《Web of Secrets [Modern Cultivation]》 Map and Characters Map Created in Wonderdraft. This world''s technology level is closer to our own, so I opted for a more modern design as well! Characters
Name: Akari Zeller Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Rank: Bronze Age: 15 Ethnicity: Half-Shokenese, half-Espirian Akari is a fourth-year school student at Elegan High. She has dark copper hair, dark brown eyes, and black-framed glasses. Her grades are average, but she''s taught herself hacking on the side.
Name: Kalden Trengsen Rank: Gold Age: 15 Ethnicity: Shokenese Kalden is the top student at Elegan High, born to one of the wealthiest families on the eastern side of Arkala. He has short black hair and dark eyes. He''s currently studying alchemy, and his parents plan for him to attend Ironhaven University the following year.
The character portraits were created with Artbreeder. Chapter 1: Mana Arts The city¡¯s namesake. Great. Hopefully, things wouldn¡¯t get too shady. She¡¯d looked at a map online, but a map was just a bunch of colored lines, and it could only tell you so much about a place. Shit. Had she messed up the passphrase? Gotten a word wrong? She¡¯d rehearsed this thing over two dozen times. It should be right. Then again, what if she¡¯d had the wrong phrase to begin with? Her palms started to sweat, but she resisted the urge to wipe them on her skirt. A sound-suppression Construct? She couldn¡¯t see anything, but some mana Constructs were invisible. Especially aspects like sound and air. Damnit. How did he know? How did people always just . . . know? Her badge was hidden beneath her hoodie, and nothing else should have given her rank away. Then again, it could be a simple deduction on his part. A Silver wouldn¡¯t bother hiding her badge, and a Gold wouldn¡¯t come here in the first place. Speaking of bullshit. Everyone said Bronze bodies were weaker than Silvers and Golds, but they failed to point out a real biological difference. She¡¯d been hit by a Silver¡¯s Missile before, and it wasn¡¯t much worse than a punch to the face. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Talek. She wanted this more than anything in the world. Her life might even depend on it someday. Talek. This was a trap. Who even fell for a stupid trap like this? Akari was more reckless than most, but how would they know that? Damnit. She should have seen this coming. Magnus didn¡¯t seem so bad, but his dojo would attract its share of shady students. For Talek¡¯s sake. Why didn¡¯t they give up? Surrounded once again. you?¡± Blondie shot back. ¡°Then how come you¡¯ve got my money?¡± had stolen from her¡ªwhich she couldn¡¯t prove¡ªit didn¡¯t justify lethal force on a public street. Chapter 2: Elegan High half-Shokenese,¡± Maelyn Sanako said from the other side of the bench. ¡°Her father was Espirian. Also, her hair isn¡¯t black. Just very dark brown.¡± Two minutes until the first bell. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Fair enough. In all honesty, Kalden hadn¡¯t known either fact until this morning¡¯s meeting with Darren and Maelyn. Talek. Why her? But credit where credit was due: this guy was the most polite of all Elegan High¡¯s security guards. Well, shit. This week just kept getting better. so easy to mock. Especially when they strutted around the school acting like little kings and queens. Typical. Still, she hadn¡¯t considered that someone like Kalden Trengsen would have restrictions, even small ones like this. But it made sense in hindsight. As powerful as Golds were, they couldn¡¯t hold a candle to their parents. Chapter 3: The Reign of Golds Just keep walking, she told herself. Pretend you don¡¯t see her. Or not. Don¡¯t punch your target, punch through him. One foot in front of the other like this. Exhale. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. It¡¯s fine, Akari told herself. The cameras already saw her. Time to deal out some justice. North Elegan Security, they called themselves. That name was about as original as Emberlyn¡¯s insults. Internal Server Error. Chapter 4: The Outside World A hoodie would be nice right about now. Or two. Seriously, who ran the air conditioning in Hexember? It was like Grandhall wanted her to freeze. Bitch. Why? She probably had a nice purple bruise to prove it. look fair and just. Typical. Not only did Emberlyn¡¯s father donate to the school¡¯s mana arts program, but an incident like this would make Grandhall look bad. If he saw an easy way out, he would take it. Damnit, this can¡¯t be good. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Again with pretending to care. Still, it couldn¡¯t hurt to talk to someone. Talek knew she¡¯d just make herself more miserable if she kept it bottled up. And that¡¯s only true if you believe it. Emberlyn had won this round, but only because Akari took the bait. If she¡¯d been patient and waited to get the footage . . . well, Emberlyn probably would have had a backup plan, but still. Golds weren¡¯t invincible. Chapter 5: Space and Time There¡¯s no winning against Golds. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. not engaged to Emberlyn Frostblade.¡± Ah. That did look suspicious, didn¡¯t it? were a good plan¡ªwhich it¡¯s not¡ªI still wouldn¡¯t do that.¡± won¡¯t feel good, and you¡¯ll barely slow her down.¡± Chapter 6: The Dark Web Talek. This was even more pretentious than she¡¯d expected. The neighborhood wasn¡¯t even near the beach. Did they just stick that word in there to make it sound fancier? Stupid full-blooded Shokens and their long legs. Akari¡¯s own mother had been taller than her by several inches. That meant that somewhere out there, she had a short father to blame. Great. He probably planned to watch her every move. On the bright side, Akari wouldn¡¯t have to watch the clock every ten seconds or strain her ears for people in the hallway. That was one improvement over the school¡¯s computer lab. Doesn¡¯t matter. Focus on your goal. The Dark Web. ~~~ Right. Garden gnomes. Whatever that meant. is illegal.¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. What a weird girl. A compromise, then. setup. They still hadn¡¯t gone on the actual dark web yet. First, she had to update his operating system to the latest version and create a fresh user account, free of personal information. After that, she installed a virtual private network to encrypt their movements and hide their location. Typical Gold. Those jeans of his cost two whole silvernotes. She could buy eight regular pairs of jeans for that price. Focus. Akari closed that window and switched over to EOL Instant Messenger. If Kalden planned to kidnap her, she¡¯d rather find out now. Twenty seconds left. Five seconds. Two seconds. The Espirian government. That implied these videos were far older than she¡¯d assumed. Decades had passed since Espiria¡¯s fall. Whoever this Grandmaster was, he must be long gone. real mana arts. Not the diluted way it¡¯s taught in modern schools. Those institutions prioritize quick results over long-term gain. This is no accident. Rather, it¡¯s by design. Not only do the world¡¯s governments restrict this skill, they seek to control those who learn it. Talek. If this worked, she was going to feel like an idiot for not trying it sooner. Chapter 7: Out of Mana Talek. She¡¯d only practiced with her right hand so far. In theory, though, you could shoot mana from any part of your body. Your feet, your head . . . even the center of your chest. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Still so many questions. Damnit. tried to stay fit, but a part of her had always assumed she¡¯d get stronger after she became a mana artist. That was embarrassingly stupid in hindsight, and it just meant she had more catching up to do. Great. Akari¡¯s mana would still regenerate on its own, but that took a few hours. Apparently, that process happened faster in places rich with ambient mana, but Kalden¡¯s basement wasn¡¯t on that list. Typical. One minute Kalden would act self-aware, then he¡¯d try to justify the Golds¡¯ rule with some made-up biological difference. No. Hitting a ball was one thing, but she was still weeks away from forming a real, tangible Missile. For that, she needed her own bottle of mana, and a pint-sized bottle cost fifty coppernotes or more. Us? Akari narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡± No argument there. Kalden was one of the richest people in town, for Talek¡¯s sake. Damnit. Of course he¡¯d go all goody-two-shoes again. Chapter 8: A Proper Missile Sora Sanako, Mystic-level gravity artist. Mystic. This was clearly the peak of mana arts, and the sight of these techniques always gave her chills. Even a thousand Gold Martials didn¡¯t wield power at this scale, and that proved that people had gotten weaker over time. One foot in front of the other. Dominant arm extended outward. Other arm curled up behind you. Seriously? They were fighting mana beasts with him? He might be a good informant, but¡ª Shit. Never mind. You¡¯ve made it this far, she reminded herself. No one can take this away from us. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Anyway.¡± Darren spent a full second clearing his throat, pointedly not looking at either of them. ¡°An entry-level accountant can make twenty coppernotes per hour. Or one point six silvernotes per day. Plus you can move up a pay grade every year. More money for the same amount of time.¡± two is armor.¡± She knocked a fist on her black leather vest. Akari glanced at Darren and Kalden, who wore vests of a similar style. Damnit. The other girl had the same school uniform, so she probably recognized it. More advanced aspects. Akari liked the sound of that. Ever heard of knocking? The question sprang to Akari¡¯s lips, but she didn¡¯t let it out. She already knew the answer. What the hell? Akari sprang to her feet. Adrenaline raced through her veins, and her instincts told her to run. How? How did she know where to look? If it¡¯s so useless, then why do you care? But once again, she held her tongue. Damnit. She and Noella hadn¡¯t been alone like this in several months. After all that training, she should have been stronger. She should have fought back. Never again. Chapter 9: The Sight of Blood Talek. What a mess. How was she supposed to train for real? Damnit. She¡¯d said the same thing last weekend when Akari had asked for Missile advice. All students in the school¡¯s Mana Wing had to sign a nondisclosure agreement, and they faced serious consequences if they broke it. Oh, for Talek¡¯s sake. Great. She slipped off her Traverse shoes, then followed Maelyn past the waterfall and down the stairs. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Hana. Age twelve. Damnit. Oh well. One failed train project was a mana artist¡¯s playground. Akari and the others weren¡¯t actually going into the Hollows, of course. That would be suicide. Fortunately, the entrance was more than ten miles from here. The smaller mana beasts wandered up through the man-made tunnel system, and their crystal cores were as good as any. Well, shit. You don¡¯t have time, Akari reminded herself. A few more months, and she¡¯d be on her own, without the luxury of choosing her battles. Besides, if she¡¯d been born two hundred years ago, she would have faced mana beasts every day, just beyond the borders of her clan¡¯s village. Chapter 10: Into the Tunnels We¡¯re better equipped, she reminded herself for the fifth time. Those other kids were wearing T-shirts of all things. Meanwhile, her group had rods, vests, helmets, and . . . Akari glanced at the strange metal base that hung from a hook on Darren¡¯s backpack. Maelyn carried a second one behind her. What a rip-off, Akari thought. ¡°So you don¡¯t have a Cloak technique either?¡± Strange. And the Grandmaster seemed to regard that knowledge as fundamental. Then again, Akari had never heard of Cloaks until she saw the video. At least, not by name. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Damnit. Her own Missiles were still too weak. Talek. It was creepy to see animals doing mana arts. Damnit. She¡¯d forgotten there were four. She raised her rod, but the creature was quicker. Green flashed at the edge of her vision. The impact struck her helmet, knocking her back against the stone floor. No, she reminded herself. It¡¯s toxic. Like, melt-your-skin-off toxic. Clever. Akari wanted to kick herself for not thinking of it first. That wasn¡¯t so bad. Akari wanted to say the words aloud, but she¡¯d seen enough movies to know how stupid that would be. Chapter 11: Battle Tactics Understandable. If the arkions fired back, they were dead. Damnit. Those shields would break under enough pressure. These arkions had probably fought enough hunters to know that. Eighty-five more seconds, then we all die. Good. Every second mattered. Steel sharpens steel, the Grandmaster had said. One real battle could be worth a hundred ordinary practice sessions. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Well, so much for taking it easy. One shot left. His own supply didn¡¯t feel much better, even with the rich ambient mana in the air. Chapter 12: The Aftermath Plan B, then. Every Akarday, huh? Kalden shot a look at his informants, who¡¯d begun harvesting cores. Either Emberlyn was lying right now, or this was a major oversight on their part. Fighting? Whatever would your mother say?¡± Damnit. He¡¯d just put them in the spotlight. Seriously? They¡¯d only been down there for a couple of hours? It felt like it should be nighttime by now. because they¡¯d almost died. Funny. Hadn¡¯t he once lectured her on Gold politics? Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. cute laugh! You should do it more often.¡± Talek. She was never laughing around them again. Say something, she told herself, before he takes it back. He saved your life today, she reminded herself. Actions speak louder than words. Right. Kalden could call them friends for now, but he would cast her aside when the time came. This would all be a game to him in the end. A time of defiance, and some cool stories to tell his kids someday. One and a half goldnotes. Three times what she¡¯d lost in Tidegate. Still, she understood why these tunnels weren¡¯t more popular. It took months to earn this much at a minimum-wage job, but restaurant customers didn¡¯t threaten to kill you. Well, they might threaten to, but they probably wouldn¡¯t follow through on it. Sigils? Akari frowned down at the hoodie. Now that Maelyn mentioned it, the fabric did have a slight stiffness to it. Not a bad way to go. But Kalden probably had a safe place to keep it all. Akari wasn¡¯t about to invest more money into something that might get stolen. What¡¯s more, Kalden could buy all his clothes at a different store. Right. What use would she have for a mana watch? Kalden¡¯s friends had been surprisingly accepting of this whole thing, but the rest of the world wouldn¡¯t be like them. What the hell? claimed they had higher mana, but she¡¯d assumed she would prove them wrong. Bronze: 0¨C49 Silver: 50¨C199 Gold: 200¨C799 Chapter 13: Midwinter Break Four figure eights in a row. A new record. Silver. Missiles can move away from your body, or towards it. But you¡¯d be surprised how much variation this allows.¡± Left. Right. Forward. Back. She moved until her fingers were icicles and her legs were jelly. Too late. The Missile lost its momentum and shattered into a cloud of pale blue mist. Out of mana already? She shifted her hoodie sleeve to reveal the mana watch on her left wrist. 5/36. far higher than zero. Probably as high as twenty-seven or twenty-eight points. impossible,¡± she said with a quick shake of her head. ¡°It would be like trying to grow an inch taller.¡± Oh. Even if these ¡®research teams¡¯ were some cover story invented by the Golds, what about all the other wealthy Bronze and Silvers out there? Some of them must have tried to advance, right? easy. So easy, that it wasn¡¯t even worth its own video. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. tura,¡± Kalden¡¯s mother said from across the table. Gossip is for Silvers,¡± his mother always said. Not that Golds didn¡¯t gossip. They just pretended not to. wounded those Martials,¡± Genkai corrected his daughter. ¡°No one¡¯s died yet.¡± The older man sat at the head of the ebony table¡ªthe same place Kalden¡¯s father once sat. However, the seat never fit his stepfather quite as well. Genkai might be on Arkala¡¯s ruling council, but Kalden¡¯s father had been a famous general. Even his mother would never think of comparing the two men. Again with that phrase. Quiet acceptance was the default approach, and any skepticism was enough to get you called a conspiracy theorist. He¡¯d once asked Akari why she¡¯d never befriended the other Bronze, and this had been her reason. They were all too quick to accept their lot in life. Sozen. She wielded his older brother¡¯s memory like a weapon, trying to guilt him into silence. Chapter 14: Apprentice Huh. He¡¯d actually been paying attention. Talek. She¡¯d missed this. Damnit. Kalden had warned her, and she still fell for it. why. And I¡¯ll give you enough theory so you won¡¯t embarrass yourselves when you meet your next teacher.¡± Next teacher? Akari didn¡¯t like the sound of that, either. These videos were all she had. Sure, she planned to reach Silver, but that wouldn¡¯t be as simple as walking into the badge office and asking for an upgrade. any aspect. Far beyond the choices from your local high school.¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ideas, and ideas begin in the minds of humans.¡± Thanks for rubbing it in, Grandmaster. idea of that object¡ªthe remnants of human thought that linger in the Ethereal. Objects themselves can absorb these ideas, and that extends to plants and animals.¡± not try this at home. Every aspect has a unique process that¡¯s been perfected over the centuries. Indeed, many arts are a mix of multiple aspects. You know those Missiles the police use to restrain people? That¡¯s a mix of ice mana and control mana. Or how about Shokenese blade artists? They use a mix of metal, knowledge, destruction, and craft mana. did interest her, but she wasn¡¯t about to follow a stranger down some shady beetle hole. Chapter 15: A Safe City Space+Time. She¡¯d never used that name in school. It was based on a recurring dream she had, and she¡¯d never shared that dream with anyone. Only Kalden knew the username. Sneaky bastard. If she acted too desperate, she would only prove Apprentice right. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it not to meet in person,¡± Akari said. ¡°What would it prove, anyway? Either of us could be an undercover Martial. Seeing faces won¡¯t change that.¡± True enough. would have died if it hadn¡¯t been for Emberlyn. That whole thing was reckless. At the very least, we should have practiced for a few more months before¡ª¡± Great. She just had to open her big mouth. 40/40, it read. Talek, he really didn¡¯t get it, did he? will die in White Vale, but at least it was my choice.¡± Chapter 16: Beyond Gold Akari followed Kalden down the crowded train aisle. Puddles of melted snow covered the floors, and she had to grasp the rail to keep from slipping. Fortunately, she¡¯d been wearing Hana¡¯s old combat boots all winter, and these had better traction than her Traverse shoes. The first few cars were bustling with people. But they all stepped aside when they saw His Goldship, Kalden Trengsen, strutting through. Kalden didn¡¯t even notice the special treatment. But why would he? People did the same thing for him at school. At first, she¡¯d expected them to ride the free cars to White Vale. But Kalden kept on walking toward the front of the train. He stopped at a private cabin, glanced at his ticket stub, then slid open the wooden door. ¡°We could have boarded up here,¡± Akari told him. ¡°Sorry about that.¡± Kalden threw his bag on the plush leather seat and sat down. ¡°I don¡¯t travel by train that often.¡± Akari took the seat across from him. It was wide enough for three people, and she could easily stretch out and take a nap if she wanted to. ¡°I thought your family traveled . . .¡± She trailed off, remembering his fancy car. ¡°Never mind.¡± Some Silvers like her foster parents owned cars, but they rarely used them for longer trips like this. Fuel-grade mana might be the cheapest type per ounce, but it would still cost you a few silvernotes to cross Arkala. Golds didn¡¯t worry about stuff like that. ¡°My mom usually rides with a private driver,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We could have used one today, but then we¡¯d risk someone tattling on us.¡± ¡°Bet this cabin wasn¡¯t cheap though,¡± Akari said as she glanced around. At this point, she half-expected an attendant to knock on the door and offer them wine and chocolate. She met Kalden¡¯s eyes again. ¡°Did your mom finally stop snooping on your bank account?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I told her about the trip.¡± Her eyebrows shot up at that. ¡°I said I was going to White Vale to forage ingredients for an alchemy project.¡± ¡°And she believed that? I thought Golds just bought everything.¡± He waggled a hand. ¡°Most commercial ingredients are farmgrown, and farms aren¡¯t known for their ambient mana. Especially compared to the Contested Area.¡± Akari leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. ¡°So we can explore beyond the wall?¡± Kalden hesitated. ¡°Depends on what Apprentice wants from us. But yeah, I got a license just in case.¡± That was a good start. Apprentice¡¯s last few messages had been vague, but he¡¯d hinted at a trip outside the walls. In his own words, he could mop the floor with most mana beasts, but he needed someone to cash in the bounties at the Hunters¡¯ Guild. Akari had wanted to visit White Vale ever since their tunnel excursion last Hexember. This was shaping up to be a great weekend, assuming Apprentice didn¡¯t betray them. ¡°So your mom won¡¯t let you learn mana arts,¡± Akari said, ¡°but she¡¯s cool with dangerous trips like this?¡± ¡°I told her I¡¯d hire some hunters for protection,¡± Kalden said. ¡°So I wouldn¡¯t be in real danger. I could technically pay someone to forage, too, but she considers this an acceptable hobby.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s so wrong with mana arts? What¡¯s she have against it?¡± Akari never would have pried this much before, but she and Kalden had known each other for a while now. And after what she¡¯d shared last weekend, he owed her some secrets in return. Kalden didn¡¯t answer for a while. He just sat there with his brow furrowed. Eventually, the train rolled forward on its iron rails, and Elegan¡¯s skyline became visible out the window. No sooner had they started moving than an attendant knocked on the cabin door with beverages. Kalden took a glass of water while Akari got a coffee. It wasn¡¯t half as good as Jumpstart¡¯s, but at least the cup would keep her fingers warm. ¡°I had an older brother,¡± Kalden said once they were alone. ¡°His name was Sozen.¡± Akari looked up from the cardboard cup. He¡¯d mentioned his father many times, but never an older brother. Kalden glanced out the window as the city faded into farmland. ¡°Sozen was training to be a combat artist like my parents. He was better than some fourth-year students when he joined the school¡¯s mana arts program. By his third year, he could beat the teachers in a duel.¡± ¡°What was his aspect?¡± Akari asked. Probably not the most tactful question, but aspects had been on her mind all week, and beating teachers sounded awesome. ¡°Metal,¡± Kalden said in a distracted tone. ¡°Same as my parents. Sozen also had dreams about the outside world. He became obsessed with the idea of leaving the Archipelago.¡± ¡°Dreams,¡± Akari echoed. ¡°Sounds familiar.¡± Kalden gave a slow nod. ¡°He argued with my mom a lot back then. He said he wanted to join the next expedition to Cadria. Not just that, but he wanted us to go with him. He mentioned ranks beyond Gold¡ªranks we couldn¡¯t reach if we were ¡®trapped¡¯ here.¡± He rubbed his forehead. ¡°It¡¯s been so long¡ªI don¡¯t remember all the details. I might be conflating these memories with the Grandmaster¡¯s videos.¡± Or maybe Sozen had seen the same videos? Even if Apprentice brought this latest batch, the videos had clearly been around for a lot longer. ¡°My mom wouldn¡¯t budge, so he went behind her back and funded his own trip. He found a boat, hired a crew, and disappeared one night.¡± ¡°How¡¯d he get past the guards?¡± Akari asked. Probably another rude question, but she couldn¡¯t help herself. Some of the best Martials guarded the shield gate in Keylas. People like Emberlyn Frostblade¡¯s father. Kalden shrugged a shoulder. ¡°We never found his body, but his badge washed up on shore a few weeks later. The Martials returned it to my mom.¡± He took a drink of his water. ¡°That was a year and a half ago.¡± Akari took a sip of her coffee and considered. ¡°You think he¡¯s still alive?¡± ¡°The Inner Sea¡¯s always been dangerous,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Some of the tides can reach over a hundred feet high. But he had three water artists on his crew. Part of me wants to believe he¡¯s still out there, but I¡¯m not getting my hopes up.¡± ¡°And your mom blames mana arts?¡± Another shrug. ¡°She thinks Sozen¡¯s training caused his dreams. Not true, of course¡ªI¡¯ve been having the same ones for years. But I never told her that.¡± They continued their journey west, passing miles of farmland along the way. Two hours passed, then the train turned north along Ironhaven¡¯s suburbs. A cluster of tall gray buildings dominated the horizon, and Kalden pointed out landmarks along the way. These were mostly buildings his mother owned, along with the surgeball stadium and the university where Hana studied. Apparently, Kalden had been accepted into IU¡¯s alchemy program the following year. He didn¡¯t sound too excited about it, though. As the train reached Ironhaven¡¯s northern border, she caught glimpses of a glowing blue mana beyond the skyline. This wasn¡¯t half as tall as the one around the island, but that made sense. This wall was built to keep out mana beasts, not ten-story tidal waves. Their surroundings turned to farmland yet again. But instead of flat fields, they passed terraced rice paddies that looked like giant white staircases beneath the snow. The mana wall grew more visible over time, and Akari spotted smaller military outposts every five to ten miles. She and Kalden spent the remainder of the trip training. Once they¡¯d hammered out their deal with Apprentice, he¡¯d sent them the Grandmaster¡¯s advanced shaping video in good faith. Akari had expected this video to focus on Missile techniques, like how she¡¯d been weaving her mana through the trees. But that would have been too easy. Instead of Missiles, the Grandmaster had them moving physical objects with smaller bursts of mana. It was like their early lessons with the surgeball, but much more precise. Today, she and Kalden worked on levitating bottle caps above their outstretched hands. This was harder than a Missile in many ways. It was one thing to release a burst of raw power, but this required a slow, constant stream of mana. If you pushed too hard, the cap would fly up and hit the ceiling. Too light, and it would fall back in your hand. Fortunately, Akari had seen enough mana arts movies to trust this process. Someday, these supposedly useless techniques would translate into badass combat moves. At least, they better. Otherwise, her whole childhood was a lie. They trained in silence for another hour until the train reached White Vale. The town itself was nothing special. Just some restaurants and tourist attractions that looked suspiciously like gift shops. What did they even sell there? Stuffed mana beasts? Only the Hunters¡¯ Guild Hall caught her eye. The massive wooden building looked like a cross between a hotel, a shopping mall, and a log cabin. At five stories tall, it towered over the rest of the town, including the mana wall to the west. The train stopped on a raised platform above the parking lot, and they stood and shouldered their backpacks. After spending almost four hours on a train, it felt good to stand on her own two legs again. If only she could say the same for the weather. Bursts of icy wind struck her cheeks as she stepped outside. Akari huddled in her hoodie and glared up at Kalden. His teeth weren¡¯t chattering, and he looked far too warm in his scarf and gloves. They stepped through a pair of glass double doors into the Guild Hall¡¯s main lobby. This shared the outside¡¯s aesthetic with polished wooden floors and rustic walls. A brick fireplace filled one corner, surrounded by decorative weapons and hunting trophies. A desk sat at the end of the lobby, which was probably where people checked in at the hotel. She and Kalden ignored this for now and stepped into a busy concourse. Various colorful shops lined the edges, selling weapons, clothing, and other mana arts gear. They passed dozens of hunters along the way, ranging from teenagers to grizzled old veterans. Most carried Missile rods at their belts and wore sigil-enhanced clothing. At least a third of them wore Gold badges, which was a higher ratio than she¡¯d seen anywhere else on Arkala. The rest were all Silver, including the shop employees. Needless to say, Akari stuck close to Kalden as they walked. What would Apprentice think? Would he see her as weak and useless? This was someone who could knock out Gold Martials with a flick of his wrist. He didn¡¯t ask about your rank, Akari reminded herself. He would have asked if it mattered. They reached the dining area a minute later. Once again, they¡¯d modeled the style after an inn¡¯s common room, but it also reminded her of a food court. Various restaurants lined the far wall with a sea of tables and booths spread out in front of them. Alright, she thought. Time to meet the most dangerous person on this island. ~~~ Kalden¡¯s stomach growled as he inhaled the scents of the food court. He and Akari passed more than half a dozen restaurants as they walked, and each one smelled better than the last. The first three were the usual food-court fare. Jumpstart was an Espirian chain restaurant that specialized in coffee and breakfast foods. Interlude and Elements were similar but with a focus on sandwiches, soups, and salads. They also passed two Shokenese places he didn¡¯t recognize¡ªone sold ramen while the other served stir-fry dishes. Kalden¡¯s stomach protested even more as the scents of sesame oil and garlic hit his nostrils. Whose idea was it to schedule the meeting right at lunchtime, anyway? He hadn¡¯t eaten since his protein bar on the train, and that was two hours ago. He¡¯d actually packed two bars for the trip, but then Akari had eyed his first one like a sad puppy, and one thing led to another. After making a quick lap around the tables, Kalden noted the security camera placement and found a corner booth out of range. They removed their backpacks and slipped into one side of the booth. No sooner had they gotten settled than his stomach growled again. Was that hunger or nerves this time? They¡¯d talked about helping Apprentice, but potential crimes weren¡¯t crimes. He¡¯d even researched the laws to be sure. If the Martials closed in right now, he and Akari wouldn¡¯t get more than a slap on the wrist. And if Apprentice planned to hurt them . . . well, that was the real benefit to meeting in a crowded room. The Hunters¡¯ Guild didn¡¯t allow fights inside their walls, and every member had the authority to stop them. Judging by how this crowd carried themselves, most would jump at the chance to test their skills against a troublemaker. They waited in silence for a few minutes before the clock finally struck noon. When it did, Kalden unclipped his badge from its silken ribbon and reclipped it backward with the smooth side facing out. Akari did the same beside him. They¡¯d all agreed on this prearranged signal beforehand, which made it the first doorway of no return. Kalden kept scanning the crowd as he waited. No one knew what the Fugitive looked like. Otherwise, they never could have risked a public meeting. A young woman approached the table with her gold badge twisted around. She was a bit older than Kalden, but probably no more than eighteen. She had pale skin with a cluster of freckles that ran across the bridge of her nose. Her long red hair was pulled back in a thick braid that fell over her left shoulder. ¡°Empty seats are so hard to come by in here.¡± She smiled at them both, resting her hands on the chairs opposite their booth. That was the passphrase, but who was this? The real Apprentice, or a proxy? He eyed the girl for several seconds before answering. She had a confident smile, but her green eyes betrayed a hint of desperation and uncertainty. Surprisingly, that matched the person they¡¯d messaged with on the dark web. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°This one¡¯s all yours,¡± Kalden said, repeating the end of the passphrase. ¡°Oh, thank the Angels!¡± A sigh of relief escaped her lips and she sank into the nearest chair. ¡°You had me worried there.¡± Akari cleared her throat to Kalden¡¯s right. ¡°So you¡¯re¡ª¡± ¡°Just one second.¡± The girl reached into her jacket and pulled out a palm-sized device. Shaped like a small dome, it had a shiny metal surface. ¡°You guys familiar with this?¡± Kalden leaned forward, and it didn¡¯t take him long to recognize the sigils. ¡°It¡¯s a sound suppressor.¡± His mother kept these between most rooms in their house. They weren¡¯t cheap, but they kept the staff from eavesdropping. The girl pressed the button in the center. One minute, Kalden¡¯s ears were filled with the sounds of music and the low roar of conversation. But as soon as her finger touched the device, everything snapped into a sudden silence. He felt Akari jump beside him, and his own heart skipped several beats. ¡°Yes,¡± the girl said to Akari¡¯s unspoken question. ¡°My name¡¯s Relia, but you know me as Apprentice. Or the Fugitive, depending on who you ask.¡± Kalden and Akari exchanged a glance. Relia fidgeted with her red braid. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not like I ever claimed to be a forty-year-old man.¡± True. The media had described the Fugitive that way, despite having no evidence. Like everyone else, Kalden had latched on to that narrative without a second thought. Even so . . . ¡°You don¡¯t look like someone who¡¯s been living in the wild,¡± he said. Aside from her freckles, Relia¡¯s pale cheeks were smooth and unblemished. She was also wearing lip gloss and eyeliner. Nothing about her screamed ¡®power¡¯ either. Despite her gold badge, she wore a red flannel shirt, blue jeans, and an olive military jacket. Relia laughed at that. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to look like the Fugitive.¡± She gestured around the food court with one hand. ¡°Quite the opposite, in fact.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Kalden said. Anyone who showed up in White Vale dressed as a barbarian would be high on the Martials¡¯ suspect list. The same went for anyone who looked too armed, or even too competent. ¡°Still wouldn¡¯t say no to some proof,¡± Akari said. ¡°Look at me,¡± Relia said, ¡°and I mean really look.¡± It took Kalden a second to catch her meaning, then he relaxed his vision, letting his Silver Sight overlay the physical world. A sea of mana sprang to life around the room. He saw hundreds of Silvers and Golds throughout the food court, their souls shining like moons in the night sky. Then, Kalden stared down at Relia¡¯s chest. She¡¯d given him permission, which hopefully made it less weird. At first, he didn¡¯t see the glow of mana he¡¯d expected. If anything, she had even less than a Bronze. Then a faint light blossomed from her soul like water shooting from a geyser. Over the next few heartbeats, the light¡¯s intensity grew from Silver to the peak of Gold. Before, it had been the size of a marble. Now, it must have been as wide as Kalden¡¯s fist. Most Golds never reached this height. Her soul widened further until it exploded like a supernova. The light burned Kalden¡¯s eyes, and he had to look away. ¡°What are you?¡± he finally asked as he blinked away his growing headache. Relia just smiled. ¡°Apprentice isn¡¯t my name. It¡¯s my rank.¡± Chills crept up Kalden¡¯s arms. So, there really were ranks beyond Gold? The Grandmaster had implied as much with his own title, but it was one thing to hear about powerful mana artists. Quite another to find yourself sitting in front of one. ¡°Wanna let me in on the secret?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Can¡¯t see a thing over here.¡± Kalden looked again, and the light in Relia¡¯s chest dimmed to an ordinary level. Did that mean she could veil her power? ¡°Her soul,¡± Kalden said. ¡°It¡¯s twice as bright as the strongest Golds.¡± Akari frowned. She still hadn¡¯t gained the ability to see mana, so he understood her frustration. Slowly, she undid the strap of her mana watch and slid it across the table. ¡°I like numbers better than flashy lights.¡± Relia didn¡¯t hesitate before unbuttoning the top of her flannel shirt and pressing the device to her chest. The LCD screen lit up and showed her mana counts: 2154/2154. ¡°Holy shit in Talek¡¯s beard,¡± Akari muttered. Kalden wouldn¡¯t have phrased it that way, but he shared the sentiment. His own mana count was just over two hundred, and eight hundred was supposedly the peak of Gold. Akari closed her mouth, then opened it again. ¡°How the hell¡ª?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take a step back.¡± Relia slid the watch to Akari across the table. ¡°You¡¯ve got your proof now, but I still don¡¯t know your names.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± he said with a quick shake of his head. ¡°I¡¯m Kalden.¡± She raised her thin eyebrows. ¡°Just Kalden?¡± ¡°Just Relia?¡± he retorted. She grinned. ¡°Relia Dawnfire.¡± Dawnfire. That sounded like an older clan from Northern Espiria. As if her pale skin and red hair weren¡¯t already a dead giveaway. Did that make her a fire artist, the same way Frostblade hinted at Emberlyn¡¯s ice techniques? Kalden wanted to ask, but he owed her his own clan name first. He hadn¡¯t wanted to give this away, but he and Akari had rejected the idea of false identities. Better to build trust where they could. ¡°Kalden Trengsen,¡± he said, returning the girl¡¯s smile. She nodded and turned to Kalden¡¯s right. ¡°Guess that makes you Akari?¡± ¡°That¡¯s me. Thanks for the scare last week. Really helped me sleep at night.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Relia winced. ¡°Sorry about that. I didn¡¯t know how else to get your attention. I¡¯ve been on this island for a while now, and no one else will listen to me. The news has everyone thinking I¡¯m a dangerous killer.¡± Kalden blinked. At first, he¡¯d assumed the media found out about Relia by accident, but this made even more sense. If she was trying to contact people, then the media was the quickest way to turn them against her. ¡°But you are dangerous,¡± Akari said. ¡°Right? You didn¡¯t get that strong by planting flowers and raising chickens.¡± ¡°I can handle myself,¡± she said with a small shrug, ¡°but we didn¡¯t come here to fight.¡± ¡°We?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°Me, my master, and the rest of our crew. We came here to investigate your island¡ªto talk to people, and try to help them. We knew it might be hard, but we didn¡¯t expect to get backstabbed so soon.¡± Kalden gave a slow nod, still trying to fit all these pieces together in his head. ¡°What happened to your master? Where is he now?¡± ¡°Or she,¡± Akari offered. ¡°It¡¯s a he,¡± Relia confirmed. ¡°You should know. You¡¯ve already seen half his videos.¡± Kalden¡¯s eyebrows shot up at that. ¡°The Grandmaster? He¡¯s here? On Arkala?¡± Relia nodded. ¡°We got separated the first day. He¡¯s been researching these islands for years¡ªtrying to figure out what happened. Our boat landed on the beach in Hexember. It was on the northwest side of the island, near the place you call Keylas. My master went into the forest by himself and talked to the guards. That¡¯s when they attacked him.¡± ¡°How do you know what happened if he went alone?¡± Kalden had a hundred other questions, but this one seemed the most relevant. ¡°He was wearing a body camera on his jacket.¡± Relia gestured to a spot on her own shoulder. ¡°I saw the whole thing from our computer on the beach.¡± Kalden struggled to imagine a camera small enough to fit on someone¡¯s jacket or a computer that worked on a beach with no outlets. Maybe they had more advanced technology where they came from. ¡°My master told the Martials about the outside world. They pretended to care at first, then they lured him into a room with some kind of toxic gas.¡± She bit her lip before continuing. ¡°We lost the camera feed a few minutes later. That¡¯s when me and Moreno¡ªthe knowledge artist¡ªwent after him. We tore that whole place apart, but he was gone.¡± Relia wasn¡¯t exaggerating about tearing the place about. The news reporters had mentioned hundreds of goldnotes¡¯ worth of property damage. But they hadn¡¯t killed any of the Martials, strangely enough. That implied a great deal of control on her part. ¡°Wait,¡± Akari broke in. ¡°You said you could mop the floor with Gold Martials. Now they captured your master?¡± A flash of color rose to Relia¡¯s cheeks. ¡°They took him by surprise!¡± ¡°Still,¡± Akari said, ¡°not so smart to turn your back on an enemy.¡± Kalden wouldn¡¯t have phrased it so bluntly, but she made some good points. If the Martials brought down the Grandmaster, then they were far more dangerous than Relia pretended. Even Golds had a higher resistance to toxins than the lower ranks. That much Kalden knew from his alchemy classes. If people like Relia and her master had mana counts in the thousands, they should have been immune. Clearly, the Martials had anticipated that and prepared accordingly. Relia let out a long breath. ¡°See, that¡¯s the thing¡ªwe had no reason to suspect the Martials, or treat them as enemies. We came here to rescue your people.¡± ¡°Rescue us?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°From what?¡± She tapped her fingers on the wooden table, considering her next words. ¡°That¡¯s where things get complicated. Everyone here thinks the outside world is gone. But you guys have it backwards. Nothing happened to Espiria, Shoken, or Cadria.¡± She raised two fingers to point at them. ¡°You guys are the ones who dropped off the map.¡± Kalden blinked several times. He heard Relia¡¯s words, but his brain struggled to process them. He¡¯d already accepted that people might live outside the Archipelago. After all, what was so special about this place? What made them the only survivors on the planet? Sure, they had a mana shield, but so did every other island and coastal city. The whole narrative had always seemed too clean and tidy to be real. But the entire world . . . alive and well? No way. ¡°We dropped off the map,¡± Akari echoed with the same skepticism. ¡°What¡¯s that even mean?¡± Relia unbuckled her satchel, which sat on the chair beside her. She pulled out a thick brown envelope and poured a stack of papers onto the table between them. Akari grabbed a sheet at random, adjusting her glasses to read. Kalden leaned over the table and began scanning the others. Most were encyclopedia articles, and they all related to the Archipelago in some way. One particular title caught his eye: Arkala¡¯s Destruction. The text went on to describe how Arkala¡¯s mana shield had failed on Quintember 58th, 850. Four years before Kalden was born. The failure happened during a storm, and that storm sent a devastating tidal wave from the northeast, destroying every city in its path. His eyes settled on a few photos of Tidegate with its streets submerged underwater. Cars sat piled up against the buildings like scattered leaves. The buildings themselves didn¡¯t fare much better¡ªjust metal skeletons of their former selves. A chill crept up Kalden¡¯s spine as he took in similar photos of Ironhaven and Shoken Port. No survivors. ¡°These pictures are fake.¡± He looked up from the article. ¡°They must be. I mean¡ªthese cities are still here.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Relia said in a gentle voice. ¡°My master wouldn¡¯t be here if he believed this.¡± ¡°Still¡ª¡± Kalden started to speak, but he found his mouth dry. He unscrewed his water bottle before he spoke again. ¡°There are more than a quarter-million people here. You can¡¯t just cover that up.¡± ¡°You thought the rest of the world was dead,¡± Relia pointed out. ¡°Which scenario is more likely? A storm destroying three tiny islands, or the entire ring of continents?¡± Kalden narrowed his eyes as he scanned more papers. They weren¡¯t all about the Archipelago, he realized. Others described world events from the last decade¡ªfrom wars in Creta to smaller countries breaking free from the Shoken Empire. They even covered entertainment, from the latest games and movies to the last few surgeball championships. Beside him, Akari rummaged through the pile, revealing a list of technological breakthroughs. One Espirian company had invented a mobile phone that could fit inside your pocket and draw power from your mana channels. The next article described a thin, foldable computer that also ran on mana batteries. The list went on, from cars to airships to mana Constructs. It was too much to take in, so Kalden looked away, taking a deep breath and considering Relia¡¯s last question. Despite the mountain of evidence, his brain still rejected these ideas. He¡¯d spent his whole life believing this was humanity¡¯s last haven. What now? It was all a lie? He tried imagining this as an outside observer. It did seem more likely for three islands to vanish as opposed to all of human civilization. However, he could also turn Relia¡¯s logic against her. He looked up and met the red-haired girl¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯re saying that billions of people were fooled?¡± He grabbed one of the first papers and held it up. ¡°You¡¯re saying they all believe this story?¡± ¡°Billions?¡± Relia shook her head. ¡°No. The Archipelago is the whole world to you, but most people have never even heard of it. There are ten thousand Islands in the Inner Sea, and twice that number in the outer oceans.¡± In other words, no one had been fooled, because no one actually cared. Kalden leaned back against the booth¡¯s cushion, feeling suddenly trapped. Relia was right¡ªthis had been his whole world. Now, it felt far too small. ¡°What really happened twenty years ago?¡± he asked. Relia spread out her hands in a helpless gesture. ¡°We don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°My master had some theories, but we had no idea what we¡¯d find.¡± ¡°But something happened,¡± Kalden pressed. ¡°My mom remembers picking up the phone and calling people in Espiria or Shoken. We used to see passing boats, and spatial artists could make portals to the mainland. That all stopped one day.¡± Relia took a deep breath. ¡°You¡¯ve got a mana wall around your island, right?¡± Kalden nodded. ¡°Most coastal cities have the same thing,¡± she explained. ¡°These shields glow like Midwinter trees at night, and a passing boat can spot them forty miles away. But everything was pitch black when we came here. My master didn¡¯t see the shield until he was standing ten feet away from it.¡± ¡°So there are more Constructs?¡± Akari gestured to the sound suppressor. ¡°We can stop sound from escaping. Why not do the same for light and radiation?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Kalden said slowly. ¡°But think of how much mana we spend to keep the regular shields running. Plus the thousands of state employees who maintain it. Who¡¯s keeping these other Constructs from falling apart? How do they keep them a secret?¡± Akari furrowed her brows at that. ¡°You guys might be on the right track,¡± Relia said. ¡°My master mentioned dream mana as a possibility. That could affect light and sound. No clue how they kept it running though.¡± ¡°A better question is why,¡± Akari said. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be less work to destroy the island for real?¡± ¡°Good point,¡± Kalden said. If you wanted to block all light and sound, you would need a dome that covered the whole sky. That would take exponentially more mana than a simple wall. Then there was the cost of converting it to the proper aspects. Like Akari said, if someone could manage that feat, they could have killed everyone for real. Of course, there were other possibilities. History was filled with tyrants who isolated their territory so they could rule unopposed. Was that happening here? Unlikely. Bronze were treated unfairly, but he doubted there was some evil overlord controlling things from the shadows. Their leaders were all elected, and they changed every term. Kalden¡¯s stepfather, Genkai, was one of them. ¡°It makes no sense,¡± Relia agreed. ¡°And it gets weirder.¡± She fingered the golden disc that hung from her neck. ¡°You know these badges you all wear? No one¡¯s worn this sort of thing since the fifth century.¡± Kalden could have sworn they¡¯d worn badges more recently than that, but he¡¯d have to double-check the history books to be sure. ¡°This makes it seem like you¡¯ve been isolated for a long time,¡± Relia said, ¡°but the rest of your tech isn¡¯t that far behind. Plus you¡¯re all fluent in Espirian.¡± ¡°Speaking of badges,¡± Akari broke in. ¡°You said ¡®Apprentice¡¯ was your rank. How high is that? And how do we reach it?¡± Kalden gave her a sideways look. After all those earth-shattering revelations, her main concern was advancing her mana arts? On second thought, that sounded exactly like Akari. ¡°Apprentice is the first rank after Novice,¡± Relia said. ¡°And what¡¯s Novice?¡± Akari asked. The other girl blinked in surprise. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be asking if I knew, would I?¡± ¡°The Grandmaster mentioned it in his videos,¡± Kalden explained, ¡°but he never described what it was.¡± ¡°Right, sorry. Novice is what you two are.¡± Relia turned over a piece of paper, revealing the blank side. ¡°Um¡ªdo either of you have something to write with?¡± Kalden reached into his backpack and pulled out a pencil he¡¯d been using for his shaping exercises. ¡°Thanks.¡± Relia took it and sketched out a vertical rectangle¡ªthree times as tall as it was wide. She wrote the word ¡®Novice¡¯ on top, then divided the shape into thirds. She labeled these ¡®Bronze,¡¯ ¡®Silver,¡¯ and ¡®Gold.¡¯ ¡°Everyone¡¯s born somewhere in the Novice realm,¡± she explained. ¡°You start at the top if your ancestors had lots of mana.¡± She tapped the Gold section of the rectangle. ¡°If not . . .¡± She slid the pencil down to the Bronze section. ¡°But ¡®Bronze¡¯ and ¡®Gold¡¯ are outdated terms,¡± she said. ¡°Novice is technically three ranks, but we usually just number them these days. Especially since ¡®Bronze¡¯ has so much stigma attached.¡± ¡°Tell me about it,¡± Akari muttered. Relia gave her a sympathetic smile. ¡°If a mana artist¡¯s journey has a hundred steps, then Bronze to Gold is only the first. There¡¯s only one way Golds could rule an island like this.¡± ¡°They can¡¯t reach the higher ranks,¡± Kalden said. His own father had been a general stuck at the peak of Gold for years. And somehow, this eighteen-year-old girl was stronger. Something was affecting them all¡ªpreventing them from advancing. What did that mean for Akari¡¯s goal of reaching Silver? Would more mana and training even be enough? ¡°And the state¡¯s been lying through their teeth,¡± Akari muttered. ¡°You¡¯re assuming they know all this,¡± Relia said. ¡°They must,¡± she said. ¡°You got in. That means the Martials could get out. Why wouldn¡¯t they try to leave?¡± Relia pursed her lips, considering. Akari gestured to the stack of papers. ¡°Anyone who shared this would get arrested for disturbing the peace. Then they¡¯d wind up dead of ¡®natural causes¡¯ if they kept at it.¡± She made air quotes around the last phrase. ¡°That doesn¡¯t prove they know anything,¡± Relia said. ¡°Think of how a flock of birds flies in formation. Does every bird decide to change direction?¡± She shook her head. ¡°They follow what the others are doing. And complicated conspiracies are more likely to be false. Sometimes, the simplest answer is the most likely.¡± Kalden mulled that over. ¡°You¡¯re saying our government actually thinks the world is gone? No way they¡¯re that incompetent.¡± ¡°I can think of a simpler answer,¡± Relia said. ¡°Everyone else is just like you guys. They know something¡¯s up, but they can¡¯t prove it. They think it¡¯s in their best interest to stay here, so that¡¯s what they¡¯re doing.¡± ¡°Then why¡¯d they try to kill your master?¡± Akari asked. Relia deflated at that. Despite her ridiculous mana count, she was clearly just a college student echoing other people¡¯s ideas. She knew the arguments well enough, but she hadn¡¯t updated them for their current predicament. When she finally spoke again, it came out more tired than before. ¡°My master always said it¡¯s easy to fool people. But convincing them they¡¯ve already been fooled? That¡¯s one of the toughest things in the world.¡± She shook several strands of red hair from her eyes. ¡°He should have known better than to walk through that gate alone.¡± Before they could say anything else, Relia glanced down at the stainless steel napkin holder, and she must have seen something in the reflection. ¡°They¡¯re here.¡± Kalden glanced over her shoulder to the food court¡¯s entrance. Sure enough, he spotted a man in a sharp black suit with a gold badge around his neck. Kalden¡¯s blood froze for a split second. Was that Emberlyn¡¯s father? No . . . this man had a similar haircut, but it wasn¡¯t him. Relia packed up her papers and stuffed them back into her open satchel. Kalden raised an eyebrow. ¡°You said none of the Martials have seen your face.¡± ¡°And I¡¯d rather keep it that way. Besides . . .¡± She fingered her badge. ¡°This belonged to one of their friends. They¡¯ll realize that if they scan it.¡± He nodded. ¡°And what about the real reason we came here?¡± ¡°The videos for a favor,¡± Relia said as she snapped her satchel shut. ¡°There¡¯s a bounty office back near the lobby. I figure I can handle most of the fighting, but I can¡¯t cash in the cores without a license. That¡¯s where you guys come in. Just grab me the most expensive jobs, and we¡¯ll go from there.¡± Kalden glanced at Akari, who gave an eager nod. ¡°Sounds simple enough,¡± he said. ¡°Great!¡± Relia stood from her seat and pushed her chair back. ¡°Meet me outside the gate in half an hour?¡± ¡°An hour would be better,¡± he said. ¡°We still haven¡¯t had lunch yet.¡± ¡°An hour it is.¡± Her lips broke into a wide grin. ¡°Then I¡¯ll show you guys some real mana arts.¡± Chapter 17: The Contested Area want to back out?¡± That¡¯s useful. Two goldnotes for a single core? Did her foster parents even make that much in a month? Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Well, that¡¯s one way to stop people from hoarding all the bounties. you,¡± he countered. ¡°I bought you lunch, so carrying my stuff is the least you can do.¡± So much for that idea, Akari thought as she lowered the material below her chin. Was this always a rule, or did it just start when the Fugitive showed up? Chapter 18: Target Practice Idiot, Akari scolded herself. She could have done that. Maybe not as well, but anything was better than standing around. second pack of raptors appeared on Akari¡¯s side of the ridge. Damnit. Fire artists could repel fire. She¡¯d known that, but she hadn¡¯t expected it from a mana beast. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Relia. She¡¯d been watching this whole time. Shit. Akari rolled up her hoodie Weird. Maelyn had said something similar, but Akari had assumed it was the Grandmaster¡¯s videos that made them better. Chapter 19: Life and Death Talek. That thing was wider than a boulder. Including people, Akari thought. She was all for killing mana beasts quickly, especially if it spared them the pain. But she shuddered to imagine what else Relia could do. Could she make someone drop dead of a heart attack? What about a stroke, or cancer? Would it look natural? If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. you?¡± Chapter 20: Martial Interrogation Deep breaths, Kalden told himself. He didn¡¯t know if Frostblade¡¯s visit was personal or professional. His demeanor suggested the latter, but that was normal. This man talked to his own daughter as if she were an agent under his command. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Her?¡± Damnit. So that was how Frostblade knew he was here. He¡¯d checked the Guild¡¯s security cameras. Chapter 21: Risks 44/44. Just six more points until Silver. Talek. One minute, Kalden was all smiles, and then this ruthless Gold took over. Relia had done most of the work yesterday, and, well . . . she felt like they were friends. Friends didn¡¯t betray each other like that. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. You¡¯ve made it this far, she thought as she squeezed the thumb drive in her pocket. She and Kalden could keep training together. They could learn mana arts the right way, without fighting impossible odds. It wouldn¡¯t be easy, but she¡¯d take that over a suicide mission. Chapter 22: A Dying Flame First time for everything. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Inside her shield. Talek. She kept underestimating them. She¡¯d blunted her Missiles, aiming to injure rather than kill. She also held back her life mana, which was probably her best offensive tool. Chapter 23: Back to Elegan If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. still won.¡± Great. It was still winter, so that meant the sidewalks would be solid ice when she left. Chapter 24: A Gold鈥檚 Demand Shit. How much did she know? Damnit. Of course Kalden¡¯s mother had her own spies and informants. The worst part was, Akari had seen this coming weeks ago. She¡¯d known this moment would come. Sozen. Talek. Nothing got past her, did it? This was the sort of Gold who Emberlyn Frostblade aspired to be. Emberlyn had shouted and threatened her multiple times, and Akari always told the girl to screw herself. Meanwhile, Kalden¡¯s mother already had her spilling secrets, and she hadn¡¯t lifted a finger. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Well, shit. what?¡± This knowledge belongs to everyone.¡± The Grandmaster¡¯s voice echoed in her mind. ¡°To restrict this skill is to deprive people of what it means to be human.¡± winning.¡± really want?¡± he pressed. Chapter 25: Unbreakable High-Stakes Negotiation by Patrik Koss, Beyond the Moons by Kazu Nobira . . .¡± Unless . . . Unbreakable,¡± Darren finished. Unbreakable was a book about soul oaths. Rulers had once exchanged these oaths when one faction surrendered to another, with the loser swearing never to take up arms against the victor. It was Shoken¡¯s equivalent to the Espirian hostage exchanges. Beyond the Moons.¡± If her foster parents actually kick her out,¡± Maelyn said. ¡°I have my suspicions about that one.¡± pill?¡± kind of fun.¡± The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. his idea.¡± She took another drink and shook her head. ¡°He¡¯s obsessed with getting stronger, but he already maxed out his mana. Now he spends his days feeling like a failure.¡± If you can give something, you can take it away. I¡¯m the one who mistreats people, right?¡± Emberlyn looked away for a moment, mulling something over. ¡°I¡¯m not proud of the way I acted, but I have dreams about Zeller, too. Dreams where we¡¯re friends, and she betrays me. Dreams where she attacks me for no reason.¡± Not good. Chapter 26: Beneath the Ice Almost. Talek. He seriously didn¡¯t remember this talk? Focus. Akari gritted her teeth, pushing back the day¡¯s memories. Tonight might be her last training session. She had to make it better than her last memories of Kalden. Take the deal,¡± he¡¯d told her. ¡°Make the smart choice for once in your life.¡± Well, screw you too. couldn¡¯t. Unlike this training, said a voice in her head. You¡¯ll always be a Bronze. Nothing will ever change that. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Kalden? Her heart leapt at the possibility. Fight or surrender? Thank Talek for today¡¯s practice session. She¡¯d seen the Martials waste hundreds of Missiles against Relia, but she couldn¡¯t afford to be so careless. Time to switch things up. Talek. What she¡¯d give for a proper Construct right now. Her Cloud technique was great when it worked, but it took far too long to set up. Should have worn a helmet, Akari thought as he staggered back. third. Move, she told herself. Chapter 27: A Perfect Nightmare Oh no. Akari. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Damnit. How did she even get under the ice like that? She¡¯d lost her glasses, but he didn¡¯t see any obvious wounds. What was it again? Twenty? Thirty? Either way, it was too late for counting now. To catch her doing mana arts. It was the same scheme she¡¯d used back in Hexember when she¡¯d gotten Akari banned from the computer lab. If Emberlyn had pulled that off, things would get even worse for Akari. see, which wasn¡¯t fair at all. You.¡± Akari staggered forward, gathering mana in her palms. The sight of her enemy brought back all the memories of the fight, and chains tightened around her burning lungs. Sirens. Ice. All the pieces of a perfect nightmare, together in one place. Chapter 28: Bloodline Bastard. fined.¡± Huh. How about that? The propaganda worked in her favor for once. Still, Mazren didn¡¯t look hopeful. There must be a catch. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. No winning against Golds. Now more than ever, Akari felt the weight of those words in her bones. She hadn¡¯t even responded to Sakara Trengsen¡¯s offer, and things had already worked out in the woman¡¯s favor. why?¡± Her voice rose for the first time. ¡°Why do you give a shit about some orphan Bronze? You agreed to kick me out before.¡± She smacked her cuffs on the table, and the metallic clang reached every corner of the room. ¡°These give Noella more reasons to hate me.¡± Emeri Zeller. Chapter 29: Graduation Step one: find the system that controls the cuffs. Stormspear. Why did the old Espirian clans get all the cool names? Trengsen meant ¡®blood poem,¡¯ hinting at his ancestors¡¯ strategic battle prowess. But most people wouldn¡¯t know that unless they spoke High Imperial Shokenese. Great. Impersonating the IT staff might work on the gullible old ladies at school, but that wouldn¡¯t work on the Martials. Then again . . . This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Step two: find a weakness in the system. Step three: get access to a computer. Seriously? His clan name was Yacksbane? How had she gone to this school for three years and never heard that? And what in Talek¡¯s name had his ancestors done to that poor yack? Look for Alec,¡± Kalden had said in his last message. ¡°He¡¯s the guard who escorted you to our first meeting.¡± Thirty minutes. Akari had dealt with worse constraints when she¡¯d snuck in here between classes. In many ways, she¡¯d spent an entire semester preparing for this exact moment. Chapter 30: Escape Step four: disable the cuffs. What else? Unapproved IP address. Please request approval by clicking the link below. Success. Another version of the control panel popped up. This one had far more options than the first. Feeling a surge of hope, Akari navigated to the same page as before and found her name from a list of hundreds. Unapproved IP address. Please request approval by clicking the link below. Damnit. Even the admins weren¡¯t immune. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Focus, Akari told herself. Just like mana arts. Keep fighting until the end. Hell no. The Martials might have a failsafe to prevent this sort of thing. What if they got the alarm before the server code fired? Or what if she made a syntax error somewhere? Thank Talek. Almost free. Just a little farther. Step five: get out of town. Understandable. They hadn¡¯t heard Relia¡¯s story about the outside world, and Kalden wouldn¡¯t share that story lightly. The less they knew, the less they had to lie when the Martials came knocking. I¡¯ll come back for you, he thought as he crawled over another pipe. He and Akari would train until they were strong enough to oppose these unseen enemies. They would become stronger than Relia¡ªstronger than her master, even. Whatever it took, they would free the people they¡¯d left behind. Not just Darren and Maelyn, but all their friends and family. Everyone they¡¯d ever known. Not bad, Kalden thought with a grin. He could almost see the gears turning in his opponents¡¯ heads. Were these kids smart enough to make a diversion, or were they dumb enough to run away? Chapter 31: Fugitives looked empty, but what about shadow artists? What about¡ª Talek. That was their last conversation? Kalden had pulled her from the river, and they¡¯d exchanged plenty of notes over the past month. But he was right, they hadn¡¯t really talked since that day. It¡¯s easy to fool people,¡± Relia had told them before. ¡°But convincing them they¡¯ve already been fooled? That¡¯s one of the hardest things in the world.¡± This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. You¡¯re a fugitive now, she reminded herself. Get used to it. Great. They probably had the wrong sign or even the wrong exit. This would be a long night if¡ª Oh, shit. Chapter 32: Rebel Base A Martial with a beard? That was new. This guy might be undercover, but still. Retired. Four months ago. We are allowed to leave, you know.¡± probably wasn¡¯t lethal. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. CI? Kalden wasn¡¯t up to speed with Martial lingo, but he thought the ¡®I¡¯ stood for informant. The ¡®C¡¯ either meant ¡®criminal¡¯ or ¡®confidential¡¯¡ªhe couldn¡¯t recall which. Good enough. Oh. Well, this is really awkward then, because we already made some assumptions.¡± She paused as if for dramatic effect. ¡°We have you two sharing the last bed down the hall.¡± Chapter 33: The Peak of Bronze Just past midnight. Must be Relia heading to bed. The garage took up most of the cabin¡¯s bottom level, and they shared the only bedroom down here. That¡¯s why you stumbled down here like a drunk person? And since when do channels need clearing out? But Akari kept those last few questions to herself. She could have pried further, but she had more important questions. Best not to piss off the one person who could help her. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Like hell, Akari thought. For the first few days of her house arrest, she¡¯d tried pushing mana past the restraints, hoping she could break through with willpower alone. That was stupid in hindsight. Especially if these same cuffs had worked on Relia¡¯s master. 49/49, her mana watch said. One point away from Silver. All alchemy comes with side effects. The more you meddle with nature, the worse those effects are.¡± Chapter 34: Cell Thirteen Don¡¯t raise your weapons or shields unless they spot us. Drop if you see a light. Surrounded. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Never hesitate,¡± Jared had said. ¡°Not even for a second.¡± Only one chance to get this right. Three seconds . . . two seconds. That¡¯s useful, Kalden thought as the pair scaled the ropes. It never would have fooled anyone in broad daylight, but the Martials didn¡¯t have the best vantage from inside the prison. Not bad. She¡¯d been all skin and bones when they¡¯d first met, barely able to do a single chin-up. Her frame hadn¡¯t changed much, but she¡¯d clearly put on more muscle during her house arrest. Not only could she climb the rope with relative ease, but she did it with twenty pounds of equipment on her back. Right. These guards were all Silvers with minimal combat training¡ªnot full agents like the ones Relia had fought in White Vale. Those would come later. felt like people. Warmth radiated from their skin, and half of them hadn¡¯t bothered to close their eyes. always have air conditioning and fluorescent lights? As if they didn¡¯t feel cold enough already. Seven . . . nine . . . eleven. Good to know. They might need a place to hunker down if things got heated. She also spotted a switch to override the card terminal and lock down this booth from the inside. Oh, shit. Chapter 35: Pinned Down Akari leapt to her right, taking cover by the cell¡¯s doorway. Steel clasped against steel as the ice chamber sealed behind her. Silence followed, and her heart pounded like war drums in her ears. She barely had time to process everything before she heard a familiar voice. ¡°We¡¯ve got her,¡± Frostblade said into his transceiver. ¡°Move in and kill the others.¡± That was Akari¡¯s cue to run. She bolted straight down the hall, back to the open security booth. Pale blue light flashed behind her as an ice Missile closed in. Akari dodged left, but the mana changed its course in midair. Her head slammed against the brick wall, and stars flashed in her vision. Waves of ice coursed down her spine as her whole body went numb. Her legs buckled, and her back struck the tile floor. Footsteps echoed down the corridor as a black-clad figure approached. Akari raised a shaking hand to her face, adjusting her glasses and bringing the world back into focus. Agent Frostblade loomed over her, gathering another ice Missile in his palm. The light warped beside the Martial, and Jared appeared out of thin air, slashing his dagger toward his opponent¡¯s throat. Frostblade pivoted his head, and an ice shield formed between them. Jared¡¯s dagger struck the wall of mana, but he might as well have struck solid stone. He lost his grip on the weapon, and it clattered to the floor. Frostblade shoved the Construct back, slamming Jared against the wall. His bones broke under the pressure, and Akari closed her eyes just before his face caved in. Strong hands grabbed her under her arms, pulling her to her feet. ¡°Come on,¡± Viv said in a shaky voice. ¡°We¡¯ve gotta run.¡± Akari still couldn¡¯t feel her legs, but they moved on their own as the older woman pulled her away. Kalden appeared beside her a second later, meeting the Martials¡¯ Missiles with his own. Ten more steps. Chunks of stone flew off the walls as their attacks collided. Akari kept running with Viv. Her body braced for the impact of another attack, but none came. Five steps. Kalden and Frostblade exchanged several more attacks as they neared the safety of the security booth. Three . . . Two . . . A blade of ice mana soared past Viv, striking the glass window in front of them. Talek, that was too close. If he¡¯d¡ª Viv let out a cry of pain, and they both collapsed near the booth¡¯s doorway. Akari scrambled back to her feet as more mana flew around her. Several paces back, she spotted a pair of black-clad legs. Just legs. Nothing else. She followed a trail of blood to where Viv¡¯s torso lay face-first on the tile floor. Kalden shoved her into the booth, locking the door behind them. A web of cracks covered the thick glass, but it held for now. Akari collapsed against the file cabinets. The scent of blood clung to her nostrils, and bile rose in her throat. She ripped off her helmet and took a deep breath, barely stopping herself from puking. They were dead. They were all dead. Relia . . . Jared . . . Viv. He¡¯d killed them all. ¡°Akari!¡± Kalden¡¯s voice sounded distant, as if she¡¯d fallen under another frozen river. ¡°Stay with me.¡± ¡°They¡¯re all gone,¡± she muttered. ¡°It¡¯s my fault.¡± The Martials had known she was a hacker. They couldn¡¯t stop her from hacking their databases, so they¡¯d planted false information instead. They¡¯d left this booth unguarded, and they¡¯d planted that password in the drawer. They¡¯d even held off the reinforcements to give Relia time. ¡°Stop,¡± Kalden snapped. ¡°You can feel sorry later. We need to focus.¡± Akari remained silent. Mana struck glass as Frostblade tried to force his way in. ¡°It¡¯s just us now,¡± Kalden said. ¡°But this isn¡¯t over.¡± She glanced up to see more Martials enter the hall behind Frostblade. This was over. Their three best fighters were dead. For all they knew, the Grandmaster wasn¡¯t even here. Even if he was, they were pinned down in this room with no way out. ¡°You didn¡¯t give up before,¡± Kalden said. ¡°If we¡¯re gonna die, then let¡¯s go down fighting.¡± Akari blinked up at him, wiping her eyes dry on her sleeve. How the hell was he so calm? How had he gone up against Frostblade and lived? That hadn¡¯t been part of the trap. The Martial had wanted them all dead. Akari looked down at Kalden¡¯s hands, and she realized they were shaking as hard as hers. He just pretended to be brave. She could do the same. ¡°Okay.¡± Akari rubbed the snot from her nose and forced herself to stand straighter. ¡°Got a plan?¡± ¡°Same plan as before¡ªwe find the Grandmaster. He¡¯s our only way out.¡± Akari stumbled over to the computer and collapsed in the chair. Her hands were still shaking, so she pushed her back against the cushion and took several more deep breaths. ¡°What if he¡¯s not here?¡± ¡°Ice chambers need a constant flow of mana,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Moving him would be risky.¡± ¡°And what if he¡¯s dead?¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Only another Grandmaster could kill him.¡± So Relia had said. But she¡¯d also clung to this plan against everyone else¡¯s advice, and she would have said anything to justify it. Still, Akari kept her doubts to herself as she opened the cell control panel. How many ice chambers could they have in this prison? Maybe two or three at the most. The others were probably close to Relia¡¯s, too. Ice mana didn¡¯t travel through wires like electricity. It was slow, and it would lose its potency along the way. An explosion shook the room. ¡°Shit.¡± Akari jumped back, almost falling out of her chair. A wider crack formed in the window. ¡°That glass won¡¯t hold for much longer,¡± Kalden said. He was right. They needed more time. Akari brought her attention back to the monitor and the list of cells. She scrolled to the bottom and found the options she¡¯d ignored before: Open all prisoner cuffs. Open all prisoner cells. She¡¯d seen the list of prisoners last night. These weren¡¯t serial killers or rapists waiting to destroy society. These were powerful mana artists who¡¯d pissed off the Martials. In other words, they were exactly what she needed right now. A few more clicks and the halls burst into chaos. Prisoners in blue jumpsuits emerged from every cell, colliding with Frostblade and his troops. Mana flashed in a hundred colors, sending up clouds of dust in every direction. She brought up the security cameras and found similar things happening on every floor. ¡°Nice work.¡± Kalden leaned over the monitors. ¡°Now where¡¯s Relia¡¯s master?¡± ¡°Here.¡± Akari pointed to one particular camera from the next hallway. The blast door had opened with the others, and four Martial agents stood guard outside, fending off any prisoners who got too close. ¡°Cell thirty-seven,¡± Kalden muttered. ¡°That¡¯s the cell right behind Relia¡¯s.¡± ¡°But how do we get there?¡± Akari glanced up at the war zone outside the window. Relia could have forced her way through, but they wouldn¡¯t last ten seconds without her. Kalden extended a finger toward the ceiling, and Akari followed his gaze to the open vent. ¡°Hell no,¡± she snapped back. ¡°We can¡¯t fit in there.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Neither can I!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll fit. It might be tight, but it¡¯s our best chance.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know where that vent leads.¡± Another blast shook the booth, but the glass held. ¡°It goes to the next hallway.¡± Kalden pointed to the schematics he¡¯d unrolled from his bag. ¡°Keep your transceiver on, and I¡¯ll guide you there.¡± Akari ran both hands through her hair, pacing back and forth in the small office. She still didn¡¯t like it, but Kalden had a point. No matter how dangerous that vent was, it was still safer than charging down the hall with nothing but hopes and wishes. ¡°Fine.¡± She removed all her armor, including her leather boots. That left her in just a black T-shirt, jeans, and socks. She also kept her belt with her stolen gun, her transceiver, and a few vials of liquid mana. Those last items might slow her down, but they were too important to leave behind. Kalden boosted her toward the ceiling, and she squeezed into the narrow space. It was about as small as she¡¯d imagined¡ªbarely two feet wide, and half as high. She had to crawl on her belly with both elbows tucked at her sides. The path ahead was dark, but that didn¡¯t matter. She barely had enough room to lift her head. Static crackled in her ear, followed by Kalden¡¯s voice. ¡°Can you hear me?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Akari grunted as she crawled over a sharper section. Talek. Why couldn¡¯t this be smooth and shiny like the air vents on TV? ¡°You have a junction coming up. Take a right.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± she replied. Back on the ground, it had only taken a few seconds to run the length of the hallway. Now, she had to crawl for several minutes to reach the first junction, and that was barely half the trip. Hopefully Kalden could hold out that long. She wasn¡¯t ready to lose him, too. ~~~ A blade of ice mana broke through the glass. Kalden activated his shield and forced it back with all his might. Frostblade retracted his mana, leaving a thin hole in his wake. A few more holes like that, and the whole window would collapse. Their eyes met, and a look of surprise flashed across his enemy¡¯s face. ¡°Kalden Trengsen?¡± The older man stepped back, raising the visor on his helmet. His agents formed a protective barrier around him, raising their shields against the prisoners¡¯ attacks. Kalden didn¡¯t reply. He just held up his shield, ready to deflect the next attack. ¡°Where¡¯s the other Bronze?¡± Frostblade asked. ¡°Dead,¡± Kalden said. The older man eyed the booth with clear skepticism. Fortunately, Kalden had closed the vent behind Akari, so there wasn¡¯t much to see. ¡°This is over,¡± Frostblade said. ¡°It¡¯s time for you to surrender.¡± Even now, Kalden got special treatment. No one else had the chance to surrender. Not even Jared, his fellow Gold. ¡°You¡¯ll have to kill me too,¡± Kalden said. ¡°You think I want that?¡± Frostblade took a step forward. ¡°To tell your mother her worst fears came true? And for what?¡± He spread out his hands, gesturing to the surrounding chaos. ¡°Because you trusted a terrorist and her lies?¡± So Relia was a terrorist now? Well, they couldn¡¯t exactly call her a foreign invader. But if Frostblade wanted to talk rather than fight, then Kalden wouldn¡¯t stop him. Akari was already on her way to the Grandmaster¡¯s cell. Time favored him until then. ¡°What did she tell you?¡± Frostblade asked. ¡°That you¡¯ll find some utopia beyond the sea?¡± ¡°She brought proof,¡± Kalden said. ¡°I know the outside world exists.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be naive,¡± Frostblade said. ¡°Yes, there are still people out there, but that¡¯s a world hardened by storms and war. A world where the strong dominate the weak.¡± ¡°Sounds familiar.¡± ¡°It¡¯s worse than here,¡± he said. ¡°Far worse. These islands aren¡¯t perfect, but we¡¯re doing our best. Everything I¡¯ve done, I¡¯ve done to protect it.¡± Kalden raised an eyebrow. ¡°How¡¯s your advancement coming?¡± Frostblade¡¯s eyes hardened. ¡°You¡¯re a prisoner too,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Just like the rest of us.¡± ¡°There are different types of freedom. You can¡¯t even leave this room. Even if you do, I have Darren Warder and Maelyn Sanako in custody. I¡¯ll make sure they suffer for the rest of their lives.¡± Kalden kept his face blank. He couldn¡¯t back down now, just because the temptation was real. This was how the Martials had maintained control for so long. This was how they¡¯d stopped thousands of people from leaving. ¡°And Dawnfire is still alive,¡± Frostblade said. ¡°I can kill her right now. I just need to overload her chamber.¡± Kalden smiled at that. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you try to kill Relia once. I¡¯d love to see you try again.¡± ¡°The Martials have powerful benefactors,¡± he said. ¡°Far stronger than Dawnfire or her master.¡± Kalden had figured as much already. They¡¯d clearly prepared for outsiders, and even Jared hadn¡¯t understood those cuffs. Still, whoever these ¡®benefactors¡¯ were, they weren¡¯t involved with the day-to-day activities. Frostblade couldn¡¯t kill Relia tonight. Not while Kalden and Akari kept fighting. ~~~ Akari released a burst of mana from her palm, destroying a fan in a single blast. Two months ago, her Missiles never could have broken something so sturdy. But wearing those cuffs had been like running with a weighted vest, forcing her to exert more force through her channels. She gritted her teeth as she crawled through the rubble, then she squeezed around another corner. Corners were the hardest part of crawling through vents. She¡¯d nearly trapped herself the first time, curled up halfway into a ball, unable to go forward or backward. Now wouldn¡¯t that be a sad way for a mana artist to go? She reached the next vent after a few more minutes of crawling. There, she spotted two black helmets through the grates. Mana flashed from their hands as they engaged the escaped prisoners. She thought about waiting to see how the fight played out, but that was too big a gamble. If they killed the prisoners, she¡¯d be worse off than before. Besides, Kalden¡¯s life was on the line. Akari cycled her mana, then began raining Missiles on her enemies. Her mana struck its targets, and both men dropped their shields as they stumbled forward. Another pair of Missiles tore down the hall, leaving flaming red craters on the Martials¡¯ torsos. Footsteps drew nearer, and Akari crawled backward in the vent. The prisoners probably wouldn¡¯t attack her, but why risk it? A few more figures paused beneath the open vent, but they seemed more interested in looting the Martials¡¯ corpses. The footsteps faded a second later, and Akari pushed open the grates and dropped to the floor. It wasn¡¯t the most graceful landing, and she hoped Kalden wasn¡¯t watching through the cameras. Actually, scratch that. If Kalden was watching, then it meant he was still alive. She glanced to her left and saw a cell that looked identical to Relia¡¯s. Another ice chamber sat against the far wall, and she hurried inside before someone spotted her. Talek. There better not be more Martials hiding up in the ceiling. No sense in worrying about that now, though. She was screwed no matter what if they popped out. Akari stepped forward and pulled the lever on the ice chamber. White mist shot out from the pressure valves, and the steel casing slid open. Chapter 36: The Grandmaster Still alive. She stepped forward, reaching out to remove the restraints. What the hell? That was her mother¡¯s name, but her mother had never left this island. Talek. And this was one percent of his total power? tail. Akari blinked, and the transformation was complete. A raptor charged toward another group of Martials. Scales and feathers covered its body, and it looked as real as the ones they¡¯d fought in White Vale. Dream mana. So these were just illusions? Very durable illusions. Angels above. Now his Missiles were shooting Missiles. And this was still just one percent of his total power? Too bad. She¡¯d been hoping to see a dream raptor bite off his arm. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Escape first, mental breakdown later. We¡¯re coming back, Kalden reminded himself. No matter how long it took, he and Akari would return to this island and free everyone. And if Jared and Viv had families, he¡¯d make sure they learned about their sacrifice. Chapter 37: Keylas He¡¯s not invincible, Kalden realized. He¡¯d pushed through the pain so far, but he couldn¡¯t keep that up forever. True enough. Despite his power, Elend had shown far more restraint than Relia so far. Too bad he wasn¡¯t a better influence on her. Then again, that trap in the prison wasn¡¯t completely Relia¡¯s fault. She¡¯d admitted to being a bad tactician. She¡¯d been relying on the others, but no one else had spoken up. Frostblade had lured them all into a false sense of security, and they¡¯d all paid the price. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. And here comes the crazy part. Almost free. Chapter 38: Silver boat. Damnit. She wanted to call him a coward, but she couldn¡¯t argue with his logic. She¡¯d seen Elend struggling during that last fight. He¡¯d nearly crashed the boat after they passed through the wall. He¡¯d also dropped their shield too early, which was the whole reason Kalden got hit. Talek. What was this? It felt like her soul was being ripped apart from the inside. 50/50. Oh well. She¡¯d met enough near-sighted Silvers and Golds to know it wouldn¡¯t be that easy. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. No Golds? Maybe they were all dead. Now, wouldn¡¯t that be a treat? More likely, they were too scared to show their faces beyond the mana wall. Focus. Talek. This was a trap. They knew someone might come back for Kalden. The forest it is, then. Alright, enough playing around. The clock was ticking in more ways than one. Akari charged the two soldiers, dodging trees as she ran. Too slow. Akari drew her blade, slashing in two quick arcs as she passed between them. had been. What if those dreams were memories, and she¡¯d taken a step closer to her old life? Talek. Why did it have to be so warm? Four seconds after I pull the pin. Three . . . Two. One. Thank Talek. This was the best ninety-nine coppernotes she¡¯d ever spent. Wounded, huh? She could work with that. Shit. Had her mana gotten stronger, too? Damnit, Kalden. Where are you? Seriously? She was wearing boots, for Talek¡¯s sake. She¡¯d probably break her foot if she tried to shoot a Missile that way. Still, Akari complied, fastening each one in place. Bastard. Really look.¡± Fine. Akari drew in a deep breath and began cycling her mana. Never hesitate, Jared had said. No warnings. No second chances. Frostblade said it himself: this wasn¡¯t a negotiation, and it only ended one way. She¡¯d known that from the second she¡¯d stepped off the boat. Faster. She brought the currents back to her chest. For two months, this had been her only means of releasing her mana. It took more skill than an ordinary Missile, but she¡¯d had nothing but time during her house arrest. Never hesitate. Epilogue: Family he stumbled. She played the role of a coiled spring, pressed down by the weight of his body. They¡¯d made a few bandages with scraps of clothing, and Kalden kept pressure on his shoulder with his free hand. Meanwhile, a makeshift tourniquet stopped the bleeding in his leg. Easy. Relia had said the same thing. In her world, even children could advance within the Novice realm. Grandmaster-level mana beasts . . . now there was some nightmare fuel. She¡¯d finally reached Silver, and now she was going to feel weaker than ever. But at least she would have allies and resources this time. She wouldn¡¯t have to train in secret, or cross national borders to advance. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Talek. He wasn¡¯t wrong about that. She¡¯d gotten lucky tonight¡ªespecially with Frostblade and the gun. But she¡¯d also been calm and clear during the fights themselves. Despite the whirlwind of emotions in her brain, her body had known exactly what to do. You didn¡¯t get those results without years of training. Family. The word left her dizzy. Akari had already suspected she¡¯d been a mana artist before. But this? If Elend was right, then her parents had once been married. They¡¯d loved each other, and they¡¯d loved her. They¡¯d been a real family, and someone had ripped them apart. Talek. Emeri had been a mana artist once, too. And then someone had stripped her of her power, sending her to a place where she¡¯d be murdered by thugs. Updated Character Sheets I updated these to include Relia and Elend, plus some updated information for Akari and Kalden.
Name: Akari Zeller Rank: Silver Aspect: Pure mana Age: 16 Ethnicity: Half-Shokenese, half-Espirian
Name: Kalden Trengsen Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Rank: Gold Aspect: Pure mana Age: 16 Ethnicity: Shokenese
Name: Relia Dawnfire Rank: Apprentice Aspect: Life mana / pure mana Age: 18 Ethnicity: Espirian
Name: Elend Darklight Rank: Grandmaster Aspect: Dream mana / pure mana Age: 68 Ethnicity: Espirian
The character portraits were created with Artbreeder. Book 2 - Chapter 1: Castaways Book 2: Web of Dreams Akari opened her eyes and spit out a mouthful of saltwater. "Kalden?" she called out in a raspy voice. "Relia?" No answer. No sound but the wind and the ocean waves. She pushed her palms into the wet sand and forced herself to sit up. Her vision was a blur of bright colors as she looked around. Another wave crashed into the shore, slamming her face-first into the ground. She coughed up more saltwater as she crawled farther up the beach. Her arms felt like jelly, threatening to collapse with every movement. She wore a life vest over her hoodie, but her muscles still weren''t used to swimming so far. Where were the others? And where the hell were her glasses? She kept searching, but there was nothing but wet sand beneath her fingers. Had she lost them in the water? Talek. How long had it been? A third wave hit her, and memories flashed in her mind''s eye. Elend had been driving the boat toward Cadria when a mana storm blew in from the north. The sky had turned from slate gray to a deep, electric blue. It looked like someone had spilled a bottle of liquid mana over the entire world. The clouds swirled like funnels toward the sea, with lightning flashing between the gaps. The tides stood over a hundred feet tall, just like Elend promised. He''d held out for the better part of an hour, keeping them adrift with his techniques. For all that, he was no Water Artist. A Water Artist would have moved with the tides, but Elend could only fight back with a fraction of his power. The boat had eventually toppled over, and one thing led to another. Her remaining memories were a blur, and Talek only knew how Elend had kept them alive. Akari forced herself to her feet, still trying to take in her surroundings. The sun was high in the sky, which probably meant it was mid-afternoon. "Hey!" a familiar voice called out from behind her. Akari looked over her shoulder and saw a blurry figure jogging farther down the beach. She had red hair, pale skin, and a red flannel shirt. "You okay?" Relia asked as she closed the distance. "Sure," Akari muttered through her chattering teeth. The sun was warm enough, but she couldn''t say the same for the ocean. Relia stepped closer, and her face became sharper against the blurry sky. She raised a hand toward Akari''s forehead, moving aside strands of her wet hair. Akari took a step back. "What''s up?" "Sorry." Relia pulled her hand back. "You hit your head on the boat." Akari raised a hand to her right temple. Sure enough, her fingers came back sticky with blood. She hadn''t noticed the cut before, but now waves of stinging pain surged through her. "Is it cool if I heal it now?" Relia asked. Akari nodded. "Just warn me next time." Relia stepped forward, and a burst of green and gold flashed in her palm. The mana smelled like fresh spring rain, but it stung worse than salt when it reached her wound. The feeling lingered for several heartbeats as her skin reknit itself. Then it felt suddenly tight, as if she''d slipped on an extra small headband. "Thanks." Akari rubbed at the freshly healed skin, trying to stretch it out. "Any chance you can fix my eyes?" "That one''s trickier." The other girl knelt down and removed a dark backpack from her shoulders. Figures. What rank did Akari need to be to fix her own eyes? Apprentice? Artisan? Relia had bullet-proof skin, so 20/20 vision better be on the table. "Here." Relia unzipped the backpack, then she pressed a pair of familiar black frames into Akari''s hand. "You lost these when you hit your head." Akari slid the glasses back on her face, and the world snapped into focus again. The beach continued inland for a quarter-mile, and a wall of pale blue mana loomed over them. It looked just like the one back home¡ªten stories tall, stretching from horizon to horizon. "Shit," Akari said. "If this is an island, then I''m ragequitting." Relia cocked her head to the side. "I don''t know what that means, but I think we''re somewhere in Cadria. Probably Vaslana or Tretias." Akari nodded along at the strange names. She''d probably heard both in history class, but they''d been ancient, hypothetical places back then. What''s more, Elegan''s population was all Shokenese and Espirian. That meant they barely talked about this continent. Which country had Elend been aiming for again? Vaslana? Akari struggled to see the map in her head, but that sounded right. Vaslana bordered Espiria to the north, stretching all the way from the Inner Sea to the ocean beyond. They were also friends with Espiria, so it should have been easy to take an airship north. The storm had obviously pushed them off course, but that didn''t matter. They''d made it to Cadria¡ªa real continent from the outside world. Last year, she''d imagined this place as a war-torn wasteland. Now, she was standing on the beach with her own two feet, and the mana wall was a clear sign of civilization. All this time, the truth had been less than two hundred miles away. She''d always believed Relia, but it never hurt to see things with your own two eyes. "This stuff is yours too," Relia said as she tossed her the backpack. Akari accepted the bag and checked the contents. She still had both of her Martial weapons, including the pistol and the mana-enhanced blade. She''d sealed both in a plastic bag, which had been Kalden''s idea. "It seems like overkill now," he''d said as the storm loomed on the horizon, "but you might thank me later." Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. She found her clothes in a second sealed bag. Those seemed reasonably dry, so she grabbed a fresh pair of jeans and a black, long sleeve shirt. Relia coughed and looked away. "You''re really gonna change right here on the beach?¡± Akari shrugged as she yanked off her wet shirt. "Point me to the nearest locker room and I''ll change there instead." Once she was dressed again, Akari grabbed both weapons and fastened the holsters around her waist. The pistol had a dozen rounds left, and the blade seemed as sharp as ever. No sooner had she finished than Relia glanced out at the ocean, shielding her eyes with her hand. "I think that''s them." Akari blinked several times, struggling to make sense of the sight on the horizon. It looked like a small vehicle, bouncing over the waves like a skipping stone.. "What the hell is that?" she muttered. The vehicle crested a foaming wave, at least fifty feet in the air. Akari squinted as it drew closer to the beach. No ... that wasn''t a vehicle. It was a seat cushion. Elend lay across it on his belly and Kalden hung on behind him, piggyback style. The Grandmaster must have been pushing mana out from his feet. They never could have moved that fast otherwise. "He does stuff like this all the time," Relia said. "You''ll get used to it." The makeshift hydrocraft reached the shore a second later, skitting all the way into the sand. Kalden uncoiled his hands from Elend and rolled off, looking as exhausted as Akari felt. Even Elend winced as he rose from the cushion. The Grandmaster might have shrugged this off at his full strength, but he still hadn''t found a way to remove the cuffs and collar. "Any injuries?" Relia posed the question to both of them, but she was looking at Kalden when she said it. Kalden glanced down, examining his hands and forearms. "I think I''m okay." She gave him a quick thumbs-up, then turned to her master. "So where are we?" "Good question." Elend used his t-shirt to wipe the water from his face. "Let''s hear your best guess." Relia''s eyes darted back and forth like a nervous student. "Is it ... Cadrian?" "I wish," Elend said. "The storm forced us south." He pointed his finger at the horizon. "That way is north, which means we landed on a peninsula. A large one, by the looks of things." "Oh." Relia''s face went even paler than usual. "We''re in Creta." Kalden''s lips made a thin line, "Creta''s a poorer nation, right?" "It is," Elend said with a slow nod. "It''s also a dictatorship ruled by an angry dragon." "Seriously?" Akari asked. Even after two days of traveling with Elend, she still couldn''t tell when he was joking. Of course, they''d learned about powerful dragons in school, but this was the first time she''d heard of one running a country. "Not the sort of dragons you''re used to," Elend said. "You''ll see what I mean." Great. This was going to be like those tall waves she saw, wasn''t it? "So what''s the plan?" Kalden glanced back at the massive blue wall. "Can we climb over that somehow?" "Aye, we could." Elend crossed his arms and examined the massive Construct. "But it would waste valuable mana. Besides, that jungle''s probably full of predators." He turned his attention toward the west. "I saw a city that way¡ªmaybe five or six miles. I say we make our way there and hope they''re friendly." Kalden nodded. "And if they''re not?" Elend stretched his neck from side to side. "Why do you think I''m saving my mana, lad?"
They set out a few minutes later, following the mana wall along the sandy coast. Akari might have preferred a longer break, but she wasn''t about to argue. They''d run out of food and water that same morning, and the sun wasn''t making her any less thirsty. Despite their weariness, they made good time and reached the coastal city before sunset. They owed most of that to Elend''s long strides and his overabundance of energy. Relia was even worse, skipping through the sand like a little girl, her red braid bouncing in the wind. Still, Akari didn''t complain. She cycled her mana instead, releasing small bursts with every step. She was finally free from the Archipelago, in a world where no one could stop her from advancing. Best to make the most of it. "Alright," Elend said as they drew closer to the town. "Everyone get dressed. We don''t want to look like a band of barbarians." Nobody had actually undressed, but everyone except Elend had removed their boots at some point. The dunes were soft enough here that it was easier to walk barefoot. The three of them sat down at the base of the mana wall, fishing out clean socks from their backpacks. At the same time, Elend formed an invisible Construct around his body, making his cuffs and collar disappear. He also gave himself a short-sleeve button-up shirt with a bright floral pattern. It was a subtle change, but the baggy fabric hid his muscles, making him look far less threatening. Once again, Akari wondered just how powerful Elend was without his cuffs. Could he change his entire appearance at will? What about other people?" "Nice!" Relia clapped her hands together. "What do I get? I hope it''s a grass skirt and a coconut bra." That answered her second question. Maybe. Elend ignored her, turning to face Kalden and Akari. "First thing''s first¡ªdon''t mention my rank to anyone. Not even each other. Creta''s a weaker nation. The average person is probably still in the Foundation realm." "Wait." Akari narrowed her eyes as she stood. "Since when does poor mean weak?" If anything, she''d expected the opposite. Back home, the Golds had hoarded knowledge to stay in power, but everyone here knew the basics. Shouldn''t their struggles make them stronger? "Poor doesn''t always mean weak." Elend started walking toward the town again. "We''ll find hundreds of exceptional Artists here, and most of them started from scratch. But the average Artist is scraping to make ends meet. Not much time for training after that." She still couldn''t wrap her mind around that. There was always time for training, unless they literally worked from dawn until dusk with no breaks. Even then, she''d found time to cycle in class, or while walking to school. Not to mention the impedium cuffs, and the Martials who''d watched her every move. "You just hit Silver a few days ago," Elend reminded her. "Training gets harder the higher you climb. Especially the jump from Foundation to Apprentice. Few can advance without help." That made a little more sense. As much as Akari hated to admit it, she''d still be stuck under house arrest if it hadn''t been for the others. But it worked both ways¡ªRelia, Elend, and Kalden would all be Martial prisoners if it wasn''t for her. "You should also avoid using my real name," Elend said. "Espirian Grandmasters aren''t rare, but anyone can pull up a list of us online. Darklight is also a wealthy clan. It will make people assume I''m veiling my power." Kalden nodded along. "What do we call you, then?" "Elend Dawnfire. We''ll say I''m Relia''s father." He gave her a stern look over his shoulder. "And no daughter of mine will wear coconut shells as clothing. Your mother would kill us both." Then he gestured a finger between Akari and Kalden. "You two can be her friends. If anyone asks, you met at Korelden High." "Mrs. Fisher''s Biology class," Relia added helpfully. "Third year, first semester." "Wait," Akari broke in. "So Dawnfire''s not a famous clan?" The name had always given her ancient vibes, sort of like Frostblade. Plus it sounded cool enough to be famous. "What?" Elend turned back to face her. "Oh no. Dawnfire''s not a real clan." Akari shot the other girl a confused look. "Then what''s your last name?" Relia''s smile faded, and she bit her lip. "Dawnfire is my last name. It just wasn''t my parents'' name." Well, that story would be a treat to hear. "What about your ranks?" Kalden asked. "Relia and I will veil our souls," Elend said. "We''ll say I''m an Apprentice, and she''s a Gold. Unless we''re attacked, then we''ll each move up a step. I can''t go higher without drawing the Dragonlord''s eye. He''s a Grandmaster himself, and a foreigner like me could easily ruin his day." Elend held up his wrist, gesturing to the invisible cuffs. "In theory, at least. I won''t be overthrowing any dictators with these bloody things.." Kalden swallowed. "So how dangerous is this place?" "Very," Elend replied. "Of all the nations in Cadria, this is the last one I''d choose to visit. Things are bad enough for the locals, and they''re not used to seeing foreigners this far from the Espirian border." They kept following the mana wall until the jungle gave way to paved roads and run-down buildings. A few billboards and neon signs loomed over the rooftops, but all the words were written in Cadrian. "The danger won''t last long," Elend said after a short pause. "I''ll call my wife as soon as we find a phone. She''ll pass on my message to the Espirian Alliance, and they''ll get us out of here." At least they''d have an armed escort. That sounded a hell of a lot better than flying a boat over the border. "Any more questions?" Elend asked. They all shook their heads. "Good. Then it''s time to invade this dragon''s lair." Book 2 - Chapter 2: Costa Liberta Kalden followed the others down the beach, still marveling at their sudden change in scenery. Arkala¡¯s climate had been far cooler than this, more like Espiria or northern Shoken. This place seemed downright tropical by comparison. He even spotted a few palm trees growing beyond the mana wall. But how? Palm trees never grew back home. Kalden was no geography expert, but they''d been traveling northwest for most of the trip, and Arkala was already north of the equator. If anything, shouldn¡¯t it be cooler here? Not to mention those mana storms with their unnatural colors and cloud funnels. How come he¡¯d never seen a storm like that back home? They¡¯d always attributed their safety to the mana wall, but a few Constructs couldn¡¯t change the entire climate. And why had Akari reached Silver mere minutes after escaping the island? They¡¯d asked Elend about that, and he claimed that no Construct could stop a person from advancing. The closest thing was mana-repelling materials like impedium, and those could only slow you down. So many questions. Fortunately, Elend had promised to help them unlock their missing memories. That should explain how they¡¯d ended up in the Archipelago, and where they¡¯d been before. Kalden glanced back through the wall¡¯s rippling blue surface. The city wasn¡¯t large by any means¡ªprobably less than thirty buildings if you didn¡¯t count the surrounding homes. A few locals had stopped to stare at them from the street while others peeked out from their curtains. They walked for a quarter mile until they finally reached an opening in the mana wall. It reminded Kalden of the gate in White Vale that separated the city from the Contested Area beyond. The opening itself was about as big as a single stall garage, with sliding steel bars. Elend or Relia could easily break through that if they had to. They¡¯d faced worse in the Martials¡¯ prison. ¡°Let me do the talking here,¡± Elend said as he stepped toward the gate. Kalden hung farther back with Akari and Relia. The men on guard each wore desert-colored combat fatigues and sunglasses. Like most Cadrians, they had dark brown skin, and hair that was even blacker than Kalden¡¯s. Not to mention thicker. Kalden had to style his hair every day to get that kind of volume, and falling in the ocean was a surefire way to mess it up. He activated his Silver Sight and saw that both the guards were Gold. A part of him had actually expected them to be Apprentices. After all, Relia had once called her rank average. But at the same time, it was strange to see Golds as ordinary soldiers. All the ordinary soldiers back home were Silver. ¡°Good evening,¡± Elend said to the guards in Cadrian. The guards kept their expressions blank as he approached. Despite that, they still seemed more curious than anything else. Several more sentences passed between them, and Akari shifted back and forth in the sand. ¡°Any idea what they¡¯re saying?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look at me,¡± Relia said with a helpless shrug. ¡°I can barely ask for the bathroom in Cadrian.¡± "Ond esto lo banho?¡± Kalden said. ¡°Oh!¡± Relia snapped her fingers. ¡°That¡¯s sounds right!¡± Akari blinked up at him. ¡°Our school didn¡¯t teach that.¡± ¡°Strict Shokenese parents,¡± Kalden explained. ¡°They made me learn everything.¡± The private tutors certainly helped too, but he wasn¡¯t about to mention those. ¡°So¡­¡± Relia nodded expectantly toward her master and the guards. Kalden strained his ears to listen. He¡¯d learned Cadrian as a kid, but there weren¡¯t many chances to practice it back home. Most Cadrians there spoke Espirian like everyone else. To make matters worse, each nation spoke a different variation. His tutor was originally from Vaslana. According to her, they all spoke ¡°standard¡± Cadrian there, while the southern nations used different dialects. Of course, if you asked the southern nations, they¡¯d say they spoke a completely different language. That meant Cadria had anywhere from one to a dozen languages, depending on who you asked. ¡°Elend¡¯s telling them about the shipwreck,¡± Kalden said. While the guards spoke in their local dialect, Elend¡¯s speech was closer to the version Kalden had learned. He listened again. ¡°Now they''re asking which side we¡¯re on. I think.¡± ¡°Los Libertas," Elend replied with surprising confidence. That must have been the right answer because the guards didn¡¯t shoo him away. Instead, they gestured to someone else in a nearby bunker. A third soldier stepped up to the gate. While the first two had smooth baby faces, this man had a graying beard, and the scars of a war veteran. Kalden shifted back to his Silver Sight, and this man¡¯s soul looked at least as bright as Relia''s. An Apprentice. "You marked, spiro?" The older solider asked in accented Espirian. Elend gestured to his forehead, then held out both his hands, palms up. "Marked?" Akari whispered to Kalden. "No idea," he said. The officer gave a curt nod, then he pointed to Kalden and the others. "We''ll have to check them too." "Of course." Elend turned around and gestured the group forward. "Come on, kids. Don''t be shy. Show them your hands and foreheads." They all complied, holding out their palms in the same way Elend had before. The officer lowered his sunglasses, studying them the way a bartender might study a teenager¡¯s ID. What was he even looking for? Elend and Relia had never mentioned these ¡°marks¡± before, but the locals clearly didn¡¯t like them. Several seconds passed before the officer nodded again. "What brings you to Creta?¡± Elend let out a long sigh. ¡°A shipwreck, unfortunately. We were sailing out of Vaslana when a mana storm broke our boat. Sent us straight south, about six miles down the shore.¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The officer grunted his sympathy. ¡°Got your passports?¡± ¡°We lost those too,¡± Elend said. The man shrugged his shoulders as if that didn¡¯t matter, then he slid open the gate halfway. ¡°Let¡¯s see inside the backpacks.¡± Kalden and Akari each handed over their bags, and the other soldiers did a quick search. They¡¯d only find spare clothes in there, which was nothing compared to the gun that Akari carried openly on her belt. Elend didn¡¯t carry a bag at all, and Relia just had a small leather satchel, no bigger than a purse. ¡°Good enough for me.¡± The officer said as the younger soldiers passed them back their bags. He opened the gate wider and gestured them inside. ¡°Welcome to Costa Liberta." "We appreciate your hospitality," Elend said as he led the others through the opening. "Speaking of which, do you know where four poor castaways could get some water?" The last word sent a sudden dryness through Kalden¡¯s throat. He thought Elend would never ask. ¡°The Cantina.¡° The guard gestured straight down the street. "Big neon sign, overlooks the town square. Tell him Juan sent you.¡± Elend nodded his thanks, then he set off down the street with his usual long strides. "That was it?" Kalden asked once they were out of earshot from the guards. "We entered a foreign country, just like that?" "We got lucky," Elend said. ¡°They¡¯re all rebels in this city. Enemies of the Dragonlord. They don''t care if we''re sneaking in.¡± ¡°So that stuff about marks¡ª¡± ¡°Long story,¡± he said. ¡°In short, the dragons and their supporters all mark their heads and palms. Their enemies don¡¯t, and they fight over it.¡± ¡°Why their palms?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Mana suppression,¡± Elend said with a wave. ¡°I¡¯ll explain later when my throat¡¯s not a bloody desert.¡± They made their weary way down the sidewalk, passing rows of old buildings around the sand-covered roads. The city itself was barely bigger than White Vale, but the architecture was far more interesting. Most of the buildings back home had been relatively new, but these looked well over a hundred years old. Most had stone or plaster walls, covered patios, and ornamented pillars and windows. A few cars drove past, but they looked even older than the cars on Arkala. Seriously? This was the high-tech paradise Relia had talked about? Kalden had to remind himself that Creta was a poorer nation while Relia had come from one of the wealthier states in Espiria. She couldn¡¯t have known they¡¯d be shipwrecked here. In a way, Frostblade had been right about the outside world. They¡¯d always talked about how dangerous the storms were, and now Kalden had witnessed that first hand. And word would have gotten out if they let people leave left and right. The Archipelago was a weak nation in the grand scheme of things. A weak nation with no powerful friends. That meant someone like this Dragonlord could have swooped in and made everyone¡¯s life harder. Still, Kalden had no regrets. His own life might have been safer back home, but the same wasn¡¯t true for Akari and her fellow Bronze. One person¡¯s safety should never come at the expense of another¡¯s freedom. They walked another block before they reached a wide, circular courtyard with a broken fountain at its center. The road here was a mix of sand and cobblestones, and it looked as old as the surrounding structures. A massive church dominated the scene to their left. Three stories high, it had a bell tower on either side of the stone facade. Between them stood a ten-foot tall statue of the Archangel Talek, carved in relief over the wooden doors. An even taller brick building loomed on a hill opposite the church. Half a dozen balconies protruded from the upper levels, and the sign said, ¡°Cantina & Hotel¡± in bright red text. Elend led them up two flights of stone stairs, then he pulled open a heavy wooden door at the top of the hill. The inside was cooler, but not by much. A few fans hung from the ceiling, blowing around a haze of smoke. The floor was a mosaic of colorful tiles, all faded with age and covered by a thin layer of sand. ¡°Evening,¡± Elend said in Cadrian as he sat down on one of the padded stools. The bartender stared at them as if they were a band of homeless people. Then again, that wasn¡¯t far from the truth right now. ¡°Juan sent us,¡± Elend continued with a cheerful grin. ¡°He said we could get some water here.¡± The bartender¡¯s frown deepened when he realized they weren¡¯t spending any money, and he took his time filling the pitcher from a nearby sink. The old man was so slow that Kalden wanted to hop over the bar and do it himself. Instead, he focused on the song that blasted from the radio. The lyrics were all in Cadrian¡ªtoo fast to understand¡ªbut the drums and guitar had a catchy beat. A thousand years later, the bartender passed them the pitcher, along with a stack of plastic cups. Kalden, Akari, and Relia all threw back their cups like shots of hard liquor. Then they went back for seconds. Then thirds. The water was so refreshing that Kalden would have finished that entire pitcher if he could. Meanwhile, Elend sipped his own water like a cup of hot tea. Come to think of it, he¡¯d hardly drunk any water these past few days. Grandmasters could probably make water from their mana or something ¡°Do you speak Espirian?¡± Elend asked the bartender. The man nodded once. ¡°Excellent. Then I don''t suppose we could bargain for some food?¡± "Bargain?¡± The bartender raised a dark eyebrow. ¡°It''s not a market, spiro.¡± He gestured over his shoulder. ¡°Prices are right there.¡± Kalden followed the man¡¯s finger to the blackboard behind the bar. He wasn¡¯t familiar with the words, but the scents of sausage and peppers wafted out from the kitchen, and those needed no translation. Damnit. He should have kept those cuffs that Frostblade had used to restrain him. Those would have sold for a few silvernotes at least. Kalden didn''t know the equivalent currency here, but that should have bought them all dinner at the very least. Maybe even a place to sleep. Instead, he¡¯d left the cuffs on the forest floor, counting on the Grandmaster to get them to safety. Elend might be wealthy back home in Espiria, but they wouldn¡¯t see that money until they got there. Akari¡¯s gun and blade were probably worth something, but Kalden kept quiet for now. "My daughter''s a Healing Artist," Elend put a hand on Relia''s shoulder. "If anyone¡¯s sick or injured, then¡ª¡° "No injuries.¡± The bartender held out his hand, gesturing to the locals around the room. ¡°No sickness.¡± "Come now," Elend said. "Surely someone in this town could use our help.¡° The bartender shrugged his massive shoulders. "Then find someone, spiro." Charming, Kalden thought. "Come on Marco,¡± a boy called out from farther down the bar. He looked a few years older than Kalden. "We all know you''ve got stale tortillas in the back.¡± ¡°Stale tortillas sound good,¡± Akari said. ¡°Times are tough.¡± The bartender glared at the boy down the bar, then at Akari. ¡°And I¡¯m not a soup kitchen, shokita.¡± ¡°Fine. Be that way.¡± Elend sagged his shoulders. ¡°Do you at least have a phone I could borrow? I¡¯ve been away from home for a long time. I¡¯d love to call my wife.¡± Just then, the roar of a dozen engines echoed from the courtyard outside. Motorcycles? To Kalden¡¯s surprise, several of the locals sprang up from their seats and gathered around the window. Kalden joined Akari and Relia and followed the others toward the window. From here, they had a full view of the town square where half a dozen motorcyclists rode in from the west. ¡°Grevandi,¡± someone muttered from behind him. ¡±Gre-what?¡± Kalden turned and saw the same boy who¡¯d told the bartender to share the tortillas. ¡°Greenskins,¡± the boy translated. ¡°Half-human, half-dragon.¡± Chaos erupted in the square outside. The Grevandi forged Constructs of fire mana between the buildings, blocking the locals from escaping. ¡°We have to help them,¡± Relia said. ¡°We can¡¯t,¡± Tortilla Boy replied. ¡°See that guy in the middle? He¡¯s an Artisan. Stronger than anyone else here.¡± Kalden shifted his gaze to the middle of the group where a muscular man stood with crossed arms. His body looked human enough, but his skin was dark green, and scaly like a raptor or crocodile. Kalden didn¡¯t dare ask how a dragon had bred with a human. Probably some shapeshifting shenanigans. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± Relia turned back to her master, jaw set in determination. ¡°I guess we will.¡± Elend shrugged, then he unveiled a piece of his soul. Even without his Silver Sight, Kalden felt the crushing weight of the mana against his own skin. The others must have felt it too, because they all turned to look at him. ¡°It¡¯s your lucky day,¡± Elend announced to the room in general. ¡°I happen to be an Artisan too.¡± Then, before anyone else could react, he spun on his heel to face the bartender. ¡°About that bargain¡­¡± The man stared at him like he¡¯d just kicked a puppy off a cliff. "Hey now,¡± Elend said. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. I''m not a soup kitchen.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± the bartender said. ¡°Kill the Artisan, and dinner¡¯s on the house.¡± Elend raised a finger. ¡°And lodging for the night. Two rooms¡ªconnected ones with a door between them." Fire mana flew back and forth across the courtyard as they talked. One Missile even struck the cantina¡¯s outer wall, shaking the front of the building. ¡°Two rooms,¡± the bartender agreed quickly, eyes flicking between Elend and the battle outside. ¡°Plus breakfast tomorrow," Akari spoke up. ¡°This one thinks two moves ahead,¡± Elend said with a grin. ¡°A natural Crowns player.¡± ¡°Fine, fine.¡± The bartender looked ready to shove them out the door. ¡°Now get the hell out there.¡± Elend nodded once, then he and Relia stepped outside to join the fight. Book 2 - Chapter 3: Grevandi Relia followed her master onto the cantina¡¯s covered patio. By now, the sun was a red sliver of light over the jungle, and the buildings cast long dark shadows over the town square. ¡°Wait up!¡± someone called out from behind them. Relia held open the door, and the boy from the bar followed them through. His black hair was shaved on the sides and several inches longer on top. A pair of tinted goggles rested on his forehead, and a red scarf hung loosely around his neck. ¡°Thanks.¡± He threw a ball of fire mana between his palms. ¡°Got room for one more?¡± Azul¡¯s ashes. Cadrian Fire Artists were definitely her type. The accent alone was enough to¡ª Focus, Relia. She glanced at his chest, and the light that shone from within his soul. He was an Apprentice, same as her. That made him one of the strongest fighters in town. ¡°Couldn¡¯t hurt.¡± She smiled at him as they approached the balcony. ¡°I¡¯m Relia.¡± ¡°Hector,¡± he replied. ¡°Great,¡± Elend said. ¡°Now that we¡¯re all best friends, it¡¯s time to work for our dinner.¡± He paused, taking in the scene below. The Grevandi had rounded up over two dozen people, tossing them in a heap near the crumbling stone fountain. Some still sat on their motorcycles while others blocked the surrounding streets. No one looked injured yet, but her master had probably known that. He wouldn¡¯t have taken his sweet time otherwise. Currents of dream mana drifted out from Elend as he watched the scene. These circled around the courtyard, invisible to the naked eye. Unlike the lower ranks, Masters didn¡¯t need to move their bodies with their techniques. They did it through pure strength of will. ¡°I¡¯ll take the big one down first,¡± her master finally said. ¡°You two keep the Apprentices busy.¡± He turned and met Relia¡¯s eyes. ¡°You ready for this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± she replied. That ice chamber had left her shaken in more ways than one, but she¡¯d recovered on the boat. ¡°Bad habits form against weaker opponents,¡± he reminded her. ¡°Remember to stay focused.¡± He was right. Those months on the island had taught her valuable lessons about survival, but the Martials had all crumbled like paper dolls. Only the higher-ranked agents knew advanced shaping, and even they couldn¡¯t rival her in terms of raw power. But these half-dragons were the same rank as her. They¡¯d all be physically stronger, and they¡¯d fight dirtier than anyone in the university battlegrounds. One mistake here could mean death. ¡°And don¡¯t hold back,¡± her master continued. ¡°If you get a killing blow, you take it.¡± She gave a serious nod to show him she understood. And with that, Elend leapt off the patio, falling two stories into the courtyard below. Relia leapt off the railing behind him, flooding mana into her legs and spine as she fell. The ground rose up to meet her, and she slammed into the cobbles a second later. Hector followed them both. But rather than reinforcing his body, he sent out bursts of fire mana from his palms. This slowed his fall and let him land gracefully on the street beside her. The Grevandi recognized the threat at once. Artisan souls had a presence to them¡ªa weight you could feel on your skin. They knew Elend was different before they¡¯d even laid eyes on him. Half the Apprentices fell into fighting stances, gathering orange mana in their palms. Chills ran down Relia¡¯s arms as she took in their faces, caught in the flare of the firelight. From a distance, they almost looked human, but not now. Thick green scales covered their faces, and golden eyes stared back at her with narrow black pupils. When they smiled, their mouths opened far too wide, more like a raptor. And of course, they all had the same white sigils tattooed on their foreheads and hands. The other Grevandi moved to grab the townsfolk, pressing palms to throats in a silent threat. One held a young man and child beneath each arm. The other picked up a woman by her long black hair. ¡°Really?¡± Elend said. ¡°Hostages? Please. Why don¡¯t you just twirl your mustaches while you¡¯re at it?¡± The dragons all stared at him in confusion. Apparently, they¡¯d never heard this expression before. Then again, dragons didn¡¯t have any hair. The Artisan finally dismounted his motorcycle and stepped forward. When he spoke, his voice was like gravel and thunder. ¡°What do you want, spiro?¡± Until now, her master¡¯s dream Missiles had been circling like vultures around the courtyard, waiting for his next command. But when Relia glanced up, she saw the transparent mana drifting down toward the crowd, straight toward the hostage-takers. Elend snapped his fingers, and ropes coiled around the Apprentice¡¯s hands. He raised his palm like a musical conductor, and their bound wrists moved skyward, stretching out their bodies. The hostages all fled along with the other prisoners. ¡°The locals want me to kill you,¡± Elend said over the noise of the fleeing crowd. ¡°Personally, I¡¯d settle for your surrender. Or your prompt retreat. Whichever¡¯s easiest.¡± One of the Grevandi broke free from his bonds, and the rope evaporated to mist. ¡°Dream mana!¡± he told the others. ¡°It¡¯s not real.¡± Darn it. That was the problem with dream mana. Once you knew the trick, you could choose to ignore it. True, Elend could have overpowered their minds, but that took more mana¡ªmana he probably couldn¡¯t spare right now. The others broke free a second later. Several more motorcycles and trucks rolled in from the outskirts of town, carrying more Apprentices and Golds. The Artisan smiled like a shark as he stepped forward, gathering fire in his green palms. The others surrounded them in a loose circle. Then chaos erupted all around the courtyard.
Akari and Kalden watched the fight from the safety of the cantina. Talek. She still had a lot to learn. She¡¯d seen Relia and Elend fight before, but that was against the Martials. Now, their techniques flashed in blurs of color, and their bodies moved too fast to see. Oh well, at least she and Kalden were safe up here. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Several of the Gold dragons took cover from the main battle, fanning out through the town. One headed straight up the stairs toward the cantina. ¡°Shit,¡± Akari muttered. ¡°Come on.¡± Kalden pushed off from the windowsill and took cover behind the tall wooden bar. By now, all the locals had retreated out the back, and even the bartender had moved out of sight. ¡°It¡¯s just a Gold,¡± Kalden said once they¡¯d hidden themselves. ¡°We can take him.¡± Akari almost laughed at their strange new life. Two weeks ago, they¡¯d been high school students attending classes, and half-dragons had belonged in the history books. Not to mention this entire continent. Now, here they were, using phrases like ¡°just a Gold¡± to describe deadly half-dragons. But Kalden was right. No one got stronger without taking risks. A bell rang above the door as someone pushed it open. ¡°I¡¯ll distract him,¡± Kalden said in a harsh whisper. Akari nodded as she slid her blade from its holster. She also had her gun, but she wasn¡¯t about to rely on that. Any armor worth its salt could block a bullet, and his looked at least as sturdy as the Martials. Plus, her accuracy still sucked. She never would have hit Frostblade if he¡¯d been more than an arm¡¯s length away. Kalden emerged from behind the bar, launching two Missiles toward the door. Orange light flashed against the ceiling as the enemy struck back. Several bottles shattered, spilling their contents on the tile floor. Still deflecting the fire mana, Kalden backed through a pair of double wooden doors toward the kitchen. Their enemy reached the doors next, and Akari sprang from her hiding place, blade angled for the kill. The Grevandi whirled around, piercing her with its yellow, reptilian eyes. Akari aimed for its windpipe as she flew forward. Too slow. The creature thrust out a scaled arm and seized her by her wrist. Her blade froze mere inches from its face. Even as she tried to break free, the dragon wrapped clawed fingers around her wrist and squeezed, hard enough to draw blood. Akari gritted her teeth and let her blade clatter to the tile floor. A cry of pain escaped her lips, and Kalden emerged from the kitchen, hurling a pure Missile at the Grevandi¡¯s back. The creature drove a knee into Akari¡¯s stomach¡ªso hard, it felt like someone had thrown a boulder at her. The cantina blurred as she fell heels over head, landing in a pool of spilled beer and broken bottles. Thankfully, her pack broke her fall, otherwise she might have gotten a back full of glass. Mana flashed above her as Kalden and the Grevandi exchanged more Missiles. Akari didn¡¯t wait to gain her footing again. She cycled her own mana and launched a Missile straight at her enemy¡¯s back. Her mana smashed harmlessly against the creature¡¯s armor. Damnit. This wasn¡¯t even fair. The dragon forged a Construct of fire mana between itself and Kalden, then hurled another Missile at Akari. No time to dodge. She covered her face with both hands and gathered her own mana into a Missile. She might be Silver now, but she still hadn¡¯t made her first Construct. Hopefully, this was the next best thing. Mana struck mana in a blur of orange and blue. The fire mana felt like touching a hot pan¡ªa pan she couldn¡¯t pull away from. Despite this, Akari shot a second Missile straight from her chest, keeping her enemy on the defensive. Kalden seized the distraction and broke through the fire Construct. He threw his next Missile low, striking the creature¡¯s right knee. Its legs buckled and it fell forward, barely catching itself on the bar¡¯s wooden surface. Then Kalden brought his palm to the dragon¡¯s windpipe. A spray of blood followed, red as any human¡¯s.
Relia ran for the cover of a nearby alley, and Hector followed. She¡¯d started fighting back-to-back with her master, but she knew better than to get involved between high-level Artists. One stray Missile from an Artisan, and it was lights out for her. The alley was narrower than the ones back home, barely big enough for three people to stand side-by-side. And these guys were larger than average, which meant they¡¯d need to fight her in pairs. Smoke rose off the dragons¡¯ skin as they chased her down. Fire Cloak techniques. She¡¯d definitely missed her vacation on Arkala. The Martials had been rude, but at least they couldn¡¯t punch holes through brick walls, or leap ten feet in the air. Two more Grevandi circled around, appearing at the alley¡¯s opposite end. Hector moved to engage them, and Relia kept her eyes on the two in front of her. They raised their taloned palms, and fire mana blossomed in the half-light of the setting sun. The first kicked off from the sandy cobblestones, launching himself forward like a rock from a trebuchet. Too reckless. He¡¯d probably been the toughest guy in school, solving all his problems with brute force. Too bad that wouldn¡¯t work today. Relia cycled her pure mana as he closed in, forming a slow, sturdy Construct below her waist. Her opponent shot his Missile but Relia swatted it aside with the back of her palm, letting it crash into the brick wall. Another heartbeat passed, and the Grevandi closed the distance between them. Relia¡¯s Construct snapped to life, slamming into his knees. The man stumbled forward, and Relia flooded her legs with mana, activating her Pure Cloak technique. This didn¡¯t have the same explosive power as his Fire Cloak, but it would get the job done. She kicked off, driving her right fist toward her opponent¡¯s eyes. Even flying in midair, he managed to block with both forearms. But the first attack had been a lie. With her other hand, Relia shot a pure Missile into his stomach, quick as a bullet. It punctured his armor, and he splattered in a heap on the cobblestones. Unfortunately, the others hadn¡¯t been twiddling their claws. No sooner had she landed than a second barrage of Missiles closed in, bathing the alley walls in orange light. Relia regained her footing quickly, falling back into her combat stance. She cycled mana toward her hands, and several Constructs flashed between her and her attackers. They fell into a steady rhythm as more mana flew back and forth. Once again, these guys were too aggressive. They thought they¡¯d overpowered her, and this made them abandon their own defenses. Relia shot a pair of pure Missiles from her palms, thin and sharp as needles. She wove these through the storm of fire, piercing two Grevandi right in their yellow eyes. They let out cries of pain and staggered back, but two more took their place in the alley¡¯s mouth. Instead of Missiles, these tried to force her back with Constructs of fire mana that stretched from wall to wall. The light was almost blinding in the dark alley. Even from five feet away, she felt the heat of it on her cheeks. A third Grevandi vaulted eight feet in the air, soaring over the fire Construct. Relia sidestepped to avoid him, but he grabbed her by the shoulders and slammed her hard against the alley wall. His Cloak lent him supernatural speed, and he punched her several times in the solar plexus, driving the wind from her lungs. Fine. If that¡¯s how you want to play. Relia flared her Life Cloak, and her stomach shone with a burst of green and gold. All Cloak techniques made you stronger, but this one was purely defensive. Not only could it heal most injuries or poisons, but it actively reinforced every cell in her body. And, if she poured all the power into one specific muscle, that muscle grew as resilient as an Artisan¡¯s. The Grevandi punched her stomach again. This time, he shattered the bones in his own fingers. Relia pulled free from her enemy¡¯s grip, putting him between her and the approaching Construct. His jaw dropped as the fire singed his back. Despite his human-shaped face, his jaw opened wide like a crocodile¡¯s, stretching halfway to his ears. His scream sounded like a dying bird. His friends must have realized what happened because they immediately dropped their Construct. Relia struck a pure Missile into the burning man¡¯s windpipe, ending his misery. More Missiles closed in, and she used his body as a shield to absorb their impact. To her surprise, her remaining opponents retreated back the way they¡¯d come. Maybe she shouldn¡¯t have been surprised, though. Fire Artists had no real defensive techniques against pure mana. They couldn¡¯t take her in a fair fight. Relia kept up a barrage of Missiles for good measure, then she glanced back at Hector. He seemed to be holding his own ¡ªfar better than she¡¯d expected from a random boy in a small town. Her smile faded when she glanced back to her side of the alley. The Fire Artists had all retreated, but someone else stood in their place. She was a half-dragon like the others, but clouds of sand swirled in her palms. More sand lifted off the cobblestones, forming a brown cloud around Relia. Oh no. She tried to block it with a Construct, but it was like stopping a river with a shield. Sand stung her eyes before she could close them. Other pieces found their way into her mouth, ears, and nostrils. She tried to cough, but that just opened the door for more. Relia tried her Life Cloak next, but that was as useless as her Constructs. The sand left her blind, but there were no real injuries to heal. More fire Missiles caught her in the back as she retreated. One struck her right ear in a wave of searing pain. Even as she healed the wound, the scent of burning hair stung her nostrils. She stumbled and fell on the cobblestones, still blind from the sand cloud. Then a pair of human hands pulled her to her feet. ¡°Hang on to me,¡± Hector¡¯s voice said. Relia put her arms around his shoulders. She¡¯d known her share of Fire Artists, and she knew what came next. Hector threw several explosive Missiles into the ground. Relia didn¡¯t feel the heat of the blast beneath her. She just felt the wind on her face as they flew. Book 2 - Chapter 4: Falling Leaves They landed on the roof a second later. Relia stumbled on the uneven surface, catching herself on the clay tiles. Her eyes still stung from the sand, but closing them felt worse than holding them open. ¡°Here.¡± Hector pressed a bottle into her right hand. ¡°Wash it out¡± Relia held open her eyelids and poured the water over her face, blinking rapidly until the pain subsided. The sand came out easier than she¡¯d expected, almost as if it were evaporating. Hector offered her a hand, and she pulled herself to her feet. No Grevandi had followed them yet, but that was hardly a surprise. Fire Artists could jump high, but it wasn¡¯t as easy as shooting some Missiles. You also needed an anti-fire Construct to suppress the blast. Otherwise you¡¯d lose your legs before you ever left the ground. ¡°Thanks,¡± Relia said as she handed him back the bottle. Hector nodded as he clipped it on his backpack. He wore his scarf over the bottom half of his face now, and a pair of dark-tinted goggles shielded his eyes. ¡°Guess that wasn¡¯t your first sandstorm,¡± she said with a grin. Hector gave a casual shrug, and she saw his eyes smiling behind the goggles. For a second, it looked like he might reply. Then a fireball struck the side of his head. Relia turned to see three Grevandi climbing up the roof¡¯s opposite side¡ªtwo Fire Artists and the Sand Artist. Hector slammed into the clay tiles and rolled down behind her. Relia flared her pure Cloak and dove after him. Hector fell off the edge, but she grabbed his wrist at the last second, holding him over the twenty-foot drop. A nasty red blister covered the left side of his face, stretching from his temple to his ear. Relia cycled life mana from her arm to his, and fresh skin formed over the burn. At the same time, she flooded her upper body with pure mana, tripling her strength, hurling Hector back onto the roof. By now, the Grevandi had already crested the roof¡¯s peak. Hector threw several bursts of fire, and Relia formed a wide shield above their heads. Hopefully, that would cancel out the enemy¡¯s high ground advantage. More mana flew back and forth as they exchanged attacks. Hector kept the Fire Artists busy, and Relia focused her shots on the Sand Artist. Better to deal with her sooner rather than later. The other woman raised a shield of transparent rock, shattering Relia¡¯s Missiles like broken needles. Okay, so she¡¯s a Stone Artist. A Stone Artist that could also move sand. Unless the sand was actually mana this whole time¡­ Relia got her answer when her opponent raised a palm, conjuring a cloud of sand from thin air. ¡°Cover me,¡± Relia shouted to Hector. She brought both hands in front of her face and formed a helmet-shaped Construct. Then she flared both Cloak techniques, kicking off from the gutter, soaring toward the roof¡¯s peak. Her helmet only shielded the front of her head, but her momentum kept out the sand. Hector sent a volley of fire around her, forcing the Grevandi to defend themselves as Relia closed in. She slammed into the Stone Artist, but it was like hitting a brick wall. The woman raised a steel machete, twice as long as Akari¡¯s Martial blade. Relia didn¡¯t need her Silver Sight to know it was enhanced with metal mana. The blade flashed down. Relia blocked the slash by interposing her forearm with her opponent¡¯s wrist. Then she sent a pure Missile into the woman¡¯s stomach. The technique shattered against another stone Construct. Her opponent staggered back, readying for another slash. Relia stepped forward again, but that put her between both Fire Artists. Idiot. Her master had warned her about this exact thing. More techniques closed in, and Relia defended herself in a panic. Three against one. She was the better-trained Artist, but that wouldn¡¯t save her. There was a point in every fight where numbers trumped skill. A Missile struck the back of Relia¡¯s head. She staggered forward, cracking several clay tiles beneath her weight. Hector raced to her rescue, and the Grevandi all rounded on him. He was good, but he had the same weakness as all Fire Artists¡ªno defensive techniques. Relia scrambled back to her feet, but she was too late. The Stone Artist hurled a solid projectile toward Hector, throwing him off the roof. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. They all turned back to Relia, smiling like a pack of raptors. Don''t hold back, her master had said before the fight began. His words had been vague, but the meaning was clear. People had always looked down on life mana. They¡¯d feared her because she could kill a person and make it look like a natural death. She¡¯d wanted to prove them wrong. She¡¯d wanted to look them in the eye and say she would never use those techniques against another person. But this wasn¡¯t her school battlegrounds. No one was watching. More importantly, her enemies would never see it coming. The Grevandi raised their palms, preparing Missiles of fire and stone. Relia leapt forward, putting herself between them. Steel caught sunlight as the Stone Artist brought her blade toward Relia¡¯s throat. Relia ignored the weapon as she darted forward, slamming a palm into the woman¡¯s chest. Once again, her opponent¡¯s stone Cloak protected her from most attacks. But not this. Life mana lacked speed and power, making it useless at range. But up close, you could send it straight into another Artist¡¯s body, slipping past Cloaks like water through a net. Her Missile found the dragon¡¯s heart, the same way she might heal a wound. But instead of healing her heart, Relia squeezed. The woman widened her yellow eyes, and her blade clattered against the roof. Her mana stopped cycling. Her body went as stiff as an iron rod, and the force of Relia¡¯s palm threw her back. A Fire Artist closed on Relia¡¯s left, raising a flaming fist. She ducked the strike and slammed a palm into his right knee, releasing another life Missile. The man kicked her hard in the stomach, knocking her back. But he was too late. Her technique found the bones in his knee, and she squeezed again. His leg snapped like a tree branch, twisting at an unnatural angle. Even as he fell, Relia turned her focus on the last Grevandi. This one had been smart enough to keep his distance. The man fired two Missiles. Relia dodged the first, knocking the second aside with a rough Construct. Then she fired three pure Missiles of her own¡ªone directly at her target, and one on either side of him. The Grevandi dodged the center Missile, jumping straight into the next one¡¯s path. The sharpened mana struck his chest. More tiles cracked beneath him as he fell, joining his friends in the street below. Relia sank to her knees on the roof¡¯s clay peak, feeling waves of relief wash over her. Someone else climbed up a second later. She spun around, readying another Missile in her palm. ¡°Hey!¡± Hector threw up his hands. ¡°It¡¯s just me!¡± She dropped the technique, reabsorbing the mana back into her channels. Had he seen her use her life mana? Probably not. Even so, guilt twisted at her insides. Tactically, she¡¯d made the best choice. The Grevandi had her surrounded and outnumbered. She had to use every technique at her disposal. Still, she couldn¡¯t close her eyes without seeing the scornful looks of her peers. Even now, the words ¡°Cult of Trelian¡± echoed in her ears, drowning out the sounds of¡ª Her master! She¡¯d almost forgotten. Relia forced herself to her feet and stumbled to the other side of the roof. From here, she had a clear view of the courtyard where Elend fought the Grevandi Artisan. The sun had finally vanished below the horizon, and flashes of blue and orange cut through the twilight. She spotted three versions of her master in the courtyard. Each version looked as lifelike as the real Elend. They even fought with the same skill, unleashing their own techniques against the enemy. It was a smart choice against someone who knew your tricks. The Artisan could ignore the copies, but what if he ignored the real Elend? That would be a deadly mistake. But why hadn¡¯t her master beaten this guy yet? Elend was a Grandmaster, and the dragon was only an Artisan. He should have killed him like a chicken. The fight continued, and her eyes adjusted to the blur of motion. The pair exchanged Missiles at a distance, flaring their Cloak techniques when they came closer together. Her master had the better techniques by far. Every Missile was precise, and many of them slipped past the dragon¡¯s defenses. So why hasn¡¯t he won yet? Elend¡¯s next Missile hit the dragon square in the jaw, and Relia saw the problem. That technique should have caved in his face, but he shrugged it off like a Bronze¡¯s punch. It¡¯s those cuffs. His weakened mana hadn¡¯t mattered against the Martials, but the difference was too much here. He couldn¡¯t kill the Artisan as easily as they¡¯d hoped. Elend closed in for another attack. The dragon slashed a steel machete, and Relia held her breath as it struck her master¡¯s forearm. Even with a clean hit, the weapon didn¡¯t pierce his skin. Elend still had the body of a Grandmaster, cuffs or no cuffs. Hector stepped up beside Relia at the roof¡¯s edge. ¡°He needs help,¡± she said, more to herself than to him. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t get between Artisans," Hector said. Any other day, she would have listened. But this was a stalemate where time favored the enemy. Those cuffs could damage her master¡¯s soul if he strained himself too hard. At that point, the Grevandi might hurt someone else. More likely, he¡¯d realized he was fighting a Master and flee, drawing the Dragonlord¡¯s attention. Relia picked up the fallen machete and jumped off the roof. The enemy Artisan didn¡¯t notice her at first. Even so, Relia kept up her defenses, ready to deflect a high-level technique. ¡°Master!¡± she shouted to one of the fake Elend¡¯s. The fake Elend turned to face her. So did the dragon. ¡°Catch!¡± Relia spun the blade around in her hand, tossing it to the fake Elend. Her master played his part perfectly. Not only did the illusion catch the weapon, but the other illusion vanished, along with the real Elend. It was as if he¡¯d abandoned his Mirror technique and decided to fight the dragon one-on-one. Relia released a cloud of life mana around herself, letting it sink to the ground like falling leaves. This was the closest thing she had to a life Construct. Normally, the aspect was too fragile to shape, but it served its purposes here. The dragon stepped forward, and Relia fled for the cover of a nearby alley. Her enemy passed through the green cloud, too focused on the fake Elend in front of him. Relia felt the life mana break through the enemy¡¯s skin. She sent it toward his heart as she¡¯d done with the Stone Artist. Nothing happened, of course. She couldn¡¯t hope to kill an Artisan with such a weak technique. Still, the Grevandi paused, yellow eyes narrowed in confusion. Most people expected pain in combat, but it was harder to ignore something inside your own chest. The real Elend seized the distraction, appearing behind his opponent, wrapping his left arm around his throat. His right palm covered the dragon¡¯s yellow eye. Pure mana flashed in the darkness, and a reptilian scream filled the courtyard. Book 2 - Chapter 5: Civil War "We''re so far behind," Akari said as she watched the fight outside. Elend had just killed the enemy Artisan, and Relia had taken on three dragons by herself. Not to mention the ones she''d already killed in the alley. Martials were one thing, but these guys were Apprentices like her. Probably older and more experienced too. For all that, Relia fought like a dancer, moving seamlessly from one technique to the next. Sometimes, those techniques were completely different aspects. Meanwhile, Akari and Kalden had struggled to tag-team just one Gold. She''d scored several clean hits, but the dragon just shrugged off her mana as if she''d tossed a water balloon at him. Talek. How long would it take her to catch up? Relia had started training when she was six. Akari was already sixteen. That put her at least a decade behind. And her true enemy was far worse than some small-town thug. Even Elend couldn''t comprehend this person''s power. That might make him one of the strongest Mana Artists alive. She''d been so determined a few nights ago when they left the island. But now ... was this even possible? Did she have the grit to climb that high? "Guess it''s trial by fire," Kalden said with a slow nod. "But we can''t keep this up forever." Her thoughts exactly. They''d gotten lucky in all their previous fights, but luck wouldn''t last. Elend had promised to start their training when they reached Espiria. That was fine before, but these dragons made the Martials look like playground bullies. She and Kalden were weak now, but what if they had Constructs? Or what if they aspected their mana? Better to focus on those small goals rather than the impossibility of the task ahead. Elend and Relia strolled through the front door a few minutes later, and a crowd bustled in behind them. No one had spared them a second glance when they''d first arrived in this town. Now, everyone wanted to thank them, shake their hands, or buy them drinks. Several soldiers even pitched in to pay for their dinner, and this instantly brightened the bartender''s mood. In the span of a few seconds, the man went from a grumpy Cadrian grandpa to a kid on Midwinter morning. People definitely got hyped about dead dragons around here. Especially when those dragons were Artisan level. And they weren''t even worried about retaliation. Artisans were rarer than Gold Martials in this country, and most worked for the Dragonlord directly. That meant they were too busy for small-town skirmishes like this. Beyond that, Akari didn''t pay much attention to the conversations. Local politics weren''t half as exciting as the plate of tacos in front of her¡ªspicy Cadrian sausage topped with onions and cilantro, wrapped in corn tortillas with salsa on the side. Akari scarfed down three of them, then the bartender set a fresh plate in front of her. "Can I try a beer?" she asked when she had his attention. "Sure thing, shokita. What kind?" Akari shrugged and gestured around the room. "Whatever they''re having." She didn''t know much about drinking. She''d been under house arrest when she turned sixteen, and the Clifton''s had never shared anything with her. But she knew that real Mana Artists drank beer. Not those fruity cocktails that tasted like candy. The bartender placed an open bottle in front of her. It was ice-cold to the touch, with bubbles fizzing at the opening. Akari raised it to her nose, inhaling a faintly citrus scent. Relia snatched the bottle from her a second later. "Hey!" Akari protested. "You can''t drink with a concussion," the other girl said, already passing the bottle to Hector. "Who says I have a concussion?" "You hit your head on the boat." "Yeah, so?" "Then you were unconscious in the water." "I don''t remember that." Akari vaguely remembered hitting her head, but that felt better as soon as Relia healed it. Relia just nodded as if she''d expected that. "Memory loss is a sign of concussion." Akari glared at her. "So is irritability." "She''s right," Kalden said from her left. "Alcohol can make brain damage worse. It''s smart to wait at least a week or two" Akari just shrugged and took another bite of her taco. She''d gone the first sixteen years of her life without alcohol, so it wasn''t that bad. Still, it sucked to be the only one without a drink. To her left, Kalden had a short glass filled halfway with dark brown liquid. Probably whisky, scotch, or some other fancy Gold thing. To her right, Relia was sipping a light blue drink with a little umbrella in it. "What about you?" Akari said. "You were just¡ª" She almost mentioned the Martial ice chamber, then she thought better of it. "You were unconscious the other night." She expected Relia to give some bullshit excuse about how Apprentices didn''t get concussions. Instead, the other girl just raised the glass to her lips. "This is a virgin Sea Breeze." "Oh." Akari closed her mouth. She had no idea what that meant, but she wasn''t about to advertise that. "Alcohol doesn''t do much for me," Relia explained. "I trained my body to heal poisons on its own. That''s useful most days, but it takes a lot of effort to get buzzed. Kinda defeats the purpose, y''know?" Akari caught the bartender''s eye and gestured a thumb at Relia. "Guess I''ll try one of those virgin princess drinks." "Speaking of biology," Kalden said, "can someone please explain these half-dragons?" "Master-level dragons can shapeshift," Hector said from farther down the bar. "Sure," Kalden replied. "But these weren''t Masters. Did dragons and humans actually..." he made a vague gesture with one hand. "Oh yeah," Hector said, "A few centuries back, there was this dragon who¡ª" "That''s just a myth," Relia broke in. "Dragon DNA''s not compatible with human''s. Take it from a Healing Artist." She turned back to Kalden. "Two dragons mated while in half-human form. The mother stayed that way until she gave birth." "Even that''s just a theory," Hector said. "No one knows what the dragons did behind closed doors." The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. She shrugged. "Makes way more sense than your promiscuous dragon myth." Relia and Hector continued bickering about the half-dragons, but Akari couldn''t hear them over the loud music. Instead, she leaned over to Kalden. "How come we never learned about these in school?" Mrs. Hansen had spent a good portion of last semester''s biology class talking about dragons. These should have come up at least once. "Seems obvious to me," Kalden said as he sipped his whisky. "Only the Masters can shapeshift. They didn''t want us to know about the Master realm." Akari chewed on that, taking a sip of her fairy princess drink. Could someone have erased this knowledge from the Archipelago? The same way they''d erased their identities from the outside world? "Makes you wonder what else is out there," Kalden said. "And what else we don''t know."
Eventually, they all met up with Elend at a quieter table in the cantina. "Did you call your wife?" Relia asked as she sat down in a wooden chair. "I tried." Elend rubbed at his temple. "Apparently, his lordship, Antano, blocks international calls." "What about the internet?" Akari asked. "Same problem," Elend replied. "Not that you''ll find a computer in this town." "But they can''t block the dark web," Akari said. The Espirians had invented the dark web for this exact purpose¡ªcommunication behind enemy lines. Then again, maybe she shouldn''t have been so confident. Her own history books might be wrong. Hard to trust anything she''d learned back home. Elend scratched the gray stubble on his chin. "Problem is, I don''t know who to contact. And we lost our tech expert to the Martials." "Doesn''t matter who we contact," Akari said. "You''re rich, right?" "I''m well-off," Elend corrected. That was the same thing the Golds said back home. "Right." Akari leaned forward. "So you post In a dark web chat room. Say there''s a reward to anyone who gets a message to your wife. Payment on delivery." Elend hummed in consideration, then his lip curled up at the edge. "Interesting. But where do we find a computer? This won''t be easy as strolling into the library." "Hector''s an Unmarked," Relia spoke up. "He might know some useful people." Elend fixed her with a look. "I trust you''ve been keeping our secrets close, Apprentice?" "Of course," Relia said with a hint of annoyance. "I stuck with the story we planned." "Aye," Elend said. "But the lad won''t believe that story if he''s smart. No one here will. Fighting alongside him was one thing, but let''s not get too cozy." "Don''t worry." Relia rolled her eyes. "He still thinks you''re my dad¡ªthe scary Artisan." "If only things were that simple." Elend rubbed at the invisible cuff on his wrist. "I tried to hold back out there, but I might have revealed too much." Akari glanced around the room. The music was still blasting on the radio, and no one looked close enough to overhear. Still, couldn''t Sound Artists eavesdrop at long range? Elend must have noticed her unease. "Don''t worry, lass. I''ve got a sound suppressor around our table. They won''t hear anything but muffled voices." Talek. Was there anything dream mana couldn''t do? It probably controlled their perception of sound rather than the sound waves themselves. But this seemed like a good aspect to learn. Kalden cleared his throat. "The Unmarked?" "Right." Elend took a long swallow of his beer. "Creta has two political factions¡ªLiberta and Unida. One favors freedom, the other promotes unity between humans and dragons. The Grevandi are an extremist group inside Unida. Basically, they''re a bunch of thugs who ride around enforcing state propaganda." He took another drink. "The Unmarked are another extremist group who fight back." "They have territory in all the big cities," Relia continued. "And Hector knows some high-ranking members in Tureko. I''m sure one of them has a computer." "I suppose it''s obvious we can''t stay here," Elend said. "So there''s no harm in asking him about his friends." "Great!" Relia clapped her hands together. "Alright," Kalden said after a short pause. "Now can someone explain what''s going on here? I just killed a dragon-person earlier, and I have no idea why." Akari had been wondering the same thing. They''d mentioned political factions, but this felt more like a civil war. Elend pulled a napkin from the middle of the round wooden table, flattening it out in front of himself. Then he began doodling with his index finger, forming ink out of thin air. More dream mana shenanigans? He held up his sketch a minute later. It was a set of sigils, like the ones used in permanent Constructs. It was also the same mark the Grevandi had tattooed on their foreheads. "This," Elend said, "is the reason they''re fighting." Akari frowned at the design. She didn''t know any sigils. Even if she did, sigilcrafting was about as complex as computer programming with all its different functions. Elend gestured to a particular design in the center. "I''ll spare you all the details, but this is a roju sigil. It creates a barrier that suppresses passive mana flow while letting high-energy bursts through. Basically, it''s the opposite of most mana walls." Okay, now she was really lost. How was this relevant to anything? "And they put these sigils on their palms and foreheads," Kalden mused. "That stops mana leakage without hurting their techniques." "Correct," Elend said. Akari''s frown deepened. "But what''s the point?" She knew most people leaked mana from their bodies¡ªespecially ones who weren''t trained to veil their souls. But wasn''t that amount too small to matter? You needed Silver Sight just to see it. Elend grabbed several objects from the center of the table¡ªthe napkin stand, the ketchup bottle, and the salt and pepper shakers. "Remember that storm that destroyed our boat? That''s what happens when too much unshaped mana gathers in one place." He arranged the objects like a city between them. Mana flowed out from his palms, creating a crowd of tiny people and cars between the buildings. "These storms start with ambient mana..." Small wisps of blue light floated up from the crowd, gathering into a dark storm overhead. "Go back a few centuries, and true Mana Artists were like four-leaf clovers. They kept their secrets close, and everyone else was stuck at the Foundation stage." The clouds swirled and cackled with lightning. It almost looked impressive until she remembered the city was made of salt canisters and ketchup bottles. "These days, everyone''s a Mana Artist. Most aim for Apprentice at the very least. An Apprentice body can protect you from the leading causes of death¡ªespecially the ones you can''t prevent with Healing Arts. Things like stroke, cancer, or heart disease. These benefits are permanent, even if you never train." Akari didn''t know anyone who''d died of those things, but it still made her blood boil, knowing someone had hidden this knowledge back home. "Okay," Kalden said. "But what''s that have to do with the dragons?" "Getting there." Elend held up a finger. "Everyone''s a Mana Artist, but most have minimal training. Koreldon City has over six million people. In theory, they''re all releasing ambient mana into the air, letting it gather. Eventually..." The clouds swirled faster, and the lightning struck the people inside Ketchup Bottle CIty. Akari thought she heard tiny screams, but it was hard to tell over the music. "So the marks stop this from happening?" Kalden asked. "In theory," Elend said. "But that makes them sound like a good thing." "True." Elend glanced at Relia. "How would Hector and the Unmarked respond to this?" This was the second impromptu quiz he''d given her today, but Relia took it in stride. "Their logic is flawed. If ambient mana caused storms, then places like Koreldon City should have the most storms." He shook his head. "Koreldon City has corporations who harvest the mana from the air. Besides, we know ambient mana causes storms. It''s not a question of if." Relia furrowed her brow. "You''re on the right track," Elend said, "but you can do better." Relia sat up straighter in her seat. "Plants and animals release more mana than humans. That''s why most storms start in nature." She started talking faster, gesturing wildly with her hands. "And some experts say too much harvesting can make a vacuum, attracting the storms to big cities." Despite Relia''s excitement, Akari felt her eyes glaze over at the last part. How did they go from civil wars to weather patterns? "So suppressing all this mana might actually attract storms," Relia said. "But we don''t know for sure because they skipped all the science stuff." "The scientific method?" Kalden suggested. "Right." She pointed at him. "That. No one''s done any real experiments to see if these marks reduce storms or cause them. Both sides just assume they''re right. If a storm hits a big city, it''s always the other side''s fault." "Confirmation bias," Kalden said. "Much better." Elend raised his glass to both of them. "Still haven''t told us why we''re fighting these dragon guys," Akari said. "It''s the classic debate between freedom and safety," Elend said as he turned to face her. "Both sides are important." He held out his hands in a show of balance. "And debates can be productive. But when one side tries to silence the other..." He slammed his fists together. Akari swallowed as she finally understood. The Dragonlord made the marks mandatory here in Creta, and he didn''t allow any opposing viewpoints. She thought they''d escaped all that when she left the Martials behind. "They''re no strangers to tyranny in this land," Elend said. "They''ve seen how it starts with simple things. So the Grevandi ride from town to town, marking everyone they can. People fight back, and a disagreement turns into a civil war." "Well, shit," Akari said. "The whole world is like this?" Elend leaned back in his chair, draining the rest of his glass. "Things are better in Espira. We have democracy there, and the means to resist in more civilized ways. But it''s good to see nations like this one. It reminds us how fragile freedom can be." Book 2 - Chapter 6: The Nature of Dreams Akari stepped out of the bathroom and into the hotel she shared with Relia. She¡¯d changed into a tank-top, and that revealed some harsh tan lines around where her shirt collar had been. Sunburn. Well, that explained why the water had stung so much in the shower. The room itself looked as old as the bar downstairs, with creaking wooden floors and dark plaster walls. An old chandelier hung from the ceiling, and a fancy stone archway led out to the balcony. The curtains hung wide open, giving them a clear view of the town¡¯s skyline. Relia sat cross-legged on the bed, cycling her mana. She¡¯d borrowed Akari¡¯s extra tank-top. But unlike Akari, she had no tan lines. ¡°What the hell?¡± Akari blurted out. Relia¡¯s eyes snapped open. ¡°How did you not burn today? You''re a ginger for Talek''s sake." ¡°Oh.¡± The other girl gave a guilty shrug. "Apprentice body.¡± Well, that was bullshit. Akari looked mostly Shokenese, but she hadn¡¯t inherited her mom¡¯s tan skin. Instead, she was almost as pale as Mazren. Especially this early in the spring. She itched at her neck, then scowled. ¡°Any chance you can heal mine?¡± Relia considered that. ¡°Okay, but just don¡¯t tell Kalden. There¡¯s not enough mana to go around.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Wood creaked beneath Akari¡¯s bare feet as she stepped closer to the bed. ¡°Figured this would be pocket change for you.¡± Relia hovered her hands near Akari¡¯s face, and green-gold light flashed between them. A tingling sensation followed, and a smell like fresh rain. ¡°Other healers train for endurance,¡± Relia said, ¡°but I¡¯m more of a heavy hitter. Either I use a bunch of mana, or none at all.¡± That made sense. Kalden¡¯s friend, Maelyn, knew how to heal wounds, but her endurance sucked too. That explained why she needed more training to work in a hospital. They didn¡¯t want healers who ran dry after an hour. But Relia had clearly trained this way on purpose. ¡°Is that because you¡¯re a fighter?¡± Akari asked. ¡°No sense in going slow and steady on the battlefield?¡± Relia gave a lopsided shrug. "It''s not like I grew up wanting to fight. But you¡¯ve seen the trouble my master gets into. Besides, bigger techniques mean quicker advancement.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t say no to that,¡± Akari muttered. They¡¯d both taken their showers now, so they washed their other clothes in the bathtub. Akari tried asking Relia more questions as they worked, but she kept changing the subject. Apparently, Life Artists weren¡¯t popular because of the whole ¡®silent killing¡¯ thing, but that seemed like a dumb reason to be embarrassed. Sure, killing people was never sugar and rainbows, but what if you had no choice? Might as well make it quick and painless then. Once they had their clothes drying on the curtain rod, Akari headed for the door between the hotel rooms. It hung open part way, and she peeked inside to see Elend sitting shirtless on the nearest bed. Kalden sat on the opposite bed in the same cross-legged pose, almost like he was trying to imitate the Grandmaster. Akari pushed the door open and cleared her throat. Elend cracked open an eyelid and grinned. ¡°Come to say goodnight to Kalden? I can step out if you¡¯d like.¡± In a rare show of diplomacy, she resisted the urge to flip him off. ¡°Came to see you, actually.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Kalden cleared his throat as if that would erase the past few seconds. ¡°We were talking earlier¡ªwhile you got the room keys.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Elend said. ¡°You want me to expedite your training.¡± Akari nodded, but she found her gaze falling to Elend¡¯s bare stomach. Talek. Old people weren¡¯t supposed to be that ripped. Elend chuckled, then he shot a burst of mana from his hand, forming a transparent sound suppressor around them. He conjured another technique around his upper body, forming the same tropical shirt he¡¯d been wearing before the fight. ¡°Say no more, lass. I said I¡¯d teach you lucid dreaming, and there¡¯s no reason we can¡¯t start tonight.¡± Lucid dreaming. That was his plan to help them unlock their memories. Especially how they got to the Archipelago, and who they¡¯d been before. That was important, but should it be their main goal? Akari drew in a deep breath. ¡°That dragon almost killed us today. Dreams and memories won¡¯t keep us alive.¡± ¡°I think you underestimate dreams and memories.¡± ¡°Combat training might be a better investment,¡± Kalden said. ¡°At least while we¡¯re trapped here.¡± Akari gave an eager nod. ¡°A Construct would have been nice earlier.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t teach you Constructs overnight,¡± Elend told them both. ¡°These things take months to learn.¡± Akari turned to face Relia who had just stepped inside the sound suppressor. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you said about advanced shaping?¡± Elend gave her a look that seemed to say, ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky, lass.¡± Akari held his gaze. Cocky students didn¡¯t ask for help in the first place. But there was no sense in sailing around the storm either¡ªshe and Kalden learned faster than other Mana Artists. That was just a fact. ¡°You make a fair point,¡± Elend said, ¡°but it also proves mine. You mastered Missiles quickly because you¡¯d already learned them. Because you tapped into your old memories. Will Constructs be the same way?¡± He shrugged. ¡°We don¡¯t know. It depends how old you were before. You could have been fifteen, or five.¡± ¡°My mom died on the island,¡± Akari said. ¡°I was thirteen when that happened.¡± Elend hummed in consideration. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely sure about that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the clearest memory I¡¯ve got. Everything before it is fuzzy though.¡± Relia gaped at her in wide-eyed wonder. ¡°You don¡¯t remember being a kid?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Akari said. ¡°Just bits and pieces.¡± The other girl stared at her as if she were a talking raptor. Even Kalden looked surprised. It had never seemed like a big deal to Akari, though. You couldn¡¯t miss what you never had in the first place. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°I remember playing with my friends.¡± Kalden furrowed his brow in thought. ¡°I was definitely a kid then¡ªprobably ten or eleven. ¡± ¡°But what about the island?¡± Elend asked him. ¡°Are those memories tied to a specific place?¡± ¡°I think so.¡± Kalden frowned, revealing his own uncertainty. ¡°What are the odds that I had the same friends before?¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Elend said. ¡°That¡¯s the question, isn¡¯t it? Your Archipelago had over a quarter-million prisoners. I doubt you were all chosen at random.¡± Talek, he was right. Their enemy hadn¡¯t just brought individuals to the island. They¡¯d transported entire families. Why not extend that to friends? But where were the boundaries? Had Akari¡¯s family actually done something to end up there, or were they just unlucky? Elend waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Speculation will only get us so far. Better to unlock your memories first. Then we¡¯ll have actual evidence to study.¡± ¡°What about aspects?¡± Akari asked. Elend had piqued her interest, but she wasn¡¯t letting him steer the boat that easily. The Grevandi might come back tomorrow for all she knew. Her pure Missiles had been next to useless last time, and aspected mana seemed like the fastest way to grow. Agent Frostblade had only been a Gold, but his Missiles could break through bullet-proof glass. Along with ¡­ other things she¡¯d rather forget. ¡°You''ve seen my videos,¡± Elend said. ¡°You can''t rush these things.¡± ¡°Hardly seems like rushing when I¡¯m ten years behind.¡± He shook his head. ¡°You¡¯ll need to train hard to catch up, but you also need to be patient, and remember that Mana Arts is a marathon. Today is just one day in the grand scheme of things. If you¡¯re too eager to destroy things, you¡¯ll be the one who gets destroyed.¡± Great, more fortune cookie wisdom that wouldn¡¯t help her survive her next fight. But Akari wouldn¡¯t prove him right by acting more impatient. Instead, she took several deep breaths, choosing her next words with care. ¡°I just want to take the first step. That¡¯s all.¡± She turned to Kalden for support, but he seemed content just to listen. He did that a lot¡ªalways taking things in. ¡°I¡¯d rather see you take the right step,¡± Elend countered. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that I knew your parents. I trust they did their research and found an aspect that suited you.¡± Space and time. The aspects from her dreams. ¡°And if we unlock your memories,¡± Elend continued, ¡°we might just be able to find it.¡± Akari swallowed. ¡°What if I already know?¡± ¡°Patience,¡± he said again. ¡°Your previous dreams might have contained fragments of real memories, but I suspect they¡¯re mostly your imagination¡ªhow you saw yourselves rather than how you were. That¡¯s the nature of dreams.¡± He glanced between Kalden and Akari. ¡°Until now, you¡¯ve only had vague impressions of your old lives and techniques. I can help you relive real memories. They¡¯ll be as clear to you as this moment. You¡¯ll feel your body performing more advanced Mana Arts, and you can carry those techniques back with you to the real world. Trust me¡ªthis is your best chance for growth and survival.¡± Akari felt goosebumps creep up her bare arms, and she couldn¡¯t help but nod along. ¡°Okay,¡± she said, ¡°when do we start?¡¯ Elend smiled. ¡°Right now.¡±
Kalden listened with interest as Elend described the lucid dreaming process. It was surprisingly simple, with little conscious work on his part. Apparently, Elend would send dream mana into their brains, and things would just ¡­ work themselves out. Honestly, it sounded too good to be true. He realized that Elend was a recognized dream expert, but this went against everything he knew about Mana Arts. He trusted the man to an extent, and he agreed with him about aspects. Akari was being too reckless in that case. You couldn¡¯t rush a decision like this, regardless of how urgent it seemed at the time. He should know¡ªhis mother had almost forced him into a career as an alchemist, and that would have led to a lifetime of unhappiness. "So let me get this straight," Kalden said. ¡°You''re going to stick dream mana in our heads, and that guarantees our dreams will be actual memories?" "Guarantees?" Elend replied. "No. No, that''s too strong a word. My mana will put you in a trance-like state while you sleep. This will cause your brain to act in specific ways¡ªrecreating memories and suppressing the imagination. But of course¡ªlike any trance¡ªit''s possible to break. Either on purpose or inadvertently." Kalden nodded. "You said there were only three techniques before¡ªMissiles, Constructs, and Cloaks." Everyone here already knew this, but it helped him to think out loud. He didn''t have a way to take notes, and this was the next best thing. "Correct," Elend said. "In this case, I¡¯m putting a Construct inside your head. A Missile would work too, but Missiles aren''t built to last." "So it''s a Construct." Kalden glanced up at the transparent dome that still surrounded them. "And that''s a Construct." His gaze fell on Elend''s shirt next. That was probably a Construct too, but it didn''t resemble mana at all. Then he remembered the Grandmaster¡¯s other techniques, and things seemed even crazier. His Missiles could become anything from ink on a page to helicopters in the sky. Those even moved on their own, with no apparent effort on Elend''s part. "Your videos didn''t cover this," Kalden finally said. "I thought aspects were the only way to change mana. But you do different things with the same aspect." "Aye.¡± Elend smiled. "You''re talking about intention¡ªcontrolling mana with your mind." He knew it had to be something like that. "And I''m guessing only Masters can do this? That''s why you didn''t bother mentioning it?" "Yes and no." Elend raised a finger, and a tiny blue Missile appeared at the tip, no bigger than his thumbnail. The mana drifted slowly upward, then it began spinning in circles, like an electron moving around a nucleus. All the while, Elend kept his hand perfectly still. ¡°You kids couldn''t do this without moving your body. Your mana responds to your soul, and your channels. That''s how you control it." Elend''s Missile broke off from its pattern, soaring behind a nearby lamp, then between the curtains. "The Apprentice and Artisan ranks are all about improving your body¡ªforming new channels through your cells. Naturally, this gives you more options with your mana." Well, that explained how Elend could shoot mana from his fingertip, while Kalden could only do it from his palms. "The Master realm is all about improving your mind." Elend''s Missile paused over Kalden''s bed, then it grew in size, shapeshifting into something with fur, pointy ears, and a tail. The cat stepped gingerly across the bed, rubbing its head against Kalden''s elbow. It felt as real as it looked. It even purred. "Obviously," Elend said, "we don''t have time for a full lecture on theoretical Intention. I teach an entire class on that subject." "He''s not kidding," Relia cut in. "It''s literally called Theoretical Intention." "So here''s the short version. I''ve spent decades controlling mana with my body, and my mind has internalized those patterns. For me, imagining the movement is as good as performing it." He gestured to the cat which still seemed eager for Kalden''s attention. "Techniques are a conscious effort at first. Take this a step farther, and my subconscious mind takes over. I know what a cat looks like¡ªhow it feels, and how it acts. I''m not imposing my will so much as I''m channeling the idea of a cat." Kalden nodded. It was a lot to take in, but it explained how Elend''s mana could achieve a specific effect inside their heads. Showing them their own memories wasn''t so different from showing them an illusion like this. Akari cleared her throat for the first time in several minutes. "You said non-Masters can do this too?" "Aye," Elend said. "Everyone can exert their will on mana. Go ahead, try it." Kalden frowned as he scratched the cat behind its ears. "How?" "You believe you''re petting a cat right now. Stop believing.¡± Kalden furrowed his brow in concentration. The cat seemed as real as any cat he''d ever seen. He felt the soft fur beneath his fingers and the vibrations as it purred. It even smelled like a real cat. And yet, he knew it wasn''t real. It was just dream mana. It was just Elend altering his perceptions. Kalden''s hand fell through the cat, collapsing on the bed beneath it. The image blurred and faded until nothing remained. "Woah." Akari blinked several times. "We could have done that the whole time?" Elend went on to explain the relationships between different ranks. It was easy for a Master to fool someone in the Foundation realm, but harder to fool someone of his own rank. He also could have poured more mana into the technique, making it impossible for them to oppose. But that was only true without the unbreakable cuffs and collar he wore. With them, he was barely stronger than an Apprentice in terms of raw power. Fooling the Martials had been easy, but these Grevandi were more of a challenge. Apparently, aspected Artists also used a cruder version of intention in their basic techniques. That was how Fire Artists like Hector could protect themselves from fire. It was also how Relia used her life mana offensively, causing harm rather than healing. Elend finished the lessons around ten o''clock, and they were all struggling to stay awake at this point. It had been a long day and an even longer journey between here and Arkala. Still, it was good to be training again. And now they had a chance to train in their sleep? Yeah, he could definitely get on board with that idea. Book 2 - Chapter 7: Last Haven Akari cycled her mana as she sprang forward. Skyscrapers surrounded her on all sides, stretching into the gray mist above. The buildings themselves were all weathered brick with ornamented windows and balconies. Koreldon City She¡¯d seen this place in her dreams before. The roads went on for miles in every direction, forming a massive urban labyrinth. Her opponent stood farther down the street. A young woman, clad in white armor from head to heel. Black stripes separated the pieces, and her visor was black as well. Sanako. Gravity Artist. Thirteen years old with four-hundred mana. She¡¯s a long-range fighter who plays a support role in team battles, using the environment to her advantage. Better to close the distance quickly. The thoughts all flooded Akari¡¯s mind. They seemed like her own, but they couldn¡¯t be. She¡¯d never even seen this girl before. Still ¡­ four-hundred mana was almost twice what Kalden had. That put this girl halfway between Gold and Apprentice. Akari vaulted over parked cars as she ran. Mana flowed through her channels like a rushing river, strengthening her muscles and bones. This was more than just ordinary cycling. She felt more solid with each step, as if she could smash the cars beneath her boots. A Cloak technique? Was this how Relia felt all the time? Sanako released two transparent Missiles from her palms, lifting a nearby car off the ground. Yeah, definitely a Gravity Artist. No other Gold could lift something that heavy. Not even with Mana Arts. Akari jumped off a truck and landed on the road less than ten paces from her opponent. Sanako still held the car in midair with no apparent effort. She shot another Missile, and the car flew straight toward Akari. Mana flooded Akari¡¯s legs as she moved to dodge. Her jump carried her three strides to the right, and she landed on the sidewalk. Metal and glass shattered behind her as the car broke against the road. Akari heard the crash, but she kept her eyes on her opponent. Sanako hurled another car straight at her. This one came too quick to dodge. Talek. The girl had predicted where Akari would land, and she¡¯d lined up her shot accordingly. Akari gathered two Missiles in her palms. For the first time, she felt the strength of the mana in her own soul. It was far denser than her real soul. She wondered how much¡ª The answer came to her at once: 650 mana. Practically the peak of Gold, and over ten times the amount she had in real life. Akari launched both Missiles at the approaching vehicle. Then¡ªbefore the first two even left her palms¡ªshe shot two more. Metal warped as the car caved in from the roof. The windows broke beneath the impact, and glass flew in every direction. But still, the car flew forward. Fortunately, Dream Akari knew what to do. She flooded her channels with pure mana and threw herself forward. More Missiles left her hands, but these formed into Constructs around her, shielding her upper body from the impact. The front of the Construct sharpened like a blade, severing the car like a paper bag. No sooner had she landed than her opponent closed in, launching pure Missiles of her own. Apparently, the girl had double-aspected her mana, but Dream Akari didn¡¯t seem surprised by this. She drew a blade from its sheath, two feet long and enhanced with metal mana. Then she strengthened the weapon further, sending mana from her channels into the blade itself. It shone with pale blue light as she slashed through the air, knocking Sanako¡¯s Missiles aside. Akari tried to close the distance, but the other girl kept her on the defensive, hurling pieces of broken metal with her gravity mana. This is bullshit. This whole arena favors Sanako. Wait ¡­ whose thoughts were those? They weren¡¯t Akari¡¯s, but they still appeared inside her head. Those must have come from her past self. She continued exchanging Missiles with her opponent, dodging debris and weaving her own mana through the gaps. Talek. Dream Akari knew so many fighting moves¡ªthings the real Akari had only scratched the surface of. But the more she thought about this dream, the stranger it seemed. Akari felt in control of her body¡ªlike each movement was a conscious choice on her part. But that couldn¡¯t be true. She didn¡¯t know these techniques. But if she wasn¡¯t in control, that made her a prisoner in her own skin. No sooner had the thoughts taken shape than time slowed to a crawl. The battlefield blurred around her like broken dream mana, and the sounds grew faint and distant. ¡°You might realize you¡¯re dreaming,¡± Elend had told her last night. ¡°Ignore those thoughts. Get lost in the moment. If you think too hard, you¡¯ll wake up.¡± Right. She was here to observe her past, not to control it. ¡°Think about the sensations. Soak up everything like a sponge. Not only will this ground you in the moment, but it will help you remember more when you wake.¡± Akari took several mental breaths and focused on her surroundings again. Her breath felt warm inside her helmet, but each inhale brought a rush of crisp winter air. She wore armor like her opponent, but hers was black instead of white. She caught glimpses of the sleeve with each Missile she fired. Despite the armor, her opponent looked young, with barely any curves. Her memories told her the other girl was thirteen, and so was Akari. But why would two middle-schoolers be fighting in an empty city? This didn¡¯t feel like a friendly duel, either. For Talek¡¯s sake, the girl had just thrown a freaking car at her. Focus, Akari scolded herself. Stop thinking. The fight had continued even as she¡¯d mentally checked out. It reminded her of the times she would walk to school on autopilot while she was practicing her Missiles. Kalden would be terrible at living in the moment like this. He had to analyze every detail, asking questions until he understood something inside and out. If he didn¡¯t understand, he refused to move¡ª The dream blurred again, and she caught herself. Damnit. Okay, so maybe she sucked at focusing too. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Akari slashed forward with her blade. Her opponent leapt back, using her gravity mana to jump higher. Akari grinned as the other girl flew backward. Gravity mana was great for mobility, but it left you exposed mid-battle. Easy as shooting a balloon. She lashed out with a volley of pure Missiles, sharpening the edges into spikes. Sanako raised a Construct between them. Akari ducked and sidestepped in quick succession, altering her center of gravity and arcing her Missiles around the shield. Her mana struck her opponent several times, hard enough to poke holes in her pretty white armor. Sanako smashed into the sidewalk, and Akari landed on top of her. She readied a Missile in her palm, putting more pressure in the center, sharpening the edge to a deadly point. So that¡¯s how Kalden does it. Akari had struggled with this technique before, but it was so effortless here. Could she really bring this skill back to the real world? She struck forward with her palm, aiming for her opponent¡¯s windpipe. The other girl countered with a Construct. Mana struck mana as their techniques broke in a blast of pale blue light. Akari readied another attack, then the two of them flew upward. Shit. More gravity mana. This time, she couldn¡¯t tell where the thought had come from. Was it Real Akari or Dream Akari? The ground retreated beneath them, and they flew several dozen feet in the air. Her opponent grabbed her by the front of her armor and twisted them both around. Their bodies spun as they fought, and the city became a whirlwind of gray sky and stone buildings. With a sudden burst of strength, Sanako threw her straight toward the nearest building. Akari looked up to see a brick wall closing in. Her head would shatter like an egg if she hit that. Instead, she twisted her body in midair, reinforcing her legs and spine. Then she kicked off from the building, aiming for her opponent again. By now, the other girl had already hit the ground. She shot pure Missiles at Akari, but she deflected them with bursts of her own mana. In real life, this level of fighting would have taken her full concentration. But for Dream Akari, this was like brushing her teeth. The mana flew back and forth, and her eyes scanned the battlefield. Her blade lay on the ground a dozen feet away. Akari shot a Missile toward the fallen weapon. Time seemed to slow as the mana wrapped around the blade. The movement was almost gentle, wrapping around it like a hand. Akari pulled the mana back to her. The weapon moved with it, soaring through the air. She timed it perfectly, and she caught it by the hilt. Then she adjusted her grip as she soared back toward the ground, blade aimed for her opponent. As expected, the girl raised a Construct between them. Akari¡¯s weapon became an extension of her body, and she flooded it with more mana. The steel was already enhanced, and channels ran through the blade itself, strengthening it beyond a Gold''s weapon. Sanako¡¯s Construct shattered into blue mist when it met her weapon. Akari continued downward, and she plunged the blade through her opponent¡¯s chest. The girl¡¯s body went limp, and crimson rivers flowed down her pale armor. Akari almost collapsed on top of her, but she caught herself at the last second. Instead of finishing off her opponent, she gazed up at the horizon as if she expected something to happen. Thoughts of an audience floated through her head ¡­ but why? There was no audience here. They were alone on this city street. Another second passed, then the city faded around her. It faded the same way Elend¡¯s dream mana did when he dropped an illusion. The sky changed colors from dull gray to pale blue. The buildings faded to lush green mountains, capped with snow. She blinked, and she found herself standing in a wide, circular arena, more than fifty yards in diameter. A man¡¯s voice announced her victory over a megaphone, and the massive scoreboard confirmed it. Hundreds of applauding people sat in the surrounding audience. Akari tried to make out faces in the crowd, hoping to see her parents there. She hadn¡¯t seen her mom¡¯s face in almost three years, and she ached for a sight of it. But Dream Akari didn¡¯t care about that. Instead, her eyes fell to where her opponent still lay in the dirt. Seconds before, she¡¯d been laying in a pile of broken glass and metal, bleeding from her chest. Now, the wound was gone, and her armor was unbroken. Even Akari¡¯s own weapon had vanished to mist. She reached down and offered her opponent a hand. Clearly, it had been a game this whole time. Relia had mentioned combat arenas at her university. Could this be something similar? Did the whole area run on dream mana? The girl clasped Akari¡¯s wrist, and Akari pulled her back to her feet. ¡°Good fight,¡± Akari said as she removed her helmet. Her voice sounded so young that she wanted to cringe. ¡°Yeah,¡± the other girl said. Her voice sounded young too, but also familiar. She pulled off her white helmet, revealing the face of a young Shokenese girl with silver glasses. Most of her hair was pulled back in a tight black bun, but her sweaty bangs clung to her forehead. What¡­ She looked just like Kalden¡¯s old informant. Akari still didn¡¯t believe it until she glanced back at the scoreboard and saw the name opposite hers. Maelyn Sanako. Once again, Dream Akari wasn¡¯t surprised by this revelation. She¡¯d known her opponent the whole time. She just hadn¡¯t thought of her by her first name. As for Real Akari, she tried not to think too hard. There would be plenty of time for that later. They went their separate ways, each girl exiting the area from a different side. Akari stepped down a short hallway into what looked like a remote mountain village. The roads were all rough cobblestones, but the buildings looked clean and well-maintained. Shokenese pagodas loomed on either side of her with curved terraces, tapering with every tier as they stretched toward the clear blue sky. The city¡¯s name came to her a second later. Last Haven. This was no ordinary city. It was a sect¡ªthe sort of place where Mana Artists lived away from the rest of the world, dedicating their lives to training without distractions. And Akari actually lived here? With her family? She walked through the streets, passing dozens of strange faces she didn¡¯t recognize. Her route took her to a residential area with rows of small houses. The road was less busy here, but she eventually caught sight of Maelyn walking down the street beside her. A boy walked with her¡ªDarren Warder. He was slightly thinner in this world, and blond bangs covered his forehead. Akari barely had time to react before a third person joined them on the street, carrying a bottle of liquid mana in each hand. While Darren and Maelyn both wore matching combat suits, this girl wore a simple dress and jacket. Her golden hair hung back in a pair of braids, and her eyes seemed to sparkle as she laughed. Emberlyn Frostblade. It was all too much. Seeing Darren and Maelyn here was one thing, but Akari couldn¡¯t suspend her disbelief about this. Time slowed, and the dream blurred around her. This time, she made no effort to stop it.
Akari¡¯s eyes shot open, and she sprang up in her bed. Sweat covered her body, and her heart still thundered from the battle. She grabbed her glasses and tossed the blankets aside. The sun rose in a haze of orange on the horizon, making jagged silhouettes of the city skyline. Relia breathed softly in the other bed, resting her cheek on her hands. Talek. That felt so real. Elend had warned her, but a part of her hadn¡¯t believed him. She moved her fingers, surprised to find herself in control again. Hundreds of images remained burned in her vision, from the area to the sect itself. And that fight ¡­ Talek. She¡¯d known she was a Combat Artist in her past. That was the only thing that explained her fighting instincts. But this ¡­ was Relia even that good? Her feet found the wooden floor, and she fell into the same combat stance from the dream. She threw several punches at the air, and memories flooded her mind with each movement. She knew exactly where to place each punch, from the timing to the position of her fingers. Akari thought about trying the mana techniques too, but she thought better of it. Elend had specifically told them not to break anything in the hotel rooms. Instead, she grabbed her mana watch from her nightstand, pressing it to the back of her wrist. 51/51, the screen read. Damnit. She¡¯d hoped she would keep her mana from the dreams, but of course it wouldn¡¯t be that easy. Still ¡­ she¡¯d been Gold for a short time. Not just Gold, but more than halfway to Apprentice. Could she use this somehow? Could she leverage it as a shortcut? She¡¯d have to ask Elend tomorrow. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Relia asked from across the room. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Akari froze. At some point, she¡¯d started punching the air again. ¡°Sorry. Just ¡­ trying something.¡± She crawled back under the blankets, resting her head against the wall and retrieving the notebook from her nightstand. Elend had insisted they record every detail of their dreams, preferably as soon as they woke up. Akari relaxed over the next few minutes as she wrote down what happened, from the combat area to the strange sect in the mountains. Her aspect had been strangely absent the entire time. But why? Had she been holding back? Maybe she didn¡¯t need it to beat Maelyn. Finally, her thoughts drifted to the end of the dream. Maelyn Sanako, Darren Warder, and Emberlyn Frostblade¡­ all together in the outside world. But how? What the hell was that place? Book 2 - Chapter 8: Synthesis Kalden pushed open the door behind the Cantina, stepping out into the cool morning air. There wasn''t much back here¡ªjust a narrow parking lot with few overflowing dumpsters. A battered car sat in one corner of the lot, and a chain-link fence ran along the opposite edge, keeping a jungle of bushes and palm trees at bay. Akari stood in the middle of it all, guiding her mana through the morning haze. Kalden watched her Missile spiral around the telephone wire''s wooden support. Then she lowered her center of gravity, sending it around the wire itself. When it finally returned to her, Akari stretched out her hand and reabsorbed the mana into her skin. When did she learn that? He''d seen that move in the Grandmaster''s videos, but neither of them had pulled it off until now. Kalden''s mana always broke against his palm when he tried. She must have seen him standing there, but she didn''t slow down. Instead, she fell back into a combat stance and fired another pale blue Missile. This one soared straight for a row of plastic milk cartons which she''d lined up near the dumpsters. At first, Kalden expected her target to fly across the parking lot, crumbling beneath the impact. But she sharpened her Missile into a blade, slicing straight through the plastic without moving the carton itself. Okay, she definitely hadn''t known that move yesterday either. Akari raised her hand and stepped to the side, retrieving her Missile before it flew too far. It cut through a second milk carton on the way back, and her lip curled in a self-satisfied grin. Even her movements had changed. When he''d first met Akari, she''d walked with a slumped posture, either avoiding eye contact or glaring at people. Even when she''d started learning Mana Arts, she''d moved too aggressively, as if she always had something to prove. Today, she moved with quiet confidence and grace. More like Relia than her old self. Akari caught him staring, then she crossed her arms, still looking as proud as a cat. "Let''s see the dragons shrug that off." Kalden nodded his agreement. Mana that sharp could definitely break armor, even without an aspect. "How long have you been out here?" She shrugged. "Longer than the sun." It was almost nine o''clock now, so that must have been at least two hours ago. Sweat glistened on her neck and collarbones, and her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths. Kalden felt his own breath increasing, but for entirely different reasons. "Thought you weren''t a morning person without your coffee," he said. "The dreams worked," she replied, clearly eager to share the whole story. "I learned a bunch of new skills last night. Still can''t do a Construct yet though, and I never got to see my aspect in action." She frowned as if she''d honestly expected to learn everything in one day. "Come on." Kalden waved her toward the door. "We''re having breakfast inside."
Akari followed Kalden back into the common room. It was far quieter now than it had been last night. The radio played some Cadrian folk song, and a dozen locals sat scattered around the long bar. Akari thought she recognized some of the border guards from last night. Did they hang out here whenever they weren''t working? Elend was talking to Hector in one corner, and Kalden led her to another table where Relia waited. "Morning!" the other girl said cheerful wave. "Hope you don''t mind, but I ordered for everyone. They only had one breakfast thing on the menu." Kalden sat across from Relia, and Akari took the seat between them, glancing down at her plate. It looked like someone had thrown a bunch of sausage and potatoes into a skillet and then cracked some eggs to fill the gaps. Still smelled good, though. They ate in silence for the next few minutes as Akari inhaled her food. She hadn''t realized it until now, but she''d worked up quite an appetite with her morning training. The food tasted as good as it had last night, but the coffee surprised her the most. It was smooth and light with hints of citrus¡ªeven better than a Jumpstart Storm''s Eye. Was that because Cadria had a tropical climate? They had to use greenhouses back home, but these beans probably grew outside on some old volcano. "Alright," Kalden said. "Now let''s hear your dream." "What?" She furrowed her brow. "Why don''t you go first?" "You''re done eating," he noted with a grin. "Plus, I''m pretty sure yours was more exciting." Akari glanced down at their plates and realized that Kalden and Relia had only eaten half of theirs so far. Damnit. She drew in a deep breath. At first, she''d assumed they would wait for Elend, but she''d already shared her dream with him that morning. Apparently, Kalden had too. So Akari eased into the story, doing her best to be descriptive. She''d never considered herself a good storyteller. She always talked too fast, eager to be out of the spotlight. Still, she managed to slow down for the big ending reveal, and it paid off when she got a gasp from Kalden. "Then I woke up right after that," Akari finished. "I don''t get it," Relia said. "Who are those people?" "They were my friends," Kalden said. "Well, our friends, I guess. They helped us escape the Martials." "Except for Emberlyn," Akari added in a dark voice. "She''s the reason I got arrested." "So," Kalden said. "Maelyn was the Gravity Artist you fought?" "Yeah. Weird, huh?" "Not that weird, actually. Her grandfather was a Gravity Artist¡ªCEO of Sanako Inc." Sanako Inc. She''d seen that logo on the generator they''d used on the boat when they were escaping the island. She hadn''t made the connection before. But this was good to hear. Despite the progress she''d made with her Mana Arts, a part of her had worried that her whole dream was some crazy hallucination. Especially after she''d seen Maelyn, Darren, and Emberlyn. That part had seemed too weird to be real. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Akari took a drink of her coffee. "So, her grandpa kept his aspect, but Maelyn got switched from gravity to healing?" Kalden gave a helpless shrug. "High school students back home didn''t learn advanced aspects. Maybe they changed it to fit the narrative? She frowned. "Mazren lost his Mana Arts too. So did my mom." "It makes sense in your mom''s case," Kalden said. "She was born a Bronze." And that definitely went against the narrative. "But what about Mazren?" "Maybe it''s like the half-dragons," he said. "Maybe he had some advanced abilities that didn''t fit? Or maybe they needed more technicians on the mana wall?" Talek. The more she thought about this, the crazier it all seemed. The Archipelago had over a quarter-million people, and someone had altered each of their lives to fit a massive lie. No one could have crafted every detail by hand, but it wasn''t random either. It almost felt like the work of an algorithm. She turned to Relia. "Are there, like, evil AIs in this world?" "Huh?" The other girl cocked her head to the side. "Artificial intelligence. Computers that can think." "Oh." She shook her head. "No. I think that just happens in movies." Well, that was good, but it still didn''t disprove her algorithm theory. Maybe there was a way to mix computer processing with Mana Arts? Or maybe Knowledge Artists could recreate the same things in their own heads? "What about Emberlyn?" Kalden asked, interrupting her thoughts. "Was she an alchemist in your dream?" Akari shrugged. "I guess she gave Maelyn and Darren some potions." "And they were wearing combat suits," Kalden said. "But she wasn''t?" "Sure. But who cares?" Kalden shoveled a bite of food into his mouth, taking the pause to think. "Emberlyn once said she had dreams about being an alchemist. Her father pushed her into Mana Arts, but maybe things were different in this world. If Golds weren''t considered special..." Akari ignored that. She couldn''t imagine Emberlyn having dreams the way she and Kalden had. She also couldn''t believe Maelyn and Darren were actually friends with her. Kalden asked a few more questions about his friends, but Akari didn''t have any clear answers. The whole experience had been surreal, and she hadn''t thought to look for details. "I think it''s your turn," she finally said. "What was your dream about?" Kalden cleared his throat. "It was actually about you." "Ooo!'' Relia clasped her hands together. Kalden continued quickly. "We were kids¡ªI was nine, and you looked about the same age." Wow. She''d assumed both dreams would happen in roughly in the same timeline. But there was no real reason for that in hindsight. "We were neighbors," Kalden said, "living in the same sect you described. Our houses were back-to-back with a short wooden fence between them. My brother and I were in the backyard with a punching bag. Sozen eventually went inside, then you jumped the fence and asked me to teach you how to fight." Akari leaned forward, hanging on every word. She hadn''t seen Kalden in her own dream, but it hardly surprised her that he''d been there. "We practiced on the bag," he continued, "and I gave you some tips. Then we had to stop when your mom called you in for dinner." "You saw my mom?" That hardly seemed fair. Why hadn''t she gotten to see her parents? "Just a glimpse when she stuck her head out of the doorway. She looked a lot like you, actually. "Yeah." Akari didn''t know what else to say, so she reached for her coffee cup. Unfortunately, that was empty, so she threw back her water glass and crunched on an ice cube instead. "What else?" Relia asked. "That''s about it," he said. "I''m not much of a storyteller, but I took a bunch of notes." He leaned over and pulled a bundle of papers from his bag. "There''s a whole transcript of our talk." Relia whistled as she accepted the pile. "Somebody was a good student." "Number one in our class," Akari added, not missing a chance to embarrass Kalden. But her grin faded when she saw the extent of his notes. Her own notes had been a single page with several lists of bullet points. Kalden, on the other hand... The first page was an estimation of the sect''s population. He even showed his work, including the estimated square footage for each house, and the number of houses that could fill the available space. He''d also consulted the memories of his past self and discovered there were two more neighborhoods in the sect. She found the number at the end: three thousand people. That seemed large, but maybe it shouldn''t have. Hadn''t there been a few hundred people just in the arena? The next page described the sect itself. The descriptions matched hers, but his notes were far more detailed, going so far as to note the species of plants and the materials used in the houses. Another paragraph made note of the climate, the season, and the surrounding mountains. Based on all that, Kalden put their position somewhere in Northeast Espiria. More paragraphs explained his exact reasoning. Akari fell back in her chair, feeling suddenly useless. It was easy to forget how freakishly smart Kalden was. Finally, she found the transcript of their conversation. "Don''t punch your target," Kalden told her. "Punch through him. One foot in front of the other like this. Fist aligned with your forearm. Exhale." She''d heard those exact words before. This whole time, Kalden had been the boy from her memories. The one who''d first taught her to fight. She found her mother''s words at the end of the page, and her breath caught in her throat. She wanted to go back to sleep and see this for herself. "Good news," Elend said as he returned to their table. "The Unmarked have a base in San Talek with internet access. Hector and I leave in ten minutes." "You and Hector?" Relia looked at him like an abandoned puppy. "This place is dangerous," Elend explained. "The two of us will draw less attention. It''s a three hour drive, but we should be back this afternoon." "Can we use these dreams to advance faster?" Akari asked. If Elend was leaving them behind, she didn''t want to twiddle her thumbs the whole time. Especially now that she''d used up her mana. Elend blinked at the sudden change of subject. "I was Gold in my last dream," she said. "Feels like there should be a shortcut to get back the lost mana." "I don''t want to get your hopes up too much, but it''s possible..." He trailed off, seeming to gather his thoughts. "Consider this¡ªhow did you lose your mana in the first place? I''m sure you can guess after last night''s lecture." "Intention," Kalden said. "A powerful Mana Artist wanted us to become weaker, so we did." Elend nodded. "I don''t know what specific techniques or aspects they used, but that''s not relevant right now. Intention can always be opposed, the same way you made Whiskers disappear last night." Kalden''s lips made a thin line. "Can we oppose someone that strong?" "Directly? No. But you''re only opposing a small piece of this person''s power. You also have the laws of physics on your side. Just as the cat wasn''t really there..." "I''m really a Gold right now," Akari finished in a low voice. It felt strange to say, but she''d felt the truth of it in her dream. "Aye. You''ve lived a lie for the past few years, and you carry a piece of that lie with you still. You need to synthesize who you are now with who you were in the past. You refer to ''Dream Akari'' as if she''s a different person. Move past that. Get inside her head. Feel her thoughts as if they''re your own. If you can become her again, then you might gain her power." He turned to Kalden. "The same goes for you, lad. Once you have some more dreams, of course. With a sect like that, I wouldn''t be surprised if you reached the peak of Gold." They both nodded. Elend rose from his chair, and the rest of them followed suit. "Before I go, I have a parting gift for everyone." Elend stepped toward Relia and took her hands in his. Mana flashed in the space between them. Then he pressed another hand to her forehead. When he pulled it away, she had a mark like the Grevandi''s. "Don''t worry." Elend made his way around the table, taking Kalden''s hands next. "These are illusions. Even if the Grevandi catch you, they won''t bother someone who they think is marked." "I thought the dragon guys weren''t coming back," Akari said. "Probably right." Elend took her hands. "But I''d rather prepare for the worst." Mana flashed between them. The sensation was painless, just like when he''d put the dream Constructs in their heads. "These draw power from your own mana supply," he explained. "Stop cycling for about ten seconds, and the marks will vanish" He gestured to Relia, and all three of her marks faded away. Then she struck a victory pose as if she''d done a trick. "Start cycling again, and the marks should return." As if on cue, Relia''s marks came back. He gave an approving nod. "That should stop the locals from burning you at the stake." "How long do these last?" Kalden glanced up at his own forehead as if he could see the sigils there. "Not to worry, lad." Elend gave a dismissive wave. "Those should last for weeks as long as you cycle every day. The same goes for the other Construct in your head." He made as if to move toward the door, then he paused again. "Oh, almost forgot. I arranged for our food and lodging for one more day. You''ll just need to help Marco with some chores¡ªlaundry, dishes, things of that sort. Turns out the man can negotiate after all." And with that, Elend strode toward the door where Hector waited. "Best of luck! Stay out of trouble!" Book 2 - Chapter 9: Left Behind They spent the day doing chores around the Cantina. If this were a movie, they would have breezed through the work in a quick montage, then skipped to the cool parts where Relia taught them Mana Arts. But their lives were more like a comedy at this point. Kalden was completely helpless when it came to chores. He''d never dusted a day in his life. Or vacuumed, or washed dishes. "How have you never washed dishes?" Relia asked as they gathered around the massive steel sink. "His maids did that for him," Akari said as she unloaded a bus tub of glasses. Kalden gave her a look, but he didn''t correct her. Then he glanced back at the dishes as if they were a nest of venomous snakes. "Here." Relia shoved him aside and grabbed the rough-looking sponge. "It''s not that hard. Just add some soap, and scrub until the food comes off." Relia had lived on her own for several years, which basically made her a real adult. As for Akari, she''d done her share of chores around the Cliftons'' house. Especially dishes. So many dishes. To Kalden''s credit, he gave Relia his full attention as she worked, probably taking mental videos with his photographic memory. "Wait"¡ªRelia stepped away from the sink, drying her hands on a nearby towel. "Then how come you''re so good at making beds?" Good question. He''d even tucked in the corners on the sheets and blankets. ''Shokenese corners,'' he''d called them. "We made our own beds every morning." Kalden picked up the sponge, mimicking Relia''s exact motions. "It''s an old daily ritual with Shokenese Blade Artists. Something about starting your day with a small victory." "Huh." Relia rested her chin on her thumb. "I never made my bed at all." "Me neither," Akari said. She''d never been a morning person, so why make the routine harder? And waiting until the evening seemed to defeat the purpose. They moved on to the laundry after that, tossing several loads of sheets and towels into the massive washing machine. This would have been nice to have last night when they were washing their clothes in the bathtub, but what could you do? A steel door loomed in one corner of the room, sealed with three different locks. "What''s that?" Akari asked Marco when he walked by. "Got a pet dragon locked in the basement?" The old bartender shook his head. "That''s not a basement, shokita. That door leads to the catacombs." "Catacombs? Seriously?" They''d never had anything that old back on Arkala. Marco nodded, gesturing a finger behind him. "They start at the church and snake out through the city." Well, that sounded like a cool place to explore. And what if they had some arkions down there, like the ones in Elegan''s subway tunnels? Akari wouldn''t mind testing her skills against those. Unfortunately, Marco hadn''t unlocked the door in years, and he didn''t feel like starting today. Once their work was done, they ate a late lunch in the common room, then headed outside for Mana Arts practice. Relia led them several blocks down the street until they found a playground near an elementary school. It wasn''t much¡ªjust a worn-looking jungle gym with a few slides, a swing set, and a set of monkey bars. "Okay." Relia kicked up sand as she spun around to face them. "So you want to learn Constructs? Let''s see what you can do!" Akari fell into a wide stance, one arm forward with the other curled up at a ninety-degree angle behind her. This let her cycle her mana straight through her body, gaining momentum along the way. The Missile flew from her hand in a burst of pale blue light. Constructs didn''t have to start as Missiles, but that was the simplest way to get the mana out of your body. The tricky part was making it sit still once it was free. Her mana flew faster than she could sprint, and she gritted her teeth as she tried to pull it straight back. Retrieving a Missile was easy if you sidestepped and let it curve around naturally. But it would always be a Missile that way. It only became a Construct when you reached a balance between pushing and pulling. In Akari''s case, the opposing forces ripped the mana apart, turning it to vapor in midair. "Damnit," she snapped. It had been so effortless in her dream. Not only had she formed Constructs faster than blinking, but she''d done it while flying in midair. Relia nodded. "Good start, but you''re shooting your Missile way too quick." "I thought Missiles needed speed?" Then again, Elend had never actually said that in his videos. She''d discovered it herself through trial and error. "Nope." Relia held out her hand, releasing a Missile with deliberate slowness. It was like watching a loading bar on a dial-up connection. It looked far more solid and opaque than Akari''s Missile had. "You need either mass or velocity," she explained. "The more of one you have, the less you need of the other. Relia''s Missile stretched and flattened, forming a shield as wide as her shoulders. "You started with low mana counts," she said. "So you probably needed the speed boost back then. Not anymore. Try to slow your cycling, then force out more mana than you''re used to. Pack it tight like a snowball, and it should work." Akari followed Relia''s advice, unleashing a Missile with twice her usual potency. It still came out like a charging raptor, but she reeled it back in. This time, it lasted several more seconds before it broke. Relia gave her a quick thumbs up. "Keep practicing. You''ll get it soon!" Then she turned to Kalden. "Your turn!" He widened his stance the way Akari had. But instead of one hand, he used both at once, combining two smaller Missiles into one. Not a bad idea. Two hands meant more control. His mana came out slower than her second attempt, hovering a few feet from his open palms. Then it flattened into a shield the same way Relia''s had. Talek. Even with her combat dreams, Kalden was still ahead of her. She''d rescued him back on the island, but that didn''t put them on even ground yet. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Several more fears flashed through her mind as Kalden''s shield widened. What if he unlocked his old mana, but she didn''t? It took most people twelve years to reach Apprentice. What if she only slowed the others down? What if they left her behind? The Construct turned to mist a second later, and Kalden dropped his hands. Stop moping, Akari told herself. Focus on your training. Kalden might learn quicker, but he''d never outwork her. Neither would anyone else. Relia gave Kalden some more pointers, and they threw themselves into their exercises. Unfortunately, these heavy-duty Missiles drained Akari''s soul far faster than usual, and she was out of mana within the first twenty minutes. "What about Cloak techniques?" Akari asked when they all took a break. Relia strolled over to the swing set and sat down. "What about them?" "I think I did one in my dream." "No way." Relia started pumping her legs, swinging higher. "You''ve gotta be Apprentice for that." Akari frowned. "But my mana made me stronger." "That''s different." "Different how?" "All techniques start small. Remember when you first learned Missiles?" Kalden nodded. "We used our mana to pass a ball back and forth." "And we moved pencils around," Akari added. "Right." Relia pulled herself up on the swing so she was practically standing. Then she launched herself upward on the next round, landing feet-first on the steel bar. Her body wobbled slightly, but she kept her balance. "Shooting mana isn''t the same as a real Missile," she said. "Cloaks are the same way." Kalden stepped forward, craning his neck to face her. "So we can make ourselves stronger?" Even at Silver or Gold?" "Sure," Relia said, "why do you think we came to the playground?" Akari and Kalden shared a look, then Relia lowered herself from the bar, hanging from one arm between the two swings. "First, you need to work your muscles to fatigue." She did several one-armed pull-up repetitions, raising her chin above the bar each time. Akari didn''t keep count, but it must''ve been at least twelve. She hung there for several long seconds, heaving in deep breaths. "Then you feed your muscles some mana when they''re tired." Her bicep glowed with blue light, and she pulled herself back up and over the bar. "It''s easy for me, but your muscles will resist at first. That''s why you train to exhaustion¡ªgive them no choice but to use it." "Why do they resist mana?" Kalden asked. As usual, he had to understand every detail before he could move on. "It''s inefficient." Relia hopped down from the swingset, dropping a full eight feet into the sand below. "Our bodies hate wasting energy, and converting mana into oxygen is a bad trade." "Oxygen?" Kalden asked. "You sure it''s not ions?" Relia looked at him, and he continued, "Muscles contract when you have the right balance of sodium, calcium, and potassium. That causes the proteins to lock together." She hummed in consideration. "Yeah, that''s probably right. Been a while since I learned this stuff." Well, at least you didn''t need to know biology to be a good Mana Artist. That made sense though. Mana Arts predated microscopes by several thousand years. "Anyway," Relia said, "this is step one. Once your cells get used to your mana, you can reinforce them at will. It''s not a real Cloak technique, but it paves the way. And with that, she led them over toward the monkey bars where they started doing pull-ups. Relia had made this look easy, but nothing could be further from the truth. Pull-ups were one thing¡ªshe could manage five or six of those. But flexing her muscles while cycling? Talek. This felt like being a beginner all over again. Something told her that feeling would never fully go away.
Elend reclined in the front seat of Hector''s truck, watching the jungles roll by on either side of the highway. The truck was even older than its owner¡ªan 845 Titan unless Elend had suddenly lost his wits. A web of cracks covered the leather seats, and the scent of burning mana crystals drifted in from the open windows. Most people hated that smell, but it made Elend nostalgic for simpler days. His father had always kept old cars as a hobby, and their garage had harbored that sweet mineral scent for years. In fact, it still smelled that way to this day. The jungles eventually gave way to urban neighborhoods with hundreds of small houses crammed between the ocean and the hillside. The traffic grew thicker too, and it wasn''t long before the cars sat bumper to bumper. Hector tapped the steering wheel nervously. The poor lad probably wasn''t used to chauffeuring Artisans around town. If he only knew... "What day is it?" Elend asked. He hadn''t asked anyone since he woke up from the Martial''s ice chamber. It hadn''t mattered on the island, or out at sea. "Irinday," he said. "Tresember 56th." Irinday. Well, that explained the lunch hour traffic. And Tresember was almost over? Akari had told him he''d been frozen for half a year, but that was still strange to hear. What would his wife think? He''d gone on long trips before, but never like this. In fact, he''d never gone more than a week without contacting her. Their route carried them into the heart of San Talek, and the houses rose into towering offices and apartment buildings. It still seemed tiny compared to Koreldon, but it was bigger than he''d expected. Hector took the next off-ramp, driving two more blocks until they reached a five-story parking garage. The hideout wasn''t far from here, but they''d have to walk the rest of the way. The sidewalks were as busy as the roads, and they passed an equal number of humans and dragons along the way. Elend also spotted several more Espirians in the crowd, so at least he wasn''t the only one. He''d considered a disguise, but the cuffs made it difficult to gather enough mana. It might have fooled the average pedestrian, but anyone over Artisan would see through it. In that case, he''d be better off just looking like himself. He''d still hidden his cuffs, but that was a calculated risk. Just like coming here in the first place. They''d only been walking for a few minutes when a black 870 Noble appeared at the intersection ahead. It was the most expensive car he''d seen in Creta, and it stuck out like a dagger in the sand. The car slowed as it approached them in the opposite lane. The other pedestrians ignored it, so Elend did the same. That was the key to surviving in dangerous countries like this¡ªwatch the locals, then do whatever they did. Unfortunately, the car didn''t ignore Elend. It pulled into the opposite lane, driving against the flow of traffic. His heart beat faster as he sensed the Artists inside. "Keep walking," he told Hector, "Don''t look at me. Don''t turn around." Hector stiffened beside him. Poor instincts for a guerrilla fighter. "Whats¡ª" "No time for questions, lad. Go." Hector quickened his pace and Elend slowed down, putting distance between them. The car stopped on the curb next to Elend. The streets were too narrow to park, and they held up a long line of traffic in front of them. No one honked, though. No one dared. Slowly, Elend pivoted to face the vehicle. Every window was tinted, and the black surface was smooth enough to show his reflection. The back door swung open, revealing a male and female dragon. Their skin was the color of tree bark, and their pale green eyes seemed to glow as they caught the afternoon sun. They''d veiled their souls just as Elend had, but they couldn''t hide from his senses completely. These were Masters¡ªthe Dragonlord''s Wings. "Elend Darklight," the man said. His voice sounded far clearer than the Grevandi¡ªmore like a human with a refined Cadrian accent. Elend forced himself to smile as he approached the car. It was a smile fitting a Grandmaster¡ªsomeone who could rival their own leader in terms of power. Someone who could freeze this entire city with a wave of his fingers. Even if they saw his cuffs and collar, would they recognize the material? No. Even Elend had been fooled the first time he saw them. He''d thought it was ordinary impedium¡ªsomething he could escape with ease. He''d been wrong, of course. But he doubted these dragons would see something he hadn''t. The man''s eyes drifted past Elend''s shoulder as another woman emerged from between two buildings. She wore a long black dress, and her hair fell in braided cords past her shoulders. A black dragon necklace hung from her neck. The Cult of Solidor? Elend eyed her soul through his Silver Sight, and that confirmed his suspicions. There was power there, yes, but she wasn''t an ordinary Mana Artist. The woman smiled as she approached Elend, eying him from head to heel. Then she addressed the dragons in the car, "Not to worry, General. He can''t escape those cuffs without help." She continued forward until they stood less than a foot apart. "Do you know what those are?" Elend let out a long breath. "I have an inkling." "Etherite," she said with a self-satisfied smile. He''d been afraid of that. He''d felt the power the first time he''d tried to break free. Each fragment had a soul of its own¡ªan energy that pushed against his mana with equal force. For all that, Elend hadn''t truly believed it. Etherite was harvested from the souls of dead Angels, making it the strongest and rarest material in the universe. How had the Martials gotten their hands on it? He turned back to the car, already knowing what happened next. The man''s reptilian smile widened. "Dragonlord Antano would like a word with you." Book 2 - Chapter 10: Survival Instincts Kalden reclined on his bed, reading the local newspaper. Akari had called him an old man for this, but he didn¡¯t care. They were in the outside world now. It might not be the part they¡¯d expected, but they still had years of events to catch up on. Relia paced back and forth like a caged animal, occasionally glancing out the window. The sun had just vanished below the ocean, and they still hadn¡¯t heard from Elend. ¡°He should¡¯ve been here by now. He said ¡®late afternoon¡¯, right?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Akari lay on the other bed, shooting Missiles into the air. She¡¯d gotten better at controlling them, but he still worried she might punch a hole through the ceiling. ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯s fine,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Who knows how long it takes to send a message?¡± ¡°Two minutes,¡± Akari muttered. She tried to sound nonchalant, but it came out forced. Clearly, she was as nervous as they were. ¡°And we don¡¯t know if the dark web plan will work,¡± Kalden continued. ¡°Maybe they¡¯re trying something else?¡± Relia rubbed her arms as she continued pacing. ¡°Then why hasn¡¯t he called? Marco has a phone downstairs.¡± ¡°Phones can be tapped.¡± Akari launched another Missile upward. This one actually grazed the ceiling before it came back down. Relia opened her mouth as if to respond, but then something caught her eye. ¡°Wait¡ªthat¡¯s Hector¡¯s truck!¡± She yanked open the sliding glass door and stepped onto the balcony. Kalden and Akari each leapt off their beds to join her. The old red truck pulled into the town square on the other side of the fountain. The driver-side door opened a second later, and Hector stepped out. Kalden and the others waited for several long heartbeats, but there was no sign of Elend. Oh no. Relia led the charge down the stairs, and they all met Hector in the first-floor corridor. He seemed relieved when he saw them, but Relia spoke first, ¡°Where¡¯s Elend?¡± Hector shook his head, unable to meet her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry ¡­ they took him.¡± ¡°What? Who?¡± ¡°The Dragonlord¡¯s brother and sister.¡± A cold sweat broke over Kalden¡¯s skin. Going there had been a risk, but no one had expected the dragons to move so quickly. Elend had barely been in Creta for twenty-four hours. How did they know? ¡°Was there a fight?¡± Relia asked. Kalden already knew the answer to that. He¡¯d read about the Antano siblings¡ªDario and Valeria¡ªin the paper that night. People called them the Dragonlord¡¯s Wings, and they enforced his will all throughout the nation. They were also Masters, which meant Elend wouldn¡¯t stand a chance with his cuffs. ¡°The car pulled up next to us,¡± Hector said. ¡°Elend got in, then they drove off. That¡¯s all I saw.¡± ¡°But you got away?¡± Kalden asked. He tried to keep his voice calm rather than suspicious. ¡°He told me to keep walking, so I did. The street was crowded. I don¡¯t think they saw me.¡± That made some sense. A Cadrian with a fake mark could vanish in an urban crowd. Then again, basic surveillance should have confirmed that he and Elend arrived together. It seemed too convenient that he¡¯d gotten back here with no interruptions ¡°We need to leave,¡± Hector said. ¡°Some Grevandi escaped the fight last night. They might know you¡¯re here.¡± No argument there. But Kalden wouldn¡¯t blame a few fleeing Grevandi for this mess. They wouldn¡¯t have fought Elend if they¡¯d known his true identity. They also wouldn¡¯t have known about his trip to San Talek. More likely, the dragons had a spy right here in town. Someone with the time and resources to piece this together. ¡°Leave where?¡± Akari asked. ¡°I can get us to a safe house,¡± he said. ¡°But we need to go now.¡± Relia nodded along, but Akari looked as skeptical as Kalden felt. ¡°Give us ten minutes to pack,¡± he told Hector. ¡°We¡¯ll meet you downstairs when we¡¯re ready.¡± Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
¡°Packing won¡¯t take ten minutes,¡± Relia said once they were alone in their rooms. She grabbed the blade she¡¯d stolen from the Artisan last night, fastening the holster around her waist. ¡°I¡¯m ready now.¡± Akari glanced out at the town square, then closed the slider door and curtains. ¡°I know.¡± Kalden shouldered his own pack. ¡°We need to talk first.¡± ¡°Talk about what?¡± Relia scrunched up her face in genuine confusion. ¡°The dragons have my master. They know who he is, and¡ª¡± ¡°They¡¯ll want hostages,¡± he finished for her. ¡°Exactly! We should have left hours ago.¡± ¡°But think about it,¡± Kalden said. ¡°If they know we¡¯re here, then why haven¡¯t they sent someone for us?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She threw up her hands. ¡°We killed the last Artisan they sent.¡± ¡°Or they¡¯re trying to catch us with honey,¡± Akari said. Kalden nodded in her direction, then he turned back to Relia. ¡°Hector led your master away from this city, and he got captured. Now he wants to lead us somewhere.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± Relia said. ¡°You think Hector betrayed him?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s worth discussing.¡± ¡°Hector¡¯s an Unmarked,¡± she said. ¡°That makes him the dragon¡¯s enemy.¡± ¡°Ever heard of spies?¡± Kalden gestured to the fake mark on his forehead. ¡°You immediately trusted him because of these. If I were a spymaster, I couldn¡¯t ask for better circumstances.¡± ¡°He fought with us yesterday. And my master trusted him.¡± ¡°Elend specifically told you to keep your distance,¡± Kalden retorted. ¡°He¡¯s good with people,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s part of his aspect. He can read emotions like words on a page." Kalden rubbed his temple. ¡°Look, no offense to your master, but he¡¯s been captured twice. Let¡¯s not pretend he¡¯s perfect.¡± In hindsight, it wasn¡¯t fair to compare this situation to the Martials. Elend had known the Martials were hostile from the beginning. He¡¯d just assumed that Golds and Silvers couldn¡¯t capture a Grandmaster. Still, Kalden didn¡¯t concede his point. Elend was a human who made mistakes. ¡°The spy could be anyone,¡± Relia said. ¡°Dozens of people saw the fight in the square.¡± Akari rolled her eyes. ¡°You guys are going in circles now.¡± ¡°I want to help Elend,¡± Relia said. ¡°Maybe the Unmarked can help us.¡± ¡°Not this again,¡± Kalden muttered. For Talek¡¯s sake, was she really this na?ve? Fighting the Martials had been one thing¡ªthey were only Golds. But Relia couldn¡¯t stand against anyone in the Dragonlord¡¯s inner-circle. Both his Wings were Masters, and most of his Fangs were Artisans. Relia narrowed her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re saying you¡¯d rather save yourself and leave him behind?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m saying. I think Elend would agree if he were here.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± She crossed her arms. ¡°You really think you know everything, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Elend told you not to rescue him back on Arkala. He said your plan was too reckless.¡± Her expression darkened further. ¡°You¡¯d still be trapped there without my plan.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Kalden replied. ¡°So would Jared and Viv.¡± Relia winced as if he¡¯d slapped her, and Kalden immediately regretted his words. ¡°Fine,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m going with Hector. You guys do what you want.¡± She started for the door, then her legs buckled beneath her. She fell right into Kalden, slamming face-first into his chest. Kalden caught her, but her body felt like dead weight in his arms. He adjusted his grip on her waist and lowered her back on the nearest bed. ¡°You okay?¡± he asked. Relia lay there in for several heartbeats, gritting her teeth, raking in several deep breaths. Then she forced herself to her feet and flared her life Cloak. Her body shone with green-gold light, and she tested her weight on both legs, almost reassuring herself that they still worked. She moved her arms next, clenching each hand into a shaking fist. Akari stepped closer, eyes narrowed in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I just tripped¡± Relia reached inside her purse and clutched something like a lifeline. ¡°But I¡¯m okay.¡± Her face told a different story, especially a second ago when he¡¯d set her on the bed. Her anger had faded in a heartbeat, replaced with a look of pure terror. What did she have in that bag? Relia didn¡¯t seem like the type to abuse drugs or enhancement pills. And Elend didn¡¯t seem like he¡¯d allow it. Regardless, now wasn¡¯t the time to pry. They had bigger problems. ¡°Look,¡± he said after a short pause. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what I said.¡± She shook head her head. ¡°It wasn¡¯t about you.¡± ¡°I still shouldn¡¯t have said that. What happened on the island wasn¡¯t your fault.¡± Kalden normally kept his cool during debates, but another part of him became obsessed with winning. Even with his friends, when victory wasn¡¯t the goal. ¡°He¡¯s kind of an asshole when he¡¯s stressed,¡± Akari muttered. Kalden wouldn¡¯t have phrased it that way, but she might be right. Who wouldn¡¯t be stressed with so many unknown variables? He took a deep breath, meeting both of their eyes. ¡°Whatever happens, I think we should stick together. We¡¯ll talk things out, even if we don¡¯t agree.¡± He¡¯d assumed that went without saying. Whether they went with Hector or not, he couldn¡¯t imagine them splitting up. Not in this country. Not after everything they¡¯d been through. ¡°Yeah.¡± Relia scrubbed a hand across her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry too.¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Kalden asked Akari. ¡°You¡¯ve been quiet this whole time.¡± ¡°No way Hector tricked Elend,¡± she replied. ¡°He¡¯s too smart for that.¡± Kalden still wasn¡¯t convinced about that part, but Elend was probably a good judge of character. So was Relia, now that he thought about it. Despite having no connections on Arkala, she¡¯d put together a solid team for the prison break. ¡°And we¡¯re short on friends here,¡± Akari went on. ¡°Not to mention money. Seems like we¡¯re screwed either way.¡± Yeah. It was sad how many choices came down to that. He¡¯d spent years studying strategy and battle tactics, hoping they''d result in brilliant solutions to impossible problems. Then again, you couldn¡¯t think your way out of everything. Sometimes, you had to trust your friends¡¯ survival instincts. Of course, Kalden still had no intention of trying to rescue Elend from the Dragonlord. That would be a suicide mission. One step at a time, though. ¡°Alright,¡± he said. ¡°Lets¡ª¡± Someone burst through the door before Kalden could finish. Relia reacted first, putting herself between them and the intruder. Glowing blue Missiles sprang to life in each of her palms. It was only Hector. ¡°Sorry to interrupt,¡± he panted. ¡°But we¡¯ve got trouble.¡± ¡°Grevandi?¡± Relia asked. ¡°Worse,¡± he said. ¡°Three Fangs just showed up outside.¡± Damnit. He¡¯d had been so focused on Hector these past few minutes, he¡¯d ignored an even worse possibility. The dragons had followed him back here. Book 2 - Chapter 11: Catacombs Three Fangs. Relia bit her tongue and resisted the urge to say, ''I told you so.'' Fangs acted as officers and elite fighters in the Dragonlord''s army. More importantly, they were Artisans. The power gap between them and Relia was as wide as the gap between her and Kalden. She and Hector could probably hold off one Artisan, but only for a few seconds. With three, they had no choice but to run. "You mentioned a getaway car?" Kalden asked Hector. "Yeah." Hector stepped over to the window, peeking out the curtain. "But they''re blocking our path." Relia joined him by the window. Sure enough, two black SUVs sat parked around the fountain in the town square. Her knees shook, and she clutched the box inside her bag. She''d just taken a pill four nights ago before they attacked Mt. Khasa. Her mana shouldn''t be seizing up so soon. What if it happened again mid-battle? That could be lethal. But the dragons had her master. If she took her last pill now, she might be stuck in Creta for weeks without a replacement. Then she''d definitely die. "There''s a back door." Hector crossed the room and stuck his head into the hotel''s central corridor. "They''ll be watching both exists," Kalden said. He was right. The Grevandi were a gang of thugs who charged in with mana blazing, but Fangs had military training. They were also strong enough to send one inside while the rest guarded the doors. "So we jump out the window?" Relia asked. Kalden shook his head. "We take the catacombs." He joined Hector in the hall and took a left turn¡ªthe opposite direction of the staircase. At least he''d learned his lesson about hesitation. They followed him to a utility closet at the end of the hall, barely big enough to hold the four of them. Kalden locked the door behind, then activated his portable sound Construct. "Okay." Hector glanced around, examining the shelves of linens and cleaning supplies. "You lost me now, shoko." "We need a hole" Kalden pointed to the center of the floor. " Right here." Relia grinned as she drew her stolen blade. The chores had been annoying earlier, but it helped them learn the layout of this building inside and out. And Kalden was right again. This closet sat directly above the laundry room. "I''ve got this," she said. "Stand back." They moved back as far as the cramped space would allow, then Relia fed her pure mana into her weapon''s hilt. The sigils were Artisan-level, and they took several seconds to activate, draining her own soul by several hundred points. Azul''s ashes. She was still years away from reaching Artisan herself. But what if her condition kept getting worse? She might not have that long. The blade glowed with metal mana, and Relia adjusted her grip. Three sweeps, then the floor dropped out beneath her boots. She landed in the laundry room ten feet below. The floorboards shattered from the impact, but she flared her Cloak to keep her balance. The room was dark, but the hole let in plenty of light from the room above. "Sorry, Marco," she whispered. "Hope you have good insurance." Unless he betrayed them to the Fangs, then it served him right. If not ... well, her master could pay him back later. Akari and Kalden climbed through the hole next, and they immediately barricaded the other door with empty shelves. That wouldn''t keep out an angry Artisan, but it might slow him down for a few more seconds. Relia turned to the steel door in the corner, raised her blade, and sliced through the locks one at a time. Then she grabbed the handle and yanked it open, feeling a burst of dry air brush past her cheek. She''d expected to find a dusty stone staircase covered in cobwebs. Instead, she found a straight drop into a dark abyss. Angels. How had they gotten down there before? Probably a rope ladder or something. Footsteps echoed from somewhere else in the building, and Relia sent a pure Missile into the hole¡ªchasing away the darkness with pale blue light. The drop was less than twenty feet¡ªno problem for an Apprentice. "I''ll go first," she said as she leapt off the edge. Her boots hit the stone floor an instant later. A few lizards scurried at the sight of her, but they were no bigger than rats. "Hold on." Relia gathered more mana in her palms, forming it into a wide platform below the opening shaft. "Okay," she hollered to Akari and Kalden. "Jump!" They leapt through the opening together. The Construct sagged with their weight, but Relia flared her Cloak technique and dug her boots into the ground. The platform hit the floor like a collapsing elevator, shattering into blue mist at the last moment. Hector jumped down after them, breaking his own fall with a quick burst of fire mana. He conjured more fire like a torch, and the light revealed arching stone ceilings with tombs on either side. The tunnel itself was over twelve feet wide with intricate carvings on the pillars. It seemed excessive for how old this place was. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Then again, Creta had its share of Stone Artists. A few skilled Artisans could hollow this out as easily as scooping ice cream. "Guess we''re leaving through the church?" Hector asked. Kalden nodded as he took off in that direction. "Unless there''s another exit?" Hector shook his head, moving to take point. Then he raised his red scarf above his nose. "You guys should cover your faces, too. They might not know what you look like." Akari unzipped her backpack and pulled out something black and silky. She pulled it over her head, and Relia recognized it as a Shadow Artist''s headpiece. Kalden threw an extra t-shirt over his own head, tying it into a mask and leaving a narrow slit for his eyes. Relia didn''t have any extra clothes, so Kalden passed her another t-shirt, and she copied his mask style. They looked like a group of bandits or assassins by the time they were done. That wasn''t a bad thing, though. Their path led them up a crumbling stone staircase into the church itself. Moonlight poured in through the stained glass windows, casting blue and orange patterns on the stone floor. Statues of the Angels loomed ominously on either side of the aisle. She''d half-expected to find this place guarded, but the dragons clearly didn''t know about the catacombs. Unfortunately, it wouldn''t take them long to follow their trail, either. They''d check the hotel rooms first, but the utility closets would be next on their list. "We''ve got a straight shot to my truck," Hector said, "but we can''t outrun those SUVs." "Why not slash their tires?" Akari gestured to the blade on her belt. He considered that as he glanced back outside. "There''s an Apprentice standing guard. Plus they''ll have Artisan-level Constructs on their tires. Your blade won''t cut through." "I''ll handle the guard." Relia refilled her blade''s sigils and passed it to Akari. "You slash the tires. Hector and Kalden can get the truck started." They left through the church''s side door, keeping their heads down as they crept into the courtyard. Relia had half-expected the dragons to hear them, but the Artisan and Apprentice both focused on the hotel. The boys crept toward the truck, and Relia led Akari toward the parked SUVs. Darkness shrouded the town, and the only lights came from the Cantina across the street. Relia never could have imagined sneaking around like this a year ago. Now, it had become second nature after all that time evading the Martials. Of course, the Martials had all been weaker than her. These Artisans could take her out with a single technique. She held up a hand, gesturing for Akari to take cover behind the nearest vehicle. The Apprentice paced back and forth on the other side. Relia waited for several heartbeats, listening to the rhythm of his footsteps against the cobblestones. Finally, she sprang forward, putting a hand over his mouth. It was far wider than a human''s mouth, and the man flared his Cloak technique as he struggled to break free. Relia sent a life Missile down his throat, causing it to contract. This wouldn''t kill him, but it would definitely keep him quiet, and he should fall unconscious within twenty seconds. She sent a second Missile into his spine, and his muscles went limp. Guilt twisted her stomach at this¡ªshe knew how terrifying it was to lose control of your own body. Still, it was better than killing him. Relia lowered her victim to the ground, keeping a hand pressed to his face until he stopped moving. This was why she''d brought Akari along to slash the tires. Hector was the obvious choice, but she couldn''t show him this technique. Cadrians were a superstitious bunch, especially with their history of cultists. But Akari and Kalden had never judged her. They were the closest thing she''d ever had to friends, and she''d almost walked out on them tonight. Of all the stupid choices she''d made this past year, that might actually be the worst. The dragon stopped struggling, and Akari set to work on the tires. The Artisan blade broke through the protection mana with ease, and the tires popped like balloons. "Hey," a reptilian voice said. Relia froze, glancing toward the Cantina. The Artisan still guarded the front door, oblivious as ever. She spun around to see another Apprentice approaching them. Darn it. How had they missed him before? Akari saw him, and she ducked around the front of the vehicle. Too late. The dragon must have seen a flicker of movement because he stomped over to investigate. Relia shot another glance at the Artisan. He still hadn''t turned around, but he would if the Apprentice sounded the alarm. She took a deep breath, then she charged the Apprentice. His yellow eyes widened as she approached, and fire gathered in his palm. Relia closed to distance in half-a-heartbeat and pressed a hand to his windpipe. This time, she couldn''t afford to be gentle. Her mana found the top of his spinal cord, and she twisted until it snapped. Relia tried to hold him up after that, but his body collapsed like a tree, slamming into the cobblestone street. She glanced back at the Cantina''s front door, praying to all the Angels that the Artisan hadn''t heard. No such luck. He spun around, gathering fire between his clawed fingers. "Run!" Relia shouted to Akari. Flaming orange mana flew across the courtyard, faster than Relia could blink. It struck the nearest SUV, flipping it on its side. Relia raised a Construct of pure mana, saving herself from a face full of glass and shrapnel. But where was Akari? The Artisan leapt down from the Cantina''s porch, firing more Missiles as he fell. One struck Relia''s shield from above, and her mana broke under the impact. The next one grazed her left thigh, and she fell back on the street. More fire Missiles closed in¡ªeach one impossibly fast and bright. Her vision blurred, and she reacted on pure instinct, launching her own Missiles and knocking the techniques off-course. One landed three feet from her head, leaving a deep crater in the street. Another hit the church behind her, shattering a stained glass window. Relia hadn''t felt so helpless since she''d reached Apprentice. Then again, she''d never faced an Artisan in a straight fight. Orange flashed at the edge of her vision as Hector joined the fight, but his techniques felt small against their opponent. Like throwing pebbles at a charging drake. The Artisan raised a hand, and Hector''s attacks seemed to shatter in midair. He kept his eyes on Relia as he closed in. But he wasn''t striking to kill. Not yet, at least. For all the power behind his attacks, he''d also been careful and deliberate. They wanted to capture her¡ªto use her as a hostage. Could she use that somehow? The Artisan threw a fireball at Hector, and he let out a cry of pain as he fell. Then he loomed above Relia, gathering orange mana in his opposite hand. Relia launched several pure Missiles in a desperate fury, but they broke harmlessly against her opponent''s skin. She braced herself, flaring her Cloak technique as he launched his final attack Then a silver blade sprouted from the dragon''s windpipe, coated in crimson. He opened his mouth in a silent scream, and his attacker pulled the blade back through the wound. His body collapsed to reveal Akari standing behind him. Azul''s ashes, Relia thought as she climbed to her feet. Did she just kill an Artisan? At Silver? A bird-like shriek sounded from nearby, and two more Artisans charged into the courtyard. "Time to go!" Relia grabbed Akari''s wrist and raced toward the truck. Hector was already waiting in the bed. That meant Kalden must be driving. Or at least, he better be driving. Fire filled the courtyard as their enemies attacked. Relia gathered her mana as she ran. She and Akari joined Hector in the back, and she released the strongest shield she could manage. Hector joined her with an anti-fire Construct of his own. Missiles slammed against their joint effort. She felt the heat against her face, and she screwed her eyes shut against the blinding light. All the while, she cycled more mana into the shield, filling it with everything she had. Her body shook, straining until she couldn''t feel her own limbs. "Step on it!" Hector shouted. Kalden hit the gas pedal, and she fell backward as they took off. When Relia opened her eyes again, she saw a canopy of shifting palm trees against the night sky. Her body sagged with relief, and everything faded to blackness. Book 2 - Chapter 12: The Dragonlord Apparently, Elend couldn''t even walk down the street without getting captured these days. The Martials were bad enough. Who could have guessed some Golds would have Etherite¡ªthe strongest material in the known universe? In hindsight, he should have tried breaking these cuffs before he put them on. But no, he''d tried to help the Martials and prove he wasn''t a threat. Ironically, he might have killed fewer people with some good old-fashioned violence. But this time wasn''t Elend''s fault. He''d thought about it all night, suspecting everyone from Hector to the guards outside Costa Liberta. Any of them could work for the Dragonlord in theory, but Elend had sensed no deception. Besides, If Hector had wanted to betray him, the lad would have lured him into an actual trap. Not a random city street filled with witnesses. And if the Dragonlord had known the situation in Costa Liberta, he would have struck there first. No sense in playing divide and conquer with a Grandmaster and a bunch of teenagers. Elend''s reputation would still suffer, though. After yesterday, he''d be known as that absent-minded professor who kept stumbling into traps. Relia would never let him live it down. He sat cross-legged in his cell now, gathering mana in his palms. The cell was a simple room with steel and impedium walls, polished to a mirror shine. A twin-sized bed sat in one corner, with a toilet, a sink, and a shower on the opposite side. It wasn''t so bad as far as prison cells went, and they''d clearly meant for it to detain someone important. It wouldn''t hold a Master at his full strength, but it could certainly hold an Apprentice or an Artisan. Elend continued cycling, pushing more mana into his palms. This would be the most expensive technique he''d done since he woke from the ice chamber. It would be painful, yes, but it was the best way to gain an advantage over his enemies. Besides, he''d been alone for the past twelve hours, and he could use the company. Elend stretched out his arms, and blue light streaked through the air, taking the form of a young woman in the bathroom mirror. "Good morning, Glim." Elend forced himself to his feet and strode over. Glimmar was, for lack of a better word, an imaginary friend. He''d been twelve years old the first time he''d made her, but she''d grown stronger since then, taking on a mind of her own. Sapient mana was an anomaly, even among Dream Artists, but no one had told him that back then. He''d been too young to realize how impossible this should have been. Glim stared at her own hands for a moment. She was made entirely of pale blue mana, from her shoulder-length hair to her knee-length dress. Slowly, her transparent face rearranged itself into a scowl. "What the hell, Elend?" "My apologies." Elend held up his wrists, showing her the cuffs. "They bottlenecked my mana." She made a show of crossing her arms. "So that''s why you haven''t summoned me all this time?" Elend raised an eyebrow. "You can tell how long it''s been?" She''d made comments like this before, expressing her discomfort with nonexistence. Elend didn''t blame her for that, but he also doubted her sense of time. They''d conducted experiments, and she seemed to make educated guesses based on sensory input. Either that, or she pulled the answers directly from his thoughts. "You look old," Glim said. "You''ve been saying that for forty years." She''d aged with him until his mid-twenties, then she''d stopped. Quite stubbornly, he might add. Who was she trying to impress? "Well, I mean it this time." He nodded, then gave her the short version of their predicament. Glim''s eyes slowly widened as he told her about the island, the Martials, Creta, and the Dragonlord. "Wow."Glim flashed around the cell, appearing on every reflective surface. "You are so screwed." "We''re so screwed," Elend corrected. "I can''t conjure you without mana." "Yeah." She raised her hands to her head. "Is that why I feel half-drunk?" "Impedium is painful," Elend said. "And it suppresses more than ninety percent of my power." "Cry me a waterfall." Glim crossed a pair of slender blue arms. "Some Artists train with impedium on purpose." "Aye," Elend said. "But they''re training their precision. Expensive techniques like you are far more painful." "I thought you could ignore pain?" That was true¡ªhe had a Cloak technique that allowed him to do exactly that. He''d used it to avoid the day-to-day discomfort of the cuffs and collar. But physical discomfort was one thing¡ªhe was far more concerned about actual pain in his channels. "Pain serves a purpose," he told her. "It tells us when we''re pushing our bodies too far. If I stress my channels too hard, the damage could be permanent. Glim huffed, but she didn''t press the matter. "So ... where''s Relia and the other two?" "That''s what I need to know." Elend pointed a finger to the air vent above his head. She perked up. "A spy mission?" "Aye. Priority is making sure they''re safe. Then anything that might help us gain an advantage." "Okay," Glim straightened. "But I need more mana than this." Elend frowned. "You''ve worked with less before." In fact, she''d worked with less for a good portion of her life. "I already feel like I''m drunk," Glim said. "And that grate is impedium. I''ll lose even more mana when I go through it." "You''ve still made do with less." "The stakes are higher this time. What happens if I''m caught because I''m too slow and stupid? They''ll plug up that vent, then you''ll really be screwed." Elend scratched the stubble on his chin. "Aye, that''s actually a good point. Come on, then." Glim took the shape of a Missile as she leapt out of the mirror, landing in Elend''s open palms. He cycled more mana into her, packing it tight like a snowball. ''Much better,'' Glim said in his mind. ''Now I feel like I could enslave humanity.'' Elend ignored her. ''Glimmar Gadriel Darklight,'' she mused. ''Supreme Empress of the World...'' "That''s not your middle name," Elend said as he filled her with another wave of mana. She made a sound as if she''d just eaten an expensive dessert. ''Actually,'' Glim said. ''I was aiming for¡ª'' "I know," he muttered. "But you failed." He gave her as much as he could manage within his safe limits. Most prudent Artists kept an emergency supply, but Elend was already in another Grandmaster''s custody. He couldn''t be anymore helpless. With that done, Elend held up a hand to the air vent and fired the Glimmissle through the grates. She appeared as a blur of blue light against the vent''s inner surface, then she zipped off through the darkness. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Elend returned to his bed and closed his eyes, stretching out his perceptions. His own sensations left him, and he saw what she saw¡ªheard what she heard. ''Lots of mating dragons in this tower,'' Glim''s voice said as she soared through the vents. Images flashed in Elend''s mind, too quick to see. Glim wasn''t bound by ordinary laws of physics, and she could move and perceive things far faster than a human. ''Stay on target,'' Elend told her. She made a huffing sound. ''You were way more fun as a kid. You know that?'' ''It''s called ethics. And you''re right. They''re only fun when you''re the one enforcing them.'' ''Ooo. Never heard that joke before. So eavesdropping is fine, but¡ª'' ''Eavesdropping is an act of war,'' Elend cut in. ''Spying on bedrooms is just plain creepy.'' ''You''re making up these rules to fit your needs.'' ''We humans do that a lot,'' he admitted. She made her way through the tower, descending at least twenty floors through the central vents. Bloody hell. How far up were they? They''d arrived late last night, and he hadn''t gotten a good view of the tower''s exterior. The elevator hadn''t been the best indication either. Elend could''ve sensed the whole building at his full power, but he hadn''t been this blind since Artisan. Glim stopped moving when she reached the vent above one particular room. Elend couldn''t see much from her vantage, but he heard a familiar voice from below. "What about Darklight''s students?" That sounded like Valeria Antano¡ªThe Dragonlord''s sister and spymaster. "They got away." The next voice sounded like a younger male, maybe in his early twenties. Valeria''s growl was like grinding stones. "How?" "We surrounded the hotel, but they escaped through the catacombs. Then they slashed our tires while we weren''t looking." Elend grinned at the last part. That had Akari written all over it. A pause. "Then the Silver girl killed Enzo. She¡ª" "I don''t care about your friends," Valeria snapped. "Where are the foreigners now?" "She stabbed him in the back! " "A Silver stabbed an Artisan in the back? It sounds like he deserved it." Footsteps echoed against the floor as if she were pacing. "And you let a bunch of kids get the better of you?" Another pause. "I''m sorry, Mother. We¡ª" "I don''t want your apologies. I want their current location." "They disappeared," he said. "We found the truck abandoned on a back road. They were heading southwest." Valeria growled again. "Tell me you saw their faces." An audible sigh escaped the lad''s mouth. "They had their heads covered." "Anything else? Names? Aspects?" Silence followed. Elend felt the tension pour out of his body. Despite getting captured, this was the best result he could have hoped for. Their fake marks should let them lie low for a few more weeks, but he had little hope for them after that. They could find another small town, but they''d stick out like Aeon cultists at an Angel convention. The bigger cities had more foreigners, but they''d also be teeming with Fangs and surveillance cameras. Elend felt a headache coming on, and he rested his head against the cell''s impedium wall. Relia had held her own back on Arkala, but she wasn''t ready for this. Then again, she was still years away from reaching Artisan at her current pace. Her condition would kill her before that happened, so this might be the push she needed.
Half an hour passed, then a group of armed Fangs led Elend to the tower''s top floor. They crested the staircase and stepped into the most ostentatious room he''d ever seen. Obsidian and jade covered the floor in a pattern of diamond tiles. Everything else gleamed with gold, from the furniture to the crown molding. Things grew more extravagant as they passed through an antechamber into what looked like a throne room. A massive dome of glass stretched over the top of the building, revealing a vast skyline beyond. Tureko. The capital of Creta, and the home of the Dragonlord. He''d been impressed by the scope of San Talek, but this city was large enough to swallow it whole. Skyscrapers stretched for miles in every direction, and their shapes made jagged silhouettes against the morning sun. Something else caught Elend''s eye¡ªa massive dragon stretched its wings over the city, casting black shadows over the rooftops. Its body could rival this entire building in size, and its wingspan was as wide as several city blocks. Footsteps echoed behind Elend as more people joined him in the throne room. He turned to see two dragons he recognized. The first was General Dario Antano, the Dragonlord''s right Wing. His dark features looked more human than the Fangs or Grevandi, and he wore a dark military jacket that gleamed with a dozen metals. Spymaster Valeria Antano followed him inside. She looked even more human than her brother, with waves of long black hair cascading down her shoulders. Human hair would look ridiculous on most dragons, but Valeria made it look natural¡ªeven elegant. A younger dragon stood a few paces behind the spymaster. This one had an arrogant look about him. The sort of Noble''s son you might see in an old Mana Arts movie. The sort who would bully the poor protagonist for the sake of the plot. A shadow fell over the room as the dragon hovered over the glass-domed ceiling, blocking out the morning sun. He hovered in place for several heartbeats, and his wings sent gusts of wind against the ceiling. A glass door slid open at the dome''s apex. Mana flashed in a burst of green light, and the dragon transformed before Elend''s eyes. His entire body shrunk, becoming less than a hundredth of his original size. His limbs transformed into human arms and legs, and his tail vanished completely. But even as his body shifted to human proportions, his wings retained a twelve-foot span. Finally, Dragonlord Axel Antano closed his wings and fell through the opening, falling twenty feet into the room. The Wings saluted as he landed, pressing their fists to open palms. The Fangs all dropped to one knee. Elend inclined his head in a more subtle gesture of respect. They might technically be enemies, but there was no need to be rude. No one had mistreated him yet, and he wasn''t supposed to know about the attack on Relia and the others. Antano stretched out his wings again when he reached the floor, taking up five times more space than an ordinary man. He wore a black and gold Mana Artist''s robe that would have been in fashion three centuries ago. The front hung open to reveal a chest of human-like muscles, but his green skin was rough and leathery. "Ah, Professor Darklight." The Dragonlord''s boots clicked against the tile floor as he approached. "What brings an Espirian Grandmaster to my land?" "A shipwreck, unfortunately. "A shipwreck," Antano echoed. When he spoke, his voice seemed to fill every corner of the room. "And I suppose the recent storm helped you slip past my blockade?" "To be honest," Elend said, "I didn''t even know about the blockade until after I''d arrived." He nodded, stepping around Elend to face his Wings. "What of the students?" Valeria''s son saluted again, dipping his head in a bow. "I went to Costa Liberta last night with two Fangs. His students gave us some trouble, but we brought all three back with us." Elend might have fallen for the act if not for his scouting mission earlier. He could normally read lies like words on a page, but dragons weren''t like humans. Everything about the Artisan was calm and confident, from his face to his voice. "Excellent," Antano said as he turned back to Elend. "Not to worry, friend. Creta can be dangerous for foreigners, but they''ll be safe here until our business is concluded." Elend smiled pleasantly as he turned to the Dragonlord''s nephew. "Tell me lad¡ªwhat do my students look like?" "Like humans," he said with a casual shrug. His mother shot him a warning look, but she was too late. "What about their names?" Elend said. "Or their aspects?" He didn''t reply, but his yellow eyes narrowed. Elend made a tsking sound. "You''ve got a terrible paizho face, lad." A joke about slashed tires waited on the tip of his tongue, but that would be telling. Elend turned his gaze back to Antano. "It appears you don''t actually have my students, Dragonlord. I wouldn''t blame your nephew, though. They''re a slippery lot." The Dragonlord just smiled as if the joke genuinely amused him. Elend spread out his hands in a conciliatory gesture. "Truly, I''ve no quarrel with you or your family. With your leave, I''ll gladly be on my way." "Good." He nodded as if they''d just made a deal. "I''ve heard you''re eccentric. I''m glad to find a reasonable man." Perhaps the feeling would be mutual, but he wasn''t getting his hopes up yet. "Leave us," the Dragonlord said to the others. The Fangs bowed themselves out, and the Wings followed. "I accept your offer," Antano said once they were alone in the throne room. "And I''ll gladly see you and your students escorted to the western border. My priest, Lena, is an Ethersmith. She can remove those cuffs and collar for you. It will take some time¡ªweeks, perhaps¡ªbut I''m confident in her abilities." Elend saw where this was going. "In exchange, I suppose you want me to leave the cuffs with you?" Antano''s lips curled as he paced the tile floor. "I know you took a boat out of Vaslana four months ago. You headed southeast into the Inner Sea, where you were captured. You were on your way home when a storm hit your boat." He stopped pacing, and his smile widened. "You never had these cuffs in the first place. You lose nothing by giving them to me." It was a good deal for both of them, and he knew the Dragonlord would seal it with a soul oath. But Axel Antano was also a tyrant and a conqueror. As a Grandmaster, he was weaker than most Cadrian rulers, but Etherite could shift the scales in his favor. With cuffs, he could overpower a Mystic. And what if his Ethersmith turned the crystals into a blade? He could send an assassin to kill one of them. That would throw Cadria into chaos, killing millions. No ... Elend would die before he''d turn these over. But he didn''t say that aloud. He had to keep stringing Antano along, and he couldn''t look too eager or too desperate along the way. "We''ll split the Etherite two ways," Elend said. His leathery brow furrowed "You realize you have nothing to bargain with? I could kill you now and take it all." "On the contrary," Elend said, "this only works with my full cooperation." He turned and surveyed the room with its golden furniture. "What happens when news of my death reaches the other rulers? The Espirian prime minister isn''t your biggest fan. Neither are the presidents of Vaslana or Tretias. They''re just waiting for an excuse to wipe you off the map." He met Antano''s eyes again. "Now, you could take the crystals and set me free, but they''ll still come after you when they hear the story. You need me to swear a soul oath to keep quiet." The Dragonlord considered that. "I''ll take the four cuffs. You keep the collar." Elend opened his mouth to object, but Antano raised a clawed finger. "And my people will leave your students alone. I''ll swear that oath today." Elend deflated. They''d escaped one group of Fangs, but they couldn''t keep that up for long. Relia would still have the Grevandi to deal with¡ªthey didn''t work for the Dragonlord directly¡ªbut she could handle them. "Aye," he finally said. "We have a deal." Book 2 - Chapter 13: The Unmarked Kalden rubbed the sleep from his eyes as they pulled into a fuel station. They¡¯d driven for most of the night, stopping only to switch vehicles at the safe house. They were in Hector''s cousin¡¯s car now¡ªan old, four-door sedan with leather seats. The station¡¯s lights were almost blinding after spending so long in darkness, but Kalden also glimpsed the sun rising over the jungle. Hector opened the driver-side door and began filling the car with a fresh tank of mana crystals. The sign said, ¡°Foundation crystals: 4.53 cretens per pound.¡± Fuel-grade crystals on Arkala had been more than twice that price. Then again ¡­ a creten could be worth twice as much as a coppernote for all Kalden knew. He also spotted a higher price for Apprentice-level crystals. What was the difference there? Did Apprentice crystals last longer? Were they only for certain cars? Still so much to learn about the outside world. Relia opened the passenger side and headed inside the station¡¯s convenience store. She and Hector had both taken some rough hits during the fight, but they¡¯d made a full recovery with Relia¡¯s life mana. Talek only knew what they¡¯d do without a healer. Akari lay with her head on Kalden¡¯s shoulder, squeezing his forearm with both hands. She¡¯d been like this after she¡¯d killed Frostblade too¡ªa curious blend of confidence and insecurity. Kalden thought he understood. Killing that Artisan had been necessary, and she¡¯d done it to save Relia. But it was one thing to understand that logically. It was much harder to escape the sense of wrongness that came with taking a life. Akari sought reassurance now¡ªto remind herself that she was more than just a fighter. Then again, he could never truly understand Akari Zeller. Sometimes, she¡¯d act shy and quiet. Other times, she¡¯d do whatever suited her, regardless of what people thought. Her frame had felt small when she¡¯d first curled up beside him, but every inch of her was tense and shaking like a coiled spring. Kalden hadn¡¯t said anything to reassure her. He¡¯d just squeezed her shoulder and pulled her closer. It seemed to be the right thing because she¡¯d eventually relaxed and fallen asleep. Kalden might have dozed off once or twice, but he¡¯d never been good at sleeping on the road. The recent fight hadn¡¯t helped, and neither did the novelty of the sleeping girl on his shoulder. A few minutes passed, then Relia returned to the front seat. ¡°You guys awake back there?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Akari muttered. ¡°Is that coffee?¡± Relia removed a cup from the cardboard tray and passed it back. Akari perked up immediately, grabbing the cup and bringing it to her lips. After that, they all stretched their legs outside and gathered around the hood of the car. Relia also passed out breakfast burritos, which turned out to be eggs and sausage wrapped in flour tortillas. Kalden had never eaten fuel station food before, but it was better than he¡¯d expected. That seemed to be a theme with Cadrian food in general. They ate in silence while Hector paced back and forth around the parking lot. He had a radio clipped to his belt with a headset over his ear. Apparently, he used that to listen to other Unmarked members. ¡°Any news?¡± Relia asked when he came back. Hector nodded as he tossed the radio through the car¡¯s open window. ¡°They took your dad to Tureko¡ªstraight to Antano Tower¡­¡± He trailed off and gave Relia a chance to explain. She leaned against the car and took a good long breath. ¡°You should know that Elend¡¯s not really my dad. He¡¯s my teacher¡ªmy master.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Hector said. ¡°So why all the secrecy?¡± Relia shot a quick glance at Kalden and Akari, but neither of them objected. The dragons already knew about Elend, so the damage had been done. She glanced back at Hector, ¡°Because he¡¯s a Grandmaster.¡± This time, Hector¡¯s eyes widened in genuine surprise. ¡°I knew he was somebody big, but I never thought ¡­ santo merdo. There was a Grandmaster in my truck?¡± ¡°What gave it away?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°Aside from the kidnapping?¡± Hector gestured to his forehead. ¡°These.¡± ¡°The fake marks?¡± He nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve tried for years to make these. They always look fake. Or they¡¯re too fragile. And they never last more than a few minutes. Then your teacher just waves his hand and makes these appear?¡± Well, that made sense. Not only had Elend made these with little effort, he didn¡¯t even seem to realize how hard it should have been. Only the truly powerful were that out of touch. ¡°Plus it converts my mana into dream mana,¡± Hector continued. ¡°And they last for weeks. And we can hide them at will? This must be like twenty Constructs in one. It¡¯s like coding a whole computer program inside your brain. In less than ten seconds.¡± Hector seemed to mull something over, then he brightened. ¡°Wait, does this mean he got captured on purpose?¡± ¡°No,¡± Relia said. ¡°Pretty sure that part was real.¡± She went on to explain how Elend was stuck with a small fraction of his power. She didn¡¯t mention the cuffs specifically, which was for the best. Even if they weren¡¯t a secret, they might invite more questions, like who had overpowered Elend, and where they¡¯d been before Creta. ¡°So what now?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°I think we should head for Tureko,¡± Hector said. ¡°Tureko,¡± he repeated. ¡°As in, the Dragonlord¡¯s city?¡± ¡°I know, I know. It sounds crazy, but the Unmarked control a full quarter of the city.¡± Akari furrowed her brow. ¡°But there¡¯s a Grandmaster dragon right there? Can¡¯t he, like ¡­ rain fire from the sky?¡± ¡°It¡¯s complicated,¡± Hector said. ¡°The Unmarked aren¡¯t really rebels. The laws say we can¡¯t be employed, go to school, or engage in trade, so we carved out part of the city for ourselves.¡± ¡°Same question,¡± she said. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t he stop you?¡± ¡°International laws,¡± Relia spoke up. ¡°A Grandmaster can¡¯t attack people that much weaker. Not without a good reason. Same rules apply to warfare.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Hector gave Akari a strange look as if he¡¯d expected her to know this. Oop, Kalden thought. Just one more basic thing they hadn¡¯t learned yet. ¡°The Grevandi are a loophole,¡± Hector said. ¡°They attack smaller towns, but they¡¯re not strong enough to take on the Unmarked. That makes it the safest place for you guys.¡± Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Kalden glanced at Relia for confirmation, but she only shrugged. She knew a lot about the outside world, but not specifics like this. He couldn¡¯t blame her, though. Creta was a relatively small nation in the grand scheme of things, and she hadn¡¯t known they¡¯d end up here. ¡°So why didn¡¯t you just bring Elend to Tureko?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°I tried,¡± Hector said. ¡°He insisted on San Talek. But I guess it makes sense now. Antano could sense a Grandmaster from miles away.¡± Kalden¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Seriously?¡± He¡¯d heard things like that in stories, but he still couldn¡¯t imagine real Mana Arts working on that scale. Then again, he¡¯d still only seen Elend at a fraction of his power. ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Relia said. ¡°Masters can sense a lot more than we can. Comes with the territory.¡± So, Elend had picked the safest odds but he¡¯d still lost. They spent the next few minutes hammering out a plan. Rather, they picked up the old plan where Elend had left off. They¡¯d find the Unmarked in Tureko, get access to a computer, and contact Mrs. Darklight. Hopefully, she could work out this mess with Elend and the Dragonlord.
They drove for several more hours, passing long stretches of jungle behind walls of protection mana. Apparently, Creta had its own version of Arkala¡¯s Contested Area, complete with Apprentice drakes and raptors. Finally, the jungles gave way to an urban skyline when they reached Tureko. The city sat on Vaslana¡¯s eastern border, and a five-story mana wall marked the division, stretching across the horizon like a second sky. Relia and Elend had described Creta as a poor nation, but Tureko was the biggest city Kalden had ever seen. The skyscrapers stretched on for miles, even as the highway carried them through the suburbs and closer to the city proper. The highway ended at a barricade that looked like a converted toll booth, and another mana wall loomed behind it, far shorter than the one on the border. A row of Apprentice-level guards stood on either side of the wall, dressed in sand-colored combat fatigues. Traffic flowed quickly through the other lanes, but a few cars had pulled over for inspection. ¡°Everyone hide your marks,¡± Hector said as they approached. ¡°These guys will call bullshit if I say they¡¯re fake.¡± Kalden stopped cycling his mana. After half a year of Mana Arts training, it felt as unnatural as holding his breath. A few seconds passed as he watched his forehead in the car¡¯s rear-view mirror. His mark faded, just as Elend said it would. They drove through a massive scanner, but Kalden didn¡¯t recognize the technology. It probably scanned the car for other mana sources, making sure they weren¡¯t smuggling enemy troops in the trunk. Hector rolled the windows down as a pair of guards approached. Their stances and postures marked them as ex-military. Hector exchanged some words with the first man while the second made a lap around the car, checking their hands and foreheads. The guards cleared them through, and their route took them straight down the neatest offramp. Hector explained how the highway used to crossover to Unida¡¯s territory, but now they¡¯d barricaded the bridge over the river. The cars sat bumper-to-bumper on the streets, and crowds of people bustled through the sidewalks and intersections. Many buildings sat behind locked gates or mana walls, and armed soldiers stood on every block, giving the city an air of martial law.
They reached Kyzar¡¯s base three hours later. Hector hadn¡¯t been joking about their fake marks drawing attention. Even his friends hadn¡¯t believed it, and they had to bring their own Dream Artists to analyze them. Once they¡¯d confirmed the marks were dream mana, they¡¯d wanted to spend all day reverse-engineering them. They seemed to think Elend was a genius, and this ¡®project¡¯ was the result of his life¡¯s work. Clearly, they¡¯d never met a Grandmaster before. They didn¡¯t realize how easy this was for him. Kalden tried explaining that, but that only piqued their interest further. ¡°What else can he do?¡± the Dream Artists had asked. ¡°How did he reach the Master realm?¡± Evidently, the Master realm was a big secret here in Creta. But of course it was¡ªAntano couldn¡¯t maintain control if everyone had an equal chance. It was just like his fellow Golds back on Arkala, hoarding all the secrets for themselves. Human nature never changed, even with dragons. The Unmarked leader held court in the loft of an old apartment building. It was an open space with dozens of people working on computers and telephones, and the tall windows offered a view of the city skyline. Kalden spotted a middle-aged Artisan sitting behind a large wooden table at the room¡¯s far end. Half-a-dozen Apprentices gathered around. ¡°That must be him,¡± Hector said when they crested the staircase. ¡°Good luck.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not coming?¡± Kalden asked. He shrugged. ¡°This one¡¯s on you, shoko. I¡¯ve never met the guy before.¡± ¡°Great.¡± Kalden wove his way through the other desks, and Akari and Relia followed a few paces behind. They clearly expected him to be their spokesperson, too. When did that happen? They¡¯d spent some time planning what they¡¯d say, but they never decided who would say it. Damnit. This was like his high school group projects all over again. ¡°Ah,¡± a gravelly voice said. ¡°You must be the foreigners.¡± Kalden whirled to see a dragon standing beside him. He looked just like the Grevandi they¡¯d fought in Costa Liberta¡ªthe same green skin, the same reptilian eyes. He took a step back, cycling his mana faster. The dragon gave him a flat look. ¡°Relax, shoko. I¡¯m not gonna eat you.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Kalden forced himself to slow his breathing ¡°You just surprised me.¡± The dragon looked older than the Grevandi they¡¯d faced¡ªprobably in his forties, at least. He wore a white linen suit, and a pair of black glasses hung from his shirt collar. ¡°Not all Libertas hate dragons.¡± the man gestured a clawed finger toward the window. ¡°That¡¯s what he wants you to think.¡± Kalden nodded. He was actually relieved to find dragons and humans on both sides of the conflict. He¡¯d never liked the idea of fighting in a race war. ¡°Now,¡± the dragon continued, ¡°You must be Kalden, Akari, and Relia.¡± Kalden gave another nod, opening his Silver Sight, taking in the light from the man¡¯s soul. He was an Artisan¡ªstronger than the Fangs who¡¯d attacked their hotel. Even stronger than the man behind the desk. ¡°You must be Kyzar,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Nice save, shoko.¡± He smiled, showing his fangs. ¡°Now to business.¡± He paced toward the floor-to-ceiling window, turning his back to the skyline. ¡°I know you came here with a Grandmaster named Elend Darklight. I know he was captured yesterday, and some Fangs came for you too.¡± He paused, shooting Akari a knowing look. ¡°Nice one, by the way. Never met a Silver with your cojones, shokita.¡± Akari grinned back, standing a little taller. Apparently, she was done feeling bad about that? Kyzar tapped his claws together, eying them each in turn. ¡°It¡¯s a nice story. Question is, what do you want from me?¡± Kalden swallowed. ¡°We need to get a message to Elend¡¯s wife in Espiria. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll pay you back if you help us.¡± ¡°Got plenty of money, shoko.¡± Kalden blinked. He¡¯d prepared for skepticism, but ¡­ plenty of money? Kalden¡¯s mother had been among the richest people on Arkala, and even she¡¯d never made that claim. ¡°Mrs. Darklight will send the Espirian military for Elend. That¡¯s trouble for the Dragonlord, and good news for you.¡± ¡°The Espirians will do whatever suits them, ¡° Kyzar said. ¡°Maybe they¡¯ll drop Missiles on the Dragonlord. Maybe they¡¯ll hit me instead. Flip a coin. They¡¯ll get their guy, but they don¡¯t give a shit about us.¡± Kalden wished he could promise otherwise, but he knew nothing about Espirian politics. Relia knew more, but even she couldn¡¯t make promises on their behalf. He asked the obvious question. ¡°Then what can we offer you?¡± Kyzar turned to face the window again. ¡°You see that river?¡± Kalden followed the dragon¡¯s gaze to see a blue line snaking through the urban labyrinth. ¡°The Motago?¡± ¡°It divides the city in two¡ªseparates our side from the Dragonlord¡¯s. We have the essentials here, but you can¡¯t slice up a whole city and expect the pieces to work independently. They sell things over there¡ªweapons, medicine, and alchemy. Things we can¡¯t buy without marks.¡± Kalden saw where this was going. What good was money when you couldn¡¯t spend it? ¡°This makes smugglers a valuable resource,¡± Kyzar eyed their foreheads. ¡°And those marks are masterpieces.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have your smugglers?¡± Akari asked. Her tone seemed to say, ¡®some rebellion this is.¡± ¡°Of course we do, shokita. But business is slow, and strangers make the best smugglers.¡± Not to mention the most disposable. ¡°Unless you can offer me something better?¡± Kalden considered that for a moment. Relia¡¯s life mana seemed far stronger than restoration mana, and she might be able to heal something they couldn¡¯t. Kalden was also a skilled alchemist. Maybe he could make the medicine and pills they needed? Then again, Kyzar¡¯s territory had more people than Tidegate and Ironhaven combined. There could be hundreds of alchemists here more skilled than Kalden. As for Relia, even the locals in Costa Liberta hadn¡¯t needed her. Kalden glanced back at his friends. Relia looked anxious about something, but she¡¯d looked that way ever since Elend was captured. Akari just shrugged as if they were deciding where to go for dinner. She never complained so long as they kept moving forward. ¡°Alright.¡± He turned back to the dragon. ¡°Let¡¯s talk specifics.¡± ¡°Later,¡± Kyzar said. ¡°I¡¯m busy, and you all look like shit. Even for humans. I¡¯ll get you some rooms downstairs, and we¡¯ll hammer out the details tomorrow.¡± Kalden nodded. He chafed at the delay and he knew Relia would complain about it too. Still, it¡¯d be far easier to negotiate after a good night¡¯s sleep. Kyzar was actually doing them a favor there. ¡°Excellent.¡± The dragon stepped forward and held out a clawed hand. ¡°In the meantime, welcome to the Unmarked.¡± Book 2 - Chapter 14: Blade Arts Akari passed through a wooden archway, stepping into the outdoor practice dojo. The fighting ring was thirty yards in diameter¡ªthe exact size of Last Haven''s arena. Wooden platforms surrounded the ring on all sides, complete with benches for spectators. Beyond that stood a forest of tall bushes and evergreen trees. Finally, another dream. She hadn''t dreamt once during the car ride to Tureko, but that was no surprise. They''d all been jumpy after the fight, and her instincts had told her to stay on guard. Sleeping next to Kalden had been a treat though. She wasn''t sure if she''d like that sort of thing, but it made her feel stronger¡ªmore alive. And he''d been cool about it rather than stammering or blushing. Blushing Kalden was cute sometimes, but she liked Stoic Warrior Kalden the best. Focus on the dream, she reminded herself. Don''t mess it up. Elend had warned them about this before he left. If she wanted her old power back, she had to synthesize her mind with Dream Akari''s. That meant letting go of the present and embracing the past. Dream Akari had hoped to find an empty dojo, giving her peace and quiet to perform her pre-fight ritual. Instead, half a dozen of her classmates gathered on the short wooden platforms. Figures. The new kid hadn''t fought any ranked matches yet, but he''d challenged Akari the previous day, claiming he wanted to test himself against the sect''s top Foundation duelist. Of course the others would want to watch. She paced back and forth on her own platform, pulling ambient mana through her palms. She cycled that same mana through her channels and forced it through her soul. Huh, that''s new. Real Akari had heard about this technique for aspecting, but that involved retrieving your own mana. Dream Akari seemed to be expanding her soul while spending no mana of her own. A door opened from a nearby building, and more students joined Akari on her platform¡ªMaelyn Sanako, Darren Warder, and Emberlyn Frostblade. Maelyn didn''t wear her silver glasses in this world, and Darren was slightly more fit. Probably because they were both Combat Artists. Emberlyn looked the most like her usual self, with the same golden hair and face full of makeup. And while the others wore combat suits, she wore a floral dress with a dark denim jacket. Emberlyn waved as she sat down on the wooden bench. "Hi, Akari." Akari glared at her and turned to walk the other way. "Don''t talk to me, Frostbimbo. I need to focus." Talek. She looked like a mashup between a doll and a street hooker. No one wore that much makeup unless she had something to hide. Those had been Dream Akari''s thoughts, but Real Akari couldn''t help but agree. Maybe this whole "synthesis" thing wouldn''t be so hard, after all. "Have you guys seen him yet?" Emberlyn asked the others. Akari had missed the beginning of this conversation, but she could guess who they were talking about. "Sure," Darren said. "Mae and I used to be friends with him." "What about now?" "He''s too busy for us," Maelyn grumbled. "I blame his parents," Darren said. "Especially his dad. Apparently, he makes him train twelve hours a day." Emberlyn sipped a blue beverage from a clear tumbler. "I heard he spent the last three years in Shoken. He learned his parents'' bloodline aspect there¡ªsomething about blade mana." "Same," Maelyn said. "But I don''t get it. What''s so special about blade mana? I mean, how''s it different from metal?" "It''s nothing like metal mana," Darren said. "The Blade Artists are the best duelists in the world." Akari listened closer as she paced. She''d rarely talked to Darren at this point in her life, but the boy had a knack for separating rumors from fact. She couldn''t miss a chance to learn more about her opponent, especially now with so many people watching. "But how?" Maelyn pressed. "How is a sword different from the metal that makes it?" Darren made some comparison to gravity mana, but Akari missed his exact words as a gust of mountain wind blew through the dojo. "Gravity mana''s not abstract," Maelyn said. "It either affects something, or it doesn''t. You can''t get any simpler than that." "Gravity ranks tier three on Salvatore''s aspect scale," Darren said, "so you can speak for yourself." The exchange had a familiar feel, like the way Maelyn and Darren used to bicker back home. Funny how they''d lost these memories, but they still acted the same way together. "Anyway," Darren said, "Metal mana is just one part. I''d bet there''s knowledge mana in there too. Like ... the idea of a sword, and the idea of a duel. He has the skills of all the sword-welders who came before him." "Makes sense," Maelyn said. "I''ve heard he can see things before they happen." "Ooo," Emberlyn said. "I thought you weren''t fangirling over him?" Akari wasn''t facing the group, but she could practically hear the stupid grin in the girl''s voice. "I''m not fangirling," Maelyn said. "But I like to know my opponents." "Okay," Emberlyn said. "Serious question¡ªdo you think I have a chance with him?" Darren groaned. "False modesty, Em? You know you''re the hottest girl in our grade." "Gee," Maelyn said, "thanks a lot." "You''re in the top eleven," Darren replied without missing a beat. Dream Akari bristled at their conversation, turning to see her own reflection in a nearby window. Talek. She looked so different from Real Akari. First of all, she wasn''t wearing glasses. Her hair was pulled back in a dark braid, and that braid was even longer than Relia''s. And ... was that eyeliner? Seriously? After she''d just given Emberlyn a mental lecture on wearing too much makeup? Her eyes fell to her dark combat suit, and the vanity continued. Get over it, Real Akari thought. She''d still be this skinny at sixteen, so there was no sense in whining now. Besides, this physique was more practical for combat. Clearly, Dream Akari had mastered Mana Arts then she''d gotten greedy for more. Her thoughts continued judging her former self, and the dream started to fade. Right ... synthesis. Judgment would bring her further from the dream, and further from Dream Akari''s power. Better to focus on the stuff they agreed on. "But he''s so focused on his training," Emberlyn said. "His whole life is Mana Arts. You think he has time for¡ª" "He''ll make time," Darren said. "He''s right," Maelyn said. "You''ll never know unless you ask him." "Okay. I''m gonna do it." Emberlyn actually fanned herself with her hand. Seriously. Who the hell did that outside cheesy romance movies? Akari''s annoyance grew, and she cycled her mana harder as she stepped down the wooden platform. Emberlyn took another drink from her tumbler, and Akari released a small Missile from her palm, too quick to see. It struck the bottom of the tumbler, spilling the blue liquid over Emberlyn''s dress. "Oops." Akari glanced over as if she''d just noticed. "Sorry, Frostbitch." Emberlyn let her cup sink to her lap, looking more sad than annoyed. "Wow. Never heard that one before. What''s next, a blonde joke?" "I don''t need to make fun of your hair," Akari said. "Those bangs practically mock themselves." Her frown deepened. "Seriously, what''d I ever do to you?" "I don''t like you," Akari said. "Never have. I don''t have to explain myself." Okay, so Dream Akari was kind of a brat. The first insult had been funny, but this was downright cringe-worthy. One taste of power, and she was as bad as the old Emberlyn from back on Arkala. "Here''s an idea." Darren snapped his fingers. "Try not assaulting people for once. Then you won''t have to explain yourself." "That would require self-control," Maelyn muttered. "What was that?" Akari snapped. Maelyn gave her a flat look. "Don''t eavesdrop on us then pretend your ears don''t work." "It''s okay." Emberlyn pulled out a cloth wipe from her purse and started scrubbing at her dress. "She''s probably just nervous about her duel. It happens to everyone." Unlike the others, her tone sounded perfectly sincere, and this seemed to piss off Dream Akari even more. Fortunately, her retort was lost as Battlemaster Grandhall stepped into the dojo. Students could technically spar outside of practice, but only Battlemasters could activate the dojo''s dream Constructs. Without the Constructs, they wouldn''t have access to their weapons or armor. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Akari lowered her backpack on a nearby bench where she unzipped her hoodie and untied her black and white Traverse shoes. She threw these into her bag, but the bag didn''t seem to get any heavier. Finally, she glanced down at her watch and unclipped it from her wrist. The watch was surprisingly fancy with a gold band, gold strap, and multiple dials inside the crystal. It was a stark contrast to her simple outfit and her old, torn-up backpack. With all that done, Akari stepped over the dream sigils into the fighting space. The floor was cold beneath her bare feet, but she''d have her boots once the match started. Her combat suit contained the macros to generate those, along with her armor and weapons. She joined the Battlemaster in the arena''s center, stepping into one of the two starting circles. The circles themselves weren''t visible yet, but she''d done this enough times to memorize the spots. No sooner had Akari taken her place than her opponent appeared beneath the wooden archway. Kalden Trengsen. Dream Akari compared him to a neighbor boy she remembered¡ªthe boy who''d first taught her how to fight. He and his parents had left the sect four years ago, and she hadn''t seen him since. He''d only been nine years old then. Now, at thirteen, he had the look of a much older boy. He stood straight-backed and dignified as he walked, and his face betrayed no emotion. Staring at him was like staring at the surrounding mountains with their icy indifference. Real Akari was less impressed, especially since she''d known an older version of Kalden. Earlier, she''d been thinking how she liked Stoic Warrior Kalden, but this was all too much. His face betrayed none of his usual thoughtfulness¡ªjust cold hard focus. Battlemaster Grandhall tabbed a device in his hand, and two circles of light appeared in the arena''s center. The first one formed directly around Akari. The second circle appeared twelve feet ahead of her, and Kalden bowed as he stepped inside it. "Nice to see you again, Miss Clifton." "Yeah." Akari bowed back, but her own voice sounded rough and unrefined compared to his. "You too." Kalden hadn''t dueled in this sect before, so the Battlemaster walked him through the rules, explaining how the duel would end when someone took a lethal or decapitating blow. Everything else was simulated, from their mana techniques to their weapons. The dream mana would simulate pain, but the wounds didn''t last. It also suppressed full-contact attacks like punches and kicks. "Do you understand the rules?" the Battlemaster asked. "I do," Kalden replied formally. "Good." He turned to Akari. "Trengsen challenged you, so you pick the arena." "Forest," she said at once. Akari hated this arena, but so did everyone else. More importantly, the terrain was unforgiving for newcomers, filled with hidden trenches and fallen trees in the undergrowth. Her experience would give her an advantage, and the obstacles made things harder on close-range fighters. Grandhall gave a curt nod, pressing his tablet again. Everything blurred around them as the dream sigils sprang to life. The dojo faded, along with the buildings of Last Haven and the snow-covered mountains beyond. The terrain shifted beneath their boots, forming a series of hills and trenches she knew by heart. Several dozen trees shot up from the earth. Some were as thin as twigs, while others were too wide to wrap her arms around. Even the sky changed hues from pale blue to twilight. The audience would only see the forest, but it would look far smaller from the stands. For the contestants, it seemed to stretch on forever in all directions. Only the faint shimmer of dream mana marked the arena''s boundaries. Finally, Akari''s black armor formed around her body. Her boots increased her height, a visor darkened her vision, and she found a katana hilt in her right hand. "Prepare," the Battlemaster said. His form had vanished, but his voice echoed through unseen speakers of dream mana. It was everywhere at once¡ªpractically inside her own head. As if she needed more voices in there. Akari began the ritual of checking her armor and weapons, ensuring everything was correct. Problems were rare, but not entirely unheard of. Sometimes, the dream mana would interfere with her clothing if she wore something too bulky. Other times, there were glitches in the rendering process if a contestant''s sigils interfered with the arena''s. In these cases, the responsibility fell on the contestants to recognize problems. Real Akari was already wondering how she could exploit these glitches when she started competing in her own time. Not that she''d ever cheat in a friendly match like this, but not every match was friendly. Kalden''s armor was dark green, blending in perfectly with the surrounding forest. Talek. Had he known which arena she''d pick? No way. Even she hadn''t known until now. No weapons formed for her opponent. Instead, he gathered mana in his palms¡ªsilver in one, and blue in the other. A dozen Missiles formed around him in perfect orbit. Slowly, the silver Missiles became Constructs in the shape of swords. Not just simple blades, but actual weapons complete with hilts and guards. Akari finally saw the power of this aspect. Metal mana made sturdy Constructs, but those were limited to simple shapes for anyone below Apprentice. Meanwhile, Kalden conjured actual swords from thin air. And how the hell were they still moving? He must have encased those pure Missiles inside the Constructs. In that moment, Akari couldn''t tell if the shock came from her present self or her former self. But one thing was clear to both of them: Kalden Trengsen was a serious threat. The preparation phase ended, and the Battlemaster began the countdown. "Three ... two ... one." She shifted her boot in the soil, feeling the dirt shift. She brought her other foot forward and felt the familiar crack of dry leaves. "Fight." Akari sprang into motion, weaving through the trees to confuse her opponent. Kalden''s swords swirled around him with impossible speed, forming a protective barrier on all sides. Those blades could stop bullets, and they''d slice her to bits if she tried to get through. Fortunately, he also sacrificed mobility and range. That made him¡ª A blade broke out from the formation, lashing out as quick as a whip. Shit. Akari leapt right, missing the blade by a hair''s breadth. The movement brought her straight into a second blade. Kalden had known exactly where she would move and when. With no time to dodge again, Akari formed a Construct between herself and the projectile. Her shield cracked beneath the impact, and she released a Missile at the last second, knocking the blade off course. Akari lost her balance and fell back-first onto the forest floor. Too close. Twigs snapped in the undergrowth as Kalden approached. Two more blades passed over her face, but he seemed to have trouble aiming in the vertical axis. There''s one weakness. She rolled for cover behind a nearby tree. Kalden probably couldn''t aim up or down without messing up his whole formation. That took valuable time to set up. And probably more than half his total mana, judging by the density. The blades also spun in a cylinder rather than a sphere. That left the top exposed. Just need to get above him. That''s where the trees come in. Akari made her way towards a lower-hanging branch, eight feet off the ground. From there, she shot bursts of pure mana from her feet as she jumped. Apparently, she could shoot mana through these boots? Nice. Akari wrapped an arm around the tree branch and hurled herself up. Silver flashed in her vision as more blades closed in. She barely formed a Construct in time. Even then, Kalden''s technique sliced through it like paper, cutting through the branch beside her. Shit. How was he only Foundation? She''d gotten used to her peers having stronger mana, but this was ridiculous. Kalden''s blades soared through the forest, curving around like boomerangs and landing back in orbit. It was clear now he had no trouble aiming upward. Things just kept getting worse. Akari leapt between branches as quick as a jungle cat. Kalden continued his attacks, but she knocked them aside with Constructs of her own. Others, she barely avoided, leaving more broken branches in her wake. Her opponent tried to stay mobile, but he didn''t know this arena like she did. Akari closed the distance in mere seconds, landing on a branch above him. Kalden hurled all six of his swords on the base of the tree, slashing them back and forth until the trunk broke free from the stump. The world shifted beneath Akari''s feet. She fired several Missiles as she fell, but none struck their mark. Mana flooded her legs as she leapt for the next tree, but Kalden was two moves ahead. His mana stretched out in a web of blades, cutting more trees to splinters. She wove through the chaos of falling wood, somersaulting through the air from one branch to the other. Stop dodging, she told herself. Close in for the kill. Facing a Blade Artist at close range seemed like suicide, but so was this. Besides, she knew her classmates would root for Kalden. They wouldn''t call her a coward on top of that. Akari landed on the forest floor in front of her opponent. Kalden pulled two blades from his orbit and struck. Then he pulled back the other four, attacking from every angle at once. Akari parried and dodged, too quick to feel her own body. Silver mana blurred around her, but she met each strike with her own blade. Mana flowed from her arm to the hilt, enhancing the weapon with every strike. At the same time, she released Missiles from her free hand, closing the gaps in her defenses. For one perfect moment, Akari held her own against this Shokenese Blade Artist. Two more blades swept to either side. Akari jumped just before the first one cut off her knees. Then she flattened her body in midair, letting the other pass over her head. Akari landed less than two paces from her opponent, slashing for his throat. Time slowed to a crawl and Kalden combined several blades into one. This new weapon shone like the sun as he moved to parry. Akari''s blade shattered from the impact. Fragments of steel flew in every direction, and her fingers loosened from around the hilt. She arched her back, letting Kalden''s blade pass over her face. She straightened as he followed through on the swing, gathering more mana in her palms. He couldn''t defend himself with just one weapon. She could¡ª Kalden''s boot took her in the stomach, and she stumbled back into the nearest tree. When she looked up again, she saw a volley of silver blades closing in. With no time to move, Akari poured every ounce of her mana into one final Construct, forming a protective layer between them. But as Kalden''s swords closed in, she knew it wouldn''t be enough. His own Constructs were sharp, dense, and perfect. And despite her pure mana''s versatility, it could never compare to his aspect. Her parents had held her back for too long, and now she finally paid the price. Kalden''s blades tore through her shield, and hot lines of pain ripped through her body. The mana cut her skin, muscles, and bones.
Akari jolted awake, hard enough to shake the mattress on its metal frame. Two lines of searing pain remained in her torso, and her stomach churned as if she might vomit. She tossed aside the blankets and leaned over the bed''s edge, prepared to do just that. But no ... she brought a hand between her breasts, feeling her unbroken sternum. The pain wasn''t real. She was still alive. "Talek." Akari collapsed back on her pillow, feeling a strange mix of relief and terror. Dream Akari might be used to simulated pain, but no one had prepared her for that. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she took in the sight of the women''s barracks in Tureko. Rows of bunk beds filled the room, and she spotted Relia''s red hair in the faint light of a nearby window. Akari hadn''t lost her focus that time. Quite the opposite¡ªshe''d been engrossed in the dream, letting Dream Akari take over. But the pain must have jolted her awake. The sheets were soaked with sweat, and her muscles felt hot and ready for action. Akari pushed the blankets aside, reflecting back on the rush of new information Even in those days, Kalden had been years ahead of her. Dream Akari would be pissed about his flawless victory, and Real Akari felt the girl''s pain mingled with her own. Served her right, though. The little brat had been far too cocky. Back on Arkala, she''d only fought with the Golds and Silvers who''d bullied her. But Emberlyn had done nothing to her in the dream. Akari had instigated that fight. And for what? She''d been the best Foundation Artist in her sect, and she was still jealous of Emberlyn Frostblade? Maybe Emberlyn had deserved some of it. The girl had tried to kill her back on Arkala, after all. Not to mention the time she got her suspended from Elegan High''s computer lab. Still ... she was supposed to become more like her former self? That idea seemed more terrifying by the minute. Dream Akari had been powerful, but she''d also been lonely, and just as unhappy as she''d been as a Bronze. She cringed to imagine Kalden seeing her like that¡ªshe cringed so hard, she thought she''d turn herself inside-out. Akari shook her head to clear it. Stop thinking about her personality. Thirteen-year-old Akari had been an unbearable little shit, but that was probably true for most thirteen-year-olds. Most just didn''t relive their memories in such vivid detail. Focus on the Mana Arts. That''s the priority. Kalden had beaten her, but Akari had still put up a fight. Not just that, but she''d held her own without an aspect. Akari stared up at the wooden rafters in the ceiling, almost close enough to touch. She raised a trembling hand and released a Missile, reigning it back in. Akari had formed dozens of Constructs in her dream, and her muscles remembered the feeling. She remembered the way she''d pulled her Missile into perfect balance, and she felt the contrast with her practice sessions on the playground. She remembered the way it felt, as easy as balancing a pencil on her finger. The Construct stretched over the bed, becoming a protective shield. Blue light flooded the world, and she smiled. Book 2 - Chapter 15: A Dangerous Game "Someone''s coming," Glim said from the vent above Elend''s bed. He cracked his eyes open, craning his neck to look up at the ceiling. "Who?" "That hot cultist lady. She brought two guards. And a pot of coffee." Ah, the Ethersmith. It must be time for Elend''s first appointment. He unwrapped his legs from the lotus position and stood, gathering mana in his palms. "How far?" Glim vanished and reappeared in the blink of an eye. "Twenty-three paces." Perfect. Elend released both Missiles, weaving pure mana with dream mana to make a wooden cafe-style table near the window. Yes, he had a window now. It stretched all the way from the floor to the ceiling, overlooking a lovely mountain range that resembled northern Espiria. No sooner had he sat down than someone knocked on the cell''s metal door. "Come in," Elend said. The door opened a second later, and Lena Cavaco appeared at the cell''s threshold. She looked the same as their last meeting, with her black hair falling in a dozen braids past her shoulders. Her dress was a deep sapphire today¡ªa dramatic contrast to her olive skin. Lena''s eyes widened as she stepped into the window''s bright light. Snowflakes clung to its glass surface, and the whole cell seemed to shake in the mountain wind. Behind her, the Fangs cycled their mana, shifting their feet into subtle combat stances. What did they think? That he''d use that imaginary window to escape? "Please." Elend gestured to the wooden chair across from him. "Have a seat." Lena glanced down at the table and chairs. "Are these real, Espirian?" "Well," Elend said, "there''s a complicated question." The table was made of atoms like any other. Despite that, most people would still call it fake. But why? Did the material matter? Anyone could turn a wooden table into kindling and revoke its tablehood. All that mattered was the idea¡ªthe way they perceived its function. Elend almost opened his mouth and said all this. Clearly, he''d been away from his classroom for too long. "It''s real," he said with a grin. "But it''s also made of mana." Lena smoothed her skirt and sat across from him. She waved over the guard who carried a stainless steel tray with a matching carafe and two clear glasses. "I brought us some coffee. But perhaps you could have made your own?" His smile widened as he shook his head. "I''ve never had a knack for the culinary arts." There was also the fact that dream food gave no nutritional value, even for one who went through the trouble of studying it. Lena nodded as the Fang poured them each a cup. The lad had relaxed by this point, but he still kept eying that window with a mix of awe and suspicion. Elend raised his glass to his mouth, inhaling faint hints of melon and chocolate. "Thank you, Ondrico," Lena said with a pleasant smile. "Wait for me outside, would you?" Both guards complied without argument. Curious. Where did this woman fit into their hierarchy? Elend stretched out his perception, sensing her soul. She had Etherite inside her chest¡ªthe same material that made up his cuffs. But beneath that, he felt a Mana Artist''s soul. An Apprentice soul to be exact¡ªbarely stronger than Relia''s. Normally, that would place her at the bottom with the Claws. And yet, she''d spoken casually with the Dragonlord''s own siblings. Once they''d locked the door behind them, the cultist turned her gaze back to Elend. "May I see one of the cuffs?" Elend stretched out his left arm on the table between them. He''d kept these invisible for most of their trip, but that was pointless now. Keeping Glim around was a far better use of his mana. Not to mention the view and the fake window. Studies showed that nature improved mood and cognition. Lena cupped his hand in hers. Her touch was warm, but that was hardly a surprise. Dragons didn''t believe in air conditioning, and it was easily eighty degrees in here. Her mana remained still as she worked, but that fit with the stories he''d read. Etherite pulled energy from the spiritual realm, the same way a Mana Artist did. No physical force could break it. The more force you exerted against these crystals, the more energy they would summon to push back. For all that, an Ethersmith could reshape it through nothing but raw intention. "I need to bond with these crystals," Lena told him. "This process will take weeks, even if we practice every day." "Does this bonding require your full concentration?" Elend asked. "It''s a bit like rearranging grains of rice," she replied. "Laborious, but not difficult. But I will need your help. Intention matters, and possession is a physical manifestation of that." "Interesting," Elend mused. "So the cuffs are on my body now, and that makes them mine. But if I consider you the rightful owner..." Her eyes widened as if she felt the barrier break in her mind. "...that will ease the transition," Elend said. "I do enjoy working with intelligent people," Lena said with an approving nod. "Intention is too abstract for most Mana Artists to grasp." Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. That was true, but it wasn''t their fault. Elend had whole classrooms of students who understood the concept on paper, but their minds weren''t strong enough to control it. Most Apprentices could handle simple binaries at the most. For example, Relia could choose to heal or kill a person. Higher levels of abstraction were beyond her, though. Elend''s gaze shifted toward the window, and he caught Glim waggling her transparent blue eyebrows. The little scamp knew he was married, but she''d never stopped trying to be his wingwoman. Fortunately, he could choose who saw Glim and who didn''t. Lena might see the mana in her Silver Sight, but that wouldn''t be too suspicious considering this was Elend''s cell. They continued talking, and he learned that all five crystals would likely come off at the same time, in the presence of the Dragonlord himself. That was actually good news. At first, Elend had worried they might remove the cuffs one at a time. In hindsight, this strategy made more sense. If they removed one cuff, Elend would lose that cuff forever. But he''d also regain a fraction of his power, increasing his odds of escaping with the other four. This way suited Elend just fine. He intended to leave this place with all five cuffs, after all. As they talked, Elend sent more dream mana throughout the room, letting it flow in currents around them. This was the real reason he''d created the table and window. It wasn''t meant to impress or intimidate her. It was to help her grow accustomed to his mana. No one ever suspected the Artist who flaunted his techniques. Elend leaned forward across the table. "Can I ask you a personal question?" Her lip twitched in a quick grin, almost too fast to see. "You may ask." "You''re an Aeon," he said. "Or at least, you have an Aeon''s soul. But you''re also a Mana Artist. That implies you were born on this planet. How''s that possible?" Her smile widened, but it didn''t reach her eyes. "Here I thought you''d ask me something interesting. Instead, you shoot straight for the age-old mystery." "And that''s boring?" Elend retorted. "Not boring," she said. "Just predictable. We ''cultists'' need our secrets, Espirian." Elend made a Circuit technique with his Missiles. Circuits were just compound Missile techniques, but many Artists considered them an independent operation. With one hand, he sent dream mana into her head, gathering information about her thought patterns and emotions. His other hand retrieved the Missile, processing the findings in his own mind. From here, he could choose to continue the loop and manipulate her thoughts or emotions. But that was a very dangerous game. Elend could force this woman to help him. In doing so, he might save his students. Not to mention the millions who might die if the Dragonlord got these cuffs. But could he truly take one person''s freedom to save others? How many tyrants throughout history had used that exact logic? No ... Elend had deceived and killed hundreds in battle, but he drew the line at enslaving even one person. Sometimes, he''d crossed that line in moments of weakness. Other times, a twisted part of his mind had justified it. But he''d always regretted it. In a way, this helped him understand Relia''s reluctance to use her powers. It was a lifelong struggle, and the answers were rarely black and white. "It''s hardly a secret." Elend''s expression revealed nothing of his inner conflict. "An Aeon and a Mana Artist could produce a child, and that child could have both abilities." "That''s a theory," Lena said. "But it''s never been proven. She honestly believed her own words. Well, Elend wasn''t about to confirm it. That wasn''t his secret to share. "My mistake," he said with a casual shrug. "But you''re in your late thirties at least." Actually, she was probably closer to her late forties, but it never hurt to be polite. "And yet ... you''re only an Apprentice. Curious." She didn''t dignify his comment with a response. But of course, she didn''t need to. Even in Espiria, half the adult population never made it past Apprentice. People got busy with family and work, and they had little time for training after that. He didn''t know Creta''s exact numbers, but he suspected the majority never made it past the Foundation realm. "I''d imagine the Cult of Solidor wanted¡ª" "The Church of Solidor," Lena corrected. "We''re not a cult." "Ah, my apologies." They fit the dictionary definition of a cult, but he didn''t press the matter. "I''d imagine the Church of Solidor wanted you for a specific purpose. There are rituals that can turn a Mana Artist into an Aeon. In most cases, the ritual kills the Mana Artist. What if you survived, but it stalled your advancement forever?" Something flickered in her expression. He''d touched a nerve there. Elend waved that away. "Mere speculation, of course. I''d never ask you to confirm it. But it begs the question, why do you serve them?" Something changed in her emotions. It was hard to put in exact words, but she felt more comfortable debating religion and theology. Even her eyes seemed to light up. "Why do you serve the Angels, Espirian?" Elend held up his free hand. "You''re asking the wrong man. I like my gods abstract and unknowable. Too big to comprehend with my mere mortal senses. The Angels were just ordinary men who ascended. Last I heard, Solidor was also an ordinary man." "And woman," Lena said. "What?" Elend raised an eyebrow. "Was he a shapeshifter?" "There were two Solidors," she said with a playful smile. "They were married, and they ascended together." "Ah." Elend gave a slow nod as he sipped the last of his coffee. "I hadn''t heard that before. So what''s the appeal?" "The Angels are the strongest beings in this world," she said, "But they''re also bound by rules of their own. For example, their inability to kill humans directly. The Aeons have no restrictions here. They have a chance to change things." "Change things?" Elend asked. She nodded. "Knowledge is this world''s most valuable commodity. Especially with Mana Arts. Most Cretans don''t know how to reach Apprentice, even if they had the time to train. And no one but the Dragonlord''s own family knows how to reach Master. Things are the same in Espira, no? You''ve climbed higher than most, but I doubt you know the Mystic revelations. The ruling clans keep those secrets close." Actually, Elend did know the Mystic revelations, but he kept that fact to himself. "And Dragonlord Antano?" he asked. "Is he part of the change you seek?" He felt a tinge of guilt from her. Yes, of course. She knew exactly what he would do with these cuffs, and it wouldn''t involve the democratization of knowledge. If he cared about that, then why not start now, with his own nation? "Aye," Elend said. "Let me guess¡ªwe need to wade through a sea of blood to reach paradise? I''ve been working to change things, too. Are you familiar with those videos on the dark web? The ones from the Espirian Grandmaster?" Recognition flashed in her dark eyes. "That was me," he said. "That''s what action looks like. Anyone can make empty promises." Lena sighed. "Why do you tell me this, Espirian? Would you have me betray the Dragonlord? Give these cuffs to you instead?" "Of course not," Elend said. "I''m just a professor who enjoys a hypothetical discussion. Besides, I suspect you swore an oath not to betray him. That''s the only way he''d let us talk alone." Another wave of guilt, as good as a confirmation. "I can''t say I agree with your methods," Elend continued, "but I''d like to meet the Solidors someday." She gave a curt nod. "Perhaps you will, Espirian." They continued for the better part of an hour, sprinkling short conversations among longer stretches of silence. Elend could do nothing to circumvent Lena''s oath, nor could he break his own oath once these cuffs belonged to the Dragonlord. They hadn''t discussed specifics yet, but he suspected that neither one of them would be able to harm the other once the deal was done. So, it would all come down to that final moment between him and the Ethersmith. That moment would determine the fate of entire nations. Despite everything, Lena was still the weakest link in the chain. The more he understood about this Ethersmithing process, the more he could control it when the time came. Book 2 - Chapter 16: Smuggling "You sure about this?" Kalden asked the shopkeeper. "It smells like lunch meat." The man shrugged. "It''s fine, shoko. That''s how soulshine smells." "No," Kalden set down the bottle on the counter. "That''s how exinleaf smells when you let it oxidize for a week. And you see that color change? Light exposure reduces the potency by half. That''s why we use amber bottles." Akari listened with half-an-ear as she strolled through the aisles, taking in the rows of potions, pills, and elixirs. Before this week, she''d known basically nothing about alchemy. Not for a lack of interest, either. Bronze weren''t allowed to visit these shops back home. Well, maybe an older, wealthier Bronze could, but the clerks would have treated her like an escaped convict if she''d tried. Now, these smuggling jobs had opened a whole world of enhancements. Most alchemy started with the mana from plants or animals. Humans couldn''t consume that raw, but alchemists did some science stuff to fix that. These produced all sorts of physical and mental enhancements. Sometimes, you could even use techniques from an aspect that wasn''t your own. For example, a Water Artist might drink an elixir made from a frostwolf''s mana, and this would let her use frost techniques for a while. Then a Fire Artist like Hector might have more luck with an eel''s electricity mana. Unfortunately, you still had to learn and practice the more complicated techniques, which cast a storm cloud on her plans. Finally, there was soulshine, the strongest of all elixirs. Soulshine let you permanently expand your soul and let in more mana from the spiritual realm. Free advancement, basically. This had been illegal back on Arkala, and the same was true for most of the outside world. But the Grevandi and Unmarked both used it to gain an advantage over the other. Enough soulshine could raise an Apprentice to Artisan, and one Artisan could turn the tide of a battle. "We should try some," Akari had said on an earlier mission. "While we have the chance." "No way." Relia looked at her as if she''d just murdered a puppy. "Never mess with soulshine. It has some nasty side effects." Akari snorted. "Okay, Mom. Talking from experience?" "No, but I know people who''ve used it. You can stunt your advancement for good." "What are the odds of that happening?" Side effects would suck, but stagnation came with its own dangers. Especially in this country. Besides, Relia was biased when it came to alchemy. She wouldn''t even drink liquid mana, and you could buy that at a grocery store. Kind of ironic, considering her secret love affair with pills. "I don''t know the numbers," Relia said. "Ask Kalden." They''d asked Kalden later that day, but he actually agreed with Relia for once. "Human bodies advance slowly for a reason," he said. "Too much mana can overload your soul. Maybe even kill you." "Okay," Akari said, "So why do Kyzar''s guys use it?" "Kyzar''s fighting a war. Soulshine might work on a larger scale, but not for individuals. A game of crowns never works out well for the pawns." Relia nodded. "And short-term gains sacrifice long-term growth. Use soulshine to reach Artisan, and you might never reach Master." That last part got her attention. Akari aimed to free her home someday, and that meant climbing a lot higher than Artisan. Higher than Grandmaster, even. Then again, Mana Artists advanced faster during battle, and everyone was cool with that. Why was soulshine so different? Maybe chugging a random bottle wasn''t the smartest plan now, but there might be potential there. She''d research it herself once she finally had a computer again. Akari was still browsing the shelves when Kalden''s voice brought her back to the present. "These aren''t worth more than sixty cretens per bottle," he told the shopkeeper. "I don''t care, shoko. Someone else will buy it today." Kalden brushed a layer of dust off the bottle and pinched it between his fingers. An awkward pause followed. "I''ll give you four hundred for everything," he said as he pulled Kyzar''s bills from his money pouch. "Or you can wait another month until they go bad. Up to you." The clerk muttered a Cadrian curse, then took the money. "Gratsio, se?or." Kalden smiled as if the man hadn''t just insulted his mother. This had become their routine ever since they''d joined the Unmarked last week. Every morning, they followed a tunnel into Unida''s western territory. From there, they took a ferry to the eastern side of the river and hit the various shops. At first, Akari had imagined secret meetings in shady warehouses, but they spent most of their time walking. So much walking. Kyzar had given them a long list of items to retrieve. Once they completed the list, he promised to put them into contact with a journalist who could communicate across borders. They''d also negotiated a maximum time period of two weeks. This prevented him from slipping some impossible items on the list and milking them for more work. Their fake marks wouldn''t last that long, anyway. Elend had designed those for emergencies, not long-term employment. "Alright," Kalden said as they stepped outside. "Rubi''s is three blocks that way. What if we squeeze in one more stop and catch the eight o''clock ferry back?" If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Akari glanced down at her watch. "We already have two full bags. Why not send two of us back to base?" They already spent most of their days on this side of the river, which hardly left them any time to sleep and eat, much less train their Mana Arts. One more hour could make a huge difference. Kalden frowned. "There''s safety in numbers." "We''ll be fine!" Relia slapped a hand on Akari''s shoulder causing, her to flinch back. "I''ll go with Akari. Hector can stay with you, and that still leaves one Apprentice in each group. No one will mess with us." "Works for me," Hector said. "This district''s safe enough, anyway." "Alright," Kalden said with a reluctant nod. "Guess I''m outvoted." "Great," Akari said. "I call dibs on the heavy bag." She passed her own pack to Relia and took Kalden''s. It was well over thirty pounds with all that soulshine inside. A year ago, that would have sent her knees buckling. Now, it was just a way to practice her pre-Cloak technique. The two groups went their separate ways, and sweat ran down Akari''s back as she walked. Training time was scarce though, and she had to make do with the small things. "So what''s up with you and Kalden?" Relia asked. Akari shrugged, clutching her backpack straps. "What about us?" "Seems like you''re avoiding each other." "We literally spend all day together. And we''ve been busy." "Yeah," Relia said. "But you guys still found time to cuddle before." She shot Relia a look. "Remember? In the backseat of Hector''s car? You two were so adorable there." Her look turned into a glare. Relia just laughed. "You know, I''m starting to think that''s your version of a blush." Akari ignored her as they kept walking down the crowded urban streets. Overall, Unida''s side of town wasn''t so different from Liberta''s. Just a lot more dragons, and a much more imposing military force. The Unmarked wore whatever armor they found lying around, giving them a friendly militia feel. But these guys all wore matching uniforms that reminded her of the Arkala Martials. Fortunately, they''d gotten through most of Kyzar''s shopping list, and they should be done long before their fake marks expired. "Sorry," Relia said after a long silence. "It''s cool if you don''t want to talk about it. But Elend always told me not to keep stuff bottled up. It can literally affect your Mana Arts." "Funny," Akari said, "Coming from the girl who pops secret pills." Relia winced at that. "I''ll explain those sometime. Guess I''m not so good at the whole friends thing." "Makes two of us," Akari muttered. "What''s that about bottlenecks?" "Oh, yeah. Your soul likes reflection. Two Artists can train the same amount of time, but the one who reflects afterward can improve twice as fast." "Makes sense," Akari said. "You learn from your mistakes that way." Relia nodded. "But it''s more than that. Your soul holds you back if it senses unfinished business. It does this to protect you, the same way your muscles hold back." "Shit," Akari muttered under her breath. "Huh?" Relia asked. "What''s up?" "I haven''t had any dreams since last week." Relia nodded as if she''d expected that. "Remember how I dueled someone last time?" "Sure." Akari drew in a long breath. "It was Kalden." Her eyes widened. "And?" Akari balled her hands into fists. She''d rather not talk about this, but what if Relia was right? What if her soul considered this issue unresolved? She couldn''t let that hold her back. So Akari told Relia the full dream, including what a bitch Dream Akari had been, and how badly she''d lost to Kalden. "That part was bullshit," she said as they reached the docks. "I thought we''d be equals someday. But then Dream Kalden strolls into town. And guess what? He''s the best Foundation duelist in the world." That last part might''ve been an exaggeration, but oh well. Present-day Kalden seemed like more of a strategist than a duelist. What the hell was he doing with sword mana of all things? Relia considered that. "You said you hadn''t aspected your own mana yet?" "Nope. Never got the whole story, but I think my parents were holding me back somehow." She nodded. "They probably had something special planned for you." They kept walking, and Akari cycled her mana harder as her muscles strained. "So you had pure mana with limited practice," Relia said. "And Kalden was practicing twelve hours per day, with an aspect that''s specifically designed to win duels?" "I get it," Akari said. "I''m being stupid. Why do you think I kept quiet?" "I didn''t say that!" Relia held up her hands. "No one likes losing. But you should tell Kalden. Maybe he''s working through some stuff too?" Talek. She''d been afraid of that. She and Kalden had gotten close these past few months, and he was the best friend she''d ever had. But what if he''d also met her past self? She''d been a different person then, but would he realize that? Would he look at her differently now? She''d been annoyed at Kalden all week, and most of that annoyance came from her past self. That proved these dreams were strong enough to alter their present. Either way, Relia was probably right. It was stupid to get this mad about a dream, but it was even stupider to keep it all bottled up. Even this short talk seemed to make her mana flow smoother. They reached the ferry just in time, trudging up the ramp and showing their fake IDs to the attendant. It was busier than usual, with more than forty other people scattered between both decks. They climbed the center staircase toward the upper deck which was far less crowded. Akari and Relia unshouldered their packs and found some seats in the back. Her shoulders and core ached from the effort, but she kept cycling her mana. The more you stressed your body at Foundation, the stronger you''d be at Apprentice. Apparently, Relia''s first master¡ªthe one who''d taught her Life Arts¡ª had broken and healed every bone in Relia''s body before she''d advanced. That woman sounded like even more of a badass than Elend. A few more minutes passed as the captain gave his usual speech over the intercom, then the ferry broke off from the dock, leaving a trail of white foam in the dark green waters. By now, the sun was setting over the skyline ahead, and the air grew cooler as they drifted. The wind felt good on her face, especially after walking all that time in the spring heat. The upper deck was quiet except for a few teenagers who kicked a manaball back and forth. No one wore badges here, so Akari had to activate her Silver Sight to see their ranks. Two Golds and one Silver. It still felt strange to see Golds and Silvers acting like equals. Sure, Kalden had been close with Darren and Marelyn, but they''d been the exception back home rather than the rule. Here, anyone below Apprentice was still considered a beginner, and no one got hung up on the differences. Especially because those differences were the result of birth mana rather than something they''d earned. No wonder the Martials had been scared to leave. They rode in silence for another ten minutes before the ferry slowed down at the western dock. Relia took that moment to stand. Her red hair thrashed in the wind, and she stretched her arms above her head like a cat. Then her knees buckled beneath her, and she collapsed on the deck. Akari stared at her for a second, certain the other girl was joking. Then a sound of pain escaped her lips, and she gritted her teeth "Shit." Akari scrambled out of her seat and tried to roll her over on her back. Sweat covered Relia''s skin, and her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths. Her skin shone with green light as she tried to flare her life Cloak. Damnit. This was worse than last time. Akari grabbed her purse and went to unzip the top pocket. "Need your pill?" "No." Relia shook her head. "I''m fine." "You sure as hell don''t look fine." "It''ll stop," Relia said through gritted teeth. "Just¡ª" "Hey," a boy''s voice said from over her shoulder. Akari turned to see one of the Golds who''d been playing manaball earlier. "Is she okay?" Another boy knelt on the wooden deck beside her. He jumped back when he saw Relia''s face. "Where''s her mark?" "What?" Akari glanced at Relia''s forehead. Her mark had faded, the crowd grew closer, and they were still deep in enemy territory. Book 2 - Chapter 17: Ruthless ¡°She¡¯s an Unmarked,¡± the boy muttered the last word like a curse. Relia lowered her head, letting a curtain of red hair cover her pale face. Another of the Cadrian boys knelt down and tried to brush the curtain aside. Hell no, Akari thought. A crowd had already gathered around, but no one else had heard his accusation. Best to keep it that way. They¡¯d passed a few Apprentices on the lower deck, and she and Relia might never escape if this turned into a serious fight. ¡°Hey!¡± Akari shoved the Gold in the chest, and he fell back on the wooden deck. ¡°Quit groping my friend.¡± She¡¯d learned this trick back home. Crowds sided with Golds by default, but they had a weakness for protecting a young girl¡¯s purity. The upper ranks got away with a lot on Arkala, but not that. It was an outrageous lie in this case, but this was war. ¡°Easy, shoka.¡± The boy staggered to his feet, brushing some invisible dust from his jacket. ¡°Just checking her¡ª¡± ¡°Piss off.¡± Akari jabbed a finger in his direction. ¡°Won¡¯t tell you twice.¡± She had to keep things heated. If they had a reasonable talk, the others might convince the crowd what they¡¯d seen. Better to let them see a private dispute between kids. ¡°No.¡± He stepped forward, eyes narrow. ¡°You¡¯re hiding something.¡± Akari forced herself not to shake as his friends stepped closer. The Silver on his left was built like a tank, and he probably outweighed Akari by a hundred pounds. The girl on his right wore the sides of her head shaved with a row of gold piercings on her bottom lip. She could have been the middle boy¡¯s twin for all she knew. Shit. Her last real fight had been that Grevandi in the bar, and she¡¯d barely scratched him. No way she could take on two Golds and a Silver by herself. On the bright side, they probably wouldn¡¯t kill her. As long as they didn¡¯t get a closer look at Relia. ¡°You want to apologize?¡± Akari fell into a combat stance. ¡°Or you want to fight?¡± All three started cycling their mana. Even without her Silver Sight, Akari saw the bright glow beneath their dark skin. For a second, the boy on the left seemed to laugh her off. ¡°We¡¯d knock you out, shokita.¡± Akari glared at him, raising her fists. ¡°Come and try.¡± He shrugged. ¡°You asked for it.¡± Lightning mana crackled in his palms. Akari barely had time to react before his Missiles shot forward. Akari''s own Missiles flew free at the same time. Then her instincts kicked in, and she pulled them back, flattening each one into a Construct. Light flashed between them as their mana collided in midair. Talek. That felt good. She hadn¡¯t expected her Constructs to be combat-ready in a week, but somehow her body knew what to do. Akari gathered more mana in her palm just in time to block two more lightning techniques. The impact forced her back, but she held her ground with a solid stance. Movement flashed at the edge of her vision. Akari ducked her head, barely avoiding a punch from Piercing Girl. The girl¡¯s extension left her stance weak, and Akari swept out with her leg, knocking her to the deck. Akari lashed out with a Missile next, but the girl countered with an invisible blast that sent her flying. Akari twisted her body in midair, passing over two rows of seats and landing on her feet. What the hell was that? Air mana? Force mana? The crowd parted as she landed, but no one intervened. At least that part of the plan had worked. Several more attacks passed between them. Akari conjured a wide shield with her left hand, absorbing the Lightning Artist¡¯s Missiles. She also pressed her back against a nearby wall. This prevented the Force Artist from throwing her off the boat. Her instincts screamed at her to look left, but no one was there. Akari activated her Silver Sight and spotted the mana from a human soul. Piercing Girl¡¯s twin brother. Apparently, he was invisible now? The boy wasn¡¯t wearing Shadow Artist¡¯s armor, and he was too weak to have a Cloak technique. Probably a panther mana potion. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Akari kept her eyes straight ahead. The boy didn¡¯t know she¡¯d seen him. Best to keep it that way for now. Both opponents struck Akari¡¯s shield in a joint attack, slamming her hard against the wall. Akari forced more mana into the Construct, but her channels strained from the effort. Talek. Why were Constructs so expensive? Her soul must be half-empty by now. Still no sign of Relia, either. Time to stop playing defense. Akari dropped her shield and lashed out with two Missiles. At the same time, she sprinted forward and took cover behind the row of seats. Her reduced center of gravity sent the Missiles up and over her opponents. She retrieved them a heartbeat later, and one struck Lightning Boy in the back. The Shadow Artist chose that same moment to strike, but Akari saw him coming in her Silver Sight. He threw a punch with his right arm, and she dodged to the side, causing him to overextend. The boy¡¯s invisibility faded just as Akari hurled her own Missile into his solar plexus. She swung up with her other hand, landing a solid punch to his windpipe. No sooner had Shadow Boy fallen than a lightning Missile struck Akari¡¯s chest. Her hoodie absorbed the first blow, but the next one took her in the stomach. The world went white as she fell back, and pain surged through her. It felt like that time she¡¯d stuck her finger in a light socket. But instead of her finger, it was her entire body that was shaking and burning. The world slowed as the Lightning Artist stepped closer. Akari still struggled to move as she lay on the ferry¡¯s wooden deck, staring up at the evening sky. Something was smoking, and it was probably her clothes. Her opponent loomed above her. He didn¡¯t attack, but the sight of him dragged older memories to the surface of her mind¡ªmemories of being helpless and weak. Akari still couldn¡¯t feel her limbs, but she cycled her mana. Then her body moved on its own, led by some primal part of her mind. Her Missile took the Lightning Artist in the knee, and he staggered forward. The Force Artist struck Akari with another wave of mana, but Lightning Boy got caught in the blast, and they both flew across the deck. Akari grabbed the boy¡¯s jacket as they soared. Lightning mana sparked around them, but she didn¡¯t feel the pain this time. Instead, she hurled her own mana into his ribs, and they cracked beneath the impact. They crashed into the side of the boat, and Piercing Girl ran to her friend¡¯s rescue. Shit. Akari tried to conjure another Missile, but her mana was dry. Instead, she drew the Martial dagger from the small of her back. Another wave of force mana closed in. Akari dropped to her stomach and let the rush of air pass over her. A third blast followed. She saw it her Silver Sight, dodging right as she closed the distance. The girl retreated, but Akari leapt over a row of chairs to block her path. ¡°Akari!¡± Relia sprang from the other aisle, landing between her and her opponent. At first, Akari tried to dodge past the other girl, but Relia grabbed the wrist that held the dagger. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Relia said. ¡°You can put the knife away.¡± Akari furrowed her brow in confusion, trying to pry her wrist free from Relia¡¯s vice grip. Then she stared at the blade in her hand, seeing it for the first time. Her eyes moved to her opponent¡ªa girl who was barely older than her, cowering in the corner behind Relia. Talek. And she¡¯d been about to slit her throat. Her gaze flickered to the two boys who still hadn¡¯t gotten up, then to the surrounding crowd. Most had retreated to the lower deck, but the rest stared at Akari with the same look of shock. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Relia repeated as she released Akari¡¯s wrist. ¡°We¡¯re safe.¡± Akari met her friend¡¯s eyes. She seemed as lively as ever, and even her forehead mark was back. Then, feeling suddenly cold, Akari tried to return the dagger to its sheath. Her strength left her before she could, and the blade clattered to the deck. Talek. That wasn¡¯t her. That was Dream Akari. The lightning had messed with her brain ¡­ her past self had taken over. But no ¡­ it wasn¡¯t just the lightning. She¡¯d had that same ruthlessness when she¡¯d killed the Artisan in Costa Liberta, and the Martials back on Arkala. But those had been real battles against stronger opponents. Here, she¡¯d been the stronger one for once in her life. Relia sent a burst of life mana into the Shadow Artist. Then she healed the Lightning Artist with the broken ribs. ¡°I forgive you for earlier,¡± she said with a cheerful voice. ¡°Hope the rest of your day goes better!¡± With that, she retrieved both backpacks from the bench, grabbed Akari by the hand, and led them off the ship. The next few minutes passed in a blur as they hurried out of Unida territory and through the familiar underground passage. Relia gave her some life mana, but it didn¡¯t help. ¡°You did the right thing,¡± Relia said as they walked through the dark tunnel. ¡°We¡¯d be screwed if they kept talking.¡± Akari gave a heavy nod. ¡°Minus the part where I almost killed that girl?¡± Her grin faded. ¡°I get it. You¡¯ve been through some tough stuff.¡± ¡°So have you.¡± ¡°Yeah, but I have years of training. No one ever taught you when to hold back. You¡¯ve probably never had to before.¡± That was true, and it made way more sense than her theory about her past self taking over. Still, she shivered at the thought of becoming that ruthless. Then again, what if Relia hadn¡¯t gotten back up? What if her mark hadn¡¯t returned when it did? Obviously, killing wasn¡¯t the answer here, but what was? The others would have exposed them if they¡¯d lost, and Unida¡¯s military would have swarmed them at the dock. Actually, that still might happen if they tried to use the ferry again. We never should have split up, she realized. Kalden was right about that. Splitting up had been Akari¡¯s stupid idea. But this was Relia¡¯s fault, too. Akari had tried asking about her condition, but she¡¯d always dodged the questions. Then she¡¯d brought it up with Kalden, and he¡¯d muttered some bullshit about not prying into other people¡¯s medical issues. For Talek¡¯s sake, Relia wasn¡¯t some stranger anymore. They were a team, and this affected all three of them. Akari took a deep breath and turned to face the other girl. ¡°Your mark faded on the boat. The same time you collapsed.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Relia bit her lip and looked away. ¡°Sorry. I didn¡¯t know that would happen. My mana got blocked. I guess it¡¯s obvious in hindsight, huh?¡± Relia¡¯s tone was still too cheerful, and that rubbed Akari like a stone in her shoe. She¡¯d apologized, but she still didn¡¯t explain what was wrong, or how she¡¯d stop it from happening again. ¡°We need to talk,¡± Akari said. ¡°You, me, and Kalden. No more excuses this time.¡± Book 2 - Chapter 18: Shardbreaker Kalden opened the glass door to the alchemy lab, ushering the others inside. The room wasn''t half as nice as his labs back home, but it had all the essentials. A dozen basic stations filled the floor, with a row of refrigerators along the back wall. Beyond that were more specialized rooms that housed the furnaces and compressors. Bits of broken glass snapped beneath Kalden''s boots, and he resisted the urge to grab a broom. Mr. Kosho would have made the whole class stay late if they''d left that mess behind. A week ago, Kalden had assumed his alchemy skills would be useless here, but he''d quickly realized the truth of things. Arkala might be years behind the outside world, but Creta had the same problem. It was worse in many ways because the Dragonlord restricted education to his own supporters. Then again, Kalden had belonged to the ruling class back home, so maybe things weren''t so much better there. They certainly hadn''t been for Akari. He stopped at his usual station and gestured for Akari and Relia to sit on the padded stools. Then he set up his portable sound suppressor, forming a dome of transparent mana around them. "Okay," he said to Relia. "We''re listening." "Right." She fidgeted with her red braid. "Just thinking of how to word this." Kalden gave an encouraging nod as he fell into the seat across from them. Three hours had passed since their skirmish on the ferry, but privacy was scarce in Liberta territory. The barracks, mess hall, and rooftops were all packed at this hour, and they couldn''t step outside without their fake marks drawing attention. Several long seconds passed, then he and Akari shared a look. Relia continued running a finger along the length of her braid, avoiding their eyes. "Sorry," she said. "I''ve never told anyone about this." Akari raised an eyebrow. "Even Elend?" She shook her head. "Elend and his wife know. So did my last teacher. But I never told them." "Sorry if we''re missing something obvious," Kalden said. "We wouldn''t be asking if it wasn''t important." "I know. I should have told you guys a long time ago." She grasped the edge of the table, and her knuckles turned even whiter than usual. "You know how channels are mostly metaphysical?" she said. "The mana is there, and you can feel it. But it''s also not there?" Kalden nodded again. There wasn''t room for actual mana channels in a human body, so they existed mostly in the spiritual realm. Only techniques like Missiles brought the mana fully into the physical world. "Sometimes," she continued, "my mana crystalizes in my channels, and it takes all my focus to stop it. That''s why I collapsed on the ferry tonight. And that''s why my mark disappeared. I couldn''t cycle any mana to my head." Crystalizing mana and blocked channels. That sounded familiar ... but no, this couldn''t be the same condition. Relia reached in her purse and pulled out the small metal box, opening it for them both to see. The pill inside was as big as her thumb, and it shone with pale blue light. That was typical for alchemy. Still, his eyes focused on the swirling patterns beneath the pill''s surface, and his blood froze. A shardbreaker. Clearly the work of a master alchemist¡ªsomeone far beyond Kalden''s level. These weren''t even supposed to exist anymore, but there it was. "I can cycle this," Relia told them. "And it stops my mana from crystalizing. For a few weeks, at least. " "Okay," Akari said. "So what''s the big deal? Sounds like it''s not your fault." "Krustoplegia," Kalden whispered. Relia''s head snapped up. "You know about this?" "Huh?" Akari glanced back and forth between them. "You guys wanna fill me in?" "Sorry." Kalden gestured to Relia. "I shouldn''t have interrupted." "No." She held out her hands as if to push him back. "You tell her." Damnit. Kalden was about to protest, but could he really deny her that request, knowing what he knew? "I''ve read things," he said. "But they can''t all apply to you. Clearly, you''re¡ª" "They apply to me," Relia said. "I''ve trained my whole life to fight it. That''s why I seem fine." Akari tapped her fingers on the table. "For Talek''s sake, someone spit it out." In that moment, Kalden felt a hint of what Relia must have felt when they''d first sat down. How did you explain something like this? The answer was simple¡ªyou couldn''t soften the blow. You just had to say it. "The crystals get stronger over time," Kalden said. "It leads to permanent paralysis. Most people with krustoplegia die before they reach puberty. As far as I know, no one''s ever lived past eighteen." Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. "Oh." The impatience drained from Akari''s face, and she looked as cold as he felt. "The doctors thought I''d never even walk," Relia said. "That''s why my parents shipped me off." Her brow furrowed, and her next words poured out in a rush. "It was their fault, you know. They took soulshine to advance quicker, but they kept it a secret. I got all the side effects when I was born." Well, that explained why she hated soulshine. He''d already known Relia was an orphan, but he''d assumed her parents were dead. This sounded more like they''d abandoned her. "My first master told me all this," she continued. "But we couldn''t prove it. No one can force Grandmasters to take a DNA test. Not without evidence." "But you''re okay," Akari said. "The doctors were wrong." "Life arts," Relia said. "It''s the whole reason I chose this aspect. My Cloak heals the damage from the crystals. And it lets me take pills with higher toxicity. I also reached Apprentice early. That gave me almost a full year with no symptoms. The crystals still formed, but they weren''t strong enough to hurt my body." "But what about the crystals themselves?" Kalden asked. "Even if you heal the damage ..." "I learned to break them down." He frowned. "How do you break down crystals inside your own body?" For a moment, he felt a tinge of hope. If she could do that, then maybe she''d survive. "It''s all my mana," Relia said, "so it responds to my intention. Normally, only a Master can do that, but I had plenty of motivation to learn it early." "Sounds like you have a plan," he said. "It''s worked for this long, but it won''t work forever. I''ve learned to accept that. My old master had this whole plan for me. Apprentice by fifteen. Artisan by eighteen. Master by twenty-one ..." "Master by twenty-one." Akari leaned forward, putting her elbows on the countertop. "Is that possible?" "It''s been done before," Relia said. "But they were all freaks of nature." "But your old master thought you could do it," Kalden said. Relia shrugged. "She was obsessed with living forever. Lots of Mana Artists are like that. But Elend taught me there''s more than just living for tomorrow. It never comes, after all." Kalden let out a long breath as he sank back in his seat. How long did Relia have, then? She''d implied that advancement would delay her symptoms, but she also had more than a thousand mana points to go until she reached Artisan. Kalden didn''t know the exact numbers, but things looked grim in that regard. Unfortunately, they had an even bigger problem now. "You only have one pill left," Kalden said. Relia nodded. "We left Korelden with a whole case of these¡ªhalf a year''s worth. We thought we''d prepared for the worst ..." She trailed off, then shook her head. "It''s been almost two weeks since my last one, but it hasn''t been this bad in years." She patted the metal box on the table. "I figure I have a few more days before I need this." That didn''t sound so bad. But what if they were stranded in Creta for longer than they''d expected? Kyzar had promised them access to a computer, but there were no guarantees their message would reach Elend''s wife. Even if it did, how long would it take her to round up the Espirian military? These things didn''t just happen overnight. Relia had been anxious to keep moving, and now he knew why. It must be terrifying to have your body destroy itself from the inside. That was an enemy you couldn''t flee or fight. At least, not with Mana Arts. "What if I made you another shardbreaker pill?" Relia gave him a sad smile. "I appreciate the thought, but this is advanced stuff. You need¡ª" "I made one for my capstone project in school," Kalden interrupted. "Wait, seriously? People had this condition in the Archipelago?" "No, I just picked the hardest recipe in the book." She snorted. "You would do that, wouldn''t you?" Then her face brighten as realization dawned on her. "And you succeeded?" Kalden considered that. When most people thought of alchemy, they imagined hard lines between success and failure. That''s how it always happened in movies¡ªeither the pill shone like a golden coin, or it blew up in the alchemist''s face. Real-life was more complicated. His earliest pills had been disasters, with the bioactive chemicals failing to bond with the plant''s materials. In those cases, the pill would never pass from her stomach to her channels. But his final attempts were issues of toxicity¡ªa success by academic standards, even though it would kill a real patient. Fortunately, Relia''s Life Cloak could handle the poison. He just had to stop the mana from crystalizing. "I can do it." He gestured to their surroundings. "I already have the tools." "What about the recipe?" "Memorized." He tapped the side of his head. "The materials?" she asked. "They won''t have those sitting in the fridge." "We can buy them," he said. "We can use the money we saved from negotiating." Relia''s eyes widened. "You said you gave that back to Kyzar!" "Someone convinced me to save it for a rainy day." He shot Akari a smile. "We can buy the stuff tomorrow, then I can have a pill done by Kelsday." "Wow." Relia blinked. "Just like that?" "I''m not saying it''ll be easy," Kalden said. "I''d have to miss training. And probably some sleep, but it''s definitely possible." Relia''s shoulders sagged with relief, and her lips curled up at the edges. "Now I feel like an even bigger idiot for not telling you guys sooner." "It''s only been a few weeks," Kalden said. Then again, this was partially on him, too. He''d known her pills related to her condition, but he hadn''t wanted to pry. In hindsight, he could have at least asked some basic questions. He was still used to living as a high school student¡ªa life with clean-cut problems that mostly resolved themselves. A short silence passed between them after that. With the current crisis under control, they had no choice but to look toward the future. A future that might not involve Relia. They''d only been traveling together for a few weeks, and he''d hardly call them close. On the contrary, he and Relia seemed to argue about everything. But they''d already been through so much, and he''d imagined them all attending Koreldon University together. They''d even talked about forming a team for the inter-school arena matches. But now ... how much time would she really have? Years? Months? Akari inched her hand across the table and rested it on top of Relia''s. The gesture seemed a little awkward coming from her. But that made it more meaningful. "Grandmaster by twenty-one?" Akari said. "Sounds good to me." "Master," Relia said with a choked-out laugh. "Grandmaster comes after that." She shrugged and glanced around the table. "Still seems like a solid goal. And three''s a nice number." Relia''s eyes misted at that, and she gave her usual broad smile. "You don''t even know what you''re saying, do you?" "Not a clue," Kalden answered for her. "But that''s never stopped us before." Akari nodded. "People told me I''d never be a Mana Artist." "Much less advance," Kalden added. "At least we know this goal is possible." Relia drew in a long breath. "It gets harder the higher you climb. Much harder. There are only three Masters in this entire country." That gave Kalden pause. But no ... it wasn''t their fault they couldn''t advance. The Dragonlord was hoarding resources and knowledge here, just like the Martials had done back on Arkala. But how high could these people climb with an equal chance? How high could he and his friends climb? "One step at a time," he said. "But whatever it takes, we''ll get through it together." Book 2 - Chapter 19: Space and Time Dream Akari stomped out of the dueling ring, ignoring the crowd with their satisfied grins. Before today, she''d been the top Foundation duelist in Last Haven. Now, her reign was over. This duel with Kalden Trengsen hadn''t been ranked, but she''d have to face him again. When she did, she had no answer to his blade mana. Her combat suit clung to her as she walked, and her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths. She''d lost duels before, but those had all been against older, Apprentice-level students. Students with Cloak techniques and seemingly endless wells of mana. Kalden Trengsen had neither of those things. Instead, he''d fought with machine-like precision, controlling every molecule of mana around him. More practice wouldn''t close a gap that wide. She needed an aspect. Akari followed the cobblestone path from the high school toward the town proper. The afternoon crowds spilled off from the sidewalks, filling half the road. There weren''t many cars here, but that didn''t matter. Most houses sat within a few miles from town, and people had no trouble crossing the sect on foot. Her route took her through the main square where she passed a library, a post office, and a taller structure that was probably the town hall. No chapel though. Weird. Maybe they weren''t fans of the Angels around here? Eventually, the sidewalk split off from the main road, winding through a forest that divided her neighborhood from the main town. The trees here were all thin skeletons, and small snowdrifts clung stubbornly in the deeper ravines. The thin foliage offered a perfect view of the snow-covered mountains beyond. Talek. And she trained in this place all day, with no Martials or Dragonlords trying to kill her? Talk about paradise. But Dream Akari barely glanced up from her shoes. Instead, she kept clenching her fists and muttering about the injustices of the world. The forest went on for another half-mile until the path rejoined the sidewalk in her neighborhood. From there, she walked two more blocks and stepped through her front door. Finally. She''d been waiting for this moment since Elend told her the truth about her parents. This was her chance to see her mother''s face after so many years. This was her chance to see Mazren Clifton as her real father rather than her foster parent. The wooden blinds were half-slanted inside the house, and rays of sunlight speared through the gaps. A pot of broth simmered on the stove, and the scents of soy sauce and garlic wafted through the air. Emiri slid her slender frame beside Mazren as he drained a basket of noodles in the sink. They moved in perfect synchrony as they worked, like two Mana Artists on a battlefield. Mazren looked the same as he had on Arkala. But while her foster father had always seemed tired and slumped, this man looked lively and energetic. Not to mention more physically fit¡ªalmost like a younger version of Elend. Akari had barely remembered her mother''s face until this moment, but now a hundred memories flooded her mind. Emiri''s dark eyes seemed to smile behind a pair of black-framed glasses. She laughed at something Mazren had said, standing on her tiptoes to kiss his ear. Mazren grinned back at her, putting his left hand around her waist. His other hand held a long pair of wooden chopsticks, arranging the noodles into three bowls. Emiri ladled the broth on top, followed by half-boiled eggs and slices of grilled pork belly. Dream Akari just rolled her eyes as she kicked off her boots in the doorway. "Hi, honey." Her mother waved at her as she passed under the archway into the kitchen. "We made your favorite." Talek. Real Akari thought she might cry. But of course, her past self was indifferent. She didn''t know how fragile and short this life would be. That dissonance between them almost caused the dream to fade. No. Don''t you dare wake up. This moment was too perfect to end. Real Akari let her own thoughts and emotions drift to the background, taking in every detail of the scene. Mazren finished off the ramen bowls by arranging some mushrooms and chopped green onions in the corners. Akari grabbed a random bowl and headed straight to her bedroom. Mana passed her cheek as she walked, flattening into a Construct that blocked her path. She blinked as her bedroom doorway become a portal that led straight back to the dining room. "You know," Mazren said. "It''s more fun to eat together." Akari glared at him, and she stepped through the portal Construct as if it were an ordinary doorway. Bad enough they didn''t let her aspect her mana¡ª now her father flaunted his Spatial Arts in her face? She slammed her bowl on the table, sending droplets of broth on her bamboo placemat. "Can I at least change my clothes first?" He nodded and made a casual wave at his Construct. It vanished to mist behind her. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "I''ll keep your food warm." A transparent Missile left Emiri''s hand, forming into a dome-shaped Construct over her placemat. Akari took her time changing as if she could punish her parents by making them wait. Of course, her stomach growled several times, and she was obviously just hurting herself. She literally had a perfect life here, but she didn''t appreciate any of it. And I''m supposed to sync up with this girl? How? By acting like a spoiled brat all day? A thousand years later, Dream Akari returned to the table and plopped herself down in the cushioned chair. Emiri waved a hand over her bowl, and time flowed backward inside her Construct. The steam seemed to fall rather than rise, bubbles reformed and sank, and the oils twisted in a fast, chaotic pattern over the broth''s dark surface. Time mana? Her past memories confirmed her thoughts a second later. Temporal Artists like her mother could make pocket dimensions and freeze time at a particular moment. Basically, it was like making a save point in a video game, and that save point rejoined the world when the Construct broke. Was Akari training to use one of these aspects? That might explain the delay, "How was your duel?" Mazren asked. Akari grabbed a piece of pork belly with her chopsticks and brought it to her mouth. "Now you care?" "I care about you." She bit into the pork, letting the sweet and sour taste fill her mouth. "How''s Kalden?" He asked to fill the silence. "We haven''t seen him since he left for Shoken." "We didn''t talk much. He had a good aspect though." She took another bite. "Wonder what that''s like." "We''ve been over this." Her mother sat down her chopsticks with a heavy sigh. "Aspecting is a delicate process, and¡ª "Seemed easy enough for the others in my grade," Akari said. "I''m literally the last one left." "Most of your class has lower tier aspects." Mazren gestured between himself and Emiri." Ours are tier four on the abstraction scale. Combining them will be an even bigger risk." "Well," Akari said. "I didn''t ask to be your science experiment, did I?" She chewed her noodles and swallowed. "What if I just take one aspect? What if I don''t combine them?" Her mother let out a long breath, leaning forward. "You''re so close, Akari. There are others like us out there, but no one''s ever done spacetime mana." Akari rolled her eyes. "Maybe there''s a reason for that." "Combining two aspects is hard," Mazren agreed. "You need a teacher from each original aspect. No one else in history has had your opportunities. And most people your age aren''t as patient or hardworking as you." Akari matched his smile with a glare. "How much longer?" "Keep training," her mother said, "and you could be ready when you''re sixteen." "No." Akari slammed her spoon into her bowl. "That''s too long. I''ll be Apprentice by then." "That''s the idea. The risks decrease with every rank." "Great," Akari said. "Then why not wait until I''m a gray-haired Mystic?" "Diminishing returns." Her mother''s voice grew more patient with every exchange, and that seemed to piss off Dream Akari even more. "Your father and I both waited to aspect our mana." "Yeah." Akari glanced around their house as if she expected something more. "And look where it got you." "I told you." Mazren shot his wife a meaningful look. "We never should have painted the dining room blue." "I''m being serious," Akari snapped. "Well," he said, "now you know how it feels when someone goes on an irrelevant tangent." "You''re saying my dueling doesn''t matter?" "I believe it matters to you now," he replied. "But you''ll have this aspect forever." "I lost to Kalden Trengsen today." She met each of their eyes as if it were some earth-shattering revelation. "And he''s still a Foundation like me. I can''t fight in the Apprentice leagues without an aspect. I''ll be the worst duelist there. I know you think I''m stupid, but I''m thinking ahead. Falling behind now puts me behind in university. That hurts my chances of entering the Grandmaster''s Tournament." Mazren nodded along. "You''re imagining one possible path to success. That doesn''t prove it''s the only way. Or even that it will work." "Look at any famous Artist," Akari said. "They all started young." "But ninety percent of Mystics aspected in their late teens," he said. "They weren''t child prodigies. They were people who faced hardship and conquered it¡ªdriven forward by their pain and their failures. That''s what we''re trying to teach you." "Ninety percent," Akari echoed. "You''re making that up." "The Koreldon Journal of Advancement," Emiri said with a smile. "Page twenty-two, paragraph one." Mazren held up his napkin and pointed it toward the living room coffee table. His mana moved in a Circuit technique, and the journal appeared in his hand a second later. And of course, the napkin would take its place on the coffee table. Spatial techniques had a high mana cost, but you could reduce that loss by altering fewer parameters. That meant it was cheaper to swap two similar objects than it was to move a single object. He set down the journal in front of her, opening it to the page her mother had mentioned. Akari didn''t bother reading it. "You''re angry because you lost a duel," Emiri said. "We don''t make life-altering decisions when we''re angry." "Then when?" Akari said. "You know I could handle a single aspect now. Either space or time. We have all the artifacts in the house right now. If you just show me how¡ª" "When you''re sixteen," her mother said. "And if our theory is right, then space and time are each two halves of a single aspect. Your Spacetime Art might be stronger than both of ours combined." "Doesn''t help me today," Akari said. "What''s the point of being stronger if I have to wait forever." "This aspect will help you succeed in life." "Like you?" she retorted. "Maybe that''s not what I want. Ever think of that?" Her mother sighed. "Can you trust us, Akari? Can you trust that we know what''s best for you in the long run?" "No." Her chair skitted against the wooden floor as she pushed it back. "You don''t trust me, so why the hell should I trust you?" ~~~ Akari opened her eyes and found herself lying in the Unmarked barracks. Once again, it was early in the morning, and the light hadn''t yet risen outside. She rolled over on her back, breathing hard. "Dream Akari, you ungrateful little bitch." Tears stained her pillow, and more ran down her cheeks. With Talek as her witness, she would give up all her Mana Arts right now if she could go back to that moment. Her parents had been married in that life, taking care of her, and training her to receive a new, original aspect. Possibly one of the strongest aspects in the world. She couldn''t imagine a better life if she tried. But Dream Akari had lost one duel, then acted like Missiles were raining from the sky. Did she realize she could have been imprisoned on an island with her memories wiped and her powers stolen? Did she realize she''d have to risk her life on a daily basis? Akari lay there for several long heartbeats, but she didn''t feel like sleeping anymore. She put on her glasses, got dressed, and headed for the rooftop to train. Her mother was dead, but Mazren was still alive. His memories were locked away, and he was trapped in a world that wasn''t his own. I''m coming back for you, Akari thought. Whatever it takes. Book 2 - Chapter 20: The First Move Akari trained alone for the first part of the morning. As usual, she started with a quick warmup, followed by a series of combat stances, punches, and kicks. She knew the proper forms from her dreams, but it wasn''t exactly like riding a bike. Her past self had fought with deadly precision, but recreating those moves felt like fighting while drunk. Akari had never been drunk, but that was the best comparison she had. Her fists cut through the morning air, and images of her parents flashed in her mind''s eye. She followed her father''s advice for once, using that pain to push her forward. Every second spent training might save her life in battle, and every victory was a step closer to her goal. The sun eventually appeared on Tureko''s eastern skyline, and Kalden and Relia joined her on the rooftop. Together, they began their Mana Arts routine just as they had every other morning since they''d joined the Unmarked. It wasn''t always easy. Some days, Akari wanted nothing more than to curl up under the covers for another hour. But waiting until the evening wasn''t an option. Smuggling left them exhausted, and distractions always popped up. "That''s the Mana Artist''s life," Relia had said. "It''s why most people never make it past Apprentice. Even in Espiria, they tell themselves they''ll train someday. Someday, when they have more time. But someday never comes." She said this with her usual chipper voice, but the words seemed a lot grimmer in hindsight. Relia had been racing against the clock her whole life, and procrastination was a luxury she''d never have. They stood in a loose circle now, and Relia''s mana flew at them like cars on the highway. Akari and Kalden blocked with their Constructs. The sun crested the rooftops as they sparred, and their mana glowed violet In the morning light. They''d established a decent routine now, but that had been a struggle of its own. With so much to learn, how did you decide what to prioritize? Did you focus on your weaknesses, or lean into your strengths? It had been so much simpler when she had a straightforward progression. Sense your mana, and do a Missile. Reach Silver, and do a Construct. Now, she had more like fifty short-term goals, and barely an hour each day to train. How was she supposed to fit it all in? Did she work on refining her Missiles, or her Constructs? What about her aspect? Or preparing her body for a Cloak technique? What about all those combination techniques from her dreams, like when she''d sliced that car in half? "Try making a list," Relia had told them one morning. "Write down everything you want to learn. Don''t worry about the order. I''ll help you guys figure it out from there." She and Kalden each followed Relia''s advice, returning the next morning with their lists. "Okay." Relia bit the end of her pencil as she examined Akari''s. Then she crossed out the entire right column. "Forget all this advanced stuff for now." Akari blinked. "Just like that?" "These all have crazy pre-requisites," she said as she crossed out a few more lines. "Double Construct blades, for example. You need to force out pressure from your chest while pulling on the edges with both your hands. You also need both hands just to hold the Constructs in place, so this is like five techniques in one." Her brain hurt just thinking about that. Dream Akari had also been using a pre-Cloak technique when she''d sliced through the car, so it was more like six techniques. Her past self might be a spoiled brat, but she was still one hell of a Mana Artist. Relia flipped over Akari''s paper and wrote three quick lines at the top. "We''ll say Constructs are number one. Especially here in Creta. Foundation bodies are weak, so you need all the defense you can get. After that, you can''t go wrong with some shaping practice." Fun. Shaping meant repeating the same movements over and over, and you were lucky to see improvements after a week. But Akari didn''t complain. Most Mana Artists they''d met seemed to ignore these exercises entirely. Not only did that make their techniques predictable, but it gave her group a huge advantage. Another Missile closed in on Akari, snapping her back to the present moment. She raised both hands and formed a Construct, shattering the mana an inch from her face. Shit. Relia could fix broken bones, but she''d be screwed if her glasses broke. No sooner had Akari formed her shield than a second Missile flew toward her stomach. With no time to block, Akari kicked off from her left foot, leaping sideways and missing the attack by a hair''s breadth. "Hey," Relia hollered. "Is this blocking practice or dodging practice?" Akari groaned. "How am I supposed to block two Missiles at once?" She might have done it with a wider shield, but those took time to make¡ªbasically useless at this speed. "You have two hands, don''t you?" Relia grinned as she demonstrated the correct motion, raising one arm to guard her face while keeping the other low at her waist. Akari closed her mouth and fell back into her combat stance. There was no arguing with Relia while she had her Teacher Cloak active. This continued for another ten minutes. By the end, Akari and Kalden were both out of mana and covered in bruises. They topped off their souls with a bottle of liquid mana, then moved on to the next part of their routine. For Akari, this meant shaping exercises. For Kalden, it meant being Relia''s personal punching bag. Apparently, he''d been close to Apprentice in his own dreams, and he had a chance of reaching it again. That meant putting his body under constant strain until he advanced. So Akari sat crossed-legged on the stone roof, working on her shaping, and watching Relia break and heal Kalden''s bones. With each break, he forced more mana into the holes, and this paved the way for a stronger body later on. Was it weird that she found this distracting? Did that make her a masochist? No ... it wasn''t the injuries that held her attention. It was the way Kalden handled them. Most people would have screamed or tensed under the pain. But Kalden kept his breathing steady as he cycled. It was like he could conquer it through sheer force of will. It got harder to focus as they removed layers of clothing, leaving Relia in her sports bra and Kalden completely shirtless. They''d all gotten less shy about that lately. It helped when the Unmarked only had so many washing machines. No one wanted to get their clothes sweaty if they could help it. Akari had to chant, "Master by twenty-one" under her breath to stay focused. Even then, she struggled to keep her eyes on her mana. "That should be good for today," Relia finally said, "I''m gonna grab a shower and head downstairs. See you by Hector''s car!" This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. And with that, she skipped across the roof with even more energy than when they''d started. Kalden gathered his things, shrugged into his shirt, and joined Akari on the ground. "I can''t wait until Apprentice." Akari nodded her agreement. "She''ll probably be Artisan by then¡ªstill skipping circles around us." "I hope so," Kalden said. Right. It was hard to think about Relia without getting depressed now. Maybe that was why she''d kept her condition a secret. It must suck to have your friends see you as a wilting flower. "I had another dream last night," Kalden said after a short silence. "You were in it." Akari perked up. "Yeah?" "I came back to Last Haven after training in Shoken. My father told me to challenge the top Foundation fighter to a duel." "Spoiler alert," Akari said. "You beat me." "What? You had the same dream?" She nodded, and the two shared their own perspectives of the fight. She also explained the situation with her parents, and how they''d been trying to combine their space and time aspects into something new. Kalden followed with his own experiences in Shoken. Apparently, the Blade Artists had put Kalden''s body under similar strain before, but they''d never gone as far as breaking his bones. Most healers would take days to heal that sort of damage, but Relia did it in seconds. Just how powerful was she? "You should have seen the other training my parents put me through," he said. "They had my whole career planned out. It wasn''t so different from my alchemy path on Arkala." Before these last few dreams, Akari had always assumed Mana Artists lived better lives than everyone else. Clearly, things weren''t as simple as following your passion into the sunset. "Think you''ll pick the same aspect this time?" she asked. "Hard to say." Kalden tilted his head from side to side. "Blade mana was great for winning duels, but dueling never made me happy. Besides, we have different goals this time." He shifted to face her. "What about you?" Akari shrugged. "Spacetime mana would be a treat, but who knows if I can pull it off without my parents. Even my past self couldn''t do that." "Your past self was pretty intense," Kalden said. "Yeah." Akari winced. "Sorry if she was a bitch to you." "Why do you say that?" "I was different then. Thought everything should go my way, then I got pissed when it didn''t." "You weren''t so bad," he said. "If anything, you were more hostile when we met on Arkala." She gave him a flat look. "You lured me into a supply closet." "It was for a business arrangement." "It was one step short of kidnapping," Akari said, but she didn''t bother to hide her grin. "I bought you your favorite coffee," he retorted. "No chocolate because of your allergy." "That''s right." She considered that. "Darren and Maelyn?" Now it was Kalden''s turn to smile. "I could barely put on my school uniform without them." His smile faded, and he stared down at his boots. "I wish they could have come with us." Akari gave a heavy nod. With all the danger they''d faced, Darren and Maelyn were probably better off on Arkala. Still, she knew what it felt like to miss people. Especially now, with memories of her parents so fresh in her mind. She followed Kalden''s gaze back to his lap where he''d covered a piece of paper. "What''s that?" she asked. "Huh?" He blinked at the open notebook as if seeing it for the first time. "Oh, yeah. Relia was telling me about advancement in the Master realms. Apparently, you need to speak certain revelations to open your soul¡ªalign it with your identity." "What?" Half-naked sparring was one thing. Now they were discussing advancement without her? That crossed the line. Kalden nodded, heedless of her glare. "It might apply to what we''re doing. We''re trying to sync up with our past selves, right? What if we could boil our personalities down to a single trait? A single word that describes us?" "Easy," Akari said. "I''m a rebel." That had been consistent between her past and present self. But while Dream Akari had rebelled against her parents, Real Akari saved her energy for her true enemies. "Sorry," Kalden said. "A single trait for our past selves. Something we don''t have now." "Oh." Akari could think of several words to describe her past self. But she''d already tried embracing those ideas before, and her soul hadn''t responded. Kalden gestured back to the notebook on his lap. "I made a list of all my traits, then I rated them on a scale of one to ten. The tens are traits I already share with my past self. The ones are things I need to look into." Well, that was classic Kalden. Still, it was better than all her ideas. "Can I see your list?" He hesitated. "Come on. What''d we tell Relia about keeping secrets." "Some things are personal." "She literally gave us that same excuse." "It''s not the same thing." "What if we can help each other?" she said. "What if something sparks for me when I see your list?" He breathed out through his nose. "You''re gonna keep bothering me until I show you, aren''t you?" She shrugged. "Unless I think of a better plan." Kalden grabbed his pencil and moved to erase something. "For Talek''s sake." Akari reached for the paper, but he moved it out of her reach. They sat there in a stalemate for several seconds, then his lips curled up at the edges as he passed her the book. Damnit. She knew that smile. Did she just stumble into a trap? Akari glanced down at the page, taking in the long table of data. The left column listed his personality traits, then the next two held the ratings. It didn''t seem all that embarrassing. Most of Kalden''s traits were similar, with only a few points of difference between them. There were a few larger gaps, though. For example, he''d given himself a 10/10 for Strategist now, but only a 2/10 in his past life. That made sense. Before, his parents had filled his head with thoughts of duty and honor, and he hadn''t wanted to defy them. "Hey," Akari said. "I think you struck gold with this next row." "Really?" Kalden leaned forward, close enough that she felt his breath on her neck. Akari gave a serious nod. "It says your past self didn''t like coffee." "Ah." Kalden leaned back again. "Well, you never know what''s important." She pointed up at the sky. "You should shout that to the Angels right now. Maybe they''ll¡ª" She trailed off as the next row caught her eye. She read the words out loud before she could stop herself. "Crush on Akari Zeller?" Her eyes flew to the next column that represented Kalden''s past self: 10/10. Then time slowed to a crawl as her eyes moved to the last column, representing his current self: 10/10 Heat rushed to her cheeks. She re-read the row several times, following the lines with her finger, making sure she hadn''t misread. "Oh," Akari finally said. "You¡ªwhat?" Her mouth couldn''t form any sentences after that. Was Kalden saying he liked her¡ªmore than a friend? Or was this a joke? "It''s lonely at the top," Kalden explained. His own voice sounded far calmer than she felt. "You seemed lonely too. Kindred spirits and all that. You were the only Foundation duelist who put up a real fight. And you weren''t even a career fighter. You just did it as a hobby." Akari felt her shoulders relax. So, Kalden didn''t really like her that way. He just respected her as a fellow Mana Artist. That made sense. Kind of disappointing, though. "Plus, I thought you were cute," he went on. "Guess the whole brooding rebel thing worked for me." He looked up and met her eyes. "It still does." The heat returned to her cheeks, and she cleared her throat. "That''s cool." She''d meant for the comment to sound nonchalant. But it came out in the most cringe-worthy way possible. Damnit, she thought. Say something else. Her past self had always pushed people away as some bullshit defense mechanism, but it hadn''t made her any happier. "You looked kind of dorky when you were thirteen," Akari said. "But you''re not so bad now." "Guess I was a late bloomer." Kalden leaned closer, and their shoulders touched again. I could kiss him, Akari thought. If this were a Mana Arts movie, this would be the perfect time. The hero always kissed the girl in front of a dramatic sunrise. Or in this case, the heroine kissed the boy. Or would that be weird? Things moved slower in the fancy Gold society where he''d grown up. She could ask him first ... or would that be even worse? Besides, if he wanted to, then why didn''t he make the first move? Talek. But this was Kalden Trengsen. He was probably overthinking this whole thing, running spreadsheets and equations through his head. He wasn''t wrong either¡ªAkari got jumpy with physical contact sometimes. So make the first move, she told herself. Just¡ª The roof access door swung open, and Hector stuck his head out. "Hey, you guys almost ready?" Oh, hell no. Not the old interruption trope. "Yeah," Kalden pushed himself to his feet. "We''ll be right there." Hector closed the door, and Akari climbed to her feet next to Kalden. She''d missed her chance. Now they''d have to dance around the issue until a sufficiently climatic moment. Screw that. She was a badass Mana Artist, not some socially awkward girl. Akari grabbed Kalden by his shirt, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him ... ... on the cheek. She''d been aiming for his lips, but she''d changed course at the last second. Kissing seemed tricky, and she didn''t want to mess up her first attempt. That''d be as silly as rushing into battle with a new weapon. Still, the feeling left her lightheaded. Even Kalden looked surprised for once. His smile reached his eyes, and he put a hand to his cheek. Oh well, at least she was half a badass. Akari winked at him as she walked toward the stairwell, feigning confidence as if this were her plan all along. Book 2 - Chapter 21: A Merciless World probably. There¡¯s no guarantee.¡± Two at once? That complicated things. She should probably sit down . . . Right, stay focused. Sweat broke out across her body, and she leaned against the wall for support. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The prickling in her leg turned to a sharp stab of pain. Relia had dealt with hundreds of cuts and broken bones during her training, but this was worse. It always came with a sense of wrongness, like an agonizing itch she couldn¡¯t scratch. Thank the Angels. Relia accepted the box with a shaky hand. Her nerves had left her mouth barren, but she¡¯d swallowed her pills without water before. She brought the glowing blue capsule to her mouth, feeling the bitter taste on her tongue. In that moment, the crystal in her spine grew sharper, and her muscles went limp. No, no, no! Angels above. Why did it always come to this? First the Martials, and now these soldiers. Why did people always have to die for the stupidest reasons? Two against one. Relia couldn¡¯t walk, and Akari still lay unconscious on the floor. Her life mana was too slow to reach them from a distance, and her opponents wouldn¡¯t fall to a pure technique. Her control was too shaky for that. Book 2 - Chapter 22: The Deal Dreams assaulted Akari while she slept¡ªone after the other in rapid succession. But no ¡­ this couldn¡¯t be sleep. Those soldiers had knocked her out with a steel rod to the face. Unconscious people didn¡¯t dream, did they? Still, some part of her seemed desperate for these visions. Maybe it was her soul, or maybe it was the Construct Elend had placed inside her. Time¡¯s running out, she realized. Akari couldn¡¯t normally sense Elend¡¯s Construct. But now she felt it fading as clearly as she felt her own mana. It would dissolve soon, and so would their marks. Wake up. Relia needs you. Nothing happened. Her dreams had been fragile things before, fading at the slightest stray thought. Now, they came far more insistent, and Dream Akari¡¯s will dominated her own. She sat in the audience of Last Haven¡¯s arena, watching Kalden rip through his opponents in the ring. First, he fought Rina Watase, a Lightning Artist who sprinted faster than a raptor. But for all her speed and mobility, Kalden had predicted her exact path, and she¡¯d impaled herself on his flying blade. Then he faced a Stone Artist named Tashiro Kamoto. Like Watase, this boy didn¡¯t have a proper Cloak technique, but he covered every inch of his body in solid rock, charging Kalden head-on. Kalden abandoned his own defense and shrank his mana blades to pinpricks. The needle-like techniques wove through the gaps in Kamoto¡¯s armor, and the fight ended in less than a minute. After that, he faced Darren Warder who wielded a pair of submachine guns. The other boy must have infused his bullets with mana because they curved like Missiles as they flew, seeking their target and exploding on impact. Guns were a great way to close skill gaps against stronger opponents, but they usually lost to traditional Mana Arts. Today was no exception. Kalden deflected every bullet, and Darren¡¯s own defenses were no match for the storm of blades. Akari switched to another dream where she rode her bike down a winding asphalt road. Thick forest surrounded her on all sides, and the wind smelled like spring¡ªcold, damp, and filled with life. Her path continued downhill for several miles, steeper than any slopes she¡¯d ever seen. Eventually, she passed over a train track and found her destination¡ªan old diner with a red neon sign on its roof. Akari walked her bike through the parking lot, dodging potholes and puddles from the recent rainfall. A galvanized steel rack sat by the front door, and she locked her bike into place. No one ever worried about theft in Last Haven, but she¡¯d heard rougher stories about the outside world. She stepped inside, ordered a coffee, and found a booth far away from the chatting locals. An air vent blasted her from above, even colder than the air outside. Akari zipped her hoodie to her chin and curled her fingers around the steaming mug. Rain spattered the windows, and the trees thrashed in the wind outside. Great. Twenty miles down the mountain hadn¡¯t been so bad, but the ride home was going to suck. The minutes dragged on, and she checked her watch for the hundredth time. 1:59. She glanced out the window, squinting past the steady flow of water droplets. No one else had shown up. Would it be better if she turned around, too? Sure, she was pissed at her parents, but did she want to go behind their backs like this? Did she really want to share their secrets with a stranger? The clock struck two, and a man appeared in the booth across from her. ¡°Shit.¡± Akari jumped back, losing her grip on her mug. Mana flashed from the newcomer¡¯s hand, and he caught the falling cup with a Missile technique. Several drops of brown liquid froze in midair. Only a Master had mana control that good. ¡°Sorry for the scare,¡± the man said with a smile. He was Espirian like her father, and about the same age. His blue eyes pierced her like two ice Missiles¡ªfar brighter than any eyes she¡¯d ever seen. His hair was red like Relia¡¯s. But while Relia¡¯s hair was bright like a fire, this man¡¯s was dark as a pool of dried blood. The rest of his features were smooth, and his smile seemed genuine¡ªthe sort of face you¡¯d see on TV. Akari¡¯s mug rose from her lap and returned to its place on the table. She glanced down at the cup, then back at the man who¡¯d just appeared from thin air. ¡°Ashur Moonfire?¡± He nodded once, just as a waitress passed their table. The woman gave no reaction to his sudden appearance. In fact, no one else in the diner seemed to notice him. ¡°Hell no.¡± Akari scooted out of the booth. ¡°I didn¡¯t sign up for Dream Mana.¡± She¡¯d half expected the man to freeze her in place. Instead, he gave a casual shrug. ¡°Suit yourself. But I¡¯m no Dream Artist.¡± Akari hesitated. ¡°There are other ways to make yourself invisible. Some people from your sect might recognize me, and I¡¯d rather not antagonize them.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. She activated her Silver Sight, expecting to see an intricate web of mana around Ashur. Instead, she saw nothing. No invisible Construct surrounded their booth, and no Missiles passed between them. He¡¯d even veiled his soul. But what if he¡¯d already gotten inside her head? He could easily blind her to his techniques, the same way he¡¯d shrouded his appearance. He could be influencing her decisions right now, encouraging her to stay. ¡°You¡¯re uncomfortable.¡± Ashur slid out of his seat, buttoning his jacket as he stood. ¡°I understand.¡± What was this? Reverse psychology? But why would a Dream Artist resort to mundane tricks? ¡°Not gonna make me stay?¡± she asked him. He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why would I do that?¡± ¡°You need information from me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s beneath me to manipulate a child.¡± Child? Please. Aside from Ashur, she could probably defeat anyone in this diner. Even the Apprentices. ¡°Have a good day, Miss Clifton.¡± Ashur put his back to her, and space bent between the tables as he opened a human-sized portal. A dimly lit room waited beyond, filled with shelves of leather-bound books. A Space Artist? But that could be faked, too. Even Akari had tried this technique with a bottle of liquid space mana. She¡¯d failed, of course. Drinking the mana wasn¡¯t the same as having the actual aspect. Even if she¡¯d succeeded, alchemy was prohibited in her sect¡¯s Foundation league. She needed an aspect if she wanted to beat Kalden Trengsen, and this man might be her only chance. ¡°Wait,¡± Akari said. Ashur paused halfway through the portal, turning to face her. ¡°Change your mind?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Akari let out a long breath and sank back into the booth. He joined her a second later, and the portal snapped shut behind him. They sat in silence for several heartbeats, and Akari scrambled for the right words. He already knew her situation from their emails, and she¡¯d come prepared with the artifacts and information. Ashur broke the silence first. ¡°Your parents are holding you back.¡± Akari nodded, curling her fingers around her mug. The contents were still warm despite their trip through the air. ¡°They¡¯re right to be scared,¡± he said. ¡°A spacetime aspect has never been done. If it fails, then half your mana will be useless. You¡¯ll be crippled for life.¡± She swallowed, and her fingers continued to fidget with her mug. Her parents had given her similar warnings in the past, but they¡¯d always seemed so confident in their plans. He must have sensed her discomfort because he raised a hand. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m not trying to scare you, or make your parents sound like the bad guys. I¡¯m sure they want what¡¯s best for you, but they¡¯re not certified instructors.¡± Good point. Her parents always acted smart by referencing academic journals, but they seemed to lack common sense. Worst of all, they¡¯d always valued their own experiments over her life. ¡°But I¡¯ve seen videos of your duels,¡± Ashur said as he leaned forward. ¡°You have so much potential. With a proper aspect, you could be the greatest Mana Artist of your generation.¡± Finally. That was her goal, of course, but everyone else sailed around the storm. Hearing it spoken sent shivers down her spine. ¡°But you¡¯re plateauing,¡± he said. ¡°Techniques from a tier four aspect take years to develop. You need to start training now if you want to compete at the collegiate level.¡± "Try telling my parents that," Akari muttered. "They see your potential too," he said. "But they''d rather shield you from that life of fame, convincing themselves it''s for your own good." "But what if they''re right?¡± Akari asked. ¡°What if spacetime mana makes me stronger in the long run?" She agreed with everything Ashur had said, but she''d wrestled with this last question ever since her duel with Kalden. What was the cost of being wrong? Ashur spread out his hands on the table. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s say your parents are right about everything. You''re still in for a hard journey. It won''t be as simple as inheriting both of their techniques. More likely, you''ll need to invent your own techniques from scratch. You ever tried inventing a technique before?¡± Akari shook her head. ¡°It takes years of trial and error,¡± he said. ¡°It will make you an academic curiosity, but it won''t be practical." That was about what she''d expected. Even after all these years of waiting, she''d still have to work harder than everyone else to catch up. Her parents would prove their theory while she paid the price. "Alright," Akari said. ¡°I''ll go with space mana." That had been a tough decision too, but her father''s aspect was far more practical for combat than her mother¡¯s. Ashur nodded. ¡°Like I said before, you''ll need at least three artifacts for the ritual.¡± "They''re all right here." Akari patted her backpack, which sat in the booth beside her. The bag itself had been handcrafted by her father, and it held a pocket dimension. The other two artifacts sat inside. "What about the ritual itself?" she asked. "How''s it work?" Ashur''s lips curled up at the edges as he raised his hand. "That''s the part we''re negotiating. You have the information I''ve asked for?" Akari laughed under her breath. He''d ask her the name of Last Haven''s enemy¡ªthe person her parents actively defied. "Only one name I can think of. But you might not believe me." "I think I will," he said. "My people have our suspicions, but we need confirmation." She narrowed her eyes at him. "What will you do with this if I tell you?" "Nothing. I study the sects for research, and I report back what I find. That''s all." "But you disagree with the sects?" "So do you," he noted. "But I wish them no ill will." She let out a breath. ¡°So I tell you the name, then you teach me the ritual?" "That''s the deal." Her conscience still itched at the thought of betraying her sect. But what choice did she have? Her parents refused to listen, and no one else in the sect had offered to help. They¡¯d all forced her hand. Akari spoke the name. The sound left her mouth in a blur, and it sounded more like a rush of water than actual words. At the same time, the ambiance of the diner grew louder, and pressure built in her ears until they popped. Talek. What was this? All her other memories had been clear as glass¡ªElend''s technique had seen to that. It was as if someone had taken special care with this particular name. Could it be the one who¡¯d taken her memories in the first place? Was that person defending himself somehow? Akari¡¯s ears had been deaf to the sound, but she''d felt her lips move as she spoke. The name was long¡ªat least six syllables. The sound returned to normal when Ashur spoke again. ¡°Excellent.¡± Akari nodded as she fought down her guilt. "So when do I get my aspect?¡± He sent a burst of mana over his shoulder, opening another portal. "Right now." Book 2 - Chapter 23: A Worthy Goal Kalden sat in his alchemy lab, putting the final touches on Relia¡¯s pill. He¡¯d already refined the herbs, which was arguably the hardest part of the process. Now, those sat in the refrigerator, waiting for the final two reagents. The lantre and helocite had to bond at fifty-five degrees over three hours. A few degrees higher and the lantre would dissolve. Colder, and the helocite would solidify. Fortunately, the Unmarked had several alchemy-grade thermometers in the lab. Kalden had attached those to the water well which held the inner pot, and the system regulated itself from there. He¡¯d been nervous about this project before¡ªfar more nervous than he¡¯d let on to Relia. For all his years learning alchemy, the stakes had never been half this high. He¡¯d struggled to care about his projects on Arkala, the same way he¡¯d struggled to care about his dueling career in Last Haven. Sure, he¡¯d risked his parents¡¯ disappointment if he failed, but that hadn¡¯t been a worthy goal. Somehow¡ªdespite making this exact pill before¡ªKalden¡¯s mind knew the difference. These last two days, his brain fell into a flow state as he worked, the same way it did in battle. Maybe alchemy was never his problem? After all, he hadn¡¯t been any happier as a champion duelist. His whole life had felt mechanical back then, and he¡¯d dealt with it by¡ª The glass door swung open, and a man stepped inside the lab. Short and stocky, he had close-cropped hair and a neatly trimmed goatee. One of Hector¡¯s friends? ¡°Phone for you, Trengsen.¡± Kalden blinked. He¡¯d never gotten phone calls here before. Why would ¡­ Oh no. He sprang up from his stool and crossed the lab in five quick strides, taking the phone and pressing it to his ear. ¡°This is Kalden.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Hector¡¯s voice said from the speaker. ¡°The girls got attacked.¡± ¡°What?¡± Kalden squeezed the phone closer to his ear. How? They¡¯d agreed they wouldn¡¯t split up anymore. ¡°Wasn¡¯t my fault!¡± Hector said. ¡°It happened in the bathroom. Relia lost her mark and four soldiers attacked her.¡± ¡°Are they alright?¡± His voice came out calm as if his mind hadn¡¯t fully grasped the situation. ¡°Akari got hit bad,¡± Hector said. ¡°Unconscious for a few minutes, but she¡¯s up now. Relia can¡¯t walk. I got them both into the car and we drove away.¡± ¡°Good, so get the hell out of there.¡± Static muffled through the phone as Hector pushed out a breath. ¡°Not that easy, shoko. They smashed Relia¡¯s pill. Her mark won¡¯t stay put.¡± His blood froze at that. Without Relia¡¯s mark, they¡¯d never get past the security checkpoints. Every road was either guarded or blocked, and walls surrounded the city to keep out the mana beasts. ¡°And she killed the soldiers on camera,¡± Hector said. ¡°That means Unida¡¯s out for blood.¡± ¡°Is there any other way out?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°Bridge is our best chance, but they¡¯ve got half a dozen guards. I can¡¯t fight them alone, and Shokita here can¡¯t even drive the car.¡± ¡°I said I¡¯d try!¡± Akari''s voice snapped from the background. "She says she''ll try." Hector¡¯s voice dripped with sarcasm. ¡°We need Relia¡¯s new pill.¡± Kalden had to lean on the table to steady himself. ¡°It¡¯s almost ready.¡± ¡°How long?¡± "The lantre has to bond with the helocite¡ª" "You''re speaking gibberish to me, shoko. How long?¡± ¡°I need to wait another hour.¡± ¡°What happens if you rush it?¡± Kalden almost laughed at the suggestion. ¡°Raw helocite explodes when it touches pure mana. She¡¯d be dead the second she swallowed the pill.¡± ¡°Merdo,¡± he cursed under his breath. "Can you bond them on the boat?" Kalden glanced back at his water well where the reagents waited. The weather was cooler than usual today¡ªprobably low seventies. He could transfer the reagents to a portable container and keep them cool with ice cubes. It wasn¡¯t ideal, but it would work if he watched it closely. ¡°I¡¯d also need an oven,¡± Kalden said. Heat was always the final step in alchemy¡ªit welded everything together and made it work as a single unit. "We can find an oven.¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°An alchemy oven,¡± he clarified. ¡°Twelve hundred degrees minimum.¡± ¡°Twelve hundred degrees is no problem. We¡¯ll use my fire mana. ¡± "You''re serious right now?" ¡°Dead serious, shoko.¡± Kalden balled his hand into a fist. ¡°It¡¯s a hell of a risk. No second chances if I mess up.¡± ¡°Look ¡­¡± Hector lowered his voice. ¡°Things are about to get crazy over here. I¡¯m out if you can¡¯t make the pill on time. Akari''s free to come with me, but I can¡¯t save everyone.¡± Damnit. That seemed cold, but Kalden couldn¡¯t blame him. Relia would die anyway without her pill, and she wouldn¡¯t want the others throwing away their lives. ¡°Alright,¡± Kalden said. ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡± ¡°We¡¯re parked near Encanto and Avenido Primo. Know where that is?¡± ¡°Two blocks south of the ferry,¡± Kalden replied. ¡°See you in an hour.¡± And with that, he ended the call and began packing his things. The herbs went straight into a cooler, and he transferred the lantre and helocite into a container submerged in a steel water well. Three separate thermometers stuck out from the top, just to be safe. Then he filled his backpack with extra reagents, pill casings, a miniature cauldron, compressors, and every other tool he could think of. He also grabbed a portion of grenades he¡¯d made the day before, along with some liquid mana and mental enhancement potions from the refrigerator. These weren¡¯t technically his to take, but he could always return them if he didn¡¯t need them. And if he did need them ¡­ well, theft would be the least of his concerns. Finally, he threw in a bottle of space mana he¡¯d bought yesterday on a whim. Kalden had gone through the aspecting ritual in his dreams, and he knew Akari wouldn¡¯t be making portals anytime soon. He also knew that synchronizing their personalities wouldn''t bring back their old aspects. Still, he had room in his bag so it couldn''t hurt to bring it along. ~~~ The ferry was still running when Kalden arrived, and he found a nice cool spot below deck. The other passengers shot him strange looks as he dropped ice cubes in his water well, but most people didn¡¯t look twice. Honestly, he¡¯d seen stranger things from alchemy students back in Elegan. The ferry took its time pulling into the eastern shore and Kalden was already waiting by the ramp when it docked. The last two reagents had finished bonding. Now, he just had to add the herbs with an emulsifier, mix them in a cauldron, and blast them with heat. Kalden kept his head down as he walked down the sidewalks, passing an unusual number of Grevandi. A crowd gathered as one dragon stood on a raised balcony outside a restaurant, shouting something in Cadrian. Kalden didn¡¯t catch it all, but he definitely heard the phrase, "Artisto Muerto,¡± Death Artist. How long before they locked down the city? Even the Unmarked might turn against Relia once they saw that video. The bystanders grew wilder as the Grevandi spoke, and Kalden avoided the denser parts of the crowd. Fake mark or not, he hated being a foreigner at times like this. Angry mobs made people stupid, reverting them back to their tribal instincts. Either you agreed with them one hundred percent, or you represented everything they fought against. No middle ground, and no chances to discuss things rationally. It was the same narrow-minded thinking that had caused this war in the first place ¡°Kalden,¡± a voice whispered from behind him. He spun to see Akari poking her head around an old brick building. Her glasses looked like they¡¯d been broken and taped back together in the middle, and her right lens was shattered, revealing a black eye beneath. A trail of dried blood ran from her right nostril, and other spots marked her cheeks as if she¡¯d tried to wipe it away and failed. He hated seeing her injured, and a part of him wanted to drop his things and pull her into a hug right then. But of course, they had bigger things to deal with, and Akari was already leading him back down the alleyway. She stopped when they reached a brown conversion van, big enough to seat seven people. ¡°Where¡¯s the other car?¡± Kalden asked as he stepped inside. ¡°No good,¡± Hector said from the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Security cameras saw us leave the hotel.¡± In other words, they¡¯d stolen this one. Kalden turned his gaze to the back bench where Relia lay. Sweat covered every inch of her body, all the way to the strands of her red hair. Her eyes widened with hope as Kalden sat on the floor. Damnit. Why hadn¡¯t he woken up an hour early today? If he had, the pill would already be finished. Kalden shook his head as he unloaded his supplies on the floor. There¡¯d be time for reflection once they were safe. Now, it was time to focus. The lantre and helocite had bonded into a blue, gel-like substance, and Kalden poured them into his miniature cauldron. Akari hovered nearby as he worked. As usual, she hated sitting idle, so Kalden gestured to the base of the cauldron. ¡°Hold this still,¡± he told her. ¡°Don¡¯t let it spill.¡± She grasped the base with both hands as Kalden added the rest of his reagents. Blue mana flashed between them as they touched. So far, so good. A sound of pain escaped Relia¡¯s lips in the back, and Hector drummed the steering wheel. ¡°How much longer?¡± he asked. Kalden fought down his annoyance as he began stirring. There were too many variables here to make a guess. He¡¯d seen this take as long as twenty minutes, or as little as two. But of course, no one wanted to hear that. ¡°Ten minutes,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Maybe shorter if it¡¯s quiet.¡± Hector didn¡¯t take the hint. ¡°Then you¡¯re ready for the fire?¡± ¡°Right,¡± he replied through gritted teeth. The next few minutes passed uneventfully, and the mixture shone like a blue flame as it boiled. Kalden continued stirring with his right hand, using his left to feed extra mana into the battery. Akari perked up, staring at something out the back window. ¡°Oh, shit.¡± Kalden followed her gaze and spotted the flash of red and blue sirens from the street behind them. Several soldiers approached on foot, surrounding their van. One shouted something in Cadrian, but he couldn¡¯t make out the words. ¡°Shit,¡± Hector agreed. ¡°You better be ready, shoko.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Kalden said. The process had gone well so far, but he needed five more minutes at least. ¡°Fine,¡± he said. ¡°Then hang on tight.¡± Kalden had barely processed the words before Hector slammed the pedal to the floor. The van flew forward, and mana flashed around them as the soldiers attacked. Book 2 - Chapter 24: Intermediate Alchemy Akari clutched the base of the pot as they tore through the alleyway. Missiles struck the back windows, and the van shook from the impact. Nothing had broken yet, but those protection sigils wouldn¡¯t last long. ¡°Hang on!¡± Hector repeated. They left the alley a second later, taking a sharp right and spinning into the evening traffic. Akari and Kalden slid across the floor, but they didn¡¯t let go of the pot. Kalden kept stirring with his head down, using his other hand to adjust the dial and feed more mana into the battery. Talek. He wasn¡¯t kidding about this taking his full concentration. For a second, he almost looked like his old self with that cold, unshakable gaze. Akari craned her neck to look out the front window. It wasn¡¯t easy with her glasses half-broken. Hector wove against traffic, and several more cars collided as they scrambled to dodge. Her heart raced as she felt the full weight of their situation. This wasn¡¯t just about saving Relia anymore. They¡¯d all die without her. Three squad cars turned on their sides up ahead, forming a blockade in the road. The drivers reached out from their windows and formed ten-foot Constructs of ice mana. She braced herself for a collision, but Hector spun the wheel at the last second, pulling them onto the sidewalk. Pedestrians scrambled away as the van squeezed through the cobblestone path. Soldiers followed on their motorcycles, sirens blazing in a high-pitched song. Those sounds still made her shiver to this day. More mana flashed around them, and the back window shattered from the impact. Hector squeezed the van between two palm trees, merging back into traffic with another sharp right. ¡°Shokita!¡± he shouted. ¡°You¡¯re on defense!¡± Akari hesitated, meeting Kalden¡¯s eyes. Talek, was she actually scared? Maybe it was that fight in the bathroom. Maybe it was the sirens reminding her of the night her mother died. Or maybe it was the fact that Kalden actually liked her. That seemed too good to be true¡ªas good as a death sentence for one of them. Probably her, since Kalden had all the luck. A truck slammed into their van, shattering another window behind Kalden. Mana flashed from Akari¡¯s hand as she formed a domed Construct over their heads. Shards of glass ran down the sides like rain from an umbrella. Kalden raised his head with a grateful smile. For a split second, she saw some of her own fear reflected in his face. It vanished just as quickly, and he gave her a firm nod. ¡°Go,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve got this.¡± She scrambled into motion, hopping over the back seat where Relia lay. She threw open the back doors and found more than a dozen squad cars in pursuit. Here we go. Still crouched in the van¡¯s cargo area, she fell into a combat stance and cycled her mana. ~~~ The reagents shone brighter as Kalden turned the battery¡¯s dial. This part was more of an art than a science. The cauldron¡¯s temperature might be perfect, but other changes affected the bonding process. Things like air pressure, humidity, and ambient mana. That meant you had to rely on your other senses. How thick did the mana feel against the spoon? How fast was it changing colors and emitting light? Did it still smell earthy and sweet, or had it become sharp and bitter? Many alchemists would measure perfectly up to this point, only to fail when the numbers ceased to matter. It was hard enough in a lab, much less a car chase. He¡¯d taken a mental enhancement potion to stay focused, but those effects waned now. Shards of metal mana cut through the wall opposite him, and the door flew off its hinges. A squad car appeared in the opening, and someone hurled a flurry of Missiles toward him. Kalden raised a Construct of pure mana, protecting himself and the cauldron. He threw his own technique at the driver, but the back passenger deflected it. Akari leapt back over the bench, launching her own mana out the broken door. The back passenger blocked that too, but Akari raised a gun in her other hand and pulled the trigger. The bullet struck the back passenger in the head with a spray of crimson. Angels above. Was that the same gun she¡¯d taken from Frostblade? He¡¯d forgotten she had that. Akari launched a second Missile at the driver. Kalden didn¡¯t see the impact, but the enemy car spun off the road. They reached an intersection, and Hector took another sharp turn. Kalden¡¯s backpack slid across the floor. ¡°Grab that!¡± he shouted. Akari grabbed the bag¡¯s strap just before it slid out the open door. Time slowed to a crawl, and Kalden watched the compressor and pill casings fly out the top pocket. The wind caught them both, and they flew away. Oh no. Akari deflected more mana with a mix of Missiles and Constructs. She handed Kalden the bag, and he glanced in the open pocket, hoping against hope there was something else there. He had one mental enhancement potion, one bottle of pure mana, and one bottle of space mana. Plus, he¡¯d still have the extra lantre and helocite in the smaller pocket, along with the grenades he¡¯d taken from the lab. That was all. No pill casings, and no compressor. The reagents shone even brighter in the cauldron, and Kalden failed to quench his rising panic. Even if Hector made a fire, how would he hold the pill together? How would he finish this? Kalden pressed his back against the wall and took a deep breath through his nostrils. He ignored the flashing mana, and the way his body slid side-to-side on the floor. Should he take his last enhancement potion? No. Potions like that helped you focus, but that focus came at the expense of creativity. Think. Alchemy had existed for thousands of years, long before these modern tools. How would the alchemists from the past have solved this? They would have used Mana Arts. Was that possible? Not at Kalden¡¯s level. He needed more mana, more power, and more control. Relia could have done it, but she was too busy surviving her crystals. And Hector only had his fire aspect. Kalden¡¯s past self could have done it too¡ªhe could have used his Mana Arts to shape and compress the pill. But he wasn¡¯t that person anymore. ¡°We¡¯re on the bridge,¡± Hector said. Kalden glanced up and realized Hector was right. They¡¯d reach the blockade soon, and they¡¯d have to fight their way through. ¡°You ready for that fire, shoko?¡± Stolen novel; please report. No. He only had one viable solution, but no one to execute it. Not yet. Kalden¡¯s thoughts raced even faster than the van. It seemed too soon to advance. He¡¯d only just begun having these dreams about the past. They had nothing but theories and vague plans. But this was necessary. It had to be now. Besides, what else was he waiting for? He felt like he needed more information, but what difference would it make? Kalden understood his past self¡ªhe¡¯d filled entire notebooks, analyzing his personality and his desires. Or rather, his lack of desires. ¡°Talk to me, shoko.¡± ¡°One minute,¡± Kalden hollered back. ¡°You¡¯ve got ten seconds.¡± Kalden took another deep breath, sinking deeper into his own mind. His past self had trained to appease his parents, with no goals of his own to fight for. He¡¯d never stood up to them in those days. For all his fighting in the dueling rings, he¡¯d never uttered a single word in his own defense. He thought about the mental enhancement potion. His past self had been like that all the time. He¡¯d known how to follow rules, but not how to improvise. He¡¯d only started doing that on Arkala, after his brother had left. Since then, he¡¯d yearned to follow in Sozen¡¯s footsteps¡ªreaching for something more. His past self had been predictable. Everything had been mapped out for him, from his training schedule to his career path. No ¡­ not my past self. Me. Memories weren¡¯t ancient history, buried in some vault. They were an active part of him¡ªsuppressed by the same force that had sent them to that island. He remembered what Akari had told him that outside day school¡ªthe day he hadn¡¯t stood up to his mother. ¡°I¡¯m spineless,¡± Kalden whispered as he stirred the cauldron. His soul didn¡¯t react to that. Being spineless was a symptom, but it wasn¡¯t the cause. Besides, he hadn¡¯t been afraid before. It was more logical than that. His parents had been Grandmasters. He couldn¡¯t win that battle, so he¡¯d retreated deeper into himself. ¡°I don¡¯t think,¡± Kalden whispered. ¡°I only train. I do my duty as a member of Clan Trengsen.¡± His mana reacted to that. Kalden felt a pain in his soul, and some of his mind opened to the dream world. So close. ¡°I only fight for my parents.¡± That was closer but it still wasn¡¯t right. He hadn¡¯t cared about what his parents wanted, either. He hadn¡¯t cared about anything. He¡¯d only worked to fill his purpose. The words came to Kalden¡¯s mind, and he spoke them aloud. ¡°I¡¯m a machine.¡± Mana exploded through his soul, racing through his channels. He tasted it in his mouth, smelled it in his nose. It prickled his skin, and he saw blue in the corners of his eyes. It even flooded his thoughts, carrying a thousand memories from his past life. His mind moved halfway into the spiritual realm, and he had a choice to make. He¡¯d embraced his past self, but they hadn¡¯t synthesized yet. Some part of him still rejected that idea. Whether it was his brain or his soul, Kalden couldn¡¯t say. And maybe he was right to be afraid. What if he returned to that state of apathy? What if he fell into some dark pit he couldn¡¯t escape? Kalden watched Akari as she fired more Missiles from the back of the van. Blood and bruises covered her body. One of her lenses was still a web of cracks, and the middle was barely held together with tape. She seemed so fierce as if nothing could stop her. But that wasn¡¯t true. He¡¯d seen her break before in that Martial prison, the night they¡¯d rescued Elend. He¡¯d helped her then, and he knew she¡¯d do the same for him. If Kalden¡¯s past self took over, Akari wouldn¡¯t give up on him. So Kalden embraced everything. Every memory, and every thought. The truth became clearer with each passing second. There was no dichotomy between past and present. He¡¯d survived hardships, but he¡¯d changed. He¡¯d become his own person. Kalden opened his eyes, and he felt a calm clarity. Then, almost as an afterthought, he glanced at the mana watch on his wrist. He¡¯d bought this on a whim a few days before, inspired by Akari¡¯s obsession with numbers. 795/795, the screen read. Five points short of Apprentice. Kalden had hoped he might go all the way, but that didn¡¯t matter now. He knew what needed to be done, and he had the means to do it. The van screeched to a halt, and Hector unbuckled his seatbelt. ¡°You better be ready, shoko.¡± ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Kalden said. Akari knelt down beside him a second later, retrieving the bottle of liquid mana from his pack and helping herself to a good long swallow. She must have drained her soul during the chase. Kalden glanced out the back window and saw more than a dozen squad cars behind them, forming another blockade. A dozen more soldiers waited in the toll booth up ahead. He looked down at his glowing cauldron and formed two Constructs, no bigger than the palms of his hands. They started as circular planes, but he pulled pressure from the middles, stretching the planes into two halves of a capsule. Kalden understood the shaping, but his eyes still widened as he plunged both halves into the cauldron. Ten minutes ago, he¡¯d barely been able to move his Constructs, much less change their shapes in midair. The reagents filled the shell, and he retrieved the pill, grasping it in both his hands, applying pressure from his channels to compress it. At the same time, he pulled his mana from the outer shell to reduce its surface area. Their enemies didn¡¯t wait for them to finish. No sooner had Kalden begun compressing the pill than another volley of Missiles struck the van. Kalden kicked the bag at his feet. ¡°Four grenades in here.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Hector unzipped the pocket and pulled out two of the explosives, hurling them out the side of the door. He followed with several blasts of fire mana. Akari threw the other two out the front windshield, following with several techniques of her own. Kalden couldn¡¯t see the results, but it must be working because the van wasn¡¯t shaking so hard now. His channels strained as he applied more pressure to the pill. He shook with the effort, and it felt like lifting twice his body weight. His mana might be stronger, but his body was barely ready for this. Finally, Kalden reduced the pill to half the size of his thumb. Now, he just needed the last blast of heat. ¡°Hector!¡± he shouted. Hector turned around and began gathering fire mana in his palms. Kalden used his own mana to hold the pill in midair. ¡°Twelve hundred degrees, you said?¡± Kalden nodded. ¡°A few seconds should do it.¡± ¡°No problem. One fire coming right¡ª¡± Another volley of Missiles tore through the back window. One struck the side the side of Hector¡¯s head. His technique faded, and he collapsed on the van¡¯s floor. ¡°Damnit,¡± Kalden cursed as he turned him over. ¡°Hector? Hector?¡± No reply. He still had a pulse, but he didn¡¯t open his eyes. What now? They¡¯d lost their only fire source. Even the grenades were gone. Not that those would¡¯ve worked in the first place. Had they seriously gotten this far just to¡ª Stop, Kalden told himself. Think. What did they have left? One bottle of pure liquid mana, one bottle of space mana, one mental enhancement potion, and a few vials of lantre and helocite. Raw helocite made pure mana explode on contact. Could he mix that with the bottle of pure mana? No. He¡¯d get an explosion, but that would be more kinetic force than heat. Not enough to finish the pill. What else? Another idea came to him then, crazier than anything else they¡¯d done that day. Unfortunately, it was the only thing that might work. ¡°Akari!¡± he shouted over the battle. ¡°Get Hector out of the van.¡± ¡°What?¡± Kalden pointed toward the open door. ¡°Just get him out. I¡¯ll explain later." Then he uncorked the mental enhancement potion and crawled to the backseat where Relia lay. She looked even worse than before, but she hadn¡¯t lost consciousness. ¡°I need you to drink this,¡± Kalden said as he brought the glass bottle to her lips. Relia swallowed the potion, dribbling the last bit down her chin. ¡°Good.¡± Kalden used his sleeve to wipe her mouth dry, then he grabbed her upper arms and pulled her toward the door. ¡°Get ready to fight if you can.¡± ¡°You serious?¡± she muttered. ¡°I don¡¯t need a miracle,¡± he said. ¡°Just a few Constructs. That potion should help you focus.¡± They gathered in the street a second later, and Kalden filled them in. Akari kept up covering fire against their enemies, and Relia made a half-hearted defensive Construct around them. Even in her paralyzed state, it was far stronger than anything he or Akari could have done. Finally, Kalden opened the van¡¯s fuel tank and poured both vials of helocite inside. ¡°This is it,¡± he told them both. Relia shifted her shield between their group and the parked van. Akari swallowed two mouthfuls of liquid mana and layered her own shield on top of Relia¡¯s. Both girls looked equally ready to pass out, and Kalden didn¡¯t feel much better. The van exploded. Even with both shields, the force of it nearly knocked Kalden off his feet. But he stood his ground, straining with all his mental might as he held the pill in the flames. Book 2 - Chapter 25: Death Artist Mana flowed like a river from Relia¡¯s upraised hand, and she strained against the rising flames. Can¡¯t ¡­ hold ¡­ on. Her technique failed a second later, and her head struck the asphalt road. That potion had let her focus for a few minutes, but now the pain returned in full force. Her vision grew dark around the edges as she stared up at the sky, watching it fill with clouds of black smoke. Even the enemy¡¯s Missiles echoed faintly in her ears. Kalden¡¯s whole plan had been insane. Who blew up an entire van just to make a pill? Elend would have approved, though, assuming it worked. How long until she knew her fate? The next few seconds passed like a fever dream as pain tore through her body. Her mind struggled to stay focused, breaking down the crystals and healing the damage they¡¯d left behind. It wasn¡¯t a fight she¡¯d ever win. She could only survive. One more minute. She¡¯d been telling herself that ever since the fight in the hotel. Blue light flashed through Relia¡¯s eyelids. She opened them to see Kalden kneeling above her, holding a glowing capsule in his hand. Her body sighed with relief as he passed it between her lips. The bitter flavor danced through her mouth, sharp as a twisting blade. She¡¯d always hated these pills as a little girl. Now, it was the best thing she¡¯d ever tasted. Kalden held a glass bottle to her lips that smelled vaguely of mint. Pure liquid mana. Relia took a small swallow to get the pill down. No sooner had Kalden given her the bottle than a Missile struck his chest. The impact sent him flying backward, and he hit the edge of the bridge. Relia turned her head and saw Akari lying a few feet away, bleeding out from several wounds. The pill shifted forms inside her, passing from her stomach to her soul. She cycled it through her channels, and it went to work dissolving the crystals. This normally took several minutes, but she didn¡¯t have that long. Her enemies were closing in, and her friends had bet everything on her. So Relia bore down with all her mental might, driven forward by the light at the end of the cave. The crystals shattered one at a time, turning back to their natural form. The pain subsided, and her breaths grew deeper. It felt like she¡¯d been drowning for days, and now she¡¯d finally emerged from the depths. And as the pain faded, her ordinary senses came back in a rush. She felt the cool evening wind on her cheeks, and the hard road beneath her head. She curled and stretched her fingers, and then her toes. But this wasn¡¯t over. Footsteps clattered on the road as the enemy soldiers drew closer. Relia cycled her mana, letting the currents flow freely through every limb. How long had she gone without cycling? Probably just a few hours, judging by the sun. But her whole body felt like a clenched fist as she stretched it back out. Life mana gushed out from her left hand, forming a green and gold cloud around her friends. It pierced their bodies, and she breathed a second sigh of relief as it healed their wounds. This spurred the enemy soldiers into motion, and they struck with a volley of bullets and Missiles. But Relia had predicted that too. She threw up her right hand and released the technique she¡¯d been gathering there. A dome of pure energy formed around their group, nothing like the hasty Construct she¡¯d cobbled together before. This was sturdy and solid, breaking the volley like raindrops against a brick wall. Relia sprang into motion after that, planting both feet in a wide stance and stretching out her arms to either side. Her mana reached a crescendo inside her, and she unleashed two volleys of her own. The soldiers raised walls of metal and ice. She tried to weave her mana through the gaps, but her enemies weren¡¯t idle. While half of them had raised the defenses, the other half unleashed a second wave of attacks. Relia gritted her teeth as her own mana smashed against their shield. This was the problem with being outnumbered. You couldn¡¯t attack and defend yourself at the same time. Even the Martials had nearly overwhelmed her this way. But at least their attacks had been weak. Half of these soldiers were Apprentices like her. She switched to her aspect without a second thought, taking cover in the van¡¯s remains. The mana gushed out from her hands in a colored mist, and she wrapped that mist in spheres of pure mana. Before, it had always been a struggle to manifest life mana¡¯s opposite. To truly command an aspect, you had to understand it as intimately as your own reflection. But she¡¯d taken dozens of lives on Arkala, and she¡¯d held countless more in her hands. Each one gave her a deeper understanding of death and the power she wielded. She¡¯d also walked that line herself this last hour, clinging to life, knowing any mistake might be her last. In that moment, despite the day¡¯s hardship, Relia was stronger than she¡¯d ever been before. Mana bombarded the van¡¯s remains, tearing through the sides like wet paper. She endured their attacks with both Cloak techniques, along with the strength of her Apprentice body. She¡¯d spent years tempering this against her own condition, and their techniques were nothing compared to the crystals that ripped through her. A dozen blue spheres formed around her, and she hurled them forward against the enemy lines. Their shields held, and Relia strained to keep her techniques together as she pulled them back. Her friends tried to get up as if to help. ¡°No!¡± she shouted at them as attacked the group behind her. ¡°Stay down.¡± Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Again, she pulled her mana back and struck the first group. This continued until the spheres moved in a Circuit technique shaped like a figure-eight. Relia stood at the neck of that shape, while her enemies stood caught in the loops. Her own mana moved faster than a tornado now, knocking hundreds of enemy techniques from midair. Her vision was a blur of light as they collided. Eventually, her mana carved a gap in the shield wall. A single gap was all she needed. It took skill to break someone¡¯s skin with pure mana, but human bodies had evolved to let healing mana inside them. Now, as the green and gold clouds filled the enemy dome, their bodies accepted her attacks like a peace offering. Pain would follow, and they couldn¡¯t help but flare their Cloak techniques when it did. But cycling only made it worse. No matter where her mana touched, their channels would carry it back to their hearts. The shields flicked out on both sides, and they all died coughing and screaming. Relia wanted to pull her senses back¡ªto drown out their pain and pretend she hadn¡¯t caused it. but she remembered her first master¡¯s lessons, and the days when she¡¯d first aspected her mana. ¡°No one should have to pass a death sentence,¡± the older woman had said, ¡°but life isn¡¯t fair. If you¡¯re going to swing the executioner¡¯s sword, then you owe it to your enemies to look them in the eye.¡± So Relia stood her ground and watched. Like the crystals inside her, this was another pain she could never fight or ignore. As the sounds of death faded, her friends climbed slowly to their feet. She¡¯d healed their wounds, but you could never tell by looking at them. Blood covered their skin, and metal mana had shredded their clothing. Relia stumbled toward the group, feeling suddenly dizzy. For all that, her smile was genuine as she met their eyes. Back home, her aspect had kept her alive, but it had also stopped her from living a normal life. Her peers would barely talk to her at school, much less risk their lives for her. Elend and his wife were the exception, but that wasn¡¯t the same as having friends her own age. ¡°I¡¯d give you all a hug,¡± Relia said. ¡°But I¡¯m kind of a hot mess.¡± ¡°No worries.¡± Kalden raised a hand with a grin. ¡°We¡¯ll wait for you to shower first.¡± Akari nodded her agreement, but she¡¯d probably sneak away when it was hugging time, anyway. Relia turned to Hector next, and he looked ready for a fight. ¡°You¡¯re a cultist,¡± he said through gritted teeth. Relia lowered her eyes. She¡¯d been so focused on her relief, she hadn¡¯t realized what they¡¯d seen her do. Hector cursed a string of Cadrian words under his breath. ¡°I risked my life for a Death Artist.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not death mana,¡± Relia said. ¡°You were holding back,¡± Hector said. ¡°The first time we fought together.¡± She shook her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for these techniques.¡± ¡°Bullshit,¡± Hector said. ¡°I saw what you did just now. That move would take years to learn.¡± ¡°Elend made me learn it, but I never wanted it. I chose this aspect for my condition. I did it to survive.¡± ¡°All the cultists say that,¡± Hector said. ¡°They all have excuses.¡± ¡°What would you do?¡± Relia shot back. ¡°What if the world decides fire mana is evil? Would you stop fighting just because it bothers them?¡± Her words jumbled together as she spoke, and tears formed at the edges of her eyes. She liked Hector, but she¡¯d been smart enough to keep her distance. This always happened when she got too close to people¡ªwhen they saw what she really was. Kalden and Akari were the exception to that. They¡¯d always seen her as Relia Dawnfire. Not the other lives she¡¯d left behind. More sirens blared in the distance, and she spotted a pair of helicopters on the eastern skyline. ¡°It makes sense now,¡± Hector muttered. ¡°You did those techniques on camera. That¡¯s why they chased us so hard.¡± Relia slumped her shoulders. ¡°We need to get off this bridge.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t go back to the Unmarked,¡± Hector said. ¡°I¡¯m not your enemy,¡± she said. ¡°The dragons are.¡± ¡°Everyone is your enemy,¡± Hector retorted. ¡°Screw you!¡± Akari stepped up beside Relia, glaring at Hector. ¡°You can¡¯t stop her from going back.¡± Azul bless that girl and her bloodthirsty heart. Relia didn¡¯t want to fight Hector, though. She could probably win, but not without her life mana. Especially not in this state. Hector ignored her as he ran a hand through his black hair. ¡°You¡¯re gonna start a war.¡± ¡°You¡¯re already at war,¡± Kalden said. Hector pointed a finger at him. ¡°You¡¯ve been here for two weeks, shoko. Don¡¯t pretend to understand us.¡± He stared back at Relia. ¡°Innocents will die because of you. We¡¯ll lose support all over Creta.¡± Relia held out her hands. ¡°We¡¯d all be dead if I didn¡¯t defend us. What else do you want from me?¡± The helicopters grew louder as they approached. ¡°Can we talk about this later?¡± Kalden pointed toward the gate that a group of soldiers had guarded before. ¡°This bridge has catwalks underneath, right? This might be a way down.¡± ¡°Do whatever you want,¡± Hector said. ¡°But I¡¯m done.¡± And with that, he headed toward the building Kalden had indicated. She should have been used to people turning their backs on her, but it never got any easier. They followed Hector toward the booth, stepping around the bodies that littered the street. Like so many other guard stations around Tureko, this looked like a repurposed toll booth. A wall of protection mana separated both sides of the road, preventing anyone from coming or going. An open door greeted them inside the booth, and a hole of smoldering metal remained in place of the handle. The scent of fire mana hung heavy in the air. Relia and the others followed a rickety steel staircase down onto the catwalks below. She¡¯d half-expected Hector to sabotage their path, but at least he hadn¡¯t done anything that petty. Yet. The catwalks offered an unbroken view of the river below, more than a hundred feet beneath their shoes. By now, the sun had started to set, and the bottom of the bridge was cloaked by shadows and metal rafters. Hector was long gone, but that was no surprise. The shore was only a mile away, and most Apprentices could sprint that distance. They walked in relative silence for the better part of twenty minutes, clutching the rails as the massive bridge swayed in the wind. Kalden and Akari exchanged some words behind her, and Relia caught bits of their conversation. Apparently, Kalden had synthesized his memories with his past self. This had brought his soul to the peak of Gold, and given him the skills to finish Relia¡¯s pill mid-battle. Akari followed with a hundred questions, sounding equal parts jealous and determined. The catwalk ended as they reached Unida¡¯s territory, and they climbed a second staircase toward the bridge¡¯s surface. No sooner had they crested the top than they found a group of Unmarked soldiers waiting for them. ¡°Dawnfire?¡± one man called out. ¡°Yep,¡± Relia said with a weary sigh. ¡°The Artisans want to see you. Now.¡± Azul¡¯s ashes. This can¡¯t be good. Book 2 - Chapter 26: Action Their escorts led them through an old department store in the Western Docks District. Kalden walked in silence with the others, still stunned by the memories that flooded his mind. They didn¡¯t all come at once¡ªthat would be like trying to see every star in the sky. Instead, they hit him in waves, all triggered by his surroundings. A row of palm trees grew on the curb, and he remembered vacationing with his family in Vaslana. The store itself reminded him of a hundred others he¡¯d visited all over the world, from Koreldon City to the rural towns of North Shoken. Sometimes, even a simple smell was enough to trigger a memory. They passed a crate of rubber mana balls, and the scent brought back images of school recess in Last Haven, then shaping exercises in a Shokenese dojo. It even conjured a memory of training with Akari in his basement on Arkala. His mind didn¡¯t even bother to separate the two lives anymore. It was all one life now, from his early childhood until this moment. Just thinking about that fact made him lightheaded. His childhood had been a blur until now, but he¡¯d never questioned it. Why would he? He¡¯d never known anything different. No one on Arkala had. They¡¯d all had their lives stolen, but no one knew or cared. Kalden had thought he understood that before, but knowing it wasn¡¯t the same as feeling an entire lifetime behind him. Their escorts ushered them up a staircase at the back of the store, and Kalden followed in a daze. At least Relia¡¯s pill had given him a goal to focus on before. Now, his fate was entirely in someone else¡¯s hands. These guards were all Apprentice level. And even if they could fight their way out, they couldn¡¯t afford to make enemies of the Unmarked. They climbed three flights of stairs, stopping when they reached the top level. A door hung open at the end of the corridor and two Artisans stood in a corner conference room with windows that overlooked the river. They already knew Kyar. He was a dragon Artisan who led the Unmarked in all but name. Tall and straight-backed, he wore a white linen shirt that hung open to reveal his scale-covered chest. Valdez was the public face of the Unmarked. He looked like a war veteran with his weathered skin, silver hair, and muscular arms. Only his goatee ruined the image¡ªthe edges were perfectly crisp, as if he¡¯d just trimmed them five minutes ago. Relia was the first through the doorway, and the grizzled man turned his gaze on her. ¡°This is Dawnfire?¡± ¡°That¡¯s me,¡± Relia said with a half-hearted wave. Kyzar nodded his confirmation too, but it hardly seemed necessary. Relia¡¯s face appeared on multiple monitors throughout the room. One showed a paused video of her fight in the hotel bathroom. The next had a recording of the bridge fight. Finally, a third screen showed hundreds of Grevandi gathering around that same bridge. Unlike the other screens, this one looked like live footage. Kyzar introduced Kalden and Akari, but Valdez waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Just Dawnfire,¡± he said. ¡°You two wait outside.¡± Akari didn¡¯t budge. ¡°We go wherever she¡ª¡± Valdez flicked his finger at Akari, and a burst of air mana threw her out the doorway. Kalden winced as she slammed into the drywall across the hall, hard enough to leave a dent. The Artisan pointed a finger at Kalden. ¡°I don¡¯t repeat myself, shoko.¡± ¡°Just leaving.¡± Kalden threw up his hands as he retreated into the hallway. He didn¡¯t close the door behind him, but no one objected. Akari glared back into the room as she found her footing again. For a second, she looked ready to charge back inside with mana blazing. Instead, she stuck her hands inside her hoodie pockets, muttering obscenities under her breath. Kalden leaned against the wall, and she joined him there, close enough that their shoulders touched. ¡°Alright,¡± Valdez said in Cadrian. ¡°Let¡¯s stick her in a van and send her back.¡± Kalden froze. He¡¯d gotten better with the local dialect these past few months, but Relia just spoke basic phrases. She¡¯d have no idea what they were saying. ¡°We¡¯ll release a statement,¡± he continued. ¡°Explain how she¡¯s a foreigner. Maybe we can stop this before it gets worse.¡± ¡°No,¡± Kyzar answered in Espirian. ¡°I sent them across the river. This is on me.¡± Valdez let out a breath and continued in the same language. ¡°I don¡¯t give a shit whose fault this is. You can¡¯t fix this.¡± ¡°I brought them into the Unmarked,¡± Kyzar continued. ¡°And they did their jobs. We don¡¯t¡ª¡± The other man slammed a fist on the table. ¡°Dawnfire¡¯s not one of us. She¡¯s a cultist.¡± Kyzar turned to face her. ¡°Are you a cultist, young lady?¡± ¡°No!¡± Relia said at once. The dragon nodded as if that settled the matter. ¡°I already knew about her aspect. She uses it to manage a medical condition. She has no ties to the Cult of Trelian.¡± They¡¯d told him about Relia¡¯s condition, but not the part about her aspect. Was he bluffing about that? Then again, Artisans had a stronger sense for mana. Maybe Kyzar really had seen her aspect in their first meeting? Stolen story; please report. ¡°I don¡¯t care if she heals kittens with cancer,¡± Valdez replied. ¡°People think she¡¯s a cultist. We can save lives if we give her up.¡± ¡°Have you forgotten our name?¡± Kyzar said. ¡°Liberta fights for freedom, not for peace.¡± ¡°Who cares about freedom if we all die?¡± ¡°There are worse things than dying.¡± Kyzar said. ¡°Like spineless leaders who flee from battle.¡± ¡°I like him,¡± Akari muttered from beside Kalden. No surprise there. At least they had one friend on this side of the river. ¡°We get it.¡± Valdez spread his palms in a wide gesture. ¡°Dragons are reckless and bloodthirsty. But some of us have families over here.¡± Kyzar ignored that. ¡°I left Unida because of bullshit like this. Because the Dragonlord would sacrifice anyone to win.¡± ¡°This is different. We¡¯re a democracy, and the others agree with me.¡± ¡°They¡¯re scared and stupid,¡± Kyzar said. ¡°This goes against everything we stand for.¡± Valdez shook his head. ¡°Look, I get it. I even agree with you. But it¡¯s not practical. Our own soldiers will switch sides if we keep her.¡± ¡°This is bullshit.¡± Akari clenched her hand into a fist, and he could practically feel the mana cycling through her channels ¡°I¡¯d take real enemies over this guy.¡± Kalden bobbed his head in vague agreement. But this was out of their hands now. Fortunately, Kyzar was the stronger of the two leaders, and he seemed intent on keeping their deal. Akari craned her neck to meet his eyes. ¡°You gonna do something?¡± ¡°What?¡± Kalden blinked down at her. ¡°Say something to them,¡± Akari said. ¡°Valdez won¡¯t listen to me..¡± ¡°Then make him listen. Say something smart.¡± ¡°They¡¯re Artisans. It¡¯s not a fight we can win.¡± Akari glared up at him. ¡°You¡¯re not the Kalden I know.¡± He recoiled, putting several inches between them. ¡°That¡¯s not fair. I did my part¡ªI made Relia¡¯s pill.¡± She stared into his eyes. ¡°You look like you did before. In Last Haven. All that mana¡¯s messing with your head.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still me,¡± Kalden said. ¡°I¡¯m just picking my battles.¡± But then, what if she was right? Was this him in control, or was it his past self? Was there even a difference anymore? He already knew the answer to that. He thought he¡¯d left those feelings of apathy behind him, but helplessness was a learned trait, and Kalden had spent more than a decade following his parents¡¯ orders, never standing up for himself. But that didn¡¯t make him wrong today. Every good general knew when to retreat. But how did he know that choice was right? Kalden thought back to the moment before he¡¯d merged his two selves. Apathy had been his worst fear, but he¡¯d pushed through it, trusting Akari to pull him back if he fell too far. She was reckless and impatient, but she always took action. That was the quality he¡¯d admired most about her. She¡¯d been stomped on by an entire society, but she¡¯d still taken control of her own life. Kalden must have been thinking too long because Akari punched him in the chest. It wasn¡¯t a friendly punch, either. She punched him as if she meant to release a Missile, channeling energy all the way from the floor. She twisted her upper body and exhaled a full breath, sending him stumbling back into the wall. ¡°Snap out of it!¡± Akari told him. She raised her fist again but seemed to think better of it. ¡°What if we were in charge?¡± ¡°In charge of what?¡± ¡°The Unmarked.¡± She waved a hand at the conference room. ¡°What would we do?¡± His heart raced at the thought. ¡°I guess I would¡ª¡± ¡°Good.¡± Akari grabbed his arm and shoved him toward the conference room. ¡°Tell them that.¡± Kalden stepped toward the doorway before he could stop himself, his mind still racing for a solution. Kyzar had tried appealing to the other man¡¯s sense of honor, but that wasn¡¯t working. Either Kyzar would have to overpower Valdez to get his way, or he¡¯d have to concede. The former seemed more likely, but that was still bad news for Kalden and his friends. Valdez was the second-strongest Mana Artist on this side of the river. They didn¡¯t want him as an enemy. Kalden stepped into the conference room beside Relia, and Akari followed close behind. ¡°Permission to speak?¡± he asked the Artisans. ¡°Denied,¡± Valdez snapped. ¡°Granted,¡± Kyzar said at the same time Good enough. Kalden drew in another deep breath as he turned to face the human. ¡°You can¡¯t appease an angry mob. Give in to their demands, and they¡¯ll sense weakness. They¡¯ll know they can push harder next time, and they will.¡± The older man stepped forward. He was shorter than Kalden by several inches, but he still seemed to tower over him. ¡°There¡¯s room for two in that van, shoko.¡± Kalden raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture. ¡°But you won¡¯t lose support if you stand your ground. The people already picked their sides. They¡¯ll double down when the fighting starts.¡± Valdez gave a bitter laugh. ¡°You haven¡¯t been in Creta long, have you? Antano makes us look like crazy extremists on the news. We lose support every time he does.¡± I¡¯d take real enemies over this. Akari¡¯s words echoed in his mind from a moment before. Then he remembered the fight she¡¯d started on the ferry, turning a complicated situation into a simple one. ¡°Exactly.¡± Kalden gestured to the screen on the wall. ¡°The Dragonlord¡¯s using Relia to make you look bad. But he¡¯s not attacking you. The Grevandi are. That¡¯s the best-case scenario for us.¡± ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Kyzar said. ¡°Everyone will focus on the battle, and we¡¯ll be the defenders.¡± ¡°This lets you show your strength, ¡°Kalden continued with a nod. ¡°Most rebellions never get that chance.¡± Valdez considered that. ¡°Our strength might not be enough.¡± Kalden furrowed his brow. ¡°How many Artisans do the Grevandi have?¡± ¡°Not worried about the Grevandi.¡± He turned to Relia. ¡°You killed dozens of Claws, and they¡¯ve got the footage to prove it. They¡¯ll send the Fangs after you for that. And the Wings are always a looming threat. Not to mention the Dragonlord himself.¡± Literally. They¡¯d all seen Antano flying over the city in his dragon form, casting a dark shadow over the streets. People claimed a single Missile from him could level city blocks. Other nations might get involved if that happened, but that was no comfort to the thousands who might die. ¡°Then let us go through with our plan,¡± Relia spoke up for the first time. ¡°The Dragonlord¡¯s holding my master. We can call his wife for help, and the Espirian military, too. We just need access to that computer.¡± Kyzar tapped his claws together and nodded. ¡°That can be arranged. How long would it take Irina Darklight to get here?¡± Relia gave an apologetic shrug. ¡°I¡¯m more worried about the message reaching her in the first place. Best case scenario? By morning.¡± Valdez remained silent for several long seconds. His eyes darted to the various screens, and he looked like he might object again. Finally, he turned back to Kalden¡¯s group, settling his eyes on Relia. ¡°We know the Fangs are coming. Might as well set a trap for them.¡± Book 2 - Chapter 27: Preparations Akari¡¯s fingers flew across the keyboard as she traveled the dark web. Kyzar had lent them a laptop just like he¡¯d promised, along with a hotel room to prepare for the upcoming battle. And of course, that hotel sat right in the enemy¡¯s path. Explosions echoed from outside as the Grevandi drew closer, gaining ground on the bridge between the two territories. The Unmarked stalled their progress with barriers, but that wouldn¡¯t last for long. They only had to hold out long enough for the noncombatants to escape, then the fighting would start in earnest. The bathroom door swung open, and Relia emerged in a cloud of pale steam. Her red hair was a wet and tangled mess, falling all the way to her waist. ¡°How''s the dark web?¡± she asked. ¡°No luck,¡± Akari said. She¡¯d already sent over two dozen messages, promising a reward to anyone who put them in touch with Irina Darklight. But no matter how much she spammed, everyone else had the same idea. Her call for help got lost in a sea of alchemy dealers, money-making schemes, and other shady links. To make matters worse, Irina shared the name of a famous Angel, so this resulted in countless jokes. The internet really sucked sometimes. Relia strode over to the bed and pulled on her black combat fatigues. Kyzar had given them three sets, complete with vests and helmets. This gear was all Apprentice level, capable of absorbing several Missiles, and far stronger than anything they¡¯d worn on Arkala. Unfortunately, Kyzar couldn¡¯t fix Akari¡¯s broken glasses. Her right lens was still missing, and it felt like she was staring at the computer screen from underwater. She¡¯d tried cycling mana to her eyes¡ªthat helped with the headache, but not her vision. How had Dream Akari fixed this problem? Had a Restoration Artist fixed her eyes? Or maybe she¡¯d just worn contacts? Either way, this was number one on the priority list when she reached Espiria. Assuming they didn¡¯t shipwreck in three more countries along the way. Someone knocked on the outer door. Relia skipped across the room, looked through the peephole, then pulled it open. ¡°Happy Midwinter, everyone.¡± Kalden raised a plastic grocery bag as he stepped inside. ¡°Oh!¡± Relia clasped her hands together. ¡°I hope you got me a hairbrush.¡± That seemed like a joke at first, but then she paused, staring up at Kalden''s perfectly styled hair. ¡°Wait a second ¡­¡± Kalden cleared his throat and looked away. Relia sniffed the air around him. ¡°Are you wearing cologne too?¡± "Maybe." "How? Our bathroom didn''t have any of that." "I went down to the concierge''s desk," he said. ¡°I thought they all evacuated.¡± ¡°They did, but I grabbed the lost and found box from under the desk.¡± "For Talek''s sake," Akari muttered as she pasted more text in the chat room. "Are you two for real?" ¡°What else was in there?¡± Relia asked. ¡°Not much.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Just a brush, a hairdryer, and¡ª¡± Relia thrust out her hand. ¡°Give me your room key.¡± Kalden fumbled to get his card from his back pocket. Relia snatched it and disappeared out the door. Guess that''s a yes. The Grevandi would be here in less than an hour, and they were worried about their freaking hair. Kalden closed the door behind him, and Akari raised an eyebrow as he approached the bed. ¡°You guys late for the school dance?¡± she asked. A smile flashed across his face. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m trying to impress my crush.¡± Damnit. She couldn¡¯t help but smile back at that, even if it wasn¡¯t true. Kalden had always spent too much time on his looks. She¡¯d be more impressed if he just shaved his head and called it good. The cologne did smell nice, though. Relia returned a second later with a cardboard box. She headed straight for the bathroom and started brushing and blow-drying her hair. ¡°Anyway.¡± Kalden sat on the other bed and pulled two tiny glass bottles from the grocery bag. Akari eyed the bottles suspiciously as he placed them on the nightstand. ¡°Those better be for combat,¡± she said. If they were skincare products, she was taking her kiss back. ¡°They¡¯re called allnighters,¡± Kalden said. ¡°There was a whole box of them downstairs.¡± ¡°Allnighters?¡± She perked up at that. ¡°Are they like coffee?" "Better. Caffeine just fights drowsiness. This takes care of the rest too¡ªreaction time, willpower, fatigue. It basically mimics all the effects of a full night¡¯s sleep.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the catch?¡± ¡°It¡¯s only safe in moderation¡ªlike once a week. Plus it catches up with you when it wears off, then you¡¯ll be twice as tired as before.¡± Akari nodded as she unscrewed one of the metal caps. They¡¯d already been awake all day, so they¡¯d need this if they planned to fight all night. ¡°Oh,¡± Kalden said. ¡°And some people pass out their first time. The effects are so close to sleep that your brain gets confused.¡± Akari paused with the bottle halfway to her mouth. ¡°But that¡¯s rare,¡± he clarified. ¡°And it only lasts a few minutes.¡± Akari shrugged as she took a drink. She was already reclined against the headboard so passing out didn¡¯t seem that dangerous. Better than dying in combat from slow reaction times. The potion went down smoother than she¡¯d expected. Healing potions always made her want to gag, but this was surprisingly sweet. Even Relia drank a bottle when she got out of the bathroom. Apparently, these were all natural ingredients, so it didn¡¯t bother her the way most alchemy did. Fighting her condition had probably taken a shitload of willpower too, even if she pretended to be fine. Akari continued posting messages in the chatrooms, and Kalden spread out a map on the other bed, guessing at the Grevandi¡¯s tactics. ¡°You sure you¡¯re okay with being the bait?¡± he asked Relia. ¡°Kyzar will understand if we tell him no.¡± Relia nodded from the end of the bed where she sat braiding her hair. ¡°Hector was a jerk, but he wasn¡¯t totally wrong. I started this, so it¡¯s only fair.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t owe the Unmarked anything,¡± Kalden countered. ¡°They¡¯ve been fighting long before we got here.¡± True. If anything, the Unmarked owed them for the work they¡¯d done. Kyzar could have avoided this battle if he¡¯d given them a computer sooner. Then again, maybe this was his plan all along? Kyzar hadn¡¯t benefited from Irina Darklight¡¯s arrival before. Now, she might turn the tide of this whole battle. It was risky, but Akari had faced worse odds against the Martials. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°I want to,¡± Relia said. ¡°What if those Artisans kill someone else instead? I couldn¡¯t live with myself If I ran.¡± Relia tied off her braid, then she moved to flank Akari, armed with a wooden brush. ¡°What the hell?¡± Akari scooted toward the edge of the bed, but that wasn¡¯t easy with the computer balanced on her lap. ¡°Your hair¡¯s bothering me.¡± ¡°Who cares? I¡¯ll have a helmet on.¡± Unlike Relia¡¯s hair, Akari¡¯s barely fell past her chin. She normally spent a few minutes brushing it after her showers, but she had more important things today. Like calling Irina Darklight and saving an entire city. ¡°Just hold still.¡± Akari thought about raising a defensive Construct, but Relia continued. ¡°I¡¯m nervous about the fight, okay? I need to stay busy.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Akari leaned forward with a glare. ¡°But you owe me.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Relia started brushing the knots free. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted a little sister.¡± Way too clingy. No wonder she¡¯d scared off all her friends before. Kalden chuckled at the exchange, but that didn¡¯t bother her. At least he was acting like his normal self and not that mindless drone he¡¯d been in Last Haven. He¡¯d told her his revelation, and it made perfect sense in hindsight. Now why couldn¡¯t she find hers? Akari had gone through dozens of phrases in her head, but her soul hadn¡¯t reacted the way Kalden¡¯s had. Now, the gap between them was wider than ever. Akari might even be the weakest Artist in this battle. The minutes dragged on, and the explosions grew louder outside. Talek. They were running out of time, and people kept ignoring her messages. Akari still had a backup plan that involved spilling their whole story in a single message. Word had to eventually reach Elend wife that way. But then the Dragonlord would know too, and they¡¯d lose the element of¡ª Akari froze as several browser windows closed in rapid succession. She scrambled to move her cursor, but it was frozen in place. Shit. She¡¯d been careful about security before, but this was a different world, and the technology was decades ahead. A light flickered above her monitor, and she noticed the tiny webcam there for the first time. She tried to power down the whole computer just as a video took over her screen. A middle-aged Cadrian woman stared back at her. She had an olive complexion, with silky black hair that fell past her shoulders. She sat perfectly straight in her tall leather chair, eying them with a piercing gaze ¡°This is Irina Darklight.¡± She spoke in a rich northern accent that reminded her of Elend. ¡°Who are you, and where¡¯s my husband?¡± ~~~ ¡°Someone¡¯s coming,¡± Glim said from her place in the cell mirror ¡°Aye,¡± Elend replied as he strode over. ¡°I hear them.¡± He¡¯d been feeding her mana nonstop for the past few weeks, bringing her closer to her former power. Her reflection had as much detail as a human¡¯s now, despite her skin¡¯s pale blue tint. More importantly, she could perform Master-level dream techniques¡ªsomething Elend couldn¡¯t do with his cuffs. In all the years they¡¯d been together, they¡¯d never had a power balance quite like this. But this was the only way to pull off his plan. Even once his cuffs came off, he and the Dragonlord would swear oaths not to oppose one another. Antano would get the cuffs by default, and all of Cadria would suffer. ¡°I¡¯m counting on you,¡± he told Glim. ¡°We all are.¡± ¡°You worry too much.¡± She winked at him with a pale blue eye. ¡°I¡¯ve got this.¡± Elend pulled her into his soul, cutting off the communication between them. The Fangs arrived a few seconds later, escorting Elend upstairs to the Dragonlord¡¯s throne room. As usual, the massive chamber was filled with golden ostentation, from the furniture to the trim. But he had to admit, the view of Tureko¡¯s skyline was far more impressive after sunset. Even the golden trim served as a striking contrast to the night sky. Several monitors hung from the walls around the room, and each one showed a different image of Relia fighting the Claws. One showed a hotel bathroom, while the rest showed a fight on the bridge. He¡¯d already seen this footage through Glim¡¯s eyes, and he knew his apprentice had escaped safely. Unfortunately, this meant Antano finally knew her identity. Probably Kalden¡¯s and Akari¡¯s, too. Another screen showed live footage of the Grevandi clashing with the Unmarked on the bridge. Antano faced this monitor with his back to Elend, hands clasped behind his back. ¡°Barbaric, Isn¡¯t it?¡± For a tyrant, he was incredibly self aware. Lena Cavaco had set up a wooden desk to work, and Elend took his seat across from her. She¡¯d already bonded with four of the cuffs, and most of the collar. If everything worked out, then all five artifacts would come off tonight. ¡°My kin and I were once the victims of such riots,¡± Antano said. ¡°We once fought for basic rights before I rose to power. Schools refused to teach us Mana Arts. Employers refused to hire us, and hospitals refused to treat our wounds. It never mattered how far we advanced. Angry mobs of humans were always there to force us out.¡± He spun to face the rest of the chamber, stretching out his wings and taking up five times more space than an ordinary man. The windows reflected him on all sides, amplifying the effect even further. ¡°Now, my race stands at the vanguard of such mobs. They attack those with different beliefs because of some dogma they heard about safety, or the greater good.¡± He waved a clawed hand. ¡°In doing so, they¡¯ve become the very thing they despised.¡± Elend inclined his head. ¡°This might be a silly question, but why don¡¯t you stop the fighting? You¡¯re the most powerful being in Creta.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯d be the most powerful being if I stopped it?¡± Elend had heard that argument before. Not from Antano, but from other rulers throughout history. He¡¯d probably call Unida a herd of sheep who yearned to be ruled, then he¡¯d call Liberta a group of rebels who needed a cause. He¡¯d quote Presidenta Collaza, claiming they all wanted war deep down, and he couldn¡¯t stand in their way. ¡°They all crave this conflict in their hearts,¡± the Dragonlord said. ¡°Who am I to stand in their way?¡± Aye, that was the quote. Well, two could play at that game. ¡°What good is power,¡± Elend began, ¡°if you don¡¯t change the world for the better? Too many powerful Artists cower in fear, afraid to risk what they have. They claim they¡¯ll make the world better tomorrow. Tomorrow, when their enemies are vanquished and their rules are secure. But tomorrow never comes, and they tell themselves that story until they die.¡± ¡°Agramonte¡¯s Virtue of Courage,¡± the Dragonlord said with a nod. ¡°It¡¯s good advice if you plan to die someday. But we¡¯re Grandmasters, aren¡¯t we? We both have a chance to ascend.¡± Elend broke out into a laugh. Every guard in the room stiffened, and even Lena paused from her Ethersmthing work. ¡°You don¡¯t see the contradiction, do you?¡± Antano¡¯s boots echoed against the obsidian tiles as he stepped closer, looking more amused than offended. ¡°You criticize your own subjects,¡± Elend said, ¡°claiming they pursue battle for battle¡¯s sake. But you have no cause or purpose that drives you. You¡¯ll never ascend that way.¡± Elend wouldn¡¯t normally interrupt his enemy while he was making a mistake. But Axel Antano was a minor player in the grand scheme of things. And Elend wasn¡¯t trying to convince him of anything. He just had to convince the Ethersmith sitting across from him. Lena couldn¡¯t betray the Dragonlord with her soul oath¡ªthey all knew that¡ªbut Elend played a far longer game than that. Antano gave a wide smile, showing a set of human-like teeth. ¡°It¡¯s been years since anyone¡¯s spoken that way to me. Even the Wings aren¡¯t so bold. But I know my final revelation.¡± Unlikely. The final revelation was the biggest contradiction of all. And words were cheap. Like all revelations, you had to prove it with action. ¡°But we¡¯re not here to discuss ascension,¡± he continued. One monitor switched images, settling on Relia and Akari¡¯s faces in the hotel bathroom. Elend kept his own expression blank as he examined the footage. ¡°These are your students. Aren¡¯t they?¡± Elend remained silent, but it seemed more like a rhetorical question. Antano¡¯s wings rose and fell in a shrug-like motion. ¡°I¡¯ve kept my word from our first meeting. My people have left your students alone, but I can¡¯t stop them from putting themselves in danger.¡± ¡°You can stop the fighting,¡± Elend said. ¡°I don¡¯t command the Grevandi.¡± ¡°But they will listen to your orders.¡± Antano shook his head, and his mouth curled up into a smile. ¡°That wasn¡¯t the deal.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Elend gestured to the collar around his neck. ¡°What if I agree to give you this?¡± They¡¯d originally agreed that Antano would get the four cuffs while Elend kept the collar. He¡¯d held that card close to his chest, prepared for a moment like this. ¡°No.¡± Antano¡¯s voice cut through the air like a dagger. ¡°I can¡¯t stop the Grevandi from attacking. Even if I wanted to.¡± He should have known it wouldn¡¯t be that easy. ¡°But there¡¯s another way. Allow my Wings to retrieve your students. We can bring them here where they¡¯ll be safe. As hostages. Not only would the Dragonlord get the collar in that case, but he¡¯d stop Elend¡¯s plans to circumvent him. Elend glanced back at the monitor. He and Irina had never had children, but Relia was the closest thing they¡¯d ever had to a daughter. Was this what being a parent felt like? He could intervene and guarantee her safety, but he might doom thousands more to death as the Dragonlord unleashed his new artifacts against the world. Or he could trust Relia to save herself. Was she ready for a conflict like this? Even the Martials had beaten her in the prison, and they were only Foundations. Her aspect made her one of the deadliest killers in the world. Certainly the deadliest Apprentice. And she¡¯d just released her greatest technique in battle today¡ªa technique she¡¯d sworn she¡¯d never use. These experiences had strengthened her, and she¡¯d need that strength to reach Artisan in the coming year. ¡°Or you can roll the dice with their lives,¡± Antano said after a long pause. ¡°But one of your students¡ªthe Shokenese girl¡ªkilled my nephew¡¯s friend.¡± That would be Valeria''s son. Elend remembered him from his first day in this tower. The Dragonlord smiled again. ¡°I¡¯ve ordered the boy not to seek vengeance, but he¡¯s always been ¡­ insubordinate. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised to see him on the battlefield tonight.¡± Book 2 - Chapter 28: A Moonless Night The blasts grew louder outside, and Akari followed her friends down the hallway. Relia planned to wait for the Fangs downstairs, while Akari and Kalden struck from the balconies above, putting pressure on the enemy shields as they advanced through the streets. The lights flickered as they walked, leaving eerie shadows on the plaster walls. Talek. They were lucky Irina Darklight found had them when she did. Another ten minutes, and they might have lost power or internet access. How had Elend not mentioned his wife was a hacker? And how had Irina not found them sooner? Maybe that proved how isolated Creta was. Videos of Relia flooded the news here, but Espiria hadn¡¯t seen one glimpse of those. Regardless, Irina Darklight was coming to rescue them. Unfortunately, Koreldon City was thousands of miles from Creta. And even with portals and airships, it was still a chore to cross national borders. Most countries had barriers in place to prevent that, and Espiria couldn¡¯t risk offending its allies by breaking through. ¡°You guys sure you wanna be here?¡± Relia asked as they walked. ¡°There are more buildings down the street. It would be way safer.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been over this,¡± Kalden said. ¡°And didn¡¯t I just ask you the same question?¡± ¡°I have to fight,¡± Relia said. ¡°You don¡¯t.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been fighting together this whole time.¡± ¡°Yeah, but this is different. There could be Artisans downstairs.¡± ¡°What else is new?¡± Akari struggled to keep her eyes open as she followed the others. Apparently, Kalden¡¯s super-caffine potion wasn¡¯t working. ¡°We were lucky to escape last time,¡± Relia said. ¡°We¡¯ll be fine up here,¡± Akari said. ¡°The lobby¡¯s like three levels down.¡± Relia spun on her heel, giving them both a flat look. ¡°You guys don¡¯t get it, do you? Artisan fire can melt through stone.¡± She made an exploding gesture with her hands, complete with sound effects. ¡°This place could be a pile of ash when they¡¯re done.¡± Akari blinked at that, turning to face Kalden. Until now, she¡¯d thought of Artisans as stronger Apprentices. She¡¯d assumed she and Kalden would be fine if they weren¡¯t the direct targets. But what if the Fangs brought down this whole building? Relia was probably exaggerating about that¡ªlarger structures had mana reinforcements. They had to, otherwise one pissed-off Artisan could wreck a whole city. But reinforcements could fail if they lost power. Maybe it couldn¡¯t hurt to wait next door. Close to Relia, but not too close. Akari opened her mouth to suggest that, but Kalden spoke first. ¡°We¡¯re forgetting one thing,¡± he said. ¡°They caught all three of us on camera. The Fangs might still come for Akari and me, even if we hide.¡± Relia looked like she might object, then she slumped her shoulders. ¡°Darn it. You¡¯re right.¡± She turned to Akari next. ¡°And they know you killed one of them.¡± Kalden nodded. ¡°Even if they didn¡¯t, the Dragonlord could use us as hostages. That gives him one more card to play when Irina gets here.¡± Akari started feeling lightheaded as the others spoke. Her body swayed, and she stumbled into the wall. ¡°Hey.¡± Kalden held out a hand to steady her, and she practically collapsed in his arms. ¡°The allnighter potion?¡± Relia asked Kalden. ¡°It¡¯s been half an hour,¡± Kalden said. ¡°She should be fine.¡± Relia asked another question, but her voice sounded far away. Kalden muttered something about biochemistry as he lowered her to the floor, supporting her head in his arms. Every muscle in her body grew heavy, from her eyelids to her limbs. ¡°Her mark¡¯s gone!¡± Relia said. Akari blinked her eyes open, trying to focus on her friends through her one good lens. Relia and Kalden had lost their marks too. When had that happened? She reached out with her mana senses and tried to feel Elend''s Constructs inside her head. They were weaker than before. He¡¯d said they would expire after a few weeks. Maybe this was it? ¡°Akari?¡± Kalden said. ¡°Can you hear me?¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± she said with a weary nod. Was she seriously about to pass out? Again? Why was that happening so much lately? Getting knocked out in combat was one thing, but this ¡­ The answer came to her a second later: Elend¡¯s dream Construct. What if that was fading too, just like her mark? What if her soul wanted her to see something important? This could be the final vision that brought her to Gold. Only one way to find out. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Akari told them. ¡°Give me a few minutes before you wake me up.¡± And with that, she closed her eyes and let herself sleep. ~~~ Skyscrapers surrounded her on all sides¡ªthe sort of buildings you only saw in old-world movies. Each one stood two or three times taller than the buildings in Tureko. So tall, she had to crane her neck to see their peaks. Instead of plain glass windows, each structure had intricate designs of twisting metal along the edges. Some tapered as they grew. Others twisted at their peaks like frosting on a cake. Rain misted from the sky above, and the streets shone with fresh rainwater, reflecting molten red lines from the setting sun. A fire Missile tore past her face, colliding with the pale blue shield further down. A burning car flew over her head, rolling through the street, knocking over two advancing enemies. To her left, a Gravity Artist lifted the back of a semi-truck and hurled it through a glass window. Maelyn Sanako. This was a team match in Last Haven. Akari and Maelyn had lost their other teammates, but they¡¯d also taken out several opponents. Two more left. A Fire Artist hid behind a parked city bus, arcing orange Missiles toward them. Asphalt and concrete erupted on all sides as his techniques struck the ground. ¡°Move that bus,¡± Akari shouted to Maelyn. ¡°I¡¯ll finish him.¡± She gave a brisk nod. ¡°Cover me.¡± Akari slid in front of Maelyn as the other girl gathered gravity mana between her hands. As always, Maelyn¡¯s techniques took time to form. Things would get faster when she reached Apprentice. For now, she was vulnerable while she worked. Akari raised a Construct of pure mana, deflecting several more fire Missiles. She also kept pressure on the bus¡¯s left side, blocking the boy¡¯s retreat. ¡°Tell me when.¡± Akari blocked another fire Missile. ¡°When!¡± Maelyn shouted. Akari leapt to the side, and Maelyn flung her gravity Missile straight toward the bus. The massive vehicle lifted off the ground, flying over two dozen feet into the air. But the Fire Artist hadn¡¯t been idle. He¡¯d kept them busy with smaller attacks, but he¡¯d been preparing a larger technique in his offhand. The fire mana flew forward, forming a dense volley, too wide to dodge. Shit. Akari formed another shield, but her pure mana was no match for that. Power flooded her legs as she moved to retreat, but Maelyn had been building a second technique too. She threw a gravity Construct above their heads. It took on the shape of a swirling, semi-transparent orb, deforming the fire mana is it closed in. Akari threw a counterattack, and the Fire Artist raised a pure shield This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Maelyn hurled her gravity Construct toward him, yanking his shield upward, leaving him exposed. Rain prickled Akari¡¯s fingertips as she raised her hand and unleashed her next Missile. It closed the distance between her and her opponent, sharpening into a point as it flew under the raised Construct. The Missile speared the boy through the stomach. His shield flickered out first, then both girls breathed a sigh of relief as he faded into a cloud of dream mana. But this wasn¡¯t over. Their teammates had kept Kalden Trengsen busy, but he¡¯d be here any second. Akari glanced at her last surviving teammate. Maelyn¡¯s visor hid her expression, but Akari could imagine it, clear as glass. People always wore the same look before they faced Kalden Trengsen, and Maelyn knew the same thing their audience did. They were no match for his blade mana. As if in response to her thoughts, Kalden appeared at the end of the street with a storm of swords moving around him. Akari and Maelyn raced for cover as several blades closed in. By now, Kalden had faced almost everyone in school, earning himself the second highest spot in the Foundation League. Akari still held the crown, but that would change if she lost today. ¡°I¡¯ll keep him busy,¡± Maelyn said. ¡°You get behind him.¡± Akari nodded. She and Maelyn didn¡¯t always get along, but the girl was a better team player than most. Others would have refused to be the bait on principle. Kalden bisected Maelyn¡¯s next Construct it with a flying blade. Maelyn had already predicted that, and she followed with several smaller versions of the technique, each one arcing from a different angle. Kalden ripped through them all as Akari flanked him from the right. Even with the element of surprise, no ordinary technique would break Kalden¡¯s shield wall. Dozens of other students had tried and failed. Fortunately, Akari had saved her new aspect for last. Three days had passed since the ritual with Ashur Moonfire. Three days were nothing in terms of Mana Arts, but she¡¯d spent years of her life studying this aspect, preparing for this exact moment. Akari cycled spatial mana as she crept closer. It flowed like air through her channels, meeting little resistance along the way. But this also made her techniques trickier to form. If pure mana was like shaping clay, this was like shaping pure hydrogen. Fortunately, she¡¯d practiced this part too, going through hundreds of bottles worth of spatial mana, and enduring years of failure. That failure ended today. Akari waited for Maelyn to fire her next technique. Then she raised her hand and flung a space Missile straight toward her opponent. The mana cut through the air almost instantly, ignoring anything in its path. It slipped past Kalden¡¯s shield wall and stopped a few inches from his back. Like many advanced aspects, a single space Missile was useless on its own. But Akari pulled it back and flattened it into a Construct¡ªthe first half of her portal technique. Even now¡ªat the upper end of Gold¡ªone Construct took at least half her spatial mana. Kalden launched two blades toward Maelyn¡¯s cover. They curved around the brick wall, silver and glimmering in the faint sunlight. They arced back a heartbeat later, as red as the clouds above. A burst of light followed as Maelyn¡¯s body vanished. Then Kalden spun to face Akari. Shit. She gathered more space mana in her palm, dropping her next Missile into the road by her feet. Kalden was quicker, launching a pair of blades toward her. Akari raised her own weapon and parried the first attack. She considered dodging the second, but that wouldn¡¯t be enough. Kalden was a master of altering his mana¡¯s course. He¡¯d slice her up like a fruit if she tried to run So Akari gathered pure mana into a shield, focusing it all into a single point. Blade man ripped through most Constructs like wet paper, but it would also ricochet off hard surfaces. Kalden¡¯s technique sang like an anvil as it hit her shield, deflecting harmlessly away. In the same moment, Akari flattened the Missile by her feet, forming the second half of her portal. Space bent between the two points. A hole opened in the road beside her, and she saw red clouds in a perfect mirror of the sky above. Akari plunged her blade into the portal. The tip emerged from the other end, spearing her opponent through his shoulder blades. Victory. She¡¯d been weak without an aspect, but now she could beat anyone. Even Kalden Trengsen. The arena blurred into clouds of dream mana around them, and the urban cityscape faded to reveal Last Haven¡¯s arena. Kalden pulled off his helmet as he faced her from two dozen yards away. As usual, his hair was perfectly styled, and he hadn¡¯t even broken a sweat. But his wide-eyed expression was a work of art. Kalden had never shown any emotion before today. Now, he looked like a child who¡¯d been given his first Missile rod. He even glanced behind him as if he expected to find his killer standing there. The audience remained equally silent. Even the announcer didn¡¯t speak for several long seconds. Oh well. They¡¯d figure it out when they watched the replays. In the meantime, Akari yanked off her helmet and bowed to her opponent. Kalden pressed his fists together and bowed back. He¡¯d obviously recovered from his shock because it was the same bow he gave when he won. No wonder everyone calls him a mindless drone. But at least he was polite. Akari turned and made her way toward the locker rooms. Unlike Kalden, she was a sweaty mess, and¡ª The air warped in the center of the arena. The space cracked and opened, and a man stepped out to meet her. Akari blinked at him, feeling as shocked as the audience had looked a moment ago. ¡°Dad?¡± ¡°That was spatial mana,¡± Mazren said as he stepped out of the portal. ¡°You watch my matches?¡± she blurted out. ¡°Since when?¡± She knew she¡¯d have to face her parents sooner or later. She¡¯d just hoped it would be later. It would¡¯ve been nice to enjoy her victory for a few peaceful minutes. ¡°That wasn¡¯t from a potion,¡± Mazren said. ¡°You aspected your mana.¡± Akari shrugged a shoulder. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that hard.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me,¡± Mazren snapped. Akari shot a glance at the audience. No one could hear their conversation from this far, but many of them stared openly. ¡°I learned it online.¡± Akari made her way back toward the school, hoping he¡¯d follow her. ¡°Stop,¡± he said. ¡°What¡¯s done is done. There¡¯s no reason to lie.¡± Akari froze in place. Her father was normally so carefree or sarcastic. She¡¯d rarely seen him this serious, even when they argued. ¡°Someone taught you the ritual,¡± he said. ¡°Someone from outside this sect.¡± She didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Who was it?¡± Akari turned around, still not meeting his eye. ¡°Just some guy. Said his name was Ashur Moonfire.¡± Mazren frowned. It looked more like confusion than anger or disapproval. ¡°What did he want?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°This is important,¡± Mazren pressed. ¡°He didn¡¯t teach you that for free. I need to know what he wanted.¡± Damnit. Akari bit her lip, staring down at the arena floor. She¡¯d hoped to avoid this part, but Mazren had seen through her lies far too easily. Just then, she caught a glimpse of something floating in the clouds above¡ªsolid black, and shaped like a man. What the hell? The man¡¯s form was as still as the mountains themselves, and wings of shadow and fire stretched out around him, twice as wide as his arm span. Then a weight pressed on Akari¡¯s soul. It felt like standing next to a Grandmaster with his power unveiled. Only this person was hundreds of feet away. Mazren spun to face the floating figure, and so did most of the audience. The man grew closer with each passing second. The air thickened, and she almost collapsed on the arena floor. A Mystic. Mystics were the strongest of all Mana Artists. Most of them ruled ancient clans, if not entire continents. Akari had never seen one in-person before, but that was the only explanation for this power. ¡°It¡¯s him,¡± Mazren said. Several seconds passed as a chill spread over her skin, causing every hair on her body to stand up. The weight of the Mystic¡¯s power froze her in place, and her mana refused to budge. Even her mind went blank. But her father cycled his mana as he stared up at the figure. Then he shot a Missile somewhere into the mountains. Was he making a portal to escape? The Missile exploded against some unseen barrier. They were trapped. Mazren fired another technique toward the town hall. Space warped around them both, and her surroundings changed in a dizzying blur. A heartbeat later, Akari stood with her father at the highest point in Last Haven, gazing down at the panicking crowds below. Up above, the floating figure began forming his own technique. Mazren turned to face his enemy, gathering spheres of pure mana in his palms. Missiles like black shadows flooded out from the Mystic¡¯s outstretched hand. They spread through the sky, covering everything in a veil of darkness. This was nothing like ordinary mana. This was like staring into a pure, endless void. Like the blacks holes she¡¯d learned about in her spacetime lessons. Nothing could escape that void. It even pulled at her memories as she stared, and each glimpse was like seeing the technique for the first time. The technique grew wider, and the black veil stretched on for miles from horizon to horizon. It blocked out the sun, shrouding the world in a moonless night. Mazren unveiled his own soul, and the weight of his power made Akari collapse. Once again, this felt far stronger than any Artist she¡¯d felt before. She¡¯d always thought her parents were ordinary Masters, but he was clearly something more. Her father raised his right hand, releasing the technique he¡¯d been gathering. The Construct formed into a massive dome, wide enough to protect all of Last Haven from that endless void. All around the sect, powerful Artists added their power to Mazren¡¯s. Barely ten seconds had passed since the invader had arrived, but they all moved as if their lives depended on it. In that moment, Dream Akari dared to hope they¡¯d be alright. But Real Akari knew the truth. This was her last vision¡ªher final glimpse into her old life. That void wouldn¡¯t kill her sect. It would erase them all from existence. And not just their physical bodies. This would erase every record, every photograph, and every memory. It would be as if Last Haven had never existed. Several more seconds passed, then Akari¡¯s mother appeared on the roof beside them. Her short black hair billowed in the mountain wind, covering half her face. ¡°Help me with this!¡± Mazren shouted at her. Emiri didn¡¯t even glance up at the floating figure. ¡°It¡¯s too late,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re trapped.¡± ¡°Can you give us more time?¡± She shook her head. ¡°He¡¯s too strong. Nothing we do can change this.¡± Dream Akari tried to speak, but her mouth refused to move in the face of so much power. Her mother turned to face her, putting her hands on her shoulders. ¡°You might not remember this when you wake up. You might not remember who you are, or even your own name.¡± Then she seemed to look straight through her eyes, as if she were talking to Real Akari rather than Dream Akari. ¡°But wherever we go, we¡¯re going to escape. They can¡¯t hold us. We will never stop fighting.¡± The Mystic¡¯s technique collided with her father¡¯s shield. Mazren held the void at bay, but only for a heartbeat. Cracks spread through the Construct, then it shattered like a frozen ocean, fading into pale blue mist. Darkness consumed them as the void passed through the cloud of broken mana. Time slowed to a crawl, and everyone she knew vanished like shattered dreams. It was as if they¡¯d always been illusions, and this technique revealed the truth. And as the people faded, so did Dream Akari¡¯s memories. Even Real Akari felt the effects across space and time. In that moment, she thought she might forget everything she¡¯d learned from these dreams. When Akari opened her eyes again, she found herself laying on the street beneath the A16 overpass, a few blocks from downtown Elegan. Her mother lay on the street beside her. They¡¯d both been stripped of their power. Lies replaced their memories, and bronze badges hung from their necks. Book 2 - Chapter 29: The Front Lines ¡°Akari!¡± Someone shook her by the shoulder, and she snapped her eyes open. Sweat covered her body, and her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths. Her Mana Arts were gone. Her memories were gone. And¡ª But no, she felt the power in her channels, flowing as fast as her beating heart. She felt the memories too, from Last Haven to Arkala to Creta. Akari lifted her wrist and glanced at her mana watch. 73/73. Silver. Exactly where she¡¯d been before. Still, she had to be sure. She gathered mana in her opposite palm and thrust a Missile across the room. She¡¯d meant to form a Construct next, but the speed of her cycling sent the mana straight through the wall. A cloud of dust erupted from a fist-sized hole. ¡°Hey.¡± Someone touched her shoulder again, and Akari flinched away. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± he repeated. ¡°It¡¯s Kalden. You¡¯re safe.¡± Akari let out a breath, shifting her head to meet his eyes. They were back in the hotel room now. She lay in the bed, and Kalden sat beside her. He must have carried her back when she passed out. Her eyes burned as she stared back at the hole she¡¯d made. Talek. How crazy did she look right now? ¡°S-sorry.¡± Her voice broke, and she barely recognized the sound. A dozen different emotions fought for dominance inside her. First, she felt indescribable relief, as if she¡¯d been buried alive and someone had just pulled her out. That Mystic¡¯s technique had been so powerful, she¡¯d been sure it would affect her in the present day. She thought she¡¯d lost her powers and her friends. She thought she¡¯d have to go back to living as a Bronze on Arkala. But of course, that was no ordinary nightmare. She couldn¡¯t wake up and escape it. Her entire sect had been destroyed¡ªerased from the planet¡¯s surface. Worst of all ¡­ ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Kalden reached out and touched the back of her hand. He moved slowly as if he expected her to flinch away or attack him. Hard to blame him for that. Their fingers intertwined a heartbeat later, and tears flowed down her cheeks as she squeezed his hand. ¡°It¡¯s not.¡± Akari used her free hand to remove her glasses and rub at her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not okay.¡± ¡°You had another dream,¡± Kalden said. ¡°What happened?¡± Talek. How could she put it into words? Then again, she couldn¡¯t keep it bottled up either. She¡¯d tried that before, and it felt like being caught in an infinite loop. Besides, Last Haven had been Kalden¡¯s home too. He deserved to know the truth. He wouldn¡¯t be holding her hand right now if he knew. ¡°Do you remember our last fight?¡± He paused. ¡°I don¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°A team match.¡± She struggled to form words past her ragged breaths. Her hands shook despite the room¡¯s heat, and her teeth chattered. ¡°Random teams¡ªended with me and Maelyn against you. I aspected my mana¡ªmade a portal and stabbed you. It was the only fight you ever lost.¡± Another pause, longer than the first. ¡°I remember.¡± Akari tried to speak again, but she broke into a fit of coughs as her tears ran down her throat. She rolled onto her side, facing away from him. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± The mattress shifted as Kalden scooted closer behind her. He moved some hair from her eyes and brought his lips to her hairline. Akari ground her teeth together, and the tears flowed harder than before. Her mother used to kiss her like that. ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± Akari repeated. ¡°The memory¡¯s fuzzy for me.¡± Kalden kept stroking her hair. ¡°I never saw this part in my dreams.¡± ¡°There was a man in the sky.¡± Akari said. ¡°A Mystic. He showed up after our duel. He ¡­¡± ¡°Filled the sky with black mana,¡± he finished for her. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°He sent us to the Archipelago,¡± Kalden continued. ¡°All of us.¡± So, he did remember. Akari curled into a ball, gathering her thoughts. The explosions grew even louder outside as the Grevandi advanced toward their hotel. Light flashed between the gaps in the curtains, and her chest shook from the impact of the blasts. All the while, images of her enemy remained burned in her vision like a flash of lightning¡ªa solid black silhouette against the pale sky. He¡¯d hidden his face, just like he¡¯d hidden his name in the diner. Talek. Who was that? People were terrified of Relia, but at least she left evidence of her battles behind. What sort of aspect could erase someone from existence? And why had he imprisoned them instead of killing them? But there was an even bigger problem ¡­ something she¡¯d avoided until now. This Mystic hadn¡¯t just attacked their sect out of nowhere. Someone had betrayed Last Haven and led him there. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Her father had known that from the second he¡¯d seen her aspect. He hadn¡¯t cared about the aspect itself. He only cared about the price she¡¯d paid. ¡°It was my fault.¡± Akari choked and clenched her teeth again. ¡°I¡¯m the reason this happened.¡± ~~~ Relia ran down three flights of stairs into the hotel lobby, moving past the crowds who¡¯d gathered there. The room was two stories high, with balconies and wooden supports running along three walls. Glass windows had covered the outer wall before. Now, those were reinforced with wooden boards, sheet metal, and Constructs of protection mana. Before today, the Unmarked had patrolled the streets like battle-hardened veterans. They¡¯d stared defiantly at the Dragonlord as he flew over the city, and they¡¯d watched the news with cold indifference whenever the Wings appeared. Now, the soldiers shifted and fidgeted as they waited for the battle. Some told jokes while others reacted with forced laughter. The fear was thick enough to taste. These guys had seen street skirmishes, but never a proper war. Somehow, their fear made Relia calmer. It was like they¡¯d left an empty vacuum, and her own subconscious hurried to fill it. Hearing Kyzar¡¯s voice in her headset helped too. Relia had spent most of the past year alone. Either that, or she¡¯d been defending weaker Artists like Akari and Kalden. Not to mention all the ones who¡¯d died in the prison on Arkala. For once, she didn¡¯t have to worry about the big picture. She just had to do her part¡ªheal whoever she could, and bait the Artisans when Kyzar gave the order. Strangely enough, following orders and being part of a team was all she¡¯d ever wanted. The crowd parted for Relia as she stepped out onto the sidewalk. Armor covered her body from head to heel, but her pale face would be clear through her visor. Not to mention her red braid that stuck out the back. The Unmarked still didn¡¯t accept her, but they were too pragmatic to waste her skills. That was fine, though. Akari and Kalden were her friends, and that was enough. Unless something happened to them tonight. Then she¡¯d be alone again. Her chest tightened at the thought, and her stomach did somersaults. So much for that nice calm feeling she had before. Thanks a lot, brain. The sounds of fighting drew closer as the Grevandi approached. Of course, those sounds had been getting louder for the last hour, so that wasn¡¯t saying much. Relia craned her neck and saw a glimpse of blue light farther down the street. Dozens of Missiles flew from the balconies and windows above, along with bullets and grenades. Meanwhile, the Grevandi pressed forward behind their shield wall, returning Missiles along the way. As usual, both sides tried to make the other waste more mana, favoring battery-powered weapons and shields, keeping their real techniques in reserve. Relia¡¯s teachers had compared it to the first ten moves of a crowns game where both players fought for small gains across the board. ¡°They¡¯re getting close,¡± a voice said in Relia¡¯s earpiece ¡°It¡¯s the sweepers,¡± Kyzar replied in his gravely voice. Was it weird that she found his voice attractive? Probably. He was twice her age, not to mention half dragon. Yeah ¡­ better keep that to herself. ¡°Snipers, take a shot if you get one. No one else engage.¡± Relia squinted and saw that Kyzar was right. The Unmarked had trapped the roads with landmines and caches of toxic mana, and the Grevandi sent smaller groups ahead to deal with those. And yes, everyone was cool with using toxic mana, but life mana was evil. Why? Because people were jerks and hypocrites. Several heartbeats passed, then gunshots fired from the windows above. It seemed like the snipers worked in pairs. One aimed for the landmine directly, and the blast knocked out the enemy¡¯s shields. Then the second sniper took the killing blow. The Grevandi who died were only Foundations. Azul¡¯s ashes. Relia never could have sacrificed people like that. She didn¡¯t even like trading her pieces during crowns, and those were just wooden figurines. Then again, she always lost at crowns. Another minute passed, then the bulk of the Grevandi stepped into firing range. Rows of soldiers led the way, followed by tanks and armored vans. Blasts of blinding light followed as the Unmarked engaged on Kyzar¡¯s command. Fire Artists struck in a dozen different ways. Some melted the road itself, while others worked with Wind Artists to hurl clouds of burning sawdust into their ranks. Meanwhile, Ice Artists froze the enemy vehicles in place, and Stone Artists hurled bricks and boulders. But still, the Grevandi advanced, countering every tactic with Artists of their own. ¡°This is it,¡± Kyzar told Relia over a private channel. ¡°Get your Death Missiles ready.¡± ¡°Copy that,¡± she replied, forming several small clouds of life mana around her body. These clouds weren¡¯t lethal yet, but the Unmarked soldiers still gave her a wide berth as she worked. Then¡ªjust like before¡ªRelia encased the clouds in spheres of pure mana, making them more mobile. These techniques would grow weaker every second, but Kyzar knew that. He must have something planned. Her earpiece buzzed with more chatter as the officers spoke. Unfortunately, it was all gibberish to Relia. Even when they spoke Espirian, she still got lost in all the code phrases and local slang. ¡°You good, spira?¡± Kyzar¡¯s voice again. ¡°Good,¡± Relia said as she sealed off her techniques. ¡°Watch for the truck,¡± he said. ¡°Then aim for the gap.¡± She hesitated, glancing from side to side. ¡°Did you say ¡®truck?¡¯¡± Just then, the trailer of a semi-track fell from the sky, straight for the Grevandi vanguard. Relia hadn¡¯t seen how they¡¯d done it, but that was probably the idea. The trailer crashed into the enemy line, darkening a portion of the blue shield wall. Ouch. They could counter mana and bullets all day, but how did you stop a ten thousand pound trailer? And it was about to get worse. The Grevandi scrambled to fill the gap, but they weren¡¯t quick enough. Relia raised her techniques and hurled them forward with bursts of pure mana. They tore straight through the opening, exploding behind the enemy ranks. Kyzar had planned for maximum impact, and dozens died screaming over the next minute. This tore their ranks into chaos, and the Unmarked seized the advantage. Their attacks came in every color imaginable, from red flame to pale blue ice. A blade of metal mana sliced one dragon in two, spilling his insides over the road. Stone Artists threw more boulders and bricks, caving in skulls and ribcages. One dragon stood his ground and struck back with a wave of fire mana. Two dozen techniques shattered in midair, erupting into clouds of dust and mist. Artisan. He stepped ahead of the shield wall, heedless of the bodies at his feet, and the mana flying around him Then he rounded on the hotel, pinning Relia with his gaze. His reptilian eyes burned with primal rage as more flames gathered around his hands. Book 2 - Chapter 30: House of Cards ¡°Run!¡± Relia shouted to anyone who would listen. No sooner had the words left her mouth than she flooded her legs with mana and leapt for the hotel¡¯s front door. She might be the strongest Apprentice here, but one technique from that Artisan would split her like a fish. The others ignored her warning, and the fire ripped through their shields and armor. Two men erupted in flames while others slammed into the building like flung dolls. One soldier almost hit Relia as he spun through the air. She twisted her own body, letting him pass behind her. Another man struck the sidewalk, and she vaulted over him. The charcoal scent of fire mana filled her nostrils, mingled with smoke and burning flesh. The air snapped as the Artisan gathered more techniques. Relia spun her portable shield behind her as she passed into the lobby, leaving a trail of anti-life mana in her wake. That wouldn¡¯t kill an Artisan, but it might slow him down. Heat closed in around her as the Artisan followed. Her portable shield flickered out. The fire seared through her armor next, breaking the micro-Constructs like dry newspaper. Relia flared her Life Cloak as she collapsed on the tile floor. Even with all three layers of protection, it was all she could do to stay alive. She rolled over on her back as the Fang passed through the double doors. An inferno of red flame swirled around, burning away the trap she¡¯d set. Any day now, Kyzar. Her enemy hurled another Missile her way. Relia threw her own mana into the ground, and the blast carried her several paces to her right. The Fang didn¡¯t let up¡ªhurling one technique after another. Relia dodged the first attack, then redirected the second with a burst of pure mana. The fire slammed into the nearest support with a burst of splinters. That pillar must¡¯ve been over a thousand pounds, but the Fang¡¯s mana cracked it like a tree branch. Kyzar dropped from his perch above the doorway. His forearms shone with molten lines as he flared his Cloak technique. Fire and plasma gathered in his palms, forming into a pair of glowing red daggers. The Fang¡¯s yellow eyes widened as if he felt Kyzar behind him. He tried to spin around¡ªtoo late. Kyzar slashed one dagger across the Fang¡¯s throat. No blood shot from the wound as he fell¡ªjust a straight line of glowing red plasma. Relia breathed a sigh of relief as her enemy hit the tile floor. A dozen other soldiers cheered around her, chanting the word ¡°Liberta¡± in unison. Just then, two more dragons appeared in the doorway. ¡°Behind you!¡± Relia shouted at Kyzar. The Artisan moved before the words even left her mouth. He stretched out his arms like a bird taking flight, forming a heat shield behind his back. Fire filled the space behind him, but he held his ground, a black silhouette against a miniature sun. ¡°Fall back,¡± Kyzar ordered his soldiers. Then he spun toward the doorway, closing the distance with his plasma blades. For the second time that day, the Unmarked showed their inexperience. Rather than listening to their commander, half a dozen Apprentices attacked in unison. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. The Fangs barely even looked at them, much less bother to raise their shields. Mana and bullets struck harmlessly against their skin. One man even caught a grenade from the air and tossed it back as if he were brushing dust from his jacket. ¡°Move!¡± Relia shouted to the other soldiers. The first Fang held out his palm and released a torrent of fire mana. The second dropped to one knee and pressed a hand to the tile floor. Stone Artist. The ground shook beneath Relia¡¯s boots as she rushed for the nearest hallway. The layer of polished tiles broke away, and the building¡¯s foundation moved in a flowing river of jagged stone. Kyzar kicked off from the ground in a burst of flame, launching himself ten feet into the air. Chaos followed as the Fangs hurled blasts of fire and stone. Relia pressed her back against a wall, out of sight from the battle. Then she fumbled with the old radio on her belt, holding the button to talk. ¡°Valdez?¡± she shouted into the microphone. ¡°Where are you?¡± He and Kyzar were supposed to take the enemy Artisans together. Not much of a trap otherwise. ¡°A little busy,¡± a grizzled voice replied. ¡°Hurry,¡± she snapped back. ¡°We¡¯ve got two Fangs in the lobby.¡± Kyzar moved in a blur, parrying dozens of strikes. Smoke rose to fill the chamber, and burning debris rained down around them. The earthquake continued, and several walls buckled from the pressure. Smoke alarms screeched in a high-pitched rhythm, even after the lights went dark. Water blasted from the sprinklers above, but it couldn¡¯t quench mana this stong. Azul¡¯s ashes.She had to find her friends before the whole place collapsed. Unfortunately, she¡¯d retreated in the wrong directed, and the Artisan¡¯s fought between her and the staircase. The air burned around Kyzar as he flared his Cloak. He slammed his body into the Stone Artist, slashing wildly with his molten red daggers. The Stone Artist blocked the attacks, covering his own body in stone armor, following with punches like thrown boulders. Kyzar cut through the stone projectiles, moving with the grace of a Shokenese Blade Artist. He¡¯d clearly spent decades training, and his raw power could rival many Artisans in Koreldon. Meanwhile, the Fangs looked half his age. They¡¯d gained their mana with soulshine rather than practice, and it showed. But Kyzar couldn¡¯t beat them both¡ªnot two against one. The other Fire Artist plowed into him from behind. Kyzar spun with another blur of red plasma, burying his blade into the Fang¡¯s bicep. This left him exposed to the Stone Artist, who sent a spike of concrete through his calf. Kyzar stumbled forward, and the floor opened to swallow him. Relia was already gathering her own mana to help, but she wouldn¡¯t be quick enough. Her pure mana wouldn¡¯t scratch these guys, and her life techniques took several seconds to form. ¡°Valdez!¡± she shouted again. ¡°Right behind you.¡± Relia spun around to see the human Artisan flying down the corridor. Literally. He moved so fast, his feet barely touched the ground. Bursts of wind mana shot out from his outstretched palms. Fires died out around the lobby, the smoke cleared, and the impact sent the two Fangs stumbling back. The Stone Artist recovered first, flaring his Cloak technique and pushing back against the sudden gale. Valdez shot forward in a blur, grabbing the dragon by the vest. Then he kicked off the ground, and the two of them shot through the ceiling. The room seemed to hold its breath for a second after that, then both Fire Artists lashed out with their Missile techniques. Fire clashed with fire in midair, sending a shockwave in every direction. The entire building split in two, revealing fragments of the upper levels. Beds and dressers fell through the gaps, along with nightstands, chairs, and televisions. Water flowed from exposed pipes, glowing orange from the fires. Relia stared at the avalanche of wood and glass, frozen in place. She¡¯d seen Artisans fight before, but those fights happened in official arenas. Places where they could only hurt each other. This was something else entirely. Even after her lecture to Akari and Kalden, she hadn¡¯t actually expected this much damage. Relia moved a second later when her instincts screamed a warning. She leapt out of the hallway and took cover behind the concierge''s desk. Half the building collapsed behind her. One floor smashed cleanly into the other, and the layers of concrete snapped like a falling house of cards. The dust gathered in a blinding cloud, and the fire flashed through the darkness as the Artisans fought. The world shook when the last floor hit the ground, and she felt the impact in her bones. Book 2 - Chapter 31: A Perfect Blade Kalden and Akari left their room when the earthquakes started. They took their time for the first few minutes. He gathered their remaining potions in his pack while she rose from the bed on shaky feet, fumbling with her glasses and helmet. Then the lights went dark, and the earthquakes grew more violent. The television toppled over from the dresser, landing glass-side down on the carpet. The lamps came next, and the window broke into a web of cracks. He¡¯d half expected backup power to kick in, but there was nothing but pure blackness. And as the hum of the building faded, the sounds of battle grew even louder than before. Kalden¡¯s heart thumped painfully against his ribs. No power meant no Constructs. No Constructs meant this place could fall apart any second. Staying here had made sense twenty minutes ago, but he¡¯d rather die in battle than from a collapsing ceiling beam. Kalden wasn¡¯t sure he believed in an afterlife, but he could still imagine his father¡¯s disapproving gaze when he got there. They jogged through the hallway, using their flashlights to illuminate their path. Akari kept up, but she seemed more distant than usual, unable to meet his eyes. How could he help her? She¡¯d clearly been traumatized by her latest dream. Kalden thought he understood that part. His own dreams had left him shocked too, especially after his more intense fights and training sessions. But this was different. Akari thought she was responsible for Last Haven¡¯s destruction. That seemed insane. How could a thirteen-year-old affect something on that scale? Then again, his own memories of that day were a blur, far fainter than his actual dreams. He remembered a solid black form in the sky, covering the world with his mana. But why had that happened? Who would attack them? And why send them all to the Archipelago instead of killing them? Kalden¡¯s parents had never mentioned any enemies in his past life. Maybe Akari knew something he didn¡¯t. Whatever had happened three years ago, it didn¡¯t matter now. Despite these fresh memories, Akari seemed no closer to having her revelation or regaining her former power. They could only survive with the tools they had. They were halfway down the corridor when blasts of fire mana flashed through the intersection up ahead. Shouts followed as the two sides clashed, and the lights cast long shadows over the plaster walls. Kalden grabbed Akari¡¯s arm and pulled them both into a recession between two vending machines. He clicked off his flashlight, and she did the same. ¡°How¡¯d they get up here?¡± he asked. ¡°Dragons can fly.¡± Akari¡¯s voice came out flat¡ªnothing like her usual feisty self. Grevandi couldn¡¯t technically fly, but he saw her point. Fire Artists like Hector could launch themselves several stories in the air, and the Unmarked couldn¡¯t guard every window. The mana flew faster up ahead as one side pushed the other back. He couldn¡¯t tell who was winning. Fire was the most common aspect in Creta, regardless of which side you fought on. The corridor went dark a second later, and the sounds faded as the losing side retreated. Several gravely reptilian voices followed, all speaking Cadrian too fast for him to understand. ¡°Let¡¯s try the other way,¡± he said to Akari. They left their hiding place and fled back down the hall, away from the approaching Grevandi. They barely made it ten paces before another dragon blocked their path. Kalden relaxed his vision as they skidded to a halt. He¡¯d hoped to see a Gold¡¯s soul shining within the dragon¡¯s chest, but he should have known better. Staring into that light was like staring into the heart of a fire. The more Kalden stared, the more impossible this battle seemed. No way they could¡ª Akari stepped forward and launched a Missile at the Apprentice. Their opponent attacked at the same moment, unleashing a burst of crimson flame. Akari¡¯s Missile flattened into a shield, mere inches from the dragon¡¯s extended arm. Her mana shattered from the impact, but it also stopped the fire. The dragon let out a bird-like scream as he burned his own hand. Kalden seized the distraction and rushed forward. Pure mana gathered in his right hand as he ran, forming into a ten-inch blade with a cylindrical handle. It wasn¡¯t true blade mana, but pure mana could take on many shapes. Elend had even formed it into a grappling hook once. The blade flashed downward in a vertical strike of blue light, aiming for the dragon¡¯s wrist. If this were another Gold, the cut would have taken off his hand. But his opponent shone like burning metal as he flared his Cloak technique. Kalden¡¯s technique broke the skin, but stopped short of muscle or bone. The dragon spun low on the ground, and fire swirled around him in orange rings. The motion seemed absurd at first, like something out of a movie. Kalden swung his blade with another hard chop from above. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Then something hard snapped into his stomach, and he flew backward, slamming into the tile floor. His mana blade turned to mist as he lost control of the technique. Kalden blinked up at his opponent and realized he¡¯d been hit by the dragon¡¯s tail. Only one in ten Grevandi had tails, but apparently this was one of them. Several explosions followed as Akari fired her Martial pistol. The bullets ricocheted off the dragon¡¯s armor, and he hurled another fiery Missile toward her. Akari dropped to the ground, throwing her own mana upward into the fire. This knocked the attack into the ceiling. Kalden rolled backward, barely avoiding a burst of fire that would have burned off his legs. The dragon threw two more punches as he regained his footing. Kalden sidestepped the first blow, blocking the next one with a flash of pure mana. The dragon was strong, but his skill was sloppy compared to Relia¡¯s. Besides, Kalden wasn¡¯t just some rich kid from Arkala who¡¯d gotten in over his head. He was a career duelist¡ªa Blade Artist who¡¯d trained for eight years. Those memories had been sealed away before, but now they flowed through him like the blood in his veins. He could do better. Kalden opened his right hand, and the mana gathered in a whisper, surrendering itself to his control. He pushed on the center and pulled on the edges, sharpening it into a perfect blade. He filled the weapon with even more mana as they fought, and it grew denser by the second. Subtle movements of his fingers sharpened the edge to an even finer point. By the time he¡¯d finished, the tip must have been as thin as a single molecule. He lunged forward, but the dragon spun his body and slid from the weapon¡¯s reach. His tail came around for another pass. Kalden ducked his head, feeling the rush of wind as it passed over him. Then he raised his blade and cut through the green skin, releasing a gush of crimson. The dragon didn¡¯t scream this time, but his green lips pulled back in a snarl. They circled each other in the small space, trading slashes and strikes. Mana split through the air, sounding like static and snapping whips. They¡¯d barely fought for ten seconds, but he doubted most Golds lasted that long against Apprentices. Fire closed in from a dozen different angles. Kalden strained his own channels as he blocked and deflected with bursts of pure mana. His throat grew dry, and his lungs felt like deflated balloons. A fever-like heat sank into him, and the movements became too hard to follow. If not for his old instincts, Kalden would have died a dozen times over. But he kept fighting, honing his focus on this single conflict. He didn¡¯t see Akari or the others in the hallway. He didn¡¯t hear the battle in the streets or the clash of Artisans below. Just this fight. Just this single moment. The dragon threw another flaming punch. Kalden made a shield with his free hand, hitting his opponent¡¯s arm and redirecting his aim. Then he seized the opening and swiped his blade over the dragon¡¯s throat. The strike drew blood, but his opponent still had his Cloak active. That stopped the blade from going too deep. Slashes weren¡¯t good enough. He needed a clean, straight cut to finish him. He saw Akari approach from the corner of his eye. ¡°Get his helmet,¡± he shouted to her. Akari leapt on the dragon¡¯s back, wrapping her legs around his stomach. The dragon slammed his back into the wall, but she held on, unfastening his helmet and pulling it up to his forehead. Kalden rushed forward, holding his blade in one hand, and forming a quick shield in the other. The dragon hit him with a burst of flame, but Kalden didn¡¯t slow his charge. His shield broke from the impact, and the fire ate through his armor. He felt like he¡¯d been kicked by a horse, and the heat burned hotter than any stove. He pushed through the pain and thrust his blade into the dragon¡¯s right eye. Another bird-like shriek followed, and more fire gathered in the dragon¡¯s palms as he tried to hit Kalden again. Kalden pushed harder, forcing all his mana into the blade. It sank deeper, cutting through his skull. His opponent¡¯s Cloak technique broke, and his body fell limp. All three of them collapsed into a pile on the floor, as if their battle had been their only support. But the building itself didn¡¯t rest. If anything, it only seemed to shake harder. Sections of the floor caved in farther down the hallway. Wooden pillars broke like kindling, and lightbulbs shattered in their fixtures. The dragon¡¯s body twitched, and Kalden and Akari each scrambled away. Then the floor broke between them as two forms flew upward like a geyser erupting from the earth. It looked like Valdez and another dragon, but they were gone a split second later, soaring straight through the ceiling. Another explosion sounded from the lobby below. The entire building split apart, revealing a cross section of wood, concrete, and pipes. A canyon formed between Kalden and Akari, at least ten feet wide. His eyes fell to the lobby below where Kyzar fought with another Artisan. Fire and smoke rose from their battle, and furniture rained from above as both halves of the building drifted farther away. The walls buckled behind him, and fragments of the ceiling collapsed. He stared at the wreckage in stunned silence. He¡¯d seen his share of battles, but this was¡ª ¡°Kalden!¡± Akari¡¯s voice snapped him back to reality. ¡°Jump!¡± She was right. Her side of the building fared much better than his. Kalden broke into a run and leapt across the canyon. Time seemed to slow as he flew. Furniture continued falling around him ¡­ Then something struck his helmet. The impact snapped his neck downward, and his body lost its momentum. His arms flailed in desperation as he lost all sense of direction. Someone grabbed his right arm, and Kalden looked up to see Akari hanging on with both hands. She¡¯d left the safety of the floor and knelt on a piece of angled concrete. ¡°Damnit,¡± she said through gritted teeth. ¡°Why are you so heavy?¡± Kalden grabbed a nearby pipe with his left hand. It hardly seemed solid, but neither was Akari. She¡¯d gotten stronger this last year, but he still had fifty pounds on her. Not to mention the twenty pounds of armor he wore. The pipe groaned under his weight, then broke free, hitting Kalden in the forehead. Akari strained, but she couldn¡¯t get him up over the ledge. She had no handholds, and her boots were slipping. ¡°Let go,¡± he told her. ¡°I¡¯ll be alright.¡± She shook her head, pulling harder. Kalden felt her body slip closer to the edge, and he reached up and grabbed the strap on his glove. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare.¡± She sounded more angry than afraid. Kalden didn¡¯t hesitate or even look down. He might kill them both if he did that. Instead, he unfastened his glove, and his hand slid free as he fell into the chasm. Book 2 - Chapter 32: Forged in War Kalden shot pure mana behind him as he fell, and the blast propelled him toward another piece of exposed floor. Pain shot through his legs when he hit the ground, and his momentum carried him straight through another wall. He fell face-first on the carpeted floor, and wood and concrete crashed down from the ceiling above. He gritted his teeth as they slammed into his back, hard enough to shatter his bones. ¡°Kalden?¡± Akari called down. Her voice sounded more distant than he¡¯d expected. How far had he fallen? It was hard to breathe with so much rubble weighing him down. A year ago, he never would have survived this, but the extra mana made his body far sturdier than before. He tried to escape, but it was too much. ¡°Kalden?¡± Akari¡¯s voice sounded more urgent¡ªalmost as high as Relia¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± His own voice came out raspy, desperate for air and water. ¡°I¡¯m coming down,¡± she said. ¡°Wait!¡± He fought down a mental image of Akari leaping off the edge after him. Fortunately, no crash followed. She must have made her way toward the stairs instead. ¡°Be careful,¡± he added, more to himself. He cycled mana to his injuries, the way Relia had shown him during their rooftop training sessions. Even for a non-healer, mana helped the body repair itself and work more efficiently. That effect only increased as he got closer to Apprentice. He also cycled mana to his chest and triceps, pushing hard against the floor. His muscles shook with the effort of moving so much weight, but he kept his breathing steady as he pushed, surprising even himself. Eventually, the concrete fell away as he climbed to his hands and knees. Even then, he felt like he might collapse again at any moment. Waves of pain still surged through him. Not just from his fall, but also from his fight with the Grevandi a few minutes before. ¡°Kalden?¡± someone called from farther down the hallway. At first, his brain interpreted it as Akari¡¯s voice. Then he looked up and saw Relia jogging toward him. ¡°I saw you fall,¡± she said as she knelt beside him in the rubble. Kalden tried to reply, but he breathed in a cloud of dust. His ribs screamed as he coughed, and he fumbled for his pack with the mana potions. No such luck. He must have dropped it upstairs. Relia pressed a hand to his chest and hit him with a burst of life mana. Waves of pain followed. He still struggled to breathe, and Relia uncorked a vial of blue liquid from her belt and raised it to his mouth. He inhaled the minty scent of it and took a good long swallow, banishing the dryness in his throat. ¡°Why¡¯s healing always worse than getting hurt?¡± He asked through gritted teeth. She¡¯d already broken his bones during their training sessions, so he was no stranger to this feeling. Relia laughed. ¡°It hurts the same, but you have more adrenaline when you¡¯re fighting.¡±She glanced around, and her smile faded. ¡°Where¡¯s Akari?¡± ¡°Upstairs.¡± Kalden pointed at the ceiling as he found his footing again. ¡°We better find her before more Grevandi do.¡± Relia led them back down the hallway toward the central staircase. What was it with hotels in Creta having only one set of stairs? You¡¯d think a nation full of Fire Artists would be more sensible. Then again, Fire Artists were also the best at dousing fires, so maybe they were overconfident. Kalden looted several Grevandi corpses on the way, pulling more vials from their belts and throwing them back like shots of cheap whiskey. Unfortunately, these only restored a small part of the mana he¡¯d lost tonight. That explained why training got harder in the upper ranks. Either that, or it got more expensive. He also glimpsed his mana watch as they walked: 221/797. Kalden blinked at the second number that showed his maximum mana count. Had he really gained two whole points in the last hour? He knew advancement happened faster in battle, but it still surprised him every time. That would have taken a whole day of ordinary training. ¡°How¡¯s your count?¡± Relia asked when she caught him staring at his wrist. ¡°Three points from Apprentice.¡± She nodded. ¡°I¡¯d bet we can get you there tonight.¡± ¡°What?¡± She nodded. ¡°The faster we do it, the safer you¡¯ll be.¡± Kalden was about to reply when they rounded the next corner and found the wooden staircase caved in. The supports looked like they¡¯d been shattered by stray Missiles, and both flights of stairs lay in heaps of kindling. A dozen soldiers stood guard around the rubble, armed with Missile rods and submachine guns. Most looked human, but white sigils glowed from their foreheads in the near-darkness. Relia strolled forward as if she owned the entire hotel. Kalden matched her pace and activated his Silver Sight. Ten Golds and two Apprentices. ¡°You there!¡± one soldier said in Espirian. ¡°Let¡¯s see your marks.¡± Relia¡¯s casual approach had thrown the others off, but they all raised their weapons at the officer¡¯s sharp tone. ¡°This is it,¡± she told Kalden. ¡°You can reach Apprentice now, or you can take cover. Up to you.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± One of the braver Golds approached them. ¡°Did you hear what¡ª¡± Kalden¡¯s hand shot forward as his blade took shape. The pale mana cut through the darkness and tore the man¡¯s throat. He staggered back, staining his hands crimson as he tried to block the river of his own blood. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Relia thrust out her arms in either direction, forming a shield against the barrage of bullets and Missiles. ¡°Behind you!¡± she shouted to Kalden. Kalden spun to see another Grevandi emerge from the corridor. Fists of stone flew forward, as quick as shifting shadows. Kalden deflected one with the flat of his blade, dodged another, then closed the distance in two quick strides, plunging his weapon through the man¡¯s stomach. Another man broke past Relia and flung a fire Missile toward him. Kalden tried to parry, but the angle was wrong, and the fire burned his left shoulder. He sagged to one knee, turning his gaze on Relia. She kept the rest of the soldiers busy, but she made no move to intervene. ¡°Keep going,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯ve got this!¡± Apparently, she didn¡¯t plan on helping. Did she honestly expect him to fight all these guys by himself? ¡°Cycle your mana to the wound. Then get up.¡± Yes, Kalden realized. That was exactly what she expected. The strongest Apprentices were forged in war. She¡¯d said that multiple times this past week. You broke down your body at the peak of Gold, and you filled those cracks with mana. There were no spoken revelations at this stage. Instead, you asked yourself, ¡°What physical pain will I endure?¡± Then you proved it with your actions. The more he endured now, the stronger he¡¯d be when he finally advanced. Besides, Relia had implied they¡¯d cram two days¡¯ worth of training into a single battle. If that were easy, then everyone would do it. The Fire Artist struck again. Kalden conjured a shield in one hand, and the orange mana exploded mere inches from his face. He thrust out his other hand to launch his blade forward. It sliced across his opponent¡¯s hamstring, and the man staggered back. And so the fight continued. Kalden put his back to Relia as he forged a second blade in his offhand, as sharp and perfect as the one he¡¯d made upstairs. The pair moved in unison, blocking, parrying, and throwing counterstrikes at their opponents. Kalden¡¯s own body screamed with a dozen scrapes, cuts, and burns. Relia fed him life mana, but only enough to heal the bullet wounds and broken bones. Otherwise, Kalden leaned into the pain, embracing it for what it was¡ªa source of strength for all his future battles. He remembered the promise he¡¯d made with Akari and Relia back in the lab. Master by twenty-one. He remembered the people he¡¯d left behind on Arkala. His mother. Maelyn, Darren, and Emberlyn. We¡¯re coming back for you. No matter what it takes. Kalden opened another Gold¡¯s throat, knelt down, and drank the vial from his belt. He repeated this process several times, consuming just enough to stay afloat. 38/798, his watch read. The left number seemed impossibly small now, but Akari would have laughed if he ever said so out loud. Low mana had never slowed her down. And advancement was like strength training. You improved when you pushed yourself beyond your limits¡ªwhen your enemies backed you into a corner and made you prove your worth. Eventually, Kalden fell into a rhythm with his opponents. But just as he touched on the flow state, Relia relaxed her own efforts, letting more soldiers past her. Kalden fought harder, dodging and weaving through the storm of techniques. He conjured more blades of pure mana as he fought. One moment he had four, then six. Each one was a Missile encased within a Construct, and they orbited his body, just like in his dreams. They spun too fast for his eyes to process, deflecting volleys of bullets and Missiles. He felt the impact deep in his channels, and his body reacted to the smallest movements. 0/799. His soul was dry now, but he kept pulling mana through to guide his blades. Normally, this would risk straining his channels for weeks, but his advancement would heal that damage. Hopefully. He and Relia retreated down the staircase as the room filled with smoke. Their route took them back toward the lobby¡¯s remenets, where even more Grevandi joined the fight. No sign of Kyzar and Valdez. They¡¯d probably taken to the streets once the enemy Artisans were dead. By now, all the Golds had fled, and Kalden only fought the Apprentices. He couldn¡¯t hope to withstand their techniques head-on, but his blades formed a protective barrier around his body, knocking his opponents¡¯ mana aside. He still wasn¡¯t as strong as he¡¯d been with his aspect, but it was close enough. Even the Apprentices grew tired as the battle went on. One stopped moving, and Kalden hurled a blade straight into his stomach. His body must have been weaker than the others, because the mana went straight through him, shooting out the other side. Another Apprentice dropped his Cloak technique for a split second. Maybe he¡¯d run out of mana, or maybe he¡¯d just gotten sloppy. Either way, Kalden¡¯s eyes snapped toward him like an unprotected crowns piece. Four blades closed in at once. The dragon raised his hands to protect his face, but the lower blades speared him through the torso. Then Kalden felt a sudden pain in his own chest. He ignored it at first, the same way he¡¯d ignored his other wounds. But then it grew more insistent, spreading through his channels. His whirlwind technique broke apart, and the blades turned to mist around him. His enemies were quick to seize the advantage, but Relia leapt forward with her own defensive barrier. ¡°Keep cycling,¡± she shouted to Kalden. ¡°I¡¯ve got you covered.¡± Kalden followed her advice, but the pain only grew more intense by the second. Akari had described her advancement as ¡°a good kind of pain.¡± That might be true when you went from Bronze to Silver, but not Apprentice. Tears clouded his vision, and he couldn¡¯t hear his own screams. His body thrashed on the ground, and it felt like all his bones were breaking at the same time. Still, it got worse as the pressure built. Before, he¡¯d only felt that pressure in his soul, or when he formed a technique. Now it was everywhere, from the tip of his head to the bottoms of his feet. His skin broke open where the pressure was too much, and blood erupted out like small volcanos. Kalden couldn¡¯t say how long this went on. His vision was a blur as the mana clouded his eyes. His limbs felt like iron weights, and he couldn¡¯t feel the floor beneath him. At some point, the pressure decreased. No ¡­ decreased wasn¡¯t the right word. It was more like his brain had finally accepted it. Instead of feeling on the verge of death, he felt strong and solid. When Kalden opened his eyes again, he saw Relia standing over him with a wide grin on her face. ¡°Apprentice feels good, huh?¡± She offered him a hand. Kalden accepted it, and she pulled him to his feet. The world spun around him as he moved, and his body felt like it belonged to someone else. But when he took his first step as an Apprentice, he felt like a conqueror claiming a nation. He ran a hand over his right forearm, and it felt dense enough to punch through a brick wall. Which¡ªjudging by what he¡¯d seen from Relia¡ªmight actually be true. "Quality test." Relia grinned again as she pointed a submachine gun at him and pulled the trigger. Kalden had no time to react before the bullet slammed into his left shoulder. He''d already been shot several times that night, and he braced himself for the burning pain. Instead, he felt a dull impact, as if someone had punched him. The bullet bounced off his skin, ringing like a small bell as it struck a pile of stone rubble. Akari had killed Agent Frostblade with a bullet like that, and he''d been the strongest Mana Artist on Arkala. Somehow, despite their journey, Kalden hadn¡¯t truly seen himself as Frostblade¡¯s equal. Now, there was no denying it. He was stronger than any of the Martials back home. He was stronger than his parents, or his brother Sozen before he¡¯d left. Kalden took a good long breath to savor the moment, then he turned back to Relia. ¡°Come on,¡± he told her. ¡°We should keep¡ª¡± Another dragon stepped off the sidewalk before he could finish. His presence was far more imposing than any of the Apprentices he¡¯d faced that night. Another Artisan. He strode forward with a different technique burning in each hand. The first was orange like an ordinary flame. The second was pale white, like a storm of ice and snow. ¡°Zakiel.¡± Kyzar stepped up beside them, gathering his own mana into a pair of plasma blades. Kalden had heard the Unmarked leader approach, but he was glad to see him here. ¡°Friend of yours?¡± He and Relia backed away from the newcomer in the entrance, putting themselves closer to the friendly Artisan. ¡°My cousin,¡± Kyzar replied. ¡°Valeria Antano¡¯s son.¡± Book 2 - Chapter 33: Just a Game Relia shot a glance at the nearest hallway. If she ran now, she could probably make it without getting burned. Unfortunately, Kalden stood on Kyzar¡¯s opposite side, farther from the door. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be here,¡± Kyzar said to the other Artisan. ¡°This is between the Unmarked and the Grevandi.¡± Zakiel nodded once as he sauntered inside the lobby. Well, it was more of a courtyard now, since the night sky was visible above their heads. ¡°I don¡¯t care for your war, cousin. I¡¯m here to settle a debt.¡± Cousin? If this guy was the Dragonlord¡¯s nephew, then what did that make Kyzar? The other Wing¡¯s son? The Dragonlord¡¯s son? Relia was all about juicy family drama, but now wasn¡¯t the time to ask. ¡°A debt?¡± Kyzar shot Relia a look as if this were all her fault. Zakiel¡¯s reptilian eyes fell on Relia, then shifted to Kalden. ¡°There was a girl with you before¡ªa Silver. She stuck a stolen blade in my friend¡¯s back.¡± Akari. Relia didn¡¯t recognize this guy from Costa Liberta¡ªshe¡¯d been too busy running to memorize any faces there. But he clearly remembered them. He¡¯d probably connected the dots when their faces showed up on the news. ¡°She¡¯s all yours.¡± Kalden gestured to the collapsed section of the hotel on his right. ¡°Her body¡¯s buried in the rubble.¡± His words came out calm as he spoke¡ªalmost cold and indifferent. Typical Kalden. Would it kill you to muster up some tears? Zakiel took two more steps forward. He dropped his techniques, and they burned by themselves in the air, surrounding his body like a multicolored halo. One was trueflame¡ªa mix of fire and plasma like Kyzar¡¯s aspect. The other was frostfire, which he¡¯d probably gotten from a potion. If he could conjure ice at will, he would have used it to stop their truck in Costa Liberta. ¡°You¡¯ve got a terrible paizho face,¡± the dragon said. ¡°I don¡¯t need to bluff,¡± Kalden replied. ¡°Help us recover her body, and I¡¯ll prove it to you.¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Zakiel threw a hand forward, and a flaming Missile closed in. Kalden reacted at the same time, hurling a pair of forged mana blades at the technique. In that moment, Relia knew he wouldn¡¯t survive. But instead of the deadly collision she''d expected, Kalden¡¯s blades split through the fire mana, turning it to mist. Azul¡¯s ashes. He really is a machine. By now, several dozen Apprentices had gathered around, chanting the word ¡°Unmarked¡± in unison. She thought she saw Hector¡¯s face in the crowd, but she couldn¡¯t be sure. A human form flew down from the sky, tearing between the canyon of broken hotel fragments. The ground shook as Valdez landed several paces behind the enemy Artisan. His clothes hung tattered in bloody ribbons, and crimson streaked his face. ¡°Another one?¡± His grizzled face broke into a dark smile. ¡°Must be our lucky day.¡± And with that, all three Artisans sprang into motion. Relia couldn¡¯t say who struck first. One second, they were all standing still. The next, they were clashing together with their bodies and mana. Kyzar closed the distance with a pair of glowing plasma blades. His cousin countered with fire and frost, and Valdez broke the flames with bursts of wind. The trio moved too fast for Relia¡¯s eyes to follow, striking several times in a single second. Relia raised her own shield and ran through the storm of mana. Kalden began forming more blades, as if he intended to join in. Idiot. She¡¯d helped him advance to protect him. Not so he could put himself in more danger. Relia grabbed his wrist and let him back toward the staircase. Zakiel leapt forward, closing the distance between himself and Valdez, slashing with flaming claws. The Wind Artist kicked off against the ground, but Zakiel hit him with a frostfire technique. Valdez¡¯s body froze in midair before crashing into the rubble. Kyzar slashed toward his cousin¡¯s face. Zakiel blocked the plasma blade on his forearm and struck low, searing his opponent¡¯s leg. ¡°Wait.¡± Kalden held his ground, jerking Relia back. ¡°He needs our help.¡± Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid.¡± Relia flared her Cloak and tugged harder, pulling him into the safety of the corridor. Kalden might be as strong as her now, but she had several years of experience on him. ¡°Your death mana helped Elend,¡± he said. ¡°That was different. That was a Grevandi¡ªprobably hopped up on soulshine. This guy¡¯s from the royal family.¡± ¡°We can still help,¡± he said. ¡°Akari needs us more.¡± Kalden shook his head. ¡°Zakiel will come after her if he wins. Better to fight him now on our own terms.¡± And with that, he twisted his arm free and leapt into the fight. Darn it. New Apprentices always thought they were invincible, even against the higher ranks. It didn¡¯t help when they had the skills to back it up. Apparently, Kalden and Akari had been champion duelists in their past lives, and Relia believed it after what she¡¯d seen tonight. But he was still a sheltered boy from a rich family. No matter how hard his training had been, he still didn¡¯t understand the consequences of real war. He didn¡¯t realize how fast one Artisan could end his life. The two dragons exchanged several more blows, and each clash seemed to shake the world. Then Zakiel stuck his claw into Kyzar¡¯s eye, and everything froze. Kyzar screamed as he fell to his knees. His plasma blades faded to mist in his hands. Zakiel withdrew his blood-stained claw, slashing several more times across his cousin¡¯s chest. Kyzar¡¯s body shone like molten rock as he flared his Cloak, and that probably saved his life. Still, he couldn¡¯t hold out forever, and Zakiel pulled back his clawed hand, readying the finishing blow. The Apprentices all struck together, hitting the Artisan with their combined strength. And, of course, Kalden charged into the center of the storm, attacking with a whirlwind of six spinning blades. Zakiel dropped his cousin and raised a protective dome. Mana with blinding light and deafening thunder. Then he lashed out with his own techniques, and a bloodbath followed. Apprentices died screaming, even faster than the Martials back on Arkala. Relia added her attacks to the barrage, but only her pure mana. She didn¡¯t dare use her aspect with so many others around. Kalden moved with impossible grace as he fought¡ªmore like a Master than an Apprentice. And it wasn¡¯t just his body. His mana flowed around him at impossible angles, controlled by his intention rather than his channels. That should¡¯ve been impossible at this level. Maybe a piece of the Blade Artist still remained inside his soul? Zakiel tried to charge Kalden several times, but Kalden always slid away, using the rubble as cover. Kalden¡¯s reflexes were slower, but he seemed to predict the Artisan¡¯s moves before he made them. All the while, the remaining Apprentices kept up their bombardment, draining the Artisan¡¯s mana as he focused on Kalden. Relia almost dared to hope this would work. Zakiel must have sensed the same thing because he stopped chasing Kalden and raised another dome around his body. Fire was terrible at blocking other aspects¡ªshe¡¯d seen that while sparring with Hector. Still, he fed his Constructs more mana, holding back the barrage. Inside the safety of his dome, Zakiel retrieved a vial from his belt and drank it in one swallow. More frostfire mana. ¡°Run!¡± Relia shouted to Kalden. ¡°Get out of there.¡± She didn¡¯t know what Zakiel had planned¡ªbut it was probably an answer to Kalden¡¯s whirlwind technique. Kalden just stood there in his fighting stance, his face a stoic mask. Either he thought he could win, or he truly wasn¡¯t afraid of dying. The frostfire left Zakiel¡¯s hands, swirling around his body in an elaborate pattern. The ground froze around his feet, and a white mist gathered inside the dome. A Ritual technique. Rituals were a combination of Circuit and Construct techniques. They let Mana Artists use their aspects to dominate their surroundings. She¡¯d seen Elend do this before, but she¡¯d rarely seen it from an Artisan. It was possible, sure, but it normally took them far too long to form. Even then, the mana was spread too thin to damage Artists of their own rank. Unfortunately, it was perfect against weaker opponents. Relia shouted at Kalden again, but he didn¡¯t listen, and she couldn¡¯t grab him through that whirlwind of blades. Zakiel dropped his fiery dome, and the mist lashed out at the surrounding Apprentices. Their bodies froze where it touched them, then the ice shattered in chunks of red. The mist hit Kalden¡¯s blades, and they snapped like brittle iron. Realization finally shone in his eyes, but he was too late to retreat. The mist spread to his outstretched hands, freezing around them. Kalden screamed as the ice erupted in white flame, taking off his right hand at the wrist. His left hand fared better, but he still lost several fingers as he staggered back. Hector emerged from the crowd behind the Artisan, pushing back the mist with blasts of heat. He held a blade in his right hand¡ªthe one they¡¯d stolen from the Grevandi Artisan before. ¡°Hey!¡± Relia emerged from her cover to draw Zakiel¡¯s attention. He threw a flaming Missile toward her, but she deflected it with a blast of pure mana. Hector seized the distraction and swung his blade at Zakiel¡¯s neck, just as Akari had done in Costa Liberta. Zakiel spun around like a whip, swiping a claw across Hector¡¯s abdomen. Hector froze midswing, and his weapon clattered to the ground. Several more Apprentices attacked, but Relia didn¡¯t watch the outcome. Instead, she flared her Cloak and raced toward Kalden. She put his arm over her shoulders, forced him to his feet, and ran behind a pile of stone rubble. ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± Kalden said as she set him down. ¡°You¡¯re not okay.¡± Relia pressed her hands to the stump of his right arm and filled it with life mana. ¡°I¡¯ve lost limbs before.¡± ¡°In school matches!¡± she snapped back. ¡°That wasn¡¯t real.¡± Tears clouded her eyes as she forced more mana into the wound, draining her reserves. ¡°I can¡¯t fix this. I can¡¯t regrow hands or fingers.¡± Kalden blinked down at his missing hand, seeming to notice it for the first time. His gaze shifted to his other hand where he¡¯d lost his thumb and forefinger. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he said again. ¡°Someone can.¡± He still didn¡¯t get it. He still thought this was just a game. Relia could close the wounds with time, but they didn¡¯t have time. The sounds of battle faded behind them, and footsteps followed as the Artisan approached. Book 2 - Chapter 34: Worse Than Dying Akari huddled in her hiding place as the battle waged below. Kalden, Relia, and the others fought a dragon named Zakiel. She¡¯d tried getting down there, but more Grevandi patrolled this floor¡ªall Apprentices. They¡¯d picked off the Unmarked one by one until she was the last one standing. Her mana watch also showed 0/73. Otherwise, she could just copy Kalden¡¯s trick and get to the floor below. Then what? Join the fight? Even with full mana, she couldn¡¯t scratch an Artisan. She¡¯d gotten lucky in Costa Liberta, but this guy was on full alert, fighting dozens of Mana Artists from all directions. She¡¯d be the weakest person there, without a doubt. Even Kalden had advanced again, putting him and Relia on equal footing. Meanwhile, she¡¯d hardly gotten any stronger these past few weeks. Deep down, she and Dream Akari had always shared this secret fear. They were different people, but they¡¯d cared about one thing above all else: becoming stronger so they didn¡¯t fall behind. They both would have done anything for power, and they¡¯d each proven that in their own way. But they weren¡¯t the same. Not exactly. Dream Akari had parents who loved her¡ªparents she¡¯d never listened to or appreciated. But Real Akari had spent years of her life truly alone. In hindsight, that was a fitting punishment for what she¡¯d done. Akari had helped the man named Ashur Moonfire destroy Last Haven and send its people to an island prison. Every man and woman she¡¯d killed on Arkala might have once been civilians in that sect. She¡¯d sent them there in her quest for power, and then she¡¯d killed them in her escape. Focus. Feeling sorry wouldn¡¯t help her friends. It wouldn¡¯t even help her parents, or all the other people she¡¯d wronged. It was too late to save her mother or the Martials she¡¯d killed. But Mazren was still trapped in that prison, along with thousands of others. Advancement was the only way to save them. The battle continued below, and mana flew through the canyon of broken hotel fragments. Her friends struggled without her, and she¡¯d give anything to be down there with them. Dream Akari would have disagreed, of course. She would have saved herself and lived to fight another day. ¡°There are worse things than dying,¡± Kyzar had said earlier. That¡¯s it. Reptilian voices echoed farther down the hall as the Grevandi approached. After weeks of searching, the revelation finally kindled inside her soul, rising to her lips. The words felt wrong to say¡ªthe exact opposite of who she was today. Nonetheless, they¡¯d been true at one point in her life. Her past self never would have admitted it, but now it was her only path forward. ¡°I¡¯d do anything for power,¡± she whispered. ¡°Even betray the people I love.¡± No sooner had the words passed her lips than the mana flowed through her soul. But this felt nothing like the euphoric rush she¡¯d felt at Silver. This mana felt tainted, staining her channels as it moved through her. Memories struck her as well, along with a rush of bittersweet emotions. She remembered being young, and the days before she¡¯d become a Mana Artist. She remembered her parents and the simple life they¡¯d given her. Back then, she¡¯d never understood why Mana Artists like them would turn down a life of power and fame. Now, the answer was clear as glass. This life was the alternative. And as the memories filled every corner of her mind, she felt her past self there as well, threatening to take control. It felt natural to slip back into her mindset. They¡¯d always been the same person, after all. She¡¯d lived these past few years in a cloud of weakness, and that weakness made her soft. But¡ª No. Akari pushed her past self back. She was stronger in this moment than she¡¯d ever been before. Her consciousness stretched out into the web of dreams as she synthesized her memories and her thoughts. They were both one person, and they could choose who that person was. Akari embraced the memories and the skills, but she also embraced the changes. Before, she¡¯d only fought for herself. Now, she had a purpose. ¡°I¡¯ll do better.¡± She said, even louder than when she¡¯d spoken her revelation. ¡°I¡¯ll make up for what I¡¯ve done.¡± She thought of Last Haven¡ªnot just the sect in the Espirian mountains, but the island prison it had become. She thought of the thousands she¡¯d trapped there. In that moment, she understood why Elend had surrendered to the Martials and worn those cuffs. She understood why Relia had been reluctant to fight them. They¡¯d all been victims. Yes, they¡¯d done terrible things, but so had she. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°I¡¯m coming back for you,¡± she said. She remembered the dark form in the sky above Last Haven. Akari might be responsible for betraying the sect, but that man had pulled the trigger. She didn¡¯t have a face or a name. She only had six unheard syllables, and an aspect that could wipe people from existence. I¡¯m coming for you, too. The footsteps grew louder as the Grevandi drew closer. Akari took several deep breaths, calming the memories that flooded her mind. She¡¯d spent hundreds of hours training, refining her techniques against the best Foundation duelists in the world. What were a few thugs compared to that? Finally she glanced down at her mana watch. 555/555. Gold. Akari smiled as she stepped out of her hiding spot, armed with nothing but a dagger. Four Apprentices loomed in the corridor. Two of them stood within ten paces of her. The other two held up the rear. Akari cycled her mana as she strode toward them, taking in every detail of the scene. The left dragon was covered in small, silver shavings, marking him as a Metal Artist. The right dragon¡¯s channels shone with a molten hue beneath his green skin, and he wore the heat-proof armor of a Fire Artist. Kalden¡¯s backpack lay on the ground behind the first two, along with two grenades. The Metal Artist raised his hand, and his mana coalesced into a silver throwing blade. Her mind raced through the possibilities. Four against one. If she tried to dodge or block their attacks, they¡¯d overwhelm her within seconds. If she ran, they¡¯d chase her down and get the same result. She could probably outclass them all in terms of raw skill. That meant the close confines and chaotic environment favored her. Unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t punch through their Cloaks, so she¡¯d have to get creative. The Metal Artist threw his blade, and it flew horizontally toward her throat. Akari put herself between the two dragons at a ninety-degree angle, forming a dense shield, no wider than her hands. The metal mana ricocheted off her shield, spearing the Fire Artist in the chest. One. Akari rushed past the fallen dragon, putting herself between the Metal Artist and his two friends. If these were trained soldiers, they would have raised their shields and boxed her in. But for all their strength and numbers, the Grevandi didn¡¯t fight as a unit. Instead of standing their ground, they panicked and hit her with a storm of fire. Akari raised a Construct and dropped to her belly, letting the fire become friendly with the Metal Artist. Two. She snatched up Kalden¡¯s pack pulled the pin on one grenade, and rolled it backward. She grabbed the other grenade and ran for the opening between the hotel fragments. The corridor shook as the grenade exploded behind her, but it barely slowed the Grevandi down. Akari rounded the corner, and two sets of footsteps followed. She waited for the first one to follow, then she hit him with a horizontal Construct, clotheslining him as he charged. The second dragon skidded to a halt. It would have been a treat if he¡¯d tripped over his friend, but you couldn¡¯t have everything. Akari yanked the pin on her second grenade and tossed it between them. The ledge was barely big enough for them before and the blast, and it would kill her too if she stuck around. So Akari jumped off the ledge toward the battle below. She barely fell two feet before she stretched out her hands and launched two Missiles forward. The force of her mana threw her back onto the floor below. An explosion followed up above. Three? The surviving dragon copied her trick, leaping over Broken Hotel Canyon and pushing himself back toward the open corridor. Damnit. She¡¯d almost forgotten Fire Artists could survive long falls. Of course he¡¯d follow her. Akari lashed out with a pair of Missiles, but that barely slowed him down. His feet landed on the precipice of broken concrete, looking about as steady as a mammoth on a tightrope. Akari threw another Missile at his face, which he deflected as he regained his balance. She followed with a kick to his solar plexus, and he leaned back just in time to catch a stray blast from the Artisan below. Her opponent screamed as the flames climbed his back, but he pulled Akari down with him as he fell. Oh, shit They flew toward the floor together. The dragon clutched her boot with one hand, using the other to throw a Missile at her face. Akari tried to block, but raw power beat skill this close, and the fire struck her vest and helmet. The air left her lungs in a rush, and the impact cracked the visor on her helmet. Akari kicked off from her opponent when he struck the ground. Four. Then, by some miracle of raw instincts, she flipped through the air and landed on both feet like a cat. Everything lay in piles of smoking rubble with two pieces of canyon looming above them, and the night sky beyond that. Relia and Kalden sat on the floor across the room, half-hidden behind a fallen pillar. Zakiel approached with slow determination. Akari cast aside her broken helmet and pulled Kalden¡¯s pack off her shoulders. She found one potion still intact, and she chugged it without reading the label. The mana moved into her soul, but the number on her watch didn¡¯t increase. Weird. What kind of potion was this? She vaguely remembered Kalden buying some aspected potions the day before, but those would be useless to¡ª ¡°Hey,¡± a familiar voice rasped. ¡°Shokita!¡± She spun to see Hector laying on the ground, surrounded by a dozen bodies. He bled out from a long wound across his torso, but he held up a familiar weapon. The Artisan blade that Elend had won in Costa Liberta. Akari accepted the weapon by the hilt, and Hector nodded once. ¡°Charged it for you,¡± he said through several ragged breaths. ¡°Should be good for one hit.¡± Good enough. She¡¯d already killed one Artisan with this blade. Why not a second? Akari drew in a long breath as she approached her opponent. She¡¯d been hoping to take him by surprise, just like before. But he spun away from Kalden and Relia at the last minute, shifting his golden gaze on her. Their eyes met, and his scaly lips pulled back in a satisfied grin. ¡°There you are.¡± He fell into a fighting stance, and a blade of red plasma formed in his outstretched hand. He raised it toward Akari¡¯s own weapon. ¡°Let¡¯s see how you do in a real fight.¡± Book 2 - Chapter 35: A Real Mana Artist Akari sprang forward, starting the fight with a sweeping blow. ¡°Always make the first move,¡± Kalden had said in her first combat lesson. ¡°Unless you¡¯re confident your opponent will mess up. Then you might as well let him.¡± Confidence was a distant dream in this fight. Zakiel was an Artisan¡ªtwice her size, with several years more experience. He had every advantage, and her bag of tricks was empty. Grenades or guns wouldn¡¯t scratch his skin, and there were no cliffs to throw him from. She just had her pure mana, and a single blade. Still, she had to fight. She¡¯d asked for this the moment before she¡¯d advanced. She told herself she¡¯d rather die here with her friends than escape and spend her life alone. That sentiment had come far easier upstairs. But she¡¯d still never forgive herself if she ran. Zakiel parried and struck in two blinding motions. Akari twisted backward, blasting pure mana into the ground to quicken her movement. If not for all her training these past months, she never could have kept up with Dream Akari¡¯s muscle memory. Even now, she saw the flaws in her own body. It wasn¡¯t as flexible as it used to be. And despite her months of hard training, her lungs didn¡¯t have the endurance they¡¯d had before. Advancing to Gold had helped, but it didn''t solve everything. She landed several paces away, cycling mana into her weapon and testing its strength. The clash hadn¡¯t drained the reserves too much, thank Talek. But it definitely felt weaker than before. As if she needed another reason to end this fight fast. She¡¯d already seen what happened to Kalden, and he¡¯d been a better duelist than her. Then again, Kalden had always relied on his aspect. Akari had been making do with less her whole life, even before Arkala. Zakiel followed his strike with a blast of fire mana. Akari dodged left, shooting her own mana to knock the technique off course. That single Missile held more mana than her entire soul at Silver. Even now, it only turned his attack by several degrees, and she felt the heat on her cheeks as it flew past her. And that was only one technique of many. Akari threw more mana sideways as they fought, propelling her body around the battlefield. She leapt over the rubble and the craters, dodging fallen pipes and chunks of wood and concrete. One second, she was pushing herself against a pillar to flank her opponent. The next, she was upside down, slashing at his head. Zakiel parried her strikes with ease, as if he were swatting aside an insect. At the same time, her opponent took no unnecessary risks. She¡¯d expected him to throw his strength around like a brute. But he fought with careful precision, leaving no room for error. It was the exact opposite of the Grevandi she¡¯d faced upstairs. The mana flew faster between them, and her vision became a blur of bright colors against the darkness. Her opponent dodged her next swing, then threw a punch at her left arm. The attack came faster than she could blink, flattening her tricep and cracking the bone like a tree branch. The impact reverberated through her frame, from her tailbone to her teeth. Tears clouded her eyes, and she thought she might pass out. No. Akari cycled her mana harder, just like Relia had shown her on the playground. Zakiel wasted no time, and his red blade came down in a vertical strike. Akari kicked off from the ground and somersaulted backward. The blade sliced through a chunk of concrete instead of her face. Akari adjusted her grip and slashed with her good arm. The dance continued, but she was living on hopes and wishes now. Her injury was more than just pain. It meant she couldn¡¯t do Mana Arts without dropping her sword. Then her opponent overextended his next swing, leaving a perfect angle for her next attack. Finally. Akari threw herself into the opening, betting it all on this single blow. She could practically taste her victory and relief as her blade angled for the kill. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. A smile flashed in Zakiel¡¯s reptilian eyes. A feint. But she''d already committed. Her opponent¡¯s plasma sword vanished from the air. He thrust his other hand toward her stomach, and the weapon sprang to life once again. A line of sharp pain ripped through her when she landed on his blade. Her mouth opened in a silent scream, and she dropped to her knees. Something hot flowed down her legs. Her head rocked forward like a piece of shifting rubble, and she saw the blood gushing from her stomach. It reminded her of the broken pipes all around them, blasting their contents toward the floor below. The sight made her dizzy and nauseous all at once. Akari tried to cough and tasted copper in the back of her throat. She thought she understood pain after those years in the school dueling ring, but simulated pain didn¡¯t compare. Nothing could match this sense of dread, knowing she might never stand again. Zakiel loomed above her, still holding the plasma blade in his outstretched hand. The blood stopped flowing, but the blade itself grew hotter¡ªprobably sealing the wounds inside her stomach. She screamed when he twisted the blade, opening and sealing the wounds all over again. Her opponent smiled wide, showing his fangs as he savored his victory. "This is for Enzo,¡± he said. Akari coughed. ¡°Who the hell is Enzo?¡± ¡°He was my Fang,¡± Zakiel snapped. ¡°The one you stabbed in the back.¡± Akari gave a humorless laugh, even as the blade twisted through her. She¡¯d stabbed a lot of people in the back, but most of that backstabbing was metaphorical. She knew who he meant. Zakiel said something else, but Akari didn¡¯t hear him. Sweat covered her body like a broken fever, and tears flowed from her eyes. Everything sounded far away, as if she were drowning. She caught a few phrases though¡ªsome nonsense about how she wasn¡¯t a real Mana Artist. Basically the same story she¡¯d listened to for the last three years. Apparently, real Mana Artists stabbed people in the windpipe rather than the spine? Think, Akari told herself. Zakiel could have killed her by now, but he wanted to make her suffer. That gave her a few more seconds. Relia and Kalden were long gone. That was good, but she couldn¡¯t count on a last minute rescue. They¡¯d both been injured and out of mana when she saw them last. Besides, Akari had the only Artisan-level blade. The blade. She squeezed the fingers on her right hand, feeling the weapon¡¯s leather hilt. Talek. It¡¯s still there? She tried to move her arm, but the pain was too much. The weapon felt suddenly heavy now that she noticed it, and her fingers threatened to let go. The dragon smiled again, seeming to enjoy her attempts. Akari gritted her teeth as she tried to push through the pain. No use. At this rate, she seemed more likely to pass out than lift her arm. What else? She''d learned to shoot Missiles from her chest, which was a skill most Mana Artists lacked. But one burst of pure mana wouldn''t hurt an Artisan. It might not even distract him. Akari directed her focus inward, feeling the mana in her soul. Yes, there was something there. Her pure mana was drained, but the potion from Kalden¡¯s pack had given her something else¡ªa separate mana reserve. Akari poked and prodded at it with her mental senses. The sensation was like discovering her own mana for the first time. But this wasn¡¯t pure. What was it then? Only one explanation: aspected mana. Useless. You could drink aspected mana from a bottle, but you couldn¡¯t use the techniques. Not unless you already knew them. And yet ¡­ this aspect felt familiar. Akari began cycling it through her channels, and it brought her back to her most recent dream. The mana flowed lightly through her body¡ªalmost incorporeal. This was the space mana Kalden had bought two days ago. She¡¯d dismissed it at the time, claiming she didn¡¯t know how to use it. But that was before. Before her latest dream. Before she¡¯d synthesized her memories. Akari suppressed a grin as she began her multiple-part technique. The first spatial Missile flowed out from her right hand, wrapping itself around her weapon. The second Missile shot out from her chest, up at her opponent. His reptilian eyes widened in alarm, but Akari didn¡¯t hesitate. Her past self¡¯s memories flowed through her body and mind as she worked, using instincts that felt foreign and familiar all at once. Akari tried not to dwell on the strangeness or impossibility of the task. Thinking was a distraction. She needed action. She pulled both space Missiles into Constructs, letting a portal form between them. It was the same technique she¡¯d used against Kalden in the dream. The first portal swallowed her blade. It emerged out the other end, opening the Artisan¡¯s throat. His body stiffened, and a shower of blood covered her face. His plasma blade faded to red mist, and he fell back like a fallen tree. Akari¡¯s own technique broke in the same moment, and she uncurled her fingers from the weapon, letting it clatter to the floor. Her body softened with relief, but the pain returned in sudden waves from head to heel. Finally, she collapsed on top of her fallen opponent, letting the darkness take her. Book 2 - Chapter 36: Soul Oaths ¡°Alright,¡± Lena announced to everyone in the throne room. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± Elend drew in a deep breath, and the Dragonlord strode over to the wooden table. They¡¯d waited all night as she finished bonding the last crystal. Now, the first rays of sunlight shone over Tureko¡¯s skyline, shrouded by clouds of rising smoke. Curious that Antano would push the Ethersmith so hard in this final stretch¡ªalmost as if he were in a hurry. Perhaps this battle between the Grevandi and the Unmarked had attracted foreign eyes? Or maybe the footage had leaked across the border, and Irina had seen it? One glimpse of Relia on camera, and she¡¯d be here within the day. Unfortunately, Elend gained nothing by stalling. Every second he wasted here, he left his students alone in an active war zone. Antano reached the table in five quick strides, and Elend and Lena rose to their feet. ¡°You can remove the cuffs?¡± he clarified. ¡°All five at once?¡± She gave a nod that was almost like a bow. ¡°Yes, Dragonlord.¡± ¡°Good.¡± His voice cut the air like a blade, but the resonance still reached every corner of the room. ¡°Then let us begin.¡± They¡¯d both prepared written oaths earlier that evening, debating the specifics for hours on end. But they¡¯d waited until the last minute to speak the oaths themselves. Elend extended his right hand. Antano did likewise, and they clasped each other¡¯s wrists. The Dragonlord¡¯s skin was rough and hot like a boulder under the desert sun. Mana swirled around their arms in colored streaks of fire and plasma. The heat reached all the way to Elend¡¯s face, and it felt like standing too close to a bonfire. But he also caught hints of gravity mana there as well. Three aspects in one? Curious. Then again, it made sense. You needed more than raw power and grit to become the pack leader. Elend added his dream mana into the mix. It took him the better part of a minute to fill his half, and the cuffs sent waves of pain racing up his arm. Intention mattered most in soul oaths, but intention didn¡¯t exist in a vacuum. As with all techniques, you needed mana to shape and transport it. And of course, their mana amounts had to be equal. Otherwise, one party could gain an advantage over the other. Antano had used enough to cause Elend discomfort, but not so much that they¡¯d be waiting all night for him to catch up. Finally, when both sets swirled in balance, Elend gave his enemy a polite nod. ¡°After you.¡± The Dragonlord inclined his head. ¡°I, Axel Antano, Dragonlord of Creta, hereby swear the following on my soul. From the moment those cuffs leave Elend Darklight¡¯s body, I will not attempt to attack him or prevent him from leaving this nation. I will not harm his family, his students, or any member of his household except in self-defense. I will not allow others to attack him on my behalf. I will speak no words of his time here in Creta, nor will I allow anyone else to speak them on my behalf. As far as the world is concerned, we¡¯ve never even met.¡± He turned to face Lena. ¡°I will not interfere with the Ethersmithing process, or attempt to turn it to my advantage. I will not allow others to interfere on my behalf. I will take the four Etherite cuffs from the table, but I will make no move to take the collar.¡± Elend paid close attention as the Dragonlord spoke, listening for any obvious loopholes or omissions. Not that exact words mattered here¡ªElend¡¯s own willpower and intention would bind the Dragonlord to his oath. The words were just a representation of their agreement. For example, even though they hadn¡¯t spoken of it, the word ¡°harm¡± could extend to political, economic, or psychological warfare. Still, history was filled with stories of Mana Artists escaping soul bonds with clever tricks. Most of those stories were embellished, but one could never be too careful. Once the Dragonlord had finished, Elend wasted no time. ¡°I, Elend Darklight, professor of Koreldon University, hereby swear the following on my soul. From the moment these cuffs leave my body, I will gather my students and leave this nation as quickly as possible. I will not attempt to harm the Dragonlord, his family, or his armies except in self-defense. I will not allow others to attack them on my behalf. I will speak nothing of my time here in Creta, and I won¡¯t attempt to return once I¡¯m gone.¡± He steadied his cycling as he eyed Lena. ¡°I will not interfere with the Ethersmithing process, or attempt to turn it to my advantage. I will not allow others to interfere on my behalf. I will take the Etherite collar from the table, but I will make no move to retrieve the four cuffs.¡± The mana spun faster around their wrists, and they sealed the bond for a period of twenty years. Elend couldn¡¯t complain about that part. It wasn¡¯t as if he wanted to return here on holiday. Honestly, the hardest part would be not sharing this story with Irina once he got home. Stolen novel; please report. No sooner had they sealed the oath than Elend felt an overwhelming compulsion. It manifested as a physical pain in his soul. Sweat threatened to break the surface of his skin, and he felt physically sick. Antano would be suspicious if he waited another second. ¡®Glim,¡¯ he said inside his head. ¡®If you can hear me, then you need to stop.¡¯ She couldn¡¯t hear him, of course. They¡¯d prepared for this moment, putting up a mental barrier between them. The barrier itself was built like a soul oath, and no communication could pass through¡ªnot until they were free from this tower. Elend raced through possibilities, scrambling desperately for a way around the barrier. There were none. He and Glim had spent weeks preparing for this moment, considering every angle. Still, his enemy had a Grandmaster¡¯s perception, and he narrowed his golden eyes. ¡°Something wrong, professor?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always been a rebel at heart,¡± Elend said with a forced smile. ¡°Soul oaths have never suited me.¡± Antano eyed him for several more seconds, but he eventually turned back to the Ethersmith. ¡°The oaths are sworn. You may begin.¡± Lena shifted her gaze to Elend, then she closed her eyes in concentration. Elend remained as still as a statue, both in body and mind. He couldn¡¯t even think about interfering. That was Glim¡¯s job. He¡¯d spent the past two weeks filling his imaginary friend with every drop of mana he could spare. Now, she was a Grandmaster Dream Artist in her own right. They¡¯d also learned a great deal about Ethersmithing, asking Lena questions as she worked, studying the patterns of her thoughts. Elend was a Mana Artist, not an Aeon. Without an Aeons crystal soul, he had no chance of becoming an Ethersmith himself. But he didn¡¯t need to. He understood the theory enough to teach it to Glim. Several seconds passed, then the crystals vanished from Elend¡¯s limbs and throat, leaving simple impedium bands behind. Elend worked his fingers between the wrist bands, snapping them like brittle iron. The band on his throat came next, then the ones around his ankles. Finally, Elend cycled his mana. It felt like he¡¯d been curled in the fetal position for weeks, and now he could finally stand. The force of his power filled the room, and he would have knocked the guards off their feet if not for his oaths. He flared his Cloak technique, and he felt strong enough to tear this building apart with his bare hands. Missiles gathered in his palms, and they would have shot through ten floors if he hadn¡¯t stopped them. Elend did this all in the space of two breaths. By the time he looked up again, a row of glowing crystals sat on the table. The Dragonlord collected the four cuffs, examining them with undisguised awe. Elend approached the collar more slowly. Did it work? Glim was supposed to be working a Circuit technique on Lena¡¯s mind. This wasn¡¯t enslavement, they¡¯d reasoned. This was just good old-fashioned deception. Glim didn¡¯t dominate Lena¡¯s thoughts or influence her decision. She¡¯d only altered a single parameter of the Ethersmith¡¯s technique. Lena believed she was transferring cuffs onto the table. Instead, she¡¯d put them right back in Elend¡¯s possession. At the same time, Glim had conjured four exact replicas on the table. And because Elend had given Glim a Grandmaster¡¯s power, that technique should also be enough to fool the entire room. That included the Dragonlord, and even Elend himself. Unfortunately, this also meant he had no way of confirming it. All he could do was leave as planned. Elend grabbed his collar from the table and strode toward the middle of the throne room beneath the glass dome¡¯s apex. ¡°You should probably open the sky door now,¡± Elend announced to no one in particular. ¡°It looks expensive, and I did swear to make haste as I left.¡± Antano waved a hand, and a Fang scrambled with the controls across the room. The circular glass door slid open above Elend¡¯s head, letting in a rush of cool morning air. Elend shot a burst of pure mana into the obsidian tiles, propelling his body upward through the opening. The blast carried him fifty feet into the air, and Tureko¡¯s skyline stretched for miles around. The wind struck his face, and he might have struggled to keep his eyes open if not for the strength of his Grandmaster¡¯s body. Still soaring upward, Elend shot more mana from his palms and formed a Construct in the shape of a hang glider. He¡¯d memorized this design decades ago, and practiced it over a thousand times. You never knew when you might need to jump off a skyscraper, after all. ¡°Glim,¡± Elend shouted over the wind. ¡°Did it work?¡± ¡®At last.¡¯ Wild laughter echoed in his mind. ¡®The power of Angels in the palm of my hand. After today, all will bow to their new empress. Especially you, foolish human. You, who were so distracted by your enemies of flesh and blood. You, who were so focused on your goals, but utterly blind to¡ª¡¯ ¡°Enough jokes,¡± Elend interrupted. ¡°Did you get the cuffs?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Glim said in a cheerful voice. She manifested as a Missile beside him, carrying all five crystals on a trail of blue mana. The fake collar vanished to mist in Elend¡¯s hand. He smiled. ¡°Good work. Now let''s save the kids.¡± Dream mana flowed out from his chest, hands, and feet, swirling around his body like a tornado. It came so easily now that he was a proper Grandmaster again. As easy as taking a breath. The glider soared east through the air currents, and they crossed the river to where the Grevandi clashed with the Unmarked. Explosions still echoed from the maze of city streets, and dark clouds of smoke blocked out the sun. Elend stretched out with his mana, feeling the minds of every fighter and civilian down below. Then he began his ultimate Ritual technique. Book 2 - Chapter 37: Down Without a Fight Akari opened her eyes and found Relia and Kalden hovering over her. She glanced from side to side, expecting to see the rubble from the broken hotel. But this building looked untouched from the battle. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, and a jungle of potted plants lined the balcony outside. She seemed to be laying on a stiff leather sofa, while her friends sat on the wooden coffee table nearby. How long? She tried to talk, but her throat was too dry. ¡°Here.¡± Relia uncorked a water bottle while Kalden held up the back of her head. Akari took several long swallows, washing away the taste of smoke and blood from her mouth. For a second, she dared to hope they¡¯d escaped Creta. But then another blast erupted outside, hard enough to shake the windows and the floor. ¡°You were out for about twenty minutes,¡± Relia told her. ¡°We carried you to an apartment two blocks away.¡± Akari tried to prop herself on her elbows, but a wave of burning pain shot up from her stomach. ¡°Easy.¡± Kalden eased her back onto the cushions. ¡°You¡¯re still hurt.¡± Akari glimpsed her body as she fell back. Her armor and shirt had been cut open across the middle, revealing her entire lower torso. Blood covered her stomach with a gaping wound in the center. Right ¡­ Zakiel. ¡°Can you fix it?¡± she asked Relia. The other girl hesitated, and Akari¡¯s heart sank. ¡°You¡¯re out of mana?¡± ¡°No.¡± Relia shook her head. ¡°I was at first¡ªafter I healed Kalden. He found me some bottles.¡± Akari blew out a breath, feeling her eyelids grow heavy again. ¡°Then what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°The wound is burned shut.¡± ¡°That''s¡ª¡± ¡°Bad,¡± Relia stammered. ¡°He broke your small intestine in about fifty places. I¡¯ve been trying to fix it, but it¡¯s not working. That¡¯s why plasma blades are illegal back home. You can¡¯t ¡ª¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± Kalden said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you heal broken bones. Your mana literally pushed bullets out of me. How¡¯s this any harder?¡± ¡°It just is.¡± Relia¡¯s voice rose, and she looked like she wanted to punch something. ¡°It¡¯s the same reason I can¡¯t heal your hands. Every aspect has glitches and restrictions. This is one of them.¡± Akari took several deep breaths to fight her rising panic. The idea of mana glitches might have sounded ridiculous to her yesterday. Now¡ªwith all her memories restored¡ªshe had a much better idea of how aspects worked. Artists infused their technique into artifacts, and those artifacts fueled the aspecting ritual. This meant every aspect held pieces of knowledge mana, and those pieces weren¡¯t so different from computer algorithms. Problems like this were inevitable. She¡¯d won¡ªshe¡¯d beaten Zakiel¡ªand now she might die anyway? She¡¯d been ready to die in battle, but this was bullshit. ¡°What can we do?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°We need to get her to a real hospital,¡± Relia said. The only real hospital was across the river in Unida¡¯s territory. The Unmarked had small clinics, but the healers there were all weaker than Relia. But everyone here knew that, so Akari didn¡¯t waste her breath pointing it out. ¡°You said this problem affects all healers,¡± Kalden said. Relia ran a hand through her sweaty hair. ¡°A Master could do it.¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t any¡ª¡± ¡°I know,¡± Relia cut in. ¡°Thanks, General Obvious.¡± A short silence passed, then she continued. ¡°A lot of doctors are Knowledge Artists. They can find a solution, then tell the healers exactly what to do.¡± ¡°Makes sense.¡± Kalden gave an encouraging nod. ¡°So what would these doctors say if they were here?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Relia threw up her hands. ¡°Only one answer,¡± Akari muttered through her pain. ¡°Break open the burns ¡­¡± ¡°Then heal them again,¡± Kalden finished for her. ¡°That only works for surface-level burns,¡± Relia said. ¡°These are internal. You¡¯d need something precise.¡± ¡°Death mana,¡± Akari said. ¡°No. That¡¯s the opposite of precise.¡± ¡°You once killed a drake by breaking its cervical spine,¡± Kalden said. ¡°I had nothing to lose if I messed up.¡± ¡°Your mana is slow,¡± he continued. ¡°Slow mana is designed for precision work.¡± ¡°Death mana wasn¡¯t designed at all,¡± Relia shot back. ¡°It¡¯s a side effect of life mana¡ªa leftover from an older time.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Relia was talking nonsense now. Hadn¡¯t her aspect been invented a few decades ago? But they were getting sidetracked. ¡°Would it work?¡± Akari asked. ¡°I have no idea,¡± Relia said. ¡°I just know you¡¯d die if I messed up.¡± Akari drew in a deep breath, which was no easy task with her wounds still screaming at her. ¡°I might die anyway.¡± ¡°Might,¡± Relia stressed the word. ¡°You¡¯ll die for sure if this reaches your heart.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t cycle.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t just stop cycling. Especially not when you¡¯re in pain.¡± ¡°Lot of practice wearing those Martial cuffs,¡± Akari said. Relia let out a long breath, looking like she wanted to cry. ¡°I couldn¡¯t live with myself if I messed up.¡± ¡°I promise not to haunt you from the afterlife,¡± Akari said. Kalden leaned toward Relia and put a hand on her shoulder. ¡°You trusted me to make your pill. Now let us trust you.¡± Relia glanced around as if she hoped to see another solution nearby. When nothing revealed itself, she cleared her nose and straightened. ¡°Guess we don¡¯t have a choice, huh?¡± And with that, she drank all the liquid mana she could stomach. Apparently, you couldn¡¯t stop this sort of thing halfway through. This was why hospitals kept hundreds of healers on staff as backup. Kalden rolled up a clean kitchen towel and let Akari bite down on it. Just like in the movies. She¡¯d always hated the healing scenes, though. Much better to skip straight to where she kissed the leading man and flew home on the airship. At one point, Kalden found a bottle of agavo in the pantry and suggested giving her some for the pain. Akari voted yes, but Relia shot down the idea, claiming that alcohol would increase her risk of passing out. People couldn¡¯t help but cycle when they slept, and cycling meant instant death. Great. Akari lay back on the pillow and squeezed Kalden¡¯s hand. It felt like it only had three fingers, but that couldn¡¯t be right. ¡°Now stop cycling,¡± Relia said. ¡°Make your mana like an ice cube.¡± Akari nodded once and plugged up her soul. The next few minutes passed in a blur of pain. Getting stabbed was bad enough, but that was over in a few seconds, shrouded by a rush of adrenaline and emotion. This was nothing but pure agony twisting through her insides. Akari screamed through the cloth, bit down, and squeezed Kalden¡¯s hand harder. She didn¡¯t worry about hurting him. He was an Apprentice now, and he could literally stop bullets with his skin. When Relia finally pulled her hand away, it felt like hours had passed. She panted hard, and strands of loose red hair clung to her sweat-covered forehead. ¡°Azul¡¯s ashes.¡± Relia collapsed back on a nearby chair. ¡°It worked?¡± Kalden asked. She gave a weary nod. ¡°Remind me never to question Elend again.¡± Akari¡¯s muscles softened with relief, and she brought a shaky hand to her wound. The pain was still there, but it took time for nerves to catch up with healing mana. That much, she¡¯d learned from her foster mother. The pain eased as she ran a hand over her stomach and found fresh skin where the wound had been. But something felt off. Her stomach wasn¡¯t just smooth, it was completely smooth She finally sat up and took in the surreal sight. ¡°Where the hell¡¯s my belly button?¡± Relia gave her an annoyed look. Akari snapped her mouth shut. ¡°Sorry,¡± she said after a short pause. ¡°This is good. Better than before, even.¡± She wasn¡¯t even lying. One less thing to clean in the shower, right? Plus, people would start all sorts of rumors about her now. Maybe they¡¯d say she was part cyborg, or some kind of super soldier who was bred in a tank. Akari was fine with either one. Panic replaced her thoughts a second later. If Relia couldn¡¯t fix her belly, then what else was wrong with her? But no ¡­ her abdominal muscles had returned to their former shape, so it wasn¡¯t like she¡¯d been deformed. The simple answer was that belly buttons were scars, and Healing Artists couldn¡¯t replace scars. Akari turned toward Kalden, and she noticed his hands for the first time. He must have caught her staring because he held up both arms for her to see. His right hand had been severed off, leaving a stump on his wrist. His left hand was missing the thumb and forefinger. Akari¡¯s heart sank, and she wanted to punch herself for complaining about her missing belly button. No wonder Relia had looked so annoyed. ¡°Yeah,¡± Kalden said in a light tone. ¡°That¡¯s the last time I fight an Artisan one-on-one. At least this year.¡± ¡°Same here.¡± Akari tried to force out a smile. ¡°Stop it.¡± Relia¡¯s eyes watered. ¡°That¡¯s not funny.¡± ¡°They have prosthetic hands and fingers,¡± Kalden said. ¡°I¡¯ll be okay once we¡¯re back in Espiria.¡± Relia just shook her head. ¡°You two are both insane.¡± Akari turned back to Kalden. In that moment, his face looked as blank and inhuman as a marble statue. Did Relia have a point? How could you lose an entire hand and be so calm? That wasn¡¯t normal, was it? Akari reached between them in what felt like a vast canyon, and her fingers found his again. She pulled his left hand closer and brought it to her lips, kissing the stumps where his fingers had been. She¡¯d never been great with words, but she hoped that gesture would convey everything she felt. She wanted to show him how much she cared, and how she didn¡¯t think any less of him now. If anything, she respected him more. It was one thing to fight as a perfect dueling machine, but it was harder to fight as a flesh and blood human with things to lose. She wanted to kiss him for real, but the angle was all wrong, and she could barely summon the strength to stand. She met his eyes and hoped he¡¯d take the hint. Her breath quickened, and her stomach fluttered with anticipation. Kalden just nodded as he took his hand back. He forced out a smile, but it didn¡¯t reach his eyes. That¡¯s fine. It had been a long twenty-four hours. They¡¯d all been through a lot, and they each had years of memories to sort through. Maybe once they reached Espiria, they could¡ª Someone banged on the apartment door, and a voice shouted something in Cadrian. Akari froze, and so did her friends. The intruder banged again, shouting something else. ¡°What¡¯d he say?¡± Relia asked in a harsh whisper. ¡°They saw our mana through the wall,¡± Kalden whispered back. The three of them scrambled to their feet as the Grevandi broke the door with a flaming Missile. Half a dozen dragons flooded inside the room, armed with Missile rods and submachine guns. Akari didn¡¯t even bother looking through her SIlver Sight. Even if these guys were Foundations, she was in no condition to fight back. ¡°We surrender,¡± Kalden raised his hands, then repeated the phrase in Cadrian. Akari and Relia raised their own hands. The leader glanced past Kalden and pointed a clawed finger toward Relia. She didn¡¯t catch everything he said, but the phrase ¡°Artisto Muerto¡± stood out. Death Artist. The other dragons adjusted their stances in a way that needed no translation. Akari felt her own body tense. Mana or no, she wouldn¡¯t go down without a fight. The room held its breath for several heartbeats as each side waited for the other to move. The dragons slid their fingers toward their triggers. Then a wave of power swept over the room, and everyone froze like statues. Book 2 - Chapter 38: True Power The battlefield snapped into stillness, like a television being unplugged. Until now, the shouts and explosions had been a constant rhythm in the background. Akari had even gotten used to the shaking floor and rattling windows. Now the silence was almost deafening. What the hell happened? She tried to speak, but her lips wouldn¡¯t budge. Even her brain slowed down as if she had to wade through molasses to form each thought. Her friends were frozen too, and so were the surrounding Grevandi. Who could do this? The Dragonlord? A Mystic? Then something caught her eye¡ªa flicker of blue light reflected in her glasses. Another heartbeat passed, then a Missile soared through the room. But unlike most Missiles, this one seemed to have a mind of its own, darting left and right like a hummingbird. ¡°There you are!¡± a female voice said. Akari couldn¡¯t tell where it came from, but it definitely sounded too cheerful to be a dragon. The blue Missile soared around Relia, unfreezing her. It did the same for Kalden and Akari. Relia waved at the Missile. ¡°Thanks, Glim!¡± Kalden blinked at the scene, shooting a glance at the still-frozen Grevandi. ¡°Um ¡­ Glim?¡± The Missile flew into the nearby glass window, taking the form of a young woman with chin-length blue hair and a matching dress. Even her skin was a pale blue¡ªthe same shade as pure mana. ¡°Glimmar Gadriel Darklight,¡± she said with a wave. ¡°Sorry we haven¡¯t met before. You can blame my stingy mana battery for that.¡± She glanced up at the sky. ¡°Speaking of which, here he comes now.¡± Akari looked out the window and saw dozens of soldiers frozen in the street below. Many held mana in their palms if as their techniques had been interrupted midway through. ¡°Talek,¡± she muttered. ¡°He froze the whole city?¡± ¡°Just a one-mile radius,¡± Glim said. ¡°He¡¯s a Grandmaster, not an Archangel.¡± Akari shifted her gaze upward and saw a man-shaped silhouette descending from the sky. For a split second, she almost thought it was the man from her dream. But as the figure cleared the smoke, Akari saw the truth of it. This was Elend Darklight flying on a glider. Kalden let out a small laugh behind her. ¡°That explains all the weirdness.¡± Akari nodded her agreement. The glider was pale blue, from the handle to the sail. He¡¯d probably forged it from solid mana like the grappling hook he¡¯d made back on Arkala. Akari relaxed her vision, and saw the storm of dream mana spreading out from him. Space mana couldn¡¯t do something at this scale. Neither could Kalden¡¯s blade aspect. Her parents had tried to tell her that, but she hadn¡¯t listened. But this ¡­ this was true power. Not just the power to win duels, but the power to turn the tide of an entire war. This was the power she¡¯d need to free her home. And now, she and Kalden both had a second chance. A chance to re-aspect their mana and do things no other Artist had ever done. A chance to take risks no one else would dare take. Not even their past selves. Relia led them out of the apartment, down the stairs, and out the building¡¯s front door. Akari and Kalden had been reluctant to expose themselves so much, but the blue fairy girl assured them it¡¯d be fine. And yes, they were taking orders from mana fairies now. But like Kalden said, things got weird around Elend. The glider descended on the urban street, and Elend let go several feet from the ground, letting his vessel fade to mist. He wove through the crowd of frozen soldiers, and the closest ones lay down on the road as if they¡¯d just fallen asleep. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Finally, Elend stopped when he reached Akari and the others. They must have looked like a hot mess. Kalden was missing an entire hand, not to mention two more fingers. Akari¡¯s clothes were torn open around her midriff, and trails of damp blood ran down her pants. Relia¡¯s armor was burnt in several places, blood stains covered her arms up to her elbows, and she¡¯d lost a giant chunk of her braid. Elend took in the sight for several heartbeats, then gave a solemn nod. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t be here sooner.¡± Then he turned to face Glim who had begun hovering beside him. ¡°How long do we have?¡± The Missile bobbed up and down. ¡°I¡¯d say we have about five more¡ª¡± A roar echoed over the city. It was nothing like the bird-like shrieks she¡¯d heard from the Grevandi. This was all raw power. Akari had to close her ears. She felt the weight of it in her chest, and every muscle in her body turned to jelly. She collapsed on the street, and Kalden and Relia fell with her. ¡°Never mind,¡± Glim said. ¡°Here he comes now.¡± A dark shadow filled the sky. She¡¯d seen the Dragonlord before¡ªeveryone in Tureko had seen him flying over the city. But now he flew straight toward them, growing larger by the second. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Elend said. ¡°He¡¯s angry, but he can¡¯t hurt you.¡± The massive dragon hovered above their heads, blocking out the morning sun. His body alone was wider than this entire street, and his wings could have spanned several city blocks. In that moment, a dozen stories raced through her head. People claimed the Dragonlord could level buildings with a single Missile technique. Elend¡¯s little hang glider seemed far less impressive by comparison. How could he fight something like this? But Elend¡¯s mana remained as steady as a winter pond. He still kept the soldiers asleep, but he didn¡¯t form any other techniques. Not even a shield. The Dragonlord continued flapping his massive wings, sending clouds of dust and smoke in their faces. Akari shielded her face, but Elend still didn¡¯t flinch. Mana flashed in a burst of green light, and the dragon¡¯s body shrunk to a normal human size. He kept his wings, but he didn¡¯t use them. Instead, his body plummeted several stories. The ground shook when he landed, and his boots left a crater in the road. ¡°Darklight!¡± he roared across the street. ¡°We had a deal.¡± The strength of his voice made Akari want to collapse again, but she held her ground. ¡°I couldn¡¯t break our deal if I wanted to,¡± Elend said. ¡°It was a soul oath. Not a friendly handshake.¡± He stretched out his arms as if to show they were empty. For the first time, Akari realized his cuffs were gone. ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± The Dragonlord stepped closer, stretching out his wings and spanning half the street. The air blurred around him in waves of heat, and several cars lifted off the asphalt, melting like candle wax. ¡°You gave me dream mana. You tricked the Ethersmith.¡± ¡°Remind me again,¡± Elend said. ¡°What was our deal?¡± Antano turned his gaze to Akari and the others, narrowing his golden eyes. Akari took a few steps to her left, shamelessly hiding behind Elend. She could face Artisans all day, but this was different. Facing an enemy Grandmaster brought out some primal fear within her. A fear she hadn¡¯t felt since Last Haven¡¯s destruction. Her knees shook like leaves in a storm, and it took all her willpower not to run. ¡°I never agreed to this interrogation,¡± Elend said. ¡°On the contrary, I¡¯m supposed to leave your nation as quickly as possible.¡± ¡°You think this is over?¡± The dragon¡¯s voice rose again, and Akari braced herself for another deafening roar. Elend just shrugged, showing the first hint of a smile. ¡°Honestly, Antano, you never had those cuffs in the first place. You lost nothing today.¡± The floating cars erupted in a multicolored blaze. Even from ten paces away, Akari felt the heat of it on her cheeks. Elend seemed confident, but he¡¯d been confident against the Martials too. ¡°You should know,¡± Elend began, ¡°that my lovely wife is just a few miles from your border.¡± The Dragonlord paused, glancing at the mana wall that separated Creta from Vaslana. Elend¡¯s smile widened. ¡°But you knew she was coming, didn¡¯t you?¡± Several seconds passed before a massive white airship appeared on the horizon. It hovered by the city¡¯s northern mana barrier, then an entire section of the wall flickered out, big enough for the ship to fly through. ¡°This oath won¡¯t protect you,¡± the Dragonlord said. ¡°I have powerful allies. Allies you can¡¯t even imagine. Word will reach their ears. They¡¯ll come for you, and everyone you love.¡± Elend said nothing as the airship flew straight toward them. Irina Darklight must have sensed her husband here, the same way he¡¯d sensed her coming. ¡°This is your last chance,¡± the Dragonlord said. ¡°Give me what you promised, and we can put this behind this. Run, and make an enemy of me for life.¡± Elend shrugged again. ¡°Remember those stories you heard about me, Antano? The ones that called me eccentric? Unreasonable?¡± He paused as the airship cast a dark shadow over their heads. ¡°You should have listened.¡± Book 2 - Chapter 39: Change Elend stepped out of the captain''s chamber and followed his wife down the airship''s pristine white corridor. He''d sworn to leave Creta as soon as possible, and his oath had compelled him to pass that onto Irina when she landed. Fortunately, they''d needed time to refuel the ship''s gravity mana, and that was out of Elend''s control. So he¡¯d spent his last hour cleaning up the mess and getting the casualty reports. Kyzar and Valdez had both survived the battle, but Elend had spotted Hector''s body among the fallen. That was too bad¡ªhe''d liked the lad well enough. True, he''d left the kids alone on that bridge, but he''d been raised to fear Relia''s aspect, and people rarely changed in a few short weeks. That was why civil wars happened in the first place. Both sides had opposing values, and each refused to give ground. Elend was partially to blame for the fighting as well. Even now, the world felt the ripples of his capture by the Arkala State Martials. One mistake at this level¡ªeven with the best intentions¡ªand thousands could die. Hector was just one of many. He and Irina passed another open bedroom as they walked, and he glimpsed the three kids spooning on the bed. Actually, no. "Spooning" was the wrong word here. It looked more like a mana storm had hit the silverware drawer. Kalden lay stretched out on his stomach with his broken hands nowhere in sight. Akari sprawled halfway on top of him while Relia cuddled up behind her. Everyone still wore the same clothes from the battle, but at least they''d taken their boots and armor off before they''d passed out. Akari and Kalden had both advanced, synthesizing their minds with their past selves just as he''d told them. He''d gotten the short version of the story, and Akari''s dreams were the most interesting by far. Especially the aspect she''d been striving for. Spacetime. People had been attempting that for decades, but they''d always failed. Now, Akari might actually have a chance. She¡¯d used space mana during the battle, but only from a bottle. Her soul was still a pure canvas, ready to be changed. Did that make the trip worth it? He doubted even the Angels could answer that question. The hallway split, and Elend and Irina went their separate ways. She headed toward the cockpit while he stepped into the common area. It was a wide, oval-shaped room with a bar in the middle and several plush sofas surrounding it. Floor-to-ceiling windows dominated one wall, revealing a vast sea of white clouds beyond. A sixty-inch TV hung on the opposite wall, showing the airship''s current location on a digital map. Lena Cavaco sat at the bar, sipping some clear beverage, garnished with a lime wedge. Instead of her usual long dress, she''d opted for dark jeans and a sleeveless white top. The cultist glanced up as Elend approached. "There you are, Espirian." "Here I am." Elend strolled forward and slid onto the cushioned stool beside her. "Sorry for the delay. I missed my wife." Lena glanced up at his hair, and her lips curled up at the edges. "I can see that." Elend caught a glimpse of himself in the bar''s narrow mirror. His silver hair stuck out at several random angles as if he''d just woken up. Bloody hell. He needed to get that cut soon. In the meantime, he ran a hand over his scalp, releasing dream mana from his palm and making it look presentable. A year ago, he would have done that without any conscious effort. But Glim was right¡ªall that time in captivity had made him stingy with his mana. ¡°You got my note?" Elend asked. A rhetorical question, of course. She wouldn''t be here if she hadn''t gotten it. Lena nodded and refilled her glass with more of the clear liquor. It looked like agavo, judging by the Cadrian label. Elend considered pouring himself a glass too, but agavo always left his stomach burning for hours. He could dull the effect, but didn''t that defeat the whole point of drinking? ¡°His lordship won''t be happy I left," Lena said as she raised her glass to her lips. "Aye," Elend began, "but I think¡ª" She held up a hand. "You owe me an explanation first. How did you get the cuffs?" Elend paused, then formed a sound-proof dome around them. He had no need for secrecy here, but that pesky soul oath wouldn''t let him discuss this without precautions. Lena already knew everything, so she didn¡¯t count. "I did no such thing." He waved at the mirror. "She did." As always, Glim appeared with impeccable timing. However, the effect was slightly ruined as she tried to balance all five crystal cuffs on her head. "Lena Cavaco, meet Glimmar Darklight." "Hi." Glim waved at Lena, causing her five-tiered crown to sway. "I''m his imaginary friend." Lena glanced from the mirror and back to Elend, raising her thin eyebrows in a question. Questioning his sanity, no doubt. "For the record," Elend said. "I was ten when I made¡ª" "Twelve," Glim corrected. "... And I''ve been trying to get rid of her ever since." "He succeeded once," Glim said. "His friends at school were teasing him, so he overreacted by destroying me." Fifty years later, she still wouldn''t let that go. Then again, he''d walked into it this time. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Lena leaned forward. "She''s a mana spirit?" "Hard to say," Elend admitted. "We can¡¯t exactly run tests on the mana spirits of old.¡° "But she can act independently," Lena guessed. "Using dream techniques of her own?" ¡°Yeah.¡± Glim cleared her throat. ¡°She also has working ears.¡± "Sorry." Lena snapped her head back to the mirror. "I didn''t mean to be rude." "No worries.¡± Glim¡¯s expression turned suddenly cheerful. "I messed with your brain, so we''ll call it even." Elend leaned forward on the bar''s polished wooden surface, sending a burst of mana toward the nearest fridge. The glass door swung open, and he began perusing the bottles. "No hard feelings, I hope." "I wouldn''t go that far," Lena said. "But I understand your reasoning." Elend rotated the bottles with subtle movements of his mana, reading the labels one by one. Finally, one particular bottle caught his eye. Summer Cloak¡ªA Koreldon pale ale with hints of citrus and hot pepper. The bottle flew into his open hand, and he unscrewed the cap. "I suppose Antano will come after you now?" "Naturally," Lena said. "I only escaped because no one else knew about the exchange." "Then let me give you a job. The Dragonlord can''t attack anyone who works for me." "I appreciate the offer, but we both know that won¡¯t stop him.¡± She eyed the mirror where Glim sat. "It didn''t take you two long to find a loophole.¡± "He blamed you?" Glim asked. Her tone sounded more offended than concerned. "I don''t know." Lena fingered the black dragon pendant at the base of her neck. "I didn''t wait to find out. But I know he has powerful allies¡ªpeople in your own government." "Aye." Elend took a drink. "I might know a few of them.¡± She mirrored his motion. "I''d be dead within a month if I showed my face in Koreldon." "Your odds are still better with me," Elend said. Lena raised an eyebrow. "And how do you calculate those odds, Espirian?" Well, she had him there. "Then where will you go?" "Into hiding," she said. "Set me down in Vaslana, and then we''re even." Elend glanced back at the TV on the wall. They were halfway through Vaslana now, but it would take them several hours before they reached Espiria''s southern border. "Are you sure?¡± he asked. "Stick with us, and you''ll have the protection of two Grandmasters." "Vaslana¡¯s my home,¡± she said. ¡°And I know it well. Down to the last backwater fishing village. I can lay there low for a few years. And even if your odds are true, I''d rather have my fate in my own hands." "I suppose I can respect that." A short pause followed, and Elend took another swallow of his drink. "And afterward?" "You tell me," Lena said. "Your note mentioned a need for my services. I assume this involves your new Etherite?" ¡°Good guess,¡± Elend said. ¡°But wrong. I want two things from you, and neither involves the crystal cuffs." "Indeed?" Elend smiled. "Have you heard that expression about teaching a man to fish?" She furrowed her brow. "I can''t teach you Ethersmithing." "Not me." Elend gestured down the hall. "Them." She followed his gaze. "Your students? None of them are Aeons." "Someone''s confident," Elend said. Then again, her entire craft involved sensing and reshaping Etherite, and an Aeon''s soul was made of Etherite. To her, scanning for crystals would be second nature, the same way Mana Artists used their Silver Sight. "They aren''t Aeons yet," Elend said, emphasizing the last word. Then after a short pause, he said, "I trust you''re familiar with krustoplegia?" Lena nodded once. "Relia was born with it. She claims it''s because her parents abused soulshine, but I suspect that was a lie. A lie meant to hide an even deeper secret. Her life may depend on reaching her full potential." ¡°Who are her parents?¡± she asked. Elend shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not my secret to share, but she might tell you if you ask nicely.¡± Lena hummed in consideration. ¡±And the other two? Do they also come from mysterious bloodlines?¡° ¡°Not like hers,¡± Elend said. "Only time will show their true potential, but I have high hopes for them both.¡± "You realize the cost if you fail? When I became an Aeon, I stunted my advancement forever." "The first time we spoke," Elend began, "you said you wanted to change this world. This is what change looks like. It means doing the things everyone else says are impossible. Taking the risks everyone else is afraid to take." Lena drained the rest of her drink, eying Glim as she did so. "You said there were two things." Elend cleared his throat. "I''d like to get in touch with your patrons.¡± She laughed. "You might as well ask to meet the Archangel Talek." Then her eyes narrowed when she realized he was serious. "What do you want from the Solidors?" "On the contrary," Elend said. "It''s about what I can do for them. They were in contact with a young couple named Mazren and Emiri Clifton." "Mazren and Emiri Clifton," Lena tasted the words, then shook her head. "You say those names like I should know them." "You should," Elend said. "But it''s not your fault. Someone''s been working hard to make the world forget about them." "Then enlighten me, Espirian." "They were training their daughter to be the world''s first Spacetime Artist¡ªsomeone who could help them with their problem." "What problem?" Elend grinned. "If you know the Solidors, then you already know the answer." Lena gave a slow nod, pivoting her head to face the hallway. "Akari is their daughter, isn''t she?" "Aye, she is." "The girl is weak now. Even if she aspects her mana, it will take years of training to get my patrons'' attention." "She''ll need time," Elend agreed. ¡°They all will. But they''re also talented and driven. And they''ll be studying at the world''s best Mana Arts university.¡± ¡°That might not be enough,¡± Lena said. There was more to it, of course. Akari had been stripped of her power, her memories, and her very identity. Others would have been utterly defeated in her position. Indeed, a quarter-million people had been defeated. Even Akari herself had broken down several times along the way. Still, some piece of her had rejected defeat. Not only had she and Kalden escaped their prison, but they¡¯d reached back through time and reclaimed the identities they¡¯d lost. As a teacher, Elend knew that grit was a trait you couldn''t teach, and Akari had more than any student he¡¯d ever trained. But he couldn¡¯t share such dramatic stories with Lena. Not yet, anyway. ¡°Akari Zeller doesn¡¯t play by the rules,¡± Elend said with a smile. ¡°Trust me on this. If you plan to defy the Angels someday, you¡¯ll want her on your side.¡± Book 2 - Chapter 40: Safe and Sound Akari wandered the airship¡¯s fancy white hallways, too anxious to sleep another minute. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Elend had said as they boarded. ¡°We¡¯re all safe now.¡± ¡°Heard that before,¡± she muttered. ¡°There¡¯s still time for another shipwreck.¡± ¡°Vaslana and Espiria are best friends,¡± he said with an easy shrug. ¡°Even if we crash here, the worst is still behind us.¡± Adrenaline had kept her going all night, but she¡¯d fallen asleep the second her head hit the pillow. She¡¯d always thought that was just an expression, but apparently it was a real thing. She woke six hours later, and the monitor showed them more than halfway through Espiria. All safe and sound, just like Elend promised. Talek. She almost couldn''t believe it. When was the last time she¡¯d been safe? Like, really safe? Even before Creta, they¡¯d been fleeing from the Martials. Before that, she¡¯d had the threat of homelessness looming over her, not to mention all the Golds she¡¯d pissed off along the way. Back then, Gold had seemed like the top of the world. Now, Akari could beat any of the Martials in a fair fight. Not only was she a Gold herself, but she was more than halfway to Apprentice. Unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t nearly so impressive in this new world of Artisans, Masters, and Mystics. And Creta was one of the weaker countries? Yeah ¡­ she had some serious catching up to do. The airship continued soaring through the clouds, passing miles of farmland and cities below. Elend and Irina hung out in the cockpit with the crew, and Kalden and Relia continued sleeping as the sun moved toward the horizon. Akari took a shower while she waited, then rummaged through the bedroom¡¯s wardrobes. The ship¡¯s owner must have had a teenage daughter because the clothes actually fit. Sucked for the others, though. Everything looked way too small for Relia, and she hadn¡¯t seen any guys¡¯ clothing at all. After she¡¯d dressed, Akari made her way back into the main area¡ªwhatever you called that on an airship. The living room? The common room? Probably some fancy term she¡¯d never learned, right up there with ¡°port¡± and ¡°starboard.¡± The bar had an espresso machine, so Akari slipped behind the counter and helped herself to a doubleshot. She¡¯d never used an espresso machine on Arkala, but she vaguely remembered using one in Last Haven. Talek. This was weird. Not only had she inherited Dream Akari¡¯s combat skills, but a shitload of other stuff too. Aside from espresso making, she knew a lot more math and physics. If she even thought about spacetime, her mind flooded with memories of relativity, time dilation, gravity, and pocket dimensions. Her parents had made her sit through countless lectures and textbooks, and learn hundreds of equations to prepare for her aspect. She¡¯d always hated that work as a kid, and she¡¯d told her parents as much. ¡°I¡¯m gonna be a duelist,¡± Akari had said one evening. ¡°Not some academic. What¡¯s the point of all this math if I never use it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re learning to speak the language of the universe,¡± Emiri had countered. ¡°You can¡¯t practice portals like you practice kicks or punches. They¡¯re too complex for that. You can only study¡ªput in the hours¡ªand let your subconscious bring you closer..¡± ¡°Sounds like wishy-washy bull¡ª.¡± Her mother gave her a look, and she trailed off. ¡°If it made perfect sense,¡± Emiri said, ¡°then everyone would learn it.¡± Akari frowned. ¡°But lots of people learn math and physics. I don¡¯t see them having breakthroughs.¡± Her mother nodded. ¡°Those same people pick an easy aspect in their mid-teens.¡± Her parents had been right in hindsight. For all Kalden¡¯s skill as a duelist, he¡¯d still lost to Zakiel last night. Meanwhile, Akari¡¯s portals had saved them all. No ¡­ her parents had saved her. They¡¯d known dueling wouldn¡¯t be enough. In a way, they¡¯d known her better than she¡¯d known herself. And how had she repaid them? Akari squeezed her coffee cup tighter as she stared out the window. She¡¯d betrayed her family and her sect. She¡¯d been responsible for her mother¡¯s death, and countless others. And for what? To win a stupid duel? To impress people she didn¡¯t even like? She¡¯d spent these past few years blaming Golds and Martials, but it was her fault all along. She¡¯d already admitted this out loud, but the idea still seemed too big to face head-on. In that moment, she understood why Kalden had no reaction to his lost hands. Maybe human minds couldn¡¯t deal with too much change without breaking? So Akari focused on the present moment instead. She sipped her coffee and felt the cup¡¯s heat on her fingertips. She sat back in her plush leather armchair and watched Espiria roll by below the clouds. ¡°Hey,¡± Kalden said as he stepped into the room. He¡¯d also showered, judging by his freshly styled hair. And apparently they did have guys¡¯ clothes on this ship because he wore a navy button-up shirt tucked into a pair of gray pants. The outfit looked a little big on him, but so did hers. ¡°Is that coffee?¡± he asked. Akari nodded, setting her own glass down on the wooden end-table. ¡°I¡¯ll make you one if you want.¡± ¡°Oh no.¡± He held up a hand. ¡°You don¡¯t have to.¡± Akari got to her feet and strolled over to the bar. ¡°We both know you¡¯re useless in the kitchen.¡± Then she winced as she remembered his missing hand. ¡°Because you grew up with servants. Not because ¡­¡± She trailed off before she made it worse. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Elend¡¯s wife is a doctor. I already asked her about prosthetics.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Akari perked up as she filled the portafilter with ground coffee. ¡°She didn¡¯t seem worried?¡± He shrugged. ¡°Nothing¡¯s better than the original, but Knowledge Artists can help healers work above their level. They can make hands of flesh and blood. It¡¯s not like I¡¯ll be this way forever.¡± At least he had options. Still, something told her it wouldn¡¯t be that easy. Akari handed Kalden his steaming cup, and they walked back toward the window-view seats. She¡¯d hoped they could sit together on the sofa. She yearned to feel his arm around her shoulders¡ªfor him to kiss her forehead the way he had before. Instead, Kalden dropped into one of the single armchairs, seemingly lost in thought. Oh well. He was dealing with stuff too. Not just his injuries, but a whole rush of memories from his past self. Things would go back to normal if they just gave it time. They made small talk for a few more minutes, then Relia emerged from another hallway. She looked like a weather reporter with her white blouse and dark gray skirt. Maybe she and Kalden had raided the captain¡¯s cabin? Relia must have found a pantry too, because she carried several packages of food in her arms. ¡°Whose airship is this?¡± Akari asked as they ate. ¡°Hmm?¡± Relia finished chewing her protein bar and glanced around. ¡°No idea. The Darklights don¡¯t have one, so they probably borrowed it,¡± ¡°The Espirian Navy? ¡± Akari suggested. She¡¯d seen the Master-level cannons as they boarded, so it definitely had enough firepower. ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Kalden said. ¡°The Navy likes more utilitarian designs. Plus these windows are a structural weakness in battle.¡± Stolen novel; please report. ¡°The Navy owns the Senate¡¯s personal ships,¡± Akari replied. ¡°Could be one of those.¡± Kalden shook his head. ¡°The Senators all have Utopian A16s. And I saw a Sanako Corp gravity Construct in the engine room. Sanako doesn¡¯t do military contracts.¡± Relia stared at them both for several seconds. ¡°I keep forgetting you guys have your memories back.¡± Akari blinked as she processed the words. That¡¯s right. Yesterday, she and Kalden hadn¡¯t known a thing about modern-day Espiria, much less its military or its corporations. ¡°I¡¯m usually the expert,¡± Relia added. ¡°Now you guys just know everything?¡± ¡°You¡¯re still the expert,¡± Kalden said. ¡°These aren¡¯t like other memories. They only pop up when they¡¯re relevant. Mostly.¡± Relia frowned. ¡°So, basically like all memories?¡± ¡°Yeah ¡­¡± Kalden furrowed his brow. ¡°Guess it¡¯s harder to explain than I thought.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like sitting down at your computer,¡± Akari cut in. ¡°You know where all your important files are, right?¡± Relia grinned. ¡°My computer¡¯s a mess, but sure.¡± ¡°You know what you¡¯ve got,¡± she clarified. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter how they¡¯re arranged. You¡¯ve seen them all at least once.¡± ¡°I guess.¡± ¡°Then one day, you need a file you¡¯ve never seen before. Like ¡­¡± She glanced around the room, looking for inspiration. Her gaze settled on the table, and all the open food wrappers. Kalden spoke first. ¡°A cookie recipe. Minus the chocolate chips, of course.¡± ¡°No chocolate?¡± Relia asked. ¡°Akari¡¯s allergic.¡± ¡°Wow. That¡¯s depressing.¡± ¡°More like annoying,¡± Akari said. ¡°People stick the stuff everywhere like it¡¯s some gift from the Angels.¡± ¡°What are your symptoms?¡± Relia asked. ¡°Myopia,¡± Akari said with a straight face. The other girl blinked in confusion. ¡°Like ¡­ near-sightedness?¡± Akari nodded. ¡°And stunted growth. And social anxiety.¡± Kalden hid his laugh behind his hand. ¡°She ate way too much chocolate when she was younger.¡± Akari grinned back. Most people didn¡¯t get her sense of humor, but Kalden always did. For a moment, her mind flashed back to simpler times¡ªto the days when they¡¯d first become friends on Arkala. To the days when they could relax and joke without all this drama. Kalden¡¯s smile faded a second later, and Akari got back to her analogy. ¡°Anyway ¡­ you start looking for a recipe, right? You¡¯ve never seen one on your computer. Ever. But once you think of it, you know exactly where it is.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good comparison,¡± Kalden said with a slow nod ¡°Speak for yourself.¡± Relia glanced back and forth between them. ¡°These still sound like normal memories to me. Anyone can forget something and remember it later.¡± ¡°What do you have on your computer?¡± Kalden asked her. She shrugged. ¡°I dunno, the usual stuff. Pictures, music, school projects.¡± ¡°No recipes?¡± Kalden prodded. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± She gave him a flat look. Kalden¡¯s lip curled up in a small grin. ¡°Anyone can forget.¡± Relia paused to consider. ¡°So you¡¯re a hundred percent sure you don¡¯t know something ¡­¡± ¡°Then you realize you¡¯ve known it the whole time,¡± Kalden finished. ¡°It just comes out of no where.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Akari moved her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. ¡°It¡¯s trippy. And it keeps happening over and over.¡± Kalden nodded in vague agreement, staring down at his broken hands. ¡°We barely survived these past few weeks. Even with a Grandmaster¡¯s help.¡± ¡°Two Grandmasters,¡± Relia said. ¡°The ship didn¡¯t fly itself here.¡± ¡°My point exactly. Makes me wonder if Sozen ever stood a chance." ¡°Sozen?¡± She cocked her head to the side. ¡°He was your brother, right?¡± Kalden nodded again. ¡°Even before I met you, a part of me always believed he was out here¡ªsurviving in the outside world. Now, after all we went through ¡­¡± He had a point. Their group wouldn¡¯t have lasted long without Elend, and they definitely wouldn¡¯t have regained their memories or their mana. Kalden¡¯s brother was just a Gold when he left. Probably weaker than she was now. ¡°There¡¯s still a chance he made it,¡± Relia said. ¡°I mean, we would have sailed straight to Vaslana if it weren¡¯t for that storm.¡± The Inner Sea had mana storms every day, but Akari kept that to herself. The conversation shifted to lighter topics again after that, which drove Relia crazy. Apparently, she wanted them to have mental breakdowns or something. "You sure you don¡¯t need to talk?¡± she asked them for the tenth time. ¡°What?¡± Akari feigned surprise. ¡°That¡¯s allowed?¡± She shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m just saying¡ªit seems like you guys remembered some bad stuff in your dreams. Fighting can be traumatic, too. If it were me¡ª¡± ¡°Please.¡± Akari snorted. ¡°How long did you keep your condition a secret?¡± Kalden took a meaningful sip of his coffee. ¡°She¡¯s got you there.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Relia blew out a breath and slumped back in her chair. ¡°But you guys lectured me about that afterward. And you were right.¡± ¡°Well then,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Guess we¡¯re all hypocrites sometimes. Fair enough?¡± And that was the last they said about that. Akari knew they¡¯d have to process everything sooner or later, especially since Elend would make them describe their dreams in detail. But not now. Some part of her mind still felt like a clenched fist, and that fist plugged up her emotions like a drain. She¡¯d deal with it later, once she knew for sure they were safe. The airship flew for another hour, then they reached Koreldon City at sunset, dipping through a mist of orange clouds. Until now, Tureko had been the biggest city she¡¯d ever seen. But this looked like something out of a movie. Skyscrapers of concrete and brick shot up in dense clusters from the streets below, broken up by the rivers that emptied into the Inner Sea. Akari squinted for famous landmarks like Garridan¡¯s Clock Tower or Azul¡¯s Arena, but real life was nothing like a composed picture. The airship just soared over the skyline, oblivious to her efforts. ¡°There!¡± Relia gestured to a set of brick buildings. ¡°That¡¯s Koreldon University.¡± Akari took in the sight with wide-eyed wonder. Some parts of the city looked new and shiny, but this part looked downright ancient with its domed rooftops, stained-glass windows, and twisting stone spires. A web of cobblestone streets ran between them, too narrow for the smallest cars. One building even had crenellations like a castle. ¡°What¡¯s that big cylindrical one?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°The library?¡± ¡°The Artegium¡¯s library,¡± Relia said. ¡°Atree-what?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Artegium,¡± she repeated. ¡°It¡¯s KU¡¯s College of Mana Arts. We¡¯ll all be studying there together. Once you guys get accepted, of course.¡± Butterflies danced in her stomach at the thought of studying Mana Arts at a real university. Akari had spent these past few months practicing and fighting, but that wasn¡¯t the same¡ªnot for someone with sights as high as hers. She wanted to fulfill her parents¡¯ dream and become the world¡¯s first Spacetime Artist. She wanted them all to reach Master by twenty-one, to save Relia, and to save the people of Last Haven. To do that, she¡¯d need to dive deeper into Mana Arts than she¡¯d ever gone before. A university seemed like the perfect place for that. The airship continued to a coastal suburb on the city¡¯s northern border. They hovered for several seconds, then set down on a concrete landing pad outside a fancy stone mansion. A man and woman stepped outside to meet them, but Akari couldn¡¯t make out their faces from this vantage. Elend and Irina emerged from the cockpit, along with the pilot and the rest of the crew. The ramp opened, and they followed the two Grandmasters outside. ¡°Irina.¡± A man¡¯s voice said when they reached the bottom of the ramp. ¡°I trust my ship suited your needs?¡± ¡°It did,¡± she replied smoothly. ¡°We won¡¯t forget this favor, Senator Moonfire.¡± Moonfire? Akari snapped her attention forward and saw a red-haired man in a navy suit. She took in his pale, sharp features and confirmed her worst fears. This was Ashur Moonfire¡ªthe man from her dream. This was the man who¡¯d convinced her to betray her sect by revealing their enemy. The man who¡¯d sent that Mystic to erase their memories and destroy their identities. A wave of pure panic ran down her spine. Sweat covered her body, and her sense of safety fled like birds from a dragon. What if he saw her? Damnit. Why hadn¡¯t she hidden her face? Why hadn¡¯t she warned Elend back on the ship? Now it was too late for warnings. Even running wasn¡¯t an option at this point. That would just draw more attention. Besides, he had a Mystic on his side. For all she knew, he was the Mystic. ¡°And who is this with you?¡± Ashur Moonfire asked in a pleasant tone. His gaze surveyed Kalden as if he¡¯d never seen him before. Akari met his eyes for a split second, but saw no flicker of surprise or recognition. ¡°These are my newest students,¡± Elend said. ¡°Kalden and Akari.¡± The man nodded at them both, then turned his gaze back to Irina. Talek¡¯s tits and teeth. Either he was the best liar she¡¯d ever seen, or he¡¯d truly forgotten that day in the diner. The adults made their way toward the house, discussing transportation back to the Darklight estate. Kalden moved to follow, but Akari stood frozen in place. Relia shuffled down the ramp a few seconds later, looking like a kid on her first day of school. ¡°What¡¯s with you?¡± Kalden asked. Relia didn¡¯t reply. She just kept staring at Ashur Moonfire and his wife. ¡°You know them?¡± Kalden pressed ¡°Yeah,¡± Relia said. ¡°But not as well as I should. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± She swallowed hard as she pulled her eyes away from the retreating figures. ¡°Those are my parents.¡± Book 2 - Epilogue: Revenge Valeria Antano strolled down the dock and stepped into the aluminum fishing boat. It rocked beneath her weight but soon leveled out as she lowered herself onto the cushioned vinyl seat. As the Dragonlord¡¯s Spymaster, Valeria had seen more than her share of secret nighttime meetings. Even if she spent more time behind a desk these days, there were some tasks she couldn¡¯t trust to anyone. Not even her most loyal Fangs. No one could know about this meeting, especially not her brother. The Dragonlord had sworn an oath not to attack Elend Darklight or anyone under his protection. This also compelled him to stop anyone from attacking them on his behalf. What would happen if her brother discovered this meeting? She honestly couldn¡¯t say. Perhaps his oath would force him to kill her contact. Perhaps he¡¯d even be forced to kill Valeria herself, depending on the severity of the oath. She hadn¡¯t been there when he¡¯d sworn it, and no one else had heard the words. Even if she¡¯d been there, she couldn¡¯t claim to understand a Grandmaster¡¯s intention. Especially with Elend Darklight, who was clearly an expert in this field. That had been her brother¡¯s first mistake. The Dragonlord specialized in combat and raw power, but he¡¯d tried to outwit a Dream Artist. They¡¯d had Darklight at their mercy for weeks. They should have killed him when they had the chance, then dealt with the consequences later. But no, her brother had done the ¡°reasonable¡± thing. Unfortunately, that only worked against reasonable opponents. Valeria had altered her appearance tonight, hiding her hair, and making her features look more dragon than human. Technically, any Master-level dragon could shapeshift in this way. It was a remanent from the Primordial Age¡ªa time when aspecting meant something far more than just altering your soul¡¯s mana. Then again, Valeria was one of the best shapeshifters in the world. Unless you counted Dream Artists. But why count them? Dream Artists could deceive your senses, but they couldn¡¯t change reality itself. That was the power of the immortal Angels. That was the goal every Mana Artist strived for, but few would ever achieve. Stolen novel; please report. Valeria guided the boat across the river, using subtle pushes of her mana against the water. It was well past midnight, and she¡¯d expected to see another boat by now. Instead, she saw a man sitting cross-legged directly on the water¡¯s surface. The wind blew in heavy gales from the east, but the river remained still around him. A Water Artist. Either that, or he¡¯d consumed a vial of water mana and learned this one technique. That seemed like overkill for this meeting. Then again, the Sons of Talek had always liked theatricality. The figure took his time getting to his feet. His soul only showed an Artisan¡¯s power, but souls could be veiled. Veleria was veiling her own power at this very moment. After all, what use was a physical disguise when Creta only had two Masters? The man stepped closer, revealing his face in the moonlight. He wore his black hair back in a knot, and his features looked more Shokenese than Cadrian. A thin black beard framed his face, but he couldn¡¯t have been older than twenty. ¡°Your name?¡± His tone was curt and swift as an assassin¡¯s knife. Yes, he must be a Master. No Artisan would dare speak to her like that. Twenty was young for a Master, but Shoken had a wealth of secret knowledge when it came to Mana Arts and advancement. People called her brother a tyrant, but the Shokenese Empire had once colonized half the world and hoarded vast libraries for themselves. Now, in this modern and civilized age, they frowned at anyone who sought even a small piece of it. Valeria let her features fade back to her normal appearance. This man was obviously her contact, so she had nothing to hide from him. Green light flashed around her as she transformed. Human hair fell around her shoulders, and her skin regained its human-like softness. ¡°Valeria Antano,¡± she said. ¡°Spymaster of Creta, and Left Wing of the Dragonlord. I¡¯m calling in a favor for my brother.¡± Her words were technically true, even if her brother had forbidden this meeting. A good Wing didn¡¯t just listen to her Dragonlord¡¯s commands. She gave him what he actually needed. She even kept such things a secret when necessary. Elend Darklight might be untouchable now, but the same wasn¡¯t true for his students. Valeria could ignore how they¡¯d left their lives of luxury to invade a poor nation. She could ignore how they¡¯d aided Kyzar¡¯s band of insurgents and left hundreds of dead bodies in their wake. But Akari Zeller had killed Valeria¡¯s only son. For that, the girl had to die. ¡°A pleasure to meet you.¡± The man pressed his hand to his palm and gave her a shallow salute. ¡°My name is Sozen Trengsen. I think we can help each other.¡± Book 3 - Prologue: Worth Remembering Book 3: Web of Knowledge Relia followed her master down the winding mountain path. They¡¯d walked for over four miles that morning, and the older woman had barely said a word. The only sounds were the birds chirping in the trees, and their leather boots crunching against the dirt. Despite the dim light, her master treaded effortlessly over tree roots, trenches, and fallen branches. Relia kept a close eye on the path as she followed, all too aware that her condition could send her stumbling at the wrong moment. She¡¯d become an Apprentice this year, so a simple fall wouldn¡¯t hurt her. It would still be embarrassing, though. Especially when her master walked like a queen through a palace. In many ways, Relia¡¯s master looked like an older version of her. They both had the pale skin of northern Espirians, and they both had red hair. But while Relia¡¯s hair was light and fiery, her master¡¯s was a deeper red, like wine from the Francso vineyards. And while freckles dusted Relia¡¯s cheeks, the older woman¡¯s skin was clear and perfect, like moonlight on a pond. If you saw a picture of her master, you might guess she was in her late thirties. But you¡¯d revise that guess the second you spoke with her. Her eyes shone with the knowledge and experience of someone many decades older. And her voice was even harder to describe. She spoke with an accent Relia had never heard before. And while Relia would never describe her voice as old, it was far from youthful. Eventually, the trees parted to reveal a deep valley at the base of the Crocan mountains. This valley was all that stood between them and the hostile nation of Creta to the north. They followed the valley for another few miles before their path took them back to the village. ¡°Do you know why we¡¯re here?¡± her master finally asked. ¡°Fresh air and exercise?¡± Relia guessed with a smile. ¡°Here in Torshavan,¡± she clarified. Needless to say, they had very different senses of humor. The older woman only seemed to laugh at ¡°clever¡± things, like dramatic irony or poetic justice. Meanwhile, Relia could giggle at a kitten chasing a tiny Missile technique. ¡°I¡¯m here to get my aspect,¡± she said. ¡°Correct. But why here, specifically?¡± Relia scrambled for a suitable answer as the village grew closer on the horizon. Would it kill her to ask these questions before the walk? At least then, she¡¯d have time to mull them over. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to internalize the idea of life. This town is like a small ecosystem, right? Everyone relies on each other, like a tribe from the Primordial Age.¡± ¡°Your observations are correct,¡± she said. ¡°But look deeper. Where did our breakfast come from?¡± ¡°The fish came from Luca Carita, and the eggs came from the Morillo¡¯s farm.¡± That was easy enough. Relia had gone to the market yesterday and bought those herself. Her master nodded. ¡°The food gives us life. But life always comes at a cost. Two days ago, those fish swam freely in the Inner Sea. They gave their lives to sustain ours.¡± Relia frowned. ¡°What about the eggs? Weren¡¯t the chickens laying those anyway?¡± The older woman gave a knowing smile as they passed through the village¡¯s eastern gates. By now, the sun had crested the mountain peaks behind them, and the townspeople went about their morning chores. ¡°The chickens ate insects and plants around the farm. They never could have survived if they hadn¡¯t, much less produced those eggs.¡± Relia was about to ask about fruits and vegetables next, but she saw the answer before she opened her mouth. Plants needed proper soil to grow, and something else had to die to make that soil. Even if it was just other plants. The pair continued walking as Relia ordered her thoughts. This village was the most backwater place they¡¯d ever been. The houses were all wood, brick, and plaster, prone to leaks and drafts. The nearest hospital was two hours away, and the local healer worked directly out of her house. Simple stone walls kept out the predators, along with constant patrols from the town¡¯s Mana Artists. They had some modern stuff like cars, TVs, and plumbing. A cell phone tower was visible on the mountain to the west, and the mayor¡¯s office even had a computer with internet access. Still, other parts of the village felt downright ancient. For example, the town had a blacksmith who spent his days making katanas for the Blade Artists. Apparently, Torshavan had once been a colony of the Shokenese Empire, and bits of that culture remained centuries later. ¡°Life always comes with a cost,¡± her master went on. ¡°Plants grow on dead organic matter. Animals eat plants, and predators eat animals. In a garden, you must choose between the weeds and your food. The predator decides whether to attack his prey or starve to death himself.¡± Relia wrinkled her nose. ¡°Seems kinda depressing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s reality. It¡¯s only depressing if you expect something else.¡± Her master watched the villagers as she spoke, and Relia watched them too. Despite all their problems, the sight filled her with a strange surge of jealousy. These people didn¡¯t have much, but they had the one thing she¡¯d always wanted¡ªa close-knit community of friends and family. ¡°This is why we¡¯re here,¡± her master said. ¡°Because I can¡¯t explain this to you with words. Instead, you¡¯ll be working on the farms and the fishing boats. You will see life and death for yourself, and you will engrave the ideas in your soul. Only then can you aspect your mana.¡± Huh. Wasn¡¯t life mana supposed to be about healing? Relia was no expert, but she knew Restoration Artists spent time in clinics and hospitals, treating the sick and injured. Instead, she¡¯d be working with farm animals and fish? Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°What about the bakery?¡± Relia asked hopefully. The baker¡¯s son, Tomas, was by far the cutest boy in town. Even if he was a year younger than Relia, beggars couldn¡¯t be choosers. The older woman glanced toward the end of the street where Tomas smiled at them. Relia started to wave, then changed her mind halfway through the motion, fidgeting with her hair instead. ¡°Ah yes,¡± her master said. ¡°Another essential aspect of life. One you¡¯re free to study on your own time.¡± Relia rubbed at her cheeks, but only because they were hot from the walk. She definitely wasn¡¯t covering a blush. But why here? Didn¡¯t Espiria have farms and fishing boats? Besides, Relia understood death far more than most fifteen-year-olds. Her condition hovered over her like a storm cloud, and her doctors had claimed she¡¯d never make it to adulthood. She¡¯d also seen people die with her own eyes. How did this place help her internalize life and death? Six weeks later, Relia got her answer. The Blade Artists were fighting Dragonlord Antano on the nation¡¯s northern border. The fight took place more than ten miles from the village, but a single stray Missile flew toward them. Relia saw it happen around nine o¡¯clock Talekday evening. The Grandmaster¡¯s mana ripped through the second story of the carpenter¡¯s home, killing her, her husband, and their two daughters. Relia saw their burning bodies fly through the street, along with the broken bricks and splintered wood. For all that, the Missile hadn¡¯t stopped. It struck the bakery next, caving in the front door and trapping Tomas¡¯s family inside. Water Artists tried to quench the flames, but they were no match for Grandmaster-level mana. Relia had bought bread from Tomas¡¯s family at least three or four times a week. She¡¯d seen the carpenter¡¯s family in the market every Irinday and Kelsday, then again in the chapel every Azulday. Now they were gone. And for what? They hadn¡¯t even died for a cause. They¡¯d died for a stupid fight that happened miles away. A fight they hadn¡¯t wanted or asked for. ¡°Now you understand,¡± her master said that night after the funeral. ¡°It¡¯s easy to distance yourself from death on a battlefield. It¡¯s easy to see your enemies as faceless, or to hear about casualties far away, in a place that isn¡¯t your home.¡± ¡°How am I supposed to fight after seeing this?¡± Relia asked in a hoarse voice. ¡°This makes me never want to do Mana Arts again.¡± The older woman nodded. ¡°When you understand something, you have power over it. And you¡¯re right¡ªkilling is rarely the best choice. But when it is, it¡¯s the only choice.¡± ¡°No one should have to make that choice.¡± ¡°And yet it must be made. Your reluctance makes you the ideal person to make it.¡± The following morning found them alone in their small cottage. Relia sat cross-legged on the wooden floor while her master provided her with the artifacts she¡¯d need. ¡°This is an Angel¡¯s tongue,¡± she said as she placed the potted succulent down in front of Relia. ¡°It came from a desert in Kangavar, a hundred miles south of here.¡± Relia stared at the plant with awe. This was one of the most resilient life forms in the world, regenerating its cells faster than most Mana Artists could destroy them. Unfortunately, their slow reproduction made them increasingly rare. She doubted that other Life Artists got even a single piece of this plant, much less an entire one. Her master reached into a wooden box and removed the next artifact. ¡°This is a phoenix feather. I wish I could say I found this in the wild, but ¡­¡± She trailed off with a smile. ¡°There are certain benefits to having your own cult.¡± Like the Angel¡¯s tongue, the phoenix feather needed no introduction. Healing Artists had been using these in their rituals since the beginning of time. ¡°Now,¡± the older woman said. ¡°Assuming you remember your studies, something should feel off to you right now.¡± Relia considered that as she examined the two priceless items. ¡°These are both natural,¡± she said. Most¡ªif not all¡ªartifacts were supposed to have a knowledge mana component. Otherwise, you¡¯d inherit raw power with no direction. You¡¯d have to invent all your techniques from scratch, and only Masters had that level of mana control. ¡°Indeed,¡± she replied. ¡°How might we remedy that?¡± Technically, you could aspect your mana with any number of artifacts, but adding too many would dilute the effects of the first two. What¡¯s more, her master was against that approach in general. Quality over quantity and all that. That left just one option. ¡°The next artifact is stronger than the first two combined.¡± The older woman smiled as she pulled a silver chain from behind her blue flannel shirt. A crescent moon hung from the end, half the size of Relia¡¯s palm. A small lightning storm danced beneath its crystal surface, and it filled the room with pale blue light. Azul¡¯s ashes. She¡¯d felt power from the other artifacts, but nothing like this. Something in her soul resonated with this crystal, as if it were a well of mana she could drink from. And when she looked with her Silver Sight, it was like staring into a Mystic¡¯s soul. ¡°This pendant has been in my family for generations,¡± her master said. ¡°Before that, it belonged to a woman named Treluwyn, and her descendants. Treluwyn founded an order called the Redeemers¡ªsome of the best healers on any world. Now, their knowledge will pass to you.¡± She set the crescent moon on the floor with the other two artifacts, arranging them in a triangle formation. Relia remained cross-legged in the center, preparing for the long day ahead. She took several long deep breaths, feeling the surrounding power. "Remember," her master said. ¡°I¡¯ve gathered these artifacts, but you don¡¯t have to go through with this. You owe me nothing.¡± Relia gave a sad smile. ¡°Do I really have a choice?¡± ¡°There¡¯s always a choice. I¡¯d rather see you live a long life, but I¡¯d never force that upon you¡± They¡¯d had this talk many times before. Life mana might improve her condition, but the world would fear her for it. Some of that fear was justified¡ªthe Cult of Trelian wielded this same aspect, and they¡¯d used it to commit atrocities all over Cadria. But Mana Artists committed war crimes everyday, and most went unnoticed. Unfortunately, the Espirian healers didn¡¯t like new players encroaching on their territory. They¡¯d spent millions on their public relations campaigns, ensuring the world knew them as Death Artists. But Relia needed this aspect. Without it, she wouldn''t live past her teens. Even if she became an outcast, at least she had a chance. A chance to live life to the fullest. A chance to be worth remembering. She straightened her posture, met her master¡¯s eye, and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± The ritual itself took the better part of the day. Relia started by forming a web of pure mana around her body. Missile techniques followed the strands in that web, swirling around the artifacts and returning to their source. Hours passed as she rebuilt half her soul, changing her mana forever. When she opened her eyes again, the Angel¡¯s tongue lay shriveled and dry. The phoenix feather had turned to dust, and the crystal moon was a dull gray with no hint of its former light. Sweat covered her body from head to heel. Her muscles protested from sitting, and her soul ached as if she¡¯d just advanced. The door opened with a creak, and her master stepped inside. Relia met the older woman¡¯s eyes and released her new mana. Clouds of green and gold light filled the air, and she sighed with indescribable relief. The mana smelled like the dew of the Angel¡¯s tongue, and it drifted toward the floor like phoenix feathers. Lyraina Trelian stepped through the mist and smiled down at her. ¡°Well done, apprentice.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 1: Bad News PRESENT DAY Akari leapt forward, shooting a Missile from her palm to intercept the manaball. The ball bounced and spun around the court, striking the glass walls and ceiling. Her eyes tracked its path, and her muscles vibrated as she cycled, ready to unleash more techniques at a second¡¯s notice. A disc of floating protection mana cut the court in two, eighteen feet in diameter, with four-foot gaps on every side. Holes filled the disc like a giant slice of cheese, and those holes constantly shifted as the disc spun. Beyond the disc sat her opponent¡¯s three goals. Those also moved in random patterns, forcing her to make quick choices on the spot. Akari shot the ball with another burst of mana, and it flew straight through the disc¡¯s lowest hole. Relia moved in a blur, striking the ball with her mana, sending it in a wild spin. The spin looked random at first, but it flew around her goals like a boomerang, soaring straight through the divider. Damnit, why¡¯d she have to be so good at everything? ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky,¡± Elend had said the day before. ¡°You got lucky with Dragon Lad, but you¡¯ll still get your ass kicked in the Artegium.¡± She¡¯d walked away from that fight with a sword in her stomach, so she¡¯d hardly call that luck. Still, Akari saw his point. Relia could still beat her at most games, even without her aspect or her strength. Akari threw another Missile. This time, instead of striking the ball head-on, she applied subtle pressure to the center of her mana, forming a shell like cupped hands. The ball slowed, then she yanked her mana back. It landed in Akari¡¯s hands a heartbeat later. She spun back toward her opponent and lined up her shot through the divider¡¯s top hole. It flew faster than a sprinting raptor, and she shot two more Missiles with it, moving them in a corkscrew pattern to form a protective barrier. The shot itself had been perfect, and it soared straight for her opponent¡¯s goal. Too bad she¡¯d telegraphed her moves. No sooner had the ball passed through the disc than Relia shot a grand total of five Missiles at the ceiling. They looked like tiny bullets, and they hit just as hard. Akari¡¯s corkscrew broke into blue mist. The next second passed in a blur as the ball rebounded off the glass ceiling and onto the concrete floor. Relia didn¡¯t even bother catching it. Instead, she hurled it back through the divider with a sudden burst from her palm. Akari tried to stop it, but the spin threw off her aim. Her own Missiles struck empty air, and the ball slammed into her goal. An annoying ding sounded from the speaker up above, followed by a burst of dream mana shaped like golden sparks and confetti. Relia¡¯s score changed from forty to fifty, and the victory music followed. Akari slowed her cycling and wiped the sweat from her forehead. She¡¯d only scored two goals this game, but that was still better than yesterday. Yesterday, she¡¯d scored exactly one goal per game, and Relia had handed her each one with wrapping paper and a bow. Relia pressed a button on her side of the court, and the divider and goals faded to mist. They were obviously done for now, so Akari retrieved the ball, opened the cupboard, and returned it to its place. Various other balls and equipment filled the surrounding shelves, probably for other games she¡¯d never even heard of. She¡¯d never been into sports before this week¡ªthey¡¯d always seemed so fake next to a good old-fashioned duel. But Elend had warned them about the Artegium¡¯s admission exams. Apparently, the judges wanted you to think on your feet, and shit hit the fan during the shaping portion. Dueling alone wouldn¡¯t prepare her for that level of chaos. And with the new school semester coming up, she¡¯d need all the help she could get. Relia stared at her shoes as she crossed the court. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Akari said. ¡°No cheers or victory dances?¡± ¡°I thought you hated my victory dances.¡± The other girl met her eyes with a reassuring smile. A month ago, Akari couldn¡¯t tell the girl¡¯s fake smiles from her real ones. Now, the difference was clear as glass. The fake smiles came out like mana techniques¡ªforming in a single burst of energy, and fading to mist just as quickly. They slid open the glass door and stepped out into the cloudy afternoon air. It was always cloudy here in Koreldon. As if it wanted to rain but could never muster the effort. Akari rolled her eyes as they walked down the concrete path toward the house. ¡°Wanna skip to the part where you tell me what¡¯s wrong?¡± There was a short pause while Relia fidgeted with her red braid. For Talek¡¯s sake. She better not be introducing a love triangle to their group. More drama was the last thing they needed. Akari unscrewed the lid of her canteen and took a long drink of liquid mana, letting the cool mint flavors dance in her mouth. The Darklight¡¯s had a near-endless supply of this stuff, and Akari had taken full advantage of that. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to drink water,¡± Relia said in her mom voice. ¡°Your body can¡¯t hydrate itself on mana.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject,¡± Akari said. Relia sighed and spent a few more seconds fidgeting with her braid. ¡°I saw my doctor today.¡± Akari stopped drinking and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. ¡°Bad news?¡± ¡°Nothing I didn¡¯t already know. But the alchemist finished a new batch of pills, so that¡¯s good.¡± ¡°How long do you have?¡± Relia¡¯s eyes moved from her shoes to the gray sky above ¡°I have until late Hexember to reach Artisan. The pills won¡¯t be enough after that.¡± Talek. You needed a minimum of 3200 mana for Artisan, and Relia¡¯s number sat just under 2200. That meant she needed to gain another thousand mana points in just half a year. What was that? Five and a half points per day? You could train that hard in theory¡ªthey¡¯d done it in Creta just last week. But they¡¯d also burned out their channels for several days afterward. Akari and Relia were just now getting back into their daily training, and Kalden hardly left the pool house these days. Back on Arkala, she¡¯d assumed she¡¯d be unstoppable with the right resources. But she¡¯d gotten a dose of reality since then. School started in Quadromber, and she probably wouldn¡¯t reach Apprentice in time for her first classes. Akari didn¡¯t say this out loud, of course. Not reaching Apprentice was nothing compared to the looming threat of death. Then again, she was no stranger to high stakes. Thousands of people were trapped in the Archipelago because of her, and they¡¯d stay there if she didn¡¯t get stronger. Their route took them past several gardens and outdoor dojos. They stopped at the front of the house where a massive swimming pool stretched out in front of a covered patio. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Akari glanced up at the three-story house and the web of vines that covered its stone exterior. ¡°Do Mom and Dad have any ideas?¡± Relia chuckled at the joke, but her smile faded just as fast. ¡°Nothing worth trying¡± That meant Elend or Irina had probably suggested soulshine to advance quicker. But of course Relia would never try that. Not when soulshine had gotten her into this. ¡°We¡¯ll think of something,¡± Akari said. Sure, the math didn¡¯t add up for either of them yet, but since when did she ever follow the rules? A month from now, they¡¯d be studying in the world¡¯s best Mana Arts university, facing stronger opponents than they¡¯d ever faced before. You couldn¡¯t ask for a better training ground than that. ~~~ Kalden sat on a cushioned black bench, flexing the fingers on his prosthetic hand. A week had passed since he¡¯d lost his real hand, and the sight of this turned his stomach to ice every time he glanced down. It¡¯s temporary, he reminded himself. I¡¯ll be back on track soon. Master by twenty-one. The prosthetic hand was over ninety percent mana, aside from the titanium base that connected with his wrist. Master-level sigils covered the base¡¯s entire surface, shaping the mana into bones and muscles. Other sigils processed the signals from his brain and passed back the sensory information. He¡¯d still managed basic tasks over the last few days. He could shower, eat, write his name, or type on a keyboard. The prosthetic sent his brain general impressions of textures, but that didn¡¯t compare to feeling them on his own skin. Rather, it was like having someone describe sensations to him. Worst of all were the phantom pains. Sometimes, his missing hand would burn the same way it had against that Artisan in Creta. It was a pain he couldn¡¯t escape¡ªthe harder he tried, the more his body panicked. In these moments, Kalden scrambled to recall his meditation training in Shoken. ¡°Never ignore the pain,¡± his teacher had told him. ¡°This sends your brain the wrong message. It says the pain is worthy of fear. But if you give it your full attention, your brain will move on.¡± The technique worked, but only with constant effort. The burning still surprised him several times throughout the day, leaving him gasping for breath and covered with sweat. Only temporary. Kalden shifted his gaze from his hand to the massive glass window beside him. This office sat on the seventh floor of KU¡¯s College of Healing, and he had a full view of the campus below. The buildings looked centuries old with ornamental facades, domed rooftops, and stone spires. Cobblestones filled the spaces below, and higher walkways stretched between the taller structures. Some looked like covered bridges, while others resembled castle battlements. Relia had already given them a tour of the campus, but it was too vast to see in a single day. The university itself went on for miles, and that was just for the main colleges. Beyond that, it was hard to tell where the school ended and where Koreldon City began. The school had over twenty-thousand students, and they all needed places to live and places to eat. Not to mention all the bars, bookstores, and alchemy shops. The door creaked open across the room, and Irina Darklight stepped inside. Elend¡¯s wife wore a white alchemy coat over a black blouse and a charcoal skirt. Her narrow face had an olive complexion, and lines of silver streaked her dark hair. ¡°Good afternoon, Mr. Trengsen,¡± she said as she approached the exam table. The woman was clearly of Cadrian heritage, but she spoke with a northern Espirian accent. ¡°Grandmaster Darklight,¡± Kalden said with a polite bow. Irina raised her right hand, and released a golden Missile technique. It was a simple gesture, but it still sent a spike of jealousy through him. The mana expanded to form a set of intricate rings around her upper body. Each ring resembled a string of storage compartments, and each compartment held thousands of smaller parts. Kalden¡¯s eyes widened as hundreds of small Missiles moved between the parts. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°A Second Brain,¡± she said. ¡°Is that a Knowledge Artist technique?¡± She nodded, never prying her eyes from the rings. ¡°Each ring is a multidimensional Array, and each Array contains a Matrix.¡± Kalden strained his memory to recall those terms. Mana Artists on Arkala hadn¡¯t known anything this advanced, but he¡¯d definitely heard them in his previous life. Arrays and Matrices were just advanced types of Constructs. And each type could ¡­ hold other Constructs? His memory was fuzzy on that part. They¡¯d never been relevant to him as a Blade Artist. ¡°I¡¯m guessing only a Master can make this?¡± Kalden asked as his eyes took in the detail. A few weeks ago, he and Akari had struggled just to form simple shapes. This was infinitely more complex than that. ¡°Good guess, but it¡¯s simpler than it looks.¡± She waved a hand and enlarged one of the rings. The majority of the technique faded as she highlighted a single cell. Was ¡°cell¡± even the right word here? Once again, it had been years since he¡¯d learned these terms. ¡°Arrays aren¡¯t like ordinary Constructs,¡± Irina said. ¡°There¡¯s a code of sigils woven into each portion.These sigils write a recipe, sort of like DNA. Form a clear mental modal of these sigils, and the technique practically builds itself. Then the Array duplicates your work thousands of time.¡± The other portions lit up around the Array to illustrate her point. Did she seriously just call this simple, and then compare it to DNA? It made some sense, though. Back when Kalden was a Blade Artist, many of his techniques had worked in a similar fashion. But in that case, the ¡°code¡± came from his aspect rather than his own mind. ¡°But you didn¡¯t come here for lessons, Mr. Trengsen.¡± Irina met his eyes as the rings snapped back into position. ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed your case, and I¡¯d say you¡¯ve got two real options.¡± Her Second Brain faded to reveal two images made of dream mana. But unlike Elend¡¯s perfect illusions, these looked more like holograms. Each image showed a different set of hands. The first pair was flesh and blood. The second pair showed a right hand made entirely of blue mana, along with a matching thumb and index finger on the left hand. ¡°Option one.¡± Irina pointed to the image on Kalden¡¯s left. ¡°We use your DNA to regrow your missing hands and fingers.¡± Kalden let out a long breath, but he didn¡¯t get his hopes up just yet. If it were that easy, there wouldn¡¯t be two options. ¡°What¡¯s the catch?¡± he asked. ¡°Channels exist metaphysically inside a human body. And we have no idea how to regrow them. In short, your channels will end at your forearm, and your mana won¡¯t break through the new hand.¡± Kalden felt his shoulders sag. ¡°And option two?¡± Irina gestured to the second image. ¡°We can build you some better prosthetics out of mana. These would integrate fully with your body, which means improved senses and dexterity. More importantly, they¡¯d come with physical channels for your body¡¯s mana to pass through. The same way mana can pass through a sword.¡± Kalden took several deep breaths, letting the rush of information wash over him. He¡¯d spent some time researching this subject on his own, so these options weren¡¯t a complete surprise. He¡¯d just hoped Irina could make it easier somehow. ¡°What about when I reach Artisan?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°Won¡¯t my body make new channels through the flesh and blood option?¡± ¡°It will,¡± she agreed. ¡°But those new channels will be Foundation level at best. That means weaker shaping than most Artisans.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t matter once I reach Master.¡± Her smile went from sympathetic to amused. ¡°How fast do you plan on advancing, Mr. Trengsen?¡± Kalden knew better than to say that out loud. Especially when he and the others still lacked a concrete plan. ¡°I was twenty-two when I reached Artisan,¡± she said. ¡°And thirty-five when I reached Master. I did that with every advantage that you have now.¡± ¡°I know it won¡¯t be easy,¡± Kalden said. ¡°But I¡¯m trying to be patient. Focusing on the future rather than short-term gain.¡± ¡°A one-handed Blade Artist won¡¯t get far in the Artegium. You¡¯re in denial if you think you¡¯re the exception.¡± ¡°Wow,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Straight for the heart.¡± She gave a thin smile. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m desperate for more business, Mr. Trengsen?¡± One look at her house was enough to answer that question. Even the pool house where Kalden slept was bigger than Akari¡¯s old foster home. ¡°Knowledge Artists like me don¡¯t give you the answer you want. We give you the answer you need. The fact is, you¡¯ll never be the champion duelist you were before. That time is gone, and you need to accept where you are now.¡± ¡°I¡¯d prefer to regrow the fingers on my left hand,¡± Kalden said after a short pause. At least this way, he¡¯d have one complete hand. Irina flicked a finger and sent some mana into her Second Brain. It joined several other tiny Missiles, moving through the Array like neurons. ¡°And your right hand?¡± Kalden considered that. Irina¡¯s arguments made logical sense, but they also felt like admitting defeat and settling for less. That went entirely against the way he¡¯d been raised. ¡°Can I think about it?¡± he asked. ¡°Think all you want, Mr. Trengsen. But both options will take time.¡± ¡°How long?¡± ¡°At least a month.¡± Kalden winced. So Relia could heal wounds with a snap of her fingers, but the Artegium¡¯s Healing Program took a month to make a new hand? He almost asked why, but he wasn¡¯t in the mood for a lecture. His admissions were thirty-seven days away. That meant he¡¯d be at a disadvantage no matter which option he chose. ¡°Can I pass the shaping tests with only one good hand?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°I asked my husband the same question, and he says you have a chance. But that¡¯s only the admission exams.¡± She gestured back to the floating images between them. ¡°Whatever option you pick, you¡¯ll never make it as a Blade Artist. That aspect requires impeccable shaping skills. Even at Master, you¡¯ll always be at a disadvantage.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying my case is hopeless?¡± ¡°No, Mr. Trengsen. I¡¯m saying you need to find a new aspect.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 2: New Identities ¡°Hey!¡± Glim said. ¡°You¡¯re in the wrong place.¡± ¡°What?¡± Akari turned to face the blue mana spirit in the mirror. ¡°They said to meet in the dining room.¡± She gestured back to her surroundings with the tile floor and the long wooden table. ¡°Looks like a dining room to me.¡± ¡°No, no.¡± Glim¡¯s blue hair swished back and forth as she shook her head. ¡°The formal dining room.¡± Akari gave her a flat look, then she glanced down the hall toward the smaller table in the kitchen¡ªthe one where people actually ate. ¡°That¡¯s the breakfast nook,¡± Glim said. ¡°And this is?¡± ¡°The regular dining room, of course.¡± ¡°For Talek¡¯s sake,¡± Akari muttered. ¡°Just lead the way.¡± Glim leapt out of the mirror, taking the shape of a floating Missile and zipping down the hall. Akari had to jog to keep up as they crossed the estate with its dark wooden paneling and expensive artwork. At one point, they passed through a massive space with stone pillars on either side of the walkway. It was basically one throne short of being a throne room. Their journey ended in yet another dining room. This one was far larger than the first, not to mention fancier. The wooden table looked long enough to seat fifty people, and a pair of chandeliers shone from the high vaulted ceiling. And of course, the others were already waiting for her. Elend and Irina stood at the head of the table while Kalden and Relia stood a few spots down. Akari shuffled toward Kalden, close enough for their arms to touch. He smiled at her with a nod, but his eyes were distant, as if no one was home. Then he shifted away, putting several inches of space between them. Talek. So he¡¯d lost a hand and a couple of fingers¡ªshe¡¯d be pissed off too if it were her. Except Kalden wasn¡¯t acting angry. In fact, the marble statues in the throne room showed more emotion than him. He¡¯d spent the first week alone in the pool house like a hibernating dragon, only coming out to eat, or when Relia dragged him by the shirt collar. Akari had given him space, hoping he¡¯d get back to his old self. Then yesterday rolled around, and he started training in the backyard as if he¡¯d been doing it all along. ¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡± she¡¯d asked him. ¡°Considering my options,¡± he said without taking his eyes off his mana. She tried a few more questions after that. What were his options? How¡¯d his meeting with Irina go? What techniques was he training? More bullshit one-lines followed, just vague enough to make her feel awkward for sticking around. Okay, so Kalden became a brick wall when he had to process stuff. That was nothing new. But what about that whole thing where he liked her? Was that on hold? Was it over? Akari wasn¡¯t expecting an answer, but she¡¯d settle for three minutes of real conversation. After everything they¡¯d been through, it seemed stupid to drift apart now. ¡°Good,¡± Irina said. ¡°Everyone¡¯s here.¡± Pure mana shot out from her finger, closing multiple sets of double doors around the room. A second later, she pressed another button to activate the sound suppressor Constructs. With that done, she pulled two manilla envelopes from a leather pouch and slid them across the table. ¡°This is everything you¡¯ll need for your new identities. ¡° Akari grabbed the envelope with her name and spilled out its contents. The state ID caught her attention first, and she gave it a quick scan. Akari Zeller. Female. Born: 3/45/854. Eyes: dark brown. Hair: dark brown. Height: 5¡¯4. Weight: 110 lbs. Driving restrictions: corrective lenses. Besides taking their pictures last week, Irina¡¯s assistants had interviewed them for several hours. This ensured their information was either accurate or embellished in just the right ways. Speaking of accuracy ¡­ ¡°Why use our real names?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Why not?¡± Irina replied smoothly. ¡°You aren¡¯t fugitives.¡± Kalden inspected his ID card from every angle. ¡°So these are real?¡± ¡°Real enough,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re in the Koreldon¡¯s databases now, so you¡¯ll pass any checks the state can run. The same is true for your birth certificates and school records.¡± Well, if Akari ever got back into hacking, she knew where to go for lessons. But that was a tangent. ¡°What if someone recognizes our names?¡± Irina shook her head. ¡°If Ashur Moonfire didn¡¯t recognize you, then I doubt anyone else will.¡± This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. She¡¯d already shared her dreams with the Darklights, including the part about Relia¡¯s father in the diner. Akari wasn¡¯t ready to bet her life against the man¡¯s paizho face, but Elend and Irina suspected nothing. Whoever sent them to the Archipelago had erased everyone¡¯s memories, including Senator Moonfire¡¯s. ¡°What about Prime Minister Salerian?¡± Akari asked. Irina gave her an annoyed look. ¡°Not this again.¡± ¡°What?¡± she shrugged. ¡°Someone have a better theory?¡± In her dream, Ashur Moonfire had asked for the name of Last Haven¡¯s enemy¡ªthe person her parents actively defied. Dream Akari responded with a six-syllable name. The sound left her mouth in a blur, and it sounded more like a rush of water than actual words. She¡¯d replayed this memory several times now, but nothing made it clearer. Elend had even tried some dream techniques to view the memory like a movie, and even he couldn¡¯t break through. Fortunately they still had a few clues. For one thing, Dream Akari had clearly thought of this name as an earth-shattering revelation. What was more shocking than Espiria¡¯s prime minister? Alton Salerian was the most powerful Mana Artist on the continent¡ªmaybe even the world. He and Senator Moonfire belonged to the same political party, which made them allies. Even his name was six syllables, just like in the dream. Irina¡¯s Second Brain rotated like gears around her upper body. Tiny Missles flashed back and forth between the parts as she sent and retrieved information. ¡°How much do you know about the Mystics, Miss Zeller?¡± ¡°They¡¯re the strongest Mana Artists around.¡± ¡°Second strongest,¡± Relia cut in. ¡°If you count the Angels.¡± Not being religious, Akari saw no reason to count the Angels. Real or not, they didn¡¯t seem to do much except lounge around behind metaphorical curtains. ¡°Anything else?¡± Irina asked. Akari bit her lip. She knew there were other Mystics besides the prime minister, but she couldn¡¯t remember specifics. In hindsight, she¡¯d spent most of her time trying to prove her theory. The older woman nodded. ¡°Might want to brush up on your history and politics.¡± Then she turned to her husband. ¡°We could use a map, if you¡¯d be so kind.¡± Dream mana swirled out from Elend¡¯s hand, and the table became a lifelike rendering of Espiria, complete with forests, mountains, and rivers. Tiny waves crashed against the shore, and clouds drifted overhead. Tropical storms moved through the lower states while snow blew through the northern mountains. ¡°Really?¡± Irina said with an amused smile. ¡°Weather? Some of us are trying to work here.¡± Elend blew the clouds off the table. Glim appeared in the mirror across from Akari and gathered them in her arms like fluffy pillows. Yeah ¡­ that definitely wasn¡¯t how clouds worked. But she¡¯d already known dream mana was the weirdest aspect. ¡°Anyway,¡± Irina said. ¡°Espiria can be divided into five regions.¡± Elend drew thicker borders and labels around several collections of states. ¡°Everyone in our government is elected, from the senators to the prime minister. The Mystics respect this system for the most part. They protect their regions from large-scale threats, but only the prime minister gets involved in the government.¡± Akari scanned the map and saw one Mystic assigned to each of the five regions, with Prime Minister Salerian in the capital. Elend raised a finger. ¡°But when Mystics decide they want something, their senators and council members tend to vote accordingly.¡± ¡°And the Mystics have a pact,¡± Irina said. ¡°If one gets too greedy, the others will rally against him. You¡¯ve been to Creta, so you¡¯ve seen what happens when one Mana Artist wields too much power.¡± Akari gave a slow nod. ¡°My point is, there¡¯s no reason for a sect like Last Haven to oppose a Mystic. Even if they did, why would someone like the Prime Minister Salerian strike back from the shadows? He has no motive.¡± ¡°Unless they got their hands on his secrets,¡± Akari said. ¡°Then why not erase their memories?¡± Irina retorted. ¡°It would have been simpler in every way.¡± Damnit. Akari furrowed her brow, glancing at everyone around the table. ¡°You¡¯re saying a Mystic didn¡¯t attack our sect?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying it¡¯s more complicated than that.¡± Akari glanced back down at the map. ¡°But we only have six suspects, right?¡± ¡°Oh no,¡± Irina said with a quick shake of her head. At the same time, Elend waved a hand, and the map zoomed out to reveal all five continents. ¡°Espiria has six Mystics, Cadria has two, and Shoken has ten.¡± Akari let out a breath. ¡°Eighteen suspects, then.¡± ¡°Double that number, lass.¡± Elend tapped the map. ¡°These are the ones who actually care about politics. The rest want to be left alone.¡± ¡°And there are thousands of Grandmasters out there,¡± Relia chimed in. ¡°I once met some Grandmaster-level Blade Artists in a remote Cadrian village. They could be Mystics right now ¡­¡± ¡°And no one would ever know,¡± Irina finished for her. ¡°Great,¡± Akari said. ¡°Guess we¡¯ll just sit around and wait for him to come back.¡± Her chest tightened as she imagined their enemy appearing in the sky once again. He could literally erase their memories at any time, and they¡¯d be helpless to stop him. ¡°No one¡¯s sitting around,¡± Irina said. ¡°We know Relia¡¯s father works for your attacker.¡± She gestured to her husband. ¡°Elend and I will follow that lead. In the meantime, you should worry less about Mystics, and more about your studies.¡± With that settled, they shifted back to the envelopes that contained their new identities. Officially, she and Kalden had spent the past few years living in Vaslana where they¡¯d attended a prestigious private school. After graduation, they¡¯d gotten involved in Creta¡¯s civil war, and that¡¯s where Elend had found them. ¡°You¡¯ll need to memorize everything,¡± Irina said as they browsed the files. ¡°We tried to keep it as close to life as possible, but we had to take certain liberties. Especially if Kalden¡¯s aiming for the Artegium this year.¡± Akari¡¯s head snapped up. Just Kalden? She was about to open her mouth to ask, but Irina kept talking. ¡°In the bottom folder, you¡¯ll find everything you need for your bank accounts. Each of you will have enough to cover basic expenses. This is common for any students who join a Grandmaster¡¯s clan.¡± ¡°Speaking of money.¡± Kalden gestured to the papers on the table. ¡°Does this make us in your debt?¡± Akari hadn¡¯t even thought of that. The last person to offer her money had been Kalden¡¯s mom, and that had come with a nasty price tag. Elend shook his head. ¡°No one¡¯s keeping score, lad. We all know you saved me from those Martials.¡± Irina nodded her agreement. ¡°You can cut ties with us at any time. We¡¯ll still finance your tuition at the university, and find you a place to live.¡± Relia gave Kalden a worried look. ¡°But you are gonna stay ¡­ right?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± he said with a nod. ¡°Just making sure we weren¡¯t swearing oaths or something.¡± He tucked his ID and debit card in his leather wallet, then put the rest back in the envelope. So, he had time to go wallet shopping, but no time to hang out? Akari had never owned a wallet before, but she knew Relia would drag her to the mall soon enough. In the meantime, she gathered her things and trailed Elend out of the room. She fully intended to join Kalden in the Artegium this fall, even if she was still a Gold. That meant they had to talk. Book 3 - Chapter 3: Underdog "Just Kalden?" Akari said as she marched into the gym. The room was massive, taking up more than half the Darklight''s basement. Navy blue mats covered the wooden floor, and the walls had twice as many mirrors as the rooms upstairs. Elend turned around to face her. ¡°Beg pardon?" "You said Kalden would get into the Artegium this year. What about me?" "We talked about this." He walked over to the weight rack and grabbed a pair of dumbbells. The discs were barely bigger than his head, but the label said "750 lbs." Must be a pocket dimension. Elend turned the weights forward and began doing bicep curls. "The Artegium only takes Apprentices. You, my dear, are still quite Golden." "I thought that wasn''t a real rule." Akari stepped forward, practically glaring at him. She was already pissed about Kalden and the Mystics. Now they were telling her she couldn''t study with her friends? Everything else was out of her control, but not this. "It''s more of a tradition," he said. "A pesky side effect of thousand-year-old institutions. And the admissions board is the molten core of that tradition." "Aren''t you on the admissions board?" Elend exhaled and lowered the weights. Akari examined the rack, hoping to find a pair more her size. The lightest was 35 lbs, which she could probably manage with her pre-Cloak technique. "You act like you''re being left out in the cold," he finally said. "You can still attend Koreldon University with the others. You can even practice your Mana Arts there. There''s a whole pre-Artegium program to help you reach Apprentice." "It''s not the same." Akari cycled mana into her arms as she curled her own weights. She was already behind Kalden and Relia, and it would take more than some junior classes to close that gap. Besides, the Artegium students had access to better classes, teachers, and resources. Not to mention the interschool battlegrounds where they''d face off against other universities from around the world. This was far worse than being left in the cold. It felt more like being a Bronze all over again. "Straighten your back," Elend told her. "And keep your mana balanced. You can still injure your other muscles if they''re not reinforced.¡± Akari complied, cycling even more mana as the weights went down. Elend must''ve been struggling too, because his arms shone with blue mana on his next repetition. "Let''s say I put in a good word for you at the grown-ups¡¯ table. My peers will ask the obvious question¡ªwhy let you in now? Why not wait until later?" Akari set down her weights on the fourth repetition and checked the maximum number on her mana watch. 555. Just 245 points to go. "I''ll hit Apprentice after the school year starts." "So will plenty of others," Elend set down his own weights and took a drink from his water bottle. "I''m gonna be the world''s first Spacetime Artist. That counts for something, right?" "Potentially," Elend corrected. "I''m also a potential Mystic. That doesn''t mean I''ll be treated like one." Damnit. He wasn''t wrong there. "And no," Elend said. "Before you ask, you can''t impress the board by telling them how you killed Dragonlord Antano''s nephew. Remember, we Espirians like to pretend we''re civilized." Akari grinned at that, but it faded as she wrestled with the question. Despite surviving impossible odds to get here, she had little to show for it. Sure, Irina had given her a transcript with perfect grades and a long list of extracurriculars, but everyone else would have the same. Elend lay on the bench and did some tricep extensions. Akari didn''t feel like switching positions with weights this heavy, so she started another set of bicep curls as she mulled things over. Even with a perfect training routine, she''d never reach Apprentice in time for the admission exams. Soulshine was out of the question, too. You could justify that for a life and death fight, but not for early entry into a school program. Relia would strangle her if she even suggested it. Akari lowered her weights again. Sweat covered her entire body now, and she was gasping for breath. Elend offered her his water bottle, and she took a long drink. "Okay." she wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. "What if I get perfect scores on the admissions? "There are no perfect scores, lass. You go until failure." "Then what if I beat everyone else?" The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°The Artegium¡¯s Combat Program has less than a two percent acceptance rate,¡± Elend said The first-year class will have roughly two hundred students. You really think you can beat the other ten thousand who didn''t get in?" Akari closed her mouth and thought it over during her next set of reps. Most of those would be Apprentices, which put the odds against her. She''d beaten her share of Grevandi in Creta, but they''d lacked basic Mana Arts education thanks to their country''s dictator. At Kalden''s prime, he''d been one of the best Foundation duelists in the world, and she''d beaten him in their duel before the sect vanished. Unfortunately, she''d spent the past two years falling behind, and she had no one to blame but herself. "Fine," Akari lowered her dumbbells and returned them to the rack. "Point taken." "Not so fast." Elend held up a hand. "I''m glad you''ve learned when to retreat, but retreating isn''t the same as giving up." Akari spun back to meet his eyes. "Letting a Gold into the Artegium would be unfair. There''s no way to sugarcoat that. You¡¯d have to work twice as hard as everyone else, and your fellow students might not be happy about it. With that said, do you still want this?" "Yes," Akari said at once. Others had their reasons for learning Combat Arts, but she was trying to save more than a quarter million people trapped in the Archipelago. She couldn''t afford to slow down. Elend went back to his bicep curls, and Akari retrieved her weights to mirror his movements. "Last year," he said, "the Alchemy Program let in a student named Kai Borolan. He had average grades and admissions scores. On paper, he was barely good enough for the university, much less the Artegium. However, the lad invented several new elixirs in high school, and he sold the patents to Alchemix before graduation. Can you guess why they accepted him?" She furrowed her brow in thought. Potential was the obvious answer¡ªanyone who invented two elixirs would probably invent more. But Elend had just shot that idea down. Reputation, maybe? No ¡­ Koreldon University was already the top Mana Arts school in the world. If anything, they''d only piss off their current students by letting him in. But reputations didn''t last forever, especially if you got complacent. Akari had once been Last Haven''s top Foundation duelist, and Kalden had seized that title overnight. Zakiel Antano might have been the best Artisan in Creta, but he''d underestimated Akari in their final duel. She gave a slow nod as the answer struck her. "Another school would have taken him if you hadn''t." Elend''s smile widened. "The lad applied to thirteen other schools, and the board knew that. In your case, the interschool battlegrounds start in the spring semester. We need to convince the board that you''ll be there¡ªwith them or against them¡ªinventing metaphorical potions." Akari grinned. "So we go with the admissions exam route? Convince them it''s too risky to wait?" He nodded. "Split your attention between the written and shaping exams¡ªaim to get the best scores you can. I could also call in a few favors and get some guaranteed votes from the other board members." "What''s the catch?" Akari asked after a short pause. No way he''d pulled such a perfect plan out of thin air. "Aside from the practice and studying ahead?" Elend crossed his muscular arms. "You haven''t convinced me you''re as good as you think, lass." Ouch. Strangers were one thing, but Elend knew her whole story. He knew she''d broken into a Martial prison to free him. He knew she''d fought several Martials to save Kalden, and that she''d killed two Artisans in Creta. They''d faced countless struggles these past few months, and she''d won more fights than she''d lost. What else did he want from her? "You''ve been through a lot," he said. "Ever since you escaped your tracking anklet, it''s been one deadly fight after another. Fear is a great short-term motivator, but a terrible long-term one. You can''t keep that pace for much longer." "You lost me," Akari said. "I''m training too hard?" "Mana Artists climb higher when they focus on their potential rather than running from failure. And fear leads to burnout. I''ve had to teach Relia the same lesson with her condition. ¡° "I''m not scared," she said. Elend gave her a look. "You think you can bullshit a Dream Artist, lass? You and Kalden are scared of the same thing¡ªyou worry that your glory days are behind you, and that you''ll fall behind in the Artegium." Okay, she couldn''t deny that one. "You''re also afraid that Kalden and Relia will leave you behind, and that you''ll never make new friends if they do. Shall I go on?" She glared at him for a second, but didn¡¯t argue further. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± ¡°Write down a plan for studying and training," he said. "Convince me you could do it every day for the rest of your life. And don''t say, ''I''ll work harder than everyone else.'' That¡¯s underdog talk. I want you to stop acting like an underdog and start acting like a top performer. That¡¯s the only way you¡¯ll make it through the Artegium.¡± That made sense. She might be a Gold with no aspect, but she didn¡¯t have to act like one. ¡°First of all,¡± Elend said. ¡°I want to see ten hours of sleep every night, and¡ª" "Who sleeps ten hours?" Akari blurted out. "Sixteen-year-olds who haven''t reached Apprentice yet," he replied without missing a beat. "That leaves you fourteen hours a day for the rest of the summer. I''d recommend you spend at least four of those hours not working." "Not working?" "No training. No studying." "So you want me to waste time?" "I want you to rest and recover." ¡°Then what else do I do?¡± He waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Swim in the pool, read a book, go on a date. I don''t care." Well, this explained why Relia lounged by the pool in her bikini. This wasn''t so bad, though. Akari could still cycle her mana while walking¡ªshe''d done that every day in Arkala while she walked to school. "Any idiot can grind for a few months,¡± Elend continued. ¡°But the top Mana Artists can work just as hard and still have time to enjoy life." Elend stepped across the room and gestured to a wooden table she hadn''t noticed before. "This has four legs. Four pillars, if you will. One pillar is your Mana Arts, one is your physical health, one is your mental health, and one is your social connections." Dream mana shot out from his palm as he spoke, highlighting each leg in a different color. "Now, let''s say I want one pillar to be larger ¡­" Clouds of sawdust swirled off from three legs, flying toward another one and making it thicker. "What will happen?" "The table will collapse," Akari said. The table did just that before the illusion faded entirely. ¡°True Mana Artists lead balanced lives. That''s not because they''re lazy, but because they have their shit together." He pointed a finger at her. "You, my dear, do not. And I won''t lie to my peers. I won''t tell them you can sustain this pace if I don''t believe it myself." Akari just nodded as she processed everything. "I''ve trained hundreds of students," Elend said. "I''ve given them all this advice in some form or another. Want to guess how many listened to me? "None?" Elend shook his head and held up a single finger. "Your father. The only student who ever surpassed me." Book 3 - Chapter 4: Artificial Intelligence Akari stretched out her arms and formed a full-body shield. Relia struck the shield with a barrage of pure Missiles, threatening to shatter it like a glass plate. Akari¡¯s body shook as she cycled harder, packing the Construct with more mana. Until now, she¡¯d focused on her shaping skills, but Elend had advised against that. ¡°Shaping is the most versatile skill for this test,¡± he¡¯d told her a few days before. ¡°But raw power matters too, especially on the Construct and Cloak portions. And I¡¯ll be honest here, lass¡ªyou¡¯re looking at some low scores in these sections.¡± Gee, thanks. ¡°We can¡¯t help that,¡± he¡¯d said. ¡°But we can still control the narrative.¡± Akari¡¯s shield finally broke, and the next Missile took her square in the face. She staggered back but didn¡¯t lose her balance. ¡°Oops.¡± Relia covered her mouth as if she¡¯d just said a bad word. ¡°Sorry!¡± ¡°It¡¯s cool.¡± Akari removed her glasses and examined them. Unlike her old pair, these had Apprentice-level micro-Constructs in the frames and lenses. That was the best invention ever, and she wondered why all glasses didn¡¯t come with those. Right, she remembered a second later. The Darklights are richer than the Angels. They fell back into their combat stances for the next round. This time, Relia raised her own shield while Akari tried to break it. It was grueling work, but that was nothing new. As a Bronze, she¡¯d had to cobble Missiles together from mere drops of mana. This was the same idea, but at a larger scale. Every attack drained a fraction of her soul, but the Missiles were strong enough to shatter brick walls. Relia¡¯s shields were far stronger than brick walls. Even then, the other girl held back her full power, using just enough to push Akari to her limits. ¡°The narrative is simple,¡± Elend had said. ¡°If Akari Zeller is this strong now, then what could she do at Apprentice? You won¡¯t fool anyone, of course. The board will be looking at your stats the whole time. But that¡¯s the best part, isn¡¯t it? Humans are most impressed by things they can¡¯t explain.¡± Kalden also trained in the Darklight¡¯s backyard. Sometimes, he¡¯d take a turn sparring with Relia. Other days, he¡¯d keep his distance, attempting to form blades of pure mana, the way he had in Creta. Except now, it took him well over ten seconds to form a single blade. That was fine for practice, but no real opponents would stand there twiddling their thumbs while you crafted a deadly weapon. What¡¯s he planning? Did he want to become a Blade Artist again, even knowing he¡¯d never be as good as before? They¡¯d asked him several times now, and he gave some vague answers like ¡°testing the waters¡± or ¡°keeping my options open.¡± It was annoying, but Akari felt his pain. Simple aspects like fire or water only took a few months of preparation. Even on Arkala, high school students would enter the school¡¯s Mana Arts program and emerge with aspects by the end of that semester. But that wasn¡¯t true for high-level aspects. Relia had spent years traveling the world with her first master. She¡¯d worked everywhere from hospitals to battlefields, internalizing life and death. Akari had spent over a decade studying space and time, along with all the related math and science she¡¯d need to know. Her parents had surrounded her with their mana every day. Not just their techniques, but countless artifacts around the house. And Kalden had been studying sword fighting since before he could walk. This aspect had been in his family for generations, and they¡¯d spent years in Shoken finding him the best teachers. You couldn¡¯t just toss that knowledge aside, and you definitely couldn¡¯t replace it overnight. ~~~ This new training routine continued over the next few weeks. Akari started each morning with a workout¡ªusually weightlifting on Irinday, Narsday, and Kelsday. She went for a run the other days, following Chapel Street west toward KU, or taking Frostville Ave south along the bay. Even after three straight weeks, she never got bored with the water. Most coastal cities had multi-story mana walls to protect them against tidal waves, but Koreldon City was the exception. The state of Estrana held back the waves from the northeast, while a smaller peninsula guarded them to the south. This gave them a view of endless, unobstructed water. Some parts of Koreldon felt dull and gray, but not the sea. The sea came with a rush of power¡ªthe power of distant manastorms churning miles off the shore. Each wave was an echo of a faraway tide, and she could practically taste the mana on her tongue. The city still had walls, of course. Their metal bases were visible beyond the pier, ready to spring to life at a moment¡¯s notice. Those came on for monthly tests, but they hadn¡¯t had an actual tidal wave in years. Akari always followed her workouts with a shower and a high-protein breakfast. Then she spent a few hours studying for the written portion of her exams. This was her least favorite part of the work day, so she gulped down the metaphorical frog as fast as possible. ¡°What were the first Espirian states to break free from the Shokenese Empire?¡± Glim asked from her bedroom mirror. And how¡¯d they do it?¡± Akari and Kalden had both studied with Glim these past few weeks. Apparently, the mana spirit had a flawless memory, similar to Irina¡¯s Second Brain. This made her a perfect flashcard machine. Glim also formed a ticking clock in the top right corner of the mirror. The real written test was timed, so every second mattered. Akari drew in a deep breath. ¡°New Cadria, Shosal, Costria, and Rireda. The Shokenese had two factions at that point, and Mystic Everrest played their leaders against each other.¡± ¡°Almost,¡± Glim said with a raised finger. ¡°Except Shosal was never a Shokenese colony.¡± A map of dream mana formed in the mirror beside her, and she pointed to the northwest corner. ¡°See? You¡¯re thinking of Sheton.¡± Damnit. Hard to remember all the Espirian states when you¡¯d just spent two years thinking they were barren wastelands. The clock reset, and Glim continued. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t transmutation achieved more widespread use in the alchemy field?¡± Akari had no idea. However, certain patterns emerged across Mana Arts and its related professions. ¡°It¡¯s expensive,¡± she said with feigned confidence. ¡°The mana they spend is worth more than the results. And transmutation is based on weight, so a bigger payoff means a bigger cost.¡± Glim gave her a thumbs-up. ¡°How are alchemists working to fix this problem?¡± ¡°Waste conversion. If one company pays them to take their garbage, they might have a chance of breaking even.¡± Akari had just made that up, but Glim didn¡¯t need to know that. ¡°You just made that up!¡± Glim said. Akari kept a straight face. ¡°You¡¯re saying I¡¯m wrong?¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Glim nodded primly. ¡°Alchemists are working on an aspect that specializes in transmutation. That¡¯ll bring the cost down in theory, because they¡¯ll be spending mana that was designed for the task. They even have an aspecting manual written, but they can¡¯t find any volunteers.¡± That was another classic problem in the Mana Arts world. Most volunteers wouldn¡¯t be good enough to handle something so abstract as ¡°transmutation mana¡±. And anyone good enough wouldn¡¯t risk uncharted territory. Glim¡¯s timer reset again. ¡°How much will a square¡¯s area change if you increase the sides by ten percent?¡± Akari did some quick mental arithmetic. ¡°Twenty-one percent.¡± Glim gave her another thumbs-up. ¡°You got that two seconds faster than Kalden.¡± Akari grinned at that. Their schedules were similar, which meant Kalden could be studying with Glim at this very moment. After all, Grandmaster-level mana spirits could split themselves into independent parts. Sure, each new Glim was weaker than the original Glim, but that hardly mattered for a simple flashcard program. And ¡°program¡± really was the right word here. Glim didn¡¯t just have an eidetic memory the way humans did. Her mind worked more like a computer. Or an artificial intelligence. Akari thought of the Archipelago, and all the strange rules it followed. Some people like Maelyn Sanako got to keep their Mana Arts, but not their aspects. Others, like Akari and her parents, lost their Mana Arts entirely. And then there was Agent Frostblade who¡¯d kept his Mana Arts and his aspect. Despite that, the world still followed a strange sort of logic. People like Akari¡¯s father had wielded aspects that were considered too advanced, so of course they¡¯d lost them. So had anyone with low birth mana. Meanwhile, Emberlyn Frostblade had gone from an alchemist to a Combat Artist. But even that followed the internal logic. In real life, her father had been an ordinary member of Last Haven''s militia. But his increased status as a Gold Martial made it more probable that his daughter would follow in his footsteps. But who invented all this? Mana Artists hadn¡¯t been concerned about birth rank for several centuries, and they definitely hadn¡¯t worn badges. But someone had designed a world that followed these imaginary rules, down to the last detail. No ordinary human could do this¡ªthere were too many small decisions and nuances. Not just for the island itself, but the lives and memories of a quarter-million people. Akari¡¯s first theory had been a machine-based artificial intelligence, but Relia claimed those didn¡¯t exist in the outside world. But of course they didn¡¯t exist. Why bother with a machine if you could make an AI entirely out of mana? But then things got crazier. Akari knew about machine-based AI from movies. But those movies only existed on the Archipelago¡ªa contrived world without mana-based AI. That meant whoever made that world had erased all knowledge of mana-based AI. Not only that, but they''d followed that absence to its logical conclusion: if people couldn¡¯t create AI with mana, they would find another way. Talek. That gave her a headache just thinking about it. ¡°Hey!¡± Glim snapped her fingers. ¡°Are you even listening? ¡°Sorry.¡± Akari blinked at the physics equation Glim had written on the mirror. ¡°Eighty-five seconds.¡± ¡°Is that the answer, or the number on the clock?¡± Akari flipped her off. Glim laughed. ¡°Thinking of Kalden?¡± ¡°Actually, no.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you guys just study together?¡± Glim suggested. ¡°Ask him. He¡¯s the one avoiding us.¡± That wasn¡¯t entirely true, but it was close enough. Kalden still talked to her and Relia, but he didn¡¯t act like their friend anymore. He acted more like a co-worker. Polite, but distant. ¡°I did ask him,¡± Glim said. Akari perked up. ¡°What¡¯d he say?¡± ¡°No comment.¡± Akari frowned. ¡°You¡¯re not gonna tell me?¡± ¡°No, no.¡± Glim shook her head. ¡°He literally said ¡®no comment.¡¯¡± ¡°Why?¡± She crossed her blue arms. ¡°He said my reputation for gossip proceeds me, and that I¡¯d turn his words against him.¡± Akari shrugged. ¡°He¡¯s not wrong about that.¡± She¡¯d been careful what she said around Glim too. Elend had even warned them their first day here, explaining how he could see Glim¡¯s memories, and how nothing they said around her was private. ¡°Yeah.¡± Glim crossed her arms again, more dramatically this time. ¡°You guys are no fun at all. Except for Relia. She¡¯s an absolute gem.¡± Glim sure had a lot of emotions for an advanced AI. ¡°But why don¡¯t you ask him?¡± Glim suggested. ¡°You don¡¯t strike me as timid or old-fashioned.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Glim leaned forward. She didn¡¯t actually emerge from the mirror, but her face seemed closer than before. ¡°So¡­?¡± ¡°No comment.¡± ¡°Come on!¡± Glim said. ¡°I won¡¯t tell anyone.¡± Akari twirled a mechanical pencil between her fingers. ¡°Let¡¯s get back to work.¡± ¡°Thought you needed a break, Miss Eighty-Five Seconds¡± ¡°Thought your job was to keep me focused,¡± Akari retorted. ¡°Come on. ¡° Glim clasped her hands together, making a cloud of sparkling blue mist. ¡°I¡¯m doomed to be forever single. At least give me some vicarious romance.¡± ¡°Why not fangirl over Elend and Irina? At least they¡¯re a real couple.¡± Glim waved a hand. ¡°They got boring like forty years ago. Especially Irina. Have you seen her Second Brain?¡± Glim used dream mana to draw several ellipses around her upper body. ¡°They¡¯re just cold, heartless versions of me.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Akari muttered. ¡°Are you worried Kalden will say no?¡± Akari shook her head and squeezed her pencil tighter. More likely, Kalden would say yes, but his statue impression would put those heartless rings to shame. They¡¯d spend the whole time studying in cold, professional silence. She would try to meet his eyes, but he¡¯d never look away from his textbooks. She¡¯d try to start a conversation, but he¡¯d give her one-word answers. After that, they¡¯d feel even farther apart than before. Was this because of his lost hand, or because he¡¯d merged with his old personality? Akari had worried about her old self taking over, but that hadn¡¯t happened. She¡¯d learned from her mistakes, and she¡¯d proven that by following Elend¡¯s advice to the letter. She had Dream Akari¡¯s memories, but she hadn¡¯t become her. It was different for Kalden, though. Almost as if his loss had woken a slumbering dragon deep inside his soul. Akari sent mana into her forearm, squeezing the pencil until it snapped. Damnit. This was all his fault. He¡¯d started this that day on the roof when he said he liked her. She never would have gotten her hopes up otherwise. Glim¡¯s smile faded. ¡°You wanna talk about it?¡± ¡°Already got a therapist,¡± she said. ¡°I won¡¯t tell anyone,¡± Glim continued. ¡°Not even Elend. He won¡¯t view my memories. Not if I tell him it¡¯s important.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Akari said. ¡°But it¡¯s getting hot in here.¡± Glim cocked her head to the side. ¡°Want me to go turn the air conditioning down?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Then, before Glim could say another word, Akari grabbed the hem of her tank top and pulled it off over her head. ¡°Wait¡ª¡± Glim started to say. Then she flickered out like a dead lightbulb. The mana spirit had some built-in functions that barred her from entering rooms if people weren¡¯t dressed. Akari, being the hacker she was, abused this rule whenever she wanted to end a conversation. ~~~ Her study sessions usually went on until lunchtime, then she¡¯d switch to Mana Arts training in the backyard. After that came dinner, which they ate together in the dining room. Or the breakfast nook. Whatever it was called. Elend still had a few more weeks before he got back to work, so he usually joined them for meals. But Irina tended to work all day. She¡¯d be gone at six in the morning before Akari left for her morning jogs, and she wouldn¡¯t return until well past nine in the evenings. Clearly, she didn¡¯t follow Elend¡¯s advice about balance and resting. Speaking of resting, that was definitely the hardest part of the day. She¡¯d spent the first day pacing the trails in the backyard, trying to cycle ambient mana through her palms. Her body itched to train more, or even to study in her room. Anything was better than nothing. To make matters worse, Kalden didn¡¯t have to follow Elend¡¯s rules. While Akari paced around after dinner, he just kept on training, careless as a cat. ¡°That¡¯s bullshit,¡± she said to Elend one day on the covered patio. ¡°Kalden gets to keep working, but I can¡¯t?¡± ¡°Oh no.¡± Elend lowered his sunglasses at her. ¡°He¡¯s even worse than you, lass. Irina tried telling him that. So did Relia.¡± She deflated at that, and her eyes settled on the silhouette of Kalden forming blades against the setting sun. ¡°But unlike you, Kalden didn¡¯t ask for my help. Not that he needs it. The lad will write a great essay about how he lost his hand in battle, and the board will gulp it down like soulshiners.¡± Talek, he was right. It was basically an improved version of Akari¡¯s story. But while she looked cocky and impatient for applying early, Kalden looked brave and determined. ¡°It will work,¡± Elend said. ¡°But not forever. That¡¯s the thing about training¡ªthere¡¯s always another challenge ahead. Too many Mana Artists look forward to that ultimate goal of immortality, and they forget that most of them will die first. They forget to live along the way.¡± She actually liked how Kalden kept looking ahead as opposed to settling for less¡ªshe was the same way. A month ago, she wouldn¡¯t have even seen the problem with endless training. Now, the problem was clear as glass. Kalden¡¯s life was a three-legged table that would eventually collapse, and he was too focused on the future to realize it. And so Akari kept training by day and resting in the evening. To her surprise, the rest actually helped. Sometimes, she would get stuck on an alchemy equation, only for the answer to strike her later on the patio. Almost as if her brain were chipping away in the background. And it was the same with her Mana Arts. Mental breakthroughs had been a rare thing before¡ªemerging only in moments of true desperation. Now, her mind and body flowed easier than ever. She¡¯d mastered more than a dozen new shaping techniques, and her pre-Cloak was strong enough to lift three times her bodyweight. Even her mana count increased more than seventy points since she¡¯d started. That pace wouldn¡¯t get her to Apprentice before her admissions, but she might make it before midterms. Despite her progress, she waged a daily war with her ever-present doubts. What if Elend was wrong about all this? What if this balanced path was a recipe for mediocrity, and she¡¯d never rank among the best Artists in the world? But then she remembered what Elend had said that day in the gym. Her parents had lived balanced lives too. They¡¯d only been in their late thirties when Last Haven fell. But in their final hour, they¡¯d taken on a Mystic. Book 3 - Chapter 5: Weekend Excursions If resting every night wasn¡¯t bad enough, Elend also made them take a full recovery day once every weekend. As in, a whole twenty-four hours with no serious studying or training. His exact rules were vague. But if Akari thought she could sneak in some training, then Relia had other plans. Every weekend, her friend would drag her on some new excursion outside the Darklight¡¯s estate. One day, they took a tour of Koreldon City, following the trains all the way from Uptown to Old Town. That trip had been more practical than it seemed at first glance. Akari planned to live here for several years, and it made sense to know the different neighborhoods. She also learned to navigate the train tunnels, which would come in handy later. Especially since she still hadn¡¯t learned to drive a car. Not that she¡¯d ever want to drive in downtown KC. Hundreds of cars sat bumper-to-bumper on the roads, all scrambling to switch lanes or get through the light before it changed colors. And then there was the symphony of horns, shouts, and sirens. People rarely ever honked in Elegan, or even Tureko. Here, the horns echoed constantly in the background, like music in a bar. And the sirens ¡­ Talek, those still made her skin crawl. Even now, memories of the Archipelago weighed her down, and waves of guilt always followed. She should be training now¡ªtraining to help the thousands of other Bronze who couldn¡¯t escape. Guilt wouldn¡¯t help them, of course. That was the whole point of Elend¡¯s lessons¡ªMana Arts was a marathon that took years, and no burst of emotion lasted that long. Only a solid training plan would see you through to the end. The following week, they drove a few hours west to Koreldon National Forest. There was a Hunters¡¯ Guild here like the one back in White Vale, along with a hotel, food court, and a bounty office. Akari had complained about this trip at first, especially since Relia wanted to stay overnight. But then she learned they¡¯d be fighting dangerous, Apprentice-level mana beasts. If that counted as a day off, then maybe days off weren¡¯t so bad. Finally, they took a day trip to Faeland Mall¡ªone of the most famous shopping centers in all of Espiria. The mall itself was over two million square feet, which made it far too large to fit in Koreldon City. Instead, it lived in a suburb, roughly an hour south of the Darklight¡¯s estate. ¡°Wow,¡± Akari said as they walked through the crowded concourse. ¡°I can¡¯t believe Kalden stayed home.¡± Relia laughed. ¡°Seriously? Getting you here was hard enough.¡± That was true. Half of Frostville Avenue was devoted to shopping, so she¡¯d seen no reason to leave town for that. But that was before they¡¯d stepped through the doors. Faeland Mall was split into four quarters¡ªone for each of the four seasons. Dream mana filled the massive concourse, complete with artificial weather. Spring Court had bright blue skies, with trees shooting out from between the stone walkways. Summer Court was even brighter, with its sand-colored floors, potted flowers, and streams of water trickling down from beyond the upper balconies. The sky in Autumn Court had a cloudy, orange overcast, as if it were always sunset. Leaves broke off from the trees and swirled through the air, landing on wooden walkways in front of them. Akari tried stepping on a few dead leaves, hoping they¡¯d crunch beneath her shoes. Unfortunately, they always blew away at the last second. And even when she cornered one next to a tree root, it just flattened like a piece of wet paper. Things got even fancier in Winter Court. The air carried a chill, but their bodies never felt any colder. Snowflakes danced through the space, settling on everything from the neon store signs to the balcony railings. A few flakes even landed on their shoulders, turning to vapor as they melted. They passed hundreds of stores and restaurants as they walked. Not to mention thousands of people from all walks of life. Artisans were commonplace among the adult population¡ªone-quarter of them, at least. Masters and Grandmasters were rarer, but hardly a novelty. Just one section of this mall probably had twice as many Masters as all of Creta. Akari¡¯s new favorite store was Palamin¡¯s, a high-end Mana Arts shop in Winter Court. Here, she bought three new hoodies to replace the one she¡¯d lost. These could absorb up to three Apprentice-level techniques before they needed a recharge. At least, that¡¯s what the tags claimed. Clothing like that tended to be much heavier, but these felt as weightless as ordinary cotton. The price tags were steep at four-hundred espers a piece, but the Darklights had given her plenty of money, and you couldn¡¯t put a price on protection. She was just looking at the Construct-reinforced jeans when Relia nudged her toward the checkout. ¡°What?¡± Akari protested. ¡°You really think someone¡¯s gonna jump you on the street?¡± Actually, yeah. How many random fights had broken out in Tureko last month? She¡¯d half expected a brawl to erupt at the mall today. ¡°Don¡¯t answer that,¡± Relia said. ¡°But you should know the Artegium gives us uniforms for our combat classes. Those all come with Apprentice-level Constructs.¡± Nice. She¡¯d always liked the uniforms back in Elegan High, mostly because it was one less advantage for the rich kids. Then again, Akari was one of the rich kids now, wasn¡¯t she? You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°Still never hurts to be prepared,¡± Akari countered. ¡°It might,¡± Relia said. ¡°This stuff¡¯s above your level.¡± ¡°So? Isn¡¯t spending mana a good thing?¡± ¡°In moderation, sure. But too much will strain your channels. Then you¡¯ll be too tired for actual training.¡± Talek, that was true. She¡¯d already known that at some level, otherwise she¡¯d have gone straight for the Artisan-level gear. Once again, money had its limits in the world of Mana Arts. Akari could¡¯ve easily spent three more hours in Palamin¡¯s. They¡¯d barely even looked at the weapons, elixirs, or potions. Not to mention the items that didn¡¯t constantly drain your mana. For example, Elend had given her some wristbands that pushed back against her channels and helped her form more powerful Missiles. Sort of like impedium, but without the pain. What else was out there? What was she missing out on? But Relia kept directing her through the checkout and out the door. Oh well. They probably had one of those stores back in KC. Maybe she¡¯d go alone for her next weekend excursion. Their next stop was Reece & Kahn, with a massive sign of pink, scripted text above the doorway. ¡°Yeah,¡± Akari muttered as she looked over the racks of bright-colored clothing. ¡°Not my thing.¡± ¡°Come on!¡± Relia practically skipped through the entrance. ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯re gonna wear those hoodies to class every day. ¡°Name one thing wrong with that plan.¡± Relia¡¯s eyebrows went up as she leafed through a rack of skirts. ¡°Maybe a sexy outfit can get Kalden out of his slump.¡± Akari furrowed her brow, but she didn¡¯t immediately dismiss the idea. Relia kept on browsing. ¡°Do you know what he likes?¡± ¡°Himself,¡± Akari muttered. She grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a no.¡± ¡°Guess it never came up while ¡­¡± Akari trailed off when she a saw gaggle of younger girls listening in. She¡¯d been about to say something about killing Martials and dragon people, but you couldn¡¯t just drop that line in a public store. Relia led them toward another rack of clothes, far from listening ears. ¡°Lucky for us, I had Glim do some reconnaissance.¡± ¡°Sure. Like Kalden would ever fall for that.¡± ¡°Glim wears a different outfit every day,¡± Relia said. ¡°Then she watches for changes in heart rate and pupil dilation. She¡¯s been gathering data for weeks.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Akari closed her mouth and blinked several times. ¡°Shit.¡± But it really shouldn¡¯t have surprised her. Romance was only Glim¡¯s second-favorite topic. The first was world domination. Combine those two concepts, and you were bound to get something this crazy. Relia wriggled her eyebrows. ¡°Interested?¡± Akari shrugged. ¡°Guess it couldn¡¯t hurt.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t care for tight-fitting pants, but he loves knee-length skirts.¡± ¡°Makes sense.¡± Most girls at Elegan High had worn skirts as part of their uniform, including Akari. They seemed less popular here in Espiria, with most girls opting for shorts in the summer. ¡°And he likes workout clothes,¡± Relia said as she counted things off from her fingers. ¡°And low-cut shirts. And glasses ¡­ but maybe those just reminded him of you?¡± Talek. Glim really had worn glasses one day last week, hadn¡¯t she? The frames had even looked like Akari¡¯s, which should have been her first hint. But the more she thought about this, the less logical it seemed. Akari had taken a few peaks at Glim¡¯s cleavage, too. Only so many things to look at when you¡¯re doing verbal flashcards for hours, and ¡­ ¡°Wait.¡± Akari narrowed her eyes. ¡°Did you guys gather data on me?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t!¡± Relia raised her hands defensively. Akari glared harder. ¡°I swear to the Angels! I mean, Glim might have tried, but we weren¡¯t in cahoots or anything.¡± Akari hummed in consideration. ¡°Can Elend do this too?¡± ¡°Do what?¡± ¡°I dunno.¡± She crossed her arms and made a vague gesture with her fingers. ¡°Scan your blood pressure or whatever.¡± If he could, she was never looking at him again. And she was definitely never working out in the same room. The other girl gave a knowing grin. ¡°Shut up,¡± Akari said. Relia shrugged, but her smile never faded. ¡°Masters can see a lot when they want to¡ªcognitive enhancements and all that. But they can also tune stuff out. That¡¯s usually what Elend does around us.¡± Akari let out a breath of relief. In other words, Elend could control himself, but Glim was a little scamp as usual. ¡°So don¡¯t worry.¡± Relia¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Your secret crush is safe with¡ª¡± Akari punched her in the bicep, but it felt like hitting a tree. She winced as a wave of pain erupted from her knuckles. ¡°Damnit,¡± she shouted as she pulled her hand back. ¡°Bad idea.¡± It worked a lot better on Kalden. Or at least it had before he¡¯d advanced. She really needed to hit Apprentice soon. ¡°Sorry,¡± Relia said with a wince. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help myself. You¡¯re normally so hard to tease.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Akari scowled down at her hand as she shook away the pain. ¡°Built up some shields in high school.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Her smile faded. ¡°Now I feel bad.¡± ¡°I deserved it,¡± Akari said with a quick shake of her head. ¡°I was kind of a bitch in Last Haven.¡± They continued browsing the aisles while Relia spouted some motherly philosophy about whether anyone deserved to get picked on. Akari bought a few skirts from Reece & Kahn, but she spent most of her time complaining about all the bright colors. She wouldn¡¯t claim to know much about Espirian fashion, but she had no plans to strut into the Artegium wearing pink. "So what do you really like?" Relia asked once they were back in the main concourse. "Huh?" "I mean, we already covered what Kalden likes, so ..." "Guess,¡± Akari said. Her reply came out more defensive than she¡¯d planned. But she¡¯d honestly never talked about this before. ¡°A game, huh?¡± Relia looked ready to clap her hands if they weren¡¯t full of shopping bags. ¡°I¡¯d say ... you like guys with big muscles." ¡°Wow,¡± Akari deadpanned. ¡°What¡¯s next? Guys who breathe oxygen?¡± ¡°Hey, some people think muscles are overrated.¡± She paused as she considered her next guess. ¡°Facial hair?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she admitted. Kalden had shaved less often in Creta, and that had driven her crazy ¡­ in a good way. She grinned at the memory of his stubble scratching her chin the one time she¡¯d kissed him. ¡°And battle scars.¡± Akari nodded again. She didn''t even mind Kalden''s missing hand. He''d looked too perfect before, but these wounds made him feel more real. Too bad he had to ruin it by ignoring them all the time. ¡°Alright.¡± Relia put a hand under her chin. ¡°Do me now.¡± ¡°You think muscles are overrated,¡± Akari said. ¡°I do,¡± she agreed happily. ¡°I¡¯ll take slender frames any day. Guess Kalden and I have that in common, huh?¡± They stepped into Warder¡¯s next, which was the exact opposite of Reece & Kahn. Almost everything here was solid black, with an Angel¡¯s Eve theme. Lots of chains, leather, and fishnets. Basically, it was for people who tried too hard to be edgy. However, Akari did pick up a few things. It was too soon to say whether she¡¯d wear them to class, but they¡¯d work great for a party or a nightclub. Finally, they went to one of the larger department stores called Irina¡¯s (no connection to Elend¡¯s wife) where they stocked up on other essentials. Then, after a late lunch in Autumn Court, they got in the car and headed back to Koreldon City. Book 3 - Chapter 6: Battle Arts Kalden stepped out of the poolhouse into the light of the evening sun. His route took him along the edge of the pool where his friends reclined on inflatable rafts. Relia wore a red bikini that matched her hair, while Akari''s was a dark chocolate brown. Did they coordinate that on purpose, or was it a coincidence? Kalden tried not to stare as he strolled past them toward his usual training spot. But of course, Relia didn''t make that easy. "You should come in!" She dipped her hand in the pool and splashed a handful of water toward him. "We have another raft in the barn." Beside her, Akari kept her expression blank behind her sunglasses. She must have been confident about her exams if she had time to relax like this. "Thanks for the offer," Kalden said. "But I should get back to training." Relia just shrugged as if she''d expected that. Kalden shouldered his backpack, stepping off the concrete and across the lawn. He walked about two dozen steps, passing a row of hedges and trees until he reached a less maintained area. Elend didn''t seem to care if they ruined the landscaping, but he''d overheard the yard crews grumbling about Akari''s stray Missiles. He also remembered his mother''s advice: "Keep your staff happy, and they''re less likely to betray you." Kalden set his backpack at the base of a tree, unzipped the front pocket, and pulled out his earbuds and portable media player. Almost four weeks had passed since they''d arrived in Koreldon City, and he''d already gotten used to his prosthetic hand for simple tasks like this. Of course, Mana Arts were another matter entirely. Kalden had barely finished his warmup stretches before Elend emerged from the trees. "Need a sparring partner, lad?" "Sure." Kalden removed his earbuds and paused his audiobook. Even if Elend had come here with an ulterior motive¡ªwhich he surely had¡ªKalden would be a fool to turn down a Grandmaster''s personal instruction. Elend glanced down at the media player. "What''s your training soundtrack?" "Battle Arts by Killend Everrest." "Ah. The spiritual successor to The Laws of Warfare." "You''ve read it?" Kalden asked. "Once. Everrest had a nice style, but his viewpoints seemed a bit hypocritical. He was quick to point out humanity''s past mistakes, then he''d praise modern Mana Artists for making the same ones." Kalden hadn''t noticed anything like that. Then again, he wasn''t up to speed on modern politics, so the context had probably flown over his head. "Let''s play a game," Elend said as he surveyed the environment. Aside from the trees, the only noteworthy object was a body-length mirror on a metal stand. These mirrors let Glim appear in her human-like form, and the Darklights had dozens of them scattered around the yard. Elend scratched his chin as if considering the rules. "Let''s say ... first one to score a hit wins." "What''s your handicap?" Kalden asked. He''d seen the Grandmaster freeze several hundred Apprentices in the battle of Tureko, so this seemed like a safe assumption. Elend gave a knowing smile. "I won''t use a single Mana Arts technique. That includes my enhanced strength and speed." Kalden nodded, and his gaze settled on the forest floor. Stones of various sizes lay among the weeds in the packed soil¡ªany of those could be a suitable weapon. Elend''s smile widened. "I also won''t throw anything at you." In that case, the next obvious strategy would be to close the distance quickly. "In fact," Elend said, "we''ll say any bodily contact counts as a win for you." Well, that made things more interesting. Still, despite the handicaps, Kalden had no illusions about this fight''s outcome. Elend would win through some clever tactic¡ªsome loophole in the rules. But how? "Prepare yourself," Elend said as he put some distance between them. Kalden began forming blades of pure mana, sending each one into an orbit around his body. Elend waited a full minute for him to finish, then he nodded once, signaling the start of the game. Kalden released a burst of mana from his soul. One blade broke out of its orbit and soared across the forest clearing. Elend stepped to the right, and it flew harmlessly past his cheek. Kalden retrieved the blade, keeping the rest of his body loose. He still knew nothing about his opponent''s strategy. Better to keep his options open. Elend strode forward with his hands in his pockets. Kalden released two blades to either side, and they looped around in a pincer attack. One aimed for his opponent''s throat, the other for his legs. Each attack flew faster than a diving falcon. No ordinary human could have seen them, much less reacted. But Elend Darklight was a Grandmaster, and he dodged backward, letting the blades pass in front of his body. Even without his techniques, he would have seen the shifts in Kalden''s orbit, and ... No. Even that would have been too slow. Elend had predicted the attack before Kalden even made the decision. That was the only explanation. "You''ve got the wrong tactics, lad." "What?" Kalden struggled to speak over the effort of holding seven blades in orbit. "Think about it." He tapped the side of his skull. "For one, what''s the purpose of blade mana?" Blade mana could shatter enemy Missiles or Constructs. This made it ideal for both offense and defense. Kalden didn''t have true blade mana right now¡ªhe''d lost his aspect along with his memories. But he had the knowledge from his past life, and this was enough to form weaker blades out of pure mana. But Elend didn''t have any techniques to break. He also didn''t have any armor to penetrate. Damnit. One hit was all Kalden needed, but he''d boxed himself into a specific set of moves. Not only did that waste energy, it made him more predictable. Kalden relaxed his control, and six of the blades faded to mist around him. He left one in orbit to ward against any surprise attacks. Elend inclined his head with a smile. "Human brains hate to think. This is why we fall into patterns so easily." And there it was: the ulterior motive. Apparently, this session was a microcosm for his life? Kalden shot several unshaped pure Missiles in rapid succession, attacking Elend from every angle. "So that''s it?" he called out. "You''re showing me how useless I am at Blade Arts?" "Wrong again, lad. Even with both your hands, it''d still be the wrong tactic. Besides¡ª" Elend dodged another Missile. "¡ªthis isn''t working either." The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. That was true. Even with these faster attacks, Elend could still see the subtle shifts in his stance, and the mana as it flowed through his channels. This approach made more tactical sense, but only on paper. The outcome was the same. Kalden cycled harder, then released a storm of tiny Missiles from his good hand. Elend dodged left, taking cover behind the massive mirror. Kalden tried to arc his mana around it, but he was too late. Elend pulled the mirror off its stand and adjusted the angle, reflecting one of Kalden''s Missiles back at him. It struck him in the shoulder like a sledgehammer. Elend popped his head out from behind the mirror. "I believe that''s victory." "How?" Kalden rotated his shoulder to check for injuries. "The mirror has an impedium coating. Not much, but enough to reflect mana." Kalden frowned. "Do all the mirrors have that?" That didn''t make any sense. Why would the mirrors repel mana if they were meant for Glim? "Nope. Just this one." In other words, Elend had planned ahead, placing a special mirror here for this exact purpose. "Let''s go again," Elend said. And don''t worry¡ªI promise not to use the same trick twice." Kalden pulled a mana potion from his backpack and took a good long swallow. He wasn''t empty yet, but he''d rather be at his full strength for round two. With that done, they returned to their starting positions and began again. Elend strolled forward, and Kalden took an instinctive step back as he shot another Missile. In that moment, he remembered hearing about the jaguars in the Cadrian jungles, and how they would pace back and forth to confuse lost travelers. Most Apprentice-level Mana Artists could take a jaguar in a straight fight. The jungle cats knew that, which was why they never gave their prey the chance. Instead, they delayed the confrontation, using dream mana to break their will. Kalden had been keeping his distance from Elend this whole time, but why? They''d agreed that any contact counted as a victory for Kalden. If anything, he should close that distance. He flared his Cloak technique, formed a full-body shield, and charged his opponent. This time, Elend sprang into motion, using the trees for cover. Kalden shot more Missiles as he followed him, sending up clouds of dirt and broken tree bark. Despite his clever maneuvers, Elend couldn''t hold out for long. The forest only went so deep, and Kalden would overtake him if he retreated into the yard. Something hard struck the back of Kalden''s legs. The world spun around him as he flew backward, landing flat on his back. He opened his eyes to see Elend looming above him, holding a stick to his windpipe. The stick was barely an inch thick, but it met all the rules of the game. The Grandmaster smiled a second later and offered Kalden a hand. "What''s the first law of warfare?" "Know your enemy," Kalden muttered as he got to his feet. "And know what he wants." Elend had never wanted him to keep his distance. He''d wanted the exact opposite, and he''d used reverse psychology to lure him into a charge. "I controlled the pace of the fight," Kalden said as he rubbed the back of his head. "But chaos favored you. I should have called your bluff and let you come to me." Elend gave an approving nod. "Mystics don''t win wars. Generals win wars." That quote came from Battle Arts. The author claimed real wars had countless variables and possibilities. But an experienced general could see these possibilities like words on a page, and he could use them to manipulate a larger force into defeat. Even if that larger force had a Mystic, you could redirect that Mystic''s power against his own army. "Your tricks would eventually run out," Kalden noted. "Maybe," Elend said. "But you''re lucky to get a second try in real life. Much less a third." A slow smile spread across his face. "And I had more than three tricks lined up." He gave a slow nod. "This sounds suspiciously like a case for knowledge mana." "I came here to talk," Elend admitted. "Not to make you change your mind." His eyebrows went up at that. "You disagree with Irina?" "I wouldn''t go that far. But you can choose whatever aspect you want. I''m not your father." Kalden frowned in confusion. "You''ve already aspected once. Unlike most people, you actually know what you''re doing." Damnit. This was still reverse psychology, wasn''t it? "I''m not trying to manipulate you, lad." Elend reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "Here." Kalden accepted the sheet and unfolded it. It looked like a receipt for various high-quality artifacts. The first three related to space and time mana¡ªclearly for Akari. The next three were Shokenese blades. Each artifact cost several million espers, which was worth more than his house back on Arkala. "I know you haven''t made your decision," Elend said. "But we also can''t wait forever. Pure mana works great for admissions exams, but you''ll fall behind in your classes without an aspect." Kalden let out a breath. He''d already known that, of course. That was why he''d stuck with the Blade Artist''s path, despite Irina''s advice. His parents had forced him to learn blade mana in his past life, the same way his mother had forced him to learn alchemy in the Archipelago. His parents weren''t here now. But here he was, forcing this upon himself. "What would you do?" Kalden asked. "If you were in my place?" "I can''t give you the answer," Elend said. "You live in an age with more choices than all your ancestors before you. You want to follow in their footsteps? That''s fine. But that''s your choice. Own it." He gestured to a massive oak tree on his left. "There''s a force within you¡ªinside all humans. It''s the same thing that makes that tree grow from an acorn." "Like a destiny?" Kalden asked. "I don''t believe in destiny," Elend said. "Destiny implies one perfect outcome¡ªas if one mistake can mess you up for life. The only mistake is passivity¡ªTo ignore this force and let someone else choose for you." ~~~ "Hey," Glim said as Akari climbed out of the pool. "I need to show you something." Akari was about to ask what, but Glim was already zipping off in her Missile form. For Talek''s sake. If this was another one of her pranks ... She pulled on her shorts over her swimsuit and followed the mana spirit across the backyard. Glim stopped when she reached the glass-enclosed manaball court, passing through a small gap beneath the door. Akari pushed the door open, stepped inside, and flipped on the light switch. All around her, the walls were dark and opaque with dream mana. Glim remained floating in her Missile form. "Okay," the mana spirit said. "One condition before we start. You can''t tell anyone about this. Especially Elend." Akari raised an eyebrow. Glim really could keep secrets from him? The Glimmissile floated closer. "Promise?" "Sure," Akari replied. Half of her still expected a prank, so she didn''t bother matching the spirit''s serious tone. Glim bobbed up and down, which seemed like this form''s version of a nod. "Elend had me run some projections¡ªhe was curious how well you''d do in your admissions exams." That got her attention. "You''re good for your rank," Glim said. "Like, freakishly good. But that''s not enough. Raw power aside, the others have more experience with tests like this." "What?" Akari''s blood boiled at the words. She''d done everything Elend had told her. She''d balanced her time, she''d slept all night, and she''d even taken days off. Honestly, she felt better now than she''d felt in years. But it wasn''t enough, and now her worst fears were coming true. "It''s no one''s fault," Glim hurried to explain. "You had too much to cover, and not enough time." "Yeah." Akari crossed her arms and glared at the world in general. "So Elend didn''t want me to know about this?" "That''s not the secret part." She zipped across the court, taking the form of a floating disc, roughly a dozen feet away. The disc had several colored circles inside it, with a yellow bullseye at its center. Akari furrowed her brow. "I don''t get it." "We''re playing a game," she said. "It will help your test scores." "How?" "Duh. You hit the target as fast as you can." Akari rolled her eyes. "How''s it help my test scores?" "That''s the part we can''t tell Elend. And I can''t tell you either." Akari shrugged and began cycling her mana. She shot a pure Missile from her right palm and hit the disc in its yellow center. Ding! The sound echoed through the court as the disc faded to mist. The words "Round Two" appeared in the air, and two more discs replaced the first one. And while the first disc had been static, these bobbed up and down like ducks on a windy lake. So ... it got harder every time? Akari fell into a proper combat stance this time. She extended both hands, hitting the discs in unison. This went on for several minutes. By the tenth round, the discs were no bigger than her fists. They also started moving amid a sea of obstacles, forcing her to curve her mana around them. By Round Fifteen, the discs were teleporting to random positions, giving her less than a second to strike. After that, they grew protective shells, and it took all her strength to break them. The game started fighting back at Round Twenty. Enemy Constructs shot Akari''s Missiles out of the air. One of them even shot directly at her, and she just barely dodged in time. Akari struggled to keep up, but the later rounds had left her mana drained. The game finally ended at Round Twenty One when an enemy Missile struck her in the stomach. "Good start," said Glim''s voice from somewhere across the court. "That was 99 points." 99 points? That would have been an average score for the Missile portion of the admissions exam. Akari would know¡ªshe''d spent the past few weeks obsessing over these numbers. Could there be a connection? Elend had given her plenty of practice exercises, but there were no official practice tests. There couldn''t be¡ªthe tests were different every year, and no one was allowed to talk about them. "Alright," Glim said. "You better refill your mana because we''re onto the Construct portion!" Akari''s thoughts flashed back to the beginning of the session, and all the secrecy surrounding it. Elend was on the admissions board, which meant he probably had access to the tests. That meant Glim had access too. She remembered another conversation they''d had a few days before. "How do you feel about cheating?" Glim had asked her. "Hypothetically, I mean. Any moral objections?" "Guess it depends," Akari said. "Did I hypothetically promise someone I wouldn''t cheat?" "Nope.'' "And is it a game, or real life?" Glim cocked her head to the side. "Why''s that matter?" "You play games against your friends. We''re playing Real Life against an evil Mystic." Glim laughed at that. "Let''s say it''s real life." Akari nodded. "Guess I''m a cheater then." She''d almost forgotten that talk. Glim asked a lot of hypothetical questions, after all. But ... Talek. What if these weren''t just practice games? What if these were the actual admissions exams? Book 3 - Chapter 7: Admissions The next few weeks passed in a blur of training, and exam day finally came. Akari sat in the front seat of Relia¡¯s bright blue Ethereal, watching the wipers slide back and forth against the slick windshield. The sun had actually shown its face this morning, but the rain still fell in a steady stream from the storm clouds above. It made the whole scene look fake, as if a special effects team had stamped a dark sky against a bright urban landscape. Relia tried making small talk as they drove, but Akari was too busy being an anxious train wreck. She¡¯d logged hundreds of practice hours this past month, but would that be enough? Would it make up for not being an Apprentice? It doesn¡¯t matter, she tried to tell herself. She could always get into the pre-Artegium program and apply again next year. But it did matter, and every day made a difference. Elend had lectured them endlessly on the importance of life outside Mana Arts, but that was a double-edged blade. Relia would die if she didn¡¯t advance fast enough, and Akari and Kalden would drift even farther apart. Without advancement, she¡¯d never save her father, or the thousands of others she¡¯d sent to the Archipelago. Without advancement, she¡¯d never defeat the Mystic who started this. She understood Elend¡¯s lessons, and she¡¯d followed his advice to the letter. But at the same time, there was no life without Mana Arts, and the stakes were as high today as they¡¯d ever been. They drove for another five minutes before they found a parking spot on the campus¡¯s northern border. Half a dozen other cars sat scattered around them, but the other two hundred spots lay empty. "Don''t get used to this," Relia said as she turned off the engine. ¡°This lot will be packed once classes start. I''ve literally seen fights break out over the last free space.¡± Akari unbuckled her seat belt with a shrug. "A two-mile walk isn''t so bad." Relia snorted as she opened the driver''s side door. "You wanna walk two miles in a Koreldon winter? Be my guest. Most people just take the train. Unless you''re a spoiled brat with a private driver." She gestured to a section of sidewalk along Chapel Street. "Just watch¡ªyou''ll see a whole row of shiny black Nobles parked along there." Akari held back a snicker. Hadn''t Kalden driven a shiny black car on Arkala? Plus, he¡¯d let Darren drive it, which was basically like having a chauffeur. The Student Admissions Office loomed tall on the other side of the street. This was more modern-looking than the rest of campus, with tall glass windows that reflected the morning sun. Akari and Kalden had gone here earlier this week for the written part of their exams. Kalden had scored a 99% that day, while Akari had gotten a 92.5%. Honestly though, she was fine with losing to Kalden in a game of book smarts. People wouldn¡¯t give a shit about written tests after this week. Her scores would go in some old filing cabinet, and that would be that. She was all for pushing and challenging herself. But sometimes, you looked a challenge in the eye, said ¡°screw that,¡± and got on with your life. But the mana portion was public knowledge. Akari could look up the scores of anyone who¡¯d ever taken it, from Elend and Irina, to Prime Minister Salerian himself. Even if she got in with a low score, her entire class would know. They¡¯d all question whether she deserved to be here, and¡ª Talek. She clenched her fists and shook her head. Stupid brain. Calm down. The concrete sidewalks turned to cobblestones as they stepped into the older parts of Koreldon University. Autumn was approaching in earnest, and the ancient trees dropped their leaves all over the lawns and walkways. Akari crunched the dead ones beneath her boots, and it almost made her feel better. They passed dozens of old brick buildings along the way. Some loomed over them like ancient castles, blocking out the sun. Others looked like ordinary houses, covered in vines with overgrown landscaping. Finally, the cobblestone path led them into the Artegium¡ª a smaller campus within the larger one. Nine buildings formed a massive ring around a field of grass, trees, and walkways. The library was the bullseye at the center of the ring. Five stories tall, the cylindrical structure had stained glass windows on every side. Each one depicted an image of a famous thinker or Mana Artists¡ªsome held books or artifacts while others showcased their aspects. To her left sat three buildings of various sizes¡ªAlchemy, Sigilcrafting, and Manatronics. The first two were small by KU standards¡ªjust two stories each, connected by an enclosed hallway. But Manatronics was bigger than both of them combined. Before this summer, Akari hadn¡¯t even known the difference between sigilcrafting and manatronics. Now, thanks to her long month of studying, she knew more than she¡¯d ever wanted to know. Sigilcrafting formed mana techniques. But instead of using your body and mind to form the techniques, you used a language of written shapes. These were the basis for Missile rods, portable shield Constructs, and protective clothing. Meanwhile, manatronics was all about using mana to power devices¡ªeverything from cars to computers. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. The three buildings on her right were all devoted to Healing Arts. And this was just for learning Healing Arts. Irina worked in a whole different section of campus where people actually practiced it. The Mana Arts and Sciences building was tucked somewhere in there too. That was the place where people put mana under microscopes and wrote equations about it. No offense to them, but it seemed like the most boring building in school. Last but not least, the Combat Arts Center filled the space ahead. Like Healing Arts, this section comprised several smaller structures¡ªthe arena, the classrooms, and the training hall. Relia led them inside the largest building where they signed in at the front desk. They filed out various forms here, then some older students escorted them deeper into the building. ¡°Good luck!¡± Relia waved at them as they left. ¡°I¡¯ll be here when you get back!¡± ~~~ Elend leaned over the metal rail, waiting for the next three contestants to step into their respective dojos. As always, they went alphabetically by last name. This put Kalden in the seventh group, and Akari dead-last in the eighth group. Elend had missed most of the exams before this week. Especially the Pre-Artegium students, who¡¯d all tested at the end of their spring semester. These last minute tests were the rarest, and you needed a letter of recommendation just to be here. His eyes settled on the middle room where Kalden stepped inside. Like many of the others, he approached the one way glass, looked up, and gave the judges a formal salute. ¡°No prosthetics?¡± asked Grandmaster Benten from nearby. ¡°Still under construction,¡± Elend said with a quick shake of his head. Benten was probably asking about temporary prosthetics rather than final ones, but that answer should be obvious. The temporaries wouldn¡¯t help Kalden pass this test, so it looked far more impressive to enter with only three fingers. Kalden played it safe for the first dozen rounds, using plain Missiles to strike his targets with precision. He was the very picture of a perfect student, never letting his missing hand slow him down. Despite that, all eyes turned toward him as he climbed into the higher levels. Elend could practically see the question waiting on their lips: how could he possibly keep up with only one hand? Good. Keep them in suspense. Round Sixteen came, and Kalden watched the targets appear inside their protective shells. Understanding dawned on his face, and he began shaping a Construct in his left hand. ¡°That looks like blade mana,¡± Master Benten said. ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± Grandmaster Razan spoke up. ¡°That¡¯s pure mana in blade form.¡± The Shokenese professor was a Blade Artist himself, so of course he¡¯d be the first to explain it. By Round Twenty, Kalden had four blades orbiting his body¡ªtoo quick for anyone but a Master to follow. These protected him as the game fought back. All the while, blades broke out from the orbit, striking his targets with the same precision as before. ¡°Amazing.¡± Razen leaned forward, running two fingers through his thin black beard. ¡°It¡¯s like he recreated an entire aspect with pure mana.¡± Elend didn¡¯t correct his colleague. As usual, people were most impressed by things they couldn¡¯t easily explain. Zukan Kortez had put on an impressive show earlier in the week. His scores were the best they¡¯d seen all year, but at least his performance made sense. As a Sunspear Artist, he was all raw power and precision¡ªperfectly suited to a test like this. Elise Moonfire had been the second-best performance they¡¯d seen. As a Dream Artist, she relied mostly on her pure mana for this test. But unlike Kalden and Akari, she¡¯d spent these past few years training her shaping skills to perfection. She¡¯d also spent a full year as an Apprentice, which gave her much more power and control over her own mana. ¡°This should be impossible,¡± Razen went on. ¡°These fighting techniques come from the aspect¡¯s knowledge component. He¡¯s too young to learn these from scratch.¡± Elend¡¯s gaze shifted back to the room below as Kalden reached the upper twenties. By now, the other two tests had ended, and he had the board¡¯s full attention. Kalden¡¯s movements were flawless as he dodged, parried, and destroyed his opponents. Elend knew the lad had been afraid when he¡¯d first walked in, but now he conquered those fears through sheer force of will. Despite losing a hand and two fingers, he drew from a secret reserve of strength beyond his years. Some inner-focus that belonged to a much stronger Mana Artist. Kalden''s life was a mess. He devoted no time to rest or socializing, and he had no direction for his career. But when he truly prepared for a single moment, he delivered. But of course he did. Kalden Trengsen had been a champion duelist back in Last Haven. His parents had forced him to train without end, and he¡¯d coped with it by focusing even harder. He controlled what he could, and he shut out the world. Blade mana would be a waste for someone like him. Especially when he could already make the same techniques with pure mana. Irina knew it, and the admissions board knew it too. If Kalden chose something besides blade mana, he would essentially have three aspects. But Elend couldn¡¯t force the lad the way he¡¯d forced Akari. Akari was a wildcard who needed to learn about trust and discipline. Kalden was the opposite¡ªhe was already a champion, but sometimes, he forgot to be a human too. To be human was to choose for yourself, and that choice had to come from inside him. Kalden finished the Missile portion at Round Twenty Nine, with a final score of 135. That gave him the second highest score this year for the Missile portion¡ªone point ahead of Elise Moonfire, and four points behind Zukan Kortez. After that, he walked away with a below-average score of 98 on the Construct portion. But Elend had expected that¡ªanyone below Master would need ten good fingers for this level of shaping. As impressive as Kalden¡¯s blades were, this proved he was a one-trick raptor in the Construct department. He fared better in the Cloak portion, scoring a grand total of 103 points. The lad had Relia to thank for that. She¡¯d put his body under intense stress back in Creta, and this helped him compete with some of the more experienced Apprentices. Still, he was a long way from the top. Zukan Kortez had come in first on the Cloak portion, scoring an impressive 146. Not only was that ten points higher than any other applicants, but it rivaled many students in their second year. By the end of the session, Kalden had a total score of 336. Elend didn¡¯t have the list handy, but he guessed this was enough to put the lad in the top ten of his incoming class. Kalden and the others bowed again before they left. Even from twenty feet away, Elend could see the thick layer of sweat on their faces. There was a short intermission afterward, and his peers discussed the results among themselves. Elend remained silent for most of this. Aside from answering the occasional question, he let Kalden¡¯s performance speak for itself. Would it be the same for Akari? He was about to find out. The doors opened once again, and the last three contestants stepped forward. Book 3 - Chapter 8: Behind the Mask Akari Zeller had never been one for swaggering. More often than not, the girl shuffled around with her eyes on her shoes. Unless she was angry or desperate, then she¡¯d stomp her feet and glare at you. Today, she strolled into the dojo like she owned the place. And while the others had all been stiff and serious, Akari looked like someone had pulled her out of bed and dragged her here against her will. A few loose strands of hair covered her left eye. and ¡­ was she chewing gum? He¡¯d never seen Akari chew gum. Not once. She was channeling Dream Akari¡ªthe version of herself she¡¯d unlocked with her memories. The display wasn''t quite enough to look cocky, but the message was clear. This was someone who was eager to get on with her life. ¡°And here comes the Foundation.¡± Dansin Roth said. ¡°This should be good.¡± Elend couldn¡¯t see his fellow professor from here, but the man made no effort to hide his distaste. Well, the joke was on him. His complaints sent several heads turning in Akari¡¯s direction, which could only be a good thing. Obscurity was the real enemy in this exam. Akari didn¡¯t look at the one-way glass, much less salute or bow. She didn¡¯t even bother with last-minute breathing exercises or warmups. She simply approached the line and waited. I can work with that. From the board¡¯s perspective, she¡¯d already been accepted to her number one school, and KU was her backup. He¡¯d even helped her apply to other schools to reinforce that story. However, Elend never would have advised the attitude. She¡¯d need some truly astounding scores to make that work. Otherwise, she¡¯d just look careless and immature. A few more seconds passed, then the first target appeared across the dojo. Akari flicked her wrist as if swatting a fly, and her Missile arced across the room, taking the disc straight in the yellow bullseye. This went on for several more rounds. Akari made lazy swatting gestures at the targets, earning the full five points every time. At Round Seven, she began pacing around like a cat, cracking her neck and rolling her shoulders. She even removed her glasses and polished them on her shirtsleeve. At Round Ten, she spat out her gum and began searching for a wastebasket. The dojo was empty, of course, and a line of irritation formed on her brow when she realized that. She glared up at the window as if the professors were somehow to blame. She rummaged through her pocket, pulled out a tissue, and wrapped it up. She did this while curving her mana in complex patterns around the obstacles, earning a perfect score every time. Elend burst out laughing, drawing several glances from his peers. Dansin Roth groaned. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s all waste a half hour for Elend¡¯s amusement.¡± The younger man leaned forward to face him. ¡°We¡¯ve dealt with your bullshit before, but this?¡± ¡°Oh, no.¡± Elend continued chuckling to himself before wiping a tear from his eye. ¡°I told her to work on her showmanship. That¡¯s all.¡± He refrained from pointing out the obvious¡ªif Dansin considered this a waste, he could ignore Akari and watch the other contestants. But they all knew she was Elend¡¯s student. And now she had them at the edge of their seats, waiting for her to mess up. Akari continued her ascent through the rounds, and Elend¡¯s eyes turned to a faint image of Glim in the glass window. She wasn¡¯t really there, of course¡ªa room full of Masters would have sensed the mana. Rather, she projected her image straight into his mind. ¡®I know you¡¯re responsible for this,¡¯ he told her. Glim smiled back. ¡®I know that you know.¡¯ Akari reached Round Twenty, and she didn''t flinch when the exam shot Missiles back at her. She sidestepped their attacks, letting them crash into the wooden pillars behind her. Then she wove her mana around the offensive Constructs, destroying her targets yet again. Dansin pressed a button on his earpiece. ¡°Bring out the non-standards for Zeller.¡± The non-standard levels were mainly for students re-taking this exam. But they also helped guard against cheaters, or anyone else with insider knowledge. Honestly, Elend had expected this switch several rounds ago. Dansin must have hoped she¡¯d embarrass herself without it. As it was, she¡¯d achieved an average score without breaking a sweat. Akari kept her face blank as she cleared two of the non-standard rounds. Elend turned to meet Glim¡¯s smug expression. ¡®You ready for what comes next?¡¯ ¡®You know we are.¡¯ True enough. Elend had predicted his opponent¡¯s next move, which meant Glim would predict it too. ¡°Switch to generation for Zeller,¡± Dansin said into his headset. Sometimes, nonstandard levels weren¡¯t enough. Sometimes, the admissions board would generate new levels on the spot. And these levels wouldn¡¯t be random. Oh, no. They¡¯d counter her strengths and test her weaknesses. Once again, Akari didn¡¯t react as she faced these new challenges. Good. If she¡¯d changed her tune now, it could have given something away. Masters saw a lot, but he trusted Glim to account for that. As a Dream Artist, Elend knew more about human emotion than anyone in this room, and Glim was an extension of his own mind. To him, Akari¡¯s act was as clear as glass. Deep down, she might even be more desperate than any contestant they¡¯d seen all year. And if she dwelled on that fear for even a second, this entire plan would crumble around her. But his peers fell for the act. Not because they were blind, but because people saw what they expected to see. Akari was so far beneath them, they couldn¡¯t imagine the battle she waged behind the mask. Elend leaned forward in his chair,ready to object if Dansin ordered any more changes. Fortunately, he knew the rules. A third party handled the level design, and the board couldn¡¯t interfere beyond making the switch. Below, Akari moved with the same nonchalance as before. Like Kalden, she¡¯d outlasted the other two contestants, which put all eyes on her. ¡®What have you been doing?¡¯ Elend thought to Glim. It was one thing to memorize a routine, but this? One room was pitch black, forcing her to rely only on her Silver Sight. Another room had no gravity, but Akari adapted to it at once, using Missiles to jolt her body from side to side. ¡®Please.¡¯ Glim waved a dismissive hand. ¡®They call this a challenge? Remember the training we did in high school?¡¯ Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Elend gave a slow nod, remembering the torturous setting they¡¯d made with dream mana. He¡¯d trained inside burning buildings, coughing back smoke and feeling the heat of the flames. He¡¯d trained with thousands of insects biting his skin, with war sounds blasting in his ears, and with his lungs full of water. ¡®Yep,¡¯ Glim confirmed. ¡®Stuff like that. For the record, she¡¯s way tougher than you were at sixteen. Like, twice as tough.¡¯ In that moment, Akari¡¯s bored expression seemed more inevitable than surprising. ¡®It¡¯s been so long,¡¯ Elend said. ¡®I never thought of using that strategy for her.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s a common flaw among humans. The better you get at something, the worse you are at teaching it. You forget what it¡¯s like to be a beginner.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re saying I¡¯m a bad teacher?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m saying you¡¯re good ¡­¡¯ She struck a pose with her chin resting on her hands. ¡®But I¡¯m amazing.¡¯ Elend certainly couldn¡¯t argue with Glim¡¯s results today, but he stopped that line of thought before he could follow it too far. Dansin would confront him after the test. When he did, Elend would prefer to tell the truth. Round Twenty Nine came and went, but the following round was merciless. Here, the enemy Constructs attacked far faster than ordinary humans. Akari blocked several of these, but her channels were still too weak to keep up. A barrage struck her torso, and the Missile portion ended in a flash. Still, she¡¯d done it. At 142 points, Akari Zeller had earned the highest Missile score this year. Unfortunately, the Construct portion brought her victory to a screeching halt. She put up a good fight in the first few rounds, forming the basic shapes with ease. But then came the full-body dome challenge. Even with the dojo refilling her mana each round, Akari lacked the raw power to make something so large. It wasn¡¯t even her fault¡ªjust simple math. The mass of the technique exceeded more than half her total mana, and the strength to move that mana required Apprentice-level channels. ¡°Pass,¡± Akari said with a shrug. Silence followed. One did not simply ¡°pass¡± a round in the Artegium Admission Exam. But understanding dawned on the room a second later. Contrary to what Dansin had said, Akari hadn¡¯t come here to waste their time. She knew this was mathematically impossible, and the board knew it too. Besides, this let her stay in control despite her failure. It wasn¡¯t much, but it fit with her carefully crafted persona. The Construct portion ended, displaying a final score of 79. That was technically below average, but still higher than anyone would have expected. If the Construct portion was hard for her, then the Cloak portion was downright impossible. Fortunately, Akari''s low body weight resulted in a relatively easy test, and she¡¯d trained hard in the gym this past month. This let her cobble together fifty points in the early rounds before failing in Round Six. Several seconds passed, then golden text appeared in the center of the dojo, displaying a total score of 271. Akari winced when she saw the number. It was a subtle gesture¡ªa tightening of her jaw and a slight wrinkling around her eyes¡ªbut Elend didn¡¯t miss it. ¡®She was aiming for 280,¡¯ Glim said. Elend didn¡¯t ask if she¡¯d hit that number during their training. It didn¡¯t matter now. ¡®It¡¯s fine,¡¯ he replied. ¡®We can work with this.¡± ~~~ ¡°I know what you¡¯re planning,¡± Dansin said as he followed Elend into the hall. The younger man was only a Master, with a chiseled face and a head of overly styled brown hair. But despite their difference in rank, they held equal positions inside the Artegium. Mostly because Dansin filled his day with busy work while Elend spent his time teaching actual students. Not to mention enjoying his life. ¡°You got me.¡± Elend held up his hands in mock surrender. ¡°I¡¯m trying to help my students. You know, the one thing all teachers do.¡± The other man put his hands on his hips, causing his suit jacket to flare open. ¡°You¡¯ve done more than that.¡± ¡°You mean the favors I called in from Moanna and Raizen? Seems only fair when you¡¯re marshaling your own forces against me.¡± ¡°Her score.¡± Dansin¡¯s voice cut the air like metal mana. ¡°No Foundation could pull that off.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to pass on your compliments.¡± His brow furrowed as he took a half step forward. ¡°What do you think will happen if we interview the girl?¡± ¡°You mean interrogate her?¡± Elend gave a shrug that put Akari¡¯s to shame. ¡°You¡¯ll find that she¡¯s trained hard and prepared for every possibility.¡± ¡°Every possibility, or this specific test?¡± ¡°I honestly couldn¡¯t say. I didn¡¯t coach her myself.¡± ¡°Of course you didn¡¯t.¡± Dansin nodded as if he¡¯d just made a decision. ¡°Sounds like we¡¯ll need that interview before we move forward.¡± A slow smile spread across Elend¡¯s face. ¡°Let¡¯s say you find what you¡¯re looking for. Let¡¯s say her practice test matches this one exactly. That doesn¡¯t break any rules.¡± ¡°No,¡± he said. ¡°But stealing the test schematics¡ª¡± ¡°Wow,¡± Elend cut in. ¡°First she¡¯s not good enough, and now¡ª¡± ¡°You know what I¡¯m implying.¡± ¡°What?¡± Elend pointed to his own chest. ¡°You think I did this?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re a powerful Dream Artist with access to the world¡¯s only mana spirit.¡± Ah yes, that pesky open secret. If Elend were to do his life over, he might have hidden Glim from all but his closest allies. Unfortunately, he¡¯d been a child when he made her, and he hadn¡¯t known what she¡¯d become. ¡°You know what¡¯ll happen if we dig deeper,¡± Dansin said. ¡°Zeller will get a rejection letter, no matter how well you covered your tracks. I¡¯m giving you a chance to pull out now¡ªprotect your reputation.¡± ¡°I think not,¡± Elend said. If Dansin were so confident, then why warn him beforehand? They weren¡¯t friends, and the other man wouldn¡¯t hesitate to take him down. ¡°You want me to show my trump card. You know I have one¡ªthat¡¯s why you¡¯re here.¡± Dansin put on a show of looking annoyed. ¡°Why bother with this girl, Elend? Why do you need her in the Artegium this year?¡± ¡°Honestly?¡± Elend said. ¡°I don¡¯t. She asked for my help, and I agreed.¡± He also had big plans for Akari, but those were long-term plans. Spending a year in the pre-Artegium program wouldn¡¯t have killed her, but he also understood her reasoning. Kalden and Relia were all she had, and friends meant far more to someone without a family. ¡°Now,¡± Elend said. ¡°Why are you so keen on opposing this?¡± ¡°Aside from the obvious?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you why,¡± Elend continued. ¡°Akari Zeller made some powerful enemies in Cadria. They¡¯d pay well to see her sabotaged today.¡± ¡°Bullshit. No one¡¯s offered me a bribe.¡± ¡°Not a financial bribe. But certain societies allow advancement to their loyal and hardworking members.¡± Dansin¡¯s expression remained blank, but Elend saw the tension in his shoulders and neck. ¡°Aye, I know about those emails. Curious, isn¡¯t it? First you accuse me of having an all-powerful mana spirit, then you challenge me to a game of detective.¡± ¡®All powerful,¡¯ Glim echoed inside his head. ¡®I like that.¡¯ This was only a bluff, but far from a shot in the dark. Grandmaster Raizen had received the same message, but he only feigned interest to infiltrate the group¡¯s ranks. Meanwhile, Dansin Roth was the very picture of reckless ambition. The other man¡¯s face darkened. ¡°First you cheat on this test, now you try to blackmail me?¡± Elend shook his head. ¡°Are you familiar with natural consequences, Dansin? You¡¯re the one suggesting an investigation here, and you¡¯re the one with bones under his bed. Meanwhile, my students and I have broken no rules. What was your theory, again? A mana spirit did it?¡± ¡®Well played,¡¯ Glim said. ¡®Even I¡¯m questioning my existence now.¡¯ Silence followed, and Elend clapped his colleague on the shoulder. ¡°Good luck with that.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 9: Welcome Week Kalden and his friends were eating lunch when Elend strode into the kitchen, waving a pair of white envelopes over his head. ¡°Gather ¡®round, everyone. I bring tidings of your fate.¡± Across the table, Akari froze with her soup spoon halfway to her mouth. Then it splashed back into the bowl as she processed his words. ¡°Did we get in?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t spoil the ending.¡± Elend placed the envelopes on the wooden table and slid them over. ¡°Read on. It¡¯s all part of the experience.¡± Akari tore into the paper like a kid on Midwinter morning. Some people liked to delay potentially bad news, but she wasn¡¯t one of them. Kalden couldn¡¯t help but agree. Ignorance might be bliss, but that so-called bliss came with hidden price tags. ¡°Come now.¡± Elend frowned at Akari, who¡¯d let a scrap of paper fall into her soup. ¡°We do have a letter opener, you know.¡± Kalden formed a Construct between his three good fingers, no bigger than a razor blade. He swiped it into the fold of the envelope, breaking the glue in one quick slice. With that done, he pulled out a small stack of papers written on the Koreldon University letterhead and read the one at the top: Dear Kalden Trengsen, On behalf of the Admissions Committee for the Artegium Combat Arts Program, we are delighted to offer you a place for the 870¨C871 school year. The letter went on to describe the program¡¯s fierce competition and high standards. Basically, it said not to get too comfortable, as many students didn¡¯t make it past their first year. Kalden breathed a sigh of relief and sank back in his chair. The Darklights had been confident in his chances, but he hadn¡¯t known for sure. He glanced across the table and saw Akari grinning at her own letter. ¡°You guys look happy,¡± Relia said. ¡°Good news?¡± ¡°Good news,¡± Kalden confirmed. Akari nodded, looking more relieved than he felt. Then she glanced up at Elend. ¡°What¡¯s this probation thing?¡± ¡°Probation?¡± Kalden glanced down at his own paper. It said he¡¯d need to show minimum improvements every semester¡ªboth in mana counts and test scores¡ªbut they never used the word ¡°probation.¡± Elend waved a hand. ¡°It means you¡¯ll need to show more improvement than most.¡± ¡°Obviously,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll be Apprentice by Midwinter, right?¡± ¡°Aye, this is the board flexing. They¡¯re letting you in, but it wasn¡¯t unanimous. This happens a few times every year.¡± Kalden watched Elend carefully as he spoke. Something about his tone said this was more than just business as usual. ¡°Anyone we should watch out for?¡± Elend paused, rubbing the silver stubble on his jawline. A second later, he released a dome of transparent mana around the table¡ªprobably a sound ward. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to worry you, but I suppose there¡¯s no point in waiting. I¡¯d stay away from Dansin Roth if I were you.¡± He turned to meet Akari¡¯s eyes. ¡°Someone wanted to keep you out of the Artegium this year, and they may have bribed Master Roth to do it.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Akari¡¯s eyes went as wide as her soup bowl. ¡°The Mystic?¡± ¡°No,¡± he said with a quick shake of his head. ¡°A different group called the Sons of Talek. They have ties to Clan Antano back in Creta.¡± Her brow furrowed at that. ¡°Thought the Dragonlord couldn¡¯t mess with us.¡± Elend opened his mouth, then closed it. They all knew about the oath, but he still couldn¡¯t confirm or deny anything about it. ¡°You killed Valeria Antano¡¯s son,¡± he finally said. ¡°It¡¯s possible she wants revenge behind her brother¡¯s back.¡± Kalden let out a long breath. He should have known Creta would come back to haunt them. And he doubted the Dragonlord¡¯s sister would stop at bribing an admission board member. ¡°But I wouldn¡¯t worry too much about Roth,¡± Elend said. ¡°He teaches upperclassmen, so you won¡¯t have him this year.¡± ¡°Even I don¡¯t have him yet,¡± Relia chimed in. Well, that was something at least. Akari had dealt with enough powerful enemies these past few years, so she¡¯d definitely earned a break. The conversation shifted to lighter topics as Elend went over their class schedules. First-year Combat students were placed in one of four class blocks, and each block included ten credits. Kalden and Akari were both in Block B, which meant they¡¯d have all their main classes together. Aside from that, they¡¯d need to sign up for one or two academic classes, depending on how fast they wanted to graduate. ¡°I¡¯d do the full sixteen credits,¡± Elend said. ¡°Your Artegium classes get harder every year, so it¡¯s better to pile things on now.¡± Kalden decided on Alchemy 145 for his first class. That would be time-consuming, but not difficult for someone with his experience. Besides, it would get him into the alchemy labs. As long as he gained the professors¡¯ trust, he¡¯d keep that access long after the class ended. He¡¯d been eying Shokenese 101 for his second class, but Elend steered them both toward Mana 122: Theoretical Aspects. That made perfect sense for Akari. Not only would this help her prepare for spacetime mana, but it gave her an easy subject to write about. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. As for Kalden ¡­ he¡¯d need to think about that some more. For now, he headed outside to continue his training. The rain fell in a slow trickle from the gray clouds above, while thicker streams ran down the roof and beneath the trees. Just as well, he preferred training with distractions. Distractions were the best way to prevent plateaus on a specific skill. ¡°Hey.¡± Akari slid open the glass door and stepped onto the covered patio behind him. Kalden nodded to her as he stared out into the misty backyard. ¡°Congrats on getting in. I doubt I could have pulled off that score as a Gold. Even with both my hands.¡± ¡°About that ¡­¡± Akari glanced around, then pressed a button on the nearby glass table. Walls of transparent mana formed all around the patio, and her footsteps echoed louder than before. ¡°I cheated,¡± she said after a short pause. Kalden cocked his head to the side. ¡°Glim helped me. She got a hold of the exam, then made a copy for me to practice on. We worked on it for almost two weeks.¡± Ah. That explained her Missile score. He knew Akari was good with Missiles, but better than every first-year Apprentice in Espiria? That was pushing it, even for her. Akari fidgeted in place for several heartbeats. Kalden forced out a smile. ¡°Guess you wouldn¡¯t be Akari Zeller if you played fair.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t regret it,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re at war, and I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to win.¡± Then she winced at her own words. ¡°I mean ¡­ not anything. I wouldn¡¯t betray you. Or Relia ¡­ or the Darklights.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Kalden said. ¡°I don¡¯t blame you for Last Haven. We were just kids then. We had no chance against Grandmasters or Mystics.¡± Akari swallowed hard, and her attention hung on every word he said. She was waiting for more, and Kalden knew what. She wanted them to go back to the way things were¡ªbefore he¡¯d regained his memories and lost his hand. But too much had changed during those last battles in Creta. He cleared his throat. ¡°The best thing now is to look ahead and focus on our training. Master by twenty-one, right?¡± ¡°Right,¡± she said with a firm nod. ~~~ Things grew more hectic over the next week. They were officially students now, and that meant a full schedule of appointments. On Irinday, they took a trip into campus to pick up their student IDs, combat uniforms, and other necessary equipment. The campus had seemed so peaceful in early Quadromber. Now, the roads and paths teemed with students as they moved into their dorms and houses. Even Relia moved back into her apartment on campus, though she still had a bedroom in the Darklight¡¯s estate. They headed back on Hansday and Kelsday for various orientation tours. The first few were for the general campus, while the last one was for the Artegium Combat Program. A year ago, Kalden never could have imagined he¡¯d end up in a place like this. He¡¯d originally planned to study alchemy at Ironhaven University on Arkala. He¡¯d toured that campus multiple times, but it was nowhere near this impressive. Ironhaven had been new, but not in a good way. The buildings in KU were ancient, carrying centuries of history and secrets. He felt like he could spend decades exploring and never fully understand this place. As if he could open a dusty old door and find a room no one had seen in decades. By contrast, each of Ironhaven¡¯s buildings was just four simple walls and a roof. The difference was like an ancient manuscript compared to a cheap brochure. He could only imagine how Akari felt about all this. A year ago, she¡¯d been facing a life on the streets, or a home with an abusive foster mother. They¡¯d both come so far, and they still had a long road ahead. ~~~ ¡°Here¡¯s the plan,¡± Relia said on Talekday morning. ¡°It¡¯s welcome weekend, right? And that means parties. Arturo Kazalla is having one down the street¡ªall the first-year Coms are invited.¡± Kalden glanced up from his eggs and franscon toast. The girls typically went on these weekend adventures together, and they always followed the same dance before they left. Relia would invite Kalden along, and he¡¯d politely decline. Now, she stared straight at him, a challenge in her bright green eyes. Kalden opened his mouth, but Relia spoke first. ¡°Look here, Mr. Overachiever. You want to fight in the battlegrounds, don¡¯t you? ¡± That sounded like a trick question, but how could it be? Training and studying were the keys to success, and he had big plans for this weekend. Especially the studying part¡ªhe always finished his textbooks before a new semester. It helped him stay ahead later when things got rough. He glanced at Akari who''d become suddenly fascinated with the dark kitchen cabinets. She sipped her coffee, but didn''t seem to be listening. ¡°Of course,¡± Kalden finally said. ¡°Good,¡± Relia leaned forward. ¡°Because we¡¯ll need a team of six to compete. How do you plan on meeting the other three members?¡± Kalden frowned at the implication. ¡°Won¡¯t our skills speak for themselves?¡± He¡¯d always kept to himself in Last Haven, and he¡¯d had no trouble finding teammates. Relia¡¯s wet hair bounced back and forth as she shook her head. ¡°The interschool battles don¡¯t even start until next semester. We have the qualifiers before that. And these aren¡¯t duels. They throw us all in a great big deathmatch. Anyone can form an alliance, but nothing¡¯s set in stone. That means you need allies you can trust. I tried competing last year, but people ganged up on me pretty quick.¡± ¡°Did you use your death mana?¡± Kalden asked. She narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°Sorry.¡± Kalden cleared his throat. ¡°Did you use your life mana to its ¡­ full potential?¡± ¡°No.¡± Her shoulders sagged, and she sat back in her chair. ¡°But that wouldn¡¯t have mattered. Even the strongest Artists can¡¯t make it alone.¡± ¡°That¡¯s bullshit,¡± Akari finally cut in. ¡°Rich kids always have tons of friends.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Relia said. ¡°And their parents donate to the Artegium. The tradition isn¡¯t fair, but that¡¯s the compromise. It gives the rich kids an edge, while everyone else still has a chance.¡± ¡°A chance,¡± Akari deadpanned. Kalden gave a slow nod. In previous centuries, Mana Arts had been restricted to the rich and powerful. Before that, it had been secret sects on mountaintops. Today, anyone could learn the basics through public schools or libraries. You could even learn on the internet if you knew how to find Elend¡¯s videos. All that public knowledge meant more competition for the so-called rich kids. Of course they¡¯d cling to small advantages like this. And if Kalden had to guess, he¡¯d say the Mystics guarded just as many secrets as the Martials and the Dragonlord. Relia met Kalden¡¯s eyes again. ¡°Do you see my point now?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Kalden let out a breath. ¡°The qualifying rounds have started, and we¡¯re already behind.¡± In hindsight, he¡¯d been a fool for not seeing this sooner. He could always study later, but there was only one welcome week. This really was their best chance to meet potential allies. ¡°Good.¡± Relia grinned, glancing back and forth between them. ¡°So like I said, we¡¯re going to a party tonight.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 10: Soulshine or Death They left for the party at around nine o¡¯clock that evening. Akari wore the outfit she¡¯d bought from Warder¡¯s¡ªa patterned skirt and a leather vest over a bright red top that showed off her missing belly button. Kalden¡¯s eyes lingered on her as they left, and she gave herself a mental high-five. The Kazalla estate was technically just five doors down, but Grandmasters liked their massive yards. That meant they had to walk at least half a mile, crossing several rivers that divided the property lines like tiny nations. The house itself was bigger than the Darklights¡¯, not to mention more modern, with its geometric shapes and towering windows. Lights flashed from behind the glass, and dozens of figures moved through the lower floors. They couldn¡¯t hear any music from the street, but that made sense. If Arturo Kazalla made a habit of throwing parties, he probably had enough sound wards to keep the neighbors happy. Her suspicions were confirmed a second later as they crossed the barrier at the front door. Talek. One second, they heard crickets and frogs singing in the river. Now, the bass was loud enough to rattle her bones. Akari stuck close to her friends as they wove their way through the crowded foyer. Everyone here looked relaxed, but her stupid body kept bracing itself for attacks. Back in the Archipelago, Silvers and Golds had expected her to stand aside, and she''d usually break before she''d bend. And then Tureko had been even worse with its two factions all crammed into a single city. Not to mention the actual war she''d fought in. So yeah, crowds sucked, and parties were no exception. But at least they were doing something together for once. All three of them, just like before. They wandered into a larger room with a dance floor and a bar. Spotlights hung from the ceiling, while a cloud of mist blanketed the floor, reflecting the colors from above. The mist was definitely dream mana, but Akari couldn''t say how she knew that. Maybe it was some glitch in the way it moved, like those leaves in Faeland Mall. Or maybe it was the smell. Dream mana always smelled like mana, regardless of what it pretended to be. Elend and Glim could layer fresh scents on top of theirs, but even they couldn''t erase the foundation. Kalden led them around the edges, avoiding the dance floor and heading straight for the bar. He looked good tonight, with his black denim jacket and fitted gray pants. He also looked far more relaxed than she felt. ¡°Double Ace of Stone, please,¡± he said as he leaned on the bar¡¯s wooden counter. The bartender pulled out a bottle of amber liquid and poured two shots into a short glass. He could have passed for a professional with his smooth movements, but he barely looked older than anyone else here. Kalden accepted the glass and dropped a ten esper note into the tip jar. Relia tapped Akari on the shoulder and nodded across the room. ¡°That¡¯s her. In the blue dress.¡± Akari turned to see a young woman gliding through the room with her entourage. Her dress had hundreds of tiny mana crystals stitched into the fabric, sparkling against the light. More crystals decorated her golden braids, and it seemed like too much for a simple college party. Elise Moonfire. Apparently, the Moonfires had given birth to a second daughter after they¡¯d cut ties with Relia. The odds of having two kids with krustoplegia were like one in a thousand, so it wasn¡¯t as crazy as it sounded. Akari almost made a snarky comment about the girl¡¯s outfit, but the words didn¡¯t come. All heads turned to face Elise as she passed through the room. Some people stood up straighter, and others gazed with wide-eyed envy. She wasn''t overdressed. if anything, they were all¡ª "Okay,¡± Relia said. "You guys can stop gawking now." Kalden coughed and sipped his drink. Akari kept on staring as if she had nothing to hide. ¡°It¡¯s dream mana," Relia explained. ¡°She does it to make you like her.¡± ¡°What?¡± Akari spun to face Relia. ¡°You can do that?¡± She nodded. ¡°Check your Silver Sight.¡± Akari relaxed her vision and took in the bright sea of souls around the dance floor. But as her eyes adjusted to the onslaught, she spotted more mana currents twisting through the air. They all flowed out from Relia¡¯s sister, striking every mind within twenty feet. ¡°You¡¯ve really never talked before?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°I tried once, but she ignored me.¡± Relia turned back to the bartender and asked for a virgin Sea Breeze. As usual, her body purged alcohol, so she didn¡¯t bother drinking it. Kalden sipped his drink again. ¡°You think she knows?¡± ¡°Maybe. I doubt our parents confirmed anything, but they probably told her to stay away from me.¡± Akari turned back to the bar and glanced at the row of liquor bottles, from dark-colored corzi to clear agavo. A few kegs of beer sat on the floor below, along with wine bottles that stuck out from the ice-filled coolers. ¡°Know what you want?¡± the bartender asked. Akari shrugged, then shot a glance at Kalden. She¡¯d planned to think about this some more, but now he¡¯d put her on the spot. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll have whatever he had.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Relia said. ¡°Do you even like corzi?¡± ¡°Dunno. I¡¯ve never tried it.¡± ¡°Exactly. You¡¯ve never drank before.¡± The bartender gave her an amused grin, then went on to help someone else. ¡°Whose fault is that?¡± Akari said with narrowed eyes. ¡°Yeah, sorry I saved you from brain damage that one time.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying I can¡¯t handle corzi?¡± ¡°No, no.¡± Relia held out her hands. ¡°I¡¯m saying you need to learn Missiles before you learn Constructs.¡± ¡°Here you go.¡± The bartender returned with an open bottle. ¡°Koreldon City Porter, twelve percent.¡± ¡°Perfect,¡± Relia said. ¡°And remember, the corzi would¡¯ve been forty.¡± Akari nodded her thanks, then took a good long swallow. That would teach them to¡ª She coughed halfway through, then wrinkled her nose. Kalden and Relia each burst out laughing, and even the bartender chuckled under his breath. ¡°Smaller sips next time,¡± Kalden suggested. Akari followed their advice as she brought the bottle back to her lips. ~~~ Kalden wandered away as Akari and Relia took to the dance floor. Neither seemed interested in breaking out of their little group, despite all that talk of building alliances. Oh well. He should have known he¡¯d be doing all the work tonight. Then again, did he even know what to do? Maelyn and Darren had handled his networking back on Arkala. What had they done at parties like this? Well, Darren and Maelyn had already known everyone, so maybe that wasn¡¯t the best comparison. Kalden had taken the reins at the Gold parties, with his friends fading into the background. But even then, he¡¯d already started on top of the social ladder. He¡¯d known all the right people, and they¡¯d known him. How was he supposed to start from scratch? Like any other skill, he reminded himself. He¡¯d find an ideal to aim for, then work to close the gap. Darren and Maelyn had shown genuine interest in other people, asking them dozens of questions about their lives. Most importantly, they found out what people wanted and then helped them get it. Kalden¡¯s mind worked in a far more utilitarian way, always thinking of straightforward exchanges. He¡¯d first met Akari when he offered his computer in exchange for her hacking services. It had been the same with Relia and Elend¡ªthey¡¯d all needed help to escape the island, and they¡¯d worked together to accomplish that goal. But these qualifier rounds required a more subtle touch. After all, what good were simple exchanges in a game of betrayals? And so Kalden started making his rounds through the house, introducing himself to the smaller groups. It was awkward at first, but it got better every time. The majority of people had gone through the pre-Artegium program, so they already had their friend lists carved in stone. Still, many others had transferred here from other schools, and they were eager to expand their own circles Eventually, his rounds took him into a massive home theater with tiered seating. The screen showed a battle between Mana Artists in a massive canyon. It could have been the Everrest Gorge in New Cadria, or even the Serpent Rift in South Shoken. Hard to say from this angle. Everyone on screen fought in smaller groups of six or seven. They looked young enough to be college students¡ªApprentices, judging by their techniques. Occasionally, the program broke away from the battles to show scoreboards or commentary. They even showed footage of students gathering food and sleeping in tents. Kalden turned to someone on his left and pointed at the screen. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°What?¡± The young man turned to the screen, then back to Kalden. He was Cadrian, with his black hair cropped close to his head. His outfit was brighter than anyone else in the room¡ªwhite shorts and a yellow track jacket with matching yellow sneakers. ¡°That¡¯s last year¡¯s qualifying rounds.¡± The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Seriously?¡± Relia had mentioned a free-for-all, but he¡¯d imagined an arena. This canyon could have gone on for miles, and those tents and campfires suggested a multi-day event. ¡°Yeah, shoko. You¡¯re telling me you¡¯ve never seen it?¡± Kalden chuckled and scratched the back of his head. ¡°I¡¯ve been busy. Studying, training¡ªtrying to make it this far.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± He gave a knowing nod. ¡°I know how that goes. Sorry, where are my manners?¡± He switched his beer bottle to his left hand and extended his right. ¡°I¡¯m your host, Arturo Kazalla.¡± ¡°Kalden Trengsen.¡± He reached out with his mana prosthetic and clasped the offered wrist. It still felt strange to clasp a wrist without actually feeling it, but he¡¯d gotten much better these past few weeks. ¡°How long does this game last?¡± Kalden asked when the screen switched to another campfire scene. ¡°Depends,¡± Arturo said. ¡°This one lasted for three days. Some go longer, some go shorter. All depends on the theme that year.¡± ¡°The Artegium really lets it drag on?¡± He laughed. ¡°You kidding, shoko? They make more on advertising than all our tuitions combined.¡± Well, that explained a few things. Kalden knew they profited from the interschool battlegrounds, but he¡¯d never known the qualifiers were televised in the same way. Arturo was clearly an expert on this subject, and he was more than happy to talk non-stop for the next ten minutes. Kalden learned how these arenas were made of dream mana, despite being several miles wide. This let everyone use lethal techniques with no risk of injuring each other. Some years, they even had vehicles, ranging from cars to helicopters to airships. The audience got sucked into the narrative aspect too, along with all the plots and betrayals that came with it. Invisible cameras revealed secret meetings, and those meetings revealed the students¡¯ true nature. Some people even got famous for their personalities as well as their Mana Arts. That rubbed Kalden the wrong way, but Arturo assured him it didn¡¯t mean much. ¡°People try to gain groupies,¡± he said. ¡°Some even get their own online fan clubs. But it¡¯s a waste of time. At the end the day, it all comes down to Mana Arts.¡± Arturo eventually returned to his hosting duties, and Kalden returned to the main room to find his friends. ~~~ ¡°There you are.¡± Akari set down her beer bottle and approached Kalden. Two drinks in, and she finally had the courage to do this. Well, technically, she¡¯d never been afraid, but her stupid brain had held her back before. Give him space, she¡¯d kept thinking. Focus on training. But that was bullshit. She¡¯d given him an entire month to recover. And they¡¯d gotten into the Artegium. What use was training if you didn¡¯t savor the rewards? I¡¯m a badass Mana Artist, she reminded herself for the ten thousandth time. Not some socially awkward girl. ¡°Here I am.¡± Kalden stretched out his arms, looking more relaxed than he¡¯d looked all summer. Clearly, he¡¯d had more than one glass of corzi. Akari took a deep breath and asked the question she¡¯d been waiting for. ¡°You wanna dance?¡± Kalden froze, and his eyes darted between her and the crowded floor. ¡°I¡¯m not much of a dancer.¡± Fortunately, she¡¯d predicted his parry and planned accordingly. ¡°They didn¡¯t teach you dancing in the fancy Gold world?¡± ¡°They did. But that was ballroom dancing ¡­¡± He trailed off, and nodded toward some people grinding against each other. ¡°Not whatever this is.¡± He¡¯d overextended with his second deflection, and Akari seized the advantage, reaching out and taking his left hand in hers. His fingers were cool to the touch, but that was no surprise. She¡¯d been dancing with Relia until now. That is, until Relia ditched her for some random boy. Akari reached for his prosthetic hand next, but he pulled it away. ¡°Sorry,¡± Kalden said. That single word hit harder than all the others, and she could do nothing but retreat. ¡°Don¡¯t look so scared.¡± Akari forced a small laugh as she dropped his other hand. ¡°I was just messing with you. I don¡¯t like dancing either.¡± Kalden didn¡¯t fall for it. He held her gaze for several long heartbeats, choosing his next words with care. Akari held her breath as she waited. She really didn¡¯t care if they danced or not. She¡¯d settle for one real conversation. Kalden had become the very thing Elend had warned her about¡ªsomeone who lived for training at the cost of everything else. Worst of all, she didn¡¯t know how to pull him back. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for leading you on before,¡± Kalden said. ¡°That wasn¡¯t right.¡± Akari stiffened, and her stomach turned to an ice cube. His gaze broke away from hers and settled on his prosthetic hand. ¡°I need to figure some things out first ¡­ on my own.¡± That wasn¡¯t just an excuse this time. That was a rejection, and it struck her like a Missile to the face. But why should it? She¡¯d always known that moment on the rooftop was too good to be true. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Akari said. ¡°It¡¯s cool. Do whatever you need.¡± Her eyes burned, but she blinked that feeling away. By now, she¡¯d fought in several real wars. She¡¯d watched friends die, and she¡¯d taken lives herself. Those were real reasons for tears. Kalden Trengsen was not. ~~~ The following morning, Relia pulled her blue Ethereal into a free parking spot by the pier. She unbuckled her seatbelt, grabbed her Jumpstart cup, and stepped outside into the salty morning breeze. Relia had never been a morning person. Sure, she could wake up early if she had to, but she¡¯d never choose morning workouts like her friends. Koreldon mornings were always so cold, and no amount of clothing or coffee would make that go away. But she had to admit, the sunrises were pretty. Even if her eyes were blurry from yawning. Relia took another long drink from her coffee cup and walked down the long wooden pier. She found Kalden sitting on a bench a few minutes later. Unlike Relia, who¡¯d bundled up in three layers of clothing, Kalden just wore his shorts and t-shirt. She¡¯d probably feel warmer too if she¡¯d jogged five miles, but training was for the afternoons. ¡°Hey.¡± Kalden removed his earbuds when he saw her. ¡°Didn¡¯t know you came this way.¡± Relia shrugged and raised her coffee cup. ¡°Jumpstart sounded good.¡± He nodded to the empty spot beside him. ¡°Wanna sit?¡± Relia sat down, and they watched the sun creep up over the gray waters. ¡°It feels weird,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Seeing the ocean without a mana wall between us.¡± Relia nodded as she took another sip of her coffee. ¡°I was surprised the first time too. You never really get used to it.¡± And that was the extent of their small talk. Another gust of wind blew over the sea, and Relia tightened her scarf. Well, she¡¯d come here for a reason, and there was no turning back now. She took a deep breath and turned to face Kalden. ¡°Do you still like Akari, or not?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a personal question.¡± Kalden raised an eyebrow. ¡°Did she say to you something last night?¡± ¡°No, she said everything¡¯s fine. She said you need your space, and she¡¯s cool with that.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Kalden said warily. ¡°And that''s a problem because ¡­ ? ¡°Because she¡¯s lying.¡± Kalden winced. ¡°I was afraid of that. I know we¡¯ve had misunderstandings before, so I tried to be as clear as I could.¡± Relia clutched her cup tighter. ¡°I know you two were almost a couple before. What happened?¡± Kalden sighed. ¡°You really woke up early and drove five miles just to ask me that?¡± ¡°Come on ¡­¡± Relia trailed off, then glanced left and right as if she¡¯d see some clever lie written in the gray waves. Nothing came. ¡°Yeah.¡± She blew out a breath of air. ¡°Pretty much.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Kalden asked ¡°You two are my best friends. I want to help.¡± ¡°But we already talked about this last night. I don¡¯t need any help.¡± ¡°I get it,¡± Relia said. ¡°You need your space. But are you actually working through your problems, or are you pushing them under the rug?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already got a therapist,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Yeah, Akari said that too.¡± The Darklights had sent both her friends to therapy once they¡¯d returned from Creta. That was partially to help them process the trauma of battle, but also to clear them for the Artegium. After all, the world¡¯s top civilian combat program didn¡¯t want to train a bunch of bloodthirsty psychopaths. She knew Akari and Kalden had both passed, but she¡¯d heard little beyond that. ¡°Anyway,¡± Relia said. ¡°Are you?¡± ¡°Am I what?¡± ¡°Pushing your problems under the rug.¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Kalden held up his prosthetic mana hand. ¡°I got injured, and that set me back. I¡¯ll never be the Mana Artist I was before. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s one thing to admit it, but are you living with it?¡± He frowned. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± She shrugged. ¡°Sometimes, it seems like you only live for the future. Someday, when your hands are healed. Someday, when you¡¯re at the top of the class. But someday¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªnever comes,¡± Kalden finished for her. ¡°I know. You¡¯ve said that before. So has Elend.¡± ¡°Well?¡± Relia pressed. Kalden glanced back at the water. He obviously regretted asking her to sit down but she pressed on. Someone had to. Otherwise, they could easily go another month like this. ¡°You think Akari likes you less because you lost your hand in battle? Knowing her, she probably¡ª¡± ¡°No,¡± Kalden interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m not saying it¡¯s rational.¡± ¡°I get it. You want to spend all your time brooding alone. But Akari¡¯s the opposite.¡± ¡°The opposite?¡± ¡°Remember how she always cuddled up to you after a fight?¡± Kalden nodded. ¡°She needs to feel like she¡¯s not a monster.¡± ¡°Right, and she¡¯s still dealing with that Last Haven stuff.¡± ¡°I told her I don¡¯t blame her for that.¡± Relia shrugged. ¡°Like you said, it¡¯s not rational. But the feelings are still real. You¡¯re a perfectionist. You think everything needs to be perfect before you can be with her.¡± ¡°Guilty as charged,¡± Kalden said without a hint of shame. ¡°But Akari loves you now. You guys are both just too cool to talk about it.¡± Kalden stiffened. ¡°Let¡¯s not make this more dramatic than it needs to be. We¡¯ve only known each other for a year.¡± Relia tried to hold up a single finger, but her mittens ruined the effect. ¡°First of all, that¡¯s not true. You¡¯ve known each other since you were kids, even if the memories are fuzzy.¡± For once, Kalden didn¡¯t have a retort. ¡°And so what? It¡¯s not so weird to love someone after a year. If anything, it¡¯s weird that you think it¡¯s weird.¡± Kalden gave an irritated sigh. ¡°Am I allowed to have space or not? Because it seems like everyone¡¯s feelings are valid but mine.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you compromise somehow? Can¡¯t you at least talk to her for more than two minutes? We¡¯re supposed to be a team, but you¡¯re not acting like a team player.¡± Kalden¡¯s eyes shifted, growing more focused than before. Darn it. She¡¯d definitely said the wrong thing there. Kalden never let himself lose arguments. Escalating things was the worst move she could have made. ¡°What about you?¡± he finally asked. ¡°Are you acting like a team player right now? We all promised each other we¡¯d advance together, but you can¡¯t reach Artisan this year if you don¡¯t take soulshine.¡± Relia¡¯s blood grew cold, and it had nothing to do with the ocean wind. ¡°But you¡¯re too stubborn to take it. Aren¡¯t you putting your needs above the team there?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been over this,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll support the soulshine industry if I take it. How many more babies will be born with krustoplegia because of me?¡± ¡°Zero,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Not directly. You¡¯ll only save yourself. Then you can use your life to make the world a better place.¡± ¡°Everyone says that,¡± she muttered. ¡°Every soulshiner has an excuse, including my parents. But krustoplegia would go away if we all stopped taking it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen the numbers,¡± Kalden said. ¡°You can¡¯t escape basic math. Either you take soulshine this semester, or you¡¯ll die.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather die for this cause than back down,¡± Relia said. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m giving up. I¡¯ve been looking for alternatives. I¡¯ve been looking all summer.¡± ¡°Irina¡¯s a Grandmaster Knowledge Artist with forty years of experience in this field. You honestly think you¡¯ll find something she didn¡¯t?¡± Relia hugged herself and leaned back on the bench. ¡°I guess we¡¯re all a mess, huh?¡± ¡°No argument there,¡± Kalden said. ¡°But you know that expression about glass towers and Missiles?¡± Relia nodded, and they watched the rest of the sunrise together. Soulshine or death. Those were her options, and she couldn¡¯t escape them. But if she¡¯d learned one thing in Creta, it was that she¡¯d rather struggle with friends than succeed alone. Despite everything, this was shaping up to be the best school year she¡¯d ever had. Even if it might be her last. Book 3 - Chapter 11: Not a Game Akari strode out of the locker room and joined the waiting crowd. Combat Arts 120 took place in a domed chamber, big enough to park two airships side by side. Four regulation dueling rings filled the space below, with various catwalks for spectators. Each circle had a band of sigils around it, just like the arenas in Last Haven. Unlike her other teachers, Grandmaster Raizen had given them no books or syllabus. Instead, he''d sent them each a single note: "Arena Block One. 7:30 on Irinday morning. Wear your combat uniform." The class didn''t officially start until eight, and she heard more than a few grumbles from her fellow students. Fortunately, Akari had been waking up early all summer. They''d started this habit back in Creta, and Elend had encouraged it here, claiming it would pay off once school started. More students poured in until all forty-seven were there¡ªa full quarter of the first-year class. Kalden walked out of the men''s locker room, but the sea of students stood between them¡ªall laughing and joking amongst themselves. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and he gave her a nod. Akari nodded back, but she didn''t move closer. Was that petty of her? Maybe. If she were more mature, she might go on being friendly in whatever bullshit professional relationship he wanted. On the other hand ... well, screw him. She wouldn''t follow Kalden around like a lost kitten, waiting patiently for him to get his shit together. She''d do her own thing for now. He could find her when he was done moping around. A door opened at the far end of the chamber, and all heads turned to face it. It wasn''t Grandmaster Raizen. Instead, two Artisans stepped inside. A young Shokenese man with a shaved head, and an Espirian woman with her brown hair in a ponytail. They both wore combat uniforms, but while Akari and her peers all wore the crimson and gold colors of Koreldon University, those two wore solid black. "Good morning," the woman said in a cheerful voice. The reply was about what you''d expect from a group of college students at 7:30 in the morning. "Yeah," the man said as he approached the class. "We''ll work on that. First of all, I''m Sen Goto." He gestured to the woman on his left. "And this is Camila Warder. We''re Grandmaster Raizen''s teaching assistants. He''ll step through those doors at eight o¡¯clock on the dot. Our job is to make sure you don''t piss him off when he gets here." "Raizen is former military," Camila spoke up. "He knows you''re in a civilian program, but he''ll still hold you to high standards. So first thing''s first¡ªlet''s form a line, alphabetical order by last name. You''ve got two minutes." The group scrambled into motion. Akari took her usual spot at the end while everyone else struggled to find their place somewhere in the middle. She doubted the order actually mattered that much. It was probably just to get them used to following orders. Although it also separated people from their friends, so that was a treat. "Feet apart," Camila said as she stepped down the line. "Shoulders back. Head high. Eyes forward." This continued for the next five minutes until both Artisans had declared them sufficiently good at standing. Some people tried to ask questions about the class itself, but they remained tight-lipped about that. "Never look at your phones during instruction," Sen told them. "Speak loud and clear. Louder than you think you need to. No mumbling under your breath, and definitely no whispering to your friends." Akari normally considered herself a rebel, but she could get on board with these rules. She grinned to imagine someone coming into Elegan High and telling the Golds they weren''t allowed to whisper. "Raizen won''t yell at you or punish you when you break the rules. He''ll tell you to leave. Don''t make excuses when he does. Leave the class, then come back tomorrow and do better. Find me or Camila if you''re honestly confused." More advice followed, then Raizen stepped into the room at exactly eight o''clock. "Good morning," he said in a thick, Shokenese accent. "Good morning, Grandmaster!" they shouted back in unison. And yes, Sen and Camila had made them practice this simple phrase more than a dozen times. Raizen nodded as if this were a perfectly normal way for a group of civilian teenagers to greet him. The Grandmaster was far more muscular than Elend, not to mention several inches taller. His black hair was pulled into a Blade Artist''s knot, and a thin black beard framed his narrow face. He wore solid black like his students, but his clothing resembled a more traditional Mana Artist''s robe. "My name is Grandmaster Raizen." His voice came out loud and clear despite his accent. "I graduated from the Ivory Blade Sect in 835. After that, I spent twenty years in the South Shoken Special Operations Forces. I later returned to my sect as an elder, and I came to Espiria in 868.¡± Akari had no idea what the Ivory Blade Sect was, but special forces sounded impressive. Normally, those programs didn''t take anyone weaker than a Master. Raizen continued pacing down the line. "Some of your Artegium classes will teach you the rules of dueling. Others will teach you ethics and mindset. When to fight, and when to avoid it. When to take action, and when to remain calm." He paused for dramatic effect. "I will teach you real combat. I will teach you to survive, and to use everything at your disposal." The crowd might have started murmuring if the Artisans hadn''t warned them against it. "Battlegrounds are the most prestigious of all the Mana Arts competitions, and for good reason. This is no simple sport like manaball or dueling. These skills will translate to the real world. They will help you defend yourself in real battles. They will bring you victory in all aspects of life." His voice sent chills down Akari''s spine, and she stood even straighter than before. Raizen extended a hand toward a computer terminal on the wall. A tiny Missile shot out from his finger and pressed some unseen button. A massive projector screen flicked on to their right, big enough to rival most movie theaters. "These are your admission scores," Raizen told them as eight columns of text appeared on the screen. An excited murmur broke out despite Sen and Camila''s warning. Akari glanced at the number one spot and saw Zukan Kortez with a score of 395. Talek''s tits and teeth. 395 would have been good for a second-year student. Maybe even a third- year. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Below Zukan sat Elise Moonfire with 371 points. Then someone named Tori Raizen with 366. Kalden sat in the number twelve spot with 336. Akari had already known his score, but she hadn''t realized how high it compared to the others. Top twelve with only three fingers? What could he do with two full hands and an aspect? Finally, Akari found her own name at the bottom of the eighth column. With her pitiful 271 points, she was officially the lowest-ranked student in the entire class. It''s fine. She took a deep breath and forced herself to relax. You asked for this. You knew it''d be rough at first. Besides, she''d be an Apprentice by Midwinter¡ªmaybe even by early Hexember if she pushed herself hard enough. She just had to hold out until then. "You''ve spent all year thinking these scores matter," Raizen said. "The truth is, these numbers are utter dragon shit." The class gave a nervous laugh at that. "These numbers tell me about your shaping skill and raw power," Raizen continued. "But there''s much more to battle than that. For example, Arturo Kazalla scored in the bottom five ..." Akari glanced back to the right-most column. Sure enough, there sat Arturo, three spots above her, with a score of 285. "But with the right preparation, he could easily beat our number one student, Zukan Kortez. Now, enough talk." Raizen turned and gestured to the four arenas below. "Sen and Camila will give you your generators. You''ll fight when your name is called." More than a dozen hands shot up down the line. No doubt the others had questions too, but they all looked as speechless as Akari felt. Raizen looked amused, then he pointed to someone in the middle. Akari looked over to see Elise Moonfire step forward. "What are the rules?" she asked in a crisp voice. "Defeat your opponents before they defeat you." "That''s it?" "Follow the laws of this state and country. Otherwise, this is not a game." With that, he spun around and made his way toward the crossroads between catwalks. Oh, hell yes. At first, Akari had worried that Raizen''s background would make him an uptight stickler. But this sounded awesome. Camila stepped toward the beginning of the line and opened a slick black case. Akari strained her head to look, but everyone else had the same idea, and forty more heads blocked her view. Fortunately, Sen appeared with an identical case at her end of the line. He opened it to reveal several rows of circular black generators, small enough to clip to their belts. Akari grabbed one, and the Artisan moved on. She rotated the object between her fingers and found a familiar microport on one side. Raizen called out a sequence of names, assigning each group to one of the four arenas below. Most names came from the first column, including Kalden and Elise Moonfire. Perfect. If the order went by score, then she had time to prepare. The students sprang into motion, following the stairs down to their respective rings. Others moved to watch, but Akari jogged the opposite way back toward the locker room. There, she retrieved her laptop, then returned to a corner of the main chamber. This would be close enough to hear Raizen call her name, but far enough away that no one would look over her shoulder. The arenas below generated dream mana settings like the admissions test. This allowed the combatants to use lethal force with no risk of actual injuries. These tiny generators would interact with the ring''s sigils to forge equipment for each combatant. Back in Last Haven, students could change that equipment to their own preferences, as long as it fell within the rules. Akari grinned as she remembered the Grandmaster''s last words. Games had rules. Real fights didn''t. She plugged the generator into her laptop and got to work. Her computer wouldn''t have the right software, but that was an easy problem to solve. She''d find the product number written on the bottom, and ... Akari frowned as she inspected the device more closely. There was no company logo or product number. Nothing but the microport and the belt clip. Shit ... time for Plan B. She used her laptop to navigate into the device''s hard drive. This had a label of "Arteg01941." She tried entering that string into several search engines, but it was no use. "Arteg" was obviously short for Artegium. These were custom devices, probably built by students in the Sigilcraft program. Plan C. She opened the hard drive and navigated to the drafting folder. The files here had unfamiliar extensions, but that didn''t stop her from dragging them into her code editor. Random sequences of letters, numbers, and other symbols filled her screen. A duel ended a second later, and Raizen called the next two contestants forward. Akari''s heart raced faster as she glanced back at her monitor. Despite looking like total gibberish, the code was indented like Standard Object Notation. Could it be a cipher? She browsed through the other files, hoping to find the key sitting around. No such luck. But if this were actually Standard Object Notation, then certain characters should be in predictable spots. For example, commas, brackets, and colons. Plus quotation marks around the keys and string values. Sure enough, Akari found consistent characters in the spots she''d expected. From there, it was easy to find the booleans and numbers. Five minutes later, she had the entire cipher code written in a separate document. Then the real work began. ~~~ Kalden watched from the catwalk as Akari started her first duel. They''d gone from highest to lowest in terms of shaping scores, and her opponent was a boy named Landon Windstrider. Landon was¡ªto no one''s surprise¡ªa Wind Artist. He''d been a manaball player in high school until he realized that Combat Artists were far bigger celebrities than athletes. He''d gotten a low score on the shaping exam, but Wind Artists always struggled with that test. Their Missiles were decent, but a wind Construct was about as sturdy as it sounded. And their Cloak techniques offered little besides mobility. Still, A Wind Cloak was better than no Cloak at all. And the fact that Landon had made it this far proved his skill. Poor Akari might be in for a rough fight. The two contestants bowed to one another and took their places in the starting rings. Camila pressed a button to activate the dream sigils, and the padded floor vanished beneath them, revealing an ancient stone ruin. Water fell from the upper levels, flowing in a circular canal around them. Landon looked the same as before. These generators didn''t include any armor, so ... Kalden paused as he turned to face Akari. She wore shiny black armor from head to heel. Two massive spikes stuck out from her helmet like horns, while smaller spikes protruded from the shoulder pads. Each one shone with fire mana, and a cloud of dark smoke formed around her. The armor made her look like the villain from a Mana Arts movie, and that wasn''t even the craziest part. She stood behind a heavy machine gun on a tripod stand. Not only would this be illegal in most duels, but it probably weighed over a hundred pounds and required a whole team to lift and maintain it. Kalden knew little about firearms, but he¡¯d heard of special, sigilcrafted bullets that could pierce an Apprentice''s skin. Some bullets could even pierce Cloak techniques, but those were far too expensive to be practical. In a real fight, at least. But this was dream mana, and money was no object. "What the hell is that?" someone muttered to Kalden''s left. Kalden hid his grin behind his hand. "That''s Akari being Akari." In fact, this might be the most Akari-like thing she''d ever done. Cheating on the admissions exam didn''t count¡ªthat had mostly been Glim''s doing. But this was all her. The match started a heartbeat later. Landon activated his Wind Cloak and shot two Missiles into the stone floor. The blast hurled him upward, and he flew toward the ceiling. But Akari had predicted this. Bullets erupted from her machine gun, shell casings flew around her, and her opponent soared straight into that metal storm. Akari patted the machine gun affectionately as her opponent faded to white mist. The match timer had barely reached two full seconds before it announced her victory. Book 3 - Chapter 12: Destiny The dreamscape faded around Akari, replacing the stone ruins with the arena¡¯s simple brown walls and a padded floor. She felt suddenly naked without her armor, and her hands still vibrated from the machine gun. "What the hell was that?" Landon blurted out from across the ring. Akari shrugged as the lanky Wind Artist stomped over. "Fifty caliber HK9 with mana-enhanced bullets." "You know what I meant." He rounded on Camila, who''d been overseeing their fight. "She messed with her generator. She¡ª" The Artisan crossed her arms, looking bored by his outburst. "Mr. Windstrider, what part of ¡®no rules'' didn''t you understand?" Landon dropped his hand, glancing up to see a good portion of their class staring down at them. Even Grandmaster Raizen was watching, though he didn''t seem surprised. "This happens every year," Camila told him in a softer voice. "Usually not until the second or third round of duels. But it¡¯s part of the game, so you should take notes for next time." Akari had been braced for a lecture, an argument, and a grudging admission that she¡¯d followed all Raizen¡¯s instructions. Skipping to the end was almost disappointing. Then again, you couldn''t swing a dreamhawk without hitting a smart person in the Artegium. Even the cipher had left all the whitespace intact¡ªalmost as if they planned for someone to solve it in class. Landon shot Akari a look as he left¡ªnot quite a glare, but definitely not friendly. Everyone knew she was a Gold. The scoreboard even said "Foundation" next to her name, while the other 196 students were all Apprentices. He''d clearly expected an easy win. Kalden met Akari at the top of the stairs, giving her a thumbs up as she approached. "Hey," he said. "That was¡ª" Just then, the Grandmaster announced the next two duelists. "Kalden Trengsen and Tori Raizen. Arena One." Akari furrowed her brow. "Going back for seconds, huh? "Looks that way. Wish me luck" And with that, he jogged down the staircase behind her. Akari glanced at the analog clock that hung above the locker rooms. It was only 8:45, and the class went on until 10:30. They probably had time for everyone to fight once more. Maybe even twice if they only did the winners. Her gaze shifted to the scoreboard, which only showed Block B this time. It also displayed their duel results rather than their shaping scores. Most of the top ten had vanished, including the reigning champion, Zukan Kortez. Elise Moonfire held the number one spot in his place, followed by Tori Raizen, and then Kalden. Akari found her own name in the middle of the list. Twenty-fifth out of forty-seven. The morning was off to a great start, and she still had a full bag of tricks. ~~~ Kalden took his place in the arena, and his opponent approached from the opposite side. Her face reminded him of Akari''s, with a blend of Shokenese and Espirian features. Tori Raizen. Until now, he''d wondered why Grandmaster Raizen would leave his sect to come here. Despite KU''s reputation, many of Shoken''s schools were just as prestigious. Not to mention more specialized and more ancient. But if Raizen had a half-Espirian daughter, that might explain a few things. Tori stepped closer, taking her position in front of him. She double checked her tight black ponytail, ensuring every hair was tucked in place Their eyes met, and memories flooded his mind. He''d dueled this girl before¡ªfour years ago when his father took him to the Ivory Blade Sect in South Shoken. Tori was a Blade Artist ... and yes, her father¡ªGrandmaster Raizen had been her teacher. Kalden felt suddenly dizzy as more memories poured in. He and his brother, Sozen, had also trained with Grandmaster Raizen during their stay in the Ivory Blade Sect. In exchange, Kalden''s own father had trained Tori, along with several other students. But she wouldn''t remember him, and neither would the Grandmaster. A certain Mystic had seen to that. Kalden and Tori bowed to one another, and he saw the calm determination in her eyes. Kalden''s previous opponent was Dejan Boznak¡ªa Gravity Artist who''d made a show of bravado to hide his desperation. But Tori''s face was statuesque, as if she''d entered a battle trance mere moments before. He remembered such rituals from his days as a champion duelist. You found a quiet spot alone and visualized your own victory. You burned away your doubt until nothing remained but absolute certainty. Kalden had used a similar ritual before his admissions exam, but he hadn''t thought about it today. That might have been a mistake. "Don''t raise the ceiling," his father had once said. "Raise the floor. You''re only as good as your worst day. " He''d beaten Tori Raizen in their last few duels, despite being a year younger than her. Could he do the same today? From the far side of the arena, Camila pressed a button on her tablet and activated the ring''s dream Constructs. The arena shifted to a forest floor, and the ceiling changed to a bright blue sky. Trees sprouted all around them, and the audience vanished from sight. "Prepare," Camila''s voice said from an unseen speaker. Mana raced through Kalden''s channels, and his hands itched to form his pure blades. A physical weapon would have helped too, but he hadn''t had time to ask Akari about that. Even if he had ... was that right? Kalden had been a terrible friend all summer. He''d told himself they needed to focus on their goals, but now Relia had him doubting that plan. Speaking of focus. Kalden took several deep breaths¡ªin through his nostrils, then out through his mouth. With each breath, he forced his thoughts away. Everything but this fight¡ªthis moment. The preparation phase ended, and Camila began the countdown. "Three ... Two ..." He scanned the battlefield as she spoke, searching for potential traps and cover. Despite the regulation-size space, these dream settings were much smaller than usual. Probably because Raizen didn''t want the duels to drag on all day. "One." Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Kalden returned his eyes to his opponent. "Fight." Tori sprang forward, closing the distance with blinding speed. Blade mana flashed in her hands¡ªa silver mirror against the green forest. Kalden leapt right, dodging her first attack and taking cover behind a thick oak tree. Tori struck again, but he kept moving as he formed his own blade. Mobility was a Blade Artist''s biggest weakness, and these trees offered plenty of cover. But the longer Kalden delayed, the stronger his opponent would be. He''d need perfect timing to pull this off. His weapon finished forming in his hand¡ªa twelve-inch blade with a cylindrical handle. No sooner had he finished the technique than he leapt from his cover. Silver flashed to his left as Tori struck. Kalden raised his blade to parry, then his instincts screamed at him to duck. A chain whip snapped over his head, and its bladed tip struck the tree with a shower of bark. What? Since when did Blade Artists use chain whips? The chain links wrapped together like a spool of thread, pulling Tori closer. Her body spun through the air as she flew, and blades sprouted from her arms and legs. Kalden formed a shield at the last second, filling it with enough mana to stop a charging drake. Tori''s blades cut through the Construct like wet paper. Kalden dropped to his belly, missing her strikes by mere inches. The ground shook as she crashed into a tree behind him. Kalden sprang to his feet, blade in hand. Tori loomed over him like a massive metallic insect. Two blades protruded from each leg, letting her hover a full three feet off the ground. Chain whips spun in her outstretched hands like massive stingers. This was nothing like the Blade Artist styles he''d learned before. Tori and her father had invented something new. They''d come to Espiria for freedom¡ªto push their techniques in a world free of traditions. The right whip lashed for his throat. Kalden ducked, but it changed course in midair, coiling around his left ankle. He flared his Cloak technique, but the whip flexed again. He lost his balance and flew feet-first toward his opponent. This time, Kalden was the insect, and she was the open-mounted chameleon. Well, her feast would have to wait. Kalden shot a Missile from the stump of his right forearm. This blew his prosthetic hand off its base, and the thrust sent his body sideways, missing Tori''s blades by a hair''s breadth. The momentum carried him straight past her, then he dropped his weapon and sent a Missile into a thick tree trunk. This took him behind his opponent in a half circle. She dropped the chain before it curled around and strangled her. Kalden landed feet-first on a fallen log, less than six feet from his opponent. The fallen chain vanished to silver mist before he could use it. Tori flung herself toward him, angling her body so she struck with her feet rather than her hands. The blades on her legs grew longer, surrounding Kalden on either side. One closed on his throat, while the other aimed for his torso. The old Kalden would have blocked them both, but he hadn''t had a chance to form his blades. Less than a minute had passed since the fight began. In that time, Tori Raizen had formed six perfect weapons, and he''d struggled to form one. "You''ll never make it as a Blade Artist." Irina''s words echoed in his mind as death closed in. Kalden hadn''t wanted to believe her. He''d thought he could brute-force his way forward with enough time and training. Now, the truth was as clear as his own defeat. Even with both his hands, Kalden would still lose today. He might have held out longer, but the outcome would be the same. The blades snapped shut like scissors. Kalden tried to form a dome, but his efforts were in vain. The blade mana overpowered him, and his body burst into a cloud of white light. Camila announced Tori''s victory over the speaker. The forest faded in the same moment, its vibrant colors fading to simple browns and grays. Tori crashed into the floor in front of Kalden, landing on her back. She sprang to her feet before he could think of offering her a hand. As for Kalden, his own body hadn''t budged. Sometimes, the arena would simulate pain to prepare students for real fights, but it didn''t bother when a blade cut through your windpipe. No one walked away from that. Not even Life Artists like Relia. "Well fought." Kalden pressed a fist to his open palm and bowed to his opponent. He kept his expression calm like a Blade Artist should. "You too," she said as she returned the salute. Then they climbed opposite staircases toward the catwalks. "You okay?" Akari asked when he crested the top stair. "Of course," Kalden said without thinking. "Why wouldn''t I be?" She shrugged. "I don''t know. Maybe ''cause it sucks to lose that fast?¡° "Amateur duelists obsess over outcomes," his father used to say. "They crave victory, and they fear defeat. True duelists focus on their practice. Regardless of the outcome, the next move is always the same. Get back to work." His father had been a harsh teacher, but he''d never scolded Kalden for losing duels. Likewise, he''d saved his praise for breakthroughs in the dojo, not for victories in the ring. "Forget it.¡± Akari spun on her heel and strode away. "Have fun pretending." "Wait,¡± he said to her retreating back. She turned around and waited. When Kalden spoke again, his voice came out just above a whisper. ¡°You¡¯re right." She narrowed her eyes, waiting for more. ¡°I¡¯m not fine.¡± How could he be fine? He''d spent his whole life preparing for this moment¡ªto duel at the collegiate level. Now, he was finally here, and he wasn''t good enough. He hadn¡¯t just lost that duel. He¡¯d lost without throwing a single offensive technique. "You''ll never make it as a Blade Artist." Irina had known this would happen. So had Elend, and even Relia. Kalden had fought at Tori Raizen''s level once, but things had changed in their time apart. He''d lost two years of training on Arkala, and he''d spent that time on other pursuits. He''d become a competent alchemist, and he''d spent his free time reading hundreds of books on history and battle tactics. Meanwhile, Tori Raizen had trained, honing each technique beyond the point of mastery. Kalden was thousands of hours behind her, and he''d never close that gap. He''d known this at a rational level all summer. But it was one thing to hold a thought in your head. It was another to feel it in your bones. "Took you long enough," Akari told him. A crowd gathered to watch the next duel, and the two of them walked side by side. "My old self was a Blade Artist," Kalden said. "But that''s not who I am today. I need a new aspect." His thoughts drifted to Elend, and that day they''d trained in the backyard. "There''s a force within you," he''d said. "It''s the same thing that makes that tree grow from an acorn." Elend had claimed he didn''t believe in destiny. Destiny implied one perfect outcome, and the world didn''t work that way. However, other thinkers had disagreed over the years. The author of Battle Arts spoke of natural inclination and how you could be drawn to certain skills or objects in your childhood. That inclination could hint at your future. Not necessarily your destiny, but an ideal path forward. But Kalden had spent his entire childhood training, with little time to explore or make his own choices. "How about Knowledge Arts?" Akari asked in a casual tone. "Sure. I''ll just learn one of the world''s hardest aspects. Now, where should we go for lunch?" She snorted as if she genuinely appreciated the sarcasm. And maybe he deserved that. Her spacetime mana would also be a tier four aspect. On top of that, she¡¯d be venturing into uncharted territory. "You can handle it, Mr. Ninety-Nine Percent." Great. Now Relia''s sense of humor was rubbing off on her. "And what about this?" Kalden gestured to their surroundings. "I''m already in a Combat Arts program." "So? They don''t have Knowledge Arts for fighting?" Kalden paused, then his mind flashed back to older dreams from Arkala. Those dreams hadn''t just shown their pasts. Akari had already been a Spacetime Artist in her dreams, despite only learning space mana from Ashur Moonfire. As for Kalden, he''d never dreamt of blade mana. Not once. In his dreams, he''d seen every detail of the surrounding battles. And with his Mana Arts, he didn''t just command Missiles and Constructs the way soldiers did. He felt the battlefield itself as if it were one tangible thing. He commanded soldiers like pieces on a crowns board, sending commands directly into their minds. Was that Knowledge Arts, or something more? Was it just a dream, or something within his reach? Perhaps it was time to find out. Book 3 - Chapter 13: Worst Fears ¡°Prepare,¡± Sen¡¯s voice said from the invisible speaker. Akari stood in an abandoned neighborhood, facing a man beneath a misty gray sky. The pairings had all followed a pattern until now, and she¡¯d researched her potential opponents beforehand. Nico Talez was a Fire Artist from New Cadria. Apparently, he¡¯d opened his own dojo at fifteen, and he¡¯d helped dozens of local kids learn basic Mana Arts. So far, so good. She¡¯d take an ambitious entrepreneur over a champion duelist any day. Once again, Akari had donned a full set of armor, along with several other weapons and items. The HK9 sat on its tripod in front of her, while two Apprentice-level blades hung from her belt. She¡¯d also brought four portable shield Constructs; the first two came with heavy stands, like the ones Maelyn had brought to their Elegan tunnel excursion. The other two were handheld, like the ones they¡¯d brought to the Martial prison raid. Finally, Akari had a leather belt wrapped across her chest. This held a .50 Desert Raptor, two frag grenades, three healing potions, and ten small vials of space mana. She still hadn¡¯t aspected her mana yet, but she¡¯d trained with liquid space mana in the weeks following her admissions exam. Should be enough to surprise anyone here, even Kalden. Finally, Sen began the familiar countdown. "Three ... Two ... One ¡­ Fight!¡± Akari grabbed her machine gun and pulled the trigger. A storm of bullets showered her opponent, but he countered with a full-body shield. She¡¯d expected fire mana, but this was bright blue. Shit, he had pure mana, too? Oh well. She hadn¡¯t expected the machine gun to work twice. Everyone had seen the fight against Landon, and no one with half a brain would make the same mistake. Akari unloaded more bullets into her opponent¡¯s shield¡ªmight as well, since his mana was more valuable than her ammunition. Then she grabbed a vial of space mana between bursts and drained the entire thing. Nico didn¡¯t underestimate her the way Landon had. He took slow, deliberate steps as he closed the distance, focused mostly on maintaining his shield. Akari almost threw a grenade, but decided against it. He could deflect anything she threw, and that would be a stupid way to die. Several seconds passed, then she abandoned the machine gun and activated the base switches on her shield Constructs. She had a plan, but she needed time. A true Space Artist, could have used portals immediately. But the liquid mana still sloshed around in her stomach, and it would take several more seconds for her soul to absorb it. Fire mana gathered in Nico¡¯s palms as he closed in, sidestepping her barriers with his long strides. Akari pulled a handheld shield from her belt and pressed the middle button, forming a disc of protection mana between them Nico hit her with several more blasts. Akari¡¯s arm shook with the effort of holding the shield, and each blast sent her stumbling backward. Sweat covered her face as she felt the heat through her armor. Even the shield started to flicker. Talek. Did all Apprentices hit this hard? Relia had clearly gone easy on her, even when Akari told her not to. Her shield flickered out just as her soul absorbed the space mana. Akari cycled it through her channels, and it flowed far faster than pure mana¡ªalmost incorporeal. The mana left her hands just as quickly when she unleashed the techniques. Akari activated the first portal in her right hand, facing directly at Nico¡¯s face. At the same time, she formed the second portal beneath his feet. Several things happened at once after that. Nico¡¯s own fire techniques flew through Akari¡¯s first portal and struck him from below. One of his legs also fell through the second portal, causing him to trip and faceplant on the street. This combination would have killed most Grevandi in Creta, but the Artegium had higher standards than that. Despite the surprise, Nico¡¯s own body shone molten red as he Cloaked. Fire Cloaks didn¡¯t just make you stronger and faster. They also gave you special resistance to fire-based attacks. Akari drew her blade as Nico struggled to pull his leg from the portal. Some Space Artists could cancel a portal quickly and bisect a person¡¯s body, but that was beyond her skill. More likely, her portal would force him out like a coiled spring. Instead, she sprang for the kill. Nico reached up and caught the blade on his forearm. It struck bone, and he gritted his teeth. Then he Cloaked again, hurling Akari back. She flew through the air, and Nico struck her with a bar of molten flame. This seared straight through her armor, burning her stomach beneath. Akari landed on the asphalt, sliding for several feet until her head struck the curb. She¡¯d have cracked her skull if not for her helmet. Her portals broke, forcing Nico into the air. Akari activated her second shield just as he shot another flame Missile. It crashed into the concrete beside her, and she seized the chance to chug a healing potion. Nico closed the distance, firing more Missiles from his good arm. Akari scrambled to her feet like a fallen cat, retreating into the nearest abandoned house. Her wound screamed at her as raced through the rooms, and she leaked white light with every step. Talek. Why was it always her stomach? Fortunately, this was nothing compared to Zakiel¡¯s plasma blade, and pain was easier to ignore without the looming fear of death. Nico shot several more Missiles, shattering the glass windows, and setting the house on fire. Okay, so hiding in a wooden house was a dumb idea. Akari ran for the back door before the flames reached her. Her hands shook as she downed a second vial of space mana. Some part of her brain realized this was just a duel, but memories of fighting Zakiel flashed through her mind. She reached the backdoor but stopped herself before she opened it. With the front of the house burning, Nico would probably be waiting for her in the backyard. Think. What are your options? Could she use a portal to escape the house? Right now, her widest portals were less than ten inches in diameter. Akari could probably jump through in just her combat suit, but not with all this clunky armor. What else? The answer came to her a second later. She didn¡¯t have to leave the burning house¡ªnot if she won the duel. Akari pulled the pin on her frag grenade, counted to three, then tossed it through the kitchen window. It landed outside with a blast, and she used the diversion to shoot a space Missile toward the sky. Smoke filled the room, and the flames closed in around her. Akari ignored the heat as she formed the first half of the portal, angling it down toward the ground outside. Finally, she formed a second portal on the kitchen floor, giving her a bird¡¯s eye view of the backyard Nico sat crouched behind some bushes, focused on the backdoor. Akari grinned as she drew her Desert Raptor, and flipped off the safety. The flames grew unbearably hot, but that didn¡¯t matter now. She lined up Nico¡¯s head in her iron sights and squeezed the trigger. The dreamscape faded around them, leaving Akari crouched on the arena floor while Nico stumbled forward. Sen announced Akari¡¯s victory, and she braced herself for another outburst. Instead, Nico grinned as he regained his footing. ¡°That¡¯s a nice trick.¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Well, at least everyone wasn¡¯t a sore loser like Landon Windsucker. ¡°You really a Space Artist?¡± he asked as he stepped over ¡°Not yet,¡± Akari said. ¡°Would¡¯ve been screwed without those potions.¡± Nico nodded. ¡°You doing anything after class?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Akari lowered her glasses and wiped the sweat from her forehead. ¡°Taking a shower.¡± He chuckled. ¡°What about after that? Want to get lunch or something?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Akari felt her stupid cheeks get hot. Was he seriously asking her on a date? No one had ever asked her that before. Not in Last Haven, or Arkala. But no ¡­ that couldn¡¯t be it. He probably just wanted to talk Mana Arts and figure out how she got into the Artegium. ¡°I mean, I liked the Demon Queen armor, but you¡¯re way cuter without it.¡± Okay, so he was asking her on a date. ¡°I¡¯m seeing someone,¡± Akari blurted out. Then she winced when she realized it was technically a lie. Nico was sort of her type, with his muscular frame, short black hair, and five o¡¯clock shadow. She could have said yes, but it would have been for the wrong reasons. Besides, Kalden had made some real progress today. For once, he was actually using his brain instead of mindlessly training all day. If he could do that, then maybe they still had a chance. ¡°No worries,¡± Nico said with a nod. ¡°Talk to you later.¡± Huh. That was officially the weirdest conversation of her entire life. She¡¯d been prepared for accusations all day, but this was surprisingly normal. Even civilized. The second round of duels finished faster than the first. Grandmaster Raizen had only called on the winners, which gave them twelve duels instead of twenty-four. With those done, Raizen called on the winners for a third round. ¡°Tori Raizen and Arturo Kazella. Arena One.¡± Several people headed that way to watch, but Raizen wasn¡¯t done. Akari looked up at the scoreboard, and she knew what names she would hear next.¡± ¡°Elise Moonfire and Akari Zeller. Arena Two.¡± Akari drew in a deep breath as she headed for the staircase, and Kalden fell into step beside her. ¡°Have you seen her fight?¡± she asked. Kalden nodded. ¡°She hasn¡¯t used her aspect yet. Just pure mana techniques.¡± That was good. Pure mana could be dangerous, but it was also predictable. Akari¡¯s portable shields could absorb her pure Missiles far easier than Nico¡¯s flame techniques. From there, a blade through a well-placed portal could finish her. And even if Elise used her dream mana, Akari was ready for that, too. Illusions couldn¡¯t hurt her if she remembered they weren¡¯t real. Even Elend had admitted that Dream Artists relied on the element of surprise. How did you surprise someone in a one-on-one fight? Akari met Camila and Elise in Arena two, and they followed the usual pre-fight ritual. ¡°Prepare,¡± Camila said as a desert formed around them. Her opponent wore a suit of pale white battle armor. Either she¡¯d hacked the generator herself, or she¡¯d gotten someone to do it for her. Probably the latter, considering the size of her friend circle. Akari took several deep breaths and prepared to unleash her machine gun. It might be predictable, but it had served her well in the last two duels. "Three ... Two ... One ¡­ Fight!¡± The dream sigils malfunctioned in that moment. The desert blurred away, and Akari found herself standing back in the arena. The ceiling was gone now¡ªripped away by some unscreen force. Akari looked up and spotted something floating in the clouds above¡ªsolid black, and shaped like a man. Wings of shadow and fire stretched out around him, twice as wide as his arm span. Then a weight pressed on Akari¡¯s soul¡ªa weight she¡¯d felt once before. Talek. He¡¯d found her. Bodies collapsed all around the room, including Elise and Camila. A chill spread over her skin, causing every hair on her body to stand up. The weight of the Mystic¡¯s power froze her in place, and her mana refused to budge. No. It was too soon. She wasn¡¯t ready. Missiles like black shadows flooded out from the Mystic¡¯s outstretched hand. They spread through the sky, covering everything in a veil of darkness. Nothing could escape that void. It even pulled at her memories as she stared, and each glimpse was like seeing the technique for the first time. The technique grew wider, and the black veil stretched on for miles from horizon to horizon. It blocked out the sun, shrouding the world in a moonless night. A few seconds more, then she¡¯d lose everything. She and Kalden would be back in the Archipelago, and they¡¯d lose all the progress they¡¯d made this past year. Relia would forget about them, and so would Elend and Irina. They would¡ª Something sharp broke Akari¡¯s windpipe, and the arena faded a second time. ¡°Victory,¡± Camila¡¯s voice said over the speaker. ¡°Elise Moonfire.¡± The world spun around her as she hit the padded floor. Darkless closed in, and Akari couldn¡¯t resist if she tried. A hand touched her shoulder sometime later, and she flinched away. ¡°It¡¯s just me,¡± Kalden¡¯s voice said. Akari opened her eyes to a blur. Her body was curled up in a ball, and she¡¯d dropped her glasses at some point. ¡°Does she need a healer?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°Should be fine,¡± Camila said. ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see.¡± Akari uncurled herself and sat up. Kalden put her glasses into her hand, but her vision was still blurry when she put them on. She wiped at her eyes and found tears there. When things finally came into focus again, she looked around the arena. The ceiling had never broken, and the Mystic had never been here. Camila offered her a hand. Akari stared at it for an embarrassingly long time as she tried to ground herself. It was just a technique. It wasn¡¯t real. Akari accepted the hand and let the Artisan help her up. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± ¡°Dream mana technique,¡± Camila replied. ¡°Shows you your worst fear.¡± The Artisan had dropped her stern exterioror and looked at Akari with undisguised sympathy. Almost like she wanted to give her a hug. ¡°Talek.¡± Akari stared back up at the ceiling with its metal rafters and florescent lights. ¡°Did everyone see that?¡± ¡°Nope¡ªall in your head. No one below Artisan even saw the technique¡¯s intention.¡± Akari glanced around the arena and saw that Elise Moonfire was long gone. Then she spotted the scoreboard and realized the duel had only lasted for two seconds. ¡°Moonfire hasn¡¯t used her aspect all morning,¡± Camila noted. ¡°Guess she saved it for you?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Akari muttered. That was the sort of Mana Arts movie bullshit she¡¯d expected on her first day. ~~~ She and Kalden watched the next few duels from the catwalks. He brought her a protein bar and a bottle of water, and she gradually felt better over the next few minutes. Kalden didn¡¯t ask what she¡¯d seen in the dream. Maybe he planned to ask her once they were alone. More likely, he¡¯d already figured it out. The scoreboard now showed Akari in twelfth place out of forty-seven. No complaints there, considering she¡¯d started at the very bottom. Despite her vision of utter annihilation, this had actually been a decent morning. ¡°Final duel,¡± Grandmaster Raizen announced. ¡°Elise Moonfire and Arturo Kazella. Arena One.¡± Akari and Kalden followed the crowd to watch the last fight of the day. Apparently, both duelists were undefeated so far, but that was about to change. They took their positions, and the arena shifted to the same desert landscape as Akari''s last duel. Elise and Arturo each wore full suits of armor with various other weapons on their belts. Great. Everyone¡¯s a hacker now. "Prepare," Grandmaster Raizen said. Akari relaxed her vision and saw both contestants cycling in her Silver Sight. Arturo''s channels were surprisingly thin for an Apprentice. Thinner than Akari''s even. "What''s with him?" she whispered. She didn¡¯t really expect Kalden to have an answer, although had talked to several people at Arturo¡¯s party the other night, including Arturo himself. ¡°He was born with narrow channels,¡± Kalden said. "It''s a common condition¡ªaffects like one in fifty people.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°Yeah. People like that don''t normally become Combat Artists. Especially not at this level." Talek. Akari had her own issues, but nothing that extreme. Narrow channels would make it harder to perform any technique¡ªMissile, Construct, or Cloak. No wonder he scored so low on the admissions exams. ¡°How¡¯s he make up for it?¡± Akari asked. There had to be some trick, otherwise he never would have climbed this high. Kalden grinned, then nodded down at the arena. ¡°See for yourself.¡± ¡°Fight,¡± Grandmaster Raizen said. Elise moved with lightning speed, hurling a dream Missile straight for her opponent. Akari wrapped her knuckles around the chrome railing, ready to see Arturo collapse like she had. The dream mana flew for several inches before it broke into violet mist. Elise fired several more Missiles, but they broke apart in the same way. Arturo watched her struggle for several heartbeats, then he raised his right hand, pressing his thumb to his forefinger. He snapped his fingers, and the sand turned to liquid beneath her boots. Elise tried to struggle, but the sand swallowed her like a whirlpool. Her helmet disappeared, and white mist rose from the ground a second later. ¡°Victory,¡± Raizen said. ¡°Arturo Kazella.¡± Akari let out a torrent of profanity, and she wasn¡¯t the only one. A loud murmur broke out around the arena, while others gaped in silence at the display. How? She¡¯d been watching Arturo¡¯s mana that whole time, and he hadn¡¯t done a single technique. There was only one explanation. Akari had modified her generator¡¯s code to win, but Arturo had gone a step further. He''d changed the arena itself, creating a perfect battleground to suit his needs. In other words, he¡¯d just out-hacked her. Book 3 - Chapter 14: Factions Kalden stood with his peers while Grandmaster Raizen covered the day¡¯s obvious lesson. ¡°There are a thousand paths to victory, and you should never underestimate your opponents.¡± He mentioned Akari by name, along with Arturo Kazalla, and two other students who¡¯d supposedly hacked their generators. Elise Moonfire hadn¡¯t made the list, which proved one of her friends had done the work for her. ¡°Mr. Kazalla saved his best trick for last,¡± Raizen told the class. ¡°He majored in Sigilcraft before switching to Combat this year. His class built arenas like these, and this let him find the exploits.¡± Kalden shot a glance at his Cadrian classmate across the half circle. Sigilcraft actually made more sense for someone with narrow channels, but Arturo clearly had plans to translate those skills into combat. Such a thing would have disqualified him from a proper duel, but it worked perfectly in this class. ¡°He was right to save that trick,¡± Raizen said, ¡°because it will only work once. That exploit will be patched when we return on Narsday, and Mr. Kazalla will need to adapt. The same is true for your generations¡ªthose will become progressively harder to hack every class session. You may even find the arena no longer allows armor, weapons, or potions. Exploits are part of battle, but so are setbacks.¡± Akari bristled beside him, and Kalden understood. She¡¯d barely survived her second duel, even with her comically large armory. She¡¯d need to adapt quickly or risk falling behind again. Raizen went on to explain how some days would have more instruction than others. As the students fought in the rings, he¡¯d observe their strengths and weaknesses from the catwalks. Then he¡¯d invent new, personalized challenges to help them improve. Sen and Camila had painted Raizen as an uptight drill sergeant, but he seemed surprisingly reasonable. And while he hadn¡¯t done much actual teaching, he¡¯d observed them all with both eyes open. By the time class was over, he probably knew their fighting styles better than they did. Perhaps Kalden had expected all the Artegium¡¯s teachers to be as eccentric as Elend. Now, he grinned to imagine Raizen and Elend trapped in a room together. Class ended at 10:30, and they all headed for the locker rooms ¡°See you outside?¡± Kalden asked Akari as they parted. ¡°Dining hall,¡± she corrected He gave her a look. ¡°What? You take like three hours to style your hair.¡± ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating.¡± Kalden took a normal amount of time to get ready. It wasn¡¯t his fault she treated it like a race. He also wouldn¡¯t pull his punches when she showed up to lunch dripping wet, with tangled hair and inside-out clothes. Actually, she¡¯d probably look good no matter what, but Kalden definitely wouldn¡¯t say that out loud. ~~~ He emerged from the men¡¯s locker room twenty minutes later and found Tori Raizen waiting for him in the hallway. Her black hair fell past her shoulders now, streaked with several lines of bright pink. He also spotted two silver piercings in each of her eyebrows, shaped like tiny blades. ¡°Trengsen.¡± She gave an easy smile as she sauntered forward¡ªa far cry from the stoic duelist he¡¯d faced in class. Kalden shouldered his backpack and inclined his head. ¡°Miss Raizen.¡± ¡°Which way you headed?¡± she asked. ¡°Dining hall.¡± ¡°Perfect. So am I.¡± They walked side by side in unspoken agreement, weaving through the horde of their classmates. ¡°I¡¯ll get straight to the point,¡± Tori said. ¡°Do you want to join my alliance?¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± Kalden said. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me I impressed you today.¡± Tori rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re still in the top twelve. Plus, I¡¯ve looked into you. You lost your hand earlier this year, fighting an Artisan in Creta.¡± Kalden¡¯s blood froze, but he only let the confusion show on his face. ¡°Who told you that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen the footage.¡± ¡°There¡¯s footage?¡± Her lip curled in amusement. ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡ªit¡¯s not public. My dad¡¯s got eyes on the ground in Tureko. They found some Unmarked members who knew you. One of them recorded the fight on his cell phone.¡± Kalden let out a breath as he processed that. ¡°You and I just met two hours ago.¡± Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Yeah, but my dad¡¯s been obsessed with you since admissions. He said you fight like a Blade Artist¡ªbetter than most students from our old sect¡ªbut no one¡¯s ever heard of you. And he knows every Master Blade Artist in the world. Kalden kept silent. Fortunately, Elend had identified Raizen as an ally, so things could have been far worse than this. Besides, the Battle of Tureko wasn¡¯t a secret, even if it strayed uncomfortably close to the Archipelago. ¡°What else do you know about me?¡± he asked. ¡°Quid pro quo,¡± she said. ¡°Who trained you?¡± ¡°My father. Grandmaster Rinshi Trengsen.¡± Tori wrinkled her nose. ¡°He some hidden Master or something?¡± Kalden shook his head¡ªnot a denial, but a refusal to answer. ¡°That¡¯s the thing about hidden Masters. Most of them like to stay hidden.¡± ¡°But I get his name for free?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t find anything. Trust me, I¡¯ve tried.¡± More importantly, Elend and Irina had tried. They¡¯d also looked for his brother, Sozen, but nothing came up. Almost as if they¡¯d all never existed. ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn,¡± Kalden said as they passed through a pair of double glass doors. ¡°I know your background is fake,¡± she said. ¡°But someone did a good job on it. My dad sent a guy to your old school in Vaslana. Found your picture in the yearbook archives, and several staff members who swore they knew you.¡± Kalden said nothing as they stepped outside under the late summer sun. Tori removed her jacket, revealing a black tank-top, and a full tattoo sleeve on her right arm. ¡°But the students had never heard of you. Not even the Combat Artists. An Apprentice with your skills should have been a celebrity down there.¡± Funny, considering he had been a celebrity before Last Haven¡¯s destruction. But even if he could share that, Tori wouldn¡¯t believe him. ¡°And then you show up in Creta out of nowhere,¡± Tori said. ¡°Your transcript said you were a champion duelist, but that¡¯s the first footage anyone has of you.¡± Again, Kalden didn¡¯t explain himself or make excuses. Why would he? They¡¯d poked some reasonable holes in his story, but their conclusions were weak compared to the evidence Irina had planted. Kalden knew it, and Tori knew it too. ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± he asked. She shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s your turn again. Why the pure blades? Wouldn¡¯t it be ten times easier just to aspect your mana?¡± Kalden had prepared for this question weeks ago, and it didn¡¯t require any actual lies. ¡°Honestly, my teachers never told me the reason.¡± This was a common approach among Shokenese teachers. Unlike the Espirians, many of them believed that knowledge could only be discovered rather than given. They¡¯d let their students live in ignorance for the sake of greater long-term understanding. ¡°For now, I just know I¡¯m keeping my options open.¡± Tori¡¯s brow furrowed, but she couldn¡¯t have been too surprised. It was a simple answer, and a hard one to dismiss. ¡°Okay. We also know that Zeller and Dawnfire were in Creta with you, but we have no idea why.¡± When Kalden didn¡¯t take the bait, she pressed on. ¡°So, what about my offer?¡± Kalden hesitated. ¡°Is this offer for your main team, or just your alliance?¡± He¡¯d researched the terminology the day after Arturo¡¯s party. Teams were limited to six people for the interschool battlegrounds. However, alliances in the qualifying rounds could be much larger¡ªsometimes up to half the first-year class. But wider recruitment meant more betrayals toward the end of the semester. And even if they all survived, certain members might be left out in the cold when it came time to form real teams. ¡°Both,¡± Tori said. ¡°You¡¯d have a spot in the main team if you survive, but we still need to recruit wide. Moonfire and Kortez already have the two biggest factions. They¡¯ll crush us if we don¡¯t fill our ranks.¡± Kalden¡¯s chest tightened, and he took several deep breaths to steady himself. There were actual factions already? On the first day of class? He¡¯d considered himself proactive at Arturo¡¯s party, but now he saw how far behind he really was. Then again, Elend had warned them about this. Many students had spent a full year making friends in the pre-Artegium program, and they¡¯d probably started this work months ago. The true inner circles would be based on trust, while those in the outer circles would believe they had higher standing than they actually did. No doubt the truth would reveal itself during the qualifying rounds. Kalden could have tried starting his own alliance with Akari and Relia, but they¡¯d never be serious contenders. Better to work within the current framework. All warfare was based on deception after all, and two could play at that game. ¡°I might be interested,¡± Kalden finally said. Tori gave a curt nod. ¡°One more thing. What¡¯s your connection to Akari Zeller and Relia Dawnfire?¡± She spoke their names as if they were issues, and Kalden saw the first sign of a challenge in her dark eyes. He could have gotten defensive on his friends¡¯ behalf, but he¡¯d learn more if he played along. ¡°We share a teacher. That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t friends?¡± Kalden shrugged as if he¡¯d never actually considered it. ¡°Those two are like lost puppies who will follow anyone who feeds them. But they¡¯re also assets. You saw what Zeller did with her generator today.¡± ¡°Just be careful,¡± Tori said. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know Dawnfire¡¯s reputation by now. And Elise Moonfire wants Zeller taken down. She¡¯s sent out several orders to her minions.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know much about it¡ªand no, that¡¯s not me being secretive. I just know she¡¯s calling in every favor and bribe she can.¡± ¡°When you say ¡®taken down¡¯ ¡­¡± ¡°Out of the competition,¡± Tori clarified. ¡°Maybe even out of the Artegium.¡± Damnit. That had Valeria Antano written all over it. The Dragonlord¡¯s sister had already tried using Dansin Roth to keep Akari out of the Artegium. That route had failed, but of course she¡¯d keep her options open. ¡°Thanks for the heads up,¡± Kalden said. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll keep my distance.¡± Once again, he could have stood stubbornly by his friends¡¯ sides, but he¡¯d do more good in a strong alliance. Here, he could wield influence and weave plots of his own. His friends wouldn¡¯t like it, though. Akari liked straightforward battles with visible opponents. And Relia would sooner follow her heart and go down in a blaze of glory. She¡¯d already proven that with the soulshine issue. Fortunately, they also understood subtlety. They¡¯d played a long game against the Martials on Arkala, and it had paid off. But what was Valeria Antano¡¯s endgame? What if the woman lost this next round and Akari made it through the qualifying rounds? Would she send assassins after her next? ¡°Kalden?¡± someone called his name from across the lawn. Confused, Kalden turned to see a Shokenese man, a few years older than him. He blinked several times, processing the features¡ªstrange and familiar all at once. Then it hit him like a Missile. Beneath the thin black beard was a face Kalden knew. He hadn¡¯t seen that face in several years, but he could never forget it. This was the first person to ever defy the Martials and escape the Archipelago. This was his older brother, Sozen Trengsen. Book 3 - Chapter 15: Soul Searching Akari had a free hour after lunch, so she headed to the Mana Arts and Sciences building to find Elend. She pulled open a heavy wooden door and found a room that resembled a small theater. Seats rose in tiered semicircles around a raised stage where Elend paced back and forth, amplifying his voice with dream mana. ¡°Now then, who can tell me the difference between Mana Artists and Aeons?¡± He extended a finger, searching for a victim. Finally, he settled on a girl who¡¯d been staring down at her cell phone. ¡°Ah, Cosra!¡± Cosra¡¯s head snapped up as several more students turned to face her. ¡°Um ¡­ Mana Artists can do Mana Arts?¡± ¡°Very impressive,¡± Elend said with a straight face. ¡°Someone¡¯s been reading ahead in her textbook.¡± Several people chuckled at that, but Elend only shrugged. ¡°Well, she¡¯s not wrong. But how about something more biological? We might come from different planets, but we¡¯re all human. We¡¯ve proven as much by reproducing over the years. Despite that, we¡¯re not all the same.¡± He spun on his heel and pointed to someone else. ¡°Tell me how, Mr. Savang.¡± A muscular Shokenese boy sat up straighter, as if he¡¯d been born to answer this very question. ¡°We have souls and channels that let us move mana metaphysically through our bodies. Aeons don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Good. And what do Aeons have ¡­¡± Once again, Elend swept a hand over the room. ¡°Ah, Miss Zeller?¡± Another Zeller? That¡¯s funny. Then Akari blinked when she realized Elend was pointing straight at her. Shit. ¡°Some kind of crystal?¡± Akari asked. She knew it had a name¡ªthis was the same unbreakable stuff that made up his cuffs on Arkala¡ªbut she¡¯d never bothered to learn it. After all, this topic was far too niche for the admissions exams. ¡°Some Kind of Crystal,¡± Elend echoed as he formed two dream mana Constructs on the stage. ¡°And yes, class, that is the correct scientific term.¡± A laugh followed, and Akari glared at Elend. ¡°I¡¯m not even in this class.¡± ¡°Miss Bazina.¡± Elend gestured to another student. ¡°Please tell me Miss Zeller¡¯s current location.¡± ¡°In this class,¡± said Miss Bazooka, or whatever her name was. Another chuckle from the students, and Akari glared harder. Yeah, this was the last time she waited for Elend here. Elend¡¯s Constructs reshaped themselves into two transparent human forms on either side of the stage. The left form had a well of light in his chest, and that light flowed in channels throughout his body. "As Mr. Savang noted, Mana Artists have souls and channels¡ªthis much you learned in grade school. So why point it out? Well, for most of our history, we assumed all humans were built this way. That is, until we met our cousins from across the Abyss," Elend gestured to the human-shaped Construct on the right side of the stage. She had a soul too, far brighter than the Mana Artist¡¯s. No channels, though. ¡°Aeons have souls, but unlike Mana Artists, their souls are physical things inside their bodies. We call this material ¡®Some Kind of Crystal.¡¯¡± Etherite, Akari finally remembered. Too late to speak up now, though. ¡°This crystal soul pulls energy from the spiritual realm, exactly like a Mana Artist¡¯s soul. In fact, some speculate that the first Aeons harvested the the souls of deceased Angels and brought them into their own bodies. We can¡¯t prove that, unfortunately. We only have a few dozen Aeons on this planet, and they¡¯re notoriously secretive.¡± He grinned. ¡°As opposed to all the transparent, philanthropic cult leaders out there.¡± The class laughed yet again. Talek. No wonder Elend thought he was funny. They treated him like a freaking stand-up comedian. He took a few steps forward. ¡°But you¡¯re all Combat students, are you not? So here¡¯s the real question¡ªhow do we fight Aeons?¡± He glanced to the side of the stage, and the Mana Artist Construct began cycling his mana and forming Missiles in his palms. He glanced to the right side, and the Aeon formed techniques in her palms without cycling. ¡°Aeons don¡¯t have channels,¡± Elend said. ¡°And yet, they can perform techniques with mana. What does this remind us of?¡± ¡°Masters,¡± Savang said with a raised hand. ¡°They can move mana with just their minds.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Elend said. ¡°Most of you are Apprentices or Artisans. That means you rely on your bodies to move mana. Your souls and channels, to be exact. Masters move past this limitation. So why can Aeons do it?¡± He shrugged as he paced in front of the transparent Constructs. ¡°It seems to prove Salvatore¡¯s theory of mind and soul connections. Stick a high-level soul into a being, and that being will develop the neural connections to use it.¡± Huh, Akari thought. Was this part of the actual curriculum, or was Elend just interested in Aeons because of what happened on Arkala and Creta? Probably the latter, knowing him. ¡°Anyway,¡± Elend said, ¡°when it comes to fighting Aeons, you can think of them as Masters in Apprentice bodies. This makes them far more dangerous than they appear. Glass cannons, yes. But those glass cannons can still kill you with a single technique. Never underestimate your opponent, as Grandmaster Raizen always says.¡± Kinda like that time the Martials caught you? Talek, how she wished she could say that out loud ¡­ Elend glanced up at the analog clock, which had been slowly inching closer to the next hour. ¡°Consider your plans for Narsday. We¡¯ll meet in the second-year arenas, and I¡¯ll be simulating Aeons for you to fight.¡± Then he waved a hand vaguely at the doors. ¡°Off with you now! Skedaddle!¡± The room sprang into motion. Chairs scooted away from desks, while others scrambled to put away laptops and books. Akari stepped away from the nearest door as the others filtered out. She watched the stage where Elend¡¯s human-shaped Constructs slid toward each other as if they sat on opposite conveyor belts. Several seconds passed, and then the two forms merged. This new form had two shining souls instead of just one. ~~~ ¡°Well,¡± Elend said as they stepped into his office, ¡°no blood or broken bones. I¡¯d call that a win for your first day of school.¡± No sooner had they closed the door than his jacket and dress shirt vanished, revealing a plain black t-shirt beneath. Had he been wearing fake clothing this whole time? Even after living with Elend all summer, she still hadn¡¯t gotten used to his antics. ¡°Make any new friends?¡± he asked. Akari shrugged. ¡°Can you tell me how to fight a Dream Artist?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Elend stepped behind the wooden desk on the room¡¯s opposite side. The surface was bare, aside from two computer monitors and a short stack of books. Dark wooden bookshelves surrounded it on three sides, along with a full-length mirror for Glim. ¡°What¡¯d she do to you?¡± Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Who?¡± Akari strolled over to a set of leather armchairs and plopped down. ¡°There¡¯s only one Dream Artist in your class.¡± Akari put her feet up on the coffee table. Elend raised an eyebrow, and she removed them just as quickly. She looked around, checking the windows and doors. ¡°Is this room secure?¡± Elend pressed a button on his desk, then raised a transparent Construct of his own mana. ¡°It is now.¡± Akari let out a long breath, trying not to shudder too hard at the memory. ¡°She showed me the Mystic destroying Last Haven. The TA said it was my ¡­ worst fear or something.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± he said with a grave nod. ¡°The best Dream Artists will use your own imagination against you.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s the counter? Practice? Can you or Glim do it with me?¡± If Akari had to pass out fifty times, she¡¯d rather get it done without her whole class watching. Elend raised a finger. ¡°First of all, I don¡¯t use techniques like that. Second¡ª¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Akari cut in. She¡¯d actually wondered about this before. If Dream Artists were so strong, then why had Elend struggled on Creta? Why bother with illusions if you could just snap your fingers and drop people like rag dolls? ¡°Once upon a time,¡± Elend said, ¡°there was a strange young lad who struggled to make friends in school. Then one day, he learned his dream mana could control people¡¯s emotions¡ªeven make people like him. It became an addiction, like a drug. Once everyone figured it out, they trusted the lad less than ever.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Glim finally appeared in the mirror. ¡°He sounds crazy. Crazy enough to have an imaginary friend.¡± ¡°We all have lines we won¡¯t cross to win,¡± Elend said. ¡°Unfortunately, some of us have to cross those lines to realize it.¡± He waved that away. ¡°Even if I did those techniques, it wouldn¡¯t help you. That¡¯s like an ant practicing its Cloaks by fighting a drake.¡± ¡°You can go easy on me,¡± Akari said. ¡°Maybe use a different technique? One that doesn¡¯t cross any lines?¡± ¡°You¡¯re approaching this all wrong, lass. Elise Moonfire showed you one trick, and you want to spend hours learning to counter it? There are two-hundred more students in your class to worry about. Besides, a Dream Artist won¡¯t use the same trick twice. It will be something different next time.¡± Damnit, he was probably right. Then again, Elise Moonfire wouldn¡¯t need a new trick if Akari twiddled her thumbs until their next fight. Over-training to counter one technique might be stupid, but so was falling for the same thing twice. ¡°You can train your mind to counter dream mana,¡± Elend said, ¡°but you¡¯re not going to like it.¡± Akari gave him a flat look. She¡¯d just offered to face her worst memory until she built up mental calluses. What could possibly be worse¡ª ¡°Meditation,¡± Elend said. ¡°Shit.¡± Akari dragged out the word, rocking her head over the back of the leather armchair. ¡°Aye.¡± He grinned. ¡°Everyone says that, but it¡¯s the best way.¡± ¡°Tried that before,¡± Akari muttered. ¡°Didn¡¯t work.¡± ¡°Tell me, how many months did you practice before you gave up?¡± She¡¯d only done it long enough to sense her own mana, but Elend¡¯s smug expression said he already knew that. ¡°Meditation helps you see your own thoughts,¡± he explained. "You train yourself to be an active observer. Then, when a foreign thought invades your mind, you can see it for what it is.¡± ¡°After months of practice,¡± she deadpanned. ¡°How¡¯s that better than my first idea?¡± ¡°Meditation will help you in all aspects of Mana Arts. No pun intended. I know it¡¯s a mundane power, and that makes it less exciting. But consider this¡ªwhat is power?¡± Akari groaned. ¡°Whatever I say will be the wrong answer.¡± ¡°Come now. Have I gotten that predictable?¡± ¡°Actually,¡± Glim said in a poor impression of Elend¡¯s voice. ¡°All the Artegium professors here do that. You¡¯d know that if you were as smart as me.¡± Akari suppressed a laugh. Glim could perfectly replicate voices, so that impression could only be intentional. ¡°Fair enough, I suppose.¡± Elend stood up, pulled open the sliding glass door, and stepped outside. Akari followed him out onto a private balcony that overlooked the Artegium. Talek. Elegan High¡¯s teachers had worked in glorified cubicles, and those cubicles were smaller than this balcony. Working here definitely had its perks. ¡°Look at your peers,¡± Elend said with a sweeping gesture. ¡°What do you see down there?¡± ¡°You¡¯re still doing it,¡± Glim called out from inside the office. ¡°Ignore her,¡± Elend said. ¡°Consider it part of your training.¡± Akari took her time surveying the scene below. She spotted roughly a hundred students inside the Artegium. Most were walking on the cobblestone paths between classes, but the rest sat on benches, or with their friends in the grass. These all shared one thing in common. ¡°They¡¯re staring at their cell phones?¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Elend said. ¡°Mana Arts used to be secret and restricted, almost like a superpower. But things are changing in the modern world. Mana Arts is more accessible now than ever, and the superpower has shifted to things like focus and attention. Your peers aren¡¯t just looking at their phones in their free time. They do it in class and at work. They do it while they study, and while they train. You and Kalden don¡¯t have this problem because you grew up in a world with limited technology.¡± ¡°And meditation helps attention,¡± Akari guessed. He nodded. ¡°Every Master knows this, and I guarantee the best students in your class know it too. Including Miss Moonfire. Just as your peers can split their attention and get less out of each training session, you can focus harder and get more.¡± Elend spent the next few minutes catching her up on the basics of meditation, along with how to work it into her daily schedule. Most Mana Artists focused on cycling while they meditated, and this had the added benefit of increasing their mana count. Dream Akari had done this exact thing back in Last Haven, which meant she already had a solid foundation. ¡°One more thing,¡± Akari said before she left. ¡°What about my aspect?" She¡¯d been too busy to worry about that until now. First, with the admissions exam, and then with the first day of school. Her hacking skills had helped her survive the first few duels¡ªthey might even get her an alliance now that she and Kalden were pretending to split up¡ªbut the clock was ticking on the hacking game. Aside from reaching Apprentice, this was the next best way to increase her combat potential. ¡°Right,¡± Elend said. ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to bring that up.¡± Dream mana flowed from his hand, swirling around the wooden coffee table between them. It took the shape of a transparent human female, roughly ten inches tall, who sat cross-legged in the center of the table. Three circles formed a triangle around the figure. The first two held space and time artifacts¡ªa bag and a watch, respectively. The third circle held a glowing blue question mark. ¡°I¡¯ve already purchased your first two artifacts,¡± Elend said. ¡°But you need an odd number for the ritual. Even numbers tend to fight each other, and you¡¯ll have nowhere to redirect the extra energy. This is why it¡¯s so hard to combine two aspects.¡± Akari furrowed her brow as she examined the scene. ¡°What about using two of one type? Like two space and one time?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Elend said. ¡°The truewater aspect uses two-thirds water and one third ice. But that aspect doesn¡¯t aim for balance. The ice is just a way to extend the water techniques.¡± ¡°But space and time are the same thing,¡± Akari said. ¡°That¡¯s the whole point of my parents¡¯ theory.¡± ¡°Aye, but balance still matters, and you might not get the full benefits if you stack one side. I¡¯d recommend you introduce a third, unrelated artifact, and give it less attention than the first two. For example, forty-five percent mana to space, forty-five percent to time, and ten percent to the unknown third. Akari blinked. She hadn¡¯t known you could do that. Then again, she was far from an expert on aspect rituals. ¡°What about using five artifacts?¡± she asked. ¡°Or seven?¡± ¡°Some Artists use five. Especially the sentimental ones. For example, let¡¯s say your parents each left you two artifacts, and your favorite teacher gave you one.¡± He waved a dismissive hand. ¡°You can do it, but it¡¯s like tasting ten glasses of wine instead of just drinking one. Needlessly complicated, with no practical benefits.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Akari said. ¡°So what do I do?¡± Elend shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t have the answers, lass. I suspect your parents had a plan. Or maybe not. But you can¡¯t just pick anything. It has to fit conceptually with spacetime.¡± Akari considered that for a moment. ¡°Gravity mana?¡± Elend waggled a hand from side to side. ¡°The goal matters more than logical categories. Ask yourself this¡ªwhat¡¯s the goal of your new aspect? Many Space Artists work in transportation, either focusing on portals or extending containers. Time Artists might create loops for experimentation, or to preserve something in its current state. You need a unifying goal. The third artifact should represent that goal.¡± Talek. This was harder than she thought. ¡°Finally,¡± Elend said. ¡°The aspect needs to fit you. It should be something you¡¯ve immersed yourself in. Something that¡¯s part of your identity. Your parents prepared you for space and time, but the rest is up to you.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Akari said. ¡°More soul searching.¡± Elend grinned at her. ¡°That part of Mana Arts never stops. If anything, it only gets worse. Remember all that time I had you relax, without studying or training? You¡¯re teaching your mind to open up to new possibilities. You¡¯re learning to listen rather than filling your days with constant work. Combine that with your new meditation skills, and you have all the tools you need.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 16: Clean Slate Kalden stared at a ghost from across the green lawn. He¡¯d already seen his brother in his dreams, but this was different. Elend¡¯s dreams had felt like reality, but that didn¡¯t make them real. For all their detail and immersive power, they could still shatter with one stray thought. But this was the real Sozen Trengsen, standing in front of him, solid and true. ¡°I¡¯ll catch up with you later,¡± Tori said from Kalden¡¯s left. Her voice sounded far away, and Kalden barely managed a half-hearted nod. Sozen broke into a jog, closing the distance between them. He wore dark jeans, a white dress shirt, and a blue blazer¡ªmore like a teacher than a student. Kalden relaxed his vision and saw an Artisan¡¯s soul inside his chest. ¡°Kalden?¡± his brother repeated once they stood only a few paces away. ¡°Sozen,¡± Kalden replied in a numb voice. A broad smile flashed across his brother¡¯s face, mixed with the surprise in his eyes. ¡°You got out.¡± ¡°Are you real?¡± Kalden asked him. Then he shook his head at the stupid question. No imposter or Dream Artist would answer that honestly. Kalden had to be sure¡ªhe and Akari might act like simple Artegium students, but their enemies were real. ¡°The last words you said to me¡ªbefore you left Arkala. Do you remember them?¡± Sozen¡¯s smile faded, but he gave a stiff nod. ¡°I said I¡¯d come back for you someday.¡± Kalden let out a breath, and the tension left his body like honey sliding off a spoon. He reached out his prosthetic hand to clasp his brother¡¯s wrist. Sozen ignored that and held out his arms, crushing Kalden into a hug. ¡°Come on,¡± he said a second later when they pulled apart. ¡°My friend owns a bar on Market Street. We can talk there if you have time.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Kalden said, still feeling dizzy. ¡°Of course. Lead the way.¡± They left the Artegium and ventured out into the greater campus. The stone paths turned to ordinary streets with two-story brick buildings crammed together on either side. Walking beside his brother felt more surreal than any dream. Even if he¡¯d hoped to find Sozen someday, a part of him thought it would happen later ¡­ perhaps on some secret mountaintop at the edge of the world. Meanwhile, Akari had believed he¡¯d show up at some dramatic moment. She¡¯d also insisted that Sozen must be alive because ¡°no one ever dies offscreen.¡± Both theories had been jokes, but she¡¯d been half right. They stopped at a place called ¡°Fisong Shokenese Cuisine¡± which sat between a bank and a comic book store. Sozen led them through a dimly lit dining room that had begun to draw an early lunch crowd. The inside was about what you¡¯d expect from a college bar. Brown paneling covered the walls, and old-fashioned lightbulbs hung from the ceiling¡¯s wooden rafters. A fireplace dominated one wall, surrounded by a ring of leather armchairs. He could easily imagine some old professors gathered around there in the winter, discussing philosophy over a round of pints. His brother exchanged some quick words with the bartender, then they passed into a private room at the back of the restaurant. Long wooden tables covered the floor, and three stained glass windows filled the back wall. Stained glass in a college bar? The colors were subtle¡ªnot the bright primaries you¡¯d see in an Angel chapel. Instead, the artist had stuck with shades of orange, giving a sunset impression. ¡°The owner does stained glass on the side,¡± Sozen said. ¡°You should see this room in the evening.¡± Then his brother walked by the fireplace, and the flames sprang to life out of nowhere. Weird. Many fireplaces came with sigils, including the ones around the Darklight Estate. But how had he activated it without mana? Unless his brother was secretly a Master who could move his mana mentally. Either way, that question didn¡¯t even make Kalden¡¯s top ten list right now. Sozen activated a sound suppressor as they took their seats by the fireplace. ¡°So how¡¯d you get out?¡± he asked. ¡°Past the Martials? Through the Inner Sea?¡± ¡°I wish I could tell you everything,¡± Kalden said. ¡°But I made promises to the people who helped me. I need to consult them before I say too much¡± And yes, Irina had explicitly mentioned ¡°long lost family¡± on her list of people they couldn¡¯t tell. ¡°I know how that goes,¡± Sozen said. ¡°We all answer to someone.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll object,¡± Kalden said. ¡°I just need to clear it with them first.¡± They paused as a server showed up with two glasses of beer and a massive platter of sushi. Kalden accepted his glass and took a good long swallow. He wasn''t normally one to drink before noon, but today was an exception. ¡°Okay.¡± Sozen grabbed a piece of sushi and dunked it into the sauce. ¡°How about the parts you¡¯re allowed to share?¡± Kalden took another sip and considered. He couldn¡¯t share anything that involved Akari, Relia, or Elend¡ªat least not until after he got their permission. Fortunately, he could still share the bones of the story without revealing their specific roles. So Kalden told his brother how he¡¯d secretly learned Mana Arts against their mother¡¯s wishes. He told him about his dreams and the call of his past life. He told him how they¡¯d fought hundreds of Martials to escape the island, and how they¡¯d braved the tides of the Inner Sea. Finally, he told Sozen how he¡¯d been shipwrecked in Creta, where he¡¯d unlocked his memories and lost his hand in battle. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Even this bare-bones story probably gave away too much. Twenty minutes of research on Sozen¡¯s part could tie him to Elend, Akari, and Relia. Elend had even taken a sabbatical last year, which lined up with the timeline of Kalden¡¯s story. Then again, Sozen could have figured out those things without Kalden¡¯s help. ¡°What about you?¡± Kalden finally asked. ¡°I had help when I escaped, but you did it alone.¡± Sozen nodded. ¡°My escape was nothing like yours. We barely fought half a dozen guards in Keylas¡ªnothing like the military base you faced.¡± That made sense. The Martials had obviously tightened security after Sozen left, then again after Relia fought her way in. ¡°What about the tides?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°And the storms?¡± ¡°We hit some tides, but the Water Artists dealt with those. We also got lucky with the storms¡ªmade it all the way to Vaslana without crashing.¡± He¡¯d almost forgotten that Sozen had left home with two Water Artists. Even Elend couldn¡¯t control the tides, especially with those impedium cuffs. Sure, he could repel them, but that wasn¡¯t the same as moving with them. A skilled sailor was still better than a Grandmaster at sea, just as a skilled general was more valuable than a Mystic in a war. ¡°We spent a few months in Vaslana,¡± Sozen continued. ¡°Then we had some disagreements. I wanted to play things slow, and they wanted to go back and help the others. They thought if they brought proof, the Martials would listen to them about the outside world.¡± ¡°They were wrong,¡± Kalden muttered into his glass. Relia had tried to bring proof, too. Some rebels and conspiracy theorists had listened, but the Martials definitely didn¡¯t make that list. In fact, Emberlyn¡¯s father had hinted that the Martials already knew the truth. They¡¯d just gotten too attached to their prison. ¡°We were just kids,¡± Sozen said with a shrug. ¡°I planned to go back once I regained my memories and reached Apprentice ¡­¡± ¡°So you got your memories back, too?¡± He nodded. ¡°I paid a Dream Artist to help me. I¡¯m guessing you did the same.¡± ¡°Close enough,¡± Kalden said. Sozen took a long drink. ¡°I had this whole plan to help you and Mom. But the more I learned, the more I doubted myself. There were a dozen Grandmasters in Last Haven. Even together, they were no match for our attacker.¡± Kalden stiffened as he remembered the dark figure in the sky above Last Haven. They¡¯d been talking for almost an hour now, but this was the first time either of them had mentioned it. ¡°Do you know who it was?¡± Kalden asked. His brother shook his head. ¡°I know some things about him, but nothing specific like a name or an aspect. He clearly wanted to stay anonymous, and powerful Mana Artists tend to get their way.¡± Sozen polished off the last of his drink. ¡°Whoever it was, he doesn¡¯t care about me or you. I doubt we¡¯d still be here if he did. But here¡¯s the problem ¡­¡± He lowered his voice despite the sound suppressor. ¡°Our enemy cared about someone. It could be Mom for all we know. What if I rescued her, and that drew his gaze? That¡¯s when I realized I¡¯d only get one chance to go back.¡± Kalden gave a slow nod. He and Akari had reached the same conclusion, except they¡¯d planned to help everyone from the start. His brother gave a helpless shrug. ¡°So what do you do when reaching Grandmaster might not be enough?¡± ¡°Shoot for Mystic,¡± Kalden said. His tone was almost sarcastic, but not quite. Impossible goal or not, it was their only real chance. Sozen must have agreed because his smile was anything but light. ¡°I see we understand each other.¡± ¡°Talek,¡± Kalden said. ¡°You¡¯re serious, aren¡¯t you?¡± All Mana Artists aimed for the Mystic realm, just as they all hoped to ascend and become immortal. But for most people, those goals were nothing but vague wishes. They knew the odds were against them. They knew they could live ten thousand lives and still fail. ¡°People have done it before,¡± Sozen said. ¡°Even as young as their thirties.¡± ¡°Sure, but how?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t share their secrets, but the secrets exist. We just need to find them.¡± ¡°Have anything in mind?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°Nothing I can share yet,¡± Sozen replied. ¡°For now, I¡¯m just working and training. Same as you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re working here at the university?¡± He nodded. ¡°I just started this semester. Grandmaster Raizen hired me as an assistant for his second-year Blade Arts class.¡± Kalden frowned. ¡°Blade Arts? But you were a Metal Artist when you left the Archipelago.¡± ¡°I was a Blade Artist before that,¡± Sozen explained. ¡°Aspects are permanent. That¡¯s a law of Mana Arts. Even our attacker couldn¡¯t break that rule.¡± His frown deepened. ¡°Then how ¡­¡± ¡°He suppressed our Blade Arts,¡± Sozen said. ¡°The same way he suppressed our memories and our mana.¡± Then his brother pulled out a pen and began drawing on the back of a napkin. ¡°Blade mana has four key components¡ªmetal, knowledge, craft, and destruction.¡± Sozen drew the symbols for each mana type as he spoke. ¡°The Archipelago didn¡¯t have aspects that advanced, so our attacker had to simplify things.¡± He took the pen and crossed out everything but the metal symbol. Kalden¡¯s blood froze as realization struck him like a sword to the chest. He¡¯d thought he had a clean slate, but if Sozen was right ¡­ ¡°You and I have always been Blade Artists,¡± Sozen went on. ¡°We lost our mana on the island, but the aspects are still permanently etched on our souls. This is why you still fight like a Blade Artist now.¡± Kalden tried to reply, but his lips felt numb. ¡°I had to go through the aspecting ritual again,¡± Sozen said. ¡°But that¡¯s all it took. You should be able to do the same.¡± ¡°And what if I don¡¯t want to be a Blade Artist?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°You¡¯re telling me I have no choice?¡± ¡°Aspects are permanent,¡± Sozen repeated. ¡°You know that.¡± Of course. Every child knew that, but he¡¯d thought he and Akari had been given some special exception. Even Elend and Irina had thought so. Just a few hours before, he¡¯d been ready to put Blade Arts behind him. His body wasn¡¯t what it was, but his brain was as sharp as ever, and Knowledge Arts had seemed like the most logical step forward. Now ¡­ Kalden drew in a steadying breath. No need to panic yet. Sozen seemed well informed, but the Darklights were Grandmasters, and they¡¯d believed Kalden could change his aspect. That had to count for something. ¡°You¡¯re sure about this?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°No one¡¯s ever suppressed an aspect before now, either. Not to mention all this stuff with controlling our powers and memories.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take my word for it,¡± Sozen said. ¡°Have your teachers order you a soulscan.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Kalden asked. He¡¯d heard the term before, but he¡¯d never researched specifics. ¡°Souls have unique patterns,¡± Sozen said. ¡°Sort of like fingerprints. Silver Sight can¡¯t see these patterns, but there are more advanced machines that can. The pattern also changes when you aspect your mana. In your case, half your soul should show blade mana.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Kalden took another shuddering breath. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll do that.¡± What if his brother was right? What did that mean for his future? Talek. And what about Akari? She¡¯d already aspected to space mana in her past life, and she¡¯d been counting on this second chance to fulfill her parents'' dreams. Did this mean she had no chance of becoming a Spacetime Artist? Book 3 - Chapter 17: Test Results Kalden paced through the Darklight¡¯s estate, waiting for the results of his soulscan. He¡¯d met with Irina that afternoon, but he¡¯d secretly hoped she would laugh the idea away. Followed by some smug comment like, ¡°Your brother is clearly mistaken, Mr. Trengsen. I can read your soul like an open book, and I would have noticed if you were still a Blade Artist.¡± Kalden had played that scenario through his head as he walked across campus. He¡¯d played it as he rode the elevator up to Irina¡¯s office, and he¡¯d played it in the waiting room. But Irina didn¡¯t laugh when they finally spoke. On the contrary, she seemed to think a soulscan was a perfectly reasonable idea, and she contacted her colleague to get it done. That proved she hadn¡¯t considered this until now. Not because she and Elend were confident in their assessment, but because the thought had never even crossed her mind. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t wanna do something?¡± Relia asked as he passed through the living room. ¡°We could play a board game.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Kalden said. Akari sat on the leather sofa beside Relia, looking as nervous as Kalden felt. In fact, she¡¯d probably be pacing too if Relia weren¡¯t braiding her hair. ¡°We could get a drink.¡± Akari looked longingly toward the kitchen, all but squirming away from Relia¡¯s grasp. ¡°True,¡± Relia replied. ¡°Alcohol is technically a solution!¡± Akari rolled her eyes. ¡°That joke is older than this house.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Relia dragged out the word. ¡°Last time I try to lighten the mood.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± Akari slumped back against the cushions. ¡°This just sucks.¡± ¡°It does,¡± Kalden agreed. ¡°But you can still focus on the positives,¡± Relia said. ¡°I mean, Sozen¡¯s alive! And he wants to hang out with you again. That¡¯s good, right?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Kalden said. ¡°It¡¯s just a lot to process all at once.¡± He probably looked heartless for focusing on the aspect issue over his long-lost brother. But the truth was, he felt guilty showing too much excitement in front of Akari. This must have been ten times worse for her. He¡¯d decided to pursue a new aspect this afternoon, but she¡¯d had her heart set on spacetime mana this whole summer. No ¡­ more like her entire life. For her, this was the first step toward making things right. Now, he¡¯d been forced to tell her that her mistake might be permanent. The front door opened a second later, and Kalden rounded to face Irina as she strode into the foyer. She paused in the hall, not even removing her shoes or jacket. ¡°Well, you¡¯re clearly waiting on me, so I guess I¡¯ll just say it.¡± She met Kalden¡¯s eyes. ¡°Your brother was right.¡± He¡¯d known this was coming, but the words still felt like a punch to the gut. Irina pulled out a manilla envelope from her leather bag, then set the results on the coffee table between them. The picture was a dense pattern of white lines against a dark blue background. It looked like a cross between a fingerprint scan and an x-ray. ¡°Half your soul is blade mana,¡± she explained. ¡°We¡¯ve highlighted the different components here.¡± Sure enough, everything was exactly as Sozen had said. The scan highlighted one larger pattern in Kalden¡¯s soul, with four smaller patterns inside of it. Those matched the Artegium¡¯s database signatures for knowledge, metal, craft, and destruction mana. ¡°So I¡¯m already a Blade Artist,¡± Kalden said. Irina nodded. ¡°And if we scan Miss Zeller¡¯s soul, I suspect we¡¯ll see that she¡¯s a Spatial Artist.¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°You never thought to do this scan before?¡± Kalden tried to keep his voice calm, but it still carried a sharp edge. Irina and Elend were supposed to be the experts. If they¡¯d overlooked this, then what else were they wrong about? ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said with a quick shake of her head. ¡°Even the best Knowledge Artists can¡¯t pull ideas out of thin air. We¡¯re only as good as our own experience, and your case isn¡¯t just rare. It¡¯s unprecendented.¡± She gestured to the papers on the table. ¡°We use soulscans to deduce why aspecting rituals go wrong. We don¡¯t use them on Pure Artists for non-medical reasons.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s impossible to remove an aspect,¡± Kalden said, echoing his brother¡¯s earlier words. ¡°You never thought this was suspicious?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she agreed. ¡°It makes sense in hindsight. But Mystics make exceptions to the rules all the time. The evidence suggested this was one of those exceptions.¡± Akari sat perfectly still on the sofa, but she looked ready to blast a Missile through the wall. ¡°You¡¯re saying they have no choice?¡± Relia spoke up. ¡°They have to stick with their old aspects?¡± Irina shook her head. ¡°This is uncharted territory, which means we know nothing. Aside from you two, Sozen Trengsen is the only living example of someone who¡¯s escaped the Archipelago. In fact, I¡¯ve already set up a meeting with him.¡± ¡°But removing aspects is impossible.¡± Kalden sank onto the sofa across from Akari and Relia. ¡°Even this Mystic couldn¡¯t do it.¡± Irina fixed him with a look. ¡°We have a rule in Healing Arts, Mr. Trengsen. We never declare a new problem impossible until we¡¯ve spent at least ten minutes trying to solve it. And I¡¯d say your case warrants far more than just ten minutes.¡± She was right, of course. He¡¯d had a long day, and he wasn¡¯t thinking straight. He even found comfort in her condescending tone; it reminded him that he didn¡¯t have all the information yet. ¡°Besides,¡± Irina continued. ¡°Your scan shows several anomalies.¡± Akari learned forward. ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°Half of this soul appears to be aspected,¡± Irina tapped the paper on the table. ¡°But your body produces no blade mana. Stranger still, you can access one hundred percent of your pure mana.¡± Kalden gave a slow nod. His brother had used the word ¡°suppression¡± back in the bar, as if the enemy Mystic had simply plugged up a part of their souls. But if that were true, then how did Kalden have the mana counts of a normal Apprentice? How had he scored so well on the admissions exams? Not to mention Akari, who¡¯d scored closer to an Apprentice than a Foundation. Irina pulled out another sheet and set it down beside Kalden¡¯s scan. ¡°I showed your results to my colleague¡ªanonymously, of course¡ªand she compared it to an ordinary Blade Artist¡¯s soul.¡± Kalden furrowed his brow as he glanced between the images. ¡°What am I missing?¡± ¡°You see these pieces here?¡± Irina tapped a corner of the second image, gesturing to several white clusters where the lines converged. ¡°We call those ¡®filomeres.¡¯ They¡¯re the last parts to form during an aspecting ritual. They seal everything in place.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that mean?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Sounds kind of like a hair tie.¡± Relia gestured to Akari¡¯s braid which had already begun to unravel at the bottom. ¡°It¡¯s more permanent than that,¡± Irina said. ¡°Filomeres are also the reason we can¡¯t aspect our mana more than once. A small number of people are also born with these, and they can¡¯t aspect their mana at all.¡± She turned back to Kalden. ¡°This is why your brother was able to re-try the ritual. Most of the work was done. He just needed the last step.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Kalden said. ¡°So the Mystic erased these filomere things on everyone¡¯s soul. He nullified our aspects without actually removing them. But how does that help us?¡± Irina glanced at Akari. ¡°You can¡¯t remove your spatial aspect, but that was never your goal. Without the filomeres in place, you might condense the spatial part of your soul and make room for your temporal aspect.¡± Akari gave her a blank stare as if she didn¡¯t dare get her hopes up. ¡°You¡¯re saying I can still become a Spacetime Artist?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying it¡¯s possible, but it won¡¯t be easy.¡± Akari breathed a visible sigh of relief. ¡°And what about Kalden?¡± ¡°Mr. Trengsen could do the same, in theory. I¡¯ve seen blade mana combined with other aspects. For example, sunspear mana combines blade with fire.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m still stuck as a Blade Artist,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We¡¯ll research this further,¡± Irina said. ¡°As I said before, this is all uncharted territory, and it¡¯s too soon to say what¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Kalden said in a formal tone. ¡°Thank you for your time, Grandmaster Darklight.¡± She left them alone after that, and Kalden resisted the urge to slump his shoulders or hang his head. This dream of Knowledge Arts had been slowly building in the back of his mind ever since he came to Koreldon. Irina had planted the seed during his first appointment, and Elend had cultivated it during their sparring in the backyard. Finally, his duel against Tori Raizen had etched the dream into stone. With Knowledge Arts, he could scan each challenge in advance, finding a thousand secret paths to victory. He could identify weaknesses in his opponents, or in the environment. He could make the most of his weaker body and bring victory to his team. Talek. He hadn¡¯t realized how much he wanted this until it was gone. Book 3 - Chapter 18: Alliances Akari¡¯s fingers flew across the keyboard as she waited for her team¡¯s next duel. She and the others sprawled out in a corner of the training hall, and her job was to crack the generators¡¯ updated security. ¡°How much longer?¡± she asked the group. ¡°Boznak and Windstrider are still fighting,¡± Nico said. ¡°Should give us at least five minutes.¡± Talek. That was cutting it way too close. Four weeks had passed since the first day of class, and true to his word, Raizen had increased the security every day. Any five-year-old could have solved that first cipher. Not only had that cipher been monoalphabetic, but they¡¯d based the substitution shifts on keyboard position. Almost like they wanted someone to solve it in five minutes. Which, in hindsight, had been the exact goal. By the second week of class, the ciphers had gotten too complicated for a single person to solve between duels. Fortunately, Akari had prepared for that by installing several decoding scripts on her laptop. Raizen¡¯s people had also removed the whitespace in the second week, but that didn¡¯t matter. Akari had saved backups of the original files, and she recreated the original spacing with little effort. At least until the third week when they began scrambling the order. By the time week four rolled around, they¡¯d begun changing the languages entirely. Instead of using Standard Object Notation like normal people, they¡¯d pick some obscure language from three decades ago. ¡°Where¡¯s Nimble?¡± Akari asked without looking up. ¡°Still on his coffee run,¡± Nico replied. Nimble was a Light Artist who turned himself invisible. And yes, his parents really had named him ¡°Nimble.¡± It was like they¡¯d wanted a little assassin child. And ¡°coffee run¡± was code for spying on Arturo Kazalla¡¯s team. Not only did Arturo know more computer science than her, but he had an aspect called craft mana. This aspect was a branch of Knowledge Arts that focused on creation, and his Second Brain technique did most of his hacking for him. That was definitely bullshit, but she had to admit some grudging respect for the kid. He¡¯d still won most of his fights, despite only hacking the arena one time against Elise Moonfire. Had Raizen actually barred his access, or was Arturo holding that card for a stormy day? She¡¯d find out soon enough. Soft footsteps echoed behind her as someone approached from the room¡¯s main doors. ¡°I¡¯ve got it,¡± Nimble whispered as he approached with a cardboard coffee cup. He was a thin Espirian, barely taller than Akari, with a shaved head and blond stubble on his chin. ¡°Finally.¡± Akari stopped typing and reached out to accept the cup with the small piece of paper wrapped around it. ¡°Kinetic Array,¡± the paper read. Akari stared at it for several heartbeats, then she glared up at the Light Artist. ¡°You fell for that?¡± Nimble blinked. ¡°Huh? Arturo said this was the language. I heard it loud and clear.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a real language,¡± Akari said. ¡°Well, how the hell am I supposed to know that?¡± Akari pulled out a pencil and solved the anagram on the same piece of paper. ¡°Kinetic Array¡± became ¡°Nice try Akari¡± on the line below it. ¡°Oh.¡± Nimble slumped his shoulders. ¡°Shit.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Akari shot Arturo a glance from across the room. He was already watching her, and he winked when their eyes met. ¡°So much for spying.¡± ¡°I can try to glimpse his screen next,¡± Nimble said. He went on to say something about mirror Constructs and light beams, but Akari wasn¡¯t listening. ¡°Victory,¡± Camila¡¯s voice announced over a nearby speaker. ¡°Dejan Boznak¡± Grandmaster Raizen called on the next two duelists, and that put Nico next in line for his duel against Lyra Manastrike. ¡°Sorry,¡± Akari told him. ¡°Won¡¯t have your gear in time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s cool,¡± Nico said with a bit of forced enthusiasm. ¡°I¡¯ll bet Manastrike doesn¡¯t have any equipment either.¡± Akari nodded as she ran various languages through her decoding script. Lyra Manastrike was on a team with Tori Raizen and Kalden, and they lacked a good hacker. Kalden had tried to fill the role during the early classes, but he couldn¡¯t keep up with the weekly updates. At first, she¡¯d been skeptical of Kalden¡¯s plan to split up. He¡¯d been so distant all summer, and this seemed like he was finally ditching Akari and Relia for a new group of friends. But he¡¯d explained his reasoning, and it made sense. Tori Raizen¡¯s alliance had over thirty people, and she¡¯d made Kalden their general. Not only did this give him influence over Tori¡¯s faction, but it also put him in a position to deal with the other leaders. Best of all, no one knew about his allegiance to Akari and Relia. They¡¯d all watched their share of the qualifying rounds by now, and secrets were just as important as raw power when it came to victory. Everything had worked out for Akari, too. She used her hacking skills to help Nico¡¯s team get equipment in class. In exchange, she got a spot on their team for the actual qualifying rounds. She took the bigger risk in that deal, but she couldn¡¯t complain. As the only non-Apprentice this year, she was lucky just to have an alliance. Or a fake alliance, at least. Shit would hit the fan during the qualifying rounds when people started betraying each other left and right. For now, at least she got to hack rather than deal with politics. That was Kalden¡¯s job. ~~~ Kalden reclined on his cushioned throne, while the evening sun streamed in from the stained glass windows behind him. He wore a custom-tailored suit with a white dress shirt beneath. A glass of corzi sat on the wood table in front of him, along with a copy of his team¡¯s ledgers. He¡¯d originally set up here as a private joke¡ªan homage to the way he¡¯d held court outside Elegan High. The setup made him miss Darren and Maelyn more than ever. Those two had a gift for gathering information, and he could have used their help and these elaborate games of spies and betrayals. What¡¯s more, true friends were rarer than Mystics in this world. Instead, Kalden¡¯s new teammates sat on either side of his throne¡ªTori Raizen and Lyra Manastrike. They might have put Kalden in charge of the Blood Army, but he didn¡¯t trust either of them. The wooden door swung open as a henchman stepped inside; Kalden thought his name was Aaron. ¡°Brisco Dracez is here to see you, General.¡± ¡°Excellent. Send him in.¡± Aaron pushed the door open wider, and a Cadrian-Espirian boy sauntered inside. Most people either gawked or rolled their eyes when they saw the throne room. Brisco was a gawker. ¡°Mr. Dracez.¡± Kalden raised a hand and beckoned the young man inside. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Brisco took a few more strides until he stood in the center of the room. The center was easy to find because they¡¯d hung a dim spotlight over it. The only other lights were the fireplace and the evening sun that shone through the orange windows. ¡°I¡¯ll get straight to it,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We know you¡¯re a paid spy for the Moon Army. I¡¯d like to know how much Moonfire is paying you.¡± ¡°What?¡± Brisco blurted out the word as if he¡¯d rehearsed it a dozen times. ¡°Why would I spy for her?¡± ¡°Relax,¡± Kalden said. ¡°I¡¯m not asking for a confession. How about this¡ªif you were a spy, how much would Elise Moonfire be paying you?¡± His nervous eyes darted back and forth. ¡°It¡¯s not a trick,¡± Tori spoke up from Kalden¡¯s right. ¡°Just answer the question.¡± ¡°She wouldn¡¯t pay me,¡± Brisco said. ¡°Financial incentives are against the rules¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªof Grandmaster Raizen¡¯s class,¡± Kalden finished for him. ¡°But this isn¡¯t about winning duels in class. This is about Moon Army and Blood Army.¡± ¡°Two hundred espers a week,¡± Brisco finally said. ¡°And a spot in Moon Army if I get caught.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Kalden said with a nod. That was about the number he¡¯d expected. Brisco wasn¡¯t the type to have secrets, which ruled out blackmail. He was also a big spender, and he went on shopping sprees every Kelsday after his secret meetings. Today, he wore a new pair of Palamin¡¯s shoes that probably increased his running speed and jumping height. Even from five feet away, Kalden could smell the new rubber from the soles. ¡°And what would Miss Moonfire ask about in these hypothetical meetings?¡± he asked. Brisco shrugged. ¡°Her biggest concern would be spies¡ªshe¡¯d want to know if you had any double agents working in Moon Army.¡± He paused. ¡°She¡¯d also want to know about your relationship with Zeller and Dawnfire.¡± Figures. Elise had been interested in Akari all semester. They still didn¡¯t know why, but it probably came from that organization that tried to bar her entry to the Artegium. ¡°Here¡¯s my offer,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Keep spying for Elise Moonfire and feed her whatever you dig up on Zeller and Dawnfire. As for Blood Army¡¯s strategies¡ªstep into the dining room after this. You¡¯ll see a reserved booth near the door. Pull up the cushion and you¡¯ll find an envelope there. You can either give that to Miss Moonfire, or you can read it and pass along the parts you want. Do this, and I¡¯ll match what she¡¯s paying you. Twice the money for half the work.¡± They spent the next few minutes hammering out the details. If Brisco pulled this off, he¡¯d have more opportunities to work as a double agent. But if he did get caught, then Blood Army would pay him nothing. Kalden never explained how he¡¯d know the results. Brisco eventually went about his business for the night, leaving Kalden alone with his two colonels. ¡°This won¡¯t work.¡± Lyra Manastrike reclined in her chair on Kalden¡¯s left, swirling a glass of sparkling white wine. She had long red hair like Relia, but her color obviously came out of a bottle. ¡°Moonfire will know he¡¯s lying. Either that, or he¡¯ll spill the whole story.¡± Tori hummed in vague agreement. ¡°Even if Moonfire falls for it, what¡¯s in it for us?¡± Kalden smiled. ¡°Exactly.¡± They both stared at him, and Kalden leaned back in his seat. ¡°Do you know the story of Emperor Hiloto of South Shoken?¡± At their silence, he continued. ¡°Like many emperors, Hiloto sought immortality. But rather than ascending through Mana Arts, Hiloto sought to achieve his goal with alchemy. He experimented with elixirs, training his immune system to battle any virus or bacteria. Even aging was just a disease in his eyes.¡± ¡°And he failed,¡± Lyra guessed. That was indeed the obvious guess. If the emperor had succeeded, he might still be alive today, and the rest of the world would have followed his lead. ¡°His plan worked as expected,¡± Kalden said. ¡°But he didn¡¯t know about autoimmunity. His elixirs turned his cells into perfect killing machines, like an army of assassins with no targets. Eventually, his body destroyed itself from within.¡± ¡°There is no plot,¡± Tori finally realized. ¡°But Moonfire will look for one.¡± Kalden nodded. ¡°Maybe she¡¯ll meet with Brisco next Kelsday and know he¡¯s lying. Maybe she¡¯ll obsess over the contents of that envelope ...¡± ¡°What¡¯s in there?¡± Lyra asked. ¡°Some of the information is real,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Most of it is stuff she already knows or expects. Other parts are downright ridiculous, outing members of Moonfire¡¯s inner circle as spies. Either way, time is a valuable resource in this game, and she¡¯ll waste hers worrying about us.¡± A second later, Henchman Aaron popped his head back into the room. ¡°General Trengsen? Elise Moonfire is out on the sidewalk.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Send her in when she gets here.¡± Tori stood up and headed for the back door. ¡°Well, that¡¯s my cue to scram.¡± ¡°Scared of a Dream Artist?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°We went to high school together. She gets under my skin.¡± Kalden gave a slow nod. ¡°Just as well. She might try to play us against each other if she sees two leaders.¡± ¡°Sounds like you¡¯ve got her figured out.¡± Tori pushed open the door and waved with her fingers. ¡°Good luck.¡± Elise Moonfire glided through the doorway a minute later. She wore a dress of violet-dyed dragon scales, and her golden hair fell in impossible curls around her exposed cleavage. Clouds of dream mana surrounded her, and he wondered how much of her appearance was real. ¡°Seriously?¡± Elise looked around with an elaborate eye roll. ¡°You built a throne room? In the back of a bar?¡± Kalden chuckled as if it were the silliest idea in the world. ¡°My older brother is friends with the owner. She makes stained glass as a hobby.¡± Elise raised a golden eyebrow. ¡°And the furniture?¡± ¡°Custom-made by the local throne-maker.¡± Kalden had dealt with Elise Moonfire a few times now, and it was far better to roll with her punches. If she sensed weakness¡ªor even excuses¡ªshe¡¯d keep pressing until it hurt. Even now, he felt her dream mana surrounding him like a storm cloud, trying to twist his emotions. ¡°Adorable,¡± she replied. ¡°I hope you never grow up.¡± Elise glanced at the empty chair on Kalden¡¯s right, then her blue eyes danced toward Lyra. ¡°Where¡¯s your girlfriend?¡± Lyra immediately stiffened. ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± ¡°No ¡­¡± Elise drew out the word like a dramatic sigh. ¡°It¡¯s not, is it? You¡¯ve been following Tori around since high school, but she only cares about her training, doesn¡¯t she? Not like Kalden here. He¡¯s in love with Akari Zeller. Some say he intends to betray the Blood Army for her.¡± Unlike Lyra, Kalden didn¡¯t flinch. He might have shown a reaction if Elise had caught him off guard, but he¡¯d predicted his opponent¡¯s move and planned for it. Elise Moonfire didn¡¯t concern herself with the truth¡ªshe made bold statements to steer people where she wanted. In this case, the gibe had been for Lyra¡¯s benefit¡ªsewing the seeds of distrust between them. Kalden raised the glass of corzi to his lips. ¡°Zeller, huh? I wondered which rumor you preferred. Personally, I like the one where it¡¯s me and your sister.¡± Elise¡¯s smile stiffened. She couldn¡¯t deny her relationship with Relia without showing the same weakness she sought in others. ¡°Yeah,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We can gossip about rumors all night. But we normally get straight to business in the Blood Army. Not all of us can pay to have our homework done.¡± ¡°What sort of business?¡± she asked. ¡°Our mutual enemy¡ªZukan Kortez and his Sun Army. I met with him last night.¡± Elise put her hands on her hips. ¡°Did you now?¡± ¡°I told him about Moon Army¡¯s secret alliance with Blood Army.¡± ¡°What alliance?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Kalden said. ¡°But he believed it. That¡¯s the thing about Zukan¡ªhe grew up as a poor dragon in Vaslana. He had to fight for everything he has, and he thinks rich kids like us always stick together.¡± ¡°Arturo Kazalla is advising him,¡± she countered. ¡°Zukan might have the social skills of a starfish, but he¡¯s smart enough to know what he doesn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°And he¡¯s stubborn,¡± Kalden agreed. ¡°He¡¯d sooner go down in a blaze of glory than ally with someone he despises. But you said it yourself¡ªhe¡¯s got Arturo on his side. And Arturo knows you¡¯re the biggest shark in the sea.¡± Elise gave a thin smile. ¡°You expect me to believe you two are ganging up on Moon Army?¡± ¡°It is hard to believe,¡± Kalden said. ¡°I like Arturo just fine, but I don¡¯t trust Zukan or his idealists. That¡¯s why I invited you here.¡± ¡°To see if I¡¯ll give you a better offer?¡± Kalden shrugged. ¡°Three armies leaves us with quite a dilemma. A loose alliance is the sure path to victory, but betraying your ally is a surer path still.¡± Her face hardened. ¡°This is all bullshit, isn¡¯t it? You know you¡¯ve got the weakest faction, so you¡¯re trying to make as much chaos as you can. It won¡¯t work, you know. You won¡¯t win without the numbers.¡± She was right on the first account, but wrong about the second. Chaos was inevitable in this game. Kalden had watched the recordings of seventy-three qualifying rounds, and things were always more chaotic than the players expected. Some years, they¡¯d even conducted studies that measured the students¡¯ expectations against the actual game. Things were roughly twice as chaotic as people expected beforehand. That meant the only reliable plan was to assume most plans would fail. Elise must have known that too. Even so, a part of her still believed her own words. She couldn¡¯t beat Zukan or Tori in a straight fight, but she still believed in the combined might of her inner circle. ¡°I might have the smallest army,¡± Kalden said. ¡°But we both know yours is the least unified. I¡¯ve trained mine to fight as a unit, and Zukan has united the commonfolk against the oppressive rich kids. What do you have, Miss Moonfire? ¡°You only think what I want you to think,¡± Elise said with a dismissive wave. ¡°You don¡¯t even have any spies in my army, do you, General Trengsen?¡± There it was¡ªthe question he¡¯d been hoping for¡ªserved up on a silver platter. It seemed like good luck, but it was all by design. Kalden had planned to meet with Brisco Dracez before Elise. He¡¯d wanted her to see her own spy walking out of his chamber, maybe even retrieving the envelope from beneath the cushion. Then he¡¯d let himself blunder through this talk, building her confidence until she finally made her move. Elise held his gaze as strands of dream mana danced around the room. Kalden had allowed this as well. He could have installed an anti-dream mana Construct to block her techniques. Then she couldn¡¯t use her aspect to sort the truth from the lies. Lying to a Dream Artist was hard. You needed complete control of your body, thoughts, and emotions. But faking a lie was easy. Dream Artists sought lies like hunters on the prowl. And when humans sought evidence, they usually found it whether or not it was real. And so Kalden thought of Brisco¡ªthe closest thing he had to an actual spy. He focused on his confidence in his own plans, but also on his fear of failure. When he spoke, the truth sounded and felt exactly like a lie. ¡°You¡¯re right. I have no spies in Moon Army. Your friends are surprisingly loyal.¡± Elise¡¯s expression made it all worth it. Book 3 - Chapter 19: Midterms ¡°Seatbelts on,¡± Camila Warder said from the front of the airship¡¯s cabin. ¡°We¡¯re descending in two minutes.¡± Kalden closed his theoretical aspects textbook, returned it to his backpack, and then secured his seatbelt in place. A hundred other students did the same all around the cabin. This airship wasn¡¯t a luxury vessel like the one they¡¯d borrowed from Relia¡¯s parents. This was more like a flying bus, with long rows of benches on either side of the central aisle. Fortunately, it flew far faster than a bus, carrying them from Koreldon to Fransco in less than an hour. That same trip would have taken at least five or six hours by road, and not just because they¡¯d flown over Koreldon Bay. Seven weeks had passed since the start of the school semester, and they¡¯d been some of the busiest weeks of his life. Besides a full schedule of classes, Kalden had his duties as the Blood Army general. This meant devising tactics, training the troops, and dealing with the other alliance leaders. On top of that, he continued to study aspects independently. And while he¡¯d put in the necessary work toward his new aspect, he still hadn¡¯t gone through the ritual yet. Neither had Akari, for that matter. They¡¯d both been so focused on these midterm exams. Two-hundred contestants. One arena. That was all he knew. He¡¯d also heard that the top fifty percent of students would get communication devices, and the top ten would get maps. Both rumors implied a massive and complex game board, but it couldn¡¯t be as big as the actual qualifying rounds. Even if they were flying all the way to Francso on a weekend, Raizen had promised to have them back in Koreldon City by eight o¡¯clock. That meant the game couldn¡¯t last longer than three or four hours. Kalden had also gone through both his surgeries during that time. Now, his left hand had two new fingers made of his own flesh and blood. These fingers wouldn¡¯t grow new mana channels until he reached Artisan, but you couldn¡¯t put a price on having one complete hand. As for his right hand, he¡¯d gone with the upgraded prosthetic option. This was solid blue like his old prosthetic hand, but it let him process more detailed textures like the woodgrain of his desk or the stubble on his face. It also came with artificial channels that restored a good portion of his old shaping abilities¡ªenough to put him back in the top ten of his class. For now. He still couldn¡¯t beat Elise Moonfire or Tori Raizen in a duel. And while he hadn¡¯t faced Zukan Kortez yet, he¡¯d heard the dragon was a freak of nature. The others were gaining on him, too. Kalden¡¯s training had given him a head start, but this also meant diminishing returns with pure mana. Meanwhile, the others learned more every day, closing the gap with shocking speed. Even Akari was climbing higher despite not reaching Apprentice yet. The last time they¡¯d talked, her mana counts had already been in the upper 700s. At this rate, she might be an Apprentice by the end of next week. Kalden needed a new challenge if he wanted to stay ahead. More specifically, he needed an aspect. In the meantime, he¡¯d just need to work with the tools he had. The floor sloped downward as the airship began its descent. A few minutes later, they set down in a massive parking lot surrounded by green fields. A quick glance outside revealed a second airship settling down beside them. The ramp opened near the front of the cabin, and the crowd of students shuffled outside into the cool Hexember air. A lush green forest loomed on the southern horizon, while open grassland stretched out for several miles ahead. Beyond that, he caught the vague shapes of distant mountains obscured by mist. ¡°Form up,¡± Camila and Sen shouted to the four class blocks. Kalden glanced around, seeing many unfamiliar faces in the crowd. Zukan Kortez stood out the most. He was a half-dragon from Vaslana, with scales like scorched tree bark, a long reptilian snout, and narrow, golden eyes. Zukan also stood a full head taller than anyone else here. Kalden was over six feet tall himself, and his head barely reached the dragon¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Alright,¡± Grandmaster Raizen said once they¡¯d formed ranks. ¡°We keep this exam secret to stop you from preparing, but that secrecy ends now.¡± If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Unlike Camila and Sen, Raizen¡¯s voice sounded perfectly calm. He must have been enhancing it with mana somehow. ¡°Your battleground will be an urban power plant,¡¯ Raizen said. ¡°Three teams, and three objectives.¡± Kalden¡¯s chest tightened at the words. Tori had registered the Blood Army as an official alliance, and he knew Zukan and Elise had done the same with their own armies. But what about the smaller teams? Was Raizen ignoring all of that in favor of his own teams? Had all his planning been for nothing? Focus, he reminded himself. Raizen only explained things once. Sometimes, he didn¡¯t even allow questions. ¡°Sun Army aims to destroy the plant,¡± Raizen said. ¡°They will bring a bomb inside and use the plant¡¯s mana to power it. Blood Army aims to prevent the bombing by disabling the plant¡¯s power supply. Moon Army aims to maintain the status quo, preventing the bombing but also keeping the power supply active.¡± Interesting. So all three armies were in direct conflict with each other. Still, it might also be possible for two armies to join forces. ¡°The independent teams will receive random goals. Some will align with the three main factions. Some will not. But most of you can ignore the big picture. You¡¯ll be in a squad of five, and that squad will have a more specific goal within the larger one.¡± Raizen went on to describe the scoring system. For all the talk of objectives and teams, people were still scored individually, with bonuses for completing their team''s goals. That gave them incentives to betray their teams for their own benefit. But if the traitors revealed themselves now, they¡¯d have no cards to play in the actual qualifying rounds. Would people bide their time, or would they seize points now? Were they impatient, or could they play the long game? Finally, Raizen confirmed the rumors about the class ranking awards. The top one-hundred students would get communication headsets with access to three separate channels. And no, these channels weren¡¯t private. People could listen to any channel, regardless of their faction. You could mute incoming transmission, but you couldn¡¯t stop people from hearing your own voice. The top ten students would also get maps of the entire arena, complete with the positions of all their team¡¯s objectives. Apparently, it was up to them to distribute this knowledge. Raizen also described various handicaps for the independent teams and the lower-ranked students. It all seemed so convoluted compared to the qualifying rounds. Then again, the qualifying rounds were broadcast on TV and these were private. They could afford to be more convoluted here. Several hands shot up once Raizen had finished speaking. ¡°Emergency questions only,¡± the Grandmaster said. ¡°I¡¯m not explaining more of this exam. Adapting is part of the learning process.¡± Most of the hands went down, and Raizen pointed to a girl in the front. ¡°How are we graded?¡± she asked. Raizen gave her an annoyed look. He cared little for grades, and he definitely didn¡¯t consider them ¡°emergency questions.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get a score,¡± he said. ¡°Does that mean zero points is a failing grade?¡± she asked. ¡°It depends on why you had zero points.¡± That was typical for this class. People worried about how the ranking system translated to grades, but Raizen was extremely reasonable. He¡¯d mark you down for ¡°being stupid¡± but not for losing duels. And yes, those were his exact words For example, Kalden and Akari had the same grade, despite Kalden winning more of his bouts. Akari always adapted when she lost, and the Grandmaster seemed to approve of that approach. Meanwhile, he¡¯d mark down other students who clung to stale tactics, especially when those tactics failed. ¡°Any other questions?¡± Raizen asked. When no one spoke, he gave an approving nod. ¡°Good. Then step forward.¡± Kalden and the others stepped from the asphalt onto the grass. From there, they crossed the steel sigil barrier into the arena itself. No sooner had Kalden crossed the line than some invisible mana technique grabbed him by the waist and pulled him a quarter mile across the field. He recognized several Blood Army members around him, including Tori and Lyra. Meanwhile, Raizen moved the members of Sun Army and Blood Army to other corners of the arena. Kalden tried to note their positions, but the mist obscured his vision. However, he thought he spotted Akari and her team hovering toward Zukan¡¯s army. Damnit. He¡¯d hoped Raizen would stick them on the same team, even though the odds had always been against them. Then again, nothing happened by accident in Raizen¡¯s class. There was a good chance he knew all the traitors already, and he¡¯d orchestrated situations to test them. Several minutes passed as Raizen moved the others into their positions. Kalden tried to move his feet, but the invisible mana pushed back. The field blurred around them as the dream sigils sprang to life. The grassy terrain turned to concrete sidewalks and asphalt roads. Other industrial structures followed. Not just the distant power plant, but train tracks, canals, factories, and warehouses. This was far more elaborate than any arena he¡¯d seen before¡ªcloser to the qualifying rounds than a duel. ¡°Prepare,¡± Raizen¡¯s voice said. As always, he sounded both close and distant. Once the environment had finished rendering, Kalden felt a set of light armor form around his body, along with a headset and a strange bracelet. Camila had already passed out the generators on the airship; she¡¯d also warned them these were unhackable, even for Arturo. Would Akari still try to hack hers despite the warning? Probably. Raizen could commission some unhackable generators if he wanted to, but Kalden could also imagine other outcomes. For example, maybe these had no extra security. In that case, he could already imagine Raizen¡¯s lecture: ¡°I gave you an hour of free time, and no one even opened the generators? That sort of thoughtlessness could get you killed in a real fight.¡± That seemed highly unlikely. But if Kalden had thought of it, then so would Akari. The preparation phase ended, and Raizen began the countdown. ¡°Three ... Two ... One ¡­ Fight!¡± Book 3 - Bloopers "I''m not scared," Akari said. Elend gave her a look. ¡°You think you can bullshit a Dream Artist, lass? We use actual bull excrement in our aspecting rituals.¡± Akari raised an eyebrow. ¡°Seriously?¡± Elend gestured out the window to where several golden bulls were grazing in an enclosed section of the backyard. A quick glance through her Silver Sight revealed they were at least Artisan-level. ¡°You think I breed these for their meat?¡± Elend said. ¡°Aspiring Dream Artists will travel half the world for a chance to step in my backyard. In fact, they¡¯d probably call us Bullshit Artists if not for the licensing hit we¡¯d take.¡± ¡°Licensing,¡± Akari deadpanned. ¡°Now you¡¯re just ¡­¡± She trailed off as they passed into the next room which was lined with row upon row of Elend Darklight action figures. Most of them were shirtless, with comically large muscles. For Talek¡¯s sake. ~~~ "So you want me to waste time?" Akari asked. ¡°Exactly,¡± Elend said. ¡°How?¡± Elend pulled out his phone and opened an app from his home screen. "Have you ever heard of social media, lass? I don''t use it myself, but Glim''s channel has over nine million followers." Akari perked up at that. She¡¯d hardly explored the internet in the outside world, but she was eager to see how technology had progressed these last twenty years. They spent the next five minutes watching brief videos of the blue mana spirit dancing and lip-syncing random songs. Some of the videos weren¡¯t even songs at all¡ªjust random, out-of-context sentences. "Yeah," Akari finally said when Elend closed the app. "I think I''ll go back to Arkala" ~~~ ¡°What were the first Espirian states to break free from the Shokenese Empire?¡± Glim asked from her bedroom mirror. And how¡¯d they do it?¡± Akari and Kalden had both studied with Glim these past few weeks. Apparently, the mana spirit had a flawless memory, similar to Irina¡¯s Second Brain. This made her a perfect flashcard machine. Glim also formed a ticking clock in the top right corner of the mirror. The real written test was timed, so every second mattered. Akari drew in a deep breath. ¡°New Cadria, Sheton, Costria, and Rireda. The Shokenese had two factions at that point, and Mystic Everrest played their leaders against each other.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Great!¡± Glim gave her a thumbs-up, and golden confetti burst all around her. Akari ignored the nonsense and waited eagerly for the real prize. ¡°You¡¯ve gained five gold and fifteen XP!¡± Glim told her. Akari nodded as she watched her stats increase in the mirror¡¯s top right corner. Just twenty more experience points and she¡¯d reach Level 13. That would finally put her ahead of Kalden on the scoreboard. The clock reset, and Glim continued. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t transmutation achieved more widespread use in the alchemy field?¡± ¡°It¡¯s expensive,¡± she said with feigned confidence. ¡°The mana they spend is worth more than the results. And transmutation is based on weight, so a bigger payoff means a bigger cost.¡± Glim gave her a thumbs-up, and she earned another five gold and fifteen experience points. So close. ¡°How are alchemists working to fix this problem?¡± the mana spirit asked. ¡°Waste conversion,¡± Akari said. ¡°If one company pays them to take their garbage, they might have a chance of breaking even.¡± ¡°Wrong!¡± A cluster of sad-looking storm clouds gathered around Glim, and the last little heart popped in the top left corner of the mirror. Zero hit points left. ¡°I¡¯ll buy a healing potion,¡± Akari said at once. The alternatives were waiting for her health to recharge, or losing an entire level on the next wrong question. Both options were obviously unacceptable. ¡°Minor healing potions cost twenty gold,¡± Glim told her with a satisfied look in her eyes. ¡°You only have fifteen gold. However, if you give me your debit card, you can spend ten espers to unlock the Potion Store DLC. Then you can buy all your potions at a fifty percent discount.¡± Akari considered that. She¡¯d already spent most of her allowance on Glim¡¯s DLC packages, and that rubbed her like a stone in her shoe. But then she glanced at the scoreboard and saw Kalden inching closer to Level 13.¡± She thrust her card toward the mirror. ¡°Do it.¡± ~~~ The match started a heartbeat later. Landon activated his Wind Cloak and shot two Missiles into the stone floor. The blast hurled him upward, and he flew toward the ceiling. But Akari had predicted this. Bullets erupted from her machine gun, shell casings flew around her, and her opponent soared straight into that metal storm. Akari patted the machine gun affectionately as her opponent faded to white mist. The match timer had barely reached two full seconds before it announced her victory. Upbeat montage music blasted through the hall''s speakers (apparently, she¡¯d hacked those too?) and Akari spent the next seven weeks winning duels with her machine gun. ~~~ Kalden faced Arturo Kazalla in the dueling ring, and the two sized each other up. ¡°I heard you had another party last night,¡± Kalden said. ¡°That¡¯s right, shoko. It was a wild one. Sorry you couldn¡¯t make it.¡± Kalden just smiled. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure you will be.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Arturo raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why¡¯s that, shoko?¡± ¡°Because ¡­ ¡° Kalden gathered sharpened mana in his palms as Camila announced the start of the duel. ¡°While you were partying, I studied the blade.¡± ~~~ Kalden paced through the Darklight¡¯s estate, waiting for the results of his soulscan. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t wanna do something?¡± Relia asked as he passed through the living room. ¡°We could play a board game.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Kalden said. ¡°A card game?¡± she asked. ¡°No.¡± ¡°A drinking game?¡± He shook his head. ¡°How about spin the bottle?¡± Relia finally suggested. Akari seemed to perk up at the idea, and Kalden stopped pacing as he turned to regard his friends. He¡¯d spent years studying tactics, and one book had described something called the Everest Gambit¡ªa situation that led to victory in every foreseeable outcome. Kalden had thought such scenarios were purely theoretical, but apparently not. ¡°Let¡¯s play,¡± he finally said. ~~~ Tori hummed in vague agreement. ¡°Even if Moonfire falls for it, what¡¯s in it for us?¡± Kalden smiled. ¡°Exactly.¡± They both stared at him, and Kalden leaned back in his seat. ¡°Did you ever hear the tragedy of Emperor Hiloto of South Shoken?¡± A short silence followed as the other two shared a look. Kalden savored the silence as ominous opera music blasted from the radio. ¡°No,¡± Tori finally admitted. ¡°I thought not,¡± Kalden said. ¡°It¡¯s not a story the Artegium would tell you.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 20: The Power Plant Akari surveyed the arena, taking in the abandoned city streets. The shops and restaurants were all closed, with no lights shining behind their glass windows. Apartment buildings loomed above them, and the sky was dark with storm clouds. Her teammates stood in a loose half-circle, fidgeting with their new bracelet devices. Only Nico had a communication headset, though. The rest of them were ranked too low for luxuries like that Then again, who would Nico talk to with the rest of his team right here? ¡°Woah.¡± Nimble pressed a button on his bracelet and stared off into space. ¡°You guys see this?¡± Akari saw nothing. She pressed the button on her own bracelet, and a heads-up display appeared in her vision. The screen had a blue, semi-transparent background with white text. Not so different from a HUD in a video game. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re with Sun Army,¡± Nico said. He was right. Akari skimmed through the first message, which outlined her team¡¯s goal. Their job was to enter the power plant and re-route at least one mana conduit to the ground level. This mission was also redundant with another squad from Sun Army, but that wouldn¡¯t matter. As long as they redirected the power, they¡¯d get their points. Then she would secure her starting prize for the qualifier rounds. Historically, those starting prizes were much better than maps or communication headsets. ¡°The third tab shows a minimap,¡± Sadie Horne spoke up. She was their team¡¯s Stone Artist¡ªa tiny Espirian girl with blue hair and braces. Akari pressed a button on her watch and tabbed over to the minimap. It showed everything in a one-block radius, highlighting the other members of Sun Army. Most of them were already heading toward their objectives. Shit. ¡°We should move,¡± Akari told her team. ¡°We¡¯re the only ones gawking at our screens.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Nico said. ¡°Right. Good idea.¡± As usual, her team lacked a proper leader. Nico tried sometimes, but he was way too nice¡ªnot to mention easily distracted. She could only imagine what Kalden was doing right now. Probably having the time of his life, bossing his army around, and taking this game way too seriously. ~~~ ¡°Moon Spy Delta,¡± Kalden said into his headset. ¡°Execute Secret Order Thirty-Seven. Confirm.¡± ¡°Acknowledged,¡± said Landon Windstrider¡¯s voice from his earpiece. ¡°Executing Secret Order Thirty-Seven.¡± He jogged down the street with Tori and Lyra on either side of him. The rest of the squad held up the rear. The headsets only had three channels, but Kalden had prepared his forces for this possibility. Blood Army had orders to enter the first channel, whatever it happened to be. If no order was given, they would sort the channels alphabetically by name. Here, the channels were Red, Blue, and Green. That made Blue the first channel. Kalden also called his army the ¡°Moon Spies¡± to maximize confusion. Ideally, Zukan¡¯s team would mistake the chatter for Moon Army, while Elise and her forces would think he had actual spies within their ranks. More likely, Elise would see through the ruse as she often did. But that was fine, too. It just meant he could mix in real orders among the nonsense without arousing too much suspicion. As usual, the best way to trick a Dream Artist was to hide the truth in plain sight. Kalden held a button on his bracelet and brought up his full map. Not only did this show the layout and troop positions as part of his HUD, but it also showed the various tasks and checkpoints. ¡°Moon Spy Echo,¡± he said into his headset. ¡°This is Moon Spy Handler. Abandon your current target and head to the plant.¡± ¡°Acknowledged, Moon Spy Handler.¡± He mixed this with several nonsense orders to squads that didn¡¯t even exist. For example, when he told Bandit Squad to raid a military surplus store and lay mines on Kirkland Street. All the while, Lyra gave more fake orders under the name ¡°Blood General,¡± while other soldiers kept up appearances by acknowledging them. ¡°Wait,¡± Tori said as they jogged down the street. ¡°Why is Echo Squad ditching their task?¡± ¡°Echo was supposed to cover our flank,¡± Kalden said. ¡°But that won¡¯t matter if we don¡¯t take the power plant.¡± ¡°It¡¯s risky,¡± she replied. ¡°And they¡¯ll be pissed if they don¡¯t get their points.¡± ¡°Zukan and Elise have more heavy hitters,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We won¡¯t beat them without risks.¡± Then he stopped jogging when they reached a canal. Twenty feet deep, it was about as wide as a city street with angled concrete walls on either side. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°This canal goes straight under the plant,¡± Kalden said to Lyra. ¡°Can you take three of us?¡± Lyra nodded and gathered truewater mana in her palms. ¡°One tidal wave transport coming up.¡± ~~~ Akari¡¯s group skidded to a halt when they reached a wide thoroughfare. Mana flashed across the battlefield as Sun Army fought Blood Army in the distance. ¡°Should we help them?¡± Sadie asked. Mana gathered in her palms as if she meant to do just that. ¡°No,¡± Nico replied. ¡°We¡¯re not part of Sun Army.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± Nimble asked. ¡°We could enter together. Strength in numbers and all that.¡± ¡°Only if we win,¡± Nico said. Akari nodded as she glanced away from the battle. "Worst-case scenario, the Sunshine guys stab us in the back for free points." Nico crept up beside Akari, following her gaze down the street. ¡°What are you looking at?" ¡°Potion shop.¡± She pointed to a brick storefront that sat nestled between a dojo and a pizza place. The blue sign said, ¡°Alchemy Shack¡± which was a common Espirian chain store. ¡°Could be decoration,¡± Nimble said. ¡°You know, part of the level.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a video game,¡± Akari said. They¡¯d been in Raizen¡¯s class for seven weeks now, and he¡¯d drilled several things into her head. The first lesson was to use everything at their disposal, especially the environment. But she¡¯d also learned a second, less obvious lesson. if she¡¯d thought of something, then so had the Grandmaster. He wouldn¡¯t be impressed if she looted some random shop for potions. He¡¯d just nod as if he¡¯d expected that all along. ¡°It¡¯s still a detour,¡± Nico said. ¡°What happened to reaching the plant quickly?¡± ¡°You guys go ahead,¡± Akari said. ¡°I¡¯ll still beat you there.¡± Then she crept down the sidewalk toward the potion shop, using the awnings for cover. That was one nice thing about not having a designated leader. She could do what she wanted, and no one could accuse her of breaking rank. The others caught up with her a minute later. Nico Cloaked his right leg with fire mana and kicked open the front door. Glass shattered from the impact, and they rushed inside the shop. Despite the narrow front, it actually extended more than a hundred feet back. Bottles and jars lined the shelves, along with other alchemy equipment that she¡¯d never learned about. ¡°Look for spatial mana,¡± Akari told them. ¡°And maybe a flask.¡± ¡°How are you gonna get us all in the factory?¡± Nimble asked as he strode down a random aisle. ¡°It¡¯s a power plant,¡± Nico said. ¡°Not a factory.¡± ¡°Either way. I thought the portals were like six inches wide? We¡¯re not all twigs like Zeller.¡± Akari snorted. The Artegium was filled with people twice her size, but Nimble wasn¡¯t one of them. Besides, her portals were far wider now. They knew about her breakthrough last night, but they hadn¡¯t seen the results of it yet. More searching revealed three pint-sized bottles of space mana on a back shelf. Akari uncorked the first bottle and took a swig. Then she poured the remaining contents into the flask Nico had found. ¡°Okay,¡± she told her team as they stepped outside. ¡°Watch this.¡± By now, the fighting had died down, and the victors had probably made their way toward the plant. Akari glanced at the structure on the horizon with its massive cooling towers that loomed over the rest of the city. She cycled the space mana and shot her first Missile at the base of one tower. Then she shot her second Missile into the brick wall between the alchemy shop and the pizza place, forming a portal between them. The resulting hole was at least two feet wide, and it led straight onto the power plant¡¯s roof. ~~~ The wind whipped through Kalden¡¯s hair, and water sprayed his face as they rode the crest of the tide. Lyra''s Constructs kept them steady, letting them stand on the wave as if it were solid ground. He¡¯d seen enough of Lyra¡¯s duels to know this would carry them down the canal. Still, knowing something and feeling it were two different things. ¡°Moon Spies,¡± Kalden said into his headset, ¡°this is Moon Spy Handler. Code trashcan. I repeat: code trashcan.¡± ¡°Code trashcan¡± was their cue to ignore any orders until they heard ¡°code window.¡± He and the others would enter combat soon, and he couldn¡¯t have Elise imitating their voices again. The plant grew closer with every heartbeat, and Lyra decelerated as the canal passed through an open gate. Here, the water flowed through metal grates near the wall, passing through various pipe to cool the plant¡¯s mana burners. The room was wide and well-lit, with weathered brick walls and massive glass windows on either side. Three levels of metal catwalks overlooked the water. ¡°Two hostiles above,¡± Tori said. A metal ladder hung from the catwalks but Lyra didn¡¯t bother with that. Instead, she pushed against the bottom of the canal, and the water formed a platform that carried them upward. By now, Kalden had several pure mana blades orbiting his body, and he knew Tori would be forming her own weapons. Two figures sprang from the shadows as they reached the first level. Kalden recognized one as a Lightning Artist from Moon Army. ¡°Shield!¡± he shouted. Lyra stretched out her hand and formed a wall of solid ice. Lightning flashed from their opponent¡¯s palm, and the scent of ozone filled the air. Lyra''s shield broke like a glass window under the impact. More hostiles joined the fray, and the platform buckled under the weight of their techniques. Kalden and Tori leapt forward, spanning the gap and landing with their enemies on the catwalk. Blades swirled around his body, slicing through the Lightning Artist¡¯s shield with ease. The boy tried one last attack, but Kalden sliced off his hand at the wrist, then brought around a second blade and opened his throat. His instincts screamed as someone struck from behind. Kalden brought his blades around just in time to intercept a metal Missile, then he lashed toward the newcomer, striking high. The boy forged a shield to deflect the blades, but Kalden fell into a crouch and swept another blade at his legs. A Gravity Artist emerged from another doorway and hurled her Singularity at Kalden, trying to pull his blades from orbit. Before she could, Tori''s chain whip moved like a scorpion¡¯s tail and struck the girl in the center of her face. ¡°Wow.¡± Lyra surveyed the scene as she rode a small wave back up to the catwalk. If this were an actual battle, then blood and broken bodies would have covered the narrow walkways. Fortunately, they¡¯d all faded to white mist as they died. ¡°Thanks for saving me some bad guys.¡± ¡°Hostiles,¡± Kalden corrected. She gave a mock salute as she landed in a shallow puddle.. ¡°Yes, General Trengsen.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Tori held up a hand, brow furrowed in concentration. ¡°You hear that?¡± Kalden strained his ears to listen. Unlike the others, he¡¯d only been an Apprentice for a few months, and he still wasn¡¯t used to all these heightened senses. But now that she mentioned it ¡­ was that metal grinding against metal? Just then, a massive object fell from the catwalks above. It flew straight past Kalden¡¯s group, plummeting toward the water below. There was no splash. Instead, a portal opened on the opposite wall, and the object flew straight through, propelled by the momentum of its fall. ¡°Move!¡± Kalden shouted as he jumped away. Tori and Lyra dodged the other way, and the object tore through the wall behind them. It looked like a massive, iron-wrought hook. The kind you could attach to a crane and lift a car off the ground. ¡°Everyone okay?¡± Kalden asked as he scrambled back to his feet. ¡°Yeah,¡± Tori muttered. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± Kalden let out a long breath. He tried to search the rafters above, but their enemy was out of sight. Still, there was only one answer. ¡°That¡¯d be Akari Zeller.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 21: Two Down Nimble dropped his Invisibility Cloak and scurried away from his spot on the catwalk. Operation Crusher was a total failure, and it showed on his pale face. ¡°They dodged it,¡± he said as he rejoined the group on the concrete platform. ¡°Awesome,¡± Sadie whispered. ¡°Now we¡¯ve got two pissed-off Blade Artists who know we¡¯re here.¡± ¡°We could retreat,¡± Nico said. ¡°Find another way down to the control room?¡± Akari brought her flask to her lips and took another swig of space mana. ¡°You guys go ahead and run. I¡¯ll deal with the Blade Artists.¡± ¡°Shit.¡± Nico glanced from Akari to the others. ¡°I told you guys she¡¯d get scary when she finally reached¡ª¡± ¡°Incoming!¡± Nimble shouted. Two chains of blade mana sprang up like snakes from a pit. One wrapped around a metal pillar while the other broke the concrete with its blade. Half a second later, the chain links curled like spools of thread, and Tori Raizen flew up to meet them. Akari¡¯s team scrambled back, out of range from her swinging blades. To their credit, no one hesitated after that. They might be a far cry from trained soldiers, but they¡¯d also spent half a semester in Raizen¡¯s class. He¡¯d taught them to move when battle struck¡ªthat half a second could mean the difference between life and death. Akari, Nico, and Jax slid to Tori¡¯s flanks, shooting contrasting volleys of orange and blue. Nimble struck her face with blasts of blinding light, while Sadie slammed a fist into the floor, splitting the stone like an earthquake. But Tori was too quick for them. Her blades sliced through the air, cutting their mana into clouds of bright mist. Even when Sadie opened the ground beneath her feet, Tori used her chainwhips to catch herself in the metal rafters above. Blades flew outward like shrapnel from a grenade. Akari saved herself with a quick shield, but several of her teammates had gotten tunnel vision. Sadie and Jax died in flashes of white light while Nico and Nimble dodged by a hair¡¯s breadth. Akari''s heart pounded in her chest as she blocked and dodged several more blades. Talek. Only a few seconds had passed, and Tori had already taken out half her team. Just then, Lyra Manastrike joined the fight on a platform of floating water. The girl looked like a plastic version of Relia, with dyed red hair, bright as a strawberry. Kalden rode the liquid platform beside her, and they both leapt forward to join the fray. Akari stayed on the sidelines, cycling her space mana, preparing her next move. Tori swung a blade at Nico, but he kicked off the floor with a blast of flame, leaping from the platform onto the nearest catwalk. At the same time, Lyra gathered ice mana in her palms and closed in on Nimble. Time slowed as Akari readied her portals. She followed the arc of Tori¡¯s blade as the girl struck Nico again. This time, he stood on the catwalk with no room to dodge. Akari shot one space Missile in front of Nico, forming the first half of a portal that faced away from her teammate. She shot the next Missile at Lyra, forming the second half between them. The first portal swallowed Tori¡¯s blade, and the tip emerged in Lyra¡¯s windpipe. Tori froze as her own teammate faded in a puff of white mist. The Blade Artist recovered quickly, rounding on Akari and hurling a forged dagger toward her face. Akari ducked behind a stack of crates, feeling the wind of the blade as it passed over her head. Then she pulled out her flask and took another good long swallow of space mana. Talek, she couldn¡¯t wait to have an actual aspect and be done with these stupid potions. The fight continued as Nico and Tori exchanged blows on the catwalk. Meanwhile, Nimble Cloaked himself with invisibility and scurried down the hall toward the roof access. Predictably, Kalden gave chase; he couldn¡¯t risk letting a Light Artist circle back and surprise his team. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Akari sprang from her cover and rushed to help Nico. Fire Artists weren¡¯t known for their defensive techniques. Honestly, it was a miracle he¡¯d lasted this¡ª Tori lunged forward and drove a blade through Nico¡¯s stomach. Yeah ¡­ never mind. Akari ran along a parallel catwalk, surveying the scene as she cycled more space mana. Tori¡¯s catwalk was held together by hopes and wishes at this point. Not only had Sadie¡¯s earthquake detached it from the concrete platform, but Tori¡¯s blades had severed half the suspension cables. The catwalk¡¯s other end sat securely in the brick wall opposite the platform. Those screws would be half as thick as Akari¡¯s forearm and enhanced with metal mana. Even a Blade Artist would struggle to cut them free. Akari stretched out her arms and shot two space Missiles. The first one struck the center of the wall where the catwalk met the brick. The second hit the rafters where the remaining cables hung on for dear life. Tori rounded on Akari, lashing out with her forged chain whips. At the same time, Akari formed and canceled her portals, forcing the catwalk¡¯s screws out of the wall. No sooner had the mana left her hands than she took another swig from her flask. Whatever happened next, she¡¯d definitely want more space mana. Tori flailed her chainwhips as the ground fell out beneath her feet. This had the comical effect of severing more cables, making her fall even faster. She tried to grab the rafters again, but the ceiling curved upward, and she couldn¡¯t reach them from the middle of the chamber. Even as Tori fell, her eyes met Akari¡¯s a second time. One whip lashed out like a scorpion¡¯s tail, but Akari raised a shield and blocked the attack. Tori¡¯s second whip wrapped around her ankle and pulled her along for the ride. Everything spun in a whirlwind of brick and steel as they fell. Time slowed for the second time that day. Tori¡¯s eyes widened, and she kept lashing out with her chainwhips, desperate to slow her fall. Akari cycled her space mana and shot a Missile on a lower concrete platform, but they soared right past it. The bottom of the chamber approached at a frightening speed. If this were a Mana Arts movie, they both would have sunk into the water unharmed. And sure, maybe a fully Cloaked Apprentice could technically survive a one-hundred-foot fall in real life. But arenas like this didn¡¯t waste time with unnecessary pain. The impact shattered Tori¡¯s spine, and she immediately faded into a cloud of white mist. This included all her forged weapons like the whip she¡¯d wrapped around Akari¡¯s leg. Akari stretched out her arm at the last second, forming another portal just over the water¡¯s rippling surface. Her body fell straight through, emerging from the first portal she¡¯d made on the concrete platform above. Down became up, and the momentum of her fall carried her back toward the top of the chamber. Blood rushed from her legs into her face, and her body tumbled as if she¡¯d just fallen from a handstand. Finally, she reached the apex of her upward fall, grabbed the steel ceiling rafter, and swung back onto the concrete platform. No sooner had she landed than Kalden strode out of the hallway with four blades of pure mana orbiting his body. Wisps of white mist came along for the ride, and a larger cloud wafted ominously behind him. Poor Nimble never stood a chance. Still breathing hard, Akari raised her flask to her mouth and gulped down more space mana. Kalden glanced around the now-empty chamber. The sounds of battle still echoed from outside, but the plant itself lay quiet. He took another step onto the platform, face expressionless. ¡°Miss Zeller.¡± Akari snorted at the formality. ¡°Mr. Trengsen.¡± They might be alone now, but Kalden¡¯s fallen teammates would be watching from the sidelines. So would Akari¡¯s teammates, but they cared less about all the political bullshit. Kalden took another casual step forward, keeping his voice calm. ¡°I seem to have misplaced my teammates. You wouldn¡¯t happen to¡ª¡± Kalden cut off his own words as he hurled a blade toward her throat. Akari raised a pure mana shield, letting herself fall backward over the platform. She twisted her body to face the ground, conjuring a second pair of portals that brought her back to the second level. From there, she dashed down the hall toward the control room. A part of her itched to face Kalden in a proper fight. They¡¯d dueled once in Raizen¡¯s class, but that had been a bad day hacking-wise, and they hadn¡¯t been on equal footing. Today would be different¡ªa chance to truly test herself against him. But no ¡­ this game had priorities, and one more kill wouldn¡¯t matter in the grand scheme of things. She needed a starting prize in the qualifying rounds, and completing her objective was the best way to earn that. The plant¡¯s control room sat in an enclosed space, surrounded on three sides by reinforced glass. It reminded her of the control room back in the Martial prison on Arkala. Boots struck the concrete behind her as Kalden landed on the second level. ¡°Running so soon, Miss Zeller?¡± ¡°Shit,¡± Akari muttered. Was he actually chasing her? Didn¡¯t he have his own stuff to do? Then again, they might share the same destination. Akari glanced back at the control room, hoping to find a small gap where she could sneak in some space mana. No such luck. She could probably break through the door, or get in through the air vents. But both approaches would take time, and she couldn¡¯t do either with Kalden snapping at her heels. Re-routing the mana conduit would be even trickier. She took a deep breath and cycled her mana. Guess we¡¯re fighting after all. Book 3 - Chapter 22: White Mist Kalden crept down the hallway, searching for his hidden opponent. The plant lay eerily quiet, even as the distant sounds of battle approached from outside. A few more specialized Artists had probably gotten within the walls, but his map showed most of Blood Army fighting for key positions around the city. Rough stone slabs made up the floor, and the bulbs flickered from the suspended lights above. These level designers certainly liked their grungy ambiance. Three blades orbited his body as he walked, ready to guard against any surprise attacks. Stop being paranoid, he told himself. You¡¯re an Apprentice. She¡¯s not. Akari was dangerous and unpredictable¡ªdefinitely not someone he¡¯d ever want as a true enemy. But she also lost more duels than she won these days, especially without her hacking. She might have spatial mana right now, but he hadn¡¯t seen any other equipment. Stay focused, and the odds favor you. Kalden took another step, then the ground fell out beneath his feet. His blades spun out of control as he lost his focus. One struck the wall and shattered into blue mist. Another hit a suspended light, breaking the bulb in a shower of glass and sparks. He flared his arms as he fell, barely catching himself on the edge of the portal¡ªa thin plane where the stone floor met empty air. Kalden didn¡¯t look down, but he suspected Akari had him hanging over some dark abyss. The portal started to close with most of his body on the wrong side. Kalden Cloaked his arms and hurled himself out of the hole. No sooner had he escaped than something slammed into his back. This sent him stumbling forward again, but he shot a Missile to his left, thrusting his body sideways away from the hole. A boot struck his stomach when he landed, driving the air from his lungs. Damnit. When had she gotten so strong? Kalden had taken his share of heavy hits this semester, but never from a non-Apprentice. He knocked her back with a quick shield, then he flared his Cloak and regained his footing. At the same time, he formed a pure mana blade in his right hand. This had been a slow process seven weeks ago, but his new prosthetic made things much easier. The blade gave off a pale blue light, illuminating Akari¡¯s face in the dark corridor. Kalden lunged at her, but she formed her own shield and redirected the strike. He swung several more times, but it felt like striking smoke. She dodged every slash, moving far too fast for her rank. Still, she only had so many options in this narrow space. His next strike forced her to dodge left, and he threw a punch with his free hand. Akari raised a forearm and blocked the punch. Her own body glowed with blue mana, and it felt like striking a bar of steel. No way. Kalden had put his full strength behind that¡ªthe strength of an Apprentice with a Cloak technique. And Akari hadn¡¯t just dodged or deflected the punch. She¡¯d blocked it. That should be impossible for a Gold. Unless ¡­ Kalden activated his Silver Sight and saw the truth. ¡°You¡¯re an Apprentice,¡± he blurted out. ¡°Surprise,¡± Akari said with a grin. Then she brought her free hand around and threw a fist at his solar plexus. Kalden staggered back, missing the punch by mere inches. ¡°How?¡± he said. ¡°When?¡± He¡¯d seen her training with Relia these past few weeks. He¡¯d even seen Relia breaking and mending Akari¡¯s bones, the same way she¡¯d done with Kalden in Tureko. But he¡¯d assumed she was still weeks away. ¡°Last night,¡± Akari said as she threw another Missile at his face. Kalden almost demanded to know why she¡¯d kept it a secret. But he couldn¡¯t do that now. Not with Tori, Lyra, and the rest of Blood Army watching. Besides, Kalden already knew the answer. Akari had known they might fight today. She¡¯d been preparing for this exact moment, hoping to gain an advantage. He tried to form a second blade, but Akari kept him on the defensive. Her mana was stronger than ever, and her soul was deeper. For all that, her Missiles didn¡¯t break when they collided with his shields. They arced around and struck him again and again, not so different from Kalden¡¯s blades. A few months ago, she¡¯d been in the early levels of Foundation, learning to conserve every drop of her mana. Now, that training paid dividends, and she made one Missile feel like ten. Kalden blocked every strike, but Akari forced him to give ground. She¡¯d been a coiled spring for the past year, and now she could finally unleash a burst of raw fury¡ªa power that rivaled many of their year¡¯s top students. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. You¡¯re approaching this wrong, Kalden thought as he deflected another Missile. He couldn¡¯t beat her in a battle of raw technique¡ªnot since he¡¯d lost his aspect and his hands. But he was still stronger than her. He¡¯d been an Apprentice for longer, and he outweighed her by at least fifty pounds. What¡¯s more, Kalden had more traditional martial training, which would serve him well if he turned this into a grappling match. He charged forward, raising a sturdy shield and blocking her next attacks. He threw another punch when his shield broke, but a portal appeared at the last second, and his fist flew straight through it. A second portal appeared next to Kalden¡¯s right ear. Pain erupted in sharp waves as he punched himself. If that had been his blade, then this fight might already be over. Kalden shook off the pain and fell back into a combat stance, but Akari was halfway down the hall, chugging mana from a silver flask. Hell no. He couldn¡¯t let her lay more traps. Kalden gave chase, forming a second blade in his offhand. Akari shot a portal into a ventilation shaft above the control room. She formed a second portal in the plaster wall ahead, using it to crawl into the vent above. She¡¯s still trying to complete her objective. She must have just noticed that vent during the fight, otherwise she would have used this trick earlier. Kalden ran faster as the portal snapped shut behind her. He dove through, slashing his blades through the layer of galvanized steel. Sideways became down, and he fell through the rubble. Unlike Akari, he wasn¡¯t used to falling through portals and feeling the sudden change of gravity. Kalden just barely struck the landing in the control room, Cloaking his legs to avoid breaking them from the ten-foot drop. No sooner had he landed than Akari collided with his back. Her legs squeezed his stomach, and her arms coiled like snakes around his throat. She must be low on mana now if she risked a move like this. Even with that flask, a soul could only handle so many techniques before it wore itself out. Kalden tried throwing her over his shoulder, but she held on with her legs. He tried knocking her back against the wall, but her own Cloak saved her from being crushed. Akari¡¯s grip tightened around Kalden¡¯s windpipe, but he interposed his prosthetic hand and stopped her. She plunged a finger straight through its smooth blue surface, sending mana into the artificial channel. Oh no. She couldn¡¯t be¡ª Akari send a burst of mana into the channel, and it exploded in a shower of bright blue sparks. It didn¡¯t hurt, but it left him without his right hand. Okay, so she wanted to play dirty and go for his weaknesses. Two could play at that game. The explosion had loosed Akari¡¯s grip around his throat. His left hand found a solid hold on her bicep, and he twisted his torso, driving her head into the control room¡¯s glass window. Akari went limp, and he threw her to the floor. She tried to spring back up, but Kalden drove his skull into the bridge of her nose, shattering her glasses. Akari collapsed back on the ground, and Kalden sprang for the finishing blow. When he did, she let out a small whimpering sound, and raised her hands protectively around her face. Kalden hesitated mid-strike. Had he gone too far that time? Despite her tough-girl act, Akari had gone through real trauma back on Arkala¡ªtimes when she¡¯d been truly trapped and helpless. Had he triggered one of those memories now? Kalden was all for playing to win, but he cared about her, and he¡¯d sooner lose his other hand than hurt her for real. A Missile burst out from Akari¡¯s chest, ripping through her combat uniform and smashing into Kalden¡¯s chin. He fell backward, and a sharpened Missile sliced through his bicep. Her third attack came just as quickly, but Kalden leapt back in time to avoid it. Akari sprang to her feet like a cat. Her glasses were gone, and white mist leaked from her nose in the place of blood. Still, she grinned at him. ¡°What the hell?¡± Kalden blurted out. ¡°Fake tears?¡± That was the sort of cheap trick you¡¯d see in a kids movie, not an Artegium battleground. Akari shrugged a shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re the one who fell for it.¡± Yeah, she had him there. He¡¯d never trust her again if she pulled that in real life. But this was just a game. Kalden had used that excuse countless times to justify his eventual betrayal of Blood Army. Several more techniques flashed between them in the confined space. Akari might be blind without her glasses, but Silver Sight had nothing to do with your eyes. She¡¯d also spent weeks training in the dark for her admissions exams, just as Kalden had trained with only three fingers. Their pace quickened, and Kalden formed one last blade in his good hand. One hit and this was over. He committed to the attack, betting everything on one final blow. He expected Akari to block or dodge. Instead, she leapt forward with her own sharpened Missile. Kalden¡¯s blade struck her chest, mere inches from her heart. Akari¡¯s mana struck his stomach in the same moment, and they sank to the floor together. White mist spread from Akari¡¯s wound, but triumph flashed in her eyes as she faded from the arena. Kalden¡¯s body remained, but not for long. His own wounds left him lightheaded, and white light spilled out in place of blood. Kalden forced himself to his feet and staggered over to the main control panel. His mana was drained, and his body was in no position to fight. In fact, he might lose consciousness at any second. One monitor showed security footage of the plant¡¯s northern entrance where Zukan Kortez led Sun Army against Moon Army. The dragon fought with spears of fire, leaping from one enemy to the next, dispatching dozens of them with frightening speed. In that moment, Zukan looked more like an Artisan than an Apprentice, and his admissions scores seemed to agree. His team would reach the control room in minutes, and they¡¯d crush anyone who stood in their way. ¡°Think,¡± Kalden told himself. Akari¡¯s portals had gotten them into the control room early, bypassing the entire keycard objective. How could he use that? Disabling the power had been his faction¡¯s original objective, but he¡¯d need a keycard for that. A quick glance at his HUD showed that Sun Army controlled all the keycards, so that was out of the question. A red warning light flashed in another corner of the room. Apparently, the collapsed catwalk had damaged several of the pipes that served the plant¡¯s cooling system, and the temperatures were climbing to dangerous levels. ¡°Good to know ¡­¡± Kalden flipped several switches, disabling the cooling system entirely. He moved to another panel and overclocked the mana burners well past their safe limit. Still, that wouldn¡¯t be enough to get results. Not before Zukan burst in here and undid everything. He stumbled over to a third station responsible for the plant¡¯s connection to the grid, flipping several more switches to block the flow. This gave the gathered mana nowhere to go. He doubted this would count as a win for Blood Army, but that was fine. Kalden might be their general now, but they were still his enemies¡ªjust as much as Sun Army or Moon Army. In a way, this was the best-case scenario. This was a chance to rob every faction of their starting prizes, while still appearing to help Tori¡¯s faction. Tension continued to build around the plant. Alarms sounded, and white mist clouded his vision. Kalden passed out just before the explosions started. Book 3 - Chapter 23: Expression The match ended soon after Kalden destroyed the power plant. Unlike the qualifier rounds, which kept going until the last group of survivors, this exam focused more on the major objectives. Now that Kalden had blown up the plant, it was impossible for any faction to win. Moon Army had been tasked with maintaining the status quo, which was obviously impossible. And Sun Army couldn¡¯t detonate their bomb without the plant¡¯s mana source. As for Blood Army, they¡¯d been tasked with disabling the plant, and this explosion didn¡¯t technically count. And so Raizen set a thirty-minute timer, giving the remaining teams a chance to complete their smaller objectives. Many of them succeeded, especially the ones who¡¯d been clear of the blast. The Grandmaster¡¯s reaction was exactly what Kalden had expected. Destroying the plant was technically a valid move to prevent his opponents from winning, but Kalden wouldn¡¯t be rewarded aside from the kills he¡¯d scored, which actually numbered in the dozens. Tori and Lyra seemed to understand, too. Rushing into the plant had ended in disaster, but who could have guessed they¡¯d run into Akari there? Her team never would have made it that far if they hadn¡¯t found that Alchemy Shack. Everyone got a break once the thirty minutes were up, then Raizen gathered them in the field for his post-exam thoughts. He replayed key parts of the match on several screens of dream mana, discussing which tactics worked and which ones didn¡¯t. He showed Akari¡¯s team raiding the alchemy store and her subsequent series of portals that brought them into the power plant. Several other teams used Wind or Gravity Artists to get in early, including the team Kalden had fought when he first arrived. Others commandeered trucks or construction equipment as makeshift tanks. Arturo Kazalla had even used a train to get behind Moon Army¡¯s lines. Unfortunately for Kalden, this recap ended with the scene of him destroying the power plant from the control room. Most people hadn¡¯t known who to blame for that, and he felt dozens of eyes on him as Raizen spoke. ~~~ ¡°Trengsen,¡± said a gravelly voice. Kalden turned to see Zukan Kortez, the massive half-dragon with dark green scales stomping toward him. He wore a black fedora, with a golden necklace peaking out from his shirt. Kalden couldn¡¯t make out the pendant from here, but it looked like an Angelic star. Zukan¡¯s teammate, Arturo Kazalla stood on his right, wearing a pair of dark sunglasses despite the cloudy gray sky. Elise Moonfire stood on his left with her blonde hair in a tight braid. ¡°What was that?¡± Zukan demanded as he closed the distance. Kalden raised his chin to look at him. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re a sore loser.¡± ¡°You ignored the spirit of the game,¡± Elise said. Kalden gave her a flat look. ¡°You¡¯ve known me for half a semester now, Miss Moonfire. What made you think I¡¯d play fair today?¡± ¡°That¡¯s your problem,¡± Zukan said in a low voice. ¡°You rich little humans¡ªyou think you can take whatever you want. But some of us are training to be soldiers.¡± Zukan probably didn¡¯t mean ¡°soldiers¡± in the traditional sense. He would have joined the military if that were the case. But while Espiria¡¯s main branches answered to the prime minister, the other Mystics commanded private forces of their own. These groups a fine line between actual soldiers and civilians, depending on who you asked. ¡°We fight to make this world better,¡± Zukan continued. ¡°That means following our orders.¡± ¡°I can respect that,¡± Kalden said. ¡°The world needs people like you.¡± ¡°And it has enough people like you,¡± Zukan retorted. ¡°You caused an explosion in a populated city.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a game,¡± Kalden said. ¡°There were no civilian casualties.¡± ¡°You killed members of your own army!¡± ¡°Yes, and my tactics would change in real life.¡± ¡°These games prepare us for real missions,¡± Zukan said. ¡°If the Artegium had any integrity, they¡¯d disqualify you now. You and your Death Artist friend.¡± ¡°This was a game,¡± Kalden repeated, drawing out the last word. ¡°Do you lecture crowns players who sacrifice their pawns?¡± Zukan narrowed his reptilian eyes. ¡°You darken your soul every time you do this. You become more ruthless. More likely to do this in real life.¡± Kalden shook his head. ¡°Raizen said it himself¡ªthis was nothing like a real battle. What kind of bomb needs a power supply just to explode? It was a contrived scenario for three factions to fight each other. Besides, your team was planning to detonate a bomb. What¡¯s your conscience say about that?¡± ¡°I was playing a role for the sake of a lesson. What were you doing?¡± Kalden ignored that. He didn¡¯t need to justify his actions to Zukan Cortez, and there were no prizes for trying. Instead, he turned his gaze to Elise Moonfire who loomed a few paces behind the massive dragon. This self-righteous idealism wasn¡¯t her style at all. She literally won duels by showing people their most traumatic memories. Even Elend drew the line at that. The Dream Artist put on a show of looking stern and affronted, and every muscle of her face had been carefully arranged as part of that image. All except her eyes, which flashed with a triumphant smile. ¡°I see,¡± Kalden muttered. ¡°You two plan to gang up on Blood Army.¡± Despite all their plotting, no one had seriously considered an alliance until now. Kalden and Elise would have both betrayed each other, and they both knew it. Meanwhile, Zukan was too noble for anything unfair or unbalanced. Now, Zukan saw Elise Moonfire as the lesser of two evils, and Elise could trust him to keep his word. ¡°We will join forces against you during the qualifying rounds,¡± Zukan confirmed. ¡°That alliance will last until you¡¯re eliminated.¡± ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°Because I don¡¯t stab people in the back. I¡¯m telling you to your face, and I¡¯m telling you why.¡± Zukan and Elise went their separate ways after that, but Arturo hung behind. He shrugged as if to apologize for the whole discussion. ¡°I like you, shoko. But I also wanna win.¡± ¡°You know she¡¯ll betray you,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Yeah, well, two can play at that.¡± Kalden almost laughed. ¡°You think you can beat a Dream Artist at her own game?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve beaten her before. And honestly, shoko? You seem way more ruthless than Moonfire.¡± ~~~ Kalden got home around eight o¡¯clock that evening. He¡¯d driven himself back from the airship port, while Akari had gotten a ride with Relia. Elend and Irina were both out tonight, so he headed straight for the pool house in the backyard. He¡¯d probably have to move to a regular guest room once winter set in. Otherwise, he¡¯d be trudging through the snow just to get to the main house. But he¡¯d appreciated the extra privacy over the summer. Especially when he¡¯d been dealing with his injuries. Kalden pulled off his t-shirt, then he headed to the bathroom to turn on the shower. He¡¯d already showered once after the match, but this was more to relax and clear his thoughts And yes, he was capable of relaxing, despite what everyone seemed to think. No sooner had he reached the bathroom than the poolhouse door swung open. Kalden popped his head out to see Akari storming inside. ¡°Ever heard of knocking?¡± he asked. ¡°Your door has a lock, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Kalden sighed as he returned to the dimly lit bathroom. Akari followed him straight inside, ever the soul of decorum. ¡°Why¡¯d you chase me down?¡± she demanded. Kalden took his time putting his t-shirt back on. ¡°And here I thought this was my room ¡­¡± She glared at him. ¡°You know what I mean. During the match.¡± ¡°I had to put up appearances,¡± Kalden said with a shrug.¡± I couldn¡¯t pull my punches with all of Blood Army watching.¡± ¡°That¡¯s bullshit,¡± she said. ¡°I watched the replay on the ride back. Your objective was nowhere near the control room.¡± The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. He frowned at the sudden outburst. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to help Blood Army win today. I wanted all three armies to lose. No faction gets the starting prizes this way.¡± Akari crossed her arms but didn¡¯t meet his eyes. ¡°And I have all three armies fighting each other,¡± Kalden continued. ¡°This is exactly what we wanted. They¡¯re focused on me instead of¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t give a shit about the armies,¡± Akari snapped. ¡°Or your little plots. It¡¯s just another stupid system. Like the badges on Arkala, or the marks in Creta.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m not part of it,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m trying to take them down from the inside. And you know what? It¡¯s working.¡± ¡°Working for you. You actually got a starting prize.¡± Kalden raised an eyebrow. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re pissed because I didn¡¯t go easy on you.¡± ¡°Yeah right,¡± she said. ¡°We tied.¡± Traditional dueling rules would have declared Kalden the winner, but he kept that to himself. ¡°Then what¡¯s really going on?¡± he asked. ¡°Why are you sailing around the storm?¡± ¡°Look who¡¯s talking,¡± Akari said ¡°You wouldn¡¯t say two words to me all summer.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± Kalden spread out his arms. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Akari took a step closer. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you? You¡¯re a zombie all year, and now you suddenly care?¡± Kalden blinked. Whatever he¡¯d expected to hear, it wasn¡¯t that. And yes, he might have thrown himself too deep into training earlier in the year, but he¡¯d gotten better as the weeks went on. ¡°I saw you.¡± She gestured up at his face. ¡°You¡¯re not making any sense.¡± ¡°Forget it.¡± Akari rolled her eyes. ¡°No. Why are you really here?¡± ¡°I said forget it.¡± She turned as if to leave, but Kalden slid to block her path. ¡°Tell me. What¡¯s wrong? Akari let out a breath, then her jaw hardened as she glanced up to meet his gaze. She swallowed hard, and her lip quivered as she spoke. ¡°You cared about this. I saw it in your eyes while we fought. You finally cared about something, and it was all for that stupid army.¡± Then Akari pushed him away with her new Apprentice strength. His back collided with the towel bar, and she stomped toward the doorway. He grabbed her by the wrist, and her dark hair bounced against her shoulders as she whirled back to face him. She held his gaze with fire in her eyes, but she didn¡¯t break away. Her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, and he felt the pulse in her arm where he held her. She really was beautiful when she looked like that. A part of him had thought so before, and it was even clearer in this moment. They hadn¡¯t been this close since before they¡¯d arrived in Koreldon, but something had changed today. As if fighting had finally broken down some invisible barrier. Kalden took a long breath before he finally spoke again. ¡°It was never about them.¡± Akari sprang toward him again, closing the distance. Their lips met, and it was impossible to say who started it. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and his own hands grabbed her waist, pulling her closer. Words often came slowly for Kalden. Too late, or not at all. But battle was a true form of expression¡ªall the complex musings of the heart reduced to simple motion. Mercy, anger, fear, and sacrifice. They¡¯d felt it all in the match today, and it was worth more than ten thousand words. Akari felt like a coiled spring for the first few seconds, which honestly didn¡¯t surprise him. Her jaw was tight, and he felt more teeth than lips when he kissed her. But she adapted quickly like she always did. Their lips met and parted, and she relaxed more each time. Still, he felt a current of ferocity beneath it all, from her beating heart to the heat of her breath. She lifted his t-shirt and dug her hands into the muscles of his lower back. Kalden¡¯s own hands wandered below the hem of her hoodie and tank top, feeling the soft skin of her stomach. His hands crept upward, but Akari must have gotten impatient because she grabbed his wrist and brought it all the way to her breast. Well, she certainly knew what she wanted. A sensation like cycling mana flowed through him at the touch. Everything became a blur, and thoughts faded to raw sensations¡ªher lips against his, the warmth of her skin, and the way she fit into his arms. He wanted her more than he''d wanted anyone before. Kalden reached down and grabbed her by the thighs, lifting her up and pinning her against the granite counter. She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him closer and rocking against him. A satisfied sound escaped her lips, and she shrugged out of her hoodie, letting it fall on the counter. She grabbed the hem of her tank top next and began pulling it upward. ¡°Wait.¡± Kalden reached out and stopped her. ¡°We shouldn''t move too fast.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Akari took several long breaths as if she¡¯d just recovered from a long training session. She lowered her tank top, avoiding his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s cool.¡± Her words were casual, but he couldn¡¯t mistake the desperation in her voice. It was just like the day he¡¯d refused to dance with her at Arturo¡¯s party. Kalden took a step back, trying to get a grip on his racing thoughts. ¡°I want to,¡± he said, ¡°believe me. But there¡¯s no reason to rush things. I wouldn¡¯t want to sleep with you before we¡¯ve even gone on a real date.¡± Akari met his eyes in an unspoken challenge. She didn¡¯t believe him, which was actually fair, considering he¡¯d spent the whole summer in denial. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± He put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her forehead. Her body melted against his, and she squeezed him as if she never wanted to let go. ¡°I''m still here,¡± he told her. ¡°No matter what.¡± ~~~ Kalden opened his eyes as beams of sunlight streamed in through the blinds. He normally woke up well before the sun, but he¡¯d been distracted last night and forgot to set his alarm. Akari breathed softly in the bed beside him. Her face was half-buried in her pillow, but the citrus scent of her hair filled his nostrils, and her skin was warm where their bodies touched. She looked so small and peaceful while she slept. Nothing like the dangerous Apprentice he¡¯d fought. Nothing serious had happened last night. In fact, they¡¯d talked for less than an hour before collapsing here together. Airship travel was always draining, not to mention the midterm exam. Battle was the surest way to push past your limits. Not just your body¡¯s limits, but your soul and your channels. Kalden sat up when he caught a glimpse of glowing blue mana in his bedroom mirror. ¡°Oh.¡± Glim made a grand show of confusion as if she¡¯d floated in here by accident. ¡°Good morning, you two.¡± ¡°For Talek¡¯s sake,¡± Akari muttered into her pillow. ¡°I told you to lock your door.¡± ¡°Yeah ¡­¡± Kalden had forgotten to do that, too. The Darklights had Grandmaster-level wards around their property, so he rarely thought about mundane locks. However, those locks had other uses. For one thing, Glim wasn¡¯t allowed to enter locked rooms without explicit permission. She also couldn¡¯t enter rooms when people were undressed, but he and Akari had both worn their clothes to bed. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to interrupt,¡± the mana spirit said with feigned innocence. ¡°But Elend told me to wake you up. It¡¯s already seven o¡¯clock, and¡ª¡± Glim¡¯s words cut off as a piece of dark clothing struck the mirror. No sooner had it hit than she vanished entirely. Kalden turned to see Akari¡¯s bare back as she snuggled back into the blankets. She¡¯d definitely been wearing a bra last night, hadn¡¯t she? Not anymore, apparently. They lay there for a few more minutes, then Akari stretched her legs, letting her feet brush up against his. Finally, she grabbed her glasses from the nightstand and propped herself up on the pillow, using the sheets to cover her chest. ¡°Guess we should get up.¡± ¡°Big day ahead,¡± he agreed. She stretched like a cat, and the sheets came dangerously close to falling free. For someone who acted so shy in social situations, Akari was surprisingly confident about being half-naked. ¡°You¡¯re doing that on purpose,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Yeah?¡± She shrugged. ¡°Maybe I like making Kalden Trengsen blush.¡± He wasn¡¯t exactly blushing, but he also couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. ¡°I can¡¯t believe we waited all summer for this. You were right in front of me this whole time ¡­¡± His self-confidence had taken a hit after his injury¡ªthat much was clear now. And he¡¯d overcompensated for that by throwing himself into his training. But he¡¯d ignored the problem rather than accepting it. He¡¯d pushed away the very person who could have made him happier, which seemed so stupid in hindsight. ¡°You¡¯re telling me.¡± Akari put her back to him as she hopped out of bed. Then she threw on her dark gray hoodie and zipped it up. ¡°Guess we should have fought a long time ago.¡± She spent a few seconds digging through the pockets of her hoodie, then she pulled out a vial of transparent mana, uncorked it, and took a long swig. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°Liquid space mana.¡± Akari winced as it went down her throat. ¡°Feels weird on an empty stomach.¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Should I even ask why you¡¯re drinking that first thing in the morning?¡± Akari crept across the room and slid open a window that faced the house, letting in a burst of cool air. She extended a palm outward and shot a space Missile toward the upper levels of the Darklight¡¯s estate. With that done, she shot a second Missile at Kalden¡¯s floor, forming a portal, roughly two feet in diameter. Kalden stood up, peering through the portal to see a bird''s-eye view of Akari¡¯s bedroom. She kicked her shoes unceremoniously through the opening, and the rest of her clothes followed. ¡°See you soon.¡± Akari stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. Then she jumped through the portal and landed on her own bed. Kalden spent the next half hour showering and getting dressed for the day. With that done, he headed into the main estate where he found Relia sitting on one of the kitchen barstools. Various Jumpstart bags sat on the granite countertop, along with two foam carriers of disposable coffee cups. Kalden and Akari wouldn¡¯t be able to eat for eight hours after this, so the Darklights had sent their drivers to pick up a giant breakfast. ¡°Morning,¡± Relia said as Kalden rummaged through the nearest bag. ¡°Have you seen Akari?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Kalden said. ¡°She¡¯s upstairs in her room¡± Kalden opened a styrofoam to-go box which contained a three-egg omelet and a side of hash browns. He pulled a fork from the silverware drawer, and took a bite, filling his mouth with the tastes of peppers, onions, and bacon. He normally started the day with more traditional mana-building foods, but he¡¯d get plenty of mana during today¡¯s ritual. ¡°You sure?¡± Relia glanced up at the ceiling. ¡°I checked last night, and ¡­¡± she trailed off, narrowing her eyes. ¡°And how would you know? You just came from the poolhouse.¡± ¡°I know why.¡± Glim appeared in the nearest mirror, a smug smile on her blue face. Before the mana spirit could say anything, Elend passed through the room wearing his workout clothes. He paused when he saw Glim¡¯s expression, and the two shared an enigmatic look. ¡°No one likes a tattletale.¡± Elend held out his hand and sucked her into his soul as he headed toward the basement dojo. ¡°Wait,¡± Relia said. ¡°What?¡± Akari strode into the kitchen a second later. She must have actually dried her hair this morning because it only looked slightly damp rather than dripping wet. Her face looked a bit too casual as she grabbed a cardboard Jumpstart cup and took a sip. ¡°Wait,¡± Relia said again. ¡°Are you two finally a couple?¡± Kalden kept the surprise off his face as he took another bite of his omelet. Relia might be clueless about some subjects, but this wasn¡¯t one of them, and he hadn¡¯t truly expected to keep this a secret for more than a few minutes. As for her question ¡­ well, that was more complicated. He and Akari had started discussing their relationship last night before bed. They¡¯d even arranged to go on their first date the following weekend. Still, they¡¯d need more time to properly discuss¡ª ¡°Yep,¡± Akari replied. Okay, never mind. ¡°Seriously?¡± Relia sat up straighter on her barstool. ¡°What happened last night? Tell me all the details!¡± Then she wrinkled her nose as if realizing what she¡¯d said. ¡°Actually, no. Not all of them.¡± ¡°Not much to tell.¡± Akari¡¯s lips curled up in a grin. ¡°But I guess¡ª¡± ¡°No misleading innuendos,¡± Kalden said. Her face rearranged itself into a glare. ¡°I didn¡¯t even say anything.¡± ¡°You were about to. I know that smile.¡± Relia¡¯s eyes darted back and forth between them as she ate. ¡°It was that dramatic exam fight, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°That might¡¯ve been a factor,¡± Kalden admitted. ¡°Darn it,¡± Relia muttered. ¡°I duel hot guys in class all the time. How come I never end up in their beds afterward?¡± ¡°Try letting them win next time,¡± Akari suggested. Kalden didn¡¯t even dignify that with a response. She¡¯d gone all out in that last fight, and they both knew it. Then again, if she¡¯d had a bit more experience with her Apprentice body ¡­ well, all the more reason to keep training as hard as he could. They needed to push each other. Akari leaned against him as they ate, smiling all the while. Normally, Akari smiled in a cocky or sarcastic way, but this looked far more genuine. He¡¯d never seen her smile like that in all the time he¡¯d known her¡ªfrom their first meeting in that supply closet, to all their training and travels afterward. But they had a busy day ahead. Their midterm exams were finally behind them, along with all the time-consuming distractions. Now, they were finally ready to aspect their mana. Book 3 - Chapter 24: Theoretical Aspects After breakfast, Akari headed downstairs into one of the estate¡¯s aspecting rooms. And yes, the Darklights really did keep two entire rooms for this purpose. It was a matter of pride for wealthy families, even if they only used the rooms once every twenty years. Why did they need special rooms for aspecting? Apparently, some ambient mana conditions worked better for shaping, and you could adjust these conditions with various dials on the wall. In Akari¡¯s case, they¡¯d increased the room¡¯s overall resistance. Abstract mana types¡ªlike space and time¡ªhad less total mass than their concrete counterparts, and this made them harder to manage. Rather than flowing in a straight line, they¡¯d follow the path of least resistance. So if a room had mana conduits beneath the floor, the energy slippage might cause your mana to float upward. These rooms had sigils to detect those imbalances and adjust accordingly. What¡¯s more, the thicker ambient mana acted like clay, letting you hollow out paths to form a web between yourself and the artifacts. Was it necessary? Probably not. A Mana Artist at Akari¡¯s level knew how to compensate for ambient mana with little conscious thought. It was like walking on an uneven staircase and adjusting your footing accordingly. Still, why risk a sprained ankle if you didn¡¯t have to? Especially in a ritual where mistakes might have permanent consequences. Akari sat cross-legged in the center of the room, taking in the three artifacts around her. To her left sat a Space Artist¡¯s bag, like the backpack Mazren had given her in Last Haven. This looked like a simple leather pouch to the naked eye, but it actually held a pocket dimension with several cubic feet of space inside. A Space Artist had crafted the entire bag from scratch. Not just the pocket dimension, but the stitching on the leather, and the metalwork on the buckles. This filled it with more intention than most artifacts, making it a perfect representation of space mana. An antique watch sat on her right, with several brass dials that amplified temporal mana techniques. No one knew who¡¯d made the original, but one fact was certain: this artifact had passed between more than ten generations of Time Artists. Each one filled it with years of mana and intention, leaving it stronger than when they¡¯d found it. Finally, Akari turned to the third object straight ahead, and her thoughts traveled back to her earlier planning stages. ¡°I know what I need,¡± she¡¯d said as she walked into Irina¡¯s study a few weeks before. ¡°For my third artifact, I mean.¡± The older woman glanced up from her computer screen and met Akari¡¯s eyes. She¡¯d taken charge of their aspect projects soon after Kalden¡¯s meeting with Sozen. Not only had she studied the topic more thoroughly than Elend, but her Second Brain was better suited to running these types of simulations. Technically, Glim could run simulations too, but she¡¯d yawn the second you mentioned ¡°mana ratios¡± or ¡°energy slippage.¡± Never mind the fact that she understood these topics perfectly well. Akari sat down and slid her Theoretical Aspects midterm paper across the lacquered wooden desk. Taking this class had been an easy way to study this subject without piling more work on her plate. Especially since the midterm project had them inventing a new aspect. ¡°Inventing¡± might be an overstatement, though. There were tens of thousands of aspects in KU¡¯s database, and all the obvious ideas were taken. What¡¯s more, no one expected low-level Mana Artists to make serious breakthroughs in this field, much less undergraduates. So most students just took an existing aspect, changed one piece, and gave it a shiny new name. But it still took a shitload of research. Sure, you could swap two things and hope for the best, but that would be like baking a loaf of bread and replacing the salt with sprinkles. Only worse, because a bad aspecting ritual could cripple you for life. Combining two aspects was even harder than changing an existing one, and Master Seathorn had specifically told them not to try this for their midterm paper. Akari was still doing it, of course. But she had several unfair advantages. Her parents had been Grandmasters, and they¡¯d spent years proving that space and time were two parts of the same whole. Their research had also vanished with them, despite being referenced in many peer-reviewed journals. With the Darklights¡¯ help, Akari had rewritten many of their experiments and theories in her own words, suggesting that space and time mana could be combined to form a new type¡ªstronger and more efficient than the sum of its parts. The paper went on to describe the specific cycling techniques to move the mana into her soul, and the ratios she would use to divide the three types. Irina skimmed through these parts quickly, and golden mana flowed from her Second Brain to help her process it even faster. Finally, her eyebrows shot up, and she lowered the paper to meet Akari¡¯s eyes. ¡°Hacking mana?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a real thing,¡± Akari hurried to explain. ¡°It¡¯s a type of craft mana.¡± She¡¯d first gotten the idea when she saw Arturo Kazalla using his Second Brain to help him hack his generator. She¡¯d reasoned that if Arturo could use craft mana that way, then someone must have made a whole aspect for that purpose. ¡°I¡¯m aware of that,¡± Irina replied. ¡°I have a fair bit of craft mana in my own aspect.¡± She flipped back through the stapled papers before letting them fall back on the desk. ¡°This tells me how, but it doesn¡¯t tell me why.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Akari said. ¡°Figured I¡¯d run it by you before I wrote it all down.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m listening. How does hacking tie together with space and time?¡± Akari drew in a deep breath and explained how hacking was part of her identity. She¡¯d always been a rebel, and she¡¯d always enjoyed learning on her own. This had gotten her into trouble before, but she¡¯d also used it to her advantage. Thousands of Bronze on Arkala had sought to learn Mana Arts, but most of them had failed. Her hacking had helped her stand out and get Kalden¡¯s attention. It helped her access Elend¡¯s videos on the dark web, and it helped her escape the Martials¡¯ impedium cuffs. Even today, it helped her gain small advantages in Grandmaster Raizen¡¯s class. Irina gave a curt nod as if she¡¯d expected this. ¡°Unfortunately, your soul doesn¡¯t care about your memories. Your brain builds an identity based on your experiences, but your soul cares more about your actions. So tell me¡ªhow does your experience as a hacker affect your Mana Arts? Not your perception of the techniques, but the techniques themselves. More importantly, how does this mana type integrate with your spacetime aspect? Akari sat up straighter in her seat. ¡°I see spacetime mana as hacking the universe itself. I¡¯m bending the rules in ways that most aspects never will.¡± Irina¡¯s lips curled up in amusement. ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll ignore that impossible statement and say it¡¯s the thought that counts.¡± Akari nodded.¡°Most Space and Time Artists play support roles. They set traps, make equipment, or transport for their teams. I want bolder, stronger techniques.¡± Irina gave a thoughtful nod. ¡°Fair enough. An aggressive approach might suit your style better.¡± ¡°And it ties back to the way I learn,¡± Akari pressed on. ¡°There are no Spacetime Artists right now. That means I can¡¯t just read the techniques in a book or learn them from a teacher. I¡¯ll have to reverse engineer them from other aspects¡ªtake them apart and figure out how they work. That¡¯s exactly what hackers do.¡± The older woman gave another amused smile. ¡°You know, that¡¯s the most I¡¯ve ever heard you talk. Did you practice that?¡± ¡°What?¡± Akari glared at her. ¡°No.¡± She had practiced it, actually, out on the pier where no one could hear her. But she wasn¡¯t about to admit that out loud. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Irina held up a hand. ¡°That was rude of me. It¡¯s a well-reasoned argument, and I¡¯d be happy to help you.¡± She glanced back at the paper. ¡°Have you run this by Master Seathorn?¡± ¡°Maybe ¡­¡± ¡°And?¡± Akari glanced around the room, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. ¡°She called it messy and foolhardy.¡± Irina¡¯s smile returned. ¡°Did she give you an alternative to the hacking mana?¡± ¡°Yeah, she mentioned spacetime-focused knowledge mana.¡± Other academics had already proposed the idea of spacetime mana, and they¡¯d created artifacts to represent this idea. In hindsight, Akari¡¯s parents had probably intended for her to go this route. It had the highest chance of success, after all. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. But if Akari played it safe, she¡¯d just lay the groundwork for some bold student down the line. In other words, she¡¯d be a background character in someone else¡¯s movie, which sounded depressing as hell. Elend must have agreed because he hadn¡¯t even mentioned this during their talk in his office. Irina nodded. ¡°Seathorn¡¯s approaching this from a purely academic perspective. If ten thousand students tried your proposed aspect, then only one of them would succeed. That makes the idea a failure in her eyes. But you¡¯re not trying to add this to some high school curriculum. It only has to work once.¡± Akari¡¯s attention snapped back to the present as she focused on the artifact in front of her. When she¡¯d first suggested hacking mana, she¡¯d expected to get some piece of computer equipment from a famous hacker. Maybe even a keyboard or a mouse. But Irina explained that computer hackers had no reason to imbue their tools with mana. Even if mana made the computer more durable, that wouldn¡¯t change the end result. So instead of a computer, Irina bought her a set of lock-picking tools that once belonged to a famous Espirian thief. The first artifact was a long, thin pick, designed for probing the tumblers in a lock. Several tiny sigils were etched on the stainless steel surface, and these sent information directly into the user¡¯s mind. Next was a set of tension wrenches for applying just the right amount of pressure to hold the lock in place. These took in knowledge mana, adjusting their angles and rotations based on the user¡¯s intention. But the most impressive tool was the Master Key, made of shimmering silver metal that almost glowed in the light. Closer inspection revealed hundreds of intricate sigils etched into its surface¡ªfar more than the pick or the wrenches. This key used craft mana to sense the shape of the lock and adjust its own shape accordingly. In the right hands, it could open any lock. Ancient or modern, large or small. Unfortunately, ¡°the right hands¡± meant a skilled Mana Artist with the right aspect and months of training. Akari wouldn¡¯t be using the Master Key anytime soon, but it still worked for her ritual. ~~~ Kalden followed Akari downstairs, pausing in the doorway where she sat cross-legged on the floor. ¡°Good luck,¡± he told her. ¡°You too,¡± she said with forced confidence. Kalden turned around and entered his own room across the hall, taking his place in the center. After his first talk with Sozen, Kalden had feared that blade mana was his only path forward. And even after several hours of research, he hadn¡¯t found anything to contradict his brother¡¯s words. Aspects couldn¡¯t be changed. Hundreds of Grandmasters had tried over the centuries, and they¡¯d always failed. What hope did a seventeen-year-old Apprentice have of solving this problem? Irina didn¡¯t have an answer for him either, and she was an expert in this field. Even a full day after his meeting with Sozen, they were no closer to a solution. But then Elend popped his head into the dining room and said, ¡°Hey, what about Maelyn Sanako?¡± Irina glanced up from her laptop. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Maelyn Sanako,¡± Kalden echoed. Chills broke out over his skin as he realized the implications of Elend¡¯s question. ¡°She was my friend on Arkala ¡­ a Restoration Artist.¡± ¡°A Restoration Artist on Arkala,¡± Elend replied, ¡°but a Gravity Artist in Last Haven. Don¡¯t tell me you forgot about her. She was the whole reason we knew your aspects could be changed.¡± ¡°What?¡± Irina said. ¡°You never told me that.¡± At least she had an excuse. Kalden had actually dueled Maelyn in Last Haven, but he¡¯d thought nothing of it in his dreams. Back then, they hadn¡¯t known their Mystic attacker was working with such tight restrictions. ¡°How?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°Gravity and restoration are two completely different aspects.¡± ¡°They¡¯re different,¡± Irina agreed, ¡°but they use the same basic parts.¡± She began typing on her keyboard, then she brought up a page from KU¡¯s aspect database. ¡°They both use force and knowledge mana as their primary components. Only the ratios and intentions are different.¡± Kalden let out a long breath as he sank back in his chair. ¡°That proves it then. We can adjust blade mana¡¯s ratios to make a new aspect.¡± Now, seven weeks later, he was about to put that theory to the test. A Shokenese sword sat directly in front of him¡ªone of the artifacts Elend had ordered early in the year. Naturally, this weapon had belonged to a clan of Blade Artists, passed down for generations. It was easily good enough to rival Clan Trengsen¡¯s artifacts from his first ritual. A black and white crowns board sat on Kalden¡¯s left, with all the pieces arranged in their starting positions. An old general¡¯s map on his right, depicting a battle from the Shokenese Rebellion. Unlike Akari¡¯s artifacts, these had no special properties or built-in techniques. Rather, these resulted from previous attempts to create new aspects. Aspects like the one he sought to make today The groundwork had been laid, but no Mana Artist had ever accepted the call until now. No doubt they¡¯d seen these as too restrictive compared to ordinary knowledge mana. For Kalden, this was his only choice. His soul had already been aspected with metal, destruction, craft, and knowledge. He couldn¡¯t erase those, but he could adjust the ratios to become something different. Not a soldier or a general, but something in between. ~~~ ¡°Nervous?¡± Elend asked as he strode into Akari¡¯s room. She shrugged. ¡°Already done this once.¡± That wasn¡¯t true, of course. The old Akari had been fearless during her first ritual, too young and stupid to realize the danger. She¡¯d never believed that one mistake could ruin hundreds of lives. She''d never believed that her parents could be stripped of their memories and their power, or that her mother could be killed on some dark city street. The old Akari hadn¡¯t known that hundreds of these rituals failed every year. But things had worked out for her these past few months. Not only had she gotten into the Artegium and reached Apprentice early, but she and Kalden were finally together. With all that in mind, it almost seemed like she was due for some bad news. She knew that was a fallacy, but that didn¡¯t stop her stomach from churning, or her palms from sweating. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Elend said. ¡°Irina and I have overseen hundreds of these things. No one¡¯s ever messed up on our watch.¡± He glanced down at her time artifact. ¡°No pun intended.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Akari said with a brisk nod. He leaned down and patted her shoulder. ¡°Deep breaths, lass. Just like your meditation training. Movies make these scenes things all dramatic, but they¡¯re actually quite boring. If there¡¯s a problem, we¡¯ll see it coming hours in advance.¡± Elend eventually dimmed the lights and left her alone. Then, after another minute of deep breathing, Akari sent her mana out toward the artifacts. ~~~ Elend waited with Irina outside the ritual rooms. Several hours had passed since they¡¯d begun, and both of the kids were progressing smoothly. Even with his Grandmaster senses, Elend couldn¡¯t normally make out the intricacies of another person¡¯s soul. But with so much mana flowing in those rooms, the patterns came to life like torches against the night. Akari had condensed the space portion of her soul down to forty-five percent. She¡¯d also brought in her time and craft components, and begun synthesizing the space and time together. Kalden had also made substantial progress in his own room. He''d spent the first hour cycling pure mana, getting his soul into a malleable state. Then he''d adjusted the ratios by pulling on the right artifacts at the right times. To call these feats impressive would be an understatement. But then, Akari and Kalden had one advantage that most Mana Artists lacked. They¡¯d already gone through this ritual once. This¡ªcombined with months of training¡ªlet them build stronger foundations than anyone else in their class. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone like her,¡± Irina whispered. ¡°Huh?¡± Elend turned to regard his wife. ¡°You mean Akari?¡± She nodded. ¡°Her soul drinks the space and time mana like a sponge.¡± ¡°That¡¯s hardly a surprise,¡± he said. ¡°Her parents spent years preparing her for this moment. She spent her whole childhood with them, surrounded by their ideas and their artifacts.¡± ¡°The same is true for most of the Artegium¡¯s students,¡± she countered. ¡°And this is different?¡± He¡¯d already noticed the ease at which she pulled the mana, but Kalden was doing the same thing across the hall. Both the kids were well-suited to their aspects, and it showed. ¡°Look at the density of her soul,¡± Irina said. ¡°She¡¯s pulling far more mana than she should be able to. Even for a determined Apprentice who¡¯s been born to this. It¡¯s like she¡¯s undergone ordinary exposure training, multiplied by a hundred. This would be like a Water Artist who spent years beneath the ocean, never surfacing once for air. With a foundation like this, she might actually achieve her goals.¡± After a brief pause, she met his eyes. ¡°She¡¯s not the only one.¡± Elend nodded. He¡¯d already told Lena as much before they¡¯d dropped her off in Vaslana. ¡°You obviously have a theory,¡± he said. ¡°Care to share?¡± ¡°Many theories,¡± she replied. ¡°And it¡¯s too soon to narrow them down. In the meantime, you should tell me more about that island.¡± ~~~ Akari opened her eyes after eight excruciating hours. She pivoted her head around the circle and found all the artifacts drained¡ªnot a drop of mana in their reserves. Her soul ached, but it was nothing like her advancement to Apprentice. That had been a rush of pure power and pain, followed by tears, screaming, and intense relief. This was more of a dull, drained feeling. The way her back might feel if she¡¯d lifted weights with bad form. Akari ventured further with her mental senses and found a second source of mana there. This was far deeper than the shallow pond she felt when she drank a space potion. This was more like a tree, with its roots deep in the spiritual realm, and its branches stretching out through her channels. Akari cycled this new source of mana. Somehow, it felt both lighter and more powerful than ordinary space mana. She shot the Missiles from her palm, but they didn¡¯t react to her shaping commands. That was fine¡ªeveryone had warned her it would take weeks to get used it. The mana faded to mist around her as the techniques broke apart¡ªsemitransparent clouds of pale silver and gold. A perfect blend of her parents¡¯ mana types. Space and time. Tears sprang to her eyes¡ªa rush of emotions she¡¯d held back until after the ritual was complete. She thought of her mother in that moment. She was still gone forever, but now Akari carried a piece of her in her soul. Not just her mana, but her dream of a new aspect. She thought of her father next. He was still trapped on Arkala, stripped of his power and living a lie. But she was one step closer to saving him. That goal still seemed impossible, but she¡¯d made it this far. Akari uncurled her sore legs and reached for a water bottle outside the bounds of the circle. Finally, after another minute to compose herself, Akari climbed to her feet and stumbled toward the door. Kalden opened his own door across the hall, and his face showed the same relief she felt. They turned to face the Darklights, and Irina nodded once. A sign that everything looked well. Elend and Relia each got up from the sofa, and Glim hovered in a nearby mirror. ¡°Let¡¯s see the aspects!¡± Relia said. Akari conjured another burst of spacetime mana. It wasn¡¯t much of a technique, but Relia and Glim still cheered for her. They all turned to Kalden next, and he released his own aspected mana from his palms. Like Akari¡¯s, this was raw and unshaped. But the color was unmistakable¡ªblood red, teeming with destruction. ¡°Have you thought of a name for it?¡± Irina asked him. Kalden nodded, and his lips curled up in a satisfied grin. ¡°Battle mana.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 25: Ethics of Combat Akari practically skipped into her Theoretical Aspects classroom the next day. Her teacher sat behind a wooden desk at the front, leafing through a stack of papers as she settled in. A thirty-ounce Jumpstart mug sat in one corner, along with the half-eaten remains of a chocolate muffin. Various equations filled the whiteboard to her left, but they seemed far less relevant than they had a few days before. Despite the class¡¯s name, everything she¡¯d learned had applied to yesterday¡¯s ritual. Now, she¡¯d finally completed her goal and aspected her mana. Everything else really would be theoretical after this. Akari unzipped the top of her backpack and pulled out her midterm paper. The gray-haired woman finally glanced up, eying Akari with those judgemental blue eyes. ¡°Good morning, Master Seathorn,¡± Akari said in her most polite voice. Then she set down her paper and slid it across the smooth wooden surface. The woman¡¯s gaze settled on the front page, then she frowned at the title. ¡°I¡¯m disappointed, Miss Zeller. I specifically told you this ritual would never work.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Akari said. ¡°But I disagreed.¡± ¡°You disagreed,¡± she deadpanned. ¡°You think you know better than the experts now?¡± Akari shrugged. Seathorn picked up the paper and began leafing through it. ¡°This is the same thing you showed me before. You even left in the hacking mana. Hacking mana has absolutely nothing to do with spacetime.¡± Akari kept her face diplomatically blank. ¡°I wrote my reasoning on the next page.¡± ¡°Yes ... I¡¯m sure you did.¡± Her frown deepened further when she reached the section with the proposed artifacts. ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a Master Key that can open any lock. Where¡¯d you even hear a rumor like that?¡± ¡°Irina Darklight,¡± she replied. Irina had bought the key on the black market, but Akari kept that part to herself. Seathorn ignored that. ¡°You know I can¡¯t give you a passing grade for this.¡± ¡°What if I can prove it works?¡± Akari asked. ¡°No,¡± Seathorn said. ¡°It would be unethical of me to encourage such a test.¡± Akari stretched out her open palms and released a cloud of her aspected mana. ¡°What is that?¡± the older woman asked. Akari kept the same innocent expression as before. ¡°Spacetime mana.¡± They stared at each other for several long seconds with Seathorn¡¯s eyes occasionally darting to her outstretched palms. Akari could feel half the class watching her, too. ¡°With a touch of hacking mana,¡± she added, almost as an afterthought. ¡°You didn¡¯t have this aspect on Kelsday,¡± Seathorn said. Her tone came out more like an accusation than a question. ¡°It was a weekend experiment.¡± Another pause, far longer than the first. ¡°So ... ¡° Akari shifted from foot to foot, biting her lip to hide her smirk. ¡°Does this mean I pass?¡± ~~~ ¡°Try it again,¡± Irina told Kalden for the tenth time that day. ¡°But even slower.¡± He stretched out his hand and sent another crimson Missile across the table. Three weeks had passed since he¡¯d gotten his aspect, and winter had arrived in earnest. A thin blanket of snow covered the backyard, and rows of icicles hung from the covered porch beyond the dining room. His Missile floated across the table, grazing the surface of the pebble Irina had placed in the center. As always, his new mana was the color of blood, and this particular Missile had a transparent quality, as if he¡¯d painted it with watercolor. No sooner had the mana grazed the pebble than Kalden pulled it back to his outstretched hand. Irina called this a Circuit, and it was the basis for most knowledge techniques. Essentially, you sent out a Missile, retrieved some information, and then brought the Missile back into your body. Movies always made this process look effortless. You''d see a detective hurl a dozen Missiles around a crime scene, then he¡¯d draw immediate conclusions before his mana faded to mist. The reality was far more complicated. First, you had to catch the Missiles and cycle them back through your channels and into your brain. Only then could you glean something about your target. What¡¯s more, human brains weren¡¯t built to understand knowledge mana the way they understood language, sounds, or pictures. This was raw and nonsensical¡ªhalf database and half sandstorm. Kalden tried to make sense of it by focusing harder, but that was like watching a single grain in the storm. Not only would you lose the grain, but your tunnel vision would cause you to lose sight of the storm itself. ¡°Are these headaches normal?¡± Kalden asked as he rubbed his temples. ¡°They¡¯re common for beginners,¡± Irina said from across the table. ¡°But you can¡¯t blame the mana. Focus on your body first. Keep it loose and relaxed. He followed her advice, tensing and relaxing his muscles the way he would before a duel. His mana flowed slower through his channels, and his thoughts followed. ¡°Now,¡± Irina said. ¡°Release the mana as slowly as possible. Pretend you¡¯re forming a Construct. Kalden nodded, balancing his forward pressure until the Missile slid across the table like a snail. Once again, it grazed the pebble¡¯s surface and returned to his hand. ¡°Good,¡± she said. ¡°Now maintain that speed as you cycle.¡± And here came the frustrating part. Most Mana Artists trained to cycle faster, not slower. That was the only way to form a proper Missile in the lower ranks. Even as an Apprentice, faster Missiles were harder for your opponents to dodge, and they hit harder when they struck. That all started with more speed in your channels, from the bottom of your soul to the tips of your fingers. By contrast, this felt downright unnatural. Like giving a speech in slow motion when you knew every line by heart. At first, he¡¯d been excited to train with a new aspect. It was easy to look back on your life and see the early days as one long series of dramatic breakthroughs, with a new technique mastered every other week. But it wasn¡¯t so fun in the moment. At least he¡¯d known where he stood as a Blade Artist. He could feel when a technique worked and when it didn¡¯t. He could feel his mistakes and adjust accordingly. But he had no idea how knowledge mana was supposed to feel, much less what he was doing wrong. He might as well have been learning to play a song based on Irina¡¯s descriptions. ¡°Don¡¯t rush it,¡± she said. ¡°Embrace the boredom. You have all the time in the world.¡± That wasn¡¯t true, of course. The qualifying rounds could start any day, and ¡­ but no, Kalden drew in another long breath and cleared his thoughts. Mana Arts was a series of small moments, and worrying about the future wouldn¡¯t help him now. His brain absorbed the mana, but the same rush of information overwhelmed him, like watching a hundred televisions at double speed. He could tell the information related to the pebble, but that was the extent of it. ¡°How¡¯s the headache?¡± Irina asked. ¡°Better that time,¡± he admitted. ¡°Processing the information comes next,¡± she said. ¡°Your prefrontal cortex will try to interpret everything, but it¡¯s not suited to dealing with knowledge mana. You¡¯ll only exhaust yourself if you try.¡± ¡°No argument there,¡± Kalden muttered. Five minutes of this was easily worth an hour of regular studying. ¡°This will sound counterintuitive,¡± she said, ¡°but you need to let the sensations pass by. Pretend you¡¯re meditating, and the knowledge mana is a distraction. You recognize it, but you don¡¯t dwell on it. Do this for a few more weeks, and your prefrontal cortex will stop trying to interpret it.¡± Kalden frowned. ¡°Then how do I use the information? Besides advancing to Master, or building a Second Brain?¡± ¡°Think of it like catching a ball. Your brain knows what to do, even if you can¡¯t put the specifics into words. Knowledge mana will be the same way. You¡¯ll make correct conclusions, and the real challenge will be showing your work.¡± This continued over the next few days. Kalden gradually wove his intention into the Missiles, focused on retrieving just a single parameter from the pebble. For example, how hard could he throw it? His aspect seemed to like anything involving motion¡ªprobably because it tied into combat. His intention was still weak as an Apprentice, but the effort made a difference. If he expected to get less information from the pebble, he would. That gave his brain less to process, but more useful information to work with. ¡°I¡¯m beginning to see why Knowledge Arts isn¡¯t more popular,¡± Kalden said to Irina during another session. Before, he¡¯d wondered why more people didn¡¯t choose this aspect. Even if it ranked among the most difficult in terms of raw shaping skills, the benefits should have made it more widespread. But training with your body had a certain simplicity. You could drink potions, build mana, and watch your numbers increase. Humans had been doing that for thousands of years; they were wired that way. Meditation was a far more challenging game, full of vague challenges and even vaguer rewards. Still, no serious Mana Artist could escape this, especially toward the peak of the Artisan realm. Meditation would help you reflect on your weaknesses and see your goals. Meditation would give you the revelations you¡¯d need to climb the ranks of Masters and Mystics. ~~~ Akari let out a breath as she pushed the two-hundred-pound barbell above her chest. Three weeks ago, she could barely press her own body weight, even with her mana flowing. Now, she was approaching twice that number without it. She could triple the number if she Cloaked the right muscles, but everyone had warned her against that. They said the month after advancement was the most common time for injuries, and one moment of overconfidence could set her back for several weeks. Either way, being an Apprentice was awesome. Any time she¡¯d struggled before, her body had taken note and made changes after her advancement. This was why she spent so much time in the Darklight''s gym, not to mention all those bone-breaking sessions with Relia. Stolen story; please report. This also explained why her vision hadn¡¯t fixed itself. She wore her glasses while training, so her body didn¡¯t see a problem with her vision. Eyes were also a lot more complicated than muscles, bones, or skin. You couldn¡¯t just pump them full of mana and make them stronger. Well, you could, but stronger eyes didn¡¯t see any better. That seemed completely unfair, since no other body part followed this rule. Irina had mentioned surgeries that could fix her vision, but only Grandmasters could perform those safely. And of course, she''d have to get in line behind a thousand other people. She¡¯d worn contacts back in Last Haven, and that was an option now, too. It just wasn¡¯t high on her priority list these days. ¡°Need a spotter?¡± Kalden asked as he stepped into the gym. ¡°I¡¯m good.¡± Akari let out a long breath as she put the barbell back on the stand. She lay there for a second, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. Kalden reached the end of the bench and offered her a hand. She accepted it, and he pulled her up into a kiss. Akari melted into it, feeling the sensation of his lips, and the stubble on his chin. Then she grinned when they pulled apart. ¡°I¡¯m all sweaty.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t help it,¡± Kalden said with a shrug. ¡°You look good when you¡¯re lifting.¡± Well, he wasn¡¯t wrong about that. Akari still wasn¡¯t as fit as Relia, but her muscles definitely popped more after reaching Apprentice. Especially her shoulders, biceps, and abs. She gave Kalden a longer kiss, then sauntered over to a pair of waiting dumbbells. She stretched out her hands toward the dumbbells, creating portals on the floor beneath them. Then she raised her hands skyward and formed another set of portals on the ceiling. The weights fell through the portals and into her waiting hands. Kalden took a seat on the nearby bench. ¡°I see your aspect¡¯s going well.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Akari closed her eyes as she curled the weights up toward her shoulders. ¡°Took a few weeks, but I got the hang of it.¡± So far, all her parents¡¯ theories about spacetime mana had come true. Ordinary space mana had been ridiculously expensive. Even a freshly minted Apprentice couldn¡¯t manage more than three or four portals. But all techniques got more expensive as you climbed Salvatore¡¯s Scale of Abstraction. Space and time mana were both high on that scale, so expensive techniques were expected. People had called this normal for decades. Then her parents did the math and realized the numbers didn¡¯t add up. Space and time mana had more than twice the loss of other aspects on the same tier. ¡°When I move an object through space,¡± Mazren had said, ¡°I¡¯m also altering its position in time. It¡¯s impossible to change one parameter without the other. In other words, I¡¯m rewriting things my aspect isn¡¯t suited to. That¡¯s like having one hand tied behind my back.¡± Now, Akari could form anywhere between five to ten portals, depending on their size. And this was just the beginning. She still had to dive into Circuit swapping, time dilation, pocket dimensions, and advanced Cloaks. But that would all take years of study and training. For now, she was just lucky to learn one technique before the qualifying rounds. ¡°How about you?¡± she asked as she lowered the dumbbells to her sides. ¡°The combat part¡¯s going well. The knowledge part ¡­¡± Kalden waggled a hand from side to side. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m glad we fought before we got our aspects.¡± ¡°Still haven¡¯t seen the new blades yet,¡± Akari said. Then again, they hadn¡¯t done much fighting since midterms. Even Raizen had shifted his class to more of a tactical focus. Apparently, that had been everyone¡¯s biggest weakness during the exam. Raizen had praised her use of portals during their one-on-one meeting, but he¡¯d given her a long lecture about how she¡¯d engaged Kalden¡¯s team. ¡°If you wanted to fight someone,¡± he¡¯d said in his office. ¡°You could have picked a random enemy squad on the street. Your team had an advantage¡ªyou were the first ones in the plant and you wasted it. You¡¯ve been careful in your duels all semester, but reaching Apprentice has made you stupid.¡± That stung, but he wasn¡¯t wrong. Akari had actually realized the same thing after she¡¯d eliminated Tori. That was why she¡¯d run for the control room rather than engage Kalden. And then Raizen had told Nico: ¡°Use your brain next time. Don¡¯t follow Zeller into battle just because she wants to be a badass.¡± Kalden had obviously been a bad leader too, but he¡¯d done it on purpose to prevent Blood Army from doing too well in the exam. Raizen seemed to understand that, but he¡¯d still lectured Kalden on how he could have achieved the same goal through better communication. ¡°Are you doing anything after this?¡± Kalden asked as he watched her curl the dumbells. ¡°Taking a shower.¡± She raised her eyebrows at him. ¡°Wanna come?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± he said without missing a beat. ¡°I¡¯ll go see if Relia¡¯s free to join us.¡± Her eyes narrowed. It had been far easier to make him blush and stammer two weeks ago. But of course¡ªin typical Kalden fashion¡ªhe¡¯d adapted to her tactics and started calling her bluff. They¡¯d already had their first date, but things had moved slowly beyond that. Sure, they¡¯d had their share of make-out sessions in the pool house, but nothing too serious. She was actually fine with that in hindsight. Kalden had said they should take their time and discuss what they were comfortable with. That had seemed silly at first, and she¡¯d accused him of overthinking things. But then he¡¯d started using combat metaphors, and things slowly made more sense. You didn¡¯t just rush into a fight without a plan. And you definitely didn¡¯t rush in without any combat experience. As nice as that first night had been, Akari had actually been a bad kisser. She¡¯d asked Kalden about it, and he¡¯d hesitated for several seconds before saying, ¡°You were good.¡± Which was obviously code for ¡°terrible.¡± If they¡¯d gone any further, Akari probably would have gotten stumped and not known what to do. ¡°Seriously,¡± Kalden said. ¡°What are you really doing tonight? Besides showering, I mean.¡± Akari wrinkled her nose. ¡°Meeting my group in Old Town. Supposed to work on that stupid Ethics project.¡± He nodded. ¡°I was supposed to meet my group tonight, but Tori just texted me and said her mom¡¯s back in the hospital.¡± He paused. ¡°Want to do something tomorrow, then?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Akari said as she lowered the weights on the mat. Tomorrow was Talekday, and her Artegium classes had been suspiciously light in terms of homework. Finally, things were looking up for both of them. Despite their crazy training schedules, their lives had actually started to feel somewhat normal. ~~~ Two hours later, Akari sat with her group in a tiny Old Town cafe. All five of them sat nestled in a corner booth between a brick wall and a tall glass window. Old-fashioned lightbulbs cast a soft glow over their table, and the scent of freshly ground coffee beans wafted through the air. Akari sipped her own coffee, staring out the front window while Nico and Sadie argued over the last problem. Outside, a massive Midwinter tree filled the town square, covered in various lights and ornaments. Dozens of stalls surrounded the tree in a loose circle, all part of Koreldon City¡¯s famous Midwinter Market. More lights decorated the buildings, along with ornamented archways where the cobblestone paths led back to the main roads. Akari had never liked Midwinter on Arkala. People always spent that time with their families, but she hadn¡¯t had one of those. Yes, she¡¯d technically been living with her father, but Mazren hadn¡¯t remembered her. Not the real her, at least. But she didn¡¯t blame him for that. He¡¯d been a Grandmaster, lowered to a mere Foundation. Then some algorithm had stuck him with Noella, a woman he didn¡¯t love. Now, the lights and snow brought back happier memories¡ªmemories of Last Haven with her parents. But then her thoughts took a darker turn when she remembered that she¡¯d lost that life forever. Even a Spacetime Mystic couldn¡¯t undo the mistakes she¡¯d made. ¡°Akari?¡± Nico¡¯s voice pulled her from her reverie. ¡°Yeah?¡± She snapped her attention back to the table as if she hadn¡¯t been daydreaming for the past five minutes. ¡°You¡¯ve been quiet,¡± he said. ¡°Whose side are you on?¡± Akari suppressed a groan as she glanced back at her textbook. This project was for Ethics of Combat¡ªan Artegium class with Grandmaster Truewater¡ªand they had to work through various moral dilemmas. This last question was a variation of the classic train track problem, except it had a fresh coat of pain to confuse them. ¡°Neither,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s a bullshit question meant to make us argue.¡± That was, of course, the real point of these group projects. Her whole team knew the game by now, but they still kept playing it. ¡°But what if you were the Mana Artist in this situation?¡± Nico pressed. ¡°You can¡¯t just do nothing.¡± ¡°Sure I can.¡± Akari jabbed a finger at her textbook. ¡°That¡¯s one of the choices.¡± ¡°So you¡¯d let ten innocent people die?¡± ¡°Potentially,¡± Sadie said for the fifth time that night. ¡°Better than murdering one innocent person with your own Missile.¡± Akari sipped her coffee and considered the problem. ¡°I¡¯d flip a coin.¡± The others stared at her as if she¡¯d suggested killing an Angel. Even Nimble looked surprised, and he¡¯d lost interest in this problem ten minutes ago. ¡°Yeah ¡­¡± Akari took another sip and nodded to herself. ¡°If the coin flip felt right, I¡¯d go with it. If it felt wrong, I¡¯d do the opposite.¡± Sadie blinked at her. ¡°So you¡¯re saying you don¡¯t care?¡± Akari shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m saying I¡¯d do what felt right in the moment. That¡¯s all you guys are doing, anyway. You¡¯re just thinking up fancy reasons to justify it.¡± Nico rubbed the top of his black knitted hat. ¡°Unfortunately, we can¡¯t write that down as our answer.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Akari asked. ¡°We need at least three paragraphs,¡± Sadie said. That was another bullshit rule. A choice wasn¡¯t more ¡°right¡± just because you could explain it with a bunch of words. Then again, could she write three paragraphs explaining how most moral reasoning happened retroactively? Akari slid her coffee cup aside and reached out her hands. ¡°Pass me the laptop. I¡¯ll write it.¡± Nico slid the laptop across the table¡¯s wooden surface, and she was done five minutes later. ¡°Your grammar needs work,¡± he said when he took the computer back. ¡°But this is actually good stuff.¡± Nine o¡¯clock finally rolled around, and Akari slid out of the booth to head home. She was probably the only college student in town who went to bed before ten, but her summer schedule had stuck with her all throughout the semester. Others might be able to sleep in the next morning, but not future Mystics. As she left, Akari conjured a portal beneath the table, no bigger than the palm of her hand. She formed the second half of the portal on her cell phone, and she pressed the device to her ear as she stepped outside. The portal was one-way, so it let her listen in without anyone hearing sounds from her side. If any of them got under the table, they might see a faint rippling of spacetime mana, but that was unlikely. Was this a paranoid habit? Maybe. But you couldn¡¯t be too careful before the qualifying rounds. Even ignoring that factor, she couldn¡¯t resist knowing what people said behind her back. ¡°You have your sound suppressor?¡± Nico asked. ¡°Yep,¡± Jax replied. ¡°Put it up.¡± A brief silence followed as Jax unzipped and rummaged through his backpack. They¡¯d never bothered putting up a sound suppressor before, and Akari pressed the phone closer to her ear. ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± Sadie asked a few seconds later. ¡°I don¡¯t want want to go through with this,¡± Nico said. ¡°With what?¡± Nimble asked. Another silence fell over the table¡ªprobably some exchange of facial expressions she couldn¡¯t see. Akari strained to listen harder, but she couldn¡¯t hear anything but the cafe¡¯s soft background music. ¡°This whole thing was your idea,¡± Nimble said. ¡°Moonfire will be pissed if we back out now.¡± ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Sadie said. ¡°I didn¡¯t wanna play the backstabbing game, either, but we¡¯re in too deep.¡± ¡°Elise will have her own problems,¡± Nico said. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate her,¡± Sadie said. ¡°She¡¯s like the most dangerous person in our year.¡± ¡°Akari¡¯s dangerous too,¡± Nico countered. ¡°She beat me before she was an Apprentice. Then she killed all three of Blood Army¡¯s leaders without a real aspect. Why would we make an enemy of her?¡± ¡°Because Moonfire¡¯s even worse,¡± Jax muttered in his usual quiet voice. ¡°We should stick to the plan,¡± Nimble said. ¡°Take her out with a surprise attack. Quick and quiet. She¡¯ll never see it coming.¡± Nico let out a long sigh. ¡°This doesn¡¯t feel wrong to anyone else? We¡¯ve been teammates this whole semester. Isn¡¯t Akari more of a friend by now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s part of the game,¡± Nimble said. ¡°And she¡¯s not a team player,¡± Sadie said. ¡°She threatened to ditch us twice during midterms.¡± ¡°She was joking.¡± ¡°Raizen marked us all down for attacking Blood Army,¡± Nimble retorted. ¡°Was that a joke, too?¡± ¡°And she¡¯s shady,¡± Jax cut in.¡°Says she lived in Vaslana for years, but she doesn¡¯t speak any Cadrian.¡± ¡°So what?¡± Nico said. ¡°Maybe she trained with some hidden Master and didn¡¯t get out much.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s the space mana stuff,¡± Sadie said. ¡°Do you know how hard it is to use liquid space mana without the aspect?¡± ¡°Hard?¡± Nico guessed. ¡°More like unprecedented. It¡¯s equally as crazy as Kalden Trengsen¡¯s pure blade mana tricks. Just one more connection she¡¯ll deny if you ask her.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Nico said, ¡°So she¡¯s an amazing Mana Artist. That¡¯s literally a prerequisite for getting in the Artegium.¡± ¡°If she¡¯s so good,¡± Nimble said, ¡°then why¡¯d it take her this long to reach Apprentice? And why¡¯d she rush to get into this program? We¡¯ve tried asking her all this. She dodges the questions every time.¡± ¡°This still proves nothing,¡± Nico said. ¡°It proves she¡¯s not our friend,¡± Sadie said. ¡°She¡¯s using us. She probably plans to betray us when the qualifying rounds start. Better to get this over with and join up with Moon Army. It¡¯s our best chance forward.¡± More arguments followed as Nico questioned Elise Moonfire¡¯s motives, and whether they¡¯d actually get farther as her ally. But that didn¡¯t matter. They eventually put it to a vote, and they all agreed to betray Akari once the qualifier rounds started. Talek. This team had always been a means to an end, but it still stung. Especially since Akari hadn¡¯t planned to betray any of them. Why would she? Kalden and Relia were her true allies, but that didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t have more. Unlike the bigger factions, she didn¡¯t care about controlling the spots for the interschool battlegrounds. Nico had defended her, but what had Nimble said earlier? ¡°This whole thing was your idea?¡± How long had they been planning this? Akari broke her portals and shoved her phone into her coat pocket as she walked another block toward the train station. At least she knew what to expect once the qualifying rounds started. She¡¯d just have to¡ª Akari froze when she saw another figure on the snow-covered train platform. He looked like a young Shokenese man, wearing a long black trench coat. He turned to face her as she crested the staircase, revealing his face in the light. Kalden¡¯s brother? She¡¯d met Sozen a few times now, and he was easy to recognize with his angled face and thin black beard. Akari confirmed this a second later when she activated her Silver Sight and saw his Artisan¡¯s soul. ¡°Good evening, Miss Zeller.¡± He took a few steps toward her, snowflakes dancing around him with every step. Akari¡¯s instincts screamed at her to run, but she couldn¡¯t say why. He wasn¡¯t cycling his mana, and even his posture looked calm and relaxed. Then Sozen swept his coat aside, revealing a steel Missile rod. What the hell? They were standing on a train platform with security cameras everywhere. Did he seriously think he could attack her? Akari cycled her own mana and readied an escape portal. She¡¯d already fought one Artisan, and she didn¡¯t feel like going back for seconds. But Sozen was quicker. He raised the rod at her and pulled the trigger. The Missile closed in, too quick to block or dodge. Akari felt no pain when the Missile struck her chest. Instead, her mana stopped cycling, and her muscles went numb. Her vision blurred, and even her thoughts went blank as paper. Her legs buckled, and the concrete platform rose up to meet her. Sozen rushed forward and caught her before the darkness closed in. Book 3 - Chapter 26: Apocalypse Akari woke sometime later¡ªshe couldn¡¯t say how long. Her body was curled up in a ball with her cheek pressed against a rough carpeted floor. Gusts of cool wind ruffled her hair, carrying the scents of smoke and destruction. She steadied her breathing, using the pattern she¡¯d learned from Master Nightfang in Survival Tactics class. She needed every possible advantage against her attacker. Not just any attacker ¡­ Sozen Trengsen. He¡¯d hit her with a stunning Missile¡ªsome sort of force mana that shut down her body. That was technically the safest way to knock someone unconscious. Especially an Artegium combat student with no existing medical conditions. But why? What did he want with her? Akari activated her Silver Sight, but saw no clear mana source nearby. She strained her ears for more clues, but the only sound was a pair of heavy doors blowing on their hinges. Finally, she pried open her eyes and took in more of her surroundings. It looked like the back of a conversion van, and the doors hung wide open to reveal an empty city street. Akari drew in a deep breath and pivoted her head to look at the van¡¯s front seats. Empty. She shifted her hands next, expecting to find them cuffed or bound. But they moved freely as she shifted her body into a sitting position. Even her mana flowed just fine, with no signs of tampering. What the hell? Why would he kidnap her just to leave her alone, at her full power? She¡¯d seen his face, for Talek¡¯s sake. He couldn¡¯t get away with this. Akari felt her pockets next, but her cell phone was gone, along with her watch, and her winter coat. Her clothes were different, too. Last night, she¡¯d been wearing a knee-length skirt, dark leggings, a hoodie, and combat boots. She wore the same boots and hoodie now. But instead of her skirt and leggings, she wore a pair of dark jeans¡ªthe same pair she¡¯d bought with Relia at Faeland Mall. She also seemed to be wearing a combat bra instead of her normal one. Like the jeans, this had come from her closet at the Darklight¡¯s Estate. Shit. This was getting even creepier. However, she had a distinct memory of changing her own clothes in a private room. In fact, that was her only real memory after the attack. Almost as if Sozen wanted to make her as comfortable as possible. Naturally, that only made things worse. Being kidnapped was one thing, but now he was messing with her memories? And if he¡¯d tampered with her memories, then ¡­ Akari¡¯s blood turned to ice, and she scrambled to look out the front of the van. Talek. What if he¡¯d sent her back to Arkala? No ¡­ a quick glance outside revealed the truth. This was still Koreldon City. In fact, this looked like Green Street¡ªhome to a loose collection of restaurants and shops, less than two blocks from campus. But something was wrong. Several inches of snow had covered the ground before, and Midwinter lights had decorated the storefronts. Now, there wasn¡¯t a snowflake or decoration in sight. What¡¯s more, the larger moon hung full in the sky. Hadn¡¯t that one been waning before? Did that mean several weeks had passed? Many of the shop¡¯s front windows had been smashed in with their displays picked clean. A Jumpstart Cafe had a broken neon sign with the last two letters burned out. Blue graffiti covered the front of a manatronics store, and an abandoned car stuck out from an alleyway with smoke rising from its engine. Akari¡¯s heart pounded faster as she struggled to make sense of all this. She didn¡¯t feel hungry or thirsty. She also didn¡¯t feel any pressure on her bladder. And when she rolled up the leg of her jeans, she found her legs smooth from when she¡¯d shaved them the night before her attack. That all seemed to suggest she hadn¡¯t been unconscious for long. Unless someone had screwed with her memories. Don¡¯t just sit here, she scolded herself. Do something. Sozen Trengsen was long gone, but the entire street felt like a war zone. Getting to safety was a bigger priority than unraveling the story behind that. She made a quick search of the van, but there wasn¡¯t much there. Just a few maintenance records and registration papers in the glove box. However, she did find a few esper coins on the floor which she pocketed, along with a small flashlight and screwdriver. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. With that done, Akari crawled out the back door and into the dark street. She crept in the shadows for several paces, staying out of the light and putting some distance between herself and the abandoned van. As she walked, she spotted several giant holes in the upper levels of the buildings. Talek. This really was a war zone. Only Masters could do that kind of damage. Her instincts screamed at her to move as a burst of fire closed in Akari slid right, taking cover in a nearby alley. The fire Missile tore passed her face, close enough to feel the heat of it on her cheeks. It struck the wall behind her in an explosion of broken stone. Akari took several deep breaths, cycling her mana and examining the small crater. Her attacker was probably an Apprentice, judging by its depth. She emerged from her cover a second later, raising a Construct of pure mana in front of her body. Three weeks ago, Akari would have been helpless in a long-range fight with no equipment. Now, facing a strange Apprentice felt as natural as lacing up her boots. Her shield absorbed two more blasts, and she cycled more mana to keep it active. Then she glimpsed the man in another alley across the street. He wore a simple pair of jeans and a dark hoodie. Just a civilian, then. So why would he attack her? Akari took a few steps into the street and threw a pure Missile around her own shield. She¡¯d expected her opponent to raise his own defenses or launch more Missiles. Instead, he retreated farther down the alley from where he¡¯d come. Yeah ¡­ he probably had a whole group of friends waiting to ambush her back there. Akari waited a few more heartbeats to make sure he was gone, then she headed the opposite way, cutting through the alley toward Market Street. From there, she had a clear run to the Artegium Ring. Akari had barely taken two steps into the alley before she came face-to-face with another figure. She Cloaked her muscles and prepared another Missile, but the man held up his hands. ¡°Hey!¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s just me.¡± Akari shuffled back, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness of the alley. ¡°Nico?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± he replied with a nod. Like her, Nico wore some of the same clothes he¡¯d worn in the cafe, including a gray sweater and a black knitted hat. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Nico shouted over his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s Akari.¡± ¡°What?¡± Nimble¡¯s voice hollered back as he appeared in the alley¡¯s opposite end. ¡°She¡¯s here, too?¡± ¡°What the hell¡¯s going on?¡± Akari asked them. Nico shook his head in defeat. ¡°I was about to ask you that. Some guy attacked us when we left the cafe.¡± ¡°Shokenese?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Short black beard?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Nico said. ¡°He got you too?¡± She nodded. ¡°But what happened to ... everything?¡± She gestured around at their surroundings. Splashes of blue and orange graffiti covered the alley¡¯s brick walls and piles of garbage filled every corner. Nimble stepped closer as they talked, and Sadie and Jax followed close behind. ¡°We just woke up,¡± Nico said. ¡°Three minutes ago. We came this way when we heard the fighting.¡± Three minutes. It had been the same for her; that couldn¡¯t be a coincidence. Nimble and Jax took up defensive positions as they talked, but Sadie stepped toward Akari. ¡°You know the guy who attacked us?¡± she asked. Akari glared at the other girl¡¯s accusatory tone. ¡°Why ask me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one with the shady past.¡± Well, Sadie had her there. They¡¯d all probably gotten roped into this because of her. ¡°His name¡¯s Sozen,¡± Akari admitted after a short pause. ¡°He¡¯s my boyfriend¡¯s older brother.¡± She normally kept personal things to herself in this group, but now wasn¡¯t the time for secrets. Not if this was an actual war zone. ¡°What¡¯d he want with you?¡± Nico asked. ¡°Or us?¡± Sadie added. ¡°No clue,¡± Akari said. The other girl raised an eyebrow beneath her blue bangs. ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Akari said. She¡¯d met Sozen a few times now, but they¡¯d hardly talked for more than a few minutes. Sure, he¡¯d seemed distant, but that made sense with everything he¡¯d been through. And even if he wanted to kidnap her for some crazy reason, why take her entire group? That seemed like way more trouble than it was worth. ¡°We should get to campus,¡± Nimble suggested. ¡°It¡¯s just a few blocks away, and we might find a teacher who can help us.¡± Talek. Now Nimble was the voice of reason. With no better plan, her group eventually headed back through the alley toward Market Street, which they followed toward the campus proper. Market Street looked just as bad as the street she¡¯d come from, and the campus itself didn¡¯t look much better. The sounds of battle echoed in the distance, but they didn¡¯t run into anyone else on their way. ¡°This is too weird to be real,¡± Nico muttered as they walked. He was right. This was, quite literally, unbelievable. Being kidnapped by Sozen was one thing. Waking up in a war zone was one thing. But what were the odds she¡¯d wake up here with her group from the Artegium? Besides, no one could have destroyed Koreldon City this much¡ªnot even Grandmasters. The Mystics would have stopped them before things got this crazy. And if the Mystics themselves were fighting, then there wouldn¡¯t be a city left. There was still the issue of memory loss, but her clothes were too clean for any passage of time. They even smelled clean. No way she¡¯d been wearing them for weeks. Her team stepped toward the Artegium Ring, and Akari¡¯s thoughts raced as she remembered the beginning of the semester. They¡¯d all signed papers in Raizen¡¯s class, acknowledging that the qualifying rounds could start anytime and in any manner. They might even be taken by surprise, depending on this year¡¯s theme. And Sozen wasn¡¯t just Kalden¡¯s older brother. He was an Artegium staff member¡ªthe sort of person they might send to retrieve students for the events. Talek. That was it, wasn¡¯t it? There was no kidnapping, war zone, or long passage of time. This was all dream mana¡ªone massive arena, even larger than their midterms exam. The qualifying rounds had started, and this year had an apocalypse theme. Book 3 - Chapter 27: Betrayals Akari¡¯s mind raced as she processed everything. First, a wave of relief washed over her from head to heel. The real Koreldon City was fine. That meant her friends were alive, and Kalden¡¯s brother wasn¡¯t a creepy kidnapper. She¡¯d worried about all of this in the back of her mind, but she hadn¡¯t dared to think too hard. Distractions could be deadly at times like this. Fortunately, this wasn¡¯t a real war zone. The qualifying rounds had started, but her team was clueless. Like Akari, they¡¯d all gotten hung up on their supposed kidnappings. That, and the impressive set design. Most of these games began like the midterm exams. An airship carried the students to the arena in broad daylight, and they all experienced a live countdown. The contract had mentioned surprises, but kidnapping students seemed excessive for a game. Then again, the Artegium had been doing these games for the better part of a century, and novelty was scarce. Not just for the students, but for the thousands who watched on TV. Akari glared up at the sky, imagining hundreds of invisible cameras floating around their heads. No doubt the audience was all laughing at them from the comfort of their living rooms. But she had bigger problems now. Her team planned to betray her once the game started. They¡¯d said so in the cafe last night. Now, it was only a matter of time until they put the pieces together themselves. The first guy on Green Street had obviously known¡ªthat was why he¡¯d attacked her out of nowhere. And the distant sounds of battle proved that others knew, too. The group kept walking until their path opened into the Artegium Ring¡ªthe section of campus devoted to the various Mana Arts programs. As always, the library loomed in the center of the grassy field, and a web of sidewalks branched out toward the surrounding structures. This campus had looked pristine in real life, with landscaping crews working around the clock to keep it that way. Now, the surrounding gardens had been ripped to shreds by stray mana, with woodchips and soil scattered over the footpaths. Even some of the maple trees lay flat on their sides. Nico stopped walking as they took in the scene. ¡°You guys hear that?¡± ¡°What?¡± Nimble asked. He gestured out toward the Ring. ¡°The fighting¡¯s coming from inside those buildings.¡± Of course. The Combat Arts Center would be filled with weapons, armor, and shields¡ªa clear advantage to whoever got there first. The other buildings would have useful stuff, too. Healing Arts and Alchemy were a great source of potions, and who knew what sort of tech they had in the Sigilcraft and Manatronics buildings? Akari might be faster than her team, but she was already behind. The bigger factions were probably hoarding the good stuff right now. Not to mention the cafeteria, which would be the primary source of food and water. Focus. Akari¡¯s breath hitched, and she slowed her pace to put some distance between herself and the others. They¡¯d attack her the second they figured this out. She had to act first. But could she pull it off? Four weeks ago, Akari would have laughed at the idea of fighting her entire team. Now ¡­ Either way, she had to confirm her theory before she made a move. Akari pulled out the screwdriver from her pocket, rolled up her left sleeve, and scraped the tool¡¯s steel tip across the back of her forearm. Instead of blood, she caught a faint shimmer of white light. Well, that settled it. Time to take out these traitors. Akari unzipped the front of her hoodie, and her gaze darted back to the Artegium library. At five stories tall, a drop from the top floor should kill or cripple most Apprentices. ¡°Get down!¡± Akari shouted as she fired a burst of spacetime mana at the library. Then she skittered behind the nearest brick wall. Her team might have frozen before this semester, but they¡¯d spent two months honing their reaction times. Now, those same skills would be their downfall. Sadie, Jax, and Nimble all clustered near Akari, while Nico took cover across the street. Good enough. Akari shot a spacetime Missile at her group¡¯s feet, forming a portal to throw them off the library¡¯s roof. Sadie and Nimble fell straight through, but Jax staggered back. Akari kicked off the sidewalk and slammed her body into his flank. The muscular boy didn¡¯t budge an inch. She might be an Apprentice now, but so was he. He was also twice her size, with a more refined Cloak technique. Jax sidestepped the portal, seized Akari by the hair, and threw her hard against the wall. ¡°What the hell?¡± he demanded. Akari gritted her teeth and forced herself to cycle. The impact might have knocked the wind from her lungs, but she didn¡¯t need air to move her mana. Nico moved at the edge of her vision, gathering fire in his palms. Jax restrained both her arms, but Akari fired a burst of pure mana from the center of her chest. The Missile struck Jax in the chin, and he loosened his grip. Akari¡¯s hand leapt forward, driving her screwdriver through his open mouth. His windpipe would have been an easier target, but serious Mana Artists knew how to Cloak against those attacks. Jax howled in pain, and Nico launched a fire Missile toward her. Akari slid behind Jax, using him as a shield to absorb the flame. Nico pulled back his technique at the last second, and Akari Cloaked her arms and chest, forcing Jax through the portal in the ground. Nico threw another technique, far stronger than the first. Akari blocked it with a Construct of pure mana, but the fire flowed around it, and she barely expanded her shield in time. Talek. Nico had gotten far better since their first duel in Raizen¡¯s class. Back then, he¡¯d relied on simple, precise Missiles. The sort of Missiles that helped him pass high school and admissions exams. But Raizen had forced him to adapt that style for real combat, leaning into his aspect¡¯s strengths. ¡°Fire mana is raw and destructive,¡± the Grandmaster had told him one day in class. ¡°Don¡¯t hold back. Unleash it.¡± A full dome could have countered Nico¡¯s storm, but Akari hadn¡¯t had time to learn that technique. She¡¯d only been an Apprentice for a few weeks, and Cloaks had been a bigger priority. Not to mention her new aspect. Nico also had far more mana than her, so there was no question who would last longer. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Akari glanced at the library from the corner of her eye. Jax was gone, but Sadie had used her stone mana to pull out a chunk of pillar and catch herself and Nimble. A few more seconds, and they¡¯d break through a window and escape. Damnit. No way she¡¯d survive this game with an invisible Light Artist after her. So instead of fighting Nico, Akari leapt through the portal in the ground. This hurled her off the top of the library, but she threw a pure Missile forward. The momentum transfer shot her back toward Sadie¡¯s stone ledge. The others reacted at once. Nimble formed his mana into a red laser, hot enough to burn through her skin. Meanwhile, Sadie unleashed a volley of stone projectiles. Akari twisted her body toward them and shot a pair of spacetime Missiles. The first acted as a shield to swallow their attacks, while the second appeared on the side of the building, dislodging Sadie¡¯s platform. At the same time, Sadie¡¯s own attack flowed through the portal and struck her in back of the head. She stumbled and plummeted toward the garden below. Akari¡¯s own momentum carried her forward, straight into a stained glass window. If this were a Mana Arts movie, she would have broken through in a shower of broken shards. Instead, she hit the window like a bird against a windshield. Talek. These things were stronger than they looked. True to his name, Nimble scurried off the falling ledge and grabbed hold of a stone pillar. Then he flew toward the ground like a squirrel descending a tree. Fire mana closed in behind Akari before she could follow. Nico. She let go of the stone ledge and let herself fall. Nico¡¯s attack struck a heartbeat later, and the heat burned her cheek as she fell. Akari had just enough mana left for two more portals. She extended a hand and shot one spacetime Missile toward the ground. Then she shot another toward the edge of the ring, angling a portal upward at forty-five degrees. She fell through the first portal, and down became up. The momentum carried her back across the Artegium Ring, and she shot a burst of pure mana to slow her speed. She landed on the sidewalk in front of the library, Cloaking her body against the impact. Pain shot through her right leg even as she ducked into a roll. A laser closed in from one side, and a fire storm from the other. She barely formed two pure Constructs to block both attacks. Akari scrambled to her feet, blinking back her dizziness to find Nimble. But of course the little bastard had turned himself invisible. Pain shot through her thigh as she stood¡ªa sharp wave from her knee to her hip. After weeks of pre-Apprentice training with Relia, Akari knew a broken femur when she felt one. She should have poured more mana into her shields¡ªthat was the safest move against her former teammates. But she also couldn¡¯t take them both at once. Better to go on the offensive. Akari shot several quick Missiles into the ground, knocking up bursts of woodchips and soil. Some of it bounced off Nimble¡¯s invisible form, and she leapt forward to finish him. Akari couldn¡¯t run with her broken leg, so she shot two more Missiles behind her, vaulting her body toward her opponent. Nimble unleashed a flash of blinding light, followed by two burning lasers. Akari closed her eyes and flared her Cloak technique. The lasers burned like a hot stove, but they didn¡¯t cut deep. He¡¯d need a lot more power for that. Their bodies collided, and Akari fired another Missile at his chest. They struck the library¡¯s foundation, and Nimble faded to mist as his skull broke against the wall. Footsteps echoed on the sidewalk behind her as Nico approached. Shit. Her right leg was still broken, and white light leaked from several wounds throughout her body. Her channels also felt like wrung-out rags, and she¡¯d be lucky to squeeze out one more Missile. ¡°Why?¡± Nico shouted from across the open space. ¡°Why¡¯d you turn on us?¡± Akari forced herself to stand taller and hide her weakness. ¡°Don¡¯t even try,¡± she snapped back. ¡°I heard you guys at the cafe.¡± He frowned. ¡°What about the cafe?¡± ¡°Last night,¡± she said. ¡°After I left.¡± ¡°You ¡­¡± he trailed off, then realization shone in his dark brown eyes. ¡°You left a portal behind, didn¡¯t you?¡± Akari just shrugged. She had no reason to deny the truth to Nico, but she¡¯d rather not reveal all her tricks on live TV. ¡°I know Elise Moonfire paid you off.¡± Nico ran a hand through his hair. ¡°What about the part where I defended you?¡± She glared at him. ¡°How ¡®bout the part where it was all your idea?¡± ¡°Look ¡­¡± Nico relaxed his posture, but he didn¡¯t stop cycling his mana. ¡°Elise saw us talking on the first day of class. She met with me a few days later ¡ªasked me to put you in my group. This was before we even knew each other.¡± Talek ¡­ that long ago? It stung a lot more than it should have. This whole time, she thought she¡¯d made friends aside from Kalden and Relia. It proved that she could actually fit in this new world. Apparently not. Akari cycled her mana faster, readying a technique. She¡¯d taken a plasma blade in her stomach when she¡¯d killed that Artisan in Creta. This was nothing compared to that. ¡°We don¡¯t need to fight,¡± Nico said. ¡°We can still be allies.¡± ¡°Bullshit,¡± Akari said. ¡°I just took out the rest of the team. No way you¡¯ll let me walk away.¡± ¡°It¡¯s part of the game,¡± he said in a calm voice. ¡°I get it. You got them before they could get you. I might have done the same in your position.¡± Nico stopped cycling his mana, raised his hands, and took a few steps closer. ¡°But you and I can still be allies. You won¡¯t get far with those wounds, but I can help you.¡± Right, and then he could bring her straight to Elise Moonfire and secure a spot in her faction. Or maybe he¡¯d just kill her the second she turned her back. Thanks, but no thanks. Nico closed the distance and held out his wrist for her to clasp. ¡°What do you say? Allies?¡± Akari moved as if to grab his wrist, but then she gritted her teeth and fell forward. Predictably, Nico threw out his hands, ready to catch her as if she were a fainting princess. When he did, Akari raised a hand to his windpipe and releashed the rest of her mana. Nico¡¯s head rocked back with a sharp crack, and he faded into a cloud of white mist. Akari collapsed on the sidewalk in his wake, trying not to cry in front of the cameras. It¡¯s just a game, she told herself. But unlike most students, she had killed dozens of real people, and this felt way too much like the real thing. She almost wished Nico would have attacked her first. At least then, she wouldn¡¯t feel like such a monster. No sooner had Nico faded than a plastic wristband appeared on Akari¡¯s wrist. It looked exactly like the ones they¡¯d worn for the midterm exams, with the same three buttons on the top. Huh. Apparently, you didn¡¯t get this until you killed someone? Or maybe you just needed to realize you were in the game. Akari stumbled out of the open space, taking cover behind two segments of the Healing Arts Center. Once she¡¯d reached the relative safety of the alley, she pressed the bracelet¡¯s middle button to reveal a familiar blue interface: ¡°Hello, Akari Zeller. Welcome to the Eighty-Fourth Koreldon University Qualifying Round!¡± The message faded a second later to reveal a short list of rules. These looked the same as previous years, but Akari gave them a quick skim to make sure. Basically, the top thirty students got guaranteed spots in the interschool battlegrounds. Eliminating other players was the best way to score points¡ªranging from direct kills to indirect assists. But there were percentage-based bonuses the longer you survived. For example, if Akari lasted halfway through the game, her five kills might be worth six. If she made it through to the end, her five kills might become ten. The rules also listed various ways you could forfeit the game. For one thing, you could say the word ¡°quit¡± out loud with no other context, and you¡¯d be given a confirmation box to answer mentally. You could also tap out, or blink several times in rapid succession. It seemed odd to quit after getting this far, but it happened a few times every year. Maybe the stress got to people, and they realized they couldn¡¯t handle it anymore. Maybe they were dealing with real-life problems, or maybe they just realized this sort of competition wasn¡¯t for them. Participation wasn¡¯t required for graduation, after all. Some people just wanted to learn combat without appearing on TV, and she could respect that. All food was real, along with any water that came from a faucet, bottle, or container. That meant using food or water as physical weapons was strictly off-limits, and grounds for disqualification. Finally, students were allowed breaks for various medical reasons. In Akari¡¯s case, she¡¯d be allowed to take her birth control and mana-building supplements every evening. Relia would probably get a break for her shardbreaker pills, too. She finished skimming the rules, then she tabbed over to the scoreboard of 285 students. Most of the first-year class was here, along with a sizable portion of the second-years. Akari found her own name in the top ten with four kills. Only one name sat above her in the first spot: Kalden Trengsen with six kills. She glared at the screen and let out a long sigh. ¡°You gotta be kidding.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 28: The Darkest Side Elend sat in his office, waiting for the qualifying rounds to begin. It was a bright Talekday morning, and the sun cast its golden rays over the campus. Not that Elend saw much of it from in here. He and Irina had closed every curtain, focused only on the monitors in front of them. The first screen showed Akari curled up in the back of a conversion van. The second showed Relia in the basement of a manatronics shop, and the third showed Kalden laying in an alley next to an overflowing dumpster. As an Artegium professor, Elend got access to this raw footage a full hour before the public. Everyone else had to wait for the censored highlights. ¡°Who do you think will get up first?¡± Irina asked from the leather chair beside him. Elend raised his coffee mug to his lips as he considered. Technically, every student would wake up simultaneously¡ªthe sleep was only a controlled illusion like everything else in the arena. But he knew what she meant. Some contestants would spring to their feet, while others would lie still, either cautious or confused. Akari was the most impulsive of the three, but the situations mattered more than the people here. Besides, she¡¯d become more contemplative in recent months. ¡°Kalden,¡± Elend finally said. ¡°He¡¯s outside, while the girls are in more precarious circumstances.¡± Irina hummed in vague agreement as she sipped her own drink. The countdown ended a second later, and Kalden scrambled away from the dumpster. Akari and Relia each pretended to be asleep, but they eventually sat up once they realized they were alone. Elend reclined in his chair. ¡°Now for the real question¡ªwho will crack the mystery box first?¡± ¡°Kalden,¡± she replied. ¡°His aspect should reveal the dream mana soon enough.¡± ¡°Ah, someone¡¯s confident.¡± Knowledge Arts was a complicated aspect that did a few simple things. At Kalden¡¯s level, it let his brain make faster intuitive connections, but that wasn¡¯t the same as a free intelligence boost. You needed the right experiences first¡ªinformation to draw on, and practice with the aspect itself. Irina smiled. ¡°You disagree?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be Relia.¡± He watched the middle screen, where his apprentice made a calm search of her surroundings. She opened every drawer, cabinet, and closet, pocketing anything useful. That wasn¡¯t the body language of someone who¡¯d been kidnapped. She knew the truth. Last year¡¯s qualifying round had been a desert theme, and the contestants had entered the arena awake, just like in Raizen¡¯s midterm exam. Both arenas would feel similar though, and Relia had enough experience to recognize that. Not just experience with these games, but with dream mana in general. Irina raised her coffee cup with a nod, conceding the point. Kalden released a red Missile from his palm, letting it graze the alley¡¯s concrete floor. He absorbed it back into his hand a second later, then his face took on a more focused expression. ¡°Well,¡¯ Irina said, ¡°he wasn¡¯t far behind her.¡± Meanwhile, poor Akari kept searching the van in a panic. She started with a better view than the others, but she¡¯d also experienced the most realistic kidnapping. Kalden and Relia had both been ¡°captured¡± within the wards of the Darklight estate. Such a thing was impossible unless their attacker had somehow snuck past himself, Irina, and Glim. ¡°Who will draw first blood?¡± Irina asked. Elend lowered his gaze to the coffee table where he¡¯d conjured a live map of dream mana. The arena itself encompassed the entire Koreldon University campus, plus several surrounding blocks. This gave them roughly nine square miles of playing space. The students appeared as colored dots. Red for Blood Army, yellow for Sun Army, blue for Moon Army, and white for the independent teams. Elend hovered his hand over the map and extended his thumb and forefinger to zoom in. Relia was the most isolated of the three, but that made sense. She was a second-year with no official alliance, and they didn¡¯t want her going on a killing spree too soon. Akari had started in the independent quadrant, less than a block from her own team. Meanwhile, Kalden sat right on the edge between the Blood Army and independent quadrants. ¡°It¡¯ll be Kalden.¡± Elend pointed to the lad¡¯s position on the map, then to a small squad of five more contestants nearby. ¡°He¡¯ll take advantage of their confusion, pretend to lead them to safety, then stab them in the back.¡± ¡°It would be smarter to gain their loyalty,¡± Irina said. ¡°He¡¯ll need allies going forward.¡± ¡°Aye, but he won¡¯t do it. The lad might have a fancy new aspect, but he still thinks too much like a Blade Artist.¡± Sure enough, the next few minutes played out exactly as he¡¯d predicted. Kalden also took out another lone wanderer, giving him six kills in less than ten minutes. Akari spent a few minutes following her team into the campus proper, but she turned on them when they reached the Artegium. ¡°Her technique¡¯s still a bit sloppy,¡± Irina noted. ¡°Aye,¡± he mused. Akari¡¯s pure mana skills were as sharp as anyone¡¯s, but her inexperience with spacetime mana was clear as glass. A smaller angle on that last portal¡ªcombined with more downward thrust¡ªwould have saved her from that broken leg. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! What¡¯s more, she could have formed that first portal in the sky rather than the library. That would have immediately killed Nimble and Sadie, and avoided that fight entirely. But she clearly hadn¡¯t trusted herself to pull that off. Elend¡¯s frown only deepened as Akari used another dirty trick to kill Nico Talez. ¡°He was telling the truth,¡± Irina said. ¡°Wasn¡¯t he?¡± Elend nodded. ¡°His face said he had no plans to betray her.¡± ¡°But she couldn¡¯t have known that,¡± Irina countered. ¡°Not everyone¡¯s a Grandmaster-level Dream Artist.¡± True. If anything, Akari was notoriously bad at reading people and even worse at trusting them. Her life on Arkala had seen to that. Even so, this behavior might be too ruthless for the Artegium. Unlike the first-years, Akari and Kalden had fought in real battles, and it showed in their actions. This real-life experience would serve them well if battle struck again, but their peers might not understand. And whether they liked it or not, they¡¯d need more than two or three allies going forward. Elend took a long drink from his mug. ¡°I¡¯ve always hated the qualifying rounds.¡± Real wars brought out the best and worse in people. Yes, there was death and brutality, but also mercy and sacrifice. These games just brought out the darkest side of the Artegium¡¯s students. And the viewers loved every minute of it. They wanted to believe that talent and power came with hefty price tags¡ªthat you couldn¡¯t be a good person and a good Mana Artist. Naturally, this made them feel better about their own mediocre lives. ¡°Sure,¡± they¡¯d say as they patted their beer bellies. ¡°I haven¡¯t trained in a few years. Sure, I probably should''ve been an Artisan five years ago. But hey¡ªat least I¡¯m not like those crazy kids on TV!¡± Elend remembered the night they¡¯d escaped Arkala, and how Akari had leapt from the boat to save Kalden. He remembered the stories from Creta, and how Kalden had plunged deep into enemy territory to make Relia¡¯s pill. They¡¯d both risked their lives against all odds. Not for advancement, but because they knew in their hearts that it was right. These were the qualities he sought in potential students. Those were the reasons he¡¯d chosen them. Not this nonsense. Irina¡¯s phone vibrated on a smaller table between them, and she leaned over to check the screen. ¡°I should take this.¡± Elend nodded as she stepped into the sound ward around his desk. Back on the screens, Akari had barricaded herself in a small house near the Artegium¡ªno doubt waiting for her mana to refill itself. Meanwhile, Kalden had met up with some more members of Blood Army, and Relia made her slow way toward the Artegium proper. Elend grabbed the remote control from the desk and switched over to some other noteworthy students. They were less than an hour into the game, and Zukan Kortez had already led a squad into the Combat Arts Center to retrieve weapons and armor. Arturo Kazalla was with him, overseeing the construction of their base. Elise Moonfire sat cross-legged in a teacher¡¯s office, ostensibly deep in meditation. But when Elend looked closer, he caught the telltale signs of dream mana flowing out the nearest window. Interesting. Was she stretching out with her senses¡ªobserving some distant part of the battlefield? That was a common skill among Dream Artists, but rare for an Apprentice. She¡¯d also have a limited range, not so different from Elend''s own limitations when he''d worn those impedium cuffs. Then again, he also spotted a large manatronic device sitting beside her. An amplifier? That could allow her to spend more mana for a temporary boost. The rest of Moon Army looted the Combat Arts Center, maintaining their loose alliance with Sun Army. Still, Elise clearly planned to betray Zukan at some point. She¡¯d probably take him and Arturo out quietly, point the finger at Blood Army, and then seize control of both factions. Kalden might be outmatched, in all honesty. The lad had some good ideas, but he¡¯d stretched himself too thin this semester. You couldn¡¯t take a full load of classes, invent a new aspect, and beat Elise Moonfire at her own game. Another minute passed, then Irina emerged from the sound suppressor. ¡°Sozen Trengsen just boarded an airship for Vaslana.¡± ¡°What?¡± Elend sat up straighter in his chair. They¡¯d been investigating Sozen since the start of the semester. His intentions had seemed innocent in their first meeting, but he had far, far too many secrets. For one thing, Sozen appeared to be an Artisan, and Elend had sensed no dishonesty in that regard. But the lad kept his mind and soul shrouded with Master-level wards. That made it impossible to confirm his actual rank. Elend could have popped those wards like a soap bubble, but Sozen would know if he did. People had a right to defend their own souls, and curiosity was no excuse to draw first blood. Then there were Sozen¡¯s secret benefactors¡ªthe ones who¡¯d financed his advancement and promised to help him save Arkala. Elend had asked about this group directly. He¡¯d been to Arkala himself, so why would they turn down a potential ally? But Sozen had always delayed, claiming that he would pass along Elend¡¯s messages. Now, more than a month had passed, and they were no closer to the answers they sought. ¡°I know a discreet Space Artist who can take us there,¡± Irina said. ¡°No one needs to know we¡¯re gone.¡± Elend gave a slow nod. ¡°He could lead us straight to his friends.¡± ¡°Either that, or we''ll get a better look at his soul.¡± ¡°But that means leaving the kids alone.¡± Dansin Roth had been acting suspicious lately, and Elend liked to be on campus where Glim could keep a close eye on him. That was the whole reason they¡¯d come to his office today rather than watching from home. But this was important, too. What if Sozen Trengsen was even more dangerous than Elend¡¯s colleague? They couldn¡¯t wait around to find out. ¡°Maybe we should split up,¡± Elend said. ¡°You go to Vaslana, while I stay here?¡± Irina bit her lip¡ªshe always looked especially cute when she did that. "This mission will require a subtle touch. We¡¯ll need your dream mana to make us disguises.¡± ¡°What if I make you a disguise that will last?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be strong enough. And we might also need Glim for scouting. Damnit. She was probably right. He¡¯d always thought of Vaslana as a weaker nation, but living in Koreldon City had given him a skewed view of the world. Vaslana had a Mystic, plus several dozen Grandmasters. Not only did this make them the strongest nation in Cadria, but it made them stronger than most Espirian states. Sending Irina there alone would be as bad as leaving his students here. ¡°Who¡¯s overseeing the qualifying round this year?¡± she asked. ¡°Raizen and Truewater.¡± ¡°And they¡¯re both your allies, correct?¡± He gave a slow nod. Dansin Roth couldn¡¯t make a move against his students with Raizen and Truewater there. Both Grandmasters were too competent to let anything slip through the cracks. ¡°Then here¡¯s the real question,¡± she said. ¡°Do you trust them?¡± Elend rubbed his temple. He¡¯d known Moanna Truewater for half a century, and the woman was as stubborn as Relia when it came to matters of ethics. As for Raizen ¡­ they¡¯d only known each other for a few years, but the man was actively working against the Sons of Talek, going so far as to infiltrate their ranks. Soldiers like him had a strong sense of duty and honor, and Elend couldn¡¯t imagine him lying to his face. ¡°I suppose I do.¡± He looked up and met his wife¡¯s eyes. ¡°Guess we¡¯re going to Vaslana, then. Any idea where?¡± ¡°Calario,¡± she said. ¡°If my sources are right, we¡¯ll be attending a meeting for the Cult of Solidor.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 29: Wandering ¡°Wait here,¡± Kalden told his minions as he stepped through the bungalow¡¯s front door. Back in the real world, this house belonged to his alchemy teacher, Professor Coleman. It wasn¡¯t much of a house, but the man had clearly chosen it for its proximity to campus. Coleman also preferred to meet with students here rather than his office; that was how Kalden knew where to find it. The living room was nothing like Coleman¡¯s actual living room. While the professor had preferred plush cushions, this stuff was all hard lines, geometric shapes, and polished steel. Even the house¡¯s layout had changed, with an entire wall missing between the living room and the kitchen. Great. So the designers hadn¡¯t bothered recreating all the interiors. Kalden had known this might happen, but he¡¯d gotten his hopes up when he saw how faithfully they¡¯d made the stores and restaurants. Still, he was already here, so he might as well look around. The kitchen had been picked clean, without so much as a crumb in the cupboards or refrigerator. No surprise there. Kalden found a flashlight in the utility drawer, then he conjured a mana blade and cut the locks on the basement¡¯s reinforced door. He cycled his mana as he crept down the creaking wooden staircase, prepared for an ambush. Such a thing seemed unlikely, but he wouldn¡¯t put it past the designers to stick some man-eating chimera down here. He reached the bottom of the stairs, then he smiled when the light reflected off a set of twisting alchemy tubes. Further inspection revealed burners, refrigerators, and several cases of grenades. This was far better than Coleman¡¯s actual lab. This was a secret area specifically designed for looting. Kalden set down his flashlight and began doing just that. He¡¯d once asked his professor why he kept this lab in his basement rather than using the ones on campus. After all, he had twenty-four-hour access to the Alchemy Building, along with a team of assistants who could help him clean up. ¡°Because,¡± Coleman replied. ¡°I have to wear pants on campus.¡± He¡¯d said this in a joking tone, but Kalden suspected he¡¯d been serious. Serious enough to buy thirty-thousand espers worth of equipment. No small feat, considering he was one of the few non-Masters in the Artegium. Kalden removed his belt, along with the various leather pouches that came with it. This belt had been his starting prize for finishing in the top fifty percent of students during the midterm exam. Besides the pouches, the belt came with a detachable, Artisan-level camouflage unit. This device could be placed on the ground and activated like a typical sound suppressor. But rather than just containing sound, the resulting Construct would refract light, and even contain mana. Essentially, you could make yourself invisible as long as the device remained still. This had limited combat uses now, but it should be invaluable later when he needed a place to sleep. Kalden continued his sweep of the various drawers and cabinets, arranging his findings by usability. He filled his first few pouches with a variety of poisons and antidotes. He also grabbed several vials of numbat dust. The nova numbat was a marsupial from South Stocia that released a burst of blinding light mana from its tail. Alchemists could achieve a similar effect by harvesting its core, grinding it to powder, and mixing the powder with the right chemicals. Kalden donned a pair of safety goggles, then broke a few test vials on the lab¡¯s concrete floor. The resulting burst of light wasn¡¯t nearly enough to damage a human¡¯s eyes, but the actual effect was even more useful for his needs. Finally, he stuffed a backpack with liquid mana, mental enhancements, and smoke grenades. He ignored the case of frag grenades on the table¡ªhe and Relia had more than enough offensive power between them, so it seemed better to focus on subtlety. However, he did grab several vials of helocite, along with a remote opener that could serve as a detonator. Raw helocite became explosive when exposed to pure mana, and he¡¯d proven that in Creta when he¡¯d blown up an entire van. With his backpack pleasantly full, Kalden headed outside to reunite with the rest of Blood Army. ~~~ Relia ducked into an alley on Market Street just as a patrol came marching by. She couldn¡¯t say which faction they belonged to. Probably Blood Army, judging by the location. She stepped through a broken glass window, ducked behind a deli counter, and emerged out the kitchen¡¯s back door. The sounds of distant battle echoed all around her as the contestants fought across the arena. Some of their techniques sounded like thunder or gunshots. Others sounded like crashing cars and collapsing buildings. Azul only knew how she¡¯d find her teammates in this mess. But the big factions should be fighting near the Artegium. This game had a different theme every year, but it always started the same: people fought over the weapons, equipment, and food. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. The larger factions usually won these battles, and that was why people lined up to join them in the first place. You might not be guaranteed a spot on your leader¡¯s battleground team, but you still got a share of the spoils. That made you better off than most independent students. In theory, at least. Large-scale battles were extremely dangerous in practice, and most people never even saw the Missiles that killed them. But then ¡­ who was Relia to talk? She¡¯d barely lasted two hours during her last qualifying round. She didn¡¯t have any friends in her own school year. Quite the opposite, in fact. They all knew about her aspect, and they¡¯d all seen the Cult of Trelian¡¯s warcrimes on the news. Naturally, that meant her peers had to prove their own virtue by ganging up on her. It made zero sense, but people were stupid. Relia dashed across another alley, yanking on the door handle behind a Shokenese restaurant. Locked. ¡°Hey,¡± a nearby voice shouted. ¡°I think I heard someone.¡± Darn it. Relia crouched behind an overflowing dumpster, holding her breath against the stench of rotten food. She cycled faster, gathering pure mana in her palms. ¡°Forget about it,¡± another voice replied. ¡°They¡¯re fighting a squad of indies back at the HAC.¡± The footsteps retreated just as quickly, and Relia pulled the mana back into her soul. If Elend were here, he would have told her to lure those guys into a trap for easy points. Her first teacher, Lyraina, would have agreed with him. But Relia liked the Mana Artist she was. She¡¯d defend herself, but she wouldn¡¯t backstab people from dark alleys. Eventually, she snuck around the front of the restaurant, her feet pounding against the concrete as she jogged toward the Artegium. What had those Blood Army soldiers said? A squad of indies back at the Healing Arts Center? Could that be Akari¡¯s team? The streets grew more narrow as she reached the campus proper, and black asphalt gave way to ancient cobblestones. The sounds of battle echoed louder with every step, and stray Missiles flashed through the smoky sky. Azul¡¯s ashes. It all looked so real¡ªlike they were destroying the actual campus. This must have been a huge hit with all the students and alumni. Most qualifying rounds looked like random scenery on TV, but they would actually understand this one. Relia took a right at Darklight Hall, hiding in the shrubs that lined the dorm. From here, she had a clear view of the Healing Arts Center, and the skirmish that took place near the back entrance. It wasn¡¯t Akari¡¯s squad, but Relia recognized them from the midterm replay. This was the same three that Kalden and Tori had killed when they¡¯d first entered the power plant. The Gravity Artist formed a massive singularity between their opponents. This lifted several Blood Army soldiers off the ground, letting her friends pick them off with metal and electricity attacks. Still, Blood Army had the trio outnumbered, and their combined might tore through their shields like paper. The Metal and Lightning Artists ran for cover inside Darklight Hall, while Gravity Girl darted left behind a cluster of pine trees. Too slow. A fire Missile tore through the girl¡¯s right thigh, and white light spilled out as she crashed on the cobblestones. Blood Army pressed their advantage, closing in on their injured foe. Relia sprang from her hiding spot, putting herself between the girl and her attackers. She raised a dome of pure mana around them both, absorbing a dozen Missiles in rapid succession. Cracks formed on the Construct¡¯s bright blue surface, but it held fast. Unlike most contestants, Relia was three-quarters of the way to Artisan. Even by second-year standards, that was considered high. These first-year Missiles didn¡¯t stand a chance. The enemy¡¯s volley faded, and Relia slid open a portion of her shield, releasing a swarm of her own. The bullet-sized Missiles arched around Blood Army¡¯s defenses, striking them from the backs and sides. One slashed a boy¡¯s throat, and he immediately faded to white mist. Another sliced a girl¡¯s calf, and she collapsed on the sidewalk. The other three blocked or dodged the techniques. Still, they must have realized Relia was a second-year, because they quickly scurried off with their tails between their legs. Metaphorical tails, of course. They weren¡¯t dragons or anything like that. Relia grabbed Gravity Girl under her arms and pulled her off the main path. She also cycled some life mana and fed it through the girl¡¯s channels. ¡°I¡¯m a healer,¡± she told her. ¡°Cycle that, and it will heal your leg.¡± Lightning Boy and Metal Man finally showed their faces again, and they eyed Relia with suspicion as she dragged their friend to safety. That seemed a little unfair; the girl would be dead if Relia hadn¡¯t jumped in. ¡°Who are you?¡± Metal Man demanded. He was Cadrian, but his skin was darker than anyone she¡¯d met in Creta. He must¡¯ve been from farther south¡ªsomewhere like Kangavar, or even Insula Draco. ¡°I¡¯m Relia.¡± She waved a cheerful hand at the trio. Lightning Boy gave her a long look as he approached. His complexion was much paler than Metal Man, with spiky blond hair to boot. ¡°You¡¯re a second-year, aren¡¯t you?¡± Relia nodded. Gravity Girl wrapped her hands around a tree trunk and rose on unsteady feet. Her eyes never left the freshly healed skin on her leg. ¡°What do you want with us?¡± ¡°Nothing. It just looked like you needed help.¡± This didn¡¯t put the group at ease. Metal Man and Lightning Boy weren¡¯t cycling their mana yet, but their bodies looked like coiled snakes. No one even bothered standing guard during this conversation. It was like they thought Relia was a bigger threat than all the Blood Army reinforcements. She probably was, but that was beside the point. ¡°So,¡± Relia began, ¡°why attack the HAC? No offense, but that seems a bit much for three people.¡± The two boys shared a look as if this were some big secret. Eventually Gravity Girl spoke up. ¡°Our teammates already went inside, then we got separated.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s a rescue mission,¡± Relia said ¡°In that case, you can count me in!¡± Gravity Girl narrowed her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s in it for you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a healer. I work best in a group.¡± This would have been a great time for them to share their own names and aspects, but kept quiet. Rude. ¡°So where¡¯s your group?¡± Metal Man pressed. ¡°We didn¡¯t start together,¡± Relia said. ¡°The Artegium likes to make things harder for the second-years.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t offer you anything,¡± Gravity Girl said. ¡°No worries,¡± Relia said. ¡°I want to help you. It¡¯s the right thing to do.¡± They all stared at her as if she¡¯d just taken off her shirt. ¡°Look,¡± she said. ¡°This whole game is ridiculous, and we all know it. I mean, seriously¡ªcollege students forming armies, with plots and betrayals? I heard the Blood Army leader even built a throne room, and he makes his soldiers speak in secret codes.¡± The tension seemed to drain away, so Relia pressed on. ¡°Trust me, it will seem even sillier once you¡¯re a second-year. That¡¯s why I care about real things. Like people. I¡¯m not gonna backstab you guys for six more points.¡± Gravity Girl just kept staring at her. ¡°You¡¯re the weirdest Combat Artist I¡¯ve ever met.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Relia said with a grin. ¡°Now, come on. Let¡¯s go save your friends!¡± Book 3 - Chapter 30: A Promise of Peace ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± Kalden asked as he entered Blood Army¡¯s command tent. In all honesty, it wasn¡¯t much of a tent¡ªjust a covered section of the parking lot near the Artegium. Portable shield Constructs surrounded the edges, glowing with the pale blue light of protection mana. Guards stood at attention near the gaps, armed with steel Missile rods. Tori and Lyra huddled around a parked car, and they¡¯d laid a map over its hood. The car was actually running, judging by the low hum of its engine. Several cables ran from beneath the hood toward the shield¡¯s batteries, letting the car serve as backup power for their defenses. Both girls glanced up as he approached. Lyra wore all her usual makeup, but Tori¡¯s face was free of its silver piercings. Strands of dyed hair hung free from their braids as if they¡¯d already been fighting. ¡°Where¡¯ve you been?¡± Tori demanded. ¡°Sorry.¡± Kalden lowered his backpack near the car¡¯s front passenger tire. ¡°I started near the indy territory, two miles from here.¡± ¡°What¡¯s in the bag?¡± Lyra asked. ¡°Alchemy supplies. Mostly mental enhancements and smoke grenades.¡± Their eyebrows went up at that, and Kalden explained how he¡¯d made a quick stop at Professor Coleman¡¯s house. Lyra stepped closer, eyes wide with interest. ¡°Mental enhancements, huh?¡± Kalden waved a dismissive hand. ¡°They¡¯re useful for Knowledge Artists, but that¡¯s about it. Anyway ¡­ ¡° He leaned over the map. ¡°Mind catching me up?¡± Tori cleared her throat. ¡°Zukan¡¯s army has the Combat Arts Center and Sigilcraft Building. Moon Army has Alchemy and Manatronics.¡± Kalden followed her gaze and saw dozens of yellow and blue board game pieces scattered throughout the Artegium section of the map. How¡¯d they find the right colors on such short notice? Somehow, that was even more surprising than their base¡¯s elaborate defenses. ¡°We held the CAC for a while,¡± Lyra cut in, ¡°but we lost it when they ganged up on us.¡± She gave Kalden an annoyed look as if to remind him whose fault that was. They hadn¡¯t blamed him for Elise and Zukan¡¯s alliance, not at first. But several of the lower-ranking officers had whispered in their ears since then, sowing more seeds of doubt between them. ¡°And now?¡± Kalden shifted his gaze to where the red game pieces surrounded the Healing Arts Center. Clearly, Blood Army intended to take those buildings, but something stood in their way. Tori made a sound that was halfway between a sigh and a growl. ¡°Dawnfire took a team of indies and hunkered down in there.¡± ¡°What?¡± Kalden glanced at the seven-story brick building, barely visible past the roof and shields. Relia was in there? He met his teammates¡¯ eyes again and realized they¡¯d both been watching for his reaction. ¡°How do we know it''s her?¡± he asked. Relia¡¯s aspect would be the surest giveaway¡ªespecially the offensive part. But Relia had never used those techniques in a school game. Not yet, anyway. ¡°I got a visual on her,¡± Tori said. ¡°Just before she went inside. We sent in six more soldiers. Three went through the front door, and Windstrider took two more through the roof entrance.¡± ¡°Any luck?¡± he asked. ¡°Look at your scoreboard,¡± Lyra mumbled. Kalden pressed the middle button on his wrist device, bringing up the blue HUD in front of his eyes. As always, the scoreboard wouldn¡¯t show who¡¯d been eliminated until the end of the first day. All warfare was based on deception, after all, and they didn¡¯t want the contestants relying too much on this.However, he spotted Relia¡¯s name near the top with fourteen points. Probably all kills or assists. ¡°Got any brilliant plans?¡± Tori asked as Kalden closed his HUD. He paused, glancing down at the paper map between them. Moon Army and Sun Army had each split their forces, leaving garrisons behind to defend their territory. And judging by the second cluster of yellow and blue game pieces, a smaller force had moved south toward the cafeteria. The enemy garrisons wouldn¡¯t abandon their defenses for an open battle, so Blood Army was in no immediate danger here. The southern force might try to flank them, but Kalden doubted it. That would mean giving up the primary food source. Besides, it was one thing for Zukan and Elise to ignore each other, but that was a far cry from a coordinated assault. Kalden turned his attention back to the cluster of red game pieces. He obviously didn¡¯t want to attack Relia. She was his long-term ally in this game, and his planned teammate for the interschool battlegrounds that came next. This was the whole reason he¡¯d joined Blood Army¡ªto control events from a place of power, and to give Akari and Relia a fighting chance. And the more he thought about it, the more he realized his own goals might actually align with his faction. ¡°Why do we need to attack Dawnfire?¡± he asked. Tori and Lyra each stared at him as if he were a traitor, but he pressed on. ¡°She already killed seven of our soldiers, so you want to throw more at her? Wouldn¡¯t it make more sense to attack the cafeteria?¡± He jabbed the map with his finger. ¡°We can handle this smaller force. Especially if we commit to it.¡± ¡°I dunno about that,¡± Lyra said. ¡°Zukan, Elise, and Arturo all went that way. No way Dawnfire¡¯s worse than all three of them.¡± ¡°At least the cafeteria has an open floor plan,¡± he said. ¡°Our numbers will be meaningless in the HAC¡¯s narrow halls. Besides, Blood Army already has a few healers. We need food more than we need medical supplies¡± ¡°The HAC has a cafeteria,¡± Tori said. Kalden frowned. ¡°How do you know that?¡± He¡¯d visited Irina there several times, and he¡¯d never noticed anything like that. She gave an uncomfortable shrug. ¡°I just know.¡± The answer struck him a second later. Tori¡¯s mother was sick, and she often stayed overnight for treatment. Of course she would be familiar with the place. And if the HAC had a cafeteria, then it really was too valuable to pass up. ¡°Alright,¡± he said. ¡°So we¡¯ll stay here.¡± Tori nodded. ¡°So what¡¯s the best way to beat Dawnfire?¡± The answer came to Kalden at once. If Relia were his true enemy, he¡¯d lure her out with a promise of peace, then betray her once she was surrounded. But he couldn¡¯t say that out loud, of course. Tori and Lyra continued watching him closely, waiting with bated breath. Oh, no ¡­ They valued his opinions, but not this much. More likely, they¡¯d come to the same conclusion he had. Now, they were waiting for him to present the idea as his own. Kalden backtracked to his original plan. Then he remembered a conversation he¡¯d had with Irina several weeks ago. ¡°Do you know the biggest weakness of Knowledge Arts?¡± she¡¯d asked during one of their afternoon training sessions. He¡¯d had several guesses at the time, but most of them would only prove her point if he guessed wrong. Instead, he remained silent and shook his head. ¡°Most of us focus too hard,¡± she said. ¡°We waste time, trying to solve problems that don¡¯t need to be solved. Always remember to look at the bigger picture. Ask yourself what you actually need in the long term.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need to beat Dawnfire,¡± Kalden finally said. ¡°What if she joins us instead?¡± Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Tori stared at him for several heartbeats, and her eyes darkened like storm clouds. ¡°What?¡± ¡°She wants to defend the Healing Arts Center.¡± Kalden waved a hand vaguely in the building¡¯s direction. ¡°So let her keep it. There¡¯s more than enough food to go¡ª¡± ¡°She¡¯s a Death Artist,¡± Tori broke in. She left the rest unsaid, probably because of the invisible cameras that surrounded them. Tori didn¡¯t care that much about Espirian politics, but she also didn¡¯t want to alienate her supporters. ¡°She¡¯s a Death Artist,¡± Kalden agreed. ¡°That¡¯s why this will work. No one else will offer her a better deal.¡± Lyra glanced at the edges of the command tent, clearly afraid someone would overhear them. ¡°We¡¯d have a mutiny on our hands. What if Elise Moonfire finds out? People already think we¡¯re the bad guys.¡± ¡°Do you want to be popular,¡± Kalden said, ¡°or do you want to win this game?¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Tori ran a hand through her black and pink hair. ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡± Lyra looked ready to protest again, but Tori silenced her with a look before turning back to Kalden. ¡°You¡¯re in charge of getting Dawnfire to come out.. Then we¡¯ll discuss the terms here in the command tent.¡± Kalden kept his own face blank, but he sighed internally. He¡¯d known these two for almost a full semester, and he recognized the look on Tori¡¯s face. It meant: ¡°We¡¯ll talk later when Kalden¡¯s not around.¡± Maybe she planned to betray Relia without telling him, or maybe she didn¡¯t trust Kalden and planned to betray them both. Either way, this moment marked the end of Blood Army. ~~~ Elend sat in the backseat of an 870 Mystic as they drove down the highway. Irina¡¯s contact had gotten them to Vaslana, but they still had two more hours of driving before they reached the city of Calario. The tropical sun hung high in the sky, and rows of palm trees loomed on either side of the road. Irina had rolled her window down, and her left arm flew free in the wind. It was almost eighty degrees here, twice as warm as Koreldon City. Elend glanced down at the tablet on his lap, swiping between his students in the qualifying rounds. Akari had used her portals to sneak into the bottom floor of the Healing Arts Center. There, she¡¯d gulped down her share of healing potions, and began transporting several crates of food and water to her hideout. No one had noticed her so far, not even Relia, who¡¯d positioned her team on the building¡¯s opposite side. Elend flicked back to Kalden, who was currently the most interesting of the three. ¡°His strategy was sound,¡± Irina said from the seat beside him, ¡°but he gave up too quickly.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Elend agreed. Kalden had seen the distrust in his fellow leaders¡¯ eyes, but he hadn¡¯t worked to mend it. Instead, he¡¯d assumed a lost cause and prepared for a fight. ¡°Still thinking too much like a Blade Artist, isn¡¯t he?¡± On the screen, Kalden downed a mental enhancement potion and left several more glass bottles sitting on a metal fold-out table. Then he joined a Sound Artist and approached the Healing Arts Center. ~~~ Relia led her new team down the HAC¡¯s dark corridors. It looked like something out of a horror movie with its flickering lightbulbs and shifting shadows. She¡¯d always found hospitals unnerving, and this apocalypse theme didn¡¯t help. Fortunately, she was the scariest monster in this place. She¡¯d already taken out six more members of Blood Army, and she hadn¡¯t even needed her aspect. But that wouldn¡¯t last long. Another hour, and¡ª ¡°Relia Dawnfire,¡± said an echoing voice. Her teammates all jumped at the sound, and she could practically feel the mana racing through their channels. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she told them. ¡°It¡¯s just sound mana.¡± ¡°This is Kalden Trengsen,¡± the voice continued. ¡°I¡¯m contacting you on behalf of Blood Army.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Gravity Girl said. ¡°Dawnfire? As in ¡­ the Death Artist?¡± Darn it. They knew her, after all. ¡°I¡¯d like to propose an alliance,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Come out the back door and approach Blood Army¡¯s command tent. We can discuss our terms there. Come out, and I promise I¡¯ll do everything in my power to keep you and your team safe.¡± Kalden repeated the message once more, then the halls became eerily quiet once again. Relia turned around and saw that the others had taken several steps back. She didn¡¯t need her Silver Sight to see their cycling mana. She slumped her shoulders as she met their eyes. ¡°If you¡¯re gonna leave, then leave. I won¡¯t stop you.¡± For a second, no one moved. Relia remembered the first time Akari and Kalden had learned about her aspect. They¡¯d never judged her or made her feel like a bad person for it. In fact, they¡¯d even risked their lives to help her in Creta. Deep down, she hoped this would be like that. She hoped this team would judge her for her actions rather than the stories they¡¯d heard. She hoped they would laugh and refuse her offer to leave. That didn¡¯t happen, of course. The trio backed away until they rounded a corner, then their footsteps filled the halls as they ran. ~~~ Elend flicked away from Relia¡¯s channel. He already knew she would accept Kalden¡¯s offer. Relia desperately wanted friends she could trust, and she was willing to do her part to make that happen. For now, Elend was more interested in the other Blood Army leaders. He opened the bottom menu on his tablet, revealing a long list of names. Then he selected ¡°Tori Raizen¡± and brought up her personal channel. While Kalden was off with the Sound Artist, Tori covertly met with Blood Army¡¯s squad leaders in the command tent. Elend had missed the beginning of this talk, but he got the gist of it. Tori thought Kalden was about to betray them, and she wanted her troops to prepare for that possibility. It was a reasonable assumption, and five more minutes of conversation could have prevented this fight. Oh well. Back on the screen, Tori dismissed the last of her squad leaders, and the lad jogged off to join the others around the HAC¡¯s back entrance. Then Tori¡¯s gaze darted to her red-haired friend, who¡¯d uncorked one of Kalden¡¯s mental enhancement potions. Tori¡¯s hand leapt out and seized the glass bottle, stopping it an inch from Lyra¡¯s open mouth. ¡°Hey.¡± Lyra scowled at her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Could ask you the same question.¡± Tori snatched the green-colored potion and read the homemade label. ¡°Relax,¡± Lyra said. ¡°I took two years of alchemy in high school. I know a mindmate when I see one.¡± Tori examined the potion for a few more seconds, then set it down on the nearby table. ¡°I thought we agreed not to trust Kalden yet.¡± ¡°Exactly! He was lying when he said we couldn¡¯t use these. Mindmates will make anyone focus harder. That¡¯s why I passed them out to the squad leaders.¡± ¡°You did what?¡± Tori glanced down at Kalden¡¯s open backpack, then narrowed her eyes. ¡°Damnit, Lyra. You never think.¡± She flinched. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Ever heard of reverse psychology?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she said. ¡°I saw him pick up a random bottle and drink it himself.¡± Tori was about to open her mouth again when another soldier popped his head into the command tent. ¡°Dawnfire¡¯s coming out.¡± Elend flipped the screen back to Kalden, where he waited in the parking lot outside the Healing Arts Center. Two dozen members of Blood Army surrounded him with their Missile rods pointed at the doors. Some hid behind Constructs of protection mana while others took cover behind parked vehicles. Slowly, the doors opened and Relia emerged from the darkness. ¡°Stand down,¡± Kalden ordered. The soldiers kept their weapons trained on Relia, while others cycled their mana and prepared techniques. Several of the squad leaders looked to Tori for confirmation, but she shook her head. Kalden couldn¡¯t see the gesture from where he stood, but he clearly noticed the result. Relia noticed, too. She stiffened like a startled deer, and she looked ready to bolt back inside. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Kalden took a few more steps forward. ¡°Do you trust me?¡± Relia nodded once, then descended the stone steps into the parking lot. That last question hadn¡¯t been part of the act. He¡¯d been speaking to Relia directly, laying their friendship bare for all to see. The tension thickened until he could taste it through the screen. ¡°Oh, hell yes,¡± Elend whispered. He didn¡¯t normally get invested in these games, but this was different. He¡¯d been training Relia for almost four years, and now he¡¯d finally get to see her fight an entire faction. Elend turned the screen back to Kalden, who now held a smoke grenade in his left hand. His right hand held the remote detonator he¡¯d taken from Coleman¡¯s basement, and his finger hovered over the red button. Elend turned the screen to Tori Raizen, who watched the scene with narrowed eyes. The cameras didn¡¯t show things like cycling mana, but Elend saw it in her breath and the rhythmic pulse of her muscles. She clenched and opened her fists several times, ready to form her blades at the first sign of trouble. Just as Kalden sought to bring Relia into Blood Army, Tori wanted to eliminate Relia but keep Kalden on her side. Both outcomes were impossible, of course. Hence the standoff. The squad leaders kept glancing Tori¡¯s way, waiting for the sign to attack. Then, one lad began to cough and press a hand to his chest. A few heartbeats passed, and the cough spread to the other squad leaders around the parking lot. So, Kalden had poisoned the enhancement potions after all. Elend had suspected as much, but he hadn¡¯t watched the whole scene in Coleman¡¯s basement. Tori must have realized the same thing, because she raised her hand and bellowed the order. ¡°Attack!¡± Kalden rushed forward, closing the distance between himself and Relia. He dropped the grenade at his feet, and a plume of dark smoke rushed out from the opening. In the same moment, several cars exploded around the parking lot, flinging the Blood Army soldiers ike rag dolls. The remaining soldiers recovered their wits and attacked with a volley of Missiles. Kalden and Relia stood together, stretching out their hands and forging a double-layered shield against the assault. It wouldn¡¯t hold forever, but it would buy them a few more seconds. Tori and Lyra rushed toward the glowing blue dome. Ice mana gathered in Lyra¡¯s palms, and she conjured several thick spears and hurled them forward. The Construct broke under the impact, shattering into a cloud of blue mist that mingled with the smoke. Tori followed with a dozen daggers of blade mana. These flew like tiny birds of prey, attacking their targets from every possible angle. Kalden and Relia deflected the blades with smaller shields, but that left them exposed to more attacks around the parking lot. Things only got worse as more soldiers recovered from the explosion. One dagger struck Kalden in the stomach, and he stumbled back into the cloud of smoke. Another blade pierced the gray shroud, and an explosion of white mist erupted from the spot where he¡¯d stood. Several more attacks struck Relia¡¯s torso, and she hit the ground with another burst of white mist. Blood Army kept up their bombardment until Tori ordered the ceasefire. Several seconds passed as the grenade emptied the rest of its contents. Finally, the wind carried off the last wisps of smoke, and Kalden and Relia were gone. Book 3 - Chapter 31: Middle Ground Relia knelt on the pavement, forcing life mana around Kalden¡¯s wound. Her other hand stretched toward the sky, maintaining a dome of pure mana around them. ¡°Sorry.¡± Kalden gritted his teeth through the pain.¡± Getting hit wasn¡¯t part of the plan.¡± ¡°What was the plan?¡± Relia asked as she surveyed the parking lot. By now, the smoke had faded, but Blood Army had ceased their attack. ¡°Are we invisible?¡± Kalden nodded as she shifted his body to the side. The motion revealed a tiny black device, no bigger than a cell phone. Relia examined it in her Silver Sight and saw various mana types flowing outward, forming a larger dome around her shield. ¡°Starting prizes,¡± he explained. ¡°Artisan-level camouflage units.¡± Relia furrowed her brow. ¡°Where¡¯s the rest of it?¡± She¡¯d never claim to be an expert on manatronics, but she¡¯d seen her share of camouflage units. If this device was as strong as he claimed, then the battery alone should have weighed fifty pounds. ¡°Guess they took some creative liberties.¡± Kalden forced himself to sit up and look around. ¡°Oh?¡± She grinned. ¡°They¡¯ll have a field day with that in the comments section.¡± Then her gaze fell to the shards of broken glass on the asphalt. ¡°How¡¯d you make the white mist?¡± ¡°Numbat dust,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Found it in a secret alchemy lab.¡± She¡¯d never heard of numbat dust, but the results seemed self-explanatory. Instead, she shifted her attention to the remaining members of Blood Army. Most of the soldiers had begun gathering the fallen equipment, but Tori and Lyra stared straight ahead. ¡°They¡¯re gonna burst our bubble soon,¡± she said. Kalden pressed a button on his wrist, and his eyes grew distant as he examined his HUD. ¡°I took out six with the poison and explosives. That leaves about a dozen more.¡± ¡°Nice. Got any more fancy plans?¡± Kalden fixed her with a look. Oh, Azul¡¯s ashes. She knew that look. ¡°No,¡± she said at once. ¡°No. Anything but that.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fighting beside you,¡± he said. ¡°And we need something big if we want to survive.¡± She let out a long breath. ¡°You don¡¯t get it, do you? My aspect is illegal in Koreldon.¡± ¡°But this a game,¡± Kalden said. ¡°It¡¯s not against the rules.¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± she retorted. ¡°I know Elend¡¯s talked to you about this.¡± Relia ignored that. ¡°Creta was one thing. That was life and death.¡± ¡°So is every day of our lives.¡± That was technically true. He and Akari were on borrowed time; whoever had sent them to the Archipelago could strike again, and they needed to be ready when that day came. As for Relia ¡­ she only had a few more weeks before her krustoplegia caught up with her. Pills or no pills, things would eventually get as bad as they¡¯d been in Creta. ¡°Master by twenty-one,¡± Kalden whispered. ¡°You¡¯re my friend, and I want you to live. That means we hold nothing back.¡± His words kindled a warmth kindled inside her, but pushing herself wouldn¡¯t make a difference in the grand scheme of things. She needed seven hundred more mana points to reach Artisan. Only soulshine could help her advance that fast, and she refused to become like her parents. No point in thinking about that now, though. Relia glanced at the surrounding soldiers, then she narrowed her eyes at Kalden. ¡°This was your plan all along, wasn¡¯t it? To get me in the middle of Blood Army?¡± ¡°This was my backup plan,¡± he said. ¡°I really wanted you to join us. Tori betrayed me first.¡± This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Sure she did. Hadn¡¯t Kalden just admitted to killing six of them with poisons and explosions? That obviously took some planning. He¡¯d even been holding the detonator and numbat dust when he stepped out to meet her. ¡°I¡¯ll fight with pure mana,¡± Relia said. ¡°But that¡¯s it.¡± If she used her so-called death mana here, then it would prove every rumor about her. That footage would be permanent, too. Every screen in Espiria would show it, and all her peers would watch the replay, feeling justified in the way they¡¯d treated her. ¡°Pure mana won¡¯t be enough,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We¡¯re surrounded here. And we¡¯re outnumbered six-to-one.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve faced worse odds.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Kalden raised his blue prosthetic hand to emphasize his words. ¡°But it¡¯s not worth the risk. We¡¯ll never fight in the interschool battlegrounds if we die here. Not together, at least.¡± She stared down at her knees. ¡°They¡¯re called principles for a reason. You can¡¯t just¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about your principles,¡± Kalden interrupted. ¡°You think you¡¯re going to die no matter what happens this year. You want people to remember you as a good person.¡± Yep, guilty on both accounts. ¡°You think everyone hates you right now,¡± he continued. ¡°But here¡¯s the truth¡ªthey don¡¯t care about you at all. They only hate your aspect because the news tells them to.¡± Relia glared at him. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know all this?¡± On the bright side, this whole exchange would probably get censored. Audiences didn¡¯t like being called mindless sheep, and the Artegium wouldn¡¯t want things getting too political. ¡°But we care about you,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Me, Akari, Elend, and Irina ¡­¡± He waved a hand at the unseen cameras. ¡°Stop fighting for them, and start fighting for us.¡± ~~~ Elend switched his tablet view back to the Blood Army command tent. ¡°Lygon,¡± Tori said to the surviving squad leader. ¡°What were the starting prizes this year? ¡°Advanced camo units,¡± the lad replied. Tori considered this for several seconds. ¡°Okay. Get everyone back in position.¡± He hesitated. ¡°General?¡± ¡°Around the spot where Dawnfire and Trengsen went down. We need to hit that with our best techniques.¡± The lad saluted, jogging off to give the orders. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Lyra asked Tori once they were alone. ¡°This was too easy?¡± Tori gave a slow nod. ¡°I only had one blade in Dawnfire when she fell.¡± ¡°I hit her once,¡± Lyra said uncertainly. ¡°So did one other guy.¡± Tori shook her head. ¡°Dawnfire¡¯s the top of her class and the best student healer in the whole Artegium. I¡¯ll believe we pierced her Cloak, but not that we killed her.¡± ¡°We saw the white mist,¡± Lyra said. ¡°Then again, Kalden just spent a whole hour in some secret alchemy lab ¡­¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Tori muttered. ¡°And he didn¡¯t throw that smoke grenade for nothing.¡± The soldiers spent the next few minutes getting in place behind portable shield Constructs. The heavy hitters readied their techniques, while others aimed their Missile rods at the spot where Kalden and Relia had vanished. Tori opened her mouth as if to give the order ¡­ Then several Death Missiles flew out from the middle of the parking lot. As always, Relia¡¯s aspect was too slow to hurl at high speeds. This was a side effect of the artifacts Lyraina Trelian had chosen for her. But Elend had helped her refine this technique over the years, encasing the life mana within a pure, spherical casing. These spheres took time to forge, but Blood Army had been too slow to react to Kalden¡¯s trick. Now, Relia hurled a dozen of them around the parking lot, arcing around her opponents¡¯ shields, letting the pure mana casings break on impact. Clouds of green and gold erupted in the spots where they¡¯d struck. The clouds hit the Blood Army soldiers, and they fell into helpless piles of broken bones. The survivors stood their ground, bombarding the space with their strongest techniques. But Kalden and Relia blasted to the side, encased within a sphere of their own. In half a heartbeat, they¡¯d moved from the safety of their invisibility and flanked a pair of soldiers to their left. Relia¡¯s shield hit the soldiers like a truck, while Kalden finished them with several quick slashes of his mana blades. The pair maintained their momentum, moving to their next opponents as quickly as they¡¯d emerged. For all that, several powerful techniques broke Relia¡¯s shield and struck her body as she ran. Stone mana hit her with bone-breaking force, but she healed herself before she staggered. Fire mana burned through her clothes, but the seared skin re-knit itself just as fast. A few soldiers deflected Kalden¡¯s blades with well-placed parries or shields, threatening to slow their push. Relia switched to the offensive when this happened, closing the distance and feeding death mana into their channels. At the same time, Kalden picked up their defenses, forging his own shields to guard their back. A few more opponents turned and fled, and Elend didn¡¯t blame them. These weren¡¯t real soldiers fighting for a cause bigger than themselves. They didn¡¯t even have friends relying on them. Why would they serve as cannon fodder if they didn¡¯t have to? Why wouldn¡¯t they take their chances elsewhere? ¡°Those two have been practicing together,¡± Irina noted from the other side of the car. ¡°I can tell by their movements.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Elend said. ¡°Glim makes projections of them in the backyard¡ªbig clusters of enemies like this.¡± Relia had always wielded pure mana during those practice sessions, but this display was far more impressive. One touch¡ªone breath of the green-gold mist¡ªand her enemies faded to clouds of white. Even Kalden moved smoother than he had a few weeks ago. He trusted Relia to guard his back, and he committed fully to every strike. Akari and Kalden were often too ruthless in these games, alienating potential allies. But Relia had the opposite problem. She¡¯d been too worried about what people thought of her, and too eager to prove them wrong. Now, his students pushed each other, finding the middle ground between brutality and control. Now, Relia could finally become the Mana Artist she was born to be. Book 3 - Chapter 32: Battle Mana Kalden slammed into his foes with the force of a rolling boulder. His blades spun like propellers, cutting through Constructs and Cloaks, tossing clouds of white mist into the air. By now, he and Relia had taken out a full third of Blood Army. Another third had wisely fled, while the rest clustered around the command tent. Kalden rounded on the tent as he ran, and Relia moved with him¡ªtwo birds in flight. Blood Army¡¯s leaders emerged from the opening a heartbeat later. Tori held a chainwhip in either hand, while Lyra held a pair of ice-mana javelins. The first three soldiers braced for impact, forming a shieldwall of pure mana. Two more moved to either side, ready to surround them in a pincer maneuver. Kalden had trained them well. Unfortunately, none of it would matter against Relia¡¯s death mana. That green-gold mist could slip through the smallest holes. One touch, and¡ª Tori¡¯s whips lashed out like vipers. In the same moment, Lyra threw her ice javelins, but they weren¡¯t aimed at him. Instead, all four weapons struck the remaining Blood Army soldiers in their backs. Tori slashed her whips again, and the last two soldiers dropped. What the hell? Kalden skidded to a halt as the shield wall faded to mist. He¡¯d expected Tori to use those soldiers as cannon fodder¡ªto let everyone else exhaust their mana while she closed in for the last kill. But why give away the points when she could take them for herself? Would her father approve of sacrificing her troops this way? Kalden didn¡¯t know. Some days, Grandmaster Raizen would talk about trust and teamwork. Other times, he¡¯d encourage this exact sort of ruthless pragmatism. Tori seized the advantage, lunging forward in a whirlwind of blades. Kalden hurled his own blades forward, but only as a distraction. No sooner had they left his hands than he sent a pair of pure Missiles into the asphalt. Relia matched his movement, and the force threw them a dozen feet back. ¡°The rumors were true,¡± Tori shouted. ¡°You were a team this whole time¡ªyou, Zeller, and Dawnfire.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Kalden said. No sense in denying it now. Deception had been a part of the game, but now that game was done. He¡¯d meant to honor the alliance for longer, and he almost told Tori as much. But why would she believe him? Bringing Relia into Blood Army would have strengthened his position, and they all knew it. Besides, the time for words had passed. Tori¡¯s anger had already faded like smoke in the wind, and only calm clarity remained. She didn¡¯t care what Kalden had done or why. She only cared about beating him. Kalden kept his body loose as he took in the scene. He and Relia now stood in the middle of the parking lot, less than ten yards from the HAC¡¯s back entrance. Broken cars and portable shield Constructs surrounded them in a loose circle, and plumes of dark smoke rose into the gray sky. Tori and Lyra approached with far more caution this time. Both girls came from a traditional dueling background, and old habits were hard to break. Unfortunately, this fight was now closer to a duel than a battlefield. And Relia might be at the top of her class, but this was still an unfavorable match for her. Tori¡¯s blades could destroy her death mana with ease, and she had enough mobility to keep her distance. Lyra was equally mobile, and her raw power could overwhelm Relia¡¯s techniques. As for Kalden, he saw three options, and they all played out in his mind¡¯s eye. He and Relia could retreat into the HAC, but their best techniques focused on offensive power. Even with Relia¡¯s healing, they wouldn¡¯t last two seconds with their backs turned. Kalden could always fight with his pure mana blades. Those blades had gotten him through the KU admission exams, and they¡¯d helped him earn all his victories between now and then. But those blades weren¡¯t enough to beat Tori Raizen. He¡¯d dueled her several times this semester, and he¡¯d never lasted more than a full minute. And while he¡¯d stretched himself thin these past months, Tori had focused only on her martial prowess. Kalden would lose if he fought Tori now. Then they¡¯d both gang up on Relia, leaving Akari alone with no teammates. The third option, then. Kalden reached into the untouched portion of his soul and began cycling his second mana source. His body shone molten red as he flared his new Cloak technique. Tori¡¯s brow furrowed at the sight. Unlike Akari, Kalden hadn¡¯t spent the past few weeks flaunting his new aspect. He had, however, called it a form of knowledge mana. Many duelists used knowledge mana in battle. Arturo Kazalla used it to build equipment, make decisions, or use the arena to his advantage. Elend and Elise used it for deception, or to control the hearts and minds of their enemies. But this Cloak enhanced his mental focus rather than his body, bringing all his thoughts and emotions into order. The world narrowed to a few key pieces¡ªhimself, his opponents, and their mana. At the same time, his surroundings became clearer than ever. Every obstacle was another piece on the board. Every breath and gust of wind was part of a larger puzzle. Tori lashed out with her whips, and Kalden pushed the battle mana to his open palms. Currents of blood red wove with electric blue, coalescing into two shimmering blades. Kalden had formed these blades more than a thousand times in the past weeks, and even that was nothing in the grand scheme of things. Like all his new techniques, these were mere shadows of what they¡¯d someday become. Using them in combat was a gamble, but also his only hope. Kalden raised his weapons on instinct¡ªtwo lines of dark violet in front of his face. They rang like anvils as they deflected Tori¡¯s whips. Such a thing should have been impossible. Battle mana was less than five percent metal, and the result should have been too abstract to take solid form. But souls were complicated things, working with the mind and body in ways the experts couldn¡¯t explain. Kalden¡¯s old aspect was gone, but his skill was more than a pattern of lines on a soulscan. Years of practice had etched these techniques into his very being, and now this new aspect dragged them to the surface. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Tori¡¯s whip glanced to the side, and Kalden charged forward. Their blades met several more times ¡ªtoo fast for the untrained eye to see. Relia engaged Lyra in the same moment, and water and death mana clashed at the edges of his vision. Kalden leapt over the rubble on the battlefield, guided by the instincts of his Battle Cloak. This left his body weaker than a Pure Cloak, but that wouldn¡¯t matter. His opponent only needed one strike to bring him down. Tori attacked from a hundred directions at once. One second, she stood in front of him. The next, she wrapped a whip around a light post and flung her body around it, slashing at his back. Her weapons changed their shape and direction with every swing, becoming shorter or longer to suit her needs. Kalden had no defense against these techniques. He would have lost this battle several times if he hadn¡¯t predicted each trap in advance. Mana sparks flew as their blades broke and reformed. His vision was a blur of violet and silver. Barely a minute had passed since the fight began, but it already felt like the longest of his life. For all that, the Battle Cloak kept his senses alive, absorbing every detail of the terrain. His camouflage unit remained active, roughly ten feet behind him. If Kalden stepped into that field at the right moment, he¡¯d gain a short advantage. After all, most duels between experts came down to the finest details¡ªeven a single blink or badly timed breath. Another group emerged from his left. It looked like a joint assault between Sun Army and Moon Army. Damnit, he should have predicted that sooner. Those groups had been careful before, but they wouldn¡¯t ignore this chance. Kalden waited for the group to close in, keeping Tori busy while Relia engaged Lyra across the parking lot. Finally, the enemy techniques rained from the sky, and Kalden stepped back into the camouflage unit. Tori stumbled just as a wave of fire mana closed in around her. She immediately raised a blade and broke the technique to mist. His thoughts raced in the span of a breath. Kalden could close in for the killing blow, but Tori might take him down with her. Not to mention the other Mana Artists closing in. No ¡­ survival mattered more. Kalden didn¡¯t know his exact score¡ªmuch less Akari¡¯s and Relia¡¯s¡ªbut it was too soon to risk everything on one victory. So instead of attacking, Kalden spun on his heel, grabbed the camouflage unit, and sprinted toward Relia. Lyra had frozen the ground around their feet, and Relia shot several tiny Missiles as she slid on the ice. ¡°Inside!¡± he shouted as he ran toward the stairs of the Healing Arts Center. He felt Tori follow him, but she couldn¡¯t commit to a true attack¡ªnot with that other squad closing in. Relia shot a pure Missile to alter her course, then she slid back and away from her opponent. Kalden heaved open the double doors and rushed inside the HAC. ¡°They¡¯ll be right behind us,¡± Relia said as she jogged beside him. Their footsteps thundered down the dark corridors, and the lights flickered ominously above. ¡°I know,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Any way to lock the place down?¡± Even if they only slowed their opponents, that would still buy them time to set a proper trap. They turned right at a junction, and Relia pointed to a keypad on the wall. ¡°This lowers the blast doors, but you need a password.¡± More footsteps echoed down the hall as someone burst through the back doors¡ªprobably Tori and Lyra. He doubted the other squad would venture this far from their territory. Tori shouldn¡¯t have followed him either, but few duelists could resist the chase. ¡°Cover me,¡± he told Relia. ¡°You better hurry,¡± she said as she gathered pure mana in her palms. Kalden pressed a hand to the keypad and surrounded the device in a cloud of blood-red mana. He immediately pulled the cloud back and cycled it to his brain. The results hit him in a rush, but he calmed his thoughts and focused on the problem. As always, knowledge mana couldn¡¯t pull information from thin air. It could, however, bring up relevant memories and make connections between ideas. Ten numbers on the keypad. Assuming this was a four-digit passcode, that left him ten thousand different combinations. Akari had once shown him a list of the most common passwords, including a special list for four digit passcodes. Realistically, the Artegium would never use anything from that list, but realism wasn¡¯t the priority here. This arena had been made by a team of Dream Artists and sigilcrafters. Every piece was meant to be used, and this keypad was no exception. Kalden typed in the first password from the list: 1234. The light glowed red, buzzing back at him like a swarm of angry bees. Relia threw several Missiles down the hall, then she leapt back as a blade came spinning past her head. Damnit. Kalden typed in the next code: 1111. Another red light, followed by another sigh from the machine. Several pipes burst above his head, drenching them with water. Thanks, Lyra. Kalden blew out a breath as he entered in the next password: 0000. The light turned green, and the blast doors slid shut with a thunderous clap. Kalden¡¯s shoulders sagged with relief, and he stepped back from the leaking pipe, wiping the cold water from his eyes. Unfortunately, this wouldn¡¯t hold Tori for long. This building was running on a backup power supply, and Blade Artists could cut through most mundane materials. Still, this might give them time to¡ª ¡°Down!¡± Relia shouted. Kalden barely heard the warning before Relia slammed her body into his. They hit the floor together, and a massive aluminum tank flew over their heads. He watched as the tank soared down the hall before crashing into the building¡¯s outer wall. Talek. Who could throw an oxygen tank that fast? The answer hit him a second later, and he pushed himself up on his elbows. ¡°Akari?¡± Akari popped her head around another junction, and her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Oh. Didn¡¯t know it was you.¡± She ducked her head in a rare show of embarrassment as she hobbled closer, using the wall for support. ¡°What happened to you?¡± Relia asked as she sprang up from the floor. ¡°Broke my leg,¡± Akari said with an annoyed frown. ¡°Some hospital this is. I¡ª¡± Relia immediately pulled her into a mana-filled hug. Akari endured it for about half a second before squirming away. Kalden couldn¡¯t think of anything clever to say, so he settled for a smile and a nod. This was another side effect of battle mana; the non-combat parts of his brain took a backseat until the effects wore off. Instead, he took advantage of that mental state and eyed the cracked oxygen tank at the end of the corridor. Mana shot out from the crack¡ªprobably restoration, judging by their current location. ¡°Were there any more tanks like that?¡± he asked Akari. ¡°Sure,¡± she said with a glint of mischief in her eye. ¡°Good,¡± he said, ¡°because I have an idea.¡± They set to work over the next two minutes. Akari led them back to the storage room, then they hauled a tank to the nearest stairwell. There, they released the pressure valve and added another ingredient to the mix. ¡°Okay,¡± Kalden closed the valve, then turned to Relia. ¡°Go stand watch by the blast door. Tell us when they break through.¡± It wasn¡¯t a question of ¡°if¡± at this point. Tori was using a mana-forged circular saw to cut her way through. Judging by her progress, he¡¯d give her ten more seconds. Relia nodded and jogged off toward the junction where Akari had placed the first portal. Kalden and Akari waited for several heartbeats as the saw ground against the door. ¡°Get ready,¡± Relia said. ¡°And ¡­ now!¡± Akari shot a Missile at the floor, conjuring a portal beneath the oxygen tank. This carried it to another portal at the top of the stairwell, a hundred feet above their heads. It gained momentum as it fell, reaching a speed of roughly fifty miles per hour. Akari dismissed the portal by her feet and conjured a second one that led to the front corridor. A few weeks ago, she never could have made a portal chain this complex. No Apprentice Space Artist could. But her new aspect was several times more efficient than ordinary space mana, and this was only the beginning. The oxygen tank fell through the portal on the floor, and Kalden threw a violet blade in its wake. Tori and Lyra both dodged the tank, but it didn¡¯t matter. It struck the blast door beside them, and Kalden¡¯s blade pierced a hole for good measure. Relia¡¯s death mana exploded from the hole, forming a green and gold mist around them. Tori and Lyra had nowhere to run, and clouds of white mingled with the mist as they fell. Book 3 - Chapter 33: Hideout ¡°Okay,¡± Akari said. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± She extended a hand toward the brick wall and formed another portal on its painted white surface. Kalden raised an eyebrow at the sight. ¡°Where¡¯s this lead?¡± ¡°My secret hideout,¡± she replied. ¡°On top of the library¡± ¡°And you had this portal the whole time?¡± ¡°More like half a portal.¡± She strode forward, passing from the dark corridor to the stone roof. The Artegium library was a cylindrical stone building capped with a massive bronze dome. Stone walls and ornamentation surrounded the dome with a ten-foot gap between them. Here, Akari had gathered all the food and water she¡¯d found in the HAC. Not to mention pillows and blankets from the facility¡¯s laundry rooms. She¡¯d watched her share of past games, and certain patterns had emerged over the years. The contestants always kicked things off with epic battles, then they spent the rest of the day too thirsty, hungry, or exhausted to function. Combat was tiring work¡ªfar more than a day at the gym, or one of Raizen¡¯s classes. Those were controlled environments with regular breaks to recover your strength and mana. Fortunately, Akari had fought in an actual war zone, and she knew they¡¯d need a place to crash. ¡°Awesome!¡± Relia clapped her hands at the sight of Akari¡¯s hideout. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to build a blanket fort!¡± Kalden set down his camouflage unit, and the transparent domed surrounded their tiny fortress. With that done, they raided a crate of water bottles, followed by a cooler of sandwiches and protein bars. No need to ration things at this point¡ªshe¡¯d stolen enough to feed a whole army. ¡°How many of those ¡®inactive portals¡¯ can you make at once?¡± Kalden asked her as they ate. ¡°Three or four,¡± Akari guessed. She hadn¡¯t tested it yet, but Salvatore¡¯s Second Law said you couldn¡¯t focus on more than four techniques at one time. At least, not until the Master realm. These days, it wasn''t much of a law, considering the long list of exceptions. For example, Cloaks happened subconsciously with practice, so people rarely counted those. You could also batch several smaller techniques in your mind, which was how Kalden and Tori wielded so many weapons. But larger Constructs needed more focus to maintain, and portals were especially fickle. Akari had practiced this skill over the past few weeks, keeping one portal active while she focused on other tasks around the house. She knew what Kalden was imagining, though, and it would be awhile before she did anything that fancy. They spent the next few minutes lounging in their nest of blankets, sharing the stories of their own experiences. Akari told them how she¡¯d eavesdropped on her group in Old Town, learned of their betrayal, and got them first. Relia frowned during this story, but said nothing. ¡°Why not get more distance in the beginning?¡± Kalden broke in. ¡°Isn¡¯t your aspect best at range?¡± Akari resisted the urge to glare. After spending more than a full year with Kalden, she¡¯d learned not to take his criticisms so personally. He was always analyzing fights like pieces on a game board, trying to understand them, or to improve for next time. In this case, Akari knew she¡¯d messed up in a dozen different ways. She¡¯d just been too pissed off to think straight. Relia told them how she¡¯d made some new friends near the HAC, but it hadn¡¯t worked out. They¡¯d bailed the second they realized who she was. Kalden¡¯s story was the most interesting by far. Apparently, he¡¯d poisoned and blown up a good portion of Blood Army, then he and Relia had faked their own deaths and taken out the rest in battle. Talek. He¡¯d spent a whole semester undercover , only for his faction to collapse in the span of an hour. Then again, she¡¯d seen this happen in previous years, too. The qualifying rounds were always more chaotic than people imagined. ¡°Then we ran into this cute girl who made portals,¡± Kalden continued. ¡°Relia nursed her back to health, and we defeated our enemies with the power of friendship.¡± Akari snorted. ¡°That¡¯s one way to describe a death mana bomb.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Kalden mused. ¡°People won¡¯t like that, will they?¡± Relia shook her head seriously. ¡°The Cult of Trelian made life mana bombs a few years back. I¡¯d hate to see the comment sections right now.¡± ¡°Good old internet,¡± Akari muttered. In all honesty, though, internet commenters seemed to complain no matter what you did, and it was even worse in the outside world. Here, they even had a ¡°rule¡± that claimed all arguments would eventually devolve into Aeon cultist comparisons. ¡°Anyway,¡± Akari said. ¡°What¡¯s our plan for today?¡± ¡°We should rest,¡± Kalden said. ¡°More fighting right now is an unnecessary risk.¡± Akari blinked. ¡°Rest? Coming from the guy who trained non-stop all summer?¡± ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Relia said. ¡°We have food, water, and shelter. Most people won¡¯t.¡± Kalden nodded. ¡°That means they¡¯ll be desperate today and sloppy tomorrow. Who¡¯d you rather fight?¡± ¡°Easy for you guys to say ...¡± Their logic was sound, but Akari had one problem: she¡¯d earned eight points for beating her former team, and two points more for helping with Tori and Lyra. Ten points had been great for the first few hours of the game, but things were changing. She pressed the button on her wrist and brought up the scoreboard for the hundredth time that day. The second-years dominated the top, along with Zukan Kortez, Elise Moonfire, and several others from their class. Relia held the number twelve spot with twenty-seven points, and Kalden sat at number fifteen with twenty-one points. They could easily stay in the top thirty, regardless of what happened after this. Especially Relia, since she gained extra points for every person she healed. The system definitely favored healers that way, but every attempt to change it resulted in heated debates. Meanwhile, Akari¡¯s name sat all the way down at number forty, ten spots short of making the cut. And that gap would only grow if she camped out on the roof all day. She¡¯d seen it happen in previous years: contestants would start strong, get too comfortable, then fizzle out as the game reached its climax. ¡°No one wants to see you left out,¡± Relia said. ¡°Kalden and I can¡¯t even start a team without three people.¡± She gave them both a meaningful look. ¡°Speaking of which, how are we going to fill this team?¡± The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Akari glanced away, fidgeting with her hoodie strings. She and Kalden had hoped to recruit some people from their temporary alliances, but that obviously hadn¡¯t happened. ¡°Let¡¯s not count our raptors before they hatch,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We need to focus on this game for now.¡± ¡°But how long can we wait around?¡± Akari said. ¡°What if we miss another big fight?¡± ¡°We¡¯re sitting in the center of the Artegium,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We¡¯ll hear a fight if it happens.¡± ¡°What if it¡¯s in the cafeteria?¡± She patted one of the cardboard crates behind her. ¡°That¡¯s the last big food source. And what about all the stragglers out there? We¡¯re missing easy points.¡± After a bit more discussion, they settled on a compromise. Akari made a long-range portal, and they explored the smaller parts of campus while avoiding the larger armies. Unfortunately, they didn¡¯t find much out there. Aside from a few secret caches like Professor Coleman¡¯s lab, all the smaller buildings were bare. Sun and Moon Army controlled the good stuff in the Artegium, and their numbers made them almost untouchable. They did, however, find an arena boundary on the northern side of campus. Here, the city appeared to go on, but an invisible barrier stood in their way, not so different from the edge of a dueling arena. Most qualifying rounds started with nine square miles or less, so they hadn¡¯t expected to get that far. The arena would probably shrink at the end of day one, closing in on the most populated spot. By then, they¡¯d only have four square miles to play with. Akari¡¯s team should be safe when that happened, but it sucked for anyone who¡¯d made their base on the outskirts. They¡¯d have to hightail it toward the middle, only to get picked off by traps or snipers. Then again, maybe the outskirts really were as desolate as they looked. So much for easy points out here. Sooner or later, they¡¯d have no choice but to fight the larger factions. ~~~ Tori Raizen reclined on the hotel bed, watching the day¡¯s events on the TV screen. Lyra snored softly beside her, and a dozen taco wrappers covered the nightstands on either side of them. She and Lyra normally ate a healthier diet, but they made exceptions for their post-match meals. In this case, the victory and consolation prizes were always the same: they took a taxi to the nearest Cadrian restaurant and ordered one of everything on the menu. Five hours had passed since her defeat, and she still hadn¡¯t spoken with her father. He was overseeing the qualifying rounds now, but his shift should end sometime in the next hour. Then they¡¯d have their post-match talk¡ªa tradition far older than their taco runs. Her father always asked her the same questions after a competitions: ¡°What went well? What went wrong? What could you have done better?¡± Tori had started the day strong. Her army suffered minimal casualties in the first few skirmishes, and they¡¯d formed a decent base of operations near the Healing Arts Center. She and Lyra had scored several kills, plus some leadership bonuses for their first fight in the Combat Arts Center. Tori had even spent a few minutes at the top of the scoreboard. Then a Death Artist had entered her territory, and someone far worse tried to recruit her. That bastard. Tori clenched a blanket in her fist as the scene unfolded on the TV. Kalden Trengsen hadn¡¯t even bothered to act inconspicuous as he stuck his explosives in the car¡¯s fuel tanks. He¡¯d done it in plain sight, and everyone had trusted him. But why? Why would he do this? She¡¯d known Kalden Trengsen was special. That was the whole reason she¡¯d recruited him into Blood Army. She¡¯d even put him in charge and given him everything he¡¯d asked for. Then he¡¯d repaid her by destroying their faction from the inside. She should have left Relia Dawnfire alone¡ªKalden was right about that part, at least. That girl was a freak of nature, and even Grandmasters didn¡¯t fight mana storms on their own. As for Kalden, she should have stuck a blade in his back the first chance she got. That probably wasn¡¯t the answer her father wanted, but it was a nice fantasy. Tori blinked several times to clear her head. If she were smarter, she would have followed Lyra¡¯s example and gotten some sleep. But her thoughts kept on racing, replaying her mistakes like a fever dream. Her duel with Kalden felt equally surreal. That moment had been a hook, sinking deep below the waters of her mind and pulling older dreams to the surface. Dreams of fighting a younger Blade Artist in Shoken. A boy who looked and fought like Kalden. ¡°Who trained you?¡± she¡¯d asked him on the first day of class. ¡°My father,¡± he replied. ¡°Grandmaster Rinshi Trengsen.¡± Even that name felt familiar¡ªa faint strand in the broken web of memories. ¡°You won¡¯t find anything about him,¡± Kalden had said. ¡°Trust me, I¡¯ve tried.¡± He¡¯d spoken those last words with a hint of genuine frustration as if he¡¯d searched for answers himself but came up short. That seemed to fit with his story of being an orphan. But then ¡­ he claimed his father trained him to fight like a Blade Artist. Memory loss? That might explain how Kalden had appeared out of thin air. No one with his skills could stay hidden in this day and age. There should have been footage of his earlier training and duels. Instead, they had one cell phone video from a fight in Creta. Even Tori''s father thought the name ¡°Rinshi Trengsen¡± felt familiar. But who could erase the memories of a Grandmaster? That was crazy, wasn¡¯t it? Her sleep deprived brain was just making excuses now. But even as she dismissed the idea, Tori¡¯s mind wandered back to one of her old journals. Somewhere, buried deep in her closet back home, sat a leather-bound book. That book held half a dozen blank pages for the month of Tresember, 850. Only that month. The surrounding pages were packed with thoughts about training, but she had no record of that point in her life. Those blank pages had bothered Tori ever since she¡¯d leafed through the book and discovered them. She¡¯d tried asking her father about that month, but he didn¡¯t have an answer. Could they have met Kalden and his father during that time? No way ¡­ erasing ink from a page was even crazier than memory loss. Especially since no one had ever read her journals. Not even her parents. Tori took a few deep breaths, bringing her mind back to the present moment. She and Lyra wouldn¡¯t have guaranteed spots in the battlegrounds, but they might still get invitations from the qualifying teams. Yes, Tori had killed several other teammates today, but she hadn¡¯t done anything too disgraceful. On the contrary, she¡¯d risked everything to stop a Death Artist. Eventually, a soft beep sounded from the suite¡¯s main room as someone stuck a keycard in the door. Tori elbowed Lyra to wake her up, then she grabbed the remote from the nightstand and switched off the TV. Heavy footsteps drew closer, and Grandmaster Raizen strode into the room. His muscular frame filled the doorway, and his loose-fitting Blade Artist''s robes only enhanced that image. Tori leapt off the bed and saluted, while Lyra rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Red hair covered half her face, and she wore a pair of dragon-print pajamas that somehow managed to look both childish and skimpy at the same time. Her father turned his gaze to the other girl. ¡°Give us a moment, Miss Manastrike.¡± Lyra gave a half-hearted nod, wrapping herself in a blanket and shuffling out toward the suite¡¯s living room. Her father closed the door once she¡¯d left, then he set down a sound suppressor on the dresser. As always, his face was stoic and unreadable. Whether he¡¯d chastise her or comfort her, Tori couldn¡¯t say. Regardless, one thing was more important than the qualifying rounds. ¡°How¡¯s Mom?¡± Tori asked in Shokenese. They both spoke fluent Espirian, but her father had always been more comfortable with his native tongue. ¡°Her condition has gotten worse.¡± Tori¡¯s heart sank at the words. She¡¯d tried calling the Healing Arts Center today, but they refused to tell her anything over the phone. That usually meant bad news. ¡°But I¡¯ve found a way to help her,¡± he said after a short pause. ¡°Help her?¡± Tori asked. ¡°How?¡± They¡¯d been dealing with this illness for the better part of a year, and the healers always told the same story: it was untreatable. Even Dawnfire¡¯s controversial aspect couldn¡¯t put a dent in it. Her father hesitated. ¡°An opportunity has presented itself. There¡¯s an alchemist in Vaslana who makes experimental elixirs based on individual biochemistry.¡± Tori swallowed, not daring to get her hopes up. She¡¯d heard of this new field of alchemy, but it hadn¡¯t been approved by the Alchemist¡¯s Guild. That meant it was technically illegal to buy and sell these elixirs, and most exchanges happened through dangerous people. ¡°He¡¯s done three elixirs for this particular illness,¡± her father continued. ¡°A perfect success rate, and no known side effects.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the catch?¡± Tori finally asked. ¡°Nothing to worry about,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve already taken care of it.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 34: One Alliance Elise Moonfire strode between piles of stone rubble, surveying the ruined cafeteria. Gusts of wind blew in from the shattered windows, and wooden tables lay overturned and broken. Some had been used for cover, but most had been struck by stray Missiles. The second-years had banded together here and made a desperate push for the food. The battle hadn¡¯t been easy, but the Celestial Alliance had overwhelmed them with their superior numbers. Not to mention Zukan Kortez, who was a one-man army in his own right. Now, two dozen soldiers filled the main hall, with the rest on guard duty around the perimeter. An invisible line ran down the room¡¯s center¡ªa clear division between Sun Army and Moon Army. They might be allies now, but that didn¡¯t mean they trusted each other. And for good reason. Elise turned from the dining hall and stepped down a long corridor behind the cafeteria¡¯s main kitchen. Footsteps echoed behind her as her bodyguards followed. They passed an open staff bathroom, and Elise stepped inside. It was a cramped space with just a toilet, a sink, and a wire rack filled with cleaning supplies. Those supplies hadn¡¯t been used in weeks, judging by the stench. Was that part of the arena¡¯s ambiance, or was its real-life counterpart this bad? She never visited the cafeteria, so she¡¯d never know. ¡°Pass me my bag,¡± she said to Levi. The Gravity Artist unshouldered her backpack and passed it to her with a frown. The expression wasn¡¯t quite a downward pull of his lips¡ªmore like a glint of judgment in his dark eyes. Elise ignored him and examined her reflection in the mirror. She¡¯d worked up a sweat in the last battle, causing her makeup to smudge around her eyes. Her golden hair had also lost some of its volume, which certainly wouldn¡¯t do. She unzipped the top of her pack and pulled out a smaller bag, which she¡¯d looted from a professor¡¯s office. ¡°Seriously?¡± Levi asked as she worked. ¡°You know we¡¯re in a warzone, right?¡± Several blasts erupted outside as if to prove his point. Even the mirror rattled in its frame. ¡°And you know we¡¯re on TV, right?¡± Elise pulled out a sheet of blotting paper and cleaned up the excess oils around her face. She followed with a cotton swap to clear her damaged eyeliner. ¡°Millions of people are watching.¡± Fortunately, the audience wouldn¡¯t be watching her at this exact moment. Cameras were forbidden from entering bathrooms for obvious reasons. There were also rules against fighting in here, mostly to prevent people from doing their business in the streets. That would be inappropriate for live television. As opposed to slaughtering each other, which was totally fine. Elise pulled out a concealer brush, grazing her face to apply the bare minimum amount of product. People would see her as shallow and narcissistic if she overdid it, but the right amount would convey the look of a composed leader. She used a second brush for blending, and she used the largest brush to apply a layer of combat powder. If this were any other day, Elise would have used dream mana to complete the image. She would have curled her blonde hair and deepened the blue hue of her eyes. She would have raised her breasts for more cleavage, despite her constricting combat bra. Alas, mana was scarce today, and she¡¯d need every drop for the battles to come. Regardless, Elise emerged from the bathroom looking fresh and polished, as if she¡¯d just entered the arena moments before. Her channels still felt like wrung-out rags, but no one could tell that with a glance. ¡°Look the part,¡± her mother always said, ¡°and people will believe it.¡± She¡¯d barely taken two steps out the door before one of her officers rounded the corner. ¡°General Moonfire,¡± Aurora Skyfall said as she approached. The young woman was Levi¡¯s cousin, but she¡¯d trained as a Light Artist rather than her family¡¯s usual Gravity Arts. ¡°Lieutenant,¡± Elise replied with a curt nod. ¡°Zukan and Arturo are fighting a second-year.¡± She¡¯d asked her officers to inform her of all Zukan¡¯s movements. Only her inner circle, of course¡ªshe couldn¡¯t have Sun Army getting wind of such an order. Even then, she¡¯d taken a page from Kalden Trengsen¡¯s book and thrown half a dozen fake orders into the mix. You couldn¡¯t stop spies in this game, but you could certainly confuse them. ¡°Lead the way,¡± Elise said. They continued farther down the hall, passing through a back door that opened into a parking lot behind the cafeteria. Elise took cover behind a bush, and the other three followed. This might be the moment she¡¯d been waiting for, and they¡¯d need impeccable timing to pull it off. Across the parking lot, Zukan Kortez led a squad of soldiers against a second-year Blade Artist. As always, the dragon fought with the grace of a dancer, despite his hulking frame. He never blocked a technique when he could dodge it, and he never took two steps when a single step would suffice. His power was a stark contrast to his grace. Javelins of fire and blade mana shot out from his palms, shattering the second-year shields on impact. Zukan had been the only one to score higher than Elise on this year¡¯s admission exams. He¡¯d also remained undefeated in class duels, and survived the midterm exam, including the part where Kalden Trengsen blew up the whole power plant. Some people even called him invincible. Elise let out a breath and began cycling dream mana to her palms. If Zukan survived this fight, he¡¯d be more vulnerable than ever. She¡¯d never get a better chance. ¡°Give the order,¡± she told Aurora. The other woman nodded, turning herself invisible as she moved to pass it on. Arturo Kazalla fought beside Zukan, wielding a pair of pistols he¡¯d taken from the Manatronics Building. Weapons of that caliber couldn¡¯t normally hurt an Apprentice, but Arturo had enhanced his bullets with some kind of ice mana. No sooner had Zukan broken the second-year¡¯s shield than Arturo shot the man in the stomach. The Blade Artist kept moving for several heartbeats, but the ice mana spread from the spot of impact, forming a web of pale blue crystal around his torso. He stumbled forward, his blades faded to mist, and Zukan finished him with a burst of sunspear mana to the face. ¡°Now,¡± Elise said to her bodyguards. No sooner had the words passed her lips than she released two Missiles of dream mana at the Sun Army leaders. Both Missiles struck their targets from behind, and they collapsed to their knees, overwhelmed by a rush of their worst memories. In the same moment, a dozen Moon soldiers attacked from around the parking lot. A few Sun soldiers rushed to their leader¡¯s aid, but Aurora Skyfall slit their throats from behind. Elise finished the rest with bullets of pure mana¡ªtwo for Zukan¡¯s honor guard, and two more for the snipers across the street. Zukan put up a valiant defense, forming a golden shield while Arturo knelt on the ground and attempted to activate some piece of equipment. For several heartbeats, he held back the bombardment, absorbing the attacks from ten other Mana Artists. Elise¡¯s chest tightened at the sight, and her limbs felt like iron weights as she hurled her own mana into the fray. What if this wasn¡¯t enough? What if Zukan really was stronger than all of them combined? The shield broke a second later, and Elise¡¯s forces struck with renewed vigor. Clouds of rainbow mist surrounded Zukan as he spun his spears of fire, cutting their attacks from the air. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. It was an impressive sight, but Moon Army had positioned themselves well. Zukan couldn¡¯t defend himself from every angle, and several techniques broke through his spinning spears. Arturo died first, adding streaks of white to the dense clouds of broken mana. Finally, Zukan collapsed like a fallen tree, and his body faded just before it hit the ground. Elise sighed with relief, and her lips curled up in a grin. So much for the invincible Zukan and his sidekick. Moon Army ceased their attacks just as soon as they¡¯d begun¡ªthey couldn¡¯t risk drawing more attention right now. Not with the rest of Sun Army so close. The smoke faded around the battlefield, and Aurora appeared by her side once again. Her braid had come loose during the fighting, and strands of brown hair clung to her sweat-covered face. ¡°What do we tell the rest of Zukan¡¯s troops?¡± she asked through several ragged breaths. ¡°Easy.¡± Elise spun on her heel and stepped back through the cafeteria¡¯s back door. ¡°Zukan led a team into battle and didn¡¯t come back.¡± The other woman gave a slow nod as she followed her back into the building. ¡°They might be suspicious. All the casualties were on Sun Army¡¯s side.¡± ¡°They won¡¯t know that,¡± Elise retorted. ¡°There¡¯s minimal evidence.¡± That was one nice thing about this game¡ªno one left bodies behind when they fell. What¡¯s more, Sun Army had no sense of purpose or loyalty. They were just a band of misfits who hated the rich and powerful. But of course, that sort of self-righteous anger was just envy in disguise. Everyone felt envy, but no one ever admitted to it. Not even to themselves. But Dream Artists like her saw the world as it truly was. Zukan¡¯s followers wouldn¡¯t care that their leader had fallen. They¡¯d see themselves standing one step closer to the ultimate prize. And Elise would sweeten the news when she told them about their larger food rations. Maybe she¡¯d even bring Sun Army¡¯s new leaders into her circle¡ªsee how long their anger lasted once they had the power they craved. ¡°Why bother trying to convince them?¡± Levi spoke up. ¡°Sun Army¡¯s weak without its leaders.¡± ¡°No.¡± Elise¡¯s reply cut the air like blade mana. ¡°We still need them.¡± ¡°For what?¡± ¡°The same reason we allied with them in the first place. Blood Army might be dead, but Trengsen and his friends are still out there.¡± Levi snorted. ¡°What? Three people?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate them,¡± Elise said. ¡°Tori Razien already made that mistake.¡± The rest of the day passed without incident as the remaining indy squads looked elsewhere for food. Eight o¡¯clock rolled around, along with the official break. Time slowed to a crawl, and a sixty-second countdown appeared in her vision. Everything went black when the number reached zero, followed by a warping sensation as if she¡¯d just been teleported. When Elise opened her eyes again, she stood in a simple, nondescript room. Gray carpet covered the floor¡ªthe same kind you might see in a typical office building or physician¡¯s office. The walls were a lighter shade of gray, and a simple sink and mirror sat in the room¡¯s center. Elise glanced down and saw two glasses of water beside a row of colorful pills. One was her birth control, and the rest were her daily vitamins and mana-building supplements. A black cocktail dress hung on a shelf to her left, along with her purse and a pair of black heels. That¡¯s right. She¡¯d worn that dress to a party the night before the qualifying rounds. But unlike most people, Elise had no memories of being taken by the Artegium¡¯s staff. Probably because they couldn¡¯t pull the whole kidnapping act in public. More likely, they¡¯d been forced to tell her the truth and erase her memories afterward. A knock pulled her from her thoughts, and Elise spun around to see a closed door with no handle. She took a moment to compose herself and said, ¡°Come in.¡± The door pivoted inward, and Master Dansin Roth stepped inside. As always, the KU professor wore a dark blue blazer with his brown hair combed straight back. ¡°Well.¡± Elise smiled at him in the mirror. ¡°This is a surprise. I thought students weren¡¯t allowed to meet with their teachers?¡± ¡°They aren¡¯t.¡± He closed the door and activated a sound suppressor. ¡°But you aren¡¯t my student yet. Officially, we have no other relationship.¡± ¡°Officially,¡± Elise deadpanned. The truth was more complicated, of course. Dansin Roth belonged to the same secret organization as her parents. They wouldn¡¯t tell Elise the name, but she had her guesses. There were only so many secret groups in the world, and only one had connections to Creta¡¯s ruling clan. ¡°We need to talk about Akari Zeller,¡± Master Roth said Elise didn¡¯t swallow or clear her throat¡ªthat would have made her look nervous. Instead, she grabbed the handful of pills and downed them all with the first glass of water. ¡°This room is secure?¡± she finally asked him. He nodded. ¡°Surveillance is illegal inside changing rooms, and the nearest Mystic is more than a hundred miles away.¡± Elise took a long drink from the second glass of water. She had plenty of water back in the cafeteria, but that could change at any moment. Better to prepare for the worst. ¡°You need to take her out,¡± Roth said. ¡°No shit,¡± Elise muttered. She¡¯d made several attempts at sabotage, and he damn well knew it. She might have failed, but she wasn¡¯t alone in that regard. Roth couldn¡¯t even keep her out of the Artegium, and that was before she¡¯d advanced to Apprentice. ¡°This order comes straight from your parents,¡± he continued. ¡°They want you to go through with the original plan. Check the security cameras inside the Healing Arts center. Particularly, the back parking lot and the first floor. You¡¯ll find even more footage for your collection.¡± Elise hesitated as she raised the glass to her lips again. She knew the Dragonlord¡¯s sister wanted revenge for her dead son, but what would this accomplish in the long run? Even if she took out Zeller right now, that would only inconvenience the girl. Unless ¡­ ¡°Are you going to kill her?¡± Elise asked. Roth shook his head. ¡°No. Of course not.¡± It didn¡¯t take a Dream Artist to read between those lines. Still, she¡¯d been waiting her whole life to make her parents proud. She couldn¡¯t fail now. ~~~ ¡°Hey!¡± Relia shouted. ¡°Wake up, you two!¡± Akari jumped at the sound, and Kalden caught her elbow just before it struck his nose. Oops. It had been a few days since she¡¯d kicked or elbowed him in her sleep. But in her defense, this blanket fort was way smaller than their bed at the Darklight¡¯s house. Kalden crawled out of the shelter first, and Akari followed close behind. The sky had been dark when they¡¯d gone to sleep. Now, violet mana swirled in the air above the cafeteria. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± she asked. ¡°Dream mana,¡± Relia said. ¡°Probably my sister.¡± Slowly, the strands of mana came together to form a massive Construct. Elise must have been using an amplifier, because no Apprentice could make something that large. Not to mention the shaping skill involved. Finally, the Construct snapped into existence, revealing a violet rendering of Elise Moonfire¡¯s face in the night sky. The image was at least a hundred feet tall, putting most movie theater screens to shame. ¡°Good evening, my fellow contestants.¡± Her voice sounded close and distant all at once, just like Glim when she was trying to be scary. ¡°I have a proposition for you all. But first, I¡¯d like to tell you about three dangerous people.¡± Shit. What were the chances she was talking about a different group? ¡°The first is Relia Dawnfire. You might have heard rumors about her, and I¡¯m sad to say they¡¯re true. She¡¯s a Death Artist. Some say she was trained by Lyraina Trelian herself.¡± The image of Elise Moonfire faded, replaced with a scene of Relia using her death mana against Blood Army. ¡°I know what some of you are thinking,¡± Elise said. ¡°This is just a game. She would never use these illegal techniques in the real world ¡­¡± Akari¡¯s blood froze, and she knew what came next. Relia must have realized it, too, because her face went even paler than usual. The image showed camera footage from a bathroom in Creta. There, Relia used her death mana to kill several Unida soldiers who¡¯d tried to arrest them. Those soldiers had attacked her first, but no one saw that side of the story. They only saw the broken bones and twisted limbs. It switched scenes again to show Relia killing more uniformed dragons on the bridge. Her clothing was torn in this scene, and blood covered her face like war paint. ¡°This footage was taken four months ago in Creta,¡± Elise said. ¡°No one knows how many soldiers she killed. We only know it was several dozen.¡± That was bullshit. Elise¡¯s own parents had lent them the very airship they¡¯d used to escape Creta. She must have known they¡¯d been trapped in that country against their will. ¡°Dawnfire has two allies in this game. The first is Kalden Trengsen. I¡¯m sure you all remember him¡ªthe one who blew up the power plant during midterms.¡± The screen switched to Kalden doing just that. Then it changed to footage of him during the qualifying rounds. The first scene showed him with an indy squad on the outskirts of campus. He pretended to lead them to safety, then stabbed them in the back with his mana blades. From there, it transitioned to a montage of him poisoning Blood Army, fighting beside Relia, and finally killing Tori and Lyra with a death mana bomb. ¡°The second is Akari Zeller. She¡¯s as ruthless as the other two, but she relies even more on tricks and deception.¡± The screen showed a near-flawless rendering of Akari killing her own squad one by one. Talek. How did she even get this footage? Elend could have done this easily, but he was a Grandmaster. Elise Moonfire was only an Apprentice. ¡°They¡¯re out there right now,¡± Elise said. ¡°Hiding on the library roof with half the food and water. They¡¯re content to let us fight each other while they swoop in tomorrow and feast like crows. And when they come, they won¡¯t fight you with honor. They¡¯ll bring every dirty trick they can muster.¡± The screen showed more death mana bombs, like the one they¡¯d used to kill Tori and Lyra. Portals appeared at random places throughout the arena, taking out unsuspecting contestants. One pair looked like Zukan Kortez and Arturo Kazalla. ¡°We have to go,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Now.¡± Akari nodded and began cycling spacetime mana. ¡°These three are a disgrace to our school,¡± Elise said. ¡°And we can¡¯t let them represent us in the battlegrounds. So I propose a truce. I swear that no member of my army will attack anyone until these three are eliminated. No more factions. No more games or betrayals.¡± She extended a hand out from the screen. ¡°Just one alliance. Us against them.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 35: Hunted Fire fell from the sky. The Missiles came as compressed orange spheres against the night, arcing from some unseen place on the campus below. ¡°Incoming!¡± Relia shouted. The attacks struck the roof, expanding to ten times their size when they landed. Fire barreled into Relia¡¯s shield like a freight train, and fragments of stone and bronze flew through the air. Talek. This Fire Artist was far stronger than Nico. But of course he was. The closer they got to the end, the more dangerous the contestants would be. Another attack closed in, and Akari cycled pure mana on instinct, forming a shield of her own. ¡°No.¡± Kalden grabbed her forearm. ¡°We¡¯ve got this. Focus on the portal.¡± Right. They couldn¡¯t escape this mess without her, and they definitely couldn¡¯t play defense all night. Akari cycled spacetime mana and gathered the techniques in her open palms. Unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t see much from this vantage. The stone parapet stood more than five feet tall, and the bronze dome was too steep to climb. Think. They couldn¡¯t go south. The bulk of the enemy forces were that way. The Fire Artist¡¯s attacks came from the east, and she couldn¡¯t get a portal past her friends¡¯ shields. That left the north. ¡°Cover me,¡± Akari said as she ran that way. The others moved with her, following the trench between the dome and the wall. Kalden re-activated the camouflage unit when they stopped, and Akari hoisted herself onto the parapet. The bombardment continued, but the attacks were almost random. Clearly, this person didn¡¯t have the best view. Kalden and Relia joined her on the parapet, forming new shields on either side. Akari shot her first spacetime Missile on the ground nearby, making the first half of the portal. Then she scanned the surrounding campus for the next spot. Easier said than done. The Alchemy and Manatronics buildings sat directly north of the library, but those were crawling with Sun Army troops. That meant she¡¯d have to go farther or risk an ambush. She¡¯d made one long-distance portal during midterms, but that was in broad daylight. Here, the surrounding city was almost pitch-black, and it didn¡¯t help when this fire mana kept screwing with her vision. Just then, a sound like thunder rumbled in the distance. It grew louder over the next few seconds until she heard the distinct buzzing of spinning rotors. The rhythmic beat traveled from her boots all the way to her chest. ¡°Machine gun!¡± Kalden hollered. ¡°What?¡± Akari spun to see a gray helicopter hovering over the library¡¯s south side. No sooner had Kalden shouted the warning than the helicopter unleashed a storm of bullets. The bronze dome rang like a bell as they ricocheted off its surface. Her team would probably be dead right now if not for the camouflage unit. ¡°How¡¯s that portal coming?¡± Relia yelled. Damnit. You couldn¡¯t rush these things. One wrong move and she could send them into a hundred-foot drop, or straight into a flat surface. What¡¯s more, she still hadn¡¯t mastered the skill of forming portals without proper anchor points. Sometimes, she got lucky. More often, they faded to mist part way through, wasting time and mana. But they couldn¡¯t stay here, either. So Akari stretched out a hand and hurled a spacetime Missile somewhere to the north. She relaxed her vision and watched the mana in her Silver Sight, gaging the distance and height. Then she flattened the Missile into a portal. ¡°Go!¡± Akari shouted as she leapt through the portal in the floor. Down became sideways as she passed through, followed by a swift drop into a dark street. Akari Cloaked her muscles and rolled when she landed on the asphalt. She probably would have broken another leg if not for that. Relia passed through the portal behind her, followed by Kalden. Kalden pressed a remote detonator as he fell, destroying the food crates they¡¯d left behind. He¡¯d already stashed what he could in his pack, so at least they wouldn¡¯t starve. The others got to their feet, and Akari glanced left and right, ready for someone to leap out from the darkness. ¡°We should find cover,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Before¡ª¡± The helicopter rounded on them, shining its floodlights and unleashing another storm of bullets. An alarm echoed somewhere in the distance, but the sounds of battle drowned it out. ¡°This way.¡± Relia ducked into the nearest alley, and the others followed. They spent the next few minutes creeping through the shadows, putting more distance between their enemies. Finally, they broke into an ice cream shop a few streets over. The front room had a red and white tiled floor, and tall glass windows wrapped along two walls. Kalden set up the camouflage unit behind the counter, and they all took a minute to catch their breaths. Relia sank to the floor, looking nothing like her cheerful self. Akari couldn¡¯t blame her. She¡¯d been itching for some action, but she hadn¡¯t planned to fight every contestant at once. Kalden took a swig of water from his canteen and glanced around the dark shop. ¡°Which way did you take us?¡± ¡°North,¡± Akari replied. He froze with the canteen halfway to his lips. ¡°How far north?¡± ¡°A little past Chapel Street ¡­¡± She trailed off, listening to the distant alarm. It sounded just like the alarms that warned people of approaching mana storms. It also had a secondary use in these games ¡­ ¡°Shit.¡± Akari left the safety of the camouflage dome and glanced out the northern window. Sure enough, a wall of dream mana closed in farther down the street. The arena was shrinking. ¡°Damnit,¡± Kalden said over her shoulder. ¡°Elise did this on purpose. She waited until midnight to send her message.¡± Akari clenched her fists as the wall slid closer. Judging by its speed, they had about thirty seconds until it reached them. Then they¡¯d all be a lot thinner. ¡°Any smart ideas?¡± Kalden ran a hand through his hair. ¡°The others will be watching the streets, so running is suicide.¡± He turned to face her. ¡°How many more portals can you make?¡± ¡°Four,¡± she said at once. ¡°Two trips.¡± ¡°Okay. Windstrider Hall is southeast of here. We¡¯ll see it when we reach Chapel Street.¡± ¡°That means running for two blocks,¡± Relia said as she retrieved the camouflage unit. She still didn¡¯t sound happy, but at least she¡¯d pulled herself together long enough to join their planning. ¡°No way around that,¡± Kalden said as the alarm blared louder. ¡°What happens at Windstrider Hall?¡± Akari asked. ¡°We loop around to the south side.¡± ¡°Next to Moon Army? ¡°They¡¯ll be focused on the north. We¡¯ll be behind them.¡± Akari gave a brisk nod. ¡°Then let¡¯s do it.¡± They burst out the door, just a few yards ahead of the approaching mana wall. The wall only moved a few miles per hour, so anyone could outrun it with a light jog. Akari¡¯s chest vibrated as the helicopter hovered over from another street. Whoever flew this thing was clearly a skilled pilot¡ªprobably one with military training. It rounded on them as they ran, and Kalden and Relia worked together to make a layered shield. Talek. Machine guns were a lot less fun from the receiving end. Fortunately for them, the gunner wasn¡¯t half as skilled as the pilot, and most of the bullets struck the surrounding buildings and street. Still, Akari itched to raise a defensive portal. Unlike pure mana shields, that could send the bullets back rather than deflecting them. But no ¡­ she¡¯d need every drop of her spacetime mana for their escape. Kalden changed directions when they reached Chapel Street, and Akari and Relia moved with him like a flock of birds. Windstrider Hall came into view a second later, a six-story structure looming on a high ridge. Kalden had chosen their target well; not only was it visible from the street, but each room had its own balcony. Kalden and Relia dropped their shields by some unspoken agreement. At the same time, Akari fired her Missiles and formed two portals. She and the others ran through the first one and emerged on a fifth-floor balcony in Windstrider Hall. ¡°Nice work.¡± Kalden placed the camouflage unit on the wooden floor, but that was just a precaution at this point. Elise Moonfire might have riled up the other contestants, but they weren¡¯t a coordinated army. Even if a smaller group spotted them, they had no way of communicating that to the larger force, much less that stupid helicopter. Then again, Elise had found them on the library¡¯s roof, even with the camouflage unit. Talek only knew how she¡¯d pulled that off. ¡°See that rooftop?¡± Kalden pointed somewhere to the southwest. ¡°Between those maple trees?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Akari said. It was nothing but a black blob in the distance¡ªmaybe a hundred feet wide. ¡°See if you can take us there.¡± ¡°No promises.¡± Akari exhaled as she got into position. Her long-range aim actually sucked, contrary to her few successes in these games. Most Mana Artists had no reason to train long-distance techniques. You¡¯d be better off with a rifle at that point. But Akari did her best, lining up the shot and releasing the Missile from her outstretched hand. The initial shot flew too high, missing the roof by a few dozen feet. Akari lowered her center of gravity, and the mana moved with her, arcing back down toward its target. She formed the second portal on the door behind them, then they climbed down the roof into a dark neighborhood on the south side of campus. The sounds of battle had finally faded, replaced with howling wind and chirping crickets. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°This way,¡± Kalden said as he jogged down the street. ¡°I know a good hiding spot.¡± He led them to a wide house with gray siding and white trim. Akari couldn¡¯t tell if it was a two-story, or if the attic just had a few tiny windows. Kalden stepped through the front door as if he owned the place, then he brought them through the living room and toward the basement. Akari¡¯s mana raced when she spotted the broken lock on the door. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Kalden said. ¡°I broke it on my first trip here. This is my alchemy teacher¡¯s house.¡± Ah, the place he¡¯d looted for poisons and grenades. They could definitely use more of that stuff right now. They continued down the wooden staircase and found tables covered with alchemy equipment. The tubes reflected their flashlights and cast shadows like ominous, black vines against the far wall. Kalden set up the camouflage unit in the center of the lab, and they collapsed on the chairs between workstations. Except for Relia, who plopped down on the floor and hugged her knees for the second time that night. Kalden unzipped his backpack and passed Akari a pint-sized bottle of liquid mana. She took a long swig and began cycling it into the spacetime portion of her soul. Converting mana was a lengthy process, but at least they¡¯d have more options if danger struck again. The minutes dragged on as they waited for that exact thing to happen. No one spoke, and it felt like the smallest move could summon that angry helicopter, followed by a mob with torches and pitchforks. When nothing came, Akari took a few good breaths, and it felt like uncoiling a clenched fist. A few more minutes passed, then Kalden busied himself with some alchemical tools. Meanwhile, Relia stayed uncharacteristically quiet on the ground. Akari couldn¡¯t see much in the darkness, but she swore she heard the faint sound of sniffling. Elise Moonfire¡¯s speech must have really gotten to her. But why? Was it because of the footage from Creta? Or because her sister had been the one to reveal it? Akari sat frozen in her chair for several seconds, wishing she could copy Kalden and make herself busy. In fact, that was probably why Kalden had gotten busy so quickly. He hadn¡¯t known how to make Relia feel better, so he¡¯d made a tactical retreat. But Akari knew how Relia felt. After all, her own squad had betrayed her less than a day before. She also thought of the times Kalden held her close, and how she¡¯d drawn strength from him. A year ago, Akari would have scoffed at that idea. What sort of badass Mana Artist needed a hug? Now she understood. No matter how powerful you got, you could still go off the rails if you spent too much time trapped in your own head. Another person could ground you to reality¡ªremind you that you weren¡¯t alone. So Akari slipped off her chair, settling on the stone floor beside her friend. She¡¯d never been much of a hugger, but she forced herself to put her arms around the other girl¡¯s shoulders. Relia leaned into her at once, sniffling louder than before. They sat like that for several minutes, and Akari wondered how much force to apply in her squeezing. At least with Kalden, she had some primal urges guiding her movements, not so different from combat. Comforting someone was actually far more complicated. Finally, Relia found her voice. ¡°Can¡¯t believe she did that ¡­¡± Akari could definitely believe it, but she kept that to herself. Honestly, she was more pissed off about the hypocrisy. Elise Moonfire won duels by showing people their worst memories. That was all sugar and rainbows, but Relia¡¯s whole aspect was evil? All because the news said so? Were people seriously that stupid? ¡°What was the point?¡± Relia continued. ¡°I only ever tried to be her friend.¡± ¡°Probably my fault,¡± Akari said. ¡°Pissed off a bunch of people in Creta. Same thing when I got into the Artegium early.¡± ¡°I doubt it¡¯s your fault,¡± Relia said. ¡°People hated me long before you showed up.¡± ~~~ While the girls talked about their feelings, Kalden started brainstorming new plans. Growing up, his own family had been more emotionally reserved, so he¡¯d never gotten comfortable with these sorts of displays. Understanding Akari was one thing¡ªshe erupted like a volcano and then subsided. But Relia could go on like this for hours, and it almost felt like they spoke different languages. Kalden left the camouflage radius, pulling a set of vials from an aluminum drawer. There, he noticed the drawer of numbat dust sat part way open, and several more vials were missing. Had someone else been through here? Perhaps he shouldn¡¯t have been surprised. Kalden had several other first-year Combat students in his alchemy class, including Arturo Kazalla. Any of them could have found this secret lab. Kalden returned to the dome just as quickly, keeping his footsteps quiet on the concrete floor. If Elise Moonfire had found them once, she could do it again. In hindsight, she¡¯d probably tracked them through the HAC¡¯s security cameras, but those weren¡¯t her only options. Her army also controlled the Manatronics and Sigilcraft Buildings. Kalden was no expert in either technology, but he understood basic game mechanics. The designers wouldn¡¯t have passed out these advanced camouflage units without ways to counter them. Akari and Relia climbed to their feet a few minutes later. Relia rubbed at her eyes, but he wasn¡¯t worried about her holding her own in combat. Only Zukan Kortez was her equal, and Elise¡¯s projection had shown the dragon getting eliminated. ¡°I have an idea,¡± Kalden said. He lined up a row of vials on the table, and their teal liquid glowed in the light of his flashlight.. Akari leaned forward with interest while Relia¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°This is sarenseed oil,¡± he said. ¡°One or two drops is enough to make a person sick. Five drops is enough to kill them.¡± ¡°Your teacher keeps that in his basement?¡± Akari asked. Kalden shook his head with a light chuckle. ¡°This lab doesn¡¯t match the one in real life. They probably added these vials for the game.¡± ¡°Okay. But what do we do with it? Bake Elise a cake?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a water tower on this side of campus,¡± Kalden said. "If we¡ª¡° ¡°You can¡¯t poison a water tower,¡± Relia cut in. ¡°The rules specifically say we can¡¯t use food or water as weapons.¡± ¡°The water won¡¯t be the weapon,¡± Kalden said. ¡°That¡¯s the oil.¡± He flicked one of the vials. ¡°And this is dream mana, so it won¡¯t hurt anyone for real. It¡¯s no different from me poisoning those potions yesterday.¡± Relia stared at him, her eyes hard in the faint light. ¡°You seriously wanna poison your entire class?¡± ¡°It will work,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We might not kill everyone, but we don¡¯t have to. This will thin the enemy ranks and give us the points we need to pass.¡± ¡°I dunno much about alchemy,¡± Akari said, ¡°but those towers hold like a million gallons of water.¡± She gestured back at the vials. ¡°Won¡¯t this stuff get diluted?¡± ¡°I thought about that,¡± Kalden said, ¡°but if we¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the point!¡± Relia interrupted again. ¡°You¡¯re talking about a war crime here.¡± ¡°Some people call your aspect a war crime,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Does that make it wrong to use it in a game? Or even self-defense?¡± ¡°This might be a game,¡± she said, ¡°but we¡¯re playing it with real people.¡± Kalden let out a slow breath. After everything they¡¯d been through, she was still too much of an idealist. In all honesty, he often wondered whether she was cut out for their long-term plans. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to help,¡± he said, ¡°then you don¡¯t have to. We only need Akari¡¯s portals to pull this off.¡± ¡°Typical,¡± Relia muttered. ¡°Everyone¡¯s either with you, or against you, right?¡± Then she rounded on Akari. ¡°You¡¯re okay with this?¡± Akari shrugged. ¡°I mean, I¡¯d rather get points in combat, but Elise screwed us over. She made us look like the bad guys.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Kalden said. ¡°They¡¯ve already made up their minds about us. We can¡¯t change that now.¡± Relia crossed her arms. ¡°Elise didn¡¯t make you look like the bad guys. You did that all by yourselves.¡± ¡°Bullshit,¡± Akari blurted out. ¡°My team turned on me first!¡± ¡°And you acted like a good teammate before that? I watched the midterm replay, you know. How many times did you threaten to go off and do your own thing?¡± Akari winced at that. ¡°Nico looked ready to trust you and be allies,¡± she continued. "And why wouldn¡¯t he? He knew he was better off with you than against you.¡± ¡°Hindsight¡¯s clear as glass,¡± Kalden said. ¡°But battle happens quickly. Akari made a hard choice, but it kept her alive.¡± ¡°And you.¡± Relia spun to face him. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be Mr. Strategy with your fancy new aspect. But you just use it to beat people.¡± ¡°Beating people is the whole point of this game.¡± ¡°Wrong,¡± she said. ¡°This game prepares us for the interschool battlegrounds, and every challenge after that.¡± Kalden furrowed his brow. ¡°You¡¯re losing me here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just about beating people,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s about finding your long-term allies and learning who you can trust. Maybe Raizen didn¡¯t teach you that, but it literally says so on page one of the Artegium student handbook.¡± Kalden sank back in his chair, feeling the weight of the day¡¯s battles in his bones. ¡°Tori Raizen forced me to choose between Blood Army and you.¡± He narrowed his eyes at her. ¡°I chose you, and you¡¯re lecturing me for it?¡± ¡°And what if you used that brain of yours for something besides killing? What if you were honest with Tori and Lyra from the beginning? What if you¡¯d actually tried to be their friend instead of plotting to betray them?¡± Kalden drew a breath to respond, then closed his mouth. She might actually be right about Tori and Lyra. Kalden had kept so many people at arm''s length this semester. And while he¡¯d finally gotten closer to Akari after midterms, he¡¯d still neglected the rest of their class. He¡¯d seen them all as enemies, just as Relia said. Him and his friends against the world. ¡°We need a team of six for the interschool battlegrounds,¡± Relia continued. ¡°Six! Ever notice how there¡¯s only three of us here? How do you expect to fix that if you alienate everyone?¡± Akari furrowed her brow. ¡°You¡¯re bringing up this up now?¡± ¡°I tried telling you before! You guys practically rolled your eyes at me. ¡®Oh, silly Relia. She¡¯s too soft and kind-hearted for this cruel world.¡¯¡± She gave Kalden a look, daring him to disagree. Yes ¡­ Relia had brought these issues up earlier, but they¡¯d been too busy¡ªtoo focused on the current challenges to worry about the future. Elend probably would have told them the same thing if he could. But as an arena designer with inside knowledge, he wasn¡¯t allowed to give them any advice. A brief silence filled the space between them, and Akari reached into her pocket and pulled out a single coin. She flipped the coin, caught it, and pressed it to the back of her left hand. Kalden leaned forward to examine the coin¡¯s face. It looked like an ordinary esper coin, with an embossed image of Espiria in the center, surrounded by a ring of twenty-five stars. Akari frowned at the coin for several heartbeats, as if she expected to find the answers on its metal surface. ¡°This plan feels wrong,¡± she finally said. Kalden still wasn¡¯t convinced. This was still just a game, after all. Yes, Relia had made a few good points; he could have worked on building a better connection with Blood Army and its leaders. But it was too late for that now. They¡¯d already betrayed each other, and you couldn¡¯t undo that. They could only move forward. ¡°If we¡¯re eliminated now,¡± Kalden began, ¡°we¡¯ll never get another chance to compete together.¡± But even as the words left his mouth, Kalden heard them for what they were¡ªa classic case of the ends justifying the means. He half expected Relia to call him out on it. Instead, her face softened and she rested her elbows on the workstation. ¡°Sometimes, when I¡¯m struggling to do what¡¯s right, I sit down and ask myself one question. What sort of Mana Artist do I want to be?¡± A leader, Kalden thought at once. That was why he¡¯d worked so hard for his new aspect¡ªto accomplish things he couldn¡¯t with ordinary Blade Mana. But Relia was right. Making peace was an important part of warfare. If you couldn¡¯t make peace, then ¡­ Well, you ended up in the exact spot where he was now. Backed into a corner, with no choice but to dig in your heels and fight even harder than before. Good leaders had integrity and empathy. They inspired loyalty and brought people together rather than pushing them apart. But Kalden had done none of that this semester. In all honesty, he hadn¡¯t even considered it until this moment. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Kalden let out a long breath and met each of their eyes. ¡°So what are¡ª¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Relia held up a hand, then her gaze darted up toward the ceiling. ¡°That was the front door.¡± He strained his ears to listen. Sure enough, footsteps echoed from beyond the basement¡¯s thick ceiling. ¡°Sounds like two people,¡± Akari whispered. ¡°We can take them.¡± Kalden nodded. Under the circumstances, they couldn¡¯t ask for better odds. ¡°Alright,¡± he said as he began cycling his mana. ¡°Then let¡¯s¡ª¡± A pulse rippled through the air, and the force of it struck Kalden like a truck. But rather than striking him head-on, this attack hit him from the inside out. The mana vanished from his channels, leaving his body hollow and empty. It felt like a rush of blood to the head, or a sudden drop from a dream. The world swam as his senses failed him, and his knees buckled as he fell to the concrete floor. Akari and Relia each fell to their knees as well. Even their camouflage unit flickered out. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± Akari asked through gritted teeth. ¡°AMP ¡­¡± Relia had to force out the syllables as she spoke. She was right. Kalden had never felt an anti-mana pulse before, but this fit all the descriptions he¡¯d read. Sure enough, the mana returned to his channels as if it had never left. AMPs didn¡¯t destroy mana, they only neutralized it for a short time. Kalden¡¯s senses returned in a rush. Nausea in his stomach, ringing in his ears, and a stiffening of his muscles. A door opened at the top of the staircase, followed by a burst of blinding light. Something metallic struck the concrete floor, and a second object tumbled down the staircase. Time slowed as Kalden¡¯s mind raced to comprehend this second attack. ¡°Grenades!¡± Kalden forced himself to his feet, scrambling for cover behind a distant workstation. Relia followed him, but Akari stayed put, forming a portal straight on the ground where the grenades had landed. Then she stretched out her arm and formed a second portal. Kalden couldn¡¯t see much from this vantage, but it must have been somewhere upstairs. The grenades exploded with a series of deafening roars. The house¡¯s foundation shook, and part of the staircase collapsed like matchsticks. ¡°Go!¡± Kalden shouted to Relia as he charged across the basement. Whoever their attackers were, they preferred long-range weapons over Mana Arts techniques. Better to seize this advantage. But when Kalden reached the bottom of the staircase, he saw a half-dragon silhouetted against the light. Almost seven feet tall, the figure filled the doorway. One hand held a golden shield, while the other held a flaming spear. Zukan Kortez. Book 3 - Chapter 36: Trust Zukan leapt down the stairs like a drake devouring its prey. He landed hard against the concrete floor, and the house shook for the second time that day. His shield filled Kalden¡¯s vision, a burning sun against a black void. Kalden dodged right, forcing his opponent to step between him and his allies. Too slow. The shield caught his shoulder, burning through his shirt and the skin beneath. The impact would have broken bones if it weren¡¯t for his Cloak technique. Many Blade Artists used shields in battle. Shields were the most natural type of Construct, quick to forge and easy to control. But Zukan was a Sunspear Artist from a line of dragon warriors. His aspect combined fire and blade mana into a force of pure destruction. Not only could his shield block most attacks, but it was a weapon in its own right. The dragon swiped his flaming spear in a wide arc. Like Tori, he altered the size mid-motion, doubling its length in the space of a breath. Kalden ducked at the last second, feeling the heat of the weapon pass over his head. A vertical strike forced him to dodge left, then his opponent charged again. Kalden knew better than to parry attacks like those. Not only was Zukan the top duelist in their class, but he stood almost seven feet tall, with muscles like carved marble. For all that, he fought with the grace of a Shokenese Blade Master, never leaning too hard on his strength, never using more force than he needed. Kalden cycled battle mana, his mind racing for an opening. But he wouldn¡¯t find one. Even among the top ten, Zukan fought in a league of his own. Tori had once faced the dragon in a friendly match. She¡¯d lost within thirty seconds, never landing a single hit. How do you beat a stronger opponent who doesn¡¯t make mistakes? Coleman¡¯s basement was almost pitch-black, which meant Zukan would probably use his Silver Sight. Silver Sight revealed mana-based attacks, but it also blurred and darkened your vision. This left you vulnerable to your surroundings. Give him two undesirable options. So Kalden did what no one would expect. He stopped cycling his mana. He shrouded his soul and made himself invisible against the darkness. The dragon swung his spear again, slicing through glass alchemy tubes, leaving molten destruction in his wake. Kalden ducked and scrambled between two tables. Then he attacked with anything he could find. He rolled a chair between the dragon¡¯s legs and hurled a cauldron at his face. He threw glass vials and steel utensils, always in motion. Zukan adapted well, reacting to each attack with perfect precision. Some, he dodged or parried. Others, he ignored completely. It was as if he¡¯d rehearsed this fight long in advance, and now he trusted his body to move through the motions. But Kalden had thrown his opponent off balance. Zukan didn¡¯t show it, but Kalden was still alive. That was all the evidence he needed. Besides, he was only the bait in this fight. ~~~ Akari hunched with Relia in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike. That moment came ten seconds into the fight when Kalden stopped cycling his mana. Clever. This would force Zukan to switch back to his mundane vision, leaving himself open to mana attacks. Relia stepped into the light of the staircase, unleashing several Death Missiles at the mighty dragon. As always, she''d wrapped these techniques in a pure mana casing to overcome her aspect¡¯s slow nature. They took time to make, but Kalden¡¯s distraction had bought her that. Zukan threw his shield over his shoulder in one fluid move. The golden disc covered his back, floating in place as he fought. Too bad that wouldn¡¯t save him. Relia¡¯s mana would¡ª The disc broke into a wheel of six burning blades. Each blade doubled in length, and the entire Construct spun like a miter saw, shredding Relia¡¯s attacks to mist. Talek¡¯s tits and teeth. He couldn¡¯t have forged that Construct on the spot. He¡¯d known Relia would strike from behind, and he¡¯d prepared accordingly. In that moment, Akari had to admit a grudging respect for the dragon. It was easy to see him as a brute who¡¯d gotten ahead on raw power, or the nature of his aspect. But nothing was that simple in the Artegium. Even less so in the top ten. But Akari didn¡¯t worry about Zukan. She kept her eyes on the staircase where Arturo Kazalla emerged right on schedule. They¡¯d always known he was up there. AMPs and grenades just weren¡¯t Zukan¡¯s style. The Cadrian boy raised a pair of pistols and fired at Relia¡¯s exposed flank. At the same time, Akari hurled a spacetime Missile up the staircase and activated the Construct she¡¯d placed on Relia¡¯s left shoulder. Arturo¡¯s bullets flew straight through the portal, and he shot himself from behind. She didn¡¯t wait to see if the bullets landed. Relia spun around so the portal on her shoulder faced Akari, and Akari charged toward it. She¡¯d hoped to find Arturo injured, or still focused on Relia. Instead, he pointed his pistols straight into the portal. Akari ducked and slid on the concrete floor, firing another spacetime Missle through the portal. The mana flew above Arturo¡¯s shoulder and landed on the drywall above the broken staircase. Akari bound it with the portal on Relia¡¯s shoulder. Relia ducked, and the momentum of Akari¡¯s slide carried her through. She emerged above Arturo before he had time to spin around. She formed a blade of pure mana as she fell, crashing into his shoulders and driving the blade into his collarbone. They fell in a heap of tangled limbs, crashing down the broken staircase onto the concrete floor. Arturo dropped a pistol as they fell, and Akari caught it before they hit the ground. Then she aimed the muzzle at his chest and squeezed the trigger. ~~~ Kalden scrambled back to one corner of the lab, barely dodging a storm of flaming blades. He might be invisible now, but basements weren¡¯t known for their wide fighting spaces. A Mana Artist like Zukan didn¡¯t need eyes to finish him. Relia threw another Death Missile, forcing the dragon to pivot on his heel and slash the attack with his spear. Sensing victory, Kalden leapt right and cycled his mana once again. A crimson blade formed in his hand, and he closed in for the kill. His opponent formed a second weapon of his own, knocking Kalden¡¯s aside with a quick slash. The force of it hurled Kalden into a nearby workstation. His torso slid across the table¡¯s steel surface, taking several glass tubes along for the ride. Zukan finally lost his balance as he spun back toward Relia, tripping over a rolling chair, landing on one knee. Kalden recovered and leapt back into the fray, but Zukan was quicker. The dragon sent a burst of fire into the concrete floor, whirling both weapons as he sprang back to his feet. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Several bullets fired from across the lab, but Kalden couldn¡¯t see who shot whom. He kept his eyes on his opponent, dodging another spear and leaping closer. Then several things happened at once. Zukan threw Kalden hard against the wall and brought a golden spear to his throat. He stuck a second spear into Relia¡¯s thigh, causing her to stumble. But Relia had made it through his outer defenses, and death mana shot out from her palm. Time slowed as the green-gold mist formed a hook around the dragon¡¯s throat. That technique would kill Zukan, but he wouldn¡¯t die alone. ¡°Stop!¡± Kalden shouted. He hadn¡¯t expected that to work, but everyone stopped moving. Relia froze with the death mana hook in midair, and Zukan stood like a statue with his flaming blade mere inches from Kalden¡¯s face. Arturo lay near the staircase with white mist bleeding from his shoulder, and a layer of ice spreading over his chest. Akari knelt above him with a pistol pointed at his forehead. She looked unharmed, but Arturo pointed a second pistol straight back at her. ¡°We¡¯re at a stalemate,¡± Kalden announced to the room. ¡°Let¡¯s work something out.¡± Zukan opened his mouth for the first time, and his voice was deep and gravelly. ¡°You think I¡¯ll deal with you, human? I saw you betray your own army.¡± Kalden drew in several deep breaths, marshaling his thoughts. Zukan stood less than a foot away from him now, wearing a fitted black button-up shirt that hung open to reveal his scale-covered chest. His skin was the color of tree bark, and his eyes glowed orange in the light of his burning weapons. ¡°Look around you,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We only have two options. We can die together, or we can work out a deal.¡± Zukan raised an eyebrow at that. Or rather, he raised the dragon-equivalent, which was just a section of raised scales above his eye. ¡°Is that what you told Tori Raizen?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made mistakes in this game,¡± Kalden said. ¡°But I¡¯m not the only one. Elise betrayed you, didn¡¯t she?¡± Zukan¡¯s eye twitched, but he said nothing. ¡°How¡¯d you escape?¡± he asked. When nothing was forthcoming, he added, ¡°Numbat dust? I saw the missing vials in the drawer. It pairs well with the camouflage units.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter now,¡± Zukan said in a low voice. ¡°You¡¯re right. We can only move forward.¡± ¡°You have nothing to offer me, human.¡± ¡°I disagree. I¡¯ve seen how hard you train. No one reaches the top of the class by accident. Not in this school. You want to win this game, and the battlegrounds afterward. I can help you do that.¡± Zukan narrowed his eyes in suspicion, then they flicked down to Relia¡¯s death mana hook. That took some of the wind from his sails. ¡°Go ahead,¡± he said. ¡°Make your speech.¡± Kalden weighed his options, and each second felt like an eternity with that burning blade by his cheek. Even now, the heat of it caused his face to prickle with sweat. ¡°Should we lower our weapons?¡± ¡°Yes please,¡± came Arturo¡¯s dry voice from across the lab. ¡°This suits me fine,¡± Zukan replied. In hindsight, that was no surprise. Kalden and Relia had him outnumbered, and his ally had a bullet in his chest. Things could only get worse from there. ¡°Elise played you,¡± Kalden said, ¡°but have you ever wondered why?¡± He gave Zukan a chance to answer, but the dragon said nothing. He truly was a man of few words. ¡°This spring, my friends and I joined a revolution in Creta.¡± ¡°So I¡¯ve heard.¡± Zukan flicked his gaze back to Arturo as if that explained everything. ¡°I lost my hand against Dragonlord Antano¡¯s nephew.¡± Kalden nodded to his blue mana prosthetic, but he hesitated before revealing Akari¡¯s role. He didn¡¯t like sharing her secret without permission, but they hadn¡¯t had time to discuss this. Fortunately, Akari was never one to shy away from the truth. And while they might be on television right now, the Artegium cut scenes that dove too deep into politics or personal secrets. ¡°Akari killed the Dragonlord¡¯s nephew during the battle. She did it to defend us, and the Dragonlord swore a soul oath not to take vengeance. But his sister has connections, even here, in this very game.¡± This part, they would definitely censor. Kalden might even face consequences for implying that Elise was involved in such a plot, but he¡¯d deal with those later. Zukan had a strong sense of justice and honor. Elise had bribed or threatened the others, but not him. He¡¯d sided with her because he actually believed Kalden and his friends were the true villains. He needed to know about Elise¡¯s ulterior motive. ¡°Bullshit,¡± Arturo said from across the room. From his tone, it sounded more like a demand for proof than an accusation. ¡°You saw her projection,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Think about it¡ªis my group really dangerous enough to warrant that? We might have scored a few more points, but we never stood a chance of winning. Elise wanted to make sure Akari didn¡¯t qualify. That¡¯s the only way this makes sense.¡± No one had an answer for that. But Elise had already betrayed Sun Army¡¯s leaders and lied about it in her projection. This was the easy part. ¡°We¡¯re Elise Moonfire¡¯s biggest threats right now,¡± Kalden said. ¡°If we kill each other, then we hand her the victory on a golden platter.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Arturo coughed from over Zukan¡¯s shoulder, struggling to raise his voice. ¡°You and Dawnfire surrender, and we¡¯ll let Zeller go. That gives all three of you a chance to qualify.¡± Kalden saw the logic in that deal. He and Relia had probably earned enough points already, even if they died right now. In theory, this would give Akari a chance to catch up with them. Zukan gave a slow nod. ¡°I will honor that deal.¡± ¡°No,¡± Kalden finally said. ¡°Our only chance is to work together.¡± ¡°And trade one backstabber for another?¡± The dragon fixed him with his reptilian eyes. ¡°Your actions speak louder than anything you say.¡± ¡°I need you and Arturo,¡± Kalden said. If his mother were here, she would scold him for revealing his weakness during a negotiation, but what choice did he have? ¡°Even if my friends and I take the top three spots, we¡¯ll need a team for the interschool battlegrounds. No one else will join us after that stunt Elise pulled. No one who matters, anyway.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your problem.¡± Zukan shrugged his massive shoulders, but his flaming blades remained still. ¡°We already have a team.¡± ¡°You might have a decent team, but decent teams don¡¯t place in the battlegrounds.¡± In that moment, a revelation struck him like the fist of Talek. Everyone said Koreldon University was the best Mana Arts school on the continent, and those claims weren¡¯t without merit. After all, more Mystics had graduated from here than anywhere else in the world. But if the claims were true, then how come this school rarely ever took first place in the battlegrounds? Why did they always lose to the so-called inferior schools? The answer hit him with equal force: division was weakness. Kalden had used that fact to tear about the major factions from the inside. He, Relia, and Akari had taken down Blood Army single-handedly. Not because they had more raw power, but because they had trust and unity. Kalden had been so focused on that goal, he¡¯d never looked at the bigger picture. ¡°These games tear us apart.¡± Kalden gestured around with his head, indicating the arena itself. ¡°We¡¯re the only school in Espiria with a televised qualifying round. This system forces the top students to fight each other. They say it hones our skills, but it also breaks our trust. We squabble, and we betray each other for the smallest advantage. Meanwhile, the other schools bring together their best Mana Artists, and those teams crush us every year.¡± Zukan¡¯s gaze grew more thoughtful at that. Even Kalden needed a moment to process his own words. Relia and Elend had said similar things over the course of the semester, but he¡¯d never understood their sentiments until this moment. Koreldon University might be the most prestigious school in Espiria, but it was also the oldest. Tradition ran strong through its veins, even at the expense of victory and learning. And Arturo had said it himself: the qualifying rounds brought in more money than all their tuitions combined. Maybe even more than the battlegrounds that followed. ¡°Everything you say is true,¡± Zukan replied. ¡°But I¡¯ve known this truth from the start.¡± Kalden nodded. ¡°You¡¯re waiting for a perfect world. A world where all your teammates share your beliefs and values. A world where your allies have done nothing wrong. But that world will never exist. Yes, Relia shares an aspect with war criminals. And yes, Akari and I have crossed many lines to stay ahead. Some of our choices have been justified, and others have been mistakes. Lessons we didn¡¯t learn until it was too late.¡± Then Kalden did something potentially stupid. He dismissed his crimson blade and nodded for Relia to do the same. She needed little encouragement, and the death mana faded to mist immediately. Zukan held Kalden¡¯s gaze for several breaths, but he didn¡¯t lower his own weapons. ¡°Here¡¯s my offer,¡± Kalden said. ¡°My friends and I don¡¯t care about placing in the qualifying round. We just want to start a team for the battlegrounds. We¡¯ll help you take first place in this game, and in return, you and Arturo will join us.¡± Silence reigned, and he saw the gears turning behind Zukan¡¯s golden eyes. Hopefully, he¡¯d been paying attention this semester. Kalden and Akari had started outside the top ten, but they¡¯d also had a heap of disadvantages. If they were to start the semester now, they¡¯d undoubtedly be in the top five. And then there was Relia. Not only was she the best among the second-years, she was also a healer¡ªa priceless member of any team. Zukan might not like them, but this was his best path toward victory. Not just in this game, but in all the other games that followed. Kalden drew in a breath and extended his hand. Zukan stared at it. ¡°We don¡¯t make oaths in the qualifying rounds. It¡¯s just a game.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Kalden said. ¡°The audience loves all the drama and betrayals. It keeps them entertained¡ªlets them feel better about their own lives. Well, to hell with the audience, and to hell with tradition. We all want to be Mystics¡ªeveryone in this room. Let¡¯s start acting like it.¡± Another moment stretched between them. Zukan seemed to wait for an objection from his teammate, but none came. Finally, he lowered his spears and clasped Kalden¡¯s wrist. Book 3 - Chapter 37: The Cult of Solidor ¡°I found it!¡± Glim floated over in her Missile form. ¡°It¡¯s the white one on the left.¡± Elend gave a slow nod, never breaking stride as he and Irina walked down the sidewalk. The sky was dark, but the houses shone bright against the night, with warm light spilling out from their tall glass windows. The tropical air was warm despite the late hour, and gusts of wind blew in from the Cadrian Ocean. As always, the west coast had an entirely different feel from the east. While the Inner Sea vibrated with the mana of distant storms, this place had a sense of peaceful tranquility. Nothing but water, salt, and wind. Even a group of non-Water Artists could go sailing here without risking certain death. They still had walls, of course. Even without mana storms, the moons had no trouble pulling the tides a few hundred feet into the air. But such events were rare on this side of the continent, especially with Espiria''s southern tip shielding them from the worst of it. Elend crossed the street, following Glim¡¯s directions toward their target. The villa stood three stories high, with white stone walls and a terracotta roof. A matching stone wall surrounded the property, with a sea of flowers and palm trees filling the inner courtyard. The driveway wrapped around a stone fountain, and Elend spotted over two dozen luxury vehicles parked around it. ¡°Security?¡± he asked as they walked. ¡°Just the usual warding Constructs,¡± Glim said. ¡°Cameras by the gate, and a stern-looking guy at the door.¡± ¡°What rank is the guard?¡± ¡°Master,¡± she replied. ¡°Only in his forties, too.¡± ¡°Might be time to pull out the silver tongue,¡± Elend mused. ¡°How¡¯d that go with the Martials?¡± Irina asked with feigned curiosity. Elend winced. He¡¯d never live that down, would he? ¡°She has a point,¡± Glim said. Elend cleared his throat and gestured a thumb over his shoulder. ¡°I didn¡¯t hear any complaints when I talked us through the outer gatekeeper.¡± ¡°You already had a mental model for that scenario,¡± Irina said. ¡°But this has too many unknowns. We¡¯ve never been to a cultist meeting, and one mistake could put them on high alert. It might even draw their leaders¡¯ attention.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Elend said. ¡°Then what¡¯d you have in mind?¡± ¡°No guards on the back doors,¡± Glim spoke up. ¡°I saw a bunch of people going in and out.¡± ¡°Aye, but we can¡¯t just fly over those walls.¡± Neighborhoods like these were warded against unauthorized flight, even at Elend¡¯s level. And each property contributed to the warding scheme, with dozens of Masters adding their willpower on a weekly basis. Even Glim couldn¡¯t break those wards with so many redundancies in place. ¡°What about the neighbors?¡± Irina asked. ¡°That house on the right looks empty.¡± Elend reached out with his mana sense and found she was right. There was plenty of mana inside the house, but no living things unless you counted the plants. ¡°Yep!¡± The Glimmissle bobbed up and down. ¡°It¡¯s empty! And there¡¯s a shorter wall down by the beach.¡± Elend hummed in consideration. ¡°I suppose we could do Lovers in the Woods.¡± ¡°Might not need it,¡± Glim said. ¡°The gardens are pretty thick. No one will see you climb over.¡± ¡°We could use Hungry Mana Beast as a diversion,¡± Irina said. ¡°Just in case.¡± ¡°Aye, but that¡¯s risky. Another Grandmaster might see through it.¡± ¡°Glim could be a ghost dolphin. They already use dream mana to make their pods appear larger. No one would question it.¡± Elend shrugged as they made for the house. He¡¯d never liked stealth missions, but he was clearly outvoted here. That happened a lot, come to think of it. It also seemed unfair, considering Glim had begun as an extension of his mind. He¡¯d already disguised Irina and himself as a Cadrian couple. Not particularly young or old. Not striking, but not unsightly. They were the sort of people you¡¯d always find loitering in the background of any event. The sort of people you saw, but who never caught your eye. They rounded the corner, and Elend raised an invisibility Construct around them. This would let them approach the house without alerting the cameras or the neighbors. This house had no high walls or gates; the property¡¯s warding Constructs were enough to keep out most ordinary intruders. But Glim had spent decades training on KU''s systems, and it only took her a few seconds to cut off the outer sigils from the power supply. From there, he and Irina stepped up to the porch to take on the next layer¡ªa manatronic keypad next to the doorbell, and a mechanical lock on the door itself. For the keypad, Irina reached into her bag and retrieved a spray bottle of rossflare, an alchemical solution that mixed with the oils from human skin. She aimed the nozzle at the keypad and gave it a light squeeze. With that done, Elend used dream mana to make an ultraviolet light, revealing glowing fingerprints on four of the keys. Tiny Missiles passed between Irina and her Second Brain as she worked out the most probable passwords, and she got it on the first try. Finally, Irina pulled out the Master Key¡ªthe same key Akari had borrowed for her aspecting ritual. The artifact moved like flowing quicksilver as the mana passed from her hand to its metal surface. Slowly and deliberately, it reshaped itself to fit this specific lock. ¡°Get ready,¡± Elend told Glim. ¡°We might only have a few seconds before the inner wards¡ª¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Glim said. ¡°I¡¯ve got this.¡± Irina inserted the Master Key and twisted it hard to the left. The door shuddered as if awakening from a deep slumber. The alarm let out a series of beeps, and the Glimmissle darted inside the gap. ¡®Ohh!¡¯ Glim said in Elend¡¯s head. ¡®I like this house already. Did you know some people worship mana spirits?¡¯ ¡®No.¡¯ Elend groaned. ¡®You¡¯ve never mentioned that.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s true! They have a shrine and everything. I¡¯m definitely rewarding them when I take my rightful place as empress.¡¯ The alarm beeped faster. ¡®Elend¡¯s eyes and ears!¡¯ she exclaimed. He furrowed his brow. ¡®What did you say?¡¯ ¡®They had a decoy power source! I had to follow the conduits to the real one.¡¯ ¡®Not that,¡¯ Elend said. ¡®Did you just swear by my name?¡¯ ¡®Oh yeah, that was Akari¡¯s idea. You created me, so it¡¯s only fair, right?¡¯ The alarm beeped even faster, then it faded like a dead bird¡¯s song. ¡°Finally,¡± Elend said as he stepped through the door. ¡°Watch your step,¡± Glim hollered from somewhere inside the house. ¡°There¡¯s a bunch of dead bodies in the former living room. Looks like a mass suicide to me.¡± Irina froze in the hallway, eyes widening in horror. Elend kept on walking. ¡°Might want to cycle some knowledge mana, love.¡± His wife had adapted to Glim¡¯s sense of humor over the years, but Glim had adapted to her adaptions. They stepped out onto the back deck, through a garden, and down to the beach. There, they penetrated the adjacent yard¡¯s wards and scaled the brick wall. Glim was right about one thing: these gardens were a thief¡¯s dream, and the diversion proved unnecessary. They followed a veritable maze between landmarks, including statues, pavilions, and fountains. Finally, they emerged in the center of the yard, where a massive infinity pool stretched all the way from the house to the ocean. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The back doors hung wide open, with guests coming and going as they pleased. Still disguised, Elend and Irina strode forward and melted into the crowd. The size exceeded Elend¡¯s expectations, boasting several hundred people. And the guests weren¡¯t just locals. At least a quarter of them were Espirian or Shokenese. He even spotted a few half-dragons among them. Almost everyone wore black, but no one would mistake this meeting for a funeral. They were dressed too casually for that. The dim lighting cast an air of intrigue over the event, hinting at something sinister beneath the surface. The main hall was sparsely decorated, save for a single bronze dragon that hung prominently in the center. It was the same dragon he¡¯d seen on Lena Cavaco¡¯s necklace back in Creta. However, the Solidor clan sigil was hardly enough to reveal the meeting¡¯s true purpose. The Solidors might be famous in theory, but they¡¯d kept a lower profile than their fellow Aeon, Lyraina Trelian. Lady Trelian had come to this world around fifty years ago. Elend couldn¡¯t remember the exact date, but he¡¯d definitely been a student at that time. In just a few short years, she¡¯d amassed a following of thousands, and invented one of the most powerful aspects in history. Meanwhile, the Solidors had been far more subtle. They¡¯d ascended from Aeondom, but not by choice. They didn¡¯t seek to rule this world, or even to disrupt the power system. On the contrary, they just wanted to return home. To help the people they¡¯d left behind. Whether those rumors were true, Elend couldn¡¯t say. He hadn¡¯t heard from the Solidors in several decades, and not for a lack of effort on his part. They continued scanning the rooms, looking for any sign of Sozen Trengsen. Elend could have maintained their invisibility, but that would be a mistake. First, there was the obvious issue of navigating a crowd. No one stepped aside for invisible people, after all. But it was even more complicated than that. What if a floorboard sank beneath your weight? What if your foot caught the edge of a rug, causing it to wrinkle? At that point, you¡¯d need to extend your illusions to the environment. Rule number twelve of dream mana: a web of lies is the most inefficient way to work. Instead, Elend layered a simple misdirection Cloak over their disguises. This would encourage everyone¡¯s eyes to pass over them as if they were houseplants or coat racks. Elend used the same trick with his office door at school. Sometimes, he did it to keep the upperclassmen on their toes. More often, he did it keep away those pesky committee members who tried to dump extra work on his lap. He and Irina split up and did a broad sweep of the lower floors. Many of the guests had broken off into smaller meetings, discussing whatever cultists discussed. Elend couldn¡¯t barge into those rooms without making a scene, but his mana sense let him see the rough outlines of people¡¯s souls. No sign of Sozen anywhere. ¡°It¡¯s possible he hasn¡¯t arrived yet,¡± Irina said when they met on the second floor. ¡°Possible ¡­¡± Elend scratched the stubble on his chin as he watched a pair of Grandmasters ascend to the third floor. The house¡¯s upper level was warded against any form of scrying, and a pair of guards stood at the bottom of the staircase. The wards were far more intricate than the property¡¯s outer layers, and Glim couldn¡¯t even touch them without tripping an alarm. Irina followed his gaze. ¡°You think he¡¯s already up there?¡± Elend shrugged. ¡°This trip¡¯s gone far too smoothly. I figure we¡¯re due for some bad luck.¡± His last comment earned him a flat look from his wife. In all honesty, Elend didn¡¯t believe in luck, either, but he couldn¡¯t resist teasing her. In that moment, he felt a pair of eyes watching them from across the room. They pierced right through his misdirection Cloak, sure as any Missile. Footsteps approached before he could react, and a familiar voice spoke. ¡°Hello, Espirian.¡± Elend spun to see a woman in a formal black dress, her olive skin glowing against the fabric. A dragon necklace hung around her neck, its intricate details catching the light as she moved. Lena Cavaco. The Ethersmith who¡¯d helped him escape Creta. ¡°What brings you here?¡± she asked. He stared into the woman¡¯s dark eyes, searching for a sign of her intention. Her gaze was wide and curious, as if she were genuinely surprised to find him here. But those same eyes pierced his illusion, and he felt the pressure like a heavy stone. She knew exactly who he was, and he wouldn¡¯t convince her otherwise. Not without dream mana, at least. Elend shot Irina a glance, but she¡¯d already assumed a guise of casual confusion. The sort of look you¡¯d expect from someone who¡¯d just been approached by a stranger. Clearly, she intended to let him handle this. He forced a smile and relaxed his own posture. Then he wove several strands of mana into the illusion, letting her see their actual faces. ¡°What tipped you off?¡± ¡°Your spirit friend,¡± Lena replied. ¡°Glimmar, was it? Her patterns are denser than most mana techniques. More like a soul.¡± Elend¡¯s brow furrowed. Even the average Grandmaster would struggle to see that level of detail, and Lena was only an Apprentice. Then again, she was also an Aeon, and Aeons didn¡¯t play by the rules of this world. ¡°Did you track me here, Espirian?¡± She raised her wine glass to her lips, but her eyes never left his. ¡°I thought I made myself clear¡ª¡± ¡°No.¡± Elend held up a hand. ¡°I didn¡¯t come here for you.¡± ¡°Why then?¡± ¡°We followed someone else. A lad named Sozen Trengsen.¡± Her eyebrows went up at that. ¡°Sozen?¡± Irina cleared her throat and stepped between them. ¡°Perhaps we should take this somewhere private?¡± She was right, of course. Elend still had his misdirection Cloak active, but it wouldn¡¯t work as well with Lena here. Especially if someone sought her out. Lena hesitated for a moment, then nodded down a nearby hallway. ¡°Follow me.¡± Elend followed her through a wooden door, half-expecting to find a bedroom on the other side. Instead, she led them into a small study. A table and chairs sat in the room¡¯s center and a tall window dominated the western wall. Leather-bound books lined the shelves, but they felt more like decoration than anything else. Irina followed him inside, shutting the door behind her. Then she swept the room for bugs while Elend raised a sound suppressor. ¡°Same question,¡± the Ethersmith said once they¡¯d settled in. ¡°What do you want with Sozen?¡± Elend rested his hands on the back of a chair and considered his options. Perhaps he had no need for secrecy? Sozen might be from Arkala, but Elend¡¯s own intentions were pure enough. ¡°He¡¯s related to one of my students.¡± ¡°Related?¡± Lena echoed. ¡°Kalden¡¯s long-lost brother. He got a job at my school this year, and he just happened to bump into Kalden on the first day of classes. If that¡¯s not strange enough, imagine my surprise to find Master-level Constructs on his soul. Not to mention his ties to shady organizations.¡± Elend gestured around at their surroundings, but he gave Lena a gentle smile to let her know he was half-joking. She gave a slow nod. ¡°You¡¯re right to suspect him. Many of us agree with you.¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± Elend asked. ¡°Sozen is a member of the church¡¯s inner circle, but no one will say why. All the other members are Masters or Grandmasters.¡± Interesting. They¡¯d suspected the lad might be more powerful, but why hide that power from his own allies? ¡°He also took a trip to Creta this spring,¡± Lena said. ¡°A few weeks after we left.¡± ¡°What?¡± Elend¡¯s heart rate quickened, and his fingers clenched into fists. How had Sozen kept that a secret? He¡¯d never sensed any hostility or deception from him. ¡°Does he travel there often?¡± Irina asked. ¡°No,¡± Lena said. ¡°This was the first time we know of.¡± ¡°Then it can¡¯t be a coincidence.¡± ¡°Unlikely,¡± she agreed. ¡°And your comment about shady organizations is more true than you realize. Are you familiar with the Sons of Talek?¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Elend said. "They¡¯re a bunch of fundamentalists, set on returning the world to its so-called glory days.¡± They were also hypocrites, spouting words of equality, but quick to hoard knowledge once they came into power themselves. Dragonlord Antano was just one recent example of that. ¡°They also oppose your kind,¡± his wife added. ¡°As beings from a different world, Aeons represent change more than anyone else.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Lena said. ¡°They call us the anti-Angels. Demons, if you will.¡± Elend frowned. ¡°Seems a bit melodramatic, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°They mean that in the traditional sense,¡± she said. ¡°The demons from Shokenese mythology could drain a Mana Artist¡¯s power, advancing faster than ordinary humans.¡± Elend had heard of Aeons who could absorb energy and dismantle mana-based techniques, but absorbing another Mana Artist¡¯s power? A part of him wanted to ask how true their claims were, but it wasn¡¯t a priority right now. ¡°You think Sozen has ties with this group? ¡°We can¡¯t say for certain, but his movements indicate a connection. It¡¯s possible that he¡¯s double-crossing us, feeding them information.¡± ¡°Where is Sozen now?¡± Irina asked. ¡°He¡¯s upstairs,¡± Lena said. ¡°Or rather, he was.¡± Elend¡¯s gaze flicked toward the ceiling. ¡°What¡¯s up there?¡± ¡°Portals,¡± she replied. "Gateways to the church¡¯s other locations.¡± ¡°Bloody hell,¡± Elend muttered. ¡°He could be anywhere on the continent by now.¡± Irina put a reassuring hand on his arm. ¡°We can head back to Koreldon City after this. It¡¯s unlikely he¡¯ll beat us back.¡± Unlikely, but not impossible. The others could be in danger right now. In fact, this could all be an elaborate plot to distract him. ¡®Hey,¡¯ Glim said in his head. ¡®Deep breaths!¡¯ Elend followed her advice, and his thoughts came a little clearer. They already had enemies in Koreldon City, and he¡¯d already trusted Raizen and Truewater to keep his students safe. Nothing had changed in the last few minutes. Irina turned back to the Ethersmith. ¡°You can see through my husband¡¯s wards, but not Sozen¡¯s. Why is that?¡± The other woman showed her palms in a helpless gesture. ¡°I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s not much to say. Whoever designed Sozen¡¯s Constructs did it with Aeons in mind. No surprise, considering the company he keeps.¡± Elend nodded, having already expected as much. They could interrogate Sozen on their own if it came to that. They¡¯d certainly learned enough to justify that. However, they¡¯d taken this trip for more than one reason. ¡°Do you remember Relia?¡± he asked. ¡°Of course.¡± Lena didn¡¯t so much as blink at the sudden change of topic. ¡°Her time is running out,¡± Elend said. ¡°She only has a few more weeks to reach Artisan. Maybe a month if she¡¯s lucky.¡± ¡°What¡¯s her mana count?¡± Lena asked. ¡°Twenty-seven hundred.¡± Her mouth made a thin line. ¡°I can¡¯t help her close that gap any quicker. Maybe if she were already a trained Aeon, but no ¡­ such training would take months. ¡°Aye,¡± Elend agreed. ¡°She needs soulshine.¡± He and Irina had discussed this issue countless times, and they¡¯d always reached the same conclusion. ¡°I can put you in contact with a local dealer,¡± Lena began. ¡°We already know the recipe,¡± Irina said. ¡°And we have access to all the ingredients. The hard part is convincing her to take it.¡± Elend nodded his agreement. ¡°Relia thinks her parents abused soulshine before she was born. Now she¡¯d sooner die than follow in their footsteps.¡± They could have forced Relia to take it, of course. He could even make her think it was her idea. But that was a slippery slope¡ªone he¡¯d slid down many times before he¡¯d finally learned his lesson. There was a moment of silence while soft music wafted it from the villa¡¯s main rooms. ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors,¡± Lena finally said. ¡°Things you wouldn¡¯t hear outside these walls. She¡¯s Ashur Moonfire¡¯s daughter, isn¡¯t she?¡± Elend shrugged. ¡°I already told you, that¡¯s not my secret to share.¡± She nodded as if that were a confirmation. ¡°And you don¡¯t think soulshine caused her condition?¡± ¡°I have my suspicions,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve had them for years. But I¡¯ll need proof if I want to convince her.¡± ¡°Proof,¡± Lena said. ¡°Yes ¡­ I think I can help you with that.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 38: The Library Akari lowered her gun and withdrew her knee from Arturo¡¯s chest. Her legs shook from kneeling for so long, and the left one was half-frozen. Kalden and Zukan had only been talking for a few minutes, but it felt more like an hour. Meanwhile, Arturo didn''t budge an inch. His face had relaxed after the standoff, but his gun barrel stayed fixed on her forehead. Akari narrowed her eyes and re-adjusted the grip on her own weapon. ¡°Gonna lower that thing or what?¡± ¡°C-can¡¯t,¡± Arturo said through chattering teeth. She glanced down and saw a web of ice spreading from his chest to his arm. Pale blue mana crystals froze the limb in place, but his finger kept a safe distance from the trigger. ¡°Oh.¡± She stepped back and dropped her own weapon on a nearby table. ¡°Sorry ¡­¡± Zukan sauntered over a second later, and Akari did not cringe at the sight of the massive dragon. Talek, how tall was he, anyway? Her head barely reached the middle of his chest, and his biceps looked wider around than her waist. Zukan knelt beside his wounded friend and formed a flaming dagger in his right hand. The dragon made several gentle slashes, turning the ice mana to mist. Relia healed Kalden¡¯s wounds and made her way toward Arturo. The others eyed her as she approached, but Relia seemed unfazed, smiling broadly as if they were already best friends. ¡°Is it cool if I heal you?¡± she asked Arturo in a soft voice. Then she glanced down at the half-melted ice. ¡°No pun intended.¡± Arturo hesitated, his eyes darting between her outstretched hand and the bullet wound in his chest. For a moment, it seemed like he might object on principle. But he finally gave her a weak nod and relaxed his head against the concrete floor. Relia pressed a hand to his stomach, and his body worked to push the bullet out. His skin re-knit itself over the next few seconds, and some of the color returned to his cheeks. Akari¡¯s hands fidgeted with her hoodie strings as she watched them. Finally, she turned to Kalden. ¡°Nice moves, Corozono.¡± The words sounded sarcastic as they left her mouth, but she meant them with all her heart. She honestly hadn¡¯t believed he¡¯d talk them out of that one. Kalden frowned. ¡°Corozono?¡± ¡°What?¡± Her eyes widened in shock. ¡°You¡¯ve never seen Corozono?¡± ¡°Let me guess, it¡¯s one of those old Mana Arts movies you like?¡± Akari stared at him for another moment before shaking her head. ¡°We gotta have a date night soon.¡± ¡°We keep saying that, but we always end up training.¡± ¡°After the qualifying rounds,¡± she said with sudden conviction. ¡°I¡¯ll show you some good movies.¡± A grin crept across her face, and she lowered her voice to a whisper. ¡°Then you can finally¡ª¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°Don¡¯t forget we¡¯re on TV.¡± Akari closed her mouth, but her smile never faded. Relia finished her healing rounds, and all five of them gathered in the middle of the lab. Arturo reclined in one of the rolling chairs while the rest of them eyed each other warily. ¡°First thing¡¯s first,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Only Zukan and I agreed to this alliance. Is everyone else on board?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Relia practically clapped her hands together. ¡°It¡¯s the best idea you¡¯ve had all day.¡± They looked toward Akari next, and she quickly nodded her agreement. She¡¯d always respected Arturo as a Mana Artist. Despite having thin channels, the boy kept finding clever ways to keep up during their classes. And while she didn¡¯t know Zukan personally, she couldn¡¯t deny his skills. ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Arturo said. ¡°But how long does this last? I mean, let¡¯s say we win this game, but we all hate each other.¡± Relia looked at him if he¡¯d just punched a puppy. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°What? Just trying to avoid a fight later on.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a bad question.¡± Kalden paused for a moment to consider. ¡°Let¡¯s re-evaluate things at the end of the school year. Until then, we¡¯ll all do our best. No games, no plots, and no betrayals.¡± ¡°This deal is acceptable,¡± Zukan said in a formal voice. Arturo nodded and flipped a pair of metal tongs in his hand. ¡°Works for me, shoko. But first we gotta win this match. Any idea how?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about that,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Elise has us outnumbered ten to one, but we can negate that advantage.¡± ¡°How¡¯s that?¡± ¡°We hunker down somewhere. Force them to come to us in a narrow space.¡± ¡°Anything¡¯s better than running from helicopters,¡± Akari muttered. ¡°But where?¡± Relia made a show of looking around. ¡°This little house won¡¯t cut it.¡± ¡°The Artegium library,¡± Arturo said. They all looked at him, and even Zukan raised a clawed finger to his chin. ¡°The others were just there, were they not?¡± ¡°They were up on the roof, draco. I¡¯m talking about the inside. We can turn that into a fortress¡ªfilter Moonfire¡¯s troops through the front door.¡± Kalden furrowed his brow. ¡°Won¡¯t they just collapse the building on our heads?¡± ¡°Not if we re-activate the defenses.¡± Arturo pushed his chair back and formed a pair of golden ring Constructs around his head. It looked like a simpler version of Irina¡¯s Second Brain technique. Tiny Missiles flowed between the rings and his body, and he projected a golden hologram on the table between them. A map of the Artegium? Arturo zoomed in on the library. ¡°The game designers made everything weaker. If I had to guess, I¡¯d say these buildings are five percent their usual strength.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± Kalden said. ¡°The audience likes mass destruction.¡± ¡°And the buildings are running on backup generators,¡± Relia added. ¡°At least, the Healing Arts Center was.¡± ¡°Those aren¡¯t generators,¡± Arturo waved his hand and highlighted a pair of thick pipes that intersected beneath the library. ¡°Mana still flows through the conduits, but it¡¯s a fraction of what we¡¯re used to.¡± Akari gave a slow nod. She¡¯d never call herself a manatronics expert, but she¡¯d heard how power plants output less mana without regular maintenance. An abandoned plant seemed to fit the whole apocalypse vibe. ¡°How do you know the power¡¯s coming through?¡± Kalden asked Arturo. ¡°I already reinforced the Combat Arts Center for Sun Army. But see this?¡± He gestured back to the intersecting pipes. ¡°The biggest conduits run beneath the library. That means we can take all that power for ourselves.¡± ¡°And that will be enough to reinforce the building?¡± Relia asked. ¡°Hell yeah, spira. No Apprentice is breaking through that.¡± ¡°Just one problem,¡± Kalden said. ¡°The library¡¯s at the center of campus. How do we get there without being seen?¡± ¡°Or shot at,¡± Akari added. ¡°No problem.¡± Arturo raised the projection to focus on the crisscrossing pipes. ¡°Maintenance tunnels always follow mana conduits. The library has an access point ¡­¡± He zoomed back out, gesturing to a small structure on the south side of campus. ¡°And there¡¯s another a few blocks away.¡± ¡°There are tunnels beneath campus?¡± Kalden blinked as he took in the images. ¡°Who else knows about these?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Relia spoke up. ¡°And I¡¯m a second-year.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m a fifth-year,¡± Arturo said with a grin. ¡°We worked down there a lot in Sigilcraft.¡± Fifth year? Raizen had mentioned him switching his major from Sigilcraft to Combat, but Akari hadn¡¯t realized he¡¯d been here long enough to graduate. ¡°Then how old are you?¡± she blurted out. ¡°Twenty-one?¡± ¡°Nah, shoka. Got in when I was fourteen.¡± His grin widened as he turned to face her. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one who can skip grades.¡± They hashed out a broader plan over the next few minutes, tossing around ideas for how to beat Moon Army. Most of their plans involved explosions, but Relia didn¡¯t object to these the way she had with the poison. Neither did Akari. If Moon Army wanted to gang up on them, then bombs seemed like fair game. Things were calmer when they stepped outside, and Arturo led them to a simple brick building with a web of vines snaking around the front door. Zukan stepped forward and sliced the lock with a flaming dagger. With that done, the rest of the group rushed inside. It was a tight fit, but they couldn¡¯t risk being spotted. That part of the plan came later. Tools and machinery lined the walls, and a large workbench filled most of the room. A second door sat opposite the first, and Zukan cut the locks in a matter of seconds. Arturo yanked open the steel handle, and a burst of icy air sighed through the gap. Akari had to stand on her tiptoes to see over the others¡¯ shoulders, and she saw an old brick staircase that reminded her of the catacombs in Creta. Zukan took point down the stairs, with Arturo hot on his heels. Relia and Kalden followed them, while Akari brought up the rear. Darkness shrouded their path, and the only light came from Zukan¡¯s flaming weapon. These tunnels extended far deeper than any basement. Probably two or three stories, judging by the number of stairs. Akari had never considered herself claustrophobic, but in that moment, she could get on board with the idea. What if Elise knew they were here, the same way she¡¯d known about their rooftop hideout? What if a Stone Artist buried them alive? Talek. She should have left a portal on the surface. At least that would give them an escape route. They walked in single file for several minutes, with Arturo checking his map whenever they reached a junction. The giant mana conduit hummed eerily beside them, and their footsteps echoed endlessly in both directions. Even her ears felt the pressure of the earth above. Finally, they reached an old steel ladder, and a vertical tunnel that extended straight up through the ceiling. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Arturo said. ¡°This leads straight to the library basement.¡± Zukan climbed up first, pushing open a hatch and bathing the tunnel with the faint light of morning. Akari followed the others up, and the thunder of footsteps and mana echoed from above. The fighting had already started. Book 3 - Chapter 39: Top of the Class Akari trailed Zukan through the library''s basement. The massive dragon was surprisingly light on his feet, hardly making a sound as they passed through the shadows. Relia kept pace behind them, while Kalden stayed back with Arturo, acting as his bodyguard while he tinkered with the shields. Zukan paused at a junction, raising a clawed hand to stop them. He met their eyes, nodded once, then set off on his own. Akari leaned around the corner and saw two more contestants she didn¡¯t recognize. They¡¯d just emerged from a storage room, turning their backs to Zukan as he crept closer. She held her breath, half-expecting the dragon to attack with his flaming weapons. Instead, he closed the distance, Cloaked his muscles, and grabbed both men by their throats. Akari didn¡¯t see how they died. Maybe Zukan had pierced their windpipes with his claws. Maybe he¡¯d just squeezed with all his might. Either way, they faded into clouds of silent white mist. She¡¯d underestimated Zukan again. Kalden had once described him as ¡°honorable to a fault.¡± The sort of person who would only attack from the front, and who trusted far too easily. But he¡¯d clearly honed his stealth skills, and he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to use them in battle. They reached the stairwell a minute later, and Zukan led them up into the library¡¯s main chamber. Tiers of shelves spiraled around the edges of the room, stretching upward for several stories. Morning light filtered in through the stained glass windows, painting the scene in shades of yellow, orange, and blue. On a typical day, this room was quiet enough to hear the whisper of spacetime mana. Students only spoke in hushed words, and every footstep and rustle of paper seemed to fill the world. Now, mana soared around them in a dozen colors, slamming into walls, forming craters in the stone. Bookshelves lay on their sides like collapsed dominos, with leather and paper strewn in heaps over the marble floors. ¡°Get us to the high ground.¡± Zukan extended a hand toward an upper level where several students fought. Akari nodded in approval. Several heartbeats passed as she gathered the mana in her palms, then she shot the first Missile between the contestants on the upper floor. She released a second missile in front of them, forming a portal between the two points. Zukan ducked through, forging a flaming spear in his right hand. Akari and Relia cycled pure mana as they followed. Akari¡¯s aspect was a game-changer in battle, but things were different with teammates. Now, with Zukan filling the heavy-hitter role, she could conserve her portals for emergencies. As for Relia ¡­ well, she¡¯d never liked her death mana, anyway. Besides, this whole alliance hinged on letting Zukan win. Hard to do that with instant-kill techniques. Their group emerged in the middle of a skirmish: two students from Moon Army against two from Blood Army. So much for the truce. Elise might have riled everyone up, but that wasn¡¯t the same as peace. Sort of the opposite, in fact. Zukan¡¯s body shone golden as he charged into the fray, slashing his spear in quick arcs. The first strike opened a boy¡¯s throat, then he ducked and brought the weapon around to slice off a girl¡¯s legs. Akari and Relia focused their attacks on the second pair, aiming to injure rather than kill. One raised a Construct of stone mana, while the other flung metal Missiles around the edges. Zukan thrust his spear into the ground, leaving a crater in the stone. Then he leapt high into the air, using his spear as a pole to vault over the stone Construct. Three more slashes, and they died like the rest. This continued over the next few minutes. They made their way around the chamber, combining Akari¡¯s portals with Zukan¡¯s stealth to flank their opponents. Some groups put up a struggle, but Zukan had an answer to everything. A Stone Artist turned the floor to quicksand, ensnaring their legs. The dragon pressed a palm to the floor and burned the stone itself. Another student struck with a gust of wind that hurled Akari and Relia against the wall. But Zukan¡¯s weapon warped into a massive claw, digging deep into the floor, anchoring his body in place. His spears cut his opponents¡¯ techniques like wet paper, and his fire lent him more speed than any Blade Artist she¡¯d ever seen. Even when someone scored a deep hit, Relia rushed to his defense, sealing the wounds before they bled white mist. Akari felt like a sidekick after a while, and that rubbed her like a stone in her shoe. Not only was Zukan Kortez at the top of their class, but he had an unbeatable aspect and a perfect dueling record. Meanwhile, she and Relia were filling support roles. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Her peers fought with bursts of raw power, while she had a measly bag of tricks. True, Akari¡¯s aspect was technically more impressive, but it was hard to feel smug in the face of infernos, tidal waves, and tornados. How was she supposed to close this gap? She only had one spacetime technique, while they¡¯d all been refining their aspects for years. Keep training, she reminded herself. Master by twenty-one. If she¡¯d gone from Bronze to Apprentice in a single year, what could she do with five more? ~~~ Relia fired another pure Missile, hitting her opponent square in his knee. The poor boy collapsed on the floor, and Zukan drove a spear straight through his spine. Their surviving opponents retreated in two directions. One headed toward the stairwell while the others ran down another aisle. ¡°Take him,¡± Zukan said. ¡°We¡¯ll go this way.¡± Relia nodded. She didn¡¯t like chasing people down, but she understood her group¡¯s reasons. This whole plan hinged on keeping Arturo safe while he worked on the shields. A few more contestants had already gotten into the basement, and they couldn¡¯t risk them overwhelming Kalden. But this guy didn¡¯t head for the basement. Instead, he cut behind the staff desk toward the main doors. Relia saw his path in her mind¡¯s eye. and she shot a pure Missile toward the doorway. The technique was as small as a bullet and as sharp as a dagger. And when the boy reached the doorway, the mana dug straight into his spine. Relia skidded to a halt as her opponent dissolved into white mist. The library¡¯s outer doors hung wide open, and she ducked behind the wall as several pairs of footsteps echoed in the vestibule. Elise Moonfire strode inside the library, flanked by a pair of stern-looking bodyguards. Her uniform was free of dust, and her hair fell around her face in golden waves. Azul¡¯s ashes, even her makeup looked fresh. Relia remained hidden behind the door, shrouding her soul as well as she could. Better to wait for her teammates at this point. A Light Artist appeared a few paces in front of Elise. Short and muscular, she had her brown hair pulled back in a tight braid. Relia thought her name was Aurora, but there were so many first-years, and she struggled to keep them straight in her head. ¡°Report,¡± Elise said. ¡°I got a visual,¡± Aurora replied. ¡°Zukan Kortez is alive.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Elises scrunched up her face as if this were a personal insult. ¡°We watched him and Arturo go down.¡± Aurora gave a helpless shrug. ¡°Just telling you what I saw. He even fought¡ª¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Elise interrupted. ¡°I believe you. Who¡¯s he with?¡± ¡°Dawnfire and Zeller.¡± ¡°Damnit.¡± Elise grabbed a handful of her hair. Despite her polished appearance, her eyes looked weary and sleep deprived. ¡°How¡¯d they even get in here?¡± ¡°Zeller can make portals, right?¡± ¡°Not through walls,¡± Elise snapped back. ¡°These doors are open.¡± Her bodyguard gestured behind them. ¡°And space mana has no range limit.¡± He was half right. Akari could technically shoot a spacetime Missile several miles away, but her accuracy wasn¡¯t good enough to get through an open doorway. She¡¯d been lucky to hit the broad side of a building during their retreat. ¡°Okay,¡± Elise said after a short pause. ¡°Pull back our forces and guard the exits. We¡¯ll work out a plan from there.¡± The ambush came the second they turned their backs. The ground shook like an earthquake, and two massive arms of stone sprang up around them. One grabbed Aurora, squeezing her with its thick fingers and slamming her hard into the ceiling. The second arm grabbed Elise and knocked her to the floor. Relia recognized the techniques at once. They belonged to Kohen Grandhall, a Stone Artist from Relia¡¯s class. And if Kohen was here ¡­ The wooden doors sprang to life. Each plank moved like melted plastic, knotting together to bar the exit. At the same time, a dozen green vines slithered in through the gaps. Some reached out and grabbed Elise¡¯s bodyguards. Others grew thorns like razor blades and broke their skin. That would be Kohen¡¯s girlfriend, Tessa Greenleaf. Those two had been a power couple since they were first-years, especially when they combined their crowd-control techniques. Elise extended her left arm, raising a pure mana shield against the vines. She continued struggling for breath, Cloaking her body against the pressure of the stone hand. Kohen stepped around the corner, wearing a smug expression and a full suit of stone body armor. Elise shot him with a dream Missile, but the mana bounced harmlessly off the stone. Tessa¡¯s vines struck like vipers. One twisted around Elise¡¯s throat while another struck the center of her chest. She tried to cry out, but the first vine blocked her airflow. White light spilled from the wound, and her Cloak dimmed to a pale blue. Relia had planned to wait for backup, but that plan changed when they wounded her little sister. Despite everything Elise had done, some primal instinct drove Relia to action. She sprang from her hiding spot, forming a cloud of green life mana around her body. Her opponents reacted at once. Kohen hurled a flying stone fist toward her shoulder, but Relia flared her Life Cloak, hardening every cell at the point of impact. Stone might be tough, but humans were even tougher when they wanted to be. Tessa¡¯s vines withered as the cloud of death engulfed them, crumbling to dust as they shrank back to their maker. Unfortunately, Relia couldn¡¯t break the stone arms that held her sister. She¡¯d tried many times in Raizen¡¯s class, and she¡¯d always failed. Kohen¡¯s Constructs were simply too thick, and her own Cloak was better suited to defense than destruction. To make matters worse, Kohen¡¯s Stone Cloak made him almost invulnerable to pure mana techniques. But even the strongest Cloaks couldn¡¯t resist healing. Relia interposed her body between him and Elise, pressing a hand to his chest. She¡¯d never used her aspect this way in a school game¡ªnot until yesterday. And despite all the rumors, none of her classmates knew enough to be truly afraid of her. Kohen faded into a cloud of pale mist, and his stone Constructs faded with him. Elise collapsed like a limp doll, and Relia barely caught her. White mist flowed out from her wounds, but she wasn¡¯t dead yet. Relia cycled life mana as she prepared to heal her sister. Before she could, more footsteps echoed out from the main chamber. Probably a whole stampede fleeing from Zukan. Without a second thought, Relia threw Elise over her shoulder and fled back through the staff room. Book 3 - Chapter 40: Chaos Relia stumbled through the front of the library with Elise¡¯s limp body over her shoulders. Mana soared through the chamber beyond, and Zukan¡¯s footsteps echoed through the high ceiling as he chased down the stragglers. Relia kept running the other way, ducking behind desks, shelves, and filing cabinets. Azul¡¯s ashes. The audience must be so confused right now. Some might see this act as selfless or heroic. Others would see an elaborate Death Artist plot to gain more power. Most people would just call her stupid. The truth was, Relia had hardly spoken two words to her little sister, and this was the closest they¡¯d ever been. She cherished this moment, as bizarre as it seemed. With the others distracted in the main vestibule, Relia snuck into a study room and locked the door behind her. Better her friends didn¡¯t find out about this yet. Elise had betrayed Zukan and Arturo, and she¡¯d rallied everyone up against Kalden and Akari. They all had a right to be angry. With the door locked behind her, Relia crossed the room and lowered Elise on a plush sofa. She¡¯d half-expected to find her sister unconscious, but a pair of confused blue eyes stared up at her. ¡°Hold still,¡± Relia said as she pressed a hand to her sternum. ¡°This is gonna hurt.¡± To her surprise, Elise didn¡¯t even wince as Relia pushed the life mana into her body. She was probably using dream mana to ignore the pain. Elend did that, too. Especially for times like this, when the pain was nothing but a distraction. Elise tried to speak after several seconds, but the words got caught in her barren throat. ¡°Here.¡± Relia used her free hand to pull the canteen from her belt, then she used her teeth to unscrew the cap. Elise narrowed her eyes at the offering. ¡°It¡¯s just water.¡± Relia took a long drink to prove it. ¡°See?¡± Her sister eyed her for several more heartbeats, searching for some sign of deception on her face. Finally, she accepted the canteen and drank. Her breaths grew deeper after that, and far more steady. ¡°Well,¡± she finally said, ¡°this is awkward.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Relia felt a sad smile spread across her face. ¡°We¡¯ve hardly talked until now.¡± ¡°Why would we?¡± Her sister¡¯s voice was cold and careless, but Relia didn¡¯t blame her for that. She¡¯d grown up in the Moonfire estate all alone, with only the household staff for company. After that, she¡¯d used her dream mana to make friends, encouraging people to respect and follow her. But Elend had tried this same tactic in his younger days. He¡¯d claimed it left him feeling guilty and hollow. Such feelings were far worse than having no friends at all. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll owe you for this,¡± Elise said. ¡°I¡¯m afraid to ask what you want in return.¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Relia said as she worked. ¡°Bullshit,¡± Elise snapped. ¡°We¡¯re enemies.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not enemies,¡± Relia said in a soft voice. ¡°This is all a stupid game.¡± Her sister scoffed. ¡°What? Did you sign up by accident? Forgot to read the fine print?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to train,¡± she replied. ¡°To do my best, and to spend time with my friends.¡± Her long-term survival was also a factor. The harder she trained, the longer she would live. And while this combat might be simulated, they still spent mana to fuel their techniques. That mana would be used to power the arena, but it would translate to real gains when they left. But Relia didn¡¯t bother mentioning this to her sister. In all honesty, it didn¡¯t matter at this point. She¡¯d done the math, and she¡¯d never reach Artisan in the next month. ¡°We¡¯re still enemies,¡± Elise said. ¡°I showed that footage of you in Creta. That will cause you problems. Real problems.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Relia let out a long breath as she pulled her hands away from Elise¡¯s wound. The white light had faded now, and nothing but pale, smooth skin remained. ¡°I forgive you.¡± ~~~ Kalden climbed the stairs and found the library in shambles. Fortunately, the oaken doors sat firmly shut, and Zukan and Akari jogged over to meet him. ¡°Hey,¡± Akari said as he crested the staircase. ¡°Is Relia down there?¡± Kalden frowned. ¡°I thought she was with you.¡± Akari shook her head, gesturing toward the front doors. ¡°She chased some random guy that way and never came back.¡± ¡°Damnit,¡± Kalden muttered. ¡°Was she carrying any equipment? Anything she didn¡¯t start with?¡± Contestants kept their clothing and starting prizes when they died, but they dropped anything they found in the arena. She furrowed her brow, considering. ¡°A water bottle on her belt.¡± Zukan stepped into their conversation. ¡°What did it look like? ¡°It was pink,¡± Akari said. ¡°Can¡¯t miss it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do another sweep,¡± the dragon said as he set off. ¡°Let¡¯s check the study rooms.¡± Akari gestured to the row of closed doors near the librarian¡¯s desk. ¡°Maybe she made some new friends?¡± ¡°Guess that wouldn¡¯t be so bad,¡± Kalden said. ¡°As long as it¡¯s not¡ª¡± A door swung open, and Relia emerged into the library¡¯s main chamber. Another young woman followed close behind. She was about Relia¡¯s height, with long blonde hair. Kalden was still processing the sight when Zukan formed a flaming spear in his hand. Akari leapt forward in the same moment, gathering pure mana in her palms. Elise Moonfire. ¡°Wait!¡± Relia raised her hands. ¡°She¡¯s with me.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve gotta be kidding,¡± Kalden said. ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡± Her sister shuffled out beside her, looking awkward and intimidated. It was all an act, of course. Elise controlled every aspect of her appearance, down to the smallest facial ticks. Even when she wasn¡¯t at ease, she knew how to fake it. That meant she could fake the opposite as well. Akari muttered a curse under her breath, and Kalden relaxed into his Silver Sight, searching for any strand of dream mana between Relia and Elise. He found nothing, and Elise¡¯s channels were as still as a winter pond. ¡°Look ¡­¡± Elise stepped forward before anyone else objected. ¡°It''s crystal clear how this game will end. You five are¡ª¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Five?¡± Kalden narrowed his eyes at Relia. She raised her hands defensively. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell her anything!¡± ¡°Please,¡± Elise said. ¡°Arturo¡¯s clearly around here somewhere. No offense to Zukan, but he didn¡¯t vanish into thin air by himself.¡± The outer doors shook as someone stuck them with a technique. ¡°He also didn¡¯t reinforce those shields.¡± Kalden didn¡¯t waste his breath with denials. He couldn¡¯t lie to Elise on a good day, much less after twenty-four hours in the arena. Besides, Akari and Zukan were both honest to a fault. Elise cleared her throat. ¡°As I was saying, you five are obviously going to win this game against all odds.¡± She met each of their eyes as if seeing the deepest desires of their hearts. She even turned back to Relia for a moment, exposing her back to the others. ¡°I want in.¡± Akari snorted at that, and Kalden had to agree with her assessment. Meanwhile, Zukan waited like a poised snake, never lowering his golden spear. Elise continued, unfazed. ¡°You still have an empty spot, don¡¯t you? Imagine having the best of all three armies together. We¡¯d be the strongest team this school has ever seen.¡± ¡°You think we¡¯re stupid?¡± Akari blurted out. ¡°You¡¯ve been screwing us all semester.¡± ¡°What¡¯d you expect?¡± the other girl retorted. ¡°I¡¯m not running a soup kitchen here.¡± ¡°This was personal,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Your projection in the sky¡ª¡± ¡°A bit dramatic,¡± Elise agreed. ¡°But chaos was my goal, and it worked. Look me in the eye and tell me how we¡¯re different, Kalden Trengsen.¡± Kalden¡¯s gaze flicked toward Relia. He saw nothing but determination now, but he remembered the pain in her eyes after Elise¡¯s speech. ¡°I draw the line at hurting people in real life,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s how we¡¯re different.¡± Elise winced, finally breaking his gaze and finding a sudden interest in her boots. The look was completely earnest, as if Kalden¡¯s words had shown her the errors of her ways. She let out a long breath and met his eyes with visible reluctance. ¡°I got carried away, and¡ª¡± ¡°Bullshit,¡± Akari interrupted. ¡°I¡¯ll bet you wrote that speech weeks ago.¡± Fair point. Elise obviously had that footage of Relia in her back pocket, and she¡¯d spent the beginning of this game gathering intel when she could have been fighting. This hadn¡¯t been a moment of weakness or panic. No ¡­ Kalden didn¡¯t fall for any of this, but Relia did. Despite everything, Elise had wedged herself between them, getting in a perfect position to sow more chaos. Not to mention her personal vendetta against Akari. He saw her plan as clear as a written promise. Unfortunately, seeing it wasn¡¯t enough to stop it. I should put a blade through her heart right now. But of course, Relia was the fastest one in this room. She could heal any damage he dealt, and their team would be in a worse position than before. ¡°Alright,¡± Kalden looked Elise in the eye. ¡°You want to join us? Then prove it. Let Zukan kill you right now.¡± ¡°What the hell?¡± Elise said. ¡°You¡¯ve already gained enough points to qualify, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t sit on the sidelines while you make history,¡± Elise said. ¡°These scores will be on record forever. Our children and grandchildren will see them.¡± ¡°What a surprise,¡± Akari muttered. ¡°Guessing you can¡¯t call off your minions, either?¡± ¡°Why?¡± Elise cocked her head to the side. ¡°Arturo got the shields working, and I¡¯m guessing your plan involves a big explosion. Moon Army¡¯s right where you want them.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Kalden blew out a long breath. ¡°I think we¡¯ve officially ruined the faction system.¡± Betrayals had always been part of the qualifying rounds, but he¡¯d never seen a game where all the leaders betrayed their own factions. The surviving second-years must be having a field day with this mess. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Elise said. ¡°I never should have led an army. I paid my officers and my bodyguards to follow me. We were never a real team. But you are. You¡¯ve fought together in the real world. You trust each other in a way no one else here would understand. That¡¯s why I want to join you. I¡¯m sick of these games and hollow victories. I want something real.¡± Oh, she was very good. Deep down, Elise probably believed her own words and wanted exactly what she claimed. But she was lying. Despite her words, Kalden knew the truth in his bones. A few more plans took shape in his mind, but it would be too easy for Elise to turn those to her advantage. Instead, he met Relia¡¯s eye. ¡°Can we talk in private?¡± Relia nodded once, stepping toward Akari and him. When she did, Kalden turned to Zukan. ¡°Mind keeping an eye on her while we¡¯re gone? The dragon never took his eyes off Elise. ¡°Gladly.¡± He led Relia and Akari to a cluster of tables and set his camouflage device on the marble floor. This already came with a built-in sound suppressor, so there was no need to travel more than a dozen paces. ¡°Did she mess with your head?¡± Akari asked Relia once they were alone. ¡°Of course not,¡± Relia said. ¡°I think I know what dream mana feels like.¡± ¡°Dream mana¡¯s not the only way to screw with someone.¡± Kalden nodded. ¡°Maybe Elise didn¡¯t get injured on purpose, but she clearly turned things to her advantage. This betrayal couldn¡¯t be more obvious.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Relia said. ¡°I¡¯m not stupid, Kalden. I know she has her own plans.¡± ¡°You just don¡¯t care,¡± Akari noted. ¡°She¡¯s my sister. If there¡¯s even a chance ¡­¡± She trailed off, then shook her head. ¡°I want to take it. It¡¯s worth the risk.¡± ¡°Have you heard the term ¡®conditional love¡¯?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°Because if this hinges on her joining your team ¡­¡± ¡°So what?¡± Relia glared at him. ¡°Maybe she does see everything as an exchange, but what do you expect? My parents abandoned me as a baby, and Elise spent eighteen years living with those same people. Think about it. What if no one¡¯s ever been nice to her before?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t fix that in one day,¡± Kalden said. ¡°So what? I should just give up?¡± Damnit. He wanted to tell Relia she was outvoted. Akari and Zukan obviously agreed with him, and Arturo would, too. But then what? Would they send Elise on her way? Fight her right here in the library? No ¡­ Elise would see the crack in their defenses and wedge herself deeper between them. They had to present a united front. At least that way, they could lure her into a false sense of security. Maybe even make the first move. They talked for several more minutes and finally worked out a compromise. With that done, Kalden retrieved the camouflage unit and returned to where the others waited ¡°Here¡¯s our offer,¡± he said to Elise. ¡°We need some supplies from the Alchemy Building¡ª¡± ¡°What kind of supplies?¡± Elise interrupted with a raised eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯ll make you a shopping list.¡± ¡°What are they for?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know that yet.¡± ¡°You¡¯re building a bomb,¡± Elise guessed. ¡°But what would that do? The Alchemy Building won¡¯t have enough ¡­¡± She trailed off, then backtracked. ¡°Unless the bomb¡¯s powered by mana, like the one from our Midterm exam. Arturo¡¯s accessing the power lines. That¡¯s how you got in here. Through the maintenance tunnels.¡± Kalden kept a paizho face, but Akari and Zukan both stiffened. ¡°You¡¯re reinforcing the library while the others attack,¡± she continued. ¡°Then you¡¯ll divide the power when they close in. Half the mana will power the bomb, and the other half will make a shield to protect you.¡± Great. She already knew enough to return to Moon Army and plan a counter strategy. For the second time that day, Kalden thought about stabbing her on the spot. If Relia could forgive Elise¡¯s speech, then she could forgive him for that. Zukan¡¯s eyes darkened as he turned to face Kalden. ¡°Arturo and I haven¡¯t agreed to anything yet.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Kalden held up his hand in a placating gesture. ¡°We¡¯ll have a proper vote when this is over. First, Miss Moonfire needs to prove herself.¡± ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡± Elise said. ¡°I can take the maintenance tunnels and make myself invisible when I get there.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Zukan crossed his massive arms. ¡°But someone should go with her.¡± ¡°No argument here,¡± Elise said. ¡°I make a terrible pack mule.¡± Her gaze shifted innocently toward Akari. ¡°What if Zeller comes with me? Can her portals take us back?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Akari rolled her eyes. ¡°Us two alone in a dark tunnel. What could go wrong?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Relia stood on her tiptoes and raised her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll go with her.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Elise said with a frown. ¡°But we¡¯d move a lot more supplies with a portal.¡± ¡°I can make portals on objects,¡± Akari said. ¡°Take something with you, and call me when you¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Elise blinked, looking genuinely surprised by this. Then again, Akari had never shown off her mobile portals in Raizen¡¯s class. She¡¯d used them against Arturo that morning, but Elise hadn¡¯t seen that fight. In hindsight, Akari probably should have kept this ability to herself, but it was too late for that. She¡¯d spent a long time being weak, and she couldn¡¯t help but brag sometimes. They¡¯d need to work on that later. ¡°Alright,¡± Elise said. ¡°Then let¡¯s get ready. The sooner we go, the sooner we can win this thing.¡± Kalden nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll find some paper and write up that list.¡± They all went their separate ways after that, but Akari followed Kalden over toward the librarian¡¯s desk. ¡°So,¡± she whispered. ¡°We gonna take her out?¡± Kalden ran a hand through his hair. ¡°Honestly? I don¡¯t know what to do.¡± From a purely moral perspective, Relia was right. Showing kindness to her estranged sister had value beyond this game. Then again, Elise¡¯s plots extended beyond this game as well. She¡¯d been sabotaging Akari all semester, and this seemed like a blatant attempt to get closer to her. Kalden didn¡¯t know her endgame, but he¡¯d rather not find out the hard way. And the qualifying rounds were more than a game. Their alliance with Zukan and Arturo hinged on Zukan''s victory. Without this alliance, they might never compete in the interschool battlegrounds. The battlegrounds were a chance to push themselves against stronger opponents, gaining both skills and mana along the way. They¡¯d need both if they wanted to free their home. Then again, he¡¯d used that same logic to justify poisoning the water supply, and that would have been a mistake. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t attack without a reason,¡± Kalden finally said. ¡°We promised Relia we wouldn¡¯t.¡± The trust between them had been built over many battles, but it could break in a single moment. Akari crossed her arms, waiting for more. Kalden leaned over the desk and began searching for a pen. ¡°But if you have an opening, and you feel threatened ¡­¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be too hard,¡± Akari said. ¡°Felt that way since the first day of class.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 41: A Thousand Eyes ¡®Something¡¯s wrong,¡¯ Glim said. Elend froze, turning his attention to the mana spirit in his head. ¡®What is it?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve been looking through the records on your tablet. Looks like Dansin Roth met with Elise Moonfire during the break.¡¯ Most people wouldn¡¯t find this meeting strange. Plenty of teachers met with students during the qualifying rounds. Usually, it was to reprimand them for skirting the rules or harming the school¡¯s reputation. A quick slap on the wrist before they jumped back in the game. But the Artegium had strict rules for these meetings. For one thing, students couldn¡¯t meet with their own teachers or anyone who had a vested interest in them. That meant Elend could speak with most first-years, but not Akari, or Kalden. And first-year teachers like Raizen couldn¡¯t meet with anyone. On the surface, these two had no connection. Elise Moonfire was a first-year, and Dansin Roth taught upperclassmen. But Elend knew better. Elise and Dansin were both suspected members of the Sons of Talek. Or rather, Elise¡¯s parents were suspected members. To make matters worse, Raizen knew about this connection. He¡¯d known, but he¡¯d still approved the meeting. That meant he could no longer be trusted. ¡®Anything else?¡¯ Elend asked. ¡®Yeah,¡¯ Glim replied. ¡®Elise is getting cozy with the kids now. Looks like a trap.¡¯ That¡¯s it, Elend realized. Students were teleported from the arena when they ¡°died.¡± What if Dansin had changed this function to take Akari somewhere else? It wouldn¡¯t even be difficult. He¡¯d just need to pay a skilled Space Artist to do it for him¡ªsomeone expendable, who could double as a scapegoat. They would teleport Akari somewhere close, then have another Space Artist take her to Creta. She¡¯d vanish in front of millions, and it would look like an equipment malfunction. ¡°We need to go,¡± Elend said to Irina. ¡°Now.¡± His wife sprang to her feet at once. Meanwhile, Lena shot them a confused look from across the table. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked them. Elend was halfway to the door when he remembered where they were. Irina¡¯s contact was on the other side of Vaslana, and it would take several hours to reach him. Not to mention the trip from Koreldon City to the arena itself. Akari might not have that long. He turned around and met the Ethersmith¡¯s eyes. ¡°My students are in trouble.¡± Then he shot Irina a quick glance. ¡°Glim found a clue in the Artegium¡¯s databases. Dansin¡¯s making his move any minute.¡± Irina nodded once, turning to face the other woman. ¡°You mentioned portals upstairs. Do any of them go to Espiria?¡± Lena¡¯s gaze darted back and forth between them. ¡°They¡¯d never let you up there. Especially not on such short notice.¡± ¡°We weren¡¯t planning to ask permission,¡± Elend said. Lena gave a long sigh as if she¡¯d expected this. ¡°We¡¯re fighting the Sons of Talek tonight,¡± Irina told her. ¡°Aye,¡± Elend said with a quick nod. ¡°We¡¯re on your side, and every second counts. Now, will you help us?¡± Lena raised her hand. ¡°I have two conditions. First, you won¡¯t harm a single person here.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Of course,¡± Elend agreed. He hadn¡¯t planned on a bloodbath, anyway. ¡°And you¡¯ll share whatever you learn about Sozen Trengsen.¡± ¡°Seems fair,¡± he said. Lena let out another breath and clasped her hands together. ¡°An alarm will sound the second you step foot upstairs. When that happens, the Space Artist will close every open portal. Even if you get past the guards, it won¡¯t be fast enough.¡± ¡°Leave that part to us,¡± Elend said. ¡°Now, is there a portal to Espiria?¡± ¡°Take a left at the top of the stairs,¡± she said. ¡°Then the second door on the right will take you to Garriland.¡± Garriland was the state directly west of Fransco where the qualifying rounds took place. Depending on the city, that put them anywhere between one and three hours from the arena. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was the best deal they¡¯d get. ¡°What rank is the Space Artist?¡± Irina asked. ¡°Master,¡± Lena replied. ¡°But you might meet several Grandmasters up there as well.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Elend gave a curt nod and strode out the door. He and Irina and had fought side by side for decades, and there was no need for words between them. He cycled dream mana as he approached the staircase where two Master-level guards stood watch. The mana formed a cloud around his body, turning him completely invisible. A heartbeat later, that cloud expanded to include his wife. Invisibility might be inefficient, but the time for pulling his punches had passed. They¡¯d need their full strength to get through that portal. Glim used the same technique as she floated behind the guards in her Missile form. A second later, she whispered in their ears. Elend didn¡¯t hear specifics, but she must have laced the sound with an overwhelming desire to turn around. Both guards spun to face her. Elend rushed forward and pressed his hands to the backs of their skulls. First, he unleashed blades of pure mana from his hands. Just enough mana to break their Cloaks without breaking skin. Next, he sent a burst of dream mana straight into their brains. ¡°Sleep.¡± He spoke directly to the guards¡¯ subconscious, and his mana carried an urge to obey. Both men slumped over like rag dolls. He and Irina caught them beneath their arms and lowered them silently to the floor. Unfortunately, getting past the guards was the easy part. They ascended the stairs together. Then, mere inches from the barrier, Irina activated her Cloak of a Thousand Eyes. This technique flooded the upper floor with a cloud of golden mana. Thousands of small Missiles moved in a massive current, feeding her every detail of the surrounding space. A blaring siren echoed from some unseen room, and the lightbulbs turned red. No sooner had it begun than Elend unleashed his own technique¡ªa wave of dream mana that filled its targets with relaxation, and a hint of annoyance. Just another false alarm. No cause for concern. Glim wove her own mana with Elend¡¯s, darting between her targets, ensuring they didn¡¯t resist. Just a malfunction. It will stop in a few seconds. Indeed, a few seconds was all they had. This Space Artist was only a Master, but it was far easier to break a Construct than to maintain it. One thought, one moment of doubt, and the portals would snap shut like book covers. The pair rushed forward together, and Irina extended her Cloak to include Elend. Artists in the Master Realm could cast their Cloaks on other people, assuming their targets could endure the mana. In the case of Knowledge Artists, they could share their thoughts and memories, eliminating the need for words. Elend fed his own mana into the technique, and it doubled in strength. Together, they saw every detail of their battlefield. Irina saw the rooms, the people, and the mana. Elend saw the hearts and minds of those they fought. Their intentions, their needs, and their desires. Irina¡¯s mana extended beyond the estate, through the portals behind each door. Sure enough, one door led back to Espiria, just as Lena had said. They took a left when they crested the staircase, and several mana blades flew from multiple angles. He and Irina ducked and sidestepped the techniques as if they were children¡¯s toys. Some guards tried to block their path, but they dodged them like trees in a forest. Deep in the Cloak of a Thousand Eyes, they¡¯d charted their path long before they¡¯d reached the top of the staircase. Time slowed to a crawl as the Space Artist met their eyes from the end of the hall. The man recognized the threat, and he rushed to close his portals. It wouldn¡¯t take longer than a full second. ¡°Stop.¡± Elend snapped his fingers, and Glim¡¯s voice joined his. They spoke together in eerie unison, and their mana hit him like a tidal wave. This lacked the subtlety of his usual techniques, and Elend put his entire will into that single word. Another Grandmaster might have resisted something so crude, but not this man. Not only was he a full-rank below Elend, but he¡¯d never fought a Dream Artist directly. ¡°The portal stays open,¡± Elend said as he approached. The Space Artist froze like a startled deer. Not just his body, but his mind and soul. Several more Masters and Grandmasters rushed upstairs to join the fight, but they wouldn¡¯t make it in time. Elend spun right, opened the door, and stepped through the portal. Book 3 - Chapter 42: The Water Tower Akari knelt near a window on the library¡¯s top floor. These windows didn¡¯t normally open, but Arturo had overridden those restrictions from the basement. Now, she just had to figure out the controls. Most of the buttons did nothing. However, one caused the window to slide upward in its frame. Just a few inches, but that was enough to open a portal to the water tower. They¡¯d abandoned Operation Poison, but there was more than one way to use a million gallons of water. A wooden floorboard creaked behind her. Akari spun toward the sound, cycling pure mana in her palms. ¡°Hey.¡± Kalden held up his hands. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Akari slumped her shoulders, pulling the mana back into her soul. ¡°Thought you were building bombs downstairs.¡± ¡°I started,¡± he said. ¡°Not much more I can do until Relia gets back.¡± Akari narrowed her eyes as he strode across the chamber. Kalden looked the same as always, and even his speech and mannerisms were what she¡¯d expected. But something was off about his stance. Kalden normally walked like a soldier, with an upright posture, planting both feet firmly on the ground. His confidence often seemed forced, though, as if he¡¯d been trained to walk that way from a young age but had never quite grown into it. Meanwhile, this walk looked entirely effortless. Almost as if this were an actor playing the role of Kalden Trengsen. This person knew how Kalden should look, but not how he really looked. But how? They¡¯d all watched Elise and Relia leave through the tunnels. Arturo had locked the hatch behind her, and Zukan had piled several crates on top for good measure. Akari got to her feet and cleared her throat. ¡°Hey, do you remember the names of your best friends back home?¡± ¡°That depends,¡± Kalden said without breaking his stride. ¡°Which home are we talking about here?¡± That seemed like a harmless question. In theory, Akari could be asking about Last Haven or the Archipelago. Even in their fictional backstory, they''d lived in multiple places. But the real Kalden would never ask that. Darren and Maelyn were the best friends he¡¯d had in either life. There was no point in clarifying. Akari could have called him out on this, but that would sacrifice her element of surprise. Better to play along for now. ¡°Good point.¡± She waved away the question with a small laugh. ¡°Probably shouldn¡¯t talk about that on live TV.¡± He gave a knowing smile. ¡°I get it. You¡¯re making sure I¡¯m not an imposter, right?¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± Akari kept her body loose as he closed the distance. The slightest movement could give her away. She relaxed her vision for a split second, and her Silver Sight revealed no mana flowing through the imposter¡¯s channels. Then again, what did that prove? A perfect illusion would also hide the dream mana that powered it. Akari could try to break it, but her opponent would sense the battle of wills. Still, Apprentices couldn¡¯t maintain such illusions while they fought, which gave Akari a second advantage. Her spacetime mana was faster than almost any other aspect. She could form a portal long before her opponent shot a single Missile. Akari swirled the mana through her soul, preparing to do just that. But she didn¡¯t cycle yet. By now, Fake Kalden was less than six feet away, and Akari closed the last few paces on her own. ¡°So,¡± she began, ¡°you really have a crush on Elise Moonfire?¡± Sometimes, even trained fighters couldn¡¯t help but drop their guard at absurd questions. And who didn¡¯t perk up at their own name? Akari cycled the spacetime mana to her palms. She aimed one hand at her opponent¡¯s feet, and the other at the ceiling. From there, she would¡ª The illusion faded to reveal Elise holding a heavy black box. Instead of attacking Akari, she pressed the red button on top. The anti-mana pulse ripped through the air, stopping the mana in Akari¡¯s channels. She swayed on her feet, hollow and dazed. Even her thoughts went blank as paper. But Elise had prepared for the pulse, stopping her own mana the second before she¡¯d pressed the button. Now, she leapt forward, and her dagger shone golden in the light. Akari tried to raise a shield, but nothing happened; her mana sat like dead molasses in her channels. She tried to dodge, but her body moved with the grace of a drunken boxer. Instead, she twisted her head and let the dagger strike her glasses. Her old pair would have shattered on impact, but she¡¯d upgraded those after midterms. This new pair was peak-Apprentice level, drawing constantly on her pure mana to sustain itself. Elise¡¯s blade glanced off her right lens and cut a hot line of pain across her temple. Akari collapsed on the wooden floor and Elise fell with her. Akari¡¯s mana returned in a rush, and she hurled a pure Missile straight from her chest. Elise lost her balance as she deflected it with a flash of her own pure mana. Akari rolled in a backward somersault and sprang to her feet, putting a few more paces between them. Talek. How was this even possible? They¡¯d all watched Elise leave. No ¡­ they¡¯d seen someone who looked like Elise leave. But Dream Artists could make simulacrums. Elend had done this in Creta even while he wore those crystal cuffs. An Apprentice could do the same. Worst of all, Elise¡¯s AMP had cut off the portal to Relia. That left Akari with no way to escape or call for help. She could still make a run for the stairwell. Zukan and Kalden were downstairs, and Elise was no match for all three of them. ¡°That¡¯s underdog talk,¡± Elend¡¯s words echoed in her mind. ¡°I want you to stop acting like an underdog and start acting like a top performer. That¡¯s the only way you¡¯ll make it through the Artegium.¡± He was right, of course. Elise had beaten her once in Raizen¡¯s class, and Akari had dreaded this rematch ever since. But things were different back then. She¡¯d been a Gold with no aspect and no control over her own thoughts. Now, if Elise Moonfire wanted to fight, Akari would give her one. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Her opponent threw another storm of pure Missiles, attacking her head, torso, and legs. Akari hoped she¡¯d try her dagger again, but Elise had been watching her too closely this year. She knew Akari¡¯s portals could counter weapons. Akari dodged and deflected the attacks, hurling back several Missiles of her own. Blue light flashed between them as they exchanged more techniques, quick as blinking. Pure mana, she could deal with. Elise might be the second-best in their class, but pure mana had been Akari¡¯s only friend for years. Bookshelves toppled over as they dodged and scrambled for cover. Stray techniques disturbed piles of books, and clouds of paper wafted through the air. Akari stayed focused through it all, even as Elise quickened the pace. Her opponent fought within a domed shield, leaving small holes for her attacks. These holes extended around the back of the dome as well. Clearly, she was baiting Akari into using her portals. No such luck. Akari would need those portals to win, but she¡¯d use them on her own terms. Besides, Elise still hadn¡¯t used her own aspect yet. More Missiles flew back and forth between them, and Akari kept a close eye on her opponent. The last time they¡¯d fought, Elise¡¯s dream mana had emerged out of nowhere. She wouldn¡¯t miss it this time. A second AMP ripped through the room. Akari collapsed to her feet, fighting waves of dizziness all over again. Talek¡¯s tits and teeth. How¡¯d the hell did she pull that off? Elise was all the way across the room, and the device was . . . Damnit. The real Elise had slipped away in the chaos. Another simulacrum stood across the room now. She whirled in time to find the real Elise standing behind her. Akari kicked her away, but Elise caught her boot and slashed with her dagger. Akari gritted her teeth as the blade sliced through her jeans and calf. Akari kicked again with her free leg, aiming for Elise¡¯s nose. The other girl dropped the blade and staggered back. Akari wrapped her fingers around the daggers hilt, pulled it free, then drove its tip straight through the nearby AMP device. Her opponent seized the distraction and unleashed her dream mana. The library faded, along with the arena itself. Akari stood in a grass-covered field, just like before their midterm exam. Then she saw a dark figure floating in the clouds above, solid black, and shaped like a man. Wings of shadow and fire stretched out around him, twice as wide as his arm span. The weight of the Mystic¡¯s power froze her in place, stronger than any pulse. Missiles like black shadows flowed out from his outstretched hand. They spread through the sky, covering everything in a veil of darkness. No. It¡¯s not real. Still, her mind refused to listen, but Elend¡¯s lessons returned to her. ¡°When you¡¯re truly afraid, you can¡¯t rationalize away that fear. Your primal brain takes over, and you¡¯ll revert to your animal instincts.¡± The Mystic¡¯s technique grew wider, and the black veil stretched on for miles. It blocked out the sun, shrouding the world in a moonless night. ¡°Don¡¯t think,¡± Elend¡¯s voice said. ¡°Face the fear.¡± Akari drew in several breaths as her meditation training came back to her. ¡°Accept the outcome. Then the fear has no power over you.¡± Her thoughts flowed like the mana in her body. Yes, she might lose her power someday, and even her friends. But she would keep fighting. Nothing would stop her. Not even this. The Mystic still floated in the sky with his dark Missiles, but Akari saw the illusion for what it was. No different from a painting on the wall. Elise approached with her dagger, but she stopped when she felt Akari fighting back. More dream mana struck her, too fast to block or dodge. ¡°Sleep,¡± Elise said with a snap of her fingers. Her voice was a command, deep in Akari¡¯s subconscious. It brought her body to attention, and her focus shattered like an egg. Why was she fighting, anyway? This was just a game. It wasn¡¯t worth this much pain. She could wake up if she died. Things would get easier then. She could have a warm shower and sleep in her own bed. She was clearly pushing herself too hard. Even Elend had warned her about that. No. Master by twenty-one. Every struggle mattered between now and then. Every moment was a choice. A choice to become stronger, or weaker. She¡¯d rest when the game was done and not a second sooner. Even that realization was barely enough to control herself. She¡¯d spent dozens of hours this year in deep meditation, but her subconscious was like a massive dragon beyond her control. Elise moved that dragon with its deepest fears and desires. What was a pair of reins compared to that? Akari thought of all the people she¡¯d left behind on Arkala. How many of them had failed because of moments like this? How many took the easy choice and gave up? If she didn¡¯t help them, then who would? Stronger instincts kicked in as her body fell back into a combat stance. Sharpened mana flew out from her palms, straight for her opponent. Elise had been utterly focused on her dream techniques until this moment. Now, she barely had time to dodge. One Missile cut a white line across her cheek, and the other struck her shoulder. Akari could have pressed her advantage, but her own wounds were far worse. Besides, Elise was still the better fighter. Things might have been different at another school, but this was Koreldon University. Everyone here trained just as hard as she did, and no amount of practice could replace the years she¡¯d lost. Not yet, anyway. Instead, Akari sprang to her feet and staggered for the window she¡¯d opened earlier. Her wounds screamed at her with every step, and she collapsed a few paces from the gap Elise shot a Missile, and Akari blocked it with a flash of pure mana. She reached her other hand out the window and shot a spacetime Missile above the water tower. She conjured the second half of the portal in front of her and crawled through. Sideways became down, and she Cloaked her body as she slammed into the tower¡¯s steel roof. Talek. She could have aimed a little lower. Then again, she¡¯d been lucky to get near the tower at all. The morning sun shone bright over the campus, and the wind blew strands of hair across her face. Akari closed the portal behind her, but she didn¡¯t destroy it. She¡¯d need that to get back. White light spilled out from her face and leg. Unfortunately, she had no healing potions or bandages, and things would only get worse as the blood loss effects kicked in. With a deep breath, Akari climbed onto the lip of the tank''s opening. She opened the hatch and peered inside, trying to gage the water''s depth. Talek. This should be fun. Akari removed her hoodie and glasses. The inside of the tank was pitch black, so the latter wouldn¡¯t do her much good. With that done, she plunged into the icy water, shooting a pair of upward Missiles to force her body down. Her breath left her in a rush as she sank deeper into the darkness. Several long seconds passed, and she shot more Missiles at the ceiling. At least, she hoped that way was up. Her boots eventually struck the bottom. There, she knelt and formed one-half of a portal on its steel surface. But didn¡¯t connect it with the library portal. Not yet. Instead, she shot two pure Missiles at the floor, propelling her body back up. She would have liked to say she swam gracefully to the surface, but that would be a lie. Akari wasn¡¯t much of a swimmer, and she felt more like a desperate cat. Her body shook like a leaf when she finally emerged, and the morning air stung twice as hard as before. She spent a full minute fumbling around for her glasses, then she struggled to pull her hoodie over her wet tank top. Her teeth chattered like fingers on a keyboard, and her muscles would be useless in a fight. More light bled from her wounds, and only adrenaline kept her moving. Now or never. Akari formed a portal on the ground and leapt back to the library. Pale blue mana engulfed her as Elise sprang her trap. It closed from every side. Akari tried stretching her limbs, but they wouldn¡¯t budge. Elise had trapped her in a perfect sphere. Dream mana swirled through the cramped space, bringing more visions and despair. Akari saw the dark figure in the sky above Last Haven, sending her back to that island prison. She saw Kalden forgetting about her, living his life as if she¡¯d never existed. She saw Relia dying of her condition. No. Akari forced down the panic and separated the false thoughts from her own. Still, Elise¡¯s sphere grew smaller, threatening to crush her bones. There wasn¡¯t even room to make a portal. The sphere rotated through the air, giving her a glimpse of her opponent. Elise stood to the side of the open portal, furrowing her brow in concentration. Akari focused all her mental might on the portal, severing the Construct above the tower, reaching for the second one she¡¯d placed within. At the same time, she pulled one edge of the half-formed Construct in front of her, rotating it several degrees until it faced Elise. This sphere might stop physical movement, but it couldn¡¯t stop the bond between her and her own mana. Finally, she bound the portal with the one inside the tank. She might not have Zukan¡¯s raw power, but the environment was hers to command. A liquid cannon shot out from the portal. It struck Elise like the fist of an Archangel, hurling her body across the room. Book 3 - Chapter 43: Unpunished Akari clung to the wooden rail as she stumbled downstairs. By now, the other students had broken through the library¡¯s front door, and mana flashed all around the lower chamber. The building itself held together, but things looked even worse than before. One whole bookshelf was frozen in a block of ice, and scorch marks covered the windows, obscuring the images beneath. More flames erupted from the shelves on the second floor, and smoke choked the air. She spotted Zukan fighting on the level below, and she limped down another staircase to meet him. As always, the massive dragon fought with a flaming spear and shield, cutting through his opponents like paper dolls. Akari kept her head down as she crept closer, wary of any stray attacks. Pure mana flowed through her channels, ready to form a shield at a moment¡¯s notice. She kept her spacetime mana on the back burner for now. Her fight with Elise had left her drained, and she only had one good portal left. Eventually, Zukan rammed a spear through his last opponent, and he whirled to face her. ¡°Hey.¡± Akari gave the dragon a half-hearted wave. ¡°How do I look?¡± Zukan gave her a quick once over. ¡°Wounded,¡± he replied in his gravelly voice. ¡°And wet.¡± ¡°Never mind.¡± She¡¯d almost forgotten he didn¡¯t have a sense of humor. ¡°Moonfire?¡± he asked. Akari shrugged. ¡°I threw a water tower at her, but I never saw her die.¡± Even checking her score wouldn¡¯t confirm much at this point. The game masters would delay points from ambiguous kills to keep things interesting. She could have searched the rubble, but Dream Artists could make themselves invisible. Akari had seen her share of action movies, and it seemed smarter to stick with Zukan than to tempt fate. The dragon nodded, showing zero surprise at Elise¡¯s betrayal. ¡°What about the others?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Dawnfire returned a few minutes ago.¡± Zukan gestured to the ground floor where Relia fought back several other students. ¡°Trengsen went back to build the bombs.¡± Akari let out a sigh of relief. She¡¯d figured her friends were fine, but it was still good to hear. Especially after Elise had impersonated Kalden. ¡°Do you have any portals left?¡± Zukan asked. She held up a shaky finger. ¡°One.¡± ¡°Good enough. We¡¯ll need that water downstairs.¡± Akari followed his gaze and noticed even more contestants pouring through the front door. Talek. She¡¯d expected them to give up by now. Clearly, she had to stop underestimating the power of angry mobs. Zukan eyed her wounded leg, then got down on one knee. ¡°Hop on.¡± Akari blinked at him in stunned silence. Did a seven-foot-tall dragon just offer to give her a piggyback ride into battle? On second thought, that sounded awesome. Akari hobbled forward and put her arms around the dragon¡¯s thick neck. His body was hot to the touch, like a stone left out in the summer sun. Even his muscles felt more like stone than flesh. He rose to his full height, then charged down to the lower level. A few contestants tried to flee from the dragon¡¯s path, but that didn¡¯t save them. Zukan hurled his flaming shield like a boomerang, sending one boy into a wall. Then his flaming spear doubled in length, taking another boy between the shoulder blades. All the while, he sprinted through the levels, never losing momentum. When they reached the second floor, Zukan grabbed the balcony railing and leapt over the edge. His body grew even hotter as he flared his Cloak. So hot, she almost let go of him on pure instinct. The floor cracked beneath him as he landed, and he ran straight for the front door. More enemies had gathered there, and they released a storm of techniques in unison. Guess it¡¯s my turn. Akari let go of Zukan¡¯s neck and collapsed on the floor behind him. Then she formed a portal, pointing it straight out the front door. For the second time that day, a torrent of water erupted in midair. It slammed into their attackers, hurling them back like unwelcome guests. A few tried to dodge, but Akari tilted the portal with pressure from her channels, twisting it like an overpowered garden sprinkler. Most survived, but the weaker ones broke into white mist as they hit the door frame. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Talek. She could get used to this kind of power. ~~~ Relia watched Akari hurl a sideways waterfall out the front door. Her friend¡¯s wet hair was plastered to her face, and white light leaked from a dozen wounds around her body. Thank the Angels she was still alive. Relia had expected the worst after Elise''s stunt with the simulacrum. Where had Akari gotten the water, though? The game masters hadn¡¯t stopped her, so they must have converted it to dream mana before it fell through her portal. She clearly hadn¡¯t gotten in trouble yet, but it might come back to bite her later. Zukan fought back several more contestants with his flaming weapons, and Akari crawled to safety behind a fallen desk. Relia jogged over to heal her friend. Before she could, a storm of metal Missiles closed in, and she raised a protective shield around them both. ¡°What happened to you?¡± she shouted over the chaos. ¡°Guess.¡± Akari leaned around the desk and hurled a pure Missile at their attacker. Relia shook her head as she blocked several more attacks. ¡°Never mind. Stupid question.¡± No sooner had the words left her mouth than a burst of water soared straight into the main chamber. At first, it seemed like far too much water for the middle of campus. Then the truth struck her just as hard: someone was using Akari¡¯s attack against them. Akari must have realized the same thing, because the portal snapped shut. Zukan dodged the water, but it swirled into an ice prison around him. Several massive green vines burst out of the floor in the same moment, thick as ancient tree trunks. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± Akari shouted ¡°My classmates,¡± Relia said. They¡¯d faced a few second-years already, but others had held back, using the first-years as cannon fodder. ¡°Zukan,¡± Relia hollered across the chamber. ¡°We need to retreat!¡± The dragon rounded on her as he sliced through the ice and vines. ¡°Trengsen needs more time.¡± Another vine closed in on Relia, but she pressed her palm into its dark green surface. It shrank back at her touch, but not as quickly as the ones before. Tessa Greenleaf had clearly sunk her full power into these. ¡°My mana¡¯s less than ten percent,¡± she said to Zukan. ¡°Yours can¡¯t be much better.¡± Another vine slammed into Zukan¡¯s shield, and the Construct faded to orange mist. He tried to form another shield, but he only got a puff of orange mist. ¡°We need to go,¡± Relia repeated. ¡°Now.¡± Zukan sliced apart several more vines as he made his way closer. Then he scooped up Akari, threw her over his shoulder, and headed for the basement. Relia followed close behind, forming a shield to deflect more vines and ice projectiles. Several attacks drew white light as they struck Zukan¡¯s back, but he didn¡¯t slow his charge. Clearly, those giant muscles paid off. They descended the stairs in a blur of motion. Tessa¡¯s vines followed in their wake, smashing through brick, wood, and drywall. Ceiling tiles collapsed all around them as they reached the basement. Water poured in through the gaps, followed by half a dozen other aspects. Relia flared her Life Cloak and raised a shield of pure mana above her head. Akari did the same for Zukan, but she couldn¡¯t block everything. The second-years¡¯ techniques were an endless tide, and the dragon leaked white light all over his body. Zukan pumped his legs harder when they reached the last stretch, and Relia matched his pace. Together, they dodged a forest of mana and falling debris, relying more on instinct than thought. Kalden and Arturo waited at the hall¡¯s far end, and their makeshift bomb sat on the stone floor beside them. Relia saw the worry etched on their faces, echoing her own fears. Zukan and Relia collapsed in a heap. Akari flew straight over Zukan¡¯s shoulders when he landed, crashing into Kalden¡¯s open arms. Arturo activated his sigils, dividing the library¡¯s power into two parts. One half would power the bomb, while the second half powered their shield. A dome of protection mana formed around their team, and the world became a blur of pale blue light. Their surroundings darkened beyond the dome as the library crumbled. ¡°Here.¡± Kalden knelt by the spot where Zukan had collapsed, producing a remote control with a red button at its center. ¡°Press it.¡± Relia breathed a sigh of relief. At first, she¡¯d worried that Kalden wouldn¡¯t be able to finish the bomb in time. But who was she kidding? Kalden had once made her a pill in the back of a moving van. Zukan reached out a clawed hand to accept the remote. This was it. Once he pressed that button, he would win the qualifying rounds, and they¡¯d be a real team. Kalden¡¯s arm stiffened, and his fingers dropped the remote. The device clattered to the stone floor, and he let out a gasp of pain. Relia looked up to see white light spilling from a narrow gap in his windpipe. What? No! They were safe in their shield. How could this happen? More light shot out from Akari¡¯s throat, then Arturo¡¯s. All three of her teammates faded to mist, eyes wide in shock. Relia forced her confusion away and bore down on the intruder with all her mental might. Finally, she saw Elise Moonfire holding a dagger in her right hand. Water dripped from her hair and clothing, and lines of makeup ran down her cheeks, mixing with the white light of a dozen wounds. So, not only had she betrayed them, but she planned to steal their victory. Zukan was still lying on the ground, out of mana, and half-conscious. Elise would probably attack him next. Instead, her sister lunged for the fallen remote. Oh, no you don¡¯t. Relia¡¯s blood boiled as she met that pair of icy blue eyes. She¡¯d tried to meet her sister halfway. She¡¯d tried to give her a chance, even when no one else on her team would. As usual, no good deed went unpunished. Relia Cloaked her muscles and sprang forward, moving more like an Artisan than an Apprentice. Elise¡¯s finger was an inch from the red button, but that wasn¡¯t close enough. Relia pressed a palm to her sister¡¯s heart and forced death mana into her body. Her aspect normally moved slowly like falling leaves. but Relia squeezed her soul for every drop of power and speed it could muster. Elise faded even quicker than her victims, leaving Relia alone with a half-conscious Zukan. The shield held steady around them as the library burned and crumbled. Relia knelt on the floor and grabbed the remote, feeling dizzy from such a powerful attack. She cradled the device in her cupped hands like a newborn child, taking care not to press the button herself. Her own vision blurred as she crawled toward Zukan and placed the remote in his outstretched hand. ¡°Come on, big guy. Someone¡¯s gotta win this thing.¡± Zukan¡¯s finger curled around the button, and fire engulfed the world. Book 3 - Chapter 44: Any Means Necessary Kalden emerged in a massive chamber, as big as a warehouse. Steel beams supported the high ceilings, and crowds of students bustled all around him on the smooth concrete floors. ¡°Step forward,¡± a young woman said from the crowd. Her tone sounded bored, as if she¡¯d been repeating this phrase all day. Kalden stepped off the platform and down a short metal staircase. His stomach churned as he walked, and his vision blurred around the edges. This was even worse than Akari¡¯s portals. Her portals made bridges in spacetime, letting you step seamlessly from one spot to another. Meanwhile, this did some sort of spatial displacement. He reached the bottom of the stairs and spotted Camila, one of Raizen¡¯s teaching assistants. Arturo stepped down from the platform on his right, and Zukan appeared on his left a few seconds later. Kalden looked farther down the line and saw dozens of other students appear all at once. ¡°What happened?¡± he asked his teammates. ¡°Dunno, shoko.¡± Arturo rubbed at his neck. ¡°If only we knew a backstabbing Dream Artist . . .¡± ¡°Point taken,¡± Kalden muttered. He¡¯d seen this coming, but he¡¯d still been helpless to stop it. He really should have stuck a blade through her heart when he had the chance. ¡°Dawnfire took her out,¡± Zukan said. ¡°She handed me the remote before I faded.¡± ¡°So the bomb worked?¡± The dragon gave a stoic nod. Well, that was something, at least. If Zukan had pressed the remote, then he¡¯d get the points for the kills. By extension, Kalden and Arturo would get assists for building the bomb, and Relia would probably get points for helping Zukan in the end. ¡°What about Akari?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°Moonfire got her,¡± Zukan rumbled. Kalden did another quick sweep of the chamber, but she was nowhere in sight. Strange. Zukan and Arturo had appeared right next to him. Why wouldn¡¯t she? ¡°Off the platforms,¡± Camila said to another group of students. ¡°You can see your scores in the next room.¡± ¡°Excuse me,¡± Kalden said as he approached the young woman. ¡°Miss Warder?¡± ¡°Mr. Trengsen.¡± She glanced up from her tablet. ¡°If you¡¯re here to complain, then¡ª¡± ¡°No.¡± He shook his head quickly. ¡°But can you tell me where Akari Zeller is?¡± Camila glanced down at her tablet and scrolled through a list of names. ¡°She came out the same time as you. No record of where.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve got other rooms like this one,¡± Arturo spoke up. ¡°They separate us to give us time to cool off.¡± That made sense, he supposed. The Artegium had clear rules about fighting outside the arena, especially after a game like this. Still, why tempt the students? Kalden thanked Camila, then stepped through a pair of double doors into another chamber. This one had the same high ceilings as the fight, but with brighter lights and white linoleum floors instead of concrete. Rows of desks sat along two of the walls, and dozens of students waited to sign out and retrieve their belongings. Kalden had barely taken two steps before a nearby payphone rang. He ignored it at first, but then three more phones rang in unison. Arturo strode over and grabbed one of the phones as if this were an everyday occurrence. ¡°Hello?¡± he said into the receiver. His eyes widened a heartbeat later, and he held the phone out to Kalden. ¡°It¡¯s for you.¡± Kalden stepped forward and brought the phone to his own ear. ¡°This is Kalden.¡± ¡°Kalden? This is Irina.¡± Her voice sounded urgent from the other end, causing the hairs on Kalden''s neck to stand up. ¡°Listen closely. Akari¡¯s in trouble.¡± ¡°What?¡± He squeezed the phone in his hand, pressing it closer to his ear. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you need to find out. Elend thinks someone tampered with her device.¡± Kalden drew in a sharp breath. Elend had already warned him about Dansin Roth and the Sons of Talek, so there was no need to ask who¡¯d done this. Just then, a group of Artisan-level security guards ran through the chamber. ¡°Ignore them,¡± Irina¡¯s voice said from the phone. ¡°They don¡¯t know anything yet.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Kalden cycled his battle mana, heightening his focus. ¡°Tell me what to do.¡± ¡°Send Arturo to work with the building¡¯s security. I¡¯ve already told them he¡¯s coming. I want you and Zukan to search the premises for clues. Use any means necessary.¡± ~~~ Elise quickened her pace when she heard the faint echo of footsteps behind her. It was Kalden Trengsen, of course. He probably wanted to get in her face and call her a liar. Well, she¡¯d been dealing with that nonsense her whole life, and she was in no mood for it today. Elise didn¡¯t complain when people beat her with martial prowess; they had no right to whine about her tricks. She rounded a corner and slipped into a single bathroom. This room had a lock, so he couldn¡¯t follow her without¡ª Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The footsteps ran faster. Elise slid into the bathroom and forced the door shut behind her. Kalden closed the distance and shoved his boot into the door. Damnit. Elise cycled her mana, but Kalden was quicker. His muscles shone with pale blue light, and he hurled the door open. Elise formed a shield, but Kalden conjured a blade of blood-red mana, cutting through the Construct like paper. Elise staggered into the wall and a cage of red blades formed around her body. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± she demanded. ¡°This isn¡¯t a game!¡± ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m playing?¡± Kalden stepped forward, forming another blade in his right hand. His muscles shone with the same color, and even his eyes glowed with crimson light. She¡¯d seen this aspect during the qualifying rounds, but she¡¯d never understood it. Elise flared her Cloak and sent a cloud of dream mana around her body. She forced a rush of emotions into her attacker. Fear, disgust, a willingness to listen. Anything to make him go away. ¡°That won¡¯t work on me,¡± Kalden said. No explanation beyond that. Perhaps he¡¯d trained to resist dream mana this year, the same way Akari Zeller had. Then again, she¡¯d also heard rumors about his new aspect. Some people said he focused only on victory, shoving aside all other emotions. ¡°Where¡¯s Akari?¡± he demanded. Elise scoffed. ¡°Why are you asking me?¡± ¡°I know about your plan with Dansin Roth.¡± Bullshit. If Kalden had known that, he would have called her out sooner. ¡°Roth took her somewhere,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Tell me where.¡± Elise took a few deep breaths. ¡°Think this through, Trengsen. You know who my parents are.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you till the count of three.¡± Kalden brought his blade closer. ¡°Then I¡¯m taking your left eye.¡± ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± she said. ¡°There were cameras in the hall. People will know it was you!¡± Elise had joined the Combat Arts program for fame, recognition, and a chance to advance her Mana Arts. She¡¯d never asked for real danger. But Kalden Trengsen saw the world through a different lens. He¡¯d fought in real wars and faced real consequences. Elise had ignored her parents¡¯ plan, but Kalden saw it for the threat it was. Worst of all, he wasn¡¯t bluffing.. He really would cut out her eyes if it meant saving the girl he loved. She saw that on his face, clear as a written promise. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything.¡± Elise shook as the blade drew closer. ¡°I swear!¡± Despite her years of training, she¡¯d never truly been threatened before. ¡°One.¡± Kalden¡¯s voice was as steady as his weapons. ¡°I¡¯d tell you if I knew!¡± Tears of frustration formed in the corners of her eyes. ¡°Why would I lie now?¡± ¡°Two.¡± The blade drew closer until its crimson glow filled the world. ¡°Roth messed with her displacer,¡± Elise blurted out. ¡°He made it look like a malfunction. That¡¯s why I took her out. She couldn¡¯t be the last person standing.¡± ¡°I know that part,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Where is she now?¡± ¡°In the maintenance tunnels below the arena. Probably somewhere private. A supply closet or a control room.¡± Kalden nodded once. His blades vanished in clouds of crimson mist, and he left the room in a rush. ~~~ Akari stumbled forward, barely catching herself on the rounded glass wall. She brought a hand to her windpipe and felt the phantom pain of a dagger wound. Elise Moonfire. Not only had the Dream Artist survived their fight, but she¡¯d snuck downstairs and tried to hijack their victory plan. They¡¯d all seen this coming¡ªeven Relia hadn¡¯t denied it¡ªand she¡¯d still surprised them one last time. But what about the others? Did they win? No way Elise killed her entire team. Akari glanced left and right, taking in her more immediate surroundings. She stood inside a glass cylinder, roughly eight feet tall and half as wide. She ran her fingers along the inside but found no seams or openings. The room beyond had concrete floors and brick walls¡ªprobably some kind of maintenance tunnel beneath the arena. A few dim lightbulbs flickered from the ceiling above, and a pair of dark-clad figures rounded on her as she appeared. One figure muttered something, but she couldn¡¯t make out his voice from here. The other got up from his chair and strode forward. Akari banged her fists on the glass wall. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, Miss Zeller.¡± The man made a placating gesture. ¡°You died in the arena.¡± ¡°No shit. Why am I here?¡± They¡¯d already been informed about the death process in Raizen¡¯s class. Supposedly, the arena would teleport them back to the building with the changing rooms, where they would sign out and gather their things. This wasn¡¯t right. ¡°We had an equipment malfunction,¡± the man said. ¡°A lot of contestants died at once, so we had to take the overflow down here.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Her team had planned to take out several dozen students with Kalden¡¯s bombs, so that might make sense. Then again, a few dozen deaths shouldn¡¯t be enough to cause this. Even if it were, wouldn¡¯t they just delay the teleporters and move the students in smaller batches? Why send her to some shady room in the basement? ¡°Where¡¯s Jalon?¡± the guy on the left asked. ¡°He went to the bathroom,¡± the other one said. ¡°Maybe I should go get him,¡± the first guy replied. Akari couldn''t see his face, but his tone sounded rushed and anxious. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± The guy on the right held up his phone. ¡°I just texted him. He¡¯s on his way.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Jalon?¡± Akari asked. ¡°He¡¯s a Space Artist. We need him to get you out of there.¡± Akari narrowed her eyes, but she couldn¡¯t make out much through his goggles. ¡°Why are you wearing masks?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not masks.¡± The guy on the right grabbed the edges of his helmet and yanked it off. He raised his goggles a second later, and Akari recognized his face. It was Kalden¡¯s brother, Sozen. This should have been reassuring. Sozen worked for the Artegium, so it made perfect sense for him to be here. But in that moment, all her fears from the beginning of the game returned. Sozen¡¯s appearance this year had been far too convenient. He¡¯d been living in Cadria before now, and he just happened to get a job here when she and Kalden became students? Then he just happened to run into Kalden on the first day of classes? Elend and Irina found this strange, too. They never said so out loud, but it was obvious in the questions they asked, and how they¡¯d insisted that all meetings happened on their estate. If Elend didn¡¯t trust Sozen, neither should she. Then there was Elise Moonfire. She¡¯d been obsessed with killing Akari during the whole game. What if they¡¯d always planned to teleport her down here? Talek. If this Space Artist hadn¡¯t stepped out, then she might already be in Creta. Akari relaxed her vision, seeing the world through her Silver Sight. The second guy was an Artisan, just like Sozen. Great. She also spotted strands of mana running through the walls of her glass prison. It looked tough, but not unbreakable. Slowly, she cycled pure mana, gathering a Missile in her palm. ¡°Hey!¡± The masked guy reached for a steel weapon on his belt. It looked like an S-39 Stun Rod, the same weapon Sozen had used on her before the game. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Akari looked up, letting her Missile fade to mist. No Artegium staff member would react that way. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Akari.¡± Sozen held up his hands in a placating gesture. ¡°We¡¯ll have you out in a second, alright? Just try not to break anything.¡± She forced herself to nod as her thoughts raced. Even if she broke the glass, she stood no chance against two Artisans. Especially if they had a third friend on the way. But she didn¡¯t need to beat them. She just had to escape. Akari stopped cycling pure mana and felt the spacetime part of her soul. There, she found a mana bond stretching off to some unseen place. That¡¯s right. She still had a Construct waiting in the water tower. The arena negated most techniques, replacing them with dream versions for the students¡¯ safety. But spatial mana was an exception to this rule. Even Grandmaster Dream Artists couldn¡¯t fake teleportation. That meant she¡¯d left a real portal behind. Just then, someone knocked on the room¡¯s outer door. The masked guy spun around as if to unlock it, and Sozen reached for his own Missile rod. Akari didn¡¯t wait to see what happened next. She formed a portal on the floor, and her body dropped through. Book 3 - Chapter 45: Spacetime Her boots struck the concrete floor when she landed. Giant conduits ran along both walls, and the sweet scent of dream mana filled the air. Another maintenance tunnel? She¡¯d expected to emerge in a grassy field like the one from their midterm exam. Instead, her portal brought her below the arena. But why? The reason hit her a second later. Her captors had predicted her escape plan, and they¡¯d warded that glass tank against space mana. But Akari wasn¡¯t a Space Artist. In her case, the wards only reduced her range. A door swung open on its creaking hinges, and three pairs of footsteps echoed down a nearby corridor. Talek. How the hell was she supposed to deal with three Artisans? One of them was Sozen Trengsen, a Blade Artist who was probably even better than Kalden. The other looked like a Metal Artist. ¡°Stun rods only,¡± Sozen said from the adjacent hallway. ¡°Lady Antano wants her alive.¡± Ice filled her veins as her worst fears came true. She¡¯d killed Valeria Antano¡¯s son, and dragons weren¡¯t known for their mercy. Fortunately, Sozen¡¯s voice helped her pinpoint her attackers, and Akari ran the opposite way. She didn¡¯t need to beat these guys. She just had to survive long enough until help arrived. Akari stopped cycling her mana as she ran, sticking close to the massive conduit on her right. Even if her attackers used their Silver Sight, they¡¯d struggle to make out her form against the current of dream mana. She almost hid behind the pipe, but that would be a mistake. Artisans had much better mana senses than Apprentices. With the right training, they could make out individual aspects and intentions. Besides, Akari had never mastered the art of shrouding her soul. They¡¯d talked about it in Nightfang¡¯s Survival class, but only for a few weeks. Better to keep moving. She turned right at a junction, passing several security cameras along the way. Talek, this was bad. Elend had warned them about Dansin Roth, but he¡¯d also said Raizen and Truewater were on his side. How could they get away with this? Doesn¡¯t matter now. Focus. She cycled pure mana into spacetime, re-filling the drained half of her soul. Aspect conversions weren¡¯t cheap, but pure mana wouldn¡¯t help her now. Not against opponents at this level. Akari rounded another corner and found a masked Artisan standing twenty paces away. It looked like Sozen¡¯s friend from before. No sooner had their eyes met than the man raised his stun rod and pulled the trigger. She¡¯d been too slow back at the train station, and that memory still rubbed her like a stone in her shoe. You could have the best aspect and training in the world, but that meant nothing if you froze like a novice. Not this time. Two spacetime Missiles leapt out from her outstretched palms. One formed a portal in her left hand, swallowing her opponent¡¯s stun Missile. The second formed into a portal behind her opponent, and his own Missile struck the back of his head. The man staggered, but he didn¡¯t fall unconscious. No surprise there. He was an Artisan with top-tier combat gear, including a jacket, helmet, and vest. Running away seemed like the sensible choice. But no . . . he¡¯d catch her if she ran. She¡¯d also used the rest of her spacetime mana here, so running would put her in a worse position. Better to go on the offensive. The Artisan stepped forward, forming a steel shield around his body. Yep, definitely a Metal Artist. At the same time, he unleashed two more stun projectiles, followed by a pair of bullet-sized metal Missiles. No portal could block so many techniques¡ªnot at Akari¡¯s level. Instead, she spun the Construct over and leapt through it. This brought her behind her opponent where the stun Missile had emerged a second before. The man rounded on her as his attacks struck empty air. Akari lunged for the dagger on his belt. Most Metal Artists carried enhanced weapons, so she might do some actual damage with that. Her opponent twisted his body into a defensive stance, raising his right arm. If he grabbed her, then it was all over. No amount of training or grappling techniques would matter against a two-hundred-pound Artisan. Akari ducked and slid across the concrete floor. At the same time, she reached for her portals through the mana bonds, tugging them both with all her might. They broke, but they didn¡¯t turn to mist. Instead, they morphed back into their Missile forms and flew toward her. This was impossible for ordinary Space Artists. Pure mana could switch forms, but most portals were one stern look away from breaking beyond repair. Clearly, her aspect didn¡¯t follow that rule. Maybe the temporal mana made it more grounded in reality. Or maybe it was Akari herself, and the time she¡¯d spent with limited mana, forced to make one technique feel like ten. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Regardless, the how didn¡¯t matter right now. Akari formed one portal in front of her, and the other behind her opponent. She slid through, emerging behind him, and yanking the dagger from his belt. The man spun to face her with a quick swipe of his arm. No time to dodge. Akari moved the portals a second time, catching his fist and knocking him off balance. She adjusted her grip on the blade and slashed his armpit. The blade cut through his jacket, but his skin rang like steel. Stupid Artisan Cloak. Just then, a second masked figure appeared at the end of the hall. Her portals became Missiles once again, and she hurled the first one over the newcomer¡¯s shoulder. Then she leapt through the second one and emerged behind him. The first man had been ready, but she caught this one off guard. The blade struck the weak spot beneath his armor, cutting through skin and muscle. Blood coated the blade when she yanked it free, and she struck again. Too slow. The man deflected with his forearm and hurled a fist into her solar plexus. Akari¡¯s ribs cracked from the impact, and she flew a full ten paces down the hallway. Her head struck a pipe, but her Cloak saved her from a broken skull. More Missiles closed in as both men attacked. Their mana soared like bullets, but her own Missiles moved faster still. These guys might be Artisans, but their mana was more mass than energy. They were no match for spacetime in a battle of raw speed. Of course, she also couldn¡¯t play defense forever. Akari sent one portal behind the Metal Artist, then she flipped the other portal around and leapt through. She slashed at his throat, but her blade struck his Cloak once again. The Metal Artist rounded on her, but she was already behind the second man, slashing at his leg. He dropped his weapon as he staggered forward. Akari grabbed it and turned the dial on the left side, cranking up the power. Portals kept fading and appearing all over the corridor, and she kept their placements random to keep them guessing. Her opponents tried to keep up, but their attacks struck empty air. For all their speed and strength, they had no experience in a fight like this. No one did. Most Space Artists played support roles in battle, the way she had back in the library. They didn¡¯t fight thugs in dark hallways. But real Mana Artists weren¡¯t made in schools, dueling rings, or televised games. They were made in moments like this. And this wasn¡¯t just her present, but her past and future. She¡¯d started this journey as a Bronze on Arkala, scraping by with a few drops of mana and some online videos. Before that, she¡¯d been a duelist with no aspect. Fighting stronger opponents was nothing new. If anything, she found her true self in these moments. Her mind, body, and soul all worked together like parts of a symphony, and she fought harder than she''d ever fought in a game. Finally, the non-Metal Artist grabbed Akari¡¯s wrist, spun her around, and pressed on her elbow. Her arm broke like a tree branch and hot lines of pain ran from her wrist to her shoulder. Akari dropped the stun rod. The air left her lungs in a rush as her opponent slammed her back into the concrete floor. Then he reached for the dagger in her left hand. The pain had caused her portals to fade, but she¡¯d recovered more spacetime mana during the fight. Just enough to bring back an old classic. Spacetime mana flowed out from her left hand, and the second Missile shot out from her chest, straight at her opponent. The first portal swallowed her blade, and it pierced the Artisan¡¯s throat. The man opened his mouth in a silent scream, and a shower of warm blood rained on her face. Somehow, that shocked her more than anything else tonight. After spending a full day in the arena, she¡¯d expected to see white light. The Metal Artist raised his stun rod and fired from down the hall. Akari grabbed the other man¡¯s twitching body by the shoulders, putting it between herself and the approaching Missile. ¡°Akari!¡± Kalden¡¯s voice shouted her name, followed by the thunder of footsteps on stone. The Metal Artist spun to face the sound, but it was only a diversion. No sooner had he turned around than Zukan Kortez emerged from the opposite corridor, armed with a flaming shield and spear. Zukan was only an Apprentice, but he still towered over the Metal Artist by a full head. He charged the man full force with his shield, pinning him hard against the wall. This didn''t injure the Artisan, but he dropped his stun rod as he tried to break free. Kalden retrieved the weapon a second later, then he cranked up the power, held the barrel to the man¡¯s throat, and fired. The Metal Artist collapsed on the concrete floor, and Kalden rushed over to where Akari lay. ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± she told him. ¡°The blood¡¯s not mine.¡± Kalden¡¯s shoulders sagged with relief, and he put his arm behind her head. ¡°We need a healer over here!¡± Akari glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting to see Relia with him. Instead, half a dozen Artegium staff members joined their group. She recognized a few of them from campus, like Camila Warder and Sen Goto. The others were strangers. One of the staff members ran over and examined Akari¡¯s injuries. The others formed a defensive parameter around their group. ¡°There¡¯s at least one more Artisan down here,¡± Akari said, loud enough for everyone to hear. Then she lowered her voice and turned back to Kalden. ¡°It¡¯s your brother.¡± ¡°What?¡± Kalden snapped his head up and glanced around. ¡°Was he helping you?¡± ¡°He was helping them.¡± ¡°No. That can¡¯t be right.¡± Akari was in no mood to explain, so she shrugged her shoulders. At least she hadn¡¯t stabbed Sozen in the throat. That would have been a much harder conversation. The healer gave Akari a mouth guard, then she began cycling restoration mana into her broken arm. Akari bit down on the guard and forced herself to take deep breaths. As always, healing a bone was twice as painful as breaking it. Suddenly, the temperature plummeted without warning, as if they¡¯d just been tossed into a deep freezer. A chill ran through her body, from the top of her head to the bottoms of her feet. The healer pulled back her hand, leaving Akari¡¯s arm half-healed. Kalden¡¯s knees buckled, and his stun rod clattered to the floor as he fell. Even Zukan¡¯s weapons died in his hand, turning to wisps of smoke. The other staff members broke into shivers and folded their arms over their chests. A few were shouting, but she couldn¡¯t make out their exact words. Akari¡¯s fingers and toes grew numb, and her skin stiffened like plastic. Every breath was a struggle as her lungs fought to process the icy air. Ice mana crept over the floors, covering everything in a web of pale crystal. Frozen vines coiled around their bodies, and hundreds of razor-sharp icicles grew from the vines. Talek. No Artisan could do this. Her fears were confirmed when another masked man strode into the hall. Unlike the others, he wore a robe of dark violet and a hood that shielded his eyes. Akari couldn¡¯t see much more through her frosted glasses. Even so, she recognized the weight of a Master¡¯s power. Dansin Roth had found them. Book 3 - Chapter 46: Moonshard Kalden tried to break free, but it was no use. Ice froze his body in place, and even the mana in his channels refused to budge. He hadn¡¯t been this paralyzed since the Battle of Tureko when Elend froze the entire city. This man was certainly no Elend Darklight. Unfortunately, Elend wasn¡¯t here right now, and this group was no match for a Master. Roth¡¯s dark violet robe billowed behind him as he strode down the hallway. Darkness shrouded his face, and ice mana flowed out of him like pale smoke. The vines and spikes retreated as he drew closer, along with the unbearable cold. Even so, Kalden¡¯s muscles refused to obey him. Everyone else had the same problem, judging by the eerie silence. A black-clad Artisan approached on Roth¡¯s right, unaffected by the technique. This man wore no helmet, but Kalden struggled to make out his face. ¡°Amazing.¡± Roth¡¯s voice had a deep, menacing quality. Kalden had never seen the professor in person, but he assumed the distortion was part of the disguise. ¡°Your best Artisans lost to a group of children?¡± ¡°We underestimated them,¡± the second figure said. Kalden looked up and saw his brother¡¯s face. Damnit. Akari was right . . . but why was Sozen here? Why would he work with a group like this? ¡°Where¡¯s the Space Artist?¡± Roth asked. ¡°Here, sir!¡± Footsteps pounded against the stone floor as a third figure joined them in the corridor. Roth nodded as he stepped over to where Akari lay. ¡°Make a portal to Creta and take Zeller with you. Leave the others.¡± The Space Artist got to work. Kalden didn¡¯t know much about long-distance portals, but it seemed like a lengthier process than what Akari normally did. As he worked, Akari¡¯s body rose from the ground as if it were suspended from invisible ropes. Then she hung like a ragdoll in front of the robed man. Slowly, she lifted her head to meet his eyes. ¡°Nice robe, Dansin. What¡ªdid Irina¡¯s have a sale?¡± Kalden furrowed his brow before he remembered that Irina¡¯s was a women¡¯s clothing store. Roth just shook his head. ¡°No need to be rude, Miss Zeller. In all honesty, I admire your ruthlessness.¡± He glanced down at the black-clad body by his feet. ¡°What is this, the third Artisan you¡¯ve killed this year? An impressive feat for your age.¡± The portal opened behind Roth, starting as a pinprick, and slowly growing to the width of the creator¡¯s hand. ¡°Unfortunately,¡± he said, ¡°your antics pissed off the wrong people.¡± Sozen stood by the portal like a sentry, occasionally glancing down at his watch. Was he waiting for something to happen? Kalden drew in a breath as he regained control of his tongue. Zukan and the others all appeared unconscious, but his proximity to Akari must have kept him awake. ¡°Sozen,¡± he said in a dry voice. His brother glanced down and met his eyes. ¡°Why work with them? The Sons of Talek could be involved in¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk about our home,¡± Sozen cut in. ¡°Not here.¡± Roth turned to face them as if he were genuinely interested in the exchange. Any other day, Kalden would have agreed with his brother. But Sozen didn¡¯t know about this group¡¯s connection to Last Haven. Even if he knew that Ashur Moonfire was a member, he had no way of knowing about Akari¡¯s meeting in the diner. Elend had explicitly forbidden them from mentioning it. Sozen shook his head. ¡°The path to power is rarely easy, little brother. Sometimes, we need to make uncomfortable choices along the way.¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this,¡± Kalden said. ¡°If this is about power, the Darklights can help you.¡± It wasn¡¯t his best attempt to sway someone, but he¡¯d used up all of his persuasive skills that day. Now, it took all his strength just to stay awake. Akari must have felt the same way, because she didn¡¯t bother with more insults. Or, more likely, Roth had silenced her with some unseen technique. The portal grew wide enough to walk through, and Kalden spotted a golden hallway beyond. Creta, no doubt. Akari¡¯s body floated toward the opening. Several dragons gathered on the other side, ready to grab her. Sozen checked his watch for the third time, muttering a curse under his breath. His body looked like a coiled spring, far more anxious than Roth or the Space Artist. Something else was going on here, but what? Several more heartbeats passed, then his brother seized the Space Artist with both hands, hurling him through his own portal. A few dragons rushed forward, raising their own weapons and techniques. Kalden had barely processed the sight before the portal broke into mist. Roth didn¡¯t hesitate. He hurled Akari¡¯s body against the wall and struck Sozen with a flurry of ice projectiles. Sozen had no chance to dodge or defend himself. Even so, Roth¡¯s techniques seemed to unravel in midair, the same way the portal had. The ice mana broke into raw energy, and the energy spun like a whirlpool, sucked straight into Sozen¡¯s soul. Ice filled the room once again as Roth unleashed his full power. Several techniques whistled as they cut the air like blades. Others struck the walls with a sound like breaking rocks. Kalden shifted his head to where Akari lay. She faced away from him, but her body rose and fell with steady breaths. ¡°You alright?¡± he called out. ¡°I¡¯ll live,¡± she muttered. Kalden nodded as he turned back to the fight. Sozen was just an Artisan; he shouldn¡¯t be able to block Master-level techniques, much less destroy them. Even another Master would struggle to pull off such a feat. For all that, his brother held his own. Roth¡¯s mana flew too fast to see, but every technique vanished mere inches from Sozen¡¯s skin. ¡°Your brother¡¯s an Aeon,¡± Akari said. ¡°What?¡± Kalden had to shout over the chaos of the battle. ¡°Aeons can move mana with their minds,¡± she said. ¡°Same way Masters can. And they absorb it in their souls.¡± ¡°What?¡± Elend had been researching Aeons a lot since Creta, but Kalden had been too busy with his other studies. Aeons were even rarer than Mystics on this planet, and he¡¯d never expected to run into one. How could Sozen have done this? And why? The second question became more obvious as the fight continued. Dansin Roth was a Master¡ªa full two decades older than anyone else here¡ªbut Sozen held his own. This is it, Kalden realized. This was the power they¡¯d need to reach Master by twenty-one. This was the power they¡¯d need to save Relia, and their home. The fight went on for several more seconds until Roth overwhelmed Sozen. Blocks of ice mana froze his legs and lower torso, thick as ancient tree trunks. Sozen tried to absorb this, but he couldn¡¯t keep up. For all his skill, he was still stuck with an Artisan¡¯s body. He could withstand Roth¡¯s mana, but not the cold. The ice spread to Sozen¡¯s upper torso, trapping his left arm. Roth kept up his assault as he strode forward. Neither of them spoke a word. Power gathered in Sozen¡¯s free hand as he prepared his first real technique. A weapon sprang out from his palm, but it wasn¡¯t blade mana. This was a weapon of pale blue crystal, and a storm raged beneath its surface. Roth lashed out with his right hand, hurling an ice projectile at Sozen¡¯s blade. Sozen deflected the attack, and his blade cut down in a vertical arc. Roth let out a cry of pain. Space warped around him, and he vanished into thin air. It looked like a personal displacer, like the ones they¡¯d used to bring students from the arena. The cloud of ice mana faded, and only a bloody, severed hand remained on the concrete floor. Sozen slashed his blade several more times, cutting through the ice that held him. ¡°You were never with the Sons of Talek,¡± Kalden said. ¡°You were undercover.¡± In hindsight, he was an idiot for not seeing it sooner. How else could those kidnappers have been so incompetent? He nodded once. ¡°I was here to protect Akari.¡± He slashed his blade again and pulled more of the ice mana into his soul. Well, that explained why he¡¯d been checking his watch and looking anxious. He¡¯d been hoping that Elend and Irina would get here first. Then he wouldn¡¯t need to reveal himself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Sozen said. ¡°I wish I could tell you everything, but I can¡¯t let anyone find me here.¡± Golden mana flooded the corridor as he spoke¡ªmillions of tiny knowledge Missiles flowing in one massive current. Irina¡¯s Cloak of a Thousand Eyes. A second wave of mana swept through the labyrinth of maintenance tunnels, and Kalden¡¯s body froze for the second time that day. This was nothing like Roth¡¯s ice technique. Instead, this was completely painless and natural, as if it came from his own mind. ¡°I have to go.¡± Sozen¡¯s fingers leapt for the device on his belt, but his own body froze mid-motion, and his finger hung an inch from the button. The hall shook as if a meteorite had just crashed into the earth above. Fragments of the stone ceiling flew down around them. Mana conduits exploded with bursts of violet mist, and the lights flickered out. Finally, Elend Darklight broke through the ceiling, landing in a pile of stone rubble. ¡°No, I think not.¡± He thrust a hand toward Sozen, pulling him closer with strands of pure mana. ¡°You¡¯re coming with me, lad.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 47: Meetings ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Elend said as he approached the barn. ¡°Open up.¡± ¡®Took you long enough,¡¯ Glim¡¯s voice echoed in his mind. The door opened with a click, and the wards rippled as he stepped through. ¡®Here I thought Kalden was boring. His brother¡¯s even worse.¡¯ Elend remained silent as he strode down the dimly lit corridor. This barn sat at the back of his property, almost a full mile from the main house. Each room had a bed, a shower, a toilet, and a sink. Layers of impedium ran through the walls, and the wards were strong enough to contain most Masters. His family hadn¡¯t held actual prisoners here for several decades; there was little need for prisoners in this day and age. Except, of course, when someone attacked his students. Six hours had passed since the qualifying rounds, and the kids were all safe in their beds. Irina guarded the main house in case more thugs showed up, but such an attack seemed unlikely. It would take a Grandmaster to break through their defenses, and he doubted the Sons of Talek had any volunteers lining up. Elend reached the end of the hall and stepped inside the cell. There, Sozen Trengsen sat cross-legged on his bed, while strands of pure mana bound him to the stone floor. These restraints gave him free movement, but they would tighten if he got too clever. The lad immediately rose to his feet and dipped his head. ¡°Grandmaster Darklight.¡± Well, at least he had manners. Elend nodded back and turned to the mirror above the sink ¡°I¡¯ll take it from here.¡± ¡°What?¡± Glim pouted. ¡°I thought we were gonna play good cop, bad cop!¡± Sozen shot the mana spirit a wary glance. ¡°Trust me,¡± Elend said. ¡°You¡¯ll be the first to know if he gives me trouble.¡± Glim faded from the mirror, and Elend conjured a pair of leather armchairs in the center of the room. He lowered himself into the nearest chair, gesturing to the one opposite him. ¡°Have a seat, lad.¡± Sozen¡¯s restraints vanished, and he took a few cautious steps forward. ¡°You¡¯re not worried about my abilities?¡± Elend flashed him a knowing grin. ¡°Conjure one of those blades for me, would you? The same one you used to slice off Dansin¡¯s hand.¡± Sozen went very still. ¡°Do you understand what these are?¡± ¡°Moonshard,¡± Elend replied. ¡°It¡¯s a Construct technique made of Angelic mana, invented by the Archaeon Treluwyn. You have an Etherite soul in your chest. This lets you power it.¡± Sozen exhaled slowly, then a blade of pale blue crystal sprang to life in his right hand. Like most blade mana Constructs, this one had a cylindrical hilt, big enough to grasp with two hands. The blade itself was semi-transparent, but a storm raged beneath its surface. For a moment, Elend simply stared at the weapon in wide-eyed wonder. It was one thing to research Angelic mana in old books. Quite another to see a technique with your own eyes. Finally, he leaned forward and stretched out his hand. Sozen yanked the blade back. ¡°I¡¯ve cut Grandmasters with these.¡± ¡°I believe you.¡± The lad eyed him for several more heartbeats, then he brought the weapon back into Elend¡¯s reach. Elend pressed his palms to either side, squeezing with all his might. The blade dug into his skin, but it didn¡¯t draw blood. Moonshard was impressive, but it was also a defensive technique by nature. A skilled Blade Artist like Sozen could reshape it, but he was still limited by his own power. Elend also had a stronger body than most of his peers. As a boy, his parents put him through the toughest training money could buy, breaking every bone in his body, slicing and burning every inch of his skin. Others had slacked off in their younger years, hoping to make up for it in some vague, far off future. Either that, or they rested on their laurels and fell behind. ¡°I¡¯m not showing off,¡± Elend told him. ¡°But you should know you can¡¯t hurt me. You¡¯ll waste everyone¡¯s time if you try.¡± Sozen dismissed the blade, looking appropriately thoughtful. ¡°Fair enough.¡± Elend leaned back in his chair, resting an ankle on his knee. ¡°I¡¯ve gotten some mixed messages about you, lad. Akari said you helped her this morning. You made sure that Space Artist wasn¡¯t around, even before you broke his portal. You ordered the others to use stun rods rather than mana techniques, and you kept them from attacking all at once.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all true,¡± he said quickly. ¡°So you don¡¯t mean my students harm. You never have.¡± Elend held up a finger. ¡°However, you were at the scene of the crime today. I want answers, and someone has to give them to me.¡± Sozen didn¡¯t reply this time. ¡°I could make you talk if I wanted.¡± Elend wove a few dream Missiles between his fingers as he spoke. ¡°But you¡¯re Kalden¡¯s brother, and I¡¯d rather not turn your brain into a smoothie. So I¡¯ll make you a deal . . . ¡± The mana faded form his hand, and he held up his middle fingers. ¡°You answer three questions for me. Three questions, and I¡¯ll let you go.¡± The lad let out a long breath as he considered. It was a good deal, and he knew it. Certainly better than his scapegoat would get from the Espirian Crime Agency. ¡°What if I¡¯ve sworn a soul oath not to discuss something?¡± Sozen asked. ¡°Then we¡¯ll skip it, assuming you¡¯re telling me the truth. And believe me, I always know.¡± ¡°What if the answer might put you in danger? Or someone else?¡± ¡°If I sense you¡¯re being reasonable, then I might take your word for it. If not . . .¡± He trailed off and shrugged his shoulders. ¡°I intend to get my answers either way.¡± ¡°The ECA will still be after me,¡± Sozen said. ¡°I¡¯ll need to lie low for a while¡ªprobably back in Vaslana.¡± He looked up and met Elend¡¯s eyes again. ¡°Can I say goodbye to my brother first?¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Aye. That can be arranged.¡± He gave a slow nod and swallowed. ¡°Three questions, you said?¡± ¡°Well, three topics. There might be some tangents, but I¡¯ll stick to the spirit of the promise.¡± ¡°Sounds like I don¡¯t have much of a choice.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Elend reached into his bag and pulled out a water pitcher from the built-in pocket dimension. A pair of glasses followed, then he forged wooden table between them¡ªan exact replica of the table in his office. ¡°I know you¡¯re an Aeon,¡± he said as he poured the drinks. ¡°But you¡¯re also a Mana Artist. You and Kalden have the same parents, so this couldn¡¯t have happened naturally. And yet, no one¡¯s walked away from the Aeon ritual without permanent damage. At least, that¡¯s what I¡¯ve heard.¡± He took a sip of his water and leaned forward. ¡°I want to know how you did it.¡± ¡°You heard right¡± Sozen glanced down at his lap, and a regretful smile touched the corners of his lips. ¡°Lady Solidor did the ritual herself, but I didn¡¯t walk away unscathed. I¡¯m stuck at Artisan for life.¡± ¡°Ah . . . I¡¯m sorry.¡± Beyond that, no words came. What did you say to someone who¡¯d reached the end of his path? All Mana Artists strove for immortality deep down. Few would ever reach such a lofty goal, but even fewer had their hopes so thoroughly crushed. ¡°I¡¯ve made my peace with it,¡± Sozen said, ¡°even if it wasn¡¯t easy. I¡¯m helping to save my home.¡± ¡°A worthy goal,¡± Elend agreed. Sozen sipped his own water, and his eyes went momentarily distant. ¡°More than most people can say these days.¡± ¡°So you were Lady Solidor¡¯s test subject. She must be making progress, then. You wouldn¡¯t have volunteered otherwise.¡± Sozen lowered his glass and looked up. ¡°Is that your second question, Grandmaster?¡± Elend shook his head. ¡°I want to know if the Solidors have perfected the ritual. And if they have, I¡¯d like to know the requirements in broad strokes.¡± ¡°They have the theory down,¡± he said after a short pause. ¡°And they expect their next attempt to work. As for the requirements, I¡¯m not at liberty to say.¡± ¡°That¡¯s alright.¡± Elend waved a hand. ¡°I¡¯m guessing it needs to happen during the Artisan advancement. If you¡¯re any stronger, your body will reject the crystal. Any weaker, and you¡¯ll suffer permanent damage.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t confirm or deny anything.¡± The lad tried to keep a straight face, but he wasn¡¯t good enough to fool a Dream Artist. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s more complicated than that,¡± Elend said. ¡°You¡¯d have to train with smaller crystals first. Artisan bodies can¡¯t heal what they¡¯ve never faced, right?¡± Sozen¡¯s eyebrow twitched at that. This was probably the part they¡¯d messed up during his own ritual. Too bad they hadn¡¯t compared notes sooner, or Elend could have helped them. ¡°Last question,¡± Elend said. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to contact the Solidors for years now. Our goals align, and we seem like natural allies. So why are they avoiding me?¡± He¡¯d asked Lena this same question, but she¡¯d never been a part of her church¡¯s inner circle. To her, the Solidors were as unreachable as the Angels themselves. ¡°They don¡¯t know who to trust,¡± Sozen said. ¡°And the Mystics are still a threat to them. People have betrayed them before, and they¡¯d rather not let it happen again.¡± ¡°What about Akari Zeller? They¡¯re looking for a Spacetime Artist, aren¡¯t they?¡± This was technically a fourth question, but Elend didn¡¯t feel too bad after they¡¯d breezed through the first three. If he¡¯d wanted to, he could have dragged on the conversation and squeezed the lad for more information. Sozen must have realized the same thing because he didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°They know about Akari, Including her progress this past year. But a successful Aeon ritual would be even stronger than you think.¡± Hope flared in Elend¡¯s chest. ¡°So the rumors are true. Aeons can absorb mana and use that to advance quicker.¡± ¡°Much quicker,¡± Sozen said with a nod. ¡°This could make a whole new generation of Mana Artists. One that might someday oppose the Mystics. Maybe even the Angels themselves.¡± ¡°Aye.¡± Elend felt a slow smile spread across his face. ¡°I¡¯m counting on it.¡± ~~~ The kids woke up a few hours later. Sozen joined them for a late lunch, said goodbye to his brother, then made his way back to Vaslana. Raizen was still in his office when Elend arrived on campus. No surprise there. It might be Azulday evening, but the qualifying rounds came with a mountain of paperwork. Elend opened the door without knocking and found his fellow teacher staring out the window. Darkness shrouded the campus beyond, and the only light came from the distant dormitories. ¡°Grandmaster Darklight.¡± Raizen kept his voice casual as he turned toward the door. It was all an act, of course. This man wouldn¡¯t relax if someone killed him. ¡°Grandmaster Raizen.¡± Elend¡¯s blood boiled as he stepped between a pair of cushioned chairs. ¡°Why¡¯d you do it?¡± To his credit, Raizen didn¡¯t bother with denials. ¡°You know my wife is sick.¡± ¡°Let me guess,¡± Elend said. ¡°The Sons of Talek offered you a cure. You just had to look the other way while they kidnapped my student.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Raizen said. ¡°Truly, I am. But I¡¯ve watched both of my brothers die in battle. I¡¯ve watched friends die, and soldiers under my command. You¡¯d think I¡¯d be used to death by now, but I¡¯m tired of it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Elend replied. ¡°It¡¯s much easier to stomach when it¡¯s someone else, isn¡¯t it? Even better when you don¡¯t have to see it happen.¡± Raizen narrowed his eyes. ¡°What would you do in my place? Would you let Irina die, knowing you could help her?¡± ¡°There are worse things than dying,¡± Elend said. ¡°Like living in a world of spineless cowards.¡± The other man gave a humorless chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s fitting that you quote President Collaza. She died miserable and alone. Tell me, what¡¯s the point of immortality if you lose everyone you love along the way?¡± Elend shook his head. ¡°You were responsible for these students and their safety. You ignored that, and no amount of philosophical bullshit can justify it.¡± Raizen stepped forward and placed his hands on the lacquered wooden desk. ¡°I still believe in your cause. The Mystics have us playing games, and the Sons of Talek are their pawns.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t have it both ways,¡± Elend said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the fighting in Creta, and it¡¯s only a matter of time before it comes here. When it does, you¡¯ll need to pick a side.¡± ¡°Today was a victory for both of us¡± Raizen retorted. ¡°I got my cure, and you saved your student. You also got two prisoners, and exposed Dansin Roth for what he was. It¡¯s not my fault you picked yesterday to leave the country.¡± Elend shook his head and stood straighter. ¡°As of tomorrow, my students will no longer be attending your classes. Not this semester, or any semester after that. We¡¯ll replace that time with private lessons, and they¡¯ll still get full credit.¡± ¡°This can be arranged,¡± Raizen said. ¡°Good. And if you ever come near them again¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t threaten me, Elend.¡± Raizen¡¯s face darkened like a storm. ¡°I agreed to your terms as a courtesy, nothing more. We both know you can¡¯t fight at my level.¡± Elend was tempted to prove him wrong in that moment. But no . . . he¡¯d gone years without using his power like that. What¡¯s more, Raizen might be right. Even now, the other man cycled blade mana through his channels, ready to destroy any techniques Elend sent his way. He was about to leave when he felt a bit of dream mana leave his soul. Someone had just used a technique, but it wasn¡¯t him Glim appeared in the window behind Raizen. ¡°Here¡¯s the thing about Dream Artists,¡± she said in a low voice. ¡°You never see us coming.¡± Then she leapt from the window, straight into Raizen¡¯s body. His skin shone violet as she became a Cloak technique. His eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed like a fallen tree. ¡°Most Dream Artists choose fear as their weapon,¡± she said. ¡°But fear is like an old friend for you, isn¡¯t it? You¡¯ve fought it before, and you could do it again. Indifference, though . . . that¡¯s one of the worst feelings in the world. No one can face it alone.¡± Raizen remained perfectly still for several heartbeats. Then his hand moved to his windpipe where he conjured a blade of silver mana. ¡°I could make you slit your own throat,¡± Glim said. ¡°And you¡¯d drift off to sleep without a care. You might be brave deep down, but no one would ever know.¡± Elend stepped around the desk, but he didn¡¯t intervene. Glim¡¯s voice went higher. ¡°I could turn your brain to mush and leave you drooling in a cup till the day you die. Become my enemy, and you¡¯ll never know a moment¡¯s rest. You can¡¯t run from me. You can¡¯t hide.¡± Raizen¡¯s hand moved on its own, inching the blade even closer to his throat. ¡°Glim,¡± Elend snapped. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± He reached out through their bond and pulled her back. The mana spirit returned to the window, taking on her human-like form. Her blue eyes were hard when she looked at him, and her fists shook at her sides. ¡°They¡¯re my students, too, you know.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Elend glanced down at Raizen¡¯s unmoving body. The blade had faded from his hand, and his dark eyes stared up at the ceilling. ¡°He got the message.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 48: Second Chance Elise pressed a hand to the front door, sending a burst of pure mana through the lock. Mana signatures were as unique as fingerprints, and this lock was attuned to her and her family. A Midwinter tree filled the vestibule, two stories high, and wider than a car at its base. Garlands and ornaments ran around the stone pillars, and the pale lights reflected off the marble floors. Beyond that, the Moonfire estate sat in silence, and her footsteps echoed through the halls. Elise pulled out her phone as she walked. No new calls or messages. The qualifying rounds were over, and no one ever texted her without a purpose. She was Elise Moonfire, after all¡ªthe most popular first-year in the Artegium. Meetings and training filled every minute of her time. But the qualifying rounds were an unofficial holiday in the Artegium, and most people would be resting at home with their families. Her own parents had gone on a business trip to North Shoken, and most of their staff had gone home as well. Elise perused her messaging app, her finger gliding over the screen as she scanned the list of contacts. She wasn¡¯t in the mood for physical intimacy, but she couldn¡¯t sleep alone tonight, either. Not when her thoughts raced like a stampede of wild raptors. Elise chose a second-year boy and typed out a quick message. She was about to press ¡°send¡± when the sound of propellors reached her ears. Hope flared in her chest as she sprinted toward her bedroom and pressed her nose to the cool glass window. Sure enough, a white airship hovered just above the landing pad. The propellors sent up clouds of snow, revealing the smooth gray stone beneath. The landing gear hit the ground, and a ramp dropped from the ship¡¯s starboard side. Her breath formed a layer of fog against the window. She wiped it dry on her sleeve just in time to see her father step down the ramp. A smile spread across her face, and she raced down the stairs to meet him. Two staff members opened the back doors, letting in a gust of cool winter air. Finally, Ashur Moonfire stepped inside the estate. Elise waved at him, but he was talking on the phone and didn¡¯t see her. She waited patiently for several moments, fidgeting with her golden braid. Several more staff members followed him inside, nodding at Elise before heading off with the luggage. She hadn¡¯t noticed this before, but her father bore an uncanny resemblance to Relia Dawnfire. It wasn¡¯t just the pale skin, red hair, and bright blue eyes. They also had the same sharp eyebrows and genuine smiles. Of course, her father¡¯s smile was a bit more forced these days. He paced in front of the fireplace as he talked, and Elise¡¯s gaze settled on the family picture on the mantelpiece. Her mother had blonde hair like Elise, but she wore hers shorter, so it fell just below her chin. Her face looked more like Relia¡¯s, though; narrow, with high cheekbones and a delicate chin. Angels above. Relia really was their daughter, wasn¡¯t she? A part of her had always known this. She even understood her parents¡¯ reasoning. If this secret got out, it could destroy everything they¡¯d worked for. She wished they could have told her the truth, but she understood that, too. Even a whispered conversation was an unnecessary risk. But they hadn¡¯t just kept secrets. They¡¯d lied to her. Relia wasn¡¯t some scheming opportunist looking to take down the Moonfire family. She truly believed Elise was her sister. She¡¯d proven that today. And Elise had stabbed her in the back. No . . . she¡¯d stabbed everyone in the back. Relia¡¯s friends, and her own. Her father slipped his phone into his jacket pocket. Elise perked up and stepped closer. ¡°Hi, Dad.¡± ¡°Elise.¡± He smiled at her, but it came out even stiffer than usual. ¡°You¡¯re home early.¡± ¡°The Senate¡¯s in session tomorrow morning. Your mother stayed behind to close the deal with Sanako.¡± Elise resisted the urge to fidget again. ¡°Did you watch the qualifying rounds?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, yes. I skimmed the highlight reel on the flight back.¡± ¡°Unfortunately?¡± she echoed with a raised eyebrow. This didn¡¯t seem right. They¡¯d told her to take out Akari Zeller, and she¡¯d succeeded. ¡°I saw your fight against Zeller,¡± he said. ¡°You should have won. You would have won if you''d become a Space Artist.¡± Elise winced as she remembered the end of that fight. How was she supposed to know the girl would dive into a freaking water tower? But her father was right about one thing: Elise never should have taken her eyes off Zeller¡¯s closed portal. She¡¯d gotten tunnel vision and forgot to consider her opponent¡¯s motives. On the other hand, this was bullshit. ¡°I beat Zeller at the end,¡± she said. ¡°And I did it as a Dream Artist.¡± She¡¯d sacrificed everything for that victory, pulling the most audacious stunts along the way. Relia¡¯s whole team suspected Elise, and she¡¯d still infiltrated their ranks. Elise¡¯s final score would have been higher if she¡¯d focused on the larger armies rather than Zeller. Not to mention the part where she¡¯d betrayed everyone and risked her own reputation. ¡°You were too late,¡± her father said. ¡°What?¡± Her stomach twisted into a knot. Had the plan failed? Was it because Kalden Trengsen figured it out? She hadn¡¯t told anyone about their fight in the bathroom. Not even her parents. ¡°I worked all semester on this,¡± Elise said. ¡°I put my own goals on hold, and I never questioned you.¡± He gave her a weary look as he strode toward the stairs. ¡°You want applause? Become a duelist. We¡¯ll take our rewards when we come into power, and one year is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Learn from your mistakes today and try harder next time. That¡¯s all I ask.¡± Elise remained silent as she followed him toward the staircase. She wanted to argue, but what could she say? She could fight for his approval, but he¡¯d sour it with a condescending tone. She could make him apologize for insulting her aspect, but he¡¯d make her feel like an oversensitive little girl. Her father paused at the bottom of the staircase, turning on his heel to face her. ¡°Do you want to join me for dinner tonight? We have a reservation at White Masa.¡± ¡°I¡¯d love to,¡± Elise said at once. She¡¯d already eaten, but that wasn¡¯t the point. He nodded once. ¡°You should wear a blue dress.¡± ¡°Okay, sure. But why¡¯s that matter?¡± White Masa had a strict dress code, but colors had never mattered before. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°We¡¯re eating with a lobbyist from North Shoken.¡± He gestured down to his own navy blue suit. ¡°They coordinate their colors during business meetings.¡± Her hope shattered for the second time that day. Of course they wouldn¡¯t be alone. Clearly, her brain hadn¡¯t caught up on all the lost sleep. This time, Elise hid her frown. It wasn¡¯t easy, but she¡¯d had years of practice. ~~~ The next morning found her alone at the Artegium library. Two days ago, this room had been a war zone with toppled shelves, scorched windows, and papers strewn over the marble floors. That hadn¡¯t been the real library, but it felt like it. The best Dream Artists didn¡¯t make illusions; they crafted experiences. And the qualifying rounds had certainly been an emotional rollercoaster. But now the games were done, and it was time to study and train. Elise grabbed another book from her pile and flipped to the chapter on advanced Circuit techniques. Zeller and Trengsen had both beaten her in the span of an hour, and it was her own fault. True, their teacher had probably taught them how to resist her techniques. Kalden¡¯s aspect was also a perfect counter to her own, combining blade and knowledge mana in some novel way. But Elise could have done better. She kept replaying those fights in her mind¡¯s eye, especially the one against Akari Zeller. Angels above, she¡¯d been so close. She should have pushed harder when her opponent was down, or played with more subtle illusions. But she¡¯d gotten complacent this year, neglecting her own goals for her parents¡¯. Meanwhile, Akari Zeller had been training. So had Zukan, Relia, and the rest of their team. Elise had almost been a part of that, but she¡¯d blown her chance. Footsteps echoed on the marble floor behind her, and Elise felt the weight of a Grandmaster¡¯s power. A second later, Elend Darklight loomed over the table. ¡°Good morning, Miss Moonfire.¡± Her body stiffened, and her hands turned to ice. ¡°Grandmaster Darklight.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± A pleasant smile spread across his face. ¡°You know who I am?¡± A nervous laugh escaped her lips. Elend Darklight was the best Dream Artist on the continent. He was also the second best, if you counted his mana spirit. Elise had never seen the spirit, but she¡¯d heard the rumors. Still smiling, the Grandmaster lowered himself into the wooden chair across from her. That smile said far more than any glare. He was in total control, and he knew it. ¡°You¡¯re pissed about the qualifying rounds,¡± she guessed. He waved a dismissive hand. ¡°I¡¯ve never liked those games, but I don¡¯t blame you for trusting your parents and teachers.¡± Dream mana began flowing from her palms toward his face. It should have been invisible, but that didn¡¯t stop the Grandmaster. He reached out and grabbed it between his thumb and forefinger. Then he flicked it away as if it were an insect. ¡°I don¡¯t blame you for this, either. We¡¯re all creatures of habit, especially when we¡¯re stressed.¡± ¡°Then what do you want?¡± ¡°Relia Dawnfire is dying,¡± he told her. ¡°She has less than a month to live. Unless she advances to Artisan.¡± ¡°Dying?¡± Elise didn¡¯t know what she¡¯d expected, but it certainly hadn¡¯t been that. Relia Dawnfire didn¡¯t look sick. Could Life Artists even get sick? They were the best healers in the world. Even their biggest critics didn¡¯t deny that. ¡°It¡¯s called krustoplegia,¡± Elend said. ¡°Heard of it?¡± ¡°Yeah . . .¡± Her shoulders sagged, and a fresh wave of ice surged through her veins. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it.¡± Krustoplegia killed most children before they even reached puberty, and Relia was at least nineteen. Her aspect must be keeping her alive. That, and the sheer speed of her advancements. ¡°Relia thinks soulshine caused her condition,¡± Elend said. ¡°But she¡¯s wrong. Your parents never abused soulshine, did they?¡± Elise shook her head, still too shocked for words. Her mother had taken soulshine in her younger years, but she¡¯d always been careful with it. Her family even had an alchemist who made the drug specific to her biochemistry. As for her father, he¡¯d always advanced fast enough without it. The Grandmaster leaned forward, putting his elbows on the wooden table. ¡°Relia has believed this lie her entire life, but it never made sense to me. Who abandons their daughter over a secret like that? Yes, it¡¯s embarrassing, but it¡¯s hardly enough to ruin them. Lots of powerful Mana Artists have skeletons under their beds.¡± Elise drew in a shaky breath. Had he come here to pull the secret out of her? Could she even resist him if he tried? There were laws against such things, but it would be her word against it. ¡°Relax.¡± Elend reached into his jacket and pulled out an envelope. ¡°I already know the truth. And I know the meaning behind your name. I¡¯ve suspected it for a while now, but the Cult of Solidor gave me proof.¡± He slid the envelope across the table, and Elise caught it before it fell on her lap. Then she took a few deep breaths to compose herself. If Elend Darklight wanted to make her talk, then she was helpless to stop him. No sense in worrying about it now. ¡°So why are you here?¡± she finally asked. ¡°Relia refuses to take soulshine herself, even though it could help her reach Artisan and save her life. I want you to tell her the truth.¡± ¡°Why me? You¡¯re her master.¡± ¡°You¡¯re her sister,¡± he countered. Elise raised an eyebrow, feeling more confident than she had a few seconds before. ¡°I thought you knew the truth, Grandmaster.¡± ¡°I know Relia. She¡¯s always wanted a sister, more than anything in the world.¡± Elise¡¯s mind swam back to several years ago when Relia first told her they were sisters. A rush of guilt followed as she recalled her rejection and the look on the other girl¡¯s face. Elend clasped his hands together. ¡°I told you before, Miss Moonfire, I don¡¯t blame you for your mistakes. You were following your parents'' orders, and you didn¡¯t know the whole story. But you¡¯re not a child anymore. For the first time in your life, I¡¯m offering you a real choice. You can help me save your sister¡¯s life, or you can protect your parents¡¯ dark secrets.¡± She met his eyes again. ¡°So you¡¯re threatening us?¡± ¡°No.¡± The Grandmaster shook his head. ¡°Refuse, and we¡¯ll go our separate ways. I¡¯ll tell Relia myself, and you can scurry back to that lonely mansion, being a pawn for your parents as they rule Espiria.¡± Her eyes narrowed at that. ¡°With all due respect, Grandmaster, you don¡¯t know me.¡± Elend raised an eyebrow, mirroring her expression from a moment before. ¡°You think I¡¯m a stranger to loneliness? Me? The desperate boy who made the first mana spirit in centuries?¡± In that moment, a young woman appeared in the reflection of her laptop screen. She was entirely blue, from her skin to her shoulder-length hair. Her dress was the same color, as if it were an extension of her body. Dream Artists had been trying to create mana spirits for centuries. Elise had seen her share of fakes, but this felt like looking into a real person¡¯s eyes. Someone with a mind and soul. ¡°Her name¡¯s Glimmer,¡± Elend said. ¡°She¡¯s beautiful,¡± Elise whispered ¡°Don¡¯t tell her that. She already thinks too highly of herself.¡± Glimmer winked at Elise before fading from the screen. Elend leaned forward. ¡°Here¡¯s the rest of my offer. I¡¯m coaching a team for the interschool battlegrounds, and we need a sixth member. And before you ask¡ªno, this isn¡¯t a bribe to make you talk to Relia. Consider it a test of character. As a top ranked first-year, you¡¯re the most logical choice for my team. And as a talented young Dream Artist, you¡¯re the best choice for my next apprentice.¡± Her thoughts raced like mana through her channels. No . . . this couldn¡¯t be real. It had to be an elaborate plot for revenge. She forced herself to meet his eyes. ¡°What makes you think I even want to join your team?¡± ¡°You said it yourself during the qualifying rounds. You¡¯re sick of these games and hollow victories. You want something real.¡± ¡°I was lying.¡± Elend just gave her a flat look, which was fair. ¡°The others would never accept me as their teammate,¡± she said. ¡°Not after what I did.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be easy, I¡¯ll grant you that. But nothing worthwhile ever is.¡± Elise narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you¡¯d accept me, either.¡± It might have been more prudent to keep this to herself, but she had no chance of deceiving a Grandmaster. Better to control the conversation however she could. Elend just smiled back at her. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°You and I are opposites. We¡¯re both Dream Artists, but you shy away from using your full power. I use everything at my disposal.¡± His smile widened. ¡°First of all, you¡¯re wrong about me. I¡¯ve been in plenty of battles where I didn¡¯t hold back. Do people talk about those battles? No, lass. Experienced Dream Artists don¡¯t get caught.¡± Elise winced as several recent mistakes flashed in her mind. ¡°Second,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m a teacher. Do you think I cast aside every problematic student? My classroom would be empty in that case.¡± ¡°My parents will never agree to this.¡± He leaned back in his chair. ¡°Like I said, you¡¯re not a child anymore.¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking me to choose between your team and my family.¡± ¡°You already made that choice yesterday, and I saw the regret in your eyes. I¡¯m offering you a second chance.¡± ¡°My father will be prime minister in three years,¡± Elise said. ¡°What can you offer me that he can¡¯t?¡± Elend shook his head. ¡°Your father offers you political power and approval, but he can revoke those at any time. He offers you wealth, but unearned wealth is a castle in the sand, and one storm can wash it away. I offer you nothing. Nothing but the tools to unlock the power inside yourself. And even the Angels can¡¯t take that away.¡± Book 3 - Chapter 49: Moonfire Relia slouched in her computer chair, locked in a staring contest with a blank document. Master Nightfang¡¯s final paper was due this Kelsday, but she couldn¡¯t find the energy to start it. Training had always come easily for Relia. When she trained, she bought herself more time in this world. Even if she didn¡¯t reach Artisan, every little bit helped. But school papers were a different story. She¡¯d always promised herself she¡¯d never complain about her condition, or use it as an excuse. She wanted to live a normal life, and normal students did their homework. Still, the pain in her channels grew sharper and more distracting every day. This time, her pills wouldn¡¯t be enough to save her. No, no. Don¡¯t think about that. You¡¯ll just go into another downward spiral. Relia brought her hands to the keyboard and began to type. Her mind loved to mope around, but action was the best remedy. Besides, schoolwork was just another kind of training. It might not build her mana, but it kept her focused. Her focus shattered a second later when someone knocked on her bedroom door. Relia straightened in her chair and spun toward the sound. Who could that be? Elend and Irina were both working, and Akari and Kalden were having their date night. Then again, maybe they¡¯d turned their movie night into a training session. That sounded just like them, come to think of it. Akari claimed to love Mana Arts movies, but then she¡¯d analyze the fight scenes as they played out. It was kind of annoying, to be honest. Not everyone had seen those movies a thousand times. ¡°Just a second!¡± Relia scooped up a box of shardbreaker pills from her bed and stuffed it behind the pile of stuffed animals. Then she kicked some laundry into the closet and closed the wooden doors. Finally, she opened the bedroom door and found Elise Moonfire standing in the hall. Her sister wore a long winter coat that fell to her knees, along with a knitted scarf and hat. ¡°Hey.¡± Elise sister gave a nervous wave. Well, it looked nervous, but it was probably an act. Elise had looked sincere during the qualifying rounds, too. But how long had it taken her to betray them? Fifteen minutes? Relia pushed her door closed. ¡°Go away.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Elise slid her boot between the door and the frame. ¡°I know you¡¯re pissed at me, but this will only take a second.¡± Relia peered down at the boot, then started cycling mana into her right hand. ¡°You really wanna go? Kalden beat you in three seconds. I¡¯ll do it in one.¡± Elise stepped back, and her blue eyes went suddenly round. Relia didn¡¯t normally threaten people, or even get angry. But that came with a perk; when she actually got mad, people listened. ¡°I just came here to tell you one thing,¡± Elise said. ¡°Please, can I come in?¡± Relia narrowed her eyes. ¡°How¡¯d you even get in the house?¡± ¡°Glimmer let me in.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Relia had wanted to go back to her apartment tonight, but Elend insisted it was safer here. Now Glim was letting their enemies step through the front door? ¡°You probably won¡¯t believe this,¡± Elise said. ¡°But I¡¯m really sorry for how the qualifying rounds ended. If I could do it over, I would. All of it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. I don¡¯t believe you.¡± Relia took a step forward, wishing she could loom over people the way Kalden did. ¡°You think I¡¯m a doormat, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No.¡± Elise stepped back. ¡°Everyone knows you¡¯re the best in your class.¡± ¡°Skilled, but stupid. Still makes me the weak link, huh?¡± Her breath hitched, and tears stung her eyes ¡°Leave, or I¡¯ll drag you outside myself.¡± ¡°I¡¯m adopted!¡± Elise blurted out. ¡°You¡¯re . . . what?¡± ¡°I¡¯m adopted,¡± she repeated. ¡°Our parents never had any kids after you.¡± Relia blinked several times as she processed this. She¡¯d always assumed they were biological sisters. The odds of having two kids with krustoplega were low, even when the parents abused soulshine. She¡¯d assumed the Moonfires would take the risk. Elise took a deep breath, and her hands were shaking. ¡°Our parents never abused soulshine. That¡¯s not where your condition¡ª¡± ¡°What condition?¡± Relia broke in. She winced. ¡°Grandmaster Darklight told me about it.¡± ¡°Which Grandmaster Darklight?¡± ¡°Um . . . Elend.¡± Great. Since when did Elend share her secrets? Relia had only told Akari and Kalden about that. Now, he¡¯d gone and spilled the beans to Elise Moonfire? He might as well have told the whole Artegium Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Elise began again. ¡°I never knew that¡ª¡± ¡°Save it.¡± Relia crossed her arms. Lots of people would treat her better if they knew, but that wasn¡¯t fair. Basic human decency shouldn''t be reserved for people on death row. Elise paused as if gathering her thoughts again. ¡°I know where it came from. Your condition, I mean.¡± Relia let out a huff of annoyance. Was she about to defend their parents now and say it wasn¡¯t their fault? ¡°I guess there¡¯s no easy way to say this ¡­¡± Several heartbeats passed before Elise spoke again. ¡°Lyraina Trelian is your grandmother.¡± Relia laughed at the absurd claim. ¡°Nice try. I knew Lyraina. She trained me and gave me my aspect. I think I¡¯d know if we were related.¡± Elise blinked at that. Clearly, whatever lie she¡¯d concocted, she hadn¡¯t factored in this part. Still, she pressed on. ¡°Ashur Moonfire is Lady Trelian¡¯s son. He¡¯s part Mana Artist, part Aeon. That¡¯s how he advanced so quickly.¡± Elise handed her an envelope before she could reply. Relia took it and stumbled toward her desk in a daze. Her room was dark, and the sun hung below the trees in the backyard. That left her lamp and computer as the only decent light sources. She slid a bundle of papers from the envelope, spreading them all over her desk. The first featured several excerpts from Aeonica, a book of myths from the Aeon homeworld. Her gaze darted toward a highlighted section about Lyraina¡¯s order, the Redeemers. One paragraph described Moonshard, the Redeemer''s Construct technique. She¡¯d seen her old master use this before. Sozen Trengsen had also used a variation of it against Dansin Roth yesterday. The next paragraph described an Angelic Cloak technique that could heal any wound. They called it Moonfire. Azul¡¯s ashes. If this was true, then Lyraina had hidden a clue in plain sight. Moonfire sounded like any other clan name, so no one had questioned it. Even her father probably hadn¡¯t known until it was too late. The next page described the differences between Mana Artists and Aeons. Relia knew most of this already. Mana Artists had channels, and Aeons had souls of Etherite. This meant Mana Artists were physically stronger, but Aeons had access to Angelic mana, giving them stronger techniques over all. Aeons were glass cannons, in other words. But the highlighted parts revealed something new. Mana Artists and Aeons could procreate, giving their offspring both sets of powers. If the mother was an Aeon, she would pass Etherite directly to the child, and those children would be born with Aeon souls. This had been the case with Relia¡¯s father, Ashur Moonfire. But things were more complicated with an Aeon father. In these cases, the children had the potential for a crystal soul, but not the soul itself. Sometimes, nothing happened. Other times, the children¡¯s bodies would attempt to turn their own mana into crystal souls. This was known as krustoplegia. The evidence grew stronger as Relia read on. One study claimed that all patients with krustoplegia had Aeon blood in their veins. Soulshine didn¡¯t cause the condition. It only amplified it. Finally, the last paper spoke of a cure. A cure for krustoplegia. The paper shook in Relia¡¯s hands, and tears clouded her eyes. Even as a little girl, she¡¯d never dared to hope for such a thing. ¡°Do you see what this means?¡± Elise asked. Relia glanced up and saw her sister standing beside her. Still, she didn¡¯t reply. She couldn¡¯t make herself believe it. If this paper was right, then Relia was an Aeon without a crystal soul. But if she built one¡ªif she became a true Aeon¡ªthen her body would stop trying to build one for her. Her condition would vanish, along with all the pain, and the looming threat of death. It all seemed so simple in hindsight. Why would anyone keep this knowledge a secret? ¡°This is why our parents never had more children,¡± Elise explained. ¡°The odds of getting someone with krustoplegia were much higher than they thought.¡± Relia wiped the tears from her eyes and fell back into her desk chair. ¡°The part about Lyraina can¡¯t be true. I spent years training with her. Why wouldn¡¯t she tell me? ¡°I didn¡¯t know that she trained you,¡± Elise said. ¡°My parents never told me. But there¡¯s only one explanation. What if she wasn¡¯t there when you were born? What if she only learned about you later? After our parents abandoned you?¡± Relia drew in a shaky breath as the pieces fell together. ¡°What if our parents traded your name for a soul oath?¡± Elise went on. ¡°Lyraina could find you, but she couldn¡¯t speak the truth. Not to you. Not to anyone.¡± Okay, maybe that made sense. It also explained another mystery¡ªone that had bothered her for years. Lyraina was an immortal from another world, and her powers rivaled Mystics. Why would she seek out an orphan girl with a terminal illness? Why would she train her and pass on her greatest secrets? But in hindsight, Lyraina had always treated her like a daughter. Or a granddaughter, in this case. Now it all made sense. Relia glanced at the papers, then back to Elise. ¡°Elend gave you this, didn¡¯t he?¡± Elise gave a cautious nod. ¡°How much did you know before that?¡± ¡°I knew Lyraina was Ashur Moonfire¡¯s mother,¡± she replied. ¡°That¡¯s all. I didn¡¯t know you were dying, or that it could be cured.¡± Relia nodded. Elend had shared parts of this theory with her before, but she hadn¡¯t listened to him. She¡¯d assumed it was a ploy to make her take soulshine. Clearly, he¡¯d spent the last few years digging for proof, and he¡¯d even brought in Elise to strengthen his case. She sat there for a long while as possibilities raced through her mind. Still, one fact stood out above all the rest. Soulshine hadn¡¯t caused her condition. And if she took the drug now, she could reach Artisan and cure it permanently. The journey wouldn¡¯t be easy, but she¡¯d bet anything that Elend had a plan. Tears of joy filled her eyes, but they seemed so inadequate. She¡¯d never gotten news this big before, and her brain didn¡¯t know how to process it. She actually had a chance to survive. To survive! Not just one more year, but an entire lifetime. Long enough to graduate Koreldon University. To reach the ranks of Master, Grandmaster, and Mystic. To get married, have children, and grandchildren. Azul¡¯s ashes. What else could she do with a whole lifetime? With enough power, she could share the truth about krustoplega and Aeons. She could find more people with this condition, and help them feel the way she felt in this moment. She could fight with Akari and Kalden until the end, and help them re-take their home. ¡°You forgave me once,¡± Elise¡¯s words pulled her from her thoughts. There was another pause as the other girl seemed to gather her courage. ¡°Can you forgive me again?¡± ¡°I forgive you for hurting me . . .¡± Relia dug her heels into the carpet and rose from her desk chair. Her joy turned to anger as she remembered the aftermath of the qualifying rounds. ¡°But you put my friends in danger yesterday. Real danger. And I was part of it.¡± Elise broke eye contact, but she didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°Akari¡¯s more of a sister to me than you¡¯ll ever be. I love her, and she almost died yesterday because of you.¡± Relia narrowed her eyes and closed the distance between them. Her hands shook at her sides, and she bit off each word as she spoke. ¡°Elend can do what he wants with you, but I never want to see you again.¡± Book 3 - Epilogue: The Blade Mystic . . . other things. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. way too hard not to smile.¡± freedom. When he wasn¡¯t serving the Mystic, Kysho devoted every waking hour to his training. Cowards, the lot of them. Book 3 - Epilogue Part 2: Storms Dansin Roth stepped down a corridor of dark wood and polished marble. In that moment, he couldn¡¯t say where on the planet he was. His host was the strongest Space Artist in the world, and the man¡¯s techniques were worthy of that title. He also had a reputation for exploring dangerous places. The sort of places no ordinary human would tread. This could be a regular house in Koreldon City, right under the Mystics¡¯ noses. Or perhaps they were somewhere more exotic, like an underground bunker in the jungles of Cadria. It could be somewhere warm, like a desert in South Shoken, or somewhere impossibly cold, like the tundras of Vordica. Nothing would surprise him at this point. Dansin rounded a corner and passed several pieces of expensive artwork along the way. The surroundings were a stark contrast to his disheveled state, and he ran his hand through his hair, trying to put things back into order. Unfortunately, he could do little for the stubble on his face, or the wrinkles in his shirt. Life on the run didn¡¯t suit Dansin at all, and he¡¯d thought of ending his struggle more than once. He still had an old contact in the Espirian Crime Agency, someone who would gladly trade Dansin¡¯s knowledge for his freedom. Of course, he would never entertain such thoughts in front of his host. The corridor ended in a larger room that looked like an office. Three massive windows dominated the wall opposite the door, and they looked out into a black void. But no . . . as his eyes adjusted to the scene, Dansin saw the truth of things. A thousand pinpricks of light sparkled in that void. Stars? Until now, he¡¯d only seen stars beyond a veil of light and mana pollution. This was something else entirely. Each star had its own distinct size, color, and shape¡ªdetails he¡¯d never seen before. A large sphere floated in space outside the right window. It was mostly blue and white, with thin green land masses visible beneath the clouds. Dansin stared for several long seconds as his brain processed the impossible sight. Was this a trick, or was he actually staring down at the planet itself? So much for not being surprised. Suddenly, the room felt far colder than it had before, and shivers threatened to run down his spine. If he was staring at the planet, then where was he now? One of the moons? He¡¯d heard of high-level Space Artists making portals here, but he¡¯d never imagined he would travel through one himself. ¡°Enjoying the view?¡± Ashur Moonfire asked from behind his desk. The man wore a crisp gray suit, and his dark red hair was neatly styled. Dansin gave a slow nod, forcing himself to appear calm. ¡°The photographs don¡¯t do it justice.¡± ¡°The photographers always focus on our moons¡¯ surfaces,¡± Moonfire said as he stepped around his desk. ¡°A mistake, if you ask me.¡± Then he nodded down to Dansin¡¯s missing hand. ¡°How¡¯s the wound?¡± ¡°It¡¯s healed well enough,¡± Dansin said without looking down. In this modern age of prosthetics, everyone expected Mana Artists to endure such injuries without complaint. But no one ever spoke of the sense of wrongness that came with them. A few more steps brought Dansin into the center of the room, and he noticed Moonfire¡¯s other guest sitting in a brown leather armchair. She was a half-dragon, but her features looked more human than most, with smooth green skin and black hair that fell past her shoulders. Moonfire sat on the edge of his desk and gestured between them. ¡°Dansin Roth, meet Valeria Antano, former Spymaster of Creta.¡± The dragon locked her golden eyes on Dansin and spoke in a raspy voice. ¡°So, you¡¯re the one? The one who let Zeller slip through your fingers?¡± Dansin kept his excuses to himself. He could have mentioned the Cult of Solidor, and how they¡¯d slipped a spy into his ranks, but why bother? He didn¡¯t answer to this woman, and she had little to offer him. ¡°We¡¯re not here to rehash the past,¡± Moonfire said. ¡°The fact is, neither one of you can return to your former lives after what happened. That¡¯s why the organization chose you.¡± This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Chose us?¡± Dansin asked. ¡°To accelerate our plans.¡± The Grandmaster stepped toward a smooth section of the wall and cycled his space mana. A portal appeared there a second later, and he gestured them both forward. Dansin stepped through the portal onto a stone amid a raging storm. Mana swirled in the night sky, lightning flashed between the clouds, and the tides rose hundreds of feet into the air. The air smelled like salt and mana, and raw power. Despite this, the rain never touched him, and the stone was dry beneath his shoes. Even the sound of his footsteps was louder than the storm. Senator Moonfire had clearly brought them somewhere in the Inner Sea, but the transition was as smooth as stepping through a doorway. The island itself was barely a dozen feet across, but that made sense. The Inner Sea was even more dangerous than the moons, and the Constructs would be more expensive to maintain. Valeria followed them through the portal, marveling at their surroundings. Moonfire approached the edge of the island and turned to face them. ¡°What do you really want, Valeria?¡± ¡°You know what I want.¡± ¡°To kill Akari Zeller?¡± He gave her a frank look. ¡°Come now. You didn¡¯t become a Master with such small ambitions.¡± She bared her teeth, looking far less human than before. ¡°That girl killed my son¡ª¡± ¡°In battle,¡± he broke in. ¡°And your son was an Artisan, wasn¡¯t he? The girl¡¯s actions were far from dishonorable. What was your son even doing there? Wasn¡¯t that battle between the Unmarked and the Grevandi?¡± When Valeria didn¡¯t respond, he continued. ¡°Vengeance is all well and good, but focusing all your efforts on a sixteen-year-old Apprentice? That¡¯s beneath you. What do you really want?¡± Her lips made a thin line as she considered his words. ¡°When I was a girl, we feared those in power. Even in the heat of battle, I never would have attacked the son of a Master. That was the way of the world. It was harsh and brutal, but I accepted it. Now my family is in power, and this younger generation does what they please. They don¡¯t fear Masters and Mystics like they used to.¡± Her face hardened, and her eyes were like glowing embers against the dark storm. ¡°I want the world to go back to the way it was.¡± ¡°Better,¡± Moonfire said with a curt nod. ¡°And you will have your vengeance as well. Our enemies have shown an interest in Akari Zeller and her new aspect. That¡¯s why we honored your request¡± Well, that was one mystery solved. In one move, they would have removed the Zeller from the board and put Valeria Antano in their debt. The Grandmaster turned to face him. ¡°And you, Dansin? What do you fight for?¡± Dansin¡¯s own ambitions were smaller, perhaps. A part of him just wanted to go back to his job at Koreldon University. He wasn¡¯t fit for these secret plots, and he certainly didn¡¯t agree with Valeria¡¯s view of the past. Even a hundred years ago, an Apprentice could be killed just for looking a Master in the eye. The survivors of that age might look back with fond memories, but the survivors all had luck on their side. What¡¯s more, someone like Dansin would never have survived in such a cruel world. He¡¯d spent his youth as an average Mana Artist. He¡¯d never had an impressive aspect, and he hadn¡¯t developed his shaping skills until later in life. By then, his destiny was sealed. Hard work makes Artisans, and insight makes Masters. He¡¯d always hated that old saying, especially since he possessed more of the former quality than the latter. He¡¯d been lucky just to climb this high, but he couldn¡¯t stand to watch his peers work half as hard and earn twice as much. Worst of all, he was forced to train prodigies in his classes, knowing they might surpass him in his own lifetime. ¡°I want to be a Grandmaster,¡± he said. ¡°I can give you that,¡± Moonfire replied. ¡°There will be sacrifices, of course. No path to power is ever easy. But when we¡¯re finished, you will have what you seek.¡± The storm grew louder, despite the surrounding wards. Even the ground itself seemed to shake beneath their feet. ¡°Empires have risen and fallen for centuries.¡± Moonfire raised a hand toward the distant horizon, and the clouds shifted in response. ¡°Espiria has grown stronger than any before it. If they grow too strong, they will seek to overthrow the Angels themselves, and this we can¡¯t allow.¡± Dansin raised an eyebrow. Was Moonfire a true believer in their cause? No . . . Angelists might speak of living a good life and being reborn in Eternity, but those teachings were for other people. People too weak to face the truth. Deep down, every Mana Artist sought to defy the Angels and achieve true immortality. ¡°It¡¯s time for Espiria to fall,¡± Moonfire continued. ¡°We will be the instruments of its destruction, and we¡¯ll bring a new golden age from the ashes.¡± ¡°What would you ask of us?¡± Valeria asked. ¡°You¡¯ll start by retrieving the Etherite you lost. It¡¯s far more valuable than you know, and your brother was a fool to lose it.¡± He turned to Dansin. ¡°Your job comes with greater risks. But if you succeed, you¡¯ll rise far beyond all your peers.¡± The island shook harder, and the clouds swirled in a spiral behind the Grandmaster. A massive form took shape in the eye of that storm. The creature was solid blue, the exact color of pure mana, with the body of a serpent and the head of a dragon. It slithered closer to their small island, indifferent to the tides and the winds. From a distance, the creature had looked like an ordinary mana beast. Now, it was clearly several miles long, with a face that filled the sky. The creature opened its mouth to reveal a burst of blinding light. Dansin shielded his eyes and shuffled back. Valeria did the same beside him. Moonfire remained still¡ªa dark silhouette against the light. ¡°Stand your ground,¡± he told them. ¡°We are the Sons of Talek.¡± He stretched out his arms and balled his hands into fists. ¡°We don¡¯t cower before the storms. We bring the storms.¡± Book 4 - Prologue: Limitless Power Book 4: Web of Aeons Elend trudged through the snow, on his way to another secret meeting. Lena Cavaco walked beside him, shivering in her sleeveless white blouse. He¡¯d offered her his jacket a few minutes ago, but she¡¯d refused, claiming that her Aeon powers could warm her muscles. Clearly, those powers had gotten rusty in Cadria¡¯s tropical climate, and it certainly didn¡¯t help that she¡¯d arrived here by portal. A night wind blew through the forest clearing, pulling snowflakes from the pine trees and tossing them against his face. Lena pulled her arms tighter across her chest, struggling to maintain her composure. Elend grinned as he removed his jacket. ¡°You¡¯ve never been to Espiria, have you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been to your continent,¡± Lena said. ¡°But I¡¯ve never had business this far north.¡± ¡°I¡¯m flattered.¡± He placed the jacket over her bare shoulders, and she accepted it without complaint this time. Technically, he could have made her a jacket from dream mana, but he¡¯d always preferred this old-fashioned gesture. Eventually, they reached the barn at the back of his property¡ªthe same place where he¡¯d interrogated Kalden¡¯s brother a few days before. Elend pressed his thumb to the lock, letting it read his personal mana signature. The door clicked open, and he let Lena go first. Warm air blasted from the ceiling vents, and she sighed with relief as they stepped inside. Elend conjured a pair of leather armchairs with a wooden table between them. Another burst of dream mana, and two steaming mugs of hot chocolate appeared on the table. Lena sat down and raised her thin eyebrows at the sight. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t do food, Espirian?¡± ¡°Hot chocolate is easy enough. Simple flavor, simple texture. I learned to make it for Irina when we were dating.¡± Elend lowered himself into the other chair, resting his ankle on his knee. ¡°Just don¡¯t ask me for marshmallows. Mine always taste like fluff candy or packing nuts, depending on my mood.¡± ¡°Hot chocolate made of dream mana . . .¡± Lena sipped her drink and gave an appreciative smile. ¡°I¡¯d imagine this would cost me ten times more than the real thing.¡± ¡°Aye.¡± Elend threw a pure Missile at the table, wrapped it around his own mug, and pulled it back to his outstretched hand. ¡°Who doesn¡¯t like chocolate with zero calories?¡± He blew on his mug and sipped the steaming brown liquid. Now that they¡¯d settled in, he steered the conversation back on topic. ¡°I don¡¯t like manipulating my students.¡± ¡°I know,¡± she replied. ¡°But we can¡¯t be straightforward with Miss Zeller. Once she knows the win conditions, she¡¯ll turn this into a game. The Solidors won¡¯t fall for it.¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°So, you watched Akari on TV for a few hours, and now you think you understand her?¡± Lena held his gaze. ¡°Am I wrong, Espirian?¡± ¡°As if you¡¯re not playing games with me right now,¡± Elend countered. ¡°The Solidors need Akari.¡± ¡°No,¡± she said. ¡°They need a Spacetime Artist.¡± ¡°Right. Last I checked, she was the only one of those in town. And by ¡®town¡¯, I do mean the whole bloody planet.¡± ¡°For now.¡± Lena reached into her bag and retrieved a cream-colored envelope. She pulled a few papers from the top and slid them across the table. Elend glanced down. ¡°What are these?¡± ¡°Those are a few of the Solidors¡¯ other candidates.¡± He furrowed his brow as he read. They¡¯d blacked out parts to protect the candidates¡¯ identities, but one thing was clear: all these people planned to become Spacetime Artists within the next year. Elend scanned the papers for a few more seconds, then he waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Aye, the vultures swarm in whenever someone invents a new aspect. They¡¯ll be cheap copies of Akari at best.¡± ¡°That¡¯s only true in the short term,¡± Lena said. ¡°The Solidors have already waited decades for the perfect candidate. They¡¯re prepared to wait a few decades more if they must.¡± Damnit. She wasn¡¯t bluffing. Elend¡¯s hands began to sweat despite his confident facade. A part of him had expected smooth sailing once Akari aspected her mana. He understood their need for caution, but this? ¡°What¡¯s this really about?¡± he asked. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°I was honest with you before,¡± Lena said. ¡°The Solidors already had their reservations about Miss Zeller, and your school games didn¡¯t help matters.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Elend said. ¡°But there¡¯s something else. I don¡¯t need dream mana to see that.¡± Lena gathered up her papers and returned them to the envelope. ¡°We know about the island.¡± Elend¡¯s heart beat faster, but he reined it back in and forced himself to sound mildly curious. ¡°Island?¡± ¡°The Archipelago,¡± she clarified. ¡°The sect that disappeared, and the thousands of people who lost their memories. My patrons have known about it for some time now¡ªeven before they met Sozen Trengsen. They only shared it with me a few days ago.¡± ¡°Ah, so you¡¯re talking about Sozen¡¯s home?¡± Her lips curled upward as she sipped her drink again. ¡°They know you took a boat off the coast of Vaslana last year. A few months later, you find yourself shipwrecked in Creta. Not only are you wearing cuffs of Etherite, but you¡¯re traveling with Sozen¡¯s brother, and the Cliftons¡¯ daughter.¡± She paused. ¡°Are Mazren and Emeri still alive?¡± Elend recognized the trap and took a mental step back. It had been years since he¡¯d discussed this with anyone but his wife and students. He¡¯d made an honest effort with his colleagues at one point, but they¡¯d accused him of being a conspiracy theorist. Now, this hardly seemed like Elend¡¯s secret to share. He might have discovered the Archipelago, but Akari and Kalden had actually escaped it. They were the ones who might get sent back if something went wrong. Then again, the Solidors had clearly gathered enough evidence on their own, and Kalden had even confessed a few things to his brother. Elend also needed their help to turn his students into Aeons. Sharing information would open more doors, while lying would get him nowhere. ¡°Akari¡¯s father is alive,¡± he said. ¡°And he¡¯s still back on the island. Her mother was murdered shortly after she arrived there.¡± Lena gave a slow nod. ¡°So it¡¯s true, then. Even the strongest Mana Artists can lose their powers there.¡± ¡°It would appear that way.¡± He leaned forward. ¡°What else have your patrons learned?¡± ¡°Not much more, I¡¯m afraid. They sent a team to investigate last year, but they only found rubble.¡± ¡°The rubble is an illusion,¡± Elend said. ¡°Some Mystic-level technique I never figured out.¡± ¡°Or the rubble is real,¡± Lena said, ¡°while the islands exist in a different dimension.¡± He hadn¡¯t considered that before, but the idea might have merit. As a Dream Artist, every problem looked like an illusion to Elend, the same way a man with a hammer saw nails everywhere he looked. ¡°Either way,¡± he said, ¡°there¡¯s a peninsula on the northwestern side of Arkala. The entrance is there, just beyond the beach.¡± ¡°Yes, they found the remains of your campsite, but no entrance. They even brought a Knowledge Artist of your caliber to investigate.¡± Damnit, he should have expected that. But if the Martials or their benefactors could hide the entrance, then why hadn¡¯t they done so before? It wasn¡¯t like they wanted visitors. Perhaps it took an enormous amount of effort, and Elend¡¯s antics last year had pushed them over the edge. Speaking of their benefactors . . . ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you know who did all this?¡± Elend asked. ¡°No,¡± Lena said with a quick shake of her head. ¡°But we have more spies within the Sons of Talek. That group has a few theories.¡± His eyebrows shot up at that. The Sons of Talek had been Elend¡¯s primary suspects until now. Ashur Moonfire was a member, and he¡¯d been involved in Last Haven¡¯s destruction. ¡°Several of their high-ranking members have vanished,¡± Lena said, ¡°along with all records and memories of their existence. If anything, they¡¯ve lost more people than us.¡± ¡°Curious,¡± Elend said. ¡°And these people are in the Archipelago right now?¡± ¡°No one knows. Some have regained their lost memories, like you, but that¡¯s been the extent of their investigation. We suspect they¡¯re afraid to dig too deep.¡± Clearly, these disappearances were more widespread than he¡¯d assumed. But this didn¡¯t rule out someone from the Sons of Talek. Especially if this Mystic was banishing traitors from his own organization. Elend raised his cup to his lips. ¡°You said they have some theories?¡± Lena drew in a long breath and seemed to find a sudden interest in her mug. ¡°Miss Zeller has drawn a great deal of attention in their ranks, especially after she fought off those assassination attempts.¡± ¡°What?¡± Elend would have spit out his drink if not for his impeccable self-control. ¡°They think Akari did this?¡± She spread out her hands. ¡°The phrase ¡®time travel¡¯ has come up more than once.¡± ¡°Time travel,¡± Elend deadpanned. She nodded. ¡°Along with parallel dimensions.¡± ¡°So, they think this was Akari from the future? Or a different version of her?¡± ¡°Miss Zeller is the world¡¯s first Spacetime Artist. And we¡¯ve seen evidence that points to her aspect¡¯s involvement.¡± ¡°Such as?¡± ¡°The Archipelago likely exists in a different dimension from our own. Then there¡¯s the matter of the missing memories and records. No mere Knowledge Artist could have done this. Not even a Mystic.¡± ¡°Unlike a Spacetime Mystic merging two dimensions,¡± Elend said. ¡°That¡¯s completely reasonable, right?¡± ¡°There¡¯s never been a Spacetime Mystic before,¡± Lena said. ¡°We don¡¯t know what¡¯s possible and what isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Well, time travel is mathematically impossible, so we can safely rule that out. Unless our world exists in a pocket dimension. In that case, all science goes out the window.¡± Elend rubbed at his temple. ¡°How serious is this theory?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± Lena said. ¡°Our enemies know we need a Spacetime Artist, and they probably know about our spies. They could have planted these rumors to thwart us.¡± Elend had been thinking the same thing, so at least they were on the same page. ¡°However,¡± Lena said. ¡°If we make Akari Zeller an Aeon, we¡¯d be handing her the keys to limitless power. My patrons won¡¯t make that decision lightly.¡± Elend scratched the stubble on his chin, staring down the long corridor with its two rows of metal doors. Deep down, Akari was actually a sweet girl, but he couldn¡¯t deny this logic. ¡°She¡¯s still a serious candidate,¡± Lena said. ¡°And that¡¯s why I¡¯m here.¡± She spread out her hands again. ¡°You¡¯re her teacher, of course. This was my plan, but the decision is yours.¡± ¡°I¡¯d still prefer to tell her the truth,¡± Elend said. Lena raised her eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯ve told you everything I know, Espirian. Do you honestly believe that would work?¡± No. And that was the worst part about all of this. Elend could see all the scenarios play out in his mind¡¯s eye, and only one path led to victory. Lena nodded as if he¡¯d conceded the point aloud. ¡°Ask yourself this. What if Miss Zeller had all the information you have right now? What path would she choose for herself?¡± Once again, the answer was clear. Akari would do almost anything for more power. Unfortunately, that was the problem. Book 4 - Chapter 1: Last Haven Elementary Akari stepped across the playground, searching for her best friend. Woodchips crunched beneath her shoes, and she had to dodge a few muddy areas from last night¡¯s storm. Even the play equipment still glistened with raindrops, from the aluminum swing set to the massive yellow slide. Shouts and laughter filled the courtyard as her classmates ran back and forth. A small crowd stood around the sandbox where Reoko was building a massive castle. The boy had become a Sand Artist last month, and he¡¯d clearly used his aspect on this project. Akari continued past the crowd toward the gate. There, she spotted a familiar pink backpack leaning against a thick oak tree. Emberlyn Frostblade stood with her back to the tree, clutching a half-open alchemy textbook. A group of three other kids surrounded her, with four more watching from a distance. ¡°Thanks for the offer,¡± Emberlyn told them, ¡°but I¡¯m not much of a surgeball player.¡± ¡°Come on,¡± one voice said. Akari stepped around the tree and recognized him as Kazo Shiro. A full head taller than her, the boy had shaggy black hair that fell into his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ll never get better if you don¡¯t practice.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Emberlyn gestured at her book. ¡°But I really need to study.¡± One of Kazo¡¯s friends snatched her book and read the cover. ¡°This says ¡®high school.¡¯ You¡¯re not even in high school yet!¡± Kazo¡¯s face darkened. ¡°So you think you¡¯re better than us?¡± ¡°She does,¡± a girl named Rina spoke up from the crowd. ¡°Just last week, I heard her say that surgeball players were stupid.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± another girl joined in. ¡°I heard that, too!¡± Emberlyn probably hadn¡¯t said that, but it was true. Surgeballs had mana-based cores that responded to pressure from the players¡¯ channels. This let them pretend to be real Mana Artists without using any real techniques. Akari quickened her pace, but she wasn¡¯t fast enough. ¡°Catch!¡± Kazo hurled the ball at Emberlyn¡¯s forehead, and the impact sent her staggering into the nearby oak tree. She caught herself against its thick truck, and her textbook flew into the woodchips. The crowd erupted into laughter, and Kazo opened his mouth again¡ªprobably to say something stupid. Before he could, Akari leapt between him and Emberlyn. ¡°Hey!¡± She punched the boy in his sternum. ¡°Back off!¡± Kazo staggered back, but not as far as she¡¯d hoped. Mana raced through her channels, and she fell into a combat stance. It was the same stance Kalden Trengsen had shown her two years before. ¡°Roots are everything,¡± he¡¯d said. ¡°Even the biggest tree will fall without them.¡± The entire playground held its breath as Kazo recovered. Dozens of their classmates stopped playing and gathered in a loose circle to watch. Last Haven had more Combat Artists than most small towns, and that meant more fights among the kids. Kazo grabbed his surgeball and stepped forward, looming over Akari. ¡°What are you gonna do, Zeller?¡± He raised his eyebrows as if daring her to reply. Akari knew better than to look away. ¡°I¡¯m gonna kick your ass.¡± She¡¯d never said a bad word at school before, and her cheeks grew hot. The laughter started again. This time, it came from the crowd rather than Kazo¡¯s friends. Kazo took a few steps back, but it was only a feint. A second later, he spun back toward Akari and launched the surgeball with blinding speed. ¡°Heads up!¡± Akari matched his speed and shot a Missile at the approaching ball. She focused her pressure on the center of the technique, sharpening it into a crude blade. Kazo¡¯s ball crashed into it with a thud, and it deflated with a rapid whoosh of air. Akari held his gaze as she caught the ball and touched its mana core, pulling the power into her channels. Then she threw the sagging orb of rubber over her shoulder, letting it land in the woodchips. Emberlyn stepped up beside Akari, but she didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°You can¡¯t do that!¡± Kazo blurted out. ¡°You¡¯re gonna get suspended.¡± Akari shrugged. ¡°Ask me if I care.¡± Alton Tusk stepped up beside Kazo and grabbed him by the arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Kaz. Zeller¡¯s a freak.¡± Kazo made a snorting sound and turned to leave. ¡°Let me guess,¡± Akari snapped. ¡°Kazo is Shokenese for craven?¡± ¡°Craven?¡± The boy froze, spinning his head to face her. ¡°What the hell does that even mean?¡± ¡°Means you¡¯re scared of me,¡± Akari said. ¡°You¡¯d know that if you actually read books instead of tossing them in the dirt.¡± She glanced back down at Emberlyn¡¯s textbook. ¡°Now pick it up and apologize, or I¡¯ll¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Emberlyn spoke up for the first time. She leaned down and retrieved her own book from the ground, wiping it clean on the front of her jacket. ¡°See? Everything¡¯s fine.¡± Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Kazo¡¯s friends took that moment to lead him away. Akari almost chased after them, but Emberlyn grabbed her by the arm. Akari kept her eyes on her retreating opponents. It wasn¡¯t too late to break free and finish this . . . ¡°Hey.¡± Emberlyn stepped in front of Akari. ¡°Take a deep breath with me.¡± Akari laughed and met her friend¡¯s bright violet eyes. ¡°You sound like my mom.¡± ¡°Come on. Just do it!¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Akari rolled her eyes and leaned back against the oak tree. Then she took a good long breath, in through her nostrils and out through her mouth. Emberlyn smiled at her. ¡°Feel better?¡± Akari shrugged. ¡°I¡¯d feel better if I taught him a lesson for real.¡± The other girl gave a nervous chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re my best friend, Akari, but you scare me sometimes.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t back down from kids like that.¡± Akari thrust a finger in the group¡¯s general direction. ¡°They¡¯ll just come after you again.¡± ¡°Kazo didn¡¯t want to fight you,¡± she said. ¡°But he would if you kept pushing it. Then you¡¯d both get in trouble.¡± Emberlyn led her toward the play structure, which was mostly empty. Akari followed her friend, but she kept her eyes on Kazo¡¯s group, just in case they tried to pick on someone else. This went on for a few minutes before Emberlyn shot her an annoyed look. ¡°Are we gonna hang out, or are you gonna go play hero again?¡± Akari pulled her gaze away and sagged her shoulders. ¡°Sorry.¡± Her friend had a point; they didn¡¯t have any classes together this semester, so recess was the only time they had to see each other. An idea kindled inside her, then. Lots of kids were intimidated by Emberlyn, but she also made herself an easy target by sitting alone. Akari could respect that, but she should know how to defend herself. Emberlyn didn¡¯t. ¡°What if I gave you some fighting lessons?¡± she suggested. Emberlyn bit her lip. ¡°I don¡¯t want to fight anyone.¡± Akari gave her a frank look. ¡°Did you tell Kazo that?¡± She shrugged. ¡°He would have walked away eventually.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be in high school soon,¡± Akari said. ¡°There¡¯s gonna be a lot more fighting there.¡± ¡°Says who?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a whole dueling program, and it gets you ready for college-level fighting. Some of the best students even go to Koreldon University.¡± ¡°So? That doesn¡¯t mean there¡¯s gonna be fights in the hallways.¡± ¡°You sure about that? Have you ever seen a high school Mana Arts movie?¡± Emberlyn laughed. ¡°You know those aren¡¯t real, right?¡± ¡°Come on,¡± Akari said. ¡°Let me give you one lesson, okay? Just enough to keep those stupid surgeball players away.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Emberlyn bobbed her head from side to side. ¡°One lesson.¡± ~~~ Akari¡¯s eyes snapped open as the dream came to an abrupt end. What the hell was that? She pushed the blankets aside and sat up in the bed. Images of the playground flashed in her mind¡¯s eye, and her heart still raced at the thought of battle. ¡°You okay?¡± Kalden murmured from the other side of the bed. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Akari grabbed her glasses from the nightstand and switched on the lamp. The light filled the pool house, from their bed to the kitchen. Akari had moved her things out here last night, and piles of clothing still covered the space around the closet. Well, she¡¯d moved most of her things out here. Elend had insisted that she keep some stuff in her old room in case they got into a fight and she needed a private place to storm off to. Akari had seen enough movies to know that he was probably right. Also, they both liked to study alone, so she¡¯d kept her school supplies in her old room. Kalden sat up behind her, and his bare chest brushed against her shoulder. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I had a dream,¡± Akari said as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. ¡°Bad?¡± ¡°Not bad, just . . . weird.¡± Elend had given her another dream Construct yesterday¡ªthe same thing he¡¯d given her in Creta to help her regain her memories. This time, she was trying to develop her spacetime techniques, and she¡¯d been hoping for more dreams of her parents. They¡¯d taught her a lot over the years, and it seemed good to refresh her memory. Her subconscious must have disagreed. ¡°I was on the playground,¡± she said. ¡°At Last Haven Elementary. I don¡¯t know how old I was . . . Maybe ten or eleven.¡± Kalden nodded beside her, and Akari forced herself to remember the stranger parts of the dream. ¡°I was best friends with Emberlyn Frostblade.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not so weird.¡± Kalden wrapped his arm around her waist, and he planted a kiss on her bare shoulder. ¡°We didn¡¯t have the ranking system from the Archipelago.¡± Akari shook her head. ¡°We didn¡¯t get along in my other dreams, either.¡± More specifically, Akari¡¯s old self had been a bitch to Emberlyn for no reason, but she kept that part to herself. ¡°Okay,¡± Kalden said. ¡°So you two had a falling out?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the thing . . .¡± Akari rubbed the side of her head. ¡°I don¡¯t remember any of this. I remember elementary school, but not being friends with Emberlyn.¡± She and Kalden had both regained all their memories at this point, so this shouldn¡¯t be happening. She¡¯d expected this wave of dreams to bring her more clarity, not more confusion. ¡°What if it was just a regular dream?¡± Kalden suggested. ¡°No . . . It felt like one of Elend¡¯s. It was perfectly clear.¡± ¡°Right, but he said the Construct could mix with your subconscious. Maybe you were friends with another girl, and your mind mixed her up with Emberlyn.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Akari said. Now that she thought about it, this wasn¡¯t exactly like her other dreams. Before, her present self had always been watching in the background, as if she were trapped in Dream Akari¡¯s head. Here, she hadn¡¯t realized she was dreaming until after she¡¯d woken up. That didn¡¯t prove anything, though. Elend said there were lots of ways to experience these dreams. Could her best friend have been someone else? No . . . that girl looked exactly like a younger version of Emberlyn Frostblade. She had the same slender build, violet eyes, and long golden hair. This Emberlyn wore no makeup, but that made sense if they were still in elementary school. Her friend had also been studying advanced alchemy, which matched up with her other dreams. ¡°What else happened?¡± Kalden asked her. They relaxed back into the bed, and Akari told him everything she remembered, from her confrontation with Kazo, to how Emberlyn had tried to calm her down. When she finished, Kalden closed his eyes and pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose. ¡°Okay, this is coming back to me. You remember how Emberlyn and I used to date in high school?¡± Akari nodded and tried to keep any jealous scowls from her face. Kalden had dated Emberlyn in both lives. It started in Last Haven, and they¡¯d gotten even more serious in the Archipelago. They¡¯d even slept together, but Akari didn¡¯t let that bother her, and she definitely didn¡¯t compare herself to the other girl. Kalden blinked several times as he gathered his thoughts. ¡°I think she mentioned you once . . . In Last Haven. She said you two were friends, but then something happened between you and her mom.¡± Akari¡¯s blood turned to ice. Something about this dream had left her uneasy, and now her instincts told her not to dig any deeper. ¡°I met her mom in Last Haven,¡± Kalden said. ¡°But she wasn¡¯t around in The Archipelago. The same goes for her younger sister.¡± Akari glanced at her nightstand clock and saw that it was five in the morning. Oh well. That was earlier than usual, but she probably wouldn¡¯t get any sleep after this. ¡°I¡¯m gonna go train.¡± She jumped out of bed and retrieved some clothes from the floor. ¡°Sorry for waking you up.¡± Kalden furrowed his brow in confusion. ¡°Maybe you should talk to Elend about this? It might be important.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Akari said as she dressed. ¡°It was just a stupid dream.¡± Book 4 - Chapter 2: Soulshine Still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Kalden trudged down the stairs and opened the door to his alchemy lab. He liked sharing a room with Akari, but she¡¯d gotten more unpredictable over Midwinter break. Some nights, she would lose track of time and stay on her computer until well past midnight. Then there were days like today when she woke up before the sun and trained with a sudden burst of energy. Kalden¡¯s brain worked better with a routine, and a part of him liked school for that exact reason. Still, today was a fresh day, and a chance to approach his problems from a different angle. This was another chance to save Relia¡¯s life and help her become an Artisan. That would also open the door for he and Akari to become Artisans themselves¡ªthe highest rank in the interschool battlegrounds. Half a year had passed since they¡¯d escaped Arkala and they were finally on track to pass their peers. But first, they needed a safe version of soulshine. No respectable alchemist would make this, and they couldn¡¯t trust the black market. The surgeball was in Kalden¡¯s hands, as the saying went. He stepped over to his usual workstation and sank into a rolling stool. The lab itself was the nicest he¡¯d ever seen, with crisp white equipment, stainless steel countertops, and floors polished to a mirror shine. The Darklights never used this lab themselves, but they¡¯d hired their share of alchemists over the years. Blue light flickered from the mirror to his right, and Glim materialized a second later. ¡°Hey!¡± She waved a blue hand, half-hidden beneath the sleeve of her oversized hoodie. ¡°How goes the shady drug operation?¡± ¡°Same as before.¡± His gaze fell to his open notebooks. ¡°I¡¯m flattered that everyone trusts me, but this is advanced stuff.¡± Glim cocked her head like a bird. ¡°Are you saying you can¡¯t do it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Kalden rubbed the bridge of his nose, already craving a second cup of coffee. ¡°When¡¯s the last time you heard of a college student making soulshine?¡± ¡°Actually,¡± Glim said. ¡°Someone got expelled for that last year. Or maybe it was the year before.¡± ¡°Okay, sure, but how was the quality?¡± ¡°Give me one second . . . ah, here it is!¡± Glim formed a copy of the news article in midair. ¡°He used it on himself for three years straight.¡± Kalden spun on his stool and skimmed the article. ¡°Side effects?¡± ¡°None. He reached Artisan just before graduation, and he wasn¡¯t even a Combat Artist.¡± Well, that certainly bruised his pride. ¡°Please tell me this guy had a craft aspect.¡± ¡°He did.¡± Glim highlighted a paragraph near the top, and Kalden scanned the rest of the article. In addition to his craft aspect, this student had over ten years of experience. Not to mention how he¡¯d grown up in Koreldon City with its modern knowledge and equipment. Meanwhile, Kalden had spent the past few years on Arkala, which was two decades behind the rest of the world. This profession might be centuries old, but a lot could change in two decades. ¡°You¡¯re a Knowledge Artist, too.¡± Glim clasped her hands together and released a burst of tiny blue sparks. ¡° If he can do it, so can you!¡± ¡°Every patient is different,¡± Kalden said. ¡°And Relia¡¯s case is harder than most.¡± Glim leapt from the mirror, taking the shape of a pure Missile and hovering over his shoulder. ¡°What¡¯s the problem? Maybe I can help.¡± No harm in humoring her, he supposed. Glim only had a theoretical knowledge of alchemy, and he doubted she¡¯d solve the problem for him. Still, it might help to discuss it out loud. ¡°The active ingredient is SH9.¡± Kalden nodded to a row of glass vials to his left. ¡°It¡¯s a mix of plant extracts and synthetic hormones that dilate souls past their usual limits.¡± He gestured to the far wall where he¡¯d hung the scans of Relia¡¯s soul, along with his math to determine a safe dosage. Unfortunately, that was the easy part. ¡°You mentioned side effects?¡± Glim asked. Kalden gave a weary nod as he flipped through his notebook. ¡°SH9 has two main issues. The first is metaphysical cell toxicity. Basically, it burns your channels over time. Imagine constantly overtraining with no rest.¡± The Glimmissle bobbed up and down, which was normally her version of a nod. ¡°And there¡¯s the epigenetic changes,¡± he said. ¡°The dangers here were real, even if they¡¯ve been exaggerated to cover up Aeon bloodlines.¡± He pulled out a copy of the recipe and tapped his finger on the diagram. ¡°Most alchemists solve this by encasing the SH9 in mana particles. This makes it harmless until it enters your soul. For most people, at least.¡± Glim stayed silent, still bobbing and spinning like a balloon in the wind. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Kalden rolled his chair over to an MMI tank where he¡¯d collected various cell and mana samples. ¡°Relia¡¯s body doesn¡¯t play nice with foreign mana.¡± He¡¯d never known this about her, but it might explain why she avoided liquid mana. Or maybe her tolerance was lower because she¡¯d avoided it for so long. Regardless, she could handle most drugs with limited side effects, but soulshine was different. Soulshine remained in the body for weeks, and the side effects might be more extreme. Possibly even fatal. ¡°Okay,¡± Glim said. ¡°So we make the particles with Relia¡¯s own mana.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the obvious solution,¡± he agreed. ¡°But pure mana is made of polar molecules. It would mix with the mana in her channels and release the SH9. Then we¡¯re back to square one.¡± Technically, it might still work, but there were too many variables, and he wouldn¡¯t bet his friend¡¯s life on it. Glim hovered over his notebook. ¡°What aspect does the recipe use?¡± Kalden tapped the name on the printed recipe. MS4¡ªor shell mana¡ªwas a variation of protection mana designed to keep things contained. Especially at small sizes like this. ¡°So what if we aspect her mana into MS4? You know, synthetically.¡± Kalden gave the mana spirit a flat look. This was the problem with theoretical knowledge; it warped your sense of what was possible. ¡°What?¡± she said. ¡°Alchemists do that all the time!¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking of the big corporations,¡± he said. ¡°Mana has more configurations than any other molecular structure. We¡¯d need years of testing to pull that off.¡± Besides, it wasn¡¯t enough to make this work with Relia¡¯s biochemistry. It also had to work with the SH9. There were thousands of combinations, and most of them would fail. ¡°We can do it!¡± Glim said as she returned to her place in the mirror. ¡°You¡¯re part-Craft Artist, and I¡¯m a Grandmaster who¡¯s twice as smart as a human!¡± How in Talek¡¯s name was she even measuring that? He was about to ask, but it was a useless tangent. Glim got off topic a lot, come to think of it. ¡°Things might be different if I had my Second Brain,¡± Kalden said with a shrug. ¡°But I¡¯m still months away from that. Besides, my aspect is battle mana.¡± He made a show of looking around the pristine lab. ¡°This isn¡¯t a battlefield.¡± ¡°So make it a battlefield!¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re the general, and the enemy wants to pillage and burn your land. You need to redirect them into a mountain pass.¡± Kalden furrowed his brow. ¡°A mountain pass?¡± She clasped her hands and gave an eager nod. ¡°There¡¯s another army waiting on the other side. You need the first one to fight them on your behalf.¡± Kalden blinked, trying to make sense of the analogy. It seemed like the enemy here was the SH9, the mountain pass was Relia¡¯s soul, and the second enemy was Relia¡¯s advancement. Or maybe it was her condition? Either way, she needed to advance as soon as possible. It all seemed so ridiculous at first blush; this was nothing like a battle. And yet . . . something about this resonated with his aspect. His mana stirred with a primal urge, and his body and mind aligned with its whims. Kalden cycled his mana and met Glim¡¯s eyes. ¡°Say that again.¡± Glim repeated herself, and a smug grin spread across her blue face. As she spoke, a thousand possibilities took shape in his mind¡¯s eye. Far too much to process with his own working memory. But what if Glim processed it for him? He lacked the experience, and she lacked the alchemy knowledge. But together, they might pull this off. Kalden cycled his battle mana from his soul into his head, using the techniques Irina had shown him. Then he stretched out his hands toward Glim. ¡°I¡¯m sending you my results. Can you display them visually?¡± Glim leapt from the mirror once again, and a blue Missile shot toward Kalden¡¯s hands. He poured the battle mana into her, and a thousand images took shape around the lab. Kalden got to his feet and stared at the scene in wide-eyed wonder. It felt like standing in the center of a galaxy with thousands of stars on every side. Each star represented a different molecular structure, and the experiments he¡¯d need to test it. Even now, it was too much for his mind to comprehend. What¡¯s more, this only proved what he¡¯d already known: he would need thousands of experiments to find the right structure, and they didn¡¯t have time for that. But now Glim had had access to the data in Kalden¡¯s head. How could he use that? Kalden cycled his mana once again, pulling himself back into the right mindset. This wasn¡¯t alchemy. This was a battlefield, and his friend¡¯s life was in danger. He could save her, but only if he found a path to victory. ¡°Can you organize these?¡± he asked Glim. ¡°Sure. But how?¡± ¡°Probability of success. Better yet, remove any with a high chance of failure.¡± Now it was Glim¡¯s turn to frown. ¡°I don¡¯t actually know which ones will work.¡± That took some of the wind from Kalden¡¯s sails. Once again, Glim only had a theoretical knowledge of this field. She understood these options, but she couldn¡¯t predict their outcomes like a real alchemist. If he had a Second Brain . . . but no, he¡¯d been using that excuse all week, and it was getting old. Using Glim was his best path to victory. ¡°What if you watch me perform some tests?¡± Kalden asked her. ¡°Can you simulate more on your own?¡± Glim perked up at that. ¡°It¡¯s worth a try. But we can¡¯t rely on fake tests. They might be wrong.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. We don¡¯t need the simulations to be right. We just need to weed out the failures.¡± He spent the next few hours teaching Glim about his process, and the equipment around the lab. First, he aspected small amounts of Relia¡¯s pure mana into the particle casing. If that worked, he tested those against her cells with the SH9. Eventually, he put Glim in charge, having her call out the next steps before he made them. Kalden was ready to correct her mistakes, but she didn¡¯t make any. Even when they hadn¡¯t covered something, the mana spirit filled in the gaps. They ran out of cell samples by noon, and they had to wait for the incubators to grow more. By that point, Glim had a solid grasp of his process, and she began simulating tests of her own. Another sea of stars erupted around the lab, each one representing a different path forward. This time, hundreds of stars faded as Glim ran her own simulations. Hundreds of options¡ªmonths of work¡ªfading faster than he could blink. Angels above. Was this what having a Second Brain would be like? A part of him itched to go outside and train with his aspect, but he forced himself to stay focused. Training wouldn¡¯t save Relia or help him pass his peers. But every minute spent in this lab might save them ten minutes later in the school year. Another part of him worried that Glim was overconfident. What if she¡¯d thrown out viable structures and kept the useless ones? What if they¡¯d wasted a whole day going in circles? This whole plan had come to him in a burst of intuition, and he could barely even explain it. He might as well step into a manastorm and trust his sense of smell to guide him. But then he watched Glim simulate the remaining structures, and hope flared in his chest once again. They worked until sunset, testing dozens of options along the way. They worked through the night, integrating the new structure into the pill. By morning, Kalden had a safe, working version of soulshine. Book 4 - Chapter 3: Challenges Relia sat with Akari on the back porch of the Darklight estate. Flames danced in the outdoor fireplace, and a thousand footprints covered the surrounding snow. They¡¯d trained out here every morning since the start of Midwinter break. Relia had always trained harder than her peers; she had to if she wanted to survive. But motivation was a funny thing, and she¡¯d started training even harder once she¡¯d learned the truth about her condition. Now, survival meant more than milking life for one more year. It meant advancing with her friends, all the way until the end. With that in mind, the whole world felt brighter than it had before¡ªfull of hope and possibilities. And of course, Akari needed no burst of motivation. Something deep inside the other girl pushed her toward greatness. Something that even Relia didn¡¯t understand. She took another long drink of water and leaned closer to the fireplace. They¡¯d worked up a sweat during their sparring session, shedding their heavy layers of clothing down to their pants and their tank tops. Now, the cold weather was making itself known again. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten faster,¡± Relia said. ¡°I could barely keep up with you today.¡± Akari grinned. ¡°Guess that¡¯s what happens when you dance with Artisans.¡± She¡¯d developed a new technique after the qualifying rounds. Somehow, she could move her portals in midair, opening and closing them without spending more mana. No Space Artist had ever done this before. It was something new¡ªunique to her spacetime aspect. Relia just wished her friend had learned it under different conditions. If it hadn¡¯t been for her, then Elise never would have¡ª ¡°Hey.¡± Akari waved a hand in front of Relia¡¯s face. ¡°Stop that.¡± Relia frowned at her. ¡°Stop what?¡± ¡°That.¡± Akari gestured at her face. ¡°Stop moping around and looking sad.¡± Darn it. Her friend had gotten a lot more perceptive this past year. Or maybe she¡¯d just gotten more talkative. ¡°I can¡¯t help it,¡± Relia said. ¡°Besides, I never tell you to stop when you¡¯re sad.¡± ¡°Let me know the next time I¡¯m moping, and I¡¯ll stop.¡± Akari took a long swig from her combat drink¡ªa mix of mana, water, and electrolytes. Her face softened when she lowered the bottle. ¡°Look, we¡¯ve all done stupid stuff, okay?.¡± The wind picked up again, sending a wave of goosebumps across Relia¡¯s bare arms. ¡°Maybe, but I always feel dumb around you and Kalden.¡± ¡°That¡¯s bullshit,¡± Akari said. ¡°Kalden almost poisoned that water tower, and I would have gone along with it. You talked us out of that. Then we met Zukan and Arturo.¡± Relia shrugged in vague agreement. ¡°Then I messed up when I tried to recruit Elise. I put you in danger. ¡± ¡°I already said I forgive you. So did Kalden.¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not mad?¡± Akari gave her a frank look. ¡°Now you really are being stupid.¡± ¡°Gee, thanks.¡± ¡°We¡¯re Combat Artists,¡± Akari said. ¡°That means taking risks.¡± Relia shook her head. ¡°But this was my fault. I should have known better . . .¡± ¡°Well, now you know.¡± Akari took another drink, draining the rest of her plastic bottle. ¡°So you can stop acting like a sad puppy. No one¡¯s gonna make you sleep outside for one dumb mistake.¡± Relia bit her lip. Maybe Akari was right. So many people had pushed her away because of her aspect, and she didn¡¯t know how to react now. They sat in silence for a while after that, watching the snow dance in circles around the back yard. A few flakes even hit the porch, and it wasn¡¯t long before Relia reached for her hoodie again. Akari reclined back in her own chair, unbothered by the cold. Her top had ridden up slightly, and she ran an idle finger over the flat spot where her belly button used to be. She must have gotten bored, because she eventually reached out a hand, formed a portal, and pulled out a stack of books. Azul¡¯s ashes. Had she been holding that portal in her bedroom this whole time? Relia had beaten her every time, but Akari was fighting with one hand tied behind her back. At one point, she¡¯d even maintained all five portals with no mental chunking. Even some Artisans would struggle with that. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Akari closed the portal as if it were no big deal, then she leafed through her notebook. ¡°I¡¯m trying to figure out my next spacetime technique.¡± Relia nodded, and Akari passed over the notebook. ¡°What do you think?¡± Relia blinked. ¡°You¡¯re asking me?¡± ¡°Kalden¡¯s been busy,¡± Akari said with a shrug. ¡°So has Elend.¡± Relia stared down at the notebook. Akari had listed each technique by name, but they weren¡¯t all self-explanatory ¡°What¡¯s displacement?¡± she asked. Akari chewed on her pencil as she considered that. ¡°Remember how they moved us out of the qualifying rounds? It¡¯s like that. You swap the parameters of two things without opening a whole portal. That sounded useful. Akari had done some amazing things with portals, but those tricks would get less effective as more people saw her on TV. ¡°My dad was an expert at this skill.¡± Akari tapped the side of her head. ¡°That¡¯s why I asked Elend for another dream Construct. I was hoping to remember some of our lessons.¡± Relia nodded as she scanned the rest of the list. ¡°Pocket dimensions? Aren¡¯t those more utility focused?¡± ¡°Not with time mana.¡± Akari gestured out to their training grounds. ¡°Imagine me wrapping the whole yard in one big time loop Construct. I could fight you once, rewind time, then try again. You wouldn¡¯t even know I did it.¡± ¡°What?¡± A nervous chuckle escaped Relia''s lips. ¡°That sounds like Grandmaster-level stuff. No way you can learn it in one semester.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Akari¡¯s mouth made a thin line. ¡°Probably not.¡± The next few techniques were Cloaks, which might take even longer to learn. Most people learned their Pure Cloaks intuitively, but they had years of natural selection on their side. Aspected Cloaks were far more complicated, especially when you invented a new type of mana. There were endless mana flow combinations, and those could take years of testing to get right. ¡°I¡¯d go with displacement.¡± Relia finally said. ¡°It¡¯s Missile-based, so it¡¯s the easiest by far.¡± Akari frowned, and Relia held up a hand. ¡°Let me finish. Mobility is your biggest strength right now, This will make you even faster.¡± ¡°I¡¯m more worried about my weaknesses,¡± Akari said. ¡°I can¡¯t take a hit or do any real damage.¡± Relia shook her head. ¡°You¡¯ll never be a tank. Plus Zukan and I already fill those roles. I mean, just imagine if Arturo spent all day training his Cloak techniques. Who would build the equipment?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Akari let out a long breath. ¡°That¡¯s what Elend said.¡± Oh, so she had talked with Elend. She just didn¡¯t like his answer. ¡°Maybe I can learn two techniques at once,¡± Akari mused when Relia handed her the notebook. ¡°You only have so much mana in a day,¡± Relia said gently. ¡°Plus we¡¯re about to have another semester of classes, and whatever team training Elend puts us through.¡± ¡°Sure, but what if Glim models the mana patterns for me? I heard she does that for Elend.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that will work.¡± Relia pressed a hand to her chest. ¡°You need to feel a Cloak technique in your own body. There aren¡¯t any shortcuts for that.¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Akari said. Blue light flickered in the the glass slider door that connected the patio to the estate. Glim took shape there a second later, dressed in a heavy parka, a knitted hat, and scarf. ¡°Hey!¡± the mana spirit waved at them. ¡°Elend wants to see you guys inside.¡± Relia got to her feet, shooting Akari a look when Glim vanished back inside. ¡°You think it¡¯s time?¡± ¡°It better be,¡± Akari said. ¡°Barely seen Kalden for two days.¡± Relia gathered up her jacket and hat, while Akari opened a portal and tossed her own things back into her room. They pulled open the glass slider door and found everyone gathered around the breakfast nook. Elend and Irina sat on the barstools near the kitchen, while Kalden sat stiffly on the long padded bench, looking almost as nervous as she felt. Akari stepped around the table and plopped down on Kalden¡¯s lap as if she owned the place. Some of his tension drained away as he wrapped one arm around her waist. Relia approached the table more cautiously, and Kalden slid a box across the wooden surface, small enough to hold a ring. Relia accepted the box and pulled open the delicate hinges. Light shone from within the gap, and she found a glowing blue pill, half the size of her thumb. Soulshine. ¡°It will take a few hours to break down,¡± Kalden said. ¡°And you should let someone know if you have any side effects. Especially burning or loss of mana control. Not that I expect anything, of course.¡± Relia blinked back sudden tears as he spoke. She always got this way when people did things for her. Irina got to her feet and handed Relia a glass of water. ¡°Elend and I looked over his work this morning, and it¡¯s as safe as it can be.¡± Relia stared down at the pill. She trusted Kalden and the Darklights, but she¡¯d avoided soulshine for most of her life. Elend had tried to steer her down this path when they¡¯d first met, but she¡¯d stubbornly refused. After all that, it felt weird to give in. Then again, no one would ever advance if they couldn¡¯t change their beliefs. Her friends had their challenges, and she had hers. Relia brought the glass to her mouth, took a good long sip, and then slipped the smooth pill between her lips. She half expected to feel different, but that was silly. Soulshine worked over several weeks, and Kalden even said it would take hours to feel the effects. Still, he kept staring at her as if he expected something to happen. ¡°Well, it definitely tastes good,¡± she said with a thumbs up. ¡°Sort of familiar, too.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± Kalden said. ¡°I used your own mana to make it.¡± Glim made a horrified sound from the mirror. ¡°I thought humans hated cannibalism.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not cannibalism,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Mana flows through our bodies, but we aren¡¯t made of it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m made of mana,¡± Glim said with a serious face. ¡°Are you saying you¡¯d make a pill out of me?¡± ¡°Ignore her,¡± Elend said. ¡°She¡¯s been making the same joke for thirty years.¡± Irina cleared her throat. ¡°You¡¯ll want to cycle as much as possible over the next few days. Physical movement will help, too. As much as you can manage.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about that.¡± A slow grin spread across Elend¡¯s face. ¡°I have big plans for your team¡¯s training sessions.¡± Relia nodded to them, then bowed to Kalden. ¡°Thank you. I know this wasn¡¯t easy, or how you wanted to spend your time.¡± ¡°This was the best use of my time,¡± Kalden said in a tone that brooked no argument. ¡°We¡¯re in this together, right?¡± ¡°Master by twenty-one,¡± Akari said as she hopped off his lap. ¡°Master by twenty-one,¡± Relia echoed. And for the first time in her life, she actually believed those words. Book 4 - Chapter 4: Angelic Mana Relia spent the next hour training in the backyard and cycling her new pill through her channels. By the end of the session, she could almost feel her soul dilating, letting in more mana than before. She¡¯d have to go easy on Akari when that happened. She¡¯d spent years learning to control her power as an Apprentice, but this was all uncharted territory. One wrong move could actually kill someone. Kalden returned to his alchemy lab instead of joining them. He was already making soulshine for Akari and himself, and he wanted to finish while the ideas were fresh in his mind. Her friends had a much longer journey to Artisan, and they had to start now if they wanted to advance this year. A portal opened over her right shoulder. Relia couldn¡¯t see it, but she felt the shifts in the mana cloud that surrounded her body. The portal winked out just as fast, and it was clearly a feint. Relia spun to her left and released a cloud of life mana. Akari¡¯s next portal opened there a heartbeat later, and the other girl ran straight into the trap. The cloud wouldn¡¯t harm her, but the threat was clear enough. ¡°Damnit.¡± Akari¡¯s shoulders sagged, and the blue glow faded from her muscles. Relia gave her an encouraging smile. ¡°That would have worked on me a few days ago, but you keep using the same tricks.¡± Akari shrugged as she swiped some dark hair from her face. It had grown longer this past year, and she¡¯d need to pull it back soon. Or, more likely, she would chop it off again. ¡°What time is it?¡± Relia asked as they caught their breath. Akari glanced down at her watch. ¡°Almost one o¡¯clock.¡± ¡°Guess I should go get ready.¡± Relia glanced back toward the house. ¡°Lena will be here in another hour.¡± Akari cocked her head to the side. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Lena Cavaco. The Aeon lady we met in Creta. She¡¯s supposed to help me with my Aeon training.¡± Jealously flashed across Akari¡¯s face, and it wasn¡¯t hard to guess why. The others had seen Sozen Trengen take on a Master last semester, and that was only a glimpse into Aeon power. ¡°You¡¯ll be next,¡± Relia told her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s a reason Elend¡¯s rushing you guys to advance this year. Just keep working on your displacement technique like he said.¡± And with that, she headed inside to shower and change. She¡¯d technically met Lena before, but things had been a blur after the Battle of Tureko, and she wanted to make a good impression this time. She tried on a white blouse, but it made her feel too much like Irina. And while the older woman could pull off white with her Cadrian complexion, it made Relia look like a pale mana spirit. It might work if she paired it with a blazer, but that would be too much for a simple training session. Instead, Relia settled on a blue top and a gray, knee-length skirt. Rather than braiding her hair, she hit it with a blow-dryer and let it fall freely past her shoulders. She always told herself she would wear this way if she ever went on a date, but no one had ever asked her. Well, no one from the Artegium, anyway. A part of her had also avoided romance because of her condition. It never seemed right to lead someone on when her days were numbered. But maybe it was time to change that. Akari and Kalden made it work, and they trained harder than anyone she¡¯d ever met. Why not her? Stay focused, Relia told herself. You need to reach Artisan first. Not to mention this whole Aeon thing, was which still a mystery. She¡¯d been aiming for Artisan her entire life, but the original Aeons had come here from a different planet. And despite her travels with Lyraina Trelian, she still knew very little about these powers. An hour later, Relia stood in the hunter¡¯s room, waiting for her new teacher to arrive. This room sat on the estate¡¯s main floor, but its vaulted ceilings stretched well past the second. A mammoth skull hung over the fireplace, and a Midwinter tree dominated the bay window. Over twenty feet tall, its peak almost reached the ceiling. She¡¯d chosen this room for its space and versatility. Leather chairs and sofas formed a loose ring around the fireplace, and two long wooden tables stretched along the walls. Even the Darklights didn¡¯t know what this training would entail, so it was best to be ready for anything. The clock struck two, and Lena¡¯s boots clicked across the flagstone floor as she entered the room. The older woman wore dark jeans and a long, cream-colored sweater. Her complexion was even darker than Irina¡¯s, and her hair fell in braided cords past her shoulders. Relia stepped forward, bowing low at the waist. ¡°Master Cavaco.¡± ¡°Lena is fine,¡± the woman said with an amused smile. ¡°I¡¯m certainly no Master. You must be Relia?¡± She nodded and resisted the urge to fidget. She¡¯d always had a subconscious need to impress authority figures, and it didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out why. ¡°Can I get you anything? Water? Coffee?¡± ¡°Coffee would be lovely,¡± Lena said as she stepped toward the hearth with its cackling flames. Relia pulled the carafe off the heating element and poured Lena a cup. She poured herself a glass of water next, and they sat down in the leather armchairs. Lena sipped her mug with a grateful nod. ¡°May I see the Etherite?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Relia reached into her belt pouch and retrieved a smooth wooden box, about the size of her outstretched hand. She pulled it open to reveal a pale crystal shard in the shape of a ring. This was one of the four cuffs Elend had worn during their time in Creta. Apparently, it was more valuable than this entire house, and it made her nervous to carry around. Her old master had owned an Etherite pendant, and she¡¯d rarely let it out of her sight. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Your grandmother, Relia corrected herself. Azul¡¯s ashes, but that would take some getting used to. And it must have been even harder for Lyraina, knowing the truth, and not being able to speak of it. She hoped they could see each other again someday. Relia passed her teacher the open box. ¡°This whole thing is going in my chest?¡± ¡°Eventually.¡± Lena accepted the box with clear reverence in her dark eyes. ¡°It will be painful, but Aeon blood runs through your veins. That should make things easier.¡± She examined the soul fragment from several angles, catching the light of the fireplace in its crystal structure. ¡°But just to be safe, you should do it during your advancement to Artisan.¡± Relia drew in a sharp breath. With her soulshine, that would only be a few weeks away. ¡°What happens if I reach Artisan first?¡± ¡°Most Mana Artists don¡¯t have a choice,¡± Lena said absently. ¡°If they build their Aeon souls too early, the Etherite might kill them or stunt their advancement. If they wait too long, their bodies might reject the crystal.¡± This much she¡¯d already learned from Elend. Lena was trapped as an Apprentice for this exact reason. Kalden¡¯s brother was in a similar boat, trapped as an Artisan. As far as she knew, no Mana Artist had ever advanced farther than that after building an Aeon soul. Her father didn¡¯t count, since he¡¯d been born with his. But if this worked, she and her friends would be the first ones to succeed. Lena hovered a hand over the crystal cuff, and it vanished in a cloud of pale blue mist. Relia¡¯s breath hitched at the sight. She knew Etherite was just a stronger version of mana, so of course it had a vapor form. Still, knowing something wasn¡¯t the same as seeing it with your own eyes. Lena closed her eyes as if feeling the crystal inside her. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Relia asked to fill the sudden silence. Her eyes cracked open. ¡°For me? No.¡± She pressed a hand to her sternum. ¡°I already have my crystal soul, and that acts as a vessel for the power.¡± Blue mist flashed in the wooden box as the cuff returned to its original shape. ¡°You¡¯ll need to carry this with you at all times,¡± she said as she placed the box on the table between them. ¡°I¡¯d recommend wearing it as a pendant.¡± Relia leaned forward, scooped up the box, and held it close to her heart. A storm churned beneath the cuff¡¯s crystal surface as if all the forces of nature had been condensed into a small space. She¡¯d expect nothing less from the soul of a dead Angel. In some ways, this felt like a pool of mana she could draw from. At the same time, the power felt distant and incomprehensible, like a tidal wave, a storm, or the sun itself. She¡¯d used her grandmother¡¯s pendant during her aspecting ritual, but that was different. Her mana had only grazed the surface of its power. For this, she would need to bring the entire crystal inside her body. Relia met her teacher¡¯s eyes again. ¡°Am I supposed to feel anything specific?¡± ¡°In the first thirty seconds?¡± Her amused smile returned. ¡°No. Even your ancestors weren¡¯t that fast.¡± She paused for a moment as if considering her next words. ¡°Do you remember the first time you sensed your mana?¡± ¡°No,¡± Relia admitted. ¡°Not really.¡± She¡¯d been a little girl back then, and the memories were a blur. It was like learning how to read, or do basic math. She remembered the lessons, but the feelings had faded long ago. ¡°Well,¡± Lena said. ¡°It¡¯s a bit like that. Etherite is mana. Angelic mana, to be precise. From the structure of the crystal to the energy inside of it. You¡¯ve spent your life sensing your own mortal mana, but this is a level beyond that. You¡¯ll need to go back to basics if you want to feel it.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Relia chewed on her lip. ¡°So what do I do?¡± She mulled that over. ¡°How¡¯s your meditation? I assume Lady Trelian taught you the basics?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Relia winced. ¡°But I only practice a few minutes a day.¡± Even that was a generous claim. Lots of Mana Artists trained their minds more often. But as a Life Artist, she¡¯d never had a reason to dive too deep. Elend and Irina were both Knowledge Artists, and they meditated for more than an hour each day. Kalden probably did something similar with his battle mana. And while Akari acted impatient, her mind was as sharp as a dragon¡¯s fang. Relia had watched her duel with Elise Moonfire last semester, and she¡¯d clearly trained enough to resist her illusions. ¡°You¡¯re not alone,¡± Lena said. ¡°Most people avoid spending time in their own heads. Very often, they¡¯re afraid of what they¡¯ll find there. Either that, or they can¡¯t comprehend training without rising numbers.¡± Relia liked to think of herself in the latter group. It was the same reason she struggled to focus on schoolwork. ¡°But this is the fastest path forward,¡± Lena continued. ¡°Calm your body, your thoughts, and your mana. When you do that¡±¡ªshe glanced down at the glowing crystal¡ª¡°this will feel much brighter in your mind¡¯s eye.¡± The other woman leaned forward and retrieved the crystal from Relia. ¡°I wish I could tell you more, but sensing mana is different for everyone. Some people need to visualize it. Others feel a physical object in their mental senses. You¡¯ll need to find what works best for you, and that takes time.¡± Time . . . the one thing she didn¡¯t have. Relia wished she could have started this training sooner, but that wasn¡¯t Elend¡¯s fault. He¡¯d tried recruiting Lena after they¡¯d escaped Creta, but she¡¯d refused his offer back then. Beyond that, he wouldn¡¯t have known what to tell her. This all made perfect sense in hindsight, but there were only a handful of Aeons on this planet. Without a teacher, she would have been stumbling through the dark, guessing at her next steps. ¡°Is there any way to make this go faster?¡± Relia asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know what Elend told you, but I¡¯m sort of on a time limit.¡± Lena¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Wherever you are, whatever you¡¯re doing, focus on the crystal as your default thought. Think of it before you go to sleep, and first thing in the morning. Think of it in the shower, while you eat, and while you train.¡± ¡°The shower?¡± A nervous chuckle escaped her lips, and her eyes fell to the crystal ring. ¡°You weren¡¯t kidding about wearing this everywhere.¡± Lena shook her head as she pulled the crystal back into her own soul. ¡°I¡¯ll make this smaller for you, so it¡¯s more comfortable to wear. Did you have a specific shape in mind?¡± ¡°A crescent moon,¡± Relia said at once. Her dark eyebrows shot up at that. ¡°Your grandmother¡¯s clan sigil? Are you sure?¡± Relia held the woman¡¯s gaze to show she understood the dangers. The Cult of Trelian also used this symbol, just as Lena wore the black dragon of Clan Solidor. This would mark Relia as a Death Artist, but she¡¯d spent her whole life trying to appease the people who didn¡¯t care about her. From her parents, to her classmates, to her sister. And where had that gotten her? She¡¯d put Akari in danger last semester. Before that, she¡¯d distanced herself from Lyraina¡ªthe first person in this world who truly cared about her. The woman who¡¯d taken her in, trained her, and shared her aspect. ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± she finally said. If Relia ever wanted to become a Master, she would need to know who she was and what she fought for. This seemed like a step in the right direction. Lena nodded once before closing her eyes again. A few seconds passed, then a cloud of mist formed in her outstretched hand, coalescing into a pale blue crescent with a small ring at the top. It was larger than her grandmother¡¯s pendant, but it still had the same general shape. ¡°You¡¯ll want to cover the crystal with metal casing,¡± Lena said as she passed it back. Relia nodded as she clutched it between her fingers. Her grandmother had used a silver casing for her own pendant. But in this case, it might be faster just to ask Elend for an illusion. His Constructs lasted for weeks, and that was all she needed. She took several deep breaths as she imagined the scope of the task ahead. Aspecting her mana had taken hours of intense focus, and she would need to approach this in the same way. Then she had her Artisan training on top of that, plus the pain of her condition. Yeah . . . she was in for a rough couple of weeks. Book 4 - Chapter 5: The Team Captain Akari followed her friends into the backyard for their first day of team training. By now, they were two weeks into their break, and Midwinter was just a few days away. A warm spell had swept through Koreldon City, melting the snow and turning the yard into a soggy mess of puddles and mud. They followed the path from the patio to the edge of the pool. Heat sigils prevented the water from freezing, but it was still too cold to swim in. Unless, of course, you were a Dream Artist who could play tricks on your own mind. She¡¯d even seen Elend meditating underwater for up to an hour at a time. Was that a Grandmaster thing, or had he trained to do that? Maybe both. Their new teammates showed up a few minutes later, following the winding path from the driveway into the backyard. Zukan Kortez led the way. Even from across the yard, it was impossible to miss the dragon¡¯s hulking frame and black fedora. Arturo Kazalla trailed behind his friend, riding a black and yellow hoverboard. Short and slender, the Cadrian boy had a rounded face and close-cropped hair. He normally preferred flashy clothing at school, but he wore a simple black t-shirt and combat pants today. A pair of leather belts crossed his chest, lined with various weapons and gadgets. Zukan took the long way around the pool, while Arturo hovered straight over it. The water rippled beneath his board, and Akari wondered what aspects he¡¯d used to power it. Probably some combination of gravity and force mana, the same way airships were made. Arturo lowered his sunglasses and eyed the surrounding architecture. ¡°Nice place you got here. Always liked the classics.¡± He hopped off his board when he reached the pool¡¯s edge, then he frowned when he saw Relia¡¯s silver necklace. Relia raised an eyebrow, as if daring him to complain about it. Their new teammates knew about her aspect, but they hadn¡¯t talked much since the semester ended. Arturo drew in a deep breath and shot a glance at Zukan, who was still walking around the pool. ¡°You know Death Artists killed his parents, right?¡± Relia¡¯s face softened as the dragon approached their group. ¡°Look, we¡¯re gonna be teammates, so you should probably know this about me. Lyraina Trelian was my grandmother. She¡¯s the one who trained me and gave me this aspect.¡± Seriously? Akari shot her a sidelong glance. Why not just tell them about the Archipelago while you¡¯re at it? Zukan and Arturo might be their teammates now, but that didn¡¯t make them all best friends. Then again, how many problems had Akari caused by keeping stuff bottled up? Images of a young Emberlyn Frostblade flashed in her mind¡¯s eye, but she pushed them away. That was not the same thing. She¡¯d told Kalden everything about that dream. She hadn¡¯t told Elend, but he would want to dig deeper, and her instincts said that was a terrible idea. ¡°Your grandmother?¡± Arturo¡¯s eyebrows shot up from behind his sunglasses. By now, he¡¯d probably watched the replays of the qualifying rounds, and it wouldn¡¯t take him long to put the pieces together. ¡°You¡¯re saying that Senator Moonfire has Aeon blood?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t repeat that out loud,¡± Kalden said in a low voice. ¡°Politicians will kill to protect secrets like that.¡± The other boy raised his hands in mock surrender. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t need to tell me twice, shoko.¡± Relia cleared her throat. ¡°The point is, this was my family¡¯s sigil for years, long before the Aeon cults existed.¡± Zukan crossed his massive green arms. ¡°Meanings can change with time.¡± ¡°You wear an Angelic symbol.¡± Akari gestured to the dragon¡¯s gold necklace. ¡°You gonna stop wearing that when some Angel cultists kill someone?¡± ¡°What cultists?¡± Zukan replied in his gravelly voice.¡±Only the Aeons have cults.¡± ¡°I dunno. The Sons of Talek?¡± ¡°Those guys aren¡¯t real.¡± Arturo took off his sunglasses and clipped them on his t-shirt. ¡°It¡¯s just a conspiracy theory.¡± Akari narrowed her eyes. ¡°Who do you think attacked me last semester?¡± ¡°Valeria Antano,¡± he said at once. ¡°But she acted alone. The Dragonlord even banished her from Creta when he found out.¡± Akari blinked. ¡°What? Since when?¡± ¡°This Irinday. It was all over the news.¡± ¡°Did they say why?¡± She and her friends had spent the whole break training, so they¡¯d fallen behind on current events. You could always catch up on the news. Training, not so much. ¡°The usual BS,¡± Arturo said with a shrug. ¡°Valeria¡¯s assassins ratted her out, and the Dragonlord didn¡¯t want to get dragged down in the mess.¡± Huh. Was that because of the oath he¡¯d sworn to Elend? And what did that mean for Akari? Would the dragon double down on her grudge, or would she find someone else to terrorize? Zukan kept his golden eyes fixed on Relia¡¯s pendant. ¡°Do you intend to wear that in public?¡± Akari almost jumped to her friend¡¯s defense again, but the dragon cut her off. ¡°As your teammates, this affects all of us.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Relia said. ¡°But I¡¯ll be done with it before we start classes.¡± Zukan nodded, and that was the last anyone said about Relia or her Aeon bloodline. Akari had expected more questions, especially about her grandmother. Then again, you couldn¡¯t shoot a Missile at KU without hitting at least three famous people. The conversation took a lighter turn as they gave their new teammates a brief tour of the house. After that, Arturo showed them some of the tech he¡¯d designed over the break. He even let them ride his hoverboard around the yard. Finally, nine o¡¯clock rolled around, and they waited for Elend to join them. Instead, another figure appeared on the paved walkway near the side yard. She wore her golden hair in a braid, and a hundred small crystals decorated the front of her tank top. Elise Moonfire. Elise freaking Moonfire was strutting through the Darklight¡¯s backyard as if she owned the place. This was the girl who¡¯d stabbed them in the back during the qualifying rounds. And it wasn¡¯t a metaphorical stabbing, either. She¡¯d stuck actual blades in their spinal cords. Worst of all, she¡¯d conspired with the Sons of Talek and helped them capture her. Spacetime mana raced through Akari¡¯s channels, and her blood was hot enough to melt iron. Why was Elise here? No one wanted to see her again, not even Relia. On second thought, did the reason matter? An enemy had come into their territory, and Akari would react accordingly. They¡¯d fallen for Elise¡¯s tricks before, and it had almost cost them everything. Not again. Akari thrust out her hands and launched a pair of spacetime Missiles. The first formed into a portal beneath her opponent¡¯s feet. The second portal formed over the swimming pool. Elise plunged feet-first into the icy water. Akari¡¯s portals winked out, but she reformed them an instant later, facing the first one down on the concrete. This made a ceiling over the pool¡¯s surface, more than six feet wide. Elise tried to swim around the Construct but Akari moved quicker, always keeping it above her opponent¡¯s head. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Elise struggled and thrashed for several seconds, but Akari¡¯s portals held her beneath the water. It didn¡¯t take long for the guilt to twist her stomach. She¡¯d once been trapped beneath the ice on Arkala until she passed out. She knew exactly how terrifying that was. Zukan stepped forward, putting his hulking frame between Akari in the pool. ¡°Let her go.¡± Akari dropped her techniques, but Elise didn¡¯t resurface. She hadn¡¯t passed out that fast, had she? They all stepped closer to the pool, checking every corner. ¡°What the hell?¡± Arturo looked at Akari. ¡°Where¡¯d you put her, shoka?¡± Akari tossed up her hands. ¡°This wasn¡¯t me!¡± The boy looked skeptical, which was fair. Akari was the only one here with spacetime powers. But in this case, she was telling the truth. Akari relaxed into her Silver Sight and saw clouds of broken dream mana mixed with the water. The answer struck her a second later, and she spun around to see Elise standing behind the group. Her golden hair was as dry as before. So was her outfit and makeup. Of course . . . she¡¯d sent in a simulacrum, just like she¡¯d done during the qualifying rounds. The real Elise crossed her arms, and her lips made a thin line. ¡°If you¡¯re quite finished, then maybe we can do some actual training?¡± Akari¡¯s rage returned, and she cycled her mana again. The others turned around at the sound of her voice, and Kalden spoke first. ¡°What are you doing here, Elise? How¡¯d you get past the wards?¡± Surprise flashed in her sky-blue eyes. ¡°Grandmaster Darklight didn¡¯t tell you?¡± Akari glanced at Kalden and Relia, but they looked as confused as she felt. ¡°Didn¡¯t tell us what?¡± And of course, Elend chose that exact moment to emerge from the house. ¡°Excellent,¡± he said as he followed the stone path from the patio. ¡°Everyone¡¯s getting along. Here I was, worried someone would end up in the pool.¡± Akari turned her glare on Elend. For Talek¡¯s sake, did he think this was funny? Elise had conspired to kill her last semester. Even Relia hadn¡¯t forgiven her for that. In fact, it was Relia who spoke first. ¡°What¡¯s she doing here?¡± ¡°We need six for a team,¡± Elend said. ¡°You only had five, so I secured one of this year¡¯s top students.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± Akari said. ¡°You kept this a secret from us?¡± ¡°Of course not. I planned to tell you all during the first team meeting.¡± Elend gestured around at the group. ¡°And here we are.¡± ¡°You could have warned us,¡± she shot back. ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± Elend said with an amused smile. ¡°To give you time to plot and scheme? So you could hide your true reactions when this moment finally came?¡± He spread out his hands. ¡°If you¡¯re going to fight, I¡¯d prefer it happens here and now.¡± Akari stepped forward, prepared to do just that. Then she glanced around and realized it was a rhetorical statement. ¡°I know what you¡¯re doing,¡± she said after a short pause. ¡°You¡¯re trying to make us pissed at you instead of her.¡± ¡°Obviously,¡± Elend said with a nod. ¡°Elise tried to have Akari killed!¡± Relia glared at her sister. Like, actually glared. Akari had never seen her glare at anyone before, and it made her look almost as scary as Zukan. Elise tried to plead ignorance, but her voice got lost in the uproar. ¡°She screwed us all,¡± Arturo said. ¡°How can we work with someone we can¡¯t trust?¡± ¡°She was spying for her parents before,¡± Kalden agreed. ¡°How do we know she¡¯s not doing the same thing now?¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Elend held up a hand. ¡°One question at a time.¡± He turned to Elise. ¡°Miss Moonfire, do you plan on spying for your parents? Keep in mind, I¡¯ll know if you lie.¡± Surprise flashed across her face, but she smoldered it quickly and spent a few seconds mulling over her answer. ¡°It¡¯s not my primary reason for being here if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking.¡± Akari snorted. That was as good as a confession. Elend only nodded as if he¡¯d expected that. ¡°And do you plan to sabotage this team in any way?¡± ¡°No.¡± she said with far more conviction. ¡°And what if your parents ask you for other favors?¡± Elend asked. ¡°For example, luring someone into a trap on behalf of a certain shady organization?¡± Elise¡¯s gaze flickered to Akari, and she almost showed some remorse. ¡°I¡¯ll refuse to do it.¡± Well, that was something, at least. And Elend was skilled enough to look past the exact words and see her intentions. Still . . . what the hell was he thinking? No way this would end well for anyone. Kalden cleared his throat. ¡°The rules say we can remove team members with a unanimous vote. Are you going to overrule us if we do that?¡± ¡°That depends,¡± Elend said. ¡°Can you find a better teammate to replace her?¡± Akari ran through a mental list of names, but it didn¡¯t her take long to see the problem. Aside from Zukan, only the upperclassmen were objectively better than Elise Moonfire, and they¡¯d all paired off in their own teams. ¡°I don¡¯t want the best teammate.¡± Relia kept glaring at her sister. ¡°I want the right one.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement. Even Elend smiled as if conceding her point. ¡°The qualifying rounds were designed to entertain the audience, and they bring out the worst in people.¡± Elend glanced around the circle, meeting each of their eyes. ¡°Despite this, you were willing to give each other a chance.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the same,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We honored our deals with each other.¡± ¡°And your former teams?¡± he replied. ¡°Tori Raizen? Lyra Manastrike? Nico Talez? Did you honor your deals with them?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not here,¡± Kalden said. ¡°And no one¡¯s asking them to trust us again.¡± ¡°So those bridges are burned forever?¡± Elise asked with feigned curiosity. ¡°Or can you see the game for what it was and move on?¡± Akari opened her mouth again, ready to remind him that Elise Moonfire¡¯s plans had nothing to do with the game. But of course, Elend would point out her own mistakes, and ask whether people could change. Better not to go down that path. ¡°How about this,¡± Elend said. ¡°You all give Miss Moonfire the same deal you gave each other. Wait until the end of this school year, then decide what to do. I¡¯ll accept whatever you choose.¡± Akari exchanged a look with Kalden and Relia, but they were clearly out of arguments. Elend already knew Elise might spy for her parents, so they¡¯d have to watch what they said around her. Beyond that, Elend wouldn¡¯t let her get away with traps or sabotage. He¡¯d been away during the qualifying rounds, but that was to investigate Sozen and to save Relia. He wouldn¡¯t leave them alone again. ¡°Good.¡± Elend clapped his hands together. ¡°I have a few more announcements. First of all, none of you will be attending Grandmaster Raizen¡¯s class this semester. Instead, I¡¯ll be overseeing your combat training myself.¡± He¡¯d already shared this news with Akari and the others. Grandmaster Raizen had been overseeing the qualifying rounds when Akari was captured. That meant he¡¯d looked the other way when it happened, and he could no longer be trusted. ¡°You believe you can train us better?¡± Zukan asked. His tone wasn¡¯t disrespectful, just curious. ¡°Yeah,¡± Arturo said. ¡°No disrespect, Grandmaster, but you aren¡¯t even a combat specialist.¡± A full-length mirror formed beside Elend. It was the sort of mirror you might see looming in the corner of a fancy bedroom. Except this mirror didn¡¯t have a stand; it just floated over the grass like Arturo¡¯s hoverboard. Glim appeared there second later, wearing a blue version of Elise¡¯s training outfit. Elend made a sweeping gesture at the mirror. ¡°Everyone, meet Glimmer. Or Glim for short. She¡¯s a mana spirit, but she also serves as my Second Brain.¡± Glim crossed her arms and gave Elend a frank look. ¡°You know, that might be the worst intro ever.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t finished,¡± Elend said with a raised finger. ¡°Glim has perfect recall, and her working memory is several times more efficient than an ordinary human. This means she¡¯s capable of inhaling massive amounts of data. She can also understand that data and make relevant models.¡± A dozen screens formed above Elend¡¯s head. Each one was the size of a large television, and the group had to step back to take in the whole sight. Elend turned back to Zukan. ¡°In your case, Mr. Kortez, Glim has examined every one of your recorded duels, from the time you could walk, until last semester¡¯s qualifying rounds.¡± The screens lit up with footage of Zukan from all ages. The first screen showed him as a toddler, swinging a wooden stick. He was surprisingly cute, with eyes twice as large as a human baby. Several other screens showed him in school-related duels, and the last few covered this past semester. Elend paced back and forth in front of the screens. ¡°It¡¯s clear that you favor your late father¡¯s fighting styles.¡± All twelve screens froze, showing Zukan in various combat poses. ¡°But you¡¯re too derivative. You¡¯ll never reach Master if you don¡¯t develop your own style. To do that, you¡¯ll need to branch out and study more than just Blademaster Kortez.¡± Zukan¡¯s eye twitched at that, but he kept the rest of his face blank. ¡°Which brings me to your next flaw,¡± Elend said. ¡°You¡¯re too much of a perfectionist. This served you well for your first semester, but it won¡¯t last. Very soon, your peers will study your style and prepare their counters accordingly. Then you¡¯ll lose to objectively weaker opponents. Not because they¡¯re better than you, but because they¡¯ll adapt far faster.¡± Elend had given Akari a similar lecture last week, but she¡¯d never realized it applied to Zukan as well. Then again, he¡¯d also said that nine out of ten prodigies never reached Master because their success stifled their own creativity. ¡°And those are just the large-scale problems,¡± Elend said. ¡°Tactically, you rely too much on your aspect and its expensive techniques. This lets you take out your opponents quickly, but the battlegrounds aren¡¯t duels. As the tank, you need to take hits for your teammates. Maybe even fifty, or a hundred hits in a single fight. Your aspect¡¯s Cloak and Constructs won¡¯t last that long. Your opponents will do the math to drain your mana as much as possible.¡± Elend gestured back to the mirror. ¡°Glim will simulate a model of your ideal self, and then help you close the gap to get there. Schools make competent Artisans, but this is how future Mystics train.¡± Zukan closed his mouth, then bowed over his salute. ¡°And yes,¡± Elend said. ¡°I do have plans for the rest of you. Any other questions? No? Excellent. That brings us to the matter of your team captain.¡± Akari glanced around at the others. She knew it was the coach¡¯s job to pick a captain, but she might actually ragequit if he chose Elise. Kalden and Arturo were the best at strategy, so they were the obvious picks. Relia would also be an Artisan soon, so she wouldn¡¯t be a bad choice, either. Elend surveyed the group one last time before fixing his eyes on her. ¡°Congratulations, Akari Zeller.¡± Book 4 - Chapter 6: Not Good Enough Silence followed Elend¡¯s announcement, and Akari could have sworn she heard a cricket chirping somewhere in the yard. Finally, she broke the silence with a nervous laugh. ¡°That¡¯s a joke, right?¡± Elend smiled at her, but it wasn¡¯t his usual humorous smile. This one was more sympathetic, as if he knew exactly how much she didn¡¯t want this job. Akari glanced at her teammates, but their expressions ranged from shock to confusion. Kalden and Relia were no exception, but she didn¡¯t blame them. They knew her better than anyone, after all. Akari was driven, but she sucked at dealing with people. She glanced back at Elend and crossed her arms. ¡°Kalden should be the captain. He¡¯s way better at this sort of thing.¡± Besides, Kalden actually wanted to lead this team. He¡¯d told her as much already. And once again, no one tried to contradict her. Honestly, that stung. She wasn¡¯t that bad with people, was she? Elend gave a slow nod. ¡°To paraphrase Relia from a few minutes ago¡ªI¡¯m not looking for the best captain. I¡¯m looking for the right one.¡± ¡°Seriously? Akari raised an eyebrow. ¡°Have you met me?¡± He held up a finger. ¡°As your teacher, I¡¯m more concerned with who has the most to learn from this, and how the entire team can benefit. But I¡¯m glad you see the value in your teammates. A wise captain knows when to heed the counsel of others.¡± Talek, why her? Akari didn¡¯t want to lead anyone, not even in a team game. She just wanted to become stronger. Strong enough to return to the Archipelago and save the people they¡¯d left behind. This didn¡¯t help her achieve her goals. If anything, it would only get in the way. A part of her expected Zukan or Arturo to speak up again, the way they had with the previous announcement. But Elend had apparently earned some of their trust when he broke down Zukan¡¯s combat approach. Besides, it wasn¡¯t like either of them wanted the job. Eventually, Elend split them into pairs and sent them toward the backyard¡¯s various dojos. Zukan and Elise headed one way, while Arturo and Relia went the other. Glim spit herself into three identical copies, ready to train them in the ways Elend had described earlier. That left her and Kalden by the pool, but Akari didn¡¯t budge from her spot. Neither did Elend, for that matter. ¡°I think I¡¯ll go warm up,¡± Kalden said as he started off toward the third dojo. Once he was gone, Akari crossed her arms and stared at Elend. ¡°What¡¯s this really about?¡± she asked him. ¡°No jokes or bullshit this time.¡± Elend kept his face blank. ¡°I told you the truth, lass. Don¡¯t accuse me of joking because you don¡¯t like the answer.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯d make a good captain?¡± A sliver of his smile returned. ¡°When did I say that?¡± She paused and mentally ran through his previous words. ¡°Why do I need to learn how to lead? That¡¯s Kalden¡¯s thing.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± he said. ¡°You see yourself as the heroine of the story, don¡¯t you? The one with the most impressive skills. The one who trains all day and lets other people make the tough choices.¡± Akari shrugged, seeing no point in denying it. So what if she deferred to Kalden sometimes? He was better with strategy and people. He¡¯d proven that when he¡¯d convinced Zukan and Arturo to join them. Not to mention how his entire aspect revolved around this sort of thing. ¡°Except in the heat of battle,¡± Elend said. ¡°Then you tend to break rank and follow your instincts.¡± She opened her mouth, but he held up a finger. ¡°Don¡¯t deny it, lass. I watched all your exams.¡± She ran a hand through her hair, glancing between Elend and the three dojos across the snow-covered yard. ¡°You told Zukan he¡¯s supposed to be the tank. Then you told me to focus on utility. Relia¡¯s the healer, and Arturo builds equipment. So why don¡¯t these rules apply to Kalden?¡± ¡°They do,¡± Elend said. ¡°I fully expect Kalden to take charge of your team¡¯s strategies. And I expect you two to work closely the entire time.¡± Her hands practically shook with frustration. ¡°Then why not make him the captain?¡± ¡°Because tactics and strategy aren¡¯t the same thing,¡± Elend said. ¡°Kalden¡¯s a good planner, but he¡¯s less creative when things don¡¯t go his way. He¡¯s also better at following orders than you.¡± Damnit. She knew that would come back to bite her somehow. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Elend gave her a patient smile. ¡°Do you trust me, lass?¡± Her shoulders sagged. ¡°How many times are you gonna play that card?¡± ¡°For as long as I¡¯m your teacher,¡± he said without a hint of shame. ¡°Aye, it¡¯s annoying now, but I won¡¯t be around forever. Someday, you¡¯ll be on your own, out there in that cruel world. Then you¡¯ll look back on this moment with fond memories.¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are we gonna do the whole dead mentor trope?¡± ¡°Oh no.¡± His smile widened. ¡°I fully intend to live forever.¡± Way to tempt fate. Next, he would come out of retirement for ¡°one last mission.¡± Never mind the fact that he hadn¡¯t retired yet. ¡°Trust goes both ways,¡± Akari said. ¡°Can¡¯t you trust me with your plans?¡± Elend seemed to consider that, so she pressed on. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t I learn this lesson better if I knew what it was?¡± ¡°If only it were that easy,¡± he said with a small chuckle. ¡°Trust me, lass, I¡¯ve been teaching Mana Arts for longer than you¡¯ve been alive. You can¡¯t give students the correct answers and expect them to understand. They have to make mistakes and learn the hard way.¡± He shook his head as if there were nothing to be done about that. ¡°Remember that talk we had a few weeks ago? About turning you and Kalden into Aeons?¡± Akari perked up. He hadn¡¯t explicitly mentioned Aeons before, but he¡¯d made it clear he wanted them to become Artisans by the end of the school year. The two advancements were a packaged deal, so it wasn¡¯t hard to connect those dots. Then again . . . why hadn¡¯t Elend been more direct before? Why had he waited until now, after she¡¯d pressed the matter? The truth hit her like a Missile to the face. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with the plan.¡± ¡°This won¡¯t be like Relia¡¯s path,¡± Elend said. ¡°She has the right bloodline, and she can make her own soul. But in your case, we¡¯ll need help with the ritual. Specifically, we need Lady Solidor. She¡¯s the best Ethersmith on this planet, and the only one who can help you and Kalden.¡± Akari had tried to research the Solidors, but there wasn¡¯t much out there. Rather, there was too much, and it was impossible to separate the rumors from the facts. But Relia had confirmed a few things. The Solidors had ascended from a different planet at the same time as Relia¡¯s grandmother. And while they weren¡¯t Mana Artists, their powers could rival the Mystics of this world. ¡°And powerful people rarely do things for free,¡± Elend went on. ¡°The Solidors left their homeworld several decades ago, and they need a Spacetime Artist to help them return.¡± ¡°Return?¡± Akari blinked. ¡°Can they do that?¡± If that were possible, then why hadn¡¯t the Angels returned to this world? And how had the Solidors gotten here in the first place? ¡°They seem to think so,¡± Elend said. ¡°There are pathways between the worlds, built by ancient Space Artists.¡± This much she already knew from her studies. Teleportation seemed to happen instantly, but that wasn¡¯t true on the scale of light years. You couldn¡¯t just build a portal from one planet to another; you needed a pocket world to act as a bridge, and these worlds could be hundreds of miles long. She¡¯d always thought ascension was something different, beyond ordinary space and time. Apparently, even the immortals used these pathways. ¡°Someone barred the path to the Solidor¡¯s homeworld,¡± Elend said. ¡°And opening it won¡¯t be easy.¡± Akari opened her mouth to protest, but Elend held up a hand. ¡°They¡¯re looking at the big picture here. You¡¯ll need to be a Mystic to pull this off.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Akari said. ¡°I mean . . . this is good, right?¡± Sure, there were long-term consequences here, but no one advanced this quickly without help. This was how the game worked. People like her had little to offer, so they had to deal in long-term favors. ¡°Aye, that¡¯s the idea.¡± Elend¡¯s tone was far more somber. ¡°I¡¯ve been working toward this for the past year, but they¡¯re not convinced you¡¯re the best candidate. ¡°What?¡± Akari made a show of looking over her shoulder. ¡°Are there more Spacetime Artists lined up behind me?¡± Elend didn¡¯t even crack a smile, and her own shoulders sagged even deeper. ¡°They have someone else in mind?¡± ¡°Several people,¡± he confirmed. And with that, the pieces finally clicked into place. Akari wasn¡¯t good enough to impress the Solidors. Yes, she¡¯d discovered an aspect, but being first didn¡¯t matter if someone else made a better version later on. It might not happen this year, or even this decade, but it would happen. Suddenly, her other accomplishments didn¡¯t seem half as impressive as they had before. The Solidors were the best their world had to offer. They wouldn¡¯t care that her team had won the qualifying rounds, or that they went to a fancy school. People did that every year. She had to be the absolute best. The best in this school, the best on her team. ¡°What about Kalden?¡± she asked after a short pause. ¡°Kalden¡¯s part of the deal,¡± Elend said. ¡°But Kalden can¡¯t help them get home. You¡¯re the one they want.¡± ¡°What do I have to do?¡± she asked. ¡°I need you to take this role seriously. Show it the same attention you show your training.¡± ¡°But what¡¯s the goal? Besides winning the interschool games, I mean.¡± He shook his head. ¡°You said I didn¡¯t trust you before. On the contrary, I¡¯m trusting you to succeed with limited information. Lena and her patrons think you¡¯re going to fail, but I remember a girl who jumped off a boat, risking her own freedom to save her friend from the Martials. Not because it brought her more power, or because it moved her closer to some long-term goal. She helped him because she could. Because she knew, in her heart, that it was right.¡± Akari considered that as she watched the water ripple on the pool¡¯s surface. Team captains often spent more time in the spotlight than the rest of their team. Akari didn¡¯t care about the spotlight, but maybe the Solidors did. Fame was an important part of power, and she couldn¡¯t change that. Elend was giving her a chance to shine in more ways than just her aspect. That was why he¡¯d made her the captain, and that was why he¡¯d brought Elise Moonfire on this team. They might not like her, but she was the strongest teammate they would find. Meanwhile, here Akari was, pouting and complaining like a little girl. She took a few deep breaths and let a plan take shape in her mind. She might not be good enough yet, but she would be. Last semester had been a chaotic mess, and she¡¯d barely had time to explore her aspect. But this semester would be different. This time, she would enter the school battlegrounds with enough tricks to dazzle everyone. Even the Solidors. ¡°I think I understand.¡± She pressed her fist to her palm and bowed low at the waist. ¡°Thank you.¡± Book 4 - Chapter 7: Midwinter The sun had barely risen when Kalden followed Akari into the hunting room. Snow covered the backyard once again, and heavy flakes clung to the room¡¯s tall glass windows. Elend and Irina lounged on a leather sofa near the tree, and Relia sat across from them, wearing a pair of pink flannel pajamas. Kalden wouldn¡¯t be caught dead wearing pajamas in front of people, and the rest of the house seemed to share that sentiment. Well, except for Glim, who lounged in one of the mirrors, wearing a blue version of Relia¡¯s outfit. But Glim changed her outfits several times per hour, so she didn¡¯t count. ¡°Morning!¡± Relia sprang up from her seat and grabbed two cups of coffee from a nearby tray. She practically skipped across the room to meet them. ¡°Happy Midwinter!¡± ¡°Morning,¡± Kalden replied as he sipped the offered mug. Relia had foamed the milk, and it tasted vaguely of nutmeg. He normally preferred black coffee, but this wasn¡¯t bad at all. Relia returned to her seat, and Kalden took in the massive evergreen tree in front of the glass window. He¡¯d seen this before, of course. The Darklights had it delivered earlier in Hexember. But now, half a dozen gifts orbited the tree like planets around a star. Espirians had the strangest traditions. This particular one had started with a Mystic who¡¯d flown through the sky on Midwinter Eve, dropping gifts for poor children in floating bags. Kalden had lived in Espiria for the first half of his life, but his parents had kept their own traditions that whole time. In Shoken, families exchanged gifts on New Year¡¯s Day rather than Midwinter. And more often than not, those gifts were envelopes of money. Not floating bags. Akari gave him a look, and he thought he understood. Don¡¯t broadcast your confusion, or Relia will make us watch Midwinter movies all night. He nodded seriously before following her to the sofa opposite the Darklights. ¡°Okay.¡± Relia headed over to the fireplace and retrieved two steel poles with hooks on the end. Each one was about six feet long, but they looked like they might extend even longer than that. ¡°You guys need to open yours at the same time.¡± Relia handed them each a pole, then she spun around and gestured toward the top of the tree. ¡°They¡¯re the small red bags on the right.¡± Akari set her pole aside and stretched out a hand. She waited several heartbeats as the red bags orbited around to the left side of the tree, then a spacetime Missile cut through the air. Clearly, she meant to teleport the gift straight into her hands rather than using the pole. Relia would probably complain about that, but she should have known better. Akari¡¯s Missile broke several inches from its target, turning to silver mist. ¡°Seriously?¡± She rounded on Relia. ¡°You warded the presents?¡± ¡°I told you.¡± The other girl sipped her coffee with a grin. ¡°You¡¯re getting way too predictable with those portals.¡± Akari muttered curses under her breath as she grabbed her pole and stalked toward the tree. Kalden took his own pole and followed her lead. Retrieving the gifts was a simple matter of hooking the bags by their ribbons and lowering them to the floor. The bags grew heavier as they stepped away from the tree. They also left trails of golden sparkles. Probably a dream Construct meant to entertain little kids. They settled back onto their seats, and Kalden conjured a violet blade to slice through the ribbons. He¡¯d half expected Relia to ward those with micro-Constructs, but they broke apart with ease. Akari¡¯s ribbons broke just as quickly, and they opened their bags at the same time. Kalden reached inside and withdrew two cylindrical pieces of fabric. They felt like polyester socks, except they had no bottoms. A more careful inspection revealed a small mana battery on the outside. Kalden relaxed into his Silver Sight and saw the green-gold aura of life mana. He looked on the inside and found various sigils, too advanced for him to read. ¡°I get it,¡± Akari said. ¡°It¡¯s a self-healing thing, right?¡± She¡¯d always been better at reading sigils than him. All modern programming languages were based off sigilcraft, so there was plenty of overlap. ¡°Yep,¡± Relia replied. ¡°I made these with Arturo. We call them embracers.¡± They both looked at her. She gestured to her forearms. ¡°You know how old-school armor came in lots of small pieces? The forearm pieces were called bracers. These are kind of like that, but they give your legs a little hug.¡± Actually, those forearm pieces were called vambraces. Bracers were something that surgeball players wore, but Kalden wasn¡¯t about to ruin her pun. ¡°Oh well.¡± Relia let out a long sigh. ¡°it was funnier when we had the idea.¡± ¡°I¡¯m happy for you two,¡± Akari deadpanned. ¡°But I feel bad for your kids. Are they gonna have clever names, too?¡± Relia¡¯s cheeks turned as red as her hair, and she muttered several excuses about how it would never work out. Kalden rolled up his pant leg and pulled one of the embracers on. They were surprisingly comfortable¡ªslim as a sock, and near weightless despite the life mana battery. ¡°I¡¯m surprised Arturo agreed to this,¡± Kalden said as he adjusted the artifact. Their teammate had made his stance on life mana clear. Several times, in fact. ¡°It took some convincing.¡± Relia¡¯s eyes turned more serious. ¡°But I felt bad when I wasn¡¯t there for you guys after the qualifying rounds. This is a way for me to heal you, even if we¡¯re apart. I told Arturo that, and he seemed to get it.¡± They thanked Relia, and Akari spent the next few minutes asking about the specifics. Apparently, these would heal basic cuts with ease. More serious injuries would deplete the mana, but it would stop the bleeding long enough for them to find real healers. The battery also lacked any aspect conversion functions, which meant Relia would need to refill it herself between uses. Anything else would have been too heavy for them to wear. Fortunately, this was hardly a problem when they all lived under one roof. ¡°Okay.¡± Akari handed Relia the steel rod. ¡°Guess it¡¯s your turn.¡± Relia skipped over to the tree and retrieved her gift without any instructions. No surprise there; Akari might have wrapped this, but Relia had put everything around the tree. As for Kalden, he hadn¡¯t gotten Relia anything. The soulshine project had taken up most of his time, so they¡¯d all agreed that would be his gift to her. What¡¯s more, he was terrible at Midwinter shopping. Finding something for Akari had been stressful enough, and she was his girlfriend. Relia cut the ribbons as if it were a race, then she held up a colorful box for all to see. It was a Shokenese board game called Dachi Saikoro, which translated to ¡°Dice Town¡± in Espirian. They¡¯d played a few games like this over the summer, and they usually involved collecting cards to build up your own city. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Thanks!¡± Relia said as she scanned the back of the box. ¡°How¡¯d you know I wanted this one?¡± ¡°I had some help.¡± Akari eyed Elend and Glim across the room. Help might be an understatement in this case. Kalden remembered her late night brainstorming sessions, and all her ideas had revolved around combat. She never would have guessed that her friend might want a distraction from all that training. In all fairness, Kalden never would have guessed that, either. ¡°We can play later tonight,¡± Relia said. ¡°I¡¯ll be the referee!¡± Glim said from the mirror. ¡°Gotta make sure no one uses their battle mana.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Kalden held up his hands. ¡°I¡¯ve never used my aspect during a board game.¡± It wasn¡¯t his fault the designers filled the decks with overpowered card combinations. Or that he understood basic probability. Or that no one but Elend and Glim knew how to bluff. Finally, Akari and Kalden grabbed their poles and retrieved their gifts from each other. ¡°I wonder what it is,¡± Akari said as she shook her own bag. The present meowed like a cat in distress, and her eyes widened in horror. ¡°It¡¯s not a pet.¡± Kalden narrowed his eyes at Glim. At some point, the mana spirit had replaced her pajama top with an embroidered sweater of a kitten popping out of a box. ¡°Thank Talek.¡± Akari¡¯s shoulders sagged with relief. ¡°I¡¯d probably overtrain the poor thing.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you train kittens,¡± Relia spoke up. ¡°See? Shows how much I know.¡± Akari reached into the bag and pulled out a smaller box made of dark brown wood. ¡°I hope this is something romantic . . .¡± Kalden froze. ¡°You¡¯re joking." Did she actually expect that kind of gifts? She¡¯d never hinted at that before. Then again, this was Akari Zeller. ¡°I don¡¯t actually know what sort of gifts are romantic,¡± Kalden admitted. Akari¡¯s face broke into a sudden grin. ¡°Me neither.¡± ¡°A romantic gift is something that comes from the heart,¡± Glim said. ¡°Like blood!¡± Kalden ignored the mana spirit this time. ¡°Just open it,¡± he told Akari. Akari opened the box on its hinges, revealing a black leather band, wide enough to fit around her wrist. Her face took on a curious expression as she picked it up and examined the inside. ¡°It¡¯s for your mana watch,¡± Kalden explained quickly. ¡°The sigils don¡¯t do anything special. They just reinforce it.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Akari glanced down at her old watch, which had a fake leather band and an LCD screen that showed her current mana count. She¡¯d worn that thing every day since she¡¯d bought it, and it was starting to show its wear. Akari unclipped her current watch and attached it to the new band. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said as she admired it. ¡°This one¡¯s way better.¡± ¡°How come you just replaced the band?¡± Relia asked Kalden. ¡°Why not the whole thing?¡± ¡°She bought that watch back on Arkala,¡± he explained. ¡°The day we hunted arkions in the tunnels beneath Elegan.¡± He let the rest go unsaid, but he¡¯d seen Akari look at that watch countless times whenever things got hard. Almost as if it were a reminder of the Archipelago, and their promise to return. ¡°That was a good day,¡± Akari said with an air of nostalgia. ¡°First time we ever fought side by side.¡± Huh. Maybe that was a romantic gift, after all? He must have been right because Akari scooted closer and kissed him on the corner of his mouth. ¡°Okay.¡± She nodded down to the closed bag in Kalden¡¯s lap. ¡°Go for it.¡± Kalden cut the ribbons, loosened the drawstrings, and found another bag inside the first. Well, this was less of a bag, and more of a pouch. Smooth brown leather covered the surface, along with a stainless steel buckle on the front, and a steel hook he could attach to his belt. He¡¯d seen people wear bags around Koreldon City, but this one was barely big enough to hold his wallet. He met Akari¡¯s eyes, but she just bit her lip and grinned. Clearly, she expected him to figure this out himself. It couldn¡¯t be a pocket dimension, could it? Akari didn¡¯t know how to build those yet, and they were too expensive for her to buy. Still, no harm in testing it. He pulled out his wallet and slid it into the pouch. Nothing happened, and the pouch seemed as big as it looked on the outside. Kalden tried feeding some pure mana into the pouch, but it didn¡¯t respond. He tried again with his battle mana and got the same result. Next, he relaxed his vision and viewed the pouch in his Silver Sight. It shone with faint silver light. The batteries were probably woven into the leather, like what Arturo had done with the embracers. ¡°He won¡¯t get it,¡± Elend said from across the room. Kalden almost took those words as a personal challenge, but the Grandmaster held out his hand. ¡°Toss it here, lad.¡± Kalden shrugged and tossed the pouch across the room. Elend caught it with his right hand. His other hand reached toward the floor lamp on his left. The entire lamp winked out of existence, including the plug. ¡°Retrieve the lamp,¡± Elend said as he tossed the pouch back. ¡°Just don¡¯t do it over someone¡¯s head.¡± ¡°And you¡¯ll need more mana than you think,¡± Irina added. Kalden caught the pouch and pulled open the top flap. Again, it appeared as empty as before. There was definitely a pocket dimension here, but it was hidden somehow. What¡¯s more, Elend had barely even touched the lamp or the pouch. That must be a displacement technique. But how did you activate it? A technique like that was far too complex to happen on its own. Knowledge mana, of course. Kalden focused on the lamp in his mind¡¯s eye, then he cycled his battle mana from his soul, to his brain, and to the pouch itself. It accepted the mana this time, but nothing else happened. Remembering Irina¡¯s words, Kalden cycled pure mana into the bag. It drank greedily this time, and he fed it even more over the next few heartbeats. Pressure gathered in his opposite hand, and he held it over the floor where the lamp snapped back into existence. ¡°Wow,¡± Kalden said. The process had drained a fraction of his reserves, and he felt suddenly lightheaded. No surprise there, considering the techniques that powered this thing. ¡°And yes,¡± Elend said. ¡°Before you ask, this can be used in combat. But you might need to grow into that.¡± Actually, Kalden hadn¡¯t planned to ask that. Not because he wasn¡¯t curious, but because the answer was obvious. If you could teleport a half-ton boulder into your hand, then physics would handle the rest. ¡°And no,¡± Elend continued. ¡°You won¡¯t have enough mana to stick your opponents in the bag. There¡¯s a lot of boring equations that explain why, and you can ask your girlfriend about them later.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Kalden said as he turned back to Akari. ¡°This is amazing¡ªway better than what I got you.¡± He still couldn¡¯t imagine where she¡¯d gotten the money, but she must have had help from the Darklights. Akari waved his comment away. ¡°You¡¯re way easier to shop for than me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Relia said. ¡°Akari just buys whatever she wants, but you hate shopping.¡± That much was certainly true. Kalden got overwhelmed with choices whenever he tried to buy something. He¡¯d already proven that with Akari¡¯s gift. It also didn¡¯t help that he¡¯d had personal shoppers and stylists back on Arkala. Before that, his parents had shopped for him. ¡°Alright.¡± Elend got to his feet and headed for the door. ¡°Come with me, kids. We saved the least wholesome gift for last.¡± What? Kalden exchanged a glance with Akari, but she looked equally confused. Relia¡¯s lips made a thin line. ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s not kidding.¡± ¡°You know what this is?¡± Akari asked. She nodded. ¡°I helped him make it.¡± Kalden and the others followed him across the estate and down the stairs into the basement. They walked past the gym and alchemy labs until they reached the end of the hall. Elend slid open the wooden door to reveal a dojo, no bigger than a small office. A metal cylinder dominated the center of the room, stretching all the way from the floor to the ceiling. The machine had an open front, and it looked big enough to encase a single person. ¡°This,¡± Elend said. ¡°Is a pain simulator.¡± Kalden blinked at the machine. ¡°What? Why would we¡ª¡± ¡°Artisan training,¡± Akari realized. ¡°Aye, lass. It turns out you don¡¯t need true injuries to grow stronger.¡± Elend strolled over and pressed a hand to the machine. ¡°Your soul takes orders from your brain, not your body. As long as your brain believes you¡¯re in pain, your channels will grow and enforce your cells. Especially during your next advancement.¡± She stared at the machine. ¡°So . . . this won¡¯t hurt as much as real broken bones?¡± ¡°Oh no,¡± Elend said. ¡°This will feel exactly like real broken bones. That¡¯s the point.¡± ¡°The pain will go away once you turn it off,¡± Relia said as she stepped up beside them. ¡°But I won¡¯t have to heal you, and there¡¯s no risk of long-term damage.¡± Elend nodded. ¡°There are no controls, so you¡¯ll need Glim to help you operate it. She¡¯ll determine what¡¯s safe for you to handle, and for how long.¡± Relia still looked worried, and Kalden recalled what she¡¯d said upstairs. Anxiety surged through him as the pieces fell into place. ¡°This isn¡¯t just for Artisan training, is it?¡± A smile crossed the Grandmaster¡¯s face. ¡°Until now, every Aeon ritual has failed in some way. Including your brother¡¯s. No one¡¯s ever trained hard enough to endure the Etherite, but we¡¯ve finally cracked the secret.¡± He gestured to Relia. ¡°Krustoplegia is painful, even deadly. But it prepares Mana Artists to receive Aeon souls.¡± He turned back to Kalden and Akari. ¡°You two are going to feel what she feels¡ªevery day until you advance. Do this, and you¡¯ll have stronger Artisan bodies than anyone. Even me.¡± Book 4 - Chapter 8: Field Trip The next few days passed in a blur, and Akari and her friends trained harder than ever before. Kalden spent several more days in his alchemy lab, making soulshine pills for himself and Akari. Like Relia¡¯s pill, these were each attuned to their own bodies and mana, letting them increase their daily gains with no side effects. Akari made slow progress on her displacement technique, but she struggled to dig up the right memories. She knew her father had several theories about this, but the details were vague, and her dreams were no help. She and Kalden also practiced their shaping skills for the admissions exam, which happened the first Kelsday before classes. Akari wasn¡¯t worried about her spot in the Artegium now, but the stakes were even higher than last year. Schools posted their scores publicly, and that meant another chance to impress the Solidors. Meanwhile, Relia spent her days racing against the clock. She hadn¡¯t broken through to Artisan yet, but it should be any day now. At least, that¡¯s what she claimed. Akari hadn¡¯t seen the numbers for herself. Relia didn¡¯t look too bad on the outside, but she¡¯d also started taking multiple shardbreaker pills per day. That couldn¡¯t be healthy or sustainable. ¡°You sure she¡¯ll be okay?¡± Akari asked Elend one night in his study. Elend glanced up from his book. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go that far, lass. But we¡¯re doing all we can to help her.¡± Talek, that wasn¡¯t a good sign. If Relia were close to a breakthrough, then Elend would have said so. ¡°We need a real fight,¡± Akari said. ¡°Something that pushes her harder.¡± Their current pace was already unsustainable, and they spent every day with aching muscles and mana channels. Glim had also been using her dream mana to simulate life-and-death scenarios, pushing their souls to their limits. For all that, it wasn¡¯t the same as a real battle. Elend could talk about research all he wanted, but their subconscious minds knew the truth. They were safe here in the Darklight¡¯s estate. Nothing could truly hurt them, and they all knew it. Elend hummed in consideration. ¡°You might be right, lass. This is one of the hardest parts about teaching Mana Artists. There¡¯s no clear line between trauma, and the hardship you need to advance.¡± He spun in his chair and met her eyes. ¡°Fortunately, I already have a field trip planned.¡± ~~~ Team training was every Irinday and Narsday in the Darklight¡¯s basement. They¡¯d started outside, but the days grew colder as they reached the end of Hexember. High winds blew from the southeast, strong enough to pull non-Apprentices off their feet. Just a figure of speech, of course. Koreldon City didn¡¯t have true mana storms, despite its spot on Espiria¡¯s eastern coast. Multiple peninsulas kept them safe from the Inner Sea, and they only raised the mana walls for monthly tests. Still, the city had its share of old-fashioned blizzards, and she was happy to stay inside until school started next week. Glim usually spent the first hour of training helping everyone learn their respective roles. After that, she left the team to strategize on their own. The interschool games had strict rules about teacher involvement. Teachers could help students individually, but not at a team level. That was the captain¡¯s job. ¡°Makes sense if you think about it,¡± Arturo said during one of their training sessions. ¡°Glim could make models of our opponents, and give us perfect strategies to beat them.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Akari said. ¡°Glim¡¯s overpowered, but she¡¯s also unique.¡± ¡°Other Knowledge Artists can do the same.¡± Arturo gestured to Kalden. ¡°Imagine your boyfriend as a Grandmaster. He could lead some shitty team to victory with the right plan. The whole game would be Grandmasters playing against each other, and the students would just be along for the ride. It¡¯s the same reason we build our own equipment.¡± He was right, of course. It might be annoying now, but only because she had access to all the best resources. If the tables were turned, Akari would be pissed if she lost to some rich kids who paid for the best teacher. Then again, this setup made more sense with an experienced captain who actually wanted to lead. She understood Elend¡¯s long-term plans, the whole thing just felt like a stone in her shoe. Akari didn¡¯t like planning the way Kalden did, and she didn¡¯t watch these games on TV like Arturo. She just wanted to train. On the bright side, Elise Moonfire hadn¡¯t been a problem so far. She showed up to practice on time, kept to herself, and never complained. True, she probably had plans to betray them again, but things could have been far worse. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ~~~ New Year¡¯s Day came and went, and everyone gathered in the Darklight¡¯s basement for another team training session. Elend was running late, and they all did warmups while they waited. A few minutes passed before Glim appeared in one of the tall mirrors, and everyone spun to face her. ¡°Hey,¡± the mana spirit said with a cheerful wave. ¡°Elend wants to see you guys in his study.¡± Akari glanced around. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°All six of you,¡± she said. Weird. Elend¡¯s study was one of the smallest rooms in the house unless you counted the closets and bathrooms. Why not meet them down here like he always did? Glim leapt from the mirror, taking her Missile form and leading them up the stairs into the main hall. There, they found Elend shaking hands with an unfamiliar woman. She was about his age, with silver hair cut in a boyish style, and rounded, black-rimmed glasses. Akari blinked at the stranger and rounded on Glim. ¡°Is that Grandmaster Sterling?¡± There were only a few powerful Space Artists in Espiria, and she¡¯d memorized them all last semester. The Glimmissile bobbed up and down in a nod. ¡°She was doing Elend a favor.¡± ¡°What kind of favor?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see!¡± Excitement flared in Akari¡¯s chest. Was the woman here to train her? Akari could definitely use the help. Especially with how slow her displacement technique was going. Well, technically, these things were supposed to take several months, but that wouldn¡¯t impress the Solidors. Grandmaster Sterling opened a portal and stepped through it. When she did, Elend turned to face Akari and the others. ¡°Perfect. You¡¯re just in time.¡± He made a broad gesture down the hall. ¡°Right this way.¡± Their footsteps echoed through the room¡¯s high vaulted ceilings as they followed him. ¡°Hold it right there,¡± Elend said when they reached the doorway to his study. ¡°Believe it or not, I don¡¯t like blindsiding my students.¡± ¡°What?¡± Akari blurted out. Where was this attitude when he¡¯d brought Elise Moonfire onto their team? Or when he¡¯d made her captain? Elend waved a dismissive hand. ¡°The occasional surprise is fine, but too many can destroy the trust between student and master. So consider this my warning to you all. Once you step through this door, you can¡¯t go back. If you didn¡¯t come here for serious training, you should turn around now.¡± Akari raised an eyebrow. They were stepping into his office. How bad could this be? Then again, this was Elend Darklight, and he didn¡¯t normally bother with warnings. Relia stepped forward first, and Kalden and Akari were right on her heels. The other three hesitated for another second, but there was no real choice here. They¡¯d already agreed to accept Elend as their coach. Either they trusted him, or they didn¡¯t. The room was a tight fit with all seven of them clustered inside. Zukan found himself standing in the middle, and he had to duck his head to avoid the brass chandelier. ¡°Excellent.¡± Elend stepped around his wooden desk. His gaze settled on Kalden¡¯s pouch, then Arturo¡¯s backpack. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see that some of you came prepared.¡± ¡°Prepared for what?¡± Elise asked. She¡¯d positioned herself on the other side of Zukan, several paces away from the rest of the team. ¡°Anything,¡± Elend said with a wide smile. Oh, shit. Akari cycled spacetime mana into her palm and tried to open a portal back to her bedroom. Maybe she¡¯d at least have time to grab her backpack. Not to mention a pair of shoes. The portal didn¡¯t open. Not that she¡¯d really expected that to work. Elend already said they couldn¡¯t go back once they crossed the threshold. ¡°You six have trained together for two weeks now, but you¡¯re not a team yet. Not even close.¡± Elend turned his gaze to a photograph on the wall. It looked like a snow-covered mountain range in Espiria or North Shoken. ¡°Do you know how the Espirian Special Forces train their teams?¡± Kalden and Arturo each raised their hands, but it must have been a rhetorical question, because Elend kept talking. ¡°They drop everyone in the wilderness and force them to rely on each other. There¡¯s no time for games or arguments. Either they survive together, or they die alone.¡± Elend got up from his chair and strode toward the door. ¡°It¡¯s the same with tamed raptors.¡± He glanced at Elise, who still stood apart from the others. ¡°When the trainers introduce a new member to the pack, they don¡¯t give them time to fight and bicker. They give them a common goal. Or a common enemy.¡± The Grandmaster took a few more steps until he was standing in the doorway. ¡°But the Artegium isn¡¯t the military. They would never put students in danger like that. Fortunately, the Artegium isn¡¯t in charge here today.¡± His smile widened. ¡°I am.¡± A gust of icy wind blew into the room without warning. Akari swung her head around just in time to see the drywall and studs ripped apart, revealing a dark, snowy landscape beyond. The furniture blew away next, followed by the rug and floorboards. Mana swirled in the sky above. The clouds shone with deep blue light, and lightning struck the distant mountaintops. Another gust of wind knocked Akari off her feet, and Relia caught her hand before she blew off the mountain. The air stung her body, almost as bad as Dansin Roth¡¯s mana after the qualifying rounds. Ice formed all over her skin from the tips of her fingers to her nose. Smaller crystals formed over her glasses, and she Cloaked her muscles to stay warm. Most of her teammates had lost their footing, too. Elise and Arturo took shelter behind a rock face, and Relia and Kalden clung to a smaller boulder. Zukan remained on one knee. One hand held a flaming spear, which he¡¯d buried into the mountain face. Another hand clutched an orange shield, and he raised that against the wind. Akari turned back to Elend. His office doorway sat there like an open portal, leading back to the safety of the Darklight¡¯s estate. Talek¡¯s tits and teeth. Was he about to strand them here? She¡¯d been hoping for a field trip, but this was ridiculous. She wasn¡¯t even wearing shoes, much less a proper jacket. ¡°Yes,¡± Elend shouted to project his voice over the raging storm. ¡°I¡¯m about to strand you on a dangerous mountaintop. And no, this isn¡¯t dream mana. You¡¯re really here.¡± Panic surged through her as she clutched Relia¡¯s arm. How was this training? They¡¯d freeze to death long before they got to fight anything. ¡°Good luck!¡± Elend said. ¡°And don¡¯t forget, you have your admissions exams in four days. Try to make it back to Espiria on time.¡± Back to Espiria? Where in Talek¡¯s name was this place? Elend stepped through the portal and slammed the wooden door behind him. The door blew away in a burst of wooden splinters, and it flew down the mountain with the rest of the debris. The storm raged even harder, and a dragon roared in the distance. Book 4 - Chapter 9: Frostbite Akari glanced back at her teammates, hoping against hope that someone had an idea. No such luck. The winds threatened to blow them off the mountain, and they had to cycle their mana at full force just to keep the cold at bay. She tried to breathe, but the thin air offered no relief. Her chest tightened, and her heart raced even faster. The others didn¡¯t look much better, either. Arturo let out several ragged coughs, and Relia curled up in a ball behind her. Only her condition could make her do that; it must have flared up at the worst possible time. Zukan shielded them all with a flaming orange Construct, but he couldn¡¯t move from that spot. Neither could Kalden or Elise. For Talek¡¯s sake. They were the best in their class, and they were losing to a storm. Step one was to get down from here, and fast. That meant a portal. She glanced left and right, but her surroundings were a blur of darkness and raging mana. However, she spotted a short ridge nearby. If she reached that, she might see farther down the mountain. Akari flared her Pure Cloak and forced herself to her feet. She stumbled forward, clutching the nearby rocks with her other hand. Rather, she tried to clutch the rocks, but her numb fingers refused to move. Another dragon roared in the distance. The sound shook her bones, and her knees quivered even harder. Two more steps, and she reached the stone ridge at the end of the plateau. From here, she had a clear view of the wasteland beyond. The mountains went on for miles, and shards of jagged rock dominated the scene. But where was the ice and snow? What sort of place was this? She had an inkling . . . but no, Elend couldn¡¯t have sent them there. They were only Apprentices. Akari cycled mana to her glasses, activating the light-bending Constructs. The lenses zoomed like a sniper rifle as she focused on a spot farther down. She stretched out a hand, and a red crosshair appeared in her vision. These glasses had been her Midwinter gift to herself. They were actually her favorite gift, but she¡¯d never say that out loud. She shot a spacetime Missile at her target, but the storm tore it apart. Damnit. She needed more power. Akari dropped her Pure Cloak and focused entirely on her spacetime mana. The air stung twice as hard, and darkness closed in around her vision. Life mana flowed from the embracers around her calves, keeping her awake. When she finally stretched out a hand, her fingertips were as black as the night sky. Frostbite. Relia could heal that later, but only if they found shelter. She had to hurry. The dragon roared again, and she glimpsed it on the horizon. It was pale white, and thin as a skeleton. For all that, she felt its power like a weight pressing on her soul. This was a Master-level mana beast. The creature stretched out its massive wings as it flew toward them, gliding on the currents of the storm. Its body was as big as a manor, and its mouth looked wide enough to swallow them whole. Focus. Akari shot another spacetime Missile at the valley below. It wasn¡¯t a perfect shot, but anything was better than here. The dragon closed in, opening its massive jaws. Akari braced herself for another roar, but the sound didn¡¯t come. Instead, it sucked in the air like a massive vacuum. Boulders flew off the mountain, straight into its mouth. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Akari lost her footing a second later. Missiles caught her legs as her teammates tried to hold her back, but their mana broke like cobwebs against the dragon¡¯s might. Up became down as she spun through the air, and her vision was a whirlwind of stone and sky. She flew straight into the dragon¡¯s open mouth, past its razor-sharp teeth, and over its tongue. Her body smacked into its uvula, which was easily as big as her. The dragon snapped its head to the side, and the force of it sent her body whirling. Everything went dark as it snapped its jaws shut, and the scents of acid and metal stung her nostrils. She barely had time to take in her surroundings before the muscles contracted around her. Akari tried to grab onto something, but the walls were hard and smooth as they forced her downward. The world grew darker as she fell, but no less cold. Finally, she shot another spacetime Missile toward her feet. The tunnel forced her down like a pit of quicksand, and she fell feet-first through her own portal. Down became up once again, and Akari emerged on the rocky basin where she¡¯d formed her first half of the portal. She Cloaked her muscles against the cold, but that did nothing for her frostbite. Talek. She¡¯d probably be dead by now if not for her Apprentice body. Still, she doubted she¡¯d last another minute out here, even with her mana flowing at full force. Her fingers were almost completely frozen, and even her face felt as stiff as plastic. It took her several seconds to reorient herself, but she activated her Silver Sight and found the dragon hovering right above her. Her teammates were still on the stone plateau, a quarter mile away. Akari dropped her Cloak and switched back to spacetime mana, preparing to make another portal. The frostbite had eaten through her fingers, but she could still launch Missiles from her palms. Up above, the dragon¡¯s body glowed with silver light as it used its wind technique again. More boulders flew toward its open mouth, and Kalden flew with them. Akari moved on pure instinct, launching a spacetime Missile straight toward Kalden. She formed the portal in midair, intercepting his body halfway between the plateau and the dragon¡¯s mouth. Kalden emerged from the portal behind her, and his momentum carried him a dozen feet into the air. The dragon stayed focused on her teammates, and Akari pushed on her third portal, moving it closer to her group. Zukan leapt through the portal a second later, carrying Relia and Arturo over his shoulders. Elise stumbled behind him, looking like she might collapse as well. The dragon flapped its wings up above, and the currents of icy air almost knocked her to the ground. It let out a roar of anger before it turned its attention downward. Shit. Akari closed both portals and gestured to Kalden¡¯s belt pouch. She drew in a deep breath and forced out a single word: ¡°Bomb.¡± Kalden cycled knowledge mana to his pouch and held out a hand. Akari opened a portal in the same moment, connecting it to the other portal in the dragon¡¯s throat. The alchemical bomb appeared in Kalden¡¯s outstretched hand, as big as a mini-fridge. Kalden dropped it through the opening, and Akari sealed it shut. The dragon prepared its wind technique, and Akari rounded on Elise. She tried to say ¡°illusion,¡± but her mouth refused to form the syllables. Instead, she made a broad gesture with her frozen hands. Elise must have understood, because bursts of dream mana shot out from her palms, encasing the group in a massive dome. Kalden pressed a finger to his handheld device, detonating the bomb inside the dragon¡¯s throat. Akari felt the blast deep in her chest, and the dragon thrashed its head in rage. Talek. That bomb would have destroyed a building, but they hadn¡¯t even wounded the thing. Not that she¡¯d expected to hurt a Master-level mana beast. The whole thing was just a distraction. Elise finished her Construct, making the whole group invisible. More Missiles flew out from her palms, then an illusion of their group ran farther down the mountain. The dragon let out another roar, flapping its wings in pursuit. Elise¡¯s technique wouldn¡¯t have fooled a real Master, but this creature didn¡¯t seem self-aware, despite its raw power. Akari let out a breath of relief as the dragon sucked up the illusions and flew away. Her legs gave out in the same moment, and her vision blurred. ¡°Akari!¡± Kalden reached out his arms and caught her before she hit the ground. ¡°Hang on,¡± he said. ¡°Just one more portal.¡± He rotated her head to face a nearby cave, less than a quarter mile away. Right. Shelter first, then she could pass out. Akari cycled spacetime mana and tried to raise her arm to shoot a Missile. Her arm didn¡¯t budge¡ªshe couldn¡¯t even feel it. Kalden grabbed her hand and aimed it toward the distant cave. Unlike her, he¡¯d been Cloaking his body this entire time, and he was far better off for it. The wind threatened to knock them both off their feet, but Zukan appeared behind them both, holding them steady. Akari fired her Missile toward the cave, opening a portal at her feet. She and the others fell through, and the darkness finally closed in. Book 4 - Chapter 10: The Southern Continent Akari opened her eyes and found Relia kneeling over her. A fire burned somewhere nearby, casting flickering shadows on the cavern walls. The warmth reached skin, but it did little for the chill in her bones. She tried to speak, but the words got caught in her throat. Kalden brought a water bottle to her lips, and Relia forced life mana into her channels. ¡°Try to cycle,¡± Relia said in a dry voice. ¡°As much as you can.¡± Akari closed her eyes and pushed the life mana outward through her body. The numbness faded over the next few heartbeats, and feeling came back to her frozen limbs. ¡°You were out for a few minutes,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Your portals saved us, and no one else was hurt.¡± She gave a weary nod, and her friends helped her sit up. Elise and Arturo sat on the other side of the fire, which turned out to be a mana technique. No fuel sat beneath the flames, and no smoke wafted toward the ceiling. Zukan stood closer to the cavern¡¯s entrance, forcing more mana into a domed Construct around their group. Probably a heat containment ward of some sort. Relia scooted across the floor to sit in front of Akari. ¡°You okay? You almost got swallowed by a dragon.¡± ¡°Pretty sure I did get swallowed.¡± Akari ran a hand over her hair and hoodie, and it came back surprisingly dry. Arturo unzipped his backpack and pulled out a stack of vacuum-sealed bundles. ¡°Here,¡± he said as he passed them out. ¡°Put these on.¡± Akari accepted her package and found her name printed on the front. ¡°Are these¡ª¡± ¡°Cold weather clothing,¡± he said. ¡°Three layers of wool and down, plus a parka that draws on ambient mana.¡± ¡°You had all this in your backpack?¡± Relia asked as she unzipped her own package. Arturo shrugged. ¡°In terms of techniques, I¡¯m the most useless member of this team. Figured I should change that.¡± Akari wasted no time removing her hoodie and slipping on the inner layer. ¡°How¡¯d you know Elend would send us here?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± He pulled out six more packages that looked like boots, gloves, and hats. ¡°I just prepared for everything. But Elend¡¯s been hinting at this for a while now. Remember that tidbit about the Espirian Special Forces? It¡¯s not the first time he mentioned it.¡± Talek. He¡¯d also mentioned a field trip to Akari, but she¡¯d imagined going somewhere local to fight mana beasts. Not this nonsense. Speaking of which . . . ¡°Where are we?¡± she asked the group in general. ¡°Vordica,¡± Kalden said as he zipped up the front of his parka. ¡°What?¡± Elise blurted out from across the cave. ¡°The southern continent?¡± Arturo nodded in agreement. ¡°It¡¯s the only place that makes sense. Espiria and Shoken have colder climates to the north, but nothing like this. Akari had deep frostbite in less than two minutes, and she¡¯s an Apprentice. That puts the temperature at least a hundred degrees below freezing. ¡°Not to mention the wind speeds.¡± Kalden raised a compass. ¡°And those winds were coming from the north. That puts us south of the Inner Sea.¡± ¡°Shit,¡± Akari muttered. Mana storms raged freely through Vordica, and most people considered the land unsafe for humans. Some Artisans and Masters explored here, but Apprentices like them didn¡¯t get within a hundred miles of this place. ¡°You¡¯re joking,¡± Elise said. ¡°Vordica¡¯s thousands of miles from Koreldon City. Only a Grandmaster Space Artist could make a portal that far.¡± Akari gave the girl a flat look. ¡°Remember that lady we saw Elend talking to earlier?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Her name¡¯s Grandmaster Sterling, and she¡¯s a famous Space Artist. ¡°Seeing Elend with someone proves nothing,¡± Elise said. ¡°This could still be an illusion. I mean¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t put us in real danger, would he? He¡¯d have to deal with our parents.¡± Silence followed, and several of them exchanged looks of uncertainty. Relia fidgeted with her red braid, which stuck out from the back of her hat. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure this Is real.¡± ¡°What?¡± Akari rounded on her. ¡°Elend told you something?¡± ¡°No, but I¡¯m still more than a hundred mana points from Artisan. I¡¯d be dead by now if it weren¡¯t for all this training, and . . . other stuff . . .¡± That last part probably referred to her soulshine, but they hadn¡¯t shared that part of their training with their teammates. Especially Elise, who could easily use that knowledge to make trouble for them. Another silence fell over the camp as Relia gathered her thoughts. ¡°Elend knows I can¡¯t break through without something big. That¡¯s why he sent us here. To the most dangerous place on the planet.¡± Technically, the most dangerous place was the center of the Inner Sea. No one had ever returned from there, not even Mystics. Then there were the Hollows beneath Espiria and Cadria. Explorers had charted the first few dozen levels, but no one had ever ventured deeper than that. Not to mention the rain forests in Gravago and Cracan. She¡¯d heard of insects there that could kill a Master in a single bite. Still, Akari saw her point. This place would push them to grow in ways nothing else would. ¡°It could still be an illusion,¡± Elise said with an air of desperation. ¡°He¡¯d never get away with¡ª¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Kalden broke in. ¡°We can¡¯t prove this is real unless we actually die, so there¡¯s no point in trying. ¡°Agreed,¡± Zukan spoke for the first time, but he never turned his attention from his techniques. ¡°This talk is unproductive. Our goal is the same, regardless.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Kalden retrieved a map from his pouch and spread it out on the cavern floor. Vordica was a bowl-shaped landmass at the bottom of the Inner Sea, stretching all the way from Cadria to South Shoken. It was also closer to the equator than parts of Espiria and North Shoken, and Akari had never understood why it got so much colder here. Probably some bullshit about mana storms and wind patterns. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Kalden gestured to a peninsula on the continent¡¯s west coast. ¡°There¡¯s a research base here. That¡¯s our best chance of getting home.¡± Arturo stepped around the fake fire and knelt beside the rest of them. ¡°So where are we now?¡± Kalden scanned the map for a few more seconds before finally shaking his head. ¡°I have no idea.¡± Relia leaned forward. ¡°Remember what Elend said? We need to be home for our admissions exams this Kelsday. It will take at least a day to get back to Espiria, so that should put us within two days of the research base.¡± ¡°Unless Sterling put a portal in the base,¡± Akari said. ¡°Then we could be three days away.¡± ¡°Darn it.¡± Relia¡¯s shoulders sagged. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll say three days to be safe.¡± Kalden retrieved a pen from his pouch and circled an area around Vordica¡¯s western peninsula. ¡°Assuming we can travel twenty miles per day, that puts us somewhere in here.¡± ¡°We can go a lot farther with Akari¡¯s portals,¡± Relia said. Her smile faded just as quickly, and her shoulders sagged even deeper. ¡°But Elend knows that too . . . ¡± ¡°And these are mountains,¡± Arturo said. ¡°Can we even go twenty miles a day? Even with portals? Not to mention the local wildlife. I doubt that dragon was our last fight.¡± Kalden brought his pen down as if to make a wider circle, then he shrugged and returned it to his pouch. ¡°We¡¯ll need to travel northwest until we reach the coast, then west from there. That¡¯s all we know for sure.¡± He looked up at Zukan. ¡°How long can you maintain these fire Constructs?¡± ¡°All day,¡± Zukan said in his gravelly voice. ¡°Assuming you have enough liquid mana in your bags.¡± ¡°Even while moving?¡± Kalden asked. Zukan inclined his head in a subtle nod. ¡°Okay.¡± Kalden gestured to his pouch. ¡°I have ten gallons of water, and maybe enough food for one day.¡± He shot a glance at Arturo¡¯s backpack, where he¡¯d retrieved the cold weather gear a few minutes before. ¡°I¡¯ve got a hundred gallons,¡± Arturo said. ¡°And probably enough food for two weeks.¡± ¡°Bullshit,¡± Akari said. Her own backpack had a pocket dimension of seventy-two cubic feet, and that was high end. No way Arturo had enough mana to power anything bigger. For Talek¡¯s sake, he wasn¡¯t even a Space Artist. Arturo followed her gaze and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not in there, shoka. But I can open portals to a larger vault.¡± She furrowed her brow. ¡°Apprentices are too weak to make portals that far.¡± He grinned. ¡°Not if you have a SDN.¡± ¡°SDN?¡± Relia asked. ¡°Spatial delivery network,¡± he replied before turning back to Akari. ¡°My vault is considered cold storage, and it runs on a network of portals across all four major continents. Most of the mana costs are handled remotely.¡± He patted his backpack. ¡°I just need to feed the sigils enough for the final transfer. It takes a few minutes, but I can get anything we need. Water, food, mana, climbing gear. I¡¯ve even got a pair of tents. No bombs, though.¡± He shot Kalden a look. ¡°Seriously, shoko. You scare me sometimes.¡± Arturo clearly knew more about Akari¡¯s aspect than she did. She had to remind herself that he¡¯d already graduated from KU¡¯s sigilcraft program, so he had four extra years of training. He also had a lot more money to burn on expensive services. The Darklights gave Akari and the others a fair bit of spending money, but that was pocket change for some of their peers. What about the Solidors¡¯ other candidates? Did they know how to make stuff like this? Did she have to catch up with them, too? The group rested for another twenty minutes, then they set out down the southwest side of the mountain. Zukan maintained his heat shield the entire time, and Elise wrapped a larger Construct of dream mana around that. In theory, that should hide them from anymore high-level mana beasts. Kalden led the way, digging sharpened mana spears into the stone beneath their boots. Zukan held up the rear, and Arturo¡¯s ropes tied everyone together at the waist. Fortunately, the winds had subsided by this point, and many of their precautions proved unnecessary. That didn¡¯t make things easy, though. Every so often, the Master-level dragon would circle the sky, and Elise struggled to maintain her invisibility shield. She¡¯d been a duelist before Koreldon University, so she¡¯d never had to protect so many people at once. Much less for hours at a time. They covered well over thirty miles that first day, thanks To Akari¡¯s portals. She carried them over vast canyons, around mountains, and over cliffs of jagged rock. Eventually, they put the mountains behind them and came across a vast desert. Was desert even the right word? It was negative ten million degrees out here, so it definitely wasn¡¯t warm. Then again, there was no ice or snow. Just miles and miles of barren rock. A roar echoed over the landscape, and they all glanced to the east. ¡°Great,¡± Relia said. ¡°Suck Master¡¯s back.¡± ¡°Suck Master?¡± Akari blinked at the familiar name. ¡°Is that a vacuum company?¡± ¡°Yeah, I think so.¡± Arturo burst into laughter behind them. ¡°You two are thinking of Dust Master. Suck Master is a company, but they don¡¯t sell vacuums . . .¡± ¡°Ew.¡± Relia¡¯s scarf hid her face, but her blush was audible in her voice. ¡°Never mind. We¡¯re not naming him that.¡± ¡°Suck Master¡¯s a good name,¡± Akari said as the dragon turned to the north. ¡°Not like there¡¯s any dust around here.¡± They continued across the desert for the better part of the day, but there was no end in sight. Had this been a mistake? Should they have followed the mountain range southwest, or made camp while they still could? They certainly couldn¡¯t stop here in the open. Not with Suck Master looming above. Occasionally, the creature would swoop down and eat something on the distant horizon, but they couldn¡¯t make out the details of its prey. Suck Master really did look like a skeleton, though. Almost like a Death Artist had reanimated his bones with an external Cloak technique. Of course, real skeletons didn¡¯t need to eat, so that probably wasn¡¯t the case. The sky darkened, the winds blew harder, and the desert went on forever. Every part of her ached from her muscles to her channels. Akari would have collapsed by now without her Cloak technique. She felt dizzy every time she made a portal, and her vision went dark whenever she slowed her cycling. Damnit. She should have spoken up before. Kalden and Arturo had both wanted to go north, because it lowered their chances of missing the research base. But none of that mattered if they didn¡¯t survive this desert. All the while, the dragon circled the sky, passing over them every few minutes. The dream mana might have fooled his senses, but his instincts told him to expect food nearby. The rope tugged behind Akari as Elise finally lost her footing. Zukan barely caught the girl before her head struck the ground. ¡°Stop!¡± he shouted to Kalden. Kalden stopped walking up ahead, and the others all turned around. The skeletal dragon chose that exact moment to fly overhead, but he didn¡¯t look down. Even now, Elise maintained her shield around the group. ¡°Moonfire?¡±Arturo stepped closer and knelt beside her. ¡°You need a break?¡± He glanced up at the sky. ¡°Suck Master¡¯s leaving soon. Maybe you can drop your shield for a few minutes.¡± Elise shook her head. ¡°If I stop . . .¡± She trailed off as her teeth chattered. ¡° . . . can¡¯t start again.¡± Akari knew the feeling all too well. Her Cloak made her whole body feel like a clenched fist. By now, it was easier to keep the technique going than to release it. And if she did release it, she¡¯d probably pass out again. And Elise had been holding two techniques for the past twelve hours? Akari still didn¡¯t like the girl, but she¡¯d clearly earned her spot in the rankings. ¡°Someone should carry her,¡± Zukan rumbled. ¡°She can focus on her techniques that way.¡± Akari looked at Relia, and everyone else did the same. Kalden and Zukan already had their hands full, and Akari and Arturo were the weakest in terms of physical strength. That made her the obvious choice. Relia must have realized the same thing, because she gave a slow nod. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Akari turned to Kalden at the front of the column. ¡°What about stimulants? You¡¯ve got some allnighter potions in your pouch, right?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Kalden said slowly. ¡°But we¡¯ll crash twice as hard if we take those.¡± ¡°We¡¯re gonna crash no matter what we do,¡± Akari said. As with so many things in the world of Mana Arts, this came down to simple math. Relia and Zukan might last all night, but the rest of them would collapse long before then. Even Relia was a wildcard with her condition. Not to mention the extra weight on her shoulders. Best-case scenario, they had two or three hours of strength left, and this desert could easily go on for another day. Elend would have predicted all their movements here, but he¡¯d also expect them to use everything at their disposal. ¡°Alright,¡± Kalden said as he retrieved a box of potions. ¡°Has anyone not taken an allnighter before? Some people have side effects, and we can¡¯t risk that now.¡± Zukan raised a hand. ¡°I¡¯d planned not to partake, regardless. It¡¯s better if we don¡¯t tie our carts to the same raptor.¡± ¡°Good thinking,¡± Relia said. ¡°I think I¡¯ll sit out, too. At least for now. Elend sent me here to push myself, and I still haven¡¯t reached my limits yet.¡± Kalden passed out the glass bottles to everyone else, then they continued their trek across the plain. Book 4 - Chapter 11: Raptors Relia struggled to keep up as the night went on. She and her teammates walked for another six hours before the desert gave way to mountains once again. At that point, even the allnighters couldn¡¯t keep the others on their feet. They set up two tents in a narrow ravine beneath a rocky overhang. It might not be a cave, but it was the next best thing. Arturo pulled out two portable heaters from his bag, placing one in each tent. Next came a camouflage device, and an alarm Construct to detect intruders. ¡°Hey,¡± Relia said to Akari once they¡¯d settled in. ¡°Mind if I borrow your mana watch?¡± Akari gave an eager nod, pulling off her glove and undoing the leather band. ¡°We should buy you one when we get home. They¡¯re not that expensive.¡± Relia shrugged as she accepted the watch. Akari watched her own numbers like a mother drake, but that would have stressed Relia out to no end. Besides, souls didn¡¯t always grow at a steady rate. Sometimes, you would put in a hard day of training and see minimal gains. Then you might see your numbers spike the next morning, or even several days later. Relia held her breath as she pressed the device to the back of her wrist. The metal was warmer than she¡¯d expected, and the screen flickered as she cycled her mana. 73/3150. As always, the left number showed her current mana count and the right number showed her maximum. Fifty points away from Artisan. Akari stood on her tiptoes, looking over Relia¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re getting close,¡± she said. ¡°What was your number before?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember, but I think I gained thirty or forty points today.¡± Under normal circumstances, those gains would have been impressive for an entire week, much less a single day. But between the soulshine and their trek across Vordica . . . well, she¡¯d hoped for more. Relia had taken five shardbreaker pills today, and those only reduced her pain rather than suppressing it. Soon, they¡¯d stop working altogether. When that happened, the pain would overwhelm her. She would pass out, and never wake up again. Strangely enough, this trip made things better. The threat of death was far more terrifying when you faced it alone, in your own bedroom. Here, she faced it with her teammates in a way they never could back home. Was this part of Elend¡¯s plan for her? Akari stood in silence for several heartbeats, chewing on her bottom lip. She clearly wanted to say something, but couldn¡¯t find the words. Relia forced out a smile as she handed back the watch. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. Just a few more days.¡± They divided the tents between guys and girls. With three of each, it seemed like the most logical choice for everyone. Well, almost everyone. Akari grumbled about this setup, calling it ¡°stupid¡± and ¡°old-fashioned.¡± They¡¯d been doing their business in front of each other all day, so privacy didn¡¯t matter at this point. Or so she claimed. Arturo crossed his slender arms.¡±You got a better idea, shoka?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Akari said. ¡°Kalden and I can share with . . .¡± She made a show of glancing around the camp. ¡°Zukan?¡± Sure, Akari. Let¡¯s all bend over backwards so you can sleep next to your boyfriend, and the group¡¯s primary heat source. Fortunately, she was too tired to put up a real fight. Either that, or she¡¯d been joking about the whole thing. Who could tell with Akari? Her whole sense of humor revolved around making outrageous comments with a straight face. Relia ducked into the girls'' tent and spread her sleeping roll between Akari and Elise. Everyone still wore their cold weather gear to bed, including their boots. They¡¯d all seen Akari¡¯s frostbite before, and no one wanted to sample that for themselves. ¡°Hey,¡± Elise said from behind her. ¡°Thanks for carrying me today.¡± Relia shrugged without meeting Elise¡¯s eye. ¡°I did it for the team.¡± That much should have been obvious. They¡¯d needed a Dream Artist to hide them from the dragon, whether they liked it or not. Arturo¡¯s tech wouldn¡¯t have been enough. Elise shifted on her sleeping roll. ¡°Look, I¡¯m really sorry about what happened last semester. To both of you, I mean. I¡ª¡± ¡°Stop.¡± Relia whipped around to face her. ¡°Elend might have put you on this team, but we¡¯re not friends. We never will be.¡± Elise¡¯s eyes fell in defeat. The expression looked genuine, but who could say with a pathological liar? Anything she said might be part of another scheme. A part of her still wanted to give Elise another chance, but that weakness had almost gotten her friends killed before. It wouldn¡¯t happen again. ~~~ Relia woke to blaring sirens. Arturo¡¯s alarm. She scrambled up from her bedroll and out the tent flap. Akari and Elise were on her heels, and they all stumbled out into the frigid night air. Her muscles were stiff from sleep, and she cycled her mana to wake them. Kalden and Zukan emerged from their own tent in the same moment, wielding blades of glowing mana. Arturo followed them out more slowly, holding something that looked like a grenade launcher. The alarm stopped, and Arturo gestured toward the south side of the ravine. ¡°That way,¡± he said in a low voice. The six of them fell into a quick formation. Relia joined Kalden and Zukan in the front, while the other three held up the rear. They stepped forward and found three raptors standing at the mouth of the canyon. The creatures stood on two legs like miniature drakes. Slightly shorter than a human, they had short arms, powerful legs, and tails longer than Relia¡¯s arm span. Electric blue scales covered their bodies, striped with pale white¡ªthe colors of pure mana and fresh snow. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°Hold position,¡± Kalden said. ¡°There¡¯s probably more out there.¡± Relia nodded in agreement. She¡¯d fought her share of raptors back on Arkala, and they usually traveled in packs of six to twelve. They also liked to set traps for their prey. ¡°How strong are they?¡± Akari asked. ¡°I can¡¯t see their mana.¡± ¡°Me neither,¡± Relia said when she relaxed her vision. ¡°Probably a camo technique.¡± ¡°One way to find out.¡± Arturo inched forward and raised his weapon. ¡°Grenade!¡± He pulled the trigger, and the projectile flew in a high arc across the canyon. It landed in front of the raptors with a loud blast, and Relia conjured a shield in front of her group. Burning acid covered the raptors, and the scent of rotten eggs stung her nostrils. Flames erupted on the opposite side of the canyon, but the raptors strode forward with eerie determination. Their forms were black silhouettes against the fire, and their golden eyes glowed against the night. Relia relaxed her vision a second time, and her opponent¡¯s souls burned with a light that outshone the flames. These were Artisan-level mana beasts. ¡°Behind us!¡± Elise shouted. Relia spun to see three more raptors on the canyon¡¯s northern side. No sooner had Elise spoken than the first three raised their arms and struck with a volley of icy Missiles. Relia and the others threw up defensive Constructs, but they were no match for Artisan attacks. Their shields broke like shattered glass, and the raptors struck again. Portals appeared on both sides of their group, catching the raptors'' Missiles and hurling them back toward the opposite side. Kalden hurried back to defend their rear. Meanwhile, Relia and Zukan seized the advantage and charged the raptors on their side. They would never beat these guys in a battle of raw mana. Up close, they might have a chance. Zukan conjured a flaming spear and drove it toward the first raptor¡¯s torso. The creature slapped it aside and threw Zukan hard against the canyon wall. Another raptor hurled a Missile toward Relia. She moved with a speed that rivaled its own, ducking the attack at the last second. The Missile ripped off her hat, and she felt its icy burn graze her scalp. Three more steps, and Relia closed the distance between her opponent. She sidestepped its next attack and drove a hand straight into its windpipe. Zukan¡¯s attacks couldn¡¯t pierce their Artisan bodies, but Relia¡¯s mana was different. Most animals had evolved to accept healing, and raptors were no exception. The death mana found the raptor¡¯s spinal cord, and the creature dropped like a rag doll. More mana flashed to her right as a second raptor closed in. Relia threw up a shield and altered the Missile¡¯s course by several degrees. It soared past her face and blew a chunk of stone from the canyon wall. She Cloaked her legs and sprang forward, driving a hand into the left side of its chest. A bird-like cry escaped its mouth as it joined its friend on the ground. A blast sounded from the canyon¡¯s northern side, and Relia spun toward her teammates. Kalden forced a raptor back, and Akari formed a portal beneath its feet. The creature fell through and emerged from a second portal at the top of the canyon. A massive boulder appeared in Kalden¡¯s outstretched hand,and he dropped it through the portal. The raptor landed on its side, and the boulder flattened its skull a heartbeat later. Another raptor tried to flank them, but Arturo pressed a shotgun to its head and pulled the trigger. Unlike his first weapon, this blew a hole clean throug the creature¡¯s face, staining the wall with a spray of crimson. Relia was about to join her friends when something slammed into her left shoulder. The impact threw her to the ground, and another raptor leapt on top of her. Claws dug into her chest, shredding four layers of clothing and piercing the skin beneath. She tried to break free, but it was too strong. Instead, she flared her Life Cloak, reinforcing her torso and face. Her wounds closed, but her opponent was like Vordica itself. She couldn¡¯t strike back without dropping her defensive technique. The raptor opened its massive jaws and tried to bite down on her forehead. Orange mana flashed at the edge of her vision as Zukan tackled the creature. He drove an arm straight into its mouth and shot fire mana down its gullet. The raptor bit down with all its might, but Zukan¡¯s arm didn¡¯t break. Relia forced herself to her feet and pressed a hand to Zukan back, filling him with a burst of life mana. He held strong against his opponent, unleashing more fire into its stomach. ¡°Retreat!¡± Kalden¡¯s voice echoed over the battle. Relia snapped her head up and spotted more raptors at the canyon¡¯s southern mouth. These were even larger than the first, with massive horns in the middle of their heads. Azul¡¯s ashes. They¡¯d only sent in the Claws for the first wave. Now, the Fangs had come to finish the job. She turned back to the north side, where Akari and Kalden dragged Arturo through an open portal. Blood covered his mangled right leg, and the others sported several wounds of their own. Elise was nowhere in sight. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Relia helped Zukan to his feet, and they staggered away from their fallen opponent. She didn¡¯t bother with any more techniques; those would only slow her down. Instead, she pumped her legs harder and ran for Akari¡¯s open portal. The sooner she and Zukan got through, the sooner they could close it. Mana soared past them as the other raptors closed in. She and Zukan were halfway to the portal when a massive drake appeared at the canyon¡¯s opposite end. It looked like a larger version of the raptors, with deep blue scales covering its body. The ground shook as the creature charged forward. Its legs were as wide as tree trunks, and its feet looked big enough to flatten her. Relia had faced drakes on Arkala, but she doubted they were half as strong as this one. She and Zukan split up, dodging its massive body as it charged through the canyon. The drake ignored them and headed straight for the raptors, who¡¯d abandoned their assault. That¡¯s convenient. But then she saw Elise standing by the open portal with her arms outstretched. That hadn¡¯t been a real drake at all. Just an illusion. The raptors must have realized the same thing, because they charged forward once again. Relia and Zukan dove through the portal, and Elise followed close behind. They emerged at the edge of a rocky cliff that overlooked a vast ocean. No, not an ocean. The Inner Sea. They¡¯d finally reached the northern coast. Arturo lay on the ground, bleeding out from the deep wound in his leg. Akari sat on the ground beside him, with several slashes across her parka. To make matters worse, they¡¯d left the protection of the canyon, and the wind struck them with full force. ¡°Get those techniques up,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Zukan, Elise¡ªlet¡¯s go.¡± They complied at once, raising wards of heat and dream mana around the group. Kalden had already driven several mana blades into the ground, and Relia held onto the nearest one. ¡°Too late.¡± Akari pointed a shaky finger to the south, where the raptors emerged from the canyon. ¡°They see us.¡± Relia pressed a hand to Akari¡¯s chest and filled her with life mana. ¡°Can you make another portal?¡± ¡°Where?¡± Akari propped herself up on one elbow and looked around. She tried to talk, but she coughed up blood on her parka. ¡°Anywhere,¡± Relia said as she redoubled her healing efforts. Once Akari had enough life mana, she moved on to Arturo. She probably should have started with him, but it was too late for that now. Meanwhile, Akari scooted toward the edge of the group and tried to shoot a portal. She winced halfway through the motion and shook her head. ¡°Mana¡¯s too low. Used it all back in the canyon.¡± Relia let out a deep breath as she turned back toward the charging raptors. Kalden and Zukan already had their weapons ready, and Elise was preparing another dream technique. She glanced past her teammates toward the raptors. At least a dozen of them remained. Oh well, things could have been worse. At least they didn¡¯t have to deal with¡ª A roar cut off her thoughts, and a massive form appeared on the southern horizon. ¡°Shit,¡± Arturo said. ¡°Suck Master¡¯s back.¡± Several of them turned to Elise, but she shook her head. This one wasn¡¯t a trick. The dragon glided on its massive wings as it flew toward them, riding the currents of the storm winds above. Several of the raptors scattered, but they were too late. The dragon opened its mouth and swept them up with its wind technique. Half the pack flew into its mouth, and it clamped its jaws, sending fragments of bloody tails and limbs to blow in the wind. A few more raptors retreated toward the canyon, but the larger dragon banked around and pulled them up. For a moment, Relia dared to hope. Maybe the dragon wouldn¡¯t be hungry anymore? Maybe it would leave them alone? It was a fool¡¯s hope, of course. Everyone knew dragons killed for sport. The creature confirmed her fears when it soared back toward Relia¡¯s team. It fixed them with its reptilian eyes and pulled open its maw. This time, there was no vacuum of air to pull them off their feet. Instead, the dragon released a torrent of white flame. Book 4 - Chapter 12: One Path Forward Relia braced herself as the dragon closed in. Icy flames shot out from its mouth, leaving a deep trench in the barren earth. Even from half a mile away, Relia felt the weight of its power. Her group had their backs to a steep cliff that overlooked the Inner Sea. Waves crashed on the shore below, and the winds blew as fierce as ever, threatening to pull them off their feet. ¡°Give me some mana,¡± Akari said. ¡°I¡¯ll make a portal.¡± ¡°I¡¯m out,¡± Kalden shouted back ¡°I left my pack in the canyon,¡± Arturo said. ¡°We need to jump,¡± Kalden said as he approached the cliff. ¡°We¡¯ll die, shoko!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll die if we stay here.¡± Elise said something about a distraction, but Relia wasn¡¯t listening. She felt inside her parka and clasped her fingers around the Etherite pendant that hung around her neck. She hadn¡¯t removed this once¡ªnot since her first meeting with Lena. Progress had been slow since that day. She felt the pendant in her mind¡¯s eye, but that was only the first step. Somehow, she had to move it with her thoughts and create a second soul. Such a thing seemed far beyond her, even farther than the Artisan realm. But there was only one technique that might stop a Master¡¯s fire. Such a technique might be within her reach, but only if she became an Aeon. Elise shot dream mana to their right as the dragon swooped down. The technique showed a perfect copy of their group, running with inhuman speed down the coast. The dragon altered its course at the last second, turning toward the illusion. The pale fire missed them by several paces, driving a deep trench through the earth. Chunks of stone flew off the cliff, while other fragments shot up into the sky. Kalden and Zukan raised protective shields around the group, knocking the debris aside. For the second time that day, Relia dared to hope that would be enough. Arturo pointed a finger toward the north. ¡°He¡¯s coming back.¡± Relia followed his gaze and saw another flame forming in the dragon¡¯s mouth. Elise prepared another technique, but Kalden and Akari looked ready to jump off the cliff. ¡°Stay with me,¡± Relia told them. ¡°I can do this.¡± She didn¡¯t know if she believed her own words. She didn¡¯t know whether any of this was real, or if Elend was watching them from afar. Regardless, her life was in danger, and there was only one path forward. She had to advance, right here and right now. Relia reached out with her mental senses, feeling her pendant with strands of invisible mana. By now, she¡¯d done this exercise thousands of times¡ªpractically every waking hour between now and that first lesson with Lena. Before, the power had always felt beyond her reach, like the warmth of the sun above the clouds. But warmth had eluded them all in this frozen wasteland, and they¡¯d survived their sheer force of will. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. She pulled harder on the pendant, grasping it like a raft at sea. The dragon drew closer, and Elise formed another illusion. Relia didn¡¯t wait to see the results, or the aftermath. The others had their job, and she had hers. She closed her eyes, and the crystal pendant became the world. She stopped cycling her mana, and let go of her own body, giving the pendant every ounce of her focus. Threads of mana closed around it, and she pulled the crystal into her chest. It happened naturally, like opening her eyes or taking a breath. As if some part of her had always known this technique. Indescribable pain surged through her, even worse than the pain of her condition. Relia screamed at the sense of wrongness inside her, like a bouquet of burning knives, twisting and expanding in a raging machine. Her instincts told her to release the crystal¡ªto end the pain. But Lena¡¯s lessons had prepared her for this. Before that, her condition had hardened her body, mind, and resolve. She might have an Aeon bloodline, but she¡¯d been born a Mana Artist. To combine these powers was to fight nature itself. The crystal broke muscle and bone. Her heart stopped beating, and she couldn¡¯t breathe. Her legs gave out beneath her, but her teammates¡¯ hands stopped her from collapsing. All the while, Relia cycled her life mana. She cycled harder than ever before, healing the damage done by her crystal soul. And as she cycled, a second wave of pain shot through her channels. A familiar pain, but one she hadn¡¯t felt in several years. Advancement. Clearly, she¡¯d been far closer to Artisan than she¡¯d thought. Her mana flowed even faster, filling every cell in her body, rebuilding them anew. Her own legs supported her body once again, and the pain in her chest receded to a dull ache. Relia opened her eyes and stepped forward without the support of her teammates. The dragon approached on the horizon once again. She didn¡¯t know how long the others had held him off. It could have been five seconds or five minutes. It didn¡¯t matter now. The rest was up to her. Her surroundings felt clearer than before, as if her Aeon soul had heightened all her senses. She felt all the world¡¯s natural energy around her. Not just mana, but the roar of the wind, the breath of her teammates, and the crashing of the waves below. Finally, she felt her new soul, like a churning storm inside her chest. This power was clearer, too. It felt like mana, but without the channels. Still, it responded to her mental commands as she stretched out her arms and formed a Construct technique. The dome of Moonshard formed around her group like a wall of crystal light. Apparently, this technique could stop almost anything. Sozen Trengsen had used it to fight Dansin Roth after the qualifying rounds. Not just defending himself, but taking the Master¡¯s hand. Relia hadn¡¯t witnessed that fight, but she¡¯d seen Lyraina use this power against Grandmasters. Such a thing should have been beyond her, but her grandmother had prepared her for this moment, long before she¡¯d ever learned the truth of her bloodline. Her ancestors had discovered Moonshard thousands of years ago, and they¡¯d left pieces of that knowledge in Lyraina¡¯s pendant. The same pendant Relia had used during her aspecting ritual. Now, that knowledge flowed out from her soul¡ªa map to guide her actions. The dragon reached them with its torrent of pale white flame. Elise must have run out of mana because it struck them head-on. The fire broke against Relia¡¯s shield like a river against a stone wall. The flames engulfed them, bathing the world in blinding white light. Relia¡¯s hands shook as she felt the impact against her shield. Her other hand clutched one of Kalden¡¯s blades, holding her body in place. Even then, the impact threatened to knock them into the sea below. As an Apprentice, she never could have taken a hit like this. But Relia Cloaked every muscle in her body with Artisan mana, holding her ground. The dragon roared as it passed over her group. Relia spun to face it, ready to form a second shield of Moonshard. This time, the dragon retreated back toward the mountains. Had it used up all its mana? No. More likely, it saw the power of her technique, and it feared what it didn¡¯t understand. Several more heartbeats passed as the creature vanished on the southern horizon. Finally, Relia sank to her knees, and tears of joy clouded her vision. Book 4 - Chapter 13: Storm鈥檚 Eye Akari and the others walked eastward along the coast. Relia had a spring in her step the entire time, and who could blame her? She¡¯d survived! If the theories were right, then krustoplegia was meant to prepare her body for an Aeon soul. Now that she had it, her condition would never threaten her again. They¡¯d already celebrated this news once, back when they¡¯d learned about Relia¡¯s bloodline. Still, a shred of doubt had hovered above their group like a storm cloud. A chance at life was better than nothing, but it was still just a chance. Now it was real. Relia had advanced, becoming both an Artisan, and an Aeon. And when Akari used her Silver Sight, she saw two souls inside her friend¡¯s chest instead of one. A well of mana, and a crystal shard. On top of that, they hadn¡¯t seen a certain flying dragon since Relia¡¯s advancement. Elise had maintained her dream Construct for the first few hours that day, but she¡¯d eventually dropped it when the dragon didn¡¯t come back. The raptors hadn¡¯t returned, either. Come to think of it, her group hadn¡¯t seen any life around the northern coast. That set off some alarm bells, so they kept their distance from the coast itself. Although tidal waves probably weren¡¯t a concern with those hundred-foot cliffs. They walked for miles, using Akari¡¯s portals whenever they needed a boost. Overall, things weren¡¯t half as bad as they¡¯d been the day before. Relia had even stopped wearing her parka, claiming she wasn¡¯t cold anymore. Akari thought back to the forests of Arkala, and the first time she¡¯d seen Relia fight the mana beasts there. She¡¯d been in awe of Relia that day, but she¡¯d closed the gap in the months that followed. For a short time, they¡¯d both been Apprentices. And while Akari couldn¡¯t beat Relia in a fair fight, she could at least hold her own against the other girl. Today, that sense of awe returned in full force. As an Artisan, Relia would rank among the Artegium¡¯s top students. These new Aeon powers might even give her an edge over the third and fourth years. Thank Talek she¡¯s on our side. They found the research base later that evening¡ªa small cluster of buildings on the western horizon. By now, the mana storms had picked up again, and Akari¡¯s portal brought them within a half mile of the base itself. ¡°Hey shoka,¡± Arturo said with a weary voice. ¡°Don¡¯t suppose you could squeeze out a second portal for us?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± Akari squinted her eyes at the distant structures . ¡°But no one knows what we¡¯ll find here.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Elise said. ¡°I thought this place was friendly.¡± ¡°Unless it¡¯s overrun with mana beasts,¡± Akari said. ¡°Or cultists. Or the Sons of Talek.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Kalden said. ¡°That portal¡¯s our only escape if things go wrong.¡± Relia grinned as she turned back to the others. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Akari and Kalden are just a little paranoid. We have this same talk before we go to parties¡ªalmost word for word!¡± The base grew closer as they walked, and a man crested a short ridge nearby. Like Relia, he only wore a few layers of clothing. In other words, he¡¯d dressed for an ordinary winter, rather than negative bullshit degrees. ¡°Hey!¡± The man waved at them as he jogged down the hill. His face looked Cadrian, but his accent sounded more Espirian. Akari took a quick peek with her Silver Sight and found an Artisan-level soul inside his chest. ¡°You¡¯re Elend Darklight¡¯s students?¡± the man asked. Relia waved back at him. ¡°That¡¯s us!¡± ¡°You¡¯re right on time,¡± he said. ¡°We have a portal ready to send you home.¡± Akari¡¯s shoulders sagged with relief, and most of her teammates mirrored her reaction. They¡¯d only been gone for two days, so that gave them two more days to recover for their admissions exam. The researcher stepped forward, encasing the group in his Construct. The temperature rose several dozen degrees, and the wind grew quiet, as if he¡¯d just shut a massive door on its face. ¡°You must be Relia,¡± he said after a short pause. ¡°Congrats on your advancement.¡± ¡°Thanks!¡± Relia struck a victory pose, putting one hand on her hip and extending the other toward the sky. ¡°Feels good to be an Artisan!¡± ¡°Do people train here often?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°It happens,¡± the researcher replied ¡° But most groups bring at least one Master for safety. Never seen a group like this before.¡± He held up his hands. ¡°Not that it¡¯s any of my business how Grandmaster Darklight trains his students.¡± Thanks for that, Elend. Of course, she¡¯d never complain about this to his face. She, Kalden, and Relia had all gained over seventy mana points in two days. Even with soulshine and constant training, they¡¯d be lucky to squeeze out that much in a week. Not to mention the resistance training they¡¯d received for their Artisan bodies. To call this trip a success would be an understatement. They were walking toward the base when Akari caught a flash of light on the northern horizon. It looked like lightning, but slower. More like a massive mana technique. She stared for a few more seconds, and then the flash happened again. ¡°What is that?¡± Akari asked the researcher. He¡¯d shared his name a few minutes ago, but she hadn¡¯t been listening. ¡°Some anomaly in the storm,¡± he said. ¡°Started happening just this morning.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s not normal?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°Nope. Never seen anything like it.¡± They kept walking until the horizon flashed again, even brighter than before. The ground shook this time, and tidal waves flowed out from the source of the blast. Everyone stopped and stared at the scene, and the ground shook again when the waves hit the coast. They¡¯d seen their share of bad weather during this trip, but this was something else entirely. This power had a weight that pressed on her soul, far stronger than the dragon they¡¯d faced before. Stronger than Elend, Irina, or any of the Grandmasters they¡¯d ever met. Akari cycled spacetime mana toward her palms as the sense of doom grew stronger. ¡°We need to go. Now.¡± She was about to shoot a Missile toward the base when a massive form emerged from the storm clouds. It was solid blue, the exact color of pure mana. It had the body of a massive serpent and the head of a dragon. The creature slithered through the air for several heartbeats, and the storm clouds swirled around it in a perfect circle. The movements looked slow and measured, but it grew impossibly large as it closed the distance. One minute, it was a tiny speck on the horizon. The next, it appeared to be several miles wide, dominating her vision. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Akari froze at the sight. Her mana stopped moving, and her legs threatened to give out beneath her. Finally, the creature opened its mouth and unleashed a torrent of blinding mana. The technique was impossibly large, like the creature itself. It headed straight toward the research base like a blazing meteor. No, not at the base. It headed straight for them. Relia raised her Moonshard Construct, the same way she had that morning. It didn¡¯t make a difference, of course. The creature¡¯s technique hit the land, and the ground itself flowed like a tidal wave, knocking them off their feet. The mana closed in around them, and the world faded to white. ~~~ Akari opened her eyes and stared up at a pale blue sky. A few ordinary clouds floated there, untouched by storms or mana. Snow dusted the surrounding pines, and the air felt far too warm. Her heart pounded in her chest, and sweat covered her skin beneath her layers of clothing. Shit. This wasn¡¯t the afterlife, was it? The question forced her to sit up, and she found her teammates lying on the ground around her. Kalden and Relia. Zukan, Arturo, and Elise. Everyone was here, and apparently still breathing. Akari scanned her surroundings, and she recognized the Darklight¡¯s backyard. But how? How did they get back? The door to the house slid open, and Elend rushed out in a blur of motion. He knelt by their side a second later, holding out his hands, and absorbing mana from the air. He hadn¡¯t even bothered to put on his shoes, much less a jacket. ¡°What happened?¡± Akari asked. Her voice sounded strange without the storm pressing on her ears. By now, most of the others had sat up, and they all looked to Elend for an explanation. ¡°I sent Glim with you.¡± Elend continued pulling mana from the air without looking up. ¡°She triggered a displacement technique to bring you back.¡± So, they¡¯d actually been there in Vordica, but they¡¯d never been in real danger? ¡°What was that thing?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°Is Glim okay?¡± Relia spoke over him. ¡°What about the researchers?¡± Elend stayed quiet as he cycled his mana. Finally, he pushed a technique into his cupped hands, and Glim appeared in her Missile form. ¡°Her thoughts are a jumbled mess,¡± Elend said as he pushed more mana into the spirit. ¡°Something happened to her in those last few minutes. She almost didn¡¯t trigger the displacement in time.¡± Glim tried to speak from Elend¡¯s cupped hands, but her voice came out in a small whimper. Talek. She¡¯d known Glim for half a year, and the spirit always spoke with absolute confidence. Now, she sounded scared and broken. ¡°That thing was a Mystic,¡± Akari said in a low voice. She hadn¡¯t been sure before, but what else could do this kind of damage? She met each of her teammates'' eyes, and no one contradicted her. ¡°No . . . ¡± Glim¡¯s voice grew more stable as Elend fed her mana. ¡°Not a Mystic. That was Storm¡¯s Eye.¡± Elend gave a slow nod. ¡°I believe you.¡± ¡°What?¡± Akari blurted out. ¡°That¡¯s real?¡± The center of the Sea remained unexplored, and people had invented all sorts of myths about the place. Many of those myths involved a giant mana spirit, causing the very storms that raged there. Some called this spirit ¡°Storm¡¯s Eye.¡± Others called him the ¡°Child of the Angels,¡± or the ¡°Guardian of the Inner Sea.¡± But those were just stories, weren¡¯t they? Her teammates voiced similar objections, but Akari couldn¡¯t make out their words. Everyone spoke at once, and her own heart still pounded in her ears. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it.¡± Elend murmured. ¡°Glim¡¯s memories are getting clearer now.¡± He sat down in the snow, looking speechless. Akari had never seen Elend look this way. Not in Creta, when he¡¯d worn those cuffs that restricted his mana. Not even on Arkala, when they¡¯d faced the Martials. ¡°What happened to the researchers?¡± Arturo asked. ¡°They¡¯re gone,¡± Elend said with a quick shake of his head. ¡°I suspect we¡¯ll see something on the news very soon.¡± Then he got to his feet and headed for the house. ¡°Wait,¡± Elise said. ¡°The whole base is gone? That can¡¯t be true.¡± Akari glared at the girl. Hadn¡¯t she been paying attention? ¡°I mean, I know what we saw. But what are the odds?¡± Elise glanced at Kalden and Arturo. ¡°You said that base was there for decades. What are the odds of something destroying it right when we showed up?¡± ¡°I agree,¡± Elend said. ¡°It was no coincidence.¡± Elise shot Akari a look, as if this was all her fault. And what if it was? She¡¯d pissed off plenty of powerful people this past year, and they''d already tried to take revenge. But no . . . this seemed like using a bomb to kill an insect. Who could even control a creature like that? ¡°It¡¯s my fault,¡± Relia said. ¡°I used Angelic mana this morning. What if that drew its attention?¡± Elend¡¯s face softened, and he stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Whatever happened down there, it wasn¡¯t your fault. I put you in that position. I forced you to advance and use that specific technique. If anyone¡¯s to blame, then it¡¯s me.¡± Relia rubbed at her eye, then gave him a deep bow. ¡°I knew you could do it.¡± Elend held her gaze for a brief moment, then looked up and surveyed the group. ¡°All of you. You¡¯re stronger now than you were before. No alchemy or technology can replicate the training you¡¯ve endured these last two days.¡± He let go of Relia¡¯s shoulder and turned back toward the house. ¡°Now, I need to consult my peers. There might be cities to evacuate. We¡¯ll talk later, I promise.¡± Cities to evacuate? What the hell was going on here? Relia had advanced to Artisan, built an Aeon soul, and cured her condition for good. That should have warranted more than a thirty-second talk. Akari had heard of Storm¡¯s Eye, of course. He was the antagonist of several movies, and even her favorite coffee drink was named after the creature. But this couldn¡¯t be real, could it? ~~~ She and the others took it easy for the next two days, and not by choice. Thirty-six hours of hard training had strained her channels, and cycling her mana felt like rubbing sand paper on her insides. This wasn¡¯t the kind of pain you could push through with grit and determination. In hindsight, they never would have lasted more than two days in Vordica. Elend and Glim had calculated her team¡¯s exact limits, even accounting for the raptors, and Akari¡¯s portals. Irina also checked them over for wounds the first day, just to make sure they¡¯d suffered no long-term damage from the trip. Everyone was fine, including Relia with her new Aeon soul. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you send us there sooner?¡± Akari had asked Elend the night they got back. ¡°Why wait until the last minute?¡± ¡°That trip wasn¡¯t easy to set up,¡± Elend said. ¡°Grandmaster Sterling worked day and night to maintain those displacers, and I still owe her a favor. Besides, the dangers were real. Glim could have made a mistake and triggered the displacer too late. Or too early. You had several close calls, even before the mythical mana spirit showed its face.¡± Akari gave a slow nod as the events played back in her mind¡¯s eye. A Master-level mana beast had attacked her team within the first few minutes. One wrong move in that first battle, and the whole thing would have been ruined. ¡°And you knew Storm¡¯s Eye was real?¡± Akari asked. Elend had seemed surprised by Glim¡¯s memory, but not nearly as much as the rest of them. He¡¯d also been quick to take action and alert his fellow Masters. Elend lifted one shoulder in a casual shrug. ¡°Few things will surprise you once you¡¯re a Grandmaster, lass. Not because you¡¯ve learned all the world¡¯s secrets, but because you realize how little you knew in the first place.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s gonna happen?¡± she asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he admitted. ¡°Mana storms have destroyed plenty of human settlements, but we¡¯ve never seen anything like this. Better to prepare for the worst, I think.¡± ~~~ Akari spent most of Hansday on her computer, catching up on her studies and researching Storm¡¯s Eye for herself. Apparently, there had been dozens of sightings over the years, especially from boats that ventured too far into the Inner Sea. There were even some photos of the giant mana spirit, but photos weren¡¯t worth much in a world of Dream Artists. No one knew exactly what he was, but she found hundreds of theories online. Some people said he was part of the storm¡ªa fluke, where the mana had condensed itself into a spirit with some self-awareness. Others claimed he¡¯d been created by the Angels to protect something at the center of the Sea. These theories ranged from hidden continents to portals that let Mystics advance beyond this world. And then there were the Markists, like the dragons in Creta. These groups believed that all storms were caused by Mana Artists who let their mana get out of control. In their eyes, this spirit was a natural consequence of that. Some theories seemed more plausible than others, but no one had a definite answer. Not even Elend or Irina. And despite seeing the spirit with her own eyes, it seemed like something from a training session or a dream. But then Akari stepped into the Darklight¡¯s living room on Hansday night. The evening news played on the TV, showing footage of destruction along Cadria¡¯s eastern coast. Mana walls were broken, water flooded the streets, and buildings lay in ruins. The footage switched to Mystics and Grandmasters, lining up to defend their lands from these attacks. All the while, the words ¡°Storm¡¯s Eye¡± scrolled across the bottom of the screen in bold white letters. Clearly, this world was about to change. Book 4 - Chapter 14: Admissions Akari leapt right as a Missile flew past her face. She gathered her own mana in her palm, waiting for a chance to strike back. Her last opponent stood on the opposite end of the chamber, a human-shaped Construct made of dream mana. Like all the testing opponents, this guy was solid blue with no face or hair. And while the figures wore no clothes, they also lacked all the dangerous bits beneath. The figure took cover behind a wall, and Akari relaxed into her Silver Sight. The chamber grew dark but for the outline of his cycling mana. He shifted his weight onto his left foot, and Akari shot a Missile to his right. Things moved quickly at this level; if you waited for a visual, you were already too late. Sure enough, her opponent emerged on the left side of the wall, and Akari¡¯s Missile took him in the solar plexus. The figure faded to blue mist, and the surroundings faded with him. Ding! The familiar sound echoed through the test chamber, and the words ¡°Round Thirty Two¡± appeared in floating gold letters. Akari drew in several deep breaths as she prepared herself for the next round. She¡¯d never gotten this far on the Missile portion before. Not with Glim, or during her admissions exams. Technically, the school still used the term ¡°admissions exam¡± for current students, but that was a misnomer. Students weren¡¯t competing for entry into the program now, and low scores wouldn¡¯t see them kicked out. Not right away, at least. Akari might be on probation after her early admittance, but even she wasn¡¯t worried about her spot. Last semester, she¡¯d been a Gold with no aspect, and she¡¯d still earned a passing score. She was an Apprentice today, and the captain of a first year squad. At the same time, the stakes were higher than ever. She had some immortal Aeons to impress, and there were no second chances if she failed. Her heart beat faster as the chamber rearranged itself for the next round. The floor shifted like a massive treadmill until she was standing back in the center. Four opponents materialized around her¡ªone in each corner of the room. If this were a real fight, Akari would have formed two giant portals and used her opponents¡¯ mana against them. But this was the Missile portion. Constructs were allowed, but only if they used less than five percent of your total mana. The same rule applied to Cloaks. This gave students some leeway for errors, but it ruled out any spacetime techniques. Instead, Akari shot two Missiles from either hand and immediately pulled them back. She balanced the pressure as they circled her body¡ªnot enough to make a Construct, but enough to keep them in orbit. They spun faster and faster, forming a shield like two electrons around a nucleus. She¡¯d barely used the Cloud technique these past few months. Most Apprentices had no need of it, after all. Constructs were easier and more efficient. But she¡¯d lived as Bronze in the Archipelago, too weak to make a proper shield. Too weak to waste even a single drop of her mana. Her opponents hurled their own techniques from every corner of the room. Some broke against the Cloud, while others ricocheted into the walls and ceiling. Unfortunately, the test wouldn¡¯t run out of mana if she stalled. She might even lose points for the delay. So Akari broke her Cloud, sending the Missiles outward in a corkscrew pattern. At the same time, she shot a second pair from her hands, forming a new shield to fill the gaps. She moved the mana on pure instinct, too fast to see. Or rather, it would have been too fast to see last summer. But her advancement brought faster cognition, and things were clearer than before. The first two Missiles struck her opponents, while the others knocked their attacks off course. Things got easier from there, and a familiar ding announced her victory. Round Thirty Five threw some civilian Constructs into the mix. Her opponents used a few of these as hostages, while others ran aimlessly through the fray. Fortunately, the pace had slowed by this point, letting her focus on precision. Akari lost several points here, but not enough to end the test entirely. Round Thirty Seven had no opponents at all. Instead, Akari stood in a cage at the center of the room. The iron bars stretched from the floor to the ceiling, with no door or lock. A tiny key sat on a pedestal to her left, roughly six feet away from the cage. A simple control panel stood six feet to her right with a keyhole in its center. Well, this was going to suck. It would have been easy to unlock the panel with a portal, but that would use too much mana. Stupid five percent rule. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. How much would she need to make a portal here, despite the rule? Her brain started doing the math when she caught herself. She was still on a time limit, and the number was too high to matter¡ªprobably halfway to Master at the very least. She¡¯d have her displacement technique long before then. Akari stretched out her hand and shot a pure Missile toward her first target. She pushed with her palm and pulled with her fingers, shaping the Missile into a bowl. Then she curved the bowl around the pedestal, using the momentum to scoop up the key. Unfortunately, that was the easy part. Akari pulled the Missile back around the cage, but the key was facing the wrong way when it reached the panel. Damnit. Should have seen that coming. Then again, she would have missed the keyhole regardless of the angle. Akari had done her share of advanced shaping exercises, but nothing this precise, and definitely not from six feet away. She tried to pull the key back, but the motion sent it clattering to the floor. The Missile portion ended a second later, displaying her total score in floating numbers. 162. A full twenty points higher than last semester. A short break followed, and Akari stepped out of the testing chamber to rest. Unfamiliar faces filled the corridor outside. Some chatted amongst themselves while others leaned against the wall, hunched over their phones. It was just past noon, and most of her team had drawn slots earlier in the day. Relia had finished her own test at nine o¡¯clock, earning the top score in her year. Meanwhile, Kalden, Arturo, and Elise had started theirs a half hour before Akari. They¡¯d probably be on their Cloak portions by now. Akari kept walking until she spotted a familiar dragon on a wooden bench. Zukan Kortez sat with his back tall and straight. His eyes were closed, and he rested his hands on his knees. Akari almost left him alone. Then again, they¡¯d all spent two days together in Vordica, relying on each other for basic survival. She still wouldn¡¯t call them best friends, but it was hard to feel awkward around him after that. Zukan must have felt her approach, because he opened his eyes and dipped his head in greeting. ¡°Miss Zeller.¡± ¡°Akari¡¯s fine.¡± She plopped down on the bench beside him. Even sitting down, her head only came up to his shoulder. The dragon nodded again, turning to face the window across the hall. Snow clung to the trees in the courtyard, and the sun shone bright in the cloudless blue sky. They sat in silence for several long seconds, and Akari resisted the urge to fidget. ¡°How¡¯s your test going?¡± She glanced up at Zukan, then her gaze flicked to the doorway behind him. ¡°Done with your Missile portion?¡± ¡°One hundred and fifty-one,¡± he replied. ¡°Twelve points better than last semester.¡± As always, his gravelly voice held little emotion as he spoke. ¡°I got a hundred and sixty-two.¡± Akari tried to keep the excitement from her voice. If Zukan had scored ten points below her, then she probably still had the best Missile score in her year. Then again, she still had Kalden and Elise¡¯s scores to contend with. Zukan might be the best in their class, but he focused mainly on Construct and Cloak techniques. The dragon gave her a nod of acknowledgment before he closed his eyes again, probably envisioning his own success for the next portion. Akari leaned back on the bench and tried to do the same. You¡¯re an Apprentice now, she told herself. You¡¯ve got this. First place. ~~~ Her Construct test went far better than before. Last time, Akari had forfeited this portion on Round Sixteen when the test told her to make a protective dome around her body. It hadn¡¯t even been a matter of skill back then. The mass of that technique had exceeded her total mana supply, and no cheats or clever tactics could change that. Today, it came as easily as any other Construct. The test challenged her new shield with various forms of damage. First came the human-like opponents from the last segment. These struck her with Missile techniques in various styles and aspects. Next came a wind storm, a raging river, and a massive fire. Akari pushed her soul and channels to their limits, straining to repair the shield with every challenge. She probably would have failed several rounds ago if she hadn¡¯t been taking soulshine. Not to mention the recent trip to Vordica. Several friendly Constructs joined her for Round Twenty Five. They looked just like the hostages from the Missile portion. Akari¡¯s stomach dropped when the instructions appeared in front of her face. ¡°Create a protective dome around around all three civilians.¡± Each civilian stood at least six feet away from Akari. In other words, there were twelve feet between them. Definitely not ideal. ¡°Hey,¡± Akari said to the guy on her left. ¡°Mind coming closer?" No response. Then again, he didn¡¯t have ears, so what did she expect? She stepped toward the civilian Construct and tried to push him toward the middle of the room. Despite his solid appearance, her hand passed straight through him. Damnit. With no other ideas, Akari stepped back to the center and shot her mana upward, forming a circle above her head. She fed it more power over the next few seconds until it covered herself and all three civilians. Then she stretched out her arms and pulled at the edges, bringing it closer to the floor. The result was a half-pill shape. This wasn¡¯t nearly as stable as a full half-sphere, but she would never manage something that wide with her current mana counts. Still, this might work if she¡ª The form broke apart as she pulled. Maybe she¡¯d overloaded the top, or maybe she¡¯d stretched the sides too thin. Regardless, the whole thing faded to blue mist. Akari hung her head as the Construct portion came to an end, and her score appeared in golden letters: 116. She¡¯d only scored 79 points last semester, so this was a huge improvement. Unfortunately, she¡¯d seen Zukan and Elise make domes like this in Vordica. Kalden could probably do it, too. So could several other first-years like Tori Raizen. ¡°Stay focused,¡± Akari muttered to herself. She¡¯d already beaten last semester¡¯s total score, and she hadn¡¯t even started the Cloak portion yet. Victory was still within her reach. Book 4 - Chapter 15: Overtraining Akari¡¯s second break flew by, and the Cloak portion began. The Missile and Construct tests had come with progressively harder rounds, and those rounds kept on coming until you failed. They were sort of like an arcade game in that sense, and no one but Master could ever reach the end. Meanwhile, the Cloak portion only had ten rounds, but the rounds themselves got harder. Failure was inevitable every time. The only question was how long you would last. Each round had you face a mana replica of yourself. Like the testing opponents, these replicas had no hair, clothing, or faces. They did, however, share the test-taker¡¯s exact body dimensions. In theory, this would even the playing field against someone like Zukan. All that muscle didn¡¯t matter if his opponent was the same size. Unfortunately, Cloak techniques were far more complicated than they seemed. You could cycle your mana for an instant power boost, but that would only take you so far. For example, Round One had you assume a wall plank position and push against your opponent with all your might. Cloaking your whole body might work at first, but your opponent got smarter as the round went on. The chest, shoulders, and triceps all played a bigger role in pushing. And if you focused more mana to these muscles, you would gain an advantage over someone with a full-body Cloak. But you couldn¡¯t just reinforce those muscles and hope for the best. You still needed your upper back, your abs, and your legs. If you put all your mana into the first three groups, you''d earn yourself a ticket to Snap City. Then there was the matter of timing, and the differences between fast twitch and slow twitch muscle fibers . . . Needless to say, it took years of practice to get everything right. Akari spent the next few minutes pushing her body past its limits. Literally. She rarely lost to her opponents, but the rounds ended whenever the chamber detected unsafe cycling patterns. Her limbs felt like jelly by the end, and sweat covered every inch of her skin. She ended her Cloak portion with 120 points. That was still a huge improvement, but how would it stack up against her classmates? Instead of showering after the test, Akari ran straight for the lobby where they¡¯d posted the scores on several massive monitors. New students¡¯ scores were technically private until they¡¯d accepted their spots in the program, but that wasn¡¯t the case for current students. Anyone could see these, including the general public. Half a dozen others had crowded around the wall-mounted screens, and they made room for Akari as she approached. She drew in a sharp breath and focused on the left column. Zukan Kortez held the top spot with 468 points. That much, they¡¯d all expected. Aspects mattered on a test like this, and Zukan¡¯s aspect had the perfect amount of precision and raw power. What¡¯s more, some people were genetically gifted, and comparing yourself to them was an easy path to madness. Elise Moonfire followed with 431 points. After that was Tori Raizen with 418, and Kalden Trengsen with 417. Several strangers came next: Levi Skyfall with 405, Dario Santano with 401, and Lyra Manastrike with 400. Finally, in the number eight spot, she found her own name: Akari Zeller, with 398 points. ~~~ ¡°This wasn¡¯t a competition,¡± Kalden told her that night. Akari just stared down at her open laptop where the Artegium had posted the results online.¡°I mean¡ªit kind of was. Everyone sees our scores, and the school rewards the top students.¡± ¡°Top students,¡± Kalden said, stressing the plural sound. ¡°You¡¯re already in the top ten. No one cares who holds the number one spot.¡± ¡°The Solidors might care.¡± ¡°Not this again,¡± he muttered. Akari spun in her chair to face him. ¡°I only get one chance to impress them. If we advance without becoming Aeons¡ª¡± ¡°I know.¡± He held up a hand. ¡°I know what¡¯s at stake here, but you can¡¯t do this by yourself.¡± ¡°It sucks, but I¡¯m the one they want.¡± ¡°You¡¯re stressing over variables you can¡¯t control.¡± Akari slumped her shoulders and stared back at the screen. ¡°It¡¯s just¡ªI¡¯m sick of this. Sick of always being at the bottom.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not at the bottom.¡± Kalden shut the laptop and took her hand in his. ¡°You made it to the top ten.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Akari squeezed his hand back, but she didn¡¯t meet his eyes. ¡°But I had the lowest score on our team except for Arturo.¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°Would you feel better on a weaker team?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡±A part of her wanted to cry, and another part wanted to yell at herself for acting entitled. Logically, she knew these tests were arbitrary. At this level, even a badly timed blink or breath could mean all the difference. ¡°It still sucks,¡± she said after a short pause. ¡°We¡¯re trying to become Mystics someday . . .¡± Akari couldn¡¯t make herself say the rest. She felt like a failure, but that sounded too stupid to say out loud. Regardless, it was the truth. She¡¯d gotten into the Artegium at a young age, but so had dozens of others, including Kalden and Arturo. And they¡¯d done it without cheating. She¡¯d invented a new aspect, but her parents had done most of the work. They¡¯d handed her the keys to long-term success, and she¡¯d spent her childhood actively sabotaging them. Even now, after unlocking all her memories, she still didn¡¯t understand her past self¡¯s anger or desperation. And then Elend had made her the team captain, but she hadn¡¯t earned that, either. She wouldn¡¯t even be on this team if not for Kalden and Relia. ¡°Look at all the Mystics on record,¡± Kalden¡¯s voice brought her back. ¡°How many were at the top of their class in terms of test scores?¡± ¡°A lot.¡± ¡°What percentage?¡± he pressed. ¡°Less than twenty percent,¡± she finally admitted. They¡¯d both researched this, of course. Most Mystics followed unconventional paths to power. If you could learn the right skills in school, then half the world would be Mystics by now. ¡°So forget about the test scores,¡± Kalden said. ¡°It¡¯s over, and we can only move forward.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Akari drew in a sharp breath, adjusted her glasses, and got to her feet. ¡°Enough moping around. We need to train harder.¡± Concern flashed in Kalden¡¯s eyes, but she ignored it as she headed for the door. How many hours had she wasted over Midwinter break? Was all that resting really necessary? For every hour she rested, someone else was training. ¡°Stop.¡± Kalden got to his feet and blocked her path. In that moment, everything about him changed. His posture straightened, his voice went deeper, and his eyes got that look. The look that said he¡¯d pursue victory at all costs. Some primal part of her liked it when Kalden got like this. A fire kindled inside her chest, and she almost thought about staying here with him. But no . . . this was too important. If she didn¡¯t become an Aeon this year, she¡¯d regret it for the rest of her life. Kalden drew in a deep breath. ¡°Last semester, I overtrained and shut you out. Tell me how this is different.¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing this for both of us,¡± she said. ¡°And for everyone we left behind. That Mystic is still out there.¡± She stretched out an arm and gestured toward the southeast. ¡°My dad¡¯s still on that island. So is your mom, and your two best friends. They¡¯ll die there if we wait forever.¡± She lowered her voice to a ragged whisper. ¡°Or that Mystic will find¡ªsend us back. Then all of this will be for nothing.¡± Her body shook harder, and tears threatened to form in her eyes. Kalden¡¯s own face softened, and he pulled her against his chest. ¡°I get it,¡± he said. ¡°But there¡¯s more than one way to reach our goal. Elend never told you to overtrain like this. Didn¡¯t he tell you the exact opposite?¡± She squeezed Kalden¡¯s lower back, and they stood like that for several heartbeats. She tilted her head upward, and her lips met his. It would be so easy to kiss a little faster. A little deeper. Maybe even a little rougher. For the second time that night, she thought about going to bed with him rather than training. But then that stupid list flashed in her mind¡¯s eye. The numbers didn¡¯t really matter. And yet . . . they did. Those numbers were proof. Proof that she wasn¡¯t as strong or impressive as she thought. Proof that the Solidors were right to question her. ¡°This isn¡¯t forever,¡± she told him when their lips finally pulled parted. ¡°I promise.¡± ¡°There will always be more training,¡± Kalden said. ¡°More milestones and more deadlines. And this won¡¯t be the last time we¡¯re behind. We¡¯ll have to start at the bottom every time we advance.¡± Her brow furrowed. ¡°We¡¯ve been training hard like this all break.¡± She jabbed a finger at his chest. ¡°You practically lived in the alchemy lab for a whole week.¡± ¡°That was important.¡± ¡°So is this.¡± ¡°Relia had a much tighter deadline,¡± he said. ¡°And I eased off once the soulshine was done. Relia¡¯s been more relaxed, too. You¡¯re the only one pushing forward at full throttle. You¡¯re running from your problems. But getting stronger won¡¯t solve everything.¡± ¡°What problems?¡± There was a short pause while Kalden chose his next words. ¡°Don¡¯t forget¡ªI knew you back on Arkala. Longer than anyone else here. I know you¡¯ve been through some bad things. Stuff we¡¯ve never talked about.¡± ¡°Like how my mom was killed? We have talked about that.¡± Kalden shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s more.¡± Akari glared at him. ¡°Did your aspect tell you that?¡± Kalden hesitated, and that was all the answer she needed. Still, Akari didn¡¯t argue. That would only bring her farther down a road she¡¯d rather forget. Instead, she took a few deep breaths and met his eyes again. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll ease up once we advance again. But this is important. Even Elend hasn¡¯t told me to stop training.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that seem suspicious to you?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°This is Elend¡¯s teaching style. He gives us just enough mana to trip ourselves. Remember last semester? He almost let me become a Blade Artist, even though it would have been the wrong choice. What if he¡¯s doing the same thing here?¡± Akari considered that. ¡°Okay. So what¡¯s the big lesson?¡± ¡°He made you the captain. What if he wants you to focus more on your teammates?¡± She grinned despite Kalden¡¯s serious tone, and her gaze flicked to the bed behind him. ¡°Focus more on my teammates, huh?¡± His own lips curled up at the edges, but he shook his head. ¡°I was being serious. I¡¯ve heard your theories about Elend¡¯s plan, but being a leader isn¡¯t about shining brighter yourself. It¡¯s about making your team shine brighter, too.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she muttered. ¡°No wonder I¡¯m a shitty captain.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡± Akari gave him a frank look. ¡°Now you¡¯re blowing mana up my¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Kalden cut in. ¡°Admit it¡ªyou wanted to be captain. You were pissed when Elend dumped this on me.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± he said without missing a beat. ¡°I didn¡¯t get his reasoning at first. But you were the first to react in Vordica. You got us down from that mountain. You pulled me out of the air, and you sacrificed yourself to do it. That¡¯s what a good leader does.¡± She shrugged. ¡°You¡¯d still take the job if Elend gave it to you.¡± ¡°I would,¡± Kalden said. ¡°I want to lead someday. But Elend knows what he¡¯s doing right now. I think this is more than a ploy to impress some immortal Aeons.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll put more effort into my captain role. Promise. You can help me this weekend. Maybe teach me your military knowledge?¡± ¡°I guess that¡¯s a start,¡± Kalden said. ¡°But I¡¯m still gonna train tonight,¡± Akari said as she pulled away. ¡°Too wound up to sleep right now, anyway.¡± And with that, she slipped on her boots, pulled open the pool house¡¯s front door, and stepped out into the night. Book 4 - Chapter 16: Survival ¡°Approaching Koreldon University,¡± said a voice from the intercom. The train doors slid open, and Akari stepped onto the raised platform above Chapel Street. Thick white snowflakes drifted from the gray sky, covering the sidewalks and the streets below. A line of cars sat bumper-to-bumper, and the scent of burning mana crystals hung heavy in the winter air. Akari followed a crosswalk over the congested street, then she raised her hood as she descended the stairs on the south side. From there, she followed the winding stone paths through campus, all the way to the Artegium. It was the first day of the new semester, and she passed hundreds of students and teachers along the way. It actually felt good to be back on campus after all those weeks away. There was a sense of energy here, with hundreds of Mana Artists united toward a single purpose. Regardless of their rank, they all strove to grow their mana and their skills. Akari had spent the past few days moping about her admissions score, but time had already dulled that pain. Now, being out of the house put things back into perspective. She¡¯d spent her whole life dreaming of this moment¡ªfor a chance to truly push herself as a Combat Artist. Now, she finally had her aspect, and she was training at Espiria¡¯s top university. More importantly, she had Kalden and Relia, and she didn¡¯t appreciate them half as much as she should. Relia had tried roping her into another day trip, but Akari had refused. Kalden had also tried to arrange a date night before classes started, but Akari had made excuses. Talek. What was wrong with her? Why hadn¡¯t she said yes? She didn¡¯t even want to train this much, but she couldn¡¯t help herself. She wished her friends would push harder sometimes. But Relia was too nice, and Kalden avoided any battle he didn¡¯t think he could win. There was a rhythmic humming, and Arturo glided up on his hoverboard. Her teammate wore a bright yellow jacket along with a pair of dark sunglasses, despite the gray sky. ¡°Hey, shokita.¡± He slowed his board and fell in beside her. ¡°Congrats on hitting the top ten.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Akari forced herself to sound genuine. Arturo hadn¡¯t even made the top fifty, so she couldn¡¯t exactly complain about her score in front of him. ¡°You¡¯re in Block B this semester?¡± he asked Akari nodded as they approached the Combat Arts Center. ¡°Headed to Nightfang¡¯s class right now.¡± ¡°Same.¡± Arturo pulled out a plastic case, no bigger than two of his hands. Then he flipped open the lid, picked up his hoverboard, and shoved the entire thing inside. Clearly, this was another one of his pocket dimensions. They stepped through a pair of double doors and followed the main corridor around the arenas. They¡¯d already taken one class with Nightfang, so they knew what to expect. Like Raizen, she taught the same skills they might have learned in the military. Things like building a shelter, foraging for food, or purifying water. They stepped into an empty classroom with tiered seats arranged in a half-circle around a small stage. ¡°That¡¯s weird.¡± Akari glanced back at the clock. ¡°Are we early or something?¡± ¡°Nah.¡± Arturo removed his sunglasses and clipped them to the front of his shirt. ¡°Everyone else has Raizen before this. They probably need time to change.¡± They found seats near the back, and the others trickled in over the next few minutes. Kalden and Zukan were both in Block C this semester, but Elise Moonfire strode in with the crowd. For once, the Dream Artist walked alone without her little group of friends. Her gaze briefly flicked toward Akari, but their eyes didn¡¯t meet as she stepped down the center aisle. Several of their classmates shot glances toward the back, and Akari caught the names ¡°Zeller¡± and ¡°Moonfire¡± more than once. ¡°This is weird,¡± she muttered. ¡°What?¡± Arturo said. ¡°The spotlight?¡± Akari shrugged. She¡¯d started last semester as a Gold. That had raised a few eyebrows, but it was nothing like this. ¡°I wonder what happened in Raizen¡¯s class today.¡± ¡°He announced the battleground teams.¡± ¡°How do you know that?¡± He held up his phone. ¡°Got some friends in Block A.¡± In other words, everyone knew Elise Moonfire was their teammate. That would explain all the looks and whispers, especially with how the qualifying rounds ended. Arturo leaned into her personal space. ¡°You should ask Elise to sit with us.¡± ¡°What?¡± Akari rounded on him. ¡°You hit your head on that hoverboard?¡± He grinned. ¡°Several times, but that¡¯s not the point. She¡¯s our teammate.¡± Akari let out a long breath through her nose. ¡°Doesn¡¯t she have a little gaggle of cheerleaders who follow her around?¡± ¡°Not in this class. Besides . . .¡± Arturo nodded toward the Skyfall cousins, who sat together on the left side of the room. ¡°Notice how her former generals are giving her the cold shoulder? We¡¯re not the only ones she betrayed.¡± ¡°Sucks to be her.¡± Akari took a long sip of her coffee. ¡°Maybe she¡¯ll learn her lesson for next time.¡± ¡°Or maybe she already did. We¡¯ve been training together for weeks, and she¡¯s never caused a problem.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean she won¡¯t.¡± The girl had practically admitted to spying for her parents. Even Relia still didn¡¯t trust her. Talek help them all if she¡¯d become their team¡¯s voice of reason. ¡°Ever heard of keeping your enemies close?¡± he asked. ¡°You want to sit with her?¡± Akari gestured toward the front of the room ¡°Be my guest.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the captain,¡± he said. ¡°You should bring our team together.¡± She snorted. ¡°Funny how I¡¯m the captain, but everyone tells me what to do.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Arturo put his hands on the table. ¡°Then consider this. Nightfang likes to throw us into survival scenarios, right? No teams or rules. Just pure chaos.¡± That much was certainly true. They might be in a classroom today, but they¡¯d spent at least two-thirds of last semester in the arenas. ¡°You and I are short on friends here,¡± he said. ¡°But we¡¯ve got plenty of people who want to see us fail.¡± His gaze shifted across the aisle to where Tori Raizen sat with Lyra Manastrike and Dario Santano. ¡°Those three formed a battleground team, in case you haven¡¯t heard. They¡¯re ranked second-highest behind us. That means they¡¯ve got lots to prove.¡± His eyes flicked to his left, several rows down. ¡°And speaking of betrayals . . .¡± Akari followed his gaze to where Nico Talez sat with two more people in the front. The boy beside him had a shaved head, and the girl had mana-blue hair. Nimble and Sadie. Her old team had managed to stay civil at the end of last semester, but only because of their group project for Truewater¡¯s class. Today, she had no doubt they¡¯d try to sabotage her. ¡°Shit.¡± Akari sank deeper into her chair. She could have waited until they needed Elise, but that put her in a position of power. Despite the girl¡¯s prim appearance, she excelled at survival-based tests. Not only could she make herself invisible, but she¡¯d clearly spent time in a military prep school. Arturo was right: they needed her more than she needed them. Akari drew in a sharp breath and got to her feet. ¡°Moonfire,¡± she hollered across the room. ¡°How come you¡¯re sitting alone?¡± Elise looked over her shoulder and met her eyes. Akari jerked her head toward the empty seat beside her. She half-expected Elise to ignore her, or mutter some excuse or clever retort. That¡¯s what Akari would have done in her position. Instead, the other girl grabbed her bag and headed straight toward them. ¡°Sorry.¡± She flashed them a genuine smile, as if they were all best friends. ¡°Didn¡¯t see you guys up here.¡± The three of them sat in a pool of awkward silence while Elise settled in, and the whispers continued. Fortunately, Nightfang stepped down the aisle a few minutes later and began attaching her laptop to the projector. She looked young for a Master, barely in her forties, with her long brown hair in a simple ponytail. They still had a few minutes before class started, so Akari used that time to cycle ambient mana into her soul. Even a few extra minutes of training could add up. Arturo and Elise engaged in some small talk, but she wasn¡¯t listening. Eventually, Nightfang stepped outside again, and a small girl approached Akari¡¯s table. She couldn¡¯t have been older than eight or nine, and her bright pink sweater made her look even more out of place among the students. Akari stared for several heartbeats as the girl shuffled her feet and fidgeted with some papers. However, she didn¡¯t leave. If anything, she appeared to be inching even closer. ¡°Hi,¡± Elise said in a cheerful tone. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°Aria Nightfang,¡± the girl replied. ¡°Nice to meet you, Aria. I¡¯m Elise.¡± Ah, that made sense. The girl looked like a younger version of Master Nightfang, come to think of it. They both had the same pale skin and long brown hair. This girl even had the same freckles dusting her cheeks. Elise leaned forward, resting her hands on the table between them. ¡°Did your mom bring you to work today?¡± Aria nodded. ¡°My school had a snow day, and my nanny was sick.¡± Elise nodded down to the blank piece of paper. ¡°What do you have there?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Aria glanced down as if just noticing it. ¡°I was hoping¡ªif it¡¯s not too much trouble . . .¡± Her voice got quieter as she spoke, then she trailed off entirely. ¡°Did you want an autograph?¡± Elise asked in the same gentle tone. Akari almost burst out laughing. Seriously? Did Elise think she was a celebrity? She knew the Dream Artist was full of herself, but this was a whole new level. She shot Arturo a glance, but he looked just as confused as she felt. The girl nodded eagerly as she held up the paper. ¡°Could you?¡± ¡°I¡¯d be honored,¡± Elise said. ¡°You know, this will be the first autograph I¡¯ve ever signed.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Elise nodded as she pulled out a pen. ¡°Did you watch the qualifying rounds?¡± ¡°Of course I did. You were amazing!¡± And then Aria started talking, in detail, about just how amazing Elise was. The girl grew more animated by the second, and Elise wrote a long note on the paper, followed by a tall, wavy signature. The paper actually glowed with dream mana when she was done. Great. Elise Moonfire was a role model for little girls. Were eight-year-olds even supposed to watch the qualifying rounds? The school censored the language, but that didn¡¯t make them kid-friendly. Not even close. Elise slid the paper back across the desk. The girl thanked her with a small bow, but she still didn¡¯t leave. Instead, she shifted her gaze to Akari. ¡°What?¡± Akari snapped. ¡°You need something?¡± Elise leaned closer, and lowered her voice to a stage whisper. ¡°I think she wants your autograph, too.¡± Aria practically bounced up and down. ¡°I watched your duel in the library like ten times. No, more like fifty times! The way you used that water tower with the portal, and how you were too strong for the dream mana.¡± This time, she did bounce, as if she couldn¡¯t contain her energy. ¡°You were the coolest person in the whole game. Is it true you invented the spacetime aspect yourself? Is Kalden Trengsen your boyfriend in real life?¡± ¡°Wait, what?¡± Akari¡¯s cheeks grew hot. Was this really happening? She knew people watched the qualifying rounds on TV. She¡¯d even looked for her name in the online message boards, but those comments had all focused on her blunders. ¡°I¡¯m gonna be a Spacetime Artist when I¡¯m older!¡± Aria said. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see what new techniques you invent! I¡¯m gonna learn them all!¡± Elise slid her pen across their shared table, and Akari signed her name in a daze. She didn¡¯t have much experience with this, and it looked nothing like Elise¡¯s signature. The girl accepted the paper and glanced back and forth between Akari and Elise. ¡°Are you friends in real life?¡± Akari froze. They definitely weren¡¯t friends, but how was she supposed to explain that to an eight-year-old? She had about as much experience talking to kids as she did signing autographs. ¡°We¡¯re teammates,¡± Elise replied smoothly. ¡°The qualifying rounds are just a game. Everyone puts on a show for the cameras.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I told my friends, but no one believed me!¡± Just then, Master Nightfang stepped back into the room. ¡°Aria? What did we talk about just now?¡± Her voice was stern, but not surprised. Almost as if she¡¯d expected this. The girl ducked her head and ran toward a small desk at the front. After a quick exchange with her mother, she put on a pair of headphones and glanced down at a tablet. Nightfang spent another minute adjusting the large monitor. This time, it reflected the display from her laptop, and she turned back to face the class. ¡°Sorry for the delay,¡± she said. ¡°If there are no questions, we¡¯ll get straight to business. No one raised a hand, and Nightfang brought up a map on the monitor. ¡°As I¡¯m sure you know, the storms have gotten worse along Cadria¡¯s southern coast. It started on Pritember third when a mana spirit attacked a research base on Vordica. People are calling it ¡®Storm¡¯s Eye¡¯. Whether it¡¯s the same spirit from mythology, we can¡¯t say. But we know it has Mystic-level power. Early reports also suggest some level of self-awareness.¡± ¡°How do we know it¡¯s self-aware?¡± someone asked from the right side of the room. ¡°Mystic Everest faced the spirit in Vaslana yesterday. As a Knowledge Artist, he¡¯s capable of reading the signs, even from ten miles away.¡± Sadie Horne raised her hand from the front. ¡°What if it attacks Koreldon City? Are we in danger here?¡± ¡°Unlikely,¡± Nightfang replied. Then her gaze shifted from Sadie to the rest of the class. ¡°Koreldon borders the Inner Sea, but it¡¯s one of the safest places on the east coast. Can anyone tell me why that is?¡± Elise Moonfire threw up her hand as if this were a contest. ¡°Three Mystics live in the city, including Prime Minister Salerian himself. Even one Mystic was enough to drive it away in Vaslana.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Nightfang said. ¡°What else?¡± She shook her head when Elise raised her hand again. ¡°Someone besides Miss Moonfire this time.¡± Several more hands shot up, including Akari¡¯s. She¡¯d gotten better at speaking up in class these past few months. The whole thing had felt pointless at first, as if she were showing off for her teachers and classmates. Akari was all for showing off when it looked cool, but certain people just came off as insecure. For example, a certain blonde Dream Artist to her right. But then Kalden had posed class discussion as a challenge, and everything changed. ¡°It¡¯s not about them,¡± he told her one day. ¡°It¡¯s about you. If speaking up scares you¡ªeven a little¡ªthen it¡¯s a chance to come out of your comfort zone. To improve in something besides Mana Arts.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Nightfang pointed directly at her. ¡°Miss Zeller?¡± Akari cleared her throat. ¡°Estrana¡¯s peninsula protects the bay. So does another one in Koreldon. It¡¯s the same reason we don¡¯t get mana storms here.¡± Nightfang nodded again as she paced in the front of the room. ¡°Our city has some of the best geography for a coastal region. This also means we¡¯d have plenty of warning. Enough time to bring in more Mystics and Grandmasters to defend the city.¡± ¡°What about the marks?¡± a boy named Brisco asked from the middle row. Akari hadn¡¯t noticed until now, but he wore a glowing sigil on his forehead. It looked exactly like the marks she¡¯d seen in Creta. What the hell was that about? She¡¯d seen these marks in Espiria, but never on KU¡¯s campus. In fact, Brisco wasn¡¯t the only person wearing one. Nightfang considered that for several heartbeats as she paced. ¡°Officially, the school has no stance on the marks. Things might change as we gather more data. Until then, we¡¯re more concerned with science than politics.¡± Akari grinned. Most of the pro-mark groups claimed to have science on their side, but Elend said that was bullshit. The group had already made up their mind, then they found a "scientific" narrative that fit with their conclusion. That was, in fact, the opposite of real science. The fact that Nightfang called this a political debate showed exactly what she thought about that. Arturo must have agreed because he was nodding along. Sadie spoke up again, ¡°But Storm¡¯s eye avoided Creta, and that nation enforces marks. He went straight from Kangavar to Vaslana.¡± ¡°That¡¯s anecdotal evidence,¡± Nightfang said. ¡°These storms have always been a force of chaos, and basic mana theory states that forces of chaos are attracted to forces of order. Creta is also the poorest nation in Cadria, with the weakest Mana Artists. And most of their population lives inland, closer to their western borders. Any of these factors could have played a role, or none at all. Regardless¡ª¡± ¡°What about the research base in Vordica?¡± Sadie broke in. ¡°That wasn¡¯t filled with powerful Mana Artists. And no one there wore marks. I checked.¡± ¡°There were three Grandmasters at the research base,¡± Nightfang retorted with an amused smile. ¡°That¡¯s more than the entire nation of Creta. Next time, you might want to research your argument more thoroughly. Not just the parts that prove your own points.¡± Okay, Nightfang was officially Akari¡¯s favorite teacher now. Another boy raised his hand. ¡°If chaos is attracted to order, then why do most mana storms pass through Vordica?¡± Nightfang turned her attention to the rest of the room. ¡°I¡¯ll let one of your peers answer that one. Should be easy enough.¡± Akari raised her hand. ¡°Path of least resistance. The other continents all have shield walls around their coasts. This builds up pressure, and the pressure gets pushed south through Vordia.¡± She actually hadn¡¯t known that until recently, but she¡¯d researched it after their field trip. Nightfang nodded. ¡°Regardless, we aren¡¯t here to discuss large-scale battle tactics. This is Survival class. We¡¯re here to adapt to this challenge and defend ourselves from it.¡± A low murmur broke out among the crowd. Some whispered among themselves, while others threw their hands in the air. Nightfang pretended not to notice. Instead, she spun back toward the large monitor behind her. The screen came to life, showing a full rendering of Storm¡¯s Eye. The spirit looked exactly as it had in person, with the body of a serpent and the head of a dragon. And like Glim, its entire body was solid blue. Despite the similarities, this rendering looked far less intimidating than it had in person. The real Storm¡¯s Eye had felt infinite, blending in with the clouds and sky. The real Storm¡¯s Eye also had a physical weight to its presence, but that was true for all high-level Mana Artists. ¡°How can we fight something like that?¡± a boy asked. He¡¯d been in a different block last year, so Akari didn¡¯t know his name. Nightfang spun around to face him. ¡°Who said anything about fighting it? I said I¡¯d help you survive.¡± She began pacing down the center aisle. ¡°We discussed high-level encounters last semester. Particularly when it comes to Masters or above. What¡¯s the absolute worst thing you can do in this scenario?¡± ¡°Attack them first,¡± Arturo said. ¡°Can you elaborate for us, Mr. Kazalla?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a war crime for Masters to attack Apprentices. But an Apprentice who attacks a Master first is fair game.¡± ¡°Correct. Anyone in range of another Master is also fair game. In other words, you should always keep your distance from high-level fights. Soldiers in the military don¡¯t always have a choice. You do.¡± Nightfang raised her remote, and the rendering of Storm¡¯s Eye began shooting massive Missile techniques at some unseen target. ¡°These attacks have leveled entire city blocks,¡± she said. ¡°Even a Grandmaster would be hard-pressed to survive them head-on.¡± Akari had seen one of those attacks in person, and she knew that was no exaggeration. A single Missile had destroyed that base in Vordica, and everything within a half-mile around it. ¡°Now, you¡¯re probably thinking, ¡®Nightfang¡ªwhat¡¯s the point of all this? Sounds like we¡¯re screwed no matter what we do.¡¯¡± A nervous chuckle broke out across the room. Aria glanced up from her tablet at the front, and she almost looked tempted to remove her headphones before her mother shot her a knowing look. ¡°And that¡¯s true,¡± Nightfang said. ¡°You won¡¯t survive a direct hit from this guy, and nothing I teach you can change that. But as always, we focus on the variables we can control.¡± The screen zoomed in on Storm¡¯s Eye¡¯s Missile, and a thousand small sparks flew off from the technique itself. The perspective zoomed closer until each spark materialized into a smaller mana spirit. Some were human-shaped, while others resembled animals. The class watched in silence while these smaller spirits went on to fight various groups of humans. ¡°We call them mana spawn,¡± Nightfang said. ¡°Each one has the strength of an Apprentice or Artisan, depending on the size. They¡¯re also as smart as a raptor, capable of unleashing their own techniques across the battlefield.¡± The screen cycled through various animations, showing the mana spawn doing just that. Akari had caught glimpses of these things on the news, but nothing this detailed. ¡°Worst of all, they can change their shape at will¡ªfitting through small spaces, or healing damage.¡± More animations showed the spawn regrowing limbs and sliding under doors. Akari¡¯s respect for Nightfang grew by the second, along with all the Mana Artists who¡¯d fought these things on the front lines. Storm¡¯s Eye had revealed itself less than a week ago, but they¡¯d gathered an enormous amount of data in that time. What¡¯s more, Nightfang had reworked her entire class to account for this. Finally, a single spawn filled the screen, and the view switched to something resembling Silver Sight. This revealed a neural network in the spirit¡¯s head. ¡°We thought these were dream techniques at first,¡± Nightfang said. ¡°But the reality is far worse. Each spawn has a mind of its own, and they can linger for days, even after Storm¡¯s Eye is long gone.¡± Nightfang shot a glance at her daughter, ensuring she hadn¡¯t removed her headphones. ¡°The news focuses on the larger-scale attacks, but these spawn are even more dangerous. They¡¯ve continued rampaging cities, even after the Mystics have driven Storm¡¯s Eye away. A few have also made their way into the suburbs and countryside.¡± Talek. A skilled Combat Artist could probably handle those, but ordinary people would be defenseless if one showed up in their home. Nightfang paused the screen and faced the class. ¡°Since the spawn are shapeshifters, there¡¯s only one way to kill them.¡± ¡°Destroy their brains,¡± Akari muttered into the silence. ¡°Correct, Miss Zeller. And practice starts right now.¡± Book 4 - Chapter 17: Applied Technique Construction Akari stood with Arturo on the catwalk, watching their classmates fight the mana spawn below. These weren¡¯t real spawn, of course. These were dream projections based on a Mystic¡¯s model. Thousands of other students would be training on the same models worldwide. She had to give the military credit: they were dangerously efficient when they had a common enemy. This chamber itself was just like the one from Raizen¡¯s class, with high domed ceilings and three fighting rings set into the thick stone floor. The first two rings were sized for regulation duels, while the third was big enough to fit a class of twenty. Nightfang liked to use the larger ring for her classes, but a group of second-years filled that space now. That left the first-years to take turns in the smaller rings. Movies had trained Akari to see these spawn as cannon fodder, but they fought harder than any mana beast she¡¯d ever seen. Some clustered together, raising shields against the students¡¯ attacks. Others slid under doors, vents, or drains, flanking them in unexpected ways. One even sprouted wings and flew over a short building. Worst of all, the spirits shrugged off all non-lethal wounds. Most living things would retreat when things got bad, but these were like razor wasps striking from a hive. ¡°Surprised Raizen didn¡¯t teach this,¡± she muttered to Arturo ¡°Nah, shoka. He teaches team battles this semester.¡± ¡°Team battles? I thought we already did that.¡± ¡°These are six versus six,¡± he said. ¡°Same format as the interschool games.¡± Huh. That was actually a smart idea. Akari¡¯s team had spent half of Midwinter break training together, but they¡¯d never practiced against another team in-person. Would Elend arrange something like that for them? The interschool games were only a few weeks away, and they still had no idea what they were doing. ¡°What a surprise,¡± came a familiar voice from down the catwalk. ¡°The lone raptor is too good for a mark.¡± She turned to see Sadie Horne strolling down the catwalk between the fighting rings. Nico Talez followed close behind, and they both sported marks on their foreheads. ¡°Those things are bullshit,¡± Arturo cut in. ¡°Nightfang said so herself.¡± ¡°Watch your language,¡± Elise whispered from his left. Arturo hesitated, then Elise gestured to Nightfang¡¯s daughter in the corner of the chamber. Not only had the girl removed her headphones, but she¡¯d inched her chair close enough to watch the fighting below. ¡°Oops.¡± Arturo covered his mouth with both hands. ¡°Sorry, little girl!¡± ¡°I already knew that word!¡± she hollered back. Nico stepped up beside Sadie. ¡°These marks could save people¡¯s lives.¡± ¡°Maybe¡± Arturo replied. ¡°But no one¡¯s proven that. And wanting something to be true isn¡¯t science.¡± The words tumbled out of his mouth, and his whole body looked like a coiled spring. Clearly, he cared a lot about this subject. ¡°We can argue about evidence for years,¡± Nico said. ¡°Or we can take action today. What do you even gain by opposing these? It¡¯s not like¡ª¡± ¡°But you know what is real?¡± Arturo cut in. ¡°Civil wars. Riots and raids in the name of justice and unity. I¡¯ve been to Creta. I¡¯ve seen the damage these can do.¡± ¡°Things are changing,¡± Sadie said. ¡°Storm¡¯s Eye killed thousands of people in just a few days.¡± She shot Akari a pointed look. ¡°We could use a few more team players right now, and a few less attention whores.¡± Akari ignored the comment. Sometimes, you had to defend yourself without giving your opponents an inch of ground. Other times, they were all hot air and no mana, looking to drag you down with them. In this case, Akari had already fought her former team and won. Besides, she¡¯d gotten into her share of school fights over the years, and they usually ended with her in trouble. Many of Akari¡¯s flaws still haunted her to this day, but her temper didn¡¯t have to be one of them. Still smirking, Sadie spun on her heel and started back down the catwalk. But the girl barely made it two steps before she stumbled over her own feet. She stretched out her hands, barely stopping herself from face-planting on the concrete. ¡°Careful there,¡± Elise¡¯s voice was sweet as honey as she stepped forward. ¡°Flat surfaces can be dangerous.¡± ¡°So can Dream Artists.¡± Nico stared daggers at Elise as he helped his teammate to her feet. Sadie¡¯s eyes widened in realization before flashing with anger. ¡°Two can play at that game.¡± She cycled her mana and raised a hand toward Elise. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid.¡± Nico snatched her wrist, then he rounded on Akari. ¡°You¡¯re friends with Moonfire now? You know she arranged for us to betray you, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s funny,¡± Elise said. ¡°We all played the same game, but only the losers are complaining.¡± Nico gave a weary sigh. ¡°You know Moonfire, I thought I¡¯d at least see a mark on you. Especially after your dad''s speech last night.¡± Speech? Akari knew Elise¡¯s father was a senator, but she hadn¡¯t heard anything about a speech. For the first time, Elise had to suppress a grimace at their words. Akari half-expected Nico to keep pushing. Instead, the boy muttered something about rich kids, and they continued down the catwalk. Arturo watched the others leave, then he leaned back on the railing. ¡°He¡¯s got a point about your dad¡¯s speech.¡± Elise crossed her arms. ¡°You¡¯d rather I got a mark?¡± ¡°Of course not. Just surprised, that¡¯s all.¡± Elise turned back toward the arena, and her knuckles turned white as she squeezed the steel railing. ¡°Touchy subject?¡± he asked. ¡°I was there when he gave the speech,¡± Elise muttered. ¡°He told the whole world these marks were important¡ªthat they¡¯d keep us safe from the storms. Want to guess what he said when the cameras were off?¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Arturo just nodded, as if he¡¯d expected that. ¡°Okay,¡± Akari said. ¡°You guys just lost me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all political theater,¡± Arturo said after a short pause. She furrowed her brow. ¡°So . . . he wants people to think he cares?¡± ¡°It¡¯s way worse than that, shoka.¡± ¡°How?¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Remember Creta? That war hurt a lot of people, but others came out alright in the end. Especially the ones in charge.¡± Elise kept her expression blank, neither confirming or denying Arturo¡¯s words. Akari gave a slow nod. The Dragonlord hadn¡¯t fought those wars himself. He¡¯d had another group¡ªthe Grevandi¡ªdo his dirty work. Then he¡¯d seized more power in the name of restoring peace. It was hard to imagine that sort of thing happening here in Espiria. Then again, few societies were as safe or as civilized as they appeared. She knew that better than most. Akari¡¯s turn came a few minutes later, and she found herself paired up with Nico and Sadie of all people. Had Nightfang done that on purpose? Probably. If you bickered like that in Raizen¡¯s class, he would throw you out the door. Nightfang¡¯s punishments were far more subtle, and people couldn¡¯t even complain about it. Her whole class was about surviving in unfavorable conditions. That included dealing with people you didn¡¯t like. Tori Raizen was on the team, too, along with Landon Windstrider and Aaron Lygon. The others clearly expected Akari to go off on her own, which was probably fair. She¡¯d gotten the ¡°lone raptor¡± lecture from all her teachers by now. Instead, Akari surprised everyone by playing the role of a perfect and respectable teammate. Tori was all business, and she took charge as the urban landscape formed around them. Akari followed every order without question. Even the stupid ones. She could be a good little soldier when she had to, especially in a low-stakes setting like this. The others got themselves killed early on, but Akari and Tori held out the longest. The other girl handled the mana spawn with her long-range blades, while Akari used her portals to defend them both from stray attacks. She also moved them to safety whenever things got too heated on the ground. In the end, Nightfang lectured the others for bringing their personal feelings into battle, while Nightfang praised Akari and Tori for their teamwork. All in all, it was a solid start to the new semester. ~~~ The rest of the week was all smooth cycling after Nightfang¡¯s class. Elend continued her team¡¯s private training, drilling them in various formations around the backyard. He also bought them some com devices, and Akari learned to issue orders in high-stress battles. Things happened quickly in the interschool games, and every second mattered. She also had a basic sigilcrafting class every Garsday and Hansday. This had been a last-minute choice after Vordica. Arturo¡¯s sigilcraft skills let him do a lot with less mana, and that seemed to fit well with Akari¡¯s aspect. Spacetime techniques were expensive, and even advancement wouldn¡¯t solve everything. Finally, she had Applied Technique Construction with Master Kazalla, who just so happened to be Arturo¡¯s uncle. The man had a shiny bald head, bushy eyebrows, and a salt and pepper goatee. He actually looked like a badass despite being well into his eighties, and his voice was deeper than a dragon¡¯s. Kazalla kicked things off much slower than Nightfang¡¯s class, and they spent the first few days studying theory. But things ramped up quickly after that, and he met with everyone the following week to discuss their projects one-on-one. It was a chilly Narsday afternoon when she found Kazalla¡¯s office in the Mana Arts and Sciences building. The room looked more like a workshop than an office, with various tools and devices scattered across the tables. One item looked suspiciously like a jetpack, with a shiny metal surface and two large thrusters on the bottom. Several white boards filled one wall, each one packed with drawings and equations. Akari was decent at math, but even she couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of that nonsense. Maybe it was all part of some elaborate prank to test his students? Kazalla glanced up from a well-lit desk at the far end of the room. ¡°Ah, Miss Zeller. The infamous troublemaker.¡± ¡°That¡¯s me,¡±she said as she strode toward the desk. ¡®Troublemaker¡¯ seemed like an overstatement, though. She hadn¡¯t pissed off that many teachers. Then again, people didn¡¯t make jokes about real troublemakers. At least, she hoped they didn¡¯t. The Master closed his laptop and gestured to a padded seat opposite his own. ¡°I hope you¡¯ve prepared some audacious ideas for me. I¡¯ll be disappointed if you saved them all for my colleagues.¡± Akari unshouldered her backpack, unzipped the top pocket, and pulled out a black binder. She¡¯d prepared a few options like he¡¯d requested, but only one could truly be called audacious. Just as well; that was her first choice, anyway. She retrieved the first paper and slid it across the desk. His dark eyebrows shot up as he read the title, and they stayed that way for a good five seconds. ¡°Personal displacement?¡± ¡°I want to use the technique on myself,¡± she said. ¡°And on my teammates.¡± The paper already said as much, but she¡¯d never mastered the art of awkward silences. ¡°Oh, is that all?¡± The Master¡¯s tone was light despite his stern gaze. ¡°Just a mystery that Space Artists have been trying to solve for centuries?¡± Her palms started to sweat, but she forced out a small smile. ¡°I thought you wanted something audacious.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t boring, I¡¯ll grant you that. But I¡¯m quite familiar with the personal displacement problem. What makes you think you can solve it?¡± She drew in a deep breath. ¡°Spacetime mana is two times more efficient than regular space mana.¡± ¡°Two times?¡± He gave a thin sliver of a smile, then gestured to his laptop. ¡°I¡¯ve read your paper from Master Seathorn¡¯s class. Your tests only showed a fifty percent increase¡± ¡°Yeah, but that was last semester.¡± Mana channels were a bit like nerve fibers in the brain; the more you used a technique, the less mana that technique required. Kazalla gave her a knowing look. Clearly, he knew she was still exaggerating, but he couldn¡¯t be bothered to call her out. ¡°Space Artists worldwide will envy you for that. But is it enough?¡± ¡°There¡¯s more,¡± Akari said. ¡°I have some help.¡± This time, his face showed no surprise. ¡°The Darklights? While a joint effort would be impressive, it would also defeat the purpose of my class. You need to make this technique yourself.¡± Akari shook her head. ¡°I trained with someone a long time ago. Before I got my aspect. He had some theories about this technique.¡± ¡°Someone?¡± Kazalla echoed. It was her father, but she couldn¡¯t tell him that. Akari was supposed to be an orphan, and any mention of her parents would raise questions. Fortunately, she¡¯d polished up a shiny excuse for this exact moment. ¡°A hidden Master,¡± she said. Hidden Masters were powerful Mana Artists who chose to avoid the media spotlight. Sometimes, they were actual Masters or Grandmasters. But they could also be Mystics. She¡¯d never heard of a hidden Mystic, but that didn¡¯t prove anything. If you truly valued your privacy, why would you admit to being a Mystic in the first place? Even the famous Mystics veiled their souls most of the time. Kazalla gave her the same knowing smile as before. It was bad form to betray a hidden Master¡¯s trust, and equally bad form to push for more information. Especially if you were in a position of authority. Of course, Kazalla could still reject this project, so she had to tread carefully. ¡°Very well.¡± He dropped the paper and let it drift onto the table between them. ¡°What did this hidden Master tell you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember the details,¡± she admitted. ¡°I was just a kid¡ªmaybe eleven or twelve. But Grandmaster Darklight is helping me remember. It¡¯s just a matter of time.¡± This was all true. She had memories of one specific talk with her father, where he¡¯d shared his theories on personal displacement. But her past self hadn¡¯t bothered to remember the details. The future had seemed so distant back then, and she might as well have prepared for marriage or retirement. She¡¯d also expected to have her father¡¯s guidance when the time finally came. At the very least, she¡¯d expected to have his notes. ¡°The odds are still against you,¡± Kazalla said. ¡°How confident are you about this hidden Master of yours? No offense to him, but ideas are cheap. And while while the allure of secret knowledge is undeniable, it¡¯s true value lies in its application.¡± She swallowed. ¡°This is the same person who helped me invent my aspect.¡± Sharing this was a risk, but it didn¡¯t take a genius to connect the dots. No first-year could have invented this aspect on their own. Even the Darklight¡¯s help didn¡¯t explain it. Akari had barely been with them for a year, and someone had been laying this foundation for well over a decade. ¡°Very well.¡± Kazalla inclined his head. ¡°I look forward to seeing you do the impossible once again.¡± Book 4 - Chapter 18: The Vault Elend stepped out of the car when they reached the East Shore Bank. It was almost midnight, but Koreldon City never slept. A sea of lights swept over the horizon, from the tips of the buildings to the clustered streets below. Irina slid out of the car behind him, and they stepped through a pair of sliding glass doors. Half a dozen guards filled the lobby, clad in black suits and armed with long Missile rods. The guards were only Artisans, but those weapons could probably stun someone much stronger. Heels clicked against the granite floors as Master Harren strode out to meet them. The bank manager was a serious-looking woman with her strawberry blonde hair pulled back in a tight bun. She wore a beige turtleneck beneath a gray blazer, along with a a pair of bright golden earrings. ¡°Grandmasters.¡± She gave them a polite bow, but it didn¡¯t match the impatience in her voice. ¡°What¡¯s this about a break in?¡± ¡°Someone¡¯s been in my vault,¡± Elend replied. ¡°Less than an hour ago.¡± ¡°Impossible,¡± she said. ¡°None of the alarms have been triggered. We double-checked them before you arrived.¡± ¡°None of your alarms,¡± Elend said. Despite the bank¡¯s security measures, Glim had installed her own sigil-based alarms on the vault¡¯s contents. If someone even breathed within six inches of those contents, she would know about it. Such things could malfunction, of course, but he wasn¡¯t taking any chances. ¡°Have you checked the vault?¡± Irina asked. ¡°Of course we haven¡¯t. Aside from Grandmaster Darklight, only the director can open his vault. He¡¯s in South Shoken right now.¡± Ah. Elend couldn¡¯t complain, though, since he¡¯d requested that exact security measure. But that was before, when they¡¯d assured him these vaults were actually secure. ¡°I¡¯d like to see the vault for myself,¡± he said. ¡°Of course.¡± Master Harren gave a tight smile and gestured toward the elevator with both hands. ¡°Right this way.¡± The lift carried them to the fifth floor, where they emerged in another long hallway. Swirling designs raced along the dark stone walls, and golden chandeliers hung from the archways above. Elend recognized both features from the Neokinetic Era. They passed rows of identical doors¡ªstainless steel laced with impedium to resist mana techniques. Beyond that, each vault had several layers of Grandmaster wards. Manatronic devices wouldn¡¯t work inside, and no detection technique could pierce them. The bank manager stopped walking when they reached vault 518, and she gave Elend an expectant look. He stepped forward and pressed his hand to the mana signature pad. At the same time, he opened his right eye for the optical reading. Several heartbeats passed, then the metal doors slid open to reveal a small chamber, no more than nine square feet. To anyone else, this would look like an empty room. Indeed, Harren practically held in a gasp of alarm. But Elend saw past his own illusion to where a small pouch sat in the center of the vault. Still, he didn¡¯t get his hopes up. Glim had placed her security measures on the pouch itself, and someone had tampered with it. Elend took a single step forward, but Irina held up a hand. ¡°We should sweep it while it¡¯s clean.¡± He nodded, and she slid through the wards, flaring her Cloak of a Thousand Eyes. Golden mana filled every corner of the vault¡ªa thousand tiny Missiles surveying the scene like a swarm of insects. Several seconds passed as the mana returned to Irina¡¯s outstretched hand. Her Second Brain formed around her in a series of golden rings as she processed her findings. ¡°Someone¡¯s been here,¡± she confirmed. ¡°The air pressure isn¡¯t right, and they left traces of spatial mana behind. ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Harren said from the hallway. ¡°We have Mystic wards¡ª¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Around the building,¡± Irina finished for her. ¡°But not around each vault.¡± She let the rest go unsaid, but there were countless options. The intruders could have formed the portal from another vault. The bank was obviously closed at this hour, but even Mystic wards could be bypassed if you made the portal from both sides. Smugglers did that exact thing when traveled between nations. Of course, they¡¯d still need to bypass the vault¡¯s wards once they got inside the bank. Harren might have called that impossible, too, but the evidence said otherwise. Elend let out a weary sigh. ¡°Anything else?¡± Irina nodded. ¡°I¡¯m also getting traces of dragon pheromones in the bag¡¯s fabric.¡± ¡°Wonderful.¡± He stepped inside the vault and fed some mana into the pouch. When the bag didn¡¯t respond to his mana, Elend knew the truth. The Etherite collar was gone. ~~~ ¡°Suspects?¡± Irina asked as their car pulled away from the bank. Elend leaned back on the leather headrest. ¡°Valeria Antano, of course. She has plenty to prove and nothing to lose.¡± ¡°She would need a whole team,¡± Irina said. ¡°A Grandmaster Space Artist, and a ward breaker at the very least. Not to mention someone on the inside. Even I couldn¡¯t connect a client to a specific vault.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± he muttered. ¡°Far more advanced than the team who tried to capture Akari. Then again, Sozen Trengsen had specifically designed that team to fail. It was terrifying what the Sons of Talek could accomplish when they actually tried. Irina turned to face him. ¡°What about Harren? She didn¡¯t seem happy to see us tonight.¡± Elend waved that away. ¡°She thought I was jumping at shadows. I watched her closely, and she was confident the entire time.¡± In hindsight, he didn¡¯t blame her. How many other paranoid customers must have left her late night messages about their vaults? Elend doubted he was the first. He might not even be the first one this week. ¡°And where¡¯s the rest of it?¡± Irina asked. By ¡°it¡± she meant the rest of the Etherite. Elend reached out with his mana and double-checked the wards between them and their driver. He trusted the lad well enough, but not with a secret like this. ¡°Aside from the piece we gave Relia?¡± He patted his belt pouch. ¡°One is with me. One is in my Estrana vault. The other one is back at the house.¡± She gave a slow nod. ¡°We¡¯ve learned one thing tonight¡ªthese vaults aren¡¯t safe against our enemy. Then again, I doubt they can pull this heist more than once. We¡¯ll only make things easier for them if we panic.¡± ¡°True,¡± he said. ¡°They might not even know where to find the other pieces.¡± They talked for the next twenty minutes as they drove back to the house. No sooner had they pulled into the driveway than Elend¡¯s phone began vibrating in his jacket. He pulled out the device to find Sterling¡¯s name on the screen. Elend put the phone on speaker and answered the call. ¡°Trish,¡± he said. ¡°Calling to cash in your favor?¡± She chuckled from the other end. The other Grandmaster was technically his age, but her voice sounded thirty years younger. ¡°That obvious, huh?¡± ¡°Well, it is after midnight.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± she said. ¡°Would you look at that? I guess time flies when you¡¯re hunting mana spawn.¡± ¡°Get to the point,¡± Irina said. ¡°It¡¯s been a long night.¡± ¡°Oh, hi, Irina! Didn¡¯t know you were there.¡± She cleared her throat. ¡°Okay, here¡¯s the deal. A few of us are down in Vaslana doing cleanup duty. We could really use a recon expert on our team.¡± ¡°How soon?¡± Elend asked. ¡°Tomorrow morning would be great. I could take a ship across the channel, then swing by your house to pick you up.¡± ¡°And for how long?¡± ¡°Um, well, that¡¯s the thing about Storm¡¯s Eye, isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s all sort of a cluster¡ª¡± ¡°I need a number, Trish. I¡¯ve already taken too much time off work.¡± ¡°No more than a few weeks,¡± she promised. ¡°A few?¡± Irina asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Three,¡± Trish said quickly. ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± Elend rubbed at his eyes. His students had their first interschool match next Talekday, and leaving them alone with Raizen wasn¡¯t an option. Irina could probably go, but that hardly seemed fair to leave them without their actual coach. Trish¡¯s voice pulled him from his thoughts. ¡°Hey, I warned you, didn¡¯t I? The Vordica job wasn¡¯t easy.¡± ¡°That still only took two days of your time,¡± he countered. ¡°Maybe a week of research, but that¡¯s being generous.¡± ¡°Okay, sure. But consider this¡ªlots of Masters have volunteered to fight Storm¡¯s Eye, but we¡¯re short on recon experts. Salerian could summon you to the front lines at any time. Then, not only would you still have to leave, but you¡¯d still owe me a favor.¡± Bloody hell. She had a point there. All Masters from Koreldon swore an oath to the prime minister, agreeing to fight for Espira in times of need. Prime Minister Salerian could draft him tomorrow morning, and he¡¯d have no choice but to go. ¡°But he can¡¯t summon you if you''re already here,¡± Trish said in a singsong voice. ¡°And my team¡¯s just cleaning up the countryside. Helping evacuations, killing up mana spawn¡ªstuff like that. If anything, I¡¯m doing you a favor.¡± Elend met Irina¡¯s eye, but she only shrugged. This might be an inconvenience, but things could have been far worse. The work itself would be easy enough. Irina would still be here to watch over the kids, and the school would understand his absence. Storm¡¯s Eye was the hot political topic right now, and anyone who fought it seemed to get a free pass. The hardest part would be leaving his students without their coach. Then again, Akari still had some rough lessons ahead of her, and being closer wouldn¡¯t speed up that process. On the contrary, this might be just what she needed. ¡°Fine,¡± Elend said. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Book 4 - Chapter 19: Garriland University The weekend came far too quickly, along with the first interschool games. Akari¡¯s team boarded an airship on Kelsday afternoon, joining several more squads of their peers. The ship flew north across the bay, passing miles of open water and coastline before it set down in Garriland. The landing pads were on the north side of town, and a pair of buses carried the teams down a busy road that cut through the school. Garriland¡¯s campus was far newer than Koreldon¡¯s. Instead of old brick buildings, everything here had a smooth stone exterior, with shiny glass windows and red clay tiles on the roofs. And while Koreldon¡¯s buildings were all clustered together, these had plenty of wide open spaces between them. The lawns were probably green if you came here in the summer. Now, they were a mix of brown grass and half-melted snow. ¡°Hey,¡± Relia said from across the aisle. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the arena?¡± Akari craned her neck to see over Kalden¡¯s shoulder, then she followed Relia¡¯s gaze to the cylindrical structure on the right side of the street. Big enough to hold fifty thousand people, the arena towered over the surrounding buildings and trees. Butterflies danced around Akari¡¯s stomach as she sank back in her seat. She should have felt excited for this. She¡¯d reached Apprentice this past year and finally gotten her new aspect. This was a chance to unleash her full power. But then Elend had gotten called to fight Storm¡¯s Eye, leaving them without their coach. To make matters worse, their last two practice sessions had fallen through. Elend had planned for them to train with a team from Voltara, but that team¡¯s coach got called off to fight. No one could figure out the logistics after that. Kalden had tried reaching out to his old alliance for a practice session, but they¡¯d turned him down. Tori and the others ran matches every day in Raizen¡¯s class, and they knew Akari¡¯s team needed the practice more than they did. It was the same story with Elise and her old friends. The bus drove for another half-mile until they reached the Starview Inn. Here, they unloaded their luggage from the back, then waited in the hotel lobby while the teachers checked in at the front desk. Akari and Relia shared a room, and Kalden bunked with them, not even bothering to check out his official room. Zukan and Arturo did their own thing across the hall, while Elise was apparently sharing with Irina. That must have been awkward for both of them; Irina wouldn¡¯t even be here if it weren¡¯t for Elise and her shady friends. After dinner, her team spent the next few hours resting upstairs. That meant no training, studying, or serious planning sessions. It wasn¡¯t like they could plan much, anyway. Their opponents wouldn¡¯t be announced until just before tomorrow¡¯s match, and there were dozens of possibilities until then. Not just the teams from Garriland, but all the other schools who¡¯d attended this first game. It felt strange to lounge around, but training before a competition was proven to decrease performance. Akari knew that, because Elend had once dumped a massive stack of papers on her lap and told her to read them until the message sank in. ~~~ Her team waited in the stands the next morning, along with fifty thousand cheering fans. Needless to say, the massive scope did nothing to calm her nerves. Her stomach jumped between hunger and nausea every few minutes, and sweat covered her skin, despite the cool winter air. At least the qualifying rounds had forced her to hit the ground running. Here, she and her teammates had no choice but to sit on the sidelines, waiting for their turn, and pondering the possibilities. Which team would they face? What game would it be? What type of arena? The current field was a massive jungle, with tree trunks as wide as houses, and a raging river that cut through the center. Mana soared back and forth as Dario Santano¡¯s squad faced off against a squad from Nobleton University. They were barely two minutes in, but Nobleton was clearly outmatched. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. As a Gravity Artist, Dario specialized in trapping his opponents in midair. Raw power didn¡¯t matter in a suspended state, and even Zukan and Relia would have struggled to break free from his grasp. Lyra Manastrike doubled down on the crowd control, freezing their opponents with tendrils of ice. Then Tori Raizen swooped in for the killing blows, launching storms of blade mana at their helpless forms. ¡°These teams are well coordinated,¡± Kalden said from beside her. ¡°It¡¯s like they¡¯re reading each other¡¯s minds.¡± ¡°Takes a ton of practice to get that way,¡± Arturo said. ¡°No offense to Elend, but he might¡¯ve glossed over some stuff.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Relia said. ¡°Elend¡¯s a good teacher!¡± ¡°The guy knows his stuff, but coaching a team is different. He¡¯s also got a sink-or-swim approach.¡± ¡°But our training got cut short,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s not his fault he got called to fight!¡± ¡°I mean, if you wanna get technical, then it kinda was his fault.¡± Akari ducked her head as they talked. As captain, she was supposed to fill the gap Elend had left behind. She was supposed to lead the practice sessions, give the speeches, and issue the orders. But that was the problem with sink-or-swim. Sometimes, you really did flounder and sink to the bottom of the pool. And Elend seemed perfectly willing to let that happen, especially if it taught her a lesson in some vague, far-off future. Meanwhile, the other captains all seemed so strong and sure of themselves. Not to mention taller, and more conventionally good-looking. Those seemed like silly things to worry about now, but her surroundings must have gotten to her. The crowds, the cameras, the sheer size of this arena . . . it was enough to make her feel like a Bronze again. What¡¯s more, the other captains were consistent. They were always watching the battlefields¡ªtheir own teammates, their opponents, and the terrain. They always knew what to do and how to communicate it. Until recently, Akari had focused mainly on her own techniques. Now, she was supposed to worry about five other people, all at once? Sometimes, she¡¯d have bursts of inspiration in battle, and those ideas would extend to her teammates. Other times, she got tunnel vision and focused only on her own goals. ¡°Hey.¡± Kalden leaned over and squeezed her hand. ¡°You okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± Akari said with a quick nod. ¡°Just sucks having to wait.¡± Yeah, that¡¯s it. As usual, her stupid brain was going in downward spirals like it always did. Her team was the strongest one here. They could do this. Ten o¡¯clock finally rolled around, and Raizen pulled her from her thoughts yet again. ¡°Zeller,¡± he said in a sharp voice. ¡°Take your team and get on deck.¡± Akari stood up from her seat, drew in a deep breath, and led her team down to the locker rooms. Here, they changed out of their street clothes and into their combat uniforms. The workers also gave them generators for their specific techniques and equipment. As usual, only Arturo¡¯s tech would be allowed in the arena. Anything they¡¯d purchased from a third party¡ªlike Kalden¡¯s pouch¡ªwould have to stay behind. Relia¡¯s Aeon techniques were off the table as well. There simply wasn¡¯t enough data for the game to recreate Angelic mana. Even if it could, Relia wasn¡¯t ready to reveal that part of herself to the world. Aeons were even rarer than Mystics, after all. Once they¡¯d all changed, Akari¡¯s team stepped into an antechamber on the arena¡¯s ground floor. The current match was still going outside, so they used this time for their warmup routines. Akari tried to visualize her own success in her mind¡¯s eye, but even her meditation training wasn¡¯t enough to keep her focused. The worries swirled through her head, and the time passed like a sleepless night. ¡°You seem really nervous,¡± Elise said. Akari stopped pacing and gave the girl a flat look. ¡°Gee, I wonder why.¡± ¡°I can help with that if you want. Dream Artists can¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want your mana,¡± she cut in. ¡°Fair enough.¡± Elise glanced at the others. ¡°Anyone else?¡± Relia pretended not to hear her, while the other three declined more politely. Elise gave a weary sigh. ¡°Look, I know you guys don¡¯t like me, but my techniques can enhance your cognition¡ªfocus, confidence, whatever you need. Elend went over this with you.¡± Akari crossed her arms. ¡°How¡¯d that go for you last time we fought?¡± ¡°You¡¯re being illogical,¡± she said with a huff. ¡°Even a one percent improvement is still an improvement.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only illogical if you¡¯re telling the truth,¡± Kalden said. ¡°If you were planning to betray us again, then now would be the perfect time.¡± Elise winced at that, but what did she expect? She¡¯d literally betrayed everyone in this room at least once. Akari could suffer Elise as a teammate, but she wasn¡¯t about to trust her with any ¡°friendly¡± techniques. Focus could easily become tunnel vision, and confidence could become recklessness. Elise could use any of this to shift the game to her favor. ¡°Ten seconds,¡± a worker¡¯s voice called from down the halls. Akari and the others took their places by the metal doors and waited in silence. The announcer¡¯s voice echoed just beyond, introducing their opponents from Garriland University. Finally, the doors slid open, and the spotlights shone directly into her eyes. ¡°And in this corner,¡± the announcer¡¯s voice filled the arena, far louder than before ¡°Team One from Koreldon University, lead by Akari Zeller.¡± The crowd cheered, and Akari lead her team forward. Book 4 - Chapter 20: The Molten Mines Once again, Akari marveled at the sheer size of this arena. She¡¯d fought in plenty of duels, but those rings were only thirty yards in diameter. This was closer to a hundred yards, and she could barely make out her opponents as they emerged across the field. ¡°Who are these guys?¡± Akari asked. The cheering crowd drowned out her voice, but her teammates would still hear her through their com devices. ¡°Garriland Team Three,¡± Kalden¡¯s said. ¡°They have one Artisan¡ªa stone artist.¡± ¡°Shit,¡± she muttered. Most teams had no Artisans at all, so this was already bad luck. ¡°What else?¡± Kalden paused as if straining to remember. ¡°One light artist, two wind artists, a gravity artist, and a tech specialist. Their aspects are simple, but don¡¯t underestimate them.¡± Akari gave a slow nod. Wind and stone were less impressive than spacetime, but that wasn¡¯t always a bad thing. She¡¯d only had her aspect for a few months, along with a single technique to show for it. But wind and stone? They could have gotten those aspects in late elementary school. That gave them the better part of a decade to refine their techniques. Her team kept walking until they reached their starting positions. Six circles of light appeared in front of them, and they all stepped inside. Akari joined Kalden and Relia in the right circles, while Zukan, Elise, and Arturo took the spots on the left. These positions weren¡¯t random. Some arenas and game modes would split their team in half and they¡¯d all agreed this was the best setup. Zukan and Relia were the strongest overall, so it made sense to separate them. Akari and Arturo both served utility roles, while Kalden and Elise were more balanced, bringing a mix of knowledge techniques and raw power. They still had some overlap, of course. Arturo¡¯s tech let him turn invisible, and so did Elise¡¯s dream mana. Then there was Kalden¡¯s alchemy. Unlike tech specialists, who could craft items for the whole team, alchemists couldn¡¯t divide up their potions before a battle. If anyone else carried one, they had to drink it within the next twenty seconds. Putting Kalden and Relia in one squad forced them to consolidate all their healing power. Arturo had brought up these issues in their earlier meetings, but Akari pulled rank on him. She trusted Kalden and Relia more than the others, and that trust counted for more than any tactical setup. Once they¡¯d taken their spots, the arena blurred and warped as the dream Constructs sprang to life. The blue sky became a ceiling of dark stone, and the walls closed in around them. Some sort of cave? Akari had been hoping for an open field where she could flank her opponents with portals. Something more like KU¡¯s midterm exam, or the qualifying rounds. Even most dueling arenas had more space than this. Instead, a pair of narrow tunnels snaked out in front of them, barely wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side. Wooden rafters supported the stone ceilings, and amber lanterns hung from their lintels. The dream mana blocked out the sounds of the crowd, but the announcer¡¯s voice came loud and clear over the speakers. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re in for another team death match this morning. Get ready for a heated battle in this brand new arena¡ªthe Molten Mines!¡± A death match. Once again, she¡¯d been hoping for something else, like capture the flag, domination, or siege. Her portals would have excelled in those modes. No sense in complaining about that now, though. Akari tried to imagine her goal in her mind¡¯s eye: to impress the Solidors and become an Aeon. That focus brought clarity, and she leaned into it. ¡°Any ideas?¡± she asked her team. They had less than a minute until the arena was fully formed. Then the countdown would begin in earnest. ¡°The terrain favors the enemy,¡± Kalden said. ¡°That Artisan could bury us alive.¡± ¡°But we¡¯ve got the better fighters,¡± Arturo added. ¡°And those wind artists can¡¯t fly underground.¡± ¡°So we rush them?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Full speed ahead?¡± ¡°Too risky,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We¡¯re technically the stronger team here. Better to play it safe.¡± She gave a slow nod. ¡°Then what¡¯s the safe plan?¡± ¡°We could set up a base right here,¡± Arturo said. ¡°Those tunnels slope downward. That gives us the high ground.¡± Akari squinted ahead and realized he was right. And if this arena was symmetrical, then it would punish any full-speed rushes. ¡°Not against that Stone Artist,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We have to assume he¡¯ll use this terrain against us. If we stay here, we put our eggs in one nest.¡± The arena finished forming, and armor formed around their combat suits. Finally, the announcer began the countdown. ¡°Ten . . . Nine . . . Eight . . . ¡° ¡°So we split up,¡± Akari said. ¡°Two squads of three, then we move forward at a light jog.¡± She made her words a statement rather than a question this time. Elend¡¯s lessons were crystal clear on this point: good captains listened to their squads, but in the end, they made the tough calls themselves. ¡°Sounds good,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Seven . . . Six . . .¡± The others made similar sounds of agreement as they cycled their mana and prepared to move. ¡°Five . . . Four . . . ¡° Akari cycled her own mana and shifted her feet in the dirt. Her hands ran across the holsters on her belt, double-checking her weapons and items. ¡°Three . . . Two . . . One . . . Fight!¡± The two squads sprang into motion. Akari¡¯s squad fell into a wedge formation as they ran, with Relia in the front and Kalden and Akari behind her. ¡°The field¡¯s a hundred yards across,¡± Kalden said as they jogged. ¡°At this speed, we should reach the middle within twenty-three seconds.¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Twenty-three seconds exactly? Yeah, that was definitely his battle mana talking. The tunnel continued downward, and everything looked the same as their starting spots. Lots of stone walls and wooden rafters. ¡°What¡¯s that up ahead?¡± Elise¡¯s voice asked through the com device. Akari¡¯s squad kept running, but Relia cycled pure mana to her hands, ready to make a shield at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°Shit,¡± Elise said. ¡°That¡¯s¡ª¡± The ground shook beneath their feet, and a sound like falling boulders echoed from somewhere down the tunnel. ¡°Moonfire?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°We¡¯re trapped,¡± Elise said in a panicked voice. ¡°Arturo¡¯s down, and Zukan¡¯s¡ª¡± Her voice cut off without warning. Static followed, then nothing at all.¡± ¡°Moonfire?¡± Kalden repeated. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± No reply. ¡°Zukan?¡± he asked. ¡°Do you copy?¡± ¡°They rushed them,¡± Akari muttered. Even if it took twenty seconds to reach the middle, the wind artists could have flown the distance in half the time. It was a risky move, but it had clearly paid off. Her group jogged for a dozen more yards until the tunnel widened into a larger cavern. ¡°Stop!¡± Akari and Kalden said in unison. Relia skidded to a halt up ahead, and they took cover behind a pile of massive boulders. The path ended a few paces beyond. Akari couldn¡¯t see much from this vantage, but it looked like a drop off. She shot a spacetime Missile several yards above their heads, then she conjured a portal on the wall, no more than a few inches across. She brought her eye to the small portal and took in the scene. ¡°What do you see?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°It¡¯s a big open space,¡± Akari said. ¡°There¡¯s a wooden bridge to our left. It goes over a canyon, and there¡¯s another tunnel across from us. Probably leads to the enemy base.¡± Relia blinked. ¡°Did you say canyon?¡± Akari nodded. ¡°And there¡¯s lava at the bottom.¡± ¡°Molten Mines,¡± Kalden muttered. ¡°Guess that explains the name.¡± Akari shot a nervous glance over her shoulder. Whoever had attacked the others was probably lurking around here somewhere, and she¡¯d rather not get taken by surprise. ¡°I¡¯ll get us across,¡± she said. ¡°Better than staying here with that Artisan.¡± She shot a Missile across the canyon, then formed a portal near the enemy¡¯s tunnel entrance. Relia ran through the portal first with Akari hot on her heels. ¡°Wait,¡± Kalden said from behind them. ¡°It¡¯s a trap!¡± No sooner had they stepped through the portal than an anti-mana pulse tore through the air. The portal broke into silver mist behind them, and Akari stumbled forward. As always, the sudden loss of mana left her dizzy and weak. A laser shot out from the shadows, followed by a volley of pure Missiles. The attacks came from the opposite side of the canyon. Almost as if they¡¯d known she would teleport across. ¡°Get down!¡± Relia moved with blinding speed as she put herself between Akari and the enemy. Her Artisan body absorbed all three attacks, despite her lost mana. Akari spun to face the enemy¡¯s tunnel entrance. But now that she was closer, she finally understood Kalden¡¯s warning. The entrance was an illusion. Their opponents didn¡¯t have a dream artist, so this must have been sigilcraft tech, like the arena itself. Several small canisters rolled out from beneath the projection, and Akari bolted away. ¡°Grenades!¡± she shouted. More Missiles cut through the air. By now, Relia had recovered her mana, and she conjured a shield, more than a dozen feet in diameter. Several Death Missiles formed in her other hand as she readied a counterattack. An enemy Missile flew over the shield and struck Akari on the top of her helmet. Her vision flashed with stars as she stumbled on the stone floor. The grenades exploded a heartbeat later, releasing bursts of shrapnel and force mana. Akari slid a dozen feet across the floor, while Relia Cloaked her legs and dug in. It might have worked against one grenade, or even two. But even Artisans had their limits. The blast knocked Relia off the edge, and she soared over the canyon. More Missiles closed in on Akari, and she ducked behind a stone boulder. Meanwhile, Relia arced through the air, launching Death Missiles at her opponents as she flew. One boy faded to a cloud of white mist, while the others scrambled for cover. Akari cycled spacetime mana as she prepared to catch her teammate with a portal. But no . . . that would expose her to the light artist. And unlike Relia, she couldn¡¯t take those attacks head-on. ¡°Kalden?¡± She pressed a hand to her ear. ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°A little busy here.¡± She peeked out from her cover and spotted him across the canyon. Violet blades orbited his body as he charged the enemy team. Just then, another Missile cut through the air and struck the boulder. Damnit. Akari ducked her head as chunks of broken stone hit her helmet. She raised her hand and conjured another portal on the cavern¡¯s ceiling, giving her a bird''s-eye of the battle below. She shot a second spacetime Missile through the opening, forming a portal face-down on the lava¡¯s surface. That might come in handy later. ¡°Get the light artist,¡± Kalden said in her ear. ¡°Three o¡¯clock from your position.¡± She turned her gaze to a stone ledge, a dozen feet over the main walkway. The ledge itself was shrouded in darkness, but it seemed like the perfect hiding place. Akari pushed her soul to its limits as she conjured a third portal directly above the ledge. Then she grabbed her dagger and leapt through. Her body collided with a young woman a second later. They collapsed on the ledge together, and Akari drove her blade into her opponent¡¯s windpipe. From there, she leapt off the ledge to join Kalden on the walkway below. Mana flashed through the air as he exchanged techniques with his opponent. The other boy flew around Kalden¡¯s blades, feet never touching the ground. Whether he was a wind artist or a gravity artist, Akari couldn¡¯t say. She kept to the shadows as she approached their fight. Then she raised her right hand and launched a sharpened pure Missile at their opponent. The boy whirled at the last second, deflecting her attack with a flash of his own mana. That was all the distraction Kalden needed. He brought his violet blade down in a low arc, slicing through the boy¡¯s ankles. Another blade cut through his spine, and he faded to white mist. How many had opponents had they killed now? Three? Four? Maybe if they were lucky, they¡¯d just have the Artisan to deal with. That would be hard, but not impossible. The cave shook, and dust fell from the ceiling above. Akari and Kalden Cloaked their muscles and raised shields around their bodies. A crack spread through the floor, and the ground opened beneath Kalden¡¯s feet. The stone itself moved with impossible speed, like a massive dragon stretching its jaw. Kalden fell through the crack, and it closed with a sound like thunder. Oh, Talek. This was going to suck. The ground opened beneath Akari, but she¡¯d already conjured a portal beneath her boots. She fell through, emerging on the other side of the canyon. The ceiling shook above her head, and stones rained down like falling meteors. Akari formed another portal and leapt back to her last position. Footsteps echoed from the nearby tunnel, and a muscular figure emerged. He was almost as tall as Zukan, with stone armor encasing his entire body. His movements weren¡¯t as graceful as Zukan¡¯s, but his power was undeniable. The Artisan. An Apprentice couldn¡¯t kill an Artisan with ordinary techniques. That was why her opponents had used the grenades to throw Relia into the canyon. Two could play at that game. The Artisan readied his next technique, but Akari was quicker. She used the last of her spacetime mana to form a portal over the man¡¯s head, linking it to her other portal at the bottom of the canyon. Then she pulled the Construct around his body like a curtain, throwing him head-first into the lava. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she sagged her shoulders. Her team had gotten off to a rough start, but at least¡ª The cave shook around her, and the air grew several degrees warmer. Lava shot out from the canyon like an erupting volcano, and a stone figure stood atop the flaming orange geyser. His body glowed like the magma itself¡ªa web of black stone and bright flame. He landed in front of Akari, shaking the ground once again. Lava splattered the surrounding stone, burning her armor in several places. Akari tried to muster a counterattack, but her Missiles broke against his armor like water droplets on a hot stove. He grabbed her right arm and twisted it backward, shattering her bones like a tree branch. Finally, the Artisan raised a flaming orange fist, and the world faded to white. Book 4 - Chapter 21: Reflections Later that evening, the team gathered in Akari¡¯s hotel room to discuss their match. A TV sat on top of the dresser, showing the footage from various perspectives. Akari, Kalden, and Relia sat on one bed, while Arturo sprawled across the other. Zukan sat on the floor, while Elise leaned against the wall with her arms crossed. This footage confirmed their suspicions about the match. Garriland¡¯s wind and gravity artists had flown their teammates straight to the center in less than ten seconds. This gave the tech specialist time to set his traps while the Artisan ambushed Zukan¡¯s squad. Talk about a risky tactic. One wrong move, and those guys could have flown straight into a cloud of Relia¡¯s death mana. Or, if Akari¡¯s squad had been faster, they could have caught the tech specialist with his pants down. But their opponents had been the underdogs here, so they¡¯d thrown everything into this plan. The odds were against them, but it paid off in the end. The match itself had barely lasted three minutes, but they had over thirty minutes of footage to review. This included perspectives from each squad, along with the various slow-motion replays. Akari and the others watched until the end. Then it was time to share their thoughts. ¡°First things first,¡± Kalden said ¡°The decks were stacked against us today. The game mode, the arena . . . it all favored our opponents. That was no one¡¯s fault.¡± ¡°Plus, we¡¯ve got no experience with team games,¡± Arturo said. ¡°Not dumping on Elend here, just stating a fact.¡± Kalden nodded. ¡°I looked up Hightower¡¯s team, and they¡¯ve been together for years. Even Masters can beat Mystics when they have a well-coordinated plan.¡± ¡°It was a hell of a plan,¡± Arturo agreed. ¡°They inferred a lot about the arena in a short time. That sort of planning only comes with years of experience.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Akari let out a long breath and stared down at her notebook. As captain, it was her job to share their reflections with Elend, and they were supposed to start with the positives. ¡°So . . . what did we do right today?¡± Elise cleared her throat from the doorway. ¡°You three managed to take out five opponents by yourselves. That counts for something.¡± Akari jotted that down. It felt weird to get a compliment from Elise Moonfire, but the other girl wasn¡¯t wrong. ¡°And we almost got that Artisan!¡± Relia said in a cheerful tone. ¡°Akari¡¯s plan would have worked if he wasn¡¯t a stone artist.¡± Arturo leaned forward. ¡°I¡¯m surprised the lava got you, spira. Thought you were untouchable between your Artisan body and your Life Cloak . . .¡± She shrugged a shoulder. ¡°Maybe I could survive real lava for a few seconds, I didn¡¯t have a good escape plan here. That¡¯s probably why the judges called it an instant death.¡± Akari jotted down Relia¡¯s point. Today¡¯s loss was hard on everyone, but it didn¡¯t seem so bad when you framed it this way. The decks had been stacked against them from the start, just like Kalden said. For all that, they¡¯d still come close to winning. Unfortunately, the positivity ended there, and her team had a good long symposium about how much they sucked. On the bright side, most of her teammates took responsibility rather than pointing fingers. ¡°I could have used my dream mana to scout ahead,¡± Elise said. ¡°Like I did during the qualifying rounds.¡± Kalden furrowed his brow. ¡°I thought you could only scout a dozen yards.¡± ¡°Yeah, but I can go farther with an amplifier. Arturo could have built one if we¡¯d planned ahead.¡± ¡°We could have jogged in a looser formation,¡± Zukan offered. ¡°If I¡¯d gone ahead, I could have held off Hightower while you two escaped.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Elise said. ¡°It¡¯s not like my illusion worked on him anyway.¡± Her tone came out bitter, and she stared down at her arms. Elise had been asking for a training partner to improve the potency of her illusions, but everyone had refused. Oh well. That was Elend¡¯s fault for giving them a teammate they couldn¡¯t trust. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Kalden took the remote and skipped ahead several scenes. ¡°Crossing the canyon might have been our biggest mistake. We ignored the most basic rule of warfare. We forgot to ask what our enemy wanted.¡± ¡°They wanted to kill us,¡± Relia said with a frown. ¡°That¡¯s why we jumped over.¡± ¡°It was more than that. Look at that replay, where Hightower killed the other squad. He did it as loudly as possible. He gave Elise just enough time to warn us before he finished her.¡± Akari sank back into her pillow, bracing herself for his next words. ¡°Hightower knew his enemy,¡± Kalden said. ¡°He knew Akari was a spacetime artist who favored distance.¡± He reached out with the remote and paused the TV. ¡°But Relia could have killed him with one technique. He wanted her as far away as possible. He even stayed hidden until she was down.¡± The implication was clear. Akari had been thinking of herself and her own safety. She hadn¡¯t thought of her team as a unit, or how they could have used Relia¡¯s aspect in the narrow space. Kalden reached over and squeezed her hand. ¡°This is no one¡¯s fault. Anyone could have spoken up before Akari opened that portal. Especially me.¡± ¡°Yeah, shoko. Why¡¯d you wait to speak up?¡± Arturo gestured at the screen. ¡°I saw you cycling your battle mana there.¡± Kalden shook his head. ¡°My aspect still doesn¡¯t have a proper Cloak technique, or a Second Brain. It warns me sometimes, but it¡¯s too slow.¡± Akari knew that feeling all too well. She and Kalden had been plunging forward with limited techniques for several weeks now. Their luck was bound to run out sooner or later. It just happened to be today. Her gaze flicked toward Kalden, but he seemed to avoid her for several heartbeats. When they finally locked eyes, he gave her a forced smile. ¡°There¡¯s more,¡± Akari said. ¡°Might as well spit it out.¡± He considered that for a moment, then he skipped ahead to where the grenades knocked Relia off the ledge. ¡°Remember when we first landed in Vordica?" She nodded. ¡°You made a portal and grabbed everyone from the air.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Akari said. ¡°I thought about doing that here, but it seemed like a trap. That light artist would have shot me in the head.¡± ¡°It would have been worth it,¡± he said. ¡°With Relia gone, we had zero chance of beating Hightower. But if you¡¯d sacrificed yourself to save her . . . ¡± Damnit. He was right. She¡¯d thrown the Artisan head-first into the lava, and he¡¯d still survived. The truth hit her like a train a second later. The others could all talk about hypothetical plans, but those only made sense in hindsight. Yes, Arturo could have brought an amplifier to help Elise scout ahead. But most arenas had wide open spaces, like deserts, forests, hills, or grasslands. In those cases, scouting would have been a waste of time and resources. Even Kalden¡¯s last point wasn¡¯t as ironclad as it sounded. Yes, Akari had played into her enemy¡¯s hand, but the move had still been logical at the time. Hightower could have emerged from the wall at any second. What if they¡¯d spent ten more seconds debating their next move, only to die in a cave-in? Maybe Relia could have handled his techniques¡ªmaybe not. But this part with Relia was different. Akari had the chance to act like a real captain, but she¡¯d worried more about her own survival. She¡¯d been so focused on impressing the Solidors, and she¡¯d done the exact opposite. ¡°Lena and her patrons think you¡¯re going to fail,¡± Elend had told her several weeks before. ¡°But I remember a girl who jumped off a boat, risking her own freedom to save her friend from the Martials. Not because it brought her more power, or because it moved her closer to some long-term goal. She helped him because she could. Because she knew, in her heart, that it was right.¡± She¡¯d only been a Silver that day when she saved Kalden from the Martials. Was she getting worse? No . . . she¡¯d always been this way¡ªtoo focused on herself and her own power. That time on Arkala was just a fluke. A moment of true clarity, where the right choice had been obvious. Relia was the first to break the silence. ¡°There¡¯s no guarantee I would have beaten Hightower.¡± ¡°No.¡± Akari waved that away. ¡°Kalden¡¯s right. I messed up.¡± ¡°What¡¯s done is done,¡± Zukan said in his stoic voice. ¡°Right.¡± Arturo sat up and planted his feet on the floor. ¡°So, how can we do better tomorrow? Not to be a storm cloud here, but this is double elimination. We can¡¯t lose twice.¡± Akari opened her mouth to reply, then stopped herself. What could she say that wasn¡¯t an empty promise? She¡¯d always been a bad teammate, even back with Nico and the others. Now, she was an even worse captain. She couldn¡¯t snap her fingers and fix that overnight. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Irina,¡± she finally said. ¡°Maybe she can give me some advice before the next match.¡± Arturo nodded, then his face broke into a grin. ¡°And you¡¯ll actually follow her advice?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± He raised his eyebrows. ¡°You won¡¯t storm off and say ¡®that¡¯s bullshit¡¯?¡± He said the last part in a comically bad impression of Akari¡¯s voice, and laughter rippled through the room. Even Zukan cracked a rare smile. Akari glared at Arturo, but she probably deserved that comment. In fact, she¡¯d muttered that exact phrase the last time Elend gave her advice. ¡°Fine.¡± She threw up her hands in surrender. ¡°I promise. I¡¯ll do whatever Irina says.¡± That seemed to appease everyone, and Arturo, Elise, and Zukan all retired. Meanwhile, Relia decided to go for a jog around campus. She also announced, with a wink, that she¡¯d be back in exactly one hour. Needless to say, Akari and Kalden took full advantage of the empty room. The day had been light in terms of training, but the match itself was exhausting in its own way. Not to mention the stress that came with their defeat. If they lost tomorrow, they¡¯d be out of the winners¡¯ bracket. Then this team was as good as done. Book 4 - Chapter 22: Frostblade here?¡± . . . what do we do?¡± The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Oh, shit. Book 4 - Chapter 23: Trauma Akari¡¯s eyes shot open. She¡¯d been dreaming of Emberlyn again¡ªsome nonsense about the power of love and friendship. Her heart thundered in her chest, and sweat covered her skin, soaking through her pajamas. That dream . . . Emberlyn¡¯s mother. Akari closed her eyes and saw the woman¡¯s face clear in her mind¡¯s eye. Her hands shivered like leaves in the wind. She tried to clear the sight from her mind, but it didn¡¯t fade. The image was bright against the darkness, like a fever dream in perfect clarity. She couldn¡¯t escape it, no matter how hard she tried. What the hell is this? Mana raced through her channels. Her core muscles convulsed, sending her head thrashing against the pillow. Her legs did the same beneath the blankets. She was in a dark basement, and she tried curling into a ball to protect herself. No . . . no, that wasn¡¯t her. She was a mana artist. She always stood and fought her enemies A voice spoke her name through the chaos, then something touched her shoulder. It was gentle, but it felt like an attack. Her left arm refused to move, so she lashed out with her right, firing an upward Missile. ¡°Akari!¡± Kalden¡¯s hands seized her shoulders. Relia flicked the lamp on between their beds, and golden light flooded the room. She blinked up at their blurry faces. Her body tried convulsing again, but Kalden held down both her arms. Images of the dream tried to impose themselves on reality, far sharper than her actual vision. ¡°What happened?¡± Relia¡¯s voice asked. It sounded far away, drowned out by the sounds in her mind. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Kalden¡¯s voice replied. ¡°Has she done this before?¡± ¡°No. Never.¡± Akari¡¯s mana moved on instinct. She couldn¡¯t move her arms, but she could still make a portal and . . . She blinked when she saw a blur of red on Kalden¡¯s cheek. Her dream threatened to overtake her again, but she drew in a sharp breath and imagined herself pushing it away. At the same time, Kalden relaxed his grip. Tears clouded Akari¡¯s vision, and her voice hitched as she spoke. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Kalden said. ¡°You¡¯re safe.¡± Her body kept shaking as they sat her up against the headboard. She found her glasses, but that did nothing for the flashes in her mind. Relia healed Kalden¡¯s wound, then she pulled Akari¡¯s hoodie around her shoulders. Kalden got her a water bottle, unscrewed the cap, and brought it to her lips. ¡°Another dream?¡± Akari gave a weak nod as she drank. ¡°What?¡± Relia looked up at him. ¡°I thought this never happened before?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Construct,¡± Akari muttered into the bottle. ¡°What Construct?¡± Relia asked. ¡°Elend gave me a new one, to help me remember my dad¡¯s spacetime lessons.¡± She brought a hand to the side of her face. ¡°But something¡¯s wrong with it. I¡¯m seeing things that aren¡¯t real.¡± Kalden nodded, looking more sure of himself. ¡°We should get you to Irina. She¡¯ll know what to do.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Akari said. ¡°Anything to get away from this.¡± They took her down the hall to Room 213, the one Irina shared with Elise. Akari clutched Kalden¡¯s arm the whole time, struggling to keep her mind fixed on the present moment. Her eyes focused straight ahead, locked on Relia¡¯s long red hair as she led the way. She focused on the other sensations, too. The hotel¡¯s rough carpet beneath her bare feet. The feel of Kalden¡¯s bicep beneath her hand, and the scent of his cologne. Relia raised her fist to knock, but Irina pulled open the door before she could. The woman had clearly been sleeping a few minutes before, but her eyes were wide and alert. ¡°Irina,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We¡ª¡± ¡°Not in the hall.¡± She pushed the door open wider and gestured them inside. They all stepped into the room, then Irina closed the door behind them. Elise Moonfire stood awkwardly in one corner, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Akari caught a glimpse of the clock and realized it was just past three in the morning. So much for being well-rested. ¡°What happened?¡± Irina asked as they lowered Akari onto a bed. The older woman¡¯s eyes darted between them, taking in everything at once. The worry on Relia¡¯s face, the blood on Kalden¡¯s cheek, and the way Akari clutched his arm. ¡°That dream Construct . . .¡± Akari¡¯s voice grew drier as she spoke. Kalden passed her the water bottle again, and she took a long drink. ¡°The one Elend gave me over break. I think it¡¯s broken.¡± ¡°Broken how?¡± Irina asked. Akari took another drink. ¡°I¡¯m seeing things. Memories that aren¡¯t real. I keep seeing them now, every time I close my eyes.¡± Then again, was she certain these memories were fake? She¡¯d woken up halfway through the dream, but a part of her knew exactly what came next. But no . . . that proved nothing. These memories had wormed their way deep into her brain, but that could be a glitch with Elend¡¯s Construct. It had been like this in Creta, before she¡¯d advanced to Gold. Now, that same technique worked against her. She¡¯d locked the images in the closet, and they thrashed and screamed, demanding to be seen. It took all her mental strength just to stay this calm. Irina cycled golden mana to her palms and pressed her left hand to Akari¡¯s forehead. Akari braced herself for pain, but none came. ¡°The Construct is fine,¡± Irina said after a short pause. ¡°I don¡¯t want it.¡± Akari made a vague gesture at her own head. ¡°Can you get rid of it?¡± Another silence followed, and Irina furrowed her brow. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°What? But you¡¯re a Grandmaster!¡± ¡°A Grandmaster knowledge artist,¡± she corrected. ¡°Not a dream artist. If I rip this out with brute force, we could risk permanent brain damage.¡± ¡°How high is the risk?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Any risk is unacceptable here. Elend¡¯s Construct is working as intended. Whatever happened, it¡¯s not related to mana arts.¡± ¡°But she¡¯s clearly not fine,¡± Kalden said. ¡°What can we do?¡± The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Irina settled down onto the other bed. ¡°For starters, why don¡¯t you tell me what happened?¡± ¡°Um.¡± Akari shot a glance around the room, struggling to find the words. ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°Not you,¡± Irina said in a gentle voice. She turned her gaze to Relia instead. The other girl looked equally uncomfortable, but she pressed on. ¡°Akari started thrashing around in her bed a few minutes ago. I think Kalden tried to wake her up, and then . . .¡± Relia shot them both an apologetic look. ¡°She accidentally shot a Missile at him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Akari murmured. Tears flowed from her eyes, but she didn¡¯t dare close them for too long. Kalden put an arm around her shoulder and kissed the top of her head. ¡°Then she was shaking,¡± Relia said. ¡°Kalden tried to calm her down, and I turned on the light. I think she stopped when she saw our faces. Then we gave her some water and brought her straight to you.¡± Irina shot a glance at Akari and Kalden, but neither of them contradicted Relia¡¯s story. Finally, the older woman turned to Elise. ¡°She needs a technique to ward off traumatic flashbacks. I¡¯m assuming you can handle that?¡± Elise straightened her posture and stepped forward. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Akari practically flinched back as Elise knelt beside her. Her gaze flicked back to Irina. ¡°Why can¡¯t you do it?¡± ¡°My aspect is more theoretical. I can see the solution, but I can¡¯t execute it. Miss Moonfire can.¡± That¡¯s bullshit, Akari wanted to say. Irina was a Grandmaster. What was the point of all that power if you couldn¡¯t do something this basic? Irina spoke up again, clearly sensing her skepticism. ¡°As we gain power, we grow more specialized, not more versatile. You wouldn¡¯t go to the world¡¯s greatest musician and ask for a painting. I could help you with the right equipment, but our resources are limited. You need help tonight.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve done this before,¡± Elise said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t even know which memories I¡¯m blocking.¡± Elise¡¯s skill had never been in question, just her intentions. What if she snuck in something else? Something that impaired Akari¡¯s judgment and made her to walk into a trap? No . . . Irina was sitting right here, watching everything. Besides, how long were they going to keep distrusting Elise on pure principle? She couldn¡¯t have predicted this would happen. Yes, the girl had outmaneuvered them during the qualifying rounds, but they¡¯d all watched the footage. Elise wasn¡¯t a mastermind. She¡¯d just been following her parents¡¯ orders, blundering through plans until something worked. Since then, she¡¯d been a model teammate, supporting them at every opportunity. That could all be a ploy to gain their trust, but the Darklights had vouched for her. Either Akari trusted them, or she didn¡¯t. And if she couldn¡¯t trust them, then she was screwed no matter what. ¡°Fine,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡± Mana formed in Elise¡¯s hands, and she raised them to Akari¡¯s temples. For the second time that day, Akari braced herself for pain and felt nothing. Several heartbeats passed, and then the memories stopped assaulting her. Chains loosened around her lungs. Tension flowed out of her muscles. Her ears stopped ringing, and the room grew clearer. Akari met Elise¡¯s eyes and forced out a small smile. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°How long can you keep this up?¡± Irina asked. ¡°All night,¡± Elise said. ¡°This technique doesn¡¯t take much mana, but it needs two-way feedback. That means I¡¯d need to be within twenty feet of her. Unless someone has an amplifier?¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Akari said. ¡°This will happen again?¡± Elise gave a helpless shrug. ¡°I can stay in your room with you. Or you can stay here with us. Whichever works better.¡± Irina nodded as if that settled the matter. ¡°Go with them. I think Akari would rather be with her friends right now. However, I¡¯d like a minute alone with her before you go.¡± Akari looked up. ¡°I don¡¯t have any secrets from Kalden and Relia.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Kalden got to his feet at once. ¡°We¡¯ll be in the hall.¡± Relia and Elise followed him out, and they closed the door behind them. Kalden had seemed a bit too eager to leave. He might as well have said, ¡°Please fix my crazy girlfriend for me.¡± Well, she couldn¡¯t blame him. Not after she¡¯d attacked him in her sleep. And she¡¯d barely spent any time with him in the weeks before that. She really was a terrible girlfriend, just like she was a terrible friend, and a terrible team captain. Irina conjured several techniques around them and sat back down on the other bed. ¡°You¡¯re showing signs of trauma. Whatever those memories were, I think they were real. Elend¡¯s technique is specifically designed to separate true memories from fiction. It¡¯s more reliable than your own thoughts.¡± ¡°No,¡± Akari said. ¡°This can¡¯t be real. It contradicts my other memories.¡± Irina cradled her chin in one hand, and her eyes took on a curious expression. ¡°Do you feel comfortable sharing the story with me?¡± Akari told her about Emberlyn Frostblade, and how she¡¯d bullied the other girl in her real memories. That part was hard to admit, especially after this recent dream, where they¡¯d been so close. Then she told her about the playground dream, followed by their training session in the mountains of Last Haven. That scar. Emberlyn never had a scar in the other memories, or in The Archipelago. But that didn¡¯t prove the memory was false. Scars could be fixed if you reopened the wound and brought in a skilled healer. Akari¡¯s missing belly button was proof of that fact. Then again . . . Emberlyn had always worn truckloads of makeup in high school. What if she¡¯d been hiding the scar all along? ¡°What happened next?¡± Irina asked. ¡°After you climbed down the hill?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Akari said. ¡°Emberlyn¡¯s mom was there, then I woke up.¡± Even as she spoke the words, the memories threatened to return. Fortunately, Elise¡¯s technique protected her her mind, as sure as any physical Construct. Bits and pieces slipped through the gaps, but Akari used her meditation training to force them away. Irina bit her lip and seemed to mull over her next words. ¡°I think you should see your therapist when we get back.¡± ¡°What?¡± Akari furrowed her brow. ¡°Why? We already talked about everything.¡± ¡°You talked about the fighting in Arkala and Creta. This memory happened before that. Before you met any of us.¡± ¡°Nothing happened!¡± Akari snapped. ¡°I¡¯d know if it did.¡± ¡°Not necessarily. The mind can go to great efforts to protect itself.¡± Akari rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve fought in wars. I¡¯ve been stabbed and shot at.¡± Her hands shook as she spoke, and she gritted her teeth. ¡°I¡¯ve seen people die. Cut in half and blown to pieces. I know that stuff messed me up. I don¡¯t deny any of it.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re proud of those memories,¡± Irina said. ¡°You think I like watching people die?¡± ¡°Of course not. But those memories fit your personal vision. The powerful mana artist. The freedom fighter who plans to liberate her home. You see them as necessary evils.¡± Akari slumped forward, not bothering to deny it. ¡°But these new memories¡ªthey don¡¯t fit that vision.¡± Akari shook her head. ¡°Can you please stop sailing around the storm? I don¡¯t do riddles at three in the morning.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± Irina took another second to marshal her words. ¡°Have you ever been abused before? Not in battle, but¡ª¡± Akari got to her feet. ¡°Screw you, Irina!¡± She stomped toward the door, hard enough to shake the TV on the dresser. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Irina called out from behind her. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have said it like that.¡± Akari paused with her fingers halfway around the door handle. A part of her still wanted to storm off, or shoot a Missile through the wall. But she¡¯d also promised her team she would talk to Irina before their next match. She couldn¡¯t leave things like this. Especially not now, after she¡¯d caused most of them to lose an hour of sleep. ¡°I¡¯m not a trained therapist,¡± Irina said. ¡°And I¡¯m not as good with people as my husband.¡± Akari snorted without looking turning around. ¡°You still have your own patients. Do you ask them stupid questions like that?¡± ¡°I told you before? Elend and I are opposites in many ways. He can see the answer, but not the problem itself. I can see problems clearly, but I don¡¯t know the right words to help you.¡± Akari clenched her hands into fists as she spun around. ¡°I¡¯m a fighter. Always have been. You think I¡¯d just let someone hurt me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about that. Not everyone has a choice.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always been a fighter,¡± Akari bit off each word as she spoke. ¡°Even when that Mystic took my power, that never stopped me. I fought back with fists and feet. I¡¯d keep fighting until someone killed me.¡± ¡°We do whatever it takes to survive,¡± Irina said. ¡°Sometimes, that means fighting back until our last breath. Other times, it¡¯s not so simple.¡± She paused before continuing more softly. ¡°You attacked Kalden tonight. Did he fight back?¡± Akari shook her head. Kalden only tried to help her. ¡°It was an accident,¡± Irina said. ¡°He knew that, and he knew he cared about you. His body and mind didn¡¯t have the same response they would in battle. If you¡¯d genuinely been trying to hurt him, he wouldn¡¯t have believed it. Not until it was too late.¡± Akari crossed her arms, pulling her hoodie tighter across her chest. She already felt shitty enough as it was. Was Irina trying to make her feel even worse? ¡°When children are abused, their attackers are often people they trust. Or people they should trust. It¡¯s not their fault if they don¡¯t fight back. Sometimes, fighting back can even make things worse. A part of them understands this on a subconscious level, so they shut down. They think if they appease their attackers, they can keep themselves safe.¡± A tear fell from Akari¡¯s eye, and she moved her glasses and rubbed it away. How had this day gone so wrong? She was an Apprentice mana artist, for Talek¡¯s sake. Not some Bronze foster kid on Arkala. She wanted to train and fight, not lie on a sofa and talk about her feelings. Why did those memories insist on following her wherever she went? Why was her own brain her biggest enemy? ¡°I understand if you¡¯d rather not talk to me tonight,¡± Irina said. ¡°But you won¡¯t help anyone if you keep this bottled up.¡± Akari glanced between Irina and the door. She¡¯d just claimed to be a fighter, so she couldn¡¯t run from this. Especially now, when she finally understood Irina¡¯s logic. ¡°Fine.¡± She raised her chin and met the older woman¡¯s eyes. ¡°What do I have to do?¡± Book 4 - Chapter 24: A True Leader ¡°Talk to me,¡± Irina said. ¡°Tell me the rest of your dream.¡± Akari frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. Talking about the dream will make things better?¡± The older woman spread out her hands. ¡°Whether you¡¯ve realized it or not, I suspect these memories have been affecting you for years. So yes, addressing them will make you a better friend, and a better mana artist.¡± ¡°Sounds too good to be true.¡± ¡°Hard work breeds Artisans,¡± Irina said. ¡°And insight breeds Masters. But that doesn¡¯t mean insight is easy. On the contrary, most Artisans are just like you. They¡¯d rather spend a thousand hours in training than a single hour with their own thoughts. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m not even an Artisan yet,¡± Akari said with a nervous laugh. ¡°You will be. There¡¯s no doubt about that. But the very path that takes you there can also stifle your progress.¡± She furrowed her brow. ¡°How?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a reason we call this ¡®mana arts.¡¯ It¡¯s the ultimate expression of creativity. And stifling the creative force is the greatest source of our misery. Fear stifles this force more than anything in the world. Fear of the past, fear of failure, and fear of the unknown. Artisans train every day, but they take comfort in the grind. At the same time, they avoid real hardship. Their minds go dead, and Mastery eludes them forever.¡± Akari found herself leaning forward. She¡¯d heard these ideas before, but she¡¯d never truly understood them until this moment. A part of her still wanted to get up and leave. She was only an Apprentice, after all, and problems like these seemed a long way off. But Kalden was right: she wasn¡¯t okay. And if there was even a chance this helped, then she owed it to her team to try. Not just her team, but everyone she¡¯d left behind in the Archipelago. Akari shot a glance at the hotel room door. ¡°They¡¯re still waiting for me out there. Should I tell them to go back to bed?¡± Irina inclined her head. ¡°You¡¯re their captain. I won¡¯t tell you how to run your squad.¡± Akari nodded, then pulled open the door. Relia and Elise sat on opposite sides of the corridor, while Kalden paced back and forth between them. ¡°Hey.¡± Akari fidgeted with her hoodie strings as she shuffled out into the hall. ¡°We¡¯re gonna talk some more. You should all get some sleep.¡± ¡°I can wait for you,¡± Kalden said at once. ¡°Me too,¡± Relia added. Akari shook her head and stepped torward Kalden. ¡°Please,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m okay now, but this might take a while. We have a match tomorrow, and we¡¯ve already missed too much sleep.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t maintain this technique from across the building,¡± Elise reminded her. A surge of panic raced down Akari¡¯s spine, but she drew in a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re working on it.¡± Then she turned back to Kalden. ¡°Please? I can¡¯t focus. Not if you¡¯re all up because of me.¡± Kalden hesitated, then nodded once. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. Relia and Elise got to their feet, and Kalden let them back toward the other room. Akari stepped back into Irina¡¯s hotel room and leaned against the heavy wooden door. Several seconds passed, and she waited for the flashbacks to return. When nothing happened, she breathed a long sigh of relief. Apparently, one dose of that technique had been enough to push them back. After that, Akari took her time refilling her water bottle in the bathroom sink, then she plopped down on the bed in front of Irina. ¡°Why do you think I was abused?¡± It still felt weird to ask that question out loud, and she had to bite back a nervous laugh. Irina blinked. ¡°You want to know my thought process?¡± ¡°Yeah. If I look like a victim, I want to know how.¡± Irina closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. ¡°It¡¯s nothing like that.¡± ¡°Then what is it?¡± Akari pressed. ¡°Anything can trigger a flashback.¡± ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right about that,¡± she said. ¡°You treat your training differently from most mana artists I¡¯ve met. To you, it¡¯s more like an addiction.¡± ¡°So? Is that a bad thing?¡± The older woman¡¯s mouth made a thin line. ¡°Do you know how we define addiction in the Healing Arts Center?¡± Akari shook her head. A few minutes ago, she might have retorted with sarcasm, but she already felt much calmer. ¡°We ask a few basic questions about the activity in question. First, does it affect your job?¡± ¡°No,¡± Akari answered at once. ¡°Mana arts is my job, and training makes me better.¡± ¡°And your physical health?¡± Akari hesitated this time. Her channels and muscles ached a lot more these days, and not always in a good way. Sometimes, she got so deep into training that she forgot to eat or sleep. Still, she¡¯d always had these habits, even on Arkala before she¡¯d discovered Elend¡¯s videos. ¡°I¡¯m healthier now than I¡¯ve ever been,¡± she replied. ¡°Your mental health?¡± Irina asked. Akari wouldn¡¯t be here if her mental health were perfect. But no one could prove that overtraining had caused this problem. ¡°Training makes me happy,¡± she said. ¡°I was a train wreck back in the Archipelago, when I didn¡¯t train at all.¡± Irina nodded. ¡°And your personal relationships?¡± Once again, Akari suppressed a wince. She¡¯d specifically missed opportunities to spend time with Kalden and Relia. Not to mention her performance as team captain. Then again . . . ¡°Training brought us together.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Irina said after a short pause. ¡°I think you have your answer.¡± Akari narrowed her eyes. ¡°Is that a trick?¡± ¡°A trick?¡± she replied. ¡°You think I¡¯m the one omitting information here?¡± There was a short pause while they stared at each other. ¡°I notice you¡¯re only sharing the positives with me. Is that because there are no negatives?¡± ¡°Damnit,¡± Akari muttered. ¡°I hate knowledge artists.¡± ¡°Out of respect for your intelligence,¡± Irina said, ¡°I¡¯ll assume you¡¯ve identified the issues yourself. That leaves one possibility¡ªyou¡¯re making excuses, which happens to be the final sign of addiction.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Akari threw up her hands. ¡°I overtrain. But Elend told me this before. So did Kalden. I don¡¯t see what it proves.¡± ¡°The root of addiction is pain,¡± Irina said. ¡°The same pain haunts you today.¡± Akari crossed her arms and stared at her own reflection in the dark TV screen. They sat that way for several long moments until Akari realized it was probably her turn to speak. Fine, have it your way. She still doubted whether this would actually help. She¡¯d just invented a new aspect, and she planned to have at least two new techniques by the end of the year. Her creative force was not stifled. And it definitely wasn¡¯t stifled by some stupid dream that she¡¯d just had. But she¡¯d already committed to seeing this little therapy session through. Besides, she¡¯d just claimed to be a fighter. She couldn¡¯t run from conflict now. Akari¡¯s knuckles turned white as she clenched her fists on her lap. ¡°My foster mother in the Archipellago . . . Her name was Noella Clifton. She used to hit me when her husband was gone. She was a healer, so she could erase the damage like that.¡± Akari tried to snap her fingers, but they were shaking and sweaty, and no sound came. ¡°She threatened to call the police if I ever fought back. She was a Silver, and I was a Bronze. Her word against mine.¡± ¡°You were in a bad situation,¡± Irina said in a soft voice. ¡°There¡¯s nothing else you could have done.¡± ¡°I¡¯m over it,¡± Akari said with a shrug. ¡°I mean¡ªIf anything, I¡¯m glad it happened.¡± Irina frowned at that. ¡°You¡¯re saying it¡¯s okay that someone hurt you?¡± ¡°No¡± Akari said. ¡°But addiction comes from pain, like you said. That pain made me stronger.¡± Her fists shook as the memories rose back to the surface of her mind. ¡°All the other Bronze got bullied in school. The Silvers and Golds tried to bully me, too, but I fought back. I knew whatever they did, Noella could do way worse.¡± Akari gritted her teeth. ¡°All the other Bronze accepted their fate. But not me.¡± She pointed vaguely toward the east. ¡°I got out. They were too weak to fight back. Everything that happened to me made me stronger.¡± ¡°And what about your mother?¡± Irina asked. ¡°What about all the other abused children who didn¡¯t escape? What about the soldiers who died while you freed my husband from prison? What separated you from them?¡± Akari closed her mouth. The answer was luck, of course. She¡¯d only met Kalden and Relia by pure chance. The same was true for Jared, Viv, and everyone else who¡¯d died in that last battle on Arkala. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°And what if your enemy made the same argument?¡± Irina pressed. ¡°What if that Mystic sent people to the island prison for their own good? What if he let your mother die to make you stronger? Was that right?¡± Akari flinched back, and fresh tears formed in the corners of her eyes. Not for her mother, but for the sort of person she was becoming. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Irina looked away. ¡°That was too far.¡± ¡°Guess you weren¡¯t kidding about being a shitty therapist,¡± Akari muttered. In many ways, talking to Irina was like talking to Kalden. Once they saw the path to victory, they would push forward at any cost. ¡°What happened to you was wrong,¡± Irina said. ¡°And there¡¯s nothing you could have done.¡± Akari crossed her arms. ¡°I could have thought of something.¡± ¡°You did. You found help, and you escaped the island. But you could only do that when you found the opportunity. You¡¯re a resourceful young woman, Akari. If you could have escaped sooner, you would have.¡± Akari shrugged, then took a few minutes to gather her thoughts. Her body felt suddenly cold, but a warmth settled around her a few seconds later, like a warm hug. Was that a knowledge mana technique? It must be. It felt too real to be her imagination. ¡°There¡¯s more,¡± Irina said. ¡°Isn¡¯t there? You told me about the Archipelago, but these dreams came from your old life, back in Last Haven.¡± Akari gave a shaky nod. Talking about the Archipelago hadn¡¯t been too bad. She¡¯d been abused¡ªso what? She could whine about it, or she could move on. But this . . . Talek. Why was this so much harder? ¡°You know how the island mixed everyone around?¡± Akari asked. ¡°It was like some big algorithm, dropping us all in different slots. My real dad became my foster father. He forgot he was married to my mom, and he practically forgot about me, too.¡± Irina nodded. ¡°Well . . . I saw my foster mother tonight, in the dream. Except she wasn¡¯t Noella Clifton this time. She was Noella Frostblade. Emberlyn¡¯s mom.¡± ¡°And she hurt you,¡± Irina said. ¡°In the dream?¡± Akari squeezed her empty water bottle. ¡°She was pissed about Emberlyn¡¯s scar, but she didn¡¯t say anything at first. She just drove us back to her house. Then she locked me in her basement and took Emberlyn to the hospital. I don¡¯t know if Emberlyn knew about it or not. But when she got back . . .¡± Akari trailed off, then shrugged a shoulder. ¡°It was just like in Last Haven.¡± The memories all came back in a rush after that. They¡¯d always been there, of course. As sure as her own reflection when she passed a mirror. A part of her had known this ever since that first dream of Emberlyn on the playground. Still, she¡¯d ignored the memories, as if that could make them go away. ¡°I think she healed the damage afterward,¡± Akari said. ¡°I never told anyone about it. Not even my parents. It felt like a bad dream, then I just . . . I don¡¯t know. I forgot about it. I kept my distance from Emberlyn. Said whatever I could to make her stay away.¡± Akari wiped another tear from her eye, studying the floor, then the dresser, then the TV. ¡°It sounds so stupid when I say it out loud.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not stupid,¡± Irina said. ¡°But it¡¯s not like she seriously hurt me. Just a few cuts and scrapes, then it was done. Worse things happen to people every day.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t make it right. Yes, soldiers die on battlefields, but you weren¡¯t a soldier, and that wasn¡¯t a battlefield. How old were you? Twelve?¡± ¡°Eleven.¡± Akari stared down at her hands, clenching and unclenching them on her lap. ¡°We¡¯re more susceptible to trauma at that age. It¡¯s why children are kept from serious combat training.¡± Akari didn¡¯t reply. She¡¯d already known that, of course. But that only made it worse. The fact was, some children endured far worse traumas without letting it break them. What if this proved she was too weak to be a Mystic? The thought was stupid and illogical. Even so, it lingered in the back of her mind, just like the dream itself. ¡°I know it doesn¡¯t feel better right away,¡± Irina said. ¡°But you¡¯ve made progress. Twenty minutes ago, you were in denial.¡± ¡°The denial wasn¡¯t so bad.¡± Akari muttered. She¡¯d had been the victim in her dream, but what about Emberlyn? Emberlyn had been her first real friend, long before Relia or Kalden. The other girl had reminded her of her mother, and what happened between them. Akari couldn¡¯t deal with that, so she¡¯d pushed her away. Then she¡¯d spent the next few years terrorizing her at school, just to make sure she got the message. Emberlyn had turned the tables in the Archipelago, but even that had been Akari¡¯s fault. Not only had Akari started their feud in their old life, but she¡¯d betrayed Last Haven and sent them all to that place. And that place had reflected reality. They¡¯d lost their memories, but all their emotions had remained, deep below the surface. ¡°Why¡¯d Elend make me the captain?¡± Akari blurted out. For Talek¡¯s sake, he was supposed to be the expert on human nature. Why hadn¡¯t he seen this coming? Irina shook her head in defeat. ¡°Honestly? I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°He never told you?¡± ¡°He told me to trust him, and I do.¡± ¡°But why couldn¡¯t he just explain it to you? Or me?¡± Before, she¡¯d assumed this was all about impressing the Solidors. Now, after today¡¯s defeat, she had her doubts. Elend¡¯s training had been brief, and it certainly hadn¡¯t made her a good captain. Not to mention all the other bullshit with her dreams¡ªa problem he¡¯d caused with his Construct. She was clearly more mentally unstable than most of her teammates, and he must have known that. ¡°In my experience,¡± Irina said, ¡°the simplest answer is often the truth. In this case, I think he¡¯s guiding you toward what he considers a perfect outcome. And to share that outcome would reduce the probability of its success.¡± That definitely sounded like Elend. She could even imagine his smug face as he explained to her how he¡¯d known all along. ¡°What do you think it is?¡± Akari asked. ¡°None of his long-term plans matter if we lose tomorrow¡¯s match.¡± The older woman considered that for a moment. ¡°Being a leader requires certain skills. Skills that have nothing to do with mana arts, strategy, or tactics.¡± ¡°Right. A bunch of stuff I suck at.¡± Irina didn¡¯t argue that point. ¡°I suspect Elend wants you to learn those skills quickly. He made you the captain so you¡¯d be forced to adapt.¡± ¡°Great.¡± Akari rubbed at her temple. ¡°I don¡¯t think it worked.¡± ¡°No. Not yet. But this isn¡¯t over.¡± ¡°You gonna make me beg for some real advice?¡± She met Irina¡¯s eyes, blinking back waves of exhaustion. She couldn¡¯t stop crying before, but now her eyes felt overly dry. ¡°How do I stop being a train wreck and do the right thing?¡± Irina considered that for a moment. ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d start with Elise Moonfire.¡± Akari blinked. ¡°Did you forget what she did before?¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡± Akari jabbed a finger toward the hallway. ¡°She¡¯s done nothing to redeem herself since then. She still spies for her parents. She practically admitted it.¡± ¡°Yes, but why should she give her loyalty to you? What have you done to earn it?¡± ¡°Nothing, but that¡¯s my point. We¡¯ll always be enemies.¡± Irina nodded absently. ¡°I shared a room with her these past two days. She sat on this bed most the time, studying and training by herself. Then, before your team meeting, she dressed up and did her makeup as if she were going to a party. She looked genuinely excited.¡± ¡°So? Why are you telling me this?¡± ¡°Because Elise Moonfire wants to be your friend.¡± ¡°Then why¡¯d she betray us?¡± ¡°She made a mistake. Like you did with Emberlyn Frostblade. Do you remember how terrible you felt that day when you hurt her? Do you remember the tears of joy when she forgave you?¡± Akari crossed her arms and looked away. ¡°Why¡¯s this my fault? She betrayed the whole team. They¡¯re all pissed at her. Not just me.¡± ¡°Kalden and Relia are angry, yes. But it¡¯s out of loyalty to you. Think about it. Relia is a forgiving person by nature, and Kalden is too pragmatic to jeopardize your team¡¯s success. They see this as a choice between you and Elise, and they chose you.¡± ¡°So what? Should Elise and I go get our nails done? Would that make me a good captain?¡± Apparently, sarcasm was like pressure in a bottle. You could only contain it for so long. Irina gave her a knowing look. ¡° I won¡¯t tell you what team building activities work best for your squad.¡± ¡°We still would have lost today,¡± Akari said. ¡°Team building wouldn¡¯t change that.¡± ¡°No college team in history has a perfect record.¡± There was a short pause. ¡°Have you tried to be there for all your other teammates? To give them what they need?¡± ¡°I try . . .¡± Akari slumped her shoulders. ¡°But it all feels fake. Like I¡¯m playing a part in a movie.¡± ¡°There¡¯s an easy solution for that. Stop focusing on yourself, and focus on them.¡± Akari shook her head. ¡°You should be telling Kalden this. He actually wants to lead.¡± ¡°I know. But the Solidors don¡¯t want Kalden. They want you. Besides, we already talked about your addiction to training. It¡¯s not enough to cut back. You need to fill that void with other meaningful activities. Otherwise, you¡¯ll end up right back where you started.¡± Akari couldn¡¯t argue with that. Elend had already tried to make her reduce her training last summer. She¡¯d followed his plan to the letter, then she¡¯d slid back down the hill, ignoring every piece of advice he¡¯d given her. Worst of all, she wasn¡¯t advancing any quicker than she had last summer, and she definitely wasn¡¯t happier. ¡°Do I have to tell anyone else about this,¡± Akari asked. ¡°About Noella, I mean.¡± ¡°Do you want to tell your friends?¡± Akari shook her head. ¡°Can¡¯t explain why.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Irina said. ¡°Really? ¡®Cause that makes one of us.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen your movie collection,¡± Irina said. ¡°You¡¯re drawn to movies with a certain narrative. Movies with wish fulfillment, and an all-powerful hero. Nothing in the world can truly hurt her, and every setback only makes her stronger. You want people to look at you that way. Maybe you even see yourself that way, too.¡± Akari snorted. It sounded so stupid when you put it into words. But she¡¯d be lying if she said it wasn¡¯t true. ¡°But there are certain perks to living in a story,¡± the older woman went on. ¡°It¡¯s easy to focus on the hero¡¯s achievements, and ignore the people she hurts along the way. Real life is different. Besides, Kalden already knows. I¡¯m quite sure of it. And Relia knows exactly how hard life can be. You¡¯re only human, and I think they realize that better than you.¡± Their conversation dwindled down over the next ten minutes. Rather, it grew more one-sided as Akari¡¯s adrenaline faded. Eventually, Irina sent her back to her own room with a promise to continue their talk when she was ready. Akari stumbled out into the hall and found Kalden and Relia asleep on one side of the door. Kalden was sitting up in a dignified way with his head resting on the wall. Meanwhile Relia was sprawled out on her stomach, taking up half the corridor, and using Kalden¡¯s legs as a pillow. She glanced to her right and saw Elise curled up on the other side of the door, resting her head on her hands. No wonder the flashbacks hadn¡¯t come back earlier. Elise had never actually left. In fact, she¡¯d probably been calming Akari¡¯s thoughts this whole time, giving her the strength to go on. Akari knelt beside the other girl and shook her by the shoulder. Elise¡¯s blue eyes flicked open, and she glanced around. ¡°Hey,¡± Akari said. ¡°Thanks for holding the technique.¡± Elise nodded as she propped herself up. Then she pulled out a small mirror from her bag and checked her hair. For Talek¡¯s sake. As if they hadn¡¯t all spent two days together in a frozen wasteland. Akari cleared her throat, and Elise put the mirror away. ¡°I think it¡¯s safe to drop it,¡± she said. ¡°Oh.¡± Elise frowned. ¡°Are you sure? I can¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Akari said. ¡°Everything¡¯s good now.¡± Elise hesitated for another second, then she closed her eyes and concentrated. Akari felt a wall collapse in her mind, but nothing broke through. She¡¯d already faced these memories with Irina, so they couldn¡¯t hurt her anymore. They sat there in silence for several heartbeats, and Akari shot a glance over at Kalden and Relia, who were still asleep. She drew in another deep breath as she turned back to Elise. ¡°You said you were looking for a training partner. Did you ever find one?¡± Apparently, dream artists could only practice certain techniques with an opponent who could actively resist them. Elise was skilled enough to fool most Apprentices, but she struggled against anyone from a higher rank. She¡¯d asked the team for help a few weeks ago, but they¡¯d all politely refused. ¡°Nope.¡± Elise put up a show of casual indifference. ¡°Still looking.¡± ¡°What about me?¡± Akari said. ¡°I resisted your techniques during the qualifying rounds, so I figure¡ª¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Elise interrupted. Then she paused, and took a second to clear her throat. ¡°I mean, yeah. I think that would help the team a lot. If my technique had worked on Hightower today, that might have saved my squad.¡± Shit. Akari hadn¡¯t even thought of that. Elise had brought it up during the meeting, but no one had honestly expected an Apprentice to fool an Artisan. But in hindsight, that made little sense. Elise¡¯s technique had worked against that dragon in Vordica. That proved that skill mattered more than raw power when it came to dream mana. Elend had proven the same thing in Creta, when those cuffs had reduced his power. Once again, Akari had been so focused on herself that she¡¯d ignored the assets right in front of her. What if she¡¯d trained with Elise sooner? Akari blinked and realized she¡¯d been spacing out for the last few heartbeats. ¡°Great,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll text you when we get back, and we¡¯ll find a time.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Elise echoed. ¡°Um¡ªwhat made you change your mind?¡± Akari almost shrugged and bit back her cheesy response. But then she remembered Irina¡¯s words from earlier. Not everything was all about her, or how cool she looked. ¡°We¡¯re teammates,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m choosing to trust you.¡± Elise nodded, and her smile was surprisingly earnest for a sociopath. It must have been contagious, but Akari returned it despite the long night. And in that moment, she felt more like a true leader than she ever had before. Book 4 - Chapter 25: Mental Mana Arts They won their match the next morning. And no, it wasn¡¯t with the power of love and friendship. The other team just sucked. Akari¡¯s team started in an open grassland, with their opponents visible across the field. It was a single-elimination death match, like their bout against Garriland Team Three. Apparently, these quick games were a popular choice in the first-year matches. No one wanted to settle in for a twenty-minute skirmish when they didn¡¯t even know the contestants. Well, the audience got their wish. Less than a second after the countdown, Akari shot a portal behind the other team, Relia ran through with a cloud of death mana, and that was that. Luck had played a role here, but Akari could have spent the whole game polishing her glasses, and her team still would have won. The audience booed Relia¡¯s death mana, as expected. But Relia didn¡¯t seem bothered by this. On the contrary, she offered a helping hand to their fallen opponents, then she smiled and blew kisses into the crowd. ¡°You sure you¡¯re okay?¡± Kalden asked her outside the locker rooms. ¡°I mean¡ªyou were great out there, but¡ª¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Relia cut in. ¡°It felt great! I never would have used that on live TV a month ago. You guys were clearly a bad influence on me.¡± ¡°And the crowd?¡± he asked. Relia waved that away. ¡°I survived my condition. Not just this year, but forever. They could throw tomatoes at me, and I¡¯d still be smiling.¡± Akari nodded in agreement. It was hard when your teachers and teammates called you out. But the audience? They just cared about their own entertainment, and they reacted however the news told them to. Most of them knew nothing about mana arts, much less this team and their personal struggles. An airship carried them back to Koreldon City that night, and everyone held their heads high despite their exhaustion. Four teams from Koreldon University had competed this weekend, and three would go on to the next round. The second batch of teams would compete in Azuland two weeks from now. Two weeks after that, Akari¡¯s team would have their next round in Costria. Four weeks to get their act together and avoid any more pesky defeats. ~~~ Akari sat down with Irina the following Garsday and they hammered out a plan. It wasn¡¯t so different from the plan she¡¯d made with Elend last summer. Fortunately, Irina¡¯s plan was far simpler. She didn¡¯t try to micromanage Akari¡¯s sleep schedule, or make her spend four hours a day ¡°enjoying life.¡± But just like before, Akari had to keep her evenings free from training. Training, in this case, meant practicing with the sole purpose of building mana or refining her techniques. She already did plenty of that in the hours before class, during class, and the time between class and dinner. Not to mention the weekends, where she easily clocked ten to twelve hours per day. ¡°Obsessive mana artists peak early,¡± Irina said. ¡°Then they burn out somewhere in the Artisan or Master realms. Today, your passion feels like a flame that will never die. But it will happen someday. I¡¯ve seen it with dozens of young prodigies in the Artegium. Overtraining will kill your long-term motivation, but your time off will keep the flame burning.¡± Akari nodded along. Elend had told her this last summer¡ªhow her daily routine should last her entire life. She¡¯d even agreed with him, but habits had a funny way of overriding knowledge. She¡¯d always looked at addicts and assumed they were in denial, but Irina told her a different story. More often than not, those people were just like her. Knowledge was cheap. You needed habits and systems in place to move forward. In Akari¡¯s case, they placed a calendar in the pool house where she and Kalden could see it. Every day, she drew a red checkmark in the box to show that she¡¯d followed the plan. If she overtrained that day, she had to keep the box blank. Then she and Irina would need to talk about what went wrong, and how to fix it. However, certain types of training were still allowed under this plan. For example, helping Elise with her dream mana, which they did every Narsday and Kelsday. Akari could also train with Relia and Kalden, as long as she focused on helping them rather than helping herself. ¡°What¡¯s stopping me from hacking this system?¡± Akari asked one night in the dining room. Irina gave her a knowing look. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll try to do just that. But I¡¯m more concerned with progress right now than perfection. If you can train twenty percent less this week, then we¡¯ll call that a victory.¡± Akari nodded. ¡°So I can still cycle mana whenever I want?¡± ¡°No,¡± Irina said. ¡°What? Why not?¡± ¡°Aside from diminishing returns, and the unnecessary strain on your channels? If you can¡¯t unplug from training, then you¡¯ll never be fully plugged in.¡± ¡°But I am plugged in. Isn¡¯t that my problem? That I focus too hard? ¡°I doubt that,¡± Irina said with an amused smile. ¡°Even Mystics lack total control over their own minds. Overtraining isn¡¯t the same as over-focusing. On the contrary, those with limited hours will often push themselves harder.¡± Talek. Elend had explained this before, too. In terms of numbers, most mana artists grew at an exponential rate. Slow growth in the Apprentice and Artisan realms, followed by massive improvements in the Master realms. But this wasn¡¯t because the Masters had more time. It was because they trained their minds, making the most of the time they already had. ~~~ Crimson light filled the dojo as Kalden unleashed his battle mana. He¡¯d been working on a version of Irina¡¯s Cloak of a Thousand Eyes. With this, Kalden could see an entire battlefield in his mind, down to the smallest patterns and details. He would know his enemies¡¯ next moves before they did, along with the perfect counters. It would all be clear, like pieces on a crowns board. Someday . . . At this point, Kalden would settle for a Cloak of Ten Eyes. Battle mana was a brand new aspect. And while Irina had taught him the basics, this wouldn¡¯t be the same as her technique. Instead, he¡¯d have to build something from the ground up. Ordinary techniques were bad enough, but Cloaks were the most complicated by far. Mana moved through channels in thousands of possible patterns. Sometimes, those patterns were useless. Other times, you¡¯d stumble upon the seed of a technique with the outcome you expected. But most techniques were dead-ends. They might be useful in the Apprentice realm, but they wouldn¡¯t scale as you expanded your mind and mana. ¡°How do I know if I¡¯m doing this right?¡± he¡¯d asked Irina during one of their training sessions. She considered that for a moment. ¡°You¡¯ve probably noticed that some cycling patterns feel easier than others. More intuitive. Instead of feeling crushed and overwhelmed, you might even feel excited and hopeful.¡± Kalden nodded. He¡¯d definitely noticed this, and he¡¯d taken note of the more promising patterns. ¡°Ignore those feelings,¡± Irina said He frowned ¡°What?¡± ¡°The right technique should scare you. It should feel too big to comprehend. This will leave you room to grow when you finally reach the Master realm. His frown deepened. ¡°That¡¯s the opposite of what you told me last year.¡± ¡°That was before. Before you¡¯d chosen your aspect, when you were still finding your place in this world. But now that choice is made, and there¡¯s no going back. Now is the time to reach for the stars. If you don¡¯t, you might never leave the ground.¡± And so Kalden stood in the center of the dojo, trying one pattern after the other. Every single day. Glim couldn¡¯t help him this time. At least, not the way she¡¯d helped him with the soulshine. Cloak techniques were more personal, and there were no shortcuts. At least, no shortcuts they knew of. Another technique broke into crimson mist, and Kalden glanced down at his mana watch, checking his total count. 1689. He needed 3200 mana to reach Artisan, so he was more than halfway there. Those numbers were ridiculous for any first-year, much less for Kalden, the second-youngest student in the Artegium. Soulshine really was amazing once you fixed the side effects. The door slid open behind him. Someone knocked on the wooden frame, and he spun to see Akari standing in the doorway. Despite her new rules about evening training, she still wore black combat shorts and a matching tank top. ¡°Hey.¡± She took a few steps closer. ¡°Need any help?¡± Kalden smiled as he stopped cycling his mana. She¡¯d been helping the rest of their team, so it was only a matter of time until she extended him the same offer. He almost made a joke about it, but his aspect warned him against that. Akari was already too hard on herself lately. By now, she¡¯d shared most of her story, including what Noella Clifton had done. Or Noella Frostblade, as Kalden remembered her. Emberlyn¡¯s mother had always had a strong sense of injustice, raging at the TV for things out of her control. It was all too easy to imagine her turning that rage on someone else, even a child. Kalden had suspected this for a while. Or rather, his old informants, Darren and Maelyn, had suspected it. But they¡¯d assumed this abuse had happened years before, in her old foster homes. It was a lot to take in, and he was amazed that Akari and Irina had covered it all in one night. Then again, this was Akari Zeller. She was on track to reach Artisan before she turned eighteen. If she rushed through that, then why not charge through her therapy, too? Regardless, he was glad to see her getting better. She¡¯d complained about this new schedule at first, then she¡¯d distracted herself with random tasks around the pool house. First, she¡¯d organized her dresser drawers. Then her half of the bathroom, followed by her half of the closet. After that, she¡¯d paced around the room like a raptor lost from its pack. But over time, she grew more relaxed. Not to mention happier than he¡¯d seen her in several months. He just hoped she could stick to the schedule this time. But knowing them, it would only last until the next crisis. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Akari waved a hand in front of his eyes, and he realized he¡¯d been spacing out. ¡°Sorry.¡± Kalden stepped forward and kissed her on the forehead. ¡°Knowledge mana can fry your brain if you¡¯re not careful.¡± She grinned as she grabbed his t-shirt, stood on her tiptoes, and gave him a proper kiss. ¡°What were you working on?¡± ¡°My Cloak technique,¡± Kalden said as they pulled apart. ¡°And my Second Brain.¡± ¡°Cloak techniques suck,¡± Akari said. ¡°I put mine on the back burner for now.¡± He nodded as he strode toward a bench and sat down. ¡°Second Brains can be just as bad . . .¡± He stretched out his hand and used a series of crimson planes to build a floating box, no bigger than his fist. The size didn¡¯t matter here, but larger shapes were easier to control. A second later, Kalden rattled off a string of thirty numbers in his mind, then he cycled knowledge mana from his brain to his outstretched hand. A tiny red Missile flew into the box, and the lid snapped shut behind it ¡°You start by storing simple things,¡± he said. ¡°Images, words, strings of numbers. Anything you can imagine.¡± He turned away from the box and met her eyes. ¡°Then you focus on something else for a few minutes. Just enough time for your brain to forget what you stored.¡± He trailed off, and rubbed at his temple. ¡°You know how with physical arts, things just . . . work?¡± She blinked. ¡°Not really, no. I mess up my techniques all the time.¡± ¡°Right, but when you don¡¯t mess up. As long as you form the techniques right, they work how you expect.¡± Akari considered that, then nodded. ¡°Knowledge mana is different,¡± he said. ¡°Sometimes, I¡¯ll pull out the wrong answer from the box, but I won¡¯t know why it¡¯s wrong. Or maybe the answer is right, but I expect to fail, so that makes it wrong.¡± Kalden opened his palm and shot a second Missile into the box, forming a Circuit technique and retrieving the string of numbers. His brain subvocalized them on its own. ¡°And sometimes the opposite is true,¡± Kalden said with a sigh. ¡°My subconscious knows the right answer, so I¡¯ll think of that when I retrieve the Missile. Then I won¡¯t know where it actually came from¡ªthe box, or my brain. Does that make any sense?¡± Akari shrugged. In all fairness, that was probably the correct answer. Even if Kalden¡¯s words made sense, no one truly understood the human brain. Not even Mystics. ¡°And here¡¯s the worst part,¡± he said. ¡°Sometimes, everything works out like butter on bread. I¡¯ll think of a long string of numbers, I¡¯ll write them down on paper as a source of truth, and I¡¯ll leave them in the box for an hour. One time out of ten, I¡¯ll pull out a perfect answer. But I still won¡¯t know why it worked. It feels exactly the same as all the failures.¡± ¡°Guess that¡¯s why regular people give up,¡± Akari said with a grin. Kalden returned her smile. The compliment sounded a bit strange on her lips, but she¡¯d made an effort to compliment all their teammates lately. Even Elise. This was probably Irina¡¯s work, because it all started after that night in Garriland. And Akari was right, of course. Many artists, scientists, and thinkers chose knowledge arts as a way to boost their own intelligence. However, they quickly learned what a massive time investment this was. You could put thousands of hours into this aspect for minimal gains. Unless you planned to reach Master, you¡¯d be better off focusing that time on your chosen skill. There were exceptions, of course, like how Elend created Glim. But that was a unique case, and even he couldn¡¯t replicate it. Akari shuffled in place, shooting longing glances at the middle of the dojo. He stifled another smile. ¡°You want to help me train, don¡¯t you?¡± Another shrug. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t wanna distract you, but if you need help . . . What part of the Second Brain isn¡¯t working?¡± Akari asked ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Like, is it the Construct part, the Missiles, or something else?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he admitted. ¡°That¡¯s part of the problem.¡± She nodded. ¡°Maybe we can break it down. The Missiles are a Circuit, right? Like my displacement technique?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not as fast as displacement. But yeah. Same basic principle.¡± ¡°So what happens if you use that technique on me?¡± Akari pointed a finger to the center of her forehead ¡°I could just tell you what you sent.¡± ¡°It could work, in theory. But . . . you¡¯re talking about telepathy.¡± ¡°So? I¡¯ve been training with Elise all week.¡± ¡°This is different,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Elise is showing you illusions, and you¡¯re resisting them. We¡¯d be sending thoughts back and forth.¡± Akari perked up at that. ¡°Could we do that in combat?¡± He blinked. ¡°Yeah, but not in school games. Telepathy is illegal without consent, so the arena blocks it.¡± ¡°Even between teammates?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simpler that way. You realize what a big deal this is, don¡¯t you? ¡°No.¡± She wrinkled her nose. ¡°Elise can show people their worst fears. How¡¯s this worse?¡± ¡°Dream mana is illegal, too, But not in combat. There¡¯s a long history of people using it in duels. Laws are weird like that. They''re written over centuries.¡± Akari shrugged. ¡°But what if I agree? What¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°We¡¯re both inexperienced,¡± he said. ¡°And Circuits work both ways. I could send you anything by accident, and you could do the same. Thoughts, images, emotions . . . and if you try not to send something, you might get the opposite effect.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Her eyes widened in realization. ¡°So we can¡¯t control it.¡± ¡°Right. Masters do it, but they have years of practice.¡± Akari mulled that over, then nodded once. ¡°I¡¯m fine with it if you are. You know my secrets, anyway.¡± ¡°All of them?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± She narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°You¡¯re saying you have secrets?¡± Kalden waggled a hand. ¡°¡®Secrets¡¯ is a strong word, but there will always be surprises.¡± ¡°So? Sharing thoughts won¡¯t change anything.¡± She was right about that. If they stopped surprising each other, it would mean they stopped growing, and that was unacceptable for mana artists like them. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t have anything you want to share first?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°I mean¡ªif there¡¯s anything you wouldn¡¯t share with me, then maybe we shouldn¡¯t do this.¡± Akari finally sat down on the bench beside him, stretching her legs over his lap. She rested her chin on her thumb, and he could almost see the ideas racing in her mind¡¯s eye. ¡°I used to check out Elend. You know¡ªall those times he walked around shirtless.¡± ¡°Guess I can¡¯t blame you for that,¡± Kalden said with a light chuckle. ¡°I used to check out Relia, too. Mostly during training.¡± ¡°She does have nice abs,¡± Akari muttered. ¡°So do you,¡± Kalden said as he patted her stomach. Akari crossed her arms and looked up at the ceiling. Her grin faded over the next few seconds as she summoned another memory. ¡°I wet the bed till I was like fourteen. Just one more thing that pissed off Noella . . . no pun intended.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Kalden had hoped for something more humorous or lighthearted. But now . . . was she implying she¡¯d been abused for something else that wasn¡¯t her fault? Akari shot him a sidelong glance, clearly anxious to see his reaction. ¡°That¡¯s messed up,¡± he said before he could stop himself. She winced. ¡°Sorry¡ªI meant Noella, not you.¡± But of course, that was still the wrong answer. Akari wanted to be like the heroes from her movies. She didn¡¯t want anyone seeing her as damaged or troubled. Kalden couldn¡¯t think of a way to make it better, so he pressed on. ¡°I think Emberlyn had the same problem.¡± He hoped that was a safe answer, but Emberlyn could be a touchy subject, too. Especially when it came to Kalden¡¯s relationship with her. ¡°Yeah.¡± Akari studied a wooden support beam. ¡°That¡¯s how we met. She went to a sleepover in elementary school. and some other kids found out. Then my hero complex took over, and I defended her.¡± ¡°You went to a sleepover?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°Huh?¡± She turned to face him. ¡°No, this was in school the next day. I never went to any sleepovers.¡± ¡°Ah, so I was your first? That night we shared a hotel in White Vale?¡± Akari winked at him. ¡°Your turn.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°To share an embarrassing story.¡± ¡°Honestly?¡± Kalden said, ¡°I don¡¯t keep track of that stuff.¡± ¡°Bullshit. You were a weird kid, just like me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not saying I don¡¯t have regrets. And I¡¯ve definitely had my share of emotional break down. I just don¡¯t dwell on them.¡± Akari snorted. ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you special?¡± Clearly, she felt shortchanged. Kalden thought about making something up, but that would defeat the whole purpose of this. However, there was one thing he could say. Something that had been on his mind for several weeks, but he¡¯d never put into words. It wasn¡¯t a secret, but he wouldn¡¯t want it to slip out at the wrong time. But when was the right time? And how often did his careful planning actually pay off? Kalden met her eyes and drew in a deep breath. ¡°I love you.¡± His knees trembled as the words left his mouth. In some ways, this felt too late. He should have said it sooner¡ªbefore they¡¯d slept together, or before she¡¯d moved into the pool house. He should have told her that night in Garriland, or afterward, when she¡¯d told him the whole story about her and Noella. Akari had been a mess of insecurities that night, and he¡¯d wanted to reassure her that nothing had changed between them. At the same time, it felt like too much, too soon. Was this tempting fate? They were still young, and they would change a lot as they advanced. They might not be together forever. Akari¡¯s face broke into a wide grin, then it turned into a nervous laugh. ¡°Doesn¡¯t count. I already knew that.¡± Kalden cleared his throat. ¡°You know, it¡¯s customary to say it back.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Never been much of a rule follower.¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°And laughing is definitely frowned upon.¡± ¡°Not much of a people pleaser, either.¡± Kalden knew for a fact that wasn¡¯t true, but he kept that to himself. Akari shot him a look as if she could read his thoughts. ¡°My father never said that to my mother,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Guess I didn¡¯t grow up with a lot of positive male role models.¡± ¡°I get it.¡± She ran a hand up and down his left bicep. ¡°All my role models were in movies, but none of them were real.¡± ¡°You¡¯re parents seemed like good people, though.¡± ¡°They were,¡± she muttered. ¡°But I was too dumb to realize it.¡± A long silence passed between them, then Kalden moved her legs aside and got to his feet. ¡°Are we gonna do this, then?¡± ¡°Hell yes.¡± Akari leapt off the bench and joined him in the center of the dojo, roughly five paces away. Kalden cycled battle mana through his channels and fell into a combat stance. The stance wasn¡¯t necessary for this technique, but it still served a purpose. The body and mind were linked, but the body was far easier to control. Akari did a few warmup stretches, then mirrored his stance. Kalden formed a set of three random words in his mind: gem, maze, and cascade. Then he cycled the knowledge mana to his brain, and shot a Missile straight toward Akari¡¯s head. Akari raised an arm at the last second. Pure mana appeared in her palm, followed by a blade of pale blue light. The blade shattered Kalden¡¯s Missile, and it faded into a cloud of crimson mist. She blinked down at her own hand, and color rose to her cheeks. ¡°Sorry . . . just a habit, I guess.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my fault,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We should have started closer,¡± They each took a few steps forward, then they repeated the process. Akari took a deep breath, forcing her body to stay relaxed. This time, the Missile passed through her skin, and she screwed her eyes shut, straining to concentrate. She opened her eyes a second later, and a mischievous grin spread across her face. ¡°You¡¯re imagining me naked?¡± He matched her smile with his own. ¡°Probably. But we¡¯re looking for a set of three words. Did you get anything like that?¡± She frowned. ¡°I think I see the problem here. How do I know if the thought is mine, or yours?¡± Kalden thought back to his training with Irina. ¡°I know one technique that might help. Take a few deep breaths and clear your mind. Then listen for something far, far away. Something upstairs, maybe, like a timer on the microwave.¡± ¡°What if no one¡¯s running the microwave?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the point. The point is to listen for it¡ªto get your thoughts out of your own head.¡± Akari closed her eyes, and her chest rose and fell with several deep breaths. ¡°It could go off at any second,¡± Kalden said. ¡°And you might miss it if you aren¡¯t listening hard.¡± She nodded, still keeping her eyes closed. ¡°I¡¯m going to send you another thought. When you hear something, you should assume it¡¯s me. Second-guessing yourself won¡¯t lead to progress.¡± In hindsight, Kalden didn¡¯t follow that advice very well himself, but he hadn¡¯t noticed that until now. Akari nodded again, and he shot a Missile with the same three words as before. Gem, maze, cascade. The Missile broke through Akari¡¯s skin, and she made a face. ¡°Sounds like gibberish. Like you¡¯re playing a song backward.¡± ¡°Okay, that¡¯s a good sign.¡± She opened her eyes. ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°The problem is thought language,¡± he said. ¡°We both speak Espirian, but our brains use different pathways to represent each word.¡± Fortunately, this had been well documented in his textbooks, along with the workarounds. He just needed to send one thought as a decoding function, and then feed the phrases into that function. If he did it right, then Akari¡¯s brain would compile it like computer code. They tried several dozen more experiments with limited success. But he had to admit, this already felt better than training with the box. Akari gave him real feedback each time, and that feedback served as a compass to guide his changes. He even tried mixing in some empty Missiles without telling her, and she didn¡¯t hear any gibberish or static those times. That proved this wasn¡¯t their imagination. ¡°I think I heard something that time,¡± Akari said. ¡°Can you try . . . thinking louder?¡± Kalden nodded, despite the absurdity of the request. Mental mana arts was weird like that¡ªsomething could still work, even when it didn¡¯t make sense. So he increased the volume of his mind-voice, and tried to imagine his skull vibrating from the sound. Akari opened her eyes when the next Missile reached her brain. ¡°Gem, maze and . . . castrate?¡± ¡°Close,¡± Kalden said with a chuckle. ¡°Let¡¯s try again.¡± ¡°Cascade!¡± she said a second later. Excitement flared in Kalden¡¯s chest, and he wanted to punch himself for not asking for help two weeks ago. Then again, he never would have considered this idea on his own. ¡°You really are a good captain,¡± he told Akari. A small laugh escaped her lips, as if he¡¯d just made a bad joke. ¡°Still feels like I¡¯m faking it sometimes.¡± Then she changed the subject before Kalden could say anything else. ¡°I thought this was a Circuit technique. Don¡¯t I get to send you a reply?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Kalden cycled more mana to his head, sending her translation function with no data. ¡°Just focus hard on one thought when the Missile reaches your brain. I should hear that thought when I pull it back.¡± She nodded, and that same mischievous smile crept across her face. Kalden braced himself for some inappropriate joke as the mana left his palm. It returned a second later, and Akari¡¯s voice was loud and clear in his head: ¡®I love you too, Kalden Trengsen.¡¯ Book 4 - Chapter 26: Unstoppable Weeks passed, and Akari trained more with her teammates every night. By the end of the second week, she and Kalden could exchange thoughts with ease. Not just words, but images, sounds, and abstract concepts. For example, if Kalden needed a portal made, he could send her a mental image of the spot, along with the angle and dimensions of the portal itself. The combat applications here were obvious. Telepathy happened far faster than spoken communication, and every second mattered in the heat of battle. Normally, spoken instructions were a jumble of words, hand gestures, and visual aids. Now, she could receive Kalden¡¯s entire thought, and make the portal in less than a second. They still couldn¡¯t use this in the interschool games, but that was fine. They¡¯d both seen their share of real combat this past year, and their future didn¡¯t look much different. How far could they push this in the meantime? Could Kalden dig deeper and share his intuitive insights? Could they share aspects and techniques someday? ¡°The first one is definitely possible,¡± Relia confirmed one night. The three of them sat in a loose circle around the dining room table, playing one of her new board games. As usual, the conversation had turned to mana arts and training. Kalden leaned forward and placed his cards face-down. ¡°How do you know that?¡± Relia picked up the dice and shook them between her cupped hands. ¡°Elend and Irina do it in combat. She¡¯ll do her Thousand Eye Cloak, and Elend will feel its effects.¡± ¡°Cloak of a Thousand Eyes,¡± Kalden corrected absently. Akari leaned back in her chair, glancing down the hall toward Irina¡¯s study. ¡°So . . . are those two just having mental conversations all the time?¡± The other girl shook her head, and the dice struck the table. ¡°They still need to exchange mana, just like you and Kalden.¡± Akari glanced down at the dice numbers. Three and four. She reached over to the bank pile and collected the coins for her matching cards. ¡°But how would we know? Elend can make his mana invisible.¡± ¡°She has a point,¡± Kalden said as he gathered his own coins from the pile. ¡°And Masters don¡¯t need their bodies to move mana.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Relia paused to consider. ¡°But I think it¡¯s easier for them to talk most of the time.¡± That took some of the wind from Akari¡¯s sails. Elend and Irina were Grandmasters. If they didn¡¯t bother with this outside of combat, then maybe it wasn¡¯t as great as it seemed. ¡°Although . . .¡± Relia passed the dice to Kalden. ¡°My grandmother told me about Aeon soulbonds before. I think telepathy is easier with those.¡± Akari blinked. ¡°Soulbonds?¡± Relia ran a finger over her sternum. ¡°It¡¯s something about crystal patterns in Aeon souls. When two crystals have the same pattern, they¡¯re linked together. Even when they¡¯re a thousand miles apart.¡± Kalden¡¯s mouth made a thin line as he picked up the dice. ¡°You¡¯re saying Aeons can send thoughts through crystals?¡± She gave a helpless shrug. ¡°That¡¯s what Lyraina told me. ¡°I don¡¯t know all the science. But you can send thoughts through mana, right? Etherite is Angelic mana, so what¡¯s the difference?¡± Kalden gave a slow nod as he threw the dice on the table. Telepathy without techniques, Akari thought. That would push this to a whole other level. She and Kalden could consult each other during their school exams, or call for help if someone got attacked. It might even work in the interschool battlegrounds. The gamemasters couldn¡¯t ban something they didn¡¯t know about. The dice clattered on the table, and her mind raced with more ideas. What if they really could share techniques through these soulbonds? What if she could borrow Kalden¡¯s blades, or Relia¡¯s healing and death mana? Then they¡¯d truly be unstoppable. ~~~ Akari also spent some time training with Zukan and Arturo. Approaching them had been awkward to say the least, and she half-expected them to reject her offer outright. However, nothing could have been further from the truth. ¡°So let me get this straight,¡± Arturo had said after their team training session. ¡°You wanna train with me, one-on-one? Just my techniques, with nothing in it for you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the captain.¡± Akari tried not to shuffle her feet as she glanced around the Darklight¡¯s backyard. ¡°It¡¯s my job to make sure you have what they need.¡± He grinned. ¡°Did Irina tell you to say that?¡± ¡°Maybe. Look, if you don¡¯t want to train, then I can¡ª¡± ¡°Oh hell no¡±, Arturo said. ¡°I¡¯m free tomorrow night. What¡¯s that pure mana technique you do? The one where the Missiles orbit your body?¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°The Cloud?¡± He nodded. ¡°Can you teach me that?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Akari had learned that technique from Elend¡¯s dark web videos, and she¡¯d assumed that most mana artists knew it. Apparently not. ¡°Awesome. I also need a test subject for some new tech. Does that count as training?¡± Her talk with Zukan went the same way. The dragon had been struggling to improve his fighting style for weeks, and he¡¯d almost asked for Akari¡¯s help on several occasions. Predictability was his biggest weakness, and she was the most infamous wildcard he knew. Akari cocked her head at him. ¡°So why didn¡¯t you ask me for help before?¡± ¡°Forgive me,¡± Zukan said. ¡°But you seemed like someone who would rather be left alone.¡± Damnit. He was right. She¡¯d been completely self-centered this past month, focused more on her own training than her teammates. Despite all the progress she¡¯d made, she was still that same girl from Last Haven. The girl who¡¯d betrayed her own family for power. No . . . not exactly the same. Every setback made her stronger. She just hoped it was enough. Finally, there was Elise. Twice a week, they trained together in the Darklight¡¯s basement dojo. Elise practiced various dream mana attacks, while Akari tried to resist them. They both learned a lot during their first few sessions. Elise got to experiment on a tough opponent, while Akari got to practice fighting dream artists. Unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t keep up with Elise for long. While Akari spent a few hours every week on mental resistance training, this was Elise¡¯s entire aspect. Before long, the other girl was beating her every time. Even when Akari mustered a strong defense, it never lasted for more than a few seconds. In hindsight, they should have seen this coming. Elise Moonfire was probably the best Apprentice dream artist in all of Espiria. She needed to train against Artisans, not a fellow Apprentice. In other words, she needed Relia. ~~~ ¡°You want me to do what?¡± Relia blurted out. ¡°Train with us,¡± Akari said. ¡°Me and Elise.¡± They stood in Relia¡¯s bedroom on the second floor of the Darklights¡¯ estate. Akari didn¡¯t spend much time up here, but the room was surprisingly childish. A stuffed animal collection covered one half of the bed, and a pile of laundry spilled out from the closet. The shelves around her desk were filled with colorful board games, books, and makeup products. Relia just stared at Akari as if she¡¯d sprouted a third arm. ¡°I told you¡ªI want nothing to do with her.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Akari said. ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°I messed up before,¡± Relia cut in. ¡°I ignored you and Kalden, then she betrayed us. How¡¯d things get so twisted around? How am I the voice of reason here?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been training with her for weeks,¡± Akari said. ¡°You never complained about it before.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t my business then, but now you¡¯re making it my business.¡± Relia took a slow step forward. ¡°Do you even see what¡¯s happening here? You beat her during the qualifying rounds, but now you¡¯re teaching her all your weaknesses.¡± Akari bit her lip. Yes, she¡¯d worried about that from the beginning. She¡¯d defeated Elise once, but that had taken months of practice. What if they fought again, on less favorable terrain? Or what if Elise ambushed her? Could Akari pull off another victory? ¡°Elend and Irina vouched for her,¡± Akari said. ¡°You really think Elise could trick them both?¡± ¡°They can make mistakes. Don¡¯t forget how Elend got captured by the Martials.¡± Akari rolled her eyes. ¡°We¡¯ve been over this a thousand times. Elend was dealing with Mystics then. They probably had some Construct around the island that lowered his inhibitions. It¡¯s the only thing that makes any sense.¡± ¡°We¡¯re always dealing with Mystics,¡± Relia countered. ¡°That¡¯s what you always say, right?¡± Shit. Akari had used that exact argument before, but she hadn¡¯t realized how nihilistic it sounded until now. Yes, their enemy was a Mystic with powers they couldn¡¯t imagine. But where did that thinking stop? How could they even begin to fight back? ¡°We have to trust someone,¡± Akari said. ¡°Otherwise we¡¯re all screwed no matter what.¡± Relia crossed her arms and looked away. ¡°I do trust Elend . . . and Irina, and you. I just . . .¡± She trailed off and shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to forgive her. Not after what she did.¡± ¡°I get it. But what if she¡¯s our teammate for another three years? Do you wanna stay mad at her the whole time?¡± Relia fixed her with a look. ¡°Elend said we would vote at the end of the year. Are you saying you¡¯d vote to keep her around? Are you two best friends now?¡± Relia was clearly a lot more pissed than she¡¯d let on before. Even Irina had assumed this would be easier. Then again, Relia had spent years refusing to take soulshine, even would it would save her own life. They should have realized how stubborn and self-righteous she could be. ¡°We¡¯re not friends,¡± Akari said. ¡°I¡¯m just doing my job as captain.¡± Relia raised an eyebrow. ¡°Would you vote to keep her or not?¡± ¡°Probably not,¡± Akari said. ¡°Especially if we had someone else lined up.¡± Elise had acted like a model teammate these past few weeks, but she wasn¡¯t irreplaceable, and she certainly wasn¡¯t worth all this drama. The other girl relaxed at that. ¡°Okay. Just making sure she hasn¡¯t wormed her way into your head.¡± Akari nodded and pressed on. ¡°You don¡¯t have to like Elise. You can show up and kick her ass for all I care. We¡¯re doing this to make the whole team stronger.¡± A small laugh escaped Relia¡¯s lips. ¡°You know, you actually sound like a real captain right now.¡± Akari glared at her. ¡°What? ¡°It¡¯s a compliment! You sound more mature. More responsible, you know?¡± Her eyes narrowed further. ¡°What did I sound like before?¡± A slow grin spread across Relia¡¯s face. ¡°A bratty teenager?¡± ¡°Bitch,¡± Akari muttered. The other girl was probably right, but she didn¡¯t have to rub it in. ¡°Wow, way to kill the moment.¡± There was a short pause while Relia mulled things over. ¡°So I just have to stand there while she practices her illusions on me?¡±¡¯ ¡°She mostly does mental attacks,¡± Akari said. ¡°Illusions take a lot more time, and they don¡¯t work if someone¡¯s expecting them.¡± ¡°Mental attacks?¡± Relia raised an eyebrow. ¡°She¡¯ll never hurt me with those.¡± ¡°Duh, that¡¯s how practice works. She¡¯ll fail, but she¡¯ll get better each time.¡± ¡°No.¡± Relia shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m literally immune to mental pain. You might as well have her train with Irina.¡± Huh. Akari hadn¡¯t considered that, but she might be right. By now, they¡¯d all spent time in Elend¡¯s pain machine, and krustoplegia was far worse than she¡¯d imagined. It felt like a hundred dull blades were slicing apart her body from the inside. The blades grew larger every second until she felt like she would explode. Akari had barely lasted five seconds the first time before her muscles gave out, and she would have collapsed on the floor Glim hadn¡¯t held her body in place. Even now, after weeks of practice, she and Kalden could barely last two minutes. Meanwhile, Relia could endure the pain indefinitely, even before she¡¯d advanced to Artisan. Maybe she was too tough for Elise. Then again, Elise had already agreed to this, and she probably knew what to expect. ¡°Just give it a try,¡± Akari said. ¡°We¡¯ll call it quits if you¡¯re too tough for her.¡± Relia considered that for a moment, then shrugged her shoulders. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do it.¡± Book 4 - Chapter 27: Mirrors Relia closed her laptop when the doorbell rang from downstairs. Great. Let¡¯s get this over with. Not many things could dampen Relia''s spirits these days, but her blood still boiled at the sight of Elise Moonfire. She¡¯d betrayed them all, and now she strutted around this house as if nothing was wrong. She and Akari trained together every Irinday and Narsday, and the others had started laughing and joking as if they were all best friends. Relia stepped down the hall and descended the winding wooden staircase into the foyer. There, Akari opened the door and let Elise inside. As usual, the other girl wore her long blonde hair in a thick braid, and her training outfit seemed to sparkle in the dim lighting. ¡°Hey.¡± Akari waved at Relia when she reached the bottom of the stairs. ¡°Thanks for training with us tonight.¡± She looked so awkward when she played the roles of host and peacemaker. But Relia had to admit, she¡¯d become much more mature these past few weeks. How had Elend known this would work? Even Irina couldn¡¯t explain that one. Elise smiled at Akari, but her expression was all business when she met Relia¡¯s eyes. Then she gave her a nod that was almost like a bow. ¡°We can get started right away if you¡¯d like. I wouldn¡¯t want to take up too much of your time.¡± Relia just nodded back as they headed for the basement dojos. Elise had been acting this way since their trip to Vordica. When friendliness didn¡¯t work, she took on this distant, professional persona. It almost made Relia feel bad for the girl. But of course, that was the whole point of this persona, wasn¡¯t it? The trio was halfway to the basement when Irina¡¯s voice called their names from down the hall. ¡°Relia, Akari?¡± ¡°Yep?¡± Relia hollered back. ¡°We need to talk.¡± The three of them rounded the corner into the kitchen. There, Irina and Kalden stood around the island with solemn expressions. Elise surveyed the scene and shot a quick glance toward the basement. ¡°I¡¯ll go get warmed up while you¡ª¡± ¡°Stay,¡± Irina cut in. ¡°This concerns you as well.¡± Relia¡¯s heart leapt into her throat. Before, she¡¯d assumed this was some minor housekeeping issue, like that time Akari broke too many wine glasses with her portals. But now . . . Azul¡¯s ashes. This didn¡¯t sound good. The others must have realized the same thing, because they silently took their seats around the island. Irina drew in a deep breath, meeting each of their eyes in turn. ¡°First of all, Elend won¡¯t be coming back this week. The prime minister has also summoned me to Cadria. I have two weeks to prepare.¡± ¡°What?¡± Relia blinked, struggling to process all this. ¡°Why?¡± The older woman shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t share specifics.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t?¡± Akari said. ¡°Or won¡¯t?¡± ¡°The former. I¡¯m under orders.¡± Relia leaned forward. ¡°But you said the prime minister can¡¯t summon Elend. That¡¯s why he went with Sterling, right?¡± Relia didn¡¯t know much about battlefield rules, but Elend had explained this one before he left. The prime minister could draft civilian Masters and Grandmasters, but choosing to fight put Elend in a gray area. He wasn¡¯t technically a civilian now, but he also wasn¡¯t a member of the Espirian military. Elise cleared her throat from the end of the kitchen island. ¡°Things are getting bad with Storm¡¯s Eye. Elend would get summoned the second he came back.¡± They all looked at Elise, but Kalden spoke first. ¡°Did your parents tell you something?¡± ¡°No, but I can read between the lines. We all can. Storm¡¯s Eye is killing thousands of people every day, and we¡¯ve made zero progress against it. Things can¡¯t go on at this rate . . .¡± ¡°Or millions will die,¡± Kalden finished with a slow nod. ¡°We¡¯re killing mana spawn, but there¡¯s an infinite supply of those. We need to mount an offensive. Either kill the spirit, or wound it enough to make it retreat.¡± Relia glanced back and forth between them. ¡°But why all the secrecy? We¡¯re all united against Storm¡¯s Eye.¡± ¡°There will always be opportunists,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Planning a joint assault leaves our land undefended. Especially when our Mystics are involved.¡± Irina watched in silence, but she looked mildly pleased at their deductions. That seemed as good as a confirmation. ¡°Speaking of opportunists . . .¡± Relia shot a glance at Akari, and then Elise. ¡°Who¡¯s going to defend the house?¡± The Sons of Talek would still be after them, and this would be the perfect moment to strike. ¡°Elend will send Glim back,¡± Irina said. ¡°She can draw on the house¡¯s power supply for months if necessary.¡± ¡°And what about our next interschool match?¡± Akari asked. Irina shook her head. ¡°I suspect your next match will be delayed. They haven¡¯t announced anything yet, but Costria is too close to the fighting. We can¡¯t risk a large gathering of people down there.¡± That sent a shiver down Relia¡¯s spine. Things were finally getting better this year. She¡¯d cured her condition, and her friends were safe and happy. Now the whole world was falling apart beneath her shoes. Espiria had seen many wars in recent centuries, but nothing at this scale. How many Masters and Mystics would die in this upcoming battle? What about Elend and Irina? They were the closest thing to parents Relia had right now. What if she lost them? Irina must have seen her unease because she leaned forward to catch her eye. ¡°Elend and I both serve reconnaissance roles in battle. We¡¯ll be miles from the actual fighting.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Relia said with a shaky nod. ¡°We¡¯re going to resolve this,¡± she continued. ¡°The Mystics have their share of petty squabbles, but they¡¯re dangerously efficient when they have a common enemy.¡± ~~~ With nothing else to do, Relia joined Akari and Elise in one of the basement dojos. Irina still had two weeks before she left, and there was only so much to discuss in the meantime. No doubt they¡¯d go more in-depth on security protocols at some point, but that would happen later when they weren¡¯t in mixed company. She closed the door and spun to face Elise. ¡°How much should I hold back?¡± Elise blinked. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m an Artisan.¡± Relia¡¯s voice came out far harder than she¡¯d intended. Must be the stress of the moment. Her condition had plagued her for years, but that had also been a constant in her life¡ªsomething she could understand and control. This business with Storm¡¯s Eye was all uncharted territory. ¡°I know.¡± Elise shot an uncertain glance at Akari. ¡°But you¡¯re on defense today, right?¡± Relia gave her a long, hard look. ¡°I spent the past few years training with Elend. He taught me how to counter mental attacks. How to really counter them.¡± Elise¡¯s eyes widened as realization dawned on her. Then she shrugged out of her jacket and set it down on the nearby bench. She removed her silver earrings next, placing them on top of the folded garment. Until now, Akari had been lounging on another padded bench near the room¡¯s entrance, but she perked up at this exchange. ¡°Don¡¯t hold back on my account,¡± Elise said. Then, after a short pause, she added, ¡°What about me?¡± Relia furrowed her brow. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Are there any techniques I shouldn¡¯t do?¡± She waved that away. ¡°You can¡¯t hurt me.¡± Technically, Elise had already hurt her once, but only because she¡¯d chosen to open up to her. Relia wouldn¡¯t make that mistake again. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Okay.¡± Elise took a few steps back and fell into a combat stance ¡°Are you ready?¡± Relia took a few breaths to prepare herself, then nodded once. Elise¡¯s channels glowed with violet light, then her arm flashed upward as she released her first Missile. The mana flew forward in a blur, and Relia struggled to track its movements. Her Artisan eyes could see most Apprentice-level mana, but there were still exceptions, like dream and spacetime. Oh well. She wasn¡¯t trying to dodge or block this attack. Not physically, at least. ¡°I call this the Mirror technique,¡± Elend had told her several years ago. ¡°We¡¯ve discussed reflection before, but the real world has far too much variance. Mental techniques are harder to learn, but the laws of physics don¡¯t apply. If you believe you can reflect a technique, then you can. It¡¯s just a matter of focus.¡± ¡°And I can learn this?¡± Relia asked with some hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m not a dream artist.¡± He grinned at her. ¡°We¡¯re all dream artists in our own minds, lass. If we weren¡¯t, then dream mana wouldn¡¯t work in the first place.¡± Elise¡¯s mana hit Relia¡¯s brain, pulling her back to the present moment. She fixed the Mirror technique firmly in her mind¡¯s eye, reflecting the mana back to its source. Her opponent collapsed on the ground as if she¡¯d been punched. Clearly, she¡¯d been trying to inflict physical pain. Quite a bit, by the looks of things. Silence passed as Elise struggled back to her feet. Akari raised her eyebrows at Relia, but her look wasn¡¯t accusatory. If anything, it looked more like admiration. Elend had begun teaching her the basics of mental defense, but she was still years away from learning this. Elise launched another attack, and Relia threw it back. This time, Elise doubled over at the waist, screwing her eyes shut. This continued several times over the next few minutes, but the result was always the same. ¡°Um, you might want to get a bucket,¡± Relia said. ¡°You¡¯re about to¡ª¡± Elise bent over and heaved up her dinner. Akari reacted with surprising speed, forming a portal on the floor by Elise¡¯s feet. Relia stepped closer out of curiosity, and the portal looked like it went somewhere in the backyard. Snow reflected the moonlight, and a few stray flakes blew up into the dojo. Elise wiped tears from her eyes, cleared her nose, then spit into the portal. ¡°I think we¡¯re done here,¡± Relia said. The first few times had felt cathartic, but this was just sad. She never should have agreed to it in the first place. Elise tried to clear her throat, but it came out more like a cough. ¡°I thought we said half an hour?¡± Akari brought Elise a bottle of water, and the other girl gave her a grateful smile. Azul¡¯s ashes. When had Akari Zeller become so compassionate? It made Relia feel even more like a bully. Elise wiped her mouth clean on a towel, then fell back into a combat stance. Her knees shook this time, and her eyes had lost some of their strength. ¡°You¡¯re wasting your time,¡± Relia countered. ¡°You¡¯re not gonna make any progress against me today. You¡¯ll just keep hurting yourself.¡± ¡°You¡¯re using the Mirror technique,¡± Elise said. Relia narrowed her eyes. ¡°Did Elend teach you that?¡± She waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Elend didn¡¯t invent this technique, and it¡¯s not unbeatable.¡± That was true, unfortunately. Mirror techniques reflected mental mana with near-perfect accuracy. That meant the technique¡¯s strength was also its weakness. If Elise made her own Mirror, she would throw the technique back at Relia. After several more exchanges, Elise managed to do just that. The attack broke through her defenses, threatening to send a wave of pain through her body. Oh well. She¡¯d just have to deal with this the old-fashioned way. Relia knew pain. She knew it like an annoying song, looping endlessly in the back of her mind. Before, that pain had brought the looming threat of death. Now, it was nothing to her but a nuisance. Relia drew in several deep breaths, letting the waves wash over her, from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes. Then she flicked it away like an insect, and it didn¡¯t bother coming back. Elise slumped her shoulders, and her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths. ¡°How¡ªhow close did I get?¡± When Relia didn¡¯t reply, she continued. ¡°Akari usually gives me feedback so I know how to improve . . .¡± Relia just shrugged. She wasn¡¯t trying to be difficult, she just couldn¡¯t imagine a scenario where this worked. Even Elend¡¯s pain machine didn¡¯t affect her like it did the others. ¡°I told you before,¡± Relia said after a short pause. "You can¡¯t hurt me.¡± Elise nodded, and the dance continued. She tried several more approaches over the next few minutes¡ªpulling Relia¡¯s worst memories and fears to the surface of her mind. Relia just stared at the thoughts head-on, and they scurried back like rats in the shadows. Her mind had gotten sharper since her last advancement. Normally, this sort of thing happened at Master, not Artisan, but the rules worked differently for Aeons. Angelic mana was hard to control, and brains adapted like any other body part, giving you the tools to succeed. Elise tried something new for her next technique. A rush of memories and emotions flooded Relia¡¯s mind, but they weren¡¯t her own. She was Elise Moonfire now, the daughter of Senator Ashur Moonfire. No . . . his adopted daughter. Such a thing shouldn¡¯t matter, but it did. Why was she really here? To cover up a scandal? To protect the Moonfires¡¯ secrets and political careers? To fill some void their real daughter had left behind? Love was supposed to be unconditional, but to her, it always felt more like a game. The rules of the games were clear enough, but victory was never within her reach. The first memory interposed itself on Relia¡¯s vision, and she didn¡¯t resist. She¡¯d never seen another person¡¯s memories, and curiosity got the better of her. She was young¡ªno older than four or five. Her parents were busy with work and training, and they couldn¡¯t afford any distractions. They sent Elise to live with a family friend. Just for a month at first, then six months, then a year. She never saw her parents that whole time. But when she finally returned home, they showered her with attention. More memories flashed through her mind¡¯s eye, one after the other in rapid succession. She was twelve, finishing her last year in a military boarding school. Her parents were campaigning for office and she hadn¡¯t seen them in over a year. She was fourteen. It was Midwinter, and she sat alone in the manor, with only the household staff for company. She¡¯d always wanted to be home for the holidays, and now she finally got her wish. But who would have guessed that home could feel like the coldest place in the world? She was sixteen, back at Koreldon Prep. She¡¯d gotten good with her aspect now. Good enough to make friends wherever she wanted. Good enough to make people love her. But a part of her had always felt disgusted with herself. She was living a lie, just like her parents were. All the while, Elise assumed it was her fault. She¡¯d been desperate for her parents¡¯ love¡ªto prove that she could be useful to their cause. And then, when she joined the Artegium, she finally got her chance. She¡¯d succeeded at her goal. She¡¯d eliminated Akari Zeller before the end of the game. But it hadn¡¯t mattered in the end. She¡¯d betrayed everyone she knew. First, her alliance. Then Relia and her friends. And she¡¯d done it all for nothing. Relia tried to push the memories away, but the rush of emotions overwhelmed her. She couldn¡¯t separate her own thoughts from Elise¡¯s. What¡¯s more, a part of her didn¡¯t want to let go. She¡¯d pushed Elise away for her mistakes, just like her parents had. But then . . . Elise really had betrayed them. She¡¯d almost gotten Akari killed after the qualifying rounds. She deserved this. Relia sank to her knees on the dojo floor. The fall jolted her back to reality, and she snapped her eyes open. Akari had left the room at some point, and Elise stood very still across the dojo. Relia¡¯s vision blurred with tears, and she couldn¡¯t make out the other girl¡¯s face. However, she caught a glint of triumph in her pale blue eyes. Relia narrowed her eyes as she stood. ¡°You did that on purpose.¡± Elise blinked at her. ¡°I thought we weren¡¯t holding back.¡± Relia ignored that as she stepped forward. ¡°You think you can just show me these memories? Then what? I¡¯ll feel sorry for you?¡± Angels above. What sort of person even thought that way? Elise stood her ground. ¡°My instincts told me it would work . . .¡± She trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid: It had worked. Relia¡¯s curiosity had let the attack slip through her own defenses. By then, it was too late, and the emotions drowned her like a raging river. Relia could ignore her own pain, but not the pain of others. That was in her nature as a healer. Just as it was Elise¡¯s nature to lie and manipulate. ¡°So that¡¯s it?¡± Relia countered. ¡°You showed me this for cheap win? Do you really have no self-respect?¡± ¡°You keep calling me a compulsive liar,¡± Elise said. ¡°Now you¡¯re pissed that I showed you the truth?¡± ¡°That was telepathy,¡± Relia snapped. ¡°That¡¯s illegal.¡± ¡°Sort of like your entire aspect?¡± Relia slumped her shoulders. She still didn¡¯t like this, but she had agreed to it. ¡°Look,¡± Elise said. ¡°I know you don¡¯t want to hear this, but I really am sorry. Sorry for everything.¡± Once again, she left the rest unsaid, but the shared memories filled in the gaps. She¡¯d been desperate to prove herself to her parents. To prove that she was worthy of their love. She¡¯d convinced herself the qualifying rounds were just a game, and she¡¯d been too naive to understand the real-world costs. ¡°Sorry doesn¡¯t fix it,¡± Relia muttered. ¡°You almost got my best friend killed. How do I know you won¡¯t do it again?¡± She swallowed. ¡°Because you¡¯re my teammates.¡± ¡°For now, maybe. While it''s convenient.¡± ¡°Not just for now,¡± Elise said. ¡°For as long as you¡¯ll have me.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that even mean?¡± ¡°We all want to be Mystics someday. And no one can walk that path alone. I respect all five of you, and I want to climb the ranks by your side.¡± Relia crossed her arms. ¡°You had your chance.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± She hung her head at that. ¡°Doing the right thing comes easy for you. For the rest of us, it¡¯s a daily struggle.¡± That much was certainly true. Akari and Kalden had made their share of bad choices, but they were also powerhouses in more than just mana arts. Akari had proven that these past few weeks when she¡¯d finally stepped up in her role as captain. Some people clung to their identities as if change meant defeat. Before, Relia might have tossed Akari in this category. But Akari was willing to look ahead, see the person she needed to be, and then become that person today. Not just for more power, but to become someone who deserved that power. Was Elise willing to change that much? Had she already changed, or was this part of some elaborate act? Relia couldn¡¯t say. Betrayal cut far deeper than any weapon or technique. Elise met Relia¡¯s eyes again. ¡°What if I swear an oath to you?¡± ¡°An oath?¡± Relia blurted out. ¡°An oath to do what? Not to betray us again?¡± She nodded. ¡°What good is that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll swear it on my soul.¡± Elise held out her arm. ¡°If that¡¯s what it takes.¡± Relia shook her head. ¡°Soul oaths are serious things. We shouldn¡¯t mess around with them.¡± ¡°I know that.¡± ¡°You spent your whole life trusting our parents,¡± Relia continued. ¡°And look where that got you.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Elise repeated. ¡°But that wasn¡¯t my choice. This is. If I have to put my faith in someone, I choose my older sister.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not even sisters,¡± Relia replied. ¡°You¡¯ve said so yourself.¡± Elise lowered her arm and looked away. Relia suppressed a wince. She knew how it felt to hear those words; she¡¯d been on the receiving end more than once. She drew in a deep breath and continued. ¡°But I guess we¡¯ve both dealt with our parents in our own ways. That¡¯s gotta count for something, right?¡± Elise looked up again, eyes full of hope. ¡°I still think your oath idea is crazy,¡± Relia said. "So was sharing your memories like that.¡± She paused, and a genuine smile crept across her face. ¡°But if you¡¯re willing to go that far, then maybe you do belong on this team after all.¡± Book 4 - Chapter 28: Displacement Akari crept down the staircase, carefully avoiding all the squeaky spots. Her father was in the kitchen, braising the pork for dinner. The scents of garlic, onions, and ginger reached her nostrils, but she ignored her growling stomach. She could eat later, when her training was done. Finally, Real Akari thought from the back of her mind. Another dream. And not just any dream. This was the memory she¡¯d been waiting for. The day her father shared his theories on personal displacement. Her conscious mind had slept through her dreams with Emberlyn. She¡¯d been in denial then, refusing to see them as the memories they were. Now, her thoughts were clear, and she gave the dream her full attention. Well, almost her full attention. Balance was important, too. If she focused too hard, then she would wrestle control from her past self and shatter the dream like an egg. She¡¯d been pursuing this memory since Midwinter break, and she couldn¡¯t wait any longer. Dream Akari reached the bottom of the staircase, and her bare feet sunk into the plush gray carpet. Her shoes and socks were in her backpack, but she¡¯d put those on later, once she was safely outside the house. Fortunately, her father always listened to music while he worked, so the sound should mask her footsteps. Getting the door open was another matter, but she¡¯d started oiling the hinges whenever she got the chance. Just a few more seconds, then she was free. Her fingers curled around the doorknob, twisted, and pulled . . . ¡°Akari?¡± Mazren¡¯s voice called out from the kitchen. Damnit. Stupid Master-level hearing. But Akari didn¡¯t give up. She wore headphones like her father. Not for music, but for plausible deniability. How was she supposed to hear that distant voice when she might have music blasting in her ears? She couldn¡¯t, of course. So she pulled the door open wider and prepared to slip out. Except there was no burst of cool Hexember air to greet her. No sound of rain in the gutters, and no scent of dusty autumn leaves. Instead, the doorway was a portal that led straight into the kitchen. ¡°Ah, there you are!¡± Mazren¡¯s tone was bright and cheerful, as if he hadn¡¯t just caught her sneaking out. He stood by the stove, stirring a large piece of pork belly wrapped in butcher¡¯s twine. His blue eyes darted from her backpack to her bare feet, and he shot her an amused grin. ¡°Going to hang out with Emberlyn?¡± ¡°No.¡± Akari wrinkled her nose as she stepped through the portal. ¡°We¡¯re not friends anymore.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± His smile faded. ¡°Did something happen?¡± She shrugged and clutched her backpack straps. ¡°Nothing in particular.¡± Mazren glanced at the analog clock that hung above the kitchen door. ¡°I thought we did spacetime lessons at three?¡± ¡°School was closed today.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t make it the weekend.¡± He must have caught something in her expression, because he changed tactics. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want to talk about Emberlyn?¡± Akari forced herself to meet his eyes. ¡°My parents make me do a bunch of extra work. Hard to find time for friends after that.¡± Her father turned back to the stove and pulled off the lid, releasing a burst of scented steam. He turned the pork belly with a pair of stainless steel tongs. ¡°Tell you what¡ªIf you can answer my questions today, then can you leave early.¡± ¡°Questions about Emberlyn?¡± ¡°Only if you want to. Otherwise, we can talk about spacetime techniques.¡± She crossed her arms. ¡°You gonna ask me a bunch of esoteric stuff I¡¯ve never heard of?¡± ¡°Esoteric . . .¡± He nodded as he closed the lid. ¡°Good word.¡± Akari just rolled her eyes. She was eleven, not five. ¡°How many questions?¡± Her father sat down at the round wooden table. ¡°If I give you a number, you¡¯ll just give me vague answers and force me to ask more questions.¡± He raised his eyebrows. ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m on to you, young lady.¡± She glared at him, and he continued. ¡°It will be shorter than a full study session. I promise. Just one subject. One technique.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Akari stomped over to the pantry and pulled open the door. If she was stuck inside, then she might as well give her stomach what it wanted. She pulled out a box of protein bars from the top shelf. Next time, she¡¯d have to stash a few of these in her backpack ahead of time. She¡¯d also have to sneak out the window rather than the front door. The box of protein bars vanished from her hand, and she spun to see her father holding it at the table. ¡°First question,¡± he said. ¡°What technique was that?¡± ¡°Displacement.¡± She plodded over to the table and slumped down in her chair. ¡°And what is displacement, exactly?¡± Akari leaned forward, pulled a protein bar from the open box, and unwrapped it. ¡°You can teleport stuff from one place to another.¡± ¡°Teleport?¡± he asked. ¡°How¡¯s that different from a portal?¡± He gestured to the spot where she¡¯d appeared a few minutes before. ¡°A portal is a Construct.¡±She took a bite of her protein bar, chewed, and swallowed. ¡°Your mana exerts force over space, bends it, and makes a bridge between two spots.¡± ¡°Not bad,¡± he said. ¡°And displacement? ¡°It¡¯s a Missile technique.¡± She took a bigger bite and glanced up at the ceiling, straining to remember more details. ¡°Actually, no. It¡¯s a Circuit technique.¡± ¡°How does it work?¡± he asked. ¡°Can I have an example?¡± ¡°You did it just now.¡± She pointed at the box of protein bars on the table. ¡°You shot one Missile at the box, then pulled it back to your hand. Then you shot another Missile where you wanted the box to go.¡± ¡°But how¡¯s it work?¡± he pressed. ¡°What¡¯s the mana actually doing?¡± ¡°It rewrites the parameters of the box.¡± ¡°Parameters?¡± He made a helpless shrug. ¡°Explain it like I¡¯m five.¡± Akari glared at him. ¡°Are you five?¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t explain it to a child, then you don¡¯t really understand it. You¡¯re just memorizing definitions.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Your shirt is big, and blue, and made of cotton. Those are parameters.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± he said with a slow nod. Akari gestured out the window. ¡°We¡¯re on a mountain in Northern Espiria. That¡¯s a spatial parameter relative to the planet.¡± Another nod. ¡°Mana can exert force on parameters,¡± she said. ¡°That box is cold right now, but a heat artist could change its heat parameter¡ªmake it hotter or colder.¡± Dream Akari was technically wrong about this so-called heat parameter, but Mazren didn¡¯t correct her. Probably because it matched up with the mana theory they taught kids in elementary school. ¡°Spatial mana is more expensive than heat,¡± Mazren said. ¡°Can you tell me why?¡± This had been part of her last reading assignment, so Akari was ready with her answer. ¡°Techniques get more expensive as you climb the scale of abstraction.¡± She took another bite of her protein bar and started chewing ¡°With concrete aspects, you¡ª¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Don¡¯t talk with your mouth full.¡± Akari finished chewing, then swallowed. ¡°Concrete aspects work like tools.¡± ¡°Concrete aspects?¡± Mazren asked. Akari pressed on before he could whip out his favorite phrase. ¡°Stuff you can touch. Fire, water, stone, air¡ªthings like that.¡± She gave him a look to see if he would correct her. ¡°You shoot physical mana, and it alters parameters using classical physics. There¡¯s no mana loss.¡± ¡°No mana loss?¡± her father asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Less than ten percent. Too small to matter. Space mana is abstract because it alters parameters directly, without classical physics.¡± He hummed in consideration. ¡°Not bad. Except all mana uses physics. We use the scale of abstraction to measure our understanding of it, not the mana itself.¡± He gestured to the box of protein bars. ¡°Heat mana doesn¡¯t rewrite some invisible list of parameters. It introduces kinetic energy into the target¡¯s atoms. This increases their thermal energy, and we perceive that energy as heat.¡± She frowned. ¡°Why don¡¯t they just tell us that in school?¡± ¡°They will,¡± he said. ¡°When you get to high school. The fact is, we¡¯ve had heat artists long before we knew about atoms. The first heat artist was a guy named Master Calorys. He¡ª¡± ¡°You just made that up,¡± Akari said. ¡°Calor literally means ¡®heat¡¯ in Cadrian.¡± He chuckled. ¡°The same is true for Old Koreldon. But where do you think they got those words? Anyway, Calorys had a revelation about heat. He understood it deep in his bones, centuries before the science caught up.¡± Akari shot a longing glance out the window. She should be training right now, not wasting her time on this. What was next? Would they learn about Grandmaster Coldys who discovered ice mana? ¡°This is important,¡± Mazren said with a grin. ¡°I promise.¡± ¡°How?¡± Better to keep things moving, or her father could spend hours on these little tangents. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. ¡°Tell me¡ªdoes displacement work on people?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯ve used it on me¡± When Akari was five, Mazren had thrown a small stone into the air, then he¡¯d swapped Akari¡¯s body with the stone. The stone¡¯s momentum had transferred to her, and it felt like flying. ¡°Last question then. How would you use displacement on yourself?¡± Akari blinked. This question sounded familiar. But of course it did. This was the displacement problem¡ªone of the most famous questions in the world of spatial mana arts. ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± she said. ¡°Unprecedented,¡± he corrected. ¡°So is every problem before it¡¯s solved. Now, start with the first step. Identify the problem.¡± Akari strained to recall her spatial mana textbooks. She knew about the problem, but where was she supposed to start? ¡°I¡¯ll help you.¡± Her father pulled two protein bars from the box. ¡°Everything has mass, right? And things with more mass are more expensive to displace.¡± The protein bars vanished from Mazren¡¯s hand, appearing on the table in front of her. ¡°Sure,¡± Akari said. That was why space artists preferred to swap two objects when they could. You moved less total mass that way, which meant less mana to power the technique. ¡°Good,¡± he said. ¡°Now, let¡¯s say you have two mana artists. One is an Apprentice who weighs two hundred pounds. The other is an Artisan who weighs one hundred and ten pounds. Which person is cheaper to displace?¡± ¡°The Apprentice,¡± Akari said. ¡°Mana has weight, too. Not regular mass or energy, but something else. That weight matters more than body weight.¡± He nodded. ¡°Now let¡¯s say you were a space artist like me. Could you displace a person who had your exact mana counts? Akari paused, then the infamous problem came back to her. ¡°No . . .¡± She rubbed at her temple. ¡°That¡¯d be like displacing myself, but that¡¯s the impossible part.¡± Mazren grabbed a piece of paper and jotted down the displacement equation. The left side was a variable that represented the technique¡¯s target, while the right side showed the mana cost. The problem was immediately clear. The technique¡¯s cost was several times more than the target. Mazren could displace Akari because she had far less mana than him. However, he could never displace himself, and no amount of advancement would fix that. Her father leaned back in his chair. ¡°So how would you solve it? ¡°I wouldn¡¯t,¡± Akari said. ¡°I¡¯d just use a portal.¡± Unlike displacement, portals made actual bridges in physical space. They didn¡¯t care about mass; size and duration were their only restrictions. ¡°Portals are slow,¡± he said. ¡°You have to physically step through them.¡± ¡°Or fall,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s too slow in the heat of battle,¡± he said. ¡°Even some Apprentices can shoot Missiles faster than terminal velocity.¡± She crossed her arms and slumped back in her seat. ¡°Not like you¡¯ll let me fight in the first place.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say I would. Someday, when you¡¯re older. How would you displace yourself in this hypothetical battle?¡± Akari almost gave up again, but her father had already given her several free answers today. She could feel a lecture about perseverance coming on¡ªthose always built up inside him like pressure in a bottle. And when he was done, he¡¯d still make her guess. ¡°Swapping,¡± Akari said. ¡°Take a box. Fill it with weights and mana. Then I swap myself with the box. Problem solved.¡± ¡°You¡¯re on the right track,¡± Mazren said. ¡°But we can do better than just weights and mana. Most novice-level weights are iron. You probably weigh about sixty pounds¡ª¡° ¡°Sixty-seven!¡± she cut in. ¡°Sixty-seven.¡± His lip curled up in an amused smile. ¡°My mistake. But you have less than three milligrams of iron in your body. That¡¯s not the most efficient material transfer.¡± Akari groaned. Since when did the material matter? In hindsight, though, she basically knew this. It was easier to swap two stones than to swap a stone and a coin, even if the two objects had equal mass. Fortunately, her father didn¡¯t make her guess this time. He was clearly too excited. ¡°Good idea with the mana, though. We could make it your mana, to be as efficient as possible. Then we could take samples from your body. Skin, hair, blood, muscle, and bone marrow. The list goes on.¡± She laughed at the mental image of lugging this box around the battlefield ¡°You call this faster than falling through a portal?¡± He nodded. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of setup, I¡¯ll grant you that. But you can fit all of this in a pocket dimension.¡± Akari parked up at that. ¡°So if I fit this stuff in a marble, I could appear wherever I threw the marble?¡± That still didn¡¯t sound much better than a portal, but other ideas flashed through her mind. What if she threw a marble down an opponent¡¯s mouth, then swapped it with a blade? Or a grenade? Her father probably wouldn¡¯t appreciate that idea, which was why she kept it to herself. ¡°We¡¯re only halfway there,¡± her father filled in the equation once again. ¡°Even if the pocket dimension is perfect, it still won¡¯t be enough.¡± ¡°Spacetime,¡± Akari realized. ¡°That whole thing is impossible with space mana, but I¡¯m not training be a space artist.¡± He nodded as he brought the protein bars back to his hand. ¡°Space and time are linked. When I move these bars, I don¡¯t just move their position in space. I move their position in time.¡± ¡°So . . . you¡¯re already a spacetime artist?¡± ¡°Yes and no. My aspect is flawed. It deals with time, but its creators didn¡¯t realize that. And this is why my techniques are so inefficient. Remember Master Calorys from before? He controlled heat, but he didn¡¯t truly understand it. Centuries later, we realized that heat is just kinetic energy, then we made a new version of his aspect. This new version was ten times more efficient than the first.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s it?¡± Akari asked. ¡°That¡¯s the secret? Become a spacetime artist, then make a pocket dimension full of . . . yourself?¡± Real Akari couldn¡¯t help but agree. If personal displacement were that simple, she would have solved it weeks ago. Her father¡¯s plan sounded good, but the math still didn¡¯t add up, even with a real spacetime aspect. ¡°Getting the spacetime aspect is hardly easy,¡± he replied. ¡°You¡¯ve been working on that your whole life.¡± ¡°Yeah, but still . . . ¡° He looked at her as he placed the pair of protein bars on the table. Yes, there was a problem here, and he expected her to figure it out. Akari glanced at the protein bars, then back to the paper. ¡°What if two things are perfectly identical? What¡¯s the equation for that?¡± Her father smiled as he rewrote the equation. Yes, even with a perfect swap, the technique would drain her total mana supply. And a pocket dimension was far from perfect. ¡°That¡¯s useless in a real fight,¡± Akari muttered. ¡°There is a way to boost the efficiency even more, but you¡¯re not ready for that yet.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Because this last part is a secret,¡± he said. ¡°And secrets can be dangerous.¡± ¡°Thought I was gonna be the world¡¯s first spacetime artist?¡± she countered. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I know the secret?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you know when you¡¯re ready. In the meantime, this would be an unnecessary burden.¡± Akari just shrugged. She¡¯d been protesting on principle, but she honestly didn¡¯t care that much. Like her father said, it would be years until she actually needed a technique like this. ¡°Does that mean I can go train now?¡± He nodded as he cleared off the table. ¡°Go train, honey. You did good for today.¡± Dream Akari stood up from the table and grabbed her backpack. Meanwhile Real Akari was practically screaming from the back of her mind. The dream couldn¡¯t end now. It couldn¡¯t. She needed this technique, and her father was the only person who who could teach her. If this failed, she had nothing. The dream started to fade, just like they always did. With nothing left to lose, Akari stretched out, seizing control of her past self. The dream reacted to her efforts and began pulling apart even faster, like an unraveling blanket. No. Akari bore down with all her mental might. Back in Creta, she¡¯d been helpless over these dreams, but so much had changed since then. Elend had taught her meditation, and she¡¯d spent weeks training in his pain machine. Irina had helped her face her worst memories, and she¡¯d practiced telepathy with Kalden. This dream was hers to control, and she couldn¡¯t let it break. Akari turned around to face her father, who stood over the stove with the braising pork belly. She closed the distance and drew in a deep breath. ¡°Dad?¡± Mazren turned to face her, and something changed in his expression. Before, he¡¯d spoken with a light tone and an easy smile. Now, he grew suddenly serious, and his eyes seemed to see her as she really was. Not the eleven-year-old novice he¡¯d been teaching, but the Apprentice she¡¯d become. Logically, such an interaction should have broken the dream. Elend¡¯s technique was meant to show her the facts, and this couldn¡¯t possibly be real. Still, she persisted. One moment of doubt could shatter this, whatever it was. She couldn¡¯t let that happen. ¡°I need to know this technique,¡± Akari said. ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me now, then we¡¯ll never get another chance.¡± Her father studied her for several long seconds, then nodded. ¡°I understand.¡± Akari blinked. ¡°You . . . what?¡± ¡°Last Haven was attacked, wasn¡¯t it? You, me, and your mother¡ªwe all got separated.¡± ¡°Well, yeah.¡± Technically, that wouldn¡¯t happen until two years after this memory, but Akari wasn¡¯t about to correct him. Time travel was impossible, but what if her father had always known this would happen? What if he¡¯d left this memory here for her to find? Such a thing seemed improbable, but now wasn¡¯t the time for questioning. That would come later when she reviewed this with Kalden. For now, she swallowed and pressed on. ¡°I¡¯m an Apprentice now. I aspected my mana, and I¡¯m ready for this technique. I need it, and you¡¯re the only one who can help me.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Mazren repeated. ¡°We¡¯d better get started.¡± Book 4 - Chapter 29: Battle Revelations Akari blinked. Was this actually happening? She¡¯d broken all the rules of Elend¡¯s technique. She¡¯d commandeered this flashback, and her father was just going along with it? Focus, she told herself. Don¡¯t mess this up. Mazren leaned forward and met her eyes. ¡°What do you know about revelations?¡± ¡°You need them to advance through the Master realms,¡± Akari said. ¡°You focus on something bigger than yourself, and that breaks down the restrictions in your soul.¡± Her voice sounded more like herself as she spoke. She¡¯d also switched to her adult body, but her father didn¡¯t seem to notice or care. ¡°That¡¯s the common understanding,¡± he said with a nod. ¡°The Apprentice and Artisan realms are physical, while the Master realms are more mental. But thoughts always have power. Not just in high-level advancement, but in your daily practice.¡± Her doubts closed in like a storm of Missiles. Her father¡¯s tone was just too casual. How could he ignore the mental time travel? Was this all just a bunch of wishy-washy bullshit that her own subconscious had cooked up? No. Akari raised a mental shield and redirected those thoughts. She¡¯d come here to learn personal displacement. Doubts could come later. ¡°I gave you the first hint with Master Calorys,¡± her father said. ¡°See, a part of him did understand atoms and kinetic energy all along. He saw the process happen in his mind¡¯s eye, even if he lacked the words or scientific training to explain it. This was another form of revelation.¡± He paused. ¡°You know how in battle you can push yourself harder. You can squeeze more mana from your soul?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Akari said. ¡°Souls protect themselves from damage, but battle can change that. Your life¡¯s in danger, so you can draw more of your total mana.¡± Was he saying personal displacement would work in battle? But no . . . that wasn¡¯t good enough. Besides, the feeling would fade, then she would go back to normal. That wasn¡¯t a real technique. ¡°There¡¯s more to it than that,¡± Mazren said, growing excited. ¡°Healers are more efficient when they study biology. Everyone knows this¡ªschools are even set up around it. It¡¯s the same reason you studied physics before you got your aspect.¡± Akari nodded along and resisted the urge to fidget. So far, this was nothing new. ¡°But your mother and I had a theory. These battle revelations can be harnessed and quantified. The right insight could increase your technique¡¯s efficiency by a magnitude of ten.¡± ¡°How?¡± Akari asked. ¡°I¡¯ve already had the necessary insights for spatial mana,¡± he said. ¡°And I¡¯ve already passed them onto you. ¡± ¡°What? When?¡± ¡°The day Last Haven was attacked.¡± She strained to remember that day, with the black sky over the town, and her enemy floating above. Yes . . . her parents had predicted the memory loss that day, so this might be plausible. Neither of her parents were knowledge artists, but there were half a dozen loopholes for that restriction. They could have hired help, or used a piece of sigilcraft tech. Not to mention the fact that all mana had a knowledge component. ¡°How do I use the insight?¡± Akari asked. ¡°You¡¯ll have it when you wake up,¡± Mazren said. ¡°But the feeling won¡¯t last for long. You¡¯ll need Kalden¡¯s help to preserve it.¡± ¡°Wait, Kalden? How do you know about him?¡± The dream reacted to her doubts, and the room grew dark and transparent. Half of her senses remained in the dream, while the other half was lying in bed. Her father spoke faster. ¡°Give Kalden the insight when you wake up. Use the telepathy technique you¡¯ve been practicing, then have him store it in his Second Brain. Do that, and you can call on the insight whenever you want.¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Wait,¡± Akari said. ¡°How¡ª¡± But she was too late. The dream broke apart like shattered mana, and she found herself lying in bed next to Kalden. Holy shit in Talek¡¯s beard. What was that? Waves of thought struck her like a tidal wave¡ªIdeas she couldn¡¯t explain or comprehend. It all touched on the nature of spacetime, and its connection with her mana. Before, she¡¯d wondered how an ancient Master could understand atoms, but couldn¡¯t put the insights into words. Now, it made perfect sense; these thoughts were pure intuition. It was the same way she could block a Missile with no data about its aspect or velocity. Elend would have called this ¡®unconscious competence.¡¯ Her body and mind knew what to do, but she could never explain it to another person. Even her father couldn¡¯t put this feeling into words. It might be decades before anyone could. Akari sat up, and the feeling rose to a crescendo within her. Mana flowed through her channels, demanding to be used. In that moment, she felt like she could teleport the entire house. Maybe even Storm¡¯s Eye itself. Talek. Irina was right. She¡¯d been too focused on her daily training, always grinding out more mana than the day before. Her eyes had been set on climbing the next step, and she¡¯d never looked up at the stars where true power called her name. She had to test this. She had to go outside, and¡ª No. Her father¡¯s words came back to her, and she flicked on the lamp. This feeling would fade, just like the dream itself. ¡°Kalden!¡± she said. ¡°Wake up!¡± Kalden immediately sprang up in the bed beside her. His channels shone with red and blue mana beneath his shirtless torso, and his half-lidded eyes scanned the room. She¡¯d always appreciated his instincts, and today was no exception. She gestured quickly between their heads. ¡°Make a link, now.¡± Kalden stretched out his right hand, forming the link with surprising speed. Akari didn¡¯t bother explaining¡ªwords were too slow, and she¡¯d already wasted enough time. Instead, she dumped everything into the link. All the images, the ideas, and sensations. Finally, she made her instructions loud and clear. ¡®Put this in your Second Brain before it fades. Keep it safe at all costs.¡¯ Once again, Kalden didn¡¯t hesitate. He might be slow to act sometimes, but only when he struggled with a hard choice. Once he had a clear goal, nothing stood in his way. Crimson mana flowed out from his left hand, forming an array of small compartments. This had evolved far beyond the single box he¡¯d had several weeks before. Now, he had space for over two dozen unique thoughts. He also had total confidence in this technique, thanks to all his training with Akari. She relaxed when Kalden was done, and the revelations unraveled in her mind. The sense of invincibility faded, leaving a hollow emptiness in its place. ¡°What was that?¡± Kalden asked, sounding breathless. ¡°I don¡¯t know yet.¡± Akari slipped out from the covers and stepped into her jeans. ¡°Did you store it all?¡± Kalden nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve never felt anything like that before.¡± He looked as overwhelmed as she felt, but that was actually a good sign. If Akari had imagined all of this, then she doubted it would have the same effect on him. They finished getting dressed, then Akari pushed open the door to the pool house, stepping out into the cool night air. The first day of spring had come and gone, and most of the snow had melted from the Darklight¡¯s backyard. Short brown grass remained, well-lit beneath a pair of pale moons. Akari stepped past the pool into a wide-open clearing. There, she fell into a combat stance and turned back to Kalden. ¡°Can you send me a copy of the thoughts I just sent you? I want to see if it worked.¡± Kalden cycled battle mana and extended both his hands. The first hand conjured his Second Brain, while the other formed a link between their minds. Akari closed her eyes, and the rush of knowledge returned in full force, along with the sense of invincibility. She extended her own hands and formed a pair of wide portals¡ªone in front of her and one behind. If she was right, then this revelation wouldn¡¯t just work for displacement. It should work for all spacetime techniques. The portals snapped open, quicker than any she¡¯d techniques made before. They even looked crisper around the edges, as if her old portals had been leaking mana this whole time. Akari pivoted on her heel, extended her hands, and shot a second pair of portals. Then she formed a third, a fourth, and a fifth. This should have drained her spacetime mana, but her reserves were barely half empty. Before this moment, she¡¯d been like that heat artist with no knowledge of atoms or thermodynamics. She¡¯d pulled open her portals with brute force, wasting hundreds of mana points in the process. Now, Mazren¡¯s revelation had thrown her decades into the future. A future where she truly understood the nature of spacetime. Hard work breeds Artisans, and insight breeds Masters. Irina had beaten that phrase into her head, but Akari had never understood it until now. How could she have been so blind? Why would anyone overtrain in the dojo when the world had these secrets to offer? She unleashed more techniques, one after the other in rapid succession. Finally, she sank to her knees, and a dome of two dozen portals surrounded her. Book 4 - Chapter 30: Pocket Dimensions ¡°So let me get this straight . . .¡± Relia took a long drink from her coffee mug and blinked the sleep from her eyes. ¡°You talked with your dad . . . in the past?¡± ¡°No,¡± Akari said. ¡°I mean, kind of. Maybe. It started as one of Elend¡¯s dreams, then my present self took over. Things got weird after that.¡± Talek. The dream had been so vivid before, and now everything was a blur. What if she hadn¡¯t woken Kalden in time? Would that have ruined everything? ¡°But that¡¯s impossible, right?¡± Relia turned to Glim who stood in the breakfast nook¡¯s floor-to-ceiling mirror. ¡°Wouldn''t that break Elend¡¯s technique?¡± ¡°Definitely,¡± Glim said. ¡°Elend¡¯s technique just cares about the facts. Or at least the facts you remember. Changing things would defeat the whole point.¡± ¡°Unless I never took control of the dream,¡± Akari said. "What if the memory was real, and I forgot about it?¡± Relia rubbed at her temple. ¡°This is why I hate knowledge mana.¡± ¡°Join the club,¡± Kalden muttered into his own coffee mug. ¡°No.¡± Glim¡¯s eyes went distant as she replayed the footage they¡¯d shared. ¡°You took control, then you entered your own subconscious. That part¡¯s clear enough. Even your body and voice changed.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Relia said. ¡°So, Akari just imagined the whole thing?¡± She snapped her mouth shut and sank back in her chair. ¡°Sorry, that came out wrong.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Akari gestured to Kalden with her thumb. ¡°He said the same thing.¡± ¡°Then she went and made twenty portals,¡± Kalden mused. ¡°Almost three times her old record¡± ¡°And we tested it,¡± Akari said. ¡°I only get the power boost when we link up our thoughts.¡± Ideally, she could bypass that restriction once she¡¯d internalized the new technique forms. Thoughts were fickle things, but habits were far tougher. ¡°Maybe you had this revelation yourself,¡± Glim said. ¡°The dream could be your subconscious helping you understand it.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Akari furrowed her brow. ¡°I thought Apprentices didn¡¯t have breakthroughs like that?¡± Glim shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s been done. Elend was just a kid when he made me. Not all breakthroughs are about raw mana power.¡± ¡°But Elend was working on you for years.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not so different,¡± Glim said. ¡°You¡¯ve been studying spacetime since you were a kid, and you¡¯ve focused on personal displacement these past two months.¡± Akari still wasn¡¯t convinced. Making a mana spirit was one thing. That process involved more belief than intellectual insight, and it made sense that a child would succeed where adults had failed. But this was a glimpse into the very nature of spacetime. A revelation that Grandmasters had struggled to reach for centuries. ¡°Have you heard of this before?¡± Kalden asked Glim.¡±Using revelations to become stronger?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Glim said. ¡°That¡¯s the only way to climb through the Master realm.¡± ¡°And what about passing a revelation from one person to another? Or advancing a specific technique? ¡°No.¡± She frowned. ¡°That was all new to me.¡± Akari cleared her throat. ¡°My dad said it was a secret.¡± Glim¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°And this felt like my real dad.¡± Akari tapped the side of her head. ¡°The revelation felt like him, too. It was more than just memories or impressions.¡± ¡°Maybe he¡¯s talking to you from the island?¡± Relia said. ¡°I mean, he¡¯s a space artist, right? Maybe this happens when you mix spacetime and dream mana?¡± ¡°But he mentioned me by name,¡± Kalden cut in. ¡°He even knew about my Second Brain, and that technique¡¯s only a few weeks old.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Glim said. ¡°Mazren knew everything Akari knew, and he seemed to have no agency or motivation of his own.¡± Damnit, that was a good point. Her father had also focused entirely on her training, with no emotion or sentimentality. The clock had been ticking, but still . . . those last few minutes had felt unnatural. Almost as if they¡¯d both been reciting lines from a script. ¡°What if my dad left a Construct in my head?¡± Akari suggested. ¡°The same way Elend does with our flashback dreams? What if this was some combination of my dad¡¯s thoughts, and my subconscious? ¡°Maybe,¡± Glim said. ¡°But Elend has to refresh that technique every few months. And he¡¯s a Grandmaster. Unless your dad was a hidden Mystic, then I can¡¯t see a Construct lasting for years. Not to mention all the memory wiping you went through.¡± ¡°He wasn¡¯t a Mystic,¡± Akari said with a quick shake of her head. ¡°Both my parents tried to fight back when our home was attacked. They barely lasted a few seconds.¡± ¡°That proves nothing,¡± Glim said. ¡°Relia can beat some Artisans that fast. In fact, you¡¯ve beaten Artisans that fast.¡± Talek, that was true. Until now, she¡¯d imagined her enemy as an ordinary Mystic, but what if he was stronger than all the others? How could they ever defeat an enemy like that? But no . . . that was a question for later. So was this mysterious dream. They could spend all morning arguing about how it happened, but that wouldn¡¯t change her next steps. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. She¡¯d achieved her goal for today. She¡¯d dreamt of her father, and she¡¯d learned his theories about personal displacement. Now, it was time to craft the technique itself. ~~~ She texted Arturo an hour later and they met up at his house for a brainstorming session. His parents lived in the Darklight¡¯s neighborhood, so she only had to walk a few blocks to get there. The morning sun cast its long rays over the rooftops, and a warm breeze ruffled her hair. She probably could have worn a skirt if she¡¯d wanted to. Of course, Akari didn¡¯t dress up much these days, not with the Darklights gone, and Storm¡¯s Eye looming in the south. A fight could break out any minute, and she¡¯d rather be prepared. ¡°You sure you¡¯re cool with this?¡± she asked Arturo as they stepped downstairs toward the basement. ¡°Might be a big project.¡± He chuckled at that. ¡°You kidding, shoka? After how much you helped me this month?¡± Huh. Who would have guessed those efforts would actually bear fruit? Not to mention her training with Kalden; she never could have stored her revelation without him. ¡°Besides¡±¡ªhe pulled over a heavy metal door¡ª¡°This will help the whole team, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the idea.¡± Akari followed him through the door and glanced around his workshop. It reminded her of Master Kazalla¡¯s office back on campus, with dozens of half-finished projects scattered across the tables. Mostly weapons and armor, judging by their shapes. Arturo leaned against the nearest table and crossed his slender arms. ¡°So how¡¯s this gonna work?¡± Akari shared the bones of her dream, including her father¡¯s theories about swapping and pocket dimensions. If she were more experienced, she could have built these dimensions from scratch using her own mana. But that was a whole other technique, which meant months of practice. Meanwhile, Arturo had already dabbled in this field from a sigilcraft perspective. She hoped that was enough to fill in the gaps. ¡°So you¡¯ve got basic displacement down?¡± Arturo asked when she¡¯d finished. Akari unshouldered her backpack and pulled out a pair of marbles from the front pocket, holding them up for him to see. One was blue, and the other was red. She placed the blue marble on the nearest table, then she tossed the other one toward an empty wall. Her spacetime Missile followed in its wake, grazing the marble¡¯s shiny red surface. Akari pulled the mana back into her channels, then she hurled a second Missile at the table. The blue marble turned red and soared off in a seemingly random direction. Meanwhile, the flying marble turned blue and plummeted to the ground. Arturo looked confused for a second, then a low chuckle escaped his lips. ¡°Conservation of momentum¡ªI get it!¡± He met her eyes again. ¡°Don¡¯t suppose you can fix that?¡± ¡°I could redirect the energy,¡± Akari said. ¡°But that will take more practice.¡± ¡°Makes sense.¡± He scratched the stubble on his chin. ¡°Always wondered how those space artists made portals to the equator and back. Anyway¡±¡ªhe clapped his hands and rubbed them like an evil genius¡ª¡°What¡¯s the first step?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll need samples from the whole team,¡± Akari said. ¡°Mana, muscle, blood¡ªstuff like that.¡± He hummed in consideration ¡°What about the quantities? I mean, mana¡¯s one thing, but I can¡¯t just donate eight pints of blood before our next match.¡± ¡°Kalden can clone the cells with alchemy,¡± she replied. ¡°Then we¡¯ll need six pocket dimensions¡ªone for each team member.¡± He nodded. ¡°Got a plan to hold these dimensions?¡± Akari gestured to the fallen marbles. ¡°These are easy to work with.¡± Arturo knelt on the floor and retrieved one of the small glass orbs. ¡°I dunno, shoka. Every pocket dimension needs a key.¡± Akari frowned. ¡°A key?¡± He nodded. ¡°It¡¯s the point where the pocket dimension touches our own world. It needs to be a physical opening¡ªone that¡¯s big enough to fit the dimension¡¯s contents.¡± ¡°So why do they call that a key?¡± she asked. ¡°Sounds more like a door.¡± ¡°Not that kind of key, shoka. I think it¡¯s short for something in Old Koreldon. Keylas, maybe?¡± That actually term sounded familiar. Akari must have learned it when she was studying pocket dimensions back in Last Haven. ¡°What about the spatial network you used in Vordica? Can¡¯t we do that here?¡± She wasn¡¯t really that attached to the marbles, but curiosity got the better of her. Arturo shook his head. ¡°I use those networks to reduce the weight of my bags. But you actually want the weight here. Otherwise, the swap won¡¯t save you any mana.¡± Akari¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°So . . . each marble will weigh over a hundred pounds? Isn¡¯t there a sigil to convert mass into energy?¡± He laughed. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s called nuclear fission. Might be a little unstable, though.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Akari almost slapped her forehead. ¡°Duh.¡± ¡°But I see your point . . .¡± Arturo stepped over to the whiteboard and drew a set of sigils. They reminded her of computer code, but with a different kind of syntax. ¡°How ¡®bout this¡ªWe use a spatial delivery network inside the marbles and store the weight somewhere else. Then we set up a conditional on the outside. Your spacetime Missile could activate the outer sigil, and that could trigger a swap at the last second.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± she said. ¡°But how do we get the timing right?¡± Arturo spun the marker between his fingers. ¡°Same way we do everything in sigilcraft¡ªshitloads of trial and error.¡± He stopped spinning the marker and glanced back at the board. ¡°And I¡¯m no expert, but I know blood spoils pretty quick. We¡¯ll need another Construct inside the container. Probably ice mana.¡± Akari nodded. With more practice, she could probably weave a temporal Construct with the pocket dimension itself, but that was off the table for now. She¡¯d been so focused on displacement these past few months that she still hadn¡¯t learned a single time mana technique. Arturo picked up the marble again. ¡°And these are also too slow in a real fight. You¡¯re gonna telegraph all your moves.¡± He mimed her underhand throwing motion from earlier "Any serious opponent stop you. Or worse¡ªset a trap.¡± Akari winced. ¡°You got a better idea?¡± ¡°Hell yeah, I do.¡± He opened a drawer and pulled out a pair of gloves. No, gloves wasn¡¯t the right word. They looked more like vambraces, with tiny rocket launchers along the backs of the wrists. Arturo strapped one around his forearm and loaded some metal ammunition into the top. He tossed Akari the other one, then they stepped through a sturdy glass door into his testing chamber. This room had white stone walls, overlaid with blue protection mana. An intricate sigil network covered the stone floor, probably meant to handle explosions or injuries. ¡°Picture this,¡° he said. ¡°Instead of marbles, we use darts. They¡¯re bigger, but they¡¯ve got a flat spot on the back. That¡¯s where we¡¯ll put the key.¡± Akari nodded along as she fastened her own device to the back of her wrist. Arturo passed her a set of darts, and she loaded them into the top. ¡°And here¡¯s the best part. ¡± Arturo lined up his forearm with a training dummy and fed his mana into the device. The dart flew across the room in a blur, taking the training dummy in the center of its head. ¡°That was five hundred feet per second¡± he said after a short pause. ¡°But there¡¯s a dial on the bottom to control that. We might need to go slower if we¡¯re swapping the darts with humans.¡± Arturo cycled more mana into the device, and the dart dislodged itself from the dummy and flew back into the weapon. Talek, this was even better than she¡¯d hoped. Offensive power was Akari¡¯s biggest weakness right now. Bullets couldn¡¯t usually kill an Apprentice, and grenades could be blocked or deflected. But what if she could hurl Zukan at her enemies? Or Relia? Even Artisans would tremble before her team¡¯s might. Book 4 - Chapter 31: Expectations Elise stepped down the curved marble staircase and found her father waiting in the vestibule. As the senator of Koreldon, Ashur Moonfire typically wore suits of dark gray or navy, but not today. Today, he wore a set of shiny black armor. The material looked almost like plastic, with dozens of small pieces that fit together like a puzzle. Of course, it couldn¡¯t really be plastic, or anything so mundane as that. Her father was a Grandmaster, and his armor probably cost more than some houses. It might even cost more than this house. Elise didn¡¯t know much about sigilcraft, but Arturo would have told her all the specifics if he were here. Her father¡¯s helmet sat on a nearby table, and he held a thin tablet in his gloved hand. His finger glided across its glass screen, and his brow was furrowed as he read. ¡°Going somewhere?¡± Elise asked when she reached the bottom of the staircase. He didn¡¯t glance up from his tablet. ¡°I¡¯ll be joining the other Masters in Vaslana.¡± ¡°What? To fight Storm¡¯s Eye?¡± He nodded. ¡°I thought you were defending Koreldon.¡± ¡°I was.¡± He looked up from his device, and it vanished from his hand. ¡°But we¡¯re making our move today, and space artists are in short supply.¡± They still hadn¡¯t tried to kill it yet? No wonder they¡¯d kept this plan a secret; people were dying by the thousands, and most wouldn¡¯t understand the delay. How long had it been since Irina left? Five weeks? An entire month? But at least this crisis would be over soon, and things could finally go back to normal. Then again, no battle could be won without sacrifices. ¡°You won¡¯t be on the frontlines,¡± she said. ¡°Will you?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± he said at once. ¡°Space artists play support roles. I¡¯ll be miles from the spirit itself.¡± Elise felt some of her tension drain away. The Darklights had said the same thing, and so had her other teachers at school. Only the Mystics would engage Storm¡¯s Eye directly, and the Masters would take every precaution to keep themselves alive. ¡°I meant to speak with you last night,¡± her father said. ¡°Where were you?¡± She hesitated. ¡°I was at the Darklights¡¯ house for team training.¡± ¡°Team training on a Kelsday night?¡± ¡°I need human partners for my techniques,¡± she explained. ¡°And no one else will train with me. Not after what happened during the qualifying rounds.¡± He raised a curious eyebrow, and Elise braced herself for his retort. Her father saw through lies as well as Elend, and even the smallest omission would stand out like a cracked mirror. But he didn¡¯t press her today. Had her delivery been that good? No . . . she¡¯d spoken with total confidence, but such a tone felt out of place here. Conversations were like rivers. They meandered through the land, always abiding by unspoken rules. But one push could send that river flowing straight up a hill when it should have cut around it. Such feats could be done with mana, but no one would ever call them natural. When she¡¯d told her parents about this team, they¡¯d seen an opportunity to get closer to Akari Zeller. But they¡¯d lost interest as the months passed by, and they¡¯d barely spoken of Akari all year. Elise should have felt relieved by this outcome; it meant she¡¯d never had to choose between her parents and her teammates. And yet . . . a part of her wanted to have this talk. This was a chance to prove she could change. She drew in a deep breath and held her head higher. ¡°I don¡¯t agree with what we did last year.¡± Her father¡¯s lips curled up at the edges. ¡°You¡¯ll have to be more specific.¡± Elise shot a glance over her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯re alone.¡± She nodded and drew in another breath. ¡°Those favors I did for you last semester¡ªI¡¯m not doing any more.¡± His smile rose higher, bordering on amusement. ¡°You chose the path of a combat artist. Now you¡¯re afraid to get your hands dirty?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll gladly kill my enemies,¡± she retorted. ¡°Especially if it makes this world better.¡± He hummed in consideration ¡°If only things were so black and white as that.¡± She ignored that and pressed on ¡°I¡¯ve been training with Akari Zeller for weeks. She¡¯s my friend. And Relia¡¯s . . .¡± Elise bit her lip. She¡¯d almost called Relia her sister, but that would be too far. She wanted to stand up for herself, not accuse her parents of lying and abandoning their own child. Even if it was true. ¡°Relia¡¯s my friend, too.¡± The words hung between them for a long moment. She half-expected her father to scold her, or call her naive. They¡¯d been down that road dozens of times. ¡°I know,¡± he said with a curt nod. ¡°I appreciate your honesty.¡± Her eyes narrowed. ¡°Just like that?¡± ¡°I get it.¡± His footsteps echoed against the stone floor as he closed the distance between them. ¡°They¡¯re both talented mana artists So are the rest of your teammates.¡± Elise remained very still, not daring to drop her guard. ¡°Things have been hard for you these past few years. I doubt your other classmates understand. They¡¯re all striving to catch up with you. That struggle gives them hope. Hope that things will get better someday . . .¡± The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Her father left the rest unspoken, but this was another well-trodden path. Ashur Moonfire believed he had no true equals, even among his fellow Grandmasters. He believed that happiness was a thing to be pursued, but never achieved. In a way, he was right. Elise had been lonely last semester, even before she¡¯d betrayed her old alliance. No amount of power would ever fill that void. But then she¡¯d gotten to know her sister, and everything changed. Like their father, Relia was a mana artist with power beyond her years. She¡¯d lived her life with an early death sentence, and an aspect that stirred fear and hatred in the hearts of everyone she met. Relia should have been miserable, but she¡¯d chosen to be happy. And why not? If you already knew how your story ended, then why not make the most of your time in this world? And it wasn¡¯t just Relia. It was her whole team. They all stood apart from other mana artists, but they had each other. Why shouldn¡¯t Elise make the same choice? Her father gestured down the hall toward the living room. ¡°Mandel is waiting by the airship. He¡¯s taking you to our home in North Stocia.¡± Elise blinked. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°A precaution. There¡¯ve been rumors of Aeon cultists in the city. I¡¯d rather not leave you alone with them¡± ¡°Are you saying we¡¯re not safe here?¡± That was the opposite of the narrative she¡¯d heard all year. ¡°I suspect the city will be fine, but the cultists are unpredictable. They may take advantage of my absence.¡± ¡°Are the cultists controlling Storm¡¯s Eye?¡± she asked. He cocked his head to the side, but his face remained carefully blank. ¡°Is that what they¡¯re saying in school?¡± She shrugged. ¡°The spirit¡¯s left us alone for centuries, and now it suddenly wants to kill us all? What¡¯s the point?¡± ¡°Not everything makes sense. Even dragons hunt for sport. And while I¡¯d love to blame this crisis on my enemies, it might be a stretch.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never worried about my safety before,¡± Elise said. ¡°What changed?¡± ¡°These are uncertain times,¡± he continued. ¡°And I don¡¯t take chances with my daughter.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll leave tonight.¡± ¡°No. I¡¯d prefer to see you off before I leave.¡± They stepped into the living room with its massive glass windows that overlooked the landing pad. The airship was already running outside, and its crew waited by the ramp. ¡°This isn¡¯t up for debate.¡± Elise let out a huff of annoyance. ¡°Can I at least pack my things?¡± Her father nodded, and she headed back up the stairs to her bedroom. There, she filled two suitcases in a rush, and her thoughts raced as she worked. Her parents had left her alone plenty of times these past few weeks, so why was today so different? What did her father know? Was he trying to separate Elise from her teammates? Was that why he¡¯d acted so carefree about them? Was he trying to deflect the suspicion from himself if something happened? She¡¯d have to warn them somehow. Sneaking out wasn¡¯t an option. A network of security sigils surrounded their estate, and these sigils connected to her father¡¯s tablet. He¡¯d know if she slipped out the window. Could she warn her teammates without going there in person? No. This would take more than a simple phone call or text message. Even if they believed her, they wouldn¡¯t just leave the city without a reason. Glim relied on the Darklights¡¯ power supply to stay active. What¡¯s more, Akari and Kalden were always thinking two moves ahead. They might see this warning as a trap. And what if they were right? What if her father was playing her right now¡ªmaking her draw her teammates out of the house? What if his apathy was a ploy to make her drop her guard? Then again, Akari left the Darklights¡¯ house every day. If her father wanted to kidnap her again, then he could have done it by now. Something bigger was going on here. Whatever it was, she¡¯d rather face it with her team. Elise zipped up her suitcases and carried them downstairs a few minutes later. ¡°You know this is just for one day,¡± her father said with an amused smile. ¡°You could be home by tomorrow night. Elise handed the suitcases to an airman, and he carried them out onto the landing pad. ¡°I¡¯d rather be prepared. Who knows what other surprises you¡¯ll spring on me.¡± ¡°Fair enough, I suppose.¡± His face softened as he met her eyes again. ¡°Things are complicated right now, but they¡¯ll get better once we defeat Storm¡¯s Eye. I promise.¡± ¡°I hope so.¡± Elise stepped forward and pressed her head against his chest. ¡°Be careful out there.¡± Her father pulled her closer, but his armor was hard and cold. No sooner had she pulled away than he retrieved his tablet again and fixed his eyes on its screen. Elise stepped out the backdoor a second later. The airship¡¯s white hull glowed in the morning light, and the sun¡¯s golden rays reflected off the cockpit. Captain Mandel waited for her at the base of the ramp, along with three other crew members. The captain held a radio in his right hand, probably so he could tell her father when she¡¯d boarded the ship. Elise was counting on that. She donned her sunglasses as she stepped out from the shadow of the house. Eyes were hard to fake with dream mana, and all four crew members were Artisans. She¡¯d need every advantage she could get. The crew greeted her as she approached, but Elise only nodded back. Any other day, she might have smiled and made small talk, but she needed to establish a precedent for this trip. Three more steps, then Elise shrugged out of her training jacket, revealing the blue combat bra beneath. She flexed her abs as she walked, and she used dream mana to enhance their appearance. She¡¯d also changed into a pair of low-rise leggings while she was packing. These were completely impractical for combat¡ªespecially with her curves¡ªbut they offered a much more tempting view. None of the crew members stared, or even shifted their gaze. They were far too professional for that. But willpower and focus were finite resources. How could they watch for illusions when they were so busy not studying her bare stomach? Even if they engaged their Silver Sight right now, they¡¯d see nothing but her apparent vanity. Elise was halfway to the ship when she began her real technique. Dream mana gathered in her left hand, forming a simulacrum with her exact appearance and clothing. In her right hand, she prepared an invisibility Construct to hide her true self. As always, timing would be the real challenge here. She¡¯d have to form her simulacrum over her body without breaking stride. She¡¯d also have to form her Construct in the same moment. If not, the crew might see them both for a split second. To make matters worse, her simulacrum didn¡¯t have a mind of its own. Elise would have to split her mind in two parts, letting one half control the simulacrum while the other raised the Construct. Oh well. No sense in overthinking it now. Moments like these were determined in training dojos, not in the heat of battle. Fortunately, Elise had spent the past few weeks training with the toughest Artisan she knew. Three . . . Two . . . One. The dream mana flowed out from her hand, coalescing into her techniques. One version of Elise stepped forward, boarding the airship ahead of the crew. Meanwhile, her physical self backtracked toward the house, taking cover within its dark shadow. The crew boarded the ship behind Elise¡¯s simulacrum, none the wiser. Dream artists liked to pretend they controlled people, but the truth was far simpler. Most techniques came down to managing expectations. Not with mana, but with the mundane interactions between people. At the end of the day, dream artists didn¡¯t fool anyone. People fooled themselves, seeing exactly what they expected. That was why an Apprentice could fool a group of Artisans, or even a Master. ¡°She¡¯s on board,¡± Mandel said into his radio. ¡°Good,¡± her father¡¯s voice echoed from the other side. ¡°You¡¯re clear for takeoff.¡± Elise¡¯s simulacrum headed straight for her bedroom, giving the crew strict orders not to disturb her. With luck, they would land in North Stocia by the time they realized what happened. The captain boarded the ship behind his crew, and the ramp rose behind him. Finally, the propellors sent up gusts of wind as the vessel climbed toward the sky. Book 4 - Chapter 32: Time to Advance Akari stepped off the lawn and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Two weeks had passed since they¡¯d built her new wrist launchers, and her team was training harder than ever. Displacement had changed all their tactics overnight, and those new tactics took dozens of hours to master. Moving herself was one thing; Akari just picked a direction, launched a dart, and made the swap. The first few tries had involved some tripping and stumbling, but she¡¯d adapted quickly. Things were different with teammates, though. You couldn¡¯t just pop people across the battlefield and hope for the best. The swap always left them disorientated for several seconds, and those seconds might mean death in the heat of battle. To counter this effect, they¡¯d all agreed on a code system. For example, she might tell Zukan to dive, then shoot his dart above an opponent¡¯s head. When Zukan emerged from the swap, he would already have his attention and mana aimed downward. After that, it was just a matter of practice. Best of all, she didn¡¯t need to see her teammates to swap them. Arturo had built receivers into everyone¡¯s armor, and these served as a beacon for her spacetime Missiles. The beacons worked through walls, but not through Constructs. Mana stopped mana, and this was no exception to that rule. Akari stepped under the covered patio and plopped down in a cushioned chair. She unzipped her bag and pulled out her combat drink¡ªa mix of water, liquid mana, and electrolytes. After taking a good long swallow, she leaned forward and peeked at her phone. One missed message from Elise Moonfire: Something¡¯s going on. My dad just tried to send me out of state, and I had to use my aspect to get away. He said it wasn¡¯t safe here in Koreldon City. I¡¯ll be at the Darklights¡¯ in twenty minutes. Everyone be careful till then, okay? ¡°Hey,¡± Arturo said over her earpiece ¡°No phones during training, captain!¡± Akari snorted as she slid the phone back into her bag. Elend had banned phones during training, and Akari had kept the rule going in his absence, calling out her teammates whenever they got distracted. And by teammates, she meant Arturo. He was the only one with actual friends outside this team. Naturally, he turned the tables on her whenever he got the chance. ¡°So where¡¯s Moonfire?¡± Arturo asked. ¡°Still doing her makeup?¡± Akari shrugged as she got to her feet. ¡°Should be here any minute now.¡± She was about to join the others in the yard when Glim appeared in the sliding glass door. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°Hey,¡± the spirit said in a low voice. ¡°You¡¯ve got a visitor.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Elise?¡± But no . . . Elise always walked around the house when they trained outside. She wouldn¡¯t bother knocking on the front door. Glim shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s Sozen Trengsen.¡± ¡°Kalden¡¯s brother? He¡¯s here?¡± They hadn¡¯t heard from Sozen since that incident after the qualifying rounds last year. Hadn¡¯t he fled the country or something? ¡°He wants to see you,¡± Glim replied. ¡°Both of you. I already let him in.¡± ¡°You sure it¡¯s really him?¡± Glim gave her a flat look. Right. Grandmaster-level dream artist. She glanced across the yard and found Kalden talking with Relia and Zukan near a cluster of pine trees. He had his back turned to Akari, but that didn¡¯t matter. In addition to their displacement upgrades, Arturo had built some knowledge mana transmitters for her and Kalden. This let them hold a mental link across the battlefield with minimal effort. Akari¡¯s device also came with a small battery of Kalden¡¯s mana, so she could instigate the link whenever she wanted. She channeled her mana into the device, then focused on her message to Kalden. ¡®Glim says your brother¡¯s here. He wants to see us.¡¯ Kalden spun around, shooting her a curious look from across the yard. Akari just shrugged, then gestured with her chin toward the house. They stepped into the living room a minute later and found Sozen sitting on the leather sofa. He held a steaming teacup in his right hand, but it was probably dream mana. No way Glim had boiled an actual kettle of water that fast. Sozen got to his feet when he saw them. As always, he looked like a slightly older version of Kalden, with a thin beard framing his tan face, and his black hair pulled back in a blade artist¡¯s knot. Kalden froze in the archway, as if he hadn¡¯t really expected to find anyone here. ¡°Sozen? I thought you were in hiding.¡± ¡°I am,¡± Sozen replied. ¡°But I¡¯m here on behalf of my patrons.¡± He gestured to the other sofa across from him. ¡°Please.¡± They settled in, and Sozen did the same. Akari wished she¡¯d brought her combat drink because her throat felt suddenly dry. Sozen worked for the Solidors¡ªthe very people she needed to help her advance. Things had gone so well these past few weeks. Did that mean she was due for some bad news? ¡°How have you two been?¡± Sozen asked. ¡°Good,¡± they said in unison. His lip quirked up at the edge. ¡°Straight to business, then. How close are you to Artisan?¡± ¡°I¡¯m right at the threshold,¡± Kalden said after a brief pause. ¡°I had to put a stopper on my soul a few weeks back.¡± A stopper was an expensive piece of tech that made a pocket dimension around your soul. Supposedly, it locked a person¡¯s mana count and stopped the soul from advancing on accident. Akari glanced down at her watch. ¡°A hundred and fifty points to go.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Sozen said. ¡°Then we¡¯re just in time.¡± Kalden glanced at Akari, then back to his brother. ¡°This visit¡¯s not a coincidence, is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not. The Solidors are coming to Koreldon City.¡± He pulled out a small white card and slid it on the coffee table between them. ¡°They¡¯ll be at this address at eleven o¡¯clock today, and they¡¯ve asked me to escort you there.¡± Akari blinked, and then understanding dawned on her. Sozen and his patrons had probably kept a close eye on her progress, counting the days until this moment. ¡°You¡¯re saying . . .¡± He nodded once. ¡°It¡¯s time to advance.¡± Book 4 - Chapter 33: Undefended Akari¡¯s chest tightened, and her fingers turned to ice. No, no, no. This was too soon. They¡¯d lost their first interschool match, and the later matches were postponed. Her team never got a chance to redeem themselves or show how much they¡¯d improved. She¡¯d never had her chance to shine on the world stage. Kalden must have noticed her unease because he reached over and squeezed her hand. Right, stay focused. Sozen had said it was time to advance. Artisan and Aeon were a packaged deal, especially for people like her and Kalden. She drew in a deep breath and met Sozen¡¯s eyes again. ¡°This means the Solidors picked me? To become an Aeon?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too soon for promises,¡± Sozen said. ¡°They want to meet you before they make their decision. But yes, assuming that goes well, then Lady Solidor will perform the ritual today.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s just a formality? I mean¡ªthey¡¯ve seen my matches, right? They know who I am.¡± He considered that for a moment. ¡°The Solidors come and go from this world. Even when they¡¯re here, I don¡¯t think they watch much TV.¡± Seriously? What the hell, Elend? He¡¯d made her think the Solidors were watching these matches, judging her every move. She¡¯d spent all that time stressing over the outcome. Now none of it even mattered? But no . . . Elend had just told her to take her new role seriously. She¡¯d assumed the rest on her own. In hindsight, this made far more sense. The Solidors were immortal beings. They¡¯d ascended from their own world, and their power rivaled Mystics. Why would they bother watching some silly school matches on TV? Furthermore, Relia claimed that the strongest Aeons could see into a person¡¯s heart, the same way a dream artist could. That would explain the importance of this in-person meeting. But what if they looked at her and didn¡¯t like what they saw? Her aspect and techniques were her best qualities. Without a chance to show those off . . . Akari took another deep breath and brought her thoughts back to the present moment. ¡°Any idea what they¡¯re looking for?¡± ¡°From this meeting?¡± Sozen asked. She nodded. ¡°Just be yourself.¡± Great. She could have gotten that advice from a Talekday morning cartoon. Sozen held up a hand. ¡°I know, I know¡ªit sounds like a useless answer. But Lady Solidor will know if you lie to her. You¡¯ll never succeed at being someone else, so you might as well succeed at being Akari Zeller.¡± ¡°What about my mana counts?¡± she asked. ¡°I can¡¯t fill the gap in one day.¡± ¡°Your numbers are within acceptable margins,¡± he said. ¡°The soulshine has already prepared your body for massive gains in a short time. Lady Solidor can force the remaining mana through your soul and trigger the advancement.¡± Akari blinked. ¡°You can do that?¡± She¡¯d heard of Aeons advancing quicker than ordinary people, but she hadn¡¯t realized they could use that technique on others. ¡°It won¡¯t be pleasant,¡± Sozen said. ¡°And it¡¯s certainly not sustainable for an Apprentice. But yes, one hundred and fifty MPs should be fine.¡± Kalden cleared his throat from beside her. ¡°The Mystics are fighting Storm¡¯s Eye today. I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s no coincidence, either?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± Sozen confirmed. ¡°Most Mystics want to see my patrons dead. Either that, or they want a piece of the power for themselves. But Koreldon City is undefended right now. We¡¯ve gone to great lengths to arrange this moment, and we might not get another chance.¡± Just then, someone knocked on the front door. Sozen cycled his mana and snapped his head toward the foyer. ¡°I¡¯ll get it!¡± Glim hollered from across the house. ¡°Expecting someone?¡± Kalden asked his brother. ¡°The Sons of Talek,¡± Akari guessed. He¡¯d just called the city undefended. Anyone else could take advantage of that. Sozen straightened his back, but he didn¡¯t drop his guard. ¡°They¡¯ve been more active these past few weeks. They¡¯re planning something, and we think it involves this region.¡± Footsteps echoed from the foyer as Elise stepped inside. She was breathing hard, and a layer of sweat covered her face. ¡°Hey,¡± Akari said. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ~~~ Elend stepped forward, passing through a portal with a dozen other Masters and Grandmasters. Irina stood by his side, along with Trish Sterling, and the rest of his squad. Palm trees thrashed in the wind overhead, and the sky grew dark with storm clouds. Blue painted the sky to the east, and he knew Storm¡¯s Eye was close. Trish immediately vanished through the portal behind him. As a Grandmaster space artist, she¡¯d be in charge of moving the other Masters into position. Ashur Moonfire was here as well; he¡¯d be moving the Mystics to the front lines. ¡°Darklight,¡± a voice called from across the town square. ¡°Everest wants a visual.¡± Elend nodded as he cycled his dream mana. Irina did the same beside him, and they raised their hands skyward, forming their techniques as one. A pillar of violet and gold formed above their heads, and Elend got a bird¡¯s eye view in his head Puerto Crescento was a small city on Vaslana¡¯s southeast coast. Well, the city was small by Elend¡¯s standards, but it actually filled several dozen square miles between the mountains and the Inner Sea. The Mystics had gathered closer to the bay, amid the towering skyscrapers of the commercial district. Meanwhile, the support squads waited farther back in various neighborhoods. Elend¡¯s squad had emerged in a historical part of town, with old stone buildings and cobblestone streets. Space was tight up here, and most of the houses were close enough to jump between rooftops. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. He extended his senses outward and found more Master squads gathered in a loose ring around the bay. Like Elend¡¯s squad, they¡¯d placed themselves several miles back from the coast. His thoughts merged with Irina¡¯s, and he felt the effects of her Cloak technique. This let him see the battlefield on a deeper level, past the rooftops, and into the buildings themselves. This confirmed what he¡¯d already known: the city had been empty for days, with all the civilians relocated to nearby towns. The technicians set up a device behind them, and Elend and Irina cycled their technique back into the sigils. This would link up with a larger web of knowledge throughout the city, and Mystic Everest would use it to build their battle plan. They turned their gaze toward the eastern horizon, past the bay, where the storm clouds gathered in the distance. As always, the clouds spun around a focal point¡ªa single source of power and mana. The spirit drew closer over the next few minutes, slithering through the skies with its massive, serpent-like body. Elend watched it through the safety of his technique. It didn¡¯t normally attack from this distance, but his job was to watch. The more he saw, the more the Mystics would see. More portals opened around the city, and more Masters and Mystics joined the battle. Elend had fought in wars before, but he¡¯d never seen so many powerful mana artists in one place. This whole year had spiraled out of control. One day, they¡¯d all been going about their daily lives, and then Storm¡¯s Eye appeared out of nowhere, and they¡¯d been fighting it ever since. And still, after all this time, no one knew why. Was the spirit acting on its own, or did a human mind guide its actions? Elend leaned toward the latter theory himself. Glim was technically her own person, with her own needs, goals, and desires. Sometimes, she even disagreed with Elend¡¯s plans and refused to follow them. For all that, Glim still followed a set of rules¡ªthe same rules he¡¯d put in place more than fifty years ago. Elend had also spent a good portion of his life researching mana spirits, and most historical accounts were the same. They all needed a host to survive and maintain their sentience. Storm¡¯s Eye was more than just a force of nature. Somewhere, a human mind steered its course. Maybe that mind lived deep within the spirit itself, or maybe it controlled it from afar. Regardless, they faced a human enemy with human goals. Elend had shared his theories with the Mystics, but he couldn''t prove anything. Besides, the truth wouldn¡¯t change their plan: Storm¡¯s Eye was a threat to civilization, and they needed to stop it. And so they gathered here in Puerto Crescento, luring the spirit into a trap. Despite all the unknowns, one thing remained clear these past few months: Storm¡¯s Eye was a force of chaos, like the mana storms themselves. And chaos mana always flowed toward knowledge mana until it reached equilibrium. With that in mind, they¡¯d analyzed the spirit¡¯s patterns and drawn it to this specific spot. A city filled with mana artists, surrounded by mountains and water on all sides. He¡¯d even heard whispers of Etherite shards among the Mystics¡¯ ranks, but no one would confirm this. The minutes passed by as the spirit drew closer to the city proper. Lightning flashed on the horizon, and the clouds blocked out the morning sun. The wind blew fiercer than before, and debris flew through the empty streets. The elements raged harder until the air itself came alive with the storm¡¯s mana. Even from ten miles away, Elend felt the weight of its power. The officers shouted more commands and hundreds of mana artists prepared their techniques across the city. Elend saw the sea of colors in his mind¡¯s eye, and Irina¡¯s Cloak fed him data about their power and aspects. Trish formed another portal for the nearby squads, ready to give them a possible retreat if they needed it. The spirit passed an invisible threshold, and walls of pale blue light rose from the ground and the sea. These formed a dome of protection mana around the battlefield, stretching from horizon to horizon. Nothing could pass through this barrier, save for the portals they¡¯d already put in place. Storm¡¯s Eye froze at the edge of the barrier, surveying its opponents with its massive draconic head. Elend had seen the creature through Glim¡¯s memories, and he prepared himself for a blast of blinding light. Nothing came. The Mystics shot techniques of their own, striking from every angle at once. Some were as big as airships, and they moved too quickly for Elend''s eyes to track. The Missiles shattered against the creature''s body, and he felt the sounds and shockwaves a heartbeat later. Still, the creature hovered above the sea, neither attacking nor defending itself. Come on . . . what are you waiting for? Something bright blue formed on the horizon, but it didn¡¯t come from Storm¡¯s Eye. Rather, it came from deep below the water¡¯s surface. Elend followed the threads of Irina¡¯s Cloak, and the truth hit him like a Missile. ¡°That¡¯s a portal.¡± He turned to face his squad. ¡°One of ours?¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be,¡± Trish replied ¡°That¡¯s too big. Even Moonfire couldn¡¯t make a portal that size.¡± As they spoke, Storm¡¯s Eye dove into the water with shocking speed. Hundred-foot waves broke over the surface, heading straight for the shore. ¡°It¡¯s escaping,¡± someone said from farther down the street. ¡°But how?¡± ¡®It¡¯s like your vault,¡¯ Irina¡¯s voice said in his mind. ¡®Storm¡¯s Eye couldn¡¯t make that portal through the wards. Not without help.¡± She was right. Someone had betrayed this army, and they both knew who. ¡®Where does the portal lead?¡± Elend asked her. ¡®Working on it,¡¯ Irina said. ¡®It looks like . . . oh no.¡¯ ¡°We need to leave,¡± she said to Trish. ¡°Now.¡± ¡°Where?¡± the other woman asked. ¡°Where¡¯s it going?¡± ¡°Koreldon City.¡± ~~~ Glimmer Darklight soared through the estate, surveying every inch of the perimeter. Glim was no ordinary guardian; she was the house itself. She felt everything at once, from the inner walls to the property lines deep within the forest. From the old stone foundation, to several hundred feet above the roof. As a Grandmaster dream artist, she also saw a great deal beyond the property line. She watched over the kids on campus, during their commute, and while they trained with their friends. Glim¡¯s physical form was bound by old oaths, but she and Elend had found many loopholes over the years. In this house, she was stronger than anywhere else in the world, and she was ready to prove it if someone dared to attack. Akari and Kalden sat with Sozen in the living room, discussing their next advancement. They¡¯d be meeting the Solidors at Emperor¡¯s Cross Terminal, which was outside Glim¡¯s range. That was fine; she and Elend had prepared for this possibility. Kalden could easily store a mana battery in his bag, and Glim could run off of that for several hours. Hopefully, that would be enough to keep them safe. A silent alarm triggered from the driveway as someone approached the front of the house. Glim sent a part of herself that way and found Elise Moonfire jogging toward the front door. Strange. Elise had visited this house thirty-three times since last Hexember, and she always showed up in her car¡ªa violet, 871 Ethereal. Glim diverted more attention toward the girl as she approached the front door. Dream artists couldn¡¯t read thoughts, but bodies and faces told a clear enough story. In this case, Elise wasn¡¯t jogging by choice. Her face betrayed signs of worry, along with some annoyance. She would have preferred to drive here, but that wasn¡¯t an option. Had something happened to her car? No . . . that wasn¡¯t it. Her car was too recognizable. Too easily tracked. She¡¯d come here in secret. Probably against her parents¡¯ wishes. Beneath all this was a spark of determination. She feared for her teammates¡¯ safety, and she¡¯d come to warn them. Elise reached the front door and knocked a second later. ¡°I¡¯ll get it!¡± Glim hollered. She sent a burst of mana into the security pad, and it flew open to let Elise inside. But in that moment, Glim felt a powerful presence to the east. Almost like a Mystic with unveiled power. While one version of Glim opened the front door, another part of her soared into the morning air, getting a bird¡¯s eye view of the city, and the bay beyond. There, a massive portal split the sky. It must have been more than a mile in diameter, with several million gallons of water gushing out into the sea below. A familiar form emerged behind the curtain of falling water, and Glim saw the source of the power she¡¯d felt. The curtains parted as the spirit slithered in midair. The clouds gathered around its serpent-like form, and their color changed from dull gray to mana blue. The creature turned its head toward the city, and Glim felt the weight of its gaze, just as she¡¯d felt it in Vordica. Even for Glim, there was no time to think. No time to move. Storm¡¯s Eye pulled apart its massive jaws, and the world turned white as it launched its attack. Book 4 - Chapter 34: Death and Destruction Space warped around Kalden, and his body spun through the air. One minute, he¡¯d been sitting on the sofa, holding Akari¡¯s hand and making small circles with his thumb. His brother sat in the seat opposite them, and Elise Moonfire stood in the doorway. Then someone displaced his body without warning. His back struck the earth, and the gray sky filled his vision. A few trees drifted in the morning wind, showing the first signs of their spring leaves. Kalden¡¯s instincts kicked in a second later. Three weeks ago, he might have spent several seconds in the grass, gathering his wits and waiting for his stomach to settle. But they¡¯d trained with this technique every day since Akari¡¯s last dream, and he sprang to his feet at once. Akari always tried to warn them before a swap, but warnings weren¡¯t always an option in the heat of battle. Sometimes she moved them to safety as their enemies closed in. Other times, she would see an opportunity, and her brain was two steps ahead of her mouth. Either way, it was best to adjust as quickly as possible. He found himself in the Darklight¡¯s backyard, a quarter mile from the house. The others all stood beside him¡ªnot just Akari and Elise, but also Relia, Arturo, and Zukan. Naturally, they¡¯d all had the same reaction to the swap. Akari, Relia, and Zukan cycled mana to their hands, while, Arturo held an assault rifle, and Elise looked ready to raise a shield. Kalden¡¯s cycled his battle mana, and time slowed around him. This wasn¡¯t a true Cloak technique, but it sharpened his senses and his thoughts, letting him take in more of his surroundings. The wind blew harder, and the clouds darkened with the first signs of a storm. Worst of all, he felt a pressure on his soul¡ªa pressure only he¡¯d felt once before. Light flashed from the east¡ªa beam of blinding white mana, just like that day in Vordica. Kalden closed his eyes, and formed a shield in front of his body. This wouldn¡¯t do much against Storm¡¯s Eye, but he had to do something. The ground shook beneath his feet. He crashed into Akari and Elise, and the three of them fell in a heap on the ground. An explosion ripped through the air. Something blocked out the sound, but the waves tore through the earth, and he felt them in his bones. Kalden waited for the light to fade before he opened his eyes again. Even Relia might struggle to heal a burnt retina, and it wasn¡¯t worth the risk. When he finally pulled them open, the world was a blur of black and white. He rubbed at his eyes, but his vision swayed, and his limbs felt like jelly. His ears rang, drowning out the shouts of his teammates. He turned back to the house, expecting to see the familiar, two-story structure with its old brick exterior. The place they¡¯d called home for the past year. But as his eyes adjusted to the scene, he saw the truth of things. The house was gone. Storm¡¯s Eye had cut a deep trench through the earth. It stretched for several miles from the bay, and probably extended deeper into the city proper. Shards of wood and stone lay scattered across the yard, and smoke wafted up from the scorched landscape. And there, on the horizon, loomed the infamous mana spirit, glowing bright blue against the storm clouds. Smaller spirits crawled out from the trench, like neon blue paint wafting through the smoky air. Some of their forms resembled animals, while others looked more human. Kalden struggled to breathe, but his lungs refused to open. This couldn¡¯t be real; none of it made any sense. Koreldon City was safe. Storm¡¯s Eye was down in Vaslana with the Masters and Mystics. How could it travel more than a thousand miles so quickly? His ears stopped ringing over the next few heartbeats, and he heard his teammates again. They¡¯d been talking this whole time, but he couldn¡¯t make out any words until now. ¡°How¡¯d we get outside?¡± someone asked. It sounded like Relia or Elise, but he couldn¡¯t be sure. ¡°Wasn¡¯t me,¡± Akari replied through several deep breaths. ¡°Glim,¡± Kalden said as his brain caught up. ¡°Displacement¡ªit¡¯s one of our evac plans.¡± His vision grew clearer, and he noticed a transparent blue dome around them. Glim must have also shielded them from the blast. She¡¯d taken all their mana signatures before, so¡ª Kalden froze as he surveyed the group once again. All five of his teammates were inside the dome, unharmed, but they were missing someone. ¡°Where¡¯s Sozen?¡± he asked. His brother had been sitting across from them less a minute ago. ¡°Nine o¡¯clock,¡± Glim¡¯s voice replied, and Kalden spotted a piece of stone rubble in the grass. ¡°He¡¯s injured,¡± she said. ¡°But still alive. I didn¡¯t have his signature, so I had to push him out with pure mana.¡± ¡°We have to help him.¡± Kalden stepped forward and pressed his hands to the Construct. ¡°Wait,¡± Glim said. ¡°Someone¡¯s coming.¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Kalden turned toward the horizon where several bright blasts of mana filled the sky. That must be Prime Minister Salerian; he¡¯d stayed to defend the city while the other Mystics were in Vaslana. But where were Elend, Irina, and the others? Hundreds of spawn gathered near the ruins of the house, forming a loose perimeter around the backyard. Others dotted the sky like a swarm of mana bugs, and smaller groups broke off from the main horde, surveying the forest. This was no random attack. Storm¡¯s Eye had come for them. A dark shadow filled the clearing, and a gust of wind ruffled the surviving trees. Kalden glanced up and spotted a massive dragon stretching its wings overhead . It wasn¡¯t as large as Creta¡¯s Dragonlord, but its wingspan could still fill an entire city block. The dragon banked around before settling in the grass in front of them. Mana flashed in a burst of green, and the creature shrank before his eyes, taking on the form of a half-dragon woman. She looked far more human than Zukan, with smooth green skin, and waves of long black hair that fell past her shoulders. ¡°That¡¯s her,¡± Akari whispered from beside him. ¡°Valeria Antano.¡± The Dragonlord¡¯s sister. The same one who¡¯d tried to capture her during the qualifying rounds last year. A pair of helicopters set down in the clearing beside her, and a dozen human soldiers stepped out onto the grass. Most of them were Artisans, armed with mana rods and assault rifles. Meanwhile, the spawn kept their distance, which contradicted everything he¡¯d learned in Nightfang¡¯s class. These creatures were supposed to attack everyone on sight¡ªeven Masters and Mystics. Did this mean the Sons of Talek were controlling Storm¡¯s Eye? Or maybe they¡¯d allied with it, depending on how smart it was. Kalden shot a sidelong look at Elise; she¡¯d known her father was planning something, even if she didn¡¯t know what it was. Valeria Antano surveyed the destruction, and her soldiers fanned through the clearing. Finally, the half-dragon strode toward them. The sky darkened to a deeper shade of blue, and her long hair blew like a banner in the wind. ¡°Can she see us?¡± Relia asked. ¡°No,¡± Glim replied. ¡°I¡¯m putting all my power into this illusion.¡± ¡°Do you need help?¡± Elise asked her. ¡°No offense,¡± Glim said, ¡°but she¡¯s a Master. Your mana would barely be a drop in the bucket.¡± Several soldiers jogged over to the nearby rubble, then they turned back to their leader. ¡°Lady Antano,¡± one of them called out. ¡°We found someone.¡± Valeria strode over, bent down, and lifted a pillar that must have weighed eight hundred pounds. She hurled it across the yard, and Sozen let out a gasp of pain. Kalden couldn¡¯t see much from this vantage, but it looked like the pillar had crushed both of his brother¡¯s legs. ¡°Ah,¡± Valeria said in her raspy voice. ¡°The little human traitor with his little human lies.¡± She sounded half-mad right now. Clearly, the life of exile hadn¡¯t been kind to her. ¡°Where are the others?¡± she asked. ¡°Where is Akari Zeller?¡± Sozen made a show of looking around, then he glanced back at the house. ¡°They were . . . Inside . . . when it happened.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± She brought a clawed finger to his chin. ¡°And where¡¯s the Etherite?¡± ¡°E-Etherite?¡± Sozen asked. He sounded surprised, but he must have known about the pieces in the vault. Kalden and Akari would need those for the Aeon ritual. ¡°I took it,¡± Glim¡¯s voice echoed from somewhere in the dome. ¡°It¡¯s in Kalden¡¯s pouch.¡± Kalden glanced down at his pouch, and gave a slow nod. ¡°What about my brother? We have to help him.¡± ¡°No,¡± Glim said in a shaky voice. ¡°It¡¯s a trap.¡± ¡°She¡¯s just a Master. You can take her.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a trap,¡± Glim repeated. ¡°There are three Masters out there. The other two are disguised as regular soldiers. They¡¯re veiling their souls.¡± ¡°Last chance,¡± Valeria said to Sozen. ¡°Give me Zeller, or the Etherite. I don¡¯t care which.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know where they are,¡± he said through several ragged breaths. ¡°I swear.¡± ¡°No, no. I think you do. The Solidors are on their way here, aren¡¯t they? You came to retrieve Zeller and bring her to them.¡± ¡°I lost them in the explosion,¡± he said. ¡°And I¡¯ve been a little busy bleeding out.¡± ¡°Then swear to help me find them. Swear it on your soul, and I¡¯ll return the favor. If not . . .¡± She trailed off, and molten orange mana gathered in her palm. Kalden forced himself to take a deep breath. ¡°She¡¯s bluffing right?¡± Glim didn¡¯t answer, and his teammates remained equally silent. ¡°Damnit.¡± Kalden pounded on the shield again. ¡°We can¡¯t just stand here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Glim said in a low voice. ¡°You can take them. We have the element of surprise.¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t my job,¡± Glim said, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Elend told me to keep you safe. I can¡¯t do that if I¡¯m fighting three Masters.¡± Sozen reached out his right hand, offering his wrist to Valeria¡ªprobably buying himself more time. Despite everything, Kalden cycled his battle mana and stayed calm. Sozen must have a plan. Even if he didn¡¯t, Elend and Irina would be back any second. They would deal with this mess when they got here. But his aspect disagreed. It told him the danger was real. It also agreed with Glim¡¯s decision. Kalden cared about his brother, but things had been complicated these past few years. They¡¯d barely seen each other, and he couldn¡¯t risk Akari and Relia¡¯s safety for this battle. Another part of him rebelled against that idea. He shouldn¡¯t have to sacrifice his family to save his friends. Valeria clasped his brother¡¯s wrist, and he forced out his oath. ¡°I . . . Sozen Trengsen, swear to¡ª¡± His other arm moved in a blur, forming a blade of glowing Moonshard. It looked just like the technique that had severed Dansin Roth¡¯s arm last year The dragon caught Sozen¡¯s wrist with her free hand, and she let out a long, irritated sigh. Then her hand burst into flames. Sozen screamed as the technique spread down his arm, consuming his entire torso with unnatural speed. Valeria laughed in her raspy voice as the flames gathered around her. ¡°So much for your Aeon powers, little human.¡± The flames engulfed Sozen¡¯s body, bones and all. A second later, nothing but black ash remained, and the wind carried that away, spreading it through the trees. Kalden sank to his knees. He felt Akari press her weight against his back, wrapping her arms tight around his shoulders. Relia was there too, squeezing his hand. His mind went blank, unable to process the sight. He¡¯d seen death before¡ªdozens of times. He¡¯d even come close to losing Akari and Relia. He thought he understood how it would feel, but he was wrong. Nothing could have prepared him for this. Valeria got back to her feet and brushed some ash from her cheek. ¡°Burn everything,¡± she said. ¡°Don¡¯t stop until you find them.¡± Green mana gathered around her a second later as she transformed back to her dragon body. Her soldiers jogged away, and she spread out her massive wings. Finally, she gathered a burst of orange mana from deep within her throat and set fire to the surrounding forest. Book 4 - Chapter 35: Trust Akari watched as the fire closed in around her team. Radiant bursts of color and heat spread across the horizon, climbing hundreds of feet into the air. It moved with unnatural speed, and the ancient trees turned to shriveled black skeletons. Smoke choked the sky until the only light came from Glim¡¯s shield. ¡°What happens when it reaches us?¡± Relia called out. Good question. Glim could defend them, but how long would that last? Elend was gone, and so was the house. That left her with no source of power. ¡°Akari,¡± Glim¡¯s voice echoed through the shield. ¡°Yeah?¡± Akari glanced back and forth, but there were no mirrors inside the dome. ¡°Get ready to make a portal.¡± ¡°Where?¡± She¡¯d already tried looking for an escape route, but the world beyond was pitch black. Even if it wasn¡¯t, Valeria¡¯s fire would melt her Missile like a snowflake. ¡°Here.¡± Several glowing arrows formed on the shield itself, and they all directed her to a specific point. ¡°It will take you out of the neighborhood¡ªinto the city.¡± Akari¡¯s hands shook as she fell into a combat stance and cycled her mana ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°Elend can remake me,¡± she said. ¡°Just go!¡± Akari unleashed her Missile, and the shield flickered as Glim let it pass. The mana flew for several long seconds after that, and Akari focused on it with all her mental might. This new spot must be several miles away. Finally, her mana hit an obstacle, and she pulled at the edges, forming it into half a portal. She¡¯d never made a portal from this distance, but Glim seemed to have a solid grasp of her abilities. Akari¡¯s teammates stepped back, and she shot another Missile into the grass, opening the second half of her portal. She craned her neck forward and glimpsed Koreldon City¡¯s skyline beyond. A part of her itched to jump through, but that would be a mistake. This entire city was a war zone right now. If she died, then her teammates had no way out. Instead, she gestured to Relia and Zukan. ¡°You two go first.¡± They did so, and Akari pointed to Elise. ¡°Follow them. Make an illusion for us¡± ¡°Clear,¡± Zukan shouted from beyond the portal. Elise gathered dream mana into her palms as she jumped through. Arturo followed her without comment, then Akari and Kalden went together. They emerged on a rooftop somewhere downtown. She couldn¡¯t tell which building, but it must have been well over a hundred stories tall. From here, they had a clear view of Storm¡¯s Eye in the bay, along with all the destruction it had caused. Several buildings lay broken and burning, and mana spawn swarmed the streets below. Some people fought back, but most of them fled for shelter. Tidal waves broke against the shield wall, and more mana flashed like lightning in the bay beyond. Akari had never seen Mystics fight in person before, and she couldn¡¯t help but stare at the scene. ¡°Where are we?¡± Relia asked. Arturo glanced around at the surrounding structures, then at the massive spire behind them. ¡°Looks like Skyreach Tower.¡± ¡°Dragon!¡± Elise shouted. Akari snapped her head back toward the east. There, Valeria Antano approached, faster than an airship at full speed. Shit. Glim had protected Akari¡¯s Missile from the flames, and the dragon must have felt it happen. Akari ran toward the edge of the roof and shot another portal toward the street below. She formed the other half at her feet, and everyone jumped through without being told. They emerged in an alley a second later, and Valeria unleashed her fire against Skyreach Tower. The building itself survived the blast, but the flames covered the roof like a flaming crown. Talek. Two more seconds, and they¡¯d all be dead. A bus-sized Missile flew up from the street, colliding with Valeria¡¯s left wing. The dragon let out a roar as she spun to face her attacker. Several more Missiles flew up from the same spot. These were a different aspect from the first, and the joint effort forced her to retreat. Akari¡¯s gaze fell to the sidewalk where a gray-haired couple sat on motorized scooters. They were well into their second century, and too old to be summoned to Vaslana. Still, they were obviously Masters, and mana didn¡¯t age like bodies did. The man bombarded Valeria with more Missiles, and the woman turned to the nearby spawn, destroying several dozen with a flick of her wrist. It was kind of funny to watch, but Akari¡¯s smile faded when her gaze fell to their sorroundings. Broken bodies covered the sidewalks, and puddles of blood stained the concrete and asphalt. ¡°She¡¯ll be back,¡± Elise said. ¡°We should keep moving.¡± Akari poked her head out from the alley. ¡°Any ideas?¡± ¡°The Winterlance Plaza.¡± Arturo pointed somewhere to the north. ¡°They¡¯ve got wards for defense and privacy. Should keep that dragon from finding us.¡± Akari tried to follow his gaze, but nothing stood out. ¡°Um, which one¡¯s the Winter Plaza?¡± ¡°The white one,¡± Elise said. ¡°Looks like an ice palace.¡± ¡°My parents have a penthouse there,¡± Arturo said. ¡°Right balcony, third floor from the top.¡± Akari cycled mana to her glasses, activating the zoom function and crosshairs over her lenses. Then she released a pair of Missiles¡ªone on the balcony, and one on the alley¡¯s brick wall. Arturo stepped onto the balcony and pressed his palm to the signature pad. The door opened a second later, and her teammates all piled into the penthouse. Akari followed them, but she left her portal closed in the alley. They might be safe from Valeria in the hotel, but Storm¡¯s Eye could still shoot another blast. They might need an escape plan if it came to that. Darkness shrouded the room beyond, and the furniture cast long shadows over the floors. Kalden collapsed onto the nearest sofa, and his eyes were dark and distant. Meanwhile, Relia stepped over to a nearby light switch and flipped it up and down. ¡°No power?¡± ¡°Stormy probably knocked out half the city.¡± Arturo opened a closet and started tinkering with something. ¡°I¡¯ll see if I can fix it.¡± How was he going to fix the power when half the city was out? Then again, this was Arturo. He probably had a giant mana battery in his bag. Akari sat down next to Kalden, close enough for their knees to touch. She knew what it felt like to lose someone you loved. She also knew that words wouldn¡¯t make it better. ¡°This is bad,¡± Relia muttered as she paced the room. ¡°Does anyone have family left in town?¡± ¡°I assume you mean me,¡± Arturo said from the closet. ¡°Zukan¡¯s an orphan.¡± ¡°Do you?¡± she asked hopefully. ¡°My parents are down south,¡± he replied. ¡°So are my aunts and uncles. But I might have some cousins in town . . .¡± The lights came on a second later, and Arturo emerged from the closet. ¡°There. This should last a few hours if we ration it.¡± This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. He flipped the lights off and turned on the TV instead¡ªa ten-foot-long monstrosity that filled one entire wall. The screen showed footage of Storm¡¯s Eye in the bay, then it cut to scenes of its spawn wreaking havoc in the streets. The news reporters sounded as shaken as Akari felt, and there were several long pauses as they scrambled for words. Relia kept pacing ¡°Why¡¯s it doing this? What does it even want?¡± Arturo reached out and gently seized her wrist. ¡°Sit down, spira. We can¡¯t help anyone unless we rest.¡± Relia followed his advice, settling down on the sofa beside him. Helicopter footage showed the damage from Storm¡¯s Eye¡¯s first blast. A massive trench cut through the entire city, revealing the sewers and subway tunnels beneath. The Unity Bridge was shattered, and so were half the buildings in Mystic Square. Hundreds of people abandoned their cars in the street and took cover inside the nearest buildings. But even that wouldn¡¯t keep them safe for long. The spawn could change their shape at will, squeezing under doors and through vents. Modern security systems weren¡¯t built to handle that. Akari¡¯s blood ran like ice water in her veins. She¡¯d seen her share of war, but those fights had all happened on distant battlefields¡ªplaces she¡¯d expected to find death and destruction. Meanwhile, Koreldon City had actually started to feel like home these past few months. She¡¯d walked along those sidewalks, ridden those trains, and drank coffee in those cafes. She¡¯d been prepared for the Sons of Talek to make another move, but not this. How had Storm¡¯s Eye traveled so far, so quickly? ¡°I¡¯m seeing tons of rumors online,¡± Arturo said. ¡°The Mystics set a trap for Stormy, but it teleported away.¡± ¡°Teleported?¡± Relia asked from beside him. ¡°Yeah.¡± He gestured vaguely toward the east. ¡°People saw a big-ass portal in the bay. Just before it showed up here.¡± ¡°So it was holding back this whole time?¡± ¡°Maybe. Or it had help.¡± ¡°What about everyone in Vaslana?¡± ¡°Trapped,¡± Arturo said. ¡°They made wards around the battlefield so nobody could get in or out. Probably a bunch of Mystics working together.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not standard Espirian procedure,¡± Zukan said. He¡¯d barely spoken a word since they left the Darklight¡¯s house, but his voice was surprisingly calm. ¡°They should have had escape routes in place.¡± Arturo shrugged. ¡°Just tellin¡¯ you what I heard.¡± ¡°Then how¡¯d Storm¡¯s Eye get away?¡± Relia asked. ¡°Someone betrayed them,¡± Akari muttered. ¡°You can¡¯t make portals through wards. You¡¯d have to plan ahead¡ªmake them before the wards went up.¡± Arturo gave a slow nod. ¡°What she said.¡± ¡°I think my dad did this,¡± Elise said without looking up from her phone. ¡°Wait.¡± Arturo lifted the remote and turned down the volume on the TV. ¡°What¡¯d you say, spira?¡± She cleared her throat and uncurled herself from the plush chair between the two sofas. ¡°I think my dad made that portal in the bay. He might have sealed their escape routes, too.¡± Silence filled the room, but no one contradicted her. Ashur Moonfire wasn¡¯t a Mystic yet, but he was the world¡¯s most powerful space artist. If nothing else, that made him a prime suspect for a feat like this. ¡°Why?¡± Zukan asked. ¡°This is his city. What does he gain from destroying it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s an old phrase,¡± Elise said. ¡°Never let a good storm go to waste.¡± Kalden gave a slow nod from his spot beside Akari. ¡°She¡¯s right. Just look at history. War hurts the planet as a whole, but someone usually come out on top.¡± ¡°Still . . .¡± Arturo glanced back at the TV screen. ¡°That¡¯s one hell of an accusation, spira. And why wouldn¡¯t he get his family out first?¡± ¡°He did,¡± Elise said. ¡°I mean¡ªhe tried. He told me to go to our house in North Stocia. I had to trick his airship crew to get away. He made some excuse about Aeon cultists, but that didn¡¯t make any sense.¡± She glanced back at the window. ¡°Either he caused this, or he knew it would happen.¡± ¡°And the dragon?¡± Arturo asked. ¡°That was my cousin,¡± Zukan said from his spot in the corner. ¡°Valeria Antano.¡± Cousin? That was news to Akari. Fortunately, Zukan already knew that she¡¯d killed Valeria¡¯s son last year, and he didn¡¯t seem to hold it against her. Akari cleared her throat. ¡°Valeria¡¯s a member of the Sons of Talek. They¡¯re the ones who tried to kidnap me.¡± ¡°And my parents were part of that.¡± Elise was still staring down at her lap, but she forced herself to look up. ¡°So was I. I helped them eliminate Akari from the qualifying rounds . . . ¡± She trailed off, and rubbed at her eyes. ¡°I told my parents I was done helping them¡ªeven before I knew about all this.¡± The others kept talking, but no one seemed particularly surprised. They¡¯d all connected the dots by now, even if they¡¯d never discussed it openly as a team. Akari turned to look out the window again. The glass shook in its frame, and debris flew through the storm winds outside. Screams and sirens echoed in the distance, along with the thunder of gunshots and distant mana techniques. Storm¡¯s Eye could attack this hotel at any second, and they¡¯d all be helpless to stop it. Valeria and her fellow Masters could track Akari here and destroy building¡¯s wards. The Sons of Talek could break down the door, or a group of spawn could emerge from the vents. She¡¯d relied on the Darklights for safety these past few months, but she couldn¡¯t rely on them indefinitely. The prime minister could call them to war at any moment, and they had no say in the matter. There was only one path forward. One way to make a difference in this world. She had to get stronger. Today. Akari forced herself to her feet, and her knees wobbled at the sudden movement. She took a deep breath, turned around, and met Kalden¡¯s gaze. Several quick thoughts passed between them, and she saw the conviction in his eyes. It was too late to save his brother, but they could still make a difference for someone else. She swallowed, then turned to the rest of her team. ¡°We never told you why Sozen came to the house today.¡± The others perked up at that. Arturo must have noticed something in her tone, because he flicked off the TV and turned on the lamp instead. The pool of orange light was just wide enough to surround them all. Akari took another moment to gather her thoughts. Where was she even supposed to start? A part of her rebelled at this whole idea. It was safer to keep her plans close, especially with Elise Moonfire on her team. But then she remembered Irina¡¯s lessons from Garriland. Sometimes, trust was given rather than earned. ¡°Sozen works for the Solidors,¡± she said. ¡°He came to retrieve me and Kalden. We were supposed to meet them today . . .¡± Akari stepped back toward the sofa and held out her hand. Kalden extended his own hand and produced three glowing crystal cuffs from his pouch. She took the cuffs and held them up for her teammates to see. ¡°Lady Solidor was going to use these and turn us into Aeons.¡± Arturo whistled at the sight. ¡°Those are the same rings Elend took from Creta?¡± She nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve also been taking soulshine everyday since Midwinter break.¡± ¡°Well yeah,¡± Arturo said. ¡°That part was obvious. But why you? I mean, no offense shoka, but lots of people have Etherite.¡± Akari hesitated, but only for a second. ¡°They¡¯re trying to get back to their homeworld¡ªthe Solidors, I mean. I dunno the whole story, but Elend said they need a spacetime artist. Probably a Mystic. They¡¯re doing this to help me get stronger. Then I¡¯ll owe them a favor someday.¡± Zukan furrowed his scaly brow. ¡°You would swear an oath to Aeon cultists?¡± ¡°Technically,¡± Arturo said. ¡°The Solidors aren¡¯t cultists. They¡¯re more like the cult¡¯s equivalent of Angels.¡± Zukan¡¯s frown deepened at that. He was far more religious than the rest of her team, and he¡¯d never seemed to like the Aeons in the first place. Akari couldn¡¯t change his mind about that, so she pressed on. ¡°We¡¯ve talked about climbing to the top and becoming Mystics. And Mystics all have one thing in common¡ªthey bet on themselves, even if it means risking everything.¡± ¡°So why tell us this now?¡± Arturo asked. Akari reached into her pocket, and pulled out the card Sozen had given them. ¡°The Solidors will be at this address, today, at eleven.¡± Elise gestured out the window, and a nervous laugh escaped her lips. ¡°You think they¡¯re still coming? After all this?¡± That sent a shiver down Akari¡¯s spine, followed by a wave of doubt. It was just passed ten o¡¯clock right now, and the Solidors would need people to teleport them into the city. What if those people couldn¡¯t work in this chaos? Or, more likely, what if they¡¯d all changed their minds? What if Storm¡¯s Eye had taken her only chance? Kalden got to his feet and stood beside her. ¡°It¡¯s worth trying.¡± His eyes still looked a bit distant, but his resolve was firm. Akari shot him a grateful smile then turned back to the others. Back in Hexember, Kalden had asked Arturo and Zukan to join this team, but this was so much more than a school competition. The stakes were higher than ever, and the rest of the world was falling apart around them. ¡°Kalden and I can¡¯t do this alone.¡± Akari struggled to keep control of her breathing. She¡¯d never been one for big speeches¡ªor words in general¡ªand she felt like a rookie mana artist who¡¯d been thrown into a fighting pit. Her hands trembled, and her thoughts struggled to gain any traction. One by one, she met the others¡¯ eyes. She forced her voice to sound confident, even as she braced herself for rejection. ¡°Are you with us?¡± Relia immediately got to her feet and stood beside them. ¡°You know I am.¡± ¡°I knew the danger when I left my home,¡± Elise said as she stood. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have left if I didn¡¯t plan to help you.¡± Arturo fidgeted with his phone before he turned back to Zukan. ¡°Sounds like we¡¯ve got two options, draco. Stay and fight with the team, or get the hell out of town.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t intend to run,¡± Zukan said. ¡°This is what we¡¯ve trained for. But these people are after Zeller. You realize what that means.¡± ¡°Yeah. Means we¡¯re all in danger. More than usual, anyway.¡± Akari glanced down at her boots, scrambling to find the right words. ¡°I know I don¡¯t have a lot to offer you guys. And I know I¡¯ve been a shitty captain. But if you help me¡ª¡± Arturo held up a hand. ¡°It¡¯s okay, shoka. I believe you.¡± He turned back to Zukan. ¡°She¡¯s changed¡ªever since Garriland. She stepped up when Elend was gone. She¡¯s helped us all at least once.¡± Zukan ran a clawed finger across his chin. ¡°Agreed.¡± What? Just like that? Akari didn¡¯t feel like she¡¯d changed at all. If anything, she¡¯d been faking it these past few weeks¡ªdoing the things she thought a good captain might do. But her teammates already knew the whole story, so she didn¡¯t bother correcting them. In fact, she found herself at a loss for words once again. Power was one thing. But having a team who would willingly follow her into battle, despite her flaws and failures? That was a feeling she couldn¡¯t label or describe. In that moment, she was glad that Elend had made her the captain. And despite all the chaos and uncertainty around them, she wouldn¡¯t trade this for anything. Book 4 - Chapter 36: Mana Spawn Akari led her team across the city, crossing rooftops and balconies along the way. Rain struck her cheeks as she ran, and the wind bit through the gaps in her armor, digging its teeth into her skin. Their destination was more than three miles from the penthouse, but her portals made quick work of the journey. Even when they crossed a busy street, Elise¡¯s dream mana kept them safe. This almost felt like cheating, and a part of her itched to help the people they passed. Her teammates all felt the same way; she saw it in their eyes, and they way they tensed their muscles. The mana spawn looked like blue vapor and liquid against the darkness, but they took on the forms of dangerous predators. Some had claws that slashed the air like ten-inch razor blades. Others had wings like dragons, skin like stone, or jaws that could sever a person¡¯s arm. To her left, a teenage boy lay on the sidewalk while a fanged spawn ate a hole through his stomach. His gray t-shirt lay in tatters except for the red parts that clung to his skin. To her right, a woman ran from a winged spawn, but she barely made it ten paces before the creature drove its stinger between her shoulder blades. Akari tried not to look as they jogged down Espirian Avenue. She¡¯d given her team a big speech before they left, reminding them how they couldn¡¯t save everyone. She and Kalden had to advance first, then they could approach these battles from a place of strength. But that was before, in the safety of Arturo¡¯s penthouse where logic reigned supreme. Down here, in the thick of things, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder . . . was it worth it? How was she supposed to sleep tonight, knowing she¡¯d crept through the shadows while people died all around here? What if one Missile could save them? But no . . . Storm¡¯s Eye would find her team if they revealed themselves. His spawn worked in a hive mind, and the spirit could see the world through their eyes. What¡¯s more, Valeria Antano was obviously in league with the spirit. One blast of her fire, and they¡¯d all turn to ash and dust. Movies never showed this part of a battle. They always cut away from the casualties just in time, and the cameras focused on the actual fighting. The cool parts, where the heroes saved people and made a difference. And they were right to do that. No one would root for a hero who followed the plan rather than her own conscience. Finally, her team arrived at Emperor¡¯s Cross, the terminal that connected all the city¡¯s trains and subways. The building filled an entire city block, with a brown brick facade and a glass dome on its roof. An old clock tower loomed over the doorway, surrounded by half a dozen marble statues. Each one depicted mana artists in various states of undress. Akari turned her gaze to the street below where several real mana artists held off the advancing spawn. They seemed to have things under control, so she saved her portals and led her team through the courtyard on foot. ¡°There you are,¡± a woman¡¯s voice called out from the station¡¯s entrance. She was Cadrian, middle-aged, with her hair pulled back in a long braid. ¡°I¡¯m Lena Cavaco,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ve met before.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Akari said. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± She¡¯d seen Lena on the airship when they¡¯d first left Creta. The woman had also stopped by the house several times to help Relia with her Aeon training. Lena gestured them through a stone archway into the station¡¯s vestibule. She surveyed the team, then her lips parted in concern. ¡°Where¡¯s Sozen?¡± A short silence followed, and it was Relia who answered. ¡°He didn¡¯t make it.¡± She blinked. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Akari nodded, then she shot a glance at Kalden. ¡°It was Valeria Antano. She . . . burned him alive. Storm¡¯s Eye destroyed the house before that. Glim wasn¡¯t at her full strength.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Lena said to the group in general. ¡°We should have sent more protection. We expected some trouble, but not this.¡± She gestured back outside to where the others fought back the approaching spawn. A short silence followed while someone stepped over and spoke with Lena¡ªprobably another cultist. Akari took the opportunity to drink some liquid mana. She¡¯d drained a quarter of her reserves to get over here, and they might need to fight again soon. Lena turned back to face them, and Akari swallowed. She didn¡¯t want to sound rude, but she had to know her team¡¯s next move. ¡°The Solidors¡ªare they still coming?¡± ¡°They are.¡± Lena gestured toward the main chamber where a pair of space artists wove their mana into an elaborate Construct. Other mana artists stood guard around them, while hundreds of civilians huddled around the room¡¯s perimeter. People generally despised the Cult of Solidor, but they clearly wouldn¡¯t turn down their protection. ¡°We¡¯re making a portal to the Abyss,¡± Lena continued. ¡°It should be ready in another ten minutes.¡± Akari had heard of the Abyss, but she didn¡¯t know you could just make a portal there. She tried to get a better look at the technique, but it was impossibly complex, like looking at computer code in a language she¡¯d never learned. ¡°In the meantime,¡± Lena said. ¡°We could use your team out front.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Akari said with a quick nod. Her teammates had been itching to fight as much as her, so there was no need for a vote. ¡°We¡¯re ready now.¡± Lena nodded as she pushed open the door and led them back into the courtyard. Here, four streets converged from different angles, with most of the spawn coming from the northeast. The streets were narrower around the terminal itself, with ten-story parking garages looming overhead. The cultists had set up Constructs in these gaps to guard their flanks. They also had barriers on Polygon Street and Bridge Street, with small gaps to let in more civilians. The cultists had a mix of Artisans and Apprentices among their ranks, but they were clearly spread too thin. Storm¡¯s Eye¡¯s spawn closed in by the hundreds, and they showed no signs of stopping. If anything, the fighting seemed thicker on this side of town. They know, Akari realized. The Sons of Talek weren¡¯t just after her. They wanted to destroy all their enemies in a single day. Her heart beat faster as she thought of Elend and Irina, but she couldn¡¯t help them right now. Better to stay focused. Lena led them to where an Artisan stood on top of parked semi-truck. He was an Espirian man in his late thirties, with thick brown hair and a matching beard. His Missiles soared like darts from his outstretched hands, knocking the flyers from the sky. What sort of aspect was that? Probably destruction mana with a knowledge component for accuracy. ¡°Corbin,¡± Lena hollered over the chaos. ¡°I brought you another squad. The Artisan¡ªCorbin¡ªglanced over his shoulder. ¡°Perfect.¡± He pressed his left hand to his ear while his right hand kept shooting Missiles¡± ¡°Molina, move your squad over to Bridge Street.¡± He removed his hand and met Akari¡¯s eyes. ¡°You kids take Espirian Avenue.¡± This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Akari nodded as she glanced down the street. She and her team were no strangers to real-life combat, but she¡¯d never had this much responsibility before. ¡°Anything else we should know?¡± He chuckled as he fired another Missile into the sky. ¡°Don¡¯t let the spawn through. Don¡¯t get killed.¡± Well, at least things would be simple for once. Akari turned to face Arturo. ¡°Set up on the roof with those other snipers. The rest of you are with me.¡± Arturo nodded as he jogged back inside the terminal, then Akari led the others toward Espirian Avenue, the same street where they¡¯d arrived. ¡°Report in,¡± she said into her comm device. This wasn¡¯t a standard practice in school games, but they¡¯d started doing it when they trained with Glim. Tech never malfunctioned in arenas, but the real world wasn¡¯t so kind. ¡°Zukan, reporting in.¡± ¡°Arturo¡¯s here. Halfway to the roof.¡± ¡°Kalden¡¯s here.¡± ¡°Elise is here.¡± ¡°Relia¡¯s here. Let¡¯s do this!¡± No sooner had they taken their positions than a swarm of mana spawn approached. Talek. How many was that? A hundred? Two hundred? As always, their forms shone bright blue against the gray city streets. Some resembled giant insects, while others looked more like mammals or dragons. She even spotted some aquatic forms slithering through the air, defying all logic and reason. Kalden stepped up on Akari¡¯s right and formed a mental link between them. He¡¯d been quiet this past hour, but she wasn¡¯t worried. Kalden knew how to focus when it mattered most. He¡¯d been doing that his whole life, long before they¡¯d even met. The swarm drew closer, and Akari shifted her boots on the asphalt. Her hands flew across her body, double-checking all her weapons. She had a wrist launcher on each arm, loaded with six darts¡ªtwo darts for her, and two for each of her teammates. She also carried three Artisan-level daggers, one strapped to each hip, and one tucked in the small of her back. Her eyes surveyed the field itself, from the concrete sidewalks to the skyscrapers that loomed on either side. Then Kalden cycled his battle mana, and she saw the same world through a different lens. Kalden didn¡¯t just see a battlefield. He saw the ideal outcome in his mind¡¯s eye: their team standing victorious over their enemies. He also saw a web of possibilities that could take them there. No path was a perfect guarantee¡ªthere were no guarantees in war¡ªbut this was a start. Akari kept her own mind blank as the rush of information flowed between them. Finally, the plan formed from their combined thoughts, and she spoke into her comm. ¡°Zukan, Relia¡ªI¡¯m sending you behind the swarm. Elise, make a tunnel, then join Kalden in a pincer. You¡¯ll go left, he¡¯ll go right.¡± These orders would all be nonsense if not for the last few weeks of training. Fortunately, Glim had access to the mana spawn simulations, and they¡¯d fought plenty of mock battles in the backyard. The spawn drew closer, and Akari stretched out her arms. She clenched her hands into fists and aimed her wrist launchers above the horde. Pure mana flowed through her channels, triggering the sigils on two specific darts. The darts flew in an upward path over the battlefield, and her spacetime mana extended in a web around her. Two Missiles followed the darts behind the enemy line, while another two sought out the beacons in her teammates¡¯ armor. One minute, Zukan and Relia were standing on her left. Then Akari made the swap, and the pair vanished from thin air, appearing behind the spawn. Akari cycled more mana to the wrist launchers, and the darts flew back to their proper spots. At the same time, Elise conjured a dream Construct on either side of the horde. This forced them to see obstacles that didn¡¯t exist, and they all bunched together until they were running in single file. Kalden conjured six violet blades around his body, striking the column from the right. Elise closed in on the left with a volley of pure Missiles. Akari forced herself to stand still as the horde approached head-on. She threw her left hand toward the sky, forming a half-portal above the battlefield. A few heartbeats passed as they closed in for the kill. Three . . . two . . . one. She formed another portal in front of herself, ten feet in diameter. Dozens of spawn rushed through, unable to slow their own momentum. Her teammates struck from all sides, clashing with the enemy¡¯s hulking forms. Techniques of orange, violet, and green sprouted up among the sea of blue, and the spawn screamed as they died. Akari looked up to where the spawn emerged from the floating portal. She formed another two portals to catch them as they fell, then a second pair further up. This caught several dozen spawn in a loop, and they fell endlessly from one portal to the other. This would have been impossible a month ago, but Kalden¡¯s mana flowed in a constant stream between Akari and his Second Brain. Her father¡¯s revelation guided her like a battle trance, and she fought more like a Master than an Apprentice. ¡°Grenade!¡± Arturo shouted as a rocket flew toward the nearest loop. An explosion sounded a second later, followed by the screams of dying spawn. Broken limbs and liquid mana rained from the sky as they fell. Akari extended a hand and pulled on the empty loop. One portal swooped down on the street like a massive hand, catching six more spawn in its path. They emerged near the structure above, and the portal¡¯s momentum hurled them through the glass windows. ¡®On your left,¡¯ Kalden thought to her. Akari glanced down the street where two spawn closed in. One was an Artisan in the form of a ten-foot-long serpent. The other was a gorilla-shaped Apprentice, twice as big as Zukan. The gorilla reached her first, striking from above with a boulder-sized fist. Akari caught the fist in a portal, then she opened another portal in the creature¡¯s solar plexus. It staggered forward as it punched itself in the gut. Akari stepped to the side, drew her blade, and plunged the weapon deep into its right eye. Liquid mana sprayed out from the wound, dying her hand a rich shade of blue. The serpent pulled apart its massive jaws as it closed in. Akari took cover behind the gorilla¡¯s corpse and shot a spacetime Missile straight down the serpent¡¯s gullet. A second portal formed around her blade, covering it like a sheath. She twisted the weapon with all her might, and it sliced through the serpent¡¯s throat. Her eyes darted around the battlefield, where her teammates engaged the survivors. Akari¡¯s brain could never process so much at once, but Kalden¡¯s could. Where she saw chaos, he saw a web of possibilities and dozens of pivot points where they could turn things to their favor. Their thoughts spun together like two partners in a dance, and the way forward was clear. Five spawn swarmed on Zukan¡¯s position. He wasn¡¯t surrounded yet, but he would be soon. To make matters worse, he was too close to Kalden, and he couldn¡¯t use his flame techniques in earnest. ¡°Zukan,¡± Akari said through her comm. ¡°Dive.¡± No sooner had the words left her mouth than she shot his dart over another group of enemies. Zukan appeared above their heads an instant later, unleashing a storm of molten flame. Two Artisans closed in on Relia, but Akari couldn¡¯t extract her. If she did, then Elise would be in the Artisan¡¯ line of fire. Maybe Arturo could¡ª A glass window shattered behind Akari, and more enemies emerged from the opening. Akari fired a dart on pure instinct, and space warped around her as she escaped. Her father was right¡ªthis was far faster than a portal. But what about Relia? Akari¡¯s dart had taken her behind a pile of crashed cars, and she couldn¡¯t see anything from this vantage. ¡°Arturo,¡± Kalden¡¯s voice echoed in her comm. ¡°Relia needs cover fire now.¡± ¡°Roger that, shoko.¡± That¡¯s right. Telepathy worked both ways. Not only had Kalden seen the danger through Akari¡¯s eyes, but he¡¯d known her exact thoughts and intentions. The battle wound down over the next few seconds. Akari formed several more portals on the street, trapping clusters of spawn in endless loops. Arturo finished these with his propelled grenades. Elise lured the others into traps, Relia hurled her mana like tiny needles, and Zukan and Kalden slashed with their blade techniques. Silence followed as the last few spawn died, then Corbin let out a deep belly laugh from somewhere behind them. ¡°That was beautiful!¡± he shouted from his perch on the semi-truck. ¡°Where were you guys ten minutes ago?¡± Akari wanted to laugh as well, but she knew better than to tempt fate like that. Still . . . she was proud of her team and the progress they¡¯d made. Back in Garriland, they¡¯d lost to a small group of their peers. Now they¡¯d killed hundreds of spawn in a matter of minutes. No one had even advanced in that time. This was all training and teamwork. ¡°Anyone hurt?¡± Relia asked over the comm channel. ¡°One of them bit my leg,¡± Kalden said, ¡°But I just took a¡ª¡± A screeching roar cut off his words, and the ground shook beneath their boots. Akari covered her ears as a beam of bright light cut through the sky. It was brighter than the sun, and wider than this entire road. The ground shook again as several buildings toppled over to the east. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± Akari asked. It looked like another one of Storm¡¯s Eye¡¯s techniques. She just hoped she was wrong. ¡°I¡¯m picking up chatter from all over,¡± Arturo said. ¡°They¡¯re saying . . . oh, shit.¡± ¡°What?¡± Akari pressed. There was a long pause before he spoke again. ¡°The prime minister¡¯s dead. So are the other two Mystics.¡± Book 4 - Chapter 37: The Solidors ¡°No way,¡± Elise said. ¡°That can¡¯t be right.¡± ¡°It¡¯s never killed a Mystic before,¡± Relia added. ¡°It¡¯s never even hurt one.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Arturo replied. ¡°Just tellin¡¯ you guys what I heard.¡± Akari¡¯s heart raced as she processed these words. Mystics could live for centuries without aging, injuries, or disease. They were practically immortal by this world¡¯s standards, and she¡¯d never heard of one dying in her lifetime. She¡¯d assumed the Mystics would drive Storm¡¯s Eye off, just as they¡¯d done in the previous battles. But what would stop it from destroying the city now? Suddenly, this whole idea seemed unspeakably stupid. The cultists had Masters among their ranks, so she hadn¡¯t hesitated to reveal herself around them. But she¡¯d been prepared for Valeria Antano and her minions. Not Storm¡¯s Eye¡¯s unstoppable blasts. ¡°Zeller!¡± Corbin shouted. ¡°Get your squad back here. Bridge Street needs your help.¡± ¡°Cut through that building on the east side,¡± Arturo said through the comm channel. ¡°You can flank ¡®em that way.¡± Right, they could discuss the collapse of modern civilization later. In the meantime, there was still work to do. Akari jogged toward a pair of glass double doors, then she let Zukan and Relia take point down the corridor. They approached the adjacent field with caution, refilling their mana as they went. Apart of her hoped the others would suggest a retreat. With Akari¡¯s portals, they could easily skip town and live to fight another day. They could even bring some civilians along and call it a good deed. But no one said a word. And with that, a wave of unexpected relief washed over her. She hadn¡¯t really wanted to stop fighting, after all. She believed her own words from the penthouse, and she would see this through to the end. She would advance today, or die trying. They emerged through a second set of doors onto the street beyond. Several buildings lay toppled over, and hundreds of spawn crawled out from the wreckage. That last blast was far closer than she¡¯d thought. Akari almost froze as the chaos washed over her. Mana flew across the battlefield, and even the rain fell harder than before. Deep puddles gathered on the street, reflecting the blur of bright colors. But then Kalden¡¯s aspect washed over her, and she saw the pieces and possibilities in her mind¡¯s eye. The cultists had gathered near the courtyard on her right, taking cover behind piles of rubble and mana Constructs. They attacked the spawn from range, which was standard practice in most modern battles. Akari¡¯s squad rarely fought from range, but they were the exception. Half their ranks were melee fighters. Elise raised an illusion around the team, while Zukan and Relia made a perimeter. That gave Akari a few more precious seconds to think. She almost sent Zukan and Relia behind the enemy lines again, but Nightfang¡¯s warnings came back to her. When you fought with unfamiliar allies, it was better to give each other space. Anything else risked confusion or friendly fire. Instead, she and Kalden mentally shifted their goals. The spawn were coming in too fast, and they couldn¡¯t hope to clear Bridge Street like they had with Espirian Avenue. Better to keep their teammates and allies alive as long as they could. ¡°Relia,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We¡¯re sending you across the street. Guard the cultists¡¯ right flank, and heal them if they need it.¡± Relia nodded, and Akari launched the dart across the field. ¡°We¡¯ll focus on the main horde,¡± Kalden said to the others. ¡°Stick to ranged techniques unless they get close.¡± His voice sounded far more alive than it had before. Even his thoughts felt sharper in her mind; less like a distant storm, and more like his blade techniques. Maybe he¡¯d realized how much she needed him right now. More mana blazed across the field as her teammates sprang into motion. At one point, the spawn tried to cluster together and raise a shield wall. When they did, Akari made a portal below their feet and sent them falling into another loop. ¡°We got bombers on your nine,¡¯ Arturo said through the comm channel. ¡°Gonna hit ¡®em with an AMP.¡± No sooner had he spoken than a swarm flew down from the clouds, painting the sky blue with the flaps of their wings. Some resembled insects, while others looked more like birds or dragons. All of them had floating shields that wrapped around the front of their bodies. Arturo¡¯s grenade flew through the center of the group, and the anti-mana pulse ripped through their shields like wet paper. Unfortunately, the pulse didn¡¯t hurt the spawn themselves. Akari didn¡¯t know why, but it made some intuitive sense. AMPs destroyed techniques, but they had no effect on liquid or crystal mana. Clearly, the spawn behaved more like the latter forms. Akari took a deep breath and began forming a portal behind her. ¡°Zukan, you¡¯re on cleanup duty.¡± ¡°Cleanup for what?¡± Zukan shouted back. ¡°Bombs.¡± Kalden opened a spawn¡¯s throat and gestured to the half-portal behind them. ¡°Be ready to contain the blast.¡± Zukan got in position, and Akari formed the second half of the technique in midair. The swarm had been flying faster than a train, and several unlucky ones soared straight into the portal, crashing into the wall beyond. The explosion shook the ground beneath her boots, shattering the bricks and windows behind her. Akari felt the heat of the flames on her neck, but she left that to Zukan. The blast came back through the portal an instant later, filling the space above the street. The remaining swarm tried to dodge, but Akari shifted the portal¡¯s position, catching as many as she could. Blue fireworks erupted in the sky, and the chain reaction caught several more spawn, including some of the ground assault. Arturo laughed through the comm channel. ¡°And that¡¯s why bombers don¡¯t travel in groups!¡± Akari grinned. Storm¡¯s Eye might have endless power, but not endless brains. And so the fight continued, with casualties on both sides. Sometimes, Kalden would plant an idea in her head¡ªa simple change that would turn the tide several moves ahead. Akari always made the move, even when neither of them understood why. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Is this how Elend had felt, all those weeks ago when he¡¯d made her the team captain? Had he glimpsed the end of this strand, knowing the why but not the how? Regardless, he¡¯d been right all along. They were so close to victory now. So close to advancing and becoming Aeons. A shadow fell over the street as a massive blue form crawled out from the nearby trench. Talek. How tall was that thing? Five stories? Ten? The ground shook as it wove between the buildings. Unlike the other spawn, this one was vaguely human-shaped with limited detail. Almost as if someone had made a giant wax doll and left it to melt in the sun. But how strong was it? Akari relaxed into her Silver Sight, but Arturo beat her to the answer. ¡°Shit,¡± his voice echoed over the comm. ¡°That¡¯s a Master.¡± Akari¡¯s vision darkened, and the creature¡¯s soul shone like a portal into the sun. Damnit, she should have known. No animal got that big without the mana to support it. It only made sense for the spawn to follow the same rules. The creature strode forward with slow determination, crushing the cars and stoplights in its path. Its legs were thick tree trunks, and its feet spread out like roots. The asphalt cracked beneath its weight, and even the other spawn got caught in its footsteps. They let out screams of pain as their forms absorbed into its mass. ¡°The cultists are pulling back!¡± Relia said from across the street. ¡°Go with them,¡± Akari replied. ¡°We¡¯re right behind you.¡± More spawn closed in around her remaining teammates. Zukan¡¯s shield broke as a bear-shaped Artisan tackled him into the ground. He tried to wrestle free, but the creature drove its razor fangs through his forearms. Akari whirled back toward the train terminal, aimed Zukan¡¯s dart, and swapped him to safety. She followed that with a spacetime Missile from her other hand. Kalden and Elise gathered around her, and a portal formed beneath their boots. They fell onto the terminal¡¯s stairs, several hundred yards back from where they¡¯d been fighting. Relia had already rushed over and begun healing the others¡¯ wounds, but Akari kept her eyes on the Master. She was her team¡¯s best defense if the worst were to happen. The worst happened three seconds later when the Master fixed its gaze on her. It didn¡¯t have eyes, or even a face, but its body language was clear as glass, and she knew what came next. The creature gathered mana in its human-like hands and hurled a giant Missile toward her. The cultists scattered around the courtyard, leaving their injured behind. They were all Apprentices and Artisans, helpless against a Master¡¯s technique. Akari held her ground and formed a portal in front of her team. That Missile was as wide as a bus, but Akari matched its size as she stretched the Construct with all her might. Her hands shook, her vision blurred, and her channels felt ready to explode. Still, she gritted her teeth and cycled more mana. She cycled until it was larger than any technique she¡¯d ever conjured. The portal saved her team, catching most of the Missile and hurling it back at her opponent. But the terminal itself wasn¡¯t so lucky. Glass and stone shattered around her, and she felt Kalden¡¯s hands grab her by the shoulders. They landed a few paces away, and the clock tower collapsed like a tree over the courtyard. When she looked up again, the Master was already preparing a second technique. She¡¯d thrown everything into that portal, but it wasn¡¯t enough. Not even close. If Akari were smarter, she would have shot two displacement darts and escaped with Kalden. Better to save herself and one team member than to lose everyone. The thought crossed her mind several times, but she¡¯d ignored it, determined to save them all. More spawn poured out from the other streets, filling the courtyard and overwhelming the cultists. Kalden lay on the ground beside her, but she couldn¡¯t see the others through the chaos. Even her mana was drained. She had more vials on her belt, but she couldn¡¯t hope to refill her soul in time. The Master threw its second technique, and Akari didn¡¯t flinch. Neither did Kalden, by the looks of things. They both faced it head on, ready for a warrior¡¯s death. Time slowed to a crawl, and the world became a blur of blinding light. This time, Akari couldn¡¯t help but close her eyes on pure instinct. She squeezed Kalden¡¯s hand, and he squeezed back. Then the moment passed. Akari opened her eyes again and saw the Missile unraveling in midair. The mana moved like a whirlpool, vanishing into some unseen point in front of her. Had Kalden done that? No . . . she couldn¡¯t see his face from this angle, but she felt his thoughts. Several bright green Missiles whistled through the air. Akari didn¡¯t see their source, but they flew straight into the Master spawn¡¯s face. No one had even tried attacking the creature until now, and she didn¡¯t dare get her hopes up yet. To her surprise, the Missiles tore straight through the spirit and emerged from the other side of its head. The creature¡¯s melted and faded all at once, filling half the courtyard with its liquid remains. The Missiles arched around the battlefield, bouncing and ripping through the horde of mana spawn. The creatures didn¡¯t even defend themselves. In fact, they didn¡¯t move at all. Something had frozen them in place, just like that day when Elend had regained his powers in Creta. Had help finally arrived? The Missiles slowed in midair before flying back toward Akari and Kalden. In that moment, she realized they weren¡¯t Missiles at all. They looked more like green crystal projectiles. Each one was roughly two feet long, with a narrow shaft as wide as a pencil, and a sharpened head like a small dagger. The light warped in front of Akari, and a young woman appeared out of thin air. She wore form-fitting black armor, with a long quiver strapped to her back. The woman extended her left hand and caught all five crystal projectiles. Her other hand held a curved piece of metal with a string that connected both ends. She moved in a blur, pulling back the string and shooting the five projectiles across the courtyard. Once again, they arched around the field like unstoppable Missiles, killing several dozen spawn in a matter of seconds. That¡¯s a bow and arrow, Akari realized. Her world didn¡¯t have these weapons, but she¡¯d heard stories from beyond the Abyss. Bows had always sounded weaker than guns or Missile rods, but that clearly wasn¡¯t true. The woman caught her arrows again and tossed them into her quiver, then she spun on her heel to face them. Her features looked vaguely Shokenese, but not quite. Her face was too round, and her green eyes were soft. She was also far younger than Akari had expected¡ªyounger than most Artisans, even. The cultists fell to their knees around the courtyard, and some pressed their foreheads to the stone. Lena Cavaco knelt among them. So did Corbin, the Artisan who¡¯d been commanding the cultists¡¯ forces. The newcomer gave them all a friendly wave, then she stepped forward and extended a gloved hand. ¡°Akari Zeller?¡± Her voice was as soft as her features, and she spoke with an accent Akari had never heard before. Akari nodded as she accepted the hand. ¡°Lady Solidor?¡± The woman smiled, pulling Akari to her feet as if she weighed nothing. ¡°You can call me ¡®Relyn¡¯. And you must be Kalden Trengsen?¡± ¡°That¡¯s me,¡± Kalden said as she helped him up. ¡°Storm¡¯s Eye won¡¯t be happy to you see here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the spirit,¡¯ Relyn said. ¡°My husband will deal with him.¡± ¡°Husband?¡± Akari looked around, waiting for another invisible person to pop out of thin air. How did that work, anyway? Was Relyn the Aeon equivalent of a dream artist? But she¡¯d shot those arrows so quickly¡ªalmost as if she were moving inside a temporal bubble. Did Aeons even have aspects? Relyn nodded toward the top of the train terminal, or what remained of it. There stood a tall figure in a black duster that might have been in fashion two centuries ago. Akari had half-expected a male version of Relyn, but this man looked nothing like her. Her had the bronze complexion of a Cadrian, but his eyes were too sharp, and his whole face had a narrow, hawk-like quality. ¡°Thane Solidor,¡± Relyn said. ¡°We¡¯ll do introductions later.¡± Thane¡¯s eyes remained fixed on the eastern horizon. Akari followed his gaze to where a blue light gathered in the clouds. She couldn¡¯t see much from this low vantage, but she knew it was Storm¡¯s Eye. A wave of blinding light cut through the city a second later, but this beam grew smaller and darker as it closed in. Thane stretched out his hand, and the technique unraveled in front of him, flowing into his soul like water down a drain. Holy shit in Talek¡¯s beard. Did he just eat a Mystic technique? Finally, Thane¡¯s own palm glowed with pale blue light, and he hurled the beam back across the city. Book 4 - Chapter 38: The City鈥檚 Fate ¡°This way,¡± Relyn said as they stepped beneath a stone archway. The remains of the terminal¡¯s concourse lay beyond. Rubble and shattered glass covered the floors, and hundreds of civilians had taken shelter there. Some waited on their feet, ready for battle. Others huddled in groups among the benches, or behind the counters of the food court. A few healers made their rounds, and Relia joined them without a word. Akari followed Relyn into an empty corner, and the rest of her teammates followed. They¡¯d all survived the previous battle, but how long would that last? One mistake on Thane¡¯s Solidor¡¯s part and this whole station would turn to dust. A pair of televisions hung on a nearby wall, showing camera footage from the air. One focused on Thane as he exchanged blows with Storm¡¯s Eye. Another showed the bay where another Mystic had joined the fight. This man moved in a blur, attacking the spirit with a storm of massive blades. His techniques flew around the field like a swarm of insects. That is, if insects were as big as cars. Other blades shot out from his hands, arching over the water¡¯s surface, or cutting through the clouds. ¡°Who is that?¡± Akari whispered to Kalden. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Kalden squinted at the screen. ¡°He looks like a blade artist, but I¡¯ve never heard of a blade Mystic before.¡± Kalden sat on the edge of a broken fountain, and Akari sank into the spot beside him. Rest was hard to come by on battlefields, and you had to take what you could get. ¡°You okay?¡± she asked. He obviously wasn¡¯t, but the words still slipped out of her mouth. ¡°I will be,¡± Kalden said with a shrug. ¡°Sozen and I were never close¡ªeven when we were kids. Still . . .¡± ¡°I get it.¡± Akari squeezed his arm and leaned her head against his shoulder. She still remembered the night she¡¯d lost her mother in the Archipelago. She¡¯d lost a piece of herself that day, too, and no words could mend the wound. In a strange way, that actually made this easier. She¡¯d always worried about unspoken social rules, and whether she¡¯d said the right thing at the right time. This time, there was no ¡®right¡¯ thing to say. ¡°Yeah,¡± Kalden replied in a low voice. ¡°I guess you do.¡± Akari glanced up at the broken ceiling to where Thane fought on the roof. His body floated a dozen feet in the air as if he were pushing invisible mana toward his feet. Light faded around him, and the raindrops turned to ice against his jacket. ¡°How many aspects do they have?¡± Akari wondered aloud. ¡°None,¡± Kalden said as he watched the scene unfold. ¡°They control the energy directly.¡± More mana shot out from Thane¡¯s hand, flying for miles toward the eastern horizon. The world flashed between the darkness of the storm and the blinding light of his techniques. He was like a hero from a movie, battling the worst of all monsters. The others spread out on the nearby benches, and Kalden and Arturo retrieved some food and combat drinks from their bags. Relia joined after a while too, which was good. Akari had worried that she¡¯d burn herself out trying to heal everyone. Relyn stepped back through the front door a second later. At the same time, Thane jumped through the broken section of the glass roof. Wind shot out from his hands, and his jacket caught the wind as he floated into the concourse. He looked a bit older than his wife up close¡ªperhaps late twenties or early thirties. His jacket hung open at the front, revealing a black dragon tattoo on his chest. It was the same symbol the cultists wore. ¡°Um¡±¡ªArturo glanced back at the undefended roof ¡ª¡°I¡¯m not gonna tell you how to do your job, but isn¡¯t that¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Relyn shouldered her bow as she joined them. ¡°We¡¯re in a time bubble. That should buy us a few minutes.¡± Akari perked up at that, and she turned to face the nearest window. Ten seconds ago, the world had been a blur of motion and chaos. Now, it looked more like a photograph as the raindrops and debris hung motionless in the air. Lightning struck in slow motion beyond the skyline, like pale ink dripping down a dark canvas. She glanced around the concourse and realized the other people had frozen as well. Then she relaxed into her Silver Sight and found the borders of the Construct¡ªjust wide enough to fit her team, the Solidors, and the Masters who¡¯d opened the portal. Thane¡¯s boots echoed against the stone floor as he paced. ¡°The spirit¡¯s even stronger than I thought.¡± ¡°Stronger than a Mystic?¡± Relyn asked. ¡°In terms of raw power, yes. I¡¯d say it¡¯s worth several of them.¡± She considered that. ¡°So the trap in Vaslana would have worked, true?¡± ¡°It might have, if someone hadn¡¯t betrayed them.¡± ¡°What can we do?¡± she asked. ¡°Can we save the city?¡± Akari raised her eyebrows at that. Everyone spoke of the Aeons as if they were foreign conquerers who sought to overthrow this world¡¯s current power structure. Some people even blamed them for Storm¡¯s Eye¡¯s attacks. Now, here they were, risking everything to defend these people. ¡°Its shield is too strong,¡± Thane said. ¡°Some of our weapons might pierce it, but the odds are against us. Even if we survive the fight, we¡¯d risk more civilian casualties.¡± ¡°So we hit it swift and hard,¡± Relyn said. ¡°Force it to retreat.¡± He nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll need Dawnfire for that.¡± Dawnfire? One by one, Akari and her teammates turned toward Relia. ¡°He doesn¡¯t mean me!¡± Relia held up her hands. ¡°I took that name to spite my parents, but it¡¯s an Aeon technique, like Moonfire.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing like Moonfire,¡± Thane said with a slow shake of his head. ¡°Do you even know what it does?¡± Relia bit her lip. ¡°Not really, no. I just heard my grandmother say it. Lyraina Trelian, I mean.¡± ¡°We know her.¡± Relyn pulled a green crystal arrow from her quiver and passed it to Thane. Thane accepted the arrow and held it up for everyone to see. ¡°Most Aeon techniques rely on the energy inside Etherite.¡± He tapped the arrowhead¡¯s smooth surface, and a storm churned in the depths beneath. ¡°Or Angelic mana, as you call it. Moonshard is a Construct, and Moonfire is a Cloak.¡± Relyn focused on the arrow for a second, and the jade storm went suddenly dark. ¡°Each technique drains the crystal¡¯s power,¡± Thane said. ¡°but that power always recharges within a day. Just like an ordinary soul.¡± Relyn released the power back into her arrow, and it glowed bright green once again. ¡°But Dawnfire is different,¡± Thane said. ¡°It¡¯s an Angelic Missile, and it uses the entire crystal as a fuel source. This amplifies the power beyond ordinary techniques. In the right hands, it can even break through a Mystic¡¯s defenses.¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Relia blinked. ¡°You¡¯re saying you can destroy Etherite? Permanently?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all mana,¡± Thane said. ¡°And all mana is energy. We can only alter its form.¡± ¡°But yes,¡± his wife cut in. ¡°The change is permanent for our purposes.¡± Akari let the rush of information wash over her. She still didn¡¯t get why they¡¯d paused the battle for a physics lesson, but she had an inkling. She just hoped to Talek she was wrong. Thane met her eyes a second later, confirming her worst fear. ¡°How much did you bring?¡± Akari shared a look with Kalden, but he didn¡¯t say anything, not even in her thoughts. They¡¯d have to come clean eventually if they wanted the Solidors¡¯ help. Even so . . . they couldn¡¯t take this back. ¡°We won¡¯t steal from you,¡± Relyn said in a softer voice. ¡°You have our word.¡± Akari believed her, and she wondered if Relyn was using a dream technique. Then again, did it matter? Aeons could sense Etherite. And for people like the Solidors, those senses might even extend to pocket dimensions. ¡°Three pieces,¡± Akari said. Thane nodded. ¡°I can work with that.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying you don¡¯t have any Etherite of your own?¡± Kalden gestured toward Relyn¡¯s quiver. ¡°What about those arrows?¡± ¡°Those arrows are bound to her soul,¡± Thane said. ¡°And possession matters in this field. Even with her help, I couldn¡¯t break down an arrow in a single day.¡± Akari drew in a shaky breath. ¡°So you¡¯re asking for ours.¡± Her head spun at the thought. It spun so fast, she could barely process the request and what it truly meant. ¡°It might be the only way to save this city,¡± Relyn said. ¡°The spirit has already killed thousands today. We risk more lives if we draw out this fight. Every second matters.¡± ¡°What if we leave?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°Storm¡¯s Eye came for us, right? Will it follow us away from the city?¡± ¡°This was never about us,¡± Thane said. ¡°This was about power. We already have three dead Mystics, including your prime minister. That opens a vacuum for the others to fill. Killing us would just be the garnish on the cake.¡± He was right, of course. If the Sons of Talek wanted to kill Akari, she could think of a hundred easier ways. The same was probably true for the Solidors. But Storm¡¯s Eye was already here, wrecking havoc in a city with millions of people. Running away meant leaving all those lives to chance. Akari drew in another deep breath, and a cold shiver ran down her spine. She didn¡¯t want to sound selfish with so much at stake, but this choice involved the Solidors as much as her. Better to put everything on the table. ¡°Elend told me about the Aeon ritual. He said we have a small window.¡± ¡°It needs to happen during your next advancement,¡± Relyn confirmed. ¡°Apprentices face permanent damage, and full Artisans have less adaptable bodies.¡± ¡°Right, and I¡¯m almost an Artisan. Won¡¯t we miss our chance if we use this?¡± She held her breath as soon as the words left her mouth, hoping against hope for some kind of reassurance. She could delay her advancement like Kalden had, but that wouldn¡¯t work as a long-term plan. If you restricted your soul for too long, then it might get stuck that way for good. Besides, how much longer could she survive as a mere Apprentice? The world grew more dangerous everyday, especially when she had Masters trying to kill her. Then there was the matter of finding more Etherite. The Solidors had Mystic-level powers and an entire cult at their disposal. For all that, they didn¡¯t have a single spare shard to their names. ¡°We¡¯ll find another way,¡± Relyn said. ¡°We need a spacetime Mystic, that¡¯s true. But the Aeon ritual was just one path to get you there.¡± In other words, she might still become a Mystic someday. But was that enough to free the people trapped in the Archipelago? Was that enough to see her father again, and face her true enemy? ¡®This is bigger than us,¡¯ Kalden said in her mind. ¡®Bigger than this city. We might sacrifice more lives in the long run if we give this up.¡¯ ¡®You don¡¯t really believe that,¡¯ Akari thought back. She could feel the truth in Kalden¡¯s heart, deep beneath his half-hearted objections. He¡¯d just lost his brother today. After that, he couldn¡¯t help but imagine the thousands more who would perish in this fight. Akari returned her gaze to the nearest screen, and she caught a glimpse of the deep trenches that cut through the city. Each one was at least fifty feet deep, and half again as wide. Dozens of buildings had toppled into the water, and crowds of people swam to safety. And those were just the survivors. She¡¯d tried to ignore the casualties before this moment, and all the homes that suffered the same fate as the Darklights¡¯ house. She¡¯d been focused on her team, and anything else was a distraction. Now, she might hold the fate of millions in her hands. A part of her rebelled against that idea. Who were the Solidors to force this choice on her? Akari wasn¡¯t some martyr who gave into the cruel world¡¯s demands. She was the rebel who hacked the system and squeezed it for all she could get. But that was before. Before she¡¯d hurt Emberlyn, and betrayed her family, and her sect. Before she¡¯d realized the truth about herself. She wasn¡¯t some action hero living in a movie. She was just one person, and Storm¡¯s Eye could kill her with a thought. This was a chance to make a difference. And if she couldn¡¯t do that, then what was she fighting for? ¡°Shit,¡± Akari muttered under her breath. Kalden met her eyes, then he cycled knowledge mana to his pouch. He knew the truth as well as she did: they only had one real option here. The three crystal cuffs appeared in his hand a second later, and he passed them to Thane without comment ¡°You did the right thing,¡± Relyn said. ¡°Thank you.¡± Akari sank back onto the fountain¡¯s and forced out a weak smile. ¡°Don¡¯t suppose you can scare it off with just one piece?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do my best,¡± Thane said. His face told a different truth, however. One piece would barely break the creature¡¯s shield¡ªthe shield that three Mystics had failed to scratch in their last, desperate moments. Thane retrieved some equipment from his pocket dimension, and Relyn stepped closer to where Akari sat. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you a secret,¡± she began slowly. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Akari asked. ¡°I never would have done the ritual if you¡¯d kept the Etherite.¡± Akari let out a nervous laugh. ¡°What? Did I fail some test of yours?¡± Her mind flashed back to last Hexember, and all the warnings Elend had given her. ¡°No, you passed. But we had our doubts about you from the start.¡± She shot Kalden a look. ¡°Both of you. We¡¯ve seen too many tyrants rise to power on our world, and most of them started like you two. Good intentions and grand ambitions.¡± ¡°Is that a bad thing?¡± Akari asked. ¡°It can be,¡± she replied. ¡°Grand ambitions make us forget what it means to be human. What happens when you stop fighting for the people around you? It¡¯s just some abstract victory, true? This is why your Mystics can be powerful mana artists but terrible rulers. They lost their way many years ago.¡± Akari didn¡¯t like it, but Relyn was probably right. In another life, she might have grown up to be like those Mystics. And yes, deep down, some dark part of her would gladly sacrifice a city in exchange for the Solidors¡¯ power. Talek. This was it, wasn¡¯t it? The was the real moment Elend had prepared her for. He¡¯d known the Solidors were concerned about her moral character. But he hadn¡¯t told her that part of the plan. If he had, then she might have tried to fool them. Elend had seen the path to victory, and he¡¯d moved all the pieces to the right squares Unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t accounted for Storm¡¯s Eye. ¡°So what now?¡± Akari asked. ¡°This isn¡¯t over,¡± Relyn said. ¡°My husband and I still need your help to return home, and we can still help you advance.¡± Akari nodded. Of course, nothing would compare to having the Aeon powers, but she kept that to herself. It was done, and complaining wouldn¡¯t help things. Relyn turned to the space artist at the edge of her time Construct. ¡°Master Rosintar?¡± ¡°Lady Solidor?¡± The Cadrian man stepped forward and gave her a deep bow. Tall and broad-shouldered, he had a shaved head and a neatly groomed goatee. ¡°Take Zeller and her team to the nearest safe house,¡± Relyn said. ¡°Don¡¯t let them out of your sight.¡± The Master bowed again and got to work on the portal. This safe house must hav been far from Koreldon City, because it took him several minutes. ¡°What about the spawn?¡± Zukan asked. He and the others had been quiet until now, and Akari almost forgot they were there. ¡°It will take weeks to clean those up, true?¡± As Relyn spoke, her husband began forming his own portal against the far wall. ¡°They¡¯ll be here when you get back, and the Sons of Talek should be long gone.¡± She turned back to Akari. ¡°We¡¯ll speak again soon.¡± Akari nodded, and Relyn and Thane stepped through their portal. No sooner had they left than Master Rosintar opened a second portal for Akari¡¯s team. This one led to a small cabin in the middle of the woods. The trees swayed in the gentle breeze, and the sun shone overhead. Rosintar stepped aside and gestured toward the opening. ¡°Right this way, Miss Zeller.¡± Akari let out a long breath and forced herself to her feet. A part of her agreed with Zukan; her team could make a difference on the ground. Then again, Valeria Antano held a personal grudge against Akari, and the dragon knew right where to find her. Staying here was nothing short of suicidal. ¡°Alright,¡± Akari said to her team. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She stepped toward the portal, and the others¡¯ footsteps echoed behind her. Just then, a shockwave tore through the air. It felt like an AMP, but several times stronger. Rosintar¡¯s portal broke into mist, and Akari and her teammates collapsed on the tile floor. A volley of Missiles ripped through the air a second later. Akari couldn¡¯t make out their aspects, but one thing was clear: these had come from another Master. Master-level Missiles carried a certain weight to them¡ªa threat of impending doom. She and her teammates remained frozen in place, but Rosintar moved in a blur, catching the attacks in his portals and hurling them straight back. Two figures appeared in the doorway¡ªthe same ones who¡¯d been with Valeria at the Darklights¡¯ estate. ¡°Go!¡± Rosintar shouted over his shoulder. ¡°Get out of here!¡± He opened a wide portal beneath Akari¡¯s team, and the six of them fell through together, landing on a street outside the terminal. Book 4 - Chapter 39: Nowhere to Run Mana spawn swarmed around them, leaping from the shadows in whirls of bright blue energy. Relia and Zukan conjured shields around the group, and Kalden and Elise joined them a heartbeat later. The ground shook as the Masters fought back in the train station, and their techniques flashed at the edge of Akari¡¯s vision. ¡°We can¡¯t stay here!¡± Kalden shouted as he thrust a blade through a spawn¡¯s eye socket. Akari cycled her mana as she took in their new surroundings. She saw the world through Kalden¡¯s eyes as well¡ªa full panoramic view of the alley. Brick walls rose on either side of them, and the terminal blocked her view of the eastern skyline. A scorpion struck at her with its stinger, but Akari didn¡¯t waste her time on that. She took a single step to her left, and Arturo blasted the creature with his shotgun. Come on, think. They couldn¡¯t escape the alley from this angle, so she focused on her immediate surroundings instead. There. ¡°Relia,¡± she said over the comm channel. ¡°White door on your two. Get it open.¡± ¡°Cover her,¡± Kalden told the others. Relia threw up a dome of pure mana and charged through a cluster of spawn. They fell back in a wave, and Missiles flew around her as the others finished them off. Then Relia¡¯s muscles shone with green and gold light, and she hurled her body against the door with Artisan strength. It flew off its hinges, revealing the hallway beyond. ¡°Move!¡± Akari told the others. They fought their way past the spawn and piled in. Akari was halfway through the door when a massive dragon appeared at the alley¡¯s eastern mouth. Valeria. Fire filled the alley behind her, scorching the ground and turning the spawn to vapor. Akari felt the heat on her face as she staggered away. Even from ten feet back, her skin felt ready to peel off her bones. Fortunately, this building still had its defensive sigils, otherwise it would have already collapsed on their heads. Kalden had seen the dragon through Akari¡¯s eyes, and he ordered the others down the hall at full speed. Akari Cloaked her legs and ran with all her might. The interior passed in a blur around her. Elevators, restrooms, mailroom. She also felt the presence of a Master, and she knew Valeria was close. Her heart pounded as she ran, and her body wove through the corridors on pure instinct. One misstep here, and it was all over. At one point, the team reached a long stretch of hallway, Relia took a sharp left at the end, leading them toward the parking garage exit. Arturo was the slowest of the group, and he ran at least twenty paces behind the others. Akari was at the back, ten paces behind him. Kalden paused at the corner to wait for them. Akari saw herself running through his eyes, then she saw Valeria round the corner in her human form. Akari couldn¡¯t outrun a Master, and neither could Arturo. Instead, she raised her hands and fired a pair of darts at the end of the hall. Kalden felt her intention, and he raised the flat of his violet mana blade. The darts bounced off the blade at a forty-five-degree angle, soaring down the other corridor in a sharp left. Akari made the swap an instant later, and she and Arturo both appeared at the building¡¯s western exit. She shot Kalden¡¯s dart next, pulling him out of the fray and launching him into the garage. Then she grabbed Arturo by his vest and pulled him around the corner just as Valeria¡¯s techniques closed in. The sigils kept the building upright, but the rest of it wasn¡¯t so lucky. The fire consumed everything it touched, scorching the carpet, drywall, and ceiling tiles. Valeria sprinted through the rubble like a raptor, and the flames and smoke swirled around her. Akari raised a portal in the doorway, stretching the Construct from the ceiling to the floor. She dismissed it a second later and followed her teammates through the parking garage. That last portal would send the dragon back into the alley; It might even buy them an extra thirty seconds if they were lucky. The team reached the edge of the structure, and Akari shot a spacetime Missile toward a high balcony across the street. She completed the portal against the concrete wall, and they all piled through. This brought them twenty stories up, and she surveyed the skyline for more options. There was a fancy condo across the street that probably had more defensive sigils. Then again, maybe they should head back to the west side of town? Those streets were crawling with spawn, but that also meant more Masters on their side. And the military might help them if¡ª A roar sounded from the alley near the office building, and Valeria emerged in her dragon form. Her scales glowed with molten light as the fire mana gathered in her stomach. She launched her technique in instant later, burning the building at its foundation. ¡°Shit,¡± Akari hissed. ¡°Hang on.¡± The ground shifted beneath their feet, and the flames spread with unnatural speed. Akari raised a hand and shot another spacetime Missile on pure instinct, opening a path to the nearest condo. ¡°Get in!¡± She leapt through the portal ahead of her teammates, passing from one balcony to the other. Elise and Arturo were hot on her heels, but it was too late for the others. The fire spread, and the first building rocked forward, flinging her teammates into the street below. The fire covered the ground in massive clouds of orange and red mana, consuming concrete, trees, and asphalt. Akari shot another Missile into the fray, trying to catch her teammates before it was too late. She missed them by several inches, but Relia propelled herself through the air with a burst of mana and grabbed the edge of the portal. Kalden did the same and grabbed her boot. Elise reached into the wall and grabbed Relia¡¯s hand. Gravity favored her on this side of the portal, and she barely had to Cloak her muscles to pull Relia and Kalden through. At the same time, Arturo yanked open the balcony door, and Akari shot Zukan¡¯s dart into the room beyond. Zukan struck the floor, propelled by the motion of his fall. He probably would have crashed straight through it if not for the building¡¯s sigil network. Flames climbed up his left thigh, but he quenched them with a quick technique. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. When the flames faded, Akari took in the damage: Zukan had lost his entire left leg up the knee. Blood shot out from the wound, staining the white carpet around him. Relia rushed over and pressed both hands to his knee. Her own clothes were charred in several places, but she must have held her skin together with her Life Cloak. Akari turned her eyes to Kalden next . . . ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± He stepped forward and held up the stump of his right forearm. ¡°It was just the mana hand.¡± Akari gave a shaky nod. This was bad, but it could have been far worse. If she¡¯d been even a split second slower, she would have lost half her team in that fall. Valeria stretched out her massive wings and settled onto the rooftop across the street. Akari braced herself for another attack, but it didn¡¯t come. Instead, pale green light flashed around the dragon as she switched back to her humanoid form. Akari ducked behind the sofa along with the rest of her teammates. Her heart threw itself against her ribcage, and her knees shook like leaves in the wind. She¡¯d faced her share of Artisans in the past, but those seemed like regular people compared to Masters. ¡°I know you¡¯re in there, Zeller.¡± The dragon¡¯s raspy voice echoed from across the street, sounding surprisingly calm. ¡°No one cycle any mana,¡± Kalden said. For all the good that would do. Most people could see mana, but Masters could sense specific aspects, intent, and cycling patterns. They could pick out a single person in a crowd of thousands. Even with her portals, Akari had nowhere to run. What¡¯s more, there was no one left to help them. Her teachers were all trapped in Vaslana. The Solidors were off fighting Storm¡¯s Eye, and Valeria had the cultists distracted. She¡¯d seen some military helicopters, but they were all focused on the spawn. ¡°I¡¯m not a monster,¡± Valeria said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to kill more innocents. I don¡¯t even want to kill your teammates. Just you, Zeller. Do you want to die a coward, or do you want to face me like a warrior?¡± Akari almost laughed. Seriously? Valeria wanted to insult her honor now? Honorable Masters didn¡¯t hunt down Apprentices, and they certainly didn¡¯t resort to cheap taunts. ¡°Come out,¡± she continued. ¡°And I¡¯ll spare your friends. You have my word.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± Kalden said from beside her. ¡°You can¡¯t reason with someone like this.¡± Akari didn¡¯t reply, and he pressed on. ¡°Give into one demand, and you set a precedent for next time. She¡¯ll never stop threatening people.¡± Her other teammates kept quiet. Zukan had his eyes closed as he processed his missing leg, and Relia had her hands pressed firmly on his wound. She couldn¡¯t see Elise or Arturo from this angle, but their fear was almost palpable. ¡°We¡¯re not generals,¡± Akari said in a low voice. ¡°And there¡¯s no next time if we die here.¡± Kalden shook his head. ¡°The same is true if you face her alone.¡± Akari pulled a vial of spacetime mana from her belt and chugged the whole thing in one swallow. The power filled her soul, and the feeling spread out to her limbs, making her feel more solid. After that, she took a few deep breaths, and her thoughts came clearer than before. She remembered her past self, a year ago, when she was still trapped on Arkala. Back then, she¡¯d dreamed of moments like this¡ªto become a mana artist, and to fight for a worthy cause. That goal had kept shifting like a distant horizon, but what if her past self could see her now? Not only had she gotten into the Artegium, but she¡¯d become one of the top first-year students. More importantly, she¡¯d earned the friendship and loyalty of people far stronger. They¡¯d known the dangers, and they¡¯d still followed her into this moment. Akari might never save the Archipelago or make up for her past mistakes. She¡¯d lost that chance when Storm¡¯s Eye attacked this city. But she¡¯d still become the mana artist from her dreams. If this was the end, then the end wasn¡¯t so bad. And what if she still had a chance? Not just to save her friends, but to survive this next battle? All Masters had indescribable power, and Valeria Antano was no exception. She could turn Akari to ash with a flick of her wrist, but that was only true if Akari got hit. Always stay moving. That was rule number one of combat, and it had worked for her so far. Akari could never beat Elend, Irina, or any other Artegium teacher. They all had too much training, and they could counter any trick from her bag. But Valeria hadn¡¯t trained in a real university, and she hadn¡¯t honed her skills against the world¡¯s best fighters. Instead, she¡¯d spent her life hiding in Creta, ruling over the weak. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was a faint hope. She threw aside her vial and met Kalden¡¯s eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s say we keep running as a team. What¡¯s your aspect say about our odds?¡± He hesitated. ¡°Not good.¡± Akari gave him a frank look. ¡°Don¡¯t sugarcoat it.¡± Kalden shot a glance at Zukan¡¯s missing leg.¡± Best case scenario, we¡¯ll all be dead in three minutes.¡± No one seemed surprised at that. They¡¯d barely survived that last encounter, and now their team was down two limbs. What if the dragon chose this moment to cross the street? Akari could probably get herself out of here, but not the others. ¡°I¡¯ll give you one minute,¡± Valeria¡¯s voice echoed from outside. ¡°Then you all burn.¡± The dragon¡¯s voice sent a shiver down Akari¡¯s spine, but she pressed on. ¡°I can¡¯t make portals for everyone, but I¡¯m faster on my own.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know all the variables,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Elend and Irina could be back at any minute.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Akari said. ¡°But tell me how running away is better than fighting her alone.¡± ¡°It depends.¡± Kalden turned to face the others. ¡°Anyone have a way to beat a Master?¡± Arturo cleared his throat. ¡°My parents gave me two pocket cells for emergencies.¡± Akari perked up at that. ¡°Will they work on her?¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Relia said. ¡°Pocket-what-now?¡± Arturo reached into his backpack and retrieved two devices that looked vaguely like grenades. ¡°They¡¯re pocket dimensions¡ªthey pull people in and trap them in small prisons. But she has to be touching it.¡± He turned back to Akari. ¡°Depends on how strong she is. She¡¯ll fight back if she sees it coming. Better to distract her first.¡± ¡°Can you launch one from a weapon?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°No way, shoko. Her reflexes are too good. But displacement might work.¡± ¡°Good enough.¡± Akari took the grenades and started to get to her feet. If she got Valeria on the ground, then it shouldn¡¯t be hard to swap the pocket cell near her feet. ¡°Wait,¡± Elise crawled around Zukan to join them. ¡°We should split them up.¡± ¡°What?¡± Akari said. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the bait,¡± Elise said. ¡°She¡¯ll be focused on you the whole time. That means I can¡ª ¡± ¡°Your dream mana won¡¯t work on her,¡± Akari cut in. ¡°Nothing will work on her,¡± Elise countered. ¡°But I figure I still have a better chance than you.¡± ¡°She¡¯s got a point,¡± Kalden said. ¡°You can¡¯t be the bait and the hunter at the same time.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Akari slumped her shoulders and passed Elise one of the weapons. A part of her would rather face the dragon alone, but she also wanted to win, and she couldn¡¯t argue with their logic. ¡°The rest of you lie low. We have to make her think you escaped.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fighting too,¡± Relia said. ¡°My Moonshard can block a Master technique. It¡¯s not perfect, but it¡¯s something.¡± ¡°And I¡¯ll be watching from the sidelines,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Just enough for my aspect to give you an edge.¡± ¡°I already gave you the pocket cells.¡± Arturo rested a hand on Zukan¡¯s left knee. ¡°So Hoppy and I can cheer for you from the sidelines.¡± Zukan opened his eyes to glare at him. ¡°Too soon?¡± Arturo looked around at the others. ¡°Yeah, too soon.¡± Akari laughed, but tears clouded her eyes as she stood, along with a rush of emotions she couldn¡¯t put into words. She wanted to tell her friends to stand down, but she knew it wouldn¡¯t matter. What if it were Kalden or Relia going to fight? No force in the world could keep her from that battle. ¡°Wait for me to go first,¡± she said as she stepped around the sofa. ¡°I¡¯ll fire your darts when it¡¯s time.¡± ¡°You better not forget about us,¡± Relia said. ¡°I won¡¯t. You¡¯ll just have to trust me for now.¡± Akari gave her friends one last look. She knew it might be their last time together, and she wished she could savor the moment forever. But she also knew Valeria wasn¡¯t bluffing, and every second mattered. Finally, she double-checked her gear and stepped forward to face her enemy. Book 4 - Chapter 40: A Cord of Three Kalden watched Akari step out onto the balcony. Knowledge mana flowed between their link, and he saw the world through her eyes. He felt the mana rushing through her channels and the pressure that gathered beneath her palms. Their thoughts wove together like two strands in a cord, and a battle plan formed between them. Valeria cracked a smile from the nearby rooftop. The dragon¡¯s own mana remained still, but her golden eyes remained fixed on her opponent. Most people couldn¡¯t see spacetime mana. Even with Silver Sight, the Missiles flew faster than bullets from a gun. But as always, those rules didn¡¯t apply to Masters. Elend had once described this process as seeing with your soul rather than your eyes. Eyes were just bundles of nerves and tissues, after all, and no amount of mana could truly change that. But Masters could push past these senses, freeing their souls, and perceiving the secret currents of the world. Valeria might even see the shifts in Akari¡¯s body, down to the smallest breath, blink, or twitch. With enough skill, she might even know Akari¡¯s next move before she did. No, don¡¯t think about that. Valeria Antano might be dangerous, but she wasn¡¯t like Elend or Irina. His team would already be dead if that were the case. Akari kept her mind focused on victory, and Kalden forced himself to do the same. Besides, they¡¯d prepared for all of this. When Akari made her first move, she didn¡¯t just shoot one technique; she shot six. four Missiles, and two darts. Each one flew toward a random rooftop, the first few strands in a web of possibilities. And while Akari watched her opponent, Kalden cycled his battle mana, searching for the ideal path in his mind¡¯s eye. Most paths led to death, and victory was a distant dream at this point. But he didn¡¯t need victory yet. He just had to worry about the next few seconds. A thought passed between them, and Akari vanished from the balcony. The dragon flew off with a burst of flame, heading straight toward her. No sooner had Akari landed than the fire closed in, ready to turn her body to ash. Akari swapped with the other dart, appearing three blocks to the north. Her opponent soared after her, closing the distance in several heartbeats. Kalden rushed onto the balcony, straight toward the portal she¡¯d left behind. It opened with a quick mental command, and he charged through, appearing on a rooftop that overlooked the battlefield. Elise and Relia followed, and Elise formed an invisibility Construct around their group. Valeria had kept her word so far, but they couldn¡¯t count on that for long. Fire flashed through the streets as the dragon propelled her body from one building to the other. Akari was always one step ahead, moving faster than she¡¯d ever moved before. Her portals winked in and out of existence, swallowing her like a sheath, almost as fast as her displacements. He¡¯d hoped the dragon would grow more reckless as the battle went on, but the opposite was true. Every technique was careful and controlled, and she never used more power than she needed. Even her intent was a gentle whisper. Valeria could have used that as a weapon to overwhelm Akari, but that also risked attracting more Masters to the fight. She¡¯d already learned that lesson once today. Still . . . this was working. Barely a minute had passed, but Akari remained unharmed¡ªan Apprentice against a Master. How many people in history could make that claim? But Valeria was adapting, too. She¡¯d begun dividing her techniques, thinking several moves ahead, destroying Akari¡¯s portals before they formed. The dragon might be untrained by Artegium standards, but she was still a Master. No one climbed that high without good instincts. ¡°Relia,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Get a shield ready. As strong as you can make it.¡± Three seconds later, the dragon cornered Akari in an alley. Akari had both her personal darts, but Valeria would destroy them if she tried to escape. Even a portal was too slow here. Valeria raised her hand for the kill, but Kalden¡¯s aspect had predicted this. A thought passed between their mental link, and Akari fired Relia¡¯s dart into the alley floor. Relia vanished from Kalden¡¯s side, appearing next to Akari with a dome of Moonshard. Fire slammed against the dome of Angelic mana, but it held firm, even as the stone burned around them. While Valeria struck the shield, Akari made a portal behind the dragon. She pulled out Arturo¡¯s pocket cell and¡ª Too slow. Valeria whipped around, and Akari barely escaped in time. Stolen story; please report. The chase continued as Akari ran through hallways, leapt over rooftops, and ducked around corners. One second, she was deep in the sewers beneath the city. The next, she was on a skyscraper, half a mile away. Everything moved too fast for words or thoughts. But Kalden leaned into the chaos, cycling his mana harder, leaving his own body behind. There was nothing but this battle. This moment. Thoughts flowed freely between his own mind and Akari¡¯s. Sometimes, she followed his plans to the letter. Other times, she followed her own instincts, moving in unpredictable ways. And all the while, Relia fought with them, healing Akari¡¯s wounds, and blocking the dragon¡¯s flames. If Akari had gone into this fight alone, she would have died more than a dozen times over the last minute. Even with Kalden¡¯s aspect, they were too slow to fight a Master in earnest. But with Relia, their strands came together to form a cord of three, far stronger than the sum of its parts. The fight moved to an empty street, and his aspect worked to put the pieces in place. This plan was a stretch, but it was the best they had. ¡°Get ready,¡± he said to Elise. ¡°We¡¯re going to set a trap.¡± ~~~ Ashur Moonfire held a tablet in his hands, watching the battle from a small park in Puerto Crescento. The sun¡¯s rays warmed the bench beneath him, and the palm trees swayed in the tropical breeze. The scene was almost peaceful¡ªa far cry from the battle they¡¯d expected. A few of his peers sat nearby, while the Mystics worked to undo their creations. Storm¡¯s Eye had ostensively cut off their portals before it left, leaving them trapped in a prison of their own design. A clever move, to be sure. Of course, no one truly blamed Storm¡¯s Eye for this feat. Whispers of betrayal echoed through the city, but it hadn¡¯t yet devolved into finger-pointing. This world had gone to great lengths to become more civilized, but many shards of the old world remained. For one thing, sufficient power still forgave all sins, and while Ashur was undoubtedly the prime suspect, no one would dare accuse him without proof. He glanced back at his tablet, scrolling through the footage from Koreldon City. The Solidors fought Storm¡¯s Eye in the bay, unleashing several Missiles of pure white flame that broke through the spirit¡¯s shields. Dawnfire? Ashur almost laughed. Were the fools wasting their precious Etherite to defend an enemy city? His mother had once called them foolhardy and idealistic, but he¡¯d never realized the extent of that until now. Just as well; Ashur had no desire to watch his city burn for a second longer than it had to, he just wished he could have been there to fight Storm¡¯s Eye himself. He didn¡¯t need more people sympathizing with the Aeons or their cultists. In another life, he and the Solidors might have been allies, but things were far too complicated for such an alliance right now. The Solidors were strong, but they stood no chance against this world¡¯s true enemy. There was plenty of room left in the Archipelago, and the pair would surely end up there if they got too bold. Ashur closed the browser window and opened another batch of feeds. While the first had come from the news reporters, these came from ordinary people, recording from their cell phones on the west side of town. There, Akari Zeller fought Valeria Antano. And yes, this was indeed a fight rather than a chase. The girl looked like prey to the untrained eye, but every retreat was a step in a larger pattern. Did Valeria realize this? Probably. The dragon lacked finesse, but she understood the value of research. Zeller and her team were infamous tricksters, and today was no exception. But did she care? That was another story. She¡¯d lost one son, and she believed the whole world needed to burn for it. But that was the price of immortality¡ªyou would likely outlive the people you loved most. If Valeria couldn¡¯t accept that, she had no place among the Masters¡¯ ranks. Still, the dragon had her uses. She¡¯d helped him retrieve the Etherite collar from the Darklights¡¯ vault, and she¡¯d stopped Zeller from becoming an Aeon today. That alone was a victory, regardless of how this fight played out. Ashur didn¡¯t care if Zeller lived or died, just as long as she stopped advancing. At one point, the Valeria cornered the Zeller in an alley, and it looked like the fight was over. But then a red-haired girl appeared out of thin air, stopping the fire with a flash of pale blue light. Relia. And that Construct . . . was that Moonshard? Ashur¡¯s breath caught in his throat, and the tablet grew slippery in his palms. The experts had called her condition incurable, but she¡¯d conquered it. She¡¯d survived all the way to Artisan and become an Aeon. How? Lyraina hadn¡¯t done this. Relia had been on the verge of death several months ago, long after they¡¯d parted ways.. He¡¯d even heard reports of her collapsing in the middle of class. It didn¡¯t matter how she¡¯d advanced. Ashur had been a fool. He¡¯d cast her aside twenty years ago, but every trial had made her stronger than before. He didn¡¯t regret his actions today, he only regretted the way he¡¯d treated her¡ªthe way he¡¯d doubted her every step of the way. Relia was his daughter. And if she survived this battle, she¡¯d go on to become one of the strongest people on this planet. Zeller landed on an empty road, and Valeria descended from the sky, raining fire around her. Relia appeared beside Zeller and raised another dome of Moonshard . . . Wait . . . what was that in the background? Ashur paused the video and zoomed into a small corner store behind Valeria. Violet dream mana flashed in the window, and he caught a glimpse of blonde hair before the form went invisible. His heart beat even faster. That couldn¡¯t be Elise, could it? He¡¯d seen her board the airship. No, Ashur corrected himself. He¡¯d seen her approach the ship, but he¡¯d turned away for several seconds. He¡¯d given her a brief window to escape. Ashur glanced up at the dome around the city. Any technique could be broken, even if it meant revealing his true power to his peers. It was a risk, but both his daughters might in danger, and he couldn¡¯t stay here for another second. Book 4 - Chapter 41: The Time for Justice Valeria Antano chased her prey through the city. Blasts of fire propelled her forward, from the dark skies above to the narrow streets below. Her Master senses guided her movements, and she crossed several blocks in a single breath. Akari Zeller would run out of tricks eventually. When that happened, she couldn¡¯t escape her fate. Still, the girl¡¯s instincts were impressive¡ªno one could deny that. Zeller had only been a Novice when she¡¯d killed Zakiel last year. Now, she moved more like a Master. A weak and cowardly Master, but a Master all the same. She had no offensive techniques, but her planning and foresight defied all reason. She escaped every trap and dodged every attack. What¡¯s more, her portals and darts always put her in Valeria¡¯s blind spots, and she used that time to widen the distance even more. How? How could she have lasted this long? Apprentices got tunnel vision in the heat of battle. Their senses and fear overwhelmed their minds, leaving them no time to think or plan. Despite that fact, Valeria almost lost the girl more than once. It didn¡¯t help that Koreldon City crammed thousands of people into a city block. Fortunately, Valeria had spent decades as her brother¡¯s Spymaster, and a true dragon always found her prey. She sent a burst of fire mana to her left and rounded a corner between several skyscrapers. Up ahead, Zeller ducked into the nearest subway tunnel. Valeria bared her teeth as she closed the distance. The girl had used this tactic twice already¡ªluring Valeria into a narrow space, then vanishing at the last moment. So instead of following her underground, Valeria focused harder on her scent, and the path of the tunnel¡ªit ran north to south with no easy escape. She cycled fire mana to her palms and unleashed a barrage on the sidewalk. Smoke and stone filled the air as she collapsed the tunnel. But Zeller was already gone. She¡¯d vanished even before the fire struck the stone. What? How could she have predicted that? Valeria caught the girl¡¯s scent to the southwest, and she threw a blast of fire mana into the street, propelling her body in that direction. Rain struck her cheeks as she flew, and the storm winds threatened to pull her off course. Her dragon form was better for flying, but the transition was too slow. Besides, that form had already gotten her attacked by some local Masters. People were much slower to intervene if she looked like a human. Especially now, with everyone focused on Storm¡¯s Eye and its spawn. She flew for two more blocks and found Zeller hiding on the top floor of a bank. But instead of attacking this time, Valeria dove deeper into her senses. This let her see the world as it truly was, with all the crude matter stripped away and the currents of power laid bare. Strands of knowledge mana flowed out from Zeller, invisible to the naked eye. They flowed to some distant rooftop to the north . . . Yes, of course. Kalden Trengsen was a knowledge artist. They must have linked their minds with some piece of sigilcraft tech. He¡¯d been watching Valeria this whole time, feeding Zeller a constant stream of updates. Once again, there was no end to Zeller¡¯s tricks or dishonor. But what had Valeria expected? This was the girl who hid in the shadows, only to sneak up on Artisans and stab them in the back with stolen blades. Artegium students like her came to Creta and hunted young dragons for sport. Then, when the time for justice finally came, they fled back home, hiding behind their parents and teachers. She could always focus on Trengsen instead. Zeller couldn¡¯t move him as fast as she moved herself. No. Stay focused on the true prey. They had a famous saying back in the motherland: he who chases two humans catches none. The chase continued through the city. At one point, Valeria cornered Zeller in a narrow alley and raised her hand for the kill. Relia Dawnfire appeared between them at the last second, blocking the fire with a wall of crystal light. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. An Aeon. How had she missed this during her research? No . . . She hadn¡¯t missed anything. Dawnfire had never used that technique in public. Not even against Storm¡¯s Eye¡¯s spawn. Had Zeller¡¯s team been holding back this whole time? No matter. Sozen Trengsen was an Aeon, and he¡¯d died screaming. So would Dawnfire. But in that moment, Valeria understood. She understood why the Sons of Talek had agreed to aid her in this quest. It was never about her, her family, or their vengeance. This was about the future of their world. Someone had to stop Akari Zeller and her team of monsters. Did that make Valeria a pawn? Probably. But at least she knew her place in the world, unlike some people. Zeller landed in an empty street a few seconds later. This time, she collapsed to her knees, barely catching herself before she fell face-first on the slick asphalt. Was she finally out of mana? By all accounts, this should have happened several minutes ago. Valeria rained fire from the sky as she closed in. Predictably, Dawnfire appeared beside Zeller with a dome of Moonshard. The technique deflected her technique, even as it turned the surrounding asphalt to liquid. Valeria kept up her until assault she settled down a few paces away. This might be a trap, but what could they do against her? Valeria didn¡¯t sense another Master within three miles. They¡¯d all fled, or gone to fight the spawn in the west. Dawnfire¡¯s Moonshard could technically harm a Master, but she kept a close eye on that one. Despite everything, Dawnfire was still just an Artisan. She couldn¡¯t pull off a surprise attack from this distance. Even Sozen had failed to surprise her up close. There was a flash of spacetime mana, and something shifted on the ground nearby. Valeria glanced down at her left boot where she found a small, cylindrical device that looked like a grenade. The device expanded and unfolded before her eyes, then it pulled at her with a sudden burst of power. Valeria had never learned sigilcraft, but the thing¡¯s intent was as clear as a written promise. This was a pocket space designed to trap a Master like her. A clever trick, but it wouldn¡¯t save them. Valeria pushed back against the device with all her mental might, the same way she flew through a storm with its raging winds. It fizzled out a second later, and a smile crept across her face. This might have worked in the hands of another Master, but these two lacked the raw power and skill to wield it. Valeria took her time as she examined the device for more traps, but she felt nothing. Satisfied, she released a burst of flame from her left palm, turning the thing to ash. ¡°Enough games.¡± She unveiled her soul for the first time, flooding the pair with raw mana and intent. This had its risks, of course. She might as well put up a beacon for her enemies to see. But Storm¡¯s Eye kept the Solidors busy, and her other allies had dealt with the cultists. Thousands of others had watched this chase from the sidelines, but no one had tried to stop her. Both girls collapsed on the slick asphalt, and Valeria caught a flash of true panic in Zeller¡¯s eyes. The girl tried to escape¡ªto cycle her mana¡ªbut it froze in her channels. She pushed harder, and the girl screwed her eyes shut, whimpering in pain. Good. This was true justice. This was the fear she should have felt back in Creta. The storm clouds swirled up above in a hundred shades of blue, from deep cobalt to pale azure. Valeria wanted to savor the moment, but that would be foolish. Instead, she concentrated her attack on Zeller. A little harder, and she would crush the girl¡¯s bones . . . In that moment, something pushed against Valeria¡¯s intent. Another Master? No, there were no other Masters here. This was Dawnfire. Somehow, she¡¯d summoned enough willpower to push back with her Angelic mana. Anger flared in Valeria¡¯s chest and she re-gathered her strength. Aeons were truly an abomination¡ªan insult to all the mana artists who¡¯d earned their power fairly. Valeria focused her power forward in a second burst, and Dawnfire¡¯s will shattered like an egg. She was about to crush them both when her instincts screamed a warning. Dawnfire¡¯s intent had felt wrong¡ªmore like a diversion than a last-ditch effort. Even now, the girl was holding something back. She focused her senses on the surrounding street. Yes . . . There was someone there, sneaking up on her, the way they¡¯d snuck up on her son. Valeria broke through the illusion, just as her hand drove a burning hole in her attacker¡¯s chest. The girl had long, golden hair, pulled back in a braid. Her blue eyes shot open, and her mouth went wide in a silent scream. She clutched a second pocket cell in her outstretched hands, and it clattered to the ground between them. It took Valeria a second to process the sight, then she pulled back her hand as if she¡¯d been burned. She veiled her soul in the same moment, reeling back her intent. ¡°Moonfire¡¯s daughter?¡± Warm blood spilled out over Valeria¡¯s hand, and a wave of pure panic ran down her spine. ¡°No, no, no. You weren¡¯t supposed to be here. He said you left the city.¡± She stopped the flames from spreading, but it was too late. She¡¯d driven a hole straight through Elise Moonfire¡¯s sternum, and the fires had already spread to the surrounding organs. The girl collapsed like a rag doll, and Dawnfire rushed forward, catching her body before it hit the street. Valeria glanced up at the surrounding buildings, where hundreds of people pointed their cameras straight at her. There was no escape now. Moonfire would see the footage, then he would kill her. Zeller had vanished again, but there was no time to pursue her. Better to save herself while she still could. Valeria focused on her dragon form, and a burst of bright green mana gathered around her. Her torso and limbs extended. Her clothes vanished into her pocket storage, and her muscles swelled until she filled the street. Finally, she stretched out her wings and retreated into the sky. Book 4 - Chapter 42: The Dragon鈥檚 Throat Akari ran outside and found Relia kneeling in the street, cradling her sister¡¯s head on her lap. The blow had crushed Elise¡¯s sternum, caving in her ribcage, and distorting her entire torso. Blood covered the remains of Elise¡¯s armor, staining the surrounding puddles. It looked like too much blood to fit inside a single person. Bursts of green and gold mana flashed around the wound, but Elise¡¯s body didn¡¯t react. Life mana only worked on living things. No . . . This was a trick; an illusion within an illusion. Elise knew their plan would fail, so she¡¯d made Valeria think she¡¯d killed Ashur Moonfire¡¯s daughter. It was crazy, but brilliant. Exactly the sort of thing Elise would do. ¡°What happened?¡± Arturo¡¯s voice asked over the comm channel. ¡°She¡¯s gone,¡± Kalden replied a moment later. He was still several blocks away, but their link let him see the world through Akari¡¯s eyes. ¡°Who?¡± he pressed. ¡°Talk to me, shoko.¡± Another pause followed, and Akari relaxed into her Silver Sight. No dream mana came from Elise¡¯s body. In fact, she saw no mana at all. Nothing but Relia¡¯s failed attempts to heal her. Kalden said something else over the comm channel, but Akari didn¡¯t hear it. Tears streamed down Relia¡¯s face, and the realization hit Akari like a train. No. This wasn¡¯t fair. She¡¯d done everything right. She¡¯d forgiven Elise and chosen to trust her, despite everything. She¡¯d helped her team with their training, and she¡¯d stopped overtraining herself. She¡¯d even given up her chance to become an Aeon, and, and . . . she couldn¡¯t think straight, but this all felt wrong. They¡¯d barely gotten to know Elise, but it was the start of a real friendship. A friendship that could have lasted decades¡ªmaybe even centuries. All six of them should have gone back to the interschool games and broke records. They should have advanced together, through the Master realm, all the way to Mystic. They should have returned to the Archipelago, saving the people they¡¯d left behind. Now, it was over. Whatever happened next, they¡¯d do it without Elise by their side. All because of one stupid fight. It wasn¡¯t even a fight to save the city. It was just a pointless skirmish. A skirmish they could have resolved with words given the chance. A part of her knew she was being stupid. Real life wasn¡¯t some story where every battle mattered and the right moves brought a happy ending. Real life followed a different set of rules¡ªrules that involved mana counts and probability. No team of Apprentices could fight a Master without casualties. She¡¯d known that from the start. She¡¯d even expected to die herself. For all that, she couldn¡¯t believe her own eyes. She couldn¡¯t believe she¡¯d lost a teammate today. Clearly, Relia didn¡¯t believe it either, because she was still pouring life mana into her sister¡¯s body. And just like before, the mana turned to vapor in midair, never reaching her channels. Somehow, the waste of resources snapped Akari from her own thoughts, and she stepped forward. ¡°She¡¯s gone, Relia.¡± The other girl didn¡¯t answer. She just held Elise close, pressing her cheek to her forehead. Akari turned her gaze to the sky. Only a few seconds had passed, and Valeria¡¯s dragon form was still in sight. She moved far slower than she had during the battle, and she must been saving her energy for a long trip. Akari raised her right hand and cycled mana to her wrist launcher. A single dart flew toward the sky at maximum speed. ¡°No,¡± Kalden said over the comm channel. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it.¡± She didn¡¯t think; there was no time for thinking. The dragon was getting away, and Akari scrambled to form her thoughts into a cohesive plan. This would have been a lot easier with Kalden¡¯s battle mana. Even talking was too slow, so she sent him a thought instead. ¡®You gonna help me or not?¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ his voice snapped back in her mind. ¡®You were right before, but you couldn¡¯t be more wrong about this.¡¯ She normally preferred this version of Kalden¡ªthese rare moments when he stopped being indecisive and stopped arguing for its own sake. The times when he finally took a stand and refused to back down. But now it was just a hindrance. Akari had already made up her mind, and she wouldn¡¯t back down, either. ¡®Damnit,¡¯ he said. ¡®Think of how you feel right now. You want me to feel that way when you die?¡¯ His aspect flooded her mind with the data, including her odds of success if she tried this plan. Akari ignored it all. She didn¡¯t have space in her head for numbers or hypothetical futures. Her thoughts flowed down a narrow tunnel, focused entirely on the next few seconds. Kalden was right, of course. She knew that truth in her heart, and she knew she¡¯d probably regret this. But she still didn¡¯t care. Kalden cut the link with his Second Brain, attempting to stop her displacement technique. That might have worked a few weeks ago, but she¡¯d been practicing this technique non-stop since that first dream. She held the revelation firmly in her mind and she trusted her body to see it through, with or without Kalden¡¯s help. She took another step forward and met Relia¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m gonna kill the dragon. Are you with me?¡± Relia rubbed the tears from her eyes and nodded once. Good, at least someone understood. Akari sent a spacetime Missile toward the sky and swapped her body with the dart. This one had already been flying for a good fifteen seconds, and the swap brought her a mile into the air. The winds blew fiercer up here, cutting through her armor and clothing. The rain struck her face like tiny daggers, and lightning flashed on all sides. Her body flipped over until her feet faced the sky. It felt like falling into an endless void of swirling blue clouds. Her muscles tensed, and she Cloaked herself against the elements. She extended her right hand toward the ground, cycled more mana to her wrist launcher, and pulled back the first dart. Then she raised her left arm skyward and shot a second dart at the retreating dragon. Her body soared until gravity caught up with her. When that happened, she swapped herself with the second dart and began the process again. He body soared faster with every swap. The g-forces sent blood rushing to her head, but that was no problem. She was almost an Artisan, and she had enough control over her cardiovascular system. Once she¡¯d built up some momentum, Akari switched to portals, aiming the first one upward toward the dragon, and catching her body with the second. Her clothes and hair grew stiff with ice. Her glasses would have frozen, too, if not for the protective sigils. Her skin froze next, and she couldn¡¯t breathe. Just a few more seconds . . . Her last portal brought her above the dragon. Valeria sensed her at once and spun through the air, preparing a blast of fire mana from deep within her stomach. Akari shot a dart over the dragon¡¯s right wing and vanished just before the flames engulfed her body. She appeared a quarter mile behind her. The dragon whirled again. Time slowed as Akari raised a shaky hand and cycled more mana to her wrist launcher. Finally, she aimed for the dragon¡¯s throat and unleashed her team¡¯s strongest weapon. ~~~ Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Relia appeared in a dark tunnel, surrounded by fleshy walls, crisscrossed with veins of dark red. The scent of sulfur stung her nostrils, and wisps of smoke swirled around her body. The air ahead felt like a furnace, mixing with the cold sky at her back. Kalden had spent the last minute sharing Akari¡¯s plan over the comm channel. He didn¡¯t sound happy, but he knew they¡¯d fail without him. Fire raced upward from the cavern¡¯s depths, and Relia formed a sphere of Moonshard around her body. The Angelic mana filled the tunnel, trapping the flames in Valeria¡¯s stomach. The dragon¡¯s throat pulsed and contracted, and Relia could practically taste her fear. Or maybe that was her own fear? She had no idea if this next part would work¡ªno one did. But this was worth it. If Valeria Antano escaped, then she would just keep on killing weaker mana artists. Even one more death was too many. Relia waited for several heartbeats for the flames to settle. The dragon coughed and swung her head from side to side. All the while, Relia held her Construct in place, straining with all her mental might. Now or never. She split the shield into a dozen smaller shards, then she pushed out from her channels, sharpening each piece into a blade of Angelic mana. Blood erupted from every side, and space warped around her as Akari pulled her to safety. She staggered forward an instant later. The world spun around her, and she lost all sense of up and down. She collapsed on the street, and phantom pains surged through her arms and legs. Her condition was long gone, but her brain forgot that whenever she exerted herself too hard. ¡°Over there,¡± Kalden¡¯s voice said from somewhere nearby. Two sets of footsteps jogged closer, but Relia couldn¡¯t make out their forms. Dragon blood covered her eyes, darkening her vision. The sulfur scent still clung to her nostrils, and she tasted it on her tongue. ¡°Hey,¡± Arturo said. ¡°You good, spira?¡± Relia nodded, and Zukan¡¯s muscular arms pulled her into a seated position. Angels above. She felt like she¡¯d been thrown into a meat grinder and then tossed out of a moving airship. That wasn¡¯t too far from the truth, come to think of it. ¡°You need healing?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°I¡¯m not hurt,¡± Relia said with a quick shake of her head. ¡°None of it¡¯s mine.¡± Someone handed her a wet cloth, and she wiped the blood from around her eyes. Her whole team had gathered on a sidewalk somewhere in Westtown. Arturo and Zukan knelt on the ground beside her, while Kalden stood closer to the street with a half-conscious Akari leaning on his shoulder. Finally, Elise¡¯s body lay beneath a shop awning, a few paces to the right. The storm clouds had finally parted up above, and her hair shone golden in the afternoon light. Relia¡¯s heart still ached for her but she reigned in those feelings for now. Koreldon City was still an active war zone, and they had to focus on their next move. In that moment, her hair grew suddenly lighter as the rest of the blood evaporated. Relia glanced down at her clothing and found it much cleaner than before. ¡°Did we get her?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a Master,¡± Kalden said as if that answered everything. He glanced at Akari, but she barely acknowledged his words. They¡¯d feigned exhaustion when they¡¯d set the trap for Valeria, but now that feeling was real. Akari would probably pass out if she shot even one more Missile. She might even risk permanent damage to her channels. Kalden turned back to face Relia. ¡°You know better than this¡ªboth of you. You never attack a superior force while they¡¯re retreating. We had nothing to gain, and everything to lose.¡± Arturo cleared his throat. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we find cover, shoko?¡± Kalden let out a long breath and looked around. ¡°Does it matter? Akari can¡¯t make another portal. We¡¯re all dead if the dragon comes back.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Relia said with a wince. She and Akari had discussed this tactic weeks ago, but only as a last resort. They¡¯d chased Valeria in a storm of blind rage, but that had been incredibly stupid in hindsight. She didn¡¯t even feel better now, just different. The anger was still there, but the adrenaline had faded, replaced with the bitter taste of regret. Kalden must have been saving the rest of his lecture for later, because he didn¡¯t reply. Relia glanced back down at her clothes. ¡°Where¡¯d all the blood go?¡± ¡°She turned back to her human form,¡± Zukan said. ¡°A smaller body is easier to heal.¡± ¡°Also easier to hide,¡± Kalden muttered. ¡°Speaking of hiding,¡± Arturo said. ¡°I still think we should find cover. Nihilism¡¯s no excuse to forget our training.¡± ¡°Point taken,¡± Kalden said. ¡°You and Zukan lead the way.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Relia glanced back at Elise¡¯s body. ¡°We can¡¯t just leave her out here.¡± No sooner had the words left her mouth than a portal split the air in front of them. Relia and Zukan stepped forward to shield their teammates, and Kalden and Arturo shifted behind them. This was more of a symbolic gesture in Relia¡¯s case because she couldn¡¯t imagine more fighting right now. Moonshard didn¡¯t use ordinary mana, but it still had a way of exhausting her body and mind. A man stepped out from the portal, covered in dark gray armor from head to heel. Relia took a peak with her Silver Sight, and the man looked like a Master¡ªmaybe even a Grandmaster. Most high level artists kept their souls veiled, so it was hard to say. The man removed his helmet, revealing his pale skin and dark red hair. He scanned his surroundings before finally settling his gaze on Relia. Father. ¡°Elise.¡± His boots clomped against the street as he approached. ¡°Where is she?¡± It was the first time he¡¯d acknowledged Relia¡¯s existence, much less spoken to her. She straightened her posture and stepped aside. The others did the same, and Ashur Moonfire ran over to the spot where Elise¡¯s body lay. He knelt there for several long seconds, keeping his expression carefully hidden. All the while, Relia¡¯s team held their breath as they exchanged glances. Were they safe now? Or were they in more danger than before? If Elise was right, then their father might be responsible for Storm¡¯s Eye¡¯s sudden appearance in the city. But he was still the senator of Koreldon. He couldn¡¯t attack them in broad daylight, could he? A second portal opened in front of her father, and Elise¡¯s body floated gently inside. The portal snapped shut, and he got to his feet, unleashing a cloud of mana and intent. Relia braced herself for pain, but this wasn¡¯t directed at her or her teammates. Instead, the power surged outward in every direction¡ªprobably stretching on for several miles. This wasn¡¯t an attack or a show of strength. He was searching for someone. A space Missile flew out from his hand, soaring over the rooftops to some distant target. Then the air warped in front of him, and Valeria Antano staggered forward in her human form. Crimson dotted her throat as if she¡¯d been stabbed by a dozen small needles. The wounds had also scabbed over, and she¡¯d clearly been healing herself. Kalden was right before; they¡¯d never come close to a lethal blow. Valeria glanced around like a cornered animal, cycling mana in her palms. Her gaze settled on Relia¡¯s father, and all the color drained from her face. ¡°S-Senator Moonfire. I . . .¡± She must have seen something in his expression, because she cut off her own sentence. Bursts of flame flew out from her palms, propelling her body toward the sky. Space warped around her, tossing her back down like a falling stone. She recovered quickly, raising a defensive Construct of flaming orange mana. It stretched for two dozen yards until it filled the whole street. Relia¡¯s father didn¡¯t move, but Valeria¡¯s shield twisted and warped around her at unnatural angles. It surrounded her like a tent, leaving a small gap between her and her attacker. Finally, Ashur Moonfire raised two fingers in a slashing motion. Until now, their exchange had happened in a blur. But this next part happened even quicker, as if her father had been in a daze this whole time and had just now woken up. Relia never saw his technique, or even Valeria¡¯s reaction. One second, the dragon was cycling her mana in a defensive stance. The next second, her body fell to the ground in several pieces, and the fight was over. A small device appeared in her father¡¯s hand, and he tossed it on Valeria¡¯s corpse without ceremony. Her remains burst into flames, not unlike how Kalden¡¯s brother had died. The fire was still burning when he turned around. Relia¡¯s blood froze, and her mind went as blank as fresh paper. What would happen now? Would he turn his wrath on them? Would he try to finish what Valeria had started? Their eyes met, and his gaze softened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Relia didn¡¯t dare to breathe. She understood those words, but her mind struggled to grasp their meaning here. His tone sounded so earnest, as if he actually regretted something. When he didn¡¯t explain further, Relia opened her mouth and forced out the obvious question. ¡°Sorry for what?¡± ¡°Everything,¡± he said. ¡°What I put you through these past twenty years. I can¡¯t say I regret it all. This path helped you survive¡ªit made you the person you are today. Still . . . I deeply regret how I treated you along the way.¡± A shiver ran down her spine. This could¡¯t be real, could it? Her father was a politician¡ªa professional liar. This had to be a trick. It was all a show for her teammates, or the onlookers farther back. Some calculated move in a larger scheme she couldn¡¯t see or comprehend. But no . . . until this moment, her parents had gone to great lengths to hide their relationship. Now here he was, drawing attention to it. ¡°I understand if you don¡¯t believe me,¡± he said. ¡°But I want to make things right between us.¡± Relia was spared the need to answer when a second portal opened down the street. Elend and Irina stepped out, followed by Grandmaster Sterling, and several more people she didn¡¯t recognize. They all wore expensive-looking armor like her father¡¯s. Elend rushed over to their group, and Relia hurled herself into his chest. Elend wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. ¡°Is everyone alright?¡± he asked. Relia shook her head, and her voice came out in a broken whisper. ¡°Elise . . .¡± A short silence followed as Elend took in the scene, from Valeria¡¯s burning body to the spot where Ashur Moonfire stood beneath the shop awning. He pressed his hand to the back of her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright, lass. You¡¯re safe now.¡± Relia believed him, and for the first time that day, she felt some of her tension drain away. Her whole team hadn¡¯t survived the battle, but at least it was over. They were finally together again. Elend let go of Relia and turned to face Grandmaster Sterling. ¡°We need to get the kids out of here. Can you open a portal?¡± ¡°Sure thing,¡± she replied. ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°Anywhere but here.¡± Relia stiffened at that. ¡°You better not leave us alone again.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t, lass. I promise.¡± Mana flowed out from Sterling¡¯s hands as she got to work on the portal. ¡°Stop!¡± Ashur Moonfire unleashed a wave of power and intent, and Sterling¡¯s technique turned to vapor. They all rounded on him, and some of Elend¡¯s team looked ready for battle. Elend shifted his body to stand in front of Relia, while Irina moved to shield the others. The whole street seemed to hold its breath as they watched each other, cycling their mana, preparing to form techniques. Moonfire surveyed the six Grandmasters before finally settling his gaze on Relia. ¡°The rest of you can go, but my daughter¡¯s coming home with me.¡± Book 4 - Chapter 43: Sufficient Power Glim zipped through the streets, searching for a familiar face. She passed dozens of mana spawn along the way, and she left clouds of pale blue mist in her wake. It felt good to kill something, especially after all they¡¯d lost today. First their home, and then Elise. Glim didn¡¯t even remember losing the house; a different version of her had died in that battle, and she¡¯d never had a chance to back up her memories. But it must have been a heroic death if all the kids got out. She reached Emperor¡¯s Cross a few seconds later, and she found the cultists recovering from a recent battle. The terminal itself was barely recognizable, and the famous clock tower lay sprawled across the courtyard like a fallen tree. The surrounding buildings looked just as bad. Some had lost windows or walls, while others sported larger craters as if they¡¯d been hit by Master techniques. Glim flew closer and found a Master and Artisan standing on the terminal¡¯s front steps. The Master had a Cadrian complexion, with a shaved head and a thin goatee. The other guy was an Espirian with a bushy brown beard. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Glim made a throat-clearing sound as she floated over. ¡°I¡¯m looking for Lena¡ª¡± The Master rounded on her and unleashed a blade of space mana. Glim darted to the side, and the technique sliced through the stone pillar behind her. That was rude! Not to mention dangerous. It was a miracle they hadn¡¯t collapsed this whole building yet. ¡°Hey,¡± Glim said. ¡°I¡¯m not a spawn!¡± Another blade cut through the air. Spatial blades flew faster than bullets, and Glim barely managed to dodge in time. ¡°I¡¯m a spirit,¡± she said. ¡°A friendly spirit!¡± The man paused, but he didn¡¯t stop cycling his mana. ¡°Look.¡± Glim floated over to a car and took her human form in the broken windshield. ¡°See?¡± ¡°See what?¡± the Master asked. She gestured more insistently at her face. ¡°See how cute I am? I¡¯m obviously not with Storm¡¯s Eye.¡± ¡°Looks like a succubus,¡± the Artisan said. ¡°Excuse you.¡± Glim glared at him. ¡°This planet doesn¡¯t have those.¡± She turned back to the Master. ¡°I¡¯m friends with Akari Zeller and Kalden Trengsen. They were here today, right?¡± ¡°Prove it,¡± the Master said. ¡°Prove they were here?¡± His eyes narrowed at her, and he looked ready to unleash a third technique. ¡°Prove you¡¯re on our side.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, Rosintar.¡± Lena Cavaco stepped around the fallen clock tower. Glim almost didn¡¯t recognize the woman with the armor and helmet. Not to mention the layer of dirt that covered her cheeks. ¡°That¡¯s Glimmer. She¡¯s Elend Darklight¡¯s mana spirit.¡± ¡°Lena!¡± Glim brightened at the sight of her. ¡°I need your help with something.¡± ¡°Now?¡± Lena raised an eyebrow. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Remember that time we stole Etherite from the Dragonlord?¡± ¡°You stole the Etherite. I had nothing to do with that.¡± Glim shrugged. ¡°They stole the collar back from us a few months ago, and we need to return the favor. Can you still do your crystal magic?¡± ¡°It depends,¡± she replied. ¡°Has anyone else tampered with the piece since then?¡± ¡°Uh, define ¡®tampered.¡¯¡± ¡°Has another Ethersmith touched it?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say they haven¡¯t.¡± Glim honestly had no idea, but that was a problem for later. ¡°Also, it¡¯s probably inside a Grandmaster¡¯s pocket dimension. Will your powers work through that?¡± ¡°In theory,¡± she said. ¡°But only if someone disables the wards and gets me close.¡± ¡°Leave the wards to me,¡± Glim said. ¡°How close are we talking?¡± ¡°At least ten feet, but closer is better.¡± Glim nodded. ¡°I know it¡¯s a lot to take in, but we need to move right now. Can I count on you?¡± Lena let out a long breath. ¡°I can¡¯t promise you anything. It¡¯s been almost a year since I saw that collar. A lot can change in that time.¡± ¡°Good enough.¡± Glim turned to face the Master. ¡°Hey, there. Rosintar, right? Be a dear and make us a portal to Emerald Street and Grand?¡± Rosintar just stared at her, crossing his muscular arms. ¡°You mentioned a Grandmaster. Can you guarantee Lena¡¯s safety in this?¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°No,¡± Glim admitted. ¡°But I have six more Grandmasters on my side, and I think the payoff will be worth the risk.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Lena put a hand on Rosintar¡¯s arm. ¡°We¡¯ve already lost too many people today,¡± the Master said. ¡°I think I know what she has in mind,¡± Lena told him. ¡°Trust me. This is what the Solidors would want.¡± ~~~ Relia stared at her father, still processing his words as they echoed through her skull. ¡°I¡¯m taking my daughter home with me.¡± He couldn¡¯t mean her, could he? He¡¯d disowned her¡ªabandoned her as a baby¡ªand left her for dead. He couldn¡¯t just take that back. Why would he even want to take it back? But then her mind recalled an old saying from a different age. A time when powerful sects ruled this world and crushed the weak beneath their boots: Sufficient power forgives all sins. Apparently, those words were true. Power forgave everything, including the crime of being born with krustoplegia. Her younger self had dreamed of this moment¡ªto become so strong that her parents couldn¡¯t ignore her. She¡¯d eventually outgrown that childish dream. You couldn¡¯t just gain power and make someone love you. The world didn¡¯t work like that. But her younger self had been right, In a twisted sort of way. That was exactly how this world worked. Hundreds of bystanders had recorded their fight against the dragon, and her father had obviously seen the footage. How else would he know to come here, to this exact street? And if he¡¯d seen that footage, then he¡¯d also seen Relia use her mythical Aeon powers to fight a Master. In that moment, she¡¯d become far too valuable for him to ignore. Her father stepped forward, meeting her eyes directly. ¡°It¡¯s time to come home, Relia. We only have each other now. You, me, and your mother.¡± Those words tugged at something deep in her soul, memories and emotions she¡¯d buried years ago. For all that, Relia didn¡¯t consider his offer. Not for one second. ¡°I already have a family,¡± she told him. ¡°And it¡¯s not you.¡± Her father opened his mouth again, but Elend stepped between them. ¡°You¡¯ve got your answer, Moonfire. Now stand down.¡± Irina stepped forward as well, along with Sterling and the other Masters from their squad. Mana rushed through their channels, and their bodies looked ready to spring into battle. ¡°Very well.¡± Moonfire let out a long sigh. ¡°Then we¡¯ll do this the hard way.¡± He unveiled his soul, unleashing a burst of raw power. The street shook, windows shattered on the surrounding buildings, and even the air itself moved aside with a sudden gust of wind. All six Grandmasters fell to their knees, along with her teammates. Relia remained unaffected by the blast, but that must have happened by design. Still, she could practically taste her father¡¯s power. The power of a Mystic. One by one, the six Grandmasters got back to their feet, using their combined power to push back. Moonfire fell into a combat stance, and a dozen spatial blades formed around his body. Each one was almost invisible, like floating shards of glass that hurt to look at. ¡°You want to commit treason and attack your new prime minister?¡± A slow smile crossed his face, and the transparent blades seemed to sharpen. ¡°Come and try.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do this,¡± Irina said through gritted teeth. ¡°You aren¡¯t thinking clearly right now.¡± Moonfire shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m Espiria¡¯s future prime minister, and I¡¯m protecting my family during a time of national crisis. I already lost one daughter in this city . . .¡± He clenched his jaw as if the words pained him to admit it. ¡°I won¡¯t make that mistake again.¡± No one replied, but Relia could imagine the thoughts flowing between Elend and Irina. Deep down, Elend was just like Akari. His heart would tell him to fight this battle, and he¡¯d follow that instinct, regardless of his enemy¡¯s strength. He might even succeed. Teams of Grandmasters had fought Mystics before, but victory always came with a cost. Meanwhile, Irina was more like Kalden. Her aspect would tell her the odds, and she would favor a retreat. They could regroup that way, and fight on their own terms. Irina was right, just like Kalden had been right about attacking the dragon. Relia¡¯s father wouldn¡¯t hurt her, but he might hurt the others. Not just Elend and Irina, but her entire team. Relia couldn¡¯t lose anyone else today, so stepped between Elend and Irina, extending her arms in a protective gesture. Three more steps, and she closed the distance, looking her father in the eye. She swallowed hard and forced out her next words. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you if you don¡¯t hurt anyone.¡± Moonfire nodded once, and Relia turned around to face her real family. Elend and Irina . . . Akari and Kalden. How long would it be until they saw each other again? But she never had a chance to say goodbye, or even see their faces one last time. Space mana flowed around her, far quicker than Sterling¡¯s technique from before. The portal carried her to the vestibule of a dark manor, with high stone pillars on either side. The air was cold and silent, and a thin sliver of sunlight through the high, ornamented window. Relia stared blankly forward for several long seconds, wishing she could go back in time and erase these last few hours. Finally, her exhaustion washed over her, and she sank to her knees on the marble floor. ~~~ Akari watched her friend vanish from the street. The technique was clearly a portal, but it looked nothing like her own techniques. Akari¡¯s portals were simple tunnels through spacetime that worked in either direction. But this looked more like a one-way trip, consuming Relia¡¯s body in an instant. Moonfire remained on the street for a few seconds longer. His spatial blades floated around his body, all but taunting the other Masters to attack him. How did he even make blades like that? She wanted to look closer, but they hurt her eyes. Almost as if space were folding over on itself. A second later, Moonfire vanished with the same technique, and all the Masters began talking at once. Akari tuned them out as she staggered toward Elend. Her channels sent stabbing pains through her body, and she still had to lean on Kalden for support. ¡°How long?¡± She asked when she reached Elend¡¯s side. ¡°How long till we can see her again?¡± This was all wrong. After everything that happened today, they should have been together as a team. Or a family, as Relia had said. No one should be allowed to separate them like this, not even a Mystic. ¡°I don¡¯t know, lass¡± Elend stared down at his hands. They¡¯d started shaking as soon as Moonfire left, and Akari felt her eyes threatening to burn. ¡°I failed two of my students today,¡± he said in a low voice. ¡°But at least I won¡¯t have to fail you, too.¡± His right hand stopped shaking, and he extended his palm toward the sky. Glim appeared there in her Missile form, and she dropped a ring-shaped object made of bright blue crystal. It looked like the Etherite cuffs they¡¯d lost, but twice as large. ¡°That¡¯s the collar,¡± Kalden said from beside her. ¡°The one they stole from the vault?¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Elend said. ¡°Glim and I will explain later. For now, we need to find the Solidors.¡± Book 4 - Chapter 44: Advancement They regrouped with the Solidors later that day, and Rosintar made them a portal to the cult¡¯s safe house. It looked like somewhere in Northern Espiria, judging by the snowcapped mountains on the horizon. The buildings also had a log cabin aesthetic that reminded Akari of the Hunter¡¯s Guild back in White Vale. She sat with Kalden on a wooden bench near the dojos, relaxing in the cool mountain air. By now, they¡¯d showered, changed their clothes, and spent some quality time with the cult¡¯s healers. It still felt strange to get healing from someone who wasn¡¯t Relia, and she hoped they wouldn¡¯t make it a habit. Arturo and Zukan were back inside the house, probably watching the news with the others. Akari could have joined them, but what was the point? The Solidors had driven Storm¡¯s Eye from the city, and that was all that really mattered. She didn¡¯t need to hear more bad news on top of that. She surveyed the rest of the scene, along with the short mana wall that surrounded the property. This part also reminded her of White Vale, and the sights brought a strange wave of nostalgia. The Archipelago had been a dark time in her life, filled with constant stress and uncertainty. For all that, the good memories overshadowed the bad in her mind. Traveling with Kalden in a strange new city. Meeting Relia for the first time, and hunting mana beasts in the forest. Learning about the outside world, and glimpsing powers beyond her imagination . . . ¡°Hey.¡± Kalden reached out and touched the back of her hand. ¡°We should talk about what happened.¡± Akari winced as her mind settled back into the present. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, okay? You were right. I never should have gone up in the sky.¡± He paused, clearly choosing his next words with care. ¡°You¡¯ve been a lot better this year¡ªputting the team first, being less impulsive. I think we all agree you were a good captain¡± A small laugh escaped her lips. A few weeks ago, she¡¯d accused Kalden of never saying anything positive, and this was obviously his attempt to fix that. She¡¯d always liked that about Kalden, though. Most people went through life as if they were dreaming, never truly watching or listening to what happened around them. But Kalden understood problems, and he was always solving them as they emerged. Her smile faded an instant later when she remembered how much they¡¯d lost today. Losing Elise was bad enough, but Relia had been with them from the start of their journey. The three of them should have been together right now, and the sense of wrongness clung to her like a wet jacket. ¡°And I¡¯m not worried about who was right,¡± Kalden said. ¡°I know you and Relia weren¡¯t thinking straight. Neither was I, to be honest. I just want us to do better next time.¡± ¡°You mean the next time one of our teammates dies?¡± ¡°Maybe, If it comes to that.¡± He gestured to the dojo where the Darklights were talking with the Solidors in private. ¡±We¡¯re not kids anymore. and we¡¯ll be even stronger after this ritual. That means our choices will carry more weight. We have to do better, even when it¡¯s hard.¡± ¡°Any ideas?¡± She¡¯d known it was stupid to attack Valeria, but she hadn¡¯t been able to stop herself in the moment. Clearly, her powers were growing far faster than her prefrontal cortex. Of course, maturity wouldn¡¯t solve everything. Stronger mana artists faced the same struggles, and they reacted in the exact same ways. Valeria had clearly regretted her choice to come here, and Moonfire would soon realize that he couldn¡¯t keep his daughter locked up forever. Then again, only a true psychopath could unleash Storm¡¯s Eye against a city of civilians, so maybe Moonfire would never regret his actions. Especially if he got away with this.The other Mystics must know about his involvement, but would they retaliate? Did they even care? No mere mortal could answer those questions. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out,¡± Kalden said. ¡°We¡¯ll make a code phrase or something. If one of us says it, the other stops. No matter what.¡± ¡°Last Haven,¡± Akari suggested. That had been the biggest mistake of her life, and she could have prevented it if she¡¯d trusted her parents. Kalden frowned, but he didn¡¯t contradict her. ¡°Do you think Moonfire was the one who attacked our sect?¡± ¡°No,¡± she said after a short pause. ¡°I thought about it, but it doesn¡¯t fit. Whoever did this wanted to be anonymous, but I saw Moonfire in that diner. Why would he censor his own name from me?¡± ¡°Could be a distraction,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Hiding in plain sight puts him at the bottom of the suspect list.¡± ¡°It¡¯s simpler to hide the whole trail.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also more difficult. Not to mention the mana cost.¡± Akari gave him a frank look. ¡°His technique alters memories and records all over the world. Now he cares about saving mana? How would a space artist even do something like that?¡± ¡°He¡¯s also an Aeon,¡± Kalden said. ¡°They break the rules all the time.¡± ¡°Do they?¡± she countered. ¡°Aside from Angelic mana, don¡¯t they follow the same rules as mana artists?¡± ¡°They can absorb other types of mana. Even crystals, and enemy techniques.¡± ¡°So can we,¡± she said. ¡°They just do it ten times better.¡± Kalden nodded as if conceding the point. ¡°But Moonfire¡¯s an Aeon Mystic. That¡¯s unprecedented.¡± Akari opened her mouth, then closed it. ¡°Even regular Mystics keep their techniques a secret,¡± he pressed on. ¡°So we have no idea what Moonfire can do. No one does.¡± Shit. They¡¯d been aiming to be the first Aeon Mystics, hoping to gain an advantage over their enemy. But what if he¡¯d beaten them to it? The dojo¡¯s wooden door slid open behind her, and Elend stepped outside. ¡°They¡¯re ready for you now.¡± The two of them got to their feet, and Lena Cavaco appeared behind Elend in the doorway. ¡°You both have empty stomachs, right? And you¡¯ve used the bathroom?¡± They nodded. After training for months in Elend¡¯s pain machine, they knew all the rookie mistakes. Lena ran through the risks one last time, reminding them how no mana artist had gone through this ritual without permanent soul damage. Relia and her father didn¡¯t count, since they¡¯d technically been born Aeons. Lena had gone through this as an Apprentice, and she¡¯d trapped herself at that rank forever. Sozen Trengsen had done it during his Artisan advancement, but even he¡¯d lacked the right preparations. By the time they¡¯d realized that, it was too late. Either Akari and Kalden would be the first real success story, or they would cut their journey short. Despite the risks, she forced herself to step forward. If Ashur Moonfire wasn¡¯t the Mystic from her dream, then he served someone even stronger. Either way, they would need this power to defeat him. The dojo had the same log cabin look as the rest of the compound, with rough walls covered in a web of intricate sigils. The Solidors stood near the room¡¯s center, and Thane gestured to a pair of dark brown mats on the floor. Akari and Kalden lowered themselves to the floor, resting their heads on the pillows. Elend and Irina stood a few paces back, while Lena prepared several pieces of equipment. Kalden removed his t-shirt, folding it up neatly on the floor beside him. Akari took off her glasses, then her hoodie. Her tank top hung low in the front, so they could access her soul without her stripping down completely. Relyn loomed above them, holding the Etherite collar in her outstretched hand. ¡°Good news,¡± she said in a cheerful tone. ¡°This shard is big enough to make two souls.¡± Akari let out a breath of relief, sinking deeper into her pillow. Elend had seemed confident about the collar¡¯s size, but he hadn¡¯t been sure. ¡°This should give you a head start with your soulbonds ,¡± Lena added. ¡°What?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Really?¡± They¡¯d talked about Aeon soulbonds a few weeks back, but she barely remembered the benefits. Something about advanced telepathy and shared techniques? The older woman nodded. ¡°A soulbond is just two pieces of Etherite with matching crystal patterns. Most Aeons will alter these patterns over time to form bonds with one another, but that can take months.¡± She gestured back to the collar in Relyn¡¯s hand. ¡°These patterns already match, so you¡¯re more than halfway there.¡± In other words, the collar was even better than the cuffs for this ritual. At least one thing had worked out in their favor today. But she shuddered to imagine how close they¡¯d come to missing this chance. Glim hadn¡¯t even known Ashur Moonfire was a Mystic when she stole back the cuffs. She and Elend might never have attempted that if they¡¯d known the truth. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Alright,¡± Thane said. ¡°Let¡¯s get an MP reading on Akari.¡± Lena knelt on the floor and pressed a mana watch to Akari¡¯s chest. ¡°Three thousand seventy-two over three thousand seventy-four.¡± Thane nodded and met Akari¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m going to force the remaining mana through your soul and bring you to the peak of Apprentice. Relyn will make your Aeon soul at the same time. Any questions?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to force over a hundred and twenty mana points into her soul?¡± Kalden asked. ¡°How long will that take?¡± ¡°Not long.¡± Relyn knelt on the floor beside Akari. ¡°Your soul has walls to stop it from advancing too quickly, but the brain controls those walls. It lowers them during combat, and dream techniques can achieve the same result.¡± Just like that? Her tone was surprisingly casual, considering the enormity of that task. But it was easy to forget that the Solidors were older than they looked. Older than Elend and Irina, even. Footsteps echoed against the wooden floor as Elend stepped forward. ¡°Relax, lass. The hard part is behind you now. This will be the easiest advancement you ever have.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Akari said. ¡°What do I do?¡± ¡°Breathe for me,¡± Relyn said. ¡°Inhale as deep as you can. Fill your stomach, then your chest.¡± Akari did so. ¡°Now inhale again,¡± Relyn said. ¡°Without releasing the breath.¡± That seemed like a contradiction since she¡¯d already filled her lungs. But Akari did it anyway, taking an even deeper breath than before. This went on for several more rounds, and Relyn spouted some stuff about the parasympathetic nervous system. Akari had studied biology, but she didn¡¯t know half as much as Relia and Kalden. And things got even weirder when you brought in the metaphysics of channels and souls. Your mana existed outside your body, but the brain grouped it with your heart rate and breathing. ¡°This will feel strange,¡± Relyn said. ¡°Just try not to think too hard.¡± Akari released her last breath, and every muscle in her body went limp. She tried to tense them again, but she couldn¡¯t. Then her limbs moved on their own, shifting their positions in small ways. It felt like Akari¡¯s idea to move them, but another part of her brain knew it wasn¡¯t happening naturally ¡°Good,¡± Relyn said. ¡°Now you need to hyperventilate¡ªdeep inhales, and shallow exhales. This prepares your body to go without oxygen.¡± Relyn must have been speaking for Akari¡¯s benefit because her lungs filled and emptied on their own. She fell into a rhythm for several dozen breaths, then Relyn forced all the air from her lungs, and her body lay still. ¡°Ready,¡± Relyn said to Thane. ¡°Forcing the mana now.¡± Thane placed a hand over Akari¡¯s chest and unleashed a torrent of power into her soul. Panic flooded her mind as the mana stretched the opening far beyond its limits. It felt like forcing a storm into a bottle, and one wrong move could turn that bottle into a glass bomb. Fortunately, Relyn¡¯s dream technique kept her body loose and relaxed. Her heart slowed to a crawl, and her lungs sat peacefully empty. Even her channels remained as still as a frozen river. The dojo swayed around her, and her fingers and toes went numb. She felt like she was floating off the mat, leaving her body behind. The crystal collar vanished from Relyn¡¯s hand, and Akari felt another explosion of pain. This was far stronger than Thane¡¯s mana, and it felt like a machine of spinning fire and blades. Akari looked down, but she couldn¡¯t see her chest from this vantage. Even so, she half expected to see blood gushing out from her sternum. Her vision darkened, but Relyn kept her from passing out. The pain spread to the rest of her body, from the bottoms of her feet to the tip of her skull. But this was the best kind of pain¡ªthe feeling of all her cells breaking down, bathing in mana, and rebuilding themselves anew. The pain of advancement. The sensations subsided with time, and even her burning crystal soul receded to a dull ache. Akari¡¯s new body had healed the damage, and only the echoes remained in her mind. How much time had passed? Five minutes? An hour? She couldn¡¯t say. But eventually, Thane and Relyn dropped their techniques and stepped back. Lena placed more devices on Akari¡¯s chest, but her words sounded faint and distant as if they were deep underwater. However, one word stood out above the rest, and it came like a breath of fresh air as they resurfaced. ¡°Success.¡± She opened her eyes and stared up at the dojo¡¯s wooden ceiling. The details were surprisingly sharp, considering she¡¯d removed her glasses before they started. She¡¯d spent some time training without them this year, but she hadn¡¯t known those efforts would bear fruit. Elend handed her the glasses a second later, and she placed them on her face. The world turned blurry at once, which meant she¡¯d probably need a new prescription. Nice. Her new vision wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was a huge improvement over what she¡¯d had before. ¡°How do you know it worked?¡± Kalden asked from his mat beside her. Lena held up her mana watch. ¡°This detects micro points. Both your numbers are rising as you cycle.¡± Akari got to her feet, and no one told her to take it easy. Her legs practically launched her into the air, and she landed with perfect balance. Talek. She hadn¡¯t felt this good in . . . well, ever. It felt like she¡¯d been living whole her life in an exhausted state, and now she¡¯d finally gotten a good night¡¯s sleep. All her senses came alive. She heard her breath in her nostrils, and her hair brushing against her shoulders. She inhaled the dojo¡¯s wooden scent, with undertones of mana from past battles. She felt the shifts in the air as the others moved around her. It was almost too much. How was she supposed to focus when her brain took in everything at once? Elend placed a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Aye, it¡¯s a lot for the first few days, but your brain will adapt. Then you can sharpen your senses at will.¡± Akari nodded. Brains always took longer to adapt than physical bodies. It was the same reason your pain could linger for hours after you¡¯d been healed. Kalden got to his feet next, and Akari barely recognized him. He looked like he¡¯d aged several years, with more prominent cheekbones, and a straighter jawline. His eyes looked more serious than before, and his beard looked like it might come in thicker if he stopped shaving. Akari¡¯s eyes drifted downward, and all his muscles looked more defined, from his chest down to his abs. Akari wouldn¡¯t mind doing a more thorough inspection in private. Kalden grinned when he caught her staring. ¡°You look good, too.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Akari felt at her jaw and cheekbones, but she couldn¡¯t feel any changes. ¡°Anyone have a mirror?¡± That was probably a dumb question. Some dojos had mirrors, but that would ruin the whole log cabin aesthetic. And it wasn¡¯t like anyone carried around a¡ª Elend snapped his fingers, and a full-length mirror appeared in front of her. ¡°Oh.¡± Akari took an instinctive step back, blinking at the dream mana Construct. ¡°Thanks.¡± Her eyes widened as she finally took in her reflection. Seeing herself without her glasses was weird enough, but her facial structure had changed, too. Not as much as Kalden¡¯s, but the change was there all the same. Everything looked leaner and more contoured, which was a welcome improvement. It was hard to look like a badass mana artist when you still had the face of a sixteen-year-old. ¡°The books never talk about this stuff,¡± Akari said as she touched her face. If anything, most people looked younger after their Artisan advancements. ¡°Aye.¡± Elend chuckled. ¡°There¡¯s a reason for that. Most people reach Artisan in their physical prime or older. No one does it in their teens.¡± That would explain why Relia¡¯s face hadn¡¯t changed as much; she was already a few years older. Relia was also more conventionally attractive than either of them, so that probably helped. They eventually thanked the Solidors and said their goodbyes. Akari had expected to swear a soul oath or something, but Relyn just waved that away. ¡°I can tell your word is true,¡± she said. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t have done all of this if I didn¡¯t trust you.¡± That almost seemed too easy, but Relyn could apparently detect lies as well as any dream artist. And she was right, of course. Akari intended to honor their deal when the time came. Thane nodded along with his wife. ¡°Just don¡¯t die before you reach the Mystic realm, and we¡¯ll all be happy¡± Akari let out a nervous laugh. ¡°Wasn¡¯t planning on it.¡± And with that, the immortal Aeons stepped out with Rosintar, leaving this world behind until further notice. It would have been nice to get some lessons¡ªespecially when it came to the other half of her mana. Time artists were far rarer than space artists, and good teachers were hard to come by. Still, Akari understood their reasons for leaving. The Mystics would all be hunting them, and nowhere on this planet was safe. She and Kalden spent the next hour getting used to their Artisan bodies. It felt even better than she¡¯d imagined. Her techniques formed so easily, as if she¡¯d been shaping mist all her life, and now she finally had access to solid clay. And the physical changes were even better. They raced through the forest at full speed, and neither of them broke a sweat after three miles. Akari detonated a grenade in her hands, and the explosion didn¡¯t break her skin. It was like someone had cataloged all her weaknesses and fixed them all in a single, glorious moment. Which was, of course, exactly what the Artisan advancement did. As for the Aeon powers . . . she had no idea how to test those. Relia had conjured a Moonshard barrier within seconds of her own advancement, but she was a special case. She came from an Aeon bloodline, and her grandmother had supposedly given her the technique during her aspecting ritual. Things would be harder for Akari and Kalden. In fact, Lena had spent years trying to make Moonshard, and she¡¯d never succeeded. Oh well . . . maybe Relia could help them once they were together again. And yes, they would get Relia back, even if it meant defying a Mystic and fleeing this entire continent. ~~~ The sun hung low on the horizon when they joined the others in the main house. Akari hadn¡¯t wanted to come inside, but Arturo had insisted, claiming that Relia would be on TV soon. Several of the cultists had gathered around a massive screen and Arturo took his place on the sofa next to Zukan. On the screen, Ashur Moonfire stood in front of a large crowd of people, somewhere in downtown Koreldon City. A cluster of dark-clad mana artists surrounded him, with a web of mana binding their souls. There was a short pause, then Moonfire¡¯s voice filled the silence. "I, Ashur Moonfire, swear to faithfully serve as the Prime Minister of Espiria. I will defend our Charter of Rights, safeguard our sovereignty, and protect our borders with all my power. I swear it on my mana, and on my soul." The web of power broke into pale mist, and a silver-haired man stepped forward. ¡°It is done,¡± he said in a deep voice. ¡°May the Angels smile upon you, Prime Minister Moonfire.¡± The crowd cheered, from the Masters and Mystics who stood around him, to thousands more in the street below. Moonfire waved at the crowd, then he stepped back to kiss his wife on the cheek. Relia stood nearby, wearing a formal black dress. They¡¯d obviously forced her to be there, and she didn¡¯t smile or pretend to be happy. Akari¡¯s heart ached for her friend, but at least this proved she was alright. A part of her had feared that Relia¡¯s parents would lock her away in some dark cell and never let her see the light of day. Finally, Moonfire approached a dark blue podium, adorned with the prime minister¡¯s seal of office. The camera shifted to reveal his face, while the Espirian flag blew in the wind behind him. The rubble of broken buildings filled the background, and the sky was still gray from the storm clouds He stood tall and dignified as he spoke into the microphones. ¡°Today, the world¡¯s greatest city came under attack. Aeon cultists brought Storm¡¯s Eye here. Here, into the heart of our great republic. They turned our city into their battlefield, and our civilians paid the price.¡± Moonfire pounded the podium as he spoke these words, and he almost looked sincere. ¡°We lost many loved ones today, including my own daughter, Elise.¡± His eyes fell for a moment, then they hardened with new resolve. ¡°As your Prime Minister, it is my duty to protect our lands and ensure the safety of every Espirian.¡± He pounded the podium again before raising his fist into the air. ¡°Our response must be swift. We can no longer afford complacency in the wake of these new threats. Therefore, my first act will be a comprehensive security reform to safeguard our republic from further harm.¡± Cheers erupted from the crowd. ¡°And I pledge to you, my fellow Espirians, I will find these cultists and bring them to justice. I will empower the state in all matters of surveillance, search, and seizure. I will strengthen our borders and ensure that Storm¡¯s Eye never comes within a hundred miles of our land again.¡± More cheers and applause. ¡°Thank you,¡± Moonfire said. ¡°and may we stand strong together.¡± Book 4 - Epilogue: Immortality Ashur Moonfire stepped through a portal into the heart of the storm. Lightning flashed all around him, and the tides rose like skyscrapers on the horizon. Two days had passed since his inauguration, and each one had been as wild and chaotic as the sea itself. Even his daughter¡¯s funeral had been a simple affair, and he barely had any time to grieve for her properly. Elise¡¯s death had been his fault, of course. Ashur wouldn¡¯t deny that. He¡¯d told her to leave the city, but she hadn¡¯t trusted him enough to listen. Instead, she¡¯d chosen to fight beside her team. And why wouldn¡¯t she? She¡¯d spent all her free time with them these past few months, while Ashur had been busy pursuing his goals. He¡¯d told himself he still had time, but he¡¯d been wrong. It only took one technique to end a mortal¡¯s life. Regardless, he wouldn¡¯t make the same mistakes with Relia. He would make things right with her, whatever it took. Ashur stood there for several long moments, alone, with the elements swirling around him. Finally, he stretched out his hand toward the eastern horizon. ¡°Come to me, Shakaru.¡± He sent his mana in a cloud around his body, lacing it with his intent. Then he opened the barrier around the island and pushed the mana outward, summoning the child of the Angels. The tides parted like curtains sometime later, and the infamous mana spirit emerged from the darkness. It slithered closer until its massive form dominated the horizon. A pair of glowing blue eyes stared him down, brighter than the moons in the night sky. Ashur released a spatial Missile toward the creature¡¯s body, and Dansin Roth appeared before him an instant later. The man staggered forward on the stone island, looking about as weary as anyone could expect. He hadn¡¯t aged at all these past few months¡ªeven his clothing and hair remained untouched by the passage of time. Still, his eyes told the truth: this power came with a cost Dansin¡¯s legs wobbled, and he stretched out his hands as if he¡¯d forgotten how to walk in his human form. For a moment, he looked like he might collapse on the island¡¯s stone floor, but he eventually pulled himself together and looked Ashur in the eye. ¡°Nice speech,¡± he said in a raspy voice. Ashur raised an eyebrow. ¡°You saw it, did you?¡± ¡°Through the eyes of the spawn,¡± he replied. Clever. Dansin¡¯s spawn manifested as feral beasts in battle, and no one ever suspected them of watching and listening from the shadows. Such tactics would fail against perceptive mana artists, but that still excluded most of the world. ¡°You lied,¡± Dansin continued. ¡°You stood up on that stage and lied to everyone.¡± Ashur waved that away. ¡°I told them the only truth they could comprehend.¡± ¡°No one with half a brain will believe you.¡± ¡°Let them whisper,¡± he replied. ¡°I¡¯m no worse than my predecessors. Besides, I intend to keep my promise. For as long as I rule, Storm¡¯s Eye will never come within a hundred miles of Espirian soil.¡± ¡°And the other continents?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll let them catch their breath for a while. For now, you will remain here until I call upon you again.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Dansin glared at him through weary eyes. ¡°You promised me power.¡± ¡°I did,¡± Ashur replied with a curt nod. ¡°But I never promised you your old life. That¡¯s the cost of immortality. It means outliving your friends and family. Outliving your old world, and the times you remember. This is what all mana artists strive for.¡± ¡°Until I¡¯ve outlived my usefulness.¡± ¡°Oh no,¡± Ashur said. ¡°You¡¯re Storm¡¯s Eye now. It would take more than a Mystic to end your life. Even the Solidors barely scratched your hide, and it cost them everything.¡± ¡°Everything?¡± Dansin echoed. His voice held a hint of amusement that Ashur didn¡¯t like. ¡°You don¡¯t know, do you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know what?¡± ¡°Check the collar¡ª the one you stole from Darklight¡¯s vault.¡± Dansin hadn¡¯t been a part of that mission, but Ashur didn¡¯t bother denying the truth. He reached out with his mental senses, feeling through the deepest depths of his pocket storage. Yes, everything seemed to be in order. The wards remained untouched, and all his Etherite sat in its proper place And yet . . . something felt off. It was like staring at a long list of numbers and losing count several times in a row. This sense of security was just a feeling. An illusion. Dream mana. Ashur flooded the space with his power, breaking through the illusion and revealing the truth beneath. The collar was gone. ¡°How?¡± Ashur clenched his fists and filled the island with his power. He would have broken the land itself if not for his own wards holding it together. The other man didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Darklight took it, just before you fled with your daughter.¡± ¡°How?¡± Ashur repeated. ¡°No technique can steal items from a sealed space.¡± What¡¯s more, he¡¯d been watching Darklight¡¯s team closely during that encounter, and no one had released any mana. ¡°Quid pro quo.¡± Dansin turned around, staring up at Storm¡¯s Eye¡¯s form as if he were seeing it for the first time. ¡°You never told me how you seized control of this.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Ashur said. ¡°But you go first.¡± Dansin shrugged a weary shoulder. ¡°Darklight released his mana spirit before he confronted you. The spirit sought out the Ethersmith, Lena Cavaco. She¡¯d already bonded the shard in Creta. From there, it was just a matter of getting you while you were distracted.¡± Stealing from under a Mystic¡¯s nose? That was entirely too bold, even for Darklight. Ashur could have thwarted their efforts if he¡¯d bonded the shard himself. But no . . . it was done, and this was still an acceptable setback. Zeller and Trengsen might grow into threats one day, and a part of him wished they hadn¡¯t survived the recent battle. But he¡¯d leave the matter alone for now. Valeria Antano was dead, and Ashur¡¯s administration had worked hard to connect her with the Aeon cultists. It would be better for the narrative if the dragon¡¯s goals died with her. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. And Several of Ashur¡¯s peers had taken an interest in the pair, including a certain Blade Mystic who was probably Trengsen¡¯s father. Ashur didn¡¯t need more enemies, especially now, so early in his reign. Dansin turned to face him again, looking expectant. ¡°Some things are simpler than they appear,¡± Ashur told him. ¡°Storm¡¯s Eye is the child of the Angels, and the Angels reward their humble servants.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± The other man let out a humorless chuckle. ¡°I don¡¯t buy it.¡± ¡°Which part?¡± ¡°The part where you¡¯re a fanatic¡ªa true believer, whatever you want to call it. The Angels are all dead. Either that, or they¡¯ve moved on.¡± ¡°Some might call that blasphemy.¡± A slow smile spread across the other man¡¯s face. ¡°I killed three Mystics yesterday. What¡¯s a little blasphemy compared to that?¡± ¡°True.¡± This time, Ashur allowed himself a small grin in return. ¡°There¡¯s nothing quite like it, is there?¡± A short silence passed between them as he gathered more space mana in his palm. ¡°We¡¯ll speak again soon.¡± And with that, he sent Dansin¡¯s body back into the belly of the beast. ~~~ The door creaked as Irina stepped inside the deserted apartment. Storm¡¯s Eye had destroyed their old house, but Koreldon University sat on the north end of town, several blocks from the trenches. That included all the student housing north of Chapel Street. The apartment itself was all one room, with a small kitchen, a bed, and a modest living space in between. Everything else matched Relia¡¯s other room from the house. Colorful board game boxes filled the shelves, and a mountain of stuffed animals filled half of the bed. Would Relia come back for these things? Would Moonfire give her the chance? More likely, he¡¯d send his people to collect it all at some point. Irina¡¯s boots clicked against the wooden floors, and the sounds echoed hollowly against the walls. She lowered herself on the bed and pulled one of the pillows close to her chest. She caught a whiff of Relia¡¯s perfume, and her eyes burned as a thousand memories whirled around her mind. She and Elend were never able to have children, and Relia had been the closest thing they¡¯d had to a daughter. Now she was gone . . . kidnapped before their eyes, and locked away. Irina didn¡¯t even know where in the world she was. It could be the prime minister¡¯s palace in Garriland, or it could be the Moonfires¡¯ estate in Koreldon City. It could be somewhere in Cadria or Shoken, or one of the thousands of small islands scattered throughout the Inner Sea. Footsteps echoed behind her as Elend stepped into the apartment. He settled down beside her on the bed, and Irina rested her head on his shoulder. ¡°You were right,¡± she whispered. ¡°We should have fought harder for her.¡± ¡°You were right,¡± he echoed with a quick shake of his head. ¡°We couldn¡¯t help anyone if we were dead.¡± ¡°At least she would have known¡ª¡± ¡°She knew,¡± Elend cut in. ¡°Why do you think she surrendered to him?¡± ¡°This is wrong,¡± Irina said as she squeezed the pillow. ¡°I knew he¡¯d get away with helping Storm¡¯s Eye. But this? They abandoned her as a baby. You can¡¯t just take that back.¡± The words poured out of her mouth in a rush, and her hands shook as they squeezed the pillow. Irina had always prided herself on her composure, but she¡¯d never been this angry in all her life. Elend just put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. ¡°We¡¯ll get her back, love. I promise.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll get inside her head,¡± Irina whispered. ¡°He¡¯ll offer her everything she¡¯s ever wanted. Then he¡¯ll turn her against us.¡± ¡°Relia¡¯s strong,¡± Elend said. ¡°Espiria is strong,¡± she countered ¡°Everyone knows what he did, but seeing injustice isn¡¯t the same as stopping it.¡± They¡¯d spoken about this at length with the Solidors; Ashur Moonfire was a space artist, but his real powers lay in manipulation. He¡¯d already used that power to escape judgment for his crimes. What would happen when he turned it on Relia? ¡°This world¡¯s a mess,¡± Elend said. ¡°But Relia knows exactly who she is, and what matters to her.¡± ¡°But will that be enough?¡± Elend squeezed her tighter, but he didn¡¯t answer. ~~~ Akari followed the scents of garlic and ginger into the kitchen. It was late, and the sun hung low between two mountaintops, sending spears of golden light through the slanted windows. She¡¯d always liked the sunsets here in Northern Espiria, mostly because they reminded her of home. Wait a second . . . She took a closer look around the kitchen. This wasn¡¯t the cultist¡¯s safe house. This was her old home in Last Haven. A dream? She answered her own question a second later when she glanced back outside the window. The horizon faded to a violet mist beyond the sunset. The sky was violet too, and the stars shone brighter than any she¡¯d ever seen. Still, this was far too lucid for a dream, and Elend¡¯s technique had faded weeks ago. What¡¯s more, this moment didn¡¯t feel like a memory. She was in her Artisan body, and she had total control of her thoughts and movements. If anything, this felt more like that dream with her father, the day he¡¯d taught her personal displacement. And of course, her father chose that exact moment to step around the corner. He wore the same blue button-up shirt he¡¯d worn from their last talk, but his face looked a few years older. Akari blinked at him, and a shiver ran down her spine. ¡°Dad?¡± He nodded once as he closed the distance. ¡°How?¡± Her voice shook as she gestured around the kitchen. ¡°How are we here?¡± Before, she¡¯d had to brute force her way past Elend¡¯s technique. But this had been totally effortless, as if she¡¯d just stumbled into the scene by accident. Her father smiled at her. ¡°Being an Aeon has its perks, Mana Storm. For one thing, they¡¯re much better at lucid dreaming.¡± ¡°So this is all in my head?¡± ¡°It is, but our last talk really happened. When Last Haven was attacked, I left a piece of my soul inside you. I was preparing for a moment like this¡ªa time when you might need my help.¡± Akari drew in a deep breath, letting the words wash over her. ¡°Glim told me . . . wait, do you know who Glim is?¡± ¡°I can see any memories that your subconscious is willing to share.¡± He grinned again. ¡°And don¡¯t worry, I put safeguards in place to prevent any mistakes.¡± Akari nodded. She had more questions about that particular technique, but those could wait until later. ¡°Glim said that a Master couldn¡¯t do this. Not even a Grandmaster. She said that the techniques wouldn¡¯t last this long.¡± ¡°And Glim was right on both accounts, but we weren¡¯t just Grandmasters.¡± Akari blinked. ¡°We?¡± The front door opened on its creaking hinges, and a woman joined them in the kitchen. She was Shokenese, with a slender build, and black-framed glasses. ¡°You¡¯ve done well, Mana Storm.¡± The woman gave her a warm smile, and her voice was like a favorite song she¡¯d almost forgotten. ¡°But you¡¯ve been slacking on your temporal techniques this year. I think it¡¯s time we change that, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Shit,¡± Akari muttered. ¡°You¡¯re . . .¡± The woman¡¯s brow furrowed at that. ¡°Language, young lady!¡± Akari ducked her head at the rebuke. ¡°Sorry, Mom.¡± Emiri looked pleased at her reaction, but a hint of amusement touched the corners of her eyes. ¡°You really have grown up, haven¡¯t you?¡± Mazren nodded in agreement. ¡°Maybe we should let her say bad words, after all.¡± Akari glanced back and forth, and tears clouded her eyes. She was finally with her parents¡ªboth of them. And this wasn¡¯t some flashback where she watched her past self from the backseat of her mind. Her parents could actually see her as an Artisan, and she could see them in return. But at the same time, this moment would never happen in real life. It couldn¡¯t. Her mother had died on Arkala, and not even time mana could change that. She knew it, and her parents knew it, too. Her body shook and she bowed low at the waist. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she told her mother. ¡°For what happened to you¡ªfor what I did¡ªeverything . . .¡± Emiri stepped forward and pulled her into a crushing hug. Akari squeezed her back, savoring the feeling, knowing in her heart that it could never last. ¡°We had enemies long before you were born,¡± her mother said as she stroked her hair. ¡°We knew what we were getting into. You didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°It was still my fault,¡± Akari said. ¡°I should have listened to you.¡± Her body tensed up like a coiled spring. ¡°I should have known.¡± Her mother shook her head, still stroking her hair. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you were a Novice or a Mystic. It doesn¡¯t matter if you knew the whole story, or just a small piece of it. We love you more than all the power you¡¯ll ever wield, and far more than any mistake you could ever make.¡± Akari couldn¡¯t imagine loving anyone that much, not even Kalden. But in that moment, she knew. She knew this had to be her real mother, and not some figment of her subconscious. Emiri finally pulled back a few seconds later, placing a hand on Mazren¡¯s arm. ¡°Now, time is short, and we have work to do. I might be dead, but your father needs someone to rescue him from a certain island.¡± ¡°I do,¡± he agreed.¡±Our attacker kept me on a tight leash, but he wasn¡¯t counting on you.¡± ¡°So . . . ¡± Her mother turned to face her again. ¡°Are you ready to learn about the other half of your aspect?¡± Akari wiped the tears from her eyes, then a slow smile spread across her face. ¡°Hell yes.¡± November 2024 Update Hi Everyone! Checking in with a quick series update for anyone interested. Like I mentioned in a previous author¡¯s note, I took a break from writing new books in this series to focus on editing the existing ones, getting them ready for publication, etc. Here¡¯s the progress with those: Book 1: Web of Secrets is done with copy-edits and proofreading, and I have the semi-final draft posted on RR right now. Honestly, there weren¡¯t many changes to Book 1 in terms of story content. Most of it was small world-building tweaks to help the continuity later in the series. Still, the revised version is available on RR, and I plan to release this on Amazon just as soon as the designer finishes the cover! Book 2: Web of Dreams: I just finished writing the next draft of this. Unlike Book 1, this has a lot of story changes, and I wanted to establish those changes before I wrote any new content in the series. The big changes are: Here¡¯s a link to a Google Doc with the entire Book 2 manuscript: This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qaCXqnC1qZjPML5wche15bNPbInevOOLiSIa20O7ZVo/edit?usp=sharing And you can search ¡°new scene¡± to find all the new scenes mentioned above. Comments are enabled, so feel free to let me know what you think! Book 5: Web of Chaos: I¡¯ve finished outlining this book, and I should have the first chapters ready sometime in December 2024! As always, thanks for reading! Book 5 - Prologue: Possession Book 5: Web of Chaos FIFTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO Elend¡¯s feet moved without his permission, carrying his body toward the full-length mirror. A twelve-year-old boy stared back at him in the shiny glass surface, running his hands over the blue fabric of his pajamas. The boy looked like Elend, with the same pale complexion and close-cropped brown hair. But that grin was far too wide, stretching his lips well beyond their comfort zone. An unfamiliar spark shone in his brown eyes, and his movements looked unnaturally smooth, as if his body were a new toy. Elend wanted to say something, but his mouth didn¡¯t budge. He could only watch as his right hand rose to touch the mirror, spreading his fingers against the cold surface. The sensation was dull and distant, as if he were dreaming. Glim? Elend thought. Can you hear me? The boy in the mirror bobbed his head, but Elend couldn¡¯t tell if it was a deliberate reply. What if Glim couldn¡¯t hear him right now? What if he was trapped like this forever¡ªa prisoner in his own body? Panic threatened to overwhelm him, and he almost wrestled back control in that moment. But no . . . they¡¯d spent months preparing for this, and barely thirty seconds had passed since she¡¯d had taken control. He¡¯d promised to give her at least five minutes. Elend drew in a mental breath and projected the thought more loudly this time. ¡®Glim?¡¯ Glim made a soft humming sound, and Elend¡¯s throat carried the noise. ¡°Yeah!¡± She practically shouted the word, and it echoed all around his bedroom. ¡®Quiet!¡¯ Elend thought. ¡®You want to wake up the whole house?¡¯ ¡°Oops.¡± She raised Elend¡¯s hands to his mouth, then tried again. ¡°Yeah, I can hear you.¡± Elend felt his body speaking the words, but the pitch and accent sounded more like Glim. ¡®Good,¡¯ he thought. ¡®Just try to be quiet, okay?¡¯ ¡°Got it.¡± She tried to whisper her reply, but it still came out louder than Elend would have liked. What would he tell his caretakers if they barged in right now? They¡¯d think he was possessed by a crazy mana spirit, and they wouldn¡¯t necessarily be wrong. ¡°This is weird.¡± Glim rolled his shoulders, then poked at his arms ¡°It¡¯s like riding a bike, but . . . squishier.¡± ¡®That doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡¯ ¡°Are you always this squishy?¡± Elend couldn¡¯t suppress his mental chuckle, and some of his tension faded away. Glim was wild and unpredictable, but she could always make him laugh. It was one of the reasons he¡¯d created her in the first place. Glim turned his body sideways, inspecting the reflection with exaggerated curiosity. She poked at Elend¡¯s cheeks, then stuck a finger in his mouth. ¡°Eww,¡± she said in a muffled voice. ¡°It¡¯s wet in here.¡± She pulled out the finger and wiped it dry on Elend¡¯s pajama pants. ¡®You¡¯re making this weird.¡¯ ¡°Your face is weird,¡± Glim shot back. She wrinkled his nose, squinting one eye shut and puffing out his cheeks like a fish. Elend groaned at the display. ¡®You have access to all my memories.¡¯ ¡°Yeah,¡± Glim said. ¡°But that¡¯s not the same. I always just . . . watch you do stuff, you know? But this is so real!¡± She drew in a deep breath. ¡°Did you know your body moves when it breathes? Your whole chest gets wider. It¡¯s like it¡¯s making room for all the air.¡± ¡®Of course I knew that.¡¯ ¡°Well, how am I supposed to know? You never mentioned it before!¡± ¡®Quiet¡¯, Elend reminded her. Glim brought Elend¡¯s hands to his chest and made a cupping motion. The face in the mirror looked confused for a second, then disappointed. Elend groaned again. You know I¡¯m a boy, right? Boys don¡¯t have . . . those. ¡°Well, then why don¡¯t you get a girlfriend? I wanna know what they feel like!¡± ¡®Welcome to the club.¡¯ Glim released a snort through Elend¡¯s nose, followed by a short laugh. ¡°You¡¯re so funny when you¡¯re awkward!¡± ¡®You¡¯re the one making this awkward.¡¯ Glim ignored that and pointed at Elend¡¯s face with both index fingers. ¡°Hey, I just laughed! Did you hear that? It was like, in my nose.¡± ¡®My nose,¡¯ he corrected. Glim paused. ¡°How about . . . our nose?¡± Elend didn¡¯t like the sound of that. Glim spun his body away from the mirror and took a few steps toward the bed. The wooden floors creaked beneath his bare feet, but the sensations felt more like a memory. ¡°Left foot, right foot, keep a steady pace. Left foot, right foot, don¡¯t fall on your face!¡± Elend¡¯s mind tensed as they moved through the room. Everything happened so fast, and it felt like riding a rollercoaster through the night. His eyes swiveled this way and that, and he barely had time to take in the furniture ¡°Walking is weird,¡± Glim said. ¡°It¡¯s like, you fall, then you catch yourself before you hit the floor. And why does everything feel so much?¡± ¡®That question doesn¡¯t make sense.¡¯ Glim considered that as she took another step. ¡°Like, my feet are touching the floor, but the floor touches back. Does it always do that?¡± ¡®They¡¯re still my feet,¡¯ Elend reminded her. ¡®And I think your five minutes are almost up.¡¯ ¡°What?¡± Glim spun around, facing the alarm clock on the nightstand. They¡¯d been working on this project for hours, and it was well past midnight now. ¡°I only get five minutes?¡± ¡®That¡¯s what we agreed.¡¯ She pouted and kept walking around the room. Her movements gradually turned to skipping, then dancing. ¡°But I need longer to get used to all this squishiness.¡± ¡®Tomorrow¡¯s a school day.¡¯ he said. ¡®I¡¯ll fall asleep in class at this rate.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay,¡± Glim said as she danced. ¡°I¡¯ll drive your body while you sleep. No one will ever know!¡± ¡®It doesn¡¯t work that way, and you know it.¡¯ Besides, Elend had no intention of letting Glim control his body in public. Or even outside this room. ¡°Wait.¡± Glim stopped dancing. ¡°What?¡± Oops. He¡¯d meant to keep that last thought to himself, but he¡¯d forgotten to maintain the mental shield between them. Glim turned his body back to the mirror, looking suddenly worried. ¡°You just mean today, right? Not forever?¡± Elend gave a mental sigh as he reconstructed his shield. Glim clearly had no respect for his boundaries. He¡¯d asked her to be quiet, but she kept shouting and dancing around the room like a hyperactive toddler. He¡¯d given into her requests, and she demanded even more. What if this whole thing had been a mistake? ¡°But I wanna try eating food,¡± Glim said. ¡°And swimming, and mana arts!¡± She threw a punch at the air, and a pure Missile flew out from Elend¡¯s palm. It soared toward the dresser before she could stop it, and it crashed into a framed photograph of Elend¡¯s parents. Elend was still just a Novice, but the Missile smashed through the glass, crumbled the picture, and left a shallow dent in the drywall behind it. Several more items fell off the dresser, clattering on the wooden floor. ¡®That¡¯s it!¡¯ Elend pressed down with all his mental might, seizing control from Glim. The sensation of weight returned to him, and his body obeyed his commands once again. He took a good long breath, and all the sensations came back to him: the cool winter air on his skin, and the floor beneath his feet. The sweet mineral scent of pure mana reached his nose, and he even tasted some on his tongue. He stood there for several long heartbeats, straining to listen for footsteps outside his bedroom. Fortunately, the impact hadn¡¯t been as loud as it looked, and no one came. Elend took a few steps toward the dresser, treading carefully to avoid any shards of broken glass. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Glim said from across the room. All the excitement had faded from her voice, and she sounded genuinely sincere. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Elend said after a short pause. ¡°I have other pictures of them.¡± He briefly considered grabbing a broom to sweep up the glass, but decided against it. The security cameras would catch him downstairs after midnight, and it would be less suspicious if he let the staff clean up the mess tomorrow morning.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. He stepped back toward the mirror where Glim waited in her regular form. She looked like a young girl, about his age, made entirely of pale blue mana. The detail was fuzzy right now, but he planned to improve her form as he increased his mana supply. He would also build her a proper brain, so she didn¡¯t have to share his. Glim hung her head as he approached. ¡°I was just pretending to shoot a Missile. I didn¡¯t think it would happen for real.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not mad about that.¡± Elend grabbed a spare pillow and plopped down in front of the full-length mirror. He also cycled some dream mana to his head, hiding his own reflection. Glim spread out her dress and sat down opposite him on the floor. ¡°And . . . I¡¯m sorry I got excited. I¡¯ll do better next time, I promise.¡± ¡°I just want to take things slow,¡± Elend said. ¡°Okay.¡± Glim bit her lip. ¡°So . . . can we try again tomorrow?¡± Clearly, she couldn¡¯t take a hint. ¡°Can we go outside after school? In the forest behind the house? No one will see us back there.¡± ¡°I agreed to try this once,¡± he replied. ¡°As an experiment.¡± ¡°But I waited for so long!¡± Glim said. ¡°I wanna know what the sun feels like. And the wind, and the snow!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve only been alive for six months.¡± ¡°Yeah, and I spent all that time watching you do cool stuff.¡± She glanced down at her own hands. ¡°This isn¡¯t the same. It feels like I¡¯m pretending.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not my fault,¡± Elend said. She gave him a frank look. ¡°I mean, it kind of is your fault. You made me, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°You agreed to this,¡± he replied. Elend¡¯s technique manuals had been vague at times, but this part had been clear as glass. You couldn¡¯t force imaginary friends to exist if they didn¡¯t want to exist. ¡°But you promised we¡¯d share,¡± Glim said. ¡°This doesn¡¯t feel like sharing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my body,¡± Elend snapped in a harsh whisper. Glim winced at that. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be our body?¡± Elend didn¡¯t reply to that. He understood Glim¡¯s reasoning. She was a person like anyone else, and she just happened to be trapped in his head. But she¡¯d known that limitation from the start. How could she not understand that? ¡°This is dangerous,¡± he said after a long pause. ¡°This¡±¡ªhe gestured a finger between them¡ª¡°is supposed to be impossible. People will think I¡¯m crazy if they find out.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Glim nodded along. ¡°But I could learn to act more like you. With practice, I mean. No one will ever know who¡¯s behind the wheel. We¡¯ll just tell people we trust, and no one else.¡± Elend closed his eyes and fought down another wave of annoyance. He¡¯d told Glim he wanted to take things slow, and here she was, planning for this hypothetical future. A future where they took turns controlling Elend¡¯s body, and living out his life. A future where he spent half his time living as a prisoner in his own skin. He¡¯d tried that for five minutes tonight, and five minutes had been more than enough. Elend didn¡¯t have any friends or family¡ªnot since his parents died¡ªso he¡¯d poured all his free time into this technique. He¡¯d created Glim as a friend, someone to talk to when he felt lonely. At first, she¡¯d existed as a faint glimmer of light in his mirror and windows, floating back and forth like an ordinary Missile. He''d spoken with her for months, treating her like a person, and envisioning her physical form. And then Glim started talking back, changing her own appearance, and shaping her own personality. Elend could have been imagining their conversations, putting words in her mouth, or puppeteering her movements. But he¡¯d never truly doubted himself; he was too young and foolish for that. And then Glim had started disagreeing with him over time, expressing her own wants and needs. She¡¯d started dressing like the girls at school, and noticing details that Elend would have overlooked. And she always wanted more. The technique manuals had warned him about this part, but he hadn¡¯t listened. He hadn¡¯t even understood those warnings until it was too late. Glim was still his best friend, but this wasn¡¯t fair. It was his body, and he shouldn¡¯t have to share it. ~~~ Days passed, and Glim kept pestering him for more time. Elend deflected the questions for now, but his friend was relentless. She appeared every night in his bedroom mirror, her transparent form brimming with energy. ¡°So?¡± she always asked. ¡°Did you think about it?¡± Elend was usually too tired to argue at this point. Koreldon Prep had a heavier workload than most schools, and he had several hours of homework each night. He tried to tell her as much, but she dug in, throwing out new ideas each time. On Kelsday night, Glim didn¡¯t even wait for him for settle into his bedroom. She appeared right in the bathroom mirror as he stepped out of the shower. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s Talekday, right?¡± She bounced up and down in the mist. ¡°What if we go somewhere quiet? No people. Just us.¡± Elend used his towel to rub at his face. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s not a good day.¡± ¡°Why not? Your homework is all done.¡± ¡°Yeah, but I still have to meet with Master Parson for dream mana lessons.¡± ¡°So? That only takes a few hours. What about the rest of the day?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my only time off.¡± Elend ran the towel through his hair. ¡°I need to go to the library, then work on¡ª¡± ¡°What about me?¡± Glim broke in. ¡°I¡¯m just not ready.¡± ¡°But I am. I know you¡¯re scared, but I promise I¡¯ll be good. Don¡¯t you trust me?¡± Elend paused, squeezing the towel between his hands. Did he trust her? Sort of. Glim might be wild and unpredictable, but she wasn¡¯t malicious. She would never hurt him, or intentionally put him in danger. But one one more session wouldn¡¯t satisfy her curiosity. And the more Elend gave in, the easier it would be for her to take control. All mana techniques worked that way; they took conscious effort at first, and then they became effortless over time. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Elend finally said. Glim leaned closer to the mirror. ¡°Promise?¡± He nodded. ¡°I promise.¡± Another week went by, and things finally went back to normal between them. At least Elend thought things were normal, until he woke up in the kitchen after midnight. He sat on a barstool with an open carton of chocolate ice cream on the counter. His right hand plunged a spoon into the carton, then he brought it to his open mouth. He grinned at the sweet taste, and his whole body squirmed with delight. The sensations felt dull and distant, almost like a dream. But no . . . he¡¯d been dreaming a few seconds ago, but this was different. It felt more like . . . ¡®Glim!¡¯ His body froze for a second, then it plunged the spoon back into the carton. Elend wrestled for control, but Glim fought back, and the spoon sank deeper into the ice cream. ¡®Glim!¡¯ he shouted through his own mind. ¡®This isn¡¯t funny. Get out!¡± ¡®Just one more bite,¡¯ she thought back. ¡®Please.¡¯ The hand moved closer to his face, shaking with the force of their struggle. Then Glim overpowered Elend and brought the spoon all the way into his mouth. His body tasted the ice cream for several long heartbeats before he finally swallowed it. ¡®Now!¡¯ Elend pushed down harder, and the world snapped back into control. He immediately grabbed the carton, closed the lid, and tossed it back into the freezer. Then he washed off the bowl and spoon before slamming them both into the dishwasher. His hands shook as he worked, and his mind raced to process what just happened. This had to be a dream, right? Glim couldn¡¯t just take control of his body while he slept. They¡¯d only done this technique one time. It should be impossible. Then again, most experts agreed that Glim shouldn¡¯t exist in the first place. What if this knowledge had been intentionally lost? What if mana spirits were even more dangerous than he¡¯d imagined? Glim remained silent in the back of his mind, and he felt her guilt bubbling to the surface. She probably heard his thoughts right now, but he was too angry to construct his mental shields. Finally, Elend trudged up the stairs, closed his bedroom door, and paced in front of the mirror. Glim appeared in the reflective surface, wringing her hand, not meeting his eyes. ¡°What were you thinking?¡± Elend asked in a harsh whisper. ¡°How did you even do that?¡± Glim hesitated. ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know. I just . . . slipped in? I didn¡¯t mean to! You were asleep, and I was awake, and I was thinking about food.¡± Elend kept pacing, and his voice came out low and furious. ¡°You can¡¯t do this without permission. You know that.¡± Glim shrank back, becoming smaller and more transparent. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it was an accident.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me,¡± Elend said. She spent several seconds gathering her courage. ¡°I thought you¡¯d never let me out again.¡± Elend fought down a surge of conflicting emotions. He wanted to stay angry, but her voice sounded so fragile, and it made him feel like a monster. But that wasn¡¯t fair; he shouldn¡¯t feel this guilty for protecting his own body. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make it okay.¡± Glim¡¯s form rippled like a reflection in a pond. ¡°I just wanted to be real.¡± He dragged a hand down his face. ¡°You are real. But you can¡¯t do this again. If you ever do . . .¡± Elend trailed off. He¡¯d been about to threaten her¡ªto deny her access to his body¡ªbut could he really enforce that? She¡¯d seized control while he slept tonight, and he¡¯d been helpless to stop her. Then she¡¯d almost won their struggle for control. What if Glim became even more powerful? What if she turned the tables and made him beg for time in his own body? ¡°I¡¯d never do that!¡± Glim appeared in the glass window opposite the mirror, and her form shone bright against the snowy night sky. Elend stared into her eyes, reading her surface thoughts. She believed her own words; she had no intention of stealing Elend¡¯s entire life. But things could change. A month ago, she hadn¡¯t even wanted to control his body in the first place. Angels above. How had he gotten himself into this mess? How had he ignored all the warnings from those manuals? He¡¯d craved this novel experience, but a small part of him hadn¡¯t truly believed it would go so far. Even Masters had failed to create true mana spirits, after all. What were the odds that a twelve-year-old would succeed? Elend had been a fool. He¡¯d wanted a best friend, not a parasite. What if other mana spirits had broken free over the centuries, causing untold destruction in their makers¡¯ names? What if they threatened all of humanity? ¡°I¡¯d never do that!¡± Glim repeated. Tears clouded her eyes, and she clutched the hem of her blue dress. Elend pulled his gaze away from the mirror, feeling a sudden tightness in his chest. For the second time that night, he felt like a monster. How could he do this do his best friend? How could he let his fear get the best of him? He was a dream artist; he should have more control than this. Elend paused, following the emotions to their source. There was guilt there, mingled with a strong desire to forgive Glim. To make her happy again¡ªto give her everything she wanted. ¡°Dream mana?¡± He whirled back toward the mirror. ¡°You¡¯re using dream mana on me?¡± ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know,¡± she stammered. ¡°Maybe?¡± Another lie. ¡°I can¡¯t help it!¡± She stared down at her hands. ¡°I have all this power, but no one taught me how to use it!¡± Elend tried to rebuild his mental shields, but he failed. Glim¡¯s emotions and techniques poured through like water rushing from a dam, and he couldn¡¯t keep the current at bay. She was stronger than him¡ªmaybe all mana spirits were stronger than humans¡ªand this was just the beginning. He still had time to stop things from escalating. Any mana spirit could be dissipated. He could reabsorb her into his soul, and start over. He could¡ª ¡°No!¡± Glim¡¯s voice rose, and her face hardened with sudden anger. He¡¯d created her to be unnaturally beautiful, but now those same features turned into something terrifying. ¡°That¡¯s not fair! She hurled more techniques into his mind, flooding him with waves of guilt and disgust. ¡°I messed up, but it was just one mistake!¡± Elend pushed back with his own techniques, rebuilding his mental barriers. ¡°That¡¯s murder!¡± she shouted at him, and the voice echoed over and over in his mind. ¡°You¡¯d never do that if I were flesh and blood!¡± He flinched back in sudden realization. She was right, of course; humans weren¡¯t executed for potential crimes. But Glim had still taken control of his body against his will, and she¡¯d almost overpowered him with her dream techniques. She had to be restrained before it was too late. ¡°Swear an oath to me,¡± Elend said. ¡°Swear that you¡¯ll stay in the mirror from now on.¡± She blinked at him, and all the wind seemed to leave her sails. ¡°W-what? But then I can¡¯t leave this room!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll still be inside my head.¡± ¡°But what about when you grow up? Or when you travel? Or when¡ª¡± ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Elend raised a hand. ¡°All mirrors, then. All reflective surfaces.¡± Glim still couldn¡¯t make herself known without his permission, so she couldn¡¯t cause any real damage that way. And if she did, well . . . he¡¯d deal with that later. Glim took several deep breaths, and her body shook as hard as his. ¡°For how long?¡± ¡°Forever,¡± Elend said. ¡°Until I die.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the only way I can trust you,¡± he explained. ¡°I¡¯ll have nothing you want. That means you¡¯ll have no reason to use your techniques on me.¡± He wanted to stop Glim from using those techniques altogether, but that might doom her to a lifetime of agony. This was the best compromise he could think of. Her eyes widened in sudden horror. ¡°Can we sleep on this first?¡± Elend shook his head. ¡°You lost my trust when you stole my body. And when you used your dream mana on me.¡± ¡°Please,¡± Glim said. ¡°I want to be free.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my offer.¡± Elend stepped forward and placed his hand on the mirror¡¯s cold surface. ¡°Take it or leave it.¡± Several seconds passed, and Glim glanced back and forth. Elend kept his expression firm, and his mental barriers in place. If she wanted to strike back at him, then this would be the time. Finally, she hung her head and pressed her hand against his. Mana flowed between them, and they spoke the words of their oath. Book 5 - Chapter 1: Resurrection FOUR YEARS AGO Relia passed beneath an old stone archway and followed her master toward the temple. Curtains of green vines hung on either side of their path, and a few seemed to sway in the evening breeze. Except there was no breeze down here in the valley, just humid jungle air. So why were they moving like that? They almost looked . . . ¡°Tread carefully,¡± Lyraina said in a smooth voice. ¡°Those vines belong to carnivorous plants.¡± No sooner had she spoken than a few vines drifted closer to Relia¡¯s face. She staggered away, but another vine slithered out from the cracks in the floor, wrapping around her left ankle like a snake. Relia yelped and hit the thing with a pure Missile, but the vine was as tough as steel, and her mana broke against its shiny green surface. It pinned her foot to the floor, while its friends swarmed in like a pack of raptors. Lyraina spun on her heel and fixed the vines with a stern look. She didn¡¯t even raise a hand, much less a proper technique. Nonetheless, the vines shriveled and retreated back to their lairs. ¡°Thanks,¡± Relia said as she jogged to catch up. Lyraina nodded, and they continued up the staircase together. Slick moss covered their path, but at least it didn¡¯t look as hungry as the vines. The jungle canopy thinned above their heads, and she caught faint glimpses of the sky beyond. The clouds swirled with streaks of pale blue mana, and the air carried a sweet mineral scent¡ªthe first signs of the coming storm. It took them several minutes to reach the top of the staircase. From there, they stepped into a vast courtyard of ancient stone structures, crammed tight between the jungle and the Inner Sea. A massive temple crowned the edge of the cliff, overlooking an endless stretch of blue water. The building was shaped like a ziggurat . . . or was that a pyramid? A pyramid with no top? Relia had never been good with ancient Cadrian architecture, but the temple base was wider than a city block, and she counted several levels as it tapered upward. ¡°Can I come in this time?¡± Relia asked. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t recommend that,¡± Lyraina said. ¡°These cultists are as hungry as the vines.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Really? The cultists eat innocent young girls?¡± A thin sliver of a smile crossed her master¡¯s face.¡°They¡¯re all scheming opportunists, and they would use you to get closer to me.¡± A burst of salty wind blew through the courtyard, and Relia grabbed the front of her shirt and flapped it back and forth. Her Apprentice body let her trudge through the jungle without getting winded, but that did nothing for the layer of sweat on her skin. If anything, these enforced muscles seemed to generate even more heat than before. Everyone said her body would adapt to that change, but it still hadn¡¯t happened yet. ¡°So you don¡¯t trust them?¡± Relia asked after a short pause. ¡°Aren¡¯t you, like, their leader?¡± ¡°Hardly,¡± she replied. ¡°They want things from me, just like anyone else in this world.¡± ¡°Like what? Besides your aspect, I mean.¡± ¡°In short? They think I can provide an alternative to the Angels.¡± Relia blinked at that. She¡¯d never been particularly religious, but the idea still sent shivers down her spine. ¡°Can you?¡± A pair of cultists jogged out from the temple entrance before she could answer. ¡°Lady Trelian!¡± a young man called out. He was Cadrian, with short black hair, and a scar over his left eye. Lyraina gave the man a patient nod as he approached. Despite her master¡¯s simple blue blouse and jeans, she looked like a queen holding court. Even the jungle¡¯s heat didn¡¯t faze her. The man and his companion stopped a few paces away, then they bowed low at the waist. ¡°We clashed with Zantano and his Wings near the border. The Spymaster killed Torvak.¡± ¡°How long has it been?¡± Lyraina asked at once. ¡°Fifty-five minutes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t help him, then.¡± The older man cleared his throat, and Relia recognized him as Javier, one of the few cultists her master trusted. She knew that because the man often served as her babysitter when Lyraina entered the temple. ¡°Your pardon, Lady Trelian, but we put his body in a time-dilated pocket dimension. Time passes a hundred times slower in there.¡± ¡°Right.¡± The younger man nodded. ¡°So it¡¯s only been five and a half seconds.¡± Javier gave his friend a pitying look. ¡°Thirty-three seconds. But it¡¯s also enforced with ice mana to keep his body cold.¡± ¡°Indeed?¡± Lyraina raised an eyebrow. Clearly, she hadn¡¯t considered this possibility. ¡°How bad was the damage?¡± There was a short pause, and then Javier swallowed hard. ¡°Valeria Zantano stuck a claw through his heart.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± she asked. ¡°No head wounds?¡±Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°No. Just the one injury.¡± ¡°Can you help him?¡± the younger man asked. ¡°Maybe,¡± Lyraina said. ¡°But I¡¯ll need mana.¡± Javier nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve ordered our troops to gather¡ª¡± ¡°Batteries won¡¯t be enough,¡± she said. The two cultists exchanged a look. ¡°Then what can we do?¡± Lyraina turned her gaze toward the temple. ¡°There should be a storm coming soon. Do you know how close it is?¡± Both men followed her gaze toward the sea, but neither spoke. ¡°Find out,¡± she said. ¡°Then bring Torvak¡¯s body to the summit.¡± The cultists jogged back toward the temple, and Relia met her master¡¯s eyes. ¡°Can you really bring someone back from the dead?¡± Lyraina continued toward the temple at a slower pace. ¡°Technically, no. But a soul with sufficient mana can cling to life for several minutes after death. Even after the body has failed.¡± ¡°Oh. And this guy¡¯s strong enough for that?¡± ¡°He¡¯s an Aeon,¡± she replied. ¡°So he¡¯s like you?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Torvak was born on this world, but he volunteered for an experiment several years ago. An attempt to combine the two sources of power to create something new. The ritual stunted his advancement, but he¡¯s still invaluable to the cult.¡± They drew closer to the temple proper, and Lyraina made no objection to Relia¡¯s presence. The Cult of Trelian lived in this structure, but they hadn¡¯t actually built it. It had probably belonged to the Yaxels, or some other ancient civilization that worshipped Storm¡¯s Eye. In fact, she spotted several intricate carvings on the surrounding structures, each one depicting a serpent with the head of a dragon. Other carvings showed humans with elaborate headdresses that were meant to protect them from the mana spirit. They passed a doorway that led into the temple¡¯s interior. Relia had half-expected to find a damp corridor, filled with cobwebs and snakes. Instead, the inside was surprisingly bright and orderly. Lightbulbs shone from recesses in the ceiling, and she felt the rush of air conditioning on her face. Thank the Angels for that. It even smelled different inside the temple¡ªless earthy and more sterile, almost like a hospital. Relia had never liked hospitals, but she¡¯d take that over a damp jungle any day. ¡°I¡¯ve lived on this planet for decades,¡± Lyraina mused. ¡°And the technology still amazes me.¡± Several of the cultists bowed as they passed, and her master nodded to them in return. ¡°When I was a girl, the rulers of my world sought to suppress these sort of advancements. They wielded mana, and they treated technology as a threat to their reign.¡± Relia nodded along as they walked. ¡°Wonder why things are different here.¡± ¡°I suspect it¡¯s the planet itself.¡± Her master led them into an open elevator. ¡°The Hallows, the storms, and the mana beasts. We¡¯re all shaped by our environments, and the danger forces humanity to adapt faster. Top floor, please.¡± Relia pressed the top button on the control panel, and the elevator carried them up through the center shaft. ¡°Makes sense I guess. My condition makes me advance quicker than most people my age.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± her master replied. ¡°People grow more complacent every year. The mana walls hold back the storms and the beasts, and even the poorest schools teach basic mana arts. It¡¯s easier than ever for your peers to advance. At the same time, it¡¯s easier for them to rest on their laurels. This world has more Apprentices and Artisans than any time in history, but fewer of them reach the Master realm every year.¡± Relia frowned. ¡°What¡¯s that mean? Don¡¯t we have more Masters than before?¡± ¡°Not in proportion,¡± she replied. ¡°The numbers grow, but the percentage dwindles. Every tribe had at least one Master during the Primordial Age¡ªthat¡¯s one for every hundred people. It was the only way for humans to survive in such a cruel environment.¡± Relia hadn¡¯t known that, but it made sense. For most people, reaching Artisan was enough to protect their bodies from most illnesses and injuries. It had become the standard throughout the modern world, while Masters were seen as overly ambitious people who devoted their whole lives to training. Sure, people envied them, but they rarely envied the road they traveled. ¡°Still,¡± Relia said. ¡°Didn¡¯t a lot more people die back then? Things are still better today, right?¡± ¡°For now.¡± Lyraina clasped her hands behind her back, watching the glowing numbers above the stainless steel doors. ¡°We have more Masters today, and they make this world a safer place for everyone. But the depth of their power has diminished. Peace breeds mediocre mana artists, while true excellence requires hardship.¡± Relia shook her left arm, feeling the phantom pains of growing crystals in her channels. ¡°Mediocre is still better than dead.¡± Lyraina glanced down at Relia¡¯s arm and shot her a knowing look. ¡°But what happens when hard times finally strike? Your condition has made you strong, yes. But what if true hardship threatened Espiria, where they lead lives of comfort? Then mediocrity is death.¡± The door opened to a room with an open floor plan, and their path took them between clusters of desks and computers. Wires ran up the stone columns, and fluorescent lights hung between them. Had the cultists really built all this? Probably not. This temple was thousands of years old, and various factions could have made it their home over the years. They climbed another staircase at the end of the room and emerged on the temple summit, a flat stone surface surrounded by metal railings. The elevator must have carried them at least a dozen stories up, because Relia had a clear view of their surroundings. The Yaxen Jungle went on for miles in the west, while the Inner Sea stretched even farther in the east. The clouds churned on the horizon, ranging from pale blue to ominous black. Lightning flashed from their underbellies, and the tides looked tall enough to reach the cliff. Speaking of which, where was the mana wall? Relia wanted to ask, but Lyraina was busy talking with the cultists. They waited for the better part of an hour while the others set a small bag on the stone altar. The bag didn¡¯t look big enough to hold a person¡¯s body, but they¡¯d mentioned something about a pocket dimension before. Raindrops fell from the sky as the storm reached the shore. The wind blew harder, and Relia clutched the nearest railing as her red braid whipped across the her face. The scent of salt and mana grew stronger in the air, thick enough to taste. ¡°Raise the shields,¡± one of the older cultists ordered. A woman echoed the commands through her radio, and a dome of pale blue protection mana sprang up from the base of the temple. But unlike most domes, this one had a hole at the top, and rain still poured through the opening. Lyraina stood at the altar, calm and composed despite the surrounding chaos. She nodded at the nearest cultists, and they retrieved a coffin-shaped chamber from the bag. They opened the lid a few seconds later, and Relia got a clear view of the body. The man¡¯s eyes were closed, and he had a bloody hole on the left side of his chest. Relia had healed dozens of wounds over these past few months, and she knew this man was long gone. For all that, her master remained calm as she loomed over him. Rain pelted the summit through the opening, and Lyraina stretched a pale hand toward the sky. The storm itself seemed to answer her call, and mana swirled around her like a whirlpool. Several heartbeats passed, and the crowd seemed to hold its breath. The roar of the storm grew more distant in Relia¡¯s ears, as if her master had warped the sound waves themselves. The air grew colder, the raindrops turned to ice, and the puddles crystalized on the ground. Then Lyraina sank to her knees and slammed her free hand into the dead man¡¯s chest. Book 5 - Chapter 2: Aeon Souls PRESENT DAY Water splashed beneath Akari¡¯s boots as she charged the massive gloomfang. Standing over ten feet tall, the creature had the body of an ape and the face of a cave bat. Slick black carapace clung to its spindly frame, and its arms hung well past its knees as it waded through the flooded street. Akari cycled spacetime mana as she approached, dodging cars and debris along the way. Movement flashed at the edge of her vision as Kalden and Zukan charged the creature¡¯s flanks. The gloomfang locked on Akari with its glowing green eyes, stretching its lipless maw to reveal two rows of jagged teeth. Then it let out a high-pitched screech that echoed off the surrounding buildings. That screech wasn¡¯t just for busting eardrums, either. She¡¯d read about these things online, and they used the sound waves to map their surroundings. Akari closed the gap an instant later, leaping on top of a crashed car to get even with its torso. The creature stomped toward her with a splash, then it raised a massive club toward the sky. Akari threw her right hand toward the club and extended the other hand downward. Space warped around her as she conjured a pair of portals, almost too quick to see. These weren¡¯t the old disc-shaped portals she¡¯d made as an Apprentice. These warped space in three dimensions, conforming to the shape of her opponent¡¯s weapon with no visible edges. The club passed straight through Akari¡¯s body, smashing into her opponent¡¯s kneecaps. Its legs buckled from the impact, and Akari leapt forward. Pure mana flowed from her outstretched hands, and a pair of blue blades slammed into the creature¡¯s chest. She¡¯d hoped the gloomfang would stagger back, but this thing had reached the peak of the Artisan realm¡ªpractically a Master in terms of raw power. Instead of collapsing in the flooded street, it held still like a rooted tree. A clawed hand seized Akari¡¯s left arm, and her opponent flung her down the street like a rag doll. The world spun in a blur of gray sky and broken buildings as she flew, and her back slammed through a brick wall. Talek, that thing was way stronger than it looked. A month ago, that crash might have shattered her spine. But she was an Artisan now, and it would take a lot more than a stone wall to break her bones. ¡®You okay?¡¯ Kalden¡¯s voice asked in her mind. Their latest advancement had improved their telepathic abilities as well as their bodies. Now, instead of relying on Kalden¡¯s aspect, they spoke directly through their Aeon soul bond. ¡®Yeah.¡¯ She felt at her left tricep where the gloomfang¡¯s claw had cut through her skin. Her fingers came back slick with blood. ¡®Just need a quick potion.¡¯ Akari opened the leather pouch on her belt, and her arm sank deep into the pocket dimension. She retrieved a healing potion from the top row, popped off the lid, and drank it like a shot of cheap corzi. The taste was dry and bitter on her tongue, and it burned far hotter than corzi as it ran down her throat. Worst of all, she¡¯d have to cycle the stuff while her teammates fought without her. Damnit. She really missed Relia. Akari forced herself to her feet and stepped forward. The gloomfang had tossed her on the second floor of an abandoned building, and she had a clear view of the battlefield below. Kalden engaged the creature with a whirlwind of blades, but the gloomfang dodged with blinding speed. One second, it hid behind the stone pillar of a parking garage. An instant later, it ducked behind a crashed van. A few blades still struck its body, but it raised its forearms and deflected them with its carapace armor. The armor shone with green light, and it looked like a defensive aspect. Akari couldn¡¯t explain how she knew that last part. Artisans could sense a lot more than Apprentices, but this skill took practice to understand. Almost like a whole new set of instincts. Zukan flanked the creature from the side and hurled a flaming orange spear at its left shoulder. The weapon slipped through the gaps in his armor before exploding like a grenade. Blood and carapace splattered the nearest car, and the gloomfang shrieked in pain. ¡°Hey,¡± Kalden¡¯s voice said over the radio. ¡°What happened to no lethal hits?¡± There was a short pause while the creature staggered back from its wound. That should have destroyed its heart, right? How the hell was it still standing? Pale green mana raced through the gloomfang¡¯s channels, and its body glowed like a web of luminescent vines. The light gathered around its shoulder, and the flesh and armor pulled together like flowing mercury. ¡°It looks fine to me,¡± Zukan replied in his half-dragon voice. Talek. Of course, the nightmarish cave demon was a healer. ¡°We¡¯ll have to drain its mana,¡± Kalden said. ¡°What if¡ª¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Akari said. ¡°I have an idea. Keep your distance for a second.¡± Easier said than done. The gloomfang sprang forward like a jungle cat, and her teammates responded out with their own techniques. She explained her plan over the radio, and Kalden and Zukan lured the creature down the street toward a pile of stone rubble. Akari followed from above, using her portals to jump between buildings. This part of Koreldon City still lay in ruins from the recent attack, and the structures themselves lay eerily empty. Even the furniture was long gone¡ªprobably taken by looters. ¡°Okay, keep it right there.¡± Akari knelt on the floor and retrieved two grenades from her pouch. She pulled the pins and shot two spacetime Missiles toward her opponent, targeting a few fist-sized chunks of stone near its feet. Another pair of Missiles hit the grenades, and she swapped their positions with the stones. ¡°Shields!¡± Akari said over the radio. Kalden and Zukan broke off their attack and conjured defensive Constructs. The explosions followed, and the creature shrieked again. Her teammates charged into the cloud of smoke, but the gloomfang did a backflip and landed on top of a crashed semi-truck. Its body shone with more green mana as it healed the missing chunks from its flesh. Zukan drove his spear into the asphalt and vaulted upward. The gloomfang spun like a shifting shadow, lashing out with its whip-like tail. The tail caught Zukan in midair, tossing him toward the nearby parking garage. The dragon reacted far faster than Akari, spinning his body through the air and sending a burst of fire mana from his boots. The flames scorched the concrete wall behind him, and he soared back into the fray. Meanwhile, Kalden circled around and attacked the gloomfang from behind. The creature spun with another swipe of its tail, but Kalden ducked in a low crouch, letting the dark whip pass over his head. Then he lashed out with a pair of violet blades¡ªa blend of pure mana and battle mana. The blades found the gap in the gloomfang¡¯s armor, separating its feet from its legs. The gloomfang crumbled to the floor in a dark heap. Kalden struck again, but the creature rolled off the semi-struck, out of sight. Zukan rejoined Kalden a second later, and Akari used a portal to catch up. They all glanced over the edge of the truck, and she half-expected to find the thing lying on the ground, squirming in pain. Instead, the gloomfang got up and ran away. On Its arms. For Talek¡¯s sake. Now she missed fighting mana spawn. At least those had the good decency to die when they lost. Real mana beasts had way too many tricks up their sleeves. Especially ones that had evolved deep in the Hollows. The gloomfang reached the edge of the street and leapt over the steel guardrail. Akari raised her right hand and cycled mana to her wrist launcher. A dart flew toward her retreating opponent, and space warped around her as she swapped her body with the dart. Akari soared over the railing like a human bullet, twisting her body downward to see the gloomfang retreat into the nearest subway tunnel. She slowed her momentum with a burst of pure mana, then she landed with a roll and followed the creature underground. Darkness shrouded the tunnel beyond, and she cycled mana to her helmet to activate the flashlight. Her route took her past rows of kiosks, and she spotted several exposed wires where looters had taken the wall-mounted screens. At least this tunnel hadn¡¯t been flooded like the others. Maybe it still had its wards in place. ¡°Where¡¯s it going?¡± Zukan asked over the radio. ¡°Subway tunnel,¡± Akari replied. ¡°I¡¯m in pursuit.¡± ¡°Careful,¡± Kalden said. ¡°There¡¯s a breach nearby.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get him before then.¡± She and Kalden might be Artisans now, but they still weren¡¯t ready to explore the Hollows beneath Koreldon City. Even a Master would tread lightly down there, and it didn¡¯t help that the ambient mana disrupted her portals.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Glass crunched beneath her boots as she stepped onto the nearest train platform. From there, she followed the gloomfang¡¯s muddy handprints down a long, straight tunnel. She caught a glimpse of its retreating form and smiled. The creature was trapped; it just didn¡¯t know it yet. Akari sent Kalden a mental image, then she raised her wrist launcher and fired a dart past the gloomfang¡¯s head. Her Spacetime Missile caught up with the dart, and Kalden appeared at the end of the tunnel, a few paces ahead of the gloomfang. A shield of pure mana sprang to life from his hands, stretching all the way from the floor to the ceiling. The creature rushed head-first into the shield, but Kalden held his ground. Akari fired a second dart and displaced her own body. She soared toward the gloomfang an instant later, and two blades formed in her outstretched hands. These were nothing like the crude things she¡¯d formed at the start of the fight. These were the weapons of a blade artist, with points as thin as a single molecule. Her bond with Kalden offered far more than just telepathy. With enough practice, they could share mana, aspects, and entire techniques. Several generations of blade artists churned in her soul now, and those skills demanded to be used. Akari slammed into the gloomfang¡¯s back, and her blades struck between the carapace at its shoulders. She Cloaked her arms and sliced the weapons upward, severing the limbs from its torso. The creature screeched in pain and collapsed on the floor, struggling to fight back with no arms or legs. Akari would have felt bad for the thing if it hadn¡¯t killed dozens of innocent people around town. Kalden lowered his shield and stepped forward. ¡°Nice work. At this this one won¡¯t bleed out . . .¡± He trailed off as the gloomfang stopped squirming. Blood pooled on the concrete floor around its wounds, and its body went suddenly limp. ¡°Shit,¡± Akari muttered. ¡°Now he runs out of mana?¡± ¡°Guess we¡¯d better hurry.¡± Kalden climbed on the gloomfang¡¯s back and pressed his hands to the spot between its shoulder blades. Akari did likewise, and they struggled to sense its mana. All mana artists could shape and control their own mana, moving it in and out of their bodies at will. But Aeons took this a step further. With enough practice, they could sense and control their opponents¡¯ mana, including the mana that made up their souls. Lena Cavaco had made this sound easy, but nothing could be further from the truth. Akari¡¯s new senses were a jumbled mess, and it felt like tracking a single raindrop in a mana storm. It didn¡¯t help that the gloomfang was bleeding to death on the ground. Its soul would crystalize when it died, and then she and Kalden would miss their chance. Again. If only Relia were here. She could have patched up the gloomfang¡¯s wounds and knocked it unconscious with a single technique. They could have worked on it for hours, squeezing every drop of mana from its soul. ¡°I think I¡¯ve got something,¡± Kalden said. Right. Stay focused. Akari pulled at the soul with all her mental might, but nothing happened. The gloomfang had drained its mana during the fight, and the soul itself felt far too solid. Not quite a crystal, but close enough. ¡°It¡¯s all just mana,¡± Lena had told them in a previous lesson. ¡°Aeon souls can break down any form of power.¡± Akari pulled harder, but nothing happened. ¡°Visualize the outcome you want. Just like when you first sensed your own soul.¡± Akari forced herself to relax her muscles, slowing her breathing and her cycling. Brute force worked with mana arts, but Aeon souls were more subtle. They required mental focus and strength of will. She drew in several more breaths, in through her nostrils and out through her mouth. She fell deeper into her trance and sensed . . . something. Something warm and bright in her mind¡¯s eye. Her instincts told her to seize the power with her channels, but that would just suck in the tunnel¡¯s ambient mana. Instead, she visualized the power flowing into her Aeon soul, just as Lena had told them. The gloomfang¡¯s stopped breathing beneath her, and the source of power darkened in her mind. Shit. Had she missed her chance? Then Akari felt a sharp pain in her chest, as if she¡¯d inhaled a breath of fire and blades. Her eyes snapped open, and a fresh layer of sweat covered her skin. Panic took over, and she tried to expel the power before it killed her. ¡°You¡¯re okay.¡± Kalden said through gritted teeth. ¡°Just stay focused.¡± Akari clenched her hands into fists and tried to cycle. Tears clouded her vision, and her chest felt like it might explode from the pressure. She was no stranger to pain, but this felt wrong. ¡®We¡¯ll be fine,¡¯ Kalden said in her mind. ¡®It¡¯s just like when the Solidors did the ritual. The crystal has to expand.¡¯ She nodded and kept cycling. Kalden was right; this felt exactly like the Solidor¡¯s ritual. They¡¯d survived that, and they would survive this, too. It was the best path forward. Several heartbeats passed, then the power shifted inside her. A second surge followed as the gloomfang¡¯s broken soul merged with her own. This felt more familiar, like the ache she¡¯d felt during her last four advancements. The pain subsided over the next few seconds. Her shoulders sagged with relief, and a shaky breath escaped her lips. Finally, she yanked off her helmet and glanced at the mana watch on her wrist. The first number showed her current mana count at 621, steadily ticking upward now that they¡¯d stopped fighting. But she was more interested in the second number, which showed her maximum count: 3361 Footsteps echoed down the tunnel as Zukan caught up with them. ¡°Did it work?¡± he asked. Akari moved her glasses and rubbed the tears from her eyes. Sure enough, her maximum count had increased more than fifty points. That was an entire week''s worth of training, all crammed into a single moment. And this was just the beginning. With enough practice, she and Kalden could pull even more mana from their fallen opponents. With a technique like this, they really could reach Master by twenty-one. Maybe even sooner. ¡°It worked.¡± She turned to Kalden with a grin. ¡°How about you?¡± He nodded. ¡°I managed to pull about thirty points before it died.¡± Akari winced. ¡°Sorry if I distracted you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. We¡¯ll do better next time.¡± Zukan strode past the fallen gloomfang, shining his flashlight toward a pit in the floor. ¡°This must be the breach.¡± Akari got to her feet and joined him for a closer look. The tunnel dropped several dozen feet underground¡ªprobably straight into the gloomfang¡¯s lair. The city¡¯s wards had been unbreakable for the past century, creating a solid barrier between the surface and the Hollows below. But wards needed power to function, and Storm¡¯s Eye had changed everything in one fateful day. Now, hundreds of mana beasts roamed free from the depths of the planet, threatening anyone within a hundred miles of the breaches. The Koreldon City officials had placed a premium bounty on the beasts¡¯ cores, and combat artists spent their days hunting them down. Zukan and Kalden rolled the dead gloomfang on its side, while Akari placed a few lanterns around the tunnel. She also set up a portable shield Construct over the breach. That wouldn¡¯t stop a Master-level mana beast, but it might buy them a few precious seconds to escape if it came to that. ¡°I still don¡¯t understand this,¡± Zukan said as they worked. Pure mana shot out from Kalden¡¯s fingers as he formed a blade between two pieces of carapace. ¡°Which part?¡± Zukan made a vague gesture between Kalden and the gloomfang. ¡°How can you steal mana from a creature¡¯s soul? Souls are just portals to the Ethereal. They don¡¯t actually contain any mana.¡± ¡°You¡¯re half-right.¡± Kalden grasped the hilt of his conjured blade and pried open the carapace. ¡°Souls are made of mana, but it¡¯s not the number you see on your watch. That number is your potential mana.¡± ¡°I understand that,¡± Zukan said. ¡°And that¡¯s why I¡¯m confused. What part are you taking?¡± ¡°The structural mana,¡± Kalden said. ¡°Imagine your soul is a pipe that lets in water. The pipe itself is made of ice¡ªwater in a structural form. And its size determines how much water it can take before it breaks.¡± Akari stayed quiet and let Kalden do the talking. He¡¯d always been good at explaining difficult concepts in simple terms. Meanwhile, she was better at plunging into the unknown, even when she didn¡¯t fully understand something. Zukan raised a clawed hand to his chin. ¡°So you take your opponent¡¯s ice¡±¡ªhe gestured at the fallen gloomfang¡ª ¡°and you use that to widen your own pipes?¡± Kalden nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the general idea.¡± ¡°And why can¡¯t the rest of us do this?¡± Zukan normally sounded so calm and stoic, but his voice carried a hint of judgement this time. Maybe even some jealousy. Akari couldn¡¯t blame him for that. If anything, she felt guilty. All her life, she¡¯d been the underdog, forced to scrape by with less. She¡¯d always looked down on people who¡¯d been born with too many advantages. Now, the tables had finally turned. These Aeon powers were the greatest advantage the world had ever seen, and Akari hadn¡¯t even earned them. Elend and Glim had stolen the crystals, and the Solidors had done the ritual in exchange for future favors. How was she supposed to feel about that? ¡°Ordinary souls can move mana,¡± Kalden said after a short pause. ¡°But Aeon souls can move mana in all forms. Even crystal. More importantly, they can maintain that form after they release it.¡± ¡°You lost me there,¡± Zukan said. ¡°Souls are made of structural mana,¡± Kalden said. ¡°This form is almost impossible to study, much less create. But Aeons can transfer it from one soul to another.¡± Zukan hummed in consideration. ¡°So it might be possible for non-Aeons? If we could turn ordinary mana into structural mana?¡± ¡°It might be,¡± Kalden agreed uncertainly. ¡°But you¡¯d be making an artificial soul. Science hasn¡¯t progressed that far yet.¡± He made another incision in the gloomfang¡¯s chest, revealing a melon-sized crystal core. It shone with pale green light, just like the creature¡¯s aspect. ¡°You guys wanna do one more?¡± Akari asked as they bagged up the core. Kalden stepped behind Akari, lifting her left arm and inspecting the wound on her tricep. ¡°This won¡¯t heal without rest.¡± ¡°Damnit.¡± She¡¯d almost forgotten about her wound. ¡°Stupid potions.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do much without a proper alchemy lab,¡± Kalden said. Akari shook her head. ¡°Sorry¡ªwasn¡¯t complaining. I just . . . miss Relia.¡± ¡°It might be worth searching for a new healer,¡± Zukan said. ¡°At least until we get her back.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve looked.¡± Kalden rubbed at his helmet. ¡°Combat healers are hard to find these days. Every team wants one.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t we have several healers in our class?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± He shot a meaningful look at the dead gloomfang. ¡°But we can¡¯t bring Apprentices to a fight like this.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still an Apprentice,¡± Zukan reminded him. ¡°You¡¯re an honorary Artisan.¡± Kalden sealed up the bag, and it vanished into his pouch. ¡°On the bright side, no one¡¯s gotten hurt until today.¡± True enough. Akari¡¯s new body was everything she could have hoped for, and few things could break it. Besides, she¡¯d be back in fighting condition by this time tomorrow. Zukan shot another glance at the hole. ¡°In that case, I¡¯d suggest we head back to base. No sense waiting around for something to ambush us.¡± The group made their way back through the train station and toward the surface. The streets above lay empty, but empty didn¡¯t mean quiet. Sirens echoed in the distance, along with the sounds of honking cars and screeching mana beasts. Storm¡¯s Eye had left several deep trenches through the city, and people had evacuated the surrounding buildings. Windows and storefronts gaped open like wounds, and dozens of cars stuck out from pools of stagnant water. For all that, life went on. People built walls to contain the breaches, the combat artists fought the mana beasts, and things got better every day. Akari turned toward the west and formed a portal on a distant rooftop. She and her teammates all stepped through, and she formed another portal on Chapel Street, less than two blocks from their new apartment. No sooner had they stepped through than Kalden flipped open his cell phone and brought the silver device to his ear. ¡°This is Kalden,¡± he said. There was a short passed as he listened to the voice on the other end. ¡°Okay. We¡¯ll be there in five minutes.¡± He closed the phone and stuck it back in his pocket. ¡°Who was that?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Arturo?¡± Kalden shook his head. ¡°That was Irina. She and Elend are back in town.¡± ¡°About time.¡± Maybe now, they could finally come up with a plan to save Relia.