《Year 403》


 Prologue

    Greetings. I am Skylar. I''m the Tenth Deity and the Deity of Storytelling, hence the nickname, the Storyteller. Besides, First has allowed me to write this story as they build, so here''s some backstory:


    As of now, it is Year 403, according to their calendar. But in the beginning, I found the other Nine discussing ideas for a world they could create. I was allowed in their group so I wouldn''t float through the nothingness. By using their different magics, First created light and dark, but every planet they tried to make would fail. Fifth was the first to recommend we connect the planets to a life form and set out making them. Before the form was closed, the Deities passed a hint of their immortality onto them before they put in the drops of the ready-made planets. We made three: Planet, Sun, and Moon. I''d say they mostly collaborated on Planet, but that''s beside the point.


    As the Planets were put in the sky (or whatever this nothingness outside us was), we placed the life forms on the planet and studied them for a few days before First began sharing their other ideas.


    Within the next few rotations around the Light Planet, or the Sun, as you call it, we had made other species without the immortality bit, but all with magic in them. Second wanted to keep them separate for a while, but they eventually found each other and created their calendar based on a model I had shared with First, beginning Year 1.


    By this point, the first life forms, who called themselves the Triplets, had been here for four rotations and had begun to figure out their powers and staying out of sight of the larger forms.


    And by the next rotation, the species began to organize their areas of residence and moved them apart from one another as it was revealed the largest of them was more violent than expected.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Ten rotations later, (should I start saying years now? That''s what the kids say nowadays) the forms that were the most similar to the Triplets saw a divide in their society and the rebellious group ran to the middle of the land and began calling themselves Witches to separate themselves from the "evil" Wizards. They''ve feuded for years, but surprisingly, they haven''t given in to their violent urges yet. I know they have them because the Seventh has to show it in their wisp whenever they¡¯re thinking of the past, but not now-


    How long has it been? Nearly four hundred rotat-years since the feud began? Around this time, the Witches made their division of land between the Wizards and the larger forms, called Giants, leaving the West to be claimed by the Elves.


    They also made a version of these little papers (Edit: I''m being told they''re called cards or playing cards. So funny, thank you Second and Third) and they spelled them so no matter which hand had been played, the cards would predict death and suffering, either lying or telling the truth. The creators of the cards (bleh, it still sounds weird on my tongue!) would go around their area and haunt the people with them. There were mixed signals on whether or not the cards were telling the truth or not, or if you played with them, they would curse you. Surprisingly, the news of the cards didn''t travel to the South, which I was impressed by. We''ve observed that they''re incredibly social, but I guess that feud was quite strong.


    It''s been two years since the Cards were created, and this is where our story starts.


    Unfortunately, I''ll have to let you go now. I''ll still be narrating the story, just through the eyes of our players (wait no, characters? Life forms? The main life forms? I don''t know, I''ll just say characters). See you there!

 Chapter 1: I Hate My Job

    ¡°Hey, there! Boy!¡± a man yelled from two tables away before turning to his friends. ¡°What¡¯d they call him again? I know the wife had a confusing bitch name, but-¡±


    ¡°Sachse, sir,¡± he said, wiping a table free of spills. ¡°My name is Sachse.¡±


    ¡°Whatever the fuck. I¡¯ve got a task for you, then.¡±


    Sachse wiped the table again before he slung the rag over his shoulder and weaved between the tables until he stood before him. But he already knew what was going to happen and let it.


    The man held up his overflowing mug of wine and splashed it in his face. The patrons around them laughed at him as he wiped his face with the rag, marking his list with twelve.


    ¡°That is well. Is there any other task I can do for you besides getting splashed again?¡± Sachse asked.


    ¡°Yeah, I got one for you, boy!¡± someone called from a table away before he grabbed his mug and smashed it against the ground. ¡°Clean that up, won¡¯t you?¡± he yelled as the men laughed again.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Sachse nodded, digging his nails into his palm. Just two more hours.


    Two more glass mugs had fallen before he bent to clean the mess, each followed by a chorus of laughter. He picked out the glass pieces from the wine and into a pile in front of his knees before he tapped the pile with his yew-wood wand. He muttered the spell as he teleported them into the large bin to be burned later before he cleaned the spill with the disgusting rag.


    As he bent to clean the second spill, one of the men clutching a shivering girl on his hip knocked over his glass on purpose, draining it onto his head. More laughter pounded against his ears, but he ignored them as he ran a hand through his bangs and cleaned the spill in front of him before he moved to the next.


    As he stood, hearing another glass break and an argument starting, he passed a table of men, half of them nearly falling out of their seats. One had his head on the table, asleep, as was obvious from the spit from his lips. Another of the men saw Sachse walking by and grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop.


    ¡°Boy~!¡± he singsonged, forcing his grip to tighten as his eyes tried to focus on his face. ¡°I gotta task for you this time!¡±


    ¡°Randolf, I¡¯m sure it will be very interesting.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my name again?¡± he muttered, trying to feel around for his glass.


    ¡°Look, I have more to clean. Can¡¯t we discuss this in a minute?¡±


    ¡°Nah, you¡¯re too busy for that. Now.¡±


    ¡°Randolf, they¡¯re punching each other until one of them gives up. I don¡¯t think it can wait.¡±


    Randolf snatched his wand from the table after a few more fumbles, held it behind his back, and summoned the shadows behind him, trying and failing to look scary. ¡°You will listen to me, boy.¡±


    Sachse forced himself not to laugh at the stupid attempt. The shadows grew and merged behind his shoulders before he dropped them and smirked like he¡¯d scared him shitless like the first time he¡¯d tried that trick.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll listen,¡± Sachse said, seeing his manager break up the fight and kick the aggressor out. ¡°What¡¯s the task?¡±


    ¡°Ye¡¯ve heard of that new creature by Yael, eh?¡±


    ¡°Yup. Everyone¡¯s been talking about it.¡± Sachse said, trying to look interested¡ªthough he was clearly lying. They both were.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.¡°Well, I heard it¡¯s incredibly fat and meaty, eh? A good thing to roast, then?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°I heard your father was a hunter, wasn¡¯t he, boy?¡± a man called from a table away. Two more drinks and he was going to look like Randolf here. ¡°Oh wait. You¡¯ll never know. He left you!¡±


    The pub roared with laughter as they continued to jeer about his neglectful parents.


    ¡°Yes, they did leave me. Similar to your first two wives, Willmar. Tell me, how old is the new girlfriend?¡±


    Willmar glared back at him as he took a long swig of his wine before he threw a torrent of swears at him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him, boy, that man always wants to be spouting bullshit,¡± Randolf said, tightening the grip on his arm. Sachse knew that¡¯d be another bruise if the group didn¡¯t follow him home again. ¡°Back to Yael¡¯s creation-¡±


    ¡°Any other details I should look out for? A large tail? Bright feathers? Scales on its stomach?¡±


    ¡°Exactly! But you shouldn¡¯t be nervous, it¡¯s a tiny thing, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°You just said it was extremely meaty.¡±


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s got these huge bright feathers and towers over the trees, taller than Dragons - no, Giants! It has this hu~ge horn over its thick head, which is where you should stab if you can float. Horn or mouth is always good to hold, though wrap it around that long neck if you can, and-¡±


    Sachse stared into his right eye as he rambled, letting the information hit his ear instead of absorbing it. He nodded along, giving stupid agreeable quips, making a list in his head of all the glasses getting shattered and the piles of barf he¡¯d have to clean once this stupid conversation was over.


    ¡°And that¡¯s all you should know! Hope you die for it.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Randolf. I¡¯ll go hunting tomorrow.¡±


    Randolf turned from his chuckling friends with disgust and annoyance written across his face. ¡°Did you not hear me, boy? It¡¯s only visible during the full moon! You have to go now!¡±


    ¡°You claimed it woke up when the Moon was half awake.¡± Besides, the moon would be full in three days, and sundown wasn''t for another few hours.


    ¡°Scratch that. Go now. It won¡¯t be visible until-¡±


    ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll look for it tonight.¡±


    ¡°Now! Go now or I¡¯ll send you to your damn parents!¡±


    ¡°To Ozul, or over the border?¡±


    Randolf yelled and twisted the boy¡¯s arm as he stood. ¡°Listen to your damned elders, won¡¯t you, boy?¡±


    ¡°Yes-sir-I-won¡¯t-do-it-again.¡± Sachse said too fast as he forced himself to breathe through the pain and for one foot to be positioned if he fell.


    Randolf sat back down, pulling Sachse into a stand again, and took a swig from his nearly empty glass. ¡°Understand me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. I¡¯ll go hunting after sundown.¡±


    He slammed his glass down in impatience. ¡°Are your ears working? I''ve clearly said you''re to go now!¡±


    ¡°Tonight.¡±


    ¡°Now.¡±


    ¡°Sundown.¡±


    ¡°Now! Next hour, eh?¡±


    ¡°Sundown,¡± he repeated.


    ¡°Tonight.¡±


    ¡°My shift is over in two hours. I can go then.¡±


    ¡°Toni- Oh. Well, that works fine. Go off, then. Why haven''t you been doing your job? It stinks in here.¡±


    His grip slacked, revealing the yellow and purple finger-shaped bruises there, allowing Sachse to finish doing his fucking job as Randolf turned back to his chuckling friends.

 Chapter 2: Wandmaking

    Ostara bent over a redwood wand being held up on a stand, rotating it with her fingers and examining every crevice for damage. Her mother, Linaya, did the same with a birchwood wand, but it was obvious that she was distracted.


    ¡°You''ve probably heard, but Frig is training with Irenaeus this week, so you''ll have to take over for the gathering.¡±


    ¡°Nothing new.¡± Ostara said, noticing that she was neglecting to mention that this happened every time it was Frig''s job to do a ¡°girly¡± task. ¡°Since we''re on the topic, do you need any plants for tonight''s meal?¡±


    Linaya began rattling off a list of plants from her head as she picked up the birchwood wand and tested it on a vine, making it grow in length before she shrank it and placed the wand on the stand again.


    ¡°Are you done with that?¡± Ostara asked, interrupting her speech. ¡°It seems well enough to hand back to the sirs. I can hear their feet shuffling outside. They''re getting restless.¡±


    ¡°Are you done with the redwood?¡± Linaya asked as she passed it to her.


    ¡°Yes, it''s good enough,¡± Ostara said as she swung open the door and called the sirs to the main counter, where her little sister, Kalliroi, was taking two wands for examination.


    ¡°Here are your wands, sirs.¡± she said as Kalliroi called their mother towards them. ¡°Mr. Felton, I noticed this groove in yours that''s deeper than expected. I suggest loosening the grip on your wand by a small amount when spellcasting, and-¡±


    ¡°Thank you, miss,¡± he said, taking his wand and patting her hand affectionately. ¡°You''re always very thorough with these¡­tasks.¡±


    Ostara forced herself not to notice as his eyes found her exposed chest against her dress. She''d always had thoughts of it being too big and acting like a target tacked onto her. Unfortunately, only married women could hide their chests with neck-high collars.


    Ostara whipped her hand away and subconsciously wiped away his touch. ¡°Come back if you have more problems with your wand, sir. Next!¡±


    As his friend pulled him out of the shop, Ostara turned to look at the next customer, only to see a father drag him and his son to the front of the line to the annoyance of the customers behind him.


    ¡°You make wands, don''t you?¡± The father asked, gripping his son''s shoulders tight.


    ¡°We do,¡± Linaya said from Ostara¡¯s right as she took a wand from a customer for examination. ¡°But you''ll have to wait in line.¡±


    ¡°I don''t have fucking time to wait in this damn line. My son needs a wand. Now. I want to see his powers.¡±


    ¡°Of course, sir. My daughter will escort you to the back room to match your son with a wand.¡±


    ¡°Linaya-¡±


    Her mother¡¯s glare hushed her and she nodded, beckoning the father and son to follow her to the back room. Linaya shoved a sheet of parchment into her apron pocket before she walked out of arm¡¯s reach and she only tucked it in, wiping away her touch before opening the door.


    ¡°Sit there,¡± She pointed at the chair in the middle of the room for the boy as she shut the door behind the father. ¡°Would you like to sit as well, sir?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± The father leaned against the wall and glared down at Ostara. ¡°When will we start?¡±


    ¡°Soon, sir. Don¡¯t worry. This shouldn¡¯t take long.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going to happen?¡± the boy asked, shivering in the chair.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to make a wand for you. Is that alright?¡±


    ¡°How does that work?¡±


    ¡°I will take a sample of your blood and place it into a wand. Which type of wood do you like?¡±


    ¡°Birch is really pretty-¡±


    ¡°No son of mine is going to have a birchwood wand.¡± the father snapped. ¡°Birch is for female magic users only.¡±Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    Ostara glanced at the darkwood wand strapped to her thigh and shrugged. ¡°Which wood do you want him to use, sir?¡±


    ¡°Darkwood or oakwood. I won¡¯t settle for anything less.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ostara said as she took two empty wands from their respective piles on the shelves. ¡°Do you mind if the boy chooses which type?¡±


    ¡°From your options?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°...Alright, then.¡±


    Ostara held up the two empty wands in front of the boy and she could see the sadness on his face from neither being made of birchwood, but he reached for the oakwood wand. She nodded at the option, offered him a nice smile, and placed the darkwood wand back in its pile, putting the oakwood on the stand before she walked back to the boy.


    ¡°Give me your hand,¡± Ostara said calmly. ¡°This might hurt.¡±


    ¡°What''s happening?¡± the boy screamed as she took a knife from her thigh and he whipped his hand back before she could break the skin. ¡°W-w-why do you have a knife? Dad??¡±


    Ostara looked back at the father, who stared at her crouched form with hunger in his eyes. It seemed this skirt was too thin ¨C again. ¡°Sir? What shall I do?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the wandmaker. You should know.¡±


    ¡°Shall I explain the procedure again?¡±


    The father forced himself to look into her eyes as he spoke. ¡°I assumed he had studied this before.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll be too scared when I approach him with a knife again. Shall I explain in detail?¡±


    ¡°Fine. Make it quick. We don''t have all day.¡±


    Ostara sheathed the knife and grabbed a piece of paper with a diagram drawn on it before she crouched next to the boy again. His eyes were filled with fear, but he calmed when he saw the diagram was of the heart.


    ¡°Magic is something nearly everyone has. It¡¯s quite interesting, and it¡¯s also hereditary, as in it can be passed through blood.¡± She pointed to the valves in the heart.


    ¡°Our hearts pump magic out of these valves and into our blood. But unlike Giants or some Elves, we can¡¯t use magic with a flick of our wrists. We have to use wands that contain a few drops of our blood in them to access our magic. For example¡­¡±


    Ostara set the page on the ground and pulled out her wand, holding up her left hand to his eyes. ¡°My ability is Shapeshifting. Now, you see this hand?¡±


    The boy nodded, curious.


    Ostara tapped her wand on her hand and performed a disappearing spell, muttering the incantation under her breath. Her fingers vanished off her hand and the boy stared, too shocked to speak. He reached out to touch where her fingers used to be and found them completely gone. Another tap and they reappeared. The boy stared, a mix of emotions flashing across his face.


    ¡°Wow,¡± he mumbled.


    ¡°Incredible, right? Now this is the procedure. I¡¯m going to make a little cut on your hand, just until I get blood. You can hold your dad¡¯s hand if-¡±


    ¡°No.¡± the father interrupted from across the room. ¡°He needs to prove he¡¯s a man.¡±


    Sir, he¡¯s five years old. ¡°Okay, then.¡± She looked up at the boy and pulled out her knife again, pulling a vial from her belt pocket. ¡°I¡¯ll just cut your finger. Is that okay?¡±


    The boy¡¯s eyes were wide at the sight of the knife, but he nodded and shut his eyes as she traced the teeth of the knife against the skin of his finger. The boy yelled in pain and kicked the chair, but she held his hand down and had the blood drop into the vial, only half a drop landing on the floor.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± the father said, making no motion to help his son. Now that she noticed, he was quite stiff against the wall¡­


    ¡°Nearly. Hold your son still, won¡¯t you? I¡¯m just going to transfer this.¡±


    The father didn¡¯t move to his offspring until Ostara was on the other side of the room. She split open the wand with her own to transfer the drops of blood into the crevice before she sealed it again. She tested it by growing a vine across the table and nodded to herself before she walked over. The father finished his lecture on being a man as fast as he could when Ostara came back with the wand and bent down to give it to the boy, who touched it carefully.


    ¡°All done. That wasn¡¯t so horrible, was it?¡± She looked at the father, who wasn¡¯t meeting her eyes. This stupid dress. ¡°Sir, I recommend that you-¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re done here.¡± The father grabbed his son by the arm and dragged him out of the room. ¡°I know my way out.¡± he snapped, holding up a hand immediately when he noticed her mouth open.


    ¡°I was going to say that you needed to pay,¡± she said as she followed them out, closing the door behind her.


    He muttered a swear under his breath as he stopped to pour some coins into his hand and onto the counter. He glared at Linaya and dropped his voice, but Ostara still heard everything.


    ¡°You better control your damn daughter. Looking at her made me want to do¡­unspeakable things to that body. I swear, she was ready to drag me into bed at a moment¡¯s notice.¡±


    ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll talk to her.¡± Linaya said as the father pulled his son out of the shop, slamming the door behind him.


    ¡°Is that true?¡± Linaya whispered as Ostara arrived behind the counter again.


    ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m just unmarried.¡± she hissed as Kalliroi called for the next customer.

 Chapter 3: We Met a Dragon??

    Planet jumped into the window again and found the red-yellow orb she had been looking for. The red swirls turned to her to resemble eyes, and she made the Elven rune dokri or ¡°to go¡± on her hand. The eyes flicked from her to the sleeping body next to it, then back as Planet nodded.


    She pulled the sleeping boy they called Moon onto her back as the orb floated out of the window, both of them seeing the torchlight come closer. She ducked out through a back window and ran into the forest. Within seconds, this was better. The dirt against her feet instead of the hits of gravel, the trees opening to the wonderful daylight, and-


    She forgot Sol. Not again.


    Planet turned around a tree towards the house before the orb nearly hit her in the face, but her subconscious knew what to do and ducked, her legs slipping into her Embodiment. The orb broke off two sections of itself and showed her the same rune she¡¯d signed into her hand a minute ago. Voices echoed from here, questioning each other about their eaten roast as Planet turned away from them and hitched the sleeping boy higher on her back as she pulled herself out of her Embodiment and ran.


    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the orb duck into the trees and when it¡¯d vanished, it came out from behind one, diving into a roll and motioning for her to catch up.


    ¡°You love that trick.¡± Planet laughed as she followed her sibling.


    ¡°Hush,¡± she whispered, black bangs flying off his forehead as he ran. She wore the same as her: a tunic and a knee-length skirt, the standard Elven uniform, though hers was more stained thanks to her Embodiment.


    Sol looked back twice before he threw out an arm, stopping Planet in her tracks. ¡°We should be far enough now.¡±


    Planet set down Moon, who was still asleep. It still hadn¡¯t hit her how easy it was for him to sleep in the light.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°I¡¯ll build a fire and look for things to roast while you look.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I look first, then we reveal our location?¡± Planet said as she sank into the dirt, embracing her Embodiment form. Once she was fully submerged, she pulled her eyes above the dirt and saw Sol beginning to build the fire, combing through his pocket notebook for her notes. She shoved an Elven rune into the dirt next to him which translated to a basic swear, but he only smushed it with her thumb and waved her off.


    Planet moved around the area, glancing left and right and up for any signs of danger. She was on her last lap when she paused at a large set of scales inches from her. Planet felt herself shaking as she looked up and saw a beautiful dragon. Its glittering scales shined in the sunlight and it craned its head, trying to look over the trees.


    Planet suppressed a scream as she ducked under the soil, pushed herself away, and out of the dirt, reappearing in her Wizardly body again next to Sol as she attempted to catch her breath.


    ¡°Is everything okay?¡± she asked nonchalantly, focusing on his notes until he felt the ground begin to shake. ¡°Okay, Planet, what did you see? Because if it was one of those bone birds that are on fire, I told you, they went to the Mountains-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s right there,¡± she whispered, looking above the treetops, where it couldn¡¯t see them yet.


    Sol looked up and immediately began flipping to an empty page in his notebook. ¡°Interestende. I haven¡¯t seen a Dragon up close yet.¡±


    Planet glared at him, ¡°Interestende, sibling? This is interestende to you?¡±


    ¡°Yes! The Elves didn¡¯t have enough information on them, and this is an excellent opportunity to study them.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a creature we should respect, not study.¡±


    ¡°That mindset is why you failed nearly all of your classes without me,¡± Sol muttered as she began to sketch the Dragon.


    ¡°You helped me read!¡± Planet said as mushrooms grew on her arms. ¡°That doesn¡¯t count-!¡±


    Sol looked up from his sketch and saw the too-still grass under his feet. ¡°Planet? What happened?¡±


    Planet barely noticed him running away, Moon slung over his shoulder, as the grass braided itself over her feet. While they had been arguing, the Dragon had snuck between the trees and was now sniffing her, its nostrils nearly three times larger than her head.


    ¡°Venul?¡± a male voice called from the trees.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your Dragon, then?¡± another asked.


    ¡°I swore she was just here!¡±


    A group of men dashed out of the trees wearing protective armor and caught sight of her.


    Move. Move. Move. Move now!


    ¡°Who is this?¡± the leading man said before he switched to a growling language, one unknown to her. The Dragon replied in the same tongue as the men trained their eyes on Planet.

 Chapter 4: Im Sorry, Sachse

    Corrin stabbed another block of hay onto his pitchfork with the others before he made his way to the barn, stacking them neatly against the wall before a loud voice interrupted his work.


    ¡°Corr~in!¡±


    ¡°Are you done yet?¡±


    ¡°Come on! Argat and Tugan got paid today!¡±


    ¡°Meals on us!¡± Argat called.


    ¡°It¡¯s on you, you cockered, clack-dish clotpole!¡± Erwin joked.


    A shadow darkened the large doorway. ¡°Son.¡±


    Corrin whirled around and instantly fell to his knee in front of his father. ¡°Yes, sir?¡± he asked, his eyes pinned to the floor.


    ¡°Stand.¡± He did, lifting his head until he stared into his father¡¯s blue eyes. ¡°I will allow you to stay with your friends if you finish organizing the barn within the hour. Alone.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°I shall make the same proposition to your friends. Good day.¡±


    ¡°You as well, sir.¡±


    His father strode out of the barn and immediately began yelling at Erwin and Tugan for climbing the fence, asking them to correct their behavior lest they embarrass their fathers.


    Corrin turned back to his work and moved the hay bales between the back door and towards the back of the barn within the half-hour.


    ¡°Is that the last one?¡± his father asked, having followed him since he picked up the bale.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Corrin said as he turned around and kneeled again. ¡°I can spend the night packaging more bales if that is what you wish.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. Well, stand. They¡¯ve been waiting. Come back before sunup.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± Corrin said, placing the pitchfork on the wall before he stepped out of the barn and walked to the fence gate.


    ¡°Corrin! Finally!¡± Erwin called, but he made no move towards the fence as Corrin stepped through the gate. ¡°We were about to burn Tugan¡¯s money.¡±


    ¡°No, you wouldn¡¯t! I still haven¡¯t given my father his cut!¡± Tugan cried, trying to jump to reach Erwin¡¯s hand as Remon snatched a few coins out of the hole in his pant leg.


    ¡°That is what you get for sneaking away!¡± Tori laughed, pulling out his darkwood wand to spell Tugan into the ground.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head to the shops. What are you going to buy?¡± Corrin asked with a laugh.


    Gillot, still in his armor from his watchman job, wrapped an arm around his shoulders as they began down the hill towards the small market below, the group following. ¡°Argat and Tugan are paying, but we¡¯re going to the sweets shops.¡±


    ¡°Sweets?¡± Tugan whined. ¡°Do you want my father broke?¡±


    ¡°Remon thinks of it!¡± Ulric noticed, pointing his wand at him. Remon snatched it out of his hand and pocketed it before he held a hand to his head, keeping him out of reach.


    ¡°Let him fight you, Remon, what¡¯s the harm?¡± Corrin laughed. ¡°Just because you¡¯re a silkmaker doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t take him in a fight.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Remon said, swallowing the sap he¡¯d been chewing as they entered the market and Gillot pulled Erwin and Tori towards them before they got crushed by a cart.


    ¡°You would¡¯ve met the same fate as that outcast, you churlish coxcomb!¡± Gillot swore at them.


    ¡°Speaking of outcasts, is he still at work?¡± Remon asked as he grabbed Ulric''s hair and heaved him to his feet.


    ¡°I assume,¡± Corrin said, not looking at either of them. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he leave after the last customer?¡±


    ¡°Come on, you snails!¡± Argat yelled from down the street as Ulric began to run. ¡°We¡¯re already ordering!¡±


    ¡°Codswallop,¡± Corrin muttered as he ran down the street, Remon in tow. They quickly put their orders in before Argat paid, and their food was done within minutes. They collected it from the counter and found a wall and bench in the corner on which to sit.


    Corrin ate in silence, letting them talk amongst themselves about their girlfriends or colleagues, adding quips here and there as he scanned the street.


    ¡°Found him!¡± Ulric yelled in Corrin¡¯s ear, making him jump.


    Sachse had just closed the door behind him before the group ran towards him, Remon grabbing his arm before he could teleport away.


    ¡°We thought you¡¯d never leave!¡± Erwin taunted.


    ¡°Thanks, Slateaf.¡±


    ¡°Awh, I thought we were friends!¡± Tugan laughed, pinching his cheek.


    Sachse looked around them, desperate for a way out. ¡°Look, I have to go home¡­¡±


    ¡°You mean your plank between buildings? That¡¯s not a home!¡± Remon chuckled, gripping his arm tighter until he flinched.


    ¡°Where¡¯s that bruise from?¡± Corrin asked in their same mocking voice, noticing it under his tunic sleeve.


    The other boys began making up theories as Sachse tried to wretch his arm out of Remon¡¯s grip.


    ¡°Could be from a boyfriend.¡± Ulric theorized.


    ¡°That¡¯s true!¡± Gillot laughed. ¡°How¡¯s your boyfriend been, Mil? Still absent?¡±


    ¡°Like everyone else in his life.¡± Remon chuckled as he pulled Sachse¡¯s arm across his chest, letting the other flail. ¡°Someone grab him.¡±


    Corrin grabbed his other arm and pinned it across his chest like Remon, hissing an apology in his ear before Erwin threw the first punch.


    ¡°Again, again!¡± the group hollered, each taking turns hitting him to release whatever pent-up emotions were swirling in them.


    Remon found the bruise on his arm and shoved his thumb into it, laughing as he gasped in pain.


    Corrin watched Tori punch him across the face enough times until he spat blood into the ground. But it must have been Gillot¡¯s hit to the throat or Argat''s kick to the ribs that made him unable to stand, because as the boys kept cheering, Sachse went limp in Corrin and Remon¡¯s hands and they dropped him, letting him go motionless on the ground.


    ¡°We better not have killed him,¡± Remon said, quieting the boys¡¯ cheers. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Corrin forced himself to be still as he gave him a good kick, rolling him on his side as he spat more blood. ¡°No, he¡¯s alive.¡±


    ¡°He better be,¡± Erwin ordered. ¡°Father¡¯s organized a dinner party for his brother, and I might need him tomorrow to get my anger out.¡±


    ¡°Does anyone need to leave?¡± Corrin asked, stepping over Sachse as he followed the group out. ¡°Erwin does.¡±


    ¡°Father said to be home by sundown,¡± Tugan said, gazing at the sky. ¡°So I¡¯ll be back tomorrow.¡±


    Corrin nodded as he ran ahead towards his home. Erwin said a few goodbyes before he started running, and Tori briefly looked into an alley as they passed.


    ¡°Me too,¡± he said. ¡°Told the girl I¡¯d meet her around now. Tomorrow, then?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been paired with a new employee for the early shift tomorrow, so I can''t stay out much longer,¡± Gillot complained. ¡°What about you, Corrin?¡±


    ¡°Same as you, just work.¡± He said as they waved him off. Tori stepped into an alley as they passed, calling out for his girlfriend, leaving Corrin with Ulric, Argat, Gillot, and Remon. They struck up easy conversations with each other as they dropped each other back home.


    ¡°Hey, Corrin?¡± Gillot asked as they waved Argat farewell. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you had a girlfriend yet?¡±


    ¡°Because he might be queer,¡± Remon said, pulling another drop of sap on his tongue.


    ¡°I¡¯m not! I¡¯ve had a girlfriend before!¡±


    ¡°When we were fourteen. You barely kept her for a year.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t my fault she cheated,¡± he said as they stopped at Ulric¡¯s house.


    ¡°I think she just needed a reason to get rid of you, friend.¡±


    ¡°Can we wrap this up?¡± Gillot snapped. ¡°Corrin needs a girlfriend, and my sister is an adult next week. I can ask her out for you.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯d rather not.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, he¡¯s queer!¡± Remon ordered as he chewed the sap. ¡°His sister is so pretty, why wouldn¡¯t you date her?¡±


    ¡°If you think she¡¯s pretty, then date her,¡± Gillot said, shoving Ulric towards his house. ¡°We¡¯ll see you tomorrow. Bring your sister.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re literally neighbors,¡± Corrin said, pushing Gillot across the street towards his house. ¡°Same spot, then?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Gillot yelled over his shoulder, leaving Corrin with Remon, who led them down the street toward his house.


    ¡°What makes you say I¡¯m queer? I could just be picky on which girl I have on my hip.¡±


    ¡°Friend, you haven¡¯t dated in years. That¡¯s weird. And you¡¯re nice to the guys¡¯ girls instead of hitting on them as Erwin does.¡±


    ¡°Because I respect them.¡±


    ¡°Are you dense?¡±


    ¡°Father might¡¯ve dropped me a few times as a child, but regardless, I don¡¯t think so.¡±


    Remon stopped outside his door. ¡°You¡¯re too nice, do you know that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d say that.¡± Corrin waved farewell. ¡°See you tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be late,¡± he said as he spat the sap into the ground and shoved it in with his heel before he opened the door ahead of him.


    Corrin began to take the path towards his family¡¯s hill, but when he found the path, he turned back towards the market, taking a trail he knew well.


    Within minutes, he made his way to the shops again and stayed in the shadows, throwing his hood over his mess of blonde curls. He looked back before he ducked into an entrance concealed by vines, noticing the blood dripping on the ground.


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d never show.¡± Sachse smiled as Corrin stepped towards his plank.


    ¡°I had to shake off the boys. You know I¡¯d never leave you alone after what they did.¡±


    ¡°I know, Corr.¡±


    He grinned at the nickname and held his chin high. ¡°You just needed a reason to use that name.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a cuter version of Corrin.¡± Sachse¡¯s smile grew until Corrin pulled away and sat on the plank, seeing him wrap his wounds.


    ¡°Did you do those yourself?¡± Corrin asked as he leaned forward and grabbed the end of the wrap he¡¯d been holding.


    ¡°Of course. Can you help? I think they bruised my ribs.¡±


    ¡°Arms first,¡± Corrin ordered as he held his wrist with his other hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about today¡¯s fight.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I do. I¡¯m sorry that happened, and I should¡¯ve directed their attention away from you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, were you waiting for me?¡±


    ¡°And if I was?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m only saying. It¡¯s cute.¡±


    ¡°You seem to enjoy that word around me.¡± Corrin smiled as he tightened the wrap, making him flinch. He finished the wrap and Sachse offered his other arm.


    ¡°A drunk gave me a task again.¡±


    ¡°Randolf?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°I¡¯m not doing it.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Corrin asked.


    ¡°Well, for starters, I''m bleeding and bruised.¡±


    ¡°And that''s why I''m here,¡± he replied, putting his thumb over a bleeding cut before he wrapped it. ¡°What did he ask you to do?¡±


    ¡°Hunt a monster created by Yael. He was overly specific on details, so I know it''s fake.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to respond to whatever he asks,¡± he said, moving his thumb out of the way and staining his arm with blood as he tightened the wrap.


    ¡°He gave me that bruise on my arm. The one Remon shoved his thumb into.¡±


    ¡°I suspected as much. Can you move your arms?¡±


    Sachse stood and rolled his shoulders before he pulled his tunic over his head and dropped it on the ground. He pitched forward, holding the nasty bruise they had given him. ¡°Still hurts.¡±


    ¡°Hold onto me.¡± Corrin stood beside him and let him wrap his arm over his shoulder, helping him stand as he began the wrap around his ribs and shoulders.


    ¡°Don¡¯t put it so tight here. I still need to breathe.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Corrin said, putting his head over his shoulder in case he missed something.


    ¡°Why are you even friends with them?¡± Sachse whispered, shaking from the chill.


    ¡°I¡¯m not. Not truly. Our fathers are just friends and we occasionally grew up alongside each other.¡± Corrin leaned back to wrap around his front again and finished it. ¡°They invited me to the group and I knew I¡¯d be outcasted if I said no, so I didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Being outcasted isn¡¯t that bad. We¡¯d be able to be queer together.¡± Sachse smiled at the idea.


    ¡°And get beat up on the regular?¡±


    ¡°I got used to the pain after a while.¡±


    Corrin flicked his forehead. ¡°Tunic.¡±


    ¡°What if I don''t want to?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to feel the side effects of the cold and freeze out here without me. Put your tunic back on.¡±


    Corrin watched him grab it and helped him pull it over his head before he caught the strong smell of wine from his hair. ¡°Did they pour wine on you again?¡±


    He nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Stop apologizing.¡±


    Corrin¡¯s head fell onto his shoulder, and his mind ran through nearly every memory of the group attacking Sachse for something that wasn¡¯t his fault.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Sachse whispered, his hands threading through his hair. ¡°And it¡¯s never yours either.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s so many opportunities I could¡¯ve taken where I could¡¯ve stopped them.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Getting hurt? Everyday?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d suffer all the pain in the world if I was still alive enough to see your smile at the end of the day.¡±


    Corrin held him close, hiding his smile. ¡°Don¡¯t say things like that.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Sachse asked, breath hitched. ¡°Don¡¯t they call you queer?¡±


    ¡°They call me queer because I¡¯ve had fewer girlfriends than them over the years. I don¡¯t like boys in that way.¡±


    ¡°Maybe you haven¡¯t met the right boy yet.¡±


    ¡°Maybe the right boy just doesn¡¯t know about it yet.¡± Corrin leaned away and guided him to the plank. ¡°Sit down. You need to rest.¡±


    ¡°Says the boy sacrificing his sleep to visit his¡­friend.¡± Sachse wasn¡¯t staring at his eyes anymore.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± Corrin grinned, sitting next to him.


    ¡°I know you don¡¯t.¡±


    An idea came to mind. ¡°What if I do the task?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°If I-¡±


    ¡°I heard you, dalcop, but you don''t have to do it.¡±


    ¡°Randolf wouldn''t care.¡±


    ¡°I''m certain Randolf is blacking out on his table at this moment. He doesn''t care about the task anymore."


    ¡°Randolf hasn¡¯t cared about anything for a decade. But think about it. If we bring back a new species, it¡¯ll be brilliant! They¡¯ll praise you-¡±


    ¡°No, they wouldn¡¯t.¡± Sachse said, pulling his knees to his chest and setting his chin on them. ¡°They would never take something I did and make it look good. They¡¯d give someone else the credit, for example, you, and still beat me up regardless. And if I do follow along with this absurd plan, how about you find the Triplets while you¡¯re at it?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡±


    Sachse looked at the sky above. ¡°Speaking of, Moon has already woken up. How about you head home?¡±


    ¡°Sachse-¡±


    ¡°Just leave me alone.¡±


    Corrin shoved his hands into his pockets to avoid reaching out to grab his, but instead nodded and walked out, silently praying to Ellery for his health and recovery, hoping he hadn¡¯t said the wrong thing.

 Chapter 5: The Weddal Family

    Ostara and Kalliroi kneeled at the sitting room table, pouring over books about wandlore. Their younger siblings, Frig and Ren, short for Laurena, stood next to their parents. Frig was outside practicing his magic with Irenaeus, while Ren assisted their mother in sewing.


    Moments after Ostara had flipped the page back to take another note, Irenaeus stormed into the room, shoving Frig in behind him.


    ¡°When is dinner, Linaya?¡± he snapped. ¡°Who¡¯s gathering this week?¡±


    ¡°Ostara.¡± She replied, finishing another stitch. ¡°Laurena, can you assist me?¡±


    The eleven-year-old nodded and pulled more thread for her to begin another stitch.


    ¡°Who needs what?¡± Ostara asked, her knees banging against the table as she stood up too fast.


    ¡°Dole-flower and that blue root,¡± Kalliroi said, closing her book. ¡°Potions homework.¡±The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Need three of the blues if you want some flavor to your lamb stew,¡± Linaya said as she folded the stitchwork and set it aside before she followed Irenaeus into the bedroom.


    Frig rubbed the mark on his neck caused by Irenaeus. ¡°Any healing mushrooms you find in the cabinet or the wild, I¡¯ll take one.¡±


    ¡°How was training, brother?¡± Ren asked as Ostara looked through the cabinets for a mushroom or two. She found a few in a jar labeled ¡°healing properties¡± and walked back into the room, handing one to Kalliroi to slice.


    ¡°Not worse today,¡± Frig mumbled. ¡°Father drilled some of the same lessons into my head as he kept attacking me.¡±


    ¡°At least he has a way to cool off,¡± Kalliroi said, handing him a few slices. ¡°Hey, Tara, do we need to ground these, or do slices work?¡±


    ¡°Slices should be fine,¡± Ostara called, buttoning her elbow-length cloak to her neck as Frig put the slices under his tongue. ¡°I''m finishing the list now. You all want dole-flower, four or five blue roots, and more healing mushrooms. Is that right?¡±


    ¡°Mom wants cilantro and some mint from the vegetable seller,¡± Ren called, looking through the recipe box for lamb stew. ¡°Is the market still open?¡±


    ¡°It should be for another hour or two. Kal, can you run over if I''m not back by then?¡±


    Kalliroi nodded as Ostara laced up her boots and made her way out the door, slinging her gathering bag over her shoulder, everyone collectively ignoring the sounds echoing from the bedroom.

 Chapter 6: His Offer

    *Translations are provided by Skylar.


    Shit, shit, shit, shit.


    This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen.


    The leading man stepped closer, but the grass only pulled Planet deeper in. Sol seethed from the trees, adjusting Moon on her shoulder. Planet and the grass were so perfectly still that Sol felt the trees holding their breath.


    The man stepped forward, crouching towards Planet. The Dragon stepped away, offering a kind gaze to them both. Sol summoned a knife behind his back, ready to throw.


    Planet moved herself the slightest inch backward, as the man extended a hand to her. ¡°Forgive me for my Dragon. Venul is the curious one of the bunch.¡±


    Planet didn¡¯t move. Even from here, Sol could hear the men¡¯s whispers.


    ¡°Is she a statue?¡±


    ¡°Hasn¡¯t moved one bit.¡±


    That blind pustule of a man. Sol complained.


    The man stepped closer to Planet. Sol snapped his vision towards him and threw the knife.


    It cut through the air, jumping between rays of light until it sailed past the man¡¯s hand, blood popping, and paused before Planet¡¯s shoulder. Sol held it up through a ray as she stepped out, summoning another knife behind her back.


    ¡°Step away from my sister,¡± he ordered.


    The man returned to Planet and saw she¡¯d vanished, reappearing behind Sol.


    ¡°Se ete laxau,¡± she whispered. I¡¯ll take him.


    Sol passed Moon into her arms and waited for her to sit with him before he stepped forward and directed her Embodiment form into her arms, which vanished and was replaced with two balls of light molded from the rays above.


    When others saw this, they would run in fear, screaming monster and freak. Unfortunately, this had the opposite effect.


    The men whispered among themselves, putting the pieces together.


    Planet doodled a rune into the ground: ¡°idika¡± for famous.


    Sol nodded before she yelled. The men had surged forward, falling to their knees and trying to kiss their feet.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Sol cried, trying to jump away. She moved the balls of light towards them and they screamed as they tried to look up at them.


    Planet performed another subconscious act, using the earth as one would shake out a bedsheet. The waves carried the men behind their leader, who hadn¡¯t moved when they''d run.


    ¡°A brother?¡± the man whispered. ¡°That explains your bravery.¡± his gaze turned to Moon. ¡°Why is he asleep?¡±


    ¡°I-¡±


    ¡°That is between us,¡± Sol snapped, cutting her off before whispering to her in Elven. ¡°Yus ete awyeka woultyeit ne, fyor.¡± Do not tell him anything, flower.


    ¡°Elven?¡± one hissed.


    ¡°Why do they know Elven?¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    The man¡¯s eyes turned to their bodies. ¡°Elven uniforms¡­simple ears¡­heavier than usual¡­Who are you three?¡±


    Another tapped his shoulder and whispered in his ear. The two watched as his eyes widened as he discovered the news.


    ¡°The Triplets,¡± he whispered.


    ¡°Ay, veriki, zikiete.¡± Sol sighed. ¡°Yus mi nizaabe ckleet oski-yukisk! Yuse obiritan uyliuxa anmi skartan!¡± Ah, fuck, Planet. You could¡¯ve run with me! Now we¡¯ve been found again!


    ¡°Fem-ta yuse e zirta jieran v?ren kop xin-an, bodkir?¡± Planet asked, still shivering. ¡°A muri se etiervi-¡± How did we end up in the last Elven town, then? As far as I know-


    ¡°Ijero yuse naren lerik, ne, et mi naren vinar. Mi ne woulyiet kop boliki lekisk.¡± Moon pushed us there, no, he pulled me there. I had no tell in that.


    ¡°Se yus e sev verai kop peris pik-deywe woenar vise ako, far?n j?dil os, hzerven delak os e zirtan nek ywed yus luamni!" Of course, because I should turn to you whenever we decide on a new community. You¡¯re not even awake half of the time!


    ¡°Viern, zikiete.¡± Sol said, snapping his fingers impatiently. ¡°Estene viern enamni f?birk. Yu e zirtan nizaabe kipbi.¡± Villages, Planet. They are named villages. Get with the times.


    ¡°Yu swe-odswe verikiz femii henerve! Yu se yweka levinril kop mi alakizien devisk?" Four hundred fucking years, you idiot! Do you expect me to remember everything thrown at me?


    Sol removed a calf, turning it to light to play within her hands. ¡°Se zeilan ne-wil zee- HANDS OFF OF OUR BROTHER NOW, YOU VERMIN!¡± A shame I cannot¡­


    He rolled himself into his Embodiment form, expanding as big as the space would allow, hovering over the sweating men, and one who had reached for Moon was now disintegrating under the flames. The Dragon, meanwhile, leaned forward to smell.


    ¡°Release him.¡± Planet ordered from behind her.


    Sol sought out her location and doodled runes into the side of the ball, which, when translated to the Skartan Zirtan a Woulti, read ¡°This would be scarier if you were an Embodiment, too.¡±


    ¡°Whatever offer you are requesting,¡± Planet started, showing Sol the hand-sign for uveri. ¡°My sibling firmly rejects it.¡±


    ¡°Your¡­what is that? A sibling?¡± a man spat out the word foreign to his tongue. ¡°What does that mean? He was clearly a boy.¡±


    Sol let flames come from his sides, forcing them towards a few heads whom had come close and began to stick to her.


    ¡°Are you done?¡± Planet asked. ¡°E ruvia fliz anmi? Ezt kir menira anmi.¡± Is the Dragon okay? She''s quite near.


    ¡°Vemir, lenik.¡± Sol snapped, falling into his Wizardly body. ¡°E ruvia fliz dokri an. Keitik eztene anmi zee-tet der?m enwoultye.¡± Quiet, sister. The dragon will be fine. Studies say they''re fire-resistant.


    ¡°Yuze boliki e jirau kipik tora pur? oz tervien kop eztene ne-eipal zikara uveri urdup.¡± Fuck you, and didn¡¯t we agree that the Elves have limited knowledge on them?


    The leading man stroked his Dragon, staring at them all. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re fine by yourself.¡±


    ¡°Clearly.¡± Sol snapped. ¡°Now if you¡¯ll excuse us-¡±


    ¡°-which is why you¡¯ll need a mentor.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, excuse me?¡± Sol stared at him, confused. ¡°Excuse me? You¡¯ve just said we¡¯re well off by ourselves.¡±


    ¡°Precisely. You need guidance through the wild.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re well,¡± Sol said. ¡°Nothing would hurt us.¡±


    ¡°Except for Giants.¡± Planet cut in, counting them off her fingers. ¡°Or those birds. And we can¡¯t anger the Deities. Plus-¡±


    ¡°Zerki tra-tarati." Smart-ass.


    ¡°Solely you.¡±


    The man kept talking, stroking his nearly nonexistent facial hair. ¡°I know a good tutor, an old friend of mine. According to your uniforms and language, you¡¯ve been living with Elves for nearly a hundred years?¡±


    ¡°Why should you care? Shall I iterate once more? We - forgive me, for my sister is dense - I have no intentions of leaving with a stranger.¡±


    ¡°Solar.¡± Planet whispered. ¡°Pli-kett.¡±


    ¡°Air? The air? What about-?¡±


    ¡°Dukropi, yus zerki. What is the word for sky?¡± Above, you ass.


    ¡°Dlegeti?¡± a third voice whispered. Sun?


    ¡°Ten minutes, Ijero.¡± Sol hissed. His blinks were becoming heavier. This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen now! ¡°I just need-¡±


    The sun began to sink towards the horizon and Sol suppressed a yawn. Shit.


    The men watched in fascination as Sol grabbed for Planet¡¯s shoulder, the tiredness growing by the second.


    ¡°Mi raiko zirtan edeilla.¡± Sol hissed. ¡°Megik tasil fiurai n?kar lixa?¡± I need more time. May Seventh answer this prayer?


    ¡°Yuze ne menira vakk vaned yubiyar ek ah, yus tasil tiervi.¡± Planet said. We are not nearly strong enough to affect their magics, you know this.


    A man looked at them. ¡°Is this when your souls switch?¡±


    ¡°Biad?n¡­Sorry,¡± Sol slammed his jaw shut, forcing her eyes open. ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s storytelling. Your souls switch at each dawn and rise. It''s your schedule, is it not?¡±


    ¡°Interestende,¡± Planet said. ¡°Alas¡­¡±


    Sol could hear nothing more as he slumped into Planet¡¯s arms, asleep. The last thing she saw was Moon shifting on the ground and opening his blue-gray eyes to stare at the scene before him.

 Chapter 7: Who Is That?

    Corrin ignored the hill again, heading towards the city walls. He didn''t want to hear his father talking his ear off, but he didn''t want to head back to Sachse after they''d left the conversation at that. His friends couldn''t know anything, so that left him to sit by himself. Maybe he should''ve asked Remon for that sap he was always chewing so he wouldn¡¯t be wholly bored.


    Oh, who was he kidding? No one outside of Remon dared to try that drug.


    Corrin continued through the soon-to-be invisible dirt path to the outer wall, where he found a clearing behind a small grove of trees and sat in the grass, twirling his fingers together. Despite his blood containing fire magic, he felt comfortable in nature. Maybe Yael or the Planet was looking out for him.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Corrin shut his eyes, listening to what was around him. The screech of a bird. Leaves fluttering in the breeze. The calm winds and-


    Twigs crunched under a foot and Corrin stood as fast as he¡¯d been trained to, unsheathing a knife and holding it up towards the twigs.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± he asked the darkness. "Ozul, reveal thee!"


    Stepping cautiously around the leaves and twigs, he walked towards the spot and saw a shock of black hair step forward. He turned the knife, so the blade and handle was centered with the individual''s neck as he stared down at a girl, bag slung over her shoulder.

 Chapter 8: ...Wizards

    Ostara looked up at the boy, trying to avoid touching the knife before her neck. She¡¯d just spotted the first blue flower of the night, and there was sure to be a field nearby.


    ¡°Flower.¡± She mumbled, pointing to it next to his foot.


    ¡°A flower? What are you actually here for, bobolyne?"


    ¡°Flowers, that¡¯s all. I need to harvest the root-¡±


    He raised his foot over the flower. ¡°Tell me your true intentions.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re threatening the life of a flower?¡±


    ¡°It''ll grow back.¡±


    ¡°Yael would disapprove.¡±


    ¡°Are they your patron?¡±


    ¡°Are they yours?¡¯


    They stared at each other, neither taking the hand of trust hanging above.


    ¡°I swear to my Deities,¡± Ostara sighed. ¡°I¡¯m only here for flowers. My village is not far from here, you can see-¡±


    ¡°All I see is an enemy.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°An enemy? Are you not a fellow Witch?"


    "What makes you think I''m a Witch?"


    "I don''t- I don''t know." She glanced at the flower again before looking at a freckle under his eye. "So you''re a Wizard?"


    ¡°I am. But are you telling the truth of your identity?¡±


    ¡°Yes! I¡¯m a Witch.¡±


    ¡°I am a Wizard.¡±


    The hand of trust wavered over them and broke. This would never work.


    ¡°I-I swear I¡¯m not that far from Farehallow.¡± He clenched his teeth at the name. ¡°I can¡¯t be over the border. I can¡¯t be.¡±


    ¡°Well, you are.¡± he snapped, grabbing her arm and dragging her out of the grove. ¡°What were you even thinking, crossing it?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know!¡± she cried.


    ¡°Hush.¡± His voice dropped to a whisper as he grabbed her shoulders and had her stop. ¡°You need to go. Immediately. You don¡¯t want to hear what they say about Witches here.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You need to leave. Go back home and don¡¯t turn back. Never cross the border again.¡±


    He stood behind Ostara and shoved her forward.


    Ostara stood still, staring at the grass ahead. She''d crossed the border. Hardly anyone had crossed it and been given this chance to be let off safely.


    She looked back at the boy, who stared down at her.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you moving? Trust me, I¡¯m being nicer than them.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t noticed her tears until the boy stepped forward, touching her shoulder in comfort.


    ¡°Oh, I-I''m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to impose. It was just an act, I hadn¡¯t realized-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she whispered, wiping her tears and fixing her face, following the voice that whispered instructions. Lower your mouth corners. Soften your eyes. Open your cheeks. Too much. Too little. Are you hollow?


    ¡°I¡­oh, I don¡¯t know how he¡¯d feel about this. I-I have a friend who can take you in." He twirled a blonde curl in his finger at the thought. "Ah, Deities, this will be awkward.¡± He looked her up and down, but his gaze was unlike the other men¡¯s. ¡°Hide your hair in your tunic and put that hood up. What¡¯s your name, Wi- sorry. Girl?¡±


    She raised her hood to follow his words. ¡°Ostara.¡±

 Chapter 9: Night Walk

    Moon sat up, watching Planet hold Sol in her arms before he fell. She held her up as Moon took in his surroundings: a group of men and a Dragon staring at them like they were sentient statues, his Planetary counterpart rising from the Second Corner, not being able to tell its brightness. He pushed his blonde hair out of his eyes and glared at the men until they looked away, uncomfortable.


    ¡°Plezd od dokriz ali?¡± he asked, refreshing his brain of Elven as he covered Sol in her cloak and lifted her on his shoulder. What is going on?


    ¡°Et yuze kop laxau zaykirz.¡± Planet announced. He is offering to take us in.


    ¡°Phor?¡± he asked, staring at the men. Who?


    ¡°E xli e ruvia nizaabe.¡± The sir with the Dragon.


    ¡°Plezd uzukeien ipal?¡± What do you think?


    ¡°Dlegetir ali radoli amniz ezukeien. Et ne anmi laxaud kop neill? anmi.¡± I think Sol is being dramatic. He doesn¡¯t want to be taken in.


    Moon shrugged. ¡°Ne phlee-tet e zaykir woenar yulaxau? Plez ikinar takko crei? Datir, yuze kop dan?r kop buiwari xlegero meg kipik amnik zkartan. Obiritan, tasil yutiervi dir creiji.¡± Why shouldn¡¯t we take the offer? What harm could come? Besides, we¡¯ve been in Wizard territory for seven days now. We knew this would happen again.


    ¡°Muvijk uipal kipik?¡± Do you have doubts?


    ¡°Ne dukirz. Yus ?djlu ipal.¡± Not truly. You absolutely do.


    ¡°Ne eipal.¡± No, I don¡¯t.


    ¡°Kuupir.¡± Liar.


    ¡°What are they saying?¡± one of the men asked.


    ¡°Do you think I speak that foreign language?¡± another spat.


    ¡°Pax?l tasil lauwt nir-riki kor. Yuze jieran fuhir woultye.¡± Just keep this ruse up. We solely speak Elven.


    Planet looked uncomfortable and Moon pieced it together. ¡°Yus zirta tora kop ziurei oz buiwari kipik flemagi, ne kipik yus?¡± You¡¯ve already said a bit in Modern, haven¡¯t you?


    She nodded, but he patted her shoulder. ¡°Boliki fliz ali. Ziurei oz buiwari raiko bodkir mi utiervi, zakeya.¡± He stared at the men again, and they jumped back. Planet was the only one in the clearing that was engaged. That¡¯s alright. You know more Modern than me, anyway.


    ¡°Ayy, pik-dee fled oz yus boliki kir mayki esipal rei!¡± she grinned. ¡°Kir ekw?duar ali.¡± Ooh, your eyes are so pretty when they do that! It¡¯s so focused.


    ¡°Plezd uipal farai?¡± Moon asked, holding a hand towards his eyes, noticing the reflection of dark light on his skin. ¡°Ay. Ax?rlitad fled. Ne ete edekk?l.¡± What do you mean? Ah. Embodimented eyes. I never regard it.


    The man next to the Dragon stepped forward, holding out a hand. ¡°If you children would like, I can take you in.¡±


    ¡°Zirta tasil maynni uwoulyiet ze.¡± Planet whispered. I already told you about this.


    ¡°Ta, ne ehenerve rei.¡± he agreed. Yes, I''m not stupid.


    ¡°What do you say?¡± The man asked.


    Planet translated the line to him, both of them knowing that it wasn¡¯t required. ¡°Plezd uwoultye ipal? Nepik-dee et zaykir ulaxau?¡± What do you say? Will you take his offer?


    Moon shrugged. ¡°Ete fliz ekzimta. zakeya, yuze il e zirtan rei norii, ne yuze rei?¡± It sounds well. Anyway, we are here forever, are we not?


    Planet smiled and turned to the man, switched to Modern but with an accent. ¡°My brother agrees to take your offer.¡±


    The man sighed in relief and grabbed Moon''s hand, shaking it aggressively. ¡°Oh, thank you, thank you, children. You won''t regret this.¡±


    ¡°Am already.¡± Moon said, adding a thick accent.


    The man blinked. ¡°So you do speak Modern?¡±


    Planet caught on and spoke a lie. ¡°Only a little bit. I''m trying to teach him.¡±


    ¡°Interesting.¡± the man muttered, covering his mouth with his hand.


    ¡°Zikiete?¡± Moon whispered as the man turned to the others, and they all followed him northeast.


    ¡°Plezd e yor-kik ali?¡± she asked, slowing down to walk directly next to him. What is the problem?


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± The leading man asked, giving them a smile. ¡°Can I carry your¡­brother?¡±


    ¡°Sibling.¡± Planet corrected, turning to Moon. ¡°And-¡±


    Moon shook his head. ¡°Ne linax eztened ipal. Enlaxaur yulixa anmi kop, jaforr ne ze enipal torr. Zakeya, ze ete kerri rezkla idygi yuze ali. Elaxau woulyiet et ezt nepik-dee." Don''t allow them. They may be taking us in, but I don''t trust them. Anyway, it feels like a routine between us. Tell him I will take her.


    Planet nodded and translated. ¡°He says no, thank you.¡±


    They found the town walls quickly and passed two sleeping guards through the gates. The Dragon saw the gates and took flight, circling the sky above before she descended towards a field. Planet stepped closer to Moon, grabbing his sleeve discreetly.


    ¡°Plezd e yor-kik ali? Ipal ne-kleeta uidygi?¡± What is the problem? Do you feel unsafe?


    Planet nodded. ¡°Ikinar zarkeya uipal?¡± Could you do something?


    An idea came to mind and he smiled. ¡°Kal e zirta Dlegetir laxau?¡± Take Sol for a moment?


    The two stopped walking and Moon put Sol in her arms. Meanwhile, a man stepped towards the leader for a talk.


    ¡°Sir, it''s quite late. Do you mind if I leave?¡±


    ¡°Of course, my good man.¡±


    ¡°Minute one.¡± Moon asked, stepping behind them and flipping his head into his Embodiment and stretching his limbs to appear taller. The men backed away, scared. Planet bit someone who tried to touch her shoulder.


    ¡°Sirs, our residence a single word town this is I hear you say, all you I find, and sure that ordered under oure parents sure make of you be silence-ed. Understand?¡±


    Planet cleared her throat, adjusting Sol in her arms. ¡°He says if you say anything of our residence here, he''ll report you to our parents.¡±


    The men hardly reacted, so Planet had to fill in the gaps.


    ¡°The Deities. E Idyguol. The Children of the Universe.¡±


    They realized their mistake at her first words and a few ran away, shouting back their apologies. The rest stood in shock, probably coming to a realization or two.


    ¡°Well?¡± Moon snapped at them. ¡°You to dismiss, I have.¡±


    It took them an extra moment to follow his words, pushing each other out of the way as they ran home.


    Moon wiped his hands together and faced the man who had the Dragon. ¡°Now that is double is out sort. Can we leave?¡±


    The man blinked before he nodded, waving a hand for them to follow him. Planet transferred Sol into Moon¡¯s arms, who placed him over his shoulder before they ran slowly to catch up with the man, who was pointing out buildings as they passed.


    ¡°Here is Miss. Garria¡¯s fish and butcher shop. A waste of talent, I tell you. She was a fine silk maker in her youth. Ah, there is Sir. Nicou¡¯s weaponry business.¡±


    He motioned to a building with another stacked on top, both ready to fall at a moment¡¯s notice, but it appeared that Dellun held it stable. ¡°He normally has his sons build the weapons while he makes the pitch. I hear his two eldest ran out of there when they came of age, though no one knows why.¡±


    ¡°Ne, etiervi wil.¡± Moon mumbled while Planet tried not to react. No, I can know.


    He laughed, seeing another shop. ¡°Of course, how could I forget? Right there, under the burned sign, is Sir. Pender¡¯s cheese shop. I hear he gets the milk from Miss. Garria.¡±


    As the Sir. continued talking about their drama, Moon saw a tight alley between that building and the next which he marked as another hiding spot in case they had to run. Just because he had accepted the man¡¯s offer didn¡¯t mean that Moon felt safe nor that he wasn¡¯t preparing for the worst outcome.


    ¡°And our last stop is my store.¡± He held the door open for the two as he kept talking. ¡°I sell supplies to assist Dragons and their riders, such as saddles and whips.¡±


    ¡°Interestende.¡± Planet muttered, noticing the wood everywhere.


    ¡°Raiko tora, ete ali?¡± Moon asked, examining the framework. A little much, is it?


    The Elves had built their towns from the earth or other materials, keeping their interior simple. The Wizards, apparently, needed every precaution. This home was made of wood and there were posts standing at every square. The roof was held up with more posts to support it. It felt offensive to Yael when simply looking at it.


    Planet touched a post, her hand sinking into the wood for a moment before the man turned to a tall pole with hooks on top, removing his overcoat and shoes. Moon examined a post as well, seeing chips of themselves falling off.


    ¡°Odd children.¡± the man muttered.


    ¡°Yuze bura rei anmik.¡± Moon told Planet as she looked into the wooden counter. ¡°Plezd etf?bir ali, rezkla?¡± We''re being rude. What''s his name, even?


    ¡°Lenik. Ipal boliki umakir?¡± Quiet. Do you hear that?


    ¡°E n?mard? E dokri? Ne eamn?bi. Pax?l e mayki e derr? oz-¡± The chirps? The leaves? Not my fault. Just the beauty of the night-


    ¡°Ne boliki.¡± Not that.


    Moon shrugged, adjusting Sol on his shoulder. ¡°Fliz, plezd phor boliki fikir veerol norii utiervi enwoultye makir maynni. Et h?raphi ali.¡± Well, you know what they say about who can hear other voices. He''s mad.


    Planet looked at him, not noticing her hair fading into the wood. ¡°Ne eh?raphi rei.¡± I''m not mad.


    ¡°Zirta. Et f?bir?¡± Eventually. His name?


    She sighed and turned to the man. ¡°He asks what your name is?¡±


    He realized his mistake and crossed his ankle behind the other in a small bow. ¡°Disgraceful, am I? I am Sir. Artos Theodric. A businessman.¡±


    Moon tugged at the end of his pant, trying to mimic the bow that he had seen the Elven ladies do when meeting an elder male, which was proving to be difficult with his sibling on his shoulder. ¡°Ijero. Tasil urdup Dlegeti Zikiete ali.¡± Moon. This is Sol and Planet.


    ¡°Zirta, yus e barrokoed rei. Ne uwil yuze mierka.¡± Planet noted, remembering the Elven tradition. Wait, you''re the youngest. You can''t introduce us.


    ¡°Olck phor kor hzerven?¡± Who woke up first?


    ¡°Dlegeti.¡±


    ¡°Ne el?kkied kir bodkir wil mierka.¡± Then the eldest can''t introduce us.


    Planet signed a swear towards him which he waved away, noticing an odd shelf behind a counter.


    ¡°Nizab? kreetta oz?¡± Moon asked, then remembered he couldn¡¯t understand him. ¡°Zikiete, yus zirkik faraik rei.¡± Vials of blood? Planet, you''re meant to exchange.


    Planet blinked at him then sighed. ¡°Obiritan, uwil boliki woultye? Ne ipal yus emakir.¡± Can you say that again? I didn''t hear you.


    ¡°Ewoultye, nizab? kreetta oz. Plezd kal eztene rei?¡± I said, vials of blood. What are they for?


    ¡°He said vials blood of. Oh, wait. Boliki fliz ali?¡± Is that right?


    ¡°What do you¡­¡± His eyes caught on his shelf and he grinned. ¡°Oh, my poor boy.¡± ¨C Moon instinctively hid his chest with a pull of his top. ¨C ¡°I don¡¯t sell those. Those are from my Dragon, Venul, and the results of her brothers and sisters.¡±


    ¡°What brothers and sisters?¡± Planet asked, scratching at a wooden counter.


    ¡°I should have an eye or a skin nearby of¨C Oh. I mean, it¡¯s nothing. Nothing you should concern yourself with for now.¡± he said, correcting his mistake before he noticed it.


    ¡°Huh. That was it blood of Wizard I assumed, first look at. It Dragon sole-like is, luck-ee. Clear-like, it that much plural make is.¡±


    The Sir. blinked, trying to understand his ¡°broken¡± Modern. ¡°W-What a morbid assumption. I am not a murderer.¡±


    ¡°Alleged.¡± Moon mumbled as the Sir noticed a scroll next to the vials and handed it to Planet, who spread it across the wooden counter.


    It showed the map of the world they lived in, and Moon saw Planet¡¯s eyes change to reflect a more accurate depiction of it. The map on paper was split in four sections, with the Giants and Witches in the North, though there was no border between them, proving he hadn¡¯t left his town in ages. The Wizard territory was carefully written, while the Elven territory looked smaller than it actually was.


    Moon touched the edge of the page to move it closer to him, but recoiled at the odd feeling. ¡°Hervli.¡± Gross.


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± the Sir asked.


    ¡°P¡­paay-juh.¡± He stretched out the word, hitting each syllable. ¡°Wet is.¡±


    ¡°You put your finger in ink. That¡¯s probably why.¡±


    Moon wiped the ink on his pants. ¡°That not. I mean want.¡±


    ¡°What.¡± Planet corrected, still taking in the map.


    He touched an ink-free spot and showed the debris of the wet paper on his finger. ¡°Watch? Deb-riss.¡±


    The Sir. took his finger in his hand and examined it. ¡°I don¡¯t see anything.¡±


    Moon waited for him to let go before he wiped the hand on his pants, feeling disgusted.


    ¡°Dan?r jieran oz e mi pudire ali.¡± Planet noted, her eyes not changing back to the average white-and-brown ball. The Elven Territory is confusing me.


    ¡°Ay, eny?jai yweka d?kiete eztened piklu kop datirk sekra tasil tersuk oz.¡± Moon noted, trying not to touch the page. Well, they used to document everything in their lands instead of this cheap thing.


    ¡°Dukir.¡± Planet yawned, gripping the counter tight as her hand melted into it. ¡°Wil etoukira? Zep-unto? Ete xlegero pek amnik ali.¡± True. Can I sleep? Please? It''s been five days.


    ¡°Xlegero pek?¡± Moon asked, concern rising for her. ¡°Phlee-tet yus dirl baij?t tasil lerik k?rii yus oz?¡± Five days? Why would you push yourself like this?


    ¡°Du yus ekisk jeraz-¡± I have to protect you two-


    ¡°Ne, yuze hjerka e rei. Woenar yus I eax?wui?¡± No, we are the protectors. Should I remind you?


    ¡°Zer leanmi woultyed,¡± she snapped. ¡°Ze fareti yus du wil jeraz mi kerri toukira oz.¡± As I was saying, I can protect the both of you through my sleep schedule.


    ¡°Urdup xin boliki maynni xlegero du ali, ne peki! Zkartan toukira yudeilla yus kipbi!¡± And that limit is about two days, not five! We need to get you asleep now!


    ¡°Zer deta boliki ete kun-e ali.¡± As if it''s that easy.


    ¡°Uekir rei zerig. Mi pejai bilik.¡± You''re set to fall. Hold my shoulder.


    Planet pushed him away and looked up at the Sir. ¡°Is there a sleeping quarter we can put Sol in?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    He led the two to a taller room behind a door that was stacked with piles of hay. There was a window that allowed a faint bit of moonlight through it. Moon set down Sol before he stepped into the ray, merging with it and getting a look at his Planetary counterpart from above. It was shining at less than half, appearing as a twisted smile, or, as the Elves had called it, a crescent.


    He pulled himself back into the room, appearing first in his Embodiment form before he turned to his Wizardly. ¡°Ne ze nepik-dee derr? tasil delak-toukira anmi.¡± Well, I won''t be half-awake tonight.


    Planet had already laid down in the hay next to Sol and was fast asleep. The Sir. didn¡¯t notice until Moon did.


    ¡°So,¡± he chuckled, pointing at Planet as her skin absorbed some bits of hay. ¡°What is her-her sleep schedule?¡±


    ¡°Sleep all light, Zikiete can.¡± Moon replied, tempted to take Sol¡¯s notebook, but he didn¡¯t want the man to know about it, so he motioned towards the door for them to talk in private. ¡°Struggle self of her wake in, as limit may be of day two, yet sister wake of day five.¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Oh. Well. What do you do normally while they sleep?¡±


    ¡°To journey, or to tra-vell.¡±


    ¡°With them?¡±


    ¡°Leave them back, why shall I? Siblings, yuze.¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡± He looked around the space, trying to think of something to talk about. ¡°Do you hunt?¡±


    ¡°Want what you?¡±


    He blinked. ¡°Erm. Repeat that, please.¡±


    Moon repeated it in Elven to make sure it sounded right before he spoke in Modern, his brain struggling to remember his notes. The pronoun chart¡­but what was the present tense of you?


    ¡°Oh, what do you want? Is that what you¡¯re asking?¡± Moon nodded, finally remembering the ending. ¡°You can hunt a¡­a goat. Can you do that?¡±


    Moon nodded again, and performed another lady-like bow for respect before he stepped towards the door they¡¯d entered from. He closed it behind him and strolled down the path, following the route of footsteps since they¡¯d entered the town, trying not to turn in their directions.


    He came across the gate just as easily and saw two guards standing there, both covered in heavy sheets of metal. How they weren¡¯t gripping their chests in pain was a mystery, but he assumed Wizardly metal was different from Elven. Everything was.


    He passed the two, one of them trying to look awake as he leaned on his sword. The other was already slumped against the wall, and Moon slipped by them before the one fell asleep.


    ¡°Kleeta ne?¡± he mumbled, ¡®No safety?¡¯ as he followed the wall, keeping an eye on the forest. Once the men were out of sight, he walked with a strict step, hands in his pant pockets. His fingers fell out of his left one, reminding him of the sewing job he had to do on it.


    The night was peaceful. He was glad their parents had changed it over the centuries. The first few years had been horrifying. Failed and forgotten projects, disgusting revival, eyes everywhere, and hardly any signs of civilization until they had stumbled across Ibolai. The eyes hadn¡¯t returned since then, but he was still curious.


    He faced a tree, and stared at it, waiting for a movement.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to be still. I remember your eyes.¡±


    The tree didn¡¯t reply. Moon sighed, cursing himself. ¡°Probably something that our parents removed. Why did I think it would work?¡±


    A flash caught his eye and he saw something fall from a nearby tree. Inching closer, he saw it was a bone-white egg that had cracked from the impact.


    What was he to do? Pick it up? Threaten the life inside? Was there a life inside?


    He crouched, keeping a distance from it, scared he would crush it. The egg caught fire, burning slowly on the ground as something crawled out of it; an odd slimy thing. It shook the slime off its head as it giggled in the flames, which was becoming contained in the egg.


    Moon moved a bit closer and the life looked up at him. It was a bony thing dripping in egg goop, and it appeared that the flames hadn¡¯t damaged it much. Its little beak cooed peacefully.


    ¡°Oh, Eighth, my Celes, this is beautiful.¡± he mumbled. It squealed and Moon extended a hand towards it. It struggled to walk, but was able to crawl towards him and plopped onto his hand.


    Moon flinched. He had expected the goop, but didn¡¯t realize how odd it¡¯d feel. Like more solidified water against the lump of bones. Was this what all bone felt like?


    ¡°Where¡¯s your mother?¡± he asked as it nuzzled against his palm. A pattern over the centuries was many animals staying with its mothers. The few times it had stayed with fathers was clear to see in the Elvish species, including Wizards.


    He scooped up the egg, which still hosted the flames, into his other hand and watched as the life moved across his hand-skins towards the egg and curled into the broken egg.


    ¡°Oh. You were cold, weren¡¯t you?¡± it cooed again as he looked up through the tree from below. He saw pieces on a branch and glowing red eyes above it. Moon turned his calves into blocks of moonrays and raised himself towards the eyes, which appeared to be a large bird of bone with a mane of fire.


    ¡°Hello.¡± he whispered, showing the egg in his hands. It glared as he carefully set it into the nest next to a couple more unhatched eggs. ¡°Just setting it back. Nothing evil. I just saw it fall and-¡±


    The bird¡¯s mane exploded in strength, heating his face. He grabbed the branch as he jumped back in fear, speaking in Elven.


    ¡°Lenik! Ne takko efarai! Kleeta se!¡± The bird calmed itself when it recognized the words. ¡°Ete fliz ali. Yus femeri eszerig eflemag urdup ze norii laxai rei ete. Ne zep-unto ipal- pax?l¡­unorii dokri. Ze ukisk phorzed. Edokri.¡± Silence! I mean no harm! I''m safe! It''s alright. Your child fell and I''m here to give it. Please don''t, just¡­here you go. I have helped you. I''ll leave.


    The bird¡¯s eyes turned to a dark red as Moon nodded to it and fell into his Embodiment form and sank to the base of the tree. He hid behind the next as he switched back to his Wizardly and continued his walk.


    ¡°That was a brave thing you did,¡± a man¡¯s voice whispered.


    Moon pushed his hand into a moonray and summoned a sword of light, turning around. He held the sword point in the direction of the voice, glaring.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    A middle-aged man stepped out from the wall, and Moon immediately pushed the sword towards his throat. He held a tall torch and his body was covered in a velvet robe.


    Rich people.


    ¡°No why I tell me should to gut you in instant.¡± he asked.


    ¡°Well, a basic language lesson is certainly in order.¡± The man said, stepping back once to touch the point of the sword and lower it away from him. ¡°Do you take all your compliments this way?¡±


    ¡°Again, asked. Whom you are?¡±


    ¡°Better.¡± He commented before he performed a bow similar to the one Sir. Theodric had done, ankles crossed as he leaned on his torch. ¡±I am Sir. Eikar Rustad, a schoolteacher for the youth. And you?¡±


    He held out a hand to shake. Moon kept his grip loose as they shook, keeping the sword tight on his side.


    ¡°Arche.¡± He lied, remembering the name the Elves had put on their roster. ¡°Why you here are?¡±


    ¡°I saw a boy lurking the town walls and decided to investigate. Is that so wrong?¡± He gripped the torch and nodded at him. ¡°May I sit? These old bones can only hold me up for so long.¡±


    Moon nodded and watched as he held the staff, lowering himself to the ground carefully. He sat a distance away from him, sword set next to him.


    ¡°You have an interesting power.¡± Sr. Rustad said, staring at the sword. ¡°Which metal is it made of?¡±


    ¡°Vzikk.¡± Moon said the word for metal, realizing his vulnerability. He shouldn¡¯t have pulled out the sword to begin with. Could he find out? ¡°Job what you is?¡±


    ¡°Ah, so you speak Elven? I learned some in my youth, but now I only teach it to my students. I¡¯m a bit out of practice, but if you¡¯d like to speak Elven, that¡¯s alright.¡±


    Moon nodded. ¡°Job?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve said this previously. I¡¯m a schoolteacher for youth such as you. Do you have a job?¡±


    ¡°New man here. Family moved with man of guard job and me.¡±


    ¡°Ah, you were a guardsman in the previous town. Who moved with you?¡±


    ¡°No-one. Train-ed, I did, as man of guard.¡±


    ¡°You weren¡¯t official, then. Who are you living with?¡±


    ¡°Dragon with man me in to take. Theyo¡­Hedric?¡±


    ¡°Artos Theodric? A good lad. Where do you hail from? What happened to your parents?¡±


    ¡°From town for Elf. No parents to stick.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry, boy.¡± Rustad tapped a hand to his chest in respect. ¡°So you were raised by Elves?¡±


    ¡°Parents past was, as yes.¡±


    ¡°Were, but I am curious. Do Elves share the same myths as Wizards?¡±


    ¡°Myths which?¡±


    ¡°The Winds, Creation, and the Ocean Nymph, to name a few?¡±


    ¡°Know them of, yes. Why to ask?¡±


    ¡°Can you recite them?¡±


    Moon nodded, remembering the myths clearly from legend and memory. ¡°Speak in Elven, can I?¡±


    Rustad waved a hand, giving permission.


    ¡°Fliz? xerkti e ali. E Idyguo, Dlegeti, Ijero, urdup Zikiete kalki elamni urdup eztene kop zikiet e ekir mijkk mall falii oz fikir larjik, buiwari, jirau, jeikid urdup, n?rau kal. Ne raiko uzee-tah oz yutiervi, jaforr.¡± The Creation is simple. The Deities formed the Sun, Moon, and Planet and set them in the word before making other species, Wizards, Elves, and Giants, for example. We don¡¯t know much of your fight, however.


    ¡°Interesting.¡± he mumbled. ¡°The Winds?¡±


    ¡°Ediervak e xuwe eztened f?kilil eslerik urdup Pli-kett e nizab? pijalo kop-ako. E naep enamni nizaabe plezd eztene ali ipal.¡± Skylar wrangled the four into their corner and sewed the jar into Dellun. What they are to do with them is a mystery.


    ¡°And the Ocean Nymph?¡±


    ¡°Sixakari zikiete e menirad zepek, kir ezt zeilan kop ne-herian sitoukira urdup, yikai e vizey evirai.¡± Her curiosity nearly killed the planet, so she hid in shame and fell asleep, turning the seas to peace.


    Rustad clapped slowly. ¡°Your memory is impressive. Did they force it into you?¡±


    ¡°What to force?¡±


    ¡°Force the myths into your head for remembrance. Did the Elves do that?¡±


    Moon nodded. ¡°Every year past to tell.¡±


    ¡°Told?¡± Rustad watched him nod again. ¡°I¡¯ve never known enough about Elves to know what they say. Those Witches, meanwhile.¡±


    His tone turned angry as he gripped his torch. Moon clasped a hand around the sword handle, just in case.


    ¡°What Witches of?¡±


    ¡°I guess the Elves haven¡¯t heard of them.¡±


    Moon shook his head. ¡°We of them hear, agreement, alas, feud of you both we to know not.¡±


    Sir. Rustad pulled a knife from a sheath in his robe and sharpened it against a stone. ¡°Those evil incarnates. Mark my words, if there¡¯s a moment I could kill a Witch, I''d do it without thought. They¡¯ve tormented us for years, maybe centuries, and I¡¯d like to give them a quick death.¡±


    ¡°Of them all?¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s an option, then yes.¡±


    He continued rambling on how he¡¯d kill them while Moon drifted through his thoughts. Was the feud really that violent or was the Sir. thinking about it too much? He remembered some of the jokes the Elves had told each other around the table or the bar. They¡¯d always thought that, one day, the Witches and Wizards would kill each other so the Elves and Giants could take the lands and restore them to their former glory. Were they just poking fun, or was that an actual possibility? Did everyone involved in the feud think this way?


    Moon pretended to listen as Sir. Rustad continued talking, lost in his words to realize how violent his description of a decapitation was. Bile curled in his throat as he continued, but Moon held it down, not wanting to be disrespectful.


    An idea came to mind and he began to kokh, remembering that Elven students would perform it to get out of going to night school.


    ¡°Sorry much so.¡± he said as Sir. Rustad finally stopped talking. ¡°To go, I past may.¡±


    ¡°Oh, of course, boy. Tell Theodric to bring you to the schoolhouse sometime.¡±


    Moon stood, but knew he couldn¡¯t leave a question unanswered and sat down again on his toes. ¡°The bird of bone. By name call-led is?¡±


    ¡°We call them firebirds, though bone-birds are more accurate. They fly in from the North, so we steer clear of them. They could be spies from Witches.¡±


    He continued rambling about Witches and Moon blocked him out again, a tune catching in his head. It was an old song that the Elves had crafted to honor the Triplets, not aware they were among them. The trio had run out of that town not long after.


    He remembered a few more Elven songs, finding the tunes comforting, until Sir. Rustad stopped talking, leaning against his torch, and sighed.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to witness that, boy. I get quite worked up whenever Witches are mentioned.¡±


    ¡°Problem ne.¡± Moon stood. ¡°To leave, I to have.¡±


    ¡°Of course, boy. If you¡¯ll do one favor for me.¡±


    He stared at him, beginning a prayer to his parents that it wouldn¡¯t be anything evil-


    ¡°Can you help me stand?¡± he asked, holding up his hands. ¡°These old bones don¡¯t hold me like they used to.¡±


    Moon grabbed his palms between his thumbs and forefingers and pulled him to his feet. The Sir. immediately grabbed his torch and pulled it out of the dirt, nodding for him to lead them through the wall.


    They passed the space as Sir. Rustad pulled out a stick and whispered something in a language Moon hadn''t spoken in centuries. The wall built itself back together to appear solid and the duo walked through the streets, the Sir. pointing out various buildings before they paused at a two story building with a slanted roof. Sir. Rustad faced him.


    ¡°It was kind to meet you, Arche.¡± he said, shaking his hand. ¡°Tell Theodric about me, yes?¡±


    ¡°Course of, sir.¡± Moon dropped his wrinkled hand and pulled at the sides of his pants in a lady-like bow. ¡°Meet nice of you.¡±


    The Sir. waved his hand, dismissing him, and he ran down the street towards the dragon master''s house.


    He ran through the winding streets until he ducked, gasping for air and clutching his knees for support. He saw a fence next to him and looked up to see a herd of cattle grazing, munching on grass and anything in it. He continued around the property and saw another fenced-in space with another herd, this time of goats.


    ¡°Yael, Sayge, my parents, I apologize for my future actions.¡± Moon prayed as he turned his left hand to moonrays, sending a direct shot through a goat¡¯s eye. He made the ray twist and wrap around its mouth as it fell and continued bleeding to death. Sacrificing a forearm, Moon expanded the ray into a set of hands and raised the corpse over the fence and above his head. He chipped off two fingers on his other hand and moved those to clean the blood on the ground, making sure it was spotless before Moon continued his walk.


    He noticed Planet''s footsteps where plants were beginning to form and followed them to the dragon master''s shop, opening the door for himself. Moon used the rays carrying the goat and placed it in a room next to the door with many cabinets and storage spaces. He wasn''t sure where to put it, so Moon dropped it on a rug and took the rays back into his arm.


    Moon removed an eye and moved it to the door, pushing it through the wood with a trick of the light. He saw Planet sleeping on the hay next to Sol and pulled the eye back to its socket.


    He sat at the wooden table, feeling dishonorable towards Yael and saw a stack of books across him with a note on top in sharp handwriting: ¡°For Moon.¡± The titles were all in Modern, as was the text, which he understood a decent amount conversationally, but still needed a chart to understand it.


    He pulled his left leg onto the chair, keeping his heel off the edge, and dug through his calf pocket, producing a small notebook similar to Sol¡¯s, but his was bound in grey-dyed leather. Planet had called it ¡°funny¡± when she had bought it.


    Moon flipped through the book, remembering words as he did so and found the chart of the Modern alphabet. Sol had copied it from a textbook and Moon had copied her notes, and both contained the sounds of each character under it.


    He cracked open the first book and began reading, whispering the words under his breath and referencing the notebook often. He''d just started a page called ¡°Chapter Five¡± when the Sir. walked out of a room, yawning.


    ¡°You got back safe.¡± He announced. ¡°Oh, whom am I kidding? I need a drink.¡±


    He moved into the kitchen and stared at the goat carcass as Moon realized the first sentence was getting easier to read.


    ¡°Um, Moon? Did you¡­actually¡­kill this goat?¡±


    ¡°You to tell me to do.¡± he said, flipping between pages of the notebook to be sure he said that correctly.


    ¡°I did. That''s right.¡± He scrubbed a hand across his face and pulled out a bottle from a cabinet. ¡°This''ll make sense when I''m not sober.¡± he muttered, taking a swig from the bottle. Jumping as the alcohol entered his body, he splashed pail water on his face and pushed it through his hair before he turned to Moon again.


    ¡°Good morning, then.¡± Sir. Theodric sighed.


    ¡°No.¡± Moon said, sliding off the seat. ¡°To wake I am, so now Sol to sleep. No mourn until to start to wake of Sol.¡±


    ¡°All-right.¡± Sir. Theodric took another swig of wine. ¡°Can you wake Planet, then?¡±


    Moon stepped towards the door and turned his right hand to a ball of light to shine his surroundings. The moonlight in the window was dimmer than before, limiting his time awake.


    Planet¡¯s forearm had vanished into the hay, making duplicates, but her outline was still obvious.


    ¡°Planet. Zikiete. Wake up.¡±


    ¡°Mmm.¡±


    ¡°Get up.¡±


    ¡°Ne.¡±


    ¡°Ta. Bring Sol.¡± Yes.


    ¡°Ne. Uveri.¡± No. Fuck you.


    Moon turned his other hand to a ball of light and merged them, spreading it over her eyes. She yelled and covered her eyes, swearing profusely.


    He kicked her leg, rolling her on her back as the balls of light became his hands again. ¡°Xli e zirtad ali. Dlegetir uya.¡± The Sir. is waiting. Bring Sol.


    ¡°Ete k?rii yus oz ipal, kletti-benzi yus.¡± Do it yourself, you bird.


    He saw her sit up before he left the room, keeping the door cracked.


    ¡°Ne zarcka ipal!¡± Moon yelled back. Don¡¯t be slow!


    ¡°Etiervi! Edokriz!¡± I know! I''m going!


    The Sir. had drained a third of the bottle as Moon sat at the table again. ¡°Is everything alright?¡±


    ¡°Fine is. No Planet early to wake used to.¡±


    The Sir. capped the bottle and put it on the counter. ¡°I have some news, but I¡¯ll wait until Planet arrives.¡±


    Moon yelled to the cracked door again. ¡°Boliki unorii ipal? Kor ludrii!¡± Do you hear that? Hurry up!


    ¡°Enorii rei, zerki yus!¡± Planet said, kicking the door open with her foot, Sol on her shoulder. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I''m here, you ass!


    ¡°Wonderful.¡± Sir. Theodric clapped his hands as Planet set Sol into a chair and let his head flop onto the table. ¡°I¡¯ve to talk to a friend soon, not one of the ones you had met last night, but a new one. He¡¯s a tutor and he can help you study whatever you need during your time here. I can bring him around before or after Sol wakes.¡±


    ¡°That to work plural.¡± Moon said, nodding.


    Sir. Theodric sighed, squeezing the skin between his eyes. ¡°I know one thing he can teach you.¡± he grumbled as he turned to his room.


    Planet glared at him. ¡°Ne uikinar kisk linax toukira mi e kal n?rll zirta raiko?¡± You couldn''t have allowed me to sleep for a few more minutes?


    Moon shrugged, sitting back down with the books. ¡°Me tewoulyiet yus hzerven, kir leipal.¡± He told me to wake you, so I did.


    ¡°Ne luipal kisk zerki e maynni amni ete.¡± You didn''t have to be an ass about it.


    ¡°E zikiete swoultyed.¡± Says the Planet.


    She covered her mouth in disgust as she realized the smell wafting through the room. ¡°Why is there a dead goat?¡±


    ¡°You can tell that from the smell?¡±


    The Sir. walked out of his room at that time, pulling a shirt over his torso. He had heard her question and saw the goat still lying on the rug.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry, girl. I¡¯ll set it away. I should¡¯ve done that immediately.¡±


    He opened one of the storage units, revealing it to be filled with other carcasses and lined with ice and set the goat inside, breaking a few limbs to make it fit. He covered the unit again and stood before walking towards the door.


    ¡°Will you be alright by yourselves?¡± he asked, striding to the hooked pole and putting on his overcoat before he laced his shoes.


    ¡°We will.¡± Planet said.


    ¡°Books the to entertain.¡± Moon mentioned, tapping the top of the stack with his fingers.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be long. But stay safe.¡±


    He spared a glance behind him before he closed the door, leaving the two alone.


    ¡°Kir, plezd uliarud rei?¡± Planet asked. So, what are you reading?


    ¡°N?rll mi f?reit tedokri. Ne ze ete plezd maynni ipal tiervi, ze jaforr zigrad duevri rei.¡± Some book he left me. I don¡¯t know what it¡¯s about, but I¡¯m trying to understand.


    Planet looked down at his notes. ¡°Yus zerki dierva an-eh oz ali.¡± Your handwriting is shit.


    ¡°Tee-agit. E nier? an-eh f?karr raiko debaiiki boliki amniz ali mi trouble kop ne-dir kipbi.¡± Thank you. Being left-handed is a very important skill that won¡¯t get me in trouble.


    ¡°Ne ev?rei wil.¡± she smiled, holding up both hands. ¡°Nier? urdup dweva an-ehd.¡± I can¡¯t compare. Left and right-handed.


    ¡°Ne boliki yus e takko amn?bi fuhir amni, jaforr.¡± That''s not the only reason you were punished, however.


    Her face fell. ¡°Ne ze woulyiet yuzikara maynni kizien ete.¡± I thought we agreed not to talk about it.


    Moon shrugged. ¡°Ekturlik pax?l.¡± It just slipped.


    She kicked his chair¡¯s leg and sat across from Sol, chin on the table and stared across at him.


    ¡°Eikinar ne-herian kop-ako boplai tasil uzukeien ipal?¡± she asked, noticing her jaw lowering. Do you think I could vanish into this wood?


    ¡°Plezd uzukeien ipali zirtan amzkrra tasil ukisk ipal anmil?¡± What do you think you¡¯ve been doing this whole time?


    Planet turned to her Embodiment form and vanished into the wood, her eyes appearing next to Moon¡¯s notebook. He proceeded to flick the table above those eyes.


    ¡°Bezeni.¡± Moon said, uninterested. ¡°Mi piik tasil yus nizaabe duevri wil?¡± Impressive. Can you understand this line with me?


    The eyes moved to the edge until Planet stepped out of the wood in her Wizardly form. ¡°Ta, plezd udeilla ipal?¡± Yes, what do you need?


    She had just translated a third line when Sir. Theodric returned, leading a man into the house. Moon recognized that velvet cloak immediately.


    ¡°Theodric, you know I despise waking in the early hours.¡± the guest said, kicking off his shoes by the door before he took in the room and saw the two blinking up at him. ¡°Oh. Arche.¡±


    ¡°Sir. Rustad.¡± Moon said.


    Sir. Theodric saw them staring at each other and gave a half-bow between them all. ¡°Sir. Rustad, these are the children that I¡¯ve fostered. Moon, Planet, and the sleeping one is Sol.¡±


    He recognized the names and slammed the door shut. ¡°What. Were. You. Thinking?¡± he snapped. ¡°Yelling that for everyone to hear? How did this happen?¡±


    ¡°Perhap I could-¡± Moon started, but was quickly cut off.


    ¡°Silence, boy. I have no business with you.¡±


    Moon began to whisper to Planet. ¡°Et plajah e amni w?liik ali, phor et xirki eflemag ali.¡± If he is to be assumed to be the tutor, I see who his business is.


    ¡°Sit, my good sir.¡± Sir. Theodric said, placing a hand on the tutor¡¯s back and leading him to a seat. ¡°I¡¯ve pushed you too much already.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Artos. You wouldn¡¯t happen to have wine, would you?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡± he said, entering the next room and coming back with a bottle of wine and two glasses. Moon noticed that Sir. Theodric gave Sir. Rustad more wine than he did himself, lowering his glass under his as they prayed to Ellery for their drinks not to contain poison before they drank.


    Sir. Rustad set down his glass and stared at the two, who had been watching the scene unfold. ¡°So, you three are my new students, then?¡±


    Planet nodded. ¡°How do you know his Elven roster name?¡±


    ¡°F?bir lauwt et lelaxau.¡± Moon whispered to her and she nodded. I gave him a fake name.


    ¡°This boy lied to me for a good hour.¡± Sir. Rustad said as he was given a refill of wine.


    ¡°Et maynni kiratti radoli. Zira raiko. Ne mu teipal vuer?n, ekleeta rei.¡± He was to ramble about Witches. Very scary. He didn¡¯t threaten me, I¡¯m safe.


    ¡°You told me your Elven parents didn¡¯t stick around when you came here. You never mentioned any siblings.¡±


    ¡°No you do to ask.¡±


    ¡°And you!¡± he whirled to Sir. Theodric, anger rising with the wine he¡¯d drank. ¡°Why did you shout that you¡¯re harboring the Triplets? Harboring folktales and you thought you could yell it out in the streets?¡±


    ¡°We to be honored are?¡± Moon asked.


    ¡°Woultyed, ne zaykir l?zadi uyamni.¡± Planet told him. Speaking, we didn¡¯t offer to be folktales.


    ¡°Dukir.¡± True.


    Sir. Theodric fumbled over his words as he told the tutor about how they had met during the previous sundown. Sir. Rustad looked between him and the two as he talked, them adding bits that he had forgotten.


    When he finished the tale, Sir. Rustad laid his elbows on the table and rubbed his temples. ¡°You¡¯re a crazy man, you know that, Artos?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Moon felt a yawn creep up his throat and wiped an eye, closing his notebook, but his leg was heavy, as if someone had strapped a brick of metal to his ankle.


    ¡°Ijero? Is something wrong?¡± Planet asked as he lowered his head on the table, eyes closing.


    ¡°Ay, ne-oh.¡± he mumbled into his arm. ¡°M?kira pax?l.¡± Moon¡¯s words were cut by a yawn as he tapped his head to stay awake. ¡°Kop Dlegetir takien, bodkir? Ete menirad dlegeti-ejiit ali, ezukeien.¡± Ah, nothing. Just tired. Check on Sol, then? It¡¯s nearly sunrise, I think.


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Planet slipped out of her seat as Moon covered his eyes with his arm, but Sir. Rustad didn¡¯t approve of this and grabbed his shirt, trying to wake him up.


    ¡°Stay awake! I haven¡¯t explained why I¡¯m here.¡±


    Moon smirked. ¡°Yus responsible neill? anmi kal zikieted du hzerveni?¡± Do you want to be responsible for two planets awake?


    He struggled to form his words and Moon smacked his arm as hard as he could. ¡°Let me sleep, xli.¡±


    Sol twitched in his seat as the sunlight stretched across the table, easing Moon into sleep.

 Chapter 10: Introductions

    Corrin tucked the girl under his arm as he walked back into the town, hiding in the shadows. As they walked, he placed himself closer to the street, keeping a steady pace towards Sachse¡¯s alley.


    He was dreading the lecture he¡¯d get from him. I mean, bringing a Witch? Preposterous.


    Corrin found the vines and pushed Ostara inside, following her in.


    ¡°Corr? Why are you back?¡± His eyes turned to Ostara. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°I found her outside.¡±


    ¡°Of course you did.¡± He set down his book and stood against the wall, glaring at her. ¡°Darkwood.¡±


    Ostara blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    He nodded to her leg. ¡°Your wand is made of darkwood. Is that Witch or Wizard-made?¡±


    ¡°I-I crafted it, so Witch-made.¡±


    Sachse¡¯s eyes widened before he swallowed the lump in his throat and motioned to Corrin. ¡°Can we talk?¡±


    He grabbed his forearm before he could say anything and pulled him into a corner, but the space was so small, she could still hear them.


    Sachse squeezed his arm as his voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°What were you thinking? Bringing a Witch, of all people? What did she do?¡± He looked through his face, trying to figure it out. ¡°Can she control minds? Did she spell you? You should¡¯ve spelled her back.¡±


    ¡°So, you think I should¡¯ve burned her. Look,¡± Corrin grabbed his arms, forcing him to focus. ¡°I couldn¡¯t just leave her out there. I allowed her to leave, but then she started crying and I thought of you. Well, I always do, but-¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Sachse hushed him, glaring at Ostara, who was admiring the walls. ¡°When is she leaving?¡±


    ¡°Sunrise, I¡¯d hoped.¡±


    Sachse let go of him and turned to Ostara as Corrin propped himself on the plank. ¡°You¡¯ll leave by sunrise. For now, just...make yourself comfortable. On one condition.¡±


    She nodded, slightly confused.


    ¡°You¡¯re not to leave here unless you are with one of us. Is that clear?¡±


    She nodded again.


    ¡°That settles it.¡± Sachse pulled himself back onto the plank, legs in Corrin¡¯s lap. ¡°Sit if you want. I don¡¯t have a lot for you to do unless you want these overdue books.¡±


    ¡°Isn''t that an affront to Yael?¡± Ostara asked, sitting in a corner.


    ¡°And they¡¯re our patron, why haven¡¯t you returned them?¡± Corrin queried.


    ¡°Don¡¯t sit too close to the wall,¡± Sachse called to her, ignoring their questions. ¡°I saw a spider yesterday.¡±


    She sat up with an idea. ¡°Do you mind?¡±


    Sachse blinked. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Ostara pulled a tweezer from her small bag on her thigh. ¡°I have to harvest the blood. Good for potions.¡± She shrugged. ¡°My sister asked.¡±


    She pulled out a vial, slid off the plank, and crouched before the corner. Using the tweezers to pluck the tiny spider from its web, she squeezed its blood into the vial before she capped it with a cork plug and swirled around the blood, smiling at it unsettlingly.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°That should be enough.¡± She wiped away the dead spider from her tweezers and put them away as she slid onto the plank again.


    Sachse let out a laugh before he hid his mouth. ¡°Sorry for being rude. Just glad to know you¡¯re fun. In a good way.¡± he said quickly, noticing her getting confused.


    She pulled her leg under her chin and looked at them. ¡°So what do you normally do in a Wizards¡¯ town?¡±


    ¡°What have you heard?¡± Sachse asked, trying to cover the back of the book with his hand so Corrin couldn¡¯t read it.


    ¡°You boil Witch infants with your poisons. Wait, no, that was another town.¡±


    ¡°Lan?¡¯s?¡± Corrin suggested as he snatched the book from Sachse and held a finger at the page he had been reading from before he read the back cover. ¡°Who is Autumnhill¡¯s patron?¡±


    ¡°Give it back!¡± Sachse complained, leaning forward to grab the book before Corrin threw it into his lap.


    ¡°Hey, I asked a question.¡± Corrin smiled, holding up his chin.


    Sachse¡¯s face turned red as he shoved the book in the space below the plank. ¡°Autumnhill¡¯s patron is Celes and Lan? is the patron of Pibum.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Corrin let go of him and looked back at Ostara. ¡°What have you heard about Yael¡¯s Wizardly town?¡±


    ¡°Not much, really. I¡¯ve heard more about their Witch town than their Wizardly one, and they¡¯re farther than you are from Farehallow.¡±


    ¡°Who is your town¡¯s patron deity?¡± Sachse asked, crossing his ankles.


    ¡°Sayge. Have you two heard anything untoward about us?¡±


    Corrin looked at Sachse. ¡°You¡¯re the cleaner at the tavern. What have you heard?¡±


    ¡°Do you expect me to believe the words of drunks?¡±


    ¡°Hey, I ran to you the first night I got drunk.¡±


    ¡°You do that every night.¡±


    ¡°Running or drinking?¡±


    Sachse uncrossed his ankles and swung his heel into his thigh. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard a lot about individual towns, and I doubt the calligraphers have an accurate map of your territory. I do know there¡¯s always that one man that gets so drunk that he starts swearing he¡¯ll exterminate all the Witches before he falls into the garbage bin on his way to the bathroom.¡±


    Corrin laughed. ¡°Half of the time, it¡¯s my dad.¡±


    ¡°Or Tori¡¯s.¡±


    Ostara looked around the alley. ¡°So, why do you live here?¡±


    Sachse¡¯s easy smile fell. ¡°Let¡¯s not discuss that.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I-I didn''t mean to push.¡±


    ¡°Then you can¡¯t help.¡±


    ¡°I¡­uhm, I wasn¡¯t asking to help you, I was just curious-¡±


    ¡°Curious why an adult lives alone in a musty alley instead of on a farm like everyone else?¡± Sachse snapped, sitting up to glare at her.


    ¡°Ostara, jus-just drop it.¡± Corrin hissed, noticing how her body had tensed from his sudden anger. ¡°Change the subject, now.¡±


    Sachse thought otherwise. ¡°No, let¡¯s get this out right no-¡±


    Corrin shoved his hand over his mouth and held his head still. ¡°Shut up, dumbass. We¡¯re changing the subject.¡±


    He waited until he''d stopped struggling and rolled his eyes, muttering ¡°fine¡± into his palm before he let go.


    ¡°What do you do for work?¡± Corrin asked her, stretching his hand as Sachse pulled his legs towards him.


    ¡°Oh, uh, I work at my family¡¯s shop. We develop wands for kids and fix old men¡¯s mistakes. Not that they take the advice.¡± she said, her voice dropping to a whisper.


    ¡°Why would they not take the advice?¡± Sachse asked. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re very knowledgeable in wandlore, seeing how your family has a whole shop around it.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Ostara waved her hand to her chest under her cloak. ¡°These, unfortunately, are very distracting. I¡¯m too young for marriage, and they¡¯re too obvious to take off, but I can¡¯t wear high-collared dresses until I marry-¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by take off?¡± Corrin asked. ¡°Like it''s fake?¡±


    ¡°No, they''re natural, unfortunately. But I found out a trick a few years ago that helps.¡±


    She pulled out her wand and muttered a Shifting spell. Two vines crossed across her breasts in an X and when they pulled away, she lifted her cloak with her other hand to reveal a male chest. Corrin noticed she sat up higher after that.


    ¡°It¡¯s better this way, but I can¡¯t wear this during work. Too obvious.¡± She cleared her throat, putting her wand away. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I should¡¯ve asked immediately after. What do you two do for work?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a farmhand for my father. He¡¯s a cleaner and volunteers at the library.¡± Corrin pointed his thumb at Sachse, who stretched a leg into his lap again.


    ¡°Any reason why you have two jobs?¡± Ostara asked, looking around Corrin at Sachse.


    His face twisted into a scowl. ¡°It¡¯s hard to find a steady job when you¡¯re an outcast. No openings outside of family friends taking pity.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t answer the question.¡± Corrin said. He glared daggers into him, but was met with a smile.


    ¡°Fine. The drunks want to bully me and make my life harder, and the book-keepers took pity on me a few years ago.¡±


    ¡°Ah, right.¡± Corrin said, shutting his mouth tight as he remembered the reason and squeezed his knee in sympathy. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Blame your damn friends and stop apologizing.¡± Sachse snapped, looking at the sky above. ¡°Seems that Moon¡¯s half-awake.¡±


    ¡°Wait, Moon?¡± Ostara asked, making connections in her head. ¡°We call him Lune.¡±


    ¡°Of course you-¡±


    In one motion, Sachse sat up and shoved a hand over Corrin¡¯s mouth, covering his own with a finger to silence Ostara.


    What? she asked, her lips moving without sound.


    ¡°Witches.¡± he whispered.

 Chapter 11: The Cards

    Sachse held Corrin¡¯s head against the wall, ignoring his squirming as he listened. Multiple footsteps made their way down the path and between the vines, he could see flickers of fire in their hands or above their heads. Their dark cloaks dragged on the ground as they passed the alley, not knowing they were being heard by the residents inside.


    Sachse waited until the whole group had turned the corner until he released a breath and glanced at Ostara, who held up a hand for silence.


    ¡°Before you say anything, they¡¯re disconnected from our society. I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re doing here and they didn¡¯t follow me here.¡±


    ¡°Do you know who they are, at the very least?¡± Sachse asked.


    She nodded, pinching her other palm repeatedly. ¡°They¡¯re the Cardmakers.¡±


    Cotton looked at him, both of them confused, before they looked back at Ostara, who was beginning to tremble.


    ¡°T-they¡¯re a Witch legend mostly, but they, uhm, they¡¯ve been using their Cards to torment the North. I didn¡¯t think they¡¯d get involved in Wizardly affairs.¡±


    ¡°Yes, and those affairs are in the tavern.¡± Corrin said, pushing Sachse¡¯s hand off his mouth to speak. ¡°I wonder what they¡¯re doing there?¡±


    ¡°Drinking away their problems. What else?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not who I meant.¡±


    ¡°Maybe be more clear next time.¡±


    Sachse stood from the plank to look outside the vines, but didn¡¯t make it far before Corrin grabbed his wrist and pulled him back to sit next to him.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± he hissed as Corrin stood in front of him.


    ¡°You are aware that you¡¯re not going alone. Correct?¡±


    ¡°That only applied to her-¡°


    ¡°No, but I¡¯m sure Ostara is curious about them?¡± He glanced over at her for clarification, but she shook her head furiously, hair shaking out of her collar.


    ¡°Of course not!¡± She snapped. ¡°You haven¡¯t heard the rumors that I have. You don¡¯t know what you¡¯ll witness!¡±


    Corrin laughed, actually laughed, at this threat. ¡°Oh please. Me and this dumbass¡± He grabbed him by the forehead and forced his head against the wall, smiling as he seethed. ¡°aren¡¯t strangers to rumors.¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t something simple like he likes her. I¡¯ve heard that they¡¯ve killed.¡±


    Corrin blinked, turning to face her. ¡°How can some playing cards kill people?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard their cards are bewitched.¡±


    Sachse chuckled. ¡°Not surprising. It¡¯s in their name. Witches.¡±


    ¡°I mean spelled, cursed, hexed, haunted. Some say they¡¯re played by the dead. Y-you know what I mean!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the spell, then?¡± Corrin asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s just it, it¡¯s impossible to know. I¡¯ve spent hours upon hours studying wand lore and I can¡¯t find anything like it. The cards always predict familial deaths or the player¡¯s suffering. There have been more cases of those coming true then those living in fear of a certain day, or those trying to avoid what they cannot.¡±


    ¡°So the cards predict, what, murder?¡± Corrin said, connecting the dots. ¡°Is Ozul playing these cards in secret, or is this something insane that Skylar has created? Seems like the type of prank they¡¯d do.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a prank!¡± Ostara insisted, standing.


    ¡°It sounds like a childish story to get you to behave.¡± Sachse quiped.


    ¡°A childish story that continues well into adulthood. Do your childhood stories walk out of your imagination and through the streets of a foreign town? I don¡¯t think so!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m assuming you¡¯d object if I suggest we follow them?¡± Corrin added. ¡°Just to see what they¡¯re up to?¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°They¡¯re off to torment the drunks. Nothing special.¡± Sachse muttered, but Corrin pushed him out of his lap and stood, letting him lead them out of the alley.


    Sachse noticed their cloaks had made tracks on the ground and followed the trail towards the tavern, taking an alley towards the back of the shop. He ducked under a window, the other two following, as the Witches began their speech.


    ¡°To begin this game,¡± the first one announced. There was a swish of fabric through the air, and Sachse assumed she¡¯d taken off her hood. ¡°Shall I call ourselves Witches?¡±


    They heard the scrape of weapons being grabbed and drawn, but the voice only chuckled.


    ¡°I assume you¡¯ve heard of us.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t allow Witches in this here tavern.¡± Sachse¡¯s manager said, his message being broken with drunken hiccups.


    ¡°Oh! Oh, my poor man, we are not the Witches of the towns, of course we aren¡¯t! No, we are Witches of the wild, here to play a simple game, then to leave.¡±


    ¡°A game with what?¡± another man called. Sachse recognized this tone from Sir Salemon, the chief of Purerest.


    ¡°Cards.¡±


    The women giggled amongst themselves as the cards flip between their hands and they picked out the soberest of men to play with.


    The Witch who¡¯d spoken first had chosen to play with the chief, and Sachse got the courage to look over the ledge. The smell of alcohol and sweat was stronger now, but he could see the Witches sitting across from the men at their tables, both of their friends overlooking them either slumped over another table or watching from the walls.


    All at once, the Witches shuffled and dealt three cards to the man in front of her, all of them facedown. Most of them pulled out a notebook and set it next to her before each flipped their first card. Sachse focused on the first Witch, the one with gray hair and fair skin.


    She looked at the card and smiled at the chief. ¡°A struggling relationship. You¡¯re better to let it go if it won¡¯t hurt you more.¡±


    The chief glared, taking a swig from his glass. Sachse noticed a halo of blonde curls next to him and shoved it towards the ground.


    Corrin hissed up at him, holding his hand down. ¡°What was that for?¡±


    ¡°They can¡¯t see you. You¡¯re too obvious.¡±


    ¡°Oh, thank you very much, you arse.¡±


    The Witches flipped the next card and told their opponent what it meant. The first Witch¡¯s smile only grew.


    ¡°A death in the family. A son or a nephew of yours? Ah, one moment.¡± She held up a finger as she examined the card. ¡°This has not occurred yet. A future hurdle for you to cross, I believe?¡±


    ¡°This is rubbish.¡± the chief spat, glaring down at the cards like they were his enemies. ¡°This can¡¯t be true.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a prediction, sir. Nothing more, nothing less. It may not even happen in your lifetime.¡±


    ¡°But these cards are of my future, so that statement is nonsense-¡±


    ¡°Ladies.¡± the Witch called to the rest of the tavern. ¡°The final card.¡±


    Their arms moved in sync as they flipped the final card. The chief, who had been calling for another glass, grabbed the waiter¡¯s arm and called for the whole barrel.


    The Witch¡¯s smile couldn¡¯t get wider, but it did. ¡°Ah, I''m quite curious about this card. Miss. Aliyah, may I borrow this?¡±


    She took a notebook from her friend and flipped through it, finding her answer before she handed it back. ¡°This card¡­it predicts a gruesome injury you will sustain. That, or a battle is coming where this injury shall occur.¡±


    ¡°The only battle that is happening is between us!¡± the chief roared, standing so quickly he knocked the table forward. ¡°You came here with those cards to provoke us, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I never said that.¡±


    ¡°You never say¡¯d anything correctly!¡±


    ¡°Sir, if you¡¯ll let me make my final prediction-¡±


    ¡°No! You came here to torment us with these papers, to befuddle our minds before you ransacked our town. Weren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Now, if I shall speak-¡±


    The chief opened his mouth to swear some more, but all that came from his mouth was vomit. Within seconds, the Witch had whipped out her wand and directed the liquids to the floor, wiping away the single drop from her face.


    The chief gripped the table, a fist over his lips in politeness, staring daggers into the Witch. ¡°That¡¯s the last straw, wench.¡±


    Sachse ducked his head under the ledge as wands were taken out over the tavern and spells shot across the room.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Corrin whispered.


    ¡°We need to go.¡± Ostara ordered, ducking under the ledge. ¡°Back to the alley. Now!¡±


    A spell shot out the window right where Sachse¡¯s head had been and the wooden wall in front of them ripped open with a fire spell.


    ¡°That makes sense.¡± Corrin gulped. Sachse shoved him by the shoulder away from the tavern and ran through the streets, ending up outside the alley first. Seconds later, Corrin came around the corner, holding Ostara¡¯s arm and pulling her with him. Sachse shoved them between the vines before he followed them in.


    Ostara plopped herself on the plank. ¡°I¡¯m assuming that doesn¡¯t normally happen when you leave this alley.¡±


    Sachse nodded as Corrin slumped against the wall, clutching his chest.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you understand what we¡¯ve just witnessed?¡± Corrin asked.


    Sachse and Ostara shook their heads in unison.


    ¡°War has begun,¡± he whispered. ¡°Witches and Wizards will be fighting each other by first light.¡±


    ¡°B-but those Witches are disconnected from our societies, so it won¡¯t affect them. Right?¡± Ostara guessed, but they all knew that wouldn¡¯t happen.


    ¡°They don¡¯t see it like that.¡± Sachse explained, wiping a spider off the wall. ¡±All they know is that the other side of the feud has launched war and they must respond in kind.¡± He looked at both of them, noticing Corrin was looking green. ¡°We¡¯ll wait for Sol to wake before we decide anything else. If Corrin is unable to, I can bring you home.¡±


    ¡°No, I-I¡¯ll do it.¡± Corrin swallowed the lump in his throat and stood straighter, pushing himself off the wall. ¡°Besides, my friends aren¡¯t allowed to find me here. Goodnight, Lexis.¡±


    Sachse nodded at him. ¡°Goodnight, Freidger.¡±


    He watched Corrin lead her out of the alley and cast another glance back at him before they vanished through the vines. Sachse lied on the plank and felt his eyes draw to the sky, his mouth whispering in a prayer to those above.


    "Deities, I ask for their safety and mine as we navigate through this treacherous war."

 Chapter 12: Eikar Rustad

    Needless to say, Sol was not pleased with the news. He let Planet know as much as he paced before the table. Moon had been placed in the spare room to sleep while the others talked.


    ¡°What was Ijero thinking?¡± he spat, his freckles glowing a red-yellow mix on his face. ¡°Speaking to a citizen? Why didn¡¯t he lie when the man arrived?¡±


    ¡°The man is right here.¡± the elder man said, raising his hand above the table. Planet had already forgotten his name.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about him, sir.¡± Planet said, feeling guilty for her sibling¡¯s unpleasantness. ¡°He¡¯s unsure how to trust people. We haven¡¯t been in civilization for over two months.¡±


    ¡°Boliki udezorl yus fliz anmi kal, Zikiete!¡± Sol snapped at her. That was for your own good, Planet!


    ¡°Ze dukirl ipal ax?wulo boliki oz deilla?¡± she asked, whipping her head towards him. ¡°Ze vaned zerkill zirta Ijero kal?n kipbi!¡± Do I truly need reminders of that? I already get enough shit from Ijero!


    Sol quieted and sat in a chair, thinking. ¡°Plezd entiervi ipal?¡± What do they know?


    ¡°Xevv ako ziurei oz buiwari Ijero enzukien ali, urdup e zirta kipik vebir et ziub?ik duevri. Woultyez ziurei oz buiwari deta zer ipalk kal?n jieran rezklad laxauk et ipald it kipik ali.¡± They think Moon is new to Modern and have to waste an extra moment to understand his words. He¡¯s been speaking Modern as if it¡¯s been exactly exchanged from Elven.


    She tapped the table, freckles fading to their usual color. ¡°Phlee-tet boliki dir tipal? Woulyi il ziurei oz buiwari woultye yuwil. Ne erv fikir helbii zirtan boliki f?reit e dez?rl e kop uydir kipi¨C Ah. Ete ze kipbi. Et tra-tarati kir pik-dee ne eflemagiz rei ali.¡± Why would he do that? We can all speak Modern conversationally. Otherwise we wouldn''t have spent that time in the library¨C Oh. I get it. He''s quite smart when I''m not looking.


    ¡°Yus ne-ywe flemagiz rei.¡± You¡¯re never looking.


    ¡°Lenik, vemir.¡± Sol attempted to put his feet on the chair but flinched from the bits sticking out. ¡°Plezd yor-kik norii ali? Phlee-tet peureiz yus por fle-pada ali?¡± Quiet, sister. What¡¯s wrong here? Why is your hair sticking out?


    ¡°Ne boliki fle-pada mi ali. Boliki boplai ali.¡± That¡¯s not my hair. That¡¯s wood.


    ¡°Zep-unto, vemir. Boll yus fle-pad e yutiervi rei. Eztene raiko yecrei pik-dee yus el?koei dir.¡± Please, sister. We know the trees are your hair. They''ll become more when you age.


    She frowned at being reminded of the old argument. ¡°Ne eoski zirta boliki zukeien kipik. E femeri z?riki bodkir zirta flemag. Yuze ta ekzirta dir yuze ako rei?¡± I''d rather not think of that period. The kids look weird during then. Are we sure it''ll happen to us?


    ¡°Ete ekzirta ali. Yuze zarckad pax?l f?lakk.¡± It already is happening. We just grow slower.


    The mentor cleared his throat when he heard a break in conversation. ¡°For starters, we should change your names.¡±


    ¡°What wrong with them?¡± Sol asked. ¡°We have our own names.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but people will notice you immediately if you shout your first names across the street or speak Elven out of nowhere. Have you had any names in the past, such as what Arche had?¡±


    He pulled out a scroll of some parchment pieces that were rolled together and spread a blank one out on the table. Sir. Theodric stood and came back with a handful of small weights, which he placed on the corners of the parchment before he began to survey the shop around him. The man put a quill and ink bottle next to the parchment and dipped the quill in the bottle, blew on the tip gently, then wrote the heading: Education Plan for Students 187-189.


    ¡°Why is that?¡± Sol asked.


    ¡°Well, we haven''t decided your names yet, and this is what I write for each student. Now, have you answered my question? Have you had any names in the past?¡±


    Sol shrugged her shoulders, looking at Planet. ¡°We just stole names to put them on the Elves¡¯ rosters. We never identified with them.¡±


    ¡°We had over twenty names on those lists!¡± Planet reminded him.


    ¡°Even more because of you.¡±


    ¡°Let''s decide your new names.¡± He said, breaking up the fight. ¡°Would you like common Wizardly names or to choose Elven names again?¡±


    ¡°Let us see what you come up with.¡± Sol challenged, sitting back in his chair, but jumped from the pricks.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already had a few planned.¡± he said, pulling out another scroll from his cloak. ¡°Both Wizardly and Elven. For Planet, you could go by Lanniya.¡±


    She shook her head furiously. ¡°Names beginning with L have bad luck. I''d rather not.¡±


    ¡°Is that an Elven superstition?¡±


    ¡°Whatever do you mean?¡±


    The sir shook his head and continued down the list. ¡°I also have Janni, Ordi, Krea, Abbey-¡±


    ¡°I''ll take Krea.¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    ¡°What about me?¡± Sol asked. ¡°What gendered names do you have for me?¡±


    He scratched his neck, eyes pinned to his parchment. ¡°Well, assuming your gender, I¡¯d think you''d like to go by a male name?¡±


    ¡°What? Just because I have a flat chest means I have a penis?¡± The man coughed violently at this, but Sol continued. ¡°I wasn''t there when our parents decided on gender and fucked up my body. Blame-¡±


    Planet pulled off her forearm, turning it to dirt, and let it float over to hit him upside the head. She glared at her accusatory, but she held a finger to her lips, the arm of earth pointing up.


    ¡°They¡¯re watching.¡± she whispered. Sol glared at the man, who held his fist over his lips as Planet pulled the earth into her skin.


    ¡°What names do you have? I¡¯ll take one off of Planet¡¯s list.¡±


    ¡°Ah, y-you¡¯ll call her Krea now. I do have a few more names, though¡­¡± he wiped away a few names with his finger as he scanned the list. ¡°Uhm, you could take Abbey or Brianna.¡±


    Sol shook his head, waiting.


    ¡°I also have Xeria and Auizia.¡±


    ¡°Hmm. I¡¯ll take Auizia.¡±


    ¡°Oh. oh, alright then. Now for your Education Plan.¡± He sat up straighter in his chair as he rolled up the list of names and focused on the weighted parchment. ¡°Let me list off a name of things I have to teach you to flush out your plans.¡±


    ¡°Such as?¡±


    The mentor glared at him. ¡°Manners, for starters. Due to my reaction earlier, you can tell that others are not accustomed to when a child discusses his genitalia in casual conversation.¡±


    Sol looked at Planet and shrugged. They had spent the first few decades without clothing, so it wasn¡¯t anything uncomfortable to talk about, but the modern-day Wizards didn¡¯t seem to think so. Perhaps it was because they were too young to know that time period as well.


    ¡°To expand on that, I will write that you three must learn the culture and customs of this town. Assuming you know the name?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Planet spoke up. ¡°No one told us.¡±


    The mentor squeezed the skin between his eyes in annoyance. ¡°The children these days are so dense.¡± he mumbled, but still continued. ¡°This town is called Clodeen, and our patron Deity is Dellun. I¡¯ll also put teaching Modern on here, and before you say anything, Auizia,¡± he held a hand to Sol, who didn¡¯t register when the fake name was spoken. ¡°I know you have a month of studying behind you, but by taking a formal lesson, your language skills will increase.¡±


    Sol rolled his eyes. ¡°Anything else?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You two need to learn Dragonic, as well as trust and discipline.¡±


    ¡°What is Dragonic?¡± Planet asked.


    ¡°The language of Dragons, though it¡¯s common to find their graphemics scribbled on a piece of wood.¡±


    ¡°Naren ziurei fikir ol ali?¡± Planet asked. There¡¯s another language?Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°Kir w?liik.¡± Assume so.


    ¡°Boliki xuwe putau, dweva?¡± That counts four, right?


    ¡°Zuirei pek oski donned elwoultyek rei ezukeien. Jieran, jeikid-¡± I think five languages are spoken by mortals. Elven, Giant-


    ¡°Kune boliki niervli ali.¡± That¡¯s easy to debate.


    Sol ignored her. ¡°-Buiwari urdup Kiratti, Ruviaf, reztan, urdup zuirei oz argi n?rll.¡± -Modern, Dragonic, maybe, and some magic language.


    ¡°Plezd boiki kal ali?¡± What¡¯s that for?


    ¡°Argi eztene larji, emakir kipik.¡± To make their magic, I¡¯ve heard.


    ¡°Pele ipal tasil ukla-t??¡± Where did you learn this?


    ¡°E tau xlegerol ecrei k?rakk oz keetez. Edokri yus zirta boliki zirtan toukira.¡± I came across it the first few days of studying. I left you to sleep during that time.


    ¡°Kirrilk bura.¡± Rude bitch.


    Sir. Theodric stepped into the space and held a finger to his lips. ¡°Can you be quieter, children? The shop is to open soon.¡±


    ¡°Ooh, real?¡± Planet asked, standing to follow him out, but Sol turned his arm to light and shoved her back into her chair.


    ¡°Takka, zikiete.¡± she said, holding her tighter when she struggled. ¡°Ete ako brem-le wukail ali, urdup yuze l?zad rei. Ne ete fliz farelk ali e.¡± Relax, Planet. It¡¯s the common people and we¡¯re folk tales. It is not a good combination.


    Planet signed a swear at him as the mentor cleared his throat, glaring at Sol.


    ¡°Fine. Krea, stay in your seat.¡± Sol said, pulling the light back to his skin.


    A group of citizens entered through the front door and Sir. Theodric closed the door that led to them before he addressed the customers.


    ¡°So, ghow much of the Modern Language do you know?¡±


    ¡°Enough to recognize and imitate your speech, along with a few basic swears.¡± she said as the man pulled out another roll from his cloak (how many did he have?) and spread it on the table. One of the pages was full of words and the other was blank. He sprayed a liquid over the full page and placed the other on top of it, pressing it down carefully before he slowly peeled them apart and handed them the pages. Sol jumped as he touched the gritty parchment, but grinded his teeth and set it on the table before her. It was titled, Test Subject: Modern Language.


    They were given quills and ink bottles and an hour to complete it. Sol recognized many words and even doodled the verb chart in the corner as a reference. The forty-five questions asked for grammar rules and a couple of ¡°What does this word mean?¡± questions. He finished them before Planet did, where she had her tongue stuck out over the page, struggling to remember the word for bone.


    The mentor looked at a shadow of the sun and yanked the quill from Planet¡¯s hand, making a scratch on the paper. ¡°Time is done. I¡¯ll grade that now.¡±


    He took his items back and make separate marks on each page.


    ¡°How did you finish it so fast?¡± Planet asked, craning her neck to try and see what she got right or wrong.


    ¡°Because I wasn¡¯t slacking off when I was studying.¡± she snapped at her. ¡°Do you know what the word for blood is?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it as-kra?¡±


    ¡°To bleed?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it the same thing?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s as-krai. Unlike Elven, verbs and words are different. Meanwhile-¡±


    ¡°Meanwhile, in Elven, it¡¯s randomized between same words or different words.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°Finished.¡± the mentor said, giving them the parchment back. Sol had gotten two points off, and when Planet¡¯s page curled to reveal the title, it showed that she had gotten four points off. The mentor noted the grades on his parchment as Planet tried to pester Sol to figure out his grade.


    ¡°Just tell me.¡±


    ¡°Stop trying. You¡¯ll just feel bad about it again.¡±


    Planet frowned as the mentor struggled to stand, clutching the table and his torch for support. ¡°Let¡¯s test your discipline.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You could say that nicer.¡±


    Sol glared up at him, refusing to do so. The mentor rolled his eyes and lifted two fingers, a silent notion for them to stand.


    ¡°Hurry up.¡± he ordered. ¡°I don¡¯t have all day.¡±


    Sol and Planet stood from their seats and faced him from across the room.


    ¡°Drop your fighting stance. This is to test your niceties.¡±


    ¡°Plezd ipall farai e veriki boliki?¡± Sol whispered to Planet as she stood straighter. What the fuck does that mean?


    ¡°N?rll kalk ra-krivini kal fliz e ziub?i?¡± Some different form of the word nice?


    ¡°Shut your mouths and face me. You will say a nice phrase and I will judge it accordingly.


    ¡°Plezd nizaabe et w?duar anmiz fliz ali?¡± What¡¯s his obsession with being nice?


    Planet shrugged, but took a step forward to perform an Elven bow. ¡°Is this doable?¡±


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± the man asked.


    ¡°Performing a ladylike bow. It¡¯s a sign of respect. Normally shown from young females to elder men-¡±


    ¡°That is incorrect. Women do not bow.¡±


    ¡°Is this correct?¡± Sol asked, a hand over her stomach as he lowered her torso to him.


    ¡°You classify as a female. It is shameful to perform that bow.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°But you are lightly correct. That is the bow that men perform for respect, but it is more formal to keep both of your hands over your stomach. Assuming that Arche is male and your¡­¡± He pushed out the next word, a hand over his mouth. ¡°genitalia¡­has simply been swapped, only he out of the three of you can perform that bow.¡±


    ¡°Interestende.¡± Planet muttered. ¡°Kir zirta neve e kierla enkerri.¡± So they classify gender by the genitalia.


    ¡°Boliki zerkill ali.¡± That¡¯s shitty.


    ¡°E jirau tau flizd anmi pik-dee neve anmi maynni zukeiel.¡± The Elves were slightly prouder when thinking about gender.


    ¡°Dukir.¡± True.


    ¡°Auizia.¡± the mentor ordered. ¡°Face me again.¡±


    Sol did, but lifted his leg and turned it to light before rushing forward to attack him. Planet jumped back as he was slapped across the face, the blow of the hit sending him headfirst towards the table.


    Planet grabbed her heart as it sped up, her breath coming faster.


    ¡°Sol?¡± she whispered, trying to walk towards her, but a voice stopped her.


    ¡°What is wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°Who said that?¡± Planet asked, looking around to see where it had come from. When she looked back, the mentor and Sol had vanished, leaving her alone.


    ¡°Oh, no, no, no, no. Not this again.¡± she whispered, hitting her head with her fist. The memories echoed through her head, clouding her vision.


    A wrinkled hand grabbed her wrist, straightening her back as her legs were bent under her. ¡°Stop doing that! It¡¯s improper!¡±


    ¡°What is that bow?¡± a student whispered at her horrible form.


    ¡°Are you trying to break your wrist?¡± the teacher shrieked.


    The view changed, showing her standing in front of a desk, where an old man glared at her over the parchment rolled on his desk.


    ¡°Why have you been failing my class?¡± he asked.¡± You¡¯re the Planet. You¡¯re supposed to be smart. Even your siblings have passed.¡±


    The view whipped into the hallway, where everyone was staring at her, whispering behind their hands.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe a Personification is so useless.¡± a student whispered as she tried to run into her next classroom to avoid their eyes. The teacher wasn¡¯t much easier.


    ¡°Your brother told me that you¡¯re one of the oldest children in this classroom.¡± the teacher said, Planet standing in front of her desk.


    ¡°I am.¡± she whispered between tears.


    ¡°So act like it!¡± she yelled, switching the scene.


    ¡°Another fail, Lyra.¡± a teacher ordered, hitting her over the head twice with a stick as a few students flinched. ¡°Your brothers could have already passed my class twice. Why are you the lowest on the board?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± she yelled, hitting her ears in pain, mimicking the hits she had received.


    An old hand slapped a failed page in front of her. ¡°Meet me in the basement tonight. You will pay for these marks.¡±


    After that, Planet remembered being in the sleeping quarters, seeing Moon in the hallway outside of her and Sol¡¯s room.


    ¡°Where have you been, Planet?¡± Moon asked, two bags over his shoulder for night school.


    ¡°Nowhere.¡± she mumbled, hiding her face. ¡°Tell the teacher I won¡¯t be there again. I¡¯m tired.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to fail if you skip it again. And my notes won¡¯t keep you up to date.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for reminding me.¡± she said, trying to push him away from the door.


    ¡°I already packed your bag.¡± he said, shoving it into her arms. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Planet, what is wrong with you?¡± she asked, rubbing her eyes and face, trying to clear the memories from her head.


    She heard a collection of voices speaking in Modern, and she kept her eyes shut to focus on them, trying to ignore the voices from the past.


    ¡°Have you heard the news?¡±


    Planet knew how important this could be and removed her ear, plugging the hole with dirt, and used a vine inside of the dirt to push her ear into the wall. She hid the vine into her hair and watched Sol stand, forcing himself to not say any swears.


    The voices were clearer now. ¡°No, what happened?¡±


    ¡°A group of Witches attacked a Wizardly town.¡± a female voice whispered. ¡°I think it was called Purest?¡±


    ¡°What happened to them?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re alright, but I think they¡¯re trying to fight back against them. It¡¯s a whole war now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s horrifying. What if it reaches us?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it won¡¯t. The towns are barely near us. They¡¯ll probably contain it there before it spreads.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s dreadful for them.¡±


    Planet covered her hand over her mouth as she willed the vine to place her ear back into her head. The Wizards were under war? Had their feud finally escalated like the Elves had said they would?


    ¡°Krea.¡± the mentor snapped. ¡°It¡¯s your turn.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± she whispered, stepping forward to attempt her ¡°niceties¡±.

 Chapter 13: Back to Work

    Corrin led Ostara to the wall and they waved goodbye to each other before he left.


    ¡°Wait.¡±


    He looked over the corner to Ostara, who was looking too exposed.


    ¡°Can you tell Sachse that¡­well, it¡¯s not my fault that it happened. I didn¡¯t instigate anything and the Cardmakers didn¡¯t follow me. It¡¯s not my fault.¡±


    He nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll let him know. Will we see you around?¡±


    ¡°With this happening? I assume not.¡±


    Corrin shrugged. ¡°It was nice to meet you regardless.¡±


    ¡°You as well.¡±


    He vanished behind the wall and headed home.


    Home.


    ¡°Shit, shit, shit.¡± Ostara whispered, dropping to her knees and looking through what she had gathered. Three mushrooms, a sprig of cilantro, and no flowers. She sighed into the sky, whispering a prayer. ¡°Yael, I ask for assistance in this gathering.¡±


    She took out her wand and allowed it to touch the grass, leading her subconscious to a small field of the blue flowers. Ostara breathed in relief.


    ¡°I knew there was one nearby.¡± she smiled. Within minutes, she had gathered two handfuls of flowers. She organized the rest of what she¡¯d gathered onto the ground and duplicated the mushrooms and cilantro to double of what she¡¯d already had before she packed it away and headed home.


    Ostara touched her cloak as she walked and held up her wand, hating herself for nearly forgetting. She performed the reverting spell on her chest and felt a lump of disgust and uncomfort settle on her shoulders as she stared at them. She held the cloak against it as she walked.


    She used her wand to guide her to the dirt path behind her home, and by the time Sol was to wake within an hour, she had touched the back door and slipped inside. She removed her boots and avoided the creaking wood on the ground, sneaking to the front door to set her cloak and boots, to put on her work shoes, and set her gathering bag on the dining table before she slipped into the bedroom. The growing light showed her family sleeping, the parents asleep. Irenaeus clearly couldn¡¯t care one bit that he shared this room with children, as decency was the last thing on his mind while he slept. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Ostara released a breath before she moved to the windows, opening them completely on Irenaeus and Linaya¡¯s faces.


    ¡°Tara?¡± Linaya whispered, sitting up while Irenaeus rolled on his side away from the light, rubbing his eyelids.


    ¡°Shut the damn windows, bitch.¡± Irenaeus snapped as he sat up. Ostara ignored the comment, as it was nearly a routine of his. She had already made her way to the other side of the room, shaking Kalliroi then Frig until they woke.


    Kalliroi stood in the light on her way out of the bedroom, leaving Frig to wake Ren. Ostara followed her out of the room, grabbing her textbook to study while she waited.


    ¡°Ostara?¡± Linaya asked, walking out of the bedroom a moment later, pulling a robe over her body. ¡°How was gathering last night?¡±


    Ostara¡¯s brain immediately began to spin, trying to release a proper answer. Well, I started gathering, but then I ended up past the border and met two Wizards, who I followed to their tavern, where the Cardmakers started a war against them and I was sent back, therefore, it was not a normal night.


    ¡°It was alright. I¡¯ve set my bag on the table for you to look at.¡±


    ¡°What did you collect?¡±


    ¡°Some mushrooms, cilantro, and the blue flowers you asked for.¡±


    ¡°Why did you collect mushrooms?¡± Irenaeus snapped, pulling Frig out of the bedroom with him. ¡°Wake up, son. If you fall asleep, you¡¯ll get no meals today.¡±


    ¡°Uhm, Linaya and Ren ¨C Laurena ¨C asked for it.¡± Ostara lied. ¡°For meals and such.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Irenaeus slapped Frig upside his head. ¡°I said, wake up, son.¡±


    Frig stood up straighter, smacking his cheeks and pinching his arms. ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Kalliroi gave Irenaeus his glass of beer, which he instantly downed before he turned back to the bedroom, pushing little Ren out of his way.


    Frig yawned, arms stretching over his head. "Guess we should open the shop now. Should I assist until the break?"


    "Your father eluded as much." Linaya sighed, wiping cold water off her face as Ostara gave her siblings a bit of cold stew from last night to wake them up.


    "I''ll check the cash register." Kalliroi said, pushing her bowl towards Ostara. "Hey, did you get a dole-flower or¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah, shit!¡± Ostara smacked her head, realizing her mistake. ¡°I''m sorry, I forgot. I think I was so focused on the¡­blues that it slipped my mind.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s alright.¡± Linaya said, touching her arm as Ostara tried not to flinch.


    Kalliroi tapped her finger on the table next to the bowl. ¡°Eat. Stop doing this heroic task of not eating to feed us. It isn''t helping you."


    "Thanks, Kal." Ostara said, making note of how far the compost bin was from where they were standing.

 Chapter 14: The Tent

    "Gather round, gather round!" A chief''s servant yelled through the streets. It had been two days since Ostara had arrived and then left Purerest when the adults had taken action against this threat.


    Corrin¡¯s father had dragged him to the market that day and was one of the first to hear the call. He grabbed his son by the collar, pushing them both to the front, yelling at everyone as he went.


    ¡°Move! Out of the way, Debra! Sr. Grant, get your faggot son away from me. Oh, fuck off, Sr. Clair!¡±


    Corrin followed each of his father¡¯s yells with an apology. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, miss. Forgive him, sir. I¡¯m sorry, sir. Sorry. Again.¡±


    ¡°Settle down, settle down.¡± the servant called to the bustling crowd. ¡°Your chief is here for an announcement.¡±


    Another servant sighed and placed his wand over his own neck, muttering the spell to amplify his voice. ¡°SILENCE!¡±


    The crowd quieted instantly and Corrin¡¯s father had finally gotten him to the front of the crowd, holding him still as the chief stepped forward and cleared his throat.


    ¡°Thank you all for gathering here today. A few days ago, we were brutally attacked by a group of Witches that declared murder and suffering against our beautiful town. Me and some friends have driven them out, but that¡¯s not to say that they won¡¯t return.¡±


    This didn¡¯t fucking happen. Corrin thought. He''s the one that threatened them.


    He cleared his throat twice more. ¡°In the meantime, we have decided to send our men to war. A conscription tent will be set up in this market for the month, and I will have men scoping out the town to recruit all men under sixty-three to the war. No excuses. And no nightwalks, either. We¡¯ll know.¡±


    He stepped away, surrounded by servants, as the crowd cheered for him. Corrin could barely take it in before his father pulled him towards the table at the first sight, noticing the growing line before it.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to sign you up, boy.¡± he said as he pushed three other people out of the way to secure their spots in line. ¡°Remon¡¯s father¡¯s been blabbing, saying you haven¡¯t thrown a punch since you came back from Charles¡¯ camp. I don¡¯t know what the fuck they did to you there, but they better not have turned you into a fucking pussy. No son of mine will have that reputation if he doesn¡¯t want to get¡­¡± He squeezed his shoulder, making him flinch. ¡°replaced.¡±


    The trio in front of them walked away with smiles and Corrin¡¯s father pushed him forward. Corrin grabbed the end of the table to avoid smashing into it.


    His father smiled at the man with the list, who recognized them instantly. ¡°Sr. Julius and Sr. Corrin! A wonder to see you here. Are you joining as well, Sir?¡±


    His father laughed. ¡°Of course. Our ages are forty-one and twenty.¡±


    The man did the work as fast as he could and looked visibly uncomfortable. ¡°Ah. Of course, sirs. Go right in.¡±


    ¡°Sr. Corrin.¡± The other man leaned towards them as they walked around the table towards a back entrance, where two more servants kept them open with ropes. ¡°Bring your friends and their fathers, won¡¯t you? They¡¯re brave young men that will be glad to join, I¡¯m sure.¡±


    ¡°I will, sir.¡± Corrin nodded before they were dismissed.


    They stepped through the back entrance towards a camp. There were stations made of wood or stone set up along the main path, with a few stone buildings spread out across the rest of the space. Men mingled around, talking with the shop-owners as the younger ones sat on the ground, discussing the future.


    ¡°Corrin!¡± One of the young men called, waving enthusiastically.


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    ¡°Go to them, son.¡± his father snapped, letting go of his shoulder. His eyes were full of anger as they narrowed at a man talking with the swordsman. He pulled out his wand, sparks coming from it, as Corrin found his friends.


    Tori had noticed him first, quickly standing, and ran forward. He pulled him into a one-armed hug and led him towards the others, where he saw Tugan and Remon waiting. Tugan waved politely while Remon fiddled with his box of sap, hiding it under his leg whenever an elder man passed.


    Tori let go of Corrin and saw someone in the line ahead. ¡°Is that Erwin?¡±


    Remon noticed as well. ¡°Weird. We¡¯ve never met his father.¡±


    Corrin saw that Erwin was quite stiff next to his father, barely moving as the four of them waved to him excitedly, but Corrin pulled Tori¡¯s arm back, telling him to ignore him.


    ¡°He¡¯s clearly already signing up. You can wait.¡± Corrin explained.


    He scanned the rest of the line and picked out Argat, Gillot, but couldn¡¯t find Ulric or his father among the groups of men entering the camp. That thought was answered with a message that boomed in their heads minutes later: Behind you, dumbasses.


    ¡°Ulric!¡± Tori yelled, excited.


    ¡°Ulric!¡± Tugan cried at the same time, horrified. ¡°Don¡¯t scare us like that!¡± he whined while Tori shoved him out of the way, shaking Ulric¡¯s other hand as he put his wand away.


    ¡°Nice to see you.¡± Corrin grinned. ¡°How was signing up?¡±


    He blinked at them. ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°For what?¡± Tori mocked in a whine. ¡°Are you kidding me?¡±


    Remon kept looking around the streets, still looking for the perfect moment to chew his sap. ¡°The chief said that Witches started a war against us a few nights ago. Every man is to sign up for war.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Ulric cried. ¡°My grandfather''s been waiting for this!¡±


    ¡°You dalcop, there¡¯s an age limit.¡± Remon finally snapped a piece of sap between his teeth and sighed in relief, tucking the pack away quickly. ¡°All men under sixty-three rotations of age.¡±


    ¡°Wha- well that¡¯s incredible! Is everyone else in line?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ve seen. Oh, here¡¯s Argat.¡± Corrin said, waving him towards them.


    ¡°And Gillot behind him.¡± Ulric added in a serious manner, but he waved it away.


    ¡°Give me some." Tori asked Remon, putting out his hand for a bit of sap, but it was slapped away.


    ¡°You can get some when you can pay for it.¡± Remon argued as the two joined their group, exchanging greetings as Tori and Remon put their heads together to finish the trade.


    ¡°How much?¡± Tori asked, trying to hide the packet from their elders with his body.


    ¡°Twenty coins.¡±


    ¡°Rip-off,¡± he muttered, handing him the money for the bit, which he immediately snapped between his teeth.


    ¡°Glad to be here, friends.¡± Argat grinned, wrapping his arms around Tugan and Corrin¡¯s necks. ¡°Who hasn¡¯t shown up yet?¡±


    ¡°Just Erwin, but he hasn¡¯t joined us yet.¡± Corrin explained.


    ¡°That¡¯s standard. What¡¯s the limit again? Sixty-two?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s sixty-three rotations.¡± Remon said, snapping his sap at him.


    ¡°You¡¯re always nicer when chewing that drug.¡±


    Tori jabbed him in the ribs when he tried to move. "Why do you say rotations? It¡¯s old-fashioned.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, only the elders use it.¡± Tugan chuckled.


    ¡°Get in there, ye wench.¡± a man laughed, shoving a younger one into the camp ahead of him. Corrin recognized him as Erwin, but he looked around before joining them.


    ¡°Boys!¡± the swordsman called to them as they hit Erwin with a myriad of greetings. ¡°Assist your elders, won¡¯t you? Tents need setting up. Shops to be built. Go, go on, then!¡±


    ¡°Of course, sir!¡± Corrin called, pulling himself out of Argat¡¯s grip and grabbing Tori by his little ponytail before pulling him towards a few men their fathers¡¯ age who were setting up tents on the lawn. The other boys were given their directions, and they spent the hours until sunset assisting as much as they could; helping older men with tasks they struggled with, such as cooking, building, and spellcasting.


    ¡°What of those buildings there?¡± Corrin asked the swordsman, carrying a bag of metal over his shoulder collected by an Earth Manipulator.


    ¡°At the end?¡± he asked, snapping his sap as he covered his eyes over the dying sunlight. ¡°Ah, some big plan Chief¡¯s got. Don¡¯t know much besides.¡± He patted his shoulder reassuringly. ¡°Probably nothing horrible. Housing, possibly.¡±


    ¡°But no one¡¯s been let in.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know what to tell you, kid.¡± he said, hitting another scrap of iron to fix a dent. ¡°They were the first buildings made here. He must have big plans for it.¡±


    ¡°I presume.¡± he bowed deeply towards him. ¡°Thank you, sir. Forgive me for my rash comments.¡±


    The swordsman ruffled his curls teasingly. ¡°Not to worry, kid. Only ask the Deities for forgiveness, yah? Now, are you going to give me tha¡¯ metal or nah?¡±

 Chapter 15: Her Worries

    Sol shut the door behind them, the dying sunlight shining over his face. She fell onto the hay next to Moon¡¯s sleeping form and turned her head to see Planet, who was frozen next to the door.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    She released a breath and her talking sped up. ¡°Some Wizards were talking behind the wall, and I listened in, and apparently, there¡¯s a war going on in another town, so I think their feud has reached its peak and they¡¯re trying to¡­to kill each other?¡±


    Sol sat up. ¡°Are they starting war?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°And how far away is this town?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I think it was called Pure or Purest or something. The Witches attacked them and they¡¯re fighting back.¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t answer the question.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know!¡±


    ¡°What else did the Wizards say?¡±


    ¡°One tried to convince the other that it was going to be okay and the war wouldn¡¯t reach them. That it would stay contain-ned there.¡±


    ¡°So you should believe them. Everything is going to be fine. The Wizards won¡¯t reach us. We¡¯ll probably be gone by then.¡±


    ¡°How long do you want to stay in each town?¡±


    ¡°A month at less. A year at most.¡±


    ¡°Around the time that those our age have begun to change?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We appear to be thirteen, correct?¡±


    Planet nodded. ¡°Why are you speaking Modern?¡±


    ¡°You were thinking about your Elven education today, so I¡¯d rather not bring it up. I know you struggle.¡±


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    Planet curled into a ball, hating that he knew. ¡°It¡¯s fine now.¡±


    ¡°You were on the verge of mental breakdown.¡±


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t we just speak the first language?¡±


    Sol scoffed. ¡°As if I remember that.¡±


    ¡°Borasda.¡± she muttered the word bitch, which was a more offensive word nowadays. Sol reached over to kick her, making her realize that she did indeed remember the language, but his body fell in fatigue, keeping him down on the hay.


    ¡°Goodnight, Auizia.¡± Planet smirked.


    ¡°Goodnight, Krea.¡± Sol muttered into the pile. ¡°Stupid ass name.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± she said before Moon pushed himself up, hands sinking into the hay.


    ¡°What happened?¡± he asked, pulling hay off his lips and tongue. ¡°Planet! What happened?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine.¡± he grumped, pulling hay out of his hair. ¡°What happened with that Rustad bitch?¡±


    ¡°Everything¡¯s okay.¡± she told him. ¡°We¡¯re students now.¡±


    ¡°Under him?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We have developed education plans and we have new names.¡±


    ¡°What are they?¡± This wasn¡¯t the first time they had decided new names without consulting everyone, and it certainly wouldn¡¯t be the last.


    ¡°I¡¯m Krea, you¡¯re Arche, presumably, and Sol is now Auizia.¡±


    ¡°Aow-ih-ziy-ah? That will probably be one of the most confusing names Sol has had.¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡± She smacked her forehead as the realization hit her. ¡°Stupid! I forgot to ask about night schooling for you!¡±


    ¡°Wh- that''s fine! All education systems won''t be the same, so we can assume that Wizardly education won''t have the same perks as Elven.¡±


    ¡°And what about Giant education? Would they have the same perks?¡±


    Moon held up a finger to make a point, then shut his mouth. ¡°That¡­that theory hasn''t been tested yet.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Planet asked.


    ¡°Because they''ll kill us.¡±


    ¡°Because they''ll kill us, exactly.¡±


    Moon pushed his hair away from his face. ¡°Look, I''m about to explore, so just¡­go to sleep if you haven''t lately.¡± He glared at her, reminding her of last night. ¡°I''ll ask if I come across him.¡±


    Planet nodded and curled into the hay, keeping still as she heard him turn into his Embodiment form, blending in with the new rays, and disappearing out the window. She hid her face in the hay, trying not to cry into it in the case that he would see.

 Chapter 16: Conscription

    "Ostara! Another task!¡±


    ¡°Can you organize these? Thanks, Tara!¡±


    ¡°Open your ears, girl! Didn¡¯t you hear me? My wand is clearly made of oak wood!¡±


    Ostara did each task that was asked of her with a smile, keeping her feet firmly on the ground as she got yelled at again for something out of her control. Clean the windows, identify a wand, grow the plants, match a wand, wrangle a screaming child or adult, she never said no to any task that was asked of her, not even if it disgusted her. Sure, she would sometimes end the day ready to collapse, but that feeling was becoming commonplace in her life.


    Irenaeus poked his head inside and found Ostara taking a potion from the top shelf and handing it down to a customer who was seemingly disappointed that the shelf was too short to see up her skirt. ¡°Ah, girl. Come here. Now.¡±


    Ostara climbed off the stepladder and set it next to the stairs before she stepped outside. Irenaeus pushed Frig forward towards her, but he quickly pulled her into a hug, his limbs bleeding.


    ¡°Did you hear the news?¡± Irenaeus asked. ¡°The chief is setting up a conscription camp at the end of the market for a war. Go with Frig and see that he''s signed in.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± she said, pushing Frig off her body after she noticed Irenaeus glaring at him. ¡°But, if I may offer a suggestion? I do believe that I am not his mother, therefore there is a chance he may not be let in without parental-¡± Ostara noticed his eyes turn dark with anger and she quickly changed her tone. ¡°-which seems like a perfectly reasonable task to complete, as I am the eldest and it is Frig''s job as the man of the house to stand for us. You are a very busy man, and I will not interject with suggestions again. Forgive me for the rash decision, for it was not planned-¡±


    ¡°Silence.¡± Ostara slammed her jaw shut at the word. ¡°Go on, then. Return by the feeding hour.¡±


    Ostara pushed Frig¡¯s hand away from hers before they left Irenaeus¡¯ line of sight and she led him through the shop. They walked out of there and into the main road, following the winding streets around the other shops and towards the growing line at the marketplace.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Ostara started, smoothing out her dress, and realized she''d forgotten her necklace in the rush, but refused to let anyone know. ¡°How do you feel about this, Frig?¡±


    He let go of her skirt and grabbed her hand, squeezing it. Despite being six years younger, the top of his head reached her shoulder, and he still tried to use this to hide behind her. ¡°I don''t want to go,¡± he whispered.


    ¡°I know.¡± She nodded as they followed the line, still not able to see where they were headed. ¡°But you have a job in this family. We all do.¡±


    ¡°We have the worst jobs, I''m sure. Us and Mom.¡±


    ¡°She has no choice.¡±


    Frig gripped her arm. ¡°But there''s always a choice,¡± he announced the lie as the stall came into view.


    Men laughed and smiled as the recruits entered the tent behind them but the elders were turned away, telling them it was best for their health.


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    ¡°Do you see something?¡± Frig asked, trying to look over a tall man''s shoulders with no luck.


    ¡°There''s a stall in front of a tent. Recruits keep walking in, but not out,¡± she told him as a brown-haired boy walked into the tent. Clearing her throat, she smiled down at him. ¡°Have you researched anything interesting recently?¡± she asked, desperately trying to distract him from their situation.


    Frig shook his head. ¡°Father won''t let me. I''d like to research wand lore and nature with you and Kal, but I never will.¡±


    ¡°That''s true.¡± She agreed, seeing the third man in front of them be accepted, but the next rejected. ¡°It''s our turn.¡± she hissed.


    The officer let the man in front of them go ahead, then did a double take when he saw Ostara, his usual frown twisting into a smile. ¡°Miss. Weddal? What are you doing here? Women aren''t allowed in war.¡±


    The officer next to him let out a laugh at the absurdity of it but kept himself upright for the next man before him.


    ¡°I''m aware. My brother would like to sign up, though.¡± Ostara shoved Frig forward, and he fell into a bow towards the officer.


    ¡°H-Hello, sir,¡± he whispered.


    ¡°Mr. Weddal.¡± His tone had changed fast when speaking to each sibling. ¡°Is Irenaeus here as well? Seems like something he''d enjoy. The age limit is sixty rotations.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? I''ll pass along the message. I don''t think it had reached him yet.¡±


    The other officer leaned over the table towards her as the duo he had just accepted walked behind them toward the tent. ¡°Miss. Weddal. There''s a rumor you have two abilities through birth. Is that true?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°It is. I have Earth Manipulation and I can also Shapeshift myself and others.¡±


    He whistled, eyes flicking away from hers too many times to be an accident. ¡°That¡¯s brilliant.¡±


    The first officer looked at Frig. ¡°What about your brother?¡±


    Ostara knew what their responses would be, but she was too deep to lie now. ¡°No, he has one ability. He can only manipulate the Earth.¡±


    His face instantly fell. ¡°Interesting.¡±


    The man behind them had been eavesdropping and broke into a laugh, wrapping an arm around her waist. ¡°Weddal would be a force to deal with if she hadn''t been a girl.¡±


    The officers laughed at this and Ostara pretended to join them, pulling herself off from the man when he wasn''t looking.


    The first officer grinned. ¡°Ah. If only you two could switch abilities! Or sex! Then I''d consider him.¡±


    More laughter followed this statement, and Ostara nodded along, feeling Frig''s hand hold her arm tight. She pushed him off, though.


    The officer finally cleared his throat and checked his list, taking breaks to peek through her cloak at her chest. ¡°Ah, well. Erm, how old did you say he was, again?¡±


    ¡°He is fifteen years of age, sir.¡±


    He pretended to check his papers again. ¡°Well. Your brother does qualify for war.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful. I''ll tell Irenaeus-¡±


    ¡°That''s the thing. He¡¯s a child. Children need verbal confirmation from their parents that they want them in the war. Your father must be present to allow your brother through here. Sending the eldest child does not count as parental approval.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Ostara sighed, running a hand through her hair as she thought of the possibilities. ¡°That''s alright. May we come back later with Irenaeus?¡±


    He nodded and smiled at her. ¡°Of course, dear.¡±


    Ostara bowed in politeness, knowing she''d disappointed him somehow. ¡°I apologize for the interruption. I''ll let you get on with your job. Come with me, Frig.¡±


    He followed her away from the stall, both shaking in their boots at what Irenaeus would say or do.


    ¡°I''m sure it''ll be alright.¡± she smiled, putting on another ruse for Frig. ¡°He just has to come back and approve of you. Nothing horrible. We''ll get through this.¡±


    Frig gripped her arm tighter as they walked home, trying to slow down their pace to delay the inevitable.