ã€ŠFortifiedã€‹


 Chapter 1: Welcome Home

    Chapter 1

    On the dawn of their ninth day of travel, Sheeva shook Tazaro awake. He shot upright, startled, citrine eyes stinging as they peeled open. By their burn, he was sure they were bloodshot and hoped the smirk she sent his way was only from red eyes and not an embarrassing trail of drool. He checked the corners of his mouth with the back of his hand, relieved when he felt they were dry.

    ¡°I would offer to make us breakfast, but I heard predators howling nearby. I do not believe we are in immediate danger, but we do need to get going.¡± She stated, tossing him a slab of jerky. It landed on the sleeping bag and he stared at it for a second, his groggy brain still registering what it was. With a small ¡°ah¡± of realization, he picked it up, stuck it between his teeth, and pulled back the sleeping bag to crawl out of it.

    He groaned as he stood and stretched, further upset when he saw the sky was just beginning to lighten; dawn had not officially even cracked yet. He took this frustration out on a large bite of jerky, rubbed a sore spot on his shoulder, then stooped down to roll up the sleeping bag.

    The air was chilly, and it pierced through his shirt, mildly damp thanks to a sheen of sweat from curling up in a thick sleeping bag overnight. He paused to look around them while fumbling with the drawstring of the sleeping bag cover. Traveling by orbs of light until well after sundown, they finally stopped to rest at a small riverbank, the cold water lapping at the rocky, sandy shore. The forest stopped a few feet away, but the branches were still long enough to reach the river. The river itself wasn¡¯t too deep; maybe waist high, but housed some fish strong enough to swim against the current¡­minus a couple that they¡¯d speared like barbarians and cooked for a late-night dinner. Birds began to chirp, waking with the rising sun. He heard the rocks crumble behind him and turned.

    Sheeva had her stuff already packed, and when she grimaced as she threw her bag over her shoulders, Tazaro wondered if the week¡¯s travel without sufficient rest was getting to her. Tazaro¡¯s muscles were incredibly sore, and he could only imagine how hers felt as a knot pinched in his lower back. Apparently, the place he set up to sleep in dim light was not as comfortable as he thought it would be.

    ¡°We are almost to the temple. Just over that hill over there and onward a few miles.¡± She announced, seeming cheery about the fact. He ran to catch up with her and almost buckled to the ground from the way his legs felt like jelly. She gave him a sympathetic look, reached into her backpack, and handed him a cube.

    ¡°Here, eat this.¡± She ordered, pushing it into his hand. He popped it in his mouth, chewing it as fast as he could before the flavor could stick. She could neither find nor afford any honey this time around, and he made a face as the bitterness lingered on his tongue. He took another healthy bite of the jerky to drown out the face-scrunching flavor and followed her as she began to lead the way.

    At the top of a snail¡¯s-pace, steep hike up a mountainside, Sheeva stopped suddenly, causing Tazaro to bump into her. She reached back and grabbed his shirt as he almost fell backward, and he further steadied himself by grasping at her arm. She did not seem to mind; her gaze was fixed off into the distance.

    ¡°Ah," She sighed peacefully. "It has been a while.¡± She commented.

    Maybe, she was recalling her own string of fond memories, as he had upon his departure from Roussel a week ago.

    Tazaro looked in the direction, and his mouth dropped. The temple was massive, made of what seemed to be limestone and towering pillars of wood. The slanted, grey, shingled roof of a prominent part of the temple disappeared into the mountain behind it, and the outer, protective walls were roofed with red, clay shingles.

    ¡°Wow.¡± He whispered as he gazed at it. ¡°That¡¯s amazing. This temple must be ancient.¡±

    ¡°It is. It was made at least¡­¡± She paused to think, a thoughtful expression on her face. ¡°Five-hundred years ago. Considering how close you grew up here, I¡¯m still surprised you haven¡¯t heard of¨C

    Sheeva made a startled ¡°argh!¡± breaking Tazaro out of his reverie of the temple. He watched her shudder and brush herself off, then looked as Bartholomew hovered in the air above the valley and out of harm¡¯s reach...not that they could do anything to retaliate, anyway.

    ¡°You need to stop that, or I''m gonna stab you with the next silver thing I find¨CI mean it!¡± She threatened, chucking a rock at him. It sailed through his head and rolled over itself as it fell into the valley. Bartholomew snickered at her.

    ¡°Oo, good shot! I¡¯ll give you fifty points!¡± He commented, giving her a typical cheeky, fangy grin. She curled her lip in a mocking sneer and tutted at him. Tazaro bit his tongue to hold back his titter at the cute, brief show of immaturity.

    ¡°That¡¯s the Malfa Temple, isn¡¯t it?¡± Bartholomew asked, turning to face the structure. Like Sheeva, he also seemed to calm and dive into some sort of fond memory, given the small smile on his maw.

    ¡°You know of it?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Uh, yeah? I¡¯m not a piddly Sferran, duh. I¡¯m a ta''hal.¡± He waved and took off, floating over to the temple.

    Tazaro was thankful for the path winding down the mountainside that had been trodden so much that plants no longer grew, had become solid, dark, rich dirt, and eventually laid out stones. He noticed a few resting points with a collective bunch of stumps or boulders placed in overhangs, where he assumed people came to enjoy the view...or perhaps, ¡°enjoy the view,¡± if the community nestled inside the walls held several generations worth of families. He did not dare ask, much as he wanted to.

    They stopped at the bottom of the mountain to rest and sip water before attempting the climb up a ridiculously steep string of stairs, something Tazaro was not looking forward to at all after making the journey down a sharp decline of the mountainsides.

    Only a couple buildings rested here by the wooden outcrop on the river''s edge; a forge with a large, retractable wall to allow for open workspace, and a closed-off building with a watermill connected to it and long, stone pipes that shot up and along the mountain''s face.

    Tazaro watched the forge master down the cobblestone pathway as the bearded, burly man pounded steel to craft what would likely be a beautiful piece of armor. A spinning water-wheel pumped air into the searing hot coals at the pull of a lever, and a nearby trough produced the satisfying, sharp hiss of steam as he quenched the working piece.

    ¡°That¡¯s Ezrah, our blacksmith. His work is well-known here and Urul,¡± Sheeva explained, breaking Tazaro from his fix and handing him her water pouch for him to drink from. He drank deeply.

    ¡°His wife assists with any leatherworking, and their two daughters¡­¡± she paused for a moment, a funny, slightly embarrassed expression breaking through as she chuckled to herself. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I forget how long I¡¯ve been gone. Last I knew, though, they enjoyed hunting with their mother. Maybe, they¡¯ll take over her craft someday,¡± She murmured thoughtfully, then took a deep breath and held it in preparation for something.

    ¡°We should keep going. I¡¯ll introduce you to Ezrah, Nora, Kallie, and Olna once we get settled in. You¡¯ll become familiar with them once we get you fitted for a weapon and armor.¡±

    Initially surprised by the idea that he would get to choose his own weapon¨Cworried he wouldn¡¯t be able to handle the sword Tyler gave him well enough¨Cand encouraged by the fact that he might become a ¡°bit of a badass,¡± Tazaro found himself driven to begin the climb up the stone steps, and eagerly followed her as she made her way.

    While she took pause to rest her aching leg, Tazaro noticed the occasional stick with strings of fabric tied to them in the ground, and upon further inspection, realized they marked off every 30th step. When they stopped to catch their breath again, he tried to guess at how many markers they had already passed. He asked Sheeva, and she smirked at him through a pained face.

    "Saw those, did you? We still have a ways to go. The marker up ahead should be number five." She answered, pointing at one by a well-stacked tower of what would be great skipping stones. Tazaro further prepared himself, not sure if he wanted to know the answer to his next question.

    "Number five of how many?"

    Sheeva didn''t answer his question and turned away, continuing up the slope at her own, steady pace.

    At the top of the billions of steps they had to climb, they reached a neatly patterned, off-white, brick plaza. Ladders and bridges stretched across the plaza to join the hallways atop the temple walls. There were two towers on the corners of the front wall.

    Tazaro groaned and leaned down to massage the ache from his thighs.

    ¡°How many steps are there? I lost count about halfway up.¡± He asked. Sheeva looked at him, smirked, and shook her head.

    ¡°Five-hundred and forty. One for every day of the year. I would know; Rose would make me walk those suckers sometimes.¡± She answered.

    "Oh. So that''s why you didn''t..." Tazaro trailed off when she gave him a somber look. Perhaps it was a memory he should refrain from tugging at for the time being.

    He let it go and continued to look around. For as large as the construct seemed from atop the mountain''s peak, it was more grandiose up-close. He had not noticed from afar, being too distant to see details. The red, clay-shingle roof covering the plaza¡¯s perimeter appeared to be a winding, scaly lindworm, holding its head up to purvey and guard against assault from the rugged mountains just outside. Tazaro held back the comment that the thing could probably come to life and breathe fire, but as he thought about it, maybe the stone structure could become animated and go on the offense.

    ¡°Seems nothing has changed much. That is¡­" Sheeva stopped and shook her head as though to correct herself. "It should not be as surprising as it is.¡± She admitted briefly with a soft chuckle before heading towards the towering red doors. She pulled them open using a large brass hoop sticking out of a wooden creature¡¯s mouth. Tazaro rushed up, gawking at the height of the doors, and took a moment to admire the craftsmanship. Whoever had done it took the time to add detail to the mohawk of bristly hairs, the curvature of the ears, and the thin, long face.

    ¡°This temple was built about five centuries ago by a handful of people. It¡¯s going to be much different than places you are used to. The first room is reserved for teaching, so let us be quiet and mindful.¡± She stated, walking in.

    Lit by streams of sunlight coming in through carved windows, he followed the stream of light to a large, metal plate that reflected the light further into the room. The entrance lobby reminded him of an arena as the floor sloped down into a pit. Jade statues etched into the support beams rested at the corners of the open space, appearing to be staring at something in the middle of it. They held giant drinking basins in their outstretched hands.

    Sheeva paused by one of the statues to scoop some water into her hands and drank.

    ¡°Spring water is some of the best I have tasted. It is crisp, almost sweet.¡±

    Testing it for himself, Tazaro scooped his hand and tasted it. Sure enough, it was slightly sweet. He drank a little more as he realized how parched he was.

    ¡°There are four classrooms here. Two there,¡± Sheeva pointed at two sets of sliding doors to the left of the lobby. They were closed but occupied; shadows on the doors showed a few people inside. ¡°And two over there.¡± She pointed on the other side of the lobby, where another set of sliding doors sat, one open to reveal the students inside, hunched over scrolls of parchment,  with tiny glass oil wells and quills resting next to them.

    As he examined the doors¡¯ decor, he looked back as he heard her mutter, ¡°wonder if they bolted down the desks.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Nothing¨Cjust thinking to myself!¡± She smiled shortly and waved the matter off. ¡°I learned to read and write here. Learned to do arithmetic, too, but it is not a strong point for me, as I said. Rose worked with me daily outside of classes to catch up to the others. Eventually, I did, and was placed with the rest.¡± She explained, thankful that Tazaro didn¡¯t seem to have anything to say about it. Before giving him a chance to reply, she waved at him to follow her and stepped through another set of wooden doors.

    The walls were painted red, and lanterns hung from the ceiling, slightly illuminating the dark hallways. Still, Sheeva cast her ball of light, shifting it to linger above their heads and dimming it a little.

    ¡°Here is where everyone sleeps. There are two floors, so be mindful of your gait. Step lightly. Curfew is at ten.¡± Sheeva continued. Sliding doors held the people¡¯s rooms, some open, others closed. She headed up a flight of stairs and down the hallway. She stopped at the fourth door, slid it open, removed her bag, and set it inside.

    ¡°This is my old room. The one across from mine seems unoccupied, so it will be yours. I figure you would appreciate having your own space.¡± Sheeva mentioned, sliding the door open and walking in. She looked around. The closet was empty, the shelves dusted and well-kept, and a bed sat in the corner. There was a small sectioned-off area for a bathroom next to a paper window in the far left. The tiles and wood beams, painted green, stood firm as they supported her. She walked towards his room, standing in the doorway and waiting while he set his stuff down and looked around.

    ¡°Where do we...bathe?¡± He wondered if perhaps the paper divider was used for privacy during sponge-baths.

    ¡°Oh. That is right. You are not used to the idea,¡± She commented, seeming mildly embarrassed for forgetting so. ¡°We have a communal bathhouse set up to draw water from the river at the bottom of the mountain. The women''s and men''s baths are separated by a wall, but keep in mind that you can still hear over the wall.¡± She explained.

    ¡°Um...Oh.¡± He stated, somewhat unnerved with the idea that someone else would walk in on him while he was bathing.

    "We all¡­share the same bath?"

    She shook her head.

    "There is a constant water flow¨Clike washing in a stream." She explained. "If you are worried about being, um, naked in front of someone else¡­It is just another body. You all have the same parts, as do women.¡± She tried to advise, averting her eyes to the closet. They stared intently at the shelf above the hanging dowel, then spotted the new pair of cork sandals.

    ¡°Ah, another thing: Keep your shoes hidden when you¡¯re sleeping. Kids are pranksters.¡± She said with an out-of-character, mischievous smile. Leaving him to ponder in mild worry, she turned and left, and he hurried after her.

    Down the stairs and further into the construct, she stepped into a courtyard lined with trees and paused, gazing fondly at the late-summer blooms on the branches of wisteria trees. The wide-topped tree that stretched over the southwestern corner was a light pink, its limbs drooping like a weeping willow. The other wisteria in the southeastern corner was a deep, navy blue, and she took a deep breath in through her nose, calming at their sweet fragrance. Their petals began to fall, casting a blanket of pink and blue, and almost blended into purple amid the green grass.

    A grey stone pathway led to a crossroad amid the courtyard and another fountain donned with a statue rested here, though he doubted this water was for drinking. The statue of an unknown woman guarded benches at her feet as water poured out of a marble pitcher she held and into a large basin. He walked out into the middle of the area and listened to the sound of the rippling water, taking in the view.

    ¡°Wow. This is beautiful.¡± Tazaro muttered, pacified with the view. Sheeva gave a soft chuckle.

    ¡°Yes. One of my favorite spots in the temple.¡±

    Tazaro toyed with the idea of teasing her about it, but before he could word a jab in his head, Sheeva cleared her throat and pointed to her right.

    ¡°Through there is the library. I will take you there later. Across from the library, you will find the hospital wing. Hopefully, we don¡¯t end up in there for anything other than a check-up, but I will introduce you to Dr. Marx later.¡±

    Tazaro looked down the blue-painted hallway towards the assumed library and medical wing, its floor paved with small pebbles and hardened clay. Someone was currently sweeping away dust and leaves.

    ¡°To the left is the bathhouse, and across from that lies the greenhouse.¡±

    This hallway was painted green, and Tazaro noticed an array of plants lining the hallway and crawling up and along a trellis overhead. He was sure he saw grapes, and he pursed his lips at the distasteful things; he didn¡¯t care for the way they popped, and picking seeds out of his teeth annoyed him to high skies. He looked over when Sheeva moved across his vision.

    ¡°And, through the hallway around these steps here¡­¡± Sheeva walked to the foundation of some stone steps, where a hallway seemed to hide. ¡°...Are the dining hall and kitchens.¡±

    He stilled slightly when she closed the distance and leaned up to whisper in his ear. ¡°Aside from all of this, there are also hidden pathways and rooms. I may decide to show you some later.¡±

    Sheeva walked up the ornate stone steps and stopped at a green door. Tazaro followed, but when she hesitated, he turned around to take in the view of the courtyard from this new angle, further swayed by its serenity. The wisteria trees looked like puffy, colorful clouds framing the marble statue. He noticed an out-of-place window carved into the hallway they had emerged from and wondered if it was a hidden room, doubtful it was a room someone slept in. It did not seem to be big enough. When Sheeva tapped him on the shoulder, he turned to look at her.

    ¡°This is the temple leader''s room. Be respectful, and do not try to lie. Like¡­any parent, it seems, he always knows.¡± She stated before opening the door. They walked in and hit a wave of incense and smoke. Tazaro fought to keep from coughing and felt his nose plug instantly. A small window filtered light in, but the room was mostly lit with more candles. He fought the hum of annoyance.

    The walls were a soft orange, with a basket-weave divider separating a basin full of water standing in the right corner of the room. Tazaro somehow doubted it was for bathing or drinking. Two peculiar statues of lindworms wound around two etched pillars and guarded a bare wall to the left, a curtain tied up to one side. Tazaro wondered if they protected one of the secret passageways Sheeva had mentioned.

    An aged man sat on a green cushion, smoking from a tall, silver hookah. The glimmering coals brightened as he took a drag.

    ¡°Welcome back, Sheeva Jules. Your friend seems to appreciate the designs of the temple. You have good taste in friends!¡± The old man greeted jovially with a smile and billowing smoke out of his nose. He stood to greet them, and with how long the man¡¯s beard was and how tall the man stood, he seemed to resemble a lindwyrm himself. Tazaro fought a shiver of nerves.

    ¡°Sir,¡± Sheeva tipped her head in greeting.

    "And, welcome, Tazaro Chorea. May these walls bring you peace, and help you to become resolute!" He smiled.

    Unnerved, Tazaro looked at Sheeva for some kind of explanation, but she only offered a nonchalant shrug.

    ¡°It is good to see you again, Sheeva, and in such good health...¡± He paused, squinting and seeming to stare through her. ¡°Despite your recent troubles. You seem less turbulent than you did years ago. Perhaps you have gained wisdom and peace. I am pleased.¡± The old man pointed out, his mustache lifting with his smile. "The world is too big to worry about everything."

    ¡°I...suppose so.¡± Sheeva agreed hesitantly. He only hummed, seeming to disagree with her downplay.

    ¡°We are pursuing someone dangerous. I need to train Tazaro and hone my skills.¡± She explained. Straight to business, as usual.

    The man seemed to expect this side of Sheeva and sat back a little, turning to a small teapot and filling a cup with dark, brown liquid. He held it in long, bony fingers, likely to warm his hands.

    ¡°Yes, you are, aren''t you. But, that is fine¨Cthere is always time for more training, though I am surprised to note the company you keep. When you depart again, these two are going with you?¡± He asked.

    Once again surprised at the man''s clairvoyance, Tazaro looked around, and only then noticed Bartholomew had floated up between them through the wooden floor. Sheeva let out a defeated sigh and stared at something across the way. Tazaro wondered if Sheeva had wanted to keep the fact that they were traveling with a Ta¡¯hal undisclosed.

    ¡°Yes, sir. Our target is...far stronger than I am.¡± She muttered, fighting the tremble she was beginning to feel.

    The old man nodded and sipped.

    ¡°I can sense the uncertainty on you.¡± He announced shamelessly. Sheeva frowned even deeper and hid her face from Tazaro when he tilted his head to gauge her reaction.

    ¡°He used skills that I¡¯ve never seen before. He broke my bones and rendered me unconscious, then killed Tazaro¡¯s mother. He¡¯s sadistic and psychopathic, and he¡¯s been on a murderous rampage since he left me lying in the dirt.¡± Sheeva summed through clenched teeth. ¡°But¡­that¡¯s not the only reason I am here,¡± She countered with a deep, held breath and a heavy sigh. ¡°I believe that we¡¯re safest here, with the veil to protect and hide us for the time being. I can train Tazaro to fight and to fly and fully recover after my injuries.¡± She praised, visibly relaxing as she seemed to remind herself of the temple''s fortitude.

    The man nodded.

    ¡°I will say I am proud that your foe¡¯s ruthlessness weighs heavier than your defeat, though you seem to...¡± The man paused, peering at Sheeva¡¯s face. She didn¡¯t turn her face away in discomfort but slowly dropped her head, allowing him to continue to read her. ¡°Struggle with it. Still, you have learned humility, it seems.¡±

    When clouded, amethyst eyes locked onto his own citrines, Tazaro crossed his arms as they rippled with goosebumps, suddenly feeling on the spot as he realized he was being read, too. At first, he felt his face harden in defense, but as the man waved his hand, Tazaro felt a sense of calm sweep over him from head to toe. A spell similar to Sheeva¡¯s, he realized the man was trying to help and that he was not in danger. Eager to bask in the lax feeling, he sighed and slouched a little.

    ¡°His actions bother these two, as well.¡± He gestured to Tazaro and Bartholomew. "Both of them have suffered great loss at the hands of your foe."

    Bartholomew snorted and deflected the statement with a wave of his claw.

    ¡°The hell it does, old man! What do you know?¡± He growled. Tazaro thought he heard a worried inflection but shook his head. He was only hearing things, dizzied by smoke and worn out by traveling for a whole week. Plus, whatever spell he assumed had been cast had him so warm, fuzzy, and complacent, the sense of alarm seemed distant.

    Sheeva turned her head to Bartholomew, furiously amazed with his rudeness.

    ¡°How dare you, Bartholomew, you¨C

    ¨CIt is fine, Sheeva.¡± The old man waved it off. ¡°Ta¡¯hal or not, Bartholomew, you were Sferran once, too. Base instincts and primary habits do not simply disappear, nor are promises forgotten. Funny that you should return here after so long a time, Bartholomew. Are you here to carry out your friend''s dying wishes?"

    If steam could blow out of the creature¡¯s ears, Tazaro imagined it would be, given how tight-lipped Bartholomew became. They watched as he hastily turned his back on them and left their company, grumbling as he floated through the door.

    ¡°I hope no one else can see that,¡± Tazaro muttered. ¡°Or, hear that.¡± He added as they heard him swear and curse in temperament. Sheeva ignored the statement, irate about something, but Tazaro felt relieved when the old man gave a short, airy titter.

    "Though he has been a Ta''hal for many years, it seems he fights hard to hold to the shreds of his former soul. A commendable plight; and I wish him well in the endeavor."

    Tazaro hummed in contemplation, recalling the Ta¡¯hal¡¯s brief explanation of what he¡¯d done for his son when he was still Sferran. It seemed, perhaps, that underneath the tough, scaly exterior, a smidgeon of a compassionate person still ¡°held onto shreds of his former soul.¡±

    ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t understand: Why would you allow him to disrespect you?¡± Sheeva asked. They watched him simply smile and hum as he thought of a response.

    ¡°If someone brings you a gift, and you refuse it, to whom does it really belong? The same can be said of insults. If you refuse to accept or acknowledge them, they belong to the one who offered them.¡± He pointed out. ¡°Ultimately, I cannot control his actions or his words, but only how I react¨Cand the same goes for you, and you,¡± he advised, gesturing toward each of them with an open hand.

    Sheeva scowled, dropped her head and shook it, then crossed her arms and tapped her foot. Tazaro wondered if she was further frustrated with the statement¡¯s ambiguity, brusque as she was, or the fact that the statement was an almost complete opposite of how she¨Cand he, sometimes, if he were being completely honest with himself¨Cseemed to react upon being slighted.

    He found himself amused with the wisdom the man held. It reminded him of his mother. Or¡­maybe he was simply having a moment of missing her greatly. He wondered if the man was from Pacem and searched his eyes. He could see a purple shade behind them amid cataracts, though very light, like the pale lavender flowers Sheeva favored.

    ¡°Yes, Tazaro, I am from Pacem. Contrary to what you might believe, I am not all-knowing. Wisdom comes with vast experience and age. My condolences to you about your mother. Such a thing no one should have to witness, but continue to exercise forgiveness and patience, and the burden will become easier to bear.¡±

    Tazaro dropped his stare to the floor and shuffled his feet, uncomfortable with being read like this. Emotions were one thing; thoughts were another. His chest still ached at the mention of his mother, but as he listened to the wise words, he did feel a little better. He took a deep, clearing breath.

    ¡°Thank you, sir.¡±

    ¡°Please, rest and reflect in the courtyard. I would talk to you alone for a moment, Sheeva.¡± The old man stated. He pointed at the door. Tazaro hesitated, then looked at Sheeva. She nodded at him.

    ¡°Go. You will be safe here.¡±

    Tazaro stood and walked out immediately, thankful to get away from the smoke. He contemplated eavesdropping but decided against it, as one or both of them might know. He chuckled softly and shuffled his hands into his pockets as he walked down to sit on one of the alabaster benches at the lady¡¯s feet.

    Sheeva fixed her gaze on the designs of the carpet splayed on the floor, preparing herself for the scolding she was likely to receive, though for which thing exactly, she could not be sure. There were many things she did in her five-year absence. Perhaps he would chide her for all of them. She cleared her throat and sat down on the cushion at the foot of the short table, accepting the small cup of tea he poured her and the seat gestured with an open hand.

    ¡°So. You have made a deal with a Ta¡¯hal? What were you thinking?¡± He asked, the disappointment evident in his voice. Sheeva had to admit, she was taken aback, not expecting that to be the first thing he questioned her about. She collected herself and fidgeted with the lip of the cup, warm and soothing to the pads of her fingers.

    ¡°Ultimately¡­¡± She paused, trying to find a viable way to define it. It had all happened so quickly, and she had not really sat back and given it any thought. ¡°I did it to free Tazaro. He was being controlled by Bartholomew. He was a bystander; it was not right of me to abuse the situation for my own needs, even though I had a moment of weakness.¡± She stopped herself and waved a hand at the topic. It was far too easy to fall down the rabbit hole of nagging at herself for almost leaving Tazaro in the forest that day. She caught herself feeling thankful she could not move well; otherwise, she might have left and they might all be dead.

    ¡°The deal was not in search of power. Bartholomew agreed to allow me my revenge. I felt it was a win-win.¡± She admitted. He nodded, mustache curling with a thin smile.

    ¡°Did you attain your goal?¡± He pressed, gently lifting the cup and holding it to his nose before taking a sip. Sheeva felt a flash of frustration at the situation but forced a deep, clearing breath and sighed away her disappointment.

    ¡°Llyud is¡­dead."

    "Ah, so the goal has been met. Did it satisfy?"

    He hummed again, studying Sheeva''s shielded demeanor and disappointed airs.

    ¡°Do you feel your anger resolved now that Llyud is dead?¡± He clarified.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    Sheeva didn''t need to utter anything; her face did enough.

    "No," She growled, painfully aware of how disappointed she sounded as it nagged at her conscience. "Zakaraia killed Llyud in front of me. Had I been able to do it, earlier, perhaps Mildred might still be¨C

    She stopped, then sighed at herself as she recalled the firm reminders that Mildred''s death was not her fault.

    "No. That was Zakaraia''s doing. Besides, I hesitated¨Ckilling him didn¡¯t feel¡­right." Sheeva dropped her gaze to the floral pattern on the sides of the metal kettle as she tapped the teacup with her nails in need of fidget. She shook her head and waited for a little while before she spoke.

    ¡°My apologies, Master. I am trying to learn to...¡± She trailed off and scratched the back of her neck. ¡°I am trying to learn to manage it more maturely, I suppose,¡± She admitted sheepishly. ¡°It is an incredibly foreign thing to do.¡±

    ¡°At Tazaro¡¯s behest?¡± He asked, sounding impressed.

    ¡°And Vincent¡¯s.¡± She insisted, though, yes, it was primarily Tazaro¡¯s suggestion.

    "You understand that, if you had managed to kill Llyud earlier, you wouldn''t have met the people you''ve met and had such personal growth, yes? Funny, that you would liken Mildred to me. Is it because we were both beyond our years?" He asked, cracking a joke and stroking the long, grey beard. ¡°I can still put up a good fight for an old man, you know!¡±

    Sheeva frowned, unappreciative of the jab and caving further in as she slouched over in a brooding heap.

    ¡°That¡¯s not funny,¡± She grumbled.

    He tsked in disapproval behind a sip of tea; it seemed a well-timed and appropriate joke.

    Altea, my dear, you would have laughed a little with me¡­though Sheeva¡¯s stubbornness reminds me much of my own when I was her age.

    ¡°You still have much anger, Sheeva. One would think it''s become too heavy to hold on to. Like any stone, it''s yours to put down at any time¨Cyou just have to trust, and let go. You might find it falls quite easily when you do.¡±

    ¡°I can''t," she dismissed. "I mean,¡± She began, as though to validate the ultimate reason behind her¨Creasonable, she felt¨Cfrustration and seething hate. ¡°Zakaraia puppeteered Llyud into kidnapping Mildred, exploded his head, beat me to the ground, and while I was unconscious, killed Tazaro¡¯s mother." She countered. "I have no choice but to¨C

    ¨CSheeva Jules, you miss my point," He countered clearly, sitting tall and stern, his shadow casting itself over the table and over her person. She stopped and stared at him, surprised and mildly frightened. ¡°There is always a choice,¡± he reminded with a relenting sigh as he sat back a little bit and relaxed.

    Sheeva sulked in a feeling of guilt, like a child being called out on a wrongdoing as silence lingered for a few moments.

    "Understand that I did not mean for you to abandon your goals. You ought to not seek them with anger lest you be left unsatisfied and chasing phantoms¡­as it seems you''ve found, haven''t you?"

    Sheeva stared at him, involuntarily mute as she realized how strongly she understood that her mentor was right. Many a sleepless night spent pouring over her feelings on the situation had left her scowling so much her brow ached, and she had little choice but to accept things as they were in order to assuage maddening thought.

    ¡°As for the young man out in the courtyard,¡± He continued softly, a frown of pity on his face for the young man¡¯s misfortune. ¡°Witnessing a loved one¡¯s death is a hard thing to bear¨Ca commonality you two share.¡± He added, sighing as he gazed off into a tile on the floor in recollection of something.

    "Redefine for yourself what it means to have loved and lost, Sheeva. You have used it in pursuit of vengeance, but perhaps you can guide Tazaro in a prosperous and nurturing way¨Chaving been through dark times, yourself¨Cand it can be used in pursuit of acceptance and peace. I hope for you to someday absolve yourself for your transgressions, and others for theirs."

    Pained, Sheeva kept a firm stare at the floral patterns in the teacup.

    He hummed to himself and smiled, pleased with his own advice, though Sheeva obviously struggled with it. He picked up his cup to sip from it, offering a tip towards the statue outside.

    Thank you, Altea, my dear. Even now, I know you are still with me.

    Sheeva stared at the lindwyrms on the pillars, and took a deep breath.

    ''Absolve myself and others for their transgressions,'' huh? I don''t understand.

    ¡°You mentioned the name, but who is Vincent?¡±

    Feeling a little on-the-spot, Sheeva sipped at the earthy, green tea from her own cup.

    An illegitimate son of Ivan Marx? She thought sarcastically, then pursed her lips. The statement seemed far too close to true to consider joking about it.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± He asked, amused.

    ¡°No, I do not think so, sir. Their resemblance may be incredibly uncanny, but I doubt they are related.¡± She insisted, waving a hand at the matter. Before he could suggest that she could be mistaken, she continued to explain the stranger she¡¯d spoken of.

    ¡°Vincent Berkowitz,¡± She stressed the man¡¯s last name as though to enforce her point. ¡°Is Tazaro and I¡¯s¨Cer, our friend. He¡¯s a doctor. He stitched me up and helped me recover after I was injured.¡±

    ¡°Hm. I see,¡± He answered. "He, too, is wise beyond his years. Tell me: have you pondered the meaning of life?"

    Sheeva bit back her pout, wishing she had been able to ask the question Vincent had asked her, finding it such a useful tool and mantra. She brought the cup to her lips to hide the disrespectful frown.

    "I wanted to ask you that, you know. I like to think I can teach you new wisdoms, too," She grumbled into her tea.

    He chuckled.

    "Considering that you are talking to me here and now, you have brought me wisdom, Sheeva!"

    For a few moments, the only sound in the room was the pop and sizzle of the grand hookah as he reached for the pipe and drew in another deep breath.

    Wanting to fill the silence, Sheeva spoke.

    ¡°Tazaro wishes for me not to blame myself for Mildred, but...I still do, even if a little bit. Not as much as I used to, though, so for that, I am grateful.¡± She stated.

    Pleased with the budding sense of self-forgiveness beginning to take root, the leader of Malfa Temple reached over and took another long drag from his hookah, slowly exhaling. The pillow of smoke rolled across the table like fog before dissipating into the air.

    ¡°Would Rose blame you, Sheeva?¡± He asked, hoping to nurture the bud further.

    Sheeva¡¯s eyes widened at the mention of Rose¡¯s name, and guilt gripped her. Fighting the urge to plummet head-first into her woeful pit, Sheeva did her best to shove off every immediate, dejecting thought.

    While at first, the process would leave her immensely exhausted and craving a much-needed nap, the corrective actions seemed to be less taxing the more often that she did it. Through the fog of her muddled brain, as she allowed herself to imagine what Rose would say, she remembered that no, she had realized Rose wouldn¡¯t blame her one bit. Sheeva shook her head to answer his question with a humbled, self-conscious smile.

    ¡°No. She wouldn¡¯t want such a thing for me.¡±

    ¡°Then you should not, either. Your¡­friend is right to tell you so. He has brought you much calm.¡± He agreed.

    With a heavy, affirmative sigh to accompany the stark moment of clarity, Sheeva hung her head in mild shame as she finally understood how easy it was to hold onto such anger and how much it had kept her from experiencing a more colorful life as it was. It was all she knew for years, but, as she had found of herself, she had only driven herself to miss out on the joys of life. She  propped her head upon her palm, her elbow rested on her knee as she soaked in the epiphany.

    Sheeva caught herself in a smile as she recalled their silly pact to chase a "slice-of-life" adventure, then let the grin splay on her face without shame.

    ¡°Feh!¡± She scoffed in a guilty-as-charged way, then softened. ¡°He certainly has. I¡¯m¡­eternally grateful.¡±

    ¡°I pray that it continues. A great warrior is never angry.¡±

    Sheeva avoided his gaze, giving a thoughtful hum as she stared at the table and twirled the teacup with a lazy finger.

    ¡°I find I can be¡­¡± She paused, trying to find a good word for the endless swirl that covered her from head to toe in Tazaro¡¯s presence. ¡°Vulnerable,¡± She decided.

    ¡°I can be myself, and blunt, and earnest, and¨CShe couldn¡¯t help the chuckle that burst from her chest. ¡°Silly, without it being thrown back in my face or weaponized against me. It is¡­incredibly liberating.¡±

    He smiled, and tipped his teacup in praise.

    ¡°The essence of a true, everlasting friendship.¡± He whispered wisely.

    When she contemplated his words, as much as it made her feel good, it still brought with it the bits of fear and worry she fought to stifle. Her and Tazaro¡¯s strange form of...friendship was a topic she did not want to cover, at least not with him. She hoped he would not press it.

    ¡°Sir, I want to know: what do I do with this, this...anger? Llyud was just a pawn, and who knows how long for. It is¨Cit is maddening. I worry that I wrongfully condemned¡­¡± Sheeva dropped her head in shame, fearing she had pursued a man who followed orders to save his own life, but as she recalled Zakaraia¡¯s statement about the Iphsium den, she felt her eyes narrow and face terse.

    ¡°No, he was no innocent man.¡± She decided, hoping that putting it in words would finalize the point.

    ¡°Tazaro suggested that I let go now that Llyud is dead, but I simply cannot do that.¡± She asked, looking to her old-time mentor for his guidance. He would have an answer. A good answer. Something she could accept.

    ¡°Cannot? Or will not?¡± He questioned. She blinked, surprised, never having thought of it in this way before.

    ¡°You have the freedom to let go. Letting go will give you the resolution you seek. If you cling to anything in your heart, be it the anger you feel or the fear that dwells within, you cannot be free. There is more to freedom than being unbound from shackles and let loose from cages.¡± He stated. She stared at the floor as she took in his words.

    ¡°Tazaro is wise to tell you to let go. You should trust in him more. It is not wrong to care for or be cared for. Even if all you do is free a man from the pain of past ridicule. Besides¨Cas you said¨Che has had a lot to do with your newfound freedoms, too, hasn¡¯t he?¡± He stated, taking another drag from his hookah. Sheeva took a deep breath. She took his words to heart and slowly nodded, a sheepish smile on her face. He had never led her astray before, so she had to trust his judgment.

    ¡°Yes, sir. Thank you.¡±

    He nodded in reply.

    ¡°You will always be a student, for ¡®training never stops,¡¯ and you are always welcome.¡± He said, waving his hand to dismiss her. She nodded and stood, heading for the door. She stopped and looked back at him, her hand still resting on the ornate, wooden handle.

    ¡°Sir?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°What is your, uh, your real name?¡± She asked. He smiled.

    ¡°Aglis. That is my name. Though I¡¯d prefer others do not know it.¡± He seemed to whisper.

    ¡°Thank you...sir.¡± She couldn¡¯t bring herself to say his real name, finding it a little more strange to say than ¡°sir.¡±

    She bowed and left the smoky room, mildly hazy and tired from thinking over her circumstances. She crossed her arms just outside the door and leaned against the doorframe.

    ¡®Not wrong to care for or be cared for,¡¯ huh?

    She fought to squish the nagging feeling that Aglis hinted towards their unity. They had a lot of work to do and could not waste time with such things. Besides, Tazaro likely had goals he wanted to attain that did not include her, and as she stated a couple of weeks ago, he was encouraged to pursue them after they met their shared goal of putting an end to Zakaraia. Finding that familiar smidge of twisted self-reliance, she closed her eyes and basked in it, relieved at the assurance it brought her...lonely as it was. Relishing in its comfort, she felt her tension subside.

    She opened her eyes to survey the courtyard from the top of the steps, a soft smile on her face at the sea of colorful petals and swaying branches. Soon, she would be able to hop up or fly up onto the drake¡¯s head that guarded Aglis¡¯s doorstep and get an even better, uninterrupted view.

    Voices of children rose to her ears, and she looked for the source, wondering if any she knew were still here or even if they remembered her in her absence. Tazaro was sitting in the shade of one of the wisteria trees, surrounded by some younger kids.

    Good. Sheeva thought. Perhaps they are making Tazaro feel welcome. She walked down the steps and up to them.

    Upon seeing Sheeva, one of the boys jumped to his feet. He rushed her, barreling into her with a tight hug. She feigned hurt with a subtle wince and chuckled softly as she patted the top of his head.

    ¡°Hello, Kalas. You¡¯ve gotten stronger.¡± She muttered in honesty, needing to brace herself slightly when his head bashed into her sternum.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be learning? Have you been staying out of trouble?¡± She asked, taking a spot by Tazaro underneath the tree, thankful for the shady respite from the harsh summer sun. She did not acknowledge the look he gave her at her proximity.

    ¡°Haha, trouble? Ah...no.¡± One admitted, giving her a grin. He was new, an unfamiliar face. He looked to be about five, and as she thought back, she remembered that Valirya and her husband Kam were expecting a child before she left. As she peered closer at the child¡¯s face, she recognized her old teacher¡¯s piercing amber eyes and held back a smile, wondering if the woman still had a knack for stopping troublemakers. She found it even funnier Valirya¡¯s child would net her such troubles.

    And, funnier still that he seemed to be friends with Kalas, who enjoyed shooting spitballs at the back of Valirya¡¯s head.

    ¡°You seem to be well-liked here,¡± Bartholomew stated, floating beside Tazaro. Sheeva froze, hoping the others could not see him. His visage would terrify them. As they didn¡¯t seem to notice, she relaxed. She glanced at Tazaro, wondering how they would play this off. Figuring Bartholomew¡¯s comment was not out-of-place, Tazaro repeated it, though he sounded much more surprised than Bartholomew had. Sheeva frowned to dismiss the brush to her ego.

    ¡°They are children, hardly dangerous. I could beat them across the plaza if I needed to.¡± She cracked a smile, flashing them a menacing look. It did not come across as jokingly as she wanted when Tazaro gave her a worried look.

    ¡°Tazaro, surely you must know I''m joking!¡± She grunted, mildly annoyed that she would be taken so seriously. ¡°No, I would never harm a child unless we were training, and even then, it would not be with intent to harm. I do not want any child to have the¡­early childhood that I did.¡± She explained. She crossed her arms and stared at the back of the statue¡¯s head.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Tazaro mumbled, nodding his head with a bashful chuckle, reminding himself to expect less seriousness in the future.

    ¡°Anyway¡­¡± Sheeva diverted. She gestured to Tazaro with a nod of her head.

    "This is my friend, Tazaro. He helped me recover when I was injured. We are going to be training together.¡± She explained carefully. Her uncertainty with how they were to define their relationship became even more apparent at the moment. She wondered how exactly they were supposed to introduce each other to others.

    ¡°We will all catch up later. You should all get to class.¡± She fought to dismiss them, wanting to discuss the issue with a bout of sudden determination. The other kids got up and left, but Kalas stayed behind. She fought a disappointed sigh at the eleven-year-old.

    ¡°But you just got here! And besides, I don¡¯t want to learn that stuff. Now, fighting, I could do that all day! I''ve gotten so much stronger since you left!" He boasted.

    Sheeva chuckled at the boy, thinking.

    ¡°I am sure you have gotten stronger, but, what if you or someone else is injured on the field, Kalas? Your strength cannot save you all the time. What would you do, punch someone to health?¡± She pointed out. Kalas thought about it, then gave a sheepish smile before laughing.

    ¡°No, that¡¯s silly! Ok, I¡¯ll go.¡± He stood and bolted after the others, sandals clapping on the cobblestone as he ran.

    Satisfied, Sheeva leaned back against the tree and lifted her gaze to the red, gold-trimmed support beam, barely visible beyond a sheet of baby-blue wisteria petals. The rippling water fountain fueled her train of thought, and she smiled at how silly she felt.

    ¡°My apologies. I wasn¡¯t sure how to introduce you. I am not used to company.¡± She admitted. Tazaro turned his head to look at her, and she could tell by the look on his face that she must have been ¡°thinking funny thoughts again.¡±

    As fate would have it, he pointed out just that. Sheeva tsked and gave an eye-roll at the situation.

    ¡°Company, huh? You make that sound like we¡¯re to¨CHe stopped himself from saying something, and she almost opened her mouth to request him to continue his thought despite the butterflies in her stomach at the thought of him saying they were courting.

    ¡°Do you always keep your friends at such a distance?¡± He asked, his light tone suggesting he was cracking a joke. Sheeva uttered a soft, passive pfft with her added thought: Only the ones that kiss me.

    ¡°Give me a reason to, and I might.¡± She deflected.

    An awkward silence fell over them, and Sheeva counted the stepping-stones buried in the ground around the area. In the corner of her eye, she watched him drum his fingers rhythmically on his knee. She prayed the blush did not show on her face as she felt it on her chest and snaked her left hand to the side of her neck to press cool fingers against the warming skin. Her fingers found a loose lock of hair and began to twirl it, weaving it betwixt and between her fore, middle, and ring finger in the comforting pattern she recently developed.

    Despite her pacifying fidget, she felt the pitter-patter of her heart quicken and noted his features in the corner of her eye. The rough fingertips that had coaxed her into that gentle kiss. Sturdy arms that had encased and supported her frame in the warm, freeing embrace. His citrine eyes that exuded joy, kindness, and hope..eyes that held an incredible tenacity when drilling the fact that she could place trust in him.

    She averted her less-than-subtle gaze as he noticed it, embarrassed that she had been caught. The blush broke onto her face, and she pressed her other hand to her cheek to alleviate it, fixing her stare on the growing plantlings lined in the greenhouse hallway.

    Say they were to begin showing romantic interest in one another. Could she handle everyone she grew up with teasing her about it?

    More prominent, deafening silence followed, finally broken by the sound of his voice, laced with delicate deliberation.

    ¡°So, uh, how big is this place?¡± He asked, seeming to offer a tether for distraction. Sheeva ran with it, giving a thoughtful, thankful hum as she contemplated the question. She fought to think of a structure in Roussell that she could liken it to. The closest comparison had to be the central clock tower and the distance between the off-set castle, but even that seemed inaccurate.

    ¡°Fairly large. The library has two floors, and the greenhouse has three.¡± She stated. Deciding she would show him instead, she stood and brushed herself off.

    ¡°Which would you like to see first?¡±

    ¡°Take a guess.¡± He gave her a knowing smirk, eyes glimmering with the flirty presentation of his challenge.

    She caught her smile and masked it with a roll of her eyes, mainly directed at the flutter of her stomach so easily swayed by the pearly white grin. Sheeva quickly stood, waved at Tazaro to follow her down the blue hallway to the right, and then stopped in front of a red, furnished wooden door framed by gold trimmings. It creaked as she opened it, and a rush of fragrant, stale air greeted them. Sheeva felt calmed by the scent of paper, leather, and ink and stepped through the door, holding it open for Tazaro as he followed through.

    Nothing seemed to have changed. Shelves stacked on shelves were loaded with books of many different sizes and shapes, and there had to be at least ten rows on either side of the open space in the middle of the floor. Towards the library¡¯s back wall, a wide-open area was surrounded by a half-circle of windows lined with tables and chairs, with a spiral staircase leading to a second floor. A few people were sitting at desks, most reading by candlelight, only two or three by a glowing ball of light. Others were whispering to each other in their groups. Sheeva turned to him upon a muttered, amazed ¡°by the gods.¡±

    His wondrous look filled her with pride, and she smiled, glad he appreciated their expanse of books.

    ¡°You have never seen so many books, I take it?¡±

    Tazaro slowly shook his head, lost in reverie.

    ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s much more than I had expected,¡± He admitted. Having spent most of his early adult years in college, he was used to seeing shelves with at least three times as many books.

    ¡°Are there more shelves upstairs, or is it just more seating?¡± He asked with that bright, excited glow in his eyes that caught her off-guard. She allowed herself the tug at self-intrigue, happy to have found another person she could sit with and read in silence. It went beyond what she assumed was him being hospitable while recovering.

    ¡°Yes. You can get to it from the stairs by the fishbowl.¡± She explained, pointing in the direction of the wide-open space and staircase. As expected, he gave a curious, confused look at the area¡¯s nickname.

    ¡°Why do they¨C

    ¨CWhen people wander outside and look in on you while you¡¯re reading, you...feel like a fish in a bowl. I did not come up with the name, but I have been unable to think otherwise since someone pointed it out to me. I prefer to read in solitude.¡± She explained, remembering how she had smuggled books in her pocket and read them in the hidden room overlooking the courtyard.

    He gave her a brief look with an arched eyebrow as though to suggest she enjoyed doing a lot in solitude, then wandered over to the window to look outside. A vast field with goats, sheep, and cluckatrice spanned for a couple of miles, disappearing down the side of the mountain, penned in with wooden fences.

    ¡°Huh. This place must be pretty self-sufficient.¡±

    ¡°We have gardens on the other side of the temple and use the greenhouse to grow vegetables in winter. We make our own cheese and prepare our own clothes; rarely do we need to go into any of the towns. If you do go out there,¡± She paused, looking at the collection of goats amid the plumage of cluckatrice, searching for the largest, gruffest, meanest one in particular. ¡°See that goat with the busted horn? Stay away from him. He doesn¡¯t like people. He will headbutt you.¡± She warned, pressing a hand to her clavicle in memory.

    ¡°Gee, Sheeva, I can only fathom as to why.¡± A voice said behind them, making Tazaro spin. Sheeva felt the unguarded smile in her cheeks and the cheer in the curl of her eyes. How long it had been!

    ¡°Hello, Cassie.¡± Sheeva greeted, turning to face her childhood friend, then gave Cassie a hug, further surprising Tazaro. It was unnatural to see her give hugs so freely.

    He quickly replaced his shocked expression as Sheeva held Cassie at arm¡¯s length to look her over.

    Cassie was a little shorter than Sheeva, though as she looked at the blue dress, she noticed it now stopped just below her knees. It drove the sudden enlightenment of how much they had grown in her absence. Her brown hair was longer, twisted into a braid that stopped just below her collarbones. Sheeva noted the pendant dangling from her neck and found it vaguely familiar though she could not place where she had seen it at the moment. A pair of large, red glasses rested on the edge of a small nose. The lens seemed larger than her face as they magnified vibrant amethyst eyes. She had freckles on her cheeks and dimples accentuating her wide, happy smile.

    ¡°You¡¯ve grown up! I see you changed your glasses,¡± Sheeva commented, brushing off Cassie¡¯s shy reply about her rapid change in height.

    ¡°Oh, I changed them about two years ago. Who is this?¡± Cassie asked, stepping away and gesturing to Tazaro.

    ¡°Tazaro Chorea.¡± He answered, offering a handshake. Cassie accepted it with a smile.

    ¡°Cassandra Brea. But please, call me Cassie.¡± She insisted.

    ¡°What are you two doing here?¡± Cassie turned her attention back to Sheeva. Sheeva hesitated, glanced at Tazaro for a moment, then looked around at their surroundings. There were too many people available to overhear the tough explanation.

    Taking the sidelong glance personally, Tazaro muttered that he would give them space and headed to a shelf down the way, reading the labels on the side that classified what kinds of books were in the particular row. They watched as he waved his hand and formed a ball of light to hover behind him. Sheeva¡¯s lip curled in pride.

    ¡°Wow, he makes that spell look easy,¡± Cassie murmured in awe.

    Sheeva sighed and crossed her arms, reminded of how quickly he picked it up, mastered it, and added onto it with his discovery of illumination intensity and color.

    ¡°You have no idea.¡± She began with a soft tsk. ¡°Tazaro has a habit of finding new and improved ways to twist my spells.¡±

    Cassie looked back at the man, finding he had already picked out a book and was skimming through it, citrine eyes alight with wonder. Sheeva gave a soft huff of fondness as he propped his foot upon the table and leaned back, a typical stance for the studious man.

    ¡°So, what are you doing? What¡¯s with the outsider?¡± Cassie asked, nodding in Tazaro¡¯s direction. Sheeva cleared her throat, looked around again at the patrons, and shook her head. There were still too many people.

    ¡°Upstairs. It is...not something I want others to overhear.¡±

    ¡°Oh. I could just read your thoughts if you wanted.¡± Cassie suggested. Sheeva shot her a look, her previous conversation with Aglis still making her feel tired.

    ¡°I have had enough of that for one day.¡±

    Cassie giggled, and her lips curled into the framework of her cheekbones.

    ¡°Ah. I see you¡¯ve already talked to the boss. Unfortunately, I still have a lot of work to do. Can we talk later?¡± She said, walking over to a leftover stack of books and examining some of the damage. She sighed as she saw a bent spine on one of them and stroked it in sympathy for the thing.

    ¡°Should not be surprised you work here now. You practically slept here.¡± Sheeva pointed out. Cassie shot her a grin and returned to putting the books back on their respective shelves.

    ¡°Is Kyle still here?¡± Sheeva asked, looking around for him, wondering if he worked here, too, though it was doubtful since he preferred to be outdoors. If she remembered right, he had been considering helping with the flocks, and she peered outside among the farmers to see if she could spot the blue-eyed, dark-haired man.

    ¡°No. He, uh, left,¡± Cassie answered curtly. By the embittered look on her face, Sheeva wondered if something had happened between the two and immediately felt an angry spur in her gut.

    ¡°Did he do some¨CSheeva stopped at the sharp, warning look Cassie sent her behind her red frames, suggesting Cassie did not want to discuss the topic at the time. Fair, since she had a lot to talk about in secrecy, too. Sheeva pursed her lips and hoped it was not something she would have to pummel Kyle to a pulp for.

    ¡°Hm.¡± As much as she wanted to, she did not pry out of respect. It could wait.

    ¡°Later, then. Bathhouse?¡± She suggested. Cassie nodded in agreement and resumed stacking books on the current shelf.

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll see you then. I¡¯ll unlock the door.¡± Sheeva promised. A curl in her lips formed with mischievous giddiness at the prospect of sneaking around like they used to as children. Pleased when Cassie shared a similar smile, Sheeva turned and left.

    She found Tazaro and peered over his shoulder at the book he was reading: Kosmos.

    ¡°Of course, you would have picked out a book like this.¡± She teased. Her statement got to him, and he smiled shyly and closed it, sitting up straight.

    ¡°Thought you¡¯d be a while.¡± He pointed out, eager to deflect attention off of himself.

    ¡°Cassie and I have much to discuss, and the walls have ears.¡± She muttered.

    He stood and went to return the book on the shelf but paused as Sheeva spoke up.

    ¡°You could take that with you. Just return it when you¡¯re¨C

    ¨CSorry, the rules changed a few years ago. Books have to stay in the library.¡± Cassie interrupted, taking the book from him and flashing a look at Sheeva. Sheeva covered her mouth with a hand to hide a smirk, forgetting about the time she spilled juice all over the pages of a book.

    ¡°I''ll keep this handy for you. You can come back later and read it. Sheeva, I¡¯ll see you later.¡± Cassie promised, taking it with her as she walked back to her desk. Sheeva nodded and led them toward the door, and as they stood in the hallway, she clicked her tongue as she felt his stifled smirk boring into her skull.

    She turned to face him, not expecting the playful, teasing smile that made her stomach turn in nerves.

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°What did you do to that goat?¡±

    ¡°You do not miss a thing, do you?¡± Sheeva deadpanned.

    Tazaro¡¯s grin grew, and so did Sheeva¡¯s furtive frown.

    ¡°In your defense, it was pretty obvious.¡±

    Sheeva looked up at the Lady¡¯s face, her knowing smile and judging eyes casting themselves menacingly. She was sure that if the statue could speak, she would speak out as a witness to the many reckless shenanigans Sheeva, Cassie, and Kyle had all pulled as children.

    ¡°I am the reason why his horn is broken; damn thing is a stubborn oaf,¡± Sheeva answered carefully, not quite ready to divulge those secrets. At least, not where Aglis could overhear.

    ¡°Oh. That¡¯s all? I was hoping there was something else.¡±

    ¡°I will tell you the story some other time.¡± She promised, looking over at the opposite doorway.

    ¡°This is the hospital wing.¡± She veered, reaching for the handle and twisting it to open the door. They stepped inside, greeted by chilled air with a citrusy, sterile scent. Sheeva peered over the counter onto the other side, curious to know if the temple doctor was busy reading at his desk. He was not.

    She craned her head into the large room where half a dozen beds lay in a row, wondering if he was caring for an ill or injured person...and here he was. He looked up and over his shoulder and gave a wide, welcoming grin. Instead of standing from his chair, he expertly scooted across the floor to stop in front of them. He crossed his arms, propped them up on the back of the chair, and then rested his chin on them.

    ¡°Well, whaddya know. Thought that it was you that came through the front gate. What did you do this time, kid? Break a bone? Wrestle a dangerous animal? Eat something you weren''t supposed to?¡± He asked, a toothpick dangling and bouncing from the corner of thin lips as he spoke. Medium length, salt-and-pepper hair spanned his head and stopped at his shoulders, shielded by a white lab coat. The becoming beginnings of middle-aged smile-lines framed his cheeks, and a greying goatee softened his chin.

    Large spectacles that rivaled Cassie''s gleamed the light from the orb that zoomed to a halt next to him in the next second. As he dismissed it with a wave of his long, bony-fingered hand, sea-green eyes looked between the both of them.

    "Who''s this? He doesn''t have an illness, does he? We''re fresh out of Meshroot extract; some kids decided it''d be a good idea to go skinny dipping in a fetid pond and ended up with leeches everywhere." The man commented.

    ¡°Tazaro Chorea. A friend.¡± Sheeva put shortly, though, by the thoughtful, concerned look, Tazaro was no doubt recognizing the uncanny similarities between the man before them and Vincent. Before either of them could say anything, Sheeva spoke up again.

    ¡°Ivan, I was...gravely injured. I actually did suffer broken bones: my right arm and my left wing. I¡¯d appreciate you taking a look at them. But, later. I¡¯m still showing him around.¡± She insisted, tipping her head in Tazaro¡¯s direction.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Vincent give you the all-clear?¡± Tazaro asked.

    ¡°Yes. But Vincent cannot do magic. There may be something he missed.¡± She explained.

    ¡°Well! I assume he knows of your proper heritage since you spoke so freely,¡± Ivan muttered, peering around Sheeva at Tazaro. ¡°You said your wing broke? Did you leap off a roof wrong again?¡± He smiled at her.

    Sheeva sighed, dropped her head, and shook it slowly, feeling the solemn frown on her face. She held out her right arm for him to examine. He grew serious and held the back of her wrist as he trailed a rigid sigil in the air. His eyes closed, and his palm glowed with a serene, warm, white light as he hovered his hand over her forearm.

    The seasoned doctor¡¯s eyebrows rose into his hairline, then fell into a furrowed frown. He tsked and stood, beckoning her to bare her wing. Shamelessly, she did, crossing her arms in wait, feeling the tingle in her shoulder as he peered into the bones of her wing, too.

    ¡°Who did this? Do not lie to me, either. These were not breaks from a crash or a fall. These were twist fractures.¡±

    ¡°We can talk about it later, I am still showing¨C

    Sheeva felt cold fingers prod into a spot on the back of her neck and felt her knees buckle in the next second. As her muscles involuntarily stopped supporting her, Ivan caught her and sat her down in his chair, then jabbed a spot on her neck again. She could do nothing but glare at him in her momentarily paralyzed state, wishing she could direct thoughts as she screamed ¡°skulka!¡± in her head.

    ¡°Sorry. Only did that ¡®cuz I know how stubborn you can be. ¡®Later¡¯ can mean anywhere between three days or a week¡­or three,¡± He apologized, forming another scrawled sigil, red, and tapped her forehead again. As though he were unrolling a scroll, a string of letters flew into the air from her forehead, and he read them, expression growing even more concerned. Sheeva briefly wondered if she somehow succeeded in directing her thoughts, but the idea flittered away as she began to read the bright, glittering red letters. She had ended up in the medical wing enough that she could decipher a few.

    ¡°Iphsium, Sheeva? Really? I¡¯m highly disappointed.¡±

    It was not consensual. Sheeva thought and watched Ivan give a relieved sigh. Apparently, she could, or he had somehow altered his spell so that he could still commune with his patients.

    ¡°Your sartorius muscle in your thigh is damaged. I can mend that. Had you been trying to do that yourself?¡±

    Did not have a choice. Vincent could only do so much.

    ¡°Well, this Vincent person did a damn good job, considering.¡± He commented before dismissing the onslaught of spells with a snap of his fingers. As soon as Sheeva could move again, she shakily stood and gathered as much distance from him as possible, unnerved at the new developments. She settled herself next to the large, potted plant by the door.

    ¡°You¡¯re free to go. Come back when you¡¯re settled. Tazaro, too. I need to make sure he¡¯s not bringing anything that can endanger all of us here. The last thing we need is an outbreak of the flu,¡± he ordered. Sheeva nodded and turned toward the door, reaching for the handle.

    ¡°Oh, and before you go:¡± He stopped and offered them a smile. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re okay. Welcome back.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Ivan.¡± She smiled over her shoulder briefly before opening the door and stepping through. Tazaro quickly followed, throwing a quick wave at the man who''d already turned towards the stack of books on his desk.

 Chapter 2: Simmering In Thoughts

    Sheeva crouched to pick the lock of the communal bath. Thanks to muscle memory, she succeeded within a few seconds, and smiled. She slid open the door, held it for Cassie, then stepped in and slid the door shut to lock it behind them. The hard case she carried her tools in clicked as she returned the pieces and snapped the case closed.

    They did not bother stripping here. Instead, Cassie had already picked up some folded towels and washcloths from the stack, crossed the tiled floor to the sliding wicker-weave door, and left it open as she headed into the steam-filled room. Sheeva followed and supported herself with a hand on the rugged stone wall as she untied her boots. One gave her trouble, and when she finally wrestled her foot out of it, her sock slipped off her foot as it flew from her boot.

    The water splashed behind her as Cassie hopped into it. Sheeva gently let herself down, finding her leg was giving her trouble. She was grateful Ivan had not pointed it out during his examination, unwilling to belabor the fact. The piping hot water stung her feet and legs, then eventually her waist, and as she carefully sat down, she sighed in bliss as it covered her chest and shoulders. She took a moment to bask in the comfort as she felt her muscles release their tension, eyes closed and enjoying a few deep, meditative breaths.

    ¡°It¡¯s good to have you back, Sheeva. Sneaking in here makes me feel like a kid again!¡± Cassie grinned, hair pulled up and wrapped in a towel to keep it dry. Sheeva chuckled and tipped her head back to wet her hair, massaging her scalp with the pads of her fingers. She was sure her skin was already turning rose-red.

    ¡°Yeah, it feels that way.¡± She agreed. ¡°So, five years? A lot must have changed. What is new?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m the librarian, obviously, though I think we both saw that happening a long time ago. Instead of traveling like I had thought of, I decided to stick around. I think I¡¯d like to just stay here and teach and read.¡± She shrugged and stared at her knees that poked out above the water. Truth be told, Cassie didn¡¯t feel like doing anything else.

    ¡°Sorry about what I said at dinner,¡± Cassie admitted, referring to the fact that she almost revealed some of the pranks they pulled as kids. ¡°Did you really tell Tazaro about the goat? What about the shoes?¡± She pressed. Her face twisted into abject horror, and she groaned. ¡°Oh, gods, what about the hogweed?¡± Cassie asked, holding her hand to her face in embarrassment. Sheeva shook her head and scrubbed her face with a washcloth to hide her own grimace.

    ¡°The goat? No, not exactly. Shoes, no. As for the hogweed, I, uh, I even hate to think about it.¡± She answered, dipping the washcloth in the water. It turned a mix of sea green and milky white as she lathered it up with a soap bar. She scrubbed her face and behind her ears, relieved at real soap and hot water.

    ¡°Yeah...as far as pranks go, that one backfired the most.¡±

    Sheeva laughed, rinsed the washcloth, and wrapped it around her neck, sighing content. The heat soothed and helped work out more tension from carrying around her backpack for most of the trip. She insisted that Tazaro use the time to acclimate himself to moving on uneven terrain with his wings bared.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen Rose and, uh, the boss so pissed. Ugh, we even got ourselves.¡± She admitted with a rueful smile. When her skin began to crawl, she scrubbed at it with a soapy loofah. She sighed sadly at the scar on her thigh and trailed her now wrinkly fingers down the straight, cruel blemish. She wondered how long it would be until the thing became glossy and white and shared the same smooth texture as the rest of her skin.

    ¡°What happened? Noticed you have one on your chest, too. And...did you get a tattoo?¡± Cassie asked, tilting her head towards the features in question. Sheeva unfolded the towel and draped it over her chest to cover it in her growing self-effacement, then traced the sigils in her arm with her forefinger.

    "It''s not a tattoo. These are from a barrier spell I placed on some people''s homes in Roussel for protection. It appears that if something happens to the foundations of the place, they carry over into the sigils on my skin. Mildred''s house was burned to the ground while my spell was still active." Sheeva explained bluntly, prodding a finger at the rugged burn scar.

    ¡°As for the others, it was a fight. I found Llyud. He is dead, but not by my hands as I had wanted. Someone else intervened. Killed him. Kicked my ass, hence the scars, and while I was...incapacitated, killed Tazaro¡¯s mom."

    Sheeva jerked her head to look as Cassie gasped and blurted out a shocked tok za vilg?

    "Well, I¨CI''m still alive, obviously, aren''t I? It''s¨Cit is fine. Everything¡­sucks, but it''s fine." She insisted, lifting the washcloth off her chest to do it in the water and promptly slap it on her face. ¡°If that makes any sense at all,¡± She added without any earnesty.

    "You say that, but are you¨C

    ¨CI''m certain." Sheeva grunted stubbornly, holding the washcloth to mask her frown of worry.

    "So, that is why Tazaro is here." Sheeva derailed, eager to divert the subject off of herself. "I brought him here to train him. I may¨Cah, well, no. I will need his help in pursuing the man.¡± She answered.

    ¡°It is funny; now that I have gotten my revenge, I feel at a loss. Perhaps revenge does not get you anything. I have avenged Rose, and I-I do not feel better about it like I thought I would.¡± She explained, suddenly realizing what Tyler had truly meant by ¡°those yeh fight for might not like what yer doin¡¯.¡±

    She sat with her humility for a few moments before speaking up again.

    ¡°Everyone keeps telling me to let it go. It¡¯s only been about three months, so it¡¯s hard to; I mean, I chased him for years." She grunted through gritted teeth.

    Realizing her tension, she forced a deep breath and sighed.

    "But, I¡¯m trying. I am. It''s¡­ Difficult. So incredibly foreign.¡±

    As Aglis¡¯s words resurfaced, she tried to remind herself that she had every right and privilege to let go and that this was not something she would come to terms with overnight.

    "That only means I must not be doing it right." She decided with a light chuckle at her sarcastic dismissal, hoping her lips didn''t curl too much as Sheeva recalled the awkwardness she felt the first time she had kissed Tazaro.

    Following Cassie''s continued silence, Sheeva folded the washcloth and placed it on her forehead, then lay her head back against the edge to stare up at the sky. As the stars twinkled down at them, she briefly wondered what Tazaro had learned about them. She had not followed up with him since their fifth day on the road, and she absently connected the dots of the now-clearer Hassogtha constellation Tazaro seemed to favor.

    ¡°Suppose I¡¯ve got to give myself credit for trying, right?¡± Sheeva sighed, splashing some hot water up around her neck.

    Cassie stopped washing her skin with a soapy washcloth and turned to stare at Sheeva in mild surprise, interested in the change of personality. It appeared that Sheeva had calmed down quite a bit, and didn¡¯t seem to be quite as hard on herself.

    ¡°You¡¯ve grown up.¡± Cassie pointed out. The meek smile careened over Sheeva¡¯s face in an instant as Cassie¡¯s compliment caught her off-guard, then fell to a frown. Sheeva sat up, wrapped her arms around her knees, and tucked them to her chest.

    ¡°I had to hole up in Roussell while I recovered for a couple of weeks. Not much to do but think about things. And think. And, think some more.¡± She admitted.

    ¡°Wow...it was really that bad, huh? I thought you could just heal yourself?¡± Cassie asked, wrapping her arms around her middle as her stomach twisted in nerves.

    Sheeva began to twirl her hair, then forced a stop to the comforting act. She wanted to break the habit, though it would likely be a habit she would have for the rest of her life. Instead, Sheeva fidgeted with the rock tumbler that siphoned fresh water to the large tub, making a stack of the flattest rocks she could find.

    ¡°I was too weak to.¡±

    Cassie shivered, and her eyes widened. Her stomach dropped, wondering what could have transgressed to leave her in such a weakened state.

    ¡°Did Tazaro heal you?¡±

    ¡°A little, but he''s not skilled enough yet. It wasn¡¯t just him that helped me. His friend helped, too. I lucked out. Man¡¯s a doctor.¡±

    Cassie picked at her fingernails with a brush. There was undoubtedly more to this story than Sheeva let on, but she was not going to press, she decided. Perhaps later, when and if Sheeva wanted to.

    ¡°Good. I¡¯m glad you¡¯re still here, Sheeva. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do if you were...gone gone.¡± Cassie admitted, taking a deep breath and sinking further into the water. ¡°Having you gone for five years was rough enough. We missed you,¡± She murmured.

    Sheeva gave a sigh as she remembered that Zakaraia had only allowed her to live.

    ¡°Me too, Cass.¡± She muttered, returning her attention to the tumbler. While absent-mindedly recalling some of the late-night conversations she shared with Cassie and Kyle, she shifted the smooth rocks to build a neat little stream that redirected the water¡¯s flow.

    ¡°You said earlier that Kyle left. You sounded sad about it. Did you two have a falling out? You always were arguing about something.¡±

    Cassie scoffed at the reminder.

    ¡°What, like you and Hasch weren¡¯t getting into fights over every little thing, too?¡± She pointed out. ¡°I¡¯m still surprised you two didn¡¯t end up getting together.¡±

    Sheeva¡¯s immediate ¡°Feh!¡± of dismissal couldn¡¯t have been harsher.

    ¡°Please. Me, with that brute?¡± She disagreed. ¡°Besides, he started most of them by continually calling me ¡®Drools!¡± She denied, crossing her arms over her chest as her skin crawled and left her chilly. She sunk into the water to warm herself.

    Cassie pursed her lips, feeling sorry on Hasch¡¯s behalf, and busied herself by picking at her fingernails again.

    ¡°It¡¯s not completely impossible, you know,¡± Cassie murmured in suggestion. ¡°Kyle and I were together for a little while before he left,¡± Cassie admitted, fidgeting with the pendant wrapped around her neck. Sheeva blinked, suddenly remembering where she knew it from. It had been Kyle¡¯s, many years ago. Sheeva swallowed, feeling an awkward pit in her stomach as she realized the two had become lovers in her absence.

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    ¡°Oh,¡± She mumbled. ¡°Together, as in, uh, lovers?¡±

    Sheeva felt the disappointed airs grow, and found Cassie to be tight-lipped and leering at her hands.

    ¡°I thought we were in love, but¡­ he didn¡¯t feel that way. I was...I think we were just trying to fill a void.¡± She put, folding the towel and resting it on her chest while she leaned back to look at the night sky. Her toned arms puffed as she pillowed them beneath her head, and her foot splashed on the surface of the water as she crossed one leg over the other.

    ¡°We drank a lot one night, one thing led to another, and¡­we tried to make a relationship out of it.¡± She shrugged, sitting back up and crossing her arms, leaning forward to rest on her legs. She untied the pendant from around her neck and stared at it, a pained expression on her face.

    ¡°He gave this to me, you know. When we first started dating after that. At first, it was cute. A promise that we¡¯d make it work. Now, it¡¯s...¡± Cassie did not finish her sentence but harbored a nauseated expression. The damn face on the thing sneered back at her. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know. Looking back on it now, there¡¯s a lot that he asked of me to change that he wasn¡¯t willing to work on for himself.¡±

    Cassie heaved a heavy sigh and pouted at her fingernails, then began to pick at a particularly uneven one.

    ¡°I, I can¡¯t believe I was considering it, but I was making him a bracelet. Green and teal, for his favorite colors, and it was gonna show¨Cwell, it was supposed to show the outline of his necklace, but it looked so bad.¡± She chuckled at herself in memory. ¡°I was super ready to scrap it all and start over¨Cand even had my doubts of doing it at all¨Cbut I persisted. He started being really nice, and seemed cheerful. I thought, maybe, all my efforts in being ¡®better¡¯ were working.¡±

    Sheeva¡¯s eyes raised in surprise to find that her best friend was considering proposal to the other, especially since she couldn¡¯t grasp the fact that they were together at all, having witnessed and broken up many of their fights.

    ¡°I hurried to finish it, and proposed on the first day of Winter. We took a hike outside of the veil and had ourselves a picnic¨CI even grabbed some cake from the kitchens. He was acting real nervous and odd, and I thought he was gonna propose, too.¡± Cassie explained, feeling her face heat.

    ¡°He denied me. Called things off. Refused to tell me why.¡± She managed through teeth clenched in shame.

    ¡°We fought after that for a long time because he just wouldn¡¯t tell me what was so bad that he couldn¡¯t stand me anymore. Honestly, before he called it off, I thought we were on the up-and-up, because, like I said, he was happy, and doting on me.¡± Cassie sighed, then scoffed.

    ¡°Finally, I cornered him, knocked him to the ground, and read him,¡± She admitted, now seeming to seethe. She tucked her head between her knees and sniffled.

    ¡°All his ¡®frustrations¡¯ had turned to ¡®resentment.¡± She cried, chest aching. ¡°He hated me, and I, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll have ever been enough.¡±

    ¡°Enough?¡± Sheeva repeated, insulted on Cassie¡¯s behalf. She huffed, realizing that, perhaps, Cassie and Tazaro had a similar, twisted sense of self.

    ¡°You¡¯re enough, Cassie. You¡¯re more than enough! You¡¯re-you¡¯re enough for you, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    The statement seemed to smack Cassie across the face as she stared back at Sheeva.

    ¡°Enough for me?¡±

    Sheeva stood, still furious.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this.¡± She blurted, glaring daggers at something across the way. She turned back to Cassie, and the saddened expression infuriated her even more. ¡°I¡¯m going to fucking kill him!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t, Sheeva. He¡¯s not worth it. Really, he¡¯s not.¡± Cassie muttered, like a mantra she seemed to tell herself to convince herself otherwise. As she turned the pendant over and over, her mood soured. Sheeva snatched the thing from Cassie¡¯s wet, wrinkled hands, ignored Cassie¡¯s outburst of ¡°hey!¡± and chucked it over the wall with an angry, bellowed grunt from her effort. Cassie jerked her head as she followed the precious trinket with her eyes and listened, crestfallen, as the thing clinked and clattered somewhere over the mountainside. It eventually tumbled far enough that the sound no longer carried.

    ¡°What the fuck, Sheeva?¡± Cassie yelled, getting to her feet. The water sloshed and splashed over the side and soaked Cassie''s pile of clothes. She strode up to Sheeva and shoved her shoulders in anger. Sheeva need not brace herself as much; Cassie did not train herself like the others but still carried her weight in other ways.

    ¡°That thing is just a-a power play. Just a way for him to manipulate you when he¡¯s gone¨Cso, he can fuck off, that¡¯s what!¡± She spat, crossing her arms to cover her chest as the chilly night air sunk into her skin.

    ¡°But, but that was mine! He gave that to me!¡± Cassie countered desperately, tears pricking at her eyes.

    "So? You deserve someone who cherishes you¨Csomeone way better than that, that ass¨Cugh!¡± She shuddered, still feeling the rankness of stomach-churning abhorrence that crawled its way into her throat and made her gag.

    ¡°But¨C

    ¨Cno. No! You deserve someone who can treat you with respect and doesn¡¯t ask you to change yourself in order to be enough¨Chell, Hasch could do better than that! Find someone that-that congratulates you on your successes¨Cbecause I know he was always terrible at that! You deserve to smile, not wallow in misery over someone like that jerk!¡± She barked. "Who¡¯s got one helluva death wish if he comes back here, by the way!¡± She added, finger raised for emphasis.

    ¡°Make you ¡®enough!¡± She muttered, scoffing again. ¡°Vilgek eteud!¡±

    Her frown softened a little as she calmed, trying to find the qualities of someone Sheeva wanted for Cassie, inexperienced though she was. Though she¡¯d said Hasch could do better, she snorted at herself for even throwing him in with the lot.

    She thought back to how Tyler and Mildred¡¯s relationship seemed to be, and smiled wistfully at the memory.

    It seemed like a happy, healthy relationship; certainly, it was worth drawing examples from.

    ¡°You like to read¨Cyou should find someone you can read to. Tazaro¡¯s mother and stepfather would do that, and¡­they seemed to really enjoy it.¡± She mentioned, though she realized that Tyler reading to Mildred was probably the only thing she knew of that she could give an example of.

    ¡°You should¡­find someone who makes you smile¨Cand laugh.¡± She added, remembering a time the four of them sat around the dinner table and made jokes at Sheeva¡¯s expense, in which she would run errands or gather animal materials for them from the fauna around Roussell, if she had the time. Tyler had requested a lock of Sleipnir mane, and Mildred, an escort to the hillside to ¡°see the sights of the city.¡± A grin broke on her face as she recalled Tazaro¡¯s jabbing request of a quadricorn horn, because they were good for the handles of tools.

    Her panting slowed, though her heart retained its frantic pitter-patter pace. She gave Cassie a saddened, empathic smile as she thought of another thing.

    ¡°You should have someone who¡¯s, uh, here for you, and not fucking off doing who knows what¨Cor who.¡± She snorted.

    As Cassie¡¯s face bubbled with encouragement, she copied Sheeva¡¯s snort and crossed her arms, feeling bashful.

    "Whom." Cassie corrected.

    "What?" Sheeva blurted.

    "Whom¨Cah, never mind." Cassie dismissed. "Anyway, go on. You''re very animated when you rant; it''s great." She smiled.

    Sheeva felt the blush form on her chest and cheeks and turned her back on Cassie.

    ¡°Pfft." She blew off the compliment, then cleared her throat to continue.

    "Find someone that...teaches you something new about the world. Is caring. Persistent. That you¡¯re, well, comfortable with.¡± She muttered, recalling the coziness and warmth of the loft in the workshop. She somewhat missed the smell of cedarwood and pine and the sounds of Tazaro sanding down a rough spot or shaving knots with a planer.

    She wondered, had she leaned into him for a kiss then, how it would have proceeded from there.

    ¡°Oh-ho! You¡¯re gushing about someone.¡±

    Sheeva felt her ears redden and the embarrassed squiggle of a smile form across her face.

    ¡°Bullshit!¡± She deflected.

    ¡°I can see you in the mirror, Sheevs.¡±

    Sheeva looked up, having forgotten about the wall of mirrors that stood there.

    ¡°Ah, vilg.¡± She sighed and stared at herself for a moment, noting the minor changes that had occurred in her body over the years. She had indeed grown a little taller. Her waist had grown slightly wider, and her hip bones were less prominent than they used to be, not constantly walking or flying the last couple of months as she had been over the previous five years. In a moment of appreciation, she seemed healthier than she had been. She dropped her arm and examined how the scar curved around her breast and up along her sternum. She frowned, covered her chest with her arms, turned her back on the mirror, and sat down.

    ¡°Have you made love to a man?¡± Cassie asked. Sheeva blushed and shook her head.

    ¡°You know I wouldn¡¯t.¡± She answered, trying not to imagine what to expect. Cassie rolled her eyes at herself. She should have expected such an answer.

    ¡°Have you at least kissed a man?¡±

    Sheeva sputtered her lips and hid her face.

    ¡°Vivroa holds a ¡®Festival of Lovers¡¯. Tazaro kissed me. It was¡­¡± She paused, trying to find a word for it. She found it awkward to talk about him like that and changed her mind about what she wanted to say. ¡°I kissed him first because I had never done it. I thought I had done it wrong.¡±

    ¡°Oh, just experimenting, were you?¡± She smirked. Sheeva squinted and turned her head away.

    ¡°I was...As I do. The first one was disappointing. The second was much better. Fantastic, actually. I, uh, I would like to experience it again.¡± She gave a long, harsh pfft, and draped the washcloth over her face. ¡°But that¡¯s not going to happen. We have too much work to do.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s so good to see some things haven¡¯t changed!¡± Cassie stated, oozing sarcasm with an added eye-roll. ¡°Too much work to do!'' Feh!¡± She mocked, making a face at the stubborn woman.

    ¡°Sheeva," Cassie sighed, "if you want it, ask. I¡¯d be willing to bet he¡¯d like that.¡±

    Sheeva lifted the washcloth off her face, surprised at the bold suggestion from her shy friend.

    Sheeva¡¯s gut tightened in nerves as she imagined herself asking Tazaro such a thing. Would he turn her away? Would he fulfill her request?

    ¡°You¡¯re not going to do it, are you, Sheevs?¡± Cassie challenged.

    Sheeva shot Cassie a mildly irritated look.

    ¡°Don¡¯t take my silence as dismissal, Cass,¡± Sheeva mumbled with a smile.

    When Bartholomew floated through the door, looking around, Sheeva was thankful that Cassie couldn¡¯t see him. Upon seeing their naked selves, Bartholomew¡¯s mouth dropped in surprise. He turned tail and floated back through the door, barely witnessing Sheeva sending him a death-glare and covering her chest with an arm. As they stepped out and dried off, Cassie lifted her sopping-wet dress off the floor and tutted. She began to wring it out, then paused to look at the wall the pendant had been launched over.

    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe you did that.¡± She pouted, then a smile curled on her lips. ¡°You really hurled that sucker.¡± She muttered, impressed.

    ¡°Yeah, I did. We can try to find it if you want a turn.¡±

    Cassie chuckled and donned her wet clothes as well as she could.

    ¡°Maybe some other time. I¡¯d rather not see the thing ever again.¡±

    Sheeva cast her drying spell on Cassie¡¯s wet clothes and led the way to the dorms, pausing at her own door. She glanced at Tazaro¡¯s door, somewhat surprised to see his grass-green light shining from within. With all the traveling they had done, she expected him to be in a dead sleep...much like she wanted to be.

    ¡°Goodnight, Cassie. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡± She bid her friend goodbye with a hug. Cassie returned it, yawning, and headed down the hallway.

    Sheeva slid her door open, stepped inside, and slowly slid the door shut. It locked with a click. She settled and found herself staring at the ceiling, contemplating everything that happened in the day, and allowed the apologetic smile to creep to her face for throwing Kyle¡¯s pendant. It was not hers to throw, and she made a promise to find it anyway and allow Cassie to chuck it down the steps, off the rooftop, or whatever other location fit her fancy.

    Eventually, she fell asleep, lulled by the sounds of the forest and the whispering wind as it flowed through the window.

 Chapter 3: Old Rivalries

    Tazaro was shaken lightly awake, tearing him from a damn good dream involving something about Rin telling him to ¡°stand straight and walk tall.¡± He grumbled as he stirred, opened a groggy eye, and peered at the intruder. Sheeva¡¯s red eyes stared back at him, a tired expression on her face. Despite that, she seemed slightly more calm than usual, perhaps due to their being within the temple walls.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± He asked as he sat up, rubbing his eyes. He swiveled his legs out to the side of the bed, found his shirt, and threw it on. The room was lightly lit by the morning sun. He reached out and slid open the window, staring out of it as his attentions were instantly captivated by the scenery. A serene yet creepy fog sifted through the trees to hover over the grounds, and he felt the difference of humidity as his skin felt slightly damp. The hairs on his arm stood up as his body rippled over with goosebumps in response to the chilly air.

    He searched in his bag for his jacket and hastily threw it on, happy for the new warmth, then looked around the room, unfamiliar with his surroundings. It was a hazy dream all over again, save for the black-haired figure in his room that lingered near the doorway.

    ¡°It is time to get up. Be sure to make your bed. House rules, so to speak. Then, we will go outside and start your training.¡± She stated with a smirk. It was a dark smirk, and it made Tazaro uneasy.

    ¡°What time is it?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Six,¡± She answered after checking her pocket watch.

    Tazaro hummed to mask his groan; no wonder he was so tired. He doubted the temple would have such a luxury as coffee and wished he¡¯d bothered to buy a bag of beans before leaving Roussell.

    As he went to stand, he stopped and rubbed his sore thighs, wincing as he hit a knot. He sucked in a breath and tried to work it out as well as he could, stopping after he could not take any more of the sharp pain. She definitely noticed, giving him a quiet, pitiful ¡°tsk¡± and a sympathetic wince.

    ¡°In the evenings, I will give you an energy cube. It should help your muscles heal faster and grow stronger. I have enough for both of us for maybe two months. When we run out, I will show you how to make more.¡± She announced, sliding open the door and stepping out.

    Tazaro braced himself to stand out of the warm bed, none too happy about the cold floor that stabbed into his feet. After tearing through his bag to find socks and a change of loose clothing, he changed, then stepped out of his room.

    Sheeva was posed in a nonchalant lean against the doorframe, deep in thought. She hadn¡¯t considered it beforehand since there was insufficient space in Vincent¡¯s tiny living room, but running through the morning drills with Tazaro while they were journeying to the temple would have been a good idea. For his sake, she hoped the others wouldn¡¯t give the ¡°outsider¡± too much trouble, but she had faith he could handle such teasing.

    They hurried outside to the large stone square in the plaza center, and Tazaro looked at a curiously uneven patch of bricks he hadn¡¯t noticed the previous day and wondered what had happened to the otherwise obsessively even layout.

    ¡°Hey, Sheeva, what happened here? Tree roots?¡± He guessed, finding it amusing that Sheeva¡¯s lip curled in sheepishness before she pretended to look at something in the distance.

    ¡°Boss¡¯s spell. Earth burial.¡± She explained, leaving Tazaro to wonder what the spell entailed as she wandered away to a spigot to fetch water for herself. He couldn¡¯t help but notice the bricks seemed to cave inward, causing his eyebrows to shoot to the skies, but his imagination was cut short when she walked back to his side and handed him a cup of water.

    ¡°I thought that was you. Hard to miss those bloody eyes of yours. It¡¯s been a long five years, Sheeva.¡± A growling voice said behind them. Sheeva looked over her shoulder, huffed, then turned to face the owner.

    ¡°Hello, Hasch. And, since you''re still here: no, it has not been long enough.¡± She gave a slight shake of her head.

    Her mouth curled at something, and if Hasch was bold enough to imagine it, she had a glint of pride in her eye. Perhaps she was as relieved to spit words with him again as he was, the way they used to when they were children, preteens, teenagers...practically their entire history. Considering they had grown up as rivals, he had heard worse when they were kids, and was surprised she hadn''t resorted to one of her usual insulting nicknames.

    Though, he had to admit, "smelly goblin sphincter" still took the proverbial cake. The bite of his cheek assisted the hold of a straight face as he felt his lips attempt to curl into a smile. He settled into a sneer instead.

    Sheeva¡¯s eyes surveyed his stature, and Hasch felt his own eyes soften their gaze. He appreciated her doing so, even though she was likely not doing it out of sexual interest. Or, maybe she was, possibly having discovered the thrilling sin of sex in her five-year absence. Searching for an ¡°I¡¯m-checking-you-out¡± glint in her eyes or innocent blush of her cheeks, he decided it wasn¡¯t out of attraction with the straight-laced expression he found.

    ¡°Well ''hello'' to you too, Drools,¡± He responded with a cross of his arms to hold back his mild disappointment.

    After noting how much Hasch had grown in her absence, Sheeva tutted and frowned, hoping Tazaro wouldn¡¯t ask her about the delightful nickname. She stole a peek at Tazaro¡¯s face, and it appeared he wouldn¡¯t, though he seemed more intimidated with the bearog-statured man in front of her.

    The Micah-built man Sheeva fiercely stared down was about a head taller than Tazaro and wore no shirt, showing off broad shoulders and arms that looked like they could crush a man¡¯s skull if pressed between them. It was a terrifying thought, and Tazaro replaced it by observing the Basilisk tattoo inked around the man¡¯s left shoulder and across his pectorals. Not only did he tower over Sheeva, but he was also twice her size.

    He had black hair, too, held up by a dark green strip of cloth that matched his grass-green eyes, which burned with skepticism and taunt.

    ¡°What are you doing here with my students?¡± Hasch demanded to know. Sheeva took another deep breath and looked around. The students in question were silent, though greeted her with wide, welcoming smiles.

    Sheeva gave a huff and crossed her arms, then gave Hasch a scornful look that made his skin tingle and the attractive smile almost break on his face.

    Damn, he¡¯d missed that challenging glower.

    ¡°You are a teacher now, Hasch? In that case, I believe you mean to call them punching bags.¡± She replied with a smirk.

    Hasch blinked and scowled. Her comment about them being punching bags sent him reeling with protectiveness, as he''d never, and would never, treat them as such. It sent anger burning up his back and into his shoulders, and he squared them to stand tall and leer down at her.

    ¡°Hmph. Punching bags? No. I¡¯m not you, Drools.¡± He didn¡¯t mean it, despite all the times she had thrown a blindsided punch or knocked him off his feet with a sweep.

    Of course, it didn¡¯t help that he also pissed in the hornet¡¯s nest every chance he got, either. He was still, and forever would be, pleased with the day he''d fired back to her torments with "momma''s pompous crotch goblin."

    A risible glare broke on Sheeva¡¯s face, and Hasch allowed his sneer to grow, feeling the heat of it in his eyes. Though, as he watched those rubies drop to the lower-left corner of her eyes and noticed the slight fall of her face, it was a look of regret he was surprised to see, in all honesty. She hesitated for a moment and sighed.

    ¡°No, perhaps you¡¯re not,¡± She grunted.

    ¡°We do not have time for this. I need to figure out where Tazaro¡¯s skill level is, but,¡± Sheeva dismissed, tilting her head towards the subject of discussion, then continued. ¡°It would be unfair for me to test him. I would wipe the walls with him.¡±

    Hasch almost snorted, remembering Sheeva¡¯s tough-girl habit of not using contractions.

    ¡°Is that what you call testing people? Wiping the walls with them?¡± He asked, alluding to the fact that she had whupped his ass all over the temple. He wasn¡¯t sure how many times he and Sheeva had beaten each other into the cobblestone, but if they did keep track, she outnumbered him in wins without a doubt.

    Hasch watched her demeanor drop, finding it unbecoming of the woman. Again, red irises dropped to the corner, and he blinked as he noticed a countenance of disappointment, maybe even shame.  She crossed her arms and turned her back to the crowd and lowered her voice.

    ¡°Look, about that, I¡­I owe you an¨C

    ¨CFeh! You have some nerve trying to do that after all this time!" Hasch interrupted, feeling the fierce look of disgust and the flash of heat splay in an instant on his face. It stopped Sheeva mid-sentence, appearing as though he''d reached out and slapped her.

    "You son-of-a¨CShe began, visibly biting back her retort.

    If someone offers you a gift and you do not receive it, to whom does it really belong?

    She took a few deep breaths and stepped down.

    "Fine,¡± She hissed, irate that she¡¯d even bothered trying to apologize in the first place. ¡°I¡¯d whup you again, but you¡¯re not worth my time, Svruhna,¡± Sheeva sighed, already feeling the pointless wear of their age-old antics. "I''ve got more important things to do than fight with you."

    Tazaro¡¯s mouth dropped, and his eyes widened at Sheeva¡¯s vulgar language¨Cshe¡¯d called the man the equivalent of a man-whore.

    Hasch, angered, threw a punch at Sheeva¡¯s face and when she blocked it with ease, he found himself strangely happy to have her attention once more¨Che¡¯d missed their arguments and antics, even if they did only end up insulting each other. However, the satisfaction was short-lived when she immediately grabbed his wrist, twisted his arm, and flipped him over her shoulders to slam him down on the cobblestone, astonishment gripped him. Though she¡¯d usually thrown him to the ground more carefully than this, he realized she was serious when she¡¯d told him ¡°no.¡±

    Hasch sucked in a mildly frightened breath when she stepped over him and pinned him down. When she held his shoulder down with a strong, firm hand, wrapped her other hand around his jaw, and forced his head to the side, he froze. He felt the tips of her long black hair tickle his collarbone and bare chest and felt her shiver from adrenaline as she leaned her mouth to his ear. He couldn¡¯t lie; he was still slightly eager to hear the scathing fury in her voice. He closed his eyes, prepared to relish the sound of the voice he¡¯d come to miss.

    ¡°When I said I have more important things to do than fight you, I meant it. I looked a man in the face as he carried me to the brink of death, and after everything he did," He felt her shudder, and that shocked him. "I survived, and I damn well mean to kill him.¡± She grasped his throat in threat, ¡°Do not fuck with me,¡± she hissed.

    Hasch, terrified with the new information, froze and stared at the stone wall across from him, finding he could not move with the way she had him pinned to the ground. He was briefly thankful that the others couldn¡¯t see the horrified look on his face at her confession. Pinned state aside, he was stunned to hear the timbre of her voice.

    The same voice that held irritation when directed at him, that was deliciously dark and strangely alluring, that five years ago would taunt him with delightful quips that he enjoyed to riposte sounded¡­tainted. Muddled with fear and hidden by false assertion. When it clicked that Sheeva¡¯s shiver was not from adrenaline but horror, it jerked him further out of his fantasy. He choked when her hand tightened, and he swallowed, looking back at her as well as he could. Sure enough, a deep-rooted pain, laced with what he could imagine was self-disgust and, indeed, shame, lingered in her eyes as pink colored her cheeks.

    Hasch tapped her and choked out her name as her hand tightened, and he watched her eyes widen and glaze over with more fear. She gave the tiniest gasp of realization before she let go and stood, immediately turning her back on him. He sat up and stared at her backside for a moment, squinting his eyes in question as he tried to imagine what could have possibly happened to have instilled such a fear.

    Whatever it was, it must have been dire, he assured himself. Sheeva must have been rendered completely defenseless somehow since she had always been able to break free of any grapple he''d thrown her way.

    He pawed at his throat, and coughed. Perhaps she''d been drugged and taken advantage of. That had to be it. He doubted it would have been due to her being drunk; they could drink each other under the table and still fight decently¨Ceven fight other patrons decently.

    When they worked together, they were a force not to be taken lightly.

    ¡°Forget it, Hasch,¡± She denied, offering him the slightest look of apology. ¡°I should test and train him myself.¡±

    Hasch sat up, bewildered.

    ¡°What¡¯s so special about this outsider that you gotta train him, huh? What, you don¡¯t think I can train him well enough?¡± Hasch barked, causing Sheeva to hesitate.

    ¡°I owe him¡­¡± She mumbled, scrunched her nose in distaste at something, then turned to face Hasch.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think you can train him.¡±

    Hasch got to his feet.

    ¡°Excuse the fuck outta me?¡± Hasch scoffed, striding over to them. ¡°You don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m capable of!¡± He continued, budging past and ignoring Tazaro to stand in Sheeva¡¯s face again. She didn¡¯t back away, but stood tall and glared at him again.

    ¡°And you don¡¯t know what we¡¯ll be up against,¡± Sheeva warned.

    Tazaro felt a shudder ripple through him as he imagined being run through with Zakaraia¡¯s blade or toyed with in the air before being thrown to the ground in the same, demeaning manner that Sheeva had been.

    Hasch paused, looking between the two as he registered the same fear in Sheeva¡¯s voice. She wouldn¡¯t be scared of just anything.

    ¡°To the brink of death¡± raised in his brain, and he settled a little, hairs rising from a chill.

    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®what you¡¯ll be up against?¡± He questioned.

    At this, Sheeva silenced and shielded herself with arms crossed as she touched her throat gently. Hasch noticed, looked back to the spot on the ground where she¡¯d thrown him down, and uttered a small noise of understanding.

    ¡°Must be¡­pretty strong, huh?¡± He asked.

    ¡°At least on Master¡¯s level,¡± Sheeva confirmed. ¡°If not stronger.¡±

    Hasch¡¯s bushy eyebrows raised into his forehead, and he turned back to Sheeva, impressed.

    ¡°It, it¡¯s true,¡± Tazaro blurted, trying to help the situation. ¡°He¡¯s¡­sadistic.¡±

    Sighing heavily a few times and thinking, Hasch snorted, then finally acknowledged Tazaro.

    ¡°I¡¯d love the opportunity to kick your ass, outsider. If you can¡¯t beat me, you won¡¯t be able to beat anyone,¡± He grunted. ¡°We''ll start there, shall we?¡± He asked, looking back to Sheeva for confirmation.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see to it that he can, Hasch. You can bet on that.¡± Sheeva stated, though it held no hint of playfulness in it. Instead, it was said with such conviction, Tazaro worried for himself a little bit.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    Hasch followed the two with his eyes as Sheeva turned away and urged the outsider to continue towards the doors, barely overhearing him ask Sheeva so bluntly: What the fuck?

    If he were honest, Hasch wouldn¡¯t feel too happy about being volunteered for such a thing, either. He crossed his arms, huffed the spot of empathy away, and turned back to the group, somewhat shocked to see them all staring back at him.

    Gathering his composure, he forced a stern stare to his face.

    ¡°Did I say you could stop your drills? Get back to it!¡± He commanded, shooing them off with a wave of his hand. ¡°And, just for standing around slack-jawed, you can run the stairs when you¡¯re done with this morning¡¯s set, you lot of punching bags!¡± He added, smirking to himself at their collective groans.

    Running stairs was a hell of a punishment, but damn if it doesn¡¯t work, he thought, shaking himself off and jogging over to join his team.

    <hr>

    ¡°Hey, what the fuck?¡± Tazaro hissed.

    Sheeva didn''t acknowledge him, and pressed on toward the door.

    He hustled to keep up with her as she charged through the foyer and into the entrance hall. The terse frown in his face ached in his forehead, and he grunted with the frustration that she¡¯d put him in a situation he wasn¡¯t willing to put up with.

    ¡°Hey, Sheeva, stop,¡± He called out, pausing beneath the Pink Wisteria as they arrived in the statue¡¯s presence.

    She did, though seemed reluctant, given the look on her face.

    ¡°I, I didn''t fully understand what the hell happened back there, but I don''t appreciate being volunteered for a fight like that,¡± he began. ¡°And, I don''t want to fight anyone to begin with!¡±

    Sheeva couldn¡¯t look him in the eye.

    ¡°I didn''t mean for that to happen, but even if you don¡¯t want to fight, I think it is a good idea for you to test yourself against Hasch. We trained together as kids. He''s a knucklehead, but he''s good for sparring,¡± She chuckled at the comment, then sighed.

    ¡°I apologize. I should have¨Cwe should have¨Cincluded you in the conversation.¡± She admitted. The lump in her throat fell to her stomach. ¡°That was wrong.¡±

    Tazaro opened his mouth to hastily state that ¡°yeah, you should have,¡± but stopped as he realized she had genuinely apologized, and looked sincere in her remorse as her face fell. He bit his tongue, and forced a deep, calming breath.

    With a heavy sigh that carried his shoulders into a slouch with it, he accepted his fate.

    ¡°You¡¯re forgiven. And, I agree; you and I are the only ones who really know what we¡¯re up against, so¡­¡± He shuffled his arms crossed as the chill made the hairs on his arms stand. ¡°We should probably train like it, right?¡± He suggested.

    Sheeva felt her guts twist, as she couldn¡¯t imagine threatening to break Tazaro¡¯s arm or wing, nor run him through with a blade. But, she reasoned, Zakaraia certainly didn¡¯t hold back. We might not have any other choice.

    ¡°I¨C She began, then coughed away the knot in her throat. ¡°I¡¯m not going to¡­I can¡¯t¡­¡± She stammered, then groaned, annoyed with her inability to accurately phrase her thoughts.

    ¡°Look, I¡¯m not going to start you off without showing you the basics. I don¡¯t know what you know, so¡­we¡¯ll start by going to the training grounds that Rose trained me in. There should still be some basic training gear.¡±

    Tazaro felt relieved, then huffed and nodded.

    ¡°That¡¯s a fair place to start, I think.¡±

    With a nod and wave of her hand, Sheeva beckoned him to follow. They stopped at the aged door to the Master¡¯s chambers, and entered when given permission.

    ¡°Could you give Tazaro access to the training grounds I used to use?¡± Sheeva asked.

    Aglis looked up, seeming confused.

    ¡°Did your meeting with Hasch not go well?¡± He asked.

    Sheeva shook her head, then sighed heavily.

    ¡°I¡­realized that the only person that can train Tazaro is me, considering I know the most of anyone here what we''re facing.¡±

    He hummed in thought, seeming to silently disagree.

    ¡°That does not mean he cannot learn from anyone else,¡± he countered.

    Sheeva pressed her lips together.

    ¡°Still, I think it''s best if he started with me. We have a plan to test him against Hasch after when we feel ready.¡±

    Aglis hummed again, and Tazaro wondered if he was thinking of something else to say that might sway Sheeva against training him by herself.

    ¡°I suppose you are right. Old rivalries and feelings oft get in the way of one¡¯s goals.¡±

    They watched as he reached for a cane, helped himself to his feet, and sauntered to the bare wall guarded by wyrms. The stone lyndwyrms winding around the pillars crackled to life after Aglis uttered something Tazaro didn¡¯t understand.

    From beak tip to tail-tip, the grey, textured stone slowly gained color and a bright, shellac sheen.

    The drake on the left now resembled a forest lindwyrm, marbled and serpentine in color, with bright green wings, dark green limbs, and an elegant mane and tail of tallgrasses. The vibrant scales resembled leaves, with an array of shades from lime-green to dark greens so rich with anthocyanins that they appeared almost purple. As it opened its mouth in a comical yawn, the inside of its mouth was a deep, navy blue, with a long, light-blue tongue, and as the thing stretched, its paws were an elegant sea-green color.

    Its twin had a similar palette, though filled with a smear of stunning reds, oranges, and yellows, with a black mouth and long forked tongue, but what held Tazaro''s interest the most were the smoldering glow of its oval, interlocking scales. Its mane and tail rose and ebbed as though a flickering flame and Tazaro wondered if the shimmering mane would burn someone if touched.

    As the red lyndwyrm headed toward him, Tazaro got his answer as the creature pushed itself up against his hand for pets. The mane was soft, like a well-brushed and conditioned Sleipnir¡¯s mane, and the creature crooned and cooed as Tazaro¡¯s nails scritched its scaly scalp.

    ¡°Wow, this thing is adorab¨Cow!¡± He barked, caught unawares as the creature bit at his finger hard enough to draw blood. Immediately, he brought his finger to his mouth to suckle at the wound and prevent calling the thing a bastard in front of the temple leader.

    The wyrms seemed to give a hissing snicker as they crawled back to the wall, inhaled, and blew a breath upon the clear stone wall, revealing a blueprint of the temple. A ripple spread through the wall as a bony finger pressed on what appeared to be the space the three of them currently occupied. Tazaro looked around, confused as a wave of magic hit him and fizzled in his hair. He was certain that if he reached out and touched someone or something, he¡¯d end up shocking himself from static.

    Sheeva did not seem bothered but rather energized, impressed at the brief show of powerful magic.

    ¡°You both are free to do as you will. I have faith that Tazaro will do well. Might even bring Hasch to the ground himself.¡± The corners of his beard bowed in a smile.

    Sheeva dropped her gaze to the floor in embarrassment.

    ¡°I felt it was necessary, sir. I needed him to understand the seriousness of my convictions. We are short of time.¡±

    He nodded contemplatively, waved his hand, and sat down. Tazaro watched as the two wyrms wound themselves back around the pillars and returned to marble-stone.

    ¡°If you can grow, Sheeva Jules, so can he. Hasch is not the same man you knew five years ago¨Cperhaps you can learn something from each other someday.¡± He insisted. Sheeva fought a scowl. True, maybe she had become a little more accepting of some circumstances, but she couldn¡¯t see herself working well with Hasch at all.

    ¡°You had Rose as your guide. Remember her steps, her teachings. Go. Begin your journey.¡± He dismissed them. After Sheeva gave a respectful bow and Tazaro gave an awkward one, they walked through the large decorated doors.

    She led him down the steps and around to their backside. Tazaro waited patiently, scouring the brickwork to see if any miscolored bricks were laid to cue others that this was a secret passage of some kind.

    After motioning for Tazaro to come closer, she pointed out a sigil that reminded him much of the twining lyndwyrms, and as slender fingers reached to touch the glyph, a wave of calm swept over him, as though he¡¯d been rolled up in a blanket and made cozy with a cup of warm tea. Too relaxed to bother speaking, he could only sigh and bask.

    ¡°That makes it so that people cannot see us and this door.¡± Sheeva explained, smiling as she received a pacified ¡°hm, cool.¡±

    She pushed and slid a stone aside, uncovering a set of stairs leading down behind the wall with a grinding noise that made Tazaro wince in discomfort. They stepped in, and she pushed the stone back. The brick wall shuffled back into place, shrouding them in momentary darkness.

    Led by orb light, the hallway here was long, thin, and linear, with a musty, stale smell, and it made Tazaro¡¯s nose scrunch.

    ¡°Where are we going?¡± He asked, trying to make conversation to ease his nerves. Sheeva looked back and fought a laugh as he walked straight into a cobweb, spitting and wiping at his face.

    ¡°I was taken here by Rose when she learned that I needed more isolated training. You have to keep in mind, I am not fully Sferran, and perhaps, now, neither are you.¡± She explained.

    They stopped at a dead end, and Tazaro waited while she opened the door.

    He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the bright, blinding light that rushed in as she opened the door. He could smell a sweet aroma, like flowers, and hear the chirping of birds and ripples of water. Far off in the distance, he was sure there was a hiss of a volcano.

    At this, he dropped his hand, confused. Vivroa didn¡¯t have any volcanoes as far as he knew.

    His mouth dropped as he gazed upon what seemed to be a new world. Bizarrely colored birds with short beaks flew with long, trailing tail feathers in the sky. Others roosted in nests in the tall trees that towered over them. As he looked up at them, he felt dwarfed by their stature. It reminded him of looking up at the clock tower as a child.

    He turned around, and the door they exited the hallway from was carved neatly into the side of the hill, adorned with a mahogany awning and a stone pathway leading to a fork that split. One path led into the dense forest, and the other led toward the opposite hills. A bubbling brook weaved and rippled through, flowing towards the distant fields of grass that spanned as far as he could see.

    A gentle breeze swept the hillside to bring fresh floral and earthy scents with it rather than the tunnel¡¯s musty odor. Tazaro was also pleased to find that his nose began to clear up. Yellow, pink, and some kind of purple and red flower littered the hillside. At the top of the hill was what looked like a gate, or maybe even a place of worship.

    Curiosity getting the better of him, he walked toward it and then circled it as he examined it, careful to not step on the metal incense tray resting on the stone foundation. The designs were beautiful, well-carved, and intricate, and Tazaro traced their path with his fingers. If he ever went back to woodworking, it would be something that would attract a lot of attention and maybe even be a famous mimic. He wondered to whom he might give the credit.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get started,¡± Sheeva called to him, bringing his attention away from the pagoda.

    She clapped her hands together and rubbed them, then held up a finger, something she¡¯d do when she wanted to show him something particularly important. He walked up to her and watched as she slowly formed some seals, then snapped her fingers. Out from the grass shot a body that looked like a mannequin in a tailor¡¯s shop, except with fingers and toes, and it moved to hold its fists out at the ready. A patch of grass served as a head of hair, and two stones made for beady eyes.

    ¡°A summoning technique for you to practice with. You can tell it to be passive, to defend, or to go on the offensive, and it will.¡± She explained, picking up a staff resting on a rack next to the door. The dirt clone picked one up as well, and she began to run through various strikes and defensive stances. She even knocked its legs out from underneath it and drove the staff through its throat. It crumbled into a pile of dirt.

    Tazaro touched his throat in nerves.

    ¡°Can you really impale a person with a staff?¡± He asked. She shook her head.

    ¡°I have never seen it, but you can crush a person¡¯s throat this way. You can also do it with a well-aimed palm strike. They will not be able to breathe.¡± She explained.

    ¡°However, we are not to be sadistic. Should you need to take a life, do it quickly. A better option than making them suffocate.¡± She stated, seeming uncomfortable as she gently touched her neck where Zakaraia¡¯s sword had scraped the skin. Shaking the nerves off, she scowled and cleared her throat, then held out the staff for him to take.

    Tazaro took it from her and bounced the thing in his hands for a moment, surprised to find that it was lighter than he expected. With the sturdiness and striations, the weapon must have been made from an oak tree, he decided.

    ¡°You should try to summon your own training dummy. Visualize your mannequin as a copy of yourself¨Cyour strengths, your weaknesses. If you cannot do it yet, that is fine. I will summon them for you until you can.¡± She suggested.

    ¡°I might as well try, right?¡± Tazaro said eagerly.

    He took a deep, nervous breath, formed the seals, and snapped, surprised to find the ground began to rumble as it shifted. From a mound of upheaved dirt, a tiny mannequin sprouted from the ground, only about a foot high, and Tazaro fought back a laugh at himself. When the thing stretched up with stubby arms like a toddler reaching for a parent, Tazaro found it mildly adorable, if not also embarrassing.

    ¡°Heh, uh, was there something I missed?¡± He asked, looking back at Sheeva with a worried wince. Sheeva chuckled, thought for a second, then stooped down and held out a finger for it to grasp. It took it, and Tazaro thought he saw her lips curl in a small smile.

    ¡°Does not seem like it. You might not be skilled enough yet. That is fine. With practice, eventually, you will be.¡± She stated, breaking her finger away from the clone¡¯s grip.

    ¡°Hey, can you teach me that shrinking and expanding spell you use for the Stargazer? I¡¯d like to see if it works on clones.¡± He asked. Perhaps, practicing on dirt objects would be better than practicing with his machine and breaking it.

    With a curt nod, Sheeva walked him through the spell, and when he hovered his hand over the mannequin, a blue light shined from his palm. He fed a little energy, and it seemed to work as the figure grew to double its height. As he felt a burst of excitement at his success, a wave of energy flew through his palm, and the mannequin grew, swelled, and then burst, shooting dirt everywhere.

    ¡°Whoa!¡± He barked, backing off and shielding his eyes.

    Sheeva had an annoyed look on her face as she brushed herself off.

    ¡°Sorry. I, uh, didn¡¯t know that would happen.¡±

    She walked to the nearby river, washed off her face, and then drank deeply.

    ¡°With any spell, you need to contain your excitement. Otherwise, things blow up.¡± She reminded him in a mild grumble. It¡¯d been the first thing she¡¯d taught him when she¡¯d walked him through the magic light spell.

    He nodded and stooped down to drink from the river, too.

    He felt his stomach growl and heard it rumble. Sheeva looked over at him, confused, then immediately offered him an apologetic frown.

    ¡°That is right. You have not eaten. Usually, we have breakfast after we train in the plaza.¡± She stated, looking towards the forest¡¯s edge. ¡°Let¡¯s see if there are any fruits. Though, they might not be ripe yet. This place doesn¡¯t exactly conform to harvest seasons.¡±

    The suggestion that this new place didn¡¯t match up with Vivroa¡¯s seasons caused Tazaro to quirk an eyebrow, but he quickly stifled his interest in the matter¨Cif Sheeva didn¡¯t know what was going on, perhaps no one did.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry too?¡± He asked. Sheeva shrugged and wandered over to a tree and looked up at it, searching the branches for any ripened fruits.

    Spotting one, she crawled up the tree¡¯s low-hanging branches to pick it, wiped it on her shirt, and tossed it to Tazaro. Tazaro caught it swiftly, having to use both hands, surprised at the audible hollow thump the thing made as his paws caught it like a kickball. This particular fruit had to be as big as his head, the fruit¡¯s skin tough and leathery. Its purple color and yellow swirls were an exciting combination of colors.

    Sheeva searched for another ripe fruit and picked it, wiped it off, then stuck it in her mouth as she climbed down.

    The juice of the fruit dribbled down her chin as she bit into it, and she wiped at her mouth with her sleeve. The citrusy scent the fruit gave off was misleading to her taste buds, as the fruit was sweet, crisp.

    ¡°Sheeva, what is this called? I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before.¡± He asked, curious as he took another bite of the twisted fruit.

    ¡°It is called a lemar fruit.¡± She replied. Tazaro took another bite, slurping the juice that threatened to fall. It was such a delicious fruit; he didn¡¯t want to waste any of it. He found it tasted like a tomato, somehow, but with a tang of lemon juice.

    ¡°I learned the hard way not to use these for target practice or for practicing my expansion spell.¡± She admitted, giving a rare, grinning laugh.

    He choked on the bite he¡¯d taken as he laughed at the idea of exploding fruit, and after gaining his composure, finished his fruit in silence, save for the occasional slurp. He didn¡¯t dare comment on how bizarre it was to hear her be just as messy, but the fact that she struggled to keep neat with this fruit was reassuring that she wouldn¡¯t be judging him for terrible manners. Tazaro was surprised to find that he was full since most of the fruit seemed to consist of juice. If he had a straw, he could practically drink the insides.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s the deal with Hasch?¡± Tazaro asked, splashing water on a handkerchief to wipe at the stickiness of his face.

    Sheeva turned to look at him, a spaced-out expression on her face. She hadn¡¯t quite heard the question, too engrossed in her thoughts. Due to not sleeping well, she found herself drained, but also, Aglis¡¯s recommendation to follow Rose¡¯s teachings had her chest aching with memory.

    ¡°Hm?¡± She murmured.

    ¡°Old rivals? Scorned ex-boyfriend?¡± Tazaro asked, mildly joking with the second assumption. She scoffed and glared at him.

    ¡°Hasch? Pfft, don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡± She snapped in anger.

    ¡°I was not serious at all!¡± He defended. Her glare softened, but he could tell she still didn¡¯t appreciate the tease. ¡°Sorry¨Cit was a bad time for a joke.¡±

    The softened glare turned to a serious frown.

    ¡°No, old rivals. Have been since we were children. It got...worse after Rose¡¯s death. He¡¯s more confrontational than I am. Reckless. Arrogant. We would spar beyond normal competitiveness. Anything we could compete in, you could bet that we did¡ªeven drinking.¡± She shuddered and her lip curled curiously in disgust at a memory before she sighed. ¡°I will say we¡¯ve started more than our fair share of bar fights, thanks to him running his mouth.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve punched him a couple of times in response to an insult, but I only did it once unprovoked. The master pulled me into the ground and left me there for¡­well, I don¡¯t know, but long enough that I thought about my actions and understood I¡¯d done wrong.¡±

    His stomach leaped into his throat, and he jerked his head to look at her.

    ¡°In-Into the ground?¡± He stammered, eyebrows raised into his hairline and eyes wide with terror.

    ¡°Was ¡®earth burial¡¯ not clear enough?¡± She deadpanned, looking away at something on the other side of them. She took comfort in still being grateful that no one had spit on her or done some other disgusting and demoralizing thing.

    ¡°My head was sticking out of the ground, so I could still breathe, but¡­ ugh.¡± She inhaled sharply when she felt the closed-in discomfort again.

    ¡°I had plenty of time to look at it after being gone for a while, and I realize this is something beyond childhood rivalry. It is¡­ disgusting, somehow. Perhaps dishonorable is a better word? I am not sure.¡± She mused, then scowled. ¡°But for him to tell me I¡¯m not allowed to apologize, he can¡­go suck an egg.¡±

    Tazaro thought for a moment. The unsettling idea of being buried alive aside, Sheeva and Hasch seemed ironically similar, considering how opposed they were to each other. He wanted to ask if they hated each other because they saw bits of themselves in the other that they loathed, but held onto the particular question; she would likely refuse to think about it or refuse to answer.

    He glanced as she lay back to stare up at the clouds, a thoughtful look on her face, and by the solemness of it, she was probably still trying to grasp for a definition of their ¡°rivalry.¡± As it fell to something guilty and sad, Tazaro had the gut feeling to leave her be for a moment or two.

    Abruptly, Tazaro unscrewed the cap to the water pouch, drank, closed it off, and stood to subtly announce his intentions.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna take a walk and check out this forest.¡± He announced, shuffling his hands in his pockets.

    ¡°Very well. Don¡¯t eat anything strange.¡± She warned, barely breaking her gaze away from the skies to glance at him from the corner of her eye.

    He gave a soft, amused huff and waved it off, already not planning on it.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± She added after he¡¯d taken a few steps away.

    Tazaro paused and hid his smile.

    ¡°Mm. You¡¯re welcome, Sheeva.¡± He replied over his shoulder, shuffling his hands into his pockets as he meandered along the treeline to busy his time by identifying the types of trees available for any future projects he might be interested in.