go to war,¡± Jadwia continued.

    Isyd looked at them for a long second and gave them a sad smile. And yet the Obcys will arrive all the same and there will be war¡­ I am afraid none of us will have a chance in that matter¡­

    ¡°I just felt like mentioning in passing¡­¡± Isyd simply said.

    Jadwia gave him a curious look. ¡°I see¡­ if it¡¯s not too rude to ask, I was wondering how old you are Isyd Wybrany¡­¡±

    ¡°Twenty-one years old.¡±

    Kewin and Jadwia exchanged a surprised look.

    ¡°Why are you guys so surprised?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing! It¡¯s just that sometimes when you speak¡­ you sound so much older,¡± Kewin said with a shrug.

    Isyd smirked. ¡°It¡¯s not often I am told that and, truth be told, I often do feel much older than I look¡­ What about you two? How old are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sixteen,¡± Kewin said.

    ¡°Same,¡± Jadwia said.

    They were so young¡­ Too young for what they¡¯ll have to face.

    ¡°Anyway¡­ Let¡¯s go back to this,¡± Jadwia said. ¡°I have another question if you don¡¯t mind.¡±

    ¡°Go on.¡±

    ¡°Could I use the same Balance used for the [Ice Spell] but simply change the Essence and have a similar result, like making a [Fire Spear] or [Sand Spear]?¡±

    ¡°In theory, yes. In practice, no. There are few differences between each Essence you should take into account when casting and Visualizing your [Spell].¡±

    ¡°What differences?¡±

    ¡°The four Classical Essences are Water, Earth, Fire and Air, right? Well, you can divide them into two categories. Water and Earth are to be manipulated while Fire and Air are to be materialized.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I understand the difference¡­¡± Kewin said.

    ¡°It is easier to cast a [Water Spell] or [Earth Spell] when there is already a source of water or earth nearby to be manipulated. Similarly, it is easier to cast a [Fire Spell] or an [Air Spell] that do not require manipulating the element.¡±

    ¡°Why in the world did we never learn about it?¡± Jadwia exclaimed.

    Isyd shrugged. ¡°You would have eventually. Again, this kind of thing is only relevant after the 4<sup>th</sup> Opening.¡±

    ¡°But the [Ice Spell] we cast in class¡­,¡± Kewin said. ¡°We materialized it, didn¡¯t we?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I didn¡¯t say it was impossible to be done. But it would have been slightly easier to turn an already present source of water into ice and shape it into a spear. The [Ice Spell] was of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening, so the change would not be noticeable.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Jadwia suddenly asked, eyes unseeing.

    Isyd was momentarily confused. ¡°Why what?¡±

    ¡°Why is the Water and Earth Essence easier to manipulate? Why not the Fire or the Air?¡±

    ¡°Why indeed? And why is gravity an attractive force instead of a repealing one? I don¡¯t think there¡¯s much of a reason, except that it is how things happened to be. However, I must say that some Artysta find the distinction arbitrary. They argue that no one is actually ¡®materializing¡¯ Fire or Air. Instead, we simply manipulate the Fire Essence present in our body as heat or the Air Essence present all around us as the air we breathe in.¡±

    Silence welcomed his explanation. Jadwia and Kewin seemed to contemplate what they just had learned and they took their time to internalize it. Kewin was the first to break the silence.

    ¡°How¡­ how do you know so much?¡± he asked in an admirative tone.

    ¡°I read a lot,¡± Isyd shrugged. ¡°Anyway, there''s also another difference between the Essences and it is regarding the Artyst. Everyone has a certain affinity with one of the four Essences which make them stronger for certain [Spells], and weaker for others. And before you ask, no I do know why is it so. It¡¯s just is.¡±

    ¡°An affinity?¡± Jadwia repeated with awe. ¡°Do you know what is yours?¡±

    ¡°I am of the Waters,¡± Isyd said. ¡°It means that I have a strong affinity with the Water Essence, a weak affinity with the Fire Essence and a neutral affinity with Earth and Air. The logic goes as follows: the Ever-Burning Fire mirrors the Ever-Quenching Water, the Ever-Still Earth mirrors the Ever-Moving Air.¡±

    ¡°And let me guess,¡± Jadwia drawled, ¡°this becomes relevant only at a high Opening so there was no point for us to learn about it?¡±

    Isyd grinned. ¡°Exactly.¡±

    ¡°And how do we know which affinity we have?¡± Kewin asked.

    ¡°There are [Arcanes] that can help you figure that out. Not that different to the one for the entrance exam.¡±

    ¡°Grace, now I want to know!¡± Jadwia exclaimed. ¡°How do we get access to¡ª¡±

    She stopped mid-sentence as Isyd¡¯s head turned to the other side of the room. Before she could ask him what happened, she heard the sounds of quickly approaching footsteps. Klara Utro walked turned the corner of the Library, almost running, and raced in their direction. Her bright, blue eyes were solely focused on Isyd.

    ¡°How in the world did you do it?¡± she exclaimed, panting.

    Behind her soon came Vasyl Amalb in equal excitement. Isyd eyed the two of them, with wariness and confusion.

    ¡°Do what?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t play the innocent with me, Wybrany!¡± Klara said, bouncing up and down. ¡°It had never happened! How did you do it?¡±

    ¡°I swear I do not know what you are talking about.¡±

    Vasyl Amalb approached the table and presented him with a card. He was searching his face with curiosity and awe as if trying to find secrets in it.

    ¡°Tutor Hidrss is summoning you,¡± Vasyl said. ¡°Isyd Wybrany, you are to go to the Atelier immediately.¡±

 16 â€“ The Atelier

    Isyd followed Vasyl and Klara as they made their way down the hundred stairs from the Library to the outside of the Academy. Klara could barely contain her excitement as if she¡¯d be the one summoned there.

    ¡°You truly are full of surprises, Isyd,¡± she said. ¡°First I hear that you fought the youngest Kazkan and faced Senior Lwieserce and now this? How in the world did you manage to get an invitation from Tutor Hidrss?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not an invitation but rather a convocation,¡± Vasyl felt necessary to precise.

    ¡°It¡¯s the same thing! He can enter the Atelier as a 1  <sup>st</sup>   Year! How¡¯s that possible?¡±

    ¡°I came first in a competition organised by Tutor Milwyk and he asked me what I wished for recompense,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I asked to enter the Atelier.¡±

    ¡°And somehow, Tutor Hidrss has agreed. I¡¯m curious to know why¡­¡±

    They followed the dirt path across the Fields and soon saw the Atelier''s familiar structure. If it was true that he had never entered, Isyd was somewhat familiar with the place, or at least the outside of it. It¡¯s not like he had considered once or twice sneaking in the building or anything as nefarious as that¡­ he simply was curious to learn more about the Atelier, its different doors and windows, its various defensive Wards and the schedule of the Senior Pupils who walked in and out. You just never knew when this kind of knowledge could come in handy¡­

    The Atelier was a surprisingly large building, more than it initially appeared. It was mainly because it was built in the shadow of the Academy and was dwarfed by its high towers. Still, the Atelier was impressive in its own right. And it was noisy. It was the first thing you noticed as you approached; the sounds of a hundred people rushing about with the excitement of engineering and Artystic discoveries, the clamour of metal being stricken, of lumber being shaped. The Atelier was composed of a main building, the largest of them all, in the centre with smaller buildings that were organically attached to it decades after decades, as time had passed and expansion had been required. The outside walls were built out of faded bricks and the gambrel roof of the central building was entirely made out of clear glass. On its western flank, slightly offset from the heart of the activities rose a high chimney from which a black smog escaped.

    ¡°Oh, I wonder what they¡¯re doing over there!¡± Naeht pointed at a window where they could see a Lightsphere blinking erratically through the colours of the rainbow. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back, Isyd!

    She flew off and fazed through the walls. Isyd didn¡¯t ever try to stop her; he knew that nothing could restrain Naeht once her curiosity had been picked. They had approached the main entrance by then. The open doors were heavy and thick, similar to those of barns, and in front of them sat on a high stool a Pupil of the 2  <sup>nd</sup>   Opening with a ledger and a pen in his hands. He looked bored out of his mind but he straightened slightly when he saw them approaching.

    Both Klara and Vasyl pulled out of their pocket what looked like a keychain and flashed it for the doorman to see. He nodded to them and scribbled something on his ledger. Isyd walked forward at the same moment a tall woman did. She stepped in front of him without even glancing at him. Her pace was brusque, the pace of someone who was in a hurry but didn¡¯t want to be seen running. Taken by surprise by her sudden appearance, the doorman made the sound of a frightened rabbit and jumped out of her way to let her pass, not even verifying her keychain.

    Klara was throwing daggers at the woman¡¯s back, but Vasyl simply hunched Isyd forward.

    ¡°Hey, Albyn! This is Isyd Wybrany, the boy I was telling you about. I have to guide him through.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, sure,¡± Albyn said with his soft voice. ¡°Let me just write his name first¡­¡±

    ¡°You are  certainly  not doing this!¡±

    The voice had come from inside the Atelier. They turned to see that the woman had walked back and was now looking at poor Albyn with a furious gaze. She stood at least a head taller than everyone, with her straight black hair gathered in a tight ponytail and her vibrant, green eyes glaring intently. The young Pupil cowered under her, his eyes went wide in terror and his lower lips began to tremble.

    ¡°Are you blind or can you not see that this boy is of the 1  <sup>st</sup>   Opening? You cannot let anyone of the 1  <sup>st</sup>   Opening enter the Atelier, don¡¯t you know that, Albyn Gryerm?¡±

    ¡°B-but¡­ he s-said¡­ they said¡­¡±

    ¡°I do not care about what they said! Are the rules not clear enough or are you too daft to understand them?¡±

    ¡°I-I¡­ I didn¡¯t¡­¡±

    Vasyl stepped in front of the boy. ¡°I am the one who asked it of him, Tekla. Leave him alone.¡±

    ¡°You should know the rules by now, Vasyl Amalb. Tutor Hidrss would not take kindly to your disobedience.¡±

    ¡°Run ahead and tell him yourself if you want and see if we care,¡± Klara said. ¡°Tutor Hidrss is the one who asked us to bring Isyd here.¡±

    The woman¡¯s eyes flickered briefly to Isyd, and then she scuffed. ¡°As if! He made his orders quite clear at the beginning of the years!¡±

    Vasyl pulled out the convocation card and showed it to her. Klara was basically gloating as she saw the expression of changed from confident to surprise then to contrite. The woman threw back her shoulders and glared at them.

    ¡°You should have notified me of this.¡±

    ¡°No, we should not have! This is no business of yours, Tekla!¡± Klara said crossly.

    The woman ignored her and turned away. ¡°You keep him on a leash. If he breaks anything, it¡¯s on your heads!¡± she said as she walked away.

    ¡°Arrogant witch!¡± Klara spat under her breath.

    Vasyl let out a faint laugh and guided them inside, giving in passing a reassuring tap on Albyn¡¯s shoulders.

    ¡°Who was she?¡± Isyd asked. ¡°She wasn¡¯t wearing any insignia.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s because she¡¯s not a Pupil, not anymore at least,¡± Klara explained. ¡°Tekla Dumnchory graduated five years ago, but she came back to the Academy three years ago when the previous Master of the Arcanic Arts passed away. She wanted the job, but the Doyen chose Hidrss instead. He¡¯s far more talented than she is.¡±

    ¡°Hidrss ?¡± Isyd threw a surprised look in her direction. It was the first time he heard someone refer to a Tutor simply by their name.

    ¡°Hidrss is not really keen on the formalities when we are in the Atelier,¡± Vasyl said. ¡°He told us not to call him ¡®Tutor¡¯ as long as we are in the building. The only person that keeps calling him by his title is Tekla. Some people say she does it out of spite.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s just bitter she didn¡¯t get the job!¡± Klara explained with a mischievous grin. ¡°Now, she¡¯s in a weird place; no longer a Pupil, but not yet a Tutor. Hidrss employs her as his assistant but she hates it!¡±

    Isyd could believe it after his encounter with the woman. The main building of the Atelier housed three floors that opened on a central hall. It was the beating heart of the Atelier with Pupils of all Openings running around from one place to another, rushing up or down the stairs or simply seating against the supporting pillars and sketching. It was with this hall that all the subsections of the Atelier were connected. The glass roof provided plenty of light for the whole building, but Lightspheres were encrusted in the walls in some corners just in case.

    Klara pointed at something. ¡°You see that? That¡¯s Hidrss¡¯ office. That¡¯s where you are going!¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, we already took too long,¡± Vasyl said.

    They couldn¡¯t take a step further, however, than a Pupil of the 3<sup>rd</sup>   Opening came rushing to them breathlessly. His round face was covered in soot, but his shirt uniform was dripping wet as if he¡¯d just taken a dip in the River.

    ¡°Finally, you guys are back! We fixed the VonSee Diagram, but the Third Seals broke on us and the [Pumping Spell] went wild! Tekla was on our ass ten minutes ago and she was really pissed! Now, Lukacis and Olyvia are arguing. Lukacis wants to start from scratch and says the project is doomed!¡±

    Klara and Vasyl exchanged a panicked look and Klara let out a curse.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°We were gone only thirty minutes!¡± Vasyl growled. He turned to Isyd. ¡°Listen, I think we need to go right now¡­ You know where Hidrss¡¯ office is now. You think you could just go there on your own?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely! Thank you for coming with me in the first place.¡±

    Klara seemed about to say something else, but Vasyl grabbed her by the arm and they ran away after a final wave of goodbye.

    Isyd headed for the stairs. His senses were overwhelmed by everything that was going on all around him. For one thing, the Atelier was overflowing with Grace. Usually, it was calm and steady like a lake, but here the Grace was like the rapids of a river. It kept on changing form, being sucked in [Spells] and [Hexes] or being released in bursts. The last time Isyd experienced something was during the Battle of the Waving Plains, and it made him feel on edge.

    He dodged a flying paper plane that had a trail of smoke behind it, ducked as lighting sparked between the extremities of two [Arcanes] and stepped back just in time to not get caught by overly eager turbines that whipped up a strong Wind down the stairs. Everywhere he looked, there were [Arcanes] being worked on, the likes of which Isyd had never seen in his long life. Pupils of all origins and all Openings were experimenting with the Arts, trying to come up with [Arcanes] that could revolutionize the world. Out of all the studies of the Arts, the Arcanist Arts were the most recent and it could be truly felt by the excitation that gripped the Atelier; it was the joy and excitement of a child that had just learned to walk and was curious to explore the world.

    Isyd reached the empty office of Tutor Hidrss and he turned to look down at the hall and the bustling of activities on the lower floors. For the second time since he had come back, Isyd was struck by how much mankind had lost when the Obcys attacked. He was overwhelmed by the same feeling he had when he¡¯d first entered the Library. Sadness. All of this had been wiped up as mankind had to scramble for survival. Artysta of all backgrounds had been conscripted by the various governments as to fight the new threat and many had died in the early days of the War when nobody knew yet what the Obcys were and the effect of the [Taint] they brought along.

    While trying to fix his Whitewater Staff, Isyd had concluded that everything he believed he knew about [Arcanes] was nothing but a scrub compared to the expanse of knowledge for the Arcanist Arts. This is why he had come to the Academy. He still had much to learn.

    A Pupil of the 5  <sup>th</sup>   Opening walked up the flight of stairs and peered at the empty office of Tutor Hidrss.

    ¡°Do you know where Hidrss is per chance?¡± she asked Isyd.

    ¡°No. I¡¯m also waiting for him.¡±

    ¡°Shit¡­¡± the girl let out in a breath. ¡°I don¡¯t want to deal with Tekla¡­ He¡¯s surely downstairs, overwatching another project. I¡¯ll go looking for him!¡±

    She rushed back down at the same time Naeht fazed through a wall behind Isyd. She was breathless ¡ª as breathless as a ghost who didn¡¯t breathe could be ¡ª and her eyes sparkled with wild excitement.

    ¡°Isyd! They have some Blysht here!¡±

    Isyd¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Impossible! Blysht was only discovered ten years in the War!¡±

    ¡°I know but I swear this is it! It is real Blysht! Come and see!¡±

    She flew past him to the staircase and Isyd followed after her, mind racing.

    It can¡¯t be¡­ It¡¯s too soon!

    They went to the second floor and Naeht floated toward a meeting room. Like most rooms in the Atelier, it didn¡¯t have a door¡ª if it had one originally, it had been blown off its hinges at some point. Isyd spotted Tekla seated on one side of the round table and a man and a woman on the other side. On the table between them laid a handful of white crystals.

    Isyd felt his heart drop in his chest. This was Blysht! He would have recognized the unassuming stones everywhere. Blysht looked a lot like the crystals that were excavated from the salt mines, but they were far, far more precious. Simply put, the Blysht was probably singlehandedly responsible for the slim victory of humanity over the Obcys. The discovery of this crystal and its properties had changed the War irrevocably. However, Blysht was found only a decade into the War and had never been referenced anywhere before. Seeing some here in front of his eyes forced Isyd to reassess this idea. Having the Blysht so early, before the War even started, changed everything!

    Isyd wrapped himself in his darkveil and leaned on the railing, turning his back to the meeting room and casting his gaze on the hall. He pretended to be a simple Pupil waiting and watching, but in fact, his ears were strained to hear what was being discussed.

    ¡°¡­ were telling you,¡± the woman was saying, ¡°this has the potential to be something big. We¡¯ve never seen a material like this¡­ the Grace sensitivity¡ª¡±

    ¡°So far, you failed to demonstrate any of those properties you mentioned in your report, Mrs Ravasz,¡± Tekla rudely interrupted. ¡°Nothing to suggest that what you have witnessed was not just a result of an error in the experiment or a trick of the eye. It wouldn¡¯t be the first-time people believed to have seen a Grace phenomenon and claim it to be something else¡­¡±

    ¡°It is something else!¡± Mrs Ravasz exclaimed. ¡°It was iridescent!¡±

    ¡°I only see dull, salt crystal here, Mrs Ravasz.¡±

    ¡°Look, could we see Hidrss maybe?¡± the man finally interjected. ¡°He was interested in what we told him.¡±

    ¡° Tutor  Hidrss happens to be busy at this moment,¡± Tekla answered coldly as she rose from her seat. ¡°And I believe I gave enough of my time. Please, come back when you have solid evidence of your discoveries. Remember, however, that the Atelier can only financially support Arcanysta who are conducting productive research¡­¡±

    There were further protests from the couple, but Isyd pretended not to notice them as they passed behind him and headed downstairs. From the corner of his eyes, Isyd observed Tekla and the two Arcanysta behind her, but most importantly his gaze lingered on the hessian sack that contained the Blysht. Isyd¡¯s mind raced through several plans, but as he was about to follow after them, his senses perked up at a usual Concentration of Grace near him.

    He spun on his heels and rushed down the hallway. At the same time, the same girl he¡¯d seen earlier searching for Tutor Hidrss raced out of the room. Her eyes were wide in panic and her dark hair was frizzled.

    ¡°Tekla¡­ D-do you know where she is?¡± she asked him.

    ¡°She just went downstairs!¡±

    Isyd was about to do something else, but the woman raced past him. Following his instinct, Isyd stepped into the room she¡¯d just left. This was where the Grace Concentration was going wild. On a workbench, amidst scraps of timber, glass and metal, was a glowing [Arcane]. It was a simple disc of wood where copper wires had been twisted into the shapes of the Commands and welded together.

    Isyd could not figure out what the [Arcane] was supposed to do with just a glance, but the Song of Grace told him that something was wrong. The polished glass present had cracks all over them, the copper wire was glowing and, as he approached, he could feel the heat emanating in a wave. Despite that no one was using it, the [Arcane] remained activated for some reason and gather the surrounding Grace in ways it wasn¡¯t supposed to. The Song of Grace became strident in Isyd¡¯s mind and he knew he had to do something quickly.

    He stepped in and put his hand a few centimetres above the broken [Arcane] and he began casting. First, a [Cold Wind] to cool it down. It was ineffective; the copper was still heating up. Isyd thought of summoning a [Cold Water] to quench the [Arcane]. He was about to cast it when a heavily accented voice spoke behind him.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you.¡±

    Isyd had been so concentrated, that he hadn¡¯t noticed someone approaching behind him. Still, he didn¡¯t have the luxury of looking to see who had come.

    ¡°The [Arcane] has three Water Essence in its last levels, if you cast a [Water Spell] you take the risk of sending it into Resonance and worsen the situation.¡±

    With one glance, Isyd realized that the stranger was correct. In his hurry, he¡¯d failed to see it. ¡°What do we do then?¡± he asked through gritted teeth.

    ¡°The [Cold Wind] was a good initiative. Keep it there to gain time and at the same time, consider what to do to solve the problem. The heat is just a consequence of a spike in Grace Concentration. Basically, the Grace does not know where to go and what to do, so it flows through the copper wire and heats it up. What you need to do is¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­find somewhere to send the Grace! I must syphon it out of the [Arcane].¡±

    He closed his eyes and let the Idpulse take over his mind. The Commands flashed in his mind and he let his instinct dictates how to arrange them in [Spells]. He placed three sink points situated at the corners of an equilateral triangle overlapping the [Arcane]. [STORE], [SHAPE], [RELEASE], [STORE], [SHAPE], [RELEASE]. Immediately after he had cast his [Spell], Isyd could see the glow of the wire dwindle and he felt the Grace escape through the sink points he created in the form of sparks of flame.

    However, as he believed he¡¯d succeeded, Isyd felt the Grace suddenly spike in front of him. His [Spells] collapsed instantly. The central piece of copper of the [Arcane] exploded in a flash of yellow light. Suddenly blinded, Isyd had just the time to jump back, knowing that it was already too late.

    When the black spots in his eyes faded away and his vision recovered, Isyd was struck by what he saw. In front of him were a hundred droplets of molten copper about to rain on him. But they did not, they could not. The rain of molten metal was frozen in mid-air. Isyd turned back to see a young man standing at the entrance door, a single finger pointed in his direction.

    ¡°Had you let me finish, I would have told you to be careful with syphoning the Grace,¡± the young man said. ¡°The overheat had weakened the overall structure and if you draw it out too fast¡±¡ª he wiggled his finger at the molten copper¡ª ¡°this would happen.¡±

    The man snapped his finger and all the floating metal suddenly flew towards him. Like a liquid flowing in an invisible stream, the copper coalesced into a single wire and wrapped itself around the man¡¯s wrist. Cold and shiny, it was as if the copper had always been there.

    ¡°I was expecting you, Young Isyd. I am Dmitri Ivanovitch Hidrss, Master of the Arcanic Arts, but within the walls of the Atelier, I allow you to call me¡­ Hidrss.¡±

 17 - The Exception

    Isyd followed the Tutor in direction of his office. He was in his thoughts. On their way back, Hidrss met up with the young girl who¡¯d been looking for him. He admonished her for her carelessness to let such an [Arcane] go wild to such extent. He did so without raising his voice. From the way he spoke and stood, it would be hard to believe that he was actually a Tutor.

    Hidrss had long, sandy hair with uneven bangs that fell in front of his youthful face. He wore a dirty coat and worn-out trousers, far from the usual immaculate uniform of the other Tutors. More importantly, Hidrss appeared to be very young! He looked even younger than Isyd, barely out of his teenage years! Isyd did not remember having met anyone who had reached the title of Great Artyst before their forties. He was well aware that when it came to Artysta, judging someone''s age by their appearance was a risky endeavour. Even if not documented a lot, it was generally understood that people of very high Opening ¡ª high enough to be considered a Great Artyst at least ¡ª experienced a certain  agelessness; they seem to age physically at a slower pace than normal folk. This did not mean that they were immortal or that they rejuvenated, but it would not be surprising to meet a Great Artyst that looked fifty years old while being twice that age. After all, Isyd was proof enough of that. But even in that case, Isyd was aware that he was an exception. Artysta could usually reach that Opening after a lifetime dedicated to studying the Arts and by then, they had already reached their older years before the agelessness set in ¡ª like it was probably the case with Tutor Milwyk and many other Tutors.

    But despite his physical appearance, Isyd had no problem believing that Hidrss was a Great Artyst. Isyd¡¯s eyes flew once again to the young man¡¯s wrist where the copper wire was wrapped. Isyd could clearly remember the rain of molten metal about to fall on him and yet the man had frozen it mid-air. Wordlessly and at a distance. This was proof of a strong Idpulse, probably even stronger than his own. Moreover, Isyd was not deaf to the Song of the Grace and he could not help but hear how the Grace sang melodiously all around the young Tutor. In his past life, Isyd had heard the Grace sang that way only a few times and he knew what that meant: Dmitri Ivanovitch Hidrss was Blessed by the Grace.

    They entered the man¡¯s office and Isyd took a seat in front of the cluttered desk while Hidrss stood on the other side.

    ¡°I admit I was curious to meet you, Young Isyd,¡± the man said without meeting Isyd¡¯s gaze. ¡°Adryn speaks highly of you.¡±

    The man had a thick accent associated with the person coming from Matizna, the empire far in the east.

    ¡°Ardyn?¡±

    ¡°Milwyk. He says that the last time he¡¯d seen such a talented Pupil was when I first arrived in the Academy.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m flattered by Tutor Milwyk¡¯s compliments and I am glad that he agreed to my request.¡±

    ¡°Aye, your request¡­ you are lucky that I owed him for a service, else you wouldn¡¯t be here¡­¡±

    Hidrss turned his back to him. ¡°Well, now that you finished your visit, you can leave now, Young Isyd. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find your way out.¡±

    Isyd narrowed his eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask to enter the Atelier just for a touristic visit.¡±

    ¡°For what reason then? You are the 1  <sup>st</sup>   Year and of the 1  <sup>st</sup>   Opening, you have no business in my Atelier beyond visiting.¡±

    Isyd pulled out his Whitewater Staff out of his darkveil and laid it on the desk between them. He did not fail to notice Hidrss¡¯ eyes flashing with interest at the sight of his palcat.

    ¡°My palcat is an [Arcane] and it is broken,¡± Isyd declared. ¡°I came to the Atelier in hope of fixing it.¡±

    ¡°May I?¡± Hidrss extended a polite hand toward the staff and, with a nod of Isyd, seized it.

    ¡°Resswood, eh? And treated in addition to that¡­¡± Hidrss muttered more for himself than for Isyd. ¡°247 faults¡ª no, 254¡­ or maybe 261¡­hmm¡­ hard to say with precision due to the sink points¡­ still, definitely less than 361 I¡¯d wager¡­¡±

    He put back down the palcat, grabbed in its place a rubber ball and began fidgeting with it.

    ¡°This a strong [Arcane] and a precious one as well.¡±

    ¡°Can you fix it?¡± Isyd felt hope rise in his chest.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡°Perhaps. But do not expect me to do it here and now. The Atelier proposes a repairing service for [Arcane], you should go through that.¡±

    Isyd sighed. ¡°I do not have the money to afford the reparation. Not for an [Arcane] of this calibre. I assume it would be very expensive.¡±

    ¡°You assume correctly. Probably a handful of Golds.¡±

    Well, there was the confirmation. Totally out of his means. ¡°That¡¯s why I asked to enter the Atelier. I was hoping we could come to a sort of arrangement...¡±

    Hidrss started laughing, a genuine laugh that was once again a reminder of how young he was.

    ¡°An arrangement? I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll find any of it here, Young Isyd. My Atelier is no place for haggling... Plus, I have a hard time imagining what you could offer in exchange for me to repair such a complex [Arcane] and I am not one to do charity...¡±

    Isyd was starting to feel a bit annoyed but he did his best not to show it.

    ¡°Fine then. Grant me access to the Atelier so that I can repair it myself.¡±

    ¡°No. You are a 1  <sup>st</sup>   Year and of the 1  <sup>st</sup>   Opening. If it wasn¡¯t for Ardyn, you wouldn¡¯t be here in the first place. So there¡¯s no way I let you within those walls longer than necessary.¡±

    ¡°Can you not make an exception? I¡¯m sure Tutor Milwyk can vouch for me.¡±

    Again, Hidrss went out laughing. ¡°No exception will be accorded, Young Isyd. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to wait for the next semester. Now¡ª¡±

    ¡°Is it because I lack the skills? I have a hard time seeing what one semester of difference would make.¡±

    ¡°Lack of skills?¡± Hidrss turned his head one way, pondering. ¡°Yes and no. Do you know why I dislike the newbies?¡±

    ¡°No, but I¡¯m curious to know,¡± Isyd said scathingly.

    ¡°They have the arrogance of youth. I cannot fault them for it because they can¡¯t help it. Still, I cannot afford their carelessness in my Atelier. Artysta, and especially Arcanysta play with powerful forces. Summoning wildfires, whipping out storms, splitting mountains, all of those things are theoretically possible for anyone who has control over the Grace. There on, it is easy to see how someone can become drunk with this power. But Artysta is not God and this is something that they must internalize early on. No matter how grand they believe themselves to be, they are insignificant in face of the immensity of the Holy Grace. The arrogance must be replaced by humbleness.

    ¡°From my personal experience, it takes at least a year of formal education to humble the Artyst. After a few months in the Academy, they are forced to recognize that they knew in fact very little as they contemplate the bottomless pit of knowledge that is the study of the Arts. From there, it is a lifetime spent respecting and appreciating this lack of knowledge. There is always something else to learn and to discover, another problem or paradigm to crack open¡­ This is the difference one semester makes. You, Isyd Wybrany, are too young.¡±

    For the first time since they had begun discussing, Isyd met the young man¡¯s eyes. Pale, green eyes that appeared too old for the face they belonged to. They shone with the dull light of hard-earned wisdom, a light that Isyd knew well since it was the same he faced every time he saw his own reflection. This recognition was the thing that stopped Isyd from losing his temper. He was too young? Him? What kind of bullshit this was!

    ¡°You look awfully young as well, Tutor,¡± Isyd felt necessary to point out.

    ¡°I¡¯m the exception.¡±

    The young man grinned. The words had been said without a hint of arrogance. Hidrss had just stated a fact, the same way he would have confirmed that the sky was indeed blue. Before he could stop himself, Isyd felt a grin appear on his face.

    What an interesting fellow¡­

    Isyd rose from his seat and pocketed his palcat. ¡°Must I prove that I¡¯m an exception as well? The humbleness you speak of, I have already experienced it and it is why I am here in the Academy: I have realized how little I know and I am willing to learn.¡±

    ¡°I recognize that you have talent, Young Isyd. Ardyn mentioned it to me and I saw it with my own eyes when you tried to stop the [Arcane] from exploding. But I speak from experience when I say that talent is not everything¡­ Do not be in a hurry, Young Isyd, and I will meet again next semester.¡±

    ¡°I agree that talent is not everything, but I am afraid I cannot afford to wait. As you have said, the study of the Arts is a bottomless pit and a lifetime of study is not enough, so every second matters. I won¡¯t wait for a semester, Tutor Hidrss. I will come back with the proof that I am as much an exception as you are.¡±

 18 â€“ Leaving Vilriver

    Later that night, Isyd walked at a brisk pace toward the docks. He had meant to leave the Academy earlier but he¡¯d been detained longer than he¡¯d hoped by Tutor Milwyk. The old man had been inquiring about the incident between Isyd and his Senior Lwieserce. Nothing came out of the talk; the Tutors heard about it only days after it had happened and since it had been resolved amiably, there wasn¡¯t much for them to say or do. Still, Tutor Milwyk had been curious and worried for this Pupil whom he was starting to consider as his protegee.

    Naeht was following Isyd¡¯s pace with ease. Night had fallen, but the light of the Lightspheres and the bright full moon overhead made her appear more solid than she truly was. She turned her head to Isyd.

    ¡°Today was a lovely day, wasn¡¯t it? We got to see the Atelier!¡±

    ¡°I guess you could say that¡­¡± Isyd said. ¡°I had never seen anything like the Atelier back in Old Ziemia. Even the forgery of the Holy Bastion does not even come close. Now, it makes me wonder whether there are other places like this one elsewhere. Perhaps in the Capital? Or maybe even outside of the Commonwealth?¡±

    ¡°I suppose they were all destroyed when the Obcys attacked,¡± Naeht sighed. ¡°There were so many [Arcanes] there and so many Arcanysta! By the way, what do you think of Hidrss? I think he¡¯s an interesting fellow.¡±

    Isyd simply shrugged. ¡°He¡¯s interesting alright.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all you have to say? Well,  I  think that you and he are quite similar!¡±

    ¡°Are we now?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes! You are both young and talented Artysta! I think you two could become friends!¡±

    ¡°I have no need of friends, Naeht. Only to have my palcat repaired. Do not lose sight of our objective.¡±

    Isyd did not fail to notice the flash of sadness that briefly marred her beautiful features. He did not let it affect him; one of them had to be level-headed. He already lost his knife because of his carelessness and wasn¡¯t about to be lured again by the illusion of peace of the Academy. Because it was exactly that: an illusion, and a temporary one at that. Isyd alone knew what has waiting for them: the Obcys, the [Taint], the War, the collapse of mankind as they knew it¡­

    And he was the only one who could stop that. He ought not to forget it.

    ¡°Fine¡­¡± Naeht sighed, properly chastised. ¡°So, tell me what we¡¯re doing here instead of at the Library.¡±

    ¡°I have a plan.¡±

    She rolled her eyes at him. ¡°You  always  have a plan, but you never share them.¡±

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who told me that you preferred not knowing? You said you liked trying to guess and the surprise of seeing everything play out.¡±

    ¡°Now that you mention it, I may have said that at some point¡­¡± she paused, then gave him a shy smile. ¡°Could you give me at least a hint?¡±

    ¡°Well, I have one plan and if it succeeds, I could enter the Atelier, have my palcat repaired, resolve my money problem, recover my knife and prepare us for the War.¡±

    Naeht¡¯s eyebrows shoot up. ¡°Wow, all of it with a single plan? That¡¯s ambitious! You think it will work?¡±

    ¡°No idea. It depends on a few things I have no control over and one assumption I have made.¡±

    ¡°Assumption?¡±

    ¡°Regarding Hidrss,¡± Isyd clarified. ¡°My plan assumes that the man is truly passionate about the Arts. More than most Artysta are. This is why he is so wary and he has all this speech about Artysta¡¯s responsibilities. Most people take the Arts and the Holy Grace for granted. Hidrss does not. He is conscious of the destructive and creative power of the Arts, which is exceptional given how young he is. One way or another, Dmitri Ivanovitch Hidrss learned to be grateful...¡±

    Naeht watched Isyd with surprise. It wasn¡¯t often you saw him with such a genuine smile on his face.

    ¡°I will prove to the man that he and I are of the same mind,¡± Isyd continued. ¡°I¡¯ll show him that I¡¯m also passionate. I¡¯m also grateful.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ and that¡¯s why we¡¯re going to the Docks?¡±

    ¡°Yes. We need to grab a boat that leaves for Blotnia by tonight.¡±

    It was still relatively early in the night and the Docks were still bustling with activities on either side of the riverbank. Isyd had crossed to the Outside and was now following the embankment down to the piers where several sailing boats were anchored. Most of the crews had disembarked and enjoyed their evenings in the numerous bars present alongside the riverbanks. There they could find food and drinks, games and music, and even company for the night if they were willing. The initial village that would later become Vilriver had been built as a resting place for the merchants that sailed up the River and the city had never truly lost that purpose. Every day, hundreds of ships sailed in and out of the city, either heading south more inland or sailing down the River to the Wiel Ocean north from here. They delivered goods that sometimes came as far as the most eastern parts of Ziemia.

    ¡°Blotnia? I have never heard of it,¡± Naeht said. ¡°Where¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a city north of Vilriver. It¡¯s half a day of travel by boat, a full day by carriage and at least three days on foot. I hope to find a boat that departs now so that we can get there by tomorrow morning.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit late for that?¡±

    ¡°Well, I had not expected to be detained by Tutor Milwyk that long! We absolutely need to find a boat by dawn at the very least. Because of the Academy and my knife, I can¡¯t afford to lose much time.¡±

    Unfortunately, Naeht was correct in her assessment; it was difficult to find a boat that would sail the rapids of the River at night. Most ships that had planned on leaving Vilriver today had already departed two or three hours ago. Isyd went from one ship to another, from the small fishing boat to the more impressive merchant vessels, but he only faced negative responses. He had pulled down his darkveil to expose as much as possible his Academic uniform in hope of increasing his chances, but it was of little help. Unless Isyd offered a stupidly large amount of money as incentive, there were few reasons for the sailors to disrupt their sailing schedules for one young man.

    More than an hour later and Isyd was beginning to accept that he would not leave the city by the end of the night. His steps had led him up the river, away from the vibrant and luminous docks and toward the more disreputable parts of the Outside. The streets were grimier and stickier under his boots, the Lightspheres were either broken or provided a dull, dirty light barely enough to light up anything. The wooden planks of the piers had rotten at some parts and nobody had cared to replace them. The ships that were anchored in this part of the Vilriver, strategically positioned the farthest from the seat of the Merchant Guild, were notably known to be involved in shady business. At the point he was, Isyd could not have cared less.

    Case in point, he was currently speaking to a fisherman that clearly had too many drinks. The man¡¯s ship was closer to a wide canoe if it wasn¡¯t for the sail wrapped around the mast.

    ¡°¡­ where do you wanna go again, boy?¡± the man asked him once more with a drawl in his voice.

    Isyd sighed. ¡°Blotnia, north from here. You do not need to bring me all the way there, only half of the way would be more than enough. I have a bit of coin if you want¡­ 3 Coppers, how does that sound?¡±

    Isyd didn¡¯t want to part away with any of the money he owned, but he was getting desperate.

    ¡°I went there to Blotnia once with my wife. It was¡­ it was twelve years ago, I¡¯d say. Thirteen, perhaps¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you accept then?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, kid¡­ Why do you wanna leave in the middle of the night? You¡¯re in trouble? Are you a thief?¡±

    Isyd was about to answer when a commotion grabbed their attention. A few paces from where they stood, a group of three men were shouting. They were trailing after a lean figure that walked on the pier, but they weren¡¯t doing a good job at it given their drunken balance and their uncertain footing.

    ¡°Ya stop now, girl! Ya no¡¯ing but a cheat, that¡¯s what y¡¯are!¡±

    ¡°I did not cheat you in any way!¡± The figure had stopped and turned to face the drunken men. It was a young woman, tall and lean, clad in a bluish tunic, a purple skirt and a shawl thrown over her shoulders. Her skin was dark and her raven hair had been woven into a single braid that reached her waist.

    ¡°Isyd, she¡¯s an Antim!¡± Naeht exclaimed next to him.

    Isyd nodded. He would have recognized her kind anywhere, even with only her heavily accented speech. Their black hair, their bronze skin and their tall stature were distinctive features of the Antim people. Isyd turned back to the fisherman to resume their negotiation. Whatever was happening there was none of his business, he had already enough on his plate.

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    ¡°I¡¯m not a thief,¡± Isyd explained. ¡°It¡¯s just that I have urgent business to conduct. Would it help if I make it 4 Coppers? But we must part immedia¡ª¡±

    The voices behind him grew even louder. ¡°How did you win all the time then? You marked the cards, admit it, wench!¡±

    ¡°I just know how to count, you dimwit! Now, step out of my way and let me go!¡±

    ¡°You lie! I should have known better than playing with your kind. Everyone knows that you are all just thieves! You  dirtskins  can¡¯t be trusted!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Dan¡¯s right! Y¡¯all bunch of disgusting cheaters! Hey, where ya think ya going? Ya not going anywhere!¡±

    At the same time the man had tried to grab the girl, a firm grip fell on his arm. He turned to see Isyd standing there, eyes cold and dark. The drunk man had not even heard him approach. He tried to yank free, but Isyd¡¯s grip was immovable.

    ¡°How are ya? What ya want? Ya¡ª¡±

    Isyd moved in a blur. His armed whipped in front of him and his left knuckles smashed against the man¡¯s mouth. Blood spurted and the man yelped in pain. Isyd let him go and the man brought his hands to his broken nose.

    ¡°Ya pig! W-Why ya did that? I¡¯ll gut ya!¡±

    The man swung in Isyd¡¯s direction, but his arm only met the air as Isyd stepped just out of reach. Suddenly out of balance, Isyd simply kicked his feet under him and the man sprawled on the ground with a growl of pain. It had happened so fast, so out of the blue, that the man¡¯s companions were totally taken by surprise.

    Isyd used that to his advantage.

    He dashed toward the man supposedly named Dan and, before he could react, Isyd grabbed the man¡¯s mouth in his right hand. He pressed hard, muffling a cry of pain, and brought their head closer so to be sure he was heard.

    ¡°You have a dirty mouth,¡± Isyd coldly said. ¡°I¡¯ll help you clean it.¡±

    Isyd¡¯s hand moved to the man¡¯s tunic that he firmly seized. As if Dan weighed nothing, Isyd lifted the man and threw him above his shoulder. Dan flew through the air in a long shriek of fear before disappearing into the dark waters of the River. Isyd finally turned to face the last man. At the same time, however, a figure stepped out of the shadows and attacked the man by behind. The man had pulled out a knife, but he was quickly disarmed then thrown to the ground next to his companion.

    The newcomer threw back his cloak, revealing a face strikingly similar to the Antim woman. He turned to face the young woman.

    ¡°Agna, Uncle awaits us in the boat. This is why he asked you not to leave on your own,¡± the man said. ¡°It is dangerous.¡±

    The girl rolled her eyes. ¡°Do not be stupid, brother. There was no danger whatsoever! I could have taken care of them on my own. Plus, this is not important right now!¡±

    She pushed her brother aside and approached Isyd. She was as tall as he was but her face bore the roundness of a child; she could not be older than fifteen years, Isyd guessed.

    ¡°You! How is it that a foreigner as you know the  M¨¡t¨¡-Narta ?¡±

    ¡°Agna!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true! You just saw him fight, brother! He knows the Narta! I want to know how!¡±

    It was hard to say whether she was angry or excited. If Isyd didn¡¯t know better, he would have thought she was about to attack him. He took a step back, pressed his palms together and rose them above his head with a slight bow.

    ¡°The name is Isyd Wybrany. I had the chance to learn the way of your people and I am still learning.¡±

    The two youths stared at him for several seconds, eyes wide. Finally, the brother stepped forward and mimicked Isyd¡¯s gesture in greetings.

    ¡°The name is Prashan Sharma and I thank Isyd Wybrany for his aid.¡±

    The girl seemed to remember her manners and she followed suit. ¡°The name is Agna Sharma and I thank Isyd Wybrany for his help. Even though it would have been fined without him as well. Still, I am grateful.¡±

    ¡°You do not sound like someone who is grateful, Agna,¡± her brother reproached her.

    ¡°And why should you decide how a grateful person sounds like, brother?¡±

    ¡°I am not the one to decide, but I still have an idea of how it is properly done. Anyway, we must go now. Uncle is getting impatient.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Isyd intervened. ¡°You spoke of a boat a moment ago. Are you leaving Vilriver per chance?¡±

    ¡°We are,¡± Agna said. ¡°We are heading north. We¡¯re hoping to reach Blotnia by noon tomorrow if the Mother¡¯s willing.¡±

    Blotnia¡­ finally!

    ¡°I also wish to travel in that direction tonight. Would it be possible for me to do part of the journey with you?¡±

    The two siblings exchanged a glance, and then Agna spoke. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Isyd Wybrany, but it is not up to us to decide. My Uncle is the shipmaster and he has the final say on who climbs on his ship. Would you like to meet him and ask him personally?¡±

    Isyd nodded and they departed immediately towards the pier, without even glancing down at the men who still moaned in pain at their feet. For a moment, Isyd worried that their boat had been anchored on the other bank of the river, but thankfully, it wasn¡¯t the case; it took them only a handful of minutes to get there.

    On the stern stood a middle-aged man that watched them approach. His long black beard bore specks of white and his tanned skin presented wrinkles around the eyes. Agna affected a repentant face, but her Uncle was not fooled.

    ¡° Silly girl! Why don¡¯t you listen to your elders? Is it sand you have between your ears? ¡±

    He spoke a fast-paced language, full of inflexions and round words.

    ¡° I¡¯m sorry, Uncle. I just wanted to have a last bit of fun before we depart. ¡±

    ¡° Fiery girl¡­ ¡± The man¡¯s eyes noticed Isyd standing behind her. ¡° Who is it that you have with you? Did you create problems? ¡±

    ¡° This stranger helped Agna as she was being pestered by drunkards, Uncle, ¡± Prashan said. ¡° He asks us to take him down the River with us.¡±

    ¡° Uncle, he knows the M¨¡t¨¡-Narta! ¡± Agna added excitedly.

    Her Uncle gave her a confused look and it was then that Isyd decided to step in. He brought his palms together over his head and bowed.

    ¡° The name is Isyd Wybrany ,¡± he said without an ounce of hesitation in the words. ¡° As your nephew said, I am in need of your help. A humble man asks another man for a humble service. One Mother, One People.¡±

    Silence welcomed his declaration. They watched him with round eyes, and Agna¡¯s mouth even dropped open.

    The Uncle returned Isyd¡¯s salutation with one of his own. ¡° One Mother, One People¡­ It is not often that I hear Inlanders speaking our language. ¡±

    ¡° I recognized being one of the lucky few. ¡±

    The man was clearly taken aback, but a smile appeared on his wrinkled face and he cleared his throat. ¡°Aye, it is quite a pleasant surprise! The name is Chandra Sharma and I thank Isyd Wybrany for coming to the aid of my niece. As a show of my gratitude, I welcome him on my vessel as a brother of my people.¡±

    Agna whooped and Isyd let out a discrete sigh of relief. He could finally leave Vilriver. This part of his plan was finally over.

    Isyd jumped on the sturdy boat and as the siblings were rushing around to make sure that the vessel was ready to leave, Isyd approached their Uncle.

    ¡°Are we departing immediately, then? Will you not prefer waiting for the first light of dawn.¡±

    The man laughed. ¡°Why wait? No Antim fears the water, home of the Mother. Plus, there is plenty of light.¡± He pointed at the bright, full moon in the clear night sky. ¡°The Eye watches over us and under its watchful eye, we will travel. Have faith, brother.¡±

    Isyd nodded. If there was something he truly believed in, it was the sailing abilities of the Antim people.

    This was why Isyd was totally relaxed as the boat left the pier. As he was leaving Vilriver, Isyd let his mind wander on the next parts of his plan.

 19 â€“ The Path of the Mother

    Isyd watched Naeht skimming past the waves of the River. Under the moonlight, she reminded Isyd of the water spirits that played important roles in tales and legends. Naeht managed to keep pace with the boat as it sailed downstream. The two triangular sails of the vessels had been released and they had caught a relatively strong wind as soon as they had left Vilriver. The boat was made out of bright timber under the decaying painting. It had two masts, a low keel and a single long cabin toward the stern. Isyd was familiar with this kind of vessel; it was the preferred ship of the Antim as it could sail near the coastlines and most rivers. Plus, only a limited crew was needed to man the boat, like a small family for instance.

    Agna Sharma had just finished rushing around the boat and attending to her tasks. She had put down her oar as the ship had gained speed and she approached Isyd who sat against the mast, wrapped in his darkveil to protect himself from the cold wind of the night. She sat just in front of him, a glint in her dark eyes.

    ¡° I was surprised to hear you speak our language, ¡± she said. ¡° You speak it very well! ¡±

    ¡° I am still learning ,¡± Isyd said with a humble bow of his head.

    ¡°Let us speak in your language instead. It will serve me as practice.¡±

    ¡°As you wish.¡±

    She narrowed her eyes at his simple response. ¡°You are a mysterious man, Isyd Wybrany!¡±

    To that, Isyd simply smirked. ¡°I¡¯m a man of few words, it is all.¡±

    ¡°Few words and many talents then. Did I truly see an Inlander use the  M¨¡t¨¡-Narta ? Surely, my eyes played tricks on me¡­¡±

    ¡°There was no trick. In turn, I am surprised you recognized it so quickly.¡±

    ¡°It is because I am also learning the  Dance of the Mother ! How does an Inlander such as you know those things?¡±

    ¡°The fact that I am an Inlander should not matter, I think. ¡® It is a truth that the Mother is One. So is the blood, so is the water. Thus, it is a truth that all are her Sons and all are her Daughters. ¡±

    Agna turned to her brother who had approached in the meantime. ¡° He even knows the scripture! ¡±

    ¡° I heard him, ¡± Prashan said, but he was also flabbergasted. He remained standing, as if still wary of Isyd.

    ¡°I have lived among your people for several years,¡± Isyd explained to them. ¡°I have learned many things.¡±

    ¡°Have you ever gone to Shikhara, then?¡± Agna asked.

    ¡°I have, years ago. It is where I learned the  Path of the Mother  and your language.¡±

    Isyd hesitated to say too much about it. Technically speaking, he would live with the Antims only years from now. And he wasn¡¯t comfortable talking about his past, to begin with. He decided to move away from that subject.

    ¡°What about you? You are a long way away from Shikhara. Is it where you are going?¡±

    ¡°Ultimately, yes,¡± Agna said. ¡°We¡¯ve been gone for three years now. We sailed all the way around the Eastern Lands and traded in all the cities along the shores. Vilriver was the last city; now we sail back home.¡±

    Isyd wasn¡¯t surprised to hear that. The Antims were renowned sailors and traders.

    ¡°Are you an Artyst, Isyd Wybrany?¡± Prashan asked. ¡°I saw Artysta wearing the same clothes as you.¡±

    ¡°I am a Pupil of the Academy. Not an Artyst yet but studying to become one.¡±

    ¡°It is the first time I meet an Artyst...¡± Agna said. ¡°Our people do not have Artysta.¡±

    ¡°You do, but not in the same way as us,¡± Isyd said. ¡°Those who follow the  Path of the Mother  would be called Artysta by Inlanders.¡±

    Agna exchanged a confused look with her brother. ¡°But¡­ all the Antims follow the  M¨¡t¨¡-Marga ¡­ Does that mean that all the Antims are Artysta?¡±

    ¡°Yes, in some ways. What the Antims call  ¨¡sis , the Blessing, is what we call the Holy Grace. Now, the  Path of the Mother  teaches you among other things to control your  ¨¡sis , does it not? In that way, it is not different from how the Holy Arts are used by Artysta to control the Holy Grace.¡±

    ¡°I see. I never thought about it that way before¡­¡± Prashan said. He turned a keen eye on Isyd. ¡°You are wiser than you look, Isyd Wybrany.¡±

    ¡° I am still learning ,¡± Isyd said with a bow of his head.

    ¡°My aunt said I would start to learn more seriously about the  M¨¡t¨¡-Marga  once we get back,¡± Agna said excitedly. ¡°It means I will become an Artysta!¡±

    ¡°Not if you do not take it seriously,¡± her brother said. ¡°You never wanted to study the scriptures back home.¡±

    ¡°Because the scriptures are boring! This is better! Once we get back home, you will see me make the wind sings and waves dance!¡±

    ¡°How so? The  Path  is so much more than praying and hoping something happens, Agna!¡±

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    ¡°You speak like you know so much more than me! Just because Uncle taught you one thing or two doesn¡¯t mean you have walked the  Path , brother!  Skim the arrogance from your words like you skim the scum from your water! ¡±

    ¡°I  do  know more than you! I have  Danced  with the Elders!¡±

    ¡°The  M¨¡t¨¡-Narta  has a little to do with the  M¨¡t¨¡-Marga !¡±

    Isyd was content with watching the two siblings bickering, but there he decided to intervene.

    ¡°The  Dance of the  Mother   is a core principle of the  Path of the  Mother , as you will come to  see,  I am sure. It is by walking the  Path  that the first Antims have learned to  Dance. ¡±

    ¡°See, I told you so!¡± Prashan said. ¡°You better start studying rigorously once we¡¯re home.¡±

    ¡°The  Path  can be explored in many ways,¡± Isyd said. ¡°The scriptures are just one possibility. The understanding of the  Path  is the journey as well as it is the destination. Do not lose heart, Agna, you will find your own way to explore the  M¨¡t¨¡-Marga  as everything and everyone ultimately do .  Look at me, I am an Inlander and still, I have found my own understanding.¡±

    The young girl visibly brightened with renewed confidence at his words.

    ¡°Do you know what is the other name of the  M¨¡t¨¡-Marga ?¡± Isyd asked.

    ¡°Of course! We call it the  Samudra-Marga,  the  Path of the Sea !¡±

    ¡°Good. Then let me offer you something that may help you later on,¡± Isyd extended his left hand and with his right, pointed at the River. He gathered Grace and his fingers went through the quick motion of a [Hex]. ¡°¡® The Sea is the Mother. From her we all came, to her we shall return. Her blood is the Water. ¡¯¡±

    From the River, a strand of water jumped out and flew into Isyd¡¯s left palm. The water formed into a liquid sphere floating a few inches from his naked skin. Agna and Prashan both let out audible gasps; they were not used to seeing a display of the Arts so openly.

    ¡°¡® Water of the Sea, Water of the Earth, Water of the Air, Water of Sky, ¡¯¡± Isyd continued. ¡°¡® As it Dances between the Realms, I recognize it as One. ¡¯¡±

    Still with his right hand, he drew another [Spell] in the air, too quick for others to see. The [Spell] shone briefly as it activated; from the air, the moisture was sucked out and formed into another bubble that landed next to the previous one.

    Isyd then pointed at Agna sitting in front of him.

    ¡°¡® Daughter of the Mother. Of flesh, bones and blood, you are born of the Water. ¡¯¡±

    At Isyd¡¯s urging, the perspiration on Agna¡¯s brow flew from her skin and formed into a final sphere next to the two others. Isyd closed his eyes, letting the Idpulse overwhelm his mind. With his gloved hand, he cast a [Hex] of great complexity and took several minutes to completely draw it. Then, Isyd closed his left hand and when he opened it again, the three spheres of water had been replaced by a singular ball of ice.

    The sphere was crystal clear and shone with an inner light, like a defective Lightsphere. Three strange fluids ¡ª something with the consistency between a liquid and a vapour ¡ª were floating inside the ice. They were of three distinct hues of blue and swam around one another without mixing.

    Isyd held the strange ice sphere between his thumb and forefinger to let the siblings see it clearly. They were both mesmerized to the point of mutism. Isyd couldn¡¯t help but smile at their open wonder.

    ¡°There are many truths, but a single  Path ,¡± Isyd finally declared. ¡°Do you understand what I¡¯m trying to teach you?¡±

    ¡°I do¡­¡± Agna let out in a whisper.

    ¡°Good. Here, take it and keep it with you. Use it as a reminder when you start your own journey on the  Path of the Mother. ¡±

    Isyd handed her the gem and she took it with reverence as if it was the most precious thing she¡¯d ever touched.

    ¡°Thank you so much, Isyd Wybrany,¡± Agna said timidly. ¡°I will remember this, I promise.¡±

    Prashan finally sat next to his sister, portraying a humbled posture. ¡° I... I appreciate this new perspective on the M¨¡t¨¡-Marga. I thank you for it,   Isyd Wybrany .¡±

    As it was proper in those cases, Isyd clasped his hands together above his head and bowed succinctly.

    ¡° We are all still learning¡­ ¡±

 20 - Deep in the Mine

    Isyd kept discussing with Agna and Prashan well into the night. He shared his life at the Academy while the siblings talked about all the places they visited during their travel, the various food they¡¯ve tasted and all the things they would do once they were back home in Shikhara.

    When the siblings finally went to sleep in the cabin, Isyd remained up on the deck. He let his thoughts wander as he gazed at the distant shore. The events of the evening had brought back memories from long ago, from the time he lived in Shikhara. The homeland of the Antims was an archipelago far in the East that had remained independent for centuries before falling under the protectorate of Matizna, the Eastern Empire. This isolation had resulted in the Antims developing a culture apart from the rest of Ziemia such as their unique language, their strong naval tradition and the  M¨¡t¨¡-Marga , the philosophical pillar of their society.

    Unfortunately, even their geographical situation did not spare them from the Obcys¡¯ invasion and just like the rest of Ziemia, Shikhara had been destroyed.

    And Isyd had been at the forefront of it all.

    He turned to see Chandra Sharma approach in his direction.

    ¡°Brother of my people, you told me to warn you when we approached Blotnia,¡± the man said. ¡°We will reach it in an hour if the Mother¡¯s willing.¡±

    Isyd rose from his seat and bowed respectfully. ¡° I thank you for your aid, Chandra Sharman. I will be in your grace until the Great Sea dries. ¡±

    ¡° Aye, the pleasure is mine. It is the least I can do to help you, Wisest One! ¡±

    Isyd suddenly stiffened at this appellation, and he sharpened his gaze on the old man. Before he could say something, Chandra spoke first.

    ¡° Aye, no need to say anything, I understand! The children are too blind to see, but I have sailed long and far, Wisest One, and I have seen many things in my life... Having walked the Path of the Mother, one learns to see those who stand ahead ¡ª and even those who stand the  furthest  ahead... ¡±

    ¡° I see¡­ Well, I am still learning ,¡± Isyd said. ¡° When did you find out? ¡±

    ¡° I had my suspicion the moment you stepped into my ship, Wisest One. We Antims can feel this sort of thing. Your profound understanding of the Path in front of the children was the final proof. Do not worry, Wisest One, you are a Brother of my people, and your secret is safe with me. ¡±

    ¡° Then once again, I must thank you, Chandra Sharman. Now, as we approach Blotnia I must leave. ¡±

    The man looked around confused; he wasn¡¯t sure where Isyd wanted to go. There was no harbour or pier in this part of the River.

    Isyd saw his confusion. ¡°Just approach the ship near the shoreline,¡± he said. ¡°No need to get too close or to moor.¡±

    Chandra hurried to obey while Isyd gathered his stuff and stretched to relax his muscles. He watched the slow approach of the shore as the boat adjusted its course until there were only a dozen of meters left.

    ¡° There is just fine! ¡± Isyd shouted to Chandra.

    ¡° Are you certain, Wisest One? How will you get there? Do you intend to swim? ¡±

    Isyd gave the man a reassuring smile. He clasped his hands and bowed profoundly to him. He thanked the man and told him to pass on his goodbyes to his niece and nephew.

    Isyd turned to face the riverbank. The sails had been lowered and the ship was drifting only slowly downstream. Still, it was too large of a gap for anyone to make if not by swimming. But Isyd wasn¡¯t anyone. He closed his eyes briefly and opened himself to the Holy Grace. It flowed in him and along came the sensations of sweetness on his tongue and jitters in his belly. There was something energizing about the Grace infusing every fibre of his body. The feeling wasn¡¯t unsimilar from drinking fresh Water¡­

    Suddenly, Isyd opened his eyes and dashed forward. Before reaching the side of the deck, he leapt high and far. Under the amazed gaze of Chandra, Isyd sailed through the air effortlessly. Legs first to soften his landing, Isyd reached the gravel of the riverbank and stumbled a bit before regaining his footing. Naeht, that had been watching him excitedly, whopped next to him and raised her fist. Isyd turned one last time in the direction of the boat that was already sailing away and waved at Chandra. He then turned to Naeht at his side and pointed at the forest that stretched behind them.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±

    Isyd made his way through the shrubs and bushes of the forest but did not walk far enough to lose sight of the River. Since the day has not risen yet, he summoned a rapid Lightsphere to light his way. Soon, Isyd whipped up a good pace, akin to a light run. This was made easier by his darkveil which protected him from branches and the undergrowth snagging at him and slowing him down. Isyd enjoyed the exertion. The War had habituated him to an intense lifestyle in the wilderness, far from what life as a Pupil at the Academy could offer.

    ¡°So... what are we doing here in the middle of nowhere?¡± Naeht said as she flew effortlessly next to him.

    Isyd slowed down his pace so he could answer her but he kept his eyes on the ground. ¡°It is in the middle of nowhere that we will find Blysht.¡±

    ¡°Out here? On the ground?¡±

    ¡°Obviously not! Blysht doesn¡¯t grow on plants, it has to be mined. And if my memories are correct, it is near here that used to be a salt mine. Here, I found it!¡±

    He brought the Lightsphere closer and with his foot, pointed at something that protruded from the ground. It was two rails, rusty and overgrown by vegetation, that extended toward the River on one hand and more deeply within the forest on the other. It was easy to miss if one did not pay attention.

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    ¡°As soon as the salt was mined out it was sent out on those rails, put on boats and shipped to Blotnia. That city was pretty much built out of the salt trade. Now, the mine has been abandoned for a few years, I reckon¡±

    ¡°And it is in this mine that we will find the Blysht...¡±

    ¡°Yeah, so let¡¯s hurry.¡±

    They followed the tracks away from the shore. Where the rails remained, the path had been cleared out of the trees and stones and levelled as to allow for better transportation and the forest had still not healed. In a matter of minutes, Isyd emerged from the trees to a rugged cliffside. He knew immediately that they had arrived. Isyd raised his Lightsphere to have a better look: in front of them, the very rocks of the cliff had been ripped open and reshaped into an arch. It was not a natural occurrence; such a thing could only have been done with the Arts.

    Unfortunately, parts of the arch had collapsed and the rubbles blocked the entrance to the main cave. Isyd suspected that it had been intentional after the mining operation had been discontinued. He wasn¡¯t that disheartened by it since he expected and began searching for another way in. Hundreds of meters from here, he found the remaining of wooden buildings and just behind them was another entrance. This way was far narrower than the main door and it slopped down somewhat abruptly. Isyd did not hesitate and walked into the mine.

    The way eventually led him to a larger cavern. It was where the main entrance was supposed to open on. Gigantic pillars of stone supported the roof of the cavern alongside thick beams of wood. Isyd guessed that he stood in the main room as demonstrated by the presence of discarded minecarts and the pulleys and elevators in the centre. From this room, a network of caves stretched out deeper into the earth in research of the precious salt. Stairs had been carved directly into the stone and wooden ladders led to the lower level. Unfortunately, Isyd did not dare take one more step since he couldn¡¯t see anything; the mine was pitch-black. He could raise his Lightsphere all he wanted, it did nothing to chase the darkness that appeared endless.

    ¡°What do we do now?¡± Naeht asked him.

    Isyd stretched his ear as if he was listening to something only he could hear. There, he stood immobile for several seconds, lips silently moving as if he was counting. Suddenly, Isyd brought his Lightsphere to his lips and crushed it in his palm like it was an egg. The ball of light exploded into a burst of flames and Isyd whispered into his fist:

    ¡°[Enlighten]!¡±

    When he opened his fist, thousands of wisps of light spurt out and flew out inside the caverns. They shot toward walls and wherever they touched the rock, a Lightsphere appeared. Soon, as if the veil of darkness was literally being pulled out, the cavern was slowly illuminated with the light of thousands of Lightspheres.

    Naeht let out an impressed whistle. ¡°You know, you spend so much time pretending that you are a normal Pupil, that sometimes I forget you are the best Artyst I know!¡±

    Isyd gave her a satisfied smile. ¡°You don''t know a lot of Artysta, Naeht.¡±

    He then took down the stairs, not trusting the wooden constructions to be still sure enough. For what seemed to be hours, Isyd and Naeht looked around for the precious Blysht, with no success. Time seemed to flow differently so deep beneath the earth and it was hard to keep track. Naeht was sent ahead as she fazed through the walls and look further into the twists and turns and the narrower hallways. Isyd on his end was more focused on the mining traces that ran alongside the wooden platforms and the stairs. At each level, he stopped to look into the remaining mining material; he found broken pickaxes and Lightspheres, glass bottles, clothes, and many other things, but no Blysht in sight. So, he continued deeper and deeper. His right hand followed the smoothness of the stonewalls while being unable to feel it. At times, they came across engravings made into the rock by the miners. Often, they were landmarks to indicate the road ahead, but sometimes they were lucky charms, sculptures, or even messages meant for other crews.

    At the fifth level, Isyd began to see the signs that he had almost reached the bottom of the mine. The rock appeared less smooth and more stuff had been left around ¡ª probably too much of a hassle to bring back up. He also perceived the distant sound of running water.

    Isyd was musing on that when he stumbled on a larger cavern. He stepped around the stalagmites and approached a section of the walls where a cluster of white crystals stood out. At the same time, Naeht appeared next to him.

    ¡°Seems like this part of the mine was untouched,¡± she said.

    ¡°Yeah, they probably reached here, but couldn¡¯t mine everything out.¡±

    Isyd let his eyes wander on the white crystals. They were strikingly similar to the Blysht and it was easy to mix them up. The crystals were halite, salt crystals, and it was what the miners had been looking for and excavating. But Isyd knew that it was near halite crystals that Blysht was often found. He looked around and his gaze landed on the corner of the grotto that had been used as a dumping ground. He shuffled through the mess until he found a hessian bag filled with broken, unassuming white crystals. Their appearance reminded of milk, and miners were trained not to cofound them with halite and to discard them. Since they were too brittle to be turned into jewellery or used for anything else, the crystals were often treated as junk.

    Isyd lifted the bag as if it was the most precious thing he ever held. There was the Blysht.

    ¡°Finally!¡± Naeht exclaimed. ¡°Do you think we will find some more a bit deeper? I can go and check if you¡ª¡±

    Both Naeht and Isyd suddenly perked up, eyes turned from the way they had come.

    ¡°There are other people in the mine,¡± Naeht said.

    ¡°Two,¡± Isyd confirmed.

    He put down the bag and headed out. He stepped out lightly and breathed softly as his mind raced to decide what to do. His head peaked out of the hallway and he looked up to the higher levels. Making their way from the first level, their voices echoed thunderously in the cavern.

    ¡°No way in hell we¡¯re walking the stairs to go back up,¡± one of the men said. ¡°We¡¯re taking the elevators next time!¡±

    ¡°You lazy ass! You¡¯d trust that old piece of wood? Bet this thing does not even work anymore!¡± his colleague said.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure it does! Look at the Lightspheres, they¡¯re still working just fine all, right?¡±

    The other man let out a disgruntled groan. ¡°Aye, thank God for those lights! Ain¡¯t no way in hell, we would have found anything in the dark.¡±

    ¡°This is such a stupid job anyway! I mean, why do we need to go look for stupid crystals? Weren¡¯t they all mined away?¡±

    ¡°Apparently not! It¡¯s a different kind of crystal and there may be some left.¡±

    Isyd retreated back into the cavern, gaze hard and cold.

    It turned out he wasn¡¯t the only one who¡¯d been looking for the Blysht...

 21 â€“ To Defend his Secret

    Isyd¡¯s first instinct was to gather the Grace and summon a powerful [Spell] to get rid of the intruders. However, he quickly decided otherwise since he didn¡¯t know if he was facing Artysta. He highly doubted but he couldn¡¯t be entirely sure. For now, he still had the advantage of surprise and he intended to use it.

    ¡°Naeht, go see on which level are they at this moment exactly,¡± he whispered to her.

    She nodded and fazed through the walls. In the meantime, Isyd carefully considered his options. Those people were most likely after the Blysht. This meant that others may as well be. Isyd couldn¡¯t stop them all, at least not now. The best would be for those people to delay their search for the precious crystals, either because it was too dangerous, too expensive or too inefficient. It would give enough time for Isyd to recover all the Blysht present in the mine for himself.

    ¡°They are on the first level, exploring the hallways and all,¡± Naeht said as she came back. ¡°They are basically retracing our steps.¡±

    ¡°We must stop them from getting any deeper,¡± Isyd said. ¡°They will probably waste some time in those caverns before deciding to continue. We must hit in the meantime.¡±

    ¡°You will kill them?¡±

    ¡°As a last resort,¡± Isyd said unflinchingly. ¡°First, I¡¯ll try to convince them that they can¡¯t continue exploring.¡±

    He walked out of the cavern until he reached the main node of the fifth level. There, Isyd could perceive the higher levels, connected haphazardly with wooden ladders. There was also the presence of elevators driven by pulleys and winches. He hesitated a brief second on climbing on it before deciding otherwise and racing up the stone stairs. Another advantage he had over the newcomers was that he¡¯d already gone down once; he knew which ways were dead ends, which ones eventually circled back, and which ones were to follow to go deeper.

    As he ran up, Isyd closed himself, focusing on perceiving the Song of the Grace. The tune he looked for was quite specific. And he needed to be precise. His mind strained in the search but when he found it, he opened his right hand and called:

    ¡°[Darken]!¡±

    Suddenly, the Lightspheres of the third, fourth and fifth levels were snuffed out and the darkness reclaimed those parts of the mine. In Isyd¡¯s hand appeared a small Lightsphere, grey and dull, but bright enough to light a few steps ahead of him. With the light out, the intruders would hesitate before going further down. Now, all Isyd had to do was force them to walk back.

    He arrived at the second level and approached the caves the two men had entered. Isyd could feel their presence as they progressed through the uneven and narrow terrain. The newcomers did not know it yet, but after a few twists and turns and an intermediate chamber, this way would eventually fork into two, with one way ending up into a dead end while the other connecting back to a cave node of the third level. A plan began to form in Isyd¡¯s head.

    ¡°Naeht, I need you to go and follow them,¡± Isyd whispered. ¡°Rush back to me and warn me which of the two ways they decide to take!¡±

    Naeht nodded and flew after the two men. At the same time, Isyd turned and faced the clanky wooden installation that served as an elevator to the lower floors. He pointed a gloved finger at it.

    ¡°[Wind Scythe]!¡± he called for a gust of Wind shaped into a blade and sliced cleanly a supporting beam of the elevator. The ruckus echoed thunderously across the mine as the timber collapsed and crashed. Far from here, Isyd could perceive the faint echoes of the two men¡¯s surprise as they stopped in their tracks. Isyd did not mind the racket; it was part of his plan that the two intruders heard the destruction he was causing.

    Isyd rushed back down the stairs as fast as he could to the third floor and once he reached it, he turned and put his hand on the wall. Through his glove, he drew first three quick [Spells] to search for weak points. Two of the three glyphs shone to signal the presence of faults inside the rock¡¯s formation, too deep and apart to be a problem and expected from the mining activities that had taken place. Isyd just needed a little bit of Grace to reach those faults. On the grey stone, he drew a larger [Spell].

    ¡°[Collapse]!¡±

    The [Spell] shone briefly as it was cast, then the rocks began to shake and suddenly surged a large crack that kept on spreading and widening. In a cloud of dust, an entire side of the wall collapsed on the stairs, making them unusable.

    Naeht had not come back yet, which meant that the two men had yet to reach the fork. While the rest of the mine was plunged into utter darkness, Isyd had purposefully kept the Lightspheres in that cave as well as the first level, leading up to the exit of the mine. Isyd stopped on his track as he reached a part of the cave that narrowed slightly. This was the perfect place. With his senses, he could perceive the two men still strolling a bit further up, oblivious.

    Isyd did not have much time to lose. He gathered Grace and with wide, sweeping movements of his arms, he began casting the [Spell]. His hands let a trail of white light as they drew the different Commands that composed the complex [Hex]. The first half of Isyd¡¯s mind was overcome with the Idpulse and moved his body while the second half constructed the [Spell] on the fly.

    Isyd first searched for hidden faults in the cave formation, then sent microscopic seismic waves through the stones to reach them and widen them. Not enough to cause an immediate collapse, but just enough to make it easier to happen. He followed by materializing a [Wind Bomb] ¡ª a sudden burst of wind pressure condensed into a ball ¡ª and attached it to the stone wall. To that, Isyd added a [Earth Spell] that turned the soil underneath sensitive to footsteps so that it would detect anyone who would walk into the cave ahead of time ¡ª he took care of dissimulating that [Spell] etchings under a layer of dust. He concluded by weaving all those [Spells] into a singular a [Hex] and inscribed that [Hex] onto a pebble he found at his feet.

    The stone trembled and cracked slightly as inscriptions dark like charcoal appeared on its surface.

    When all of it was done, Isyd let out a sigh of exhaustion and satisfaction. This¡­ hadn¡¯t been easy¡­ He picked up the pebble, warm to the touch due to so much energy being concentrated in such a small volume. It hadn¡¯t been easy... but it had succeeded. Far from the Academy, Isyd was glad that he could drop the fa?ade and display his skills to his fullest.

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    His trap was laid, now he just had to wait for his preys to walk into it.

    Isyd walked back from the cave toward the third level as he felt the men approaching the fork. Soon enough, Naeht flew back to him.

    ¡°They¡¯re coming this way!¡± she said.

    Isyd nodded and with a wave of his hand, turned off his own Lightsphere and faded into the darkness of the mine. Hidden behind a stone pillar, he watched the men arrive. They did not take long; they stumbled out of the cavern and pulled up short when faced with a pitch-black wall.

    ¡°Shit! Where all the Lightspheres went?¡± one of the men said.

    ¡°Told you it would happen! This place is a ruin, it¡¯s just a matter of minutes before it all collapses! This was a bad idea, Dav...¡±

    ¡°We can''t see two feet in front of us! What are you waiting for? Turn on your bloody Lightsphere!¡±

    ¡°What do you think a single Lightsphere will help? We can¡¯t even see how deep this mine goes!¡±

    Despite the protest, the man did turn on his sphere, a feeble ball of light that did nothing to repel the oppressive darkness.

    ¡°You said it would be an easy job, Dav...¡±

    ¡°Grace, stop whining Kuba! I¡¯m trying to think, okay? They said it was an easy job; when they said a mine, I thought it would be an in-and-out into a cavern, two hours top! How could I know that they dug up till the fucking heart of the earth!¡±

    There was some ruffling, and then Kuba spoke. ¡°The stairs have collapsed here; we can¡¯t go up that way. Probably other stairs as well further deep. What do we do now?¡±

    ¡°Grace if I know... Look, let¡¯s go back in there and try the other way. There was still Lightspheres lit in that path so it should still be safe...¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Dav, but I¡¯m starting to think we shouldn¡¯t be here... What if another part collapses and we can¡¯t go back up? I mean, the stairs are already gone and all...¡±

    Isyd could not see the face but it was easy to imagine the profound exasperation when Dav spoke.

    ¡°I swear to God, Dav, if you don¡¯t shut your mouth with your whining, I¡¯ll make you eat the first sample of the bloody crystals we find!¡±

    ¡°Fine, I shut it¡­ but just a reminder that it was your idea, to begin with¡­¡±

    Their voices faded away as they went back into the cavern. Isyd did not move from where he stood. Clad in his darkveil, he was indistinguishable from the shadows all around him. There he waited. And waited. And waited again.

    Suddenly, the pebble in his hand jolted.

    The [Detection Spell] had been activated by the two men. Without hesitation, Isyd crushed the pebble in his hand, turning it into dust and releasing the [Hex]. There was a burst of heat in his palm as the Grace repealed through the air and activated the [Hex] at distance. A few feet behind the two men the cavern shook with the sudden burst of air and the walls and ceiling of the pathway collapsed. Amidst the tumult of crashing rocks, Isyd still heard the shouts of fear and confusion of the two men as they scrambled to get away from the disaster. There was no chance for the collapsing to spread further in their direction as Isyd had carefully planned it, but they had no way to know that for sure.

    Isyd let out a crude smile. The plan had worked as he anticipated. He had just now sealed any progression further down the mine, at least to any normal folk. The crumbling was nothing that any Artysta of profession could not deal with. But the two men Isyd had spotted were not versed in the Arts.

    He turned back on his Lightsphere but remained in his hiding spot, senses extended to perceive the two intruders deciding on what they were to do. Isyd had expected them to try their chance with the other pathway, but apparently, the collapse had scarred them enough that they prefer to turn back immediately and head for the exit. Isyd waited for them to reach the entrance level, before concluding that they were no longer a threat and that he could go back to his activities before he was disturbed. They headed down the stairs to the lower levels.

    ¡°Well, that was eventful, wasn¡¯t it¡­¡± Naeht muttered with a dry laugh.

    ¡°And unpredicted,¡± Isyd said. ¡°Those two men were after the Blysht I venture. This is not good.¡±

    ¡°Seems like the Blysht is not as much a secret as we thought it was.¡±

    Isyd shook his head, confused. None of this made sense. Who had hired those guys? And how did they know about the Blysht at a time when nobody else did? Could they have been sent by the two Arcanysta Isyd had seen at the Atelier? Perhaps¡­

    Or perhaps, just as Naeht suggested, the Blysht wasn¡¯t as much of a secret as it hope it was. Isyd clenched his fists at this thought.

    In those circumstances, Isyd was prepared to defend his secret, whatever it took.

    ¡°Did that perturb any of your plans?¡± Naeht said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so, no. Or at least, I hope not. For now, let¡¯s finish what we came here to do¡­¡±

    Isyd stopped in front of the stash of Blysht he¡¯d recovered. He picked up one of the precious crystals and laid it on the stone floor before seating in front of it. He took off his darkveil as well as the coat of his Academy uniform and rolled up his sleeves so that he could be more at ease and stared down at the Blysht.

    Now more than ever would be a true test of his skills as an Artysta.

 22 â€“ The Blysht

    The piece of Blysht in front of Isyd was barely bigger than his palm. It was crudely cut and presented sharp edges where it had been broken off. From a quick look in the stash, Isyd had found that most crystals were small, some even too insignificant to be of any use. Since the Blysht was mostly regarded as junk, it hadn¡¯t been handled with care but rather smashed into pieces and thrown around. Isyd had carefully fished inside the bag to find a decent piece that could serve as testing material.

    ¡°Come on, Isyd!¡± Naeht said impatiently. ¡°Make it glow!¡±

    ¡°It is not so easy, Naeht. Blysht is in its natural state an inert crystal. I don¡¯t even really know where to begin.¡±

    ¡°Well, just use it! I saw you do it thousands of times before! Store your Grace in the Blysht.¡±

    Isyd sighed. It was easier said than done.

    Everything was naturally imbued with Grace ¨C it was a direct consequence of the First Law of the Arts. Grace could not be created nor destroyed but only altered. The Blysht, however, was special in its ability to store Grace far more than any other object could. If the Grace was water, the First Law stated that everything had inherently a certain level of moisture while the Blysht was able to act like a barrel.

    As far as Isyd knew, the Blysht was the only material able of such a feat. In the wild, this process happened only on a few occasions and under specific conditions, otherwise, the Blysht remained an inert, useless piece of crystal. The real challenge was to make this rare event happen on will.

    Isyd explained this to Naeht. ¡°The Blysht does not store Grace willy-nilly. It has to be prompted by a powerful [Hex] first. It is a complex one and it took several years before Artysta cracked it back in Old Ziemia.¡±

    Naeht turned her head one way. ¡°You don¡¯t know it?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly¡­ I mean, it never occurred to me to study it, you know¡­ I wasn¡¯t an Arcanysta after all.¡±

    ¡°Damn¡­ So how are you gonna do it, then? It¡¯s not like we can find the [Hex] written in a book somewhere, right?¡±

    ¡°Unlikely. We¡¯re alone in this. I must try to reverse engineer it.¡±

    Grace circled Isyd who closed his eyes and listened to its Song.

    ¡°Oh! It feels weird!¡± Naeht giggled.

    Isyd moved a finger to his lips for her to remain silent. He opened his body and his mind and he revealed in the ever presence of Holy Grace. He could faintly perceive a humming coming from the Blysht. It was so weak, it faded into the background noise of all the other objects also naturally imbued with Grace. Somehow, he had to find a way to force the Grace to flow into the Blysht.

    His fingers began painting the Commands without him realizing. The [Hex] he was crafting collapsed five times as he was casting it; twice from faulty Balance, twice from unclear Visualization and once from lack of Concentration. At his sixth trial, Isyd was showing visible signs of exhaustion. His right arm was numb, his brow was covered by a film of sweat and his breath had slowed down to a weak whistle. Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours and Isyd was still Meshing the hundreds of Commands and [Spells] into a powerful [Hex] like one meshed different teethed gears of a clock mechanism. At last, he was done. He applied the [Storing Hex] onto the Blysht and finally opened his eyes.

    The white crystal presented the engravings on its surface. Naeht was watching him expectantly.

    ¡°Did you succeed?¡± she asked with bated breath.

    ¡°One way to find out,¡± Isyd said.

    If everything worked accordingly, the Blysht should capture any [Spell] launched at it and capture the Grace inside, nullifying the [Spell] simultaneously.

    Isyd pointed at the Blysht. ¡°[Water Jet]!¡±

    A weak spray of water spurted from his finger and landed on the white crystal. Upon contact, the water evaporated at once as it would have upon touching an incandescent stone and the Blysht suddenly shattered as if it had been crushed by a hammer.

    Isyd stared at the fine powder left from the crystal, unblinking.

    ¡°It¡¯s not supposed to do that, is it?¡± Naeht asked timidly.

    ¡°No.¡±

    He had failed. The [Storing Hex] he¡¯d crafted had been wrong. This¡­ would be difficult. And yet, Isyd knew he couldn¡¯t give up now. Not while knowing what laid ahead. They needed the Blysht technology and what it guaranteed. And he was possibly the only one who could crack the code because he¡¯d seen what the Blysht was capable of.

    He had to succeed.

    So, Isyd threw back his shoulders, took a deep breath and got back to work.

    Humbled from his first try, he focused his attention only on smaller cuts of the Blysht, preserving the larger ones for when he succeeded. Again, he called upon all his knowledge of the Grace and formed a new [Storing Hex] in hope that this time, it would work.

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    Again, it failed.

    And again. And again.

    Every attempt resulted in the same way: the Blysht shattered into a thousand pieces upon the smallest touch. Struggling through exhaustion, hours after hours, Isyd bent the Commands to his will and Meshed them incessantly to form more and more complex [Spells]. Everything else faded in the background. There was only Isyd, the Grace and Blysht.

    He did not realize it himself, but as he tried again and again, Isyd gained a deeper understanding of the Grace and the Blysht. Each new [Storing Hex] was more refined that the last, the Balance sounder, the Concentration more potent and the Visualization sharper. Slowly, he stopped seeing himself as trying to pour an evasive liquid into a leaking container but rather as the rivers that aimed for the lake, forcing their way through woods and dirt and stone. It was methodical and it was harmonious.

    By the sixth attempt, the Blysht did not explode immediately. By the ninth, the Blysht only shattered in five parts. By the eleventh, the crystal simply presented a long crack in the middle.

    At his fourteenth trial, Isyd had entered a kind of trance state he¡¯d rarely experienced before. He applied the finished [Storing Hex] and followed by wordlessly pointing the finger at the Blysht. A feeble jet of water spurted toward the crystal and once again, the water disappeared at once.

    Then nothing happened.

    One second passed, then two and at the third, the Blysht seemed to come alive with a light of its own. The surface shimmered with an iridescent light, a bright display of all the colours of the rainbow.

    Isyd stared at the junk of crystal unblinking, not entirely realizing what he was seeing. Coming from far away, he heard Naeht¡¯s voice.

    ¡°You did it! It works at last!¡±

    He had done it. The Blysht had not shattered. It shone with an iridescent light ¡ª the light of the Holy Grace stored in it.

    Isyd extended a trembling hand toward the crystal and the moment he touched it, he heard the soft Song of the Grace. There, he knew it better than when he¡¯d seen it. He could hear it in his ears, he could feel it in his bones. The Grace had entered the Blysht and remained inside.

    Isyd let out a long shout of victory and collapsed on the stone floor of the cavern, exhausted.

    He had done it.

    In his hand, Isyd held Holy Grace made solid. Most likely the most important discovery of mankind since the advent of writing.

    Eyes closed and breathless, a wide smile crept on his face. He remained laying there for several minutes, savouring the victory. Naeht sat on his chest, happy to see him happy.

    ¡°Any idea how much time has passed?¡± Isyd finally asked her.

    Naeht turned her head to one side, pensive. ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly. Something like a day...¡±

    ¡°Probably something closer to two since I¡¯m feeling quite hungry.¡±

    The War had taught him to go several days without food, so he wasn¡¯t about to faint from hunger anytime soon. Thirst on the other hand...

    He got back up and gathered his belongings. ¡°Time to go back, Naeht.¡±

    Instead of immediately heading for the exit, Isyd took on the opposite direction and let himself be guided by the sound of running water he heard echoing far deeper in the mine. Eventually, he emerged on a larger grotto where the underground river had dug its course. Isyd approached the bank and drank his fill. The water was salty but drinkable and fresh. He could almost feel strength flowing in him and revivifying him; Isyd felt as if he was coming back to life. He drank enough for three men in preparation for his journey back to Vilriver. Isyd could do fine without food, but he would have a much harder time without water and he didn''t have anything to store it in.

    After that, he went about collecting as much Blysht as he could. This alone took several more hours. It was laborious work since the Blysht grew alongside the salt crystals and most salt crystals that had yet to be collected were usually difficult to access. Isyd put what he could get in the hessian bags he found lying around. He also made a makeshift bag from the bedlinen he snatched from the Dorms before he left the Academy. He didn¡¯t plan to bring all of his bounties up and out of the cave; he had nowhere to keep that much Blysht. Instead, he stashed all the Blysht in a smaller cavern from the lowest level of the mine. It was so out of the way that it was unlikely for anyone to stumble upon it. Not impossible, but highly unlikely. This was but a temporary solution; Isyd planned to come and fetch all of it in due time. For now, he went back up the stairs of the mine with only a handful of the precious crystals hidden in the folds of his darkveil. In it was of course the iridescent piece of Blysht, proof of his success.

    Isyd arrived in front of the collapsed stairs that connected the third floor to the second floor. This way was obviously now unusable so he instead entered the detour in the cave. There also the cavern had collapsed. Naeht gave him a side glance.

    ¡°Well, you managed to keep those guys out, but you kind of trapped yourself, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    Isyd only gave her a confident smile. He approached the rubble and put his gloved hand on a rock.

    ¡°You forget that I am the one who provoked the collapse...¡±

    Isyd quickly drew a new [Spell] on the stone. Suddenly, the rocks began to tremble as if another collapse was about to happen. Instead, the stones rolled out of the way enough to form an arch for one person to fit thr ough.

    ¡°... and I had planned for a way out.¡±

    He had woven that particular [Spell] within the [Hex] that triggered the collapse at distance, and he just needed to activate it. The moment he was through, the rocks rolled back into place in a menacing rumble and the way was blocked once more.

    Naeht let out an impressed whistle and they resumed their climb. When they finally walked out, Isyd had to shield his eyes from the blinding light of the dawn. After those couple of days spent underground, it felt good to feel the warmth of the sun on his cheeks.

    He took a full breath of fresh air and readjusted the weight of the Blysht in his cloak.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Naeht. Time for us to go back to Vilriver.¡±

 23 â€“ Back to Vilriver

    Isyd arrived in Vilriver on the second day after leaving the mine. First, he had walked through the forest to reach Blotnia . There, he had used the small number of coins he¡¯d snatched from Olav to pay his travel back up the River on a boat. It had been an uneventful journey back and Isyd used it as an opportunity to rest. The day spent crafting the [Storing Spell] had taken quite a lot from him.

    The first thing he did when he returned to the city was to drop by the Thermae to wash the grime and dust from his body. Since it had been very early in the morning, he had the bath mostly for himself and enjoyed those last minutes of peace to fully recover.

    Now Isyd felt rejuvenated. He was seated against the trunk of a tree in the Fields, hidden under its shades. From where he sat, Isyd had a wide view of the entrance of the Atelier. He hadn¡¯t chosen this spot by accident.

    Isyd was waiting.

    A little bit after midday, Isyd felt two people approaching in his direction. Since he was seated out of the way, Isyd knew they were coming for him, and he quickly recognize their presence. Soon enough, Jadwia appeared and walked toward him with a resolute pace, clad in her crisp and impeccable uniform. Behind her trailed the hulking figure of Kewin, who could not help but stand out by his appearance, despite very much not wanting to.

    Isyd wasn¡¯t much surprised that they had found him. When he had walked back into the Academy, he¡¯d seen other Pupils throwing curious glances at him and whispering as he passed. Isyd was a bit of a celebrity and Pupils noticed him.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re back,¡± Jadwia declared as she stopped in front of him.

    Isyd didn¡¯t bother getting up. ¡°I am.¡±

    ¡°Grace, Isyd,¡± Kewin said.

    ¡°Grace to you!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t look preoccupated by the lessons you missed,¡± Jadwia said.

    She seems a bit annoyed by that. Perhaps she¡¯d been expecting Isyd to rush back to her as soon as he made it back and ask her for her precious notes. Isyd barely held back his smile and simply shrugged.

    ¡°I had more important business to attend to,¡± he said.

    ¡°You left without saying a word!¡± she accused him.

    Again, Isyd shrugged. ¡°I had warned Tutor Milwyk. Beyond that, I didn¡¯t think anyone would miss me.¡±

    Jadwia and Kewin exchanged a long look. Then, as one they sat next to him. Isyd threw them a curious look.

    ¡°You had promised you¡¯d answer my questions,¡± Jadwia said. ¡°There I wake up one day and hear that you left the Academy!¡±

    Isyd caught sight of Naeht giving him a disapproving shake of the head behind Jadwia¡¯s back. Isyd sighed. ¡°You¡¯re right. I should have warned you at least. My bad. Do you have a question for me?¡±

    Jadwia opened her mouth to speak, then close it, taken a bit by surprise. ¡°Hmm¡­ Well¡­ Oh! Yes, I do, actually! How are you so calm?¡±

    Isyd turned his head one way, confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°This semester is well on its way and all the 1  <sup>st </sup>  year are stressed and neck-deep in their studies. You are not. How so?¡±

    ¡°Would you say that you are stressed and neck deep in your studies?¡± Isyd asked her instead.

    ¡°Yes, I am! Everyone is, except you! What is your secret, Isyd Wybrany?¡±

    ¡°My secret? I studied as much as you are doing now. And I am still learning. This is why I joined the Academy in the first place. This is why I spent most of my time in the Library with my nose in books. The Path is one and we are all walking it. I just happened to be a bit ahead of you.¡±

    Jadwia seems even more confused by his answer. Before she could ask another question, Kewin spoke first.

    ¡°You aren¡¯t intimated by the Seniors, Isyd. You speak with Senior Klara Utro as your equal and you faced Senior Lwieserce in a duel! You even got into the Atelier as a 1  <sup>st</sup>   Opening!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s right!¡± Jadwia nodded vehemently. ¡°You don¡¯t act at all like someone of the 1  <sup>st</sup>   Opening!¡±

    ¡°Openings are just arbitrary numbers,¡± Isyd said.

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    Both of them look at him as if he stated that the sky was pink.

    Isyd sighed and picked up a twig laying near him. He drew a circle in the loose dirt in front of him.

    ¡°Do you know what the Openings are?¡± he asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s a grade that represents the control an Artysta has on the Holy Grace. It¡¯s a measure of their expertise,¡± Kewin said.

    Isyd shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s what the Openings eventually  came  to represent. I am asking what are the Openings. In the physical sense.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it describes the Artysta¡¯s ability to Concentrate Grace¡­?¡± Jadwia said hesitantly.

    ¡°Hmm, tangentially yes.¡± From the circle he drew, Isyd made three parallel grooves; one narrow, one medium and the last very large and deep.

    ¡°As the Artyst use more and more the Arts, their body opens itself more and more to the flow of the Holy Grace. This is what the Openings mean; it describes the  opening  to the Grace. When someone is of a higher Opening, it means that the Grace flows in them more easily.¡±

    With his stick, Isyd pointed to the furrows he dug. ¡°Since the Grace flows more easily, it means that Artysta can Concentrate more of it in a shorter amount of time which in turn allows them to cast more intricate [Hexes]. This is also why Openings eventually became a way of measuring an Artyst¡¯s skills. But it is wrong to make it a direct correlation between the two.¡±

    ¡°What you say makes sense, but then why do you say that Openings are  just arbitrary  numbers?¡± Jadwia said.

    Once again, Isyd pointed at his drawing. ¡°Who is to assign a number to those grooves and with what criteria? Should I say that the narrowest is 1  <sup>st</sup>   while the widest is 10  <sup>th</sup>  ? Then what about the middle one, is it 5  <sup>th</sup>  ? Why not 4  <sup>th</sup>   or 6  <sup>th</sup>  ? Why the widest groove should be 10  <sup>th</sup>  ? Why not 100  <sup>th</sup>  ? Hell, why not make it 57  <sup>th</sup>   for instance? This is what I meant by ¡®arbitrary¡¯. The ranking of the Openings is not really internally consistent despite some would want you to believe and do not reflect the reality in a meaningful way.¡±

    Kewin scratched his head, visibly troubled. ¡°And yet we use them to rank everything... The way you speak of it you make the Openings sound so trivial.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s right!¡± Jadwia said. ¡°Hearing you, one would think that you don''t care about the Openings at all...¡±

    Isyd said nothing.

    There, as she sat across him, Jadwia met Isyd¡¯s eyes.

    Cold. Dark. Bottomless like the depths of the ocean.

    The air suddenly felt dry and oppressive around her. She tried to wet her lips, before realizing that she was parched.

    As Jadwia stared at Isyd, something deep in her recoiled in an inexplicable fear. The words were caught in her throat.

    What... what¡¯s happening to me... , she could only think but her mind was frozen.

    Suddenly, Isyd visibly perked up. They broke eye contact and all at once, Jadwia was able to breathe again. Before she could speak up, however, Isyd jumped on his feet and rushed past her.

    Finally! What he¡¯d been waiting for the whole day! He raced back down the incline leading to the Atelier, Naeht flying next to him. Leaving the Arcanysta building were two figures that Isyd had immediately recognized. They were the two Arcanysta who had first brought their inert pieces of Blysht to Tekla Dumnchory.

    ¡°Mr. Ravasz! Mrs Ravasz!¡± Isyd hailed them.

    The two Arcanysta turned in his direction. Isyd caught up to them.

    ¡°Can we help you with something, Young One?¡± the man said.

    ¡°I want to talk to you about the white crystals you have.¡±

    The man¡¯s expression turned suspicious immediately. His wife spoke up first. ¡°How do you know about the Blysht? Did Tutor Hidrss send you?¡±

    ¡°No, I come to you as my own.¡±

    From the inner pocket of his darkveil, Isyd pulled out the Ingraced Blysht. The woman inhaled sharply at the sight while her husband let out a colourful curse.

    ¡°Goodness Gracious, it is... it¡¯s...¡±

    ¡°We need to talk,¡± Isyd said. ¡°You¡¯ll be interested in what I have to say.¡±

 24 â€“ Three Demands

    Isyd followed two paces behind the Ravasz ¡ª Norran and Julya, as the husband and wife had introduced themselves respectively ¡ª as they crossed the Emerald Bridge and left the Inside. At his side was Naeht, frolicking without a care, but also Kewin and Jadwia. Isyd threw a questioning glance in their direction.

    ¡°You guys didn¡¯t need to come as well,¡± he said.

    ¡°You ditched us without a word!¡± Jadwia said with a frown. ¡°That was plain rude!¡±

    ¡°We can leave if we bother you,¡± Kewin said, uncertain.

    Isyd shrugged. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. You guys can stick around, I don¡¯t mind.¡±

    His mind was more preoccupied with how the rest of his conversation with the Arcanysta will play out. He¡¯d been the one who proposed that they go to a more secluded place, far from the eyes and ears present everywhere in the Academy. They weren¡¯t allowed to enter the Atelier since Isyd was barred from it, so the Ravasz had invited them to their home in the Outside.

    They made their way through the narrow streets of Vilriver until they stopped in front of an apartment building situated in a residential district squished between two blocks of commercial buildings and a city park. The Ravasz lived on the first floor of their apartment and the very moment Julya Ravasz ushered them in, Isyd felt like he¡¯d stepped into a diminutive version of the Atelier.

    The place was relatively small and cramped but it buzzed with the activity of dozen of [Arcanes] going at once. Isyd was assaulted by the sudden discordance in the Song of the Grace. He guessed that in absence of a proper workshop to call their own, the Ravasz had made do by turning their house into one.

    While her husband strolled in without a care in the world, Julya seemed more embarrassed by the untidiness of her home. She rushed past the Pupils and began putting objects aside and dusting off surfaces with her hands.

    ¡°Please, come in!¡± she said. ¡°Apologies for the mess, I¡¯d have tidied up if I knew we would have guests! Here, have a seat!¡±

    ¡°Thank you!¡± Jadwia said.

    They helped themselves to a sofa in what used to be a living room before being turned into a storage place. Doing so, Kewin inadvertently brushed passed a metal sphere and activated it; the sphere split in two and the upper part shot up high in the air in a loud  PHUMP.  Kewin shrieked back and stumbled against another [Arcane] laying under the low table. It sent a piece of wood fly across the floor, dangling a Lightsphere on a string behind it.

    ¡°Norran! Your [Flying Cart] has activated again!¡± Julya shouted. Her husband came out from what was supposedly their bedchamber in a frenzy.

    ¡°What? Where? How?¡±

    The cart hurled in his direction and almost rolled on his toes. With the ease of experience, he swooped it off the floor and cradled it in his arms, turning it off.

    ¡°Well, that wasn¡¯t supposed to do that...¡± he grumbled in his beard.

    ¡°I told you that you should add fail-safe! At least increase the Fire Essence required to launch it off¡± Julya told him crossly. She turned to Kewin with a warm smile. ¡°Sorry for that... Can I serve you something? Water? Tea?¡±

    ¡°I...uh... I... it¡¯s ok...¡± Kewin mumbled, face bright red.

    ¡°I would appreciate a glass of water,¡± Jadwia said. ¡°Thank you so much.¡±

    Norran found a place to seat and let out a satisfied sigh. He gave a wistful look to the Pupils who sat across him.

    ¡°Seeing you in your uniform bring back memories...¡±

    ¡°Did you use to go to the Academy?¡± Jadwia asked him.

    ¡°Aye, but not this one. I graduated years ago from the Academy of Holy Honour in the South. Julya is self-taught, yet she¡¯s a hundred more brilliant than I am.¡±

    ¡°It is not true,¡± his wife said as she came back with a platter and three glasses of water. ¡°But I appreciate the compliment. I would have liked to enter the Academy at the same time as you, darling...¡±

    ¡°How did you two meet?¡± Jadwia said.

    Isyd gave a curious glance. He hadn¡¯t come here for some idle chatter. Still, he was polite enough not to rudely interrupt.

    ¡°Norran was employed as an Arcanysta in a private workshop in Blotnia, where I grew up. I was their accountant, in charge of making sure that the business kept going. I¡¯ll be honest with you; I wasn¡¯t much convinced at first by this youth straight out of school, full of pride and ideas...¡±

    ¡°I sure had to work for it, and you didn¡¯t make it easy for me!¡±

    Julya smirked at her husband. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you say it was worth it?¡±

    ¡°Aye, it was worth it alright...¡±

    ¡°We got married almost ten years ago and Norran convinced me to form our own workshop,¡± Julya continued. ¡°All those years did not go to waste when we decided to become independent contractors.¡±

    ¡°Why did you leave Blotnia for Vilriver?¡± Kewin surprisingly asked. ¡°Independent Arcanysta have a hard time competing with the Atelier, don¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°Aye, it is correct,¡± Norran said. ¡°We only moved in four months ago, but we quickly found out that working with the Atelier was in our best interest. Truth be told, we had not planned to leave Blotnia... Unforeseen circumstances pushed us to that decision...¡±

    Isyd saw the shift in his attitude and understood that it was an uncomfortable subject. Jadwia must have missed it or did not care, because she continued her line of questioning.

    ¡°What kind of circumstances?¡±

    ¡°The unforeseen kind,¡± Norran simply said.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just say that not everyone was... appreciative of the work and research we were doing in Blotnia...¡± Julya said. ¡°For the sake of our personal independence, we decided it may be best for us to... leave.¡±

    Jadwia was about to ask something else, but this time, Isyd beat her to the punch.

    ¡°Did your research have anything to do with the Blysht?¡±

    Once again, he saw suspicion glint in Norran¡¯s eyes as he mentioned the precious crystal.

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    ¡°Hmm... perhaps... I don¡¯t recall precisely what it was about...¡± the Arcanyst said evasively. ¡°Now that you brought it up, I think it is time we go back to the subject at hand. I am curious to hear what you have to say about the Blysht, Isyd Wybrany.¡±

    ¡°Aye, I am curious to know how you knew about the crystal,¡± Julya said. ¡°Few people notice the Blysht given how useless it is.¡±

    Isyd pulled out the Ingraced Blysht out of his pocket and he could almost hear everyone hold their breath. Its iridescent light shone softly within his palm.

    ¡°A travelling merchant passed through my village when I was a wee boy and demonstrated to us the Blysht, though at the time I didn¡¯t know it was called like that. When I was visiting the Atelier, I overheard you discussing it with Tekla, and I was reminded of it. I thought you¡¯d be interested.¡±

    ¡°A travelling merchant you say?¡± Norran said, stroking his beard. ¡°How would a merchant know anything of the Arts¡­?¡±

    ¡°I think he was far more than a merchant. His goods were eclectic and had a lot of curiosities from all around Ziemia.¡±

    ¡°Can I¡­ C-could I¡­ have a better look?¡± Julya asked timidly.

    Isyd handed her the Blysht, and she seized it as if it was the more fragile and precious thing she ever held.

    ¡°It is truly Ingraced,¡± she murmured, enthralled. ¡°We have now solid evidence of what we were saying, Norran.¡±

    ¡°It is what you were searching for then?¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°It is¡­¡± Norran¡¯s voice was tight. He cleared his throat. ¡°Aye, it is what we were researching, but all our attempts to recreate an Ingraced Blysht had failed until now. Hell, even the theory wasn¡¯t entirely supporting that it could be done.¡±

    ¡°This is a great gift you¡¯ve just shown us, Young Isyd,¡± Julya said, suddenly teary-eyed. ¡°This¡­ this is a rightful gratification. A proof that our work those past years was not for nought, after all. Thank you.¡±

    Isyd simply nodded their gratitude away. He was watching attentively their expression, waiting for something. Julya passed the crystal to her husband for him to have a better look.

    ¡°It is truly beautiful¡­¡± the Arcanysta said. ¡°With your permission, Young Isyd, we could use this piece to study further and find a way to replicate the¡ª¡±

    Norran¡¯s eyes suddenly widened and in surprise, he almost dropped the Blysht.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Julya asked, concerned.

    ¡°The¡­ It¡¯s not a naturally Ingraced Blysht! There¡¯s a [Hex]!¡±

    Dumbfounded, Julya jumped from her seat and gave it a more attentive look. Norran¡¯s lips were twitching when looked up at Isyd once again.

    ¡°Are you the one who did that? How?¡±

    Isyd did his best to avoid meeting the pointed looks of Kewin and Jadwia next to him. ¡°The Ingraced Blysht the merchant owned also had a [Hex] on it. I took inspiration from it to reconstruct it from memory.¡±

    ¡°From memory¡­?¡± Julya said. ¡°This [Hex] is of the 12  <sup>th</sup>   Opening! It¡¯s¡­ How¡­ How did you manage to do it?¡±

    ¡°With a lot of time and effort.¡±

    ¡°Even without eating and sleeping, it should take weeks, months¡­¡± Norran muttered out loud, more to himself than to anyone else.

    A stunned silence fell in the living room. Norran put back down the Blysht on the low table in front of him, probably not trusting himself. Isyd took back the crystal, this is what he¡¯d been waiting for. Now that he had made an impression, they could discuss what to do next.

    ¡°The Atelier knows nothing of this,¡± Isyd declared. ¡°The people present here are the first seeing this Blysht. I have approached you today because I have a proposition: I wish that we can work together in the future.¡±

    ¡°Work together?¡± Norran said. ¡°But you are still a Pupil of the Academy. The Atelier¡ª¡±

    ¡°If I hand this Blysht to the Atelier right now, all the private research you have conducted will become irrelevant,¡± Isyd cut him. ¡°You will lose the already small funding that the Atelier grants you. Therefore, I propose we work together. I freely give you this Ingraced Blysht for you to further study and research. In addition to that, I will also teach you the [Storage Hex] and show you how to replicate it. In exchange for that, I have only three demands.¡±

    ¡°And what are those?¡± Julya said.

    Isyd raised his fingers as he counted. ¡°First, I want to be recognized as the one who came up with the [Storing Hex]. Secondly, as you present the Blysht to Hidrss, I want you to use your position as full-fledge Arcanysta to support my admission to the Atelier.¡±

    ¡°Hold on, you are not part of the Atelier?¡± Norran said, taken aback. ¡°Why not? You are clearly talented!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s because we¡¯re only of the 1  <sup>st</sup>   Opening!¡± Jadwia blurted out.

    Norran¡¯s mouth was left hanging open and his wife slumped on her chair as if her breath was knocked out of her. Isyd, in front of their open surprise, couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    He put back down the Ingraced Blysht on the table and made it slide toward them.

    ¡°This is yours now,¡± he said. ¡°Take it as a sign of my good faith. I¡¯m sure you have a lot of things to discuss between the two of you. We¡¯ll take our leave now, but I hope to hear from you soon¡­¡±

    Following his cue, Jadwia and Kewin rose at the same time as him. Norran watched them do, but his eyes were glazed over as if his mind had erred far away from the conversation. Julya also rose from her seat, wringing her hands.

    ¡°Wait, you said you had three demands. What is the last one?¡±

    ¡°The last one hinges on the first two to go through,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I reveal it after you gave me your answer.¡±

    Julya was clearly wary ¡ª Isyd could see it in her green eyes ¡ª but she glanced down to the shining Blysht between them. She then exchanged a long look with her husband; a lot was said between them, without a single word being uttered.

    Finally, the woman reached down and carefully picked up the Ingraced Blysht. She smiled at the three Pupils. ¡°You¡¯ll hear from us tomorrow.¡±

    Isyd gave a slight bow of the head. ¡°Tomorrow then.¡±

    And with that, Isyd was assured he¡¯d gained the support of the Ravasz.

 25 - Proof of Exception

    In the office of the Mastery of the Arcanic Arts, the Ravasz sat across Dmitri Ivanovitch Hidrss and Tekla Dumnchory. In the same room, seated on a stool on the corner was also Isyd. It was the day after Isyd that met Julya and Norran Ravasz, presented them with the Ingraced Blysht and made his proposition. Now, as had been promised, they were all present for the unveiling of the Ravasz¡¯s research.

    The only thing that had not been expected by either Tekla or Hidrss was Isyd¡¯s presence. Unfortunately, at his urging, the Ravasz insisted Isyd be there. Meeting the Tutor¡¯s eyes, Isyd could guess that Hidrss wasn¡¯t too happy that he had been forced to break his ban from the Atelier for 1  <sup>st</sup>   Year ¡ª not once but twice, and for the same Pupil. Tekla also appeared quite peeved at seeing him, though Isyd was less certain about her reasons.

    Truth be told, they could have well met anywhere else than the Atelier; the Academy wasn¡¯t running out of empty rooms. But Isyd had insisted that they meet in the Atelier just to annoy Hidrss. It was petty, but it didn¡¯t stop Isyd from being smug about it.

    ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, Ravasz?¡± Tekla snapped. ¡°Let us be done with this already! Our time is precious!¡±

    Wordlessly, Julya pulled a bundle out of her satchel and began unwrapping the linen, revealing the Ingraced Blysht. Hidrss immediately sat up, eyes wide.

    ¡°So, it was true¡­¡± he muttered in awe.

    ¡°Is this what you had promised?¡± Tekla asked. ¡°So, you have succeeded in the end¡­¡±

    ¡°We have not,¡± Julya said. ¡°Isyd Wybrany had. He is the one who brought this Ingraced Blysht to us.¡±

    Tekla let out a harsh laugh. ¡°This is no time for jokes, Mrs Ravasz.¡±

    ¡°It is not a joke. This is indeed the Ingraced Blysht we promised you. It was the subject of our research for the past month but, as you know, we had hit a dead-end. That is until Isyd offered the Blysht. He succeeded where we have failed.¡±

    ¡°This is impossible!¡± Tekla said crossly. ¡°How could he succeed where two Arcanysta have failed for months? He¡¯s of the 1  <sup>st</sup>   Opening!¡±

    Hidrss was also frowning at Isyd, but he didn¡¯t say anything yet.

    ¡°Is it why you insisted for him to be here? Is the Atelier a joke to you, Mrs Ravasz?¡±

    ¡°We have nothing to gain lying about this!¡± Norran said. The man was clearly getting annoyed by the woman¡¯s attitude.

    ¡°Explain this to me once again,¡± Hidrss finally said in a soft voice. ¡°Your research, I mean.¡±

    Norran cleared his throat. ¡°Well, the Blysht is a crystal that naturally occurs alongside halite crystals; we suspect that the two crystals have the same generation process. If usually useless, it was noted on several occasions that the Blysht would emit sometimes an iridescent light of its own and only briefly. It is by studying this phenomenon that my wife and I first discovered that it usually occurs in a situation with a high Grace Concentration, but first, we only thought it to be a simple coincidence; after all, mining involved the use of a lot of [Arcanes]. From that, we studied the physical properties of the Blysht such as its crystalline structure and its interactions with light in hope of repeating the phenomenon, but with no success.

    ¡°In last resort, we experimented with the Grace. The crystal responded as we expected, but the readings began to deviate from the theory at a high Concentration of Grace ¡ª we notice the first deviations in the Grace sensitivity around the 9  <sup>th</sup>   Opening. You can have a look at our first report for more details on that. Anyway, Julya was the one to notice that past the 12  <sup>th</sup>   Opening, the Blysht began acting like a spring: the Grace Concentration would not increase linearly anymore and at the same time the Grave sensitivity of the Blysht would spike. From those observations, we came up with the theory that maybe the Blysht could be used to store the Holy Grace. We hypothesized that under certain conditions and after a certain threshold, the Grace present in the environment is absorbed by the lattice structure of the Blysht and rearranges it. The only thing left for us to do was to test this theory. We had to Ingrace the Blysht and observe the change in the crystalline structure. Unfortunately, this was revealed to be easier said than done. That is until Isyd over there presented us with a successful sample. We had the Ingraced Blysht for only one day so we were limited to the amount of testing on what we could do and there are still many things we have to figure out. We will need more time before we can give you a complete report. I wish I could give you more explanation but¡ª¡±

    ¡°I can explain the rest if you want,¡± Isyd stepped in.

    All the heads turned toward him as he stood up. Norran smiled at him and nodded.

    ¡°This is ridiculous!¡± Tekla spat.

    ¡°Let us hear what he has to say, Dumnchory,¡± Hidrss said.

    Isyd approached the table and picked up the Blysht. ¡°The comparison to a spring is a useful one, but I think that a better analogy is to think of the Blysht absorbing the Grace like a sponge absorbing water.¡±

    ¡°Did you just compare the Holy Grace with water?¡± Tekla drawled. ¡°This is a childish analogy!¡±

    ¡°It is not. Water is everywhere. Grace is everywhere. I think that the analogy makes sense and is a powerful tool to make sense of our situation. The lattice of the Blysht is deformed by the Grace like a sponge is deformed as it absorbs water. It is possible to expel the water by applying an opposite deformation on the sponge and similarly, it would be possible to expel the Grace from the Blysht.¡±

    Tekla was about to say something, but Hidrss spoke first. ¡°I assume that it is not as simple as putting the crystal in a high Grace Concentration environment. How did you Ingrace the Blysht?¡±

    ¡°By a [Storing Hex] I came up with.¡±

    ¡°The Opening?¡±

    ¡°12  <sup>th</sup>.¡±

    Hidrss raised an eyebrow at that.

    ¡°You cannot have cast a 12  <sup>th</sup>   Opening [Hex]!¡± Tekla spat.

    ¡°I can,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I have. I can do it once again in front of you right now.¡±

    ¡°It is hard to believe, but not entirely impossible,¡± Hidrss mused. ¡°Many Artysta have stumbled into the Balance of a [Spell] by sheer luck. Our field is full of serendipities, after all...¡±

    The Tutor shifted on his seat then finally got up and picked up a rubber ball laying on his desk. He then began strolling along the room.

    ¡°So, you managed to get the Grace in...¡± he said to Isyd. ¡°How do you get it out?¡±

    ¡°By applying the Negative Sequence of the [Storing Hex],¡± Isyd said without missing a beat.

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    ¡°The Negative Sequence is not a subject of the first semester of a 1  <sup>st</sup>   Year. How do you know about it, Young Isyd?¡±

    ¡°I have read it in a book. I spend a lot of time in the Library.¡±

    ¡°We can help him with figuring that out once we¡¯re resumed our experiments,¡± Julya stepped in.

    But Hidrss did not look at her. His eyes were solely focused on the Young Pupil.

    ¡°What would be the Coefficient of Restitution?¡±

    ¡°Well... that¡¯s something we still need to calculate...¡± Norran began.

    ¡°Around 80%, I¡¯d venture,¡± Isyd said.

    Tekla scoffed. ¡°Now, this is just absurd! Pure gold, the most sensitive element we know, has only a Coefficient of 50%!¡±

    ¡°Well, you didn¡¯t  know  about the Blysht now, did you?¡± Isyd retorted.

    ¡°Is there anything to motivate your guess, Young Isyd?¡± Hidrss asked.

    Isyd could hardly say that it had heard the number thrown around back in old Ziemia, so he lied instead. ¡°It¡¯s just a hopeful estimate. I feel like there¡¯s nothing quite like the Blysht and I am confident that we could reach such a high Coefficient of Restitution by refining my [Storing Hex].¡±

    ¡°I see... I have one last question for you, Young Isyd,¡± Hidrss said. ¡°Why should I invest time and money in this research?¡±

    Isyd presented the shining crystal for all to see. He met the Tutor¡¯s green eyes.

    ¡°The Blysht is the next step in exploring the Arts. It is the Holy Grace made solid and held in the palm of the hand. The possibilities ahead of us are endless because now, in addition to manipulating the Grace, Artysta can store it. For too long, we stared at the sun, yearning for its warmth. Now, we have harnessed fire and made warmth our own.¡±

    Silence fell on the room, silence that even Tekla did not dare break. All the eyes were turned to Hidrss, which in turn was watching Isyd attentively.

    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a wide smile broke on his face. ¡°All right! I¡¯m convinced!¡±

    Tekla jumped from her seat. ¡°Tutor, this is ridiculous! The things they¡¯re saying...¡±

    ¡°I am intrigued by what they¡¯re promising, Tekla, and I intend to see the end of it. The Blysht...¡± his voice trailed  off,  his eyes glazed over as his mind wandered to all the possibilities this new discovery entailed.

    The Ravasz had also risen from their seat in excitement and were clasping each other hands. Julya¡¯s eyes were wet with unshed tears but her smile was wide as she hugged her husband who was laughing out of relief. Even Isyd smiled as he watched Naeht making spins of celebration around the room.

    Tekla was visibly fuming and all her attention was focused on Isyd. If a look could kill, Isyd would have been dead ten times over.

    ¡°Norran, Julya, I now put you in charge of a Commission to study the Blysht,¡± Hidrss declared. ¡°Your research is open to full funding from the Atelier as a lead project. You are now Arcanysta employed by the Academy and you must answer to me directly. We can discuss later the details of the contract. How does that sound to you?¡±

    The Ravasz exchanged a glance between them. ¡°It is wonderful, but...¡± Julya began.

    ¡°The thing is that...¡± Norran continued. ¡°We made a promise with Isyd here. He made three demands, in exchange for the Ingraced Blysht. I am honouring one of them by asking that you allow Isyd Wybrany to enter the Atelier and work alongside us in studying the Blysht.¡±

    Tekla¡¯s eyes almost bulged out of her skull. ¡°Preposterous! How dare he make  demands ! He¡¯s just a Pupil of the 1  <sup>st</sup>   Opening!¡±

    Hidrss turned to Isyd, an intrigued look on his face. ¡°Three demands? What were they, Young Isyd?¡±

    Isyd, not backing down, began enumerating them on his fingers. ¡°Firstly, I want to be recognized as the one who came up with the [Storing Hex]. Secondly, I want to be granted full access to the Atelier, despite being of the 1  <sup>st</sup>   Opening. Lastly, I want to own the intellectual property of this [Storing Hex].¡±

    From the corner of his eyes, Isyd could see the Ravasz shift where they stood. It was also their first time hearing Isyd¡¯s last demand and they were uneased by it. Asking for an Intellectual License on a [Spell], and more specifically on an [Arcane], meant that Isyd would have a significant voice in every decision involving the use and distribution of his [Storing Hex]. It was perhaps pushing it too far.

    ¡°Out of curiosity, what would you do if I refused these ridiculous demands of yours?¡± Hidrss asked.

    ¡°I would take the Ingraced Blysht and leave the Academy. The Atelier will lose the monopoly on this new technology and the chance to research it. I¡¯m sure that other Arcanysta in the Commonwealth will be interested in my offer...¡±

    Isyd and Hidrss stared at one another for long seconds, none of them backing down.

    Finally, Isyd let out a cheeky smile and Hidrss laughed.

    ¡°Hell no!¡± the Tutor said, brushing his hair out of his face. ¡°All right, Young Isyd, I accept your demands!¡±

    ¡°Tutor, you can¡¯t!¡± Tekla protested. ¡°The Atelier¡¯s policy...¡±

    ¡°Isyd Wybrany has proven that he was an exception to the rules, Dumnchory,¡± Hidrss said, waving her protest away. He turned to the Ravasz. ¡°Now that his case is sorted out, do you accept my proposal?¡±

    ¡°Gladly!¡± Norran exclaimed, excited. ¡°We can start as soon as you want!¡±

    ¡°Let us sign the necessary papers, first,¡± Julya said, more reserved. ¡°Plus, I must point out that we ran out of Blysht to experiment on. We need to seek more first.¡±

    Isyd¡¯s smile grew even larger. He opened one side of his darkveil and pulled out a small pillowcase that clinked with the sounds of crystals inside.

    ¡°Well... I suppose then that the Atelier will be interested in what I can offer...¡±

 26 â€“ Wish for the Future

    Isyd was seated in the recess of the Fields when he sensed Jadwia and Kewin approaching. Since his admission to the Academy, the woods had become the second place where he spent most of his time, second only to the Library. While most Pupils had too much sense to stray far from the well-trodden paths and avoided wandering entirely once night had come, Isyd had explored the Fields in their entirety. Once he had wandered as far as to reach the crumbling walls that used to surround the Inside centuries ago.

    It was only recently however that he had found this spot of the forest, sparse of woods and far from the paths. Isyd was resting on a stone near a pond, enjoying this rare sunny day as autumn was slowly turning into winter and the Korochun, the Longest Night of the Year, was approaching.

    ¡°You are a difficult person to find, Isyd Wybrany¡­¡± Jadwia said as she made her way into the clearing, Kewin on her heels.

    Not difficult enough it seems ¡­ Isyd thought. Still, he was surprised that they had found him. Usually, nobody came this way and by the looks of their uniform, Isyd could guess that they had spent quite some time trudging through the forest.

    ¡°You missed the morning classes,¡± Jadwia said. ¡°You didn¡¯t care for them?¡±

    ¡°I had to drop by the Atelier this morning,¡± Isyd said.

    Jadwia looked around, taking in the birds, the pond, Isyd¡¯s coat hanging on a low branch of a nearby tree and the man himself seated cross-legged on a polished stone, a relaxed expression on his face.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she finally asked him.

    ¡°I was exercising and now I am resting.¡±

    She rose an eyebrow. ¡° Exercising ? Why would you exercise?¡±

    ¡°Whyever not? A healthy mind needs a healthy body.¡±

    ¡°I guess¡­¡± she said, unconvinced.

    Kewin walked around her and sat on a nearby rock. He pointed at Isyd. ¡°Isn¡¯t that your knife you have at your belt? Did you get it back?¡±

    ¡°I did.¡±

    Isyd had sold most of the Blysht he had brought back to the Atelier, only keeping for himself three crystals just in case. With the money, he had bought back his knife from the pawnshop. He hadn¡¯t been enthusiastic about seeing this newfound money immediately melt away, but his knife was all that mattered.

    And now he had it back, safely attached to his belt and always with him wherever he went.

    Jadwia¡¯s eyes went wide when she noticed it.

    ¡°You own an  Inian blade ?¡± she almost shouted.

    ¡°You know about them?¡± Kewin asked her, surprised that she recognized it immediately.

    ¡°Of course! Everyone knows about them. I remember when my brother and father got their swords and the ludicrous money they had to spend,¡± she said before turning back toward Isyd. ¡°How in the hell did you get an Inian knife?¡±

    ¡°It was a gift. It is quite a long story¡­¡±

    ¡°Care to tell it?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    The simple word was spoken without raising his voice, but the weight of it could not go unnoticed.

    Jadwia frowned and bit her lips, but finally, she nodded. ¡°Fair enough. That was indiscreet of me, I apologize.¡±

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    ¡°Apologies accepted.¡±

    She looked carefully at Isyd, trying to guess if he meant it or was actually angry. Isyd¡¯s face was as distant and inexpressive as usual.

    She sighed and smirked. ¡°You are a strange person, Isyd Wybrany¡­ You managed to enter the Atelier as a 1  <sup>st</sup>   Year. Hell, you managed to cast a [Hex] of the 12  <sup>th</sup>   Opening!¡±

    ¡°It is not as impressive if you remember our talk regarding the Openings.¡±

    ¡°How is the Atelier?¡± Kewin suddenly asked. ¡°I mean¡­ it¡¯s not like we could enter to see it for ourselves¡­¡±

    Isyd gave it a few seconds of thought before answering.

    ¡°It is noisy. And crowded.¡±

    Jadwia rolled her eyes. ¡°Is it really all you have to say about it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d rather let it to your imagination,¡± Isyd said with a shrug. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of things happening in the Atelier and I didn¡¯t have time to see everything. I guess in the end it depends on why you are in there in the first place.¡±

    ¡°Do you plan on becoming an Arcanysta after you graduate?¡± Kewin asked him.

    ¡°Or perhaps becoming a Holy Knight of the Wings given that you have an Inian blade?¡± Jadwia added.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t given much thought to what I would do after the Academy,¡± Isyd said.

    It was a blatant lie and in his peripheral vision, Isyd could see Naeht shaking with laughter after hearing it.

    Kewin and Jadwia exchanged a shocked look. They seemed genuinely surprised by his answer. He asked them what was wrong.

    ¡°It¡¯s just that most Pupils have already an idea of what they want to do after the Academy,¡± Jadwia explained. ¡°After all, it¡¯s not like anyone can enrol¡­¡±

    It did make sense since Pupils were demanded to be at least of the 1st Opening to enter the Academy. Except if they were naturally gifted, this required at least an intentional exposure to the Holy Arts from a young age. Nobody enrolled just by accident.

    ¡°Then, what do you want to become once you graduate, Kewin?¡± Isyd asked.

    The young man blushed at being put on the spot like that. ¡°Hmm¡­ Well¡­ I¡¯m not really sure¡­¡± he stammered. ¡°My father wants me to join the Wings as he did but¡­ I want to become an Apteyk like my mother was...¡±

    ¡°Apteyk? The Healing Art is the most difficult field of the Holy Arts, is it not?¡± Jadwia said. ¡°It is an ambitious aspiration.¡±

    ¡°And the noblest one,¡± Isyd said. ¡°The Healing Arts are renowned for their difficulties and anyone who wishes to use their talents to heal and support others should be encouraged and celebrated.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ Nothing is sure... it''s just a dream¡­¡± Kewin said, embarrassed.

    ¡°What about you, Jadwia? What are your plans?¡± Isyd asked.

    ¡°To travel. I want to see other places of Ziemia, experience other cultures and learn more about the Arts while doing so. I want to be free to make my own fate.¡±

    Her eyes wandered far away as she spoke.

    Suddenly, they heard the bell ring in the 15  <sup>th</sup>   Hour. This seemed to snatch back Jadwia to the present. She turned to Isyd.

    ¡°You may not know exactly what you want to be in the future, but surely you have dreams as well, Isyd Wybrany. What do you wish for?¡±

    Isyd felt Naeht¡¯s presence next to him as she flew by. His mind wandered to another place, another time.

    Promise me, Isyd¡­ you must save them¡­ Promise me¡­

    He smiled at Jadwia. ¡°I wish to hold my part of a promise I made long ago.¡±

    She was about to say something, but he got back up and gathered his things. ¡°Anyway, you heard the bell. Let¡¯s go to class, shall we?¡±

 27 â€“ Friend of Light

    As it was her habit, Jadwia Lichtfreund took her breakfast in her room. Despite her drawn curtains, she could see that the sun had yet to rise entirely so she resorted to turning on the Lightsphere that served as a bedside lamp. She had already had her shower and had already stepped out of her bedroom to go to the canteen on the first floor and grab a pastry, before rushing back in. It was still early in the morning so she didn¡¯t expect to meet many people, but she wasn¡¯t fond of being seen before she was fully prepared to start her day.

    Today was an off day and she was expecting to use this time to catch up on some classes. For several of them, she had essays to write and she feared falling behind to the point of no return. One advantage of having her own bedroom was that she could make her own schedule without worrying if she stayed awake the whole night or overslept. Jadwia had seen the Common Dorms the first time she had arrived at the Academy. The women¡¯s section was significantly better than the men¡¯s, but even still, one look at them had been enough to convince her to rent a private room, not only for this semester but for the next one. She had found a place in the nicest wing of the Academical residence quarters, with a private bathroom, a one-person bed in a small bedroom and a parlour turned into a living room. Jadwia knew that compared to the rest of the Pupils, she was basically living in luxury.

    Once her breakfast was gulped down, she put on her uniform, washed her face one last time, tied her hair, and headed out. Thankfully, the different buildings of this section of the Academy were connected which meant that she didn¡¯t need to step out in the frigid morning. Making her way through the maze of hallways and empty classrooms, Jadwia finally arrived at the Common Room. The buzz of conversations guided her steps as she slid in through the ajar door.

    The Common Room was situated in the middle of all the residential buildings reserved for women and thus had eventually become a hub where the Pupils of every Year and Openings could gather, relax and study if they didn¡¯t feel like going all the way to the Library. Jadwia scanned the room, before heading decisively toward a circular table near the burning hearth.

    Boshena Wyater and Tatyana Chud were both already seated, exactly where she had left them. The former was tall and pale with long, glassy blond hair and glasses firmly resting on her sharp nose, while the latter was smaller, dark-skinned with lush raven hair. All around them papers were scattered and books were opened as their minds were struggling to make sense of what they were reading. Jadwia did not need to ask to know what they were working on: they had all agreed to meet up and try to work together on the paper for their class of  History I .

    ¡°Grace!¡± Jadwia said as she took a seat.

    Boshena mumbled something but did not avert her eyes from the book. Tatyana turned to her with a brilliant smile.

    ¡°Grace to you! How are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. What about you? Making any progress?¡±

    ¡°Only a little bit. It is so slow! There¡¯s nothing more boring to search through three different dictionaries to find the correct translation!¡±

    Jadwia nodded and pulled out her own papers and pens. She had made significantly more progress after leaving the girls last night. All she had left to do was to check her sources and perhaps draw one map and she would be done.

    ¡°God, I hate this!¡± Boshena let out a sigh. ¡°Why must I write about the Western migration pattern? Everything is written in Khrusama!¡±

    ¡°I told you had a bad draw!¡± Tatyana drawled.

    ¡°It¡¯s not fair! I¡¯m wasting so much time searching for a correct translation!¡±

    ¡°Need help?¡± Jadwia proposed. ¡°Show me the passage.¡±

    Boshena slid the excerpt in her direction. ¡°Good luck. It¡¯s written in Middle High Khrusama!¡±

    Jadwia glanced down at the tidy writings.  How easy¡­  With her finger, she followed the lines and began translating as she went on.

    ¡° We ride to meet the Sunrise on our steeds. Fear our swords, fear our bows, fear our hooves. Our People are one with the earth and thus we will claim it as ours. Stand your ground and you shall perish. And so shall she you took as wife. And so shall them you have fathered. Must you utter our names, call us with fear, call us with awe. Call us Khrusamen! ¡± Jadwia paused and then looked up. ¡°You should perhaps look for another excerpt. I¡¯m not sure about this source, it is too coherent so I suspect it has been written quite a while later after the Western migration pattern...¡±

    Both girls were watching Jadwia mutely, eyes wide.

    ¡°Since when can you understand Middle High Khrusama?¡± Tatyana said. ¡°Do you speak Khrusama?¡±

    Jadwia felt heat rise on her cheeks. She should have hidden it better. She shrugged and laughed it off.

    ¡°Nah, I know the basics of Khrusama, that¡¯s all¡­ I¡¯ve probably read a translation of this excerpt before and that¡¯s why I remember it¡­¡±

    Boshena was eying her suspiciously, but she didn¡¯t say anything.

    ¡°Still, that¡¯s quite impressive!¡± Tatyana said. ¡°I have a Senior in my Ring who¡¯s fluent in Khrusama and even for her, the Middle High Khrusama is difficult to make sense of given how weird it sounds sometimes.¡±

    ¡°It does sound weird on the tongue,¡± Jadwia confirmed. ¡°At least it works grammatically the same that its modern version.¡±

    Boshena sighed and recovered her translation and began making the necessary corrections.

    ¡°I am also thinking of taking an extra course next semester to learn the language.¡±

    ¡°Why? You intend to travel West?¡± Tatyana asked her.

    ¡°Not necessarily. I¡¯m just thinking that it may be useful. At least to know the basics to communicate with Artysta from those parts of Ziemia.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s something that will have to wait for later,¡± Jadwia said, looking to change the subject. ¡°For now, we have to finish this paper.¡±

    ¡°Everyone is working on it,¡± Tatyana said. ¡°I was at the Library briefly yesterday and it is full of 1  <sup>st</sup>   Year, nose in history books. I even caught a glimpse of Isyd Wybrany there!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not surprised,¡± Jadwia said. ¡°He does spend most of his days there.¡±

    ¡°Apparently, he also sleeps in the Library¡­¡± Tatyana said in a whisper.

    ¡°Now, that¡¯s ridiculous!¡± Boshena said.

    ¡°I mean¡­ that would explain how he is so good at classes¡­¡± Tatyana cheekily drawled. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who told me that you admired him?¡±

    Boshena flushed bright red, faster than Jadwia had seen Kewin ever do.

    ¡°I have never said that! I said I admired his  dedication , not the person itself!¡±

    ¡°Do you really think dedication is everything there¡¯s to it? We all study a lot, but Isyd Wybrany seems to be on another level entirely. I mean, remember the last class? He solved the Balance puzzle of Tutor Milwyk in a matter of seconds! He makes it look so trivial!¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m sure that his innate talent also plays a role in his success¡­¡± Boshena said begrudgingly.

    Tatyana leaned in, a conspiratorial look on her face. ¡°Some say that he is in fact a noble in exile from Matizna¡­¡±

    Boshena rolled her eyes and huffed. ¡°That¡¯s another ridiculous idea! He doesn¡¯t act like he¡¯s from Matizna. Plus, he doesn¡¯t have the accent!¡±

    ¡°Well, neither do I and yet I¡¯m from the Empire!¡± Tatyana retorted.

    ¡°Of course, you spent all your life on this side of the borders!¡±

    Tatyana was about to say something when Jadwia intervened.

    ¡°Isyd Wybrany is no foreigner. He is from a farming village near Hojny, a city two weeks of travel south of Vilriver.¡±

    It was at least what Kewin had told her when she had asked him if he knew anything about the mysterious classmate.

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    Tatyana affected a disappointed pout. ¡°Damn! That sounds immediately less cool¡­¡±

    ¡°A farming village, eh?¡± Boshena pondered out loud. ¡°Those are quite humble beginnings. The Grace does bless everyone in the end I guess¡­¡±

    ¡°You also think Isyd Wybrany is Blessed by the Grace?¡±

    The blond girl shrugged. ¡°Isn¡¯t it what Tutor Milwyk has been saying? For me it¡¯s all but confirmed;¡±

    ¡°Wow, and to say that we are in the same class¡­¡± Tatyana sighed dreamily. She then turned to Jadwia. ¡°You and the albino boy, Kewin Udachur, spend a lot of time with him. How did you become friends?¡±

    ¡° Friends ?¡± Jadwia almost choked on the word. ¡°I don¡¯t think that Isyd Wybrany considers me a friend. Hell, half of the time he seems to barely tolerate my presence and wishes to be left alone! The only reason you see me around him is that Tutor Milwyk asked him to answer any basic questions I have regarding the classes.¡±

    ¡°Still, it¡¯s much more interactions than most of us have ever had with him!¡± Tatyana said.

    ¡°How is he? As a person, I mean,¡± Boshena asked.

    ¡°He is¡­¡± Jadwia¡¯s mind went through all the obvious descriptions possible.

    He is cold, distant, strange, witty, insightful¡­

    After that also came more abstract descriptions, words she had never considered before but now sounded evident.

    He is¡­ wary¡­ angry¡­ dangerous¡­

    ¡°He is surprisingly nice,¡± she finally said.

    Boshena raised an eyebrow at this simplistic description. Surely she had more to say, but Jadwia didn¡¯t give anything more.

    Tatyana rested her chin on her palm and sighed dreamily. ¡°He is  so  mysterious¡­ He is the first 1  <sup>st</sup>   Year to have joined the Atelier since Tutor Hidrss became the Master of Arcanic Arts!¡±

    ¡°I heard people talking about it,¡± Boshena said. She turned to Jadwia. ¡°Is it true he joined?¡±

    Jadwia simply nodded. She had been asked not to talk about whatever she¡¯d seen play out at the Ravasz house. Plus, she wasn¡¯t sure she understood anything of what happened with Isyd¡¯s weird and shiny crystal.

    ¡°It is¡­quite impressive¡­¡± Boshena said, trying to hide her obvious wonder.

    Both girls had apparently decided that Jadwia was their best source of information regarding Isyd Wybrany since Tatyana followed with a question of her own.

    ¡°Do you know why he is still Ringless? My Ringleader had been saying that it wouldn¡¯t last, but she¡¯d been saying that for a month now!¡±

    ¡°I do not know why he hasn¡¯t joined any. He looks to me like he doesn¡¯t like company. Perhaps, he hasn¡¯t found any Ring he fancied¡­¡±

    Tatyana perked up. ¡°Speaking of Rings, how your application is going? Have you managed to join the Cerulean Feathers?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ still up in the air,¡± Jadwia sighed. Suddenly, from the corner of her eyes, she noticed movements.

    She turned to see Klara Utro waving at her and beckoning her from the other side of the Common Room.

    ¡°Er¡­ girls, I think I will have to leave you,¡± Jadwia said as she began packing up. ¡°Senior Klara is calling me.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s about the Cerulean Feathers!¡± Tatyana said, hopeful.

    ¡°Perhaps¡­ Anyway, I see you later!¡±

    She rushed to her Senior who welcomed her with a toothy smile. Whenever Jadwia saw her, Klara Utro always appeared happy and full of energy.

    ¡°Grace, Senior Klara,¡± she said timidly.

    ¡°Grace, Jadwia! Didn¡¯t I say you shouldn¡¯t call me Senior?¡±

    ¡°You did.¡±

    ¡°Then why do you continue?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a force of habit, Se¡ª I mean, Klara.¡±

    Klara giggled and passed a hand through her short hair. ¡°Come, let¡¯s go out. I must talk to you about something.¡±

    Jadwia felt jitters in her stomach. She was expecting of having to wait a little bit before being relieved of her stress, but the moment they stepped out of the Room Klara linked their arms together.

    ¡°Congratulations! You have been accepted into the Cerulean Feathers!¡± she exclaimed.

    Jadwia¡¯s jaw fell open. ¡°Wait, really? Good Grace, I can¡¯t¡­ Thank you so much!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me, you did most of the work! Now, it is as I explained to you when you first applied; your probation period starts tomorrow and lasts until the end of this semester. If all goes well, you will be a full-fledged member of the Cerulean Feathers for next semester!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s awesome! But¡­ isn¡¯t there something more I need to do? Like, I was just asked basic questions during the interview¡­ there¡¯s no trial or rite of passage?¡±

    ¡°Nah, all of this was discontinued two years ago,¡± Klara said with a smirk. ¡°Most Rings have done away with trials as well; they cannot afford to put off Pupils. This is not to say that everything is assured. The Seniors have been keeping an eye on you and followed Tutor Milwyk¡¯s counsel. Your grades and behaviour speak for themselves: you are a good Pupil, Jadwia Lichtfreund! Just keep up the good work!¡±

    Jadwia felt relief course through her body. She nodded and smiled. She had needed this, a confirmation to soothe her doubts: she was at her place at the Academy.

    As they crossed an inner courtyard, Klara¡¯s expression shifted from happy to wary and hesitant. She watched to see if there was anyone in earshot, then leaned toward Jadwia.

    ¡°I must confess something to you, Jadwia,¡± she said. ¡°I was hesitating, but I think it is best if you know. Plus, I feel bad¡­¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Jadwia whispered back, worried.

    ¡°It is all but confirmed that there is one additional reason that motivated your acceptance in our Ring. It is known by our Seniors that you are close with Isyd.¡±

    That again?  Jadwia¡¯s face turned from concerned to annoyed.

    ¡°What does Isyd Wybrany has to do with anything?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s Ringless.¡±

    ¡°So, what?¡±

    ¡°This cannot last. Listen carefully, there are things in this Academy that are invisible to the uninitiated. It is hidden from the 1  <sup>st</sup>   Years but know that all the Rings are in permanent conflict against each other. It is a struggle that pits Pupils against Pupils for fame and influence.¡±

    Jadwia shrugged. ¡°All right, and what about it?¡±

    ¡°You do not understand!¡± Klara growled, snapping her fingers in frustration. ¡°It is not simply children¡¯s games for who can seat where in the Canteen. The conflicts involve powerful factions such as many noble families from all over the Commonwealth; we are talking about strife and opposition that will continue long after their studies and turn into political as well as family feuds!¡±

    Klara¡¯s words were starting to get to Jadwia and she felt her heart drop in her chest. ¡°Wh-why are you telling me this?¡± she muttered.

    ¡°The Cerulean Feathers, the Crimson Gold, the Golden Dew, the Faded Jades, The Hammer, the White Flowers¡­ The most powerful the Rings of the Academy are now in competition for recruiting Isyd Wybrany in their ranks by the end of the semester.¡±

    ¡°I-I still don¡¯t understand what this has to do with me¡­¡±

    Klara gave her a sad smile. ¡°I just thought that you had the right to know what was happening. As Isyd¡¯s friend, you may be targeted in some way or another. The boy is Blessed by the Grace, and thus some Pupils may feel justified in any kind of actions¡­¡±

    Jadwia nodded slowly, her face pale and her eyes wide.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± she said softly. ¡°What should I do now?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. Stay on your guard, that is all. I will keep an ear out for you and warn you if our Seniors were to try anything funny. It should be fine, though¡­¡±

    ¡°You know what¡¯s funny?¡± Jadwia said with a shaky laugh. ¡°I¡¯m not even  that  close with him¡­ I mean, we just talk here and there¡­¡±

    ¡°Aye, I understand you since I am in the same situation. However, it seems that Isyd is a whirlwind that catches everyone who comes near him¡­¡±

 28 â€“ Troubles at Home

    Kewin returned to his home village on the back of a peddler¡¯s wagon. Mizech was a small village with only 5 hours of carriage travel from Vilriver if one took the well-trodden roads. Kewin had woken up early on his day off and managed to buy his journey with a handful of coins. He planned to sleep at his family home and make the trip back tomorrow. It would be right on time before the classes resumed while giving him enough time to check on his father. The Academy did not really care what the Pupils did on their days off, so long that they brought no shame to the institution. Still, halfway through his trip, Kewin had changed from his colourful uniform to darker drabs that made him less stand out.

    Not that it mattered. By his stature and appearance, Kewin Udachur wasn¡¯t one to go unnoticed and this was, in his humble opinion, the tragedy of his life.

    The peddler had left hours before the break of dawn, his wagon full of products to buy from sailors at Vilriver and to be sold at a higher price more inland. Now they arrived a bit before noon and rolled into the marketplace that was already in full swing. Kewin jumped down from the cart, thanked the peddler and made his way through the crowd amidst shouting of prices and animated haggling. Only four months had passed since Kewin had left his village and thus he had an easy time finding his way.

    Truth be told, it was difficult to get lost in Mizech. The village was homed of a small community of less than a hundred inhabitants who lived from what they farmed and raised and traded whatever they couldn¡¯t produce themselves. In Mizech, everyone knew everyone else and nothing remained secret very long. As he was making his way out of the marketplace, Kewin could feel the eyes following him.

    One would think that after sixteen years spent here, one would get used to it. It was never the case. You never got used to being the odd one, the one who was different from the other.

    Kewin hurried his pace as he walked in front of the One Church, the central building of the village. Not far from there he finally reached his home. The place wasn¡¯t impressive in any sense of the word ¨C it was far closer to a shack than anything else and it stood in the shadows of the One Church. Kewin glanced around him then crossed the threshold and entered his home.

    Immediately, he was hit by how small, dirty and dusty it was. The curtains on the only two windows were drawn and the light could only be entered through the door. The air felt heavy and wet and carried an unpleasant scent.

    Kewin sighed. He wasn¡¯t surprised to find his home in this state. After his mother had passed away, it had only gotten worse. His father had never been one to take care of a house and since he was unemployed, they lacked the coins to hire someone to do it for them. As he stepped in, Kewin told himself that it could be worse. The rest of the village did help when they could. For a long time, he and his father had survived only thanks to their generosity.

    Kewin threw the curtains open and let light flood the interior. He eyed the shattered glass on the floor, the stains and the mould that was growing into the wooden planks. Grabbing a discarded piece of cloth resting on a stool, Kewin kneeled and began scrubbing.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±

    The rough voice came from a man standing on the doorstep against the light. He stepped in with an uneven gait and Kewin saw the familiar bearded face of his father.

    ¡°Kewin? Good Grace, boy! You¡¯re back!¡±

    Kewin got up just in time to be caught in a crushing hug from his father. They were about the same size and Kewin hugged him back.

    ¡°Grace, Father,¡± he mumbled against the man¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°What happened, kid? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be at the Academy?¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t respond to my letters so I worried something had happened.¡±

    His father took a step back to have a better look at his boy. In return, Kewin observed his father. He noticed his stained clothes, his unkempt beard and the dark spot below his eyes.

    ¡°Aye, I was getting around writing back, I swear. You shouldn¡¯t have bothered, Kewin! Here, here, let¡¯s have a seat and you tell me how you are doing!¡±

    Kewin took a seat on a stool while his father sat down on the only couch present. He dragged with him a footrest on which he dragged his left foot. It landed with a familiar sound and when his father pulled back his trouser, it revealed where the limb had been cut off and replaced with a wooden prosthesis. His father began distractedly messaging the place where the wood met flesh while smiling at his son.

    ¡°So, tell me: how you¡¯re doing? Which Openings did you get into?¡±

    Kewin felt a pricking on his neck. This had been the subject of the first letter he had sent to his father, right after he had passed the examination.

    ¡°I¡¯m of the 1  <sup>st</sup>   Opening, Father.¡±

    ¡°1  <sup>st</sup>  ? Good, good! We could have hoped for more, but 1  <sup>st</sup>   is good as well! That¡¯s my boy! Your Ma would be proud, Kewin! How¡¯s life in there? I never went to Vilriver!¡±

    Kewin began describing his life in the Academy, the Library, the Dorms, and the Canteens, but also the classes he had, the Pupils he met, and the food he ate. As time passed, he felt more comfortable and soon he relaxed where he sat, enjoying the conversation with his father. The man laughed when he heard Kewin describing how Isyd had taken down Olav Kazkan and his friends.

    ¡°That friend of yours has guts! I¡¯ll drink to that!¡±

    His father hunched sideways and picked up an already opened cider bottle and took a long swill. Kewin watched him do, a sad expression on his face. After a while indoors, he had identified the smell that permeated everything in the house; it was the odour of mead and rancid alcohol. His suspicion had then been confirmed by seeing rows upon rows of empty glass bottles behind the couch.

    ¡°Father¡­¡± Kewin began hesitantly. ¡°The Blue Priestesses advised against drinking beer¡­ Should I fetch you a glass of water perhaps?¡±

    His father gave him a dark look. For the first time since coming back, Kewin noticed that the white of his eyes had turned visibly yellow.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I don¡¯t need your water!¡±

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I said! Stop your nagging, Kewin!¡±

    The shout made Kewin flinch where he sat. His father did not seem to notice as he peered down the bottle to see how much of his drink was left. He spat on the floor and then wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

    ¡°I hear enough of those bloody women, I don¡¯t need you to start too, boy! And plus, what do they know, uh? Bloody witches, the lot of them! Giving orders to fellows like me¡­ they should know their place, that¡¯s what I say!¡±

    His attention focused on his son. ¡°Those damn women¡­¡± he slurred. ¡°Do you also have them in this school of yours, boy?¡±

    ¡°I do, Father,¡± Kewin muttered.

    ¡°Watch out, then! Less they throw a spell on you or something¡­ Can¡¯t trust them¡­ Can¡¯t trust anyone, those days¡­ You hear me, boy? You watch out!¡±

    ¡°I will, Father.¡±

    ¡°Good!¡± he took another swill. ¡°They think I¡¯ve forgotten what they did to my Brothers out there¡­ I still remember when those damn witches not healing Ugo! Those bastards, the Matiznan scums, they blew a hole right through him but I carried him on my back to the camp, you know¡­ I thought¡­ I thought they¡¯ll help him! But those witches didn¡¯t care a bit! ¡®Can¡¯t be saved¡¯, they said, ¡®nothing can be done for him¡¯¡­ What a load of shit¡­¡±

    Kewin could recognize when his father was taken by one of his moods. A bottle in hand, his mind wandered to the time when he still served in the Wings as a foot soldier. His ramblings were usually laced with bile and bitterness until they eventually turned unintelligible as his mind was dulled by the alcohol.

    ¡°You remember what I told you about those witches, Kewin? How they cut my leg?¡±

    ¡°I remember, Father.¡±

    ¡°Criminals! I should have killed them! What they did to me! To save my life? Bah, they are all liars¡­ they just didn¡¯t want to heal the likes of me! Easier to just chop a guy off! Priestesses, my ass! Bunch of criminals, the lot of them. You cannot trust them, Kewin! You hear me, boy? You cannot!¡±

    ¡°But¡­ Aunt Olyvia is a Blue Priestess as well¡­¡±

    His father almost stood up from where he sat, eyes throwing lightning. ¡°She¡¯s a damn witch! You do not speak to her! She¡¯ll poison your mind as she did with your mother!¡±

    Kewin flinched back, but his father did not get up. He held the armrest of the chair in a strong grip as if he was losing his sense of balance. His face was twisted in a grimace and spit covered his lower lips and his shaggy beard.

    ¡°She turned your mother against me, this goddamn witch! All this shit about being an Apteyk¡­! I don¡¯t want to hear her name said in this house, you hear me boy? And I don¡¯t want to hear anything more about their witchcraft!¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t witchcraft, Father! Mother studied the Healing Arts. She was a good Apteyk!¡±

    ¡°I said¡ª¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°I want to do the same Father, I want to study the Healing Arts. I want to become an Apteyk like her!¡±

    ¡°ENOUGH!¡±

    The empty bottle flew across the room and grazed Kewin on the forehead as he ducked before shattering on the floor. Kewin fell from the stool he sat on and winced in pain. When he got back up, he saw that his father had done the same. His eyes were wide and haggard and his chest was raising laboriously.

    ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean¡­ You¡­¡± the man stammered.

    He suddenly doubled over as if suddenly struck with intense pain. Kewin rushed to him just as his father was about to collapse.

    ¡°Father! Father! Are you okay?¡±

    His father sat back down on the sofa with difficulty while clutching his left side. He watched his son with tired and teary eyes.

    ¡°Kewin¡­ you can¡¯t¡­¡± his father barely managed, breathless.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Father¡­ you must rest now¡­¡±

    His father slowly closed his eyes and Kewin delicately laid him on the sofa and readjusted his posture to make him more comfortable. He found a thick plaid rolled under the sofa and he covered his father with it. Immediately, his respiration seemed calmer, though his face had not lost its dangerous shade.

    Kewin¡¯s head was throbbing in pain, but he didn¡¯t pay it any attention. Silently and diligently, he went around the room and tidied up whatever he could get his hands on. He then gathered the empty bottles and threw a last glance behind him before heading out.

    With a heavy step, Kewin approached the entrance of the One Church. It had been built with limestone and stood out from anything else in the village. The One Church was the centre of worship of God and the architecture reflected it by its main building, its high columns and its hexagonal layout. Kewin remembered spending quite a lot of time here with the Red and Blue Priestesses. The former were charged with the holy duty of education while the latter took care of the sick and needy. Kewin¡¯s mother, in her profession of Apteyk, had helped quite a lot around here and people had travelled from other nearby villages to be healed by her hands.

    Kewin entered the Church with no problem as it was always open to anyone. He saluted the few trainees he saw running around in their duty. There were seven high stained-glass windows, one for each of the colours of the rainbow. As light poured through them, it lit the interior of the church with an iridescent glow.

    ¡°Kewin?¡±

    Kewin turned to the soft voice and saw a woman simply dressed in the ecclesiastic blue robe of her order. She was tall and of strong stature, with her hair cut short. In her hands, she held a water bowl and used bandages.

    ¡°The day Graces you, Aunt Olyvia,¡± Kewin said with a bow of the head.

    The woman¡¯s eyes went wide, then she put down what she held in a rush and caught the young man in a fierce hug.

    ¡°You¡¯re back! Grace, I¡¯m so glad to see you! Are you okay? Is everything all right? Are you hurt? Why are you back? Did something happen?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m all right, Aunty, I¡¯m all right,¡± Kewin said softly with a smile, trying to untangle himself from her grip. ¡°I came back to check on Father since he didn¡¯t reply to my letters¡­¡±

    His aunt took a step back to have a better look at her nephew. She noticed his left brow, bleeding where the bottle had grazed him.

    ¡°Grace, you¡¯re hurt! What happened?¡± she froze then her face turned from worried to furious. ¡°It¡¯s him, isn¡¯t it? The blasted man! I¡¯ll¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wait, wait, aunty, it was an accident!¡±

    ¡°It is  always  an accident with your father! But today is the last straw. I was silent too long in respect of your mother¡¯s wishes. But my sister is no longer with us and I put the blame on him!¡±

    His aunt seemed ready to rush back to his house right at his instant and deal with his father. Kewin grabbed her sleeve.

    ¡°Please, Aunt. Do not hurt him. It was my fault, I provoked him. It was an accident. Please.¡±

    His pleading voice seemed to affect his aunt and her shoulders slouched and she sighed deeply.

    ¡°My father¡­ he is getting sicker, isn¡¯t he?¡± Kewin asked her.

    ¡°Yes, he is. His state doesn¡¯t seem to be improving. I¡¯m sorry, Kewin, but there¡¯s little I can do. Your father refuses even the little help we offer him.¡±

    Kewin closed his eyes briefly, feeling the full weight of the news crushing on his shoulders. When he opened them back, they were wet with withheld tears. His aunt hugged him and cupped his cheek like she used to do when he was still a wee boy.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Kewin¡­ I¡¯ll pray to God for a blessing every day, but¡­ I do not see what is there more for us to do. For  you  to do. You cannot stay here, Kewin. Your place is at the Academy. That¡¯s what your mother would have wanted.¡±

    ¡°But my father¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of your father, Kewin. I promise you.¡±

    Kewin sighed then nodded. His hand went into the inside of his coat and fished 5 Silvers. He handed them to her aunt. She shied back at first, but Kewin insisted and put them firmly in her palm.

    ¡°This is to buy the necessary medicine. Please, Aunt. If I cannot stay, let me do this at least. Please¡­¡±

    His voice cracked. His aunt hugged him once more.

    ¡°You are a good kid, Kewin¡­ I promise I¡¯ll take care of him. I¡¯ll write to you, I promise. Go now. A travelling troupe is leaving for Vilriver today, you can travel with them. May the Grace be with you¡­¡±

    Kewin gave her a final goodbye, then left the Church, the heart heavy. He didn¡¯t bother going to his house. He knew that it would make leaving even harder. There would be no point. Instead, he immediately headed to the main plaza. As his aunt had said, a troupe of gleemen and entertainers was about to leave. Kewin threw on his uniform coat and approached who looked like the leader and arranged to accompany them. The leader gladly accepted him and even refused the coins Kewin presented him, arguing that more company was always a gift when one¡¯s travelling.

    <hr>

    Night had already fallen when Kewin arrived back in Vilriver. It turns out that the troupe had taken its sweet time, enjoying various pauses in the way and letting the pulling mules walk at their pace. Kewin had not minded the delay. It had given him time to recollect himself. By the time he passed the Academy gates, his eyes had dried and he felt relatively back to normal.

    He was arranging his belongings in the Common Dorms and about to have a late supper when a Senior Pupil approached him.

    ¡°Kewin Udachur?¡± the young man asked formally.

    ¡°Yes, it is me, Senior.¡±

    ¡°We need you to follow us.¡±

    Kewin¡¯s hesitation only lasted half a second. He had glimpsed at his chest and saw that the Pupil was of the 4  <sup>th</sup>   Opening, and thus outranked Kewin several times over. He didn¡¯t really have a choice in the matter. Then again, his heart skipped a beat when he stepped out of the Dorms and saw two more Seniors awaiting him.

    One of them, a lanky guy with glasses gave him a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! We are members of the White Flowers! It¡¯s about your application in our Ring.¡±

    Next to him, another man stepped forward and extended his hand. ¡°My name is Niklas Fisser, 8  <sup>th</sup>   Year and 6  <sup>th</sup>   Opening. I¡¯m the Second-In-Command of the White Flowers. I wanted to personally congratulate you for joining our rank, Kewin Udachur! I propose we talk more about it around a drink, what do you say?¡±

    Kewin watched the extended hand, mind racing. He had applied to the White Flowers early in the semester. The White Flowers was known as the Ring specialized in the Healing Arts; they trained the most brilliant Apteyk of the Commonwealth.

    Kewin took a step back. ¡°I¡­ I am s-sorry¡­ I can¡¯t join the Ring¡­¡±

    Niklas Fisser gave him an incredulous look. ¡°What¡­ why?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry but I¡­ I have changed my mind¡­ I don¡¯t want to be an Apteyk anymore. I cannot¡­¡±

    ¡°You recognize the opportunity we offer you, Kewin Udachur, do you not?¡±

    ¡°I know¡­ Truly, I apologize for wasting your time. Thank you, Seniors, for considering me. Again, I am sorry¡­¡±

    Unable to withstand their gaze on him any longer, Kewin turned to leave. Doing so he bumped into the first Senior that had come for him. The young man did not move to let him pass. Kewin took a hesitant look at the three Seniors that were now surrounding him. He was taller than all of them by at least a head, but he immediately felt trapped.

    Niklas Fisser stepped in his direction and, seeing the look on his face, Kewin fought the urge to shrink back.

    ¡°I see that we are at an impasse¡­ Despite what you have said, Kewin Udachur, I will give you time to  carefully  think about your choice. Do not take a hurried decision that you may regret down the line. The White Flowers can offer many things during your stay in the Academy and a long time after. In exchange, your addition to our ranks will be truly beneficial to our Ring. We have followed you attentively and we believe that there are many things you can bring to us¡­¡±

    Kewin was about to say something, but Niklas rose his hand to silence him.

    ¡°No, do not say anything! As I said, we are waiting for you to carefully think about your decision. We will wait for your answer a week from now, hoping it to be positive. The White Flowers do not take refusal kindly. Think wisely, Kewin Udachur.¡±

    Loss for words, Kewin could only nod and only then did the Seniors step back to let him through. He walked back to his bunk, heart pounding.

    This had not been what he¡¯d expected. Kewin had taken his decision on his way back to Vilriver. He had chosen to follow his father¡¯s demands and not pursue the Healing Arts. However, the White Flowers had not accepted his refusal. Kewin wasn¡¯t sure what made them so insistent, but it made him fret.

    Kewin didn¡¯t want to seek any trouble, but somehow the trouble had sought him instead.

 29 - Exciting Times

    ¡°A 30¡ã alignment for the last sub [Hex]!¡± Hidrss said out loud.

    Isyd, who sat on the opposite side of the room, picked up his pen and added the last notation to the long list. The two young men had secluded themselves in an empty area of the Atelier and had been working on the Blysht since the very early hours of the day. Well... it would be more accurate to say that  Hidrss  had been working on the Blysht while Isyd had been given the more glorious task of... notetaking. It wasn¡¯t exactly what he had imagined when he¡¯d plotted to enter the Atelier, but he consoled himself by knowing that it was a boring that had to be done eventually.

    In the middle of the room, Dmitri Ivanovitch Hidrss was in charge of the more exciting part of [Spell] casting. The man had thrown away his uniform and replaced it with a crumpled tunic and a pair of worn-out trousers. His sandy hair had been tied back in a ponytail but a few strands had managed to escape and fell on his brow wet with sweat. Hidrss had his arm extended wide and his breath was coming more laboriously as if he was in the middle of a jog. In front of him was a piece of Blysht no larger than a thumb and resting on a stool. All around the Tutor, hundreds of Commands were dancing at the orders of his hands and his Idpulse to form the more and more complex [Hexes] that composed the [Storing Hex].

    As Isyd watched him do, he couldn¡¯t help but be impressed by his talent. For one thing, he wasn¡¯t oblivious to the Grace singing as it gathered around the Tutor. It wasn¡¯t often that Isyd heard such a cordial and harmonious Song not even when he¡¯d been himself crafting the [Storing Hex] for the first time. Plus, Hidrss was simply more knowledgeable when it came to crafting laborious [Hexes]. Isyd could cast his [Storing Hex] in a bit more than one hour without taking into account the different hiccups along the way. After only watching him do it twice, Hidrss could cast the same [Spell] in less than one hour. And as things stood, he was about to beat his own record.

    Hidrss was now trying to refine the [Storing Hex], eliminating the useless redundancies and streamlining the Balance. Isyd was taking track of the modifications Hidrss was doing so that they could repeat it and see what works and what didn¡¯t.

    Isyd observed Hidrss¡¯s movement of hands as he finalized his [Hex]. The composing [Hexes] Meshed into one another, the Grace spiked briefly and in a final flash, the [Storing Hex] appeared and inscribed itself on the piece of Blysht.

    It was done.

    Hidrss¡¯s shoulders slumped and he let out a deep sigh of relief. He gave Isyd a satisfied grin as he approached. Isyd inspected the inert Blysht. Nothing had changed except for the light outlines of the [Hex] on its crystal surface.

    ¡°If all goes well, the Blysht should passively suck in the ambient Grace,¡± Hidrss explained. ¡°We would no longer need to cast a [Spell] at it to Ingrace the crystal, we can simply use the natural Grace Osmosis.¡±

    ¡°So now we wait?¡±

    ¡°Now we wait. In the meantime, let¡¯s review the modifications I made to the [Ingracing Hex].¡±

    Isyd cocked an eyebrow at that. ¡° [Ingracing Hex] ? Since when do we call it that?¡±

    ¡°Since I decided that [Storing Hex] was a stupid name. Ingracing is a much better one!¡±

    Isyd narrowed his eyes but then shook his head. Technically, as the one who made the [Spell], he had the right to call it whatever he wanted. But this wasn¡¯t a hill he was willing to die on.

    ¡°There are in total 139 modifications,¡± Isyd declared counting down the list.

    ¡°Sounds about right,¡± Hidrss said while flexing his sore muscles.

    ¡°That¡¯s a lot of things to change at once. Do you think it will work?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The Tutor had not even hesitated a fraction of a second. Isyd rolled his eyes at this absurd level of confidence. Truth be told, what Hidrss was trying to accomplish wasn¡¯t a ridiculous idea. In fact, most Blysht in Old Ziemia used the principle of Grace Osmosis to gradually Ingrace themselves. Isyd had planned to wait a bit before suggesting the idea, but Hidrss had come up with it on his own, faster than anticipated.

    Now that he had entered the Atelier, Isyd was curious to learn more about the Master of the Arcanic Arts. He wanted to know how much of a genius Hidrss truly was.

    ¡°When we first spoke, you talked of applications for the Blysht,¡± Isyd said. ¡°Did you come up with any new ideas since then?¡±

    Hidrss¡¯s eyes sparkled wildly. ¡°Ideas? Plenty! So many in fact that it forced me to consider the future constraints of the Blysht. I suspect that eventually, we will be limited by the amount of Grace that can be stored in a single crystal.¡±

    Isyd nodded. It was indeed the ultimate limit of the Blysht and the amount of Grace that could be stored for a given crystal was proportional to its size, something that the Ravasz were bound to discover eventually with their experiments.

    ¡°That being said, I still believe that the Blysht can be combined with [Arcanes] for great efficiency,¡± Hidrss continued. ¡°For one thing, it would allow [Arcanes] to operate without the need of an Artysta. Take the Lightspheres for instance. They are the most common [Arcanes] but also one of the most engineered. From a simple touch of Grace, it uses Resonance and the Meshing of hundreds of Commands to amplify the heat and turn it into light. It was a revolution when it first came up, but nowadays, producing a Lightsphere costs almost nothing. However, it is still not perfect because for a Lightsphere to work, it still requires Grace input. No matter how many amplifications are applied, the Grace will eventually be used up and the light will fade. Someone will need to recharge it.

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    ¡°With the Blysht, this problem disappears. Imagine a Lightsphere that can burn almost indefinitely, as it is being recharged by the ambient Grace. And that is only for the example of Lightspheres! Thousands of [Arcanes] exist out there that are limited by how much Grace they consume. The Blysht can maintain the [Arcanes] going for longer and longer. It is a boon that will open many avenues for us to explore. For instance, five years ago I was working with colleagues of mine and Apteyka to develop a [Healing Arcane] but we were limited by the Grace Concentration to make it work. From our calculations, it would have required at least 20 Artysta of the 7  <sup>th</sup>   Opening to fuel it. With a stockpile of already Ingraced Blysht, one Apteyk is more than enough.¡±

    It was impossible to miss the excitation that moved Hidrss as he spoke and listening to him, Isyd couldn¡¯t help but be moved with him.

    Aye, the Blysht is a boon. Probably our strongest weapon for the War .  The things it would allow us to do...

    ¡°What about you, Isyd? Surely, you gave some thoughts as well. Let me hear them!¡±

    Isyd was taken aback by the question; he hadn¡¯t expected the man to be interested in what a 1  <sup>st</sup>   Year, 1  <sup>st</sup>   Opening Pupil would have to bring to the table. Isyd hesitated on how much to say.

    ¡°Well... Just like you, I have been thinking of possible combinations of Blysht and [Arcanes]... I imagined the installation of [Protective Arcanes] around city walls that can be activated without depriving the army of their Artysta.¡±

    Hidrss gave him a curious glance. ¡°That¡¯s quite a specific idea...¡±

    ¡°Just a random thought I had...¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯d say your idea is feasible, though I am not interested in researching further. I am not keen on making weapons of war...¡±

    Isyd frowned. ¡°I have never spoken of making weapons. A shield is a tool of defence.¡±

    ¡°Aye, but one calls for the other; it is a dance of two. History has shown us that a stronger shield only demands a sharper sword. It is a never-ending race between more defensive tools and more offensive weapons, and it is a race that I do not wish to take part in.¡±

    Isyd was about to retort something, but Hidrss beat him to it. ¡°Speaking of weapons, how is your palcat? Any progress?¡±

    ¡°Well, I was actually looking for the right moment to bring it up. I was wondering when we could discuss what to do with it?¡±

    Hidrss¡¯s eyes glinted and he smirked. ¡°Discuss it? I think there was a bit of a misunderstanding here. You¡¯re on your own for this one, kid! I have already let you in my Atelier, you can¡¯t expect me to also repair it for you now, can you? There¡¯s no way I give you everything on a platter!¡±

    ¡°I get it that you won¡¯t help me then,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°Oh, I will help you! But I won¡¯t repair it for you. If you want to fix your palcat, you have to be the one doing it. Take it as an exercise, a way for you to learn the Arcanic Arts! Learning, isn¡¯t that why you joined the Academy in the first place?¡±

    He had a point. The only reason why Isyd couldn¡¯t repair his palcat was that he wasn¡¯t the one who did it back in Old Ziemia and he never bothered learning how it was done.

    ¡°Fair enough, you¡¯re right,¡± he finally said with a sigh.

    God, did he need to look so smug about it as well...

    ¡°I will still need your help for the beginning, so when could I come to you?¡± Isyd asked.

    ¡°It will have to wait a bit actually...¡± Hidrss drawled. He noticed the look Isyd was giving him and he raised his hands in defence. ¡°Look, I am a busy man! It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to spend time here, but I am leaving Vilriver for some time to go to the Academy of Holy Honour in the South. I have some business there that I need to sort out. I¡¯ll use that time to present the Blysht to some colleagues of mine in passing.¡±

    ¡°And the research here?¡±

    ¡°Think of it like a war on two fronts! While I am away, you are still part of the research and your task is to help the Ravasz. In case of a problem, ask for Dumnchory¡¯s help, she¡¯s the one in charge in my absence.¡±

    ¡°When will you return?¡±

    Hidrss seemed to think for a second before shrugging. ¡°No idea! Don¡¯t waste time crying over my absence, kid! There¡¯s a lot of work to be done! I count on you to help the Ravasz and find a way to extract the Grace after the Blysht was Ingraced!¡±

    His smile became even wider and his eyes sparkled. He reached down to the stool and picked up the crystal that rested there between his thumb and forefinger.

    The Blysht shone with an iridescent light.

    ¡°After all, those are exciting times, Isyd Wybrany!¡±

 30 â€“ Discord in the Atelier

    Tekla Dumnchory revelled to be in charge of the Atelier. It had been a little bit less than a week since Hidrss had left for the South, but things were already not the same. On the surface, nothing had really changed; the Atelier was the same place bustling with activity, research and Grace-related incidents and the classes of Arcanic Arts were still taking place at their usual schedules. But if anyone that frequented regularly the Atelier was asked, they would say that something had changed. It was something in the air, invisible but no less distinct.

    Isyd didn¡¯t have much time to linger on it. His preoccupations lay in the research and development of the Blysht as Hidrss had tasked him before leaving. They got better at Ingracing the crystal, but they still failed to extract the Grace out of it to do anything useful. Isyd had hoped that after figuring out the [Ingracing Hex], the extraction [Spell] would be trivial. He¡¯d been wrong. Putting Grace in turned out to be as complex as taking it out and all the members of the Commission have been racking their brains on how to solve the problems.

    Isyd meant to join the Ravasz in the couple of rooms that had been assigned to them in a corner of the Atelier, but Tekla Dumnchory had decided otherwise. Since Hidrss had left, Isyd had only spent around four hours with the couple of Arcanysta. The rest of his time in the Atelier had been spent alongside Tekla. The woman had decided to use him as her flunky. Isyd had tried to escape her heavy watch and sneak in and out, without avail. Tekla had eyes everywhere in the Atelier. The moment he crossed the doors, she was immediately on him. Then he was tasked to run over here or over there, scrub this object or floor, and copy these stacks of letters or those lists of accounting. Two days ago, she had gone as far as order him to separate entire bags of small metal needles into three stacks, one for copper, one for brass and one for steel. Of course, Isyd had not been allowed to use the Arts for fear of ¡°damaging the Atelier¡¯s property¡±. For half a day, Isyd had knelt in a corner of Hidrss¡¯s office, painstakingly sorting out the needles under Tekla¡¯s gleeful gaze.

    She was enjoying this very much, everyone in the Atelier could see it. The Ravasz had been outraged by the unfair treatment but their hands were tied. So were the hands of everyone else; the Atelier was the sole domain of the Master of the Arcanic Arts and in the absence of Hidrss, Tekla Dumnchory was in charge.

    Isyd took it in without flinching or complaining. He had known worst; being used as a lackey by a bitter Arcanyst was nothing in comparison. At first, he supposed that Tekla would eventually grow tired when she saw that her treatment wasn¡¯t affecting him. After all, despite her detestable behaviour, she was an adult and still recognized by Hidrss and the Academy as a competent Arcanyst and it was something he could respect. At some point, Isyd even considered approaching her with his palcat. In the end, he didn¡¯t. A week had passed and Tekla didn¡¯t seem eager to stop her abuse, instead, she seemed to grow more confident with it.

    ¡°Wybrany!¡± Tekla¡¯s strident voice made Isyd sigh.

    He stepped into Hidrss¡¯s office, hands behind his back. Tekla Dumnchory stood behind the desk, her straight raven hair falling on either side of her thin face. Her polished nails were batting a nervous rhythm on the wood next to a mess of papers and opened letters.

    ¡°Have you delivered the oil pot as I have ordered?¡± she asked him sharply.

    ¡°I have.¡±

    ¡°You better not have spilt a drop of it, Wybrany!¡±

    It hadn¡¯t been easy since the oil in question had been seething hot and he had to carry it from one side of the Atelier to the other, with only thin leather gloves to hold the metal pot.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t,¡± Isyd simply said.

    Tekla looked him up and down, her green eyes wary. Isyd could see that she wasn¡¯t sure what to do with his matter-of-fact attitude. She half expected him to have given up already and never come back to the Atelier, but instead, Isyd showed up every day once his classes were over and did everything he was asked without blinking.

    ¡°Follow me!¡± she finally said as she rushed out, shoving him in passing.

    Tekla always seemed to be rushing whenever he saw her. Isyd suspected it was due to a lack of organization on her part to handle the complex machinery that was the Atelier, a problem that Hidrss never had.

    Their steps led them to a far-away wing of the Atelier. It was where the Blysht Commission had been relocated, a Commission that consisted of only four members. The Ravasz were hard at work. Julya had sent him a few letters to keep Isyd updated on the progress that was being made. They had now entirely mapped out the physical properties of the crystal ¨C from its hardness to its melting point ¨C for each level of Grace Concentration. Hidrss had asked them to focus now their attention on the Grace extraction as well.

    Tekla entered the laboratory without even knocking. Norran, with thick glasses on his nose, was monitoring a piece of Ingraced Blysht submerged in water in a jar and taking notes while his wife held a thin of metal, with one end pressed against the exterior of the jar and the other resting against an inactive Lightsphere.

    ¡°I have come to see your progress!¡± Tekla clamoured.

    Julya flinched visibly and almost dropped her measuring instrument. Norran sighed but did not turn to face her.

    ¡°We have sent daily reports as you have asked, Ms Dumnchory,¡± he said.

    ¡°You have, but I am here now and I prefer to see it with my own eyes and to hear it from your mouth. Go on, Ravasz, did you come up with anything?¡±

    Obviously, they wouldn¡¯t get rid of her easily so the Ravasz resigned themselves to interrupting their experimentation and facing her fully. Isyd took advantage of Tekla¡¯s distraction and approached the desk where the notebooks rested. He skimmed through the last entries while the Arcanysta continued their conversation, only listening distractedly to what was being said.

    ¡°We were discussing possible solutions this morning¡­¡± Julya said. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ve been going at it the wrong way. Instead of trying to force the Grace out of the Blysht, we should let it flow out naturally.¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯ve abandoned our idea of an [Outgracing Spell]?¡± Tekla asked.

    ¡°So far, it hasn¡¯t led us anywhere,¡± Norran said. ¡°We were just exploring other possibilities¡­¡±

    Tekla didn¡¯t seem convinced. Her eyes flew over the room, before landing on their experiment. ¡°Fine¡­ tell me what you¡¯ve come up with! How do intend to let the Grace ¡®flow¡¯ out of the Blysht.¡±

    The couple shared a glance. ¡°Well¡­ we¡¯re not sure yet¡­ We thought about using the Grace Osmosis. Grace flows from a higher point of Concentration to a lower point, right? Well, if we assume that the Ingraced Blysht is fully saturated, we only need to put it in an area depleted of Grace for it to flow out. That¡¯s the theory, at least.¡±

    ¡°And does your theory work?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what we were testing before you came,¡± Norran said.

    ¡°And have you succeeded so far?¡±

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    He hesitated briefly, then shook his head negatively. ¡°Something seems to oppose the Grace Osmosis. Perhaps, the lattice structure of the Blysht itself. We were thinking that perhaps if we could create a void, a place without Grace at all¡­¡±

    ¡°Come on now, a  void  Those are theoretical concepts, interesting to think about but impossible in practice!¡± Tekla said with a sharp laugh. ¡°Grace is everywhere, must I remind you of the First Law of the Arts?¡±

    ¡°No, it won¡¯t be necessary,¡± Norran said coldly.

    ¡°Well, I  have  a solution to propose and I want us to put it to the test!¡± Tekla said.

    Isyd tuned out from their conversation and focused on the writing on the desktop. The diagrams were neatly drawn with charcoal, representing different lattice structures next to graphs and notes. Isyd was impressed by the in-depth analysis and research and the words¡¯ precision and sketches. As it was customary for this kind of work, the drawing conventions used were jotted down at the bottom of the page alongside the date and the Arcanyst¡¯s name. The papers were the work of Tekla Dumnchory. It seemed that the woman had been busy, condensing all the information and reports she received from the Ravasz into clearer and bite-sized summaries. The other papers contained a detailed analysis of the [Ingrace Hex], each of its hundreds of composing [Spells] dissected and reviewed as well as the modifications done by Hidrss and the justifications for them. The last pages discussed the [Outgracing Hex] with the final section being a recent addendum from Tekla.

    It was an idea of a possible [Spell]. She forwent the Negative Sequence and instead suggested modifying the [Ingracing Hex] to pinpoint fault planes in the lattice structure and increase locally the Grace saturation. From her notes, she explained that this would be done by inducing a Resonance, forcing the Blysht to crack and the stored Grace to leak out.

    ¡°It will not work¡­¡± Isyd said to himself.

    The Arcanysta stopped in their conversation and turned to him. He¡¯d been so discrete they had almost forgotten he was there with them.

    ¡°What did you just say?¡± Tekla asked him through narrow eyes.

    Isyd cleared his throat. ¡°I don¡¯t think your idea will work.¡±

    The woman¡¯s mouth hung open, too stunned to answer. Julya walked around her and approached the desk.

    ¡°What makes you say that, Isyd?¡± she asked.

    ¡°The fault planes are not significant in terms of Grace Concentration. You must have noticed it as well, right? How does the Blysht breaks, I mean.¡±

    ¡°Yes, the Ingraced Blysht does not break so much that it shatters,¡± Norran said. ¡°And yet, when it is in its natural state, it is brittle and breaks as easily as halite would.¡±

    ¡°Exactly! When breaking, you¡¯d expect the crystal to do it along its fault planes, but instead, it shatters completely and suddenly. This means we cannot create local cracks without risking the entire crystal.¡±

    ¡°I see. You are making sense,¡± Norran said, stroking his beard.

    ¡°Wait! Why are you taking him at face value?¡± Tekla said. ¡°He is not an Arcanyst¡­¡±

    ¡°I also suspect another problem,¡± Isyd continued, engrossed by the sketches of Tekla¡¯s attempt. He pointed out the different [Spells] used at Julya. ¡°Even if we assumed that we manage to create micro-fractures in the Blysht, I think it will cost more Grace trying to do so than we used to Ingrace it in the first place. This [Outgracing Spell] does not solve the initial problem of the Ingraced Blysht being saturated and thus repealing any attempt to affect it with a [Hex]¡­¡±

    Isyd¡¯s eyes stopped at a drawing of a sub [Hex] and his mind began racing.  Could it be? Could it work?

    ¡°You dare¡­¡± Tekla fumed in his direction, but Isyd was oblivious to her. He reached for a sheet of paper and seized the pencil that lay there.

    ¡°But perhaps Tekla was right in using Resonance¡­,¡± Isyd said, excited. ¡°It is hard to apply more Grace to the Ingraced Blysht because it is saturated? Well, let¡¯s use the Grace already stored then! With Resonance, it could work¡­ We will need a way to make the input and the output match¡­ the Song must be harmonized¡­How¡­? A unique key for a unique keyhole¡­ Yeah, it could work! Perhaps with¡ª¡±

    The paper he was sketching on was torn away from under his pen. Isyd¡¯s head jerked up to see Tekla standing tall in front of him.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked her, surprised.

    ¡°What are  you  doing?¡± the woman hissed.

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to solve¡ª¡±

    ¡°You are OVERSTEPPING! You are a 1  <sup>st</sup>   Year Pupil! How dare you tell me that my ideas are stupid? Who do you think you are, Wybrany?¡±

    Isyd looked at her, trying to guess what could have ticked her off. When she had asked him to follow her in the laboratory, he had assumed that he could work on the Blysht. They were so close to solving the problem, why was she wasting his time?

    ¡°Get out of my sight, Isyd Wybrany,¡± Tekla spat at him. ¡°Out with you!¡±

    ¡°What? I am part of the Commission as well. Hidrss tasked me to work on the Blysht!¡±

    ¡° Tutor  Hidrss isn¡¯t here, is he? Get out of this laboratory, Wybrany!¡±

    The woman was fuming, her eyes were wide, and her breathing was coming fast. Isyd stood up to face her fully, meeting her gaze.

    Why am I putting up with this?  he asked himself. He could end this right here and now. Tekla was actively putting a spoke in his wheels and interfering with his plans. She was a hindrance.

    Isyd could get rid of her in hundreds of ways¡­

    He felt his skin twitch under his bandages.

    No¡­  Isyd lowered his eyes and took a long breath.  This is not the way¡­

    He took a step back, then another and finally, Isyd turned and walked out of the room.

    Alone in the hallway, he realized that his right fist was clenched, and he let go. He had almost lost control there. It had been a close call, too close for comfort. Naeht hadn¡¯t been around to rein him in.

    But now Isyd could think more clearly again. He will try to be more careful in the future. He realized that in the great scheme of things, the pettiness of Tekla didn¡¯t matter for much. He couldn¡¯t risk it all just to teach her a lesson. Instead, he will find a way to work around her. He had to.

    Ultimately, Isyd couldn¡¯t afford to lose sight of his goals and forget what was truly at cost.

 31 â€“ Know Your Place

    Isyd strolled away from the laboratory, looking for Naeht. The girl enjoyed very much being in the Atelier since it reminded her of the Holy Bastion back in Old Ziemia. It had something to do with the constant flow of people in and out of the buildings ¡ª be they Pupils, Tutors or normal citizens ¡ª as well as the Arcanes and [Hexes] that were firing off everywhere at once. Naeht would usually fly out on her own at the moment Isyd entered the Atelier, her attention perked up by some contraptions or another. She would come back a couple of hours later, breathless and eager to tell him about everything she had seen.

    After taking a turn and getting down the stairs, he didn¡¯t stumble on Naeht but instead on Klara Utro. She didn¡¯t notice him at first as she sat there against the wall, hidden in the half-light. This hallway, this entire part of the Atelier in fact, was kind of out of the way, most often used as a dumping place for all the useless stuff. At first, Isyd considered making a U-turn; he didn¡¯t feel like talking to anyone but Naeht at the moment. Unfortunately, Klara finally noticed him before he could commit. She rose and dusted off her uniform and waved at him.

    ¡°Grace, Isyd! It¡¯s been a little while, how are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Grace, Klara. I¡¯m all right, thank you for asking.¡±

    Klara glanced behind him as if expecting someone to follow suit. ¡°Just to make sure, Tekla isn¡¯t after you, is she?¡±

    ¡°She ordered me out of the room, so I don¡¯t think so, no.¡±

    ¡°Thank God! I¡¯m actually trying to avoid her. She¡¯s having it out for me and since Hidrss left, she turned the Atelier into a living hell!¡±

    Isyd remembered catching a glance or two of Klara receiving the same kind of punishment as him. Unlike him, Tekla¡¯s exploitation seemed to take its toll. Klara Utro was usually an example of bubbling energy but right now she didn¡¯t look her best; her eyes lacked their spark, and she appeared overall frazzled.

    ¡°I saw she subjected you to the same treatment,¡± Klara said. ¡°Why do you still bother coming here? It¡¯s not like you have classes to attend or anything¡­¡±

    ¡°I have stuffed to do in the Atelier.¡±

    Klara¡¯s eyes regain a bit of their mischievous glint. ¡° Stuff, eh? Perchance, does it has anything to do with this secret Commission Hidrss had opened before leaving with the newly hired couples of Arcanysta? Some say seeing you around them from time to time¡­¡±

    ¡°If you know about it, then you also know that there¡¯s isn¡¯t much I can say about it. Hidrss asked us to keep it a secret.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re quite unlucky that Hidrss left you because now you¡¯re stuck under Tekla¡¯s thumb¡­¡±

    ¡°She¡¯ll get tired of it,¡± Isyd said with a shrug, though he didn¡¯t really believe it. ¡°Is there¡­ a particular reason why she¡¯s acting like this?¡±

    ¡°Do people need a reason to be jerks? She¡¯s petty and mean and with Hidrss gone, she can make us all as miserable as she is!¡±

    ¡°Still, she doesn¡¯t go around and abuse everyone. She¡¯s rude to everyone, yes, but she seems to be particular about you and me¡­ Did you do something to offend her?¡±

    ¡°Tekla and I never got along; it was like that since I entered the Atelier two years ago. As far as her recent punishments are concerned, well¡­¡± Klara blushed and her eyes darted away. ¡°Well, let¡¯s say she caught me saying a few¡­ a few  questionable  words to describe her. Among other things, she didn¡¯t quite appreciate having her mouth compared to the gaping cloaca of a laying hen, go figure why¡­¡±

    Isyd couldn¡¯t help but smile at that. ¡°Truly surprising¡­ People nowadays get offended so easily!¡±

    ¡°Absolutely! I mean, there was also a pun regarding her attitude of a churlish horse and her face similar to an ass. It was quite a clever joke if I must say so myself,¡± Klara added with a sly smile.

    Isyd¡¯s eyes looked above her shoulders as he felt a group of Pupils passing by. Klara turned her head a second later when she heard the rumble of conversations.

    ¡°Finally, they¡¯re done with their meeting!¡± she said. She then cupped her hands around her mouth. ¡°Vasyl!¡± she hailed.

    Isyd flinched behind her as he saw most of the heads turned in their direction. The Pupils resumed their walk, except for two that remained behind. As he saw them approach, Isyd wondered if it would be rude for him to walk away.

    He recognized the face of Vasyl Amalb as he approached, but not the man next to him. He wore the uniform but had discarded the blazer despite the frigid temperatures. He looked older, at least in his mid-twenties, with curly brown hair, dark eyes and an arrogant smile.

    ¡°Klara, I thought we would meet at the usual place,¡± Vasyl said.

    ¡°Tekla knows about it and I didn¡¯t want to test my chances,¡± Klara explained. ¡°I preferred waiting for you here.¡±

    ¡°Good call,¡± he said. He turned to Isyd who stood further back. ¡°Grace to you, Isyd Wybrany! How are¡ª¡±

    ¡°So,  this   is  the famous Wybrany!¡± the man next to Vasyl exclaimed. ¡°I thought I recognized the little guy! My name is Enmeel Rybak, 7  <sup>th</sup>   Year and 4  <sup>th</sup>   Opening, nice to meet you!¡±

    He extended his hand and Isyd stared at it for five long seconds before finally shaking it.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re checking our Atelier, eh? How do you find it? Crazy stuff is happening here! If you want, I can give you a tour.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, but I am familiar.¡±

    ¡°The shy type, I see¡­ Well, it doesn¡¯t matter really, we all started that way! I used to be as shy as a mussel. It wore off after I joined the Hammer.¡±

    As he spoke, Enmeel stepped forward and put himself between Isyd and Klara. He was about to put his arm around Isyd¡¯s shoulders but Isyd artfully stepped out of reach.

    ¡°Lay off with the recruiting, Rybak,¡± Klara said with a glare. ¡°Isyd is not interested in joining your Ring.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Klara Utro! You were so small, I almost didn¡¯t see you! Why don¡¯t you get lost and let us discuss serious matters between us? The Cerulean Feathers got their chances and they dropped it ¨C I guess they should have known better than tasking Pixie Pants with this¡­¡±

    ¡°Senior, please¡­¡± Vasyl said, clearly uncomfortable with the whole situation.

    Klara¡¯s ears had turned a furious red and she gritted her teeth, but before she could retort, Enmeel turned to Isyd and put a possessive hand on his shoulder.

    ¡°Tell you what, Isyd ¨C can I call you Isyd? ¨C there¡¯s a party tonight for the Ring, why don¡¯t you join us?¡±

    Isyd shrugged off the hand. ¡°I¡¯m not part of your Ring, Senior.¡±

    ¡°Aye, but you are part of the Atelier, so it¡¯s all but done, right? I mean, joining the Hammer is the logical next step! Come on, it will be fun! I¡¯ll introduce you to our Ringleader, they¡¯ve been looking forward to meeting you!¡±

    ¡°I appreciate the proposition, Senior, but I¡¯m not interested. I have to go now.¡±

    ¡°Wait, wait, don¡¯t go now! Come on, give me a chance! Let¡¯s have a chat! I mean you¡¯re so hard to pin down usually, but I¡¯m sure I can convince you if you let me¡­¡±

    Exasperated, Isyd was about to set him down more forcefully when he felt another familiar presence approaching up the stairs behind him. He let out a curse under his breath at the same time as the voice of Tekla Dumnchory was heard.

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    ¡°Well, well, well, isn¡¯t a strange place to hold a meeting?¡±

    Her heels clinked on the stairs and her smile was predatory as she stared down the Pupils one by one. She stopped in the middle of the stairs so that she could tower over them.

    ¡°What kind of conspiracy are you cooking up in secret here? Should I be wary of my cup of tea from now on?¡±

    ¡°Imagine us talking about things that do not concern you? Not everything is about you, Tekla!¡± Klara spat before she could think.

    Tekla¡¯s smile grew twofold. ¡°Oh, it seems that this week¡¯s lessons in respect haven¡¯t stuck, Klara Utro¡­ I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll need to extend it for a bit.¡±

    She pointed at Vasyl and Enmeel. ¡°You, go. Pupils should be busy with their studies, not meeting up under stairwells. Take care I do not catch you snooping idly around or I will find you something to do!¡±

    Enmeel left without further ado and Vasyl followed after giving a worried look to Isyd and Klara. Tekla then shifted her focus to Isyd.

    ¡°You go ahead to my office. I will have a word with you about¡­ your  behaviour  of today. Before that, me and Klara Utro must discuss the details of her punishment for her foul language. Go, do not make me repeat myself, Wybrany!¡±

    Isyd nodded and headed off. He had the time to cool down since he left the laboratory. He was no longer afraid of losing his control when facing her. He would talk to her and try to come to understanding, apologize for having overstepped her boundaries, and do anything in his power to reconcile with her. Isyd didn¡¯t want to waste more time with her petty squabbles, not when he was so close to cracking the code on the [Outgracing Hex].

    He entered Hidrss¡¯s office and left the door slightly ajar behind him. To the surprise of no one, the moment the Tutor had left, Tekla had moved in and made the office her own. She got comfortable rapidly; she brought with her statuettes to decorate her desk and plants to liven up the room while relegating any stuff Hidrss had left around to a closet.

    Isyd was surprised to see Naeht seated behind the desk, her eyes gazing into the void. ¡°Naeht? What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°I was waiting for you! I searched for you for a while but I guess you¡¯d come back here eventually,¡± she said, her face brightening up. Her smile froze immediately when she caught something in his expression. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Isyd? Did something happen?¡±

    If most of the times she acted childish, it was in those rare instances that Isyd was surprised by Naeht¡¯s perspicacity; he couldn¡¯t hide anything from her for too long, she knew him too well.

    He sighed and passed a hand through his hair. ¡°I almost lost control back a bit earlier. Tekla is actively stopping me from working on the Blysht.¡±

    ¡°I told you she¡¯d cause problems! I said we should deal with her.¡±

    ¡°I know, but¡­¡± he paused, hesitant about what to say. How was he supposed to explain her? All Naeht had known was the War, a grim world sprawling with lawlessness and where it was anyone for themselves. In those circumstances, violence was commonplace. Isyd did not regret the things he had to do back then, but he also understood that his present situation was different. Violence was a solution, but he needed first to explore other avenues first.

    His enemies were the Obcys, not his fellow Artysta.

    ¡°It¡¯s not yet time for Antaka, Naeht,¡± Isyd finally said. ¡°Let him rest for now and let Isyd Wybrany play the role of the dutiful Pupil.¡±

    ¡°All right, we shall let him rest for now¡­ Sorry for wandering off all the time! From now, I¡¯ll stick around to be sure you don¡¯t lose control!¡±

    Isyd nodded and fidgeted with his gloved hand, trying to ease the itch under his bandages while knowing full well that it was impossible.

    Naeht¡¯s eyes suddenly went wide. ¡°Oh, God! I almost forgot! Isyd, you have to see that!¡±

    She was pointing excitedly to the mess of papers that laid on the desk.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°There are interesting letters here. I think Tekla wrote them and they are about the Blysht!¡±

    Curiosity piqued, Isyd walked to her side and looked closer. Tidiness was obviously not a quality of Tekla. Half-written letters and notes were scattered all over the place among newspapers, reports, quills and crumbled papers. Isyd even noticed a small piece of Ingraced Blysht smaller than his thumb that laid there and was used as a simple paperweight. Seeing the crystal as such was infuriating, but Isyd didn¡¯t linger much on it. His attention was caught by the broken seal of a letter. He didn¡¯t recognize the origin, though even he could identify it as important correspondence. Next to it was a half-written letter as a response. Isyd recognized Tekla¡¯s handwriting as well as the content of the letter: it was a report on the Blysht and its properties, the same report she had sent to the Ravasz. It was strange she was writing the same information twice.

    Who is she sending this letter to?  Perhaps she was corresponding with Hidrss, but the Tutor would not yet have reached the Academy of Holy Honour so it was too soon for them to be exchanging letters. Plus, Tekla had penned a response to her correspondent. The family crest that had been pressed on the wax seal didn¡¯t fit with the picture Isyd had of Hidrss.

    Isyd reached for the fancy letter, hoping to glean the sender but at the same time, he felt Tekla approaching up the stairs. He dropped the letter and dashed across the room, right before she entered. She slammed the door closed behind her and gave suspicious look to Isyd. It was as if she was surprised to see him there. She walked to the desk, sat on her chair, and eyed him carefully and silently. Isyd, hands clasped in his back, held her gaze and waited.

    After one long minute of silence, a smile crept on Tekla¡¯s lips. She let out a sharp laugh, void of any mirth.

    ¡°So, joining the Atelier wasn¡¯t enough, wasn¡¯t it? Now, you want to join the Hammer¡­ Who cares about the proper channel and due processes, you are the famous Isyd Wybrany after all, so all of this is beneath you!¡±

    ¡°I have no interest in joining the Hammer.¡±

    Another humourless laugh. ¡°Of course, you don¡¯t¡­ Isyd Wybrany is above such things. Rings? Those are so plebeian¡­¡±

    Isyd narrowed his eyes.  What is her deal? Is she drunk?  Tekla¡¯s cheeks were indeed a bit flushed, but he never suspected to drink on her job.

    Naeht apparently was thinking the same thing. ¡°She¡¯s not making any sense!¡± she exclaimed.

    ¡°I do not understand the point you are trying to make, Ms Dumnchory,¡± Isyd said calmly. ¡°Truth be told, I do not understand why we are doing any of this at all. I don¡¯t want to be your enemy.¡±

    ¡° My   enemy ?¡± Tekla spat as she rose to her full height, eyes ablaze with anger. ¡°When did you think you were worthy of being  my enemy? You are but a Pupil, Wybrany, while I am a full-fledged Artysta. Know your goddamn place! You owe me respect! Despite what everyone else is saying, you are not my equal and you will never be!¡±

    ¡°I have never claimed I was. I¡ª¡±

    ¡°LIES! Do you think I do not see the disdain in your eyes? I have known your kind before, Wybrany ¨C Blessed by the Grace! All of you walk around haughtily and think you are better than everyone else. You don¡¯t know what it is like to have to work twice as hard just to be considered on the same level. Everything is so easy for you, isn¡¯t it? Everything just falls into your lap, doesn¡¯t it? Opportunities, recognition, respect, and attention are all freely given while we normal folk have to struggle to gain the few scraps remaining. They are already Blessed by the Grace, so why not Blessed them even further and bow to their every need? Grant them access to the Atelier whereas others do not. Grant them any job they want without care for other applicants. Grant them all the support they ask for and let the other starve for all we care. It is always the same story with your kind, Wybrany. It¡¯s not fair!¡±

    In the venom of her words, Isyd heard years of pent-up anger and resentment flowing out. Tekla wasn¡¯t enraged at him, so much so that Isyd reminded her of everyone she was enraged at.

    After this initial outburst, Tekla seemed to regain her composure. Her anger hadn¡¯t disappeared, but it had turned colder and more calculating.

    ¡°You are born Blessed by the Grace and you grow up expecting everything handed to you on a platter. And what is not given freely, must be taken by force. But today it stops, Isyd Wybrany. I am finally at the place I deserved and I now hold the power. They can all rattle on how much of a genius you are, but here is the Atelier and I am in charge. You will remember this by God. Every day you spend here, I will teach you the respect you owe me. Forget any privilege you had because you were Blessed by the Grace! Know. Your. Place.¡±

    With that, she was done. She turned her back to him, a clear sign of dismissal.

    Isyd, teeth clenched, turned and left the office. He tried his best not to think of his right arm twitching under his bandages. He met the worried gaze of Naeht who gave him an encouraging smile.

    It wasn¡¯t yet time. He thought back on the mysterious letters he had seen on Tekla¡¯s desk.

    It may not yet be time, but Isyd knew in his heart of heart that it would come eventually.

    Isyd Wybrany had come back to the past, but Antaka was never far away¡­

 32 - More Applications of the Arts

    Isyd and Neaht were alone seated in the front rows of the auditorium whereas the rest of the Pupils stood on the rostrum. The class of Arts: Basic Applications was taking place and Tutor Milwyk had organized another of his friendly competitions. The only reason why Isyd wasn¡¯t standing next to his fellow classmates was that Tekla had detained him with her usual antics and he had shown up late and decided to sit that one out. Even though nobody said a word, Isyd suspected it had been welcomed with a certain relief from his peers; it was quite disheartening to knowingly compete for second place at best. With Isyd out of the race, it would be fairer.

    The competition had followed the habitual structure Tutor Milwyk was fond of: testing the Balance, Concentration and Visualization of the different [Spells] they had learned in class. The goal was to measure the progress of the Pupils since the last competition and Isyd was baffled at how deplorable the results were. For one thing, Olav Kazkan and his gang as well as two other Pupils had not even bothered showing up. This meant that the class was only at two third of its usual number. From this, only three Pupils managed to pass the different tests, namely Jadwia, Boshena and Kewin. The rest of the Pupils did not appear particularly bothered by the fact that they failed to perform a simple [Earth Spell] or that they still couldn¡¯t solve a Balance puzzle. A group of five girls were leaning against the blackboard, giggling and paying no mind to what the Tutor was saying, two others were exchanging conspiratorial whispers with three of their male peers. The worst was that Tutor Milwyk did not address it in any way.

    ¡°I want to remind you that I am always available for answering any questions you may have about the classes,¡± Tutor Milwyk said. ¡°Please, do not be discouraged by the results of today, the important thing is that you are all aware of the progress you made!¡±

    Isyd exchanged a baffled look with Naeht. There had been no progress! Or at least, no significant ones and the semester was approaching its end. Isyd was well aware that he was surrounded by students and they were still of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening, but even with that in mind, after almost five months spent in the Academy, he expected them to be more¡­ skilled. Instead, not only Tutor Milwyk but also all the other Tutors were cuddling the Pupils and telling them how great they were doing.

    He didn¡¯t want to get ahead of himself, but he was starting to be a bit worried. If this was the level expected from future Artysta of one of the most prestigious schools of the Commonwealth, it didn¡¯t bode well for the War.

    ¡°Now, I want to conclude today¡¯s class with a true test to decide the winner of the competition. Your work today was more impressive and I want you to be proud, Young Boshena, Young Kewin, and Young Jadwia! Still, there is always more than can be done. The point of this class is to give you the tools necessary so that you can solve any problem you encounter with the Arts. In that spirit, I will present you with a simplified situation and I will ask you to react to it. Does that make sense? Yes? Perfect, then let us begin! They will need some room, so please give them space.¡±

    The disqualified Pupils left the rostrum and the three finalists stood as far apart as they could. Now, even the inattentive students were paying attention as they noticed Tutor Milwyk raising his staff.

    ¡°Please keep in mind that I have everything under control and that I would not let anyone be hurt,¡± he said. ¡°Now the situation is the following: you are faced with misdirected [Spell], a [Fire Tornado] is approaching you and you must stop it right there and then. What would you do?¡±

    Tutor Milwyk waved his staff and three columns of fire burst forth. 2 meters high, the fires were immediately taken by swirling winds that made them roar, drowning Naeht¡¯s and the Pupils¡¯ exclamation of awe. Even Isyd stood straighter in his seat, though he was more worried about the damages to the floor tiles this kind of [Spell] could do than about the safety of anyone involved.

    Both Kewin and Boshena had leapt back in shock, eyes wide, but Jadwia stood firmly on her feet, wand raised and a stern expression on her face. Another wave from the Tutor and the tornados began moving toward their target. Boshena was the first to spring into action. With a trembling hand, she quickly cast the simplest [Spell] than came to her.

    ¡°[Blow]!¡±

    Her [Spell] blinked and a sudden gale of wind blew toward her [Fire Tornado]. She probably intended to repel the [Spell] away but upon impact, the tornado seemed to inflate instead. It roared and grew threefold, singeing the ceiling in passing and causing Boshena to yelp. Then the fire suddenly subdued as if running out of fuel and the tornado dissipated.

    Jadwia was trying to cast a [Spell] as well but it kept on collapsing. Her lips were moving frantically as if she wanted to will it into being.

    ¡°[Water Spear]!¡±

    Finally, her [Spell] worked. However, from her wand only a thin jet of clear water sprung. It sizzled against the fire but did nothing to stop it before suddenly drying up. Jadwia just stood there and watched her wand, too dumbfounded to jump out of the way. Fortunately, as it grew closer, the [Fire Tornado] finally stopped on its track before subduing and warping into a floating ball of fire.

    Kewin didn¡¯t seem to have much chance, or at least at first. He eyed the approaching tornado transfixed. When he began casting, his movements were quick and precise. Isyd noticed that contrary to Jadwia and Boshena, Kewin had not jumped to the simplest [Spell] that came to his mind, but instead, he was crafting one. It took him two trials, but eventually, he launched his [Hex] wordlessly.

    Nothing appeared. Instead, the [Spell] simply shone in the air between him and the tornado. When the two [Spells] came into contact, the winds of the tornado were suddenly snuffed out. A gust of wind blew past him, ruffling his uniform and his hair and the fire crackled briefly before disappearing as well.

    The classroom exploded with applause and Kewin let out a sigh of relief and gave a timid smile.

    ¡°Well, I think we just have found our winner of the day!¡± Tutor Milwyk said. ¡°You three were exceptional and I want to take the time to discuss your attempts, beginning with you, Young Boshena. Tell us what you did.¡±

    The young woman was fretting with her blond hair to make sure that it hadn¡¯t been singed. ¡°I tried to push the tornado back. It was the first thing that came to mind, but I didn¡¯t expect it to explode as it did¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes, your idea was sensible, at least from an instinctive point of view. However, you encountered something that many Artysta have to learn to play around: Resonance! Resonance is the situation when the interactions between two [Spells] cause them to amplify one another. My [Fire Tornado] was a combination of Fire and Air Essence and therefore it is how the Grace will be expressed. Your [Wind Spell] was also built around the Air Essence, therefore when your [Spell] met mine, it gained another source of ¡®Air Grace¡¯ to draw upon. In other words, you provided an additional source of fuel to further aliment my [Spell] and since mine was sturdier than yours, the [Fire Tornado] was the one to go into Resonance.¡±

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    ¡°Does that mean the same thing would have happened if I had used a [Fire Spell] instead?¡± Boshena asked.

    ¡°In some cases, yes! In all honesty, Resonance is a bit more complicated than I make it sound. It depends a lot on the Balance of the [Spells] invoked, their Openings, their Concentration and so on¡­ The point I am trying to make isn¡¯t that you cannot use a [Wind Shield] to protect you from a [Wind Spell], but simply that you should be wary of it and perhaps consider another Essence to use. Moreover, it is not like Resonance is always a detrimental thing, to the contrary! Artysta learn how to take advantage of it to make their [Spells] more powerful or last longer. Look no further than the Lightspheres we all use; they are a perfect example of Resonance harnessed! Does that make sense?¡±

    The Pupils nodded in unison and Tutor Milwyk next approached the fireball that was still floating in front of Jadwia. The young woman was staring down at it as if it was the sole reason why her [Spell] hadn¡¯t worked.

    ¡°Young Jadwia, could you please what you did?¡±

    ¡°I tried to extinguish the [Fire Tornado] with a [Water Spell]. I thought¡­ well I thought water was good against fire, but I guess I was wrong¡­¡±

    ¡°No, you weren¡¯t wrong, your logic is correct, Young Jadwia! The Ever-Burning Fire mirrors the Ever-Quenching Water, so a [Water Spell] is indeed the best counter to a fiery one. However, you made a mistake common even for full-fledge Artysta, that is you forgot to consider the presence of Water Essence in your surroundings. In the presence of three [Fire Spells] such as my [Fire Tornado], the Water Essence in the room has been depleted, and that is without mentioning the Resonance of Boshena¡¯s [Spell]. This is why you struggled to cast your [Water Spell] and why it was so weak.¡±

    Jadwia glanced around and met Isyd¡¯s eyes. Hadn¡¯t he said something similar once? She let her shoulders slump and closed her eyes. God, she was such a fool!

    ¡°Finally, we turn to our winner of the day, Young Kewin! Please, describe what you did!¡±

    ¡°Well¡­er¡­ I tried¡­ I was trying to stop the tornado and I knew that the main Essence used was the Air so I searched for a way to counter it¡­¡± Kewin said, his ears turning red. ¡°The [Hex] I cast was supposed to do that; it was to take the Air Essence and redirect it away from the Fire. I wasn¡¯t sure it would work, to be honest¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, you can be proud of yourself, Young Kewin, because your [Hex] worked as well as you could have expected. In fact, the method you use is brilliant because it is one based on an actual phenomenon called ¡®sink points¡¯! It consists of redirecting the Grace away from a [Spell] and dispelling safely into another [Spell]. Did you know about that before today, Young Kewin? No? Well, the fact that you came up with it on your own is further proof of your talents! Congratulations, Young Kewin, your work is appreciated!¡±

    The Tutor turned to the rest of the class. ¡°This marks the end of today¡¯s session; the class is dismissed! Good work everyone!¡±

    Jadwia remained behind as some of the Pupils approached Kewin to felicitate him and ask him questions. The boy seemed uneasy to be the centre of attention, but despite that, he tried his best to answer. Finally, Jadwia noticed Isyd leaving his seat and approaching Kewin once most Pupils had left the class. Strangely, the air around him seemed to shimmer under the sunlight, and it wasn¡¯t the first time Jadwia noticed it. Blinking it away, she approached the two young men.

    ¡°Congrats, Kewin!¡± she told him with a smile, though she had a hard time keeping it on her lips.

    ¡°I was just lucky¡­¡± Kewin said. ¡°Plus, Isyd wasn¡¯t taking part, so you know¡­¡±

    ¡°Do not say that,¡± Isyd said. ¡°Your win of today is yours alone and well-deserved. Do not feel the need to compare yourself to me or anyone. Be proud of what you did and keep up the good work. Before you know it, you¡¯ll be a talented Apteyk!¡±

    ¡°Ah, well¡­ I changed my mind about that¡­ I¡¯m not interested in becoming an Apteyk anymore¡­¡±

    ¡°What? But¡­ you wanted to join the White Flowers, didn¡¯t you?¡± Jadwia said.

    ¡°I talked with my father and we decided that it wasn¡¯t for me¡­¡±

    ¡°Why not? You are talented, Kewin,¡± Isyd said. ¡°You would make a good Apteyk. We will need good Apteyka in the future.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ It¡¯s just¡­¡±

    ¡°I actually wanted to talk to you about that, Young Kewin,¡± Tutor Milwyk suddenly said. He had been cleaning the classroom and only now approached his three Pupils. ¡°I had heard from my colleague Tutor Tchepwa ¨C she is the sponsor of the White Flowers ¨C that you are receded your application to her Ring.¡±

    ¡°I did, Tutor. I am sorry for the waste of time. I¡­ changed my mind.¡±

    ¡°Well, it is unfortunate, but I suppose it is best that you are sure of your choice in the end. However, I cannot help but notice that it means you are still Ringless. It is not something I recommended, you see,¡±¡ªhe gave a pointed look to Isyd¡ª¡°so I would like to personally invite you to join the Cerulean Feathers, the Ring I am the sponsor of. I suspect you will be a great addition to our ranks! What do you say?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I am flattered¡­¡± Kewin stammered. ¡°Yes¡­ I would like to join you!¡±

    ¡°Perfect! I will go with you through the proper channel to make sure everything goes smoothly. Well, now that I think about it, Young Jadwia also recently joined our ranks. She could guide you through it.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t! I¡­ er¡­ I just remembered I have something¡­¡± Jadwia suddenly said. She walked back and picked up her satchel, her hand slightly trembling. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Kewin, and congrats for¡­ your win. Thank you, Tutor, for today¡¯s lecture.¡±

    And with that, she was out of the room. She walked back to her room a bit in a daze.

    Kewin would join the Cerulean Feathers. Tutor Milwyk had invited him personally...

    The same Ring she had struggled to even have an interview for the chance of joining them. Perhaps I should also start acting timid and socially awkward to garner sympathy from the Tutor¡­, she thought cynically.

    The moment the thought crossed her mind, Jadwia regretted it. She was being unfair and bitter. Kewin deserved to be part of the Cerulean Feathers. He was a hard worker and diligent and talented, and today¡¯s competition was the best evidence of that.

    She was the one who didn¡¯t deserve to be where she was.

    Jadwia entered her bedroom and slammed the door closed behind her. She dropped her satchel full of her syllabi on her bed and leaned against the bedpost. On her desk laid a pink letter bearing a familial seal. She regretted not taking it with her as she left this morning to throw it away. From where it was, the unopened letter seemed to taunt her. It was a reminder that she was a fraud. She was an imposter that was simply pretending to be learning the Arts.

    It wasn¡¯t for lack of trying. Jadwia was well aware of her efforts; she was working hard, studying every night and practicing at any chance she got. Looking at the larger picture, she knew that she was one of the best in her class. After all, others had failed the basic test of Tutor Milwyk whereas only she, Kewin and Boshena had passed. But it didn¡¯t matter to her if others had failed, she simply couldn¡¯t afford to. Not with all the effort she put in.

    What more could she do?

    Jadwia straightened up and picked up the letter and crumpled it in her fist. She let out a long sigh and threw back her shoulders. In the end, if her efforts were not enough, she just had to do more. She would work even harder and not think about her failures and what they could mean. She would prove to herself and the rest of the world that she deserved her place within the walls of the Academy.

    She wouldn¡¯t need to wait long for that. Jadwia eyed the Sun¡¯s position through her window. She still had time but she had to prepare. She had received a convocation from her Ringleader and she had to get ready for it.

 33 â€“ The Cerulean Feathers

    Jadwia knew her way around the Cerulean Feathers Quarters. She had spent days exploring this section of the Academy. The Quarters were situated in the oldest part of the school, the part that was usually reserved for the classrooms and the Library and the Tutors¡¯ houses. It spoke volumes of the power of the Ring to be able to make several rooms their own. In the hundreds of Rings of the Academy, only a handful could claim the same, such as the Crimson Gold or the White Flowers or the Golden Dew.

    On her way, she met many of her fellow Ringmates and paid them deference as they all were her Seniors. From what she had gathered, the Cerulean Feathers, just like the Crimson Gold, were quite selective in their choice of members; the Ringleader preferred quality over quantity. Case in point, Jadwia was the only Pupil of her promotion to be accepted in their midst.

    The only one¡­ until Kewin, that is¡­  she thought as she climbed the stairs leading to the assigned hallway.

    Banners of blue and silver marked the area as belonging to the Ring. That and their symbol splattered everywhere: two silvery feathers curving almost into a laurel crown on an azury background. Heart beating with anticipation, Jadwia walked past the common room and approached the Ringleader¡¯s office. She announced her name and a voice inside ordered her to enter.

    The office was richly decorated, even more than most Tutors¡¯ offices Jadwia had seen. The dark wood of the floor was regularly polished and oiled as to give it a shine. Three large windows along one side of the room allowed for natural light to pour in ¡ª the Sun had already dipped behind the horizon, and this plunged the office into a dim atmosphere of late afternoon. There were also bookshelves and couches and low tables, but the piece that attracted the eye was the impressive desk on the opposite side of the entrance door. Behind it hung a 3 meters tall portrait of an Artyst Jadwia didn¡¯t recognize, dressed in an old-fashioned Academy uniform and crowned with a silver laurel crown.

    ¡°Oh, Jadwia Lichtfreund! I was expecting you!¡± said the young man seated behind the desk.

    The Pupil had a youthful face, with striking green eyes behind glasses. His long chestnut hair was tied behind him in a ponytail and he had a welcoming smile on his lips. It wasn¡¯t the first time Jadwia met Arron Gwemb, the Ringleader of the Cerulean Feathers, and every time she was reminded of how nice he¡¯d been to her. To her surprise, he wasn¡¯t alone. On a chair that had been dragged to behind the desk was slumped another Pupil. The young man looked familiar though she couldn¡¯t recognize him immediately. He was of strong build, with heavily curly brown hair and a closely shaved beard. He grinned playfully at Jadwia which made her blush. She didn¡¯t fail to notice however the golden bracelet shaped into undulating flames on his right wrist.

    The man was part of the Crimson Gold.

    This confused her even further and must have shown on her face because Arron pointed at him and spoke.

    ¡°This is Izaak Kazkan. He¡¯s part of the Crimson Gold and was just dropping by. Don¡¯t mind him.¡±

    So, he was the older brother of Olav Kazkan she heard about . ¡°The day Graces you, Senior Kazkan,¡± she said.

    The young man waved her greetings away, looking away as if her presence had already bored him.

    ¡°Take a seat Jadwia and tell me how you are doing!¡± Arron asked her. ¡°I heard from Esfir that you had a competition for your  Application of the Arts  class today. How did it go?¡±

    ¡°It went well, Senior. Thank you for asking! I made it to the finalists.¡±

    ¡°Fantastic! It feels good to see your work paying off, right? I remember seeing you practicing your Balance with Esfir, I hope it was helpful.¡±

    ¡°It was! Without her, I would never have passed! I wish to thank her if I see her tonight.¡±

    ¡°Glad to hear it! Don¡¯t hesitate to ask any of us for help, we¡¯re here to support each other! If you want, I can drop another word for you at the Library if you need to consult a book once again; you don¡¯t need to queue up on the waiting list. No member of the Cerulean Feathers needs to.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Senior! For now, it¡¯s okay since I finished the paper I had to¡ª¡±

    ¡°Alright, Arron, enough of this!¡± Izaak suddenly interrupted her. ¡°Let¡¯s cut to the chase and talk about the real reason for this meeting: Isyd Wybrany.¡±

    Jadwia felt her heart fall in her chest. Of course, they had called her to speak of Isyd. Why would the Ringleader care about the stupid competition of a 1  <sup>st</sup>   Year Pupil? For a moment, she had almost forgotten what Klara had told when she¡¯d been accepted into their ranks.

    It¡¯s not like Tutor Milwyk came to me personally¡­ I am only here because they think I¡¯m friends with Isyd.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be rude, Kazkan!¡± Arron said.

    ¡°I have places to be, Arron! Now, tell us, Junior: what is Isyd Wybrany doing in the Atelier?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know, Seniors¡­¡± Jadwia said weakly.

    ¡°You must have an idea, surely,¡± Kazkan said. ¡°From what I gathered, he spends there a significant part of his time despite being of the 1  <sup>st</sup>   Opening and having no classes in the Atelier. What is he doing then? What kind of project could he be conducting?¡±

    ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m wrong, Jadwia, but he¡¯s still Ringless, isn¡¯t he?¡± Arron said. ¡°As he joined the Atelier, the Hammer has a strong claim on him and I would not be surprised if they use everything in their power to finally make him join¡­¡±

    ¡°Isyd¡­ Isyd is still Ringless...¡±

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    ¡°Well, we can¡¯t let the Hammer have him!¡± Kazkan said. ¡°He would be the second one Blessed by the Grace after Tutor Hidrss.¡±

    ¡°Tutor Hidrss is no longer a Pupil,¡± Arron felt necessary to point out. ¡°He doesn¡¯t count.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter! It would still look bad for the rest of us. Plus, I don¡¯t look forward to facing the Hammer with another Blessed by the Grace in the midst!¡±

    Arron turned to Jadwia. ¡°Do you know anything about Wybrany joining them?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t, Seniors.¡±

    She didn¡¯t want to be here anymore. She could feel the weight of their gazes on her, the pressure of their Seniority forcing her to say something. But what could she say? She truly didn¡¯t know anything. And it wasn¡¯t her place to speak of those things, to begin with.

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    Izaak Kazkan narrowed his eyes at her. ¡°I was hoping she would be more forthcoming in her help, Arron. Is that the state of the new members of the Cerulean Feathers¡­¡±

    ¡°Richly said coming from you, Izaak. Remind me, what was the latest offence your brother committed? We¡¯re still waiting to see what else but his last name he is bringing to your Ring¡­¡±

    ¡°My brother is spoiled and na?ve but at least he¡¯s loyal to our cause. It¡¯s a pity the same can¡¯t be said of your Junior here. Doesn¡¯t she know that the Rings are based on mutual help between their members?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure Jadwia understand that¡­¡±Arron said.

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s the reason we all have a probation period to join our Rings¡­ God forbid, we recruit someone who takes advantage of their Ring without pulling their own weight¡­¡±

    A tense silence stretched in the room. The two Seniors seemed to expect Jadwia to say something, but nothing passed her lips. She just sat there, her heart beating fast in her chest and her mind racing to find anything to save her skin.

    They were going to kick her out of the Ring¡­  Jadwia would lose her place in the Ring and soon enough in the Academy¡­ She would have to go back home.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not a big deal¡ª¡± Arron began.

    ¡°It¡¯s the Blysht!¡± Jadwia blurted out.

    The words passed her lips before she could stop them.

    ¡°The  Blysht ¡­?¡± Arron turned to Izaak. ¡°What is a  Blysht ?¡±

    But the young man didn¡¯t answer him. He had sat up in his chair and was now watching Jadwia intently.

    Why the hell did I say that?  she cursed herself. She wanted to walk back but it was too late. The two Seniors were expecting her to elaborate.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really know what it is¡­ it¡¯s just something Isyd mentioned in passing¡­ Actually, I probably misheard what he said, it was probably nothing¡­¡±

    ¡°Hold on, perhaps it isn¡¯t entirely wrong,¡± Arron said. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of this Blysht before but we know that Wybrany is working with Arcanysta employed by the Atelier. Do you know anything more about that?¡±

    ¡°Arcanysta? Hmm¡­ I¡­ I¡¯m not really sure¡­¡±

    ¡°Those Arcanysta aren¡¯t from here,¡± Izaak said. ¡°Do you know where they¡¯re from, Junior? What are the Arcanysta¡¯s names?¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know their names, Senior¡­¡±

    Jadwia looked down, unable to hold their gaze anymore.  He knows that I am lying.  She was certain of it.

    When she gathered enough courage to look back up, Izaak Kazkan had a predatory smile on his face. Carnivorous

    ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll learn anything more from your Junior here, Arron,¡± the young man said. ¡°You can let her go.¡±

    ¡°Already? Are you sure there aren¡¯t more questions you want to ask her? Perhaps she can arrange something with Wybrany¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother, I suspect Wybrany won¡¯t fall for that. We just need a way to stop the Hammer from recruiting him, right? I have a better¡­  idea  of the situation, now. We can focus our attention on the Atelier.¡±

    Arron didn¡¯t look as confident as his colleague. ¡°The Hammer won¡¯t appreciate us overstepping. This may more dangerous, Izaak. And you and I know that Tutor Hidrss is not a man to cross.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but Tutor Hidrss isn¡¯t here now, is he?¡±

    Izaak Kazkan winked knowingly at Jadwia and dismissed her with a wave of his hand. Jadwia¡¯s heart wall filled with guilt as she walked back.

 34 â€“ The Outgracing Hex

    ¡°Are you giving it another try?¡± Norran Ravasz asked Isyd.

    ¡°I am,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I am close, I can feel it.¡±

    ¡°You said that when we started this morning¡­¡± Julya pointed out with a smile.

    The bells had chimed the 17  <sup>th</sup>   Hour not too long ago and they had been at it since the 6  <sup>th</sup>  , without taking any breaks. It was mainly due to Isyd¡¯s stubborn determination; his mind was racing at the possible breakthrough on the [Outgracing Hex] and he felt that he couldn¡¯t let it go. The [Spell] kept on collapsing around the 12  <sup>th</sup>   Opening but he knew he was getting close to figuring out the Balance. It was at the same time frustrating and exciting.

    Isyd had spent all his time those past few days in the Atelier with the Ravasz, going as far as skipping his non-mandatory classes. This was only possible because Tekla had been relatively absent or too busy to pester him. This newfound freedom was exactly what he¡¯d hoped for when first joining the Atelier.

    ¡°You two can go ahead, I can still stay here for a little while,¡± Isyd told the couple.

    ¡°Now, don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡± Norran said. ¡°Of course, we will stay and help. We feel bad enough already since you¡¯re doing most of the work.¡±

    ¡°I still want to point out that we are almost out of Ingraced Blysht, or normal Blysht for that matter,¡± Julya said.

    It wasn¡¯t surprising given all the frantic experiments the Commission had conducted. Isyd still had his own stash in Blotnia but he reserved it in case of emergency. He knew that the moment they revealed the Blysht to the world, it would become one of the most valuable resources in Ziemia and everyone will try to sell it and buy it. For now, if they wanted to get their hands on more Blysht, they would have to hire someone to go to the salt mines and sort through the useless junk or go there themselves. When it came to the Ingraced Blysht, only Isyd and Tekla could perform the Ingracing Hex successfully since the Ravasz were not skilled enough. The process was made even slower now that Hidrss had left.

    ¡°We still have a handful of pieces, don¡¯t we?¡± Norran said. ¡°I remember Ms Dumnchory keeping them in her office.¡±

    ¡°We should still have enough to finish the [Outgracing Hex], I think,¡± Isyd said.

    He made the three crystal shards roll between his fingers, shining with their rainbow colours. Isyd¡¯s gaze was lost in them as if he was trying to picture the solution to his problem. Julya had seen this expression quite often since they had started working together and she was familiar with it. She flipped to another page of her notebook and picked up her pencil as Isyd was preparing himself to resume casting.

    ¡°Are you going do anything different this time?¡± she asked him.

    ¡°No. I am convinced that the logic is correct. I just have to find the right Balance.¡±

    ¡°If you are so sure, explain it to me once last time so that I can write it down.¡±

    Isyd put down the Blysht shards, only keeping one and laying it on a stool. He flexed his muscles, wriggle his fingers and gathered the Holy Grace. Butterflies burst in his stomach and his mouth was filled with a familiar sweet taste. He closed his eyes to focus and listen to the Song of the Grace.

    ¡°I derived my idea from Tekla¡¯s idea of using Resonance,¡± Isyd explained at the same time as the Commands materialized in front of him. ¡°What we want to do is find a way to take the Grace out of the Blysht. It is difficult to do due to the physical properties of the crystal. So, we need to trick the Grace and give it a reason to flow out. We know that when Resonance occurs between two [Spells], the Grace of one [Spell] will feed and amplify the second [Spell]. Following the same logic, it should be possible to create a minor Resonance between the Ingraced Blysht and a [Hex] so that the Grace stored flows out of the crystal. At least, that¡¯s my idea. The purpose of the [Outgracing Hex] would be to introduce this minor Resonance¡­¡±

    ¡°Truly brilliant¡­¡± Norran was nodding approvingly but Isyd couldn¡¯t see him as his eyes were closed and his mind fully immersed in the Idpulse.

    Isyd was at fifteen attempts so by now, he had familiarized himself with the overall shape of the [Spell] and its complexity. The hundreds of sub-[Spells] that composed the [Hex] appeared and fused together with precision. The Ravasz watched with awe the geometrical shapes wrought in golden light dance in the air. For a moment, it was easy to forget that the master at work was just a Pupil of 1  <sup>st</sup>   Year and 1  <sup>st</sup>   Opening. For them, it was the clearest proof that Isyd Wybrany was indeed Blessed by the Grace for he made the Holy Grace dance at his will.

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    ¡°Still¡­ I have a hard time understanding how we could make the Grace inside and outside of the Blysht match for a Resonance to occur¡­¡± Julya mused.

    ¡°It is¡­ difficult to explain,¡± Isyd said.

    He wished he could say more but he knew that it was useless. To fully understand it required hearing the Song of the Grace, which the two Arcanysta couldn¡¯t do. How could he put into words the almost imperceptible humming the Holy Grace made as it was bent and shaped through the Commands into [Spells]? Isyd himself wasn¡¯t sure he understood entirely how any of this worked. He could hear the humming of the Ingraced Blysht and knew intuitively the Commands he needed to tune the Song of the Grace as he wished.

    As the [Hex] progressed, Isyd wasn¡¯t so sure whether he was making the Grace sing or the Grace was singing to him.

    The 18  <sup>th</sup>   Hour bell rang out at the same time as Isyd put the final note to the [Outgracing Hex] in a flash of golden light. As it hovered there in the air, Isyd put his hands around it and pressed on it. The [Hex] grew smaller and smaller until it was no larger than a coin, floating a few inches above his open palm and glowing with its own light. The Ravasz rushed to his side, clapping and smiling.

    ¡°You did it!¡± Julya said. ¡°Grace, this was fabulous!¡±

    ¡°So, this is it? Is it done?¡± Norran said.

    ¡°We still need to test it,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°Yes, of course! It¡¯s a [Core Hex], is it not?¡± Norran said.

    Isyd confirmed with a nod. A [Core Hex] were [Spells] that appeared often and fulfilled specific functions within other[Hexes]. They were so common after a certain level of Openings that they were better studied as an individual unit, performing the same roles as the Commands.

    ¡°As a [Core Hex], the [Outgracing Hex] can be Meshed to any other [Arcane] and have it extract the Grace directly from the Blysht,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s try then!¡± Julya said. She brought with trembling hands a Lightsphere and presented it next to the Ingraced Blysht on the stool.

    The [Outgracing Hex] floated between his thumb and index finger. He approached the Lightsphere which presented on its surface the very faint etching of its [Lighting Arcane]. The [Outgracing Hex] drifted toward the glass, sparkled then faded out. Holding his breath, Isyd then picked up the Blysht shard and brought it in contact with the Lightsphere.

    For three long seconds, nothing happened. Then, the Lightsphere flickered alight.

    Norran and Julya hooped in each other arms and Isyd let out a satisfied chuckle.

    Finally, they had done it. With the [Ingracing] and [Outgracing Hexes], the Blysht technology was functional. Isyd had just made a huge leap forward in his quest of defeating the Obcys for good. Now, his next task would be about turning the Blysht into a weapon.

    ¡°It¡¯s fantastic! We can tell Ms Dumnchory immediately!¡±

    ¡°Actually¡­¡± Isyd said. His mind went back to the letters he had seen on her desk. He had been pondering about them, but without settling on what they could mean. ¡°Let¡¯s wait before we tell her¡­ Let¡¯s write first the report for the [Hex] and present her with everything at once.¡±

    ¡°Okay, we can do that as well. You did most of the work, after all, so we let you decide!¡± Julya said.

    Isyd¡¯s shoulders slumped. Today had been a long, but fruitful day. He was about to say something to the couple when his senses perked up at an approaching presence. It was familiar.

    It was Tekla. And she wasn¡¯t alone. He just had the time to turn off the Lightsphere and slip it in his pocket and turn to see her enter the Laboratory.

 35 â€“ Noble Interest, Noble Suspicion

    With a glance, Isyd made sure that they hadn¡¯t left any piece of the Ingraced Blysht laying around. He then turned to face Tekla Dumnchory as she crossed the entrance. She was dressed in her usual uniform, but she had let her raven hair fall past her shoulders. Hanging at her right arm was another woman who looked diminutive in comparison with Tekla¡¯s height. She had a pale complexion and her blond hair was twisted and braided into an intricate bun. Her pink dress was too long and expensive to be worn in any taxing activity which marked the woman as part of the nobility, and so did the gilded and diamond-encrusted brooch that attached the satin shawl on her frail shoulders.

    Isyd didn¡¯t recognize the woman and was certain he hadn¡¯t seen her around the Academy. He glanced at Julya and Norran next to him to see if they had a better reaction but they looked as perplexed as he was.

    Why in hell would Tekla bring a stranger here?

    ¡°Oh, I am glad to see you here, I had feared you had left already!¡± Tekla said. ¡°I was making our esteemed guest visit the Atelier and she insisted I show her everything so here we are. Julya, Norran, be honoured to meet Pani Halyna Kazkan, the Baroness of Vilriver!¡±

    The Arcanysta¡¯s eyes went wide and they bowed profusely. Isyd followed their experience, averting immediately his eyes in deference. He¡¯d been gawking at the woman and he knew by example that many members of the szlachta ¨C the nobility of the Commonwealth ¨C could take it as an insult to their honour.

    Pani Kazkan let out a crystalline laugh and waved her hand. ¡°Good evening! I am sorry to impose, but I pestered Dumnchory here to show me  everything  about your Atelier!¡± she said with such a shrill voice that Isyd winced. ¡°I was so curious to see it and hear about it! My sons never share anything of their work, you know how boys can be secretive. So, tell me, what kind of¡­  magic  do you do here?¡±

    Julya seemed first taken aback ¨C  magic? ¨C  but she quickly recovered. She pasted a welcoming smile on her lips.

    ¡°My husband and I are Arcanysta, your Grace. Like everyone else in the Atelier, our work revolves around Arcanes and the Arcanic Arts. We specialize in material research.¡±

    ¡°Material research? What kind of research is that? Do the materials often get lost?¡±

    ¡°Er¡­no¡­ It¡¯s¡­ We study the relationship between a material and the Grace. Mostly, this comes down to researching and tabulating lists of their properties like their elasticity, their Grace sensitivity, their melting temperature¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, you melt things? Just like candy, isn¡¯t it?¡± Pani Kazkan turned to Tekla, batting her eyelashes. ¡°Dumnchory, you cheat, you didn¡¯t tell me you made candies in the Atelier!¡±

    Tekla gave her the largest smile Isyd had ever seen on her face. ¡°Unfortunately, we do not make sweets in the Atelier, your Grace, though it may be something I look into now that you pointed it out.¡±

    ¡°And fireworks! Think about the fireworks! I am  such  a fan of those as well!¡±

    Isyd exchanged a confused look with Norran.  Fireworks? Did the woman think they were pyrotechnicians?

    As he was wont to do when uninterested, Isyd was about to retreat in his own thoughts and dismiss the silly woman from his mind. However, something stopped him and forced him to focus his attention back on the situation at hand, and this something had a lot to do with the awkward weight in his pocket.

    That woman shouldn¡¯t be here. The laboratory had been reserved by Hidrss for the Commission to study the Blysht, and thus nobody except the members could enter it. All the Pupils knew it and certainly, Tekla Dumnchory knew it. So why did she bring this inane noblewoman here? The Atelier was big, they could have spent a day exploring it and not even covered half of it. Once again, the letters he had seen on Tekla¡¯s desk came nagging at his mind. The letters had bore a fancy wax seal on them¡­ Something was clearly afoot and Isyd felt like he was far from having all the pieces of the puzzle.

    ¡°We do far more than fireworks!¡± Tekla said. ¡°The Atelier is where the future is built as I have told you. Arcanes to forever change the way we live, and the Blysht is just an example among many others!¡±

    ¡°Oh, really? I want to see more!¡±

    ¡°I am sure Tutor Hidrss will be sharing more of the Blysht with everyone in due time once he is back,¡± Julya said curtly.

    Tekla met her gaze. Julya did not back down; she was still smiling but something in her posture had gone cold and hostile. Tekla had talked about the Blysht outside of their circles, she had just confirmed it. The mention of Hidrss was obviously meant to remind Tekla of her place. The woman didn¡¯t take it well.

    ¡°Was there any progress yet?¡± she snapped. ¡°The Atelier doesn¡¯t pay you for nothing!¡±

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    ¡°The progress is slow¡­ but it is coming along, Ms Dumnchory,¡± Julya said.

    Pani Kazkan held tighter on Tekla¡¯s arm. ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter if we cannot see it now! It is getting late anyway, and I must return soon. Dumnchory will have more chance to explain it to me at the party during Korochun!¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ I didn¡¯t know I was invited¡­¡± Tekla said.

    ¡°Of course you are, silly woman! I am impressed by your brilliant mind and I want to introduce you to many people! We will have such a jolly time! Just remind me of asking Pia to prepare everything for you!¡±

    The two women began retreating from the room. Isyd and the Ravasz bowed but they didn¡¯t even glance at them. Pani Kazkan was taken by her prattling and Tekla was smiling wide and nodding to everything that was being said. Isyd now understood why Tekla had been in such a good mood lately. Silence fell in the room once the door closed.

    ¡°Well¡­ that was unexpected¡­¡± Julya finally said after a while.

    ¡°Those women be damned!¡± Norran spat. ¡°Nothing good ever comes when the szlachta takes an interest in the business of normal folk!¡±

    ¡°Normal folk? Come on now, darling, we are Arcanysta! Plus, the Kazkan family is an important patron of the Academy. It is normal for the matriarch to pay a visit. Expected even.¡±

    Norran tsked. ¡°Still, I curse Tekla Dumnchory for bringing her here. It can only mean bad things for us!¡±

    Since Isyd had known him, Norran Ravasz had always been easy-going and enthusiastic if somewhat distracted. It was the first time, Isyd saw him being so passionate about something other than Arcanes.

    ¡°Why do you say that?¡± Isyd said. ¡°Why would it be bad?¡±

    ¡°The szlachta cares about the Arts only so long as it can further their own goals. They have no love for the science and the craft of it, it is only a tool for their game. And therefore, so are the Artysta¡­¡±

    ¡°You cannot make a such sweeping generalization, Norran!¡± Julya said.

    ¡°I can and I do! Have you forgotten I worked for them, my love? I know their kind!¡±

    ¡°Still, I refuse to believe all of them are like that!¡±

    Norran tsked once again. ¡°Isn¡¯t what happened to us in Blotnia proof enough?¡± he grumbled.

    Julya was about to respond, but Isyd beat her to it. ¡°What happened there? Does that have anything to do with your reason for leaving Blotnia?¡±

    The couple exchanged a look between them, hesitating on how much they were willing to share with him. In the end, Norran shrugged and nodded.

    ¡°We left Blotnia because it was no longer safe for us. It is kind of a convoluted story and not an interesting one¡­¡±

    ¡°I am interested,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°Fine¡­ At the time we were running a private workshop. Think of it as a diminutive version of the Atelier. We made ends meet by selling our Arcanic skills to the public while conducting our private research on the side. That¡¯s how we stumbled on the Blysht and constructed our first theories. We were quite excited, perhaps overly so. We shared our first hypothesises with the Arcanyst Guild based in Blotnia and at first, it didn¡¯t go anywhere. However, around a year ago we were suddenly barred from entering the Guild and participating in their work; overnight we were made pariahs and no explanation was given.

    ¡°After that, clients became rarer until they stopped entirely. We had our suspicion before, but this was the confirmation that the Guild had been colluding against us. We still manage to get by, though. Norran had contacts and old friends and my years as an accountant had taught me to be careful with our finances. All of it to say that we managed to stay afloat. This probably displeased whoever had it out for us, because a few months back we received our first threats. Anonymous letters and billets demanding us to stop our work as Arcanysta. It started with a few, but it quickly escalated. Then, one evening, someone broke into our house. Thankfully, they must only have wanted to scare us, or at least not to hurt us, because they targeted our papers and ledgers and stole our research documents and burned the rest. It was the fire that alerted us. That¡¯s when we decided to leave Blotnia for good.¡±

    ¡°I am sorry this happened to you,¡± Isyd said. ¡°But how does that have anything to do with the szlachta?¡±

    This time it was Norran who spoke. ¡°Around the same time we were barred from it, the Guild was bought by a szlachcic! Many Arcanysta eventually left, but we were the first and the only ones not given an explanation of what was happening. ¡±

    ¡°The purchase had been underway for a while now. I believe it is only a coincidence¡­,¡± Julya protested.

    But even as she was saying, Isyd could see she wasn¡¯t looking confident. It could have been a coincidence but then again¡­

    Julya clasped her hands together. ¡°Anyway, all of this is in the past! Let¡¯s not talk about it anymore since there¡¯s no point! We are now safe in Vilriver, and most importantly we have the Blysht!¡±

    Isyd fished out the Lightsphere and Blysht and handed them over. Norran¡¯s smile had come back and he was visibly shaking with excitation. In his eyes was the same light Isyd had recognized in Hidrss¡¯s when he stared at the Ingraced Blysht. It was the Arcanyst¡¯s mind taken by the fever of imagination!

    ¡°Today is the day the Blysht became a functioning piece of technology,¡± Norran declared. ¡°Let¡¯s celebrate it during the Korochun!¡±

 36 â€“ The Korochun

    Snowing had fallen the past few days in Vilriver and it had only abated in the morning. This set the mood for the Korochun, the winter solstice and the longest night of the year. The Korochun as well as the eve and the day after were holidays, which gave three days for the Pupils to travel back home to see their family or at least enjoy a bit of rest before the proper end of the semester. The Library was therefore closed, but this did not stop Isyd. His name and face had now become too well-known in the Academy for him to go unnoticed so he had to find a new hiding place. Some parts of the Fields were a good choice given how out of the way they were, but it was annoying to dredge through the woods. Instead, Isyd had found this spot on the roof of one of the towers.

    To go there, he sneaked through a window of the Library and made his way up the slate tiles until he reached a cornice with enough room for him to stand and seat. The only downside of this spot ¨C besides the obvious vertiginous height and the slippiness of the frozen tiles¨C was the small oeil-de-boeuf window behind him. It led to the Library but was sealed so Isyd couldn¡¯t use it as a shortcut and was forced to make the climb every time. Still, this section of the Library was always empty so Isyd did not fear anyone noticing him there.

    From his vantage point, the whole of Vilriver appeared to Isyd. The city was covered by a mantel of snow and the temperatures were frigid. The only reason the River hadn¡¯t completely frozen over was that its waters were too fast. Even so, it wasn¡¯t rare to see chunks of ice floating downstream. The city was alight with the celebrations of the night. Food, music and dances around bonfires were happening all over the city as tonight was a night of merriment to be spent with family and friends. The Ravasz had wanted Isyd to join them so that they could spend the day together, but Isyd had turned down their repetitive invitation. He preferred leaving the couple alone. In fact, he preferred to leave everyone alone. The Ravasz were good people and he had come to appreciate the time spent working together, which was an additional reason why he didn¡¯t want to be there and taint their night.

    Isyd enjoyed his time alone; it gave him the opportunity to rest and think and plan.

    Plus, he was technically never truly alone.

    ¡°You never told me that snow was supposed to be white, Isyd!¡± Naeht said, hands on her hips and floating in the air in front of him.

    ¡°I must have mentioned it at some point I am sure,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°You said it was white, but you didn¡¯t tell me it was  white ! I mean, look at it! It¡¯s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! It is so  white !¡±

    Isyd rolled his eyes but said nothing. He could understand her excitement; back in Old Ziemia, the snow had turned black and ashy everywhere due to the ashclouds. It was all Naeht had ever known.

    ¡°Also, this is the Korochun and I had never seen people celebrating this way!¡±

    ¡°Come on now, we celebrated the Korochun in the Holy Bastion. It can¡¯t be that different.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but this feels different! Even in the Holy Bastion, when winter came people were just tenser. I think they feared the cold and the food¡­ we always need to watch out for the food because there wasn¡¯t enough for everybody. The Korochun was the only day when people let go a bit, you know. But even then¡­ it was like they knew it was just for a night! But here, people don¡¯t seem to worry about tomorrow! It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s good...¡±

    Isyd knew that the reality was a bit more complicated than that. Winter was always a difficult period for everyone and he remembered quite a few cold and hungry nights as a child in his village after a bad harvest. Even in a city such as Vilriver, he suspected that not everyone was enjoying the snow. He didn¡¯t say a word of that obviously. Isyd was simply happy to see Naeht happy.

    ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s get down and walk around for a bit¡­¡± he sighed, getting up. ¡°You could just have said you wanted to wander around, you know.¡±

    Her expression was mischievous. ¡°Well, now that you proposed it, you can¡¯t say I pestered you! Do you think we will see the Yale Log burn?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, but I think it may have already happened¡­¡±

    For the following hours, they wandered the streets lit with tinsels of Lightspheres and evergreen branches. The streets were crowded though it was slowly thinning out as the night progressed. Everywhere people were snuggled in their warm clothes, enjoying a warm cup of coffee or wine or nibbling on pierogi. Even Isyd let himself be tempted and bought a few pieces to enjoy. Naeht looked at him with envy but she didn¡¯t have the time to be sad; she was quickly swept up by the sounds of violin and kozio?. They were on of the main plaza of Vilriver and the Merchant Guild had sponsored a massive feast and after having eaten to their heart content, room had been made for folk dances. People pranced around at the sounds of the laughter, the clapping and the music. Isyd observed from afar, making sure not to be swept up by the movement of the crowd that swell as more and more people joined the dance.

    Eventually, Isyd decided to leave by one of the main streets that connected to the Plaza and led directly to the Inside and the Academy. On either side of the road, merchant stalls had been installed by the Merchant Guild; the Yale Street Market of Vilriver was well-renown all around the Commonwealth. Isyd dodged the hailing merchants and the running children and the opportunistic dogs digging the snow piles for a little bit of food. More than once, Isyd recognized the familiar colours and cut of the Academy uniform. He was also wearing the uniform as it was well-suited for those temperatures, though he had put on his darkveil for extra comfort. He had just crossed Emerald Bridge when he stumbled upon familiar faces.

    Touring the booths were Boshena, Jadwia, Tatyana, Kewin, and three other guys Isyd did not recognize. One of them was in his class, but he never committed his name to memory. Raval, perhaps¡­

    Tatyana noticed him first and she was surprised to see him there because her eyes went wide. She elbowed at Jadwia next to her and wave to him. It was too late for Isyd to pretend he hadn¡¯t seen them, so he waved back and approached.

    ¡°The night Graces you,¡± Isyd said to the group. ¡°Merry Korochun.¡±

    Boshena and the three young men seemed as surprised as Tatyana; only Jadwia and Kewin had a normal reaction to his presence.

    ¡°Grace to you, Isyd,¡± Jadwia said. ¡°Merry Korochun. I searched for you today. I wanted to invite you to spend the evening together with the rest of us. I couldn¡¯t find you, as usual.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t plan on celebrating.¡±

    ¡°And yet you¡¯re here!¡±

    Isyd shrugged and gave a reproaching side glance to Naeht. ¡°I let myself be convinced¡­¡±

    ¡°Nobody should spend the Korochun alone¡­¡± Kewin said softly.

    ¡°I do not mind being alone.¡±

    ¡°Well since you¡¯re here, join us!¡± Tatyana exclaimed. ¡°The more the merrier!¡±

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    ¡°Actually, I was walking back to the Academy¡­¡±

    ¡°We were as well! Let¡¯s make the rest of the way together!¡±

    Seeing that there was no point arguing further, Isyd nodded and trailed behind, not without giving another pointed look at Naeht.

    See what you put me into?

    The girl had the gall to laugh at his face.

    Isyd soon learned that Tatyana meant something different when she said they were heading back to the Academy. The girl could not help but stop at every merchant stall and gawk at their products. She grabbed Boshena by the arm as well as another dude and forced the whole group to slow down or even stop. Then, it was Jadwia that was getting distracted or someone else and consequently, they were progressing at an excruciating pace.

    ¡°Wow, this is so shiny!¡± Tatyana exclaimed, hunching over to better see the display of trinkets. She pointed at what looked to be a fish scale, only it was as big as a hand and had an iridescent shine to it. ¡°What is this?¡±

    ¡°This, my good girl, is the scale of a mermaid!¡± the peddler said.

    ¡°Mermaid? For real?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes! This is one of my rarest possessions! You see, the Mermaids live in the coldest part of the Wiel Ocean and rarely interact with humans. I can¡¯t tell you how I got my hands on one of those, but I can tell you that their scales are magical! One of those and you can breathe under the sea like you were fish!¡±

    Isyd saw Boshena roll her eyes; clearly, she wasn¡¯t buying it!

    ¡°Don¡¯t fall for it, Tatyana,¡± she told her friend. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go!¡±

    ¡°Oh, we have a sceptic I see,¡± the peddler said, stroking his long moustache. ¡°Well, young girl, my name is Joost and Joost is not a liar! From West to East, I travel across Ziemia for the most exotic products, the likes of you which your young eyes have never seen. Perhaps, I can interest you with something else, hmm? Here, take a look at this!¡±

    The man shoved in Boshena¡¯s hands a long and curved white stone.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Tatyana asked, jumping up and down.

    ¡°This is a griffin¡¯s claw! Grate it into a powder and mix it with water and you get a drink that can heal any ailment!¡±

    The whole group was now standing around the man¡¯s stall. Isyd eyed distractedly the products. At a glance, most of them turned out to be nothing more than useless knick-knacks; charms that were supposedly Arcanes, as well as strange animals¡¯ loots and vibrant potions in flasks. His eyes were attracted by an object a bit apart from the rest. Jadwia must have noticed it at the same time because she pointed at it.

    ¡°What is this?¡± she asked.

    Joost turned and picked up the object at the top of the pile. It was a mask carefully crafted out of wood. Painted blue and white, it represented the terrifying face of a demon, with pitch-black eyes and white horns and tusks.

    Isyd¡¯s heart skipped a bit as he recognized it.

    ¡°Oh, this? Those were gifts I received from a friend,¡± Joost said. ¡°He is an Antim, a people that lives on a group of islands far, far in the East from here. They say that those are the faces of demons and to ward against them, the Antims carve those faces in stones and put them above their temples¡­¡±

    ¡°Those masks aren¡¯t made out of stones now, are they?¡± the young man next to Boshena pointed out.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s just good wood! Those masks are used for something different. The Antims are weird people, you know? They don¡¯t kill their criminals; they just banish them! You could kill your own father and mother and they would let you go! But in exchange, you have to wear this mask. For them, you died and became a demon and now, if you were to come back, anyone is justified in hunting and killing you! That¡¯s what those masks are for! They have a name for it actually. Let¡¯s see¡­ it was the ¡°Faces of¡±¡­ of¡­ something¡­¡±

    ¡°¡®The Faces or Glory¡¯¡±, Isyd murmured.

    Everyone turned to him surprised, as they had forgotten he was even there.

    ¡°Aye, that¡¯s what it was!¡± Joost said. ¡°Tell me, young man, are you interested? Those masks would be perfect for playing pranks, for this year Ostatki for instance! I can even make you a price for the whole of it, what do you say, hmm?¡±

    Isyd didn¡¯t answer him. He was transfixed by the mask, his mind made to revisit other places and other times.

    ¡°Isyd, is this¡­?¡± Naeht said to his ear.

    He simply nodded.

    Eventually, the group managed to extract themselves from the grip of Joost and resumed their walk towards the Academy. Isyd was trailing much behind her, lost in his thoughts. The 22  <sup>nd</sup>   Hour had long come and gone, but the Western Gate of the Academy was still open; the Korochun was apparently an exception to the usual rule. They saw other Pupils also making their way back but, by the eerie silence after they passed the Gate, it was obvious that many had yet to come back. Unfortunately, the path they took through the Fields was not as well-trodden as the other pathways and consequently, they had to drudge through the snow that reach ankle-heigh at some places. None of the Pupils complained though; Tatyana was leading the group and was still prattling happily along.

    ¡°Do you think the Ravasz are working on the Blysht?¡± Naeht suddenly asked. ¡°The lights of the laboratory are still on.¡±

    This took Isyd out of his wool-gathering. He followed her gaze and indeed saw light coming from a window in the furthest wing of the building. Other rooms were also lit, but it was the only one in this part of the Atelier and Isyd could have recognized the window of the laboratory with ease given how much time he spent there.

    ¡°The Ravasz are enjoying their time at home,¡± Isyd said. ¡°It must be Tekla¡­¡±

    But as he was saying it, Isyd hesitated.  Tekla had been invited to the Baroness¡¯s party.

    ¡°Naeht¡­ Could you ¡­ ¡± Isyd said, stopping on his track. ¡°Could you go and check for me, please?¡±

    ¡°Sure!¡±

    She flew away like a strong gale. Isyd watched the Atelier, doubt and uncertainty creeping inside him. His instincts were telling him that something was wrong.

    Less than a minute passed and Naeht was flying back to him. Isyd saw her expression. It told him all he needed to know.

    He dashed forward and ran at full tilt toward the Atelier. He heard what were supposedly gasps and his name behind him, but he did not stop. Someone was in the laboratory and Isyd could easily guess what their goal was.

    They had come for the Blysht.

 37 â€“ Facing Intruders

    The snow did not slow down Isyd. He ran down the Fields, his darkveil flapping behind him. He soon reached the doors of the building and realized that they were locked. He couldn¡¯t feel the humming of a [Locking Spell] so he assumed that the lock had to be physical in nature. Isyd did not have time to run back to the main entrance of the Atelier which was always open.

    Isyd took some run-up, enjoyed the sweetness of the Holy Grace in his mouth, and then kicked the gate with all his strength. The door burst from its hinges and flew across the entrance hall. With no regard for the damages, Isyd rushed in towards the staircase.

    Naeht was flying right next to him. ¡°I saw two people inside! They weren¡¯t the Ravasz! Hurry!¡±

    Isyd took on the stairs two by two, then four by four. By the fifth and final floor, he was leaping past the whole flight of stairs. He could see at the end of the hallway the light pouring out of the laboratory¡¯s door left ajar. Isyd was such in a hurry that he almost failed to notice the person hidden in the shadows.

    ¡°Isyd, there¡¯s a third person!¡± Naeht shouted.

    Isyd heard the Grace sing around him and saw the wand pointed at him. His instincts honed by years of experience took over.

    ¡°[Shield]!¡±

    The air in front of Isyd turned solid at the same time as a [Wind Spear] flew in his direction. The two [Spells] exploded upon impact and Isyd was pushed back. He quickly got back on his feet just in time to see the intruder finishing another [Spell]. It flashed briefly and a wall of flames appeared. The intruder rushed back inside the laboratory as the fire grew hotter and hotter and blocked any chance for Isyd to progress further.

    Isyd heard footsteps behind him and he turned just to see Jadwia and Kewin running up the stairs, breathless.

    ¡°What¡¯s¡­ wrong¡­ with you?¡± Jadwia panted at him. ¡°Why did you start running all of a¡­¡±

    Her sentence died out as she saw the wall of flames at the end of the highway.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening here¡­?¡± Kewin muttered as flabbergasted as her.

    Isyd didn¡¯t bother answering them. He rushed to the fire and began casting. The Air Essence around him was sucked into his [Spell], shaped and amplified before being released as a strong gale. It was as if a storm had exploded inside the hallway. The winds blew in, threw Jadwia and Kewin to the ground, and made the windows explode. The walls shook and the fire was snuffed as if it was a simple candle flame.

    ¡°Isyd, watch out!¡± Naeht said, worried. ¡°You¡¯ll bring this whole place down!¡±

    ¡°I know!¡± Isyd muttered through gritted breath.

    In the same breath, he reached the door of the laboratory and slammed it open. There were three intruders indeed and they all turned to him at the same time, surprised to see him there. They wore a cloak and a scarf covered half of their visage. One man threw a knife in Isyd¡¯s direction but Isyd jumped aside, grabbed a chair and threw it. He followed by a pointed finger and a [Spell] already drawn.

    ¡°[Pierce]!¡±

    The man ducked the chair but couldn¡¯t avoid the gust of wind; it him square in the chest and sent him crashing against a shelf full of glass instruments.

    ¡°Hell! Get him!¡± one man shouted.

    The man had a wand in one hand and a bundle of papers in the other whereas the second man only held an iridescent crystal in his hand. It was the Ingraced Blysht! Isyd¡¯s attention focused on the latter.

    I need Water Essence¡­

    Isyd¡¯s mind immediately latched onto the snow that laid everywhere outside and his Idpulse made the Grace sings as the Commands formed at the tip of his gloved fingers. The windows of the laboratory burst open and the snow flew in as floating ribbons.

    ¡°[Freezing Mist]!¡±

    The cloud of snow soon rushed at the two intruders. The tallest of the two gasped and recoiled at the sudden bite of the cold on his exposed face and, in his surprise, dropped the crystal. Isyd did not miss a beat and jumped at it.

    ¡°No!¡±

    The other man threw in his direction a handful of wooden coins. Isyd rolled and snatched the Blysht while one of the chips touched his leg. He realized too late that those were [Arcanes]. Wherever the wooden chips had landed, vines had burst from the floor and one of those was now tightly wrapped around Isyd¡¯s leg, pinning him to the ground.

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    The tall man tried to jump at Isyd and slammed headfirst into his [Wind Shield]. Isyd cursed at himself and the dead weight of his palcat in his darkveil. If he had his weapon, all of this would have been sorted out so easily but now he had to improvise.

    ¡°[Ice Shape]!¡± Isyd said. The ice mist flew to his hand and coalesced into an 8-meter-long pole that he used to sweep them all off their feet.

    ¡°[Ice Shape]!¡± he called once more. The Water Essence that he had initially gathered was starting to run out; the ice was of poor quality and was already breaking apart. Still, it managed to deliver one last time and formed a sharp ice knife in Isyd¡¯s palm. With a quick swoop, he cut the vines and freed himself.

    The first man Isyd had attacked was now back on his feet. It was the same who had held vigil. His scarf had slipped off and his skin was bruised and cut. He was about to cast a [Spell] in Isyd¡¯s direction but Isyd was faster. Like many Arcanysta, the man never expected to be attacked in close quarters as he was casting. Thus, his eyes went wide right before Isyd closed the gap between them and slammed his fist into the man¡¯s jaw. He followed with another on the chin then a last one in the guts as the man raised his hands to protect his face. As he doubled over, Isyd finished flooring him by slamming his elbow into the man¡¯s temple.

    Isyd turned just in time as the tallest man threw himself at him, trying to tackle him. Fortunately, Isyd was strong on his feet. He took in the impact then used the momentum of the intruder against him and hurled him over his shoulders, before violently slamming him onto the ground.

    ¡°Good Grace!¡±

    All the heads turned to the doorstep where Jadwia and Kewin had finally made their apparition. The last man standing did not hesitate; he redirected the [Spell] he was aiming at Isyd towards the newcomers.

    ¡°Watch out!¡± Isyd shouted.

    A blazing [Fire Ball] dashed across the room and Isyd threw himself toward it, hand extended in desperation. He snapped his fingers and the melting ice that was left on the floor stirred and turned into a feeble water jet. It intercepted the [Fire Ball] right before it hit Jadwia and both [Spells] exploded into a cloud of steam.

    There were two sharp whistles and Isyd turned to see that all the intruders had gotten back on their feet ¨C if somewhat difficulty so. As one, they all rushed toward the open window. Isyd guessed what they were about to do and was about to invoke a [Wind Wall] to stop them. At the same time, one of the men turned around and threw in his direction what looked like a Lightsphere. By reflex, Isyd turned his [Wind Wall] into a [Deflecting Spell] and the Lightsphere deviated. However, it wasn¡¯t a normal Lightsphere as when it touched the ground, it exploded into a blinding light.

    The white flash was sudden and took Isyd by surprise, blinding him. Even as the light went out, his vision was seared by the afterimages.

    ¡°Isyd, they¡¯re getting away!¡± Naeht told him.

    Using the sound of her voice as a point of reference, Isyd stumbled blindly to the windowsill while blinking furiously. Against the white background of the snow, he managed to see the three figures running away towards the woods. They probably used an [Arcane] to slow down their fall from such a height. Isyd didn¡¯t need that. He could just jump down and hunt them down. With some luck, he could catch them before they got too far away. He just needed to grab one of them to learn who organized tonight¡¯s attack¡­

    ¡°Isyd, are you hurt?¡± Kewin asked as he put a hand on his shoulder.

    Isyd shrugged him off forcefully and turned. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have followed!¡± he said harshly.

    ¡°We¡­ we were worried¡­ You just ran off suddenly and we¡­ I thought something was wrong¡­¡± Kewin stammered.

    Isyd walked past him and took a long look at the damage in the room. The laboratory was barely recognizable; all the precious instruments had been shattered and destroyed in the onslaught, and papers and splintered wood laid everywhere around them. Isyd hunched down and picked up the bundle he had managed to snatch from one of the intruders as he wrestled him to the ground. The papers were a first draft describing the [Ingracing Hex] and possible future applications. They belonged to a bigger batch of notes about the Blysht and the [Outgracing Hex] and they were now in the hands of those men. Searching around, he finally found a wooden box that had been thrown across the room. Its latch had been forced upon but fortunately, its content had been stolen. It was a simple Lightsphere, or at least in appearance; the thieves had not noticed that the [Lighting Hex] had been modified with the [Outgracing Hex]. Isyd put the precious Lightsphere in the pocket of his darkveil, next to his palcat.

    ¡°Do¡­ do you know who they were?¡± Kewin asked timidly.

    ¡°No, I do not,¡± Isyd said. ¡°But I will find soon enough¡­ This is a matter concerning the Atelier so I expect of you to keep your mouth shut regarding what you¡¯ve seen tonight.¡±

    There was such a coldness in Isyd¡¯s voice, such an authority that Kewin could only nod profusely. Isyd turned his gaze to Jadwia, expecting her to agree as well. The girl was immobile, eyes wide and staring into space. Isyd followed her gaze and saw that she was staring at the Ingraced Blysht he was clutching firmly in his hand.

    ¡°Jadwia¡­¡± Kewin called, uncertain. ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°They¡­ they had come for this¡­ the Blysht¡­,¡± she mumbled.

    ¡°I assume so, and since they failed to have it, I suspect they¡¯ll try again,¡± Isyd said.

    Jadwia grew even paler and she looked all around her, her hand moving to her mouth. It was as if she only now fully took in what had happened.

    ¡°They knew about the Blysht¡­¡±

    The girl looked haunted. Isyd suspected that she was suffering from shock, but he didn¡¯t have the time nor the will to care. His mind was racing to find an explanation for tonight¡¯s attack. As Jadwia had said, the thieves knew about the Blysht and where and when to hit. They were well informed and obviously proficient Artysta. This reduced the list of suspects considerably¡­

    In Isyd¡¯s mind, another piece found its place in the puzzle.

    ?

 38 â€“ The Enemy Among Us

    Right after sending Jadwia and Kewin back to the Academy, Isyd sat down amidst the rubbles of the laboratory. He had waited for night to pass, eyes and senses peered in chance the thieves decided to come back. They hadn¡¯t, but it had given Isyd the time to think and plan.

    On the very first hour in the morning, the Ravasz had shown up. Isyd had expected them to sleep in after a night spent celebrating, but apparently, the two Arcanysta were too much of workaholics for that. Julya was the first to walk in as she was talking to her husband that followed her. Her sentence died in her throat and her eyes went wide when they landed on the destruction all around them. She brought a hand to her lips to stop a cry that did not come. Norran followed and immediately stepped in front of her as if to protect her from danger.

    Isyd got up from where he sat. ¡°Last night, three thieves broke into the Laboratory,¡± he explained calmly. ¡°I stumbled upon them as I was coming back to the Academy. I managed to recover the Blysht and the Outgracing Hex, but they escaped before I could apprehend them.¡±

    ¡°God, they are back¡­¡± Julya muttered. ¡°They found us¡­¡±

    Norran grabbed one of the few stools left unbroken and led her to it. Julya was deathly pale and her lips were trembling.

    ¡°Yes, I suspect that they are the same people that attacked you in Blotnia,¡± Isyd added.

    ¡°It¡¯s happening again¡­ Oh, God!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s gonna be all right, dear, it¡¯s gonna be all right. Here, sit down and breathe¡­¡± Norran told Julya while giving a reproaching look to Isyd.

    ¡°Now, let¡¯s not get ahead of ourselves,¡± Norran said. ¡°Do we know for sure that they are the same people? I mean, the Atelier is an obvious target for thieves gangs with all the [Arcanes], the precious metals and all that¡­¡±

    ¡°It is possible, but unlikely,¡± Isyd said. ¡°None of the measuring instruments was touched and the copper, silver and gold stashes are stored elsewhere. Only our laboratory was targeted which is strange since nothing of value is supposed to be here. Nothing, but the Blysht that is.¡±

    Julya seemed to have regained a bit of control not that the initial shock had passed. She was twisting her hands, but her breathing was calmer. ¡°They wanted the Ingraced Blysht and the Outgracing Blysht, this is clear. You said that you stopped them?¡±

    ¡°I did,¡± Isyd said, pulling out the crystal and the Lightsphere. ¡°They still managed to escape with some of our notes. I suspect that they will come back.¡±

    ¡°But how¡­ how did they find us? How did they know about the Blysht?¡±

    ¡°I believe the answer is evident,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°It is that Witch Dumnchory, isn¡¯t it?¡± Norran spat.

    ¡°Norran, please¡­¡± Julya said feebly.

    But a dark cloud of anger had taken on the man. ¡°She¡¯s been going around and babbling about the Blysht to whoever wanted to hear it! She caused this!¡±

    ¡°But to what end? She has nothing to gain hiring those thugs?¡± Julya said. ¡° Plus, Tekla didn¡¯t know about us before we came to the Atelier. How could she be responsible for the attack here and the attack back in Blotnia simultaneously?¡±

    Isyd had been pondering the same questions the whole night. He was relatively certain that Tekla had been the one to spill the beans, but he struggled to make it match with everything the Ravasz had told him regarding the incident in Blotnia. If she and the intruders were colluding, why did they need to break in in the first place? Isyd could see the outline of the puzzle, but some crucial pieces were missing for him to have a complete picture of the situation.

    ¡°Isyd!¡± Naeht came phasing through the walls in a hurry. ¡°Tekla is coming this way! She left her office!¡±

    Isyd had asked her to watch over Tekla just for this scenario. He jumped into action and turned to the Ravasz.

    ¡°Tekla is coming here as we speak. You must leave.¡±

    ¡°W-What¡­?¡±

    ¡°Leave. Now! Go back to your place, I will join you there in a bit once I took care of Tekla.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡± Julya began.

    ¡°No time to discuss!¡± Isyd cut her off, his voice harsh and commanding. He shoved the Lightsphere and the Ingraced Blysht in her opened hands. ¡°Take this. We¡¯ll discuss more later. Go!¡±

    Julya couldn¡¯t hide her surprise at hearing Isyd speak with so much authority. It was as if she was seeing another person, an older person. She followed her husband and got back up and hurried to the door, with only a last worried glance behind her.

    Isyd watched them go before turning to Naeht. ¡°How was Tekla? Did she look hurt? Did you notice anything special?¡±

    ¡°Not hurt, but I think she¡¯s a bit hungover. Her eyes are red as if she cried. Also, she¡¯s pissed. Mightily so.¡±

    Isyd nodded. Senses strained forward, he felt Tekla Dumnchory approaching him. Her pulse was familiar, the thrumming of her Grace sounded in Isyd¡¯s mind more and more distinct against the background buzzing of the Holy Grace when he focused on her. Soon, he could hear her steps up the stairs. She walked in her usual quick walk, almost running. She skidded to a stop at the doorstep and her face was a mask of surprise as she took in the extent of the damages.

    She didn¡¯t know about the attack¡­  Isyd came to realize.

    When her green eyes landed on him, the shock turned into bitter anger.

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    ¡°You! Where is the [Outgracing Hex]?¡± she spat.

    Not a question about what caused this?  Isyd¡¯s mind was racing to make sense of her reaction.  She hadn¡¯t known about the attack, but she wasn¡¯t surprised it had happened¡­

    ¡°It is not here,¡± he said.

    She stormed in until they were face to face. Isyd did not flinch.

    ¡°Do not lie to me, Wybrany! No need to pretend, I know you succeeded in making the [Hex]. I demand to see it this instant!¡±

    ¡°I will not give it to you.¡±

    Tekla seemed so dumbfounded, it was as if Isyd had just slapped her. ¡°What did you just say¡­?¡± she hissed.

    ¡°You broke the Commission secret. I will not hand the [Outgracing Hex] to you nor discuss anything regarding the Blysht with you until Hidrss is back.¡±

    ¡°How  dare  you! The secret did not matter one bit! You have no idea of the seriousness of the situation! Do you think that all of this is a silly game? Do you think  they  care about our stupid rules?¡±

    ¡°Who are ¡®they¡¯?¡± Isyd cut in.

    ¡°It is none of your concern, dammit!¡± She bit her lips as if trying very hard to hang on to a modicum of calm. ¡°I want the [Outgracing Hex]. Now! Do not think I cannot force you, Wybrany!¡±

    ¡°Is it a threat?¡±

    ¡°It is an order! If I must, I¡¯ll remind you who of us is in charge!¡±

    Isyd felt the Grace dances around Tekla. She was Concentrating it in case she needed to cast a spell. He wasn¡¯t intimidated. He was now realizing that the time had come to get rid of Tekla. She was compromised with the enemy ¨C whomever the enemy was. In time, Isyd could make her talk, he was sure of it. But first, he needed to eliminate the threat she posed.

    Isyd took no pleasure in that thought.

    His skin twitched under his bandages. Tekla saw something in his eyes because she took an instinctive step back and raised her hands.

    ¡°Isyd¡­?¡± Naeht asked with a voice full of uncertainty. Full of warning.

    ¡°Er¡­ Ms Dumnchory?¡±

    All the heads turned to the doorstep where the timid voice had come from. A Pupil of the 2  <sup>nd</sup>   Opening stood, with his hair ruffled and his shirt uniform singed in front.

    ¡°What?¡± Tekla snapped.

    ¡°The problem¡­ er¡­ the Arcane is acting up again¡­¡±

    ¡°I told you how to handle it as I left! How could you mess it up?¡±

    ¡°The cracks are spreading, and the oil is leaking. We tried a [Cooling Hex] and introducing sink points but¡­ The Seniors aren¡¯t coming today because of the Korochun and¡­¡±

    The boy seemed on the verge of tears. Isyd let his shoulders fall, glad for the sudden interruption. Tekla¡¯s face went through several emotions: relief, annoyance, and anger. She turned back to Isyd, uncertain of how to proceed. Isyd gave her a cold smile.

    ¡°You are the one in charge, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Do not think this is over! I expect you to be in my office with the [Outgracing Hex] in a quarter of an hour. If you fail to do so, I¡¯ll have all the grounds to punish you for insubordination. Do not try me, Wybrany!¡±

    She spun on her heels and left in a run, the Pupils close in toe.

    ¡°Good Grace, that was tense!¡± Naeht let out with a nervous laugh.

    Isyd said nothing; he was trying his best to ignore the twitching of his right arm.

    ¡°So¡­ are we going to her office?¡±

    ¡°Hell no! Tekla is compromised. We can no longer work with her. More than that, I¡¯d say that she¡¯s now our enemy. Just now, she was ready to attack me. She didn¡¯t because I think she knows subconsciously that I can defend myself. No matter what she¡¯s saying, she fears me as an equal. The Ravasz, however¡­¡±

    ¡°What about them?¡±

    ¡°If Tekla decides to go after Julya and Norran, she can easily overwhelm them. The same for the thieves¡­ I gave them the [Outgracing Hex] to buy time, but I fear that it is safer with me.¡±

    Isyd picked up his darkveil resting on the back of a chair and headed out of the laboratory.

    ¡°So, where we going then?¡± Naeht asked him as she followed.

    ¡°At the Ravasz¡¯s. We must hurry before Tekla changes her mind and get on my ass. I¡¯ll explain the situation to them, discuss my suspicions and decide on the best next move.¡±

    The Atelier ¨C the Academy as a whole in fact ¨C was empty since the day after the Korochun was also a holiday. This was great since Isyd did not need to worry about attracting attention as he jogged down the Fields toward the Gate.

    ¡°Er¡­ Isyd? I think Jadwia want to talk to you,¡± Naeht said.

    Isyd followed her gaze and saw Jadwia running at him and waving as if to stop him. He groaned; he wasn¡¯t in the mood to act as her private Tutor, and certainly not now as he was running out of time.

    ¡°Isyd¡­ Wait¡­ I have to talk to you¡­¡± Jadwia said, struggling to catch up.

    Isyd barely slowed down as he turned to her and waved her down. ¡°Later. I¡¯m in a hurry now. Write your questions on a note.¡±

    And with that, he sped up passed the Gate, leaving Jadwia in the dust, panting.

 39 - What Mattered the Most

    Isyd entered the Ravasz¡¯s apartment and knocked on their door on the first floor. The door moved ajar and Julya peeked through before letting him through. Norran was pacing up and down the cramped living room, giving him a worried look as he walked in.

    ¡°So¡­ what happened?¡± Julya asked.

    ¡°Tekla is compromised,¡± Isyd said. ¡°Somehow, she knew about the [Outgracing Hex] and the fact that it was completed. She looked surprised when she saw the state of the laboratory so I believe that she wasn¡¯t in on it. However, she certainly knows who is responsible.¡±

    ¡°And she let you go just like that?¡± Norran said.

    Isyd shrugged. ¡°Not really. I suspect she¡¯ll search for us soon. We must hurry and decide on what to do next.¡±

    ¡°I-I think that all of this has grown out of proportion,¡± Julya said. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we warn the Academy instead of discussing this between us? The Atelier was attacked for God¡¯s sake! Surely the Tutors or the Doyen would know what to do¡­¡±

    Isyd had actually considered the idea during the night. ¡°What are the chances they side with us?¡±

    ¡°You think they won¡¯t? Whyever not? We are the victims in all this!¡± Norran exclaimed.

    ¡°We have proofs as well, do we not?¡± Julya added.

    ¡°Aye, I think that in the end, the Academy will side with us,¡± Isyd said. ¡°But this will take some time and some investigation on their side. If Hidrss was here, he could corroborate everything we said and sort this whole thing out in a matter of hours. With him gone, Tekla is the one in charge and she¡¯ll be the one the Tutors will turn to. She¡¯ll have all the power to spin the narrative she wants. After all, I am only a 1<sup>st</sup> Year of the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening and you are two strangers Arcanysta. While all of this is happening, it will give sufficient time for the enemy to strike.¡±

    Plus, other Tutors or members of the Academy could as well be in on it¡­ Isyd did not share those suspicions since he had little proof to support them. He could see the fear and anxiety in the couple¡¯s eyes and the last thing he wished was to appear as a paranoid lunatic.

    ¡°If not the Tutors¡¯ help, what do you propose?¡± Norran said.

    ¡°Right now, we are at an advantage because we know what the enemy wants: the Blysht, the [Ingracing] and the [Outgracing Hex]. We have them all. The problem is that we lack information, we do not know exactly who we are facing. This is why I want to learn more about your incident in Blotnia.¡±

    ¡°What do you want to know?¡± Julya said.

    ¡°Once you first found out about the Blysht, who did you speak to? Who else knew about it? Who else could have learned about it? Who was in charge of the Guild? Who bought it?¡±

    ¡°Wait, wait!¡± the woman said, raising her hands against the onslaught of questions. ¡°You are asking a lot, I am not sure we have answers to all of that.¡±

    ¡°I suspected as much. This is why I think you two must return to Blotnia for a while.¡±

    The two Arcanysta looked at him, befuddled.

    ¡°Leaving Vilriver¡­ for what?¡± Julya asked.

    ¡°Vilriver may no longer be safe for you, as the events of yesterday¡¯s night proved it. We cannot hope to continue working on the Blysht with the threat of the thieves hanging over our heads. While in Blotnia, you¡¯ll have ample opportunities to find the answers to questions I asked you.¡±

    ¡°And what about you? Will you come as well?¡± Julya said.

    ¡°No, I¡¯ll remain here. I¡¯ll keep the Blysht and the two Hexes with me at all times. Someone needs also to keep up at least the pretence of working on it in case Tekla decides to use that as an excuse.¡±

    Norran exchanged a look with his wife. Isyd could see in their eyes that they weren¡¯t convinced.

    ¡°Isyd, listen¡­ I do not think this is a good idea,¡± Norran said. ¡°You are very mature for your age, I¡¯ll give you that, but we cannot ask you in good conscience to take such risks. You were lucky yesterday night with those thieves, but they could really hurt you! This¡­ this is no longer a game, a small disagreement between Ms Dumnchory and us, but a serious issue!¡±

    ¡°I am well aware of that but¡ª¡±

    Isyd stopped midsentence to look intensely at the entrance door. Two seconds later there were three knocks. Julya jumped on her feet, face pale and Norran seemed to hesitate between standing in front of her or going up to the door to answer. Before he could decide, Isyd had already moved. He stormed across the room and slammed the door open.

    In the doorway stood Jadwia Lichtfreund and Kewin Udachur.

    ¡°You. Followed. Me.¡± Isyd slowly said, in a melange of annoyance and disbelief.

    Jadwia took an instinctive step back.

    ¡°S-she¡­ she wanted to talk to¡­ you,¡± Kewin stammered. ¡°She said it was important¡­ about last night¡­¡±

    ¡°I have no time for¡ª¡±

    ¡°I know who ordered the attack!¡± Jadwia finally said.

    Isyd observed her silently for a couple of long seconds. Finally, he grabbed the two of them by their wrist and yanked them inside the living room, before slamming the door shut behind him.

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    ¡°Say your piece,¡± he ordered Jadwia.

    The young woman swallowed hard and threw a worried glance around her as if only now realizing the situation she¡¯d walked into.

    ¡°Two days ago, I was convoked by my Ringleader. He wanted to talk to me about¡­ you. He asked questions; about what you did in the Atelier, and if you counted on joining the Hammer Ring. They prodded and I simply said that I didn¡¯t know but¡­¡±

    ¡°But?¡± Isyd repeated intently. Jadwia was trying not to meet his gaze.

    ¡°But eventually, I let slip out that you were working on the Blysht¡­ It was an accident! I didn¡¯t mean to and I didn¡¯t say anything more! I couldn¡¯t even say much! I just said the name!¡±

    Julya got up and put a calming hand on Jadwia¡¯s shoulder. Jadwia finally dared look up to meet Isyd¡¯s eyes. Surprisingly, he didn¡¯t look angry, or at least not angrier than he already looked those past few days. His face was expressionless as he stood there, leaning against the door arms crossed against his chest.

    ¡°So, you think that after hearing that, your Ringleader decided to organize the attack on the laboratory?¡± he said.

    ¡°Not my Ringleader!¡± Jadwia said. ¡°There was someone else next to him asking questions: Isaak Kazkan, the first son of the baron! He was the one who seemed interested in the Blysht. He recognized the name the moment I said it. Also, he knew about that Isyd was working with two Arcanysta that weren¡¯t from Vilriver. He asked for your names and where you come from, but I didn¡¯t say anything.¡±

    Kazkan! The final piece of the puzzle took its place in Isyd¡¯s mind. The Ravasz¡¯s incident in Blotnia, the two men Isyd had stumbled upon in the salt mine of Blotnia, the letters on Tekla¡¯s desk, yesterday¡¯s attack¡­ all of it snapped into focus and gave Isyd a full picture of the situation.

    ¡°Isyd! You¡¯re having this look again? What is it? What did you figure out?¡± Naeht asked him excitedly.

    He simply smiled at her. This moment of realization had been enough for him to lose track of the conversation. Julya had drawn Jadwia next to her on the sofa.

    ¡°¡­not a big deal,¡± the older woman was saying, reassuringly. ¡°It may not mean anything¡ª¡±

    ¡°Changing of the plans,¡± Isyd said as he walked up to them. ¡°You two do not need to go to Blotnia. We know who is the enemy: the Kazkan family.¡±

    ¡°But why would they do that?¡± Norran asked.

    Isyd did not answer immediately. He looked at the man, then past him as his eyes rested on something above Norran¡¯s shoulders. Suddenly, Isyd grabbed him and pulled him back and out of the way. A few seconds later, the entrance door slammed fully open upon a howling gust of wind.

    Tekla Dumnchory walked in, hand pointed forward as if about to cast another [Spell].

    ¡°You made a grave mistake, Wybrany!¡± the woman said. ¡°Julya and Norran Ravasz, I demand that you return the rightful property of the Atelier. If you fail to do so, I should assume a breach of the contract that binds us and will be justified in my use of the Arts to apprehend you.¡±

    July and Norran Ravasz jumped on their feet, trying to come up with anything to gain time, but despite her words, Tekla¡¯s attention was solely on Isyd, waiting for his reaction.

    Isyd did not move.

    He was staring into space, he had barely registered Tekla¡¯s entrance. His mind was focused on something entirely. There was something else¡­ In the perpetual buzz of the Holy Grace around him, Isyd perceived two¡­ no, three disturbances. He could almost recognize them, despite being unfamiliar and faint¡­ They were increasing, spiking¡­ approaching¡­

    Realization hit Isyd like a hammer.

    ¡°You led them to us!¡± he hissed at Tekla.

    The two windows of the living room suddenly exploded. Isyd had just the time to turn his head before being lifted off his feet and hurled across the room and crashing through the bedroom door. Momentarily dazed, he heaved and coughed as he got back up on his feet. He first heard the shouts of Julya and Jadwia and Kewin, before he managed to drag himself back to the living room where chaos now reigned.

    The three thieves had come back and burst into the room through the windows. Norran was bleeding on the ground from a wound on his head, his wife was kneeling next to him. Isyd cursed himself for being careless, for letting himself be cornered once more in a confined space where he could not fight with all of his strength.

    He jumped through the doorway, hand raised, and threw a [Piercing Spell] at the tallest man. The [Spell] was weak and easily blocked by an [Shielding Arcane] hanging at the wrist of the thief. The man hunched down to pick up the Ingraced Blysht and the Lightsphere at the same time Jadwia tried to reach for it. Without hesitation, the man stepped on her hand, loosening her grip. Kewin, next to her, still managed to grab the Lightsphere and rolled toward Jadwia to put himself between her and her assailant.

    ¡°You better leave them alone!¡± Tekla said as she finished her [Spell].

    Three blazing red spheres burst forth, aimed precisely at the three thieves. They all activated their [Shielding Arcane] except for the one who held the Ingraced Blysht, who instead cast a [Deflecting Spell]. The flames spheres were not simple fireballs, however, because upon touching the [Wind Shield], they exploded and knocked down the intruders. The third sphere, as it was deflected, hit the Lightsphere Kewin was holding.

    The fire met the [Outgracing Hex].

    In an explosion of fire and wind, the living room turned into a window into hell. There was a flash of reddish light as everyone was blown back. Isyd could only hear the piercing screech of the Holy Grace as it spiked, and spiked, and spiked some more into an always higher Resonance. All the Lightspheres present in the room, in the building, in the street, whether they were active or not, suddenly blew up. The apartment as a whole shook on its foundations and pieces of the roof began collapsing.

    Isyd railed against the blazing heat wave upon his skin; through his squinted eyes, he saw a torrent of flames converge into a maelstrom in the centre of the room. Near it was the only person that had not been blown away by the onslaught: Kewin Udachur. The boy¡¯s eyes had rolled backwards and he was convulsing on the ground.

    Two sharp whistles sounded out: the signal for retreat. Isyd saw the men get back up, one picked up at the same time the now broken Lightsphere that held the [Outgracing Hex]. As one man, they all rushed through the entrance door.

    The thieves had now the Ingraced Blysht as well as the [Outgracing Hex].

    Isyd got up and ran after them without thinking.

    He forced himself through the crowd that had gathered and Concentrated the Grace at the tip of his fingers. He couldn¡¯t let them get away with it. Not with the Blysht. It was too important! it was his only chance against the Obcys, he¡ª

    ¡°Isyd! The fire!¡± Naeht called out in panic.

    Isyd froze in his pursuit. Heart beating, he looked back to see the house burning in flames. He could hear the screech of the Grace, the screams and cries for help. At the same time, the thieves were getting away. He may never catch them again. They had stolen from him that he had worked so hard to recreate. It was promised salvation from the War against the Obcys!

    What mattered the most?

    Promise me, Isyd¡­ you must save them¡­

    ¡°God! Fucking! Damnit!¡± Isyd howled.

    He turned on his heels and rushed back inside the burning house.

 40 â€“ He Who Quenches

    Isyd pushed through the crowd that had gathered. People ran around, shouting for help and water and trying to organize a kind of rescue. However, the fire that now consumed the house was too intense and the heat and smoke forced people back. Wood cracked and burned under the blazing flames and the upper floors threatened to collapse.

    Wrapped in his darkveil, Isyd did his best to ignore the scorching heat that burned his exposed face and his eyes. The smoke made it harder to see and he couldn¡¯t use his extra senses to guide himself as they have gone haywire due to the Resonance. Still, he stumbled inside until he found Julya. She knelt at her husband¡¯s side, trying to free him from the rubbles that crushed him from the waist down.

    In the centre of what used to be the living stood the source of the inferno. The fire had coalesced into a human shape towering over the inert body of Kewin. From the shifting red and yellow flames, it was possible to distinguish the beginning of a torso, of two arms and of a head with two white flames for eyes.

    Isyd¡¯s breath caught in his chest as he finally understood what had happened. The Resonance had given spawned an Elemental!

    Jadwia was crawling on the ground, face covered in soot, trying to approach Kewin, but she was pushed back by the flames that surrounded his body, rolling and roaring on the ground. Tekla was alone facing the Fire Elemental. Her hands extended, she bent hundreds of [Spells] to her will as she tried to contain the fire. At first, Isyd thought that her [Spells] were collapsing as the light kept on shifting, but he quickly realized he was wrong.

    She¡¯s using a Fluid Hex!

    Tekla glanced in his direction. Her eyes were wide in terror, her teeth were gritted in concentration.

    ¡°Leave! Take them with you and go!¡± she shouted.

    The fire roar turned almost animalistic as the Elemental struggled against Tekla¡¯ [Spells]. Isyd grabbed Jadwia and pushed her back on her feet and toward the exit. All around them, plaster and burning chips of wood were falling. The roof would collapse in its entirety at any moment.

    Isyd hunched down and put his gloved hand on the floor and let his Idpulse take over his mind. Earth Essence STORED tenfold, impurities SUBSTRACTED, and the whole SHAPED before being RELEASED.

    ¡°[Rise and Support]!¡± Isyd said. His [Hex] flashed upon the floor before sinking in. The earth shook under them and suddenly several pillars of rocks burst out at different angles and interlocked with the crumbling roof to provide additional support. It was only a temporary solution because the soil that had been summoned was friable and already yielding against the weight. Isyd was however not done:

    ¡°[Stand your Ground!]¡±

    The [Hex] flew at the pillars and infused them with a metallic shine, making them stronger and firmer. This only prevented the roof from collapsing but did nothing to stop the fire from spreading. It was as if it air itself had turned into oil with how the flames jumped and danced and rolled with ease and no constraints.

    ¡°Julya! Go! You must go!¡± Norran was shouting.

    ¡°No! I won¡¯t¡­ leave you!¡± Julya said.

    ¡°The fire! Damn you, Julya, go!¡±

    ¡°No!¡±

    Tears were running down her face as she struggled helplessly to make the rubbles budge. Isyd ran to her and kneeled.

    ¡°Together!¡± he called to her and they heaved on the stones. ¡°Come on!¡±

    A sweet taste burst in his mouth and his muscles burned under the effort. He pushed and pushed until finally he felt it yield.

    ¡°Go! Pulling him back and go!¡± Isyd said through gritted teeth.

    Julya dragged Norran out from the stones. Jadwia came to help and together, they managed to lift the man and rest him on their shoulders. Isyd let his burden fall in a groan and hurried them toward the exit.

    ¡°Ke ¡­   cough ¡­ Kewin¡­¡± Jadwia tried to say.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get to him! Go! Now!¡± Isyd said.

    When he turned, it was to take the full measure of the Elemental. His body was made of fire turned solid, his eyes burned with an intense white flame. Here was a being created and animated by pure Holy Grace.

    ¡°Isyd, w¡­what do we do?¡± Naeht said to him in his ear. ¡°It¡¯s a Fire Elemental!¡±

    ¡°Naeht, you must go!¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to leave you!¡±

    ¡°Go! I¡¯ll join you later! Whatever happens, don¡¯t approach!¡±

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    Tekla had collapsed on her knees as if she was supporting an unbearable weight. She was deathly pale, her whole body was quivering. Still, she kept her hands up trying to maintain her [Spell]. Her [Hex] had however lost its shine and was starting to crumble apart.

    ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t¡­¡± she muttered.

    I am FIRE!

    The voice exploded in their ears, in their minds. It had an echo that wasn¡¯t of this world. This mental attack was the last straw for Tekla; her [Spell] collapsed suddenly and she fell. The Elemental shone brighter, the flames of his body roared.

    I am Fire.

    They heard it speak and heard it all.

    In those words was the soft flame of a candlestick, the blazing heat of the sun, the loving passion of a mother, the smouldering of embers, the destruction of a wildfire, the sparks of a campfire. The Elemental wanted to do what fire did: to burn everything, to consume everyone, to turn all into this ephemeral but beautiful phenomenon that was a fire.

    The Elemental spoke of what was true: he was the Fire Essence.

    Isyd stepped in front of Tekla and opened himself to the Holy Grace and began casting. The Elemental saw him do and crept closer, interested in what he felt in Isyd¡¯s mind.

    Fire¡­?

    Isyd heard the question, and felt it in his mind the same way he felt the presence of others by listening to the Song of the Grace. The question demanded an answer, a submission of his part.

    ¡° No, I am no Fire! ¡± Isyd responded in kind.

    The flames roared and burned hotter in irritation at the rebuttal. Isyd didn¡¯t even flinch at the heat, though he could feel his body burning from the inside out. It was as if the very Grace he had accepted inside him was turning into liquid fire in his veins. The Fire Essence was trying to overwhelm him. Isyd steeled himself against the onslaught.

    ¡° Thy kind hast no power here! ¡±

    I am FIRE!

    Deep inside, Isyd felt something stir against the burning of the Fire Essence. The skin under his bandages twitched furiously like a rabid animal that demanded to be fed.  No!  Isyd kept it bound. He would not resort to this. Instead, he faced the Fire Essence head-on and used the Elemental¡¯s own attack against it.

    ¡°I know thy True Name! Hear mine: I am He Who Quenches!¡±

    Isyd was of the Waters; his words carried a Truth of their own.

    In those words was the swiftness of a river, the coldness of a snowflake, the vastness of an ocean, the rhythm of a pouring rain, the sadness of a tear, the dance of a wave, the strength of a waterfall, the serenity of a lake, the suddenness of a flood, the safety of a spring.

    With his [Hex], Isyd built a connection between the Grace of the Fire Elemental and his. In the same way the Elemental had tried to turn his Grace into a Fire Essence, Isyd was now slowly imposing his own will and turning it into Water Essence.

    The Elemental tried to retreat but it was already too late; it was first bound by him who had summoned it and now by him whom he had attacked. Methodically, Isyd was breaking the Elemental¡¯s Grace apart; he opposed the Fire Essence with a Water Essence of his own before [VOIDING] it. The Elemental struggled but it was in vain; it grew smaller, the flames subsided, and the fire grew weaker as if it was rapidly running out of fuel.

    I¡­ am¡­ FIRE¡­ I¡­ Fire¡­ Fi¡­ F¡­

    ¡° Thy strength burns true ,¡± Isyd said softly. ¡° Let it rest now, O True One! ¡±

    In a feeble struggle, the Elemental let out a final burst of heat before vanishing like a snuffed flame. All the fire had suddenly disappeared, there was not even an ember left burning in the entire building. The room was now filled with the chilling cold of the winter. If it wasn¡¯t for the soot and burned wood, it wouldn¡¯t have been difficult that a wildfire had been raging mere seconds ago.

    Isyd fell to his knees, gasping for air. His throat was dry, burning even and his brow was covered in sweat. It was as if all his strength had just burned out. Still, he managed to drag himself to where Kewin laid. He put his hand against his throat and felt for a pulse. Positive. He checked for a breath. Positive again. But the boy didn¡¯t respond when Isyd shook him; he looked even paler than normal. Isyd tried to strain his senses to learn more about his state but he quickly gave up. He was just  so  tired; his mind and body were railing against the effort. He approached Tekla who had also collapsed unconscious. She was cold to the touch, but similarly to Kewin, she was living and breathing. Her shaking was proof enough of that.

    Hypothermia most likely¡­ She had the heat sucked out of her by the Elemental¡­  Even in the state he was in, he still tried to diagnose and provide first aid. He was now acting only from automatisms learned at the warfront. With difficulty, Isyd rose to his feet and, threw Kewin and Tekla over his shoulders, and stumbled outside one step after another. Rain was pouring. Isyd heard a part of the fa?ade collapse behind him but he didn¡¯t pay any mind. He was in a daze; he barely noticed when people rushed to him to relieve him of Kewin and Tekla. The coldness of the rain on his skin felt nice, but also made him realize that his skin was burning hot. People were talking to him, but he couldn¡¯t make out what they were saying. He felt feverish and weak.

    Consequences of absorbing the Fire Essence at first¡­  he thought.  I just need¡­ to lie down¡­ just for a second¡­

    Isyd leaned back against a wall and let himself fall to the ground. There it was. Now he just had to rest for a bit. He almost didn¡¯t notice he was slipping out of consciousness. His last words were for her, as they always were:

    ¡°Naeht¡­¡±

 41 - Disgrace

    Isyd woke up. It wasn¡¯t something he did often. His eyes snapped open and he rose to a seating position. He didn¡¯t immediately recognize where he was but he could remember being carried to this bed as he slipped in and out of consciousness.

    ¡°Naeht!¡± he called out, his voice hoarse.

    The girl appeared almost immediately from the wall, her eyes wide and a large smile on her face.

    ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡±

    ¡°Do the usual, Naeht¡­¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see¡­ You collapsed right after carrying Kewin and Tekla out of the house,¡± Naeht began reporting. ¡°People from the Academy had already come rushing in and they gave you a quick check to be sure you weren¡¯t dying then they left you to be carried here in the Spital. No blood was taken. No [Healing Spell] was performed. They put your darkveil here, and nothing was taken from it.¡±

    Isyd nodded. He wasn¡¯t fond of falling unconscious. It wasn¡¯t something he could allow himself, not when he carried something as dangerous as the [Taint].

    ¡°What about the others?¡±

    ¡°They are all here in the Spital.¡±

    ¡°Are they alive and well?¡±

    ¡°They are alive,¡± Neath said, sobering up. ¡°Someone died though. Someone living on the higher floor jumped out of the windows as the fire spread.¡±

    Isyd was not happy to hear that, but he moved in from the emotion before it could take root. The talk of the fire jostled his memory.

    ¡°Kewin¡­,¡± he began. ¡°How is he?¡±

    ¡°Well, Kewin¡­¡± Naeht began but she couldn¡¯t finish her sentence because they both sensed someone approaching.

    Isyd recoiled at the sharp headache that sparked in consequence; his senses were dull and painful like a sore muscle that had been exerted too much.

    A small woman holding a notebook walked in. She wore a modified version of the Academy uniform, with the white colour in abundance over the red colour instead of the usual opposite. Her long, red hair had been woven into a braid. She had a round face, made even rounder by her large spectacles in front of her green eyes.

    ¡°Good Grace, you already awake?¡± she said when she saw Isyd. ¡°I am the one who asked them to put you here. Quite the accident, wasn¡¯t it? I think everywhere in the city people speak about how you rushed into the burning building!¡±

    As she prattled, she walked further into the room and put down her notebook and began putting things in order: she drew open the curtains for the light of midday to pour in, put back the chairs and watered the flowers on the windowsill. Isyd watched her do with no reserve of suspicion.

    ¡°Everything is quite confused and a lot of nonsensical things are being spread around. Ms Dumnchory woke up briefly before we brought her here, but she couldn¡¯t give much of an explanation. The same for Julya Ravasz¡ª Hold on! What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±

    Isyd was about to leave the bed. She rushed to him.

    ¡°You¡¯re still in convalescence, Isyd Wybrany! You are not to leave this bed until I have inspected you! Now, back you go!¡±

    Her hand flew to his chest; Isyd grabbed her wrist before she could touch him.

    ¡°I am fine. There is no need to inspect me, though I appreciate the concern,¡± he said softly.

    ¡°I will be the judge of that, thank you very much! As your assigned Apteyk, I demand you to lie back down!¡±

    Isyd did not budge. Nor did the young woman. For three long seconds, they stared each other down.

    ¡°I am not comfortable with strangers touching me,¡± Isyd finally said.

    ¡°I am Marzena Tchepwa, 6  <sup>th</sup>   Year and 8  <sup>th</sup>   Opening. Now, is that better?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Well, it will have to do because the alternative is that you deal with my mother, and believe me, you don¡¯t want that. She¡¯s the Master of the Healing Arts and she won¡¯t let you leave until she¡¯s sure you¡¯re healed.¡±

    She took a step back and readjusted her braid. ¡°Plus, you cannot leave already because people will come to take your testimony. Apparently, there was an Elemental invoked and the Academy is curious to know how that came to be. Did I make myself clear?¡±

    Isyd nodded dutifully. Happy to have won him over, Marzena smiled. ¡°Perfect! I¡¯ll come back in an hour¡¯s time to check on you! Make sure you rest until then!¡±

    She left the chamber.

    ¡°You¡¯re not staying, are you?¡± Naeht said as soon as the door closed.

    ¡°Of course not! Come on, let¡¯s go,¡± Isyd said, jumping out of the bed. He picked up in passing his jacket uniform and his darkveil and headed out.

    Tentatively, he searched for the Ravasz in the building and felt their presence further down the hallway. Isyd had read somewhere the Spital was the oldest part of the Academy. Before the Academy was even a thing, people from all around Vilriver would gather, seeking the help and care of healers. This in turn attracted other scholars that wanted to further their studies among other Apteyka. Now the Spital was a place where Pupils could come and learn the Healing Arts as well as a place open to the public to provide nursing, healing and counselling to the sick and needy. In that way, it wasn¡¯t unsimilar to the Atelier, which was also a place of study for the Arcanic Arts as well as open to the public for their needs.

    Isyd knocked once on the door and then slid in. Julya, who sat on a stool near a bed, looked up and her eyes went wide when she recognized Isyd. She jumped off and rushed to him, crushing him in a strong hug.

    ¡°Thank God, you are okay!¡± she sobbed against his shoulders.

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Isyd froze when she hugged him then slowly, delicately, patted her head in an awkward gesture he wanted to be reassuring. The room they were in was much larger than Isyd¡¯s to better accommodate the couple, with two beds instead of one. Isyd saw Norran occupying one of them, sleeping.

    ¡°How is he?¡± Isyd asked.

    Julya stepped back and wiped her teary eyes. ¡°He¡¯s doing better I think. They just finished healing him. The Apteyka had to give him poppy tears because he was in so much pain, so it is better that he¡¯s sleeping now. They said that the stones broke a lot of his bones. They healed him but¡­¡±

    She let her sentence trail off.

    ¡°And how are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m doing fine, better than all of you I think. Only a few cuts and bruises. Norran¡­ Norran shielded me before pushing me out of the way¡­¡±

    Isyd could see that she was still distressed but he couldn¡¯t afford to lose more time.

    ¡°Did any Tutor come to see you?¡± he asked her.

    ¡°No¡­ I mean not exactly. The Spital is under the jurisdiction of Dana Tchepwa as the Master of the Healing Arts. No Tutors can simply come in until she allows it. So, except for her, I haven¡¯t seen any Tutor.¡±

    ¡°And what did you say?¡±

    Julya met Isyd¡¯s eyes and she immediately understood what he was really asking.

    ¡°I remained vague in purpose. I just said that we were all part of a Commission for the Atelier and that Ms Dumnchory had come to visit us to discuss some details with us. That¡¯s what when we were attacked. I didn¡¯t say who they were, or what they took, only that we were attacked.¡±

    Isyd nodded. This is what he had hoped for, waking up.

    ¡°Do you still plan on keeping everything hidden? After all that has happened?¡± she hissed, dumbfounded.

    Isyd grabbed her by the hand and led her to the window. ¡°I have a plan,¡± he said in a low voice. ¡°I know where the thieves are heading and I know where I have to go to retrieve what they stole from us.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°We just learned who was behind the attack, right? It is the Kazkan! If the Academy get involved, it will turn into a political issue. I can stop it from happening. I can make everything right before it devolves any further than it did. I just need three days for that.¡±

    ¡°But the danger! You¡¯ve seen what they¡¯re willing to do. Think about the danger you¡¯ll walk into alone! This is madness, Isyd! They invoked an Elemental of Class C for God¡¯s sake!¡±

    Isyd did not feel necessary to point out that technically the Elemental had been an incident and not the direct result of an [Invocation Spell].

    ¡°But I stopped the Elemental, didn¡¯t I?¡± Isyd said calmly.

    She looked up at him. In truth, she had not seen him take down the Elemental. When she had escaped, Tekla had still been the one facing it. And yet, as she saw Isyd standing there, calm and collected, almost unaffected by the crazy events of this morning, she knew in her heart of heart that he¡¯d indeed been the one who defeated the Elemental.

    ¡°You did¡­¡± Julya sighed and there and then, she knew that she couldn¡¯t do anything to stop him.

    Isyd gave her a smile, a timid one, a genuine one. Julya suddenly felt like it was the first time she was really looking at him. Isyd Wybrany was probably the strangest person she had ever met.

    ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± she asked him.

    ¡°Keep on saying the same thing to whoever is asking: you do not know who attacked us and what they wanted. If you want you can even mention the Blysht as the subject of research ¡ª the secrecy is all but void by now. Most importantly, downplay Tekla¡¯s role as the traitor. Do not mention anything regarding her or her actions except that she was the one who protected everyone from the Elemental.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t want credit for it?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s best if nobody knows. It would attract too much attention at once.¡±

    Julya nodded and hugged him once more. This time, Isyd saw her coming and didn¡¯t freeze.

    ¡°For the love of God, be safe out there, Isyd! Remember, only three days!¡±

    After a final farewell, Isyd took his leave. Once outside, he called for Naeht.

    ¡°You know where they put Tekla, right? Go to her and check if she¡¯s awake if you please.¡±

    The girl winked and disappeared through the thick walls. Isyd kept on walking as silently as possible, hoping not to meet any Apteyk on his way, or even worse the Master of the Healing Arts herself. As he was about to pass by an ajar door, he overheard a voice he recognized.

    ¡°¡­ nothing to be done?¡± Jadwia was saying.

    ¡°He will wake up in due time, Junior,¡± Marzena said. ¡°But right now, his body is still too weak, trying to wake him up would only be detrimental. We have healed his burns, but he will most likely be left with scars.¡±

    ¡°You said something as well to your colleague¡­ that he¡¯s broken beyond repair¡­¡±

    There was silence. ¡°The boy is lucky to be alive¡­,¡± Marzena finally said softly. ¡°But I¡¯m afraid to say that¡­ he¡¯s now Disgraced.¡±

    Jadwia whimpered audibly. ¡°How¡­ how can this be¡­?¡±

    ¡°It is as they explained it to you in your first classes when you enrolled. The Holy Grace can be a dangerous thing to use. You must imagine our souls as delicate, porous vessels. At any point, we are partially filled with the Holy Grace as stated by the 1  <sup>st</sup>   Law of the Arts, but we can also draw more inside us. This is what allows us to cast [Spells] and activate [Arcanes]. The quantity of Grace you can draw and use is dependent on your Openings, but it is possible to draw more Grace than your soul can hold. When this occurs, two scenarios are possible.

    ¡°The first is that the overflow of the Grace breaks your soul entirely. This results in death in a matter of days. The second possibility is that the overflow does not shatter your soul instantly, but still damages it beyond repair by introducing fractures in it. The soul becomes a leaking vessel, unable to retain the Grace that is drawn in, and thus the Artyst becomes unable to cast [Spells]. The Holy Grace flees from the person so we called them¡­ Disgraced.¡±

    ¡°Is there no hope to heal those¡­ those cracks?¡± Jadwia said difficultly.

    ¡°No. I¡¯m sorry, but no Disgraced has ever been able to use the Grace.¡±

    Naeht came back and saw Isyd standing, listening with a grim expression. She understood immediately and wanted to say something, but Isyd shook his head.

    ¡°So, Tekla?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s awake,¡± Naeht said.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go then,¡± Isyd said, leaving toward the stairway. ¡°It is due time for Tekla Dumnchory to answer for her crimes.¡±

 42 â€“ Lesson in Humbleness

    When Tekla woke up once more, her room was plunged into darkness. It was difficult for her to estimate how much time had passed. The first thing she felt was her throat sore and parched as if it had never tasted water. Instinctively, she reached for the pitcher of water she knew to be at her bedside. This also was made difficult because her body was taken by a sudden and uncontrollable bout of shivers. Tekla could feel something deep in her chest and her bones, like a cold that had truly settled in her body and no warmth, could ever get rid of. When her arms finally stopped trembling, she seized the handle and winced at the contact. The first thing she remembered when she first woke up was her hands being bandaged. The burns she had sustained by trying to contain the Fire Elemental had been severe.

    The thought of the Fire Elemental triggered another bout of frissons and she had to clench her teeth hard to stop them from rattling.

    Tekla was trying to make sense of what had happened but her exhausted mind was struggling. She had a confused recollection of the Elemental, but then things turned blurry and scattered. The only thing she remembered for sure was the voice of the Elemental. It had spoken to her and made her ears and her soul tremble. The things it evoked¡­ the True Essence of Fire¡­ Even now, she could still hear it; it was as if it had been seared permanently in her mind.

    As far as she knew, it may have been the case.

    The doors of her room opened which startled her. Was that Tutor Tchepwa coming to check on her once more? No, it didn¡¯t look like it. Tekla squinted at the darkness. Someone had indeed entered and even in the dimness of the room, she should have been able to see them. But somehow, the cloak that was thrown over them made them hard to discern. It was as if the cloak was leeching on the surrounding colours to better conceal the wearer.

    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± the person said and Tekla recognized the voice immediately.

    It was Isyd Wybrany.

    Somehow, this did nothing to reassure her.

    ¡°You¡­¡± she croaked, but her voice failed her.

    She stumbled and fumbled to find the Lightsphere on her table and switch it on.

    Isyd walked further into the room and snapped his gloved fingers. At once, all the Lightspheres present in the room burst alight. The one resting on the bedside burned the brightest but so did the two smaller spares in the drawer, the chandelier, and the one in the pocket of her vest uniform across the room.

    The sudden light blinded Tekla and Isyd waited for her to recover before he dragged a chair to her bedside and plumped down. He didn¡¯t miss her flinching and retreating more into her pillows.

    ¡°We need to talk, Tekla,¡± Isyd said without preamble.

    ¡°I¡­ I have¡­ n-nothing to say¡­ to you¡­¡± she struggled to say.

    Isyd took the pitcher and poured her a glass before handing it to her.

    ¡°I beg to differ.¡± He waited for her to finish her glass before pouring her a new one. ¡°You know who attacked us. I want to hear it from your mouth.¡±

    ¡°Who do you think¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough, Tekla,¡± Isyd said softly.

    In those words, there was a cold warning. She looked up at him and she felt something tense in her when she met his eyes.

    ¡°You fail to understand your situation, Tekla. I¡¯m done playing according to your rules. Trust me, it is in your best interest to cooperate with me. Otherwise, you will regret that the Fire Elemental didn¡¯t finish you.¡±

    Tekla¡¯s hands were trembling once more. As she tried to put down her glass, she realized that the water in it had entirely disappeared as if it had evaporated.

    ¡°Wh-Who are you really¡­?¡± she rasped to Isyd.

    He didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he fetched inside his cloak and pulled out a stack of papers. Tekla recognized them immediately.

    ¡°You were so brazen in your betrayal that you didn¡¯t bother to cover your traces,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I have here the correspondence with the Baron Kazkan. Your exchanges with him concern the Blysht, the Atelier and the Academy as a whole, all of it subject to a confidential clause you betrayed. Those are all the evidence I need to take you down, Tekla. And do not believe for a second that the Baron will protect you; today¡¯s events are proof enough that he doesn¡¯t care about you.¡±

    Isyd put down the bundle between the two of them. Tekla looked at them as if they were a burning fire and didn¡¯t dare move an inch.

    ¡°I am pressed by time so I do not have time to play around,¡± Isyd continued in the same calm voice. ¡°You will speak one way or another, Tekla, but I offer you a choice. Either you tell me everything I want to know and in exchange, I will keep quiet on your betrayal, destroy the letters and other proofs so that you can keep your Artystic License. Otherwise, you can decide to remain silent. Then, I will be forced to ¡®convince¡¯ you. I have my ways and I am determined to have what I want. Nobody knows that I am here, nobody will know anything of what will transpire here.¡±

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    The lights of the Lightspheres flickered off and on, punctuating Isyd¡¯s words.

    ¡°I do not know who they are¡­¡± Tekla said. ¡°The people who attacked us, I mean. I don¡¯t know their names, where they¡¯re from, and for what purposes. Until yesterday, I didn¡¯t know they had been hired at all.¡±

    ¡°How did you come into contact with Kazkan?¡±

    ¡°They contacted me first. I¡­ I was corresponding with other Arcanysta at first after you came back with the Blysht. I-I thought that some other people could have known about it and you just stole it from them. So, I asked around if anyone knew or worked on the Blysht. Somehow, the Baron heard about it. He was interested in the Blysht so we started exchanging letters.¡±

    ¡°Did he hide his identity from you?¡±

    ¡°No, he presented himself as the Baron from the get-go. He said that he was an amateurish Arcanyst, that he never attended the Academy per se, but had been doing research as a hobby. He was curious and asking questions about anything related to the Arcanic Arts, not only the Blysht! He was interested in what we were doing here in the Atelier, he wanted to learn more about how Tutor Hidrss ran things and the project we were working on. I told him everything he wanted to know¡­ and more.¡±

    ¡°You tried to impress him by going over and beyond. You shared all the discoveries we made about the Blysht, passing them as yours.¡±

    Tekla didn¡¯t answer further than with a weak nod.

    ¡°You were conned,¡± Isyd said. ¡°All of this was only an act on his part and you fell right in it.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ How?¡±

    ¡°The Baron already knew about the Blysht before you shared whatever you knew. He had first learned about it from the early work of the Ravasz back in Blotnia. The reason why he pretended to be ignorant was so that he could judge how far we had pushed our research. I suspect that he didn¡¯t expect we discovered so much already and was taken by surprise by our pace. When Hidrss left the Academy, he found his opportunity to stop us.¡±

    ¡°But why? Why would the Baron want to stop the Blysht?¡±

    Isyd had wondered the same thing. He thought back to Old Ziemia, where the Blysht had only been discovered much later, ten years into the War. He recalled when in Blotnia, he had stumbled into the two hired goons searching for the precious crystal. This led him to a conclusion.

    ¡°The Baron Vladymr Harkon Kazkan doesn¡¯t want to stop the Blysht, he wants to control it,¡± Isyd said. ¡°Once the Blysht is known by everyone, once people learn that Holy Grace can be stored and transported and used with ease, the Blysht will go from being worthless to being worth its weight in gold. Everyone will need it; everyone will want it. He who controls the Blysht controls the world.¡±

    Isyd saw Tekla slowly understanding. Her green eyes went wide and glinted with greed.

    ¡°Before you let your imagination run wild, I¡¯m sorry to disappoint, but it is impossible to build a stranglehold on the Blysht,¡± Isyd said. ¡°It is too abundant. It is unfeasible to entirely control it. The Baron doesn¡¯t know that, or he doesn¡¯t care. As we speak, he is probably trying to amass a huge amount of the Blysht while it is still dirt-cheap as well as buying salt mines around the Commonwealth. This must take him a lot of time. So, he needs to delay the reveal of the Blysht as long as possible. This is why he forced the Ravasz out of Blotnia. This is why he attacked us today. Hidrss left intending to spread the news of the Blysht discovery to his colleague down South. The Baron probably panicked at this news and this is why he hired those thieves.¡±

    Silence fell between them, as Tekla took full grasp of the situation and the role of the pawn she had played. Isyd rose from his seat and picked up the bundle of letters. Tekla panicked seeing him leave.

    ¡°Wait! None of it is right! I mean, it¡¯s a crazy plan! People must know about this!¡±

    ¡°Oh, really? And how so? Are you going be the one to accuse him, Tekla?¡± Isyd retorted, scathingly. ¡°Nobody is going to believe you unless you use those letters as proof and incriminate yourself in the process. Are you willing to put yourself through that? Obviously not!¡±

    Tekla tried to speak up, but Isyd didn¡¯t let her. He had now turned to face her fully and his calm expression had given way to loathing.

    ¡°You have no right to be offended by the situation; you are far from innocent! You did not break the non-disclosure agreement for any noble purpose. After all, it¡¯s not like you believed for a second that the Blysht is in better hands in those of an amateur rather than in Hidrss¡¯s. Instead, you were only motivated by jealousy, greed and selfishness! And now you dare stand here and act offended by the Baron¡¯s actions? You are  pathetic ! I cannot believe you consider yourself an Artyst! You see yourself as victimized by everyone for no other reason than that they don¡¯t give you the respect you think you deserve. Know this, Tekla Dumnchory: you are not special. Whatever talent you may have is eclipsed by your sense of entitlement. The truth is that there are bigger things at play than your fragile ego, that in the great schemes of things, you are  nothing !¡±

    The woman flinched back and retreated deeper into her bed. Tears were rolling down her face and her body was shaken by silent hiccups. Isyd regained his calm but he did nothing to hide the disdain she inspired him.

    ¡°Hidrss was right,¡± he finally said. ¡°Arrogance must be replaced by humbleness. It¡¯s a lesson you failed to learn and today we must all pay for your mistakes. The Blysht and the associated Hexes are stolen, a building went into flames, people were injured, a man died and a promising kid was left Disgraced. It is time you face the consequences of your actions, Tekla. You shall submit your resignation from the Academy by three days from now and leave Vilriver as soon as you can. Use whatever justification you can come up with, it is in your best interest. If you fail to do so, I shall come for you. The loss of your Artystic License will be the last of your worry, this I promise you¡­¡±

    With those final words, Isyd left the chamber. The moment he stepped passed the entrance, all the Lightspheres turned off as if their light had been maintained by Isyd¡¯s presence, leaving Tekla alone, crushed by the darkness of her bedroom and the weight of her thoughts.

 43 â€“ Old Habits

    Dusk was approaching. The clouds, grey and heavy with rains, had taken on a reddish shade under the setting sun as they moved eastwards away from  Vilriver. It had drizzled the whole day and only a few had dared challenge the cold shower and the snow to leave their home in this holiday.

    Isyd was seating on a ledge and against a window, on this new spot he had found on the roof of the Library. Wrapped in his darkveil, he was unperturbed by the sharp, cold winds. His eyes were closed and he sat as still as a statue, on his face an expression of utter calm. Naeht phased through the roof tiles and appear next to him, only then did he open his eyes.

    ¡°She cried herself to sleep,¡± Naeht announced. ¡°She couldn¡¯t have communicated with the Baron while I was there, I¡¯m sure.¡±

    Isyd nodded approvingly. He hadn¡¯t expected Tekla to act but wanted to make sure.

    ¡°Now, she may still do it once she wakes up¡­,¡± Naeht felt necessary to point out.

    ¡°We would have dealt with the Baron by then.¡±

    Naeht sat in the air as if on an invisible chair. She faced Isyd with a worried pout on her face.

    ¡°Today has been a long day for you, hasn¡¯t it? Are you sure you are okay?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Naeht. I had worse days.¡±

    ¡°You know, I thought you would rush directly to the Baron and take back the Blysht after your talk with Tekla¡­¡±

    Isyd sighed. ¡°I can¡¯t afford the same carelessness they displayed at the Ravasz¡¯s. Also¡­ well I¡¯ve been thinking¡­ about my actions since I regressed back in time.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Naeht cocked her head.

    ¡°I have been falling into my old habits, Naeht. Except for you, I am alone here. All of this¡­ even though it¡¯s the past, it feels like an entirely different world. And I know that I am the different one, but I didn¡¯t think it would be this¡­ difficult to adjust. Most of the time, I feel detached from what¡¯s going around me. I don¡¯t do it on purpose, it just¡­ happens, you know? I realize that I¡¯m dismissive of others, I¡¯m distant, I¡¯m cold and I¡¯m self-centred.¡±

    ¡°You are being too harsh on yourself, Isyd!¡±

    ¡°Am I? Think about how the situation we¡¯re in, Naeht. I didn¡¯t care a second about Tekla¡¯s machinations. I knew she was suspicious from the beginning, but I thought her insignificant in the great scheme of things. I dismissed her. I could have asked about the Ravasz and tried to learn more about them and what pushed them out of Blotnia, but I wasn¡¯t interested in the slightest in who they were as persons. Instead, I only focused on the Blysht because I knew how important it was. I was so bent on preparing for the War against the Obcys that I have forgotten to take into account the feelings and actions of the people around me. If one lesson can be drawn from today¡¯s events is that the Obcys are not the only enemies I will have to face.¡±

    ¡°And you say that those are old habits you had? How come?¡±

    ¡°Before you knew me, I was alone for a long time, Naeht. It was mainly at the beginning of the War. It took me years to find myself at the warfront, years spent alone and surviving. Once I joined¡­ well let¡¯s just say that I had to learn how to be around people again. But now, I am back alone in the past. I only realized today that without the Holy Generals¡­ without Wolteh, Felyn, Edmyn or Vil, my old habits are coming back. I¡¯m retreating inside my own mind and dissociating from the outside world¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s the solution then!¡± Naeht exclaimed, whirling upward. ¡°You need the Holy Generals in your life!¡±

    ¡°Naeht, the Holy Generals only became a thing during the last years of the War¡­¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t need to be the case! You can form your own Holy Generals and then go find Wolteh and Felyn and the rest! We can start as soon as now and instead of only twelve, we could have way more! Nobody said that you had to fight alone!¡±

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Isyd said nothing at first, contemplating the idea. His silence only excited Naeht further.

    ¡°You know that you will need help eventually, so let¡¯s start early and prepare. Come on, Isyd! It¡¯s gonna be fun! Once upon a time, you told me about the beginning of an idea you had, the ¡®Tears¡¯¡­ Don¡¯t you remember?¡±

    ¡°I do remember,¡± Isyd said with a sad smile. He looked over her shoulders and gazed upon the last rays of sunlight sinking beneath the horizon. Isyd was always taken by a wistful feeling around dusk.  The Tears¡­ eh? Perhaps¡­

    Isyd got up from where he sat. ¡°We¡¯ll continue this talk later, Naeht. Let us go, it is time.¡±

    Dusk had finally given way to night and Isyd was ready to confront the thieves and Kazkan.

    He grabbed the linen bundle that was by his side and made his way down, way too carelessly for someone tittering so high up. Nobody paid attention to him, most Pupils were still outside the Academy, enjoying the last day of their holiday. Isyd was about to pass the Western Gate when a figure attracted his attention.

    Jadwia leant against the bricks of the Gate, watching the in and outs of the Pupils. She had changed into a new uniform and cleaned her long, sandy hair before tying it in a ponytail over her shoulder. She noticed him at the same time he did. Isyd¡¯s first instinct was to ignore her, but instead, he stopped at her level.

    ¡°I was waiting for you,¡± Jadwia said, without meeting his eyes. ¡°I suspected you¡¯d leave by this Gate¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you need me for something?¡±

    ¡°The Apteyka are furious that you left the Spital without their accords. You may have troubles with Tutor Tchepwa¡­¡±

    ¡°I have bigger things to worry about for now.¡±

    Isyd watched the young girl with expectative. He suspected she wanted to talk to him about something specific, but she kept dawdling around the question.

    ¡°Are you¡­ are you leaving Vilriver again?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±

    ¡°So where are you going? Are you not going to see Kewin?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±

    That time, Jadwia met his eyes. Isyd was surprised to see the hurt in her eyes.

    ¡°Why not? Kewin¡­ Kewin wasn¡¯t even supposed to be there, you know? He had seen me running and searching after you and he just proposed to help¡­ He always did that¡­ offering help, unprompted. He¡¯s too kind. He didn¡¯t need to follow me to the Ravasz¡¯s, but he did and now¡­¡±

    Her voice cracked and she blinked profusely as if she was trying to hold back tears. Isyd was unsure of what to say, so he said nothing. Naeht appeared next to the young woman and put a ghostly, but reassuring hand on her shoulders.

    Jadwia shivered, threw back her shoulders and wiped unshed tears from her eyes. When she looked up once more to Isyd, her expression was determined.

    ¡°Are you going to find those who attacked us?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am.¡±

    ¡°Can I come with you?¡±

    Isyd raised his eyebrows in surprise. Even Jadwia seemed surprised that those words had come from her. Isyd¡¯s instinctive refusal almost passed his lips, but something stopped him. He glanced to the side to see the hopeful smile of Naeht.

    Nobody said that you had to fight alone¡­

    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go then.¡±

 44 â€“ Plans Within Plans

    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe we¡¯re about to do this¡­¡± Jadwia said for the umpteenth time.

    ¡°It¡¯s not too late for you to go back,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°Grace, how can you be so calm? I mean, we¡¯re about to break into the Baron¡¯s manor! If we¡¯re caught, being expelled from the Academy will be the last of our worries! Are you not afraid?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± Isyd said simply. ¡°Fear is of the enemy. It poisons the mind and weakens the body. You mustn¡¯t let it take root. Do not worry yourself with the possibility of failure and its possible consequences. Your sole focus should be the mission at hand. Only the plan matters.¡±

    Jadwia was slightly taken aback by his words and the assurance that accompanied them.

    ¡°The plan, eh¡­?¡± she mused. ¡°And how did you plan on entering the manor before I came along with my idea.¡±

    ¡°I have contingencies¡­¡± Isyd said with a mysterious grin.

    He quickened his pace, unbothered by the black ice covering the cobblestoned pavements. Jadwia had a harder time keeping up. She had changed from her uniform into a dress and she had to hold the tissue up as she walked to avoid dirtying the hem. It was the fanciest piece of clothes she had brought with her to the Academy, and before tonight she had even forgotten about it. Fortunately, she now found a use for it.

    Tonight, the last night of the Korochun festivities, the Kazkan organized a more public soir¨¦e in comparison to the private gathering that had taken place yesterday. Jadwia had been the one to propose that they infiltrate that party and to her surprise, Isyd had accepted immediately. She had rushed to change into a more appropriate attire; in addition to the fine dress, she stylized her hair into a crowned braid like her mother had taught her to, put on a touch of face powder, threw an ermine over her naked shoulders and attached crystal tears to her ears. Isyd ¨C who admittedly had nothing else than his uniform for piece of clothing ¨C just got rid of his blazer and made sure that his pants did not bear any stains.

    This hold-up now passed, the two of them had rushed into the cold streets of the Inside toward the manor of the Kazkans. It was situated near the outskirts of the city and at its highest point, though this didn¡¯t mean much given the relatively even elevation of Vilriver. From the Academy, it took less than half an Hour to get there on foot and soon enough, they could see the residence peak out from behind the corner of the street. The property was huge ¨C second only to the Academy ¨C and mostly comprised of a private garden.

    ¡°Okay, we¡¯re almost there,¡± Jadwia said. ¡°Now, how do we get passed the guards? We do not have an invitation.¡±

    ¡°We do actually,¡± Isyd said, fishing out a gilded piece of paper from his pocket. ¡°I fetched Tekla¡¯s while you were changing. Here, take it. The invitation is destined for you, I will play the role of your manservant.¡±

    Jadwia threw back her shoulders and presented the invitation card to the butler. The man looked her up and down, probably surprised by her apparent youth. He didn¡¯t even spare a glance at Isyd.

    ¡°The name is¡­?¡± the butler advanced.

    ¡°Mary Von Ackermann,¡± she responded without hesitation. ¡°My father is already inside.¡±

    ¡°Please, have a pleasant evening Pani Von Ackermann,¡± the butler said, ushering them in past the fenced gates.

    ¡°Pitch-perfect accent,¡± Isyd whispered in her ear once they were further away. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you spoke Khrusama.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just good at pretending, that¡¯s all¡­ Wait, come here for a second.¡±

    More by reflex than anything, he grabbed her hand before she could touch him.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Your hair¡­ they are so unruly, nobody could believe for a second that you are even a manservant. Here, tie them with this.¡±

    Isyd snatched the ribbon and arranged his hair adequately while observing his surroundings. It would have been difficult to guess that it had snowed heavily as recently as yesterday given how the snow had been cleared from the gardens. The well-trodden path was wide enough to accommodate two carriages driving side by side and was illuminated with tinsels of Lightspheres spun around lamp posts. The pathway led straight to the manor, but it was possible to see where the outside party was held from where they stood. The crowd was gathered around campfires, enjoying the music of the hired troupes while servants circulated among them and proposed warmed cups of wine.

    ¡°Naeht, you know what you have to do,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°You can count on me!¡± she gave him a military salute and a wink and flew off toward the mansion.

    ¡°You said something?¡± Jadwia asked.

    ¡°Let¡¯s stay on the move,¡± he said. ¡°We attract the eye by remaining still.¡±

    ¡°So, the first part of the plan worked. Now, what?¡±

    ¡°We get into the Baron¡¯s chambers.¡±

    ¡°What? Just like that? You can¡¯t be serious!¡±

    ¡°Walk with confidence. You already did a good job at the reception, just keep on doing it. Pretend that you have all the right to be wherever you are and no servants will dare stop you. But first¡­¡±

    They had just stepped into the house and stopped in front of a statue that stood in the middle of the entrance hall. Isyd pointed something to Jadwia on the foot of the statue, a carving of sorts. And it was moving! The outline was shifting and trembling here and there as if there were ants on it.

    ¡°It¡¯s an [Arcane]!¡± she let out.

    ¡°Yes, a [Warning Ward] more specifically. It is set to trigger to any foreign Grace activity after a certain threshold. This means that we can¡¯t use any serious Spell or Hex while we¡¯re inside.¡±

    ¡°So, what do we do? How do you intend to find the Blysht without the Arts.¡±

    Isyd stepped closer to Jadwia to be sure that no one could overhear them and affected a disinterested posture.

    ¡°If the [Arcane] was made to trigger at any Grace activity, it should activate every time someone turns on a Lightsphere. Why doesn¡¯t it happen?¡±

    ¡°Er¡­ Somehow, it knows not to¡­?¡±

    ¡°How does it know?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t really know¡­ Do we really have time for this?¡±

    ¡°Focus and think, Jadwia!¡± Isyd said, with a surprising intensity in his voice. ¡°The Arts are nothing magical; the same principles you¡¯ve learned in the introductory classes are used here. You can figure it out by deduction. Why is it not triggered every time the Baron turns on his [Heating Arcane]?¡±

    ¡°¡­ the Baron is the one who set that [Arcane]. Somehow, the Ward recognizes his Grace¡­¡±

    Isyd smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, right on point. The [Arcane] is made to ignore the Grace of the inhabitants of the manor. Therefore, all we need to do is to convince it that you and I are part of those inhabitants.¡±

    ¡°And how you go about doing  that ?¡±

    Discreetly, Isyd put his hand on the [Arcane]. It was quite a simple one ¨C much, much simpler than the ones hidden inside the very walls of the Academy ¨C and it had taken him a couple of minutes to come up with a [Core Hex] to alter it. He smiled thinking of Edmyn who would have broken through the Ward in a matter of seconds.

    Jadwia leaned over his shoulders to see what he was doing, too engrossed to pay real attention to her surroundings. She saw the Commands composing the Ward grind to a stop as Isyd touched them, followed by his rapid [Core Hex]. He suddenly turned toward her and leaned forward so that their nose basically touched each other.

    Her heart dropped in her chest and her mind froze in panic and anticipation. Isyd was leaning even more forward, so much that she could describe in detail the different shades of dark brown that coloured his pupils, his slightly crooked nose, the curve of his lips¡­

    ¡°I¡¯ll need that¡­,¡± Isyd said.

    He moved his gloved hand in front of her lips as if capturing her very breath, then turned back toward the Ward and concluded his [Altering Hex]. Jadwia blinked furiously, trying to have her brain working again.

    ¡°We¡¯re set. Let¡¯s go!¡± Isyd finally declared.

    ¡°Go¡­ where?¡±

    ¡°To the Baron¡¯s study first. It is as good a place as any to start.¡±

    ¡°And how do you know where it is?¡±

    Isyd looked up the stairs to the floating figure of Naeht urging him forward.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± he simply said to Jadwia.

    As he had instructed, they both walked with assurance in their steps and the head held high as if they owned the place. Jadwia politely nodded to the handful of guests she met in passing while the servants quickly drop their gazes upon seeing them and hurried to their tasks.

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    ¡°I found where the study was, but I couldn¡¯t make sure the Blysht and the [Outgracing Hex] are in there,¡± Naeht said.

    The study was situated on the manor¡¯s second floor at the end of a hallway decorated with various portraits and large windows as did the rest of the sleeping quarters. They didn¡¯t meet a soul once they managed to sneak their way past the first floor since all the staff were hands-on-deck to serve the guests. The heavy wooden door of the study was locked as could be expected. In fact, it didn¡¯t even have a handle but only a keyhole, which perplexed Jadwia. She turned an interrogating look to Isyd.

    ¡°The door is locked with a [Key Arcane],¡± he explained. ¡°Only half of the Balance is complete, and the [Arcane] is only fully completed when the second half ¨C the Key ¨C is slid in, which opens the door.¡±

    ¡°Can you do the same thing you did downstairs?¡±

    ¡°The possible combination to get the perfect match are too numerous, it could take me hours. Instead, I think I¡¯m just gonna brute force it. That¡¯s why we made sure to break into the [Warding Arcane] in the first place.¡±

    This time, Jadwia paid full attention to what he was doing. She tried her best to follow the logic of the Commands as they appeared and danced at his fingertips. He made it look so easy; there were none of those errors and flickers that characterized a lack of Concentration and Visualization.

    ¡°What is this Command you¡¯re using everywhere? I don¡¯t remember it from the classes,¡± she asked him.

    ¡°It¡¯s the [VOIDING] Command. The 5 Commands Tutor Milwyk taught us are the Earthly Commands, but they are more advanced ones called the Heavenly Commands. It appears several times because I¡¯m trying to create a local Resonance¡­ a kind of exponential decay if you will¡­¡±

    ¡°Good Grace, where did you learn of all that?¡±

    ¡°I read it in a book.¡±

    His [Decay Hex] landed above the keyhole and immediately, the wood started to rot. The decay spread rapidly inward and outward ¨C eating at the timber like starving termites ¨C and soon enough, the keyhole had been widened out enough for Isyd to put his hand through and push the door on its hinges, a satisfied light in his eyes. With the [Warding Arcane] and now this door, he started to realize that the Baron was quite lacking in terms of protection; he hadn¡¯t even bothered to Temper his door or invest in Resswood to make sure this kind of thing did not happen.

    Isyd met Jadwia¡¯s wide eyes and he nodded in her direction. ¡°I can teach you how to do that later if you want.¡±

    She nodded mutely, too flabbergasted to say anything, and stepped after him inside the study.

    Immediately upon entering, Isyd cast his senses wide, trying to perceive the familiar humming of the Ingraced Blysht. Despite his best efforts and the threat of a migraine, nothing stood out to him in the Song of the Grace. Still, this didn¡¯t discourage him.

    ¡°Search that way, I¡¯ll check the desk and drawers,¡± he ordered Jadwia. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about being discrete. We don¡¯t care if they know we¡¯ve been here.¡±

    True to his words, Isyd upturned and broke open any drawer, safe and lock he could find. He checked inside every ink pot and book and looked for any indication of a hidden safe on the walls. Naeht made sure that they were not being duped by a [Illusory Wall] and searched for a secret passage. After turning over the carpet and inspecting all the wooden planks, Jadwia turned a despaired look in Isyd¡¯s direction. They couldn¡¯t find anything.

    Not missing a beat, Isyd moved to the adjacent door that connected the study to the master bedroom and urged Jadwia forward.

    ¡°I search this room, you take the next one. It¡¯s the Baroness¡¯s bedroom, so check all her jewellery box,¡± he said, then turned to Naeht. ¡°Continue to the private baths and check there as well.¡±

    All the while he was searching, Isyd kept his senses peered to perceive any hints of the Ingraced Blysht¡¯s presence. This also allowed him to make sure that nobody was coming their way. Still, a part of him was getting worried he wasn¡¯t finding either the Ingraced Blysht or the Outgracing Hex. Had he miscalculated? Had he been duped? From this morning¡¯s attack, Isyd had assumed that the Baron would be sure of his victory and not expect a rapid counteroffensive and not bother hiding anything. Perhaps, the thieves didn¡¯t get the occasion to deliver their loot to the Kazkan, which meant that Isyd needed to hunt for them sooner than he had anticipated¡­

    ¡°Isyd, I found it!¡± Jadwia¡¯s voice came from the other room.

    Isyd dropped the shaving kit he was holding and rushed past the door to find Jadwia kneeling near a bedstand, the broken Lightsphere that held the [Outgracing Hex] in her palm. Next to her was a stack of scattered papers that Isyd recognized as being Tekla¡¯s notes.

    ¡°I don¡¯t find the Blysht anywhere though,¡± Jadwia lamented.

    Isyd could also not hear it in the room. He kneeled next to her and checked the Lightsphere. It presented a hole where the glass had melted and its content had long spilt out. Still, on its surface, it was possible to make out the engraving of the [Lighting Hex] as well as the [Outgracing Hex].

    Jadwia handed him the Lightsphere, but Isyd turned her down. ¡°No, you keep it. The Ingraced Blysht is not here, so I have a new plan.¡±

    ¡°Again? How many plans do you have?¡±

    ¡°Only one, but a good plan needs to change as the situation demands it. Now, we¡¯ve found the [Outgracing Hex] but I suspect that Ingraced Blysht is kept elsewhere. In fact, I think they may have it on themselves as it is discrete and easy to conceal.¡±

    ¡°So, what do we do then?¡±

    ¡°You will take the Lightsphere as well as the notes and return to the Academy.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°It is half of the reason why we came here in the first place. Now that we have it, we can just secure this victory already. Give the Lightsphere to Julya and stay with them as much as possible. In fact, try to stay inside the Spital for three days if you can.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ but what about you?¡±

    ¡°I will keep on searching for the Ingraced Blysht.¡±

    ¡°What if they catch you? What about the thieves from this morning?¡±

    ¡°I know how to take care of myself, Jadwia. Didn¡¯t I prove that already?¡± Isyd said and he grinned at her.

    It was one of those small, almost timid, but genuine smiles that Jadwia had rarely seen on him. Protests died in her mouth as she intuitively understood that they were futile.

    Again and again, she had seen Isyd display profound talent and knowledge in the Arts. People said that he was Blessed by the Grace, but she suspected that there was something more to him than that.

    ¡°You promised me you gonna teach me those Heavenly Commands you mentioned earlier¡­,¡± she said weakly, gathering the scattered notes on the floor. ¡°You can¡¯t do that if they put you behind bars, so¡­¡±

    ¡°I will keep that in mind,¡± Isyd said.

    As she was to get back up, he put a hand on her shoulder and turned his ear toward the hallway as if trying to hear some far-away noise.

    ¡°The way is clear, you can go!¡± he finally told her.

    Not knowing what to say, Jadwia simply grabbed his hand and squeezed it briefly before running out of the room. She retraced their steps down the hallway, trying her best to appear calm and collected whereas her heart was almost beating out of her chest and she desired nothing more than to run out of the mansion at full speed. Unfortunately, the shoes she wore were not suited for racing and even then, she would only have attracted more attention to herself. And that was without mentioning the fact that her dress didn¡¯t have any pocket and she was simply clutching the Lightsphere and the papers against her chest.

    Somehow, she didn¡¯t meet a single soul all the way down to the first floor as Isyd had predicted. She managed to step out of the mansion into the gardens only to see that the party had now migrated to the entrance hall and the forecourt. Jadwia did her best to not meet anyone¡¯s eyes and make her way past the dancing partners and the servants. She was nearing the exit when she suddenly recognized someone¡¯s figure from the corner of her eyes. Before she could stop herself, she turned her head to have a better look and recognized the strong stature and the curly chestnut hair.

    It was Izaak Kazkan.

    The young man turned in her direction and their eyes met.

    Jadwia quickly lowered her head, but she knew it was too late. She had seen the spark of recognition in his eyes. Heart thumping in her chest and in her ears, Jadwia did all but run to the entrance gates. She paid no attention to the butler or the horse-drawn carriages around her. At any point, she expected to hear her name or have a [Spell] thrown at her.

    Yet, nothing came and she continued her way to the streets. Only after having put a hundred meters between her and the mansion did she dare glance back. Nobody was following her, nobody was coming after her, and somehow she wasn¡¯t sure if this was a good or a bad thing.

    Meanwhile, Isyd followed Jadwia¡¯s progression by tuning in to her pulse in the Song of the Grace. He let out a sigh of relief when he felt her disappear amidst the crowd of the streets. He was still kneeling in the Baroness¡¯s bedchamber, Naeht hovering at his side.

    Isyd opened the linen bag he¡¯d been carrying and pulled out his darkveil arranged in a bundle. He untangled it only to reveal what laid underneath: a wooden mask painted blue, representing a grinning demon with white tusks protruding from his mouth and dark sunken eyes. It was the same mask that was sold by the merchant they had encountered during the Korochun.

    Isyd¡¯s expression was grim as he looked at it. He put on his darkveil then grabbed the mask and stared at it before putting it on. His mind was flooded with memories from far away, from long ago.

    You only brought Death into our midst! You are cursed! Cursed! Your sins cannot be numbered and cannot be washed¡­ You destroyed us! You plagued us! You killed us! Traitor¡­

    ¡­ from there on, the Brother Isyd Wybrany is dead to us the Antims and a demon walk his flesh¡­ I name thee  Antaka ! Let all know his name! Demon, I ordered thee to go and never come back¡­ Go¡­ Go¡­ GO!

    Isyd tied the laces to keep the mask in place and got up. He caught the eyes of Naeht¡¯s worried expression.

    ¡°I never liked this mask,¡± she said plaintively. ¡°I thought we got rid of it for good¡­¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t get rid of it, Naeht.¡±

    ¡°But you don¡¯t like it either!¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how I feel about it. I will wear the mask if it needs to be. For our goals, I will be whomever it is necessary.¡±

    And now, he needed to be Antaka.

 45 - Antaka

    In the shadows of the bedroom, Isyd remained as still as a statue. His eyes were closed and his senses were extended to their extremes, to cover the entirety of the mansion, in the hope of perceiving the humming of the Ingraced Blysht. It was a futile endeavour and Isyd knew it. With all the people around as well as the [Arcanes] and the sheer area to cover, detecting something as small as the Ingraced crystal would be equivalent to hearing a needle drop in the middle of a forest.

    Still, it was the only thing he could be doing while waiting for Naeht to come back. He had sent her away to search for the Baron. Hopefully, the man didn¡¯t stray too far beyond Naeht¡¯s range of movement. Isyd had planned on engaging with the Baron only after retrieving everything that had been stolen, but he now changed his mind. The Baron Vladymr Harkon Kazkan was at the centre of this situation and dealing with him was the quickest way.

    Naeht appeared through the wall. ¡°I found him! In fact, he¡¯s coming here! He is with the Baroness!¡±

    Isyd¡¯s mind refocused on the hallway and indeed, he felt the thrumming of two unknown pulses approaching. He moved across the room and hid behind the heavy curtains. The couple was engrossed in their conversation because they didn¡¯t seem to notice the decayed study door; they entered the Baron¡¯s bedchamber by its usual door. The Baron wasn¡¯t particularly taller than his wife, but he outclassed her widely in terms of girth. His gait inside the room was unsteady and he had unbuttoned his kontusz. He was bald and clean-shaven except for the perfectly trimmed white moustache ¨C a stark contrast to his skin almost as red as the wine he¡¯d been drinking.

    ¡°¡­ coming here tomorrow!¡± the Baroness was saying behind her husband. ¡°Have you done what I asked you, Vlad?¡±

    ¡° Yes, yes, yes¡­¡± the Baron said with an inebriated drawl. ¡°Good God, Woman! Must you pester me so? I¡ª  hic!  ¡ªI will not be t-told what to do! It is I the Baron, not¡ª  hic! ¡ª not you! My cousin is¡ª¡±

    His sentence died out as Isyd jumped out of his hiding spot. Taking a page from Lwieserce¡¯s book, Isyd threw at the Baroness a bedlinen that he infused with Metal Essence and [SHAPED] accordingly. Like a snake coming alive, it wrapped around the woman¡¯s legs and torso, before pinning her down. For good measure, the bedlinen made one last twist around her mouth to muffle her scream. The Baron stared at his wife, eyes blank and unable to make sense of what had just happened. Isyd walked up to him and kick him squarely in the chest. It send him flying across the room and crash on the bed that collapsed under the impact.

    This woke him up from his drunken stupor. The Baron howled in pain and surprise.

    ¡°What¡­ wh¡­ wh¡­?¡±

    His pathetic form barely managed to extract himself from the broken bedframe. Isyd walked up to him as the man was trying to stand back up and struck him on the jaw. At the last moment, Isyd remembered to withhold his strength. Despite what the man had done, he couldn¡¯t yet afford to kill him and certainly not accidentally.

    Isyd reached down and seized the man by his collar and pulled him up and on his knees. The teary round face that looked back at him was bloodied and covered in what looked like spit and vomit.

    ¡°M-Mercy¡­ please¡­ m¡­mercy¡­¡± the Baron plaided in a weak and stunned voice.

    Isyd didn¡¯t pay him any mind; with his senses, he went over his person, listening for the Ingraced Blysht.

    It wasn¡¯t there.

    ¡°Where is it?¡± he shouted at the Baron. ¡°Where did you put it?¡±

    ¡°P-Please¡­ please¡­ I-I have m-money¡­ I can g-give you money¡­¡±

    Isyd shook him harder. ¡°The Blysht! Where did you hide it?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± the man wailed between hiccups. ¡°I-I don¡¯t¡­ know¡­ Please¡­ Have mercy¡­¡±

    Doubt budded in Isyd¡¯s mind. Had he been wrong? Had Tekla lied to him? It couldn¡¯t be since they had indeed found the [Outgracing Hex] here. It was proof that the Baron was involved. And yet, the pitiful man in front of him sincerely didn¡¯t seem to know anything.

    Isyd turned toward the Baroness who was still struggling on the ground, her eyes wide. There again, he extended his senses to perceive the crystal on her person, without success. This however forced him to refocus his attention and notice someone approaching in the hallway, probably attracted by the commotion.

    Isyd just had time to hurl the Baron across the room when Izaak Kazkan barged in.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Mom!¡± he exclaimed. One glance around was more than enough for him to understand the situation; his wand was already pulled out and he aimed it at Isyd.

    Isyd summoned a [Wind Wall] at the same time as the air in front of him exploded into flames. Izaak Kazkan did not waste time and launched offensive [Spells] one after the other, searching for a fault in Isyd¡¯s shield. Not to be undone, Isyd infused a Metal Essence in his [Wind Wall] and tied it to the already present Wind Essence to reinforce the [Spell]. He then transformed his Static Hex into a Fluid Hex and [RESHAPED] on the fly. Against the constant onslaught of [Fire Spells], Isyd [AMPLIFIED] the [Wind Wall] and added one sink point that he then [SPLIT] in two before introducing another [Core Hex] composed of the Heavenly Commands [STAY] and [MOVE]. Now, every time that a [Spell] crashed against the [Wind Wall], it shifted around and used the sink points to neutralize the attack, then used the dissipated Grace to reinforce itself.

    Even after all of that, his shield still struggled under the onslaught; Izaak Kazkan was unleashing all his arsenal of [Fire Spells] trying to bring it down. In those close quarters, he didn¡¯t have the opportunity to circumvent it and was forced to break it through. The bedroom had turned into an inferno; the air was hot and heavy and the linens and wooden furniture either caught fire or were covered in ash and soot. Isyd saw two eagles made out of fire slammed into his [Wind Wall], followed by a series of deafening detonations and then a constant jet of flames. Still, Isyd¡¯s [Spell] held strong.

    Mind racing, Isyd turned his attention to Izaak Kazkan. There, he felt it.

    The Ingraced Blysht was held on the young man.

    In other circumstances, it would have been impossible for him to pick it up amidst the cacophony of clashing [Spells] all around him. But the Ingraced Blysht had been made by Isyd back in the salt mine in Blotnia. There had spent days crafting the [Ingracing Hex] which made him attuned to it more than anyone else.

    From a defensive posture, Isyd went to the offensive. He pushed on his [Wind Wall] and stepped forward. Across the room, Izaak¡¯s eyes went wide in surprise and horror as he felt his [Spells] being inextricably pushed back. He gritted his teeth and tried to come up with stronger [Spells] but his strength was failing him; his new [Spells] lacked in Concentration and Balance and Visualization. Slowly, Isyd walked closer and closer and when he was at arm¡¯s length, he suddenly pulled down his [Wind Wall].

    Taken by surprise, Izaak tried to cast a [Spell], but the sparks didn¡¯t even have time to fire from his wand that Isyd punched him hard in the guts. The young man doubled over and Isyd seized his wand and snapped it in two. He then seized Izaak by his collar, threw him over his shoulder and slammed him against the floor. All the air fled Izaak¡¯s lungs in a howl of pain.

    Now that he was neutralized, Isyd simply went over his coat until he touched a sawn inner pocket. There, he found what he¡¯d been looking for.

    Isyd stood up, holding the Ingraced Blysht in his hand. For good measure, he put his boot on Izaak¡¯s head and pressed to keep him down. He then slowly turned toward the Baron. The man had not gotten back up from where he¡¯d been thrown. Isyd met his eyes and saw true terror in the Baron¡¯s.

    Primal fear at his masked man ¨C this Demon! ¨C that had come for him.

    ¡°Vladymr Harkon Kazkan, those are the consequences of your actions,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I have come to recover what was stolen and give you a warning. The Blysht is not yours to solely own. Cease any attempts to privatize it. The Blysht belongs to all and I will make sure to keep it that way. My name is Antaka, remember it, Baron! Today, I let you live but it is by mercy alone. Fail to heed my word and I shall come back for you.¡±

    Isyd then turned toward the entrance door. The noise and carnage had attracted a crowd, mostly servants but also guests. They stood there transfixed and terrified by the spectacle unfolding in front of their eyes. Isyd mostly focused on the three people that stood at the front. He didn¡¯t recognize their faces per se, but their stature as well as their presence was familiar to him.

    Isyd had wondered when the thieves would show back up.

    ¡°What the hell are you waiting for!¡± Izaak shrieked out of his lungs. ¡°ATTACK HIM! KILL HIM!¡±

    This seemed to shake them out of their stupor.

    ¡°Fuck! Call Snake!¡± one of them shouted to his friend at the same time as he fumbled to pull out his wand.

    Isyd smiled, though nobody could see it under his mask. His plan was working better than he expected. He would have gladly ended everything here and now, but fighting three full-fledged Artysta in such close quarters was the not best situation, especially with so many bystanders. He needed more room.

    Before anyone could react, Isyd rushed toward the large windowpanes that opened on a balcony. Without missing a beat, he leapt past the railing at softly landed two floors below. The Baron¡¯s manor was situated at the outskirts of Vilriver and thus in front of Isyd stretched a vast extent of woods. Above him, he overheard shouts and calls. He looked up to see the trio of Artysta looking down on him, clearly hesitating on what to do.

    Isyd brandished the Ingraced Blysht to them and made it flash, then dashed toward the weald. Soon enough, he heard the sounds of three people landing and running after him.

    Isyd exchanged a knowing look with Naeht who had appeared next to him.

    It was time to hunt.

 46 â€“ When the Hunted Becomes the Hunter

    Isyd walked past ruins and crumbling walls scattered amidst woods and shrubs. Those big stones overgrown with lich were the last remnants of a time when Vilriver only consisted of the Inside and needed fortifications in addition to the River to defend against foreign invaders. Centuries later, the walls had been brought down and the population had spilt over the River and formed the Outside. The forest through which Isyd was now trudging was found on the opposite side of the Outside, after crossing the Little Stream. This was the colloquial name given to the tributary of the River that branched off upstream of Vilriver before rejoining it downstream, forming thusly the islet of the Inside. Truth be told, the Little Steam was not a strict demarcation of Vilriver borders as shown by how the gardens of the Kazkan manor or the Fields of the Academy eventually melded into the forest after a certain distance.

    After crossing the Little Stream, Isyd followed it closely downstream at the confluent. More by reflex than anything, he had kept his senses opened and listened intently to the Song of the Grace all around him. Contrary to what could be believed, the forest wasn¡¯t more silent that the city. The woods were full of life; birds and rodents as well as the trout and other amphibians in the water made it distracting for Isyd to focus. Still, he kept a distracted awareness of his pursuers in the back of his mind as he forced his way through the wilderness.

    At first, Isyd had made sure to not go too far too fast and let them trail behind him a few paces behind, until the moment they jumped past the Little Stream. There, Isyd had quickened his pace and in the absence of a well-trodden path, the three thieves had quickly lost track of him.

    Isyd had used this chance to scout the area ahead. After a while spent going in circles without finding him, the thieves had regrouped around the point they had first lost track of him and were discussing what to do next. What they didn¡¯t know was that Isyd had actually walked back and approached them. He kept a few paces between him and them and crouched behind a fallen tree. This is where Naeht came to find him.

    ¡°So, you got anything?¡± he asked her.

    ¡°They aren¡¯t experienced in tracking as you suspected,¡± she said. ¡°Also, they call each other silly nicknames! Owl, Magpie, Crow? Who came up with that? Anyway, I think they decided to split up and search for you! One upstream, one stays around here and one goes downstream!¡±

    Isyd nodded. He had hoped for them to separate and had prepared several plans to make it happen. As it turned out, they had done it on their own. He couldn¡¯t fault them; it was the logical decision to cover the most ground when hunting in an unfamiliar environment. Unfortunately for them, the thieves had failed to consider one thing.

    They were not the hunters; they were the hunted.

    Isyd first followed the man who had headed upstream ¨C he they called ¡°Crow¡± apparently. His darkveil had been tailored made for trailing in the woods. Darkveils were the distinct attribute of the Rangers charged to roam the Black Forest at the western frontier of the Commonwealth. With his darkveil, Isyd was basically invisible and he didn¡¯t need to bother with an [Illusory Spell] to hide, which was a good thing because he notably sucked at casting them.

    Trailing only a few meters behind his prey, Isyd carefully watched Crow as he got further and further from his companions. More than once, Isyd saw him look at his wrist as if checking the hour on his watch. Isyd knew that it wasn¡¯t a watch but instead a small [Arcane] that housed a [Shielding Arcane]. Naeht had spied on them as they slightly modified it so that it would still detect incoming attack [Spells] but would no longer activate the shield. By walking around forward, the thieves now used the [Arcane] as a mean to detect the presence of a nearby [Illusory Spell] or a trap.

    Unfortunately for them, Isyd didn¡¯t really need to use any of the Arts to fight them. Isyd was well aware of how many Artysta were too reliant on their [Spells] and their [Arcanes] and were unable to do anything without them. Arguably, it was this fact more than the [Taint] that cost so much Artyst lives against the Obcys. Isyd had not learned the Arts in any formal way, and therefore he had spent a significant part of his life without them.

    As he followed Crow, Isyd fell back into habits he¡¯d been taught so long ago. It consisted of an economy of movements, of breath, of thoughts. He was like the wolf trailing the deer. Silent. Driven. Creeping ever closer until it was the distance was just right¡­

    Isyd¡¯s attack was abrupt and decisive. Crow turned at the sudden sound, wand raised, just in time to have a hand crushing his throat. He tried to cast a [Spell], but Isyd slid past him and seized him in a chokehold with one arm while the other pinned the hand holding the wand in his back. Crow guttered a cry of pain and struggled to get Isyd off his back. He tried to smash him against a trunk but Isyd tackled his legs under him and they both fell to the ground, Isyd still atop. Then, methodically and without hesitation, Isyd seized Crow¡¯s forearm, pressed on the shoulder and twisted.

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    In the dead of the night, the crack of the bones was audible. Crow¡¯s cry of pain was muffled against the dirt and fallen leaves. Not wasting time, Isyd picked up the linen bag he¡¯d been carrying and used it to gag the man. He then lifted him by his tunic despite Crow¡¯s struggles to get free; Isyd was so much stronger physically that it looked like a child struggling against an adult.

    Isyd smashed him against a tree and launched a [Hex]. Slowly, before he could realize what has happened to him, Crow felt as if he was sinking into the wood. Surprise quickly turned into sheer panic as he fell deeper and deeper into the tree. He whirled his head, tried to shout, to kick, to bite. His attempts were futile; with a single arm, Isyd kept him down and pushed him further. The bark ate at Crow¡¯s clothes, fusing until they almost appeared to be one and the same.

    ¡°Do not worry, this is not permanent,¡± Isyd told Crow. At last, the man didn¡¯t seem like he could sink in further. Gagged, he could only move his head and his hand while the rest of his body was trapped inside the wooden prison.

    Isyd turned his attention to the [Arcane] at the man¡¯s wrist. It was going wild as it felt Isyd¡¯s [Hex]. Isyd touched it and closed his eyes to better focus; he listened to the Song of the Grace and tried to understand what composed that specific [Arcane] and imprinted it in his mind. Once that was done, Isyd stepped aside and walked away. It was time for him to go the second of the thieves.

    That man ¨C Naeht called him ¡°Owl¡± ¨C had been told to stay put while his comrades went up and downstream. Thus, Isyd found him where he had left him. As he approached, Isyd began crafting a [Hex]. It was an [Air Spell], invisible and without any purpose but to trigger the [Detecting Arcane] on Owl¡¯s wrist. Inside the [Air Spell], Isyd rearranged the Balance of the Commands in a way to match the Song of the Grace he had gleaned earlier. As a last touch, Isyd stretched the [Spell] so that it turned into a floating, invisible ribbon from where left Crow to where Owl was standing. He then activated the [Spell].

    Without fail, Owl¡¯s [Arcane] immediately went off. It detected the Isyd¡¯s [Spell] but more importantly than that, it was now synchronized on it as the Songs of the Grace matched perfectly. First startled, Owl quickly regained his composure and began searching for what could have triggered his [Arcane]. He walked around trying to figure out which direction to follow. By paying attention to the varying intensity of detection, Owl slowly but surely trailed after the Isyd¡¯s [Spell] and headed toward Crow without realizing it.

    It took him a while but eventually, Owl arrived around Crow¡¯s level. His wand was raised, ready to cast a [Spell] at a moment¡¯s notice. That¡¯s when he first heard the muffled sounds. By then, he stopped looking at his wrist and followed the sounds by ear. Then he saw him.

    In the darkness of the night, Owl didn¡¯t understand immediately what he was seeing. From the tip of his wand, he cast a [Lighting Spell] to illuminate his surroundings. His heart dropped in his chest.

    ¡°Good Grace!¡± Owl shouted. ¡°C-Crow?¡±

    The man fused inside the tree could only flail his head around, eyes wide in terror and pain.

    ¡°Fuck! W-what happened? Wait, I¡¯ll get you out!¡±

    Crow¡¯s muffled words only became more frantic and his eyes turned even wider.

    ¡°What is it? Wait, I¡¯ll get that shit out!¡± Owl said. He approached his friend and with a bit of struggle, managed to partially ungag him.

    ¡°What happened to you? Who did that to you? Was it¡­¡± Owl began.

    ¡°R¡­Run!¡± Crow shouted feebly, face frowning in pain. ¡°RUN!¡±

    ¡°What? What do you mean¡­?¡±

    A sudden sound made Owl¡¯s hair stand up and his mouth turn dry. He whirled around and launch a quick [Spell]. A [Fire Ball] spewed from his wand and singed the nearby tree. Nothing else moved. Convinced that he was letting his nerves get to him, Owl let out a sigh of relief and turned back toward Crow.

    He thus failed to notice, Isyd as he fell upon him from above.

 47 â€“ No Mercy

    Around the same time, the last one of the thieves ¨C he who went by the nickname ¡°Magpie¡± ¨C had walked downstream until he¡¯d reached the confluence of the Little Stream into the River. On either side of the riverbank, the forest had been cleared for the construction of warehouses at the behest of the Merchant Guild. At this time of the year, they were mostly empty, depleted in the heart of winter. Further ahead was the Ruby bridge that allowed the crossing from this part of the docks to Outside. Magpie briefly considered crossing it before deciding otherwise.

    He turned back but walked more slowly this time. He painstakingly checked every nook and corner, behind each barrel and crate and hessian bag. The warehouses were a labyrinth in itself and Magpie saw them as a good place for someone to hide. Magpie was proven right when the [Detecting Arcane] suddenly went off. The signal was weak, but he immediately turned around and tried to follow it. It led him inside an empty storehouse. The heavy doors had been left ajar and the snow in front presented fresh footprints. Magpie¡¯s smile was jubilatory as he slowly pulled out his wand and made his way inside.

    Windowpanes on the ceiling allowed for moonlight to pour inside the building. At any moment, Magpie expected to stumble onto the masked man, crouching and hiding in a corner. Magpie briefly considered going back and call Owl and Crow but decided not to for fear of seeing his prey escape him.

    The [Detecting Arcane] was now peaking and Magpie soon found the source of the [Spell] that had triggered it. In the middle of the warehouse, an [Arcane] had been etched in the floor. From it, puffs of steam materialized with a regular rhythm. First thinking that it was a trap, Magpie circled the strange [Hex], ready to cast a [Defensive Spell] at a moment¡¯s notice. After of few minutes of careful observations, he finally dared approach the [Arcane]. Only then did he notice what laid in its centre: the strange crystal they¡¯d been tasked to steal from the Arcanysta. In front of his eyes, Magpie saw the last rainbow lights of the crystal fade away and the [Arcane] ceased to function. He was about to reach down for it when a sound behind him startled him.

    It was the sound of a door slamming shut. And it was followed by the sounds of something being dragged on the floor and calm footsteps.

    Magpie turned toward the entrance of the warehouse to see the masked man emerge from the shadows. With each hand, he was dragging a body along with him by the collar of their tunic. Mapgie¡¯s heart lurched in his chest as he recognized the figures of Crow and Owl. They were gagged and restrained by what looked like vines, though that didn¡¯t stop them from struggling against their bonds as if they were made out of steel.

    ¡°I prepared that [Arcane] here just in case as a distraction,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to have to run after you if somehow you guys decided to run further downstream¡­¡±

    Isyd saw Magpie raise his wand in a threatening gesture, but his hand was trembling. From what he had seen, he was the youngest of the three of them, barely older than Kewin or Jadwia.

    ¡°D-don¡¯t¡­ Don¡¯t come closer!¡± Magpie shouted.

    Isyd ignored him. Commands sparked at the tip of the young man¡¯s wand, before fading away. He tried again and again, but nothing was happening; he was just waving his wand around like the useless piece of wood it was. All the while, Isyd was walking further inside, dragging his burden along.

    The air felt drier and drier the more he approached. In frustration and panic, Magpie had thrown his wand and tried drawing his [Spell] by hand; the Commands did not deign appear even briefly. His Arts were not working; the Holy Grace was not for him to Command.

    By then, Isyd had stopped at arm¡¯s length from him. He let Crow and Owl slump on either side of him. Magpie stared down those sunken eyes of the demon mask and raised his hands.

    ¡°I- I yield!¡± he said.

    ¡°Yield? No, we¡¯re far past that now¡­¡±

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    Isyd kicked him hard in the knee. The young man yelped and collapsed on his knees; it felt as if he¡¯d been hit by a hammer! Isyd grabbed him by the hair and dragged him where his acolytes laid. With a flick of his finger, he relieved Owl and Crow from their gags but then used the same vines to restrain Magpie. He really ought to thank Senior Lwieserce for this [Binding Spell] ¨C it was a nice addition to his arsenal.

    At last, the three thieves who had caused him so many problems were at his mercy. He had expected more of a fight from them. But then again, he had arranged the situation so that it wasn¡¯t so much of a fight and more like a hunt¡­ And yet, Isyd could still feel the desire for vengeance in him, the thirst for violence.

    Antaka was not easily satiated.

    He grabbed the thieves by their collar and put them up on their knees. Crow¡¯s face was red and frowned in a mask of pain ¨C the unnatural angle of his right arm was the obvious cause.

    ¡°Hell! We yielded!¡± Owl shouted at Isyd. ¡°What more do you want from us? Fuck, who the hell even are you?¡±

    ¡°You can call me Antaka. I assume you guys are mercenaries?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    ¡°And you were hired by the Kazkan?¡±

    Owl nodded. His eyes were shifting all around the place. He was probably trying to cast a [Spell] and didn¡¯t understand why it didn¡¯t work.

    ¡°I almost feel sorry for you¡­¡± Isyd said. ¡°You probably thought it would be an easy job, right? Terrorizing a few bookish Arcanysta here and there, keeping an eye on them from time to time¡­ It¡¯s a pity you stumbled upon me¡­¡±

    ¡°We were just doing what we¡¯ve been told¡­¡± Magpie said.

    ¡°I understand that. You probably didn¡¯t expect it to blow out of proportion as it did. Neither did I, so I do not hold it against you¡­ but someone must pay.¡±

    ¡°W-what are you gonna do to us¡­?¡± Magpie said, fear in his voice.

    ¡°Spare our lives and we will repay you,¡± Owl said, as the group¡¯s de facto leader. ¡°All the money we earned for this mission will be yours and we will stay out of your path.¡±

    Isyd didn¡¯t answer. He slowly removed his gloves and put them in his pocket. He then took out his darkveil and folded it neatly. His silence filled the three thieves with foreboding.

    ¡°Mercy¡­¡± Crow could only croak.

    ¡°Mercy? No, there will be none of that¡­¡± Isyd said softly. ¡°I cannot simply let you walk from all of this; the three of you must pay somehow. One I will kill here and now as a payback for the innocent life lost during the fire you started. One I will break in Soul and in body so that he leaves this place spurned by the Grace the same way you Disgraced a friend of mine. The last I will let go free of further harm. Not as a mercy, but as a warning to others. Tell them what has happened today. Spread my name and let them know this: the Academy and its people are under my protection. More, I claim the whole of Vilriver as mine. I, Antaka, will not tolerate harm done to them.¡±

    True fear appeared in the eyes of the thieves as they understood that there was no hope.

    Oh, yes¡­ This does bring back memories¡­  Isyd mused.

    Delicately, Isyd began unravelling the bandages on his right arm. For the first time in a while, the twitching was put to rest.

 48 â€“ Snake In the Mist

    By the time Isyd was done with everything, dawn had come. This marked the second day of the three he had promised to Julya Kazkan. Still, he had yet to come back to the Academy; he was waiting to see how the situation would evolve. He had returned briefly near the garden of the Kazkan to observe whatever was going there. The party was interrupted after his attack and assault on the Baron and Baroness. The Peacekeepers had rushed from their precinct and established a perimeter of search and interrogation trying to catch him. Isyd had even caught a glance or two of representatives from the Academy.

    Obviously, they had no idea who he was or where he was hiding. Had they cared, Isyd suspected that the Academy could easily have solved the situation. But besides being ruffed up a bit and humiliated in his own home, the Baron had not suffered any injury. In fact, the only things he could possibly report to the Academy or the Peacekeepers were the missing Blysht and [Outgracing Hex].

    Isyd assumed that Vladymr Kazkan wasn¡¯t eager to report the theft of objects he himself acquired to thievery.

    In passing, Isyd had grabbed the pamphlet that had begun circulating in the later hours of the night. It was the best alternative found to the usual newspaper due to the short time frame. The leaflet described the events of the night at the Kazkan¡¯s manor. It described the assailant ¨C a man fully draped in a dark cloak and wearing a demonic mask ¨C and a name: Antaka.

    Isyd had read while returning to the docks and hiding in the empty warehouses. Naeht was to remain in the vicinity of the manor and watch for any activity worth of notice. Isyd didn¡¯t expect anything ¨C he certainly put the fear of God in the Baron ¨C but better safe than sorry. He was still draped in his darkveil and had his mask on. Even after all this time, even after having been sent to the past, it still managed to feel familiar.

    Distracted, Isyd watched the morning mist entering the warehouse, dancing low on the bare floor. It wasn¡¯t rare to see fog emerges from the River and often the forest was covered in a shroud of clouds at this time of the year. As he stared, more of the mist sneaked in from under the doors and the windows.

    Isyd rose from where he sat and dusted himself.

    ¡°Reveal yourself. I know you are here,¡± Isyd suddenly said.

    For a second, only his echo answered him. Then, a low chuckle filled the room.

    ¡°I am surprised I was spotted so fast,¡± a stranger¡¯s voice said.

    Isyd looked around, trying to guess its origin. It seemed to emanate from everywhere at once. In fact, it seemed to come from the mist itself ¨C a mist that had thickened and inflated to the point of no longer appearing natural.

    ¡°My subordinate came to me and told me what happened here,¡± the voice continued. ¡°At first, I didn¡¯t believe him. I mean, he was barely making sense; his voice was shaking and he was rambling those stupid things about a Demon¡­ But then, I saw what you did! Another of my friend with a broken spine and left Disgraced, the other now resting at the bottom of the River... You didn¡¯t hold back, did you? I mean, you were ruthless¡­¡±

    Isyd didn¡¯t answer.

    ¡°Now, you must understand that I can¡¯t simply let that slide¡­¡±

    ¡°You are he whom they called ¡®Snake¡¯, I assume?¡± Isyd finally said.

    ¡°The one and only! And you are Antaka, the Demon¡­¡±

    ¡°I am.¡±

    Something lurched on Isyd¡¯s left. He turned just in time to be struck in the jaw. The blow sent him flying across the room and crashing against a wooden pillar. Momentarily dazed, Isyd still managed to get back up and searched for what had hit him. He couldn¡¯t see anything in the room except for the thick mist. He touched his jaw which was already bruising.

    This strength¡­  Isyd thought, amazed.

    If Isyd had been anyone else, this blow would have broken his jaw, if not rip it right off!

    This Snake meant business.

    Isyd was now watching the flowing mist with a new eye. By reflex, his Idpulse tried to latch on the Water Essence that composed it, but with no success. Snake had already claimed it and the mist was his to commend. This also meant that the fog wasn¡¯t simply an [Illusory Spell]; most of the mist was indeed real and was only there as a decoy. Trying to pinpoint his enemy with his extra senses was also impossible because the mist was Ingraced and turned the Song of the Grace into a uniform white noise.

    Isyd put his gloved hand on the wooden pillar behind him.

    ¡°[SHAPE]!¡±

    The [Hex] shone on the timber and from the pillar emerged a 2-meter pole. Isyd seized it with the ease of habit and made it swing above head before tucking it under his arm and assuming a defensive stance.

    Come, I know you¡¯re there¡­

    On cue, Isyd perceived something move in the corner of his eyes. He ducked at the same time as he felt something grazing him past. In the same movement, Isyd swung his pole in the direction the blow came from. Unfortunately, the wood only swept through the clouds without meeting any resistance. He only had time to regain his balance before having to dodge another attack. Isyd leapt backwards but he was too slow and a hidden blade slashed him across the thigh. Again, Isyd riposted with a swing of his pole but with no success.

    Isyd was always one step too late in his riposte and was barely able to protect himself from the onslaught of invisible blows. He was at a disadvantage in the middle of the mist, where danger could strike from everywhere. As he dodged, Isyd slowly made his way toward the exit. He suspected that the [Hex] Snake had going on could only work in a limited parameter. If he managed to get away from it, Isyd would put back this fight on equal footing.

    Unfortunately, as he approached the exit door, he could only feel a solid wall where the door should have been.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t think I would let you leave now, did you?¡± Snake railed from the mist.

    There, Isyd saw it. An interruption in the natural flow of the clouds just ahead of him. Isyd brandished his staff at the same time when the mist locally turned solid and shaped into a fist. It slammed against the wooden pole and splintered it in two. It had lasted a second, and the second later, the fog had recovered its intangible consistency.

    Isyd, back against the wall, was forced to consider his options. He knew that all the attacks so far had been Snake probing him; the man was waiting for a good opportunity to hit him with a critical blow. One was all he needed truthfully, then he could just sit down and wait as Isyd bled out on the floor. With his hand, Isyd probed the wall that blocked the exit. He could try to bring it down, but while doing so, Isyd would expose himself to a counterattack he couldn¡¯t afford.

    ¡°I must admit that you have good reflexes,¡± Snake taunted him. ¡°Most people would have got down after the second blow if not the first. You¡¯re a good one.¡±

    Isyd didn¡¯t let his words disturb him. He let half of his wooden staff fall to the ground and began casting. Isyd was too exposed and too focused on defending himself to counterattack effectively. He needed a shield.

    ¡°[Helm of Awe]!¡± he whispered as he finished the complex [Hex].

    The air shimmered before him and a wave of coldness washed over Isyd. Additionally, it was as if the very air had become thicker and heavier around him.

    ¡°God, you¡¯re  good !¡± Snake exclaimed, almost jubilatory.

    In the mist, there was a flash of steel. Isyd saw the attack come at his side but didn¡¯t dodge. It slashed but one inch before it could connect with his flesh, it was deflected away by an invisible shield.

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    The [Helm of Awe] was a high-Opening [Hex] that gathered Air Essence and formed an invisible armour around the Artyst stronger than steel plates. Isyd was of the Waters and therefore, it wasn¡¯t the kind of [Hex] he was confident using on the fly. He was far from as skilled as Felyn Moonblessed was for instance. Case in point, even though it had successfully deflected a blow, Isyd hadn¡¯t dared a muscle because he knew his [Hex] to be fragile enough to crumble around him at any brusque movement.

    Two other blows came down on him, one in the back and another aimed at his throat and both were stopped by the [Helm of Awe]. Isyd was thinking about what to do next. Once again, he tried to gather Water Essence for a [Spell] but without success.

    Could I dispel the mist somehow? A [Wind Spell] could help¡­ the [Zephyr] perhaps¡­

    As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Isyd dismissed it. He couldn¡¯t make use of such powerful [Hexes] if only because he didn¡¯t have the strength for it. The last few days had been intense and except for his brief stay in the Spital, he didn¡¯t have a chance to recover.

    Still, Isyd couldn¡¯t simply stay on the defensive. At any moment, the [Helm of Awe] would break and Isyd knew he couldn¡¯t summon another one.

    If he couldn¡¯t dispel the mist, he would [VOID] it instead. Isyd closed his eyes briefly better grasp the idea and let his Idpulse take over. The Commands dance in front of him at the same time a new onslaught clashed against his [Helm of Awe].

    [STORE] the mist¡­ [SUBSTRACT] the Water Essence from it and use it as an imprint¡­ [VOID]¡­ [VOID] again¡­ Retracing the Balance, eliminating the additional polarities, introducing a Resonance¡­ Air Essence as an anchor¡­ [RELEASE]!

    ¡°[Let There Be Void]!¡± Isyd called.

    The [Hex] exploded at the same time as the mist attacked. The air trembled, twisted and suddenly the mist in a 3-meters radius around Isyd disappeared. It revealed a man holding a short sword as he was about to strike him down. The man¡¯s eyes flashed with utter surprise at being exposed.

    Isyd went for the attack and swung his wooden staff. Snake spun at the last moment and managed to deflect the blow with his sword. Isyd followed with a sweeping kick, but Snake blocked it and riposted with one of his own. Quick and precise, it hit Isyd on the ribs and forced him to step back out of reach. Isyd heaved and scoffed as the pain flared in him; he took a long breath trying to feel if he had broken anything as he had felt something give way.

    Snake was also breathing heavily. The man was as tall as Isyd and dressed in brown and greyish garbs. A hood thrown over as well as a scarf wrapped around the lower half of his face hid his features, except for a long, crooked nose and greyish eyes. Those same eyes were glowing with mirth as Snake stepped back into his mist and disappeared like a mirage. The only proof of his presence was his ghostly laughter.

    ¡°Ha! You truly are something! I can see now how you deal with my guys so easily; they were no match for you!¡±

    Isyd saw the fog creeping back toward him. The [Voiding Spell] he¡¯d crafted had only worked for a brief instant. He realized belatedly that his [Helm of Awe] had broken on his right arm, leaving it exposed. He was tiring.

    I must end this¡­ I¡¯m sick of it!

    All the while, Snake was continuing speaking, clearly enjoying himself.

    ¡°I have killed many people in my life, but never a Demon before. I¡¯m looking forward to it! Tell me, Demon, who are you really? Who hides behind this mask? What kind of secrets do you have?¡±

    Isyd had to think of something fast¡­ Anything¡­

    ¡°Who are you really, Demon?¡±

    Isyd¡¯s right hand flew in front of him and snatched at the mist. It seized the clouds and the blade that hid behind it before it could touch him.

    ¡° ENOUGH¡­¡±

    Isyd spoke but not in his voice. Instead, it came from somewhere deep within him¡­ somewhere otherworldly.

    The word carried a Song of its own.

    In a flash, all the mist present in the warehouse turned from steam to liquid. It collapsed down all at once like a singular blanket of water as if suddenly reminded of the effects of gravity.

    Snake could only stand there, drenched by the sudden downpour, a chill running down his spine. He quickly regained his composure and let go of the sword Isyd held and brandished a hidden knife.

    Isyd was faster.

    In his other hand, a knife made out of ice had appeared and he slashed at Snake. The man jumped back and put two paces between him and Isyd. His hood had fallen back and revealed long salt and pepper hair tied in a knot. Slowly, Snake raised his fingers to his left ear. They came back bloody as half of it was now missing.

    Far from being furious, Snake pulled down his scarf, smiled broadly and laughed.

    ¡°Good Grace, it¡¯s been a long time since someone managed to hurt me like that!¡± he exclaimed.

    Isyd observed his enemy carefully. He had a hard time determining the man¡¯s age. By pulling down his scarf, he had revealed a long, faded scar going perpendicular to his lips. The scared tissue was whiter than the rest of his skin and did not stretch as the man grinned which gave Snake a lopsided smile.

    ¡°You are quite the fighter, Antaka!¡± Snake said. ¡°One of the best I have ever faced! Tell you what: would you like to join me?¡±

    Isyd blinked. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Join me! As you know, I¡¯ve just lost one of my members. I invite you to replace him! Come on!¡±

    Isyd stared at him with a mixture of wariness and weariness. He had just realized that the man he¡¯d been fighting had only been playing around and testing his skills; he wasn¡¯t really intent on revenge.

    ¡°I refuse,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on! Don¡¯t be so defensive! Here, I¡¯m done fighting anyway. She doesn¡¯t pay me enough to risk my skin against someone of your level. Yesterday¡¯s events prove that we have overstayed our welcome in Vilriver.¡±

    ¡°So, I have told your friends.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, they relayed the message alright¡­ You really are not interested in hearing me out? I can propose things to you¡­¡±

    ¡°I have claimed this city as under my protection. I have told your friends to leave Vilriver in a matter of three days. The same applies to you as well. Leave Vilriver.¡±

    ¡°Or else¡­?¡±

    ¡°Or else, I shall take more than a piece of your ear next time.¡±

    Snake¡¯s eyes glinted with mischief. ¡°You still need to pay for what you did to my friends¡­ A good way for that is to join me. Your skills far exceed theirs; you will be more than an adequate replacement.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested. Nothing you can say will change that.¡±

    ¡°Fine, fine¡­¡± Snake said shaking his head. ¡°I won¡¯t insist more but know this. One day we will meet again you and I, and on that day I will ask you again. Then, I will not accept a refusal from you.¡±

    Isyd said nothing. Snake pulled up his scarf and put back on his hood. With a last wave, he turned his back and nonchalantly walked toward the exit of the warehouse.

    ¡°I look forward to our next meeting, Isyd Wybrany!¡±

    On those last words, Snake disappeared in the early morning. Isyd watched his retreating figure with annoyance, then at last removed his mask.

    The blasted man had known all this time who hid behind the mask.

 49 â€“ Kindness Taken For Granted

    It was late afternoon when Isyd made his way back toward the Academy. He had first waited to see if Snake would come back or if the Kazkan would send other people after him. Isyd wasn¡¯t so much worried about the latter than about the former. Since Snake knew Isyd¡¯s identity, he could take revenge by targeting him indirectly. Isyd had weighed the risks of letting someone such as he escape but eventually concluded that it was for the best. Snake had said that he was leaving Vilriver, and until proof of the contrary, Isyd was inclined to believe him.

    Naeht flying next to him was throwing worried glances in his direction. She hadn¡¯t been there for his fight against Snake. She had flown in an hour later, to find Isyd bruised and bleeding where he¡¯d been cut.

    ¡°Stop looking at me like that, Naeht,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡±

    ¡°I know you are, but I can¡¯t help but worry! Don¡¯t push yourself too hard.¡±

    Isyd shrugged and winced. It was true that he felt tired. The last few days had been hectic, to say the least.

    ¡°I¡¯ll find time to rest later.¡±

    ¡°You always say that¡­ When was the last time you slept again?¡±

    Isyd simply smirked.

    They had taken the long way around to go back to the Academy. Instead of sneaking past the Kazkan¡¯s manor, he had walked all the way to the Ruby Bridge and the Outside. Truth be told, Isyd half expected to have the Tutors or Seniors waiting for him. After all, he had left without a word and directly after the incident at the Ravasz¡¯s.

    After crossing the Emerald Bridge and entering through the Western Gate, Isyd was somewhat relieved to see that nobody was awaiting him. In fact, nobody was paying him any attention as he walked across the Fields in the direction of the Spital. He headed straight to the Ravasz¡¯s room.

    The door was ajar, and even before entering, Isyd felt the presence of Julya, Jadwia and Norran.

    They turned toward him as he knocked and entered.

    ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± Jadwia said, rushing toward him.

    Julya followed suit, wringing her hands. Isyd smiled and pulled out the Ingraced Blysht for them to see.

    ¡°You got it back! I knew you did!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re quite something, Isyd Wybrany!¡± Norran drawled from his seat. On his lap was open the newspaper of the day. ¡°Is it safe to assume that you are the one they¡¯re talking about in the papers?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps¡­ A lot of things happened over there; things were confusing. All that matters is that we recovered what was stolen.¡±

    ¡°Are you okay? Are you hurt?¡± Julya fretted.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Here, take the Blysht. I had to exhaust it when using it as a diversion.¡±

    In exchange, Isyd grabbed the broken Lightsphere that held the [Outgracing Hex].

    ¡°What about those who attacked us?¡± Norran said. ¡°Did you see them at the Kazkan¡¯?¡±

    ¡°I did and we had a¡­ talk,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I don¡¯t expect them to come back. In fact, I don¡¯t expect the Baron to try anything any time soon. The only reason he dared attack us as he did at first was thanks to the element of surprise. Now, he knows that we know that he¡¯s the culprit.¡±

    ¡°You think that it will be enough to dissuade him?¡± Julya said. ¡°He is the Baron of Vilriver, after all.¡±

    ¡°Even the Baron would not dare attack the Academy directly. Right now, he is probably confused as to why we haven¡¯t said anything. He expects it but doesn¡¯t know when we will reveal what he did. It is better that way; it will keep him on his toes. Let him live in fear of the Academy¡¯s denunciation.¡±

    Let him live in fear of Antaka coming for him¡­

    Julya let out a long sigh and slumped on the bed. ¡°So, it is over at last¡­ They will leave alone¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Norran grabbed his wife¡¯s hand and squeezed it. Isyd looked down at his seat, at his legs that were hidden behind a plaid.

    Isyd considered telling him that he had avenged what had he be done to him. Would that make Norran feel better knowing what Isyd had done to those men?

    He shook his head, trying to chase away the echoes of cries and pleas for mercy.

    No¡­ they don¡¯t need to know.

    ¡°Anything new regarding Tekla?¡± Isyd asked instead.

    Norran and Julya exchanged a look.

    ¡°She left earlier this morning,¡± Julya said. ¡°Apparently, she was convoked by the Doyen last night and she gave her resignation. Or so told us Tutor Tchepwa.¡±

    ¡°She left like a thief into the night!¡± Norran drawled. ¡°Good riddance, I say!¡±

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Jadwia yawned and stretched. ¡°You told me to stay here until you returned. Does that mean I can go now?¡±

    ¡°Sure! We should be safe now,¡± Isyd said, trying to silence the nagging thought of Snake in the back of his mind.

    He was pretty sure that the situation was resolved and yet¡­ Isyd couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there were still a few loose ends, things that didn¡¯t make sense even looking back on it. For one, the attitude of the Baron had been strange when Isyd had confronted him. And he hadn¡¯t expected to find the Blysht in the Izaak Kazkan in all people.

    ¡°¡­going, Isyd?¡± Jadwia was saying.

    Isyd blinked and focused back on the conversation. ¡°You were saying?¡±

    ¡°I want to attend the last classes of the day. Are you coming?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I follow you.¡±

    They both gave their goodbyes to the Ravasz and left the room. However, Isyd quickly stopped midway through the hallway.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Jadwia asked him.

    ¡°You go ahead, I¡¯ll be just behind you.¡±

    First surprised, Jadwia then gave an understanding smile as she saw him on the doorstep of another room. She waved at him and left as Isyd knocked on the door. A weak voice answered and invited him inside.

    Kewin Udachur was awake and sat on the edge of his hospital bed. He was simply dressed in a white robe reserved for the Spital¡¯s patients. The young man turned to him, surprise on his face.

    ¡°Isyd! You okay?¡±

    He is the one in a hospital bed and he is asking me?  Isyd could not help but not smirk at that.

    ¡°Grace Kewin, I am fine. What about you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m doing okay. Better now! They healed the burns and gonna remove the bandages around my hands tomorrow,¡± Kewin said, showing his two hands wrapped in white gauze.¡±

    ¡°And how are you feeling?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ er¡­ well, I feel fine. I¡¯m a bit tired, but that¡¯s it. The Apteyka said it would be normal for a while since I am¡­ well until my body adapts¡­¡±

    Standing on the doorstep, Isyd watched the young man for a long silence, uncertain of what to do. He eventually decided to drag a stool near him and sat down.

    ¡°I am sorry you got hurt, Kewin,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologize! It wasn¡¯t your fault!¡± Kewin said vehemently.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you think so, but I disagree. You got involved in my business and was hurt in consequence.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ you told us to stay away, right? I guess I was too stupid to listen¡­¡±

    ¡°No, you were simply too kind.¡±

    In the silence that followed, Kewin tried to catch Isyd¡¯s eyes, but he wasn¡¯t looking at him. Instead, Isyd was staring into the void, as if reminiscing of a time long ago.

    ¡°Everyone like to think that they are virtuous and good people, that they would always do the right thing when necessary,¡± Isyd said. ¡°But it simply is not true. I have witnessed it too many times. When hard times come, it is everyone for themselves. People only think of saving their own skin and those closest to them. If this means stealing, hurting, betraying or dooming others to a fate worse than death, then so be it. I do not fault them for that. Survival is one of men¡¯s deepest instincts; I cannot blame anyone for having a sense of self-preservation.

    ¡°But then what does that say about those who put others first before themselves? Those who help without expecting anything in return? Those who worry and care about others simply out of empathy? In my eyes, those people show the rest of the world what true strength looks like. In a world where selfishness, deception and violence are seen as justified and necessary, a kind gesture is more than the ¡®right¡¯ thing to do; it is the  difficult  thing to do! Kindness shouldn¡¯t be taken for granted; it should be celebrated and recompensed. We should always be grateful and humbled by kindness.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I never thought about it that way¡­¡± Kewin said. ¡°It¡¯s hard to feel recompensed right now. The Apteyka said that I was¡­ broken¡­¡±

    Isyd put the broken Lightsphere in his bandages hands. Even through the gauze, Kewin could feel the engraving of the [Outgracing Hex].

    ¡°You lived! You survived where many others would have died. You broke, but you did not shatter! What does it say about you?¡±

    Kewin tried to look away, but Isyd didn¡¯t let him. He held his hand and held him captive by the sheer magnetism of his eyes.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡±

    ¡°It means that you are  strong , Kewin Udachur! Strong of heart and strong of body! Your kindness is not a weakness, it never was. Do not let anything or anyone tell you otherwise!¡±

    Kewin dropped his head. Isyd let his hand go but didn¡¯t take back the Lightsphere. He stood up.

    ¡°Do not leave the Academy!¡± he suddenly said.

    At that, Kewin¡¯s head whipped up. ¡°What? But¡­ but I¡¯m Disgraced! I can¡¯t use the Arts¡­ I can¡¯t stay¡­¡±

    ¡°Do not leave the Academy!¡± Isyd repeated more forcefully this time. ¡°I can show you this strength of yours you don¡¯t realize. I can show you that all isn¡¯t over for you. They call you Disgraced, but I can show you that the Holy Grace hasn¡¯t given up on you! There are many things you can still learn, Kewin, and I can teach you.¡±

    Kewin stared at Isyd for a long time, moved by the conviction in his words. The broken Lightsphere moved between his fingers. It was strangely warm, despite being damaged, and on it was engraved the precious [Hex] Isyd had worked so hard to invent.

    The Lightsphere was broken and yet it was still valuable.

    Kewin turned to face Isyd and gave him a timid but determined smile. ¡°Please, teach me!¡±

 50 â€“ Tutors Confrontation

    Right after walking out of Kewin¡¯s room, Isyd tuned in on a familiar presence within the Spital. First taken aback, he had to make sure that his senses weren¡¯t deceiving him. He went up the stairs and walked the hallway down to what used to be Tekla¡¯s room. The door was closed and nothing looked amiss from the exterior. Isyd entered without knocking.

    In the middle of the room, Dmitri Ivanovitch Hidrss stood with unsteady balance on a floating plate. It was levitating a few inches above another plate that rested on the floor. The floating platform wasn¡¯t stable, to say the least; in fact, it was barely kept airborne by constant bursts of air.

    ¡°What in the world are you doing?¡± Isyd exclaimed.

    Hidrss startled and looked up. This loss of focus made him slip and fall from the device. The upper plate crashed against the lower one, and the Tutor landed on his ass.

    ¡°Damn you, Wybrany! No need to shout!¡±

    Isyd approached and gave him a hand to help him up. ¡°What are those?¡± he asked, pointing to the two plates.

    ¡°I saw this new thing in the Capital; they called it a ¡®lift¡¯. You just stand on a platform and someone activates it and it rises smoothly to the desired floor. You don¡¯t need stairs!¡±

    The look Isyd gave him was unimpressed. ¡°I see¡­ That¡¯s cool, I guess. How come you are he¡ª¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t understand! It didn¡¯t shoot you in the air! It lifted you  smoothly. It was so delicate and controlled and the [Arcane] they used simply worked by having someone introducing the correct [Key] for the corresponding floor.¡±

    ¡°And you were trying to emulate that with those plates?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to find what kind of mechanism was the behind the [Arcane].¡±

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t you just ask them?¡±

    Hidrss rolled his eyes. ¡°I did, but they sent me packing. I suspected they wouldn¡¯t tell me. Those kinds of [Arcanes] are traded secrets; their Balance and inner logic are kept private. Still, I¡¯m considering writing to the Arcanysta who made the lift so that they can install one in the Atelier. It would give me the chance to study it in more detail, but even then, I most likely won¡¯t crack the Balance before a while.¡±

    Isyd looked down at the two plates. It was definitely an [Arcane] as proven by the Commands that were quickly drawn on it with charcoal. The Balance used wasn¡¯t straightforward and the Commands were not neatly drawn which made deciphering them more difficult. He was nonetheless surprised as he picked up one.

    ¡°This is made out of stone!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°Those are heavy! You¡¯d have a hard time trying to lift them a few inches off the ground even with a powerful [Air Spell]!¡±

    ¡°Those in the Capital were made out of metal and they could lift several people without issue¡­¡±

    Now even Isyd couldn¡¯t help but be intrigued. ¡°Really? Did it require a lot of Grace to activate it? Perhaps the [Hex] they use is of a high Opening.¡±

    ¡°It certainly didn¡¯t look like it. The lift operator didn¡¯t even look to be an Artyst, but a simple guy and yet he could activate it. Plus, I¡¯m sceptical of using [Air Spell]¡­¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t that what you were attempting?¡±

    ¡°Well, yes, but I¡¯m not convinced. I tried a few other things on my way back and [Air Spells] are quite problematic for what I¡¯m trying to accomplish. For one thing, they become so much weaker and unreliable after even a short distance. Even for a few centimetres, the airflow becomes wobbly and erratic. It¡¯s like trying to stand up on rolling waves. The lift at the Capital was so smooth, it was as if invisible ropes were pulling it upward¡­¡±

    ¡°That could be the solution¡­¡±

    ¡°You think?¡± Hidrss seemed to have already considered it. ¡°They could have used a [Dissimulation Spell] to hide the pulley ropes I suppose. That would be quite the hassle just for a gimmick. Also, it is a boring answer¡­¡±

    As he watched the stone plates, an idea sparked in Isyd¡¯s mind. ¡°Wait, you said they were metal plates? What if they used magnetic forces between the two plates? Wouldn¡¯t that be more reliable than having air pushing in between?¡±

    Hidrss¡¯s eyes shone with excitement. ¡°Magnets! Oh, yeah! That¡¯d make sense and it would be invisible!¡±

    ¡°But this could be difficult to implement and still require a lot of Grace to operate, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, magnetic forces quickly become weaker after a certain distance. It follows the inverse-square law. Still, a [Repelling Spell] may be the solution! At least, it is something that I can test.¡±

    Hidrss was all smiles when he turned toward Isyd. ¡°You know what? I¡¯m starting to think that you¡¯re gonna be a valuable addition to the Atelier, after all!¡±

    The Atelier ¡­ This suddenly brought everything back into focus. He¡¯d been swiped by Hidrss¡¯s exuberance and haven forgotten the oddity of the situation.

    ¡°Wait! Hold on! What are you even doing here? Weren¡¯t you supposed to be at the Academy of Holy Honour? When did you come back?¡±

    ¡°Oh, that? Yeah, I went there, but then I came back. In fact, I was done with everything there quite fast so I took that chance to make a detour in the Capital. I was already on my way back to Vilriver when I received a message from the Doyen that an incident had happened. I just arrived this morning.¡±

    ¡°An  incident ? That¡¯s one way to put it¡­¡± Isyd drawled dryly.

    ¡°I dropped by the Doyen and he briefed me on Dumnchory. By the time I made it here, she had already left so I couldn¡¯t ask her for details. I¡¯m curious to know what really happened. How come I leave for a bit and we end up with a Fire Elemental in the middle of the city?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s kind of a long story¡­¡± Isyd said. He explained succinctly everything that had happened since Hidrss had left. He mentioned that the Baron had orchestrated the theft but omitted his gang with Snake and his gang.

    When he was done, Hidrss let the silence stretch for a while as he was taking it in.

    ¡°You took them back, didn¡¯t you? The Blysht and the [Outgracing Hex], I mean.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The Tutor smirked and passed a hand through his long hair. ¡°Well, I won¡¯t ask how you got them back, I¡¯m just glad you did¡­ Also, you managed to make an [Outgracing Hex] in the end! That¡¯s neat, I¡¯m looking forward to seeing it!¡±

    Isyd frowned. ¡°Tekla should have sent you notes of our progress¡­¡±

    ¡°Did she? I never got any of them,¡± Hidrss said nonchalantly.

    ¡°I guess she never sent them to you, but instead sent them to the Baron¡­¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°I suppose she did¡­¡±

    Isyd¡¯s frown only deepened. ¡°You¡­ You don¡¯t look surprised or angry by any of this¡­¡±

    Hidrss shrugged. ¡°Well, what can you do¡­ it falls in line with Dumnchory¡¯s behaviour!¡±

    Something didn¡¯t sit well with Isyd. There was something about the man¡¯s reaction ¨C or lack thereof. It came to him in a flash of understanding.

    Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°You knew¡­¡± Isyd let out in a breath.

    ¡°Sorry, what?¡±

    ¡°You knew¡­¡± Isyd repeated, but more confidently this time. ¡°You knew about Tekla and her betrayal, didn¡¯t you? That¡¯s why you¡¯re so unfazed by it. Even before you left, you already knew!¡±

    ¡°What? No! I mean¡­¡± Colours rose in Hidrss¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Well¡­  Know  is a big word! I didn¡¯t  know  so much as I suspected¡­ Dumnchory has always been ambitious! I suspected she¡¯d attempt something like that someday. After you showed up, she seemed even more shifty¡­¡±

    ¡°And you didn¡¯t think about telling us before you left?¡± Isyd exclaimed, not bothering to hide his anger.

    ¡°Well, there wasn¡¯t any proof. It was nothing but a gut feeling! You cannot simply accuse people of a crime they may possibly commit!¡±

    ¡°So, instead you decided to put her in charge? To give all the power and authority to continue her betrayal?¡±

    Hidrss¡¯s blush deepened and his eyes darted all over the place. ¡°Alright, in retrospect, it wasn¡¯t the smartest move. In my defence, I knew that Tekla wanted to be the Master of Arcanic Arts. I simply assumed that if I gave her what she wanted, she¡¯d have no reason to continue whatever she was doing in the shadows. It was a miscalculation on my part.¡±

    ¡°A  miscalculation ? Hidrss, people got hurt! Someone died, because of your  miscalculation !¡±

    To that, Hidrss¡¯s face fell and he looked properly chastened. ¡°Yes, I know¡­ and I took full responsibility for it with the Doyen and I am here to talk with the Ravasz.¡± He paused, as if uncertain about what to say. ¡°I¡­ Sometimes I forget that others are not motivated by the same thing as I am. I thought that Tekla loved the Arcanic Arts the same way I did and that the moment she got the Title she wanted so much, she¡¯d just go back to work. She had a place here at the Atelier. I don¡¯t get why she would throw it away for such futile motivation¡­¡±

    ¡°In her eyes, it was nothing futile. Greed and ambition are powerful motivators. Not everyone is in for the love of the game; not all Artyst are motivated by the love of the Arts. I thought you¡¯d have known that by now¡­¡±

    It was in those moments that Isyd was reminded that Hidrss, despite his status as a Tutor, was still relatively young in the great scheme of things. He may be a prodigy when it came to the Arcanic Arts, but this didn¡¯t mean that he had everything figured out.

    Hidrss passed a hand through his hair and sighed. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯ll keep that in mind for the future. I owe you one for dealing with it, Isyd. Here, as a thanks, you can ask anything you want. Hell, I can even repair your palcat for free if you want.¡±

    Isyd shook his head. ¡°No, we already discussed it; I¡¯ll repair t myself. Now, if you truly want to repay me, I have another idea in mind¡­¡±

    Hidrss rolled his eyes. ¡°Of course, you do¡­ Why am I not surprised?¡±

    Isyd grinned.

    Hidrss met his eyes but then looked at something above his shoulder. All colours left the man¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Fancy seeing you here, Dmitri¡­¡± a warm woman¡¯s voice said.

    Isyd startled and whirled toward the entrance. Somehow, he had not perceived her approaching!

    The woman wasn¡¯t tall or physically imposing but her presence was naturally commending. Her red hair stricken with silver was tied into a single braid that fell above her shoulder. Her green eyes were sharp behind her half-moon glasses and her features were marked with an uncanny mix of age and youthfulness ¨C the manifestation of the agelessness of Great Artyst.

    ¡°Dana! It¡¯s been a while!¡± Hidrss exclaimed.

    The smile of the Master of Healing Arts didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t remember inviting you in my establishment, Dmitri. And yet here you stand in the Spital¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡­ er¡­ I was searching for you in fact! Yeah, I tried to write you but you know how it is¡­ I thought it¡¯d be simpler and much quicker if I ask directly! I¡¯m so glad I found you!¡±

    ¡°Was that what you had in mind when you sneaked in six hours ago? Were you searching for me when you decided to hide in this room for those six hours? Surely, you weren¡¯t waiting for me to leave the Spital to sneak out¡­¡±

    Isyd glanced at Hidrss next to him. The man was sweating bullets. More than once, his eyes darted toward the window. Isyd could see that he was sincerely considering it...

    ¡°I¡­ er¡­ I got¡­ lost¡­¡± Hidrss said, unconvincingly.

    Dana Tchepwa sighed and shook her head, disappointed. ¡°You know the rules, Dmitri¡­ I know you used to flaunt them when you were still a Pupil, but now you¡¯re a Tutor.¡±

    ¡°Wait! Wait! Don¡¯t punish me yet! I brought something as an apology.¡±

    Hidrss rummaged in the inner pockets of his travelling coat. He dropped out a few coins, a handful of screws and copper wires, to finally pull out a small vial sealed with an amber liquid inside. Isyd first believed it to be honey, though the absence of viscosity disabused him.

    Dana Tchepwa narrowed her eyes suspiciously. ¡°What is this?¡±

    ¡°Remember when you talked to me about this new Alchemykal compound you were curious about?¡±

    ¡°The  yintr ? Impossible! There have to be only a handful vials of it that were correctly synthesized!¡±

    Hidrss was triumphant and somewhat cocky. ¡°Well, I got you one when I was in the Capital.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Dana said, still wary.

    ¡°I have contact from the Empire.¡±

    A long silence stretched between the two Tutors. Isyd just stood there, on the side and observing their confrontation. He hadn¡¯t failed to notice the glint of interest in the Master of Healing Arts. Dana Tchepwa was weighing her options and eventually, she broke the silence.

    ¡°Fine, you win this one, Dmitri. I will take the yintr as an apology.¡±

    ¡°I knew you¡¯d be reasonable!¡±

    The Apteyk moved her hand and the vial delicately floated out of Hidrss¡¯s hand to land in her palm. She pocketed the vial wordlessly then turned toward Isyd.

    Isyd felt a chill run down his spine and even he was surprised by it.

    ¡°As for you, Isyd Wybrany¡­ I hear that you come in and out of my establishment as you please¡­ This won¡¯t do.¡±

    ¡°I apologize, Tutor.¡±

    ¡°I believe my daughter explained the rules. No patient is allowed to leave the Spital unless I or another Apteyk of authority authorize it. You broke that rule, Young Isyd.¡±

    ¡°I apo¡ª¡±

    ¡°In normal circumstances, I would have strapped you on a bunk and made you drink the foulest of my tincture to teach you. But the yintr is enough of a gift for me to overlook it. Once.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ Thank you for your kindness, Tutor Tchepwa!¡±

    She looked him up and down through her half-moon glasses. ¡°Plus, if you are fit enough to walk around and go on adventures at night, it surely means that you have healed enough¡­¡±

    She made another quick gesture of her hand and summoned a bout of wind that whirled around Isyd¡¯s thigh. The touch of it was cold but a mere second late, the cut inflicted by Snake had healed without a scar and the wind had disappeared. Isyd didn¡¯t say a word, but he couldn¡¯t fully hide how impressed he was.

    The Apteyk turned her back to them. ¡°Don¡¯t take too long doing what you have to do here, Hidrss. This yintr can only keep me in a good mood for so long¡­¡±

    And with those words, she left the two of them. A couple of seconds elapsed before they were sure she wasn¡¯t coming back.

    As one, Isyd and Hidrss let out a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Now, you could say I saved your skin from Dana¡­¡± Hidrss said. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that makes us quits?¡±

    ¡°Oh hell, no! Don¡¯t try to weasel your way out of this one, Hidrss! How shameless, hard to believe you are a Tutor!¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t give me that! I don¡¯t like to be Tutor, to begin with! The only thing I wished was to be free to do whatever I wanted at the Atelier. I¡¯ve never asked for all those responsibilities that come along with being a Tutor. Anyway¡­ so tell me, what do you want?¡±

    Isyd grinned. ¡°So¡­ talking about Tutor¡¯s responsibilities, you may not like this one¡­¡±

 51 â€“ What Friends Do For Each Other

    The first thing Isyd noticed upon entering was the Library was fuller than usual. He found a seat on the higher floors, close to his observation spot on the roofs. In passing he grabbed the books he¡¯d been studying for the past few days. Naeht was already waiting for him, cross-legged on the table.

    ¡°The more things change, the more they stay the same¡­¡± she hummed happily.

    ¡°The last few days were full of distractions. It is time we get back to serious business.¡±

    ¡°So, we stop working on the Blysht?¡±

    Isyd opened the first book to the marked page and pulled out a quill and his notes. ¡°Not necessarily. I¡¯ve learned a lot while working on the Blysht. I have a better idea of the skills I lack as an Arcanyst. For now, I¡¯m thinking of letting Hidrss and the Ravaszs handle the research further. I¡¯ll stand on the side, watching and learning.¡±

    ¡°So, in the end, it all comes back to repairing the Whitewater Staff¡­¡±

    ¡°It sure does,¡± Isyd said, pulling out his staff from his darkveil and lying on the table. ¡°If I had my palcat, I could have stopped Snake and his men much easier. Not even the Elemental would have been a problem. It is now my priority to repair it. Plus, working with the Blysht gave me a few ideas on how to upgrade it.¡±

    Naeht giggled.¡± Oh! I recognize that smile! You came up with something wicked, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°It is a discussion for a later time. Let¡¯s study, for now, Naeht.¡±

    Nose in his books and papers, Isyd didn¡¯t see the time fly. Once or twice, he got up to put back a book and fetch another one or to get new papers and pencils. Night had long fallen when his attention was snatched away from an arithmetic treaty by an approaching presence.

    He turned to see Jadwia appearing at the corner of the aisle.

    ¡°Finally, I have found you!¡±

    ¡°Congrats, you¡¯re getting better at this,¡± Isyd said.

    This earned him a glare. ¡°You sure don¡¯t make it easy!¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s just say it¡¯s part of the fun. So, how can I help you?¡±

    Jadwia sat across him and put down the newspaper of the day; the front page talked about the incident at the Kazkan¡¯s manor.

    ¡°I am curious to know what happened after I left and how you retrieved the Ingraced Blysht.¡±

    ¡°Well, things got a bit confused right after you left and it was difficult for me to make sense of everything. To put it simply, I got lucky. It turns out that the Kazkan had made more than one enemy that night and the chicken had come to roost.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re talking about this guy ¡®Antaka¡¯, right? They mentioned it, but they don¡¯t know who he was. They said he was a demon!¡±

    ¡°No idea who or what it was. I just used the situation to my advantage. When they fought the thieves, I picked up the Ingraced Blysht and hid. In the end, all that matter is that we succeeded in recuperating what was stolen. We can now this whole incident behind us.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ but what about the thieves? Will they not come back?¡±

    Isyd¡¯s lips twitched into a smile. ¡°No, I think this unlikely. From what I have seen, this Antaka guy dealt with them.¡±

    Jadwia didn¡¯t look entirely convinced.

    ¡°Plus, Hidrss is back so you don¡¯t need to worry about it anymore,¡± Isyd added as a final point.

    ¡°I guess you are right¡­ Does this mean that we will see you more often now?¡±

    Isyd cocked his head one way. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been skipping a lot of classes recently. I assumed it was to be at the Atelier, but now that the Master of the Arcanic Arts is back, it should be better now, right?¡±

    ¡°I suppose so.¡±

    Jadwia frowned at his laconic answer. ¡°You know that the Evaluations are approaching soon, right?¡±

    ¡°I know.¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯re not worried?¡±

    ¡°Not really, no.¡±

    ¡°Of course, you aren¡¯t!¡± she sighed, rolling her eyes.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like I have been doing nothing,¡± Isyd said with a grin. ¡°I have been studying as well.¡±

    He pointed to the books that were left open on the tables such as historical treaties, a book on classical mathematics and summaries for natural sciences. If it was true that Isyd skipped most of his classes, he made sure to catch up on them on his own time. This was why he spent his nights nose in books. Isyd may have been gifted in the Arts, but besides that, there was a lot he didn¡¯t know. In his previous life, he had never received a formal education beyond the basics of reading and counting skills. So, when everyone was in classes, Isyd was at the Atelier working on the Blysht and when everyone was sleeping, he was studying the history of Vilriver or learning the different classifications of Alchemycal Salts. He explained so to Jadwia.

    ¡°When do you find the time to sleep, then?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Isyd said, deadpan.

    She rolled once again her eyes at that. She was obviously thinking he was joking. ¡°All right then, keep your secrets. You don¡¯t have to tell me if you don¡¯t want to¡­¡±

    ¡°No, no, I¡¯m willing to share some things,¡± Isyd said. He picked up a piece of paper. ¡°You asked me how I deactivated the [Warning Arcane] back at the Baron¡¯s. Are you still curious?¡±

    First taken aback, Jadwia quickly nodded, her eyes alight with excitement.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have time to go through everything, but I can introduce you to a few concepts and let you figure out the rest by yourself. You are by now familiar with the Commands, right? The correct name is actually Earthly Commands, to differentiate them from the Heavenly Commands.¡±

    ¡°What are the differences between the two sets?¡±

    ¡°The Earthly Commands are easier to understand, conceptualize and utilize. Therefore, they are the most used ones. The Heavenly Commands in contrast are more complex and more demanding to wield, but in exchange, they are far more powerful and expand what can be done with the Arts. After a certain level of Opening, all the [Spells] after a certain level of Opening, all the [Spells] you will encounter will contain Heavenly Commands. I¡¯ve read in one of those books an apt comparison between the two; it said that the Earthly Commands are equivalent to the basic arithmetical operations such as addition and multiplication whereas the Heavenly Commands are equivalent to more complex operations such as derivation and integration ¡ª whatever those are.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ I guess it makes sense. Even after learning the Earthly Commands, there were still many [Hexes] I didn¡¯t understand the Logic behind. I suppose it is because they used Heavenly Commands! How many of them are there?¡±

    ¡°There are five Commands you need to know. [AMPLIFY] increases locally the effect of adjacent Commands or a Core Hex and must not be confused with Resonance. [STAY] extends the duration in time of a [Spell]. It can also be used to slow down its effect or delay them. [VOID] is the most versatile but also the hardest to grasp; it allows to dissipate the Holy Grace. [MOVE] introduces motion within the [Spell] itself or as an effect upon activation. Finally, [SPLIT] allows you the separate the Grace into its components for instance.¡±

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Jadwia was nodding along but her eyes were glazed over as she tried to absorb all this new information.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to commit everything to memory right now,¡± Isyd said. ¡°Hell, you don¡¯t even need to know about them; I suspect Tutor Milwyk would have introduced the Commands as soon as next semester. You¡¯ll have much more time to familiarize yourself with them then. For now, it is enough for you to know those Commands exist.¡±

    ¡°It is a lot to take in, indeed¡­ Earlier you mentioned ¡®Core Hex¡¯, I¡¯ve seen those words in a book before, but I¡¯m not sure I understand what it is¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a concept you¡¯ll need time to wrap your head around. You can consider Core Hexes as [Spells] that always fulfil the same function within a bigger [Hex]. For instance, think about the [Ice Spell] of Tutor Milwyk. If in the future you needed to create and shape ice to be used in a more complex [Hex], you can simply call upon the [Ice Spell] without having to recreate the Logic and Balance from scratch. Fundamentally, the result is the same in that the [Ice Spell] will still appear in the Balance of your final [Hex]. It simply helps for your Idpulse to think of the [Ice Spell] as a Core Hex.¡±

    ¡°I think I understand¡­ Does that mean that every [Spell] can be turned into a Core Hex?¡±

    Isyd pondered on it for a second. ¡°I guess so¡­ Since there¡¯s no real difference between a normal Hex and a Core Hex besides the way we think about it, it should be theoretically possible. Mainly, Core Hexes are [Spells] of the 1  <sup>st</sup>   or 2  <sup>nd</sup>   Opening, sometimes the 3  <sup>rd</sup>  .¡±

    ¡°How are you so familiar with them then?¡±

    Isyd had expected this question. He pulled from under heap a book and handed it to her. ¡°This book is mostly about the history behind certain [Spells] but it also goes into some details on how the Commands were discovered and implemented. It can be a good introduction. Here, take it!¡±

    ¡°Oh! Er¡­ thank you! So, going back to the [Warding Arcane], you used the Heavenly Commands to deactivate it?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much so, though I needed to play with the Essences as well¡­¡±

    ¡°Elaborate!¡±

    Isyd smirked. ¡°Again, you¡¯re familiar with the four Classical Essences, right?¡±

    ¡°Let me guess, there are more than four Essences?¡±

    ¡°Three more, to be exact! The Classical Essences ¨C Air, Water, Fire and Earth ¨C are the Tier I Essences. The Tier II Essences consist of the Metal Essence and the Flesh Essence. There¡¯s only one Tier III Essence ¨C the purest form of Holy Grace ¨C the Spirit Essence.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of them!¡± Jadwia exclaimed indignantly.

    ¡°The Tier II and III Essences get little attention because, compared to the Earthly Commands, the Classical Essences never ceased to be relevant, even for [Spells] of high Openings.¡±

    ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll learn about them next semester as well?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps. I¡¯m not entirely sure, however. We may learn about them, but I suspect that the use of the Higher Essences is only taught formally after the 4  <sup>th</sup>   Opening is reached.¡±

    ¡°4  <sup>th</sup>   Opening? This is so far away!¡±

    ¡°Not as far off as you think¡­¡±

    ¡°Easy for you to say that, you¡¯re Blessed by the Grace! You¡¯ll get there in no time if you aren¡¯t already! On the contrary, I still struggle with casting anything more complex than an [Ice Spell]!¡±

    ¡°You are worried about the Evaluations, I gather¡­¡±

    ¡°Of course, I am! Every sensible Pupil is! I think I¡¯m gonna fail the  Applications of the Arts ¡­¡±

    ¡°I can help you with that if you want.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s kind of you to propose, but I can¡¯t ask you that since you have Evaluations of your own.¡±

    Jadwia tucked a loose strand of hair behind and rose from her seat. ¡°Anyway, it was pleasant talking to you Isyd. I hope I will see you tomorrow in¡ª¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been practicing Balance, haven¡¯t you?¡± Isyd interrupted her.

    ¡°You¡­ How¡­¡±

    ¡°Despite that, most of the [Spells] you try to launch keep failing, don¡¯t they?¡± Isyd continued. ¡°The issue is not the Balance. I can help you, Jadwia.¡±

    Jadwia¡¯s lips were trembling slightly. ¡°How would you do that?¡±

    ¡°I can tell you, but I will demand something in exchange.¡±

    ¡°Wh¡­ What do you want?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m forming a Ring. I want you to join it.¡±

    There were three long seconds of silence before Jadwia reacted.

    ¡°WHAT?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m forming a Ri¡ª¡±

    ¡°I heard you the first time! You in a Ring? Since when? What does that have to do with me? Why bring it up now?¡±

    ¡°I want you to join. We need three founding members, and we¡¯re already two.¡±

    ¡°Good Grace, why me?¡±

    ¡°You have potential in the Arts. I can help you realize it, but for that, I¡¯ll need you to join my Ring.¡±

    ¡°I am part of the Cerulean Feathers Ring!¡±

    ¡°You are still on probation, aren¡¯t you? You can simply walk away without repercussions. If not, then I am sure we can come up with something.¡±

    ¡°The Cerulean Feathers is the most prestigious Ring of the Academy! They¡¯ll give me access to so many connections and support once I graduate! You want me to turn my back to join your punny Ring of nobodies?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much yes.¡±

    ¡°This is the stupidest idea I¡¯ve heard in my life! Why would I accept that?¡±

    Something suddenly changed in the air. It was so subtle, Jadwia could almost believe she¡¯d imagined it. The air seemed to become drier as if all the humidity was sucked out of it. Jadwia¡¯s attention sharpened on Isyd. She met his dark eyes, so black and so deep as if they opened on a never-ending void of darkness. A chill ran up her spine.

    ¡°Jadwia, did I not prove myself to you already?¡± Isyd said calmly.

    Jadwia was reminded of Isyd solving and executing all the [Spells] perfectly in classes, of him presenting the Ingraced Blysht, of him facing off the three thieves at once in the Atelier, of him walking out of the burning house carrying on his back both Kewin and Ms Dumnchory.

    Isyd Wybrany was like nobody she had ever seen. Despite his looks, he always appeared confident, as if he¡¯d already figured out everything and was just going through the motion of a carefully laid plan. There was something in Isyd Wybrany that fascinated her just as much as it frightened her.

    Jadwia slumped back on the chair and put her head in her hands.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re actually making me consider this¡­¡±

    Isyd laughed. It was the first time she had heard him laugh so genuinely. She raised her head only to see him offering her a grin and an extended hand.

    ¡°You know that I can help you, Jadwia Lichtfreund. After all, that¡¯s what friends do for each other. So, what do you say¡­?¡±

 52 â€“ The Bringer of Death

    Isyd only left the Library at the last minute, after the 1  <sup>st</sup>   Hour bell. He wrote down in the ledger which books he borrowed, books he intended to study the rest of the night. Jadwia had left a few hours earlier and there were only a couple of Pupils that were leaving at the same time as him. On their face were the signs of an exhausted mind that dreamt of the sweet release of sleep. Unfortunately, this wasn¡¯t a pleasure Isyd could enjoy.

    Instead of heading to the Common Dorms, Isyd went to the Atelier. At this time, he would usually have no chance of entering without a Key given by Hidrss. Fortunately, the Master of Arcanic Arts hadn¡¯t gotten around to repairing the doors Isyd had broken during the Korochun. He didn¡¯t meet a soul, but Isyd kept his senses peered. His steps led him to some private quarters ¡ª Isyd had been told that they hadn¡¯t been here initially, but that Hidrss preferred sleeping in the Atelier instead of the Tutors Quarters in the Academy proper. It wasn¡¯t the first time Isyd came here. He approached the door at the end of the hallway and passed his gloved hand in front of the doorhandle. It revealed a hidden [Hex] that blinked briefly twice, before fading away.

    It was a [Detection Spell]. The door had been opened twice, which meant that someone had come and gone.

    After making sure that nobody was coming this way, Isyd opened the door and stepped inside the dark bedroom. It had belonged to Tekla before she handed her resignation and left Vilriver in a hurry. Isyd was hesitant on turning on a Lightsphere.

    ¡°You see anything out of the ordinary, Naeht?¡±

    ¡°No, not really. Everything is as we left it!¡±

    Isyd took another step inside and felt something under his boot. He picked up what looked to be a letter. A wave of his hand and a [Light Ball] appeared and floated overhead.

    ¡°So, what does it say?¡± Naeht asked excitedly.

    ¡°It¡¯s from the Baron,¡± Isyd said. ¡°He wants to arrange a meeting with Tekla to decide what to do next. He wants to know if Antaka was part of the Atelier.¡±

    ¡°Wow! I didn¡¯t think he would dare try something again after what you did to him!¡±

    ¡°Neither did I¡­ It doesn¡¯t make sense¡­¡±

    Isyd pictured once more the pathetic figure of the Baron, crawling in front of him in fear and pain and begging for his life.

    The words Snake had uttered came to him.  She doesn¡¯t pay me enough to risk my skin against someone of your level¡­

    Isyd crumpled the letter in his fist and headed out.

    Naeht was flying next to him. ¡°We¡¯re going after them?¡±

    ¡°I had given them a way out. I suppose that mercy wasn¡¯t enough. They¡¯ll now face the consequences.¡±

    Isyd headed out to the Fields and walked further into the forest. Tonight was a cloudless night and the starry sky and the bright silver moon provided ample light for Isyd to find his way. Eventually, by following the Little Stream downstream, he arrived near the manor.

    Naeht who had been sent ahead to scout, came back to him. ¡°There are few Peacekeepers still present. I¡¯ve seen 4 guarding the gates.¡±

    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡± Isyd said.

    He first checked if there weren¡¯t any [Shielding Spells] that could alert of his presence. He then used the Song of the Grace to locate the person he¡¯d come for. They were alone it seemed, which made the whole thing easier. Isyd approached their gardens, gathered his strength and leapt to a balcony on the first floor. He forced the door open and entered the guest room.

    In the middle of the room stood the Baroness Pani Halyna Kazkan. She turned at the sound and when she recognized him, she paled visibly.

    ¡°Oh! God! Please, have mercy, Demon!¡± she said as she stumbled back. ¡°My husband is not here! It is him you seek! I¡¯m innocent!¡±

    Isyd walked further into the room. ¡°It is enough, Baroness. You can drop the act. I know the truth.¡±

    There was a moment of stillness and silence. Suddenly, the Baroness seemed to change before Isyd¡¯s eyes. She straightened her posture, lifted her chin and threw back her shoulders. It was as if a mask had fallen to reveal her true face; her meek and juvenile expression shifted into a more serious and royal demeanour. Her thin lips curved into a cold smile.

    ¡°It seems I have been found out,¡± she said, calmly.

    ¡°It was a smart idea to play the innocent and emptyheaded woman while scheming and trading under your husband¡¯s name. I am ashamed I fell for it as well.¡±

    The Baroness gave a falsely humble shrug. ¡°A woman must learn to use her wits, it is all¡­ Now, may I know why are you here?¡±

    ¡°You know why. I said I would come back if you don¡¯t cease your attempts to steal the Blysht. I¡¯ve seen the letter you send to Ms Dumnchory. Contrary to you, she¡¯d been wiser and heeded my warning and left Vilriver. You should have done the same, Kazkan.¡±

    The woman didn¡¯t appear intimidated in the slightest.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± she sighed. ¡°Well, it is unfortunate, but you must understand where I am coming from. The Blysht is an opportunity I simply cannot let pass. With control of it, I could rise through the ranks of the szlachta like none other. I would gain enough prestige to rival the Crimson Ones, enough wealth to rival their large estates. Everyone tries to improve their station in life, can you truly fault me for that?¡±

    ¡°I can if you do so at the expense of everyone else. What right do you have to put this stranglehold on the Blysht, to take it all for yourself? You didn¡¯t spend hours gruelling in the mines to fetch it. You didn¡¯t spend hours cutting it into a useful shape. You didn¡¯t spend hours crafting the necessary [Spells] to Ingrace it. The only work you expended was to sign a paper claiming it at yours. In my eyes, you have no ground to stand on. Your greed will be the doom of us all, and I am here to stop it.¡±

    The Baroness shook her head and paced toward her bed.

    ¡°Then, I must admit that we are at fundamental disaccord then, Mr¡­ What did you say your name was?¡±

    ¡°Antaka.¡±

    ¡°It is a strange name if you don¡¯t mind me saying. Do you know what it is supposed to mean?¡±

    ¡­ Antaka is the first breeze that brings the Cyclones from the Mother. Antaka is the first seed that brings the blight into the field. Antaka is the first rash that brings the sickness to the body. Antaka is the First and the Herald. It never comes along; Death soon follows. A warning for others to stay away. You understand? That is what it means. Antaka is¡­

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°¡­ the Bringer of Death,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°Really? What an ominous name! I am sorry for you!¡±

    ¡°Do not be! It was given to me and I carry it with pride.¡±

    Halyna Kazkan turned to face him. She had a sweet smile on her face. ¡°It is good for you. However, I am afraid I cannot let you stop me, Antaka!¡±

    In her hand, she held a glass lens full of engraving and rose to eye level.

    Pain suddenly flared in Isyd¡¯s skull and he let out a howl of pain. It was as if thousands of ants were running on and nibbling at his brain. Isyd¡¯s vision turned blurry as the pain became more and more searing.

    What¡­ A [Spirit Attack]¡­ a [Mind Searcher]¡­ a [Mind Breaker]?

    ¡°You should stop struggling, young man, it will only make it more painful.¡± he heard the Baroness say through a cloud of pain. ¡°Accept my control! I think you will be a good asset to replace those traitorous mercenaries. Let it go, Antaka. Let me inside your mind!¡±

    Isyd fell to his knees, his hands clutching at his head. He could faintly hear Naeht calling to him, but she was drawn with the rest of the pain. It was as if his eyes were about to explode from their sockets. More than anything, Isyd was trying to keep  it  at bay.

    ¡°Stop! Stay away!¡± he howled.

    ¡°Surrender to me!¡± Halyna Kazkan shouted back.

    But Isyd wasn¡¯t talking to her. His right arm was burning. He could almost taste the [Taint] in his mouth. The Baroness¡¯s [Arcane] was threatening to break all the barriers Isyd had put to keep the [Taint] contained.

    ¡°Stop¡­¡± his shouts had turned to weak pleas¡­

    ¡°Come on, let me see who you truly are under the mask. Let me in!¡±

    Something gave way in Isyd¡¯s mind.

    He lifted his head and met the woman¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°You want to see? Then, come on in¡­¡±

    Halyna Kazkan gazed into the two eye sockets. In less time than it took her to blink, she saw everything Isyd laid bare.

    She stared at the abyss that was his soul. The abyss stared back.

    The Baroness let out a bloodcurdling scream. The [Arcane] shattered on the floor and she threw herself back.

    ¡°No¡­ No¡­ No! It¡¯s¡­ not¡­ real! Let me go! LET ME GO!¡±

    She collapsed and then crawled backwards to put as much distance as possible between her and Isyd.

    She clawed at her face, at her eyes, and pulled at her hair, all the while howling in horror.

    ¡°NO! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!¡±

    But she could no longer escape.

    Those gemstone eyes stared down her soul and a chilling laugh pierced her mind.

    The images were now engraved in the Baroness¡¯s psyche. So much blood. So much death. So much pain. Mountains of corpses burning. A hell from which there was no escape. A world plunged in eternal darkness. Monsters chasing after her, eating at her flesh again and again. Pulling it apart, then putting back together. Again, and again and again. Her blood turning black, full of vileness. It was a sickness, an evil that filled all her senses. It was in her mouth, in her nose, on her skin and under it. It was in every breath she took, in everything she touched, in every thought she had.

    She couldn¡¯t escape. The vileness was everywhere. The vileness was in her. She was the vileness. She was vile.

    She couldn¡¯t escape it¡­ she couldn¡¯t escape it¡­ she couldn¡¯t escape it... she couldn¡¯t escape it¡­

    She couldn¡¯t escape.

    Amidst the visions of terror, Halyna Kazkan saw Isyd for what he truly was. How could he be?  He  wasn¡¯t supposed to be! He was an aberration! A monster in human¡¯s skin!

    He was a curse upon the very earth he walked on. He bore the vileness in his very soul. Everything he touched was tainted. Cursed to bring death to everything and to all¡­

    He  was the vileness!

    She had to burn the vileness. It was the only solution. The only way to be cleansed. Burn him. Burn herself. Burn everything that was ever touched by the vileness. She would burn it all¡­

    Burn¡­ Burn¡­ Burn¡­

    <hr>

    Isyd stumbled away into the forest. He was trying very hard to mute the sounds of shouts and cries behind him, to ignore the acrid odour of smoke that filled the air.

    ¡°Isyd, the [Taint]¡­¡±

    ¡°I know¡­¡± he said through gritted teeth. ¡°I¡­ I have it under control¡­¡±

    He was breathless, all his strength was sapped.

    ¡°I just need to lay down for a while to recover. To sleep.¡±

    Isyd hated sleeping. Naeht knew that all too well.

    ¡°It¡¯s gonna be all right, Isyd. I¡¯ll be here, watching over you,¡± she said.

    ¡°I know.¡±

    She kept talking to him as if to reassure him, but Isyd couldn¡¯t pay attention. He¡¯d been surprised by a [Spirit Spell], which hadn¡¯t happened for a while. He knew he was more susceptible to them than most. It had been a close call. He could have handled it better if he hadn¡¯t been so exhausted by the past few days.

    Isyd found a somewhat even patch of dirt and fell to his knees there. He laid down against a fallen tree, wrapped in his darkveil. The soil was hard and cold, wet fallen leaves landed on his exposed skin. Isyd didn¡¯t mind any of it. The less comfortable the short sleep he would have. It was for the best.

    Isyd hated sleeping because sleeping meant nightmares.

    Sleeping meant remembering.

    He closed his eyes and drifted off.

 53 â€“ The Day Dusk Fell Onto the World

    Isyd stood on the embankment on the Outside and was staring at the towers of the Academy peaking on the horizon. It was something he often did when he happened to walk near the River. Unfortunately, Isyd had few occasions ever to go to the Inside and even less to approach the Academy. So, watching from afar was the best he could do.

    He knew that he had to hurry and go back to work. His Master had sent him to fetch a parcel of broken watches to be recommissioned. Isyd held the bundle of clinking metal pieces wrapped in cloth somewhat carelessly. He should have paid it more attention because if anything happened, his Master would wring his neck. Strangely enough, Isyd couldn¡¯t care. He was transfixed by the sight of the Academy.

    Something was not right.

    Isyd couldn¡¯t put his finger on what, but he knew it. This was supposed to be a normal day like many others; a day spent on menial tasks at his Master¡¯s behest to pay for his bunk and his two meals. His Master¡¯s workshop would be smothering hot due to the presence of the kiln and forge and echoing with the rhythm of hammer shaping the metal into its desired place. Isyd would run around, cleaning that desk here, rearranging those tools there, fetching this piece over here and bringing it over there. All the while, his Master would carefully combine the different gears into the clock mechanism for his clients. Isyd couldn¡¯t go to the Academy, so instead he would stand next to his Master and watch him use the few [Spells] he knew. Which meant that Isyd had to hurry back if he didn¡¯t want to miss anything.

    Isyd still didn¡¯t move. Somehow he couldn¡¯t; it was as if he was glued on the spot. He glanced around him and noticed that his vision was blurry on the edges. Was he sick? Isyd didn¡¯t feel particularly sick. Only¡­ disconnected. As if he was there, but not really¡­

    Isyd cocked his head at the River. He had just realized that the water remained still. It was like staring at a painting. In fact, there were no ships in sight. Odd¡­ Should he be surprised? He remembered something¡­ From reading the newspapers and overhearing his Master, Isyd had learned that there were problems in the West. Things were unclear as information only arrived bit by bit but there were talks of a war in the Matizna Empire, of a plague. Isyd had even heard a sailor talking about demons and an endless night¡­ There was something else as well¡­ Something about the War¡­

    His heart began beating faster.  Why can¡¯t I recall¡­

    It was important, it was urgent¡­ but he couldn¡¯t remember what!

    ¡°Do you know what it is, N¡­¡± Isyd asked looking over his shoulder.

    There was no one. Who was he talking to? Whom had he expected to be there?

    She was always there with him; it was impossible for her to leave. She was his boon and his curse, all in one.

    Who is¡­ ¡®She¡¯?

    The air seemed to become heavier around Isyd and he felt as if he was suffocating. His heart wanted to beat right out of his chest and his hands were clammy. He dropped his bundle without even realizing it.

    She is¡­ she is¡­

    Something was  very  wrong! The word was on the tip of his tongue, on the edge of his memory.

    I have to remember! I made a promise! She is¡­ She is¡­ N¡­

    ¡°Naeht!¡± Isyd exclaimed, breathless.

    Something touched his shoulder. Isyd whirled and faced a Peacekeeper.

    ¡°Everything is alright, young man?¡± the man asked.

    ¡°I¡­¡± Isyd tried to answer, but the words died in his mouth.

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    He¡¯d recognized the uniform of the Peacekeeper, but when he had glanced at his face, Isyd¡¯s heart lurched. The man had no face!

    To be more precise, he had a face but it appeared to be blurry. It was as if Isyd was looking at the reflection of the man¡¯s face on troubled water. Isyd took a step back.

    Naeht should have been at his side. The Peacekeeper¡¯s face wasn¡¯t supposed to look like that. The River should not stand still. Isyd shouldn¡¯t be here.

    ¡°I am dreaming¡­¡± he murmured in realization.

    The moment he recognized it, everything suddenly came into focus. This was a dream. More than that, it was a memory.

    This did nothing to reassure him and in fact, his chest sank deeper in his chest. Without thinking, Isyd grabbed the hand of the Peacekeeper.

    ¡°We need to flee!¡± he said, yanking at it. The man didn¡¯t budge. He had completely forgotten about Isyd. The man had his head thrown up and stared at the sky. Isyd looked around and everyone had stopped what they were doing and were also looking up. Only then did Isyd notice the sudden chillness in the air and the sudden dimness.

    It was too late.

    Isyd closed his eyes but he knew that it was frivolous and something compelled him to open them and look at the sky like everyone else.

    Despite being a little after noon, the sun had disappeared. It had been covered by a shroud of darkness and only a faint outline of light remained.

    Dusk had fallen onto the world.

    Suddenly, the sky split asunder! A long crack of light appeared as if the heavens were made out of glass. The shouts of surprise and fear of the crowd were drowned in the deafening roars of a thousand thunder erupting at once. Slowly, as if requiring tremendous effort, the rift widened.

    People began to run, trying to flee whatever was happening above their heads. Isyd remained where he was. He knew it was too late; there was no escape. The Obcys had come.

    All he could hear was a chilling laugh mocking him.

    <hr>

    Isyd woke up, gasping for air. He rolled and rose upright, taking inventory of his surroundings. The humidity and chillness of the air, the wetness of the ground, and the musky odour of the forest helped him to ground himself and recall where he was.

    ¡°Naeht!¡± Isyd hissed.

    ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± she said, appearing overhead.

    ¡°Report, please!¡±

    ¡°Nothing happened. Nobody approached. You slept 4 hours approximately, 4 restless hours, if I may say so myself¡­¡±

    Isyd stood up completely and winced at the cramps in his body. He still had a slight headache. Naeht approached him, a worried frown on her face.

    ¡°So¡­ how bad was it?¡± she asked him.

    Isyd shrugged, putting up a nonchalant appearance for her sake. ¡°Not the worse one. I¡¯m fine Naeht. After tonight, we should be good for a long while without sleeping. Forever if I my words to say¡­¡±

    ¡°Given how often you find yourself in trouble, I¡¯d say it¡¯s pretty unlikely!¡±

    Isyd smirked and stretched.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go back. I need a bath and it is early enough to have the Thermae all to ourselves. The dream is a good wake-up call; we have more to do. Dusk will come, let us prepare.¡±

 54 - The Tears

    Isyd felt much refreshed after enjoying his time in the Thermae. He had left just at the time when the earlier Pupils had come and spent a little more time alone to gather his thoughts; he felt now better than he ever did those past weeks. He recognized in that the virtue of a night of sleep; it was a pity he hated it.

    Despite not owning the required keychain of the Atelier, the doorman let Isyd pass when recognized him. The 7<sup>th</sup> Hour bell had just rung but the place was already bustling with Pupils rushing to complete their projects before the Evaluations deadline. Isyd headed to the laboratory for the Blysht Commission ¨C another one situated on the first floor since the previous one was still in disarray ¨C and entered without knocking after perceiving Hidrss¡¯s presence inside.

    ¡°I saw your note, you wanted to see me?¡± Isyd said as a greeting.

    Hidrss was apparently still tinkering with his idea of a ¡°lift¡±. On the table sat upright a slab of steel on which Commands had been drawn. With one hand, the Tutor held another disk of metal ¨C as wide as a dining plate ¨C that he positioned near the slab while his other hand was busy drawing Commands in the air. At the same time Isyd entered, Hidrss let the disk go. A few sparks flew and ran alongside the rim of the disk and Isyd could swear he heard a hum different than the usual Song of the Grace. Surprisingly, instead of falling, the disk remained suspended in the air, floating a few inches away from the steel slab, as if an invisible hand was still holding it.

    ¡°It wor¡ª¡± Hidrss exulted.

    In a crackling of thunder, the disk bolted across the room faster than any of them could react. It pierced the brick wall as if it was mere paper and left a perfectly circular outline of its shape in the stone. They heard breaking glass and wood as the metal disk finished its course next door.

    Isyd raised an eyebrow at Hidrss. The Tutor simply shrugged and let out an embarrassed chuckle.

    ¡°There are still a few things I need to iron out¡­¡± He passed a hand through his hair that had suddenly stood up. ¡°Anyway¡­ You¡¯re here! I wanted to talk with you about the Blysht, actually! I had a look into your [Outgracing Hex]. Good job! It was interesting use of the Resonance!¡±

    ¡°Tekla is the one who came up with the idea of Resonance, I just found a way to put it into practice. Did you think of any improvement?¡±

    ¡°I can probably rearrange the Balance here and there and smooth things out but it is nothing serious. The [Outgracing Hex] is in many ways better than the first iteration of the [Ingracing]. This means that you have improved in that short time!¡±

    Isyd shrugged the compliment away. ¡°I am still learning¡­ If there¡¯s no improvement what did you want to talk to me about?¡±

    Hidrss headed behind the desk and reached down for a pouch. It clinked with the sounds of metal coins. Alongside it, he brought a stash of papers.

    ¡°When I was at the Academy of Holy Honour, I presented the Blysht and what it could do,¡± Hidrss explained. ¡°It took some time to convince the Artysta, but eventually they grew interested. As it was agreed, you got all the credit for the discovery. However, I took the liberty to sell them the rights to use and study the [Ingracing Hex] ¨C I would have waited for the [Outgracing Hex] if I knew you¡¯d be so fast with it. I also met with a couple of independent Arcanyst on my way back and in the Capital, so I also used this opportunity to share the good word¡­¡±

    Hidrss made the pouch slide across the table. ¡°You¡¯d be happy to hear that the rights to the [Ingracing Hex] went for a small fortune, Wybrany! I couldn¡¯t take the risk of carrying everything so in passing by the Capital, I opened a bank account at your name to store your money. I have a paper here for you as proof of ownership.¡±

    Isyd unlaced the leather pouch and his jaw dropped. It was filled with Gold coins! At a glance, there must have been at least thirty coins. It was more wealth than Isyd had ever held in his long life.

    ¡°This is a fortune!¡± he exclaimed.

    Hidrss¡¯s smirk was mocking. ¡°There¡¯s more where this comes from! You are a rich Pupil, Isyd Wybrany! I¡¯m sure your parents will be so proud of you! And that¡¯s without considering the [Outgracing Hex]. Since you¡¯re the one who developed it, you¡¯ll be credited similarly. However, since it was developed within the Atelier, the Academy will have to take its share. Is that okay with you?¡±

    Isyd nodded mutely, his mind still trying to comprehend the wealth in front of him. He had expected to gain money from the [Ingracing Hex] ¨C that was one of the reasons why he asked for the Intellectual Property ¨C but this was much more than anticipated. He hadn¡¯t expected to see the returns in years from now.

    Hidrss seemed to notice Isyd¡¯s shock. He walked around the desk and gave a friendly tap on his shoulders.

    ¡°You seem like a sensible young man ¨C older than you look ¨C but still, don¡¯t go dilapidate it. This fortune could be of use in the coming years to study at the Academy. For one thing, you won¡¯t need to worry about a tuition fee for the foreseeable future. Plus, you may need to spend it sooner than you think. After revealing the Blysht to the public, I suspect that its price will increase rapidly but we will still need to get our hands on it to study it further. The Academy of Holy Honour was already discussing and planning the acquisition of salt mines. I want to bring that up to the Doyen at our next meeting¡­¡±

    There was a knock on the door then Norran Ravasz entered in his wheelchair followed by Julya. The Arcanysta gave Isyd a wide and surprised smile at seeing Isyd. Julya was holding a fresh newspaper and brandished it.

    ¡°Have you read what happened last night?¡± she asked.

    ¡°If this is about what happened at the Baron¡¯s manor,¡± Hidrss said, ¡°I have heard about it but didn¡¯t have time to read the newspaper.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Isyd asked evenly.

    ¡°There was a fire; the whole manor has been consumed by the flames! At first, people thought of a [Heating Arcane] dysfunction. My guess was that those thieves had come back. But this is not the case! Apparently, it was the Baroness herself who started the fire! Thankfully, people managed to escape and the fire didn¡¯t spread.¡±

    ¡°The Baroness? She started the fire? Why?¡± Hidrss said.

    ¡°It is uncertain,¡± Julya said. ¡°The article here reports that she became possessed and ran around the manor, throwing [Fire Spells] and laughing maniacally. She was also rambling about a demon, supposedly. When I went to buy the newspaper, people were saying that she is insane and dangerous. The Peacekeepers caught her and she collapsed unconscious. The last we know is that she¡¯s unresponsive and was sent away. I¡¯m surprised they didn¡¯t ask for the Spital, but I suppose the Baron¡¯s family has contact with their own Apteyk¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, the woman did appear to be simple of mind,¡± Norran said. ¡°I¡¯m not entirely surprised that something may have broken up there¡­¡±

    Isyd could feel Hidrss''s pointed look on his neck, but he did his best not to let anything transpire. He certainly hoped that his bath had taken care of the clinging odour of smoke.

    ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t concern us, does it?¡± Hidrss eventually said with a shrug.

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    ¡°I suppose it doesn¡¯t,¡± Julya admitted. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ those last few days have been quite eventful. Speaking of, there¡¯s also a small article about the Blysht!¡±

    ¡°Yes, I ask Norran to pen something,¡± Hidrss said. ¡°It¡¯s nothing big, just to present the idea for amateurish Artyst interested.¡±

    ¡°Your name is in there, Isyd, so you¡¯ll be famous soon enough,¡± Norran said. ¡°I hope you¡¯re ready for it!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t really care, to be honest,¡± Isyd said.

    Hidrss rolled his eyes. ¡°Of course, you don¡¯t¡­ Here, take this. I have filled the demand as you asked me. I can¡¯t believe you forced me to be the sponsor of your little Ring¡­¡±

    The Ravaszs were surprised at that. ¡°A new Ring? You are not joining the Hammer?¡± Norran said.

    ¡°No, and I never planned to. I prefer doing my own thing.¡±

    Isyd grabbed the papers Hidrss and looked over the paper formally requesting for the Ring.

    ¡°I should go and submit it then,¡± Isyd said. ¡°Unless you need me here¡­¡±

    Hidrss waved his hand impatiently. ¡°Go! You have your Evaluations coming soon anyway. I expect to see you next semester as my Pupil, so you better score high. Not that I don¡¯t see your face often enough around here¡­¡±

    Isyd smiled and waved them goodbye before heading to the Great Hall. It was quite an impressive building, though Isyd spent little time there. Tall marble columns supported a high, vaulted ceiling where somehow the glass had been shaped to fit the curves of the domes. Two sets of stairs spiralled from the centre of the room to the upper floors where were situated the heart of the Academy. For one thing, it was possible to go to the Library from the Great Hall, but Isyd much preferred the outside entrance through the Fields. It also led to the Tutors¡¯ Houses and eventually to the Doyen¡¯s office at the top of the highest of the Academy¡¯s towers. Some of the classrooms reserved for advanced classes were also that way, as well as the Quarters for the most prestigious Rings. Isyd walked up the stairs and headed to the Consultation Office.

    On the first floor, Isyd heard someone hailing him. He turned to see Jadwia and Klara coming from the stairs.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Isyd!¡± Klara exclaimed as they approached.

    ¡°Klara, Jadwia, Grace to you,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°I thought you¡¯d be at the Library or the Atelier by this time,¡± Klara said. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    Isyd pulled the paper from his darkveil and waved vaguely in the direction of the Consultation Office. Klara hunched forward to take a closer look at the fine writings.

    ¡°So, it is true then¡­ You are forming a Ring! I can¡¯t believe that after all the time I asked you to join our Ring, you decided to form your own!¡±

    ¡°I remember you suggesting it to me at some point¡­¡±

    ¡°Only in jest! I didn¡¯t think you do it for real, and certainly not after all those invitations you received. Not only did you form your own Ring, but you also snatched our most promising member!¡±

    Isyd glanced sideways at Jadwia who blushed. ¡°So, you got it arranged?¡± he asked her.

    She nodded and waved at the stairs. ¡°We¡¯d just left the Cerulean Quarters¡­¡±

    ¡°Aaron was quite disappointed,¡± Klara felt necessary to point out. ¡°I tried to talk her out of it, but apparently you are more convincing than I suspected, Wybrany.¡±

    Despite her words, Isyd could see that Klara wasn¡¯t really angry with him.

    ¡°But jokes aside, why would you go to create a new Ring?¡± Klara asked. ¡°Do you understand what it entails?¡±

    ¡°No, not really, but I am a quick learner,¡± Isyd said.

    Klara rolled her eyes. She seemed to want to say something more, but then changed her mind and gave him a carnivorous smile and stepped aside.

    ¡°Well, if you are sure of your decision¡­ Go forth!¡±

    Isyd picked up on her sarcasm but decided to ignore it. He passed her and didn¡¯t say anything when the girls decided to follow after him. They were chatting idly, mentioning the fire at the Baron¡¯s manor as well as a new Tutor arriving from the Capital and related to the Baron¡¯s family. Isyd entered the Consultation Office with confidence in his step. He had only come here once before, right after his enrolment. From what he¡¯d gathered, the Consultation Office was where the administration was taken care of. Not all of the staff working there were Artysta, though the majority were. The room was surprisingly small and cramped, filled as it were by rows of chairs and desks on which laid scattered papers and ledgers. Isyd had to duck as he entered to avoid a folded note zipping through the air like a bird. Another flew past his shoulder and a woman stood up and snatched it with ease. She unfolded the letter, read what was said then jot down a few words with a pencil in a notebook.

    She then smiled at them and approached. ¡°Sorry for that¡­ So, what brought you here, Young Ones?¡± the secretary said to Klara, the Senior among them.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not for me, he¡¯s the one you want!¡± Klara said, pointing at Isyd.

    ¡°The day Graces you. My name is¡ª¡± he began.

    ¡°Isyd Wybrany,¡± the secretary finished with a nod and a welcoming smile. ¡°I heard about you. How can I help you, Young Isyd?¡±

    ¡°I want to create a new Ring,¡± he said.

    ¡°This late? The semester is coming to a close!¡± she said, confused.

    ¡°I know, but I was told there would be no problem even this late.¡±

    The secretary glanced at Klara as if for confirmation but the young woman simply shrugged. Isyd gave her the submission paper and let her go through it.

    ¡°Tutor Hidrss will be your patron? You have the members here as well¡­well, this is a bit unusual, but everything seems in order¡­ Then, I¡¯ll just need a name for your Ring.¡±

    ¡°The Tears,¡± Isyd said.

    The secretary nodded and wrote it down then reached for the different stamps hanging at her belt and pressed it at the bottom of the page.

    ¡°Congratulations, Isyd Wybrany. The Tears are now formed and you are their Ringleader.¡±

    Isyd offered his thanks and goodbye. As they left, Klara leant towards him.

    ¡°That¡¯s an interesting name you got there¡­¡± she mused. ¡°As for the three members, there¡¯s you and Jadwia, but who is the last one.¡±

    ¡°Kewin Udachur,¡± Isyd said.

    At that, Klara¡¯s cheerful expression fell and she stopped in front of him.

    ¡°But¡­ he is¡­ I heard that he was¡­ He won¡¯t be able to pursue his studies¡­ How are you gonna do next semester?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll think about what to do then. Kewin is and will be a member of my Ring, no matter what the Academy says.¡±

    Klara looked at Jadwia to see if Isyd was joking, but Jadwia¡¯s expression confirmed that he was serious. She sighed and grinned.

    ¡°You truly are a strange fellow, Isyd Wybrany¡­¡±

    The three of them continued their walk downstairs and toward the Great Hall. There they noticed that a small crowd had gathered.

    ¡°Oh! That¡¯s probably the new Tutor for next semester!¡± Klara exclaimed.

    Isyd wasn¡¯t particularly interested but swept by Klara¡¯s lead, they crept closer. Isyd caught a brief glimpse of him and recognized the traditional robe of those who dedicated their lives to the pursuit of the Arts. Something in the man¡¯s posture was familiar to Isyd.

    The Artyst suddenly turned his head and their eyes met. Isyd¡¯s heart skipped a beat. The man had a stern face, with long and angular traits and a glare just shy of disdaining. The man looked away, disinterested. He hadn¡¯t recognized Isyd, but Isyd had.

    The Great Artyst Kazian of the Winds, one of the Twelve Holy Generals, had arrived at the Academy.

    <hr>

    END OF BOOK I

 55 - The Routine

    Kewin Udachur knew that he was in a nightmare. The suffocating smell of burning wood seemed to him familiar and haunting. And so did the impression of being ensnared by invisible bindings, restrained in his movements. All he could do was wiggle around, trying to free himself. And to shout out of the top of his lungs for the fire that raged inside his body to stop.

    His vision was blurry and unfocused while keeping a semblance of coherence, the way only dreams could. His surroundings were a haze of bright colours, ranging from dark red to bright white, and seemed to extend toward infinity. It was there that he felt the presence of something staring at him, observing him struggle in vain to get free. This presence filled Kewin with a true sense of horror for deep down, he knew he couldn¡¯t escape it. In fact, the fire that threatened to burn him to a crisp from the inside out only yearned towards the entity; it had the desire to become one with it, Kewin be damned.

    The presence made itself heavier on Kewin¡¯s consciousness and any semblance of coherent thoughts evaporated like water on a sizzling surface.

    The only thing that remained was the Fire etching itself in his soul¡­

    Suddenly, Kewin was freed from the nightmare! His eyes snapped open and he sat up on his bed, gasping for air. His throat was unnaturally parched and he searched by feel for the pitcher of water in the dark. He swilled it down as the last memories of the nightmare already faded away, leaving him weak and tired and confused.

    Next to his bedstand where the pitcher had been, was another object that Kewin seized. Fitting perfectly in his palms, the broken Lightsphere managed to calm Kewin¡¯s mind. Fiddling with the useless trinket had helped him in the past weeks. That Lightsphere had housed the [Outgracing Hex] and had thus been coveted by many. After an interaction with a [Fire Spell], the Lightsphere had entered into Resonance with Kewin¡¯s Grace and the result had been an inferno and the summoning of an Elemental. Isyd Wybrany had stopped it, but the whole ordeal had left Kewin broken¡­ spurned by the Holy Grace. Disgraced.

    With his fingers, he tried to feel where the Commands had been carved on the glass surface, but it was impossible due to the burn scars covering both palms that held the sphere. The Lightsphere as given to him by Isyd was a memento ¡ª another way than the scars to remember what he¡¯d lost.

    Putting it back down, Kewin got up from his bed. The room he was in was thrown into pitch darkness. He knew where the couple of Lightspheres were situated but he couldn''t have turned them on even if he wished so since they required Grace to be activated. He didn¡¯t need them anyway; he approached the corner of the room where a basin of cold water had been put at his disposal and he used it to freshen himself. Only when that was done, did he approach the small, rectangular window and threw back the curtains. It was still very early in the morning, one or two hours before dawn and the first lights of the sun. Kewin took comfort in knowing that since the Korochun a few weeks ago, the nights would from there on grow shorter and shorter and the day longer and longer.

    After changing into his clothes resting on a stool, Kewin finally left his bedroom. It led directly to a larger living room where he found Isyd seated on the carpeted floor, against the wall, exactly where he had left him the night before. A Lightsphere on a stand offered an orange light to the room, enough for Isyd to make sense of his papers and books scattered around him. Walking barefoot, Kewin barely made a sound as he entered the living room, but Isyd looked up at him all the same as if hearing his presence.

    ¡°Grace. I didn¡¯t expect to see you awake so early...¡± Isyd said. ¡°Restless sleep?¡±

    Kewin nodded mutely. It wasn¡¯t the first time he had a nightmare and Isyd had heard him before wrestling with his sheets. He pointed at Isyd¡¯s work on the floor.

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    ¡°You are still here, you didn¡¯t go to bed?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I do not need much sleep.¡±

    ¡°You always say this¡­¡±

    Kewin took a seat next to Isyd and watched him study. The two of them had fallen into a strange routine those past few days, a routine Kewin hadn¡¯t anticipated. Isyd had used the money he obtained from the Atelier to buy this expensive suite in an inn on the Inside of Vilriver. It was in fact three separate bedrooms on the last floor of the building that had been brought together. Isyd was renting for the entirety of the next semester for a hefty price, a price that he refused to share with Kewin despite his insistence. Kewin had felt somewhat guilty about lodging here with Isyd free of charges, but he had no place to go after being expelled from the Academy. Plus, Isyd hadn¡¯t listened to Kewin¡¯s qualms and had all but forced him to come with him.

    ¡°Since you are already up, we can leave now,¡± Isyd proposed.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind waiting!¡± Kewin said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to interrupt your studies.¡±

    Isyd shrugged and began tidying up. ¡°Those courses aren¡¯t going anywhere. Plus, I yearn for some fresh air. Let¡¯s go!¡±

    They walked outside and were immediately buffeted by the cold winds of winter. As per usual, they found on the porch Mrs Chrom ¨C the owner of the inn with her husband and two sons ¨C busy with sweeping the entrance and lighting up the furnaces. At first, she¡¯d been quite peeved that her most expensive tenants did not take time to enjoy the fastidious breakfast she prepared before they headed out each morning, but by now she had gotten used to it and simply waved at them as they passed.

    Once outside, Isyd threw up a [Light Ball] in the air ahead of them to dispel the darkness of the night and he immediately started on a jog without a word. Now used to the routine, Kewin followed a few paces after him. Soon he felt the familiar burn of the chill air in his lungs as his body still groggy from sleep tried to warm up despite the frigid temperatures. They met very few souls out and about on their run ¨C men who threw them curious glances in their direction before returning to their occupation. Their pace was not fast ¨C could barely be considered running in fact ¨C but the exertion laid in the prolonged effort, from the length of the journey undertaken by Isyd and followed by Kewin.

    From the inn situated near the docks, they crossed the Emerald Bridge, jogged up the length of the River, and then crossed once more back into the Inside via the Topaz Bridge right before it was raised for the ships arriving in Vilriver. After crossing the bridge, this eventually led Isyd and Kewin to a sparse part of the forest surrounding the city, usually an hour later at the first light of dawn.

    The first days Isyd had subjected him to his routine, Kewin had given up a quarter-hour in, on the verge of collapsing on the decks. Isyd had then waited for him and had walked with him the rest of the way but they had made the whole journey to Isyd¡¯s insistence even if they had to make a detour due to the Topaz Bridge being raised by the time they got to it. The same happened the next day, the day after, and the day after. Sooner or later in their run, Kewin would run out of breath and fall on the way. Isyd would then retrace his steps, smile at him and offer him some water before walking the rest of the way with him.

    Kewin wasn¡¯t sure what was the goal of the routine and he never bothered asking Isyd. Sure, he suspected it had something to do with improving his physical condition but he failed to see why Isyd needed to do so every single day at dawn as he seemed to be in perfect health. Kewin had initially joined only because Isyd had insisted and Kewin had nothing better to do but wallowing in self-pity.

    Eventually, as the days passed, Kewin fell into the routine as well. The jogging had come easier quicker than he¡¯d expected and it had allowed him to take his mind off things for a while. He was still unable to keep up with Isyd¡¯s pace ¨C who always appeared as if was out on a stroll ¨C but he¡¯d gotten from collapsing after a quarter an hour to making it to the Topaz Bridge as the crew was preparing to raise it.

    He passed the bascule bridge without slowing down, continued a while longer until entering the woodlands around the city and finally joined Isyd waiting for him further in a small meadow.

 56 - The Struggle over the Body

    ¡°Did you wait a lot?¡± Kewin asked as he approached breathless.

    ¡°Barely,¡± Isyd said. ¡°You are getting faster each time. It is good.¡±

    ¡°I feel like you are slowing down for my sake though,¡± Kewin retorted, pointing at the glowing [Light Ball] floating overhead.

    Isyd conceded with a smirk and a nod. Without a word, he took off his darkveil as well as the greatcoat and tie of his red and white uniform before setting them on a low branch of a tree, leaving only his Inian knife strapped to his waist.

    The meadow was situated deep in the forest from the perspective of the Academy. In their jog, they had passed the crumbling remains of the walls of Vilriver that used to surround the islet of the Inside centuries ago. Following the Little Stream downstream after it separated from the River, they would need to cross the Waving Bridge to properly leave the forest and to enter the Fields. So even if the demarcations were not set in stone, the meadow they were in was considered outside the boundaries of the Academy. Not that it would have been easy to stumble upon; it was far from the well-trodden paths, near a pond that had frozen over due to the frigid temperatures of the past nights.

    The timid light of dawn poured through the naked branches of the trees circling the clearing, providing a spotty and distorted illumination. In the middle of the meadow, Isyd began stretching and Kewin followed suit. Isyd¡¯s movements were slow and methodical, almost ceremonious. Kewin barely dared to make a sound to not disturb the religious silence that usually accompanied their ritual. One stance after another, Isyd went through the motion to unlock the full range of his body. At last, he expelled a long breath and opened his eyes. There, Kewin knew that the session of the day was finished and he slumped down on the hard soil. Isyd also appeared to relax, though it was more subtle.

    They still had around three hours before the start of the day classes at the Academy. This gave them ample time to return to the inn if they needed to even though Isyd usually preferred passing by the Thermae of the Academy while they were still empty.

    ¡°Did my notes help you?¡± Kewin asked Isyd.

    ¡°Yes, thank you for that! It was quite a time saver!¡±

    Isyd was regretting not taking notes during the past semester. He mostly counted on his good memory to carry him through and he had assimilated most of the classes he attended that way. A problem arose from the classes he missed during his various adventures away from the Academy or at the Atelier; even if he knew what subjects had been covered, he didn¡¯t have time to go through entire books covering the specific topics. Thus, he relied on the summaries and notes Kewin had gladly given him.

    ¡°I¡¯m happy you find them useful,¡± Kewin said. ¡°At least, they¡¯re not entirely wasted¡­¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t need to be the case. Why should you stop studying? As far as I know, the Natural Sciences or History have little to do with the Holy Grace. You only have to gain in pursuing your education.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know if I can¡­ It would be useless anyway since I can¡¯t take the Evaluations¡­¡±

    ¡°You cannot?¡±

    ¡°I assume not¡­? After all, they are supposed to decide your tuition for the next semester. Since I can¡¯t continue, there would be no point¡­¡±

    ¡°Still, I wouldn¡¯t mind if you joined me. In fact, I think I¡¯d prefer it if you did especially when Jadwia is around. She¡¯s a ball of stress those past few days and she could do with your help¡­¡±

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    ¡°Help¡­?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like you have something else to do, right?¡±

    Kewin couldn¡¯t argue with that. Isyd approached and handed him a flask filled with water. Kewin took a long swill.

    ¡°So, how do you feel?¡± Isyd asked him, changing the subject.

    ¡°I am feeling better after sitting down. Still, sore from yesterday¡¯s run though¡­¡±

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t what I was asking, Kewin¡­¡±

    Kewin met Isyd¡¯s dark eyes and understood. He gave him back the flask and flexed unconsciously his scarred palms, feeling the ruggedness in the skin as he opened and closed his hands.

    ¡°I feel¡­ fine. I still get headaches from time to time. It hits suddenly and leaves similarly. Besides that, ¡­ I¡­ I almost feel normal again¡­¡±

    A flush came over his cheeks and he looked away. ¡°As if I could ever be normal again¡­¡± he muttered.

    Isyd nodded silently, though Kewin didn¡¯t see him. ¡°I made you a promise didn¡¯t I, Kewin?¡±

    ¡°You did¡­ Do you think I can¡­ be unbroken¡­?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know how to do such a thing. This is why I didn¡¯t promise you this. This is not the goal of what we¡¯re doing.¡±

    ¡°What is the goal then?¡±

    ¡°To make your body stronger.¡±

    ¡°Stronger? Why?¡±

    ¡°The headaches you¡¯re having, they will not go away anytime soon,¡± Isyd explained. ¡°As far as I know, they are caused by momentary spikes in Grace Concentration in your surroundings, which is as a natural phenomenon as is the weather. All of this is to say that you have little control over it. But this doesn¡¯t mean you are powerless.¡±

    ¡°I am not sure I understand¡­¡±

    ¡°You feel broken inside. That¡¯s how the Apteyka described you and you can¡¯t unhear it. You were confronted with your own weakness and you¡¯re no longer sure anymore of who you are. I know this because I felt the same once too, Kewin. I know how it feels to have your own body betray you, fail you.¡±

    Kewin¡¯s eyes moved to Isyd¡¯s bandaged right arm. Somehow, Kewin knew that it was what Isyd was referring to. Isyd suddenly put his hands on the hard soil and performed a handstand. Without missing a beat nor showing signs of exertion, he continued speaking.

    ¡°But in this world, your body is the only thing you truly own. It is where it all begins and where it all ends. You cannot let it become your prison, Kewin. You must struggle to take back control over it. To own it once more, no matter how hard. Do not let your injuries define you. You ask me if you can be unbroken? I cannot promise you that. What I can promise you is strength. Strength of the body to match the strength of the spirit.¡±

    From two hands on the ground, Isyd removed one and remained on his bandaged arm then finally only on one finger. There he stood in front of Kewin, almost like a statue of taut muscles and sinews, unflinching and immobile, and yet Isyd made it seem effortless. Then, after a few seconds, Isyd pushed off the ground and went up in the air ¨C much higher than it should have been possible ¨C flipping once, before landing on his two feet in front of a flabbergasted Kewin.

    ¡°The road ahead will be difficult, Kewin, but there is a road ahead if you are willing to take it¡­¡±

    Kewin found his throat suddenly dry with a nod.

    ¡°I had told you another thing as well back in the Spital,¡± Isyd said. ¡°The Grace has yet to give up on you. I intend to prove it to you in due time. The Apteyka said you were ¡®Spurned by the Grace¡¯? How laughable! I can still hear it, its Song humming through you¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯re talking about¡­ A Song? Am I not Disgraced?¡±

    Isyd eyes shifted all over Kewin and he grinned. ¡°Remind me again of what is the 1<sup>st</sup> Law of the Arts?¡±

    ¡°The Law of Ubiquity: The Holy Grace is present in everything, it can never be created nor destroyed, only altered by the Arts.¡±

    ¡°I guess your trials will put the Law to the test¡­ Come, let¡¯s go to the Thermae before people start arriving.¡±

 57 - The Stress of Evaluations

    Jadwia Lichtfreund sat in the corner of the Library and was so immersed in her writing that her nose could almost touch the paper. Her head disappeared behind stacks of books she had taken out of the shelves as she entered. She wasn¡¯t sure she needed half of them, but she couldn¡¯t take any chances. She sometimes felt the need to cross-check what she read, just in case.

    The tip of her pencil had become dull by the time she reached the bottom of her page. She sighed, gave it a final read then laid it flat on top of the rest of the papers she wrote today. As she was about to grab her pencil sharpener on the other side of the table, she startled and stifled a shriek.

    Isyd Wybrany was seated across her. His eyes were their usual dark and bottomless but his lips betrayed a faint smirk at her surprised reaction.

    ¡°Since when you¡¯re here?¡± Jadwia hissed at him, mindful not to raise her voice so as not to disturb the other Pupils in the Library.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a few minutes. I was waiting for you to notice me,¡± Isyd said, handing her the pencil sharpener.

    Jadwia threw back the frizzled hair that had escaped her ponytail and fallen in front of her face.

    ¡°You could have said something¡­¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to disturb you. You seemed focused to the extreme. Are you cleaning up your notes?¡±

    ¡°No, I was done with that weeks ago. I realized yesterday that I was done reading for all the courses so I started writing essays on possible questions they may ask in the Evaluations!¡±

    She saw Isyd glance down to the twenty or so papers filled recto-verso with tidy writings. The look he then gave her was circumspect.

    Jadwia felt the need to justify herself. ¡°This way, whatever they ask me, I¡¯ll be ready because I¡¯d already have prepared the subjects! You should do the same, Isyd!¡±

    ¡°Thanks, but I will pass. I prefer improvising and relying on my memory.¡± He fetched down something and made it slide across the table. ¡°Here, I give it back to you.¡±

    The thick book was about the history of the Duchy of Khruss and was part of her private collection of books she had brought with her after leaving home.

    ¡°You are finished already? It¡¯s only been two days!¡±

    ¡°I read it yesterday night and finished it a bit before dawn.¡±

    ¡°All of it? When did you find time to sleep?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡±

    Jadwia looked enviously at Isyd¡¯s rested face. She had an idea of how she looked with the dark circles under her eyes, chafed lips and her pale complexion. It wasn¡¯t fair that he appeared so calm when the stress of the Evaluations crushed every other Pupil.

    Isyd seemed to read her mind on her face. ¡°You looked even more tired than the last time I saw you. Did you do what I asked?¡±

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    She looked away, not answering, and shrugged.

    Isyd sighed. ¡°I said I¡¯d help you with the Holy Arts, but it is only possible if you follow my instructions.¡±

    ¡°You told me to stop practicing!¡±

    ¡°I told you to rest! There¡¯s only so much you can do by running yourself ragged. Giving time for your mind and body to rest is as important as studying.¡±

    Jadwia leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. She had a stubborn expression on her face, an expression that Isyd had become familiar with.

    ¡°I know I can¡¯t count on the Holy Arts to carry through my Evaluations,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s why I am studying the other subjects so hard. Hopefully, my results in Mathematics and Natural Sciences and History will be sufficient for the Tutors to allow me to continue next semester, no matter if I fail the Application of the Arts¡­¡±

    ¡°You are somehow convinced that you will fail before even starting. You forget that except for me, you are probably the most skilled in the Holy Arts of the class.¡±

    ¡°And it is still not enough! You saw the last test we had with Tutor Milwyk; only Boshena and Kewin were able to pass¡­ If this is the extent of my skills, then¡­¡±

    ¡°Still, you cannot believe the Tutors will expel you for failing one exercise. If this is the criterium, then there¡¯ll be no Pupil left for the second semester.¡±

    ¡°They do not need to exclude me¡­ the Evaluations will decide the tuition will need to pay to continue next semester. The better the results, the lower it is. If the Pupil is excellent¡±¡ª she gave Isyd a pointed look ¡ª¡°there¡¯s even the chance of not having to pay anything. If the tuition I am assigned is too expensive, I won¡¯t be able to continue my studies at the Academy. So, unless you know a way to make me reach the 2<sup>nd</sup> Opening by next week and guarantee me a free tuition, I will spend the rest of my time studying!¡±

    Isyd said nothing for a while. His face was expressionless but his gaze was intense. Jadwia looked to the side, to the window that opened onto the Fields. She couldn¡¯t recognize her reflection due to the sunrays interacting with the thickness of the glass; it appeared as if her hair were longer and her eyes iridescent.

    ¡°I could pay for your tuition,¡± Isyd said suddenly.

    Jadwia slowly turned toward him and met his serious eyes. He had not said that in jest. She looked down on her empty paper and tried to steady her pencil that was trembling in her hand.

    ¡°Are you so unworried by the Evaluations that you can afford to propose that?¡± she said with a forced laugh.

    ¡°I am not worried indeed. Even if I were to seriously fail the Evaluations ¨C which I don¡¯t expect to do ¨C I have stumbled onto new money recently. A lot of money. Enough for me to pay for any tuition they throw my way and have many more to spare. This is why I proposed it to you. Think of it as a gift from your Ringleader.¡±

    ¡°This is not what we agreed on when I joined your Ring. At least, that¡¯s not how I pictured you helping me¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve just said that there¡¯s only one week left before the Evaluations. I can only help you realize your potential in the Arts if you continue your studies. Your place is here at the Academy, Jadwia.¡±

    Jadwia swallowed hard. Her place? At the Academy? Could she dare hope¡­? She knew what was hanging on the balance. The crushing weight of consequences never left her shoulders, not since she snuck out of her bedroom and escaped her home. It was with her at every instance, at every moment spent in the Academy; it was this weight that pushed her to study as much as she did. If she failed the Evaluations, she would be forced to return home¡­ Knowing that, she could accept his offer. A simple ¡°yes¡± would suffice¡­

    And yet the word refused to pass her lips.

    Isyd was about to say something, but he suddenly stopped and looked to the side. Following his gaze, Jadwia turned to see three seconds later Boshena Wyater and Tatyana Chud appeared at the corner of the aisle.

    ¡°You¡¯re here!¡± Tatyana said. ¡°You have to hear this!¡±

    The young woman was out of breath and trembling with excitement. Jadwia turned to Boshena who was more composed.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±

    ¡°The Evaluations! We don¡¯t need to take them!¡± Boshena said.

 58 - The Assignments

    Jadwia sat upright and dropped her pen in surprise. ¡°What do you mean ¡®we don¡¯t need to take the Evaluations?¡¯¡¯¡¯?

    ¡°There¡¯s another way to continue to the next semester!¡± Tatyana exclaimed. ¡°We were in the Common Rooms and talking with Senior Esfir ¨C your Senior in the Cerulean Feathers ¨C and she explained it to us. Apparently, there are those new assignments that were just released by the Tutors. If completed and handed in before next week, it will replace the Evaluations for all the classes except for the Arcanic Arts and the Applications.¡±

    ¡°It means that you don¡¯t need to appear in front of the Tutors and you can simply work on those written papers with all the resources of the Library at your disposal,¡± Boshena added.

    Jadwia¡¯s heart was beating frantically in her chest. This was her chance! ¡°Why is it this the first time we¡¯re hearing about this? Where can we get those assignments?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the thing we¡¯re here for!¡± Tatyana said. ¡°Senior Esfir told us they are only available to the 6 Paramount Rings.¡±

    ¡°The 6 Paramount Rings? What are those?¡± Isyd asked suddenly.

    His voice startled both Tatyana and Boshena who turned to him, surprised. They hadn¡¯t noticed him being there. In fact, despite being in the same class, it was the first time Isyd Wybrany talked to them unprompted.

    ¡°Er¡­ the 6 Paramount Rings are the most important and powerful Rings of the Academy,¡± Tatyana explained slowly as if confused by his ignorance. She counted them on her fingers. ¡°The Cerulean Feathers, the Crimson Gold, the Golden Dew, the Hammer, the Faded Jade and the White Flowers. They are the Rings everyone wishes to join or be associated with.¡±

    ¡°This is why we¡¯re here, Jadwia,¡± Boshena said. ¡°You have access to the assignments since you¡¯re in the Cerulean Feathers. Could you share them with us? We¡¯d be forever grateful¡­¡±

    Jadwia had visibly paled. ¡°I¡¯m no part of the Cerulean Feathers¡­¡± she muttered.

    ¡°What?¡± Tatyana said, thinking she¡¯d misheard her.

    ¡°I have left the Cerulean Feathers¡­¡±

    ¡°What? Why? Which Ring are you in then?¡±

    ¡°The Tears, Isyd¡¯s Ring¡­¡±

    Both Tatyana and Boshena turned toward him. Their excitement quickly turned into disappointment as the truth dawned on them. Jadwia was unable to help them.

    ¡°You have your own Ring?¡± Boshena feebly said to Isyd.

    He nodded but he was frowning ¨C he seemed more thoughtful than disappointed.

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    ¡°I am not sure where the problem is,¡± Isyd said. ¡°If one of the Ring get their hands on one of those assignments, why do they not share it with all the Pupils? There¡¯s no ban on sharing it since you came to ask Jadwia to do just that¡­¡±

    Boshena and Tatyana exchanged an embarrassed look. ¡°Those assignments are a big deal,¡± the latter said. ¡°Why would they share it freely¡­¡±

    Isyd¡¯s frown deepened. He didn¡¯t find this answer satisfactory. He tried another angle. ¡°Okay, but why only the Paramount Rings? Why not release the assignments to all the other Rings?¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t really know, it¡¯s just how it is,¡± Boshena said with a shrug. ¡°The Paramount Rings are under the purview of the Principal Tutors ¨C like Tutor Milwyk with the Cerulean Feathers, Tutor Tchepwa with the White Flowers or Tutor Hidrss with the Hammer. The Paramount Rings are also linked to the szlachta outside of the Academy. They are big deals¡­¡±

    ¡°I guess that¡¯s also why every other Rings try to suck up to them,¡± Tatyana added with a sigh. ¡°If you are associated with them or in their good graces, you can beg them to share the assignments with you. I mean, that¡¯s exactly what we hoped to do with Jadwia¡­¡±

    ¡°With those assignments, the Paramount Rings are basically exempt from Evaluations and guaranteed another semester with little to no tuition,¡± Boshena said, dejected. ¡°It¡¯s unfair, but now all we can hope is that our own Ringleader can ask the Paramount Rings and get their hands on the assignments¡­ For one brief moment, I thought I could escape the Evaluations¡­¡±

    Tatyana put a comforting hand on Boshena¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s gonna be alright! Let¡¯s just get back to our studies! That was a nice try, hopefully, next semester we¡¯ll have more chances!¡±

    ¡°Which Rings are you two part of?¡± Isyd asked.

    ¡°The Rainbow Forest,¡± Tatyana said.

    From his expression, it was clear that Isyd had never heard of it, but then again, he¡¯d never paid attention to those things before.

    Jadwia listened to the three of them speaking as if in a daze. She didn¡¯t realize that she was biting her lips almost to the point of bleeding. Slowly she got up from her seat.

    She met Isyd¡¯s eyes. It wasn¡¯t difficult to guess what was going through her mind. Until a few days ago, she¡¯d been part of the Cerulean Feathers but she had left to be part of Isyd¡¯s Ring. Had she not done so, she could have accessed the assignments and guaranteed her studies for the next semester.

    ¡°I guess there¡¯s nothing to be done now¡­¡± she said with a trembling voice. ¡°I have still more to study, so I¡¯ll take my leave first!¡±

    She gathered her belongings with a full swoop and left the table, not bothering to put back the stacks of books she¡¯d borrowed. She dashed past Boshena and Tatyana, not meeting their sympathetic gaze.

    Her steps led her out of the Library and toward the residence quarters of the Academy. By the time she entered her private room, she was already regretting storming off as she did. She just needed some time alone to gather her thoughts and emotions. She closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. Between anger, fear and disappointment, Jadwia felt overwhelmed. She walked further into her living room and let her satchel slide off her shoulder to the side. Opening her eyes once more, they landed on a pink letter on a low table.

    Suddenly, the crushing weight of consequence came back on her shoulders.

    It was only the latest letter, but she wasn¡¯t sure why she¡¯d let it out in the open. She could just have thrown it away or put it with all the other unopened letters she¡¯d dismissed in the corner of her bedroom.

    On a sudden impulse, Jadwia dashed across the room, picked up the letter and broke it open. She skimmed through the tidy writings of her mother. Her heart clenched in her chest when her eyes landed on the final words at the bottom of the short message.

    We are coming to fetch you.

    Her parents were on their way to Vilriver to get her back.

 59 - Orders From Above

    Isyd had remained seated a while after Jadwia then Boshena and Tatyana left the Library. He was lost in thoughts and his gaze was unfocused. Naeht materialized from the air and sat down where Jadwia had stood. Against the background of the window, her lack of opacity made her difficult to discern if not for the brief iridescent reflections when she moved. Her long hair seemed ruffled by an invisible gust of wind and her eyes sparkled mischievously.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been frowning for the past two hours,¡± Naeht said. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking back on the conversation about the assignments. It still doesn¡¯t make sense to me. Why would there be such assignments if not to be shared with all the Pupils? What¡¯s the point if only a fraction of Pupils are guaranteed to continue their study for free?¡±

    ¡°Why does that bother you? It¡¯s not like you have anything to be worried about¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s because I don¡¯t need to worry about the Evaluations that I can afford the time to think on this. Plus, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m entirely detached from this; I¡¯m also thinking about Jadwia.¡±

    The girl was truly anxious, more than Isyd had thought she would be. He wanted to help her but he wasn¡¯t sure where to begin. He had never been a teacher before and the way he¡¯d learned the Arts had been too hectic for him to simply repeat it to the letter. The best he¡¯d found to do was propose to pay her tuition. He¡¯d meant it but it doesn¡¯t seem like she would accept his offer any time soon.

    Isyd got up from his seat and headed out of the Library.

    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Naeht asked, flying next to him.

    ¡°I have some questions and I know just the person that can provide me with answers,¡± Isyd said.

    Some Pupils threw weird glances in his direction, hearing him speaking to himself out loud. Isyd didn¡¯t pay them any mind. His attention was focused on the Song of the Grace and the specific tune he¡¯d recognized. Following it led him to the floor below of the Library.

    It took him only a few seconds to find Klara Utro. She sat alone near a [Heating Arcane], eyes closed and silently mouthing words from her notes. Isyd dragged the chair next to her. First surprised, a large smile appeared on the young woman¡¯s face when she recognized him.

    ¡°Isyd! Grace to you!¡± she said. ¡°How are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Grace Klara. I am not bothering, I hope.¡±

    ¡°Not at all! I¡¯m just studying like everyone else. Maybe it¡¯s time for me to take a break, so you¡¯ve arrived at the perfect time! What can I do for you?¡±

    ¡°Should I be surprised to see you here studying for the Evaluations?¡±

    Klara first tilted her head one way, confused, before understanding a second later. Her smile stiffened on her face.

    ¡°You are talking about the assignments for the end of the semester¡­¡± she guessed. Isyd nodded. ¡°Well, I never was a fan of the system to be franc. It¡¯s true I could do the assignment with everyone else and receive the maximum grades, but what¡¯s the point in that? I didn¡¯t come to the Academy simply to have ¡®good grades¡¯ but to learn. I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯m learning much with the assignments. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯ll still hand it in, but I also want to take the Evaluations.¡±

    Isyd was impressed by her dedication. He was aware that most Pupils would not have thought twice like she did. This however only confused him further as to the purpose of those assignments.

    ¡°I guess that¡¯s what you meant by ¡®perks¡¯ of the Paramount Rings¡­¡± Isyd said.

    Klara¡¯s smile was satisfied. ¡°Having regrets already?¡±

    ¡°Not really.¡±

    ¡°Well, I can tell you that Aaron, our Ringleader, was very sad to hear you have formed your own Ring. Know that it is still possible for the Tears to join the Cerulean Feathers as an auxiliary...¡±

    That woman truly never gives up¡­ This got a smirk out of Isyd.

    ¡°As an auxiliary, we¡¯ll get access to the assignments?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Yes, most likely. Aaron is ultimately the one who decides that. He¡¯ll probably ask you stuff in return.¡±

    ¡°So, it is true then that only the Paramount Rings got the assignments?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It is unfair, but that¡¯s just how it is. At least this semester all of them got it. It was not always the case. Two years ago, things got ugly because only half of them got access to it. I hadn¡¯t joined the Cerulean Feathers by then and I was only a 1<sup>st</sup> Year, but it was difficult to escape it.¡±

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    ¡°Why don¡¯t the Rings simply share?¡± Isyd asked. ¡°Is it forbidden? Is it because there¡¯s a limited of those assignments?¡±

    ¡°None of that! I guess¡­ Well, I don¡¯t really know why but I assume it¡¯s because it is part of the power the Paramount Rings have. Hell, they don¡¯t even share with all their members, so it isn¡¯t surprising they don¡¯t share it with other Rings. All the Rings, but most specifically the Paramount Ones are always opposed to each other in terms of grades, influence, resources¡­ The assignments are just another mean in this competition, another bargaining chip and a pressure tool to be wielded by the Ringleader. Some use it to gain loyalty, others sell the assignments to the highest bidder¡­¡±

    Isyd mused on that for a second before speaking again. ¡°So, it is possible to buy the assignments from the Paramount Rings?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yeah for sure! Come, I¡¯ll show you where!¡±

    To Isyd¡¯s surprise, Klara gathered her stuff and guided him out of the Library without a look back. She appeared excited to have an excuse to escape her studies. They didn¡¯t go far. A couple of flights of stairs later they¡¯ve arrived at the Common Room on this side of the Academy. Compared to the one situated near the women¡¯s quarters and reserved for them, this Common Room was open to all. It was the unofficial focal point of the Academy for the Pupils where announcements were displayed and events were organised.

    Klara nudged Isyd and pointed at the back of a young man seated nonchalantly across the room, his feet on the tables and his chair reclined. He wore the Academic uniform but he was distinct by his height and by his reddish hair.

    ¡°This is Jozaf Gadan, 10<sup>th </sup>Year and 5<sup>th</sup> Opening,¡± Klara said. ¡°He¡¯s a real busybody but he prefers the term ¡®information broker¡¯. If you want to know anything happening in the Academy, he¡¯s your man. He affirms impartiality amidst the Paramount Rings and says that he¡¯s Ringless.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ So, which one does he belong to?¡±

    Klara smirked. ¡°The Faded Jade most likely! It¡¯s like an open secret, but nobody minds it because he¡¯s really useful and good at his job.¡±

    They reached the man at the same time as he pocketed some coins handed by a 2<sup>nd</sup> Year Pupil. He turned to them and his eyes immediately went wide and sparkled. Jozaf Gadan had a lanky figure on which the uniform seemed too big. His green eyes and his wide, white smile stood out in a visage dotted with freckles.

    ¡°The pretty Klara Utro and the famous Isyd Wybrany!¡± Jozaf exclaimed. ¡°Now, here are people I wasn¡¯t expecting! What can I do for you two on this fine day?¡±

    Klara was about to answer but Isyd spoke first. ¡°The assignments for the end of the semester, how much for them?¡±

    Jozaf¡¯s smile seemed to grow even wider and he wiggled his eyebrows. ¡°Well, you won¡¯t believe this, but unfortunately I was strictly forbidden to sell it to you, Isyd Wybrany, or to your newly formed Ring! I¡¯m very sorry for that! Those are direct orders.¡±

    ¡°Whom orders?¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°Now, that¡¯s a secret! Just know that they come from above.¡±

    Isyd exchanged a glance with Klara who did not appear particularly pleased.

    ¡°How much anyway?¡± she asked.

    ¡°13 Golds the copy.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the price of a whole tuition!¡± Klara scoffed. ¡°At this price, it¡¯s better to study for the Evaluations!¡±

    Jozaf gave a falsely apologetic shrug as if the matter was entirely out of his control. He didn¡¯t however lose his toothy grin. The man was utterly unashamed.

    Isyd was however not willing to let the matter drop as easily. He had now an idea of what kind of person he was dealing with. He fished from inside his pocket 1 Gold coin and made it slide across the table. Jozaf¡¯s eyes glinted with interest but Isyd put a finger on it before he could grab it.

    ¡°Why are you not allowed to sell it to me?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Again, I¡¯m just following orders from above,¡± Jozaf said. ¡°I can¡¯t reveal¡ª¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask who ordered you,¡± Isyd cut him, ¡°but what are the reasons they gave you. If you don¡¯t know, give it a guess. I¡¯m sure you have an idea¡­¡±

    Isyd could almost see the calculations happening in Jozaf¡¯s mind; his eyes moving back and forth between Isyd and the pinned Gold coin and his mind weighing whether or not it was worth betraying his source.

    ¡°It¡¯s because it would make the task too easy for you if you could simply buy them!¡± the man finally let out. ¡°Many people have an eye on you, Wybrany. I¡¯m sure many Pupils would gladly give the assignments for free and even more in exchange for something from you ¨C your loyalty mostly! Things will get even more interesting next Academic semester and you, Isyd Wybrany, is the wildcard everyone has their eyes on. If you¡¯re that interested in who gave me the instructions, I can put you in contact if necessary¡­¡±

    Isyd stepped back and released the Gold coin. Jozaf swiftly pocketed it with an appreciative bow of the head.

    ¡°Do the Tutors know of this?¡± Isyd asked.

    ¡°Thinking of ratting me out?¡± Jozaf said.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m simply curious.¡±

    Jozaf shrugged. ¡°I guess that¡¯s an expected question for someone new around here ¨C you¡¯re only a 1<sup>st</sup> Year after all. Of course, the Tutors know! We¡¯re not meeting in a dark alleyway of the Outside, are we? I¡¯m not hiding and it is because I do not need to. Why should the Tutors care what we do? What matters is the end results! How many Pupils fail their Evaluations and how many Pupils pass. They don¡¯t need to know what we do to get there, because in both cases the Academy still pockets the tuition! It¡¯s the same for them.¡±

    Isyd narrowed his eyes. What the young man said made sense with everything he¡¯d seen but it didn¡¯t sit well with him. Something wasn¡¯t right about this whole business, but there was little he could do. He turned to Klara.

    ¡°I¡¯m done here,¡± he said.

    She nodded sombrely, attuned to his sour mood. They began to leave, but Jozaf hailed him.

    ¡°I am curious to see what you will do next semester when everything comes to a head, Isyd Wybrany! Which sides will you take? Anyway, you know where to find me if you need anything more. I can¡¯t sell you the assignments, but I have some information on possible Evaluation questions¡­¡±

    Isyd waved a dismissal without turning back.

 60 - Repairing an Arcane

    Isyd sat in the Atelier¡¯s room that had been assigned to the Ravasz for their work on the Blysht. The Commission had been extended and welcomed more Arcanysta, with the couples at their lead. Officially, Isyd wasn¡¯t part of the Commission so he wasn¡¯t participating in the daily research but by now everyone in the Atelier knew that he was the one who came up with the [Ingracing] and [Outgracing Hex] so nobody dared say a word when they saw him hanging around. In fact, many of the Arcanysta present were interested to see him and talk to him so much so that Isyd sometimes found their attention overbearing and avoided coming to the Atelier at peak hours. Now it was a little bit after the 12<sup>th</sup> Hour so people had gone to grab a piece of to eat, leaving only the Ravasz and Isyd in the room.

    Norran rolled his wheelchair closer to Isyd and looked over his shoulder, stroking his beard. Isyd had in front of him his broken palcat, the Whitewater Staff, as well as detailed notes on paper.

    ¡°So, you¡¯ve done counting all the faults?¡± Norran asked.

    ¡°Yes. There are 259 of them in total. Most are in 6<sup>th</sup>, 7<sup>th</sup> and 8<sup>th</sup> Openings.¡±

    ¡°All above the 4<sup>th</sup> then¡­ That¡¯s annoying! It means that it can¡¯t be fixed easily. You¡¯ll need to deconstruct your [Arcane] to get to them.¡±

    ¡°I suspected so. I¡¯m hesitating on continuing further without guidance and breaking things beyond repair.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a wise choice!¡± Julya said from across the room. ¡°Some should maybe consider doing the same¡­¡±

    Norran cleared his throat. ¡°Well¡­ I have never been much of a ¡®repair¡¯ guy¡­ When it comes to the Arcanic Arts, I am more versed in research and only fabricate stuff on the side. Those require an entirely different set of skills, you know¡­ Anyway, have you categorized the faults?¡±

    It was what Isyd had been doing for the past weeks since he¡¯d begun working on his palcat more seriously. He¡¯d learned that the [Arcanes] could break for various reasons depending on what kinds of faults were present. This was mainly due to the Law of Decay, the 2<sup>nd</sup> Law of the Arts that made the [Arcanes] unstable in the long term. The most common type of fault ¨C the Primary type ¨C was the physical decay of the material on which the [Arcanes] was applied. Was it paper, stone or steel, it would weather, crumble or rust all the same due to the Holy Grace flowing through it forcefully. The Secondary type was a direct consequence of the Primary types and was characterized by a deterioration of the drawn Commands, causing a gradual worsening of the Balance until the [Spell] ceased to function. The Primary and Secondary faults are the most common ones and usually the causes for an [Arcane] failure. There exist however Tertiary and Quaternary types of faults, though they are rarer and less understood. The Tertiary faults are faults within the [Arcanes] where the Grace encounters unexpected, heightened resistance to its flow, whereas the Quaternary types are points of diminished resistance. Both types are never cause for an [Arcane] breaking but they can make it act erratically. All types of faults were detected by the VonSee Diagram which, when adjusted slightly, can also be used to categorise them by running experiments and measuring the flow of the Grace within the [Arcane]. Being able to hear the Song of the Grace also happened to be quite an advantage in that endeavour, but Isyd kept that for himself.

    ¡°I found the majority to be Secondary type,¡± Isyd said, looking down at his notes. ¡°There are a couple of Primary faults in the 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> Openings, but they aren¡¯t critical since it''s Resswood and it was Tempered.¡±

    ¡°Well, it is a blessing in one sense, but don¡¯t count yourself lucky because it will make the rest much more difficult,¡± Norran said. ¡°Secondary faults are notoriously a pain to repair because you will have to redraw all the Commands affected by hands. It¡¯s okay when the [Arcane] you have is composed of one or two [Hexes], but yours seems to have closer to half a thousand. This is why nobody bothers repairing [Lightspheres] and just buy new ones when they break. You don¡¯t happen to have the Balance schematic of the staff, do you?¡±

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    Isyd shook his head and Norran winced.

    ¡°Well, this means that you have to painstakingly decipher all the individual [Spells] that compose the [Arcanes], to fully deconstruct the Logic and the Balance so that you can better understand all the Commands and redraw them accordingly. Grace, that¡¯s the reason why every [Arcane] should come with the Balance schematic and why we took so long to build it for the [Ingracing] and [Outgracing Hex] of the Blysht! Without it, the next Arcanyst coming along is basically going in blind!¡±

    Norran put a consoling hand on Isyd¡¯s shoulder. Julya had approached in the meantime and glanced at the palcat. Her expression was contrite when she spoke.

    ¡°This will probably take a while and will be quite difficult. Maybe you should consider an easier project to begin with, Isyd. This is not something someone beginning the Arcanic Arts should tackle¡­¡±

    ¡°I mean, it¡¯s not like he is alone,¡± Norran said. ¡°If there¡¯s one place where you can hope it to be done, it¡¯s here in the Atelier. You¡¯ll definitely receive help. Have you ever used a [Syphon] before?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it an [Arcane]? I¡¯ve seen it around¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes, it is used when repairing other [Arcanes]. You¡¯re familiar with sink points, right? Well, a [Syphon] allow you to introduce them while you work on the different levels of your Meshing. It is practical because you don¡¯t need to introduce new sink points every time you reach a new Opening and it safely absorbs the Grace away. It allows you to repair the [Arcanes] as they remain in stasis and observe in real-time the effects of your modifications. Accessorily, it also prevents the [Arcanes] from blowing in your faces if something goes wrong¡­¡±

    ¡°They are expensive pieces of equipment,¡± Julya added. ¡°I¡¯ve only used one in my life, but I¡¯ve seen a couple around here in the Atelier. You¡¯ll definitely have to learn to use the [Syphons] if you want to repair your palcat.¡±

    ¡°Which is not a subject of the Arcanic Arts until the 3<sup>rd</sup> Year!¡± a voice railed.

    The three of them turned to see Dmitri Ivanovitch Hidrss, the Master of the Arcanic Arts, standing on the doorstep of the room. As usual, he had discarded his uniform of Tutor for a more comfortable but messy attire. On his toes followed a young kid, one of those errand boys who worked for the Consultation Office.

    ¡°You are too much in a hurry, Isyd!¡± Hidrss said. ¡°You should have joined the Atelier if you were this passionate about the Arcanic Arts!¡±

    ¡°My focus is more on repairing my palcat,¡± Isyd shrugged. ¡°The Arcanic Arts are just the means to that end, to be honest.¡±

    ¡°Hearing you speak, it¡¯s hard to believe you¡¯re the one who broke through the Blysht¡­¡± Hidrss sighed. ¡°If you wanted to learn about the [Syphons], you should have dropped by my office yesterday! I was using one while working on the lift!¡±

    ¡°I thought you had given up on that project¡­¡±

    Since his trip to the Capital, Hidrss had been enamoured with the idea of making a floating platform.

    ¡°Giving up? Never!¡± Hidrss exclaimed. He pointed to the ceiling where a metal circular plate was floating. Isyd had noticed it earlier but hadn¡¯t bothered to examine it further. ¡°This is one of my latest experiments. It¡¯s been up there for¡­ 17 hours now ¨C it¡¯s a new record! What do you think?¡±

    Isyd opened his mouth to answer, but the young boy who had remained at the doorstep cleared his throat.

    ¡°Er¡­ Tutor¡­¡± he squeaked.

    Hidrss turned to him surprised. Supposedly, he¡¯d entirely forgotten about the errand boy. Case in point, he smacked his head with the palm of his hand.

    ¡°Oh, yeah! Sorry! I had forgotten¡­ Wybrany! I am here for a reason! The boy was looking for you at the entrance of the Atelier!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Isyd asked intrigued.

    He was answered by a mysterious look from Hidrss.

    ¡°The Doyen¡­¡± he said. ¡°The Doyen wants to meet you, Isyd!¡±

 61 - The Doyen of the Academy of Holy Vigour

    The Doyen¡¯s quarters were situated in the highest of the three towers of the Academy. After leaving the Atelier, Isyd followed the errand boy through the Great Hall and up the stairs. He was guided past the Consultation Office and the Tutors Quarters until a set of spiralling stairs.

    ¡°It¡¯s this way,¡± the errand boy said with a bow of his head. ¡°Knock once in front of the door.¡±

    Isyd nodded and went ahead. From his vantage point on the roof of the Library, he already glanced at the Doyen¡¯s tower, but it was the first time he got anywhere near. Atop the stairs was a door¡­ without a handle. The timber was smooth and did not have any Commands carved on it. Isyd knocked once.

    In front of him, the door unravelled like strands of silk, leaving only a hole for him to pass. Isyd didn¡¯t bother to hide his amazement as he walked through. Behind him, the door weaved itself together soundlessly. It had opened on an anteroom whose walls were covered with paintings of previous Academy¡¯s Doyens ¨C or so Isyd assumed. From the anteroom, an arched doorway led to the office. It was a circular room with a high, vaulted ceiling and a raised platform in its centre on which dominated a large, ornate desk. Behind the desk, the panoramic window opened to a view of the Fields. The eye could not help but be drawn to the centre of the room, to the person who sat behind the desk.

    Isyd had never seen the Doyen of the Academy before and knew little about him except that his name was Miesz Sokowski and that he was a Greater Artyst. The man didn¡¯t look like Isyd had pictured him in his mind. Clad in a red and white robe with hints of gold, the man was of a tall stature though it was difficult to see seated as he was. Like all Artysta of high Opening, his face presented a certain agelessness that made it difficult to guess his age. It was only hinted by the crow¡¯s feet around his sharp blue eyes and his hair, moustache and groomed beard entirely white. There was an air of gravitas to him that Isyd had come to expect from Great Artysta he frequented in his past life.

    Isyd bowed his head respectfully. ¡°The day Graces you, Doyen,¡± he said.

    ¡°The day Graces you, Young Isyd,¡± the Doyen said softly. ¡°Please, take a seat.¡±

    Isyd climbed the elevated platform and sat down on one of the two chairs presented. He waited silently for the man to speak first. The Doyen intensely stared at him for a few long seconds as if trying to read his mind.

    ¡°I have been following your progress with attention, Young Isyd,¡± the Doyen finally said. ¡°I am glad I can at least talk to you, the Pupil who discovered the Blysht.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t work on it alone. It was a team effort.¡±

    ¡°Still, Milwyk and Hidrss keep singing your praise and I doubt they are wrong to do so. I am very pleased to have such a talent in the Academy. It is my hope that you will go far in your studies. Know that the Academy is here to help you. Our goal is to create the environment for your talent to grow.¡±

    Isyd nodded humbly and smiled politely. He was still waiting for the Doyen to get to the heart of the matter. He didn¡¯t have to wait for long; the old man reached for a drawer next to him, took out a bundle of papers and made them slide across the table.

    ¡°In that sense, here are the assignments for your classes for this semester. I believe you will make good use of them.¡±

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    So, that¡¯s what it was about¡­ Isyd didn¡¯t reach for the bundle.

    ¡°I was told only the Paramount Rings and their Pupils had access to those assignments¡­¡± he said.

    ¡°Yes, usually. From experience it was found that only Pupils gathered in those 6 Rings were deserving of this¡­ special favour. But then again, it was unexpected for a talent such as you to go on your own and for so long. The Paramount Rings are here for you, Young Isyd. I¡¯m still puzzled that you haven¡¯t joined them. I expect you to sort this out by next semester. Any one of them would do, the choice is yours. If¡ª¡±

    ¡°I had considered buying the assignments,¡± Isyd cut him, ¡°but someone had given the orders not to.¡±

    The Doyen¡¯s eyes narrowed but he smiled. ¡°There are those in the Rings who enjoy those little games... What is happening between Pupils does not concern me. We, the Tutors, prefer remaining out of their business and letting the Rings handle their issue and conflicts on their own. I am above the factional struggles that animate them. This is why I take it upon myself to give you those assignments in person.¡±

    Isyd still didn¡¯t pick up the papers.

    ¡°Why am I getting a special treatment?¡± he asked.

    At this, the Doyen appeared genuinely confused. ¡°Why? Because you are special of course! Blessed by the Grace!¡±

    ¡°Do you fear I will fail the Evaluations? I assure you it won¡¯t be an issue and even if it were, I am in means to afford the tuition for next semester.¡±

    ¡°You seem to have misunderstood me, Young Isyd¡­ Those assignments are not meant to put in doubt your talent, not yours or any of the members of the Primordial Rings. Instead, you should see it more as¡­ a gift on the part of the Academy. A sign of appreciation and an invitation to continue your work here¡­ It is important that your talents are nurtured.¡±

    Isyd could feel a beginning of irritation in the Doyen. His voice remained even as he spoke but the Song of the Grace around him became more¡­ punctuated. It was as if it demanded Isyd¡¯s attention amidst the constant background humming. The Doyen had perhaps expected Isyd to jump on the chance to have the assignments and avoid the Evaluations; he seemed a bit perplexed by Isyd¡¯s contentious attitude. Isyd couldn¡¯t help it. Something about the situation rubbed him the wrong way since he first learned about the assignments. He was suddenly reminded of what Tekla Dumnchory had once said in one of her outbursts: ¡°¡­ Opportunities, recognition, respect, and attention are all freely given while we normal folk have to struggle to gain the few scraps remaining. They are already Blessed by the Grace, so why not Blessed them even further and bow to their every need?¡± Isyd started to have a better idea of what it had been all about.

    ¡°Am I allowed to share the assignments with others?¡± he asked.

    ¡°No.¡±

    It had been a curt response but in this single word hid a world of warnings. Once again, the Song of the Grace reacted. Isyd had rarely heard it so in tune, so reactive to someone¡¯s presence. It spoke of a profound connection to the Holy Grace and a powerful Idpulse.

    Isyd squarely met the Doyen¡¯s cold blue eyes. ¡°Then I am afraid I will have to turn down your gift, Doyen.¡±

    ¡°You would refuse me?¡± the Doyen said, raising a singular eyebrow.

    ¡°Not as a slight to you, but as a matter of principle. I am a Ringleader now and it wouldn¡¯t feel fair for me to receive this gift while my friends do not. I will take the Evaluations normally.¡±

    A tense silence fell between them. Isyd did not avert his eyes, but he felt the skin of his right hand twitch under his bandages. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the Doyen smiled, though The smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes.

    ¡°Your heart thrums with Vigour, Young Isyd. It is not something I can hold against you, not here in this Academy. I begin to understand what Hidrss and Milwyk saw in you. You may take your leave. I wish you good luck with your Evaluations, but remember this: your place is here with us, Young Isyd.¡±

    Those last words almost sounded like a threat.

 62 - Isyds Evaluations

    Days later, it was finally time for the Evaluations. The 1<sup>st</sup> Year Pupils had it first and the order of passing among them was decided by lottery. Despite knowing in advance when they were supposed to present themselves, the hallway in front of the Main Auditorium was crowded with Pupils who¡¯d shown up before their time. Isyd wasn¡¯t sure why they did that. Naeht had posited that they felt less anxious and alone when surrounded by everyone else.

    ¡°Isyd Wybrany!¡± a voice called.

    Eyes turned in his direction as he got up and walked toward the doors of the auditorium. The whispers that followed him were barely concealed. There was not one Pupil of the 1<sup>st</sup> Year who hadn¡¯t heard about the famous Isyd Wybrany, the Pupil Blessed by the Grace. Though he didn¡¯t enjoy the attention, Isyd could say he¡¯d gotten used to it and learned to ignore it.

    He entered the auditorium with a confident step. It wasn¡¯t a class he¡¯d ever been to. The room was large, probably able to fit all the Pupils of the Academy. The seats were a burgundy sea that fanned from the dais, a mahogany platform lit from above by floating [Lightspheres]. Upon invitation, Isyd stepped on the podium and stood in front of the singular blackboard present.

    The Principal Tutors were all seated in the front rows, clad in their traditional attire, even the Tutors whose courses Isyd didn¡¯t have. For many classes, the Principal Tutors weren¡¯t the ones actually teaching and preferred delegating it to their assistant Tutors ¨C like Tekla Dumnchory did for Hidrss in the Atelier. It was certainly the case for most classes of the 1<sup>st</sup> Year, the only exception being Tutor Milwyk who preferred to watch over its 1<sup>st</sup> Year Pupils personally. Isyd noticed other people attending who didn¡¯t seem to be part of the Academy since they didn¡¯t wear the uniform. As a dozen, they sat further in the back and apart from the Tutors and their assistants. Isyd hadn¡¯t expected an audience and didn¡¯t know that the Evaluations were open to strangers. Though ¡°strangers¡± was maybe too much of a strong word¡­ There was something familiar with some of them. Unable to put the finger on it, Isyd eventually dismissed them from his mind and focused back on the Tutors.

    He recognized a few faces in their midst, mainly Ardyn Milwyk, Tutor of the Applications of the Arts, with his half-moon glasses and white, long hair as well as Dana Tchepwa, Tutor of the Healing Arts, with her red hair stricken with silver. Isyd also met the youthful face of Dmitri Ivanovitch Hidrss, Tutor of the Arcanic Arts, who winked at him. The young man was fidgeting with something and looked a bit uncomfortable in his uniform. The other familiar face wasn¡¯t one Isyd had expected to see in the Academy. Kazian of the Winds, one of the 12 Holy Generals in Isyd¡¯s previous life, had become a Tutor for the new semester. Isyd wasn¡¯t sure what to do with this information if anything had to be done at all. Finally, next to Kazian, seated on the centre seat was the Doyen of the Academy. His sharp blue eyes were intent on Isyd as he spoke.

    ¡°Introduce yourself, Young One!¡±

    ¡°Isyd Wybrany, 1<sup>st</sup> Year and 1<sup>st</sup> Opening.¡±

    There was a wave of excited murmurs in the back of the auditorium. Isyd thought he heard the word ¡°Blysht¡±.

    He didn¡¯t bother making sure, his attention was snatched by Naeht who was seated cross-legged in the air above the Doyen and giving him encouraging signs. He couldn¡¯t help but smile at her.

    ¡°Young Isyd, we will now proceed to your Evaluations of the 1<sup>st</sup> semester at the Academy,¡± the Doyen declared with his strong voice. ¡°You will be asked questions by the Tutors in their respective fields. If the question is unclear, you can ask us to clarify. If you cannot answer, say so and the Tutor may move on to another question. As you answer, no one will interrupt you for confirmation or correction. We may ask you additional questions after your answers. We move to the next course when the Tutor says they are satisfied. Is everything clear?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it is.¡±

    ¡°Tutor Al-Kwara, please proceed with your Evaluations.¡±

    Isyd turned toward the Tutor in question. Jadwia had briefed Isyd on all the Tutors when she realized he had no idea who was any of the Principal Tutors he¡¯d personally met. Musa Al-Kwara, Tutor of the Mathematics, was a tall, lanky man with olive skin and a bushy salt-and-pepper beard. He had a prominent nose and expressive, wiry hands. The Tutor cleared his throat and spoke up:

    ¡°State Al-Mutaman¡¯s Theorem, Young Isyd.¡±

    It was easy enough. ¡°¡®In a triangle, if three cevians ¨C lines drawn from vertices to opposite sides ¨C are concurrent, then the product of the ratios of the segments they divide is equal to 1¡¯,¡± Isyd recited.

    Tutor Al-Kwara nodded. ¡°I am satisfied,¡± he declared.

    Isyd was taken aback. Was that all? He had thought he would at least need to demonstrate it on the blackboard behind him. Being satisfied with one theorem while the course contained at least a dozen of them was odd.

    The Doyen apparently didn¡¯t agree with him because he continued as if nothing was amiss.

    ¡°Tutor Nowski, please proceed with your Evaluations,¡± he said.

    Isyd turned his attention toward Lucjan Nowski, Tutor of the Natural Sciences. He was a bespectacled, middle-aged man with a pale skin, an average height and a stocky build.

    ¡°Young Isyd, tell me what is the echomas tinsel?¡±

    ¡°The echomas tinsel is a type of fungus found in the Black Forest. It is renowned for its voracity when it comes to Grace. It¡ª¡±

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    ¡°It¡¯s enough,¡± Tutor Nowski cut him. ¡°I am satisfied.¡±

    Isyd looked at him with barely concealed surprise. Why wouldn¡¯t they let him continue his Evaluations? Isyd met Naeht¡¯s eyes who was as surprised as him. Something was clearly afoot¡­

    Isyd forced himself to relax and expended his senses, trying to hear the room more clearly. He only perceived the usual humming of the Song of the Grace and¡­ the punctuated tone of the Doyen. His presence drowned the Song around him. Isyd met eyes with the Doyen. His face was expressionless, but suddenly a corner of his lips went up. It was as if he was aware of what Isyd was doing¡­

    ¡°Tutor Albinez, please proceed with your Evaluations,¡± the Doyen said.

    Luz Albinez was the Tutor of History. She was a woman of petite stature, with almond-shaped eyes, a delicate oval face and dark, cascading hair.

    ¡°Young Isyd, please state the two calendars commonly used and the difference between them.¡±

    ¡°The Western Calendar also called the Aazken Calendar has it year 0 at the death of the Promised Yahosh. The Matiznan Calendar, mostly used in the Matiznan Empire and its surrounding territories, has its year 0 at the ascension on the throne of Tsar Ivan I, in the year 427 of the Western Calendar,¡± Isyd explained.

    Tutor Albinez looked down at her paper and then briefly glanced at the Doyen. It had lasted a fraction of a second, but Isyd didn¡¯t miss the flash of frustration on her face.

    ¡°I am satisfied,¡± she said with a sigh.

    It became clear in Isyd¡¯s mind. They are letting me pass the Evaluations¡­ It had already been decided without issue even before he¡¯d answered the first question. All of this was just theatre. And the Doyen was the one behind it all.

    ¡°Tutor DeVins, please proceed with your Evaluations.¡±

    Isyd slowly turned toward Rem DeVins, the Tutor of Language and Rhetoric. He was a man of slender build with sharp facial features and a neatly trimmed beard that he stroked often when speaking.

    ¡°I am satisfied,¡± the Tutor said with his heavily accented voice.

    Isyd was more surprised he didn¡¯t even bother to pretend to ask him a question. Isyd¡¯s attention was on the Doyen who was continuing as if nothing was amiss.

    ¡°Tutor Popwaski, please proceed with your Evaluations.¡±

    The Tutor of Literature and Philosophy, Cyryl Popwaski, was a man of a lean build with a receding hairline and round spectacles that sat low on his long nose.

    ¡°Yes! Young Isyd, tell me who wrote the Essays of the Five Realms?¡±

    ¡°Pan Vladymr Srendesz,¡± Isyd said softly.

    ¡°I am satisfied!¡±

    ¡°Tutor Milwyk, please proceed with your Evaluations.¡±

    ¡°I am satisfied!¡± Tutor Milwyk said, smiling proudly at Isyd. Isyd didn¡¯t return his smile.

    The Doyen clapped his hands. ¡°Then, this concludes the Evaluations! We thank Young Isyd for his work. Before we go to the deliberation, we will ask you to test your Openings.¡±

    Isyd glanced to the side and saw the gigantic [Arcane] that had been used at the entrance examination. Three meters wide and consisting of seven concentric circles interlinked with curves that originated from the centre. The grooves of the [Arcane] had been filled with freywood resin that lit up after contacting Grace.

    Isyd took his decision in the snap of a second.

    He approached the [Arcane] and put his left hand on the cold stone to activate it. Immediately, the [Arcane] burst alight. The circles flared with white light, instantly flooding all the grooves until the fifth circle.

    Isyd heard gasps and shouts of astonishment. He turned to see that some of the Tutors as well as the strangers in the back had jumped to their feet. Their eyes were wide and their mouth was left hanging as they pointed at him.

    ¡°3 Openings in one semester!¡± one shouted.

    ¡°That is insanity! That is¡­¡± another added.

    ¡°¡­ never seen before¡­¡± someone over here said.

    ¡°¡­ Blessed by the Grace¡­¡± was repeated several times across the auditorium.

    Hidrss was laughing and shaking his head, clearly amused by Isyd¡¯s display. Tutor Milwyk as well as others were watching him with a mix of awe and elation.

    As for Isyd, his attention remained steadily on one person. The Doyen had remained seated and was holding his gaze, though even he couldn¡¯t entirely hide his surprise.

    You want to treat me differently? Let me give you a reason to do so¡­

    For a brief instant, the Doyen¡¯s eyes shone with what could only be described as lust. Slowly, he raised from his seat and clapped his hands to call for calm in the auditorium.

    ¡°This was¡­ spectacular to say the least!¡± he said. ¡°I suppose that there¡¯s no need for further deliberation. Bursar, write it down: Young Isyd has proven great skill, success and talent in this past semester and promises for the upcoming one. I declare his tuition for the next semester to be of 0 coins!¡±

    Once more, there were gasps in the audience. The Doyen was unperturbed. He didn¡¯t even glance at the other Tutors to see if any of them wanted to dispute his decision. He then extended the paper handed to him by the Bursar, inviting Isyd.

    ¡°We will watch your future in the Academy with interest, Young Isyd¡­¡± the Doyen said softly as if only for Isyd to hear.

    Isyd accepted the paper and nodded humbly, finally breaking eye contact. He had made his point and so did the Doyen.

    Isyd left the auditorium by another door than the one he entered. The hallway was empty except for Naeht who was waiting for him with a wide smile.

    ¡°You should have told me you do that!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°They were all flabbergasted!¡±

    ¡°It was a last-moment decision,¡± Isyd explained.

    ¡°You don¡¯t seem happy with your results? You passed without a tuition! Isn¡¯t that a reason to celebrate?¡±

    ¡°The Evaluations never were an issue. Instead, I think I have learned something valuable about the organization of the Academy¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ please do tell!¡±

    ¡°I have to make sure of my intuition first,¡± Isyd said shaking his head. He turned to face her more fully. ¡°Naeht, can I ask you to do something for me?¡±

 63 - Jadwias Evaluations

    In the silence of the auditorium, Jadwia could only hear the frantic beating of her heart in her ears. She could see the Primary Tutors seated a few meters from her in the front row, the assistant Tutors in the row behind and the outsiders of the Academy in the back. They were all staring at her as she stood there alone on the dais.

    Sweat ran down her face but she didn¡¯t dare wipe it off. Of course, they were staring at her, she was in the middle of her Evaluations! It had been going well; she¡¯d already answered the mathematical demonstrations of Tutor Al-Kwara, the biology questions of Tutor Nowski, the literature questions of Tutor Popwaski, and the historical questions of Tutor Albinez. All of that without much issue. She had prepared a hundred or so possible questions across all the courses and had dutifully studied them. She had not been surprised by a single question.

    Until now that is¡­

    Tutor Albinez cleared her throat, watching her expectingly. As the silence stretched further, it was the Doyen who interrupted it.

    ¡°Young Jadwia, do you have an answer?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I¡­ er¡­ Could you¡­ Could you repeat the question please, Tutor?¡± Jadwia struggled to say.

    ¡°You just explained to me how Vilriver was founded by King Vilem II in the year 717 to fight off the Seaborne Invasion¡­¡±

    The words Jadwia had memorized by heart burst past her lips before she could stop them. ¡°He will finally vanquish the occupying forces by rallying to his banner the Duchy of Krov and the Duchy of Lubel and pleading support from the Patriarch in Aazken. The Patriarch will agree in exchange for King Vilem''s conversion to the One Faith. It is then the year 724 and it will be the first time the One Faith will be embraced by a member of the noble society in the Central Highlands¡­¡±

    Tutor Albinez waved her hand impatiently. ¡°Yes, yes, I had heard you the first time¡­ My question was what were the consequences of the Patriarch¡¯s decision in the Holy Union at that time?¡±

    Once again, Jadwia¡¯s thoughts froze. She didn¡¯t know what to say. There had to be a mistake surely¡­ Her mind was racing through everything she had learned this past semester and she couldn¡¯t find anything. This question wasn¡¯t part of the course¡­ They had not learned anything about the Holy Union past the fall of the Sequene Empire, the rise of the Khrusamen and the Western Migration. The majority of the course of History I was focused on the Central Highlands and the Low Plains that would eventually give rise to the Commonwealth. Could Tutor Albinez have made a mistake and mixed questions from other groups? Should Jadwia point it out? Perhaps this was also part of the test? Otherwise, why would the Tutors deliberately ask questions out of the scope of the course? Maybe she wasn¡¯t supposed to answer it¡­

    Her heart clenched in her chest. No, she couldn¡¯t give up now!

    Come on! Just say something, damn you!

    The answers had to be there somewhere, she just had to think back to everything she¡¯d read. The dates were jumbling in her mind as she tried to remember anything from the lectures about the Patriarch alive at the time. They had spent so little time studying the Holy Union that most of Jadwia¡¯s knowledge on the subject came from sources outside of the course, books she had heard, stories her Mother had told¡­

    Jadwia¡¯s eyes snapped back open. There she had something! From the recess of her memory, she¡¯d remembered bits and pieces her Mother had shared long ago. Jadwia wasn¡¯t sure it was the answer Tutor Albinez wanted, but at the point she was, she didn¡¯t have anything better to put forward. Before she could second guess herself, she spoke up.

    ¡°The establishment of the One Faith in the Central Highlands will solidify the power of the Church back in the Holy Union¡­¡± Jadwia said hesitantly. ¡°It will increase the number of people answering to their authority¡­ and it will eventually give them enough power to launch the First Inquisition¡­ The Witches¡­ I mean across the Holy Union and the Central Highlands many will be convicted of witchcraft and persecuted¡­ This happens a bit later, however¡­¡±

    Realizing that she was rambling, Jadwia forced herself to shut her mouth. Tutor Albinez had a pensive pout on her face as she considered Jadwia¡¯s answer. Eventually, she nodded to herself and waved her pencil as a way of dismissal.

    ¡°I am satisfied,¡± she said.

    ¡°Tutor DeVins, please proceed with your Evaluations,¡± the Doyen said.

    The man stroked his beard and cleared his throat. ¡°Oui¡­let us continue in the same theme, shall we? Young Jadwia, you mentioned the First Inquisition; do you know which was the Patriarch leading the Church at that time?¡±

    ¡°Patriarch Benesh III,¡± she answered.

    ¡°In which context is his Holiness relevant to the class of Language and Rhetoric?¡±

    Jadwia let out an inaudible sigh of relief. They were back on course at last. She had prepared for this line of questioning.

    ¡°The Patriarch Benesh III wrote many religious essays and edicts during his tenure. His extensive bibliography is used by scholars to distinguish the period when the Middle High Khrusama language evolved into the High Khrusama, the last linguistic step before the modern language we know today.¡±

    Tutor DeVins nodded. ¡°Give me three examples of such writings.¡±

    ¡°¡®The Bridge between God and Men¡¯, ¡®On the Role of the Father and the Mother¡¯ and ¡®The Sins of the Weak and the Corruptions of the Witch¡¯.¡±

    ¡°In what manners does his writing differ from his predecessors to make His Holiness stand out? One example should suffice.¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Jadwia hesitated briefly. It was a strange question because the course didn¡¯t focus on the Patriarch beyond what Jadwia had just stated. This time, she had to think before she could give an answer.

    ¡°The Patriarch Benesh III was the first to shift away from the use of pathos in the Papal writings into the use of logos instead. From a tradition of primarily appealing to the Soul, the Grace and the love of God, the Patriarch preferred using logic and theological precedents...¡±

    Jadwia hesitated to say more, but she decided to be conservative with her answer. Since it wasn¡¯t the exact question she had prepared, she¡¯d prefer not to take any chances of saying something wrong by overextending. Watching Tutor DeVins, Jadwia had a hard time deciding if he¡¯d been satisfied with her short answer.

    ¡°I see¡­ One last question: you mentioned the text ¡®The Sins of the Weak and the Corruptions of the Witch¡¯ before, can you quote me a passage of it?¡±

    Jadwia looked at the Tutor as if expecting him to change his question. Surely, he knew that they hadn¡¯t been asked to read the text, let alone memorize it! The text was familiar to her but only because her mother had forced her to read it. The recollection of it felt bitter and as sharp as the whacks of a wooden ruler on her hands used to be. The memory jostled something in her and kicked her out of her anxiety.

    ¡°¡®It is my holy belief that the wicked machinations of witchcraft, wielded by those who consort with dark powers, doth assail the very fabric of our Graced realm. Let not the husband spare his wife, let not the brother spare his sister. They, who forsake God¡¯s Graced light for the temptation of power, shall meet their end in the cleansing of a merciless fire¡­¡¯¡±

    She had recited the whole excerpt in Khrusama without stumbling once on the words. Tutor DeVins straightened on his chair and stroked his beard.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ You are from the Holy Union, Young One?¡± he asked in Khrusama with a heavily accented voice.

    Jadwia nodded weakly, already regretting her demonstration. She could have simply translated the text instead of reciting it in her native language. She may have made a few mistakes doing so, but it would have been better than revealing she was from the Holy Union.

    Another Tutor spoke up. ¡°You got outsmarted, Rem!¡± the man jeered. ¡°You should have known she¡¯s from Khruss, she has the accent!¡±

    Jadwia didn¡¯t know the Tutor but she had already seen him around. He was a burly, moustached man with a barrel chest and thick limbs. His square face was crisscrossed by scars that made his mocking smile unsettling. Jadwia disagreed firmly with the idea that she had an accent, her mother had made sure of that. Plus, Jadwia wasn¡¯t from the Duchy of Khruss per se¡­

    Tutor DeVins scoffed and looked down at his papers.

    ¡°I am satisfied,¡± he eventually said.

    Jadwia let out a sigh of relief and turned towards Tutor Milwyk, the last one left.

    ¡°Tutor Milwyk, please proceed with your Evaluations!¡± the Doyen called.

    The Tutor of the Applications straightened on his seat and offered her a wide smile.

    ¡°During this semester I had the pleasure of teaching Young Jadwia,¡± the old man said. ¡°I know her to be one of the most dedicated of my Pupils. She¡¯s motivated and intelligent and I know that she will reach great heights if given the opportunity to thrive at the Academy. I am satisfied!¡±

    Jadwia gave him a timid smile, but inside her heart clenched slightly. Is he taking pity on me? She knew that the Applications of the Arts was her weakest subject and the one she feared the most to pass. Difficultly, she forced herself to discard those negative thoughts and just accept what Tutor Milwyk had said, no matter his intentions behind it.

    ¡°This concludes Young Jadwia¡¯s Evaluations!¡± the Doyen said. ¡°Before we go to the deliberation, I must ask you to test your Openings.¡±

    The [Arcane] was imposing but Jadwia tried not to show her nervousness as she approached it. She put her left hand on the centre of it and closed her eyes, hoping for the best. There was a brief spark of warmth on her palm and the grooved circles flooded with white light. It filled the first circle and then pooled onto the second circle in its entirety. The light tried to expand further in the third circle but failed to complete it.

    ¡°1<sup>st</sup> Opening, it is,¡± the Doyen said. The Tutors that had Evaluated Jadwia passed on their notes to him and he read through them. ¡°I recognize your aptitudes, Young Jadwia, and your Tutors have shared with me your motivation for your studies. To be an Artyst demands more than knowing a couple of [Spells] and your dedication to the other courses shows me that you understand that. This is only the beginning of your journey with the Holy Arts, so I hope you will not be discouraged in the future. There are many paths ahead for you and one of them shall be here at the Academy with us I hope. I look forward to seeing your progress, Young Jadwia. Bursar, write it down: I declare her tuition to be 10 Golds, 2 Silvers!¡±

    Jadwia bowed deeply in front of the Doyen, trying to hide her disappointment.

    10 Golds and 2 Silvers¡­ She could afford it, but it was much more than she¡¯d hoped. It basically was all her savings gone just for the tuition of the next semester. And she was only a 1<sup>st</sup> Year¡­

    A bit in a daze, she received the paper the Doyen handed to her and thanked him and the Tutors for their kindness. She then headed out of the auditorium, shoulders down and mind exhausted.

    Naeht, seated in the back of the room, watched her go with a pensive pout on her face. Without losing more time, she flew up and through the thick walls of the Academy effortlessly and appeared outside. A flip in the air later and she launched herself toward one of the towers where she knew to find Isyd. Indeed, he was sitting cross-legged on the cornice of the Library tower, eyes cast eastward. He smiled at Naeht when he saw her appear in front of him.

    ¡°So, how did it go?¡± he asked.

    Naeht proceeded to recount Jadwia¡¯s Evaluations in detail. ¡°10 Golds and 2 Silvers is her tuition,¡± she concluded. ¡°Is it a lot?¡±

    ¡°It is a substantial sum, not one that everyone could afford,¡± Isyd said with a grim face. ¡°Way too much for a Pupil as talented as Jadwia. I can¡¯t say I am surprised, however¡­¡±

    ¡°I also listened a bit to those strangers at the back! How did you guess they were from the Merchant Guilds?¡±

    ¡°Not all of them are, but I finally recognized their uniforms. My Master used to deal with them from time to time back in Old Ziemia.¡±

    Naeht cocked her head one way. ¡°What are merchants doing here in the Academy and in the Evaluations? Is there something I am missing?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I want to understand as well. My guess is that they were invited to do some reconnaissance.¡±

    ¡°Reconnaissance? What for?¡±

    ¡°What if I tell you that it is not in the Academy''s best interests for all the Pupils to succeed?¡±

    It took her a second to understand then Naeht¡¯s eyes went wide and her translucent form sparkled. ¡°You don¡¯t mean¡­¡±

    Isyd shrugged and got up from the ledge. ¡°I say we go and meet with Hidrss. I have a few questions for him¡­¡±

 64 - The Acorn or the Forest

    A few days had passed since the Evaluations. Isyd didn¡¯t have much chance to see Jadwia. It seemed that the girl was avoiding him which was a first. Words had quickly spread about his null tuition which Isyd found odd because everyone¡¯s else tuition was treated as intimate information and not easily shared. Isyd wasn¡¯t sure who to blame and he even suspected the Doyen to be behind it all, though there was no way for him to ever prove it.

    Isyd had been trying to find Hidrss but the man was also elusive, busy with his tasks as a Tutor. Those made him particularly grumpy for the few times Isyd had caught a glimpse of him.

    Naeht finally found him in a room of the Atelier after searching all around the Academy. She was better than Isyd for localizing someone in that instance because the Atelier disturbed Isyd¡¯s perception of the Song of the Grace due to all the [Arcanes] being concentrated in one place. Hidrss was hiding in the basement of the Atelier, a place that Isyd had never been before. As per usual, he was tinkering on some [Arcane] with old [Lightspheres] embedded in the ceiling to provide light. Orbs of liquid copper and mercury were held in suspension over Hidrss¡¯s head and he was casting [Spells] in quick succession to twist and turn them into thin wires of the desired shape and attached them to leather bands spread out in front of him. Isyd was impressed by the man¡¯s dedication to Arcanic Arts; every time he saw him, Hidrss seemed busy working on this [Arcane] or another. It was as if he couldn¡¯t spend a single hour away from his craft.

    It was good that Isyd found him here, away from other Pupils and Tutors. He wanted to talk to him in private. Isyd cleared his throat to announce his presence. Hidrss threw a glance over his shoulder and grinned seeing him standing there on the doorstep.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you! Sorry for missing your calls this week. I was busy.¡±

    ¡°It is fine. We can talk now if you are available.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I managed to sneak out,¡± Hidrss said, turning back to his workbench. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you found me actually! Anyway, I wanted to congratulate you for your Evaluations. That¡¯s quite the performance you did there! 3 Openings in one semester? Never seen in living memory before!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s also what I wanted to discuss with you,¡± Isyd said, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him. ¡°Did the Doyen ask you and the other Tutors to give me an easy pass?¡±

    ¡°He certainly didn¡¯t ask me anything, that¡¯s for sure! But then again, I didn¡¯t Evaluate you so I can¡¯t be certain¡­¡±

    Isyd¡¯s face was grim. ¡°Did he also do it for other Pupils? Is it a habit of him to manipulate the Evaluations beforehand?¡±

    ¡°Manipulate? I don¡¯t know if I¡¯d call it that¡­¡±

    ¡°Hidrss¡­¡±

    ¡°I guess he did ask me once or twice in the past to lay it easy for some Pupils of the Paramount Rings, so it wouldn¡¯t surprise me if he asked the same of your Tutors. The geriatric had taken a liking to you, Isyd!¡±

    ¡°Hidrss!¡±

    Isyd¡¯s tone made Hidrss stop his tinkering and turn in his direction. The Tutor was confused.

    ¡°Is something¡­ wrong?¡± he asked tentatively.

    ¡°The whole system of the Evaluations is wrong!¡± Isyd hissed. ¡°Why were merchants from the Guild and independent Artysta present?¡±

    ¡°They are curious I suppose¡­¡±

    ¡°Are they now? You don¡¯t think it has to do with them wanting to see their prospective recruits perhaps? Tell me the truth, Hidrss: the goal of the Academy is not for everyone to graduate as Artyst, right? Instead, everything is organized so that most Pupils will drop out after a year or two, after having learned the basics of the Arts. They are then perfect Artyficers. All of them will be of the 1<sup>st</sup> or 2<sup>nd</sup> Openings and can work as assistants or counsellors but never as full Artysta of their own.¡±

    ¡°Artyficers is a noble profession!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not the point! We will need Artysta, not Artyficers!¡±

    Hidrss sighed and passed a hand through his hair. ¡°I don¡¯t see what got you so angry, Isyd. It isn¡¯t a conspiracy you¡¯ve just discovered. It is known¡­¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t see? Let me ask you this then: why do we stunt the growth of some and let others thrive? What are the criteria for selection? There are many Pupils here who could become great Artyst if truly given the chance. Instead, they are burdened by a heavy tuition, punished for simply believing that the Academy was honest in its educational pursuit. I, on the other hand, get to have my path cleared by the Doyen and other Tutors, making almost a mockery of the whole thing! And for what? Because I am talented? What does that even mean? Many are as well, but talented of a different sort, in ways that may not be as apparent at first! But what is the point of a strong seed in a sterile ground, Hidrss? On the entrance of the Academy is carved its motto: ¡®First the acorn, then the forest¡¯. I thought it spoke of the potential of growth in each of us, but I am now sorrily disappointed¡­¡±

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    ¡°Not everyone can become Artyst or wish to do so,  Isyd,¡± Hidrss said with a regretful expression. ¡°It is something I also had to come to terms with when I was studying. You must understand that you and I are the exception, Isyd. Many of the Pupils that enrol here do it with the wish of becoming Artyficers¡­¡±

    ¡°Only because they think it is the best they can achieve and everything and everyone here reaffirms this belief instead of challenging it. We need more Artysta!¡±

    ¡°You keep saying that but I don¡¯t understand what you mean by ¡®need¡¯!¡±

    Frustrated, Isyd paused for a second and tried to think of a way to make Hidrss see how much they were hindering their chances of survival in the coming war against the Obcys. He couldn¡¯t simply tell him what was about to befall them, but he had to make him understand¡­

    ¡°I understand now part of Tekla Dumnchory¡¯s anger,¡± Isyd finally said. ¡°In the past, she was probably slighted just as I have described and this made her resentful. Seeing me enter the Atelier with ease must have aroused an old wound.¡±

    ¡°Dumnchory? Is it what it is all about? I thought we had agreed to move on from this issue!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not about her specifically, but the whole Academy! This won¡¯t do, it needs to change!¡±

    ¡°And what can we do, really?  It¡¯s not like you can afford to pay for the tuition of all the Pupils. We should count our blessings instead! The Commonwealth is one of the only places where everyone can practice the Arts. I hear that in Khruss, women can¡¯t even dream of studying the Holy Arts while in Matizna, you cannot cast a single [Spell] without having the Tsarist secret police breathing down your neck! The system we have here is far from being perfect, but much better compared to what¡¯s happening elsewhere. Do not think I am happy with it, though¡­¡±

    Isyd could hear a certain bitterness behind Hidrss¡¯s words and he guessed that the man must have felt a similar frustration in his time at the Academy. Isyd crossed his arms and remained silent, brooding. Hidrss turned back to his workbench after a heavy sigh.

    ¡°To be fair, I thought you knew all of that already,¡± Hidrss said. ¡°It¡¯s like an open secret after all¡­ The sons of the szlachta can afford to continue their studies no matter how lazy and talentless they are whereas others are not given a second look the moment they entered the building and displayed normal abilities¡­ That¡¯s why I was so surprised you took so long to join a Paramount Ring ¨C everyone knows it¡¯s the only way to get an advantage here. First I thought perhaps you just wanted to see which one would suit you or which one would be the best for the incoming Tourney¡­ I was sincerely surprised when you came to me and asked to form your own Ring! By that point, I had just assumed that you¡¯d do your own thing during your short stay in the Academy¡­¡±

    Isyd nodded distractedly, still mulling over what needed to be done. His attention perked up at a specific word Hidrss said. It ruffled a part of his memory from so long ago, that he had almost forgotten it entirely.

    ¡°A Tourney? What is that?¡± Naeht asked.

    Isyd relayed her question to Hidrss, though now he recalled what it was referring to.

    ¡°The Tourney is a tournament held every decade between the three Academies of the Commonwealth,¡± Hidrss explained. ¡°It serves as a showcase for Artystic talents and a forum for competition between the Rings. I thought you knew about it already.¡±

    ¡°I did. I just¡­ forgot¡­¡± Isyd said.

    His life in Vilriver was relatively a long time ago and if he remembered a lot from the broad strokes of his time in the city, many of the minute details came back to him with more difficulty. Now that Hidrss mentioned it, Isyd recalled such an event that had put the whole city in a frenzy around the Academy. In his previous life, he hadn¡¯t enrolled in the school and was working as a lowly apprentice clockmaker so he didn¡¯t know much about it.

    ¡°When does it take place?¡± he asked Hidrss.

    ¡°During the first half of the next semester. This year, we are the ones organizing it! That¡¯s one of the reasons I had to go to Lubz, to the Academy of Holy Honour. The people from the Academy of Holy Temperance in Karak must have already begun their journey by now.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised I¡¯m not saying more activity about it then.¡±

    ¡°Well, we still have time and it¡¯s better to wait for the Evaluations to be over with. Plus, it¡¯s not like nothing is happening at all; the Paramount Rings are already butting heads to decide which ones of them will be allowed to participate¡­¡±

    The beginning of an idea sprouted in Isyd¡¯s mind. He got closer to Hidrss. ¡°What are the modalities? How are the participants decided?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ Well, each Academy must send 9 Pupils, often arranged as 3 Rings sending 3 of their members. Usually, this means that only 3 out of the 6 Paramount Rings get to compete so you can understand now where the conflict begins. The participants are decided by the respective Ringleaders but the sum of the three person¡¯s Openings has to be between 7<sup>th</sup> and 20<sup>th</sup> included.¡±

    ¡°And how do they decide which Rings can participate?¡±

    ¡°A competition between the Ringleaders of the Paramount Rings usually. At least, that¡¯s how it was last time¡­ Why this sudden interest in the Tourney, Isyd? I didn¡¯t know you to be the type to worry about such things! It¡¯s not like you can part¡­¡±

    Hidrss let the sentence trail out as a slow and dreadful revelation dawned on him. He spun around and met Isyd¡¯s determined gaze.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡± he mumbled.

    ¡°Can a Ring other than the Paramount Rings participate?¡± Isyd asked, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t a good idea! You¡ª¡±

    ¡°Answer the question, Hidrss. Can other Rings participate as well?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­ yes, they can¡­¡± Hidrss sighed. ¡°But it is simply not done! Only the Paramount Rings have the skills and the manpower to participate¡­¡±

    Isyd nodded slowly and gave him a mischievous smirk. ¡°Now, you were right in what you said before, Hidrss. The reason I founded my Ring is because I intend to do my own thing¡­¡±

 65 - All Information Has Its Price

    The room of the tavern Isyd sat in was dimly lit by flickering candles, filled with the murmur of voices and the occasional clink of cups of ales. It was a busy place for travellers to enjoy rest and warm food away from the biting cold of the winter. Behind the bar, the innkeeper bustles about, exchanging banter with sailors as he pours ale from wooden barrels.

    Isyd was seated in the corner of the main room, right under the staircase that led to the guestrooms. He was wrapped in his darkveil despite the warm temperature of the inside. The bigos in front of him was still hot and steam from it played with the faint figure of Naeht seated across him.

    ¡°I have been thinking¡­¡± she said with a drawl after a while.

    ¡°A novelty¡­¡± Isyd said matter-of-factly.

    ¡°Not funny! Maybe you can use your brilliant mind to explain it then!¡±

    ¡°Go on, I am all ears.¡±

    ¡°I still can¡¯t wrap my head around why the Academy does not want Artysta but Artyficers¡­¡±

    Isyd stopped through his bite and pointed his spoon full of sauerkraut at her. ¡°Turns out I have been pondering the same question¡­ By the time I joined the War, the distinction was meaningless; you were considered an Artyst the moment you could cast a couple of [Spells] and nobody cared to ask further¡­ Do you know the difference between the two, Naeht?¡±

    ¡°It has something to do with their Openings, right? An Artyst is 9<sup>th</sup> Opening or higher, I think¡­¡±

    ¡°Actually, the cut-off is the 7<sup>th</sup> Opening. Most people live their life below the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening, or more precisely between the 0<sup>th</sup> and the 1<sup>st</sup> Openings. From the 1<sup>st</sup> Opening to the 7th Opening, you are an Artyficer, from the 7<sup>th</sup> onward you are an Artyst. In addition to that, an Artyficer must be of the 4<sup>th</sup> Opening at least to sell their services as such. Artysta of the 9<sup>th</sup> Opening are required by law to declare themselves to the Artem. They must pass the Royal Test to obtain their Artystic License and become what we called State Artysta.¡±

    ¡°Meaninglessly complicated, that¡¯s for sure¡­ It still doesn¡¯t tell me why the Academy would only want Artificers¡­¡±

    ¡°The only reason I could think of was a practical reason: too many Artysta at once can become a threat.¡±

    ¡°A threat? To whom?¡±

    Isyd waved his hand vaguely around. ¡°Who knows specifically? A threat to everyone who has a reason to feel threatened I guess¡­ It makes sense that the people in power right now do not want too much power spread in everyone¡¯s hands. However, this is what the Holy Arts promise. Think of it this way, Naeht: most of the devastation you¡¯ve witnessed in Old Ziemia wasn¡¯t at the hands of the Obcys. It was done by the Artysta trying to stop them. That is the kind of power we¡¯re speaking of¡­¡±

    Naeht¡¯s translucent figure was traversed by a brief shimmer, her equivalent of shivering.

    ¡°The irony is that at the beginning of the War,¡± Isyd continued, ¡°Artysta felt necessary to use such destructive power only because they were driven to their extremes. I believe we lacked competent manpower at the front. Too many minor Artyficers and too few skilled Artysta. Now, we know that it wasn¡¯t by accident but by design¡­¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Naeht nodded sombrely.

    Isyd finished his stew in silence, lost in thoughts. His mind was taken back to his confrontation with the Baroness and the Kazan family.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t the first time it causes problems...¡± he mumbled to himself.

    ¡°What does?¡± Naeht asked.

    ¡°The protocols and social hierarchies that rule our lives here, specifically with regard to the szlachta. In Old Ziemia, it had all collapsed in its entirety. It¡¯s hard for me to readjust and take it all into consideration. It¡¯s a blind spot of mine, otherwise, I¡¯d have guessed the Academy¡¯s true purpose even earlier.¡±

    ¡°I admit I am also surprised with the obsession people here have to rank everything and everyone according to their Opening or profession. It¡¯s a waste of time and energy if you ask me! What do you plan to do about it?¡±

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    ¡°What makes you think anything can be done?¡±

    ¡°I know you, Isyd! Of course you have a plan whirling in this head of yours!¡±

    Isyd smirked. ¡°Hidrss said that many of the Pupils enter the Academy with the goal of becoming Artyficers. He is right but I stand by my opinion: they only do so because they believe it¡¯s the best they can achieve. The plan is therefore to demonstrate the contrary. The Tourney happens to be the perfect occasion to do so.¡±

    Isyd¡¯s attention perked up as he felt a presence descending the stairs.

    ¡°There you are¡­ Took you long enough,¡± Isyd said, recognizing the person he¡¯d been waiting for.

    Jozaf Gadan entered the main room, a satisfied grin on his face and readjusting the buckles of his belt. He took up a seat at the bar and tried to hail the barman for a cup of ale. Isyd approached him and took the seat next to him. It took a few seconds before noticing him there. He had to look twice to make sure his eyes weren¡¯t deceiving him. The young man couldn¡¯t hide his surprise.

    ¡°That¡¯s not a place I expected to see the esteemed Isyd Wybrany,¡± Jozaf exclaimed.

    ¡°Good evening. I hope the Evaluations went well for you.¡±

    ¡°Definitely not as good as for yours! You are living the dream of every Pupil, Wybrany. Plus, you provoked quite the stir amidst the Paramount Rings!¡±

    He seemed to find the latter hilarious.

    ¡°Good. I plan to do it again, but for that, I need some information,¡± Isyd said, leaning in.

    Immediately, a glint appeared in Jozaf¡¯s eyes. ¡°All information has its price, my good Sir¡­¡±

    Isyd waved at the bartender and ordered a bowl of his best food as well as another cup of his best ale. Jozaf¡¯s cheeks already presented some shades of pink and Isyd had only to gain by having him more inebriated.

    ¡°Well, well, that¡¯s a fantastic start!¡± Jozaf said, eyeing hungrily the greasy, roasted chicken leg he was presented with. ¡°So, what do you want to know?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s about the Tourney¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see! You want to know which one of the Paramount Rings to bet on! Which one has the highest chance of making it and all that! Finally decided to join them, eh? I was wondering when you¡¯d do it, but now is a perfect moment to do so¡­ Just for curiosity''s sake before I tell you what I know, which one do you fancy?¡±

    ¡°None. I intend for the Tears to join the Tourney,¡± Isyd announced.

    Jozaf looked at him, eyes wide and mouth agape and full of chewed food.

    ¡°The Tears? You mean your Ring, right? Good Grace! You don¡¯t do things halfway, do you?¡±

    ¡°So, what can you tell me about the selection of the Rings?¡±

    But Jozaf was not yet ready to move on and he was excited by the scoop. ¡°You know they¡¯re going to be mighty pissed if you even try to compete! And by ¡®they¡¯ I mean the Paramount Rings!¡±

    ¡°I will handle them.¡±

    Seeing that Isyd was entirely serious, Jozaf couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud for several seconds.

    ¡°Good God¡­ you¡¯re quite something. You know that this information is expensive¡­¡±

    ¡°I can pay.¡±

    ¡°Alright, well here¡¯s what I know: the selection test will be held at the 21<sup>st</sup> Hour, four days from now in the Fields. Before that, all the Rings that desire to participate have to appear and write their names in the Great Hall one hour before where they will receive the blessing of the Doyen. So far, the only information I could obtain was that the test will be a kind of hunt or object retrieval mission in the forest. You can expect additional challenges to get in your way. You¡¯ll have to wait for me to gain more detailed information.¡±

    ¡°Is the recompense for the Tourney already known?¡±

    ¡°Already imagining yourself claiming it?¡± Jozaf railed. ¡°You¡¯ll have some serious competition, you know? The likes of Arael Lwieserce or S?yem Nifritovna, and that¡¯s only talking about here. Who knows what kind of talents may be arriving from the South!¡±

    ¡°Let me worry about that myself. Answer the question.¡±

    ¡°Fine, if the previous times are to be believed, there¡¯s a fortune on the line for the winners as well as the guaranteed continuation of your studies in the Academies until becoming a State Artyst. That is without mentioning everything that can be gained besides the stated recompense like the possibility of catching the eye of and being recruited personally by the Artem or the Royal Family.¡±

    Isyd nodded without a word. He was satisfied; it was pretty much all he had expected from such a tournament. He rose from his seat.

    ¡°If I have more questions,¡± Isyd said, ¡°I¡¯ll come back to you.¡±

    He slid a Silver coin in Jozaf¡¯s direction, then added a second on top of it. ¡°This one is for your silence. Only five days isn¡¯t asking much, I think?¡±

    The red-haired man hesitated briefly before accepting both coins. He made them spin on the table and between his knuckles, a pensive and serious look carved on his face.

    ¡°You are an interesting man, Wybrany,¡± Jozaf ended up saying. ¡°You¡¯re different from the rest of the folks we see coming through here¡­ You¡¯re¡­ Well, whatever¡­¡±

    His mocking grin came back, and he pocketed the coins. ¡°You¡¯re gonna make me a rich man, Wybrany! Don¡¯t hesitate to come back. As I have said before, you¡¯re certainly making this semester interesting!¡±

 66 - No Leisure for the Wicked

    Jadwia was seated cross-legged on the floor of the living room of her apartment quarters. The curtains had been thrown wide open but the rainy sky provided little light prompting her to turn on her [Lightspheres]. After reading three times the same passage, she sighed and put the book aside. As per usual those past few days, she was restless.

    She had quickly dismissed the letter from her mother out of her mind. It had been sent a long time ago and other letters had followed which meant that it was nothing but another empty threat to force her to return home. Instead, Jadwia spent her time mulling over the Evaluations. She was still frustrated by her results, despite trying to convince herself that it wasn¡¯t bad at all. She had already dropped by the Bursar''s Office and handled her tuition for the next semester. She was thankful that she had already paid the rent of her living quarters for the whole year because she was now out of savings. This was an additional thing she now had to worry over, though it was only bound to be an issue for when the next Evaluations came around.

    A knock at the door interrupted her mulling. Jadwia decided to ignore it and picked back the book she¡¯d been reading. Unfortunately, the knocks made themselves more insistent and she was forced to stand up and go open the door. On the other side stood Boshena Wyater and Tatyana Chud.

    ¡°Grace to you, stranger! Fancy seeing you there!¡± Tatyana exclaimed. ¡°Can we come in?¡±

    For a fraction of a second, Jadwia considered refusing but her good manners beaten into her by her mother took control and she stepped aside to let them in.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been secluded since the end of the Evaluations,¡± Tatyana reproached her. ¡°We¡¯ve barely seen you!¡±

    ¡°Did it go that badly?¡± Boshena asked softly.

    Jadwia felt immediately ashamed of her own attitude. It was true that she had retreated inside her room like a hermit. The results of the Evaluations were considered intimate to the Pupil and a private matter between them and the Tutors ¨C except in special circumstances. That being said, Jadwia was aware that she got on average better results than her peers.

    ¡°No, it was fine,¡± she said. ¡°I was just a bit tired I guess¡­ Sorry for being a stranger.¡±

    Tatyana sat down leisurely on the sofa at the centre of the living room whereas Boshena went with her but preferred remaining standing.

    ¡°For a little bit, we thought you had left to go back home,¡± Tatyana said. ¡°but since you¡¯re here, we can at least spend some time together.¡±

    ¡°We can indeed. What shall we do?¡±

    ¡°Nothing out of the ordinary. Taking a stroll, relaxing in the Fields, enjoying this brief moment of respite between the two semesters. Anything is much better than staying locked between four walls!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like I was doing nothing. I was reading¡­¡±

    Boshena reached for the book left abandoned on the ground.

    ¡°¡®Chronicles of Emperors, Kings, Princes and Dukes, From the Sequene River to the Geddon Mountains. 7<sup>th</sup> Edition,¡¯¡± she read out loud before arching an eyebrow in Jadwia¡¯s direction. ¡°This is what you read in your leisure time?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it? I like it¡­¡± Jadwia said with an embarrassed shrug.

    ¡°Alright, you really need to step out of this room!¡± Tatyana said. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Common Room at least.¡±

    Jadwia let out a weak sigh but agreed to follow them out of the living room after putting on her uniform. They did not go to the Common Room reserved for the women''s quarters and instead stepped outside on the well-trodden pathway in the Fields to go to the main one that was open to all.

    Jadwia wasn¡¯t surprised when Tatyana decided to bring up Isyd¡¯s results in the Evaluations. From the little she had heard, the subject had been on the lips of everyone in the Academy from the moment he stepped out of the auditorium.

    ¡°Apparently, it¡¯s not the first time a free tuition has been granted, but it is super rare,¡± Tatyana was saying.

    ¡°Do we know what exactly he did to get it?¡± Boshena asked, directing her question in Jadwia¡¯s direction.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said. ¡°I have been¡­ avoiding him the past couple of days. And contrary to you girls, he can¡¯t simply walk into the women''s quarters and force me to see him.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s truly Blessed by the Grace¡­¡± Boshena said with longing.

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    ¡°You know, if it wasn¡¯t for him, we would have asked you to join our Ring,¡± Tatyana said. ¡°Since you¡¯re no longer part of the Cerulean Feathers and all that¡­ The Rainbow Forest is a good Ring, but quite small and under the influence of the Faded Jade. There are worse choices, you know¡­¡±

    As they spoke, they entered the Common Room. It was noticeably more empty than usual. Many Pupils had in fact profited from the melting of the snow and the providential improvement of the weather to take a short trip to their home. Boshena noted as such.

    ¡°Did you consider going back home, Jadwia?¡± she said.

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. It¡¯s too far anyway¡­¡± Jadwia said. Before they could ask more about it, she spun the question around. ¡°Don¡¯t you live near the border, Tatyana? The Gates of Uuraldur should make the journey quick, no?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s definitely faster through it and I have considered it, but my father has forbidden me from coming back until I have graduated. He said that I shouldn¡¯t get distracted and rather focus on studying. He¡¯s probably gonna be out of himself when the letter of my results reaches him¡­¡±

    ¡°What about you, Boshena?¡± Jadwia asked.

    ¡°We have an estate near Blotnia, but I don¡¯t like travelling in those weather conditions. The last thing I want is to be caught in the middle of my journey by a bout of torrential rains. Plus, I am more comfortable here in the Academy.¡±

    As they just entered and were searching for a place to sit, Jadwia noticed a familiar face in the distance. Her blood turned icy in her veins when their eyes met. More by instinct than anything else, she spun around and tried to reach for the door. At the same time, a sudden gust of wind passed above her head and slammed the door shut. Jadwia slowly turned to see Izaak Kazkan approaching, his eyes firmly set on her.

    ¡°Well, well, here¡¯s a little mouse I was looking for¡­¡± Izaak drawled.

    ¡°Senior Kazkan¡­¡± Jadwia squeaked.

    Panic made her tremble. She was brought back to that time when she and Isyd had infiltrated the Kazkan mansion to retrieve the Ingraced Blysht and the [Outgracing Hex]. Similarly to now, she had met Izaak Kazkan¡¯s eyes at a distance and saw the spark of recognition in his. She still had managed to escape and thankfully it hadn¡¯t led to anything.

    Until now, that is.

    Izaak Kazkan towered over her with his strong stature and dark glare. As he approached, Jadwia slowly stepped back but she was stopped by the closed door in her back.

    ¡°Did you think I have forgotten about it?¡± Izaak said. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for the part you play in that evening disaster!¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know¡­ I don¡¯t know what you mean, Senior¡­ I think you are m-mistaken¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re gonna pretend I didn¡¯t see you in my house? You thief! Don¡¯t insult my intelligence! I know you are in cahoots with Wybrany and the lunatic that has attacked us!¡±

    ¡°Senior¡­¡±

    ¡°My home went into flames because of you! My mother became¡­ became sick!¡±

    ¡°Please, Senior¡­ I don¡¯t¡­¡±

    Colour had risen on Izaak¡¯s face and Jadwia couldn¡¯t come up with anything to escape. Everyone present in the Common Room had their eyes turned in their direction, but none seemed able to intervene. They could all hear the promise of violence in the young nobleman¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Er¡­ Senior¡­¡± Tatyana still tried to step in but Izaak¡¯s glare silence her.

    ¡°Back off, Kazkan!¡± a stronger voice suddenly called from behind him.

    They all turned to see Klara Utro approaching them. At her side was one of those young children who often ran errands for the Consultation Office. Klara stepped between Jadwia and Kazkan, eyes throwing bolts.

    ¡°Run off, Utro! The girl is no longer part of the Cerulean Feathers. She doesn¡¯t concern you!¡±

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t mean you have the right to harass her! She¡¯s still my Junior and she told you that she doesn¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!¡±

    ¡°You know nothing, Utro! Best if you step aside¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you seriously accusing her of setting fire to your home? It¡¯s ludicrous! What proof do you even have? Perhaps you should drop by the Spital on your way out; you may have caught the same ill as your mother¡­¡±

    Something dangerous glinted in Izaak¡¯s eyes. He stepped forward until his nose and Klara¡¯s almost touched.

    ¡°Last warning, Utro: do not try me,¡± he said slowly with the coldness of a newly unsheathed blade. ¡°Must I remind you what happened last time you stood in my way, Pixie Pants? Next time, I will do far worse than burn your uniform. Let¡¯s see how you look only dressed in your dignity¡­¡±

    Klara¡¯s face turned red with anger, but she didn¡¯t back down. Instead, she maintained his hot gaze with one of her own.

    A hand fell on Izaak¡¯s shoulders. It was Senior Arael Lwieserce, also part of the Cerulean Feathers. His beauty had equal only the awe he inspired in all the Pupils of the Academy.

    ¡°This is not the time nor the place, Izaak,¡± Arael said with his characteristic soft voice.

    Izaak didn¡¯t even glance in his direction and shrugged him off.

    Jadwia also stepped forward and tried to restrain Klara but the young woman wasn¡¯t listening to her. All her attention was focused on Izaak.

    ¡°A lot of things have changed since last year, Kazkan,¡± Klara said. ¡°This time, things will be different!¡±

    ¡°Shall we see, then? I was looking forward to the Tourney to deal with you, but I guess I can afford some foretaste. Don¡¯t come to regret this¡­¡±

    kk¡°I was about to say the same thing to you, Senior Kazkan,¡± a voice said from the door across the room. ¡°You may want to step back...¡±

    Everyone turned to see the newcomers. Isyd had arrived, with Kewin at his side.

 67 - Running Out of Luck

    Isyd walked forward with no hurry, unbothered by the weight of all the gaze turned on him. Kewin threw Jadwia a worried glance as he carefully stood between her and the angry Izaak Kazkan.

    Isyd took note of the situation. He¡¯d been aware of Izaak¡¯s resentment from the events of a few weeks ago and his involvement in the events that had led to it. Isyd had briefly considered tying off the loose end he represented, but after he had first dealt with his mother, he hesitated to do the same with him. The heir to the Kazkan House may have deduced a thing or two about Isyd¡¯s role in taking down his father, but he was barely an adult at the end of the day and thus was limited in terms of the threat he could pose. That being said, there was no reason for Isyd to let him run wild like a hurt dog.

    ¡°You are a difficult man to catch, Wybrany,¡± Izaak drawled.

    ¡°I¡¯m here now,¡± Isyd said. ¡°What do you need me for?¡±

    Izaak didn¡¯t answer immediately. He stared long and hard at Isyd as if trying to decipher something on his face. Isyd looked calm, but not arrogant, imbued with an unnerving stillness. The young nobleman glanced around, taking in all the eyes set on them, before stepping toward Isyd.

    ¡°I know what you did, Wybrany!¡± He spoke in a low voice, for only Isyd¡¯s ears. ¡°Do not think for a second that you are somehow untouchable simply because everyone keeps chanting your praises. I know the role you played that night, you and this girl and your masked friend¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, I could say the same thing about you, Senior,¡± Isyd answered in the same tone. ¡°Your mother played a dangerous game, and she paid the price. Now, it is certain that she couldn¡¯t have done it all alone. In fact, it is obvious that she must have insiders within the Academy¡­ Tekla was one, maybe there were others¡­ Maybe we should be thankful that the Academy¡¯s investigation didn¡¯t go any further¡­ Maybe we should let it all slide¡­ You have a chance here to move on and turn a new leaf, Senior.¡±

    Izaak¡¯s eyes twitched and his smile turned sardonic. ¡°So, you think you are above it all, eh? You have overstepped, Wybrany! I am a Kazkan, a szlachcic, and you are nothing! I¡¯ll make you pay for what you did to us. You¡¯ll rue the day you made an enemy out of me; you and this girl will not know another moment of peace in this Academy!¡±

    By the end of his sentence, he was no longer whispering. Isyd barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes and instead simply nodded respectfully. He stepped around Izaak to approach Jadwia, Kewin and Klara. Isyd usually avoided the Common Rooms, but he¡¯d been waiting for Jadwia to step out of her isolation and had rushed here as soon as Naeht had warned him.

    ¡°Who brought that one around?¡±

    Izaak¡¯s jeer stopped Isyd on his track. The young nobleman was pointing at Kewin, and everyone had turned their gaze on him. Taken by surprise, Kewin paled visibly and took a trembling step backwards, as if physically shoved back by the weight of the attention.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you know that it is bearer of bad luck to have his kind around?¡± Izaak continued. ¡°The boy is Disgraced; he has no place here! Remove him at once!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true! What is he doing here?¡± a young man said in the crowd.

    ¡°We can¡¯t have him around!¡± another said.

    ¡°¡­ they cause ill fortune¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ bad luck¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ stealing the Grace of others¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ a disgrace¡­¡±

    There were a few Pupils who even made the hand sign to ward off misfortune. Isyd stepped in front of Kewin, immediately silencing the whispers. His gaze had turned icy and his tone had shifted.

    ¡°He¡¯s part of my Ring, this is all you need to know.¡±

    ¡°The Academy is for prospective Artyst only, Junior!¡±

    ¡°Where was this energy when your brother, Olaf Kazkan, brought along his own retainers past the Gates?¡±

    ¡°That was one thing and this is another¡­ I¡¯m saying this out of concern. After all, with all the Arts going around, the Academy can be said to be dangerous for the weakest of us. An accident happens so quickly and the Disgraced must know this most of us all¡­¡±

    The air turned suddenly dry but before Isyd could say anything, Arael Lwieserce put a hand on Izaak¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Izaak¡­ enough!¡± he said in a warning tone.

    Izaak Kazkan said nothing more. He was satisfied with having made his point. He shrugged and laughed coldly.

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    ¡°Relax, Arael! I was just giving advice to my Juniors, that is all! Remember this, Wybrany, you may be Blessed by the Grace, but the same can¡¯t be said for everyone. Luck is something of a rare occurrence and nobody knows for certain when it will run out. Better watch your steps¡­¡±

    As he said that, Izaak¡¯s eyes lingered not on Isyd, but on the people who stood behind him: Jadwia, Klara and Kewin. He then turned on his heels and left the Common Room. It was only when his steps disappeared through the door that the tension in the room finally dissipated and the Pupils around returned to their occupations, not without throwing worried glances in Isyd¡¯s direction.

    Arael Lwieserce had not followed his Ringmate and instead approached Isyd.

    ¡°It seems you have a habit of angering your Senior, Junior Wybrany,¡± Arael said softly.

    ¡°Kazkan was the one who started it,¡± Klara said. ¡°You can¡¯t blame Isyd for simply responding!¡±

    Arael didn¡¯t deign to look at her. His attention remained on Isyd.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t let Senior Kazkan harass my Ringmate without intervening,¡± Isyd said. ¡°Certainly not as her Ringleader. Surely you understand that, Senior¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, I understand! The Kazkan¡­ the Kazkan have always been known for their commanding attitude and forwardness. Still, you should be careful Wybrany. Your heart thrums with Vigour, but sometimes Temperance may be a better course of action. Izaak is a szlachcic after all.¡±

    ¡°I believed that in the Academy, we were all Pupils¡­¡±

    Arael¡¯s smile did not light his eyes. ¡°Do not pretend to be na?ve and not understand how the world works, Wybrany. Not all szlachcic are as¡­ calm as I am. In fact, most are like Izaak and his brother, or even more vindictive. I think you know that which makes your persistence in vexing them even more puzzling. Surely, you know that you have little to gain by making them your enemies, not after refusing the protection offered by the other Paramount Rings and their Ringleaders¡­¡±

    ¡°I am not sure what you want me to say, Senior. Are you worried about me? Warning me? Threatening me?¡±

    ¡°I guess I am simply intrigued by you. Just like many of us are¡­ In the end, I will repeat my advice, Young Wybrany: do not make enemies of those who could later help your rise later on. The Academy is not everything there is.¡±

    With this last warning, Arael turned away and was about to leave. Isyd¡¯s words stopped him.

    ¡°I was sincere earlier in my answer, Senior,¡± Isyd drawled. ¡°I truly believe that in the Academy, we are all Pupils. We are all here to learn, no matter what our stations were before entering. You speak of helping me rise? I agree with that, but I wonder about everyone else. How high could they rise if given the help¡­¡±

    Arael looked confused for a moment. His eyes darted to Kewin and Jadwia still standing behind Isyd. In the end, he just shrugged, dismissing Isyd¡¯s words, and left the Common Room.

    Isyd turned to face his friends. He wanted to apologize somehow to Jadwia and Kewin but he wasn¡¯t sure what to say or what exactly he was apologizing for. Thankfully, Klara spoke first.

    ¡°You know for a fact that Kazkan will try something,¡± she said with a sigh. ¡°He¡¯s petty that way. Do you want me to speak with Aaron? He¡¯s my Ringleader and he probably will know what to do.¡±

    ¡°You can if you want, but I am not really worried,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I know how to defend myself and I will now keep an eye out for him.¡±

    Klara nodded. Isyd could see in Jadwia¡¯s frown that she wasn¡¯t entirely reassured. Kewin¡¯s stare was distant in a way that worried Isyd more. He could still feel the weight of the other Pupils¡¯ eyes and thus so could Kewin.

    ¡°This was scary¡­ Are they always like this?¡± a voice said.

    The four Pupils turned to the young boy who had arrived with Klara. Only now Isyd realized that he didn¡¯t wear the usual uniform reserved for the errand children of the Consultation Office.

    ¡°God, where are my manners¡­,¡± Klara said. ¡°Guys, this is my younger brother Oliwer! He¡¯ll join the Academy this semester. Oliwer, those are my Juniors: Jadwia Lichtfreund, Kewin Udachur and Isyd Wybrany!¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you! I heard so much of you in her letters! I¡¯m looking forward to studying with you!¡±

    Now that she mentioned it, Isyd could see the resemblance between the two. The boy had a youthful and joyful face, with frazzled blond hair and freckles on his nose. Most noticeable were his bright and wide blue eyes, identical to his sister¡¯s.

    ¡°Nice to meet you, Oliwer,¡± Jadwia said. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I should say this but¡­ well, aren¡¯t you a little young to join the Academy?¡±

    Klara had a little laugh. ¡°I was saying the same thing! But he was insisting and apparently, my parents have acceded.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to be 15 years old soon!¡± Oliwer protested. ¡°Plus, I¡¯m of the 2<sup>nd</sup> Opening already!¡±

    ¡°Already? Wow!¡± Jadwia said. ¡°You must be very talented, then!¡±

    ¡°More than my sister for sure!¡±

    ¡°Alright now, let¡¯s be serious here, Small Bean¡­¡± Klara drawled, ruffling his hair. ¡°You have a long way to go before you catch up to me!¡±

    ¡°Just watch! I¡¯ll do it in no time!¡±

    ¡°At least you are motivated,¡± Jadwia said with an affectionate smile.

    Isyd, who had been watching on the sideline, approached and offered a hand to Oliwer.

    ¡°Welcome to the Academy, Oliwer! I hope we will have the opportunity to study together!¡±

    ¡°Oh, thank you! I¡¯m looking forward to it! My sister spoke of you in her letters! She said that you were so talented! And Blessed by the Grace! I hope you can teach me stuff in the future!¡±

    There was a calculated glint in Isyd¡¯s eyes and his grin grew a little bit more.

    ¡°You don¡¯t say¡­ Tell me, Oliwer, would you like to join my Ring?¡±

 68 - The Newest Member

    There was a long stretch of silence between Klara, Oliwer, Jadwia and Kewin after Isyd¡¯s words.

    ¡°What?¡± Jadwia said.

    ¡°WHAT?¡± Klara echoed.

    ¡°Oh, YES!¡± Oliwer exclaimed.

    Naeht chuckled over his enthusiasm which also snatched a genuine smile from Isyd.

    ¡°Perfect, then!¡± he said. He then turned to Kewin and Jadwia. ¡°I hope you guys don¡¯t mind.¡±

    Kewin just shrugged weakly, still too stunned by the sudden turn of events.

    ¡°Er¡­ I guess it¡¯s fine¡­¡± Jadwia said. ¡°You¡¯re the Ringleader after all¡­¡±

    ¡°Now, hold on a second!¡± Klara said, stepping in. She almost stabbed Isyd with her pointed finger. ¡°I spent an entire semester trying to convince you to join the Ring I¡¯m part of and now you just create your own Ring and recruit my brother?¡±

    ¡°Would you have preferred I asked you instead?¡± Isyd said. ¡°I doubt you¡¯d have accepted.¡±

    ¡°Of course not! Don¡¯t be ridiculous! Still, it feels a bit backhanded¡­¡±

    ¡°I meant no offence.¡±

    Klara rolled her eyes and gave him a small smile, meaning that she was simply teasing him. She glanced at her brother and then back to Isyd, her gaze more serious.

    ¡°Can I trust with this?¡±

    ¡°You can,¡± Isyd said with the utmost confidence.

    Oliwer standing next to her sighed and rolled his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not a child anymore Klara!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s perfect then!¡± Isyd said. ¡°I think we should hold the first official meeting of our Ring now. That was the reason why we came here in the first place; we were looking for you, Jadwia. Are you busy now?¡±

    Jadwia glanced at Boshena and Tatyana who told her it was okay and that they¡¯ll catch up later on. Klara had walked around the whole Academy with Oliwer to familiarize him with the different buildings. The Common Room had been their last stop, so he was also free to join Isyd and his new Ringmates.

    To Jadwia¡¯s and Oliwer¡¯s surprise, they headed out and took the direction of the forest bordering the Fields. The meadow he¡¯d chosen was the same Kewin and he finished their exercise routine, a stretch from the well-trodden path and outside of what was considered the Academy¡¯s boundaries. Thankfully, it hadn¡¯t rained today which meant that they could simply sit in the grass and hard soil. Isyd took a seat on a flat stone near the pond.

    ¡°I¡¯ll find a better place for us to meet, but for today this will do,¡± he said. ¡°I prefer being away from everyone¡¯s attention.¡±

    His Ringmates didn¡¯t seem to mind and took place around him. They couldn¡¯t see it, but Naeht had floated down in their midst and was smiling at him. So, there they were the four members of his Ring, the Tears.

    ¡°Oliwer, since you¡¯re new here, all three of us can help you,¡± Isyd said. ¡°You don¡¯t need to call us Seniors and all that, since we are of the same year technically.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine. I am already familiar with most of the Academy. Both my parents studied here when they were younger. Since we were little, they talked to my sister and me about when it would be our turn to enrol eventually. It almost feels like I have been here already despite this being my first time!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good then. Just don¡¯t hesitate to come to me if you need anything,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°So, what are we going to do now? Are we just introducing ourselves to each other or do you have something else planned for this first meeting?¡± Jadwia asked.

    ¡°I do actually,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I want to talk about the Evaluations.¡±

    Isyd saw Jadwia immediately stiffening where she sat.

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    ¡°Did you guys pay attention to the results of other Pupils as well as the tuition? It is a disaster!¡±

    ¡°Disaster may be too much of a harsh word, maybe¡­¡± Kewin said timidly.

    Isyd shook his head. ¡°No, I think it is quite appropriate as description. More than half of the 1<sup>st</sup> Years are gone!¡±

    ¡°Klara did say that the Evaluations were difficult, but this seems like a lot¡­¡± Oliwer said.

    ¡°It is a lot, but it is expected,¡± Jadwia said.

    ¡°More than expected, it was desired!¡±

    Jadwia, Oliwer and Kewin exchanged confused looks. ¡°What¡­ What do you mean by that exactly, Isyd?¡±

    ¡°1<sup>st</sup> Year are not expected to succeed their Evaluations.¡±

    In brief words, he retold the conversations he had with Hidrss. When he was done, Jadwia stood up suddenly. Her fists were clenched and her face was pale. Her lips moved several times but without uttering a word. Isyd could see that she was traversed by a storm of emotions: resignation, betrayal, anger, humiliation.

    ¡°This is not fair¡­,¡± she could only mutter through gritted teeth.

    Isyd turns to Kewin to measure his reaction. To his surprise, Kewin didn¡¯t look fazed.

    ¡°I had guessed something like that was possible when I saw that the entry for the 1<sup>st</sup> semester was free,¡± he explained with a shrug.

    ¡°For me, I never conserved the tuition to be a problem in the first place,¡± Oliwer said. ¡°My parents said that they will pay it anyway¡­ Sorry.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing for you to apologize, Oliwer,¡± Isyd said. ¡°In fact, you should be grateful and thankful to your parents for this chance they give you. I suspect that it is like an open secret in the Academy. Hidrss said as much. The people from the Commonwealth may know it already, but those who come from far away or more secluded areas do not.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the point of you telling us that?¡± Jadwia asked bitterly.

    ¡°Would you have preferred not knowing?¡± Isyd asked.

    They locked eyes for a long time. In the end, Jadwia hesitated then shook her head and looked away. ¡°No, I guess it¡¯s better to know¡­ To be entirely frank, I also had suspicion just like Kewin said. I just¡­ decided to ignore it I guess¡­ It became hard to do so after the Evaluations. They were meaninglessly more difficult than they needed to be!¡±

    She slumped down back to the ground and let out a deep sigh. ¡°This is not fair,¡± she repeated, ¡°but I guess there¡¯s nothing we can do about it. I can¡¯t afford another tuition like the one I received.¡±

    ¡°Well, you won¡¯t have to pay another one,¡± Isyd declared. ¡°This is why I brought you here. The goal of our Ring, the Tears, is to cultivate everyone¡¯s potential in the Arts, no matter where they are from. This means making sure that they can pay for their tuition or make their tuition null.¡±

    ¡°And how do you plan on doing that?¡±

    ¡°We will participate in the Tourney.¡±

    His words were welcomed by a stunned silence. He didn¡¯t need to explain what he was referring to, they were all familiar with the upcoming event.

    ¡°You must be joking¡­¡± Jadwia finally let out.

    ¡°Wow, how exciting!¡± Oliwer exclaimed.

    Kewin just looked amused by their opposite reaction.

    ¡°Isyd, this sounds ridiculous,¡± Jadwia said. ¡°The best Rings of all the Academies of the Commonwealth are competing. Despite how talented you are, there¡¯s little chance for us to win. The competition is too fierce!¡±

    ¡°This shouldn¡¯t discourage us from participating. We have nothing to lose, all to gain. Plus, don¡¯t start with a defeating mindset. I¡¯m not saying it will be easy, but I am confident in our chances if we get serious about it.¡±

    Isyd turned toward Kewin. ¡°I have asked around, but there doesn¡¯t seem to be a way for you to participate with us. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Kewin looked genuinely confused. ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to. There¡¯s nothing I could have done since I¡¯m Disgraced¡­¡±

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t matter to me, you¡¯re still part of the Ring. Don¡¯t sell yourself short. In fact, this is valid for all of you: don¡¯t sell yourself short. The reason why we enter the Tourney is not only for the recompense at the end but to make a point. The Academy says that you aren¡¯t deserving to invest resources to develop your potential in the Arts? Then, you will prove to them that you don¡¯t need them and can grow by yourselves. They say that the best you can hope to amount to are Artyficers? Then, you will prove to them that you can become the best Artysta there are!¡±

    Kewin, Oliwer and Jadwia couldn¡¯t help but be moved by the confidence in Isyd¡¯s words.

    ¡°Do you really think it¡¯s possible?¡± Jadwia said hesitantly. ¡°Do you think as 1<sup>st</sup> Year, we will be able to compete with Seniors several Openings higher?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you will be able to. This will demand serious commitment on your part, but it is possible. We will train and I will help you practice the Arts more intensively and make sure that you increase your Openings in no time!¡±

    Jadwia and Oliwer seemed suddenly excited by the prospect. Only Kewin was more reserved. Of the three of them, only he had been practising with Isyd during their morning routine. He knew what Isyd meant when he talked of ¡°training¡± and at the thought of it, his muscles already started to ache.

    He met Isyd¡¯s eyes and the knowing glint in it confirmed to Kewin that ¨C unfortunately ¨C he wasn¡¯t far from the mark. He raised his hand before speaking.

    ¡°Is it certain you¡¯ll be able to participate?¡± he asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t there a selection process beforehand?¡±

    ¡°There is, but this is my job to handle,¡± Isyd said. ¡°It¡¯s my responsability as your Ringleader.¡±

 69 - The Paramount Ringleaders

    ¡°Isyd, they are all watching us¡­¡± Jadwia whispered next to him, worried.

    Good! The attention was something Isyd planned to work with.

    Jadwia, Oliwer and Isyd had arrived at the Great Hall with its high columns and glass domes. A chalkboard was installed near the set of spiralling stairs that led to the upper floors. On it was the list of the Rings that desired to participate in the Tourney as well as their Ringleader. As was expected, the list was 6 names long: those of the Paramount Rings. Isyd was surprised not to see one or two more Rings also trying to participate. He could see traces of chalk at the bottom of the list where names had been inscribed before being erased. He wouldn¡¯t be surprised if a few Pupils had wanted to try their luck before changing their mind after seeing their competition.

    Isyd approached the board, flanked by his Ringmate. He had waited for the very last moment before adding his Ring to the list. He reasoned that the earlier he showed his hand, the more time to act he gave to anyone who wished to stop the Tears from participating. That was also the reason why he paid Jozaf to stay silent for a couple of days. A Tutor was supposed to come down here anytime soon and retrieve the list and announce the preliminary selection. This was why the Great Hall was more crowded than usual.

    And everyone¡¯s eyes were on Isyd as he began writing at the bottom of the list.

    The Tears ¨C Isyd Wybrany

    That was all it took. Isyd turned to speak to Jadwia and Oliwer when he noticed a figure fast approaching in their direction. The young man was tall and handsome, with striking green eyes behind glasses and curly, chestnut hair tied in a ponytail. Isyd recognized at once Aaron Gwemb, the Ringleader of the Cerulean Feathers. He had spent some time with Jozaf and interrogated him on each Paramount Ring to learn more about who he¡¯d have to face. Many of the Seniors had been away during the first semester at extracurricular exercises outside the Academy, and the Paramount Ringleaders were no exception.

    Aaron Gwemb, 8<sup>th</sup> Year and 6<sup>th</sup> Opening, was liked by most of the Pupils, even by Juniors that weren¡¯t affiliated with his Ring. He became the Ringleader of the Cerulean Feathers two years ago. Isyd wasn¡¯t sure what to make of him and he had let that slip out when speaking with Jozaf.

    ¡°You weren¡¯t here two years ago,¡± Jozaf had then said with a mysterious grin. ¡°There¡¯s a reason why he became the Ringleader and not someone else...¡±

    Aaron approached him with an extended hand and a toothy smile. ¡°Isyd Wybrany! My name is Aaron Gwemb. I finally get the chance to meet you!¡±

    Isyd accepted his hand. ¡°Nice to meet you, Senior!¡±

    ¡°Oh, you can drop the ¡®Senior¡¯. I see you added your name to the list. I didn¡¯t know you were interested in the Tourney. It is more a pity then that you didn¡¯t join us!¡± he glanced to the side and winked at those accompanying Isyd. ¡°Plus, you snatched Jadwia and Oliwer from us!¡±

    ¡°I hope you don¡¯t hold it against me¡­¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°I wish I had seen it coming, but¡­ well, you are a difficult person to anticipate as I am quickly learning¡­¡± This was said with a tongue-in-cheek tone.

    Aaron was about to add something but he was interrupted by a jeering voice coming from behind him.

    ¡°It is true that you are as gutsy as they say you are¡­¡±

    It was a woman¡¯s voice. They turned to see her coming down from the stairs. She was a tall, lean young woman, with long straight black hair. Her features had a delicateness that was beautiful but foreign, only accentuated by her dark eyebrows permanently frowned in an angry glare. She was looking down on Isyd as if she had just stepped on a bug and she was furious it had deigned to sully her sole.

    ¡°Who of them should I watch out for?¡± Isyd had asked Jozaf back during their talk.

    ¡°Frankly? All of them! They are all exceptional in their own kind!¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t the kind of advice I¡¯m paying you for¡­¡±

    ¡°Fine¡­ Then, I¡¯d say you should watch out for two of them specifically. The first person is the Ringleader of the Faded Jaded, S?yem Nifritovna, 9<sup>th</sup> Year and 6<sup>th</sup> Opening. People say she¡¯s from the Wild Steppes in Matizna, I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re familiar... She took over the Faded Jade when she was only in the 4<sup>th</sup> Opening and nobody could wrestle it away from her since, not from lack of trying¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all you can tell me about her?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ yeah¡­¡¯¡± Jozaf¡¯s tone had been evasive, unlike it had been during their whole conversation. Isyd had recalled Klara mentioning that he was part of the Faded Jade himself; he must have had some scruples gossiping about his Ringleader. ¡°All I can say is that she¡¯s kind of intense, so it¡¯s better to stay clear from her¡­¡±

    ¡°Nice to see you back, S?yem!¡± Aaron saluted gleefully.

    She didn¡¯t even glance at him. Instead, the young woman approached Jadwia who stiffened in fear. Delicately, she touched her chin and sighed.

    ¡°We could have done something out of you,¡± S?yem said. ¡°It¡¯s unlucky you first decided to join the Cerulean Feathers, then this man¡¯s Ring. A pity¡­¡±

    Jadwia blushed and tried to articulate something, but the words escaped her. Isyd bowed his head in her direction.

    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Senior,¡± he said sincerely.

    ¡°The same can¡¯t be said on my part. So, you are the gifted one I heard so much about since returning¡­¡± She glanced to the side and noticed his bandaged hand. ¡°I was looking forward to testing your steel but it won¡¯t be fair if you are a cripple.¡±

    ¡°S?yem! How could you be so rude?¡± a voice cried out from the stairs.

    It came from a small woman with long, red, curly hair and huge spectacles that had a hard time remaining on her nose as she rushed down the staircase to stand next to S?yem. Isyd recognized her from their brief encounter during his stay at the Spital. She was Marzena Tchepwa, the Ringleader of the White Flowers.

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    ¡°You do not call people ¡®cripple¡¯!¡± she sternly said to S?yem with a pointed finger. ¡°And certainly not as a derogatory term!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Senior Tchepwa. I don¡¯t take offence to it,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°Well, I do! It is simply not done! As Seniors, we should be on our best behaviour, certainly now more than ever.¡±

    ¡°Get off me, Marz!¡± S?yem groaned, swatting away the accusing finger. ¡°You know what I think about your ¡®Senior Ethics¡¯¡­¡±

    Marzena sighed and shook her head in desperation. She turned to Isyd and grinned.

    ¡°So, we meet again, Isyd Wybrany. Do not think I have forgotten how you sneaked out of the Spital after I explicitly forbade you to do so¡­¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you again, Senior. I guess I have apologized to your mother, but I still had to do so for you. Whatever to make it right¡­¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ What about you leaving this competition for the Tourney¡­ I have already enough on my plate with fighting the rest of them, without having you in it as well!¡±

    Before Isyd could respond, S?yem let out a mocking laugh. ¡°Come on now, Marz! You don¡¯t really think he has a chance, do you?¡±

    ¡°If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t underestimate him, S?yem,¡± Aaron intervened. ¡°You weren¡¯t here the first semester, remember?¡±

    ¡°I am sorry, but I can¡¯t do that,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I intend to participate in the Tourney.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure you know what you¡¯re getting into?¡± Marzena said. ¡°You¡¯re the Ringleader so you¡¯ll have to compete entirely alone for the selection.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I know, thank you for your concern!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t get too nice with him, Marz,¡± S?yem groaned through gritted teeth. ¡°There¡¯s something shady about him!¡±

    ¡°The same could be said about you and yet you don¡¯t hear the rest of us make a fuss about it, Nifritovna,¡± a man¡¯s voice said from behind Isyd.

    They all turned to see a tall young man approaching. He had slick blond hair, striking blue eyes and a smile that seemed permanently smirking. This was Prinse Krovtur, 6<sup>th </sup>Year and 5<sup>th</sup> Opening, the Ringleader of the Golden Dew. Of all the Paramount Rings, it was the youngest and was founded by Prinse Krovtur himself. Jozaf had explained to Isyd that the young man was the heir to the Krovtyn Voivodeship, making him one of the most important Pupils in the Academy.

    Prinse Krovtur extended a welcoming hand to Isyd and introduced himself.

    ¡°I do not believe we have met, Young Isyd. Prinse Krovtur, I¡¯m looking forward to studying with you.¡±

    ¡°All the same, Senior Krovtur.¡±

    Prinse looked around at the little crowd that had formed around the inscription board ¨C meeting in passing the dark glare from S?yem ¨C and his smile deepened.

    ¡°Now, I think all of us are intrigued by you, Young Isyd. Certainly, by your decision to join the Tourney. Tell me in all sincerity, you don¡¯t really think you have a chance of winning, do you?¡±

    ¡°I do actually,¡± Isyd said. ¡°More than that, I am here to make a point.¡±

    ¡°Oh, really? And what could this point be?¡±

    Isyd looked around at the Paramount Ringleaders that surrounded him, at the other Pupils present in the Great Hall who had noticed their little gathering and had approached, and at Jadwia and Oliwer next to him.

    ¡°All of you are not nearly as great as you think yourself to be,¡± he declared. He then pointed to Jadwia and Oliwer. ¡°My Ringmates here, they don¡¯t need to suck up to you or to your stupid Rings to succeed in the Academy, they can do it on their own!¡±

    Prinse turned his head one way, confused on what he was hearing. ¡°You¡¯re saying¡­¡±

    ¡°I am saying that in a matter of a semester, they¡¯ll have caught up to you, if not surpass you entirely!¡±

    Silence welcomed his words. Everyone was too dumbfounded to say anything. Jadwia was the first to snap out of her shock and put a trembling hand on Isyd¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Er¡­ Isyd¡­ the joke wasn¡¯t funny¡­¡± she tried to say.

    But Isyd didn¡¯t recede his words and kept on staring at the Paramount Ringleaders with defiance. Aaron¡¯s smile had frozen into something closer to a grimace, trying to determine whether or not he was joking, Prinse still looked uncertain of what he had just heard, Marzena was looking at him as if worried that something had gone wrong in his head.

    S?yem stepped forward in his direction, her right hand going for her left hip as if trying to catch the hilt of a blade that wasn¡¯t there.

    ¡°He¡¯s making fun of us! He is insulting us!¡± she said with anger in her eyes.

    ¡°Calm yourself, woman!¡± a calm voice called from the stairs. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡±

    The newcomer had a carefully chiselled face, with a sharp nose and a sharper jawline. His shoulder-length black hair contrasted with his piercing blue eyes. It emanated from the young man an air that Isyd had learned to be familiar with in the past: this was the look of those who were born in the nobility.

    ¡°Who is the second person?¡± Isyd had asked.

    ¡°Hmm¡­?¡± Jozaf had retorted, mouth full of pie.

    ¡°You said that out of all of them, I should watch for two of them. Who is the second person?¡±

    ¡°Oh! Jonn Drago, of course! 8<sup>th</sup> Year and 7<sup>th</sup> Opening, the Ringleader of the Crimson Gold. He¡¯s probably the strongest in the Academy. It¡¯s a toss-up between him and his Second-In-Command, Arael Lwieserce. Most importantly, he¡¯s a Crimson One just like Prinse Krovtur; Jonn Drago is the heir to the Podkarpia Voivodeship! I don¡¯t have to explain what that entails, right?¡±

    Isyd had nodded. If the Kazkan family owned the Barony of Vilriver, then the Drago family was their superior in the hierarchy of the szlachta as holding the Podkarpia Voivodeship. They were part of the Magnates, also called the Crimson Ones, the 16 noble families that ruled the 16 administrative divisions of the Commonwealth. If dealing with the Kazkan family had been annoying, they were nothing in terms of power compared to the Crimson Ones. If nothing else, what had motivated the Baroness to try to monopolize the Blysht in the first place was the hope of entering their ranks¡­

    Jonn Drago arrived at the bottom of the stairs and stared coldly at Isyd for a long moment before slowly offering a hand. Isyd took it, only for Jonn Drago to clasp it firmly. Too firmly.

    ¡°I am not offended by your words, Young Isyd¡­¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to offend.¡±

    ¡°¡­ because I know to recognize who is inferior to me.¡±

    His tone wasn¡¯t hostile in the slightest despite his words.

    ¡°It is natural for the common man to lash out at his superiors,¡± Jonn continued calmly. ¡°You say that we are not great, so I suppose I will have to prove you wrong. Hopefully, you will not hold it against me since you are the one who has so brazenly challenged us¡­¡±

    ¡°No. I hope it will be a chance for all of us to learn. After all, we are all still learning.¡±

    ¡°We are all still learning¡­¡± Jonn Drago repeated coldly.

    It was then that Isyd felt a familiar presence entering the Great Hall. He didn¡¯t need to turn to recognize the Song of the Grace from Kazian of the Winds. The old Artyst approached the inscription board and took it. He read it once through and his eyes seemed to stop at the bottom of it, surprised by the most recent addition. His eyes narrowed, but he cleared his throat.

    ¡°Young Aaron Gwemb, Young Prinse Krovtur, Young Jonn Drago, Young S?yem Nifritovna, Young Henryk Pwom, Young Marzena Tchepwa and Young Isyd Wybrany. Please follow me. We will begin the selection process for the Tourney.¡±

 70 - The Rules of the Competition

    Kazian of the Winds guided them to the Fields at the edge of the woods. There waited a small crowd of Pupils and the committee of Tutors that had been in charge of supervising tonight¡¯s events. It was composed of the Doyen, Hidrss, Tutor Milwyk as well as two Tutors Isyd wasn¡¯t familiar with. Nearest to the Tutors awaited a Pupil that Isyd recognised as Henryk Pwom, 7<sup>th </sup>Year and 6<sup>th</sup> Opening, the Ringleader of the Hammer. It wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d seen him; they had met once or twice previously in the Atelier. The man stood out from the rest of the Pupils as he was older than the average. Henryk Pwom had a strong build, blond hair cut short and the shadow of a beard. He was a man of few words, always stoic and dedicated to his craft. People in the Atelier and in the Hammer Ring respected him for his talent as well as his seriousness.

    The sun was already dipping behind the horizon, tainting the sky with a purple hue. Naeht appeared next to Isyd and fell into steps with him. As they approached, Kazian handed the inscription scroll to the Doyen. The old man went through it and smiled at reaching the bottom. Still, he didn¡¯t seem surprised and welcomed them with a smile.

    ¡°Good evening, Young Ones!¡± the Doyen said. ¡°I am pleased to welcome you and I thank you for your initiative to participate in the Tourney.¡±

    The Paramount Ringleaders plus Isyd joined Henryk Pwom and stood to attention while Kazian of the Winds joined the rest of the Tutors standing behind the Doyen.

    ¡°The Tourney is a grand occasion to display the skills you have learned and to demonstrate to the Artystic community the talents of our future generations. It is also a chance for Pupils to meet with peers from the other Academies, to compare their talents and improve as a whole. Certainly, the recompense at the end of it all makes it all worth it as well, I humbly say¡­

    ¡°I suppose you all know about the Tourney as it is the reason for our presence here this evening. Therefore, without further ado, I will explain the rules of the small competition that will determine the three Rings that are allowed to participate in the Tourney and represent our Academy.¡±

    The Doyen waived to the woods behind him.

    ¡°The competition will take place in the Fields and the forest,¡± he continued. ¡°The objective is to measure your aptitudes and Artystic abilities instead of your Openings specifically. In that spirit, we wish to level the playing field among the participants. This will be done using a new [Arcane] of our making. Tutor Hidrss, if you please.¡±

    Hidrss stepped forward and unrolled in front of them a linen bundle. It contained a dozen leather bands that held in their centre inert Blysht pieces. The crystals were small, not larger than a thumb, and loosely attached to the leather band by means of tin wires.

    ¡°Those are [Limiting Arcanes]!¡± the Doyen declared. ¡°They have been set up to break down around high concentrations of Grace. Put simply, the crystal will shatter once a [Spell] above the 6<sup>th</sup> Opening is cast. This is not cumulative however, you can enchain several [Spells] below this limit and be fine, it will only break after casting a [Spell] over the limit.¡±

    As Hidrss fastened the leather bands around their left wrist, Isyd looked intrigued at his [Arcane]. He could guess that the Blysht had been prepared with a modified version of his [Ingracing Hex] so that it only triggered after the 6<sup>th</sup> Opening, but he was curious to know how Hidrss had fixed this limit specifically. He knew that Hidrss had been busy working on a side project those past couple of days and now he could guess what it was.

    Hidrss, you clever fox¡­ Isyd mused with a smile.

    ¡°With this limit imposed on you, you will have to make use of all your skills and intelligence to face the trial ahead. You must prefer refinery and care instead of brute force. Now, about the competition! It consists of a collecting task. In the forest are hidden tokens that you must collect. They are protected by various challenges you must overcome. Each token is worth 3 points whereas an intact Blysht is worth 6 points. To be qualified, you must somehow total 18 points!

    ¡°Everything is allowed to gather those said points, including of course attacking each other. That being said, I would be missed not to remind you that it is a friendly competition and as such, you shall not in any circumstances endanger the life of your fellow Pupils. Any action that is deemed overboard will be severely punished. We have eyes on you, Young Ones, so behave! Finally, as a last challenge, Tutor Kazian Zenovbia here ¨C the newest addition to our teaching staff ¨C will also take part in the competition alongside you seven. His task will be to threaten every single one of you indiscriminately and try to slow you down and hinder you as much as possible. Any question?¡±

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    Aaron raised his hand. ¡°How many tokens are there?¡± he asked.

    ¡°A sufficient amount for sure,¡± the Doyen said.

    It was a confusing answer. Marzena raised her hand.

    ¡°If the tokens aren¡¯t the limiting factor, how do we decide who won?¡±

    ¡°I may have not been clear enough on that point, my apologies. You are against each other. The winners will be the first three Pupils who returned from the forest with their 18<sup> </sup>points. A [Fire Spell] will illuminate the sky and announce every time one of you succeeded.¡±

    ¡°Is there a time limit?¡± Prinse asked.

    ¡°No, we shall continue until three people have returned.¡±

    ¡°What are we allowed to bring with us?¡± S?yem asked.

    ¡°Anything you wished. Since we will commence immediately, I hope you came prepared. In addition to the [Limiting Arcanes], you will be given a [Lightsphere], but that is all.¡±

    S?yem nodded with a predatory smile on her lips.

    ¡°No more questions? Then we can begin forthwith. You will enter the forest in order of seniority, with the oldest first at an interval of five minutes. Note that at any time, you can defeat forfeit and walk out of the forest. Good luck, Young Ones!¡±

    The order of procession was decided to be S?yem, Aaron, Jonn, Henryk, Marzena, Prinse then finally Isyd. Before entering the forest, S?yem was handed a sheathed sword by one of her Ringmembers who had come to watch the competition. She strapped to her side with ease and satisfaction before turning to face the Tutors. After Hidrss made sure that her [Limiting Arcane] was properly attached and functioning, she received the signal from the Doyen and ran downhill into the woodlands.

    ¡°Do you want me to scout ahead, Isyd?¡± Naeht asked him.

    ¡°No, there¡¯s no need. Let¡¯s keep it remotely fair,¡± Isyd said with a grin. ¡°Instead, could you keep an eye on the Doyen for me? In case he tries any funny business¡­¡±

    ¡°You can count on me!¡±

    Jadwia and Oliwer had followed them outside with the rest of the crowd but they weren¡¯t allowed to come closer. Isyd waved at them a gesture that he meant to be reassuring. His mind was preoccupied with the fight ahead. He didn¡¯t want to admit to Naeht but he was slightly amused by it. Also excited. It was an interesting exercise, the likes of which he never had the chance to participate in during his previous life.

    His mind was going through the different possibilities. Technically speaking, there was no need to attack anyone, they could just focus on the tokens sparsely dispersed in the forest. In that sense, they only needed to collect four of them. It was also because losing your Blysht meant losing 6 points, two tokens worth, while possibly putting the opponent 6 points ahead. It may not be worth the risk!

    ¡°Young Isyd!¡± the Doyen called.

    It was finally time for Isyd to go. Hidrss winked at him while verifying his [Limiting Arcane] before sending him on his way. Isyd mauled over the fact that he didn¡¯t take with him his darkveil. He had suspected that it would give him an unfair advantage in this environment as the darkveil were specially designed for the Rangers of the Black Forest.

    As he was to enter the cover of the woods, Isyd still pondered on the possibility of everyone only going for the tokens. It was one possible scenario amidst many but Isyd deemed it the least likely. Jozaf had emphasized that the rivalry between the Paramount Rings wasn¡¯t to be underestimated. There was little chance that they all just ignored each other.

    This led him to consider another possibility¡­

    Isyd suddenly stopped on the pathway he had been following. His senses were perked up and he could hear the Song of the Grace all around him. Several, regular pulses quickly approached, circling around him. Isyd¡¯s eyes narrowed as he took note of the people stepping out from behind the trees.

    Marzena Tchepwa, Prinse Krovtur, Aaron Gwemb and Jonn Drago had manoeuvred as to encircle him. Their eyes were set on him.

    ¡°Hello again, Seniors¡­¡± Isyd drawled, not the least surprised.

    ¡­ Indeed, another possibility was that the Ringleaders teamed up to gang up on the intruder who had dared disturb the balance in their midst!

 71 - One Versus Four

    The fallen leaves cracked under the boots of the Ringleaders that surrounded Isyd. None of them brandished wands and they appeared relatively serene, but Isyd could feel a certain tension in their shoulders and their gaze.

    Jonn Drago was the first to speak.

    ¡°You can give up on your Blysht and forfeit the competition, Young Isyd.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s only one of me and four of you,¡± Isyd said. ¡°Who should I give it to?¡±

    ¡°Leave it on the ground,¡± Prinse Krovtur said. ¡°We will decide it among ourselves.¡±

    ¡°And what if I let it here but continue searching for the tokens? You may have set me back, but it¡¯s not the end.¡±

    ¡°This is why I will personally make sure you go to the Fields so that you can forfeit to the Tutors,¡± Jonn said.

    Hands clasped behind his back, Isyd pretended to ponder their proposition. Marzena Tchepwa looked fidgety and stood slightly apart from the rest of them. Seeing him hesitating, Jonn stepped closer.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have much choice in the matter, Wybrany. Yield.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I can see that¡­ I¡¯m afraid however that I count on winning this. If you want me to forfeit, you¡¯ll have to make me.¡±

    None of them seemed surprised by his response. Jonn¡¯s reaction was quick and decisive, imposing himself as their leader.

    ¡°[Bind]!¡± he said, snapping his fingers.

    The air around Isyd suddenly turned solid and constricted around him. It happened faster than Isyd could react; Jonn had not even needed to draw the [Spell]. Isyd¡¯s arms were clasped against his body in an invisible bind of steel.

    ¡°Aaron, you can go and retrieve the Blysht,¡± Jonn ordered.

    Aaron raised an eyebrow in Jonn¡¯s direction before crossing his arms. ¡°I receive no orders from you, Drago. What about you go and do it yourself?¡±

    There was a cold exchange of glare between the two young men before Jonn turned to Marzena and wordlessly asked her. She sighed and rolled her eyes but decidedly stepped forward.

    Isyd did not give her the chance to get too much closer. The only reason he had let them corner him was due to his curiosity. He wanted to measure the level of skills of those who were deemed at the top of the Academy. From this brief exchange, Isyd was not disappointed by Jonn Drago¡¯s performance. That being said, Isyd didn¡¯t intend to make it easy for them either.

    With a powerful blow, he kicked the thick layer of dead leaves and fallen needles on the ground, sending them flying in their direction. It served as a distraction at first, but it was only accentuated when Isyd released the [Wind Spell] he¡¯d been preparing. The cloud of scattered dirt, leaves and needles blinded the four Ringleaders and forced Marzena to step back. Isyd took this opportunity to dash to the side, off from the clearly laid dirt path and behind the cover of some trunks. This was just enough time for him to focus on the [Spell] binding him and figuring out how to break it. It wasn¡¯t a strong [Spell] due to the [Limiting Arcane]. Isyd strained against the invisible bonds and felt it push back against him. It only took him another burst of strength for the [Spell] to finally snap.

    Now freed, Isyd immediately spun around to face his opponents. With a simple wave of his hand, Jonn summoned a gust of wind to clear the cloud of dirt, then followed by a burst of flames.

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    ¡°[Deflect]!¡± Isyd called forth a [Wind Spell] that blew away the attack. He then seized the Fire Essence and SHAPED it into a [Fire Ball]. Isyd didn¡¯t have the opportunity to finish casting it because Aaron and Prinse got too close, each armed with a metallic staff. Isyd tried to step away, but his foot was trapped by wild roots spawned by Marzena. Prinse¡¯s blow hit him on the left shoulder, but Isyd raised his right arm and blocked Aaron¡¯s attack. The metal staff bent easily in two around his arm to Aaron¡¯s shock. Isyd winced but didn¡¯t let the opportunity go to waste. He grabbed the broken metal rod, yanked it off his hands and slammed his knee in the young¡¯s man stomach. Aaron keeled over and Isyd spun to hit Prinse with the metal pipe. Prinse tried to block with his own, but the [Spell] that had materialized was already decaying and the metal fell apart in his hands. He ducked just in time to dodge Isyd¡¯s swing, but he stumbled on the uneven terrain and fell on his arse. Isyd spun immediately toward Jonn, finger pointed.

    ¡°[Pierce]!¡±

    A gust of wind, thin and narrow like a needle, burst forth and missed Jonn¡¯s head by an inch. Jonn reposted instantly with his own [Spell].

    ¡°[Hammer Wind]!¡±

    All around Isyd, the air suddenly turned into an unbearable weight on his shoulders, slamming him down. The shock of it forced him to his knees and made him wince. Before he could get back up, tree roots grew from the soil and wrapped themselves around Isyd¡¯s left arm. Aaron quickly moved to grab the Blysht, but Isyd was faster. He threw a handful of dirt in Aaron¡¯s eyes and profited from the distraction to kick him in the chest and away from him. Isyd then followed drawing with his left index a circle in the air and summoning a flame that attacked the vines restraining him. Once freed, he jumped back on his feet just to face Jonn Drago as he was about to finish casting his [Spell].

    ¡°[Storm Front]!¡± he called forth.

    It was the strongest [Hex] he could cast without breaking his [Limiting Arcane]. The air around Jonn sparkled as it coalesced in front of his stretched hands before being released. Marzena threw herself to the ground to avoid being swept by the rolling wind current as it swept and crushed everything in its path.

    Isyd smirked at the danger.

    He quickly launched two [Wind Swipes] at it, but it did nothing to stop it or slow it down. Instead it seemed to make the [Storm Front] even stronger. Isyd followed by a [Wind Shield] materialized far from him. Upon contact, his [Hex] bent inward, threatening to yield. There was no way to cast a [Shielding Spell] below the 6<sup>th</sup> Opening strong enough to withstand such an attack, but Isyd didn¡¯t count on it. As the two [Wind Spells] struggled against one another in an unleashing of squalls, Isyd side-eyed Aaron and Prinse. The latter had managed to get close enough despite the gales pushing him back and was now aiming another [Wind Spell] at Isyd.

    This was the cue Isyd had been waiting for. On the fly, he modified the Commands of his [Wind Shield]. Instead of opposing the [Storm Front], he reshaped it so that the shielded folded into the attack. Jonn, on the other side of him, went suddenly pale as he finally understood what was about to happen. First, the two [Wind Swipes], then the [Wind Shield] and now another [Wind Spell]¡­

    ¡°Get back! He¡¯s making a Resonance!¡± Jonn shouted out of his lungs to be heard above the clashing winds.

    ¡°What?¡± Aaron only had time to shout back.

    It was too late, however. The two [Spells] collapsed into one another, seemingly sucking in all the air around them. The Resonance rose into higher and higher Openings while the four Pupils scrambled to get away. Finally, the [Spells] reached their climax. Like a storm exploding, the winds flattened all the trees, shrubs and bushes in a five-meter radius in a violent woosh!

    Even after having run away, Jonn felt the force of the blast grazing his neck. His gaze however immediately went for what was truly important: the Blysht on his left wrist. Thankfully, it was still intact.

    To bypass his [Limiting Arcane] but simultaneously threaten those of his opponents, Isyd Wybrany had turned his numerical inferiority back on them by compounding their low-level [Spells] to form a Resonance. It was a such risky move, Jonn could still not believe that this upstart Junior had attempted that!

    What kind of mad man¡­

    Jonn gritted his teeth but forced himself to calm down as he walked back toward the source of the explosion. He reassured himself by thinking that perhaps Isyd Wybrany hadn¡¯t really intended to create this Resonance, that it was all a fluke on his part¡­ After all, no 1<sup>st</sup> Year would ever dare play with Resonance, let alone control it. In fact, it was more likely that it had turned on Isyd and that his own [Limiting Arcane] had been blown out by the clashing of [Spells].

    Jonn arrived at the scene of their fight. There was a small crater where the Resonance had occurred and the areas surrounding had been stripped of their vegetation.

    Most importantly of all, Isyd Wybrany was nowhere to be found.

 72 - Stones and Steels

    Isyd moved quickly through the woods. The forest surrounding Vilriver was the deciduous type which meant that around this time of the year, the trees had lost most of their leaves and the ground was damp and muddy. Tonight was a moonless and cloudy night, turning the forest into an ominous and cold place full of muffled and far-away sounds. Isyd wasn¡¯t disheartened rather, he felt at ease in this environment. It reminded him of those times he had spent alongside the Rangers in the Black Forest. It was relatively speaking long ago, but Isyd kept good memories from that period, notably because it was the first time he¡¯d truly learned the Arts.

    While distractedly keeping attention on his surroundings, Isyd crossed the Little River to put as much space between him and the four Ringleaders he¡¯d left behind. He knew that a bit further to his east was the Waving Bridge and using it as a point of reference, Isyd headed northward and deeper into the forest. His objective was now the tokens, but he didn¡¯t know exactly what he was looking for. The Doyen had spoken of challenges protecting them so Isyd used his perception of the Song of the Grace, trying to hear anything out of the ordinary. This was particularly more difficult in an environment such as the forest, a place brimming with life. It made the white noise even more confusing and tricky to ignore.

    Isyd suddenly stopped near a muddy pond, his attention perked not by the Song of the Grace but by something at the edge of his vision. The terrain around him was gently sloping and littered with middle-sized boulders covered with lichens. Isyd stared past the birch trees to the strange shape that stood out. After a glance at his surroundings, he approached closer. There, in the middle of the forest had been erected a monolith. Twice Isyd¡¯s size, the stone was large and stood upright, visibly rugged and tapering at the top. The area surrounding it had evidently been cleared. If the monolith attracted the eye by its size and girth, what intrigued Isyd more was what stood behind it: a full suite of plate armour resting against it. The metal shone at the light of Isyd¡¯s Lightsphere. Isyd remained at a safe distance, certainly more after noticing the mace resting at the foot of the armour, and reached at it with his extra senses. He couldn¡¯t hear anything weird coming from the armour, but he wasn¡¯t na?ve enough to dismiss it entirely. Instead, Isyd reported his attention to the monolith from which he could hear the thrumming of the Arts.

    It didn¡¯t take him long to find the Commands that had been chiselled into the stone. It turned out that he was facing an [Arcane] and more precisely, a Balance puzzle. Isyd found that somewhat reassuring. The first time he encountered a Balance puzzle was in the Academy actually since those weren¡¯t common in his previous life. Naeht had been surprised by that fact, given how skilled he was at solving them. Balance puzzles came in different forms but the principle remains the same: they were [Hexes] that were out of Balance due to missing Commands or misalignment of the Meshing. Solving them required a good understanding of the Logic behind the [Spells] and an ability to read unknown Meshing. For Isyd, this wasn¡¯t much different than his experience in his previous life spent deciphering enemy¡¯s [Spells] to counter them. Plus, hearing the Song of the Grace allowed Isyd to be more attuned to the harmony required to solve a Balance puzzle.

    Isyd approached the stone and put his gloved hand on the geometrical shapes carved on its surface. He closed his eyes and honed in on the Song of the Grace. He let his Idpulse subsume his mind, falling into steps with the rhythm he could perceive. It was like an invisible dance; Isyd delicately reshaped the Commands into place and Meshed the various [Core Hexes] in accordance with their tunes until they all fell into place. With a satisfying hiss, the stone Isyd was touching suddenly sank in. It was followed by the apparition of a circular hole where the Balance puzzle previously stood. Isyd put his hand inside the hole and it came back holding a metal coin. This was one of the tokens scattered across the forest that were worth 3 points. This meant that with his intact Blysht, Isyd was already halfway there in terms of points.

    Isyd reported his attention to the set of plates near the monolith. He had to admit being perplexed by it. A part of him wanted to poke at it and examine it further because he suspected that it had been put there for a reason. However, Isyd had to keep in mind that he was taking part in a competition and couldn¡¯t afford to dally around.

    A disturbance at the periphery of his senses decided for him. It was a tune characteristic of the use of the Arts. Isyd immediately moved in that direction, looping back around towards the Little Stream. The trees became parser as he approached a wet meadow and Isyd kept an eye on the forest floor to avoid stepping into a bog or a deep, treacherous puddle. Once at the edge of the meadow, he knelt behind a decaying shrub and observed.

    In the centre of the meadow was another monolith and another suite plate of armour similar to the ones Isyd just left. And next to it stood Henryk Pwom, the Ringleader of the Hammer. His back was facing Isyd and he was focused on solving the Balance puzzle. Isyd relaxed where he sat and considered his options. His first thought was to rush in and claim the token for himself. If Henryk still had his [Limiting Arcane], then Isyd¡¯s points would add up to 18. One stone, two birds as it were. And yet, Isyd hesitated. Jozaf had been miserly in terms of information when it came to the Ringleader of the Hammer. Of all the Paramount Rings, Henryk was by far the most secretive. Isyd was curious to learn more about his skills.

    From where he sat, Isyd could see Henryk struggling to solve the Balance puzzle. He was hunched over and his blond hair glistened with sweat at the light of his Lightsphere. Isyd was surprised by this; he had always assumed Arcanysta to be good at this kind of exercise. By focusing, Isyd could hear the humming of the Song of the Grace out of tune and the attempts of Henryk to correct it. After several minutes of patiently observing, Isyd couldn¡¯t bear it anymore and stepped forward.

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    Henryk was so concentrated on his task that he didn¡¯t notice him approaching until he was at arm''s length.

    ¡°Need some help?¡± Isyd asked nonchalantly.

    Startled, Henryk whirled and in his hand was a glowing red rod that Isyd had mistaken for a Lightsphere. Isyd ducked just in time to avoid the wave of flames spurting from it.

    ¡°Wow! Hold on!¡± Isyd said, throwing a quick [Deflecting Spell] as Henryk attacked once more.

    The flames scattered against the [Wind Spell] but still forced Isyd to take a few steps back. It took him only a few seconds to guess that what Henryk was wielding was an [Arcane] because there was no way for him to cast [Spells] so fast. Isyd hadn¡¯t considered it before, but now he realized that using [Arcanes] was a good way to circumvent the [Limiting Arcane]. It was common knowledge that [Hexes] of high Opening could be wielded at a lower level after they¡¯d been turned into [Arcanes].

    ¡°We meet again, Wybrany,¡± Henryk greeted him with his characteristic deep voice.

    ¡°I noticed you struggling with the Balance puzzle. I thought I would offer a hand.¡±

    Henryk raised an eyebrow. ¡°I assume that the stone contains a token. You plan on claiming it for yourself?¡±

    ¡°Not necessarily. Surely, we can come to an agreement. But first, I¡¯d like to know how many points you have so far?¡±

    Henryk hesitated briefly then shook his head. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m not willing to collaborate, Wybrany.¡±

    ¡°A pity, but I understand¡­¡± Isyd sighed.

    Henryk raised his rod that resumed glowing red. Isyd expected him to attack him once more, but instead, Henryk spun and slashed at the monolith. The flames that appeared drew an ashy mark on the stone, but they didn¡¯t seem to have affected it more than that.

    It was then that Isyd felt something shift in the air. A new tune was picking up in the Song of the Grace. First surprised, Isyd quickly identified the source of it.

    The suite of plate armour had started to move.

    ¡°Are you the one doing this?¡± Henryk asked Isyd, pointing at the armour as it slowly straightened up and picked up his mace.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not. You may want to step back!¡±

    Henryk didn¡¯t need to be told that twice and had already put some space between him and the monolith. The plates clinked as the whole armour moved, but the inside that could be noticed through the discontinued joints revealed that there was nobody within. This armour was moving on its own.

    Henryk was coming to the same conclusion as Isyd. ¡°Is it a Summon, you think?¡± he asked.

    ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t sound like one,¡± Isyd said, trying to piece together what they were witnessing.

    He didn¡¯t have much time to do so because the instant it picked up its weapon, the armour turned in their direction. At one moment it was brandishing it, the second later he was in front of them.

    Taken by surprise by the sudden speed, Isyd could only throw out a quick [Deflecting Spell], knowing full well that it couldn¡¯t be strong enough to withstand a physical blow. Fortunately for him, Isyd wasn¡¯t the one being targeted.

    The mace was aimed at Henryk who raised his left arm as if trying to protect himself.

    ¡°[Shield]!¡± Henryk shouted.

    The weapon never made contact. On Henryk¡¯s wrist, right below where the [Limiting Arcane] had been attached, was another [Arcane] that turned on. A circular wall of air with metallic reflections spawned between him and the armour and deflected the mace. More than that, it pushed back the moving armour a few paces.

    ¡°Nice [Arcane]!¡± Isyd said without hiding his relief.

    ¡°Thank you, but another direct blow like this and it will break. What is this thing anyway? I thought it was maybe an [Illusion], but the blow is very much real! Are you sure it¡¯s not a Summon?¡±

    ¡°Pretty sure, yes. I think¡­ I think it¡¯s a sort of [Golem]¡­¡± Isyd advanced, uncertain.

    ¡°A [Golem]? What is that?¡±

    Isyd didn¡¯t have the chance to answer. The armour was already walking back in their direction, raising its mace once more.

    Isyd pointed a finger at it. ¡°[Pierce]!¡±

    The needle-like burst of wind hit the plastron, but it did nothing to stop the Golem one bit. He¡¯ll need something a bit stronger than that.

    On the opposite side of the meadow, someone appeared and was running in their direction. Isyd had only just noticed them, that they were already casting a [Spell] in the back of the Golem.

    ¡°[Heavenly Needle]!¡±

    A [Windblade] hit the armour squarely in the back and forced it to stop.

    Isyd¡¯s heart lurched in his chest as he recognized the [Hex] as well as the physical stance used.

    It couldn¡¯t be¡­

    ¡°Felyn¡­?¡± he muttered.

 73 - A Blooming Storm

    Momentarily transfixed, Isyd tried to make sense of it all.

    No, it couldn¡¯t be¡­

    The Song of the Grace wasn¡¯t right. It wasn¡¯t Felyn Kr¨®l, though it looked like her. Instead, S?yem Nifritovna stood at the ready and blade drawn. Her long, jet-black hair was ruffled and fell in strands in front of her face despite the ribbon that tied them.

    The Golem had turned to face her. S?yem¡¯s sword had a silvery shine to it and the Commands of her [Spells] glistened on its sharp edge like beads of gold ink.

    ¡°[Heavenly Needle]!¡± she called again.

    Isyd could feel that she also used as small an Opening as possible, thus constraining her power [Spell]. Case in point, the Golem simply swung his mace and dispelled the Windblade effortlessly.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect her to come to our help¡­¡± Isyd noted to himself.

    Henryk¡¯s stern face was for the first time broken by a smirk. ¡°More likely she wants to claim the token for herself.¡±

    Even with that being said, Henryk didn¡¯t remain idle. As the Golem was about to attack S?yem, he activated his [Arcane]. The flames spurted from his rod towards the moving armour and wrapped itself around its cuirass, below the armpits and above the beaver. The fire had turned into a solid leash that coiled several times around the Golem and prevented him from moving further.

    Following his cue, Isyd knelt and put a hand on the ground. He aimed at the feet of the Golem and began casting.

    ¡°[Bog Trap]!¡±

    He didn¡¯t need much work to achieve the [Spell] since the wet meadow was already suitable. The soil under the armour began to sag and the Golem¡¯s sabatons sank in their entirety.

    S?yem didn¡¯t let this opportunity go to waste. With a powerful lunge forward, she aimed at the hole between the beaver and the cuirass. She put all her strength into the attack so much so that the helmet was sent flying off its shoulders. It revealed underneath an empty armour. S?yem must have known that nobody was wearing the armour but it still felt weird to see it wiggle around while empty. She let a curse in a foreign language.

    ¡°What the hell is that thing?¡± she said out loud.

    ¡°A Golem, we think¡­¡± Henryk answered through gritted teeth.

    ¡°No, actually I have changed my mind,¡± Isyd intervened. They both turned to him. ¡°A [Golem] is an animated object given temporary sentience thanks to a complex Meshing of Commands. It¡¯s a high-level [Hex] that few people know. This is¡­ this sounds different¡­¡±

    ¡°Sounds? You¡¯re not making sense, Wybrany! What else could it be then?¡± S?yem said.

    Isyd pointed at the empty space of the cuirass. ¡°There¡¯s a strong Concentration of Air Essence there. Also, it also constantly changing ¨C moving ¨C which makes me think of a [Fluid Spell]. Those aren¡¯t characteristics of a [Golem]. It¡¯s just a very powerful [Air Spell] that is kept moving from a distance¡­¡±

    S?yem finally understood. ¡°A puppet animated from the inside¡­¡± she drawled.

    Isyd nodded. The suit of steel plates was controlled from within by the precise movements of an [Air Spell] like a hand within a sock-puppet. S?yem was about to add something, but at the same time, Henryk growled against the effort to keep the armour still. It had managed to extirpate itself from Isyd¡¯s bog and was now straining against the red, hot leash that Henryk had thrown at him. Its strength was overwhelming.

    ¡°I¡­ can¡¯t¡­¡± Henryk muttered through gritted teeth as his rod was slipping from his grip.

    Before Isyd could reach him to give him a hand, a final yank from the puppet armour was enough to break it free. Immediately, it swung its mace at S?yem ¨C the closest target to it ¨C and she used her sword to deflect the blow. However, she couldn¡¯t riposte with an attack of her own since there were only steel plates for her to hit. The puppet armour kept on swinging and forced S?yem to parry successively and step back. Its movements were rigid and clanky but the force behind each of its blows was strong enough to make S?yem wince. Suddenly she found an opening and stabbed at the joint of the left elbow. She almost managed to dislodge the entirety of the vambrace and the gauntlet but her blade eventually got stuck. The mace swung at her head and S?yem ducked. She stumbled, let go of her sword and fell on her arse.

    The puppet armour was already on her before she could get back up. Isyd leapt forward and he was halfway there when he realized that S?yem had been casting a [Spell]. She extended her open palm and aimed straight at the cuirass.

    ¡°[Blooming Storm]!¡±

    The [Air Spell] consisted first of a sphere of compressed air; the moment it hit the steel plate, it bloomed into a spiral storm that pushed the puppet armour off its feet and back several paces. The blow also managed to deform slightly the metal curvature of the plastron. Isyd reached S?yem as she was trying to get up and offered her a hand that she accepted.

    The puppet armour landed in a puddle on its back but immediately got back up, unshaken by the point-blank [Spell] it just received. In passing, it knelt down to recover the helmet that had flown up earlier and put it back on effortlessly.

    ¡°How do you even stop this thing if you can¡¯t hurt it?¡± S?yem grumbled. ¡°This was my strongest [Spell]!¡±

    ¡°A scaled-down version for a lower Opening, I assume?¡± Isyd said.

    She glanced at him as if he had asked a stupid question. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to break your [Limiting Arcane] to take this thing down, be my guest!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not even sure it would do anything¡­¡± Henryk said. ¡°You took its head off and it just put it back on.¡±

    ¡°The armour is just an outside shell,¡± Isyd said. ¡°What we need to do is to break or at least disturb the [Air Spell] that keeps it together.¡±

    ¡°This makes sense, but if the [Spell] is strong enough to control the armour, I have a hard time seeing how you can break it,¡± Henryk said. ¡°Rather I think we are not supposed to fight it. Not so long that we have our [Limiting Arcane] on at least!¡±

    He was making sense but both S?yem and Isyd curled their lips at that suggestion; they were not ones to shy away from a challenge. The puppet armour slowly moved in their direction, always relentless. The visor of its helmet moved slowly from one person to another, as if it was hesitating on which Pupil to target.

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    Henryk was right in saying that they couldn¡¯t fight it head-on, not with [Limiting Arcane] restraining them. An alternative would be for the three of them to combine their strength, but Isyd immediately dismissed the idea. Combining their Arts was one of the most difficult thing Artysta could attempt. Isyd had a hard time seeing how they could work in unison and on the fly well enough to cast a [Spell] together. This brought him to his second idea¡­

    ¡°I think I can do something, but it will take some time,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I¡¯ll need you to distract it in the meantime.¡±

    Henryk and S?yem threw him an unconvinced look, but they didn¡¯t have the occasion to protest. The armour resumed its relentless offensive and its eyes were set on Henryk, he who had first attacked the monolith.

    Isyd stepped aside and let his Idpulse take over his senses. He tried to recall at best the Song of the Grace he heard when S?yem had unleashed her [Blossoming Storm]. It was a good [Spell] and Isyd could easily imagine how powerful it would be if she hadn¡¯t been limited.

    In the meantime, S?yem was unleashing an onslaught of offensive [Spells] against the armour, trying to slow it down. Her Essences of predilection were the Fire and Air Essence, but they were too weak to even dent the steel plates. Henryk had taken the fight to the puppet armour itself. He had turned his [Fiery Arcane] into a palcaty and defended himself against the mace, parrying and riposting. Once or twice, he had to activate his [Shielding Arcane] at his wrist. The sudden repelling force it summoned was enough to push the armour off its balance at least momentarily. However, despite all their efforts, they couldn¡¯t find a way to stop it definitely. It wasn¡¯t made out of flesh so it couldn¡¯t be hurt, and it also didn¡¯t seem like it would tire any time soon.

    S?yem glanced at Isyd still busy with his [Spell] and gritted her teeth. Maybe it had been na?ve of her to believe that this 1<sup>st</sup> Year could be of any help. At the same time this thought came to her, Henryk¡¯s [Shielding Arcane] gave out at last but it still managed to wrestle the mace out of the armour gauntlet, leaving the armour weaponless and Henryk defenceless.

    ¡°Over here!¡± S?yem shouted, trying to get the armour''s attention, despite not being sure it could hear.

    She accompanied her shout with a gust of enflamed wind to the back of its head. It turned its helmet ¨C already loose on its empty socket ¨C askew. This was enough of a distraction for Henryk to dodge the metal fist about to hit him. S?yem dashed forward and gave a leaping kick to the armour aimed at its head. The blow was enough to send the helmet flying once more, but the headless puppet wasn¡¯t deterred and it simply seized S?yem¡¯s ankle before she could escape. She winced under the steel grip and tried to twist herself free, in vain. Effortlessly, the armour lifted her off the ground and threw her away like a ragdoll. She slammed once on the wet terrain and skidded to a stop near Isyd¡¯s feet.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Isyd asked her.

    S?yem spit out a mouthful of mud and glared at him.

    ¡°Once I¡¯m done with it, you¡¯re next¡­¡± she muttered as she flexed her sore neck.

    The armour was walking stiffly in their direction. S?yem struggled to get back on her feet. Her eyes landed on the [Limiting Arcane] at her wrist. She was considering her options and what was worth sacrificing to finally stop the puppet armour. To her surprise, Isyd Wybrany stepped in front of her.

    ¡°I needed an opening in its armour, so thank you for taking its head off again,¡± Isyd said.

    In his right hand, Isyd was holding what looked like a floating egg. Its shifting surface shone with a silvery hue and was run with tremors as if it struggled to maintain its delicate shape. S?yem watched it with confusion; she didn¡¯t know what she had expected, but certainly not something so insignificant!

    ¡°What the hell is this?¡± she snapped at him.

    The young man had the gall to glance at her and smirk, unfazed by the approaching armour.

    ¡°A [Blooming Storm], of course!¡±

    The puppet reached for him, but Isyd was deceivingly quick. He ducked below the armpit, slid behind it and kicked the back of its knees. The blow sent the armour stumbling forward, but it unnaturally dislodged its shoulder and swung its arms backwards. Isyd must have anticipated it because he stepped back and out of reach then went back in with a final kick to definitively send the puppet on its knees. Before the armour could hope to get back up, Isyd threw its [Blooming Storm] inside the head socket. Then, without looking back, Isyd raced back towards S?yem. He grabbed her forcefully by the arm and pulled her with him to put as much distance between them and the armour.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she protested. ¡°Unhand me!¡±

    ¡°I think we should get some space!¡± Isyd said.

    S?yem wrestled her arm from his grip and turned back toward the armour. It had gotten back up but was acting strangely. It jerked upward, took one step forward then froze with its two arms clutching its plastron. The whole set of plates was shaken by tremors.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening to¡ª¡± S?yem began.

    The armour suddenly exploded before she could finish her sentence! A storm bloomed from its inside and released powerful gusts of winds. The steel plates composing the armour were sent flying off in all directions, the plastron shattered in pieces and the sabatons sank deep into the ground where the puppet stood moments ago.

    Isyd walked around S?yem who¡¯d been left speechless and approached the crater left behind. Henryk, who had taken refuge at the edge of the meadow, did the same. After looking at what was left of the puppet, he glanced at Isyd.

    ¡°How in the world did you do that?¡± he whispered in a mix of awe and confusion.

    ¡°I disturbed the [Air Spell] that controlled the armour and made it go into Resonance,¡± Isyd explained. ¡°I used a modified version of S?yem¡¯s [Blooming Storm].¡±

    ¡°But how?¡± S?yem said behind them. ¡°To do what it did, the [Air Spell] had to be of a high Opening, something like 10<sup>th</sup> or 12<sup>th</sup>. To send it into Resonance, you¡¯ll need at least a [Spell] of the 7<sup>th</sup>¡­¡±

    Henryk glanced at the Isyd¡¯s wrist; his [Limiting Arcane] was still there.

    Isyd scratched the back of his head, thinking about how to best explain it. ¡°My [Blooming Storm] was of the of the 9<sup>th</sup> Opening, closer to the original version of S?yem¡¯s [Hex] I assume... First, I began like you did by changing the Balance of the [Blooming Storm] into a lower Opening; this was to make sure that the Grace flowing from my body and into the [Spell] remained at a rate below the 6<sup>th</sup> Opening limit. The [Limiting Arcane] is attached and aimed at me, not at the [Spell]. In other words, it is unable to distinguish whether the [Spell] I am casting is of the 1<sup>st</sup>, 6<sup>th</sup>, or 9<sup>th</sup> Opening. It can only measure the Concentration of Grace as it emanates from myself. By keeping this Concentration constant, I reshaped the Balance of my [Blooming Storm] to slowly increase its Opening. This is the reason why it took so long to cast it. I couldn¡¯t risk increasing my Grace Concentration, so it was the equivalent of filling a bucket droplet by droplet instead of plunging it directly into the source.¡±

    Henryk was staring at him with round eyes and speechless.

    ¡°I may have done a bad job explaining it...¡± Isyd said apologetically.

    He approached the monolith that had been left relatively unscathed from all the fighting. It now presented a circular hole at eye level. Isyd reached inside it and retrieved the token.

    ¡°You are a 1<sup>st</sup> Year...¡± Henryk said behind him. ¡°What you just did was much harder than simply casting a [Fluid Hex], which is hard in itself. The Idpulse it would demand... I don¡¯t think I could even begin to do it...¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯re selling yourself short, Senior,¡± Isyd said. ¡°It is tricky, but I assure you that with a bit of experience, you could do the same. At least with a [Spell], you are more familiar with... But now that we have sorted out this armour business, we come back to what interests us all: the token!¡±

    Henryk passed a tired hand through his hair wet with sweat and smiled. ¡°Sincerely, I am not about to fight you for it. After what you just did, I think you deserve it...¡±

    Isyd was a bit surprised by his willingness to give it up so easily, but he welcomed it with a grateful nod.

    ¡°I am afraid I cannot say the same, Isyd Wybrany,¡± the voice of S?yem said behind him.

    Isyd turned to see that the young man had retrieved her sword. She was now pointing her blade straight at him.

    ¡°I demand you yield your Blysht and all the tokens in your possession!¡±

 74 - Multifaceted Clashes

    Isyd observed S?yem, not taken aback by her reaction. From the little he knew about her, he could have guessed that contrary to Henryk, she wasn¡¯t the type to let an opportunity such as this go to waste.

    ¡°I must admit that Aaron was correct,¡± S?yem said softly. ¡°I underestimated you, but I must recognise you are talented. Very much so. I¡¯m glad we have a new talent like yours in the Academy.¡±

    There was no hint of mockery in her words, only sincere admiration. Isyd pocketed the token and then nodded his head in thanks.

    ¡°That being said, this only motivates me further to challenge you! After all, it is the reason why we are all here tonight. I shall face you with no regard to your Year or Opening and give you my all. I hope you understand what this means, Isyd Wybrany!¡±

    ¡°I do,¡± Isyd answered simply.

    ¡°Then en garde! And do not disappoint me!¡±

    She threw two Windblades at him. Isyd ducked the first one and [Deflected] the second. This gave him just enough space to pick up the mace left behind by the puppet armour. The weight was awkward in his hand, but the size matched that of his palcat. This would do.

    He rushed at S?yem who appeared momentarily surprised to see him prefer close-combat against her. She took a stance and swung at him. She had the advantage because her blade was longer and offered a better reach. Isyd met the steel head-on without flinching and brandished the mace. Its flanges met with the sharp edge of her sword and sparks flew out as it was deflected. Their exchanges of blows were brief and precise. Attacks, parries and counter-attacks flowed into one another in quick succession. The quick footwork of Isyd didn¡¯t allow S?yem to play with her range advantage. He made sure to be at the correct distance, seemingly unbothered by the uneven and treacherous soil.

    With a sudden faint, Isyd managed to break S?yem¡¯s stance. The wooden haft slammed on the ricasso with such a force it that made her drop her weapon. With her left hand, S?yem summoned a quick [Air Spell] aimed at his face. The sudden gust of wind, though weak, still momentarily blinded Isyd. This gave S?yem the opportunity to tackle him to the ground. She rolled with him, picked up her sword and brandished it. However, before she could even threaten him with it, the soil sank under her weight and broke her footing. With another [Spell], Isyd drew forth the Water Essence trapped in the mud and SHAPED it into [Ice Chains]. S?yem answered with [Rolling Flames], a fire running along the length of her arm and melting the chains before they could trap her. She then got out of his [Bog Trap] and resumed her sword stance.

    ¡°You are a good swordsman as well, Wybrany,¡± she said, a bit out of breath. ¡°Where did you learn?¡±

    ¡°I am fond of palcaty, that is all,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°Once I won the Tourney, we should find time to practice together.¡±

    Isyd¡¯s smirk was mocking and he shrugged with one shoulder. He eyed her with suspicion as the Commands began to form once more on the edge of her sword. Isyd was impressed by her ability to use her blade like a wand; not many Artysta could do the same. Despite the [Limiting Arcane], Isyd could see that S?yem was obviously skilled despite her young age, which he found promising. It wasn¡¯t often he met Artysta willing to learn the wielding of weapons, most preferring the bookish study of [Spells]. She lacked experience in the Physical Arts, but it was something that could easily be remedied. Her main strength was in her quick thinking and¡ª

    Isyd¡¯s senses perked up as he felt something rushing behind him. He threw himself to the side. Before S?yem could bring back her focus on Isyd, a figure jumped out of the edge of the meadow just from where he stood.

    It was Prinse Krovtur and he was running at full speed and didn¡¯t even seem to notice Isyd and S?yem being there. Only halfway into the meadow did he throw a glance behind him. S?yem, first taken by surprise, quickly recovered and redirected her sword at him.

    ¡°[Heavenly Needle]!¡±

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    The Windblade coursed the space between them, but Prinse¡¯s reflexes were quicker and he dodged it in extremis.

    ¡°Damn you, Nifritovna! Give me some space, will you?¡± he cursed at her.

    ¡°Since you¡¯re here, Krovtur, your tokens and your Blysht! Now!¡±

    He was about to curse back at her but then glanced back at the forest from where he came from. This was also what Isyd was looking at. What he had felt in the Song of the Grace wasn¡¯t Prinse Krovtur per se. It had been something much bigger. Had he been mistaken?

    Prinse cast a [Fire Ball] but kept it close to him as if it was a deterrent. S?yem was not impressed and with her left hand, she drew a series of [Wind Swipes] and launched them at him. The [Fire Ball] morphed into a [Fire Wall] to stop the attacks then turned into a [Fire Blade] to riposte. His flames crashed against a quick [Deflecting Spell] thrown by S?yem and scorched the earth around her. S?yem tried to close the gap between them but Prinse kept his distance with a flurry of [Fire Spells]. She tried to walk around them but then ran into Isyd. She parried his mace then fainted a lunge. Moving to avoid it, Isyd was left exposed and she kicked his right hand. He dropped the mace but before she could follow up, he jumped backwards and out of reach of her sword. It was just in time before a [Fiery Arrow] launched by Prinse flew between them. S?yem began casting another [Heavenly Needle] when the ground suddenly began to shake.

    First S?yem turned toward Isyd, but he wasn¡¯t casting any [Spell]. Instead, his attention was ported to the forest where the commotion appeared to come from.

    ¡°[Mother of Thorns]!¡±

    At the edge of the meadow, the trees came alive. The earth itself began to heave, torn apart as the deep roots rose above the ground. Dead shrubs and fallen leaves coalesced into a growing mass slowly towering over the canopy. The trees and underbrush coiled and knotted together, vines and thorns slithered up its length to encase the body. It was a hulking creation, a twisted tower with wiggling limbs like tendrils atop which stood Marzena Tchepwa, hands to her side with [Fluid Spells].

    ¡°You ran fast, I give you that, Prinse!¡± she shouted to be heard from the ten-meter height that separated them.

    Marzena wiggled her fingers and her [Mother of Thorns] began moving with deceptive speed. One of its arms was aimed at Prinse. To his credit, the young man stood his ground. He swiped the air, first horizontally then vertically.

    ¡°[Slash and Burn]!¡±

    The Commands wrought in golden light appeared in front of him. A horizontal Windblade slashed at the incoming wooden arm with enough strength to almost cut it entirely. It was closely followed by a horizontal strip red of flames that ignited the whole limb and pushed it back. At the same time, another branch grazed over the ground and tried to sweep Isyd and S?yem off their feet. Isyd jumped above it, but S?yem decided to face it.

    With her right hand, she tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword and with the left, she held onto her right wrist as if to give it additional support. Her blade shone with a silvery light as the Commands danced on its edge.

    ¡°[Moonlight Crescent],¡± she let out as she brought the sword down.

    The air around her blade turned solid and sharp and a crescent of light spewed forth. It cleaved the soil and cut the wooden appendage right off before it could reach her. This [Spell] must have taken a toll on her because S?yem was now panting.

    The tree creature moved out of the forest and further into the meadow. It rolled on the ground like a wave, bringing with it its wriggling branches and vines. It was only then that Isyd could see the faint outline of a humane shape with Marzena standing where the neck should have been. Despite its massive size, the creation was surprisingly swift and nimble. It wormed its way to the edge of the meadow to cut off Prinse¡¯s escape and ducked the [Fire Balls] aimed at it. Marzena whirled her hand and a sprout of vine appeared at the young man¡¯s feet and ensnared him before he could react. A wooden tentacle soon wrapped all around Prinse, immobilizing him for good. The snare was like a grip of steel because, despite his best efforts and the sparks of [Fire Spells], it did nothing to the [Mother of Thorns].

    Marzena lifted Prinse in the air until they were at eye level. If a glare could kill, Prinse¡¯s dark stare would have murdered Marzena twice over. She didn¡¯t seem to mind and instead searched the pockets of his uniform for any tokens. The fact that she didn¡¯t look for his [Limiting Arcane] meant that it had somehow been destroyed, or already stolen by another participant. Isyd, slightly amused, wondered if his little trap earlier with the Resonance had got Prinse.

    Isyd pointed his right hand at them, about to cast a [Spell]. It was then he heard a familiar Song in the Grace, a Song he had not heard for what felt like forever, though it had only been a year.

    Windblade came out from the edge of the meadow and easily severed the limb holding Prinse, sending him crashing to the ground. From a sparse clearing of the woods stepped out Kazian Zenovbia, he who Isyd better knew as Kazian of the Winds.

 75 - Not Holding Back

    Despite his Tutor robe not being suitable for trudging through the forest, Kazian appeared in pristine conditions. His pace was leisurely as he walked further into the meadow, feeling the way ahead with his Artystic staff.

    ¡°Even after our little exchange earlier, you could have escaped me if you had been more discrete, Young Ones,¡± Kazian said to Prinse and Marzena. ¡°Unfortunately, your Arts have the discretion and subtility of a circus¡­¡±

    He was obviously referring to the Mother of Thorns summoned by Marzena who towered above them all. Prinse finally managed to get free from the vines restraining him and got back up.

    Suddenly, the night sky was illuminated by a blazing light. Everyone turned their attention to the sky to see where a bright comet was shooting up before exploding into a flare. It left behind what looked like a bloomed tulip, the petals of which were made out of fire.

    ¡°It looks like one of your colleagues just qualified,¡± Kazian said. ¡°Young Jonn Drago would be my guest.¡±

    Prinse pointed an angry finger at the Tutor. ¡°It¡¯s because you let him escape earlier!¡±

    ¡°Now, be serious, Young One! Are you accusing me of favouritism? I take offence to that!¡±

    Kazian¡¯s smile was mocking and unserious. Isyd could recognize in it a certain callousness ¨C others had called it cruelty ¨C that he had become familiar with. It turned out that this side of Kazian had not appeared because of the War and instead had been there from the very beginning¡­

    Prinse extended his hand and threw a [Fire Spell] at the Kazian. It crashed into an invisible wall without the Tutor needing to move a finger. This was a [Shielding Spell] of high Opening mixed with a [Illusory Spell] to make it invisible. To guess its strength and size, Prinse unleashed a series of [Fire Spells] in several directions. They almost all scattered in the air before reaching the Tutor, but a few went wide and blew past him. At those points were the limits of the [Shielding Spell] and with this rough estimate in mind, Prinse cast two [Fire Balls] in each hand. At the last second before releasing them, he modified the Balance and instead of flying straight, they curved around.

    If Kazian was impressed, he didn¡¯t show it. He waved his staff around and the blazing projectiles stopped in the air before being snuffed out. Taken aback, Prinse began casting another [Spell] but the light at the tip of his finger sparked briefly before giving up. No matter how many times he tried, his Arts were not working.

    ¡°Get a grip, Krovtur!¡± S?yem barked. ¡°Concentrate!¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t!¡± Prinse croaked. ¡°What¡­ what is happening?¡±

    Only Isyd understood what was going on and his face was grim as he eyed Kazian. The air had suddenly turned colder. The Great Artyst held the Fire Essence in Seizure, making sure that Prinse couldn¡¯t use it. A feat only possible by Artysta of great renown and which demanded a great effort.

    This meant that Kazian had no intention of holding back.

    Undeterred, S?yem had approached closer and her blade was drawn. She took advantage of Kazian facing Prinse to launch a surprise attack. Kazian spun around right in time to deflect her blade with the butt of his staff. He then swiftly whirled it around and threw a Windblade at her that S?yem parried with one of her own. She tried to lunge forward but the earth underneath her heaved up and she had to jump forward. S?yem landed awkwardly on the ground and her right ankle gave out. Still, in a desperate attempt, she swung her sword at the Tutor.

    The blade stopped in front of the open palm of Kazian. It was still moving, but its movement was slow, almost imperceptible as if the air between the edge of the sword and the palm of Kazian had turned into a thick, viscous substance.

    ¡°Good effort, though somewhat overoptimistic¡­¡± he drawled.

    Commands appeared on his open palm and his [Hex] latched onto the sword. The blade suddenly broke apart into useless chips of metal. S?yem slumped down, staring blankly at her naked hilt where a steel sword had been mere seconds ago.

    With S?yem and Prinse seemingly defeated, it was then that Kazian turned his attention to Isyd. Their eyes met for that brief instant.

    Suddenly, the air between them sparked, flashed and collapsed. It was due to the clashes of two [Air Spells]. It had happened so fast, in the blink of an eye. Neither Isyd nor Kazian had to move a finger to draw the Commands; their Idpulse had been strong enough to do without. Kazian tilted his head one way and narrowed his eyes. He had not expected his surprise attack to be stopped, certainly not by the 1<sup>st</sup> Year. Surely, this Pupil of the lot would not cause a problem¡­

    Kazian raised his staff, about to cast another [Spell] when the soil under his feet trembled. A web of vines, an extension of the Mother of Thorns, grew out of the ground and tried to ensnare him. The air around Kazian turned sharp and small Windblades whipped around him to cut them short before they could reach him. The Mother of Thorns tried to move toward him, but Kazian threw a quick [Spell] that heaved the earth and formed a mound around it to stop it. He then spun and reported his attention on Isyd who stiffened in anticipation. Neither of them had the chance to do anything, however, because they felt the sudden spiking of Air Essence around them.

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    They both glanced to the side. S?yem, still on the ground, had discarded her broken weapon and was now pointing her two hands in the direction of the Tutor. The wind had taken a silvery hue as it spiralled around her and coalesced in her open palms where her [Hex] was forming. Isyd could immediately recognize her [Spell], the complete version of the one she used in their fight. He then noticed her wrist where her [Limiting Arcane] should have been. There was no Blysht to be seen.

    S?yem¡¯s eyes were full of anger as she met Kazian¡¯s.

    ¡°[May This Storm Bloom]!¡±

    The [Spell] was the power of a storm stored within a seed no larger than an apple. It coursed the space between them, stripping the soil naked in its wake and sucking in the air to garner even more strength. Isyd dashed backwards to avoid being caught in its deflagration. No [Shield Spell] could withstand this version of the [Blooming Storm]¡­

    Before the [Air Hex] could reach him, Kazian pointed his staff in its direction and stopped it in a powerful CRACK!

    It was as if the air had turned into glass and shattered. The winds still raged all around them, a flurry of Windblades that shredded the earth and ruffled their clothes, but the storm did not bloom. Instead, the seed remained at the tip of Kazian¡¯s Artystic staff, as if hesitating. It was soon surrounded by a plethora of Commands that appeared out of thin air from Kazian¡¯s Idpulse.

    Kazian smiled ¡ª the type of smile Isyd had come to know, full of self-importance and mockery.

    ¡°This is a neat [Spell] you got there, Young Nifritovna,¡± he said. ¡°I shall borrow it!¡±

    S?yem, out of breath and weakened, stared with horror and disbelief as Kazian moved to grab the [Blooming Storm] in his naked palm. He held the seed ¡ª the concentrate of the storm ¡ª for a little bit, admiring it, before moving it at an arm''s length above his head where it remained floating. S?yem¡¯s arms fell to her side and she let out a weak sigh. Her eyes had not lost their fiery anger, but her body was exhausted after the effort.

    Isyd wished he could say he was surprised by Kazian¡¯s display of skills, but it would be a lie. S?yem couldn¡¯t have known but there was little chance to win against Kazian of the Winds by using his own Essence against him.

    The earth rumbled as the Mother of Thorns tore through the mud mound that entrapped it and launched itself towards the Tutor. Its wooden appendages were torn by a flurry of Windblades that protected him and cut to pieces before it could reach him. Kazian then pointed his staff and cast a [Fire Ball]. The blazing sphere was red hot ¨C hotter than anything Prinse had cast ¨C and pierced the trunk of the Mother of Thorns as if it was butter, leaving behind a gaping hole. Vines grew inside and intertwined in a mesh, trying to heal the wound, but it was too slow and the Mother of Thorns began to waver and come apart.

    Marzena let out a yelp of panic. She brought her hands together and modified the [Fluid Hexes].

    ¡°[Overgrowth]!¡±

    The Mother of Thorns tightened its core, bringing closer to the main trunk all its wooden limbs before coiling up. It then shot upward, growing and growing towards the night sky and away from Kazian.

    ¡°[Decay and Rot]!¡±

    Kazian sketched the [Spell] with speed and precision wrought by experience. The [Hex] latched itself to the wound left by the [Fire Ball] and immediately took effect. The trunk began to rot from the inside out; the wood turned into dust, the leaves withered and died in a matter of seconds and the bramble skin that encased it all unravelled. The Mother of Thorns staggered but its main trunk was unable to maintain its balance; it wobbled briefly then snapped in two in a cacophony of crushing trees and branches. Marzena yelled as she plummeted from the sky.

    Isyd moved before thinking. A sweet taste burst in his mouth and jitters filled his stomach. He leapt several meters in the air towards the falling Marzena and snatched her in his arms. Feet first, he landed hard and withstood the force of the impact with a grunt and gritted teeth. In her panic, Marzena had latched her arms around his neck and was almost strangling him. Isyd noticed, amused, that her eyes were firmly closed and she had probably not noticed that she¡¯d been saved.

    Still holding her, Isyd turned towards Kazian. The Tutor¡¯s face was a grimace of begrudging appreciation in front of Isyd¡¯s physical feat.

    ¡°Physical Arts, eh? Impressive¡­¡±

    Kazian reached up and plucked the [Blooming Storm] from the air. Isyd¡¯s heart fell in his chest and his eyes went wide. Kazian¡¯s grin was cruel as he released the [Spell].

    Isyd spun on his heel and tried to duck to the side. He was too late.

    He felt something heavy hit him in the lower back before being lifted off the ground. The explosion sent them flying. By reflex, Isyd curled up and tried to protect Marzena with his body. As if caught through a storm, the whole world turned into a painful whirlwind without a sense of up or down. They crashed through trees, branches and shrubs before hitting muddy ground once and finishing their course in the water.

    The shock left Isyd momentarily dazed. He felt himself sinking but the cold water managed to wake him. He struggled out of the peat that surrounded him, put his weight on a rock nearby and managed to drag himself out of the water. Still panting and disoriented, a hand appeared in front of him and he took it to get back on his feet and away from the slippery banks.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± a voice asked.

    Isyd let himself fall on a patch of gravel and looked to the side to see Marzena in a similar state as him.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Isyd let out with a groan. ¡°What about you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine as well. Thanks to you.¡±

    Her curly red hair was wet and full of dirt. Her face was pale, muddy and covered in small cuts. Isyd could easily guess that he was not faring much better. He¡ª

    Isyd froze, then slowly got back up.

    He could see Marzena. He could see her clearly. Despite not having a Lightsphere with him. Isyd looked to the sky. The clear blue sky.

    It was daytime!

    ¡°How is it possible?¡± he muttered, baffled. ¡°How long have we been unconscious?¡±

    ¡°Not long, else we would have drowned,¡± Marzena said.

    ¡°So, what do you make of this then?¡± Isyd said, pointing at the sky.

    Marzena remained silent for a little while. Then, she let out what Isyd had feared.

    ¡°We are trapped in an [Illusion]¡­¡±

 76 - Illusory Forest

    Isyd got back up and winced in pain. Marzena rushed to him, but he stepped away before she could touch him.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m fine,¡± he told her.

    ¡°You don¡¯t look so fine! You took the worst of the attack!¡±

    Isyd lifted his shirt to uncover his left side and his back. ¡°I¡¯m sturdier than I look, don¡¯t worry. I will bruise by tomorrow, but I¡¯m confident nothing is broken.¡±

    Marzena bit her lips, unconvinced. She tried to arrange her hair and parse the twigs that had been caught in it. She wrung her pleated skirt and then divested herself from her greatcoat, heavy with water. Isyd followed her example and hesitated to do the same with his high-collared red shirt underneath. His teeth were chattering uncontrollably due to the coldness that gripped him entirely.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you c-cold as well?¡± Marzena asked, also trembling. ¡°We may catch death in our lungs because of this!¡±

    Isyd was focusing his hardest on chasing away the cold, but Marzena had a better idea.

    ¡°[Burn True]!¡±

    She summoned a floating [Light Ball] that was dull but quickly emitted as much heat as a long-burning bonfire. It felt good without delay, but it didn¡¯t last long before fading away.

    ¡°We¡¯ll warm up if we get moving,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°Moving where? Do you have a direction in mind?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly,¡± he admitted. He then pointed at the river they had crashed into earlier. ¡°This is the Little Stream, so it means we were not thrown that far away by the [Blooming Storm]. Unless¡­¡±

    ¡°Unless what?¡± Marzena urged him.

    ¡°Well, since we¡¯re in an [Illusion], this may not be the real Little Stream.¡±

    Marzena pondered it for a second. ¡°I crossed it before during my fight with Prinse, but it was upstream from here. There was no [Illusion] then¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you familiar with [Illusory Spells] and how they work?¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be the one asking you this question since you are my Junior?¡± Marzena said with a smirk. ¡°To answer your question, yes I am familiar; we received a few classes on the subject.¡±

    ¡°So, what kind of [Illusion]s are we on, do you think?¡± Isyd said, crossing his arms.

    ¡°It¡¯s not an attack on the mind since we¡¯re both here and aware of each other. This means that we¡¯re facing an Illusory Construction. They come in two kinds: the first kind works with [Fluid Hexes] to create an environment around the target that evolves constantly around them to become the perfect prison. It¡¯s the most difficult type to pull off and the most unlikely since it would require another Tutor besides Tutor Zenovbia to be in the Forest with us. This leaves us with the second kind of Illusory Construction: an Illusory Space. I suspect that at several places in the Forest, there were [Illusory Arcanes] that were scattered. Once activated together, they build an environment detached from reality. We stumbled into one, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡±

    Isyd nodded. He had arrived at the same conclusion. In this situation, he regretted the absence of Naeht. As a creature of pure Grace, she was unaffected by Illusory Space and saw through them as if they didn¡¯t exist; she could have helped him out of this mess in an instant.

    ¡°So, I guess there are only two ways to escape the Illusory Space?¡± Isyd said. ¡°One way would be to break one of those [Arcanes] that created it. The second way is to step away from the delimited area that the Illusory Space encapsulates.¡±

    ¡°That is correct, but it is easier said than done,¡± Marzena said. ¡°For one thing, the [Illusory Arcanes] are often dissimulated within the [Illusion] and are impossible to distinguish. The very advanced [Illusion] can even reshape around them as you approach to make sure you don¡¯t find them. As for the second option, I think it is our best chance...¡±

    She then spun around, looking for something before pointing far in the distance. ¡°Do you see how the forest blurs over there? It is further proof of the Artystic Creation. It¡¯s due to your mind interacting with it and perceiving the reality leaking through.¡±

    Isyd looked in that direction across the Little Stream. As far as he could tell, there was nothing wrong with the woods. Still, he knew better than to trust any of his normal senses while trapped in an [Illusion].

    ¡°However, this doesn¡¯t mean that we¡¯ve found its boundary,¡± Marzena continued. ¡°As we approach that region, I suspect that it will sharpen and look as real as anything else. We may not know we stepped out of the [Illusion] until we do.¡±

    ¡°In other words, we chose a direction at random and hope that eventually we reach the boundary of the [Illusion],¡± Isyd said. ¡°Hoping without hope, that while we¡¯re trapped in here, the Competition hasn¡¯t concluded.¡±

    Marzena bit nervously her lips and nodded. She looked sheepish as she turned to Isyd.

    ¡°Would you agree to work together until we escape here?¡± she asked, offering an open hand.

    Isyd clasped it without hesitation. ¡°Sure, no problem! Only we need to be open with each other. How many tokens do you have so far?¡±

    ¡°I only have 2 tokens.¡±

    ¡°Same here. What about your [Limiting Arcane]? I still have mine.¡±

    Marzena showed her naked wrist where the leather band should have been. ¡°Stollen. Courtesy of Jonn Drago.¡±

    ¡°So, that¡¯s how you managed to use such a strong [Hex] as your [Mother of Thorns]! That was very impressive!¡±

    ¡°Oh, thank you! I came up with it when we were studying Summoning, but I never managed to turn it into a real Summon. I found [Fluid Spells] work best. By the way, I meant to ask you: do you know your Essence affinity? I am not sure the 1<sup>st</sup> Years have been tested on that yet¡­¡±

    ¡°I am of the Waters,¡± Isyd said. ¡°And you are¡­?¡±

    ¡°of the Stones! It¡¯s perfect that way, we have good complementarity!¡±

    Isyd nodded. ¡°So which direction do we take?¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter really. I suggest we follow the Little Stream upstream since I crossed it earlier.¡±

    They began walking, following the riverbank. Isyd immediately noticed that Marzena was slower than him. It was not only the length of his gait ¨C he was after all taller than her ¨C but the fact that she struggled at each step to find her footing on the uneven gravel. It¡¯s only after paying closer attention that Isyd noticed what was the problem.

    ¡°Did you hurt your ankle perchance?¡± he asked her as he slowed down his pace.

    ¡°I did, but it happened against Jonn, before our confrontation in the meadow. It is mostly fine.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re an Apteyk, are you not? Why don¡¯t you just heal it?¡±

    Marzena glanced at him as if he¡¯d just said something stupid. ¡°It is impossible for an Apteyk to heal their own wounds. If you tried, the Grace kind of refuses to act the same way as it does when applied to someone else.¡±

    Was it, now¡­? Isyd was surprised by her answer because, in his previous life, he¡¯d seen many Apteyka heal through grave wounds with their Healing Arts. He¡¯d never heard of a problem with this.

    Maybe it is a matter of Openings¡­ he mused silently. After all, he only frequented Artysta of high Openings at the warfront.

    ¡°I suppose you are not familiar with the Healing Arts?¡± Marzena said.

    ¡°I can¡¯t say I am,¡± Isyd said. ¡°Plus, a part of me thinks you deserve it. You did ally with Jonn Drago to corner me after all. You shouldn¡¯t have trusted the man¡­¡±

    Marzena¡¯s face flushed red. ¡°I guess I should apologize for that¡­ Still, you can¡¯t really hold it against me; we are in a Competition and the Tutors said that all was fair!¡±

    Isyd waved his hand and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m just teasing. I don¡¯t actually mind.¡±

    Marzena suddenly stopped on her track and her eyes went wide. She was looking at something above Isyd¡¯s shoulders. He spun around, at the ready. While trapped within an Illusion, his extra perception of the Song of the Grace was rendered useless. This meant that he couldn¡¯t use it to detect an incoming danger like he usually did.

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    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked, eyeing his surroundings.

    Marzena pointed at the distance toward the edge of the woods across the Little Stream. The naked branches of the trees were glistening like stars. It was as if covered with tinsels of Lightspheres.

    ¡°Are those leftovers from the Korochun?¡± Marzina muttered.

    It was the first thing Isyd also thought of. Without thinking twice, Isyd cast an [Ice Shaping Spell]. A bridge clear like crystal appeared out of thin air, connecting the two sides of the riverbanks. He could have leapt over it easily but he wasn¡¯t sure Marzena could do the same. After approaching closer, they realized that those weren¡¯t Lightspheres dangling from the branches but instead dozens of glowing metal coins.

    ¡°Those are tokens,¡± Isyd said. ¡°I do not know why they are glowing like that.¡±

    ¡°It seems too easy to be anything but a trap¡­¡±

    To prove her point, she reached for the lowest branch where one of the tokens was left attached to a cord. When she touched it, it turned blurry and faded like smoke between her fingers. As soon as the token she touched vanished, the remaining ones began to falter, to blink in and out in a chaotic rhythm. It was now apparent that the tokens were not only dangling from the trees at the edge but also deep inside the forest. It all seemed to goad them further in.

    Marzena turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°As you said, it seems too obvious¡­¡± Isyd said. ¡°But then again, why would they have put that there?¡±

    ¡°You think that there may be a real token hidden amidst the Illusory ones?¡±

    Isyd shrugged. ¡°You don¡¯t think it possible?¡±

    Marzena bit her lips and shrugged as well. She swatted at another branch and the token dangling from it also vanished in fumes.

    ¡°How can you find the real ones?¡± she said. ¡°There are too many of them to check one by one.¡±

    ¡°Can you summon your [Mother of Thorns]? It could do quick work of it.¡±

    ¡°No can do, I¡¯m afraid. It takes a lot of Grace to summon it, let alone manipulate it. After our fight in the meadow, I am too tired to do it again.¡±

    Isyd nodded with a grunt and resumed walking. The ground was going up an incline and the soil was littered with dead leaves and needles. Isyd found the absence of sounds unnerving as he moved through the forest. He had first noticed near the Little Stream; the lapping of its waters on the stones did not make a sound. This meant that the person who had set up this [Illusory Spell] hadn¡¯t bothered with including the noise to make the whole seem more real. This was only a problem if approximation to the real was the aim of the [Illusion]. The clear blue sky above his head was proof enough that it wasn¡¯t the case.

    It was not only the absence of the natural sounds that disturbed Isyd but also the muted Song of the Grace. He had grown so accustomed to it that in its absence, his head felt wrapped in wool. It was as if his ears were plugged or asleep. More than numbing his extra senses, it also affected his sense of balance as he stumbled on the uneven ground a few times and needed Marzena not to fall face first.

    She had a worried look on her face when she looked at him, probably blaming his unsteadiness on the [Blooming Storm] he had protected her from. Isyd didn¡¯t want to explain to her the aggravating effects that [Illusions] ¨C or any [Spirit Attacks] for that matter ¨C had on his mind.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think the flickering has any meaning,¡± Isyd muttered more to himself than to Marzena. ¡°Also, all the tokens so far do not have any shadows, so we can be assured that they are not real.¡±

    For those he wasn¡¯t certain, Isyd was launching [Piercing Spell] at the tokens in quick succession. They faded into smoke upon being touched by the gust of air, narrow and precise like a needle. Marzena, who was trailing right behind him, was left speechless by his accuracy and the speed at which he could cast the [Air Spell] without faltering in Concentration or Visualization. Once or twice, it even seemed that the [Piercing Spell] was bending to better reach its target and Marzena had no idea how Isyd did it. Finally, Isyd stopped in front of a cluster of massive spruce trees that stood out from the rest of the forest with their branches still covered with foliage. In their midst flickered the tokens.

    Isyd launched a gale at them, ruffling the leaves and the Illusory tokens. They all vanished in smoke except for a light at the top of the canopy. Isyd and Marzena exchanged a glance.

    ¡°Are you up to climb the tree?¡± Marzena said. ¡°I certainly am not, not with my ankle¡­¡±

    ¡°Do I then have a priority on the token?¡± Isyd retorted.

    Marzena bit her lips. She had no way to climb by herself and reach the canopy, not in this dense cluster of spruce branches. If she had her [Mother of Thorns], it would have been another story entirely¡­

    ¡°Since we agreed to work together so long as we¡¯re in this Illusion, let¡¯s just say that all the tokens we collect are shared until we are out,¡± she said. ¡°We will decide on how to split it after.¡±

    This sounded reasonable to Isyd. Plus, he was fairly certain that he could outmanoeuvre Marzena if it came to that, certainly with how tired and wounded she was.

    He looked back to the tree that stretched high towards the sky. There weren¡¯t any low branches he could use to begin his climb so he had to improvise. However, before he could do anything, the soil beneath his feet rose into a pillar. He turned to see Marzena who had drawn a [Earth Spell] on the ground.

    ¡°I can do that at least,¡± she said with a smile.

    Isyd nodded and didn¡¯t waste more time before reaching for a branch and began his swift climb. He was nimble and not the least hesitant as he heaved himself higher and higher on the tree; it was as if his weight barely affected the branches. His hands were protected from the rough bark by his gloves but it scrapped and tore at some parts of his uniform.

    Marzena watched him from down below, craning her neck to follow his ascent. She shifted on her feet, trying to offset the low throbbing on her ankle. She saw Isyd suddenly stop near the top, barely visible through the foliage.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± she shouted. ¡°You found something?¡±

    Isyd threw one of his legs above a thick branch and sat against the trunk. He then reached for the blinking token that was tainting him at arm¡¯s reach. His hand touched the metal. It didn¡¯t fade into smoke. This was a real token.

    ¡°Yes, I fou¡ª¡±

    Everything suddenly shifted.

    Isyd¡¯s mind spun and so did the world. The sky fell upside down, trading places with the earth. Isyd gasped and threw himself back against the trunk. He held on for dear life as he felt gravity pulling him down towards¡­ the sky. He heard a voice calling for him ¨C Marzena ¨C but it seemed so far away. Isyd clutched his eyes closed and breathed heavily, trying to regain control of his senses.

    It¡¯s not real¡­ It¡¯s an Illusion¡­

    Yet, no matter how many times he repeated it, his sense of balance was entirely captured by the Illusory Space. He couldn¡¯t distinguish up from down; his heart threatened to beat out of his chest.

    Isyd gritted his teeth and focused on the only thing that felt real at that instant: the token he was clasping in his hand. Its solid surface and its square hole in the middle.

    This was real.

    The vertigo slightly released its grip on his heart and Isyd could open his eyes. He looked down ¨C up, down, then up again ¨C towards the ground, hoping to call Marzena for some help. She appeared so small from where she stood, hanging upside down and¡­

    ¡­ and fighting Prinse Krovtur!

    Marzena was surrounded by a wall of mud to shield herself from the [Fire Spells] Prinse launched at her. She riposted by attacks on her own but lacked the potency to cause a real threat.

    Isyd glanced down then up one last time. He then took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

    Come on¡­ it¡¯s not your first time and this won¡¯t be your last!

    Without further hesitation, Isyd let go of the trunk and fell toward the sky. It spread beneath him like an infinite blue sea devoid of any clouds. Isyd extended a hand toward it, remembering the thirty meters or so he had climbed, and steeled himself against the incoming impact.

    The Commands flashed in front of him as the sky and the earth reverted to their normal position and the Illusory Space readjusted. Isyd landed on the ground and it yielded under him. He felt himself sinking in the wet slough up the neck. The shock, though softer than solid ground, still sent a spike of pain up his legs and spine. With great effort, Isyd managed to untangle himself from the modified [Bog Trap] he had summoned to cushion his fall and heaved himself out of the mud.

    With silent relief, he noticed that the sky and the earth had indeed returned to their proper place. He then met Marzena¡¯s gaze whose eyes were wide in terror. He could easily guess why; from her perspective, Isyd had jumped from the top of a thirty-meter-high tree, presumably to his death.

    Not my finest moment¡­ Isyd couldn¡¯t help but think.

    If Naeht had seen that, she would have certainly given him an earful.

    Prinse Krovtur had the same expression as Marzena on his face as he stared at Isyd.

    ¡°You¡¯re a mad man¡­¡± Prinse let out.

    Isyd smirked but did not deign to answer. He pointed his hand in his direction and Commands danced at the tip of his finger.

    ¡°[Hammer Wind]!¡±

    The air turned into a heavy blanket and crushed the young man¡¯s shoulders. Prinse winced and groaned under the sudden weight.

    ¡°[Mother of Thorns]!¡± Marzena called.

    The full creature couldn¡¯t be summoned, only a singular tendril made out of tree bark, leaves and vines appeared from the ground. Prinse managed to get out from under the weight crushing him only to be slammed by the wooden tentacle. He rolled on the ground, wiped the blood from his brow and clasped his two hands together.

    ¡°[Roar, Fire]!¡±

    Red flames appeared from his hands and exploded in a roar, burning the wooden limb and turning everything near him into ash.

    Isyd didn¡¯t give him the opportunity to rest.

    ¡°[Slash and Burn]!¡± he cast.

    Prinse¡¯s eyes went wide in shock.

    ¡°[Deflect]!¡±

    His [Deflecting Spell] was not strong enough to protect him entirely and he was thrown to the ground by the deflagration.

    Isyd almost expected Prinse to surrender after this exchange. It wasn¡¯t like he had a chance to win two versus one. To Isyd¡¯s surprise, Prinse had a smirk on his face as he got back up.

    ¡°I noticed that you are quite good at copying other people¡¯s [Spells], Wybrany,¡± Prinse said. ¡°The rumours about you were real, after all¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you yield, Prinse?¡± Marzena asked.

    ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t!¡± he said, still keeping his eyes on Isyd. ¡°Well, try to copy this then, Wybrany¡­¡±

    Isyd felt a shiver up his spine.

    Prinse brought his two palms together as if praying and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they shone with a light of their own.

    ¡°[Legacy Art: Blue Blood]!¡±

 77 - Legacy Art

    He¡¯s bluffing!

    That was Isyd¡¯s first and immediate thought. There was no way for someone as young as Prinse Krovtur to have a Legacy Art!

    The young man extended his right arm in the air, where tens of thousands of Commands were dancing. He then pulled it back slowly, as if he were reaching for something inside an invisible container. A bright blue fire engulfed his hand and rolled up his arm, then his shoulders, before spreading to his left hand. The flames were of a blue so bright they didn¡¯t look real; so bright they hurt to look at.

    The floating [Ice Chains] that Isyd had prepared and that were about to strike Prinse vanished. They didn¡¯t sublimate into mist, or melt into water, but simply vanished as soon as they got close to the flames that wrapped around the young man.

    ¡°What in the hell is that?¡± Marzena muttered in shock.

    Isyd didn¡¯t think twice; he grabbed her by the arm and raced back behind the cluster of spruce trees.

    Prinse clasped his two hands together and spewed forth a jet of flames. It set the trees ablaze and spread rapidly. It was as if the whole forest was tainted in blue colours.

    ¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t plan on using my trump cards so early in the Tourney, but you all forced my hand!¡± Prinse shouted gleefully, enthralled by the azure bonfire.

    Isyd and Marzena were trying their best to escape the fire that had now engulfed the cluster of spruce trees. A flame managed to leap onto Marzena¡¯s greatcoat and without hesitation, she yanked it off as well as the shirt, threw them to the ground and stamped on them to extinguish the flames. It had all lasted for a couple of seconds but her greatcoat was no more except for one sleeve as well as more than half of her shirt. The blue flames burned hot and fast.

    Marzena exchanged a look with Isyd. ¡°I have never seen a fire like that¡­¡± she muttered.

    ¡°It¡¯s because it is not a normal fire,¡± Isyd explained. ¡°I can¡¯t believe he knows a [Legacy Art]!¡±

    ¡°And what is that? It¡¯s the first time I hear about it.¡±

    ¡°Legacy Arts aren¡¯t normal [Spells] anyone can learn. They¡¯re secrets ¨C ancient, family-bound. It¡¯s the accumulation over generations, over centuries, of research, craft and enhancement to develop powerful [Spells] that cannot be replicated.¡±

    Their hurried steps led them back to the riverbank of the Little Stream. This suited Isyd. Without missing a beat, his Idpulse latched onto the Water Essence and Isyd spun on his heels, ready to face Prinse.

    His mind couldn¡¯t help but go back to Prinse¡¯s Legacy Art, trying to grasp how it works. It had to be something more than an extremely hot fire. He thought back to his [Ice Chains] that had disappeared upon contact and to Marzena¡¯s clothes that had caught fire¡­

    Isyd didn¡¯t have the occasion to think more about it because Prinse appeared from the woods, on their heels. He was surrounded by thousands of Commands ¨C on his hands, on his forearms, on his clothes and even in the air around him ¨C that were bright blue instead of the usual gold. In fact, it was difficult to discern where the Commands ended and the flames began, as the former seamlessly created and melded into the latter.

    Prinse launched a jet of his flames in their direction. Marzena came up with a [Air Shield], but Isyd was faster and threw a [Deflecting Spell]. In both cases, it didn¡¯t matter because the blue flames burned through both unaffected. They threw themselves to the ground in extremis to avoid being burned.

    ¡°Damn this! We can¡¯t fight that!¡± Marzena shouted.

    ¡°We can!¡± Isyd retorted. An idea had appeared in his mind. The possible limits of his Legacy Arts. ¡°Throw all the [Spells] you know at him, no matter their strength! Give it your all and don¡¯t let him rest!¡±

    The look Marzena gave him was circumspect, but she followed his lead. Isyd seized the Water Essence of the Little Stream. As the [Hexes] appeared on his fingertips, the surface of the water began to tremble. Despite the itch of letting lose to match the threat posed by the Legacy Art, the presence of his [Limiting Arcane] reminded Isyd to constrain himself to simple [Spells].

    ¡°[Boreal Arsenal]!¡±

    This was a more advanced, modified form of the [Ice Shaping Spell]. Dozens of ice weapons spawned from the river behind him. Spears, swords, knives, axes, halberds as well as arrows and with a flick of his wrist, Isyd sent them flying towards Prinse.

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    The young man clasped his hands engulfed in flames and a blue wall of fire appeared in front of him. The ice weapons vanished in a hissing sound upon contact. Isyd didn¡¯t relent however and as the first wave of weapons disappeared, he created new ones and threw them. As for Marzena, she had seized the Earth Essence of the gravels on the riverbank. Hundreds of small pebbles were dancing the air, sharpened and guided by her [Spells], and were trying to penetrate Prinse¡¯s defence, without success. Marzena then tried to coalesce all the stones together to form a bigger rock before flinging it at the fire wall with all her might. As soon as it touched the flames, the boulder exploded into hundreds of it composing pieces while hundreds of others turned into ash.

    Despite his defence appearing seemingly impenetrable, Prinse was struggling. He was sweating profusely trying to maintain the wall and the constant onslaught prevented him from launching a counterattack.

    ¡°Enough!¡± he finally yelled through gritted teeth.

    He twisted the Commands of his Legacy Art and the fire roared like a beast awoke from its slumber and grew two-fold. The flames were so hot that some part of the soil turned glassy and the pebbles cracked open. Prinse pushed the fire wall toward Isyd and Marzena.

    ¡°YIELD!¡± he shouted at them to be heard above the roaring of his fire.

    With nowhere to run on this side of the riverbank, Isyd swiftly grabbed Marzena by the waist and leapt above the Little Stream to the other side. This snatched a yelp of surprise from Marzena, but she quickly regained her footing and turned to the flames as they were now licking at the waters. She put her hands in the frigid stream.

    ¡°He¡¯s not the only one that can let loose a little¡­¡± she grumbled as the Commands began to dance at the tip of her fingers. ¡°[Mermaid¡¯s Spear]!¡±

    All the water of the Little Stream obeyed her [Spell]. Both upstream and downstream currents converged toward Marzena and surged into a powerful surge of water. The jet stream hit the fire wall with the force of thousands of hammers and for once, it didn¡¯t immediately vanish. The point of struggle between the two [Spells] exploded into a cloud of steam that quickly expanded.

    ¡°Come on! Come on!¡± Marzena was growling, leaning forward.

    With all her might, she tried to pierce through the wall of fire, wincing through the hot steam that was blowing on her face.

    Eventually, her [Spell] collapsed and Isyd grabbed her just before she fell headfirst into the Little Stream. Even with the thick cloud of vapour that enveloped them, Isyd could see the blue light of Prinse¡¯s Legacy Art still burning.

    ¡°[Let There Be Void]!¡± Isyd whispered to the wind with a twirl of his finger.

    It was the same [Voiding Spell] he¡¯d used when fighting Snake in the warehouse. The air around them trembled and contracted as if it was being sucked away, before suddenly vanishing. Isyd then helped Marzena regain her footing. Her steps were unsteady and he was certain that it wasn¡¯t due to her ankle injury.

    ¡°Do you¡ª¡± she began.

    At the corner of his eyes, Isyd saw the fog shift. He pushed Marzena to the ground and spun on his heel. At the same time, Prinse jumped out of the mist. He had extinguished his flames to sneak closer, but now they danced once more on his fist. A ball of fire spewed forth, but Isyd ducked in time and riposted.

    ¡°[Storm Front]!¡±

    The quickness of his [Spell] casting took Prinse by surprise. The rolling wind caught him squarely in the chest and sent him flying into a briar patch. The thorns of the plants snatched at his uniform, tangling him just enough for Isyd to follow up with another [Spell].

    ¡°[Ice Chains]!¡±

    As if they were alive, the chains wrapped around Prinse¡¯s neck and arms. Prinse growled in frustration and flicked his right hand; the blue flames sparked from the tip of his fingers and rolled up his arm toward his left hand. It burned in passing the shrubs and sublimated the [Ice Chains].

    Prinse was panting when he got up and his face was deathly pale and covered with sweat. He glared at Isyd and Marzena.

    ¡°Tired already?¡± Isyd goaded him.

    ¡°Not even!¡± Prinse retorted.

    But this seemed more like bravado than anything. It was obvious that the young man was exhausted. Just like Marzena, the loss of [Limiting Arcane] had prompted him to go all-out and this left him now drained, barely able to stand on his two feet.

    Still, Prinse gave them a cocky grin.

    ¡°One last time, shall we?¡± he said as he slowly clapped his hands together repeatedly. ¡°[Soul Flare]!¡±

    The azure flames engulfed him at once before coalescing on his plexus. Isyd did not give him the chance to finish. He dashed towards him and closed the space between them in the blink of an eye. He tackled Prinse to the ground right before the jet of concentrated fire was let loose. It flew towards the blue sky where it seemed to disappear.

    Prinse let out a curse in a foreign language but couldn¡¯t wrestle free from Isyd pinning him to the ground.

    ¡°Isyd! Isyd!¡± Marzena hissed behind them. ¡°Look at that!¡±

    Isyd turned toward her and then followed her finger pointing above her head.

    It was a sight to behold. Whereas the rest of the sky was cloudless blue, a growing patch of it was dark, as the night sky should have been. It was like a blotch of ink on a perfect painting, a blotch that slowly kept expanding.

    ¡°What the hell is this?¡± Marzena muttered.

    ¡°The Illusory Construction is being burnt away,¡± Isyd said with a smile.

    Oh, the Song of the Grace was so sweet to his ears!

    He turned to Prinse still pinned down and deathly pale. ¡°So, it¡¯s safe to assume that you yield, right?¡±

 78 - Burnt Spirit

    The Illusory Construction burning away was like a dome disappearing. At the edge of the patch of night sky, the [Illusion] was disintegrating into ashy flakes that vanished before touching the ground. The trees around them didn¡¯t change for that matter, only they came into a sharper focus.

    ¡°I yielded already! Can you get off me now?¡± Prinse hissed at Isyd.

    Isyd apologised and let him go. Even if he¡¯d been lying, Isyd didn¡¯t think Prinse could do anything to them. The young man looked like a sickly version of himself; his skin was pale, his lips were dry and his eyes were bloodshot. He tried to get back up, but didn¡¯t have the strength to do so and simply dragged himself against the stump of a tree.

    Marzena limped closer and put a hand on Isyd¡¯s shoulder for support. To her surprise, he didn¡¯t recoil at her touch, like he usually did. Instead, Isyd turned to her, looked at her from top to bottom, and then averted his gaze. He swiftly took off his greatcoat and handed it to her silently. First taken aback, Marzena then glanced down. Her own greatcoat and shirt had been burned by the blue fire and in the heat of the moment, she hadn¡¯t realized she¡¯d been running around with only her breastbands to cover her. A fierce blush, as red as her hair, coloured her neck and her face and she bit her lips hard to avoid screaming in embarrassment. Isyd¡¯s greatcoat was too big for her, but she took it on nonetheless with a thankful nod.

    Trying to distract from her mortification, Marzena reported her attention on Prinse.

    ¡°You look awful, Krovtur,¡± she said. ¡°You may want to drop by the Spital after this.¡±

    Isyd was thinking the same and it must have shown on his face because when they locked eyes, Prinse smirked bitterly.

    ¡°Do not pity me! I knew the cost of what I was doing¡­¡± he said.

    Marzena turned to Isyd. ¡°Is that a common effect of Legacy Arts?¡±

    Isyd shrugged. ¡°Not necessarily, but it isn¡¯t surprising. They are powerful [Spells] after all and it is normal that they take their toll.¡±

    He knelt next to Prinse. ¡°Your Legacy Art is based around the Spirit Essence, isn¡¯t it? It isn¡¯t intuitive since at first glance, it just looks like a fire that burns abnormally hot, but then it wouldn¡¯t explain how it interacted with our [Spells]. Not burning them but nullifying them. It was as if your flames fed on it, no matter their Essence. Now, it¡¯s difficult to imagine how a [Fire Spell] can feed onto a [Water Spell] even with a huge disparity between their Openings.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s your point?¡± Prinse growled.

    ¡°The Spirit Essence is the purest form of the Holy Grace ¨C the quintessence of all other Essences, if you will. Your Legacy Art uses it as its core Essence. This allows your flames to bypass the normal affinities of the Classical Essence and to feed on other Artystic constructions by reaching directly to the Grace composing them. This is how your fire burned all our [Spells] instantly but burned her clothes like normal flames would. It also explains how flames could burn the [Illusion]. Illusory Constructions are mainly built on Spirit Essences.¡±

    Prinse didn¡¯t confirm nor deny but Isyd didn¡¯t need him to. The bitter glare he threw him was enough.

    ¡°If you are right, then his Legacy Art is practically unstoppable!¡± Marzena said. ¡°It defies logic.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t because its strength is balanced by its weakness,¡± Isyd explained. ¡°The Spirit Essence is also its major flaw. It is a volatile Essence, hard to capture and wield. Krovtur¡¯s Legacy Art must consume an ungodly amount of it to do what it does. I guessed that we could outlast him. We just had to force him to maintain the flames constantly burning and he¡¯d eventually run out¡­¡±

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    ¡°That¡¯s why you said to keep on attacking him¡­¡± Marzena said, finally understanding.

    Isyd nodded. ¡°You lasted much longer than I expected, Prinse Krovtur. Not many people could withstand the toll of having their own body serve as fuel for a [Spirit Spell]. You can be proud! Your Legacy Art is truly one of a kind!¡±

    Prinse rolled his eyes and smiled bitterly. ¡°Now I have to suffer being praised by a Junior? Please, spare the humiliation¡­¡±

    Isyd smiled and reached inside Prinse¡¯s undercoat. Even if the young man wanted to protest, he didn¡¯t have the strength to do so. From the inner pocket, Isyd pulled out three tokens. He got back up and presented them to Marzena.

    ¡°With the one I recovered from the canopy, it makes a total of four tokens,¡± he said.

    ¡°Good! It makes the splitting easier!¡± She took the two tokens Isyd offered her before a thought crossed her mind. ¡°Hold on! With those two, you now have four tokens in your possession. And with your intact Blysht¡­¡±

    She trailed off in front of Isyd¡¯s smirk. He had a total of 18 points. He craned his neck southward at the sky. Past the naked canopy, he could see the outlines of a flare that had burst in the night sky earlier. There was only a single one up there, which meant that no one else had qualified while they¡¯d been trapped in the [Illusion].

    Marzena seemed to arrive at the same conclusion. Her face was a grimace, halfway between a smile and a pout; she wasn¡¯t sure if she was happy or annoyed that Isyd ¨C the 1<sup>st</sup> Year! ¨C qualified before her.

    ¡°There¡¯s still place for one last person after I qualify. You two shouldn¡¯t give up yet,¡± Isyd said, growing pensive. ¡°I enjoyed this little competition¡­ It was informative. Your Mother of Thorns was very impressive, strong and versatile. As for you, Prinse, your Legacy Art is not something I have ever seen before. I believe we only saw glimpses of it tonight and I expect you to have more under your sleeve¡­¡±

    Marzena and Prinse exchanged a long look in silence.

    ¡°Does he often talk to his Seniors with that much arrogance?¡± Prinse asked Marzena with a raised eyebrow.

    She shrugged weakly and readjusted the greatcoat on her shoulders before pocketing her tokens. Her eyes wandered briefly to Isyd¡¯s left wrist where his [Limiting Arcane] was. She was contemplating. She then looked up to see Isyd watching her. Daring her.

    Marzena blushed and averted her eyes.

    ¡°What they were saying about you was true, Wybrany,¡± she drawled. ¡°You truly are a peculiar individual...¡±

    Prinse had regained some of his colours and he managed to get back up on his feet. He passed a tired hand through his blond hair and sighed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s be honest with ourselves here,¡± he said. ¡°I, for one, do not have much chance of making it anymore. You broke my [Limiting Arcane] with your Resonance stunt earlier tonight and you took my tokens now.¡±

    ¡°You can resign if you want, Krovtur,¡± Marzena said. ¡°It¡¯s one less person for me to worry about!¡±

    He glared at her. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think I will. I would hate to give you this pleasure, Tchepwa.¡±

    He turned his back to them and walked toward the woods with a hesitant step. Suddenly, he stopped, with a hand on a tree for support, and turned to Isyd.

    ¡°You may win here tonight, but don¡¯t think it is the end, Wybrany,¡± he said. ¡°We will face each other again and this time, I will not underestimate you.¡±

    Isyd nodded respectfully as a Junior was supposed to do in front of his seniors. As Prinse resumed his walk, Marzena hailed him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to drop by the Spital after this!¡±

    Prinse didn¡¯t acknowledge her. Marzena then turned to see that Isyd had already crossed the Little Stream. This section of the river had been drained by her [Mermaid¡¯s Spear] and it would take some time for its flow to return to normal. Before she could think to thank him, Isyd had already disappeared back into the woods. She looked long at his retreating figure before sighing and heading in the opposite direction. She still had 6 points to collect and her Ringmates counted on her.

 79 - Not Enough

    Isyd didn¡¯t waste time. The last thing he wanted was to lose his chance to qualify for the Tourney at the final moment.

    He was following a well-trodden dirt path, an indication that he was approaching the edge between the Forest and the Fields. The boundary between the two was not abrupt; instead, it felt more like the woodland creeping back in, reclaiming lost land inch by inch.

    Isyd stopped suddenly when he felt a familiar presence.

    Kazian of the Winds ¨C or rather Kazian Zenovbia as he had yet to gain that title ¨C was strolling a bit further ahead of the path. Isyd noticed him first, but didn¡¯t make any move to hide his presence.

    The old man finally noticed him standing there. His posture was outwardly nonchalant, but by hearing the Song of the Grace emanating from him, Isyd could guess that the man was far from defenseless.

    ¡°You can be proud of yourself, Young One,¡± Kazian drawled. ¡°You have lasted longer than people expected.¡±

    ¡°<i>Collecting</i>

    all those tokens took me longer than I expected,¡± Isyd retorted.

    A spark of confusion traversed Kazian¡¯s eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t walk out of the forest to surrender?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°You have 18 points?¡±

    ¡°I do. Isn¡¯t that what was agreed to qualify?¡±

    Kazian said nothing.

    ¡°I assume that you are surprised¡­¡± Isyd drawled.

    In front of his continued silence, Isyd considered walking past the old Artyst, but then hesitated. There was something about the way Kazian stood purposefully across the trodden path that demanded one to stop.

    ¡°I still don¡¯t understand why you have not joined the traditional Paramount Rings,¡± Kazian finally said.

    <i>This again? </i>¡°I wasn¡¯t interested,¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°So, I was told¡­ May I ask you where you from?¡±

    ¡°I am from a small village south from here, near Hojny.¡±

    ¡°And you lived all your life in the Commonwealth, I assume. Well, let me present you with a different perspective. To be an Artyst like me is to have the ears of the Crimson Ones; I have advised the Voivodes of Lubarnia and Kuyawsko, dined with Pan Drago and even represented the Artem at the Capital in front of the King. That¡¯s for the Commonwealth alone, but I have also travelled Ziemia. In the east, I have crossed the Gates of Uuraldur and wandered the Wild Steppes of Matizna. In the west, I have fought the hordes of barbarians from the Scerns and the Isles next to the army of His Holiness and journeyed to the court of the Duke of Khruss himself. I do not tell you all of this brag, but to instill in you a realization.¡±

    ¡°That you are well travelled?¡±

    ¡°That I am well-connected! The life an Artyst can be long and arduous. You must realize then that your time spent here the in the Academy, though important, must not overshadow what may come next. Do you understand what I am saying?¡±

    ¡°I understand, Tutor.¡±

    ¡°Good, you¡¯re smarter than you first look. Are you familiar with House Drago? Your Senior, Jonn Drago, is the heir to the Podkarpia Voivodeship. They have historically been close to the Academy since it exists inside their territory. The Crimson Gold represents a pet project of theirs, a way to nurture Pupils they find promising and interesting so that they are loyal to them the moment they step out of the Academy. You should have paid better attention to this when you refused their offer to join them. Some would argue that House Drago is the most powerful of the Northern Houses and¡ª¡±

    ¡°Is that why you let Jonn Drago qualify?¡± Isyd cut in.

    Kazian froze, and his eyes narrowed on him. ¡°How bold¡­ I had heard that Pupils of this Academy did not fear speaking their mind¡­ ¡®Vigor¡¯, they called it. I will still ask you to watch your tongue, Young One. I am not one to let baseless accusations go unanswered!¡±

    ¡°If they are baseless, then I sincerely apologize, Tutor.¡±

    Isyd could clearly imagine Naeht¡¯s mortified expression in front of his less-than-subtle hostility, but the night had been long, and it was old man Kazian we were talking about¡­

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Kazian said under his breath. ¡°Well, in the end, pewter may shine, but it will never be silver¡­ Fine, you may leave! I have decided to let you go for now, Wybrany,¡± Kazian said.

    ¡°How kind of you¡­¡±

    ¡°Do not besmirch this kindness. And take to heart my words of advice. The growth you demonstrated in the Academy has been prodigious and reached even outside those walls. There are those that may be displeased by such development. Can you guess why?¡±

    Isyd didn¡¯t bother answering ¨C Kazian didn¡¯t let him anyway and continued.

    ¡°Things are the way they are often for a reason. Everything and everyone to their due place. Thus, we have order in the world, in the Commonwealth and in our lives. Cursed is the one that wants to upset it all!¡±

    ¡°Then I believe that this order is just an illusion, the phantasm of a static reality that has and will never exist. Things must change, I thought you would agree as a Tutor. Mustn¡¯t the acorn grow into a tree, the tree into a forest?¡±

    ¡°No, not every acorn is destined to. Less the light, the water, the soil grows too thin¡­ Some must accept to remain mere saplings for the strong sycamore to grow tall.¡±

    ¡°Who is to decide that?¡±

    ¡°I am.¡±

    Isyd didn¡¯t bother hiding it anymore; he eyed the man with all the contempt he held for him. This talks in metaphors and allusions had run its course and he was now waiting for what Kazian would do. Isyd had already decided that he wouldn¡¯t yield to him, and damned were the consequences of Pupils trading blows with a Tutor. The air between them was so tense, it could be felt on the skin.

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    Suddenly, Kazian stepped aside. ¡°I have said my piece. You can go ahead, Young Wybrany.¡±

    Isyd didn¡¯t move immediately and didn¡¯t relax his grip on his tokens, but eventually he did walk on, leaving Kazian behind for now.

    He crossed the Fields with ease, keeping his Lightsphere turned on in front of him despite not needing it. Up ahead was the crowd of Pupils and Tutors he¡¯d left earlier this evening. The crowd had thinned out, which wasn¡¯t surprising since the 1<sup>st</sup> Hour Bell would ring soon.

    Isyd arrived in front of the committee of Tutors. Hidrss, visibly bored out of his mind, fidgeted with one of his toys ¨C a coil of copper spring fitting his finger size like a glove. Upon seeing him, his face lit up, and he snickered when Isyd presented his intact Blysht and his tokens to the Doyen. Murmurs traversed the crowd of onlookers.

    ¡°With his Ingraced Blysht, and his four tokens, Isyd Wybrany qualifies himself and the Tears to the Tourney! Congratulations, Young One!¡±

    The crowd erupted into applause and cheers. Tutor Milwyk raised his staff and released his [Flare]. It arched high in the sky where it bloomed into an explosion. There it remained, lighting the starry night sky next to the first one.

    After a respectful bow to his Tutors, Isyd headed towards Oliwer and Jadwia who were waiting for him apart from the crowd. The former was literally trembling with excitement and almost jumped on Isyd once he had finally reached them.

    ¡°You did it! I knew you would! I told Klare so, but her friend kept laughing at me! That will show them! They were so certain that Senior Gwemb would walk out of the forest first. But then Senior Drago did and then¡­¡±

    Jadwia put one hand on Oliwer¡¯s shoulders and pulled him back to calm him.

    Oliwer startled then realized and offered an awkward smile. ¡°Sorry¡­¡±

    ¡°So, how was it?¡± Jadwia asked Isyd.

    She seemed genuinely curious and didn¡¯t display the same surprise as the other Pupils. She had been a bit worried after learning that he¡¯d face off against the Paramount Ringleaders, but by now, Jadwia had learned not to be shocked when Isyd achieved what others deemed to be impossible.

    ¡°It was¡­¡± Isyd trailed off, thinking on what to say, before finally settling on one word. ¡°Fun.¡±

    Naeht, who had appeared over Jadwia¡¯s shoulder, threw a surprised look at him.

    ¡°That¡¯s it? Simply ¡®fun¡¯?¡± Jadwia said.

    ¡°We will have the occasion to discuss more on what I learned, but yes it was mainly ¡®fun¡¯.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ Well, I guess that is enough for now. To be entirely honest with you, it hasn¡¯t entirely settled in that we are now participating in the Tourney. I¡¯ll probably fully accept it by tomorrow though¡­¡±

    ¡°We must go see my sister!¡± Oliwer exclaimed. ¡°Just to rub it in her face. That¡¯ll teach her and her friends!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Oliwer, but I think I will pass on that¡­¡± Isyd said.

    ¡°But¡­¡± Oliwer began.

    Jadwia put her hand on his shoulder once more, catching the hint. ¡°I think Isyd is quite tired after tonight¡¯s ordeal and a crowd may be too much¡­ Come on, let¡¯s go share the news with Kewin ¨C he¡¯s still waiting at the Gate. If you want, we can still drop by your sister¡¯s group.¡±

    Isyd offered a discrete, thankful not to Jadwia and offered the two of them a goodbye and goodnight as they headed toward the group of the Cerulean Feathers Pupils still awaiting the return of Arron Gwemb.

    Isyd also moved away from the crowd, heading toward the Academy. He didn¡¯t leave the Fields, however, and instead sat down at the foot of a weeping willow tree, a few paces off from the path. His gaze was still directed at the forest, waiting like everyone else to see who will be the last Ringleader to qualify.

    Naeht appeared and sat next to him. ¡°So, it was fun, eh¡­¡± she drawled with a smile.

    ¡°Yes, it was. Don¡¯t be that surprised. After all, it was just a friendly competition between Pupils.¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t get me wrong; I¡¯m not surprised that the competition was fun. I¡¯m <i>surprised</i>

    you found it so¡­ When was the last time you stopped brooding and took the time to enjoy something fun?¡±

    Isyd threw her a glare. ¡°I¡¯m not here to have fun, Naeht.¡±

    ¡°My point exactly!¡±

    Isyd shook his head but couldn¡¯t stop an amused smile appearing on the corner of his lips. Naeht grinned, satisfied. Isyd let out a sigh and settled more comfortably against the trunk. They both remained silent, both lost in thought and enjoying this moment of complicity between them.

    It took another hour after Isyd sat down for the final Ringleader to qualify.

    S?yem Nifritovna walked out of the woodland with a limp. In one hand, she still held the hilt of her sword that had been broken by Kazian, while in the other, she held her tokens that she presented to the Doyen.

    ¡°With her 6 tokens, S?yem Nifritovna qualifies herself and the Faded Jade, to the Tourney! Congratulations Young One!¡±

    The crowd erupted with applause, cheers and whistling and a final [Flare] bloomed in the night sky to warn the remaining Ringleaders that the competition was over.

    The Crimson Gold, the Faded Jade and the Tears were the three Rings selected to represent the Academy of Holy Vigour to the Tourney.

    The gathered Pupils were split between joy for the winners and disappointment for the losers but the former, though fewer in numbers, were more definitely more clamorous. The night was still young and the Crimson Gold and the Faded Jade intended to celebrate their victory.

    The Tutors retreated towards the Academy, and the crowd scattered quickly. As the procession of her Ringmembers passed near where Isyd was seated, S?yem noticed him. Their eyes met, and she visibly hesitated, then raised the hilt of her broken sword and gave him a nod. Isyd nodded back respectfully in response, and she and her friends resumed their walk back to the Academy.

    Isyd didn¡¯t move from his spot. He watched the forest as one by one, Henryk Pwom, Prinse Krovtur, Arron Gwemb and finally Marzena Tchepwa walked out of the woods. Each were greeted with accolades and applause by their respective Ringmembers.

    ¡°I know brooding is a thing you like doing,¡± Naeht said. ¡°But since you had fun in this little contest, can you tell me why you are so somber?¡±

    Isyd took his time to answer. He finally pointed at the retreating figure of Prinse Krovtur. ¡°They are without a doubt the best of the Academy. All the attention, all the resources are diverted in their direction, and it shows in their skills that exceed by far those of the other Pupils. Those 6 are the best, strongest brightest of the Academy!¡±

    Naeht rose in the air, hands on her hips and a satisfied smile on her face. ¡°Yes, and we suspected so, didn¡¯t we? That¡¯s why you said you wanted to test their skills to see what they were truly capable of! Contrary to you, I never doubted they were great! I thought¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not enough!¡± Isyd cut her.

    Naeht froze. Her smile turned into a grimace and her whole figure shimmered briefly, a sign of distress.

    ¡°You mean¡­¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t be enough for the War! None of them will survive it, not even the first year. The Obcys will kill them all and rise them again, and they¡¯ll be powerless to stop it! And they are the best of the Academy, what does that mean for the rest of the Pupils? I can¡¯t even think about it¡­¡±

    Isyd clenched his fist and felt his skin itch under his bandages.

    ¡°They all represent the future of the Arts in the Commonwealth,¡± he continued softly. ¡°How bleak¡­ I can¡¯t even hope it is different for the two other Academies¡­¡±

    He closed his eyes and let out a tired sigh. Naeht said nothing, just watching him with a worried look on her face. There were times when Isyd¡¯s mood worsened past the usual brooding, when his thoughts turned dark, and he withdrew within. It was his ¡°old bad habits¡± as he called them. In those times, Naeht wished she knew to say to lift his spirit.

    She wished she could help him so much more than she could do now.

    Naeht startled when Isyd suddenly got up. He was flexing his gloved fingers then dusting himself off.

    ¡°Isyd¡­¡± Naeht muttered tentatively.

    She was afraid he had withdrawn within his own mind, but when she met his eyes, she saw a determination cold and hard like freshly quenched steel.

    ¡°It needs not to be this way, Naeht,¡± Isyd said. ¡°None of us are condemned to our fate. I guess that¡¯s why we went back, right? We will change things. We will make sure to be ready for what is to come. And it will all begin with our own Ring!¡±

 80 - What Makes an Arcanyst

    Henryk Pwom strode into the empty classroom, his steps purposeful as they always were. It was still in disarray from the previous day¡¯s class, with seats and scattered haphazardly. He immediately got busy with putting things back in their place to prepare for the class he was to give soon after.

    With Tekla gone, Hidrss had turned to Henryk, making him the de facto assistant of the Master of Arcanic Arts. It wasn¡¯t entirely unheard of; the Paramount Ringleaders were often solicited by the Tutors for this kind of job, and they weren¡¯t expected to refuse, certainly not when the Tutor asking was their Ring sponsor. Consequently, between his own classes and projects, Henryk was now charged with preparing and giving some classes, mostly to beginners to teach them the basics of the Arcanic Arts.

    Henryk adjusted the front row of stools to face the blackboard at the back of the class when he suddenly noticed someone else was in the room.

    ¡°Good Grace!¡± he said, startled and stifling a worse curse. He recognized the person immediately, seated in the shadows against the walls.

    Isyd Wybrany was seated in the back of the room, a pencil in his hand and hunched over a paper with a coupled Ingraced Blysht and Lightspheres ¨C some broken ¨C scattered around him.

    ¡°Grace to you, Senior,¡± Isyd said with a distracted nod.

    ¡°Grace... Since when were you here?¡±

    ¡°One hour before you, I think.¡±

    ¡°And you didn¡¯t say a word when I entered?¡±

    Isyd just shrugged.

    <i>What a strange fellow</i>... Henryk couldn¡¯t help but think, not for the first time.

    Isyd watched Henryk go back to cleaning the chalk from the blackboard and somewhat discretely threw back curious glances in his direction. After a while, his curiosity must have won out, because he dropped his rag and approached Isyd¡¯s desk.

    ¡°What are you doing exactly?¡±

    There was no hostility in his voice, just genuine interest. It seemed there weren¡¯t any hard feeling from the Tourney¡¯s Competition, not from Henry nor any members of the Hammer had met while walking the grounds of the Atelier. Naeht had been surprised by this, but Isyd supposed that the Hammer and the White Flowers cared significantly less about their defeat than the other Paramount Rings. He suspected it was because both Ring had their own thing going on with the Atelier and the Spital.

    Isyd slid his paper in Henryk¡¯s direction.

    ¡°Frankly speaking, I could do with some help with this,¡± Isyd said with a sigh. ¡°What I am trying to achieve may be above my current skill level...¡±

    Henryk picked up the paper with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Above your skill level? You who made the Ingracing and Outgracing Hex?¡±

    It was a fair remark but what Henryk didn¡¯t know was that when it came to the Blysht, Isyd knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish since he¡¯d seen examples of it in his previous life. For this new project, Isyd started from scratch, which demanded entire new sets of skills. For one thing, the Song of the Grace wasn¡¯t of much use because he didn¡¯t know what to attune to or what the melody he wanted to compose sounded like.

    Isyd suddenly turned his head to the door seconds before it swung open, and a young man barged in.

    ¡°Henryk, there will be some delay!¡± the man said. ¡°Apparently, they...¡±

    He trailed off after Isyd sat and Henryk standing over his shoulder. ¡°Oh, Wybrany! Sorry Henryk, I didn¡¯t know you two were having a meeting...¡±

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    ¡°We were not,¡± Henryk said without looking up from the paper. ¡°I just stumbled upon him here. You can come in, Rhys.¡±

    The young man entered and closed the door behind him. It wasn¡¯t the first time Isyd met Rhys Waarn, 7<sup>th</sup> Year and 6<sup>th</sup> Opening, and Second-In-Command of the Hammer Ring. Where Henryk was stern and solitary, Rhys enjoyed spending time with his Juniors and had a self-deprecating humor. His chestnut hair was perpetually tousled, as if it had just been ruffled by the wind, and his sea-green eyes carried a certain mirth, as if he always knew more than he let on, and he took delight in it.

    ¡°Are you two working on something?¡± Rhys asked as he approached.

    Henryk put down the paper back on the table and pointed at it. ¡°The theory and the Logic seem correct at first glance. What do you need help with?¡±

    ¡°The issue comes when I try to combine the [Arcanes]. I first thought that it would be as easy as Meshing their [Hexes] together...¡±

    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s harder than that!¡± Rhys said with a laugh. ¡°If it was that easy, every Artyst would be an Arcanyst as well. There is a reason why we treat the Arcanic Arts a dedicated field of its own!¡±

    ¡°You struggle because you think first like an Artyst rather than Arcanyst,¡± Henryk continued sternly. ¡°Despite what were first taught, [Arcanes] are not just [Spells] carved onto stuff. The translation between a free-floating [Spell] and an [Arcane]¨Cbetween the two medium¨Ccannot be simple because we are working with matter; real, physical materials like wood, glass or metals, not just [Spells] written in the air. Those materials have their own properties and reactions to the Holy Grace and you must consider it.¡±

    ¡°I see...¡± Isyd said. It did make sense, and he may have stumbled onto that same conclusion after a few more days struggling on his own. This may also be the reason why he had such a hard time fixing his palcat. ¡°So, do you agree to help me with this one?¡±

    Rhys was about to answer, but Henryk stopped him with a raised palm. He observed Isyd carefully, emotionlessly.

    ¡°What¡¯s in it for us?¡±

    ¡°What can I offer you?¡±

    ¡°A lecture,¡± Henryk said immediately, obviously having thought of it beforehand. ¡°I want you to prepare a lecture about the [Ingracing] and [Outgracing Hexes] to a few of the Hammer members.

    Isyd was surprised. That wasn¡¯t what he¡¯d expected. ¡°A lecture? Why me?¡±

    Rhys was the one who was to respond. ¡°Hidrss has invested a lot of time and coins in the Blysht Commission of Research, with many Arcanysta of the Atelier and many more new recruits from elsewhere. But he says it is still a novelty ¨C too soon to be taught to the Pupils.¡±

    ¡°I disagree with him,¡± Henryk said. ¡°Do we have a deal, Wybrany?¡±

    ¡°We have a deal,¡± Isyd said, shaking his offered hand. ¡°Still, I can¡¯t promise to be a good teacher.¡±

    ¡°Just do your best,¡± Henryk said.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be worse than Hidrss,¡± Rhys chuckled.

    Isyd frowned at that. ¡°Hidrss isn¡¯t a bad Tutor!¡±

    ¡°Indeed he isn¡¯t, but that''s not his first vocation either!¡± Henryk said. ¡°Himself would tell you that. It is just that sometimes he gets distracted or lost in his own thoughts. Often, he struggles to explain what seems self-evident for him. Virtue of being a genius, I guess¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, remember the whole thing about ¡®feeling the vibrations and attuning¡¯?¡± Rhys said to Henryk before turning to Isyd. ¡°A few months ago, Hidrss had this whole speech about listening to the [Arcanes]¡­¡±

    Isyd¡¯s mouth turned dry. ¡°Listening to the [Arcanes]¡­?¡± he muttered. <i>Could Hidrss also hear the Song of the Grace, if only partially?</i>

    The thought made him feel all sort of ways and Isyd wished Naeht had been around to see her reaction.

    Rhys had turned his attention back to the paper. ¡°Henryk is right, you know? The paper is good already, and so is the logic. But I¡¯m not sure of one thing: I thought that the Opening of the [Ingracing Hex] was the 12<sup>th</sup>

    Opening. What¡¯s the deal with the 24<sup>th</sup> Opening you wrote here and there?¡±

    ¡°The first version of the [Hex] was indeed of the 12<sup>th</sup>,¡± Isyd said. ¡°It could absorb any [Spell] below a Concentration of the 12<sup>th</sup> Opening. However, Hidrss modified the [Hex] so that it could absorb at any Opening and do so much more efficiently. That¡¯s how we can use [Ingrace] the Blyshts using the Grace Diffusion from ambient air. The trick is that I think Hidrss found a way to do now the opposite; to lower the cut-off Opening from 12<sup>th</sup>

    to any Opening he wishes. That¡¯s how the [Limiting Arcane] worked at the 6<sup>th</sup>

    Opening during the Competition.¡±

    Isyd then turned to Henryk, silently asking his opinion.

    ¡°I had come to the same conclusion,¡± Henryk said after a few seconds of reflection. ¡°I don¡¯t know how he did it however, though I may have a few ideas¡­ As for if they¡¯re going to work, well, I have only looked at the [Ingracing Hex] report, never worked with it so, I¡¯m not sure.¡±

    Isyd gave him a confident smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this, I think I have already that part figured out!¡±